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Here's the scenario: Your loved one is in a nursing home on lockdown, you know people there are sick with COVID-19, and you have no way to visit or see for yourself how it's being handled.

That's Debra Hoffman's reality. Her 74-year-old aunt is a resident at the Cedar Mountain nursing home in Yucaipa, where a COVID-19 cluster is occuring. So far 51 residents and six staff members have tested positive for the new coronavirus and two infected residents have died.

Hoffman said her aunt, who suffered a stroke, needs full-time care.

"The hardest thing is that I can't physically go up there and control this situation," Hoffman said. "I can't go in to see what's really going on and I'm not getting accurate information."

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Hoffman learned of the outbreak at Cedar Mountain only after it was reported in a local TV newscast, she said, adding that a representative from Cedar Mountain called the following day to let her know the situation at the nursing home.

"It's frustrating because I don't know what's going to happen," Hoffman said. "I don't know how they're treating it, I don't know what their procedures are to keep this from spreading, other than my aunt told me they're not allowed out of their room."

Hoffman wants her aunt and all residents and staff at Cedar Mountain to be tested for COVID-19 and she said she's getting conflicting information on whether or not that's happened.

Lana Culp, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, said most of the residents had been tested, but not all.

"There isn't much value in testing everyone at this point now, just because it should be assumed that their whole facility has been exposed due to the large number of confirmed cases," Culp said.

Cedar Mountain staff were not immediately available to provide comment.

THE STATE'S RESPONSE

"Infection control specialists from CDPH [California Department of Public Health], along with county staff, have been at the facility to provide assessments and work in real time on infection control measures," the California Department of Public Health said in an emailed statement to LAist.

According to the state's guidance for skilled nursing facilities: "symptomatic residents and exposed roommates must limit movement outside their room; if they need to leave the room, they should wear a facemask."

That means other families across California and the nation are finding themselves in Hoffman's shoes -- unable to see for themselves how their loved ones are being treated.

To prevent the spread of the virus, CDPH guidelines say residents with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection should be kept in the same wing or building and that communal dining areas should be closed. They also say 'high touch' surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected with Environmental Protection Agency-registered, healthcare-grade disinfectants.

'DIRE' NEED FOR MORE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

As nursing homes across California brace for more outbreaks among their vulnerable populations, a coalition of nurses, skilled nursing facility operators and a union which represents thousands of nursing home workers in California is pleading with the federal government to urgently get millions of masks and gowns to the front lines.

"Unfortunately, Yucaipa... it is the tip of the iceberg," April Verrett, President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015, said on a call this week with reporters.

Verrett said nursing home workers don't have enough protective equipment to keep themselves and residents from getting infected should we see more outbreaks and clusters in these close-quarters settings.

"The need is so acute and so dire, the solution must come from the federal government," Verrett said.

State leaders, including California State Senator Richard Pan and Assemblywoman Eloise Reyes are also demanding the federal government do more to insure production of personal protective equipment is made in the U.S. and distributed to facilities in need.

"We're sending our frontline workers to a war zone without protection," Reyes said. "And that cannot continue."

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:


N ine million New Yorkers were today being urged to cover their faces when going outside as the United States suffered its biggest spike in coronavirus deaths.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said all residents should wear scarves, bandanas or other similar items in public to curb the outbreak in Americas biggest Covid-19 hotspot, where more than 50,000 have tested positive.

When you put on that face covering, youre protecting everyone else, the mayor said at a press briefing, adding that surgical masks should be kept for the citys hero medical staff and first responders.

A similar move has also been adopted by Los Angeles.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio / REUTERS

The Trump administration is expected to announce new guidance recommending that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The recommendations are likely to apply to those in areas hardest-hit by community transmission.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

US officials reported more than 1,000 fatalities from the pandemic in a single day, bringing the total number of deaths nationwide to more than 6,000.

The extent of the economic devastation was also emerging as it was revealed that more than 6.6 million Americans had sought unemployment benefits in a week.

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It is believed the White Houses new face-covering the guidance would suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandanas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home.

Meanwhile medical-grade masks would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.

In his latest White House briefing on the coronavirus, Donald Trump indicated that he would support such a recommendation. If people wanted to wear them, they can, he said.

Dr Deborah Birx, co-ordinator for the governments coronavirus task force, said new data showed that the administrations social-distancing guidelines were not being followed to the extent necessary to keep virus-related deaths to a minimum.

The public health crisis was deepening in New York City, where one funeral home had 185 bodies stacked up  more than triple normal capacity. The city has seen at least 1,500 virus deaths.

The homes owner Pat Marmo said he had been begging families to insist hospitals hold their dead loved ones as long as possible, adding: We need help.

Meanwhile, passengers on a cruise ship on which four people died, including a 75-year-old Briton, were disembarking today after it was allowed to dock in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, having previously being denied entry to the US.

The Zaandam, which was carrying 200 Britons, had nine confirmed cases of Covid-19 as well as around 200 people who reported flu-like symptoms.

Medical personnel immediately began off-loading 13 severely ill passengers and one crew member to take to local hospitals following a three-week ordeal.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ordering Auburn Community Hospital and other upstate medical centers to give up ventilators and personal protective equipment for the downstate response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cuomo said Friday that he would issue an executive order allowing the state to "take ventilators and PPE from institutions that don't need them now and redeploy them to other parts of the state and other hospitals that do need them."

On a conference call with Cuomo and state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker, hospital executives  including Auburn Community Hospital President and CEO Scott Berlucchi  were asked to provide between 10 to 20% of unused ventilators and personal protective equipment.

Rich Azzopardi, a senior adviser to Cuomo, clarified that the state is requesting hospitals loan 20% of their unused ventilators to downstate hospitals. The state will either return the equipment or reimburse the hospital.

The National Guard will be deployed to transfer the equipment from upstate to downstate medical facilities. Berlucchi said Auburn Community Hospital will comply with the order.

"We will strike a balance between the immediate needs of the downstate hospitals while protecting our local patients and our community in case of a surge in positive cases for COVID-19," Berlucchi said in a statement. "As a small community hospital, we will work with our hospital team and community leaders to find innovative solutions to meet these challenges while caring for our patients. Our supplies are not large, but we will do what we can."

More than 93% of the 102,863 confirmed coronavirus cases in the state are in New York City, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties. There are 14,810 people hospitalized, including 3,731 in intensive care units. A vast majority of the patients are in downstate hospitals.

Cuomo identified eight hospitals in the New York City area that are considered "hotspot" facilities because they have the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

With a rapidly growing number of downstate hospitalizations and ICU admissions, the state needs more ventilators. While the state has been able to purchase more ventilators and the federal government provided more than 4,000 machines, Cuomo has estimated the state will need at least 30,000 ventilators.

"I'm not going to get into a situation where we're running out of ventilators and people are dying because there are no ventilators but there are hospitals in other parts of the state that have ventilators that they're not using," Cuomo said Friday. "I'm just not going to allow us to go there. I think it would be wholly irresponsible."

Cuomo's order has been criticized by several upstate elected officials, including state Sen. Pam Helming.

Helming, R-Canandaigua, represents several towns in Cayuga County and a portion of Auburn. She said that several county health departments in upstate New York do not have an adequate supply of COVID-19 test kits.

She believes it sets a dangerous precedent to take equipment from hospitals for use elsewhere.

"The state of New York needs to work with all our hospitals to get the resources to the right places, while ensuring they have what they need to take care of their own patients," Helming said.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said he's had conversations with hospital executives in the Buffalo area and all of the ventilators are in use. As of Thursday, there are 79 COVID-19 patients in Erie County who are on a ventilator.

Poloncarz pledged that no one in Erie County will have a ventilator taken away to send to a downstate hospital.

"We're all in this together, but someone's life downstate is no different than a life up here," he said.

But with ventilators in short supply at downstate hospitals, Cuomo is seeking help from other hospitals in New York.

He said the "burn rate" for ventilators is about 300 a day, meaning that 300 ventilators are needed daily to meet the growing demand.

When the outbreak worsens in upstate New York, he said the state would divert resources to those hospitals.

"I'm not going to let people die because we didn't redistribute ventilators," Cuomo added.

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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The educational world has been turned upside down amid the social distancing and stay-at-home order that have been implemented in Texas in an effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Yet, amid all the turmoil, Huffman ISD and Crosby ISD, have added a touch of normalcy with both school districts agreeing to continue to pay all of their employees throughout the period of upheaval.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Police checkpoints set up at Texas-Louisiana border due to COVID-19

We wanted to make sure that our employees understood that we needed them during this crisis  and thats all of our employees, not just professional staff, but thats also our employees who are in food service, custodial/maintenance and transportation, said Huffman ISD superintendent Benny Soileau.

Both school districts originally announced on March 12 that they were suspending all district activities until March 23. As that date got repeatedly pushed back, the districts had to create plans for remote learning.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Crosby ISD sends out first online assignments amid coronavirus shutdown

The most recent date for the earliest possible resumption of normal in-person schooling is May 4, in accordance with an executive order from Governor Greg Abbott.

If you step back and think about it, we have completely redesigned public education in the span of roughly three weeks, proclaimed Crosby ISD superintendent Scott Davis. Our teachers and instructional support staff work each day, right in the middle of this global pandemic, to contact kids and or parents and help support learning as best we can.

Like Soileau, Davis mentioned the various district staff that continue to the districts students.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Now more than ever, Houstons digital divide puts childrens education in peril

Our child nutrition peers are standing literally in the gap and providing students food to the best of our ability, he said. Their efforts are simply amazing. Our maintenance, custodial, and grounds colleagues continue to work and keep our many facilities up, running, clean, and manicured. The grass doesnt care about the virus.

Soileau also thinks the move will have a positive economic impact in the Huffman community with district employees continuing to shop locally and order takeout from local restaurants.

Both superintendents acknowledged that this is a time of high anxiety and stress for everyone and hope that the move to continue to pay employees does a little bit to help calm some of that stress and anxiety.

Education is not the number one thing in the world right now, but we also know that keeping our kids academically working helps them at least not lose academic ground, hopefully, said Davis.

elliott.lapin@hearst.com
Two Tucson school board members are running to replace longtime Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias, who died unexpectedly March 28.

Adelita Grijalva, the longest current member of the Tucson Unified School District governing board, filed to run on March 30, as did one of Sunnyside Unified School Districts newest board members, Consuelo Hernandez.

Grijalva said if she wins or is appointed to the District 5 seat, she plans to keep her position on the TUSD board, which isnt up until the end of 2022. County supervisors are expected to appoint someone to fill out the rest of Elias term, with candidates lining up to run in the August primary.

Being a member of the school board is an unpaid position. Grijalva, who works full time as director for the nonprofit Pima County Teen Court, said she would give up that job to take on being a county supervisor, which is a paid position.

Grijalva said she is seeking the county position to carry on Elias legacy of protecting the community, employee rights and the environment.

We have so much tourism because of our environment, and we have to protect it, she said.
The unprecedented impact of the quickly spreading Corona-crisis is profoundly threatening the aviation and travel industry in Europe. The Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG), the joint representation of interests of more than 100 German, European and global airlines, has appealed to politicians in Berlin as well as in Brussels to use all available measures to support airlines and the aviation industry in their efforts to secure liquidity.

The reimbursement obligation arising from the EU regulation on air passenger rights poses a substantial challenge for airlines. BARIG, thus, advocated a short-notice temporary suspension of such regulation. Accordingly, BARIG formulated an urgent appeal in a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as well as to the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission:

"The reimbursement obligation under the EU regulation on air passenger rights should be temporarily suspended on short-notice for the duration of the current crisis. Vouchers or wide-ranging re-booking options would be an appropriate solution, which passengers would be free to use at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at their convenience," it said

Customers' reasonable interests and concerns are to be considered still. As BARIG Secretary General Michael Hoppe explained: "Vouchers may, for instance, be hedged by the respective member states in order to guarantee their value to customers and to increase customer confidence. Some EU countries, such as Belgium, have already agreed to such a state voucher guarantee, while other countries, including the Netherlands and Italy, are in the corresponding preparations. In addition, we are pleased that the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, Thomas Barei, and the Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy, Thomas Jarzombek, are supportive of such a proposal.

The European Commission has already acknowledged that such a crisis due to the coronavirus could not have been anticipated at the time of the introduction of the EU regulation on air passenger rights, and has accordingly extended the regulation's scope for interpretation. In principle, the regulation is intended to cover the cancellation of individual flights, but not the overall collapse of air traffic. The current exceptional situation requires adequate adjustments.

Michael Hoppe commented: The European aviation and travel industry at large has almost completely come to a standstill due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, this industry, which employs several million people, generates virtually no revenues, but has significant unavoidable fixed costs. Needless to say, this extreme situation constitutes a serious threat to the industry's liquidity. The EU legal requirements for obligatory reimbursements pose a further serious problem. - TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi, April 3 : The Union Home Ministry, in an order on Friday, allowed shops of agricultural machinery and its spare parts to remain open during the national lockdown. Repair shops for trucks on highways have also been included in that list.

The tea industry has also got a reprieve on Friday. Tea industry, including plantations, with a maximum of 50 per cent workers were also exempted, in an order by the MHA.

The Home Secretary, in his capacity of the Chairperson of the National Executive Committee under the Disaster Management Act made these changes. All Chief Secretaries of states and UTs as well as other Union government ministries were informed about the decision.

The decision seems to have been taken in view of the urgent need for trucks to ply normally, given they carry most of the essentials including vegetables and grains.

India is amid a nationwide shutdown for 21 days where all services are suspended save few essentials. This extreme decision was necessitated in wake of the outbreak of Covid-19 in India.
WESTPORT  After a five-month national search, the Board of Education has found its new superintendent to lead the district.

At a virtual meeting Thursday night, the education board unanimously voted to appoint Thomas Scarice as the next schools chief of Westport Public Schools. His term will start in July.

Scarice currently serves as superintendent in Madison, a position he has held since 2012. He will replace Interim Superintendent David Abbey, who took over after Colleen Palmers abrupt departure from the district last April.

This is incredibly humbling to have this opportunity to come to Westport, Scarice said of his new appointment, adding he understood the challenging time the nation faces due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Scarice said he was excited to meet the faculty and begin working with the community.

Prior to his his role as Madisons superintendent, Scarice served as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in Weston. The North Haven native attended University of Connecticut and Southern Connecticut State University.

Joseph Erardi, of JE Consulting, noted the search drew candidates recognized as superintendent of the year, a university president, and one named national superintendent of the year.

Your new school leader has a quiet confidence that folks are going to love to follow, Erardi said of Scarice, adding he had a moral compass that fit the community.

BOE member Youn Su Chao admired several of Scarices qualities, including his ability to be exciting and safe.

Hes really been committed to creating a professional culture built on empathy and trust, she said. That really made me feel that our district was in reliable hands.

BOE Vice Chair Jeanne Smith said Scarices excellent qualities placed him at the top of a pool of excellent candidates.

He did that because he possesses the educational leadership excellence we need right now to take us into the future, Smith said.

Abbey described Scarice as a thought leader in the field of superintendents.

He also has broad-base support for acting on his convictions, he said. Ill do anything I can to help Tom in the transition. I really couldnt be happier for the Westport schools, faculty and staff, and most importantly our students.

Tom Scarice is a highly regarded educational leader. He brings a wealth of experience and a strong legacy of accomplishment to Westport., BOE Chair Candice Savin said in a statement. Tom is a strategic thinker who recognizes the excellence of Westport Public Schools and embraces the challenge of guiding our district to an even brighter future. His warmth and energy will serve him well as he focuses on our mission of reaching the potential of every child.

dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com
By PTI

NEW DELHI: India will participate in the WHO's multi-country "solidarity trial" for developing potential treatments and drugs for COVID-19, apex health research body Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Friday.

The decision came as the country reported 2,547 cases of the coronavirus infection, including 62 deaths so far.

"ICMR will collaborate with the World Health Organization (WHO) for public health emergency 'SOLIDARITY TRIAL- An international randomised trial of additional treatments for COVID-19 in hospitalised patients'," the ICMR said in a statement.

The trial will be coordinated in India by scientist at ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, Dr Sheela Godbole, the research body's officials said.

Earlier Head of Epidemiology and Communicable diseases at ICMR Raman R Gangakhedkar had said, "Earlier we did not do it because our numbers were so small and our contribution would have looked minuscule."

He had said the initial priority of the ICMR in developing drugs was more towards re-purposed molecules than new molecules.

Thus was because new molecule research tends to take longer time, Gangakhedkar.

"And, we don't have so much time when we are facing this infection," he had said.

The ICMR is also working with the department of biotechnology, department of science and technology and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 and diagnostic kits.

"At the same time we are watching the efforts of some of the scientific groups that are working on vaccines.

Currently, there are all together 30 different groups which are working on developing vaccines out of which at least five are already going for animal toxicity studies," Gangakhedkar had said.

"We have indicated our willingness to go for vaccine trials if they pass out on animal study for our own Indian population," he had said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 16:32:29|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping (C) talks with a delegate of overseas Chinese students during the health kits distribution ceremony at the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in New York, the United States, March 30, 2020. The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in New York hold a health kits distribution ceremony here on Monday. The health kits, consisting of 40,000 face masks, will be provided to overseas Chinese students in urgent need of such materials. (The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China/Handout via Xinhua)
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More than 350 small business owners offer insight on impact of COVID-19 pandemic

WALTHAM, Mass., April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- business.com asked more than 350 small business owners from across the country how their businesses are faring in the wake of the coronavirus. The responses underscored the bleak conditions facing the more than 28M small businesses nationwide. Nearly 62% of respondents said their businesses have just two months or less under current economic conditions before they go under. Meanwhile, 73% of respondents have seen their revenues drop by more than 50%, and 43% have already closed their businesses temporarily and have no incoming revenue. To learn more about these results, please visit HERE . To hear from leading experts and learn more about best practices and opportunities for surviving the current economic downturn, please visit business.coms dedicated COVID-19 resources page .

Quick Links:

Check out our *infographic* revealing survey details HERE

Visit our COVID-10 resources page to join our small business community, stay informed and share your tips for weathering the pandemic HERE

Learn more about the #PayToday initiative, relieving SMBs cash flow needs HERE

Those hardest hit from the unexpected downturn are businesses with five or fewer employees, with 59% of survey respondents falling into this category. Of these small business owners, 67% said they only had a month at most to survive in the current economic climate without assistance. Nearly 57% of all respondents said they would need a maximum of $100,000 to keep their business running for another 12 months while 25% said they would need between $100,000 and $500,000 in funds.

Faced with unprecedented challenges to their livelihoods, many small business owners are being forced to make drastic decisions. According to survey respondents:

42% either planned to hold off on paying certain bills or already have begun withholding payments

33% were laying off employees

32% were cutting back on non-employee costs

Nearly 31% said they intended to borrow additional money

While the global pandemic is forcing us to adapt our way of life all around, Main Street is being hit the hardest and with no playbook to guide small business owners through these unprecedented times, many are desperate for practical solutions, said Doug Llewellyn, CEO, business.com. We are committed to helping inform, educate and support small business owners through this difficult time and will continue to offer relevant content and strategies designed to empower SMBs and rebuild Main Street.

To learn more about the results of this survey, please refer to the business.com story published today,  Survey: How Long Can SMBs Survive Coronavirus-Related Disruption?

About business.com

business.com is a comprehensive resource for small and medium-sized businesses who want to start, run or grow their business. Backed by a community of experts, our platform is designed to connect small business owners, industry experts, and vendors through an array of services, tools, and insights. Featuring relevant content and proven strategies, business.com provides information business owners can trust. Our company is privately held and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. To learn more or to join our growing community, visit www.business.com .

Media Contact:

Sarah Murray

Attune Communications

781-378-2674

sarah@attunecommunications.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bd02e477-8786-4d1a-9b2d-4b82a064aae9
03.04.2020 LISTEN

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a new Gender Equality Trust Fund (GETF) aimed at pushing forward gender equality and women's empowerment across the continent.

Funded by donors, the GETF will support the delivery and scale-up of the Bank's Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme and promote gender-transformative lending and non-lending operations. It is the first thematic fund on gender in the Bank Group's history. The Fund will be established for an initial period of 10 years.

AFAWA is the Bank's flagship pan-African initiative which aims to bridge the $42 billion financing gap facing women in Africa. Through AFAWA, the Bank is spearheading a major push to unlock women's entrepreneurial capacity and economic participation for maximum development impact.

Also on Tuesday 31 March, the Board of Directors of the Bank approved a Risk-Sharing Mechanism  an innovative financial instrument to de-risk women-empowered businesses, enhance their profile with banks and support them to grow and thrive as entrepreneurs.

Anchor investors in the GETF are the governments of France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

It's a great day for us as a Bank. It is a great day for the continent and the women of Africa as this facility provides innovative ways to tackle the access to finance challenges for African women business owners, said African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina.

The Africa Guarantee Fund (AGF) has been chosen as the first implementing partner to facilitate access to finance for women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). AGF is a pan-African entity that provides financial institutions with guarantees and other financial products to support SMEs in Africa.

AGF has a network spread out over 42 African countries and 150-plus financial institutions, which AFAWA will leverage. This first transaction is expected to unlock up to $2 billion in credit for women-empowered businesses across the continent.

Vanessa Moungar, Bank Director, Gender, Women and Civil Society, described the approval as the largest effort ever to bridge the gap in access to finance for women in Africa's history and said the Fund's resources and the Risk-Sharing Mechanism would prioritize women's economic empowerment and high-impact women's initiatives.

Moungar said the partnership with AGF is a starting point for mobilizing other financial institutions and increasing access to finance for women entrepreneurs on the continent.

Apart from the G7 donors and the Netherlands, other countries are showing a strong interest in contributing to the initiative, including Rwanda and Sweden. The Bank Group will continue to mobilize resources in order to unlock $5 billion worth of financing for women-empowered businesses in Africa. AFAWA is also an implementing partner of the Women Entrepreneurship Finance (We-Fi) Initiative.
A Coweta man was airlifted to a Tulsa hospital Thursday after he was injured in a motorized bicycle accident on 141st Street. Coweta Police Chief Michael Bell said the incident occurred late in the morning just west of 305th E. Ave.

According to Bell, Robert Patty, 71, was traveling eastbound and did not see a tree that had fallen across the roadway. When the rider struck the tree, his bicycle broke in half and his head hit the pavement, causing a serious head injury.

The chief said there was no indication that Patty was wearing a helmet. His condition is unknown.

The police chief said he does not know why the tree was lying across the roadway.

When the air ambulance came in, we had 24 mile-per-hour winds. If it was an old tree, it could have just been blown over, Bell noted.

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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that oil companies are eligible for aid from new lending programs the Federal Reserve is setting up, but not direct loans from his department.

Why it matters: U.S. producers are facing financial distress from the price collapse that stems from COVID-19 causing an unprecedented drop in oil demand, and the Saudi-Russia price war.

Driving the news: GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who heads the Energy Committee, on Wednesday sent Mnuchin a letter urging him to consider the industry for loans under the recently signed $2.2 trillion economic rescue bill.

Where it stands: Mnuchin, when asked about her request at a White House briefing, said he has "very limited ability to do direct loans out of the Treasury," and that he can provide only for specific sectors including airlines and national security companies.

But he added: "Outside of that, we work with the Federal Reserve to create broad-based lending facilities, which we will do."

"Our expectation is the energy companies, like all our other companies, will be able to participate in broad-based facilities, whether it's the corporate facility or whether it's the Main Street facility."

 Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the support shown by the people of the country in making the fight against coronavirus disease a success is unprecedented. He also hailed the efforts put in by different state governments and local administration to make 21-day lockdown a success.

The lockdown completes nine days today. The discipline and service you showed during this period is unprecedented. People and administration have successfully tried to ensure this routine is followed, PM Modi said in his 11-minute-long video message on Friday morning.

Also read: For Sundays light the lamp initiative, PM Modi sets the ground rule

The way you came out to thank coronavirus warriors on March 22 set an example for the world. It showed the country can fight the battle against Covid-19 together, he added.

The Prime Minister also gave a pep talk to people, urging them to keep fighting the deadly disease.

Watch |Switch off lights, light candles at 9 pm on Sunday: PM Modis message amid lockdown l Full speech
A 54-year-old man has been found dead near at an empty industrial site in Brisbane's south during an alleged theft.

Police were called to the Peterkin Street site in Acacia Ridge about 5am after reports of an electrocution.

A Calamvale man, known to the deceased, was also found at the site and later charged. Credit:Queensland Police Service

The man was found unresponsive near an electrical junction box where he was pronounced dead.

A Calamvale man, 42, who was known to the deceased, was also found at the site and assisted police.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Multiple flights from New Delhi to San Francisco will be arranged to repatriate US citizens stranded in northern and eastern India due to a lockdown in the country to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the American embassy here said on Friday.

The flights will begin operating from April 4, the embassy said.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster lauded the government's efforts to fight coronavirus.

"The U.S. Mission supports the Government of India in the fight against #COVID19. Impressive to see the public support for the lockdown and social distancing, with no sign of civil unrest. #USIndia," Juster said in a tweet.

The embassy has asked US citizens to share their location and other details by filling out the form at https://tinyurl. com/uscit-indiaso and also register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https:tep. state. gov/ to receive critical information concerning flight opportunities.

For US citizens in northern and eastern India, multiple flights from New Delhi to San Francisco are being arranged, the mission said in a statement.

"Based on prioritization, we will reach out to you directly via email to offer a seat on a flight. Please respond within the time frame specified in the email. We will not be able to accommodate requests for specific flight preferences," the statement said.

The embassy said it is planning to facilitate transportation to Delhi from some cities in northern India and will share the via STEP once the arrangements are finalised.

"Currently, we are planning flights from Kolkata, Dehradun, and Amritsar to Delhi for onward flights to San Francisco.

We are also planning for bus transportation from Jaipur and Dharamshala to Delhi for onward flights to San Francisco," it said.

"As these plans develop, we will reach out to those who have self-designated as being located in these areas. We urge American citizens to be ready to depart on short notice," the US embassy said.

For US citizens in southern and western India, the US embassy said it is coordinating closely with the Indian government and commercial air carriers to facilitate flights to the US.?

"We will have several flights departing Mumbai and arriving in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning the weekend of April 4," it said.

"US Consulate General Mumbai is working to facilitate ground transportation to Mumbai from areas including Goa, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara (Baroda), and Pune," the statement said.

"In cooperation with US Consulates General Chennai and Hyderabad, we are also working to arrange domestic charter flights to allow US citizens from those areas to reach Mumbai," the statement added.

The US mission further said the repatriation flights from Mumbai will terminate in Atlanta and passengers will need to arrange and fund their own transportation to their final destinations.
The captain of a Navy aircraft carrier was fired after sending a memo seeking isolation as coronavirus spreads on his ship.

Navy leaders said he created a panic by sending his memo pleading for help to too many people, the Associated Press reported.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the ship's commander, Capt. Brett Crozier, demonstrated extremely poor judgment in the middle of a crisis. He said the captain copied too many people on the memo, which was leaked to a California newspaper and quickly spread to many news outlets.

What it does, it undermines our efforts and the chain of commands efforts to address this problem and creates a panic and creates the perception that the Navy is not on the job, the government is not on the job, and its just not true, Modly said.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, with a crew of nearly 5,000, is docked in Guam, and the Navy has said as many as 3,000 will be taken off the ship and quarantined by Friday. More than 100 sailors on the ship have tested positive for the virus, but none are hospitalized, the AP said.

Modly said that if Crozier had communicated only with his leadership and not widely distributed the memo, he would likely still have a job.

Crozier, in his memo, raised warnings the ship was facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus and asked for permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore, an extraordinary move to take a carrier out of duty in an effort to save lives.

He said that removing all but 10% of the crew would be a necessary risk to stop the spread of the virus.

READ MORE:

Captain of a U.S. Navy warship seeking isolation as coronavirus spreads
 There will be two public hearings to discuss proposals for a Community Development Block Grant in Westport, the first of which will be April 14 at 6 p.m. Pursuant to the Gov. Ned Lamonts executive order, there is no physical location for this meeting. It will be held electronically by calling 646-876-9923 and entering the meeting ID: 890047282.

The town of Westport is proposing to submit a grant application by April 17 to the Connecticut Department of Housing for the Community Development Block Grant Program Services Set Aside program year 2020-2021. This program supplements DOHs existing efforts to end homelessness in Connecticut.

Westport will hold a public hearing announcing a grant proposal for funding Diversion Specialists employed throughout the Fairfield County Coordinated Network Area for shelter diversion. The town anticipates applying for a grant amount up to $500,000 under the eligible activity of public services.

All interested citizens are invited to attend these public hearings.

 The Department of Human Services has announced that, in light of the current COVID-19 distancing guidelines, VITA, the IRSs companion to the AARP free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, is now offering virtual tax preparation to residents without in-person contact.

The new virtual platform is available to taxpayers by connecting them via a secure portal to a remote certified tax preparer. The site and requisite document exchange mechanisms are encrypted for safety, and the methodology conforms to IRS policy and procedures.

Participants will need a smartphone or a computer, access to Wi-Fi, and a working phone number and email address to complete their return. The simple process includes an online intake survey, the uploading of tax forms, and a phone or video appointment. A tax counselor will confirm receipt of documents and prepare the return, followed by a second counselor who will perform a quality review before e-filing.

 Kayla Shah and Robert Zyskowski, of Westport, were named to the winter honors list at Pomfret School.

 The Westport Center for Senior Activities has over 30 programs available online for their spring 2020 quarter. Programs include Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Essentrics, low impact and high impact exercise classes, French language, current events, religion class and studio art. The spring quarter classes began April 1.

To take an online class a participant needs a computer, an email address and access to the internet. For a full list of online classes visit www.westportct.gov/seniorcenter.

 Westport Country Playhouse has announces changes in its upcoming 2020 season, with the official opening now scheduled for July instead of the previously announced April kickoff, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The revised 2020 lineup includes a total of three productions: Two musicals, Aint Misbehavin and Next to Normal, and a new comedy, Tiny House, instead of the originally scheduled five productions. The three shows were part of the initial 2020 season plan, although two have had date shifts.

Antigone and Blues for an Alabama Sky, originally scheduled in the 2020 season, have been postponed to future seasons.

The modified three-play season will run from July 14 through Oct. 24, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos. This year marks the historic, professional theaters 90th season.
Government relief package expected for construction sector

03 April 2020

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan, is likely to announce a relief package for the construction industry and issue a directive for the resumption of all China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related infrastructure and energy projects on Friday and this anticipation has renewed interest in investors to buy leading cement scripts of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for the last two days.



The relief package will also support the uplift of other industries allied with the construction sector, says the government. All major cement players touched the upper bracket with good volume and this trend is expected to continue, if the package is announced as per markets expectation, experts predict.



Some of the company's set to benefit include Attock Cement Pak Ltd, Bestway Cement Ltd, Cherat Cement Co Ltd, DG Khan Cement Co Ltd, Dewan Cement Ltd, Fauji Cement Co Ltd, Lucky Cement Ltd, Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd, etc.

Published under
Harriet Glickman, who in 1968 persuaded Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, to add an African-American character to his roster of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang, died on March 27 at her home in Sherman Oaks, Calif. She was 93.

Her daughter, Katherine Moore-MacMillan, said the cause was complications of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Ms. Glickman was a former schoolteacher in California when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, shocking the nation and heightening her concern about what she saw as toxic racism that permeated society.

She began thinking of ways the mass media shaped the unconscious biases of Americas children, she later wrote, and felt that something could be done through our comic strips.
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Israel's military and other security services undergo largest rearmament in years

Spain PM calls for a debate to consider COVID-19 endemic disease

Flyone Armenia and Pegasus receive permission for Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights

Pope condemns "baseless" ideological misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines

Arab foreign ministers to visit Beijing

Azerbaijanis stoned an Armenian car on the Stepanakert-Goris road

Armenian FM has a phone call with his Polish counterpart

Macron travels to French Riviera to discuss internal security issues

Artsakh Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan's aggressive behavior aims to disrupt Russian peacekeepers' activities

US COVID-19 cases reach 60 million

European Parliament President hospitalized due to immune system dysfunction

Washington and Ankara discuss normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey

WHO excludes emergence of deltacron strain

In Karabakh Azerbaijanis shelled tractor

Indian Defense Minister tests positive for COVID-19

US-Russia talks on security guarantees lasting for seven hours already

NEWS.am daily digest: 10.01.22

Pashinyan appoints Hayk Mkrtchyan as Deputy Governor of Kotayk province

Blast in eastern Afghanistan kills nine children

Pashinyan: One of key priorities of Armenia presidency at CSTO is strengthening of crisis response mechanisms

Internet cut off in Kazakhstan

Armenia, Kazakhstan ombudspersons confer on Armenian communitys rights

Armenia, Russia defense ministers discuss Kazakhstan

Turkey defense minister meets with their envoy in process of normalization of Armenia relations

Iranian Foreign Ministry reports progress in Vienna negotiations

Dollar continues going up in Armenia

New attempt by migrants in Belarus to storm Poland border

Skat Airlines resumes Yerevan-Aktau and Aktau-Yerevan flights

New Covid-related restrictions to be introduced in Armenia

Karabakh police: Firefighters also targeted by Azerbaijan shooting (PHOTOS)

Artsakh Defense Army has not fired on Azerbaijan positions

Azerbaijani military are protesting amid military awards deprivation

Azerbaijanis open fire in Nagorno-Karabakh

Karabakh MFA: Events in Kazakhstan are result of actions planned by Turkey

Armenia army General Staff has new deputy chief

Australia to buy US $ 2.5 billion of armored vehicles

Artsakh emergency service: Search for soldiers remains continued during holidays

Kazakh Colonel Nazanov dies after heart attack

Australia begins to vaccinate children aged 5-11 with COVID-19 vaccine

Putin: Peacekeeping contingent to stay in Kazakhstan for a limited period

Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit court session is closed

Azerbaijan commandos conduct military exercises

Part of the Great Wall of China collapsed due to earthquake

Armenia MP: Turkey, Azerbaijans regional calculations have mixed up

Copper prices decline

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit trial resumes

Gold is getting cheaper

EU is ready to support in addressing Karabakh crisis

126 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Fire in residential building in New York leaves 19 people killed

National Center for Infectious Diseases Yerevan branch employees protesting outside center

Karabakh President: Radical Pan-Turkic circles are actively involved in process in Kazakhstan

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Mars helicopter Ingenuity preparing for difficult 19th flight

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EC says construction of new nuclear power plants in Europe will require  500 billion in investment

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Anti-vaxxer Meryl Dorey (pictured) called on her 13,000 followers to storm hospitals during the coronavirus lockdown

An anti-vaxxer who has outrageoysly claimed the coronavirus pandemic is 'fake' has called on her thousands of followers to storm hospitals and breach social distancing laws.

Meryl Dorey, co-leader of the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN), took to social media to tell her 13,000 followers they are 'being lied to about the deadly coronavirus'.



The advice to break self-isolation rules has been slammed by healthcare officials who have called it 'dangerous' and 'illegal'.

Anti-vaxxers worldwide have called the coronavirus pandemic a hoax and called on their members to not adhere to government laws, despite more than 55,301 deaths worldwide and scientific evidence showing that the virus is very much real.

'Are you being lied to? If you are out an about in the next couple of days, why don't you take your phones and pop into the local hospital. Let us know how crowded it is - or is not,' Ms Dorey wrote on Facebook.

'Is coronavirus really overwhelming our nation or is our nation overwhelming us with lies and killing our economy and us?'

Along with her post, Ms Dorey shared a video by fellow American anti-vaxxer Dana Ashlie, who put together clips of her followers questioning paramedics and hospital staff about how many patients with coronavirus they have treated.

America has surpassed Italy and China in coronavirus infections and more than 5,000 deaths.

Ms Dorey shared a video by fellow American anti-vaxxer Dana Ashlie (pictured), who put together clips of her followers questioning paramedics and hospital staff about how many patients with coronavirus they have treated

WHY ANTI-VAXXING IS DANGEROUS Immunisation is an effective way of protecting people from harmful, contagious diseases. Before vaccination campaigns in the 1960s and 70s, diseases like tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough killed thousands of children. Immunisation also protects the whole community, preventing the spread of the disease - known as 'herd immunity'. Vaccination can cause a disease to die out altogether - as was the case when smallpox was eradicated in 1980 after a vaccination campaign led by the World Health Organisation. Vaccination rates are at over 93 per cent for five-year-olds in Australia. Source: Australian Department of Health Advertisement

Recently arrived overseas travellers arrive at the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne, Sunday, March 29, 2020

Ms Dorey's followers pointed out some 'suspicious' sightings since the outbreak and said they were planning to go to hospitals to question the coronavirus pandemic.

'So quiet on Melbourne roads. No sign or sounds of ambulances overburdened with the sick. Very suspicious,' one person wrote.

'We heard a lot of sirens and choppers for a couple of weeks. Since about 3 days ago nothing,' another commented.

'Our local hospital emergency was so quiet we went in, treated and home in just over an hour. Never had that before! someone else wrote.

'I plan to do just that! My local hospital is looking pretty quiet and I'm not seeing or hearing ambulances where's the pandemic? Oh, sorry, of course, the lock down stopped it,' another wrote.

'Went to Liverpool NSW hospital today and emergency room was empty. Two people in the waiting room. which is the least I've ever seen there,' someone wrote.

Ms Dorey's followers pointed out some 'suspicious' sightings since the outbreak and said they were planning on going to hospitals to question the coronavirus pandemic

John Dwyer, a critic of the anti-vaxxers, said there could be an increase of contact-to-contact infection of the coronavirus if people were to break the social distancing rules.

'We don't want people going out at all except for essential purposes,' he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

'This advice is not just putting (people) in danger because they are stupid, the whole purpose of our social distancing is to stop transmission from one person to another.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'People who ignore it, they are a risk to the whole community and now we are at our most dangerous phase where we have community spread without contact with travellers.'

Ms Dorey hit back at Mr Dwyer's comments saying she suggested her followers 'pop over' to hospitals when they're walking past.

'I see no reason why it would be considered illegal for them to pass by the hospital on their way out or back?' she responded

'From everything I have been told, many hospitals have empty or nearly empty car parks. So where are all the COVID-19 sufferers?'

Australia currently has 5,350 positive coronavirus cases and a total of 28 dead.

Expert modelling of the virus by scientists shows the greatest impact on its spread is 'the most severe of social distancing measures'.

Strict social distancing rules have been brought in, preventing people from leaving their homes for non-essential activities.

Rates of infection have dropped in recent days, with just a 9.4 per cent increase in cases on Sunday, compared to 26.2 per cent on March 22, in the first signs the coronavirus curve may be flattening.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Tuesday the slowdown was a 'significant achievement'.

'That's an achievement to which all Australians have contributed,' Mr Hunt said in Canberra.
VERDUNO, CUNEO, ITALY - 2020/03/31: Medical workers wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are pictured outside Verduno hospital (Alba-Bra hospital). Nicolo Campo

A lack of beds, protective equipment and doctors are just some of the issues being faced in Europe, as the coronavirus crisis exposes the weaknesses of the region's national health systems. After deep austerity measures over the last decade, the health systems of countries like Italy, Spain, the U.K. and Portugal are struggling to keep on top of the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. There are some common issues, such as a lack of testing kits to monitor the virus, and not enough protective clothing and equipment. "Overloaded," a junior doctor in the north of Portugal, and who didn't want to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, told CNBC. "There are no personal resources nor (enough) equipment for everything." Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has said all EU nations are finding it hard to meet demand for equipment, but claims his country's health system is delivering on other non-virus cases.

Not enough doctors

There is one crucial thing that governments are finding it difficult to provide enough of: heath-care workers. "A lot of staff are in quarantine, and those who aren't end up doing shift on top of another shift," the Portuguese doctor added. The president of the Portuguese medical association has appealed to retired doctors to return to the national health service and help during the emergency. The country saw a large exodus of health professionals in the wake of the 2011 sovereign debt crisis, with some opting to move elsewhere, where the wages were higher. This has also been the case in Spain and Italy, where the lack of medical staff has been a key issue during the pandemic.

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 31: Interior of an IFEMA pavilion fitted out as a temporary hospital for patients with coronavirus, on March 31, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Europa Press News

When asked about the biggest challenges facing Italy's health-care system, Vincenzo Defilippis, director of the local health authority of Bari, in southern Italy, told CNBC: "The scarcity of doctors and nurses." These health-care workers are the front line in the fight against what European heads of state have dubbed a "coronavirus war." There are a growing number of medical staff who have died as a result of the coronavirus  in Italy, for instance, over 60 health-care professionals have died so far, according to the Italian national doctors association. In Spain, meanwhile, there have been more than 12,000 infections among health care workers to date, according to the El Pais newspaper. The General Medical Council of Spain said it did not have enough data to confirm how many medical professionals had died from the virus so far when contacted by CNBC Monday, however, it has previously confirmed that one doctor, aged 59, and a nurse, aged 52, had died from COVID-19. Meanwhile in the U.K., one in four doctors are off work because they are either sick or in self-isolation, according to the Royal College of Physicians earlier this week.

Lack of protective equipment

Infections among medical professionals have reportedly been accentuated by a lack of protective equipment, such as masks. "Our main concern is to get as soon as possible the right equipment to protect ourselves," Tomas Cobo, an anaesthetist at a hospital in Madrid, Spain, told CNBC via email. The total number of infections and deaths in Spain have surpassed those of China, where the outbreak emerged in late 2019. The virus has taken so many lives that in Madrid some bodies have been moved into an ice-skating rink, as the funeral homes have run out of space.

Italy was not ready for COVID-19 pandemic. Giuseppe Navarra Professor of surgery at the University of Messina

One of the main criticisms of the Spanish government is that it didn't stock up on medical equipment early enough. The government has vowed to buy and distribute 550 million masks, 5.5 million tests and 950 pieces of assisted breathing equipment over the next eight weeks, the health ministry announced last week. In Britain, the government has also been criticized for a lack of protective equipment being available. Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of the U.K. medical journal, The Lancet, said in an article that the country's national health system "has been wholly unprepared for this pandemic." A spokesman for the U.K. government said Thursday that there have been some "distribution problems" of protective equipment, but noted that this is a temporary issue.

Not enough beds

Another issue plaguing the health services in Europe is the inability to accommodate the large numbers of patients falling gravely ill at the same time. "We have a great problem with the total number of ITU (intensive therapy unit) beds," Cobo, from Madrid, added. Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe, faces the same problem. "In the last decade, the (Italian national health service) has seen cuts of more than 37 billion euros ($40 billion) with a significant reduction of ICU (intensive care unit) beds together with a progressive privatization of health care, especially in the rich north," Giuseppe Navarra, professor of surgery at the University of Messina in Sicily, told CNBC via email. "Italy was not ready for COVID-19 pandemic," he added.

Doctors are on the street in front of the emergency entrance of the hospital of St. Pau to thank the support of the neighbors during the crisis of coronavirus - Covidien-19 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, on March 31, 2020. NurPhoto

The Italian government has received masks, ventilators and expert advice from China, and the Italian health ministry has said the additional distribution of protective equipment will be prioritized to medical staff. Both Defilippis and Navarra told CNBC that some health-care workers had been told to continue working even if they have tested positive for the virus, "unless symptomatic." The Italian government was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC Thursday.

Testing issues
OTTAWAThe Canadian government confronted the ugly face of pandemic protectionism Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a halt to American exports of much-needed specialized medical masks and other medical supplies to Canada and Latin American markets.

Late Friday, the Trump administration ordered the tighter restrictions, saying the Homeland Security Department will work with the federal emergency measures agency to prevent the export of N95 respirators, surgical masks, gloves, and other protective equipment.

We need these items immediately for domestic use. We have to have em, Trump said Friday. He shrugged off Canadian complaints, saying he was not happy with 3M, the Minnesota-based manufacturer that is the dominant supplier of masks in North America.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said a secure supply of the N95 high-grade respirator masks, which are a medical device that capture 95 per cent of airborne virus-laden droplets, is a life and death matter for health workers, and said the Canadian government will pull out all the stops to reverse the U.S. decision.

The move comes as Canadian hospitals and front-line medical workers are already strapped for supplies, and are rationing masks. Some nurses and doctors report being asked to disinfect and reuse them unless they are performing intubations or mechanical ventilations of infected patients  procedures which can cause patients to cough up infected droplets and spray them all over a room.

Canadian officials now scrambling to buy supplies on international markets say it has become a crazy dog-eat-dog world.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Friday it was a hard war after earlier describing tarmac battles to secure equipment that had been purchased. He said at times youve got too arrive with cash. You need police, people who follow the transport. But dont worry, said Legault. Were going to do whatever is possible to make sure the orders we place make it to hospitals here in Quebec.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he would ensure that Canada never gets left behind again in the race for medical equipment. He called Trumps trade ambassador Robert Lighthizer Thursday to urge the U.S. not to restrict the vital supplies.

I just cant stress how disappointed I am with President Trump for making this decision, said Ford. I understand, you know he said, Ive got to take care of my own people, but you know, were connected. Even in saying that, Im not going to rely on President Trump, Im not going to rely on any prime minister or president or any country ever again.

Were gearing up and when those assemblies start, we arent going to stop. Well make sure were going to supply supplies not just for everyone Ontario but everyone in Canada.

Mike Roman, the chairman and CEO of 3M, one of the largest global manufacturers and key supplier to Canada, said the company would comply with Trumps order under the Defence Production Act.

But he criticized the move, warning of significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to health-care workers.

We have a small portion of our respirator production in the U.S. that goes to Canada and Latin America. Its been a long-standing commitment to the health-care workers in those countries, and we are the primary supply for them, Roman told CNBC. He said on the other hand the U.S. is a net importer with what were bringing in from China.

The 3M company warned it would likely cause other countries to retaliate, and lead to fewer respirator masks being available to Americans.

However Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that Canada would not retaliate. His government has worked for days to ensure the U.S. understands that trade in essential medical supplies goes both ways across the border, he said.

These are things that Americans rely on and it would be a mistake to create blockages, Trudeau said, pointing to thousands of nurses and medical personnel from Windsor who cross the border to work in Detroit every day.

Trudeau said he believed the message was getting through. We continue to be confident that we are going to receive the necessary medical equipment.

Yet it was clear hours later in Trumps news conference that Canadas messages had fallen on deaf ears, although Trump hinted he would not stop orders that countries like hard-hit Italy may already have placed for some supplies.

Trump defended his actions, and said he took care of the Canadians and others on cruise ships that he allowed to dock in Florida. We could have let them float aimlessly.

Trudeau did not say whether he had personally tried to engage Trump on the crucial question of medical supplies.

It is now almost impossible to get a handle on just how big the gap is in Canadas anticipated supply as a result by Trumps order to stop 3Ms N95 shipments to Canada, let alone other medical supplies.

Since the onset of the crisis, the federal government had ordered a total of 65 million of the specialized N95 masks. But it is now loath to reveal exactly how many are already held by all provinces and territories, nor what is in the federal emergency stockpile, nor where it was sourcing its new orders  whether all 65 million was to come from 3M or not.

Canadian distributors said Friday Trumps decision on the N95 masks is a huge blow.

Gayle Padvaiskas, a senior executive with Montreal-based Medicom, which has eight manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe and in the U.S. state of Georgia, said the 3M company is the dominant N95 respirator provider for North American markets, including Canada.

Because 3M is the big player in North America, along with Honeywell, Medicoms market for N95s is mostly in Asia, she said.So this action actually puts front line health workers at risk across North America and Latin America if that would hold true.

It is certainly not what a valued ally would do in terms of restrictions on supply of critical-care materials that are needed to protect front-line workers, she added.

Medicom is among a number of companies that delivered more than 10 million surgical or procedural masks this week to the federal government, and has signed an agreement to provide many tens of millions more as part of a deal Ottawa announced to purchase 157 million surgical masks from suppliers.

Medicom now plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Canada in the next two to three months after it closed a plant earlier this year in Granby, QC.

Goran Abramovic, a spokesman for Wurth Canada, another major Canadian distributor of masks and PPE, said in an email interview that supplies for PPE are drying up in both the U.S. and China.

Things are literally changing by the hour. Our supply chain is being impacted in so many different areas, he said.

He said there is price gouging on all fronts, from manufacturers who are now charging us five times the original cost for a mask. Abramovic said the company had orders that were placed months ago, that were confirmed and then all of a sudden cancelled. We also have heard of manufacturers/suppliers giving whatever inventory they have to the highest bidder.

Lastly, China has once again limited and in some cases stopped the export of the highest demand PPE items like N95 masks.

He said many U.S. vendors have been directed by state and federal officials to redirect ALL of their shipments to government and health-care contracts. This means we will NOT be receiving stock for many items that are also critical for us to sell to hospitals, first responders, the police force, or anyone considered an essential service.

Sheldon Sturrock, who owns Allied Medical, a Toronto company that supplies masks, gowns, sanitizer and wipes to Canadian paramedic, police and fire departments, said he hasnt received any masks from 3M since January, because the company was worried they would be sold on the black market.

Amid the news, Trudeau said his government would spend $100 million to meet urgent food needs of vulnerable Canadians including living in Indigenous and remote northern communities.

Military reservists are being called up and Rangers in the north are building tents to house medical facilities.

But suddenly, many more Canadians may find themselves vulnerable in a health system that faces a dearth of the key medical masks and other protective equipment for health workers.

Trudeau said Friday the government has struck a deal with Amazon Canada to distribute much needed supplies across Canada as they become available.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said the Trump administrations move presented a serious situation, and said Canada must also look after its own supplies.

I believe it is essential for us and critical to find ways to protect our equipment and protect our ability to produce equipment over the next few weeks he said.

Scheer called Friday for more frequent remote accountability sessions of parliamentarians to allow the Opposition parties to hold ministers feet to the fire as the government grapples with the health and economic damage roiling the country in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more about:
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic.

After earning a Ph.D. at the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa, in 1994 while raising two young children, Gita Ramjee was exhausted.

Her thesis had been on kidney diseases in children  she had worked in a pediatrics ward at a local hospital  but she took a job on a small research project in a different field, since it promised a less frantic pace. It was a life-changing choice.

The research involved whether a vaginal microbicide was useful against AIDS, which was rampant in South Africa. The research put her in contact with sex workers, who told chilling stories of economic hardship, high-risk behavior and men who were indifferent to using protection.

It opened my eyes, Dr. Ramjee told The Guardian in 2007.

Thats when I knew I wanted to be involved in the prevention of H.I.V. infection in women, she added.
Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino became the star of his own movie on Thursday's episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation thanks to a gift from his roommates.

Called 'The Shorefather,' the movie traced his evolution from a brawling 'bad boy' to a married, sober man, with videos dating from his Jersey Shore days to his release from prison.

Mike, 37, recently spent eight months in a federal prison in Otisville, New York, on one count of tax evasion, a sentence that had devastated his friends.

Leading man: Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino was the leading man in a movie his roommates made for him on Thursday's episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation

The movie they created to celebrate his return featured the tagline, 'The comeback is always greater than the setback,' and a 'release' date of September 12, 2019, referring to the day Mike finally returned home.

His roommates in Manapalan, New Jersey, arranged everything for the movie 'premiere,' from 'Shorefather' posters echoing The Godfather films to a red carpet, velvet ropes and popcorn.

They even inflated a full-sized movie screen and purchased candy for the 'snack bar.'

'I'm really excited to see if he cries, and I think he will,' said Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, 32.

Good time: Lauren Pesce and husband Mike enjoyed the biopic called The Shorefather

Outdoor movie: The roommates screened the movie outdoors including a popcorn machine

The episode opened with Snooki Polizzi, 32, Deena Cortese, 33, and Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, 34, shopping for Angelina Pivarnick's wedding dress, joined by her maid of honor Janine.

Janine felt sure that Angelina's third engagement would be the one that made it to the altar.

Angelina was looking for a dress that would make both her fiance Chris Larangeira and his mother cry, and one appeared it could be a winner.

Wedding dress: The episode opened with Snooki Polizzi, 32, Deena Cortese, 33, and Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, 34, shopping for Angelina Pivarnick's wedding dress, joined by her maid of honor Janine

'Yes, b****!' Snooki said as Angelina tried on a lacy gown with a sheer bodice and a sheer veil.

'You look like an antique wedding doll,' Deena added.

After the women found bridesmaids' dresses, they returned to the house, where Vinny Guadagnino, 32, cooked dinner for everyone.

Bridal party: Deena, Snooki and JWoww were all part of Angelina's bridal party

He took so long that a few of the cast snuck off to Burger King to get take-out.

As they all prepared to stage Mike's movie premiere, the sight of a dead baby bunny in the backyard sent noted animal lover Deena into floods of tears, threatening to derail the evening.

'We are gonna bury it, and it's gonna become grass,' Vinny offered. 'And the antelope eat the grass. And we eat the antelope. And we are all connected' he sang, 'in the Circle of Life!'

Making dinner: Vinny Guadagnino cooked dinner for everyone

Fast food: The roommates couldn't wait for dinner and went to Burger King for some fast food

As Deena continued to cry, Angelina, Jenni and Snooki buried the bunny, and said a prayer.

Dinner went on as planned and Mike was led to the red-carpet outdoors, greeted by 'paparazzo' Vinny.

Mike was thrilled to see the movie set-up, saying, 'This is the dopest gift I've ever gotten. My friends never cease to amaze me.'

Getting emotional: Deena cried after a dead bunny was found in the yard

Proper burial: Angelina, Jenni and Snooki buried the bunny and said a prayer

As Vinny tried to give a speech before the movie, his friends threw popcorn at him, crying, 'Start the movie, douche!'

A sign on the screen said, 'The following preview has been approved for all Guidos.'

'You've seen The Godfather,' a voice intoned. 'But on the mean streets of New Jersey, there's a story about a man like you've never seen before. Here's the true story of the man they call The Situation.'

Movie time: Mike and Lauren were lead to the red carpet by Vinny

Mike couldn't believe the journey his friends had pieced together onscreen, and his wife Lauren Sorrentino cried as she watched the film, especially the scenes of their wedding and his incarceration.

'I love you guys, and I will be with you guys for the rest of our lives,' Mike told everyone, as written tributes from his castmates appeared on the screen.

'The last 10 years have been a roller coaster,' Mike considered privately. 'A lot of the times, there's not a fairy-tale ending. Actually, most of the time there's not. But having my roommates stand by me gave me the strength to get through that very, very trying time.'

Fun film: The Shorefather showed Mike's transformation over the years

The cast then caught Mike on eight months of drama, fights and fun that he'd missed.

'I have a 24-year-old boyfriend,' Jenni added, as everyone noted she was finally having sex.

'Her vagina had cobwebs on it before you went to prison,' said Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, 34.

Missed out: The cast then caught Mike on eight months of drama, fights and fun that he'd missed.

'Bats came out,' Snooki affirmed.

Mike told them that he'd been excited to see that they all went to the White House to fight for his release when he was in prisonand then when he watched it on TMZ, he saw Deena faceplant into a pile of mulch outside the White House.

'I missed out on so many moments in the past eight months,' he reflected. 'I missed out on all this drama and all this chaos. But there's no place I'd rather be.'

Younger boyfriend: 'I have a 24-year-old boyfriend,' Jenni added, as everyone noted she was finally having sex

Reflective moment: 'I missed out on so many moments in the past eight months. I missed out on all this drama and all this chaos. But there's no place I'd rather be,' Mike reflected

Mike said goodbye to his pals, went to his car, and got two suitcases out before returning to the house.

'I was wondering if my old room was available,' he told his roommates, who cheered.

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation returns next week on MTV.
We have nothing. We dont have that kind of money they are asking for.

Those were the words of one of the nephews of couple Narine Maraj, 62, and Mattie Maraj, 52, who were kidnapped on Saturday evening after leaving their Madras, St Helena, home to tend to their animals at a family-owned farm in Piarco.
The officials and staff of the Supreme Court have donated more than Rs 1 crore to the PM-CARES fund to help in the country's fight against coronavirus pandemic.

"To fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Rs 1,00,61,989 has been contributed to PM-CARES fund by officers and officials of the Supreme Court of India," said an official source.

As per a circular issued on March 29 by apex court registrar (cash and accounts), all gazetted officers were to donate three days' salary, non-gazetted employees were to donate two days' salary and group C employees were to donate one day's salary to the Prime Minister Citizens' Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM-CARES) fund.

The contribution of the employees, which was voluntary, was to be deducted from the salary of March.

On April 1, all the 33 judges of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, had donated Rs 50,000 each to the PM-CARES fund to aid the nation's fight against the pandemic.

On March 28, apex court judge Justice N V Ramana had donated Rs one lakh each to the Prime Minister's relief fund and the chief minister's relief funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to help in combating COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Audiobooks: The Tales of Beedle the Bard, by J.K. Rowling

British writer J.K. Rowling, with a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, now on Audible. Credit:AP

In response to the COVID-19 emergency, J.K. Rowling has brought the sprawling corners of her wizarding world online with a range of initiatives to support parents and carers stuck inside with the kids. The first comes in the form of a digital hub: wizardingworld.com, which will span everything from magical quizzes, to creative craft activities  set to be updated weekly.

Also Audible has also made Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone available for free, as part of its newly-launched Audible Stories collection  the English version is performed by Stephen Fry. It has also added the first audiobook edition of J.K. Rowling's 2007 book The Tales of Beedle the Bard this week, just in time to help wizard fans while away their time in isolation with some escapism.

A collection of wizarding and witching fairytales, which are meant to be as familiar as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are to non-magical muggles, the audiobook breathes new life into the Hogwarts universe. The authors introduction is read by Sally Mortemore (librarian Madam Pince from the Harry Potter films), with readings from actors Warwick Davis, Evanna Lynch, Jason Isaacs, Bonnie Wright, Noma Dumezweni and Jude Law. This is sure to free young folk from the virus pandemonium. Available now, Audible, $20+, audible.com.au
Even as the state education department has asked private schools to not demand fees amidst the lockdown, parents said that many schools are still sending them emails and messages asking them to pay the fees.

On Thursday, a school in Navi Mumbai asked parents to pay through an online link. We were asked to pay the fees and send an email after paying. When some parents tried to reason with the school authorities showing the education departments guidelines, they said that parents can pay now or later, said a parent of a student from the school. The school did not respond to calls and messages.

On March 30, the education department issued a circular, asking schools to ensure that parents are not forced to pay fees. The department stated that the rule applies to all private schools in the state irrespective of the board they are affiliated to.

Another parent of a student at a Malad school said that the authorities had sent an alert on the school application with the payment link. Why are they even giving us an option to pay when schools are shut anyway? said the parent. The Malad school also did not respond to calls and messages.

Education department officials said that parents can write to them if schools are violating norms. Action will be taken against the said school, said a senior official from the department.
An order prohibiting self-testing for COVID-19 using so-called rapid pinprick tests has been issued in South Australia.

The serology antibody tests can return results in about 30 minutes, but are only accurate if antibodies can be detected in the blood, which can take between five and seven days after infection.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration says because antibody tests do not detect active viral shedding, they cannot determine if an individual is infectious.

That could result in false-negative results.

South Australian police say a direction (pdf) under the Emergency Management Act has been issued to prevent the use of serology tests as a tool to detect or diagnose COVID-19.

The purpose of this direction is to prohibit a person from using a serological test as an acute illness diagnostic tool for COVID-19, as their use may adversely affect the prevention, control, and abatement of the serious public health risk, a statement said.

The direction does not apply to employees of South Australia Pathology or the Department of Health and Wellbeing.

Members of the public have also been warned against purchasing test-at-home kits being advertised on the social media platform WeChat in Australia, the ABC reports.

The sale of self-testing kits is illegal in Australia.

The supply of self-tests or at-home tests for most serious infectious diseases, including self-tests for COVID-19, is prohibited under the Therapeutic Goods (Excluded Purposes) Specification 2010, a Department of Health spokesperson told the ABC.

Non-compliance with the regulatory scheme is being monitored and we are working closely with the Australian Border Force and other health and law enforcement agencies.

The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) has and will continue to encourage reporting of potential non-compliance via the TGA website for investigation and action.

The sale of unapproved items can result in up to five years imprisonment and A$840,000 in fines per individual. Businesses face steeper fines of up to A$4.2 million.

NTD staff contributed to this report.
Lack of resources, a muddle over confinement and incipient panic are hobbling the response to coronavirus in DR Congo, fuelling fears especially for Kinshasa, one of Africa's largest and most chaotic cities.

Almost all of the infections in the vast central African nation have occurred in the capital, along with a handful in the east -- a deeply-troubled region hit by Ebola and militia attacks.

"The coming week will be the most difficult for Kinshasa. The numbers will quickly double or triple," Jean-Jacques Muyembe, who is leading DRC's fight against the pandemic, warned in an interview with Jeune Afrique magazine.

According to official figures released late Wednesday, there have been 123 confirmed cases, 11 of them deaths, in a nation of some 80 million people.

Kinshasa, which has been isolated from the rest of the country, has 118 cases but this is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg giving the paucity of testing.

"On average, 50 tests are carried out each day at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB)," said a health official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Five cases have been recorded in six days in the Democratic Republic of Congo's volatile east, destabilised by 25 years of rebel and militant attacks.

Two of them emerged in Goma, the capital of the eastern North Kivu province, which is officially due to declare an end to the Ebola outbreak on April 12 if no more cases of haemorrhagic fever emerge.

Fears of looting

Kinshasa, home to at least 10 million people, was meant to go into lockdown on Saturday for four days under an announcement made unilaterally by the region's governor.

But officials delayed the measure after the announcement triggered fears of a rise in the prices of basic goods and the risk of unrest.

President Felix Tshisekedi, elected 15 months ago on a platform of change, faces a mountainous challenge in the form of the coronavirus pandemic. By LUDOVIC MARIN (AFP)

The national intelligence agency "warned the presidency of the threat of looting," an informed source said.

The city witnessed pillaging, led by security forces, in 1991 and 1993.

A day after the lockdown U-turn, President Felix Tshisekedi held an emergency meeting but there have been no announcements since.

"They want to decide on something that works. They can't afford to make mistakes," an observer said.

Two globally-renowned names have been enlisted in the campaign against coronavirus: Dr. Muyembe, who helped discover the Ebola virus in 1976, is national coordinator, while the 2018 Nobel Peace laureate, gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, is overseeing the response in the east.

'General panic'

Despite these reassuring appointments, preparations to deal with large numbers of coronavirus cases in Kinshasa are a mess, according to experts.

"The medical facilities are unequipped to take in sick people, apart from a hospital run by the Chinese," a health expert said.

There are only 65 ventilators in all of Kinshasa's hospitals, a researcher said. The INRB has no vehicles or fuel and foreign NGOs are pitching in to help, other sources said.

The problems have been experienced first-hand by some of Tshisekedi's entourage.

The president's special adviser, Vidiye Tshimanga, tested positive on March 23, after spending two days at home during which medical teams failed to arrive.

Churches and mosques were deserted after the government asked for places to worship to close for four weeks. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)

Tshimanga, who was diagnosed with a mild forum of coronavirus and is on the mend, told AFP that when he went for a lung scan on Monday, he was met by a hospital official "who refused to let me get out of the ambulance."

One of his friends and a close aide of the president has meanwhile died, he told AFP.

"The medical teams were ill-informed and fearful of COVID-19 and hardly took care of him," Tshimanga said of his deceased colleague.

"I have heard of other cases like this," he said. "A kind of general panic has set in. COVID-19 patients are being left to one side without receiving care. There is a lack of information... something that we (the government) are going to have to tackle as soon as possible."
Friday, April 3, 2020

Carl Michael reviews the institutional base of Belt and Road Initiative in his fourth blog post for our Emerging Fellows program. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members.

The primary institutional base underpinning the BRI is provided by the three interlocking branches of political power in China. The Communist Party of China (CPC), the State Council and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The CPC continues the long tradition of a unified Confucian ruling entity, which seeks to represent the interests of the whole of society, in comparison with a Western-style political party approach. Chinese governments are expected to cope with the challenges posed by a huge population and vast territory, ostensibly shaping a political culture characterized by valuing a longer-term vision, a more holistic perception of politics which places high value on the countrys overall stability and prosperity. This single-party approach, embodied by the CPC, is often contrasted with the impact of change of central government every few years in multi-party democratic systems as well as the national chaos following Chinas 1911 revolution which sought a Western political model. The CPC exercises oversight of the BRI through the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

The State Council on the other hand is the chief administrative authority in China and it exercises authority over the BRI through cabinet-level bodies such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce which is responsible for foreign trade policy and agreements and foreign direct investment. These bodies and their predecessors were instrumental in Chinas entry into the World Trade Organisation.

Chief among the financial institutes which underpin BRI activities is the government-owned China Development Bank (CDB). It is one of the most powerful banks in the world and has been crucial in transforming Chinas economy and competitiveness. Even though other national development banks have financed political projects and favoured industries that private investors would eschew; never has such an institution existed with so much capital and financial capability with control delivered into the hands of one body, the CPC. The rise of Chinese capital availability overseas is an ever-increasing trend facilitated by the CDB which specializes in financing infrastructure, energy and transportation. In this it is complimented by the Exim Bank of China which specializes in financing trade, investment and economic cooperation; and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whose starting capital and credit ratings have made it a rival to the World Bank, ADB and the IMF. In addition to these banks, the government-owned Silk Road Fund fosters increased investment in countries participating in the BRI.

Any understanding of the institutional base of the BRI would be incomplete without considering the role of the Chinese PLA, which is the largest military force in the world. The recent growth of the PLAs global power projection capabilities and strategic nuclear missile capabilities has been noteworthy. Local conditions in many BRI areas are highly unstable and scenarios where China may require the PLA to protect its interests beyond its borders are not unrealistic. As Chinas growth has moved it along the path to becoming a true maritime power, so also has the PLA navy expanded its global reach with the acquisition of aircraft carriers, carrier-killer missiles and overseas bases. The perception of the PLA as being the armed wing of the CPC means the PLAs deployment abroad is extremely sensitive in nature.

There is concern regarding the rise of a global player with an institutional base such as Chinas. The justifiable unease in many parts of the world arises from the links between its national mission, power projection capabilities and political system. If this unease is not alleviated, the BRI could be perceived as a neo-colonial form of tributary diplomacy even as China works to reinstate its rightful civilisational place in the world order.

 Carl Michael 2020
HUNTER  Not even trail registers, those rustic wooden mini-kiosks where hikers sign in before tackling trails in the Adirondack or Catskill mountains, are untouched by the coronavirus pandemic.

A recent advisory from the state Department of Environmental Conservation tells people to bring their own pencils and hand sanitizers to sign the registers, which are usually nailed to trees in areas several yards from the entrances to trailheads.

The logbooks offer a record of how many people use a given trail each day and can aid search efforts if someone who has signed in doesnt return to sign out.

During the COVID-19 public health crisis, special precautions should be taken while using trailhead registers to minimize spread of the virus through commonly touched surfaces, such as pencils and the registers themselves, a recent Adirondack Outdoor Recreation Bulletin from the state Department of Environmental Conservation notes.

In addition to the call for pencils and sanitizer, the advisory encourages people to stand six feet apart and minimize the number of the times they touch the register.

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The advice also comes as DEC is urging people to avoid drive time by staying close to home for any hikes or outdoor activities. By making shorter trips, there are less opportunities to spread the virus during gas or food stops.

Some communities are warning people to stay away from the trails that lie within their municipal borders.

The town of Hunter in Greene County recently took that action, citing a need for social distancing and to lower the risk to rescuers sent to save hikers.

We ask that residents and visitors DO NOT access our trailheads, reads a notice on the town of Hunters web page.

The popular Kaaterskill Falls area in the town poses a particular concern. Starting right at the roadway, there is a very popular trail that leads to the site's photogenic waterfalls where several deaths have occurred over the years after people have slipped and fallen down the areas steep terrain.

In summer, the spot also poses a traffic hazard since its off a narrow road with a hairpin curve and minimal room for hikers.

In the Adirondacks, the town of Keene and Essex County, both of which encompass much of the popular High Peaks region, have urged out-of-town hikers to stay put for the time being.

Keene officials have put on hold plans to run a hikers shuttle which usually starts up later in the year, according to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Outdoor enthusiasts have noted sporadic reports of crowded trail parking lots in some spots, which suggests that people are still traveling distances to get to the mountains. Several Facebook pages and web forums about hiking and camping have included harsh critiques of people who are traveling for hikes and mountain trips.

A year ago, environmental and outdoor groups were raising worries about overuse of well-known Adirondack trails. Then, the concern focused on trail erosion and other degradations that throngs of hikers inflict on the fragile local ecosystems.

In addition to fighting contagion, officials note rescue services normally available for people who encounter difficulties in the woods, either from getting injured or lost, are not as available this year.

Hunters notification warned that their fire department might not respond to lower level calls.

John Sheehan, spokesman for the Adirondack Council, noted that many forest rangers have been diverted to the New York City area to help with coronavirus, testing.

Rangers are usually the first to respond calls from people who are injured or lost in either the Catskills or Adirondacks.

The safety net is very thin at the moment, said Sheehan. People should recognize that.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU






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JACKSON, MI  A third person has died from the novel coronavirus in Jackson County.

The Jackson Health Department reported the third death from COVID-19 on Friday, April 3. The person did not die at Henry Ford Allegiance Health, a spokesperson said. The health department does not release the age or gender of people who have died from COVID-19.

Compliant but compassionate, Jackson County superintendents react to school closings

There are three new cases in the county, bringing the number of positive COVID-19 cases to 70, as of noon Friday, per the health department. Of the 70 cases, 26 people are in the hospital, according to HFAH. There are an additional 10 inpatients with tests pending.

With 45,000 meals distributed, its not just for the impoverished, Jackson school district says

Six people have fully recovered and been discharged, up one from Thursday, per HFAH.

A 58-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man, both with underlying health conditions, were the first to die from COVID-19 in Jackson County.

More women than men in Jackson County have COVID-19, with 53 percent of the cases, according to the health department. People between the ages of 50 and 59 make up the highest percentage of cases, at 24 percent. People 60 to 69 make up 23 percent of the cases, per the health department.

Positive COVID-19 results from the prisons in Jackson County are not included in the health departments data. Jackson prisons have 80 inmates whove tested positive, as of 8 p.m., April 2, per the Michigan Department of Corrections. Five inmates are in the Duane Waters Health Center.

Hillsdale Hospital cutting employees due to fewer patients amid coronavirus pandemic

Michigan as 10,791 positive results and 417 deaths from COVID-19 as of April 2. Fridays numbers arent released until 3 p.m.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Drone Legislation Map

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are finding new applications as governments around the world respond to the coronavirus outbreak. They are already being used in France Italy and China to monitor crowds in public places. Police in Chula Vista, Calif., are considering the use of drone-mounted speakers to help them communicate with unsheltered persons living in inaccessible areas of the city.Police in Derbyshire, U.K., have posted photos taken with drones on Twitter of dogwalkers in local beauty spots, labeling the activity as Not Essential, prompting pushback from residents who had been told by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that outside exercise is allowed. A medical delivery drone company in Africa hopes its aircraft can play a role in the pandemic response.In the U.S., state legislatures have introduced more than 50 drone bills since the beginning of 2020. None specifically mention coronavirus, but their purpose has added significance at this time. Its likely that more pandemic-specific legislation, as well as revised bills, will be introduced in the coming months. Here are some highlights: SF306 , a Minnesota Senate bill requires law enforcement to obtain a search warrant before using an unmanned aerial vehicle. In addition to applications in criminal investigations, the bill would authorize drone use during or in the aftermath of an emergency situation that involves the risk of death or bodily harm to a person, in natural or man-made disaster situations, and over a public event where there is a heightened risk to the safety of participants or bystanders. The bill, introduced in mid-February, does not mention the pandemic.Tennessees HB1612 would allow law enforcement to use a drone without a search warrant to investigate the scene of a crime or to enhance security of public events attended by more than 100 persons. It requires that video captured at public events be posted online within one day of its collection.By comparison, New Jersey Assembly bill A2301 would prohibit law enforcement officer or agencies from using drones in surveillance, defined as monitoring, observing, photographing, listening to, or making a recording of a person or group of persons or their movements, activities and communications.A South Dakota bill, HB1059 , introduced in mid-January and signed by the governor on March 2, addresses an entirely different application: hunting with drones. It makes it a misdemeanor to use a drone to kill or attempt to kill a wild bird or animal, or to use one to locate, spot or drive prey. The charges would not apply if the drone is operated over private land, with the permission of a landowner, or if it is used for this purpose in any month other than September, October and November.
Two 16-year-old boys were in an alley when a light-colored vehicle pulled up, and. a gunman exited who fired shots in their direction. On of the boys was shot in the back, and the other teenage boy suffered wounds to the back and right thigh. Both were taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.
Teens jailed for breaching gathering ban, drug use

THAILAND: Eighteen teenagers were handed jail terms for violating the terms of the Emergency Decree by holding a party and abusing drugs in Ayutthaya amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

CoronavirusCOVID-19crimedrugspolice

By Bangkok Post

Friday 3 April 2020, 01:15PM

Prayuth Phetchakhun, deputy spokesman of the Office of the Attorney-General. Photo: Bangkok Post

Prayuth Phetchakhun, deputy spokesman of the Office of the Attorney-General, said yesterday (April 2) the prosecution indicted the teenagers for breaching the decree by taking part in a mass gathering, and for drug use.

The teenagers were arrested on March 30, after officials received a tip-off from residents in Ayutthayas Bang Sai district about illegal drugs being taken at a party held at a raft house on the Chao Phraya River.

Authorities seized marijuana, ketamine, and ecstasy pills, and drug paraphernalia from the house as evidence, according to the prosecution.

The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Kwaeng Court sentenced the first two defendants to one month in jail for defying the Emergency Decree, while the rest were given four-month jail terms each for violating the decree and drug abuse, Mr Prayuth said yesterday.

This follows Police raiding a party in Patong on April 1 where 14 people were arrested including Brits, Ukrainians and an Australian. (See story here).

Meanwhile, in Udon Thani, police arrested 12 men for gathering and drinking in breach of the executive decree in Muang district on Wednesday night, police said yesterday.

Local officials went to a house in Soi Samakkhi in Ban Na Sai after being informed about a group of men drinking together and disturbing the neighbourhood by playing loud music from a car.

The men told officials that they worked as debt-collectors but they have been laid off due to the COVID-19 outbreak. They said they were holding a birthday party for a friend, before they returned to their home provinces in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, and Uthai Thani.

Initially, the men resisted arrest, saying they only partied in the house, and did not go out anywhere else, which prompted local officials to call for reinforcements to arrest them.

They were charged with defying the emergency decree, and could face a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine of no more than B40,000 each.

Udon Thani governor Nirat Pongsitthithaworn wrote on his Facebook page yesterday that there had been no new infections in the northeastern province for eight consecutive days, with the number of infected patients remaining stable at seven.
A doctor with the Greater Accra Regional Hospital who returned from a medical conference in South Africa before Ghana went into partial lockdown, has tested positive for COVID-19, a statement from the hospital has said.



The specialist doctor self-quarantined after entering Ghana.



Tests, subsequently showed he had the virus but doing well.



The statement from the hospital said: A Specialist doctor with the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge is under self-quarantine after returning into the country from South Africa prior to the partial lockdown.



The doctor who left Ghana to attend a medical conference has tested positive for COVID19. This came to the fore after he had undergone the two weeks of mandatory self-quarantine.



The COVID19 team has since been taking care of him at the self-quarantine centre and he is currently doing well.



Management wants to state categorically that the case was not locally transmitted but rather imported from the South, the statement added.



Apart from the specialist, no frontline staff of the hospital has contracted the virus, the hospital noted.

Source: classfmonline.com









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Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday announced a second stimulus package and acknowledged the economic damage would be far worse than anticipated.

The extra $66 billion brings the giant rescue package to $189 billion, about 10 per cent of Australia's GDP, to avoid economic catastrophe.

The second bailout package was announced ahead of Stage One restrictions on Sunday night which forces pubs, clubs, casinos, gyms, nightclubs and churches to close for six months.

THE SECOND STIMULUS PACKAGE - $66BILLION

Cash to keep Australians in jobs

Eligible businesses that withhold tax to the ATO on their employees' salary and wages will receive a payment equal to the amount withheld, up to a maximum payment of $100,000.

Eligible businesses that pay salary and wages will receive a minimum payment of $20,000, even if they are not required to withhold tax.

This new measure is worth $25.2billion.

It is open to businesses with turnover under $50million and will now also be available to eligible not-for-profit charities

It will benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people and 30,000 not for profits

Supporting small businesses with loans

A new Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme will be able to be accessed by eligible banks and non-bank lenders

The Commonwealth will guarantee 50 per cent of an eligible loan to small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus

The Scheme will have the capacity to support lending of $40billion to SMEs

SMEs that have less than $50m turnover per year will be eligible under the Scheme

Loans will be used for working capital purposes and be unsecured and it will be for loans granted within 6 months starting 1 April 2020

The Scheme will apply to new or existing customers of banks and non-bank lenders. It will be repayment free for 6 months

The maximum loan will be $250,000 for a term up to 3 years

It will not apply to re-financing of existing customers. Those already have existing loans that will benefit from the ABA announcement

THE FIRST STIMULUS PACKAGE - $123BILLION

Stimulus payments to households to support growth

 $4.8 billion to provide a one-off $750 stimulus payment to pensioners, social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders.

Around half of those that will benefit are pensioners. The payment will be tax free and will not count as income for Social Security, Farm Household Allowance and Veteran payments.

There will be one payment per eligible recipient. If a person qualifies for the one off payment in multiple ways, they will only receive one payment.

Payments will be from 31 March 2020 on a progressive basis, with over 90 per cent of payments expected to be made by mid-April.

Delivering support for business investment

 $700 million to increase the instant asset write off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expand access to include businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020.

For example, assets that may be able to be immediately written off are a concrete tank for a builder, a tractor for a farming business, and a truck for a delivery business.

 $3.2 billion to back business investment by providing a time limited 15 month investment incentive (through to 30 June 2021) to support business investment and economic growth over the short term, by accelerating depreciation deductions.

Businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million will be able to deduct an additional 50 per cent of the asset cost in the year of purchase.

These measures start today and will support over 3.5 million businesses (over 99 per cent of businesses) employing more than 9.7 million employees or 3 in every 4 workers.

The measures are designed to support business sticking with investment they had planned, and encouraging them to bring investment forward to support economic growth over the short term.

Cash flow assistance for businesses

 $6.7 billion to boost cash flow for employers by up to $25,000 with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible small and medium-sized businesses.

The payment will provide cash flow support to businesses with a turnover of less than $50 million that employ staff, between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020. The payment will be tax free.

This measure will benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people. Businesses will receive payments of 50 per cent of their Business Activity Statements or Installment Activity Statement from 28 April with refunds to then be paid within 14 days.

 $1.3 billion to support small businesses to support the jobs of around 120,000 apprentices and trainees.

Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice's or trainee's wage for up to 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. Where a small business is not able to retain an apprentice, the subsidy will be available to a new employer that employs that apprentice.

Assistance for severely-affected regions

 $1 billion to support those sectors, regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of the Coronavirus, including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education.

This will include the waiver of fees and charges for tourism businesses that operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Commonwealth National Parks.

It will also include additional assistance to help businesses identify alternative export markets or supply chains. Targeted measures will also be developed to further promote domestic tourism.

Further plans and measures to support recovery will be designed and delivered in partnership with the affected industries and communities.
HOUSTON  Two weeks ago, Houston Methodist Hospital opened a special unit to treat critically ill coronavirus patients. The city had reported only a handful of confirmed cases at that point, but the hospitals 24-bed coronavirus ICU filled up in only about a week, far faster than doctors anticipated.

Alexandra Carnahan, 26, one of the nurses assigned to the unit, was surprised by the number of patients who were in their 30s or 40s, with no prior health problems. Now they were intubated and in critical condition, suffering from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

These patients cant have visitors, and most are heavily sedated. So Carnahan and other nurses hold their hands while checking vitals, to maintain that human connection, she said. The nurses remind them where they are and try to explain why their families cant be there, though its difficult to know whether the patients can hear them.

A few days ago, one of them, a man in his 50s, unexpectedly squeezed Carnahans hand while she and another nurse bathed him, she said. He apparently could hear her voice, and seemed to be reacting. Carnahan told him everything was going to be OK. Afterward, she pulled off her protective mask and face shield, stepped into another room, and cried.

The man was around her parents age.

Seeing that is frightening, Carnahan said, knowing that it could easily be us or our loved ones in the hospital bed.

So far, Houston, the nations fourth largest city, has not recorded a swell of confirmed coronavirus cases similar to those straining health care systems in New York and Detroit, giving some residents hope that stay-at-home orders issued by local officials came early enough to stop the virus from spreading too widely here. But interviews with Houston ICU doctors and nurses  as well as the daily rise in the number of critically ill patients now showing up in their hospitals  paint a more sobering picture of whats happening in southeast Texas.

Story continues

While limited testing has prevented officials here and across the state from getting a complete accounting of how many people have been infected with the coronavirus, hospitals in greater Houston have seen a steep increase  40 percent over four days  in the number of patients believed to be suffering from the virus, according to a daily census of hospital admissions collected by the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council, which helps coordinate emergency response efforts.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

The 25-county region surrounding Houston had reported fewer than 950 confirmed coronavirus cases among its 9.3 million residents as of Monday. But on that same day, there were 996 people hospitalized in the region with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, according to the advisory council count. That figure is not cumulative and does not include patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized and released before Monday.

Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease expert and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said the disconnect between the number of positive test results and the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 suggests that a significant majority of coronavirus cases are going undetected here.

We know that about 1 in 5 or 1 in 10 COVID-19 patients needs to be hospitalized, so what youre seeing in hospital admissions would suggest that the actual number of cases could be 5 to 10 times higher in Texas than whats been reported to this point, he said.

Image: Social distancing (David J. Phillip / AP file)

In an interview with Houston Public Media on Thursday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo  the countys top elected official  said public health officials are looking to hospitals for insights on how widely the virus is spreading.

Really the most accurate information, because of the lack of widespread testing, comes from the hospitals, Hidalgo said. Theyre still seeing their rates of COVID patients go up exponentially  So, we know right now we are very much tracking the path that Italy or New York were on.

Do you have a story to share about the coronavirus in Texas? Contact us

Texas has ramped up testing in recent weeks, but it still lags behind nearly every other state in the country. On a per capita basis, New York state has tested residents at a rate seven times greater than Texas, according to an analysis of coronavirus testing figures and U.S. census data. Lengthy delays getting results have further slowed the process in Texas, forcing government officials to make decisions based on incomplete and outdated information.

In Houston, officials have set up a pair of drive-thru testing locations, but because of limited supplies from the federal government, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced last week that his city of 2.3 million people would only be able to complete about 250 tests per day at each site. That number does not count tests run at hospitals and those sent to private labs. As of Thursday, Houston had reported 506 confirmed cases in the city.

Image: Houston (David J. Phillip / AP file)

Dr. Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health, said without widespread testing, county officials have no choice but to begin preparing for worst-case scenarios, while at the same time hoping they wont need to execute them. That includes a plan to potentially set up an emergency field hospital on the sprawling campus of NRG Stadium, where the Houston Texans play.

All of the numbers that we have, across the board, are very difficult to make sense of, Shah said. Because in this country, we have not had testing capabilities to the degree that we should have had testing capabilities and at the timeline when we should have had it. Even today, there are testing constraints.

Cindy Zolnierek, CEO of the Texas Nurses Association, said the relatively low case count across Texas  4,669 confirmed cases as of Thursday  might give residents a false sense of security. Thats why her group, along with the Texas Hospital Association, sent Gov. Greg Abbott a letter Tuesday urging him to issue a statewide stay-at-home order like those issued in dozens of other states. Abbott implemented statewide restrictions later that day, though the order included an exception allowing churches to remain open, so long as any in-person gatherings adhere to the states guidelines instructing residents to avoid close personal contact.

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, Abbott said in a statement. Now it is time to redouble our efforts to reduce further exposure as much as possible and flatten the curve.

Zolnierek said the governor's action was a step in the right direction. Hopefully, she said, it didnt come too late.

We continue to see exponential increases in the number of cases, she said. So no, we have not overwhelmed the health care system at this point, but if the curve continues as it has, we will get there. The sooner we can contain this, the better, because you cant catch up.

Houston hospital workers said the pace of new ICU cases has grown rapidly in recent days. Several have shared their observations on social media, while urging residents to stay home. A nurse at one Houston hospital, who asked that he not be named because he feared retaliation, said he and his colleagues were not prepared for the number of new cases that began filling their ICU late last week.

Were starting to get overwhelmed with COVID cases, and at the same time, were running low on PPE, the nurse said, referring to personal protective equipment, such as masks, which are in short supply nationally. People are starting to get scared.

Dr. Bela Patel, executive medical director of critical care for the Memorial Hermann hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, said she and her colleagues are starting to see that surge of severely ill COVID-19 patients that previously signaled widespread transmission in other cities, such as New Orleans and Detroit.

Memorial Hermann was treating 107 patients with COVID-19 at its various locations as of Thursday, a spokeswoman said, more than twice as many as a week earlier, though the system  as with all of Houstons major hospitals  still has plenty of open ICU beds and ventilators. Patel said hospital admissions are a late indicator in an outbreak, because once those numbers begin to spike, that means the virus has already spread widely.

We really need our leading indicator to be asymptomatic positives in the community, she said. And so I think the most important thing right now is to really ramp up our testing  Unless we really know whats in the community, we cant really prepare, and we cant really predict.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Carmina Catalan, 28, a nurse who has been caring for COVID-19 patients at Houston Methodist, said she and her co-workers have been watching news reports from New York  where doctors worry they might soon be forced to make difficult decisions about who receives care  and hoping that similar scenes arent repeated in Texas.

After Methodists initial COVID-19 ICU filled up last week, the hospital opened another and, administrators said, for now, they have plenty of available beds and equipment to continue expanding.

In the meantime, Catalan said she worries about herself and her co-workers. One of the critically sick patients shes been caring for is not much older than her and had no underlying health problems before being infected with the coronavirus.

The patient is a health care worker, like her.

I could see myself in that bed, Catalan said. I could be this person.
Health organizations and governments all over the world are using technology to communicate, track, monitor and predict the spread of COVID-19. In recent years, data has proven to be a valuable resource and the use of data to understand the movement of people and their interactions to help control the spread of infection during a global pandemic seems like an excellent use of technology.

However, unprecedented times should not result in any long-term removal of our privacy rights, especially in cases where legislation has been rushed through to allow the fulfillment of medically urgent needs for data collection or use. In some instances, data is being extracted from smartphones on an individual basis or en masse. In the current age of COVID-19 concern, data potentially relevant to tracking the disease is being gathered, or there are proposals to gather it, via several mechanisms.

At the time of writing, there are infections in 172 countries and regions around the world, some with devastating numbers of both infections and deaths. Each country is developing its own strategy to limit the outbreak and included in this is the differing use of technology and tracking data.

At the start of the outbreak in China, the authorities there required citizens in Wuhan to provide personal information so that device tracking could be linked to individuals.

Singapores ministry of health made victims personal information publicly available, which allowed developers to create maps and show locations, raising security fears for those concerned. In the last few days the authorities there have also released an app called TraceTogether that identifies, using Bluetooth, if you have been in close proximity to a coronavirus patient.

In Germany, UK, Austria, Belgium, Italy and South Korea, mobile operators have been reported to be sharing aggregated or anonymized location data with health authorities. In South Korea, data was also shared by credit-card companies. The European countries where personal data is protected by the General Data Protection Regulation are using an option to suspend the regulation in face of a civil crisis. Article 9 of the GDPR allows for processing of health and other usually sacrosanct data when necessary for reasons of public interest in the area of public health, such as protecting against serious cross-border threats to health.

Despite the exceptions in regulations being used to share data with health and government authorities, the regulations that cover the protection of data should be adhered to. For example, the GDPR states that data must be encrypted when at rest and in transit, and these requirements are still mandatory.

In Israel, authorities approved new surveillance measures allowing citizens to be tracked by monitoring mobile phones. In contrast, Hong Kong tagged new arrivals to the region using wrist bands that log and transmit location data to authorities, maintaining the privacy of the individuals phone.

An intriguing use of an app has been by the Polish authorities, requiring a quarantined individual to have an app released by the Ministry of Digital Affairs and for them to send a selfie with geo-metadata on a regular basis to prove compliance.

Several countries have passed emergency legislation to permit the use of personal data to combat the spread of the virus. For example, Italy lifted a restriction on the sharing of personal data when doing so was necessary for the performance of civil protection functions.

A few countries, including Russia and China, are using facial recognition technology to ensure that those identified as infected observe quarantine rules. The systems are collecting video through CCTV, drones and other camera-based systems.

Many of these initiatives demonstrate that innovative methods are being explored, and are in use, with governments, health professionals, technology and phone companies working together to combat the medical emergency facing the world. At the same time, privacy advocates are also being vocal about these issues.

Exceptional circumstances call for exceptional actions; the issue, though, is what happens when these circumstances have passed. Will governments return to the emergency legislation and revoke the additional rights to use personal data? Will organizations that received the data be required to delete it? Will individuals whose data was affected be notified that it was shared?

Its our responsibility as technologists and privacy advocates to ensure that normality is restored and that we return to a world where privacy rights are respected and enforced once the current emergency is resolved.
The Ghanaian Minister for Food and Agriculture, (MOFA), Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto have ruled out adoption of GMOs, insisting that Ghana does not need Genetically Modified foods because it can rely on other productive means to ensure food security.

According to him, We have not maximised the use of our traditional techniques, such as cross-breeding, budding and grafting, for production, besides, the citizens have expressed their aversion to GM foods.

The World health Organisation defines GM foods as organisms  plants, plants or micro-organisms  in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally my mating and or natural recombination.

The debate on GM foods continues as proponents say it provides the way to significantly increase yields and control diseases and pests.

The Minister was responding to questions, after he had read his speech, at the maiden regional meeting, in Accra, of Country Directors of West and Central Africa of the World Food Programme (WFP).

The explanation started when one of the directors wanted to know if Ghana would consider the integration of GMOs; following The Ministers address, which highlighted the successes being chalked under the flagship Government intervention, Planting for Foods and Jobs and the plans to include other modules.

It would be recalled that the key objection to GMOs had been the scientific fact that they present risks to human health and safety and as well interference to the natural environment.

Besides, Dr Akoto said Ghanas food sufficiency situation was manageable, with the Government importing occasionally, when there was drought to complement local output.

Continuing, he noted that Hybrid seeds for instance, the Minister said, could give 40 bags of grains per acre, which was 10 times what the GMOs could produce, adding that 11 percent of farmers also used improved seeds and fertiliser to improve their yields.

Besides, Ghanaian universities had developed enough methods of improving the Agricultural sector, which were yet to be utilised, thus, GMOs was not an imperative.
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The CARES Act highlights contain provisions that will affect US businesses and the stock market in a big way, making it important for investors to pay attention and be educated about what is in the CARES Act and what it means for their family and their portfolio. To help shed some light on the CARES Act highlights that investors should know about, Inspire Investing has partnered with our tax advisors at Hayashi and Wayland to provide the following information about the CARES Act. (This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered as tax or investment advice. Please consult your personal tax or investment advisor to discuss your individual situation.)

The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security CARES Act represents the largest economic relief package in American history[1]. The CARES Act contains sweeping provisions that have powerful implications for American families and the US economy at large, both because of the gargantuan amount of money that will be flooding the US economy and also because of certain investment related directives that temporarily change the rules for retirement accounts, charitable giving and more.

The CARES Act was designed to offer assistance to individual taxpayers, business owners, and the entire economy to try to revive itself from the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the business closures, layoffs and economic suffering that has followed. This relief plan will offer assistance to tens of millions of American households affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

We have outlined the CARES Act highlights below:

INDIVIDUAL PROVISIONS

One-time, non-taxable payments

These payments will be made to taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is under $75,000 (single), $112,500 (head of household) and $150,000 (married). Single or head of household taxpayers will get $1,200. Married taxpayers will get $2,400. In addition, for each child 16 years old or younger, you will get an additional $500. Above these income figures the payment decreases. Single taxpayers earning $99,000 or married taxpayers who have no children and earn $198,000 will not receive any payments. A family with two children will no longer be eligible for payments if its income surpassed $218,000. Payments received are not considered taxable income to the recipients.

You will not be able to get a payment if someone claims you as a dependent, even if you are an adult. In any given family and in most instances, everyone must have a valid Social Security number in order to be eligible. There is an exception for members of the military.

You can find your adjusted gross income on Line 8b of the 2019 1040 Federal tax return. And if you already filed your 2019 taxes and provided direct deposit information for a refund, it will be deposited that way into your account. If you have not filed your 2019 tax return, your 2018 return will be used for determination. If you would prefer to have your 2019 tax return considered over your 2018 tax return we would recommend that you file 2019 as soon as possible.

If you are ineligible for the payment due to your income being in excess of the limits for 2019, you may benefit once you file your 2020 taxes because the payment is technically an advance on a tax credit that is available for 2020.

It is not clear yet when and how physical checks will be mailed to those who will require that. Information from different sources at this time say anytime from the end of April to the end of May.

Retirement Accounts

For the calendar year 2020, no one will be required to take a required minimum distribution from any retirement account. If you are under age 59  and need to make a withdrawal due to the outbreak, the usual 10 percent penalty is waived for distributions up to $100,000 and you are able to spread the income taxes associated with this distribution over 3 years. You can also put the funds back into the account within 3 years even though the amount would exceed normal contribution limits. These exceptions only apply to coronavirus related withdrawals.

Charitable Contributions

The bill makes a new deduction available for up to $300 of charitable deductions. All taxpayers can derive benefits from making up to $300 of charitable deductions even if you dont take an itemized deduction. In addition, there is no cap on the amount of charitable deductions you can take as an itemized deduction for 2020.

Unemployment Compensation

The Federal Government will provide a temporary Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) through July 31, 2020. This compensation is $600 per week for any worker eligible for state or federal unemployment compensation benefits. The FPUC would be paid in addition to and at the same time as regular state or federal unemployment benefits. States have the option of providing the entire amount in one payment or sending the extra portion separately, but it must all be done on the same weekly basis.

Mortgages and Foreclosure Actions

Starting March 18, 2020, most mortgages are prohibited from foreclosure actions for 60 days for borrowers who request it and can demonstrate a COVID-19 related hardship.

Eviction Proceedings

Landlords are subject to a 120-day moratorium on filing eviction proceedings for the non-payment of rent. Unpaid rent will continue to accrue, but landlords may not charge fees or assess fines.

BUSINESS PROVISIONS

Payroll Tax Deferral, Reduction, and Credits

Employers are eligible for a 50 percent refundable payroll tax credit on wages paid up to $10,000 during the crisis. It would be available to employers whose businesses were disrupted due to virus-related shutdowns and firms experiencing a decrease in gross receipts of 50 percent or more when compared to the same quarter last year. The credit is available for employees retained but not currently working due to the crisis for firms with more than 100 employees, and for all employee wages for firms with 100 or fewer employees.

Employer-side Social Security payroll tax payments may be delayed until January 1, 2021, with 50 percent owed on December 31, 2021, and the other half owed on December 31, 2022.

Paycheck Protection Program

This program administered through the Small Business Administration is meant to help small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) impacted by the pandemic and economic downturn to make payroll and cover other expenses from February 15 to June 30. Notably, small businesses may take out loans up to $10 million  limited to a formula tied to payroll costs  and can cover employees making up to $100,000 per year. Loans may be forgiven if a company uses the loan for payroll, interest payments on mortgages, rent, and utilities and would be reduced proportionally by any reduction in employees retained compared to the prior year and a 25 percent or greater reduction in employee compensation.

Other parts of the wide-sweeping funding bill include:

$150 billion for local governments for expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency

$8.8 billion in additional funding for Child Nutrition Programs in order to ensure children receive meals while school is not in session

$450 million in assistance for banks so they can continue to assist those Americans most in need.

$30.75 billion for an Education Stabilization Fund for states, school districts and institutions of higher education for costs related to coronavirus

$4.3 billion to support federal, state, and local public health agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus, including the purchase of personal protective equipment; laboratory testing to detect positive cases; contact tracing to identify additional cases, and infection control and mitigation at the local level to prevent the spread of the virus

$2 billion in direct allocation to state and local Community Development Block Grants that must be allocated within 30 days of enactment of the bill

Who Really Cares?

Because of its size and scope, the CARES Act will likely make an historic, indelible mark upon the US economy and the hundreds of millions of Americans who both power and rely upon that economy. As such, investors should be educated about the highlights of the CARES Act and how it will affect them.

Additionally, as faith-based investors we should remind ourselves that although $2.2 trillion dollars is a staggering amount of money, our hope and trust is not in government stimulus but in the one true God who is sovereign over governments, and who is infinitely more great, powerful and yes, even more caring than the CARES Act.

These are unprecedented times full of uncertainty and trials of many kinds. There are many real reasons to fear and one can hardly be faulted for feeling afraid amidst the swirl of global pandemic. But for anyone finding themselves under a cloud of anxiety, the Bible reminds us to cast all your anxieties upon Him for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). And when you find yourself worrying about your earthly treasure, Jesus offers a peace that passes all understanding, and an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith  more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire  may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:4-7).

Jesus cares for you. No matter what.

Trust in Him. No matter what.

[1]https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/27/house-passes-2-trillion-coronavirus-stimulus-bill-sends-it-to-trump.html
Using the new coronavirus question box located on our homepage at www.ourmidland.com, a reader submitted the following:

Q: (I) heard that virus particles stay in air for up to three hours. How then does social distancing work? I have hallways in apartment complex. No people when I'm there but what about previously?

A: Currently, the World Health Organization is citing the primary mode of transmission for COVID-19 is through respiratory droplets and being in close contact with another person, not airborne transmission.

According to a March 29 scientific brief from WHO, there is still no concrete evidence that suggests the novel coronavirus lingers in the air for hours. However, there are other viruses that do this, such as measles, so as NPR reported, some doctors say it's too early to rule it out. WHO did admit that airborne transmission is possible under certain circumstances, such as during specific medical procedures, however overall, it currently denies the virus lingers in the air in normal settings.

"To date, some scientific publications provide initial evidence on whether the COVID-19 virus can be detected in the air and thus, some news outlets have suggested that there has been airborne transmission," WHO stated. "These initial findings need to be interpreted carefully."

So, because COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, new things are being learned about it daily.

However, since the primary mode of transmission is from person to person contact and through respiratory droplets, social distancing can help prevent a person from contracting the virus. To understand how social distancing works, it's important to understand how COVID-19 spreads.

In the most recent Health Dose Podcast by MidMichigan Health, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President Lydia Watson talks about how COVID-19 spreads, which echoes information found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Watson explains that the primary mode of spread is person to person through respiratory droplet formation. So, if an infected individual talks, coughs or sneezes, the respiratory droplets come out of their mouth or nose and end up in the air, which can then either land on someone else's mouth or be inhaled by another person close by. This is why maintaining a 6-foot radius can lower the risk of coming into contact with the virus.

In addition, the rest of the droplets eventually fall to the ground and land on surfaces and objects, where the virus can live anywhere from 24 hours to nine days. If someone touches that surface then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose, they can transmit the virus to themselves. This is why it's important to wash your hand frequently for at least 20 seconds, and refrain from touching your face.

 Ashley Schafer, ashley.schafer@hearstnp.com
This has become clear at the Trilateral Contact Group's meeting on March 26, Russian diplomats said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said Ukraine abandoned the idea of creating a so-called "advisory council" with Donbas militants as was allegedly previously agreed in Minsk.

The ministry claims the latest meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) in Minsk on March 26 "resulted in failure," as reported on the ministry's official website.

"Thanks to direct contacts with Ukrainian partners, important agreements had been reached that could move the settlement process off the ground. In February - March, the sides brought together their positions on disengagement of forces and prisoner swap, started developing a 'road map,' reached an agreement in principle on the formation of an Advisory Council and fixing the decisions of the Contact Group in written minutes," reads the statement.

After that, Russian diplomats added, "strange things started to happen."

Read alsoChief of staff Yermak: Ukraine, Russia two parties to conflict in TCG format, OSCE between them

"During phone talks, the aides of the Normandy leaders in Berlin and Paris, under various pretexts, avoided supporting the agreements between Kyiv and Donbas. Following this, Kyiv also abandoned these agreements at the meeting of the Contact Group on March 26. It seems the Ukrainian negotiators did this with some hint from the outside. Such a rollback from the agreements reached and fixed crosses out positive dynamics that have been outlined," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

As UNIAN reported, Minsk on March 11 hosted a Trilateral Contact Group meeting with the participation of head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak and Deputy Head of the Russian President's Administration Dmitry Kozak. The two agreed to sign the TCG decision on the establishment of an "advisory council" as part of the political subgroup following consultations with representatives of the OSCE, France, and Germany for the implementation of the agreements reached during the Normandy summit. The signing was scheduled to take place at the next meeting in Minsk on March 25.

Later, the Ukrainian-registered Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly) outlet published a copy of the minutes of meeting signed in Minsk on March 11. According to the document, the criteria and procedure for appointing council members shall be independently determined by Ukraine, de-facto "authorities" of the occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the Russian Federation, Germany, France, and the OSCE.

Ten representatives from Ukraine and the Russia-occupied areas of Donbas were supposed to each have the right to casting votes, while one representative each from Russia, Germany, France, and the OSCE were supposed to act in an advisory capacity.

Read alsoPro-president's party members appeal to Zelensky over principled positions in talks with Russia

A few days later, about 60 MPs with the Servant of the People Party called on President Zelensky to halt the process of creation of the advisory council as many believed the move would legitimize Russian puppet militants in the occupied Donbas, putting them on par with the Ukrainian government, as well as neglecting Russia's direct participation in the conflict.
England's chief nurse has paid tribute to two frontline nurses who died after testing positive for coronavirus, as she made an emotional plea for the public to stay at home this weekend despite a mini-heatwave due to sweep the country.

Ruth May said it was vital the public remain in lockdown despite the warm spring weather.

Mother-of-three Aimee O'Rourke, 39, passed away last night at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, Kent, following the surfacing of symptoms two weeks ago.





Just hours later, Areema Nasreen, 36, died shortly after midnight in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, were she had worked.





Flanking Health Secretary Matt Hancock at a news conference this afternoon, Ms May said: 'This weekend is going to be very warm and it will be very tempting to go out and enjoy those summer rays.





'But please, I ask to remember Aimee and Areema. Please stay at home for them.'

Mr Hancock echoed her, saying people should resist the urge to get out and about, saying: 'If we do people will die'.

The UK's coronavirus death toll rose by 684 on Friday to take the total number of tragic fatalities so far to 3,605.

The 24-hour total has risen by a record amount almost every day this week, with a five-fold increase in deaths in a week.

Areema Nasreen, 36, a Walsall staff nurse and mother-of-three, has died from coronavirus, becoming the country's youngest health worker to be killed by the disease

Aimee O'Rourke, 39, passed away last night at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, Kent, following the surfacing of symptoms two weeks ago

Ruth May said was vital they remain in lockdown despite the warm spring weather, after two nurses and two healthcare assists were revealed to have been killed in the past 24 hours

Ms Nasreen, 36, died shortly after midnight in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, were she had worked.

The NHS employee of 16 years, who started in housekeeping before training as a nurse, was diagnosed with the infection in late March after developing a soaring temperature, body aches and a cough.

Both nurses were put on ventilators but sadly could not be saved, taking the toll of health workers to die with the virus during the pandemic to seven.

Ms May expressed her condolences to their families, friends and colleagues and said she feared further nurses will die.

She said: 'They were one of us, they were one of my profession, of the NHS family. I worry that there's going to be more and I want to honour them today and recognise their service.'

Ms O'Rourke had three daughters, Maddie, Mollie and Meghan, who described her mother as an 'angel' who will 'wear [her] NHS crown forever more'.





Loved ones of Ms Nasreen and Ms O'Rourke begged the public to take the virus seriously in an urgent wake-up call to those flouting social distancing rules.

A heartbroken relative of Ms Nasreen today paid tribute to the mother-of-three and said: 'The immediate family are devastated. Everyone is in shock this morning.

'She was always so full of life. She was devoted to her job as a nurse, she absolutely loved it. She passed away doing what she loved.

'I'm really sad for the rest of the family, she was a fantastic person.'

Nurse Rubi Aktar paid tribute to her 'best friend', who she described as the 'most loveliest, genuine person you could ever meet'.

In an emotional Facebook post, she wrote: 'I am so broken that words can't explain. I can't believe I will not see your smile again.

'You made me the nurse that I am today, with your support, motivation and inspiration I am the nurse that I am today and I hope I can do you proud Areema.

'I love you so much and I will never forget you. You had so much to live for, I am sorry you didn't get to see your kids grow up and I'm sorry that you didn't get to complete your career.'

Ms O'Rourke had three daughters, Maddie, Mollie and Meghan, who described her mother as an 'angel' who will 'wear [her] NHS crown forever more'

Ms Nasreen (left) with Rubi Aktar (right), a nurse who paid tribute to her 'best friend', who she described as the 'most loveliest, genuine person you could ever meet'

When 'fit and healthy' Ms Nasreen was first diagnosed, sister Kazeema warned Britons that it is 'not just the elderly at risk' to coronavirus, which has killed 3,605 and infected more than 38,000 in the UK.

Kazeema said: 'My sister who is an amazing nurse on the front line and who always helps so many has now caught this virus. She is critically ill in ICU, on a ventilator and fighting for her life.

'I want everyone to know how dangerous this is. My sister is only 36 and is normally fit and healthy.

'People are not taking this seriously enough. She is young - it is not just the elderly who are at risk.'

This warning was echoed by friends of Ms O'Rourke, who paid tribute to the 'one in a million' nurse.

Friend Hannah Walden wrote on Facebook: 'Yesterday heaven gained a beautiful young lady.

'I was lucky to know her and work with her when I worked for CDU (clinical decision unit) QEQM. You were an amazing nurse and mum sleep tight Aimee O'Rourke God bless.'

Lucy Page said: 'Every now and again special people come in to your life and they have the highest impact.

'Aimee O'Rourke taught to me fight for what I believe in and gave me courage so many times to do it.

'...Aimee I love you and not a single day will go by when I don't think.about you. You were one in a million and you are going to leave such an empty space in all our hearts forever. Miss you already.

'PLEASE the next time you think about going out or meeting people unnecessarily... think again!!!'

Her daughter Meghan also posted a tribute and hailed her mother's dedication to saving lives.

She wrote: 'You are an angel and you will wear your NHS crown forever more because you earned that crown the very first day you started!!!

'Your Meggy misses you beyond belief.. one day when I have children of my own I will tell your grandchildren about their GG (glamorous gran) which you wanted to be called, every single day!

'I can't believe one day I will have to go through labour without my mummy!!

'I could go on all day long and have so many things to say but I have to be strong!! Night night mummy.'

In an emotional Facebook post, Ms Nasreen's friend Rubi Aktar wrote: 'I am so broken that words can't explain. I can't believe I will not see your smile again'

Health chiefs urged locked-down Britons to continue staying at home to help fight the coronavirus pandemic this weekend as a mini-heatwave is due to sweep the country.

Large parts of the UK will enjoy 'a good deal of sunshine' on Saturday, with the weather 'feeling warmer than recently', according to the Met Office. Sunday also looks dry from many, with warm sunshine in the East.

Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 68F (20C) on Sunday, but the rising mercury has left medical bosses concerned that families tired of quarantine could be tempted to break the rules and make day trips out.

As a result, police forces are bracing themselves to deter visitors to popular beauty spots - with the mild, sunny weather also expected to last into the start of next week for southern and eastern areas.

Officers are now priming themselves for potential clashes with sun-seekers, picnickers and travellers as the Easter holiday period begins.

Amid the grim coronavirus crisis - which has killed nearly 3,000 in the UK - there has been an outpouring of gratitude for the nation's NHS workers who continue to do treat the sick.

Last night at 8pm, Britons up and down the country lined the streets to applaud frontline health workers putting their lives on the line.

When Ms Nasreena was in hospital, Kazeema revealed her sister's affection to the NHS.

She said: 'Areema loves the NHS. Her colleagues are like a second family and they have been truly amazing with her - and us. They are keeping us all strong and doing everything they can for her.

'The Manor Hospital are brilliant and she has loved working there for over 15 years. She started off as housekeeping, then a Healthcare Assistant and now is qualified as a staff nurse.

'She is my queen and is truly loved by everyone - always putting others first. We are heartbroken.'

Areema had previously spoken of the joy she takes from her job as a nurse: 'I just wanted to be able to look after people, particularly those who are elderly and vulnerable.

'I cry every morning because I am so happy that I have finally realised my dream of becoming a nurse.'

Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, (pictured) fell ill on Tuesday and died in intensive care at Southend Hospital in Essex on Wednesday

Dr Adil El Tayar, 63, (left) died on March 28 after contracting the virus at the Hereford County Hospital and Dr Amged El-Hawrani, 55, (right) an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Queen's Hospital Burton, died on March 29

Nurse Thomas Harvey, 57, picked up coronavirus when treating a patient in London and died of the virus

Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, died on Tuesday after working at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

Commenting on the death of nurse Areema Nasreen, chief nursing officer for England Ruth May said: 'I am deeply, deeply sorry to hear of the death of Areema.

'I would like to send my very personal and heartfelt condolences to her family, her friends and her colleagues.

'I do this on behalf of the whole of my profession and indeed the whole of the NHS family.'

Asked what she would say to health workers who may be worried, she said: 'I'm hugely grateful to the tens of thousands of nurses, doctors, health and social care workers that day in, day out are working around the clock.

'They know that this is the greatest global health emergency and I am grateful, personally grateful, for everyone that's stepping up to support the NHS right now.

'I know as a nurse myself that we, in our time of need, it's important that we are there to serve our patients. And I am grateful for them all doing that day in, day out.'

NHS staff working at the coalface are among the most at risk to contracting the virus.

Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, became ill and died in intensive care on March 25 at Southend Hospital in Essex on Wednesday

Dr Adil El Tayar, 63, died on March 28 after contracting the virus at the Hereford County Hospital.

Dr Amged El-Hawrani, 55, an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Queen's Hospital Burton, died on March 29.

Nurse Thomas Harvey, 57, of Goodmayes Hospital, London, died on Sunday after contracting the virus.

Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, died on Tuesday after working at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 16:16:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Colombian Foreign Minister Claudia Blum on Wednesday, discussing the fight against COVID-19.

Wang said that shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19, Colombian President Ivan Duque sent a letter of sympathy to President Xi Jinping, and the foreign minister also publicly voiced support for China's fight against the disease, which the Chinese side highly appreciated.

As the virus is spreading in Latin American countries including Colombia, the Chinese side extends its sincere sympathies to the Colombian people, Wang said.

China is proactively providing medical aid to Latin American countries and taking the initiative to hold video conferences for medical experts to share the experience in epidemic prevention and control without reservation, which has achieved good results, he said.

Wang said that China will donate a batch of emergency supplies to Colombia, and provide necessary convenience for the country's procurement in China.

Under the leadership of President Duque, the Colombian people will surely prevail over the epidemic, he said.

Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Colombia, Wang said the best way to commemorate this is for the two sides to join hands to fight the pandemic and overcome the current difficulties together.

He voiced confidence that the friendly cooperation between China and Colombia will be further deepened in the joint fight against COVID-19.

China will, as always, safeguard Colombian nationals' work and living in China, said Wang, adding that he also believes that the Colombian side will continue to protect the health and safety of Chinese citizens in Colombia.

For her part, Blum highly commended China's strong measures against and successful control of COVID-19, saying that China's approach has set an example for both Colombia and the world.

The Colombian foreign minister expressed sincere gratitude to China for providing assistance to and sharing its experience in the COVID-19 battle with Latin American countries including Colombia.

Colombia stands ready to work with China to fully implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, and jointly make adequate preparation for the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, she said.

The Colombian side will make every effort to ensure the safety and health of Chinese nationals in Colombia, she added.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After confirming four positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) among workers at the Bloomfield-based Amazon Fulfillment Center, the company admitted in an email Wednesday night that there are even more confirmed cases at JFK8, the Advance has learned.

We wanted to let you know JFK8 has additional confirmed cases of COVID-19. As the region is seeing an increase in confirmed cases, we are doing our best to ensure you are informed about the status of confirmed cases at JFK8 and all the steps we are taking to ensure your health and safety, said the e-mail sent to workers that was obtained by the Advance/SILive.com.

The company couldnt release the exact number of new confirmed cases at the facility, which has 5,000 workers. Amazon is Staten Islands largest employer.

The email also noted that workers will not be penalized for any absences.

And, if you feel sick, please STAY home. We also continue to follow the guidance of the CDC, WHO, local health authorities, and private medical experts on other recommended precautions, the email stated.

Amazon has not said it would close the facility for deep cleaning.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK***

When asked about the new cases, Amazon issued the following statement: Given the ever-changing nature surrounding COVID-19, we are committed to continue making adjustments to our business as we learn more. We are committed to protecting our employees through our preventative health measures, enhanced cleaning and sanitation, social distancing enforcement, and broad suite of new benefits, including extended paid leave options for full-time employees, additional $2 per hour, double time for overtime, and paid time off (PTO) benefits for regular part-time and seasonal employees.

3 CASES CONFIRMED ON TUESDAY

Amazon sent correspondence to all of its workers at the Bloomfield-based fulfillment center Tuesday night stating there are three more confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) at JFK8.

Last week, the facility announced there was one confirmed case. However, sources told the Advance last week there were multiple cases of the virus at the facility.

RECENT PROTEST

The e-mails come on the heels of a protest on Monday at JFK8. About 50 people protested what they deem unsafe working conditions amid the coronavirus outbreak. Amazon previously said only 15 of the 50 protesters are workers at the facility.

The rallys organizer, Chris Smalls, an employee at the facility, said he was fired Monday evening after the walkout.

"I am outraged and disappointed, but Im not shocked. As usual, Amazon would rather sweep a problem under the rug than act to keep workers and working communities safe. Today, I stood with my co-workers because conditions at JFK8 are legitimately dangerous for workers and the public. Amazon thinks this might shut me up, but Im going to keep speaking up, Smalls said.

However, Amazon said in a statement that Smalls was released from his duties because he violated social distancing guidelines.

Mr. Smalls received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines and putting the safety of others at risk. He was also found to have had close contact with a diagnosed associate with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and 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 onsite on March 30, further putting the teams at risk. This is unacceptable and we have terminated his employment as a result of these multiple safety issues.," said Amazon in a statement.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has ordered the citys Commission on Human Rights to investigate Amazons firing of Smalls.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

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Brussels: EU Justice Chief Vera Jourova has criticised US tech giants such as Google and Facebook for making money off coronavirus-related fake news instead of putting in more efforts to stop the deluge.

With millions of people confined to their homes due to lockdowns to counter the spread of the virus, social media and online platforms have seen the volume of news on their sites and user traffic soar.

The big social media companies have been told their efforts to curb coronavirus fake news are outdated. Credit:AFR

That has in turn sparked alarm and criticism because of the flood of disinformation.

Jourova, who last week held a conference call with Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft and Mozilla, said their efforts to date were inadequate.
Houman Salem, business-owner and 2020 Republican candidate for State Senate in Californias 27th district, announced Saturday that he has likely contracted Coronavirus. Salem, who went to the doctor earlier this week with all of the symptoms of COVID 19, was given isolation orders and told there was a high chance he had the disease. He was not officially tested due to his age, general health, and the lack of testing kits in the area. He has been quarantined in his home for the foreseeable future.

Im super optimistic that Ill beat this. . . In fact, Corona should be scared of me! Salem said via Facebook post. But all jokes aside, this is the most intense pain Ive ever felt. In a statement to friends and family, Salem said, I got this, we have a campaign to win and a business to run, this isnt going to stop me.

Salem, founder and CEO of international clothing manufacturer ARGYLE Haus of Apparel, had already been in the process of retrofitting his San Fernando factory to produce scrubs and hospital gowns for local hospitals. I realized last week - after listening to my opponent Henry Sterns town hall - I am in a unique position to help end the shortage of gowns and scrubs at our hospitals. I was proceeding with the plans to convert my factory when I became ill. Salem says his health condition will not affect the changes and restructuring of the factory, Not only are there dozens of people counting on this pivot to maintain their jobs, but there are potentially thousands of hospital staff and patients counting on the products.

For information on Houman Salems campaign or to learn more about his platform and issues, please visit Salem2020.com.
Following the numerous cry of the health professionals and security personnel at the unapproved routes in the Bawku West district over lack of logistics to help fight the deadly coronavirus, the Deputy Regional Minister for Upper East and Member of Parliament for Zebilla constituency Hon Frank Fuseini Adongo has on Thursday made a donation of items worth thousands of Ghana cedis to Zebilla districthealth directorate to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The items include; 22 infrared thermometers, 37 box of face mask, 6 gallons alcohol-based hand sanitizers, 60 veronica buckets with stands, liquid soap and fuel to transport the items to the various health facilities in the district.

Madam Victoria Ayamba, DCE for Bawku West made the presentation on behalf of the MP.

Madam Victoria said the donation was part of the MPs contribution to fight against the virus in the constituency and to protect frontline workers.

Madam Victoria Ayamba commended the health professionals and the security agencies in the district for protecting the lives of the people in the area.

The Zebilla District Health Director, Lawal Alhassan who received the items thanked the MP for his benevolent support.

The DCE was accompanied by the Constituency Executives in the area.

In a related story, a philanthropist based in the United States of America, Moses Abare a native of Sakom in the Bawku West district has also donated 10 veronica buckets and liquid soap for 10 selected communities in the area.

Presenting the items to the health directorate Abare Stephen, father of Moses Abare said the gesture was to aid the fight the covid-19 pandemic in the district.
A teenager injured during a clash between government soldiers and the Arakan Army near Kyauktaw town in western Myanmar's Rakhine state is transferred to Sittwe General Hospital, April 2, 2020.

Five civilians have been killed and eight others injured amid fighting between Myanmar soldiers and the rebel Arakan Army near Kyauktaw town in war-ravaged Rakhine state, residents and members of humanitarian groups said Thursday.

The battle on Wednesday, which flared up as the U.S. State Department called on the warring sides to end hostilities and for Myanmar to permit deliveries of international humanitarian aid, lasted 30 to 45 minutes, with reports of government soldiers firing indiscriminately at areas where civilians reside, they said.

Five people have died so far  four yesterday and one this morning, said Nyi Pu, chairman of the local humanitarian organization Phyu Sin Myittar. Eight others were injured.

Among the five who died were a 14-year-old girl, three elderly men, and woman who either was middle-age or a senior citizen, he said.

Two members of the same family were killed by an artillery blast while they were inside their home in Anae Chaung village, Nyi Pu said. The other three who died were laborers from Ywama Pyin village who worked at a brick-making firm in Pyitaw Thar village.

The eight injured civilians were admitted to Kyauktaw Hospital. A 17-year-old girl among them was transferred Thursday morning to Sittwe General Hospital for emergency treatment, he said.

Tun Khin, a senior citizen from Kyauktaw, said Myanmar soldiers entered the area and fired at random, aiming at the upper levels of houses in town.

They fired their guns at random from their military vehicles as well while they were walking through the neighborhood, he said. The military troops stationed in the Kyauktaw mountains also fired heavy artillery as naval vessels were stationed in the Kaladan River.

They fired from 5:15 p.m. until 6 p.m., he said. At least 20 houses in the town were hit by the artillery blasts. Another military regiment waiting at the bridge also fired its guns endlessly.

We assumed it was mutual firing between the military and AA troops, Tun Khin added. We were not able to go and see the area to confirm what happened.

Another local resident who requested anonymity for security reasons said the fighting started after AA soldiers ambushed a military battalion moving in from Thayat Oak village in an area about two miles from Kyauktaw town.

Yesterday, a military battalion was mobilizing away from the Thayak Oak village area, he said. At that time, AA soldiers ambushed them.

After we heard the gunfire from the fighting, other military troops from the Kyauktaw mountains started firing their rocket launchers.

Kyauktaw township has been the scene of some of the most intense fighting between the two armies in the past 15 months and is one of nine townships in northern Rakhine and neighboring Chin states where the Myanmar government has blocked internet service as a security measure.

At least 63 civilians have been killed and more than 160 people have been injured during clashes between government and AA troops in northern Rakhine and in Chins Paletwa township between Feb. 26 and Apr. 1, according to an RFA tally.

Growing number of IDPs

Fighting since the beginning of 2019 has displaced about 157,000 in Rakhine state, with significant increases in the number of civilians who have fled their homes in Kyauktaw, Minbya, and Ratheduang townships in March, according to the latest figures from the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC), a local humanitarian relief group.

There were 128,000 IDPs [internally displaced persons] in the state by the end of February, said REC secretary Zaw Zaw Tun. By the end of March, there were nearly 160,000 with an increase of 30,000 IDPs. Kyauktaw township has seen largest increase, by tens of thousands. There also have been increasing IDP numbers in Minbya and Rathedaung.

Maung Hla Kyaw, a Rakhine state lawmaker from Kyauktaw township, said about 10,000 IDPs have taken shelter in camps in Kyauktaw town, while others are in villages.

Nearly 10,000 IDPs have taken shelter in town, [but] there could be well over 20,000 IDPs, when that number is combined with IDPs in rural areas, he said.

All IDP camps, the primary school, city hall, Kangyi Shin Pagoda, and Buddhist monasteries are full of IDPs, he added.

Zaw Zaw Tun said concerns about the spread of the coronavirus have caused delays in receiving humanitarian assistance from international NGOs.

Tun Thar Sein, a Rakhine state lawmaker from Mrauk-U township, said he requested that international relief groups provide food for the additional IDPs.

We have requested more assistance for these townships from the International Committee of the Red Cross, World Food Programme, Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other relevant international NGOs, he said.

Ann Thargyi, a civilian who is helping IDPs in Minbya township, emphasized the need for preventive gear against the spread of the coronavirus.

The IDPs are in urgent need of coronavirus protection kits, guidelines, and education as to how they can protect themselves, he said. So far, none of the international NGOs or humanitarian groups has come to the IDP camps to conduct this kind of training or to provide protective gear.

The governments mobile internet service ban in northern Rakhine has prevented the dissemination of information about the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected 20 people and killed one as of Thursday.

A civilian told RFA Thursday that mobile internet service has been unavailable in Ann township, which has not been affected by the fighting, since March 31.

US deeply concerned

A group of ambassadors from Western countries in Myanmar, including the United States, issued a statement Wednesday calling for a global cease-fire and the free flow of information amid the spread of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

We are deeply concerned about the high level of fighting, casualties, and civilian displacement occurring in Rakhine and Chin states, and the threat of further conflict in other areas, they said.

The free flow of information through the internet and the media is also essential, the statement said. For the sake of families across Myanmar we support all calls for a cessation of hostilities between the Myanmar military and armed organizations, resolution of grievances through dialogue, and a lifting of any internet and media restrictions as well.

COVID-19 does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, nationality, religion, or social status, it said.

The U.S. State Department issued a separate statement the same day, expressing deep concern over the escalating violence in northern Rakhine and Chin states. The country called on the warring sides to end their hostilities and on the Myanmar government to restore internet access and permit deliveries of international humanitarian aid.

The current situation is exacerbated by ongoing restrictions on humanitarian and media access, and the prolonged internet blackout, which cut communities off from lifesaving assistance and vital information, the statement said.

Access to humanitarian assistance and information are all the more important during the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.

The U.S. has provided more than U.S. $820 million in humanitarian aid to Myanmar following the onset of the brutal military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in northern Rakhine state in 2017 that left thousands dead and drove more than 740,000 others to Bangladesh, the statement said.

On Wednesday, military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun rejected calls for cease-fires by some civil society and ethnic groups during the coronavirus pandemic, the Myanmar Times reported.

The Myanmar military declared a unilateral cease-fire for nine months in 2019 in some parts of the country, excluding Rakhine state, but the truce was broken and fighting has continued.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Most Voting in Online Survey Say CCP Virus Is Right Name for Coronavirus
The ash plume from the Kilauea volcano on the big island of Hawaii was pictured May 12, 2018, from the International Space Station. Credits: NASA

Instead of looking up to the sky for bright bursts of fiery color, a research team spent Fourth of July 2018 peering down at fiery globs of molten lava from a sky-diving airplane.

Bolted to their plane was a new NASA instrument designed to detect each time the volcano took a breath, as its caldera swelled and deflated.

The team flew multiple flights above the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from July 3 to 5, 2018, to demonstrate how a new instrument could pave the way for a future constellation of small satellites dedicated to monitoring impacts from volcanic activity, earthquakes and changes in land surfaces, said Lauren Wye, the principal investigator who led and recently concluded the instrument's development at SRI International in Menlo Park, California.

A global map detailing land elevation changes over time can help scientists pinpoint ground motion before, during and following earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and help identify impacts from floods and groundwater pumping. "The CubeSat Imaging Radar for Earth Sciences, or CIRES, can help decision-makers and emergency managers obtain observations sooner after a hazardous event so that they are better prepared to deal with disaster relief," Wye said.

Although Kilauea's eruption impacted over 50 square miles of land, ground deformation, or a change in land elevation, is not always perceptible to the human eye. Highly specialized technology like Wye's new instrument can pinpoint and record these changes.

CIRES is equipped with an S-band Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). The S-band radar is able to penetrate through vegetation and reach the ground. CIRES takes two radar images of a specific area from approximately the same position in space at two different times and then processes the two images to determine the difference between them.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine's 2017 Decadal Survey, "Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observations from Space," recommends that NASA use InSAR measurements to help address the dynamics of earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, glaciers, groundwater and Earth's interior.

A constellation of small InSAR satellites could work in tandem with the NASA-ISRO SAR Mission (NISAR), which is NASA's first dedicated InSAR satellite currently in development. Multiple small satellites could collect frequent data over rapidly evolving processes, like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides, adding to NISAR's systematic global data.

Once upon a radar

Traditionally, researchers monitor ground deformation with on-the-ground sensors and the Global Positioning System (GPS). InSAR measurements are complementary to ground measurements and can often guide how ground sensors are installed. "InSAR data have revolutionized how we look at earthquakes and volcanoes," Kyle Anderson, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey, said.

In orbit, a series of small InSAR satellites could peer down and record changes in ground deformation. "Volcanoes will often inflate with magma before they erupt," Anderson said. Anderson worked with the CIRES team at Kilauea. "Although it's difficult to predict how big or how long the eruption will be, we can say, this volcano started inflating and there's a higher probability of it erupting."

The CIRES project began in January 2015 at SRI International with funding from NASA's Earth Science Technology Office to develop the instrument's radar electronics hardware over two years. It then received an additional three years of funding to prepare the radar for space, demonstrate the imaging capabilities via aircraft, including both on-board and remotely piloted aircraft, and advance a space-deployable antenna to complete the instrument.

"InSAR has been particularly useful for better understanding volcanoes in remote areas," Anderson said. For example, the technology helped scientists notice deformation near the Three Sisters cluster of volcanoes in central Oregon from 1997 to 2001. InSAR pinpointed deformation in an area that last saw an eruption 1,500 years ago. Because of the observed changes, the USGS installed seismometers, GPS stations and gas-monitoring equipment to check for other signs of activity. In 2004, those instruments detected a swarm of 300 small earthquakes.

"InSAR allows you to get wide areas of coverage and see how one part of the volcano's caldera is changing relative to another part," Patrick Rennich, the CIRES signal processing and experiment design lead, said. Typically, researchers place a limited number of GPS sensors on specific parts of the volcano to monitor any movement. "CIRES should be able to cover the entire caldera," Rennich said.

Steps to space

During development, "the team ran into a lot of hiccups," Wye said. However, with each hiccup, like a delayed test flight, the team got innovative. "It led to a lot of fun exercises," Wye said.

One of those exercises saw the team strapping the instrument to a moving car. They drove the car, which they dubbed "CarSAR," along elevated roads in the Bay Area of Northern California in early 2018 to see how CIRES would pick up information in a valley below. "But we really needed to get higher to test our data," Wye said.

When the Kilauea Volcano started erupting in May 2018, they saw their opportunity. On July 4, 2018, lava was flowing and the volcano's caldera was collapsing. CIRES successfully obtained SAR, or snapshot imagery, but wasn't able to obtain InSAR, or comparison images, over Kilauea, in part because, "It was difficult to fly on the exact same path every day," Rennich said.

The flights over Kilauea, among other field tests, helped the team learn what worked and didn't work as they developed the instrument. They were able to optimize CIRES to improve its power management, size, sensor capabilities and ability to withstand heat.

In December 2019, the team again strapped CIRES, with updated hardware and software, to an airplane usually reserved for commercial skydiving and flew 10,000 feet above an army training facility in Indiana. "It turns out that skydiving operators are very comfortable flying with an open door," Rennich said.

The team flew CIRES above a simulated flooded village at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center to better understand radar signatures in a flooded urban environment. The flight also produced data that could improve algorithms that quantify the extent of flooding and related damage. NASA's Earth Science Technology Office and Disasters Program helped fund the flights and analysis of the CIRES data.

"By mounting CIRES on an airplane, we could fly at different angles and see how different building orientations affect how they appear in radar images due to flooding," Sang-Ho Yun, a geophysicist and coinvestigator of this project at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said. "Flooding is like a ghost," Yun said; its ephemeral nature makes it difficult to assess the accuracy of flood mapping techniques.

The team also performed an experiment where they controlled motion on the ground to test CIRES. During the Indiana flight, "One of our colleagues on the ground would raise silvery metal reflectors by half a centimeter to a centimeter to show that we can detect that level of change," Rennich said. This helped prove that CIRES collected accurate InSAR data.

The flights were successful in part because the team was able to fly CIRES along the same path multiple times in a row, which they weren't able to do in Hawaii. "We implemented a better pilot navigation system," Rennich said, which allowed the team to fly within a few feet of where they had flown the previous day. In Hawaii, the they flew approximately 500 feet from the previous day's course.

"When you're in space, trajectory is much more repeatable," Rennich said, because each satellite is on a predictable, traceable course.

For the team to make CIRES, or a CIRES-like instrument work in space, they would need to significantly extend its antenna, from two feet across to 10 feet across, Rennich said. "Everything else pretty much stays the same," he said.

"Small satellites, similar in scope to CIRES, can be a dream system from a rapid disaster response point of view," Yun said. Although small satellites, like CIRES, won't be able to obtain the same accuracy as larger systems, they could obtain data more frequently when a disaster hits. "With small satellites, we can cost effectively achieve that goal," Yun said.

For more information about NASA's Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), visit: esto.nasa.gov



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Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday warned Australians not to travel during Easter and follow social distancing policies to contain the spread of the coronavirus that has killed 28 people and infected over 5,300 others in the country.

The number of known COVID-19 cases has reached one million worldwide and more than 51,000 deaths have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.

There are 5,315 known infections in Australia, with 2,389 in New South Wales (NSW). The death toll stands at 28, after the death of a Victorian man in his 80s, a 74-year-old woman from Albury in NSW, a German passenger from the Artania cruise ship and a Wollongong man who was a passenger on the Ovation of the Seas, health authorities said.

There have been 84 COVID-19 cases linked to the Ovation of the Seas in NSW after it docked in Sydney on March 18 and dozens of Artania passengers were still in Perth hospitals.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday warned that people should not be travelling for the school holidays or to visit family for Easter, which falls on April 12 this year.

"We put the Easter decorations up in the house yesterday with Jenny and the kids - it might actually keep them occupied for at least an hour or so if they're painting Easter eggs or whatever," he said.

"But this Easter will be at home. People should not be getting in their cars and going to other places."



While speaking to the media after a National Cabinet meeting, Morrison confirmed that Australia was successful in bringing down the levels of the COVID-19 infection growth to single digit.

"Had the virus kept growing at the same rate it was 12 days ago, we would now have more than 10,500 cases in this country," he said, adding "That is a tribute to the work that has been done by Australians in getting around and supporting the very sensible measures that have been put in place all around the country."



"But we must continue to do this. It doesn't matter what the temperature is, if it's a warm day, don't go on masses down to the beach."Morrison also said that social distancing and other border measures were working and saving lives and livelihood.

Early modelling shows if we keep doing the work and upgrade our (intensive care) capacity then right now that trajectory is promising, Morrison said. But there are no guarantees, this virus writes its own rules" he added.

On international visitors coming to Australia on working visas, Morrison said that they would have to self-isolate for 14 days before moving out to rural and regional areas for work.

This is being done to ensure that those producers can get the work done, but also to ensure that the communities are protected,'' he said, adding after the 14 days, they could then move to the country to work.

Morrison said the move was to ensure that the virus was not inadvertently transferred from an urban area to the country.

Meanwhile, Australia's top health expert Brendan Murphy has said that the true global estimate of coronavirus cases could be "five or ten times higher" than the current estimate of one million cases recorded on Friday.

Murphy, who was addressing media along with Australian prime Minister Scott Morrison after a National Cabinet meeting, said ''The true number is probably five to 10 times that.

The Chief medical officer said there were growing concerns that some countries were not being truthful in the number of infections reported.

Murphy, however, said that Australia was showing signs of flattening the curve.

"We have a pretty good idea of the size or our growth rate. We are quietly pleased but we cannot stop," Murphy said.

On the growth rate of infection in Australia, Murphy said that it has been falling and was about five per cent a day at the moment.

Stating that the broader measures have had good effect on controlling the rate, Murphy said "We're still detecting returned travellers, still detecting contacts of returned detecting contacts of returned travellers, but those numbers are reducing. We still have cruise ship people to come home. We still have a lot of issues with people who have contracted the virus from overseas. But we are in control of those issues.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The description of the Strategic National Stockpile was changed on Friday to align with the way White House senior adviser Jared Kushner described it at a press briefing the day before.

Amid states bidding against each other for medical supplies and officials begging the federal government for help in procuring much-needed items, Kushner said they should not look to the reserve for help

'The notion of the federal stockpile was it's supposed to be our stockpile. It's not supposed to be states stockpiles that they then use,' he said.

The description of the Strategic National Stockpile was changed on Friday to align with the way White House senior adviser Jared Kushner described it

The language from earlier this week describing the Strategic National Stockpile

The new language describing the Strategic National Stockpile

But the description on the website for the Strategic National Stockpile actually said state and local governments could count on it for help.

'Strategic National Stockpile is the nation's largest supply of life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out,' it read, 'When state, local, tribal, and territorial responders request federal assistance to support their response efforts, the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency.'

But, on Friday, there was a new description of the stockpile, one that reflected Kushner's description.

'The Strategic National Stockpile's role is to supplement state and local supplies during public health emergencies,' it now says. 'Many states have products stockpiled, as well. The supplies, medicines, and devices for life-saving care contained in the stockpile can be used as a short-term stopgap buffer when the immediate supply of adequate amounts of these materials may not be immediately available.'

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services told DailyMail.com the language change had been in the works for 'a week' to 'more clearly explain to state and local agencies and members of the public the role of the' the stockpile.

'This is language we have been using in responding to inquiries for weeks now. ASPR [The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response] first began working to update the website text a week ago to more clearly explain to state and local agencies and members of the public the role of the SNS,' the spokesperson said.

The stockpile is a repository of antibiotics, vaccines, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, and other critical medical supplies.

It was formed in 1998 when then-President Bill Clinton read a fiction book about mad scientists spreading a virus throughout New York City. He inquired of his staff about medical supplies on reserve. While there was a stockpile for the military, there was not one for civilians, so his administration created one.

President Donald Trump and his administration has been pushing blame for the lack of medical supplies to respond to the coronavirus to the states. The White House has sought to portray itself as the rescuer of states' incompetence

Kushner pushed that idea on Thursday.

He lectured governors - many of whom have been begging the federal government for medical equipment as they struggle to respond to the pandemic amid dwindling supplies - on how to be 'good managers.'

'You have to take inventory in your state, and you have to be able to prove that theres a real need,' he said of the requests for they were getting for ventilators, marks and other protective gear for workers on the front line, who are at high risk of contracting the contagious disease.

He said that governors should know 'the number of how many ventilators they have in their state because that's the first thing a good manager will do.'

'What a lot of the voters are seeing now is that when you would like somebody to be a mayor or governor or president, you're trying to think about who will be a competent manager during the time of crisis. This is a time of crisis, and you're seeing certain people are better managers than others,' he added.

Kushner's extraordinary behind-the-scenes role as a key figure in the administration's coronavirus task force is drawing bewilderment from some officials who see a non-health expert exercising authority.

The president's son-in-law has brought in former associates and friends as he tries to short-circuit procedures to get medical supplies to states and localities.

And he has taken a role in one of the central questions of life-saving medical equipment: who should get priority access to precious ventilators.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner lectured governors pushing for medical equipment during a White House briefing room appearance. An unnamed official described his team as a 'frat party' descended from a UFO

An official compared Kushner's team to a 'frat party.' Its members include Brad Smith, a fellow Harvard grad, and Jared's former college roommate Adam Noehner

A senior administration official involved in meetings about the coronavirus outbreak told the New York Times Kushner's team was like a 'frat party' that 'descended from a U.F.O. and invaded the federal government.'

But Kushner has defended his work, saying he can make things happen quickly from his West Wing office just down the hall from the Oval Office.

From the White House, 'you can move a lot faster,' he said. Ive put members of my team into a lot of components. What weve been able to do is get people very quick answers.

The figures Kushner has involved in order to expedite requests for equipment include friends and associates from his time as a senior White House aide and as a player in New York real estate.

They include Kushner's former roommate Adam Boehler, the head of an international finance agency, and Brad Smith, who leads an innovation center at the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services.

According to his CMS bio, Harvard grad Smith 'was the Co-Founder and CEO of Aspire Health, which he grew from an idea into the nation's largest home-based palliative care provider operating in 25 states and over 70 cities.'

The paper also identified software entrepreneur Nat Turner as part of Kushner's improvised team.

The Kushner effort comes as governors around the country have been publicly and privately begging for medical equipment as some hospitals begin to be overrun with patients.

He has stepped in as the coronavirus outbreak hits close to home, with New York and New Jersey seeing a spike in cases, even as his father in law has offered conflicting information about whether the situation is contained or dire, sunny pronouncements about having enough equipment available, and threats to use government powers to force manufacturers to make more of it.

White House adviser Jared Kushner attends a teleconference with governors at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters From left, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health and Kushner on March 19, 2020 in Washington, DC

Kushner has taken leading roles in numerous areas, including a Mideast peace proposal

Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York, a former federal prosecutor, called on White House senior adviser Jared Kushner to 'resign or be fired immediately,' arguing his inexperience poses 'a direct threat to American lives'

Kushner gave a window into the type of assignments he is carrying out at the White House Thursday.

'Got a call from the president, he told me he was hearing from friends of his in New York that the New York public hospital system was running low on critical supplies,' Kushner told reporters while the president looked on.

He said he made a series of calls to officials and said the result was the administration would 'send a month of supply.'

'We'll be doing similar things with all the different public hospitals that are in the hot spot zones,' he said.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Benny Thompson  who is calling for a special commission to probe the coronavirus response  publicly criticized Kushner's role.

'FEMA was brought into the response to provide logistics support and the White House should let them do their work. There is no reason for Jared or any other inexperienced person to be getting in the way of that,' he told The Times.

And Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York, a former federal prosecutor, called on Kushner to 'resign or be fired immediately,' arguing his inexperience poses 'a direct threat to American lives.'

Kushner has been running a 'shadow' coronavirus task force, which has brought in private sector officials to augment the government response.

'Since day 1 we've known that Jared Kushner was nothing more than a product of nepotism. Entirely inexperienced, unqualified and ill-informed for the position he held. But during this crisis, he poses a direct threat to American lives. He needs to resign or be fired immediately,' she wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile the blame game from the administration has played out as the backdrop of the pandemic, which has seen more than 245,000 Americans infected and more than 6,000 dead from the disease.

President Trump also has pushed the blame to the states and engaged in a verbal war of words with various governors.

President Donald Trump has engaged in a verbal war of words with various governors

President Trump and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo exchanged barbs last week on the number of ventilators sent to help the state

He and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo exchanged barbs last week on the number of ventilators sent help the state - which has the highest infection rate in the nation - combat the coronavirus. They later made amends.

Additionally last week, he attacked the governors of Washington and Michigan for not being appreciative enough to him during the coronavirus crisis.

'I think they should be appreciative,' he said during his daily White House briefing. 'When they're not appreciative to me. They are not appreciative to the army corps. They are not appreciative to FEMA. It's not right.'

He added that: 'If they don't treat you right, I don't call.'

Both Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has complained they're not getting enough supplies and support from the federal government as their states battle the coronavirus.

Whitmore refused to engage the president on the matter, saying officials should be fighting the coronavirus, not each other.

'Right now, we all need to be focused on fighting the virus, not each other. I'm willing to work with anyone as long as we get the personal protective equipment we need for the people of Michigan,' she tweeted after the president's remarks.

In an interview with CNN earlier this month, Whitmore said her state's shipments of personal protective equipment are being 'canceled' or 'delayed.'

'Well, we've entered into a number of contracts, and as we get closer to the date when shipments are supposed to come in, they are getting canceled -- getting delayed,' Whitmer told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

She said Michigan was notified that shipments of protective equipment such as face masks are going 'first to the federal government' ahead of the states.

Whitmer endorsed Joe Biden for president earlier this month and has made the short list of those he is considering running with should he earn the Democratic nomination.

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee was criticized by President Trump after he complained about a lack of medical supplies

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was referred to by Trump as 'the woman in Michigan'

But the president defended the work of his coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, as working '24 hours a day' to help ease the pandemic.

'Mike Pence, I don't think he sleeps anymore. These are people that should be appreciated,' the president complained last week.

He admitted his vice president will call the governors even when he won't.

'He calls all the governors. I tell him, I mean, I'm a different type of person. I say Mike, don't call the governor of Washington. You are wasting your time with him. Don't call the woman in Michigan, it doesn't make any difference what happens,' he said.

He trashed Inslee as a 'failed presidential candidate' and Whitmer as not having any 'idea what's going on.'

Inslee ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to bring attention to global warming but his campaign failed to gain traction.

'I think we have done a great job in the state of Washington. I think the governor is a failed presidential candidate as you know. He leveled out at zero in the polls. He is constantly tripping and I guess complaining would be a nice way of saying it. We are building hospitals. We have done a great job for the state of Washington,' Trump said.

And he went on to complain of Whitmer that 'she has no idea what's going on and all she does is say oh, it's the federal government's fault. And we have taken such great care of Michigan.'
Pakistani authorities have re-arrested four men convicted of the 2002 murder of U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl, one day after a lower court ruled to overturn their convictions.

Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was investigating Islamist militants in Karachi after the 9/11 attacks when we was kidnapped in January 2002, and later beheaded.

On Thursday (April 2), the High Court in Sindh acquitted the four accused, including British militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was originally sentenced to death for masterminding Pearl's murder.

But today (April 3), the Sindh government issued the order to arrest and detain the four before they were released from prison -- to be detained for three months.

The re-arrest of the men gives the Pakistani government time to put together a legal appeal against their acquittal.
: The total number of coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh increased to 164, with the addition of three cases from Friday morning, while the state government confirmed the death of a 55-year-old man, even as two patients got discharged after recovering from the disease.

It was the first death of a Corona patient in the state after the first case was reported on March 12.

With this, the number of active COVID-19 cases in the state currently stood at 159, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Medical and Health Department.

While 12 Corona positive cases were reported since Thursday night, three more were added to the tally till 10.30 PM.

Of the three cases, two were from East Godavari district and one from Visakhapatnam.

Five days after a 55-year-old man died in the government hospital in Vijayawada, the government on Friday confirmed that coronavirus was the cause of the death.

The man contracted the disease from his son, who returned from New Delhi after attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation on March 17.

The man came to the government hospital at 11.30 AM on March 30 for health checkup. His blood swab was sent for examination and in the meantime he died around 12.30 pm. He was suffering from hypertension and cardiac problems besides being diabetic.

The delay in confirming whether or not he died of coronavirus affliction was because of his other ailments, state nodal officer Arja Srikanth said in a release.

The mans son tested positive for Covid-19 on March 31 and was kept in quarantine.

We have identified 29 others who came in contact with him and they were also sent to quarantine, Srikanth added.

A 23-year-old UK-returned youth in Ongole (the second case reported in the state) recovered from COVID-19 and was discharged from hospital after three blood tests turned negative.

Similarly, a 22-year-old who returned from the UK also recovered and was discharged from hospital in Kakinada. He was the fourth Covid-19 patient in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister (Health) A K K Srinivas said over 140 out of 164 Corona positive patients in AP related to the Jamaat.

Of the tested 881 blood samples of those who attended the Jamaat event, 108 turned positive. Results of another 65 cases are awaited. Also, 32 of their contacts too tested positive for coronavirus, Srinivas told reporters after a high-level review meeting with Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The Deputy CM said of the 1,085 persons who attended the Jamaat event from AP, 946 had since returned while the rest 139 were still away.

Of the 946, only 881 have been traced so far, he added.

SPS Nellore district turned out to be the hotbed with the number of Corona cases climbing to 32, adding eight overnight. In fact, the district saw the fastest spread of COVID-19 from three to 32 in a span of just two days.

Krishna district too witnessed a significant rise in Corona cases to 23, with Vijayawada city alone reporting 18.

Three major hotspots have been identified in the city where the prevalence of the disease was high and, accordingly, the authorities have clamped further restrictions on peoples movement, besides sanitising those areas.

The far-off north coastal districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram appear to be the safe zones in the state right now with not a single case of Corona reported from there.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Most of the streets he passes are empty as citizens practise social distancing to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, but for a delivery driver like Nguyen Van Thang, being outside is a must.

Nguyen Van Thang still works outside at a time while other people stay home to keep safe.

From Nam inh Province, Thang, 41, spends more than VN10 million ($425) each month on rent, food and other costs for his four-member family as well as school fees for his two daughters in Ha Noi.

I dont know if the coronavirus will kill me or not but no money will definitely kill me, he told Viet Nam News.

I earned more than VN2 million yesterday as others did not drive. If nothing changes, I can earn at least double from what I usually make," he added.

While four-wheel transport services have been stopped till April 16 to battle the pandemic, ride-hailing firms like Grab, Be and GoViet are still offering delivery services.

While many drivers have cut back on their hours due to concerns over their health, Grab driver inh Manh Linh still work from 8am to 8pm every day.

There are lots of orders from the early morning as people still want to buy food and other commodities in the time of social distancing, he said.

"It is a chance to earn. The pandemic is unpredictable but with more income, I feel safe," Linh added.

It is risky to work outside and contact with others when delivering but I can earn more by working in the period while most others stop, he said.

Nguyen Thi Quynh, who sells food in Hoang Mai District has received more online orders but has struggled to find delivery drivers.

My regular shippers went back to their hometowns, so I have to spend more on delivery services like Grab or Giaohangnhanh. I need them to best serve my customers to keep them with me now and after the pandemic, she said.

The competition between online sellers is very tough. If you dont serve customers well one time, they will never order again, she warned.

As part of efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus, the Ministry of Transport requested Grab, be, GoViet and other ride-hailing reduce their operations.

Grab announced on its Facebook fan page that it will temporarily stop four-wheel services in all provinces and cities between April 1 and April 15 as well as the food delivery service in a Nang between April 2 and April 15.

The firm still runs the services of food and grocery delivery as well as express shipping.

Up to last August, Viet Nam was estimated to have more than 400,000 ride-hailing drivers nation-wide. VNS

Minh Huong

Restaurants, coffee chains in Vietnam switch to selling online delivery After HCM City decided to temporarily close restaurants and catering services with the capacity of more than 30 customers, they began selling online and delivering food.
S cotland Yard wants to buy a new fleet of military-style armoured vehicles to help tackle public disorder, firearms incidents and riots in London.

Last week the force put out a notice stating it was looking for suppliers for armoured personnel carriers, armoured military vehicles, armoured combat vehicles and weapon carriers.

It also wants security, fire-fighting and defence equipment and armour plating.

It wishes to buy tactical intervention and public order and firearm patrol vehicles that can carry up to eight personnel and have a gross vehicle weight over 10 tonnes, according to the notice.

A budget for the fleet is yet to be finalised. A Met spokesman said the new equipment was also not linked to the coronavirus pandemic and the vehicles would not be on the streets until next year.

He said: The [force] operates a number of armoured personnel vehicles, which are all due for renewal. This renewal project has been ongoing for over a year, as part of strategic planning.

A list of military-style vehicles the Met currently owns is not available to the public.

However it has at least three upgraded bullet-resistant armoured Jankel Guardians, which cost about 100,000 each.

The seven-tonne personnel carrier can withstand AK-47 bullets and has a bomb-proof floor. It also owns 13 older Jankels, which were deployed during the 2011 London riots.

The fleet, normally based at Heathrow, was sent out onto the streets after widespread looting and public disorder. They were also seen at Wembley in 2015 following the terror attacks in Paris.

A Met spokesman said: The current vehicles are used periodically for a number of policing functions, which include safeguarding officers during public order and firearm incidents.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily
Fearing COVID-19 resurgence, China asks people to stay vigilant

From next week, domestic travel will be allowed but while cities in China slowly ease restrictions, countries around the region are doing the opposite, fearful of new clusters of the disease emerging.
As of midday Thursday, 90% of the nation  thats roughly 300 million citizens  was under either a state- or city-mandated shelter-in-place order in an effort to halt the spread of novel coronavirus.

So whats life like for the other 10%? Are some Americans still chatting at the local barbershop, meeting for post-work happy hours and gathering for backyard barbecues?

Not so much. The reality is a complicated and even conflicted mix of respect for a deadly pathogen, concern over its economic implications, and a desire to maintain a sense of American independence in the face of a collective tragedy.

Many people are no longer shaking hands or crowding into stores, but they are still going shopping, buying cars and some are even heading out to work each day.

Were doing what we would do for the flu, with older people sheltering in place and the rest of us taking the best care we can, says Brian Joens, whose Iowa City eatery, Joensys, is doing a brisk take-out business of its fabled pork tenderloin.

But lets be honest, what country do we live in? says Joens. Its the USA, which is freedom, freedom to choose. When we get notes from the government saying do this or do that, it feels like thats not what this country is built on. People should be smart, and you live with your choices.

Brian Joens is pictured here with his wife and four daughters. Joens runs Joensy's, an Iowa City, Iowa, eatery that is famous for its pork tenderloin. Joens says he and his friends are being vigilant about the coronavirus, but they don't want government-issued edits to rule the day. Iowa is among a handful of states without governor-issued stay-at-home orders.

Iowa and four other states  North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Arkansas  as yet have no state-wide orders. Seven states  Wyoming, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama and South Carolina  have at least one city with shelter-in-place rules. As of now, 38 states have full lock-down orders from the top.

Initial skepticism about whether social distancing orders are needed to combat the virus is fading fast. On Wednesday, 80% of Americans were under a full or partial lockdown. By Thursday, the figure grew to 90% after Florida and Georgia added state mandates.

USA TODAY reached out to residents in eight states without specific lockdown orders to get a sense of how people are confronting the growing coronavirus outbreak.

Story continues

In every case, there was a clear understanding of the lethal nature of COVID-19, which to date has infected nearly 230,000 Americans and killed 5,648, from hero physicians to celebrated artists such as jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis.

But many also were uneasy with state-ordered health directives, arguing that residents should make smart decisions for themselves. And some blamed the media for overplaying a pandemic that is expected to threaten lives across the globe for much of 2020.

Im looking out the window of my dealership, and people are everywhere, its unbelievable, says Chris Mayes, who owns Big Red Kia and Oklahoma Motorcars along the Mile of Cars commercial strip in Norman. Were not on lockdown here.

At his Big Red Kia, which remains open, Mayes makes sure salespeople stay six feet away from customers. With nearly 900 positive virus cases, and 34 deaths, Oklahomas numbers are not among the worst in the nation. But Mayes is worried those statistics will cause some to be complacent.

When I see images from other U.S. cities, where theres just no one in the streets, very few cars out, that is the total opposite of what were seeing here, he says, adding that he rarely strays from his showroom. And Im absolutely worried about it.

In some states, residents predict coronavirus 'will blow over'

Over in the northwestern corner of Alabama near the Tennessee border, Andrew Sorrell says the streets of Florence are shockingly busy. He attributes that to a mix of optimism and fierce individualism. Still, he says, residents have stopped greeting each other without a handshake or hug for the time being.

I think most people expect this will blow over, although when it does it will have implications we dont understand yet, says Sorrell, a Republican state representative out of Muscle Shoals and the co-owner of Gold, Guns and Guitars, two pawn shops doing a huge business in gun sales. When will we shake hands again?

Sorrell says that despite having no state-wide order to stay home, many of his constituents are doing just that, especially the elderly. His own parents declined to invite his in-laws over to live-stream a church service the other day.

But others, he says, claim the dangers are being hyped by the media. He himself isnt for a state-wide mandate but rather more personal responsibility.

I have liberty concerns with a shelter in place order, Sorrell says. People just need to be more responsible for themselves with what theyre doing, where theyre going.

Tessa Moberg, in glasses, runs Wolf Pup Daycare in North Dakota, where there is as yet no state-wide shelter in place order. This photo was taken before the coronavirus struck, and features on the left Gov. Doug Burgum and on the right Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford.

For some who live in states with no gubernatorial edict on COVID-19 behavior, the anger isnt toward a government institution that might curtail their rights but rather at the virus itself.

I want to be safe but I dont like the virus dictating what I can and cant do, says Tessa Moberg, who runs Wolf Pup Daycare in Watford City, a small town of 6,500 in the western, oil-field-rich part of North Dakota. The state so far has 150 or so coronavirus cases and three deaths.

Normally, Mobergs business oversees more than 200 children; currently, her skeleton staff is looking after nine, mostly the kids of essential workers who still head to their jobs. While she has fears about the virus, she also claims her immune system is through the roof after years of working with young children.

Moberg says she cut back her staff "with my heels dug in deep, and though I miss those kids so much I do understand whats going on even if I dont like it." Moberg admits that when she goes out to shop its just weird now, you dont want to talk or even breathe, even if its desolate out here.

In the arid, rock- and mountain-studded state of Utah, which has only 37 people per square mile, the states patchwork array of orders is the result of a range of factors, including a Western rugged individualist mentality and many isolated rural counties, residents say.

Instead of issuing a state-wide COVID-19 order to shelter in place, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert last week urged citizens to Stay Safe, Stay Home, and offered guidance on closing public facilities and restricting food service businesses to take-out only.

So far, of the 13 state health departments that oversee Utahs 29 counties, only three have urged their counties to go beyond the governors broad directives, says Cameron Diehl, executive director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, which represents 249 Utah cities.

Everyone sees whats happening out there in the world, but how you respond really depends on where you live, says Diehl, noting the inherent differences between Utah tourist meccas such as the Summit County ski areas and Moab mountain biking region, and far more sparsely inhabited parts of the state. "Everyone seems to take a look at their own situation when it comes to health care, and makes a decision."

Local leaders take some precautions to stop coronavirus outbreak

Gail Terry lives in the classically rural frontier town of Cody, just east of Wyomings Yellowstone National Park and named after Western icon Buffalo Bill Cody.

Terry says that while only the tourism destination city of Jackson is under self-quarantine, people in Cody are taking coronavirus very seriously. Those who sell food limit the number of people coming in to shop, deliveries have stepped up, and cash donations to the local food bank she helps oversee, the Cody Cupboard, have increased as food has become more scarce.

Cody, Wyoming, is home to a collection of historic western buildings and artifacts. The city's residents are being vigilant about coronavirus, even if there is still no statewide order to shelter in place.

The data looks good for us right now, says Terry, noting that there are 150 COVID-19 cases in the state and only one in her county. We will keep doing what we need to on our own. But if the governor asked every one of us to shelter in place, I think people would. We watch the news, we see whats going on.

Many say regional reactions to COVID-19 have a lot to do with everything from the varied political views that exist across the nation to the hardships that some encounter annually because of geography.

"We are in tornado alley, so you can have a beautiful day and then a terrible storm, so were used to that for Arkansans," says Meg Matthews, deputy chief of communications for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. "Were a sturdy group of people, we take situation and make the best of it."

Matthews says that although there is no state-wide order to stay home, various departments are taking action as needed. State parks had started to see an influx of visitors from locals and those outside the state in the past week, leading to a few exceedingly crowded trails, which has since been closed.

"The feeling I get from most people is that were about a 6 out of 10 if a 10 is totally freaking out," says Matthews, whose state has more than 500 cases and eight deaths. "We are all taking precautions and being practical."

In Arkansas, where as yet there is no statewide mandate to stay at home due to coronavirus, measures are being taken as needed, including closing some of the state's most popular trails near Little Rock.

In American lore, there are perhaps few states with as fierce an independent streak as the Lone Star State of Texas. Born out of a history filled with clashes with other nations, indigenous peoples and each other, many Texans epitomize a do-it-yourself ethic that is a key ingredient in the American mythos.

Penny McBride was born and raised in the Texas Hill county town of Fredericksburg, which was settled 174 years ago by German immigrants who named it after Prince Frederick of Prussia.

There has so far been a conflicted response to coronavirus in a state that has no government mandate to shelter in place.

McBride, who runs the local chamber of commerce, says that while many businesses in the area are closed, including the Hill Countrys tourist-draw wineries, some retailers were eager to stay open while following health official recommendations for keeping customers apart and shelves sanitized.

As the chamber, thats made us the enforcement agency, so were working with different agencies now to understand some clarity, she says, adding that a request recently made by the local hospital, Hill Country Memorial, for a shelter-in-place order for Gillespie County has so far not been acted on.

There are 900 members of the chamber of commerce, and commerce means business, I understand that, she says. But if we crater our health care system, thats an impact we just cant take.

McBride remains confident that despite continued debates over how to best tackle a crisis no one could anticipate, her fellow Texans will do the right thing even if government decrees arent issued.

All the stereotypes are true, we are very independent people who like to think of ourselves as always doing things our own way, says McBride. But those German roots also mean we are tight-knit. So theres the Texas maverick side, but also a part of us that will absolutely step up to take care of our own.

Follow USA TODAY national correspondent Marco della Cava: @marcodellacava

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In states without stay-at-home orders, residents celebrate freedoms
Update: Canadas top public health doctor now says wearing a mask can prevent someone who might unknowingly have COVID-19 from spreading the illness to others. Dr. Theresa Tam said Monday there is increasing evidence people with the virus can spread it without realizing theyre sick. While medical masks should be preserved for health-care workers, she said cloth masks or other alternatives can reduce the chance of respiratory droplets coming into contact with others  for instance, on a bus or at the grocery store, The Canadian Press reports.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer, put it mildly when she tweeted on Wednesday evening, There is a lot of discussion on use of face masks.

In these recent, destabilizing weeks, dramatic efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 have prompted an onslaught of new, sometimes contradictory guidelines that seem to move as quickly as the virus itself. But even by pandemic standards, the conflicting opinions on whether we should all cover our noses and mouths in public are head-spinning.

On Friday, Dr. Gary Garber, an infection prevention and control physician at Public Health Ontario, said the agency, which provides scientific and technical expertise to the government, is doing a scientific review of the issue, the latest indication that this question is very much a moving target. At present, Ontarios public health agency does not advise mask-wearing unless you have COVID-19 or are caring for someone with the virus.

Theres a debate amongst all the experts, said Margaret Sietsema, an expert on respiratory protection and an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who is on the no side of the masks-for-all discussion. Who knows whats going on?

To be clear, the question that a growing number of officials are now probing  as of Friday, this list included the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Ontario and an advisory panel to the World Health Organization  is not whether the public should start donning medical masks.

With personal protective equipment (PPE) in short supply in many countries, including Canada, there is broad and powerful consensus among officials about the need to reserve medical-grade masks  including surgical masks and tight-fitting N95 respirators used in hospitals  for health-care workers on the front lines of the pandemic.

Unlike N95 masks, which contain a filter to protect the wearer, the growing #masks4all movement sees cloth masks as a means of protecting everyone else  a barrier, however imperfect, to catching infectious droplets from sneezes, coughs and exhalations. This position is gaining steam with emerging evidence about COVID-19 that suggests the virus may travel farther through the air than previously thought.

However, those on the other side of the debate argue there is no proof that cloth masks catch enough infectious droplets to make them worth the risks of encouraging universal mask-wearing. These risks include touching our faces more often to adjust masks, and imparting a false sense of security that could lead wearers to be less vigilant about physical distancing and handwashing  proven ways to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Thursday marked a break between officials in Canada and the U.S. on this issue, at least for the moment. After initially saying universal mask-wearing wasnt needed, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was planning to release new guidelines urging all Americans to don face coverings in public, based on a forthcoming recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control.

Then late Friday afternoon at his White House briefing, Trump said the Centers for Disease Control recommended that Americans use basic nonmedical, cloth masks on a voluntary basis, the New York Times reported.

You can do it. You dont have to do it. Im choosing not to do it, Trump said. Its only a recommendation.

By contrast, the message from officials in Ottawa to Canadians is to wear homemade masks at their discretion  and with caution.

Health Canada released a notice on homemade masks on Tuesday, warning that because of the loose fit and materials used, These types of masks may not be effective in blocking virus particles.

When Tam addressed the issue on Twitter on Wednesday, she acknowledged that a homemade mask may help with cough etiquette  akin to coughing into your sleeve. But she included several caveats, including the risk of masks becoming contaminated from the outside, and the fact that the virus can enter through the eyes. Non-medical masks alone will not prevent #COVID19 spread, she wrote, urging the public to consistently and strictly adhere to frequent handwashing and physical distancing.

Tam and federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu reiterated this message during press briefings in Ottawa this week, repeatedly stressing the need to conserve medical masks for health-care workers.

In email Thursday, a spokesperson for Ontarios health ministry said: There is no real evidence of the impact of homemade masks in preventing community spread, or in protecting oneself. While masks may reduce the frequency of an individual touching their nose or mouth, this potential positive effect is also tied to good hand hygiene.

The public health recommendations in Ontario are consistent with the current recommendations of the WHO. But that advice, too, may be in flux: Infectious diseases expert David Heymann, who chairs a panel of advisers to the WHO, told the BBC on Wednesday the group is considering emerging research on COVID-19 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which suggests coughs can travel up to six metres and sneezes up to eight metres  four times the berth public health officials are recommending for adequate physical-distancing.

The WHO is opening up its discussion again looking at the new evidence to see whether there should be a change in the way its recommending masks should be used, Heymann told the BBC.

In an interview earlier this week, Garber, from Ontarios public health agency, said it is hard to ascribe evidence to the notion that getting everyone to wear masks helps curb the spread of COVID-19, and cautioned against drawing too heavily from success stories from some Asian countries, where mask-wearing is more widespread.

Why in China did they put such a tight lockdown in Wuhan? Garber said. If masking was that effective, why didnt they just enforce that?

In his email Friday, Garber noted a commentary published by the U.S. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy this week, which he said found no evidence to support the plan of universal mask-wearing. Co-authored by Sietsema, the commentary, which is based on a literature review on the subject, argues strongly against masks-for-all, because of the lack of scientific data showing that cloth  or surgical  masks contain infectious droplets well enough to make them worthwhile.

Leaving aside the fact that they are ineffective, telling the public to wear cloth or surgical masks could be interpreted by some to mean that people are safe to stop isolating at home, the commentary states. Its too late now for anything but stopping as much person-to-person interaction as possible.

But for every expert arguing against universal masking, there is a study that seems to make the case for the other side, although none is definitive or necessarily applicable in countries like Canada, where medical masks are in short supply.

On Friday, Benjamin Cowling, a public health professor at the University of Hong Kong, tweeted: New study just out, face masks effective for source control against influenza and seasonal coronaviruses. In the paper published in Nature, Cowling and his co-authors write, Our results indicate that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.

However, for some experts, the lack of scientific data on the efficacy of cloth masks is not a reason to abandon the strategy. In Toronto, Michael Garron Hospital recently issued a challenge to east-end sewing enthusiasts to make 1,000 cloth masks to be distributed to approved hospital visitors and patients at discharge.

In a message on the hospitals website, Dr. Jeff Powis, medical director of infection prevention and control, says, We want to see all east enders wearing a fabric mask when they need to be within six feet of other people, especially vulnerable populations and the elderly.

In response to questions from the Star about this initiative, Powis said in an email, Unfortunately, there is no time for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of masking the public, and at this critical stage in the pandemic, a lack of definitive evidence will lead to inaction.

Powis added that cloth masks are not a replacement for social distancing, or hand washing; it is additive to these interventions.

With files from Tonda MacCharles

Read more about:
April 03 : Pooja Batra loves to entertain her fans with simple things in life. At present, as she enjoys self- quarantine with her better half Nawab Shah, in Madhya Pradesh, she makes it a point to communicate to all her fans regularly.

The Haseena Maan Jayegi actress shared a cute video of her lovely hair day. The post reflected on how happy she was to show her silky, fluffy hair and she glowed radiantly in the sunshine. Her fans loved this small video. They appreciated her natural beauty and the fact that she looked flawless even at this age. Today, she wore a multi-colored sleeveless top, swirled playfully, flaunted her waves and shot a sweet smile at her fans. She wore no makeup and looked squeaky clean in this small Insta update.

Recently, she also posted a picture where both she and her mother twinned in yellow kurta and enjoyed sitting at the porch of their house. Both looked happy and embraced the sunlight in such a cozy manner.

The actress had made her debut in 1995 in a small role in a Tamil film in Aasai. Moving on, she worked in Virasat along with Anil Kapoor, Talaash and many more. She had acted in Malayalam movies also like Chandralekha and Megham too in her early days.

Latest updates on Lockdown diaries
The Bombay High Court refused to



hear a bail application on Friday, saying it can not expect police officials who are engaged in enforcing lockdown for containing coronavirus to travel to court for such hearings.

In view of the pandemic, the high court and all other courts must consider the urgency before taking up such matters which need police's presence or assistance, said Justice A M Badar in his order.

The court was hearing a bail plea filed by Sopan Lanjekar, arrested in a cheating case last year.

The judge refused to hear the plea saying the court cannot entertain regular bail applications unless an urgent circumstance is pointed out.

"The present application is moved for bail at a time when the entire world is facing a pandemic and is trying to fight it out together by various means and modes," the court said.

Release of an accused or convict at the cost of breaching the order of lockdown and risking lives of many others cannot be considered to be an extremely urgent matter, it added.

It noted that Maharashtra is worst affected by the pandemic in the country. "Day by day number of such patients is multiplying. In Maharashtra, figure of confirmed infected patients is touching 500," the court said in its order.

"The entire law enforcing machinery is focusing on implementation of the lockdown throughout the state by virtually remaining on the field for 24 hours," it added.

In such a situation, courts can not insist that police officers travel to court and assist public prosecutors by leaving their jurisdiction where their presence is must, Justice Badar said.

The police are also dealing with incidents of assault on doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff, and in this situation, "presence of 100 percent members of Police Force on the field, rather than in the Court, is absolutely essential for a limited period of lockdown", the judge said.

"In this scenario, the prime and the only urgency this court is required to take into consideration or to look into, is how to save lives of people, be it prisoners or public," he said.

The HC directed that Lanjekar's bail plea be posted for hearing when the lockdown is relaxed and regular court starts functioning.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Digital Editor
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte promises to reveal by the weekend the steps he will take to loosen restrictions and reopen the economy

Though Italy has currently the third highest number of reported COVID-19 cases totalling at 115,242, it's reigning as the most interested country worldwide in the virus based on Google Search queries.

On an interest scale spanning from 0 to 100, Italy currently tops all other countries in being the most interested worldwide in the coronavirus.





Italy - 100

Based on the most recently reported values on WorldOMeter.com, Italy has the third highest number of coronavirus cases out of the world's countries totalling at 115,242. On the other hand, they have more reported deaths than any other country at 13,915.





Spain - 76

Behind the US as the country with the second highest number of COVID-19 cases is Spain at 117,710. The country is also second to Italy with the most coronavirus-related deaths at 10,935 and is currently seeing the second highest number of recent deaths in the world at 587, though Italy and France have yet to report these values.





Ireland - 62

Ireland is the third most interested country in COVID-19; it has fewer than 4,000 cases and 100 deaths.





France - 60

France comes in at sixth in terms of countries with the most reported cases at 59,105. The total number of deaths total 5,387, fourth worldwide.





United Kingdom - 59

Finally, the UK is the fifth most interested country in COVID-19. Their total number of reported cases is 38,168, eighth in the world, and the total number of deaths is 3,605, fifth in the world. Currently, the United Kingdom has seen more new deaths than any other country at 684.
Shripad Naik, the minister of state for AYUSH and Goa Lok Sabha MP, has said he has been informed that ayurvedic medicine has helped Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, recover from Covid-19 even as a spokesperson for the British royal in London denied the claim.

Prince Charles, who tested positive for the disease last month, is reported to have recovered from the illness caused by the Sars-CoV-2 virus and has since tested negative.

I got a call from Dr. Isaac Mathai, who runs the Soukya Ayurveda Resort in Bengaluru. He told me that his treatment of Prince Charles through ayurveda and homeopathy has been successful, Naik told a press conference in Goa on Thursday.

In a telephone call from Bengaluru, Isaac Mathai confirmed that the British royal and his wife are his patients. The website of his ayurveda resort, too, carries a video message from Prince Charles prominently on its landing page. But Mathai refused to confirm or deny Naiks remarks, citing patient confidentiality.

Since Prince Charles is a patient of mine, I wont be able to talk about him in any public forum. He stayed here some months ago; I met him in London last month, but I cannot disclose what I prescribed to him, Mathai said, adding that he has been prescribing the same medicine against any viral condition with flu-like symptoms to thousands of patients, but that he had not treated a Covid-19 patient as of now.

Asked by HT to comment on whether Prince Charless recovery from Covid-19 was aided by advice from an ayurveda practitioner in Bengaluru, a spokesperson for the Prince of Wales in London said: This information is incorrect. The Prince of Wales followed the medical advice of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and nothing more.
Clements and Travis FormyDuval, also with UNX, said people may be surprised to learn just how long many top cleaning products must sit  five or 10 minutes is not uncommon. But consumers should be reassured that if they allow a chemical to sit according to instructions, the claim on the front of a product bottle should be achieved. Each product is tested by the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure it does what it says and the instructions have been vetted for accuracy.
The state has pioneered in launching an online training programme for doctors in treating COVID-19 cases besides developing an app to track the suspected who are in home quarantine.

Several organisations and government agencies in India are quietly fast-tracking their innovations to put up the massive infrastructure required to fight the COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding the disturbing doomsday prophecies made by a section of the media vis-a-vis the impact of novel coronavirus on India.

While the Centre has innovated many things including converting railway bogies into makeshift COVID-19 hospitals, the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and many other organisations are working round-the-clock to come out with the prototype of ventilators required for critical patients if in case pandemic spreads like the way it swamped Italy or China or Spain.

Karnataka too made unique experiments in the fight against COVID-19. The state has pioneered in launching an online training programme for doctors in treating COVID-19 cases besides developing an app to track the suspected who are in home quarantine.

Both are unique and first of its kind in the country. While the online training concept was the brainchild of Karnataka medical education minister K Sudhakar, the mobile app has been developed and rolled out by the senior IAS officer Munish Moudgil and his team.

Quarantine App

After overcoming minor glitches, the app was launched on Wednesday and the government has made it mandatory to use this app and send pictures of suspected every hour. The medical education minister warned that if the suspected failed to send selfies every hour, they would be forcefully shifted to hospitals.

This Quarantine Watch app is available on Android and iPhone and all the suspected cases will have to download and start sending selfies after filling up the mandatory personal details. Since it is linked to GPS, the patients could be tracked easily.

At the backend, the system itself will identify selfies with good resolution. Both the computer and District Photo Verification Teams will decide the percentage of selfies good or bad. If in case a home quarantined person fails to send selfies or the selfies sent were rejected, then he or she will be treated or called as defaulter whom the authorities may think of shifting him or her to hospitals dedicated to treating the disease," said Moudgil.

In Karnataka, we had 35,000 people in home quarantine but 32,000 of them have completed the 14-day mandatory period. Now 3,000 are left. On the first day, 350 people sent selfies. We have sent SMSs and are following up with the rest, Moudgil said. Arunachal Pradesh has taken the app while Maharashtra has shown interest in taking this app.

Click here for Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates

Moudgil is originally an IIT product who joined the civil services in the 90s. In his earlier stint as commissioner of survey and settlements, he revolutionised the survey department by introducing several tech measures. One of them includes a land-identification app called Dishaank. A person, on downloading the app, can use it to find out the title owners of a certain plot of land.

Online training for doctors

The Karnataka government has launched Indias first online training programme for doctors besides developing COVID-19 treatment protocols for doctors.

Through this, more than 25,000 doctors and thousands of healthcare professionals will be trained and kept them ready to treat the novel coronavirus. The 20-page treatment protocol, developed by a team of experts, will be a boon for doctors across India equipping them with guidelines for timely, effective, and safe supportive management of patients with COVID 19.

The entire programme was conceived by state Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar.

Explaining the SoPs developed by team experts, Sudhakar said, The online course will take one and a half to two hours. Besides the treatment part, we explained in detail about clinical management, specimen collection and transport, infection control and supportive therapy to be given to COVID-19 patients. We have launched the programme on Monday and till now around 1,000 doctors have been trained. We are putting it on YouTube so that doctors can access it for free.
New Delhi: Even as members of the Tablighi Jamaat who attended the meet at New Delhi's Nizamuddin on March 13 are being traced and sent to quarantine, it was the information collected from coronavirus patients in Telangana that led to the discovery of what could be the biggest hotspot of the deadly pathogen in India.

According to information shared with Zee News by highly placed sources at the Health Ministry, on March 18, nine Indonesian nationals tested positive for the COVID-19 infection. While collecgting information from them for contact tracing they learnt about the Tablighi meet at the Nizamuddin markaz.

Subsequently, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) shared this information with the Delhi government on March 19, and the a team from Delhi government went to the markaz on March 20, but they were not allowed to enter and information was hidden about the presence of others inside.

On March 21 and 22, four more people were found to be positive for coronavirus infection in Telangana. The Delhi Government again sent a team to visit the Markaz, but still they had no information about the huge crowd that had gathered inside.

On March 24, seven more people tested positive for coronavirus infection in Telangana who had links to the Nizamuddin Markaz. After this, the NCDC then formed a group on behalf of Public Health Foundation of India (PHI) to find out what is the situation inside the Markaz.

It was only then that the huge gathering was discovered.

Since then, about 9,000 Tablighi Jamaat members and their primary contacts have been quarantined in the country after the government undertook "massive efforts" as part of steps to check the spread of the novel coronavirus, a home ministry official said.

A number of foreign nationals had participated in the Tablighi Jamaat event, maximum from Indonesia, Bangladesh. Activists from over 40 countries had travelled to India to participate at the meet at Nizamuddin Markaz.

Country Number of persons that participated in Tableeghi Jamaat event Algeria 7 Saudi Arabia 9 Australia 1 Bangladesh 110 United Kingdom 9 Peoples Republic of China 6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 2 Cote d'Ivoire 3 Djibouti 5 Egypt 1 Ethiopia 3 Fiji 1 France 3 Gambia 3 Indonesia 379 Iran 24 Jordan 1 Kazakhstan 14 Kenya 1 Kyrgyzstan 77 Madagascar 3 Malaysia 75 Mali 2 Myanmar 63 Philippines 10 Qatar 3 Russia 1 Senegal 1 Sierra Leone 1 Sri Lanka 33 South Africa 1 Sudan 4 Sweden 1 Tanzania 8 Togo 1 Thailand 65 Trinidad and Tobago 3 Tunisia 2 Ukraine 2 US 4 Vietnam 12 Others 6

Taking strong action against Tablighi Jamaat, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on April 2 blacklisted 960 foreigners and canceled their tourist visas after they were found involved in activities related to the Jamat.

Legal action will be taken against these foreign nationals for violating the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Disaster Management Act, 2005, as directed by the MHA the cases will be filed the police departments of the respective state they were tested postive.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath said on Friday said that female health staff and women police officials will no longer be engaged for medical service and security of the members of Islamic group Tablighi Jamaat, a day after staff nurses of Ghaziabad-based MMG District Hospital complaint of alleged misbehaviour by some of them, who were lodged in the isolation ward.
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WHO: Children prone to new coronavirus infection too

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 5:52 PM

The World Health Organization refutes claims that children face less risk of infection with the new coronavirus, calling such notion "factually wrong."

"The very notion that 'COVID-19 only affects older people' is factually wrong," the head of WHO's European branch, Hans Kluge, told reporters from Copenhagen on Thursday, AFP reported.

"Age is not the only risk for severe disease," he insisted, adding that it was of utmost importance "for every age group" to observe hygiene guidelines.

Kluge cited severe cases among teenagers and young adults, with some requiring intensive care and several succumbing to the infection.

Since emerging in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, the novel virus that can cause potentially fatal respiratory disease has claimed 51,451 people and infected 997,555 others worldwide.

The fatalities include a 12-year-old girl, who died in Belgium, and a six-week-old infant in the United States.

According to WHO, in people under 50, the virus can cause moderate to serious infection.

However, Kluge noted that "people who age healthily are less at risk."

"There are reports of people over the age of 100 who were admitted to hospital for COVID-19 and have now since made a complete recovery," he said.

Russia extends non-working period

Also on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russians not to go to work while receiving their payments until the end of the month to combat the coronavirus.

"I've taken a decision to extend the period of non-working days until April 30," he said in an address, adding that each region can decide what lockdown measures were needed, according to AFP.

Since Monday, Russians have had a period of national non-working days when they are still entitled to full pay in a bid to reduce transmission of the virus.

In his second televised address on Russia's response to the virus, Putin said that in Moscow "so far it has not been possible to turn around the situation despite the measures taken by federal and city authorities."

The capital city with more than 12 million inhabitants has seen the most cases so far.

Moscow has been under lockdown since Monday with all but essential shops closed and residents told to stay at home.

"The threat remains" Putin said, with the peak of the pandemic still to come both globally and in Russia.

Regional authorities should take decisions on what needs to be shut down based on the "objective situation" while ensuring people's safety, the Russian president said.

He said Russia would take further measures and it was possible the period of non-working days could be reduced if the situation improved.

Russia currently has 3,548 confirmed cases and 30 deaths have been announced.

Saudi imposes curfew on holy cities

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, imposed a 24-hour curfew in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina, extending measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected 1,855 people in the kingdom and killed 21, Reuters said.

The interior ministry said in a statement there were some exceptions, including for essential workers and in order for residents to buy food and access medical care.

Cars in those cities residential districts may only carry one passenger to limit the virus transmission, it said.

The country of 30 million has taken drastic steps to contain the disease, halting international flights, closing most public places, and suspending the year-round Umrah pilgrimage.

On Tuesday, it asked Muslims to put plans for the annual Haj pilgrimage on hold pending more clarity about the pandemic.

Restrictions on movement have tightened, with entry and exit to Riyadh, Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah heavily restricted. Some neighborhoods in Mecca and Medina were already under full lockdown, but in the rest of those cities, the curfew was previously from 1500 to 0600.

Saudi Arabia has the most infections and deaths among the six-member Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, but public health officials claimed past experience combating the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) helped prepare the kingdom for the new coronavirus outbreak.

Israel health minister infected, Netanyahu re-enters quarantine

The Israeli health minister, Yaakov Litzman, has tested positive along with his wife for COVID-19, forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to re-enter precautionary quarantine, officials were cited by AFP as saying on Thursday.

Netanyahu's previous quarantine, imposed earlier this week after one of his staffers tested positive for the novel coronavirus, had ended Wednesday night, his office said.

The premier's new seven-day self-isolation was imposed following his contacts with the 71-year-old Litzman, the prime minister's office said.

The virus has infected 6,808 Israelis, and killed 34.

"Litzman and his wife feel well, are receiving treatment and will be quarantined and supervised," a health ministry statement said.

The ministry added that its director general, Moshe Bar Siman Tov, along with other senior officials, will also enter quarantine following contacts with Litzman.

Israeli media also reported that the head of the Mossad spy agency, Yossi Cohen, may also be compelled to self-isolate after having had contact with Litzman, but that information could not be immediately confirmed.

The rising caseload has spurred Israel to increasingly tighten restrictions, with the latest measures aimed directly at ultra-Orthodox Israeli communities that have resisted social distancing rules.

According to health ministry data, ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods and cities have become COVID-19 hotspots after leading rabbis had initially ignored and even refuted orders to close educational institutions and limit synagogue attendance.

In a televised address, Netanyahu said movement to and from the central Israeli ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak would be reduced "to the necessary minimum."

The quarantined and sick from Bnei Brak would be taken away to hotels elsewhere, the premier added.

Netanyahu also told Israelis to wear facemasks in public, in a reversal of policy.

"If you do not have a mask, use a scarf or any other face covering that will reduce the spread of the virus to others," he said.

Deaths exceed 10k in Spain

The coronavirus death toll in Spain surged past 10,000 on Thursday after a record 950 deaths in 24 hours, with the number of confirmed cases passing the 110,000 mark, AFP said, reporting remarks by the government.

Spain has the world's second-highest death toll after Italy, with the virus so far claiming 10,096 lives although the rate of new infections and deaths continued its downward trend, the health ministry figures showed.

The number of new infections increased by 7.9 percent, compared with 8.2 percent on Wednesday and more than 25 percent at the start of last week.

The daily rise in deaths also slowed to 10.5 percent on Thursday, virtually unchanged from 10.6 percent on Wednesday and down from 27 percent a week ago.

"The data show the curve has stabilized" and the epidemic has entered a "slowdown" phase, said Health Minister Salvador Illa.

Officials have warned that even if the epidemic is peaking, the pressure on the intensive care system would be subject to a lag of a week or longer, with hospitals likely to reach crisis point by the end of this week or early next.

Madrid remains the worst-hit region, with 4,175 deaths and more than 32,000 cases, leaving hospitals and mortuaries overwhelmed.

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A hospital administrator has been suspended after organizing a motorcade for his sons wedding ceremony amid Vietnam's government-mandated social distancing meant to prevent the transmission of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Ha Tinh Peoples Committee in the eponymous province, located in the north-central region, on Thursday sent a document to the provincial Department of Health ordering the temporary suspension of Le Anh Hung, deputy director of Huong Khe General Hospital in Huong Khe District.

The health department was also asked to propose an appropriate penalty for Hungs actions, which showed signs of violating regulations on COVID-19 prevention.

The incident took place on Tuesday when a motorcade comprised of about 20 vehicles participated in a traditional bride-fetching ritual organized to celebrate the wedding of Hungs son.

The motorcade started at the local Duc Tai Hotel and drove around Binh Son Lake before arriving at Hungs house in Gia Pho Commune, Huong Khe District.

According to local residents, Hung had rented several rooms at the Duc Tai Hotel for the bride and her relatives to stay before the ritual.

An official representing Gia Pho Commune reported that Hungs family had sought permission for the event, stating that the ceremony would be brief.

Several medical workers were then tasked with monitoring the health of those who attended the wedding.

The wedding ceremony at the house of Le Anh Hung in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, March 31, 2020. Photo: Van Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Hung told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that most of the people in the motorcade were his friends and his sons.

The bride-fetching ritual ended and the motorcade left after reaching his house, he claimed.

The rest of the wedding ceremony took place at the residence and was only attended by family members of the bride and groom.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Tuesday issued a directive calling on the countrys residents to practice social distancing from April 1 to 15 by refraining from going outside unless absolutely necessary.

Public gatherings of more than two people during this period are also banned.

The premiere declared COVID-19 a nationwide pandemic on Wednesday.

Vietnam recorded its first case on January 23 and had discharged all of its first batch of 16 patients from the hospital by February 26.

The country has announced 217 new patients since March 6, when patient No. 17 was confirmed after it had gone three weeks without any infection.

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United Nations, April 4 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday said the international community should focus only on the battle against its common enemy of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is sweeping the entire world and bringing tremendous socio-economic impacts.

"The global ceasefire appeal is resonating across the world," Guterres said at a virtual press briefing, Xinhua reported.

Ten days ago, the UN chief had called for an immediate ceasefire "in all corners of the globe" to reinforce diplomatic action, help create conditions for the delivery of lifesaving aid, and bring hope to places that are among the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The pandemic is having profound social, economic and political consequences, including relating to international peace and security," he said at the briefing. "There should be only one fight in our world today: our shared battle against COVID-19." According to the UN chief, his global ceasefire appeal has been endorsed by "an ever-growing number of member states, some 70 so far, regional partners, non-state actors, civil society networks and organizations, and all UN messengers of peace and advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals." "Religious leaders... have added their moral voice in support of a global ceasefire, as have citizens through grassroots mobilization online," the UN chief added.

"A substantial number of parties to conflict have expressed their acceptance for the call," he noted.

In the meantime, the UN chief pointed out that "there is a huge distance between declarations and deeds -- between translating words into peace on the ground and in the lives of people." "There are enormous difficulties to implementation as conflicts have festered for years, distrust is deep, with many spoilers and many suspicions," he said. "In many of the most critical situations, we have seen no let-up in fighting -- and some conflicts have even intensified." The secretary-general, therefore, called for "robust diplomatic efforts to meet these challenges." "To silence the guns, we must raise the voices for peace," said Guterres.

Talking about the "intense diplomatic push," he cited a number of examples to illustrate his point.

"In Yemen, despite expressed support for a ceasefire by the government, Ansar Allah and many other parties -- including the Joint Forces Command -- the conflict has spiked," he said, adding that his special envoy for Yemen "is working on preparations to convene the parties to discuss COVID-19 crisis management and a nationwide ceasefire mechanism." In Syria, where the first COVID-19 related deaths have now been reported, Guterres said his special envoy appealed for a "complete and immediate" nationwide ceasefire in the country to allow for an all-out-effort against COVID-19.

"The Idlib ceasefire previously negotiated by Turkey and the Russian Federation is holding," he said. "But it is essential that a permanent nationwide ceasefire take effect to allow for expansions in humanitarian access to all those suffering for the last decade." Guterres also talked about the development regarding his ceasefire appeal in Libya and Afghanistan.

"I call on all those that can make a difference to make that difference: to urge and pressure combatants around the world to put down their arms," he said.
Even in the throes of a global pandemic, its possible to find things to be grateful for. In fact, I would argue that we are doing things and appreciating things that we really should have been doing and appreciating all along.

Im sure everyone has their own list of things theyre grateful for. Heres mine:

1. Im grateful for private enterprise and American business. There is none better anywhere. Our news is filled with stories of companies such as Under Armour, Ford, GM, JoAnn Fabrics, My Pillow and Vera Bradley that are pitching in to help make hospital gowns, ventilators and masks. According to the trade association Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, nearly 600 distilleries in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are making hand sanitizer. And then there are the countless smaller local businesses providing meals for students who cannot attend school, first responders, health care workers and others on the front line; making charitable donations; or just continuing to pay their employees as long as possible.

2. Im grateful for factory employees, truckers, warehouse workers and all others instrumental to keeping the supply chain intact.

3. Im grateful for our big-box stores, grocery stores and pharmacies that have stayed open, and for the employees who work there and have kept needed items in stock.

4. Im grateful for the authors, artists, musicians, actors and other entertainers who are using all forms of media to perform for us, our families and our children as we shelter in place for what will likely be several weeks.

5. Im grateful for the teachers, administrators and staff members  especially the information technology professionals  who have made it possible for our preschool, grade school, high school and college students to transition from live instruction to online learning.

6. Im grateful for the incredible dedication of all our health care professionals, many of whom are working long hours day after day with little sleep, few resources and far too many terribly sick patients.

7. Im grateful for our form of government  a democratic republic  and for federalism, which allows the smaller governments of our states and territories to respond to the unique challenges they face while our federal government coordinates national and international efforts.

8. Im grateful for leaders who have the ability to make needed decisions in a crisis, and to pivot quickly as the most up-to-date information arrives.

9. Im grateful for our Constitution. It hovers like a silent blessing over all of us. It ensures that our liberties will remain when this disease has run its course, and that the extraordinary measures now in place will no longer be needed.

10. Im grateful for Western medicine, scientists, information and knowledge, and the technology that enables that information and knowledge to be more widely disseminated.

11. Im grateful for social media and the technological innovations that enable us to remain connected even though we are separated.

12. Im grateful for the fact that those of us inclined to call upon God in prayer need not feel embarrassed for doing so.

13. Im grateful for charitable organizations that are working hard to meet the ongoing needs of the people they serve  the poor; the homeless; those with disabilities or other unmet needs; veterans; single parents; orphaned children. When we are all needy, we can better appreciate those for whom illness, unemployment or isolation is not a temporary situation.

14. Im grateful for the innumerable kindnesses of people too many to count across America  and, indeed, across the world  who are doing whatever they can for anyone they can as long as it is necessary.

Its often said that an attitude of gratitude makes for a happier life. Even  perhaps especially  in difficult times, it is important to remember that.

Laura Hollis is an attorney and educator. She resides in Indiana with her husband and children.

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The escalating coronavirus outbreak has cast a shadow of uncertainty over most aspects of daily life, prompting a surge in demand for wills and life insurance policies as people move to secure their futures. This week, deVere Group, one of the world's largest financial advisory firms, recorded a 76% jump in demand for wills in the two weeks to the end of March. Meanwhile, life insurers have reported a spike in new business of as much as 50%. The uptick is not surprising given the severity of the pandemic, which has so far claimed more than 53,000 lives worldwide and infected over one million people globally, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. But it has "focused people's minds" on an area of financial planning that is often neglected, according to deVere's CEO Nigel Green.

New urgency

And it's not just the elderly and the vulnerable acting, legal practitioners in the U.S., U.K. and Australia told CNBC Make It. "The surge in will-making is ... from across the spectrum," said Melinda Giles, executive committee member of the U.K.'s Law Society. "Some are those who began the process and let it drift, but the majority in my experience are people who have not made a will before." The shift follows a steady depletion in the number of people creating wills over recent years. Today, fewer than a third (32%) of American adults have a will  down 25% from 2017 levels, according to a study from Caring.com. In the U.K., that figure is estimated to be less than 50%.

Changing landscape

However, the newfound demand is being undermined by certain measures aimed at curbing the coronavirus. Currently much of the planet is under varying degrees of social distancing measures, making it difficult for new wills to be formalized. For a will to be valid under normal circumstances, it must be signed by two witnesses  both present at the same time and unrelated to the client. U.K. lawmakers are now looking at temporarily relaxing those rules. They are considering reducing the number of witnesses required or accepting other options, such as video signing. In the U.S., meanwhile, different states have taken different approaches to remote notarization. Such amendments could provide peace of mind while reducing the risk of spreading the disease, Emily Deane, technical counsel at the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners, told CNBC Make It, welcoming the use of technology as another alternative.

Pandemic or no pandemic, the importance of having a will cannot be underestimated. Creating a will offers you reassurance that your assets ... will be handled according to your wishes. Nigel Green CEO of deVere Group

Already, technology is playing an increasing role in will-writing. A number of online estate planning start-ups having emerged in recent years. Indeed, the uptick in deVere's applications comes as it launched a new online wills service. However, online options continue to require oversight from professional lawyers to safeguard against bad actors, said Bryony Cove, partner at London law firm, Farrer & Co. Currently, most online wills are still subject to two in-person signatories.

Getting started

Most countries' statutory law ensures that when someone passes away, their assets are left to their nearest relatives, meaning that people needn't rush to create wills without proper consideration, noted Michael Ettinger of Ettinger Law Firm in the U.S. However, deVere's Green said he hoped more people would be moved to think about their financial futures. "Pandemic or no pandemic, the importance of having a will cannot be underestimated," said Green. "Creating a will offers you reassurance that your assets ... will be handled according to your wishes."
N95 respirator masks that could provide nurses and doctors treating COVID-19 patients some protection are in short supply. (Ana B. Ibarra / California Healthline)

To the editor: I am weary, and not of sheltering in place or social distancing. These measures can be difficult to maintain, but I am a willing participant because they protect me, my family and my neighbors. ("California hospitals desperate for safety supplies, fear 'disaster' as coronavirus wave hits," April 2)

But while I observe these guidelines, day after day I read about unpreparedness, lack of coordination and fierce competition among the states in obtaining vital medical supplies. Bottom line is that we are not capable of protecting those who are on the front lines for us by providing basic personal protective equipment for them.

I can tolerate adjusting my daily life for the greater good. What is unbearable and shameful is our inability to put aside the "fierce competition" for supplies.

Why can we not coordinate our efforts? It does no good to point out what we could have done earlier. What is it that we have to do now, as a county, a state and a nation, to produce and provide critical supplies where they are needed most?

After all, we're in this together, right?

Karen Scott Browdy, Fillmore

..

To the editor: In response to the critical shortage of materials essential to securing public health during the current crisis, and with states bidding against each other and the federal government for supplies, President Trump should be an overseer with absolute authority to bring order to the current chaos.

In May 1940, with Great Britain facing an attack by Nazi Germany, upon taking office Prime Minister Winston Churchill named Max Aitken, a newspaper publisher with no manufacturing experience, minister of aircraft production. Under Aitken's driven, relentlessly demanding production schedule, Britain was soon producing hundreds of planes and engines each week and had nearly 2,000 operational aircraft to face Germany.

Later that year, the Royal Air Force won the Battle of Britain, moving from total unpreparedness to triumph in the skies.

Story continues

Is the logic of appointing someone with similar authority over medical supply production not apparent in the White House?

Gordon Cohn, Long Beach

..

To the editor: I don't blame medical personnel for contacting their well-connected benefactors for much-needed supplies to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fault lies with the Trump administration that all along should have been managing the current pandemic with the same urgency as if we were in World War III or faced with the 1918 flu pandemic.

With Trump largely AWOL or in denial, it should behoove Gov. Gavin Newsom and his team to see that medical supplies  diagnostic kits, N95 masks, gowns and ventilators  are distributed to the facilities where they are in greatest demand, and not to institutions greedily snapping up whatever they can.

Harold N. Bass, MD, Porter Ranch
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:40:44|Editor: yhy

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by Xinhua Writer Tan Jingjing

WASHINGTON, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Stated is deploying a new fast COVID-19 test nationwide, which U.S. President Donald Trump has already taken, to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Trump tested negative for COVID-19 for a second time on Thursday, with results reported back in less than 15 minutes, according to a White House statement.

Detroit began testing its first responders, bus drivers and health care workers for COVID-19 on Thursday, becoming the first city in the country to use the new testing kits from U.S. medical devices company Abbott Laboratories, according to Mayor Mike Duggan.

The test can deliver positive results in just five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes, according to Abbott Laboratories, with 50,000 such tests expected to be conducted every day from this week.

Authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week, the test is the fastest available molecular point-of-care method for the detection of COVID-19, said the company.

Molecular testing technologies help detect the presence of a virus by identifying a small section of its genome, then amplifying that portion until there is enough for detection, Abbott Laboratories said, adding that the process can cut testing wait time from hours to less than 15 minutes.

The new test runs on the company's ID NOW platform -- a lightweight box of around 3 kg and the size of a small toaster, which can be set up in a variety of locations.

The fast test machines have been prioritized to be sent to remote and rural areas, Indian house services and northwestern states, Deborah Birx, director of the White House COVID-19 task force, said at a White House briefing on Thursday.

A total of 18,000 machines are out there, she added.

The fast test technology can greatly improve efficiency for COVID-19 testing, Zhang Zuofeng, professor of epidemiology, and also associate dean for research at the School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, told Xinhua.

"Once the test comes back positive, the patient, as well as the medical staff and close contacts of the patient, can be quarantined as soon as possible. If the results of the medical staff come back negative, they can return to the front line at once," Zhang said.

However, the machine can only test four people at a time, so it is more suitable for smaller hospitals or testing facilities, Zhang said, explaining that it is not suitable for testing thousands of samples at a time.

Meanwhile, Abbott has not offered any information about the sensitivity and specificity of the new test, Zhang said.

Stepping up new technologies for higher-volume testing remains a crucial step in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the United States.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has topped 244,000 as of 22:00 local time (0200 GMT) Thursday, with over 5,900 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Celebrities have been criticised for fanning the flames of conspiracy theories linking 5G technology to coronavirus after several videos claiming to show 5G towers on fire emerged on social media.

A Facebook page, which was created on Thursday, encouraged people to set fire to the towers due to baseless claims about the health risks posed by 5G technology, before the social media company took down the page on Friday morning.

Actor Woody Harrelson and former Dancing on Ice judge Jason Gardiner were among the celebrities who shared theories connecting 5G to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Conspiracy theorists are a public health danger who once read a Facebook page, Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said.

Here, we also see similar groups of people keen to show their ignorance on a topic where they have no helpful expertise, nor any inclination to post useful public health messages.

The celebrities fanning the flames of these conspiracy theorists should be ashamed."

On Thursday evening, West Midlands Fire Service said eight firefighters attended an incident involving a 70ft tower on a telecommunications site in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham, although the cause of the fire was not determined.

Fire crews were called to a blaze at a phone mast in Aintree, Merseyside, on Friday night but a spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said there were no signs of foul play so an investigation into its cause was not launched.

The mast had been featured in a video shared on social media the previous weekend by someone who claimed to be measuring radiation from it.

On Friday, Mobile UK, the trade body representing network providers, described the conspiracy theories about 5G as "baseless", following videos posted on social media showing workers being harassed and phone masts on fire.

The trade body said it was "concerning that certain groups are using the Covid-19 pandemic to spread false rumours and theories about the safety of 5G technologies".

"More worryingly some people are also abusing our key workers and making threats to damage infrastructure under the pretence of claims about 5G," a statement said.

"This is not acceptable and only impacts on our ability as an industry to maintain the resilience and operational capacity of the networks to support mass home working and critical connectivity to the emergency services, vulnerable consumers and hospitals."

It continued: "The theories that are being spread about 5G on social media are baseless and are not grounded in accepted scientific theory.

"Research into the safety of radio signals including 5G, which has been conducted for more than 50 years, has led to the establishment of human exposure standards including safety factors that protect against all established health risks."

Facebook said the banned page was deleted for breaching its policies because it had the potential to cause real world harm.

However, one user claimed they reported the page early on to moderators for promoting violence, only to receive a response saying it was not deemed to be in violation of Facebook's community standards.

Elsewhere, O2 is issuing engineers working outside on essential network projects with a sign to explain they are a key worker, after reports of telecoms staff being verbally abused by members of the public.

"Engineers are out doing key work to keep everyone connected, making repairs and keeping the network running, so they'll show a sign to explain that," a spokesperson said.

One video shared on Twitter appeared to show a telecommunications worker being accosted by a member of the public as he tried to work

Additional reporting by agencies.
Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE updates:As per the 9 pm update issued by the ICMR, a total of 11,182 samples were tested on Saturday. Of these, 324 tested positive taking the number of confirmed cases in the country to 3,113.

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At least 211 people have recovered across the country so far, as per updates from various states. The states also reported a total number of confirmed infection to be 3,041, after the country saw the highest jump in new cases.

However, according to PTI, the nationwide tally crossed 3,000 on Friday with at least 90 dead as states confirmed over 500 new cases.

Of the total cases reported by the MOHFW, 2,322 are active cases while 163 have been either discharged, cured or migrated while 62 have died due to the virus.

India registered the highest spike in new coronavirus cases in 24 hours on Friday with 478 new patients testing positive and 12 succumbing to the virus. The Tablighi Jamaat cluster remained in focus on Friday even as confirmed cases jumped to 2,547 according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

"Payment for providing the amount (Rs 1,000 to each ration card-holding family) must be expedited in order to provide the benefit to all the remaining beneficiaries at the earliest," the chief minister said.

A sum of Rs 184.08 crore was transferred on the inaugural day of the scheme into the bank accounts of about 18.40 lakh people, officials said.

Kumar had on Thursday launched a drive to extend the financial aid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said the process of providing financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to every ration card-holding family should be expedited by completing the Aadhaar seeding exercise.

The decision was taken by the FIFA-Confederations working group which was recently established by the Bureau of the FIFA Council to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The women's age group showpiece was to be held at five venues in the country from 2 to 21 November.

The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup to be held in India in November was on Saturday postponed by the football's world governing body due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier on Friday, Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Three more #Covid_19 positive cases have been confirmed, one each from Kamrup (metro), Kamrup & Marigaon taking the total number in Assam to 23. Two out of these three cases are of patients who are related to Nizamuddin Markaz event."

Four more coronavirus positive cases have been confirmed in Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup & Marigaon taking the total number of cases to 24 in Assam on Friday. Three out of these four cases are of patients who are related to Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz event.

Police said the victim's children were also screened for the virus but have tested negative.

"Yes, a death has taken place," K Rajendra, the Deputy Commissioner of Bagalkote, told PTI. He said the victim was not related to Tabligh-e-Jamaat.

A 75-year-old man has succumbed to coronavirus in Karnataka's Bagalkote, taking the death toll in the state to four, officials said. The victim, who was a trader and did not have any travel history, died on Friday.

With 1,480 deaths counted between 8:30 pm (0030 GMT) Thursday and the same time Friday, according to the university's continuously updated figures, the total number of people who have died since the start of the pandemic in the United States is now 7,406.

The United States recorded nearly 1,500 deaths from COVID-19 between Thursday and Friday, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, the worst 24-hour death toll globally since the pandemic began.

His wife, daughter and five tenants have tested positive, the Health and Family Welfare Department said. Three persons from Bomikhal in Bhubaneswar also tested positive, prompting the police to seal the area.

Among the new patients are seven persons who came in contact with the 60-year-old man from Suryanagar in the state capital infected with the deadly virus and undergoing treatment at the AIIMS, the officials said.

Fifteen persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 20, officials said. While 10 new cases were reported from Bhubaneswar, two persons tested positive in Bhadrak district, and one each in Cuttack, Puri and Jajpur, they said.

"The pilot scheme meets the Prime Minister's goal of practising social distancing even within the confines of an UberMedic car," the NHA statement said.

All UberMedic cars supplied to NHA will be equipped with roof-to-floor plastic sheeting enclosing the driver's seat, thereby acting as a protective barrier between the rider and the driver.

Uber will initially facilitate the provision of 150 cars for free to support medical facilities in New Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj and Patna through its recently-launched UberMedic service, the NHA said in a statement.

The National Health Authority (NHA), the apex body implementing the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, on Friday announced its partnership with Uber India to provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for India's frontline healthcare workers engaged in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

At 10 am (0200 GMT) Beijing time, the country will observe three minutes of silence to mourn those who died, including frontline medical workers and doctors. Cars, trains and ships will sound their horns and air raid sirens will wail.

The day of mourning coincided with the start of the annual Qingming tomb-sweeping festival, when millions of Chinese families pay respects to their ancestors.

China declared Saturday a day of mourning for the thousands of "martyrs" who have died in the new coronavirus outbreak, flying the national flag at half mast throughout the country and suspending all forms of entertainment.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has developed low-cost face shields for frontline healthcare workers at AIIMS Rishikesh. According to ANI, the frame of the newly designed face shield is 3D printed.

On Friday, the number of those infected by coronavirus in the New York state alone crossed 100,000 and the deaths touched 3,000.

"We are expanding the role of the Armed Forces in our response effort because no one is better prepared to win a war of the United States military, and we are in a war. Invisible enemy, Trump told reporters during a press briefing as he described New York as the hotspot of this war.

US till Friday reported 7,380 deaths and at least 276,500 infections due to the deadly coronavirus, the highest for any country in the world.

US President Donald Trump has expanded the role of the US Army in the fight against deadly coronavirus, saying that no one is better prepared to fight the current situation which is like a war.

Postpaid sim card holders shall be provided with access to internet. However, such access shall not be made available on prepaid sim cards unless verified as per the norms applicable for postpaid connections, the order said. Fixed-line internet connectivity with mac-binding shall be available, it added.

As per a previous order issued on 26 March by Principal Secretary, Home Department, Shaleen Kabra, internet speed on mobile phones in the region will be restricted to 2G only.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday ordered the continuance of 2G mobile data services in the Union territory till 15 April, even as the demand for restoration of high-speed 4G internet grows in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

"The registration process for admissions for the session 2020-21 in UG/PG/M.Phil/PhD courses of the University of Delhi is on hold till further orders," the DU said in a statement on Friday.

Delhi University has put the registration process for admissions on hold in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the national capital. The university is closed till 14 April.

This is second such after a Guardian reporter was deported from Egypt after an article claimed that the number of COVID-19 cases were much larger than figures Egyptian authorities were claiming.

The news agency was also fined 25 million Iraqi dinars, or about $20,800, according to a statement posted on the news agency's official website.

Iraq suspended the work of the Reuters news agency for three months after it published a report that said the Iraqi government was under-reporting confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

Coronavirus themed helmet has become a trend for the Police Officials to spread awareness and projecting a message that lockdown means staying at home, and only move out during an emergency or if necessary.

The police personnel were seen sporting 'coronavirus helmet' during the rally in an effort to stop people from stepping out and making them aware of how the disease spreads.

Hyderabad Traffic Police held a rally to spread awareness about COVID-19 in Malakpet on Friday. It has become a trend among police officers to wear helmets inspired by the structure of the novel coronavirus that has placed half of the world's population under lockdown.

A person from St Estevam with foreign travel history has tested positive for COVID-19. The total number of positive cases in Goa rises to 7, Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane told ANI on Saturday.

To assist in the transportation of essential supplies, medicines, and medical equipment within the country, the transport fleet of Indian Air Force is being used.

In addition, fifteen other facilities catering to a total of approx 7000 capacity are being kept on standby for use, if required, around the country.

In these six facilities, 1737 persons have been quarantined, out of which 403 have been discharged on being ascertained fit, according to the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), IHQ of Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Six quarantine facilities in Mumbai, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai are being run by Armed Forces amid coronavirus outbreak.

Dedicated COVID-19 facilities including High Dependency Units and ICUs are being prepared in approximately 51 Armed Forces hospitals across the country, according to an official statement by the Indian Army on Friday.

Sixty-year-old coronavirus positive woman with no travel history dies in Rajasthan's Bikaner hospital, officials told PTI. Rajasthan reported 12 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, out of which 8 of them have been linked to people who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin area last month. The state total tally now rises to 191 now, reported PTI.

Clashes broke out in Pakistan's Karachi after locals attacked police personnel deployed to enforce new curbs on gatherings including Friday prayers. Seven people including a prayer leader were arrested for violation of lockdown and manhandling policemen. Coronavirus cases in Pakistan stands at 2637 with 40 deaths.

The Chief Secretary of Punjab on Saturday said three positive cases of coronavirus were found in Mansa district and had attended the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi last month. Officials have said that 17 contacts have been established.

25 more coronavirus positive cases were confirmed in Agra, taking the total number of cases to 45 in the district, Agra District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh told ANI on Saturday.

Of the four toilets in each coach, one has been converted into a bathroom. A cabin for health workers has also been created in each coach, Jha said.

"The coaches have been changed accordingly and all the necessary medical facilities have been added," he said.

Ahmedabad has been identified as one of the hotspots in terms of the spread of COVID-19. Eight patients can be accommodated in every coach, Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Deepak Kumar Jha said on Friday.

Seventy coaches of trains are being converted into isolation wards for suspected COVID-19 patients in Ahmedabad Railway Division, an official said. First such a coach with all the necessary medical equipment has been readied and parked at Maninagar railway depot.

Last week, Uttar Pradesh Police had arrested AIMIM District President Mansoor Alam for spreading misinformation on social media about deaths caused by COVID-19. According to the police, Mansoor on social media had tried to spread panic by exaggerating the number of casualties

Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday arrested a man in Prayagraj for allegedly spreading rumours about coronavirus through WhatsApp. The man has been identified as Mohammad Saheed, police said.

At least 31 people died, 3,000 were injured, and 30,000 were detained in the protests, which started in October over a hike in public transport rates and broadened to include grievances over pensions, healthcare, education and elitism.

Embattled Chilean President Sebastian Pinera sparked outrage on Friday by posing for photographs at the plaza that was the centre of anti-government protests before it was put under quarantine to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, reported Reuters. Photographs of Pinera in the now empty Plaza Italia on Friday afternoon, sitting in shirtsleeves on the steps of a monument plastered with graffiti calling for his resignation, went viral on social media.

1395 people were tested for the coronavirus in the state till Friday. The Odisha government announced a 48-hour shutdown across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrak from 8 pm on Friday in view of increasing cases of COVID-19 in these cities.

Out of the 15, seven persons were in close contact with the coronavirus patient from Suryanagar, which include his wife, daughter and tenants. Moreover, 3 persons from Bomikhal, 2 from Bhadrak, 1 each from Cuttak, Puri and Jaipur detected positive for the fatal virus, said the health department.

With 15 new positive cases, the COVID-19 tally in Odisha on Saturday climbed to 20, said the State Health and Family Welfare Department.

The woman had tested coronavirus positive on 21 March, while her 62-year-old father was found infected four days later. Both of them had been admitted to AIIMS, Bhopal for treatment.

"The woman, as well as her journalist father, were discharged as their repeat samples tested negative," director of AIIMS Bhopal, Dr Sarman Singh told PTI.

The daughter-father duo was discharged from the AIIMS, Bhopal on Friday night, the official said.

A London-returned woman, who was the first person to test coronavirus positive in Bhopal, and her journalist father, also a COVID-19 patient, have been discharged from a hospital here after their repeat samples tested negative, a senior official said on Saturday.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases in India rose to 2902 on Saturday. This includes 2650 active cases, 183 cured/discharged and 68 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Police said they have also booked two more persons who had sheltered them after the 12 people were found in a mosque at Bhasani village and were later shifted to the quarantine ward.

They have all been booked for violation of the Foreigners Act, 1946 by the Thana Bhawan police station in the district, officials said.

Two persons tested positive for COVID-19 Friday evening out of the dozen Bangladeshi nationals who have been quarantined in a college in Thana Bhawan town in Shamli district, they said.

An FIR has been registered against 12 Bangladesh citizens who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi last month and are now in administrative quarantine in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, police said on Saturday.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed to all those who have attended the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi, to voluntarily call at '104' helpline, take the coronavirus tests and follow state guidelines. "Don't be afraid of anything, you have the complete support of the government," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

A 36-year-old patient suffering from coronavirus died in Chhindwara, according to ANI. Madhya Pradesh records 155 positive cases and 9 deaths so far.

With five more individuals testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Jodhpur on Saturday, Rajasthan's tally of confirmed cases is at 196. This figure also includes 41 Tablighi Jamaat attendees, notified the state health department.

Thus, Maharashtra has reported the most deaths (19) so far, followed by Gujarat (9), Telangana (7), Madhya Pradesh (6), Delhi (6), Punjab (5), Karnataka (3), West Bengal (3), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Uttar Pradesh (2) and Kerala (2).

As per the ministry's updated data on coronavirus cases Saturday morning, six fresh deaths were reported - three from Maharahtra, two from Delhi and one from Gujarat.

On Saturday, an increase by 355 fresh cases was seen in the last 12 hours, bringing India's tally of coronavirus positive cases to 2,902. "Of the 2,902 cases, 2,650 are active cases and 184 have been cured or discharged or have migrated," said the Health and Family Welfare.

The delay in lifting the restrictions was attributed to challenges faced by India in terms of health system preparedness and record of public policy effectiveness. The report also suggested that India might witness a peak in the number of coronavirus cases by the third week of June.

India will start lifting COVID-19 lockdown only between the fourth week of June and the second week of September, says the report.

Some media portals reported Friday a new study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), an American consulting firm, which said India is likely to extend its nationwide coronavirus lockdown, which is effective till 14 April, to the middle of September.

The airline spokesperson said in a statement, "We continue to take bookings from 15 April 15 onward as of now. We will action otherwise if there is any new notification from the ministry."

Vistara Airlines announced that they are taking flight bookings from 15 April onward as of now, until a new directive from the Ministry of Civil Aviation is issued.

"In the last two days, 600 people who either attended the Delhi event or are related to the attendees have been quarantined. We are trying to trace all contacts," he said.

The health minister also that there are only 7000-8000 Personal Protective Equipmen (PPE) kits available which will last for two-three days. A demand of 50,000 PPE kits have been made on an urgent bases, said Jain.

As of Saturday, 386 individuals in Delhi have tested positive for the novel coronavirus so far, said Satyendra Jain, Delhi Health Minister. Of the 386 who are infected, 259 had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin Markaz.

Meanwhile, the railways has issued a "restoration plan" to all its railway zones with a schedule of trains to be run, their frequency and the availability of rakes. All 17 zones have been sent a missive to be prepared to run their respective services, the source said.

Sources said all railway safety personnel, running staff, guards, TTE and other officials have been told to be ready to join their posts from 15 April. Trains, however, will begin operations only after a green signal from the government which had formed a Group of Ministers (GoM) on the issue.

Indian Railways has begun preparing to resume operation from 15 April after a 21-day suspension of its passenger trains in view of the lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Union Territory of Ladakh had recorded a total of 14 cases of coronavirus - 11 from Leh and three from Kargil districts - and announced full recovery of two of the patients on 24 March, another one on 29 March and four others on Friday.

Commissioner Secretary (Health), Rigzin Samphel, in a tweet said, "Two more positive cases turned negative, total nine cured"

Nine of the 14 patients who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Ladakh have been cured over the past 12 days, a senior government official said on Saturday.

Tamil Nadu recorded its second COVID-19 death on Saturday after a 51-year-old man who attended the Tablighi Jaamat conference in Delhi's Nizammudin Markaz succumbed to the disease at Villupuram Government Medical College Hospital.

No COVID-19 patients in Karnataka is on the ventilator, said chief minister BS Yediyurappa. "There are enough Personal Protective Equipment kits in the state. We have placed an order for 9 lakhs PPE kits, of which 1 lakh have already been delivered," said the chief minister.

"21,028 members of 4,281 SHGs in 5 districts of Andhra Pradesh and 10,780 members of 1,927 SHGs in 32 districts of Tamil Nadu produced 25,41,440 and 26,01,735 masks respectively in 10 days. Members of SHGs of various states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and many North Eastern states are also involved in producing masks. Total 65,936 SHG members from 14,522 SHGs are involved and together they have manufactured 132 lakh masks ," read the press release.

In its effort to fight against COVID-19, Self Help Groups (SHGs) members in 24 States have initiated the production of face masks under the Ministry of Rural Developments National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). More than 132 lakh face masks were produced by members of SHGs.

He said there are so many questions in children's minds related to coronavirus. "We will answer some of these questions in ''Parenting in the times of Corona''," he said.

"All these children are at their homes asking so many questions. The parents are unable to deal with the questions. So tomorrow at 3 pm I will be addressing the children and parents along with Manish Sisoida, and some experts," Kejriwal had said on Friday.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia will interact with teachers and parents of all the schools in the city on Saturday and will help them in ''Parenting in the times of Corona''.

Modi also directed the concerned groups and officials to ensure sufficient production, procurement and availability of all essential medical equipment such as personal protective equipment, masks, gloves and ventilators.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a joint meeting of empowered groups constituted for planning and ensuring implementation of COVID19 response activities in country.

The chief minister also warned of strict action against those who spread communally divisive messages on social media.

He also said that no permission will be granted to any religious or sporting events in the state till further notice to avoid mingling of people amid coronavirus outbreak.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that lifting of lockdown in the state after 14 April will be dependent upon the compliance by people to the government directives to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged parents to explain their children the importance of social distancing. He also asked them to explain how the coronavirus spreads.

Amid the nationwide lockdown to combat coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting of Council of Ministers via video conferencing on 6 April, reported ANI.

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not conducting enough COVID-19 tests across the nation to fight the novel virus. "Making people clap and shining torches in the sky isn't going to solve the COVID-19 problem," said Rahul hitting out at Modi's call for lights-off campaign.

The chief minister pointed out that the fake news had surfaced at a time when the whole state has expressed resentment towards the issue of border roads, with Kerala's Kasaragod district being blocked by Karnataka.

"Some fake news says that Kerala has closed border roads with Tamil Nadu with mud embankments as the number of COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu increased. We haven't even thought about such a thing. Tamil Nadu people are still our brothers," said Pinarayi Vijayan.

Vijayan on Friday dismissed reports about possible border closure between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday appreciated Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's statement against rumours of border closure. "I am happy to love the people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu as brothers and sisters. I warmly declare that Tamil Nadu will be the companion of the Kerala State brothers and sisters in all the sufferings, said Palaniswami.

Reports suggested that patients may choose to get treated at private hospitals at their own cost. The hospitals will be required to give daily reports about patients to the state government.

Tamil Nadu government released a list comprising of 110 private hospitals across the state that will be providing coronavirus treatment.

A total of 809 people died from the disease over the past 24 hours, down from 932 in the previous period, the figures showed.

Spains toll from the coronavirus rose to 11,744 on Saturday from 10,935 the previous day, the Health Ministry said on Saturday, though it was the second straight day in which the daily number of new deaths had fallen.

"In Delhi, there are only 40 COVID19 positive cases out of 445 that occurred because of contact between people (local transmission), other cases are due to foreign travel and Nizamuddin Markaz, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. He also said that six death have been reported in that National Capital of which five persons were above the age of 60.

Two fresh cases were reported in Mumbai's Dharavi, reports News18 . A 20 year old-woman in Baliganagar and a 48 year old man from Mukundnagar tested positive, taking the total number of cases reported from the area to four.

According to data released by the Andhra Pradesh health department, 10 new COVID-19 cases were reported today, taking the tally to 190.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked citizens to switch off lights for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday and light candles and torches to "challenge the darkness of the coronavirus crisis that has forced a three-week country-wide lockdown.

The government sought to assuage fears of electricity grid instability due to simultaneous switching on and off of most lights in the country, saying adequate protocols are in place to handle the variation in demand without causing any damage to appliances. Several states shot off letters to power utilities to take steps to deal with the possibility of a sudden drop in electricity demand, which has already dipped by 25 per cent to 125.81 gigawatts due to the lockdown shutting down most businesses.

The power ministry in a statement also said the call was only for voluntary switching off the lights, and appliances such as computers, TV, refrigerators and ACs are to function normally. Also, lights in all essential services including hospitals, police stations and manufacturing facilities as well as street lights are not to be switched off, it said.

According to the latest data released by the Union health ministry, the total number of confirmed cases in India has surged to 3,072. This includes 65 foreigners and 132 people who have been cured/discharged. The highest number of cases has been reported in Maharashtra (490) followed by Delhi (445). 75 persons have lost their lives to the disease.

Tamil Nadu reported its second COVID-19 death as a 51-year-old man who returned after attending the Tablighi Jamat congregation in Delhi, died at a hospital in Villupuram, PTI quotes the health department as saying.The man was admitted to the Villupuram medical college hospital on his return after he showed symptoms of having contracted the virus, the department said in a bulletin.He died this morning due to difficulty in breathing, it said.

The number of coronavirus cases stood at 445 in Delhi but the situation was under control and there was no community transmission, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday. Out of the 445, 301 people had attended the Markaz event in Nizamuddin.There were 40 cases of local transmission while a majority of other patients either had foreign travel history or they were recently evacuated from Nizamuddin Markaz, he said.

The Punjab government has announced special health insurance cover of Rs 50 lakhs each for police personnel and sanitation workers.Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has also ordered expenditure cuts by all government departments to meet urgent expenses needed to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. Addtionaly, all retiring health department workers are also slated to get a three-month extension.

A statement from the NHS on the latest deaths in England said that patients were aged between five years and 104 years old.

UK Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove revealed the latest death toll during the daily Downing Street briefing, during which he reiterated the government's plea for the public to continue to strictly observe social distancing over what is set to be a pleasant weekend. "If we weigh up an hour or two outside and weigh it against the lives of those we love and the lives of those on the NHS (National Health Service) frontline, then it should be clear, I hope to all that we should follow the advice," said Gove.

A 5-year-old boy with pre-existing underlying health issues is the UK's youngest COVID-19 victim as the country's death toll in the coronavirus pandemic rose by 708 in 24 hours to hit 4,313 on Saturday, said a PTI report.

145 persons were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Maharashtra, taking the total number of coronavirus patients in the state to 635, PTI quotes health officials as saying.

43 fresh COVID19 cases were recorded in Telangana,taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 272, including 33 patients cured/discharged and 11 deaths. Total active cases stand at 228, the Telangana Health Department said in a statement. There is no evidence of community spread in Telangana, it said.

Madhya Pradesh Principal Health Secretary and a deputy director, both women, were tested positive to novel coronavirus on Saturday, taking the COVID-19 tally to 179 which included 25 fresh cases being reported in the last 24 hours, PTI quotes officials as saying. Interestingly, the principal secretary-level officer had on Saturday issued a video bulletin of the state's COVID-19 scenario. The deputy director, also a doctor, who tested positive was actively involved in handling the coronavirus crisis in the state, a health bulletin stated. A total of ten areas in Bhopal where these officials are living are declared as containment zones, officials said. So far, three health officials have tested positive for the virus in the state.

As per the 9 pm update issued by the ICMR, a total of 11,182 samples were tested on Saturday. Of these, 324 tested positive taking the number of confirmed cases in the country to 3,113.

A 29 year man from Kalahandi district who displayed no symptoms associated with COVID-19 but had a travel history to Bahrain tested positive for the virus, taking the total number of cases in the state to 21, said the health department. Till date, 1,699 people have undergone coronavirus tests in the state, it said.

As per the 9 pm update issued by the ICMR, a total of 11,182 samples were tested on Saturday. Of these, 324 tested positive taking the number of confirmed cases in the country to 3,113.

25 COVID19 positive cases were reported in Rajasthan, including 12 who attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 204, ANI quotes the Rajasthan Health Department as saying.

Arunachal Police has traced 23 persons who went to #NizamuddinMarkaz , out of which 1 has tested positive for #COVID19 . We appeal to other persons with travel history to Nizamuddin Markaz in 2020 to voluntarily report to police for screening: R P Upadhyaya, Arunachal Pradesh DGP pic.twitter.com/44JYbGG7Nh

Arunachal Police has traced 23 persons who went to Nizamuddin Markaz, out of which pne has tested positive for COVID19, ANI quotes RP Upadhyaya, Arunachal Pradesh DGP as saying.

Arunachal Police has traced 23 persons who went to #NizamuddinMarkaz , out of which 1 has tested positive for #COVID19 . We appeal to other persons with travel history to Nizamuddin Markaz in 2020 to voluntarily report to police for screening: R P Upadhyaya, Arunachal Pradesh DGP pic.twitter.com/44JYbGG7Nh

Arunachal Police has traced 23 persons who went to Nizamuddin Markaz, out of which pne has tested positive for COVID19, ANI quotes RP Upadhyaya, Arunachal Pradesh DGP as saying.

We are at the start of the decrease in the epidemic. We are stronger than we think but we have to endure. With sacrifice, resistance and the spirit of victory, Sanchez said, adding that some economic restrictions would be lifted after Easter. We are not going to extend the standstill of economic activity, he said. Shops, bars and restaurants will, however, remain closed.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday he would ask parliament to extend lockdown measures by 15 days until April 26, even as the rate of new coronavirus infections and deaths slowed again in one of the worlds worst-hit countries, reports Reuters.

The DIPR said spreading fake news, misinformation and fearmongering can land a person in jail besides it is a punishable offense and knowingly or unknowingly forwarding any fake news is a crime. It said the citizens can report any fake news, misinformation, fear/hate message on the new website.

A website to counter fake news and misinformation regarding COVID-19 pandemic was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, reports PTI.Our initiative is to help you counter fake news, the DIPR said. The website link, www.diprjkfactcheck.in , was shared on twitter by DIPPR director Syed Shehrish Asgar.

In such a situation no person of any group will be released where even one person tests positive for COVID-19, it said. "Only those foreign nationals will be allowed to leave who are asymptomatic for COVID-19. In case of symptomatic persons the future course of treatment would be followed as per the standard health protocol," the note said. The order also provides for the travel of people who have returned from foreign locations after February 15 and completed specified mandatory quarantine period and had to return to their homes from quarantine facilities after being tested negative for COVID19.

According to the standard operating procedure drawn for the purpose, in case of stranded foreign nationals, the foreign government concerned in consultation with the civil aviation ministry will arrange for chartered flight and screening for COVID- 19 symptoms as per protocol prior to departure, the note said. Local transportation will be provided by the embassy concerned and transit passes will be issued by district magistrates. The note said a detailed protocol has been provided for persons to be released after completion of specified and mandatory quarantine period.

The Delhi government will issue transit passes for foreigners stranded in the city due to the lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, a government note said. Chief Secretary Vijay Dev, who is also chairperson of the state executive committee of Delhi, on Friday issued an making a provision for transit arrangements for foreign nationals and release of quarantined persons. The order was issued by him under the DDMA Act, 2005,

A total of 786 people have recovered from novel coronavirus infections, according to the figures the health minister posted on Twitter

Turkeys health minister reported 76 new COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll in the country to 501, reports AP. Fahrettin Koca also raised the total number of COVID-19 infections to 23,934, reporting 3,013 more confirmed cases on Saturday. There are 1,311 patients in intensive care units across the country, with 909 of them intubated.

"This person had gone to the Nizamuddin area around the same time this Jamaat meeting was taking place. Whether he attended this Jamaat meeting or not is under investigation by the Indian Air Force," the spokesperson said. "He has come in contact with two other Air Force personnel. All three of them are asymptomatic. All three under quarantine right now," he added

Three personnel of the Indian Air Force (IAF) are under a precautionary quarantine presently as one of them had visited the Nizamuddin area around the same time the Tablighi Jamaat meeting was happening there last month, PTI quotes an IAF spokesperson as saying.

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST updates: As per the 9 pm update issued by the ICMR, a total of 11,182 samples were tested on Saturday. Of these, 324 tested positive taking the number of confirmed cases in the country to 3,113.

Madhya Pradesh Principal Health Secretary and a deputy director, both women, were tested positive to novel coronavirus on Saturday, taking the COVID-19 tally to 179.

As many as 145 persons were confirmed to have coronavirus infection in Maharashtra onSaturday, taking the number of patients to 635, an official statement said.

The state of New Yok on Saturday witnessed the largest single-day increase in deaths as it reported 630 deaths, said a report.

According to a statement released by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, 52 persons were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Mumbai, taking the city total to 330. Four patients also died, taking the toll to 22.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a detailed discussion on the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak and resolved to deploy the full strength of the India-US partnership to fight the pandemic.

According to the latest data released by the Union health ministry, the total number of confirmed cases in India has surged to 3,072. This includes 65 foriegners and 132 people who have been cured/discharged.

Tamil Nadu recorded 74 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 485, ANI quotes states health secretary Beela Rajesh as saying. 73 of the new cases are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, she said.

'More than 50 crore poor and vulnerable citizens shall henceforth be eligible for free COVID19 testing & treatment under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY scheme. Testing at private labs and treatment in designated hospitals now made free for Ayushman beneficiaries across India,' said Harsh Vardhan

'Delhi has 40 cases of local transmission out of the confirmed 445 cases,' said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.



A health ministry official said that 1,023 cases across 17 states have been found to be linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event held in Delhi in March. An MHA official added that around 22,000 Tablighi Jamaat workers and their contacts have been quarantined across the country.

Giving a age-wise break up of Coronavirus patients in the country, Lav Aggrawal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, said: "Nine per cent COVID19 patients belong to 0-20 years age, 42 percent patients belong to 21-40 years age, 33 percent cases pertain to patients between 41-60 years age, and 17 percent patients have crossed 60 years of age."

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said permission was earlier given to conduct Tableeghi Jamaat event in the state but it was later denied owing to the rising COVID-19 cases.

"We didnt let what happened in Delhi happen in Maharashtra. Tableeghi Jamaat event was permitted earlier, but later looking at the situation we denied permission. Authorities now have traced all those went to the Delhi event from our state," said Thackeray.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to switch off lights for nine minutes on Sunday at 9 pm has raised fears about power grid failure due to a sudden drop and surge in demand during the exercise.

Senior Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, who was earlier Minister of State for Power, raised concern saying, "As somebody who has been associated with the power sector for almost three decades including as minister, the call to go dark for 9 minutes at 9 pm on the 5 April can have a deep impact on the grid and its stability. I sincerely hope this is being properly managed."

In its effort to fight against COVID-19, Self Help Groups (SHGs) members in 24 States have initiated the production of face masks under the Ministry of Rural Developments National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). More than 132 lakh face masks have been produced by members of SHGs.

"21,028 members of 4,281 SHGs in 5 districts of Andhra Pradesh and 10,780 members of 1,927 SHGs in 32 districts of Tamil Nadu produced 25,41,440 and 26,01,735 masks respectively in 10 days. Members of SHGs of various states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and many North Eastern states are also involved in producing masks. Total 65,936 SHG members from 14,522 SHGs are involved and together they have manufactured 132 lakh masks," read the press release.

Five new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported on Saturday, taking the tally to 55 in the region. According to an NDTV journalist, 31 of the 55 fresh cases were related to one company.

The new cases include four from JJ colony sector 4 while one is from Wajidpur. Both the vicinities are temporary sealed and sanitised.

Tamil Nadu recorded its second COVID-19 death on Saturday after a 51-year-old man who attended the Tablighi Jaamat conference in Delhi's Nizammudin Markaz succumbed to the disease at Villupuram Government Medical College Hospital.

After 47 fresh coronovirus positive cases were reported in Maharashtra, the state surpassed the 500-mark in its COVID-19 tally. The number stood at 537 as of Saturday.

Mumbai recorded the highest number with 28 cases, 15 in Thane district, one in Amravati, two in Pune and one in Pimpri Chinchwad, said the Maharashtra Health Department.

With five more individuals testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Jodhpur on Saturday, Rajasthan's tally of confirmed cases is at 196. This figure also includes 41 Tablighi Jamaat attendees, said the state health department.

An FIR has been registered against 12 Bangladesh citizens who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi last month and are now in administrative quarantine in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, police said on Saturday.

With 15 new positive cases, the COVID-19 tally in Odisha on Saturday climbed to 20, said the State Health and Family Welfare Department. Out of the 15, seven persons were in close contact with the coronavirus patient from Suryanagar, which include his wife, daughter and tenants.

Twenty-five more coronavirus positive cases were confirmed in Agra, taking the total number of cases to 45 in the district, Agra District Magistrate Prabhu N Singh told ANI on Saturday.

A sixty-year-old coronavirus positive woman with no travel history dies in Rajasthan's Bikaner hospital, officials told PTI. Rajasthan reported 12 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, out of which 8 of them have been linked to people who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin area last month.

A person from St Estevam with foreign travel history has tested positive for COVID-19. The total number of positive cases in Goa rises to 7, Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane told ANI on Saturday.

A 75-year-old man has succumbed to coronavirus in Karnataka's Bagalkote, taking the death toll in the state to four, officials said. The victim, who was a trader and did not have any travel history, died on Friday.

India registered the highest spike in new coronavirus cases in 24 hours on Friday with 478 new patients testing positive and 12 succumbing to the virus. The Tablighi Jamaat cluster remained in focus on Friday even as confirmed cases jumped to 2,547 according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Of the total cases reported by the MOHFW, 2,322 are active cases while 163 have been either discharged, cured or migrated while 62 have died due to the virus.

However, according to PTI, the nationwide tally crossed 3,000 on Friday with at least 90 dead as states confirmed over 500 new cases.

Typically, there has been a lag between the numbers reported by the Centre and by states, which officials have been attributing to procedural delays.

At least 211 people have recovered across the country so far, as per updates from various states. The states also reported a total number of confirmed infection to be 3,041, after the country saw the highest jump in new cases.

At least 14 fresh deaths were reported by various states in the day, including six in Maharashtra alone, to take the overall nationwide toll to 90.

As per state-reported data, Maharashtra continued to lead on Friday with 490 confirmed cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 411 cases. While 26 people have died in Maharashtra, 11 have lost lives in Telangana.

At least 11 CISF personnel in the state have contracted coronavirus at Panvel near Mumbai, a local civic official said on Friday.

Delhi's tally of confirmed cases has risen to 386, after 93 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while six have died in the city.

These three states were also among those reporting new cases, while fresh deaths were also reported from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh among others.

Recent spike due to Tablighi Jamaat cluster, says Centre

The spike in numbers, according to the Centre, was largely due to more samples from the Tablighi Jamaat cluster testing positive.

As many as 647 positive coronavirus cases have been reported so far from across 14 states whose linkage can be traced to the Tablighi Jamaat cluster at Nizamuddin, the Centre said on Friday.

The government had on Thursday said that it has traced epidemiological linkage to the Tablighi Jamaat cluster in about 400 cases.

"The cases can be traced in Andaman and Nicobar, Assam, Delhi, Himachal, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh," Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.

The Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi has emerged as a hotspot for COVID-19 after several positive cases from across India were linked to the gathering including deaths in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.

An FIR was earlier registered against Tablighi Jamaat head Maulana Saad and others under the Epidemic Disease Act 1897, in the national capital.

UP, MP invoke NSA against those misbehaving with health workers

Amid reports of attacks and misbehaviour with doctors and medical staff from some parts of the country, officials said the Home Ministry has asked states to take strict action against people allegedly abusing health workers.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Indore district administration invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in the city.

In Uttar Pradesh also, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said this stringent act will be invoked against quarantined Tablighi Jamaat members accused of misbehaving with the nursing staff at a Ghaziabad hospital.

Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Shrikant Sharma on Friday alleged that Tablighi Jamaat members tried to "hide themselves" in parts of the country in an "attempt" to spread the coronavirus disease while termign the Ghaziabad hospital incident as "disgraceful and condemnable".

In the national capital also, doctors from some hospitals, where the Tablighi Jamaat members are admitted, have complained to the Delhi government about their non-cooperation with the medical staff.

Five people have been arrested in Bengaluru also for allegedly manhandling health workers conducting a coronavirus survey, PTI said.

Modi asks citizens to light lamps on Sunday; Congress slams PM

After nine days of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also released a video message, in which he asked people to continue following social distancing and stay indoors, as he urged everyone to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on 5 April to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus.

There have been indications that the lockdown would be eased in a phased manner after the 21-day period ends on 14 April.

The main opposition party Congress, however, said Modi failed to address critical questions on India's fight against COVID-19 in his message, dubbing it as "just a feel-good moment curated by India's photo-op prime minister".

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Friday slammed the prime minister for not addressing a press conference on coronavirus, unlike other world leaders.

"Today's speech had nothing on coronavirus figures, medical infrastructure, migrant workers. etc. However, the prime minister asks people to light lamps. He is the only leader who has not addressed a single press conference on the coronavirus outbreak," Chavan said.

The BJP, however, asked its workers to spread Modi's appeal among the masses.

The opposition leaders also referred to hardships being faced by the people during the lockdown and the economic cost of it.

India GDP to grow at 2%: FITCH Ratings

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings said India may post a GDP growth of 2 percent in the current fiscal, the slowest since the economy was liberalised 30 years back, while the stock market suffered another day of meltdown and the rupee slumped 53 paise to slip below the 76-mark against the US dollar.

The rating agency also projected that the global economy will fall into a deep recession in 2020 due to the massive disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with growth print contracting by 1.9 percent, pulled down by a larger contraction in the US and the Eurozone.

Leading industry chamber the Confederation of Indian Industry said the pandemic would have a debilitating impact on India's tourism sector with an estimated overall loss of Rs 5 lakh crore and job cuts for 4-5 crore people.

The World Bank, in the meantime, announced an emergency funding of $1 billion for India to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Support appeared pouring in from several other quarters as well, with more than 31,000 doctors, including retired government and Armed Forces Medical Services, and private physicians volunteering to help the government fight against COVID-19 pandemic, a senior government official said.

Supply of testing kits remain an issue; IMCR suggests rapid testing in hotspots

An ICMR official separately said 182 labs across the country are functional now for COVID-19 diagnosis, out of which 130 are government labs. Around 8,000 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, he added.

However, a BloombergQuint report on Friday claimed that several of the accredited private testing labs are facing a shortage of foreign-made testing kits while "red tape is slowing the deployment of locally made test kits"

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in an advisory, has also recommended the use of a rapid antibody test in the country's coronavirus hotspots.

In Maharashtra, the state government said more than nine lakh people have been surveyed for coronavirus symptoms under the state government's 'cluster containment action plan', which started areas where three or more patients were found.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announced that the trauma centre at Dr RML Hospital will function as a dedicated COVID-19 isolation ward while the Safdarjung Hospital's super-specialty block has been converted into a state-of-the-art isolation management centre in Delhi.

The government also asserted there is no shortage of medical supplies in the country. It has also placed orders to procure over 10 crore hydroxychloroquine tablets, which the ICMR has recommended to be used as a preventive medication for those involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed concern over the gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar and the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin, saying these two incidents caused a setback to the efforts to combat coronavirus, according to a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In a video-conference with the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of states/union territories, the president emphasized the need to ensure that no one remains hungry during the nationwide lockdown, enforced to check the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Modi also spoke to a number of sportspersons through a video-call and sought their support in the COVID-19 fight with many of them vowing to raise awareness and spirits amid a national lockdown.

Officials also referred to the cases remaining largely under control in India as compared to various other countries.

Since its outbreak in China last December, more than 10 lakh people have been infected globally with this deadly virus and more than 51,000 have died including more than 6,000 deaths in the US alone.

The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted its first resolution on the coronavirus pandemic, co-sponsored by India and 187 other nations, calling for intensified global cooperation to defeat the deadly disease that is causing "severe disruption" to societies and economies.

With inputs from agencies
Tekashi 6ix9ine freed

Fefe rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been released from a New York prison several month early due to health concerns from the coronavirus pandemic. E! News reports the 23-year-old NYC hip-hop star, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, was granted a compassionate release Wednesday and placed under house arrest for four months. He was sentenced to two years in December, with credit for 13 months he had already served behind bars, for racketeering amid his involvement in the Bloods gang. Lawyers said Hernandez has not shown symptoms of COVID-19, but suffers from asthma and had been reportedly "complaining to prison officials this week of shortness of breath. Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week he would release more than 1,000 prison inmates with misdemeanors or non-violent felonies to help slow the spread of coronavirus within correctional facilities like Rikers Island.

New music

Its Friday! Music released this week includes Drakes Toosie Slide, Hayley Williams Over Yet, a new Sam Hunt album, two acoustic Frank Ocean songs, a Green Day remix EP, a Thundercat album, and the return of Lindsay Lohan on Back to Me. Note: Video contains explicit lyrics not suitable for younger audiences.

MORE BUZZ:

Adam Sandler debuts song about quarantine on Fallon ( RS

HBO offering multiple movies, shows for free amid coronavirus ( SF

Jane Fonda joins TikTok, brings back 80s workout ( E!

Steven Van Zandt launching Qoolest Quarantine radio show ( RS

Sara Bareilles says shes recovered after contracting COVID-19 ( ET

This Joka: Will Smith to host standup comedy show on Quibi ( SF

Alicia Keys reimagines Flo Ridas My House for Colbert ( RS

Buzz is a daily roundup of entertainment news from movies, TV, music and celebrity gossip.
The Pakistani authorities said Friday that four men had been rearrested in the abduction and killing of the American journalist Daniel Pearl after a court overturned their convictions just the day before. The government will appeal their acquittals to Pakistans Supreme Court, officials said.

On Thursday the High Court in Sindh Province overturned the murder conviction of Ahmed Omar Sheikh, a high-profile British-born militant accused of masterminding the 2002 abduction and killing of Mr. Pearl. It also tossed his death sentence, reducing it to seven years, a move that would have allowed him to be freed for time served. The convictions of three other men in the case on murder and terrorism charges were also overturned.

The court decision was widely condemned by American officials and journalists groups. Welcoming Pakistans move to appeal on Friday, a senior State Department official said, The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearls murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere.

The official, Alice G. Wells, added, Those responsible for Daniels heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice.
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Virgin Australia has warned the cost of flights would soar if the airline was forced to close, leaving Qantas and their budget arm Jetstar with a monopoly on the industry.

The company's CEO Paul Scurrah this week requested a $1.4 billion loan facility from the government to keep Virgin Australia afloat amid prolonged travel bans.

He said with only one airline in Australia flights between Sydney and Melbourne could be $800 - a massive jump from Virgin Australia's current price of under $200.

The federal government is reportedly divided on whether to grant the loan though Mr Scurrah said they were continuing to negotiate.

Virgin Australia has warned the cost of flights would soar if the airline was forced to close leaving Qantas and their budget arm Jetstar with a monopoly on the industry

The company's CEO Paul Scurrah (pictured) has requested a $1.4 billion loan facility from the government to keep Virgin Australia afloat amid prolonged travel bans

He said the loan would ensure Australia has two full-service airlines after restrictions are lifted as only having one airline would be an economic 'disaster' with prices rising and routes cut-off.

'If we want to go back to year 2000s sales prices of Melbourne-Sydney for $800, then that's what we need to be ready for,' Mr Scurrah said, according to the SMH.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has been lobbying against the assistance package unless his airline also gets one.

Some aviation industry experts have suggested a monopoly would not last long given Australia is a lucrative market.

Virgin Australia flight attendant Cassy Appleton broke down in tears as she addressed the cabin on her last flight before the airline grounded planes in March

Mr Scurrah, however, says with every airline in the world reeling from the coronavirus pandemic it would be a 'fantasy' to think another airline would step in.

Financial experts believe Virgin Australia major shareholders, such as Singapore Airlines, Etihad, and Richard Branson, would not pour more money into the airline given their current financial situation.

The loan deal includes a clause that if the loan is not repaid in two to three years the outstanding money would be converted to shares - meaning the government could be a majority stakeholder.

In March, Virgin Australia stood down 8,000 workers and grounded 125 planes, saying it would reduce it's domestic flights by 90 per cent.

The company's budget subsidiary Tigerair stopped flights entirely and their pilots were stood down.

Qantas also stood down 20,000 employees in March - two-thirds of their workforce - and grounded the majority of their fleet of planes in response to travel bans.
MILAN, BARCELONA, Spain and ASCOLI PICENO, Italy, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuraxpharm Group, a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and present in 12 countries across Europe, today announces the launch of the social initiative "Quarantine Together", a psychological support platform for families in Spain and Italy, a help desk to support families in dealing with the COVID-19 situation in these two countries.

In some European countries, we are currently not allowed to leave our homes. People in Italy and Spain are most affected, because they have been the first to have to face this new reality as a preventative measure against the rapid spread of the coronavirus. This has changed the dynamics in households. The challenge to #stayathome to stop the spread of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 is even greater for families with elderly, with children with autism or ADHD syndrome or with members with a mental or any other disease.

As a result of the confinement and the sudden change in the daily routine of more vulnerable family members, it is common for them to feel their symptoms getting worse or to suffer changes in their emotions such as sadness, irritability or anxiety.

As a specialist in CNS, Neuraxpharm is particularly aware of the needs of these more vulnerable individuals who need special attention. Reflecting about Corporate Social Responsibility, Neuraxpharm has therefore decided to launch an initiative called "Quarantine Together". The programme consists of a free help desk providing psychological assistance to families, and in Spain it will be offered specifically for those families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

As a socially responsible pharmaceutical company and part of the global community, focused on improving the quality of life of people living with CNS disorders, Neuraxpharm aims to help the communities in two of the European countries where the company is present. The aim of the initiative is to provide psychological assistance to people in need and to help them to manage their mental health and wellbeing during the uncertain times caused by the impact of coronavirus.

The initiative in Spain, called "Cuarentena con TEA", runs in collaboration with the Fundacion Querer, a multidisciplinary bureau made up of experts in children and teenage psychology that will provide medical, therapeutic and educational guidance in Spanish. It is being launched on April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day. The initiative will be promoted through Neuraxpharm Spain's website and social media (Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn).

In Italy, the initiative is called "Quarantena insieme". It will consist of a team of professional psychologists that will provide psychological support in Italian to families with mentally vulnerable members through a help desk. The campaign will be launched on April 8th. The initiative will be promoted through Neuraxpharm Italy's website and via social media (Facebook)

Commenting on the campaign, Dr. Jorg-Thomas Dierks, CEO of Neuraxpharm, said: "At Neuraxpharm we are working every day to improve the quality of life and mental wellbeing of patients affected by disorders related to the central nervous system. Our mission as a pharmaceutical company has more meaning than ever during these exceptional times that we are witnessing as a result of the spread of COVID-19. The collaborative project that we have launched in two of the most affected countries in Europe aims to provide support to families having vulnerable members or children with autism disorder and to discuss solutions that will adapt to the specific needs of each case".

Dr. Marta Fernandez Gracia-Andrade, a psychologist from the Fundacion Querer added: "At the moment there are thousands of families that are going through some very difficult times because, besides the confinement due to COVID-19 with all the problems that it involves, they have stopped receiving their therapeutic and educational support and they are facing the reality of not being able to continue with all the support from psychologists, speech therapists or occupational and educational therapists that they so desperately need. That is why we are glad to join forces with Neuraxpharm on this project and help from the expert bureau that will deal with queries from the families."

About Neuraxpharm  the European CNS specialist

Neuraxpharm is a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system disorders (CNS) with a direct presence in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Hungary and Portugal. Backed by funds advised by Apax Partners, Neuraxpharm has a unique understanding of the CNS market built over 35 years.

With its focus on CNS, Neuraxpharm develops and commercializes value added medicines, standard generics and Consumer Healthcare products, e.g. probiotics and other nutraceuticals, and is continuously striving to offer a wide range of effective, high quality and affordable CNS treatment options in Europe.

Present with its products in more than 50 countries, Neuraxpharm also manufactures pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients in its own manufacturing sites in Spain, Lesvi and Inke.

To learn more about Neuraxpharm, please visit: https://www.neuraxpharm.com

SOURCE Neuraxpharm
Altered Courses

Students in the Digital Divide

In todays locked-down world, there are fundamental elements of higher education courses that cant be replicated in a virtual learning environment. But college educators, despite various concerns about at-home students, are making the best out of the tools they have during the interrupted academic year.Bill Ryan, an adjunct professor for the University System of Maryland and Howard Community College, said a lot of courses are structured to be face to face. There were technologies for augmenting such classes before the COVID-19 outbreak, but such tools were generally not used, so teachers have had to adapt quickly to a new status quo.In the struggle to adapt, Ryan believes IT helpdesk support at the institutions has been key to staying above water.Ive had a lot of training, Ryan said. Ive learned a lot of new tools recently.R.J. Morgan, instructional associate professor of journalism at Ole Miss, said 100 percent of his classes were face to face. Notwithstanding the significant workload involved with shifting everything online, Morgan remarked that the process has been fairly smooth thanks to the time cushion provided by spring break.The caveat is that teachers with more familiarity with the tech will fare better than their counterparts.If youre tenured and have always taught the same class at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and you havent adjusted for 15 years, then this transition is hard for you, Morgan said. Later, he added, Its a manageable level of work if you have all of your other needs being met and if you have some semblance of how to manage these tools in an online environment.Alison Hill, a senior lecturer in biology at Duke University, said typically it takes about a year for professionals to create an open online course. She only had literally 11 days to transition her classes, but teamwork made it possibleI think its worked better than I thought it would, but thats because we have put in a massive amount of work, Hill said.Andrew Tag, director of the introductory biology program at Texas A&M, said only 5,000 of his departments courses were online two weeks ago. University IT staff had to move another 13,000 to the virtual space.Other institutions, citing a lack of technology in place, havent been able to get coursework online as quickly. A recent report about community colleges in Massachusetts describes this problem in detail.Community colleges are already strapped in terms of financial resources, Roxbury Community College President Valerie Roberson told the. We dont have a lot of resources to be able to make the investments that we need.It just sort of highlights some of the technological haves and have-nots that we have across the country, Morgan said, in reference to the differential resources of communities.For someone who primarily lectures, the shift to virtual learning involves different methods of delivery to ensure that everyones needs are being met. Ryan said its important to have both live and recorded material in case a student isnt being reached at a particular time.Its a different ballgame altogether for other teachers. Morgan said his journalism classes entail getting out into the field within a community for in-person interviews and shooting video. Now his students must perform phone interviews and put together action sequences that function as public service announcements, such as instructions on how to wash hands. Location matters.One, theyre reporting on stuff where they are instead of where I am, so I cant be of real help with making connections and pointing them in the right direction because I dont have a whole lot of context for where they are locally, Morgan said. Two, the varying degrees of restriction of movement. If a student is in Illinois, theyre under a shelter in place and have been asked not to leave their house. That student cant be held responsible for going out and shooting B roll.Tag said biology lab classes at Texas A&M are presenting videos of teacher assistants doing the actual experiments and then giving the data to students to analyze. This method allows students to grasp the analytical side of experiments, but theres a reduced sense of ownership with the process.You learn by doing, and you learn by screwing up, by making mistakes, Tag said. Unfortunately in the current situation, we cant do that. Were doing what we can in the short timeframe that weve had to do it. So far, its going ok.Hill said redesigning molecular biology courses requires ongoing attention to every detail.To me thats the biggest challenge, Hill said. How do you maintain a rigorous course? Our course is very important. Our course is a gateway to the rest of biology.Thankfully, the molecular biology classes at Duke had finished their wet bench work before COVID-19 wrecked the regular activities of the world. Hills students are now using computers to sequence cloned DNA and examine sequencing results.Ryan explained that, with certain courses, students paid for face-to-face instruction. Now that no one can be face to face, one has to think about every potential problem to ensure that students feel like theyre getting their moneys worth.We have students of all different backgrounds  so I dont know how good of an Internet connection they have, Ryan said. I dont know what devices they have access to I cant go full video because students may not be able to access it.Ryan added that so far, students have jumped right into the work with no complaints, but hes still thinking about potential predicaments.Morgan said most of his students seem to be handling the change well, but local contexts can threaten to leave some students behind. Morgan cited the disproportionate amount of low-income, first-generation college students in Mississippi.Not everybody has that same level of stability, and so youre asking students who signed up for a face-to-face learning experience in a town where they had a meal card, where they had a dorm or apartment, where they had access to campus computer labs to complete work those people are struggling because all of their infrastructure that allowed them to participate fully in learning has been ripped out from under them, Morgan said.Hill said shes striving to be mindful and sympathetic about the potential plight of students. Issues can range from not being able to download an exam to dealing with a bad environment.Some students are back in homes that theyre not happy in, Hill said. Abusive homes. Places where they dont have a quiet room.Hill added that just because a student attends a private university like Duke doesnt mean theyre well connected to the Internet.Tag said thus far, tech issues for students have been minimal. He recently gave a lecture exam for the first time online with very few technical hiccups.Out of 230-something students, I had five that I had to adjust, so thats not too bad, Tag said.Tag also noted that a virtual environment can be beneficial for certain students.What we have noticed is a lot of students that will respond in class via chat on Zoom that normally wouldnt pipe up during lecture, Tag said. In terms of engagement, thats pretty cool.
A new app seeks New Yorkers help tracking the virus.

Medical researchers are calling on New Yorkers to share information about their health in a new app aimed at track the spread of the coronavirus, identify clusters of cases and better allocate limited resources.

The web-based app, STOP COVID NYC, from Mount Sinai Health System, asks New York City residents to complete a survey about their risk factors and symptoms and then delivers daily texts asking for updates on their health with questions like: Do you have a fever?

Researchers said that in addition to helping track the virus in New York, the data collected by the app could help them understand how to assist the rest of the country as the virus spreads in coming months.

We need our whole city to help, not just those in hospitals or with access to health care, said Dr. Laura Huckins, a leader of the project. Everyone is included.

Indeed, officials stressed that even healthy New Yorkers with no symptoms should procure the app by texting COVID to 64722.

Are you unemployed because of the coronavirus outbreak?

More than 800,000 residents the New York region, including New Jersey and Connecticut, have applied for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks as the coronavirus pandemic has brought the economy to a virtual standstill.

If you are an employer or a worker who is unemployed, go here to share your story. A reporter or editor may contact you. Your information will not be published without your consent.

Reporting was contributed by Jonah Engel Bromwich, Helene Cooper, Maria Cramer, Michael Gold, Matthew Haag, Jesse McKinley, Andy Newman, Amelia Nierenberg, Azi Paybarah, Matt Stevens, and Nikita Stewart.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- Ann Arbor-area hospitals are providing temporary housing to their healthcare workers during the coronavirus outbreak as the industry prepares for surges across the state.

More than 100 employees of Michigan Medicine have enrolled in the health systems housing program so far, Director of Community Health Services Alfreda Rooks said Friday. The system is using an existing program for visitors and patients that partners with 33 hotels in the area for temporary lodging.

Eighteen of those are providing about 300 hotel rooms for respite -- if an employee has a long commute or shift -- and 500 hotel rooms for quarantine or self-isolation -- if an employee contracts COVID-19 and does not want to risk infecting their household members.

University of Michigan dorms are not being used yet, she said.

Michigan sees largest spike with 1,953 new confirmed coronavirus cases

As an institution on the whole, we recognize the time and commitment of our front-line staff to provide the highest quality care to our patients at all times," Rooks said. (Two executive leaders) recognized the need for the program to exist as a way to provide for the health and safety of our employees and their loved ones. Many people are concerned about possibly taking something back home.

Michigan Medicine was treating 183 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, as of 1 p.m. April 3, it reported. In Washtenaw County, 476 people have been infected with the virus. Eight people have died and 121 have been hospitalized.

41 new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washtenaw County

St. Joseph Mercy Health System, which has hospitals in Ann Arbor and Chelsea, is also providing on-site lodging at its Ann Arbor location, spokeswoman Laura Blodgett said in an email. She said the health system is also looking at additional locations if needed.

Eastern Michigan University has donated the use of 20 apartment units in an unoccupied building at The Village for St. Joes health care workers, Blodgett said.

St. Joes is not publicly providing inpatient statistics.

Michigan workers with coronavirus ties cant be disciplined for staying home, Gov. Whitmer orders

Rooks said the temporary housing program is also a way for the hospitals to contribute to the local economy as the pandemic causes a near standstill in many business operations.

The hotels, like many of the local businesses, have been negatively impacted by prevention strategies, she said. "For us, this is about us being part of this community. Were all in this together, we all have to do what we can do to support each other.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS AND MLIVE:

48% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Washtenaw County are black, health department says

Accepting reality: Ann Arbor-area coaches come to grips with cancellation of sports season

Drive-thru confession offers COVID-safe salvation at Ann Arbor church
The Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu Constituency in the Northern Region, John Abdulai Jinapor, has described the decision by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to implement a Cylinder Recirculation Margin of GHp13.5 per kilogramme for LPG at a time that some parts of the nation are under a lockdown due to the fear of spread of the coronavirus, as utter wickedness and the highest level of insensitivity to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.



Mr Jinapor has also alleged that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has further increased the Fuel Marking Margin from GHp3/ltr to GHp4.5/ltr.



The imposition of the Cylinder Recirculation Margin coming at a time of the government's declaration of a partial lockdown of Accra, Tema, Kumasi and parts of the Central Region, will only exacerbate the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian, Mr Jinapor said in a Facebook post.



He said as a result of the lockdown and the enforcement of the social distancing directives by the President, Ghanaians are already experiencing very difficult moments as they are unable to generate sufficient income to offset the rising cost of living.



In the light of the current happenings, Mr Jinapor noted that rather than burdening the citizenry with such insensitive and draconian policies, the Akuffo-Addo government must demonstrate compassion by initiating policies and programmes that will alleviate the suffering of the ordinary Ghanaian.



The lawmaker has, therefore, called on the NPA, as a matter of urgency, to immediately scrap this obnoxious and nuisance increments at this difficult moment.





Source: Class News









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New Delhi, April 3 : Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday announced that its team, Union Territories (UTs) without legislation and Central Police organisations will jointly donate their one-day salary amounting Rs 89 crore in PM-CARES Fund in fight against COVID-19.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah who heads the Centre's nodal Ministry, which is mandated to deal with internal issues related to the country, made the announcement referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to help the government amid the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 crisis.

"On the clarion call of PM Narendra Modi, officers and staff of Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Police Organisations as well as six UTs without legislature would contribute one day's salary (totalling Rs 89 crores) to PM-CARES Fund to fight COVID-19," Shah tweeted.

Referring to the contribution "an outstanding gesture by team MHA", the Prime Minister took to Twitter to praise their move in the noble cause to help the poor and the destitutes.

"They (Team MHA) work round the clock to protect us and are also contributing to protecting the nation from COVID-19," Modi tweeted.
During the coronavirus outbreak, Ive been thinking about the little boy, Samuel, in the Old Testament. His mother, Hannah, cries out to the Lord. Shes barren. She prays for a son and makes a vow. She tells God that if He gives her a son, she will dedicate his life to the Lord.

While shes crying out to the Lord in the temple, Eli the priest sees her and accuses her of being drunk. But Hannah tells him that she hasnt been drinking. She has poured out (her) soul to the LORD (1 Samuel 1:15b). Eli blesses her.

Hannah gives birth to Samuel. When hes weaned, Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, bring Samuel to the temple where he will serve Eli. When they arrive, Hannah says to Eli, O my lord! As your soul lives, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.

For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD. So they worshiped the LORD there (1 Samuel 1:26-28).

Samuel grows physically and spiritually. His growth is in sharp contrast to Elis two sons who serve as priests. Instead of keeping Gods covenant as humble priests, they take the best for themselves. Theyre selfish and worse, they behave immorally. They sin against God not only because they dont fulfill their priestly duties, but they also cause others to sin.

Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation (1 Samuel 3:1).

As Samuels falling asleep one night, the LORD calls to him. Samuel answers, Here I am! He runs to Eli the priest, thinking hes the one speaking. But Eli tells him that he didnt call him. He tells Samuel to go back to sleep. The third time this happens, Eli realizes whos calling Samuel. He tells him, Go lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, you must say, Speak, LORD, for your servant hears (1 Samuel 3:9).

Thats exactly what Samuel does. The LORD speaks to him and tells him of the judgment that Eli and his family will face because Elis sons made themselves vile and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Elis house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever (1 Samuel 3:13b-14).

When Samuel tells Eli what the Lord told him, Eli responds, It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him (1 Samuel 3:18b). Samuel becomes a respected prophet of the Lord.

Samuel learned to listen to the Lord. During this time of social distancing, may we do the same.

There are so many distractions in our lives. In and of themselves they are not bad. But piled up, they are distractions. There are sporting events. There are school events. Theres going out to eat with friends. There are vacations and trips. We can travel the globe. We can seek after the next new adventure. So many choices in our lives. We so easily take all the opportunities we have for granted. Until they stop. They have stopped for now. We cant gather in large crowds. Were not to get too close to others.

One of the hardest changes for me is not being able to go to church. I miss my church family. And I miss my family. Talking on the phone is not the same as being together in person.

But as we pray for safety and good health for one another, maybe there is a way to look at this time as an opportunity. Families are home together. Parents are working from home. Kids are out of school trying to study at home. I saw a little girl playing outside her house one day this week. She was drawing in the dirt with a stick. I used to do that when I was young. It doesnt sound like much, but when you let your imagination loose, its amazing the places it can take you.

Maybe this time of slowing down is a gift. Maybe this is the Lords way of calling each one of our names just as he called Samuel so long ago. How will we respond? Will we take the time to be still and listen? Will we read a few verses in the Bible and ask the Lord to speak to us on what weve read? Will we thank Him and praise Him for being the Lord of our life?

You, O Lord, are still on the throne. You, O Lord, are still in control. We praise you because you have fearfully and wonderfully made each one of us. You call each of us by name. You know us better than we know ourselves. Lead us and guide us, O Lord. Whisper to us and tell us the path to take. Speak to us and help us to grow in you. Protect us and our loved ones, O Lord. Keep us healthy. But most importantly, O Lord, keep us in eternity with you. Amen.

May we all say like little Samuel, Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.

Kathy Yoder is a devotional writer. She may be reached at kathyyoder4@gmail.com.

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- A man was caught on camera spitting on the face of a stranger who was lining up at the train station

- The man was on a cane, was already limping while walking and who was obviously not feeling well

- The suspect subsequently died on the train and it later turned out that the man was positive of COVID-19

- Thai authorities are now searching for the victim of the man, fearing that he might be spreading the virus unknowingly

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A video of a 56-year-old man, who was positive for coronavirus, has caused outrage as he the man was seen spitting on an unsuspecting train passenger in Bangkok, Thailand.

The victim was lining up at the train station trying to buy a ticket, when the man, who was obviously was unwell, was already inching his way towards the guy.

NY Post reported that out of nowhere, he spat on the man's face then moved away.

Later on, as per The Sun, the suspect was found dead sitting on the train and upon checking, it was confirmed that he was positive of COVID-19.

News 784 said that Thai authorities are now trying to locate the whereabouts of the man who was victimized by the COVID-19 positive suspect.

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In a previous KAMI report, the confirmed coronavirus cases around the world have reached more than 1 million. The number doubled from a previous week's tally of more than 500,000.

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!

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Dublin, April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Biofuels: Global Markets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report presents a general overview of biofuel types, manufacturing methods, feedstock options, typical plant costs, and operating margins, followed by an analysis of major geographical markets: North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa and the Middle East.

Each regional evaluation includes estimates of market size for sales of ethanol, biodiesel, and other fuel types, and a forecast for growth to 2024. Projections are expressed in constant (2019) U.S. dollars. The report concludes with a discussion of industry structure and brief company profiles of the various players in the area.



The report includes:

An overview of the global markets for liquid biofuels within the industry

Analyses of global market trends, with data corresponding to market size from 2018 and 2019, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2024

A look at the regulatory framework regarding the use of biofuels, incentives for fuel production, and the number and capacity of manufacturing plants

Analysis of significant patent data and their allotments in each category underlying discoveries in the biofuels market

Information on the market opportunities and market outlook for major listed companies and strategies that may lead to a better understanding of the market from a practical perspective

Market share analysis of key market participants and assessment of their competitive landscape

Profile description of market-leading corporations, including Acciona Energy, Beta Renewables, Cargill, Evonik Industries, GreenShift Corp., Novozymes, Synthetic Genomics Inc., and Virent Energy Systems

Currently, the most common biofuels are liquid fuels used primarily in transportation applications. In this report, the term biofuels will be used in this context. The greatest market growth will take place in a few EU member states, Asia-Pacific and South America. The Africa and Middle East regions will remain relatively under-developed due to a lack of investment.



There are a number of reasons for the projected relatively gradual increase in biofuels consumption in most major markets. Biofuels consumption is to a large extent policy-driven, i.e., the result of various government mandates and incentives. A number of government policy objectives provide the motivation for these mandates and incentives, including increasing energy security and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most major biofuel consuming nations already have a policy framework for biofuels in place, so new regulations are unlikely to lead to major increases in biofuels consumption in the near to mid-term.



The next most important market driver for biofuels is the price of oil. The price of benchmark Brent crude oil, which at times has been as high as $145 per barrel, was slightly over $71 in 2018 and is expected to decline still further in the next few years. Feedstock costs are another major influence on the market for biofuels. Feedstocks prices can swing wildly from high to low, disrupting farmers' planting plans, the cost of manufacturing biofuels, and the profitability of ethanol and biodiesel. For example, U.S. corn production has been at record high levels in recent years, which has kept corn prices generally stable in the $3.40 and $4.00 per bushel range and increased the profitability of U.S. ethanol production. U.S. corn prices increased somewhat in 2019, but it is difficult to draw any conclusions about a long-term trend that might put a damper on ethanol production.



A more serious consequence of increased biofuel demand is the impact on world food and feed prices. The global rise in population, and a greater percentage of food crops used to manufacture biofuels, has been criticized for diverting food away from the human food chain, leading to food shortages and price rises. Land and water use are other challenges. The desire to diversity away from biofuel feedstocks that compete with other human needs, of course, has been the driver behind the development of so-called advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol and algal biodiesel. However, the technological obstacles to commercializing these advanced biofuels have proven greater than some proponents once envisioned.

Key Topics Covered



Chapter 1 Introduction

Study Goals and Objectives

Reasons for Doing this Study

Scope of Report

Information Sources

Methodology

Geographic Breakdown

Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights



Chapter 3 Overview

Conversion Routes for Biofuels Production

Biofuel Evolution

First-Generation Biofuels

Second-Generation Biofuels

Third-Generation Biofuels

Fourth-Generation Biofuels

Feedstocks Yield

Net Energy Yield

Cost of Production

Chapter 4 Ethanol

Corn Ethanol

Corn Ethanol Manufacturing

Cellulosic Ethanol

Ethanol Blending

Coproducts of Ethanol Production

Ethanol Plant Costs

Chapter 5 Biodiesel

Biodiesel Manufacturing

Transesterification

Post-Reaction Processes

Biodiesel Blending

Coproducts of Biodiesel Manufacturing

Biodiesel Plant Costs

Chapter 6 Other Biofuels

Straight Vegetable Oil/Pure Vegetable Oil

Wood Diesel

Biobutanol

Biobutanol Manufacturing

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil

Hydrothermal Upgrading Diesel

Fischer-Tropsch Biofuels

Fischer-Tropsch Manufacturing

Algal Fuel (Oilgae)

Biomethanol

Dimethylfuran

Bio-DME

Green Gasoline

Designer Hydrocarbons

Chapter 7 North American Biofuel Market

Biofuel Production

Ethanol

Biodiesel

Advanced Biofuels

United States

Legal Framework

Ethanol

Biodiesel

Advanced Biofuels

Canada

Legal Framework

Ethanol

Biodiesel

Advanced Biofuels

Mexico

Legal Framework

Ethanol

Biodiesel

Advanced Biofuels

North American Biofuel Market Projections

Overall Market

Market by Country

Chapter 8 European Biofuel Market



Chapter 9 South American Biofuel Market



Chapter 10 Asia-Pacific Biofuel Market



Chapter 11 Middle East and Africa Biofuel Market



Chapter 12 Industry Structure

Company Profiles

Abdiesel

Acciona Energy

Algae Floating Systems Inc.

Algaewheel

Algenol Biofuels

Alensys (Alternative Energiesysteme) Ag

Anchor Ethanol Ltd.

Archer Daniels Midland Co.

Argent Energy Ltd.

Beta Renewables

Biodico

Biodiesel International Ag (Bdi)

Bioenergy International

Biopetrol Industries Ag

Bluefire Renewables

Caramuru Group

Cargill Inc.

Cavitation Technologies Inc.

Cellana

Cerradinho

Chemrec Ab

China Clean Energy Inc.

China Resources Alcohol Corp.

Choren Industries

Codexis Inc.

Cosan Group

Dedini S.A. Industrias De Base

Desmet Ballestra

Diversified Energy Corp.

Dyadic International

Enerkem

Estener

Evonik Industries

Fagen Inc.

Flottweg

GEA Group

Granbio

Grace Davison

Green Fuel Extramadura

Greenenergy International Ltd.

Greenline Futura

Greenshift Corp.

Haldor Topsoe

Henan Tianguan Fuel Ethanol Co.

Hielscher Ultrasonics Gmbh

Inbicon

Ineos Enterprises Ltd.

Isolux Corsan

Inventure Renewables Inc.

Iogen Corp.

JFE Holdings

Jilin Fuel Ethanol Co.

Katzen International Inc.

Mascoma Corp.

Neste Oil Oyj

Novozymes

One Water Inc.

Permolex International

Poet Biorefining

Praj Industries Ltd.

Preem Ab

Primafuel

Qteros

Raizen

Sekab

Shaval Biodiesel

SNC Lavalin

Synthetic Genomics

Velocys Inc.

Verbio Vereinigte Bioenergie Ag

Virent Energy Systems

Vogelbusch Gmbh

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dwwa6r

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Making sense of the coronavirus pandemic requires getting up to speed on semantics as much as epidemiology.

Government officials and health-care professionals toss off mentions of mortality rates, flattening the curve and lockdowns, assuming that we know what they mean. But the terms mean different things from country to country, state to state, even city to city and person to person.

Officials use the same phrases about mass testing, caseloads and deaths to describe very different situations. That makes it hard to give clear answers to vital questions: How bad are things? Where are they headed?

People search for insight by comparing their countries to those that are farther along in the epidemic. But if the terms are misleading or used in differing ways, the comparisons are flawed. Also, the statistics and vocabulary offer a false sense of precision while in reality, the information we have shows only a fraction of whats going on.

The new cases or deaths each day are given as exact numbers and were trained to take that at face value, said Mark N. Lurie, an epidemiologist at Brown Universitys School of Public Health. But those are far from exact, theyre deeply flawed, and their meaning varies from place to place and from time period to time period.

Confirmed Cases

The United States recently hit an attention-getting milestone, passing China as the country with the most reported infections. But there is deep uncertainty about whether there really are more U.S. cases, and about how well the figures reflect reality.

Countries vary wildly in testing for the virus and how they report the numbers, and experts say most infections are going undetected. So the publicized national tallies are rough, incomplete pictures that may not be all that comparable.

And thats if countries are forthcoming about their data.

Officials in the U.S. say that China, which has reported more than 82,000 infections, has understated its epidemic. Until this week, the Chinese government excluded those patients who tested positive for the virus but had no symptoms.

China also doesnt say how many tests it has conducted, and doubts have been raised about whether it has tested extensively in Xinjiang, the province where it holds hundreds of thousands of Muslims in indoctrination camps.

Few countries have done aggressive testing. And of course, the more testing there is, the more cases are found.

Japan, with relatively few confirmed cases, has conducted only about 500 tests for every million people, raising fears that the virus might be spreading undetected. Similar concerns have been aired in Britain, whose testing rate  more than 2,400 people per million so far  is low by Western European standards, and includes relatively few health workers.

In contrast, South Korea has tested more than 8,000 people per million, and Norway about 17,000.

In the United States, state and local authorities collect figures from public and private labs, but they can be like apples and oranges: some labs report the number of tests conducted, some report how many people were tested, and some only report positive test results.

The Covid Tracking Project, run by The Atlantic, has tried to compile all the U.S. numbers and reports more than 1.2 million tests so far, more than 3,600 per million people.

Widespread Testing

President Donald Trump has boasted that more people have been tested in the United States than any other country, though on a per-capita basis, many developed countries have done more.

But it matters not only how many people are tested, but also when, and who they are. Once again, countries differ, shaping what the numbers mean.

A few countries, like South Korea, Australia and Singapore, got serious about mass testing early on. They used the information to do ambitious contact-tracing  finding and testing those who had recently been near infected people, even if they had no symptoms.

That provided a pretty full picture of the outbreak while the numbers were still manageable, and made it possible to slow it down.

Though it did not act on the same scale as those countries, Germany did more testing and contact-tracing in the early going than most of Europe.

But most nations with large numbers of cases have done less testing, waited longer to do it in bulk, and made little attempt at contact tracing. They find themselves playing catch-up with the virus, ramping up testing after their outbreaks had already mushroomed.

They detect more cases, but by then its hard to tell how much of that growth is the expanding epidemic and how much is expanding surveillance. Unable to meet the demand, they often limit testing to the sickest patients and health workers.

A prime example is the United States, where about 90% of the tests so far were done in just the past two weeks. Doctors, patients and state and local officials report that there still isnt enough testing available, and ailing people are routinely told that they are not sick enough to warrant a test.

Fatality Rates

It has been stated time and again: Italy and Spain have high mortality rates among coronavirus patients, Germanys is low, and Chinas is somewhere between.

It may not be that simple. Counting the dead is as flawed and inconsistent as counting the infected.

Recent reports say that mortuaries in Wuhan, China, where the disease was first discovered, have ordered thousands more urns than usual, suggesting a much higher death toll than the citys official count, 2,535.

The outbreaks in Wuhan, and parts of Italy and Spain, overwhelmed hospitals, forcing many sick people to ride it out at home. No one knows how many people have recovered or died without ever being tested.

Italy and France have reported death tolls that generally included only those who died in hospitals. In Germany, even some of those patients are excluded, because post-mortem testing for the virus is not standard in hospitals.

And if only the sickest patients are tested, then the number of infections will appear smaller and the percentage who die will seem higher.

Germanys low apparent fatality rate  about 1% of those infected  may stem partly from its broader testing of those who are healthy or who have mild to no symptoms, and its narrower testing of the dead.

The Peak

Officials often talk about when the epidemic peaks or plateaus  when a country flattens the curve. But they rarely specify, the peak of what? And how can we be sure were past it?

When an outbreak is growing unchecked, more people become infected and more die each day than the day before. Italy went from reporting a few hundred newly detected infections per day in early March to more than 6,500 on March 21.

That acceleration cannot continue indefinitely, and more importantly, Italy has strengthened social distancing, apparently slowing transmission of the virus. Since March 21, new confirmed infections have varied between about 4,000 and 6,000 daily. Despite the problems with the available figures, and the dangers of drawing conclusions based on just a few days, it seems clear after almost two weeks that Italy has passed a turning point.

On a graph, the curve showing the daily count of new cases has gone from rising sharply to moving sideways  the curve has flattened  and even begun to move downward.

That is one corner being turned: the rate of the spread of the virus has slowed down. It takes longer to turn another: the rate of people dying. But that, too, appears to have leveled off in Italy, fluctuating around 800 a day in the last week.

But even when those curves flatten, the epidemic still has not peaked by another crucial measure: the number of active cases. That figure continues to rise until the number of patients who either die or recover each day is larger than the number of new infections.

To ease the staggering load on health care systems, the active cases curve must also flatten and then fall.

Lockdowns

More than 2 billion people, including most Americans, are living under something usually called a lockdown. But there is no set definition of that word  or related terms like stay-at-home mandates and social distancing  so the details differ from place to place.

The lockdowns have varying exceptions for certain lines of work, personal circumstances or exercise. Some allow gatherings of up to 10 people, or five, or forbid groups of any size; some exempt funerals, others do not.

The biggest differences may be in enforcement. Some places, like those in the United States with lockdowns, mostly rely on people to follow the rules without coercion.

But Italy and others have deployed soldiers to ensure compliance, and French police have fined hundreds of thousands of people for violating restrictions. China, in addition to using security forces, mobilized an army volunteers, ratcheting up social pressure to obey.

And on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, threatened to have lockdown violators shot.

Italys experience shows the looseness of the term. It has gone through several phases of restrictions, applying them to more people, making them stricter and increasing enforcement.

A few weeks ago, a person could travel around Italy for a valid work or family reason. Now, people are fined for nonessential walking too far from their homes.

But each stage was widely called by the same name: lockdown.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Amid already existing calls for a country-wide moratorium on water shut-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic, clean water advocates in California urged state leaders on March 30 to impose an immediate statewide moratorium on water shut-offs. The state has long been battling a water crisis.

There are over 148,000 public water systems in the United States run by private companies, municipalities, and others, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and while the country faces the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, these water providers will keep facing questions about shutting off water supplies on non-payment of bills in places with no moratorium.

Vulnerable communities across California in both rural (like Tulare and Fresno Counties) and urban (like Los Angeles County) locations, who are largely low-income families and people of color, face the possibility of imminent disruption to their water service due to inability to pay, said a group of nine California based water advocates in a statement on Monday.

The advocacy group said one million Californians lack access to safe drinking water, and the CCP virus pandemic compounds this crisis as the next monthly billing cycle approaches.

How can we stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect our communities if people dont have access to clean water? Susana De Anda, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Community Water Center, a non-profit agency thats part of the advocacy group, said in the statement.

The crisis is aggravated in communities with contaminated water that cannot find bottled water in stores. Michael Claiborne, Senior Attorney with Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, told The Epoch Times in a statement that hundreds and thousands in California get tap water contaminated by arsenic, uranium, nitrate, and bacteria.

COVID-19 has exacerbated this existing disparity in water access. Communities and households with unsafe tap water rely on bottled water for drinking, cooking, and sanitary purposes. Because of widespread stockpiling, grocery stores and corner markets do not have bottled water in stock, said Claiborne.

The senior attorney shared the story of a grandmother in Pixley who has to regularly drive 20 miles to the city of Tulare because the local stores have no stocks of water left.

In stopping at many grocery stores and markets, she is also exposing herself to possible infection despite being in a high-risk age group and acting as a caretaker for her grandchildren. This situation is so unsustainable that she is considering moving in with her daughter in Visalia until the state of emergency is over, Claiborne told The Epoch Times.

State Governor Issues Orders

State Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on March 16 that authorized local governments to prevent utility shut-offs for Californians affected by COVID-19.

People shouldnt lose or be forced out of their home because of the spread of COVID-19, said Newsom in a statement.

Over the next few weeks, everyone will have to make sacrificesbut a place to live shouldnt be one of them. I strongly encourage cities and counties take up this authority to protect Californians, he said.

The water advocates group welcomed Newsoms order, asking the California Public Utilities Commission to monitor measures taken by utility providers to prioritize customer protections on utilities such as water. However, the group said that more needs to be done to ensure safe drinking water for all.

We applaud those utilities who have not only placed a moratorium on shut-offs during the pandemic but which are turning the water back on for those whose water service was turned off prior to this crisis, Jennifer Clary, Water Program Manager at Clean Water Action said in the statement.

Those who were struggling before this emergency hit need help even more now. We urge the governor to ensure that all residential water providers follow this example, she said.

Calls for Nation-wide Moratorium

The EPA, in a statement, said that it supports states and cities that have already issued orders to ensure peoples accessibility to clean water for drinking and hand washing during the pandemic.

Many drinking water systems are discontinuing service cut-offs, restoring service to customers whose service was previously cut-off, and refraining from imposing penalties for non-payment. EPA recommends widespread adoption of these practices, which provide critical support for public health, the government agency that works to protect clean air, water, and land for Americans, said in a statement.

A group of Congressmen on March 11 had also urged congressional leaders to provide relief for those facing high water bills during the pandemic.

In a survey of the 500 largest water systems in the country, it was found that on average Flint, Mich. residents paid about $864 a year for water service, nearly double the national average. But Flint is not alone, said the 12 congress members in a letter.

In other communities nationwide, high water rates have especially hurt low-income households, who pay a disproportionate amount of their income for water service, said the congress members.

In early March, Food and Water Watch, another non-profit advocacy organization had called for a nationwide moratorium on water shut-offs amid the coronavirus pandemic. They allege that in the past few years, data shows that 15 million Americans had experienced water shut-offs. The Epoch Times couldnt independently verify these statistics.

The state of Michigan has set-up a COVID-19 Water Restart Plan for those who want their water turned on. If you sign up before April 9, you dont have to put any money down. The State of Michigan will cover it for you! the state administration said in a statement.

Atlanta, Phoenix, Birmingham, Alabama, and St. Louis are the other states that have suspended water shut-offs amid the pandemic, according to ProPublica.
Schumer's office told CNN that the President had told the New York Democrat that he had written a "very nasty letter" to Schumer, and "he would try to stop it from going out and would apologize to Sen. Schumer if he didn't stop it in time."

New York has emerged as the virus' epicenter in the United States, leading all other states with 92,506 cases and 476 deaths on Thursday night. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also drawn Trump's ire after pushing back against the federal government's response strategy.

In the letter, Trump attacked Schumer for New York's response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as what he calls the "ridiculous impeachment hoax." Trump claimed that if Schumer had spent less time on impeachment, New York might not have been "so completely unprepared for the invisible enemy."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the apex of the coronavirus pandemic approaches in New York, Staten Island organizations, including the boroughs hospitals, are asking for residents help.

Here is a list of verified ways to volunteer or donate to local organizations on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus. If you think we missed one, please email Paul Liotta at pliotta@siadvance.com.

Hospitals

Volunteer opportunities

Sharmila Rao Thakkar, executive director of the Staten Island Not for Profit Association (NFPA), shared a list of places borough residents might consider volunteering for.

Monetary and supply donations

NFPA, in coordination with the boroughs elected officials have set up donation opportunities for both money and supplies. They will be helping distribute supplies to the groups most in need

Arts programs

Many arts programs have needed to close their doors, and cancel major fundraising events. They are also in need of donations
REDWOOD CITY (BCN)

Roughly 30,000 low-income customers will receive a credit in April on their Peninsula Clean Energy power bill, leaders with the utility said Thursday.

The $100 credit will be automatically applied to customers on either of two utility plans. Those are the California Alternate Rates for Energy plan and the Family Electric Rate Assistance plan and customers must have been on one of the plans as of March 20.

"We hope this can provide some support during this difficult time," Jan Pepper, CEO of Peninsula Clean Energy, said in a statement, noting that many workplaces are closing and people are anxious about paying their bills due to impacts from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Politicians from San Bruno, East Palo Alto and South San Francisco welcomed the help for their residents.

For example, South San Francisco Councilmember Flor Nicolas said, "This credit is a welcome respite for many hardworking men and women of South San Francisco who have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and its impact on our economy."

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
A global pandemic may have the power to derail our jobs, schools, social lives and plans of any kind, but its comforting to know that it cant stop this: the permanence of family.

Laura and Casey Wieck had been waiting six jittery months to finalize the adoption of their son, James, when the coronavirus crisis began unraveling everything. Their jitters magnified as they watched their countys courts close to the public. How long would their adoption hearing be postponed?

Theres always this thing hanging over your shoulder: What if this doesnt happen? What if something goes wrong? Laura Wieck, 40, of Columbus, Ohio, told TODAY Parents. You just want to get to that point to where everything is finalized and legal. That unknown and that waiting  you feel it.

Casey and Laura Wieck with their baby boy, James (Devon Albeit Photography)

When the Wiecks were feeling especially low, a clerk from Greene County Probate Court called them with an unexpected possibility: Would they like to move forward with their adoption by videoconferencing with the judge on Zoom?

Were affectionately referring to it as cyber court, Judge Thomas ODiam told TODAY Parents. My clerks are all at their individual houses working remotely. ... It just makes us feel good that were able to continue and give some sense of normalcy to people when it seems like nothing else is normal.

Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.

The Wiecks adoption on Tuesday was the third handled remotely by ODiam and one of five he presided over the same day. Other courts across the country have been shifting their entire operations online in order to keep adoption hearings, guardianship hearings and other crucial family proceedings moving along despite the need for social distancing.

Adoptions are my absolute favorite, ODiam said. Usually theyre very emotional. A lot of times theres a lot of tears  sometimes even from me.

About 30 minutes before their Tuesday morning hearing, the Wiecks got the official OK to share the Zoom link with family members who wanted to witness the big moment. They frantically called their parents and siblings and told them to get ready.

Story continues

This is what baby James Wieck's virtual adoption hearing looked like on Zoom. (Courtesy of Laura Wieck)

The Wiecks got dressed up in their Sunday best; 6-month-old James wore a dapper little dress shirt and vest.

His bellys getting big and it was popping out, and he was a little fussy that day because it was his naptime, but he was still so dang cute, Laura Wieck said. When we logged on, Caseys parents and one of his sisters were already on there talking to the judge, chitchatting, hanging out!

Baby James cooed, drooled and squirmed throughout the Zoom call as his parents deftly handed him an assortment of teething toys and stuffed animals. Finally, it was time.

Once I sign these papers, which Im doing right now, the judge said, he is officially your son.

YAYYYY! the Wiecks said in unison as they bounced baby James up and down in front of the camera.

The happy  and official  Wieck family on adoption day, March 31, 2020. (Courtesy of Laura Wieck)

The Wiecks adoption of James was arranged by Adoption Link Inc., an Ohio agency that specializes in open adoptions. In the Wiecks case, that means James always will know who his birth mother is and will see her in person at least twice a year.

We want children to feel like they have a complete understanding of their whole lives, Naomi Ewald, founder and director of Adoption Link, told TODAY Parents. This way they know that they are definitely wanted, and their birth mother made a very loving, conscious, caring choice for them.

James birth mother opted to allow Laura Wieck to be present at James birth while dad-to-be Casey Wieck waited right outside the door.

She said that when the baby came out, he could come into our arms, Laura Wieck said. That was part of her birth plan.

As soon as James arrived, Casey Wieck joined his wife in the room. Laura Wieck cut the umbilical cord. Together, the couple held the newborn baby and stared at him in awe.

It was pretty magical, she said. From the very first moment, he was our son.

Laura and Casey Wieck got to be present at the hospital for baby James' birth. (Courtesy of Laura Wieck)

James birth was especially gratifying for the Wiecks, who had spent nearly eight years trying to have a child with the help of fertility treatments.

We are just so grateful to James birth mom that she made this choice, Laura Wieck said, She made it consciously, and she made it in the best interest of James. She is probably one of the strongest women I have ever met.

The Wiecks brought their baby boy home from the hospital but had to wait to share news of his arrival publicly until his adoption was finalized.

It was just such a big relief I think when Tuesday finally came, Casey Wieck, 37, told TODAY Parents. We had been waiting for a child for so many years.

Casey Wieck holds his baby boy, James (Courtesy of Laura Wieck)

As soon as Tuesday mornings hearing was completed, the Wiecks took to social media to let their friends know that they had become parents six months ago. The news spread even faster on Wednesday when Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine described James joyful Zoom adoption hearing at a press conference.

Talk about how to make an announcement! Laura Wieck said with a laugh.

As soon as social distancing requirements end, the Wiecks plan to bring baby James to Judge ODiams courtroom in person. ODiam said he can't wait to invite the family up to the bench to pose for photos and let baby James bang the gavel.

ODiam said he's also hoping to make Zoom videoconferencing an ongoing feature in his courtroom so that out-of-town family members can watch adoption hearings and cry happy tears in real time.

It is the most heartwarming experience you could ever have, the judge said.

Related video:
The price of crude oil surged again Friday after OPEC said it would talk to non-members, notably Russia, giving investors hope for an end to a price war which has created market chaos along with crushed demand because of the coronavirus. OPEC oil producers and their allies will meet Monday via video conference, a source close to the cartel said. And Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country was ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and the United States on a production cut. "There's certainly a lot of optimism that a deal is going to be done," OANDA analyst Craig Erlam told AFP. Despite the happy talk in the oil sector, global stock markets fell following another set of devastating American employment numbers, gloomy eurozone services data and news that the number of declared COVID-19 infections passed one million worldwide. The US economy shed 701,000 jobs in March amid the damage inflicted by the coronavirus shutdowns -- several times the market's consensus forecast -- while the unemployment rate surged to 4.4 percent, the Labor Department reported. That sent Wall Street to a sputtering finish, with the Dow losing 1.7 percent and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting similar falls. - 'Likely to worsen' - "The markets are digesting a larger-than-expected drop in March employment, which is likely to worsen on the heels of the past two weeks of spikes in jobless claims that approached the 10 million mark," analysts at the Charles Schwab brokerage said. OPEC's move meanwhile sparked fresh speculation of an oil production cut, one day after US President Donald Trump ignited a record crude price rally by hinting that Riyadh and Moscow planned to end their price war with a sharp reduction in output. According to a Russian source cited by the TASS agency, US officials also have been invited to take part in the meeting. "It is in all parties' interests to agree to a significant cut," said Michael Hewson, an analyst at CMC Markets. But even reducing output by 10 million barrels per day "is unlikely to be enough to push prices up much higher from here with demand on the floor," Hewson cautioned. Oil prices had plunged this year as the market reeled from the effects of the new coronavirus pandemic, which depressed demand amid a worldwide economic shutdown with WTI shedding around 65 percent of its value in the first quarter. A price war, triggered last month by Saudi after Moscow refused to tighten oil supply to counteract the sharp drop in demand, added to the bloodbath. - 'Recession knocking' - Equity investors remain hostage to uncertainty as they try to gauge the long-term economic impact of the pandemic, which International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said already has plunge the planet into recession. Swissquote Bank analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya told AFP the "complete shutdown of businesses worldwide is taking a heavy toll on the global economy." "The coronavirus outbreak hits all layers of the population, has had an impact on each and every single business regardless of their size and paralyzed each and every household regardless of their wealth," she said. "You do not need to be an economist or an expert to predict a meaningful recession knocking on the door." - Key figures around 2030 GMT - Brent North Sea crude: UP 16.4 percent at $34.84 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 14.1 percent at $28.99 New York - Dow: DOWN 1.7 percent at 21,052.53 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN 1.5 percent at 2,488.65 (close) New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 1.5 percent at 7,373.08 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.4 percent at 5,406.17 points (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.5 percent at 9,525.77 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.6 percent at 4,154.58 (close) EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.0 percent at 2,662.99 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 17,820.19 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.2 percent at 23,236.11 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 2,763.99 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0807 from $1.0964 at 2100 GMT Dollar/yen: UP at 108.42 yen from 107.17 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2273 from $1.2371 Euro/pound: DOWN at 88.04 pence from 88.62 pence
As the coronavirus roils the economy and throws millions of Americans out of work, Medicaid is emerging as a default insurance plan for many of the newly unemployed. That could produce unprecedented strains on the vital health insurance program, according to state officials and policy researchers.

Americans are being urged to stay home and practice "social distancing" to prevent the spread of the virus, causing businesses to shutter their doors and lay off workers. The Labor Department reported Thursday that more than 6.6 million people signed up for unemployment insurance during the week that ended March 28. This number shattered the record set the previous week, with 3.3 million sign-ups. Many of these newly unemployed people may turn to Medicaid for their families.

Policymakers have often used Medicaid to help people gain health coverage and health care in response to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But never has it faced a public health crisis and economic emergency in which people nationwide need its help all in virtually the same month.

"Medicaid is absolutely going to be in the eye of the storm here," said Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. "It is the backbone of our public health system, our public coverage system, and will see increased enrollment due to the economic conditions."

Meeting those needs will require hefty investments - both in money and manpower.

Medicaid  which is run jointly by the states and federal government and covers about 70 million Americans - is already seeing early application spikes. Because insurance requests typically lag behind those for other benefits, the numbers are expected to grow in the coming months.

"We have been through recessions in the past, such as in 2009, and saw what that meant," said Matt Salo, who heads the National Association of Medicaid Directors. "We are going to see that on steroids."

The majority of states have expanded their Medicaid programs since 2014 to cover more low-income adults under a provision in the Affordable Care Act. That may help provide a cushion in those areas. In the 14 states that have chosen not to expand, many of the newly unemployed adults will not be eligible for coverage.

It's possible the pandemic could change the decision-making calculus for non-expansion states, Salo said. "The pandemic is like a punch in the mouth."

But even without expansion in those states, the Medicaid rolls could increase with more children coming into the system as their families' finances deteriorate. Many states don't have the resources or systems in place to meet the demand.

"It is going to hit faster and harder than we've ever experienced before," Salo said.

The unique circumstances of social distancing impose new challenges for those whose jobs are to enroll people for coverage. In California, where more than a million people have filed for unemployment insurance since March 13, much of the workforce that would typically be signing people up and processing their paperwork is now working from home, which adds a layer of complexity in terms of accessing files and documents, and can inhibit communication.

"It's going to be certainly more difficult than it was under the [2008] recession," said Cathy Senderling-McDonald, deputy executive director for the County Welfare Directors Association of California. She said that although strides have been made in the past decade to set up better online forms and call centers, it will still be a heavy lift to get people enrolled without seeing them in person.

In some states, the challenges to the system are already noticeable.

Utah, for instance, has seen a 46% increase in applications for Medicaid. (These applications can be for individuals or families.) In March 2019, about 14,000 people applied. This March, it was more than 20,400.

"Our services are needed now more than ever," said Muris Prses, assistant director of eligibility services for the Utah Department of Workforce Services, which processes Medicaid enrollment. The state typically takes 15 days to determine whether someone is eligible, he said, though that will increase by several days because of the surge in applicants and some staff working at home.

In Nevada, where the hotel- and casino-dominated economy has been hit particularly hard, applications for public benefits programs, including food stamps and Medicaid, skyrocketed from 200 a day in February to 2,000 in mid-March, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. The volume of calls to a consumer hotline for Medicaid and health coverage questions is four times the regular amount.

In Ohio, the number of Medicaid applications has already exceeded what's typical for this time of year. The state expects that figure to continue to climb.

States that haven't yet seen the surge warned that it's almost certainly coming. And as layoffs continue, some are already experiencing the strains on the system, including processing times that could leave people uninsured for months, while Medicaid applications process.

For 28-year-old Kristen Wolfe, of Salt Lake City, who lost her job and her employer-sponsored health insurance March 20, it's a terrifying time.

Wolfe, who has lupus  an autoimmune disorder that requires regular doctor appointments and prescription medication - quickly applied for Medicaid. But after she filled in her details, including a zero-dollar income, she learned the decision on her eligibility could take as long as 90 days. She called the Utah Medicaid agency and, after being on hold for more than an hour, was told they did not know when she would hear back.

"With my health, it's scary to leave things in limbo," said Wolfe, who used her almost-expired insurance last week to order 90-day medication refills, just in case. "I am pretty confident I will qualify, but there is always the 'What if I don't?'"

Others have reported smoother sailing, though.

Jen Wittlin, 33  who, until recently, managed the now-closed bar in Providence, Rhode Island's Dean Hotel - qualified for Medicaid coverage starting April 1. She was able to sign up online after waiting about half an hour on the phone to get help answering specific questions. Once she receives a check for unemployment insurance, the state will reassess her income  currently zero - to see if she still qualifies.

"It was all immediate," she said.

In fact, she said, she is now working to help newly uninsured former colleagues also enroll in the program, using the advice the state gave her.

In California, officials are trying to reassign some employees  who are now working remotely - to help with the surge. But the system to determine Medicaid eligibility is complicated and requires time-intensive training, Senderling-McDonald said. She's trying to rehire people who've retired and relying on overtime from staffers.

"It's hard to expand this particular workforce very, very quickly by a lot," she said. "We cant just stick a new person in front of a computer and tell them to go. They're going to screw everything up."

The move away from in-office sign-ups is also a disadvantage for older people and those who speak English as a second language, two groups who frequently felt more comfortable enrolling in person, she added.

Meanwhile, increasing enrollment and the realities of the coronavirus will likely create a need for costly medical care across the population.

"What about when we start having many people who may be in the hospital, in ICUs or on ventilators?" said Maureen Corcoran, the director of Ohio's Medicaid program. "We dont have any specific answers yet."

These factors will hit just as states - which will experience shrinking tax revenue because of the plunging economy  have less money to pay their share of the Medicaid tab.

"It's all compounded," said Lisa Watson, a deputy secretary at Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services, which oversees Medicaid.

The federal government pays, on average, about 61% of the costs for traditional Medicaid and about 90% of the costs for people who joined the program through the ACA expansion. The rest comes from state coffers. And, unlike the federal government, states are constitutionally required to balance their budgets. The financial squeeze could force cuts in other areas, like education, child welfare or law enforcement.

On March 18, Congress agreed to bump up what Washington pays by 6.2 percentage points as part of the second major stimulus bill aimed at the economic consequences of the pandemic. That will barely make a dent, Salo argued.

"The small bump is good, and we are glad it's there, but in no way is that going to be sufficient," he said.
With Disneyland and Disney World closed until further notice amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Walt Disney Company announced it would furlough workers starting April 19.

Disney said in a statement Thursday that employees will be paid through April 18. The workers have received full pay and benefits since mandatory decrees from government officials have shut down a majority of the companys businesses, which include the Florida and California theme parks.

However, with no clear indication of when we can restart our businesses, were forced to make the difficult decision to take the next step and furlough employees whose jobs arent necessary at this time, the company said in its statement.

The impacted workers, who will remain company employees through the furloughs, will receive full health-care benefits, Disney said, adding it would pay the cost of both the employee and company premiums.

Employees can also use some or all of their paid time off at the start of the furlough period, Disney said.

Disney said the furloughed employees are eligible to receive $600 per week as part of the $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill and state unemployment insurance, which is the standard for all furloughed and laid off workers.

A record 6.65 million Americans filed first-time jobless claims last week, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday, in a sign that the sudden shutdown of a vast swath of U.S. commerce may be starting to wreak havoc on the economy.

The Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment has around 177,000 cast members, which includes staff that work in its theme parks and at retail locations like the Disney Store, which also are closed across the nation.

According to a document filed with the Securities and Exchanges Commission March 30, executive chair Bob Iger is forgoing his base salary through the last payroll period of the fiscal year and waiving his car allowance. The companys new CEO Bob Chapek will have his base salary reduced by 50 per cent. .
Meghan Markle's best friend Misha Nonoo has revealed she is receiving lots of help from 'supportive' loved-ones to 'adjust to becoming a working mother'.

The New York-based designer, 33, and her oil heir husband Mikey Hess, 33, announced the birth of their son Leo in late March.

Misha, who is rumoured to have introduced Meghan, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, has now hinted that, like any friend, the Duchess of Sussex has been supporting her through the first few weeks of motherhood.

She told People magazine: 'I am so lucky to have such supportive family and friends who are helping me adjust to my new role as a Working Mother'."

Meghan Markle's, 38, best friend Misha Nonoo, 34, hinted that the Duchess of Sussex has been supporting her as she adjust to her 'new role as a "Working Mother"

It comes after Misha opened up on her Instagram stories about welcoming her first child amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying becoming a new mom during a global health crisis 'has been a lot to say the least.'

'Last time you heard from me, I was very pregnant, and I am excited to share that I am now the lucky mother to an adorable, healthy little boy,' she said, admitting nothing could prepare her for the role of motherhood.

'But handling that on top of the coronavirus has been a lot to say the least,' she added. 'Still, I feel extremely fortunate that my family and my friends are all safe and healthy.'

During her pregnancy, Misha told People, that Meghan had been sharing her advice about becoming a first-time mother.

The New-York based designer is close friends with Meghan, with the two believed to have known each other for many years (pictured, in 2015)

The designer revealed: 'As with all friendships, you share lots of tips and everything.'



Her announcement comes less than a year after close friend Meghan gave birth to baby Archie in May.

Misha married her husband Mikey in a ceremony in Rome in September that was attended by Prince Harry, Meghan, Princess Eugenie, 29, and Princess Beatrice, 31 before announcing her pregnancy at the end of the year.

Misha is believed to have been close to Meghan for many years, with the Duchess continuing to support her friend by wearing Misha Nonoo designs over the years.

Misha worked with the Duchess on her Smart Works charity line, calling Meghan 'wonderful, thoughtful and considerate'

Meghan donned the famous 'Boyfriend shirt' for her first appearance alongside Prince Harry, and also wore another of Misha's designs for her final day of meetings in the UK before she jetted off to Canada in November.

Misha, who worked with the Duchess on her Smart Works charity line, opened up to FEMAIL earlier this year about her friendship with the royal.

Reflecting on the experience of working together, Misha described Meghan as 'the ultimate professional' and very 'considerate' of the women the collection was helping.

'It was such an ideal, incredibly easy collaboration,' she said. 'It was, from start to finish, wonderful, thoughtful, considerate, as is she.'


MIAMI, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After five successful years, principal broker of Realty World M Realty Group, Osmany Mondaca recently announced he would be amicably parting ways with the Realty World franchise to launch his own realty enterprise in South Florida. NXT LVL Realty (Nxtlvlrealty.com) is Mondaca's brainchild, crafted from a well-established practice rooted in solid hard work, charisma and a passion for residential real estate that has marked his entire career. Mondaca has a keen interest and wide experience in mentoring and training new agents, having grown his own business from a dedicated core of three to a thriving enterprise with 100-plus agents.

NXT LVL Realty NXT LVL Realty

Osmany Mondaca is a former team leader for Keller Williams and opened his own brokerage in 2010. In late 2015, Mondaca partnered with Realty World with amazing success. The brokerage expanded to include over 150 new agents and topped yearly sales in excess of 100 million dollars, with exponential growth in both the commercial and luxury divisions. Mondaca credits his successful approach to a family atmosphere, where he always puts agents and clients first.

"The real estate business is ultimately about people, and cultivating sincere relationships with those you respect," said Mondaca. "I have always felt a great responsibility for the success of those on my team, and I take their challenges and achievements very personally. Both agents and clients put their faith in me  we're a family  and it's important that I demonstrate daily how much I respect that faith. So, I'm constantly working, thinking and generating new ideas for leads and business directions. I'm always trying to keep the process fresh, exciting and relevant, while remaining dedicated to NXT LVL's office motto: 'No Agent Left Behind.' This really is a new evolution in my realty career. And it's an evolution that I know will energize everyone who comes in contact with it."

NXT LVL will continue to offer competitive commission splits, revenue sharing, state of the art tools and a traditional office-front in the heart of Kendall to serve agents and clients both. With two new branches to be added in 2020, NXT LVL will continue to train and onboard all new agents and will offer virtual work-from-home models that are as timely as they are convenient. In addition, NXT LVL will soon be looking for additional support and growth, partnering with other established independent brokers throughout the state of Florida.

For current news and updates, follow NXT LVL Realty on social media: on Facebook.com/nxtlvlrealtyfl and on Instagram @nxtlvlrealty

Media Contact:

Angela Moreno, Executive Administrator

305-490-8840

[email protected]

SOURCE NXT LVL Realty
Representative image

The coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdown have started impacting small companies which have begun negotiations with their landlords for the deferment of lease for the 21-day period, citing the force majeure provision and even rentals in some cases, say real estate experts.

Big corporates that take up large conventional office spaces, however, are in a wait-and-watch mode. They are keeping tabs on their real estate costs and evaluating the immediate impact of COVID-19 and whether an immediate change in their real estate strategy is warranted with their legal teams.

They are looking at de-risking and minimizing their costs with a clear focus on business continuity planning. While there are no immediate changes to lease agreements, any modifications would be a function of how much time it will take for things to get back to normal and the severity of the coronavirus impact, says Anckur Srivasttava of GenReal Advisers.

In case of large corporates, real estate decisions have a longer lead time and a longer legacy impact. Any real estate decision in their case has massive financial ramifications running into millions of dollars apart from a strategic impact. The decision to alter real estate space take-up strategy cannot be as quick as that in case of swing spaces (flexible or co-working spaces), he explains.

Having said that, these firms are keeping an eagle eye on their real estate costs and actively evaluating the immediate impact of COVID-19 and whether an immediate change in their real estate strategy is warranted.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Some of the large corporates that Moneycontrol spoke to said that, while they had no immediate plans to renegotiate their lease agreements and had paid their rents for the month, their legal teams were looking into the option of taking recourse to the force majeure provision inbuilt into their agreements.

Top occupiers in real estate parlance are those companies that typically occupy large floor plates and their pan India portfolios are in the 100 lakh sq ft range. Small occupiers are those that occupy conventional office spaces spread across 30,000 sq ft to 50,000 sq ft.

Small corporates are reevaluating their business plans, growth projections and hiring plans in lieu of this lockdown. One in every five clients have not stopped paying rent but surely reached out to their landlords for deferment of rents at least for the lockdown period and even started renegotiation for rentals. Landlords are yet to respond, says another real estate expert.

There are no such requests from top occupiers yet, he says. Most big occupiers are in a wait and watch mode and have sought legal guidance. Surely, if a rebate is given by one big landlord, others may follow, he adds.

Companies that would have to take the biggest hit will perhaps be those in the services business. If their businesses suffer due to COVID-19, their requirement for office space may shrink by a few notches but if they are into Research and Development, they may not be hit hard because research is an evolving business, says a transaction expert.

The impact on rental leases will also be governed by how long the pandemic lasts and, for that matter, the period of the lockdown. Everything depends on when the lockdown gets over. Most companies would be looking at parallel strategies. If the lockdown lasts until April 15, the strategy would be different from say if it lasts until June.

If the lockdown gets over by April 15, there may be a delay of a quarter but if it is until June, the revenues may get impacted by two quarters and the entire business plans would have to be reworked. They would have to plan their business continuity plans. Till date, most companies had taken into account the BCP but not medical BCP, says the expert, adding the first thing companies will look at in the months ahead would be reduction in space take up and that may impact absorption of office spaces going forward.

One can assume that footprint may reduce by 5-10% certainly in the floor plate occupied by some corporates if the lockdown extends up to two quarters, he says.

Shrinking Indian economic growth, coupled with global economies sharp reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, will certainly impact Indian office segment. Net office absorption is expected to see a dip of 13-30 percent in 2020 on account of COVID-19, Anarock Research has said.

Given the sluggish business environment and that is likely to be prevalent post the COVID-19 outbreak period, it will put rentals under tremendous pressure, Anarock said in its report.

Large leases, renewals and commitments are likely to be affected causing rentals and renewals to be negotiated. Large occupiers who have not been able to operate to their full strength during the pandemic may factor this period while renewing and would negotiate the rentals. Consolidation plans may be to move to peripheral locations to contain the rental pay-outs. In our opinion, rentals are likely to come under pressure, as renewals and new leases are likely to be negotiated intensely, it noted

The current testing time will also compel many Indian operators to explore various options that can be leveraged in the future to optimize cost, it said.

Predictions for 2020 are based on the previous period of sluggish demand experienced in India during 2012-14 and the global economic crisis of 2008.

Amidst the pandemic and the global health crisis, the demand for office space is likely to drop. As many occupiers may not be able to assess the impact until the situation is resolved, they will reassess their position. While there will be some significant slowdown in their businesses, the expansion or consolidation plans may also be shelved, the report titled COVID-19- Will it reset Indian real estate has said.

The US headquartered companies typically lease between 40-50 percent of annual net off take of office space in India. Given the high chance of the US economy suffering due to the COVID-19 impact, its negative effect will be felt in India with a drop-in office space leasing. European Union (EU) headquartered companies do not influence Indias annual office space offtake as much as their contribution typically hovers around 10-12 percent, but much of that is going to evaporate given the very high adverse impact of COVID-19 in Western and Southern Europe and in the UK.
Ugandan journalist Perez Rumanzi was admitted into hospital after being severely beaten by members of the Ugandan police force.

Uganda : Journalist hospitalised after being brutalised by the UPDF



Ugandan journalist Perez Rumanzi was admitted into hospital after being severely beaten by members of the Ugandan police force.

Journalist Perez Rumanzi, who works for the Daily Monitor as well as the Nation Media Group was assaulted on Wednesday 1st April in the evening. The IFJ joins it affiliate the Ugandan Journalists Union (UJU) in condemning this actsof brutality against a journalist.

Perez Rumanzi was attacked along Kaguta road in the Ntungamo Municipality, in the Western Region by members of the police force while reporting on how the people in Ntunggamo

were responding to the lockdown imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. His camera was also taken away from him.

The journalist was transferred to the Ntungamo Municipal Health Clinic and is recovering from his injuries. He told journalists that his arms, legs and back were badly bruised.

The General Secretary of the Uganda Journalists Union (UJU), Stephen Ouma Bwire, condemned the attack in the strongest terms possible and urged the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) to return the camera to the journalist and replace it if damaged. The UJU also demands that the UPDF cover the full treatment of journalist Perez Rumanzi and compensate him for all his loss and injuries.

The General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, Anthony Bellanger said: Media have been identified as part of the essential services in most countries including Uganda, and the security forces must show respect to journalists in particular

while enforcing the restrictions that are put in place by the State. We call on the Ugandan government to provide the press with all the safety and security they need to carry out their duties and inform citizens. "


Italian luxury shoemaker Sergio Rossi has died aged 84 after being hospitalised with coronavirus.

The designer died on Thursday in the small town of Cesena in central Italy after being admitted into hospital just days earlier, according to Women's Wear Daily.

The brand's chief executive, Riccardo Sciutto, told the fashion website: 'He was a master, it was a great pleasure to have met him. He was our spiritual guide and he is today more than ever.'

'Today everyone at Sergio Rossi joins me in remembering our dear Sergio, the inspiring founder of our dream,' Mr Sciutto shared on the brand's Instagram page.

Sergio Rossi died on Thursday in the small town of Cesena in central Italy after being admitted into hospital just days earlier, according to Women's Wear Daily

He added: 'Sergio Rossi was a master, and it is my great honor to have met him and gotten to present him the archive earlier this year.

'His vision and approach will remain our guide in the growth of the brand and the business.

'He loved women and was able to capture a womans femininity in a unique way, creating the perfect extension of a womans leg through his shoes.

'Our long and glorious history started from his incredible vision and well remember his creativity forever.'

'He was among the founders of the high-end women's footwear district in the area of Forli and Cesena in the mid-20th century,' said Luciana Garbuglia, mayor of San Mauro Pascoli, where Rossi was born in 1935 and where he founded his brand.

Rossi launched his company in 1968 after learning how to make shoes from his father.

Ariana Grande wore a pair of cream Sergio Rossi thigh-high boots as she promoted her album Sweetener in 2018

His designs have been worn by celebrities around the globe and used by major designers.

The designer donated 100,000 to the Sacco hospital in Milan to help the fight against coronavirus.

French luxury fashion group Kering took over the brand in 1999. It then passed into the hands of the Italian private equity fund Investindustrial in 2015, when Rossi had already retired.

The country has recorded more deaths from coronavirus than any other in the world, with 13,915 fatalities as of Thursday. The elderly have been particularly hard hit.

Actress Sutton Foster wore Sergio Rossi heels for the red carpet premiere of TV series younger in April last year

Italy's approach to counting those infected has been similar to many countries across the globe, testing citizens who show symptoms of the virus.

Experts believe that the 111,000 recorded by Italy is undercounted and put the true number between hundreds of thousands and six million.

In Bergamo, which has been decimated by the virus, 125 deaths were recorded during March last year. For the same month in 2020, deaths rocketed to 553, with just 201 linked to the virus.

Model Molly Sims (left) and actress Marta Pozzan (right) tried on Sergio Rossi shoes at a Capsule Collection pop-up in Beverly Hills in January

The 352 deaths for the period are almost double the amount recorded last year.

'Other countries that have the good fortune to be seven to 14 days behind us have to use that time to erect defenses,' Giorgio Gori, Bergamo's mayor, told WSJ.

'We were first, and we weren't prepared. Any leaders looking at us and not reacting vigorously will have a lot to answer for.'

Doctors and officials claim the numbers recorded often dwarf the average monthly death toll, with some regions matching the amount of deaths usually recorded over six months.
Hundreds of undocumented immigrants are crammed into New Jersey jails awaiting deportation hearings as the virus spreads among them, and among the guards. We believe ICE should release all those who present no threat to public safety. But the Trump administration has refused to do so.

For now, the Star-Ledger editorial board will be sharing their stories, first-hand accounts from the detainees. We dont know their full histories, and so cant say whether these individuals should be released. But we feel the public has a right to hear their accounts, given that an outbreak behind bars will inevitably spill outside that perimeter.

Heres the first installment, from Terry McInerney, age 32, originally from Ireland, in his own words from the ICE detention center at Essex County jail in Newark. An edited transcript appears below.

Its gone crazy in here. Two weeks back, everybody told them that they were sick, and they did nothing about it. And now everybodys getting more sick and its spreading like wildfire across the whole jail.

I believe it all started here with dorm 7. One person said he was sick, and a few days after, there was no sign of him. And everybody after that was getting sick.

When I first moved in here, about two weeks ago, there were 47 inmates in my dorm. Now its down to 22 people. Rumor has it, a few have been released via parole. But starting about a week ago, people were being taken out and quarantined in the cells.

Groups of people started going out of our dorm, and nobody started coming back. And thats when we put 2 and 2 together.

The facility administrator, as she called herself, came in and told us a bunch of lies: That were in the safest place in the world, and if we washed our hands, we wouldnt get corona. But in the week that just passed, I had all the symptoms.

Coughing, lack of energy. I could barely talk. I was so fatigued. My head was swollen, I felt like I ran into the wall. I had a fever for about six days. I couldnt call my fiance or my lawyer for two days, thats how bad my voice was.

I told the people here I was sick. All they said to us was, keep making a request on the tablet, and youll see the doctor. I get medication, Im bipolar, so every time the nurse came around, Id tell her. And she kept saying, make a request on the tablet.

We have a waiting list of 15 days, and thats just to see the doctor. Nobody took me to medical. On the 7th day, when I was feeling much better, they stuck a thermometer in my mouth and that was it. And they just did that to shut me up.

There were six people taken out of dorm 7 on Tuesday. Some were so sick they cant even stand up. Only one came back. For the rest, their belongings were put into garbage bags and taken out with gloves and masks. They get packed up and thats it, we dont see them anymore.

I work on the cleaning detail, so I get to see firsthand everything that goes on. Yesterday I saw three garbage bags outside the door of dorm 5. It means those people have already been quarantined and theyre being removed from the dorms.

There used to be a lot of people roaming around. Now its really scarce with officers, I dont know if theyre refusing to come in or if theyre sick. The ones that are here wear masks. We had masks last week, when we were cleaning one of cubicles and thats it. They didnt give us any more.

We were told theyre only given out to the officers. With the soap, its like youre pulling teeth. You dont know whether youre going to get it or not. It would be easier to find crack in here, to be honest, than to buy a bar of soap.

We started with 16 detainees on the cleaning detail, and now its just 8 or 9. Theyre dropping like flies. The majority is sick and one or two quit. Just this morning, we had a guy on detail who did not feel well. I told the officer and she made it her business to get him sent to medical. Hes wearing a mask now and hes still in the dorm. Im afraid to go anywhere near him.

Theres a few other guys in my dorm wearing masks they made themselves. One used a t-shirt, another a towel. One ripped off the sleeve from a hoodie and sewed on an elastic band from his underwear. One of them has a cough and is showing all the signs  the one wearing the towel.

Theyre trying to put a face over whats happening at the jail, but the face is falling apart.

One of my friends here, Mario Rodriguez, has an 8-year-old girl on the outside. Hes in here like me, for basically nothing. Were not criminals. I overstayed a visa, that was it. All of dorm 7 are low security so we can work for the jail and be trusted.

Im afraid that I may not see or speak to my family again. Im afraid I will not walk out of here to marry my fiance. Im beyond sick half the time. I dont eat my food, I dont even sleep. I dont know what will happen next. Its not if were going to get hit completely by the virus, its when. Its only a matter of time when the whole jail is going to be sick.

Thats when I fear that I may not walk out of here alive. Ill fall sick again, and Im afraid I wont make it this time.

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A Perth man who orchestrated the kidnapping of an elderly gun store owner and stole $215,000 worth of firearms to sell on the black market has pleaded guilty to all charges.

Serdar Baycan appeared in the Perth District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to kidnapping 81-year-old Barry Lathwell and robbing his store, Barry and Son Firearms and Military Collectables, in Beckenham in September last year.

The court heard Baycan "cased" the firearm store a week prior to the kidnapping, which he is alleged to have carried out with another man who is yet to be charged over the incident.

On September 4, Baycan waited for Mr Lathwell to close the store and followed him in his car, before deliberately rear-ending the elderly man's vehicle.
As Brenda Ivy Cherotich and Brian Orinda  two of Kenyas three COVID-19 recoveries  continue to bask in the glory of their newfound celebrity status, the identity of the third survivor has largely been kept under wraps.

Identified only as Lydia, she was the first patient to recover from COVID-19 and reportedly holds dual citizenship  Kenyan and British.

According to a report by the Nation, Lydia, who maintained a low profile after being discharged, was not cooperative when she was suspected of being infected upon her arrival in Kenya on March 5.

Sources reportedly told the publication that she initially tried to run from the Ministry of Health officials after she was identified as a close contact of Brenda(Patient 1).

She arrived in the country on the same flight from London as the first patient and gave the ministry a tough time when they called her to come for testing, said the source.

She lied about her location and refused to answer calls.

Lydia had to be tracked down by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to a hotel in Nairobi.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity told Nation that police took her to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Infectious Diseases Unit (IDU) where she was tested.

After a positive confirmation, health officials traced close to 50 peope who came into contact with her.

Lydia was released from isolation last week and efforts to reach her have been futile since then.
Crude prices slipped Friday after the previous day's record surge as traders questioned Donald Trump's claims that Russia and Saudi Arabia were set to slash output, while equities struggled into the weekend after another thunderous rise in US jobless claims caused by the virus crisis.

As the number of people with COVID-19 tops a million and the death toll continues to climb, investors remain hostage to uncertainty as they try to gauge the long-term economic impact of the pandemic, which is widely expected to plunge the planet into recession.

However, with trillions of dollars pledged in government support, the wild volatility that characterised markets at the start of the crisis has given way to some form of stability.

And providing a much-needed shot in the arm Thursday was a tweet by the US president that said Moscow and Riyadh could slash output to end their vicious price war, which sent crude prices to near-two-decade lows last month.

Trump said he had spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who he claimed had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I expect & hope that they will be cutting back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more which, if it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!" Trump tweeted.

"Could be as high as 15 Million Barrels," he added in a subsequent post.

The sent crude soaring, with Brent at one point rising almost 50 percent and WTI around 35 percent. Brent eventually pared gains to end up 21 percent and WTI 25 percent, still a record jump for either contract.

However, doubts began to grow after the Kremlin denied Putin had spoken to the crown prince.

Saudi Arabia, for its part, did call for a meeting of OPEC and other major producers led by Russia to "stabilise the oil market", just one day after the kingdom boosted supplies to record levels.

"This could of course be a very substantial development, even in view of the massive oversupply of 25 million barrels a day that the market is currently facing," Magnus Nysveen, head of analysis at industry consultant Rystad Energy, said.

The deal "sounds too good to be true", he added.

Both main contracts gave back some of their gains Friday.

Equity markets were choppy despite a healthy lead from Wall Street as traders absorbed data showing a whopping 6.7 million US workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, on top of the 3.3 million the week before as the coronavirus forced businesses nationwide to close their doors.

And as health officials warn the toll from the disease will get worse before the situation improves, experts are tipping further economic pain.

"With more and more investors turning their attention to the economic impact of the pandemic, these negative early indicators could weigh heavily on risk assets, at least short-term," said Gorilla Trades strategist Ken Berman.

And Stephen Dover, at Franklin Templeton, told Bloomberg TV: "We are not going to have the real recovery in the market until what we think is the peak in the amount of infections and deaths. We are going to continue to have very wide volatility until we can get over this uncertainty." On Friday, the



Asian Development Bank said the pandemic could cost the global economy more than $4 trillion -- about five percent of output -- as it ravages the United States, Europe and other major economies.

The estimate was based on a range of scenarios, it said, but added that losses from "the worst pandemic in a century" could be higher.

It also tipped Asian growth to come in at just 2.2 percent this year, the worst since the region's financial crisis 22 years ago, while China's GDP was tipped to expand 2.3 percent.

Tokyo and Seoul ended barely moved, Hong Kong shed 0.6 percent and Shanghai ended down 0.6 percent.

Sydney and Mumbai fell more than one percent, Singapore shed more than two percent and Bangkok dipped 0.4 percent.

But there were gains in Jakarta and New Zealand.

In early trade, London, Paris and Frankfurt were all in negative territory.

"The market appears to be going through a common theme these days, to gradually de-risk on Friday in the COVID-19 environment," said Stephen Innes at AxiCorp.

"The risk-friendly reaction to an unfathomable rise in jobless claims amid a lip-serviced prospect of a US-brokered oil supply deal between Saudi Arabia and Russia means investors are happy with both market positioning and the degree of an economic slowdown that is baked into the cake."



Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 17,820.19 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.6 percent at 23,130.85 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 2,763.99 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 5,452.16 Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 3.8 percent at $28.79 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 4.4 percent at $24.21 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0835 from $1.0857 at 2100 GMT Dollar/yen: UP at 107.99 yen from 107.81 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2378 from $1.2402 Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.51 pence from 87.52 pence New York - Dow: UP 2.2 percent at 21,413.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(CNN)  The UK will test 100,000 people per day for coronavirus by the end of this month, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced Thursday.

"That is the goal and I am determined we will get there," said Hancock, who had been self-isolating for seven days with coronavirus.

But the new pledge came before the UK has even met its current target of 25,000 tests per day.

Hancock set out the government's order of priority for testing people for coronavirus: Patients first, expanding to NHS (National Health Service) staff and their families, critical key workers third and "over time we will expand to community."

He said the government intends to reach the target through a five-pillar testing strategy:

1. Swab testing in Public Health England labs and within the NHS in hospitals.

2. Partnerships with universities, research institutes and companies like Amazon and Boots to build new labs and testing sites across the country, to be initially used solely for frontline NHS staff and their families.

3. Blood tests designed to tell if people have had the virus and are now immune. These could potentially be done at home with a finger prick, Hancock said. The government is currently working with nine companies.

4. Surveys to find out what proportion of the population already had the virus, using an antibody test. There is capacity for 3,500 of these tests a week.

5. Pharmaceutical giants will assist in building a British diagnostics industry at scale.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to boost the country's coronavirus testing efforts after facing a barrage of criticism for screening fewer people than other nations at a similar stage of the epidemic.

The number of deaths linked to confirmed cases of the coronavirus reached a new UK high on Wednesday, the latest figures available, with 569 deaths recorded in a day, taking the total to 2,921.

Those deaths came as the British Medical Association (BMA) released new ethics guidelines for doctors that mean older patients with a low chance of survival could have life-saving ventilators removed so the machines can be given to healthier patients.

Newspaper headlines on Thursday blasted the government's failure to test more, even in typically loyal British media outlets. "Why mass testing must be our No. 1 priority  and why we lag behind the rest of the world," said the Telegraph's online edition.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister told reporters Thursday that a total of 10,412 tests were carried out across the country on Tuesday.

A total of 2,800 NHS workers have now been tested at drive-in testing facilities, Downing Street said.

"We acknowledge that more needs to be done in relation to testing. We need to be testing more people and we need to be making progress very quickly," the spokesman said.

Many health workers are self-isolating after showing possible symptoms of the coronavirus but could return to work sooner if testing showed they were not infected.

The latest figures come eight days after Johnson asserted that the UK was "massively ramping up" its nationwide testing program, and would continue to increase the number of tests carried out each week. The Prime Minister, who is himself in self-isolation after testing positive for the virus, posted a video to Twitter on Wednesday evening in which he lamented a "sad, sad day" in reference to the previous day's death toll of 563.

He stressed his efforts to increase the country's testing capacity, as well as listing the measures already put in place to deal with the pandemic and urging people to respect the restrictions currently in place.

"I want to say a special word about testing, because it is so important, and as I have said for weeks and weeks, this is the way through," Johnson said. "This is how we will unlock the coronavirus puzzle. This is how we will defeat it in the end."

Shortage fears

Earlier in the day, Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director of Public Health England, told Sky News that the UK was aiming to reach 25,000 tests a day by the middle of April.

Germany's leading virologist Christian Drosten said last Thursday that his country was carrying out 500,000 tests a week.

Authorities in Spain have said they are conducting between 15,000 and 20,000 tests a day.

Meanwhile, Italy has carried out more than 540,000 coronavirus tests in total, according to its Civil Protection agency. More than 34,000 were conducted nationwide on Wednesday, the agency said.

In France, which has focused testing on those seriously ill in hospital and health workers, the number of tests carried out "averages 9,000 daily," the National Health Agency told CNN. A health minister said Tuesday that France had the capacity to conduct 20,000 tests daily.

Cosford said Public Health England was in contact with its peers in Germany as the UK seeks to step up its coronavirus testing capacity.

"We're in constant discussions with colleagues in Germany  and other countries  around what they're doing, where their sources are coming from, what their supply system is. Of course we need to build this further," Cosford said

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned last Wednesday that the UK did not have "sufficient testing" capabilities to identify cases, telling reporters that there was a "global shortage" of available tests.

UK health workers have also voiced concerns that personal protective equipment and some medical supplies are running low.

The government is "confident" that enough protective equipment is now reaching the medical front lines, Downing Street said Thursday.

In a positive development, a spin-off company of the Britain's prestigious University of Cambridge has developed a "rapid diagnostic test for Covid-19" which can deliver a result in "less than 90 minutes," the university said in a statement Thursday.

"The SAMBA II machines, developed by Diagnostics for the Real World, provide a simple and accurate system for the diagnosis of Covid-19 infection," the statement said. A Cambridge hospital expects to receive the first 10 machines this week, it added.

Older, sicker patients could lose ventilators

The BMA said its new guidance had been prepared for doctors who will need to make "grave decisions" about who should receive "scarce lifesaving resources" if the country's health system is overwhelmed by coronavirus cases.

"As such, some of the most unwell patients may be denied access to treatment such as intensive care or artificial ventilation," the BMA's ethics guidance note states.

"This will inevitably be indirectly discriminatory against both the elderly and those with long-term health conditions, with the latter being denied access to life-saving treatment as a result of their pre-existing health problems."

It says imposing an age cut-off would be illegal, but adds that older patients with pre-existing respiratory problems would have a "very high chance of dying despite intensive care," and are therefore lower priority for admission.

The UK government has previously warned the country's health system could be overwhelmed if strict social distancing measures are not followed.

A converted convention center in London is due to start operating this week as a massive field hospital for coronavirus cases and could soon be the biggest intensive care unit in the country.

A temporary mortuary is also being built in east London as the death toll from coronavirus in the city continues to grow.

This story was first published on CNN.com "UK vows to boost coronavirus testing after criticism, as officials release guidance on who to save first"
While most adults are going crazy amid the coronavirus (CONVID-19) pandemic with social distancing and self-isolation, infants and little kids are living their very best lives. This is certainly a change in routine for everyone, but little ones are able to experience things they may not have been able to during normal times.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry are no longer working members of the British royal family. Amid Megxit, the pair have decided to leave the U.K. for their new home in Los Angeles, California. As they are in self-quarantine, the couple is laying out their plans for the future.

However, their 11-month old son, Archie Harrison has no idea about his parents big move. Instead, a source claims hes living his very best life in his new home.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys move to Los Angeles has shocked everyone

Since the Sussexes have been adamant about having a more peaceful life away from the British royal family, many people  fans and experts alike, are puzzled that the pair have chosen LA as their final landing place. However, once the pandemic eases, they will have ample opportunity to take on a ton of projects.

Harry and Meghan have left Canada now for good, an alleged source told The Sun. The borders were closing and flights were stopping. They had to get out. But 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. They have a big support network there. Its where their new team of Hollywood agents and PRs and business managers are based. Meghan has lots of friends there and, of course, her mum Doria.

At present, the pair along with baby Archie and their security team are hunkering down in a gated compound near Hollywood.

Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markles plans for the future

Because of the coronavirus, the Sussexes move to LA was pushed up and rushed. Initially, they hoped to outline more concrete plans, especially since the duchess first post-royal project, Disneynatures Elephant is set to launch on April 3. Unfortunately, due to the state of the world, everything will be delayed.

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 nonprofit organization, the couples team said a statement.

Though the prince reportedly feels guilty for being away from his family amid the pandemic and Prince Charles diagnosis, the pair are very much looking forward to their new life.

Just sharing the sweetest Christmas Card from our President and Vice-President, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Very Merry Christmas, everyone! pic.twitter.com/McOcHALoGl  The Queen's Commonwealth Trust (@queenscomtrust) December 23, 2019

Baby Archie is obsessed with Facetime playdates

Since he has no clue about the state of the world or the unprecedented move that his parents just made, Baby Archie is living his best life. [Archie] is loving doing FaceTime playdates with other small children they have in their lives, an insider told E! News.

Apparently, the little one is trying to walk and getting into everything as he approaches his first birthday. Archie has now learned how to pull himself up while in the crib which Meghan said is cute, but can be a bit nerve-wracking, a friend of the duchess told Express. She also said Archies new thing is blowing kisses, which is just absolutely adorable.

It seems like this is the perfect time for the Sussexes to focus on family.
Fairfield County high school students are invited to register to be randomly selected to participate in a Westport Country Playhouse livestream musical theater performance hosted by Tony Award-winning Broadway star Kelli OHara on Friday, April. 17.

Students may visit westportplayhouse.org/livestream and upload a video of a musical theater song during a 72-hour period between Sunday, April 5, at 10 a.m., and Wednesday, April 8, at 10 a.m.

OHara, along with Westport Country Playhouses education and community outreach department, will host Getting to Know You: A Celebration of Young Artists, on April 17, at 7 p.m., on the Playhouse YouTube channel and Facebook Live.

The 10 randomly selected students will get the chance to share their experiences with OHara and perform a musical theater selection during the virtual showcase.

I am very proud to partner with Westport Country Playhouse as we celebrate the highly anticipated (but sadly unseen) performances of our communitys young performers this year, OHara said in a news release. We can still gather together as one community, virtually, in the spirit of true live performance, and give these kids a platform. I think it will be an uplifting way to support the magnificent arts programs we have in Fairfield County and ensure that all the passion and hard work doesnt go to waste.

The 10 students selected for the livestream event will be notified by Friday, April 10. Additionally, 10 understudies will be chosen to submit a question for OHara to answer during the show.

All videos submitted as a part of the entry process will be featured in a compilation video produced and released on Playhouse social media channels.

I am also a firm believer in the healing magic of the arts, OHara said, and I know we could all use some of that right now.

OHaras portrayal of Anna Leonowens in the critically acclaimed revival of The King and I garnered her the 2015 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, along with Drama League and Outer Critics nominations. Her most recent role leading the Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate earned OHara glowing reviews and a 2019 Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. She has numerous other Broadway, regional/off-Broadway, film and television credits, showcasing her versatility and unequivocal talent.

During the event, tax-deductible donations to the nonprofit Playhouse will be accepted. If you are in a position to give a special gift to help the Playhouse continue developing programs like this, we would be so grateful, said Gretchen Wright, Playhouse director of development. We will get through this together.

Support for the event is from Bankwell, 2019-2020 Family Programming Sponsor.

For more information on the livestream showcase, contact Jenny Nelson, Playhouse director of education and community outreach, via email at education@westportplayhouse.org.
STAMFORD  Police say a man brandishing a gun blamed the coronavirus crisis as he held up a Stamford bodega Wednesday evening.

Sorry bro, corona, the man said in Spanish to the clerk at the Latino Grocery store on Stillwater Avenue, Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said.

Holding a black handgun, he took a handful of money, and stopped to give $20 back before issuing his apology, police said.

The man then exited the store and was last seen on foot heading north on Alden Street, said Sgt. Jennifer Lynch.

Police say with more people out of work due to the coronavirus they are concerned that similar robberies could happen more frequently.

Police were called to the store with lights and sirens at 9:26 p.m. on the report of an armed robbery.

Officers determined that a man wearing a bandanna around his face with a dark hooded sweatshirt pulled up over his head entered the store and ordered two customers to the floor. Then, with the gun in his hand he demanded money from the clerk.

The robber is believed to be about 40 years old, five feet, seven inches tall. He was wearing tan pants.

Lynch said no one was injured during the robbery.

The robbery is the second at a Stamford store in a week. The first, on Saturday, ended tragically Mark Vuono, owner of Marco Jewelers on Sixth Street, was shot and killed.

Police are still searching for the shooter in that incident. Acting Chief Thomas Wuennemann said the investigation into that robbery was heading in a positive direction.

The last store robbery Stamford had was in November when two men walked into the Springdale Shell Station early in the morning of Nov. 18 and held the station up by gunpoint.

Conklin suggested that store owners and clerks tighten their security.

We are somewhat concerned and certainly we would tell shopkeepers who are still open to really be prudent and exercise due caution. We are hoping that incidents like this do not increase, Conklin said.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
The number of people who have died after contracting coronavirus in Spain has risen to 10,935  up by 932 from the day before.

It marks the first time the daily death toll has slowed down in over a week.

Meanwhile, the number of recorded infections jumped to 117,710 on Friday morning, according to the Spanish health ministry.

This is an increase of around 7,500 in 24 hours.

The health ministry said the official death toll rose by 932 on Friday  around 20 less than Thursdays record increase of 950.

Spain has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the world during the coronavirus pandemic.

It had the second-largest number of cases in the world after the US and the second-biggest death toll after Italy on Friday morning.

Spain has been in lockdown for several weeks as it battles it Covid-19 outbreak, with people only able to leave their homes for essential trips.

Tougher restrictions started this week which allow only essential workers to travel into work.

Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, said in a televised address at the weekend all workers would have to remain at home "as if it were a weekend" to "intensify" efforts to stem the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Before that, people were allowed to go to offices and factories if they were unable to work from home during the lockdown.

Spain has shed an unprecedented 900,000 jobs since its coronavirus lockdown started, according to data released on Thursday.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Kentucky...Illinois...Missouri... Ohio River at Paducah...Olmsted Lock and Dam...and Cairo For the Ohio River...including Paducah, Olmsted Lock and Dam, and Cairo...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. && ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Ohio River at Paducah. * WHEN...Until early tomorrow afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 39.0 feet, Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 11:00 AM CST Monday the stage was 38.5 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 39.0 feet tomorrow morning. - Flood stage is 39.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
At a morning briefing on Thursday, officials said three patients had been moved to the Comfort. After The New York Times published an article with that number, Elizabeth Baker, a spokeswoman for the Navy, said the number had increased to 20 by late in the day. Were bringing them on as fast as we can bring them on, she said.

The next day, on Friday, Ms. Baker said the Comfort would begin screening patients for the coronavirus on site by taking their temperature and giving them a short questionnaire, to relieve the burden on hospitals.

Hospital leaders said they had been exasperated by the delays.

Mr. Dowling said he has had to tear his hospitals apart, retrofitting any unused space, including lobbies and conference rooms, into hospital wards. His facilities now house 2,800 so-called Covid patients, up from 100 on March 20, he said. About 25 percent of those are in serious conditions in intensive care units.

Across the city, hospitals are overrun. Patients have died in hallways before they could even be hooked up to one of the few available ventilators in New York. Doctors and nurses, who have had to use the same protective gear again and again, are getting sick. So many people are dying that the city is running low on body bags.

At the same time, there is not a high volume of noncoronavirus patients. Because most New Yorkers have isolated themselves in their homes, there are fewer injuries from car accidents, gun shots and construction accidents that would require an emergency room visit.

Ultimately, Mr. Dowling and others said, if the Comfort refuses to take Covid patients, there are few patients to send. And given the pernicious spread of the disease in New York City, where nearly 50,000 were infected as of Thursday, dividing patients into those who have it and those who do not is pointless, he said.

The solution, he and others said, was to open the Comfort to patients with Covid-19.

Its pretty ridiculous, he said. If youre not going to help us with the people we need help with, whats the purpose?
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday donated Rs 1 lakh from her salary to PM-CARES Fund that has been set up to raise money for combatting Covid-19 pandemic.

In an instruction given to her bank branch, she said, "I wish to donate a sum of Rs 1 lakh to FM CARES. So, please debit Rs 1 lakh from my account and credit the same to the PM CARES (Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations) Fund."

"Smt @nsitharaman donates Rs 1 lakh from her salary to the PM-CARES fund in view of the Covid-19 pandemic," a tweet said.

Smt @nsitharaman donates Rs 1 Lakh from her salary to the PM-CARES fund in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/2moKzb2L2c  NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) April 3, 2020

Earlier, responding to the appeal of BJP president J P Nadda, Sitharaman and Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur committed Rs 1 crore each from their MPLADS last week.

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) had also announced that all its members of Parliament (MPs) will contribute one month's salary to the Centre's relief fund. The party at present has 386 MPs - 303 in the Lok Sabha and 83 in the Rajya Sabha.

An MP gets Rs 5 crore every year as part of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
[April 03, 2020] Servier signed a definitive agreement to acquire Symphogen, a leading antibody discovery company, to boost its antibody capabilities and leverage its R&D pipeline

Servier strengthens its R&D pipeline by acquiring Symphogens antibody pipeline and next-generation antibody technologies.

Symphogen becomes the antibody center of excellence within Servier.

Securing Serviers ambition to become a recognized player in oncology. Paris (France), Copenhagen (Denmark), April 3, 2020  Servier, an independent international pharmaceutical company, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the owners of Symphogen A/S, a leader in therapeutic antibody discovery, to acquire

100% of Symphogens share capital. The acquisition, the result of a process that has been underway for several months now, will strengthen Serviers antibody capabilities and ensure that Symphogens antibody discovery and early-development platform is fully utilized. Under the terms of the agreement, Servier will gain full ownership of Symphogens proprietary pipeline of oncology and immuno-oncology programs and Symphogens antibody discovery and development platform. Following completion of the acquisition, Symphogen will become Serviers antibody center of excellence for its therapeutic areas. Symphogen will operate as a standalone organization within the Servier Group, maintain its headquarters in Ballerup, Denmark, and continue to rely on its current and experienced employees. The acquisition of Symphogen is an important step for Servier to meet its strategic ambitions to become a recognized player in oncology. Antibody-based therapies remain a key therapeutic modality within oncology and immuno-oncology, and with Symphogens strong antibody capabilities, this acquisition will boost significantly our R&D in oncology and in our other therapeutic areas. Our goal is to bring life-saving treatments to greater numbers of patients around the world, said Olivier Laureau, President of Servier. We thoroughly look forward to welcoming Symphogen to the Servier Group following the closing of the deal. Servier and Symphogen have been engaged in a strategic immuno-oncology collaboration for more than 2 years now. Bernhard Ehmer, Symphogen Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented: This transaction is a key milestone for Symphogen and its owners as it validates the strength of our oncology portfolio and attractivenes of our antibody technologies. Our existing strategic collaboration with Servier has demonstrated the strategic fit between the two organizations and I am convinced that Servier is well-positioned to further enhance the potential of Symphogen.



Lazard, on the one hand, and McDermott Will & Emery and Gorrissen Federspiel Advokatpartnerselskab, on the other hand, respectively financial and legal advisors, have advised Servier in this process which began several months ago. Symphogen has used Rothschild & Co as financial advisor and Plesner Advokatpartnerselskab as well as Perkins Coie LLP as legal advisors.

The total amount of the transaction was not disclosed by either party. --- About Servier

Servier is an international pharmaceutical company governed by a non-profit foundation, with its headquarters in France (Suresnes). With a strong international presence in 149 countries and a total revenue of 4.6 billion euros in 2019, Servier employs 22,000 people worldwide. Entirely independent, the Group invests on average 25% of its total revenue (excluding generics) every year in research and development and uses all its profits for its development. Corporate growth is driven by Serviers constant search for innovation in five areas of excellence: cardiovascular, immune-inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and diabetes, as well as by its activities in high-quality generic drugs. Servier also offers eHealth solutions beyond drug development.

More information: www.servier.com

Follow us on Social Media: Press contacts: Sonia Marques : [email protected]  Tel. +33 (0)1 55 72 40 21 / + 33 (0) 7 84 28 76 13 Jean-Clement Vergeau : [email protected]  Tel. +33 (0)1 55 46 16 / +33 6 79 56 75 96 About Symphogen

Symphogen is a privately-owned biotech company focused on oncology and immuno-oncology. We have a highly efficient antibody discovery and research technologies supported by comprehensive early development capabilities. Our antibody technologies deliver antibodies with unique functionalities providing best or first in class potential. More information: www.symphogen.com Press contacts:

Martin Olin, Chief Executive Officer

T: +45 40 21 85 32

E: [email protected]

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Many immigrant doctors in the US, despite having years of experience, are left on the sidelines of the COVID-19 fight.

Seattle, Washington  Mohamed Khalif has been a doctor for six years. Living now in Washington state, the 30-year-old is ready and willing to join the front line of the coronavirus fight in the United States. But like thousands of healthcare professionals who received their medical degrees abroad, he is simply not allowed.

Theyre all sitting at home, and were bringing retired doctors and retired healthcare providers who are at higher risk of COVID-19 to care for these patients, Khalif said.

Khalif was born in Somalia and his family came to the US as a child. Growing up, he travelled the world with his father and learned the languages of the places he lived  ranging from Somali to Hindi and Mandarin. After graduating from a medical college in China, he worked as a primary care doctor in Galdogob, a small city in Somalia, honing his skills. He returned to the US five years ago in hopes of doing the same here.

Mohamed Khalif, right, pictured while studying at Jilin University in China [Courtesy of Mohamed Khalif]

Despite passing his board examinations and having experience, he did not land a residency this year, the final and highly competitive step before becoming accredited to practise medicine in the US.

It is a step meant to create consistency among the US medical professionals and safety in the US healthcare system, but the highly competitive nature of the residency has plagued foreign-trained doctors for years, and now leaves highly-trained medical graduates sitting on the sidelines as the US faces doctor shortages during a crisis that has already killed more than 5,000 people nationwide.

Competitive residencies

Regardless of how seasoned international medical graduates and doctors are, they must go through the same process of testing and credential verification to practise. And many are left waiting out the pandemic because they were not selected for a hospital residency position, the final and competitive step before becoming accredited.

Nearly 41,000 medical students applied for 37,265 residency positions this year, more than 19,000 of which were domestic US-trained students. Almost 94 percent of domestic students were matched.

But for more than 12,000 international medical graduates who applied, the match rate was 61 percent. Nearly 4,700 foreign-trained medical students did not land a residency. And in most states, the only thing for dotors like Khalif to do is apply again next year.

Residency applicants are paired with hospitals by a private company  the National Resident Matching Program  through a programme called the Match. To apply for the Match, every candidate must pass the same standardised exams Khalif passed, and must have attended medical school.

A doctor wears a protective mask as he walks outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan during the outbreak of COVID-19 in New York City [Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters]

Residency positions are partially funded by Medicare, the federal health insurance programme for some individuals. However, funding was effectively frozen in 1997, and has not increased since. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, the American Association of Medical Colleges was predicting a nationwide shortage of doctors by 2032 unless federal funding was increased.

The number of unmatched residents in the US is high when compared with Canada. There were only 115 unmatched Canadian medical students in 2018. It is a large number for the country, and led the Canadian Federation of Medical Students to petition Parliament for a fix.

Many fear not just the urgent need for medical doctors due to the rising number of cases, but also due to the fact medical professionals are at high risk for contracting the virus, especially in places where there is a shortage of protective professional equipment like masks and gloves.

More than 3,000 doctors were infected by coronavirus in China. More than 60 have died in Italy, and about 14 percent of coronavirus cases in Spain have been caregivers.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends workers who develop symptoms should self-isolate, taking them out of the workforce. At the same time, hospitals are struggling to secure enough personal protective gear  like masks and gloves  for their employees.

Talents wasted

In California, a pair of international medical graduates, including Edward Dudley Robey, wrote an open letter, dated March 23, to Governor Gavin Newsom, urging him to create a licence to let other unmatched residents practise.

With the current need for physicians there are thousands of qualified across the United States whose talents are currently being wasted when we need them the most, the letter read.

He had not heard from the governors office as of Thursday.

Theres no lower-level licence available for you, theres nothing. You literally are going to McDonalds [to apply], Dudley-Robey told Al Jazeera.

A handful of states had similar programmes even before the outbreak. This includes Missouris assistant physician programmes, which let international medical graduates work under the supervision of a licensed physician, without a residency.

New York announced it would allow volunteers with relevant medical experience to work during the pandemic, as well as students with one year of residency training. New Jerseys governor signed an executive order on Wednesday that authorises the issuance of temporary medical licences to doctors who are licensed and in good standing in foreign countries.

Khalif hopes states will allow unmatched medical graduates to work, provided they were eligible for a residency slot.

All of us are just itching to get out there and help our fellow colleagues, he said.

It is an idea Dr William Pinsky, president of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, said is being discussed by regulatory agencies as the pandemic wears on. Individual state licensure boards and hospitals could decide to allow unmatched residents to practise, either in hands-on patient care or in supportive roles.

Medical personnel wearing personal protective equipment remove a body from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center to refrigerated containers parked outside in the Brooklyn borough of New York [Mary Altaffer/AP Photo]

This could range from working as a scribe in emergency rooms to conducting nasal swab for COVID-19 tests. People with previous medical experience could be used in more direct healthcare roles if they were qualified.

However, Pinsky said hospitals and state agencies would need to confirm an applicants credentials to ensure the quality of care. If unmatched residents are qualified, able and willing to work, they could present a solution to upcoming healthcare shortages.

They should be put into situations where they can help, Pinsky said, adding they should also be put in places where they have the skills to be able to help.

And as the death toll rises across the US, Khalif said the most frustrating part is not being able to practise, even after having passed all the necessary exams. He described it as watching his house being attacked while being tied up and left defenceless.

Its just so frustrating when you cant use your skills to help others, he said.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has already resulted in mass layoffs in several industries, other essential industries will instead face critical workforce shortages, according to a new report. Social distancing, school and daycare closures, and measures to protect those people who are most at-risk limit the pool of workers firms can draw upon. How important will these constraints turn out to be, especially in essential industries?

To find out, researchers from McGill University, University of Rochester, and Stony Brook University provide a snapshot of the situation in the United States drawing on data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the American Community Survey, and the National Health and Interview Survey.

"To minimize the spread of the pandemic, state governments are increasingly restricting who can work outside the home to workers in essential industries. Roughly 60% of employment is in these industries," says Fabian Lange, a professor of economics at McGill University and Canada Research Chair in Labour and Personnel Economics. "Reducing the strain on the health care workforce will be essential as they stand on the front lines of the battle against the pandemic."

Childcare

According to the researchers, an important factor limiting the labour supply of people who can work outside the home is childcare. School and daycare closures have made it substantially more difficult for some employees to go to work. Because of social distancing, grandparents, friends, and neighbors are less able to pick up any of the slack.

Roughly a quarter of the U.S. workforce has young children at home and may therefore be constrained from full-time work. Rates are slightly higher in essential industries and highest in health care, where 5.6 million workers have at least one child under 12. Health care workers are also more likely to be single parents, and especially single mothers. It is therefore imperative to implement policies addressing childcare for health care workers to maintain labour supply in this crucial sector.

At-risk populations in the workforce

"Another limiting factor on labour supply could be attempts to limit outside contact for members of the household who are most at-risk. At-risk populations include those aged 65 and over, people with compromised immune systems, and people with underlying medical conditions," says Lange.

About one-fifth of the workforce is in an at-risk group or lives with someone who is more likely to suffer severe consequences from COVID-19. In health care, 25% of workers fall into this category. Overall, 18.5 million essential (non-health) workers and 4.6 million health care workers are in a high-risk group that limits their ability to participate in the labour force in order to protect themselves or a family member with underlying conditions.

Supply of health care workers

According to Lange, health care workers are subject to additional constraints. "They are under tremendous stress -- not only because they face an increase in patients requiring intensive care, but also because of the likelihood that they themselves become infected."

The researchers note that one response has been to encourage former nurses and health care workers to return from retirement and other jobs. However, the reserve pool of potential health care workers is relatively small after accounting for the risks they face. The researchers estimate that if every one-time nurse not currently in nursing was recalled, this would increase the number of nurses by 27%. More broadly in health care, the potential pool could add up to 40% more workers. Nevertheless, two-thirds of these are either in a high-risk group or live in a household with a member from a high-risk group.
A 12-year-old boy has committed suicide Thursday by hanging himself in Sotk village of Armenias Gegharkunik Province. Zarzand Gabrielyan, head of the media relations section of the Police information department, confirmed this information in a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

"The circumstances are being ascertained," Gabrielyan added.

Sotk mayor Hakob Avetyan told Sputnik Armenia that the children were at home at the time of the incident and were playing.

The father and mother are contract servicepersons; they were in the workplace at the time, he added, in particular. They have three sons; the deceased was the eldest son."
Blacklisting proceedings have started against 360 foreigners who participated in Tablighi Jamaat activities in India and left the country before borders were sealed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the Union Home Ministry said Friday.

The ministry has also ruled out deportation of 960 foreigners who came on tourist visa and participated in Tablighi activities, saying action has already been initiated for alleged violations of visa conditions under the Foreigners Act and the Disaster Management Act.

All Directors General of Police and Commissioners of Police have been instructed to initiate strict action in such cases, it said.

"At this stage there is no question of deportation...As and when deportation will take place, it will be as per standard health protocol," a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, responding to a question on deportation of 960 blacklisted foreign nationals linked to the Tablighi Jamaat.

Tablighi Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West has emerged as an epicentre for spread of the coronavirus in different parts of the country after thousands of people took part in a congregation from March 1-15. Many of the participants have tested positive for COVID-19 in several states.

The Ministry has also asked the states and Union Territories to take strict action in reported cases of attacks against health care professionals and frontline workers.

The ministry has asked states to ensure security of medical fraternity, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saudi Arabia has brought forward its nightly curfew by four hours in three areas to combat the coronavirus epidemic, state news agency SPA said.

From Friday, the curfew will begin at 3 p.m. (1200 GMT) instead of 7 p.m. in the city of Dammam and the governorates of Taif and al-Qatif, SPA said, quoting a senior interior ministry official. The curfew is lifted at 6 a.m.

Saudi Arabia has recorded 1,885 infections and 21 deaths, the most among any of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, which also include Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The port of Dammam, on the Gulf, is a main entry point for supplies for the oil industry centered in the eastern region and for the rest of the kingdom.

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Having sashayed across his kitchen in womens clothing, miming Beyonces Listen, cabin crew flight manager Daniel Floyd now sits opposite his smartphone camera, crying.

Hes recounting the day his dad started rebuilding their strained relationship, shortly before his death.

Daniel Floyd is a Virgin Australia cabin crew manager who is now making money by performing daily drag shows online. Credit:Photos: Dominic Lorrimer; Composite: Michael Howard

This intimate show  a combination of candid raconteur and glamorous drag queen performer  is done alone to camera. The Facebook live-streamed show receives hundreds of thumbs up emojis, floating like digital whoops across the screen.

The 44-year-old from Sydney is one of many Australians making a sudden professional pivot. With work drying up due to COVID-19, people are finding creative new ways to make money.
[April 03, 2020] Wolters Kluwer Launches New Solution for All U.S. Banks and Credit Unions to Facilitate SBA Program - Paycheck Protection Program Supported by TSoftPlus

In response to Congressional passage of the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act), Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions has launched a dedicated solution, Paycheck Protection Program supported by TSoftPlus, utilizing its market-leading SaaS (News - Alert)-based TSoftPlus software. The solution is designed to help banks and credit unions support small businesses with payroll funding during the COVID-19 crisis. Wolters Kluwer's TSoftPlus software provides a reliable, compliant and user-friendly platform for lenders of all sizes to participate in Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, including the limited-time SBA Paycheck Protection Program that is part of the CARES Act. The solution enables banks and credit unions to process loans for small businesses with greater speed, confidence and compliance. Notably, the solution also includes free and dedicated training as well as Wolters Kluwer support services for lenders new to the program. The ability to approve and fund SBA loans quickly is critical to supporting small businesses during these unprecedented times. Accordingly, Wolters Kluwer is offering all lenders its compliance expertise via free training sessions, a series of informative webinars, and access to its U.S.-based customer support team to educate lenders about the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program. Additionally, all lenders will now be able to promptly access the Paycheck Protection Program solution without any upfront costs, helping them to meet the urgent nees of small businesses in their local communities.



"Through this special program, Wolters Kluwer stands ready to support the needs of small businesses that are critical to our national economy," said Steve Meirink, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions. "Lenders cannot afford to overlook compliance, and so I would encourage all banks and credit unions to take advantage of this dedicated solution that combines the market-leading capabilities of TSoftPlus, our strong compliance support services, and our unparalleled commitment to serving lenders of all size." The SBA's Paycheck Protection Program is designed to support millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses. Under this program:

Eligible small businesses may qualify for a loan up to $10 million determined by eight weeks of prior average payroll.

Loan payments will be deferred for at least six months.

If small business employers maintain their workforce, SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll and certain other expenses following loan origination. "We are honored to help the nation's lenders and small businesses by facilitating the faster, simplified transfer of funds that will help keep the workforces of our small businesses employed during this crisis," said Richard Flynn, CEO of Wolters Kluwer's Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) division. "This is a great example of the resources Wolters Kluwer is making available to help our customers, partners, and communities during this challenging time." As part of the launch, Wolters Kluwer is providing informational webinars to help lenders navigate the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). More information is available on the dedicated webpage for Paycheck Protection Program supported by TSoftPlus. Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions is a market leader and trusted provider of risk management and regulatory compliance solutions and services to U.S. banks and credit unions, insurers and securities firms. The business, which sits within Wolters Kluwer's GRC division, helps these financial institutions efficiently manage compliance obligations tied to loan and deposit origination transactions and workflows, manage risk and other regulatory compliance obligations, and gain the insights needed to focus on better serving their customers and growing their business. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005045/en/

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A reliable source of comfort during difficult times is hearing about people who had it even worse. Thats why Ive been reading about the plague.

In 166566 the Great Plague of London killed more than 68,500 people  according to official records, anyway; the real toll was probably closer to 100,000. The English were also at war with the Dutch at the time, and less than a year after the plague subsided, a fire would destroy much of the city.

And you think youve got it tough, having to put on a collared shirt over your sweatpants for another Zoom conference.

Two of the most famous accounts of the plague are the contemporaneous diary of Samuel Pepys and the novel A Journal of the Plague Year, published by Daniel Defoe in 1722. Though quite different, both works convey the tension, fear, and horror among Londoners as the plague devoured the city.

The extent of the plagues lethality should give us perspective. Although the current pandemic can be deadly, it is mild by comparison. At the same time, some of what Pepys and Defoe describe is similar to what weve experienced over the past several months. Then, as now, there were rumors of the disease approaching, a growing concern at the first fatalities, intensifying fear as infections and mortalities increased, and uncertainty over how individuals and governments should respond.

And then, as now, the distemper inflicted major damage to the economy. My favorite, albeit minor, example is Pepyss speculation of what effect the plague would have on the fashion of wig-wearing, for nobody will dare to buy any haire, for fear of the infection, that it had been cut off the heads of people dead of the plague. At least we dont have that to worry about.

There was social distancing then, too. The best physique against the plague is to run away from it, Defoes narrator advises. Even that was more extreme then: Watchmen stood guard at the houses of the infected, keeping them inside no matter how loudly they begged to be released. In Defoes account, one family escaped confinement by blowing up a watchman.

Story continues

When Pepys encountered a corpse left in an open coffin, he reflected that this disease [is] making us more cruel to one another than we are to dogs. If the reports about New Yorkers adopting dogs from shelters to be quarantine companions are accurate, the coronavirus is making us treat dogs especially well.

Some people have expressed the hope that the current pandemic will blunt the sharp edges of partisanship. Defoe depicts something like that happening during the plague, as Christians of differing beliefs viewed each other with less suspicion. Unfortunately, the good feelings didnt last, and when the plague abated, the Dissenters and Anglicans were at each others throats again.

Defoes narrator also hoped the plagues end would inspire Londoners to remember Gods mercy. He was disappointed: They sang his praise, but they soon forgot his Works. Nor did the mortifying experience change most everyday habits: I wish I could say that as the city had a new face, so the manners of the people had a new appearance, but the general practice of the people was just as it was before.

If the plague is precedent, then, we shouldnt expect human nature to change when this present crisis passes. Still, I think of the optimism of the poet John Dryden. In 1666, the city having survived the triple threat of plague, fire, and war, Dryden imagined London reborn like a phoenix: More great than human now, and more August.

May we build something great from the ashes of this illness.

More from National Review
The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus the major international migration corridors India shares with the world including the Gulf, Europe, and North America. Many of the Stage 1 imported cases in India came through these corridors as emigrants returned to their families.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus the major international migration corridors India shares with the world including the Gulf, Europe, and North America. Many of the Stage 1 imported cases in India came through these corridors as emigrants returned to their families. Conversations with emigrant Indian workers and major recruiters in the Gulf countries reveals a frantic desire to return to their home regions (often in rural areas).

A sound understanding of emigrant corridors is crucial if we are to successfully pre-empt the spread of the virus in the coming months. India has the highest number of international migrants in the world, according to the World Migration Report, 2020. Out of the total population of 272 million international migrants, almost 6 percent (~ 17 million) of them are Indians. This includes students, workers and their family (spouses, parents etc.).

Since the start of the crisis, India has evacuated its citizens multiple times, first from China and then from Italy, totalling about 842 rescued, according to a press release of 9 March. In the last few months, there has also been considerable return migration from countries in Europe, America, and the Gulf. In Telangana, for instance, conversations with migrant welfare workers reveal that anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 Gulf emigrants returned earlier this month and have been quarantined. On 22 March, India restricted all international travel to ensure that no one comes or returns to the country.

MIGRATION FROM COUNTRIES WITH SEVERE COVID-19 CONTAGION

COUNTRY Number of Indian Emigrants (2016) Number of COVID-19 cases (April 1, 2020) United States of America (USA) 1,280,000 189633 Italy 157695 105792 Spain 49084 102136 Germany 142585 72383 China 55,500 82308 United Kingdom (UK) 351000 25504

Data on Indian Emigrants: MEA, 2016

Data on COVID-19 cases: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre 202

The United States has witnessed an exponential rise in COVID-19 infections with a total of 189,633 cases as of 1 April 2020, the highest worldwide. The states of California, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, and New York have recorded the highest number of infections. Four out of the seven states (California, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York) have the highest concentration of Indian immigrants, especially California where 20 percent of all Indian immigrants resided, between 2011 and 2015.

157,695 Indians lived in Italy as of 2016, mostly comprising students and dairy industry workers. Students form a sizeable population in certain Italian cities such as Milan in the north (one of the worst affected by the virus) while the dairy industry workers, mostly Sikh workers from Punjab, are also concentrated in the northern region of the country. While the composition of emigrants in Italy who have been rescued is still unknown, Punjab may be at a higher risk because 70 percent of the Indian emigrants in Italy hail from there. Northern Italy, where most Punjabi emigrants are located, is the epicentre of Italys outbreak. As of 1 April, Punjab has reported 46 COVID-19 cases.

In Catalonia, Spain which has the second highest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases, after Madrid, there has been an almost 40 percent rise in Indian citizens between 1998 and 2012. The migration is mostly from Punjab, again. An overwhelming majority of the Indians are employed in the services sector (75 percent). The recent immigration is mostly categorised by employment in sectors which require lower specialisation, like agriculture.

For India, the current 55,669 returnees from US, UK, Spain, and Italy amid the pandemic hints at the possibility of Punjab becoming an epicentre in the country, considering that only 30,000 have, so far, been traced. The Doaba districts of Punjab (Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, and Nawanshahr) are the major source of emigrants to Spain, a considerable number of whom also come from lower-caste, landless households  the Ravidassia Sikh community.

As cases in Germany soar past 70,000, Indian nationals stay stranded in the western European nation. Germany currently hosts 142585 Indian emigrants. The Federal Statistical Institute of Germanys figures reveal that as of 2018, 17,000 (22 percent) of all Indian emigrants in Germany are students, forming the second-largest group of international students. Another considerable proportion of Indian population is present in the United Kingdom which is currently grappling with the crisis as well. There have not been any evacuation flights from the UK, leaving almost 3,50,000 Indian emigrants stranded.

EMIGRATION AND COVID-19 PROFILES IN THE GCC

COUNTRY Number of Indian Emigrants (2016) Number of COVID-19 cases (April 1, 2020) United Arab Emirates (UAE) 3419875 664 Saudi Arabia 2592166 1563 Qatar 745775 781 Kuwait 1028274 317 Oman 779351 210 Bahrain 323292 567

Data on Indian Emigrants: MEA, 2016

Data on COVID-19 cases: Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre 2020

The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, hosting almost 8.8 million Indians, have registered a total of 3538 cases as of 31 March, with Saudi Arabia registering the highest (1453). The GCC (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain) has a longstanding relationship with India, especially Kerala. This dates from the mid-1970s, when the oil boom spurred demand for both skilled and unskilled labour. Since then, there has been a considerable outflow of people from Kerala to countries in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Gulf migration story has now expanded to other states of the country, like Telangana, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Bihar.

Disease hotspots may emerge due to return migration

According to data collected in the Kerala Migration Survey, 2018 (conducted by the Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum) 89 percent of Keralas emigrant population had migrated to the Gulf countries. Latest cluster data on the spread of COVID-19 cases in Kerala shows that the most affected districts are Kasaragod (121), Kannur (47), Ernakulum (23), Pathanamthitta (12), Malappuram (12) and Thiruvanthapuram (12).

In 2018, 91 percent of Kasaragod and Kannurs emigrants, 98 percent of Malappurams emigrants, 85 percent of Pathanamthittas, 85 percent of Thiruvanthapurams and 78 percent of Ernakulums went to the Gulf. The survey also finds that Pathanamthitta has the highest average remittances, with Kasaragod at fifth, Malappuram at sixth, and Kannur at eighth. Remitting behaviour is often a sign of the emigrants continuing relationship with the source district and may indicate a propensity to return in times of crisis such as this.

Data collected in the Tamil Nadu Migration Survey of 2015 shows that 38 percent of Chennais emigrants are in the Gulf, as well as 49 percent of Erodes, 27 percent of Coimbatores, and 62 percent of Madurais. According to COVID-19 cluster data on Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore is the worst affected with 33 cases, Tirunelveli and Chennai, both with 29, Erode with 21, Theni with 20, Namakkal with 18, Dinidigul with 17, and Madurai with 15.

Coimbatore, with the highest average remittances in Tamil Nadu, saw a sudden spike of cases from 5 to 33 on 1 April, possibly due to a recent religious meeting in Delhi attended by over 1500 from TN.

There is little clarity so far about how many Indian workers are affected in the GCC countries. But the 8.8 million strong population is at risk of swift community spread, especially due to the cramped conditions that foreign workers live in.

There are over 1.3 million migrants from Telangana in the Gulf and around 40000 returned earlier this month (March) and are in quarantine. Many more want to return but it is highly likely that they will be infected. Workers there are forced to live with 10-20 people in a room and there is no way to follow social distancing norms. said Swadesh Parkipandla, President of the Pravasi Mithra Labour Union, in the district of Jagtial, Telangana. Return migration during a disaster has also previously been observed at the time of the 2018 Kerala floods.

As the Gulf countries slowly shut down non-essential industries, migrants facing job loss and no income are desperate to return. Many already have, over the past one month, leading to a spike in cases in Kerala, in particular. The COVID-19 crisis has already highlighted Kerala's strong international migration linkages, with Indias first three known cases in January 2020 being imported ones from Wuhan, the epicentre in Hubei, China.

Subsequently, a new spate of cases erupted in Kerala in March, with the northern districts of Kasaragod and Kannur registering the highest number. 44 out of 63 fresh cases reported between 22-24 March were imported from Dubai.

KMS data shows that Malappuram and Kollam rank the highest in terms of emigration as well as return migration. As of 1 April, the former has registered 12 cases while the latter has registered 3, but without swift action, these may emerge as sites of infection as well. Kasaragod and Kannur both rank relatively lower in emigration and return migration but like the other districts, share the strongest migration linkages with UAE and Saudi Arabia, the latter being the worst affected in the GCC.

Kasaragods high case point may be because of its particular relationship with Dubai: the district, with 121 cases as of 1 April, sends emigrants to the textile sector of Deira Naif, Dubai, from where almost every return migrant has been testing positive, according to a 25 March report in The Lede.

Kasaragod locked down on 21 March after the case of the suspected super-spreader, Ameer A, came to light. According to interviews conducted in Dubai by The Lede, labour camps in the UAE are particularly vulnerable to swift proliferation due to unhygienic, cramped living conditions.

However, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are not the only states that may be at risk due to return migration from the Gulf. The latest emigration data from the Ministry of External Affairs e-Migrate portal shows that in 2019, 14 of the top 20 emigrating districts were in Uttar Pradesh (11) and Bihar (3), with the popular destination countries being UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

These districts include Jaunpur, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Azamgarh, and Bijnor in UP and Darbhanga, Gopalganj, and East Champaran in Bihar. UP and Bihar, being possible future red zones, along with Kerala and Punjab, was also pointed out by migration expert and IIM Ahmedabad professor, Dr Chinmay Tumbe, on 29 March.

Data from the Goa Migration Survey, 2008 shows that 49 percent of emigrants went to the six GCC countries, while 8 percent went to USA. In Gujarat, 29 percent were emigrants to the USA, while 8.5 percent went to the Gulf, and almost 15 percent went to the UK, according to the Gujarat Migration Survey, 2011. Of these, 36 percent of those in the Gulf and almost 18 percent of those in USA remitted money home, indicating a continued connection with the source. Although Goa has remained relatively unaffected so far with 5 cases as of 1 April, Gujarats cases have risen to 87.

Worryingly, high emigrant sending states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab are highly dependent on interstate migrant workers from North and East India.

For instance, studies conducted by the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development (CMID) show that migrants from 25 Indian states work in Kerala, with the largest groups coming from Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. These internal migrant linkages between states in India escalate the risk of rapid local transmission.

Discrimination, ostracism of return migrants a dangerous precedent

Since coming home from Saudi Arabia earlier this week, Narendra, an emigrant from Telangana, has had his passport seized and has been in quarantine, with regular checks from the district officials. Despite this, he and his family have experienced discrimination from locals. This seems to be a recurring story around the country with reports of poor migrants undertaking arduous journeys home only be greeted with bleaching sprays and social ostracism.

This includes families of return migrants who are not being allowed in public spaces to collect water, according to a report by Indiaspend. Phone calls to local police stations reporting return migrants from cities has also become a common occurrence. Similar stigma has been experienced by doctors, medical personnel, and others suspected to have been exposed to the virus. Although the emphasis on physical distancing is important for the sake of public health, ostracism of return migrants sets a dangerous precedent, disincentivising people from reporting their true whereabouts and movements.

Indias intricate migration relationships, both internationally and internally, have been laid bare in the wake of the countrys 21-day COVID-19 lockdown. Currently, there is little clarity about the condition of Indian emigrants in destinations such as the Gulf. The risk of contagion due to mass return migration post lockdown demonstrates that tackling this public health crisis will require an understanding of how India migrates.

The authors are part of the research team at India Migration Now, a Mumbai based migration data and research organisation. IMN is a venture of the South East Migration Foundation. Follow their work: Twitter/@nowmigration; Instagram/@indiamigrationnow
Married At First Sight's Poppy Jennings has taken aim at reality stars with an 'actor's profile' or a desire to feature on 'Survivor or Dancing With The Stars'.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia prior to Sunday's grand finale, the 38-year-old said she's 'not like that' and can't wait to go 'unrecognised in the supermarket'.

In February, Daily Mail Australia revealed that more than half of the contestants from the current series, tried to make it in showbusiness before signing up for the show.

Married At First Sight EXCLUSIVE - 'Hell no, I'm not like that': Poppy Jennings (pictured), 38, took aim at those with an 'actor's profile' or want fame, in an interview with Daily Mail Australia

When asked at the Opera Quays opening night in Sydney in February, whether she would like to remain in the public eye, Poppy responded: 'Hell no.'

The photographer went on to take a subtle swipe at her peers who are after fame.

'I'm not like some people who have an actor's profile, and suggest they should go on Dancing With The Stars and Survivor and call their TV wife a fame 'w**re,' she said.

'I could not care less if I faded into the background': The photographer who 'wed' Luke Eglin (right) and split weeks later, said in February that she has absolutely no desire to remain in the spotlight, and would like to return to her 'old life'

'I'm not like that. I could not care less if I faded into the background, my old life was pretty damn good to be honest.'

Natasha went on to add that her main goal now is to be 'unrecognised in the supermarket' and return to her 'old life'.

In February, Daily Mail Australia exposed how almost half of this year's participants are hired actors with experience in television, modelling or stage performance.

Exposed: Poppy's comments come after Daily Mail Australia revealed 10 cast members from the current season tried to make it in showbusiness. Pictured: Amanda Micallef and Tash Herz

In 2014, Cathy Evans graduated from Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland with a degree in performing arts and moved to Sydney to launch an acting career.

'These are the best acting headshots ever. Time to take over Australia,' she wrote on Instagram in August 2015, after having professional photos taken for her portfolio.

Cathy launched her own YouTube channel in March 2016, but it's unclear what roles, if any, she landed before appearing on MAFS.

The 26-year-old is described as a 'logistics investigator' on the show and her acting qualification is not mentioned.

Trained actress: In 2014, Cathy Evans (pictured) graduated from Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland with a degree in performing arts and moved to Sydney to launch an acting career

Poser: 'These are the best acting headshots ever. Time to take over Australia,' Cathy wrote on Instagram in August 2015, after having professional photos taken for her portfolio

Actress and influencer? Cathy launched her own YouTube channel in March 2016, but it's unclear what acting roles, if any, she landed before appearing on MAFS

Meanwhile, operations manager Mikey Pembroke has been on television in the past.

In 2017, he made his acting debut in Friday on My Mind, an ABC miniseries about Australian rock band The Easybeats, in which he played a background character.

He appeared in five or six scenes across two episodes.

Mikey, 29, was also a contestant on Channel Seven's Deal or No Deal in 2015.

Surprise! Mikey Pembroke has been on television in the past, having been a contestant on Channel Seven's Deal or No Deal in 2015 (pictured)

Did you spot him? In 2017, he made his acting debut in Friday on My Mind, an ABC miniseries about Australian rock band The Easybeats, in which he played a background character

Sixties style! Mikey posed for this selfie during a costume fitting for Friday on My Mind

Vanessa Romito has experience in front of the camera, too.

Daily Mail Australia has uncovered photos of the Perth-based pharmacy manager, 31, filming a project with GrindFilms in February 2019.

In one scene, Vanessa plays a character at a party with several other women.

Her old MySpace profile is also full of professional photo shoots, which were taken more than a decade ago.

She's an actress too! Daily Mail Australia has uncovered photos of Vanessa Romito (second from left) filming a project with GrindFilms in February 2019

Model: Her old MySpace profile is also full of professional photo shoots, which were taken more than a decade ago

Meanwhile, Amanda Micallef has a StarNow profile where she advertises herself as an 'actor, extra, model and TV/radio presenter' looking for work.

She boasts of being able to 'transform into characters naturally' and has been doing so for 'her whole life', despite having 'no formal acting training'.

The 34-year-old personal trainer briefly appeared as an extra in the 2009 film Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage.

Hire me! Amanda Micallef has a StarNow profile (pictured) where she advertises herself as an 'actor, extra, model and TV/radio presenter' looking for work

Born performer: She boasts of being able to 'transform into characters naturally' and has been doing so for 'her whole life', despite having 'no formal acting training'. Pictured in 2005

Actor's life: She briefly appeared as an extra in the 2009 film Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage

Josh Pihlak writes and performs his own viral comedy skits, and already has a cult following on social media.

The Newcastle-based truck driver, 28, has been creating multi-angle short films for TikTok and Instagram for the past year.

In one video, Josh plays a tradesman father who disapproves of his son's metrosexual lifestyle.

Star in the making: Josh Pihlak writes and performs his own viral comedy skits, and already has a cult following on social media

Creative: The Newcastle-based truck driver, 28, has been creating multi-angle short films for TikTok and Instagram for the past year. In one video, Josh plays a tradesman father who disapproves of his son's metrosexual lifestyle

Two other Married At First Sight stars, Steve Burley and Aleksandra Markovic, have previously appeared on dating shows.

In 2018, barbershop owner Steve, 52, starred on Channel Seven's First Dates.

Real estate agent Aleks, 27, was a contestant on Take Me Out that same year. She joked around with host Joel Creasey, but didn't manage to secure a date.

Not his first rodeo: Steve Burley starred on Channel Seven's First Dates in 2018

Hayley Vernon and Tash Herz are both experienced live performers.

While she has no formal acting experience, Tash, 31, used to work as a burlesque dancer and striptease artist.

'I have absolutely no shame about my work as a dancer,' the bartender recently told Daily Mail Australia.

Throwback! Aleksandra Markovic was a contestant on Take Me Out in 2018. She joked around with host Joel Creasey (left), but didn't manage to secure a date

'I fully support all women working in the sex industry and I don't have time for anyone who judges that. I embrace my sexuality and I am proud of my past.'

Hayley, 32, is also proud of her former career as a topless waitress, which involved hosting bucks parties and corporate events in Melbourne under the alias 'Lee'.

'It was no secret to her friends and she never tried to hide it. She made great money, had fun and never did anything that made her feel uncomfortable,' a source said in February.

'I have absolutely no shame': Tash Herz (left) has no formal acting experience but previously worked as a burlesque dancer and striptease artist
Germany is to relax its coronavirus travel restrictions to allow much needed farm workers from eastern Europe to help pick fruit and vegetables.

The German agriculture ministry said it will ease border controls set up to control the spread of Covid-19 following concerns over a diminishing agricultural workforce.

Farmers there have warned that the virus restrictions set up last month would leave to crops being left unpicked and higher prices.

Most farm workers who come to Germany come from countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and Romania, much like the UK.

The EU Commission earlier this week told member states to permit seasonal farm workers to travel and work despite coronavirus.

The UK government has also been urged to help organise charter flights to bring in European agricultural workers to British farms.

German agriculture minister Julia Kloeckner said 40,000 seasonal farm workers will be allowed into the country in April and another 40,000 in May.

Migrant workers will still have to adhere to strict rules when picking crops, including medical checks and social distancing while they work.

An additional 10,000 roles have also been filled by the country's unemployed, students and asylum seekers.

Mr Kloeckner said: We have found a pragmatic and goal-orientated solution which meets two justified requirements.

Protection from infection on one side and securing the harvest on the other side.

It comes as the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) recently estimated that there could be a shortage of 80,000 workers due to the Covid-19 crisis in the UK.

The substantial shortfall comes despite a farm labour campaign successfully signing up 10,000 British people to help pick fruit and vegetables.
The new NHS Nightingale hospital in east London was officially opened by Prince Charles as it prepares to take its first coronavirus patients next week.

Appearing at the ceremony by video link from his home 500 miles away in Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, the heir to the throne hailed the temporary facility as a practical message of hope for those who will need it most at this time of national suffering.

Charles, who has completed a period of self-isolation after contracting coronavirus, said: It is without doubt a spectacular and almost unbelievable feat of work in every sense  from its speed of construction, as weve heard, to its size and the skills of those who have created it.

An example, if ever one was needed, of how the impossible can be made possible and how we can achieve the unthinkable through human will and ingenuity.

Health secretary Matt Hancock, who has also recently emerged from quarantine, attended the ceremony in person  albeit two metres away from senior NHS figures involved in the project.

Mr Hancock said the extraordinary project  most of which was completed in just nine days with the assistance of around 200 military personnel  was a testament to the work and the brilliance of the many people involved.

NHS Nightingale, named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, will need an army of up to 16,000 staff in clinical and ancillary roles to keep it running.

Split into more than 80 wards containing 42 beds each, the facility will be used to treat Covid-19 patients who have been transferred from other intensive care units across London. It will initially hold 500 patients, but has room for up to 4,000.

The Nightingale is the first of six new temporary hospitals to be set up across the country to cope with the outbreak. Facilities in Birmingham and Manchester are both due to open on 12 April, with others to follow in Bristol, Harrogate and Glasgow.

Additional reporting by agencies
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is pushing banks to "stretch" as far as possible to defer loan repayments for households in financial distress as more than 200,000 customers plead for debt relief amid the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Frydenberg urged Australians to demand the maximum help with their home loans under emergency measures to suspend repayments for six months.

ANZ Bank chief executive Shayne Elliott said the lending giant was prepared to help shield the economy from the pandemic, but warned a spike in unemployment and a new-found aversion to taking on debt would lead to a hit on housing values.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg acknowledged the help for customers could only go so far when the economy needed strong banks. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"We'll work very closely with the banks to ensure that they stretch when it comes to providing payment relief for small and medium-sized businesses as well as households," Mr Frydenberg said in an exclusive interview with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Health official: 'Regardless of variant, the protective measures are the same'
The University of California said Wednesday it would temporarily suspend some admissions requirements in response to educational disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic. Above, a student at UCLA after the university went to online classes earlier this month. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The University of California and California State University systems announced Wednesday a temporary easing of admissions requirements for applicants for fall 2020 and beyond, citing the wide disruptions to education faced by K-12 and community college students.

"Flexibility at this crucial time will ensure prospective students aiming for UC get a full and fair shot  no matter their current challenges," UC president Janet Napolitano said in a statement.

"This is a very unique and challenging time for students and we want to make sure that if they had planned to be CSU-bound we do everything we can to help them reach that goal," said Catherine Nelson, chair of Cal State's systemwide Academic Senate.

With California schools closed for the remainder of the academic year, the switch to online learning is uneven and many students are without computers and internet access. Also, with college entrance and advanced placement exams canceled or altered, students, parents and academic counselors have wondered if and how work during the winter, spring and summer terms will be evaluated by admissions officers.

The admission requirement changes will affect high school and community college students who are planning to enter either of the four-year university systems in 2020 or 2021.





How will my grades for this semester be counted?







Cal State said that it would consider admissions exceptions on a case-by-case basis for fall 2020 students who are unable to complete all of the course requirements due to disruptions from the pandemic.





What if I can't take the SAT or ACT?







Cal State, which uses just two criteria to establish students' eligibility for admission  their SAT or ACT score and their GPA  is evaluating its options for modifying the admissions process for 2021 and will soon announce a final decision.





Will my AP classes be accepted?









What happens if I can't get an official transcript from my school in time?





Story continues

UC students will have until the first day of classes to submit transcripts and Cal State will accept them through the fall term.





If I'm a transfer student and don't receive grades or can't complete all of my required courses, can I still be admitted to Cal State or UC?







Additionally, individual Cal State campuses have the discretion to allow students to defer their fall 2020 admission to winter or spring 2021 if they wish to continue at community college to finish their transfer requirements.





What if I need more time to decide whether to accept an offer of admission?







At Cal State, each campus is handling its intent to register deadline individually. You will need to check with your university's admissions office.





Will the relaxed requirements affect my financial aid?







UC campuses will work with families over the summer to review their eligibility for financial aid. If your family's financial situation has changed or may change, contact your campus financial aid office.
T emperatures are set to soar in the the UK over the next week as the warm, dry weather continues after the weekend.

The UK is set for a sunny end to the week due to a southerly wind flow, forecasters say - making parts of Britain warmer than Athens and Portugal's Algarve coast.

And the good weather is set to continue for much of the following week particualrly in the south-east, with parts of London reaching 20C - although the start of the week will be less bright.

Met Office spokesperson Nicky Maxey told the Standard: "It will be more cloudy and cooler on Monday with some rain clearing through the morning to leave a bright day with the odd shower.

"The rest of the week looks drier with sunny spells and temperatures once again likely to reach 20C in places."

Forecasters have warned Brits to keep to quarantine rules and stay at home to stop the spread of coronavirus - despite the warm weather.

Ms Maxey continued: "Please remember, despite the warm, sunny weather, during this coronavirus crisis the Government advice is to only go outside for food, health reasons or work, to stay two metres (six feet) away from other people and to wash your hands regularly."

London during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /66 London during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures A woman jogging near City Hall, London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA An image of Queen Elizabeth II and quotes from her broadcast on Sunday to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA A pedestrian walks past a billboard reading "Please believe these days will pass" on Broadway Market in east London AFP via Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge Getty Images Boris Johnson Jeremy Selwyn Sun-seekers cool off in the water and sunbathe on the riverbank at Hackney Marshes in east London AFP via Getty Images Ed Davey is shown on screens as he speaks via videolink during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London PA A herd of fallow deer graze on the lawns in front of a housing estate in Harold Hill in east London AFP via Getty Images A woman wearing a mask crosses a bridge over Camden Lock, London PA An empty Millenium Bridge PA A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images People push to enter the Niketown shop in Londo AP Jo Proudlove and daughter Eve, 9, follow the daily online "PE with Joe" Joe Wickes' exercise class on "Fancy dress Friday Reuters Police in Westminster Jeremy Selwyn Waterloo station looking empty PA Getty Images A quiet Parliament Square Getty Images PABest A man walks along a passageway at London's Oxford Street Underground station the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus PA Social distancing markers around the camel enclosure at ZSL London Zoo PA A police car patrols Greenwich Park in London PA The Premier League in action in front of empty stands AP Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed. A deserted Piccadilly Circus PA A general view is seen of a deserted Trafalgar Square AFP via Getty Images Getty Images The iconic Abbey Road crossing is seen after a re-paint by a Highways Maintenance team as they take advantage of the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown and quiet streets to refresh the markings Getty Images A view of 20 Fenchurch Street (the 'Walkie Talkie' building) in the City of London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus PA A deserted Chinatown PA A person looks at graffiti on a JD Wetherspoon pub in Crystal Palace, south London. Wetherspoons workers have described founder Tim Martin's lack of support for his chain's 40,000 employees as "absolutely outrageous" PA The London ExCel centre that has been turned into a makeshift NHS Hospital and critical care unit to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic PA The Palace Theatre, which usually shows the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, sits in a deserted Shaftesbury Avenue PA The Sondheim Theatre, which usually shows the Les Miserables musical, sits in a deserted Shaftesbury Avenue PA Two members of a British Army mounted regiment exercise their horses in Parliament Square AP Westminster Bridge is deserted PA A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA An empty street and bus stop at St James's Park AFP via Getty Images Whitehall Jeremy Selwyn A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA A single pedestrian walks past The national Gallery AFP via Getty Images London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn Kings Cross and St Pancras Jeremy Selwyn Buckingham Palace looking empty in London, PA London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn Kings Cross and St Pancras Jeremy Selwyn London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn London's Carnaby Street empty as shops closed after a lockdown was announced in the latest bid to stop the spread of coronavirus through the UK AP A quiet Jubilee line westbound train carriage PA A single pedestrian walks past The national Gallery AFP via Getty Images A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA Empty Embankment Jeremy Selwyn

Medical authorities have begged Brits to stick by the lockdown rules "whatever the weather".

Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan van Tam said Brits have "a shared responsibility" to protect each other from the virus.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast
Restaurant Depot, a membership-based food and supplies store reserved for the hospitality industry, has opened to the general public for the first-time ever, because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by NJBIZ.

All Restaurant Depot locations are temporarily distributing free day-passes, the report says. Normally, in order to shop there, the business requires customers to either be members or owners of a restaurant or food-related business.

There are currently eight Restaurant Depot stores in New Jersey.

They are located in Jersey City, Neptune, Pennsauken, Pine Brook, Secaucus, South Hackensack, South Plainfield and Union.

Everyone deserves access to the products that they need to live their daily lives, so we want to do our part to ensure that nobody is going to wonder how theyll get through the week, a Restaurant Depot spokesperson said a statement, obtained by NJBIZ. It pains us to think of people going without vital commodities that we have access to, so were more than prepared to answer the governments call of duty and help feed the country by sharing our resources in this time of disruption."

Restaurant Depot has been supplying independent food businesses since 1990, according to the companys website.

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If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
WASHINGTON - One of the biggest American manufacturers of protective medical gear went to bat for its Canadian customers Friday as it pushed back against a White House order to stop exporting its surgical-grade face masks  mission-critical armour in the war against COVID-19.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An N-95 mask is seen in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2020. One of the world's largest U.S.-based makers of consumer products says it has been told by the White House to stop exporting medical-grade face masks to the Canadian market.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

WASHINGTON - One of the biggest American manufacturers of protective medical gear went to bat for its Canadian customers Friday as it pushed back against a White House order to stop exporting its surgical-grade face masks  mission-critical armour in the war against COVID-19.

In front of an international backdrop of frenzied buying, dwindling global supply and mounting desperation among North American health-care workers, Minnesota-based 3M appeared poised to defy President Donald Trump's demand that the company's American-made masks, known as N95 respirators, be reserved exclusively for the U.S. market.

3M is a "critical supplier" of the masks to Canada and Latin America, the company said in a statement, pointing to the "significant humanitarian implications" of denying protective equipment to health-care workers on the front lines of a fight against a global pandemic. Doing so, it added, might elicit a costly hostile response.

"Ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done," the statement said.

"If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease. That is the opposite of what we and the administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek."

Trump, however, appeared unmoved, telling the White House briefing Friday he would be signing an order under the Defense Production Act to prohibit the export of scarce medical supplies "by unscrupulous actors and profiteers." It wasn't immediately clear whether it would apply to 3M, although he did say: "I'm not happy with 3M. Not happy."

"We need these items immediately for domestic use," Trump said. "We have to have them."

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, when pressed on the prospect of retaliatory measures, was reluctant to speculate. But if backed into a corner, she said, the federal government would be "prepared to do whatever it takes to defend the national interest."

Trump, asked about the prospect of retaliatory measures in the face of an export ban, appeared not to understand the question. "We really are very well supplied," he said, before going on at length about the medical provisions the administration has provided to state governments.

"We have done a job," Trump said, "like nobody's ever done a job."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, by now a veteran of navigating U.S. aggression on the bilateral trade file, tried to strike a diplomatic tone, insisting that Canadian and U.S. emissaries were in ongoing talks to keep goods, services and commerce moving in both directions across a border already closed to non-essential traffic.

In so doing, he relied on a strategy Canada honed during the often-fraught NAFTA talks of 2018: framing U.S. isolationism in terms of the potential consequences for Americans themselves.

"We are receiving essential supplies from the United States, but the United States also receives essential supplies and products and indeed health-care professionals from Canada every single day," Trudeau said.

"These are things that Americans rely on, and it would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back-and-forth trade of essential goods and services, including medical goods, across our border. That is the point we are making very clearly to the American administration right now."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, however, didn't hold back his outrage at Trump's decision, recalling the early days of the Second World War.

"It reminds me of what happened in 1939 and 1940 when Canada was part of the fight against global fascism  the United States sat out the first two or three years and actually initially refused to even provide supplies to Canada and the United Kingdom that was leading the fight at the time," Kenney said at a news conference in Edmonton.

"As Canadian, I am insulted by the decision announced today."

The frantic scramble for some of medicine's most basic fixtures  from paper gowns to high-tech ventilators  has provided a terrifying subplot to the mounting COVID-19 caseload and death toll in the U.S., Canada and around the world: more than 1 million cases and nearly 60,000 deaths globally. There are nearly 7,000 deaths in the U.S. alone.

By Friday evening, Canada had reported a total of 12,422 confirmed cases, including 182 deaths.

Mark Warner, an international trade lawyer based in Toronto and a veteran of the Canada-U.S. trade dynamic, said he's concerned that Canada's efforts to stand on principle in its discussions with the United States risk falling on deaf ears if the crisis continues to worsen.

"We're in a fight," Warner said. "There's a limited quantity of this stuff that's available, and we're all fighting for it."

Demand for so-called personal protective equipment  gloves, gowns, face shields and the all-important N95 masks  has been soaring around the world as overtaxed doctors, nurses and hospitals struggle to manage the spike in COVID-19 cases while protecting themselves.

And now that the Centers for Disease Control and others in the health community have started recommending everyone wear some sort of face covering while out in public, the scarcity of medical-grade masks is sure to get even worse.

A study by the World Trade Organization found that in 2019, China, Germany and the U.S. together produced 40 per cent of all exports of personal protective equipment, which includes masks, hand soap, sanitizer and protective goggles  more than $15 billion worth last year in the case of the United States.

The U.S. also holds about 16 per cent of the export market for ventilators and respirators, second only to Singapore at 18 per cent.

3M, based in St. Paul, Minn., is one of the largest U.S. providers of protective medical gear, second only to North Carolina-based conglomerate Honeywell, which has been expanding and retooling facilities across the continent to ramp up its N95 production.

3M says it has already "gone above and beyond" to maximize production of the masks for the U.S. market, and was doing so long before the Defense Production Act was invoked. In an interview Friday with CNBC, president and CEO Mike Roman said any suggestion that the company isn't going all-out to meet American demand "is just not true."

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Gayle Smith, an expert in international development who once worked as a special assistant to President Barack Obama and as a senior director on the National Security Council, said she believes the U.S. and the world will soon come to the realization that fighting a global pandemic demands a global response.

"It is simply not possible for any country to declare victory and then revert to business as usual," Smith said in an interview, describing the "congestion" in the medical-supplies market as a temporary condition.

"We've got competition within the United States for it, and we've got competition of every country with each other for it. That's just not sustainable, so something's got to break it loose sometime soon."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020.

 With files from Mike Blanchfield in Ottawa

 Follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle
National carrier Vietnam Airlines has forecast a drop of VND50 trillion (US$2.1 billion) in 2020 revenue due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, leading to some 10,000 job cuts.

In a letter sent to employees, the airlines CEO Duong Tri Thanh said that it is unprecedented that the airline is currently grounding 100 out of 106 aircraft in its fleet.

The executive said that the airline has suspended all international routes from 7:00 am on March 25 and maintained only a number of domestic flights connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.

Vietnam Airlines thus expects to cut services by 60 percent and see its revenue slipping by VND50 trillion, or 65 percent of its targeted revenue in 2020.

Like other airlines, we are facing vital challenges to our business operations, Thanh said in the letter.

There have been more than 2,000 airline personnel, including over 400 corporate leaders and officials at all levels, being isolated [due to COVID-19], he added.

Four employees of Vietnam Airlines have been infected [with the virus].

To overcome this difficult period, Thanh said Vietnam Airlines will restructure its workforce, streamline its staff, and reorganize its apparatus.

Adjusting employees income, cutting all non-urgent expenses, spacing out or delaying expenses where possible, and initiating negotiations for unit price reduction and discounts on signed contracts are among measures the flag carrier looks to take in the coming period, Thanh said in the letter.

These measures will undoubtedly affect all employees working for Vietnam Airlines as all employees have had their salaries reduced while more than 50 percent of them, or roughly 10,000 people, have had to temporarily stop working.

More than 1,500 Vietnam Airlines flight attendants have taken voluntary unpaid leave.

According to statistics, Vietnam Airlines Group hire more than 20,000 officials and employees, including 1,200 pilots, 2,500 aircraft engineers, and 3,000 flight attendants.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam last month estimated that the countrys airlines would suffer losses totaling VND30 trillion ($1.26 billion) this year due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

But the forecast revenue loss of Vietnam Airlines alone has already outnumbered the VND30 trillion prediction.

Vietnam has confirmed 233 cases of COVID-19 infections so far, with 85 having recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

No fatality has been reported in the country.

The nation has banned all four-wheeled commercial passenger vehicles while keeping only a handful of domestic flights and railway trips a day for 15 days, between April 1 and 15, as part of the nationwide implementation of social distancing to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc declared COVID-19 a nationwide infectious disease pandemic on Wednesday.

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It was the last thing Sabrina Roffman of New City, New York, wanted to hear: In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, local medical facilities were running out of protective face masks. Her husband, an ear, nose and throat doctor, and the staffs of two area hospitals could be in jeopardy. She couldnt sleep thinking about it.

I was waking up saying to myself, These physicians, including my husband, theyre exposed, Roffman told TODAY. Im thinking, Oh, my God, these people are going to get sick and, if they do, whos going to take care of (the patients).

Health & Wellness

Hoping to help, she reached out to her friend, Tina LoPresti, of Haverstraw, New York, who runs a social media group. Together, they launched a project to make additional masks for the health care workers. The idea was to craft masks that would offer at least some protection, with supplies they could access at home. They invited others in the community to join their efforts and started a Facebook group on March 18 with just 45 members.

In just a weeks time, the group, dubbed The Masked Warriors Project, grew to more than 1,400 members, pulling together to help two Rockland County hospitals with mask shortages. The group has already sewn hundreds of masks, ranging from people making 10 per day to some who make 100 and one member who Roffman said is able to sew 250 masks in one day.

Fabric that will become homemade face masks. (Courtesy: Martina Williams)

They obtained permission to place bins at locations around the county where group members can safely and conveniently drop off finished masks. So far, the group said they have distributed 400 masks and have another 700 ready for delivery.

One member, Martina Williams, owns a sewing store and was instrumental in developing a pattern. LoPresti said they worked closely with the two county hospitals to ensure the re-usable cotton face masks  which are considered an emergency measure  would be useful.

Sabrina Roffman of The Masked Warriors Project shows one of the homemade masks Martina Williams made for donation. (Courtesy of Sabrina Roffman)

Everything had to go through the hospitals to have them checked and make sure that its what they wanted, she told TODAY.

Story continues

The Masked Warrior Project is using a pattern with two layers of cotton and, for an added barrier, a pocket where a HEPA vacuum bag can be inserted to serve as a makeshift, slightly better respiratory filter, Roffman said. They also choose tightly-woven cotton that can be sterilized and re-used with a new filter in the pocket.

Materials that will be used to sew homemade face masks. (Courtesy: Martina Williams)

Individuals and groups across the country have taken up needle and thread, looking for a way to help the scores of frontline health care professionals facing dwindling supplies of personal protective equipment, or PPE. Homemade face masks are considered supplements to PPE by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection.

Grassroots efforts are growing through online platforms like social media sites and crowd-funding campaigns. The mask-making groups are active communities that can thrive in a time of social distancing, sharing videos, tutorials, resources  and a sense of purpose.

Though all acknowledge that homemade cloth masks do not filter out COVID-19 and cant offer health care workers as much protection as certified N95 masks, they can provide at least some physical protection.

The CDC guidelines for surgical masks  which offer a basic barrier to respiratory droplets, but cannot filter out viruses like the tighter-fitting, close-knit fibers of an N95 mask, which has a respirator  include instructions on how to build a "crisis capacity" of face masks. When there is a mask shortage in an emergency, the CDC allows for using scarfs or bandanas if there is nothing else. Home-sewn masks made according to hospital specs are an improvement on those.

Centers for Disease Control and Protection

The low supplies of PPE and related equipment for health care workers around the country has sparked some manufacturers and fashion brands to shift their production to mask-making. Some large organizations, including the United Nations, have donated their backup mask supplies to cities in need.

Amid the shortage, many hospitals are eager to receive the homemade masks and appreciate that people want to provide assistance any way they can  though the need for medical-grade face masks remains.

Its great that people want to help and to see the community response, Tim Pfarr, a spokesperson for the Washington State Hospital Association told TODAY. But, I think that theres a concern that you want to make sure that masks are sterilized, theyre used appropriately and that its done in the correct way.

Other groups are also working with hospitals on the designs, fabrics and handling to make them as useful as possible. And some homemade face masks are designed as covers on top of N95 masks, to prolong their life.

Sheri Yeisley, a professional decorator from Easton, Pennsylvania, said she put her advanced sewing skills to work when a fellow church member and director of a local hospital asked her on March 21 if she could help provide 10 to 15,000 additional masks. She used instructions they provided and began sewing as many as she could.

Im fast, it was under four minutes for me to make one Yeisley told TODAY, but she realized the order was too big to sew alone.

Sheri Yeisley sews a homemade face mask. (Courtesy of Sheri Yeisley)

Yeisley enlisted her church sewing circle and the group reached out on social media for additional help.

I put out the rally cry and people answered, Yeisley said. People have just been sewing like crazy.

She received donations of fabric and elastic from local businesses to help, as well. She said the group of volunteers have completed about 1,000 masks, so far.

Along with existing supplies, the hospital has been able to offer all their health care workers general use masks.

A basket of completed homemade face masks in Sheri Yeisley's workspace. (Courtesy of Sheri Yeisley)

As we began to prepare for COVID-19 in our community we put new processes and protocols in place to ensure we have enough supplies, Dr. Kara Mascitti, medical director of health care epidemiology and infection prevention for St. Lukes University in Easton, Pennsylvania, told TODAY.

The homemade masks that Sheri and others are making are already being put to excellent use, Mascitti said. A great feature of the fabric mask is that its reusable.

The hospital plans to provide replacements masks if they become too wet with natural respiration and to wash all the cloth masks daily.

As the emergency mask-making trend continues to grow, other groups like the Million Mask Challenge, Coronavirus Mask Makers and 100 Million Masks have sprung up online. Even craft stores such as JOANN have been offering up free kits and tutorials to make masks.

Though they cant produce the millions of N95 masks the health care system needs, the volunteer army is trying to help defend the workers with whatever they can.

I think the biggest thing is that we want people in the hospital, the doctors, the nurses, and the support staff to know that theyre not in this by themselves, Roffman said. This is not a me, this is a we.
China on Thursday released another 20,000 tonnes of pork from its central reserves to increase market supply, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

More frozen pork reserves will be put onto the market in the future in due course to better cater for the demand, the ministry said.

Official data has shown that prices of the staple meat in China continued to retreat as the government has been taking multi-pronged measures to boost supply, including increasing subsidies to restore hog production, releasing frozen pork reserves and expanding imports.

From March 23 to 27, the average pork price index in 16 provincial-level regions came in at 45.86 yuan (about 6.5 U.S. dollars) per kg, down 3.5 percent week on week.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stated on Twitter that Iran is planning on a 'sneak attack' on United States troops and assets in Iraq. According to Trump, Iran will 'pay a heavy price' if any aggressive attack is initiated.

The president made the unexpected declaration in a tweet Wednesday afternoon, coming in the midst of waiting tensions between the two countries over past confrontations as well as the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump tweeted, "Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!"

Trump's tweet came soon after he attended an intelligence briefing at noon at the White House. Among the reported targets is the base that was hit in a prior missile strike.

The US and Iran are as of now at loggerheads over the effect of US sanctions on Tehran's capacity to battle the coronavirus pandemic, and the danger of a military assault on the US is probably going to complicate the situation.

The Iranian army chief of staff, Mohammad Bagheri, said the ongoing spate of assaults on US bases in Iraq were nothing to do with Iran but were "a natural response by the Iraqi people." He said US forces were being firmly observed minute by minute and any US attack would produce the most serious action.

Read also: Trump Announces Extension of Social Distancing Guidelines in U.S. Until April 30

Sources disclosed to Fox News that the U.S. believes Iranian sponsored proxies were arranging the sneak attack and that Trump's tweet was a warning to the Iranian administration to advise their proxies to withdraw or face consequences.

In late March, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that Iran had refused the American guide for addressing the coronavirus pandemic.

Pompeo also denounced Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has emerged as one of the most powerful and most impressive Iranian leaders of the last century and wields control over all aspects of the country's administration, military, and media.

The secretary of state expressed his dismay with Iran's leader for reportedly spreading conspiracy theories that the U.S. was responsible for the outbreak, and pointed out Iran's own wrongdoings that exacerbated the spread of the virus.

The most recent tension comes several months after threats between the U.S. and Iran that included an attack at the U.S. Embassy compound in Iraq that U.S. authorities blamed on Iran. In response, the U.S. carried out a strike that resulted in the demise of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Prior to the embassy attack, U.S. airstrikes against an Iranian-sponsored Shiite volunteer army in Iraq, which the U.S. military said was counter for the killing of an American contractor in a rocket assault on an Iraqi army that it had blamed on the militia.

Regardless of being doubtful of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Khamenei hesitantly gave both President Rouhani and the deal brokered under the Obama organization his approval.

Since President Trump pulled out of the arrangement and exerted hefty sanctions on Iran in an effort to curb their nuclear proliferation, Khamenei has grown increasingly angered and disdainful in the U.S., which he has described as 'deceitful, untrustworthy and backstabbing.'

Related article: Coronavirus Fake News: U.S. National Quarantine Rumors Spreading Through Texts

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 09:52:44|Editor: zyl

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TRIPOLI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed government forces on Thursday announced the killing of 20 soldiers of the rival east-based army near the city of Misurata, some 200 km east of the capital Tripoli.

"The Libyan Air Force targeted gatherings of terrorist militia of Haftar (commander of eastern-based army) in the areas of Al-Washaka and Buerat el-Hussoun, killing 20 militia members and destroying a number of armed vehicles," the government forces said.

Three trucks carrying ammunitions and missiles in Alasaba town, some 120 km west of Tripoli, were also destroyed, the government forces added.

The east-based army has been committed to a military campaign over the past year in and around the capital Tripoli, trying to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government.

Thousands have been killed and injured in the fighting, and more than 150,000 have been displaced to flee the violence.

The violence in Libya continued despite international calls for a humanitarian truce to allow authorities to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea by the Pennsylvania Prison Society to order a blanket release of some grades of prison inmates to protect them from the coronavirus.

The high court did, however, order county president judges to confer with other county officials to review immediately the current capabilities of the county correctional institutions in their judicial districts to address the spread of COVID-19.

The Prison Society had petitioned the court to free low-risk offenders to reduce prison populations during the pandemic. Society officials said that would reduce crowding, enhance containment efforts such as social distancing and enhance the safety of both inmates and prison staff.

In ruling on the petition, the justices agreed the potential outbreak of COVID-19 in the county correctional institutions of this Commonwealth poses an undeniable threat to the health of the inmates, the correctional staff and their families, and the surrounding communities.

Some coronavirus-related inmate reduction efforts are being pursued in some counties, they noted.

The justices directed president judges to ensure prisons are following social distancing and other prevention measures recommended by state and federal health experts.

In cases where that isnt possible due to prison crowding, efforts should be made to identify individuals and/or classes of incarcerated persons for potential release or transfer to reduce the current and future populations of the institutions during this health crisis with careful regard for the safety of victims and their communities in general, with awareness of the statutory rights of victims, and with due consideration given to public health concerns related to inmates who may have contracted COVID-19, the justices said.

They also directed the president judges to limit the influx of new inmates into the jails.

Chief Justice Thomas G. Saylor issued a concurring opinion stating his belief that Gov. Tom Wolf has the authority to order prisoner releases as an emergency measure.

I believe the governor should fashion an appropriate executive order -- and/or the General Assembly should enact appropriate legislation -- to secure those releases deemed to be necessary by the Health Department and which are consonant with the preservation of public safety and other relevant factors, Saylor wrote.

Justices Debra Todd, Kevin M. Dougherty and Sallie Updyke Mundy joined in Saylors opinion.

The Prison Society request was opposed by victims rights advocates.

The Supreme Court decision comes days after a federal judge in Harrisburg ordered the release of about a dozen ICE detainees at the prisons in York, Pike and Clinton counties over coronavirus concerns. The ACLU had presses for the releases, saying those detainees were vulnerable to COVID-19 in the close prison conditions because of their ages and/or health issues.
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The nations half-million care home residents face becoming the abandoned victims of the coronavirus crisis, campaigners warned last night.

The disease has already torn through dozens of care homes, leaving them looking like war zones and cases are expected to explode in the next few days unless urgent action is taken.

Now bosses are pleading for access to coronavirus tests amid fears carers and agency workers who do shifts in several homes a week are spreading it in multiple high-risk locations.

Fifteen out of 20 residents of Oaklands Nursing Home in East Sussex this week developed coronavirus symptoms, with a member of staff in intensive care. However, just three were tested  among them Giuseppe Casciello, 95, who died on Monday. He is pictured with family

They also warned they are being forced to play Russian roulette with residents lives after the Government asked them provide beds for untested patients discharged from over-run hospitals.

MPs described the treatment of care home residents as an unseen national scandal of untold proportions and accused the Government of abandoning the elderly when they need help the most.

It raises the horrific spectre of the scenes on the Continent where hundreds of care homes have been ravaged by the disease and in some cases staff have left the helpless victims to their fate.

Case study one OAK SPRINGS, WAVERTREE, LIVERPOOL Managers have warned they face being overwhelmed by coronavirus. Six residents have so far died, and 48 of the remaining 66 have begun showing Covid-19 symptoms  with three yesterday placed on end-of-life care plans. A staggering 50 staff have been off with flu-like symptoms. Mrs Lyon (pictured on the right with care worker Amanda Pettitt) goes to work every day despite her husband being classed as vulnerable because he has type one diabetes General manager Andrea Lyon issued an urgent plea for help earlier this week from retired medics or even the Armed Forces as a last roll of the dice. Were desperate for help, she said on Tuesday. I only have 20 staff left to cover shifts and GPs have refused to visit the home for two weeks now. The state-of-the-art care home  which opened three years ago  said it had also run out of face masks. Mrs Lyon (pictured on the right with care worker Amanda Pettitt) goes to work every day despite her husband being classed as vulnerable because he has type one diabetes. She said the phone hasnt stopped ringing since her appeal as doctors and nurses offered to help. Extra protective equipment has also been delivered, but a lack of testing makes it impossible to know which residents are infected. I just get home and start crying because you cant do it at work in front of the staff, she told the Daily Mail this week. General manager Andrea Lyon issued an urgent plea for help earlier this week from retired medics or even the Armed Forces as a last roll of the dice. Were desperate for help, she said on Tuesday But we have a duty of care and we cannot let our residents down. Some of them are war veterans. They did their duty. At the Old Vicarage care home in Allithwaite, Cumbria, one resident has tested positive for coronavirus, with another six displaying symptoms, prompting pleas for more protective equipment. With no testing available, manager Kamal Siddiqi said staff at the home, near Grange-over-Sands, had no way of knowing if the other residents were infected too. Any help or resources people could offer us would be greatly appreciated, he told the North West Evening Mail. Face masks are particularly hard to find and were going through them quite quickly. We would also appreciate any voluntary help. This doesnt have to be interacting with clients but rather picking up and dropping off supplies or chatting to clients via Skype. The resident in hospital is said to be doing well with no-one else displaying serious symptoms. Advertisement

Care home bosses also revealed they had been told no one over 75 in will be treated in hospital if they contract the virus.

Agency and temporary workers play a vital role in the care system can often work in four or five homes a week. But it is believed none of the around 1.3million social care workers  who also provide home help  has been tested unless they have become ill or been in hospital.Peter Kyle MP, who has written to Boris Johnson to warn of the dangers, said: The lack of strategy for care homes is killing people.

How can they say that I as an MP has to stay home, but somebody working in four or five are homes in a week is allowed to work and not allowed to be tested?

Its unimaginably stupid. If the virus gets into a care home it will kill. The only strategy is to keep it out. The only way is to keep it out is to test the people who go in.

At the Oaklands Nursing Home in his Hove constituency it took ten days to test a 94-year-old man who later died from the virus.

Case study 2 OAKLANDS, HOVE Fifteen out of 20 residents of Oaklands Nursing Home in East Sussex this week developed coronavirus symptoms, with a member of staff in intensive care. However, just three were tested  among them Giuseppe Casciello, 95, who died on Monday. Relatives have visited Mr Casciello every day for seven years but to compound their grief they could not be at his bedside when he died. Rose Edmunds, whose 94-year-old mother is among those to fall ill, said staff had taken every precaution. Despite all their efforts others went down with it, she said. Managers have appealed for the loan of camper vans so staff can remain on-site instead of returning home and potentially infecting families. The home declined to comment yesterday. But a staff member currently in self-isolation said they had been provided inadequate personal protective equipment. It just spread and spread and spread, he said. When I left, it felt like a war zone. At Plas Pengwaith care home in the foothills of Snowdonia, two residents have died this week after they are suspected to have contracted coronavirus. Staff have declined to comment at the home, which is run by Gwynedd council. Public Health Wales said it was supporting providers of care homes to ensure they are following the appropriate guidance and implementing measures such as infection control precautions. Advertisement

During the wait, 14 other residents and seven staff developed symptoms, one of whom is now in intensive care. Most of the staff were agency who also worked in other care homes  at least one of which has now confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Government guidance issued this week suggests care homes may have to accept new residents who have coronavirus. It says hospitals will not routinely test patients entering care homes, meaning managers will be unaware if returning residents are infectious but not showing symptoms.

It said: Some patients may have Covid-19 all of these patients can be safely cared for in a care home if this guidance is followed.

Andy Geach, boss of Shedfield Lodge care home in Hampshire, said he has been asked to provide beds to ease struggling hospitals, but is worried about putting his existing residents at risk.

Mr Geach added: We do not want to play Russian roulette with peoples lives.

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, which represents providers of all sizes, warned of a catastrophic impact unless testing is ramped up.

He said hundreds of care homes were reporting residents displaying symptoms of coronavirus.

Professor Green insisted homes could stop the virus spreading  if they received the help they needed. Homes are used to controlling infections like norovirus and flu, but they cant get residents tested to find out if they have Covid-19.

Another care home manager said a GP has warned her that no one over 75 in her home will be treated in hospital if they contract the virus because it would be a waste of resources. Sandra Tzannes Kastritis, of the Grange Care Home in Hove, said doctors had also been handing out do not resuscitate forms, apparently in anticipation of widespread deaths from the virus.

The coronavirus death toll in care homes will largely go unrecorded because daily figures released by Public Health England relate only to NHS hospital fatalities.

The Health Department said: Testing is a crucial part of the UKs response to the coronavirus pandemic and the Government is determined to provide all necessary support for staff doing incredibly important work in social care.

Where are our masks? Chronic shortages of masks, gloves and goggles are causing major problems for care homes battling the crisis. Vital supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE) promised by the Government have yet to arrive, care home bosses have warned. And those trying to buy their own are being charged skyrocketing prices by unethical suppliers cashing in on the crisis, it was claimed. Nadra Ahmed, of the National Care Association, said the supplies were vital if care homes were to avoid the horrific scenes witnessed in Spain and Italy. She said: We can turn the tide, but we need equipment so staff can be protected and tests so they can carry on working. Our staff are used to nursing people back from pneumonia and strokes, but they cant do it if social care continues to be seen as an afterthought. Advertisement

This is like working in a war zone: Care homes are utterly unprepared for coronavirus as the elderly are being left to die without their loved ones by their side, writes PETER KYLE MP

A crisis on a scale that defies imagination is sweeping Britains care homes. Unseen, unreported and too often alone, our elderly are dying from the coronavirus epidemic  killed by the system that is meant to keep them safe.

And as they die, they are denied the basic comfort of seeing their loved ones for the last time.

Its the bitter truth that it is our dedicated care workers who are the very people spreading this virus into care homes.

Meanwhile, a far greater risk is created by sending agency workers from one home to the next, unwittingly carrying the virus with them. Once Covid-19 gets into a care home, it is almost inevitable that all the residents and probably all the staff will get it

I want to say this in the starkest possible terms. The public are rightly insistent that doctors, nurses and hospital staff need urgent protection, but a catastrophe of equal proportions is going unobserved.

For while we are focused on a few hundred hospitals, there are tens of thousands of care homes across the British Isles where carers are barely coping  despite their heroic and selfless efforts.

They are utterly unprepared for this contagion. They do not have the training to deal with it, and in many cases they are lucky to have even the most basic equipment. One care home manager told me that all the protective gear she had received was a box of 250 flimsy facemasks.

But her staff continue to provide close personal care daily. They are at high risk both of contracting the virus and of spreading it. Crucially, many care workers are employed by agencies that send them to several homes in the course of a week.

At the last Prime Ministers Questions before sittings of the Commons were suspended, the PM told me all the protective gear Britain needed would be delivered within a week. Nothing remotely like this has happened

Since the coronavirus crisis began, these institutions have closed their doors to family members. These visits are a highlight of the week for most residents, but its a necessary precaution.

Meanwhile, a far greater risk is created by sending agency workers from one home to the next, unwittingly carrying the virus with them. Once Covid-19 gets into a care home, it is almost inevitable that all the residents and probably all the staff will get it.

Indeed, one manager in my constituency of Hove told me that her home to 75 people was provided with just five testing kits. Four came back positive. At another with only 13 residents, seven staff are off sick with viral symptoms. One is in intensive care.

I was an aid worker in the Balkans for a decade and Im having conversations with care staff and managers now that remind me vividly of that war zone. They are in extreme crisis, being stretched in ways they could never have anticipated.

Yet the Government seems oblivious to all this. Deaths in care homes from coronavirus are not even included in the official statistics, which are based on hospital fatalities only.

Residents are being asked to sign do not resuscitate (DNR) forms and told attending hospital wont be an option for most of them. Meanwhile, care homes are being told to prepare for inevitable outbreaks of fatal disease, in effect becoming hospices with no announcement and no public debate.

In his 90-minute press conference this week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock didnt refer to care homes once.

To solve this crisis, four things need urgently to be done. First, everyone who works in a care home has to be tested for Covid-19. If they have the infection, they must not go to work.

Secondly, the agency system that sends carers into several homes each week must stop. The Government needs to work with employers to ensure staff are assigned to just one home each, which will mean urgent funding to increase staff capacity.

Thirdly, we need much more protective equipment. Staff dont have even the basics to deal with Covid-19. This is an outright failure by the Government.

At the last Prime Ministers Questions before sittings of the Commons were suspended, the PM told me all the protective gear Britain needed would be delivered within a week. Nothing remotely like this has happened.

Lastly, we need antibody tests for relatives whose loved ones are dying. People who have already had the virus need to be able to show they are no longer at risk of catching or transmitting the disease.

Without these tests, they are not allowed to be with beloved parents and grandparents in their last hours.

This week I was shocked to speechlessness when a lady named Gisela told me that her father Giuseppe had died in isolation, in a care home in my constituency.

For seven years, members of Giuseppes family had visited him every single day. That ended several weeks ago.

Giuseppe, who had his 95th birthday two days before he died, was completely alone at the end. Giselas heart is breaking at the thought of it. That story is happening up and down the country.

Its barbaric and we have to act now.

Peter Kyle is the Labour MP for Hove
Lourdes Cruz, a preschool teacher on the Northwest Side, shows the email she received from Airbnb on Wednesday. It says her cancellation for a trip to Houston has been approved  and she'll be getting a refund of $0. She raised the issue with an Airbnb rep and was told to disregard the email and that she'd get a full refund. She never got an email with the correct amount, but the company says a full refund was approved and the money should arrive soon. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
President Trump is admittedly not doing everything he can to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation for all Americans to wear cloth masks when in public around people, Trump announced at Friday's coronavirus task force press conference. Trump then repeatedly clarified that the recommendation is "voluntary," and declared that he won't be wearing a mask at all.

Americans are being asked to wear cloth masks when going outside around others. It'll add an extra layer of protection against transmitting COVID-19 even if someone who has the virus is asymptomatic, while saving medical-grade N95 masks for health care workers who desperately need them, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Friday. Los Angeles and New York City recently issued the same recommendation, and a Thursday report indicated the CDC's recommendation was coming.

When Trump was asked why he wouldn't wear a mask, he said he was "feeling fine," and then implied that it would be odd to be "sitting in the Oval Office, behind that beautiful Resolute Desk" in a mask while meeting "presidents, prime ministers, dictators," and so on. It's unclear which world leaders would be dropping by the Oval Office given the current climate.

More stories from theweek.com

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Trump is using the states as scapegoats for his coronavirus calamity


SPRINGFIELD  The city has awarded 30 grants totaling more than $225,000 to restaurants through the citys Prime the Pump program in response to the economic crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

The grant money allows the restaurants to protect 30 jobs, according to a news release. Each restaurant will meet payroll expenses.

Food service and hospitality workers make a large portion of the 330,000 new unemployment claims filed in Massachusetts over the past two weeks.

The city said the restaurants awarded grants represent diversity in cuisine as well as neighborhoods, including Indian Orchard, the North End, the South End, McKnight, Forest Park, East Springfield, Mason Square and Metro Center.

The program is supported by current-year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Were hopeful these grants will be a shot in the arm for these businesses that are trying to make ends meet, while awaiting the business assistance that will be forth coming from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said in a statement. These restaurants are often the lifeblood of our neighborhood commercial districts and our community and we need to support them in this time of need as best we can.

Springfield saw overwhelming interest in the grant program, with more than $1 million in grant requests from 80 applicants across the city. Restaurants that were not awarded or did not receive their full funding request are eligible to apply in the upcoming Small Business Grant Fund for a total amount between both funds of $15,000. The Small Business Grant Fund application is expected to be released in the next few days.

City officials also encourage restaurants to contact the Springfield Office of Planning and Economic Development at 413-787-6020 to discuss the needs of their business and the potential resources. More information is available at the Small Business Administration website, sba.gov.

These businesses are all struggling to adapt in changing their business models while at the same time coping with plummeting sales and margins because of the emergency public health orders that are in place to keep us all safe, said Tim Sheehan, the citys chief development officer. This is just the first round of funding being advanced for our small business community. We plan to follow this with additional funding and direct programming using our traditional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CARES Act resources to assist more businesses that are in economic need.

Ward 1 City Councilor Adam Gomez praised the city team that put the grant program together quickly, including Sheehan, Sarno and Anthony Moore, a project assistant in the planning and economic development office.

I wanted to reach out to all of you on how grateful I am for your diligence making these grants available to the community, Gomez wrote. I know we would love to do more and I know youre doing everything in your power to make sure its done right. Again, a job well done for Round 1. Just implying that (something) else is coming down the ladder. Blessings to all of you and the administration for helping our local businesses out.

The tentative awards, subject to contract execution, are listed below.

Chef Waynes Big Mamou, 63 Liberty St., $15,000

Ericas Hall of Fame Kitchen, 666 State St., $15,000

Eat Bistro, 609 Page Blvd., $5,000

Felixs Restaurant, 67 Liberty St., $12,000

Theodores', 201 Worthington St., $12,000

Yaad Food, 89 Main St., Indian Orchard, $10,000

Sweet Ideas Cafe, 1365 Main St., $6,400

Eye Seafood, 810 Cottage St., $10,000

Hot Table, 1500 Main St., $10,000

Primos Pizza, 824 Worthington St., $4,000

Panjabi Tadka, 1688 Main St., $12,000

Bensons Bagels, 598 Sumner Ave., $7,000

Palazzo Cafe, 1350 Main St., $7,000

Bamboo House, 676 Belmont Ave., $10,000

Monsoon Roastery, 270 Albany St., $7,000

Pizza Royal, 161 Boston Road, $7,000

Mom & Ricos, 899 Main St., $7,000

Milanos, 988 Main St., $7,000

Palate, 1168 Boston Road, $10,000

Mi Cultura, 880 State St., $7,000

Grannys Baking Table, 309 Bridge St., $5,000

Unos, 820 Hall of Fame Ave., $5,000

Tonys Pizza, 108 Boston Road, $5,000

Latinos Kitchen, 2895 Main St., $5,000

Ninos Pizza, 672 Dickinson St., $5,000

Nosh, 1341 Main St., $5,000

Peppas Pizza, 1060 Wilbraham Road, $5,000

Mocha Emporium, 1623 Main St., $5,000

Mi Antojito, 126 Walnut Ave., $5,000

Nadims, 1390 Main St., $5,000

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Message from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on the occasion of Vesakh, the most important holiday for Buddhists. Buddhists are also invited to take part in the event on "Reinventing the Global Compact on education", which will be held in the Vatican on 15 October.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Christians and Buddhists can build a culture of compassion and fraternity together. It is on this issue that the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue addressed its message to Buddhists on the occasion of Vesakh, the most important holiday for Buddhists who commemorate the main events of Buddha's life in it.

With the document, Buddhists are also invited to take part in the event on the theme "Reinventing the Global Compact on education", which will be held in the Vatican on 15 October.

Finally, in the message there is an invitation to pray "for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic and for those who assist them. We encourage the faithful to live this difficult moment with hope, compassion and charity ".

"This year - reads the document signed by the president of the dicastery, card. Miguel Angel Card. Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ and the secretary Msgr. Kodithuwakku K. Indunil J. - we would like to reflect with you on the theme Buddhists and Christians: Constructing a Culture of Compassion and Fraternity. We are mindful of the high value our respective religious traditions give to compassion and fraternity in our spiritual quest and in our witness and service to a wounded humanity and a wounded earth.

It goes on to recall what Pope Francis said to the Supreme Patriarch of Buddhists in Thailand last November: we can grow and live together as good neighbors and thus be able to promote among the followers of our religions the development of new charitable projects, capable of generating and multiplying practical initiatives on the path of fraternity, especially with regard to the poor and our much-abused common home. In this way, we will contribute to the formation of a culture of compassion, fraternity and encounter, both here and in other parts of the world (cf. Visiting the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch, Bangkok, 21 November 2019).

"Interdependence brings us back to the theme of compassion and fraternity. In a spirit of gratitude for your friendship, we humbly ask you to accompany and support your Christian friends in fostering loving kindness and fraternity in the world today. As we, Buddhists and Christians, learn from one another how to become ever more mindful and compassionate, may we continue to look for ways to work together to make our interconnectedness a source of blessing for all sentient beings and for the planet, our common home".

"We believe that to guarantee the continuity of our universal solidarity, our shared journey requires educational process. To this end, a global event will take place on 15 October 2020 on the theme Reinventing the Global Compact on Education. This meeting will rekindle our dedication for and with young people, renewing our passion for a more open and inclusive education, including patient listening, constructive dialogue and better mutual understanding (Pope Francis, Message for the Launch of the Global Compact on Education, 12 September 2019). We invite you to work together with all to promote this initiative, individually and within your communities, to nurture a new humanism. We are also happy to see that Buddhists and Christians are drawing on deeply held values and working together to uproot the causes of social ills in various parts of the world."
UN Warns Mass Hunger Facing West Africa Will Worsen as Coronavirus Takes Hold

By Lisa Schlein April 02, 2020

A new United Nations food assessment of 17 West African countries finds more than 19 million people in the region will go hungry during the upcoming lean season between June and September, when food stocks are depleted. This is a 77 percent increase over last year's number, and it's being complicated further by the coronavirus pandemic.

The World Food Program calls this huge upsurge in the number of hungry people unprecedented. Those who are most at risk, it says, are in the Central Sahel region, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Eric Branckaert is WFP senior vulnerability analysis and mapping adviser. He says insecurity is a major factor behind the humanitarian crisis affecting the Central Sahel.

"With increased insecurity incidents over the years and it is continuing to escalate this year. This results in serious movement of population and internally displaced persons  on top of that, we obviously have the COVID-19 coming our way," he said.

Branckaert notes the food assessment analysis does not include the potential impact of COVID-19 on the region's food security.

His colleague, WFP senior Regional Emergency Preparedness and Response adviser, Alexandre Le Cuziat, says COVID-19 is likely to have a profound impact on livelihoods and put the region's 12 million acutely malnourished children at risk.

He tells VOA a key concern is that COVID-19 will break the global supply chain, which controls the import of essential products, including supplementary feeding and nutritional products needed to treat malnourished children.

"Some of the bigger companies and, indeed, the main suppliers globally are in countries that are currently under strict confinements and a very reduced level of production," said Le Cuziat. "A lot of the nutritious products are produced in India or France, for example, where factories have had to reduce or close or reduce significantly their production. We have big concerns on this."

The World Health Organization reports more than 6,000 COVID-19 cases are confirmed in Africa and are threatening fragile health systems on the continent. Its latest report puts the number of cases in Burkina Faso alone at more than 260, including 14 deaths.

The U.N. World Food Program is urgently appealing for $208 million to provide 3 million people in the Central Sahel with lifesaving aid over the next six months.

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U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 3, 2020. Tom Brenner | Reuters

President Donald Trump, after much reluctance, has used the powers of the Defense Production Act to compel companies to manufacture items in short supply that would aid in the U.S. response to the deadly coronavirus. The White House has asked companies to ramp up production of protective gear needed by health professionals on the front lines of the crisis as hospitals, stores and testing centers warn they're experiencing shortages in medical masks, ventilators, gloves, testing swabs and other essential equipment. Trump said he would invoke the Defense Production Act after mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers, who sent the president a letter earlier in March urging him to use its powers. But he put off invoking it, saying in a March 18 tweet that he would only use it "in a worst case scenario." Meanwhile, U.S. governors had been begging the White House to use the law to send their states much-needed ventilators. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said his state, which has the highest number of confirmed cases in the country, needs 30,000 ventilators to save lives. The bulk of the companies assisting with emergency supply production were compelled to do so on Thursday, more than two weeks after Trump signed the executive order triggering the Korean War-era law. In a statement, the president said his order would "more fully ensure that domestic manufacturers can produce ventilators needed to save American lives." "My order to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Homeland Security will help domestic manufacturers like General Electric, Hill-Rom, Medtronic, ResMed, Royal Philips, and Vyaire Medical secure the supplies they need to build ventilators needed to defeat the virus," the statement continued. Many of them had already ramped up production.

Here are the companies Trump has called on so far to manufacture emergency supplies:

General Motors

Trump on March 27 ordered auto giant General Motors to make ventilators after criticizing the company for not acting quickly enough to produce the devices. Prior to Trump's order, the company had already announced plans to build critical-care ventilators with Ventec Life Systems at the automaker's component plants in Kokomo, Indiana. GM in an emailed statement reiterated that employees with Ventec, GM and their supply base "have been working around the clock for over a week to meet this urgent need." "Our commitment to build Ventec's high-quality critical care ventilator, VOCSN, has never wavered," GM said. "The partnership between Ventec and GM combines global expertise in manufacturing quality and a joint commitment to safety to give medical professionals and patients access to life-saving technology as rapidly as possible. The entire GM team is proud to support this initiative."

General Electric

The conglomerate was among the six firms Trump included in his Thursday order. In March, the company announced that its health-care unit is scrambling to increase production of equipment including ventilators, patient monitors, CTs and mobile X-ray devices to meet increasing demand from hospitals and other facilities fighting the pandemic. Ford Motor Co., which faced pressure from Trump to ramp up production in response to the outbreak, and GE Healthcare announced on Monday that the companies would team up to produce 50,000 ventilators at a facility in Michigan. Trump in a March 27 tweet urged Ford to "GET GOING ON VENTILATORS, FAST," though so far he has not invoked the DPA against that carmaker. Tweet Production of the critical-care devices is expected to begin with 500 United Auto Workers union members the week of April 20, according to executives at both companies. Ford's Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, will be able to produce 30,000 ventilators a month after early July, officials said. Ford and GE expect to produce 1,500 by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May and 50,000 by July 4, officials said. "We are really excited and applaud Ford, how quickly it's mobilized its manufacturing facilities to address the challenges we all face with COVID-19," Tom Westrick, vice president and chief quality officer of GE Healthcare, said during a call Monday afternoon with media.

Hill-Rom, a company that manufactures health-care equipment such as hospital beds and medical technology, was also included in Trump's order Thursday. The company, headquartered in Indiana, had already released a statement on March 24 committing to the fight, saying it would ramp up production of non-invasive ventilators and hospital beds. "We are committed to scaling production as rapidly as we can to meet the challenges the world is facing with COVID-19," said Hill-Rom President and CEO John Groetelaars in the release. "Hillrom's critical care, vitals monitoring and respiratory products can help caregivers and patients as coronavirus continues to cause severe illness around the world. We are focused on our employees' health and safety, and on ensuring that our products are available when and where our customers and patients need them."

Medtronic

Health-care and biomedical engineering company Medtronic, one of the companies Trump called on Thursday, promised on March 27 that "everything that could be done and should be done is being done." Executive Vice President and President Bob White said in a series of videos posted on the site that the company has "ramped our ventilator capacity ... up by 40% already." "We have our teams already up and running both in manufacturing and supply chain, as well these external collaborations," he said. "So I would say the mobilization is full-on, everybody is engaged." Still, White cautioned that it's going to take time for the company to ramp up production. "It will take a few months for us to even further dramatically increase the production of our ventilators, but we're on that and we're working on it very aggressively," he said.

ResMed

The medical technology company was also included in Trump's directive Thursday. ResMed specializes in the production of ventilators and has 7,500 workers in 140 countries to combat the growing pandemic, according to CEO Michael Farrell. The company is looking to double or triple production to fight the coronavirus globally, Farrell said Wednesday in an interview on CNBC's "Mad Money." In the United States, ResMed is particularly focusing on ramping up production in New York, California, Washington and Michigan, states that have been hit the hardest by the spread of the disease.

"We're going to double, triple or more our noninvasive ventilators, invasive ventilators, and do more than 10 times the volumes of our ventilation masks," Farrell said, "to take care of COVID-19 patients so we keep them breathing while their own immune systems fight the disease." "If you break it down to just the ventilators, we made tens of thousands of ventilators last year in 2019. We're gonna do double that and triple that, and we're going to do it in real time."

Royal Philips

Health technology company Royal Philips, another of the six companies, said in a March 22 release that it would increase "the production of certain critical care products and solutions to help diagnose and treat patients with the new coronavirus disease." "Philips is ramping up the production of hospital ventilators and plans to double production within the next eight weeks and achieve a four-fold increase by the third quarter of 2020," the release said. "In line with Philips' mission to improve people's lives, we want to help as many healthcare providers as possible to deal with the growing numbers of critical COVID-19 patients," said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. "There is an unprecedented global demand for medical equipment to help diagnose and treat patients with COVID-19."

Vyaire Medical

Trump also compelled Vyaire Medical, a company that produces ventilators, face masks, oxygen blenders, resuscitation devices and other respiratory medical equipment, to manufacture products to help in the fight against the coronavirus. Vyaire began "retooling its manufacturing capacity" to respond to the pandemic in January, according to a press release. "The company is redeploying engineering resources and seeking to hire additional workforce to accelerate production of ventilators at key manufacturing facilities," the release said. "In addition, the company is exploring potential partnerships with non-medical equipment manufacturers and distribution companies to increase the availability of life-saving equipment and speed access to areas of the country in most critical need."

3M

3M, which was separately compelled on Thursday to "acquire, from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company, the number of N-95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate," engaged in a public spat with the president, pointing out that some of Trump's requirements would backfire. In a statement Friday morning, the company said the Trump administration's request "that 3M cease exporting respirators that we currently manufacture in the United States to the Canadian and Latin American markets" would have "significant humanitarian implications" for health-care workers in those countries, where 3M is a "critical supplier of respirators." The company also noted that "ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done." "If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease," 3M added. The back and forth came after a tweet Thursday night in which Trump claimed that the White House "hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks." Tweet The company said Friday that it was already working with the Trump administration on getting more masks to the U.S. "We have been working closely with the Administration to do exactly that, and we appreciate the authorities in the DPA that provide a framework for us to expand even further the work we are doing in response to the global pandemic crisis," 3M said. "We look forward to working with FEMA to implement yesterday's order."
Anger is reaching a boiling point among GE Appliances workers in Louisville, Kentucky after management acknowledged one probable COVID-19 case earlier this week, forcing local union officials to raise the possibility of a strike. The 3,800 workers at GEs 900-acre Appliance Park complex, who manufacture refrigerators and other household appliances, are demanding the closure of their complex to protect their lives from the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease.

Workers at GE Appliances, which was sold by General Electric in 2016 and is now owned by China-based Haier, are demanding safe conditions across the companys global operations, which employ 200,000 workers in more than 130 countries.

Louisville is a massive manufacturing and logistics hub, with tens of thousands of GE, Ford and UPS workers, who are all want non-essential production closed and other necessary public health measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic. Where such shutdowns have occurred, however, it has been through the independent action of workers, not the unions.

The auto industry was only closed after rank-and-file workers rebelled against the United Auto Workers union, which worked with the automakers to keep workers in the plants despite the risk to their lives. This movement has since spread to bus drivers, sanitation workers, Instacart, Amazon, Whole Foods, and other sections of workers throughout the United States and the world, who are demanding safe conditions for themselves and the public they serve.

For weeks, the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) has done nothing more than issue verbal complaints and advise management to take measures to prevent a revolt by workers. In the meantime, union officials sanctioned the resumption of production on Monday, March 30, after a one-week temporary shutdown. Management claims it sanitized the facility during the shutdown and reconfigured the workplace for social distancing.

But when workers returned to work, they were outraged by managements inadequate measures, the grime and filth that remained in the factory and the lack of soap, sanitizers and cleaning supplies. With workers threatening to walk out, the IUE-CWA called a protest Tuesday.

Workers outside the complex chanted Shut it down! Others drove their cars with homemade signs in the windows declaring GE employees and their families do matter and denounced the company for subordinating their lives to corporate profit.

In comments to the local media, one worker said, I dont want to come back to work and lose my life. Our lives matter. They think being off a week and halfway cleaning up, putting up shower curtains, tape on the floor, is going to keep us safeit isnt going to. We make dishwashers, refrigerators and stoves. We dont need to be working. Let us stay out, we dont want to die.

On Facebook, workers posted photos of a high-end refrigerator on the assembly line, with Health not wealth written by workers on the back. A Facebook post read: My dads life is worth more than the dishwashers he makes! My dads life is worth more than ANY appliance GE Appliances Park makes! We cannot forget our Louisville family and friends that work for GE. This is a NONESSENTIAL business.

Instead of halting operations, management announced a brief, 48-hour closure of Building Three and that the infected worker who worked there was put in quarantine. When work resumes today, the affected area where the employee worked will still be off-limits for 14 days, the company said, while production continues in the unaffected area, according to a report in the Louisville Courier Journal.

Union officials have told workers to place their confidence in local Democratic Party politicians, who have invariably sided with the company. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said during a press briefing on Wednesday, "GE has got to be looking at the sustainability of their business and how long that they can be down. They alsoI know they areworking through the lens of it has to be safe as well  There's a strong desire, I believe, on both sides here to have a safe facility so that they can operate and that they can sustain the business and grow the business as well."

With anger growing, IUE-CWA Local 83-761 President Dino Driskell sent a memo to workers claiming that he is "pushing the company to respond to our demands and take this virus seriously park-wide. He added reluctantly, I will be exploring the possibility of taking a park wide strike vote in light of the company's unwillingness to respond to this crisis.

Workers face similar conditions at the larger General Electric conglomerate, which continues to operate power, renewable energy, oil and gas, aviation, healthcare, transportation, and lighting divisions. After cutting tens of thousands of jobs, the companys stock prices shot up 50 percent in 2019, and it paid its CEO Larry Culp $24.6 million, up by more than 50 percent from $15.4 million in 2018.

General Electric has responded to the pandemic with a new round of mass layoffs, announcing last week that it will lay off nearly 2,600 workers at GE Aviation, or 10 percent of the divisions domestic workforce, in order to save between $500 million and $1 billion.

GE Aviation workers at the companys Lynn, Massachusetts aircraft engine plant have been demanding the closure of the plant for weeks, even as management and the IUE-CWA kept the 1,260 hourly workers on the job.

The machinists, hand-tool operators, and inspectors who build jet and helicopter engines for the US military were concerned that their shared workstations werent being sanitized between around-the-clock shifts while the highly contagious coronavirus ravages the country, the Boston Globe reported last week. They knew of co-workers who had reported to work with COVID-19-like symptoms because they couldnt get tested and didnt have enough sick time to quarantine themselves. They worried about their 300-plus co-workers over the age of 60, who are considered higher-risk.

A work crew nearly revolted shortly after clocking in last Friday when they learned that two members of a coworkers household had tested positive. According to the Boston Globe: A union representative yanked the roughly 20-member crew outside, called in union higher-ups, and pleaded with the company to allow everybody to be sent home, with pay, for two weeks. When that was rejected, the union tried for five days of self-quarantining until the mans test results came back, followed by temperature checks at the plants medical center before anyone was allowed back to work  The companys solution: Clear the building for a two-hour deep-cleaning of work spaces and common areas that day, then back to work.

The Globe added: The [infected] man quarantined himself for a week but ran out of sick time  GE workers get only the state-mandated 40 hours a year of paid sick leave  and worked last week with a cough and red, glassy eyes, the Globe reported.

On Monday, after another worker was sent home, workers in Building 74 on the second shift gathered in the parking lot and chose not to work in abnormally dangerous conditions for work, according to a report in the Nation, and the third shift followed suit.

It was only after this that IUE-CWA decided to call a protest to try to get ahead of the workers job action. CWA International President Chris Shelton appealed to Democratic and Republican congressmen to convince GE to begin manufacturing ventilators at plants in Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Kansas, Kentucky, and Texas, along with implementing workplace health policies that meet the needs of those who are currently at work.

Hundreds of thousands of more ventilators must be built, and workers are willing and determined to do everything they can to save lives. At the same time, workers producing lifesaving equipment must be given the protections they need.

But the corporate-controlled politicians who just backed the multitrillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street and giant corporations are not going to do anything that cuts across the profit interests of big business, no matter how many lives will be lost. GE Healthcare has said it is raising output at its Wisconsin plant, but will not release any numbers. As for the joint GE-Ford plan to produce 50,000 ventilators in Michigan, this will not be accomplished until July, long after the expected peak of the pandemic in the US.

Emergency action must be taken now based on what workers need not what the companies claim they can afford. GE workers should organize rank-and-file factory committees, independent of the company unions, to shut down all nonessential production, guarantee full compensation for lost wages, and guarantee safe conditions in the factories producing ventilators and other essential equipment.

Above all, the growing industrial movement of workers must be guided by a socialist program, including the nationalization of GE and other corporations, with no compensation to their wealthy shareholders, and their conversion into public utilities committed to production for human need, not private profit.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 18:25:27|Editor: yhy

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KAMPALA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military has built a 100-bed field hospital to combat COVID-19 in the East African country, a military spokesperson said here Friday.

Lt. Col. Henry Obbo, spokesperson for the Land Forces, told Xinhua that the makeshift hospital will be used to treat patients infected with COVID-19.

"We are going to start treating people from here. It's a level-two hospital, according to United Nations standards. It will be fully operational by the end of this week," said Obbo.

The hospital is located at the Bombo army headquarters, about 21 km north of the capital, Kampala.

Uganda currently has 45 confirmed COVID-19 cases, a majority of which are imported, according to the country's health ministry.
Several Opposition leaders have rebuked Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to light candles or torches at 9 pm on April 5 to fight the 'darkness of novel coronavirus'.

PM Modi urged all Indians to go to their balconies this weekend and light a lamp or candle to at 9 pm for nine minutes in a short video message on April 3.

To track all live updates from the coronavirus pandemic, click here



Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease peoples pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by Indias Photo-Op PrimeMinister!

 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 3, 2020



Turn out lights & come on balconies?

GET REAL MR. MODI! Give India fiscal pkg worth 8-10pc of GDP Ensure immediate wages to construction & other labour during lockdown- laws exist permitting this Stop gagging real press in name of curbing fake news  Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 3, 2020

Among Opposition leaders who reacted sharply to this was Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. He was joined by leaders like P Chidambaram and Mahua Moitra shortly who took to social media to taunt the gesture.

Notably, this is the second such collective gesture that the PM has called for since the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus in India. The first one was scheduled on March 22  the day the Janata Curfew was imposed. After the curfew ended, he had asked people to come to their balconies and ring a bell, clap, or clang utensil as a mark of their respect and support of healthcare workers who are on the frontline of fighting the disease.
[April 03, 2020] ExxonMobil Contributions to Houston-Area Food Banks to Provide One Million Meals

ExxonMobil will help provide about 1 million meals to Houston-area residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through $250,000 in contributions to local food banks. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005348/en/ The Houston Food Bank will receive $200,000, including $50,000 worth of gasoline gift cards for use at Exxon- and Mobil-branded retail stations to help deliver food to those in need. The Montgomery County Food Bank will receive $50,000 from the company, which has a long history of support for the community organizations. "We value the important roles the Houston and Montgomery County food banks are playing in supplying food to vulnerable populations in the Houston region during these difficult times," said Suzanne McCarron, vice president of public and government affairs at ExxonMobil. "We hope our contributions will help their efforts and those who need assistance as our community pulls together to defeat COVID-19." The Houston Food Bank is working with hundreds of nonprofit agencies in the area to feed children, families and senior citizens facing hardship as a result of COVID-19. "Hundreds of thousands of people count on Houston Food Bank and its partners, and this number has heightened significantly as the COVID-19 situation developed and continues," said Brian Greene, president and chief executive officer of Houston Food Bank. "We provide essential services and will continue to do so to meet the demand of the community, but we cannot do it alone. This generous donation from ExxonMobil will allow us to provide food for children, senior citizens and families, including the most vulnerable, those who don't have the means to have reserves of food and other necessities. We thank ExxonMobil for being an amazing partner, especially in this unprecedented time of need." The Montgomery County Food Bank is also seeing a significant spike in demand for food and is working with more than 60 partner agencies, local independent school districts and senior adult partner complexes to ensure safe distribution in this time of need. "We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous donation from ExxonMobil," said Allison Hulett, president and chief executive officer at the Montgomery County Food Bank. "Tens of thousands of people are looking to us for hunger relief during this challenging time. We are so thankful for their support so we might add a measure of stability to those affected in the form of their nxt meal."



ExxonMobil, which has about 11,000 employees living and working the greater Houston area, remains focused on keeping its workforce safe and healthy to maintain its operations and maximize production of materials critical to the global response. The company is the leading U.S. producer of isopropyl alcohol which is used to manufacture hand sanitizer, and also produces polypropylene, which is used to make protective masks and face shields.

ExxonMobil is also working with the Global Center for Medical Innovation to design and support the manufacturing of reusable shields and masks for health care workers. About ExxonMobil Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), one of the largest publicly traded international energy company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world's growing energy needs. ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, with a focus on math and science in the United States, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria. In 2018, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $211 million in contributions worldwide. To learn more, visit exxonmobil.com and the Energy Factor. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Houston Food Bank Houston Food Bank's mission is to provide food for better lives. Last year we provided access to 104 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas through our 1,500 community partners which includes food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. We have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In addition to distributing food, we provide services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability, including nutrition education, job training, health management and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. We are a solution to food waste, working with grocery stores and growers to rescue food before it reaches landfills. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those we serve. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston Country, and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. About Montgomery County Food Bank Montgomery County Food Bank began in 1985 as a door-to-door operation run out of car trunks by a small group of volunteers wanting to serve those in need in their community. Throughout the past 30 years, generous donors and volunteers have built it into an organization capable of distributing over 8 million pounds of food annually. The Food Bank also hosts mobile food distributions, offers nutritional education programs, emergency assistance in the time of a disaster or crisis, and provides meal programs for children and senior citizens. Montgomery County Food Bank is 501(c)(3) chartered by the state of Texas and is a member of the Texas Food Bank Network and Feeding America. Its headquarters is located at 1 Food For Life Way in Conroe, near Hwy. 242 and I-45, just north of The Woodlands. For more information, to book a tour or volunteer at the facility, or to make a monetary donation or food contribution, visit www.mcfoodbank.org or call 936.271.8800. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005348/en/

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One way to change the properties of a material is to stretch it just a wee bit, so its atoms are farther apart but the bonds between them dont break. This extra distance affects the behavior of electrons, which determine whether the material is an insulator or a conductor of electricity, for instance.

But for an important class of complex oxide materials, stretching doesnt work so well; theyre as brittle as ceramic coffee cups and would break.

Scientists at the Department of Energys SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have now found a way around this problem for a complex oxide known as LCMO. They created a super-thin, flexible membrane from the normally brittle material, used micromanipulators to stretch it on a tiny apparatus and glued it in place to preserve the stretch.

By applying gentle heat to melt the glue, they could release and stretch the same transparent membrane again and again and watch it flip from being an insulator to a conductor and back again. Stretching also changed its magnetic properties.

We can really stretch and strain these things dramatically, by up to 8%, said Harold Hwang, a professor at SLAC and Stanford and an investigator with the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES). This opens a whole new world of possibilities that will have an impact beyond this particular study.

The research team reported its findings in Science today.

New ways to float free and stretch
Co-working space operators are rushing to offer their tenants rent holidays and suspended memberships as occupancy rates and new inquiry levels dwindle across the once-booming sector.

WOTSO has offices in Sydney and Melbourne. Credit:AFR

At the same time, the operators pleas to their own landlords for rent relief are largely falling on deaf ears.

Landlords arent going to give them any reprieve when they are owed $500,000 a month in rent, said Grant Philipp, founder of the co-working space broker Office Hub.

Mr Philipp said tenants now were simply upping and leaving even when they had a contract, with the operators unlikely to pursue legal recovery of relatively small amounts. In some cases, contracted tenants had done a moonlight flit and forfeited their bond.
Fourteen more COVID-19 cases have been reported from Rajasthan, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 154, informed the state Health Department on Friday.

The total includes two Italians and 23 Tablighi Jamaat attendees.

Out of these fourteen people, seven in Tonk are close contacts of people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin area of Delhi and seven are those who attended the event themselves.

A total of 17 out of 26 positive cases have recovered in Bhilwara so far, including the two who recovered today.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases rose to 2301 in India on Friday, including 156 cured/discharged, 56 deaths and 1 migrated, as per the data provided by 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.)
Manitoba's first long-term care home with a possible coronavirus outbreak has people in Gimli and provincial health officials on high alert.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba's first long-term care home with a possible coronavirus outbreak has people in Gimli and provincial health officials on high alert.

A health-care worker at the lakeside town's Betel Home has tested positive for COVID-19 while nine residents are showing symptoms of respiratory illness, said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer.

Since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Canada on Jan. 27, officials repeatedly warned that the elderly and those living in personal-care homes could be at high risk to contract coronavirus. It's now estimated more than 600 care homes across the country have been affected.

In Gimli, all the residents with symptoms at the two-storey facility with 80 private rooms have been tested for COVID-19, Roussin said. The care-home worker tested positive Wednesday.

BETELHOMEFOUNDATION.CA A health-care worker at the Gimili's Betel Home has tested positive for COVID-19 while nine residents are showing symptoms of respiratory illness, said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer.

Roussin also confirmed that a positive case of COVID-19 was identified at Winnipeg's Riverview Health Centre in response to a reporter's question. In that case, an outbreak was prevented because of measures taken by the facility, he said.

Roussin has stated repeatedly that he will release information about reported COVID-19 cases only when there is a public-health benefit. "Because of the very strict social-distancing strategies that were in place there, in fact, (were) no other clients exposed," he said of the Riverview case without providing any further information.

"That investigation is done."

He said the Gimli care home has put in place infection controls and prevention processes to isolate affected patients and prevent further spread.

"We will be monitoring this situation closely," he said.

As will others in the town.

"It is a big concern because of their ages," said RM of Gimli Mayor Lynn Greenberg. "That goes for any personal care home with seniors in it."

"It is a big concern because of their ages. That goes for any personal care home with seniors in it."  RM of Gimli Mayor Lynn Greenberg

Since Canada's first major outbreak at the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, COVID-19 has appeared in more than 600 care homes in Canada and in more than 400 in the U.S. There have been at least 75 known COVID-19 deaths in Canada among residents of long-term care homes, the Globe and Mail reported.

An outbreak at the Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon, Ont. has killed 14 residents and one visiting spouse, and infected at least 24 staff members as of Thursday.

Greenberg said he has seen the news reports about fatalities in personal-care homes and does not want Gimli to become the next Bobcaygeon.

"We're very concerned but it's not time to panic," the mayor said Thursday. "We just have to let the people in charge of the agencies do their jobs."

Volunteers in the community of 6,100 have been delivering prescriptions and groceries to those who need help and everyone he sees is practising social distancing. Greenberg said he has faith in public-health officials and the staff and volunteer board that runs the non-profit Betel Home, which operates 171 personal care home beds in Gimli and Selkirk.

Johnson Memorial Hospital in Gimli is ready to care for COVID-19 patients, a provincial government spokesman said.

"All health regions and all health facilities have planned for a wide range of eventualities, including the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Gimli," he said in an email. Gimli is 90 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, and Lanette Siragusa, chief nursing officer for Shared Health, walk out after giving the province's COVID-19 update on Thursday.

On March 17, when the first presumptive positive COVID-19 cases were reported in Manitoba, Shared Health sent a letter to Betel Home in Gimli and other long-term care homes in Manitoba advising that access to visitors was being suspended to keep the residents safe.

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"Public-health officials, health-system leaders, facilities, providers and staff are taking all necessary steps to decrease the risk of spread of the virus," the letter said. "Across Manitoba, strict infection prevention and control precautions are now in place in all health-care settings, including long-term care facilities. For the safety of your loved ones, and upon the recommendation of public-health officials, we are immediately suspending visitor access to long-term care facilities across Manitoba."

On Thursday, staff at the Betel Home were either self-isolating or self-monitoring depending on their exposure to the worker who tested positive. Across the province, staff working in acute-care and long-term care facilities were being screened before their shifts began by having their temperature taken and being asked questions about their travel history and exposure to COVID-19.

In the coming days, requirements for expanded personal protective gear such as gowns, masks and gloves will be expanded to include all workers in patient-care roles, Shared Health's chief of nursing Lanette Siragusa said Thursday at the daily media briefing alongside Roussin.

"If we all do our part we can interrupt transmission of this virus," Roussin said, urging Manitobans to practise social distancing and to stay home.

"Stay home if you're having any symptoms  including health care workers  stay home when you're ill."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
ANNE DRAGO, Stonington, Girls Basketball, Senior; Drago was named to the all-tournament team at the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament. In two games, she scored 38 points and had eight rebounds.

DANTE WILK, Westerly, Boys Basketball, Senior; Wilk was named MVP of the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament after the Bulldogs beat Chariho in the title game. Wilk had a combined 35 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and eight steals in two tournament victories.

TYLER LABELLE, Chariho, Boys Basketball, Junior; LaBelle scored 41 points in two games to earn all-tournament honors at the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament. LaBelle had 22 in a win against South Kingstown and 19 in a loss to Westerly.

ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler, Girls Basketball, Senior; Hauptmann scored 32 points in two games in the Montville Christmas Tournament. She also had 20 rebounds, seven assists and eight steals.

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The balance between meeting U.S. need and protecting employees has been a challenge in some parts of the country, where unions and local politicians have protested the call for factory work in the midst of the outbreak. If we want to avoid a massive spread of coronavirus, it is necessary that the worker stay at home with his family, said the mayor of Matamoros, Mario Lopez Hernandez.
It's understandable if you feel frustrated when a stock you own sees a lower share price. But sometimes broader market conditions have more of an impact on prices than the actual business performance. So while the China Education Group Holdings Limited (HKG:839) share price is down 13% in the last year, the total return to shareholders (which includes dividends) was -12%. And that total return actually beats the market return of -19%. China Education Group Holdings may have better days ahead, of course; we've only looked at a one year period. The silver lining is that the stock is up 4.2% in about a week.

Check out our latest analysis for China Education Group Holdings

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. 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.

Even though the China Education Group Holdings share price is down over the year, its EPS actually improved. It's quite possible that growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past.

It's fair to say that the share price does not seem to be reflecting the EPS growth. So it's easy to justify a look at some other metrics.

With a low yield of 1.7% we doubt that the dividend influences the share price much. China Education Group Holdings's revenue is actually up 40% over the last year. Since we can't easily explain the share price movement based on these metrics, it might be worth considering how market sentiment has changed towards the stock.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

SEHK:839 Income Statement April 3rd 2020

China Education Group Holdings is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. If you are thinking of buying or selling China Education Group Holdings stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst consensus estimates for future profits.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

It's not great that China Education Group Holdings shares failed to make money for shareholders in the last year, but the silver lining is that the loss of 12% , including dividends, wasn't as bad as the broader market loss of about 19%. On the plus side, the share price has bounced a full 2.6% in the last three months. It could be that the share price dropped so far that the business was cheap on the numbers, but the future will ultimately determine the value of the stock. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand China Education Group Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for China Education Group Holdings you should know about.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
[April 03, 2020] Prime Childcare Announces Newest Upgrade in Signature Software to Help Monitor Infectious Pathogen Spread Among Children and Parents - Prime Childcare V2.6 Now Supports Daily Body Temperature Checks to Protect Daycares and Other Facilities

HOUSTON, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Childcare (https://pccsoft.com/) recently announced it had upgraded its popular software suite to include daily temperature checks at check in. Prime Childcare V2.6 now allows temperature checks that can be customized to meet facility standards, while being compliant with various state and local mandates. Facility administrators set a maximum temperature threshold which alerts staff whenever a child exceeds that number, thus allowing receptionists to institute containment protocols as established by each individual facility. The daily and weekly numbers also provide important data needed by regulatory bodies to help understand real-time pandemic statistics as they relate to childcare facilities. Existing clients are asked to upgrade from V2.5 to V2.6 to see the newest additions to the software, explained in greater detail HERE. "With a global pandemic underway, regulatory bodies, local authorities, and childcare facilities are now requiring childcare facilities to check children's temperatures as they enter the building," said Prime Childcare CTO, Rob Smith. "It's becoming a ubiquitous practice that allows childcare professionals to screen for sick children before they are housed with other children. We understand that adding a new procedure can be complicated, and getting children through the door as quickly as possible is also a priority. So we've ensured that this new teperature check-in happens immediately during a normal batch check-in, and alerts receptionists immediately if there is a problem. We've made this as easy and streamlined as possible, to continue delivering the speed and convenience our customers have come to expect."



Prime Childcare Software V2.6 Managing a childcare center is a complex process that requires a variety of multitasking administrative functions, while also allowing for interpersonal relationships with children, parents and staff. Prime Childcare Software offers a host of software solutions that ease the burden on administrators and staff, with easy-to-use supported and constantly upgraded software applications built specifically for childcare settings, and all in compliance with local and federal security procedures.

Each Prime Childcare system is tailored to the individual facility, allowing administrators to make adjustments that suit their particular operation. Prime Childcare Software users are evaluated to determine specific needs and problem areas, map out customized plans based on those needs, provided live training and personalized support, given regular first-year evaluations of service, and given access to personal support whenever needed. Prime Childcare Software offers unprecedented benefits via a cloud-based childcare management system that evolves and grows as the business grows. And multi-device functionality and mobile apps make it easier than ever to engage parents in the childcare process, allowing administrators to involve parents in any aspect of the process they wish. Administrators can go online to schedule a demo or speak to a solution consultant about the many ways that Prime Childcare enables schools and daycares to provide quick, thorough check-ins, as well as manage a host of other administrative functions. About Prime Childcare Software Prime Childcare Software provides solutions for childcare centers of all types with its flagship cloud-based childcare management system. Using technical innovations, Prime Childcare Software is a leader in reliable, easy-to-use software that employs cloud-based web and mobile applications. Developed with the latest technology and built with the user in mind, Prime Childcare simplifies the most complex and time-consuming aspects of childcare administration, allowing caregivers to focus more on nurturing relationships with children, parents and employees. Learn more about innovations in childcare software solutions at: www.PCCSoft.com. Media Contact: Kristen Ortwerth

[email protected]

1-888-311-1351 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prime-childcare-announces-newest-upgrade-in-signature-software-to-help-monitor-infectious-pathogen-spread-among-children-and-parents--prime-childcare-v2-6-now-supports-daily-body-temperature-checks-to-protect-daycares-and-other-f-301034983.html SOURCE Prime Child Care Software

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Prof. Noam Sobel's laboratory in the Weizmann Institute's Department of Neurobiology specializes in olfactory research. The researchers previously developed a mathematical model that accurately characterizes a person's unique sense of smell - a kind of individual "olfactory fingerprint."SmellTracker, based on this algorithm, is an online test that guides users on how to map their sense of smell using five scents found in every home (spices, vinegar, toothpaste, various scent extracts, peanut butter, etc.). The smell test takes about five minutes and is able to monitor sudden changes in odor perception that may be an early indication of COVID-19 onset.The research team reports that the new tool has already successfully identified potential coronavirus cases, which were later confirmed. Aside from personal monitoring, the test will be beneficial because, as more data is collected, the researchers are more likely to be able to characterize a unique olfactory fingerprint for the early detection of COVID-19.Olfactory loss was not commonly reported in the city of Wuhan, China, where the first coronavirus outbreak took hold. Nevertheless, preliminary studies conducted in several countries, including Israel and Iran, show that this symptom appears in about 60% of patients.Scientists estimate that there are currently eight active strains of the virus, and Sobel's lab believes that olfactory loss may be a differentiating symptom of the various strains. If this turns out to be true, the SmellTracker will be able to map the various outbreaks geographically.Besides SmellTracker, the Sobel lab is distributing "scratch and smell" kits to confirmed coronavirus patients in an attempt to map their sense of smell, as well as a unique questionnaire.The venture, which was launched with backing from Israel's Ministry of Defense, will be officially promoted in the coming days in Sweden, France, and other countries. The scent test is currently available in English, Hebrew, and Arabic, and expected to be available in Swedish, French, Japanese, Spanish, German, and Persian.Source: Newswise
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ruled out, for the time being, a nationwide lockdown to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, even as his government faces increasing criticism over its reluctance to share projections as to how the pandemic will impact the country.

While several provinces have put restrictions in place, Trudeau indicated that Ottawa isnt yet prepared to take an extreme step despite the country recording over 130 deaths. Were not quite yet at that point, Trudeau told reporters.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

While Canada struggles with a spike in coronavirus cases, the Trudeau government is yet to release its internal projections unlike other countries like the United States. This has led to a volley of criticism even as the countrys most populous province Ontario will release its modelling data, which its leader has warned will make for a sobering discussion.

Ontario premier Doug Fords statement was stark, as he said, It will be a real wake-up call. I dont believe in holding back figures in this crisis. We have to be fully transparent with the people of Ontario, no matter how hard it is.

Also read: Canada to organise 6 flights out of India for its citizens stranded due to Covid-19 lockdown

Trudeau promised transparency as the country dealt with the crisis but his government has held back on making its projections public. He said, There is a range out there, and just highlighting that range is not as useful or important as being able to get clearer numbers and clearer analysis of what we are likely to face.

That lack of information has not gone down well in the country. Don Davies, health critic for the opposition New Democratic Party, underscored this point saying, We cant fight this virus blindly. Without access to federal data, Canadians are being left in the dark on the potential duration of physical distancing measures and our health care systems capacity to respond to the outbreak.

Former Health Minister Jane Philpott tweeted, This is not the time to hide bad news. This includes real-time updates, open-source data, best/worse case projections - in short, wed like radical transparency.

Provinces like British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta have either already released relevant data or are expected to do so soon.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

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Authorities identified the child as 2-year-old Gabriel Eason, police said in a statement. Officers found the child in the bedroom of a residence in the 900 block of Division Avenue NE after police responded to a call for an unconscious juvenile male about 8:25 a.m. Wednesday, according to a police report and the released statement.
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Unemployment claims in Ohio skyrocket higher to more than 272,000 in one week amid coronavirus crisis (cleveland.com)

Gov. Mike DeWine extends Ohios stay-at-home order until May 1 (cleveland.com)

Aurora nursing home resident dies of coronavirus; 10 residents, four employees test positive (cleveland.com)

Whats the unemployment application rejection rate? Ohio doesnt yet know (cleveland.com)

Travelers from outside of Ohio should self-isolate for 14 days, governor advises (cleveland.com)

Mapping Ohios 2,902 coronavirus cases, updates on trends (cleveland.com)

Coronavirus in Ohio

This graphic illustrates the increase in known coronavirus cases in Ohio since the first three were reported on March 9 through the 2,902 the Ohio Department of Health reported Thursday, April 2.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

The questions and answers from Mike DeWines Twitter Q&A on coronavirus (cleveland.com)

2,902 people in Ohio have confirmed coronavirus, 81 dead: Gov. Mike DeWines April 2 briefing (cleveland.com)

Inmate at federal prison in Ohio dies after experiencing coronavirus symptoms (cleveland.com)

DeWine: Masks OK for retail workers to protect against coronavirus, Ohio still considering whether everyone should wear one (cleveland.com)

Michigan recommends everyone strongly consider wearing masks in public to stop coronavirus. Should Ohio follow suit? (cleveland.com)

People are making masks to stop the spread of the coronavirus. How can we help share them? (cleveland.com)

Heres how much it costs to get coronavirus treatment (cleveland.com)

Antibody coronavirus tests could deliver faster results, better understanding of reach (cleveland.com)

Ohio State researchers say state coronavirus modeling will likely be public next week (cleveland.com)

Ohio parks are not closing to prevent coronavirus, but they could if they get too crowded (cleveland.com)

Gov. Mike DeWine closes pools, day camps under extended stay-at-home order (cleveland.com)

Many Northeast Ohio companies are hiring during coronavirus pandemic, and you can apply with a click of a button (cleveland.com)

An Ohio firms new machine can sanitize 80,000 masks a day for the coronavirus fight. Heres how it works (cleveland.com)

U.S. intelligence report shows China under-reported coronavirus cases, reports say (cleveland.com)

Ohio service-industry workers eligible for $1,000 coronavirus-relief grants from Samuel Adams, foundation (cleveland.com)

Giant Eagle hours change for first responders, elderly, others; closing for Easter (cleveland.com)

Catholic Church in Ohio cancels in-person Mass through May 3 (cleveland.com)

How do you shut off the work day, while working from home during the coronavirus crisis? (cleveland.com)

April 6 webinar to help manufacturers retool to supply medical gear in fight against the coronavirus (cleveland.com)

Crime

Boy, 10, suffers gunshot wound while playing outside with mother in Maple Heights (cleveland.com)

Appeals court reschedules Jimmy Dimoras oral arguments, will hold them by video due to coronavirus (cleveland.com)

Hit-and-run seriously injures pedestrian in Bay Village (cleveland.com)

Akron teen gets more than 20 years in prison for shooting (cleveland.com)

One dead after car crashes into former Ohio City Galley building in Cleveland (cleveland.com)

3 teens among wounded in 5 shootings in 6 hours in Cleveland (cleveland.com)

Cleveland / Cuyahoga County

A Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center employee and a juvenile court employee have been ordered to quarantine because of coronavirus.

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center, juvenile court employees ordered to quarantine because of coronavirus, memo says (cleveland.com)

Cuyahoga County Jail warden resigned after investigation found he retaliated against employees, used on-duty officer for airport drop-off (cleveland.com)

ArcelorMittal agrees to pay $5 million to settle claims it polluted air in Cleveland, Indiana (cleveland.com)

MetroHealth transfers skilled nursing patients to other nursing homes to free beds for coronavirus patients (cleveland.com)

MetroHealth plans to rent hotel for employees during coronavirus surge (cleveland.com)

How MetroHealth is preparing for surge in coronavirus cases at hospital (cleveland.com)

University Hospitals to test whether drug ARMS-1 can prevent coronavirus airborne transmission (cleveland.com)

Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University transform academic building into coronavirus surge hospital (cleveland.com)

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson extends coronavirus emergency proclamation through at least April (cleveland.com)

Ohio reports 20 new cases of coronavirus in Cleveland, lifting total to 148 (cleveland.com)

Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless calls for city, county action to protect the homeless during coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com)

Hard-hit Northeast Ohio refugees get a helping hand in dealing with coronavirus (cleveland.com)

Its scary, but we have to work: Some Cleveland-area essential employees get extra benefits for working during coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com)

West Side Market struggling but still open during coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com)

Greater Cleveland RTA to use ultra-violet technology to disinfect facilities, vehicles (cleveland.com)

Complaints of long lines at retailers, poor social distancing to protect against coronavirus dont pan out (cleveland.com)

Landscapers, lawn-care providers can continue operating under state order closing businesses due to coronavirus (cleveland.com)

Spirit Airlines suspending service at Cleveland Hopkins, other airports, for one month (cleveland.com)

Cleveland Metroparks close sites to keep others open during coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com)

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Kent States changes to fall 2020 admissions include waiving application fees, ACT/SAT requirement due to COVID-19 crisis (cleveland.com)

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Akron / Canton area

Summit County might release number of coronavirus cases in each zip code once total approaches 300, health department says (cleveland.com)

University of Akron waives application fees, ACT/SAT requirement for fall 2020 admission due to coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com)

State

Federal judge denies Ohios request to halt ruling permitting some surgical abortions during coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com)

Social Security recipients wont have to file tax forms to get coronavirus stimulus checks after all, Treasury says (cleveland.com)

Planning to vote in Ohios vote-by-mail primary? Youll probably need a stamp for your ballot application (cleveland.com)
8,500 foreign experts and employees want to enter Vietnam to resume their work

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has proposed the prime minister to allow 8,459 foreign experts and employees to enter Vietnam in the upcoming time. Upon entry, they would be isolated at a government-supervised facility for 14 days.

As of March 15, basing on the statistics submitted by locals, a total of 8,459 foreign experts and employees were looking to enter Vietnam, 2,000 of whom are working on key projects such as the Cat Linh-Hadong Metro Line (100 people), Vinh Tan 1 thermal power plant (76 people), the LG Display project in Haiphong city (200 people), Samsung Display Vietnam in Bac Ninh province (700 people), and Texhong Co., Ltd. (77 people). Besides, Samsung Electro-Mechanics Vietnam Co., Ltd. and its partner in Thai Nguyen province are waiting for 150 experts and senior employees.

According to Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh, there were a total of 94,000 foreign employees, licensed and unlicensed, working in Vietnam before the epidemic. At present, 68,521 people are working in Vietnam, 15,310 (22.4 per cent) of whom are Chinese and 23,581 (34.4 per cent) are South Korean.

The number of foreign experts and employees who returned to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday and have yet to return to Vietnam due to the COVID-19 pandemic is 25,479, 19,113 of whom are Chinaese (75 per cent) and 3,766 are South Korean (14.8 per cent). Almost all of them are experts, managers, and skilled personel.

The proposal was made to ease the current shortage of senior human resources who cannot come back to Vietnam due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to enterprises, this shortage cannot be offset by recruiting new human resources because most of the affected positions are of senior employees who have both skill, language skills, as well as management and operating experience. This is the same reason why it is difficult to train alternative employees in a short time.

If the shortage of experts and senior employees lasts for a long time, it will impact the progress of key national projects and other essential projects. In addition, it will also impact on other positions in the companies, the document noted.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday reiterated that his country would not forget slain journalist Daniel Pearl after a Pakistani court a day earlier commuted the death sentence of his murderer Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh to a prison term of seven years.

The United States will not forget #DanielPearl. We continue to honour his legacy as a courageous journalist and demand justice for his brutal murder, Pompeo tweeted.

The United States on Friday criticised the Pakistani court for overturning the death sentence of Sheikh, calling the verdict an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere.

The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearls murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere, Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, said in a tweet.

But the top diplomat for South Asia, however, welcomed Pakistani prosecutors indications that they would appeal the decision.

We welcome Pakistans decision to appeal the verdict. Those responsible for Daniels heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice, Wells said.

Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh, the terrorist who had been convicted of the 2002 abduction and murder of journalist Daniel Pearl, had his death sentence commuted to a prison term of seven years by a Pakistani court on Thursday.

The Sindh high court ruling came in response to appeals by Sheikh and three other men convicted in connection for the killing of the Wall Street Journal journalist.

The high court overturned the verdict of an anti-terrorism court.

Sheikh (46), a British citizen of Pakistani origin, was freed by India with Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar and terrorist Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar in exchange for the passengers of Indian Airlines flight IC-814, which was hijacked by a group of Pakistani terrorists and taken to Kandahar in December 1999.

The murder conviction of Sheikh was overturned by the high court, which found him guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping, for which he was given the seven-year prison term.

The court also acquitted and set free the three other men  Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil, who were earlier sentenced to life imprisonment.

Daniel Pearl was an American national and the South Asia bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal. He was kidnapped in Karachi on January 23, 2002 and later beheaded by his abductors.

The four men were convicted by the anti-terrorism court on July 15, 2002. They filed appeals in the high court four days later.

Pakistans Sindh province government on Friday invoked the Maintenance of Public Order to keep in jail the British-born al-Qaeda leader. He has been in jail for the past 18 years.

The Sindh government acted swiftly to invoke the MPO which allows it to keep the four convicts behind bars for three months.

According to a notification issued by the Sindh Home Ministry, the release of Sheikh and his three associates could jeopardize the law and order situation in the province, thus necessitating their continued detention.
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Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 11:30 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f71be6 1 National BPJS,BPJS-Kesehatan,Jokowi,JKN,HealthcareServices,healthcare-insurance,healthcare Free

Participants of the national health insurance (JKN) program will still need to pay their recently increased premiums in full as the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS) scrambles to formulate a follow-up regulation following a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the premium increases.

The company will eventually lower its premiums once the plan is settled and will return the excess payments to participants, BPJS Kesehatan spokesman M. Iqbal Anas Maruf said.

The state-owned insurance agency is drafting a plan for JKN participants to obtain their premium overpayments that had been disbursed throughout this year. However, he said the company had not yet decided when the premiums would return to normal. The agency was also determining whether it would repay the excess payments from January, when the new premiums were implemented, or in March when the insurer received the court ruling.

But according to our plan, those overpayments will be credited to JKN participants BPJS Kesehatan accounts, so they might not have to pay premiums in the following month, Iqbal told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. So, the public doesnt have to worry as we will comply with the Supreme Courts decision.

The court rejected the premium hikes in late February, ruling in favor of the petitioners, individuals grouped under the Hemodialysis Patients Community, which filed a judicial review against the premium increases they deemed too high.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo signed a presidential regulation on healthcare security last year that stipulated an increase in BPJS premiums starting January this year. The move was expected to help the insurer overcome financial losses that had been dragging down the company.

The government doubled the premium for first-class services to Rp 160,000 (US$9.69) per month per person, while more than doubling the premium for second-class services from Rp 51,000 to Rp 110,000.

The premium for third-class services was increased 64 percent from Rp 25,500 per month to Rp 42,000.

Read also: Joy as court nixes premium hike, but deficit storm looms

As the ruling is deemed inviolable, the government and BPJS Kesehatan are obliged to lower all premiums to their initial values before the hike was effective.

However, Iqbal said both the government and the agency could not lower JKN premiums right away if the government had yet to issue another regulation to replace the revoked presidential regulation.

We have reviewed the court ruling and have been coordinating with the State Secretariat to issue a new regulation for the premiums. Its all being processed, he added.

Timboel Siregar, advocacy coordinator at state insurance watchdog BPJS Watch, lambasted the government and the agency for not expediting the issuance of the new regulation.

He also said reducing JKN premiums was crucial as it could alleviate financial difficulties endured by the participants -- especially informal workers -- due to the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Despite facing a financial hit, the participants were still obliged to pay JKN premiums each month. Otherwise, their participation in the insurance scheme would be terminated.

After the regulation is issued, those who are less fortunate should not have to pay premiums this month as they can pay them with overpayment credits. Therefore, they can reallocate this months JKN budget to buy basic needs such as groceries and medicine during this crisis, he added.
Another 100 people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet in New Delhi from Tamil Nadu have tested positive for COVID-19, state health secretary Beela Rajesh said here on Friday. With this the number of coronavirus positive people from the Nizamuddin cluster has gone up to 364 in the state.

The total number of infections in Tamil Nadu is now at 411 and 7 people have recovered/discharged so far.

"Today 102 new positive cases reported in Tamil Nadu, out of them 100 people had participated in Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 411, out of which 364 had participated in Delhi's Jamaat event," Rajesh told media here.

The health secretary also said that a total of 1200 people, who participated in last month's Markaz Nizamuddin congregation of Tablighi have been traced in the state. "All of them have been placed under quarantine," she added.

According to the district wise break up Chennai reported 81 cases, the highest number of cases in the state followed by Dindigul, which had 43 cases.

State Health Minister C Vijayabaskar also took to twitter to post: "Number of #COVID19 cases reaches 411 including seven discharged people in Tamil Nadu. 1,580 COVID-19 infected and possibly infected people are admitted to different hospitals in the state."

The Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi has emerged as a hotspot for COVID-19 after several positive cases from across India were linked to the gathering including deaths in Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.

An FIR was earlier registered against Tablighi Jamaat head Maulana Saad and others under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 in the capital.

Several state governments are tracing and identifying all those who attended the gathering. A large number of people in different states have already been placed under quarantine as a precautionary measure.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The fight over the fee increases is not over. Several lawmakers have introduced legislation that would block them. The legislative session is on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak, but the bill could be revived when lawmakers return. A group of airlines, airport construction companies and others who operate at Sky Harbor have started an advertising and lobbying campaign to stop it.
When Bryson Frye was born Wednesday afternoon at St. Francis Eastside Hospital he entered the world to an audience of one, thanks to the coronavirus outbreak.

But he still got a long-distance welcome party, thanks to family friends who went to great heights, Bryson's dad, Gary Frye, said.

"I'm just grateful that St. Francis let me in," Frye said. "A lot of hospitals right now are only letting the mothers come in."

Frye said no visitors are allowed in the hospital and everyone who goes in has to go through a screening process.

Frye said his wife, Brooklyn, went into labor and ended up having a C-section.

Bryson weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces, Frye said.

The couple is from Duncan, South Carolina, and most of their family members live in Columbia, Orangeburg and other out-of-town locations, Frye said.

Related video: Family unable to enter hospital due to COVID-19, gathers outside window to see new family member

"We have a group of friends here: They're my family," Frye said. "They couldn't come in to celebrate, so they drove to the top of the nearest parking garage, the only place they could see the hospital room window."

The group gathered Thursday afternoon and held signs that read "Welcome to our family" and "Happy Birthday" to show love and support, Frye said.

It was the next best thing to being there, Frye said. "Not to mention all the support by phone ... love felt all around."

"I have an amazing bunch of loving friends," he added. "Family and friends are what keep us all connected personally through this time."
On March 31, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) announced the 2020 Class of SIAM Fellows. These distinguished members were nominated for their exemplary research as well as outstanding service to the community. Through their contributions, SIAM Fellows help advance the fields of applied mathematics and computational science. Professor Zhang Pingwen from the School of Mathematical Sciences, Peking University is inducted for his contributions in complex fluids modeling, multiscale analysis, and adaptive grid computation. Professor Zhang is the only member to be elected this year among all faculty members from universities on the Chinese mainland.

Zhang Pingwen, vice president of Peking University and professor of the School of Mathematical Sciences, has published more than 100 papers in journals like JAMS, SINUM and PRL. His research interests include modeling and simulation of soft matter (complex fluids), applied analysis and numerical analysis, moving mesh methods and applications.

SIAM, the world's largest professional association devoted to applied mathematics, is an international community of over 14,000 individual members. It was incorporated in 1952 as a nonprofit organization to convey useful mathematical knowledge to other professionals who could implement mathematical theory for practical, industrial, or scientific use.

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A major new study titled Pandemics Depress the Economy, Public Health Interventions Do Not: Evidence from the 1918 Flu, by MIT economist Emil Verner and others, and published as a working paper in the Social Science Research Network, puts the role of public health measures and financial welfare during public health crises into perspective.

The study was motivated by the need to glean lessons from the 1918-19 pandemic, which could help frame health policies for the current day. Were interested in what the expected economic impacts of todays coronavirus are going to be, and what is the right way to think about the economic consequences of the public health and social distancing interventions we see all around the world, Verner says.

Raring to go or clamping down on the virus?

As a significant part of the world continues to reel under the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, lockdowns have become commonplace in many countries. The resulting economic losses have led to much debate and controversy about whether the global financial recession or the next great depression is lurking around the corner. Heads of state are concerned about whether prolonging the lockdowns will delay economic recovery, and many are in a hurry to get the country back to work to limit the losses.

However, this is precisely the opposite of what the paper says. Rather than relaxing the public health measures aimed at reducing deaths from the pandemic, the best way to ensure a more robust economic recovery is to implement stricter measures like shutdowns and banning public gatherings.

The study

The study is based on an analysis of US data from the great flu pandemic that swept the world in 1918-19. The researchers looked at data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on mortality during the pandemic; economic data from the period from the US Census Bureau; and banking data from the reports compiled by economist Mark D. Flood, using the government-published Annual Reports of the Comptroller of Currency.

The researchers looked at 43 cities affected by the pandemic. Overall, there was a drop in manufacturing output by 18% during this period, lasting until 1923, even though the last of the pandemic receded in 1919. Other measures of economic output that declined markedly and persistently included bank loans and the inventory of consumer durables. Both manufacturing power and purchasing power were reduced during this period.

Social distancing and economic outcome

Those familiar with public health crises and interventions know that social distancing has always been related to differences in health outcomes. The current paper adds the aspect of resulting changes in economic activity to this awareness. They found that economic outcomes changed with the strictness of the social distancing policies.

The authors say, Cities that acted more emphatically to limit social and civic interactions had more economic growth following the period of restrictions. This applies even to cities like St. Louis, which brought in strict public health recommendations just ten days earlier than other more lenient cities like Philadelphia. The former category saw a 5% increase in manufacturing jobs relative to the latter, from 1919 through 1923.

Again, cities which had social distancing in place for 50 extra days, like Oakland, California, Omaha, Nebraska, and Portland, Oregon saw a further 6.5% increase in manufacturing jobs compared to those which didnt (like Philadelphia; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Lowell, Massachusetts).

Bank struggles

There were a lot of loans written off in the years following the flu of 1918, chiefly because banks were accepting these loans as losses due to the economic upheaval secondary to the pandemic. However, it is interesting that cities like Albany and Syracuse, New York; Boston; and Birmingham, Alabama  all of which had social distancing in place for less than 60 days  experienced greater banking instability compared to other parts of the country.

What is the conclusion?

Todays US economy is more service-oriented than in the 1920s, with less manufacturing output. Secondly, the flu pandemic targeted healthy young adults, dealing a body blow to manufacturing industries. Despite these differences, however, the economists see a clear lesson for todays policymakers.

The first lesson, he says, is simply this: Pandemic economics are different than normal economics.

Verner says, We find no evidence that cities that acted more aggressively in public health terms performed worse in economic terms. If anything, the cities that acted more aggressively performed better. This means he says that there is no validity in the concept of a trade-off between economic welfare and public health. Instead, the greater the impact of a pandemic, the greater the delay in rebuilding the economy. Its as simple as that. Therefore, the government should wholeheartedly devote all its efforts to clamping down on the pandemic right now. Because public health interventions not only save lives, but soften the economic impact of a pandemic.
Want to find out how to design and build materials atom by atom? A new liquid phase electron microscopy will advance full control of nanoengineering. Far more than that, nanotechnologists will say, in a new study published in the journal Science. Whether a material catalyzes chemical reactions or impedes any molecular response is all about how its atoms are arranged. The ultimate goal of nanotechnology is centered around the ability to design and build materials atom by atom, thus allowing scientists to control their properties in any given scenario. However, atomic imaging techniques have not been sufficient to determine the precise three-dimensional atomic arrangements of materials in liquid solution, which would tell scientists how materials behave in everyday life, such as in water or blood plasma.

Researchers at the Center for Nanoparticle Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS, South Korea), in collaboration with Dr. Hans Elmlund at Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute in Australia and Dr. Peter Ercius at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Molecular Foundry in the USA, have reported a new analytic methodology that can resolve the 3D structure of individual nanoparticles with atomic-level resolution. The 3D atomic positions of individual nanoparticles can be extracted with a precision of 0.02 nm -- six times smaller than the smallest atom: hydrogen. In other words, this high-resolution method detects individual atoms and how they are arranged within a nanoparticle.

The researchers call their development 3D SINGLE (Structure Identification of Nanoparticles by Graphene Liquid cell Electron microscopy) and utilize mathematical algorithms to derive 3D structures from a set of 2D imaging data acquired by one of the most powerful microscopes on Earth. First, a nanocrystal solution is sandwiched in-between two graphene sheets which are each just a single atom thick. "If a fish bowl were made of a thick material, it would be hard to see through it. Since graphene is the thinnest and strongest material in the world, we created graphene pockets that allow the electron beam of the microscope to shine through the material while simultaneously sealing the liquid sample," explains PARK Jungwon, one of the corresponding authors of the study (assistant professor at the School of Chemical and Biological Engineering in Seoul National University).

The researchers obtain movies at 400 images per second of each nanoparticle freely rotating in liquid using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM). The team then applies their reconstruction methodology to combine the 2D images into a 3D map showing the atomic arrangement. Locating the precise position of each atom tells researchers how the nanoparticle was created and how it will interact in chemical reactions.

The study defined the atomic structures of eight platinum nanoparticles -- platinum is the most valuable of the precious metals, used in a number of applications such as catalytic materials for energy storage in fuel cells and petroleum refinement. Even though all of the particles were synthesized in the same batch, they displayed important differences in their atomic structures which affect their performance.

"Now it is possible to experimentally determine the precise 3D structures of nanomaterials that had only been theoretically speculated. The methodology we developed will contribute to fields where nanomaterials are used, such as fuel cells, hydrogen vehicles, and petrochemical synthesis," says Dr. KIM Byung Hyo, the first author of the study. Notably, this methodology can measure the atomic displacement and strain on the surface atoms of individual nanoparticles. The strain analysis from the 3D reconstruction facilitates characterization of the active sites of nanocatalysts at the atomic scale, which will enable structure-based design to improve the catalytic activities. The methodology can also contribute more generally to the enhancement of nanomaterials' performance.

"We have developed a groundbreaking methodology for determining the structures that govern the physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles at the atomic level in their native environment. The methodology will provide important clues in the synthesis of nanomaterials. The algorithm we introduced is related to new drug development through structure analysis of proteins and big data analysis, so we are expecting further application to new convergence research," notes Director HYEON Taeghwan of the IBS Center for Nanoparticle Research.

This study is jointly supported by the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Samsung Science and Technology Foundation (SSTF), and the Molecular Foundry (U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility).
Days after Ratan Tata and Tata Sons announced Rs 1,500 crore contribution for the fight against coronavirus, the group has now opened its hotels for medical staff treating Covid-19 patients.

Days after Ratan Tata and Tata Sons announced Rs 1,500 crore contribution for the fight against coronavirus, the group has now opened its hotels for medical staff treating Covid-19 patients.

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) too has come out in support of healthcare professionals.

Supriya Sule, Lok Sabha MP from Maharashtra, tweeted about the noble initiative.

The Tata Group is providing accommodation at the Taj Hotel, Colaba and Taj Lands End, Bandra for Doctors and Nurses working in BMC Hospitals amidst Corona Virus Crisis.

Thank you so much Hon. Ratan Tata (@RNTata2000) Ji Tata Group (@TataCompanies) for your generous contributions. pic.twitter.com/2Os08k5k1Y  Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) April 3, 2020

"During these trying times, we at IHCL are keenly aware of our responsibility towards our community. As a reflection of our commitment, beginning today (Friday), we are offering rooms for the medical fraternity to stay while they combat the spread of the virus, news agency PTI quoted an IHCL spokesperson as saying.

The rooms will be available across seven hotels  Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End, Taj Santacruz, The President, Ginger MIDC Andheri, Ginger Madgaon and Ginger Noida City Center.

Actor Vindu Dara Singh too hailed the move on Twitter writing, In times of great difficulty, great men stand up and raise their hands !

Coronavirus cases have crossed the 10 lakh mark around the world with India registering more than 2,500 cases and over 50 deaths.
Twenty-two days after the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus a pandemic, the number of confirmed cases has reached 1 million. The US has seen the most infections, with more than 200,000, and more officially-acknowledged deaths than China, where the deadly virus was first detected. More people have also died in France, Italy and Spain than in China; Iran is heading the same way and Britain may be too. Here, The Independent examines some key figures generated by the outbreak.

1 million: Number of confirmed cases

A million people worldwide have tested positive for Covid-19 according to Johns Hopkins Universitys (JHU) tracking tool. Confirmed cases have rocketed in the weeks since the tally hit 100,000 on 6 March, about four months after the first cases emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

However, actual numbers of infections are likely much higher, according to Professor David Heymann of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Testing is being done in different countries in different ways and for different purposes, he told The Independent. In the UK right now testing is being done to diagnose patients  what youre seeing is the number of people they test that have signs and symptoms. People are only looking for cases or contacts of cases, and contract tracing is imperfect.

Only an antibody test validated for Covid-19 and administered in an epidemiological survey would provide a reliable guide to how many people have truly had contact with the disease, he added. The cases that are really mild and go undetected and unreported  thats 80 per cent of cases, and some infections are asymptomatic.

211,000: Total known number of people who have recovered from coronavirus

Many more people have recovered from Covid-19 infections than have died, though JHUs data tool notes that recovered cases outside China are estimates based on local media reports, and may be substantially lower than the true number.

Those who have beaten the disease include a 103-year-old woman in Wuhan who was treated for six days in hospital and a 95-year-old Italian grandmother from Modena. Alma Clara Corsini said of the medics who cared for her: They were good people who looked after me well.

In the UK, Prince Charles recovered and left isolation on Monday after experiencing mild symptoms, Clarence House said.

However, unless you do an antibody study on everybody, you wont know how many people have actually recovered from a Covid-19 infection, Prof Heymann said, because the majority of cases are mild.

53,000: Number of people who have died

The Covid-19 pandemics death toll dwarfs those of other respiratory outbreaks this century such as Sars and Mers, which killed fewer than 1,000 each around the world. Coronavirus is insidious, medics say, due to its long incubation period and the mildness of symptoms that most infected people experience. But it has not yet taken as many lives as the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, which killed at least 151,700 people of whom about four-fifths were aged under 65, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among the dead in Britain is a 13-year-old with no underlying health problems. In Wuhan, the virus claimed 34-year-old doctor Li Wenliang, who had tried to blow the whistle at the beginning of the pandemic. Vicars, actors, musicians, scientists, politicians, young, old, sick, well  the virus does not discriminate, though the elderly and those with co-morbidities are more likely to die.

Age, additional health problems and the capacity of hospitals to treat very sick patients are the factors influencing countries death tolls, said Prof Heymann. In Italy, which has seen the most deaths of any nation, more than one-fifth of the population is 65 or older.

6,000: Number in US who have lost their lives

Twice as many people have already died in the US outbreak as perished in the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001, but the grim total is expected to rise much higher still.

Donald Trumps top coronavirus advisers warned last weekend that the US could see between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths from the pandemic. Dr Deborah Birx said the chilling prediction could become reality even if we do things almost perfectly, while Dr Anthony Fauci said he would not be surprised if it came to pass. On Tuesday White House officials projected up to 240,000 fatalities even if strong measures are taken to flatten the curve.

Mr Trumps bullish talk about reopening the US within weeks ended swiftly when advisers presented him with models predicting those figures, Dr Fauci told American media on 29 March.

The president was forced to extend emergency measures until at least the end of April amid sustained criticism of his approach, which has included repeatedly downplaying the outbreak  he claimed previously that US cases would soon be close to zero and that Covid-19 was like the flu  feuding publicly with state governors over whether they really needed the support they were asking for, and making false claims about the availability of testing kits.

Now, Mr Trump admits that the US is facing a very bad two, and maybe three weeks as the outbreak peaks.

20,000: Number of doctors and nurses who have returned to the NHS

About 20,000 retired NHS staff have returned to help fight Covid-19 including doctors, nurses and paramedics in an amazing response to a government plea, Boris Johnson announced last weekend. We are going to [beat the virus], we are going to do it together. One thing I think the coronavirus crisis has already proved is that there really is such a thing as society, the PM said in a Twitter video.

Restrictions on pensions are being removed and people who are now considered members of at-risk groups can be assigned to roles that do not involve contact with patients, like supporting the NHS 111 helpline. Returning workers will be tested for coronavirus only if they develop symptoms.

Professor Maureen Baker, a former chair of the Royal College of GPs who is taking part in the scheme, told The Independent: Im encouraged by it. Its a vocation at the end of the day, even when youre retired  you still want to do something to help. Not everybody has to be on the front line. Taking up some of the slack to free up time for people who are currently in the work force is part of what can be done.

405,000: Number of people who signed up as NHS volunteers within 24 hours

Some 405,000 people signed up to Matt Hancocks NHS volunteer scheme within 24 hours of his announcing it, smashing the target of 250,000 and pushing officials to raise their goal to 750,000  which has now also been reached.

After Disclosure and Barring Service checks, health professionals and social care staff will be able to request help for at-risk patients through a call centre run by the Royal Voluntary Service, who will match people who need help with nearby volunteers.

That help can range from a phone call to an isolated person to delivering food and medicine. The government has told about 1.5 million vulnerable people, such as cancer patients, that they should stay home for 12 weeks in order to remain safe.

One quarter: Fraction of global population under lockdown measures

Rough calculations suggest that more than 2 billion people are currently living under some sort of lockdown or quarantine, a figure that does not include China, where restrictions on movement are now being lifted but also re-imposed in some areas.

Indias nearly 1.4 billion residents have been told to stay at home but adherence to the 21-day lockdown has been far from total. Religious gatherings have still taken place in Uttar Pradesh province while the chief minister of Telangana warned that police could be authorised to shoot lawbreakers on sight.

Schools are closed around the world and in many countries people have been told they cannot leave their homes except for food and medicine. Italy has charged nearly 110,000 people with breaking lockdown measures.

In the UK, contradictions between government guidance, new legislation and police understanding of those rules has led to criticism of heavy-handedness. One force boasted that it had issued a summons to multiple people from the same household going to the shops for non-essential items. On Wednesday The Independent exclusively revealed that most officers had no idea they would be enforcing the lockdown until Boris Johnson announced it on television.

Also on Wednesday, Republican senator Lindsey Graham  a Trump supporter  admitted that it was time to consider a national shelter-in-place order in the US, extending lockdowns that have been implemented so far at state level to the entire country.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

$22.58: Oils lowest price for 18 years

Oil slumped to its lowest price in nearly two decades on Monday. Brent crude at one point hit $22.58 a barrel  a level not seen since November 2002.

It was caused by a combination of a collapse in demand, with billions of people staying home or cutting back their vehicle use, and a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. The two major producers kept supplies high as Riyadh tried unsuccessfully to push Moscow into scaling back production.

Falling use of fossil fuels coincided with improved air quality in industrialised countries, experts said, pointing to lower concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. In Venice, with tourists gone, the citys famed canals ran clearer and wildlife returned to the waterways.

105,000: Number of new universal credit claims on a single day in March

About 950,000 people have made successful claims for universal credit (UC) in the last two weeks, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). More than one-tenth of those came on a single day, Tuesday 24 March, Therese Coffey previously told MPs, a figure comparable to demand during an ordinary fortnight. However, claimants have reported massive delays in the online system, with some told there were tens of thousands of people ahead of them in the identity verification queue. A DWP spokesperson said on Wednesday evening that those people were being called back.

This week the Resolution Foundation warned that ministers must get the UC system battle-ready for what it said would be an unemployment crisis, with claims outstripping the numbers seen during the 2008 financial crash. The government should extend the benefit to middle-income families and scrap rules on savings, the think-tank said, while speeding up payments by advertising the existing advance loan scheme  and, crucially, delaying repayments for six months.

Karl Handscomb, the foundations senior economist, said: The roll-out of universal credit in recent years has been beset by controversy. But its performance over the next few months is the real test of this new benefit system as it provides a living standards lifeline to millions of households.

The surge in benefit claims was mirrored across the Atlantic as 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in just one week, nearly five times the previous record.

$5.5 trillion: Estimated cost of recession in lost global GDP

The economic damage of the coronavirus recession could total between $650bn and $5.5 trillion globally, estimates suggest. Last year the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast global GDP would expand by 3.4 per cent, to $90.5 trillion. But a recent Reuters poll of economists found forecasts for global GDP growth had been heavily downgraded and now ranged between -2 per cent and +2.7 per cent. Applying the post-coronavirus-outbreak growth forecasts to the IMFs pre-outbreak baseline forecast gives the range of potential negative impacts in cash terms.

Lockdown measures designed to curb Covid-19s spread have closed shops, restaurants, bars, sporting venues and cultural attractions, forcing governments to step in with economic rescue packages for both businesses and workers.

Airlines in particular are demanding bailouts as tourism effectively has been ended by the pandemic. Spending by usually-numerous Chinese travellers has fallen sharply, while the European Union has banned all non-essential foreign arrivals until at least mid-April and the US has imposed similar measures on arrivals from Europe. Countries around the world have travel bans in place, with Australia only allowing citizens, residents and their families through the border.
An elderly Australian doctor trapped on a cruise ship off the coast of Uruguay will not have to test passengers suspected of having COVID-19 after all.

Daily Mail Australia reported on Thursday evening Dr John Clifford, 71, feared he would become infected with the dreaded virus after being asked to perform medical duties on the Greg Mortimer off the coast of Montevideo in Uruguay.

Aurora Expeditions spokeswoman Annabel Carroll told Daily Mail Australia on Friday it was all a big misunderstanding.

Dr John Clifford watches the Falklands go by while trapped upon the Greg Mortimer, which has been infected with the dreaded coronavirus

There are 90 passengers trapped on the Greg Mortimer cruise ship, which had departed Australia for the Antarctic on March 13

A drawing of the Greg Mortimer by Dr John Clifford's worried granddaughter

The cruise ship has been stranded since March 23 when a passenger came down with a fever.

Daily Mail Australia has been told at least nine people onboard the ship are believed to have become ill from COVID-19, with one finally removed after becoming critically ill.

Dr Clifford's wife, Margaret Zacharin, said matters had gone from bad to worse on Thursday with the ship's doctor overcome with illness.

'One of the two doctors employed onboard for that purpose is too ill to do his duties and the other doctor has requested help from the passengers,' she said.

Mr Clifford, who is an orthopedic surgeon that suffers from asthma, had been asked to carry out COVID-19 tests on his fellow passengers.

There are 90 passengers trapped on the cruise ship, which had departed Australia for the Antarctic on March 13.

'He's 71 years of age, he's an orthopedic surgeon - he deals with bones, not respiratory illness and he has asthma himself. The mortality rate for 70-80 years olds is up to 20 per cent,' Prof Zacharin said earlier.

'What do you think is going to happen if he starts dealing with sick patients? But it is very foolish to be looking at that rather than looking at urgent evacuation of that ship.'

The ship is operated by Australian travel company Aurora Expeditions, which Prof Zacharin said had two of its own expedition doctors on the vessel.

Ms Carroll, for the company, told Daily Mail Australia it would never ask a passenger to put themselves at risk.

'Under no circumstances would we ask an at-risk person to make themselves more vulnerable and the passenger has certainly not been involved in testing or providing treatment of any kind,' she said.

The Greg Mortimer has been trapped off the coast of Montevideo in Uruguay (pictured) since March 23 when a passenger came down with a fever

There are more than 450 infections linked to cruise ships, including 340 cases from the Ruby Princess (pictured off Sydney on Thursday) and 74 from the Ovation of the Seas.

Ms Carroll said the company now had a plan in place to treat the stranded and sick passengers on board the Greg Mortimer.

'We have a plan in place that is currently being executed to secure staff with the appropriate medical credentials to ensure the people on the Greg Mortimer have the care that we know they need,' Ms Carroll said.

'But we always plan for a worst case and like to know what resources are available. We apologise if that has been misinterpreted by any of our passengers or their families.

'As it now stands we have the appropriate medical support on hand and have not needed passenger assistance.'

Prof Zacharin said many of the passengers onboard the trapped vessel were Australian doctors.

Prof Zacharin said she believed the Uruguayan government had provided a berth for the ship but would not let it dock until the ship's doctor provided a report.

'Well he's too sick to write it,' she said.

On Wednesday, passengers of the Greg Mortimer were forced to watch from the isolation of their cabins as a charter flight they were blocked from joining lifted into the sky to repatriate 134 of their fellow Australians.

It remains unclear how long they will have to wait before they too are rescued.

'There isn't another charter flight being organised at this moment,' Prof Zacharin said.

The family has been in contact with everyone the opposition to the Deputy Prime Minister to try and secure safe passage for the passengers off the doomed ship.

'It needs to be everywhere,' Prof Zacharin said. 'It is personally unsafe and I'll certainly go to bat for my family, but it's also very foolish to be putting what is almost certainly a whole ship with COVID-positive - just like every other cruise or small ship - (together).

'You stick people in a Petri dish and they'll all get the infection. If they went home now, most of them would have little or no illness.'

Canadian passengers Chris and Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the Zaandam on March 27

'They're dying, so we have to do something,' the US president said. The Zandaam (pictured) and sister ship Rotterdam are fast approaching Florida and hoping to dock at Port Everglades later this week

Hundreds of Australians remain stranded on cruise ships across the globe, which are being monitored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

When the Morrison government announced a 30-day ban on the arrival of ships on March 15, at least 37 were in Australian waters and 90,000 passengers remained at sea worldwide.

Among the worst at risk is Holland America Lines MS Zandaam, which has seen dozens of passengers get sick and reports of deaths.

On Thursday, police escorted doctors to the Ruby Princess cruise ship after a seventh passenger died from coronavirus.

An 85-year-old patient from Darling Downs, in regional southern Queensland, became the seventh Ruby Princess cruise passenger to die from COVID-19.

There are more than 450 infections linked to cruise ships, including 340 cases from the Ruby Princess and 74 from the Ovation of the Seas.

Aurora Expeditions said in a letter to family and friends: 'There is no doubt this is the most challenging situation any of us have every experienced and our thoughts are with you ... All relevant government authorities are 100 per cent engaged.'
Neil Moye of Simply Natural Creamery donated gallon jugs for the first batch of sanitizer. | Photos: Contributed

Todd Jackson (left) and Nick Sanders compound hand sanitizer at 1000 Piers in Washington.

Hand sanitizer is compounded for distribution to public agencies and nonprofits.

As the residents of eastern North Carolina adapted to working from home and homeschooling, and the first cases of COVID-19 in Pitt and Beaufort counties were confirmed, community members began to look for ways to help.Facing a potential shortage of hand sanitizer, Dr. David Collier, professor of pediatrics and health disparities at East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine, had ordered a large supply of glycerin. Dr. Todd Jackson, director of pharmacy at ECU Physicians, had already begun compounding sanitizer with ingredients he had on hand and what he could source from the labs of other faculty members.Using the FDA-approved recipe from the World Health Organization, Jackson was able to provide hand sanitizer to Greenville's emergency homeless shelter, Community Crossroads Center, and other public agencies and nonprofits.Meanwhile, Nick Sanders, owner of 1000 Piers gin distillery in Washington, had been approached by city officials looking to use his supplies and equipment to help meet municipal sanitizer needs. The city's initial request was for 60 gallons, and Sanders reached out to Collier for help.Collier said. A timely donation from Simply Natural Creamery provided jugs and lids for the first production run.Collier said.Current challenges include sourcing hydrogen peroxide and more bottles - possibly for both bulk and individual distribution. Jackson is ensuring that the recipes are FDA approved and that labeling is correct.said Sanders, and all but three were gone by close of business the following day.Sanders said other business owners and members of the community have contributed funds as well.The first batch was distributed (some in 5-gallon paint buckets) to Washington EMS, DSM and homeless shelters in Washington and Greenville, Collier said.Sanders said.Hopefully, Collier said, the effort will provided a needed product for keeping health care and other public service professionals healthy.he said.said Jackson.The partnership reflects ECU's commitment to regional transformation, both in meeting the community's immediate needs and by helping provide a role for business owners and their employees sidelined by closures and the need for physical distancing.Collaborative efforts like this are an example of howsaid Dr. Sharon Paynter, vice chancellor for community engagement and research.
A Delhi court has sent a student of Jamia Milia Islamia, arrested for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to incite communal riots in northeast Delhi, to three days police custody, said a lawyer.

Meeran Haider (35), a PhD student at Jamia, is the president of RJD youth wing''s Delhi unit.

Metropolitan Magistrate Prabhjeet Kaur sent Haider for custodial interrogation after the police said it was required to unearth larger conspiracy in the case related to the recent communal violence in north east Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act, said the lawyer privy to the matter.

Rajya Sabha MP and RJD leader Manoj Jha had tweeted, "Delhi Police called him for investigation and then received orders from above and arrested Meeran Haider, who has been helping people during the time of coronavirus outbreak."



Chhatra RJD unit of JNU had also demanded the release of Haider and said the police should become ''people-friendly'' and not scare people.

The Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), a group comprising students and alumni from the varsity, had condemned the arrest and demanded his immediate release.

"The country is facing a massive health crisis, however, the state machinery is busy harassing and framing student activists in false cases to suppress voices of dissent," they said.

The JCC said Haider was diligently working to provide ration to the needy during the lockdown.

Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Frenzied mobs torched houses, shops, vehicles, a petrol pump and pelted stones at residents and police personnel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I nterior designer Daniel Hopwoods recent commissions have included the home of a Saudi princess, a monochrome bachelor pad for a high-flying City worker and a string of projects in Japan.

Its all a world away from his own apartment which, while small, is in one of London's most exclusive neighbourhoods.

Atop a Georgian terrace house just off Marylebone High Street, Hopwoods two-bedroom penthouse measures 87 square metres, just shy of 1,000 square feet  or around seven parking spaces.

As is the case with most compact London homes, every inch of space works exceptionally hard.

Hopwood, who likes to tweak home interiors frequently, says when you start repurposing rooms and furnishings you fall back in love with them.

As a judge and co-presenter on the BBCs The Great Interior Design Challenge, which documented the search to find Britains best amateur interior design talent across four seasons, architect-trained Hopwood is well versed in reimagining existing spaces.

The designer gave us a tour of his living room, talking us through the key decisions he made when giving it a recent seasonal update.

Watch our video for his top tips, above, or shop the look in our gallery below.

Get the look: Daniel Hopwood's own small London apartment 1 /14 Get the look: Daniel Hopwood's own small London apartment Clever design Interior designer Daniel Hopwood's deceptively small Marylebone flat is designed like a stage set where, magician-like, he creates different scenes with the tweak of a cushion, a new sofa cover, or even placing a screen behind the sofa. Here, MDF panels are covered in Shinrin Mono, a paper mural from Tektura by artist Kata Lips, in a grey-stained frame. The panels rest against the wall, temporarily covering a fabulous, handmade Japanese paper design behind it. Juliet Murphy Focus point Enclosing a grey velvet semicircular banquette and table, this curved window space has dazzling skyline views. Juliet Murphy Perfect fit "The new blinds are fabric but work like plantation shutters in that they are louvre but less harsh and flexible, more suitable for a modern room," says Daniel. To mark the new season, oversized cushions on the banquette have been changed to a Fifties revival fabric  Tropical Jungle from Lelievre. Juliet Murphy Like Fifties New York New bright yellow covers have been made for the 16-year-old B&B Italia sofa. Juliet Murphy Invest, and refresh "All the furniture is top-notch and long lasting, but I can re-cover pieces and switch panels, so you can change the feel without chucking everything out," says Daniel. Juliet Murphy Clever zoning To use every square inch, he studied how the Japanese live in small spaces. "I liked how they can make each room multipurpose by using sliding doors that can be opened to create open-plan living or closed to create an intimate space." Here, a sandblasted reeded-glass sliding door in an oak frame can close off the kitchen space when needed. Juliet Murphy Counter space The slip kitchen is done in porcelain, with pendant cord ceiling light over the counter from Buster + Punch. Juliet Murphy Bespoke design All cabinets were made by a joiner. Hopwood prefers drawers to cupboards, so there's no kneeling. Juliet Murphy Make it personal Daniel loves to mix and match high-end and less expensive pieces. He says the trick is customisation. Juliet Murphy Using every inch He has turned the second bedroom into a dressing room and library. At 1,500 a square foot, why have a spare bedroom? Juliet Murphy Keeping costs down He advises switching artworks around to create a new look without too much expense. One trick is to choose a length of wallpaper or fabric and frame it like a modern painting. Juliet Murphy Small tweaks Different bedding and cushions update the bedroom room  red and navy for winter, and now teal and grey for spring. Juliet Murphy Space-saving Hopwood has designed everything from grand homes for Saudi princesses to celebrity mansions, but small spaces are his speciality, not least because he lives in one himself. And London is full of challenging small spaces. Juliet Murphy Fall back in love He says it's easy to take your home's interior for granted. "You stop looking at it. When you start refreshing and adding, you fall back in love." Juliet Murphy

Daniel Hopwoods key design tricks

1. Wallpaper panels

If youre not looking to make a permanent change, wallpaper panels are an ingenious solution.

In Hopwoods main living space, behind a chartreuse yellow sofa, sits a set of four MDF panels covered in a stylish paper mural by artist Kata Lips.

The panels have been finished in a grey-stained oak edging that just makes it look smarter, says Hopwood. If youre going to move them around, and take them out again, you dont damage the paper.

Tektura, which makes hardy, fabric-backed vinyl wallpapers for hotels, printed the Shinrin Mono design to Hopwoods panel dimensions.

Behind the panels is a hand-painted Japanese mural, with beautiful golds and bronzes, that Hopwood says hed never want to get rid of. The panels, simply leaning against the wall, provide a refreshing update without having to do anything too drastic.

2. Make sustainable swaps

Hang heavy curtains in winter  theyre massively practical  then swap to lighter voiles in summer.

Clients sometimes dont want to hear it, he adds, but its one of the most sustainable things you can do to your home.

3. Indulge in tech  and make a feature of windows

It used to be that you needed reams of wires to install tech through the home, says Hopwood, But its such a treat.

He adds: When I was first renovating, Id spent an absolute fortune on the flat and was running out of budget. The last thing you think of sometimes is a window dressing.

Hopwood fitted some basic material blinds around the window seating area. But as sun damage took its toll on the dark fabric of the banquette, he started leaving the blinds down more often than not. I was forgetting that at night-time the church lights up and everything looks really gorgeous.

His solution? Powered silhouette blinds from Thomas Sanderson, which seem to curve with the window area and are operated using a pebble-like remote control.

These are louvre as well, which is quite clever, so you can change the aspect you've got in a room quite quickly.

Hopwood also rates Sonos music speakers - You can save up and add things as you go - and instant boiling water taps, so useful in a much-used kitchen.

Elsewhere in his home, Hopwood reveals a huge expense was his self-cleaning, self-flushing loo, a top-of-the-range Toto Neorest AC, which he loves: Its a good party trick, he laughs.

4. Invest in good quality, then adapt it later

Hopwoods B&B Italia sofa is over 15 years old. It just won't wear out, which is slightly annoying, he says, But it has Velcro on the covers so it can be changed.

He has just had new covers made in a vibrant Pollen yellow velvet from Lelievre, which look fabulous for spring and can always be swapped back for the original ones in colder months.

Cushions are easy to update, but Hopwood advises that we dont overdo it. Layers of cushions used to be in fashion, he says, but you should make them so theyre useful.

Try good-quality, large-scale cushions that measure 50cm to 60cm max.

5. Greenery

Bringing plants into your home shows the care that you have for the space that you live in, says Hopwood.

Place them into corners to soften the edges of a room, and play with different heights to make the space look more interesting.

On one side of his living room, he has plants in a high tub that he bought from Made, while hand-beaten pots from Clifton Nurseries sit on a sideboard and stool beside the sofa.

6. Cluster accessories

Group things to tell a story, says Hopwood.

A precious bronze jaguar sits on the living room storage unit, clustered with small trees and lots of greenery. Hopwood added an orange Fifties German ceramic for a bit of colour.

When you're displaying things, make it a story, make it seasonal, make it about you, he says. Make it about colour balance, just as any painting is.

On the windowsill sits another bronze. That's a Rodin bronze, says Hopwood, But you can take that and put it with something from West Elm or Made and everyone thinks it's something really expensive.

And does he mind when asked  for the umpteenth time  about The Great Interior Design Challenge?

Of course not, he laughs, I mean, it was years ago, but I was in a very serious meeting in Kyoto recently when the translator told me one of the architects had just realised he watches me on Netflix!

I learned a lot [from doing the show] about being resourceful.

You dont have one singular designer look anymore, which is what people were buying into in the late Nineties and early Noughties. Its now much more eclectic and warmer and softer.

You can get old pieces of furniture and do them up, mix and match old and new, be playful rather than having a homogeneous look.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Berlin, Germany  Fri, April 3, 2020 18:06 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f944d6 2 World Angela-Merkel,GermanyChancellorAngelaMerkel,quarantine,coronavirus,COVID-19,self-isolation,pandemic,health Free

German Chancellor Angela Merkel left her Berlin home for the first time in almost two weeks on Friday, after she was forced into quarantine following contact with a COVID-19-infected doctor.

Merkel has returned to her office, where she will continue to observe social distancing rules and lead the country via video and audio conferencing, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said in Berlin.

The 65-year-old leader had been in self-isolation at her flat in the German capital's museum district.

She learned on March 22 that a doctor who gave her a vaccination two days before was infected with the virus.

Merkel was tested several times, with all tests coming back negative.

People who have come into contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases are generally advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

While in isolation, Merkel kept working and held government meetings via video link.

Last weekend she released an audio message thanking Germans for heeding the country's unprecedented confinement measures and avoiding unnecessary social contacts.

The chancellor's popularity has soared during the coronavirus crisis, with Germans impressed by her calm and measured response.

In a survey for public broadcaster ARD published Thursday, 64 percent of respondents said they were very satisfied or satisfied with Merkel's work -- her highest approval rating since federal elections in 2017.

By Friday, Germany had recorded almost 80,000 coronavirus cases and 1,017 deaths, according to the Robert Koch Institute for disease control.

RKI chief Lothar Wieler said social distancing measures were proving effective.

"The spread of the virus is getting slower... it's working," he told reporters, while stressing that restrictions on public life "need to be maintained" and it was too early to hail victory.


The swelling victimhood politics, as well as the so-called "identitarian" division of America, did not appear naturally or unavoidably, as a lot of people believe. Neither are there practices that lead to minorities' uncontrollable demands for recognition, or past mistakes, as today's generation is repetitively told.

The pieces of information are myths which activists, philanthropists, and intellectuals spread. They deliberately set out, beginning in the middle of the century to redefine America.

The goal of these groups was mass recruitments for political ends, and among their earliest targets was the community of the Mexican-Americans. The activists attempted decisively to turn this community's Americans (most of them residing in the Southwestern states) contrary to their citizens, instilling in them to first consider themselves as a racial minority, then, as the center of the pan-cultural Hispanics group, an invented term without any basis in culture, race or ethnicity.

READ: Hispanic Baby Dolls For Your Little Ones

Mexican-Americans Traditionally Seeing Themselves as White

This conversion took initiative as a lot of Mexican-Americans had customarily seen themselves as whites. When the Mexican-American was classified by the 1930 Census as a race, the community leaders strongly protested and changed the classification back to white immediately in the next census.

Meanwhile, the most prominent organization of the Mexican-Americans during that time, the pro-assimilationist, patriotic League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) protested that the Mexicans' declassifying as white, had been a try to discriminate between themselves as the Mexicans, and the other white race's members, when, in reality, the fact that we're not just part and parcel, but the sum and substance too.

In addition, tracking their descent partly, to the Spanish who colonized the Central and South America, they considered themselves as the white Europeans' offshoots.

After half-a-century, a lot of Mexican-Americans had been convinced of a pretty much different origin story. Among the major persuaders was the 50s and 60s head of the Public Affairs Program at the wealthy Ford Foundation, Paul Ylvisaker.

He may have not been known that much today, but Ylvisaker exerted grate influence and power during his time, to advance a specific social justice vision, partially inspired by socialism, as well as its resentment politics.

He hoped as he wrote in an essay in 1991, entitled The Future of Hispanic Nonprofits that the Mexican-Americans could be formed into one solid front.

READ NEXT: Hispanic Influencers You Should Definitely Be Following This 2020

Seeing Philanthropy as the Social Change's 'Passing Gear'

Ylvisaker, envisioned philanthropy as the Social Change's "passing gear," set off to discover if something akin was probable with the Mexican-Americans. In the late 60s, he spent over two million dollars in seed funding to back the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a nationwide advocacy conglomerate with a still-existing headquarters in Los Angeles.

Looking back, in 1964, Ylvisaker handed a then ample amount of $647,999 to UCLA researchers for a thorough survey of the Mexican-Americans in the southwest.

READ MORE: Eligio "Kika" de la Garza: A Mexican-American Agricultural Revolutionary

And, among the things he wanted for the survey to discover was, "in what respect the experience of the Mexican-Americans was similar to the present time's Negroes."

Political scientist Peter Skerry from Boston College explained this particular movement in his book, Mexican Americans: The Ambivalent Minority which was published in 1993.

In this book Skerry wrote, the idea was to persuade people, who like blacks Mexican-Americans are composed of a group of racial minorities.

The concept doesn't pose any problem for the "ideology-oriented Chicano protesters" who perceive the world around them, in such terms.
The S&P 500's latest "death cross" may not be as ominous as the name sounds.

So says Miller Tabak chief market strategist Matt Maley, who noted that the bellwether index's 50-day moving average crossed below its 200-day moving average this week.

But in an interview Thursday on CNBC's "Trading Nation," he hesitated to sound the alarm.

The index closed more than 2% higher Thursday after another volatile trading day that saw crude oil prices log their biggest one-day percent gain ever. Record-high jobless claims and expectations of a deal on production cuts between oil heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Russia acted as opposing forces in the session.

However, with the S&P recently entering the death cross this week, some chart watchers might be worried that there's more pain to come.

"Normally, if that happens in a bear market, it's something you need to be very much afraid of," he said. "The last two bear markets, the stock market fell more than 40% after we saw a death cross in the S&P 500."

In the above chart, the S&P's 50-day moving average, in red, is shown crossing below its 200-day moving average, in green, on Tuesday.

But the S&P hadn't made such meaningful declines prior to entering its previous death crosses, Maley said.

"It was only a 5% decline when the death cross took place in 2000, and in 2007, it was only a 7% decline," he said.

"This time around, the market [had] already declined well over 30% because everybody realized immediately instead of gradually  when the economy shut down that things were going to be really tough," Maley said.

His advice? "Don't get too concerned" about some of the "dire warnings about death crosses" that you might hear.

"It's much different this time around," he said. "And therefore, even though I do think we'll get a retest [of the recent lows] and people need to be careful about chasing the market, if you let the market come to you, there's going to be some great opportunities in the next few weeks and next few months."

Michael Bapis, managing director of Vios Advisors at Rockefeller Capital Management, said that while a "portion" of investors' economic concerns have been priced into stocks already, that doesn't make navigating the market much easier.

"The toughest part of this is the fundamentals are out the window," he said in the same "Trading Nation" interview. "The earnings are going to be super unpredictable going forward. Unemployment and jobless claims are going to continue grow."

The dark cloud above everything is the widespread uncertainty about what comes next, Bapis said.

"We have such an element of uncertainty, not only fundamentally, but also from a moral and a health concern. People are juggling between [being] worried about health and the moral side of this as well as the economic well-being and their portfolios. They have major concerns there," he said.

"You're going to still see wild swings. I think the market's really trying to build a base here," Bapis said. "I'd be surprised if you see us go much lower than where we went the last two weeks because you saw mass panic selling. You even saw high-grade fixed income have massive outflows into just money market accounts. So, I don't think you'll see that type of panic again. I do think the worst is not over, but there are some values in these markets right now, and even if we fall another 10%, the values will be even higher."

Disclaimer
He switched his personal business operations to domestic relief efforts and tapped his business relationships with shipping and logistics companies to alert him if they had medical products they could send to the U.S. As a trusted member of his growing WeChat group, people sent him financial donations to buy whatever supplies he could find. He estimates hes received more than $30,000 on top of the tens of thousands of face masks and other medical equipment.
This is the dramatic moment police confront a bare-chested man carrying two samurai swords who caused panic after claiming he was infected with coronavirus and threatening a killing spree.

The violent incident took place at around 1.45pm this afternoon in the Madrid neighbourhood of Moratalaz.

The police vehicles took a battering as the Spaniard smashed their windscreens and bonnets with his two katanas.

He eventually had to be boxed in by police vans before being overpowered by officers on foot after disobeying orders to put down his weapons.

The bare-chested man was spotted at around 1.45pm this afternoon in the Madrid neighbourhood of Moratalaz. Several police vehicles took a battering as the Spaniard smashed their windscreens and bonnets with his two katanas

Police were alerted by paramedics and unconfirmed local reports said the man had fled hospital after falling ill with suspected coronavirus, although health officials could not be reached for comment.

A spokesman for Spain's National Police confirmed: 'Officers have arrested a man this afternoon after he threatened officers with two katanas.

'He is in custody and will face a fine for breaching lockdown orders as well as charges which will include resisting arrest.' Police sources said they suspected he may have fled a city hospital but were still trying to confirm it with health authorities.

Riot squad officers had to be brought in to arrest him and are said to have fired two dissuasive shots into the air before they managed to get him to the ground and cuff him.

Police were alerted by paramedics and unconfirmed local reports said the man had fled hospital after falling ill with suspected coronavirus

He eventually had to be boxed in by police vans before being overpowered by officers on foot after disobeying orders to put down his weapons

Footage showed him shouting before he was held: 'I'm going to kill you all, sons of b**ches.'

Parked cars were hit and damaged by the police vans as they tried to hem in the sword-carrying suspect.

A police union tweeted after the arrest: 'Our full support and recognition for our police colleagues, who have arrested a very aggressive and dangerous individual, who was armed with two katanas, in the Madrid neighbourhood of Moratalaz.

'Well done. With a taser it would have been much easier.'






While much of the world is sheltering in place, several new, never-registered Italian and French cars exited a 27-year confinement in Argentina. They were left for dead in an abandoned dealership that sold Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Peugeot models in a city named Avellaneda near Buenos Aires, the country's capital.

Details surrounding the dealership are murky. Argentina's Autoblog (no relation to us) reported it closed at some point during the 1990s after the owner and his son died in violent circumstances. Automotive archaeology tells your author it likely shut its doors in 1993, because that's the only year in which the first-generation Fiat Ducato launched in 1981 and the post-facelift Fiat Tipo, axed in 1995, overlapped. Both are clearly visible in the photos.

What's certain is that someone finally inherited the property in 2020 and wanted the cars gone as quickly as possible in order to sell it. The anonymous owner asked Kaskote Calcos, a local body shop that also runs a used-car lot, to haul them away via Instagram. We're guessing the firm didn't need to be asked twice.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Axel By Kaskote (@kaskotecalcos) on Mar 24, 2020 at 1:57pm PDT

Many of the cars hidden in the dealership were made by Fiat; the photos show several examples of the Tipo, an Uno, a Tempra, and the aforementioned Ducato. An Alfa Romeo 33 wagon and a Peugeot 405 were also stashed in the trove. Most were stored indoors so they weren't damaged by sunlight or humidity, and images of the cars taken after they were pressure-washed confirm they're in like-new condition inside and out. We're told some even started, though for the love of valves and pistons we hope they got a new timing belt before being fired up.

Kaskote Calcos hasn't revealed what it will do with the cars. None are particularly sought-after, they're economy cars that were mass-produced and mass-destroyed, and their current values reflect that. You can get a post-facelift Uno for the price of a few Peroni pints in Italy. The fact that they're new, never-registered examples will undoubtedly increase their appeal, even if registering them could require slashing through jungles of red tape.

Story continues

As a side note, finding a 405 beached in a Fiat dealership isn't as random as it might sound. In 1978, decades before FCA and PSA announced their ongoing merger, Fiat and Peugeot formed a joint venture named Sevel to manufacture and sell cars on the Argentinian market. The Italians took control of the company in 1981, but it continued to build French cars (including the 405) well into the 1990s. The Uno was made locally, too.

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New York Mayor Bill de Blasio thinks the army could be used to help fight Coronavirus. The Democrat said he doesnt think servicemen simply want to stay in their bases during the crisis.

De Blasio spoke to CNNs John Berman on Friday and pleaded for more medical personnel and supplies before suggesting military mobilization.

I can get to Sunday when it comes to ventilators, de Blasio said. Monday, Tuesday, Im not sure about yet.

Thats the blunt truth, he said.

The Mayor said hed asked the federal government for help and contacted every company literally on Earth but New York was still running out of supplies.

The toughest part of the equation is the people part. The personnel de Blasio said.

He said 5,000 people would soon need ventilators and medical attention from doctors and nurses but New York just didnt have the people available.

Watch the video:

JUST NOW: "We can only get to Monday or Tuesday at this point. We don't know after that. How on earth is this happening in the greatest nation in the world? "@NYCMayor pleading for more personnel and supplies.@NewDay pic.twitter.com/n02CNFRfoL  John Berman (@JohnBerman) April 3, 2020

We can only get to Monday or Tuesday at this point, he said. We dont know after that. How on earth is this happening in the greatest nation in the world?

And how are our military at their bases? de Blasio asked. I dont think they want to be there. I think they want to be at the front.

But they have not been given the order to mobilize, the Mayor said.

There are doctors now all over the country in private practice, going about their business, he added.

We need to treat this like the war it is.

President Donald Trump has called himself a wartime president during the pandemic. But he has been repeatedly criticized for not taking decisive action and was reluctant to invoke the Defense Production Act.

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Its a hell of a thing to be dealing with in the first weeks on the job, she said. 2021 is going to be difficult. We have to figure out how were going to plug that inevitable hole.

Hutson, Coleman and other nonprofit directors said the situation bears some similarity to what happened to nonprofits after 9/11 and the Great Recession . Hutson said there were declines in charitable giving, and that some organizations felt that it was not appropriate to solicit donations.

Hutson said hes advising clients to not be afraid of asking for donations, as some donors and corporations may still be able to support nonprofits they consider critical to the community. Direct solicitations may also be necessary for some organizations, particularly those that will not be able to hold annual galas or fundraising events that normally generate much of the money they need each year.

The $2 trillion federal stimulus, Hutson said, should also provide some relief.

There will be a brutal period ahead of us, but were projecting that our clients and many nonprofits will come out stronger on the other side, he said. But I dont want to minimize that the next few quarters will be a tough time.
(Natural News) More than 1,000 Americans died from the coronavirus on Wednesday. As you will see below, that now makes COVID-19 the third leading cause of death in the United States on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the number of Americans dying from the coronavirus is expected to rise even more in the weeks ahead. As the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally gets ready to cross the one million mark, many of those that initially attempted to downplay this pandemic are now changing their tune. I think that it really startled a lot of people when President Trump warned that 240,000 U.S. citizens could potentially die during this pandemic. Trump is taking COVID-19 very seriously, and everyone else should be as well. This is truly a major national crisis, and it is just getting started.

(Article by Michael Snyder republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

But even though I have been writing about this pandemic day after day, I didnt realize that coronavirus had already become the third leading cause of death in the entire country

A physician in San Diego, California, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are reporting that the coronavirus is now the third leading cause of death, killing 748 people a day in the United States. This is only outranked by deaths from heart disease (1,774 a day) and cancer (1,641 a day).

And as I noted above, more than 1,000 people died from the coronavirus on Wednesday, and so this pandemic is catching up to heart disease and cancer very rapidly.

In fact, there are some that believe that coronavirus will actually become the leading cause of death in the U.S. by mid-April

Some researchers say the daily death toll could more than double  to 2,200 or more  by mid-April. That figure would eclipse heart disease, the nations No. 1 killer with about 1,772 deaths per day, according to the CDC.

To say that we were unprepared for a pandemic of this nature is a major understatement.

There are shortages of essential supplies all over the nation, and the federal government has almost entirely depleted the inventory of personal protective equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile

The Strategic National Stockpile is deploying the last round of shipments in its inventory, depleting the bulk of its protective gear, according to a source familiar with the matter. The official added that the stockpile was never meant to serve as the only source of protective gear for the entire coronavirus response and said the states would need to get more supply from the private market.

We are supposed to have the greatest healthcare system in the whole world, but some of the things that we have been witnessing as this crisis has unfolded have been nothing short of horrifying.

There have been stories of doctors using the same mask over and over again, and in some hospitals nurses are being instructed to only use masks under very limited circumstances

Theres a perception among hospital nurses that our employers are not doing enough to protect us during this pandemic and that this puts our patients and the public at risk. Multiple hospitals across the country have insisted that nurses not use protective equipment except for those patients who have been placed on isolation precautions, even for patients who show symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but have not been diagnosed with it.

And if you can believe it, in some cases nurses have even been disciplined for wearing masks when they are not personally interacting with patients

As a result, some health care workers are facing the threat of disciplinary action for wearing masks in the hallways, elevators and shared clinical and nonclinical areas of hospitalsin some instances even if they come from the workers own supply. And a number of doctors and nurses are distraught over this, says Megan Ranney, associate professor of emergency medicine, Brown University. I have heard multiple anecdotes from colleagues in other states who report they were personally disciplined or lectured when seen wearing procedural masks in the halls of their hospitals, she remarks.

Is this really happening?

In one particularly disturbing incident, a nurse was actually asked to deal with very sick patients without wearing a mask at all, and that made national headlines when she quit her job and ranted about it on social media.

I dont know why every doctor and nurse in America is not wearing a mask at all times at this point, and those that are knowingly putting them in danger should be completely and utterly ashamed of themselves.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is still having a major problem getting coronavirus tests processed in a timely fashion. The following comes from CNN

As the US health care system has scrambled to track the spread of coronavirus, one of the nations largest commercial labs has faced a backlog of tests that ballooned in the last two weeks, and has delayed results in some cases up to 10 days. New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics had about 160,000 coronavirus test orders waiting to be processed on March 25, which amounted to about half of the 320,000 total orders for the tests the company had received up to that date, according to Quest internal materials obtained by CNN.

Officially, the U.S. has more than 215,000 confirmed cases as I write this article, but if results were being processed in a timely manner that number would likely be far, far higher by now.

Of course there are still many people out there that are insisting that this pandemic is being overblown, but if that is the case then why did FEMA just put in a request for 100,000 body bags?

The Pentagon is seeking to provide as many as 100,000 military-style body bags for potential civilian use as the U.S. warns that deaths could soar in the coming weeks from the coronavirus pandemic. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has requested 100,000 body bags, known as Human Remains Pouches, through an interagency group that directed it to the Defense Department. The Pentagon is looking into buying more bags and will draw some initially from a stockpile of 50,000 it maintains, according to two people familiar with the request.

And if this pandemic is not really that much of a threat, then why is New York City having prisoners dig mass graves?

NEW YORK CITY is offering prisoners at Rikers Island jail $6 per hour  a fortune by prison labor standards  and personal protective equipment if they agree to help dig mass graves on Hart Island, according to sources with knowledge of the offer. Avery Cohen, a spokesperson for the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed the general arrangement, but said that it was not Covid-specific, noting that prisoners have been digging graves on Hart Island for years.

For those that are still doubting, it is time to wake up.

People are dying all around us, the economy is collapsing, millions of Americans are losing their jobs, and the perfect storm has finally arrived.

Approximately 75 percent of the country is shut down right now, and the shelter-in-place orders are not likely to be lifted for quite some time.

In anticipation of being cooped up in their homes for an extended period, many Americans stocked up on toilet paper, and now we have learned that sales of alcoholic beverages have also gone through the roof

U.S. sales of alcoholic beverages rose 55% in the week ending March 21, according to market research firm Nielsen. Spirits like tequila, gin and pre-mixed cocktails led the way, with sales jumping 75% compared to the same period last year. Wine sales were up 66% while beer sales rose 42%. And online sales far outpaced in-store sales. Nielsen said online alcohol sales were up 243%. Danelle Kosmal, a Nielsen vice president, suspects growth rates peaked that week as people loaded up their pantries before state stay-at-home orders went into effect.

It is during times of great crisis that we find out who we really are, and the weeks ahead are going to greatly test all of us.

Pray for those that are sick, pray for those that are dying, and let us all hope that this pandemic will pass as quickly as possible.

But at this moment it appears that we still have a long battle ahead of us, and that battle is going to change America permanently.

Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com
JCB India has made a commitment to fund PPEs, medicines, testing kits, security suits and consumables for doctors and healthcare workers.

More business houses in the country have been joining the fight against coronavirus pandemic and extending various kinds of assistance including monetary contributions, providing healthcare facilities to the patients, testing kits and aid to migrant workers.

JCB India, manufacturer of earthmoving and construction equipment, partnered with Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad to support the fight against COVID-19. This project will be partially funded through JCB Indias CSR initiative.

The company has made a commitment to fund PPEs, medicines, testing kits, security suits and consumables for doctors and healthcare workers. This will jointly enhance the preparedness for comprehensive support to affected patients in Faridabad and surrounding areas during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Commenting on the partnership, Subir Kumar Chowdhury, managing director and CEO of JCB India said, We have initiated a multi-pronged prevention, mitigation and ongoing support strategy with Asian Institute of Medical Sciences to deal with COVID-19 related patients.

NK Pandey, chairman and managing director, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, said, We have currently converted and dedicated our emergency floor (thus isolating the rest of the hospital) into a COVID-19 triage and isolation centre, with separate areas for medium, high and severely affected patients. This area will also have residential facilities for all staff on a minimum 14-day shift.

Rise Group extends help to workers

Rise Group, a realty group of Delhi NCR, has taken the initiative to address the needs of direct and contractual laborers assigned on its several projects.

Vaibhav Jain, chief managing director, Rise Group, said the company is providing food packets with 3 kg pulses and 5kg rice and 5kg flour along with other necessary items to a strength of 900 workers at the hutments established in their project locations of Rise Resort Residences, Rise Skybungalows and Organic Ghar at Greater Noida West, Faridabad and Ghaziabad respectively.

The workers are being provided masks and gloves for their safety, and are also being subjected to medical examination at relevant intervals.

Medicines, tea and milk are being distributed free of cost. These camps are sanitised and cleaned on regular basis to control the spread of the disease. One of the most crucial need of clean water is also being addressed.

Alpargatas creates a goodwill partnership

Havaianas- a Brazilian brand of flip-flop sandals, parent company Alpargatas is spearheading the goodwill partnership network to unite partners and volunteers who want to contribute in the fight against COVID-19.

Roberto Funari, president of Alpargatas said, Our aim is to unite our efforts, starting with actions by the Alpargatas Institute and Havaianas. Initially, we will donate 250 thousand masks, more than 250 thousand pairs of shoes, and organize actions focused on the vulnerable communities in the country's largest cities. We are working on many different fronts and we would like to invite other companies to join us in this initiative.

The company has temporarily repurposed and adapted the Havaianas factories to make this production possible.

Initially Alpargatas will produce 250,000 N95 masks to be donated to the public health services in the Brazilian states of Paraiba, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, where the company's factories are installed.

In addition, the company will donate 18,000 pairs of shoes suitable for healthcare environments to Sao Paulo hospital professionals, made in the Havaianas factories instead of flip flops.

Zypp inks pact with Bigbasket

Zypp, the full-rental electric scooters app, has partnered with online grocery stores, Bigbasket to enable home delivery of everyday essentials and grocery items through its range of electric scooters. Following the partnership, Zypp has already crossed over 10,000 online deliveries of essential items.

Zoomcar for emergency mobility

To ease the emergency transportation woes faced during the lockdown period, Zoomcar- a self-drive mobility platform, is utilising select vehicles to ensure emergency mobility for the frontline workforce, including bankers, healthcare professionals, and delivery executives.

It is also providing transportation solutions for the employees of grocery store chains and hospital staff. The government officials in Mysore are also opting for Zoomcar for their everyday commuting requirements.

Shriram Properties to safe guard migrant workers

The migrant workforce is usually a forgotten population in disease control and management.

Murali Malayappan, chairman and managing director, Shriram Properties, said, as the real sector employs a major chunk of migrant-blue collar workforce, it is the sectors responsibility to take care of these workers during these difficult times.

"By keeping this in mind, we are safe guarding around 5,000 construction workers and families across cities, by providing them shelter, food and medical care during the national lockdown. We are also conducting programmes to build awareness about the need of social distancing and personal hygiene, among the workers," said Malayappan.

Mpower in pact with BMC for mental healthcare

Mpower, a firm in the mental healthcare space, has partnered with government of Maharashtra and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to launch a toll-free helpline number  1800-120-820050 called BMC-Mpower 1on1 that will be available to citizens 24x7.

Available free of cost for people across cities of Maharashtra, the helpline comprises experienced and trained mental health counsellors, who are clinical psychologists and psychiatrists from Mpower  The Centre, Mpower  The Foundation and Mpower  The Cell to provide much needed mental healthcare counsel and support.

The service is available in Marathi, Hindi and English to address any mental health concerns faced by citizens of Maharashtra during these trying times.

With BMC-Mpower 1on1 helpline, we aim to increase awareness about mental health and make it more accessible to the citizens of Maharashtra, said Neerja Birla, founder and chairperson, Mpower

TCS iON, offers free 15-day digital certification programme

TCS iON, a strategic unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced a free, 15-day self-paced digital certification program called Career Edge, to sharpen career skills of college-going students and professionals during this period of global lockdown.

TCS iON Career Edge is a free two weeks online digital program followed by an online digital assessment and certification. The program is offered on the TCS iON Digital Learning Hub platform. It is specially designed for college students/working professionals globally to enhance their career skills by helping them effectively utilise the time at hand during this lockdown.

Notebook offers free app access

Notebook, after-school digital learning portal, announced its free Notebook app access for all schools and students across India. It allows schools to get access to audio-visual teaching aids for classrooms and students to get access to the same content on their devices.

Notebook is a digital content portal that allows children and parents to learn topics in their respective school syllabi through engaging videos and notes.

Achin Bhattacharyya, CEO and founder, Notebook said "At this juncture, when the entire world is going through the biggest humanitarian crisis of our lifetime, as a brand we intend to stand shoulder to shoulder with every student, parent and teacher. We have made our entire content catering to CBSE, ICSE, UP state board, West Bengal state board fully free till 31 May, 2020."
Sowmya Mani By

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Aarti (name changed) delivered a baby on March 26, a day after lockdown began. Everything was fine until the baby started developing respiratory problems and had to be rushed to hospital. The baby is now in NICU. A newborn having health issues is a major stress, but for Aarti, it is a double whammy due to Coronavirus. Commuting to the hospital was an arduous task and explaining their predicament to police every time reduced them to tears. Everyone is required to be safe during the lockdown and COVID-19, more so, senior citizens, people with co-morbid health conditions and pregnant women.

Pregnant women are advised to follow the same precautions as everyone else but they must be extra careful. Pregnant women with blood pressure, diabetes and thyroid issues need to be vigilant. Regular respiratory infections can also become severe during pregnancy. Pregnancy is an immuno-deficient state, especially for those with co-morbid conditions. These women must stay at home as much as possible and take all precautions. A lot of patients are taking it lightly, they must realise the seriousness of the lockdown, said Dr Charmila Ayyavoo, Director, Aditi Hospital, Tiruchy.

Many gynaecologists have postponed monthly checkups of patients who are doing fine. However, high-risk pregnancies are still being monitored. We are avoiding prenatal checkups for healthy patients for 15 days, said Dr Raji. Rashmi (name changed), aged 36, was excited after learning about her pregnancy after three miscarriages. Due for delivery in 15 days, she is worried whether the virus can be transmitted to her baby if she were to get it plus she has gestational diabetes. Doctors say there is no need to worry about transmission as there are no studies to prove the same.

So far, there have been no such cases. There is also no need to do caesarians when a normal delivery is possible. The most important thing is to report to doctors immediately for symptoms like fever, cough or breathing difficulties, said Dr P Padma Priya, consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist and fertility specialist at Jeyam Multi-Speciality & Fertility Hospital.
Hundreds of veterinarians in Illinois have joined a statewide recruitment drive for extra medical support in combating Covid-19 and could soon be helping to save human lives.

Several hundred veterinarians and clinicians in the state of Illinois heeded the call for more trained medical professionals to shore up woefully lacking numbers needed in beating coronavirus in humans.

Those who signed on could soon be offering their medical training to help humans suffering in hospitals with the deadly virus, instead of their day job working with animals.

The legions of veterinarians now on board answered a call put out in a letter by the University of Illinois' new 'Covid-19 Support Network of Illinois Veterinarians'.

Those who have enlisted to help in human hospitals have sought to reassure pet owners their new role will not be to the detriment of their beloved pets.

An example of a vet seen here working with a sedated big cat at a zoo. Some of those recruited may also be coming from zoos and farms

Elaine Holmes, veterinary surgeon with MedVet Chicago, seen here talking to ABC 7 News

'We are trained as medical professionals and we triage patients every day, they can't exactly tell us what's wrong,' said Elaine Holmes, veterinary surgeon with MedVet Chicago, talking to ABC 7 News.

'But we're very happy to stand alongside our human health allies and be directed to wherever we need to be.'

The recruitment drive is part of a 'worst case scenario' plan to support the great many US hospitals currently battling rising numbers of people infected and suffering with Covid-19.

While the veterinarians will not directly replace 'human doctors' in hospitals, they will be on hand to provide technical support while under supervision.

Many veterinarians will be able to offer vital medical equipment like ventilators and operating rooms which are deemed suitable for human treatment also. Even zoo workers can be of service.

'Our ventilator, for instance, is a human ventilator; our high-flow oxygen is for humans; our operating rooms are human-standard operating rooms,' added Holmes.

'The vast majority of the pieces of technology that we use actually initially were made for the human healthcare side,' she said.

An Illinois state veterinarian seen here 'scrubbing up' in one of the possible operating rooms

Stephanie Keating, who is a veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, said veterinarians are anticipating what could be necessary should the US healthcare system be overwhelmed.

'If we're imagining worst case scenario, and just need to plan for that,' she added.

Doctor Sunit Singla, who is a critical care pulmonologist specializing in diseases involving the respiratory tract at UI Health, said many of the machines currently being used by vets are 'human ventilators that have just been taken out of circulation and refurbished for veterinary use'.

'They may be exactly the same as the human ventilators that we have in a hospital, or they might be older models that could certainly be used,' he added.

Illinois state authorities reinforced the call for extra medical support from veterinarians, directing those who can be of service to the volunteer website called 'Illinois Helps'.

'Veterinarians are one of the occupations listed in Illinois Helps for which people can register,' they said in a statement.

Illinois Helps works to prioritize occupations that could be useful in fighting Covid-19, by performing government-stipulated licensing and background checks.

Speaking about the recruitment drive and the threat of Covid-19, MedVet veterinarian Elaine Holmes added: 'I'm nervous for sure a little bit, but I also feel like I'm capable and we really need capable and compassionate people.'

The US is now the world leader in coronavirus cases, with 245,356 people infected, and 6,056 deaths.

These figures represent roughly a quarter of the world total which is now more than 1 million registered cases of Covid-19, and more than 53,000 deaths. Over 212,000 have since recovered.
As coronavirus cases spike ever higher in Louisiana, the states nursing homes, assisted living sites and adult residential care facilities are showing more and more clusters of the virus, but the full scale of the outbreak at those sites remains uncertain.

Louisianas Department of Health has identified 47 long-term care facilities that it considers a cluster, with at least two apparently related cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. That number has increased steadily, as the coronavirus epidemic has grown across Louisiana.

The state reported on April 1 that 34 more Louisianans died from the virus, bringing the death toll to 273. The number of confirmed cases grew 23% overnight, topping 6,400, according to the latest figures. About 23% are hospitalized.

Its difficult to determine whether nursing homes and retirement facilities represent an outsized share of the infected.

The state releases names of facilities where multiple virus cases have been found, about half of them in the virus hot-spot New Orleans area. But while it initially released statistics for such sites, the state has stopped doing so. In response to a public records request filed by The Associated Press, the health department refused to provide detailed data about the number of virus cases by long-term care facility, citing an exemption for public health studies.

Nursing homes often defer to the state.

Because we have experienced some delays in receiving their confirmed reports, so we are reluctant to report numbers of cases that may not match their official reports, Cynthia Maddox, spokeswoman for Notre Dame Health System, which operates three facilities with a total of about 420 resident as a ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, said in an email.

Notre Dame opened an eight-bed isolation unit on March 31 in a former convent, but nobody has been admitted there, Maddox said.

Any resident who shows any symptom is immediately isolated and no staff or other personnel who display symptoms are allowed into the building, Maddox wrote. People stay in the unit at least until test results come back.

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 highly contagious virus can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia and be fatal.

Dr. Alexander Billioux, assistant secretary of Louisianas Office of Public Health, said he didnt know how many long-term care facility clusters included only two people  or how many were as big as that of Lambeth House, where 42 cases were identified before the state stopped releasing figures about cluster size.

Louisiana has enlisted help from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to respond to the nursing home and retirement facility outbreaks, and visitation has been restricted at long-term care facilities around the state. Louisianas state laboratory is doing all testing of staff and residents at long-term care facilities, Billioux said, because its a pretty critical population to get results back fast.

Beyond those facilities, testing results returning from the state lab, hospitals and commercial sites are growing, giving officials a better  but still incomplete  picture of the viruss footprint statewide. Increased testing shows a trajectory that Gov. John Bel Edwards warns will have the New Orleans area running out of ventilators for the most fragile COVID-19 patients by Monday. Louisiana received a shipment of 150 ventilators Wednesday from the national stockpile.

Edwards has eased medical licensing laws to make it easier for out-of-state health care workers to come into Louisiana, and the Democratic governor repeated his plea for state residents to follow his stay at home order guidance.

The 47 facilities identified as cluster sites account for about 11% of the long-term care facilities in the state.

Louisianas first reported cluster was in a New Orleans retirement home, Lambeth House, where COVID-19 has killed 13 residents. Lambeth House ended group gatherings and meals, limited access among its facilities and barred all non-essential visitors when it was notified of the first diagnosis, spokesman Greg Beuerman said in an email.

Beuerman said it has been five days since anyone at Lambeth House has requested a COVID-19 test, and all independent living residents who tested positive for the disease had been declared virus-free Monday.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Louisiana
Qantass Last Flight Almost Departed Santiago Illegally: Union Leader

Qantas stood down an engineer who was due to do safety checks and certify the Boeing 747 scheduled to be the airlines last international flight amid pandemic travel restrictions.

The engineer received written notice that he was not required, and will not be paid, commencing two hours before the flight that was scheduled to depart from Santiago, Chile, to Sydney, Australia, on March 28.

Qantas are about to strand 400 Australians in Chile. In better news, they will save $1000 by not paying the Engineer who was going to certify the flight. He has been stood down unpaid. pic.twitter.com/xn9qQWIjwn  Steve Purvinas (@StevePurvinas) March 27, 2020

However, he was required. Its the aircraft engineers job to check engine oils and tyres, look for possible hydraulic leaks, ensure the aircraft is structurally sound (no bird damage), and verify that the correct amount of fuel is on board, said Stephen Purvinas, federal secretary of Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association.

Finally he must check all doors are closed properly and when all this is done he has to certify with his license that the craft is airworthy, and right to fly, said Purvinas.

Without that engineers certification the aircraft cannot legally depart, Purvinas wrote in an open letter to Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce and Prime Minister Scott Morrison that was posted to Twitter.

Purvinas told The Epoch Times that the Australian engineer was based in Santiago for a couple of months and was due to fly out on the aircraft after he carried out his checks.

After Purvinas published his letter Qantas quickly reversed the stand-down order.

In the end [the engineer] did the job and was paid, said Purvinas. Flight QF28 arrived in Sydney carrying 400 passengersand the engineer.

Qantas Secures $1 Billion Bailout

In a press release on March 30, the Qantas Group said it secured AU$1.05 billion in additional funds, adding to the $1.9 billion available cash it already had. In order to cut costs and manage through the (Chinese Communist Party) CCP viruscommonly known as novel coronaviruspandemic, Qantas recently stood down two-thirds of their 30,000 employees until at least the end of May.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly names the debt lender. It is not confirmed what body issued the loan. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
BEIRUT - The World Bank on Friday announced that it had approved 40-million-dollar loan to support the country suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health also announced the news. The loan will serve to buy ventilators and tests for COVID-19 to give to public hospitals in Lebanon.

Lebanon has limited capacity for conducting the tests and so far 508 cases have been found and 17 people who tested positive for the virus have died. However, the figure might be higher. Lebanese media reported that of this ''urgent'' 40 million dollars actually comes from a 120-million-dollar fund already allocated to Lebanon as part of a project called "Lebanon Health Resilience Project".

The 40 million dollars were made available through an emergency mechanism in light of the ongoing crisis. Underway since 2017, the project is supposed to end in 2023 and involves support for Lebanese public healthcare, which is especially disadvantaged compared with private hospitals, much more expensive for the lower class.
Bank of America said Friday evening that through its first day administering a small business relief program, more than 85,000 customers applied for $22.2 billion in loans.

The bank was the first major lender to get its web portal for the Paycheck Protection Program up and running, and it was soon inundated with requests.

"That is an astounding number of applications to take in such a short period of time and considering we just launched the site this morning at 8:45 a.m.," a Bank of America manager told staff in an email.

As of mid-afternoon Friday, among the largest U.S. lenders, only Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase were accepting applications for the program, which was supposed to go live shortly after midnight. JPMorgan's site went live with a temporary version of its portal after 1 p.m. Further, Wells Fargo announced that it will be unable to accept applications on Friday.

The chaotic launch heightened fears among business owners that they could miss out on the historic program if lenders manage to disburse all $350 billion of the money. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he would request more money if that happened, but that would require Congressional approval.

The U.S. government has asked banks to help it dole out at least $350 billion in loans to small businesses, part of the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill signed last week. But banks and industry groups have complained that they lacked the guidance to get online systems up and running until just hours before the deadline. That guidance was finally issued by Treasury around 7 p.m. Thursday, leaving banks scrambling to get their systems to accept loan applications.

"Having just received guidance outlining how to implement a $349 billion program literally hours before it starts, we would ask for everyone to be patient," Richard Hunt, head of the Consumer Bankers Association, said late Thursday. He added that the organization's members would "move heaven and earth to get a system in place and running to help America's small businesses and the millions of men and women who work at them.

Even at Bank of America, there was confusion among customers about the program. The bank is prioritizing existing customers with online accounts who are active borrowers as of last month, meaning that even longtime customers are being initially shut out of the application process. Dozens of irate customers took to social media to complain.

https://twitter.com/twitchis4/status/1246074677950156806?s=21

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said Friday on CNBC that the bank would initially focus on "borrowing clients" before turning to other small business customers and then ultimately new clients.

"We have to focus on the borrowing clients to make sure we can take care of them," he said.

Sen. Marco Rubio criticized Bank of America for its decision, saying it wasn't a government requirement that customers have loans to be approved for the program.

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1246114718990979075?s=21

Bank employees toiled overnight on the program and shifted workers into loan processing roles to handle the expected deluge of applications. The latest version of the government's borrower application form was posted on Treasury's website at 10:30 p.m. Thursday night, according to an industry source.

Mnuchin said Thursday in a press conference that the Paycheck Protection Program would be "up and running" on Friday. At 8:42 a.m., he tweeted that community banks "have already processed over 700 loans" for a total of $2.5 million. Then a minute later, he tweeted that "large banks expected to go live soon this morning," without naming the lenders.

https://twitter.com/stevenmnuchin1/status/1246055694027153414?s=21

Still, until well past noon Friday, the website for JPMorgan, the biggest U.S. bank, told customers that it wasn't "accepting applications for this program at this time. Check back for updates."

The bank's small business portal became available a little after 1 p.m.

Wells Fargo told visitors to its website this message: "Financial institutions like ours continue to receive program implementation guidance from the SBA and the U.S. Treasury. Unfortunately, as a result, Wells Fargo will not be able to start accepting applications on Friday, April 3. When we are able to take applications, you'll find a link to that application on this page so check back often."

Customers also reported that banks and credit unions including PNC, Citizens and Navy Federal Credit Union have informed them that they weren't yet ready to take applications.

CNBC's Kate Rogers and Wilfred Frost contributed to this report.
A view of the Dixie Red Rock at Pioneer Park, above the city of St. George, Utah. (Mikayla Whitmore for The Post)

The name abounds here, but that is slowly changing in the city of St. George  though not without resistance.
Union Minister VK Singh on Friday asserted that people from Tablighi Jamaat congregation deliberately tried to spread coronavirus and said that such incidents only malign the image of the religion.

"People who attended the Markaz tried to hide and run away. Will they achieve anything if they spread coronavirus to more and more people? This is a shameful act. People belonging to one religion are doing this. Even the doctors who went to treat them in Indore were attacked," Singh told ANI here.

"I also want to urge the maulanas and other religious leaders to stop such shameful acts. Such incidents only malign the image of the religion. If you have respect for your religion, you should immediately stop," he said.

Singh said that a complaint has been made to the police and they are investigating the incidents related to attacks, misbehaviors with medical professionals, etc.

"I talked to the superintendent of police and asked him to take strict actions. If you are infected, co-operate with the doctors and get treatment. Two people in Ghaziabad were treated and discharged. However, if someone violates the law, they will not be spared," he added.

Several people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin have tested positive in different parts of the country, following which hundreds have been identified and isolated, and search is on to locate the others.

This comes as the country is under lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed 56 lives and infected over 2,000 others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
What if you get stuck on the highway in a storm? Here are some tips
New Delhi, April 4 : Over 500 foreign Muslim preachers have been found to be staying in more than 15 mosques in the national capital, police said. These foreign nationals are hiding in different places as they are unable to move out of the country due to the lockdown announced by the Central government in view of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A police officer said that during raids conducted by the Delhi Police in several places across the national capital, these preachers were found to be hiding in 16-17 places.

The police officer told IANS that the Special Branch (Intelligence Department) and Delhi Police Crime Branch are working relentlessly to find those preachers, who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi last month as they are suspected to be infected with the dreaded coronavirus.

Highly placed sources in Delhi Police told IANS that the foreign preachers received assistance from "local hands" in managing accommodation after they were unable to move out of the country due to the lockdown.

According to Delhi Police Crime Branch sources, the Tablighi members helped all these foreign guests. An information was sent to all the mosques and madrasas in the national capital to make arrangements for their stay.

Speaking to IANS on Thursday, Additional Police Commissioner Shankhdhar Mishra, of Rohini district, said: "At least 20 Tablighi preachers have been found in different police station areas that come under me. Most of them are from Indonesia.

"As soon as the lockdown was announced, all of them first turned to the mosques. Whoever found a place in mosques stayed or hid there," he said.

The police officer further said: "A search operation is going on. Whoever would be found shall be handed over to the health department officials so that they can be quarantined." According to the sources, in the last few days of March, Delhi Police has shared a number of information on this matter with the Delhi government, following which the concerned departments of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government have also become active.

Those who had met the foreign preachers are being asked about the whereabouts of their companions and associates. Police are also trying to know if they are hiding only in Delhi, or also in other parts of the country.

A few days ago, Delhi Police had found 173 such indigenous as well as foreign preachers who had attended the Markaz event.

Their names were given to the Delhi government's health department so that they could be immediately quarantined. According to the list, 160 people including 5 foreign national women out of 173 were from other countries.

According to Delhi Police sources, the largest number of foreigners have been found hiding in North Eastern, South Eastern, Rohini, Southern districts, and to some extent in West Delhi.

Meanwhile, a health department official said the Delhi Police is providing information about the presence of foreigners.

"Our Department teams are making immediate arrangements to quarantine them," the official said.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in)
Nearly 80 seniors homes across Ontario are now reporting cases of COVID-19, according to a list released on Thursday by a leading Canadian geriatrician.

Most of the cases are in the long-term care sector, where the most vulnerable seniors live, but at least 20 are reported in privately operated retirement homes, said Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network.

His research found 40 deaths, most in nursing homes.

Retirement home residents are just as vulnerable as people living in nursing homes  and at greater risk, Sinha said.

There are roughly 750 retirement homes in Ontario, with government-funded, home-care workers visiting daily to help seniors with dressing, bathing, wound care or physiotherapy. Most of those workers spend their days moving from one home to the next, helping numerous seniors across their region.

While retirement homes must follow government directives that ban families from visiting unless the resident is gravely ill, Sinha said, home-care workers are still coming and going each day, increasing the likelihood that COVID-19 will spread from the community into the homes.

One home had continuing regular visits by 38 different home-care workers.

We might be seeing the beginning of a real catastrophe, said Sinha, of COVID-19 spread across 1,380 long-term care and retirement homes.

A spokesperson for the Ontario Retirement Communities Association said, it is working collaboratively and actively with the government and home care agencies to solve the problem.

Doris Grinspun, president and CEO of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) said the province had underfunded the seniors care industry for years, forcing frontline staff to work part-time jobs in multiple homes.

Pre-pandemic, you had the perfect conditions to create chaos, Grinspun said.

Now the virus is spreading across the sector, and many homes are not providing surgical masks as an active measure. They give the surgical masks after there is an outbreak and even then, not always.

Grinspun said the RNAO is sending nursing students into homes to support workers, but I told the ministry I will not release them until the outbreak home has surgical masks.

There is a wide discrepancy on numbers of COVID-19 cases in long-term care and more recently, retirement homes. Sinha said numbers come from homes that share information with his office, public health reports and media.

Numbers of deaths released by the Ontario government are, according to Toronto Public Health, only those deaths that are formally recorded in the provinces integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), the public health database, when investigations are complete.

This is an evolving situation, and these numbers are constantly changing. We are also aware of other deaths that our team is actively investigating, a Toronto public health spokesperson said.

This week, Toronto reported 11 deaths of long-term care residents.

The public health spokesperson cautioned that it has now declared some of those deaths  it did not say how many  related to pre-existing health conditions and not COVID-19, even though the resident tested positive for the virus.

Toronto public health will now only report deaths after the investigation is complete, the spokesperson said.

On Thursday, Ontarios associate medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said there are outbreaks in 26 long-term care homes and eight retirement homes. Ontario counts one case as an outbreak, while Toronto Public Health defines an outbreak as two cases.

Yaffe said 19 long-term care residents have died from COVID-19, either confirmed by lab tests or epidemiologically linked because other residents died of the new coronavirus.

Chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams said the number of outbreaks in nursing homes will appear to increase because the trigger point for declaring an outbreak has been lowered so any mild symptom in any resident is declared and testing is done.

Were probably going to have a lot more outbreaks reported quicker, but we may have a lot more quickly defused after we do the more direct testing.
Brian Gleason works with businesses desperate for cash due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is standing outside his Malvern home during Week Three of Pennsylvania's stay-at-home order. Read more

Two words, above all others, stuck with me after I spoke by phone with Brian Gleason from his temporary home office in Malvern this past week.

Catastrophic" and bankruptcy.

Gleason was referring to what seems like an inevitable looming reality for Main Street store proprietors, restaurants, and other small-retail-sector businesses whose rent came due this week amid little-to-zero revenue due to COVID-19 shutdowns of the economy.

The devastation of what the coronavirus has swiftly wrought, of course, is even broader than that. While Gleason and I were speaking Thursday, news was breaking that nearly 10 million Americans had filed unemployment claims over just the prior two weeks.

For many of those millions, the difference between ruin and survival could depend largely on whether the $2 trillion rescue package promised by the Trump administration and Congress delivers.

Early signs were not comforting: We learned Thursday that it could take five months for the IRS to mail out paper checks to workers who lack direct deposit. And information about promised federal rescue loans for small businesses appeared snarled in red tape a day before their planned availability on Friday.

The companies are very fearful theyll run out of money before they get the loan, said James R. Haefele, a partner with the Maple Shade-based accounting firm Haefele, Flagan & Co., in an Inquirer news story. Theyre also worried the $350 billion fund will run out before their applications are processed.

 READ MORE: A sad day as coronavirus forces layoffs at Le Bus. Bakery vows: We intend to survive. | Maria Panaritis

I had called Gleason because he is a man who swims in economic carnage. Even in good times, this is his raison detre.

Phoenix Management Services, for which he is senior managing director, has spent decades helping small midsize companies in financial distress. Phoenix, based in Chadds Ford, either helps them keep afloat  or assists in guiding them through bankruptcy.

In conversations over more than a decade, starting with our first talk during the Great Recession 14 years ago, Gleason has come across as a straight shooter but with a sense of perspective beyond just the bubble of corporate-speak. Hes a hard-nosed numbers guy who often prescribes brutal remedies like layoffs. But he has enough of a social-justice bent to still appreciate the value of the humans who show up as line items on an ugly balance sheet.

 READ MORE: Turnaround specialists saving troubled firms

So I was curious: What does the economic attack in which we find ourselves look like to a guy whos used to being up to his neck in red ink?

His answer: This is unprecedented. It is broad, cutting across virtually all industries. And it is anyones guess when it will end  and what work and business life will look like once its over. You can safely bet, though, that unemployment will be higher than it was.

I believe, Gleason said, theres going to be catastrophic levels of bankruptcy. Especially for the small service-sector businesses.

What hes seen happen as employers have shed millions of jobs alongside a stock market that has lost a quarter of its value in just a few weeks  it doesnt compare to anything: not the 9/11 terror attacks, not the Great Recession and global financial-markets meltdown in 2008.

None of this has happened because banks and other financial institutions played fast and loose with credit. Its all, quite immediately, because of a deadly new virus with no vaccine but the potential to kill into the hundreds of thousands or more. We are in a sudden shutdown of much of the U.S. economy as people are ordered to stay home to keep from getting one another sick and overloading hospitals.

Its unprecedented," Gleason said, "in the 35 years that Phoenix has been in business.

He used that word a bunch of times. Almost as though he needed to say it to grasp the enormity of what has unfolded like a financial wildfire. Many of us are doing the same  struggling with the frightening and surreal reality of three weeks of government-ordered home confinement (and counting) in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

He and the 30 financial experts who work at Phoenix do work that requires steely nerves. They stand alongside or in the place of struggling company leaders as the businesses bleed money.

But as we talked over several days this week, I sensed in Gleasons voice what sounded like equal parts control and disbelief.

As recently as two months ago, clients were calling and asking Phoenix to help them poach workers from competitor companies. Thats how tight the labor market was. Their biggest complaint was not being able to make more money because employees were so hard to find.

Theyve since laid off up to 90% of their workforce and spent the last few days asking lenders for breaks on at least a months worth of loan payments.

To leaders of strained businesses, his advice is unvarnished: Dont waffle. Communicate. Your legacy will be judged starting now.

For everyone else, beyond calling landlords and banks and utility companies for forbearance, the priority is to save whatever cash you have.

And to hope that somehow, sooner than later, this devastating time becomes a thing of the past.
Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here!

(Kitco News) - Liquidity in the gold market could continue to improve as major Swiss precious metals refiners are looking to restart operations.

According to media reports, one of the worlds biggest precious metals refiners PAMP said that it has been given approval from the Ticino Council in Switzerland to partially restart operations.

A spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company will operate at less than 50% capacity to safeguard employees and the community. The company will also operate and fully comply with local government requirements.

At the same time, Bloomberg reported that Valcambi SA, has also asked the Ticino Council for permission to resume limited production.

Last week, the gold market experienced a massive liquidity scare as the COVID-19 pandemic briefly interrupted the global supply chain. PAMP, Valcambi and Argor-Heraeus all shut down operations last week in Switzerland to comply with tightening government orders that were imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The three refineries process about 1,500 tonnes of gold a year in Ticino  a third of total global annual supply.

Along with the Swiss refiners operating at limited Capacity, the two-week closure for the Royal Canadian Mint ends April 3 and is expected to operate at modified production.
Canadas deputy prime minister has found therapy in an unexpected source in the midst of a global pandemic.

Chrystia Freelands therapist, as she calls him, is Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and he sees their conversations the same way.

He and I have actually come to describe one another as each others therapists, Freeland said in an interview this week. Some of the daily struggles that we go through are quite similar and so sometimes when we talk well just say, This is our therapy session.

Ford, who makes no secret of his admiration for Freeland these days, laughed when asked how this mutual counselling works.

Well talk for God knows how long at nighttime, and discuss every issue you can possibly think of, and we laugh at the end, Ford said.

We just feel like a thousand pounds are off our shoulders.

NA Coronavirus, COVID-19, Donald Trump, Honesty, Justin Trudeau, Decisiveness, Doug Ford, Chrystia Freeland, Love, Moudakis Moudakis Cartoon Uploaded external by: Moudakis, Theo Theo Moudakis for The Toronto Star

Its a friendship forged through the toughest times that either of these politicians  and the country  has ever faced. Only last fall, Freeland and her fellow federal Liberals made Ontarios Progressive Conservative premier a daily target on the election campaign trail, calling him everything that Canada didnt want in power. Ford himself used to say that defeating Justin Trudeau was his ultimate aim.

But a bigger enemy  COVID-19  has brought Canadas governments together in a remarkable degree of daily co-operation. A lot of credit is going to Freeland for managing those relationships  phone call by phone call, from early morning to late at night. (Her staff now works in two shifts to keep up with the demands on their boss; Freeland works both shifts.)

Ford can rattle off a list of all the things he likes about Freeland. Chrystia is just tough as nails. The iron lady. Im telling you, just a wonderful person. Has a big heart but shes no nonsense as well.

One of the promises Freeland made to all of Canadas premiers was that she would be available to them on the phone whenever they need to talk, as long as they dont mind her calling them late at night. She finds each of the premiers helpful in their own, unique way. Ford, for instance, has thrown his vast networks of contacts into the battle.

I just get out there and dust off the old black book of all the medical essential services, Ford said. So, we get a lead that someone might have surgical masks  I make sure I call her and say, Hey, I got a lead here and heres another lead. And then shell jump on it.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, whos also been generous with public praise for Freeland, understands how the federal government works better than most, having sat at the cabinet table in Ottawa for nearly a decade.

He is very, very smart, Freeland said. When Premier Kenney explains some of the challenges that any federal government faces structurally, which he knows, that carries a lot more weight than if I say that.

Freeland says shes telling these premiers things that shes not telling the public or the media. I will say to them, Look guys, Im going to tell you this, but its not for public consumption yet, she said. No one has broken my trust.

Its hard to believe that Freeland was a rookie politician not so long ago  a respected journalist recruited in 2013 to run in Toronto after Justin Trudeau won the Liberal leadership. Her career in cabinet has gone from global to local, much like the virus now running rampant throughout the world. In the first term, Freeland was the world-travelling global affairs minister and expert Canada-U.S. negotiator of a new North American free trade deal with Donald Trumps America. After last falls election, she became deputy prime minister, charged with bringing her bargaining skills to Canadas fractious domestic landscape.

As it happens, that NAFTA experience keeps popping up in the current crisis. The automakers and union leaders so involved in that negotiation are suiting up to get pandemic supplies churning through Canadian industries. When Canada-U.S. border issues needed to be resolved to contain the virus, Freeland knew who to call and how to get things done.

These days, though, NAFTA feels like a lifetime ago for Freeland.

One of the last acts of Parliament before it abruptly adjourned in mid-March was the quick, uncontroversial approval of the new trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico. It was a moment that drove home to Freeland just how rapidly her world was changing.

The fact that the ratification of NAFTA was actually a footnote also really made clear to me that we were operating in a new universe with a new hierarchy of national priorities, she said.

Freeland is keeping up a personal pace these days that is even more existential and frenetic than the trade saga. Shes in Ottawa most of the time, on the phone and in meetings, though she still is finding time for a daily run. Her husband, New York Times writer Graham Bowley, has grounded himself in Toronto. The three Winnipeg aunts who have been taking turns minding the three children were sent back home to safeguard their health. Freeland remains close to her 75-year-old father, Donald Freeland, and talks to him every day at his home in Alberta.

It is when she talks about her elderly family members that Freeland suddenly gets a catch in her voice. She says shes never been scared for herself during this crisis, but this viruss particular threat to older people stops her in her tracks.

Ever since I entered politics, (my aunts) have taken turns living in my home in Toronto and taking care of me and my children and Im thinking of the particular danger that they now face.

That does terrify me, and it has made me appreciate in my own personal life how important my elders are, she said. They are being asked to make particularly great sacrifices in terms of physical distancing.

So I would like to say to Canadas elders, we love you and we need you. Your wisdom is so essential to your families and to our whole country, and we are going to do everything we can to protect you.

Freeland strives every day to present herself and the government as the face of reassurance. She has become the steady centre of Ottawas operations  the chief operating officer of pandemic response.

When Trudeau went into self-isolation in mid-March, right at the outset of the pandemic, it created an odd inside-outside division of labour between the prime minister and his deputy. Trudeau stayed inside at Rideau Cottage, working the phones, while Freeland did all the outside work  chairing news conferences and the pared-down cabinet meetings on Parliament Hill. Call me later, Trudeau told her at the end of a recent call. Im not going anywhere.

Trudeau and Freeland now handle cabinet sessions as a tag team  the prime minister, on the phone, sets out the agenda and herds all the other ministers calling in to Ottawa. Freeland, meanwhile, sits at the head of the cabinet table with the skeleton staff of ministers who are in the capital at any one time, and manages the speakers list. She also reportedly  and helpfully  describes facial expressions of ministers present around the table, so that fellow members of the cabinet have an idea of how the words are going over with the team.

Those observation and reporting skills were honed in her previous life as a journalist, and Freeland believes that her first career has been invaluable with her second one  especially in a crisis.

Reporters generally like working on deadline  they like urgency, she explained. They like focusing on big, complicated things where they need to bring clarity to them.

Her skills as an editor also help.

Editors have to make a lot of decisions very quickly. They have to be ruthless about whats important and whats less important and they have to be very focused on where they deploy the resources of their team, she said. They have to be able to have kind of quick conversations that are direct and candid.

Like every good journalist, Freeland is always on the lookout during this crisis for what she doesnt know.

Good journalists never believe something just because they read it somewhere, she said. We always want to talk to the person. We all want to talk to primary sources.

Whatever happens, this will be the story that defines Freelands career.

Her new friend and therapist, the Ontario premier, believes that the trust built among governments in this crisis will last well past the pandemic and thats in no small part because of how Freeland has tackled it.

When you go to war with someone and after the war is over, you still continue a strong bond, Ford said, because you shared an experience that a lot of people havent been able to share.

Susan Delacourt is a columnist covering national politics based in Ottawa. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt

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Two men were mauled to death by a tiger in the vicinity of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve here, an official said on Friday.

The incident happened in Richhaula Chowki of Gajraula area in the district on Thursday night when Ninder Singh (50) and his servant Dorilal (28) were sleeping on their agricultural field, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Naveen Khandelwal told reporters.

The tiger also dragged them for over 500 metres, he said.

The forest department came to know about the incident when they were informed about it by Ninder's brother after which teams of police, district administration and forest department reached there.

The tiger was tranquillised on Friday by the forest department team and will be sent to Lucknow Zoo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A woman who tested positive for COVID-19 could face charges for leaving her home at a Nederland apartment complex Wednesday, Police Chief Gary Porter said.

Emergency personnel were called to the Carriage House Apartments in the 1800 block of Nederland Avenue just after 9 p.m. because a woman had fallen, Porter said. He said the lady told EMS she tested positive.

URGENT HELP NEEDED: Pasadena homeless shelter issues call for supplies

She was outside on the sidewalk and not quarantined in her apartment.

Porter said the dispatch center has a list of addresses with confirmed coronavirus cases and they alert emergency personnel sent to that location.

The chief said his officers were not called to the scene, but the incident is under investigation. Police do not believe complications from the virus caused the woman to fall.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Harris County order to release some jail inmates halted

If there is probable cause that this lady was violating a quarantine order, we will turn the case over to the district attorney's office, Porter said. It would be violation of an emergency order. It would be a week before we can file the case. We have to gather up paperwork from the health department to get a prosecutable case.

The woman was told to go back into her home, but police do not have a way to patrol the complex further, Porter said.

She could face up to a $1,000 fine and up to 180 days in jail, he said. This is weird. Its a Class B misdemeanor punishment range. This is all new to us. There aint no playbook on this stuff. Hopefully, if her neighbors see her out and about they will call us. Im sure they have their eyes peeled.

chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com
China has  it seems  won its battle against the coronavirus. It may have won the war for global supremacy as well.

That would be a paradoxical outcome. The coronavirus outbreak originated in China, reportedly in the wet livestock markets in the city of Wuhan. The (to us) bizarre habits of eating virus-infested wildlife such as snakes and bats  as well as the critically-endangered pangolin  on sale in these markets is a minority taste in modern China.

But in an interconnected, densely populated urban environment it is an epidemiological nightmare  and a danger that the Chinese authorities have ignored.

Delay and deceit over the origins of the outbreak cost precious time  and many thousands of lives both in China and subsequently in the rest of the world.

Indeed, the Chinese Communist Party is still lying about the true number of cases and deaths, according to a new U.S. intelligence report leaked this week. It has led to an increasingly intense war of words between the two nations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Chuanshan port area of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang Province

But as other countries struggle to cope with the pandemic, Chinas relative success is striking.

There are obvious reasons for that. Unconstrained by considerations such as legality and privacy, the authoritarian regime used (and is still using) mandatory quarantine and other draconian measures, such as tracking individuals through their mobile phones, infra-red cameras to measure fever, and facial-recognition software to stop the pandemic in its tracks.

While we in the West struggle with lockdown and social distancing, life in almost all of China is returning to normal as restrictions are partially or wholly lifted, transport between cities resumes, factories start producing and warehouses start stockpiling goods again.

A timely new book by an Asian expert, Kishore Mahbubani, puts the question bluntly: Has China Won?.

His argument is that the decisive and effective Chinese leadership has outstripped the United States, whose economic, political and social model is failing  and the Trump administrations cack-handed response to the coronavirus pandemic is surely proof of this.

Staff members line up at attention as they prepare to spray disinfectant at Wuhan Railway Station in China's central Hubei province

Though Mahbubani overlooks some of Chinas flaws, the veteran Singaporean diplomats scathing critique of Western conceit, greed and myopia is all too justified.

It makes this weeks bombastic talk in Downing Street of a reckoning with China once the pandemic is over seem dangerously over-confident.

It is one thing to stand up to Vladimir Putins crooks and spooks in the Kremlin. Russias shrunken, stagnant economy exports little apart from natural resources.

But China is another matter. Our thirst for cheap goods has fuelled the boom there, making it the worlds manufacturing powerhouse and a vital part of our supply chain.

Untangling those relationships will be a slow and costly business, even if we do so together with our allies.

As Charles Parton, once the top China-watcher in the British government, argues in the latest edition of Standpoint magazine, we do not have a strategy for dealing with China. But China has a strategy for dealing with us.

For years the Beijing regime has been playing divide and rule against a squabbling and self-indulgent West.

Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan

But it put its tactics into a new gear during the pandemic.

First it sprayed the media landscape with absurd conspiracy theories  claiming, for example, that the coronavirus was engineered in an American lab as part of a plot to damage China.

Then it highlighted the weaknesses in other countries approach to the outbreak under the guise of helping them. It used its manufacturing clout to ship what seemed like huge quantities of medical supplies to hard-hit countries, accompanied by demands for diplomatic and political concessions.

Again this story was largely manufactured for the media. Much of this aid represented deliveries based on existing commercial contracts.

But the image of a confident, capable and generous China, a true superpower, contrasts all too sharply with the flailing response of Donald Trump in America. Or indeed the increasingly hapless efforts of our own government.

But for all our frustration at our own leaders, we cannot ignore how this pandemic has highlighted Chinas long-term strategy and motivation. Be in no doubt: the Peoples Republic of China aims by 2049 to dominate the world.

Chinese coronavirus whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang died on February 7, at Wuhan Central Hospital. His early warnings about China's new coronavirus outbreak were suppressed by the police

That is not paranoid scaremongering. It is the explicit goal of the Chinese leader  Emperor  Xi Jinping.

He wants his country to be fully developed, rich, and powerful  and at first sight, few would quarrel with that.

The Chinese peoples brains and hard work have indeed lifted the country from the destitution and terror caused by the insanity of Chairman Maos hardline ideological experiments. Where communism failed, capitalism has triumphed.

Booming Chinese metropolises make our own cities seem shabby and backward. Chinese products are often better, more modern and more reliable than their Western counterparts.

We should rejoice at the Chineses peoples new-found prosperity, just as we should admire their culture.

But we should fear the ruthless regime that rules them.

For though the Chinese Communist Party speaks of friendly East-West cooperation, its unbridled ambitions are anything but friendly.

It wields ruthless diplomatic, economic, military and technological power in pursuit of this aim: a world run along Chinese rules.

These rules should chill our hearts.

The first is that the Partys word is law. Criticism is muffled at home by the Great Firewall of China, which prevents 1.4 billion people receiving online information from the outside world. Communications between Chinese people are monitored and censored. Those who speak out pay a fearsome price.

We already know of the terrible fate of the countrys Muslim minority, the Uighurs of western China. Their historic culture has been obliterated, with a million or more dispatched to mind-control camps where they are forced to breach their religious customs.

Uighur families are forced to accept ethnic Han Chinese men as lodgers  unwelcome guests who not only police the familys most private moments, but demand sexual favours from their hosts.

Shamefully, Muslim countries, normally vocal in support of their co-religionists, have stayed silent about these abuses.

I recently met Liu Xia, widow of Chinas best-known political prisoner, the late Liu Xiabo.

And let us not forget Li Wenliang, the brave 33-year-old ophthalmologist in Wuhan.

After he warned fellow medics of this new infection that could trigger fatal pneumonia and urged them to wear protective clothing, the police forced him to sign a statement admitting that his warning constituted illegal behaviour. He died last month after contracting coronavirus from patients.

At least we know of his fate. Another whistle-blowing doctor in Wuhan, Ai Fen, simply vanished.

The regime is also trying to suppress foreign criticism. Chinese embassies across the world have been lambasting news outlets for critical coverage, spraying accusations of racism, Sinophobia and prejudice.

A letter from Zeng Rong, the spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in London published in a British newspaper yesterday took exactly that line, lambasting a report that carried criticisms of China for its mishandling of coronavirus and arguing for tough new trade restrictions as a result.

Disregarding Chinas huge sacrifice in the fight against Covid 19 is slander, the spokes- person wrote.

This followed a similar outburst on Thursday, when China accused the U.S. of moral slander  that word again  after the American intelligence community claimed it was downplaying its number of coronavirus cases.

This is part of what Mr Xi calls wolf diplomacy  a newly assertive, take-no-prisoners approach to the outside world. It involves bullying and threats, even over the tiniest and most symbolic opposition.

It works. Our leaders are scared to speak out on human rights.

Meanwhile, the bullies of Beijing also try relentlessly to isolate the other China  the democratic, friendly and prosperous country of Taiwan.

It happens to have conquered the coronavirus far more efficiently and humanely than the communist authorities on the mainland, with 348 cases and 5 deaths to date. It gives real aid to other countries struggling with the pandemic.

No matter  the island state is treated as a rebel province. China has nobbled the World Health Organisation, to the point its UN officials refuse even to mention the word Taiwan in public.

When a brave TV reporter from Hong Kong quizzed the WHOs Bruce Aylward about this, he simply hung up on her. The video of that went viral on the internet: there are some things that even the bossiest bureaucrat cannot control  yet.

Of course libraries could be filled with books about the crimes perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party against its own people in past decades, at the cost of tens of millions of lives. Countless atrocities are also perpetrated against the environment.

Chinese people rightly point out that our own record is far from perfect. We in Britain got rich by polluting the environment  remember William Blakes dark satanic mills in Jerusalem? We hunted species to extinction too.

In addition, Britain and other Western powers took ruthless advantage of Chinas weakness, not least during the infamous Opium Wars of the 19th century. But the modern Chinese state makes the British Empire even at its most callous seem benign.

Business, political and administrative power are fused. The huge home market, and ruthless treatment of outside companies, mean the economic playing field is tilted inexorably in Chinas favour.

Any Western company that does business in China has to submit to Chinese rules, which include the presence of a Communist Party cell inside the business, with the right to dictate to the nominal management. Intellectual property is systematically purloined.

We can see the terrifying consequences of inaction with Huawei. A so-called independent company, this technology giant is, in reality, a wholly owned and controlled subsidiary of the Chinese party-state.

Its devices and software are cheap. But the real cost comes later  by allowing Huawei to play a role in our new 5G mobile network as our Government has done we give the brutal bureaucrats of Beijing the keys to our countrys future.

Some of our closest allies, Australia and the U.S, have vetoed Huaweis presence in their infrastructure, but not us. Yet Chinas mass surveillance machine is not just aimed at keeping its own population under control. It is also harvesting data about the outside world.

Now China is launching an audacious bid to shape the future of the internet. The current, anarchic structure is no longer reliable, Chinese officials argue.

They are right that the internet, reflecting its roots as a network for amateurs and academics, was never designed for its modern role as the central nervous system of our civilisation.

It offers enormous scope for criminals, hooligans and other malefactors.

But the Chinese proposal should chill our blood. Proposed by the telecoms group Huawei, together with state-run companies China Unicom and China Telecom, and the countrys Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the New IP standard will be voted on at a November meeting of the International Telecommunications Union, an intergovernmental body that has long wanted control of the internet.

The proposal would replace the current decentralised model of the internet, where decision-making about sending and receiving data rests with individual users and their computers, with a top down model that would in many countries give state-run telecoms companies control of our browsing and internet use.

Yet the tide is turning. Many Conservative MPs are furious about this countrys kow-tow to China over Huawei. They also note the damage it is doing to our relationship with countries we share intelligence with.

With Huawei influence baked into our telecommunications networks, these countries will no longer be willing, or able, to share secrets with us in the way we have taken for granted since the 1940s.

Other countries are waking up too.

The European Union now counts China as a systemic rival. Australia has passed an unprecedented package of new laws, criminalising foreign meddling in its politics, and enforcing a mandatory register for those lobbying on behalf of outside powers. We should urgently consider similar measures.

The book that sounded the alarm in Australia was Silent Invasion, by a leading academic called Clive Hamilton. In a tacit affirmation of his thesis, he struggled to get it published. But when it did appear it became an instant best-seller.

His next book Hidden Hand is about Chinas invasion of Britain. Out in early May, it will make alarming reading  and should shame those at the heart of our establishment who have taken money and favours from the regime in Beijing.

Our plight may seem dire. But we have two effective responses: solidarity and spontaneity.

Communist bureaucrats believe that just as they follow rigid plans and hidden instructions, the rest of the world must work the same way. When we act on our own initiative, they are baffled.

A free society is full of people and organisations with freedom of action. As individuals, businesses, charities, universities, we can exercise that freedom, downgrading ties with the communist regime, and promoting contacts with Taiwan, the campaigners in Hong Kong, and those who stand up against bullying inside China.

The splendid mayor of Prague, Zdenek Hrib, showed the way last year. Chinese representatives threatened sanctions because of his support for human rights. No problem, said Hrib. We will boost ties with Taiwan instead.

There is also safety in numbers. It is easy to punish an individual person, newspaper, business or country. But if the opposition is replicated dozens, scores or hundreds of times across nations, the bullies are powerless. China is a big country. But it cannot stand up to the whole world.

We need to show solidarity with all those who come under fire from China. Because if we do not stand by them, who will stand by us when it is our turn to be in the firing line?

Many may feel that this is no time to be picking fights. The real reckoning when the crisis passes should not be between Britain and China, but with the bureaucrats and politicians who delayed and bungled their response to COVID-19, inflicting colossal economic, human and social costs on the rest of us.

But we should remember that the great virtue of our system is that we are able to hold our rulers to account for their mistakes. Let us hope that we can keep it that way. The same cannot be said about China.
An ambitious plan is being developed to try and keep public places across Australia open by disinfecting them with drones.

Westpac Little Ripper is proposing to use drones with speakers to kick people out of public places and remind them of social distancing measures imposed around coronavirus.

Drones are also being put forward as a 'quick, fast, efficient and safe' way to sanitise Australia's public places, and could even be used to enforce self-isolation directives.

Little Ripper Group CEO Ben Trollope told Daily Mail Australia they're hopeful it could allow some states to retain some normalcy where others have already lost freedoms.

Drones are also being put forward as a 'quick, fast, efficient and safe' way to sanitise Australia's public places, and could even be used to enforce self-isolation directives

'There's probably 100 people on the beach in front of me across the span of a couple of kilometres. We want to maintain that and not go to the extent that Sydney has gone to which is permanently close all beaches for the forseeable future,' he said.

'So if we can use drones with alert systems to remind people to maintain social distancing then I think we're a step ahead,' he said.

The company is hoping to convince the federal government to use its fleet of drones across a range of measures, including broadcasting systems and disinfectant measures.

Inspiration came from China who used 12,000 drones during the height of the pandemic outbreak to disinfect more than 600,000,000m of public spaces.

An ambitious plan is being developed to try and keep beaches across Queensland open and avoid draconian measures imposed in New South Wales

The initiative, by 'Westpac Little Ripper' is proposing to use drones with speakers to kick people out of public places and remind them of social distancing measures imposed around 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

If approved, plans would involve using a formation of up to five drones at a time to spray a cleaning agent on public surfaces to neutralise the COVID-19 virus in places like public playgrounds, schools, universities, hospitals, aged care facilities and supermarkets.

'There are a lot of countries that have found drones to be an effective and efficient way of disinfecting public areas and we're no different in Australia,' Mr Trollope said.

'Drones are here to stay. We have seen them over the past four years grow in capabilities across our beach and coastline. We're certainly not here for surveillance. We are here to do a job,' he said.

'A lot of our bigger spray drones don't even have cameras on them they just have first person view cameras so we can actually see where we are and what we're doing and what we're close to,' he said.

The company has all regulators on board, and they could be ready to launch within two to three weeks if they can secure support from the government from federal down to local.

While plans appear to focus primarily around broadcasting capabilities and disinfecting, Little Ripper would consider expanding to surveillance measures to enforce self-isolation if it's something the government wants.

'From my perspective drones give us the ability to keep our emergency service operators safe. They can talk to people from a distance- they don't need to be in their immediate vicinity,' Mr Trollope said.

'A lot of people who are coming in from overseas are being directed to self isolate and they're not taking it as seriously as they should. I think if we have got the capability of ensuring social distancing and enforcing self isolation I think we should be doing that,' he said.

Drones are already being used to monitor and enforce social distancing regulations in Victoria and Western Australia.

While researchers at the University of South Australia are trying to create a 'pandemic drone' to detect coronavirus symptoms.

Westpac Little Ripper jokingly posted a photo on Facebook showing a drone being used to deliver toilet paper
CAPE TOWN  Gita Ramjee, a renowned virologist who worked relentlessly to prevent H.I.V. infection in women in South Africa, died on Tuesday of Covid-19-related complications. Professor Ramjee, 49, who had recently returned to Durban from London, was the fifth person to have died of the coronavirus in the country, where more than 1,300 infections have been reported.

The first victims of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa, like Professor Ramjee, are from the more privileged and globally mobile strata of society. And Covid-19 is even being spoken of in black communities as a white mans disease.

Professor Ramjee was among the first wave of scientists to study the impact of AIDS on societys most vulnerable, and her research on sex workers in the 1990s has a lesson for us all. She understood that the AIDS epidemic would hit poor people disproportionately in South Africa, one of the most unequal countries on earth. It did. And so will the coronavirus.

South Africa is still in the incubation period of the pandemic and is expected to reach the peak around early May. The countrys president, Cyril Ramaphosa, ordered a 21-day lockdown starting on March 26 in an effort to prevent the spread of the contagion. We may leave our homes only if we are essential workers, if we need food or medication, or if we must collect our social welfare grants from the state.
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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
At Hope Park in Kensington, the men dealing drugs along the chain-link fence wore hospital masks.

A short walk away, near the Somerset Street El stop, the blocks were crowded with streams of young people in addiction  many of whom live in the mini-encampments lining Kensington Avenue.

And over on Allegheny Avenue, the Rev. Liam Murphy watched as a man directed buyers down narrow Weymouth Street, barking at them to stay six feet away from him.

There he is in dealing in the business of death  and trying to save himself from it, the priest said.

As the coronavirus pandemic has coursed through Philadelphia, the drug markets in Kensington havent slowed  theyve simply adapted. And residents, already accustomed to living in the heart of the citys drug trade and the violence that accompanies it, fear that authorities have virtually halted drug enforcement, leaving corners crowded with dealers who dont even bother to hide because they dont think theyll end up in jail.

The surreal scenes have played out in the weeks since Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced a new policy in which officers are not to take into custody most people suspected of narcotics crimes. Instead, cops issue warrants for the person to be arrested after the pandemic subsides, a decision supported by advocates, the police union, and District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Law enforcement statistics show that scale of the change.

In the first 12 days under the new policy, only 11 people citywide were taken into custody for drug possession or sales, according to data published on a website maintained by the District Attorneys Office. By comparison, 423 people had been arrested for drug violations during the first two weeks of March, the data show.

In addition, prosecutors approved charges in just six drug-related cases in March after the new policy was implemented, the data show. In the first two weeks of March, they approved 407 such cases.

 ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters.

And in the Police Departments East Division, which includes Kensington, the epicenter of the citys drug trade, the numbers were equally striking. On average, every two weeks, police there had been making 225 drug arrests. In the last two weeks, they have made four.

The huge slash in arrests does not account for warrants police have issued for narcotics violations. Under the departments policy, anyone given a warrant would remain on the street.

While the numbers are not surprising given the new directive, they illustrate the unprecedented challenges of protecting residents of a community overwhelmed by drugs, the officers who work there, and the suspects arrested for minor crimes facing the possibility of contracting a deadly virus in the citys crowded jails.

 READ MORE: As coronavirus spreads, Philly not turning a blind eye to crime, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw says

The Police Department did not respond to requests for comment. In explaining the new approach last month, Outlaw stressed that police were not turning a blind eye to crime. Additional officers have been deployed to high crime areas. Suspects in homicides, rapes, and other violent crimes continue to be taken into custody.

And during the first week of the citys shutdown, overall crime dropped by more than 25%, even as homicides and shootings have continued at an alarming rate.

Nobodys getting off the hook here, Brian Abernathy, the citys managing director, said during Thursdays coronavirus briefing. We are doing everything we can to enforce the law. We havent turned our back on Kensington. Were still doing a lot of work there to provide for those that live there as well as those suffering from addiction."

Advocates point out that a public health catastrophe is hitting a neighborhood already mired in multiple public health crises  and where the shortage of housing and shelter often means that people cannot stay inside even if they want.

 READ MORE: Mayor Kenney calls out DA Larry Krasner after gunman shoots five people, including a 1-year-old boy, at North Philly rowhouse

When we look at Kensington we see a melting pot of crises  the overdose crisis, the gun-violence crisis, the poverty crisis  this a community that has been forgotten about for a very long time, said Brooke Feldman, who advocates for people in addiction and homelessness. Just because we have a pandemic right now doesnt mean people are going to be in a place of readiness to stop using.

Those very issues  and the pain they have long inflicted  have left the neighborhood so much more exposed to the impact of the pandemic, residents and officials said.

The residents are horrified, said Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez. Theyre like, Were confined and were all exposed. 

Drug dealers are competing for corners in front of businesses shuttered by the pandemic, said Quinones-Sanchez. And with competition comes the potential of more violence, she said. Perhaps just as dangerous, many of the crowds gathered on corners and living in encampments are not following the citys social distancing recommendations.

For the residents of Kensington it is the storm of all the worst-case scenarios for them  more lawlessness, more vandalism, more aggression by the drug dealers  and the health-care crisis, she said. People are really concerned that we are going to become a hot spot because all those crises are rolled up into one.

In a crisis where information about how the virus spreads can be confusing, neighborhood burdens once merely frustrating now feel perilous: Groups of people rushing down a narrow street for free drug samples. Drug paraphernalia littered across a step. A skewed car mirror someone leaned against.

Every surface you look at  your railing, your car, your hose  you ask, Can I touch this?' said a man who lives with his wife on a small street off Kensington Avenue and did not want to be identified for fear of retribution from the dealers on his corner. We managed to maintain some sanity and health before all this. Now were all freaking out."

Quinones-Sanchez noted that the additional police presence has managed to minimize" the expansion of new drug corners.

Indeed, police have been out in force in Kensington. Some mornings officers drive patrol cars with lights and sirens on, instructing people over their loudspeakers to keep their distance from one another.

But their presence has done little to slow business. The streets are packed. The corners occupied. The dealers have their masks.

Jasmine Velez, who works on community development projects focused on Hope Park, said it has seemed as if nothings changed.

It was chaotic, Velez said. Its just like it was before. You wouldnt even know there was a pandemic happening.

Staff writer Laura McCrystal contributed to this article.
The latest:

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx says incoming infection data suggests not enough Americans are abiding by guidelines in the national call to action to stem the spread of the virus.

Administration officials say the United States' infection and death rate from the virus is akin to what hard-hit Italy is facing. Italy has a population of about 60 million and has recorded nearly 14,000 deaths and 115,000 infections. The United States, with a population of about 327 million, has recorded more than 5,900 deaths and more than 243,000 infections.

Birx noted that Spain, Italy, France, and Germany have begun to bend their curves. But she says Americans will need to do a better job abiding by social distancing guidelines issued by the White House so the U.S. can do the same.

The White House issued its social distancing guidelines on March 16. Americans were advised to work from home when possible, cancel onsite learning and frequently wash hands.

President Trump takes second COVID-19 test

President Donald Trump said Thursday he took another coronavirus test earlier that day.

It literally took him a minute and gave a conclusion of negative about 14 or 15 minutes later, he said.

He took the test out of curiosity, he said, to see how long it would take.

The president also took a test March 13 after coming into contact with two individuals who tested positive for the virus.

1 million cases confirmed worldwide

At least one million cases of the virus have been confirmed worldwide, according to numbers from Johns Hopkins University.

As coronavirus spreads across Europe, governments and the European Union are focusing much of their economic rescue efforts on containing a boom in joblessness, particularly by helping companies not fire workers.

Unions estimate, based on reports from local branches, that at least one million Europeans lost their jobs over the past two weeks - and say the actual number is likely far higher - as a shutdown of schools, businesses and social gatherings froze large parts of the economy.

While the rise in unemployment is devastating and rapid, it is still far below that of the U.S., where nearly 10 million people applied for jobless benefits in two weeks. The contrast highlights Europes greater social safety nets, in particular schemes where governments help companies put workers on shorter hours instead of firing them - in the hope of bringing them back quickly once the pandemic fades.

Aggressive measures needed to avoid projected deaths

The nation's top infectious disease expert stressed Thursday the U.S. can still defy alarming projections of coronavirus deaths with aggressive measures.

Models had showed that the U.S. death toll could be at least 100,000 with aggressive social distancing, White House experts said earlier, and as high as 2.2 million without them. But, "it's within our power to modify those numbers," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told "CBS This Morning" Thursday.

"If you really push hard on mitigation ... you can modify the model," Fauci said. "We need to push and push with the mitigation to try and get that number lower than the projected number."

With the CDC estimating 25% of coronavirus carriers have no symptoms, health officials like Fauci have said they're considering whether to recommend the general public wear non-hospital-grade masks to prevent the virus's spread.

President Trump announced Thursday that his administration will soon make a nationwide recommendation on if Americans should wear masks.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday recommended that people there wear non-medical-grade masks or face coverings such as bandanas when they're in public.

"Please do not get medical grade or surgical masks, or N95 masks. We must not contribute to the shortage of these essential personal protective equipment for medial personnel and first responders," he said.

Record high number of Americans file for unemployment

Millions more Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, as businesses continue to lay off and furlough workers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

A record 6.6 million workers filed for their first week of unemployment benefits in the week ending March 28. Economists polled by Refinitiv had expected 3.5 million claims.

Deaths in US top 6,000

Coronavirus deaths across the U.S. have topped 6,000 and all but 11 states have issued sweeping orders for residents to stay home  affecting nearly 90% of the country's population.

Related video: Gov. Newsom says California's stay-at-home order appears to be working

Even if Americans follow mitigation measures closely, the U.S. death toll could be at least 100,000, White House experts said this week. But without those measures in place, that death toll could be as high as 2.2 million, said Birx.

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"The good news is that states like Washington, like California, countries like Italy, when they leaned into aggressive mitigation, they're being able to flatten their curve," Adams told NBC.

Trump said Wednesday he would not issue a national stay-at-home order because different states have different infection rates.

"You have to look  you have to give a little flexibility. If you have a state in the Midwest, or if Alaska for example doesn't have a problem, it's awfully tough to say close it down. We have to have a little bit of flexibility," he said.

The 11 states that have not issued statewide stay at home orders include: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming.

Up to 16,000 New Yorkers could die

In hard-hit New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential workers home last month.

On Wednesday, he cited a model that showed as many as 16,000 New Yorkers could die from the virus.

"If you believe these numbers, 16,000 deaths in New York, that means you're going to have tens of thousands of deaths outside of New York," the governor said. "So to the extent people watch their nightly news in Kansas and say, 'Well this is a New York problem,' that's not what these numbers say."

"It says it's a New York problem today. Tomorrow it's a Kansas problem and a Texas problem and a New Mexico problem. That's why I say to my fellow governors and elected officials across this country, look at us today, see yourself tomorrow," he said.

New York, now the epicenter of the outbreak, has reported at least 84,025 cases and 2,219 deaths.

At least 45,707 of those infections and 1,374 of the deaths are in New York City.

This week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency sent hundreds of ambulances, EMTs and paramedics to New York City to help assist first responders.

New York City hospitals still need 3.3 million N-95 masks, 2.1 million surgical masks, 100,000 isolation gowns and 400 ventilators by April 5, Mayor de Blasio said Wednesday.

The mayor has warned that this Sunday will be a crucial day for the city and that demands will continue to rise in the following weeks.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The coronavirus has overwhelmed hospitals and morgues in Ecuador's largest city, forcing people to leave bodies on the streets. WSJs Ryan Dube explains how Guayaquil offers a preview of what other vulnerable regions in Latin America may soon encounter. Photo: stringer/Reuters
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A cargo ship from China carrying medical supplies, toilet paper and tinned food is now being unloaded at the Port of Melbourne, following a dispute over coronavirus fears between the maritime union and stevedores DP World.

About 90 wharfies were stood down this week after they refused to unload the Xin Da Lian, which arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday after a 12-day voyage from a port in Taiwan.

Wharfies have begun unloading shipping containers from the Xin Da Lian. Credit:Jason South

The length of the Xin Da Lian's journey from the port of Kaohsiung meant there was not enough time for a two-week coronavirus quarantine period to be completed so when the ship tied up at Swanson Dock on Tuesday, wharfies refused to take off the cargo.

By Wednesday evening, with the 14-day period over, dock workers agreed to start unloading the more than 2000 shipping containers onboard the ship.
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An alleged terrorism sympathiser will be released from jail after a Brisbane court was told the coronavirus crisis will have a severe impact on his wellbeing.

Alaa Adam Atwani is charged with attempting to provide support to a terrorist organisation in 2014.

The Deputy Chief Magistrate said the accused's situation was exceptional and he should be released. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Prosecutors allege the 28-year-old sent video-editing software to his ISIS-affiliated brother, Samir, in Syria.

Mr Atwani is expected to fight the charge after it is decided whether he will be transferred to NSW, where he is accused of committing the offence.
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SPRINGFIELD  The Police Department on Friday reported that eight officers have tested positive for the coronavirus, doubling the number reported Monday.

The officers are resting at home and the department has adequate staffing to maintain full patrols, spokesman Ryan Walsh said.

As of Friday, 29 officers were out of work, Walsh said; not all were related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That compared to Thursday when there were 34 officers out of work, he said.

Currently all patrol shifts are at full strength to protect our neighborhoods without having to use any COVID-19 related overtime, Walsh said.

In addition to the eight officers testing positive, 16 tested negative and six are waiting for results and self-isolating, Walsh said.

During the same week in 2019, there was an average of 19 officers out sick, Walsh said.

So while the circumstances are definitely different and could change any day, this isnt that unusual for this time of year, Walsh said. The Commissioner continues to stress social distancing when its applicable, wearing personal protective equipment and sanitizing everything from offices to cruisers, which has made a positive difference so far.

The Massachusetts State Police announced recently that it is deploying 16 state troopers to assist Springfield police with patrol duties.

Related content
(Newser)  President Trump caused some confusion Thursday evening when he tweeted that 3M would "have a big price to pay" for its handling of its N95 masks. At a briefing earlier in the day, Trump said he was using the Defense Production Act to order 3M to produce the life-saving masks. "We've had some issues making sure that all of the production that 3M does around the world, enough of it is coming back here to the right places," White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said, per Reuters. "Hopefully they'll be able to do what they are supposed to do," said Trump. "We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks," the president later tweeted. "Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing - will have a big price to pay!"

story continues below

The Minnesota-based company, which produces the Nexcare brand and other healthcare products, hasn't commented, nor has the White House elaborated. Mother Jones flags tweetswhose content it notes it can't confirmfrom a doctor who indicates the issue is that 3M moved two-thirds of its mask production overseas due to labor costs, and those countries aren't exporting the medical supplies. "Trump needs to talk to these other countries and make a deal to get them to send these masks to us," tweeted Eugene Gu. The Guardian notes countries like France, Germany, and Turkey have been limiting or banning medical-supply exports. (Read more President Trump stories.)
Power's friends and acquaintances put his selection for the commission role down to intelligence and self-sufficiency. He loves fixing big complicated problems and he has a fabulous mind," his former boss Andrew Forrest says. Determination to succeed Having grown up mustering cattle at Bushy Creek station in Queensland, Power is passionate about regional Australia and still owns a station in his home state that he heads back to when possible with his three adult sons. He also has a long history in aviation, evident in his chairing of the national Royal Flying Doctor Service and the fixed-wing and rotary pilot licences in his wallet. Everywhere in my career I seem to have been trying to do more than what I had the resources for, I guess NCCC chair Neville Power

Power was homeschooled and left the station at age 15 to take up an apprenticeship as a diesel fitter at Mount Isa Metals. In his 20s he studied mechanical engineering and from there went to steelmaker Smorgon in Victoria where he worked his way up to senior management. Eventually, he headed home to Queensland where he became chief executive of mining contractor Thiess before travelling west to Forrests Fortescue Metals. "He is such a crack on with it, measure his own achievements person and is continuously and deeply dissatisfied with the level of his own achievement even though he would have shot the lights out," Forrest says. Power led Fortescue through some of its bleakest years. It faced constant scepticism from analysts and media between 2012 and 2015 as its enormous debt pile threatened to cripple the company but a determination to succeed saw it come out the other end as one of the globe's biggest players. We quadrupled production and took the costs from uncompetitive down to the lowest-cost producer in the world, Power says. Nev Power during his time at Fortescue Metals Group. Credit:Rebecca Le May

Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Paul Everingham met the Power family growing up in Queensland and became close to Power when they both found themselves in WA. Everingham says from a young age Power's self-reliance was front of mind. Not too many 15-year-olds leave home and go to work in a remote mining community like Mount Isa, Everingham says. It was famous for its roughness back in the day and as a 15-year-old he would have learnt to look after himself. He is a very can-do creative and calm thinker, gets stuff done, doesnt waste time and knows how to work 20 hours a day, seven days a week if he has to. Power and his fellow commissioners including former Telstra chief executive David Thodey and former Labor minister and Australian Council of Trade Unions leader Greg Combet will have their work cut to help the economy get back on its feet. He says a key area of interest for the commission is to shore up the countrys manufacturing capabilities after a reliance on international suppliers has left it scrambling for medical equipment.

We will have a low Australian dollar environment and we will have very disrupted supply chains globally, so it is a perfect opportunity for us to use that as a bit of a springboard on the other side of the virus to get our manufacturing industry into great shape and accelerate it," he says. Mr Power scoffs when asked about his achievements: "That won't take more than a couple of seconds," he says. Despite the modesty, he admits he does have a knack for resourcefulness. Everywhere in my career I seem to have been trying to do more than what I had the resources for, I guess, he says. Whether that is with cattle stations [where] youre constantly trying to pull together whatever you can to get things done. [And] particularly through ... steel manufacturing we went through some very tough years ... you had to be resourceful in that industry to make do.
Turnout for Mali's parliamentary elections this week was 36 percent, officials said on Thursday, after voters dealt with threats of violence and the coronavirus pandemic.

Voters in the war-torn West African country cast their ballots for new MPs on Sunday in an election that was long delayed mostly because of security concerns.

Announcing the provisional results on Thursday, territorial administration minister Boubacar Alpha Bah said 35.73 percent of 2.7 million registered voters turned out.

"The participation rate still poses a challenge to our democracy," Bah said at a press conference in the capital Bamako.

Polling day was marked by several violent incidents in Mali's volatile north and centre, including the kidnap of officials.

Mali has struggled to contain a jihadist conflict that broke out in country's north in 2012 and then engulfed the centre. Thousands of soldiers and civilians have since been killed.

Last week's election followed the kidnap of leading opposition figure Soumaila Cisse -- a first in Mali for a politician of his rank.

But analysts said the election to the 147-seat parliament was critical to implementing reforms that could drag the former French colony out of its cycle of violence.

Provisional results indicate Cisse was elected in the first round, but also show a second round of voting will be needed in some districts where no candidate won a majority.

Preliminary results show many candidates who support President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita will likely face a second round of voting on April 19, according to an AFP tally.
An IAS officer is among nine persons who have tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh since Thursday night, taking the state's tally to 120, a senior health official said on Friday.

The 2011-batch IAS officer is posted in the health department in Bhopal and has a history of travelling outside Madhya Pradesh in recent times, he said.

He developed symptoms similar to those found in COVID-19 patients and was tested for the viral infection, the official said.

His first report came positive, the official confirmed but added, "We are waiting for his second test report."



Among the other new cases, seven were reported from Indore and one from Chhindwara.

The Chhindwara patient is a 36-year-old man who became the first coronavirus positive case in the district, Sub- Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Atul Singh said.

He works in a government department in Indore and came to Chhindwara on March 19 before the lockdown, in force since March 25 to stem the spread of the deadly virus, he said.

The patient has been admitted in the Chhindwara district hospitals isolation ward and people he came in contact with are being quarantined, the SDM said.

People in areas which he visited will be screened, he said.

Seven fresh coronavirus positive cases were reported from Indore, taking the total number of infected persons in the city to 89, a health official said.

Out of the total 120 coronavirus cases recorded so far (health department has confirmed 119), 89 have been reported from Indore, eight each from Jabalpur and Bhopal, six from Ujjain, two each in Morena, Shivpuri and Gwalior and one each from Khargone and Chhindwara, officials said.

Eight COVID-19 patients have so far died in the state - five from Indore, two from Ujjain and one from Khargone, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Perth, Australia, April 2, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL.AX - News) (HAM:JMI.HM - News) (OTCMKTS:DYLLF - News) is pleased to announce the completion of the infill drilling program at the Company's Tumas 3 deposit on EPL 3496 in Namibia. The drill program was developed to identify sufficient Indicated Resources to support the Tumas 3 Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) the Company is currently undertaking.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Resource infill drilling program completed at Tumas 3 (Namibia), comprising 246 holes for 5,154m

- Drilling focussed on converting 50% of the existing Tumas 3 Inferred Resource base to Indicated Resource status

- 85% of drill holes returned a result greater than 100ppm eU3O8 over 1m; early interpretations indicate results to be sufficient to achieve the necessary amount of Indicated Resources required for the PFS

- Drilling also confirms continuous mineralisation across the 2.5km tested of the previously defined 7km long Tumas 3 deposit

o Best intersections include:

- T3I058 1m @ 1082ppm eU3O8 from surface

15m @ 2087ppm eU3O8 from 7m

2m @ 552ppm eU3O8 from 27m

- T3I083 1m @ 595ppm eU3O8 from surface

14m @ 2461ppm eU3O8 from 5m

- T3I101 10m @ 628ppm eU3O8 from 7m

- T3I232 11m @ 1370ppm eU3O8 from 10m

- Results and analysis from the drill program is being compiled and evaluated to produce an updated Tumas 3 resource estimate, expected to be completed by mid-May 2020

- With only 60% of the known regional Tumas palaeochannel system drilled, significant upside potential remains to further increase the resource base, with 50km of this highly prospective target remaining to be tested

The drill program focussed on converting approximately 50% of the Inferred Resources at Tumas 3 to an Indicated JORC status. EPL 3496 is held by Reptile Uranium Namibia (Pty) Ltd (RUN), part of the group of companies wholly owned by Deep Yellow.

On 29 January 2020 the Company announced the commencement of an infill drilling program for the ongoing Tumas 3 PFS. The drill program was completed on 24 March, comprising 246 RC holes for 5,154m.

Story continues

The results from the drill program have confirmed exceptional continuity of uranium mineralisation over a 2.5km length of palaeochannel within the Tumas 3 deposit. Importantly, downhole logging analysis indicates that the results from the drill program are sufficient enough to achieve the Indicated Resource target required to support the Tumas 3 PFS which is currently underway. The Tumas 3 deposit is 7km long and 0.2km to 1.1km wide and contains 33.1Mlb of Inferred Resources at a grade of 378 eU3O8 utilising a 200ppm cut off.

Deep Yellow has only drilled 60% of the known Tumas palaeochannel system, with significant upside potential to further increase the regional resource base through ongoing exploration.

Currently, all data is being compiled and evaluated to produce an updated Tumas 3 resource estimate, which is expected to be completed by mid-May 2020.

Tumas 3 Infill Drilling

Infill drilling of the previously 100m by 100m spaced holes was carried out at 50m centres achieving an overall hole spacing of 70m x 70m deemed sufficient for Indicated Resource determination.

210 holes or 85% of the 246 holes drilled in this program returned a result greater than 100ppm eU3O8 with an average grade of 364ppm eU3O8 over an average thickness of 4.5m. Of greater interest and importance is that 157 holes (64%) of these holes intersected greater than 200ppm eU3O8 with an average grade of 568ppm eU3O8 over an average thickness of 5.9m.

These results closely reflect the statistics of the previous drilling programs completed at Tumas 3, indicating that the expected resource conversion of Inferred to Indicated JORC status will be much greater than the 40% to 50% conversion target stated in the January announcement.

Figure 2 outlines the area of infill drilling showing hole locations and grade thickness distribution (GT= eU3O8ppm x Metre Thickness). Importantly, it highlights that previously identified areas of high grade were confirmed by the recent drilling.

Figures 3 and 4* show a long and cross-section through the deposit, again confirming the continuity of the mineralisation and the high-grade zones within this deposit.

As previously observed, the calcrete associated uranium mineralisation is not located in a simple configuration within the large palaeochannel but occurs in a system of channels varying in size and depth. The mineralisation can occur close to the surface but generally is confined to a depth of 5m to 25m.

The uranium mineralisation is of the calcrete type occurring mainly in palaeochannels as found at the Langer Heinrich Mine 50km north-east of the project area.

Appendix 1, Table 1* lists the 246 exploration drill holes from the current infill drilling program at Tumas 3 and Table 2 includes the 210 drill holes returning uranium intersections above cutoff and showing equivalent uranium values in ppm and thickness with hole depth and coordinates provided.

Conclusions and Analysis

The results from the recently completed infill resource drilling program has continued to provide the Company with a better definition of the uranium mineralisation occurring at Tumas 3. The results also maintain the Company's positive expectation for the deposit and the highly encouraging prospectivity of the Tumas Palaeochannel system.

The Tumas 3 uranium mineralisation has become more clearly defined, providing the Company with a high-level of confidence that this deposit will achieve the required resource upgrade to support the PFS currently underway. The Tumas 3 uranium mineralisation remains open and limited resource infill drilling is planned to test this later in the year.

*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/YESH4598



About Deep Yellow Limited:

Deep Yellow Limited (ASX:DYL.AX - News) (OTCMKTS:DYLLF - News) (Namibian Stock Exchange:DYL) is a specialist differentiated uranium company implementing a new contrarian strategy to grow shareholder wealth. This strategy is founded upon growing the existing uranium resources across the Company's uranium projects in Namibia and the pursuit of accretive, counter-cyclical acquisitions to build a global, geographically diverse asset portfolio. The Company's cornerstone suite of projects in Namibia is situated within a top-ranked African mining destination in a jurisdiction that has a long, well regarded history of safely and effectively developing and regulating its considerable uranium mining industry.

Contact:

John Borshoff

Managing Director/CEO

T: +61-8-9286-6999

Email: john.borshoff@deepyellow.com.au

www.deepyellow.com.au

Source:

Deep Yellow Limited

Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved.
Parliament on Thursday night, under a Certificate of Urgency, passed the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Trust Fund Bill, 2020 to give legislative backing to the proposed establishment of a fund to complement the efforts of the Government of Ghana in the fight against COVID-19.



The fund is also to support the needy and the vulnerable negatively affected by the pandemic and for related matters.

As part of responses from the Government to the pandemic, Parliament passed the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012), and the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo issued an executive instrument to combat the disease.



Since the implementation of the measures, some members of the public, groups and corporate bodies had donated, gifts and other voluntary contributions to complement the efforts of the government to combat COVID-19.



It, therefore, became imperative to establish a Fund to properly receive and manage the donations for the intended objective of complementing Governments efforts at combating COVID-19 and to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable who have been afflicted or impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, read by its chair, Mr Ben Abdallah Banda, said.



The bill consists of 26 clauses. These are the introductory provisions for the establishment of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) National Trust Fund under Clauses 1 to 6.



Clauses 6 to 11 cover matters relating to the governance of the Bill, while Clauses 14 to 18 outline administrative matters to the Fund.



Financial Matters are covered under Clause 19 to 22, while miscellaneous provisions are covered under 23 to 26.

According to Attorney General and Minister for Justice Gloria Akufo, the Fund would receive and manage contributions and donations from well-meaning individuals, groups and corporate bodies.



She said other beneficiaries of the Fund would be frontline and volunteers engaged in the combat of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the vulnerable and the needy affected by the pandemic.



The Committee noted that the fund would be funded from donations, gifts and other voluntary contributions by individuals, groups and corporate bodies; from monies that may become lawfully due to the Fund and other monies that the Board of Trustees of the Fund may determine in consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance.

The money accruing to the Fund would be paid into a bank account to be opened.



On the management of the Fund, the Committee announced that the Fund would be managed by a Board of Trustees to be appointed by the President. The trustees would comprise a chairperson and six persons one of whom would be a woman.



The President would be required to take into account the integrity, knowledge, expertise and experience of the members when making the appointment.



To ensure transparency in the handling of the Fund, the Committee noted that a number of transparency arrangements in the bill including; auditing of the Fund and reporting on the activities of the Fund.



The Fund would be required to establish an internal audit unit to be headed by an Internal Auditor, who shall be responsible for the internal audit of the Fund, The Internal Auditor would further submit reports to the Board with copies to the Minister responsible for the Fund and the Auditor General, the Committee recommended.

Source: GNA









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Stranded migrant workers, who are living in various relief centres across Andhra Pradesh amid the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, are being treated to a daily meal comprising egg curry, tomato dal, vegetable pulao and a potato dish. The three-week, nationwide lockdown began on March 25.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy urged officials to make adequate arrangements for the migrants basic essential needs such as accommodation and food.

Weve provided them shelter and other facilities in community halls and other relief centres, including educational institutions and even hotels. In all, 218 such relief centres have been set up to accommodate 9,695 migrant workers, including 3,819 belonging to Andhra and another 5,876 from 28 states across the country, said an official from the chief ministers office, requesting anonymity.

On Thursday, the state government issued orders to the district officials to ensure all those who are staying at relief centres be provided with food on a par with mid-day meals in government-run schools under the Jagananna Gorumuddha scheme. The Jaganna Gorumudda menu comprises nutritious food to ensure that students stay healthy and fit. The same menu is now being extended to migrant workers, the official said.

Migrant workers are being treated to boiled eggs, egg curry, chickpeas, tomato dal, asparagus, vegetable pulao, aloo kurma, and kichidi, depending on the day of the week, apart from staples such as rice, sambar and buttermilk.

The government is also taking care of their other daily needs such as safe drinking water, clothes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, blanket, and oil. We are ensuring that their stay at the relief centres is as comfortable as possible under the difficult circumstances as the country is facing a challenging situation because of the Covid-19 outbreak, the official said.

In Telangana, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is distributing free lunch and dinner to 45,000 and 15,000 people, respectively, under the Annapurna meal scheme.

GHMC official spokesman Y Venkateshwarlu said each meal contains 450 grams of rice, 100 grams dal, sambar and pickle. Annapurna meal is being provided to thousands of students, employees and migrant labourers belonging to other states, who got stranded because of the ongoing lockdown, he said.

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Even if youre standing 6 feet apart, you can still stand united.

Thats the message a former New Jersey mayor is seeking to spread through Flags Across The Chathams," an initiative encouraging residents to hang an American flag outside their homes to honor those working on the frontlines of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Curt Ritter, who served as the mayor of Chatham Township from 2016 to 2019, kicked off the movement in his hometown in Morris County on Wednesday to pay tribute to all individuals continuing to serve their communities during this state of emergency.

Whether its the doctor or nurse, first responder, the delivery person dropping off a meal or package, grocery store clerk or cashier, the garbage collector and many others ... theres an opportunity for us to show them, when they see a flag-lined street, that we support them and are appreciative of their efforts," Ritter said.

The use of the American flag as a symbol in support of frontline workers illustrates Ritters belief in a renewed sense of patriotism in America.

"Just walking around my streets in the neighborhood, as many people are doing these days, Ive noticed flags popping up here and there and I thought, You know, now would be a great opportunity for us to bring that sense of patriotism to our own community and perhaps elsewhere to remind folks how fortunate we are to live in the country that we live in, Ritter said.

"Flags Across The Chathams"Courtesy - Curt Ritter

I think as we raise a flag for our Armed Forces who are always on the frontlines protecting America  these are different warriors in this time. These are the warriors who are on the frontlines, he added.

While originally planning to kick off the effort in early May with the goal of establishing a flag at at every home in both the township and borough of Chatham by Flag Day on June 14, Ritter said he decided to advance the launch given the circumstances today."

In recognizing that individuals living far beyond New Jersey have taken actions to help others throughout the pandemic, he added it would be wonderful to see the movement spread beyond his own community.

All things start locally, but certainly I think the pride and appreciation that the residents of Chatham have for our folks on the frontlines goes well beyond our borders," Ritter said. "This is beyond New Jersey; its all across America. I think people are appreciative, and weve seen that from the stories of people making masks in Washington, to people finding supplies in Texas, to people raising funds for first responders in Chicago. This is a national movement.

Reflecting upon what inspired him to establish Flags Across The Chathams, Ritter emphasized the difference between the sacrifices made by those ordered to remain in their residences and those who leave them to serve others.

The majority of Americans are hunkered down in their homes today watching things on TV, or just staying in their communities going for walks. And yet you see others out and about on the frontlines, risking their lives to serve and protect ourselves, Ritter said.

And its one small token or one small way of showing them visibly our appreciation for their efforts," the former mayor added. "Its something we could all consider doing.

All residents interested in joining this movement are encouraged to share a picture of an American flag hanging outside their home on the Flags Across The Chathams Facebook page.

Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Loren Feldkamp flashed a warm smile to about a dozen cafeteria workers last week as they prepared lunches for more than 350 schoolchildren in northeastern Kansas.

Feldkamp, the superintendent of the Tonganoxie School District, thanked them each for their dedication to making the grab-and-go meals that were sustaining lines of children and parents. Nine school days earlier, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly had ordered all schools closed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but school staff were still feeding kids.

It was such a positive situation, in the middle of something none of us had ever experienced before, Feldkamp said.

By Monday, though, Feldkamps pride had turned to concern as he posted a message to the districts Facebook page: Like a growing number of school superintendents across the country, he told parents and students that he had to stop the districts free and reduced-price meal program.

One of the food prep workers he thanked Thursday, Februarys employee of the month, who Feldcamp called one of the shining stars among his staff, had become one of Kansas 370 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Sunday.

No one feels worse about it than she does, Feldkamp said of the worker, who is recovering at home. But we had to shut it down. Too many people had been in contact. We felt it was an unsafe situation.

Coronavirus spreads: 1 million cases worldwide

School district leaders in Houston, Memphis and parts of Louisiana and West Virginia have also suspended food distribution programs after workers either tested positive or were exposed to coronavirus. Others near Chicago, and in Detroit and Montgomery, Alabama, have cut back their distribution dates, times or locations.

David L. Mackenzie Elementary-Middle school food services employees Cora Johnson, left, and Roderick Bailey, help prepare breakfasts and lunches for Detroit Public Schools students on March 18. Detroit's grab-and-go meal program closed for two days the following week after workers tested positive for the coronavirus.

About half of all U.S. public schoolchildren rely on free or reduced-price meals. Now, as school officials try to maintain emergency meal programs in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, they must choose between potentially allowing children to go hungry or risking exposing them to infection.

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This is not easy, and there will continue to be challenges as we move forward, said Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokeswoman for the School Nutrition Association, a nonprofit that works with more than 55,000 school food providers nationwide.

Another challenge: Learning without internet. These teachers air TV lessons

A fear that children will go hungry

Results from a School Nutrition Association survey of nearly 1,800 school districts, conducted two weeks ago as schools had just begun to close, predicted the dilemma. More than 91% of those surveyed said they feared children in their districts would go hungry during the school shutdowns. About three quarters worried about the safety of students and families who received the meals.

Other top concerns included fears that regular school lunch programs would suffer from a loss of revenue and that food service workers would be furloughed and lose income.

Like Feldkamps district in Kansas, school officials in St. James Parish, Louisiana, had set up grab-and-go meal distribution stations at five schools in the district 50 miles west of New Orleans. But last week, they also stopped their program after announcing a school employee had tested positive for COVID-19.

In Detroit, school officials shut down the districts distribution program for two days last week after employees there became sick. But they resumed the program late last week from 17 locations.

In other states, churches and nonprofits have stepped up when schools shuttered their meal programs. Shelby County Public Schools in Memphis shuttered its lunch program after a worker who was not involved in meal preparation tested positive for COVID-19. Two days later, however, the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South took over the program, serving lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from 60 locations.

Even in districts where food distributions continued last week, school officials and community groups struggled to find innovative ways to reach the most students.

They're also helping with Wi-Fi: Coronavirus for kids without internet means quarantined worksheets, learning in parking lots

Many benefited from support from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Summer Food Service Program, which last year alone provided an estimated 141 million meals to students during winter, spring and summer school breaks.

The programs guidelines also allow participants to receive meals during emergencies and natural disasters. And although the rules normally call for children to be served meals at specific times and require them to eat the meals at approved sites, the USDA has waived those requirements nationwide in response to the pandemic.

Camaree Hurd, 9, and his 6-year-old sister, Amani, get lunches from the Memphis YMCA on March 23.

In Ohio, the Childrens Hunger Alliance had already stockpiled 18,000 meals from the program in anticipation of spring break in that state. When the governor closed schools a few days early, the group was ready.

The alliance teamed up with library systems to serve meals from branch parking lots, said Judy Mobley, the organizations president and chief executive officer. A Hertz rental car office provided two vans for food delivery. The group also hopes to soon deliver meals to children in public housing who dont have transportation to distribution centers at local schools.

I dont think we ever envisioned a scenario where we would just park a truck somewhere and advertise to feed children, Mobley said, but whats happening is nothing we could have imagined either.

Is online school illegal? As coronavirus closes schools, special education concerns give districts pause

In Kansas, Feldkamp says he plans to reopen the districts grab-and-go meal program in two weeks, after employees are sure they didnt contract COVID-19.

In the meantime, other school districts have offered to serve his districts students and parents. A local church has also offered help, joining other churches and religious organizations around the nation that have partnered with local food banks and invested their own resources to feed children.

As soon as Orange County, Florida, schools announced they would be closing until April 15, Pastor Dio Pouerie, who launched Acceleration Church three years ago with his wife, Tekoa, began looking for a way to help.

Using the churchs resources and help from the Second Harvest Food Bank in Orlando, church volunteers last Thursday served 100 breakfasts and lunches to local families at a drive-thru in the church parking lot. They advertised mostly through social media and word of mouth.

The couple, along with church members, colleagues and friends, were able to round up N-95 masks and gloves for their volunteers to wear. They practice all the same social distancing suggestions that schools have used, Poeurie said.

A grandmother who came for food burst into tears as church volunteers handed her bags full of muffins, sandwiches, milk, potatoes, fresh fruit and Frosted Mini-Wheats. Her daughter had just been laid off, and the two of them had been trying to figure out how they would feed her grandchildren until her daughter was able to work again.

Whatever we have access to, as long as we have it, so will they, Pouerie said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus threatens free school lunch, grab-and-go amid closures
The World Bank says it has received approval for emergency support operations for developing countries. In a statement on Thursday...





The World Bank says it has received approval for emergency support operations for developing countries.





In a statement on Thursday, the Bretton Wood institution said the approval given by its board of executive directors is for the first group of projects to help 25 countries respond to immediate health consequences of the pandemic and bolster economic recovery.





The first group of projects is said to total $1.9 billion with the World Bank saying it is ready to deploy $160 billion over the next 15 months.





The broader economic program will aim to shorten the time to recovery, create conditions for growth, support small and medium enterprises, and help protect the poor and vulnerable, the statement read.





There will be a strong poverty focus in these operations, with an emphasis on policy-based financing, and protecting the poorest households and the environment.





Some of the countries listed to benefit from the first group of projects are Afghanistan, Argentina, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic.





Others are Maldives, Mauritania, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, The Gambia and Yemen.





Commenting on the project, David Malpass, World Bank president, said: The World Bank Group is taking broad, fast action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we already have health response operations moving forward in over 65 countries.





We are working to strengthen developing nations ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and shorten the time to economic and social recovery. The poorest and most vulnerable countries will likely be hit the hardest, and our teams around the world remain focused on country-level and regional solutions to address the ongoing crisis.





The World Bank also said it is helping countries access critical medical supplies by reaching out to suppliers on behalf of governments.




MEDFORD, Ore.  The Medford School District announced on Friday that it will not move forward with the purchase of Cobblestone Village, what was supposed to be the site of a new Central Medford High School.

The District said that the decision was part of an effort to prioritize "students and staff over stuff" amid economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

The quaint-looking Cobblestone Village on Riverside Avenue currently serves as a business park, with a number of commercial tenants. MSD hoped to make it the new home of Central Medford High School and its other alternative programs so that the current Central Medford building on Oakdale could be made into a new middle school.

Dropping the plan for Cobblestone Village means that MSD will no longer be able to open the third middle school, originally slated to happen for the 2021-22 school year. The District had planned to move sixth graders up to middle school during that year, allowing elementary schools more room to grow with just the K-5 grades.

"COVID-19 has changed the economic outlook for MSD along with school districts and businesses across the United States," the District said in a statement. "The MSD, along with other districts in the state, are anticipating lower than expected funding from the state due to a projected economic downturn."

MSD's plan for Cobblestone Village and Central Medford High hinged on an outlook of "substantial" increased revenue. With a downturn in revenue now expected  and the actual severity still very much an unknown  MSD says it's going to prioritize holding onto its cash and working to balance the budget for next year.

We are saddened to have to make this change, said Superintendent Bret Champion. But to put it simply, the Medford School District prioritizes students and staff over stuff. We need to ensure that we make prudent fiscal decisions today so that we can continue to focus on student learning tomorrow.

The District said that its need for more classrooms and instruction spaces "will continue to be an issue." Some work may still go forward at Central Medford High as funding and current coronavirus restrictions permit.

We believe the best way to meet these needs in the current economic state is to preserve cash now and revise our strategy, said Assistant Superintendent Brad Earl. We will prioritize funding for instructional and support resources and instruction space for our most vulnerable students.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:00:51|Editor: huaxia

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MACAO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center of China's Macao Special Administrative Region government on Friday reported one newly confirmed imported COVID-19 case, taking the tally of all confirmed cases to 42.

The 42nd case is a 58-year-old male Macao resident. He arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok of Thailand on March 16 and arrived in Macao on March 30.

The patient had a 14-day medical observation at a hotel after entering Macao. His sample collected on Friday was tested positive.

A total of 32 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.
After 10 days of lockdown, the number of coronavirus cases in India is still increasing, and India Inc continues to bear the brunt of the pandemic.

In this edition of the Corporate Buzz podcast, Moneycontrol's Keerthana Tiwari and Corporate Bureau Chief Prince Thomas discuss how the IT sector employees are facing pink slips and the auto sector performance has worsened in the past week (March 30 - April 3).

Thomas also discusses the role of Indian pharma companies in battling the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Therapy and O.C.D. in the time of coronavirus

Exposure and response prevention therapy is the most effective treatment, experts say. It systematically tests a patients worries that something will harm them by exposing them in a prolonged, repetitive and intensifying system to things that they fear.

When the exposure doesnt cause significant illness or harm, the patients can begin to learn how to better cope.

But the unusual and urgent focus on sanitation to fight the spread of the virus is also creating concerns for health care professionals involved in the treatment of O.C.D., said Bradley Riemann, a psychologist and the chief clinical officer of Rogers Behavioral Health, which has mental health and addiction treatment centers around the country. (Dr. Riemann is also the clinical director of Rogerss O.C.D. Center, in Oconomowoc, Wis.)

Thats why providing treatment for O.C.D. right now is especially complicated. This is clearly a time when we have had to change the way we interact with one another and the way we interact with our environment  its a matter of public safety for all of us, Dr. Riemann said. But it really collides with the world of O.C.D., and in particular with patients with contamination O.C.D.

Usually, Dr. Riemann and his staff work with patients by asking them to interact with germs, increasingly extending the amounts of time between washing their hands or otherwise sanitizing. In some situations, he said, patients are asked to touch toilet seats or bathroom floors, and then are given food to eat before washing their hands.

As you can see, the world we live in today, that collides head on with that kind of treatment intervention, he said. It has been very challenging to try to achieve a balance where you are keeping your staff and patients as safe as we all can be, yet still providing effective treatment.
The boss of a restaurant in China has revealed the grim reality of the country's dog meat industry to media.

The unidentified man, who reportedly owns a dog meat restaurant in southern China, claimed that some breeders are raising 'thousands of puppies' to feed diners.

The interview comes after Shenzhen, a city bordering Hong Kong, passed the country's first law amid the coronavirus pandemic to ban its residents from eating dogs and cats.

A restaurant owner in southern China's Guangdong province is expecting his dog meat business to drop by some 40 per cent after the city of Shenzhen passed a law to ban the eating of pets. The file photo shows caged dogs for sale at a street market in Guangdong in 2013

The restaurateur told Chinese video outlet Pear: 'Many people eat dogs in Guangxi and Leizhou, where I am from.'

What is the Yulin Dog Meat Festival? Some claim that the consumption of dog meat has been observed in Guangxi Province, China, for hundreds of years. However, the activity was not promoted and encouraged until around 30 years ago - first by the dog meat traders, then by the Yulin government for driving tourism. The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival can be traced back to 2009. The event has drawn waves of criticism from media and animal lovers, with influential figures leading campaigns around the world in a bid to stop it. The local government has stopped organising the festival under pressure, as it is understood, but vendors continue selling dog meat and residents carry on eating it on the summer solstice. Advertisement

The man is said to run a store selling dog meat hotpot in Leizhou, a prefecture-level city with around 1.7 million residents in neighbouring Guangdong province.

He added: 'Some people in Guangxi raise dogs to sell them. They bring them up like pigs. One household would keep thousands of dogs for their meat.'

Guangxi is a province in southern China where the notorious Yulin Dog Meat Festival takes place every June. It sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals.

Although the dog-meat ban is only imposed on Shenzhen, which is about 560 kilometres (348 miles) from Leizhou, the restaurant owner is expecting his business to drop by some 40 per cent due to the impact of the legislation.

He said: 'Many people ask [us] if there is dog meat. And if we don't, they would just leave.

'It is certain that my business will be affected. [The drop is estimated] to be 30 to 40 per cent.'

Another restaurant owner, however, told Pear that business for dog meat had been declining before the law was approved.

'After the ban, I will just stop selling [dog meat]. I will sell something else,' she said.

On Tuesday, lawmakers in Shenzhen passed a drafted law to prohibit the consumption of pet meat, including that of cats and dogs.

The Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial festivals in the world. The local government has stopped organising the festival under pressure, but locals are still consuming canine meat. The file picture shows one of the market stalls during the festival on June 21, 2016

The legislation will take effect on May 1 in the city of around 13 million people.

Before that, China had already banned all trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed responsible for the country's deadly virus epidemic.

According to the accord, nine types of livestock are suitable for people to eat. They are pigs, cows, sheep, donkeys, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese and pigeons.

Residents are also allowed to dine on aquatic animals permitted by law.

One charity group hailed the passage as a 'historic decision' which marked 'a watershed moment' in the animal protection in China.

Lawmakers in Shenzhen this week passed a drafted law to ban the consumption of pet meat

Dr Peter Li, China policy specialist for animal protection charity Humane Society International, said in a statement: 'With Shenzhen taking the historic decision to become mainland China's first city to ban dog and cat meat consumption, this really could be a watershed moment in efforts to end this brutal trade that kills an estimated 10 million dogs and four million cats in China every year.

'The majority of these companion animals are stolen from people's back yards or snatched from the streets, and are spirited away on the backs of trucks to be beaten to death in slaughterhouses and restaurants across China.'

The exact source of the novel coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, remains unconfirmed. Scientists speculate that it originated in bats, snakes, pangolins, or some other animal.

Experts from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said in January that tests proved that humans had caught the novel coronavirus from animals at the Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market. The market (pictured on March 31) has remained shut since January 1

Experts from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said in January that tests proved that humans had caught the virus from animals at the Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market.

The market was shut on January 1 in the wake of the epidemic.

In China alone, the health crisis has claimed 3,322 lives and infected more than 81,620 people.

And globally, at least 53,000 people have died and more than a million have contracted the disease.
Vietnamese enterprises shipped around 500 tonnes of goods, including coffee, instant noodles, sweet potato, cabbage, pineapple, watermelon, and dragon fruit, to Singapore in March, according to the Vietnamese Trade Office in Singapore.

Farmers in Ninh Binh Province's Tam Diep City harvest pineapples.

The encouraging performance amid the COVID-19 pandemic was mainly thanks to the offices efforts in connecting associations of the two countries in order to help businesses grasp opportunities to boost their exports.

In February, the office organised field trips for Singaporean fruit and vegetable importers to Viet Nam to seek supply sources. It has also continued to collect information related to the public procurement demand of the Singapore government and actively implemented trade promotion and business matching activities.

This year, the office plans to organise trips for Singapore businesses to some of Viet Nam's north central provinces to study opportunities in the field of processed food and fruit in May.

Other trips for these firms to several Mekong Delta provinces to seek supply in rice, seafood, vegetables and fruits in August and for those to Viet Nam to search trade opportunities in furniture, textile and garment in October will be also conducted.

To support Vietnamese exporters as requested by the Vietnamese Trade Office, Vietnam Airlines in Singapore has maintained cargo flights from Singapore to Ha Noi and HCM City and vice versa.

Statistics from the Singapore Enterprise Department revealed that Viet Nams export turnover to the country in February increased 49 per cent compared to a month earlier, and up 102.78 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

Trade experts said Singapore was a great market for Viet Nam's agricultural products and processed foods where they could get access to top restaurant, hotel and resort chains as well as retailer outlets.

Singaporean consumers are particularly fond of Vietnamese fresh produce and processed foods such as coffee, cashew nuts, mango and dragon fruit.

However, Vietnamese exporters had to face fierce competition from companies in the region, which required them to improve product quality and reduce costs to improve competitiveness, they said. VNS

Singaporean outlet names Vietnam fastest growing digital economy Vietnam is the fastest-growing digital economy in the region, largely due to investment inflow which is still on an unprecedented rise, The Business Times has reported.
Ice slides sleds, fire performances, a carnival, fireworks show and more are back at this years East Texas Fire & Ice Festival, but not the date originally planned.

The East Montgomery County Improvement District has rescheduled the free festival for a later date  Saturday, May 30  in response to measures taken recently to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

As previously announced, this years event will be at Big Rivers Waterpark, allowing for guests to enjoy more space and activities and the parks activities.

Originally, the festival was planned for May 2, but as we got closer to the date, the county and state issued stay-at-home orders, and Sunday, President Trump extended social distancing guidelines to April 30. We felt it would be responsible to delay the event another four weeks, said Frank McCrady, President and CEO.

The event features all the fan favorites of years past including Ice Wars: Battle of the Carvers, the Sangre Del Sol fire performers, the BMX Pros Trick Team, Houston Disc & Dog Tricks, and the Celestial Displays fireworks show. New to the line up is Street Beat, an American urban drum and dance troupe utilizing junk, household items and other objects for drums and percussion.

Additionally, EMCID board members will honor a citizen of the community for their dedication and service to East Montgomery County with the Outstanding Citizen Award.

Guests will also have free access to Big Rivers water slides, wave pool and splash pads. Each visitor will also receive punch cards to experience the Giant Maze, petting zoo, pony rides, and Wild Isle, a water challenge course. Big Rivers aerial attractions, like the zip lines, ropes course, rock climbing wall, and free-fall experience, will be available for per-attraction fees.

For more information, visit www.emctx.com/fi2020.
WASHINGTON - The White House is poised to urge Americans to wear cloth masks or face coverings in public to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, in a reversal of earlier advice.

President Donald Trump said Thursday at a coronavirus task force briefing that "a recommendation is coming out," but "I don't think it will be mandatory. If people want to wear them, they can." Vice President Mike Pence, who heads the task force, confirmed new guidance would be released in "coming days."

Later, however, a White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to relate internal discussions, said that the guidance being considered is "narrowly targeted to areas with high community transmission" and that the matter remains under discussion.

White House coronavirus task force officials have been considering whether to recommend that face coverings be routinely worn in public because of increasing evidence that infected people without symptoms can spread the virus, according to internal memos and new guidance provided to the White House by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"In light of these new data, along with evidence of widespread transmission in communities across the country, CDC recommends the community use of cloth masks as an additional public health measure people can take to prevent the spread of virus to those around them," according to the guidance, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post.

The recommendations represent a major change in CDC guidance that healthy people don't need masks or face coverings. The memos and guidance make clear the coverings under discussion are not medical masks, such as N95 respirators or surgical face masks, which are needed by front-line health-care workers and are in extremely short supply. Those must continue to be reserved for health-care workers and other first responders, they say.

The memos and guidance were drafted in recent days by the CDC and sent to officials at the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House coronavirus task force for consideration of masks as an additional measure to slow the pandemic.

Simple cloth masks that cover the mouth and nose can prevent virus transmission from people who are infected but have no symptoms when they must go into public settings, such as grocery stores, the guidance states. It makes clear the cloth covering is not intended to protect the wearer but to prevent the spread of the virus from the wearer to others.

It noted the face coverings could be made at home at a low cost.

They should not be used on children under age 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance, the guidance states.

Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, cautioned at Thursday's briefing that people should not get a false sense of security from wearing masks. She emphasized they are no substitute for social distancing and frequent hand-washing. People need to continue to stay at least six feet away from other people, she said.

Separately, U.S. officials are weighing a plan to distribute reusable cloth face masks - not medical masks - to U.S. households, starting with locations hardest hit by covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to a federal official involved in the response and documents shared with The Post.

Earlier this week, CDC Director Robert Redfield confirmed in an interview with NPR that the agency was reviewing its guidelines because of new data showing transmission from people who are infected but show no symptoms. He said the guidance on mask wearing was "being critically re-reviewed, to see if there's potential additional value for individuals that are infected or individuals that may be asymptomatically infected."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The World Health Organization, which has not recommended masks for the general public, is also reconsidering its guidance, officials said.

Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles on Wednesday urged all residents to wear homemade, nonmedical face coverings, or even bandannas, when food shopping or doing other essential errands, after health officials in Riverside County, California, made a similar recommendation on Tuesday.

The CDC's memos have noted that widespread public use of masks is not culturally accepted in the United States the way it is in many Asian countries, where face coverings helped reduce the spread of the virus.

Wearing cloth masks in public would be an additional community mitigation tool, according to the memos. One memo drafted Thursday noted that people "generate respiratory aerosols when speaking, coughing and sneezing" that can be inhaled by nearby individuals.

A CDC report last week on asymptomatic infections among residents at a nursing facility in the Seattle area found that of 23 residents who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 13 were asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic on the day of testing.

Infectious-disease experts say asymptomatic transmission may be playing a larger role in the outbreak than previously thought, but just how big remains unknown. Studies are underway at the CDC and elsewhere to better understand such transmission.
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GBU) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 122,908 incentive stock options under the Company's stock option plan (the "Option Plan") and 99,176 deferred share units under the Company's deferred share unit plan (the "DSU Plan") to certain directors of the Company as non-cash directors' fees for Q1 2020 (the "Director Grant"). All incentive stock options issued under the Director Grant are exercisable for a period of ten years at $0.49 per share and vest immediately from the date of grant.

The Option Plan allows for the issuance of up to 10% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company in the form of incentive stock options. As of the date hereof, a total of 31,603,619 common shares of the Company are reserved for issuance under the Option Plan, representing approximately 5.5% of the issued and outstanding share capital. 3,452,814 common shares of the Company are currently reserved for issuance under the DSU Plan.

For information on this press release, please contact:

Dragos Tanase

President & CEO

Phone: +1 425 414 9256

dt@gabrielresources.com

Richard Brown

Chief Financial Officer

Phone: +44 7748 760276

richard.brown@gabrielresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Further Information

About Gabriel

Gabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal focus has been the exploration and development of the Ro?ia Montana gold and silver project in Romania ("Rosia Montana Project"). The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license ("License") for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Ro?ia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Ro?ia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company.

Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group (as defined below) focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with: the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Company's ability to fund its operations (including but not limited to the completion of further funding noted above) or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "is of the view", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:

delay or extension to the duration of the ICSID Arbitration;

required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration against Romania;

changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and the group of companies of which it is directly or indirectly parent ("Group");

access to funding to support the Group's continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future;

equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of new or existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares;

the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the TSX Venture Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities;

the impact on business strategy and its implementation in Romania of: unforeseen historic acts of corruption, uncertain fiscal investigations; uncertain legal enforcement both for and against the Group and political and social instability;

regulatory, political and economic risks associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction including changes in laws, governments and legal regimes and interpretation of existing and future fiscal and other legislation;

volatility of currency exchange rates, metal prices and metal production;

the availability and continued participation in operational or other matters pertaining to the Group of certain key employees and consultants; and

risks normally incident to the exploration, development and operation of mining properties.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Company's affairs since the date of this press release that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Company's website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Company's disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies which can be viewed online at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Gabriel Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583838/Issuance-of-Incentive-Stock-Options-and-Deferred-Share-Units
India reported its first case of coronavirus, or Covid-19, on January 30. What preventive measures were taken to ensure that the disease did not spread and rear its virulent head in the country in the 40-odd days between then and March 12, when a 76-year-old male returnee from Saudi Arabia became the first victim of the virus in the country? There are just two words for this: precious little.

On January 17, Dr Harsh Vardhan, the Union minister for health and family welfare, reviewed the government's preparedness for the first time. An official release made three primary points. One, public health preparedness is being reviewed on a day-to-day basis and the core capacities to timely detect and manage importation of the nCoV. Two, screening of international travellers from China was started at the airports in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. A separate travel advisory was issued regarding dos and donts for those travelling to and from China. It was restricted to responses in the event of feeling unwell. By this time, 41 cases had been reported in China, one person had died, and no treatment was in sight. But the first response of the Indian government did not display any urgency. This continued throughout and despite flagging shortcomings, these were not met.

By January 28, the Cabinet Secretariat (an extension of the Prime Ministers office) began reviewing the situation along with the health ministry. By then, the following measures had been added to what was previously decided: First, the screening of passengers was extended to more airports, bringing the total to 20. Second, plans were made to gear up other laboratories, besides the only one in the National Institute of Virology in Pune (this, however, did not happen till very late). Third, plans began to be drawn up to evacuate stranded Indians in Wuhan and quarantine facilities were being set up. Despite the rising threat, the primary focus of political leaders, especially the government, was on the Union Budget, that was presented on February 1. As far as the threat from the coronavirus was concerned, the Indian government was celebrating the heroic return of two Air India planes carrying 647 Indian students and seven Maldivians from Wuhan. Nearly 70 Air India staff were handed over letters of appreciation duly signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a fortnight later and the civil aviation minister lauded the personnel for intensive commitment. To cut a long story short, some urgency became visible in the governments responses and actions only after March 11, the day the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak as a pandemic.

An example of this is a two-day literature festival that was to be held in Mumbai on March 14-15, which was cancelled at the last minute on March 12. It was to be addressed by a galaxy of political leaders, from both the ruling side as well as the Opposition, besides several eminent writers as well as retired officials. The government, certainly in the know of the event, advised the organisers to call off the festival only late on March 11. Till then, there was no effort to enforce social distancing or to discourage large public events and gatherings.

While preparations to meet the Covid-19 challenge were tardy throughout February and the first half of March, energy and attention was expended on three issues -- the visit of US President Donald Trump, the communal riots in Delhi and the ongoing anti-CAA agitations across India which had riveted the nation. The last instalment of the political melodrama was yet to come, and when it began shortly before Holi as the rebellion against the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh snowballed, it was clear that the Centre was giving priority to political interests over what was necessary. By early March, there was a realisation in the top echelons of the government that the script was going awry. Evidence of this was the entire political leadership, Prime Minister Modi downwards, announcing that they would not celebrate Holi to prevent mingling with others. Citizens responded with a subdued festival, but this did not cover the policy deficit or what was not done at the action level.

Eventually, when the Prime Minister decided to steer the nation towards a complete lockdown, it was clear that the government had stirred itself without assessing the overall impact of a complete lockdown on the economy and on peoples lives. The janata curfew on March 22 was called dramatically and consequently the focus shifted to the event -- of clapping hands, ringing bells and banging thaalis. The videos which emerged were horrifying and demonstrated what a half-baked call can do to the basic objective -- social distancing and disease prevention. For much of his first address, the Prime Minister reminded citizens of their duties without specifying the plans the government had drawn up to minimise peoples hardship. The speech, as well as the next one on March 24, when he announced a complete nationwide lockdown from midnight that day, was more about political messaging and less about impressing upon people what was expected for them in return for what the government was doing.

The reverse migration that set in even before Prime Minister Modis total lockdown address indicated that the government had betrayed the people s trust. People walking back to their villages in lakhs for the past few days is a stark reflection of the failure of understanding the immediate impact of the closure of all commercial activity on the lives of people. The Prime Minister also seems to have forgotten that the line between raising fear and creating panic is very thin. The announcement of the lockdown was made near the end of the month, close to payday. With factories, shops and other business establishments shut, wages could not have been paid in time. Consequently, the migrants decided to return home.

The primary reason for India staring at a possible lockdown extension unless providentially the spike in the reported cases flattens dramatically, is that the government was late by several weeks in assessing the grimness of the situation. Even when it began to take steps to tackle the crisis, it failed to put together a blueprint. This is the second time after demonetisation when careful thought was not given before taking a huge plunge. The nation will pay a price, but one can only hope that it will not be a very big one.
Public heath planners tasked with protecting Britain from a global health crisis reportedly ignored warnings from the World Health Organisation to prepare for mass testing.

Officials 'did not discuss' the need for mass testing because they thought a new strain of influenza would be next to hit the UK, a senior government adviser told the Telegraph.

Representatives for Public Health England, the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health consequently opted against community testing - even though they had been told it could slow an outbreak.

Medical staff are seen testing people at a coronavirus test centre in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures on Thursday

These decisions appear to contradict guidance on bird flu issued to countries by the World Health Organisation in 2005.

In an advisory document, WHO recommended countries prepare for mass testing in the event of an influenza outbreak because 'accurate case detection requires the testing of large numbers of samples.'

Professor Graham Medley, the chairman of SPI-M, admitted the decision to not prepare for community testing 'may have been a mistake.'

'Mass public testing has never been our strategy for any pandemic that I'm aware of,' Professor Medley, who advises the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said.

Public heath planners tasked with protecting Britain from a global health crisis reportedly ignored warnings from the World Health Organisation to prepare for mass testing

Officials 'did not discuss' the need for community testing because they believed a new strain of influenza would be the next outbreak to hit the UK, a senior government adviser claimed

'The current problem is based upon the fact that we didn't invest in preparedness before all this happened.

'We always knew that when it came to a pandemic it was a case of when, not if. But there has been a focus on influenza preparedness. And for things like influenza mass testing is not important and it never figured as a potential strategy.'

He added that the focus at the time 'was on pandemic influenza' because 'it happens on a much more regular basis.'

'Testing can be extremely powerful and we now desperately need it at a population level to be able to understand what's going on,' he said.

Critics this week labelled the UK's testing efforts a 'catastrophe' and 'dismal' when compared to what is being done in Germany where 500,000 tests are being carried out every week.

Pictured: The NHS coronavirus drive through testing facility at Chessington World of Adventure in Chessington

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

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.

It comes as another 569 coronavirus deaths were declared in the UK today, meaning Britain's death toll has quadrupled in six days with 2,921 confirmed victims of the deadly infection.

The rise makes today the worst day so far in the outbreak - which has crippled Britain since it began spreading on British soil in February. It is the third day in a row that a new one-day high in deaths has been recorded.

A further 4,244 people were diagnosed with the life-threatening infection in the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of positive tests to 33,718 - but officials are clueless about the true size of the outbreak.

The figures provide a glimmer of hope that the unprecedented lockdown may be working because it the number of new cases was down from 4,324 yesterday, while the daily death count jumped by just six.
Article L. 238-8-II of the French commercial Code and article 223-16 of the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) general regulation

Regulatory News:

Corporate name of the issuer: Veolia Environnement

21, rue La Boetie

75008 PARIS

FRANCE

(ISIN code: FR0000124141-VIE)

Information closing date Total number of shares forming the share capital Total number of voting rights March 31, 2020 567,266,539 Total number of theoretical voting rights (1): 602,131,453 Total number of voting rights that may be exercised (2): 589,133,488

Inclusion in the Veolia Environnement Articles of Association of a clause requiring a reporting obligation of the declaration of crossing a shareholding threshold, complementary to the one relating to the thresholds provided by the French law and the regulations in force (article 8).

(1) Number of theoretical voting rights after taking into account the number of shares with double voting rights as of March 31, 2020 (34,864,914 shares) and the number of treasury shares held as of March 31, 2020 (12,997,965 shares).

(2) Number of voting rights that may be exercised number of theoretical voting rights (or total number of voting rights attached to shares) shares without voting rights (number of treasury shares held as of March 31, 2020).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005442/en/

Contacts:

Veolia Environnement

tel. +33 (0)1 85 57 70 00 Fax +33 (0)1 71 75 10 45

www.veolia.com
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker confirmed 1,209 new known coronavirus cases and 53 more deaths on Friday, in the biggest jump in both cases and deaths in one day since the outbreak began. That brings the statewide total to 8,904 known infections and 210 dead.

Meanwhile, McCormick Place continued its dramatic transformation into a medical center, as Pritzker unveiled the first 500 beds finished in an anticipation of a possible crush of COVID-19 cases that could overwhelm Chicago-area hospitals. Take a look inside here.

Also on Friday, the White House said the CDC is recommending that Americans cover their faces when leaving the home, especially around other people. But President Donald Trump is calling it voluntary and says he himself wont wear a mask. Says Trump: Im choosing not to do it.

Here are the latest updates Friday on the new coronavirus in the Chicago area and Illinois:

8:38 p.m.: At least 10 nursing home residents among 47 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in south and southwest suburbs

At least 10 of the 47 people in the south and southwest suburbs whose recent deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 were patients in nursing homes, assisted living centers or long-term care facilities, according to a Daily Southtown analysis.

The COVID-19-related deaths in such facilities, compiled using data from the Cook County medical examiners office, span the Southland from Matteson to Bridgeview to Country Club Hills.

Nursing home populations are at the highest risk of being affected by COVID-19 and of developing serious illness if infected, due to their congregate nature and the fact they serve older adults who often have underlying medical conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Because dozens of deaths related to COVID-19 are being reported daily in Illinois and the agencies reporting them follow different guidelines for what information they share, the numbers used in the Southtowns analysis are continuously changing and necessarily incomplete.

At this point, however, none of the facilities where the deceased residents lived has reported widespread disease outbreaks among patients and staff, or additional deaths. Read more here. Zak Koeske

7:51 p.m.: Powdered drink maker Jel Sert shutters temporarily after six workers test positive for COVID-19

The maker of powdered drinks and foods such as Wylers, Hi-C and Flavor Aid has temporarily shuttered its manufacturing division in West Chicago after employees tested positive for the new coronavirus.

A Jel Sert spokeswoman said the companys corporate and distribution divisions will continue to operate, but the manufacturing facility closed Friday and will remain shut down until April 13. Six employees of the company have confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, said Jennie Peters, Jel Serts spokeswoman.

After the third employee was found to have coronavirus late last month, the company closed its manufacturing facilities from March 27 through March 30 to sanitize and deep clean all production and communal areas within production, according to a notice on Jel Serts website.

The company has taken several steps recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the DuPage County Health Department to help keep employees safe, Peters said. Those steps include providing free box lunches to workers so they dont have to stand in line for food and tripling the number of staff dedicated to cleaning and sanitizing manufacturing areas. Read more here. Corilyn Shropshire

7:28 p.m.: Aon launches tool to help companies estimate absenteeism, medical expenses, and other coronavirus costs

Aon has launched a tool to help businesses anticipate medical costs, absenteeism, and other operational expenses they could face because of the coronavirus.

Most epidemiological models have estimated overall infections and deaths for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Aon, a global insurance and risk management giant, said it wanted to give companies a closer look at the infection rates and health care costs they could face in their own workforces.

The model the company developed relies on three key pieces of information: geographic data incorporating age, sex and location of those with the disease; the number of COVID-19 cases reported by states and the federal government; and the length of states stay-at-home orders. Read more here. Abdel Jimenez

6:57 p.m.: An inside look at McCormick Places transformation into a Chicago coronavirus field hospital

McCormick Place continued its dramatic transformation into a medical center Friday, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled the first 500 beds finished in an anticipation of a possible crush of COVID-19 cases that could overwhelm Chicago-area hospitals.

The sprawling tent city, which is being called an alternate care facility, eventually will be able to hold 3,000 beds for patients, most of whom would have mild symptoms and not require intensive care. Officials described the site as a last resort that would become operational if Chicago and surrounding suburbs run out of hospital beds. Read more here.

6:51 p.m.: Sears closing all stores through April

All Sears stores will close through at least the end of April in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and most store employees will be furloughed. The decision affects 30 locations in Illinois including Sears Hometown, Appliance Outlets and Auto Centers. The stores will close at the end of the business day Saturday. Read more here. Robert Channick

6:40 p.m.: Non-profit uses pooled funds to bail out dozens from Cook County Jail

Dozens of detainees at Cook County Jail were bailed out Friday by a national nonprofit group that launched an emergency response to the coronavirus, a threat spreading in U.S. cities and inside the countrys jails and prisons.

The Bail Project had already been working in Cook County for about a year, securing releases of defendants facing charges who were being held in detention because they couldnt afford bails set by a judge.

But in the face of the outbreak, The Bail Project activated staff from various offices around the country to step up the number of releases the group could arrange. Some 60 detainees were projected to be released from the Cook County Jail on Friday, with between 500 to 1,000 targeted for release over the next couple of weeks.

Some have been inside since 2018, others just a week. The virus is so contagious that even days inside are dangerous. Read more here. Annie Sweeney

5:14 p.m.: Pritzker now says wearing a mask a good idea

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday called wearing a mask in public a good idea to prevent the spread of coronavirus, after previously discouraging people from buying up masks needed by medical workers, and as the federal government has begun advising people to wear cloth masks in public.

The doctors all agree that this virus can be spread through droplets, like when you sneeze or cough. So blocking that by wearing a mask in public seems like a common sense way to do whats right for everyone around you. The most important thing you can do, frankly is stay home. But when you do go outside, or when you must go to the grocery store or pharmacy wearing something to cover your face is a good idea, based upon what the science says, Pritzker said.

The guidance given on the public wearing masks has evolved as the known cases of coronavirus across the country have risen. Pritzker on Wednesday signaled that he was considering new guidance on masks and said he wouldnt discourage people from wearing them.

President Donald Trump said Friday the CDC was recommending Americans wear cloth masks in public. Jamie Munks

5:13 p.m.: Provident Hospital being refitted to handle possible surge in COVID-19 patients

A small South Side community hospital run by the Cook County Health and Hospitals System is being refitted to handle a possible surge in COVID-19 patients if needed, officials announced Friday.

The emergency room at Provident Hospital will cease operations Monday so it can be renovated to better handle patients during the pandemic, according to a statement from the health system.

We basically determined it was impossible to maintain social distancing because of the layout of the emergency room, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle told the Tribune.

The hospitals operating room already has been shut down because it only handled elective procedures, which are on hold during the pandemic.

The two patients in Providents six-bed intensive care unit have been transferred to the much larger Stroger Hospital thats also part of the county health system, Preckwinkle said.

About 50 now-unstaffed beds at Provident will be outfitted to treat patients, if needed as COVID cases continue to increase in Chicago and the suburbs, she said. Hospital officials said the idea is to reduce pressure on Stroger Hospital, if enough medical personnel can be found to handle patients at Provident.

Other changes at Provident include reconfiguring the flow of patients, increasing space between them and creating isolation areas, health system officials said.

The extra capacity efforts at Provident come as city and state officials make plans to handle patients at McCormick Place, shuttered suburban hospitals that are being reopened and possibly even hotels.

In our health care system, we have just enough beds (for ordinary times), but unfortunately just enough beds is not enough in a pandemic, Preckwinkle said.

A plan to build a new, $240 million Provident Hospital was put on hold last month after the ouster of Dr. Jay Shannon, the health systems former CEO. Hal Dardick

5 p.m.: Willowbrook nursing home records its 7th death

Four more people with coronavirus have died in DuPage County, bringing the total number of deaths to 17, as county officials expressed concern over the growing number of known cases at long-term care facilities.

One of the deaths was a woman in her 70s who was a resident of the Chateau Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Willowbrook, making seven deaths of residents there since the outbreak began, the county health department reported. Fifty people connected to the nursing home have been reported as being infected  34 residents and 16 staff members.

Other people whose deaths were announced Friday included a woman in her 80s at a long-term care facility in Burr Ridge; a man in his 50s who lived in Elmhurst; and a man in his 70s who lived in Elmhurst. All the victims had underlying medical conditions, the county reported. Robert McCoppin

4:41 p.m.: Pritzker, Lightfoot rip into Jared Kushner

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot ripped into White House senior adviser Jared Kushner on Friday for his comments about a federal stockpile of medical supplies as officials continue to push for additional resources from the federal government.

The notion of the federal stockpile was its supposed to be our stockpile, Kushner said at a White House press briefing Thursday. Its not supposed to be the states stockpiles that they then use.

Kushners comments drew widespread backlash, and the Associated Press and other news outlets reported that Donald Trumps administration changed its description of the Strategic National Stockpile on government websites.

I dont know if Jared Kushner knows this, but its called the United States of America. And the federal government, which has a stockpile, is supposed to be backstopping the states. He apparently does not know that, Pritzker said at his daily briefing Friday.

Both the state and Chicago have supplies stockpiled, and theyre dipping into those supplies. In a recent shipment Illinois received from the federal government were surgical masks, not the N95 masks Pritzker requested. Pritzker also said earlier this week the state needed 4,000 more ventilators.

I dont think anybody expected a respiratory pandemic that would deplete all of the respiratory stockpiles that exist and that the federal government would abdicate its role, and have 50 states, and five territories on top of that, all competing with one another, and competing against the federal government to get the PPE (personal protective equipment) thats necessary, Pritzker said.

So I think Jared Kushner just does not understand this issue. He does not understand what the federal governments role is supposed to be in a national emergency.

Lightfoot said Kushner was casting aspersions on the hard work of governors across this country who have been working tirelessly.

We shouldnt have to beg the federal government to step up and assume its responsibility here. When we hear from the head of the CDC that the federal stockpile, the federal stockpile, only has 10,000 ventilators, the question we should ask is what the heck has the Trump administration been doing over the last three and a half years? Lightfoot said.

What that tells me, and I think what that tells public health professionals across the nation, is that the federal government has failed to do the planning that it needs on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to be prepared. Read more here. Jamie Munks and Gregory Pratt

4:29 p.m.: Families prepare to bring Seder rituals to Zoom for Passover

Months ago, Felice Eckhouses family made plans to gather at her sisters home in Glenview for a catered Passover Seder with as many as 25 people. Now, they will still celebrate together through at least 11 different computer screens, hoping to adapt the dinners rituals to the virtual new reality.

As Illinois settles into life under the stay-at-home order to stem impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are exploring ways to continue to observe religious traditions. For the Chicago areas Jewish community, preparing for Passover this year means organizing readings of the Haggadah over Zoom, deciding how to show the Seder plate and making sure family members can use the technology.

Eckhouses family, spread across Chicago and its suburbs, usually conducts a Seder with a large group, each participating by lighting candles, reading the Passover story and, for the children, searching for the hidden matzo. This year, they will try to replicate what they can on Zoom, the video conferencing service.Its very interactive, Eckhouse said of her familys Seder. But its either do it this way, or dont do anything at all. Read more here. Madeline Buckley and Javonte Anderson

4:25 p.m.: Durbin says family experience underscores that not enough people are being tested for coronavirus

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said his familys unsuccessful attempts to get tested for the new coronavirus in New York recently underscore that not enough people are being tested for the disease.

Durbin, a Democrat, said tests to confirm COVID-19 werent actually given to his family members, even though a doctor said he was 99% sure its coronavirus. The doctor also warned them against going into any hospital emergency rooms because they are just overwhelmed with some very, very sick people.

What that interaction underscored, Durbin said, is that the number of known people infected with the virus is likely an undercount. People are not being tested even though they would turn out to be confirmed cases if they were tested, Durbin said.

Illinois senior senator said his grandkids in Brooklyn, New York, have weathered that storm and now are fever free and have turned the corner.

So there were some anxious moments there, and Im sure a lot of families are going through that, Durbin said during WLS-AM 890s Connected to Chicago," which airs at 7 p.m. Sunday.

The senator from Springfield also hailed the moves of Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, both Chicago Democrats, saying he backs their efforts to battle the spread of coronavirus.

They have had to make some hard unpopular decisions because they think theyre the right thing, Durbin said. I support them completely. Whether theyre right or wrong, history will judge. But I think their instincts are right in begging, pleading, instructing, demanding that all of us in this country, particularly in this state, pull together to really meet this challenge."

Durbin also said the impact of coronavirus means there is a only a 50-50 chance of gathering in person for the Democratic National Convention this summer in Milwaukee, Wis. He said it is just as likely that well do a virtual convention. The convention already has been postponed once from July to the week of Aug. 17. Ray Long

3:57 p.m.: How long does coronavirus live on surfaces in your home? Up to three days, in some cases. An expert explains how we can deal with it.

Being stuck inside can present its own challenges. At a time when people normally concentrate on cleaning dust and cobwebs from their homes, they now have to consider ways to eliminate a potentially dangerous virus from items their families use every day. Read more here. Kori Rumore and Jemal Brinson

3:42 p.m.: Head of Cook Countys public health department out amid pandemic

Cook Countys public health chief, a key player in the coordination of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been fired as the number of coronavirus-stricken patients continues to surge.

The unexpected termination of Dr. Terry Mason, who once also headed up the city of Chicagos health department, was confirmed by county officials on Friday, which they said would be his last day. Read more here. Hal Dardick

3:19 p.m.: Former security guard sues Advocate South Suburban Hospital over mask policy

A former security guard has filed a lawsuit against Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest alleging that his former workplace forbade him from wearing a face mask while on the job.

On March 9, Marvell Moody wore a face mask to protect himself from becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus while working as a public safety officer at the south suburban hospital, according to the suit, filed Thursday in Cook County.

The next day, Moodys supervisor told him public safety officers were prohibited from wearing masks while on duty and said Moody could be disciplined if he continued to wear the mask.

Moody cares for his 65-year-old mother who had two lung surgeries last year, the suit says. He feared spreading the virus to his mother, along with his live-in fiancee and her 13-year-old son, so he stopped going to work because of the hospitals policy.

The suit argues the hospital constructively discharged Moody by not allowing him to wear a face mask.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said it is reviewing the complaint, adding that the hospital is committed to maintaining the safest environment possible for our patients and team members. Madeline Buckley

3:15 p.m.: The next coronavirus test will tell you if you are now immune. And its fast.

A new, different type of coronavirus test is coming that will help significantly in the fight to quell the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors and scientists say.

The first so-called serology test, which detects antibodies to the virus rather than the virus itself, was given emergency approval Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And several more are nearly ready, said Dr. Elizabeth McNally, director of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Center for Genetic Medicine.

Youll see many of these roll out in the next couple of weeks, and its great, and it will really help a lot, said McNally, noting doctors and scientists will be able to use it to determine just how widespread the disease is, who can safely return to work and possibly how to develop new treatments for those who are ill.

The serology test involves taking a blood sample and determining if it contains the antibodies that fight the virus. A positive result indicates the person had the virus in the past and is currently immune. Read more here. Hal Dardick

3:02 p.m.: Illinois communities get more than $147 million for community health centers, child care, food banks, homeless relief

Illinois communities will receive more than $147 million in grants from the federal Department of Human Services as part of the $2.2 trillion pandemic relief act to pay for community health and child care centers, food banks, senior services and homeless assistance dealing with the COVID-19 virus.

The details of the funding were released Friday by Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and involved two federal Department of Housing and Urban Development grant programs. Nationally, the new CARES Act provides $5 billion in Community Development Block Grants and $4 billion in whats being called Emergency Solutions Grants which are especially aimed at homeless prevention and aid.

Families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness are among our states most vulnerable, Durbin said in a statement. Its imperative that we provide additional support during this crisis. Sen. Duckworth and I will continue working to provide increased federal assistance during this challenging time. Read more here. Rick Pearson

2:44 p.m.: 53 additional deaths and 1,209 new known cases

Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration announced another 1,209 known cases of the new coronavirus including 53 deaths on Friday, as the statewide case count grew to 8,904. There have been 210 deaths since the epidemic began.

Coronavirus cases have now been reported in 64 of the states 102 counties.

Pritzker gave his daily coronavirus briefing at McCormick Place, which is being converted into a remote hospital site that officials say would be able to accommodate up to 3,000 beds by the end of the month. So far, 500 beds have been assembled, along with nursing stations, support rooms for supplies.

Pritzker announced Friday that the closed former Vibra Hospital of Springfield will be converted into a remote hospital site to increase bed capacity in central Illinois. Jamie Munks

2:29 p.m.: COVID-19 may throw a generation of college grads off their career paths. Some Chicago companies are already cutting internships.

When Austin Waeghe, a finance major at Butler University from Naperville, landed a paid 10-week internship with Fifth Third Bank in Chicago, he envisioned a career-boosting summer inside a bustling downtown office.

Instead, the college junior plans to work from a makeshift office in his parents west suburban home, where the internship will begin next month, entirely online.

"Im going to set up a little office in the basement and be by myself down there and kind of act like its an actual office, separated from the house, said Waeghe, 21.

Given the economic disruption wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, a virtual internship may be among the best possible outcomes for career-minded college students, who have scattered back to their homes across the country to complete the academic year online.

For many students entering the job market, the angst and disruption may not end with their remote graduations this spring. Read more here. Robert Channick

2:24 p.m.: Pritzker signs executive order shielding hospitals, health care workers and volunteers from civil lawsuits

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order this week shielding hospitals, health care workers and volunteers from civil lawsuits when theyre assisting with the states efforts to combat the new coronavirus.

In addition to traditional hospitals and health care facilities, the order covers alternative care facilities, including the planned 3,000-bed field hospital under construction at McCormick Place. The first 500 beds at the lakefront convention center are expected to open Friday.

The measure also will protect retired health care workers and other volunteers, including medical and nursing students near the completion of their training, whove answered Pritzkers call to join the states COVID-19 response.

Illinois Health and Hospital Association spokesman Danny Chun said the measure is essential to ensuring the state has the health care capacity needed to deal with the rising tide of COVID-19 cases.

These are extraordinary times requiring an extraordinary response, Chun said.

Health care facilities and workers will be protected only when directly engaged in the coronavirus response and wont be shielded from lawsuits if it is established that such injury or death was caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct, according to Pritzkers executive order. Dan Petrella

2:12 p.m.: Attorneys start fund to help immigrants who dont qualify for federal stimulus money

By noon Friday, Chicago-based immigration attorney Michael Ibrahim had already gotten more texts from his clients, many undocumented, asking for help.

One person asked for help getting a job. Another person asked him if he qualified for the federal stimulus package. A third person unable to make rent wanted to know what to tell the landlord.

You sit there and passively look at that message and copy and paste the same response I just dont feel comfortable doing that, Ibrahim said.

This week, he joined forces with another immigration attorney, Alen Takhsh, and another friend to create a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising enough money to give $1,000 to at least 25 families in the Chicago area who dont qualify for the federal stimulus package because of their immigration status.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, many people across the country will receive a $1,200 stimulus check from the federal government, but immigrants living in the country unlawfully dont qualify for the funds. In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced last week a program that would provide one-time $1,000 grants to residents who have lost their jobs regardless of your citizenship status.

Takhsh said he, Ibrahim and another friend, Ashkan Kheirkhahvash, came up with the idea to crowdsource money to give to families while talking about the stimulus and realizing that millions of individuals would be left to fend for themselves.

Thats un-American, thats not who we are, Takhsh said. Its a logical conclusion that there is a need. We have the resources and the contacts to make sure that we make sure to do everything in our power to fill that void.

Some clients have been reluctant to seek out financial help through the state or local government, worried doing so might mark them as a whats known as a public charge which could then hamper their immigration cases, Takhsh said.

By Friday morning, nearly $2,500 had already been donated within days of the campaign starting.

The two attorneys could quickly come up with a list of 25 families that could use the help just by looking through their clients, they said. But they didnt want to make it look like they were just helping their clients, Takhsh said.

Theyve turned to national and local immigration advocacy groups for help figuring how to identify and distribute the funds. Ideally, each family would get the $1,000 around the same time the federal government distributes stimulus money to individuals.

Takhsh said he doesnt think their campaign is unique and he suspects similar efforts will pop up in the coming weeks to help immigrants through the COVID-19 crisis.

Their fate is intertwined with ours, Takhsh said. The fact that the government has negotiated (immigrants) out speaks volumes about this administrations priorities. However, that is an opportunity for us to fill the gap where the elected leaders are failing miserably. Elvia Malagon

2:07 p.m.: Airbnb customers vent about confusing refund policy for coronavirus travel: Its been a total hassle

Airbnbs initial, no-questions-asked COVID-19 refund policy went over well with customers.

So did the home-rental companys recent move to extend the window for coronavirus refunds and travel credits on trips booked through May 31.

When it comes to getting money back under Airbnbs updated policy, plenty of guests have had no problem. Others, though, say theres been confusion about which reservations are eligible and whats needed to prove that guests are unable to travel because of the coronavirus  a requirement Airbnb can impose before it approves a cash refund. Read more here. Lori Rackl

1:50 p.m.: New coronavirus testing sites in Chicago, Joliet; Northlake location closing

New COVID-19 testing sites have launched in the citys Roseland and Pilsen neighborhoods, and a new drive-up location is coming to a Walmart in Joliet.

Walmart announced Friday that the company is closing a drive-up coronavirus testing site in the parking lot of its west suburban Northlake store and moving the operation to southwest suburban Joliet.

The big box retailer said in a news release that the relocation was prompted by the state recently opening a COVID-19 testing site at Forest Preserve Drive on the Northwest Side of Chicago. The Illinois National Guard on Monday began screening healthcare workers and first responders for coronavirus on a former vehicle emissions testing center in that area, about eight miles from Northlake.

At the new Joliet site, testing will serve first responders and healthcare workers who present with coronavirus symptoms or have been exposed to the new virus, as well as patients over 65 who are exhibiting symptoms, the news release said.

We are proud to have filled a gap in testing and helped the government extend COVID-19 testing in Chicago, the company said in a news release. We appreciate the city of Northlake for their support, and we look forward to continuing to serve Joliet.

On the Chicagos South Side, the New Roseland Community Hospital is now offering drive-thru COVID-19 screenings for local residents. Testing began Wednesday and approximately 30 Chicago police officers were the first to be screened for the new virus, the hospital said in a news release. The hospital is also distributing protective masks to every police officer in the 5th District who needs one, according to the news release.

On the citys West Side, UI Health on Monday launched a COVID-19 clinic at its Pilsen Family Health Center Lower West.

This site is by appointment only, but it is a controlled space where patients with mild symptoms can seek clinical care and be evaluated for COVID-19, the hospital system said in a news release. Angie Leventis Lourgos

1:12 p.m.: Lightfoot lists her favorite memes

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has weighed in on which meme of her enforcing stay-at-home orders she likes best.

In a video posted to her Twitter account Friday, Lightfoot said she cant pick a single favorite but a few stand out.

They include: One where she breaks up the Last Supper painting of Jesus and his apostles by Leonardi Da Vinci;

One where she is inside a refrigerator with the text, You just ate;

One where she solves a Wheel of Fortune problem that uses a profanity encouraging people to stay home.

I wont repeat what the answer is but its pretty funny and of course, I like the one of me being beamed, my face, over the skyline, Lightfoot said. I do feel like I have a responsibility to watch over the whole city so that really captures my sentiment precisely. Gregory Pratt

12:53 p.m.: In Chicago-area food deserts, its getting even harder for residents to find fresh, healthy groceries because of the coronavirus

A rise in unemployment and the closing of food pantries are exacerbating the problem of food insecurity around the Chicago area.

In food deserts, areas where people live more than a mile from a grocery store, its getting even harder to find fresh, healthy foods. The United States Department of Agriculture classified 39 census tracts in Cook County as food deserts in 2010  among those tracts were areas in West Pullman, Pullman, Woodlawn, Roseland, Riverdale and Englewood.

Outside of Chicago, most of the tracts were in Thornton, Bloom, Bremen, Calumet and Worth. In the meantime, about one-third of the Greater Chicago Food Depository network pantries have closed due to coronavirus, according to spokesperson Greg Trotter. Read more here. Darcel Rockett

12:20 p.m.: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois joins ranks of insurers waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has joined a growing list of health insurers waiving member costs for treatment of COVID-19.

The states largest health insurer announced Thursday that patients will not need to pay any deductible, co-payments and coinsurance for COVID-19 treatment received from April 1 through May 31.

The cost-sharing waiver applies to both in-network facilities and out-of-network emergency treatment. Read more here. Robert Channick

11:20 a.m.: Chicago police officers death linked to COVID-19 will be considered on-duty

The first loss of a Chicago police officer linked to COVID-19 will be considered an on-duty death, police leaders said Friday, giving the officers family access to special financial benefits.

Interim Chicago Police Supt. Charlie Beck announced that decision at Police Headquarters during an event to thank donors whose contributions have aided officers during the outbreak.

The officer, Marco DiFranco, 50, died early Thursday at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. He was assigned to the citywide narcotics unit and was hired as a Chicago cop in 1998, police said.

And because of that his family will continue to have the protections of the Chicago Police Department," Beck said of the benefits decision. "They will not be destitute. They will be taken care of. They will continue to be a part of the CPD family,

Beck did not say how DiFranco contracted the disease. But he said the determination of classifying DiFrancos death as in the line of duty comes as the officer and other first responders have been tasked with working in conditions that can put them at greater risk of becoming infected than the general public.

And I think that everybody needs to recognize that these are tough times," he continued. "And things that are unimaginable in our past are going to happen. And we need to come together as a society to protect those that protect us.

At last report there were more than 70 Chicago police officers and two civilian department employees who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Read more here. Jeremy Gorner

11:14 a.m.: Local leaders praise Pritzker plan to reopen Westlake Hospital

Emanuel Chris Welch was one of several local leaders praising the states plans to reopen Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park to treat COVID-19 patients, saying he hopes it will be up and running within weeks.

Im truly excited about that news, Welch said. I am thankful to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his strong, stable, steadfast leadership during this time of crisis. He told me all along he was trying to make this happen. I trusted and believed in him, and he got it done.

On Thursday, Gov. Pritzker announced Westlake Hospital, which closed in August 2019, is to be the fourth facility being readied to house coronavirus patients. The hospital will provide 230 beds, officials said.

Westlake was a perfect location in the western suburbs to be part of the answer to the crisis were in, Welch said. The 230 beds will be very helpful. Westlake is for non-acute COVID-19 patients. The most serious patients will not be at Westlake, but they will make room for acute patients in other facilities.

In addition to Westlake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois National Guard are setting up a 3,000-bed field hospital at McCormick Place, while also setting up a total of 500 beds at two other closed suburban hospitals: the former Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin and MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island. All facilities are expected to open by months end, officials said.

Pritzker said state officials are also working on a plan to open another alternate care facility in central Illinois in the coming weeks. Read more here. Steve Schering

10:29 a.m.: Amid coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says no plans to close Chicago streets to traffic and open them to exercise

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she doesnt have plans to close streets to traffic and open them up for people to run and do their exercise there instead.

Thats not in our immediate plans, Lightfoot said at a news conference to praise people and businesses who support first responders.

Since Lightfoot closed down the citys lakefront trail and adjacent parks, some green space enthusiasts and exercise aficionados have pushed for her to make streets available to pedestrians and cyclists so it can be easier for them to do so outdoors without being near one another.

Asked about that, Lightfoot said its not in the citys plans but reiterated that she doesnt have a problem with people being outside for their exercise.

The issue is congregating, Lightfoot said. Gregory Pratt

10:15 a.m.: College cafeteria workers seek help amid mass layoffs

When colleges campuses emptied out and sent students home because of the coronavirus pandemic, scores of cafeteria workers lost their jobs.

Even in good times, these workers struggle to make ends meet," a union official said. "They do not have savings to rely on now.

Some Chicago-area colleges have vowed to continue to pay workers, and some private food service contractors are making efforts to help furloughed employees weather the storm while also trying to keep their companies afloat. But unions are calling for more assistance for marginalized workers. Read more here. Elyssa Cherney

9:56 a.m.: Landlords are asking tenants for coronavirus diagnoses. Can they do that?

While public health officials are carefully tracking the spread of COVID-19, some Chicago renters have been caught off guard by requests to disclose diagnoses  not to medical professionals, but to their landlords.

Property managers of buildings across the city are asking residents to notify their landlords if they are experiencing symptoms or are diagnosed with the coronavirus.

But city officials and tenant lawyers say that while property managers are likely looking out for everyones wellbeing, tenants are not legally bound to disclose personal health information. Read more here. Ariel Cheung

8:38 a.m.: $1.2 million plan to expand capacity of services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors during pandemic

The Illinois Department of Human Services announced a $1.2 million plan Thursday to expand the capacity of services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While most Illinoisans are adhering to the Stay at Home order, not everyone has a safe home to go to, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement Thursday. If you are experiencing domestic violence or live in fear of it, I know how much scarier or complicated the message of Stay Home might sound.

The plan establishes Illinois domestic violence helpline as a one-stop resource for individuals seeking shelter assistance. Helpline staff will connect callers with existing Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention shelters or emergency shelter options in available hotels and motels.

IDHS will direct the majority of the allocated $1.2 million to the expansion of the domestic violence helpline. Remaining funds will be used to establish an emergency COVID-19 fund for local domestic violence programs.

In addition to dedicating these new funds to support victims of domestic violence, Illinois will give three-month advances on grants to DVPI providers to continue services during the current public health crisis. IDHS will also provide advance funds to the Illinois Coalition against Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Intervention Program grantees.

During times of crisis, there may be an increase in domestic and sexual violence, while barriers to services are compounded, IDHS Secretary Grace Hou said in a statement Thursday. The health and safety of survivors during COVID-19 is of the utmost importance to IDHS and Gov. Pritzker, and todays actions will ensure that access to these critical services continues.

Illinois confidential domestic violence helpline can be reached by calling 1-877-863-6338, or 1-877-863-6339 TTY. The helpline is available 24-hours and multilingual. During the COVID-19 pandemic, victims of domestic violence may also contact local programs for shelter resources. Antonia Ayres-Brown

8:35 a.m.: Employees at Trump hotel in Chicago among thousands in Illinois laid off in March because of coronavirus

Almost 300 employees at the Trump International Hotel & Tower were among more than 14,000 layoffs reported to the state in March, most of them related to the new coronavirus effect on the economy as companies cut back or closed their doors.

In a more typical month, Illinois monthly layoff report is contained to a widely spaced page or two. For March, it was a spreadsheet of almost 200 entries, most of them listing COVID-19 as the cause of the layoff. Read more here. Mary Ellen Podmolik

6:30 a.m.: Lightfoot, interim police superintendent to thank donors who have supported police

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and interim Chicago Police Superintendent Charlie Beck were scheduled to hold a news conference Friday to thank more than 100 donors who have supported Chicagos police officers on the front lines of the coronavirus ... outbreak, according to the mayors office.

Local and national businesses, school groups, individuals and chambers of commerce have been donating everything from pizzas to coffee to disinfecting wipes to local police districts across the city since the states stay-at-home order two weeks ago. Chicago Tribune staff

5 a.m.: To us right now, time is life. Chinese community mobilizing to provide medical supplies to Chicago-area hospitals.

Xuerong Xia has gone to the hospital every day for the past month. Her garage is now a dressing room, where she dons plastic shoe protectors, a face mask, disposable gloves and sunglasses before climbing into her car, equipped with disinfecting wipes and rubbing alcohol.

The rest of her car is loaded with medical supplies, donated by members of the Chinese community who fought the coronavirus since its early days in Wuhan. Now, their focus is fighting it here at home in the Chicago area.

They have already donated tens of thousands of masks, hospital gowns and goggles to hospitals including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and the University of Chicago Medical Center in the city, and Edward Hospital and DuPage Medical Group in the west suburbs. Read more here. Grace Wong

5 a.m.: Mental health groups mobilize virtual community for those isolated by coronavirus outbreak. This is a lifeline for people

While seemingly everyone retreated to their homes amid the global pandemic, Kaitlin wondered about the 15 people she saw every Thursday.

They all lived with depression or bipolar disorder, and they would gather in a downtown Chicago church where they cried, divulged hidden thoughts, encouraged one another or silently listened. But as the coronavirus outbreak forces an unprecedented distancing of human contact, Kaitlin worries the loneliness and isolation will undo the progress they have made.

For a lot of people, they feel like they are flashing back to these traumatic times by isolating, even though its for a different reason, said Kaitlin, 29, who did not want her last name used in order to speak openly. It reminds them of being isolated because of depression rather than because of the global pandemic.

Kaitlin serves as a facilitator for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Last month, the group transitioned all meetings to the videoconferencing platform Zoom, joining a network of other support groups and therapy sessions in the Chicago area moving to virtual gatherings to stay connected.

Outbreaks such as the coronavirus inflict an emotional as well as physical toll. With the caveat that everyone reacts differently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that mental health issues during an outbreak can range from fear over the health of yourself and others to increased substance abuse. A 2015 study found social isolation leads to depressive symptoms, cognitive decline and even early mortality. Read more here. Alice Yin

Thursday, April 2

Heres a recap of coronavirus updates in the Chicago area and Illinois from Thursday:

Wednesday, April 1

Heres a recap of coronavirus updates in the Chicago area and Illinois from Wednesday:

Tuesday, March 31

Heres a recap of coronavirus updates in the Chicago area and Illinois from Tuesday:

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
National Law Review's Coronavirus News Portal During these uncertain times, the National Law Review's Coronavirus Coverage has been a knowledge base of timely and trustworthy news and analysis for businesses and individuals alike.

The National Law Review, one of the most respected and popular online legal news websites is pleased to announce that it has reached a record 4 million visits to its website during the month of March. This includes more than 3.7 million unique page views.

In response to the overwhelming need for information during this unprecedented time, the National Law Review (NLR) has launched a Coronavirus news hub at https://www.natlawreview.com/type-law/coronavirus-news featuring more than 1,500 legal news articles and hourly updates from the countrys most distinguished attorneys and law firms and the NLR's own staff writers. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and many other of the nations top business and legal organizations have linked to the National Law Reviews Coronavirus News hub for up-to-date thought leadership, commentary and analysis.

The print edition of the National Law Review traces its roots back to 1888. The current online news site was founded by a group of Chicago in-house attorneys and offers content ranging from blog posts to whitepapers written by attorneys from the nations premier law firms, other highly credentialed experts and the NLR's own journalists. The National Law Review averages 1.75 million to readers a month visiting its website, delving into timely, newsworthy and relevant topics, and has become one of the highest volume business law websites in the U.S.

The National Law Review is woman owned and U.S based.

Please visit http://www.natlawreview.com or @NatLawReview
Mr Edward Kallon, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, has called on Federal Government to protect up to 10,000 women, men and children who were forced to relocate to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, from a town 40km.

Kallon in a statement by Samantha Newport, Head of Communications, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Thursday in Maiduguri, the Nigerian military ordered the immediate departure of and relocation of up to 10,000 civilians in the middle of the night, without prior warning, from Jakana town.

He said that the military transported the IDPs by bus or truck to Bakassi camp for internally displaced people.

According to the military the civilians were relocated for security reasons ahead of planned operations in the area

The entire town of Jakana was emptied, and people were forced to move to Maiduguri with very little time to collect personal belongings, some of them said they arrived in Maiduguri with nothing, not even with shoes on their feet.

The UN is urging the Government to urgently provide safety, shelter, food, water and medical care to the displaced civilians, in addition to information about when they will be allowed to return home, Kallon said.

The UN official also called on the government to adopt practical measures to ensure the protection of civilians and respect of the rights of individuals in accordance with its obligations under international humanitarian law; international human rights law and Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

Kallon reiterated the commitments of the UN to provide humanitarian assistance to persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  Investigators believe a woman charged with murdering her 11-year-old stepson killed him in his bedroom just a few hours before reporting him missing in January and allegedly concocted a variety of stories to mislead them, according to a court document.

Authorities say Letecia Stauch reported Gannon Stauch missing on Jan. 27 after she said he failed to return from a friends house. But she was not able to provide details about the friends he was with or their parents or her efforts to find him, according to an arrest affidavit laying out evidence justifying her arrest. It had been sealed but it was released by court officials on Friday after it was posted on social media on Thursday.

Two days after she reported him missing, Letecia Stauch allegedly said Gannon had been abducted by a Hispanic man working in their home who raped her, but she refused to undergo a sexual assault exam, the document said. Later, Stauch allegedly also said she was raped by another man who was on the countys most wanted list and that Gannon bled after burning himself with a candle.

A telephone message left for Stauchs public defender, Kathryn Strobel, at her office closed because of the coronavirus outbreak and an email seeking comment were not returned Friday.

Based on tracking information from Stauchs SUV, investigators believed that she disposed of Gannons remains in a rural area near Palmer Lake, Colorado, on Jan. 28. A piece of particle board with what turned out to be Gannons blood on it was found by searchers there on Feb. 15. But his remains were not found there.

In March, authorities said human remains believed to be Gannons were found on the Florida Panhandle. The document, written on Feb. 28, does not address that development.

The document describes evidence of blood found in Gannons bedroom and Stauchs SUV. It doesnt describe a motive, but investigators said, based on her internet searches, it seems like she was unhappily married and resentful of being treated as a babysitter for her stepchildren.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk speaks with NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, along with astronauts Victor Glover, Doug Hurley, Bob Behnken and Mike Hopkins, in front of the company's Crew Dragon capsule. NASA | Joel Kowsky

This year began with NASA's goal of once again flying astronauts in sight, with partner SpaceX a few months away from launching its first crew. Then coronavirus swept across the U.S. NASA began locking down its centers last month in response to the mounting COVID-19 crisis, with over 245,000 cases in the U.S. A handful of NASA employees have tested positive for the virus and about half of the agency's centers are now at its most elevated response level, meaning all facilities are closed. Only employees working on programs deemed "mission essential" are continuing to come in, with a mandatory work from home policy in place for about 75% of NASA's workforce. But despite the pandemic, the SpaceX "Demo-2" mission is moving forward. As its name implies, Demo-2 will be the second time the company launches its Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. But, unlike Demo-1 last year, this time two astronauts will be on board  a pair that will be the first NASA astronauts to launch from the U.S. since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011. "We need access to the International Space Station from the United States of America. Commercial Crew is the program that's going to make that happen. It's essential for our country to have that capability," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told CNBC. "We are going to move forward." Bridenstine spoke from his home in Oklahoma as, like most of NASA, the agency's leader is working remotely. But even if he can't be there in person, Bridenstine is resolute in his support of getting Demo-2 off the ground. NASA announced on March 18 that the agency and SpaceX are planning Demo-2's launch for the latter half of May, as the mission was one of the few that NASA leadership deemed mission essential. He said that NASA and SpaceX feel "pretty confident" that it will launch without a major delay, as "we're working through the coronavirus pandemic." He admitted that the rapidly evolving crisis means "we don't know what the outcome is going to be" but said that "but if it gets delayed a little bit, we're going to be OK with that." "We're going to get it done," Bridenstine said.

NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley buckled into the Crew Dragon capsule for SpaceX Demo-2. SpaceX

NASA has awarded SpaceX more than $3.1 billion under the Commercial Crew program to fund development of the capsule, with the company also contributing hundreds of millions of dollars of its own funds when needed. Boeing is also developing its Starliner spacecraft to compete for contracts, with the company having received more than $4.8 billion in awards since Commercial Crew began. There are about 350 NASA employees that work for the Commercial Crew program and Bridenstine said that the agency is "making sure that we're practicing all of our social distancing measures." Employees are using personal protective equipment when needed and are working in rotations. "We're using shifts of workers in a way that we can enable more distancing," Bridenstine said.

'It's going to uplift America'

Bridenstine's additional impetus for charging forward with Demo-2 is that he believes it would be a morale boost for a nation battered by the crisis. Many states have fully shut down, with closing businesses leading to unemployment for millions of Americans as state governments seek to counter the spread of coronavirus. To Bridenstine, launching astronauts would be a moment of hope among so much turmoil. "It's going to uplift America. We need that moment right now in American history," Bridenstine said.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket emblazoned with the famous NASA "worm" logo for the Demo-2 mission/ NASA

NASA has invited the press to apply for access to come to Florida to document the launch. But the invitation had an important caveat: "NASA is proactively monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation as it evolves." While Bridenstine said the agency wants to host as many as it can to see the historic mission, NASA's medical officials may change or limit media access depending upon the crisis situation at the time of the launch. But Bridenstine said NASA is focused on leveraging its resources to broadcast the launch live, regardless of how many people are able to see it in person, "We're going to showcase it," Bridenstine. "We want to do as much as we can to reach every person in America and, in fact, every person in the world and we have the ability to do that with the technology that exists today"

The remaining milestones for Crew Dragon

NASA is analyzing "two big things" related to Crew Dragon before it signs off on SpaceX launching Demo-2, Bridenstine said: The spacecraft's parachute and emergency escape systems. SpaceX is close to finishing tests for its new "Mark 3" parachute system. The company last year found a flaw in parachute designs used since the Apollo era and began redesigning the parachutes that will slow Crew Dragon before it splashes down in the ocean at the end of a mission. SpaceX completed 24 tests of its new parachutes as of March 24, when the company had an issue during a drop test: The heavy parachute test device "became unstable" underneath a helicopter and was dropped before the parachutes could be armed to deploy, so the test didn't happen. Bridenstine noted that SpaceX plans to do two more parachute tests using a C-130 aircraft, instead of a helicopter, and he expects to see positive results. "We feel really good about that so far," Bridenstine said of the parachutes.

The four main parachutes of SpaceX"s Crew Dragon slow the capsule down after its in-flight abort test. NASA TV

The second milestone is final approval for changes SpaceX made to the capsule's emergency escape system last year. Crew Dragon has SuperDraco rocket engines on board  small but powerful motors that can accelerate the capsule away from the company's rocket in the event of an emergency. But during a test of those engines after Demo-1, an explosive chain reaction destroyed the spacecraft. SpaceX has been testing a fix to that system, including two successful demonstrations on the ground and in flight recently. Bridenstine said the results of that fix "look good," and SpaceX is nearly finished with additional tests in New Mexico at the White Sands Missile Range. "We've done testing on that out at White Sands, that testing is all but complete at this point. Everybody feels very confident in that," Bridenstine said.

While not one of the two major remaining milestones, Bridenstine did also note that NASA is looking into data from a SpaceX launch of its Starlink satellites on Mar. 18. During the successful launch, one of the Falcon 9 rocket's engines shut down unexpectedly mid-flight  and, as Crew Dragon will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket, NASA wants to be sure the engine issue does not add any risk to its crewed mission. The agency joined SpaceX in its investigation of the early engine shutdown. "We want to get a good understanding of what happened there," Bridenstine said. NASA said its received the initial data analysis of the incident, with Bridenstine noting that the launch was the fifth time SpaceX had launched that particular rocket. "We are using new engines for the Demo-2 launch," Bridenstine said. "I don't think necessarily that [the engine issue] is going to be a showstopper."

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches a test of the company's Crew Dragon capsule. SpaceX

The organizations conducted a full simulation of Demo-2 in mid-March. SpaceX teams in Florida worked alongside NASA flight controllers in Texas while astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were strapped into a simulator at the company's California HQ. The agency said the teams have completed "a series of mission simulations from launch to landing" over the past several months, with only a few more simulations and final crew training remaining. NASA says its astronaut trainers "are closely adhering to CDC recommendations on infection control," with a "limited" number of employees coming in contact with Behnken and Hurley. "We always quarantine all of the astronauts before they go to the International Space Station ... now we're taking even more precautions," Bridenstine said.

Demo-2 will be 'two to three months' long

This mission is still technically considered a test flight, even though it will be the first time SpaceX flies astronauts to space. But the length of Demo-2 has been a key question, with NASA looking at extending it beyond the original plan of just a few days to the space station and back. "Depending on when we launch they're going to be up there for probably two to three months," Bridenstine said. Bridenstine explained that the plan is to bring Behnken and Hurley back a month before Crew-1, which the agency considers to be Crew Dragon's "first operational" flight. Crew-1 will mark the official start of SpaceX flying astronauts on regular missions to the ISS. "We bring them back a month before we're ready to launch Crew-1 so we can take that month and investigate every part of the crew capsule," Bridenstine said. "So the length of their stay on the ISS is going to be dependent on when the Crew Dragon is ready for Crew-1."

NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken suited up inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. NASA

He expects SpaceX will be ready with the next Crew Dragon capsule for Crew-1 to launch on time. Given the estimated schedule for Demo-2, the Crew-1 launch is targeting roughly August. "We want to get into the regular crew launch schedule," Bridenstine said. "We want to have as many crew as possible on the space station for as much time as possible, that's what we're trying to optimize." NASA this week unveiled the four astronauts that will fly on Crew-1. NASA assigned astronaut Shannon Walker to join previously announced astronauts Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover Jr., with Japan's space agency JAXA announcing that astronaut Soichi Noguchi would also be on the six month mission.
Bottle shops across Australia have put in place a series of rules to maintain social distancing and prevent stockpiling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Liquor retailer BWS has brought in floor markings, cashless payment options and reduced opening hours to help slow the spread of the virus.

Hundreds of stores are now closing earlier at 8pm or 9pm so staff can restock the shelves.

BWS has put in place a range of new measures to protect staff and customers during the coronavirus pandemic, including perspex sneeze-guards at check-out (pictured)

A bottle shop customer in Sydney's eastern suburbs unloads boxes of Victoria Bitter beer into a car on March 22. It comes as new rules are introduced to prevent stockpiling

Perspex sneeze-guards have also been installed at check-outs to stop transmission between customers and team members.

The chain's 'Twist it, Bag it, Tap it' police meanwhile will minimise contact at the check-out - encouraging customers to bag up their own purchases.

BWS and Dan Murphy's both also have maximum capacities at their store to adhere to the government's one person per four square metre rule on indoor gatherings.

Once capacity has been reached BWS will allow entry on a one-in, one-out basis.

Floor markings will indicate appropriate distances between others when waiting at the checkout.

The Australian government has told people to keep 1.5m away from each other at all times, if possible.

BWS' NEW MEASURES TO COMBAT CORONAVIRUS In store:  Reduction of opening hours of BWS stores attached to Woolworths supermarkets, so the BWS team can help restock their shelves  Cashless payment options in our stores  Floor markings to help indicate appropriate distances between others when waiting at the checkout  Perspex sneeze guards to safeguard our customers and our teams  A customer one in one out rule for all stores once the store reaches maximum capacity  Low contact checkout procedures asking customers to Twist it, Bag it, Tap it Online/delivery:  On demand delivery  New contactless procedure for all deliveries  Contact-free ordering and pick-up via the BWS App and Website Advertisement

Floor markings will indicate appropriate distances between others when waiting at the checkout

On Tuesday, new rules came into force allowing customers to buy a maximum of two slabs of beer or cider and 12 bottles of wine in one transaction.

Competing retailers including Liquorland, BWS, Vintage Cellars, Dan Murphy's and Aldi will all enforce the limits.

Shoppers will also only be able to purchase two bottles of spirits with a total of two litres, and two wine casks under 10 litres.

NEW ALCOHOL RESTRICTIONS: Two cases of beer Two cases of cider Two cases of pre-mixed spirits 12 bottles of wine Two bottles of spirits under two litres Two casks of wine under ten litres Advertisement

Julie Ryan, CEO for Retail Drinks Australia, said the restrictions come amid fears people would begin hoarding alcohol - causing disruptions to supply chains as seen in supermarkets.

'It's clear that uncertainty on the impact of supply following the closure of pubs, clubs and restaurants last week caused some people to purchase differently,' she said.

'We want to now send a clear message bottle shops remain an essential service and there are no issues of supply.'

The restrictions will not apply to bottle shops in Western Australia - which already have stricter rules on alcohol purchasing in the state.

Under WA's restrictions, bottle shops will enforce a daily limit of three bottles of wine and a single carton of beer, cider or premix spirits.
New Delhi, April 3 : BJP national President JP Nadda on Friday held a meeting with party leaders in Uttar Pradesh through videoconference, during which he flayed the Congress and accused the opposition party of holding 'anti-national views'.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working hard to help villagers, the poor, farmers and women during this time of crisis. But the Congress is blinded by its anti-national views. They can't see the work (being done)," Nadda told area incharges, Members of Parliament, MLAs and BJP district presidents of Uttar Pradesh.

The virtual meeting with the incharges of six regions of Uttar Pradesh was held to discuss the party's role in containing the coronavirus in India's most populous state.

"While Modi is trying to bind the country in this hour of crisis, the Congress and few leaders of other opposition parties are creating a sense of panic. It shows their ideological bankruptcy. In this hour of crisis, such discourse shows their connivance to divide the country," Nadda claimed.

Nadda also charged the opposition with scheming against the effort made by the Centre to check the spread of coronavirus.

He urged all party cadres and supporters to light candles, lamps at 9pm on Sunday, as requested by Modi. He asked the BJP leadership from Uttar Pradesh to take a lead on this.

In the morning, Modi said in a short video message to Indians: "I request all of you to switch off all lights of your house at 9pm on 5 April for 9 minutes, and just light a candle, 'diya', or mobile's flashlight, to mark our fight against coronavirus."
THE Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court has ordered the confiscation by the government, of property valued at over 16.7bn/- owned by two foreigners, Manon Elisabeth Hubenthal and Frank Robert Ricketts, who were conducting a pyramid scheme.

Judge Elinaza Luvanda ruled in favour of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after granting his application for forfeiture orders against Hubenthal, a resident of Greven in Germany, Ricketts, who resides at Blackwats, in the United Kingdom and IMS Marketing Tanzania Limited.

The judge said that the DPP sufficiently proved the application on balance of probability after going through the evidence produced through two affidavits by State Attorney Estazia Wilson and Investigator, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fadhili.

In the two affidavits, the two had explained detailed accounts showing how the two foreigners and the company, the respondents in the matter, were involved in committing crimes of conducting the pyramid scheme and money laundering.

The judge was satisfied that the money in two bank accounts with a total sum of 1,351,597.79 US dollars and another account with 5,377,306.56 Euros, both held in the name of IMS Marketing Tanzania Limited at Bank of Africa (BOA) Limited, was proceeds of crime, thus, dirty money.

According to him, the respondents in the matter did not show up to defend their side, including filing counter affidavits in attempts to oppose the application despite being served through publication of the matter, a consequence of which the application sailed unopposed.

He noted that the DPP filed an economic case against the two foreigners at the Kisutu Resident Magistrates Court in Dar es Salaam on three charges of conspiracy to commit an offence, money laundering and unlawfully operating a pyramid scheme.

Since the accused persons were at large, the prosecution applied and obtained an arrest warrant against them.

The arrest warrant was published four times in newspapers but they never appeared. The judge concluded, therefore, that the two foreigners were deemed to have been convicted of the offences.

During hearing of the application, the DPP, Mr Biswalo Mganga, was assisted by Principal State Attorneys Shadrack Kimario and Christopher Msigwa.

The prosecution had told the court that the grant of forfeiture order was necessary to prevent offenders from benefiting from proceeds of crimes.

According to the prosecution, it was sad to note that several people, including government officials and religious leaders, were involved in the pyramid scheme and invested some millions of shillings to enrich themselves but to the detriment of the countrys economy.

You could imagine one religious leader took 100m/-offerings and sow such money in the pyramid scheme. We believe that if the forfeiture order will be granted, these government and religious leaders will stop engaging in these dirty games. It will deter others from committing crimes, the DPP said.

It was submitted that on January 19, 2014, the two foreigners came in Tanzania and registered the IMS Marketing Tanzania Limited, a company which was given a business licence of operating a marketing services business by Kinondoni Municipal Council.

The prosecution submitted that neither the dealing in crypto currency nor collection of funds from members of the public is among the purposes of the business for which the company was registered for as per the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

On diverse dates, the two foreigners opened the said bank accounts after registering the company, which it was established later that it had a relationship with IMS International Marketing Services of Singapore.

The company, the prosecution further charged, has a close link and part to the operation of Onecoin Limited, a company founded in April 2014 in Gibraltar and has offices in Bulgaria, the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) and Hong Kong.

The IMS Marketing Tanzania Limited, IMS International Marketing Services and Onecoin Limited are operating a pyramid scheme that is a predicate offence of money laundering, one of the prosecutors submitted.

They told the court further that the operations of Onecoin Limited and subsidiary companies in various jurisdictions have been stopped and their bank accounts frozen for its complicity in money laundering offences arising from ponzi scheme that is the same as pyramid scheme.

Following such stoppage of operations, Onecoin Limited advertised on her facebook accounts and online website that members should pay their trade packages and deposits though the bank accounts maintained at BOA Bank.

On different dates, a total of 16,720,858,579/47 was received from three bank accounts.

Such amount comprises the total sum of 1,351,597.79 US dollars in two USD accounts and another 5,377,306.56 Euros in the Euro account.
The number of healthcare workers at major hospitals in Oregon and Southwest Washington who have contracted COVID-19 now stands at 57. Thats up from 31 just three days ago.

The numbers are still small. But the increase is steep.

Oregon Health & Science University as of Thursday had 19 staffers with COVID-19, compared to 12 on Monday. Providence Health and Services tally climbed from 10 to 16.

PeaceHealth, which operates hospitals in Vancouver and in Lane County, reported Thursday that 14 of its employees have the disease caused by the coronavirus. Its unclear what PeaceHealths total was Tuesday.

Legacys number of infected employees remained at 8.

Kaiser Permanente, alone among the major healthcare players in the metro area, has declined to release its number. The totals from other hospitals, though, suggest a sharp increase.

I think its very concerning and hopefully we dont see that as a trendline, said Stacy Chamberlain, executive director of Council 75 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. It goes to the point of the importance of PPE (personal protection equipment,) and the need for continued testing of employees.

AFSCME represents thousands of workers at OHSU and has been a vocal critic of hospitals that dont have enough face masks, face shields, gowns and gloves for its employees. The virus that causes COVID-19 is highly infectious. It can be spread through direct contact, in water droplets such as those ejected during a sneeze, and, in some circumstances through the air.

But a shortage of face masks and other safety gear developed at the worst possible time, in part because many of the Chinese factories that make the products were shut down by the outbreak.

We have 14 caregivers who have tested positive as a result of community or non-patient exposures, spokesman Jeremy Rush said.

Its unclear if the community exposure that sickened the PeaceHealth employees took place inside the hospital where they worked.

Globally, more than a million people have contracted the virus and more than 53,000 have died. Chinese authorities reported that about 3,300 health care workers there contracted the virus. The British Medical Journal, citing Italian authorities, reported last month that as many as 9,000 Italian health care workers developed COVID-19.

The total number of health care workers killed by the disease is unclear.

The number of infected health care workers here is in all likelihood higher than 57. The same is true for the general public. Some who contract the virus show no symptoms. Others get only slightly ill and write it off as a cold or flu.

Plus, the lack of widespread testing has made a more realistic number hard to come by.

Like PPE, testing has become a contentious issue among workers. Some complain the hospitals have rejected their requests to be tested. Kevin Mealy, of the Oregon Nurses Association, said hospitals that dont give their frontline health care workers adequate PPE have a moral obligation to test them for COVID-19 if they request one.

Otherwise, youre risk spreading the disease rather than controlling it, Mealy said.

CORRECTION: This story incorrectly stated the total number of COVID-19 deaths among health care workers in China and Italy. There does not seem to be an authoritative source for the number of deaths. But by most accounts the total is in the hundreds not the thousands.

Jeff Manning

503-294-7606

971-263-5164

jmanning@oregonian.com
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Its been a sobering week for the coronavirus pandemic in Onondaga County.

There have been two deaths, while the total number of confirmed cases and total hospitalized have more than doubled, according to county statistics released Friday.

Perhaps most sobering, the total number of people in critical condition has more than tripled: from six last Friday to 19 now. Of those 19, three have died, one has improved and 15 remain in a fight for their lives.

County Executive Ryan McMahon noted the fast spread of the virus over the past week countywide.

Since last Friday, just one week ago, our cases have increased 162 percent, McMahon noted. Adding to this, more of our residents are being hospitalized, and more are succumbing to this terrible virus.

So far, there have been 322 confirmed cases, up from a total of 123 cases last Friday. In addition, a total of 52 have now been hospitalized, up from only 19 a week ago.

Of the 52 hospitalized since the pandemic began, 26 remain in the hospital, 23 have improved enough to be released, and three have died.

A total of 87 people have recovered from COVID-19, up 12 from a day ago. There are now 232 active infections, after recoveries and deaths are factored in.

There have now been 4,434 test with results: 322 positive and 4,112 negative. The percentage of positive tests remains relatively steady at 7.2 percent.

There were 21 new cases reported Friday, bringing the total confirmed cases from 301 to 322. The 21 new cases were reported from 380 returned tests.

There remain 477 tests awaiting results.

McMahon noted that the wider Central and Northern New York region -- spanning more than one million people -- now have more than 800 confirmed cases. His daily numbers only apply to Onondaga County residents, he said.

But McMahon has repeatedly argued that Syracuses health infrastructure should be treated as serving the wider region, noting that COVID-19 hospitalizations include people from across the region. That means were serving over one million people, not just the roughly 465,000 residents of Onondaga County.

McMahon did not know how many non-Onondaga County residents were in local hospitals.

From the total Onondadga County cases:

175 are female and 147 are male

10 arew under 19,

67 in their 20s,

53 in their 30s,

49 in their 40s,

58 in their 50s,

47 in their 60s,

24 in their 70s

12 in their 80s.

2 in their 90s

Breakdown by Municipality:

City of Syracuse - 107

Clay - 34

DeWitt - 24

Salina - 23

Camillus - 21

Cicero - 19

Manlius - 18

Onondaga - 18

Pompey - 13

Geddes - 11

Lysander - 9

Skaneateles - 8

Van Buren - 4

LaFayette - 3

Marcellus - 3

Otisco - 3

Tully - 2

Fabius - 1

Spafford - 1

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

New Cuomo order forces hospitals to give up ventilators, protective equipment to state

Target, Costco, Home Depot limit customers, take other measures to slow coronavirus spread

2020 high school seniors face heartbreak and anxiety: Were running out of time

50 National Grid workers in Syracuse sequestered to keep the lights on during coronavirus outbreak

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
Feds Come to Rescue of Flyers With Hardball Mandate to U.S. Airlines on Refunds

U.S. airlines must refund passengers when they cancel flights due to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government said Friday, a blow to at least two carriers that have been making it difficult for customers to recover their money.

The pro-consumer move is consistent with the U.S. Department of Transportations usual policy, though there was some question whether the government would waive its rules because of the unusual circumstances. Normally, if an airline cannot fly a passenger within a couple of hours of the scheduled time, it offers a refund. Because those situations are rare  airlines generally cancel a small percentage of flights  carriers usually return money without delay.

But recently, JetBlue Airways and United Airlines took the position that these were extraordinary circumstances and altered their policies. At points during the past four weeks, both essentially said they were permitted to cancel a flight and retain the money, so long as they could rebook the customer on a new flight within about one day. Customers who were upset could take a voucher for a future flight.

Get the Latest on Coronavirus and the Travel Industry on Skifts Liveblog

United loosened its policy slightly after customer complaints, but still made it a priority to keep money as long as possible. Meanwhile, JetBlue had dug in so much that The Points Guy called its policy, one of the most customer-unfriendly moves weve seen since the outbreak of the virus.

However, the Department of Transportation said Friday its rules had not changed. If airlines rebook customers on a flight within a few hours, they can hold onto the money. Beyond that, the government said, customers are due refunds, not vouchers.

Airlines have long provided such refunds, including during periods when air travel has been disrupted on a large scale, such as the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and presidentially declared natural disasters, the government said. Although the COVID-19 public health emergency has had an unprecedented impact on air travel, the airlines obligation to refund passengers for cancelled or significantly delayed flights remains unchanged.

Story continues

JetBlue did not immediately reply for a request for comment. A United spokeswoman said the airline is offering refunds to eligible customers.

Eligible travelers on domestic flights  and now customers with international tickets  can request a refund on United.com or may call our contact centers if their flights have been severely adjusted or service to their destination suspended either due to government mandates or United schedule reductions related to COVID-19, the spokeswoman said.

American and Delta More Lenient

Not every airline took such a hard stance on refunds. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, among others, generally followed earlier precedent, offering refunds when they canceled flights, assuming they could not rebook passengers within a couple of hours.

But it an expensive proposition. Over the next two months, U.S. airlines have slashed schedules, operating between roughly 30 and 60 percent of their usual domestic flights and almost no long-haul international flights. They now must offer refunds to passengers who had booked many of those now-canceled flights, even though many of those customers had no intention of traveling.

In an attempt to hold onto the money, some airlines have been creative with buying off passengers. American is giving customers an extra bonus if they choose a travel credit over a refund. They can choose a full refund, or a travel credit worth 120 percent of the value of the ticket.

They are putting effort into it, Brett Snyder, an airline analyst and blogger, said in an interview. I think thats a pretty admirable thing to be doing.

Delta also been taking care of customers, as well, said Snyder, who also runs a travel agency. He said Deltas agents seem have wide latitude to offer refunds.

Delta has been more quiet but they have always been like that, he said. They leave more to your imagination with their policies. But they lean on the side of, go ahead and do it.

Airlines are also extending how long passengers will have to use vouchers, which usually expire one year after the ticket is issued. Some Delta vouchers are now good through May 2022.

No Refunds for Voluntary Changes

Not all passengers will receive refunds, despite the governments order.

If the airline is still operating the flight, the customer may cancel, but the passenger typically only is due a travel credit, not a refund.

This article was updated with a comment from United Airlines.

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PANIC ensued when news broke that Croom Post Office was closing temporarily, said Deputy Richard ODonoghue.

His phone rang off the hook all Tuesday evening with concerned locals contacting the TD.

People were panicking, especial elderly and young people that dont drive. They were worried about getting their pension or payments. They cant get a lift now because of the social distancing. Everything has been transferred to Patrickswell but they didnt know how they were going to get there, said Deputy ODonoghue.

A spokesperson for An Post said: The post office at Croom has temporarily closed for operational reasons. An Post has transferred all services to our post office in Patrickswell. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused.

Deputy ODonoghue said Croom is a very busy post office. Last Thursday, there were around 300 transactions. The recently elected TD contacted Local Link  the rural bus service which connects towns and villages throughout the county.

They are going to provide a service. With the restrictions at the moment people arent travelling on buses. They will redeploy those buses to give a service from Croom to Patrickswell until the post office reopens.



It is not a taxi service. It is just for the people to collect pensions or any payments in Patrickswell Post Office and return them back to Croom. Social distancing rules will be in place, said Deputy ODonoghue.

As Croom Post Office has members in Kilfinny, Granagh, Manister, Banogue, and Meanus, Local Link will do their best to collect from these locations as well.



If people ring 069 22311 there will be people there to answer the phone. I must thank Local Links Anne Gaughan. Mannings and OSheas have also kindly offered their buses, said Deputy ODonoghue, who added that Croom Spar owner Padraig Broderick has offered to sell stamps in the interim.

Everybody is working together. Im looking forward to Croom Post Office reopening. It is most important that we keep people in post offices. Any one that comes in and collects their pension or payment walks down the street and they return it back into the town, said Deputy ODonoghue.
A team of UK biotech experts are close to delivering a sophisticated and affordable testing technology that will complement the simple binary COVID-19 tests currently in use. The technology deploys mass spectrometry to spot proteins that are unique to COVID-19 and is targeting to deliver test results within 30 minutes that can:

detect the presence or absence of COVID-19

measure viral load, and

detect new viral strains as they emerge

The developers say the technology could make a huge contribution to the Governments plans announced this afternoon (02.04.20) to increase testing capacity and bolster the UKs diagnostics industry. The joint MAP Sciences and Cantab Health technology could deliver up to 1000 test results per machine over a 24 hour period. The mass spectrometers have low technical user requirements and require minimal consumables. MAP Sciences has experience of optimising mass spectrometers to produce fast, accurate and easy to use diagnostic tests for a range of diseases.

The Cambridge and Bedford based team has been working on a proof of concept using a MALDI ToF mass spectrometer to detect a COVID-19 pseudovirus and expect to be at a stage to start clinical trials within two weeks. Government collaboration and support will be needed to run clinical trials on the test using COVID-19 live virus. The Cantab Health team will co-ordinate logistics, technical support and data reporting.

Professor Ray Iles, chief scientific officer said:

Ive spent the past ten years developing the use of MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry to detect a range of diseases by identifying their unique protein signature. Our technology delivers results within minutes and with fine tuning we aim to achieve this on COVID-19 but with far fewer false positives (greater specificity). Once developed this technology can provide a powerful and rapid first line in the control of any future new virus epidemics.

The President of the Royal College of Pathologists, Prof JE Martin MA PhD RCPathME FRCPath, has described the development work on this test as a very promising development in the fight against this deadly virus.
Pro-life students sue Georgia Tech over refusal to fund Alveda King event

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A student group has sued the Georgia Institute of Technology, claiming that they discriminated against them when they requested and were denied funding for an event featuring pro-life activist Alveda King.

The Students for Life at Georgia Tech filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division.

The suit names as defendants various Georgia Tech officials, the schools Student Government Association, and the Regents of the University System of Georgia.

At issue was the SGAs refusal last year to provide funding for an event featuring King, with the suit claiming that the funding was denied because of the speakers religious and pro-life views.

The suit also argues that speaker requests from other student groups "are routinely 'fast tracked' without any discussion" by SGA members.

It is discriminatory and unconstitutional to withhold funding from student activity fees that students have already paid into simply because a group holds a pro-life, conservative, or religious belief, states the complaint.

The Supreme Court made it clear twenty years ago that if public universities wish to force students to pay student activity fees, then those universities have an affirmative duty to ensure that the funds are distributed in a viewpoint neutral mannernot by a simple majority vote.

The students are being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a high-profile conservative law firm that specializes in religious liberty cases.

ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer said in a statement released Wednesday that he believed Georgia Techs student government engaged in unconstitutional behavior.

The student government discriminated against the viewpoints of Students for Life and Ms. King in favor of the views of students the SGA members were afraid to offend, he said.

Rather than exemplify this sort of hostility toward the First Amendment, universities should exemplify the importance of those freedoms. When they dont, they communicate to an entire generation that the Constitution doesnt matter.

The Christian Post received a statement via email from Georgia Tech regarding the lawsuit, explaining that they just learned of the lawsuit and do not comment on pending litigation.

Georgia Tech holds freedom of expression as an essential cornerstone to the advancement of knowledge, it added.

The University System of Georgia similarly told CP that they do not give comment on pending litigation, but said they supported freedom of speech on campus.

[T]he USG is committed to protecting the free expression rights of our students, faculty, staff, and those on our campuses. The USG is reviewing the complaint along with the Georgia Attorney Generals Office," they stated.
Setting up makeshift ICU wards in libraries and conference centers, embattled European medical workers strained Friday to save thousands of desperately ill coronavirus patients as stocks of medicine, protective equipment and breathing machines grew shorter by the hour.

Europes three worst-hit countries  Italy, Spain and France  have surpassed 30,000 dead, more than half of the global toll.

One Spanish hospital has turned its library into a makeshift intensive care unit. In France, space was set aside for bodies in a vast food market. The French prime minister said he is fighting hour by hour to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep COVID-19 patients alive.

Philippe Montravers, an anesthesiologist in Paris, said medics are preparing to fall back on older drugs, such as the opiates fentanyl and morphine, that had fallen out of favor, because newer painkillers are in short supply.

The work is extremely tough and heavy, he said. Weve had doctors, nurses, caregivers who got sick, infected  but who have come back after recovering. Its a bit like those World War I soldiers who were injured and came back to fight.

In a vast exhibition center in Madrid that was hastily converted into a 1,300-bed field hospital, bed No. 01.30 held patient Esteban Pinaredo, aged 87.

Im good, I love you, Pinaredo told his family via Skype. I will run away as soon as I can.

The makeshift facilitys organizer, Antonio Zapatero, said Spains nationwide lockdown must be maintained.

Otherwise, this is what you are facing, he said, pointing at the rows of beds.

BRITAIN

Prince Charles opens care facility

Britains Prince Charles remotely opened a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients at Londons main exhibition center Friday that can accommodate up to 4,000 people.

Charles, who on Monday completed a week of self-isolation while recovering from COVID-19, said via video link that he was enormously touched to be asked to open the new Nightingale Hospital, which was built in just over a week at the vast ExCel conference center in east London.

An example, if ever one was needed, of how the impossible could be made possible and how we can achieve the unthinkable through human will and ingenuity, he said from his home in Scotland, Birkhall.

GERMANY

Berlin faults U.S. on protective gear

Berlins top security official accused the United States of using Wild West methods to obtain protective equipment. The claim came after a delivery of face masks destined for the German capital was diverted en route from China.

German media reported Friday that hundreds of thousands of masks purchased from manufacturer 3M and intended for Berlin police were diverted to the U.S. as they were being transferred between planes in Thailand.

Berlin officials confirmed that about 200,000 masks already paid for by Germany were seized at a Bangkok airport and didnt reach their intended destination.

Andreas Geisel, the interior minister for Berlin state, says the diversion of the masks is an act of modern piracy. This is no way to treat trans-Atlantic partners.

Even in times of global crisis, there should be no Wild West methods, Geisel said. The U.S. embassy in Berlin didnt immediately comment.

CHINA

Merchants return to virus epicenter

Sidewalk vendors wearing face masks and gloves sold food to shoppers Friday in the city where the coronavirus pandemic began as Chinese leaders try to revive the worlds second-largest economy.

Authorities are easing controls that kept Wuhans 11 million people at home for two months, but many shops are still closed.

Residents have been relying on online groceries and government-organized food deliveries after most access to the city was suspended Jan. 23 and restaurants, shops and other businesses shut down.

AFRICA

Border closures hamper aid efforts

More than half of Africas 54 countries have closed land, air and sea borders to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

The restrictions are so widespread that concern is rising about getting needed items to desperate people. The World Food Program says it had to negotiate a humanitarian corridor ahead of South Africas lockdown to allow food aid to flow to other southern African nations.

Coronavirus cases across Africa are now above 7,000 and numbers are expected to leap in the coming weeks.

Chronicle News Services
SUZHOU, China, April 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CMAB Biopharma (Suzhou) Inc. ("CMAB"), a dedicated biologics contract manufacturing and development organization (CDMO), today announced the appointment of Mr. Ye Shi as the Head of Quality. He will be responsible for the overall management of the quality system within CMAB.

Dr. Yongzhong Wang, CEO of CMAB said:" We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Ye Shi to CMAB. In the Chinese biopharmaceutical and CDMO industries, quality experts like Mr. Ye Shi are very rare. He has both front-line practical experience as well as success in managing an entire company quality system both at home and abroad. We believe that his leadership will greatly strengthen CMAB's world-class CDMO quality system and provide our customers with more outstanding services.

Mr. Ye Shi said, "CMAB is the only pure-play CDMO in China that has passed the European QP audit. Therefore, I am very glad to join CMAB and look forward to working with the CMAB team to jointly promote high-quality innovation in biopharmaceuticals and further accelerate the launch of new drugs. Our firm commitment to quality will become a core value for customers and will allow CMAB to stand out in the market."

Over the last 30 years, Mr. Ye Shi has worked in biopharmaceutical companies in both China and the United States and promoted their quality management towards a world-class level. Before joining CMAB, he served as the Deputy General Manager and Quality Assurance Director at QILU Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. There, he successfully led the team to pass the Pre-inspection approval (PAI) of antibody drugs by the Chinese Centre for Drug Evaluation (CDE), which subsequently successfully entered commercialization. Additionally, he led the quality team to successfully pass the European QP audit, laying the foundation for clinical trials in the EU and internationally. Furthermore, he has served as the Corporate QA and Compliance Director of the PDI Company in the United States, guiding the quality team of a Chinese CMO quality unit through site inspections by FDA and Health Canada. Moreover, he has previously served as Site Quality Head and Quality Assurance Director at Immunomedics in the United States, where he oversaw the quality systems of two biopharmaceutical plants, including plant design, planning, construction, verification, and formal operations. Previously, Mr. Ye Shi worked at Wyeth Lederle, The Validation Group, and Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals.

About CMAB Biopharma Inc.

CMAB Biopharma Inc. is a flexible full-service CDMO dedicated to providing development and manufacturing services for antibodies and biologics for clients in China and across the globe. Our adaptable, service-oriented business enables clients to take their innovative concepts for tomorrow's medicines from DNA to CGMP product today.

CMAB Biopharma (Suzhou) Inc.

Building C37&C29 F1, No.188 Dongping Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, China

Tel: +86 512 6799 5177

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE CMAB Biopharma Limited
New York: New York state has recorded more than 500 coronavirus-related deaths in a single day, bringing the statewide total to nearly 3000, or about the same number killed in the September 11 attacks, Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

New York City has mere days to prepare for the worst of the novel coronavirus onslaught, the city's mayor Bill de Blasio said. He pleaded for federal government help to end a shortage of medical staff and ventilators.

Medical personnel remove their protective gear after transporting bodies from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Centre in Brooklyn. Credit:AP

The city has suffered more than a quarter of US deaths in the outbreak.

"I think somehow in Washington, there's an assumption (that) there's weeks to prepare," de Blasio said on MSNBC. "There's not weeks anymore. It is days now."
China should focus less on developing disease-resistant super pigs to protect its hog herd from infection and do more to improve basic biosecurity, analysts say, as several companies claim to be close to a breakthrough treatment for African swine fever.

Chinas hog herd has begun to steadily rebuild after swine fever spread across the country a year and a half ago, killing or forcing the culling of 60 per cent of the pig population, according to authorities.

But poor biosecurity  including the transport of pigs in filthy trucks and a lack of disinfection at farms  still threatens the industry, observers said.

There is no commercially available vaccine for swine fever  which is not harmful to humans  but a number of researchers claim they are close developing one.

Chinas Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the countrys top research body on animal diseases, said last month it had developed a vaccine for African swine fever (ASF) that laboratory testing showed was safe and effective. However, it did not give a timetable on when it would be available for commercial use.

Meanwhile, Shandong Landsee Genetics, a company in Chinas eastern Shandong province, was reported this week to have successfully bred ASF-resistant pigs. The pigs, called Lansibai-2, are from the large white breed, one of the most common raised in China.

When approached for comment, a spokeswoman for the company said the research was confidential and she was not authorised to speak to media.

Despite the apparent progress, analysts are generally sceptical that a silver bullet to prevent the disease will be developed on a large scale any time soon.

Because this disease has been found in many countries, I dont think there has been major progress [when it comes to eliminating the disease], said Chenjun Pan, senior analyst for animal protein at Rabobank. There have been some vaccines, but the effectiveness of the vaccines is not that satisfactory. So far there havent been any solutions from a medical perspective.

Story continues

There have been some vaccines, but the effectiveness of the vaccines is not that satisfactory

Chenjun Pan

Chinas swine fever problem is complicated by an unwillingness from local governments to diagnose and report ASF cases, said E.W. Johnson, of Enable AgTech Consulting in Beijing. It was also made worse by basic hygiene problems, he added.

Pigs with ASF are sold to slaughter every day, and dirty trucks are going everywhere, spreading the disease as much as they did when the ASF outbreak began, Johnson said.

There is no doubt that people are very excited and extremely zealous about these super-pigs. [But] China seems intent on living with ASF rather than getting rid of it.

While the industry was closely watching the breeding research, vaccines or disease-resistant breeds would do little to help increase production in the short term, said Feng Yonghui, chief analyst at pork industry website Soozhu.com.

The whole global industry recognises that the greatest preventive measure is improving biosecurity

E.W. Johnson

The most important problem now is how to control the ASF epidemic, and this is not the way to do it, said Feng. The whole global industry recognises that the greatest preventive measure is improving biosecurity.

Improved hygiene can lower the risk of disease in production, said Feng, including sickness caused by bacteria and viruses, like transmissible gastroenteritis, a coronavirus found in pigs.

Its a system  you cant just do one step in the process, he said. The whole industry has to study it, and we still need time to improve.

Basic controls  like keeping pig transport trucks clean, or disinfecting protective equipment used by workers on pig farms  is simple but comes at a price, and some smaller pig farms are struggling to keep up.

What were worried about are the people on the lower rungs of the ladder who arent able to keep up with better practises, Feng said. If we are to get pig stocks back up to where they were before the outbreak within three years, this is the key issue that stands in the way.

Chinas pork industry is at a turning point in production unlike at any other time in history, he said.

In the past, when it came to upgrading production, or when the industry went into loss, all producers big and small began again at the same starting line, he said. Thats because there was no threat of disease. Now, those with money get to run first.

Pork prices in China, the worlds top consumer and producer of pork, have surged since AFS began cutting back supply, driving margins up for both domestic and imported pork.

The worlds biggest pork processor, Hong Kong-listed WH Group, reported a 32 per cent jump in profits last year as record high pork prices in China boosted the value of the companys exports from the United States and lifted margins on its China sales.

Chinas total pork production in 2019 was 42.55 million tons, a decrease of 21.3 per cent from 2018, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. In 2018, the total pork output was 54.037 million tons, down 0.9 per cent from 2017.

While researchers race to find a cure for swine fever, new cases keep cropping up across the country. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said local authorities in Sichuan had detected infections in piglets transported from outside the province.

Another outbreak was recorded in Inner Mongolia, where local authorities detected the disease in a herd of 200 piglets on a farm in Ordos city, which killed 92 of the animals, according to the agriculture industry.

Authorities are also monitoring cases of ASF in piglets smuggled into the country and would launch a 60-day investigation into illegal transport of hogs this month.

Additional reporting by Liu Zhen

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This article Chinas race to produce super pigs destined to fail amid haphazard biosecurity, experts say first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Churches in Northern Ireland have encouraged their congregations to "pray virtually" on Palm Sunday as the region continues to battle coronavirus.

Church services have been suspended in a bid to halt the spread of the virus, though they can host funerals where the numbers attending are very small and mourners observe social-distancing.

Rev Heather Morris, general secretary of the Methodist Church in Ireland, told the BBC she did not think churches themselves needed to be opened for Palm Sunday, one of the most important days of the Christian calendar.

We are asking people to pray virtually  a building being open is not necessary for us to pray, she said.

She said that tough times like these lead to even those who are not normally devoutly religious to "ask questions of God".

She added the church would to whatever it could to help communities, including delivering prescriptions and foods to those self-isolating.

Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland said in "anxious and fearful" times people turn to God and each other.

The leader of the Royal Black Institution also appealed to its members to pray this weekend to protect healthcare professionals, researchers and other key workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

I have appealed to Sir Knights to take time this Sunday at 7pm to pray for the Lord to bring comfort in these dark days, said Rev Anderson.

Please do so in your own homes, and we will raise a prayer that will be heard in Heaven itself.

Meanwhile First Minister Arlene Foster confirmed that she discussed the closure of churches with Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown.

Mr McKeown had called for churches to be allowed to reopen as places of private prayer during the coronavirus pandemic.

He cited the examples of off licenses being allowed to remain open despite the lockdown.

Mrs Foster telephoned Bishop McKeown on Wednesday to discuss his concerns.

She said she wanted to "reach out" to him.

"I didn't want people to feel constrained from God," the DUP leader said, but that the churches had to close as part of social-distancing to stop the spread of coronavirus.

"I did want to reach out to Donal, we will be keeping this matter under review because freedom of religion is a very important piece in a democratic society and therefore people should be free to do that.

"I do join with the church leaders in supporting the call to pray this Sunday, I think that's an important thing to do and to bring the community together and I hope people will recognise that is a call to bring us all together at this very difficult time."

Bishop McKeown told the Irish News he "appreciated the conversation".
"I think the feeling is, if we make a change here, we're opening ourselves up to have this brought in in other land developments, and it's not something we really want to see in the village overlay district," said board...
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Impact of COVID-19 on pharma and medical device companies in Germany (Graphic: Business Wire)

Pharma and medical device companies in Germany have shifted into overdrive to help combat the coronavirus outbreak. While the pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the country, large and small corporations alike are engaged in developing strategic solutions to curb the spread of the virus. One of the key concerns that remain to be addressed is whether COVID-19 will exacerbate the existing drug shortage in Germany. In Germany, the supply chain for drugs is highly vulnerable. The situation has been such even before the breakout of the pandemic. Apart from this, Germany's pharma and medical device industry are also battling with other major roadblocks including delays in clinical trials, barriers to accelerated digital transformation, and lengthy procedures for market access. According to experts at Infiniti, some of the key implications of the coronavirus outbreak on pharmaceutical and medical device companies in Germany include:

Delay in clinical trials

Barriers to accelerated digital transformation

Lengthy market entry regulations for PPE

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It did not burst and thus did no harm

Open source

Yesterday, on April 2, in the Lviv region, a projectile landed in the yard of a private house, but did not break and did no harm, as the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine wrote on his Facebook page.

"A shell fell on the territory of the yard of a private house in the village of Vereshchitsa, Yavorivskyi district, Lviv region, on April 2, at about 17:15", the message said.

The shell did no damage and did not injure anyone. The Military Service of the Law and Order of the Western Territorial Administration arrived at the scene. Also reported to the military prosecutor and open criminal proceedings.

At about 6:00 p.m., a group of mine clearance from the military unit arrived at the scene of the incident, carrying out the seizure of elements of ammunition and transporting them to a safe place.

As we reported before, a mortar attack took place in Novotoshkivske, Luhansk region on April 1. One of the mines hit the area next to the local school.
Reviews are just starting to trickle in for Kim Kardashian's new crime documentary and the first panned the reality star's attempts to pivot her image, calling the work 'garish and gross.'

Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project is the star's upcoming two-hour documentary, debuting on Oxygen Network, which will focus on her quest for criminal justice reform.

The 39-year-old's passion project appeared to shed a light more on her than on wide ranging, complicated and important topic of justice reform, according to a scathing review from Variety. So far, the outlet is the only to review the mogul's latest endeavor.

Reviews are in: Kim Kardashian's new crime documentary The Justice Project was panned by one critic who critiqued the reality star's attempts to pivot her image, calling the work 'garish and gross,' in a piece published Friday by Variety (Pictured in January during a TCA event for the documentary)

'I just saw something that seemed really unfair to me, and I thought that I had a voice,' Kim tells a group of inmates in the doc.

The review calls the film an 'unpleasant spectacle,' pointing out that her focus tends to be on 'telegenic and unthreatening cases, rather than reform.'

The good of Kim's work in petitioning President Trump to grant clemency to non-violent offender Alice Johnson, the case which seemed to first spark the moguls fire for justice, seems irrefutable - particularly from Johnson's perspective.

However, the reviewer penned 'there's something grim and too obvious by half about shots of her calling Alice Johnson, to tell her that Trump has granted clemency, in full glam on the set of a photoshoot.'

The work: Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project is the star's upcoming two-hour documentary, debuting on Oxygen Network, and will focus on her quest for justice reform

The review calls the film an 'unpleasant spectacle,' pointing out that her focus tends to be on 'telegenic and unthreatening cases, rather than reform.'

Additionally, Variety noted that the E! star's access to the Oval Office is likely a fluke of circumstance as this particular U.S. President was too a reality star first.

'In any other historical moment, Kardashian West would not have the president's ear, it's obviously not sustainable to alleviate the mass crowding of America's prisons solely by appealing for clemency for specific prisoners,' the reviewer said.

In another barbed line, the author penned: '[There's] something garish and gross about a star personalizing an important cause by asking vulnerable people to open a vein on-camera and then never bothering to get back to the cause itself.'

This week Kardashian has been doing press for the project via video chats while on lockdown due to the coronavirus.

In another barbed line, the author penned: '[There's] something garish and gross about a star personalizing an important cause by asking vulnerable people to open a vein on-camera and then never bothering to get back to the cause itself.'

Harsh words: The review pointed out that while Kim's efforts to petition President Trump to grant clemency to Alice Johnson were worthy, she's unlikely to get the personal ear of any other president during any other time

'Well honestly, this is the most important work that I've ever done,' the KKW Beauty founder told CBS's Gayle King. 'So, I can't wait for you guys to see it.'

In addition to The Justice Project, Kim has been in the midst of a four year legal apprenticeship with a local law firm to become a real lawyer like dad Robert Kardashian.

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.

Kim's personal quest for justice reform came about, in part, from becoming a mom, she recently told Grazia.

'Well honestly, this is the most important work that I've ever done,' the KKW Beauty founder told CBS's Gayle King this week while doing press for the doc. 'So, I can't wait for you guys to see it.'

'I don't 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 I've met.'

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star 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.'

Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project airs Sunday April 5 on Oxygen Network.
While the renter said she wasnt concerned enough to ask her landlord why they would ask for tenants to disclose their health status, she said the request was definitely an added thing to think about, on top of everything else.
VANCOUVER - Business organizations across British Columbia say revenues have plunged among their members and that paints an "ominous picture" for the economy.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER - Business organizations across British Columbia say revenues have plunged among their members and that paints an "ominous picture" for the economy.

The BC Chamber of Commerce, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Business Council of British Columbia say of 1,900 businesses were surveyed, about half have seen revenues drop by 75 per cent or more.

Two-thirds of the businesses report revenues are down by at least 50 per cent.

A statement from the organizations says the data reveals what businesses and workers are experiencing now and what they expect to face in the future.

It says more than half of businesses contacted worry they will be insolvent or not have the fiscal capacity to restart their business.

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Roughly the same number expect any economic rebound will be slow while just 14 per cent anticipate a speedy recovery.

Val Litwin, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce says governments are seeking solutions to help struggling businesses, but owners need immediate help.

"With these survey results entrepreneurs are sending a clear message to Ottawa and Victoria: they need enhanced supports now because time is running out," Litwin says in the statement.

"Governments must focus on getting subsidies and credits to businesses quickly."

The organizations say opinions among their members are divided about the effectiveness of announced government support, possibly because most funds have not yet started to flow.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said it would close Hocking Hills State Park and its trails at sunset Friday because of concerns that hikers would be unable to stay far enough apart to prevent spread of the coronavirus.

The popular hiking destination, which is about three hours south of Cleveland, is the only state park the department has elected to fully close, according to the release. It also means that several features and sites, including Conkles Hollow State Natural Preserve, will close.

This was a difficult decision, however, this unique trail system is not designed to allow for adequate social distancing without potential risks, ODNR Director Mary Mertz said the news release

ODNR said the parks narrow trails makes keeping six feet away from other hikers nearly impossible. A reduced number of park employees could also hinder response time for accidents or falls occur.

Accidents could also place undue pressure on emergency responders, the release states.
MUSKEGON, MIUnionized health workers at Mercy Health Partners in Muskegon say they are concerned about a lack of coronavirus testing for them, and are calling on the hospital system to provide them living arrangements if they do test positive.

Nurses at Mercy Health previously expressed concern about other working conditions, including the lack of personal protection equipment  an issue that continues to plague workers there, said one union president.

The latest concerns were raised by a coalition of unions representing Mercy Health employees: the Michigan Nurses Association, SEIU Healthcare Michigan and the Michigan Union of Healthcare Workers.

The coalition sent a press release on Thursday, April 2, that calls upon Mercy Health to fully live up to their values.

We demand our employer provide adequate living arrangements, at no cost to the employee, for healthcare workers who are suspected of or have been infected with COVID-19 for the duration of their isolation, the release states.

That could involve hotel rooms for employees who need to self-isolate, said Hasan Zahdeh, president of the Michigan Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents about 125 employees at Mercys Hackley Campus.

I know many people are going home and living in their basements, Zahdeh said. They cant touch their children. Its appalling to be honest with you.

Zahdeh said he does not know of any Mercy Health workers who have tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19. On the other hand, he said employees are being denied testing when they request it.

This is not about us as individuals, said Zahdeh, who is a cardiovascular technologist who conducts digital imaging in Hackleys emergency room and surgery. Among those he cares for are patients with complaints of trouble breathing, which is a symptom of COVID-19.

We just dont want to take anything home. We dont want to take anything into the community, he said. We want to be a tool for healing, not a tool for spreading.

When asked for a response to the unions concerns, Mercy Health provided a written statement:

Mercy Health continues to meet and exceed all CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and state guidelines for our staff and patients. We have routine dialogue with union leaders on various matters, and will continue to do so.

It also referenced comments Mercy Health President Gary Allore made to the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, April 1. He told the chamber that the hospital was working hard to get personal protective equipment, or PPE, for staff, but noted there is a national shortage and the need currently is greatest on the east side of the state.

At that time, he said the hospital had 15 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The Muskegon County Health Department reported 18 positive cases on that day. That number grew to 29 the following day, April 2.

Our nurses and frontline colleagues that are taking care of patients today are doing an amazing job, and they continue to partner to get creative about how to preserve PPE, Allore told chamber members in a videotaped speech. At the same time, were making sure were staying safe. The safety of our colleagues and the patients that are coming into our organization are the most important things to us right now.

The complaint by the unions is the latest of several union jabs at Mercy Health. During a videotaped community update about COVID-19 on March 23, Allore said the union complaints were distracting from the fight against the rapidly spreading virus.

The Michigan Nurses Association has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Mercy Health and previously issued a statement, before there were any positive COVID-19 test results in Muskegon County, saying the hospital wasnt properly screening patients or providing PPE to staff.

Mercy responded that it was following CDC guidelines and searching stockpiles for PPE.

Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

More on Mlive:

Mercy nurses concerned about coronavirus file unfair labor practice complaints

Nurses say Mercy isnt properly screening for coronavirus, protective gear inadequate

Muskegon County coronavirus cases increase by 50 percent
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:02:24|Editor: Yurou

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NAIROBI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is on the final leg of implementing sweeping reforms in the coffee sector to boost competitiveness on the global market and to improve farmers' livelihoods, an official said on Friday.

Peter Munya, cabinet secretary for agriculture, livestock, fisheries and cooperatives, said the government has completed a master plan to revitalize the coffee sector and to enhance its contribution to economic development.

"We plan to launch the coffee sector restructuring plan later this month and have set aside 1 billion shillings (about 10 million U.S. dollars) to facilitate its implementation," Munya said.

"The phase one of this plan includes refurbishing coffee factories, infrastructure development and reorganization of farmer cooperatives," he said during a tour of a state-owned milling plant in Nairobi.

Streamlining key value chains in the coffee sector has gone overdrive, Munya said.

"Our goal is to sort out governance challenges in the coffee sub-sector by reorganizing cooperatives and the auction market to ensure there is transparency and accountability," he said.

The government has finalized the legal process of setting up a revolving fund to bail out coffee farmers amid challenges like market volatility, pests, diseases and negative impacts of climate change, Munya said.

"The government will also procure and distribute subsidized fertilizer to coffee farmers to boost yields. We will also refurbish warehouses to improve the storage of coffee beans and reduce post-harvest losses," he said.

Kenya aims to boost coffee output from the current 40,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons.

President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019 announced the establishment of a 30 million dollar revolving fund to cushion more than 700,000 small-holder coffee farmers from bottlenecks like delayed payments and high cost of production.
At least one American has died and dozens more have tested positive for coronavirus after the fiasco repatriation that saw over 350 passengers from the infected Costa Luminosa cruise ship flown to the US before being allowed to disperse across the country.

Passengers have since described the ordeal as 'a suicide mission' after they were stranded for days on the ship after being exposed to coronavirus and then flown back to the US on a charter flight that had three people onboard who had tested positive.

Tom Sheehan, a 69-year-old who was hospitalized and tested positive a day after getting off the charter flight and arriving back in his home state of Florida, died last Saturday.

His family said they were forced to say goodbye over a speakerphone because quarantine restrictions prevented them from being by his side at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital where he died.

More than 30 other passengers who were also on the ship and charter flight now say they have tested positive for coronavirus in the two weeks since they have been back on US soil.

Several passengers have indicated they now plan to pursue legal action against the Italian cruise company over the harrowing ordeal amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Costa Luminosa cruise ship Tom Sheehan, who was hospitalized and tested positive COVID-19 a day after getting off the flight and arriving back in his home state of Florida, died last Saturday. He is pictured above with his wife Jill who also tested positive

Some passengers say their ordeals began before the cruise even set off from Fort Lauderdale on March 5 destined for Venice, Italy.

They say they had tried to cancel the trans-Atlantic cruise but the company refused to give them a refund, assuring them it was safe to go three days before the US State Department issued a warning for Americans not to travel on cruise ships.

Just days later, three passengers were removed from the ship in the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico after testing positive for COVID-19.

An Italian woman disembarked in Puerto Rico on March 8 with her husband after she started having breathing problems. The woman and her husband were both hospitalized and later tested positive for coronavirus. The woman has since died.

When the cases came to light, the Costa Luminosa was denied permission to disembark its passengers in some Caribbean ports and Spain after that government decided to close the country's ports to passenger traffic.

The ship spent several days at sea before it was finally granted permission to dock in Marseille, France, under strict quarantine conditions.

The 359 American and Canadian passengers were able to disembark from the ship and were put on the flight from France to the United States.

On the chaotic flight home, some passengers suffered breathing problems, many coughed and several fainted with no food or medical personnel provided, travelers said.

'It was a suicide mission,' said passenger Jenny Harrell, of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 'It was a mass triage with absolutely no direction and the crew going, 'What should we do now?''

Passengers have since described the ordeal as 'a suicide mission' after they were stranded for days on the ship after being exposed to coronavirus and then flown back to the US on a charter flight that had three people onboard who had tested positive

After setting off on March 5 in Florida, three passengers were removed from the ship in the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico after testing positive for COVID-19. Crew members are pictured above delivering food to passengers quarantining on the ship

The ship spent several days at sea before it was finally granted permission to dock in Marseille, France, under strict quarantine conditions. The 359 American and Canadian passengers were able to disembark from the ship and were put on the flight from France to the United States

Decisions were left up to the passengers, said Harrell, who had some emergency medical training in the past and helped a physician who was also among the passengers.

The plane landed at Atlanta's international airport as emergency responders, and health and customs officials deployed to screen them for the coronavirus.

Three people on the flight tested positive for the coronavirus before landing but had no symptoms, US health officials said. Thirteen others were sick but hadn't been tested and one passenger was sent to a local hospital.

Harrell said she isolated two other passengers who were having breathing problems.

One had a chronic lung disease and needed to be hooked to a ventilator. Another passenger had an asthma attack and several others fainted, apparently from low blood sugar levels. Harrell said many travelers were coughing and she helped treat people who had a fever.

'There should have been medical personnel on that flight,' Harrell said.

The ship passengers also complained they were given no food other than orange juice and crackers in more than 24 hours - the time it took to disembark in Marseille, to fly to Atlanta and be cleared by officials.

At one point, Harrell said, the flight attendants handed her the cabin microphone.

'I basically took over the plane,' she said. 'I couldn't even make this up for a movie.'

The plane landed at Atlanta's international airport as emergency responders, and health and customs officials deployed to screen them for the coronavirus. Three people on the flight tested positive for the coronavirus before landing but had no symptoms, US health officials said

The CDC said all passengers were screened and the three passengers who were tested previously and found to be positive for COVID-19 midflight were separated from other passengers

In another instance, the co-pilot asked her and others whether they should land in Bermuda, instead of continuing all the way to Atlanta.

The screening process for the passengers who got on the flight to the US isn't clear, but Harrell said many of the passengers were visibly sick when they boarded the jet.

'They just wanted us to get home so we could be taken care of here,' she said. 'Everybody, basically, on that flight had medical conditions.'

The CDC said all passengers were screened and the three passengers who were tested previously and found to be positive for COVID-19 midflight were separated from other passengers.

Harrell said officials measured their temperatures, but only certain passengers were tested for the virus. She was cleared to fly back home to Virginia where she was told to stay home for 14 days.

Meanwhile in Florida, Tom Sheehan was admitted to hospital a day after arriving back home following the flight after falling ill.

He and his wife Jill, who was also on the cruise, both tested positive for coronavirus.

Tom Sheehan's family (pictured) said they were forced to say goodbye over a speakerphone because quarantine restrictions prevented them from being by his side at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital where he died

According to Sheehan's adult son, Kevin Sheehan, his father and stepmother Jill (above were not told about the virus spreading on board the ship by the time the vessel reached Puerto Rico where an elderly Italian couple disembarked

Sheehan's health drastically deteriorated over the next week as his organs started to shut down.

Due to quarantine restrictions, his family were unable to be by his side when Sheehan drew his last breath, instead, having to say their goodbyes over speakerphone.

Relatives told Sheehan they loved him and thanked him for being a great husband, father and grandfather, the Miami Herald first reported.

According to Sheehan's adult 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 disembarked.

'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 didn't tell them. So they stayed on the ship.'

Sheehan's son said his father, who had a pre-existing respiratory condition, began having trouble breathing while still on the ship.

'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.'

By the time he made it back to Florida, Sheehan was still having trouble breathing and had lost 20 pounds, his family said.

'He was terrified,' his son said. 'In one of his lasts texts to my sister, he said 'if I caught this virus I'm dead.' And he was right.'
Telugu actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, who was last seen in Telugu film Ruler, on Friday announced a donation of 1.25 crore towards coronavirus relief fund.

According to a statement released from the actors side, he has donated 50 lakh each to CM relief funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He has donated 25 lakh towards Corona Crisis Charity for the welfare of cine workers of Telugu filmdom.

Over the last couple of weeks, several Telugu actors have donated to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Baahubali star Prabhas has so far donated 4.5 crore while Pawan Kalyan and Chiranjeevi donated 2 crore and 1 crore, respectively.

Other Telugu actors whove donated include Mahesh Babu, Ram Charan Varun Tej, Ravi Teja, Vishwak Sen, Sai Dharam Tej and Sharwanand among others.

Actor Chiranjeevi is leading from the front on behalf of Telugu film industry to fight against coronavirus pandemic. The lockdown situation while mandatory to deal with the coronavirus, also adversely impacts the lives of daily wage workers and lower income groups in the country including Telugu film industry. Keeping this in mind, I am donating Rs. 1 crore for providing relief to the film workers, Chiranjeevi had tweeted.

Chiranjeevi recently joined hands with his colleagues Akkineni Nagarjuna, Varun Tej and Sai Dharam Tej to record a special song to spread the fight against coronavirus scare.

Also read: Anushka Sharma interrupts Virat Kohlis live chat with Kevin Pietersen: Chalo chalo dinner time

He further revealed they shot the song while staying in their respective homes. The song has been sung and composed by music director Koti. The song highlights the importance of fighting coronavirus by staying home and taking the necessary steps to combat the spread of the virus. The song also talks about the need to kill the virus by fighting together.

On the career front, Balakrishna may be next seen in Telugu remake of recent Malayalam blockbuster, Ayyappanum Koshiyum.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop
The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Centre and other authorities on a PIL seeking a direction to them to provide free of cost testing facility for COVID-19 to all citizens in the country.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta, in a hearing conducted through video conferencing, asked lawyer Shashank Deo Sudhi, who has filed the PIL, to e-mail the copy of his plea to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre.

The bench has now posted the PIL for consideration next week.

Sudhi 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".

The petition has questioned the March 17 advisory of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which capped Rs 4,500 for testing of COVID-19 in private hospitals or labs, including screening and confirmatory tests.

"It is extremely difficult for the common citizen to get himself/herself tested in the government hospital /labs and being no alternative in the sight, the people are constrained to pay the capped amount to the private hospital/labs for protecting their lives," it said.

The plea said the impending danger of coronavirus is extremely serious, given the deprived population of the country, and testing is the only way to contain the pandemic.

It alleged that authorities are "completely insensitive and indifferent" to the plight of common citizens who are already financially burdened on account of complete lockdown across the country.

"Further, the capping of the prices of the testing facility of COVID-19 in private hospitals/labs strikes at the Article 14 of the Constitution of India as being arbitrary and unreasonable," it said and urged that the March 17 advisory be declared arbitrary.

It also sought a direction for ensuring that all tests relating to COVID-19 are conducted under National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) or ICMR accredited pathological labs.

It said ICMR should be directed to hold regular briefings through national TV channels about the current situation on coronavirus and precautions to be taken by the citizens.

The plea also said that authorities must ensure adequate numbers of testing kits and centres for COVID-19 across the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While shoppers are clearing out milk cases at grocery stores, thats not making up for the closings of restaurants and schools. U.S. cows are entering their most productive time of the year right now as coronavirus is killing off a significant tap for demand. While some dumping usually occurs during the U.S. spring, this year it will be even more aggressive, said Alyssa Badger, director of operations at HighGround Dairy in Chicago.
The coronavirus pandemic has united people across the world in an unusual way. The difference between humans and wild animals is their capability to communicate articulately through language. This has been the basis of formation of communities, societies, clusters, states and countries throughout the globe since pre-historic times. But now, a fatal virus seems to be effortlessly multiplying and undoing the creations of man.

For instance, the only way (that research till now has shown) to stop coronavirus from spreading is social distancing, which requires humans to give up their one great social skill. As a result, several countries, including India, have announced a lockdown, shutting down the operations of the entire country, barring essential services such as food, water, medical aid, and money. As of now, Indias economy is running like the engine of a car which has no wheels  it will consume the fuel the tank currently has, but it will almost be impossible for the car to go to the nearest gas station for a refill, the moment the fuel burns out.

On the micro level, industries across the spectrum have been affected adversely, with the exception of Netflix, I suppose. The manufacturing sector is in doldrums with large units shutting down with no labour force to run it. Another sector, which requires the presence of manual labour, is agriculture, and is bound to take a hit with no people to harvest the current Rabi crop, and none to sow the next Kharif crop (in case the lockdown is extended).

Some other sectors, such as IT, Media, Consulting, etc. have asked their employees to work from home. What was once the dream of every disgruntled employee  who has to fit in school pickups, doctor appointments or long commutes around office hours, especially during Mumbais floods or Delhis scorching heat  now seems to be becoming very problematic. Dont believe me?

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

What could possibly be wrong about working in your pyjamas, cutting out traffic blues on Monday, laying back on your couch with your laptop, with a bottle of chilled beer and a bowl of tortilla chips by your side? Precisely that.

I spoke to professionals from various backgrounds and mental health experts to understand the blues of Working from Home (WFH). The idea of a digital nomad may be alluring on the outside, but has many pitfalls:

Working in an opaque bubble

Social distancing has stripped us humans of our fundamental way to interact. For many of us, our work connects us with people from our local, geographical communities. For instance, when you stop commuting, you stop exchanging pleasantries with people across the block, you dont bump into someone in the metro who turns out to be an old friend, and you do not get a scoop of local news from your Uber driver or rickshawale bhaiya. These things might seem silly, but the comfort of an innocent smile from a stranger at the end of a bad day could mean a lot for some people.

The withdrawal of basic interaction makes us work harder to stay connected. It is not as effortless as a coffee break with a colleague at work.

An artist's impression of what isolation feels like. (Image: NW18 graphic)

Beyond the lack of interaction with colleagues, there is no flow of ideas by osmosis, no overhearing, no people thinking out loud. One of the most popular headlines that India remembers today was the result of an exasperated editor thinking out loud during an edit meet, a journalist at a renowned newspaper had once told me.

Although working alone in a room may reduce the interruptions, it is however these interactions which make you multifaceted; otherwise you are a disembodied online avatar delivering its deliverables.

Consequently, the sense of belonging to a community is lost and isolation is rife.

A 30-year-old journalist told me, I miss conversations in these depressing times. Living alone and being locked up with a constant sense of premonition and fear is depressing. In such times, seeing people helps.

Expert advice

When asked about this, Sadia Saeed, Founder and Chief Psychologist, Inner Space Counseling, told Moneycontrol, The situation is unprecedented and obviously, the sense of isolation has set in because suddenly you are not talking face-to-face with people.

Read Also: Mental illness cases rise in India after COVID-19 outbreak

So, the feeling of isolation is natural. And, I feel a good way to work with that is to start building a relationship with yourself. A lot of times, we are so busy in doing our jobs that we just forget to be. We forget who we are, and how to exist freely. We dont even realise that we are collecting so many anxieties under the surface. When we are alone, when we are away from everything, away from our routine, then these anxieties tend to come up to the surface, she added.

As a psychologist, I see this as an opportunity to build a relationship with yourself. It is a good time to begin yoga, or meditation, to look within.

No carrot, only stick?

Another drawback of working from home is the lack of positive reinforcement in the absence of a feedback and encouragement loop. This leads to an unusual pressure to constantly be online or at least appear busy, or otherwise prove youre spending your time in a productive way.

Besides, there is perpetual fear of failure hanging by your shoulder during this time. One mistake, and you risk being labelled complacent by your boss, just because of the notion that you are in a more comfortable and less alert atmosphere.

The lack of feedback from line managers gives remote workers no benchmark to judge their progress and leads to increased feelings of anxiety, with the concern as to whether they were up to standard  especially when the fear of being laid off is looming large with a double-edged sword of the coronavirus lockdown and a battered economy. This, in turn, causes remote workers to question their worth and leads to low self-confidence.

Expert advice:

According to Sadia, while its natural to feel so, communication with your immediate manager is key in such a scenario.

Having more communications with the boss and expressing how you feel, expressing that you miss the feedback is important. Because of WFH, people do have spare time on their hands. So, theyll be open to this conversation. They realise that fear and the sense of missing out is a reality. I am sure people will have a more compassionate response to this also, she said.

Work where you live, live where you work

The difficulty in setting boundaries between work and home has triggered anxiety in many. A primary reason for this is peoples inability to unplug or switch off for the day.

A 26-year-old filmmaker told me, Apps like MS Teams, Slack, WhatsApp can make it seem like your boss and colleagues, sitting kilometres away, are sitting right beside you on your desk or bed. They know where I am at all times, which makes me available to work and answer calls at all times. I cant really call in sick (with all the fear of coronavirus infection floating around). I cant really switch my phone, laptop or even myself off. And in today's competitive times with rigid deadlines and unempathetic bosses, switching off is rarely an option.

Working from home has invaded my place of sanctuary and sanctity, he added.

Read Also: Working from home, IT employees battle job pressures & mental health issues

A study by the Hans Bockler Foundation has shown that working from home leads to increased total hours on the job. Besides, it points out that for mothers, working from home translates to more child care; and for fathers, it means less time spent with the family as a result of additional hours devoted to work. Not only does this take us a step back in dislodging parochial gender roles, it also cuts into the free time of either parent, and may even disrupt their sleep schedule.

A 23-year-old event manager told me, If you are at home, you tend to get involved in what is going on at your home and other chores, which tend to affect productivity.

Expert advice:

For a lot of people, with children and families at home, WFH gets very difficult. People are expected to work from home, but with kids, working is impossible, Sadia said.

When people go to work, they drop their kids at a day-care or a school, and then you go to office, so that compartmentalisation is there, and its easier to work. Now, households are noisier, there is a lot more demand to take care of the daily chores, or take care of the kids, since you are at home. Naturally, its an uncomfortable situation, she added.

Staying at home is not necessarily super-comfortable. And, while we all crib about commuting and other things, we all also like to get out and have a different life. Now, everything has merged into one, she smiled.

However, from a mental health perspective, everything can be used as an opportunity to rebuild certain connections and relationships. Also, if you look at it from another perspective, you probably wont get this kind of time with your parents, or with your children. Who knows until when again? Sadia said.

Out of sight, out of mind?

Another emotion that remote workers feel is lack of trust and the feeling of being left out. According to a study published in Harvard Business Review, 52 percent of the people who worked from home reported that colleagues mistreat them or leave them out.

Specifically, they worry that co-workers say bad things behind their backs, make changes to projects without telling them in advance, lobby against them, and dont fight for their priorities, the study suggested.

Another issue is conflict resolution during work from home. Physical absence leads to absence of body language which makes it tricky to convey the true meaning of your message. As a result, emails can be misinterpreted as being rude or too direct. Issues can fester due to poor communication.

Expert Advice:

On this, Sadia told me, At the moment, even companies are under pressure because the whole work force is suddenly not working its normal hours. Businesses have really taken a hit. So, I feel that its a time to stand as one. Usually, we keep a distance from the company; we feel that we are employees and we have certain rights and privileges. I feel that it is time to re-look at all of that. This is a difficult situation for everybody  people who are working for the company, as well as business owners.

Nobody knows how to manage this well. So, its time to stand by and help each other. Be more communicative. If you are feeling overwhelmed, tell your manager that you feel so, or that your work is eating into your home space; but you also try to stretch a little from your end, she said.

What would help is to communicate better but also have compassion for the whole space because at the moment, everybody is in trouble. Its not like its only a few people, Sadia concluded.

Anxiety, stress, depression  The three pronged fork that bites us

Working from home has confined employees  both young and old  to the four walls of their room. While the young feel that its restricting, the older generation complains of restlessness. How can I start my work without getting ready and wearing my shoes? It just doesnt feel right, a 57-year-old engineer told me, who has had to break a three-decade30-year-long routine of heading out to work at 7 am every day.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old PR consultant, who lives alone in Banaglore, told me that her entire routine revolves around her laptop  from starting the days work, to having her meals in front of the screen, to logging out and tuning into Netflix and even falling asleep next to her laptop. The lack of discipline has paved the way for lethargy to creep in, which affects her productivity.

A 23-year-old research scholar stuck in the university campus hostel told me, "I am locked up inside the cuboid of my hostel room with bricks of books and weeks of time. I am robotically finishing books after books in a strange desperation. Yet, the loneliness hits harshly when I realise that the only object stirring in my room is the ceiling fan and that my lips havent spoken for hours."

"The lesson I learn is that the theories learned need to be tested in the actual world, without which it becomes useless rhetoric. Saints and prophets might like prolonged solitude in the caves to meditate in isolation. But it is definitely not for research scholars," he said in exasperation.

Many people with diverse work backgrounds told me that they were distracted, even disoriented while working from home. Some are still struggling with the anxiety of not being able to manage their time properly.

Expert Advice:

According to Sadia, the problem comes when you keep on asserting that this is my routine and this is my habit.

Any kind of change is stressful. But, what if you look at the change itself as an opportunity to do things differently? Its not easy, but its an opportunity for sure, she said.

See, things around us are changing. But, they will hit us only when we cannot handle those things. So, how about, taking time to increasing our capacity to handle changes, our ability to deal with situations. We dont even know for how long this (lockdown, and consequent WFH) is going to last. This is the ripe time to learn to create more resilience in our system, using practices like meditation and mindfulness, Sadia explained.

Striking the balance

Before the pandemic threw life out of gear and confined people to their homes, employees chose to work from home to get a better work-life balance. Their reason was more autonomy over their time, something which can trigger anxiety, if you dont know what to do with that time.

Good organisation and effective communication skills will help ease the transition into the Work from Home paradigm shift. Besides, designating a space for work at home, as well as setting time and expectation boundaries and abiding by them becomes crucial at this juncture.

Read Also: Five essential work things to help your team thrive during coronavirus lockdown

Self-confidence is key to successful home-based working of any stripe, as is knowing how to communicate clearly (so your distant bosses and colleagues know what you are up to), learning to work consistently (in the absence of feedback you might otherwise receive in an office environment) and, crucially, recognising when you need to go for a walk, work out or otherwise just take a break.

According to the Harvard study mentioned above, The most successful managers are good listeners, communicate trust and respect, inquire about workload and progress without micromanaging, and err on the side of overcommunicating, all while modeling the same behaviors for others on the team.

For people with mental health history

If you struggle with depression, for example, working from home has the potential to exacerbate feelings of isolation and perpetuate inactivity.

To this, Sadia told me, Mental health professionals are available for online sessions, if they are not available offline. Please use this opportunity to take a session. Now that you are at home, take time out to see counsellors and therapists online. Usually, when you are not at home and you are working, its not easy to get appointments.

This is the time to take help, because help is available, its not absent. Technology is really a help during this time, she said.

Remember, surviving a pandemic is an achievement by itself. You are not just working from home, you are attempting to work through a pandemic, which holds enough substance. Your productivity needn't be quantitative in such a case.
Childcare sector leaders have moved to assure the vast majority of centres they will be looked after by the government's sweeping COVID-19 relief package, which was designed to keep the threatened sector afloat but could leave some services significantly worse off.

The package will provide fee-free childcare for families and entirely replace the regular funding system. While the sector has broadly welcomed the bid to keep open as many of Australia's 13,000 centres as possible, it has triggered concerns for some more successful operators and those run by local councils.

Kim Russell, owner of Pooh Bear's House childcare in Croydon North, says the changes to childcare funding will leave her $40,000 worse off every fortnight. Credit:Jason South

Thousands of centres have been at risk of collapse with enrolments plummeting during the pandemic and almost 300 had already closed their doors. But some that had maintained high enrolment levels amid the crisis  preserving their revenue from parents' fees and government subsidies  have hit out at the package for putting a major hole in their budgets.

Under the system starting on Monday, centres will be paid 50 per cent of their fee revenue or 50 per cent of the subsidy hourly rate cap, whichever is lower. The calculation will be based on enrolment levels before the mass exodus of children at the start of March. The funding will only be available for centres that stay open and do not charge fees.
In a case one judge called heart-wrenching, a federal appeals court has ruled that an Ohio school district and several school employees cannot be held liable under the U.S. Constitution for a 5th-graders sexual assault of a kindergartner on a school bus. The older student had been required to sit near the younger child at the front of the bus, ostensibly to be in closer view of the bus driver, after a past discipline incident.

A federal constitutional claim for state-created danger is available only in rare circumstances involving what the Supreme Court has described as truly egregious and outrageous conduct, but the conduct of the school employees in this case does not meet that high bar, said a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, in Cincinnati.

The Constitution does not empower federal judges to remedy every situation we find heart-wrenching, the appeals court said in its April 1 decision in Doe v. Jackson Local School District .

The case was brought by the parents of the kindergarten girl identified in court papers as Minor Doe. On her schoolbus, she and other younger students sat in the front, while older elementary students sat in the back. In September 2016, the 5th grader identified in court papers as C.T. lit a match and threw it over the head of another student and out the window.

C.T. faced discipline for the incident which included being assigned to the front row of the bus, next to a kindergarten boy. Doe sat alone on the afternoon ride home in the seat directly behind the bus driver, which hampered the drivers visibility, court papers say.

In November 2016, Doe informed her parents that C.T. had moved across the aisle to her seat and did something really gross to her. The opinion says C.T. forced Doe to perform an unspecified sexual act several times.

Does parents reported the assault to the police and to school officials. Bus video footage confirmed the assault, and C.T. was immediately suspended, was later expelled, and later pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition.

The Does sued the Jackson Local district along with the principal, three other administrators, and the bus driver, alleging they violated the girls 14th Amendment right to substantive due process by failing to prevent C.T.'s sexual assault.

A trial court issued summary judgment to the defendants, ruling that the district and employees were not culpable for the assault because they did not act with deliberate indifference. Even if the defendants were culpable, the Does could not recover damages unless they could show that a constitutional violation was the result of a policy or custom. That is the standard required for municipal liability under a 1978 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Monell v. New York City Department of Social Services .

On appeal to the 6th Circuit, the Does challenged only the ruling that the defendants did not act with deliberate indifference. The appeals court analyzed the appeal under the Supreme Courts 1989 decision in DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services , which held that social workers did not violate due process when they negligently failed to prevent a father from abusing his son.

The appeals court said that several past discipline incidents involving C.T., including lying and bullying besides match-lighting, were insufficient to put officials on notice that the boy might commit a sexual assault. And the response to C.T.'s match-lightingmoving him to the front of the buswas designed to keep him in closer supervision.

The principal chose a discipline that, its safe to say, regularly occurs in schools across this country: If a child misbehaves on a bus, the child gets moved to the front of the bus, the court said.

The Constitution simply does not require a school to treat an 11-year-old as a violent sexual predator based on a history of lying, bullying, or playing with matches, the court concluded. While C.T.'s sexual assault of Minor Doe undoubtedly shocks the conscience, the school employees responses to C.T.'s earlier actions do not. And it is their conduct that is at issue here.
I attempted to emphasize a point and used an insensitive example that I realize could be hurtful to members of our community, he said. The point I was making  that majority rule should never suppress the human rights of others  was obscured by the example I used. I regret my choice of words and any harm I unintentionally inflicted on a community I value greatly.
The coronavirus-affected Zaandam cruise ship docked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 2 after being turned away from several American ports amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak on board.

Passengers were due to be screened and cleared for entry by US Customs and Border Protection officers, according to a post by the cruise ships parent company.

Holland America Line reported at least 90 passengers and 143 crew on the Zaandam had presented with influenza-like symptoms.

The ship had been left docked off Panama for several days as many South American ports denied the ship entry, according to reports. Credit: Jon G Becker via Storyful
The famed Instagram personality Corazon Kwamboka recently set tongues wagging after posting a telling photo with fitness trainer Frankie Justgymit.

This sparked reports and speculation that the celebrity fitness trainer had moved on with the bootylicious socialite after his break up with TV presenter and vlogger Maureen Waititu.

The rumors started swirling around even before Corazons post, with the pair being spotted together on several occasions. In fact, our reliable InstagramDCI operatives are informing us that Frankie is always the one driving Kwambokas car whenever they are together.

And after teasing her followers that she was under quarantine with Frankie, Corazon started a Q&A session in which fans, as you would expect, asked if they were a couple.

The socialite was, however, coy with her replies as she continues to leave fans in limbo. In one response, Corazon said they were just chilling.

Asked if she was in a relationship, the booty-famous advocate who gave up on law said: Im living.

Here are some of the receipts.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Friday said the UT administration has been keeping intensive surveillance and has identified hotspots to preempt COVID-19 outbreak but "faced problems due to movement of Tablighi Jamaat" members, a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

Murmu was participating in a video-conference of governors, Lt governors and administrators with President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on COVID-19 response.

"We faced problems because of movement of Tablighi Jamaat," he said.

Murmu, however, assured that the administration is taking care of migrant workers, students and has also set up adequate quarantine centres.

"We are also ensuring food supplies to far-flung areas," he said while responding to a query from the vice president.

Ladakh Lt Governor Radha Krishna Mathur expressed concern over rise in cases due to the return of pilgrims from Iran, where some of them had been infected.

He pointed out that inaccessibility of certain areas and tough terrain make operation rather difficult.

Mathur appreciated the work of voluntary, religious and social organisations in providing help to people in need, the statement said.

Andaman and Nicobar Lt Governor Admiral D K Joshi (Retd) said 10 positive COVID-19 cases were related to Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi.

At least 9,000 people had participated at a congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz last month after which many have travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works.

So far, around 400 COVID-19 positive cases and about 12 deaths in the country were found to have links with the Nizamuddin Markaz.

"All those who participated in Tablighi Jamaat event are quarantined after identifying them," Joshi said.

Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikey said the state government had launched a comprehensive strategy to check the spread of the disease at the earliest.

Referring to farmers' plights, she said perishable agricultural produces are allowed to be sold in local markets.

Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya said the state had suitably augmented its capacity to meet any situation arising out of the crisis.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel started off by saying that universities and medical colleges are collaborating to devise methods to attend to the patients on war footing.

She also pointed out that online classes for students have begun to enable them to continue with their academic session.

Patel said the state government was cognisant of farmers' problems and initiating measures to help them out.

Intervening in the discussion, the president urged all governors to revive units of the Red Cross Society and take their help.

The vice president urged governors/Lt governors and administrators to spread awareness about the measures initiated by the government in helping farmers in this harvesting season.

He particularly asked Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan to see to it that farmers and landless labourers were given succour in these trying times.

The other governors who gave a briefing about the initiatives in their states include Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik, Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi, Mizoram Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla, the statement said.

Further, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Delhi LG Anil Baijal who had briefed the president and vice-president in first such conference held on March 27, also provided the latest information from their states/UTs, it stated.

Naidu commended governors/Lt governors and administrators for their insightful views and keeping their ears to the ground to ensure the welfare of people.

He extolled doctors and health workers for serving people in face of grave risk and displaying exemplary courage and conviction.

Kovind reiterated that he along with the vice president would always be available for consultation if need arises, the statement added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Venezuelan naval warship named Naiguata used for offshore patrolling was sent to intercept a German-owned vessel, it fired warning shots, rammed several times into the passenger cruise, and accidentally sank itself in the Caribbean Sea with no injuries recorded. Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, an Iranian ally, had reportedly accused the RCGS Resolute cruise ship of terrorism and piracy" and had sought to steer the vessels direction in the sea. The cruise ship was sailing under a Portuguese flag, with no passengers, and was detected with a reinforced hull that withstood it through iceberg infested water, according to the statement released.

The incident occurred at 13 nautical miles on the coast of Isla de Tortuga, a Venezuelan island. The warship Naiguata reportedly issued warnings to Resolute of violation of Venezuelan territorial waters and commanded it to follow the war vessel to the Venezuela port of Puerto Moreno. The cruise liner halted on the pretext of consultation with the home office, in no time, the naval vessel started firing at the cruise ship and rammed it several times not realizing the ships hull wasnt ordinary. Because the hull of the cruise was stronger than average, the GC-23 Naiguata wrecked after the collision and perished in the sea.

Read: Coronavirus: WHO Team To Visit Rajasthan's Tonk District

Read: Coronavirus Claims 53,218 Lives Worldwide, Total Cases Cross 1 Million

Ship's actions cowardly and criminal

Columbia Cruise Services, operators of the Resolute, described the ships hull as high-density steel plating efficient to sail in ice-laden large waters on the official website. They asserted in a statement that the armed Venezuelan Navy attacked the ship when it was in process of confirmation with the operators about the deviation of the planned voyage. The naval officers in the warship resorted to shooting at the cruises starboard side and ramming it repeatedly. However, the ship sustained severe damage due to its seaworthiness, the statement read. An operator at Resolute said in the press briefing that after contacting maritime rescue authorities in Curacao, the ship waited on the scene for one hour, and got underway for Willemstad when MRCC Curacao released it.

The government of Venezuela, however, accused the ship of departing the scene without orders and regretted the loss of its patrol vessel. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in a statement that Resolutes actions were cowardly and criminal. He said that the cruise did not attend to the naval crew, which is a breach of the international regulations of the rescue of life at sea protocols. "We ask for the greater collaboration of the maritime, civil, police and military authorities of Curacao and we will maintain coordination," said Maduro in the statement.

Read: China To Observe April 4 As Mourning Day For Coronavirus Victims

Read: One More Tests Positive For Coronavirus In Goa; Tally Now 6
With fresh cases of novel coronavirus mounting by the day, concerns over a looming economic recession kept investors on the edge

Mumbai: Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled 674 points on Friday, weighed by losses in banking stocks as unabated spike in new Covid-19 cases fuelled uncertainty over the economic impact of the pandemic.

After hitting a low of 27,500.79 during the day, the 30-share BSE barometer ended 674.36 points or 2.39 per cent lower at 27,590.95.

The NSE Nifty shed 170 points, or 2.06 per cent, to finish at 8,083.80.

Axis Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack, cracking over 9 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, Titan, SBI, Maruti, HDFC and Asian Paints.

On the other hand, Sun Pharma, ITC, ONGC, M&M and Tech Mahindra were among the gainers.

With fresh cases of novel coronavirus mounting by the day, concerns over a looming economic recession kept investors on the edge, traders said.

The Asian Development Bank warned on Friday that the Covid-19 pandemic could cost the global economy USD 4.1 trillion as it ravages United States, Europe and other major economies.

It also said that India's economic growth rate will slip to 4 per cent in the current fiscal.

The number of Covid-19 cases in India has crossed 2,300 while the death toll rose to 56, according to the Health Ministry.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has soared past one million and fatalities have topped 50,000 as the US reported the highest daily death toll of any country so far.
China Probes Alleged Fraud at Luckin Coffee, Banks Review IPO Work

HONG KONG/BEIJINGChinas securities regulator said on April 3 it would investigate claims of fraud at Luckin Coffee Inc., and sources said some of the banks involved in the Chinese chains successful U.S. IPO last year were reviewing their work in the listing.

Shares of Luckin, which competes in China with Starbucks Corp, sank as much as 81 percent on Thursday in New York after it announced an internal investigation had shown its chief operating officer and other employees fabricated sales deals.

The company said it had suspended COO Jian Liu and employees reporting to him, following initial recommendations from a special committee that was appointed to investigate issues in its financial statements for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2019.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said on Friday it would investigate the case in line with any international investigation and strongly condemned any financial misconduct.

Regardless of the listing location, listed companies should strictly abide by laws and regulations in relevant markets, and fulfill obligations to make truthful, accurate and complete disclosures, the regulator said.

Luckin did not respond to a request for comment on CSRCs observations.

At least two of the four banks which led Luckins initial public offering (IPO) in May last year have begun reviewing their work for the float, according to four sources with knowledge of the scrutiny.

China International Capital Corp (CICC) and Morgan Stanley have begun informal investigations into the due diligence they did for the deal, according to the four sources.

The two, along with Credit Suisse and Haitong International Securities, led Luckins IPO, in which it raised $561 million at $17 per share, valuing the group at about $4.2 billion.

The four banks also worked on a follow-on share sale and a convertible bond worth a total of $980 million in January.

CICC, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, and Haitong declined to comment.

Luckins shares tumbled to $6.40 by the end of Thursday trading from $26.20 at Wednesdays close, wiping out about $5 billion in market capitalization.

China Chill

Bankers and investors warned on Friday that Luckins issues were likely to weigh on other Chinese companies considering a U.S. IPOa group already affected by the trade tensions of 2019.

In September, sources told Reuters the U.S. government was considering delisting Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges, echoing efforts by lawmakers last June to force U.S.-listed Chinese companies to submit to greater regulatory oversight or face delisting.

It will affect potential U.S. IPOs from China. Chinas economy is not doing well already, and with Luckins scandal these companies will face much tighter scrutiny for going public, said a banker who specializes in tech firms fundraisings, including IPOs.

Luckin said on Thursday that its investigation had found that fabricated sales from the second quarter of 2019 to the fourth were worth about 2.2 billion yuan ($310 million).

That equates to about 40 percent of the annual sales projected by analysts, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

Liu has been the COO of the company since May 2018. He could not be immediately reached for comment.

Founded in June 2017, Luckin had been one of Chinas few successful IPOs in New York last year, with a number of prominent U.S. investors, including hedge funds, investing in the companys shares.

Like others in the industry, the company has been hit hard by the coronavirus epidemic. In late January, it was forced to temporarily close an estimated 200 coffee shops in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.

By Zoey Zhang and Julie Zhu
S top me if youve heard this one before. Two men with masks walk into a bank, and one of them says: Dont worry, its JUST a robbery. Or this one: I bet the makers of sanitising gel are rubbing their hands together right now. Heres one for the biologists in the room: two bacteria walk into a bar, and the barman tells them to get out. But we work here, says one bacterium, were staph. That one deserves to go viral. I know, sorry

I cant take credit for the authorship or the quality of these jokes, and I cant even claim that, in the middle of a pandemic, they are in good taste. But I can say that jokes have been one of my chief forms of solace during Londons lockdown. Not clever memes or elaborately staged Tiktok spoofs, though they are fun too, but pure and simple jokes.

Theres something beautiful in the democratic, shareable nature of a joke, and an elegant simplicity to its basic setup-and-payoff structure. True, a Joe Wicks YouTube workout might get your endorphins pumping, and completing Hilary Mantels The Mirror and the Light in three days flat might fill you with a smug sense of intellectual endeavour. But you cant beat the swift, cathartic serotonin hit of a belly laugh triggered by a good gag well told.

Ive loved jokes, silly or smutty, Dadaist or daddish, since I was a boy, but for years they were seen as a low form of wit. For the bright new alternative comedians of the 80s and 90s, with their explicitly political or surreal patter, telling jokes was an old-fashioned endeavour, a throwback to working mens clubs and TV variety shows. Years later, these young blades would pay tribute to the professionalism and sheer joy that the likes of Bob Monkhouse, Les Dawson, even Jimmy Tarbuck, brought to their gags.

For non-comedians, telling jokes was a paradoxically sad thing to do. A sign of oafish common-room self-regard or an expression of a desperate desire to be liked, always accompanied by a hollow, debunking drumroll and cymbal clash: badoom-tss. At a party once a friend introduced me with the words: This is Nick, he tells cracker jokes. I was annihilated.

Salvation for the joke came partly from the boom in TV panel shows but also from social media. I remember Tim Vines quickfire one-liners, pure haikus of comedy, circulating on Facebook, often wrongly credited to Tommy Cooper. And Twitter has proved the perfect vehicle for the succinct, well-crafted gag, as well as for trolls and bots. Last week writer David Quantick set running the hashtag #nationalpunchlinedatabase and the payoffs poured in from all corners of the net. For joke connoisseurs, this was like the quick-hit equivalent of crack cocaine.
Queen Elizabeth will make an extremely rare address to the nation on Sunday as Britain grapples with the increasingly deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The government has put Britain into a virtual lockdown, closing pubs, restaurants and nearly all shops, while banning social gatherings and ordering Britons to stay at home unless it is absolutely essential to venture out.

The measures are intended to stop the spread of the epidemic with officials saying on Friday the death toll in the United Kingdom among those who had tested positive for the virus had risen by 684 to 3,605, up 23% on the previous day.

"Her Majesty The Queen has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus outbreak," Buckingham Palace said in statement, without giving any details about its

content.

The address, which was recorded at Windsor Castle where the 93-year-old monarch is staying with her husband Prince Philip, will be broadcast at 1900 GMT on Sunday, it said.

Last month, the queen issued a written statement in which she said the royal family would play its part in rising to the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak.

"We know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty," she said then.

"We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them."

The queen rarely broadcasts to the nation apart from her annual televised Christmas Day message, usually to offer personal thanks or provide reassurance in times of crisis.

Royal experts said it would be only the fifth such televised address she had made during her 68 years on the throne.

The last was in 2012 following celebrations to mark her 60th year as queen which came a decade after the preceding broadcast which followed the death of her mother, the Queen Mother, in 2002 when she thanked Britons for their messages of condolence.

She also gave an address at the start of the Gulf War in 1991, and most famously, she delivered a somber live broadcast after the death of her daughter-in-law Princess Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997 amid a national outpouring of grief and criticism of the royal family's response.
The patients who were declared to have recovered from COVID-19 on April 2 (Photo: VNA)

The 11 patients were treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases.

In the morning the same day, one patient (patient 73) who was treated at the medical centre of Thanh Mien district (Hai Duong northern province) was also said to be free from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

A majority of COVID-19 patients are in a stable condition.

As of 6am on April 2, Vietnam had 222 confirmed COVID cases.
Over the last two weeks, universities have swiftly transitioned to online education in an effort to protect students and faculty from the spread of COVID-19. Most have set dates for their students return, but many have pushed remote education into the summer semesters.

Auburn University is nestled in Alabamas newly declared hot spot for the coronavirus which might explain why it was one of the first universities in the state to push online education farther than the spring commencement.

Here is a list of colleges who have taken the same precautions:

Auburn University

Auburn students planning to take summer courses will spend the first two summer sessions of 2020 remotely. Auburns summer sessions are broken up into three parts. Session one and two delivered through May 20 and June 23 will be online.

The university will release a decision on the third session by June 1, 2020, according to a statement from the university.

Troy University

Troy Universitys classes will begin on May 26 online. Students in the current spring semester will also continue online as the semester comes to a close.

Spring graduates can expect their commencement to align with the summer commencement on July 24, according to the university website.

University of Montevallo

On the basis of compelling national and state data," the University of Montevallo has transferred summer courses to online instruction.

Deans and chairs will be working carefully with faculty to make this transition as successful as possible, according to an email from the university to students.

University of South Alabama

The University of South Alabama will continue courses online as students move into the May and summer courses, according to the university website.

For more information about South Alabamas plans, click here.

Jacksonville State University

The administration at Jacksonville State has decided to hold summer classes online. Campus operations and housing decisions will be announced at a later date, according to the university website.

Alabama State University

Alabama State students will not be returning to campus from summer courses. While we do not know the long-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to make this decision now to give our faculty and students time to adjust their plans, according to the university website.
The Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Ayawaso North constituency, has distributed food items to female head porters popularly referred to as Kayayes.

The PC, Alhaji Manaf Mohammed Osmanu Alidu, made the kind gesture on Thursday at Mamobi, a suburb of Accra in his constituency as part of the efforts to support the less privileged in the country during the lockdown period.

Thursday's donation was the second within a week that the PC has donated relief items as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

He presented veronica buckets, liquid soaps, sanitizers and tissues to various markets, the Kotobabi Police Station, lorry stations and some bases within the Ayawaso North constituency.

Present at the ceremony were Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa, the NPP National Nasara Coordinator, Hussein Mahmud, NPP Ayawaso North Constituency Chairman, Augustine Ofori Gyei, Constituency Secretary, Eliasu Abubakari, Organiser and Adnan Abdullah Ubandiya Baako, Research and Elections Director as well as other constituency executives.

Alhaji Manaf advised the Kayayes to take very good care of themselves during this hard time.

He further cautioned them to frequently wash their hands with soap under running water at all times.

"Ghana needs all of us to be alive and very healthy to contribute our quota towards the socio-economic development of the country."

To that end, Alhaji Manaf Osmanu stressed the need for the people particularly those living in Ayawaso North to always practice healthy and good living.

The NPP Parliamentary hopeful sensitized the female head porters on the importance and the need to abide by the rules and also observe the lock down procedures as stipulated by the government.

"We must all make sure we obey and respect the law and that we must do our best to make the work of the security easier than expected."

Alhaji Manaf admonished the people to desist from flouting the laws of the country during and after the lock down.

He also called on philanthropists, corporate bodies, religious and traditional institutions to support the needy, poor, aged and the less privileged in their respective communities.

Hon. Manaf applauded President Akufo-Addo and the NPP for the efforts put in place so far to contain the pandemic and to also put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society.
 Operational adaptation plan

 Cancellation of proposal to pay the 2019 dividend

 2020 general meeting to be held behind closed doors

Regulatory News:

On 2 April 2020, the Board of Directors of Getlink (Paris:GET) held a meeting chaired by Jacques Gounon to review the action plan presented by General Management in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic with the following objectives:

The protection of employees and customers through altered working arrangements.

Resilience and flexibility of the service, especially with a view to the future end of lockdown.

Management of the Group's cash position.

Adaptation plan

Getlink, after taking a number of measures in March, has decided to put part-time working in place for 2,339 of the Group's French employees as of 1 April and is working on an equivalent scheme for British employees. This decision, which can be reversed, reflects the noticeable drop in passenger traffic compared to the relatively resilient performance of van and truck traffic. As a measure of solidarity, Jacques Gounon has requested that his own salary be reduced whilst this effort is required from employees

The Board of Directors welcomes the flexibility and responsiveness shown by all staff members.

2019 dividend

The Board of Directors of Getlink has decided, as a matter of prudence and in view of the general trend, not to propose at its Annual General Meeting the payment of the 2020 dividend in respect of the 2019 financial year.

The proposed previously announced dividend of 0.41 per share reflected Getlink's sound performance in 2019. The dividend payment would have represented a cash outflow of approximately 225.5 million in May 2020.

With available cash flow of 573 million, the Group would have been in a position to honour its dividend while maintaining sufficient liquidity to service its debt and cope with the current situation. Nevertheless, in a spirit of responsibility towards all Getlink stakeholders, this decision aims to preserve the Group's resources in order to ensure the protection of its employees, maintain business continuity and ensure liquidity against the backdrop of a crisis which is still unfolding. The Group confirms that it could consider additional funding facilities up to 700M in the future if necessary.

Depending on the evolution of the overall situation and the applicable legal and regulatory provisions, the Board of Directors reserves the option of proposing the distribution to shareholders. t, of t an interim dividend on the 2020 results.

General Meeting

The Board of Directors decided that, in accordance with Order no. 2020-321 of 25 March 2020, the General Meeting of 30 April 2020 will exceptionally be held without its shareholders and other persons entitled to attend being physically present, i.e. behind closed doors, as follows:

Shareholders will be able to exercise their right to vote only by remote means and in advance of the General Meeting namely by:

voting by post using the voting form;

voting by internet using the secure Votaccess voting platform used by Getlink; or

granting an authorisation to vote on their behalf ("proxy")

Shareholders are also invited to regularly check the section relating to the 2020 Shareholders' Meeting on the company's website for all information on this subject: the methods of participation will be presented in the notice of meeting brochure and on the Getlink website dedicated to the General Meeting to enable shareholders to find relevant information on the Shareholders' Meeting.

Jacques Gounon, Chairman and CEO of Getlink said: "In this time of Covid-19 crisis, the Group has reacted immediately to ensure the protection of its employees and customers, while maintaining the efficiency of operating services at all times. The Group has taken all necessary steps to maintain financial flexibility and to honour its commitments. Getlink's resilience will enable us to overcome these challenges in the most positive way possible and to further strengthen our position when global business returns to normal."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200402005844/en/

Contacts:

For UK media enquiries contact

John Keefe on 44 (0) 1303 284491

Email: press@getlinkgroup.com

For other media enquiries contact

Anne-Laure Descleves on +33(0)1 4098 0467

For investor enquiries contact:

Jean-Baptiste Roussille on +33 (0)1 40 98 04 81

Email: jean-baptiste.roussille@getlinkgroup.com

Michael Schuller on +44 (0) 1303 288749

Email: Michael.schuller@getlinkgroup.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:29:03|Editor: Yurou

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VIENNA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A customer was shot and seriously wounded in a bank robbery here in the Austrian capital on Friday morning, local media reported.

The incident happened around 10 a.m. on a Bawag (one of the biggest banks in the country) branch in Vienna-Donaustadt, where the perpetrator, wearing a mask, escaped with a bicycle, Austrian Press Agency (APA) reported, quoting police spokesman Paul Eidenberger.

A helicopter and the special unit Cobra were searching for the suspect, who had escaped with an unknown amount of cash, said APA.
People unable to leave home to buy groceries during the coronavirus crisis are being helped by a host of people heralded as angels.

Volunteer shoppers are offering to buy groceries for people living in unusual places such as the small Coochiemudlo Island in Moreton Bay, near Brisbane.

The outbreak of COVID-19 sparked the start of Shopping Angels in the United States and now the initiative is spreading throughout Australia.

From their Gold Coast homes, national co-founders of the group, Julian Corvin and Tara O'Kane, are connecting people in need with those offering to do grocery shopping.

Julian Corvin and Tara O'Kane started the Australian chapter of Shopping Angels in their Gold Coast homes

'It's just a grassroots group of volunteers,' Ms Corvin said.

But they are a creative group, finding a solution even when faced with a delivery to Coochiemudlo, an island home to just 700 people.

'(Residents) don't want outsiders going to the island so we got someone on the mainland to buy the groceries and deliver to the ferry, and then they were picked up on the island,' Ms Corvin told AAP.

Calls for help come from people in isolation or unable to get out and from families concerned about a loved one.

Some just need a few basics to last until they get a delivery from supermarkets that are swamped by demand.

Others are single mums trying to avoid taking their children to the shops or people with a disability whose carers aren't visiting any more.

Ms Corvin and Ms O'Kane spread the word through social media, calling for volunteers to help those in need.

'If someone reaches out we'll try our best to help them,' Ms Corvin says.

Shelves have been stripped bare prompting major supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi to enforce strict rules on how much pasta, toilet paper and flour can be purchased

Volunteers who pay for the groceries and are reimbursed by those making the request.

Contact is only by phone and shoppers leave the grocery deliveries outside people's front doors.

Ms Corvin says she felt totally helpless when news of the coronavirus' impacts broke but the initiative helped her connect with people.

She encouraged people to use the service and volunteer to shop by signing up via the Shopping Angels AUS Facebook page.

'It's a really easy way to help that doesn't take a lot of time,' Ms Corvin said.

Calls for help come from people in isolation or unable to get out and from families concerned about a loved one, according to the women

'It's just a small way to give in your own neighbourhood.'

Supermarkets in Australia have become a battle ground amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Shelves have been stripped bare prompting major supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi to enforce strict rules on how much pasta, toilet paper and flour can be purchased.

Staff and shoppers have been assaulted - including an alleged all-in brawl at a Woolworths in Sydney's west over toilet paper.

Stores have also been forced to stop change-of-mind refunds to reduce panic-buying.

Supermarkets - such as Coles - now has two dedicated shopping hours per week for emergency service and healthcare workers as of March 26.

They are the first hour of trade on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while Monday, Wednesday and Friday remain for seniors to help reduce risks to them.
HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - Deutsche EuroShop AG said it has withdrawn its outlook for 2020, amid the COVID 19 Pandemic. It is not possible to estimate the further course of events or economic impact for 2020. In addition, a 70 million euros agreement was signed as planned on 26 March 2020 to refinance the loans maturing in 2020. In Germany, new law was passed, and has extensive legal and financial support measures for companies affected. It includes temporary special protection against terminating tenants' contracts for non-payment of rent in the period from 1 April to 30 June 2020, where it can be credibly shown that this delay is due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Poland, a law enacted with effect from 1 April 2020 suspends the obligation to pay rent for the closure period. In Hungary, too, the government has announced a plan to provide immediate relief to tenants in terms of rent payments. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Regions three public television stations partner to support families and students during COVID-19 emergency

Owings Mills, MD, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Washington, D.C. region and Maryland public television stations today announced a partnership aimed at supporting the educational needs of families whose children are learning from home during the coronavirus public health emergency.

The At-Home Learning initiative launches on Monday, April 6 on Maryland Public Television (MPT), WETA, and Howard University Television (WHUT). The primary feature of the collaboration is a coordinated schedule of educational programs selected by the stations and available weekdays to viewers free over the air, through cable and satellite providers and, in the case of MPT, on a live stream at mpt.org/livestream

The special broadcast schedule across the three stations consists of 11 daytime hours of educational programs, beginning at 7 a.m. on MPT and continuing throughout the day on all three channels, ending at 6 p.m. on WHUT. The weekly slate of programs is structured to supplement curriculums in three segments, specifically Early Learners (Pre-K through 3rd grade), Middle Grades (4th through 8th grades), and High School (9th through 12 grade). Viewers are encouraged to check their local stations website for weekly schedule updates. Find more scheduling information for At-Home Learning at weta.org, mpt.org, and whut.org.

In conjunction with their broadcast offerings, the stations are making available digital At-Home Learning tools. These online resources  designed for parents, caregivers, teachers, and children  are available at whut.org/home/athomelearning, weta.org/athomelearning, and mpt.org/education.

The regions At-Home Learning service will continue until students in the greater Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. metro area have returned to their classrooms when the coronavirus distancing precautions are relaxed.

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Area families are also encouraged to subscribe to the free PBS KIDS daily newsletter. This new resource is available by visiting pbs.org/parents/pbskidsdaily. The newsletter offers activities and tips parents and guardians can use to help kids play and learn at home.

Educators may also access free digital resources to support at-home instruction by going to pbslearningmedia.org.

All three stations understand that continuity of learning is critical for students during the coronavirus emergency, explained MPT President and CEO Larry D. Unger. This collaboration illustrates the power of public TV to address an emerging need by providing at-home learning resources that support and strengthen families throughout our region.

Education is at the core of the WETA mission, and our stellar programs and resources will well serve our local community, said Sharon Percy Rockefeller, president and CEO of WETA. We are proud to join forces with Maryland Public Television and WHUT to make this important content widely accessible in the National Capital Area.

For more than 40 years, WHUT has served the DC metro area with educational programming and a special emphasis on content and outreach activities for children in underserved communities, said Howard University President, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick. In this unprecedented time, Howard University, WHUT and our regional public broadcasting partners are stepping up efforts through the At-Home Learning initiative to offer more resources for the communities we serve.

At-Home Learning can be found in Maryland and the Washington, D.C.-metro area on the following channels:

MPT  via antenna across Maryland on channels 22.1, 28.1, 31.1, 36.1, 62.1,67.1; Comcast: 22, 810, 812; Cox: 22, 1022; RCN: 22, 612; Fios: 22; 522; Dish Network: 22; 28; Direct TV: 22, 28; Mediacom: 12, 812; Charter: 12, 712; Armstrong: 103, 112. Check your local listings.

WHUT - Comcast: 32, 802 (DC) and 19, 807 (Balt); Cox: 32; Fios: 3, 532; RCN: 23, 611; Dish Network: 8081; Direct TV: 32, 32.1

WETA PBS  via antenna 26.1 and 26.4; Comcast: 26, 220; Cox: 26, 802, 1026; Fios: 26, 471, 526; RCN: 26, 613; Dish Network: 8076

# # #

About MPT

Launched in 1969 and headquartered in Owings Mills, MD, Maryland Public Television is a nonprofit, state-licensed public television network and member of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). MPTs six transmitters cover Maryland plus portions of contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Frequent winner of regional Emmy awards, MPT creates local, regional, and national television shows. Beyond broadcast, MPTs commitment to professional educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through year-round instructional events and the super website Thinkport, which garners in excess of five million page views annually. For more information visit mpt.org.

About WHUT

WHUT-TV, Howard University Television was founded in 1980 in Washington, D.C. as WHMM. At its inception, the station became the first public station in the United States to be licensed and operated by a historically black college and university (HBCU) - Howard University. The station broadcasts reach over 2.5 million households in a 60-mile radius. The station endeavors to underscore Howard University's overall mission in its commitment to excellence in truth and service. More information about WHUT is available at whut.org or by following WHUT on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices.

About WETA

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Passengers - including some from Northern Ireland - on a cruise ship stranded at sea for weeks have been told by the captain that some on board tested positive for Covid-19.

The Coral Princess, blocked from docking in several South American ports, is now on its way to Fort Lauderdale, where the approximately 400 UK citizens, including at least eight from Northern Ireland, are hoping to be flown home from the United States.

Officials in Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, are reported to have reached a deal to allow two other cruise ships to dock near the city. Both are owned by the Carnival Corporation, which also operates the Coral Princess.

Several people have tested positive on one of the ships, the Zaandam, and four have died, although it was confirmed in only two cases that they had the virus. The Coral Princess is due to arrive in Florida tomorrow.

Heather Lynch, from Limavady, who has been on board the ship with her husband David for nearly a month, said passengers have been confined to their cabins since Tuesday afternoon.

Princess Cruises said 19 onboard had been tested with 12 - seven guests and five crew - had tested positive.

"The captain announced... that tests for Covid-19 on board had come back positive," Heather said in a message from on board the ship.

"They gave no indication as to how many people had been tested! He did say that an ill passenger (and his/her spouse) had been taken off the ship at Barbados on Tuesday evening when we stopped for supplies."

She added: "Masks were left in the rack outside our cabin late last night. We are to wear them when out on our balcony and when bringing in our tray of food and leaving it outside our door again."

Heather and David's daughter, Emma, said she was in contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and that a chartered flight is being organised for the UK passengers.

"They confirmed that the ship is expected to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on 4th April. The ship is expected to stay in Fort Lauderdale for two days," Emma said.

"A chartered flight for UK passengers is being organised for between 4th and 6th April by the Foreign Office with British Airways and/or Virgin for anyone not showing symptoms.

"Anyone with symptoms will probably be quarantined and I don't know if they'll get home if they get better."

The family's MP, Gregory Campbell, said his office has been in contact with the Foreign Office over the last number of weeks.

"Hopefully your parents along with the 300/400 UK passengers and indeed all passengers from whatever nationality will find safe return to their countries," the MP said in a message to Emma.

It was announced on March 30 by Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb that the Government has struck a deal with airlines to fly home British travellers.

"The Government will provide up to 75m financial support to enable special charter flights to priority countries, operated by airlines including Virgin, Easyjet, Jet 2 and Titan," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

In a statement, Princes Cruises said: "In response to a reported small cluster of cases of respiratory illness and in an abundance of caution, Coral Princess proactively collected and sent 13 COVID-19 test samples to Barbados on March 31. We can confirm the results yielded 12 positive cases (7 guests and 5 crew)."
JASON REDMOND/Getty

In a country ground to a standstill by the coronavirus pandemic, there is one place normalcy reigns: immigration courts.

Overburdened judges oversee packed proceedings; attorneys shuttle clients and paperwork from room to room, often with interpreters in tow; aspiring legal citizens, or at least residents, follow closely, sitting through hearings famously described as death-penalty cases held in a traffic court.

The courts, along with visa applications, detention hearings and other immigration related bureaucracy, are seemingly the lone part of the federal government still expected to function as if a global pandemic hasnt upended nearly every facet of American life. But those tasked with keeping the machine running say that they have received little guidance about how to keep the system running in the era of social isolation, and even less protection despite fears that immigration proceedings put some of the most vulnerable people in the country in the impossible position of choosing between their health or their home.

The Trump administration has refused to allow immigration courts and visa hearings to comply with the same social isolation standards followed by nearly every other civil aspect of government, and has not allowed for previously scheduled hearings to be postponed. The administration has also issued little in the way of guidance for judges, immigration attorneys or immigrants, whose hearingswhich often take years to scheduledirectly conflict with stay-at-home orders across the county.

The immigration courts refusal to adopt policies that protect the health of respondents, lawyers, judges and immigration court staff during the current pandemic forces immigrant families and their lawyers to make an impossible decision: endanger public health or risk being deported, said Nadia Dahab, senior litigation attorney at Innovation Law Lab, one of half a dozen immigrants-rights groups that on Friday filed an emergency order challenging the operation of immigration courts despite the crisis.

Story continues

We are in the middle of a global pandemic, but the immigration court system is continuing to operate as if its business as usual, said Melissa Crow, senior supervising attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Centers Immigrant Justice Project. The government has turned the court system into a public health hazard.

Is ICEs Risk Tool Sentencing Innocents to COVID-19 Death?

A similar dilemma faces individuals who are up against imminent deadlines to apply for or renew their visas. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has so far declined to extend deadlines for the filing of key documents, putting visa hopefuls in the difficult position of running afoul of shelter-in-place mandates, not to mention risking their own and others health, in order to get everything in on time. Failing to do so could do long-term damage for a persons eligibility for legal residence or put them in another dilemmafiguring out how to get back to another country in a time of unprecedented travel restriction.

These are not trivial issues, said Leon Rodriguez, who ran USCIS during the Obama administration. Theyre not bureaucratic issues. These issues have a lot to do with what a persons future is, their ability to do business, so people are doing what they need to do. Theyre being careful. But right now, people are going to the office where they otherwise wouldn't need to, in an effort to get their fillings done the right way and on time. If were in a national emergency that means its time to protect as many people as we can.

In a Wednesday letter to USCIS acting Director Ken Cuccinelli, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, urged immediate action to extend the deadlines, saying that the failure to do so forces families to take unnecessary risks to their health and the health of our communities.

I would hope now, if ever, this administration would find some compassion and patience to serve the totality of the people of this country, Pocan said in a statement to The Daily Beast.

The Trump administration has eased up some visa procedures; current biometrics, like a fingerprint scan, are no longer required for applicants on account of health concerns. USCIS is also implementing a 60-day extension for individuals to respond to some items, like requests for additional evidence to support an application. But the agency is still urging applicants to submit information on time and in accordance with existing instructions so as to prevent a lapse in immigration status.

A spokesperson for USCIS said: We continue to monitor this evolving pandemic and remain prepared to take necessary steps in order to protect the health and safety of our employees, applicants and the nation.

But the apparent reluctance to take additional stepsor the failure to provide specific guidance in some casesstands in stark contrast to swift action from the Trump administration to, for example, push back Tax Day or extend Securities and Exchange Commission filing deadlines. To immigrants and their advocates, the evident lack of concern for those who are put at risk by the lack of uniform social distancing in immigration proceedings is just the latest in a long line of indignities.

For whatever reason, USCIS has become an outlier, said Jesse Bless, director of federal litigation for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Every federal agency is stopping time, and yet USCIS, who may have the largest population of people they serve, they have said its business as usual.

What little guidance there has been has largely put the onus of properly preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus on immigration judgesalready the sacrificial lamb of the American immigration system. Last Wednesday, Executive Office of Immigration Review Director James McHenry issued a policy memo saying that it was effectively up to individual judges to make the decision to allow attorneys to appear by phone for proceedings and reduce the number of attendees on a case-by-case basis, and allowingbut not requiringjudges to wave the presence of undocumented immigrants during proceedings and to conduct hearings by teleconference.

Immigration proceedings, the National Association of Immigration Judges said in response, are an epidemiologists worst nightmare for coronavirus transmission, with judges and court staff working shoulder-to-shoulder, interpreters flying around the country to attend different proceedings, and people in immigration detention being moved in large groups with almost zero chance of proper social distance. The analogue nature of the paper-based immigration court system, too, makes the risk of transmission of infectious disease particularly acute.

EOIRs refusal to close detained courts causes a cascade of social interaction that puts all of us at risk, the union said in a statement. The immigration courts are in the midst of a crisis created by EOIR.

One member stated that the crisis demonstrates that the office needs to be gutted and rebuilt from the ashes.

I've never witnessed an utter lack of concern for people like I have here, the judge said. In my former life, we treated captured Taliban and ISIS with more humanity. Moreover, Ive never seen worse leadership. A crisis usually brings good and bad to the light. We have nothing but darkness.

According to immigration advocates, the guidance actually heightens the risk of infection for migrants, as well as their families, attorneys, and the immigration judges presiding over the proceedings.

McHenry should reinstate previously rescinded guidelines for telephonic appearances and allow all advocates to appear telephonically for court, said Laura Rivera, director of the Southern Poverty Law Centers Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative.

Democratic lawmakers say they are keeping close watch on the situation. Coronavirus has exposed how the most vulnerable experience the most injustice during a crisis, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus told The Daily Beast. Instead of listening to CDC guidelines on social distancing, and state and local stay-at-home orders, several immigration courts remain open. This is not only risking the lives of judges, attorneys, and immigrants, but also their loved ones and entire communities.

Immigration lawyers describe a similarly difficult and muddled situation for those who are attempting to apply for visas or get them renewed. Thousands of foreign nationals currently in the U.S. will see their legal status expire in coming months, and making those deadlines requires individuals to be in close cooperation with lawyers, as well as workplace H.R. departments, to navigate a complicated and paper-intensive process.

That USCIS has not yet extended key deadlines due to the coronavirus emergency forces a set of difficult choices on applicants and their lawyers. Attorneys, said AILAs Bless, are in a Catch-22: meeting their clients in person and gathering evidence may help them make a deadline, but it also puts them in violation of shelter-in-place mandates in effect in many statesand risks spreading the virus.

And if applicants, meanwhile, miss deadlines while remaining in the U.S., it can negatively impact their eligibility for legal status down the road. But leaving the country is currently difficult, not to mention dangerous.

From a practical standpoint, how can individuals protect themselves when they cant leave the U.S. and they can't file applications and get evidence to their employer or attorney right now? asked Bless. Whether youre an attorney or an individual, the USCIS position is, if nothing else, ramping up and contributing to what is a once in a lifetime stressful situation.

The agencys decision to waive the need for new biometricsand its decision to extend deadlines on some forms of documentationhas been interpreted by advocates as a signal that the administration is aware of the new problems the COVID-19 outbreak is posing for their normal functioning. USCIS has halted all face-to-face engagement with applicants at their offices through at least May 3.

Some watchdogs are anticipating that USCIS will end up leaning on existing exceptions for natural catastrophes and other extreme situations to provide wiggle room to migrants on a case-by-case basis, according to a congressional source.

But advocates are baffled that isnt translating into a broader extension for the many people impacted by the public health emergency. Rodriguez, the former USCIS director, told The Daily Beast that the administration doesnt have to do anything magical to make this happen.

They have legal tools to do it, Rodriguez said. Id think that a global pandemic is an extraordinary circumstanceprobably one of most compelling I can think of.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-04 04:01:22|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday that his country is ready to provide Italy with the possible support to confront the coronavirus pandemic.

Sisi's remarks came during a phone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, said Bassam Rady, spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency, in a statement.

During the phone call, Sisi highlighted Egypt's solidarity with the government and people of Italy, expressing readiness to provide the possible support through the exchange of experience and coordination between health care providers in the two countries.

For his part, the Italian prime minister expressed his sincere appreciation for the Egyptian support which reflects the depth of historical relations between the two countries.

He noted Italy's intention to enhance cooperation between the two countries to combat the novel coronavirus.

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 14,681 lives in Italy. The number of confirmed cases, including fatalities and recoveries, totalled 119,827 on Friday.

In Egypt, a country with a population of 100 million people, 985 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, including 66 deaths.
The Ruby Princess issued an urgent mayday call for an ambulance for two of its passengers presenting with coronavirus-like symptoms 24 hours before the ship was allowed to dock in Sydney.

The cruise ship was controversially allowed to unload thousands of passengers at Sydney Harbour last month, despite the government having announced a 30-day ban on cruise arrivals just the day before.

More than 600 of its passengers have since tested positive for COVID-19, a significant amount of NSW total of 2,389 positive cases, and seven passengers have died.

Emails have revealed NSW Health knew of the coronavirus risk on-board the cruise ship before allowing its passengers to disembark.

The emails come as an investigation gets underway into the Ruby Princess fiasco, which saw the two Australian passengers who were presenting signs of 'upper respiratory tract infections' leave the ship before their test results were known.

The debacle parked a bitter dispute between the Australian Border Force and the NSW Health Department over who is to blame game for the security blunder.

Cruise ship passengers disembark from the Princess Cruises owned Ruby Princess at Circular Quay in Sydney, Thursday, March 19, 2020

A Ruby Princess Passenger required medical attention and medics boarded the ship to take him to hospital

The email chain shows that two days before the cruise ship was due to arrive in Circular Quay, on March 17, NSW Health sent an email to the doctor on board asking if there were any passengers who were showing coronavirus symptoms.

'A list of passengers and crew presenting with fever or acute respiratory symptoms or both,' the email read.

'And list of any planned medical disembarkation.'

The doctor replied to NSW Health on March 18 at 9.39am - almost 24-hours before arriving in Sydney - confirming there were two passengers who needed urgent attention.

The male and female passengers who were both Australians were noted to have 'no travel history of significance outside of NSW and New Zealand'.

'They have upper respiratory tract infections and an ambulance transfer required.'

The ship's doctor also noted that they had collected 15 viral swabs which all tested negative for influenza.

The Ruby Princess cruise ship departs the Overseas Passenger terminal in Circular Quay on March 19, 2020

Later that day, at 5.07pm, NSW Health informed the doctor on-board that the passengers would be free to get off the next day.

'The NSW Health expert panel has assessed the Ruby Princess as NOT requiring on board health assessment in Sydney,' the email read.

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 would however ask you to send the 15 samples to our lab for COVID testing...'

'You are free to disembark tomorrow.'

The horrific decision to allow passengers off the Ruby Princess later saw seven die from the killer virus with 300 testing positive for COVID-19.

The fiasco saw both NSW Health and the Australian Border Force blame each other for the failings.

According to The Australian, Premier Gladys Berejiklian had told a party-room meeting of Liberals that the Australian 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, which also reported that a a second MP had described Ms Berejiklian's response as an 'a**e-covering exercise'.

Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram told reporters on Wednesday that the ABF and NSW Health have to work together closely to make sure things don't fall through cracks.

'The decision to allow [passengers] off in relation to the health and bio security issue was one of the New South Wales Health. Did they fail? I'm not here to apportion blame, we are all here together in Australia,' he said.

The Ruby Princess accounts for most of NSW's positive coronavirus cases

Passengers disembark from the Ruby Princess at Overseas Passenger Terminal on February 08, 2020 in Sydney

'People can make their own minds up about what went wrong and no doubt further down the track there will be lots of inquiries about what happened.'

However, the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force said NSW Health was to blame.

ABF Commissioner Michael Outram made clear that his officers are responsible for checking passengers' visas and also making sure no contraband enters Australia.

He said it is not the role of police officers to check passengers' health.

Mr Outram said NSW Health decided, after consulting with the ship's doctor, that the vessel did not require an on-board inspection.

The ship is currently floating off Sydney, with the 1,000 crew sick in isolation, waiting for their test results and for treatment in NSW Hospitals.

Staff from Aspen Medical and NSW Health boarded the Ruby Princess cruise ship on Thursday afternoon to test and treat sick crew members.

'If there is a couple of hundred people infected and they can't handle anymore then we will have to deal with that,' NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters on Friday.

Authorities are concerned infected crew could overwhelm NSW hospitals if even a small proportion have the virus.

Passengers disembark from the Ruby Princess at Overseas Passenger Terminal on February 08, 2020 in Sydney

The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in NSW has reached 2,389, with 91 new cases in the past 24 hours.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Mr Fuller will lead an investigation into the Ruby Princess fiasco.

'I'll let the police commissioner get to the bottom of it. I don't think it helps anybody to point fingers and play the blame game,' she told reporters on Friday.

'Let him do his investigations and let him tell us who is responsible.'

Mr Fuller has in recent days urged cruise ships floating off the coast of NSW to go home rather than risk flooding the state with new infections.

Two Carnival ships are currently on their way out of NSW and five Royal Caribbean ships will refuel in Sydney before leaving on Sunday.

On Friday, Australian authorities announced they will not unleash a wave of COVID-19-positive people into the country, burdening local health services that are already scrambling to increase capacity.

'We have issued notices to all of these ships to leave Australian waters,' Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram told media.

'If ever there was a time, I think, for ships to go back to where they're registered, it's probably during a time of a global pandemic like this.'
The plight of the department has reached Washington. The White House, responding to what an official described on Thursday as an urgent S.O.S. from the Police Department, arranged shipments of 4,000 Tyvek suits for homicide detectives processing suspected Covid-19 deaths and 6,000 gallons of hand sanitizer.

In New York, security officers have been posted outside precincts to screen people entering in an effort to minimize foot traffic, and face masks are being used inside some precinct station houses. Some commanders have moved their daily roll calls outdoors so that officers can spread out. Officers on patrol are carrying N95 masks to pop on if they feel endangered.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has promised to send state police, if necessary, to fill in for sick officers, but Commissioner Shea has declined the offer for now. He has also said he does not see a need, yet, to ask officers to work 12-hour tours to cover staff shortages.

While paramedics were responding to a record surge in emergency calls, Commissioner Shea said the calls funneled to police were down. There have also been no parades or large gatherings.

Since the city imposed emergency rules, reports of the seven most serious crimes  including rape, robbery and assault  have dropped to about 187 a day, compared with about 267 a day in the 11 days before the rules went into effect. Nobodys on street and thats really helping us, Mr. Shea has said.

But at the same time, nearly 700 officers have been assigned to enforce Mayor Bill de Blasios new social-distancing rules. That has pulled officers from specialized assignments, like film and narcotics, onto patrol.

The nature of police work and the officers lack of training in public health puts them at a greater risk of contracting the virus, researchers say. So far, almost 4 percent of the force has tested positive, and the number increased sevenfold last week.
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Trump threw a fit during the coronavirus briefing because there are plans for a bipartisan investigation into his response after the pandemic.

Trump said:

I want to remind everyone here in our nations capital, especially in congress that this is not the time for politics, endless, partisan investigation, here we go again. Have already done extraordinary damage to our country in recent you see what happens. Its witch hunt after witch hunt after witch hunt. And in the end, the people doing the witch hunt have been losing. And theyve been losing by a lot. Its not any time for witch hunts. Its time to get this enemy defeated, conducting these partisan investigations in the middle of a pandemic is a really big waste of vital resources, time, attention.

And we want to fight for American lives, not waste time and build up my poll numbers, because thats all theyre doing. Everyone knows its ridiculous. We want to focus on the people of this country, even the people of the world. Were going to be able to help them, because right now as an example, were building so many ventilators. Very, very hard to build. But were building thousands, thousands of them.

Video:

Trump loses it and starts ranting about witch hunts over plans for a 9/11 style commission to investigate the coronavirus response. pic.twitter.com/vmE15vPwf6  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 2, 2020

The investigation that is being discussed will not take place until the coronavirus is under control. Trump was lying. An investigation while the pandemic is unfolding has not been discussed. Congress is discussing a 9/11 style commission to investigate the government response in order to prevent this situation from ever happening again.

Trumps response has been so poor and negligent that he does deserve to be investigated for this, but that time is not now.

Donald Trump is pretending to be a wartime president, but he couldnt go a week without ranting about witch hunts.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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Modern retail channels have been invading the domain of traditional markets.

I buy nearly everything I need here. After making payment, I will buy some special things at the traditional market on the other side of the road, Quynh Trang told reporters m'at a convenience store in front of Hiep Binh Chanh Market in Thu Duc district, HCM City.

Traditional markets and convenience stores compete for buyers





Trang explained that shopping at convenience store is good for office workers who are always busy.



Analysts say that consumers are restructuring their shopping behaviors and traditional markets have been put in a disadvantageous position when competing with modern retail channels.



In HCM City, hundreds of traditional markets are under threat because of the strong rise of modern retail channels. Modern shops are not only seen on large streets, but have appeared in every residential quarter and small alley.

In 2018 and 2019, the market witnessed the opening of hundreds of new convenience stores and supermarkets to satisfy the increasingly high demand throughout the country.

In 2018 and 2019, the market witnessed the opening of hundreds of new convenience stores and supermarkets to satisfy the increasingly high demand throughout the country.



There are more than 3,000 convenience stores, twice as many as two years ago, more than 8,000 traditional markets and 2.2 million retail households. The figures show that traditional markets are still dominating the retail market. However, its clear that modern retail points have been rising rapidly and scrambling for many customers from traditional markets.



Dang Thanh Phong from The Gioi Di Dong JSC, the owner of Bach Hoa Xanh supermarket chain, said the retailer has been setting up many Bach Hoa Xanh shops next to traditional markets, because it wants to approach housewives and consumers.



In order to attract consumers, Bach Hoa Xanh sells essential goods, which are the major products of traditional markets, such as food (vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, eggs and milk) and cosmetics.



Bach Hoa Xanh has 1,000 shops in HCM City and neighboring provinces, mostly located in the areas where there are traditional markets, suburban areas and residential quarters. The retailer plans to open 800-900 more Bach Hoa Xanh shops in the central to the southern regions.



Reports show that 70 percent of consumers still buy essential goods at traditional markets.



Nguyen Van Troi Market shows how a traditional market is "attacked" by modern retail channels. A Vissan supermarket and a CoopFood shops are located in front of it, while a Bsmart shop is on the other side of the street. Just 500 meters away from the market, there is another CoopFood shop which has just opened. A Circle K is seen on Tran Huy Lieu street, which is also near the market.

Kim Chi

Supermarket shelves empty as people avoid going out Several supermarkets in Hanoi have run out of food as local people rush to stockpile products amid rising fear of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has indicated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was under a 14-day observation after his recent trip from Norway, hence the delay of his Coronavirus test.



According to him, the president was immediately tested for the virus by his doctors, after the introduction of enhanced testing, which was adopted by the government.



He told Citi News that, Akufo-Addo wasnt tested when he came back a day before his birthday was when the enhance testing programme etc had startedAt first, what we were doing was just observation, we were not doing this aggressive testing, as we have started that is how come the president and his close associates, secretariat staff, etc have been tested."



Dr Patrina Tekyi-Ankrah, the president's physician told the media in Accra that, the president's results, as well as his immediate family and members of his secretariat, were negative for coronavirus.



Ghana's coronavirus case has increased to 204 as of Thursday, April 2, 2020.



Deaths toll remain five across the affected five regions - Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions.

Source: GNA









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Disney on Friday launched its streaming service Disney Plus (Disney+) in India via Hotstar, a popular on-demand video platform, at a starting price of Rs 399 a year.

The subscribers of the revamped streaming service, now called Disney+ Hotstar, will get access to Disney Originals in English as well as several local languages, live sporting events, dozens of TV channels and more, reports TechCrunch.

People can explore the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, they can watch the best of superheroes movies like "The Avengers", "Iron Man", "Thor Ragnarok" or latest movies including "The Lion King", "Frozen II", "Aladdin" and "Toy Story 4". Families can spend quality time together with characters like Mickey Mouse, Gajju Bhai, Doraemon and Shin-chan.

Starting today, people can pick from three distinct offerings i- Disney+ Hotstar VIP, Disney+ Hotstar Premium and an ad-supported basic tier.

The subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar Premium will receive all the benefits of Disney+ Hotstar VIP and 29 Disney+ Originals, including "The Mandalorian" from Jon Favreau; "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series", live-action version of "Lady and the Tramp" as well as the latest American shows from studios like HBO, Fox, Showtime. It will come at the price of Rs 1499 for a year.

There will be language-based subscription meaning that Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscribers can enjoy content in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

All existing subscribers will be automatically upgraded to their respective new subscription plan and will be charged the new rates upon renewal.
M exico has said it will temporarily stop brewing Corona beer amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Mexican brewing company Grupo Modelo said on Thursday that its business activities were declared non-essential under a government order aimed at curbing the Covid-19 spread.

The brewing group will stop producing Corona beer and other brands exported to 180 countries from Sunday.

It comes as the Mexican government this week declared a health emergency and ordered the suspension of non-essential activities after the number of coronavirus cases in the country surpassed 1,000 and its death toll hit 50.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

The brewer said in a statement that it was already in the process of scaling down production to a level at which it could resume once the suspension is lifted.

"If the federal government considers it appropriate to issue some clarification confirming beer as an agro-industrial product, at Grupo Modelo we are ready to execute a plan with more than 75 per cent of our staff working from home and at the same time guaranteeing the supply of beer," the statement said.

Agriculture and food production in general are considered essential activities.

Grupo Modelo, which is part of the brewing group Anheuser-Busch InBev, operates 11 breweries in Mexico.

At the end of February, AB InBev warned of the steepest decline in quarterly profit for at least a decade after the coronavirus outbreak cost it $170 million (132 million) in lost profit.

AB InBev is the worlds biggest brewing giant and is also behind the Budweiser and Stella Artois brands as well as Corona.

It forecast that its first quarter earnings will tumble by about 10 per cent after the virus first saw demand slump in China.
Sneeze is just one of many films that you can watch for free online courtesy of the Library of Congress, which partly acquires deposits through the United States Copyright Office. The biggest library in the world, it has an extraordinary trove of online offerings  more than 7,000 videos  that includes hundreds of old (and really old) movies. With one click, you can watch Buffalo Bills Wild West show parade down Fifth Avenue in 1902; click again to giggle at Krazy Kat and Ignatz Mouse in a 1916 cartoon. And while the library is temporarily closed to the public, its virtual doors remain open. It remains one of my favorite places to get lost in.

The Library of Congress was created in 1800 by the same act of Congress that moved the federal government to Washington, with a $5,000 budget for books approved by John Adams. The library was originally meant for the sole use of Congress and its role was debated over successive administrations and crises, including several catastrophic fires. By the time its first dedicated building opened in 1897, though, its status was settled: It was the book palace of the American people, as one librarian of Congress called it, a classification that expanded when it began adding films.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S



Yediyurappa on Friday directed the labour department to deposit an additional Rs 1,000 into the bank accounts of 15 lakh construction labourers in the state, who have been hit by the 21-day national lockdown to check COVID-19 spread.

He gave the direction during a high-level meeting of ministers and officials to review the measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19 and implementation of lockdown in the state.

The government has already deposited Rs 1,000 into the accounts of 15 lakh construction labourers and the Chief Minister asked the Labour department to deposit additional Rs 1,000 to their accounts, an official statement said.

He also directed officials to take necessary steps to provide transport facilities to patients during emergencies, with the help of Ola and Uber.

During the meeting, the issue of shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to doctors and health care professionals was discussed.

Work order has been issued for one lakh PPE kits and the Chief Minister has issued directions for the supply of 2 lakh more PPE kits, it said.

Yediyurappa also directed all the District in-charge secretaries to visit their respective districts and review the measure being taken there.

On issues regarding supply of free food in the city and its management, the Chief Minister decided to discuss and find a solution to it by holding a meeting with Bengaluru legislators, Ministers and officials.

Later Yediyurappa chaired a meeting with Ministers from the state capital regarding measures that need to be taken to control the spread of COVID-19 as the city has more than half of confirmed cases in Karnataka.

He has also decided to call a meeting of city legislators in this regard on Saturday morning.

The Chief Minister asked Ministers to ensure adequate supply of ration and groceries for poor and labourers with the help of city legislator and corperators.

He also asked them to see to that all basic amenities are made available to labourers, where they are put up.

Also to convince and get more donors from the city to contribute towards Chief Minister's Relief Fund to fight COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PPE shortages across the US may have led to doctors and nurses getting sick, and in some cases dying from COVID-19.

The deaths of healthcare workers from the coronavirus are inevitable. That is how Nurse Sean Petty says he believes hospital and government leaders across the United States sees it.

That makes us feel like our lives are expendable and we know that they are not, says Petty, who works in the pediatric emergency room at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, New York.

Petty and dozens of his fellow nurses protested outside the hospital earlier this week, pleading for more personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves and gowns.

Their demands have been echoed across the US, where health workers continue to grapple with the critical PPE shortages as the COVID-19 coronavirus hits towns, cities and states nationwide. More than 250,000 people have been infected with the virus in the US, with more than 5,000 deaths.

New York is the hardest hit, with more than 100,000 coronavirus cases and over 2,900 deaths.

A nurse demonstrates outside the emergency entrance to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx borough of New York as she joins other nursing staff demanding more personal protective equipment for nursing staff caring for coronavirus patients [Kathy Willens/AP Photo]

Petty says that he and his fellow nurses are constantly exposed to the virus without enough PPE to protect themselves. His hospital lost a nurse, 50-year-old Freda Ocran, last week to COVID-19, the second nurse in New York to die from the virus. Two more nurses are currently being intubated at his hospital, according to Petty.

We cant help but think that being healthcare workers and not having what they had in other places, like what the PPE is like in China and South Korea  theyre just worlds apart, Petty says.

Ted Levine, a healthcare worker at Mount Sinai Hospital, holds a photo of Feda Ocran, a nurse who died of coronavirus disease [Brendan McDermid/Reuters]

Before Pettys 12-hour shift begins, he reports to the new command centre set up outside his hospital to receive a packet containing a regular surgical mask, some paper scrubs and a light gown. Sometimes he gets a face mask. He also receives a new N95 mask for every shift and is expected to use the same one throughout the day.

Responding to the concerns of the nurses, NYC Health + Hospitals, which operates public hospitals and clinics in the city, said in a statement that the nurses safety is top priority.

We currently have the supplies needed for all of our staff, but are fully cognizant that there is a nationwide shortage of supplies, the statement said. Because of the national picture, we have taken serious measures to conserve what we do have. However, every healthcare worker in our system who needs PPE is able to receive what they need.

Hospitals overwhelmed

When healthcare workers are sick, it not only puts a strain on the individual hospitals, but also the entire system.

Dr Calvin Sun is an independent emergency medicine doctor who works in about a dozen hospital emergency rooms across New York City. In the last 21 days, hes worked 18 shifts. On some days, he sees up to 41 patients.

Im heeding a calling to cover the hole thats been created by my colleagues, my friends, who were all calling in sick or are being hospitalised by being exposed to this virus, says Sun, who recently had to intubate a nurse he knew after she contracted the virus. That nurse later died.

Sun says emergency rooms are overcrowded with COVID-19 patients with nowhere to go.

Theyre all languishing in the hallways, stretchers lined up like [the video game] Tetris in this giant emergency room where you really cant get from patient to patient, he says. You walk through a packed waiting room of people not maintaining the six-foot social distancing separation rules because the waiting room is small and all 30, 40 people are packed like sardines, coughing on each other, spreading COVID-19 even further.

Sun cobbled together his own PPE gleaned from his personal stockpile and other emergency rooms hes had access to over the last few weeks. He keeps his face mask in his backpack and brings it to wherever his work takes him.

Youre only as strong as your weakest link in terms of your protection, he says about the importance of having a complete set of PPE, which include a surgical gown, gloves, eye protection or face shield, N95 mask or other type of respirator mask and hair and ear covering. However, Sun says on top of this, he and other health workers should ideally have a powered air-purifying respirator and Tyvek hazmat suit.

In neighbouring Suffolk County, Long Island, a nurse says her hospital ran out of PPE about a week ago.

Now its just been completely a whole different world and everything that we were taught as far as PPE and infection control, everything has gone out of the window, says the 35-year-old nurse, who wishes to remain anonymous because she is not authorised to speak on hospital conditions.

A nurse at the Montefiore Medical Center Moses Campus in New York City holds a sign during a protest demanding N95 masks and other critical PPE to handle patients during the outbreak of coronavirus disease [Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters]

She says she received one N95 mask two weeks ago, which she keeps in a paper bag at her hospital after the end of each shift.

We know its not safe, she says about reusing her PPE. Its not safe for us and its not safe for the patients either.

Its just the beginning of it. And then we are scared for ourselves, too. We are scared for ourselves and we are exposing ourselves to it and not being protected properly. She recently helped a 91-year-old patient say goodbye to his family through a Zoom chat with around 20 of his family members.

Not just in New York

Elsewhere in the country, doctors and nurses are preparing for the onslaught of COVID-19 cases to hit their hospitals in the coming weeks.

Dr Susan George Knoche is a colorectal surgery specialist in Charleston, South Carolina, and has joined forces with other doctors, nurses and administrators at her hospital to start planning for possible PPE shortages and strategising how to best conserve what they have in stock. They have already ceased elective surgeries as one of the protective measures to conserve their limited PPE.

We are so worried about the coming wave of COVID-19 that we have to sort of shut down operations as much as we can in preparation for it, she says. Its like were sort of waiting standing there, like waiting with the doors open for the COVID-19 patients to start coming in, Knoche adds.

Healthcare workers at Mount Sinai Hospital hold photos of sick colleagues during a protest demanding critical personal protective equipment (PPE) to handle patients during the coronavirus outbreak in New York City [Brendan McDermid/Reuters]

Some doctors  like family practitioner Dr Sylvia Gisi in Temecula, California, who recently began testing her patients for the virus  say they have to go underground to get masks and goggles for her clinic, but the supplies are hard to find.

This is the United States of America, this is not a third-world country, and yet the doctors and nurses and ancillary hospital staff are being treated like that, she says about the lack of access to PPE.

The federal governments emergency stockpile of PPE is nearly depleted, officials acknowledged this week. US media also reported that the US exported millions of dollars of PPE to China during the first two months of the year, despite expert warnings the coronavirus would soon spread to the US.

Even though the $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package passed by Congress last month includes $117bn in aid for hospitals, doctors and nurses across the country still worry about their health systems collapsing.

Im afraid of that moment where we go from an incremental growth to a significant jump in volume in ill patients that were going to drown, and its going to be bad, says Petty, the New York City nurse.
The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research has announced the postponement of all classroom programs until May 01 as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the National Alliance is providing online offerings in response to the industrys need for continuing education and credentialing updates.

The National Alliance will continue to provide online, self-study courses as well as live, instructor-led webinars. The organizations newest instructor-led product offering is the Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) course and designation program.
On March 27, Los Angeles County closed all beaches, including Zuma Beach in Malibu, shown, to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. (Los Angeles Times)

Theres nothing like a global pandemic to remind us of what we truly value. As mortality rates and economic upheaval fill the headlines, we in coastal California are also grappling with another significant change: the closing of our beaches and the severing of our access to the sea.

For the first time in history, most people in Southern California, under stay-at-home orders, are completely banned from surfing, sunbathing, fishing or building sandcastles at the oceans edge. It is hard to understate the magnitude of this situation or how portentous it is.

Californians are extremely attached to coastal places. The annual California State University Channel Islands Coastal Survey has found that sandy beaches are so central to our identity that when asked for words that come to mind when prompted with California, survey respondents overwhelmingly answered sunny, beach or similar phrases. The survey also found that 8% of the residents of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties go to the beach daily, 31% go at least weekly and 61% go at least monthly. One-third of us went to the beach before our first birthday; half of us before our second.

Some 77% of Californians say the condition of the ocean and beaches is very important to the economy and quality of life for Californias future.

This deep love of the coast is what prompted Californians, by an overwhelming majority of initiative voters and then legislators, to create the Coastal Act, ensuring and protecting the publics access to the shore. The monetary value of this access adds up, with ocean-dependent tourism and recreation in Southern Californias five coastal counties alone contributing more than $12 billion to the state GDP in 2016.

The current beach closures are giving us a glimpse of Southern Californias likely future: one with fewer and smaller beaches nearly as inaccessible as they are right now. An estimated 31% to 67% of Southern Californias beaches will be completely gone by 2100, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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Climate-change-driven sea-level rise and ever more powerful, sand-robbing storms increasingly gnaw away at the ocean edge of our beaches. Property owners have responded by pouring more concrete, piling up mountains of boulders or otherwise armoring the landward side of beaches to shield property and structures from the encroaching sea.

As of 2018, 38% of Southern Californias coastline was armored to combat that erosion. Unfortunately, such protection sacrifices public access and, ultimately, the beach sand itself thanks to altered wave energy focus and increased scouring of the beach face.

Fostering a future rich with beaches requires new, well-informed approaches to face this looming threat. We do have the tools to respond to beach loss. Chief among these is managed retreat. Letting beaches and coastal ecosystems evolve naturally and migrate inland as the sea level rises is one way of ensuring they continue to exist. Weve done this successfully at Surfers Point in Ventura and on the Pacific Coast Highway at the base of the Big Sur coast. Firmly opposing coastal armoring is another. We need infrastructure such as public parking lots and stairways to access the beach, but we need a beach to access in the first place.

Governments everywhere under-invest in shoreline protection. California is no exception. We spend less than $100 million a year on the health of the states sandy beaches. More public resources could help us improve coastal monitoring to know where and how to focus limited dollars, make the coastal infrastructure more cost effective and better help homeowners and local governments develop realistic plans for the future.

We are all now seeing what happens when we fail to invest in crisis planning and ignore pending threats. Improved public investment on the shoreline can help us avoid repeating this mistake.

With the pandemic raging, Californians need to live by the public health measures communities are taking to stop the spread of the coronavirus. For now, that includes avoiding the beaches, which are so much a part of the California dream. This forced separation from the surf should motivate us to support more policies that preserve our glorious coastline before much of it is gone for good.

Sean Anderson, Kiki Patsch and Dan Reineman are professors of environmental science and resource management at California State University Channel Islands.




NOWNESS

We are the bosses of fashion now, not the other way around. Fashions trend cycles are more sensible and followable than they have ever been, basically because they percolate up from us, not trickle down from a dozen global overlords in Paris or New York. Trends are less designed for short lives of seasonal planned obsolescence than slowed and synchronised to our rhythms as consumers. Some editors even argue there are no trends: anything goes. And this is kind-of-sort-of true, especially if youre a self-expressive type who doesnt want to look remotely like anybody else. In that case, congratulations  your chutzpah, your wildly exotic wardrobe, your off-piste take on nowness, is actually a rich new definition of fashion luxury. Fashions new beginning will definitely involve you. For the rest of us, for fashions herd comforted when our choices chime with our tribe, trends dont so much go in and out as churn among us, sometimes for years, always in if enough of us like wearing them. Think of low-slung hipster jeans and trousers, for example; definitively cool for a decade before they lagged a season or two then returned with a bang for 10 more. We loved them too much to give up. Right now, however, low-slungs are among a hen's teeth handful of out trends despite the fact that theyll cycle back, one day. Trends such as white right-brand sneakers, on the other hand, and floral calf-grazer ruffled frocks, square-toed-strappy heels, classic and modified trench-style coats, tailored blazers, balloon-sleeved and ostentatiously frilled blouses, tucked-in jumpers and sugar-bag skirts and shorts, have also proliferated on the in fashion list for several seasons, some for years, and will stick around until were sick of them, too.

A knickerflasher frocklet by Jason Grech. Credit:Lucas Dawson Soft suiting by Ginger and Smart. Credit:Lucas Dawson The freshest of fresh trends, however, fashions right-nowness assumed by the coolest of cool, the most influential of influencers, is defined by this years leather, lacquered or latex skirts (from pencil to calf-grazer A-lines), tailored metallic or sequinned knicker-flasher frocklets, voluminous trapeze dresses, droopingly oversized tailored blazers and trousers, and thinly tailored pants cut to split and spill over your shoes. GOODNESS

Big smacks beget big reforms, especially in fashion, which swings on the whims of a moody, quicksand-y global community pocked with offbeat mega-influencers and prone to flashes of outrage, kangaroo judgments and social media addiction. One morally tricky pitch, one culturally insensitive motif, one bad news story or too-white too-thin too-young runway show and bang  in a day, your frocks can be cactus to a significant chunk of their previously fanatical following. Last years Pradamalia and Dolce & Gabbana scandals, for example, did more to accelerate fashions global moral code towards a fairer, kinder future than a stadium full of vicars. At the time, the insults inherent in Dolce & Gabbanas jolly ad campaign featuring a Chinese model wrestling pizza and spaghetti onto chopsticks, and the resemblance of Pradas luxury ($1000 a pop) handbag dangles to an historically racist monkey caricature were apparently missed at their respective head offices. But not when they hit their respective markets. Similarly, when Burberry incinerated its annual $60-odd million worth of unsold luxury goods to avoid discounting and maintain the brands air of exclusivity, outrage ensued.

These days, there isnt a campaign or runway that isnt carefully scrutinised for its fair and loving reflection of every kind of human. Those annual incinerations and dumping of unsold luxury goods have stopped, too. Burberry  and every other luxury brand that watched its media lynching  has established a zero-waste policy and links to resell markets for its surplus such as secondhand fashion e-tailers The RealReal and Farfetch Second Life. In Paris, a woman embraces Dior's "We should all be feminists" message. Credit:Getty Images Viktor&Rolf's ''Sorry I'm Late..." dress from their spring/summer collection, 2019. Credit:Viktor&Rolf Fashion is officially in the business of doing whats morally right, whats logical and sensible, whats humanely good and the least offensive to everyone. Its not perfect yet. Its shockingly imperfect in some pockets. But post-pandemic, its likely its goodness will be its blueprint. So far, with every misstep that has crystalised consumers kaleidescopic sensitivities, fashion mostly (not always, but especially when profits are at stake) has addressed and incorporated change into its business models and moral codes. (Inclusivity officer and culture manager are actual fashion jobs now.) Fashion is no longer idiotically exclusive. Now, were all on its runways and radars: all ages, shapes, races, gender identities, physical and mental abilities, political dispositions, cultural affiliations.

Maria Grazia Chiuris We should all be feminists collection in 2017 was a whimsical swivel moment in this new liberal order, the first of several by Diors first female creative director to hit the feminist nail on its proverbial populist head. The collections icon was a simple slogan T-shirt but it blossomed well beyond that, plugging into everything that was bubbling and popping among the women of Earth at the time and ever since. Viktor and Rolfs mountainous tulle muumuus of 2019 were also a revelation at Paris couture week. Their slogan-like text boxes, rough graffiti over ostentatious glamour, worked like womens intimate jokes and rueful stories-of-my-life: Sorry Im Late, I didnt want to come, Give a damn and Im not shy, I just dont like you. Intelligent expression, in other words, is fashions new pink. Celeste Barber's impudent runway appearance at this year's Melbourne Fashion Festival. Credit:Getty Images And comedian Celeste Barbers affectionate piss-taking of its male-gazingly-gorgeous glamour shots is surely the new black. Its tricky to think how Barbers antics, wobbling along runways, messily pashing fashion legend Tom Ford, mocking perfectly perfect scantily clad covergirls in her big underpants and real-mum figure, might have fetched up on social media even a few years ago. Such impudence! Would she have been embraced with the same universal joy? Or been stifled by our terribly fashionable (at the time) lack of humour? NEXTNESS Fashions near future will swing on the fortunes of pandemic-affected economies, naturally. But when its factories switch back to manufacturing perfume instead of hand-sanitiser, and frocks instead of surgical gowns and masks, its likely relationships with our (much smaller) wardrobes will blossom along the lines of secret joy and private luxury.

Many of us are already there, on the trajectory described by Edelkoort as resetting our values ... returning to [local] cottage industries. Even the voracious Asian market for global luxury brands was already faltering and connoisseurship of couture crafts and smaller, more expressive and original fashion brands was on the rise before COVID-19. We were already falling in love with collectable, meaningful, curious fashions with deeply embedded narratives: a curious vintage provenance, for example, or an embroidered message stitched into a secret seam, a couturiers gift of flattering fit, a smallfry designers vision that syncs with our psyche. Maree Clark necklace from Thung-ung Coorang (Kangaroo teeth necklace) jewellery collection, 2018. Credit:Daniel Herrmann-Zoll, courtesy NGV Narratives such as Yorta Yorta designer Maree Clarkes extraordinary kangaroo teeth necklaces, crafted in silver and gold using complex indigenous techniques revived after sleeping for 200 years, are the rarities fuelling fashions evolving definition of luxury. In future, fashions most fashionable will be more resourceful and adaptable than ever, more moral and compassionate, more vigilent of dodgy practices and more inclined to muster the chutzpah to step outside the herd, at least on occasion, and to not give a toss if their wildly exotic, self-expressive definition of Nowness prompts some dullards to scoff.
(Newser)  Haters love to blame "hoarders" and "panic buyers" for the lack of toilet paper on store shelves and to decry the "irrationality" of people who rushed stores to stock up amid the coronavirus pandemic. But at Medium, Will Oremus explains the truth lies elsewhere. Yes, there were some who panic-bought, especially when pictures of empty shelves hit social media. But the vast majority of people are not hoarding TP. Here's the simple reality: With at least three-quarters of the United States under stay-at-home orders, people will legitimately need more toilet paper (one estimate pegs it at 40% more) because they're not using bathrooms at work, school, and restaurants these days.

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Commercial and consumer toilet paper aren't the same thing: The former comes on supersize rolls, is thin, and is shipped in bulk. And they often aren't made in the same mills. Now there's "a huge leap in demand for a product"that would be consumer toilet paper"whose supply chain is predicated on the assumption that demand is essentially constant." If you're thinking commercial makers should just switch gears, Oremus explains the problem: "Shifting to retail channels would require new relationships and contracts between suppliers, distributors, and stores; different formats for packaging and shipping; new trucking routesall for a bulky product with lean profit margins." Investing in that shift likely wouldn't be worth it, because those manufacturers would have to flip back when this is all over. (Read the full piece for more on how there's a similar issue with bananas.)
New York City actor Elliot Lazar flew home to Winnipeg to be with his family in a safe environment and ride out the pandemic in a country where he had access to health care, if he needed it.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New York City actor Elliot Lazar flew home to Winnipeg to be with his family in a safe environment and ride out the pandemic in a country where he had access to health care, if he needed it.

And when he started exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, he was directed to a testing site in Fort Garry. It took an entire week for Lazar to learn that he had tested positive for the virus.

After watching the situation deteriorate in New York, where he's been living since August, Elliot Lazar flew back to Winnipeg in mid-March and began self-isolating in his childhood bedroom in his parents' home. He has since tested positive for COVID-19. (Supplied)

"While it was a little frustrating, I understand why it took so long," he says. "There are so many tests being conducted every day and it makes sense that the health system would be overwhelmed."

After watching the situation deteriorate in New York, where he's been living since August, Lazar flew back to Winnipeg March 16 and began self-isolating in his childhood bedroom in his parents' home.

He got a phone call Sunday telling him he tested positive for COVID-19 and then notified WestJet, even though he was told he didnt have to.

"I erred on the side of caution," he says.

Lazar provided public-health worker with information on his flights from New York to Toronto and then to Winnipeg.

WestJet does not notify passengers, says Morgan Bell, the airline's media and public relations adviser.

"The public health authority has jurisdiction, and a process, for notifying guests on board the flight," says Bell, "and we provide all necessary information as required."

He adds WestJet is doing its best to keep the public informed about flights that have been affected on a regularly updated coronavirus page on its website.

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority spokesperson Paul Turenne said he couldn't comment on specific circumstances or cases.

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Lazar doesn't know where he was infected. He did not have any community contact in Winnipeg beyond the airport, where he got into his father's car and went directly into isolation. None of his roommates in New York are exhibiting symptoms, and because WestJet is not selling the middle seat on some planes, he wasn't seated to anyone on either of the two flights he took to get to Winnipeg.

While the delay in test results was frustrating, he says the response afterward was swift. He was contacted immediately by a public-health worker who provided instructions for him and his family.

"Everyone in my household has been instructed to take our temperatures twice a day and someone from Manitoba Public Health calls once a day to get our temperatures from us," he says. "The idea is that if any of my family members' temperatures rise and they become symptomatic, it will be arranged for them to get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible."

Lazars symptoms were mild, so the week-long waiting period to find out results did not put his health at any further risk, but he is aware that not everyone who contracts the virus will be as lucky.

As of April 2, Lazar has made a complete recovery and his case has been officially resolved with Manitoba Public Health.

Twitter: @franceskoncan
I just feel uncomfortable with parents seeing what other students in the class are working on, Fanwick explained. As a result, she had to find another platform that would give her more control over who could see what.

How to make your time at home work

If your child has special needs and is transitioning to online learning, try to be patient with her instructors or therapists at first, as it may take them several weeks to work out some logistical and technological kinks, said Selene Almazan, a special education lawyer in Towson, Md., and legal director of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, an independent national association that protects the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities.

After that, make sure you have some sort of remote education and therapy plan in place. If you dont, speak to your schools principal, as well as whomever is in charge of special-education services in your school district.

Youre still legally entitled to any upcoming planning and placement team meetings  which can determine whether your child is still eligible for special-education services, for example. You are also entitled to the annual individualized education plan meeting, where you and your childs special-education team discuss your childs new academic goals for the year, as well as the additional supports and services needed to meet them. But these meetings will now need to happen virtually, instead of in person.

Its also helpful to track the type and frequency of special-needs services your district is offering your child during this time. While most students wont receive the full suite of educational support and therapy services they usually receive each day, they will still be entitled to some type of compensatory education once schools reopen, Almazan said. That may mean additional time in summer school, or extra therapy sessions to make up for missed ones. So if your child typically gets 45 minutes of in-person speech therapy each day, but now is receiving only three, 20-minute virtual speech sessions each week, for instance, take note of that.

You should also track how well your child is progressing  or regressing  academically during her time at home. Your childs individualized education plan should contain specific details about her academic skills and education level  like how quickly she can read and at what grade level. If she isnt making progress from that, or even if she is backsliding, youll have a stronger case for more services and supports once school has resumed, Almazan said.

In the meantime, parent  and teach  your child as best as you can. Its a good idea to try to follow a schedule thats as similar to your childs regular school day as much as possible, to give them a sense of normalcy, advised Richard Gallagher, Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at N.Y.U. Langone Health in New York City.
Blue is the color of clear skies and open water. It conjures calm. But its not easy being blue. Its not the easiest color to make, either.

You can make a nice blue by mixing certain minerals with elements like mercury or lead. But they are toxic. Other methods of producing blue dyes can also be harmful to humans and the environment.

What if there was another way to make things blue, using something that is usually red? Thats what an organic chemist in Brazil tried.

I like to think Im kind of a molecular psychiatrist, said Erick Bastos, who studies the chemistry of natural pigments at Universidade de Sao Paulo. I check the structure of a molecule, and I try to imagine what kind of modification I can do in order to make the molecule obey me. It doesnt always happen. Its very difficult.
Samsung is a major conglomerate that has many sister companies and subsidiaries. One of them is Samsung Electronics, the department that develops the Galaxy mobile lineup, and another is Samsung Display - the arm that manufactures screens for smartphones, as well as TVs, monitors, and many more.

According to one report from South Korea, Samsung Electronics is planning to develop its own foldable panel, without the help of Samsung Display, in order to lower the cost of the screen and make the technology more affordable in the future.

ETNews reported that the mobile division at Samsung Electronics contacted multiple foldable glass manufacturing companies. That way the company can increase the competition between providers and lower the price while the technology improves over time. Currently, a smartphone like the Galaxy Z Flip has an extremely thin glass panel that is bending, instead of breaking, simply due to its thinness.

However, Samsung Electronics believes that with its current supply network, read Samsung Display, it cant get a thicker panel that will have fewer wrinkles and creases when the panel is folding. Price-wise, the foldable glass of the Galaxy Z Flip is currently around $40, while a regular tempered glass in regular smartphones is $2.

The goal of this in-house competition is for Samsung Electronics to lower the price and the workload of the display divisions shoulders, while keeping the high quality and performance of the internalized technology, just like it does with the camera module or the metal casing of the phone.

Our editor Ricky recently went through the painstaking process of replacing the protective glass in front of the camera. We can only imagine how much more expensive this repair wouldve cost if the phone had cracked on the inside.

Source
With 2021 concluded and the 20th anniversary of the ModDB's Mod of the Year Awards wrapped up, we take a stroll down history lane and look back at all the winners over the last two decades.
Hamid Beladi is the Janey S. Briscoe Endowed Chair in Business at UTSA.

EXPERT VOICE



APRIL 3, 2020  Ever since the novel coronavirus was discovered in China and subsequently found its way into the U.S. and other countries, we are learning to live in a new normal.

The tourism industry was hit the hardest in the U.S. due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Although we think of large hotel chains when it comes to tourism, 80% of the tourism industry consists of small- to medium-size companies. In San Antonio the hospitality and leisure industry, a major driver for the regional economy, has seen its revenues drop substantially.

It was initially thought that the impact from the outbreak would mainly be confined to operations in Asia, but the virus has spread globally and with great speed.

Two of the top tourist destinations in Texas include the Alamo and the River Walk and these attractions appeal to tourists from across the country. San Antonio tourism drives airfares, conference venues, restaurants and hotel room bookings and provides jobs to a large percentage of our population, not just in the downtown area.

The connectedness of these industries is positive in good times and a problem when times are difficult.

The connectedness of these industries is positive in good times and a problem when times are difficult. In the face of an unprecedented challenge, the World Tourism Organization, with the support of the World Health Organization, is calling on innovators and entrepreneurs to put forward new solutions to help the tourism sector recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Most manufacturers will be hit by their interconnectedness to other companies and countries. Toyota Motor Corp. chose the San Antonio area as the location for one of its newest truck manufacturing plants and relies on parts from around the world as part of the Just in Time manufacturing process that all manufacturers subscribe to for their components.

Even though China states it is recovering from COVID-19s effects, it is still constrained by needed circuit boards and other manufactured parts from U.S. suppliers. Having just enough inventory on hand to do a days work was considered smart business and good for balance sheets. JIT will impact the technology, automotive, consumer goods and pharmaceutical industries, among others.

Even our hospitals keep minimal supplies on hand in order to be seen as efficiently managed. For pharmaceuticals, India produces half of our generic drugs and China produces over 90% of our antibiotics.

For Texas and the San Antonio area, low oil prices also have come as a double whammy during the pandemic. Saudi Arabia and Russia chose this time to get into a bidding war for market share. Low oil prices, while good for the consumer, is bad for Texas. Many small companies are involved in drilling for shale oil. Texas has been a real star in driving national revenues the last few years but may serve as a drag on the economy this year. These are the risks of an interconnected economy.

In the past 20 years coronaviruses have caused three major outbreaks (SARS 20022004, MERS 20122015 and COVID-19) around the world, although it may not seem that way to the parts of the world that were unaffected at the time. Even more concerning, the time lapse between outbreaks seems to be growing shorter. It is the opinion of virologists around the world that these outbreaks will continue.

As we recover from this pandemic all companies need to be rethinking their supply chains. What components are critical and what supplies need to have a deeper level of inventory? This is not just true at the national level, where supplies of drugs, rare earth and military components will need to be reconsidered. It also applies to companies and governments at the state and local level. Who should own or control these supplies is a major issue.

This goes beyond pandemic plans to the heart of the supply chains. The U.S. outsourced its manufacturing due to lower costs in other countries. Now it will need to achieve a balance between cost reduction and supply chain safety via strategic outsourcing.

San Antonio is a well-managed city and we will all get through this temporary crisis. Life will not be the same, though, as we rethink our business and personal plans for the future.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:35:36|Editor: huaxia

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A street vegetable vendor pushes his wheelbarrow in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, April 3, 2020. Though no coronavirus case has been reported in Yemen, the Yemeni government has taken strict measures, including shutting down businesses and stores, to counter a possible outbreak. However, some poor local people said they cannot afford to stay at home, and they are obliged to continue going to workplaces in order to earn a living and to feed their families. (Photo by Murad Abdo/Xinhua)

ADEN, Yemen, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Though no coronavirus case has been reported in Yemen, the Yemeni government has taken strict measures, including shutting down businesses and stores, to counter a possible outbreak.

However, some poor local people said they cannot afford to stay at home, and they are obliged to continue going to workplaces in order to earn a living and to feed their families.

"We know that the coronavirus is a dangerous global pandemic and many powerful nations were badly affected but our country is poor and millions will die if they stopped working and stayed at home," said Basil Salah, a street vegetable vendor.

"I must go out every day to sell vegetables and fruits using my wheelbarrow and moving from one neighborhood to another. Staying at home simply means starving my wife and children," said Basil.

He added that "there must be a solution from the government to provide help for poor families and those who may lose their jobs due to staying at home."

Some of the Yemeni workers were affected economically after hundreds of crowded stores, restaurants and clothing centers in the southern port city of Aden were shut down by the security forces as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus.

Obeid Hassan, a 33-year-old restaurant worker in Aden province, told Xinhua that the precautionary measures to contain the coronavirus resulted in shutting down his workplace and he lost his only source of livelihood.

"Closing the restaurant that I worked at badly affected my life because I only earn money from my daily work as a waiter," said Obeid.

It's reported that Yemeni security forces manning the southern main cities had began preparing to declare a curfew in the upcoming days to contain the potential spread of the virus.

"The virus curfew will have devastating effect against the workers who are required to work on-site every day," said Anis Mohammed, who works in the sector of buildings construction.

"Declaring curfew will increase our suffering as security authorities will detain those who will break the rules or decide to go out for working," said Mohammed.

During the virus curfew, many families will not be able to stay at home because there's a drinking water shortage and a lack of basic living services including electricity in many Yemeni areas, according to Mohammed.

Both health authorities in the government-controlled southern provinces and in the Houthi-controlled northern provinces have not reported any coronavirus cases so far.

Plagued by cholera, malnutrition, and diphtheria, Yemen lacks the ability to cope with deadly epidemics as its five years of civil war has almost destroyed its healthcare system.

The war erupted in late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.
RSS volunteers distributed 2,500 kg flour, 1,250 kg rice and other essential food items among nearly 1,000 sex workers in Delhi's GB Road area on Friday.

Sangh workers are distributing rations among the needy people across the country to ensure essential food items are available to them during the lockdown period, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionary Sukhdev Bhardwaj said.

"As part of our mission to serve the needy during the lockdown, we provided 250 food kits to 986 sex workers at GB road in the national capital," he said.

Each kit has 10 kg flour, 5 kg rice, 2 kg pulses, 1 kg sugar, tea leaves, a bottle of cooking oil, spices, milk powder and soap, Bhardwaj added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump has slammed medical mask producer 3M Co after earlier announcing he was invoking the Defense Production Act to get the company to stop selling to higher bidding foreign countries.

Trump shared plans to legally oblige the firm to produce N95 masks in a Coronavirus Task Force briefing Thursday night.

He elaborated in a tweet late on Thursday that his administration was shocked the company was selling to higher bidding foreign countries while medical teams on the frontline at home are lacking the vital personal protective equipment they need to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

'We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks,' the leader tweeted. '"P Act" all the way.'

President Trump said in a coronavirus Task Force briefing Thursday that he hopes 3M 'will do what they're supposed to do' after 'it was a 'big surprise to many in government' that they were selling masks to higher bidding countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic

'We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks. "P Act" all the way,' Trump tweeted Thursday night. He added the firm 'will have a big price to pay!'

Dr. Nicole McCullough, a global health and safety expert at 3M, demonstrates the correct way to put on a N95 respiratory mask at a laboratory of 3M on March 4

Trump continued: 'Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing - will have a big price to pay!'

The president's social media post followed White House trade adviser Peter Navarro's comment in the briefing that they've 'had some issues making sure that all of the production that 3M does around the world, enough of it is coming back here to the right places'.

The company not only makes healthcare supplies but owns Scotch, Post-It and Nexcare.

Trump also directed the US Health and Human Services secretary to use his authority to help facilitate the supply of ventilator materials for six companies - General Electric, Hill-Rom Holdings, Medtronic, Resmed, Royal Philips and Vyaire Medical.

'I am grateful to these and other domestic manufacturers for ramping up their production of ventilators during this difficult time," Trump said in statement.

'Today's order will save lives by removing obstacles in the supply chain that threaten the rapid production of ventilators.'

As coronavirus attacks the respiratory system, the masks help protect people on the front line as they treat infected individuals.

The Act passed in 1950 gives the president the power to make private companies produce for reasons of national security.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro commented in the briefing that they've 'had some issues making sure that all of the production that 3M does around the world, enough of it is coming back here to the right places'. Pictured, Seattle Police officer Rosell Ellis, right, wears an N95 mask as he listens to conversation during a routine call Thursday

He first used the act last week to make General Motors produce ventilators during this national emergency.

It was a move that was urged by state governors, including Andrew Cuomo of New York, where the the highest rate of infection and deaths are in the country.

The CDC is expected to announce guidelines for people to wear some kind of cover over their face when in public.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned all New Yorkers Thursday that they should cover their mouth and nose with a homemade cloth mask when they go outside, even if they are healthy, to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.

Speaking during his daily press conference on the city's coronavirus response, the mayor revealed that new evidence has suggested that face coverings may prevent the spread of the coronavirus but added he did not regret delaying the order.

De Blasio warned that most New Yorkers should craft their own face covering using cloth, a scarf or a bandanna, leaving face masks for medical staff and others working on the front line.

He also said that he had spoken with President Donald Trump earlier on Thursday, calling for a national enlistment to be established for medical professionals, or anyone with medical training at all, that would deploy even civilians to the major outbreak hotspots.

Above shows the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in New York State as of Thursday

Above shows the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the US as of Thursday night
The air is cleaner, the roads quiet, birdsong can be heard again and animals, from leopards and elephants to deer and even a civet cat, have been spotted in multiple places across urban India.

As the coronavirus pandemic forces humans into their homes and birds and animals reclaim areas that were once theirs, it is tempting to believe nature is healing itself particularly after the unprecedented pan India lockdown that came into force on March 24.

But it may not all be good news, said experts as the sightings in urban centres continued to grow with the most recent being a leopard spotted wandering through the streets of Chandigarh earlier this week.

Since the lockdown, a nilgai has been seen crossing the road near the TGIP mall in Noida, a sambar deer spotted taking a stroll in Haridwar, Gurgaon residents captured peacocks in Galleria market and there are reports of a civet cat in Kozhikode in Kerala and a tusker walking through Wayanad in the state.

Drawing a parallel with the ongoing migrant labour exodus from cities to villages, environmentalist Vandana Shiva said refugees from the forest are coming to the cities because we invaded their homes.

We robbed other species of their homes and food. Wildlife, whose home is the forest, entering urban areas is not a positive sign. Now the displaced animals, the refugees from the forest, are finding the courage to enter cities when the streets have been emptied of cars and people.

Like the workers, who migrated from villages to cities, are migrating back to villages, animals too will leave urban areas. Or they will be killed, Shiva told PTI.

Other experts agreed, saying the deserted roads and an almost negligible number of people out of their houses has made these forest animals comfortable enough to come out. However, it is not a good sign.

Famous environmentalist Sundarlal Bahuguna said the reason for this migration is the intrusion of humans into forest areas and lack of food for the animals.

In the old days, we had mixed forests, where people and animals lived in harmony. Our culture says all animals are our family. That ensured enough food for the animals. The government has kept the forest only for business. Animals are not getting enough food and they come to the roads due to hunger, the 93-year-old environmentalist said.

According to Padma Bhushan award winner Anil Prakash Joshi and Anand Arya, both wildlife experts, the areas of sightings are close to wildlife habitat which also made it easier for them to migrate.

For instance, the nilgai is a resident of the Yamuna floodplains, not too far from Noida, Arya said.

Talking about the increased possibility of human-animal conflict once the situation goes back to normalcy, Arya said the animal kingdom is far too smart to fall prey to conflicts, which may continue for a couple of weeks after the lockdown is lifted.

"The moment humans come back, the animals will go back to their forests. They are much smarter, they will know where it is safe, he added.

For better or worse, the animals have entered the world of humans, and they will go back to their food scarce abode once people come back, Joshi said.

One thing is clear forests are food scarce and human settlement is an encroachment of the wild world, Joshi added.

Most places where animals are seen in the cities are close to wild habitat.. They are entering cities both because of deserted towns and also part of their food hunt exercise, Joshi noted.

He added that humans fell trees to expand their settlement, and the urban areas near forests also interfered with the food chain.

The forest around such settlements also became poor due to constant human disturbance and the food chain in the forest was disrupted both in terms of quantity and quality. In such circumstances, it is hunger that forces them to search for food in any place even outside their poor habitat, Joshi said.

The small Indian civet cat was reported from Kozhikode, on the edge of the densely forested Western Ghats.

IFS officer Sudha Ramen also posted a video of a tusker in Wayanad, Kerala, where incidents of the man-animal conflict are frequent.

Elephants are common here and are seen frequently out of the forests. Less human presence, more peace, no conflicts, Ramen said while tweeting the video.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The city will assume that any employee who tests positive for the new coronavirus contracted it while on duty, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Friday, hours after the Houston firefighters union announced that one of its members was denied workers compensation benefits related to COVID-19.

The issue came to light after Tristar Risk Management, the third-party claims administrator that handles workers compensation for the city, told a firefighter who said he was exposed to COVID-19 there is no evidence that  the risk of contracting COVID-19 is inherent in your specific type of employment or that disease was indigenous to your work or present in an increased degree in that work. Tristars response to the firefighter indicated that he had tested negative for the virus.

In a statement Friday morning, Houston firefighters union president Marty Lancton blasted Turner, who he previously has feuded with over firefighters pay and the citys denial of cancer-related workers comp benefits.

The Turner Administration just sent a despicable message to Houston firefighters and paramedics: Do your dangerous job and do it well, but if we mandatorily quarantine you or you contract the COVID-19 virus, you may be on your own, Lancton said.

Turner and Fire Chief Sam Pena later said the city would not deny benefits to any quarantined firefighters.

Let me speak directly to the firefighters: Even if you are quarantined, you will be carried on workers comp. Youre not going to lose any of your time, Turner said at a news conference Friday afternoon. And if you are tested positive, the presumption will be that it was work-related.

Mike Sprain, the unions outside legal counsel, said Tristar has taken the opposite position thus far by claiming that firefighters do not face the inherent risk of contracting COVID-19. In denying the firefighters claim, Tristar also wrote that an occupational disease does not include an ordinary disease of life to which the general public is exposed outside of employment.

Houston firefighters say they cannot always practice social distancing when responding to medical calls and face a high risk of exposure to the new coronavirus through their job. They say Tristars requirements  which include a positive test and link to a patient who tested positive  make it all but impossible to prove they contracted the virus through their work, because firefighters cannot get tested unless they display symptoms.

Turner did not specify Friday whether his administration would direct Tristar to handle future claims differently.

By Friday, 141 firefighters were in quarantine, and fewer than 50 had been tested for the virus, according to Pena. Thirteen firefighters had tested positive for COVID-19, and two had recovered.

Firefighters said officials did not make clear to them before Friday that they would not have to use accrued time off if they were quarantined but did not show symptoms or get tested.

Pena confirmed that the firefighter had his claim denied, but said he would not lose any benefits, including vacation or sick time. He echoed the mayors pledge that workers compensation initially covers quarantined firefighters, and said firefighters are not required to use vacation or sick time if their claim is denied because they did not develop symptoms or get tested.

The result is that no out-of-pocket costs is incurred, and no reduction in benefit time will be experienced by the employee, Pena said.

Despite the public assurances from Turner and Pena, Sprain wrote in a letter to Lancton that the mayor should instruct Tristar to accept that firefighters/EMTs are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and get Tristar to agree that the disease is presumed to have been contracted in the course and scope of employment as a firefighter/EMT.

Last week, Houston firefighters began wearing more personal protective equipment when responding to 911 calls, to better shield them from the virus. And they now have been instructed to assume that every patient is infected, Pena said.

The city has battled for years with Houston firefighters who sought workers compensation benefits over exposure to carcinogens on the job. Fires regularly expose first responders to cancer-causing chemicals, including formaldehyde, benzene, arsenic and petroleum byproducts, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Still, 91 percent of workers comp cancer claims in Texas were rejected from 2012 to 2018. Cities generally had interpreted state law to cover only non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and testicular and prostate cancer. The Texas Legislature passed a bill last year expanding the states presumptive cancer statute to cover eight other illnesses.

Reporters St. John Barned-Smith and Zach Despart contributed to this story.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that the Chinese government does not know the full extent of the coronavirus outbreak within the country, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

Chinas government has encountered difficulties collecting accurate data on the spread of the coronavirus because mid-level bureaucrats in Wuhan and elsewhere in China have been lying about the number of cases, current and former intelligence officials told the Times. Local administration officials in China fear that their superiors will punish and even fire them if they report high numbers of cases.

U.S. intelligence believes that China does conceal the extent of the outbreak known to higher-level Communist Party officials. However, because of inaccurate reporting of cases at local levels of government, the C.I.A. and other agencies have themselves been unable to determine the full scope of coronavirus cases in China.

While doctors in Wuhan were sounding the alarm about the then-unidentified illness in late December and early January, local government and hospital administrators attempted to prevent doctors from spreading news of the infections, the Wall Street Journal reported. In one case, the administration of Wuhan Central Hospital reprimanded Dr. Ai Fen, head of the hospitals emergency department, for spreading rumors and damaging the stability of Wuhan after she alerted authorities to the spread of the SARS-like virus.

On Tuesday Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, suggested that the U.S. responded slowly to the pandemic in part because of faulty data from China.

The medical community interpreted the Chinese data as, this was serious, but smaller than anyone expected, Birx said at a press conference. Because, probably  we were missing a significant amount of the data, now that we see what happened to Italy and we see what happened to Spain.

More from National Review
China Coast Guard on Friday released a statement which warned the Vietnamese fishing boat's illegal entry to the waters off the Xisha Islands on April 2 and urges the Vietnamese side to take measures to avoid similar incidents happen again.

The statement came after a Vietnamese fishing boat made dangerous actions and hit a China Coast Guard ship when it illegally entered waters off China's Xisha Islands for illegal fishing.

The Vietnamese fishing boat sank after it hit the China Coast Guard's ship, all the crew members were rescued by China Coast Guard and the crew members admitted their illegal activity to enter China's territorial waters and made dangerous driving behaviors.
The cruise ship on which four passengers died from Covid-19 and others became critically ill has finally been allowed to dock in Florida.

President Trump overruled the states governor, Ron DeSantis, who initially rejected permission for Zaandam to end her long voyage at her home port of Fort Lauderdale.

The Holland America Line vessel, with 229 British passengers on board, left Punta Arenas on the southern tip of Chile on 12 March. She has not been able to disembark passengers at any port since then, despite repeated attempts  and a secret refuelling and reprovisioning call at Guayaquil in Ecuador.

In the ensuing three weeks, four passengers have died on board Zaandam, including a 75-year-old British man, John Carter.

A week ago, 808 apparently healthy passengers from the ship were transferred off the coast of Panama to a sister vessel, Rotterdam.

Recommended All the cruises cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic

The ships have now docked in adjacent berths at the Port Everglades terminal in Fort Lauderdale. Pictures shared on social media showed at least 13 ambulances lined up on the quayside for critically ill passengers.

A total of 250 passengers and crew on Zaandam have flu-like symptoms, and 17 of the passengers transferred to Rotterdam have developed them.

Apart from one critically ill crew member, none of the 1,186 crew will be allowed to leave the ship.

The cruise lines president, Orlando Ashford, said: These travellers could have been any one of us or our families, unexpectedly caught in the middle of this unprecedented closure of global borders that happened in a matter of days and without warning.

Our guests on board both ships have been truly incredible, and we extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to all of them.

Their cooperation, support and understanding throughout this entire experience helped us best protect the health of all on board and ensured our shipboard teams could focus on caring for everyone and getting them home.

Disembarkation is expected to take 24 hours because of the health checks required. Fort Lauderdales airport is only two miles from the cruise port and many passengers will be taken straight there. They will be required to wear masks on board the buses.

Passengers who still have symptoms will remain on board the ships and be allowed off only after they have fully recovered.

Attention has now switched to Coral Princess, which was due to end a cruise around the southern tip of South America in Buenos Aires on 19 March. She was denied permission to disembark passengers in the Argentinian capital, and subsequently refused at Rio. She then sailed to Bridgetown, Barbados for essential supplies and is now off the Turks and Caicos Islands about one day from Fort Lauderdale.

Seven of the 1,020 passengers and five of her 878 crew members have tested positive for Covid-19.

The cruise line said: Princess continues to seek approvals through multiple diplomatic channels, and to work with local officials for disembarkation in Fort Lauderdale.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens as President Donald Trump answers questions during the coronavirus task force daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, March 25.

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the United States, is working around the clock to lead coronavirus research and disseminate new information.

His schedule involves working around 20 hours a day, he told The New York Times.

Fauci said he spends his workdays at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which he directs, and briefing journalists, public officials, and the White House.

"You're lucky if you get to bed before midnight," he said. "And then you get up at 4 or 5 in the morning."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Facing down a viral coronavirus epidemic that threatens the well-being of Americans and the economy alike, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, may have one of the most intense jobs in the world right now.

If he's awake, he's at work. And he's getting only four or five hours of sleep a night.

In an interview on Tuesday with "The Daily," a New York Times podcast, Fauci said his work schedule reaches the outer limits of what he thought was possible.

"You're lucky if you get to bed before midnight," said Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. "And then you get up at 4 or 5 in the morning."

"We are in a war," he said. "There's so much to do it's like drinking out of a firehose."

His day typically begins with providing up to date information to people around the country  like journalists, Congress members, and state and federal officials  "who constantly need briefing."

"And I also am running a very large institute that's responsible for making the vaccines and for developing the drugs. So I come in for a couple of hours and get things on the right track here," he said.

Then he heads to the White House, where he spends "more than half the day" in meetings.

Story continues

"I'm with the vice president for hours at a time," he said. "I see the president himself at least an hour a day and maybe more. And then I go back home and I have a thousand things to do. And then you're lucky if you get to bed before midnight."

He has been keeping this pace for a while. When a reporter for Science magazine opened an interview in March asking how he was doing, Fauci responded: "Well, I'm sort of exhausted."

Though Fauci used to run seven miles a day every day, he says he couldn't keep up the regimen during the epidemic. In mid-March, he said he cut them down to 3.5 miles a day.

Trump's messaging on the epidemic has veered from skepticism to severity in a matter of days. On "The Daily," Fauci said he did not believe his role as a medical expert included trying to change Trump's rhetorical "style."

"I see my job as the person who is the scientist, the public health official, the physician who understands disease," Fauci said. "And to get the correct information, correct evidence to him so he can make decisions that are based on evidence and based on data."

"I don't think it would be possible for me to influence another person's style. That just doesn't happen," he added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NEW YORK, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stonehenge NYC, a leading real estate company in New York City, announced today that pursuant to the success of its initial launch on March 12th it has now branded its virtual tour program, Stonehenge Access.

Whether they live across town or across the world, prospective tenants now have the ability to view every available apartment in any building from the Stonehenge NYC portfolio.

Through this program, prospective tenants are able to view all available apartments and buildings in Stonehenge NYC's portfolio via photo, video, and virtual reality. Tenants will be accompanied during their tours by one of Stonehenge's professional leasing agents via conference call or video conferencing in order to guide a prospective tenant through his or her virtual tour and answer any questions along the way. This innovative approach enables tenants to get a complete view of their prospective new homes before ever stepping foot in the building. Stonehenge NYC's advanced online leasing software enables a prospective tenant to apply and be approved to lease an apartment within 24-hours. Stonehenge NYC believes in the quality of its apartments and will now offer any tenant who executes a lease after a virtual tour the ability to cancel the lease, at no cost, within 72-hours of physically visiting the unit, provided such cancellation option is exercised on or before the date that is at least 5-days before the lease commencement date.

This is an innovative way to provide tenants with the ability to lease an apartment virtually from anywhere, without leaving the comfort of home.

"I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this new program," said Ofer Yardeni, Chairman and CEO of Stonehenge NYC. "We must continue to meet the demands of the modern world and provide our prospective and current tenants with the best service possible. This program creates a seamless and simple leasing process that not only allows prospective tenants to spend less time searching for an apartment, but also provides a satisfaction guarantee."

Stonehenge Access is officially live on the Stonehenge NYC website and is expected to be especially popular among foreign and student renters. Stonehenge NYC plans to grow and evolve this program over time with the changing market.

About Stonehenge NYC

Stonehenge NYC, founded by Ofer Yardeni, is a vertically integrated, private real estate company with expertise in investment management, property management, development, design, construction, leasing, and financing. Stonehenge's core growth strategy is focused on New York City real estate opportunities. The company currently owns and manages 19 residential apartment buildings with more than 2,800 rental apartment units. www.stonehengenyc.com

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Aaditya (AD) Devarakonda joins Dedrone from Centerview Partners where he was a senior member of the Technology Investment Banking Group based out of Palo Alto. He brings years of experience being a trusted advisor and thought partner to CEOs, boards and management teams. His engagements span some of the most complicated and strategic transactions helping companies fund and execute growth at scale.

"This is a tremendous time to join Dedrone. The counter-drone market is at an inflection point, where organizations can no longer ignore the airspace threat. Dedrone is the market leader for counter-drone technology, and the founders have assembled a phenomenal team of world-class product developers, researchers, and commercial leaders," shares Devarakonda. "The winning combination of strong product, robust customer base, and marquee investors make Dedrone primed for success, and I look forward to amplifying the exceptional work that this company has already accomplished."

"I am thrilled to welcome AD to Dedrone," states Joerg Lamprecht, CEO and co-founder of Dedrone. "AD comes to Dedrone having worked with us for almost a year. He has done a tremendous job in shaping the product and commercial strategy for the company and has led multiple large-scale partnerships that will fuel the next stage of our growth. He has a great combination of big picture strategic thinking and a hands-on leadership style. We are pleased to officially have AD onboard as a Dedrone team member."

Founded in 2014, Dedrone is a market leader in counter-drone technology allowing organizations to identify, track, and eliminate airspace threats. Dedrone's capabilities are trusted by hundreds of customers globally, including three of the G7 countries, correctional facilities, critical infrastructure establishments, airports, and corporations, among other public and private organizations.

Venky Ganesan, Partner at Menlo Ventures, and investor at Dedrone, shares, "AD is the perfect fit for Dedrone as they look to scale the company to the next level. His strategic understanding of different business models across multiple markets within software and hardware, his experience to negotiate and close large deals and ability to lead a global team are key skills that set him apart. I am excited to see Dedrone grow under AD's well-rounded experience and leadership."

About Dedrone

Dedrone is the market leader in airspace security. Dedrone's counter-drone system is trusted by critical infrastructure, government operations, military assets, correctional facilities, and enterprises to protect against unwanted small drones (sUAS). With flexibility to host in the cloud, or on-premise, Dedrone's SaaS technology combines machine-learning software with best-in-class sensors and effectors, to provide early warning, classification of, and mitigation against all drone threats. Dedrone systems are deployed by hundreds of customers globally. Established in 2014, Dedrone is headquartered in San Francisco, with operations in Washington, D.C.-area, Columbus, Ohio, London and Germany. For more information about Dedrone and to reach our counter-drone subject matter experts, visit www.dedrone.com

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Malian refugees gather at an aid distribution point in Goudoubo camp, Burkina Faso, 3 February 2020.  UNHCR/Sylvain Cherkaoui

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today expressed alarm over growing insecurity in Burkina Faso, where hundreds of thousands of people have already been driven from their homes and now face the added uncertainty brought by the arrival of the new coronavirus.

UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told journalists that recent attacks by armed groups had targeted some 25,000 Malian refugees, who lived in remote camps near the border of Burkina Faso and Mali.

Most of these refugees have now chosen to return home despite still facing insecurity there as well. They judged it was the lesser of two evils, Baloch told a press briefing in Geneva via an online link.

The arrival of COVID-19 has added a new element of insecurity into the mix, he added.

Baloch recalled that as violence has swept the entire Sahel region, Burkina Faso has witnessed a massive displacement of more than 838,000 people since January 2019  a figure which keeps climbing with each passing day.

The clock is ticking.

Xavier Creach, UNHCRs coordinator for the Sahel region, warned the situation in Burkina Faso was rapidly becoming untenable with multi-layered crises risking a humanitarian catastrophe.

Local communities have demonstrated remarkable generosity but cannot cope anymore. National capacities are overwhelmed. The approaching lean season, coupled with the armed conflict and the COVID-19, will generate further dramatic situations and displacement of populations. The clock is ticking, we have little time left, he said.

Insecurity has now engulfed all 13 regions of Burkina Faso. Last week, at least 32 people were killed in a string of attacks and scores of others injured.

UNHCR said in a statement that following attacks and ultimatums by armed groups, the Goudoubo refugee camp, recently home to 9,000 refugees, was now empty and effectively closed.

With the closing of the camp school, and health centre and even the camps security post, about half of the residents, who reached Gao, Mopti and Timbuktu regions in northern Mali earlier this week, cited insecurity and armed attacks as the reason to leave.

Most felt they had no other option but to return to Mali, added Baloch.

Many of those living in leaving Goudoubou camp said they left after receiving warnings of more attacks if they did leave from armed groups.

I did not even have time to collect my documents nor transport fees UNHCR was providing to those who decided to return," one returning refugee woman told UNHCR staff on arrival in Gao.

'Horrifying violence' displaces record numbers in Burkina Faso (Alex St-Denis, camera-edit; Michelle Hoffman, producer)

"There are those who managed to get back in trucks or on the bus, as for others, including my family and I, we had to travel on the back of a camel," said a male head of household who like others herded his cattle along the week-long trek. But where they go now is a new problem.

Isaac Tiantse Takamgno, the head of UNHCRs sub-office in Gao, in northern Mali, was in talks with the government on ensuring security and safety in the areas from which they had originally fled.

This is unprecedented," Takamgno said. "Our priority is to accompany the returnees wherever they decide to return and where they feel secure. Although some returnees seemed hesitant regarding returning to their very specific areas of origin, from where they mainly fled to Burkina Faso.

The remaining Malian refugees have moved to locations inside Burkina Faso. Some 2,500 have joined many displaced Burkinabes in the town of Dori, where people face dire conditions, in desperate need of shelter, water and health services. Attacks around the camp also forced locals of the Goudoubo village to flee.

The violence in Burkina Faso also forced UNHCR to relocate staff out of the Mentao refugee camp, near the town of Djibo, in November 2019. Access to more than 6,000 refugees since then has been sporadic, with living conditions worsening.

However, the volatile security situation in Mali does not allow many to return to their places of origin. Insecurity persists and authorities have imposed a curfew as part of its COVID-19 response, which has further fuelled security and health concerns among vulnerable groups.

UNHCR works with authorities and partners on the ground, providing returning refugees with shelter, relief items and cash to support their initial needs. UNHCR is also planning to provide the authorities with needed health and hygiene equipment as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday approved the release of Rs 11,092 crores under State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) to all states.

"MHA has approved the release of Rs 11,092 crores under State Disaster Risk Management Fund to all states. This is an advance release of Government of India share of the first instalment of SDRMF for 2020-21, to augment funds available with the state governments," the MHA said in a release.

Earlier Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to amend the conditions for the utilisation of the 14th Finance Commission grants for emergency relief in urban areas.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh crore for the states in the wake of the ongoing lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India on Friday rose to 2,301 including 156 cured/discharged and 56 deaths, 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.)
For many K-12 educators, Zoom only entered the lexicon a few weeks ago, as the coronavirus outbreak shut down schools nationwide . Already, its taken on a lot of baggage.

Schools across the country are evaluating their engagement with Zoom, with decisions varying from place to place. Some districts have discouraged teachers from using it, or banned it altogether. Others are taking a more cautious approach, exploring its potential while sticking with tools they had already vetted more thoroughly prior to the nationwide shutdown.

The videoconferencing platform allows teachers to communicate with students and collaborate with colleagues virtually and in large groups. Its proved enticing in many workplaces and homes across the country, and the companys CEO last month lifted the 40-minute conference time limits for its free service to all K-12 schools.

But the rapid increase of users has also led to increased scrutiny of the privacy and security limitations that come with using the platform, especially without taking necessary precautions. The relatively new phenomenon of Zoombombingin which a hacker infiltrates a chat and shares offensive or harmful content has exposed many classrooms and school board meetings to unwelcome and offensive content.

The company has attracted ire from privacy advocates as well as public officials, including U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and several state attorneys general , who wrote letters to the Zoom CEO requesting details on information the company stores and steps its taken to minimize risks to users. One user filed a class-action lawsuit on Monday over the companys alleged data-sharing with Facebook.

Zoom has in recent days updated its privacy policy and suspended all engineering efforts on new products to focus on addressing issues raised by the surge of new users, including 90,000 schools in 20 countries. The companys customer service team has been overwhelmed by requests for support, according to the Wall Street Journal .

The FBI has even gotten involved, issuing a warning after a hacker infiltrated a Massachusetts high school Zoom meeting shouting profanities and the teachers home address, and another Massachusetts school reported a classroom meeting interrupted by a person displaying swastika tattoos.

We Shut It Down Pretty Quick

Fairfax County public schools in Virginia has existing contracts with Googles education suite and Blackboard Collaborate, both of which include videoconference platforms. As a result, the district has not approved Zoom for teachers or staff to use, said Maribeth Luftglass, chief information officer and assistant superintendent of information technology.

Some teachers started using it anyway amid the chaos of the pandemic. We shut it down pretty quick when we found out about it, Luftglass saidthough some teachers were frustrated because they had already gotten comfortable with it.

Without a Zoom contract, the district cant ensure that students data wont be sold or shared improperly. Streamlining the number of new tech platforms also reduces the strain on the districts IT help desk, which has already had to field a few Zoom questions.

In response, Luftglass has been circulating a two-minute video tutorial for Blackboard Collaborate. We dont just say, OK, use whatever you want, Luftglass said. We say, Were happy to train you, heres a quick tutorial, feel free to sign up for a more indepth class if you want to.

Sticking to district-sanctioned platforms could be critical: Law enforcement officials in Orange County, Fla., are investigating a case of a man who exposed himself after hacking into an online public school class conducted on Zoom, an application not supported by the district, according to the Associated Press .

When it comes to videoconferencing, many educators are starting from scratch. The Sitka school district, which stretches 14 miles on an island near the water in Alaska, had never had a need for virtual conferencesall of its schools are within five minutes of each other, said Mary Wegner, the districts superintendent.

Her district has a subscription to Microsoft Teams, though individual teachers tested other platforms at first, Wegner said. She reeled them in by hosting a 177-member staff meeting on Teams during the spring break week before instruction was set to resume.

That turned out to be a real saving grace for us, because otherwise people would have been only using Zoom, Wegner said. A recent school board meeting got interrupted by a Zoombombing instance, and shes wary of the platform after reading media reports of privacy concerns.

Zoom Responds With Safety Tips

Zoombombing takes place when an uninvited person infiltrates a group video chat, often via a link thats been shared publicly, and shares offensive content, such as racist imagery, pornography, and hate speech, as well as some disruptive but inoffensive jokes. Some instances are part of a coordinated effort among online trolls, including teenagers, trying to sow chaos, according to reports in the New York Times and Inside Higher Ed .

According to the Times report, in one online chat, a middle schools class schedule, including Zoom links for each class, was shared with hundreds of members who stated their intent to harass the students and their teachers. One 16-year-old hacker told the Times, Part of the reason we do it is a lot of teachers give us a lot of work right now.

A blog post on Zooms website recommends generating new meeting ID numbers for each new session, and creating waiting rooms that allow conference hosts to approve attendees who request access. Users can also set up two-factor authentication, disable private chat, and lock meetings when they start, just as you would your front door.

In at least a few cases, hacking issues have led to schools prohibiting Zoom. Clark County public schools in Nevada made the decision to disable access to Zoom out of an abundance of caution in response to hacking incidents in virtual classrooms, a district spokesperson said. The district is looking at options to strengthen security precautions to potentially reopen access.

The Conejo Valley Unified School District in California is taking precautions after a school board meeting was Zoombombed last month. Teachers there have been asked to require attendees to give permission before sharing their screen; to only share login information with students and families; and to allow meeting attendees the option to disable chat and file transfer options.

Zoom also presents logistical challenges some districts have decided to simply avoid. For a district already set up with Chromebooks, having each person sign up for an individual account didnt seem feasible, said Rolland Kornblau, director of information technology for the El Rancho Unified school district in California. We really couldnt administer it, it wasnt under our control, he said.

Still in Widespread Use

Plenty of educators are still using Zoom, though.

The School District of La Crosse in Wisconsin had a prior contract with Googles education suite and videoconference platform, but teachers got interested in Zoom, prompting the districts tech team to do a research dive, said Michael St. Pierre, director of technology.

Teachers liked being able to display two peoples screens at the same time, and to save chat transcripts and audio/video recordings for later use. With Google Hangouts, theyd have to copy the chat message before they closed out just to keep a record of it, St. Pierre said.

With help from the member forums of the Consortium for School Networking, St. Pierre helped kickstart the process for an ongoing statewide evaluation of Zoom for educational use in Wisconsin. In the meantime, the district has mainly used Zoom for staff-to-staff interactions, St. Pierre said.

Some of the features Zoom offers can be tricky to navigate for ensuring students safety. Many teachers want to take advantage of the Zoom feature that allows for recording conversations and saving chat transcripts so students can refer to them later.

Linette Attai, CEO of the privacy compliance consulting firm PlayWell, recommends teachers tell students to keep their cameras off during recorded lectures, and to hold separate, unrecorded video chats for Q&A sessions.

Think of this as a camera in the classroom. Dont rush to change what you would ordinarily do just because you would have the technology, Attai said.

Recorded videoconferences can also be a safeguard against inappropriate behavior, though. Kornblaus district is urging educators to record sessions, particularly those between a teacher and a single student, so they have a record of anything troubling.

The FBI is urging educators who encounter Zoombombing to file a complaint with its Internet Crime Complaint Center . Attai is advising districts to share protocols for reporting Zoombombing incidents and other related challenges with instructors before an incident happens.

Her advice in the meantime: Remove the person from the participant list, and if you cant, close the session. Report it immediately to your technology team, and follow their instructions for how to get back in touch with your students securely as soon as possible to reassure them and discuss what happened.

Megan Mullaly, a 6th grade teacher at Dartmouth Middle School in Massachusetts, got more than 1,300 retweets on a Zoom guide for educators she wrote herself, with tips like turning off private chats students can join without teachers, and exploring settings like chime upon entry and mute all. Other tips on preventing Zoombombing are available in guides from the Consortium for School Networking , the Anti-Defamation League and the Berkeley Information Security Office .

Whats in the Background

Videoconferencing raises other platform-agnostic issues as well. Parents who consent to their students participating in class on video need to be mindful that other students and the teacher will be able to see whats in the background, Attai said.

The Brady Bunch display of participants in a conference call can be off-putting and anxiety-inducing for some students. Attai said shes also seen some educators tweeting screengrabs from video chats with students. Some schools have allowed that practice as long as students involved signed a media release form, but Attai thinks districts shouldnt even be doing that.

A media release is to give permission for a picture of a child to publish a story about, Heres who kicked a winning field goal, not, Heres a look at our classroom, Attai said. Theres no educational purpose for that for students.

Districts can embed any videoconferencing platform within a password-protected student portal, said Scott Gallant, a consultant for Keyed Systems, who works on privacy and data governance in education.

He recommends that districts identify a single videoconference tool that everyone should use, and that teachers maintain professional surroundings and behavior while on camera to set an example for students.

Gallant thinks its important to keep in mind the pressure that educators and families are under, not just to teach and learn but to navigate an unprecedented global health crisis. Videoconference tools ultimately are a vessel that facilitates connections between people through face-to-face communication.

We need to focus more on what were getting back from those cues from students, he said.
Hong Kong government broadcaster RTHK is under pressure from government officials after it aired an interview with a World Health Organization (WHO) official in which the interviewer touched on repeated calls from the democratic of island of Taiwan that it should be allowed to join as a member state.



RTHK on rejected criticism that it had breached the terms of its mission during the interview.



A Hong Kong government statement had said that as one its departments, RTHK should not deviate from the understanding that WHO membership is based on sovereign states, and the Director of Broadcasting "should be responsible for this."



But RTHK said the episode had looked at various responses across the world to the coronavirus emergency, with Taiwan the focus of just part of the program, and journalists hadn't once referred to it as a country, an idea that is anathema to Beijing.



The WHO ended Taiwans observer status at its annual World Health Assembly in 2016, the same year President Tsai Ing-wen, of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, was elected.



Beijing has stepped up efforts to undermine Taiwans bid for recognition from the international community since then.



The Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) said the intervention by the Hong Kong government was "deeply regrettable."



"If it's taboo to even ask about the possibility of Taiwan's membership of the WHO now, then this represents a hobbling of the ability of journalists to carry out their duties," the group said in a statement on its website.



"What does that mean for press freedom in Hong Kong?"



Chung Kim-wah, assistant professor of social policy at Hong Kong's Polytechnic University, said it is never inappropriate for journalists to ask questions about newsworthy topics.



"There is nothing about this that doesn't conform to the principle of one country, two systems," Chung said, referring to the terms of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to Chinese rule.



"Taiwan isn't mentioned in the Basic Law," he said, referring to Hong Kong's mini-constitution. "It's impossible to lay down a predetermined red line about things you're not allowed to ask, in this way."



"This is clearly putting restrictions on press freedom in Hong Kong," he said.



Mask diplomacy

Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo agreed, asking whether Hong Kong journalists were now no longer allowed to cover Taiwan at all.



Taiwan has meanwhile announced it will donate 10 million surgical masks to healthcare staff in countries worst-hit by the coronavirus epidemic.



Hwang Kui-po, associate professor of foreign affairs at Taiwan's National Cheng-chi University, said the mask donations were definitely a form of diplomacy at a time when the island has been frozen out of international organizations by Beijing.



"Of course Taiwan is doing this for reasons of diplomacy," Hwang told RFA. "Taiwan has always talked about what it can do to help, and it is the recipient of almost no foreign aid."



Last weekend's episode of the English-language program "The Pulse" asked WHO adviser Bruce Aylward about Taiwan's repeated call to be allowed to join the U.N. health agency to contribute to the global fight against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.



The journalist asked Aylward, who helped lead a WHO mission to Chinas Wuhan, if the organization would consider giving Taiwan membership.



Aylward then claimed not to be able to hear the question properly, after which the line disconnected.



He later replied that "all areas of China" have done well in the fight against the virus.



The WHO has been widely criticized for its deference to the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, and for glossing over early attempts to cover up the seriousness of the emerging epidemic in late December and early January, including echoing claims by Chinese health officials that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission.



"The question of Taiwanese membership in WHO is up to WHO member states, not WHO staff, spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said in an email to Bloomberg. WHO is taking lessons learned from all areas, including Taiwanese health authorities, to share best practices globally.



Reported by Man Hoi-tsan and Chung Kuang-cheng for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Hsia Hsiao-hwa for the Mandarin Service. Translated

and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg calls for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine to combat the COVID-19 crisis.

"The COVID-19 crisis, the coronavirus, cannot be used as an excuse to further limit the work of the OSCE monitors. So, we call on Russia to stop the fighting in Ukraine. They back, they support separatists responsible for continued ceasefire violations. We also need the ceasefire to be fully implemented to be able to fight the COVID-19 crisis in the country," he said at a virtual press conference, which was broadcast on the organization's website after the meeting of foreign ministers, which also took place in a video conference format.

Stoltenberg stated that "when it goes of the east of Ukraine, we see that despite the call from Russia for a pause in a military activity, Russia-backed separatists continue to attack Ukrainian forces in the east of the country." "And we see ceasefire violations continuing both in Donetsk and in Luhansk. And we see that these violations are not only reported by Ukraine but also confirmed by the OSCE monitors," he stressed.

At the same time, the Secretary General noted that making use of the coronavirus crisis as an argument for the ban on free movement for OSCE observers complicates their work, as "they are restricted in their ability to move, and therefore, they are not able to report in the way they should."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 00:33:00|Editor: huaxia

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Palestinian engineer Tariq Al-Najjar (R) works on making a mobile sterilization chamber which sprays disinfectant, at his workshop in the West Bank city of Hebron, on April 2, 2020. Palestine on Thursday declared five new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Palestinian territories to 160. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Thursday declared five new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Palestinian territories to 160.

The samples for 35 suspected cases were tested, and the test results showed that five cases are positive, said government spokesperson Ibrahim Milhem in a press conference.

Four of the infected people are workers at a poultry factory in the Israeli industrial Atarot settlement in East Jerusalem, while the fifth is a spouse of a formerly infected worker.

The workers, aged between 30 and 40, are from the district of Ramallah.

Milhem added that 250 Palestinian workers that work at the poultry factory in Atarot settlement are expected to return to the West Bank on Thursday night.

"In coordination with the Civil Affairs Commission and the Ministries of Health and Labor, we will receive the workers returning from the poultry factory, and send them to the quarantine centers in Ramallah for testing," Milhem said.

He added that the government decided to set up a donation fund, which aims at supporting the medical needs and families in need.
The Flash star Logan Williams has died aged 16.

His mother Marlyse announced his passing to Tri-City News on Friday, and said she is 'absolutely devastated' by his death, the cause of which has not been reported.

Due to social distancing measures brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Logan's mother is coping with her loss alone without loved ones.

Tragedy: The Flash star Logan Williams has died aged 16; pictured in October 2017

'I am not able to hug my parents who lost their only grandchild,' she told the newspaper.

'It's hard. With his talent and gorgeous looks, Logan had the potential to be a huge star.'

Logan's The Flash co-star Grant Gustin, who played the adult version of his character Barry Allen, shared his heartbreak on Instagram.

Alongside a picture with and fellow The Flash actor Jesse L. Martin, Grant wrote: 'Just hearing the devastating news that Logan Williams has passed away suddenly.'

Rising talent: The actor played a younger version of Barry Allen on The Flash (pictured in 2014), a performance which earned him a Joey Award

He shared: 'This picture was early in the filming of The Flash pilot episode back in 2014. I was so impressed by not only Logans talent but his professionalism on set.'

Grant continued: 'My thoughts and prayers will be with him and his family during what is Im sure an unimaginably difficult time for them.'

He urged: 'Please keep Logan and his family in your thoughts and prayers during what has been a strange and trying time for us all. Sending love to everyone.'

Logan's performance on The Flash earned the rising talent a Joey Award, a Canadian prize that is given to child actors.

'Devastating': Logan's Flash co-star Grant Gustin, who played the adult version of his character Barry Allen, shared his heartbreak on Instagram; pictured with co-star Jesse L. Martin

He also starred alongside Lori Loughlin on the Hallmark Channel series When Calls The Heart, a period drama about the early 20th century Canadian frontier.

Logan was only 10 years old when he made his debut in the 2014 Hallmark film The Color Of Rain - after winning the part with the first audition he ever gave in his life.

That same year he began appearing on both When Calls The Heart and The Flash, and the following year he guest-starred on an episode of Supernatural.

Logan appeared on eight episodes of The Flash starting with the pilot and ending with the 2015 episode The Man Who Saved Central City.

'He could always make us laugh': Erin Krakow, who led the cast of When Calls The Heart as Logan's schoolteacher, shared an Instagram tribute to her late co-star as well

He was featured on 13 episodes of When Calls The Heart from 2014 until 2016 as the kindhearted Miles Montgomery.

Within that time he was also credited on two episodes of the one-season show The Whispers whose cast included Lily Rabe and Milo Ventimiglia.

Erin Krakow, who led the cast of When Calls The Heart as Logan's schoolteacher, shared an Instagram tribute to her late co-star as well.

'Heartbroken to learn of the passing of Logan Williams who played Miles Montgomery in several seasons of @wcth_tv,' she wrote.

'Talented young man': 'Heartbroken to learn of the passing of Logan Williams who played Miles Montgomery in several seasons of @wcth_tv,' she wrote

'Logan was a beautiful, warm, silly, and talented young man. He could always make us laugh. He was just shy of 17 and had what Im sure would have been a very bright future ahead of him,' Erin added.

'I hope youll join me in sending virtual love & support to Logans family & friends during this very painful time. #Hearties.'

When Calls The Heart actors Gracyn Shinyei and Mitchell Kummen, who played Logan's siblings on the program, shared their grief on social media.

'My friend Logan Williams passed away yesterday. I am beyond sad! Proud to play older brother Dude. We had so much on set #wcth #Hearties,' tweeted Mitchell.

Dearly departed: When Calls The Heart actors Gracyn Shinyei and Mitchell Kummen, who played Logan's siblings on the program, shared their grief on social media

'I love you': For her tribute Gracyn posted an Instagram photo of herself on set in costume with her When Calls The Heart siblings

'Heartsick': John Wesley Shipp, who played The Flash on a CBS series in the 1990s and portrayed Barry Allen's father on the new show, added his condolences on Twitter

'Loved hanging out with out you. In set. You were such a talent. Sending love to your mom., #rip #myles,' he wrote on the social networking platform.

For her tribute Gracyn posted an Instagram photo of herself on set in costume with her When Calls The Heart siblings.

'It is with the saddest of heart that I learned my When Calls The Heart brother Logan Williams passed away yesterday,' she wrote.

Origin story: Logan was 10 when he made his debut in the 2014 Hallmark film The Color Of Rain; pictured with co-stars Warren Christie, Callum Seagram Airlie and Alison Thornton

'He was a fun, intelligent leader and sweet young man about to turn 17 this month. My family and I will miss him and our love and thoughts are with his family at this time. I love you "Logie Pierogi".'

John Wesley Shipp, who played The Flash on a CBS series in the 1990s and portrayed Barry Allen's father on the new show, added his condolences on Twitter.

'Heartsick to learn of Logan Williams death at 16. He was 100% committed to playing young Barry Allen, and we missed him once we moved past that part of the story. Love and compassion to Logans family and friends in your grief,' wrote John.
The CEO of 3M said Friday his company is maximizing its efforts to get respirator masks to U.S. health workers fighting the coronavirus, pushing back on what he called President Donald Trump's "absurd" suggestion that the manufacturer was not doing all it could.

"Nothing is further from the truth," CEO Mike Roman said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" after being read Trump's tweet slamming 3M "after seeing what they were doing with their Masks."

Trump on Thursday issued an order under the Defense Production Act directing acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to "use any and all authority available under the Act to acquire, from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company, the number of N-95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate."

Later Thursday, Trump tweeted, "We hit 3M hard today."

"Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing - will have a big price to pay!" the president wrote.

TWEET

"The idea that 3M is not doing all it can to fight price gouging and unauthorized reselling is absurd," Roman said. "The idea that we're not doing everything we can to maximize deliveries of respirators in our home country  nothing is further from the truth."

Asked if the White House is trying to cover up for its own inadequacies in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed at least 6,058 people in the U.S., Roman said the narrative being presented is "just not true."

In a statement earlier Friday, 3M said it was already working with the Trump administration on getting more masks to the U.S., prior to the president's invocation of the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era law.

"We have been working closely with the Administration to do exactly that, and we appreciate the authorities in the DPA that provide a framework for us to expand even further the work we are doing in response to the global pandemic crisis," the company said.

Roman said on CNBC that "we are net importing [respirators] into the U.S., and we've been telling the administration for days and days."

The Minnesota-based company had also warned the administration that its apparent request for the company to halt its exports to Canadian and Latin American markets could actually hinder the amount of masks brought into the U.S.

"Ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done," 3M said. "If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease."

Said Roman: "We're more than happy to shift our overseas production to the U.S., but there are going to be consequences on a humanitarian level as we are often the sole provider of those respirators around the world."
The novel coronavirus outbreak poses a unique challenge to the European Union, where traditional solutions have been proven to be inadequate, Justice Minister Judit Varga told MTI in reaction to a statement signed by 13 EU member states on Hungarian measures adopted against the epidemic.

Varga said that Hungary, at the same time, agrees fully with the statements call to uphold the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.



Thirteen European Union countries expressed concern over Hungarys new law which enhances government powers to tackle the novel coronavirus epidemic.



In this unprecedented situation, it is legitimate that Member States adopt extraordinary measures to protect their citizens and overcome the crisis, the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden said in the statement published on the websites of their respective foreign ministries.



The countries added, however, that they were deeply concerned about the risk of violations of the principles of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights arising from the adoption of certain emergency measures.



They said Hungary should limit emergency measures to what is strictly necessary, proportionate and temporary. In addition, they called for measures to be subject to regular scrutiny and to abide by the principles of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights as well as international legal obligations.



The emergency measures must not restrict the freedom of expression or the media, the statement added. Member states must work together to overcome the coronavirus crisis and uphold European principles and values, they said.



We therefore support the European Commission initiative to monitor the emergency measures and their application to ensure the fundamental values of the Union are upheld, and invite the General Affairs Council to take up the matter when appropriate, the statement said.



Varga expressed regret that the statement was not open for all member states to join. Hungary, she added, has always promoted a comprehensive evaluation of the EUs basic principles, based on objective criteria and the principle of equal rights.



Such an evaluation can include various states emergency measures during the crisis, once the hardest days are behind us, she said, calling on member states to refrain from using the epidemic to sow discord.



MTI Photo: Tibor Rosta
Health Minister of Haryana Anil Vij on Friday refuted reports in certain sections of media regarding the death of a coronavirus positive female patient in Ambala.

"No such death has been reported from Haryana. The media should verify the facts before carrying such news," Vij said.

The only death reported so far due to COVID-19 from Haryana had been that of a 67-year-old patient who passed away at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh, informed Dr Kuldeep Singh, Ambala Chief Medical Officer on Thursday.

Vij further said that the reason behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving a call to all Indians for lighting Diyas, candles on their doors and balconies for 9 minutes on April 5 was to "showcase India's unity in diversity, which is India's speciality" and also slammed the critics for opposing this call by the Prime Minister.

The Minister also stated that the Centre is taking care of maintaining a record of all people associated with the Tablighi Jamaat's gathering organised at Markaz building in Nizamuddin, Delhi.

"The treatment of all people associated with the Tablighi Jamaat's gathering is also being taken care of by the Centre. A total of 1277 Jamaatis have been found in Haryana and 5 FIRs in various districts have been registered against them till date," Vij said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump said he underwent a second coronavirus test on April 2, using a new diagnostic that produced a result in less than 15 minutes, and it determined he has not been infected.

"I think I took it really out of curiosity to see how quickly it worked," said Trump, who also tested negative last month after coming into contact with a Brazilian official who later tested positive for the coronavirus.

A White House official said Trump took the newly released Abbott Laboratories test that offers results in 15 minutes or less.

At his daily White House news briefing, Trump said Americans should wear protective face masks if they wish. "If people want to wear them, they can" he said. Scarves work just as well, he said.

Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of Trump's coronavirus task force, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working on a recommendation about masks to add to US guidelines on how Americans can best protect themselves. It is critical, she said, that people do not "get a false sense of security" that they are protected from the virus by wearing a mask, because there are plenty of other ways that infections can occur.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Trump took issue with states that are letting some low-risk prisoners out of jail because of the risk of coronavirus contagion and said his administration was looking to see "if I have the right to stop it in some cases."

"Some people are getting out that are very serious criminals in some states, and I don't like that. I don't like it," he said.

Vice President Mike Pence said Trump is expected to announce on April 3 a plan to compensate hospitals for treating and testing uninsured coronavirus patients.

"We don't want any American to worry about the cost of getting tests or the costs of getting treatment," said Pence. "The president will be addressing that tomorrow."

Trump announced that the US military and federal personnel will operate a makeshift hospital set up in the Javits Center convention center in New York to help the city grapple with a flood of patients. The Javits Center operation will treat non-coronavirus patients, freeing up hospitals to care for those with the virus.

New York has become the epicenter of the US epidemic with more than 47,000 confirmed cases in the city.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, a member of the coronavirus task force, said the government will send to the New York public hospital system 200,000 N-95 protective masks to help medical workers get through the next month.

Trump, who had initially played down the threat from the virus, made use of the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to order companies to produce hospital ventilators essential in keeping alive patients hit hard by the COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. He said he also used the law to get General Motors Co to produce more N-95 masks.

"We have over 100,000 (ventilators) being built right now or soon to be started," Trump said.

He said he had just spoken with General Motors Chief Executive Mary Barra, who told him the company will soon be ready to start production of ventilators.

Trump's physician, Sean Conley, said in a letter released by the White House that Trump was tested with a new, rapid point-of-contact test and the result came back in 15 minutes. "He is healthy and without symptoms," Conley said.
This is a special episode of Today in Pa dedicated the coronavirus pandemic. Today in Pa will be doing these evening updates every weekday throughout the pandemic. You can listen to the latest episode at this link, or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Subscribe/Follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app.

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | Coronavirus Update April 3, 2020

New Yorks governor uses an executive order to seize unused ventilators as the number of deaths in the state continue to grow. Pennsylvanias governor advises everyone to wear masks, while freezing the paychecks of more than 10 percent of the commonwealths employees. In healthcare news, Independence Blue Cross says it wont be charging co-pays for coronavirus treatment and the state creates a new toll-free hotline to help those under mental stress. The number is 1-855-284-2494.

Those are the stories we are covering in the latest bonus episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state, but our bonus episodes about the coronavirus also look at how the disease is impacting the nation and the world.

Todays bonus episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, we like to know what you think of the program.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
This week's top stories

As we head on to the second week of lockdown, Acumen Media has compiled stories that grabbed the headlines over the last seven days:



The first positive coronavirus cases in townships were confirmed. The affected townships so far are Khayelitsha in the Western Cape, Alexandra in Gauging and Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal.

The SANDF became heavy-handed in trying to enforce the lockdown and keep South Africans confined to their homes, while elders came out in their numbers this week to collect their social grants.

Duduza Clinic in Gauging was closed after a nurse tested positive for coronavirus, while Nehawu threatens strike action after the national lockdown.

South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi tested positive for coronavirus and there have been vague reports on ACDP leader Kenneth Moshoe's state after he also tested positive for the virus.

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has implemented around 30,000 tests per day and a massive ramp-up of 10,000 health workers who will be going from house to house to screen South Africans for the coronavirus.

Lockdown regulations were relaxed, meaning spaza shops and informal traders allowed to operate, and taxi rules have been changed to allow for 70% loading capacity per taxi.

Globally, confirmed Covid-19 cases are now past 1 million with over 53,000 deaths.

SA billionaires such as Johan Rupert, Mary Oppenheimer and daughters, and Patrice Motsepe have each donated R1 billion to the Covid-19 solidarity fund.

Moody's and other rating agencies downgrade South Africa to junk status and science-backed 5G conspiracy theories continue to dominate social media.
The Ghana Education Service says it has no objection to the use of school facilities for Covid-19 related activities.

However, it has directed that all requests in that direction should be routed through its Director General who is then liaise with the National Covid-19 Coordinating Team.

In a statement signed by the Director General Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, GES says the aim is to ensure effective coordination and monitoring of the use of the facilities by GES and the National Covid-19 Coordinating Team.

It noted in the statement that it has received several requests from district and regional directors of Education and heads of SHS/TVETs for direction following demands made on them by both regional and district health and security teams to release schools facilities to be used for various activities connected with efforts at fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

---Daily Guide
South Africa: Protective gear consignment arriving this weekend

Government is ramping up efforts to make sure that every health worker has protective gear as soon as next week.

Health Deputy Minister Joe Phaahla made the assurance during a ministerial press briefing on Friday, where he said the government would be getting stock from this weekend and early next week.

The health worker unions have been putting pressure on government to provide health care workers with personal protective equipment (PPE), with Nehawu threatening to take Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to court over the matter.

There were also concerns that healthcare professionals were putting their lives at risk of contracting COVID-19.

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the virus in the country.

According to the World Health Organisation, health workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and often vulnerable to the dangers that the virus exposes to them.

Government is very much committed [to ensuring] that personal protective equipment is provided to all our health workers both in the public and private health sector services.

He admitted that they were delays due to the unavailability of the equipment that is largely produced in China, which was the epicentre of the epidemic.

Therefore, this limited the capacity to produce enough equipment, reducing the number of exports, he explained.

When the disease spread to the other parts of the world, especially in America and Europe, the demand for this equipment has been rising, Phaahla said.

The weaker Rand, which continues to plummet against foreign major currencies, caused a delay and sourcing the required goods was further exacerbated by the cargo ships and airfreight restrictions, which have since been relaxed by government.

The department is working with the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Treasury. We have also brought in partnerships from organised business to make sure that these matters are addressed. We are very confident, having identified what are the key equipment, who are the key suppliers, working together with business, he said.

Phaahla said the department had also received assistance from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the government of China.

He said a centralised system would be used to distribute the equipment to provinces.

We can assure the nation that this matter is being addressed and we will start to see a lot of improvement in the coming week, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia and any reported talks they may or may not be holding have become irrelevant in the context of the Covid-19 outbreak, Petrobrass chief executive Roberto Castello Blanco said.

I sincerely think that this dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia - although the markets reacted positively to some news about President Trump getting involved and what not - has become irrelevant amid the dimension of the (coronavirus) crisis, the executive said as quoted by Reuters.

Those that celebrated a sharp jump in oil prices yesterday after President Trump tweeted that he expected Russia and Saudi Arabia to agree to cut a combined 10-15 million bpd in production would probably disagree.

The current oil crisis has been called unprecedented by almost everyone commenting on it. But what makes it unprecedented is not the size of the price slump. It is the fact that this price slump comes amid severely dampened demand for oil. And demand for oil was crippled by the coronavirus outbreak and not by market forces of political power plays.

Oil prices are low because global demand has gone down, Castello Blanco said, summing up the situation.

Oil demand could plunge by as many as 20 million bpd this month as the outbreak peaks in many countries, including in the worlds biggest consumer, the United States. It seems most forecasts peg the decline at about 20 million bpd. Rystad Energy said earlier this week it could even plunge by more than that: the Norwegian consultancys forecast for April oil demand is 77.6 million bpd, down 22.8 million bpd on the year.

The price rally following Trumps tweet hit a speed bump on Thursday night, but OPEC sources later confirmed that they were indeed discussing a 10 million bpd cut and were meeting on Monday, sending prices higher once again.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Just over one week ago, 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab was at home with his mum, six brothers and sisters, doing what were all doing, watching TV, warding off boredom, isolating at home.

The healthy lad described by his family as a bubble of life then started showing coronavirus symptoms. Soon he had difficulty breathing and was raced to Kings College Hospital.

He told ambulance paramedics that when he grew up he wanted to be a vet, as he loved animals. These were Ismails last words. The boy with no known health issues was put on a ventilator, induced into a coma, then suffered a cardiac arrest.

Just over one week ago, 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab was at home with his mum, six brothers and sisters. On Monday he became the youngest fatality of Covid-19 in the UK.

He became the youngest fatality of Covid-19 in the UK.

Ismail died at 3am last Monday without his mum, without his brothers and sisters, without anyone apart from the medical team who, we can be sure, tended him as lovingly as any strangers could.

How unimaginably heartbreaking  for him in his last hours, as well as for his family who desperately wanted to be with him but couldnt be because of the virus.

No child should die alone. It is alien to all our instincts. No child should be without their mother at the end, robbed of her last loving words and with no hand to hold.

Ismail died at 3am last Monday without his mum, without his brothers and sisters, without anyone apart from the medical team who, we can be sure, tended him as lovingly as any strangers could

As a family friend said, the fact no one was able to see Ismail compounded the sense of devastation. To make things still worse, its emerged that none of Ismails family  not his mother Sadiya nor his siblings  will be able to attend the funeral because two of them have developed mild symptoms, so everyone is quarantined at home.

We all understand the importance of isolation rules. But surely there should be allowances. Cant we show compassion in cases like Ismails?

The Marie Curie end-of-life charity says they would like to see close family be able to visit loved ones in hospital, where possible and if it is safe to do so, arguing this is part of our duty of care to patients.

It is vital in this brutal fight against the virus that we retain our sense of humanity.

This does not mean a free for all for visits  its clear we need strict policies. But for a mother not to be able to visit a hospital where her son lies dying, strikes me as cruelty.

Surely we can do better  and offer a stricken family the comfort they deserve?

Bond actress Lea Seydoux refuses to play the poor-me #MeToo card as she promotes No Time To Die

Lea lust for 007

Bond actress Lea Seydoux refuses to play the poor-me #MeToo card as she promotes No Time To Die.

She says the only person sexually objectified in the Bond movies is 007 himself: Women, they love to see Bond. No? To see his body. No? I love to see sexy men in swimming suits.

How refreshing to hear a woman admit shes both shaken and stirred by the sight of Daniel Craig, or any fit man, in budgie smugglers.

Hurrah Gary Lineker  three words I thought Id never write  for donating two months of his Match Of The Day salary to the British Red Cross to help fight the pandemic.

When this is over, we will all be judged by our actions.

Bernie a dad at 89? I sense a 2.5bn fight

Bernie Ecclestone is to become a dad again and will celebrate his 90th birthday just months after his first son is born to his third wife Fabiana, 44.

Im happy really for my wife, now shell have something after Im gone, he says. There will also be a share of his 2.5 billion fortune to console her and the child through the dark days without Bernie  although she might have a fight getting it off his two pampered princess daughters Petra and Tamara . . .

TV to mend our broken hearts

Last month I came upon the BBCs The Repair Shop in which a bunch of experts and craftspeople restore beloved items. One woman brought the ancient teddy bear she was clutching when her adoptive parents found her decades ago.

It encouraged me to dig out and fix my Dads Gladstone bag that had been rotting in the garage and which was a gift from his parents on his 21st  his initials FEP in gold on the front are now faded.

The Repair Shop is a surprise hit with nearly three million regularly watching the show. Little wonder when, during these troubled times, we hold close to us those things we find priceless  but which are viewed as worthless tat by others.

Last month I came upon the BBCs The Repair Shop in which a bunch of experts and craftspeople restore beloved items

How comforting Prince Charles has been during this crisis. Yesterday he was opening the new Nightingale Hospital, speaking via video link, his voice still croaky and recovering from the virus.

Our future King spoke movingly, offered his thoughts and prayers for those now suffering  a nice suggestion of the importance of faith at times like this, and a reminder that the baton is now increasingly being passed on from our beloved Queen to her heir.

Westminster whimpers

Back from his Covid-19 confinement amid accusations the Government has dropped the ball over testing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock took to the briefing lectern holding up five fingers to ram home his five pillars of action. He vowed to have 100,000 daily tests available by the end of April  although were woefully short of that so far. We may be struggling to home school the kids, but even we can see his sums dont add up.

Meanwhile, the PM is still in No 10 isolation and looking, when he does appear on video, distinctly under the weather  like an inverted pyramid of sniffles!

Today Keir Starmer is expected to become leader of Labour, ready to purge the hard-Left Corbynistas from the party. So I guess thats bye-bye to Diane Abbott. A nation mourns. Suggested farewell gift to the innumerate Abbott, an abacus.

A final word from Corbyns wife Laura Alvarez: If equality, humanity, honesty and kindness are called Corbynism, then thats all right with me. Im guessing she hasnt visited any synagogues recently.

Views on the virus

Covid-19 observations from my North London home, a quarter of a mile from the Royal Free Hospital, now the major coronavirus centre in these parts . . .

The good  That my friend Zoe, who insisted on continuing to work in Marks & Spencer on the tills, is now stable in intensive care in the Royal Free. Joyful news for all of us who love her, most importantly her husband and three sons.

The sad  Hampstead Heaths car park has been given over to NHS staff only and on Wednesday evening I watched a nurse with her ID pass dangling from her neck walk wearily to her battered old car. Her modest engagement ring caught the sunlight as she got in, started the engine, leaned forward on the steering wheel, and wept.

And the ugly  Three enormous removal vans in fine burgundy and gold livery parked on double yellow lines near my home, reducing the road to the Royal Free to a single lane. I wonder if the millionaire mansion owners  who arent meant to be moving in lockdown  heard the sirens outside their home, from ambulances desperate to get past?

Amal Clooney is a fearless human rights lawyer fighting for those less fortunate than her. Odd then that in one of her and hubby Georges many mansions, the 12 million one in Berkshire, theyve run into planning problems for a hut containing a toilet and tiny kitchen for their security staff. Evidently theyre too posh to share their many loos with the hoi polloi.

If you want a giggle, treat yourself to Meghan narrating Disneys Elephant documentary.

One critic described the Duchess of Sussexs first commercial venture outside the Royal Family as her own spectacular torrents of schmaltz.

It traces a brave, matriarchal elephant who sacrifices all to lead her family to freedom. Crikey, what next, Megs narrating a documentary of Nelson Mandela?
Turkish president announces curfew for youth, shuts borders of 31 cities to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Turkey decided to shut down borders of 31 cities and imposed a partial curfew for citizens under the age of 20, effective from midnight Friday to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres renewed his call for a global ceasefire, urging all parties to conflict to lay down arms and allow war-torn countries to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

As New York recorded 562 more deaths  its deadliest single day  Governor Andrew Cuomo made a plea for the US to deploy its resources to New York to help it deal with the growing crisis.

The US now has nearly 7,000 fatalities as the contagion rapidly spreads.

More than 1,083,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus globally, according to the data from Johns Hopkins University. More than 225,000 people have recovered from the disease, including more than 9,000 in the US.

Here are the latest updates:

Friday, April 3

23:05 GMT  New York governor signs order to take unused ventilators

President Donald Trump says his administration is doing our best for New York even as Governor Andrew Cuomo warns the state is in danger of not having enough ventilators to help coronavirus-stricken patients in a matter of days.

Earlier on Friday, Cuomo signed an executive order allowing the state to take unused ventilators and personal protective equipment from hospitals within the state. The state, which recorded around 3,000 coronavirus deaths, has been the hardest hit area in the US by the pandemic.

20:30 GMT  Texas fully prepared for hospital needs

Texas is fully prepared to meet hospital capacity needs and should be able to provide enough ventilators as needs arise, Governor Greg Abbott said.

20:20 GMT  Cases in Egypt increase by more than 100

The number of coronavirus cases in Egypt jumped by more than 100 for the first time, raising total confirmed cases to 985, the health ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that 120 new cases and eight new deaths were recorded.

66 people in Egypt have so far died from the coronavirus.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has said the next week will be critical in Egypts efforts to contain the coronavirus [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters]

20:00 GMT  France seeks UN Security Council meeting on war zones

France said discussions were underway for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to convene via video regarding how to tackle the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in war zones.

The idea of a pause [in fighting] on humanitarian grounds must clearly be discussed at the Security Council and we hope this meeting takes place so that we can move in this direction, the French presidency said in a statement.

19:55 GMT  Albania sees surge in cases

Albania confirmed 27 new cases of the coronavirus, its second biggest daily surge, and ordered a third 40-hour lockdown over the weekend to contain the highly contagious pathogen.

17 people have died from COVID-19 in the country so far.

Albania had reported it largest single day of confirmed cases on March 26 with 28.





18:40 GMT  Canadas Ontario province projects 80,000 cases by April 30

Ontario health officials projected 80,000 coronavirus cases in the province, Canadas most heavily populated region, by April 30 under current public health measures and urged people to restrict their movements.

The officials said the new coronavirus would kill 1,600 people by the end of the month, under current policies.

Ontario has reported 3,255 confirmed cases and 67 deaths.

18:25 GMT  WHO allows broader use of masks to limit spread of coronavirus

The WHO said the use of respirator masks should be focused mainly on medical workers, but opened the door to greater use of homemade masks or other mouth coverings as a way to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

A senior WHO official told reporters there was some possibility of airborne transmission of the virus, but the main cause was still believed to be symptomatic people who were coughing and sneezing and contaminating surfaces or other people.

We must preserve medical surgical respirator masks for our frontline workers, but the idea of using respiratory coverings or mouth coverings to prevent coughing or sneezing that in itself is not a bad idea, Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHOs top emergencies expert said.





18:15 GMT  Trudeau warns US: Dont block supplies into Canada

It would be a mistake for the US to stop masks badly needed by health care professionals from coming into Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Trudeaus comment follows the Trump administration order to the 3M company to stop exporting essential supplies to Canada.

The US also receives essential supplies and products and indeed health care professionals from Canada every single day, Trudeau said.

It would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back and forth.

Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said blocking exports of 3M would be a mistake [Blair Gable/Reuters]

18:05 GMT  France records 588 more deaths

France reported 588 more coronavirus deaths, its deadliest single-day toll since the epidemic began.

5,091 people have now died in hospital of the COVID-19 disease in France, top health official Jerome Salomon told media.

Those who have died of COVID-19 in senior homes are not included in the tally. But Salomon said that 1,416 people had died from coronavirus in such establishments, bringing the total toll to at least 6,507.

A team decontaminates the Mulhouse train station after a dozen COVID-19 patients were evacuated by train from the area to free some much-needed hospital beds in Mulhouse [Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images]

17:55 GMT  Bulgaria extends state of emergency

Bulgarias parliament approved to extend its state of emergency for another month, until April 13 as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 485. 14 people in Bulgaria have died so far from COVID-19.

17:50 GMT  Turkey imposes curfew on youth, shuts borders of 31 cities

Turkey imposed a partial curfew for citizens under the age of 20, effective as of midnight, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said.

Ankara also decided to shut down borders of 31 cities for vehicles, excluding essential supplies, to contain the outbreak, Erdogan said, adding that mask usage will be obligatory in crowded places.

The shutdown of city borders will be in effect for 15 days initially, however this period can be extended if necessary, Erdogan told a news conference.

Turkeys death toll rose to 425, while the number of confirmed cases increased to more than 20,000, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.

A shop owner waits for customers amid closed shops on an empty street in the usually busy Eminonu district in Istanbul, Turkey [Chris McGrath/Getty Images]

17:40 GMT  Downturn way worse than 2008 recession: IMF

The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the recession sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is way worse than the 2008 global recession and is a crisis like no other.

Never in the history of the IMF have we witnessed the world economy coming to a standstill, Kristalina Georgieva said.

We are now in recession, it is way worse than the global financial crisis and it is a crisis that requires all of us to come together.

Georgieva says 90 countries have already approached the institution for emergency financing.

She added that the worlds most fragile countries must be protected, noting that $90bn have flown out.

17:24 GMT  How is South Africa faring in COVID-19 fight?

One week into a nationwide lockdown, South Africa is scrambling to set in motion an ambitious track-and-trace programme to identify people who may have contracted the new coronavirus as infections begin to proliferate across informal settlements in the worlds most unequal society.

Read about it here.

17:20 GMT  Liberia braces for coronavirus with defunct health system

Healthcare woes limit effect of Ebola learnings during 2014-16 epidemic as Liberia gears up to fight COVID-19 outbreak.

Read more here.





16:15 GMT  US expected to cover hospital costs of uninsured patients

The Trump administration is expected to use coronavirus relief funds to pay hospitals that treat uninsured patients infected with the coronavirus as long as they do not bill them or issue unexpected charges, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The plan could be released on Friday, the Journal said.

16:00 GMT  US labour market sinks with 700,000 jobs lost in March

The economy lost 701,000 jobs last month, the US department of Labor reported  abruptly ending 113 straight months of jobs creation as businesses and factories closed shop and people locked down to contain the spread of COVID-19. The unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent.

Fridays data confirms the view of most economists that the US is already in a deep recession as containment measures bring entire sectors of the economy to a screeching halt, throwing millions of Americans out of work.

Read more here.

15:45 GMT  New York reports deadliest day, makes plea for help

New York reported its deadliest single day from the coronavirus, recording 562 more deaths across the state for a total of 2,935 fatalities, Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

Cuomo warned that people are going to die in the near term due to a lack of ventilators of hospital beds and called for the US to deploy its resources to New York to help it deal with the growing crisis.

To read more about what Cuomo said, click here.

Emergency Medical Technicians transfer a patient to a hospital in the Bronx borough of New York City [Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters]

15:31 GMT  Dow falls 200 points as US jobs data signals recession

US stocks opened lower as the coronavirus brought the longest US employment expansion on record to an abrupt halt, and analysts warning of far worse carnage ahead.

Read about it here.

15:30 GMT  Coronavirus toll in New York City exposes wider inequalities

Under normal circumstances, low-income residents of New York City face heightened risks of economic dislocation, adverse health outcomes and workplace dangers.

But in the age of the coronavirus, pre-existing inequalities are exacerbated by a disease that claims lives from all walks of life, but takes a far bigger toll on the less affluent.

Read more here.

14:30 GMT  Worst yet to come for countries in conflict: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed his call for a global ceasefire, urging all parties to conflict to lay down arms and allow war-torn nations to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The worst is yet to come, Guterres said, referring to countries with fighting like Syria, Libya and Yemen.

The COVID-19 storm is now coming to all these theatres of conflict.

Antonio Guterres has urged the UN Security Council to unite to tackle the coronavirus pandemic [Daylife]

14:05 GMT  Russia to halt flights bringing Russians home

Russia will suspend all flights bringing Russians home from abroad from Friday night, the Interfax news agency cited sources as saying.

The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said 25,000 people abroad had appealed for help getting home, with many still stranded as measures to curb the spread of coronavirus have limited travel options.

13:35 GMT  Israel seals off ultra-Orthodox town

Israel set up roadblocks to close off an ultra-Orthodox Jewish town badly affected by the coronavirus, but ordered in soldiers to support the residents.

Emergency regulations approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet late on Thursday declared Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, a restricted zone due to its high rate of infections.

The new designation allows authorities to tighten curbs on public movement.





13:20 GMT  Britains Queen Elizabeth to address nation

Britains Queen Elizabeth II will make a rare address to the nation on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said.

Her Majesty The Queen has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus outbreak, Buckingham Palace said.

The address, which was recorded at Windsor Castle where the 93-year-old monarch is staying with her husband Prince Philip, will be broadcast at 19:00 GMT on Sunday.

13:15 GMT  Deaths in the Netherlands rise to 1,487

The Netherlands confirmed 148 more deaths linked to the coronavirus, bringing the total to 1,487.

It reported 1,026 new coronavirus cases, increasing the total tally to 15,723 according to the the daily report from The National Institute for Health.

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This is Mersiha Gadzo taking over the live updates from my colleague Usaid Siddiqui.

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12:59 GMT  Switzerland in delicate but stable condition on coronavirus  minister

Switzerland is in a delicate but stable situation regarding the spread of the new coronavirus, Health Minister Alain Berset said on Friday as the countrys death toll continued to rise.

Hospitalisations continue to go up but not all beds are taken, Berset told a news conference in Bern.

We have not yet reached the peak for infections or for hospitalisations. Now more than ever we have to continue this marathon.

12:47 GMT  Pandemic threatens food in import-reliant states: WFP

The coronavirus pandemic threatens to cause food shortages for hundreds of millions of people, especially in Africa, the United Nations warned.

In poorer countries that rely upon exports to pay for food imports, middle class people could end up needing food aid to survive the COVID-19 crisis, the World Food Programme said.

Generally we are used to dealing with a supply-side shock, like a drought, or a demand-side shock like a recession  but here it is both and at a global level, said WFP chief economist Arif Husain.

12:19 GMT  Vendors return in Wuhan as China prepares virus memorial

Sidewalk vendors wearing face masks and gloves sold pork, tomatoes, carrots and other vegetables to shoppers Friday in the Chinese city where the coronavirus pandemic began, as workers prepared for a national memorial this weekend for health workers and others who died in the outbreak.

Authorities are easing controls that kept Wuhans 11 million people at home for two months, but many shops are still closed.





11:59 GMT  Anguish as Sri Lanka forces Muslims to cremate COVID-19 victims

The forced cremation of two COVID-19 infected Muslims in Sri Lanka has sent shock waves among the minority community, which accused the authorities of violating Islamic burial rites.

Bishrul Hafi Mohammed Joonus, a 73yearold man from the capital Colombo who died of COVID-19 , was the second Muslim to have been cremated in the Indian Ocean island nation, which has registered 151 cases so far.

Read more here.

11:49 GMT  New 4,000-bed coronavirus field hospital opens in London

Prince Charles opened a new 4,000-bed temporary hospital in a conference centre in east London on Friday, the first of several being built in Britain to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

The new state-run National Health Service (NHS) Hospital is named after the trailblazing 19th-century nurse Florence Nightingale and has been built in just nine days.

Queen Elizabeth IIs eldest son and heir officially launched the facility via videolink from Scotland, where he has been in self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

11:37 GMT  UK peak of coronavirus outbreak could be Easter Sunday, health minister

The deadliest peak of Britains coronavirus outbreak could be on Easter Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.

The British governments worst case scenario envisaged the COVID-19 death toll of 50,000 if self-isolation was not fully adhered to, and the worst day for deaths was projected to be April 12.

When asked about reports the death rate could peak on April 12, Hancock told Sky News: I defer to the scientists on the exact predictions, Im not going to steer you away from that. That is one perfectly possible outcome.





11:20 GMT  Business booms for coffin-makers in coronavirus-hit France

While most businesses have shut their doors as part of a lockdown, the coffin-making factory in the sleepy town of Jussey in northeastern France can barely keep up with the orders.

France has confirmed nearly 60,000 cases of the coronavirus and as of Friday 5,387 deaths, the fourth highest tally in the world.

Given whats happening, the pace of production is going up by 50 coffins a day, said Emmanuel Garret, manager at the OGF plant.

10:10 GMT  Irans coronavirus death toll rises to 3,294

Irans death toll from the new coronavirus rose to 3,294 as it claimed 134 lives in the past 24 hours, according to Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpur.

The total number of people confirmed to be infected is 53,183, he said on state television, adding that 4,035 were under observation, a term that may mean they are in a critical condition.

Of the total number of people diagnosed with the disease, 17,935 have recovered.

Iran is the country most affected in the Middle East by the pandemic [Ali Khara/Reuters]

09:43 GMT  Spain coronavirus death toll increases by 932

More than 900 people died in Spain over the past 24 hours for the second day running, government figures showed, although the rate of new infections and deaths continued to slow.

Spain has the worlds second-highest death toll after Italy, with the virus so far claiming 10,935 lives  932 in the past day  from 117,710 confirmed cases.

But health ministry figures confirm a consistent downward trend in the rate of new cases and fatalities.

09:27 GMT  Saudi king orders $2.4bn coronavirus support for citizens  state news agency

Saudi Arabias King Salman ordered the disbursement of up to 9 billion riyals ($2.39bn) in financial support to more than 1.2 million citizens who work in private sector companies affected by the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported

09:05 GMT  Italys civil protection chief sees lockdown continuing beyond May 1

Italys national lockdown to try to contain the spread of coronavirus will probably continue beyond the start of May, Angelo Borrelli, the head of the Civil Protection Agency, said.

This week the government extended the lockdown  which imposes severe restrictions on movement and shutters all services and firms not deemed essential to Italys supply chain  until April 13.

In a radio interview with state broadcaster RAI, Borrelli was asked whether the measures would need to remain in place for many more weeks.

Unfortunately they will, he replied. I dont believe this situation  will have passed by May 1, we have to be extremely rigorous.

08:45 GMT  Israel seals off ultra-Orthodox town hit hard by coronavirus

Israeli police threw up metal barricades and roadblocks to enforce a lockdown of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish town badly affected by the coronavirus.

Emergency regulations approved by the cabinet late on Thursday declared Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, a restricted zone due to its high rate of infections. The new designation allows authorities to tighten curbs on public movement.

Police units, wearing surgical masks and gloves, moved swiftly early on Friday to cordon off major intersections around the town and enforce the new rules.





08:35 GMT  Concerns after Mumbais Dharavi slum reports COVID-19 cases

Authorities in Mumbai are concerned over the possible spread of the new coronavirus in the densely populated slum of Dharavi after a man with COVID-19 died and a doctor and municipal corporation worker tested positive.

The 56-year-old man who died on Wednesday night was the first to test positive from the sprawling shanty town in Indias financial hub.

Read more here.

08:25 GMT  Coronavirus outbreak to delay Romanias June election  PM

Romanias centrist minority government will almost certainly postpone a June local election as the coronavirus outbreak ruled out the best conditions for such an exercise, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said late on Thursday.

The European Union state, which has experienced 2,738 virus infections and 115 deaths, declared a state of emergency on March 16 and enforced a lockdown last week.

08:15 GMT  India COVID-19 lockdown means no food or work for rural poor

As the number of coronavirus cases in India climbs, imposing a lockdown on 1.3 billion people was always going to be challenge.

Analysts say the movement restrictions will likely prove economically devastating for Indias poor, many who live in its vast rural areas.

Read more here.





07:30 GMT  China advises foreign diplomats to stop coming to Beijing

Chinas foreign ministry is advising foreign diplomats to stop coming to Beijing, after the country temporarily banned most foreigners from entering to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus epidemic, a spokeswoman said.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters during a daily briefing that the ministry was aware of confirmed coronavirus cases among foreign diplomats in China.

06:16 GMT  Saudi Arabia advances curfew in 3 areas over coronavirus fears

Saudi Arabia has brought forward the starting date of a 24-hour curfew to 3pm (12:00 GMT) on Friday in three areas, state news agency SPA said, citing a senior official of the interior ministry.

The measure in the city of Dammam, and the governorates of Taif and al-Qatif, aims to rein in the virus, as the kingdom has recorded 1,885 infections and 21 deaths, the most among any of the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

This is Usaid Siddiqui in Doha taking over from my colleague Ted Regencia.

06:00 GMT  Australia: True infections could be as high as 10 million

As many as 10 million people globally may have been infected by the new coronavirus, Australias chief medical officer said, with the under-reporting due to a lack of testing for the highly contagious respiratory disease, in some countries.

Worldwide we have passed one million infections. But we believe the true number is five or 10 times as much, Brendan Murphy told reporters.

Murphy said the mortality rates vary so much around the world that he believes many infections are going undetected.

The World Health Organization has called on countries to significantly increase testing for the coronavirus, while some critics have also highlighted differences in how some countries count coronvirus cases.





05:30 GMT  Indias Modi seeks to bolsters nation morale amid pandemic

To bolster morale and spirit, Indias prime minister has urged the countrys 1.3 billion people to switch off lights in their home for nine minutes on Sunday night and light candles, lamps and even use mobile torches standing in their balconies.

In a video message broadcast on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the gesture would dispel the darkness created by the coronavirus and show that people are together in their fight against the pandemic.

He said social distancing was the only way to break the chain of the coronavirus, which has so far claimed 53 lives in India with 1,860 positive cases.

On Friday, he acknowledged the worlds biggest shutdown had caused hardship, leaving millions of people jobless and forcing tens of thousands of migrants workers to flee to their villages for food and shelter.

Indians line up to have their fingerprints taken on a biometric machine after purchasing food rations on Thursday. [Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP]

04:35 GMT  South Korea: 27,000 people under self-quarantine

South Korea says more than 27,000 people are under a 14-day self-quarantine in the county after it strengthened border controls to slow coronavirus infections linked to international arrivals.

Park Jong-hyun, an official from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said on Friday that 19,567 of those under self-quarantine have recently returned from overseas while another 7,499 were isolated after contacting virus carriers.

There are now more than 10,000 confirmed cases in South Korea with at least 174 deaths.

03:37 GMT  Kyrgyzstan reports first coronavirus death

A 61-year-old coronavirus victim has died in Kyrgyzstan, the government said on Friday, the first virus fatality in the central Asian nation, according to Reuters news agency.

The patient, treated in a hospital in the southern province of Osh, had suffered from other serious diseases, the authorities said.

03:17 GMT  South Korea coronavirus cases hit 10,000

South Korea has reported 86 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing its caseload above 10,000, the Associated Press reported.

South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday said about half of the new cases came from the densely populous Seoul metropolitan area, where infections linked to international arrivals have been rising.

Another 22 infections were detected at airports where workers have been isolating and testing passengers arriving with fever or respiratory symptoms.

03:10 GMT  Singapore reports fifth person has died from coronavirus

Singapore reported another coronavirus-related death on Friday, raising the city-states total fatalities from the disease to five.

The latest death was of an 86-year-old female Singapore citizen, the health ministry said in a statement.

The country has reported 1,049 coronavirus cases in total.

03:02 GMT  US state of Washington extends stay-at-home order until May 4

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has extended orders to keep non-essential businesses closed and most of the states more than seven million residents home through May 4, saying that social distancing measures must remain in place for an extra month to minimise the spread of the coronavirus.

In recent days, Inslee had signalled that his initial stay-at-home orders from March 23, which were set to expire next week, would be extended.

02:43 GMT  Scientists, doctor launch anti-coronavirus body

A group of scientists, physicians, funders and policymakers from more than 70 institutions in over 30 countries have launched an international coalition to respond to COVID-19 in resource-poor settings, The Lancet magazine reported.

The COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition aims to accelerate desperately needed COVID-19 research in those areas where the virus could wreak havoc on already-fragile health systems and cause the greatest health impact on vulnerable populations, the report said.

The members of the coalition argue that international research collaboration and coordination is needed urgently to support African, Latin American, Eastern European and certain Asian countries to respond effectively to the health crisis.

02:30 GMT  US Navy relieves aircraft carrier commander over coronavirus action

The US Navy has relieved the commander of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote a scathing letter that was leaked to the public asking for stronger measures to control a coronavirus outbreak on board his warship.

The removal of Captain Brett Crozier from command of the 5,000-person vessel, which was first reported by Reuters, was announced by acting US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who said the commander exercised poor judgment.

The dismissal, two days after the commanders letter was leaked, shows how the coronavirus is challenging US institutions, even those accustomed to dangerous and complex missions like the US military.

Captain Brett Crozier commanded the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which has 5,000 personnel. [File: Jim Gomez/AP]

02:18 GMT  How to talk to your children about coronavirus

With many of the worlds people confined to their homes amid efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, families are finding themselves spending more time than ever together.

For many, this is an unexpected opportunity to connect with spouses, children and siblings. But one question has come bubbling up: How should adult caregivers be talking about coronavirus to the children in their lives?

Here are some helpful tips.

01:22 GMT  China reports 3,322 coronavirus deaths

Chinas health commission reported on Friday four new coronavirus deaths, bringing the total to 3,322 as of the end of Thursday.

China also reported 60 new asymptomatic cases of the virus.

01:22 GMT  Iraq has confirmed thousands more COVID-19 cases than reported, medics say

Iraq has thousands of confirmed COVID-19 cases, many times more than the 772 it is has publicly reported, according to three doctors closely involved in the testing process, a health ministry official and a senior political official.

Three doctors, who work in pharmaceutical teams helping to test suspected COVID-19 cases in Baghdad, each said that confirmed cases of the disease, based on discussions among fellow medics who see daily results, were between about 3,000 and 9,000, although they each gave different estimates.

The sources all spoke to Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity. Iraqi authorities have instructed medical staff not to speak to the media.

Iraqs health ministry, the only official outlet for information on the coronavirus, dismissed the sources reading of the spread of the disease.

Its incorrect information, said Saif al-Badr, the health ministry spokesman, in a text message sent to Reuters.

The ministry said in its latest daily statement on Thursday that the total of recorded confirmed cases for Iraq was 772, with 54 deaths.

00:22 GMT  UN calls for unity against unprecedented coronavirus threat

The UN General Assembly has unanimously approved a resolution recognising the unprecedented effects of the coronavirus pandemic and calling for intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat the deady disease.

General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande sent a letter to all UN member nations on Thursday night informing them that there were no objections to the resolution, entitled Global Solidarity to Fight the Coronavirus Disease, sponsored by Ghana, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. He said the resolution was approved and is in effect.

The resolution also recognises the disease, also known as COVID-19, has resulted in severe disruption to societies and economies, as well as to global travel and commerce, and the devastating impact on the livelihood of people and that the poorest and most vulnerable are the hardest hit.

A member of Hevra Kadisha, an organisation which prepares the bodies of deceased Jews for burial according to Jewish traditions, digs a grave in the coastal city of Ashkelon, Israel. [Tsafrir Abayov/AP]

00:06 GMT  WHO urges Middle Eastern countries to act quickly

Governments in the Middle East need to act quickly to limit the spread of the coronavirus after cases rose to nearly 60,000, almost double their level of a week earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

New cases have been reported in some of the most vulnerable countries with fragile health systems, said Ahmed al-Mandhari, the WHOs director for the Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Djibouti, as well as Middle Eastern states.

Even in countries with stronger heath systems, we have seen a worrying spike in the numbers of cases and deaths reported, he said in a statement.

I cannot stress enough the urgency of the situation, said al-Mandhari. The increasing numbers of cases show that transmission is rapidly occurring at local and community levels.

We still have a window of opportunity, but this window is slowly closing day by day, he added.

23:20 GMT Thursday  Trump to Iran: If they want help, we will give them help

President Donald Trump has said if Iran requests help from his administration in dealing with the coronavirus emergency, he would be willing to comply.

They have a very big case of virus. A very, very big case. One of the worst on earth if you believe what youre reading and I happen to believe what I see and what I know. If they want help, we will give them help.

Earlier, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, former Vice President Joseph Biden said he supported the lifting of sanctions against Iran as the country deals with the deadly disease.

Im Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur with Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Read all the updates from yesterday (April 2) here.
New Delhi, April 3 : The Centre on Friday notified the appointment of three judicial officers as judges of the common High Court of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

"In the exercise of the power conferred by Clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Vindo Chatterji Koul, Sanjay Dhar and Puneet, to be judges of the common High Court for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh, in that order of seniority, with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices," said the notification issued Rajinder Kashyap, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice.

In February, the Supreme Court Collegium had approved the proposal for appointment of three judicial officers as judges of Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The Collegium, headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, in a meeting on February 19 had also recommended the proposal for elevation of Satya Gopal Chattopadhyay, judicial officer, as a Judge of the Tripura High Court.

Apart from Chief Justice Bobde, Justices N.V. Ramana, Arun Mishra, R.F. Nariman and R. Banumathi are part of the five-judge Collegium.
We worked side-by-side, she said, laughing. We were pretty much like Bonnie and Clyde.

Latchison took the assistant principal job on faith, and Perry was there to help her whenever she had questions, even after they parted ways. In the beginning, she asked him what the biggest part of being an assistant principal was, and he told her that the most important thing was to be of service to the students, regardless of what they do.

You always have to keep an open mind. You always have to stay positive. Youre going to hear a lot of stuff. Youre going to hear cuss words and this and that, but at the end of the day theyre looking to us for stability, she recalled Perry telling her. That was his philosophy and how he lived his life. He was always doing something for his students, and thats why his students truly, truly loved him, whether it was cooking for them, buying them groceries or just being a mentor to them on the weekends.

Latchison remembered his advice when Perry left to work in Temple in 2015 and she stayed at Waco High another year. She said Perry would spend his free time at the Dewey Recreation Center, refereeing kids he crossed paths with at school.
New Delhi, April 3 : As the world reels under the scourge of coronavirus pandemic, a report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) says that countries should remove tariffs and unnecessary non-tariff measures on the import of essential medicines, medical equipment and related inputs.

In a report on the impact of COVID-19, UNESCAP cited the example of Thailand which has recently removed an excise tax on medicinal alcohol for use in hand sanitisers.

Some countries in the region have already scrutinized their inbound trade regulations on health products, it said.

"Governments in the region and beyond should urgently review existing trade regulations, both tariff and non-tariff, to ensure timely access to affordable and trustworthy medicinal and related products.

Removing trade impediments for medicinal products could be an immediate low-hanging fruit for governments.

It also said that knee-jerk reaction in many countries has been to limit the exports of key medical supplies, most notably medical face masks.

Since the beginning of 2020, many governments have taken steps to ban or limit the export of medical equipment and medicines. The key argument has always been that countries have to prioritise the welfare of their citizens, the report said.

"While understandable, such measures deny the most vulnerable countries access to vital supplies to fight the pandemic. It is recommended for countries to realistically assess their critical need of supplies and work collaboratively to meet the needs of those in need and those without productive capacity," it said.

The pandemic has also shown that uninhibited spread in one region has a very real impact on others, it added.

It also suggested the establishment of a sub-regional or regional public health emergency fund.

"To contain COVID-19, cure infected people and develop vaccines require financial resources. Not all countries in the region can achieve this by themselves. A public health emergency fund can help mobilize financial resources at the regional level and provide targeted support for countries that are most affected by the virus." It noted that India proposed the establishment of a COVID-19 emergency fund under South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and offered an initial contribution of $10 million.

The United Nations, including ESCAP, could be a suitable platform to manage an emergency fund, to bring stakeholders together, including member states, regional intergovernmental organisations, multilateral development banks, the private sector, philanthropies, and civil society, it said.

It also said that the crisis has shown the need for aex-ante emergency preparedness' to minimise economic impacts in future.

The report said that ESCAP (2019) estimated that the region needs to invest an additional $880 million annually by 2030 in emergency preparedness, risk management and response, as part of overall strengthening of the health system. Such affordable investment can improve effectiveness in dealing with such crises to contain economic losses and, more importantly, save human lives, it said.

"More generally, developing Asia-Pacific countries should invest an annual additional $158 billion by 2030 to provide universal health coverage. More than two thirds of this additional investment would be spent on health systems, mainly infrastructure and workforce and to a lesser extent, supply chain and information systems."
After hearing about some churches having Sunday services in their parking lots with families staying in cars, one prominent Southern Baptist leader consulted with the Alabama Department of Public Health and came back with a recommendation for churches.

Dont do it.

Theyre not supposed to be meeting if theres more than 10 of them, even in the parking lot, said the Rev. Joe Godfrey, former president of the Alabama Baptist Convention and currently executive director of the Alabama Citizens Action Program.

Under Gov. Kay Iveys stay-at-home order that goes into effect Saturday at 5 p.m., attending religious services is allowed if its fewer than 10 people who can maintain a distance of six feet apart. Drive in worship services are allowed as long as people stay in their vehicles and only people who live together are allowed in the same car. Participants can not come within 6 feet of participants in other vehicles.

Staying home is safer, Godfrey said.

For the more than one million Baptists in Alabama, the largest denomination in the state, Godfrey recommends sharing video sermons through social media, online streaming through a church web site or using Facebook Live to share a service during the social distancing directives aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Most churches Im familiar with are having internet streaming services, Godfrey said.

Catholic, Episcopal and some other denominations have already called off congregating for worship in-person on Palm Sunday, April 5, and Easter Sunday, April 12.

Baptist churches are autonomous and can decide for themselves. Many other independent evangelical churches across the state also will make their own calls on how to worship, or not.

Godfrey knows there is resistance out there to shutting down worship services in person, with many churches trying to devise ways to have drive-up worship services.

Part of it is a sense of a need for spiritual community, but theres also a strand of political resistance to governmental control over religion.

Ive had some people contact me that are concerned about religious liberty, Godfrey said. Its not infringing our religious liberty, because theyre making it applicable to all gatherings, not just religious gatherings. It also applies to school events, sporting events. Its not a religious liberty issue.

If there are 10 people or less and they space out and practice social distancing, with no hugging or handshaking, he can see where a few small country churches might see how they could keep meeting.

Ive preached to small churches where it may be all one family, he said. I preached one time where there was only seven people in the church.

Even then, Godfrey asks churches to suspend meeting for the good of society, just to be safe.

Some folks see this as gloom and doom, the government trying to stop them from practicing their faith, he said. I dont see that. Its a temporary thing. Its called for.

For the most part, Christians are doing the socially responsible thing, making a sacrifice for the good of society, Godfrey said.

Christians are using the pandemic to get out the message of Christ, Godfrey said. The pandemic is real. Its something we need to address. The best way to do that is sheltering at home.

The health department has raised the issue of how a drive-up church could possibly ensure that people dont get out of their cars, dont need to use the restroom, or dont offer rides to vulnerable neighbors who would be better off remaining secluded from social contact.

Its their advice, Godfrey said. I take their advice seriously.

Even if a pastor insists people should come to church and questions peoples commitment or faith if they dont, the congregation needs to show good judgment and stay home, he suggested.

People need to take personal responsibility, no matter what the pastor says, Godfrey said.
TAMPA, Fla., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier this year, six Watoto Children's Choirs were touring various parts of the world before news of a global pandemic.

In light of the rapidly changing situation with COVID-19, we worked hard to get all of our choirs back home to Uganda. Two of these teams that were touring the UK and Canada were able to return to Uganda before the borders closed as a security measure to contain the virus. Upon arrival, each choir was immediately placed in separate government-approved quarantine facilities.

Since then, we found out that some of our children and adult chaperones from the choir that returned from the UK, have tested positive for the coronavirus. With mild symptoms, they were isolated from the other members, and are being closely monitored by the Ministry of Health in Uganda. None of the children or their adult chaperones in the choir who returned from Canada showed any signs of the virus.

The members of the choir that were on tour in the USA continue to be healthy and safe, without any signs or symptoms of the virus. They are in isolation and await the reopening of the Ugandan borders, before they can return home.

The children, mothers and staff members who live on the Watoto villages in Uganda are safe, healthy and remain unexposed to the coronavirus. We are taking every precaution to ensure everyone stays that way.

We thank all of our Watoto friends, partners and sponsors around the world who have and continue to stand by our side.

ABOUT WATOTO

The Watoto family is made up of people from all over the world who are working together to ensure that the forgotten have a place to belong. In a time of civil war, we planted a local church in Kampala, Uganda to speak hope and life to the nation. Since then, we have placed thousands of orphans in families and empowered thousands of vulnerable women to care for themselves and their families. We've also rescued vulnerable babies and former child soldiers and sent children's choirs across six continents.

In over 35 years, the challenges facing Africa have changed, but our vision remains the same. We are a local church, committed to celebrating Christ and caring for community.

Kelsie Nussel

Watoto Child Care Ministry

[email protected]

813-388-7218

SOURCE Watoto Child Care Ministry, Inc.

Related Links

www.watoto.com


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  Two policemen have died from the coronavirus disease, the Philippine National Police confirmed Friday.

The two fatalities were a 46-year-old officer assigned in Laguna and a 48-year-old policeman based in Metro Manila.

The PNP Health Service said the Laguna-based policeman died of cardiac arrest on March 27, the same day he was listed as a person under monitoring for possible COVID-19 infection.

On the other hand, the 48-year-old officer passed away on Thursday. He experienced high fever while on duty on March 19 and was rushed to the hospital before he tested positive for the disease.

As of Friday, 13 PNP personnel have been confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus.
Domestic utility vehicle maker Mahindra and Mahindra on Friday said it had rejected the demand to inject equity worth 500 billion KRW (Rs 3,085.6 crore) in its loss-making South Korean subsidiary SsangYong Motor Company. Mahindra would instead consider a one-time infusion of 40 billion KRW (Rs 243 crore) over the next three months to ensure continuity of business operations at the company and said it would help the company find new investors.

The board of directors at Mahindra took stock of the financial situation of the company in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the 21-day lockdown in India before rejecting the demand for grants from the Korean firm. "The request from the management and labour union of SsangYong Motor Company (SYMC) for a fresh injection of equity from M&M to help the company fund 500 billion KRW (Rs 3,085.6 crore) of requirements over the next three years, was considered by the Board," the company said in a statement.

Also Read: M&M draws up $423 million turnaround plan for Korean unit Ssangyong

"After lengthy deliberation given the current and projected cash flows, the M&M board decided that M&M will not be able to inject any fresh equity into SYMC and has urged SYMC to find alternate sources of funding. However, to enable SYMC to have continuity of business operations, whilst they are exploring alternate sources of funding, the board has authorised the M&M management to consider a special one-time infusion of up to 40 billion KRW (Rs 243 crore) over the next three months," the statement added.

Also Read: Coronavirus impact: Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, UP stare at big fiscal hole

Mahindra had acquired SsangYong in 2013 picking up a 70 per cent stake for Rs 2,105 crore. Mahindra currently holds 74.65 per cent stake in the company. It has not been able to turn around the company despite repeated attempts. Losses at the Korean firm more than doubled in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 at 105.2 billion won (Rs 676.4 crore), which was its worst quarterly performance since the global meltdown of 2008. SsangYong has been losing money for 11 straight quarters now.

SsangYong would continue to enjoy Capex-free access to Mahindra's new product platforms while technology programmes to reduce its Capex needs and material cost reduction. "The Board hoped that the employees and management at SYMC understand the magnitude of the unfortunate and unforeseen crisis created by the COVID-19 virus, which has compelled it to take the difficult decision," the company statement said. "The board has also initiated several measures to tighten capital allocation norms and ensure that M&M remains strong through the current crisis and beyond," the statement added.

Also read: Coronavirus fallout: Why is TRAI delaying January subscriber data?
God Breathed Into My Lungs: COVID-19 Patient Recounts Recovery After Terrifying Experience

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Almost 10 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past two weeks, including a record 6.6 million claims within the last week alone.

The unprecedented unemployment numbers offer only a glimpse at the overall jobs picture in the economic fallout in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and analysts predict the numbers will continue to spike to as many as 20 million claims by the end of April.

From unemployment claims in March, analysts estimate roughly 3.5 million people lost their employer-based health insurance in the middle of the national health emergency, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

With most health plans administered on a monthly basis, thousands of Americans and their families were likely cut off from their health insurance on 1 April.

Donald Trump has indicated that he will not reopen the federal health insurance marketplace through the Affordable Care Act for a special enrolment period, leaving many Americans without any coverage as they potentially face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses if they fall sick.

Unemployed people could be eligible for Medicaid, which serves poor Americans, though it's unclear whether states are likely to support a massive surge in claims without significant federal support.

At a White House briefing on Thursday, the president said: "I will always protect your Social Security, your Medicare, and your Medicaid."

His current budget includes sweeping cuts for all those programmes, and his administration is challenging the Supreme Court to remove the ACA's Medicaid expansion provision.

On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence said the administration will "find a way" to pay for the coronavirus treatment of uninsured people. He said an announcement will come on 3 April.

The Economic Policy Institute has urged the White House to extend the open enrolment period for the 38 states that have access to Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges

Eleven of 12 states that run their own healthcare exchanges, including Washington DC, already have opened a special enrolment period.

Roughly half of the US workforce gets their insurance through their employer or through an employer-sponsored plan available to someone in their family. Without those jobs, they also can lose their health insurance.

The institute notes that its calculations "might understate the loss of health insurance coverage because they do not account for family members who are no longer covered because of the policyholder's layoff. And because not all layoffs result in [unemployment insurance] claims, we will underestimate the actual magnitude of job losses."

Whether people are covered or not, the costs for coronavirus care can be devastating.

People who are hospitalised for Covid-19 can expect to pay up to $74,310 for treatment if they're uninsured, or if their provider has determined the care they receive is out-of-network, according to an analysis by FAIR Health.

But insured patients using In-network providers could spend as much as $38,755, the group found.

The surge of patient care is expected to skyrocket health insurance premiums in 2021 by more than 40 per cent, with 170 million Americans on private insurance spending as much as $251 billion on healthcare costs within the pandemic's first year, according to Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace through the ACA.

Peter Lee, director of Covered California, says that "absent federal action, consumers, employers and our entire health care system may be facing unforeseen costs" that could exceed $250 billion.

More than 3.3 million of the unemployment claims made in the last two weeks are from service industry workers, following the forced closures of restaurants, bars, hotels, gyms, theatres and other front-facing businesses across the US. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that nearly 800,000 of those workers had health insurance through their employer.

Initial unemployment insurance claims jumped from 211,000 in the first week of March to more than 6.6 million at the end of the month, a 3,000 per cent increase within three weeks.

Congress extended unemployment insurance with the passage of a $2.2tn relief measure, which adds $600 a week in benefits in addition to what filers receive through their respective state systems. The measure also expands eligibility for self-employed people and "gig economy" workers.

Wendell Potter, a former health insurance executive turned whistle-blower and Medicare for All advocate, said that "tying our health coverage to employment status will literally strip people of healthcare [and] get some killed. There's simply no viable argument against it: America needs Medicare For All."

The Economic Policy Institute also urged the federal government to extend Medicaid and Medicare through the crisis.

The group said: "At a minimum, all Covid-19-related care should be covered by the federal government at no cost to patients. However, we should also think about how to hold harmless workers who lose [employer-based health insurance] due to Covid-19 and then find themselves facing expensive medical bills because of other health ailments that would have been covered by their previous employer plan. A bolder and comprehensive policy would be to extend Medicare and Medicaid to all those suffering job losses during the pandemic period, with the federal government funding this expansion."
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Retired NHS staff and others whose work has taken them off the front lines are returning in their thousands to help the fight against coronavirus.

They have been praised for proving that there is such a thing as society after 20,000 answered a call to help.

Their expertise will be put to use not only on wards but in support services and broader organisational planning.

Professor Maureen Baker, a former chair of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) where she coordinated the response to H1N1 swine flu, told The Independent she hoped to employ what she learned in that outbreak.

She said: Im part of a small group in RCGP thats working through how best the college can support its members and the profession. Ive also got my temporary licence to practise from the GMC [General Medical Council]. Im in discussions with NHS England on contributing to their NHS 111 service.

Professor Baker intends to work for the non-emergency number 111, advising callers whether or not they should go to hospital.

She added: I was kind of assuming that the call would come. I thought, yes, this is something I can do. Having spent such a lot of my working life thinking about and preparing for pandemic risk, it seemed only right and proper to make a contribution.

Even if I hadnt been involved, I think at this moment when people are going the extra mile, it would seem the right thing to do. Im encouraged by [the scale of the response]. Its a vocation at the end of the day even when youre retired. You still want to do something to help.

And not every returning medic needs to be deployed at the sharp end of things, she said. Taking up some of the slack to free up time for people who are currently in the workforce is part of what can be done. I think everybodys got something to give. If I was 10 or 15 years younger I would have a lot more energy, thats for sure.

Ive spent the best part of 40 years being able to talk to patients, listening to them and making a judgement. Thats still something I can do.

Professor Baker cautioned that the new system would inevitably take time to hit its stride because it had been set up very quickly from a standing start, adding: I think we need to be a bit understanding if it takes a while before were contacted or ... for various things to go through. She said she would use her experience to suggest ways the scheme can be improved.

James Smith, whose day job is in the humanitarian sector, plans to take at least one shift a week as a locum A&E doctor in northeast London.

Theres a fairly universal feeling among people who work for the NHS that, despite our frustrations with an understaffed and under-resourced health system, that were collectively and fundamentally proud to be working in a healthcare system thats available and accessible for almost everybody free of charge at the point of care, he told The Independent.

I had drifted away from direct clinical practice to work in the humanitarian sector, but always felt that close affinity. Its part of the reason why Ive maintained my clinical licence to practice. Theres also that moral obligation that you feel, when youre hearing the news and youre hearing from your colleagues who are still working about the challenging conditions.

That solidarity extends around the world, he said, as evidenced by Cuban doctors travelling to Italy.

But Dr Smith said he had some concerns about bringing back people whose knowledge of the latest medical research is lacking, and that filtering some of them into support roles  freeing up medics who are currently practising  made sense. From an ethical and effectiveness point of view, its probably the more sensible course of action.

He added that supporting the returnees both physically with personal protective equipment (PPE), and mentally, was vital.

Ministers have come in for sustained criticism for failing to get PPE to the front lines quickly enough or in great enough quantities. Some doctors have even bought their own and improvised by using ski masks, an MP said this week.

Testing of health workers has also lagged far behind what the government is aiming for.

Dr Smith said: The government is tapping into what they know is a deep-seated desire among health professionals to care for each other and for the wider community. In taking advantage of that desire and moral obligation  there also has to be reciprocity from the state.

Were giving to the health system, and the state needs to make sure that it puts in place the necessary protections. If you want healthcare workers to be on the front line, you have a duty of care to those people.

A lack of resources  of staff, ventilators and oxygen  is also now forcing medics to make terrible choices which can be very distressing and psychologically damaging, Dr Smith added.

Experience of such decisions, likely to be in greater demand than anyone wants to think about, will be brought by returnees like Dr Laura Green.

Dr Green, a nursing lecturer at the University of Manchester, told The Independent she would work one 12-hour shift a week while keeping up her class schedule. Some of her third-year students are already out in practice.

The former Macmillan nurse specialises in palliative care, and believes that there will be a lot of people for whom [coronavirus treatment] is going to be end-of-life care, even though most cases will be treatable.

She added: One of the things I used to do a lot in practice was have difficult conversations with families. All those conversations about end-of-life care, theyre going to have to be had in a very sped-up way.

Families arent able to be with their loved ones when theyre dying.

The problem is, usually in palliative care we have weeks and months to have these conversations with people. With Covid-19 theres no time.

Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Show all 15 1 /15 Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A rose is delivered by drone to a woman on Mother's Day in Jounieh, Lebanon AFP/Getty Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Women dance on their balcony as a radio station plays music for a flash mob to raise spirits in Rome Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A skeleton stands on a balcony in Frankfurt, Germany AP Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies The film Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna is projected on a building in Rome AP Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A woman uses a basket tied to a rope to pull a delivery of groceries up to her balcony in Naples, Italy EPA Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies DJ Francesco Cellini plays for his neighbours from the rooftop terrace of his flat block in Rome Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A woman gestures from her balcony in Barcelona EPA Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Cellist Karina Nunez performs for her neighbours at the balcony of her flat in Panama City Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies DJ Nash Petrovic live streams a set from his roof in Brooklyn Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies People applaud medical workers from their balconies in Modiin, Israel Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A Brooklyn resident relaxes in a hammock hung on their balcony Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Residents toast during a "safe distance" aperitif time between neighbours in Anderlecht, Belgium Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Musician Adam Moser plays for neighbours from his balcony in Budapest, Hungary Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A man and his son on their balcony in Brooklyn Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A man sits alone on a roof terrace in Rome Reuters

By the time that a minority of very ill patients arrive at hospital in the current pandemic, medics are faced with the appalling question of whether they are likely to be able to save them, and if not, whether they should reserve capacity for other victims.

Hospitals have been given national guidance on how to make those choices. But people like Dr Green will then have to find new ways to connect families with isolated patients and lead the conversation about how to care for the dying, such as using smartphones  a prospect she finds daunting.

Her experience of treating people with advanced cancers will not always help when treating coronavirus patients.

Its really horrible. I think its kind of how it is, and people really need to know that this is how it is, she told The Independent. Seriously ill patients must confront their own dilemma: stay out of hospital and be surrounded by family, or die alone surrounded by medics garbed in protective plastic outfits.

Its unprecedented  its a really scary time to be a nurse, or anyone, really, Dr Green said. Despite that, she said she feels compelled to help.

Ive decided to do these shifts because the Nursing and Midwifery Council code of conduct tells all nurses that while registered they must put the needs of patients above all else, she added.

The NHS is something Ive been proud of for my whole life, even more so when I qualified as a registered general nurse in 2004. Im frightened of getting ill. Im frightened of not seeing my family. But when you become a nurse, its in your blood. You cant turn away at a time like this.
A person on a stretcher is removed from Carnival's Holland America cruise ship Zaandam at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during the new coronavirus pandemic, 2 April 2020: Lynne Sladky/AP

Americans are now advised to wear cloth masks in public, after the US reported more than 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the highest single day death toll in the world.

The Trump administration is formalising new guidance which to urge Americans to wear non-medical masks, made of T-shirts or scarves over their mouths and noses while outdoors  although the president said it would not be mandatory.

He also said he won't be doing it.

At his White House press briefing on Friday, he said: "It's only a recommendation ... I'm choosing not to do it."

Officials estimate between 100,000 to 240,000 people could be killed in the US even if Americans follow strict lock-down orders, while the White House has extend "social distancing" guidelines through the end of April. Dr Anthony Fauci, the administration's top health official on the coronavirus response, said he "doesn't understand" why every state hasn't issued stay-at-home orders, creating patchwork quarantine efforts across the country.

His frustration contradicts instruction from White House officials who have praised stringent measures in hard-hit states and cities but insist on respecting "statehood" in the face of the crisis.

The White House also announced that uninsured Americans  including potentially millions of people who lost their health insurance from their employer after mass layoffs in the last several weeks and days ahead  will not be billed for coronavirus-related healthcare, though details have not been announced.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said hospitals and health providers can bill the federal government, and uninsured people "will not be allowed" to foot the bill.

The president and Jared Kushner also are under fire for claiming that the national stockpile of critically needed medical supplies aren't necessarily meant for states to use, going so far as to change the federal website's language. Lawmakers pointed out that editing the website does not change the law.

Meanwhile, the US Navy has relieved the captain of an aircraft carrier on which 100 of the crew have been contracted the coronavirus after he raised the alarm.

Captain Brett Crozier, who commands the USS Theodore Roosevelt and its crew of 5,000, had sent a letter to the navy pleading for help with the outbreak board the ship, which was forced to dock in Guam last week.

Read more

Trump admin writes definition of national stockpile to match Kushner's

Trump says hospitals to be reimbursed for treating uninsured patients

Melania Trump says to wear masks but president 'choosing not to'

Trudeau threatens retaliation after Trump blocks delivery of masks

White House to test all who come in contact with Trump for coronavirus
By Ofeliya Afandiyeva

The Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers has applied restrictions on citizens movement, effective from April 5 to April 20, as part of quarantine regime to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

Thus, as of April 5, citizens are allowed to leave their place of residence only after obtaining permission. In order to obtain permission, citizens must send an SMS to number 8103 (SMS is free). The text of the SMS should contain one of the following 3 indices and personal identification data.

Number 1 - in order to leave the place of residence due to urgent medical need or undergoing treatment according to the schedule (permission for 2 hours within the district and city. If there is a need for movement between regions and cities, the distance between the residence address and the destination address is taken into account and the time of the treatment procedure, the time of return is set by the certificate issued by the doctor, which, if necessary, is presented to the police);

Number 2 - in order to leave the place of residence due to the need to purchase food and other daily necessities, as well as medicines, use banking and postal services (permission is issued once a day for 2 hours);

Number 3 - in order to leave the place of residence in connection with the participation in the funeral of a close relative.

Identity data includes:

For a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan - a series and number of an identity card (for example, AZE1111111);

For foreigners temporarily or permanently residing in Azerbaijan, or stateless persons - the series and number of the certificate of permission for temporary or permanent residence in the territory of Azerbaijan (MYI (DYI) 1111111),

For foreigners and stateless persons whose term of temporary stay in the territory of Azerbaijan has been extended - the series and number of the decision to extend the period of temporary stay (MOM1111111).

Example: in order to leave the place of residence due to the need to purchase food and other everyday goods, as well as medicines, use banking and postal services, you should send an SMS of the following content - 2 AZE1111111.

The response SMS received from the electronic government information system indicates the validity period of the permit. A person can leave his place of residence only after receiving a positive response.

If citizens have any difficulties in using the SMS permission system and sending SMS, they can contact the Call Center 9108 of the State Agency for the provision of services to citizens and social innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN Xidmt).

Exemption from SMS permit

In order to leave the place of residence in the event of a situation that poses a direct threat to life and health, sending an SMS is not required. Also, when summoned to court or law enforcement agencies, persons leave their place of residence without sending an SMS. In this case, they present at the request of the police officers a document proving the call of the court or law enforcement agencies.

In addition, the following group of citizens are allowed to leave their homes to act on the basis of service cards or a certificate of employment:

Employees of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Staff of the Cabinet of Ministers;

Members of the Milli Majlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan and employees of its Staff;

heads of central and local executive authorities and their deputies;

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) and the employees of the Ombudsman Staff;

Heads of state-owned legal entities, as well as public legal entities established on behalf of the state and their deputies;

Employees of law enforcement, judicial and military bodies, lawyers;

Employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

Employees of facilities of national importance and life support, as well as continuously functioning institutions;

Employees of state health bodies and institutions, private health care institutions;

Employees of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in the Republic of Azerbaijan and their local staff (based on accreditation cards issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan).

2. The following persons are allowed to move after the employer has entered information about them into the icaze.e-gov.az portal using an electronic signature:

Employees of state bodies, state-owned legal entities, including public legal entities established on behalf of the state;

Employees of private legal entities, the operation of which is permitted in the directions established by the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated March 30, 2020 No. 120, and individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities without creating a legal entity, and their employees;

Employees required to ensure the protection and technical safety of private legal entities, the operation of which is not permitted.

3. Movement of volunteers of the ASAN Volunteers Public Association, the Regional Development Public Association, the Agrarian Development Volunteers Movement, Bir Student-Volunteer Program, volunteers of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan after entering data about them in the icaze.e-gov.az portal.

4. All other persons are allowed to leave the place of residence in the following cases:

Due to urgent medical necessity and receiving treatment on any schedule;

In connection with the need to purchase food and other daily necessities, as well as medicines, and to use banking and postal services;

In connection with attending the funeral of a close relative.

The relevant state structures and private legal entities must enter data on employees, and the relevant volunteer organizations should enter data about volunteers in the icaze.e-gov.az portal from 10:00 on April 3, 2020.

It is mandatory to have identification documents with you when leaving the place of residence.

Violation of the rules for introducing restrictions on movement will be regarded as a violation of the special quarantine regime and envisages liability established in the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code. At the same time, the facts of introducing false data to obtain permission through the icaze.e-gov.az portal and abuse of the procedure for obtaining permission through the SMS system in order to leave the place of residence will be constantly investigated. Strict liability measures will be applied with respect to legal entities and individuals violating the rules.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Our world today has gone through several transformational faces including scientific, technological advancements, socio-economic changes, natural disasters, and wars. One of the profound silent but great drivers of changes anywhere in the world is intelligence. The world has suffered and enjoyed information and intelligence through collaborations both internally and from State to state since the inception of time.

Intelligence gathering can be traced back to the Chinese mercenary warlord Sun Tzu (the master of intelligence) the art of war and the art of strategy in the 5th century BC. All facets of development today rests on the shoulders of intelligence, explaining the creation of several intelligence agencies across the globe.

Intelligence gathering and analysis is about collecting, utilising, evaluating and analysing information and processing it into intelligence to support informed decision making. This always involves a degree of interpretation resulting in an inevitable degree of speculations and risk mostly determined by the quantity and quality of available information. Intelligence can be either operational or strategic but for the purposes of this article, we will look at strategic intelligence.

Strategic intelligence looks at covert and emerging trends, changes in the environment, threats to public safety and order, opportunities for developing, controlling activities and taking actions and designing counter programs. The outcomes of this are the likely changes in policy, programs, and legislation. This is what we are experiencing at this time of the Coronavirus pandemic with emphasis on the security and intelligence agencies act, 1996( Act 526) and Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1020).

As stated in this article, intelligence agencies are at the forefront of providing information for development, security and other ancillary activities for public safety. The question that continuous to linger in the minds of many people is whether intelligence agencies have failed in the case of COVID-19?

Intelligence failure is not about the inability to obtain and utilise information on time but the degree of importance decision markers will place on the information available and the necessary actions taken thereof.

Prior to this COVID-19 Pandemic, the concerns of Ghanaian politicians, businesses and decision makers would not be far from elections 2020, depreciation of the cedi, the state of the economy, high default rate, banking sector crisis among others. Nobody would have done the calculus to think of a contagious virus which began spreading slowly from China, it's effect and the mitigating measures needed to be put in place. Sadly, information were highly and rightly available to all from authorities and the ordinary person. Our lack of discipline to do the routine risk based horizon scanning and develop a unique plan and make use of available intelligence has now put us at the mercies of COVID 19.

A self coronated, styled tiny queen virus came in with a strategy, and its eating us up like a cannibal, making us seek shelter like the homeless, making the world's most powerful coil into their shells like snail sensing danger, made the morgues busy like never before, daily burials a norm, lively cities gone into perpetual coma and crushing economies like a tsunami without fear or favor. What a virus!!!

Our governments have failed with their usual inferior tactics, propaganda and the strategic catastrophic surprises they pose to the citizenry in events similar to this pandemic and situations. The ministries of health, finance and other allied institution including the Bank of Ghana and the entire government machinery would have put us in a better position should they have considered intelligence warning signs on the virus emanating from China. Just like Ghana, super powers of the world also ignored these intelligence warnings, made funny comments about the virus and it's impact. Instead of preparing, we said God is with us, God loves Ghana, Ebola never came, got swayed by false prophecies and above all a soiree of the religious fraternity including soothsayers to pray and combat the virus.

Suffice to say have we thought commutatively to take common and repeated intelligence warnings about the disease as against our intuitions, political wishes, and made public safety our priority, we wouldn't have been facing this cataclysmic surprise posed to us by this virus. No matter how poorly thought, ill informed, high level of suspicion and poorly organized the intelligence warnings were, we still remain anchored to the influences, effects and punishment of the virus. The initial judgement and impression of decision makers on available intelligence has wowed us into our current situation (quarantine, isolation and lock down).

As things stands now, it will be unproductive to delve into conspicuous conspiracies, failed intelligence, lack of preparedness and the world's inability to contain the virus. I think the Chinese with their intelligence and military, needs a big applause for their swift, active, concealed, drastic and draconian measures put in place to contain the virus, which has now become our case study.

Going forward, we need to:

- Change our lackadaisical and self centered attitudes towards intelligence.

- Look at happenings from the global point of view and it's effect on us.

-Assess and analyse risk horizons and put mitigating measures before they occur.

- Contingency fund must be activated to prevent the running around for funds during situations like this.

- More attention should be paid to financial, economic, and medical intelligence.

- Public safety should be our priority instead of political safety.

However there is hope for us to defeat our common enemy even though we have failed to act on intelligence. We need to change the paradigm , change the focus of the radar by coming together to defeat this common enemy. We are struggling with the sufficiency and appropriateness of our medical system and availability of facilities and hence we don't have time to pamper anybody. Let do our best, eliminate fear, panic and abide by all the guidelines. Let note that, when the wind plays an evil drum, every tree will dance to it including the big trees in the forest, hence intelligence in it's current state should be made the life blood of our nation. May God Almighty be with us and protect us against our common enemy.

By Thywill Nana Bawiah: The Person of Interest
An 12million private jet used by Lionel Messi has been forced to make an emergency landing at Brussels airport due to a fault with the plane.

The Barcelona stars favoured plane was making its way to Tenerife in the Canary Islands when it suffered from issues with its landing gear.

The aircraft grounded at Zaventem Airport in the Belgian capital for the first time at 9.18am.

Less than an hour-and-a-half later, it departed again, only to turn around and return to Brussels.



It took-off at 10.35am local time and headed south-west out of Brussels but just 43 minutes and 132 miles later at 11.18am it touched down again.

Information from Flight Aware shows the aircraft flew from San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina to Guararapes aiport in Recife, Brazil, a 5h 51m flight.

It then took off from Recife at 7.19pm local time last night, making a 9h 6m journey to Brussels, landing this morning.

But after the short stopover in Belgium, the plane did not make the journey to Tenerife as planned.

The planes last flights before that were from Argentina to Port Elizabeth, South Africa and back on the weekend on March 21 and 22.

There is currently no information as to who was on the jet.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
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Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu, Central Sulawesi  Fri, April 3, 2020 14:56 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f820e6 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,central-sulawesi,South-Sulawesi Free

Aptripel Tumimomor, the regent of North Morowali in Central Sulawesi, passed away on Thursday after receiving treatment at Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi. He was 53 years old.

North Morowali administration spokesperson Heri Pinontoan said the late regent was previously treated at the regency's Kolonadale General Hospital before being referred to the Makassar hospital on Wednesday for further treatment.

"[Aptripel] was tested [for the coronavirus] with a rapid test kit at Kolonodale General Hospital but the result was negative," Heri said on Friday.

Read also: Regions start enforcing curfews to flatten Indonesia's COVID-19 curve

The regent had taken a swab test in Makassar to confirm whether he had contracted the contagious virus, Heri said, but the result was not yet available at the time of his death.

Central Sulawesi Provincial administration spokesperson Haris Karming said Aptripel had been laid to rest in a cemetery for civil servants in South Sulawesi's Gowa regency on Friday morning in accordance with burial procedures for COVID-19 patients.

The safety protocol to bury people with the coronavirus includes that the deceased be wrapped in plastic and placed in a coffin. Those who help burying the body are advised to wear protective gear, such as a hazmat suit and mask.

Aptripel was elected regent in February 2016 and owned several businesses, namely plantation and construction businesses and hotels. He is survived by his wife HO Liliana and three children. (mfp)
Most alliances die young.

That is how The Economist magazine a year ago began an insightful special essay on the durability of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

Alliance nations led by the United States and Britain signed the treaty in Washington D.C. in April 1949. For comparison, the Economist essay notes coalitions of the Napoleonic wars in the early 1800s lasted on average five years.

NATO is not only aging, but growing. On March 27, North Macedonia became the latest member. Montenegro joined the durable organization in June 2017.

The alliance is heavily involved in the current public health battle against the coronavirus. Last week, massive NATO transport planes delivered 48 and 45 tons of medical supplies to Eastern Europe from China and South Korea.

NATO was formed in direct response to Soviet expansionism following World War II. By 1949, the Cold War had begun. Today, the organization pursues various diverse missions.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and East Europe communist regimes ended the Cold War, but not conflict in Europe. In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed the territory of Crimea. The armed invasion of Ukraine by Russias army, after months of covert aid to insurgent rebel forces, generated the most serious crisis in Europe since the Balkan wars of the 1990s  and perhaps since World War II.

In 2008, Russian troops invaded a portion of Georgia, following an attack by Georgian troops on South Ossetia. This territory as well as Abkhazia had declared independence from Georgia. Russia encouraged and fostered these breakaway efforts, though the international community did not support them.

The end of the Cold War was a great victory for the policy of restraint and deterrence, termed Containment. Every United States president from Harry Truman, when the Cold War commenced, to George H.W. Bush when that conflict ended, supported this foundation security policy.

NATO endures for various reasons. Bureaucracies naturally seek self-perpetuation, and modern militaries represent potent political lobbies. However, the strategic realities of an assertive, effective Russia under President Vladimir Putin is the most important incentive. Also present is the danger of renewed violence among ethnic groups in Southeastern Europe.

NATO today has a range of missions including but going beyond self-defense narrowly defined. The alliance has operated well beyond the nations of the North Atlantic region, including not only on the margins of Europe but in distant territory, including notably Afghanistan

Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that an attack on one member amounts to an attack on all. The 9/11 terrorist strikes on New York and Washington D.C., and in the sky over Pennsylvania, triggered this clause, for the first time.

Contemporary alliance leaders in Europe are articulate and effective, including in particular Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel. Chancellor Merkel spearheaded expansion of Germanys roles in international humanitarian relief. She also provided arms to Kurds fighting Islamic extremists in Iraq.

Another outstanding leader worth noting is David Cameron, Britains Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016. He termed Russias aggression unacceptable and unjustified, and bluntly stated that any efforts to appease Vladimir Putin would repeat basic mistakes made earlier regarding Adolf Hitler. Britain and Germany both have highly effective militaries.

After the final defeat of Napoleon, Britain spearheaded a confederation with the other major powers of Europe to keep the peace. This effort in fact maintained general stability on the continent for a century.

Today, NATO performs roughly the same strategic role, plus humanitarian missions.

Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of After the Cold War. Contact acyr@carthage.edu.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 15:56:47|Editor: huaxia

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FUZHOU, April 3 (Xinhua) --The city of Quanzhou, eastern China's Fujian Province, has been sending anti-epidemic supplies to the Philippines, according to local authorities.

The lastest batch of medical supplies include six ventilators, 7,000 protective suits, 2,000 goggles, 272 thermometers, 920,000 medical masks and 5,200 N95-rated masks as well as 44,200 cases of traditional Chinese medicines.

The supplies were donated by local governments and associations of returned overseas Chinese of Quanzhou.

The city also set up several medical consulting groups on China's social messaging app WeChat and 24-hour hotlines for those Chinese stranded abroad.

Jinjiang, a county-level city in Quanzhou, shipped 1.4 million face masks and 3,000 protective suits to the city of Davao of the Philippines via a charted plane on Thursday. The two cities inked sisterhood in 2018 in a bid to boost trade and tourism.

On March 25, a charted plane loaded with 11.9 tonnes of medical supplies including test kits and face masks departed from the Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport and arrived in Manila two and half hours later.

The southeastern Asian country has reported 2,633 confirmed cases of COVID-19, while the death toll has risen to 107 as of Thursday afternoon.
Blacklisting proceedings have started against 360 foreigners who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat activities in India and left the country before borders were sealed in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the Union Home Ministry said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference here, Punya Salila Srivastava, a joint secretary in the Home Ministry, also ruled out the deportation of 960 foreigners, still in India, who came on a tourist visa and participated in Tablighi activities at this stage, saying action has already been initiated for alleged violations of visa conditions under the Foreigners Act and the Disaster Management Act.

"At this stage, there is no question of deportation because the action has already begun. As and when deportation will take place, it will be as per standard health protocol," a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, responding to a question on the deportation of 960 blacklisted foreign nationals linked to the Tablighi Jamaat.

These 960 foreigners who are on a tourist visa have been blacklisted for alleged violations of visa conditions for participating in Tablighi Jamaat activities, she said.

"Blacklisting process of 360 foreigners who took part in the activities of Tablighi Jamaat but have returned to their countries has begun," she said.

Home Ministry has asked all Directors Generals of Police and Commissioners of Police to initiate "strict action" in such cases, she said.

Tablighi Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West has emerged as an epicentre for the spread of the coronavirus in different parts of the country after thousands of people took part in a congregation from March 1-15. Many of the participants have tested positive for COVID-19 in several states and also died.

According to latest data, 647 COVID-19 cases have been reported among people who have participated in Tablighi Jamaat activities from 14 states.

India has reported 56 deaths from COVID-19 with 12 deaths reported in last 24 hours, a health ministry official said.

The ministry has also asked the states and Union Territories to take strict action in reported cases of attacks against health care professionals and frontline workers, Srivastava said.

The ministry has asked states to ensure the security of medical fraternity, she said.

Several cases have been reported in the country where healthcare workers and frontline workers were allegedly attacked by locales and Tablighi Jamaat members.

The Madhya Pradesh government has invoked the National Security Act against four persons allegedly involved in the attack on the medical team which had gone to quarantine relatives and neighbours of COVID-19 patients in Indore.

Similar action has been initiated by the Uttar Pradesh government against six Tablighi Jamaat members who misbehaved with nurses in a makeshift isolation ward where they have been kept.

Allegations of misbehaviour by Tablighi Jamaat members had also surfaced in the national capital when they were taken to quarantine centres.

The Home Ministry has set up two new helplines for coronavirus pandemic -- 1930 (national toll-free) and 1944 (specifically for North East India), she said.

"Also, list of states' helplines is posted on MHA website," she said.

Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to Chief Secretaries to ensure smooth disbursement of benefits of Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojna which is starting from Friday, she said.

"The Home Secretary asked the Chief Secretary to pass necessary instructions which should reach field level. Call people at staggered times, maintain social distancing and ensure the security of bank branches. Ensure smooth disbursement of benefits and every beneficiary gets due benefits," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two migrant workers, who arrived here from Bihar amid a statewide curfew to contain the spread of coronavirus, were booked on Friday, police said.

Shimla Superintendent of Police Omapati Jamwal said an FIR was filed against the two painters who hail from the hill state and had gone to Bihar for work.

Prima facie, it seems that the duo mostly moved on foot to reach here, Jamwal said, adding that they arrived in Shimla from Ambala in Haryana after walking for 9 days and covering a distance of around 140 km.

"They were seen walking suspiciously in the New Shimla area during relaxation in curfew between 10 am to 1 pm on Friday," the officer said.

The Himachal Pradesh government had on March 24 announced a statewide curfew to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Hours later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to fight the deadly virus.

The two have been booked under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease) of the IPC, he said.

"They have been medically examined and kept under home quarantine," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SOUTHBURY  Splash Car Wash, a 19-site car wash and detailing company in Connecticut, recently distributed quantities of disposable gloves to hospitals and police departments to assist emergency workers who are involved with the care of patients with the coronavirus.

Splash Car Wash also has locations in West Haven, Cromwell, Hamden, Shelton and New Haven.

LaBonnes joins other markets with precautions

WATERTOWN  LaBonne's Markets is implementing numerous safety precautions within its stores to keep staff and shoppers safe.

Those precautions include plexiglass shields at the cash registers, 6 ft. markers on the floor, tarp shields hanging from the ceiling at our deli department, curbside pick ups, a doorman maintaining maximum capacity in its stores. Officials said they will soon be taking customers temperature before they enter the store.

For information, visit https://labonnes.com/ Among its locations, LaBonnes has markets in Woodbury, Salisbury and Watertown.

Restaurant association forms relief fund for employees

FARMINGTON  The Connecticut Restaurant Association, through its 501(c)(3) Educational Foundation (CHEF), has formed the CT Hospitality Employee Relief Fund to provide immediate emergency funding to hospitality workers throughout the state. The fund, which will be supported by private, community, and individual donations, will distribute individual $500 grants to industry employees whose jobs have been impacted during these uncertain times of mandated business shutdowns in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Connecticut has more than 160,000 foodservice employees who pride themselves on servicing their communities, and now they need our support more than ever, said executive director Scott Dolch. These are working men and women who, through no fault of their own, have had major disruptions to their jobs and their income. Our goal is to be able to provide immediate financial support to our hospitality employees who need it the most.

COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the hospitality industry workforce in Connecticut, as the industry was the first to be shut down by executive order, resulting in thousands of unemployment claims. There are five generations working in the industry who are now struggling to pay rent, mortgage, household utilities, groceries, gasoline, and student loans. Basic human needs begin with food and shelter, and COVID-19 has stripped these employees of their ability to financially provide these two basic needs for their families.

The purpose of the CT Hospitality Employee Relief Fund is to provide hospitality employees in food service and beverage who have either been laid off due to COVID-19 or are affected medically and are facing a financial hardship an opportunity to apply for financial assistance. Pending the review of the Foundation and verification that the submitted application meets the prescribed guidelines, a one-time grant will be disbursed directly to each recipient. Availability of awards will be based on available funds and will be limited to one per individual. Funding will be provided in accordance with the total amount of donations received; all funding will be given directly to hospitality industry workers.

Funeral directors message to customers

Members of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association recently made a statement regarding its work during the coronavirus pandemic.

We are honored to serve our neighbors in Connecticut, and to support them every day by helping families and friends celebrate the lives of people they love, the statement reads.  Our commitment to serve our states communities remains strong and unwavering amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). We continue to operate 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, and stand ready to help plan personal and meaningful visitations, funerals and memorials, regardless of the individuals cause of death.

Our intent is to provide a safe, healthy environment where people can grieve and visit with each other, conforming to the latest directives from Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Per Governor Lamonts March 16th Executive Order, this includes limiting the number of people to 50 attendees at events - including funeral services and wakes. As mourners leave the building, funeral directors allow new mourners to enter with never more than 50 at a time. Note that the CDC and President Trump have recommended (but not mandated) limiting events to groups of no more than 10 people, and individual funeral homes are choosing to take further preventive actions. We encourage families to work with their local funeral directors to create meaningful and personalized services that are meaningful and safe. In addition, we continue to work with regional and local clergy who are establishing their own protocols for officiating at and/or holding funerals within their houses of worship.

If anyone has symptoms of COVID-19, they should please refrain from going out into the public. Staying home not only can speed their recovery and prevent spreading illness but can protect those in high-risk groups. If anyone is experiencing a fever of 100 degrees or more, shortness of breath or cough, we urge that they do NOT attend funeral services, as difficult as that may be. We instead suggest that they send their sympathies directly to the deceaseds family, either electronically via the funeral homes website, a home floral delivery if appropriate, or a memorial donation to the specified charity or organization.

Visit www.ctfda.org or contact 860-721-0234 for information.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Key industry players suggest city-wise lifting of lockdown

States with few or no cases can allow economic activity

The month of April is going to be very painful for the industry

PM Modi says it is important to have common exit strategy

States asked to brainstorm and send suggestions

Endorsing the idea of staggered lifting of lockdown, many key industry players have suggested city-wise opening while keeping coronavirus hotspots cordoned off to resume business activities. Most executives said that stretching the lockdown beyond 21 days was not an option given the loss for businesses and earning opportunity for people.

Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director Bird Group said that states which have very few or no cases can remove the restrictions after April 14 and allow business activities. He cited the example of Uttarakhand which has reported only six cases so far to emphasise that there was no point in keeping the states or cities shut when there are not many coronavirus cases.

"Such states can keep their borders closed to ensure that no positive cases come from outside. Once the business activities and movements start, establishments will also start getting cash flows," Bhatia said.

Vinod Sharma, Chairman of CII National Committee on Information Communication Technology & Electronics (ICTE) and Managing Director, Deki Electronics Ltd said that staggered opening has already been allowed by expanding the list of essential services during the lockdown.

"In a way, very small staggered opening has already happened. Some exports have been included in the list which I think is good thing," Sharma said.

He suggested that a maximum of 50 per cent people can be allowed to come back to work but only after ensuring all necessary precautions. Further, certain exports could be allowed as there are buyers available.

"If Covid cases don't rise or surge, then from the following week more sectors could be opened," he said while suggesting post 21-day lockdown plan.

Some of the private sector executives said that there was possibility that manufacturers would try to stretch their capacity beyond limits set by the government. In case government allows certain manufacturing unit to operate 50 per cent of their capacity, chances are that many would tend to take it to 80 per cent, an executive said.

In a video-conference meeting with state chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday indicated graded lifting of the national lockdown after April 14. While noting that it was important to formulate a common exit strategy to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once lockdown ends, PM Modi asked the states to brainstorm and send suggestions for it.

Pankaj Bansal, Director of Delhi-based auto-parts exporter TMA International noted that the month of April was going to be very painful for the industry especially MSME firms. He said proposal to lift lockdown was a move in the right direction.

"Areas which have seen positive cases could continue to be under lockdown but those which have very few or nil cases could be allowed to function normally," Bansal said.

INDIA CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: BusinessToday.In brings you a daily tracker as coronavirus cases continue to spread. Here is the state-wise data on total cases, fatalities and recoveries in one comprehensive graphic

Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Delhi reports 4 COVID-19 deaths; Country's toll at 56

Also Read: Coronavirus: Indian Olympic Association raises Rs 71 lakh
New Delhi, April 3 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday invoked its mentor and former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee's iconic poem "Ao fir se diya jalaye" to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign urging all citizens to light a candle at 9 p.m. on Sunday for nine minutes to show their solidarity with the fight against the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The BJP tweeted a 50-second clip where Vajpayee could be seen reciting his poem with the caption: "We have to challenge the darkness of Corona together." The poem itself is about hope and positivity. It is believed to have been penned after an electoral debacle of BJP when Lal Krishna Advani took Vajpayee to Delhi's Golcha cinema to cheer him up.

On returning home, he wrote this poem which said, "Let us light the lamp once again".

In fact, the poem is often used by the BJP to enthuse its cadres after any electoral loss, just like it was used after the loss in the recent Delhi Assembly polls.

Earlier on Friday, Modi in a short video message to the nation said, "I request all of you to switch off all the lights at your homes on April 5 at 9 p.m. for nine minutes, and light a candle, diya or your mobile's flashlight to mark our fight against coronavirus."
A member of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) troops measures a temperature, following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the entrance of Qom, Iran March 24, 2020. (WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)

Elections, Ties With China Shaped Irans Coronavirus Response

DUBAIIranian authorities ignored warnings by doctors in late December and January of an increasing number of patients with high fevers and lung infections in the historic city of Qom, which became the epicenter of Irans coronavirus outbreak, according to two health ministry officials, a former ministry official, and three doctors.

When the authorities became aware of domestic cases of the virus in early January, they didnt announce the news until weeks later, out of concern that releasing detailed information would unsettle the public ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 21, according to a senior official with direct knowledge of the matter.

The last thing we needed was a pandemic. The mood was already down, said the senior official.

Added to that was another concern, according to the senior official and a health ministry official: The virus had originated in China, and Iran didnt want to risk disrupting its vital trade and diplomatic ties with Beijing, one of its most important allies.

On Feb. 19, the Iranian government publicly announced its first two cases ofand deaths fromthe new coronavirus, which can lead to breathing difficulties and pneumonia. Iran has now reported more than 47,500 cases of coronavirus and more than 3,000 deaths, making it the worst-hit country in the Middle East. More than 900,000 infections have been reported globally, according to a Reuters tally.

The new details about the warnings by doctors and why Irans establishment didnt disclose the spread of coronavirus early on come in the wake of allegations by some Iranians, including former officials and medical professionals, that the government has underreported the death toll. This account, based on interviews with officials and doctors in Iran, also underscores how governments of all types, democratic and authoritarian, in rich and poor nations, have made similar miscalculations.

The Iranian government denied concealing facts about the outbreak. President Hassan Rouhani said during a televised speech on March 18 that his government had been honest and straightforward with the nation.

In response to questions from Reuters about whether the government was aware of the virus reaching Iran earlier than acknowledged, Alireza Miryousefi, spokesman for Irans mission to the United Nations in New York, said: The emergence of coronavirus and its rapid spread took every country, including the Western countries by surprise. Iran was no exception.

The notion that there was intentional concealing of facts is preposterous, Miryousefi said. He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that Irans measures are stringent. WHO officials said in early and mid-March that Irans response to coronavirus was coordinated and evolving in the right direction, but that more needed to be done.

Government spokesman Ali Rabeie said on state television in early March that on Jan. 24, Rouhani was alerted to reports that coronavirus was present in China and some neighboring countries and that Iran had tourists from those countries. He added that two days later, the president ordered necessary measures to be taken.

But at that time, we did not know that the virus had entered Iran, the spokesman said on state television.

Doctors Started to Panic

Qom, among Irans most important cities, has close links to China and is home to many Chinese. Irans health minister has publicly said that the virus is believed to have arrived from China by a merchant from Qom, who died of the virus.

A nurse at Qom Hospital said that in late December and early January, the hospital had an increase in people with respiratory problems. The hospital authorities declined to comment.

Dozens of them died in a week, the nurse said. Our chief doctor informed senior officials at the health ministry. But we were told to give them medicine and release them.

Reuters couldnt independently confirm the nurses account and the chief doctor was unavailable for comment.

The health ministry official said that by mid-January, senior officials in the ministry had received letters from doctors warning about the problem in Qom, followed by similar warnings from Mashhad and other cities. But the ministry silenced everyone, the official said.

A health ministry official in Qom said he was aware of the ministry being alerted to a sharp increase in patients around late January.

A senior pulmonologist in Qom, who works at a hospital designated for the coronavirus, said large numbers of people with lung problems were coming to the hospital almost every day, well ahead of the governments Feb. 19 announcement. We did not know what it was. We thought it was influenza. But none of those medicines for influenza worked, he said.

Deputy Health Minister Reza Malekzadeh told state television in March that he believed the virus had entered Iran a while ago. But as we had influenza epidemic in the country and as China had not announced any outbreak of the coronavirus  no one thought about the coronavirus disease, he said.

Ties with China

As the global coronavirus outbreak was emerging, Iranian leaders were caught off guard by the death of Irans top military commander Qassem Soleimani, whom the United States killed in Iraq on Jan. 3. At the same time, Iranians confidence in their leaders had been damaged following a bloody crackdown on protests in November 2019 and the belated public acknowledgment of the accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner in January that killed all 176 aboard.

China has offered an economic lifeline to the Islamic Republic since 2018 when President Donald Trump pulled the United States out from Irans 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran. China, a party to the nuclear deal, has urged the United States to lift sanctions on Iran amid the outbreak.

The ruling establishment didnt heed warnings about the coronavirus, said the former health official, because doing so would have meant disrupting travel and business between Iran and China.

Dozens of Chinese companies operate in Iran, including China Railway Engineering Corp., which is building a high-speed rail line through Qom.
The short video platform TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant Bytedance, is one of the most popular social media video apps in India.

In fact, last year it was the most downloaded short video app on App store and Google Play. Available in 34 languages, the app offers global users tons of music, amazing filters, special effects and 3D stickers to easily create unique short videos and share with the world in a quick and easy way.

However, currently #BanTikTokIndia is trending high on Twitter. This was in the wake of a month-old video by Republican Senator Josh Hawley doing the rounds on social media, in which he says that the app collects all of our personal key data.

Nearly a month after Republican Senator @HawleyMO said hes planning to introduce legislation to ban Chinese social media platform @tiktok_us on all govt devices, there is a growing demand to ban @TikTok_IN in India as well with hashtag #BanTikTokInIndia trending.@SenHawleyPress pic.twitter.com/bBvidivVla  Geeta Mohan     (@Geeta_Mohan) April 2, 2020

In the video, Senator Hawley claims that China has access to all our critical personal details through this video app. He has said in the video that he plans on introducing a legislation to ban the popular Chinese social media app TikTok, owned by Bytedance, on all government devices.



The reason he gives is quite alarming! He says it is because of a statement allegedly released by TikTok that says, We collect information about the device you use to access the Platform, including the IP address, unique device identifiers, model of your device, your mobile carrier, time zone setting, screen resolution, operating system, app and file names and types, key-stroke patterns or rhythm patterns.

Ever since the video was made available on social media, it has since gone viral in India, with fears that Beijing will have all our data. This is something to be seriously considered by us. Check out the reactions here:

India m bhi ban karo #BanTikTokInIndia  Pooja Pandey (@PoojaPoem) April 2, 2020

Yes it should be banned.  navin (@navin83624973) April 2, 2020

I hope you guys understand

TikTok is Chinese based product owned by ByteDance Ltd. . The truth about TIkTok is in this video

Please uninstall such app which can be threat to our privacy.#BanTikTokInIndia #BoycottTikTok pic.twitter.com/sLbYAC8dBF  Akash Soni (@superrsoni) April 3, 2020

#BanTikTokInIndia did my part. Please do your bit & shownthe strength of 1.3 billion people pic.twitter.com/xY2bO5ZTKQ  Rajat Upadhyaya (@rajatupadhyaya2) April 3, 2020

No Doubt TikTok is entertaining with millions of Indians using it and many r TikTok stars. But USA has already banned it for information spying! Should Indians also? #BanTikTokInIndiapic.twitter.com/11gT5ae4g5  Don John (@Don_4all) April 2, 2020

#BanTikTokInIndia If it is done then our country will improve. Because the youths of our country are busy in TikTok. pic.twitter.com/eu6AmDO2Bu  F H (@FahimHundekar) April 2, 2020

#BanTikTokInIndia did my part. Please do your bit & shownthe strength of 1.3 billion people pic.twitter.com/xY2bO5ZTKQ  Rajat Upadhyaya (@rajatupadhyaya2) April 3, 2020

#BanTikTokInIndia #BanTikTokInIndia



We should take note of this and uninstall TikTok.

I did it. Now it's your turn.

Show China what we Indians can do. pic.twitter.com/ifgJRzf5cl  Rajat Gaikwad (@RajatGaikwad007) April 3, 2020

According to the reports, last year TikTok amassed a total of 740 million downloads leaving behind Facebook to become the second most downloaded app that year, wherein India accounted for 277.6 million of these downloads. The number of TikTok users in India has substantially increased over the past years. However, did you know that TikTok isnt the only social media app that tracks you? There are many apps including Facebook that will give you access to use the app only if you agree to the terms and conditions. Unknowingly, people normally willingly hand over their data for every like, every location check-in, friends/followers etc. A Business Insider article earlier even suggested that Facebook could monitor the users internet activity even when the person is not logged into the site. Now that should ring a bell!

While we can attribute #BanTikTokIndia, trending on Twitter, to the current situation of how people across the world are looking at China today, however, more or less all social media apps have access to our personal data as we voluntarily give access to them and therefore we should be wary of what we are sharing on public platforms.
How at-risk are kids to Covid-19?

To the relief of parents everywhere, this disease has been relatively low-risk for children.

In one study, researchers from China and the U.S. tested the contacts of infected people in China and found that children were just as likely as other age groups to test positive, though none of the infected children developed severe symptoms. A new analysis of cases and deaths in China found an extremely low mortality rate of 0.0016 percent in children up to age 9, compared to nearly eight percent in people 80 and up. Just 0.04 percent of infected children between ages 10 to 19 were hospitalized, compared to about four percent of people in their 40s and eight percent of people in their 50s.

Young people still get sick, and there have been serious illnesses and deaths. Infants are particularly vulnerable, found an analysis of more than 2,100 pediatric cases reported to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in late January and early February. About six percent of children had severe cases, the study reported, compared to more than 10 percent of infants and more than 18 percent of adults.

Will sending my kids to day care contribute to the spread of the pandemic?

In a nutshell, yes. Most children who get infected seem to develop mild symptoms or none at all, which makes them potentially ideal vectors. And while contagiousness would likely be higher if more children were coughing and dripping snot everywhere, studies suggest that kids can transmit Covid-19, even if they dont seem sick, Dr. Kimberlin said.

At the same time, child care facilities are notorious for amplifying the spread of illnesses among children and their families. Not sending your kids will decrease the likelihood of them becoming vectors for spreading the virus, said Dr. Justin Lessler, Ph.D., an infectious disease epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and one of the co-authors of the Chinese contact-tracing study.

If I do send my child to day care, how can I make sure they are being as careful as possible?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that active child care centers increase cleaning efforts, implement social-distancing strategies, and alter drop-off and pickup procedures, among other adjustments. That might mean frequently sanitizing toys, keeping kids in the same small groups with the same teacher every day, and staggering what times parents arrive to reduce numbers of contacts among families.

Parents should ask providers about their health and safety standards, the kinds of training given to staff, how large the play groups are and the ratios of kids to grown-ups. Lastly, Dr. Fraga said, its good to find out what mental health supports are available  for both children and providers.

Should I pay even if I keep my kids home?

If you have money to spare, send some to your child care provider, said Dr. Arthur Caplan, Ph.D., director of the division of medical ethics at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine in New York. Parents who have lost their jobs, or worry they will soon, might be unable to pay. Day care operators worry they may have to close permanently, leading to a domino effect that will threaten the nations entire child care system and seriously impact the economy.
When I left the United States seven weeks ago to teach in Brazil, it was a different country. Testy and divided, angry and partisan, sure, but still identifying as Americans, whether or not they think the nation was great before the 2016 election. Mostly, we were agreeing to disagree.

That was then. Now, we are agreeing to look over our shoulder to see who just sneezed. Blue and red mean less than a sterile wipe. An uncanny foreboding has shrunk the public sphere to a marble.

Gazing across the empty spaces at the Sunport, I wondered if we are paying attention to long-range concerns. What happens when we get used to working and socializing only via internet? Are we facing a stark choice, as Yuval Harari suggests, between citizen empowerment and totalitarian surveillance? Will more governments decide to track all their citizens electronically, as Israel and China did?

A different country: Everything cancelled. Faces in masks, hurriedly, cross the airport. Masks so very far from those I just danced with in Carnaval. When I am done with quarantine, I will return to a country profoundly changed by poverty and massive unemployment. All this makes it critical to understand the fear, sorrow and humanity behind those masks. Yes, there will be vaccines and plenty to hope for. Self-isolation does not mean you are alone; community awaits.

As I traveled the nearly empty freeway home, I kept wondering how it took a virus to reduce our emissions when nations did not live up to their promises. The virus that condemns and sickens many of the worlds inhabitants has slowed climate change to give us time for the major transformation to green transportation and industry and to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. COVID-19 could teach us to hoard or to share; to shun or to find new ways of connecting. It could turn us suspicious or hostile, or finally compassionate. It is almost as if the virus was sent from above to allow us to become the more humane society we could be.

David Dunaway is a visiting professor at the University of Sao Paulo.
More than 100 people have lost their lives due to the coronavirus, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said today.

The department has reported 1,404 new coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania, raising the statewide total to 8,420. The spike represents the largest one-day increase in cases to date.

At least 102 have now died due to the coronavirus, including 12 new fatalities today, according to the health department.

Three of the newly reported fatalities are in midstate counties: Cumberland, Lancaster and Perry. So far, 10 people have died due to the virus in the Harrisburg area, according to state figures.

The virus has been spreading across the case. Cases have been found in 63 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties.

Grim numbers

More than half of the states cases have been reported in the Philadelphia area, according to the health department. Nearly 2,300 cases have been reported in the city of Philadelphia alone and 14 have died. Neighboring Montgomery County has reported 875 cases and 11 deaths, ranking second statewide in both categories.

But the number of people getting infected has been rising across the commonwealth.

All of the counties in the Harrisburg area have confirmed cases. Lancaster County leads the midstate counties with 232 cases and 5 deaths. York County now has 121 cases and 1 death.

Heres a look at the case numbers in the rest of the counties in the Harrisburg region: Dauphin (79, including 1 death); Cumberland (45, including 2 deaths); Lebanon (54); Franklin (26); Adams (19) and Perry (4, including 1 fatality). The death reported today in Perry County is the countys first.

The Lehigh Valley has been hit particularly hard and is a source of concern for the health department. Lehigh County alone has 584 cases and 5 deaths.

Cases continue to rise in the Pittsburgh area; Allegheny County has 476 cases.

Preparing for the surge

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Thursday state officials are working with researchers to gauge when the peak of infections will be seen in Pennsylvania. She said the department is focusing on mitigating the spread of the virus while preparing hospitals for an expected surge of patients.

None of us know when that surge will occur, Levine said.

Gov. Tom Wolf has taken aggressive steps to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The governor has issued a statewide order directing all Pennsylvania residents to stay at home except for essential trips.

Schools have been closed indefinitely. School districts have been scrambling to provide remote instruction to students. Administrators are increasingly bracing for the possibility that schools wont reopen this spring. Wolf has said the state could allow students to move to their next grade level in the fall, based on the work they have completed before schools were shut down.

The governor has ordered businesses that arent life sustaining to close temporarily. Thousands have applied for waivers from the state to remain open. Businesses seeking to stay open must file an application for a waiver by 5 p.m. Friday.

Some trade groups and lawmakers have complained the waiver process appears arbitrary, with some businesses being allowed to open while companies in the same sector are told they must remain closed. Lawmakers are pressing Wolf to relax restrictions on some sectors, such as the construction industry.

With so many businesses shutting down, several hundred thousand in Pennsylvania have filed unemployment claims, shattering records.

The health department doesnt offer statistics on how many people recover from the coronavirus. The department has said hospitals inform the state about positive cases but dont report when patients are discharged. Most patients who contract the virus do recover.

State officials continue to be concerned about the rapid spread of the virus. The first cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania were reported just four weeks ago.

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The leaders of the major political parties in the country have commended the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for the measures he has put in place to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.



At a meeting on Friday, 3rd April, 2020, at Jubilee House, at the invitation of President Akufo-Addo, leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Conventions Peoples Party (CPP), the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Peoples National Convention (PNC), the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) were unanimous in their praise for the Presidents handling of the crisis.



The Chairman of the governing NPP, Mr. Freddie Blay, thanked President Akufo-Addo for the gesture of inviting the parties to dialogue with Government on the pandemic, and described the Presidents fight against the disease as exemplary. Ghana is lucky to have you at the helm of affairs at this time. Whatever you have been doing is being appreciated.



The 2016 presidential candidate of the PNC, Dr. Edward Mahama, in his remarks, stated that without unity (amongst Ghanaians), this virus will devastate us. I applaud your decisiveness, and the formation of the COVID-19 management team is a very brilliant one.



Representing the Progressive Peoples Party, Bridgette Dzobgenuku Dzobgenuku, the 2016 vice presential candidate of the party, commended Government and President Akufo-Addo on efforts to combat the disease, stressing that we are quite happy. Nobody in the world has been here before, and no one here can claim to know how to do it better than anybody else. We are all learning as we go along



Lets make an effort at taking off our competitive blinders, and put on our compassionate lenses, because, at this point, it is compassion we need, she said to the political party leaders represented at the meeting



Applauding the closure of Ghanas borders, the subsequent quarantining of some 1.30 passenger, and the partial lockdown implemented in some parts of the country, she added that the PPPs 2016 presidential candidate, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, was making available to government seven (7) ambulances to help fight against COVID-19.



On his part, Ivor Greenstreet Ivor, the 2016 flagbearer of the CPP, noted that the world has been witnesses to how some governments prevaricated in the wake of the pandemic, and are now paying a heavy price for their actions and inactions.



Fortunately, this is not a charge your Government can be accused of. Your decisions, thus far, have been decisive, resolute and very important, he added.



Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the 2016 flagbearer of the NDP, thanked President Akufo-Addo for the actions taken so far, stressing that the actions have been timely and purposeful to the covid-19 pandemic that we have to fight, with the National Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, urging for unity in the fight against the pandemic.



The NDC Chairman, thus, urged all to come together, put our shoulder to the wheel, and assist government fight and defeat the pandemic.



Rationale for meeting



Explaining the rationale for calling the meeting, President Akufo-Addo explained that the consultations he has so far held with stakeholders on combating the disease will not be complete without also meeting and talking with the political leaders of the nation.



According to President Akufo-Addo, It is essentially for us to have an opportunity to exchange information with each other, and, more than anything else, to agree on the measures that we can take as political leaders to ensure the unity of our nation at this critical time, and to stress the need for solidarity amongst ourselves.



He continued, The example of our own country and countries around the world, which we are all familiar with, is that the disease doesnt have a political colour. It doesnt know Democrats or Republicans, or Tories or Labour, or NDC or NPP. It is attacking human beings. That recognition is what should drive our collective response as a people to this pandemic.



The President, thus, urged the political party leaders gathered to recognize that this virus is a threat to our communities, society and nation. And we should be able, collectively, to find an input as to the measures that, on a societal basis, can be taken to arrest the spread, and, ultimately, lead to the defeat of this pandemic.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The IRS and the Treasury Department say Americans will start receiving their economic impact checks within the next few weeks.

The payments are part of the $2.2 trillion rescue package signed into law last week by President Donald Trump aimed at combating the economic ravages of the coronavirus outbreak.

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Most people don't need to do anything to get the money. But some populations who don't typically file returns  including senior citizens and low-income people who might not traditionally file tax returns  may be confused. The government urged them to file taxes and then later reversed course for certain groups.

The IRS and Treasury have updated their guidance on how to ensure you get paid. Here are the basics:

___

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PAYMENTS?

Anyone earning up to $75,000 in adjusted gross income and who has a Social Security number will receive a $1,200 payment. That means married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment  $2,400  if their adjusted gross income, which what you report on your taxes, is under $150,000.

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The payment steadily declines for those who make more. Those earning more than $99,000, or $198,000 for joint filers, are not eligible. For heads of household with one child, the benefit starts to decline at $112,500 and falls to zero at $146,500.

Parents will also receive $500 for each qualifying child.

___

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THE CHECK?

For most people, nothing.

The money will be directly deposited in your bank account if the government has that information from your tax return. If you havent filed your 2019 taxes, the government will use information from your 2018 taxes to calculate your payment and determine where to send it.___

I DON'T USUALLY HAVE TO FILE TAXES. DO I STILL GET A PAYMENT?

Yes.

But here is where it gets a little confusing. The IRS and Treasury said Monday that people who are not required to file a tax return  such as low-income tax payers, some senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans and people with disabilities  will need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive the economic impact payment. It would provide the government basic details including a person's filing status, number of dependents and direct-deposit bank information.

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However, the Treasury on Wednesday reversed course, saying that senior citizens, Social Security recipients and railroad retirees who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file a tax return to get the payment.

Instead, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts or sent by mail, however they typically receive their benefits.

Lawmakers and others complained that the requirement would create extra work and confusion for a vulnerable population, particularly as the government has their information and authority to use it to deliver payment.

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The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to generate payments for Social Security recipients who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019.

Since the IRS would not have information regarding any dependents for these people, each person would receive $1,200 per person, without the additional amount for any dependents at this time.

The remaining groups  low-income individuals, some veterans and people with disabilities  will still have to file an abbreviated tax return if they do not receive Social Security.

___

I HAVEN'T FILED MY 2018 OR 2019 TAXES. WILL I STILL GET A PAYMENT?

Yes, but the IRS urges anyone required to file a tax return and has not yet done so for those years to file as soon as possible in order to receive an economic impact payment. Taxpayers should include their direct-deposit banking information on the return if they want it deposited in their account.

___

I DIDN'T USE DIRECT DEPOSIT ON MY TAXES, WHAT CAN I DO?

The government will default to sending you the check by mail if you did not use direct deposit.

However, IRS and Treasury say that they will develop an online portal in the coming weeks for individuals to provide their banking information so that they can receive the payments immediately instead of in the mail. It has not yet set a deadline for updating that information.

___

WHERE DO I DO THIS?

The IRS and Treasury say the website irs.gov/coronavirus will soon provide information about the check, including how people can file a simple 2019 tax return.

___

I NEED MORE TIME TO FILE MY TAX RETURNS. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO GET THE PAYMENT?

The IRS says people concerned about visiting a tax professional or local community organization in person to get help with a tax return should not worry. The economic impact payments will be available throughout the rest of 2020.
In this era of coronavirus, we offer words of hope and solidarity for consideration in these unsettling times. We are facing a new challenge and an uncertain future which requires citizens to withdraw from public life during this time of pandemic. The Jewish and Christian traditions which we profess are in solid agreement that trust in God is the ultimate antidote for any fear or anxiety caused by this human tragedy.

The difficulty and disruption of our daily lives with quarantine at home and observing social distancing when we must buy food or engage in other essential activities, as well as frequent hand washings, is necessary for the common good, and are a witness to human solidarity which will prevail over COVID-19. Even worship should be done safely at home using video, teleconferencing or live-streaming in accord with your religious traditions.

We sometimes feel that God is absent from us but in faith and experience, we know that God is concerned about our daily lives with their challenges and trials. We believe that God sometimes seems so distant from us, but we also know moments when God seems closer to us than our own breath. God is with us even when we are wandering in the desert and leading us through the Red Sea to freedom, from slavery to a new era. Indeed, we believe that the overarching belief of our different traditions is that God loves us, and we best show our love for our creator in loving all people, beginning with the most vulnerable and needy among us.

We remember in prayer those who have died from this disease and extend our loving concern and support to their families and friends.

We appeal to all people of faith and good will to live this new era of coronavirus with serenity of mind and heart and with the conviction that nothing is impossible with God. United in prayer and faithfully observing the guidelines of healthcare professionals and the local and state civil authorities, we will emerge from this pandemic a stronger community with great concern for the health and welfare of all in the human family,

With deep gratitude we honor the courageous doctors, nurses, medical personnel, volunteers and all first responders whose efforts keep the community safe from this pernicious disease and mitigate its spread. We are mindful that all are potentially vulnerable to this new virus. May our gracious God bless them in their dangerous work and give them the joy and consolation of knowing they are truly doing the work of the Holy One in eliminating this modern worldwide plague. Those who extend a helpful hand today may be in need of such assistance in coming days.

Pastor Lawson, Rabbi Karff and Archbishop Fiorenza were recently honored by Interfaith Ministries as living symbols of the value of respect.
As the coronavirus crisis surges, many private medical practices in the Bay Area have seen a steep drop in patients and revenue that could force them to go out of business, leaving their workers  physicians, nurses, assistants and staffers  unemployed and patients in the lurch.

The term private practice may conjure images of the lone family doctor who runs his or her own office with a nurse and an assistant, but it covers everything from practices with a handful of physicians and staff to those with hundreds of doctors and staff members. They include specialists and surgeons as well as primary care doctors. The slowdown is also affecting dentists and optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Anyone who isnt in the hospital has pretty much shut down to all but emergency conditions, said Andrew Tomlinson, a San Francisco ear, nose and throat doctor who serves as a delegate to the San Francisco Marin Medical Society.

Patients stand to be stranded, he added.

While it may seem counterintuitive during a medical crisis, many people who work in private doctors offices, including physicians, are being furloughed as a result of declining business. Many patients are staying home and canceling routine or non-urgent medical appointments during the shelter in place  often at their doctors direction.

Most elective surgeries have been canceled and many practices have stopped nonessential appointments, including checkups of patients with chronic conditions. Some offices have drastically reduced hours or even closed.

This has led to the same financial challenges many small businesses are facing.

Were like a restaurant thats now only doing takeout, said Brian Grady, a San Francisco urologist and medical society president. We still have rent to pay, employees to pay, but fewer patients and less revenue.

He suggested that a few dozen of the societys 2,000 members across two counties will likely close their doors. That number, of course, could be greater.

Its probably more than you would think, said Dustin Corcoran, CEO for the California Medical Association,. Its not just small practices. We are hearing of practices with as many as 250 doctors that are suffering as well. These are sophisticated operations.

In the East Bay, Joe Greaves, executive director of the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association, said that business in most outpatient practices plummeted to about 30% of normal, and several urgent care centers have either closed or consolidated. At Michael Schraders internal medicine practice in San Francisco, theyve only seen about 10 patients, all in need of urgent treatment, in the past three weeks, he said.

Man-Kit Leung, an ear, nose and throat doctor in San Franciscos Chinatown, said he worries that many practices will close, particularly in underserved communities.

Thats my fear, he said.

His practice, San Francisco ENT Medical Group, should stay afloat, though it may require the use of Small Business Administration loans and some lines of credit, he said. The number of patients its seeing is about 10% of normal.

Were furloughing staff, writing letters asking for rent relief, trying every way we can to avoid paying bills, Leung said. The physicians are forgoing salaries and pay while were trying to keep paying our staff.

Closed medical practices could have immediate and long-term effects after the coronavirus crisis ebbs. After stay-at-home orders are lifted, practices expect to be hit by what some are calling a second surge  a flood of patients whove deferred regular medical appointments or put off treatment for less-serious injuries.

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Are all those practices going to be there when we need them when we get past the COVID surge? Corcoran asked.

Shuttered practices could also force many patients to seek new doctors, which would present issues of patient familiarity and treatment continuity.

Its not just older people; its anyone with chronic medical problems, Corcoran said. If youre healthy and you just need an annual checkup, anyone will do. But if you have a chronic condition, like diabetes or a heart condition, it takes a while to figure it all out with your doctor. Its not easy to transfer that knowledge between doctors.

Telemedicine  video appointments via smartphone or computer  could help practices keep serving patients during the crisis, doctors say. But many practices lack the equipment or the expertise, and telemedicine visits often pay less than office visits. Doctors groups are scrambling to help smaller practices to set up telemedicine, Greaves said, and Schrader said the number of practices that go under may depend on whether we can adapt to a new model by using telemedicine if the pandemic lasts months.

The Asian American Medical Group, a collection of 250 physicians in San Francisco and northern San Mateo County, was prepared for the shelter-in-place orders with an approved telemedicine app. The app and FaceTime have allowed the group to keep seeing patients, many of whom are older and many of whom have underlying conditions like diabetes or heart disease.

That way we maintain our contact with the patient, have a face-to-face connection and can do a visual examination, said Eric Leung, an ophthalmologist and the groups chairman.

Physicians say they also need financial assistance, starting with breaks on rent and better reimbursements from Medicare, Medi-Cal and health care plans. Stimulus legislation contained some aid to doctors, Corcoran said, and doctors are eligible for small business loans, but that might not be enough.

That bill is going to come due for us as a society, he said. Were going to need our physicians, our clinicians, ready to go the minute that were able to get back to business. We dont need physicians and nurses and other medical personnel worrying about their financial future when were sending them to the front lines of a health crisis.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
A day after New Jersey officials said they were reluctant to tell residents to wear masks when they go out in public amid the coronavirus, the federal government did it for them.

President Donald Trump said Friday announced the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends people wear non-medical cloth face coverings if they have to go out in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The president added that it is not a requirement but a recommendation, and said he did not yet plan to wear a mask himself. Im choosing not to do it, he said.

Earlier this week the mayors of New York City and Los Angeles said their residents should wear homemade or makeshift coverings over their nose and mouth.

New Jersey State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Thursday she wasnt opposed to people covering their faces, but she was afraid a mandate would further strain the already short supply of surgical and N95 masks.

And, state officials have said, a statewide recommendation could give people a false sense of security.

Yes, you can wear a bandana or scarf, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday his daily coronavirus briefing. Theres nothing wrong with that. But that is not in any way a replacement for social distancing."

Dont assume that makes you Superman or Superwoman, Murphy added.

Officials do still want us to stay home, but if you have to go out for an essential errand or job, heres what you should know about wearing a mask:

Whats the rule?

The CDC now recommends that people leaving their homes should wear non-medical cloth face-coverings.

The new guidance encourages people, especially in areas hit hard by the spread of the coronavirus, to use rudimentary coverings like T-shirts, bandannas and non-medical masks to cover their faces while outdoors. Federal officials stressed that surgical masks and N95 respirators should be left for those on the front lines of fighting the spread of the infection.

People should wear the masks at places like grocery stores and pharmacies, officials said.

What kind of mask should you wear?

You should wear a homemade mask, bandana, scarf or other type of makeshift cloth over your nose and mouth.

You should not try to buy an N95 or surgical mask. Amazon and other retailers arent selling medical-grade masks to the general public anymore, so that they can reserve them for medical professionals.

Wash your hands before putting the face covering on, officials recommended Friday, while noting that the masks are not a replacement for social distancing. People should continue to stay home unless they are traveling for essential services, and stay 6 feet away from others, officials said.

Why the change in recommendation?

The new CDC recommendation marks a change from its previous guidelines to only wear face coverings if you were sick or caring for a sick person who could not wear one.

Officials Friday said the change in the recommendation comes from evidence that people not exhibiting symptoms can still spread COVID-19.

Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White Houses coronavirus task force, said Thursday she was concerned that people would be lulled into a false sense of security by covering their faces, and wouldnt abide by the more critical and effective measures to slow the spread of the virus: staying six feet apart, frequently washing their hands and refraining from touching their faces.

How do you make the face coverings?

Dozens of volunteers and companies across the state have been making cloth face masks for healthcare workers to use as an extra layer of protection over their N95 masks. You can make them for your family, too - even if you cant sew.

There are tutorials online for how to sew or make a no sew mask.

A study by Cambridge University, cited by Smart Air Filters, found the best materials you might have around the house to make a face mask from are vacuum cleaner bags, dish towels and cotton blend or full cotton T-shirts. The study found that a mask made from a double-layered dishtowel could be as effective as a surgical mask (97%).

Where can you buy them?

If you cant sew and you really want a cloth surgical mask there are some online retailers that sell them, but supplies and delivery times are constantly changing. Check websites such as Amazon, AliExpress, Lowes and Home Depot.

How can I safely handle and wear a mask?

The World Health Organization says to:

Clean your hands with alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and water before putting on a mask.

Place the mask over your mouth and nose and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.

Avoid touching the mask while wearing it. If you to do touch it you should clean your hands again.

The mask should be replaced if it gets damp and single-use masks are not supposed to be reused.

When you take the mask off, use the straps to remove it. Do not touch the front of the mask. Discard it immediately in a closed bin and clean your hands.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
YouTube reportedly plans to kick off a new service called Shorts in a bid to shore up its defenses against platforms such as TikTok. Thats according to recent reports citing two sources said to be close to the matter. The platform, set to be built into YouTube, will reportedly feature short-form videos similar to TikTok. But it will also include a full battery of new creative tools to counter TikToks core functionality.

The underlying goal for Shorts, sources claim, will be to take advantage of YouTubes massive userbase as a foundation for growth.

The Shorts would also, presumably, be separate from YouTubes Stories feature. It isnt immediately clear exactly how the tool would be different from Stories since that already focuses on short-form content. But Stories are limited in use to channels with more than a pre-determined number of subscribers. So it may be that Shorts are intended to offset those by providing a similar feature but without so many limitations.

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Shorts looks like a YouTube response to a very real threat

Now, YouTube has plenty of reasons to be concerned about TikTok and at least one big reason in particular. Namely, thats TikToks rapid rise in the US and other regions after it initially got its start in China.

The app launched back in 2016 and quickly rose to top social media charts in its home region. Then, in the first quarter of 2019, TikTok took the top spot in terms of overall downloads for the first quarter. It led overall as well as specifically in the Google Play Store, taking spot number two for iOS. As of that quarter last year, it was easily one of the leading short video platforms in both Asia and the US.

Where TikTok excels, despite its social media branding, is in the ease it provides for sharing really short video clips. Those come complete with plenty of options for effects and backing-music too, giving it something of an edge over similar platforms. That also means, while it doesnt directly compete with YouTube, it is a source of competition in the short video viewing category. So it does steal away at least some traffic from that platform.

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In the interim, TikTok has continued adding new features, as well as some riffing off of Googles own Android-specific features. Those have included everything from new family safety tools to Digital Wellbeing enhancements.

The addition of those types of features and others only serves to make TikTok an even more popular platform. That gives Googles media-focused sister company all the more reason to pursue new features of its own.

When will Shorts arrive?

Theres no exact timetable for the launch of YouTube Shorts, as of this writing. But the media giant reportedly plans to launch the feature before the end of the year. If and when that does arrive, the insider sources indicate, it wont be a standalone app like competing apps though. Instead, users will see it appear as a new feature within the YouTube app itself.

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That means that it will arrive as part of either a server-side or app store update.
Did Meghan, Duchess of Sussex get everything she wanted out of her exit from the royal family with Prince Harry? Critics claim that Harry gave up everything to please her, while a former friend of the duchess believes shes right where she wants to be  in Los Angeles  since she always wanted a Hollywood lifestyle.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | Neil Mockford/GC Images

Prince Harry and Meghan moved to LA

When Prince Harry and Meghan announced their plan to leave behind their royal duties, arrangements were made for the couple to give up their HRH titles and public funding and they made their move to Canada.

Not long after, however, they reportedly made another move  to LA, which according to one of Meghans former friends, fulfilled Meghans dreams. This is the ideal result for her  she comes back to Hollywood with a prince to flaunt and getting to pick and choose who she wants to work and socialize with rather than the other way around, the duchess ex-friend told The Sun.

The source added, I think she always wanted to be back here, she always dreamed of the full-blown Hollywood lifestyle and this kind of clout. And I dont think it was even that hard to persuade him.

Prince Harry has been starstruck

Making the move to LA, according to Meghans former pal, was an easy pitch to make to Prince Harry, as he has been starstruck in the past. Harry was wrapped around her finger even when she was just a USA actress. She then was able to extend her circle thanks to their relationship and bring names like Oprah and Serena Williams to their wedding.

The friend added, He was smitten and starstruck over the whole thing. I dont think she had to twist his arm to move to Hollywood.

That move came during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and many critics of the Sussexes believe that, rather than moving to LA, they should have returned to the UK during the health crisis.

The royal family were never a consideration for her, her former friend shared. Her relationship to that family was dependent on her freedom to have a role that she felt was big enough for her. She wanted it her way, and she wanted it quickly  she was never going to change the timeline for them.

The couple are making a new life

LA, the friend asserts, was always on Meghans radar. Anyone who knows her knew this is where it was headed as soon as she saw she couldnt have her own way in the UK.

While the couple initially seemed to be setting up their new home in Canada, being in Hollywood was inevitable, as Meghan can now be near her mother and friends again. She doesnt have to ask for permission from the royal family in how she chooses to live her life and she can acquire income in all sorts of fields, her former friend noted.

She is very pleased with herself, Im sure, the insider shared. In just a couple of years she has made it back as a big fish to the place where she previously had barely made an impact as a working actress.

Now that shes a duchess married to a prince, her former friend believes that Meghan will be able to flaunt her trophy and her royal fame without any constraints of tradition.
James Taylor and His All-Star Band with Jackson Browne has announced its upcoming tour will be postponed, including a June 21 show at Fenway Park in Boston with Brandi Carlile and Shawn Colvin.

The delay was attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, which has shuttered venues statewide through at least May 4.

There is no new information regarding a Taylor concert scheduled for July 4 at Tanglewood in Lenox, said his publicist, adding there will be further announcements when there is more news to share.

As this summers tour of 27 towns and cities across the US drew near, weve been increasingly excited to hit the road again. So its deeply disappointing for both of us to have to call it off and reschedule (and reschedule we WILL)! As we all now realize, COVID-19 is a serious, real and present danger," Taylor and Browne said in a joint statement. "Moreover, our public health is all of our responsibility. So let us listen to and follow the directions of our public healthcare people and support their efforts in this unprecedented time of global pandemic. Love those around you and, above all, stay safe and healthy.

Previously purchased tickets will be honored for all new dates and fans are encouraged to hold onto their tickets.

Taylor and his wife, Kim, recently donated $1 million to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and $350,000 to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield to help combat COVID-19.

Shop for concert tickets here: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster.
San Fransisco is to move thousands of rough sleepers off the streets and into shelters amid fears the coronavirus outbreak could devastate the city's homeless.

Nearly 10,000 people are sleeping rough in the city and could be particularly vulnerable to the infection of the virus without the capacity to self-isolate.

In response, city officials are securing 4,500 rooms for those who need to self-isolate.

Officials are also asking hotels in the area, which have been left virtually empty due to stay-at-home orders across the county, to house those in need.

The scheme is one of the most substantial measures attempted to reduce the growing homelessness in the city in years.

At least 160 people who either tested positive for the coronavirus or were awaiting results were being referred to hotels as of 25 March, city officials said.

Hospitals have said they will not discharge patients who need to be quarantined onto the streets where they could possibly infect others.

Trent Rhorer, executive director of the citys Human Services Agency, said: Theyll only discharge people who are able to self-quarantine.

Hotels could also be offered as an alternative for those living in small space single-room occupancy buildings with shared facilities, where it is nearly impossible for them to self-isolate.

However, some hotels have reportedly expressed reservations over the programme, citing issues of property damage and uncertain questions surrounding tenancy rights.

San Francisco has reported 497 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and seven death.

Additional reporting by Reuters
The latest:

Attorney General William Barr ordered the Bureau of Prisons on Friday to increase the use of home confinement and expedite the release of eligible high-risk inmates at three federal prisons where coronavirus cases have skyrocketed.

Officials were told to give highest priority to inmates who are being held at FCC Oakdale, a prison complex in Louisiana where five inmates have died and more than a dozen others remain hospitalized. Also listed were FCI Elkton in Ohio  where three inmates have died  and FCI Danbury in Connecticut, which has reported 20 inmates testing positive for coronavirus.

We have to move with dispatch in using home confinement, where appropriate, to move vulnerable inmates out of these institutions, Barr said in a Friday evening memo to the prison systems director.

As of Friday night, 91 inmates and 50 staff members had tested positive for coronavirus at federal correctional facilities across the U.S., the agency said.

US death toll surpasses 7,000

With more than a 7,000 deaths from coronavirus, U.S. health officials and state leaders across the country are urging for a stronger response to the outbreak.

In New York, where at least 2,900 people have died from the virus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state has about six days left before it runs out of ventilators.

"It's like watching a slow-moving hurricane across the country, where you know the path that it's taking. Why not deploy the national resources and just stay ahead of the hurricane?" he said Thursday.

"It's very simple: A person comes into the ICU unit. They need the ventilator, or they die. It's that basic proposition," Cuomo said.

All states but Wyoming have reported deaths.

To keep the numbers from rising, the nation's top experts  which have predicted at least 100,000 Americans may die  say aggressive social distancing measures are now more important than ever.

By looking at the country's curve of cases, White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said she can tell not every American is following social distancing guidelines the federal government has put forth.

"Just to everybody out there across the country  when we say no gatherings of 10, we want to be clear  if you have a family of 10, we don't want you to be split up," Birx said, adding the guidelines mean people should be having "no dinner parties, no cocktail parties."

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says all states should issue stay-at-home orders.

"I don't understand why that's not happening," he said Thursday. "If you look at what's going on in this country, I just don't understand why we're not doing that," Fauci said. "We really should be."

Most states are under a stay-at-home order, except ten  Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming  which have not issued one yet. President Donald Trump has said he is not planning to issue a nationwide order.

In Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp announced a stay-at-home order Thursday, the state's Department of Health said new data shows the measures are vital.

"Until now, containing the spread of COVID-19 has been based on early detection and isolation of people with symptoms of the virus," DPH Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey said.

"Social distancing and keeping people apart from each other are now more than just recommendations; they are the best weapons we have to stop the spread of COVID-19," Toomey said.

US releases grim jobs report

A record-long streak of U.S. job growth ended suddenly in March after nearly a decade as employers cut 701,000 jobs because of the outbreak that's all but shut down the U.S. economy. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% from a 50-year low of 3.5%.

Last month's actual job loss was likely even larger because the government surveyed employers before the heaviest layoffs hit in the past two week. Nearly 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks of March, far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record.

Virus-induced shutdowns have forced widespread layoffs throughout the economy, from hotels, restaurants and movie theaters to auto factories, department stores and administrative offices.

One sign of how painfully deep the job losses will likely prove to be: During its nearly decade-long hiring streak, the U.S. economy added 22.8 million jobs. Economists expect the April jobs report being released in early May to show that all those jobs will have been lost.

Virus can be spread through breathing, experts say

Trump has detailed a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation that Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Officials are suggesting that non-medical masks and face coverings be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home  for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy.

The CDC is not recommending the use of medical grade or surgical grade masks," President Donald Trump said Friday at a coronavirus task force meeting, noting the country wants those medical and surgical grade masks to be used for health care workers.

Trump said the voluntary measure could use basic cloth or fabric, which could be made at home and washed and reused.



New York City's EMTs face tough decisions

In the hardest part of the country, new guidance shares a grim glimpse into New York City's dire circumstances.

New York City Emergency Medical Service teams who cannot find or restart a pulse while administering CPR on adult cardiac arrest patients are instructed not to bring those patients to hospitals, according to a memo obtained by CNN and the chair of the regional emergency medical advisory committee familiar with the edict.

The new guidance  issued as a temporary change in response to the pandemic  is in place to help prevent the spread of the virus to EMS workers.

"In the event a resuscitation is terminated, and the body is in public view, the body can be left in the custody of NYPD," the memo states.

The city's hospitals, struggling to respond to patients constantly streaming in, have said a shortage of personal protective equipment is putting the medical workers on the front lines at risk of contracting the virus.



One third-year resident there said she goes to work feeling "like a sheep going to slaughter."

"My colleagues and I are writing our last will and testament. I'm 28 years old," Dr. Laura Ucik said. "We fear that we may not survive this pandemic and yet we show up every day to this hospital to take care of our community. We're running out of (personal protective equipment), we're running out of pain medicine, we're running out of sedatives, we're running out of oxygen masks."

Americans awaiting stimulus bill payments

Americans likely won't begin to see direct payments from the coronavirus stimulus bill until at least April 13 and it could take 20 weeks for all the checks to be mailed, Trump administration officials told lawmakers, according to a House Democratic memo obtained by CNN.

The timeline means tens of millions of Americans will have to wait to get badly needed assistance, despite repeated earlier suggestions from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that the money would go out as soon as April 6.

Mnuchin said at Thursday's White House coronavirus briefing that payments would go out within two weeks to people whose direct deposit details are on file with the government, echoing comments he made this past Sunday after passage of the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill that payments would not go out until mid-April.

Initially, the IRS will make about 60 million payments, likely in the week of April 13, for taxpayers who provided their direct deposit information through their 2018 or 2019 tax returns, the memo from the House Ways and Means Committee says. Three weeks later, on the week of May 4, the IRS expects to start issuing paper checks to individuals whose bank information isn't already on file, a process that will take much longer.

According to the committee, the paper checks will be issued at a rate of about 5 million per week, and that it could take up to 20 weeks to issue all the checks. Individuals with the lowest income, based on adjusted gross income, will receive their checks first.



Related video: Do you qualify for a stimulus check?



The law stipulates that individuals who earn $75,000 or less will receive $1,200, and couples making $150,000 or less will receive twice that amount, with an additional $500 per child. The payments decrease for individuals and couples who make more money, with individuals who make more than $99,000 receiving nothing.

Congressional aides were told last week when they were briefed by the IRS that roughly 150 million taxpayers will be eligible for the payments, but of those the IRS estimated they only had about 70 million people's direct deposit information on file. That means for roughly 80 million Americans, the IRS will have to rely on mailing checks.

The checks could take even longer to get to people for whom the IRS does not have tax information. The IRS envisions having an online system in place by late April or early May to allow taxpayers to update their direct deposit information and to track the status of their payments, according to the memo.

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By Trudy Rubin



Early last year, Daniel Ziblatt co-authored a New York Times op-ed titled "Why Autocrats Love Emergencies."



His thesis now has great relevance in the time of the coronavirus. "Crises offer ... would-be authoritarians an escape from constitutional shackles," Ziblatt argued with fellow Harvard professor Steven Levitsky (with whom he wrote the influential book "How Democracies Die").







Think of the autocrat wannabes among today's democratic leaders who have shown great impatience with checks on their power, such as Donald Trump, Israel's Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu and Hungary's Viktor Orban. With emergency measures in place, it's easy to imagine their temptation to expand personal power at the top.



And yet, a few months into the crisis, the picture is far more complicated. Rather than veer toward authoritarianism, many Western leaders  including Trump  have been surprisingly passive. Others like Netanyahu and Orban have used the virus as an excuse to continue their longtime assault on democratic norms.



Israel is a particularly fascinating case, where three elections in a row had failed to produce a viable majority to form a new government, despite the health crisis. Facing trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, with opposition leaders calling on him to step down, Netanyahu used the coronavirus as an excuse to shut courts, in the dead of night. This conveniently delayed his trial for two months.



He also authorized Israel's internal security services to use massive amounts of cellphone data secretly collected to combat terrorism to track coronavirus carriers for 30 days, without the approval of parliament. While many countries are using cellphone data to track the virus, Israel is apparently the only democracy using its security forces to do so.



However, it looked until the last week as if there was political pushback against Netanyahu's machinations: The opposition had cobbled together a bare majority coalition and was set to take control of parliament, despite efforts by leaders of Netanyahu's party to defy the green light from Israel's High Court.



It seemed that democracy had prevailed.



Yet, with the skill that has kept him in office since 2009, Netanyahu managed last Thursday to split the opposition and remain in power. Benny Gantz, the opposition leader, was neatly outmaneuvered, agreeing to serve under Netanyahu. Bibi said he was acting at a time of health crisis that demanded "unity" under his leadership.



In Israel, we see a case of a complex democracy with a leader who regularly breaks democratic norms and has shown he will use the virus crisis to obtain his goals.







Hungary is a simpler case  one of several countries in central and southeastern Europe that have yet to fully adopt democratic norms. Foremost among their leaders, Orban has taken control of courts, parliament, and media. Now he is pushing through a draft law that will give the executive branch dictatorial powers for an unlimited period. It would be known as the "law to protect against the coronavirus." Other troubled democracies could follow his lead.



And then we come to the United States, where the president sees checks and balances as an annoyance and constantly attacks the courts, the fact-based media and Democratic political leaders.



At a time of crisis, and health emergency, what might happen? Civil liberties advocates were concerned when news broke that the Justice Department had asked Congress for permission to ask senior judges to detain people indefinitely without trial during emergencies  as part of a push for new powers during the epidemic.



But lo and behold, a bipartisan group of legislators rejected this idea. The chief strategist for Rand Paul (R., Ky.) tweeted in agreement with a strong critique from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.). Sen. Mike Lee (R., Utah) tweeted, "OVER MY DEAD BODY."



And despite his insistence that he is a "war president," Trump has been resistant to acting like one. He has set no national strategy, left states mostly to fend for themselves and refused to make serious use of the Defense Production Act to force private and defense industry to produce desperately needed health equipment. He has deferred to health experts even as he has disdained expert advice for the last three years.




China sharing its achievements to help with global fight against COVID-19

China has been contributing to the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic around the world with its scientific research data and technological achievements.

Chinese experts hold a video conference on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic with their counterparts from Central and Eastern European countries on March 13. (Photo/Xinhua)

On Jan. 11, Chinese researchers isolated the first strain of the novel coronavirus and shared with the World Health Organization (WHO) its complete genome sequence, providing an important foundation for scientists around the world in their virus research, drug screening and vaccine development.

China set up two platforms to share its scientific findings on the virus with the world - the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Resource (2019nCoVR) database under the China National Center for Bioinformation, and a novel coronavirus data sharing and analysis platform under the National Microbiology Data Center.

The 2019nCoVR has provided data services for over 76,000 visitors from 152 countries and regions, and recorded more than 4 million downloads.

The country has also strengthened international cooperation in research and development of vaccines against the virus.

Once the complete genome sequence of the novel coronavirus had been identified, China shared it with the world, in the hope that countries could carry out vaccine research and development quickly, said Xu Nanping, vice minister of the countrys Ministry of Science and Technology, at a recent press conference.

Some Chinese companies are working with their international counterparts using different approaches to develop a vaccine. One Chinese company is working with Inovio in the United States on a DNA vaccine, while another is collaborating with German pharmaceutical company BioNTech on an mRNA vaccine. In addition, another Chinese company is working with British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on a recombinant protein vaccine.

China has also offered technological products, medical teams, solutions and its experience in epidemic control to virus-stricken regions around the world, Xu added.

A batch of test kits for COVID-19 manufactured by Chinese top gene-sequencing provider BGI Genomics arrived in Serbia recently, becoming the first batch of anti-epidemic supplies Serbia received by a foreign country in its fight against COVID-19. The company has received orders for test kits for 1 million people from 70 countries and regions. So far, several kinds of novel coronavirus test kits developed by Chinese companies have won approval to enter the EU market.

Chinese AI vendor Infervisions InferRead CT Pneumonia software is helping Italy identify potential COVID-19 patients quickly, minimizing the chance of cross-infections. Screening and early diagnosis of COVID-19 patients has become a priority in the hard-hit country. When the Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital in Italy asked Infervision Europe for help, Infervision Europe responded to the request quickly and installed the AI system for the hospital.

Meanwhile, Chinese drone maker DJIs drones are being used for anti-virus missions such as helping enforce lockdown and air delivery in countries including Italy and France. Huawei also donated an AI-enabled infrared thermal imaging system to Argentina, enabling rapid body temperature measurements.

Chinese experts have selflessly shared their countrys experience with the world and exchanged ideas with their foreign peers on various aspects such as treatment of critical cases, controlling hospital infection, and use of medicine via video conferences, winning widespread recognition, said Zeng Yixin, deputy director of the National Health Commission.
A 61-year-old man is facing sexual abuse charges after police said he inappropriately touched a 9-year-old girl.

Stewart Reynolds, of Homestead, Iowa, was arrested on a warrant for indecent contact with a child and five counts of second-degree sexual abuse, the Cedar Rapids Police Department said.

Police said the incidents happened between July 30, 2016, and November 25, 2019, when Reynolds was babysitting the girl at her home.

It's unclear how he was related to the girl.

He's being held at the Linn County jail on a $130,000 bond.
Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey on Friday said that 35 out of 57 foreign nationals, who came to the state have been traced.

"From the list of 57 people who have come from foreign countries to the state, we have located 35 out of which 10 are from Bihar. 22 others have either come to Bihar or have returned from the state," the DGP told media persons.

Five more people tested positive for coronavirus in Bihar taking the total number of cases in the state to 29.

According to the Sate's Health Department, two of the COVID-19 persons are from Gopalganj with travel history to the Middle-East while one person from Saran has travel history to the UK.

The two other confirmed cases are from Gaya and are contacts of earlier positive cases, according to the department.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran's Ambassador to Belarus Saeed Yari explored avenues of promoting economic cooperation with the country's Minister of Industry Pavel Utiupin on Friday, Trend reports citing IRNA.

Pavel Utiupin is also Belarusian head of the two countries joint economic commission.

During the meeting, they also discussed latest situation of trade and economic collaboration as well as the date and arrangements for holding the 15th session of the joint economic commission.

They also dealt with ways of giving an impetus for mutual cooperation in the various sections of economy, industry and trade.

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered with Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital and most populous city is Minsk.
The defendants at a court in January (Photo: VNA)

In the case, eleven of the 14 defendants filed appeals, asking for clemency and reduced sentences. Later, former General Director of MobiFone Cao Duy Hai and former Director of the AMAX investment consultancy and valuation company Vo Van Manh withdrew their requests.

Three defendants did not appeal against their penalties, namely former Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan, former head of the ministrys Department of Enterprise Management Pham Dinh Trong, and former Chairman of the AVG Board of Directors Pham Nhat Vu.

During the first-instance trial on December 16-28, 2019, the Hanois People Court handed down a jail term of eight years to Truong Minh Tuan for taking bribes and another six years for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences. The total sentence for him is 14 years behind bars.

Trong received a five-year term for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences. Meanwhile, Vu would spend three years in jail for giving bribes.

Among the nine defendants going to court this time, former Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son was given life imprisonment for taking bribes and 16 years in prison for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences. The total sentence is life imprisonment.

Former Deputy General Directors of MobiFone Ho Tuan and Nguyen Manh Hung received a prison sentence of two and a half years each for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences, according to the first-instance trials verdict.

Nguyen Dang Nguyen, MobiFone Deputy General Director, got two years in prison for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences.

The Hanoi Peoples Court found that in 2015, MobiFone, run by the Ministry of Information and Communications, bought 95 percent of AVGs shares for 8.9 trillion VND (375 million USD), much higher than their actual value. The deal caused a loss of over 6.59 trillion VND (277 million USD) to the State.
(Bloomberg) -- Since becoming mayor of Prague more than two years ago, Zdenek Hrib has repeatedly irked China by meeting dissidents, criticizing its treatment of ethnic minorities and promoting ties with Taiwan.

Now, the 38-year-old Pirate Party member is a symbol of the skepticism Beijing will have to overcome as it rushes to aid a Europe ravaged by a pandemic that began on Chinese soil. The Czech Republic was among numerous European countries to receive virus test kits and other medical supplies from China in recent weeks.

This isnt a humanitarian gift or aid, Hrib told Bloomberg News in a statement Friday. From Chinas perspective, its business.

Such sentiments are hardly surprising from Hrib, who flew the Tibetan flag over city hall March 10 to commemorate the anniversary of the regions failed 1959 revolt against Communist Party rule. The defiant move -- a throwback to late President Vaclav Havels support for the Dalai Lama -- came at a sensitive time for Beijing just as the coronavirus was prompting its first lockdowns in Europe.

The pandemic has shaken up Chinas diplomatic efforts on the continent, which has been a major focus of President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road plan to recreate ancient trade routes across Asia. In recent weeks, Xis government -- confident that the coronavirus is under control at home -- has sent supplies and disease experts to Europe, where the disease as killed more than 20,000.

Many such as the Czech Republics China-friendly president, Milos Zeman, have gladly accepted the support. Hrib represents another strain of Czech and European politics thats skeptical of Beijings promises and its strategic aims.

I would really like us to be a country that wouldnt steer away from the tradition of human rights, Hrib told Bloomberg in a previous interview last year. A country that would not turn away from victims of injustice, but one that offers a helping hand.

Hribs moves have prompted angry protests by China and the Shanghai municipal government severed economic ties with Prague after he entered a partnership with the Taiwanese capital, Taipei. If Prague keeps challenging China on Taiwan, Xinjiang or Tibet issues, the Chinese government will continue to respond with firm countermeasures, said Shi Yinhong, an adviser to Chinas cabinet and also a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing.

Story continues

The Czech Republic, faced with the coronavirus challenge, took an opportunistic turn by seeking aid from China while its traditional European allies are unable even to fend for themselves, Shi said. China, which is aiming to project its victory overseas, enforced the narrative by offering help.

Tibet Issue

Czechs critical of Beijings coronavirus support have highlighted problems with some 300,000 quick tests purchased from China, which health authorities said only worked if patients had been infected for at least five days, while about one-third were defective. China has said that inaccurate results can be caused by user error and cautioned against politicizing any issues with faulty equipment.

This is China fulfilling its role as a responsible major country and the Chinese people making kind and selfless contribution to the global response, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Tuesday in response a question about whether Beijing was using its assistance to sway public opinion. I believe that such efforts are worthy of respect, not disparagement.

Before Hrib took over in 2018 -- his first elected post -- Pragues position toward China had been aligned with the countrys official diplomatic stance, focused on economic ties. Two years earlier, Czech police suppressed peaceful protests and forced people to remove Tibetan flags from their homes during a visit by Xi.

Bilateral relations between China and the Czechs reached a pinnacle in 2015, when Zeman joined Xi at a military parade in Beijing to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Zeman was the only EU head of state in attendance.

Hrib, the Pirate Partys former health policy expert, developed a fondness for democratically run Taiwan when he spent two months there as a medical student in 2005. A certificate of honorary citizenship to Taipei hangs on his office wall. While his views resonate with a much of Pragues liberal population, it contradicts the Czech Republics one China foreign policy.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in October that the Prague city government had since 2018 repeatedly made erroneous moves and inappropriate remarks on major issues concerning Chinas core interests such as topics regarding Taiwan and Tibet.

Tensions between Prague and the Chinese government came to a head in January 2019, when the Chinese ambassador, Zhang Jianmin, demanded that a representative of Taiwan be expelled from a reception hosted by Hrib.

I refused, and I told him that here we dont throw out guests we invited, Hrib said. So the ambassador rushed out himself.

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Stephen Colbert said he is, unfortunately, getting used to taping his Late Show from home, but it is the very least he can do during the COVID-19 outbreak. Also unfortunately, Republican governors in 11 states still haven't issued stay-at-home orders, "but some Republicans are coming around," he said, pointing to Florida's Ron DeSantis, persuaded to finally act not by "the data or the scientists" but "Trump's demeanor," and Georgia's Brian Kemp, who said "he's finally going to take coronavirus seriously because some brand new information had come to light."

The information, of course, isn't new. "Everyone knows the virus can spread before people are symptomatic  that's why were social-distancing," Colbert said, showing a clip of the director of the CDC  based in Kemp's state  telling Congress that very thing back in February. "Can you tell how long ago that was? I'll give you a hint: It happened in a room full of people!"

Wisconsin's Democratic governor (and GOP-led legislature) are also not helping, refusing to postpone next Tuesday's election. "Democrats want to remove barriers like this all over the country," Colbert said. "In the recently passed stimulus bill, Nancy Pelosi  my guest tonight  tried to get funding to move the entire country to vote by mail, but that was roundly rejected by the president, and he explained why," telling Fox & Friends the surge in voters would doom Republicans. "Wow, you can't say that out loud!" Colbert said. "You're supposed to pretend that you won the election because people like you."

"It can be hard to know what to discuss on a quarantine show since there's really only one big story that everybody's talking about," Colbert said: "Of course I mean the Netflix documentary Tiger King," centering on "a bizarre former zoo owner named Joe Exotic," with whom "we have managed to secure an exclusive interview. Please welcome, live from Grady County Jail, where he is currently serving 22 years worth of court-ordered social distancing, the Tiger King himself, Joe Exotic." (Or, in this case, Thomas Lennon in a mullet.)

Story continues

Social distancing is no joke  but you can watch a short cartoon about it below.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  It was a little touch and go as to whether Lorynn Hunt and others would actually graduate and receive their degrees from the Ohio Technical College last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered institutions across the country.

But the show did go on for Hunt and the others in her graduating class in March. That was good news for her  who just a couple months ago talked about that day and how she planned to use the skills she obtained as a Rod and Custom major at the school.

Hunt made no bones about her choice to attend OTC as opposed to a traditional four-year college. She was recruited from South Wood High School in Wabash, Indiana. Hunt is among the 60% of the schools 600-member student body to come from out of state. Currently, the school has an 8% female population.

I grew up working on my family farm, says Hunt during a lunch break. Ive always enjoyed working with my hands and never really thought of doing anything else. I ended up getting a scholarship to attend here. I dont like learning out of books. I much prefer hands-on. I also want to be an example to others that you dont have to go to a traditional four-year school to have a great career.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, of the 2.9 million high school graduates in 2017, some 1.9 million, or 67%, enrolled in college by the following October. In this indicator, high school graduates are defined as individuals ages 16 to 24 who graduated from high school or completed a GED or other high school equivalency credential. On the other hand, technical school enrollment has risen from 9.6 million students in 1999 to 16 million in 2014.

Thats no surprise to Nader Hassen, admissions adviser at OTC, and Mary Kazmir, marketing and student engagement coordinator.

High schools tend to push for kids to go to four-year colleges because it gets the high school star rating, says Kazmir during an interview at the school. High schools get more funding if they offer more college-prep courses.

Mentor High School had a top-rated automotive program. When the teacher announced he was leaving, they immediately turned his automotive classroom into a classroom for kids to take Mandarin. They feel its less expensive and the thought is no one needs it. They say they want to put something in thats more college-prep-friendly.

Some might think because of all the factory closures over the years that jobs like welding are obsolete. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website says employment for welders is expected to grow 3% from 2018 to 2028. The nations aging infrastructure will need welders. Job prospects should be good for welders trained in the latest technologies, according to the bureau.

Welding jobs offer higher-than-average starting pay and good benefits. The median income in May 2018 was $41,380.

With so many mechanics, welders and auto body techs retiring, there are hundreds of jobs opening up over the next couple of years, says Hassen. I see a shift with students becoming more interested, even younger adults, kids right out of high school and others even in their 20s and 30s.

Military vets are also showing an interest in attending OTC. But most kids are not familiar with this training unless a teacher, friend or family member has a connection with the school. They really dont understand the demand for it and how much money can be made working in one of those fields.

OTC is an accredited institution that opened its doors in 1969. The massive campus is spread out over several building at 1374 East 51st St. in Cleveland. At every turn inside the administration building hundreds of model cars adorn the walls. A waiting room reminiscent of a classic 1950s diner is a fun twist compared with the sterile halls of other such institutions.

Classrooms and workshops are divided up within the campus. Students have a varied curriculum that includes custom paint and graphics, automotive, diesel, auto restoration, collision repair, welding and other classes related to the trades.

Students are recruited nationwide, but a high volume [come] from most bordering states of Ohio. OTC has also attracted students from other countries including Zimbabwe, Sweden, Switzerland, Congo, India and many others, Hassen says. It really is a melting pot here at OTC; youll see students coming from small towns with populations of 5,000 to local students from the Cleveland area.

Students must have a high school diploma or GED, and they have to meet with an admissions adviser to get recommended for acceptance. A goal of the college is getting them placed in the field. If a student has a horrible driving record and they are looking for a career in automotive, its unlikely they will get that job. Another ongoing discussion with students is the importance of being on time. A reading and writing evaluation is administered to determine skill level.

We want them to succeed and not fail, says Hassen.

Most of the instructors did not go to school to be teachers. They mostly learned on the job, or by owning a business. All teachers have to be certified.

Going to a trade school should not be a solid decision for any student. Dont be fooled by the thought that its easier than a four- or two-year college. Some of the work is very tedious, messy and underappreciated. Theres got to be passion for the work.

Most programs are 12-18 months. An advisory board committee keeps track of the changes in the industry, so the curriculum is updated frequently.

OTC is not the place your grandparents may have attended. Surprisingly, its not all grease and grime these days. The Rod and Custom course offers the most amazing handmade custom paint and graphics by students. Barstools have the faces of iconic film characters such as the Joker meticulously stitched into vinyl.

Zack Wellman, 21, from Centerville, Pennsylvania, took art classes during his time in high school. Hes most proud of a black-and-white charcoal drawing of actor John Wayne that netted him first place at the state fair.

I chose OTC because of the custom paint program, he says. Ive been able to learn how to do custom painting and pinstriping for refurbishing classic cars.

Back in March, Wellman was finishing up diamond-stitched upholstery for front and back car seats. He says his next project could be covering a refrigerator in stitched vinyl.

OTC does have a Career Services Department that assists students with job placement upon graduation. What bothers Hassen and Kazmir most is that most of the students who attend the college tend to leave Cleveland for other locations. Hunt is planning to move back to Wabash, mainly to give back to the community that gave her so much.

I understand the people in my community. I want to open a professional custom car shop. Thats something they have never had, she says. I want the kids there and everywhere to know its OK to dream of becoming a doctor or lawyer. But dont be afraid to choose a career in the trades. Whats important is to make an imprint for future generations to follow.

For more information about Ohio Technical College, go to ohiotech.edu.
The energy ministry of non-OPEC producer Azerbaijan, meanwhile, said the OPEC+ meeting is planned for April 6 and will be held as a video conference, Russias RIA news agency reported.

Kuwaits oil minister Khaled al-Fadhel said on Friday he supported Saudi Arabias invitation for a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers.

Saudi Arabia called on Thursday for an emergency meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, saying it aimed to reach a fair agreement to stabilize oil markets.

According to Reuters, the source added that OPEC+ is watching the outcome of a meeting between Trump and the oil companies later on Friday and that a final figure on cuts depends on participation by all oil producers.

The markets are following through to the upside following record gains on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had brokered a deal that could result in Russia and Saudi Arabia cutting output by 10 million to 15 million barrels per day (bpd), representing 10-15% of global supply. Trump also said he made no offer to cut U.S. output.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are trading higher on Friday on increased expectations of a production cut by OPEC and other major producers known as OPEC+.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are trading higher on Friday on increased expectations of a production cut by OPEC and other major producers known as OPEC+.

The markets are following through to the upside following record gains on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had brokered a deal that could result in Russia and Saudi Arabia cutting output by 10 million to 15 million barrels per day (bpd), representing 10-15% of global supply. Trump also said he made no offer to cut U.S. output.

According to Reuters, the source added that OPEC+ is watching the outcome of a meeting between Trump and the oil companies later on Friday and that a final figure on cuts depends on participation by all oil producers.

Saudis Call for Emergency Meeting

Saudi Arabia called on Thursday for an emergency meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, saying it aimed to reach a fair agreement to stabilize oil markets.

Members Support Meeting Suggestion

Kuwaits oil minister Khaled al-Fadhel said on Friday he supported Saudi Arabias invitation for a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers.

The energy ministry of non-OPEC producer Azerbaijan, meanwhile, said the OPEC+ meeting is planned for April 6 and will be held as a video conference, Russias RIA news agency reported.

Many Unanswered Questions

Traders are probably asking what a 10 to 15 million barrel per day production cut would do to oil prices. The June Brent daily chart indicates a minimum rally to $41.00 and a maximum move to $45.38. May WTI crude oil could reach $36.70 and maybe $41.29.

Traders are also asking if the U.S. will be involved in the production cuts. There are three possible outcomes of the meeting. Firstly, OPEC+ including Russia, and the United States can agree to production cuts. Secondly, OPE+ including Russia agree to cuts, but the U.S. refrains from making an agreement, or thirdly, the talks could conclude with no deal.

Technical Analysis

Weekly May WTI Crude Oil Technical Analysis

Weekly Trend Analysis

The main trend is down according to the weekly swing chart. However, momentum may be getting ready to shift to the upside with the formation of a potentially bullish weekly closing price reversal bottom. To the lay person, that is a lower-low and higher close on the weekly chart.

The chart pattern will not signal a change in the trend, but if confirmed, it could lead to a 2 to 3 week counter-trend rally equal to at least 50% of the last break.

A trade through $19.27 will signal a resumption of the downtrend. The main trend will change to up on a trade through $54.82. Given the current fundamentals and the average weekly range, this is highly unlikely at this time.

The short-term range is $54.82 to $19.27. If the closing price reversal bottom is confirmed then look for a potential rally into the first 50% level at $37.05.

The main range is $64.39 to $19.27. Its retracement zone at $41.83 to $47.15 is another upside target zone. Were not likely to see a test of this zone unless the demand destruction ends.

Weekly Technical Forecast

Based on this weeks price action, the direction of the May WTI crude oil market the week-ending April 10 is likely to be determined by trader reaction to the downtrending Gann angle at $26.82.

Bullish Scenario

Taking out and sustaining a rally over the downtrending Gann angle at $26.82 will indicate the presence of buyers. If this move is able to create enough upside momentum then look for the rally to extend into the bottom of the gap at $36.70 and the first 50% level at $37.05.

Bearish Scenario

The inability to follow-through to the upside next week, following this weeks closing price reversal bottom will be a sign of weakness. A failure to overcome the downtrending Gann angle at $26.82 will signal the presence of sellers.

If this creates enough downside momentum then look for a break into a minor pivot at $23.92. If this fails then look for the selling to extend into the closing price reversal bottom at $19.27.

Taking out $19.27 will negate the chart pattern and signal a resumption of the downtrend. This could trigger an acceleration to the downside with $15.00 the psychological downside target.

Conclusion

The major issue here is with demand. Reducing supply will certainly help prices, but probably not enough to fill the price gaps from early March.

Weak shorts are covering their positions, but there isnt any strong evidence of traders flipping to the long side.

Were likely to see the short-covering rally continue until the markets absorb the size of the production cuts. However, if the cuts come in below 10 million or if they are done piecemeal rather than all at once, then traders will have a less-bullish reaction to the news.

Furthermore, concerns over demand destruction are outweighing supply worries so short-sellers are likely to cap the rally. Demand worries will start to dampen once the global new coronavirus case curve begins to flatten.
An article published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry shows a new family of molecules with high affinity to join imidazoline receptors, which are altered in the brain of those patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's. According to the preclinical study, the merge of these specific ligands to I2 receptors improves cognitive skills and some biomarkers which are indicators of brain neurodegenerative processes in murine models.

The new study is coordinated by the lecturer M. Carmen Escolano, from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the University of Barcelona, and counts on the participation of Merce Pallas (UBNeuro), Javier Luque (IBUB-IQTCUB) and Pilar Perez-Lozano (Unit of Pharmaceutic Technology), among other researchers from the same Faculty.

Other collaborators in this research were Julia Garcia-Fuster and Jesus A. Garcia-Fuster (UIB), Belen Perez (UAB), Elies Molins (Institute of Materials Sciences of Barcelona, ICMAB-CSIC), Luis F. Callado (UPV), and other experts from the University of Santiago de Compostela, the University of Belgrade (Serbia) and Leuven University (Belgium).

Imidazoline receptors I2: looking for new therapeutic targets

Imidazoline receptors I2 are found in several bodies. Selective ligands from these receptors showed they participate in several physiological processes (analgesia, inflammation, human brain disorders, etc.). These are distributed in the brain and in the case of patients with neurodegenerative processes, or with glioma or mental disorders, these are altered. This is why they can be presented as potential pharmacological targets in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.

Despite their decisive role in cell physiology, the structure of the receptors in this family has not been described yet in order to make its pharmacological characterization.

"We need new therapeutic targets to cope with therapy for diseases which are currently an uncovered in medicine. The discovery of a receptor or a maker can lead to the unfolding of therapeutic technology and become an important process", notes the lecturer M. Carmen Escolano.

New ligands with high affinity for imidazoline I2 receptors

The new article presents a new molecule structural family (Bicyclic ?Iminophosphonates) with high affinity and selectivity regarding imidazoline I2 receptors. These molecules with an innovative profile are not structurally related to any of the standard ligands used for the pharmacological characterization of these receptors, and open new structural possibilities beyond those offered by the classic ligands.

With an only phase of diastereoselective synthesis, the team created a series of membres of the ligand family of the imidazoline I2 receptors, with several compunds to help shape the structure-activity relation and determine the structural features to get the best ligand-receptor affinity.

Specifically, the synthetized molecules have a phosphonic ester -original functional group- integrated in a ?Iminophosphonate system which is not exploited as a functional group of interest in the field of medical chemistry.

With an innovative perspective, affinity studies of the new study have been carried out with competition binding techniques of radioactive ligands in human brain samples. Other comparative studies of affinity in different animal species (humans, rats, mica) have been conducted with the new compounds and the ligands considered as standard according to scientific literature.

Cognitive improvement in neurodegeneration biomarkers and behaviour

In previous studies, the research team had described for the first time the cognitive improvement of a murine model of neurodegeneration (Neurotherapeutics, 2019), produced by new ligands I2, synthetized by these experts (ACD Chemical Neurosciences, 2017).

The new study states that the specific union between a representative molecule of the new family of ligands and the imidazoline I2 receptors produces an improvement of protein markers related to neuroprotector processes in the treated animal models. Also, there is a cognitive improvement in behaviour studies and in parameters associated with neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the model 5xFAD (murine model with family Alzheimer's).

A multidisciplinary project with a patent in neurosciences

This multidiscipline line of work, unfolded in the frame of a CaixaImpulse project, led to the patent WO 2019/121853, projected in different scenarios with the support from Bosch i Gimpera Foundation (FBG).

With these references, the experts continue with their research to describe pharmaco-technical processes that take place after the administration of the representative ligand in model animals to define the participating metabolites and shape the most accurate therapeutic dose. Another objective is to describe the processes that result from the interaction of the new molecular compound with the receptors (proteomics, signaling pathways, etc.).

###
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYDP) on Thursday donated items to head porters (Kayayei) in Accra to support them during the partial lockdown.



The donation was in line with the Relief Boxes Challenge, which is an initiative from the Office of the First Lady to galvanize corporate institutions, individuals and other social organisations to support the less-privileged during the stay home lockdown.



The items included 100 Veronica buckets, bar soap, 200 gallons of liquid soap, 100 gallons of Bleach (Parazone), 1,000 bottles of hand sanitizers, 1,000 pieces of nose masks and 500 pieces of sanitary pads.



Dr Robert K. Mensah, Reproductive Health Specialist for UNFPA, said the donation forms part of ensuring the welfare of the head porters.



He said the Kayayei constituted one of the key marginalized groups that needed attention in the measures being taken to control the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ghana.



Dr Mensah said the more than 3000 female head porters, located mostly in market centres in the southern part of Ghana (and few markets in the northern zone) were exposed to very unhygienic and unsanitary conditions where they lived.



He said their meagre incomes made it impossible for them to acquire essential items to prevent contracting the infectious COVID-19.



This situation is worsened by the recent partial well-deserved lockdown imposed by government in certain parts of the country, he added.



Dr Mensah said the UNFPA deemed it appropriate to provide some essential items to protect the Kayayei from infections, maintain their dignity and reduce their dependence.



The support also aimed at reducing their vulnerability to Sexual and Gender Based Violence, harmful practices and other gender inequalities, which tended to increase during periods of crises.



He said the items donated were identified following a rapid needs assessment conducted in partnership with PAYDP through consultations with the Kayayei Gatekeepers.



He said the items would be distributed at UNFPA/PAYDP intervention areas in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Bono East Regions.



Dr Mensah said the veronica buckets and the soaps would be positioned at vantage points in the markets where they could access and use even after the lockdown period.



Receiving the items, Ms Abdulai Rukaya, Gatekeeper at the Agbogbloshie Market, expressed appreciation for the kind gesture and promised that they would use the items to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among their members.



She said they would also continue to educate their colleagues on the safety precautions outlined by health experts like the regular washing of hands with soap under running water, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and avoiding handshakes.



Ms Rukaya also called on cooperate institutions and individuals to go to their aid.



Markets to receive the items in Accra are Madina, Tema Station, Darkuman (Circle Station), Agbogbloshie, CMB, Malata, Haatso, Zongo and Osu.



The donation will be replicated in Kumasi, precisely the Aboabo Market, Dagomba Line, Bombay and Kumasi Metro.



In Techiman, head porters at Gyawukrom, Oforikrom, Akisimasu and Konimase will receive similar donations.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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New Delhi: The Google Doodle on Friday gave the message of staying home and saving lives amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic that has infected more than 10 lakh people has claimed the lives of over 53,000 people, worldwide.

The albhabets on the doodle are seen doing various activities like reading, playing musical instruments, gymming, and making phone calls while at home.

With isolation and social distancing being advocated as the only measures to stop the spread of the pathogen, the doodle too requests citizens across the globe to stay at home and avoid crowded places at all costs.

The virus which has spread to more than 175 countries since it was first reported from China in December 2019 is highly contagious and has no prescribed vaccine to cure the disease. The impact of this virus has been so severe that it has brought almost half the planet to a halt.

The United States is the world`s hardest-hit country, recording a total of 5,926 deaths due to coronavirus, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. It has confirmed more than 242,182 cases of COVID-19 infections.

While in India, the virus has infected 2224 people and caused the death of 53 people.
Rob Wyatt, the system architect behind the original Xbox, is suing Atari for failing to pay him for the work he did on the company's retro VCS console.

Wyatt had been hired to oversee creation of the Atari VCS, but cut ties with the company in October 2019 and said Atari hadn't paid him in over six months.

In an interview posted at the time, he explained he fully intended to "see the project through to the end," but the missed payments left him "little choice other than to pursue other opportunities." Atari refused to comment on what it described as "an isolated matter under dispute."

Now, six months on from his departure, Wyatt has taken the matter further and filed a lawsuit against the company over an alleged breach of contract and defamation.

As spotted by VentureBeat, the lawsuit was filed in federal court in Colorado and claims Atari owes Tin Giant precisely $261,720 in missed payments. It also alleges that Atari falsely blamed the delayed launch of the console on Tin Giant, when it fact "Atari's own mismanagement of the console project that was the cause of or reason for the delayed launch."

The throwback machine was initially unveiled under the 'Ataribox' moniker in 2017, before eventually being rebranded as a hybrid retro-slash-current-gen console called the Atari VCS.

The VCS was originally slated to ship in 2019, but after that proposed date came and went Atari instead promised to launch the console in 2020.
Without General George S. Patton we may not have won World War II. Had the British not ousted Neville Chamberlain in favor of Winston Churchill, England would probably be an annex of Germany. Great leaders perform best when their backs are against the wall.

In all my adult years I loathed Donald Trump. Since he became president, however, I have gained a great respect for him.

We are in the midst of a war against COVID-19, and there is not one clown in the Washington circus I would rather see leading the charge. He is sometimes a little uncouth and has the mind strength of a Missouri mule, but he shows unwavering strength and perseverance when challenged.

In my opinion he is doing an outstanding job of fighting this devastating virus by surrounding himself with respected medical and infectious disease experts, and using his business judgment. He had set Easter Sunday as a breakout date for the nations isolation but backed down on the advice from his team.

He knows people must get back to work ASAP and get the economy moving again. There will be deaths during this process, unfortunately, but an indefinite isolation will be the death of our country. While socialists see no harm in this, we must get back on the track of daily business. Should we close the country down to slow the flu epidemic every year?

Could we all just let the president do his job and only criticize the things he does wrong and not everything he does?

Barry Smith

Lower Saucon Township
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 21:44:08|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (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 disease.

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LONDON -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 38,168 as of Friday morning, according to the lastest figure from the Department of Health and Social Care.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- U.S. employers cut 701,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate soared to 4.4 percent, showing the first job decline in a decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

"The changes in these measures reflect the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and efforts to contain it," the bureau said.

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said that 2,989 people had been infected with the COVID-19 virus in Japan as of Friday evening, with the daily number of new infections topping 200 for a fourth straight day, adding to concerns the healthcare system here could buckle.

The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 86 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo.

- - - -

JAKART -- The Operator of airports in Indonesia, PT Angkasa Pura II, has started trimming the operational hours of airports in the country in a bid to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus which has killed 181 people in the country, an official said on Friday.

President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II Muhammad Awaluddin said that the reduction of the operational period was expected to maximize the health surveillance and security checks at the airports.

- - - -

RAMALLAH -- Palestine on Friday announced that it will extend the state of emergency for another month in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree of expanding the state of emergency in Palestine for another month as a precautionary measure.

- - - -

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong started to implement a new measure Friday to temporarily close bars and other liquor-selling premises, as the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased to 845.

The new measure, taking effect for 14 days starting from 6 p.m. local time on Friday, is applicable to bars, pubs and other premises exclusively or mainly used to sell liquors for on-site consumption.

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday agreed to give 300,000 yen (2,800 U.S. dollars) in cash to each household whose income has fallen to a certain level owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I told the prime minister that 300,000 yen should be given to each household whose income has decreased to a certain level," LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida said.
He may be more than 4,000km away, but Kilkenny hurler and army officer Lt Paul Murphy is thinking of those on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus at home in Ireland.

The Danesfort GAA Club man is currently serving as a lieutenant with the 115BN IRISHBATT United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He, and his Irish Army colleagues, have taken on a gruelling physical challenge to raise money for the Feed the Heroes campaign back here in Ireland.

Paul, and the rest of his battalion, will complete their six-month tour of duty in Lebanon on May 15. Before then they will run or jog the 4,728km distance between Lebanon and Ireland - around their camp. They will run an average of 100km a day over 48 days in a challenge they all The Long Run Home.

The challenge hopes to raise a substantial amount of money for Feed the Heroes. Feed the Heroes is fuelling the front line by providing essential and nutritious meals to frontline workers combatting Covid-19 in Ireland. They will also support the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund with the money they raise from donations.

Running around the Lebanon camp began last Wednesday with the aim of raising 1,000. However, within 48 hours the lads had completed 300kms and already beaten their fundraising target! Theyre running on and set a new target of 5,000.

Thanks for all your donations which will support our frontline staff of @HSELive, Paul tweeted, announcing they had already smashed their initial fundraising target.

In 48 hours we've covered 300km around our camp and hit our initial target of 1,000! New target of 5,000! Thanks for all your donations which will support our frontline staff of @HSELive through @feedtheheroes1 and @defenceforces Benevolent Fund!https://t.co/xmOINVCCL8  Paul Murphy (@PaulMurphykk) April 3, 2020

Co-organiser Comdt Ken Sheehans wife is working as a nurse in the front line battle against coronavirus at home in Ireland.

You can make a donation to the Long Run Home fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-long-run-home or you can donate directly to Feed the Heroes at https://feedtheheroes.com/
Cyber Actors Take Advantage of COVID-19 Pandemic to Exploit Increased Use of Virtual Environments

Cyber Actors Take Advantage of COVID-19 Pandemic to Exploit Increased Use of Virtual Environments

The FBI anticipates cyber actors will exploit increased use of virtual environments by government agencies, the private sector, private organizations, and individuals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Computer systems and virtual environments provide essential communication services for telework and education, in addition to conducting regular business. Cyber actors exploit vulnerabilities in these systems to steal sensitive information, target individuals and businesses performing financial transactions, and engage in extortion.

As of March 30 2020, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received and reviewed more than 1,200 complaints related to COVID-19 scams. In recent weeks, cyber actors have engaged in phishing campaigns against first responders, launched DDoS attacks against government agencies, deployed ransomware at medical facilities, and created fake COVID-19 websites that quietly download malware to victim devices. Based on recent trends, the FBI assesses these same groups will target businesses and individuals working from home via telework software vulnerabilities, education technology platforms, and new Business Email Compromise schemes.

Telework Vulnerabilities The FBI advises you to carefully consider the applications you or your organization uses for telework applications, including video conferencing software and voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) conference call systems. Telework software comprises a variety of tools that enable users to remotely access organizational applications, resources, and shared files. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a spike in businesses teleworking to communicate and share information over the internet. With this knowledge, malicious cyber actors are looking for ways to exploit telework software vulnerabilities in order to obtain sensitive information, eavesdrop on conference calls or virtual meetings, or conduct other malicious activities. While telework software provides individuals, businesses, and academic institutions with a mechanism to work remotely, users should consider the risks associated with them and apply cyber best practices to protect critical information, safeguard user privacy, and prevent eavesdropping. Cyber actors may use any of the below means to exploit telework applications. Software from Untrusted Sources Malicious cyber actors may use legitimate-looking telework softwarewhich may be offered for free or at a reduced priceto gain access to sensitive data or eavesdrop on conversations.

Cyber actors may also use phishing links or malicious mobile applications that appear to come from legitimate telework software vendors. Communication Tools Malicious cyber actors may target communication tools (VOIP phones, video conferencing equipment, and cloud-based communications systems) to overload services and take them offline, or eavesdrop on conference calls.

Cyber actors have also used video-teleconferencing (VTC) hijacking to disrupt conferences by inserting pornographic images, hate images, or threatening language. Remote Desktop Access Some telework software allows for remote desktop sharing, which is beneficial for collaboration and presentations; however, malicious cyber actors historically have compromised remote desktop applications and can use compromised systems to move into other shared applications. Supply Chain As organizations seek to obtain equipment, such as laptops, to enable teleworking, some have turned to laptop rentals from foreign sources. Previously used, improperly sanitized equipment potentially carries preinstalled malware.

Education Technology Services and Platforms Today's rapid incorporation of education technology (edtech) and online learning could have privacy and safety implications if students' online activity is not closely monitored. For example, in late 2017, cyber actors exploited school information technology (IT) systems by hacking into multiple school district servers across the United States. They accessed student contact information, education plans, homework assignments, medical records, and counselor reports, and then used that information to contact, extort, and threaten students with physical violence and release of their personal information. The actors sent text messages to parents and local law enforcement, publicized students' private information, posted student personally identifiable information on social media, and stated how the release of such information could help child predators identify new targets. Additionally, parents and caretakers should be aware of new technology issued to children who do not already have a foundation for online safety. Children may not recognize the dangers of visiting unknown websites or communicating with strangers online.

Business Email Compromise (BEC) BEC is a scam that targets both individuals and businesses who have the ability to send wire transfers, checks, and automated clearing house (ACH) transfers. In a typical BEC scheme, the victim receives an email purported to be from a company the victim normally conducts business with; however, the email requests money be sent to a new account, or for standard payment practices be altered. For example, during this pandemic, BEC fraudsters have impersonated vendors and asked for payment outside the normal course of business due to COVID-19. The FBI advises the public to be on the lookout for the following: The use of urgency and last-minute changes in wire instructions or recipient account information;

Last-minute changes in established communication platforms or email account addresses;

Communications only in email and refusal to communicate via telephone;

Requests for advanced payment of services when not previously required; and

Requests from employees to change direct deposit information.

Tips to Protect You and Your Organization Teleworking Tips: Do: Select trusted and reputable telework software vendors; conduct additional due diligence when selecting foreign-sourced vendors.

Restrict access to remote meetings, conference calls, or virtual classrooms, including the use of passwords if possible.

Beware of social engineering tactics aimed at revealing sensitive information. Make use of tools that block suspected phishing emails or allow users to report and quarantine them.

Beware of advertisements or emails purporting to be from telework software vendors.

Always verify the web address of legitimate websites or manually type it into the browser. Don't: Share links to remote meetings, conference calls, or virtual classrooms on open websites or open social media profiles.

Open attachments or click links within emails from senders you do not recognize.

Enable remote desktop access functions like Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Virtual Network Computing (VNC) unless absolutely needed.1 Education Technology Tips: School districts across the United States are working to address a dynamically changing learning environment. The FBI acknowledges everyone is adjusting to these demands, but the FBI encourages parents and families to: Do: Closely monitor children's use of edtech and online services.

Research edtech service user agreements about data breach notifications, marketing, and/or selling of user data, data retention practices, and whether users and/or parents can elect to have student data deleted by request.

Conduct regular internet searches of children's information to monitor the exposure and spread of their information on the internet.

Consider credit or identity theft monitoring to check for any fraudulent use of their child's identity.

Research parent coalition and information-sharing organizations available online for those looking for support and additional resources.

Research school-related, edtech, and other related vendor cyber breaches, which can further inform families of student data and security vulnerabilities. Don't: Provide exact information on children when creating user profiles (e.g., use initials instead of full names, avoid using exact dates of birth, avoid including photos, etc.) BEC Tips: Do: Check for last-minute changes in wiring instructions or recipient account information.

Verify vendor information via the recipient's contact information on filedo not contact the vendor through the number provided in the email.

Verify the email address used to send emails, especially when using a mobile or handheld device, by ensuring the sender's email address appears to match who it is coming from.

If you discover you are the victim of a fraudulent incident, immediately contact your financial institution to request a recall of funds, and contact your employer to report irregularities with payroll deposits. As soon as possible, file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or, for BEC and/or email account compromise (EAC) victims, BEC.IC3.gov. Cyber Crime Vulnerability Tips: The following tips can help protect individuals and businesses from being victimized by cyber actors: Do: Verify the web address of legitimate websites and manually type them into your browser.

Change passwords for routers and smart devices from default setting to unique passwords.

Check for misspelled domain names within a link (for example, confirm that addresses for government websites end in .gov).

Report suspicious activity on work computers to your employer.

Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) when accessing organizational sites, resources, and files.

Practice good cyber security when accessing Wi-Fi networks, including use of strong passwords and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or WPA2 protocols.

Ensure desktops, laptops, and mobile devices have anti-virus software installed and routine security updates are applied; this includes regularly updating web browsers, browser plugins, and document readers. Don't: Open attachments or click links within emails received from senders you do not recognize.

Provide usernames, passwords, birth dates, social security numbers, financial data, or other personal information in response to an email or phone call.

Use public or non-secure Wi-Fi access points to access sensitive information.

Use the same password for multiple accounts.

If private sector partners have additional questions, you can reach out to local FBI Field Office Private Sector Coordinators. If you have evidence your child's data may have been compromised, if you are the victim of an internet scam or cyber crime, or if you want to report suspicious activity, please visit the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
MILWAUKEE, WI  The public health emergency that is the new coronavirus has had a profound effect on life in Wisconsin. Schools have been closed, as well as non-essential business and some governmental functions. Despite these closures, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers was adamant in keeping the April 7 in-person election day in-place.

Among the most high-profile elections on April 7 are the Democratic Presidential Primary, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. The April 7 election is also chock full of other statewide, county and local elections that will place hundreds of representatives in seats across the state.

Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Don't miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions.

National Guard Called Out For Election Day

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he's calling out the National Guard to staff polling places across the state after election officials said nearly 60 percent of Wisconsin municipalities have an urgent shortage of poll workers.

Many jurisdictions have "dramatically consolidated polling places," state official said. According to the Wisconsin Election Commission, there are 111 communities that do not have the ability to staff even one polling place on April 7. Wisconsin local election officials say they're about 7,000 poll workers short for election day.

Who Will Win? You'll Have To Wait

The odyssey that is the April 7 election in Wisconsin took another turn after a federal judge ruled that any results from the election won't be reported publicly until extended absentee ballot counting is complete on April 13. Earlier, the same judge ruled that absentee ballots can be received by poll workers as late as 4 p.m. on April 13 to be counted.

That means, when voters go to the polls on April 7, they won't know the results until nearly a week later. Whoever wins the April 7 presidential primary, and whoever wins a myriad of state-level elections and innumerable local ones won't know until April 13 whether they've won or lost.

Story continues

Presidential Race

Wisconsin as a battleground state in the 2020 election is a fact that has been well-established. President Donald Trump defeated Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin by less than 23,000 votes in 2016. That's a razor-thin 0.7 percentage margin of victory.



Trump appears as the lone candidate on the Republican primary ballot. Things get more complicated on the Democratic side of things.

Voters will see a total of 12 Democratic primary candidates on the ballot, but only two: former Vice President Joe Biden, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders still effectively in the race  and experts say Sanders is losing ground in the Badger State.

Up until Biden got his mojo going, it was presumed Sanders would win the state again, said Patrick Guarasci, a Milwaukee-based Democratic strategist in a Politico report, referencing Sanders' 2016 primary victory over Clinton. He was the most organized here, he had the most vibrant following. A lot has changed in the last month.



According to the latest Marquette University Law School poll conducted on April 1, Biden held a small lead over Sanders in November through January. Sanders even moved into first place in February.

According to the poll, those results are much different now: poll respondents pegged Biden at 62 percent and Sanders at 34 percent.

Pollsters say that Biden received 65 percent and Sanders 32 percent based on likely or current voters.

With the new coronavirus changing the dynamics of this election, Marquette Poll officials are a little more skeptical than usual about forecasting the April 7 election.

"Given the uncertainty created by historically high levels of absentee voting and the unknown levels of election day turnout, these findings should be viewed with more than the usual caution," officials said.



Wisconsin Supreme Court

Incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly will face Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky in the April 7 general election to earn a 10-year term to Wisconsin's highest court.

Kelly took in the most votes by far during the February primary  a total of 50 percent of all ballots cast. He is looking to retain his seat after his appointment by former Gov. Scott Walker to fill the remainder of Justice David Prosser's term after his retirement.

Although Kelly came out ahead on in the primary, Journal Sentinel columnist Dan Bice says he might actually be the underdog come April 7. That's because there is expected to be a heavy Democratic turnout as a result of the Presidential primary in Wisconsin, he said.

Two of the winners tonight -- Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly and MKE Co exec candidate Chris Larson -- might be underdogs in the general. Kelly has money but faces an overwhelmingly Dem electorate in April. Larson will face a candidate funded largely by Chris Abele. Redux 2016.

 Daniel Bice (@DanielBice) February 19, 2020

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has seven justices, and conservatives have a 5-2 advantage in the court. That balance gives conservative lawmakers and thinkers alike an advantage over key issues, such as redistricting, Act 10, school choice, gun safety, and many others. A win for Kelly guarantees that the court will continue it's 5-2 conservative lean, while a win for Karofsky likely means that balance shifts to 4-3 in favor of conservative-leaning justices. Justices serve 10-year terms on the court.



WATCHDane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky will face incumbent Justice Daniel Kelly in the April election for State Supreme Court. https://t.co/Xbtb3YAiLx pic.twitter.com/zTkX0ZbfCh

 WKOW 27 (@WKOW) February 19, 2020

More pictures of me interviewing Justice Daniel Kelly. He has won this victory lap but it isnt over. He still have April 7th. pic.twitter.com/GDme2tHRke

 Dazia (@Daziaa_c) February 19, 2020

Jill Karofsky

Jill Karofsky, in her own words:

We have to root out the appearance of corruption that surrounds our Supreme Court. Wisconsinites have to trust that their judges are going to follow the rule of law and not bend to the whims of their campaign donors. I intend to lead by example, and return honor and dignity to the court.

Unfortunately, the courts have become wildly politicized, to our detriment. We need judges and justices who will uphold the rule of law and treat every litigant fairly and honestly, applying the constitution and statutes to today's world. I will not concern myself with what partisan right-wing special interests and politicians would like the outcome of cases to be.

Daniel Kelly

Daniel Kelly, in his own words:

I think the most important issue in the campaign relates to the proper understanding of the role of the Supreme Court and the justices who serve the people of Wisconsin. As I have said frequently when discussing the Court's role with my fellow Wisconsinites, I believe the job of a justice is to decide cases based on the law, not on what the justices might wish the law to be. We do not make the law, ignore the law, or play favorites with the law. And so we treat all litigants who come to court with respect and fairness as we thoughtfully and carefully decide their cases based only on the law.

Related to that issue is the proper understanding and application of the Constitutions of the United States and of Wisconsin, as well as statutory material. I understand that they must be construed according to their text, giving meaning to each word and phrase as they would have been understood at the time each provision was adopted. Judges should not go out of their way to give an overly narrow application to a provision guaranteeing rights, for instance, nor should they import their view of contemporary values into a legal text.

Wisconsin Is 'Referendum Heavy' On April 7

Wisconsin voters will see 95 questions on ballots issued in the state's 72 counties. The most common question is whether the local school district can ask for more money.

In many counties across Wisconsin, voters will be asked whether they want to support their local school district exceeding state revenue limits for various projects. The largest of these asks comes in Racine County, where voters will consider an approximately $1 billion, 30-year referendum to approve numerous construction projects.

Related Reading

Wisconsin Voters Will See 95 Referendum Questions On April 7

Across Wisconsin, voters will be asked whether to support an edit of the state constitution to expand rights for crime victims. Voters in several counties will be asked whether they want to see the creation of a non-partisan panel to spearhead voter redistricting efforts across the state pertaining to state representatives and senators.



In Spring Green, voters will decide whether they can breed dogs and cats and sell them for medical research. Additionally, voters will decide whether conducting such research in Spring Green amounts to "offending public morals and decency."

Voters in the Town of Clinton will see a referendum on their ballot asking them whether they would like to allow the sale of alcohol beverages in their town.

Voters in several Wisconsin towns will be asked whether they want to "seek to reclaim democracy from the expansion of corporate personhood rights and the corrupting influence of unlimited political contributions and spending."

Here is the full list of ballot questions that will be on the ballot for April 7.

Local Races

If you live in a Patch community, we have you covered for election day. Here are your election-day primers for select Wisconsin Patch towns.

Brookfield

Greendale

Greenfield

Milwaukee

Mount Pleasant

Oak Creek

Shorewood

Waukesha

Wauwatosa

Whitefish Bay

All Images Published With Permission

This article originally appeared on the Milwaukee Patch
For some, spiritual gatherings at Easter are essential. For others, gathering with spirits on Easter Sunday is at the top of the list.

If youre in either of these camps, you know who you are. You also know that in the days of COVID-19, neither is advised.

Thats the word from local officials. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff have been telling everybody in the city to take Mayor Rons Stay Home/Work Safe Declaration seriously.

For those of us who can stay home, this shouldnt be too hard; quit going out just because and dont forget to take off your daughters kitten-eared headphones when you log on to Zoom.

For those of us who cant stay home, keep your distance, wash your hands and dont even think about touching your face. Its hard, but given the severity of the situation, its doable.

And maybe it is that severity that swayed Gov. Greg Abbott to earmark religious services as essential business. In an executive order last week, the governor extended President Donald Trumps urging of Americans to stay home for 15 days  preventative guidelines that would have ended April 3  through April 30.

For those beginning to lose track of what day it is, Easter Sunday is next week, April 12. This isnt just about any service  its about Easter services.

Abbotts order specifically says Essential services shall consist of everything listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, Version 2.0, plus religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.

In other words, everything the feds say we cant live without  plus church with a lowercase c. Or services. Or whatever you call it. In days of fear and uncertainty, the quenching of the spirit is a must.

Thats understandable. We need comfort in uncertain times. People are scared. Faith brings hope, and hope lights a candle when fear is looming in the darkness. The human spirit has been through tougher times than this, and faith helped buoy us then, too. Praying, especially if it is among the like-minded, reminds us that even when we are supposed to keep our distance, we are never really alone.

It might seem as if categorizing religious services as essential is merely a move to placate the religious right, but its more than that. Its the offer of comfort and community; for some people, its the only community they have.

Still, its a social gathering. Its more altruistic than tossing back a few soft drinks at the park next to a lawn chair locked to a concrete table by Cousin Rick, but its still social. And if its social, its dangerous in these times.

Its a bummer we have to delay Fiesta, but its not hard avoiding parades when there are no parades, no turkey legs to eat and no medals to trade. But gathering at Easter is bigger; for Christians, its a reaffirmation of faith.

For many, its a time to gather with Grandma and the cousins for ham and potato salad, cascarones and chocolate, nice weather and the end of Lent. Thats the way its been for generations.

Those traditions will remain if we keep the faith and light our own candles, safely in our own homes.

It really isnt that hard.

mariaanglinwrites@gmail.com
The monitoring mission notes the absence of progress in the cases of murder of 43 people

UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recommends to abolish the law on amnesty of activists for the investigation of crimes in Maidan in 2013-2014 as RBK-Ukraine reported.

The UN mission published a report, which includes recommendations on the investigation of the murders during the protests in Maidan. The monitoring mission notes the absence of progress in the cases of murder of 43 people.

Among main obstacles, the UN mission emphasizes the deficit of judges in Ukraine and the law, which hinders the investigation of the murders of law enforcers. Due to it, the UN recommends Ukraine:

to provide investigation of each and every murder committed during protests in Maidan;

to change the procedure of proceedings in absentia, allowing the reconsideration of the court sentence after detention of the defendant;

to abolish law on immunity;

to provide the appearance before the court of the suspects and defendants releases from the custody.

As we reported, the State Investigation Bureau (SIB) will create a special Department for investigation of the Maidan cases. It also plans to hold meetings with the representatives of public organizations Homeland of Heavenly Hundred Heroes and Invictus Maidan  18.02
It was like a punch in the nose from a bully, said Cromwell. He said its the first time such an action has been taken against a Native American tribe.

Vigilantes to the rescueResidents on the remote Maine island of Vinalhaven were apparently fearful that some strangers, presumably recent arrivals from New Jersey, were spreading the coronavirus while staying at a rental home on the island. Rather than do the neighborly thing, like knocking on the door and using their word powers to ask some questions, they chopped down a tree to block a road exit and prevent the house occupants from leaving.

The house occupant who reported the incident to the local sheriffs office said he was confronted by a group of armed individuals. He and the other occupants were renting the home while working on a construction job. They had been there since September. But the vigilantes were absolutely convinced, officers said, that the occupants needed to be quarantined  by force, if necessary. Apparently, news and information travels slowly in Maine. Existence of the novel coronavirus wasnt even reported until late December.
New Delhi, April 3 : While the government tries to push up the supply of essential items like flour and cereals, farmers across the country say that due to the lockdown, machines used in agricultural activities cannot be repaired because the necessary shops have not been certified as essential services.

As per the second addendum, the Ministry of Home Affairs had exempted agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products, including MSP operations, APMC operated Mandis, fertiliser shops as well as farming operations by farmers and farm workers in the field.

The exemption included intra and inter-state movement of harvesting and sowing related machines like combined harvesters and other agriculture/horticulture implements.

However, the addendum has missed including shops selling agriculture inputs except for a specific mention of those selling fertilisers.

Now the farmers' community argues that the lack of mention of repair shops, spare parts shops or the showrooms has become a hurdle for them.

According to various farmers, the closing down of machine repair shops and showrooms for machines used in agriculture activities have left their tractors, combines and harvesters out of service, making harvesting next impossible.

Speaking to IANS, Bhartiya Kisan Sangathan President Rajendra Yadav noted: "It is an important concern as it is harvesting season for us and if our machines like combine and tractors won't be repaired, how will we harvest crops." He added that the farmers' union is now planning to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek his inntervention in the matter.

Another farmer from Punjab, Anirudh Vashisht said: "Due to the lockdown, the spare parts of the combines are not available and the tractors and straw machines cannot be repaired." "There are no combine harvesters because there is no labour. We plead with the administration to at least help the farmers in these troubled times - that is how we will be able to help India," he added.

The concern is not restricted to just harvesting this season's crop, but many believe that a delay of 10 days in harvesting crops would actually end up in disturbing the crop cycle.

"We are afraid that we might have to witness a delay in the harvesting process, which would further cause a delay in the sowing period. Since our harvest depends a lot on the weather conditions, there is a pressing need for us to carry out the process timely," Shyamvir Singh from Hapur told IANS.

The manufacturers of these machines also support the farmers' position.

"To keep the momentum of food production going, we urge the government to open retail and repair of all farm machinery," Shenu Agarwal, CEO of Escorts Agri Machinery, told IANS.

While some states like Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh have already issued notifications to exempting agriculture inputs, the exemption has to be explicitly included in order to ensure that farmers do not suffer during this crucial harvesting and sowing period.

"Although there are some state governments like Bihar and Haryana which have issued the circular allowing retail and repair of farm machinery, the implementation on ground is not happening. Also, we urge the Ministry of Home Affairs to allow farm machinery as part of the agriculture inputs," he added.
The United States on Friday advised all Americans to wear masks in public to protect against the new coronavirus, fearing the illness that has infected more than one million people worldwide may be spreading by normal breathing. The recommendation came as the US set a new record for the number of COVID-19 deaths in one day with 1,480 dead, the most of any country since the pandemic began. That topped the record set by the US the previous day with 1,169 deaths. President Donald Trump said the government recommendation for all 330 million Americans to wear non-medical masks in places such as grocery stores would last "for a period of time." "It's going to be really a voluntary thing," Trump told reporters. "You don't have to do it and I'm choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it and that's okay." US Surgeon General Jerome Adams said the decision came because many people with the virus were showing no symptoms, but warned it was still vital to practice "social distancing" by maintaining space between people. The announcement came after Anthony Fauci, who is leading the government's scientific response, backed recent scholarship that found SARS-CoV-2 can be suspended in the ultrafine mist formed when people exhale. Research indicates "the virus can actually be spread even when people just speak as opposed to coughing and sneezing," Fauci said on Fox News. The National Academy of Sciences sent a letter to the White House on April 1 summarizing recent research on the subject, saying it's not yet conclusive but "the results ... are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing." Since the virus was first identified in China in late December last year, health experts have said it is primarily spread through coughing and sneezing. The US recommendation will likely worsen an already severe shortage of masks in the United States and Europe, which both rely heavily on imports from China. Trump urged Americans to "just make something" or use scarves, saving clinical masks for health professionals and patients. - Rising tolls but hope in Europe - More than 57,000 people have died from COVID-19 since it was first detected late last year. Worse may be coming as a quarter of global infections are in the United States, where Trump has warned of a "very, very painful" first two weeks of April. Europe reached the dark milestone of 40,000 dead, with Spain on Friday reporting more than 900 deaths in the past 24 hours. Spaniard Javier Lara survived after being put on oxygen in an overcrowded intensive care unit -- a shock to a 29-year-old who was athletic and doesn't smoke. "I was panicking that my daughter would get infected," he said, describing facing death with an eight-week-old as the "worst moment" in his life. But there were also signs the peak may be passing in Europe. Hardest-hit Italy recorded 766 new deaths but its infections rose by just four percent, the lowest yet, according to the civil protection service. "It's true that the latest figures, as high as they are, give us a little bit of hope," said Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. "But it is definitely much too early to see a clear trend in that, and it is certainly too early to think in any way about relaxing the strict rules we have given ourselves," she added. - 'Worst yet to come' - Prosperous countries have borne the brunt of the disease, but there are fears of an explosion among the world's most vulnerable living in conflict zones or refugee camps. "The worst is yet to come," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, referring to countries such as Syria, Libya and Yemen. "The COVID-19 storm is now coming to all these theaters of conflict." The world economy has been pummelled by the virus and associated lockdowns, with the US economy shedding 701,000 jobs in March -- its worst showing since March 2009 in the wake of the subprime banking crisis. Even more dire figures are expected for April. Financial ratings agency Fitch predicted the US and eurozone economies would shrink this quarter by up to 30 percent and the Asian Development Bank warned the global economy could take a $4.1 trillion hit -- equivalent to five percent of worldwide output. Latin America is heading into a "deep recession" with an expected drop of 1.8 to 4.0 percent in GDP, according to the UN economic commission for the region. - New measures taken - In signs that the world wants to avoid a repeat of the crisis, the African country of Gabon said it was banning the sale and consumption of bats and pangolins, the critically endangered, scaly mammals. The novel coronavirus is believed to have come from bats, but researchers think it might have spread to humans via another mammal such as pangolins through an unsanitary meat market in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak in China. The virus has chiefly killed the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, but recent deaths among teenagers and babies have highlighted the dangers for people of all ages. In Spain, 34-year-old Vanesa Muro gave birth with COVID-19 and has been warned not to touch her newborn without wearing gloves and masks. "It's hard," she told AFP. "He grabs your finger, the poor little thing, and holds onto the plastic, not on to you." burs-acb/st
Jeremy Pollard wants to know what is happening inside his mothers nursing home, Marion Regional Nursing Home in Hamilton.

He has heard that four staff members had tested positive for coronavirus and at least two residents. One man who recently passed away might have had the virus. Pollard said a nurse told him the number of cases was climbing, and that all residents would be tested.

Then she told him results wouldnt come back for seven to nine days.

I told my wife that everybody is going to be dead by then, Pollard said. I think they should have acted the week of the 23rd when they started getting some cases.

As the number of coronavirus cases linked to nursing homes in Alabama increases, the backlog for testing has grown.

Weve become aware that there is an enormous volume of COVID-19 tests outstanding  at least more than 1,000, said Brandon Farmer, president of the Alabama Nursing Home Association. Our members also report to us that theyre having difficulty even obtaining tests. The long delays in receiving tests and test results puts the lives of our residents and employees at risk.

Some other states, including Louisiana, publish information about case clusters in assisted living and nursing homes. So far, Alabama has not publicly identified nursing homes with multiple cases.

The first nursing home cases of COVID-19 were reported March 19. The virus had spread to at least six facilities the following week.

Nursing homes have been particularly vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus  with clusters emerging all over the country in places designed to house the sick and elderly. Dozens of deaths have been linked to an early hotspot in Kirkland, Washington where workers silently spread the virus from room to room.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently lists nursing homes as Priority 2 for COVID-19 testing, Farmer said. That must change. Our national organization, the American Health Care Association, has asked the CDC to elevate nursing homes to Priority 1. This makes sense because we care for people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

Pollard said his mother has dementia and entered the nursing home last fall. He visited regularly and had been happy with her care until the virus hit.

When a nurse called to tell him about the first confirmed COVID-19 case, he wanted his mother tested. But that didnt happen until several more cases had been detected, including one patient Pollard said lived on her hall.

Administrators of the nursing home, which is operated by the North Mississippi Medical Center, couldnt be reached for comment.

A spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Public Health said they have staff members specifically dedicated to investigating COVID-19 cases in nursing homes.

According to Wanda Heard, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Department of Health, they do not identify facilities with multiple cases.

We cannot disclose that information as it jeopardizes peoples privacy, Heard said. If a nursing home is named, that information could be used to determine the identity of a case. In the event that a case is positive at a nursing home, we would work closely with their medical leadership to create a plan of action.

Visitors are not allowed in Alabama nursing homes, which leaves Pollard feeling helpless and out of the loop.

My wife and I really are the only ones taking care of her, and its been hard for her not seeing her grandchildren, Pollard said.

Pollard wonders why healthy residents werent moved from the facility when cases began cropping up. Marion County has other nursing homes.

Why didnt they get them out of there? he asked.

Farmer argued that nursing home residents should receive testing priority, since the illness has proved so deadly in those facilities.

Alabama nursing homes are doing everything they can to care for their residents and prevent infections. Now, the government needs to provide the resources they need to keep up this fight for life.
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A recent episode of The Daily podcast featured an interview with Italian doctor Fabiano Di Marco, who was just getting his first break after three straight weeks tending to Coronavirus victims. In his words, the whole experience is a war. And like all who face war, Di Marco and his colleagues faced agonizing choices. Specifically, they faced hundreds of patients with only tens of beds.

Thus, in Italy, reports are emerging that doctors like Di Marco are being forced to ration medical treatment. Should a bed and care be given to an eighty-five-year-old with a low chance of survival, or a forty-five-year-old with a much better chance of survival? Or, as another Italian doctor described, should doctors take into account whether older patients have families who can take care of them once they leave the ICU, because they will need help.

The decisions that Italian officials are being forced to make is part of a process known as triage. Its the first step of an emergency room visit, and can be defined as The process of sorting people based on their need for immediate medical treatment as compared to their chance of benefiting from such care.

In extreme cases, triage is more important and more difficult than a typical ER visit. For example, after events like the Las Vegas mass shooting in October 2017, hundreds of shooting victims are taken to local hospitals. Temporarily overwhelmed by the demand, medical personnel make agonizing decisions about whom they can help immediately and to what degree, and whom they cannot help immediately. Once the crisis passes, at least the medical treatment infrastructure part of life, mostly goes back to normal.

The chaos of those 24 hours in Vegas has now gone on for weeks in Italy. Decisions only needed in the aftermath of a tragic event are the new normal there. By some estimates, the U.S. is on a similar trajectory as Italy. Are we ready for the medical challenges posed by COVID-19? If our medical resources are overwhelmed, are we ready for the sort of ethical questions the crisis will demand?

Because triage is necessarily about the efficient use of resources, it necessarily involves making a value judgment in the context of our culture of confused values, in application to something pricelesshuman life. That word efficient should give us great pause, not because we shouldnt use limited resources wisely, but because of our cultural tendency to devalue human life already.

Wesley J. Smith has already documented the rise of what he calls futile care theory, in which doctors withhold medical treatment they deem too burdensome or too expensive. He wasnt identifying such a tendency in troubled areas of the world with scarce medical resources, but a rising trend in American medicine. Futile care theory rethinks ideas of efficiency in exclusively financial terms. This way of thinking, especially in a crisis, wont bode well for human dignity.

Theres also the increasing popularity of an argument that euthanasia enthusiasts like to use, that what matters most is the quality of life. As Ive said before, wherever euthanasia has been legalized, the power to define quality of life quickly shifts from the patient to family members and even bureaucrats. As a result of that shift, the right to die becomes the duty to die. Economic pressures from a virus-induced pandemic duty will only grease this already slippery slope.

As Italian doctors struggle under unimaginable pressure with limited resources, they do so under the influence of their worldview, their ideas about life, about healing, about human value, about morality. Our doctors will too, which is why we need Christians articulating medical ethics, joining hospital ethics boards, advocating for patients, running for office, and becoming health care workers everywhere.

Because, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the daughter of an evangelical pastor, told the German people in a national address recently, These are not simply abstract numbers . . . [they are] a father or grandfather, a mother or grandmother . . . They are people . . . And we are a community in which every life and every person counts.

For as long as this crisis lasts and beyond, one job of the Church is to bear witness to that truth and make sure it is not sacrificed on the altar of efficiency.

Originally posted at breakpoint.org
China transparent in dealing with epidemic: FM

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/2 17:23:40

China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged some US officials to focus on what they could do for Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic instead of making vicious accusations and attacks on other countries based on wrong and twisted information.

The comment came after reports said a US congressman is calling on the State Department to urge China to investigate the disappearance of three Chinese "citizen journalists" who they claimed were seeking to expose the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.

In a letter dated Tuesday, Republican Representative Jim Banks asked the US government to launch a probe into the fates of Fang Bin, Chen Qiushi and Li Zehua, Reuters reported Wednesday. The report said they went missing after taking videos and posting them online, which included images of overwhelmed hospitals and corpses piled into a minibus.

Asked about how the foreign ministry commented on the case, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said "China has been open and transparent in dealing with the epidemic. I know that some people in the US may have been concerned about the early release of information on the epidemic outbreak in Wuhan, and they may have thought there were problems. But Chinese authorities have already conducted a serious investigation and released the relevant information."

"I don't know what these congressmen elected by the American people are doing for Americans. They're always looking at what's going on in other countries. Based on totally wrong, distorted, and fabricated information, they have made up some ulterior, vicious accusations and attacks against China," said Hua.

"The Chinese people trust the Chinese government. Why should some US congressmen question China based on groundless facts?" Hua asked, urging US officials to spend more time to push their administration to do what they can for their people, save the lives of Americans and keep them safe.

The more noise they made, the more damage will be done to the US' image in the world, especially in the eyes of the Chinese people, Hua noted.

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Will Ronin return to the MCU? Maya Lopez, Blade, and Red Guardian have all worn the suit

Learn the comic book history of Hawkeye's MCU Ronin identity and what it could mean for the future of the MCU
We can argue if it really happened, but theres no doubt that the Exodus is a great story, with or without Hollywood stars or best selling authors.

Yet it has also been associated with problems. The association of Passover and Easter brought forth an increase in Christian animosity and violence. Too often in European history it was a season of pogroms rather than celebration.

Theres no better evidence for the stories of Jesus than for the story of the Exodus. Both rely on what was written by religious partisans, with the story of Jesus trial, crucifixion, and resurrection told by rebels against Jewish and Roman establishments.

Part of Jesus story (Matthew 21) has been cited time and again as affirming Christian piety against money-grubbing Jews.

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves.

What the Christian story does not tell is the importance to Jewish rituals of what Jesus destroyed. The sacrifice of doves or larger animals was at the heart of Jewish practice, especially at the time of Passover. It was one of the holy days when Jews came on pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Those traveling from a distance could not carry the proportion of their produce required to sacrifice. They were expected to sell what was meant for sacrifice at home, bring the money with them to Jerusalem, and there buy what they needed to sacrifice. Insofar as Jews came with different kinds of coins, the moneychangers were an essential link in the process. Doves were a common means of sacrifice, especially for the common people, who could not afford more expensive goats, sheep, or cattle.

Josephus describes tens of thousands of people milling around the Temple at the time of Passover, anxious to perform what was expected of them. For Jesus to create a commotion in such a setting would have threatened the capacity of Roman authorities to keep order. For a Jew to threaten both disorder and an essential ritual of Judaism at that time, explained the trial and punishment that became a cause of plunder and slaughter against later generations of Jews.

Theres a long and still applicable tradition of moneychangers tables. The Talmud employs the term, men who sit at tables, for the activity. Years ago, while lecturing for the U.S. State Department in Tehran, I found myself with an excess of local currency. I asked an embassy official for his advice, and he told me, Go to the Jews. I wondered about the expression, but followed his directions to a major street, and a row of Jewish-looking men sitting at card tables, each with small piles of currency on the tables. There was no security obvious, but it may have been there.

To be sure, most Iranians look as if they might be Jews, and I have since heard from Persian friends that Jews have no monopoly on the trade. I do recall that the tablesitter I dealt with responded to my Hebrew inquiry positively.

Muslim extremists have replaced Christians as most likely to attack Jews, but neither the history with Christians nor the present conflict with Muslims is all that simple. Just as some clerics fired up their followers to avenge Christ, other clerics provided refuge in their churches to Jews fleeing the mob. And Muslims have saved Jews on a number of occasions when others were screaming for blood.

Currently Israel is cooperating with Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia against Muslim extremists. The Sinai is one of the battlefields, and the Israeli government is warning both Arabs and Jews of Israel against vacationing on the beaches south of Eilat. There are no nicer beaches anywhere, with Bedouin to provide tea, water, food, and sleeping accommodations for those who dont bring their own. But other Bedouin have joined ISIS or one of its cousins.

Israel authorities have also indicated that Palestinian extremists will seek to exploit the crowds in Israel in order to try something that is highly visible as well as deadly. Police, the IDF, and other security services are indicating that theyll be fully staffed and on high alert, and they are urging people to take care. They are also updating the list of countries likely to be dangerous.

What taking care means during a holiday of travel and lots of crowds is anybodys guess.

The police are also likely to be on high alert before and after the Seder, first when about half the Jewish families are driving to relatives, and afterwards when many of the drivers will have consumed four cups of wine.

Theres also some domestic unrest, which is gaining some heat due to the holiday. It is a time of a week long vacation, family reunion, cleaning and refurbishing, festive meals, gift giving, and considerable financial outlays. Recent newspapers have been fattened with more than their usual advertisements for what Israelis might be inclined to buy. Theres also a lot of international travel or movement to hotels or B&Bs within Israel by families wanting to avoid the commotion closer to home.

The political turmoil is focusing on a long rumbling reform of public radio and television, which has a number of unresolved and confusing elements, but is likely to involve the dismissal of several hundred employees. Insofar as these include highly articulate and well known media personalities, the campaigns against the dismissals--as well as against other features involved in the reformshave gotten a lot of mention in news and discussion programs. And they are emphasizing the problems of individuals who will become unemployed on the eve of Passover.

Passover is the height of Jews calendar of festivities and spending. Getting fired on the eve of the holiday, or being threatened with dismissal a few days before Passover is close to the height of what shouldnt be done, especially by politicians who depend on the voters.

Weve had weeks of government officials blaming one another for what may happen, with those at the top doing what they can to assure that the dismissals will occur mostly in someone elses bailiwick.

Its a time of too much eating and too much of other things, but also a time to enjoy. And at least for a while, to ponder that story from long ago.

Comments welcome. Irashark@gmail.com
NATO Foreign Ministers have agreed on measures to further deepen partnerships with Ukraine and Georgia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this at a virtual press conference following the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs held by secure videoconference on April 2, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

We decided to deepen our partnerships with Ukraine and Georgia even further, including with exercises in the strategic Black Sea region. As well as joint work to counter hybrid warfare. And efforts to share more air traffic radar data, making the skies safer for all, Stoltenberg said.

Answering a clarifying question, he noted that the program of cooperation with Ukraine, in addition to conducting joint exercises, will also include access to NATO educational programs. This is another step, another element of a very strong and eduring partnership between NATO and Ukraine, Stoltenberg added.

ish
India: Christians arrested for 'forcible conversion' while providing aid to the poor

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Christians in southern Indias Tamil Nadu state were arrested on false charges of forcible conversion while providing food and other aid to the poor amid escalating persecution in the majority Hindu country.

Morning Star News reports that pastor Perumal Kanagaraj and about 30 young adults from Viluppuram Church of South India were serving the poor in the nearby slum area of Anumandai village when a member of the Hindu Munnani extremist group showed up and began shouting obscenities at them.

The Hindu Munnani activist soon lost his cool and started beating the youth missionaries while he continued abusing them in extremely foul language, Kanagaraj said. Within no time the crowd started gathering, and he held us up there and was not letting us move.

When the Christians began to call police, the Hindu nationalist told them he had already filed a police complaint against them.

We told the person, Brother, you dont like it that we are coming here. It is fine. We will leave, but he threatened us, that if we left from the place we would be burnt alive," Kanagaraj told Morning Star News. He was getting more and more aggressive.

The police took the Christians into custody, where they physically abused and verbally berated the believers.

They spoke ill about Christianity and slapped us as we stood there in the police station helplessly, Kanagaraj added. We requested that the police not lodge any cases against the [Christian] youths, fearing police cases would affect their careers.

Hoping to incite violence, Marakkanam Inspector of Police Senthil Vinayagam spoke abusively to the Christians, telling them, Instead of doing this work, send your wives to someone and earn money.

The inspector was trying hard to incite the youths that they would respond equally aggressively to his words, but by Gods grace we did not fall into it, Kanagaraj continued. We remembered Jesus on the cross when the Hindu extremists and police were humiliating us using vulgar language, and we did not protest.

Police released them with a warning that they should not be seen again attempting to convert people in the area, he said.

According to Kanagaraj, his church has been providing aid to the poor for three years. The grain, clothing, and flashlights his congregation provides are essential to the poor, who will now have to go without this aid.

Persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA notes that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP party rose to power in 2014, Indias Christian minority has faced growing pressures over alleged forced conversions.

Eight out of 29 states in India have adopted anti-conversion laws that seek to prevent any person from converting or attempting to convert, either directly or otherwise, another person through forcible or fraudulent means, or by allurement or inducement.

However, such laws are often used by Hindu extremists as an excuse to disrupt church services and harass Christians.

In recent years, numerous reports have emerged regarding police brutality toward religious minorities in India. Illegal arrests and false criminal charges are among the most common forms of police harassment endured by Christians, emboldening Hindu militant groups to make false accusations against Christians.

In March, Christians in Indias Uttar Pradesh state were falsely accused of forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity. As a result, they were brutally beaten by a drunken police officer who then ordered them to pose like Christ on the cross.

In February, nine Christians were beaten by the police after being accused of forceful conversion in the town of Sathankulam, Thoothukudi District, in Indias Tamil Nadu state.

India is ranked 10th on Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. According to the CIA World Fact Book, about 80 percent of India's population is Hindu.
New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday (April 3) said that a total of 384 cases have been found in Delhi, following a rise of 91 cases in the last 24 hours in the capital, while addressing a press conference.

The Delhi CM also said that five people have died in the national capital due to coronavirus and one of them was a person who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin.

Kejriwal said "Out of these 384 cases, 58 patients have a history of foreign travel. Many of them are not from Delhi but were quarantined here in Delhi. 259 people, out of them, had attended Markaz event," adding "Five people have died in Delhi so far due to coronavirus. One of them was a person who was from Markaz."

The Chief Minister said that 58 people, who have a history of foreign travel, further infected 38 members of their families.

"We have prepared 328 relief centres to accommodate 57,000 people. Anyone can come to these relief centres and stay here. We will take care of them," Kejriwal said.

The Delhi CM said community spread of the virus is not taking place in Delhi yet and there is no need to panic as the situation is under control, adding that the government has made preparations if the virus starts spreading among people.

The chief minister also launched a WhatsApp helpline - 8800007722 for people to enquire about COVID-19, food banks, shelters among others.

Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and experts will interact with students and answer their queries related to the virus at 3 pm on Saturday.

Notably, total number of COVID-19 positive cases today rose to 2,301 in India, including 156 cured/discharged and 56 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Gold bugs were likely counting on the coronavirus leading to a major rally for gold, but its not happening. We may see gold gain some lost ground these days, but one of the best barometers of whether there will be a rally or not is central bank activity--and so far, the worlds biggest are shunning the precious metal.

In early Friday trading, gold prices were up, with June gold futures gaining around $5.30 an ounce to hit $1,643.50. That bump was largely on the back of the unemployment report for March, which showed a rate of 4.4%--up from 3.5% in February--and the first decline in monthly non-farm payrolls in nine years.

Source: Monex.com

Gold bugs will also point out that April is bound to be much worse for unemployment and payroll declines, which will give gold another boost in Q2.

And, indeed, the unmitigated bleed in jobs data is also boosting gold mining stocks right now. Shares of Coeur Mining (NYSE:CDE) gained nearly 25% yesterday, while B2Gold (NYSEMKT:BTG) enjoyed an 11% jump, among others.

Those, however, are the smaller players. The gold-mining giants arent feeling the same love. Newmont Gold (NYSE:NEM), for instance, managed to gain less than 2% in March. Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC) lost ground over the month of March, and so has AngloAshanti (NYSE:AU).

The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), the worlds largest gold exchange-traded fund with over $50 billion in assets, has also experienced only modest gains.

(Click to enlarge)

By March 20th, the decline in the amount of gold held by the SPDR trust fell to 29.2 million ounces, according to Reuters--down from 30.99 million on March 9th.

The likelihood is that while gold may continue to inch upwards, its not going to get the major crisis boost that one typically expects in a time of crisis when everyone runs to safe havens.

Looking at Chinese demand and what the central banks around the world are doing tells the real story.

Supply may be getting squeezed, with mine shut-downs, but thats being offset by major hits to demand.

The Chinese gold market is languishing in coronavirus purgatory. Theres virtually no demand at all, and thats a huge indicator because the country is the biggest buyer of gold bars, coins and jewelry--and for a country that accounted for around one-fifth of total global gold demand in 2019.

According to Bloomberg, China saw a 41% drop in retail sales of gold, silver and jewelry in January and February, with predictions that Q1 will register at least a 50% drop.

And then the other shoe dropped earlier this week when the Russian central bank announced that starting on April 1st it would suspend all domestic gold purchases as oil prices hit 18-year lows thanks to a game that Russia itself has perpetuated with OPEC.

Because Russia has spent the past five years stockpiling gold, the announcement came as a harsh wakeup call for gold bugs. Moscow has spent a massive $40 billion during that time to create a stockpile of 2,279.2 tons of the precious metal.

And while we do not yet have numbers for March, globally, central bank purchases of gold across the board in February were 52% lower, year-over-year, according to the World Gold Council, via Mining.com.

Still, Georgie Milling-Stanley, the Godfather of gold and one of the forces behind the creation of GLD, says gold is still the safe haven its always been. In an interview with CNBC, he noted: Coronavirus is going to continue to be a concern. Brexit is still an issue. There are problems in the Korean peninsula. Investors have shifted from, Is there going to be a bear market to How long will the bear market last? All of this is positive for gold.

The bottom line: Gold will always be a safe haven, but in this crisis, its nothing more than that. A rally, though, does not appear imminent. Right now, cash is king.

In fact, the U.S. dollar is stronger than ever, and not even dire unemployment figures and massive non-farm payroll declines are denting it right now.

As we see poor data coming in from Europe, UK, Italy, if youre trying to be rushing anywhere, it would be U.S. Treasuries and the U.S. dollar as a safe haven, CNBC quoted John Doyle, vice president of dealing and trading at Tempus Inc, as saying.

By Josh Owens for Safehaven.com

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Internationally recognized praise band Planetshakers releases Glory Part Two today (April 3) and featuring the voices of 30,000 people during a Praise Party at SMART Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Philippines. Available at Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Google Music, Pandora and additional digital, streaming and physical retail outlets globally from Venture3Media (V3M), the new digital EP features So Good, All, Encounter Song and Living Louder.

Glory Part Two follows the release of the acclaimed Glory Part One digital EP that was recorded in Melbourne, Australia at Planetshakers Church and released Jan. 10.

A tangible, intentional expression of worshippers collectively pursuing the presence of God, the new music is led by Planetshakers Sam Evans, Joth Hunt (who also produced and mixed the recording), Aimee Evans, BJ Pridham, Joshua Brown, Rudy Nikkerud, Chelsi Nikkerud and more.

In the Presence of God, we find peace, healing, protection and comfort, says Russell Evans, Planetshakers Founder and Lead Pastor. One of the reasons why we record new songs is because we want to provide an atmosphere where people can enter into praise and worship of the One who holds our every moment. When our praise goes up, His presence comes down, and in His presence is fullness of joy.

Each of the new songs released this year from Planetshakers have been captured live-in-concert via multi-cameras for a compelling visual experience. The first six of these songs, including All, SO GOOD and the Glory Part One featured videos, How I Praise, Walls, I Remember and Cant Take My Eyes off You, have already generated more than 2.5 million streams to date.

All the latest Planetshakers music, tour and more news can be found at Planetshakers.com, YouTube (999,000 subscribers), Instagram (585,000 followers), Spotify (778,000 monthly listeners), Twitter (175,700 followers) and Facebook (over 1.5 million followers).

About Planetshakers:

Since its inaugural gathering in 1997, Planetshakers has gone on to become a global movement through its annual conferences, international church campuses and numerous live recordings, including multiple Dove Award-nominated projects. The Australia-based collective, led by Senior Pastors Russell and Sam Evans, has hosted gatherings in cities around the world while also launching Planetshakers Church in 2004. With over 17,000 members in Melbourne, Planetshakers Church is one of the fastest growing churches in that nations history, stretching across five campuses in Melbourne with additional locations in Singapore; Cape Town, South Africa; and Geneva, Switzerland.

Celebrating over 20 years of ministry, Planetshakers honors the countless ways God has used its ministry and music to raise up a generation of Christ followers with a clear vision of taking the Gospel to the nations empowering generations to win generations.

About Venture3Media:

Venture3Media is a global music label and song publisher with sales, marketing, promotional, radio, television and movie expertise. V3M provides distribution platforms across all digital channels, including but not limited to Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Deezer, Tencent, 7Digital, Google Music, Facebook, Pandora, Tidal, Sirius and Rhapsody. Physical distribution includes online retailers such as Amazon, national retail chains, sub-distributors and internationally through well-established licensees and distributors. V3M is excited to build a global ecosystem that serves the vision and heart of Planetshakers.

###
Social media is alive and well these days. I've had several chats with friends and contacts in Mexico and learned this: Mexicans are scared that President Andres Lopez-Obrador is more into "abrazos" (or embraces) than getting serious about "el Corona," as they call it down there.

The problem is that Mexicans watch a lot of U.S. TV and know everything happening up here. They also talk constantly with families and friends sitting at home in the U.S. They hear about our problems and wonder if their president is in denial.

A few days ago, U.S. ambassador Christopher Landau told U.S. citizens to go home, if possible. This is from Pulse News Mexico, an English virtual newspaper based in Mexico City:

More than 2,000 people tuned in to hear the ambassador respond to Covid-19 questions regarding everything from medical coverage to visa extensions. Addressing each of 16 questions posed by participating U.S. citizens, Landau made it clear that any U.S. citizen, whether tourist or immigrant to Mexico, who did not return immediately to the United States should be "ready to ride out the Covid-19 pandemic here in Mexico." "Do not rely on the U.S. government to help you get home," he said. "Book a commercial flight while they are available." The ambassador also reminded Americans that most U.S. health insurance  including Medicare and Medicaid  do [sic] not cover hospitalizations and medical costs outside the United States, and many travel insurances do not include repatriation costs via an air ambulance, which can run into the 100,000s of dollars.

"Go home" is Ambassador Landau's message. Let's hope they can!

On another front, most of the Mexicans that I've chatted with are following President Trump's "stay home order" rather than working. Many are working from home as well. Mothers are keeping their kids at home. Some colleges are on going online.

My unofficial assessment is that Mexicans know they have "el problema Corona" even if their president does not. In fact, a friend here in Dallas who is a strong "AMLO-supporter" is disappointed that her president has been so slow.

Finally, several friends have assured me that Mexico's official numbers, the 363 cases and 6 deaths reported so far, are not real.

What are Mexico's numbers? Nobody knows, but it's more than reported, or so everyone tells me.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
Multiple flights from New Delhi to San Francisco will be arranged to repatriate US citizens stranded in northern and eastern India due to a lockdown in the country to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the American embassy here said on Friday.

The flights will begin operating from April 4, the embassy said.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster lauded the government's efforts to fight coronavirus.

"The U.S. Mission supports the Government of India in the fight against #COVID19. Impressive to see the public support for the lockdown and social distancing, with no sign of civil unrest. #USIndia," Juster said in a tweet.

The embassy has asked US citizens to share their location and other details by filling out the form at https://tinyurl.com/uscit-indiaso and also register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https:tep.state.gov/ to receive critical information concerning flight opportunities.

For US citizens in northern and eastern India, multiple flights from New Delhi to San Francisco are being arranged, the mission said in a statement.

"Based on prioritization, we will reach out to you directly via email to offer a seat on a flight. Please respond within the time frame specified in the email. We will not be able to accommodate requests for specific flight preferences," the statement said.

The embassy said it is planning to facilitate transportation to Delhi from some cities in northern India and will share the via STEP once the arrangements are finalised.

"Currently, we are planning flights from Kolkata, Dehradun, and Amritsar to Delhi for onward flights to San Francisco. We are also planning for bus transportation from Jaipur and Dharamshala to Delhi for onward flights to San Francisco," it said.

"As these plans develop, we will reach out to those who have self-designated as being located in these areas. We urge American citizens to be ready to depart on short notice," the US embassy said.

For US citizens in southern and western India, the US embassy said it is coordinating closely with the Indian government and commercial air carriers to facilitate flights to the US.?



"We will have several flights departing Mumbai and arriving in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning the weekend of April 4," it said.

"US Consulate General Mumbai is working to facilitate ground transportation to Mumbai from areas including Goa, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara (Baroda), and Pune," the statement said.

"In cooperation with US Consulates General Chennai and Hyderabad, we are also working to arrange domestic charter flights to allow US citizens from those areas to reach Mumbai," the statement added.

he US mission further said the repatriation flights from Mumbai will terminate in Atlanta and passengers will need to arrange and fund their own transportation to their final destinations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump and the First Lady joined millions of people worldwide who are distancing themselves from others to try to check the spread of the coronavirus. The basic concept is simple: Separate the infected from the well.

The virus incubation period of 14 days, possibly longer, and the growing understanding that many people can have the virus without any symptoms are why the restrictions continue to mount.

But exactly what behavior is required or expected depends greatly on the persons circumstances and local health authorities rules.

There are several forms of separation. Isolation, the most stringent, is for people who have come down with COVID-19. Home quarantine, which has similar restrictions, is for those who have been exposed to an infected person. Social distancing is what just about everyone else is doing: staying away from others.

Here are more details on whats involved in quarantines:

Shelter-in-place: By early April, at least 38 states, including California, had told residents to stay at home except for essential activities, such as buying groceries or medicine, or getting exercise. This basically means seeking safety in your own residence. In the Bay Area, six counties  San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo and Santa Clara  coordinated their directives on whats involved and have varied the restrictions over time. Initially only people who work in designated essential businesses, such as health care, grocery stores and banks, were allowed to go to work.

You assume everyones been exposed to someone, so you just sit tight until it passes over, said Dr. George Rutherford, professor of epidemiology at UCSF.

Those restrictions have been eased as state and local officials seek to restart their economies.

Social distancing: This is a conscious strategy to reduce close contact among people when they do go outside. Since mid-March, keeping ones distance has been mandatory throughout the Bay Area whenever people go out in public or go to the few stores or other businesses allowed to stay open. The local health rules specify a 6-foot distance from others. However, a Centers for Disease Control report says its possible that transmission could occur at distances up to 13 feet.

Some experts have suggested calling it physical distancing instead, since thats what its really about.

John Blanchard / The Chronicle

The folks now telecommuting, the students whose classes were canceled, just about everybody falls into the distancing category. Under new rules which extended the stay-at-home orders through early May, local businesses must devise plans to enforce the 6-foot distance within their stores and in lines that form outside them.

The counties of San Francisco Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma and San Mateo now require face coverings when people visit the doctor, supermarket or other essential places. Acceptable coverings are nonmedical cloth masks, including scarves and bandannas that cover the nose and mouth. The order, which is for those 13 or older, does not apply while exercising or driving.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Home quarantine: Quarantine, sometimes called self-quarantine to indicate its a measure undertakes on ones own, is for people who may have had contact with someone infected with the coronavirus, who often are awaiting testing results.

Travelers returned from area with severe outbreaks  which now include other states  are examples of people told to self-quarantine for 14 days, as well as anyone whos been in contact with someone with a confirmed case.

People in self-quarantine are supposed to monitor themselves by taking their temperature twice a day and observing if they feel sick or experience fever, cough, shortness of breath or sore throat. They are supposed to wear a mask if they have to be near others. If they develop symptoms, they should contact a medical provider by phone  just showing up is no longer a good idea.

What about taking a walk? If you live somewhere with wide open spaces, I could see that, Rutherford said. If you live in the middle of the city and its packed on the sidewalks, no.

Self-quarantine is not a staycation, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC chief medical correspondent, said on ABC News in March. Self-quarantine is done for a person who may have had an exposure to known coronavirus. ... When you self-quarantine, the premise is that youre positive; that you actually have been infected. Thats why it has to be rigid; it has to be by the book. There has to be significant and aggressive distancing.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Isolation: Self-isolation, or simply isolation, is the highest level, for people infected with the coronavirus who are not sick enough to be hospitalized.

President Trump initially said on Oct. 2 that he was entering quarantine while awaiting test results. After he tested positive, his separation from others became isolation.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Even at home, they should stay away from family members. You cant have someone come fluff your pillows and sit and watch TV with you, Dr. Rutherford said. Thats not isolation. You have to be in a different room.

Contra Costa Health Services give detailed requirements in documents that people in isolation must sign (most apply to home quarantines too).

They include: staying home except for urgent doctors appointments  and wear a mask if you have to seek medical help. That means no travel, no use of transit, no going to church, shops, and no visitors, it stresses. You can go outside in your own yard (not a shared yard), the county document says.

Being scrupulous about hygiene is a must: covering coughs and sneezes with tissues and then throwing them away. Frequent hand washing is also mandatory.

Separate yourself from other people in your home as much as possible, the directive says. It suggests staying cloistered in a specific room and ideally using a separate bathroom. Dont share dishes, glasses, eating utensils, towels or bedding, it says  although others can use them after regular washing. Clean doorknobs, phones, keyboards, toilets, bedside tables.

Infected people on home quarantine may have fever and mild symptoms, but if they worsen  for instance, trouble breathing  they should seek prompt medical attention. If they call 911, they should tell the dispatcher they have COVID-19, the coronavirus disease.

What about apartment or condo dwellers? Are they obligated to tell neighbors that they are under quarantine or isolation? Should they avoid the elevators or the mailboxes in the lobby?

We dont have cut-and-dried protocols for this, said Dr. Amira Roess, professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University. Theres no requirement to notify your neighbors or building management. But if you leave your apartment, wear a mask and really try to reduce how close you get to other people.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
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The United Nations says it is "horrified" by the death of a juvenile offender in Iran, following reported beatings by prison guards after inmates protested to be released due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on April 3 it had received information that Daniel Zeinolabedini died after he was reportedly "badly beaten" following a prison riot in Iran's West Azerbaijan Province on March 28.

Detainees at Mahabad prison were protesting against their "prison conditions and the failure of the authorities to temporarily release them amid the COVID-19 pandemic," spokesman Rupert Colville said in a virtual press briefing.

Media in Iran, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, have reported unrest in several prisons, despite the temporary release of some 100,000 inmates to curb prison overcrowding.

There has been no report of the alleged incident in West Azerbaijan Province.

Zeinolabedini, who was on death row for a murder he allegedly committed in September 2017 at the age of 17, has claimed his innocence, according to the UN rights office.

He was put in solitary confinement and beaten by security officials at Mahabad prison, before being transferred to Miandoab prison in the same region, where he also suffered abuse.

"His family said he called them on March 31 to tell them he had been badly beaten, could hardly breathe, and desperately needed help. His death was confirmed on April 2," Colville said.

The rights office said it was "particularly shocked" because Zeinolabedini's conviction and death sentence were upheld by Iran's Supreme Court, despite international human rights law prohibiting death sentences for crimes committed by minors.

The spokesman called on the Iranian authorities to conduct an "independent and impartial" investigation into the death and hold those responsible to account.

Colville expressed concern about at the fate of "six other people who were also reportedly beaten during the riot on March 28 and taken to Miandoab prison," and urged the authorities "to take all measures to protect their lives."

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
The Trump administration plans to use money from the recent stimulus bills to pay hospitals for treatment of uninsured coronavirus patients. It says the plan is more efficient than reopening enrollment in the Obamacare markets to achieve the same goal.

The money would be drawn from a $100 billion fund to help hospitals respond to the crisis that hospital groups expected would be spent on their more immediate financial needs.

President Trump announced the policy on Friday at his daily briefing. That should alleviate any concern uninsured Americans may have about seeking the coronavirus treatment, he said.

Using the hospital funds to pay for uninsured coronavirus patients could be a targeted way to pay for coronavirus care for the growing number of Americans who lack health insurance. But critics say it may not go to hospitals in the states hit the hardest so far and does little to address concerns over the millions of people now without coverage for medical care unrelated to the virus.
Burma Five Rakhine Civilian Deaths Blamed on Myanmars Military

Ma Moe Moe Nwe was sent to Sittwe Hospital. Min Aung Khine / The Irrawaddy

Sittwe, Rakhine State  Five civilians were killed and at least seven others injured in an alleged attack by Myanmars military in Kyauktaw Township in Rakhine State on Wednesday.

Five were killed and seven were injured in the shooting incident. I heard more were injured. Three houses in the ward on the outskirts of Kyauktaw were completely destroyed, Lower House lawmaker U Oo Tun Win of Kyauktaw Township told The Irrawaddy.

The shooting was heavy. We hid under our house and it was difficult to see what was happening. We heard gunshots from every direction, added U Oo Tun Win.

The dead were reportedly aged between 14 and 70.

Ethnic Daingnet Ma Moe Moe Nwe, 14, was seriously injured and sent to Sittwe Hospital.

Tatmadaw [military] soldiers who came in trucks from Thayet Oak village fired continuously. We didnt have time to reach the bomb shelters. My niece was hit as she ran, Daw Ma Yay told The Irrawaddy.

Ma Moe Moe Nwes parents died when she was young and she lived with her aunt.

Among the five victims were a mother and daughter from the village of Peinnechaung on the opposite riverbank from Kyauktaw. Villagers said the two were killed by shells fired from the Kaladan River.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told The Irrawaddy that the Tatmadaw returned fire after the Arakan Army (AA) fired artillery and bullets from Kyauktaw at two naval vessels docked on the opposite bank of the Kaladan.

The government has recently declared the AA to be a terrorist organization.

On Feb. 3, a woman died and three men were injured in Kyauktaw by artillery. Four civilians were injured in the town in fighting with the AA on Dec. 28 last year.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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US president says he would have moral responsibility to assist hard-hit Iran despite devastating American sanctions.

US President Donald Trump said he would have a moral responsibility to help Iran in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic if leaders of the country asked for assistance.

However, he said, they had not yet asked.

Well they havent even asked us to do that, said Trump, when asked by Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett if the United States would consider easing sanctions on Iran in light of the global outbreak.

If they want to meet, wed love to meet and wed settle the whole thing out, he added.

Since 2018, the Trump administration has imposed a policy of maximum pressure sanctions against the Tehran after Washington withdrew from the landmark nuclear agreement. Under the deal  reached between Iran, the US, the European Union, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany in 2015  Tehran promised to curtail its nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief.





Over the last month, as the virus spread rapidly in Iran, the US repeatedly tightened sanctions designed to choke off Tehrans oil exports.

Last week, the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on 20 Iranian people and companies accused of supporting a Shia militia in Iraq, which is believed to be responsible for attacks on bases where US forces are located.

Iran has been particularly hit hard by the outbreak, which has left governments across the world reeling with more than one million people infected globally and nearly 53,000 deaths.

Tehran has reported nearly 50,500 infections in the country of 81 million, with nearly 3,300 deaths, including several members of the government.

I put it out very publicly with respect to Iran, Trump said during the Thursday news conference. I said if they need help with respect to the virus, wed love to send  we have the greatest medical professionals in the world  wed love to send them over.

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has refused American assistance to fight coronavirus, suggesting it could be man-made by the US government. But Iranian officials have demanded the end of crippling American sanctions that have devastated Irans economy.

Moral responsibility

The United Nations has repeatedly urged countries to alter their sanctions against several countries in light of the pandemic. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a letter to G20 economic powers in March, said the restrictions should be waived to ensure access to food, essential health supplies, and COVID-19 medical support.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called for any sanctions imposed on countries such as Iran to be urgently re-evaluated to avoid pushing strained medical systems to collapse.

On Thursday, Democratic presidential contender and former US Vice President Joe Biden joined members of Congress in urging Trump to remove sanctions.





Biden said the US had a moral obligation to lift the sanctions, and noted that despite humanitarian exceptions, many countries and aid organisations remain leery of running afoul of the US.

When asked if he felt such a moral obligation, Trump said: No ones even asked me. I have a moral responsibility to help them if they ask. If they needed help, I would certainly consider different things.

Despite the increased calls for sanctions relief in recent weeks, Trump has continued to ramp up attacks on Iran, claiming on Wednesday that its proxies were planning a sneak attack on US targets in neighbouring Iraq. He tweeted that Tehran would pay a very heavy price for any such action, but offered no details.

Trump, in his statements on Thursday, contended the people of Iran love America, they love what we stand for.

He added: Were not looking for government takeover, government change. This countrys been through that many times. That doesnt work.

Lost opportunity

The comments come days after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo initially raised the prospect of easing sanctions on Iran and other nations to help fight the pandemic, without offering any concrete plans to do so.

Pompeos statements, however, were met with quick rebuke from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

The United States lost the best opportunity to lift sanctions, Rouhani said. It was a great opportunity for Americans to apologise  and to lift the unjust and unfair sanctions on Iran.

The body of a coronavirus victim is taken to a cemetery just outside Tehran [Ebrahim Noroozi/AP]

Americans could have used this opportunity and told the Iranian nation that they are not against them, Rouhani said. Their hostility [towards Iranians] is obvious.

Despite previous comments from Iranian authorities, Rouhani also denied that sanctions had hampered Tehrans response to the outbreak.

Several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, China, the UK, France, Qatar and Turkey, have sent shipments of medical supplies, including gloves and surgical masks, to Iran.

Meanwhile, in the first transaction conducted under a trade mechanism set up to barter humanitarian goods and food after Washingtons withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Germany said on Tuesday France, Germany, and the UK had exported medical goods to Iran.
This is the moment a heroic cop in Colombia shot a 32-year-old criminal who fired at the officer and his partner while they tried to question him from violating a nationwide lockdown order.

Surveillance video showed both Colombian National Police agents cornering bicyclist Jonathan Rodriguez aboard their motorcycles on a desolate street in the Bogota town of Tunjuelito on Thursday night.

One of the cops pulled in front of Rodriguez while another trailed behind the shooter.

The 32-year-old man then stepped off his bike and unloaded his gun, striking the shoulder of cop who was in front of him. Rodriguez turned towards the second cop, who stood on a sidewalk, and miraculously missed each of the shots he fired.

Jonathan Rodriguez (right) aims his gun at a cop in Colombia on Thursday before shooting at the two officers. He died at a local hospital after one of the cops (left) shot him in the abdomen and buttocks after he tried to run away. The cops approached Rodriguez because he allegedly broke the Andean nation's nationwide quarantine order to stop the spread of COVID-19

After shooting one of the cops (center) in the shoulder, Rodriguez ran and fired his weapon at a second police officer (top left)

Rodriguez immediately took off running but the hero cop responded with fire, shooting him in the abdomen and buttocks.

Paramedics later arrived on the scene and took him to Olaya Polyclinic, where he died two hours later after doctors tried to save his life during an operation, according to Colombian media outlet Pulzo.

Rodriguez had previously been arrested for aggravated robbery, sexual abuse and escaping from a prison.

Rodriguez (circled) lies on the ground moments after shooting at two police offices, including a cop (center) who he struck on the shoulder

The Colombian National Police reported the wounded cop's injury was not life threatening.

Colombia has been under a 19-day nationwide quarantine since last Tuesday, the most drastic measure implemented so far by the Andean country as it seeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

As of Friday evening, the health ministry had reported 19 deaths related to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Another 1,161 people have been sickened due to the virus that has killed more than 58,000 and infected over 1million.
SACRAMENTO  The future of the legislative session is murky as California shows no signs of letting up soon on its lockdown measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Legislative leaders extended an emergency recess by three more weeks Friday. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood (Los Angeles County), said they now plan to call lawmakers back to the Capitol on May 4.

Our priority continues to be bending the curve of infection, they said in a joint statement. We must continue to support the efforts of our first responders and health care personnel.

As the state urged greater social-distancing measures to slow the spread of the virus, the Legislature passed a $1.1 billion aid package on March 16 before adjourning for a month. Three days later, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all Californians to stay at home and leave only for essential trips.

The Senate and Assembly intended to reconvene on April 13. But Newsom has suggested that his order could remain in place through at least May, when state public health officials project new infections to peak.

That collides with two critical legislative deadlines: May 29, the last day for bills to pass their house of origin, and June 15, when lawmakers are constitutionally required to approve a state budget or go without pay.

Before leaving Sacramento last month, the Senate passed rules that would allow for remote hearings and voting. Atkins and Rendon, however, mentioned nothing in their statement Friday about continuing the work of the Legislature in April via teleconferencing.

The extension of the legislative recess came hours after Atkins publicly acknowledged that the original return date the Legislature envisioned isnt feasible.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Ramping up their efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, authorities on Friday announced exclusive isolation wards and initiated rapid tests in areas identified as hotspots of the infection while a record of more than 8,000 samples were tested in 24 hours. However, the number of confirmed cases reported by states rose by over 500 to cross 3,000 with at least 90 dead.

While Maharashtra, Telangana and Delhi disclosed several new cases of the deadly virus infection, government officials said the numbers have risen in last few days mostly due to one event -- referring to the Tablighi Jamaat's religious gathering in the national capital attended by thousands of people last month.

Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said the tally has not risen sharply otherwise due to the lockdown and the government's efforts to promote social distancing. According to the ministry, at least 647 cases reported in last two days are linked to the Jamaat congregation.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also said there is no need to panic as the situation is under control and that the community spread of the virus is not taking place in the national capital.

Delhi's tally of confirmed cases has risen to 386, after 93 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while six have died in the city. Only Mahrashtra and Tamil Nadu have higher tallies at 490 and 411, respectively. These three states were also among those reporting new cases, while fresh deaths were also reported from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh among others.

While 26 people have died in Maharashtra, 11 have lost lives in Telangana.

At least 211 people have recovered across the country so far, as per updates from various states.

In its evening update, the Union Health Ministry had put the nationwide tally of confirmed cases at 2,547 and 62 deaths.

After nine days of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also released a video message, in which he asked people to continuing following social distancing and stay indoors, as he urged everyone to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus.

There have been indications that the lockdown would be eased in a phased manner after the 21-day period ends on April 14.

The main opposition party Congress, however, said Modi failed to address critical questions on India's fight against COVID-19 in his message, dubbing it as "just a feel-good moment curated by India's photo-op Prime Minister".

The BJP asked its workers to spread Modi's appeal among the masses.

The opposition leaders also referred to hardships being faced by the people during the lockdown and the economic cost of it.

Fitch Ratings said India may post a GDP growth of 2 per cent in the current fiscal, the slowest since the economy was liberalised 30 years back, while the stock market suffered another day of meltdown and the rupee slumped 53 paise to slip below the 76-mark against the US dollar.

Leading industry chamber the Confederation of Indian Industry said the pandemic would have a debilitating impact on India's tourism sector with an estimated overall loss of Rs 5 lakh crore and job cuts for 4-5 crore people.

The World Bank, in the meantime, announced an emergency funding of USD 1 billion for India to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Support appeared pouring in from several other quarters as well, with more than 31,000 doctors, including retired government and Armed Forces Medical Services, and private physicians volunteering to help the government fight against COVID-19 pandemic, a senior government official said.

An ICMR official separately said 182 labs across country are functional now for COVID-19 diagnosis, out of which 130 are government labs.

Around 8,000 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, he added.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in an advisory, has also recommended use of a rapid antibody test in the country's coronavirus hotspots.

In Maharashtra, the state government said more than nine lakh people have been surveyed for coronavirus symptoms under the state government's 'cluster containment action plan', which started areas where three or more patients were found.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announced that the trauma centre at Dr RML Hospital will function as a dedicated COVID-19 isolation ward while the Safdarjung Hospital's super specialty block has been converted into a state-of-the-art isolation management centre in Delhi.

The government also asserted there is no shortage of medical supplies in the country. It has also placed orders to procure over 10 crore hydroxychloroquine tablets, which the ICMR has recommended to be used as a preventive medication for those involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Amid reports of attacks and misbehaviour with doctors and medical staff from some parts of the country, officials said the Home Ministry has asked states to take strict action against people allegedly abusing health workers.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Indore district administration invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in the city. In Uttar Pradesh also, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said this stringent act will be invoked against quarantined Tablighi Jamaat members accused of misbehaving with the nursing staff at a Ghaziabad hospital.

In the national capital also, doctors from some hospitals, where the Tablighi Jamaat members are admitted, have complained to the Delhi government about their non-cooperation with the medical staff.

Five people have been arrested in Bengaluru also for allegedly manhandling health workers conducting a coronavirus survey.

A Group of Ministers, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also reviewed the entire situation arising out of the lockdown. They deliberated on various arrangements being made to deal with increasing number of coronavirus cases as well as to ensure adequate supplies of medicine and essential commodities during the lockdown, sources said.

President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed concern over the gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar and the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin, saying these two incidents caused a setback to the efforts to combat coronavirus, according to a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In a video-conference with the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of states/union territories, the president emphasized the need to ensure that no one remains hungry during the nationwide lockdown, enforced to check the spread of the virus.

Several states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh announced more people linked to the Jamaat gathering have been quarantined.

Prime Minister Modi also spoke to a number of sportspersons through a video-call and sought their support in the COVID-19 fight with many of them vowing to raise awareness and spirits amid a national lockdown.

Officials also referred to the cases remaining largely under control in India as compared to various other countries.

Since its outbreak in China last December, more than 1 million people have been infected globally with this deadly virus and more than 51,000 have died including more than 6,000 deaths in the US alone.

The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted its first resolution on the coronavirus pandemic, co-sponsored by India and 187 other nations, calling for intensified global cooperation to defeat the deadly disease that is causing "severe disruption" to societies and economies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pope approves new Mass in Time of Pandemic, coronavirus liturgical text for Good Friday

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Pope Francis on Monday approved two new liturgical texts, including one for Good Friday, which were both created in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the liturgical texts was a Mass in Time of Pandemic, a votive mass, (or mass said for a specific purpose) aimed at praying for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other was a special intention, (or a specific purpose which a mass can be offered) for the coronavirus that will be offered for Good Friday services next week.

According to the Vatican News, the Good Friday intention will include a prayer on behalf of those who suffer because of this pandemic.

The votive mass will include an opening prayer that asks God to grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick, peace to the dying, strength to healthcare workers, wisdom to our leaders and the courage to reach out to all in love, so that together we may give glory to your holy name.

The Roman Catholic Churchs Congregation for Divine Worship has already sent the two liturgical texts to Catholic bishops across the world.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, said in a decree accompanying the Good Friday text that the holy day has a particular significance [this year] because of the terrible pandemic that has stricken the whole world.

Indeed, on the day on which we celebrate the redeeming passion and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, who like a slain lamb has taken upon himself the suffering and sin of the world, the church raises her voice in prayer to God the Father Almighty for all humanity, and in particular for those who suffer most, he said, as reported by America Magazine.

Last month, Pope Francis called on Christians of all denominations to recite the Lords Prayer, also known as the Our Father, at noon on March 25.

Let us stay united. I invite all Christians to direct their voices together toward Heaven, reciting the Our Father tomorrow, 25 March, at noon, the pontiff posted on his official Twitter handle.

The tweet also included a short video of Francis giving a prayer with English subtitles, calling on people to pray together for the sick, for the people who are suffering.

I thank all Christians, all the men and women of goodwill who pray at this moment in unison, whichever religious tradition they belong to, said Francis in the video.
Australian construction sites should shut down for two weeks or longer to stem the spread of the coronavirus, an industry group representing thousands of builders has warned.

Lawyers also argue that building contractors who fail to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines would be forced to pay compensation if an employee died from the virus after contracting it at work.

Builders working on Multiplex's Collins Arch projects working in close quarters.

There is growing concern for the safety of thousands of construction workers across the state after builders at Multiplex's Melbourne Square site in Southbank were told they must return to work at the CBD site  where a tradesman tested positive  in order to get paid.

The site had been cleaned, but workers could not be assured they were safe from infection, as the sick worker was on site all week.
NEW DELHI: Kanishk Yadav, a nursing officer at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi is being hailed as a real hero for showing a willingness to assist the medical team engaged in treating coronavirus COVID-19 infected persons.

The young nursing officer had requested the AIIMS administration to post him at COVID-19 ward to support the team there through a letter.

"Depute me at COVID-19 ward at Trauma Centre. Many healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, technicians are stressed to the limits due to this pandemic. I am competent to handle all emergency situations and I request the AIIMS administration to post me at the COVID-19 ward," he wrote in his letter.

"People should follow social distancing norms to beat the coronavirus threat," he added.

India saw a steady rise in the number of coronavirus COVID-19 positive cases on Thursday (April 2, 2020) with the figure rising above 2000 to touch 2069 with 53 deaths. Acting tough against the Tablighi Jamaat, whose congregation at Delhi's Nizamuddin is one of the reasons for the jump in the number of positive cases in the last few days, the government cracked the whip on the Muslim religious body.

According to the latest Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data, the numbers of active cases in India are 1,860 while 156 patients have been cured, discharged or migrated and 53 died.

In the total tally, about 400 positive COVID-19 cases have been found whose epidemiological linkage can be traced to the Tablighi Jamaat cluster, said the Union Health Ministry while asserting that there was no evidence of widespread community transmission. Notably, 20 existing and 22 potential hotspots have been identified across the country.

As the pandemic has spread around the world, governments have closed factories and businesses, grounded airlines and ordered hundreds of millions of people to stay at home to try to slow the contagion.

Compared to these developed countries, India has taken steady and early measures such as the 21-day nationwide lockdown and has managed to restrict the spread of the virus with much lesser number of infected cases and casualties, despite being the second-most populous country in the world and more prone to the spread of the pandemic.
A super-organized blogger is teaching others how to 'up their quarantine game' with some simple working-from-home hacks - including a flat-out ban on wearing pajamas around the house.

Krystin Lee, 33, from Toronto, Canada, has become of a blogging expert over the last nine years, having set up her own lifestyle site - KrystinLee.com - in 2012 and then going on to build up a huge online following, with over 177,000 Instagram fans.

And, as much of the work on her blog, takes place in her own home, Krystin has formulated a host of hacks to help her become more efficient and productive - tips that she is now sharing with the millions of other people who are working from home while quarantining amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Helping hand: Toronto blogger Krystin Lee has revealed her top tips for being more efficient and productive while working from home

Expert: The 33-year-old spends two days a week working from home on her blog, and has become something of an expert in how to increase productivity

Krystin, who has previously worked with worked with major brands such as Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, and American Express, put together a list of tips to help her readers adapt to working from home with fans inspired to 'up [their] quarantine game,' and 'step it up.'

The blogger believes that the main key to success is to maintain your usual morning routine, and that includes the outfit you choose to wear for the day.

She insists that, in order to feel your most productive, you should deck yourself out in your favorite outfit and do your makeup  no pajamas allowed.

Krystin also recommends setting out daily to-do lists, creating an office space in your home, and setting up virtual coffee dates with your colleagues  something less informal than scheduled zoom meetings.

'I typically work from home two days a week so when efforts to flatten the curve meant I'd be at home the entire working week, I was semi-prepared but not quite ready,' Krystin said.

'I'm definitely not a pro at this but there are some tips I have found useful during this time.

Dressed to impress: Krystin insists that the most important thing that people can do when working from home is to put on a nice outfit, and get ready for the day as if they were going out

Get organized: She says that making a to-do list at the start of each day can help you to create a schedule, and will keep you on top of all your tasks

Blogger reveals tips for being more efficient while working from home Get dressed as though you are going into the office - ban pajamas as your daily attire

Keep your morning routine consistent, including things like makeup and hair, so that you retain a sense of normalcy

Create a dedicated workspace in your home, even if it's just a desk

Start each day by writing a to-do list

Allot yourself 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon to get up, walk around, and stretch

Host morning video meetings with your colleagues Advertisement

'Get dressed like you're going to work. I don't tend to go all out with my morning routine - a simple five-minute face of makeup is fine - but a blouse, lipstick, trousers and even shoes make me feel like I've accomplished so much more before 9am.

'Identify a space in your house or apartment where you'll be working from - this sets physical boundaries between work and play. Having my items set up and organized in a designated space creates a feeling of routine.

'I also try to carve out a fifteen-minute increment in the morning and afternoon to get up, stretch, walk around outside or even climb a flight of stairs to get myself moving.

'Every morning I set out a daily list of items I need to accomplish with their associated priority and deadline. I do the same as a team with my colleagues at Talk Shop. This helps me see what I've accomplished and what tomorrow's priorities are looking like.

'With my work team, we host ten-minute video calls every morning to say hello, get updates and set the tone for a positive and effective work day.

Mindset: 'Get dressed like you're going to work,' Krystin advises, noting that putting on a nice outfit makes her feel like she's already accomplished something before the day really begins

Be social: Krystin suggests setting up video conferences with colleagues so that you don't lose out on the more interactive aspects of working in an office

'Continue the interaction with your team or workmates by setting up virtual coffee dates to either catch up on work or chat about everyone's weekends or new routines.

'Learn to over communicate with your team on deadlines, expectations, check-in dates and more. Every morning, our team drops three priorities for the day in our communication channel. We then update each other on where we're at with our tasks by the end of the day.'

Krystin's blog content has adapted recently as she looks to play her part in raising awareness on what we can do as individuals to help during these uncertain times.

'I'm using my platform to raise awareness about small businesses or local causes and try to do some good amidst the crisis,' Krystin said.

'I'm a strong advocate of readers being fiscally aware at times like this and trying to re-wear closet staples or old items rather than consistently trying to sell new products to followers.

'I also feel like the sense of community which was once lost on Instagram feels more real than ever.'




HIROSHIMA, Japan, Apr 3, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation announced that its 100th Anniversary Special Edition series will go on sale in Japan for a limited period until the end of March 2021. Featuring special equipment commemorating the company's 100th anniversary since its foundation, the models will be available for all Mazda passenger vehicles registered and sold in Japan. Pre-orders for the special edition models start today at Mazda dealerships throughout Japan.These special edition models were prepared as a token of our appreciation for those who have supported Mazda this far, along with our determination to continue to cherish our founder's aspiration of enriching people's lives. The models adopt a white-and-burgundy two-tone color coordination, symbolic of Mazda's first passenger car R360 Coupe, created in 1960. In addition, exclusive components featuring our 100th Anniversary Special Logo, are adopted on both exterior and interior of the commemorative models. The 100th Anniversary Special Edition models will be available for all major models in the Mazda lineup to accommodate to the varied tastes and needs of customers. Furthermore, to make the special edition models available to a wider pool of customers, they will be introduced in stages to markets around the globe.* Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-3, CX-30, CX-5, CX-8, Roadster (MX-5), Roadster RFToward the next 100 years, we will continue to strengthen co-creation and cooperation with all those who work with Mazda and always remain true to our unique trait of "co-creating with others" placing people at the center of our minds, constantly challenging ourselves to create products, technologies, and experiences that our customers love.Main Features:- Floor mats (with 100th Anniversary Special Badge)- Headrests (embossed with 100th Anniversary Special Logo)- Floor carpet (burgundy)- Key fob (embossed with 100th Anniversary Special Logo and packaged in a special edition box)- Center hubcaps (featuring 100th Anniversary Special Logo)- 100th Anniversary Special Badge (on front fender)- Exterior color: Snow Flake White Pearl MicaAbout MazdaMazda Motor Corporation (TSE: 7261) started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.comSource: MazdaCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Fear is spreading on social media as people share their thoughts on the deadly coronavirus and the impact of the efforts to combat it.

Italian-based artificial intelligence company Expert System has been searching through tens of thousands of social media posts to track feelings towards COVID-19.

They used a range of natural language systems to capture the emotional view of different English language social media posts related to the pandemic.

The team plan to publish a daily update showing the changing attitudes and emotions surrounding the spread of the virus and efforts to slow it down.

For the fourth day in a row fear has been the most dominant emotion expressed in posts, with all negative views increasing across the English-language world.

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Italian-based artificial intelligence company Expert System has been searching through tens of thousands of social media posts to track feelings towards COVID-19

For the fourth day in a row fear has been the most dominant emotion expressed in posts, with all negative views increasing across the English-language world

Sadness, anxiety and dissolution are the other dominant emotions being shared on social media over the past few days, according to Expert System.

The emotion tracker found that positive emotions were declining but love and excitement were still prominent in posts related to COVID-19.

More than 65,000 social media posts were studied by the team's systems over 24 hours and they showed an increase in negative feelings from 43.7 per cent of all posts to 44 per cent.

Compared to yesterday, the percentage of neutral emotions expressed on social media is down from 32.2 per cent to 30.5 per cent.

Researchers found tweets about COVID-19 by following a number of related hashtags then anonymised the data to create their sentiment tracker.

The tags included #coronalockdown, #covid19, #coronavirusuk, #stayathome, #coronaviruspandemic, #isolationlife and #clapforourcarers.

Neutral emotions include feelings of success, desire, price and courage.

The team found that over the past 24 hours positive emotions expressed on social media posts have decreased to 25.5 per cent from 27.8 per cent.

'There are many reasons why fear is growing,' the team wrote in their daily update.

The specific posts used by the researchers to see how many posts express fear, joy or other emotions are made anonymous - but these all come from the hashtags they searched

'The most important of which is fear of the growing number of new cases, and therefore the fear of more lives in danger.

'The second reason concerns the ability of the healthcare system to respond.'

They found there was also fear caused by the belief that government is not a credible source of news and information.

'In the UK, there is fear that there is no plan to combat the virus and that, instead, we are moving in the dark.'

The team plan to release a daily update 'reflecting the changing attitudes and emotions of the English speaking world and hte reasons driving changes.'
The captain of a nuclear aircraft carrier who pleaded with Navy officials for more resources to remove most of his nearly 5,000 crew members from the coronavirus-infected warship, warning sailors could die, was relieved of his command Thursday.

Capt. Brett Crozier, commander of the Theodore Roosevelt, sent a letter to Navy leaders this week pleading for immediate help for his crew as the coronavirus spread through the warship. Navy leaders, however, said he showed extremely poor judgment in copying the letter to more than 20 people, saying that allowed it to become public and undermine national security.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said at a Pentagon news conference that Crozier had been relieved at my direction. He said the captain hadnt let his superiors know the seriousness of the situation aboard his ship before The Chronicle revealed the contents of a letter he wrote to Navy brass, and that he hadnt taken steps to ensure the plea would not be leaked.

Crozier was dismissed a day after top Navy officials had said he would not face retaliation for the letter asking for measures to help the crew of the aircraft carrier, which is in port in Guam.

The fact that he wrote the letter ... to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any type of retaliation, Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, said Wednesday. This is what we want our commanding officers to be able to do.

The plea from Crozier, a Santa Rosa native, was made in a letter, obtained exclusively by The Chronicle, which reported about it Tuesday. Crozier, 50, asked Navy officials for resources to allow isolation of his entire crew and avoid possible deaths in a situation he described as quickly deteriorating.

This will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do, Crozier wrote in the letter Monday. 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.

On Thursday, Modly said Crozier had let his emotions color his judgment and that he had jeopardized naval operations. He said Crozier had been in touch with top military officers before writing the letter and had asked only for quicker evacuation of the carriers sailors.

At no time did (Crozier) relay the various levels of alarm that I, along with the rest of the world, learned from his letter when it was published two days later by the COs hometown newspaper, Modly said.

He said he did not know if Crozier had leaked the letter, but that the captain had copied the email to 20 to 30 people. He said that increased the chances it would be publicized outside the Navys chain of command, which showed extremely poor judgment in times of crisis.

Command is a sacred trust, which must be continually earned, Modly said, adding that he had spoken with Crozier before deciding to relieve him. As I learned more about the events of the past week aboard the Teddy Roosevelt ... I could reach no other conclusion than Capt. Crozier had allowed the complexity of his challenge with the COVID breakout on his ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally, when acting professionally is what we needed most at the time.

Just a day before his dismissal, Crozier wrote a letter to Roosevelt sailors and their families, also obtained exclusively by The Chronicle, in which he said he fought to get all our Sailors into an environment more aligned with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, and that is more conducive to our teams wellness, enabling us all to get back to sea.

He described how each sailor would get an individual room in Guam where they will be fed, have wifi access, laundry service, mail instructions and most importantly their own space.

Upon completion of this process, we will return to sea and be ready to execute whatever orders come our way; healthy and on a clean ship, Crozier wrote.

Of nearly 1,300 sailors aboard the Theodore Roosevelt who have been screened for the disease, 116 tested positive, Navy officials said Thursday. But about half the tests have not been returned. About 1,000 sailors, or 20%, have been removed from the ship, Navy officials said.

In the next 24 hours, they said, they hope to take a total of 2,700 crew members off the vessel. The first sailors were moved to a oceanfront hotel in the tourist section of Guam on Wednesday.

Retired Adm. James Stavridis, former NATO supreme allied commander in Europe, told The Chronicle this week in an email that we should expect more such incidents because warships are a perfect breeding ground for coronavirus. ... It is impossible to do social distancing on ships where sailors live in tight quarters.

President Trump was asked at a White House briefing Thursday whether it appeared that Crozier was being punished for trying to save the lives of his crew.

No, I dont think so at all, the president replied. I dont agree with that at all. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

One Roosevelt sailor told The Chronicle that dismissing Crozier was the exact wrong thing to do.

Taking care of your people is the first rule of leadership. Firing him betrays that, said the sailor, who is not being identified under The Chronicles anonymous sources policy because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He said sailors on the ship did not know Crozier had been relieved before the Pentagon announced it.

Were rudderless, the sailor said.

Elizabeth Paz of Tulsa, Okla., whose 19-year-old daughter serves on the carrier, said she couldnt believe the news.

My heart just sank when I read that, Paz told The Chronicle. Thats just not right. He did what he thought was best for his crew. ... Then he did everything he could to get the help he needed. And it worked.

I thought he would be thought of as a hero after this is all over. Well, he is a hero to me either way. But its completely wrong for them to relieve him of his duty.

Leading Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee blasted Navy leaders for an overreaction in dismissing Crozier, although they conceded that he did not handle the matter appropriately.

While Captain Crozier clearly went outside the chain of command, his dismissal at this critical moment  as the sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt are confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic  is a destabilizing move that will likely put our service members at greater risk and jeopardize our fleets readiness, said a statement signed by committee chair Adam Smith, D-Wash., Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove (Sacramento County), Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, and others.

Captain Crozier was justifiably concerned about the health and safety of his crew, but he did not handle the immense pressure appropriately, the House Democrats said. However, relieving him of his command, when his crew needs leadership the most, seems like an overreaction.

Lawrence Korb, a former assistant secretary of defense under President Ronald Reagan, said Crozier was a real hero who had put his sailors health above career concerns.

He was trying to get the attention of his chain of command and they werent doing anything, said Korb, a retired Navy captain who is now a senior fellow at the left-leaning Center for American Progress think tank. Your main obligation is to take care of the women and men youre in charge of.

Joe Garofoli, Matthias Gafni and Tal Kopan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com, matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com, tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli, @mgafni, @TalKopan
Donald Trump has announced that Americans will soon be encouraged to wear makeshift face masks in public to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The decision comes after top health officials reconsidered current guidelines on public safety advice. Americans were previously told that face coverings or masks were unnecessary for healthy individuals.

At a White House coronavirus briefing on Thursday, the president told reporters that a recommendation is coming out, but I dont think it will be mandatory. If people want to wear them, they can.

The president added that Americans could decide for themselves whether or not to adorn face coverings in public.

Mike Pence, the vice president, confirmed that new guidelines would be released in the coming days whilst the White House coronavirus task force weighed-up recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity later told The Washington Post that the recommendations under consideration were narrowly targeted towards those areas of high community transmission.

That could include parts of California, New Orleans and New York, where the coronavirus death toll has doubled in 72 hours to more than 1,900.

According to The Washington Post report, the CDC had told White House officials that there was new evidence to suggest that wearing cloth masks could be an effective additional measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus between people.

At the same time, CDC Director Robert Redfield told NPR on Thursday that face coverings were being critically re-reviewed, to see if theres potential additional value for individuals that are infected or individuals that may be asymptomatically infected.

The White Houses response coordinator, Dr Deborah Birx, cautioned that the public should not stop adhering to federal guidelines on social distancing because of the new recommendations.

She said on Thursday: "Don't get a false sense of security that that mask is protecting you exclusively from getting infected."

Officials are also believed to be considering the exact wording for the measures, to prevent Americans rushing to purchase medical masks that are in short supply.

President Trump described cloth material to be preferential, saying: "In many ways, a scarf is better. It's thicker."

He first suggested on Monday that the issue was something the White House could certainly look into.
(CNN) -- More than a million cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide while authorities in the United States continue issuing strict measures to slow down the spread of the virus.

As of Thursday afternoon, at least 1,002,159 people have been infected globally and 51,485 people have died from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University statistics. The total includes confirmed cases from 180 countries and regions.

Earlier Thursday, the top US infectious disease expert said the country can still defy alarming projections of coronavirus deaths with aggressive measures -- even as scientists warn the White House that simply exhaling may be enough to spread the virus.

Models had showed that the US death toll could be at least 100,000 with aggressive social distancing, White House experts said earlier, and as high as 2.2 million without them.

But, "it's within our power to modify those numbers," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told "CBS This Morning" on Thursday.

"If you really push hard on mitigation ... you can modify the model," Fauci said. "We need to push and push with the mitigation to try and get that number lower than the projected number."

As of Thursday, more than 226,300 people in the US have been infected and at least 5,316 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University statistics. More than 920 of those deaths were reported Wednesday -- the highest number reported in the country since the beginning of the outbreak.

Fauci's comments come after a prestigious scientific panel told the White House on Wednesday night that coronavirus can be spread not just by sneezes and coughs, but also by talking or maybe even just breathing.

"While the current (coronavirus) specific research is limited, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing," according to a letter written by Dr. Harvey Fineberg, chairman of a committee with the National Academy of Sciences.

With the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating 25% of coronavirus carriers have no symptoms, health officials such as Fauci have said they're considering whether to recommend the general public wear non-hospital-grade masks to prevent the virus's spread.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday recommended that people there wear non-medical-grade masks, or face coverings such as bandanas, when they're in public.

"Please do not get medical-grade or surgical masks, or N95 masks. We must not contribute to the shortage of these essential personal protective equipment for medial personnel and first responders," he said.

Recent developments

 About 6.6 million US workers filed for their first week of unemployment benefits last week, data released Thursday shows. That's double the record set a week earlier: 3.3 million.

 Louisiana's coronavirus cases jumped by more than 2,700 in 24 hours, bringing its total to more than 9,000, the state health department said Thursday.

 The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized a coronavirus test that looks for antibodies in the blood. The FDA says it is reasonable that it "may be effective in diagnosing Covid-19." The CDC also has said it is trying to develop a similar antibody test to identify people who had been previously infected but showed little or no symptoms.

 More than 2,000 ventilators in the federal stockpile are unavailable for deployment because they weren't maintained while in storage, according to The New York Times.

 More than 110 sailors from USS Theodore Roosevelt, now at port in Guam, have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a US defense official. Some of the sailors from the Roosevelt will be quarantined in hotel rooms in Guam.

New York doctor says she feels like 'a sheep going to slaughter'

Doctors and nurses across the country have spoken out about the difficulty of helping an increasing number of Covid-19 patients with dwindling amounts of protective equipment, ventilators and beds.

In hard-hit New York, nurses and other medical personnel at the Bronx's Montefiore Medical Center Moses Division told reporters they desperately needed N95 masks and other protective equipment.

A third-year resident there said she goes to work feeling "like a sheep going to slaughter."

"My colleagues and I are writing our last will and testament. I'm 28 years old," Dr. Laura Ucik said.

"We fear that we may not survive this pandemic and yet we show up every day," she said. "We're running out of (personal protective equipment), we're running out of pain medicine, we're running out of sedatives, we're running out of oxygen masks."

On Thursday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo estimated that his state had "about six days" before its stockpile of ventilators, which he is sending to hospitals in need, runs out.

A day earlier, he cited a model that showed as many as 16,000 New Yorkers could die from the virus.

New York, now the epicenter of the outbreak, has reported more than 92,000 cases and 2,317 deaths. More than 51,000 of those infections have been in New York City, Cuomo said Thursday.

About 21,000 out-of-state medical professionals have volunteered to come into New York, Cuomo said Thursday.

"I thank them, I thank their patriotism, I thank their dedication and passion to their mission of public health," he said.

This week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency sent hundreds of ambulances, EMTs and paramedics to New York City to help assist first responders.

Emergency medical services received a record number of emergencies each day, with a 50% increase over normal daily call volume, the New York City Fire Department said in a news release.

On Tuesday alone, FDNY EMS responded to 6,010 medical calls, Jim Long, a spokesperson for the department, told CNN.

'What are you waiting for?' California governor says to states without stay-at-home orders

Nearly 92% of the US population lives in jurisdictions with general "stay-at-home" or "shelter-in-place" orders. Most governors issued them statewide, and many counties and cities have issued orders where statewide orders aren't in place.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who in March became the first governor to issue a statewide order, argued that every state needed one.

"What are you waiting for? What more evidence do you need?" he said Wednesday "If you think it's not going to happen to you, there are proof points all over the United States, all over the world."

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would not issue a national stay-at-home order because different states have different infection rates.

"You have to look -- you have to give a little flexibility. If you have a state in the Midwest, or if Alaska for example doesn't have a problem, it's awfully tough to say close it down. We have to have a little bit of flexibility," he said.

Early data: Malaria drug could shorten recovery time

Some new data from researchers in Wuhan, China, suggests that the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine could significantly shorten the time it takes for Covid-19 patients to recover from illness.

In this early research, posted to the online health sciences server medRxiv on Tuesday, the researchers wrote that "the body temperature recovery time and the cough remission time were significantly shortened" among patients treated with hydroxychloroquine compared with a control group not treated with the drug.

The research has limitations, including that it was conducted in a very small group of patients with mild illness and has not been published yet in a peer-reviewed journal.

The FDA has yet to approve a treatment for Covid-19. However, this week it granted emergency authorization for doctors to use hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat hospitalized patients for a limited set of cases,and clinical trials are pending.

The Chinese study is promising, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the chief of the infectious disease department at Massachusetts General Hospital, told CNN Thursday.

But, she cautioned, "we're not sure this can be generalized to all patients," she said.

"They gave it to people who didn't have (other chronic conditions), like cardiovascular comorbidity and liver disease and renal disease," Walensky said.

The research at Wuhan's Renmin Hospital focused on 62 patients -- 31 who received hydroxychloroquine for five days, and 31 in a control group who received standard care. More than 80% of the patient receiving hydroxychloroquine had improved pneumonia, compared to 54.8% of the control group.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to give the correct estimate for how many Americans live in states where they've been ordered to stay at home.
Putting the clocks forward normally signals the start of the high tourist season on the Costa del Sol. However, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, Malaga Airport was almost completely deserted on Monday, with just six flights coming in and four going out - all of which were specially-chartered flights returning Spanish nationals home or repatriating the last foreigners still in the area on their holidays.

This was in stark contrast to the same time last year when Malaga Airport had fifty airlines connecting 133 destinations on 235 routes, 22 of which were new.

As for when we can see a return to normality, there is no news yet - only concern for the industry in both the short and long term. Ryanair, the largest airline by passenger numbers in Malaga, has suspended flights until June, while the new routes recently announced to Doha, Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv could also be in jeopardy.

The Andalusian regional vice president and regional minister for Tourism, Juan Marin, this week presented a new forecast report. This worst-case scenario, it said, would see the loss from tourism come in at 13.3 billion euros (compared to six billion mentioned in the first study released). It also points to the loss of 137,000 jobs in the industry that is the driving force of the local economy.

"The most negative scenario proposes a recovery of both the national and international market at the same rate as after the SARS episode in 2003. Using this model, we would see 14 million tourists arriving in 2020 - 18.4 million less than in 2019, down almost 60 per cent," said Marin.

Promotional campaigns

Marin's message to the industry, however, is that the sector will recover, and that it is important to be ready when it does.

To that end, the Junta launched a new promotional video with the message: "Andalucia wants you to stay at home [...] but we'll share our happiness and passion with the whole world again soon."

Similarly, Turismo Costa del Sol is looking at new strategies to attract visitors once travel restrictions are lifted. These include advertising campaigns within Spain, specifically elsewhere in Andalucia, but also in Extremadura and Castilla la Mancha because of their high-speed train connections.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 2

By Samir Ali  Trend:

Azerbaijan has confirmed 41 new coronavirus cases, said spokesperson for Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers Ibrahim Mammadov, Trend reports.

Mammadov said that the condition of 8 people out of those 41 persons is serious, the condition of 11 people is assessed as moderate, and the condition of the rest is stable.

He added that these numbers may change during the day.
A sign that states "must be over 21" hangs in the store window of a vape shop in New York City on Dec. 19, 2019. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

People Who Smoke and Use Drugs During COVID-19 Pandemic Face Unique Risks: NIDA

The serious health risks of COVID-19 pose unique challenges to people who smoke or are struggling with substance use disorders (SUD), according to Dr. Nora Volkow, director of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is causing untold challenges to health care and wider social structures, Volkow wrote in an article in the Annals of Internal Medicine, noting that especially vulnerable are people who smoke or vape, use opioids, or have a history of drug abuse.

The risk from COVID-19 is elevated for people with underlying health conditions, including respiratory diseases, which are often associated with lung damage due to smoking.

Data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested that COVID-19 has a case fatality rate of 6.3 percent for individuals with chronic respiratory disease, compared with 2.3 percent overall, Volkow wrote.

She said people who vape nicotine or tetrahydrocannabinol, the active substance in marijuana, may also be at higher risk of complications from COVID-19.

Preclinical studies show that e-cigarette aerosols can damage lung tissue, cause inflammation, and diminish the lungs ability to respond to infection, she noted.

People who have a history of abusing opioids, methamphetamine, or other psychostimulants are also at risk due to compromised lung function, she said.

At least 2 million persons in the United States have OUD [opioid use disorder], and more than 10 million misuse opioids, Volkow wrote, adding, these individuals may be at increased risk for the most adverse consequences of COVID-19.

She also noted that because of challenges to delivering care to people with substance use disorders, they may find it harder to get health care when they develop the new respiratory disease.

Social distancing measures, while important for reducing COVID-19 transmission, pose additional challenges to people struggling to recover from addiction.

Social distancing will increase the likelihood of opioid overdoses happening when there are no observers who can administer naloxone to reverse them and thus when they are more likely to result in fatalities, Volkow wrote.

Social isolation is also a risk factor for relapse into addiction.

Persons who are isolated and stressedas much of the population is during a pandemicfrequently turn to substances to alleviate their negative feelings. Those in recovery will face stresses and heightened urges to use substances and will be at greatly increased risk for relapse, she wrote.

Volkow also argued emergency department physicians with increased caseloads amid the COVID-19 outbreak may also be less likely to initiate certain types of therapy for patients with OUD, or deprioritize care for them entirely.

When hospitals are pushed to their capacity, there is added danger of persons with SUD being deprioritized for care if they present with COVID-19 symptoms, Volkow noted.

While noting that much remains unknown about COVID-19, people who smoke, vape, or use certain drugs will be at increased risk for infection and its more severe consequences, she concluded.

She urged policymakers to consider new ways of meeting treatment and recovery needs of this population, including through measures ranging from enhancing virtual resources to minimizing office visits.

Under no circumstances can we forget or marginalize persons with SUD during this new public health crisis, she said.
Childcare programs run a slim margin that has state officials worried about these businesses surviving the governors stay-home orders.

The new coronavirus is the first hurdle. The second obstacle will be reopening when parents can leave the house and return to work.

Its a fragile model, Commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Beth Bye said. We need them open when this is over, even if theyre closed now.

Across the state, some childcare centers and programs were ordered closed in mid-March to encourage social distancing to flatten the curve of the spread of COVID-19. Others may have to close their doors because they cannot afford to stay open.

To keep childcare centers afloat and to provide childcare to essential workers, Gov. Ned Lamont has signed a number of executive orders. Most recently, he signed an order Thursday night that gives Bye the authority to compensate emergency childcare centers and programs and to stabilize the childcare field to support providers during the emergency, and after.

The state is receiving $23 million in federal funding for childcare, which will keep the supply that we have, so that it doesnt drop more, and will help support the essential workers who need childcare, she said.

The block grant will go toward various programs she is implementing as the emergency continues, such as a program, starting next week, that will maintain the childcare supply for essential workers.

Bye expects other needs will come as the emergency continues.

We know we have other needs that are coming that we plan to support, Bye said.

The office has also received $3 million from the Greenwich-based Dalio Foundation to open up 26 childcare sites at hospitals in Connecticut. About 21 sites are secured and will provide childcare for healthcare workers who cannot find it.

The totality of how the childcare block grant will be spent is still unclear for Merrill Gay, executive director at the CT Early Childhood Alliance.

Those who will be hurt the most, Gay said, are the myriad small-business childcare providers run by people of color that are not incorporated into school readiness programs, and are therefore cut-off from subsidy funding. Such programs typically accept kids who receive their tuition money through Care4Kids. This means they may not have access to long lines of credit, since Care4Kids fell behind on payments last year, he said.

We are very concerned about issues of equity, Gay said. (We want to make) sure that we dont worsen problems of inequity.

These programs are valuable, he said, because they serve poor kids, they provide care that is close to home and they operate outside regular working hours to accommodate parents with different schedules.

If its first come, first serve, the strongest survive. We may lose some of those programs, and so I think there needs to be an intentional effort to make sure those programs survive this, he said.

The state has also authorized the flow of money that had already been allotted to state-funded childcare centers and programs through June 30, whether these facilities are open or closed, Bye said.

The state is also rolling out a program soon that sends a total of $5 million in funding to programs that stay open during the pandemic, she said. This program could be paid for through the $23 million in federal funds.

Currently, about 80 percent of small-business programs are still open, as only a handful of children attend. About 75 percent of larger centers, however, are closed.

Centers that remain open are able to have smaller class sizes, which helps mitigate virus exposure, because they have less children attending. Guidance from the Office of Early Childhood has recommended parents keep their kids home or find a trusted adult to leave them with if they count as essential workers.

These requirements are costly, Bye said. Businesses  and the teachers employed by them  that provide childcare in a national emergency to less students should be paid appropriately, she said.

Right now, Gay said, small, family daycare providers that are still open are having to weigh filing for unemployment or partial unemployment, or staying open.

Although the program protecting small-business home daycares  the paycheck protection program  theoretically went live Friday, Gay said, many banks, from TD Bank to Wells Fargo, were not yet accepting applications.

There is a lot of building the plane as we fly it, he said.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
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SEATTLE - Amazon's top legal executive suggested the company's senior leaders fend of workplace safety criticism by trying to turn the focus on an activist warehouse worker it had fired just days earlier, according to leaked notes from a meeting with top executives.

The company fired Chris Smalls, a New York warehouse worker, on Monday after he complained to several media outlets including The Washington Post that Amazon hadn't done enough to protect its workforce during the coronavirus pandemic. In an email recounting a meeting with senior executives including chief executive Jeff Bezos, executives discussed a strategy to shift the focus to Smalls.

"He's not smart, or articulate, and to the extent the press wants to focus on us versus him, we will be in a much stronger PR position than simply explaining for the umpteenth time how we're trying to protect workers," Amazon General Counsel David Zapolsky wrote in an email first obtained by the news site Vice. The Washington Post, which Bezos owns, confirmed the authenticity of the email.

When Amazon fired Smalls, it said it did so after he ignored a request from his manager to stay home because of his contact with a worker who tested positive for covid-19, the virus caused by the novel coronavirus. Smalls called the firing "retaliation" for speaking out against the company.

In a statement, Zapolsky called his comments in the leaked email "personal and emotional."

"I was frustrated and upset that an Amazon employee would endanger the health and safety of other Amazonians by repeatedly returning to the premises after having been warned to quarantine himself after exposure to virus covid-19," Zapolsky said. "I let my emotions draft my words and get the better of me."

Smalls criticized Amazon's efforts to turn the focus away from employee safety.

"Instead of protecting workers and the communities in which they work, however, Amazon seems to be more interested in managing its image," Smalls said in an email statement. "But while they may have fired me, they can't stop all of us from fighting for the protections we need."

At least two executives on Amazon's most senior leadership team in the daily meeting, executed on Zapolsky's strategy Tuesday and Wednesday. Amazon Senior Vice President of Operations Dave Clark and Senior Vice President of Global Corporate affairs Jay Carney mocked a tweet from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who called Smalls' firing "disgraceful." Clark and Carney put the focus on Smalls, saying he "purposely violated social distancing rules."

Sanders, a frequent critic of the company's treatment of its workers, wasn't alone among politicians criticizing Amazon's firing of Smalls. A few hours after Amazon terminated Smalls, New York Attorney General Letitia James called the move "disgraceful," asked the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the incident and said she is "considering all legal options."

Amazon continues to wrestle with the havoc the coronavirus has wreaked on its operations. Employees in at least 28 of the company's warehouse and shipping facilities across the United States have tested positive for covid-19, according to Amazon, its warehouse workers and local media reports.

Even so, Amazon said it's already hired for 80,000 of the 100,000 new jobs it announced a little more than two weeks ago. The company is racing to hire employees, who will work in Amazon's warehouses and deliver its packages, to unclog the crush of orders the company has received from customers leery of leaving their homes to shop.

As the coronavirus outbreak spread, some workers complained that Amazon pushes them to meet the per-hour rate at which it wants orders fulfilled, a practice that they worry discourages safe sanitary practices such as washing hands after a cough or sneeze. Employees have also sounded alarms about "stand-up" meetings, in which workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the start of each shift.

The company says it adopted new policies for its warehouses, including nixing stand-up meetings. It's also staggered start and break times to aid social distancing. And on Sunday, the company began checking the temperatures of more than 100,000 employees day at some of its U.S. facilities, sending workers home if they registered a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
with reporting from Digital desk staff

Update:

The government's confirmed some elderly people are having their home help hours cut so carers can focus on more vulnerable patients.

The workers will be re-deployed to residential facilities to meet the growing need for staff.

Senior government official Liz Canavan says it'll only be people in certain circumstances who lose their home help.

She said: "Following public health advice and Government decisions around social distancing and cocooning, some home help hours have been stood down,

"This is only for people who are relatively well, and might have had a lower level of service, or have good family supports in place."

Meanwhile, all visits to Oberstown Children Detention Campus have temporarily ceased except in exceptional circumstances.

The Government said they have introduced measures to support contact between young people and their families through the use of technology.

Almost 90% of Irish coronavirus-related deaths among those aged 65 or above

Almost 90% of those dying with coronavirus are aged 65 and above, official data in Ireland shows.

Two deaths have been recorded amongst patients aged between 25 and 34.

Out of 3,282 laboratory-confirmed cases, 91 have died, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre said.

A total of 160 clusters of infection have been identified. Dublin has recorded more than half the total of cases.

Community transmission was responsible for a quarter of instances.

Meanwhile, a surge in cases of Covid-19 is expected to happen quickly and strongly over the next two weeks, an emergency medicine doctor said.

Dr Emily OConnor, president of the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine, said evidence in the UK suggested many people will get seriously ill, quickly, and at the same time and that may be when hospitals struggle.

She told RTEs Morning Ireland that 5% were expected to need critical support.

The fear is that if too many patients need critical care at the same time hospitals may run out of space and staff to treat them.

By the end of March the numbers on the register of the unemployed had risen to more than 500,000, with further job losses possible, Irelands Central Bank said.

It said on the basis of the initial impacts that have been observed and also, primarily, the assumption that containment measures and restrictions remain in place for a three-month period before being rolled back, GDP could decline by 8.3% this year.

The unemployment rate could rise to around 25% in the second quarter.

The Central Bank has warned that the crisis is likely to make a 22 billion euro hole in the countrys finances.

The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet on Friday to review the latest information about the spread of the virus.

Paul Reid, chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE), confirmed an order for personal protective equipment worth more than 200m had been placed and that deliveries from China had started in recent days.

Concerns have been expressed about the first batch which has been arriving on Aer Lingus flights since Sunday.

Mr Reid said: We are, however, engaged worldwide to secure alternative stocks should these supplies not materialise to the extent that we expect.

It is a very competitive worldwide market but our procurement teams have done really well to secure what we have to date.
MAPLEWOOD (dpa-AFX) - 3M (MMM) said, on Thursday, the Administration formally invoked the Defense Production Act to require the company to prioritize orders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for N95 respirators. The company said it looks forward to working closely with the Administration to implement the DPA order. The Administration also requested that 3M cease exporting respirators to the Canadian and Latin American markets. The company noted that there are significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to healthcare workers in Canada and Latin America. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Garegin Babakekhyan, the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Defense Army serviceman who was fatally wounded, was from Abovyan town of Armenias Kotayk Province, and the eldest child of his family. Abovyan mayor Vahagn Gevorgyan informed about this in a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him, Garegin was drafted into the army a year ago. "They were 3 children in the family; he was the eldest," he added. They are a young family; the couple works.

As reported earlier, on Friday, at about 12:35am, Artsakh Republic Defense Army serviceman Garegin Babakekhyan (born in 2000) sustained a fatal gunshot wound at a military unit, and under yet unknown circumstances. An investigation is underway to find out the details of the incident.
A juvenile boy has been arrested in the Friday morning shooting death of his mother.

Cherokee County sheriffs deputies responded to the familys home on County Road 19 just after 11 a.m., said Sheriff Jeff Shaver. They had received a 911 call that someone had been shot.

Deputies arrived to find the victim dead from a gunshot wound. Her name and age have not been released.

The victims son was taken into custody Friday afternoon. He was transported to juvenile detention. No additional details were made available.
Kolkata, April 3 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday described as a "personal matter" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to citizens to light a candle or diya on April 5 to show solidarity with the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and said she would sleep if she felt like it.

Hitting back at Banerjee, Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said the situation is indicative of the chief minister being asleep, and she may continue in that state at 9 p.m. on April 5 when the entire country would be awake.

Earlier, responding to a query on the issue, Banerjee asked media persons not to ignite a political battle amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

"He has told you... You do it. Why are you asking me? I will say what I have to, the Prime Minister will say what he has to.

"Why should I interfere in other people's matters? Should I tackle coronavirus, or you want a political war to break out? Please don't ignite a political battle. If you feel what the Prime Minister has said is good, you abide by that. If I feel, I will sleep, I will do that. It is a personal matter," Banerjee said.

In a morning video message to the nation, Modi urged citizens to light a candle or a diya on April 5 at 9 p.m. for nine minutes to dispel the darkness and gloom brought by the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus.

"This Sunday, April 5, we have to challenge the Covid-19 pandemic, we have to introduce it to the power of light.

"We have to take the Mahasankalp (strong determination) of 130 crore citizens to new heights. I ask for your nine minutes at 9 p.m. on April 5," Modi said.

He then asked the citizens to switch off the lights at their homes, reach out from their windows, gates or balconies and light a candle or diya for nine minutes. Even torches and mobile phone flash lights would do, he said.

Ghosh pointed out that the Trinamool leaders had also criticised the Prime Minister when he asked people to clap on March 22 in solidarity with all those in the frontline of the fight against the disease, but the country did not pay heed to their objections.

"The situation in the country is indicative to all that the chief minister is sleeping. She can continue to sleep more at 9 pm on Sunday. But the whole country will be awake," he said.
More than one in 10 workers may be without a job at the peak of the economic contraction due to the coronavirus pandemic, which 15 top economists on average predict will push the budget to a record $140 billion deficit next financial year.

The most pessimistic forecast was for the deficit to blow out to $300 billion in 2020-21 and 20 per cent unemployment.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have introduced major stimulus packages to help limit the economic impacts of coronavirus. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age surveyed the economists for a special edition of the biannual Scope survey focused on how the virus and measures to slow the spread will affect jobs, economic growth and government spending.

The panel on average expects the budget to fall into deficit by $87 billion in 2019-20 and $140 billion the following year.
The United Airlines has said that it is working with government officials in the US and abroad to help stranded people get home in the wake of COVID-19 crisis.

"We are working with government officials in the US and abroad to help people get home. When and where possible, we are working to repatriate travellers who are stranded abroad in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis," the airline said in a statement.

"We are working closely with government officials here in the US as well as in other countries where flying has been restricted to gain the necessary approvals to operate service," it added.

The airline said that in regions where government actions have barred international flying, it has coordinated with the US State Department and local government officials to re-instate some flights and have been operating several extra flights to countries in Central America and South America.

United Airlines stated that it will have operated 56 repatriation flights bringing nearly 8,000 passengers home from places like Guatemala City, Lima, Quito, Roatan, San Salvador, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa by the end of today's operation.

"We will continue working with government officials in the near-term to play our part in bringing Americans home. Beginning April 5, United will begin operating repatriation flights from Delhi to San Francisco," read the statement.

Several countries have imposed travel restrictions in order to contain novel coronavirus which has claimed lives of over 50,000 worldwide.

The US is the new epicentre with over 245,000 confirmed cases of the virus, which is the highest in the world. As of Friday morning, more than 6,000 Americans died from COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Every year, young people in the global scouting movement gather for days of action. and adventure. They also find time to learn about refugees as part of a partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they took their meeting online, where they discussed ways scouts can continue to help refugees and other vulnerable people during the crisis.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scouts Movement, on Friday took part in a dialogue with two young scout leaders screened live on Facebook and YouTube.

It was styled like a TV chat show and scouts, parents and young people in different parts of the world tuned in.

The incredible thing about the scouting movement is the sense of being a part of something bigger, the camaraderie of a global movement for good and the opportunities for real change that this provides, said Grandi. That sense of solidarity is as important today in battling the COVID-19 pandemic as it is in ensuring that those forced to flee their homes by war and conflict are not forgotten. In partnership, UNHCR and the scouts can make a tangible difference to refugee lives around the globe, he said.

Grandi and Alhendawi signed a fresh Memorandum of Understanding, building on a relationship between the two organizations that dates back to 1995. National scout organizations under the memorandum have included refugees in cities and urban areas. For example, in Dadaab camp in north-eastern Kenya there are more than 1,500 scouts.

"UNHCR and the scouts can make a tangible difference to refugee lives."

More than 80 per cent of the worlds refugees live in low- and middle-income countries with weaker health systems. Many live in densely populated camps, or in urban areas. While the number of COVID-19 cases reported among refugees remains low, prevention remains of paramount importance, Grandi said.

Even though many young people will be concerned about the pandemic, he stressed there were still opportunities for scouts to be involved, while maintaining social distancing.

If they are involved with distributing care packages to the neediest members of their local community, scouts could ask their scout leaders to look out for refugees, he said.

At the same time, scouts can talk about refugee issues in their conversations online and by phone with their friends and family.

We are all connected, no matter where we live, no matter who we are.

Be the voice ... for young refugees, he said, adding that more than half of the worlds over 70 million refugees and displaced people are under 18 years old. That message was echoed by Alhendawi in a rallying call to the scout movement.

Scouts can also support UNHCRs response plan for coronavirus and advocate for refugees to be included in national response plans, because everyone counts, Grandi said.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates clearly that we are all connected, no matter where we live, no matter who we are, he said.

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New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday (April 3) directed that a plan should be chalked out to open the lockdown in a phased manner if it opens from April 15, according to reports coming in. Yogi Adityanath is understood to have told top officials of the state to prepare a plan in this regard.

The Chief Minister, however, invoked National Security Act (NSA) against six persons from the Tablighi Jamaat, who were in quarantine at MMG District Hospital, for misbehaving with the hospital staff and termed them "enemies of humanity".

"They (accused) will not obey the law. Neither they will accept the system as they are the enemies of humanity. What they have done to women health workers is a heinous crime, they are being slapped with the NSA. We will not spare them," said Aditynath in a statement.

He further directed that no women health worker and female police officer will be deployed in service of quarantined Tablighi Jamaat members. The UP government in a statement said, "Women health workers and women police personnel will not be deployed to treat and provide security to Tablighi Jamaat attendees placed under quarantine."

This comes a day after an FIR was registered against six persons from Tablighi Jamaat, who are quarantine at MMG District Hospital, for "walking around the ward without their trousers on and making lewd gestures towards the nurses".

On Thursday, an FIR was registered against six persons from Tablighi Jamat who are in quarantine at MMG District Hospital for "walking around the ward without their trousers on and making lewd gestures towards the nurses". The patients have now been shifted to Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology and kept under quarantine.

Meanwhile, no positive COVID-19 case has been reported in Gautam Buddh Nagar in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the district is 48 till now, of which 6 have been cured and discharged, said Suhas LY, District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar today.

The state goverment has now started a massive sanitization drive began in major cities of Uttar Pradesh. Rajkumar Vishwakarma, DG, fire services, told media that sanitization was being done with sodium hypochlorite and fire personnel had been instructed to take care and not to spray the disinfectant on human beings and animals.

Fire personnel have been asked to take photographs and post it on WhatsApp media groups. They have been asked to avoid calling the media personnel to the sanitization sites to avoid risks.

Earlier this week, about 50 migrant workers who were at a bus station in Bareilly, were sprayed with sodium hypochlorite by the sanitization staff. Those who were sprayed, including children, complained of itching in the eyes and rashes on the body.

(With Agency Inputs)
The Seanad elections will be completed today with final counting underway.

Fianna Fail's Mark Daly was the first across the line on the administrative panel of the Seanad this morning.

So far the elections have seen a number of high profile candidates miss out - with ex-TDs like Timmy Dooley and Declan Breathnach and outgoing Senators like Catherine Noone failing to get elected.

Today could see more casualties with Fianna Fail Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee and former Fine Gael TD Noel Rock looking likely to miss out.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party have eyes turned towards another election - with a new leader to be appointed tonight.

Tipperary TD Alan Kelly is the favourite, with Dublin based Aodhan O'Riordain hoping to cause an upset.

Elsewhere government formation talks continue.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are closing in on a document spelling out how a government between them would work.

But they still need a other participants - with Leo Varadkar saying it is essential a third party joins the coalition to ensure stability he feels cannot be brought by independents alone.
Scientists have long been able to measure and analyze the fossil skulls of our ancient ancestors to estimate brain volume and growth. The question of how these ancient brains compare to modern human brains and the brains of our closest primate cousin, the chimpanzee, continues to be a major target of investigation.

A new study published in Science Advances used CT-scanning technology to view three-million-year old brain imprints inside fossil skulls of the species Australopithecus afarensis (famous for "Lucy" and "Selam" from Ethiopia's Afar region) to shed new light on the evolution of brain organization and growth. The research reveals that while Lucy's species had an ape-like brain structure, the brain took longer to reach adult size, suggesting that infants may have had a longer dependence on caregivers, a human-like trait.

The CT-scanning enabled the researchers to get at two long-standing questions that could not be answered by visual observation and measurement alone: Is there evidence for human-like brain reorganization in Australopithecus afarensis, and was the pattern of brain growth in this species more similar to that of chimpanzees or that of humans?

To study brain growth and organization in A. afarensis, the researchers, including ASU paleoanthropologist William Kimbel, scanned eight fossil crania from the Ethiopian sites of Dikika and Hadar using high-resolution conventional and synchrotron-computed tomography. Kimbel, leader of the field work at Hadar, is director of the Institute of Human Origins and Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change.

Lucy's species inhabited eastern Africa more than three million years ago--"Lucy" herself is estimated to be 3.2 million years old--and occupies a key position in the hominin family tree, as it is widely accepted to be ancestral to all later hominins, including the lineage leading to modern humans.

"Lucy and her kin provide important evidence about early hominin behavior--they walked upright, had brains that were around 20 percent larger than those of chimpanzees, and may have used sharp stone tools," explains coauthor Zeresenay Alemseged (University of Chicago), who directs the Dikika field project in Ethiopia and is an International Research Affiliate with the Institute of Human Origins.

Brains do not fossilize, but as the brain grows and expands before and after birth, the tissues surrounding its outer layer leave an imprint on the inside of the bony braincase. The brains of modern humans are not only much larger than those of our closest living ape relatives but are also organized differently and take longer to grow and mature. Compared with chimpanzees, modern human infants learn longer and are entirely dependent on parental care for longer periods of time. Together, these characteristics are important for human cognition and social behavior, but their evolutionary origins remain unclear.

The CT scans resulted in high-resolution digital "endocasts" of the interior of the skulls, where the anatomical structure of the brains could be visualized and analyzed. Based on these endocasts, the researchers could measure brain volume and infer key aspects of cerebral organization from impressions of the brain's structure.

A key difference between apes and humans involves the organization of the brain's parietal lobe--important in the integration and processing of sensory information--and occipital lobe in the visual center at the rear of the brain. The exceptionally preserved endocast of "Selam," a skull and associated skeleton of an Australopithecus afarensis infant found at Dikika in 2000, has an unambiguous impression of the lunate sulcus--a fissure in the occipital lobe marking the boundary of the visual area that is more prominent and located more forward in apes than in humans--in an ape-like position. The scan of the endocranial imprint of an adult A. afarensis fossil from Hadar (A.L. 162-28) reveals a previously undetected impression of the lunate sulcus, which is also in an ape-like position.

Some scientists had conjectured that human-like brain reorganization in australopiths was linked to behaviors that were more complex than those of their great ape relatives (e.g., stone-tool manufacture, mentalizing, and vocal communication). Unfortunately, the lunate sulcus typically does not reproduce well on endocasts, so there was unresolved controversy about its position in Australopithecus.

"A highlight of our work is how cutting-edge technology can clear up long-standing debates about these three million-year-old fossils," notes coauthor Kimbel. "Our ability to 'peer' into the hidden details of bone and tooth structure with CT scans has truly revolutionized the science of our origins."

A comparison of infant and adult endocranial volumes also indicates more human-like protracted brain growth in Australopithecus afarensis, likely critical for the evolution of a long period of childhood learning in hominins.

In infants, CT scans of the dentition make it possible to determine an individual's age at death by counting dental growth lines. Similar to the growth rings of a tree, virtual sections of a tooth reveal incremental growth lines reflecting the body's internal rhythm. Studying the fossilized teeth of the Dikika infant, the team's dental experts calculated an age at death of 2.4 years.

The pace of dental development of the Dikika infant was broadly comparable to that of chimpanzees and therefore faster than in modern humans. But given that the brains of Australopithecus afarensis adults were roughly 20 percent larger than those of chimpanzees, the Dikika child's small endocranial volume suggests a prolonged period of brain development relative to chimpanzees.

"The combination of apelike brain structure and humanlike protracted brain growth in Lucy's species was unexpected," says Kimbel. "That finding supports the idea that human brain evolution was very much a piecemeal affair, with extended brain growth appearing before the origin of our own genus, Homo."

Among primates, different rates of growth and maturation are associated with different infant-care strategies, suggesting that the extended period of brain growth in Australopithecus afarensis may have been linked to a long dependence on caregivers. Alternatively, slow brain growth could also primarily represent a way to spread the energetic requirements of dependent offspring over many years in environments where food is not always abundant. In either case, protracted brain growth in Australopithecus afarensis provided the basis for subsequent evolution of the brain and social behavior in hominins and was likely critical for the evolution of a long period of childhood learning.

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Article--Australopithecus afarensis endocasts suggest ape-like brain organization and prolonged brain growth. Science Advances. Philipp Gunz. Simon Neubauer, Dean Falk, Paul Tafforeau, Adelube Le Cabec, Tanya M. Smith, William H. Kimbel, Fred Spoor, Zeresenay Alemseged.
Anxiety is growing over the coronavirus threat for France's overseas territories, located in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans thousands of kilometres from the mainland, with distance proving no protection for regions with fragile health infrastructure. The "Outre-mer" or overseas departments, largely a legacy of the country's colonial past, are considered fully integral to the nation, with inhabitants holding French passports, voting in national elections and sending MPs to the Paris parliament. For many in France, they are best known as easily accessible and French-speaking destinations for holidays in areas resembling paradise. But the coronavirus crisis risks being even more grim there than on the mainland itself, where thousands have died from COVID-19. There have so far been 13 coronavirus deaths in the overseas territories, mainly on the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Martin, as well as two victims on the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte. But there is also rising concern about the disease's spread on Reunion in the Indian Ocean, in French Guiana in South America, and on French Polynesia and New Caledonia in the Pacific. France is now sending two helicopter carriers -- the Mistral and the Dixmude -- to the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean to bolster local hospitals and clinics that risk being overwhelmed if the number of cases rises further. The Dixmude left its Mediterranean port Friday morning carrying medical equipment including hand gel and over one million surgical masks for the Antilles, the army said in a statement, though it is not expected to arrive until mid-April. And while the two ships will provide logistical support, they will not be used as hospital ships to take patients on board. "We are following the situation in the overseas territories very closely and we are aware of the fragilities," government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said this week. "It is a major subject of concern, attention and mobilisation." - 'Catastrophe' - The remoteness of the territories, coupled with their high poverty and unemployment rates, risks turning any outbreak into full-blown epidemic that could quickly overwhelm health professionals. A source close to discussions between government ministries on containing the crisis, who asked not to be identified by name, told AFP, "It is going to be a catastrophe." "We feel there is no pilot on board," Gabriel Serville, an MP for French Guiana, told AFP. "I fear for the worst for a territory that is behind in health terms, with poor areas where social distancing is not possible." Mayotte, where 82 percent of the population lives under the poverty line, often in shanty towns without running water, is a particular source of concern. "There has been no organisation or preparation," said Mansour Kamardine, a rightwing MP on the island. "It feels like we're just making it up as we go along." On France's Pacific island territory of New Caledonia, located east of Australia between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, early spring is usually a time of celebration for the yam harvesting season. But there is no mood for -- or possibility of -- festivity. Indigenous Melanesians, known locally as Kanaks and counting for 39 percent of the population, already have prevalent health issues, particularly diabetes and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. If the virus were to spread, the impact would be "devastating," said Georges Mandaoue, a prominent local politician. "I've put all tribal chiefs in charge of explaining the consequences of the virus and the measures to protect everyone," he told AFP. People are aware of the danger, Mandaoue said, for example cultivating fields while respecting security distances. "They go to the river but not to the sea anymore, and greet each other from far away, without handshakes," he said. - 'Happened before' - The memory of previous epidemics such as leprosy remains vivid, as do scars from the arrival and colonisation of the island by Europeans, who brought unknown diseases with them that decimated the local populations. "We know that epidemics have happened before, that people had to isolate members of the tribe and not see them before the burial," said Gilbert Assawa, a tribal chieftain. Regularly scheduled passenger flights between Paris and the overseas territories have been suspended, though cargo transit is continuing. Most of the regions have also imposed lockdowns similar to that of mainland France, and some have also decreed nightly curfews. The government insists that everything is being done to maintain control of the situation. "The systems that have been put in place in the overseas territories match the same criteria and organisation as mainland France," said Overseas Territories Minister Annick Girardin.
New Delhi: In his second communication with all Governors, Lieutenant Governors (LGs) and Administrators, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that gathering of migrant workers and Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi caused a setback to the efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

He was referring to the gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar a few days after the nationwide lockdown was imposed, and the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin on various occasions in March -- both in Delhi.

Both the gatherings, specially the Tablighi Jamaat, have caused havoc across India as it could be the main cause of spread of novel coronavirus pandemic with many positive cases identified so far.

The President emphasized the need to ensure that no one remains hungry during the 21-day lockdown that will continue till April 14.

In the video conference from Rashtrapati Bhavan in which Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu also took part, ways to contribute to the measures taken by the Central government and the state governments in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 were discussed.

It was the second such conference held by the President and the Vice President within 10 days.

In a video conference on March 27, 15 Governors and Delhi LG Anil Baijal had shared with the President their experience. On Friday, the Governors, LGs and administrators of 21 remaining states and UTs briefed the President and Vice-President on COVID-19 related efforts.

There was a unanimity that there is no scope for laxity or complacency in fighting the "invisible enemy". In this context, the President noted with concern the incidents of attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel in some parts of the country. He wholeheartedly endorsed the Prime Minister's appeal earlier on Friday morning to all citizens to switch off lights in homes at 9 p.m. on Sunday and instead switch on their mobile flashlights, torches or lamps in an expression of people's solidarity to fight against coronavirus.

He, however, cautioned people not to let their guard down and steadfastly adhere to the practice of social distancing.

Taking note of the problems faced by the homeless, the unemployed and the weaker sections of society during this crisis, the President said: "We will have to be extra sensitive towards their needs". He invited other participants in the conference to deliberate upon the ways to ensure nobody remains hungry.

Acknowledging that this was a big challenge, he said he was confident the Governors will contribute to the efforts made by the Central and state governments and involve all sections of society.

While ensuring that food and other essential items are made available to the needy, care has to be taken that no compromise is made on the question of social distancing, he added.

The President invited suggestions to involve and encourage maximum participation of the voluntary agencies as well as the private sector in meeting the humanitarian challenge.

"In battling the pandemic, our efforts so far have been in the right direction, notwithstanding some incidents, and we are moving ahead with firm determination," the President said in his remarks.

The President expressed appreciation of the fellow citizens for their patience and cooperation and thanked the doctors and all officers and employees who have been serving the society.

The Vice President, who conducted the conference, emphasised roping in volunteers of the Indian Red Cross Society, social organisations and private sector to mitigate the plight of the poor.

He urged the Governors, LGs and administrators to persuade leaders from different walks to life to come forward and support the most vulnerable sections of society, particularly farmers, as the lockdown coincides with the harvesting season in many states.

Intervening in the discussion, the President urged all Governors to revive units of the Red Cross Society and take their help. Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu pointed out that the UT administration has been keeping intensive surveillance and has identified hotspots to preempt the outbreak of disease.

"We faced problems because of the movements of Tablighi Jamaat," Murmu said.

He, however, assured that the administration is taking care of migrant workers, students and has also set up adequate quarantine centres.

The Ladakh Lt Governor Radha Krishna Mathur expressed concern over rise in cases due to the return of pilgrims from Iran where some of them had been infected, and pointed out that inaccessibility of certain areas and tough terrain make operation difficult.

The Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Admiral D.K. Joshi ((Retd.) said that 10 positive Covid-19 cases were related to Tablighi Jamaat. All those who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat event are quarantined after identifying them.

Chhattisgarh Governor Sushri Anusuiya Uikey, said that the state government had launched a comprehensive strategy to check the spread of the disease at the earliest.

Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya said that the state had suitably augmented its capacity to meet any situation arising out of the crisis.

The other governors who gave a briefing about the initiatives in their states include the Governor of Goa, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, and LGs of Puducherry and Delhi.

Those who briefed the President and Vice-President in the conference held on March 27 also provided the latest information from their states and UTs.
Back in 2013, a group of men and women got together to mark one month of them landing (and living) on Mars. Only, it wasnt really Mars, but a simulated mission that mimicked conditions found on the red planet. Called HI-SEAS, the study was run by the University of Hawaii near an active volcano on the island.

Strangers had to live together in an area of about 1,400 sq ft inside a specially designed habitat. This meant they had to conserve water and largely live off preserved food, and they had no direct contact with the outside world. One sure-shot way of keeping their morale up, the group realised, was to celebrate the things theyd usually celebrate, in whatever way they could. So they bonded over a playlist of retro songs, ate spam musubi (Hawaiian sushi) and chocolate cake, and drank lemonade spiked with dehydrated tropical fruits.

For many of us the ongoing lockdown feels like a simulation, one imposed on us. The strangeness brought about by a work-from-home situation means the lines between the personal and professional blur too easily. This is why its important to bring our support structures closer together to beat isolation, especially if theres a birthday or an anniversary around the corner.

While usual suspects such as Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp video are fine, there are more fun platforms that can be used for larger gatherings. One could, for instance, schedule a movie night through Netflix. All you need is a Netflix account and a Chrome browser. The host can begin a virtual party by sending out an invite. A chat window parallel to the screen allows you to talk to friends whove joined in as the movie plays. When one person pauses the film, it pauses for everyone else too.

Theres also the Houseparty app, which, besides being a video-conferencing platform, allows you to play multiplayer games, such as trivia and card games. Another app, Zoom, allows those who have iPhone 8 or higher versions the option of using a photo as your background image. This means you can still go ahead with a beach-themed birthday party as your family and friends also pull out images of palm-lined beaches.

So, send out virtual invites to friends and get together online for a karaoke session, followed by a dinner where everyone has made the same meal.

Or just take it easy by dedicating the day to self-care while your friends do the same. Set up a spa in your living room with foot soaks and moisturisers, and bring out the scented candles. Or, host a drink-talk-learn party, where everyone presents a three-minute talk (with PowerPoint slides) on any topic of their choosing and with their individual choice of beverage to the table. Opt for a dress code. This is nerd nirvana. For the present, this is the new normal: figuring out ways to be together, apart.

A note of caution, though: to ensure privacy, its always a good idea to read the fine print before logging into any new app, especially to uncheck the boxes that ask to share or collect your personal information. When in doubt, stick to the video conferencing platforms you know are secure, including the old-school Google Hangouts, which allows up to 10 users at a time.

Not being able to celebrate their birthday with friends might be particularly hard on young children. So, get their friends parents to help them join virtual parties. And if the children are very young, their toys  dinosaurs, dogs, dolls  can join in as party guests with tiny birthday hats tailored for them.

But mind you, it might take more than a virtual party to keep the birthday child happy. So, besides in-house activities such as a baking a cake with them or designing a treasure hunt, one could set up an obstacle course at home as many in other parts of the world have done. Use a tape to mark out the path a child has to run, from start to finish, that goes around rooms, around chairs and tables with a few zigzag bits. Remember to bring out all the cushions and mattresses for this one.

Theres also Googles augmented reality (AR) feature that can entertain children and adults alike. Just type in an animal on Googles list (alligator, ball python, brown bear, cheetah, emperor penguin, giant panda, octopus, macaw, shark, tiger and more) and opt for the view in 3D option. Keep photos or videos of the day you virtually brought the zoo to your living room.

All of these are, of course, besides the things you can do in person. Like cook themed-based meals or family favourites. Or bring out the fairylights, turn old newspapers into party streamers or paint them and cut them into tiny little stars to be put up in the balcony or a window  or in any corner, and convert it into a themed-spot for the simulation you want to be in.
In one bedroom, his 27-year-old son was taking university courses. In the second bedroom, one of his twin 16-year-old daughters was taking her high school classes via Skype. In the living room, where the twins sleep on a pullout bed at night, his other daughter was engaged in her classes, too. Di Lorenzo was looking at page after page of computer code, trying to solve Lombardys problems, but he could also hear a high school teacher talking about law and math. Soon he looked up and his daughters were right there in the kitchen  getting yogurt, getting juice, returning the empty glasses.
Lucknow, April 3 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday held a meeting with top officials to discuss ways and means to meet the challenges after the lockdown is lifted.

The Chief Minister said that the biggest challenge would be to control movement of population since a large number of migrant workers have been kept in shelter homes at present.

He said that efforts should be made to maintain social distancing even after the lockdown is lifted. Special care will be taken to enforce the safety protocols in the 16 districts that have reported corona positive patients.

Sources, however, said that the lockdown could be lifted in a phased manner. Cinema halls and shopping malls may continue to remain shut for a few more days and a decision will also be taken regarding schools and colleges.

Addressing a meeting of Team 11, set up to combat the coronavirus pandemic in the state, Yogi said the doorstep delivery of food will have to continue even after the lockdown is lifted since people may not return to work immediately.

Community kitchens will continue to function in every district and collection centres for food packets will also continue.

The Chief Minister said that a volunteer force comprising NSS, NCC, scouts and Yuva Mangal Dal, should be set up and trained to overcome the crisis.

The volunteer force could also be deployed in the distribution of food.

Yogi also asked officials to prepare a list of private physicians and doctors who could be available to the common man on phone.

He said that the state government has decided to set up a Corona Care Fund of Rs 1,000 crores which will be used to purchase ventilators, personal protective equipment and other medical equipment. Donations would also be taken from the corporate sector under the corporate social responsibility scheme.

The state government has also moved to enforce doorstep delivery of FIRs to those who violate the lockdown and misbehave with police personnel.

The scheme, under which the police will serve the FIR at the doorstep of the violator, was launched in Muzaffarnagar on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his video conference with the Chief Ministers, had sought suggestions for dealing with the situation once the lockdown is lifted.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Medals are awarded in wartime to the brave and diligent, and when this war is finally over the economic hangover will also need to be mitigated by a lengthy honours list.

Ask any American who most deserves a medal for undertaking selfless charity work during this and previous crises, and the name on many people's lips will be chef Jose Andres.

Fresh from appearing on the cover of Time, Jose Ramon Andres Puerta is currently America's best-known Spanish import. Born in Asturias, he has been working in the US since 1998, when he arrived at age 21 after being fired from the legendary El Bulli.

He started modestly with tapa bars, but in 2006 his career blossomed, opening restaurants in Miami, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Chefs are not renowned for their intellects, but Jose Andres left the kitchen for a time to work as Dean of Spanish Studies at the International Culinary Centre.

Later he would achieve notoriety by breaking his contract to open a restaurant at one of Trump's hotels after the president had criticised Mexican immigrants.

In 2010 he became world famous for his World Central Kitchen, set up to feed victims of the Haiti earthquake, later doing the same in other disaster zones worldwide. Although responsible for his own chain of stateside restaurants, he always finds time for charity work, and in the current crisis he has organised field kitchens to feed passengers on quarantined cruise liners in US ports. And, as I write these words, news comes that a prayer candle has been launched in the States with Jose Andres's visage on it. The 'Jose Andres Saint Candle' sold out in five hours, and the $20 each candle fetched will be donated the chef's World Central Kitchen.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
One of the six pillars of the Chester County Historic Courthouse on North High Street will shine in blue light on January nights beginning Tuesday evening in recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Shock jock Alan Jones has slammed New South Wales Police Minister David Elliott during a heated debate about the state's coronavirus restrictions.

Mr Jones described the state government's approach to COVID-19 regulations as an 'undemocratic mess' during a clash with the top cop on Friday morning.

'This is completely over the top and people are frightened! Now what kind of state are we running? We can't be running a joint here where people are so terrified to leave their home,' Mr Jones said on Sydney's 2GB Radio.

Radio host Alan Jones described the New South Wales state government's approach to COVID-19 regulations as an undemocratic mess' during a clash with the top cop on Friday morning

The state government's new public health order involves fines of up to $11,00 or six months in jail if residents do not have a valid excuse for leaving their homes.

In the 24 hours since changes were introduced 13 fines were issued for people found to have breached the public health order.

Mr Jones referenced several instances of people being fined as an example the state was going 'too far' in restricting people's freedoms.

'I'm talking about a 21-year-old man eating a kebab on a bench in Newcastle, I mean what the hell?' he said.

The Police Minister said the commissioner would be reviewing all fines issued, but continued to defend the new measures as a necessary health initiative.

Poll Are Australia's coronavirus lockdown laws going too far? Yes No Are Australia's coronavirus lockdown laws going too far? Yes 9 votes

No 14 votes Now share your opinion





'Nobody likes these laws, nobody wants to see pubs and clubs open more than me. Nobody wants to see our lifestyle return more than me, which is why I'm thrilled and relieved this is a short term scenario,' Mr Elliott said.

But the radio host continued to barrage Mr Elliott with criticism - this time around the handling of the Ruby Princess cruise ship debacle.

'Well, why weren't you so fastidious when people were climbing off the Ruby Princess? There are seven coronavirus deaths now linked to the Ruby Princess because your government left them off the ship in Sydney two weeks ago and no one has taken responsibility for it,' he said.

Shock jock Alan Jones has called New South Wales Police Minister David Elliot (pictured) 'extremist' in a scathing attack on the state's coronavirus restrictions

The Police Minister refused to be rattled during the on-air clash, pointing out the hypocrisy among many around changing views on restrictions since coronavirus hit Australian shores.

'One minute people are saying to us, you should have closed the borders earlier and the other they're saying please don't take any draconian measures to stop this disease for spreading,' he said.

'This is not something that governments want to do we will probably face significant financial burden as a state for undertaking these measures. It's not something we've introduced because we want to be the fun police or we want to punish people,' he said.

The number of confirmed cases for COVID-19 in Australia rose to 5,315 on Friday, with 28 recorded deaths
New Delhi, April 3 : Hospitality major OYO has reached out to embassies of over 15 countries to accommodate foreign nationals stranded in India amid the coronavirus crisis and the ongoing lockdown.

OYO has also taken steps to provide support to frontline medical staff, aircrew, corporates, tourists, paying guests, among others who need accommodation.

"Reaching out to 15+ embassies, the company aims to support the Ministry of Tourism in efforts to secure shelter for all travellers in need across the country," the company said in a statement.

As part of the outreach, OYO is in touch with over 15 diplomatic missions in India and has already helped stranded foreign tourists from the US, Brazil, Belgium, Portugal, Australia, Chile, Argentina and Indonesia in availing accommodation during the nationwide lockdown in OYO properties across tier 1 and tier 2-3 cities in India.

The cities include Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Rishikesh, Pondicherry, Ranchi, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, and Jalandhar, it said.

The company has set up a swift response team to understand requirements of the stranded tourists, initiated contact with embassies, guests and the Ministry of Tourism and identified hotels that can be of service in this hour of need. The company has also been providing regular updates to said embassies on the well-being of the foreign nationals.

Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Group CEO, OYO Hotels & Homes, said: "These are testing times for the world and we at OYO too have been deeply impacted by COVID-19. Both revenues and occupancies have dropped. Our commitment to the community at large remains, however, remains unflinched and we want to do everything possible to ensure we can provide reliable accommodation to persons stranded.

"As a hotel chain, it is our responsibility to demonstrate aAtithi Devo Bhava' during these testing times. We are grateful for the efforts of each and every professional whose role requires them to be at the forefront of India's fight against COVID-19 and we want to do our bit in this fight," he added.

Commenting on this development, Gustavo Westmann, Head of the Trade and Investment Office, Embassy of Brazil to India said: "I am pleased to highlight that OYO has been a great partner of the Brazilian Embassy in this period of global crisis. By having one of the largest networks of hotels in the country, the team of OYO has been able to provide solutions to Brazilian citizens with different budgets, in different locations around the country, with professionalism and a great commitment to social responsibility.

OYO further said that its employees across the globe have also come together to set up an OYO Welfare Fund, proceeds of which will be used for the benefit and welfare of the employees at OYO properties, asset partners and their staff members in impacted situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the consequent restrictions.

This fund will also be used for the welfare of the community at large when faced with difficult situations in the long run, it added.
OPEC was not immediately available to comment when contacted by CNBC Friday morning.

On Friday, Azerbaijan's energy ministry said a virtual meeting between OPEC producers and non-OPEC partners, an alliance sometimes referred to as OPEC+, had been scheduled for April 6, according to the RIA news agency.

Brent settled up more than 21% on Thursday, registering its best day since contract inception in 1989, while WTI closed up over 24%, also marking its best-ever daily rally. It leaves both benchmarks on pace for their best week since January 2009, although, year-to-date, Brent and WTI are still down more than 54%.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at $32.78 a barrel Friday morning, up over 9%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $26.59, more than 5% higher.

It comes less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump told CNBC that he expected OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC leader Russia to take up to 15 million barrels of crude off the market.

Oil producer group OPEC and its partners will reportedly hold an emergency virtual meeting on Monday, with all members of the energy alliance expected to take part in an effort to stabilize markets.

Trump said via Twitter on Thursday that he expected OPEC+ to cut approximately 10 million barrels of oil, "which, if it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!"

Around 30 minutes after his first tweet, Trump then suggested the deal "could be as high" as 15 million barrels. This would be "great news for everyone!" he added.

Oil production is typically discussed in terms of barrels per day, but Trump made no reference to the time frame of the cuts. Additionally, it was not clear how the cuts would be distributed across oil-producing countries.

Tweet 1

Tweet 2

"Donald Trump's tweet  It's nonsense, really," Patrick Armstrong, chief investment officer at Plurimi Investment Managers, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday.

"There is no way that Russia and Saudi Arabia are going to cut production by 50%, which is the midpoint of the 10 to 15 million barrels per day he was talking about," he added.

The U.S. president claimed via Twitter on Thursday that he had spoken with "his friend," Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who in turn had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he hoped they would both orchestrate an output cut.

Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told Interfax news agency on Thursday that the Russian leader did not speak with his Saudi counterpart, as Trump had claimed.

"Maybe he spoke to them, maybe there is a deal," Plurimi Investment Managers' Armstrong said. "I think the market reacted to the tweet as if we would be seeing 15 million barrels per day coming off of the market and that's not going to happen."

Analysts have told CNBC that for OPEC+ to agree to a meaningful production cut, the U.S. would most likely have to give up something in return.

Timothy Ash, senior emerging markets strategist at Bluebay Asset Management, said there will be no deal on oil unless Putin "gets exactly what he wants."

And, what Russia's leader wants from the U.S., Ash continued in a research note, "is firm assurances that sanctions will be rolled off, and he also wants Trump to bring him back into the A team of global leadership, G8, or even better some G2/3 leadership session."
WASHINGTON, D. C. - Some were backpacking in remote parts of the world. Some got trapped when their airlines cancelled flights because of coronavirus, or the countries they were visiting abruptly shut their borders. Thats when the U.S. Department of State stepped in.

Since the coronavirus emergency began, the State Department has successfully retrieved more than 37,000 Americans who were stuck in more than 69 countries, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters on Friday. He estimated it still needs to repatriate roughly 21,000 more.

Never before have so many Americans been stranded in so many different countries, he said. To rescue them, the State Department has established a 24-7 repatriation task force that is of a substantial size and developed its own quasi fleet of aircraft," said Pompeo.

Its like nothing the State Department has ever done before, Pompeo said. This is a historic scale. Weve never been asked to rise to a challenge like this and the teams done really good work. We still have a big group in front of us, and we continue to get new people identified every day.

From people stuck at a 12,000 foot-elevation in Peruvian mountains where few pilots are licensed to fly, to Americans caught in South Pacific beach areas to those trapped in South Central Asian mountain locations, Pompeo says his task force finds ways to transport U.S. citizens to places where chartered aircraft or Defense Department planes can get them out of harms way.

Some of these countries have roads that are closed, said Pompeo. In most of these countries, you have internal commercial air traffic that is either restricted, or limited because the pilots are no longer flying because of the virus. The levels of complexity are enormous and weve also been tasked with doing this in a way that doesnt materially increase the risk here in the United States as we bring these people back.

He says almost 8,000 people have been returned from South Central Asia, over 200 people from Latin and South America, and just under 5,000 from both the Middle East and Africa. In addition to the people that the State Department itself has returned, he said his agency has helped many more figure out how to get to an airport when commercial flights were still open.

Of those who have not yet returned to the United States, he says 15,000 to 16,000 are in the Western hemisphere, with a concentration in Peru. The State Department is also working with a large number of Americans who are trying to leave India after its prime ministers decision to impose travel restrictions, said Pompeo.

The repatriation task force does not track how many citizens have been repatriated to particular states, the State Department said, helping all get home regardless of where they live.

Pompeo advises Americans whod like to return from other countries to be expeditious about doing that, because the conditions in many of these countries are not getting better, theyre becoming even more challenging. While he does not envision the United States ending efforts to assist returning Americans, he predicts helping them will become more and more difficult until commercial air travel is restored to many countries.

He urges Americans abroad to enroll online in the State Departments Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at https://step.state.gov/ to receive alerts about safety conditions in the countries theyre visiting, and help the U.S. embassy and family members reach them in an emergency. Those in need of emergency assistance can also call 1-888-407-4747 (U.S./Canada); +1-202-501-4444 (overseas); or contact the nearest embassy: go.usa.gov/xduQM . The State Departments Twitter account and website also provide guidance on how most effectively to get you delivered back home, said Pompeo.

He said the federal government has spent millions and millions of dollars returning stranded citizens. Usually, evacuees are billed the cost of a full-fare economy flight, or alternate transportation to the designated destination that would have been charged immediately prior to the events giving rise to the evacuation. Costs vary depending on the destination.

Every day, countries are making different decisions about transportation in and out of their countries, said Pompeo. Theyre restricting travel both in and out of the country in different ways and as these issues arise ... we expect there will probably be new people identified tomorrow.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 12:01:24|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Jiang Li

BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Some satellite images over China have been widely circulating in recent days on the Internet, showing that factories are reopening and traffic is reviving in the country.

It means that China's industrial juggernaut is ready to fully recover after weeks of slowdown due to the sudden COVID-19 outbreak.

Recently, when China was in the thick of battle against the virus, some China skeptics described the Asian country as a weak link in the global supply chain, and hinted that the world has relied too much on it.

The fact that the Asian country has managed to control the epidemic on its own turf in a relatively short time and resume production and reopen businesses in an orderly fashion has proved those skeptics wrong. On the contrary, it demonstrated the resilience of the Chinese economy.

Indeed, China has a unique spot in today's ultra complex and highly integrated global economy. Why?

The very first reason is its scale. China has the world's most populous consumer market with more than 400 million people earning middle-incomes. In the mean time, consumption has become the biggest driver of the Chinese economy for six consecutive years, contributing 76.2 percent of China's economic growth in 2018. It is thus hard for companies outside the country to ignore the abundant opportunities there.

In addition to its consuming power, China is also a nation of production. It is the only one in the world with all industrial categories of the United Nations' industry classification, and its manufacturing accounts for nearly 30 percent of the global total.

One other key factor is China's self-styled economic and social governance system, which, as demonstrated during the epidemic, can provide a firm guarantee of stability and certainty at a time of crisis.

While some are warning against putting all eggs in one basket, China is not the only one but the best one, and changing baskets is complicated and costly as it involves a host of factors including tax, labors, logistics and investment environment among others.

Take the production of Apple's electronic products for example. The current U.S. administration has been trying to encourage Apple to manufacture its products domestically, yet the plan has been so far to no avail. The reason could be as tiny as a small screw.

According to a report by The New York Times, when Apple tried to make Mac Pro, the company's top-of-the-line personal computer, in a factory in the U.S. state of Texas, it struggled to find enough screws as its manufacturing contractor could produce at most 1,000 per day. But that is not a problem in China.

During his inspection tour in China's eastern Zhejiang Province from Sunday to Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to smooth global supply chains to ensure normal economic and trade activities. The Chinese leader's call can be taken as a timely and sensible reminder at this critical moment.

The most urgent task now facing the international community is not to look for baskets, but to make sure the eggs are not broken. That requires countries around the world to resist the false temptation of protectionism and take concerted measures to keep another full-blown recession at bay.

Fortunately, at an extraordinary G20 summit on COVID-19 last week, the world's major economies pledged in a joint statement to form a "united front" against the common threat posed by the pandemic, and committed to "realize a free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment."

That esprit de corps is the very weapon countries around the world employed to fight off the 2008 global financial crisis. They should use it again.
Mumbai, April 3 : Several Mumbai companies have donated towards the cause of Covid-19 relief works on Friday.

The Aditya Birla Group announced Rs 500 crore, including Rs 400 crore to the PM Cares Fund and another Rs 100 crore to various other initiatives for fighting Covid-19 pandemic.

These would include a Rs 50 crore grant to the FICCI-Aditya Birla CSR Centre for Excellence, and Rs 50 crore to procure ventilators, one million N-95 masks and 280,000 personal protection equipment.

The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development Chairperson Rajashree Birla said other initiatives include setting up a 100-bed facility at Seven Hills Hospital in collaboration with the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, activating 200 beds at hospitals in Pune, Solapur, Ujjain, Hazaribagh, Rayagada and Kharach.

The United Phosphorus Ltd has donated Rs 75 crore to the PM Cares Fund and launched other initiatives to fight the pandemic, said its CEO Jai Shroff.

"We are continuously providing PPEs for the healthcare workers, kept on stand by our educational institutions in Vapi, Gujarat, to operate as 'quarantine centres' when required, and deployed 200 machines to spray disinfectants at public places to contain coronavirus," Shroff said.

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council Chairman Pramod Agrawal announced Rs 21 crore to the PM Cares Fund, in addition to Rs 50 crore committed last month towards Covid-19 initiatives.
BALLSTON SPA  Fear the cononavirus pandemic will destroy Saratoga County's economy, 10 supervisors from the countys biggest communities are asking county leadership to make adjustments to the budget to avoid fiscal calamity.

The bipartisan caucus, the same that fought to kill the 50 percent pay raise for county managers earning six-figures, now wants the county administration to eliminate all discretionary spending, cut 20 percent from every departments budget and prioritize all infrastructure projects this year.

The shutdown of our economy will have a devastating effect on our neighbors, businesses and governmental entities, a statement from the supervisors said. Significantly raising taxes should be avoided at all cost, to ensure government does not add to the burden of the residents we serve. We should also do everything possible to avoid layoffs or furloughs of county employees.

The 10 supervisors represent 75 percent of the county's residents but fall short of a majority on the 23-member board of supervisors. They say they are especially concerned that Saratoga Race Course wont open this summer and the county's "financial situation will worsen considerably" if the track is dark in July and August.

The track revenue, $1 million annually, is estimated to make up only .33 percent of the countys overall $335.5 million budget. However, Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett, Republican, said the tourism business bolstered by the track feeds the countys $128 million in sales tax and $1 million in hotel tax.

The (tracks) general economic activity over many weeks generates a tremendous amount of occupancy tax and sales tax, Barrett said. We hope beyond hope the meet will be able to continue. But we need to be prepared should the meet need to be canceled.

Previously: Saratoga County: Forget the promised pandemic pay

Saratoga County HR director benefits from pandemic pay hike

Saratoga County officials angry over essential employees getting huge pay bump

The New York Racing Association has assured the horses will run in Saratoga this year. However, on Thursday, it announced it was delaying the opening of the Oklahoma training track which was to open on April 15. NYRA said that will have no impact on the the summer racing season which is set to open on July 16.

Both county Administrator Spencer Hellwig and the county Board of Supervisors Chairman Preston Allen, Republican, did not respond to Times Union requests for comment on the supervisors' concerns. In his budget message delivered last October, Hellwig touted the countys fiscal health.

As the fastest growing county in New York State, Hellwig said that the county enjoys one of the states lowest property tax rates ($2.26 per $1,000 of assessed value) and that countys property values total $27.7 billion. He also said that the county is fueled by a world-class tourism attraction and enjoys an enviable position.

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But now, the supervisors say, the financial picture is unsettling and impossible to calculate.

Saratoga Springs Supervisor Tara Gaston, a Democrat, said that is why it's important to press ahead with the $30 million in infrastructure and capital projects as soon as possible.

We want to get done as many projects as we can because we might not have the ability later, Gaston said. We need to do it before we have to batten down the hatches.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Barrett agreed.

As difficult as it may be to execute all of the planned projects in a given year after experiencing the decrease in revenue that we will certainly see soon, Barrett said. Infrastructure is incredibly important. It maintains a safe environment for Saratoga County residents. Our feeling is we do need to identify savings for the remainder of the year, but infrastructure projects large and small should move forward, as applicable to federal and state guidelines.

Moreau Supervisor Todd Kusnierz said the state, county and local governments are all in a dire economic situation and must tighten their beats. A week ago, he halted all discretionary spending in Moreau because he sees a crash in sales tax, which the county shares with each municipality.

We rely heavily on sales tax, Kusnierz, a Republican, said. We expect it will be incredibly low moving forward. As representatives of our county government, we need to make adjustments.

Barrett, Gaston and Kusnierz are also joined by Supervisors Eric Connolly, John Lant, Darren OConnor, Jonathan Schofp, Kevin Tollisen, Matthew Veitch and Benny Zlotnick in sharing this concern.

Kusnierz said their group have been closed out of many discussions at the county level after going public with the controversial pandemic pay plan, in which administrators decided to pay everyone, including themselves, time-and-a-half for every hour worked. The plan was later scuttled after it was reported in the Times Union.

Hellwig did reach out to supervisors in an email, saying they are trying to come up with a time to meet about the compensation and the budget issues "as soon as humanly possible."

We are making every attempt to manage everything we have been tasked with since the beginning of this pandemic," Hellwig wrote. The time and energy it takes to address the daily operational needs unfortunately make it very difficult to plan for scheduling a board meeting.

Kusnierz said without a meeting, the administration "is effectively silencing the voice of 75 percent of residents."

That is who we represent," Kusnierz said. "The county administration is essentially treading water and as a result of these discussions happening in a vacuum, they are running out of breath. A meeting has to happen ASAP.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance for Laos' battle against the COVID-19 epidemic in line with the neighboring country's practical needs.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Bounnhang Vorachith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos.

On behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government and people, Xi extended sincere sympathies and firm support to their Lao counterparts.

Noting that China and Laos are both socialist countries led by Communist parties, Xi said that at a critical moment in China's fight against the coronavirus disease, Bounnhang immediately sent a letter of sympathies to him.

That, along with the brotherly and sincere help from various sections of Lao society, has vividly demonstrated the spirit of the China-Laos community with a shared future, which is characterized by sticking together and helping each other through thick and thin, added Xi.

Stressing that the Chinese people will bear Laos' support in mind, he said he is deeply concerned about the difficulties Laos is facing in its epidemic prevention and control.

The Chinese side sent medical experts to Laos in the shortest time possible and has offered assistance in medical supplies, Xi said, adding that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance.

He said he believes that the Lao people will surely defeat the virus under the firm leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by Bounnhang.

The pandemic has once again proved the importance and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi pointed out, noting that the recent extraordinary leaders' summit of the Group of 20 has sent a positive signal on joining hands against COVID-19 and safeguarding the stability of the global economy.

China, he said, will continue to work with the international community, including Laos, to contribute to defeating the epidemic at an early date.

Meanwhile, China stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Laos and advance bilateral cooperation in line with the action plan on building the China-Laos community with a shared future, added Xi.

He called for concerted efforts to deepen exchanges on experience in party and state governance, steadily push forward such major projects as the China-Laos railway and economic corridor, promote people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs.

In doing so, he said, the two countries can continuously deliver more solid outcomes in the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future and create greater benefits for the people in both countries.

Xi also wished the 11th congress of the LPRP to be held early next year a great success.

For his part, Bounnhang said that under Xi's personal guidance and arrangement, the CPC has exerted strong political leadership in leading the Chinese people to quickly and effectively contain the epidemic, which the Lao side admires.

He noted that the CPC upholds the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and has made joint calls with more than 200 political parties around the globe for closer international cooperation to beat COVID-19.

The Chinese side has also actively provided valuable support and assistance to countries in need, fully demonstrating its sense of responsibility as a big party and a major country, he said.

Bounnhang said the Lao side is sincerely grateful for Xi's personal attention to the epidemic in Laos, adding that China's timely sharing of its anti-virus experience and dispatching of medical experts and supplies to the Southeast Asian country has once again demonstrated the profound friendship of sharing weal and woe between the two countries.

The Lao side, Bounnhang said, stands ready to strengthen political mutual trust with the Chinese side, speed up the implementation of the action plan for the Laos-China community with a shared future, and promote practical cooperation in various fields so as to push for new and greater achievements in the socialist causes of both countries.
Researchers have unearthed the earliest known skull of Homo erectus, the first of human ancestors in behaviour and anatomy, a finding that adds more than a hundred thousand years to the first appearance dates of the species.

Following years of excavation at the fossil-rich site of Drimolen in South Africa, researchers including those from the Arizona State University in the US, recovered several new fossils, including a skull attributed to Homo erectus.

According to the study, published in the journal Science, the skull is dated to be two million years old, making it the most ancient fossil Homo erectus known, and pushing back evidence of the first appearance of the species by more than a hundred thousand years.

The skull and other fossils recovered from the site may lead to a revision of our species' evolutionary history, the scientists noted in a statement.

"Unlike the situation today, where we are the only human species, two million years ago our direct ancestor was not alone," said Andy Herries, study lead researcher from La Trobe University in Australia.

The high-resolution dating of the fossil deposits showed that the age of the new skull pre-dated Homo erectus specimens from other sites within and outside of Africa by at least 100,000 to 200,000 years, the scientists said.

Based on this evidence, and earlier studies published on the ancient human ancestors, the researchers confirmed an African origin for Homo erectus.

The skull, reconstructed from more than 150 separate fragments, is of an individual likely aged between three and six years old, the study noted.

This gave the world a rare glimpse into childhood growth and development in these early human ancestors, they said.

Other fossils recovered from the site belonged to a different species -- in fact, a different genus of ancient human altogether, the scientists said.

These included the more heavily built, robust human ancestor Paranthropus robustus, known to also occur at several nearby cave sites preserving fossils of the same geological age.

The scientists also noted that a third, distinctive species, Australopithecus sediba, is known from two-million-year old deposits of an ancient cave site down the road from Drimolen.

"What is really exciting is the discovery that during this same narrow time slice, at just around two million years ago, there were three very different types of ancient human ancestors roaming the same small landscape," said study co-author Gary Schwartz, a paleoanthropologist from Arizona State University..

"We don't yet know whether they interacted directly, but their presence raises the possibility that these ancient fossil humans evolved strategies to divvy up the landscape and its resources in some way to enable them to live in such close proximity," Schwartz said.

The scientists also probed into the role played by changing habitats, resources, and the unique biological adaptations of early Homo erectus on the eventual extinction of Australopithecus sediba in South Africa.

"The discovery of the earliest Homo erectus marks a milestone for South African fossil heritage," said study co-author Stephanie Baker from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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New York, April 3, 2020  Authorities in Togo should lift the suspensions of the Liberte, LAlternative, and Fraternite newspapers and ensure all media are free to cover politics and all other newsworthy topics, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Togos media regulator, the Broadcast and Communications High Authority, ordered the privately owned daily Liberte and biweekly LAlternative to suspend publication on March 23, and ordered weekly Fraternite suspended on March 30, according to copies of the suspension orders reviewed by CPJ.

The orders require Liberte to suspend print and web operations for 15 days, and LAlternative and Fraternite for two months each.

The orders suspending Liberte and LAlternative referenced a March 6 complaint filed by the French ambassador to Togo, Marc Vizy. The complaint, a copy of which CPJ reviewed, was published on embassy letterhead and alleged that the papers had published serious, unfounded, and calamitous accusations against the French government.

In its order suspending Fraternite, the regulator cited a March 25 report in the paper criticizing the suspensions of the other two newspapers, and alleged that the report was discourteous, insulting and defamatory.

Togolese authorities suspension of Fraternite, Liberte and LAlternative over their coverage critical of French and Togolese authorities is grossly irresponsible given the public health crisis the country is facing, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. The French ambassador to Togo, Marc Vizy, should withdraw his complaint about the two newspapers and work to encourage support for press freedom, not opposition to it.

The three newspapers are known for their critical reporting on the government of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, who has been in power since 2005 and won a disputed re-election in February, according to news reports.

All three outlets had recently been reporting on the coronavirus pandemic, according to LAlternative editor-in-chief Isidore Kouwonou and Liberte director Medart Ametepe, both of whom spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and reporting published on Fraternites website.

Vizys complaint, printed on French embassy letterhead, referenced an article published by Liberte on March 3 titled Marc Vizy, the other enemy of democracy in Togo, which alleged that Vizy had sided with Togos government against its people. The complaint claimed that Liberte had made unfounded accusations against Vizy, and therefore, through him, against the country he represents in Togo.

The complaint also referenced an article published in LAlternative on February 28 titled Francafrique and support for dictators: Franck Paris, the intriguing, alleging that Paris, the French presidents adviser for Africa, supported autocratic regimes on the continent. Vizy claimed LAlternative had made unfounded accusations against Paris and therefore, through him, against the president [of France] himself.

On March 16, the Broadcast and Communications High Authority summoned the papers leaderships to discuss the complaint and said that the reports contained insufficient veracity or supporting evidence, according to the suspension orders.

Kouwonou told CPJ that he told the regulator that his paper was willing to include Vizys reply to the article in question. However, Vizy wrote in his complaint, I do not request the right of reply, and called on the regulator to sanction both papers.

Kouwonou said that the regulator asked him to print a correction to the article, but he refused.

When CPJ called the French embassy in Togo, an embassy representative declined to comment.

CPJ called the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and was transferred to the office of the ministry spokesperson Agnes von der Muhll, but the line rang unanswered. CPJs follow-up calls also went unanswered.

CPJ reached Badibassa Babaka, a member of Togos Broadcast and Communications High Authority, by phone on March 31, but he said that Willybrond Telou Pitalounani, the regulators president, was the representative able to comment on Liberte and LAlternatives suspensions.

Reached by phone on April 1, Pitalounani asked for CPJ to submit questions by email through the High Authoritys website, which CPJ did the same day. CPJ did not receive a response to those queries.
A consumer advocacy group is calling for the Treasury Department to protect Americans stimulus payments from debt collectors.

The coronavirus stimulus bill clearly says the federal government, during the coronavirus pandemic, will not garnish payments for overdue federal debts such as back taxes or unpaid student loans.

But there is no clarity about what happens to other kinds of debts, including those that can be garnished because of court orders by states or private debt collectors.

And what about private debt collectors who go after overdue federal debts? The IRS website says: New delinquent accounts will not be forwarded by the IRS to private collection agencies to work during this period. So advocates say that means while they wont go after new collections accounts, older ones would still be fair game.

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) says federal authorities should act immediately to ensure that stimulus payments are available for food and necessities and not snatched by creditors.

People nationwide have suffered a dramatic loss of income and desperately need the stimulus payments that Congress just authorized for food, rent, utilities and health care, said Lauren Saunders, associate director of NCLC, in a statement. But if Treasury does not take immediate steps to protect the stimulus payments, debt collectors could grab the money out of the bank accounts of the families who most need the funds for their basic survival.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

NCLC officials said theres a simple fix.

The Treasury Department can code the stimulus payments as exempt federal benefits in the same way it protects Social Security and other federal benefits from debt collectors.

Treating stimulus payments as federal benefits will allow banks to use their systems already in place to preserve the money for necessities, not debt collectors, said Margot Saunders, senior counsel for NCLC.

Treasury has the authority to issue rules and guidance to carry out the stimulus payments, the group said, citing the language in the bill.

Plus, NCLC said, banks already have systems in place to automatically protect federal benefits so theres no need to develop additional procedures.

The move would eliminate a lot of future headaches.

Banks will not have to deal with irate customers when desperately needed funds disappear, NCLC said. State governments and courts will not have to issue emergency orders to protect these payments, or handle disputes about them, putting banks in the middle.

Federal officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did the New Jersey Treasury Department.

"Clearly the purpose of the individual payments authorized by the CARES Act is to give individuals critically needed funds for necessities, not to line the pockets of debt collectors and debt buyers, Saunders said.

John Breyault of the National Consumers League (NCL) agreed with the plea.

Debt collectors should not be able to access money the government is sending to consumers in an emergency, he said, agreeing that Treasury should code the payments as federal benefits. Consumers need to keep lights on and for debt collectors to come in and garnish those funds, its just unconscionable.

The only debt that should be garnished is back child support, said Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, executive director of New Jersey Citizen Action, though how those debts would be treated was not specifically addressed by Treasury or the IRS.

There is a precedent for garnishment for child support.

Collection of child support payments is administrated through the Treasury Offset Program, said Garrett Watson, senior policy analyst for The Tax Foundation. He said in 2008, the program did collect $842 million in stimulus payments, which included back child support.

This suggests they may do so for the recovery rebates too, Watson said.

Advocates are all very concerned that what may seem to some like a modest government payment is a lifeline to many millions of families. It is critical that the government protect these funds from garnishment by debt collectors," said Ed Mierzwinski, senior director of U.S. PIRG,"NCLC has pointed out how simple a task that will be for Treasury to carry out.

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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 12:44 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f76661 1 Politics Lawmakers,house-of-representatives,omnibus-bill-on-job-creation,Criminal-Code,KUHP-amendment,Golkar,PDI-P,COVID-19,coronavirus Free

The House of Representatives has its eyes set on deliberating three problematic bills, namely the omnibus bill on job creation and revisions to the Criminal Code (KUHP) and 1995 Correctional Center Law, as the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and despite persistent public protests against the bills.

House Deputy Speaker Azis Syamsuddin announced in a plenary session on Thursday that all House factions and commissions had agreed during a consultation meeting a day before to deliberate the three bills.

"Lawmakers have discussed and approved them in the plenary agenda, the Golkar Party politician said, adding that 31 lawmakers attended the meeting at the House compound , while 278 joined the meeting virtually.

Azis explained that the Houses Legislation Body (Baleg) would handle deliberations for the omnibus bill while House Commission III overseeing legal affairs would discuss the KUHP and Correctional Center Law draft revisions.

Despite the approval to continue deliberations, some lawmakers expressed their objections, stating that the House and its executive partner should instead focus on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House and the government should focus on the management of COVID-19. We should postpone the other agenda items. It's not right. People are facing a difficult situation due to the pandemic. Many of them are struggling to eat, but we, out of the blue, are discussing the omnibus bill and the other bills, Benny K. Harman of the Democratic Party said.

Another Dems lawmaker, Herman Khaeron, echoed Bennys sentiments.

"We respect the other legislative agendas, but its better for us to focus on COVID-19, he said.

House Speaker Puan Maharani, who attended the meeting virtually did not say anything related to the deliberation of the problematic bills.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) executive and daughter of the partys chairwoman and former president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, previously appeared reluctant to deliberate the omnibus bill on job creation. She had cited that the House should be careful in discussing it amid growing public objections against the bill.

Students, workers, activists and experts had taken to the streets to protest the government and Houses plan to endorse it, claiming that it would harm the nations democracy, environment and interests of workers. They had initially geared up for street rallies in March to protest the articles in the bill, which was cancelled due to restrictions on mass gatherings during the pandemic.

Critics have also slammed the legislative agenda, saying that lawmakers used the pandemic to diminish public participation in the deliberation of the problematic bills.

Activists and members of the public have also been persistent in protesting revisions to the KUHP and Correctional Center Law, deeming them as threats to democracy and civil rights.

In September 2019, tens of thousands of university students and citizens also took to the streets to oppose the deliberation of the two bills, which prompted the government and the House to postpone deliberations.

Activists from the National Alliance for the Reform of the KUHP said the government and the House should not use the pandemic as an opportunity to discuss the problematic bills.

The alliance noted that the final draft of the KUHP bill included many controversial articles that would over-criminalize people, including articles to restore a ban on insulting the President that had been repealed by the Constitutional Court. The draft also included stipulations on morality that criminalize, among other things, consensual sex between unmarried people, cohabitation and the promotion of contraception.

"If the government and the House still insist on doing this, it would actually worsen the COVID-19 pandemic. We called on the deliberations to be immediately postponed until the situation returns to normal, the activists said in a written statement on Thursday.

The National Welfare Movement (Gekanas) labor union called on the House to stop the deliberation of the omnibus bill, saying that it would hold a massive protest if the request was ignored.

"If they dont listen to our demands, we will hold a massive protest despite the pandemic, the group said

Charles Simabura, a researcher at Andalas University's Center for Constitutional Studies, called on President Joko Jokowi Widodo to withdraw the presidential letter that gave a green light for the deliberations, saying that the government should focus its energy on COVID-19 and the wide impacts that it brought.

"If this continues, it is clear that the government and the House are using the pandemic as an opportunity to pass the problematic bills, he said.
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks to the media during a press conference at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Feb. 24, 2020.

A group of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) on Friday called on Cambodias National Assembly to approve legislation channeling a portion of the national budget towards fighting the coronavirus outbreak after Prime Minister Hun Sen urged civil servants to donate their salaries to the effort.

In an April 1 letter posted to his Facebook page, Hun Sen announced that he had donated his 10 million riel (U.S. $2,500) monthly salary from March to September to the National Committee for Combating COVID-19the disease caused by the coronavirus, which Cambodia had 114 confirmed cases of as of Friday, with no deaths.

Several other ministers, including Minister of National Defence Tea Banh, followed suit, pledging to donate up to six months of their salaries to the committee that Hun Sen oversees, while the Ministry of the Environment said 36 of its officials will also hand over half a year of wages.

The letter came as a leaked video emerged of the Prime Minister saying he had raised U.S. $11 million to date to fight the spread of the virus, including his donation, and that Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng will be in charge of COVID-19-related expenditures.

Not all of us can make the same donations, he says in the video, during which he also called on members of his cabinet and other civil servants to forgo their pay. Some can donate their whole salary, while others can afford only 20-50 percent.

On Friday, Hun Sen again took to Facebook calling on Cambodians to trust the national health care system, adding that his government plans to build a factory to produce facemasks and hand sanitzer, while local factories will be pressed into producing protective clothing for health workers.

Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service, San Chey, the director of Cambodia-based Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, welcomed the donations, but called on the National Assembly to approve government use of a national budget to fight the virus.

COVID-19 is a national issue, so if the government needs a budget [to combat it], it must go through the National Assembly, he said.

Last month, Hun Sen announced that the country needed a national budget to assist Cambodians impacted by the outbreak, cutting funding for most ministries to 50 percent, and the Ministries of National Defence and Commerce, and the Council of Ministers to 25 percent.

He recently repeated vows not to cut salaries for civil servants during the upcoming April 14-16 Khmer New Year holiday, according to a report by the Phnom Penh Post.

But analyst Kim Sok told RFA Friday that he is concerned Hun Sen will next move from soliciting donations from to reducing the paychecks of civil servants.

When I heard his audio, it seemed as if he wants to take civil servants paychecks, he said.

Government-affiliated online site Fresh News recently published several letters from top government officials, including from the Ministry of Justice, explaining why they were donating their salaries to fight the virus.

In one such letter, Minister of Cult and Religion Chhit Sokhun said he had pledged six months of his salary, worth about 28 million (U.S. $6,900), to join hands with the government to fight against COVID-19.

Treason arrest

Meanwhile, police in the Kandal province have arrested another activist with the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on charges of conspiracy to commit treason.

Chhim Peana, a former CNRP commune councilor, was taken into custody by about 10 police officers on Thursday while picking vegetables at his relatives home, his wife Sok Polyma told RFA.

My husband was shockedhe was simply out picking fruit, she said, adding that he had never conspired against the government or been in trouble with the law.

This is a politically motivated arrest. It is very unjust for millions of people who support the CNRP. The opposition party has done nothing wrong. As his wife, I cannot accept this.

Cambodias Supreme Court banned the CNRP in November 2017 over an alleged plot to topple the government which, along with a wider crackdown by Hun Sen on NGOs and independent media, paved the way for the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in parliament in the countrys July 2018 general election.

Chhim Peana said that she went to see her husband at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday, but was told that he had already been sent to the notorious Prey Sar Prison.

RFA was unable to reach court spokesman Y Rin for comment.

Soeung Senkarona, a spokesman for Cambodian rights group Adhoc, told RFA that the arrest was less about a crime than political persecution of the opposition, and said it would lead to international condemnation of the government.

We have seen clearly that Cambodia is moving off of the path of democracy and human rights, he said.

The government should end this backsliding and instead unite to fight against COVID-19, he added, warning that prosecution of the opposition party will polarize the country.

Mai Hong Sreang (far left) prepares to visit a pagoda to receive a blessing following his release from prison, April 3, 2020. Credit: RFA Activist released

Also on Friday, authorities released CNRP activist Mai Hong Sreang from prison after he completed an eight-month term for incitement related to posting comments critical of the government on Facebook ahead of a planned return by acting CNRP president Sam Rainsy from self-imposed exile to restore democracy in Cambodia.

Sam Rainsys bid was labeled part of a coup attempt by Cambodias government and ultimately blocked.

Mai Hong Sreang was due to be released by April 1, but was detained for two days longer, he told RFA.

He called his arrest and jailing politically motivated, and said his spirit remains strong, in spite of his incarceration.

I believe the government arrested me because they are concerned [over public support of the CNRP], he said.

I maintain that I had no intention of trying to overthrow the government. I only want development for our country.

Mai Hong Sreang had been originally sentenced to 18 months in jail, but his punishment was reduced to eight months by Cambodias Appeals Court.

Adhoc Human Rights Unit Chief Ny Sokha said he was saddened to see the activist jailed and called for national reconciliation amid the virus outbreak.

The court should not only release Mai Hong Sreang, but everyone who is being detained for exercising freedom of expression, he said.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Medical staff from Wuhan No. 1 Hospital bid farewell to medical supporters from Tianjin upon their leaving in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 21, 2020. /Xinhua

Editor's note: Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. He writes on topics pertaining to China, the DPRK, Britain and the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak concerning China has been very binary.

Western commentary has focused extensively on a zero-sum interpretation as to whether the "government" did well either to praise or discredit its efforts.

As the situation in the Western world has deteriorated, the former has largely pushed an aggressive position that the country's efforts to combat the virus could not possibly be better than their own, thus rendering them illegitimate and deceptive.

This has accumulated in an increasingly deranged insistence that China's reported numbers cannot be accurate and, in turn, a politics of "blame." Due to ideological biases, in no circumstances can China be offered any success due to the obsession over the government.

This creates some sharp analytical problems. The overwhelming focus on discrediting the government deprives the Chinese people and the population at large any praise for how they individually tackled the coronavirus.

While this praise is offered to other Asian societies, ideological biases lead Western voices to deprive the Chinese people of agency, initiative and independent thought and completely deny the notion that they could be successful.

Well-educated, informed and cautious, the population at large tackled the coronavirus by following appropriate advice, maintaining social distancing, utilizing technology and taking many precautions. It's time we acknowledge that.

Western ideology promotes a zero-sum assessment of China's political system that deprives its population of individual merits by making the government the only framework of analysis.

Over-focused on this, some in the West commonly assume that Chinese people are in the dark and thus incapable of independent initiative and agency, with all phenomena in the country being reduced and generalized to the whim of a small group of men within the Communist Party of China.

If Chinese people express an opinion, it is typically not taken seriously or as authentic by Western observers, unless it reflects a liberal, dissenting point of view. Obsession with the party clouds everything.

Experts from Peking Union Medical College Hospital at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Wuhan, Hubei Province, March 16, 2020. /Xinhua

This zero-sum view of China subsequently fails to give an accurate assessment of how the population at large responded to the COVID-19 epidemic, namely because most outlets are focused on scoring political points.

There has been little coverage on how the Chinese people themselves are, in fact, well informed on the matter and how a wide variety of information and guidelines are made available through various apps. Assumptions about the government inhibited outsiders from observing this, as they simply believed Chinese people "didn't know."

However, unlike Western countries, which did not immediately grasp the threat of the disease, China took the situation more seriously and strictly followed recommendations of social distancing, mask wearing and staying at home. Attacks on the government cannot paint over the response of the people themselves.

The country at large knew what to do to prevent the spread of disease and did not take unnecessary risks. This, of course, complimented measures taken by authorities and thus enabled an "all society" response to combating the virus, which in turn saw the spread of the disease drop rapidly and in per capita terms, acquire far fewer cases then what we are seeing now in the West.

Yet the dimension of politics prevents many in the West from acknowledging this. They are desperately searching to find what they believe is evidence of a "bigger failure" in China, and this has led to some bizarre reports saying "Wuhan had more cremation urns than usual," ignoring the fact that people die every day irrespective of a virus and conspiracy theories "than China lost 8 million mobile users" because foreigners left the country and people were staying at home not using networks).

Pride and ideology are making it so that the worse the situation becomes in the West, the more difficult it is becoming for some to acknowledge that China did well.

However as a whole, irrespective of criticism, an objective interpretation of China's COVID-19 response does not just focus on a zero-sum game as to whether the government "won" or "lost" but actually looks into the actions and initiative of the people as well, and herein is where their argument falls apart.

The Chinese society took every action necessary to combat the virus that was integral to its containment. The population was ready, courteous, informed and chose to take no risks.

Thus, whatever you might say about what happened in Wuhan, the Chinese people themselves played a role in overcoming the virus. Therefore, it is silly to obsessively try and discredit this in the view of Western outbreaks.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

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Elon Musk in June 2019.

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Picture

Elon Musk was criticized on Thursday for apparently sending BiPAP machines, not the life-support ventilators most-needed to save coronavirus patients, to a New York hospital.

New York City Hospitals thanked Musk and Tesla in a tweet for sending "40 ventilators" to a hospital in Queens, but the photo appears to show a BiPAP machine, which is more commonly used for sleep apnea.

Some medical experts have warned that CPAP and BiPAP machines could be harmful in treating coronavirus patients by potentially spreading the disease.

But, the FDA recently issued guidance that CPAP and BiPAP machines could be substituted for ventilators as hospitals face shortages.

Musk said in a tweet that hospitals were given "exact specifications" about the machines and that hospitals "confirmed they would be critical."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Elon Musk is being criticized for appearing to send BiPAP machines, not life-support ventilators, to a hospital in New York.

In a tweet, New York City Hospitals thanked Musk and Tesla for sending "40 ventilators" to Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York. The photo appears to show a BiPAP machine, which is more commonly used for problems like sleep apnea, rather than one of the larger, more expensive life-support ventilators that hospitals around the country are asking for to treat coronavirus patients.

NYC Health + Hospitals (@NYCHealthSystem) March 31, 2020

Musk has said that he would supply ventilators to hospitals where there are shortages, and that he would use Tesla factories to produce some.

The ventilators sent to the hospital in Queens, however, appear to be made by a company called ResMed, which told the Financial Times that "we think it's great that Tesla purchased bilevel non-invasive ventilators," more commonly referred to as BiPAP machines. "We applaud any company who can help get ventilators and other respiratory products to those in need," the company said.

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The use of BiPAP machines to treat coronavirus patients is controversial. Kaiser Health News reported that using the machines with a face mask could aerosolize the virus, causing it to potentially spread faster. The American Society of Anesthesiologists similarly said in February that using CPAP or BiPAP machines "may increase the risk of infectious transmission."

But, the FDA recently said that CPAP and BiPAP machines could be used as an alternative to traditional life-support ventilators as hospitals around the country face shortages of the larger, more complex and costly ventilators.

Musk said in a tweet on Thursday that "all hospitals were given exact specifications" of the machines, and that "all confirmed they would be critical." He added that delivery of more intensive ventilators made by Medtronic would be delivered in New York City Thursday evening.

Still, some on Twitter were quick to criticize Musk for possibly overstating his actions, recalling past public snafus like Musk's infamous "funding secured" tweet.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The worst Covid-19-affected city in India has activated 474 teams across 241 containment zones and checked more than 900,000 people as part of its plan to stop the spread of the Sars-Cov-2 virus through human-to-human contact. As of 9 pm on April 3, Mumbai had 278 positive cases and 18 deaths  the highest for any Indian city  according to data released by Maharashtras nodal state health department.

Each team comprises two or three Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staff members, and is mandated to identify a containment zone, conduct door-to-door surveys, and get a questionnaire answered by all residents in that zone. In Mumbai, a containment zone is categorised as one if a single person from any area is tested positive for Covid-19. The patients family and the building are identified as a cluster zone and at least four to five adjoining buildings on all sides are mapped in the containment zone, depending on the areas population density. The greater the population density, the wider the radius of containment zone, a BMC health official explained on Friday.

According to BMC protocol, the family and immediate neighbours of positive patients are tested, as they are considered high risk. Other residents of the building are considered low risk and are asked to be in home quarantine. They are also asked to keep a tab on their symptoms. Residents of adjoining buildings in the containment zone are also surveyed. Entry and exit from a containment zone is restricted and severe lockdown protocols are put in place.

Each of these teams identifies at least 50 high risk cases per day, a senior BMC health officer said. These high risk persons are direct contacts and who have fever, cold, cough, breathlessness, etc. Depending on severity of the symptoms, we advise testing and visiting the closest Covid-19 hospital.

City health officials said this protocol differs from the guidelines issued by the Centre for identifying clusters and containment zones on account of Mumbais high population density (32,303 persons per square km). A senior civic officer said, BMC has been given permission to draw up its own guidelines. Across all other districts in Maharashtra, however, clusters are identified if more than three persons are found to be Covid-19 positive in the area. Following that, an area of 3 sq km is screened.

At present, BMCs health officers said, 300 of the 474 teams are on the field at any given time.

BMC said it is uses video analytics software on top of the live footage it receives from the 5,000 installed closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras across the city to monitor human movement in a containment zone. No one is allowed to roam around in a containment zone, said an officer involved in executing the containment zone strategy. If the software spots any movement in the feed, the disaster control room is alerted. We are also updated on the instances of human movement and also crowding. We activate the disaster management team and they ensure that people dont move out. If people move out regularly, we are mandated to take action against them. Food and essential items are being delivered to persons in the containment zone.

In addition to regulating movement, BMC said on Friday that it will start medical camps at the perimeter of containment zones. As no resident living in the containment zone is allowed to exit, any person showing symptoms of Covid-19 can approach the medical camp. Patients with other illnesses can also approach the medical camp for a quick diagnosis, and referral to a hospital, a health officer said. This comes just days after reports such as the death of a senior citizen in Kurla (in central Mumbai) due to a stroke. The senior citizen was a resident of a building sealed by BMC after a positive case of Covid-19 was reported. The locals had alleged that policemen standing guard at the building did not allow the man to leave the premises for medical attention.
Barcroft Media/Getty

Joseph Neufeld has worked at his familys funeral home in Queens for more than 50 years. He knows the usual flow of activity: a death call once a day, maybe two, from a family home or a neighboring hospital. Collect the body, meet the family, host the funeralbig events, overflowing with friends and family members. Maybe six or seven of those a week.

Last week, there were 25. The events were somber, shorter, with fewer family members. Today, Neufeld decided there will be no more visitations at all. With the way the virus is spreading, he said, its simply too much to pull off.

Ive been doing this over 50 years, he told The Daily Beast. Its never been like this. Ive had busy times, but nothing like this.

Neufelds funeral home is located six blocks from Elmhurst Hospital, the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in New York City. Last week, 13 people died of the virus at the hospital in a single day. Four more died in the next 24 hours. Doctors at the hospital called the situation apocalyptic.

Just as the virus is straining healthcare resources, it is pushing the citys death-care industry to its limit. Hospitals are calling in mobile morgues to hold extra bodies. Funeral homes are running low on protective gear. Crematories have arranged for curbside pickup of human remains. In interviews with funeral home and cemetery directors around the city, workers described an industry on the verge of collapse.

The death rate is more than the funeral industry can handle, said Patrick Kearns, of Leo F. Kearns Funeral Home in Queens. Were all being completely overwhelmed.

Refrigerated trailers have been placed outside Bellevue Hospital to serve as makeshift morgues for coronavirus victims. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

The problem starts at the hospital. More than 12,000 people are currently hospitalized in New York state; about a quarter of those are in intensive care. Mayor Bill de Blasio has said the city needs to increase its hospital capacity from 20,000 beds to 65,000 beds by the end of April. But that wont do much for the deadalmost 1,400 of them so far. Some projections estimate the death toll could reach 16,000 in New York state alone.

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To handle the increase in bodies, the city has purchased 45 refrigerated trucks to station outside hospitals. FEMA also plans to send another 85 mobile morgues to the area, and the Department of Defense Mortuary Affairs is sending 42 staffers to the citys chief medical examiners office. A spokesperson for the office told The New York Times that the 45 trucks would increase the citys morgue capacity from 900 to at least 3,500.

But the body count problem trickles down. More bodies in the morgue means more competition for funerals, which means more competition for graves, which means more bodies sitting in the morgue, waiting for someone to pick them up. Avi Schuman, an assistant at a Jewish burial organization in Brooklyn, said he recently spent three hours at the hospital waiting for a funeral director to collect a body.

This is overwhelming and the funeral homes themselves are not coping, the people picking up the bodies are not coping; the whole system is strained, Schuman said.

At his funeral home in Queens, Kearns says he hosted more than 60 funerals in the last month. In a typical month, he hosts 40. His staff is working round the clock, with no days off, but theyre still struggling to keep up. Its completely overwhelming, he said.

Lately, Kearns has had to get creative. He souped up the air conditioning in one of his unused chapels last week and cranked it until the temperature reached just over 50 degrees. Hes using it as storage space for overflow bodies.

Several funeral home directors said theyre feeling pressure from the city not to hold visitations, or to keep them short. Most viewings are restricted to immediate family and are supposed to be capped at 20 minutes. At least one Jewish funeral home is now doing only graveside funerals. Neufeld said some families have dispensed with the visitations entirely, moving straight to burial or cremation.

But Kearns said visitations are even more important for families of COVID-19 victims.

"Often they're going off in an ambulance and the family never sees them again, he said. These people are dying alone because they cant have visitors... The thought of just taking them from the hospital and immediately cremating them, which some people have suggested should be done, is really difficult on the family.

Neufeld said he hasnt been militant about the number of people at visitations either. If more come in the door, were not turning them away, he said. We're not telling them they cant come in. I just dont agree with that.

Cuomo Says Coronavirus Is More Dangerous Than We Thought as N.Y. Cases Jump Overnight

The biggest problem for funeral directors comes after the visitation. Arranging for a burial or intermenta process that usually takes hoursnow goes on for days. Overwhelmed cemeteries and crematoriums have week-long waiting lists. Some are running with half crews, splitting their employees into two groups so that one can keep working even if the other gets sick. Graveyards run by the Department Veterans Affairsincluding Calverton National Cemetery on Long Islandhave canceled all committal services until further notice.

Kearns said he feels like some cemeteries are not doing enough. I was sounding the alarm early about [how] we need to work with the cemeteries and crematories so they can increase the numbers, he said.

There are plenty of nurses and doctors who are working longer days than they normally work, he added. Funeral directors are stepping up, and the cemeteries need to step up and increase their hours. We all have to work harder just to keep up with this.

The crematory chambers at historic Green-Wood Cemetery are working double shifts. Bestbudbrian/Wikimedia Commons

From his office at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn last week, Rich Moylan watched a funeral progress as if on a foreign planet. The families waited in their cars while the gravediggers, clad in full-body hazmat suits, rested the casket on the lowering deck. The gravediggers moved 10 feet away and allowed a few family members, all in surgical masks, to approach the grave and say their goodbyes. Others stayed in their cars and waved through the windows. When the family retreated to a safe distance, the gravediggers returned and lowered him into the grave.

It was pretty darn sad, said Moylan, who has worked at Green-Wood for nearly 50 years. Im getting choked up just thinking about when I looked out my window and saw that.

But what worries Moylan most isnt the burials, its the cremations. Green-Wood has the most crematory chambers in the city, and right now theyre working double shifts6 a.m. to 9 p.m., thanks to orders from the city letting them expand their hours. (Hours after Moylans interview, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection announced that crematoriums could extend their operations to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.)

Moylan said he trained more people in using the crematorium last year than he ever thought necessary, and he's glad he did. Demand for cremations has gone up 50 percent in the last week alone. Funeral homes hes never seen before are showing up, asking for their services. The city medical examiners office even asked Green-Wood to help out the other day. Moylan said he had to turn them down because he was over capacity.

As concerned as he is for volume, Moylan is also worried about the health of his staff. Other crematories have switched to curbside pick-up: no mourners in or out of the office, leave the remains in your car, someone will come collect them. Moylan said Green-Wood isnt there yet. But its stopped all nonessential services, like tree trimming and memorial maintenance, and is focusing on what he calls the sacred duty: burying the dead.

At age 65, Moylan is in a high-risk category but is still coming into the office every day. I cant stay home if Im asking my people to be here and risk themselves, he said.

Everyone in the death industry is worried about their workers these days. According to the New York Department of Health, there is no known risk associated with being in the same room as someone who died from the virus. But close family membersthe kind who attend funerals and visitationsmay have already been exposed. (The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration classifies funeral home workers who engage with these family members as a high exposure risk.)

And death-care workers arent immune to the protective equipment shortages plaguing the rest of the country. At Cobble Hill Chapels, funeral director Brooklyn Pesola said she orders her masks and gloves from the same supplier as local hospitals, which is struggling to meet demand. She doesnt know what will happen when the virus reaches its peak, which isnt expected for weeks.

"Once were down to the last glove and the last mask were pretty much done, I guess, she said.

Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters

But whats hardest for many of the directors is watching families try to grieve in this environment. For all their solemnity, funerals are usually touchy-feely things: lots of hugging, kissing, wiping of each others tears. Now even family members are being asked to stand 6 feet apart as they mourn.

Normally you have a full day of visitation, even two, and you have friends and other family members that can come, said Neufelds son, Joseph Jr. Being able to speak with them can take your mind off of the death of your loved one. And now theyre being denied that.

Kearns said its even affecting his own work as a funeral director. Hes worked in the community for 25 years, and some of the people who come in are like family to him. Finding ourselves sitting 6 feet across the table from someone with a mask on, It's not what we do, he said. Its not how we do it.

Like many New Yorkers, Moylan said the feeling reminded him of 9/11only, somehow more unsettling. With 9/11, the goal was to get back to normal, he said. Now its like, No, we cant get back to normal. We dont know when were going to get back to normal.

On that day in 2001, Moylan was at a cemetery convention in Canada. He watched the towers fall on TV in disbelief, unable to reach his wife of his coworkers.

That was the worst day of my life, he said. And Im wondering if this is ultimately going to be worse.

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Independent merchants statewide, whose brick and mortar sites may be closed because of the pandemic, now have an online presence -- RetailNewYork.com --where customers can shop, thanks to the Retail Council of New York State.

Their stores might be closed for now, but theyre open for on-line and phone orders and ready to ship right to your door, said Retail Council of New York State President and CEO Ted Potrikus. We want to fill the site with contact information for stores of every sort. These are the Main Street merchants who need our support.
Diver Forms Amazing 2-Year Friendship With Tiny Racoon Butterfly Fish Who Recognizes Her, Swims to Say Hi
Cruise ships are shown docked at PortMiami in Miami, on March 31, 2020. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)

Stranded Cruise Ships Struggle to Find Welcome Port

More than a dozen cruise ships remain stranded at sea right nowsome with and some without passengersas ports deny entry and passengers panic about returning home.

On March 13, in light of mounting fears over onboard COVID-19 outbreaks, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) made the decision to suspend operations from U.S. ports of call for 30 days.

Two weeks later, thousands of passengers and crew members remain aboard at least 15 ships across the world.

Industry group CLIA encompasses 38 cruise companies, with a total of 277 ships.

The organization confirmed to CNN on March 31 that 3.6% of the total fleet was still at sea completing adjusted itineraries and five ships are awaiting debarkation.

Flight restrictions and port closures have led to some challenges bringing ships in, however our members are working around the clock to address these road blocks, a CLIA spokesperson told CNN Travel.

CLIA is asking ports and governments around the world to allow these ships to come into port so that those onboard can make their way home safely and as quickly as possible.

Major cruise lines P&O, Cunard, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Holland America have now extended their ban on cruising until mid-May.

Here are details on the cruise ships still in limbo that we know about.

Cruise ships with passengers

ZaandamHolland America

Status: Disembarking at Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Zaandam was sailing a South American voyage that departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 and was originally supposed to conclude in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21.

No one has exited the ship since it stopped in Punta Arenas, Chile, on March 14. Guests were originally told they could disembark in Chile for flights, but ultimately this was forbidden.

Once flu-like symptoms cropped up on board, those with symptoms were isolated and their traveling companions quarantined. All guests were asked to remain in their staterooms.

Four guests on board Zaandam have passed away, the cruise line confirmed on March 27.

The Zaandam cruise ship enters the Panama City Bay to be assisted by the Rotterdam cruise ship with supplies, personnel, and COVID-19 testing devices, 8 miles from Panama City, on March 27, 2020. (Luis Acosta/AFP via Getty Images)

I fear other lives are at risk, Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, said in a statement.

All the ports en route are closed to cruise ships, so Holland America deployed another of its ships, Rotterdam, to offer relief.

Rotterdam met Zaandam off Panama in the evening of March 26 to provide extra supplies, staff, COVID-19 test kits and other support as needed.

Previously, the ship had no coronavirus test kits on board.

Holland America transferred healthy Zaandam guests to Rotterdam. The guests who moved from Zaandam to Rotterdam completed a health screening beforehand, the cruise line said.

There are currently 808 guests and 583 crew on Rotterdam. On Zaandam, there are 442 guests and 603 crew members on board.

As of April 2, 107 guests (90 on Zaandam/17 on Rotterdam) and 143 crew on Zaandam (0 on Rotterdam) have presented with influenza-like symptoms.

Guests on both ships are remaining in their staterooms until the ship disembarks.

On March 29, Holland America confirmed it was granted special approval by the Panama Canal Authority to transit Zaandam and Rotterdam through the Panama Canal.

On April 2, Holland America confirmed that both Zaandam and Rotterdam were cleared for arrival to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Guests will be health screened upon arrival.

The MS Zaandam at sea. (Courtesy of Holland America)

Disembarkation is expected to be completed by Friday evening local time. In a statement, Holland America said priority would be given to those in need of immediate medical care. They will transfer to local health system partners who have approved their arrival.

Guests who are deemed fit to travel will travel straight to the airport, with the majority booked on charter flights.

Guests who still have symptoms will remain on board and disembark at a later date to be finalized after they have fully recovered and meet the CDC guidelines for being fit to travel, said Holland America. They will continue to be well cared for on board by the ships medical staffs.

No crew from either ship will disembark.

Coral PrincessPrincess Cruises

Status: Sailing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Coral Princess departed Santiago, Chile, on March 5. Princess Cruises announced operations were halting one week later.

Princess Cruises tried to negotiate disembarkation in Brazil for guests on board the Coral Princess. Anvisa, the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, denied the disembarkation of Coral Princess guests, including those with confirmed outbound flights.

The ship is now traveling directly to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

On April 2, a Princess Cruises spokesperson confirmed to CNN Travel that there are 12 positive cases of COVID-19 on board.

There are 1,898 people onboard: 1,020 guests and 878 crew members

In response to a reported small cluster of cases of respiratory illness, Coral Princess proactively collected and sent 13 COVID-19 test samples to Barbados on March 31. We can confirm the results yielded 12 positive cases: seven guests and five crew, said the Princess Cruises spokesperson.

Guests and crew members who arent working have been self-isolating in their staterooms since Monday, and will continue to do so.

Face masks are also being distributed to guests.

Laura Gabaroni and her husband Juan Huergo take a selfie on board a tender after they were evacuated from the Zaandam, a Holland American cruise ship, near the Panama Canal, on March 28, 2020. (Juan Huergo via AP)

Christine Beehler, 72, from New Hampshire, is on board the ship, traveling alone.

Beehler says she had no qualms about boarding back in early March. But the trip took a turn on March 13.

Since then, she says, tensions have often been high.

Yet I think most are coping well, she tells CNN Travel, speaking from her cabin where shes currently self-isolating.

Beehler is concerned the ship will not be allowed to disembark in Florida, but heartened by the news about Zaandam and Rotterdam.

For now, Beehler is trying to stay positive.

The four walls get a little tiring, she admits, but shes in regular communication with other passengers on board, and theyre keeping each others spirits up. She has a Whatsapp group with other solo travelers on board.

Beehler praises the captain for being very forthcoming with his transparency and calls the crew phenomenal.

Beehler has five further cruise trips booked for this year, although some have been canceled. She also says she remains a devoted cruiser, and plans to take this exact same cruise in 2021.

Princess Cruises said internet and guest stateroom telephone service is currently complimentary, to help guests stay in touch with family members.

The ship is expected to arrive into Fort Lauderdale on April 4.

ArcadiaP&O Cruises UK

Status: Sailing to Southampton, England

Cruise ship Arcadia embarked on a 100-day, round trip World Cruise back in January, in a very different cruising landscape.

Now, the ship is making its way back to Southampton, in the UK. Its due to arrive on April 12, 2020, on schedule.

The ship is skipping all stops after it was turned away from Cape Town.

As South African authorities are enforcing additional entry and travel restrictions because of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, COVID-19 pandemic, all guests are remaining on board until Southampton, where Arcadia is due to arrive on Sunday, 12 April as per the original itinerary, said P&O Cruises in a statement.

There are no reported cases of COVID-19 on board.

Pacific PrincessPrincess Cruises

Status: Sailing to Los Angeles, California

The Pacific Princess docked in Australia on Saturday, March 21, with the majority of passengers who disembarked on flights March 22 or March 23.

Those who couldnt fly due to medical reasons remained on board the ship, which is now traveling towards Los Angeles.

According to former passenger CJ Hayden, some of those on board were previously traveling on Holland Americas Amsterdam, which also docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 21.

Princess Cruises says there are 115 passengers on board and no known cases of COVID-19.

The Grand Princess cruise ship passes beneath the Golden Gate Bridge in this view from Sausalito, Calif., on March 9, 2020. (Eric Risberg/AP Photo)

The Pacific Princess is due to arrive in Los Angeles on April 24. It stopped briefly in Melbourne, Australia, to refuel and replenish provisions, according to Princess Cruises.

The ship is also expected to dock in Honolulu, Hawaii, for an additional service stop.

A passenger on board, who preferred to remain anonymous, told CNN that despite the circumstances, the voyage has been another wonderful and enjoyable Princess cruise.

We are looking forward to the future when we can start sailing again with Princess, they added.

Queen Mary 2Cunard

Status: Sailing to Southampton, England

The Queen Mary 2 set off on a 113-day New York to New York voyage on Jan. 3, 2020.

Queen Mary 2s World Voyage was canceled and the ship is currently en route to Southampton from Australia, says a Cunard spokesperson.

Most guests disembarked in Perth and flew back home from there.

The only guests who remain on board are those who are unable to fly due to medical reasons, said Cunard in a statement.

There are 264 guests still on board.

There are no known cases of COVID-19 on board.

Costa Deliziosa

Status: Sailing to Venice, Italy

Costa Deliziosa set sail on an 87-day round world voyage from Venice on Jan. 5, 2020.

When Costa Cruises, owned by Carnival, decided to suspend cruises, Costa Deliziosa was the only cruise that wasnt immediately canceled.

The current world tour itinerary will be completed to allow guests to disembark and return home, was the cruise lines official statement.

Some passengers disembarked and traveled home when the ship stopped off in Perth on March 16. The only passengers allowed to disembark were those with booked flights.

The ship is due to return to Venice, Italy on April 26, although the destination could be changed.

Dana Lindberg is on board the Costa Deliziosa, a once in a lifetime trip shes planned since early 2018.

Boarding the world cruise in January, Lindberg did not consider that the itinerary would be impacted. It was only in February, as COVID-19 fears ramped up, that the ship revised its voyage to avoid Asia.

Passengers will have been at sea without docking for at least a month when the Costa Deliziosa eventually disembarks guests.

We still do not know what port we will ultimately disembark from, Lindberg tells CNN Travel.

Im not sure why the ship is moving so slowly. However, we are safer here than in Italy. I personally would rather disembark in Greece but I have no say in the situation.

Lindberg is also concerned about how she and the other 10 American passengers will travel home to the U.S.

My biggest complaint is lack of information regarding what is happening and regarding refunds/compensation for all the ports and included excursions that did not happen, she says.

There are no reports of COVID-19 on board, and Lindberg says passengers spirits are relatively high given the circumstances.

I dont think this experience will deter me from future cruising, she adds. However, I may not plan to do a 4-month cruise again.

Lindberg also says she would consider carefully which cruise line she picked for her next trip, depending on how Costa handles the present situation.

MSC MagnificaMSC Cruises

Status: Sailing to Europe

MSC Magnifica disembarked on a world voyage on Jan. 4, 2020.

The ships passengers were not allowed to disembark when the ship docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 24.

The Magnifica says there are no sick passengers on board.

An MSC spokesperson told CNN Travel: MSC Magnifica, currently sailing a world cruise, is en route from Australia to Europe.

Costa VictoriaCosta Cruises

Status: Berthed in Civitavecchia, Italy

The Costa Victoria cruise ship arrived in Civitavecchia, in Italy, on March 25.

Earlier in the voyage, a passenger tested positive for coronavirus and was disembarked in Greece.

The disembarkation process in Italy is ongoing.

ColumbusCruise & Maritime Voyages

Status: Sailing to Tilbury, England

Last week, two Cruise & Maritime Voyages ships, Columbus and Vasco da Gama, met at sea 12 nautical miles off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, to undertake what the cruise line called a unique passenger transfer and repatriation operation.

This decision was made to help get passengers on both vessels home as quickly as possible.

Some 239 passengers were transferred between the ships. British nationals transferred onto the Columbus, which is heading to the UK, while Australians and New Zealanders are now on board the Vasco da Gama.

There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on either ship.

The Columbus is set to arrive in Tilbury on April 13.

ArtaniaPhoenix

Status: In Western Australia

The Artania cruise ship embarked on a 140-day world cruise from Hamburg, Germany, to Bremerhaven, Germany, on Dec. 21, 2019.

The ship has now docked in Western Australia.

One passenger, who has since disembarked, tested positive for coronavirus earlier in the journey.

A further 36 passengers tested positive for COVID-19 following a check from Australian health officials upon arrival in Fremantle.

In a statement, cruise line Phoenix Reisen said these passengers were subsequently disemb a rked and quarantined in local hospitals.

Healthy passengers stayed on board the ship until their repatriation flights, which took place on March 29.

The majority of passengers are German. Those from elsewhere in Europe were also taken back to Germany.

According to Phoenix Reisen, 16 passengers, plus hundreds of crew members, decided to stay on board the Artania, and travel back home that way.

Cruise ships without passengers

Vasco da GamaCruise & Maritime Voyages

Status: Passengers in quarantine in Western Australia. Ship sailing back to Tilbury, UK

The Vasco da Gama cruise ship docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 28.

There were 798 Australians and 108 New Zealanders on board the vessel.

The New Zealand guests disembarked the ship and flew home from Perth on Sunday, March, 29.

On Monday, March 30, all Vasco da Gama passengers from Western Australia traveled to nearby Rottnest island, where they will spend 14 days in self-isolation, before they are able to travel home.

Australian citizens from other states will be asked to spend their 14-day quarantine at hotels in Perth which have been specifically set aside for this purpose, said Cruise & Maritime Voyages, in a statement.

There are no suspected cases of COVID-19 on board.

Vasco da Gama has now disembarked passengers at Fremantle and is heading back to the UK with only crew members on board.

Oasis of the SeasRoyal Caribbean

Status: In Miami, Florida

Passengers departed the Oasis of the Seas in Miami two weeks ago, but crew members remain on board.

On Sunday, the Miami Herald reported it had obtained a leaked recording of the ships captain announcing that 14 crewmembers had tested positive for COVID-19.

CNN reached out to Royal Caribbean regarding the report, who said: The health and well-being of our crew is our foremost priority. Crewmembers who exhibited symptoms were evaluated by our medical staff and remain under close supervision.

In accordance with our health and safety protocols, our crew have been asked to self-isolate in cabins while we await confirmation of initial results from public health authorities.

The ship was anchored off the Bahamas but has since returned to the Miami coast.

On March 31, the cruise line confirmed via a statement to CNN that one crew member from Oasis of the Seas and one from nearby Symphony of the Seas were being medically evacuated for observation and treatment of respiratory issues.

We are grateful to local authorities for their support with the evacuations, added the spokesperson.

The ship is currently off the coast of West Palm Beach, Florida.

Symphony of the SeasRoyal Caribbean

Status: In Miami, Florida

Symphony of the Seas is the worlds biggest cruise ship, with 18 decks in total.

Passengers disembarked in Miami on March 14, but crew members remain on board.

The ship is currently anchored off Palm Beach, Floridafollowing the medical evacuation of the sick crew.

Costa DiademaCosta Cruises

Status: Berthed in Piombino, Italy

Costa Diadema berthed in Piombino on March 31, after being denied docking rights at other ports.

Piombinos mayor Francesco Ferrari said via a statement on his official Facebook page that no gratitude was necessary.

I did what any responsible Italian would have done, Ferrari said.

I could not allow more than a thousand people to remain in the open sea, especially in the precarious conditions that our country and the whole world are going through.

There were 1,255 crew members on board. Three crew members with serious symptoms of COVID-19 were disembarked and taken to hospital.

There were five people also displaying symptoms, and a further 13 with mild symptoms, according to Ferrari.

Doctors are now testing all those on board and charter flights have been set up to repatriate non-Italians.

Costa MagicaCosta Cruises

The Costa Magica is docked near Miami, Florida.

Last week, six crew members with respiratory symptoms were evacuated from the ship, and then transported to a hospital on shore by Miami-Dade Fire, according to a tweet from Miami-Dade County Emergency Management.

The vessel does not have permission to enter the Port of Miami.

The ship previously docked in Guadeloupe and all passengers disembarked to get on flights.

Costa FavolosaCosta Cruises

Also docked near Miami is another Costa cruise ship, Favolosa.

Seven ill crew members were evacuated from this ship along with the sick passengers who had been on board Costa Magica.

Like Costa Magica, the ship previously docked in Guadeloupe, and passengers disembarked there.

AzuraP&O Cruises UK

Azura is sailing back to Southampton, England with no guests on board. It was due to dock March 31.

Hanseatic NatureHapag-Lloyd Cruises

The Hanseatic Nature is traveling from Central America to Hamburg, Germany, scheduled to arrive on April 15.

This voyage is taking place to get the ship to its hold position.

All Hapag-Lloyd Cruises guests have disembarked.

According to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises press team, crew members on board this ship have challenged themselves to walk and jog the track around the ship to keep busy and exercise during the crossing.

They are hoping the entire crew of 138 do 28 laps a day, for the 27 day trip, if every crew member does the 28 laps a day it will equal the distance they are crossing, 7700 nautical miles = 8861.01 miles, says a Hapag-Lloyd Cruises spokesperson.

EuropaHapag-Lloyd Cruises

This ship is on course to Barbados, scheduled to arrive April 3. This voyage is also taking place to get the ship to its appropriate hold position.

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
The U.S. Supreme Courts 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder left a gaping hole in our Constitutions promise of democracy and opened the door to rampant voter suppression. Now COVID-19 is making things exponentially worse.

The 54 ruling in Shelby County transformed our multiracial democracy, eliminating our nations most successful weapon against racial discrimination in voting. It gutted the Voting Rights Act, the crown jewel of the civil rights movement. By preventing states with a long history of discrimination from instituting discriminatory voting changes, the actuntil Shelby Countyhelped safeguard the constitutional mandate of equal political opportunity for all citizens regardless of race. Turning a blind eye to the Constitutions explicit grant of power to Congress to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion claimed that, because the South had changed, the acts formula defining which states were covered by the requirement to preapprove voting changes was unconstitutional.

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Our democracy has not been the same since. After the ruling, polling places, particularly those located in communities of color, have been closed en masse. In the six years following the ruling, 13 states slashed nearly 1,700 polling places, forcing people to travel further to vote and making polls more crowded and lines longer. On Super Tuesday this yearseemingly a lifetime agoblack and brown voters waited upward of seven hours into the night to vote at a polling place at a historically black college in Texas. These long lines, as Ari Berman observed, were due in part to the fact that Texas closed 750 polling placesmany in growing communities of colorafter the Roberts court gutted the Voting Rights Act.

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In recent years, millions of citizens, disproportionately voters of color, have been purged from the rolls, needlessly forcing them to reregister. From 201618, 17 million citizens were subject to voter purges, predominantly in jurisdictions previously under federal voting rights supervision because of their long history of voting discrimination. These purgesmany targeting brown citizens based on supposed noncitizenshiphave only picked up speed. And, on top of that, harsh voter identification lawsbased on the lie that in-person voter fraud is a real problemhave made it harder for black and brown citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

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The pandemic is exacerbating these problems. States are moving and consolidating polling places, and eliminating voting in senior citizens centers and nursing homes and other places designed to make it easier for older Americans to vote. This is a sensible precaution to protect public healthas COVID-19 represents a particular threat to the elderlybut, on top of years of closures spurred by Shelby County, it means that it is harder than ever for individuals to find a polling place to exercise the right to vote, particularly for communities of color.

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Polling place closures are likely to be most severe in urban communities, where voters of color are concentrated and where concerns about the spread of the virus are heightened. For example, in Milwaukee, where a primary election is supposed to go forward next week, polling places for the upcoming primary went from 180 to five. Holding an election under these circumstances would be cruel and undemocratic, and we are likely to see a replay of the situation in November unless we act soon.

Further, millions of purged voters have to reregister at a time when states around the country are insisting that people stay at home. And purges are not stopping, even as voter registration has been crippled by DMV closures and social distancing rules. Recently, Georgia instituted a mass purge of hundreds of thousands of voters. The courts restored the registration of some of these voters, but much of the purge was upheld, due in part to a recent Roberts court ruling that gutted federal voting rights protections. In 2018, in Georgia and elsewhere, as gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams put it, democracy failed without the protection of the Voting Rights Act. This year, the pandemic is making efforts to purge the electorate even more destructive of our democracy.

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As a nation, we must ensure that no one has to choose between exercising their right to vote and protecting their health. But in ensuring the integrity of our democracy in the wake of COVID-19, we cannot lose sight of barriers to registration and voting that states previously under federal supervision have piled upon voters of color. We need a democracy that works for all of us.

Is there a way forward? Perhaps, but it requires the public to put pressure on our elected leaders to ensure that the pandemic doesnt imperil our Constitutions promise of democracy for all.

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First, online voter registration, which already exists in 39 states, is vital to allow purged and other voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote at a time when voter registration has largely moved to the digital realm. Currently, 1 in 6 Americans live in states that still do not fully allow online voter registration. Second, we need to find ways to facilitate vote by mail and expand early voting. These can maximize voting opportunities without the need for close contact and can make polling places less crowded and lines shorterimperatives in the age of social distancing. Third, we need polling places that are safe, clean, and accessible for all citizens, so that citizens can exercise their right to vote, even as they comply with strict social distancing rules. As polling places are consolidated, election authorities must ensure that all citizens regardless of race have an accessible and safe place to exercise their right to vote.

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Unfortunately, conservativeswho killed efforts to restore the Voting Rights Act to its former glory after it passed the House of Representatives in late 2019have trotted out a litany of specious arguments to justify their failure to protect voting rights, even in a pandemic. During Senate deliberation over the stimulus bill, Sen. Mike Lee insisted that this isnt Congresss place to act in the first place, ignoring Congress explicit constitutional authority to protect the right to vote in federal elections. Sen. Ben Sasse claimed that safeguards to protect the vote in November have nothing to do with the coronavirus, while Sen. Marsha Blackburn argued that protecting the vote is playing political games and antics.

Conservative groups insisted that increasing opportunities for voting by mail was an effort to rig elections. In Georgia, state House Speaker David Ralston said that mailing an absentee ballot to every registered voter will be extremely devastating to Republicans and conservatives in Georgia. President Donald Trump went even further, suggesting that facilitating higher levels of voting would mean that youd never have a Republican elected in this country again. As Trumps candid concession betrayed, conservative arguments for leaving a discriminatory status quo in place are, at bottom, about ensuring their stranglehold on power.

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Throughout our history, we have protected the right to vote, even in the midst of war and deadly diseases. Creative solutions to make our democracy work for all of us, while battling a pandemic, do not constitute vote riggingthey are upholding what our Constitution promises. If we fail to live up to our constitutional responsibility, it will hurt all voters, but it will fall hardest on communities of color, who have already felt the devastating impact of abandoning our constitutional commitment to an inclusive democracy open to all.

For more on the impact of COVID-19, listen to this weeks What Next: TBD.
Tehran: Iran's Parliament says speaker Ali Larijani has tested positive for the new coronavirus and is in quarantine. Larijani is the highest-ranking official within Iran's government to test positive for the virus and the COVID-19 illness it causes.

Parliament announced Larijani's illness on Thursday on its website, saying he was receiving treatment in quarantine. Iran has one of the world's worst outbreaks of the virus.

Iran on Thursday reported 124 new deaths from the coronavirus, raising its total to 3,160, as President Hassan Rouhani warned that the country may still battle the pandemic for another year.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the latest toll in a news conference and confirmed 3,111 new infections over the past 24 hours, bringing Iran's total to 50,468.

He said 16,711 of those hospitalised had so far recovered.

Iran has been scrambling to contain the COVID-19 outbreak since it reported its first cases on February 19. After weeks of refraining from imposing a lockdown or quarantine measures, Tehran decided last week to ban all intercity travel until at least April 8.

There is no official lockdown within Iran's cities, although the government has repeatedly urged Iranians to stay at home to contain the spread of the virus. Rouhani warned at a cabinet meeting on Thursday that there was no quick fix. "Coronavirus is not something for which we can point to a certain date and say it will be completely eradicated by then," he said.

Rouhani said the virus "may be with us in upcoming months, or until the end" of the current Iranian year, in March 2021. The country, one of the world's worst hit by the pandemic which originated in China, must remain vigilant and more limitations may be implemented, he said.

Iran has closed schools and universities until early April and also four key Shiite pilgrimage sites, including the Fatima Masumeh shrine in Qom. It has discouraged travel, cancelled the main weekly Friday prayers and temporarily closed Parliament.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video message was "disappointing" as he did not address the needs of people who "felt left out" of financial package announced by government earlier and there are many issues on which he could have taken people into confidence.

Tharoor told ANI that he will light 'diya' on April 5 on the call of Prime Minister but the country was expecting a lot from his video message telecast on Friday morning.

"I will light a diya in solidarity with people of India. But it was disappointing for me to see the Prime Minister devoting his speech to this only because there is so much more the nation was expecting from him," Tharoor said.

He was asked about Prime Minister's appeal to light diyas, candles, torches or mobile flashlights for nine minutes on April 5 as a reflection of collective resolve to win the battle against coronavirus.

Tharoor, a former union minister and Congress MP Thiruvananthapuram, said the earlier financial package announced by the government for vulnerable sections during the lockdown "was not adequate as a lot of people have felt left out and marginalised".

"He (the PM) has not addressed their need. He has not dealt with the lack of personal protective equipment, of rapid testing kits. Even doctors are complaining that they cannot do their work without having gowns, masks, and gloves...to be able to work in safety. A large number of doctors are vulnerable to infections. These are issues that need to be addressed," Tharoor said.

"He has not taken the nation into confidence. Not that he has to announce a conclusion to the 21-day lockdown today but at least he could tell us what are the factors and considerations he is weighing in his mind," he added.

Tharoor said there were so many issues on which the Prime Minister could have taken the people into confidence .

"Are we going to rely on rumours? Will there be lockdown extension? Will there be an end to lockdown or will there be a staggered lifting of the lockdown? These are so many issues that he could have taken the people into confidence. He could have addressed their financial anxieties and worries. All this was about symbolism like preparing a giant photo-op for the nation. Photo-ops will not solve the problems created by the coronavirus," he said.

Asked about his assessment of the steps taken by government to fight coronavirus and what measures were needed, he said the party has three criticisms of the government in otherwise good handling of coronavirus.

"The first is the government was slow to wake up. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi signaled the importance of the issue of February 12. For a month the government took no concrete steps even while the bad news was coming out of east Asia, China, Japan and Korea so on," he said.

"The second is that lockdown was announced with no planning and very little notice. Mr Modi gave the nation two days notice for one-day Janta Curfew on a Sunday but he gave the nation only four hours notice for 21-day lockdown," he said, adding that the government should ideally have planned to give people enough time to reach where they wanted to before shutting down trains, buses and planes.

The Congress leader said the government should have thought about migrant workers.

"Either to make arrangements in place, or to feed them and secure them to live or to facilitate their return and to give them enough time before the lockdown started rather than to see the unplanned chaos and mayhem in the country. Even the unnecessary incidents of violence, vigilantism and police brutality that we saw on the first day when people came out to streets to buy essential provisions, that could have been avoided," he said.

Tharoor said that the third criticism is inadequacy of the kind of support system given to individuals, employees, workers and businesses to be able to cope with the lockdown.

"We are not challenging the lockdown, but it seems extremely important to be able to use all financial resources in the command," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Photo : REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach) An illustration picture shows a man starting his Twitter App on a mobile device in Hanau near Frankfurt, October 21, 2013.

Twitter is making its promise to verify more health experts. Since the organization stated it might verify more accounts two weeks ago, Twitter more than 1,000 accounts have received the coveted blue checkmark.

The accounts include medical doctors, academics, health officers, and different professionals whose Twitter presence has been increasingly crucial throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Fake Facts Are Flying Around; Experts Plan To Debunk Them

Verifying Twitter account remains vague

Engadget said Twitter has been fast-tracking verification for health specialists as part of its efforts to fight conspiracy theories and those promoting "fake treatments" related to COVID-19.

But despite the push, verification remains an opaque process. Twitter's help page lists its verification application as "on hold," which has been the case since 2017-- the latest steerage for health officers is fairly vague.

Twitter said health specialists who want the blue badge should have an authentic email address connected to their account and a bio linking to the organization they represent.

To #COVID19 experts: we are prioritizing Verification for Twitter accounts that have an email address associated with an authoritative organization or institution. Heres how to update the email address associated with your account: https://t.co/H4LkQYeGB8  Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) March 21, 2020

But once those steps have been completed, it's still unclear what comes next, or how health professionals are supposed to flag their bills for verification.

A corporation spokesperson said Twitter relies on input from "international public health authorities" that works with its policy group that could vouch for people in taking advantage of the verification. Still, there doesn't appear to be a formalized way for individuals to make a request.

And even though Twitter's product lead Kayvon Beykpour previously said the company would "likely" be giving a form to allow doctors and scientists to request verification without a middleman. Twitter declined to comment on when, or if, a shape might launch.

Long, intricate process

Account verification has long been intricate for Twitter. The enterprise officially "paused" public requests for confirmation in 2017 after giving a badge toa white nationalist.

CEO Jack Dorsey said he would really like to initiate verification for all users. Still, that idea hasn't materialized, and the corporation has continued to quietly affirm thousands of latest debts within the years on account that. In the absence of a manner to request the blue tick, this verification procedure has only been available to human beings who have direct access to Twitter personnel who vets requests.

For many healthcare professionals, Twitter has ended up an increasingly essential tool as more humans gather to the social media site to understand the pandemic better. "I don't use this platform to self-promote, I use it mainly for raising awareness to important issues," says the researcher, who makes use of her account to talk with docs in different countries. Doctors worldwide have also used Twitter to raise awareness of the lack of protective devices and various vital supplies. Verification can help enlarge one's style of messages.

Moreover, studies propose participants of the public are much more likely to trust doctors and researchers, compared with elected officials. A recent survey by Pew Research reveals more than two-thirds of Americans have a magnificent view of researchers and medical doctors in social media.

And the reality that Twitter has been capable of verifying more than 1,000 healthcare specialists in weeks is an encouraging sign that the company is inclined to get more of these voices to users.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The UN General Assembly on Thursday approved a resolution calling for "international cooperation" and "multilateralism" in the fight against COVID-19, in the first text to come out of the international body since the outbreak began. The resolution, approved by consensus, also stresses "the need for full respect for human rights" and that "there is no place for any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in the response to the pandemic." Russia was unsuccessful in opposing the resolution with its own text that was supported by four other countries. The UN resolution emphasises the central role of the body in the global health and economic crisis. It was submitted by Switzerland, Indonesia, Singapore, Norway, Liechtenstein and Ghana, and adopted by 188 of the 193 states that make up the body, diplomats said. The Russian text -- which also discussed cooperation but included an implicit demand for a general lifting of international sanctions, seen as a brake on efforts to fight the virus -- was supported by the Central African Republic, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Unlike the UN Security Council, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are not binding but have a strong political value depending on their support. According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the coronavirus is "the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War." Just last week, as the pandemic spread around the world, killing thousands and infecting many more, Guterres warned that unless the world came together to fight the virus, millions of people could die. On March 23, he called for an "immediate global ceasefire" to protect vulnerable civilians in conflict zones from the ravages of the pandemic. Few countries have heeded his appeal. "Unfortunately, hostilities have gone unabated," said Laetitia Courtois, the UN representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). On the Security Council, which has been silent since the start of the pandemic, the five permanent members (the US, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and France) are divided on reaching a resolution to support Guterres' appeal. They have yet to produce a concrete solution, to the increasing exasperation of the 10 non-permanent members. The US and China continue to clash over the origins of the virus that first emerged in central China late last year, which Washington wants to highlight. Beijing and Moscow, which both have veto power, are also reluctant to see the Security Council -- which is responsible for global peace and security -- take up an issue that has until now been a primarily health and economic issue. "The Council missed an opportunity to be relevant -- in a way that might have been life-saving -- during the early stages of the pandemic," said Stephen Pomper, a policy director for the international think tank Crisis Group and former director of multilateral affairs for President Barack Obama.
Republican Lawmakers Introduce Global Public Health Accountability Act

Congressman John Curtis (R-Utah), announced Friday that he has joined with fellow Republicans to introduce a bill that would hold accountable any foreign official who tried to hide public health information related to COVID-19 during its early phase or any official who would hide future outbreaks.

The Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Actnamed after the heroic Chinese doctor whistleblowerwill ensure that dictators and their cronies think twice before once allowing a local health crisis spiral out of control into a pandemic that endangers the globe, Curtis said while introducing the bill last week with cosponsors Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Ted Yoho (R-Fla.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), and Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mont.).

Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist who blew the whistle on the outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) viruscommonly known as the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19ultimately succumbed to the disease after contracting it from a patient he was treating. The Republicans will be introducing the bill in the Senate in the near future.

As Dr. Li Wenliang said, A Healthy Society Shouldnt Only Have One Voice, Curtis said. By suppressing critical public health information, officials in China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and elsewhere have demonstrated they care more about maintaining their grip on power than the health and wellbeing of their people.

In a press statement, Curtis explained how foreign officials will be held accountable if they are found to be endangering global public health.

The Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act would sanction any foreign senior official responsible for deliberately concealing vital public health data concerning the outbreak of a disease with the potential to become a pandemic. It would also sanction any official who profited off of the concealment of information, and anyone acting on their behalf. Sanctions include the revoking of visas and the seizing of assets.

When the virus first threatened China, the CCP was not responsive to international requests to learn about the virus and the outbreak. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the United States had been trying to send a group of experts to understand the outbreaks transmission and severity since Jan. 6. However, the United States repeated offers were left unanswered for a month. The Chinese regime eventually agreed to allow the World Health Organization (WHO) to send a group of international experts to study the virus in late January. This came after WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus returned from a visit from China full of praise for the regimes response efforts.

Meanwhile, the regime silenced individuals from raising the alarm about the burgeoning outbreak. When multiple Wuhan doctors attempted to warn their colleagues and the public about a pneumonia with an unknown cause, later known to be the CCP virus, authorities attempted to silence them and reprimanded them for rumor-mongering. The most notable of them was Wenliang.

Other lawmakers have also started voicing their concerns over Beijings mishandling of the virus in the early stages.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) recently introduced a bipartisan House resolution, HR 907, to condemn the CCP for intentionally downplaying the outbreak through censorship and disinformation.

Meanwhile, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) are also calling for an international investigation into how the CCPs initial handling of the virus may have endangered the United States and the rest of the world.

It is time for an international investigation into the role their coverup played in the spread of this devastating pandemic, Hawley said, in a joint press release with Stefanik.

The CCP must be held to account for what the world is now suffering.

Janita Kan contributed to this report
UPDATE: 2 18-year-olds charged in shooting of man along Delaware Canal, police say

Authorities are continuing to investigate a shooting last weekend at the southern end of Delaware Canal State Park, according to a news release from Pennsylvania State Police.

A 51-year-old Philadelphia man was shot in the back about 12:15 p.m. Sunday along the canals towpath in Bristol Township, Bucks County.

The park extends 60 miles north to Easton. The towpath trail remains open to the public, though all state park facilities are closed until at least April 30 as part of efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

State police at Trevose in Bucks are investigating the shooting, and were assisted at the scene by Bristol Township police and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources rangers, the release states.

The release does not list the victim's condition.

Investigators ask anyone with information about the incident to call the Pennsylvania State Police at Trevose at 215-942-3900. The incident number to reference is PA20-423037.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Shantanu David By

Express News Service

Jacks Back (and Front)



We get it. Youre going stir crazy stuck indoors, but know that youre not alone. People around the world are finding ways to keep themselves occupied while their city, state, country stays under lockdown. From civilians to celebrities, everyone is needing to decompress. Among the latter is actor and musician Jack Black, who catered to the former by uploading an impromptu music video on TikTok, which has since

gone viral. The Shallow Hal actor and Tenacious D frontman choreographed and performed his own Quarantine Dance, while shirtless and with his traditional chutzpah. Dressed in nothing but a cowboy hat and boots, along with a pair of gym shorts, the 50-year-old posted the 30-second video, which was

seemingly recorded in his backyard and shows him heave around his substantial bulk in a series of dubious high-kicks, squats, pirouettes, and jumps.

The Boy Who Lived

Author JK Rowling recently said Parents, teachers and carers working to keep children amused and interested while were on lockdown might need a bit of magic. And if theres anyone who can provide that during these trying times, its the creator of the Harry Potter universe; which is just what she was doing. Rowling said the above as she launched an online Potter resource hub to keep kids entertained as well as educated as they remain at home to fight the spread of COVID-19. The portal, Harry Potter at Home, brings together all kinds of media and resources from within the universe, including free access to the audiobook version of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone courtesy Audible, making it available in several different languages for free, without requiring a subscription to the audiobook app owned by Amazon. Other features of Harry Potter at Home include articles, puzzles and videos, all geared to unlocking kids imagination, without even having to say Alohomora!

Finding the Cure



Times of crisis certainly make for strange bedfellows. Even as the government and private medical companies race to find a legit vaccine for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, help has come from an unexpected source. British American Tobacco, the cigarette conglomerate that owns Camel, Lucky Strike, and Pall Mall among other legacy brands of cancer sticks, said that its subsidiary, biotech firm Kentucky BioProcessing is working on creating a vaccine from lab-grown plants similar to tobacco. David

OReilly, Director of scientific research at British American Tobacco, told news agencies that, Vaccine development is challenging and complex work, but we believe we have made a significant break-through with our tobacco plant technology platform. While the idea of a cigarette company finding the cure to a

deadly pandemic sounds more like an April Fools joke, British American Tobacco is (deadly) serious about this.
.                  .     ,    ...
'There's Nothing Like It': US Marine Corps Commits to Keeping F-35, But Cuts Not Off Table

Sputnik News

19:03 GMT 02.04.2020

While US Marine Corps (USMC) leaders have indicated the service is considering shedding some of its F-35 stealth fighter fleet, the Corps' top officer said on Wednesday that the jet is too valuable for the service to discard completely.

US Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger indicated last week that drastic changes would be coming to the service in the coming months as he weighs how the USMC fits into the Pentagon's strategic shift toward "inter-state strategic competition" with Russia and especially China. While he noted that some of the F-35B Lightning II aircraft could be lost in the restructuring, he was careful to reassure reporters - and the jet's maker, Lockheed Martin - that the jump-jet will continue to have a place in the Marine Corps.

"Right now, the program of record plows ahead as it is," Berger told reporters at a Wednesday roundtable, according to Defense News.

"But I'm signaling to the industry, we have to be prepared to adjust as the operating environment adjusts," he said. "Right now, the program of record stays the same, but we will - we must - adapt to the adversary and we must adapt to the operating environment that we're challenged with being in."

'Not Optimized for Great Competition'

When Berger took over the Corps last summer, he immediately set to work reimagining the future structure of the service based on the demands laid out by the Pentagon the year prior. The February 2018 National Defense Strategy indicated a strategic shift away from the War on Terror and toward "inter-state strategic competition" with Russia and China, particularly a future conflict in the South China Sea.

The USMC is "not optimized for great competition. It is not optimized to support a naval campaign." Berger told lawmakers last October, saying it was time to "throw out old assumptions and start fresh."

Berger said last week the Corps was too big, and Marine Corps Combat Development Command spokesperson Maj. Joshua Benson gave USNI News a glimpse of what a rebuilt Marine Corps would look like by 2030.

Benson described a shift in focus from land combat toward naval operations, and a corresponding elimination of all of the USMC's tank units as well as most of its artillery units, and even some air units, including helicopter and V-22 Osprey tiltrotor squadrons. He also noted that some of the Corps' F-35Bs, which are the vertical takeoff and landing version, could also be cut, and that squadrons of the stealthy jump jet would shrink from 16 aircraft to 10.

'Nothing Like It'

On Wednesday, Berger told reporters the F-35 isn't going anywhere, though.

"There's nothing like it," Berger said. Aside from the former Soviet Union's now-retired Yak-38 and the Harrier family of jets used by the Marines, British Royal Navy and Indian Navy, the F-35B is the only fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically. This gives it unequaled utility, as it doesn't require airfields from which to operate.

In addition, the stealthy F-35 is an unprecedented weapon of intelligence-gathering, vacuuming up tons of electromagnetic data on enemy radars, communications, and other electronic equipment.

"We may over time learn that 10 is the wrong number, it could be 11, it could be 12, I don't know. But right now the target is good at 10," Berger said of the proposed F-35 squadron sizes, according to USNI News. "We know how to employ the aircraft in a contested environment, but some of it depends on factors we don't control  in other words, this is an airframe, a capability on the front end of its delivery."

"The maintenance track record of this aircraft, we'll just learn over time. If the maintenance readiness of the F-35 proves to be very, very strong, then of course, just like any other system, you need less of them because more of them are up all the time. On the other hand, if it turns out not to be so, then you're going to need more of them to account for the ones that are in repair, that are down right now," he said.

However, the commandant noted that his judgments, which could come down in the next few months, would also be based on an external review.

"I'm confident in the target that we're at right now and the aim point that we have to go to 10 per squadron. But if an external assessment, if future wargames, if we learn more about the maintenance track record of the F-35, if that causes us to change the PAA, the number of aircraft in a squadron, we should absolutely be willing to do that," he said.

According to the most recent Marine Corps Aviation Plan, the USMC is slated to buy 353 F-35Bs in addition to 67 F-35Cs, which are specialized for aircraft carrier operations.

 Sputnik

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U.S. Confirms Arrival Of Russian Plane With Purchased Virus Supplies

By RFE/RL April 02, 2020

The United States has confirmed the arrival of a plane carrying medical supplies that it says were purchased from Russia to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, raising questions over the motives behind the move.

The supplies, including ventilators and personal protection equipment needed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, were handed over on April 1 in New York to the U.S. emergency management agency, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus described the purchase as a "follow-up" to a March 30 phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

The statement did not say how much the United States paid Russia for the equipment, which Moscow has described as "aid" in a thinly veiled attempt to hand Putin a public relations coup.

"Both countries have provided humanitarian assistance to each other in times of crisis in the past and will no doubt do so again in the future," Ortagus said. "This is a time to work together to overcome a common enemy that threatens the lives of all of us."

Many critics of Moscow have warned that Russia is using aid as part of a campaign of disinformation and propaganda to sow fear abroad while bolstering Putin at home.

Meanwhile, Trump, who has touted his close relationship with Putin, has faced similar warnings at home from those concerned that Moscow is using such actions to gain influence and push Russia's efforts for relief from sanctions imposed for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Ortagus did note that the Group of 20 (G20) counties agreed last week to work together to defeat the coronavirus. The United States and Russia are in the G20, and Ortagus said Washington was working closely with all G20 states and other countries "to ensure that critically needed supplies get to those in need."

'Difficult Situation'

A U.S. official said quoted by Reuters as saying the shipment carried 60 tons of ventilators, masks, respirators, and other items.

The official said the equipment would be carefully examined to make sure it complies with quality requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, said the shipment was a "good gesture of solidarity with New Yorkers who are in a very difficult situation at the moment," according to the Russian UN Mission on Twitter.

Interfax quoted Polyansky as saying that, while nothing has been agreed, it "is not ruled out" that further shipments may follow.

Kremlin critics questioned why Moscow would send equipment abroad at a time when there are questions as to whether there are enough supplies to meet the country's needs.

"I thought this was a stupid April Fool's joke but turns out it's true. Russia really did SELL the U.S. masks and medical equipment at a time when doctors and nurses all over the country are working without masks and infecting one another. It's monstrous. Putin's mad," said opposition leader and vocal Putin critic Alexei Navalny.

U.S deaths in the coronavirus pandemic pushed past 5,100 as of early April 2, two days after Americans were told to brace for "very painful" weeks ahead.

New York is by far the hardest-hit U.S. state, with more than 83,700 coronavirus cases and nearly 2,000 deaths.

Local officials have sounded the alarm over a shortage of protective gear and life-saving equipment. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said millions more face masks and thousands more ventilators are needed by next week.

Meanwhile, Trump, who has touted his close relationship with Putin, has faced similar warnings at home from those concerned that Moscow is using such actions to gain influence and push Russia's efforts for relief from sanctions imposed for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

U.S deaths in the coronavirus pandemic pushed past 4,000 as of early April 1, a day after Americans were told to brace for "very painful" weeks ahead.

In Russia, where the accuracy of official data has been questioned, the number of confirmed cases has jumped in recent days, but still appears low compared with other European nations.

The country's official tally puts the total number of cases at 3,548 as of April 2, with 30 deaths.

With reporting by Rossia-24, Interfax, Reuters, AFP and TASS.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-confirms- arrival-of-medical-supplies-purchased -from-russia/30524702.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Stephen Bonett, a nurse and Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps volunteer, administers a nasal swab to a driver at the city's coronavirus testing site next to Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia on Friday, March 20, 2020. The site, which opened Friday afternoon, is the first city-run drive-through location where people can be swabbed to determine if they have the coronavirus. At the time of opening, it was only for people with symptoms who are over 50 and healthcare workers with symptoms. Read more

WASHINGTON  As Pennsylvania braces for the worst of the coronavirus to hit, state officials have requested 494,392 N95 medical masks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to protect frontline medical workers.

To date the state has received less than a quarter of that amount  112,250.

State officials have been told that more are on the way, but even once those arrive, theyll be more than 261,000 masks short of what theyve asked for, according to FEMA data and the states Health Department. The medical-grade masks block particles and are critical for health-care workers treating coronavirus patients.

Its a similar story with some other vital equipment, according to FEMA figures released Thursday by Democrats who run the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee. As of Monday Pennsylvania had received 216,621 fewer pairs of gloves and nearly 55,500 fewer surgical gowns than it has requested, according to the information House Democrats received from FEMA.

Though it wasnt included in the data released Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf has said the state is also seeking an additional 1,000 to 1,400 ventilators.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is on track to have a surplus of face shields and surgical masks. It has already received much of what it asked for, including more face shields than requested, yet additional supplies of both are en route, according to FEMA figures and the state Department of Health. In each case, the state would end up with tens of thousands more than requested  including an extra 62,435 face shields, while governors in other states are struggling to obtain supplies.

 HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you.

In neighboring New Jersey, for example, Gov. Phil Murphy has said the state was still seeking 864,000 more face shields, along with other items.

The numbers add to the concerns that the federal response to the pandemic has been scattershot and disorganized. Many of the early shipments have been based on population size, not state requests, said Nate Wardle, a spokesperson for Pennsylvanias Health Department.

Democrats blasted the shortfalls.

The new documents we are releasing today confirm the urgent warnings we have been hearing from our nations governors and health care professionals for weeks  they do not have enough personal protective equipment and medical supplies, and the Administration has provided only a tiny fraction of what they desperately need," said a statement from Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D., N.Y.), chair of the oversight panel. Rather than casting doubt on the gravity of this pandemic, the Administration should have been working around the clock to prepare and execute plans to obtain desperately needed personal protective equipment and medical supplies.

Governors facing the growing wave of coronavirus cases have complained that they are bidding against one another for the same items, rather than having the federal government acquire equipment and distribute it as needed.

FEMA did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Earlier, however, President Donald Trump tweeted: Massive amounts of medical supplies, even hospitals and medical centers, are being delivered directly to states and hospitals by the Federal Government. Some have insatiable appetites & are never satisfied (politics?). Remember, we are a backup for them. The complainers should ... have been stocked up and ready long before this crisis hit. Other states are thrilled with the job we have done.

House Democrats released data Thursday from the FEMA region that includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Their information also shows that in many instances Pennsylvania has requested far less than its neighbors. Wardle, of the Health Department, said the state already had a stockpile of some supplies.
The thought of another election is unbearable these days, said Aviv Bushinsky, a political commentator and former Netanyahu aide. For Gantz, because of all his political mistakes, he will not be able to get the same kind of results as in the past. And for Netanyahu, because no one knows how he will exit this crisis. Will he still be King Bibi, or will he be a loser?
Donald Trump's presidential campaign has been anonymously donating thousands of meals to hospitals to thank frontline staff during the coronavirus outbreak, it has been claimed.

The incumbent president has reportedly spent tens of thousands of dollars placing orders at local restaurants.

These have then been delivered to more than a dozen hospitals across New York, New Jersey, Washington and Michigan.

Donald Trump's presidential campaign has reportedly been donating meals to a dozen hospitals in New York, New Jersey, Washington and Michigan

Chit Chat diner in Morristown, New Jersey, was one of the businesses that received an anonymous order to be delivered to the hospital

'They're just doing it as a donor who cares,' a source told Fox News. 'Nothing politically is tied to it. We're just trying to, you know, show a thank you.'

One business that has received a large anonymous order is Giovanni's Italian Deli in Secaucus, New Jersey, that was for the Hudson Regional Hospital.

'They only told us their first name,' and employee said. 'They called us, and they had us donate meals for the nurses and doctors.'

'They paid for an assortment of things - 40 platters of pasta, salads and sandwiches.'

Antonio Trattoria restaurant in the Bronx, New York, said it had received an order for 100 meals for the Lincoln Hospital.

The Chit Chat Diner in Morristown, New Jersey, also posted on social media to say it had received an anonymous order for staff at Hackensack Hospital.

'An anonymous donation providing lunch to some hardworking staff at Hackensack Hospital this afternoon,' they wrote on Instagram. 'We are so grateful.'

The Trump campaign is yet to respond to the claims.

The United States has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, at 245,601. It has reported more than 6,000 deaths.

New York has reported the highest number of cases in the US, at 92,743, followed by New Jersey, at 25,590. Michigan has the fourth highest, at 10,791. Washington has reported 6,595 cases.

Presidential candidates have continued to campaign for November 2020's election despite the crisis.
WOOD RIVER  Debate continues over how much information the Madison County Health Department should release on local coronavirus cases.

Fridays information discussion during a teleconferenced meeting of the Health Department Committee followed similar talk at Thursdays Health Department Advisory Committee meeting. The department has released only countywide information without identifying victims locations to preserve patient privacy.

Two public comments emailed to Fridays meeting asked if more details could be provided, and several committee members echoed that. Madison County Health Department Director Toni Corona said they will continue looking at the issue.

Its really about numbers and population, she said. Because the county numbers are still small, releasing case locations by ZIP code could potentially identify patients in violation of federal health privacy laws and Illinois Department of Public Health Guidelines. It could also potentially subject patients to stigma.

Corona said northern Illinois and St. Louis have larger populations and hundreds of positive cases, allowing the release of more information without endangering someones privacy. She said the department is absolutely looking at releasing more information eventually.

Its only going to be a matter of time before we get enough cases (to release additional information), she said. It needs to be more than 30 cases in a population of 250,000 people.

Several committee members pressed for more information. Phil Chapman, R-Highland, said it was common sense for people to want to know where cases were so they could avoid those areas.

Some people are not taking this very seriously, he said, and the additional information might help.

Corona said she is sure there are other cases within the county, noting reports nationwide of asymptomatic transmission, where people are not showing symptoms but still spreading the virus. She said the lack of cases in some communities might give people a false sense of security.

You should assume that all areas of Madison County have potential spread of COVID-19, she said. If people think they can goof off and not take this seriously until they see a case in their community then we have failed in our duty.

The message should be you should not be going out, she added. We dont know where people have been and were trying to break the transmission cycle of this virus. The best defense, the best tool I can give you, is to stay home and stay away from crowds.

She said the estimated peak of the virus in Illinois is the week of April 16-17, but there will be cases for weeks after that.

This isnt going to be over overnight; its not going to be over by Easter, Corona said. All I can tell you is we need to stay home.

She also gave an update on the departments activities, saying the department was fully involved in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple operations are underway.

This is unprecedented, she said. There is nothing in a book that tells us what we should be doing in week five of a pandemic.

She also talked briefly about additional precautions. Although no guidance has come down from the IDPH on homemade masks, she said health officials wont be shying away from taking additional precautions.

Go ahead and make your homemade masks and do those kinds of things, she said. But she added that is not a free pass to ignore the stay-at-home order or not practice social distancing.
A bitter feud over blood, land and money has split the traditional owners of north east Victoria, with a prominent elder accused of fabricating his Indigenous ancestry and rival First Nations squaring off in the Supreme Court over a $33.7 million land dispute.

The twin disputes, which together ensnare the clans of the Bangerang, Taungurung, Waywurru, Ngurai Illum Wurrung, Dhudhuroa and the Yorta Yorta group of northern Victoria, have the potential to derail the Andrews governments traditional-owner settlement process and treaty negotiations.

"She told me all the stories about her past ... she was definitely Aboriginal": Fred Dowling with a photo of his grandmother Annie Lewis. Credit:Justin McManus

A 115-page complaint lodged with the states newly formed Aboriginal representative body, the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, challenges the family history of Fred Dowling, an elder of the Bangerang community who has led a push for recognition in the wake of the failed Yorta Yorta native title claim.

Mr Dowling, 82, claims to be a relative of Mary Jane Milawa, an Aboriginal woman who lived in Wangaratta at the time of white settlement, through his grandmother Annie Lewis.
As the coronavirus landed in the U.S. in January, scientists began whispering about an apparent difference from its notorious sibling, the virus that caused SARS: People infected with this one could easily infect others  even if they had no symptoms.

The first reports seemed questionable, and many infectious disease experts didnt believe them. Two months later, the virus has swarmed across the United States, forcing tens of millions into self-isolation. And now some experts believe that asymptomatic transmis sion  the passing of a virus from an infected person who feels just fine to others  is driving the pandemic.

Concerns about people without symptoms infecting others were part of the reason county health officers across California, including most of the Bay Area, this week began advising everyone to wear face coverings in public, whether they feel sick or not. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a nationwide advisory on Friday.

Thats an abrupt turn from earlier messages from federal and state public health authorities, who had said face masks did not prevent spread of disease and should not be used. On Wednesday, the California Department of Public Health stopped just short of recommending all people wear face coverings, but acknowledged that there may be a benefit to reducing asymptomatic transmission.

But many infectious disease experts, including some who previously rejected masks for prevention, said theyve come around.

Im changing my view and my actions, since anybody could have (the coronavirus), including me, said Warner Greene, a senior investigator with the Gladstone Institutes. Ive only been to the market once (since sheltering in place), and I wore a mask. Im protecting myself in case someone else is infected, but Im also protecting them in case Im asymptomatic.

The CDC and local public health advisories recommend that people wear cloth face coverings, not surgical or N95 masks, which are in short supply and should be used only by health care workers.

Viruses that cause respiratory illness usually spread when people are actively ill  especially when they are coughing and sneezing, releasing virus-laden droplets into the air around them. People who are infected and not yet feeling sick, or who will never experience symptoms, generally are less likely to spread the virus to others.

That was largely the case with SARS, the respiratory syndrome also caused by a coronavirus that infected about 8,000 people worldwide in 2004. It was known to be highly infectious, but primarily when people were well into the illness and very sick with cough and fever.

That made it fairly easy to contain the spread of SARS, because people could be quarantined as soon as they had symptoms.

But with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, its now believed that some large number of people  anywhere from 20% to 50%  will never have symptoms. Even those who do can spread the infection before they feel sick.

That makes controlling the new coronavirus a far more difficult challenge  and thats part of the reason why its raged more explosively around the world than SARS ever did, now infecting more than a million people.

The asymptomatic part is whats causing this thing to go on, said Jay Levy, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. When people are sick they know it, and theyre going to be in quarantine. But the asymptomatics have a lot of virus and theyre healthy, so they dont know it.

Scientists are still figuring out exactly how the coronavirus spreads from person to person. It clearly is transmitted through droplets that come from the nose and mouth. Its widely believed there are two ways most people become infected: by standing too close to an infected person and breathing in their droplets, or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their mouth or nose.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The new coronavirus appears to thrive in the nose and mouth, even in healthy feeling people who transmit it simply by speaking or singing, or even just breathing hard, said Robert Siegel, a Stanford infectious disease expert.

What were learning is that things that actively propel droplets  singing, coughing  are effective at transmitting the disease. Anything that actively ejects it into the airspace, Siegel said.

The first reports of asymptomatic transmission emerged in mid-January, but many scientists dismissed them as anecdotal and therefore possibly not true, or they assumed such cases were rare. SARS also could be spread by someone without symptoms, but not often.

As more countries were overrun with outbreaks, and more data was collected, it became apparent that some significant percentage of people infected with the virus never got sick.

The awareness of asymptomatic transmission made shelter-in-place orders that much more important, public health experts said. If there was no way to identify and separate infected people from the rest of the public, then everyone needed to stay apart.

We still have no idea how many total people are infected  I wouldnt be surprised to see 20% to 30% of the United States infected, Greene said. So you have an incredible number of asymptomatic individuals running around spreading the virus. Extreme social distancing  sheltering in place  seems to be helping, because its keeping us away from these asymptomatic individuals.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ErinAllday
Two of the ruling parties which make up the coalition government in Maharashtrathe Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have taken a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his appeal to light diyas and candles on Sunday to show solidarity for health workers. The political parties have said that when the prime minister was expected to speak about the measures being taken by the central government to fight Covid-19 effectively, he has resorted to event management.

Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is addicted to making an event out of any major issue that the country comes across. We had expected that the prime minister will stand firm by the doctors, medical staff and police force fighting against the pandemic from the frontline. He should have unveiled a plan of providing additional testing labs, ventilators and financial assistance to states in their fight against the coronavirus. Instead of this, the PM has been engaged in event managements like clapping, banging utensils and lighting lamps, he said.

Thorat said that Modis appeal is unfortunately unbecoming of a leader who is the prime minister of the country. The BJP has failed to show strong leadership which is needed during these challenging times, he added.

NCPs spokesperson and state minorities minister Nawab Malik said that the nation expected the PM to speak about how to keep the home fires burning, but he spoke about lighting lamps. The 9-am address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has disappointed citizens in the country,  he said.

State housing minister and senior NCP leader Jitendra Awhad has called it stupidity. Is this some kind of a joke? The PM is not saying a word on where the country stands in this war against coronavirus, what are the preparations, what financial aides are being given to states, what are the facilities being created to combat the virus. He should have spoken about the diagnostic centres added and the problems being faced by migrants. When other countries are engaged in production of necessary medical equipment and inventing vaccines, our prime minister is busy giving people sedatives like lighting lamps and banging thalis, he said.

But, NCP MLA and party chief Sharad Pawars grandnephew Rohit Pawar has expressed contrary views to that of his party colleagues. Prime Minister @narendramodi ji is aiming to bring the country together through lights and if so, we should welcome this thought. Likewise, as a citizen of this country I urge you to place the flag of our country as a DP of your social media accounts for a message of solidarity(sic), Rohit has tweeted.

Reacting to the allegations, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Madhu Chavan said, It is a gesture to create a feeling of unity among the people of the country. During the 1965 war, then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had appealed to people to observe a fast for one day in solidarity with the people who couldnt get food to eat. The entire nation stood by him. Congress and NCP leaders are criticising the PM for not talking about the preparations by the central government. I want to ask you, what contribution has the state government made in this fight against Covid-19?
Should governments spend wisely they can decarbonise their economies even more quickly than they had expected to. The flipside is that if they dont, it is a double negative, she said. Rather than creating green economies as they seek to spend their way out of the crisis, they will lock in dirty industries, equipment and infrastructure and be left unable to act due to eye-watering deficits in the last critical decade we have to avert the predicted catastrophe. She notes that the infrastructure, plant and equipment Australian consumers, business and governments choose to spend on now will have a direct impact on outcomes in 2030 and 2050. Climate change, she says, is no longer a future problem. This weekend ClimateWorks brought forward the release of a major research project it has conducted into how Australia could use available technology to meet critical emissions targets.

Though couched in determinedly positive terms, the careful language of the report, Decarbonisation Futures, is telling. It outlines how Australians might still have a two in three chance to meet targets consistent with averting the worst predicted climate outcomes. Decarbonisation Futures scenarios show that Australia can still reduce emissions in line with limiting the temperature rise to 2 degrees  and if governments, businesses and individuals go all-in, a 1.5-degree limit could be within reach, it says. According to the report, over the past five years technological hurdles have already been overcome that allow for drastic decreases in emissions associated with Australias power generation, building stock, transport, industry and agriculture sectors. Though some commentators have called for the government to abandon its climate action as a result of the pandemic, an unusual consensus is emerging that Australia should maintain its commitments and calling on the government to invest in climate action to drive economic recovery. Opposition climate change and energy spokesman Mark Butler said the Australian Labor Party continues to back the emissions reduction commitment under the Paris climate agreement, which requires a cut of 26 to 28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030.

Butler urged the government to go further and set a net zero emissions target, arguing the government should stimulate economic recovery with investment in green energy and emissions reduction technology. Australia will need investment in job creation industries, like renewables, storage and hydrogen, to renew our ageing and increasingly unreliable power grid but also to keep power prices down for struggling households and businesses, Butler said. Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor speaks during Question Time in February, flanked by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said he remained "committed to the Paris Agreement" and would continue to develop a long-term emissions reduction strategy, to be released sometime before the next round of UN climate talks. Sceptics note that though the government voices its support for technologically-driven climate solutions, it still has not revealed its plans.

In February Taylor said Australia would release a long-term emissions reduction strategy ahead of the Glasgow climate talks, which were set for November. He also said the government would release at an unspecified date a Technology Investment Roadmap as part of its strategy. With COP26 delayed until further notice, it is unclear when this work will be completed and made public. Either way, the Morrison government stops short of a net zero emissions target, which climate scientists say is required to limit global warming to under two degrees Celsius by 2050, and will likely use carry-over credits gained by exceeding the previous Kyoto climate agreement to meet about half the emissions reduction required under Paris. Loading During a December UN climate conference Australia was widely criticised for its insistence on counting carry-over credits. Laurence Tubiana, the former French environment minister and one of the key architects of the Paris agreement, described Australias position as cheating, saying Australia was willing  to destroy the whole [Paris] system.

Few experts expect the current fall in emissions due to the pandemic to afford the world much breathing space to deal with climate change, no matter how significant they become. I expect coronavirus to have more of an impact but we simply dont know what will happen in the future, ANU Climate Change Institute director Mark Howden said. Cancelling the Glasgow talks means the conversations that couldve helped change the emissions trajectory may come too late now, which means we need a national conversation on climate change. Howden said global emissions fell about three per cent during the Global Financial Crisis and took just two years to rebound to the previous level. The Australian Industry Group and even the Minerals Council of Australia called for the government to invest in emissions reduction technology in the wake of coronavirus.

This sentiment is echoed around the world, at least rhetorically. The EUs climate chief Frans Timmermans said in a statement: As for the European Commission, we will not slow down our work domestically or internationally to prepare for an ambitious COP26, when it takes place. Loading Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told InsideClimate News that the postponement might even make it easier for participants to deal with the potential re-election of the climate sceptic US President Donald Trump, who has already announced he plans to abandon the Paris agreement in the days following the US election in November. "With this scenario at least you have clarity on who the president is well before the meeting," Meyer said. "And in a Trump scenario, they would have more than six days to think through the implications of four more years of Trump and figure out their response." Despite overwhelming global support for the efforts there is already evidence that the pandemic is damaging climate action.

Just days before the meeting was suspended Japan, the nation with the worlds fifth-largest economy and third-largest carbon footprint, announced its renewed Paris targets, essentially locking in the same goals it committed to five years ago. 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. The Trump administration cited coronavirus last month as it announced a sweeping relaxation of regulations against pollution from power stations and industry and the abandonment of Obama-era automobile fuel efficiency standards, a move that will result in the emission of a billion more tonnes of greenhouse gases over the next five years. China is also considering abandoning car emissions standards, according to a Bloomberg report. In the first three weeks of March the Chinese government approved more new coal-fired power plants than it did during all of 2019.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  This is one scam that cost everyone plenty.

A Staten Island man who, authorities said, bilked a northern Ohio World War II veteran of hundreds of thousands of dollars in an investment scam, has been ordered to pay the victim $300,000 in restitution.

In addition, Brian K. Decker has been sentenced to serve an additional 60 days in jail and is subject to five years of community control on his release, said the Ohio Department of Commerce in a statement.

In January, Decker, 41, pleaded guilty in Wood County Court to two counts of unlawful securities practices, and one count each of theft from a protected class and of telecommunications fraud to resolve the case, said officials.

He also pleaded guilty to failure to appear, for not showing up for his jury trial in July 2019.

Authorities said the defendant duped the victim, who served in the Navy, into giving him $376,000 between January 2016 and March 2017.

Decker promised the senior citizen returns of between 12 and 20 percent on purported investments in construction projects, the Commerce Department said.

However, the defendant pocketed the money instead of investing it, officials said.

Decker was indicted in August 2018 based on a joint probe by the Commerce Departments Division of Securities and the Wood County sheriffs office, said authorities.

Decker was sentenced on Monday.

In imposing sentence, Judge Mary Molly Mack said a community control sanction is consistent with the purposes and principles of sentencing and will not demean the seriousness of the offense, according to a record of the proceeding.

The court finds this defendants conduct was less serious than conduct normally constituting the offense, said Mack. The court further finds that community control sanctions would adequately punish the offender and protect the public from future crime.

She said Deckers chance of recidivism was lesser rather than greater based on applicable statutory factors.

Decker potentially faces up to 25-and-a-half years in prison if he violates the terms of his community control, said officials.

The defendant must repay the victim within five years starting in July, the judge ruled.

Decker previously accepted a permanent bar from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in May 2018, said authorities. He is not licensed by the Division of Securities to act as a securities salesperson in Ohio.

Authorities did not provide Deckers street address.
China's mourning day will be observed to express the nation's deep sorrow for the deaths of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the COVID-19 and people who died because of the outbreak, state-run Global Times reported.

Beijing: China will observe a national day of mourning on Saturday for martyrs, including the "whistleblower" doctor Li Wenliang, who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and the over 3,300 people who died of the COVID-19 in the country.

During the commemoration, national flags will fly at half-mast across the country and Cin all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and public recreational activities will be suspended across the country, official media reported on Friday.

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At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Chinese people nationwide will observe three minutes of silence to mourn the deceased, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains, and ships will wail in grief.

Fourteen frontline workers in Central China's Hubei Province, including "whistleblower" doctor Li Wenliang, were identified as martyrs on Thursday for sacrificing their lives in combating the COVID-19 outbreak.

The first group of martyrs includes 12 medics, one police officer and one community worker who fought on the frontlines.

According to the list, eight martyrs were members of the Communist Party of China. The oldest one was a 73-year-old while the youngest was 30 years old.

Li Wenliang, 34, an ophthalmologist was one of the eight "whistleblowers" who tried to warn other medical workers of the novel coronavirus outbreak but was reprimanded by the local police. He died on February 7 after contracting COVID-19.

The national mourning day will be observed to express the nation's deep sorrow for the deaths of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the COVID-19 and people who died because of the outbreak, state-run Global Times reported.

Chinese officials earlier said that over 3,000 medical personnel contracted the disease.

According to official reports, 10 medical staff, including doctors, died of the disease.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Friday said that it received reports of 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Thursday, of which 29 were imported.

Two new domestic cases were reported- one in Liaoning Province and one in Guangdong Province.

Also, on Thursday, four deaths, all in Hubei Province, took the death toll in the country to 3,322.

On the same day, 60 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported on the mainland, including seven imported.

NHC said that 1,027 asymptomatic cases were still under medical observation, including 221 from abroad.

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases are those who test positive for the virus but do not show any symptoms and have the potential to cause sporadic clusters of infections.

As of Thursday, a total of 81,620 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,322 people had died of the disease.

Saturday also marks China''s Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.

It is a tradition for the Chinese people to pay respect to their ancestors, deceased family members and national heroes and martyrs on the day of the festival.

China held its last national day of mourning in May 2008 for the victims of the Wenchuan Earthquake in Southwest Chinas Sichuan Province, which killed more than 69,000 people.
President Donald Trump, the CDC and the White House are now recommending Americans to wear face coverings when outside of their homes in his latest effort to slow the coronavirus pandemic.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio previously urged residents to cover their faces in public on Thursday, according to New York 1 reporter Courtney Gross.

Both de Blasio and Trumps guidelines encourage people to cover their faces not with surgical masks but instead with homemade coverings, such as bandanas, scarves and cloth face masks like ski masks or balaclavas.

The practice of covering ones face in public, which senior Trump officials had previously warned against, is believed by health experts to reduce the risk of individuals not exhibiting symptoms spreading the disease, according to Politico. It was originally believed to potentially increase the risk of contagion, as well as lead to hoarding and furthering shortages of protective equipment from health workers.

Here are some places to order the recommended items:

Cloth Face Masks (ski masks, balaclavas):

Kohls (Several balaclavas are on clearance for about $5).

Amazon

Backcountry

Dicks Sporting Goods

Cotton Bandanas:

Amazon (There are 12-piece sets here).

Target

Urban Outfitters

Claires

Scarves:

Fanatics (Many are on sale, up to 60% off)

Kohls

Amazon

Target

Claires

RELATED CORONAVIRUS RETAIL AND SHOPPING COVERAGE:

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An essential online shopping guide for staying at home

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Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @briannnnf. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne has closed his Florida church in order to protect it from a tyrannical government.

Mr Howard-Browne closed the doors to his church on Monday after being arrested for holding two Sunday services the day before.

He was arrested for unlawful assembly and violating quarantine orders during a public health emergency and was freed after posting $500 bail.

Speaking on his YouTube livestream show on Wednesday, Mr Howard-Browne said that he didnt make the decision because of the coronavirus outbreak.

I have to do this to protect the congregation  not from the virus but from a tyrannical government, Mr Howard-Browne said.

He then accused the World Health Organisation (WHO) of using the pandemic for its own gains.

The World Health Organisation has come in and is using a pandemic to take over not just America, but the whole of the world, he said on Wednesday.

He added that he had the support of the governor a week ago, but said that he caved like a deck of cards after public pressure.

Recommended Churches remain packed as pastors ignore coronavirus lockdown orders

Despite closing the church, Mr Howard-Browne explained that hes not making any decisions based on the threats from the Sheriffs office or not  I make decisions based on what the Lord tells me to do".

The Lord told me on Monday, if I dont do this, theres going to be a showdown at the OK Corral.

Last week Pastor Tony Spell refused to close his church in Louisiana, despite strict social distancing measures in place.

If they close every door in this city, then I will close my doors, Mr Spell told CNN on Tuesday. But you cant say the retailers are essential but the church is not. That is a persecution of the faith.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 236,339 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 5,648.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 50 people as part of the battle to contain the spread of the contagion.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, cities across the U.S. have enacted social distancing measures, like shelter-in-place orders and bans on large gatherings. In keeping with these orders, all non-essential employees have been mandated to work from home, if they are able to.

That includes investment bank and financial services company Goldman Sachs. A full 98% of the company's employees are working remotely, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Thursday. To make it work, the company has had to adapt: "When you go through something like this, it forces you to ask questions and think about things differently," Solomon said.

But even after the coronavirus pandemic calms down, Solomon believes the company will continue to see an increase in the use of video conferencing and become more comfortable with that type of technology. "It will make us more comfortable in providing more flexibility to employees, which, by the way, makes this a more attractive place for people to work," said Solomon.

The ability to work remotely can be enticing for workers. It can help provide work-life balance, improve job satisfaction and help employees save money. Allowing employees to work from home can pay off for companies as well, in ways including increased productivity, a study from researchers at the Stanford Graduate School of Business found.

It's not just Goldman that could change. The coronavirus pandemic could have a lasting impact on companies and remote work policies nationwide, according to consulting organization Global Workplace Analytics. It estimates that within two years, 25% to 30% of the U.S. workforce will work from home on a regular basis. That's due to a number of factors, including increased demand from employees and renewed trust from managers.

However, change at Goldman Sachs will not be swift and dramatic, Solomon says. It will be "gradual," as his main focuses right now are the safety and health of his employees, serving clients and helping communities. "There will be lots of time when we get through this to the other side to think about those other things," he said.

Check out: The best credit cards of 2020 could earn you over $1,000 in 5 years

Don't miss: 5 tips for effectively working from home during the coronavirus outbreak, when you have kids
A smartphone is used to livestream a Eucharistic Adoration service at Saint Ann Catholic Church in Washington, during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

As the Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler stood at the pulpit of Philadelphias historic Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church and delivered his sermon on Sunday, he spoke to empty pews and the unblinking eye of a webcam  a steady silence in place of the energetic call-and-response that would normally assure him that his words were landing.

Then Tyler glanced at his phone and saw the comments scrolling alongside his Facebook Live feed, sliding up the screen faster and faster as he hit his stride: Amen," Yes Lord," Preach!

Thats the Amen corner, right there online, Tyler said.

More than twice as many congregants streamed the service as could fit in Mother Bethels pews. That surge has lifted congregations of all faiths, as Philadelphians search for comfort and clarity during a crisis of biblical proportions even as most places of worship have closed their doors, shifting to livestreamed services and Zoom Bible study.

A majority of Americans have prayed for an end to the pandemic, according to a Pew Research Center poll released this week. The survey found that a significant number of people who rarely pray, or who dont ascribe to a religion, have looked to God for a cure.

Some are also looking for answers, and faith leaders are reaching for their scriptures to interpret the current crisis and guide their response.

 READ MORE: Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul to close during livestreamed services after video shows crowd still showing up for Mass

One likened it to the plagues brought down on the Egyptian pharaoh in Exodus  harsh lessons from God. Another referenced the apocalypse. Others called it a test of faith. State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, who introduced a resolution to designate March 30 as a State Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer, posited that the virus may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins. Pope Francis, speaking from the Vatican, which has also been affected by the virus, said it unmasks the mixed-up priorities of modern life.

Its a wake-up call from him, trying to draw you into his love, said Pastor Jerry Paradise of Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia in Somerton. (If so, its an effective one: When the churchs addiction ministry moved its weekly meetings online in March, attendance went from 150 people to 900.)

We definitely believe that its a test and a trial from God to see how we respond, said Imam Hassan Abdi of the Germantown Masjid. We stress to the community not to be selfish. People are panic buying. Its a test: Do we really consider our neighbors, or are we individuals who just care about self? If you just care about self, you dont practice social distancing, you dont quarantine yourself.

Abdi closed the mosque in mid-March, and was forced to cancel a group Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca. Hes encouraging people to pray at home, and has set up a hotline for anyone, Muslim or not, who needs food assistance. Hes reminding them, One of the primary objectives of Islamic law is the preservation of life.

Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari of West Philadelphias Kol Tzedek synagogue said its natural to look to religion to find meaning from whats happening.

There is a way that Jewish theology makes more sense when we can see so clearly that we are physically connected to all life on Earth  and also that we can be a threat to one another, Fornari said.

Fornari and other faith leaders have been using their platforms to help their congregations connect with one another through Zoom events and mutual aid networks, and also to advocate for action like releasing people from jail and immigration detention to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Jewish tradition teaches us over and over again to protect those who are most vulnerable, Fornari said. In biblical language, thats the orphan, the widow, and the minor, but today its folks who are undocumented, who are incarcerated, who are homeless.

John Bergen, associate pastor at Germantown Mennonite Church, has been making the same arguments, with a different set of references.

This is an apocalyptic moment in the original meaning of apocalypse: an uncovering of the state of the world," he said. "Our social safety net is broken, our health-care system is broken, our schools have been dismantled. All of that has been uncovered.

But for leaders like Tyler, the religious metaphors only go so far.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus will complicate, but not stop, Passover for Philly-area Jewish families

If were going to ascribe this to divine punishment, its hard to tell who God is mad at in this moment, he said, given that the disease doesnt discriminate.

Instead, hes focused on how faith should guide the response: with acts of kindness and humanitarianism. Hes mobilizing a volunteer corps to check in by phone with each of his 700 members every week.

For his congregants, their new digital cathedrals are as much about connecting, providing mutual support and marking time, said Roberta Alford, who attends a Zoom Bible study and Sunday prayer with Mother Bethel.

The passages our pastor has chosen are helpful in a time of uncertainty, when you dont know whats going to happen or when, Alford said.

While canceling in-person services has become the obvious choice for most, some continue to allow the faithful to join in scattered pews. At least one Catholic church was still offering Communion wafers, placed directly on the tongue, as of Sunday, but following news reports, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia suspended the practice.

Others are struggling to convey a complicated message to congregants: to step up, but also to stay home.

 READ MORE: How Philly Catholics will celebrate Easter now that archdiocese has canceled in-person Masses

Rabbi Jill Maderer of Philadelphias Rodeph Shalom synagogue said that normally, her response to any crisis, whether terrorism or natural disaster, is to urge congregants to gather and find strength in their community.

Now shes telling them to stay home, reminding them of the Jewish concept of pikuach nefesh: "the highest mitzvah is to save a life.
Aurangabad Lok Sabha MP and



Maharashtra AIMIM chief Imtiyaz Jaleel on Friday said his party was expecting "something serious" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Friday address and not a plea to switch off electricity and light lamps and candles to show the country's resolve to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier in the day, urged people to switch off lights of their homes at 9 pm for nine minutes on April 5 and light up lamps, candles, mobile flashlights to display the nation's collective spirit to defeat coronavirus.

"In this crucial situation, we were expecting something serious from the PM. When the PM told us to clap for our medical and police teams, people came out to play garba in Gujarat and dance in Pune," Jaleel said.

In reply, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhagwat Karad said this was not the time to play politics and asked the AIMIM to follow th PM's appeal to show the country was united to combat the virus outbreak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Published on:

3 April 2020



Europe is on lockdown due to coronavirus Europe is on lockdown due to coronavirus

When crises happen the standard response of politicians is to argue that the crisis is so big that it was impossible to foresee. But in the case of Covid-19, this argument does not apply. While we do not know what form viruses may take or where they may originate, there is a vast apparatus of global health security designed to prepare, identify, and respond to the threat of destructive pandemics. Global health security rests on the notion that health crises can be a threat to individuals, states, and international peace and security. Those working in the field of global health security have been warning for decades about the potential threat of a mass pandemic. These warnings were ignored.

At the centre of pandemic preparedness is the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its main mechanism of global health security  the International Health Regulations (IHR). These rules commit member states to detect, assess, and report on new and emerging outbreaks and rest on a simple logic: identify an outbreak quickly; share information; follow clear public health protocols to contain it; stop an outbreak becoming a pandemic.

The system has been modified and developed in response to previous outbreaks. States dont always detect or report cases for fear of a negative impact on their economies, diplomatic relations and social wellbeing (often in that order). The 2002-04 Sars outbreak, which led to 774 deaths, was a tipping point in confronting compliance issues, resulting in the strengthening of the IHR in 2005. Under the new system, non-state actors were able to report virus outbreaks (circumventing the problem of state interests), and provide guidelines as to when an outbreak constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Such a declaration, made by the director general of the WHO, would in turn be a signal for the worlds population and leaders to take the emergency seriously, and release funding to support containment.

Preparedness systems were again strengthened following the 2013-16 Ebola outbreak, which led to 11,323 deaths, in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Ebola was a stark reminder that global health security rests on the strength of the weakest disease surveillance system. This precipitated significant investment in disease surveillance  increased technological capacity, new laboratories, trained staff  in low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

The UK is no bystander to all this. Public Health England, the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and UK research institutions have played active roles in developing disease surveillance and global health security frameworks in both the WHO and low-income countries.

How is it, then, that despite having the mechanisms to detect and respond to global health security threats, we find ourselves in this crisis? The easy answer is the lack of state investment in pandemic preparedness. States only invest during or after a major outbreak; it is hard to motivate national leaders and the public to prepare for something they have not witnessed before. In the case of the UK, it was difficult to convince politicians to invest in pandemic preparedness during an era of austerity and large NHS funding gaps.

People can be complacent about global health security, seeing outbreaks as something that happens to other countries. Complacency not only leads to a lack of investment in pandemic preparedness but disinvestment. In the US, contrary to all expert warnings, one of Donald Trumps first acts as president was to strip funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  two fundamental pillars of global health security in the US and around the world. Complacency points to a fundamental lack of understanding that pandemics are as big, if not greater, threats to our well-being than armed conflict, terrorism, and financial crises.

Trumps denial of risk and blame-shifting over Covid-19 points to a familiar problem of security and international relations: effective control and containment of pandemics depends on state collaboration and pooled sovereignty in international institutions. Countries often only follow advice or begin to work together when its too late. At this point they look for other actors to blame  other states, the WHO, bats. The dismissal of expertise by governments, growing isolationism, and a lack of co-operation by prominent world leaders all exacerbate the problem.

Finally, pandemic preparedness and response rests on what Christian Enemark, professor of international relations at the University of Southampton, terms biosecurity dilemmas. The major biosecurity dilemma is the question of when to notify the WHO and take immediate action, potentially risking basic human freedoms and economic stability.

The public health answer is: not soon enough; speed is everything. The political answer is more complex. Act too early and the public think youre curtailing their freedom and risking their economic security for a flu. Act too late and you risk peoples lives, livelihoods, and wellbeing, and wider economic, political, and social crises. While surveillance and preparedness mechanisms inform these decisions, they ultimately depend on the ability of politicians to understand global health security. As we are seeing around the world, dangerously few do.

This opinion piece was originally published in New Statesman on 26 March 2020.
With every-thing else that's going on in the world right now, Ian Marshall's failure to retain his seat in the Irish Seanad probably doesn't qualify as all that important, but it's not without significance of its own.

The Markethill man, a former president of the Ulster Farmers' Union, was nominated to the upper house of Ireland's parliament by Leo Varadkar in 2018 as a rare voice for unionism.

Sinn Fein, feeling generous for once, supported his bid and he became the first unionist from Northern Ireland to be elected by senators, members of the Dail and councillors.

This week, after sitting as an independent for two years, Marshall faced re-election for the first time in a proper, multi-way battle as Seanad elections went ahead, despite the coronavirus, in a medically-appropriate, socially distanced way.

He received just 10 votes out of a total electorate of 1,169 and was eliminated on the fourth count having managed to pick up a single, paltry extra vote.

Only three of the 25 candidates for a seat on the so-called Agricultural Panel got fewer votes.

Tactical voting by representatives of the big parties, who wanted to make sure that their candidates who lost out in the recent general election regained a hasty foothold on the political ladder, was what ultimately did for him. Running for public office can be a cruel and cutthroat business.

It's still hard not to look at Ian Marshall's fate and wonder just how committed the Irish political system really is to making space for unionism.

Those north of the border who identify as British may be indulged for a while, as long as they don't tread on too many toes; but when old political demands and allegiances rear their ugly heads, Northern Ireland invariably loses out because listening to pro-Union voices simply isn't regarded as a priority.

How different it all looked two years ago. There had been northern Protestants in the Seanad before.

The late writer Sam McAughtrey, a native of Tiger's Bay in north Belfast, actually has a strong prior claim to be the first unionist elected to the Seanad, having won a by-election in 1996 to the Industrial and Commercial Panel.

A lifelong supporter of the trade union movement, McAughtrey always made it clear that he saw himself first and foremost as a "labour man", but he was undoubtedly a unionist too, albeit one whose identity came in a "hybrid" form that made him happy to belong both to the UK and the Irish nation.

Peace campaigner Gordon Wilson, whose 20-year-old daughter Marie was killed by the IRA in Enniskillen in 1987, also served with distinction in the Seanad, having been nominated by then-Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.

Marshall's victory in 2018 definitely did feel like progress all the same. Getting a bit carried away by the occasion, the BBC even declared that it not only represented the "wind of change", but a "strengthening gale". Steady on, fellas, it's only the Seanad.

Now that gale is barely a breeze and what makes this worrying is that it's not as if Ian Marshall was what you'd call a diehard. As unionists go, he couldn't have been more moderate.

He campaigned against Brexit, which should have ticked all the right boxes in Dublin, and embraced cross-border partnership with enthusiasm, declaring that his presence in the Oireachtas proved "the future for everyone is about collaboration".

If someone like him can't get the necessary support for another term, what hope for more traditional unionists to break the mould?

Whether his inability to garner enough support this time around was sabotaged by the new mood of anti-unionist and anti-British feeling in the Republic is impossible to say. One can only hope not.

But while he's accepted his defeat graciously, it's hardly an encouraging sign.

On the very first page of the Belfast Agreement, which is now held up as practically sacred by nationalists, it says: "We are committed to partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between these islands."

That sense of mutual respect was stretched to the limit by Brexit and now the coronavirus crisis threatens to rip it asunder as demands grow south of the border for Northern Ireland to stop following the UK lead's on Covid-19 and get into line with Dublin instead.

It makes sense for the two halves of the island to act in tandem at the present time. As the cliche has it, Covid-19 doesn't recognise the border and there are undoubtedly many things that the UK could be doing far better, not least ramping up testing for doctors and nurses and in the wider community, as well as increasing the supply of personal protection equipment to everyone in the NHS who needs it.

But there are also valid questions to be asked about whether Ireland's current approach to testing and contact tracing is as thorough as is being claimed either.

The truth is that everyone is listening to what they think is the best medical and scientific advice to reduce the inevitable death toll and there's not the slightest shred of evidence that authorities, whether in Belfast, London or Dublin, are motivated by anything less than a desperate desire to save lives.

So, why is it that whenever the call goes out for a joint approach between the two halves of the island on any matter it always seems to be based on the assumption that the Republic, as the wiser half, must be the one calling the shots, while Northern Ireland should stop being silly and do what it's told?

Unionists are entitled to look at everything that's happening and ask: is this a foretaste of what life would be like in a united Ireland?

Is the future envisaged by nationalists one in which Northern Ireland is just another region, like Offaly, or Achill Island, doffing its cap and taking orders from Dublin in return for the occasional pat on the head or seat at the table?

That's what makes Ian Marshall's defeat significant. It's not about how many unionists are in the Seanad, which is a fairly laughable institution at the best of times, but about whether there's the slightest interest in what's known as Official Ireland to acknowledge the fact that unionists are not just some bothersome national minority, who must be indulged now and then like unruly children who don't know what's good for them, but an equal people in their own right.

The jury is still out on that one.
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Turkish authorities arrested owners of three influential Twitter accounts who criticize the government on terrorism charges, highlighting recent crackdowns on dissent, Ahval reported.

Mesut Aykin, who directed a vocal Twitter account called Turkiye Gercekleri (Facts of Turkey), was detained in Istanbul and taken to Ankara for interrogation, Medya Faresi news website reported. Aykin was accused of spreading the propaganda of the religious movement of the Islamic preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of organizing the failed coup detat in 2016.

Journalist Oktay Yasar, the owner of an account called Ankara Kusu (Ankara Bird), and manager Umit Kaya were detained on the same charge, the Daily Sabah writes.

Yasars account, which had over half a million subscribers, is currently unavailable online. Kaya, until recently, was a consultant to Turkish human rights activist Mehmet Bekaroglu.

Ankara Kusu is known in Turkey for its accurate and scandalous leaks about the internal work of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The account was created in November 2016 and in the early years was known as the supporting government of Erdogan.

In recent years, though, Ankara Kusu began publishing numerous stories on corruption within the AKP organisations, leading it to an explosive conflict with the former mayor of Ankara, Melih Gokcek.

Ankara Kusu accurately predicted that the ruling party would lose Ankara and Istanbul to the opposition in the last local elections in 2019.

The account is also known for its strong support for the Future Party of former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The arrest of Twitter users occurred at a time when the Turkish government was criticized for its actions in connection with the country's coronavirus pandemic and the deepening economic crisis. It appears that authorities have decided to stifle criticism. Local journalists continue to be arrested for reporting deaths from a COVID-19. Media organizations closely linked to Erdogans government have recently published numerous stories attacking the opposition media.

The Turkish interior ministry arrests users of social networks whose posts are considered provocative. Some of these posts are simple jokes or harsh criticisms of Erdogan.

A truck driver who said he had to make money to feed his family and could not stay home during the pandemic was detained the day after his Instagram video went viral. The Interior Minister said the driver had ulterior motives, and he wanted to stir up panic and spread fear among the public.
While social media has been widely blamed for spreading dangerous coronavirus misinformation, tens of thousands of Australians are using their networks to support the healthcare workers risking their lives on the front lines of the pandemic.

When Chris Nicholas launched the Facebook group Adopta Healthcare Worker in Perth on March 14, he expected a handful of "mates and friends of friends" might join.

"I had a friend who is a nurse, and she had been struggling to get shopping done around her shifts, so I offered to help her, and then I thought of extending the idea," Nicholas told AFP.

Within days, the initiative "exploded", spreading across the country and internationally and now boasts over 140,000 members in Australia alone.

The goal is to match volunteer helpers with "adoptee" healthcare workers struggling with increased work hours and the stress of fighting an unprecedented medical emergency that saw cases top one million worldwide on Thursday.

Hannah Koch, an administrator for the Victorian branch of the site, understands the pressure doctors have been under since the outbreak took hold. Her brother works in a hospital and her mother is a GP.

"We can't help them do their jobs because we are not skilled, but we can do the grocery shopping for them and I can offer to babysit my brother's kid when he has to pick up an extra shift," she told AFP.

"There's fear but there's also support, and that's all they can ask for -- and stay home," she added with a laugh. "Please, please, please stay home." The help on offer includes mowing lawns, household chores, delivering home-cooked meals and lifts to work for nurses so they don't have to take public transport.

Cards and children's drawings saying thank you to "healthcare heroes" have also been collected through the site for display on the windows and entrances of COVID-19 wards, where deliveries of other gifts can not be received.

"I want to say a huge thank you for the many beautiful messages and offers of assistance I received," wrote adoptee Linda Yate.

"Offers to shop for me, cook and drop off meals, and offers of the chance to touch base with someone to just have a friendly chat and many, many more... The generosity of everyone is so humbling."



Dozens of other outreach groups have formed in recent weeks via Facebook, WhatsApp, and Chinese social media app Weibo to support the sick, needy and those in isolation.

On one such Facebook group -- Northside Melbourne Coronavirus Outreach -- people offered food, groceries, homemade soaps, sanitary items and thermometers. Others offered to run errands, provide free IT support to those trying to adjust to working from home or give online fitness and relaxation classes.

"The love pouring out of this page is everything right in our world," wrote one recipient.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the spread of Covid-19 grips the world, health officials on the African continent have called for help for essential supplies such as masks and ventilators. While some are trying to fill the physical gap, a grassroots effort to get out the information on how to prevent the virus -- washing hands, keeping a distance from others, coughing into your elbow -- has been effective in communicating vital information.

Journalists, filmmakers, graphic designers, and those who can speak or write effectively in one of the estimated 3,000 local languages on the African continent have mobilized to get the message out on how to prevent the deadly virus that is spread by breath droplets as they are coughed or sneezed. Coronavirus can also be transmitted when a person touches their face after touching a contaminated surface. The virus can be absorbed through mucus membranes.

While some governments and health ministries have launched local language information, journalists like Elia Ntali and Kudzanai Gerede, who both work for the Harare-based Zimbabwe newswire 263Chat, translated information on Covid-19 in Shona and Ndebele, respectively.

For Gerede, a business journalist originally from Bulawayo, it was second nature to get the information out in Ndebele, a local language spoken by many who feel marginalized in the south of the country.

Very few people think about translating information into Ndebele, Gerede tells RFI. He put forward the idea to write stories in Shona and Ndebele during an editorial meeting where journalists were discussing how to make the Covid-19 information as clear as possible for their audience.

I suggested to do a write up in Ndebele and asked my other colleague if he could do the same in Shona. The editor liked it and then we just took a government statement written in English and paraphrased it in local languages since we realised there wasnt any literature in these languages, he says.

Although he grew up speaking Ndebele, he said that he had to think about how to translate words such as quarantine and social distancing.

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Of course, that was a little challenging, but it wasnt that difficult because the language is broad, there are words that also mean the same as distancing oneself from others, the journalist says. I managed to put it across the best way possible, using phrases to describe one word, he adds.

The news portal received good feedback in more ways than one.

Im happy to say a few days later I saw government also trying to do the same in indigenous languages, says Gerede, adding that they also received positive feedback on their WhatsApp groups.

In DRC, from Ebola to Corona

The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo discharged its last Ebola patient nearly one month ago, and now local health educators are trying to bring communities up to speed on how to protect themselves from coronavirus. Confusion about the similarities and differences between Ebola and Covid-19 is rife, says Laure Venier, a community engagement program coordinator for the DRC with Translators Without Borders (TWB).

A lot of people are expressing that they feel safer because they know how to take care of themselves because of the hygiene measures put in place for Ebola, she tells RFI.

Venier says that rumors have already begun that this is another disease intended to make money. During Ebola, some Congolese believed that the fatal hemorraghic fever was created for international non-governmental organisations to make money.

Thats a really sad aspect and we need to communicate about this. I think the good thing would be do it openly and honestly, she says. Ensuring that people have the vital information in their own language will stem the spread of misinformation. Venier says that rumors such as drinking tea will prevent Covid-19 has been flagged in TWB media monitoring, and the misinformation such as the tea cure is spreading internationally, too.

The Congolese authorities have created a helpline in nine different local languages that is open from 8h00 to 20h00, which Venier says is useful, acknowledging that creating a helpline in all 400 local languages would be a near-impossible task.

Nigerian solidarity

While Nigeria is trying to deal with how to maintain social distancing and put food on the table, a number of people as well as UN agencies have come together in order to get the word out in some of the local languages in Africas most populous country.

Nigerian filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan, famous in his own right for directing The Wedding Party 2, the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time, used his skills to create a short video that he then dubbed into a number of Nigerian languages, including Igbo, Pidgin and Hausa. Akinmolayan has been promoting them on social media to ensure everyone knows about how easily Covid-19 is spread.

The United Nations, which usually operates in six official languages, has expanded their public information campaigns to include posters in Hausa, Kanuri, Yoruba, and Igbo, and have included a misinformation feature as well.

One woman produced a video in Fulfulde, a language spoken by the Fulani people mainly in Adamawa state in Nigeria, in addition to two northern provinces of Cameroon. The video was shared on the US Embassy in Yaoundes Facebook page.

Information is available across the length of the continent

South Africa is tackling misinformation regarding Covid-19 by running a WhatsApp helpline in five of the countrys 11 official languagesEnglish, Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans. South Africas News24 reported that although the helpline initially only took questions in English, the Health Department added four more to accommodate more South Africans.

It has also created a number of videos, including this one in Zulu.

In Morocco, it was the initiative of yet another journalist, Hammou Hasnoui, and graphic designer Aissam El Nehali who created a video with subtitles in Tachelhit and Tarifit, two Moroccan Tamazight (also known as Berber) dialects. They have posted their videos on Youtube and Facebook in order to get the word out to the Berber minority in the country.

Information needed for African refugees based in Europe

Many on the continent have answered the call to get information out, but groups who work with refugees and asylum seekers in Europe are also working to ensure the most vulnerable understand how the disease is spread.

The Linguistic and Intercultural Mediations in a context of International Migrations group (LIMINAL), has already asked online for help in translating coronavirus information into a number of languages, including 15 African local languages. A member of the group told RFI that they have already had translations into Sudanese Arabic and Tigrinya, a language spoken in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The British site for medical charity Doctors of the World has information translated into a number of languages, including Somali and Tigrinya.

French residents have had to print out and carry an authorization to leave their homes. For refugees who do not speak French, the Anti-Authoritarian Group for Toulouse and its Surroundings (IAATA) has translated the French guidelines and has provided the authorization letter in a number of languages, including Amharic, Bambara, Diakhanke, Igbo, Malagasy, Peul, Soninke, Sussu, and Tigrinya.

Irelands national health service has also translated Covid-19 guidelines into a number of languages, including Yoruba.
Hollywood star Sean Penn has decided to collaborate with the city of Los Angeles to offer help amid the Coronavirus outbreak. The actor and his non-profit organisation CORE have collaborated with the city to run a Coronavirus testing center in the east side of LA. Sean Penn was lauded for his efforts for helping out the community in the time of need by the Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Jeff Gorell.

Sean Penn teams up with LA to run Coronavirus testing center

Thank you @SeanPenn and volunteers from CORE who are partnering with us and running a COVID pop-up testing location in East LA. #HeroesOfCovid19 #LAStrong #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/ryiz00p8UU  eff orell (@JeffGorell) March 31, 2020

ALSO READ | American Singer Dolly Parton Donates $1 Million To Support A COVID-19 Research Group

According to the organisation's website, they are working in partnership with the City of Los Angeles to promote safe and efficient COVID-19 testing to the vulnerable populations in Los Angeles. The drive-through testing clinics will be available to those who pre-qualify as high risk. However, details regarding the project remain unclear. The NGO is also working towards assisting medical professionals amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Mystic River actor is the founder of an NGO called CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort). It was formed back in 2010 in response to the earthquake in Haiti was formerly called J/P Haitian Relief Organization. As much as Sean Penn is known for his acting, he is also popularly known for his humanitarian work as well.

ALSO READ | Ryan Reynolds Reveals What He Is Actually Doing During The Coronavirus Lockdown

Sean Penn is one of the latest celebrities to use his platform for donations amid the COVID-19 outbreak. A lot of other celebrities have also come forward and pledged their donations towards helping people in need. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively pledged $1 million to split between Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. Other stars like Jennifer Garner, Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Jenner and many more have also joined hands with different charities and pledged their donations.

ALSO READ | Sean Penn Working On Documentary On Saudi Writer's Death

ALSO READ | Sonam Kapoor, Saif And Other Celebs Join Forces To Spread Awareness About Coronavirus
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, talk with Chief Executive of the London Ambulance Service, Garrett Emmerson during a visit to the London Ambulance Service 111 control room in Croydon, Britain March 19, 2020

Chelsy Davy arrives at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan walk down the stairs of Sydneys iconic Opera House to meet people in Sydney on October 16, 2018. - Prince Harry and Meghan have made their first appearances since announcing they are expecting a baby, kicking off a high-profile Pacific trip with a photo in front of Sydney's dazzling Opera House and posing with koalas. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP)SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex depart after visiting Taronga Zoo on October 16, 2018 in Sydney, Australia

The following are hashtags on Twitter relating to Harry and Meghan: #sodoffsussexes, #Megxit and #IhateMeghan.

These are some of the words and phrases used to describe the couple before and after they officially quit as senior royals this week  irrelevant, grovelling and ungrateful. The tone of the posts pretty much reached pandemic levels of vitriol as the official end date neared.

Royal commentator Penny Junor even volunteered: Prince Charles has got Covid-19, so hes in there with us all.

What does that mean? That Meghan is selfish and less likeable because she hasnt become infected?

Expand Close Chelsy Davy arrives at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle / Facebook

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Whatsapp Chelsy Davy arrives at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The press has always had a problem with Meghan and deemed her too thin, too pushy, too American, too biracial, too crude, too common, too independent.

Looking back, that never complain, never explain attitude the royals have was never going to suit anyone with a brain in their head, an opinion or a passion for life.

In an era when everyone is kept on such a tight communications leash, its refreshing when someone gives up so much and shoots straight, knowing it will trigger even more abuse.

Of course, Harry has form with the girls he likes, so marrying an articulate, confident woman who refused to let her destiny be decided by an ancient institution should be no surprise.

Chelsy Davy, his previous girlfriend, was way more brazen than Meghan ever was. Meghan is bright, a laying hen (makes her own money) and a passionate advocate for womens rights.

How could she, in all sincerity, stay in the royal family and do what she was told and continue to advocate for womens voices to be heard? Kate Middleton seems to be a major beneficiary of Meghans exit, single-handedly carrying the royal family, were told.

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The nonsense being spun in the press about Harry and Meghan being broke and homeless is laughable.

The fact that the newspapers are continuing to write about the couple and obsess over their every little move shows interest in them is still at fever pitch.

Expand Close Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, talk with Chief Executive of the London Ambulance Service, Garrett Emmerson during a visit to the London Ambulance Service 111 control room in Croydon, Britain March 19, 2020 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, talk with Chief Executive of the London Ambulance Service, Garrett Emmerson during a visit to the London Ambulance Service 111 control room in Croydon, Britain March 19, 2020

They could command a massive figure for any role/appearance/endorsement or job. The news this week that reviews of Meghans voiceover work in a Disney documentary are average comes, at best, as no surprise.

Well, they were hardly going to give her an Oscar straight off  that doesnt make for a really good Hollywood script.

Shes no David Attenborough, and they may be social distancing from the royal family right now, but were promised the situation will be reviewed in 12 months, leaving the door open for a return in case of a change of heart.

Wholl pay for large expenses like their security remains unanswered.

It feels like scriptwriters are still mulling over the final chapter of this real-life drama. One things for sure  this laying hen will have the sign-off on how it ends.
With the Promise to Care Campaign, Kia Philippines has assured that buyers of K2500 need not to worry about after sales support. This as its Promise To Care campaign is providing customer-centric after-sales service and solutions as well as offering products that cater to various customer needs. The K2500 is designed specifically for business owners who are in the fast-growing delivery service industry.

From Kia Philippines website

"Catering to hardworking business owners engaged in the delivery service industry, the Kia K2500 is one of the ways Kia Philippines Promises to Care. It is specd and packed with features that make life easier for the daily grind," Kia Philippines president Manny Aligada said.

Manny Aligada, Kia Philippines president

The Kia K2500 is a no-nonsense unit: its front open panel allows passenger to store often-used items so these would be within easy reach and the vinyl seat material, speaks durability while providing comfort. In terms of capacity, the K2500 can accommodate up to 18 passengers with its Karga variant. Moreover, rear passengers will get a powerful rear air-conditioning system. while the front occupants get the convenience of power windows. It is powered by a 2.5-liter CRDI Euro-4 compliant diesel motor rated at 128 horsepower and 255Nm. This mill is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and has the four-wheel drive option. Such strength can handle a payload capacity of 835kg. The Kia K2500 is perfect to show you care in times of need. It can be used as a vehicle to deliver groceries and relief goods, utilized to ferry medical personnel and frontliners, and even serve as an ambulance. And with its available 4-wheel drive, it can tackle rough terrain with ease. Also, customers can get it in the following configurations: Kargo- a utilitarian version of the Karga less the air conditioning and seats, Cargo Van, Dropside pickup- in single and double cab, or a Cab and Chassis. Each one is competitively priced for its segment. Plus, business owners can have total peace of mind knowing that they are getting a reliable and dependable workhorse. After all, Kia has been recognized the world over by such prestigious organizations as J.D. Power, for its quality, dependability, and performance. The Kia K2500 is already available at all authorized Kia dealership nationwide in the following variants and competitive prices:

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Author Katherine Stewart let Christians have it last Friday, at the least the ultraconservative ones, the science-deniers, and the uncritical thinkers. Laying the blame for the pandemic in part at our feet, she cites as an example the pastor who hosted the president last month at his church in Miami. Do you believe God would bring his people to his house to be contagious with the virus? he asked his full house. Of course not. Such conviction led many churches to gather together last Sunday for worship, a defiance defended as faithfulness, though as it turned out the virus indeed infects the righteous and unrighteous alike.

Im sympathetic to Stewarts concern that Christians are not listening to medical science, and Im sympathetic to the pastors sentiment too. One year ago this week I stood in Capernaum, reading from Luke 4 about Jesus exorcising demons while in the very synagogue where he did it. I stood there with my late wife who was dying of pancreas cancer, its own kind of demon. Our tour guide, a non-religious Jew, suggested we pray for healing, given all the healing that happened here. As a pastor, I felt embarrassedwhy hadnt I thought of that? Where was my faith? Did I believe God would bring his people to his house and let cancer win? Of course not. But my wife did die.

Such questions haunt Christians, a chronic thorn in our theological flesh. We crave simple answers, the sort Stewart describes in political arenas as a battle between absolute evil and absolute good (which she resorts to herself, with her overly simplistic characterizations). We live in a day when everything gets reduced down into binary, either/or simplicity for the sake of a Twitter fight. Good versus evil. Light versus darkness. Left versus right. Red versus blue. Law versus grace. Faith versus works. Justice versus love.

St. Augustine (A.D. 354-430) lived during a time of severe political and theological unrest, as well as pandemic and plague. Barbarians pressed in upon the Roman Empire as schism and dissension threatened the church. Augustine dove head first into the theological fray, battling the binaries of his day, which, similar to ours, pit the powers of goodness and light against the equal powers of darkness and evil. For Christians, there is no fair fight because God is almighty. So how then is it that evil exists?

St. Augustine proposed the notion of evil as essentially nothing (no thing), a basic nonentity all its own. By this he did not mean evil is not real; he meant only that its power is wholly derivative. Like a parasite or a virus, it extracts its life from the goodness it perverts. Thus evil often gets spoken in terms of what it is not: injustice or iniquity or ingratitude, disorder, disobedience, faithlessness, lawlessness, godlessness. Augustine wrote, evil has no existence except as a privation of good, down to that level which is altogether without being.

In these days of pandemic, evil works like a virus. Classics professor Katherine Kelaidis, reflecting on the great pandemic of Athens in 430 B.C., noted how a virus, like evil, has no head of its own. It is not just without reason, but without motive. It is truly only half alive. It has nothing to gain and nothing to lose. No sense of itself. No desire to live, something animals and even certain planets possess. This is why diseases and the threats they bring lay us all so bare. The only soul in the equation is our own.

Not that a virus itself is evil, but evil is viral in that it relies on a host to survive. It doesnt belong in Gods world but somehow got in. Part of the evil of evil is its defiance of logic. Who can unravel that twisted and tangled knottiness? Augustine plaintively asked in his Confessions. It is foul. I hate to reflect on it. I hate to look on it.

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Just as social distancing measures serve to starve a viral outbreak, so spiritual distancing from temptation and sin would starve evil. But who can do this? The Apostle Paul himself famously bemoaned the impossibility: I do not understand my own actions, for I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate (Rom. 7:15, NRSV). Binary categories neither explain nor assist. The only soul in the equation is our own. Christianity has long taught how our hearts curve in on ourselves. Our best intentions are tinged by self-interest, our good works self-serving. This applies to pastors and politicians as well as to the columnists who criticize them. Wretched man that I am, Paul bewailed by chapters end. Who will rescue me from this body of death? (7:24).

If Augustine is right about evil, you cant destroy a nonentity without affecting in some way the goodness from which it gets its life. The admonition of social distancing to rid the world of the microscopic coronavirus comes at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives, millions of jobs, a likely economic recession, stressed relationships, and heightened anxiety and fear.

Unlike evil, a pandemic eventually ends. Immunity and vaccines take hold. But there is no human-generated immunity or vaccination against evil. Sin infects our souls over and over again. Our only hope, thank God, is through Jesus Christ (Rom. 7:25), who starves evil of its power with his own sinless life. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). That the Son of God had to die to deliver us from evil attests to its truly hideous and destructive nature. Yet we praise the Lord for the cross and call it good news. And so we move toward the cross and toward Eastersocially distant from our churches (to starve the virus), but spiritually tethered to Jesus (to save our souls).

Daniel Harrell is Christianity Todays editor in chief.
San Francisco, April 3 : Google has announced $6.5 million in funding to fact-checkers and non-profit prganisations fighting misinformation globally around novel coronavirus.

The funding is being given as part of Google News Initiative (GNI) which is also providing an online resource hub, dedicated training and crisis simulations for reporters covering COVID-19 all over the globe.

"To help, we're supporting Data Leads in partnership with BOOM Live in India and Africa Check in Nigeria to leverage data from Question Hub. This will be complemented by an effort to train 1,000 journalists across India and Nigeria to spot health misinformation," said Alexios Mantzarlis, Lead of News and Information Credibility at Google News Lab.

The GNI's 'First Draft' is using its extensive CrossCheck network to help newsrooms respond quickly and address escalating content that is causing confusion and harm.

"Access to primary expert sources during an evolving public health crisis is both challenging and fundamental for journalists covering the story," said Google.

To make this easier, the tech giant is providing funding to SciLine, based at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Australian Science Media Centre, creators of Scimex.org.

"We're supporting the creation of a database for reporters developed by the journalism technology nonprofit Meedan in partnership with public health experts," informed Mantzarlis.

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) continues to advocate for fact-checkers worldwide.

"Our renewed support will boost their efforts to uphold best practices in the fact-checking field and showcase the work of the CoronaVirusFacts alliance," said Google.

The company said that it is making more local Google Trends data available for journalists, health organisations and local authorities to help them understand people's information needs around the world.

"Our online resources are being updated to support the vital work journalists are doing. The GNI Training Center has tools for data journalism and verification in 16 languages, and our global team of Teaching Fellows is delivering workshops entirely online in 10 languages," informed the company.
Small business landlords will be forced to give tenants rent reductions as their revenue falls as part of series of measures designed to avoid sweeping retail vacancies due to the coronavirus pandemic.

National cabinet will next week formalise the mandatory code that will see businesses with less than $50 million in revenue given rent relief if they are signed up to the $130 billion JobKeeper package.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the code would be based on a "proportionality principle".

An empty take away shop in Mallacoota. Credit:Rachel Mounsey

"The turnover reduction of the tenant needs to be reflected in the rental waiver of the landlord," he said.
By Yew Lun Tian and Keith Zhai

BEIJING/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Regions along China's porous borders with southeast Asia are working hard to improve surveillance and curb illegal immigration, authorities said, as thousands flood into a country seen as a safe haven in the global war against the coronavirus pandemic.

As the number of confirmed cases across the globe exceeds one million, China says its lockdowns of Wuhan and the province of Hubei, where the disease originated late last year, have brought domestic sources of transmission under control. Authorities have now turned their attention to potential infections from overseas.

But while they have imposed tough new quarantine measures on all passengers flying into China's airports, they are struggling to handle an influx of people crossing the poorly policed frontiers of Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Premier Li Keqiang's special government taskforce handling the COVID-19 outbreak decided on Thursday to strengthen border controls and impose centralised quarantine on travellers who enter the country via highways.

"China's southwest land border with South East Asian countries is too long and porous to be enforced properly," said Zhang Mingliang, professor of South East Asia studies at Guangzhou Jinan University.

These borders have often proved vulnerable to drug smugglers and human traffickers, and now local governments are facing the additional challenge of having to cope with thousands of people fleeing the coronavirus.

"Before the outbreak, Vietnamese people have scaled barbed wire fences to cross into Guangxi for work," Zhang added, adding that it wouldn't be a surprise if more people were now entering the country, either because of the virus or for other purposes.

Last month, 13 foreign citizens were reported to have illegally entered the city of Baise in the region of Guangxi, which shares a border with Vietnam. They were immediately repatriated, and authorities have now set up volunteer checkpoints to try to stop further illegal entry.

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NO SIGNS OF STRICTER CHECKS

Although China has promised tougher controls, residents on the Myanmar side of the border said workers and businessmen continue to make routine journeys into the neighbouring Chinese province of Yunnan.

"People cross to China every day," a resident of Namkham township, in Myanmar's northern Shan state, separated from China by the narrow Shweli river, told Reuters. "Almost all of them are Myanmar nationals who are manual labourers on banana plantations, maize plantations and other plantations."

A Reuters reporter saw no signs of tight surveillance on either side of the river at two crossing points.

However, many people now entering China are Chinese nationals doing so legally, with tougher border and airport controls spooking thousands of Chinese farmers, traders and construction workers into returning home.

Local authorities have promised to strictly apply quarantine rules on those who enter.

Yunnan province, which shares a rugged and sometimes lawless 4,000-km border with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, has become the "front line" of efforts to prevent infections entering the country from overseas, senior provincial officials said at a meeting on March 31.

In Mengla, a county in Yunnan on the border with Myanmar, traffic flows have surged since March 28 as people return to China by road following the cancellation of flights as well as toughened airport controls, residents said.

Authorities have commandeered 46 hotels to quarantine incoming travellers, with as many as 3,589 incoming travellers isolated in the county by March 28.

Xishuangbanna prefecture, which runs Mengla and forms a large part of China's border with Myanmar, has also set up a special task force to build a "defensive line" preventing illegal border entry, especially for citizens from Myanmar and Laos, it said in a notice on Thursday.

"To be honest we were not that panicked during the domestic outbreak given our remote location," said a Xishuangbanna resident. "But now we are frightened as we suddenly stand on the front line of the battlefield."

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian and Keith Zhai; Additional reporting by Lusha Zhang; writing by Poppy McPherson and David Stanway; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
While we like what we do with the shops, we do understand that four years have gone by and other companies are doing similar things, Palatnik said. So what were looking to do is innovate and create something new.

Revah and Palatnik hired Rustic Grain, a Crestwood furniture company, to develop a prototype for the new stores that maximizes vertical space. It compresses the companys product into as little as 300 square feet of retail space, or about one-third to one-fifth the size of most current stores.

Shelves climb to the ceiling. The area behind the counter is gone. The bottom 4 feet of wall space, which often goes unused in stores because its not easy for customers to see or reach, wont be left empty in the store Palatnik and Revah envision.

Its the first time Rustic Grain has developed a small-store concept, said owner Tim Nummela. The design uses reclaimed wood from barns that are around 100 years old, along with metal, glass and commercial finishes for inside the cabinets.

Revah and Palatnik enlisted a firm to search for locations for the smaller-footprint stores.
[April 03, 2020] Support for Local Merchants - acquiring.com Launch Relief Payment Tools

BIRKIRKARA, Malta, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Acquiring.com, the local acquiring arm of Trust Payments and a market leader in innovative payment solutions, will implement a number of solutions aimed at supporting partners and merchants operating in the Maltese community. The relief tools and retailing solutions will be released on 1st April, can be accessed at touchfreepayment.com and will enable practically any business, to accept remote payments. "Our main goal is to enable merchants to continue taking payments from their customers while respecting social distancing. The payments products and services included in the package cater for a wide range of business operation structures, from e-commerce selling via website to shops taking orders by phone," says David Falzon, Head of Sales.



"We have also put to good use our fast, secure and reliable technology for the benefit of our client's needs and within a few days, have come up with these services to support our customers in these challenging times.Additionally, we have also already increased the limit for contactless transactions to Eur50 on all Visa cards effected on our POS terminals to minimise physical contact for both merchant and cardholder,"  added John Pace, Chief Officer Business Development. As from April 01st businesses subscribing for the Responsible Retailing Payment Solution Package will have access to special discounts and conditions that will include:

Free card terminal (epos) machines connected via sim card.

Free access to Trust's TouchFree Payment Solution. TouchFree enables businesses to take payments via phone, email, and messaging.

Merchant account and acquiring services at special rates.

24/7 Customer Support via phone and dedicated account manager. Merchants interested in acquiring a Trust Membership are encouraged to get in touch by sending a message to [email protected]. Contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/support-for-local-merchants--acquiringcom-launch-relief-payment-tools-301035025.html SOURCE acquiring.com

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Gandhinagar, April 3 : One more person died on Friday in Ahmedabad due to corona virus infection, taking the death toll in Gujarat to 9. Till Friday, 95 persons have been found positive in the state.

Another corona positive male from Panchmahal also died on Friday morning.

The number of corona positive cases are increasing in Gujarat, especially in Ahmedabad. After a male (78) from Godhra, (Panchmahal) died on Friday morning, another male (67) too succumbed to the dreaded disease of COVID-19 in the evening.

Informing the media, Jayanti Ravi, Principal Secretary, Health and family welfare Department, said, "The deceased from Ahmedabad Sola Civil Hospital was also comorbid with ailments like diabetes and hypertension. With his death, the number of deaths due to corona virus is 9 in the state. The total of COVID-19 deaths in Ahmedabad is 4." "Out of the total patients admitted, the conditions of 75 is stable and only one is critical, who is on ventilator," added Ravi.

Due to the rising numbers of positive cases and deaths in the state, the health authorities have intensified the cluster containment strategy.

"We are reviewing this strategy -- the entire area is be sealed strictly, while ensuring the supply of essential commodities. There will be active surveillance in these clusters, where going from door-to-door, the health authorities will be screening, each member of the families through thermal scanners. They will be accompanied by local municipal corporation authorities as well as police personnel. We appeal to people to coorporate," added Ravi.

"We have identified 21 clusters in Ahmedabad. The local authority will decide which area needs to be cordoned and strictly quarantined," added Ravi.

On the state's preparedness for the outbreak, the Secretary showed confidence that the state was fully prepared.

"We have adequate ventilators in the state 1,061 ventilators are in government healthcare facilities, while 1,700 are in private hospitals. The mapping of shifting of these ventilators in situation of crisis has also been carried out. We also have adequate stock of 'hydroxychloroquine' and 'azithromycin' which is found to be very effective in Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) which is a symptom off COVID-19," added Ravi.

"Right now, we have adequate stock of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits in the state but we are going to procure more. Deputy Chief Minister, Nitin Patel has contacted all the manufacturers in Gujarat and had a talk with them. We also received 3,000 kits from Delhi today," said Ravi.

Earlier in the day, a male (78) from Godhra, (Panchmahals), admitted in the Savita hospital, Vadodara for Corona died in the morning.

Four people, including a 7-year-old girl, all from a single family, had been found positive from Bhnderi Pol in Kalupur area of Ahmedabad. A 68-year-old male from Kalupur with travel history to Delhi had also been found positive. A male (62) and another male (17) both from Bapunagar were also found positive in Ahmedabad on Friday.

The total number of positive cases in Gujarat is 95. Maximum cases registered are in Ahmedabad: 38 (4 deaths, 5 cured), followed by Surat: 12 (1 death, 3 cured), Gandhinagar: 11, Rajkot: 10 (1 cured), Vadodara: 9 (1 death, 1 cured), Bhavnagar: 7 (2 deaths), Porbandar: 3, Gir Somnath: 2, and one each in Kutch, Mehsana and Panchmahals (1 death).

"We are also planning to increase the number of testing for the virus, especially in the cluster found in the state under the Cluster Containment Strategy. We have taken total 135 samples today and all of them are negative. So far we have taken 1,998 samples out of which 1,901 are negative, 95 positive and 2 are pending," added Ravi in the evening.

"The total number of quarantined in the state is 16,015, where 14,868 are home-quarantined, 880 in government facilities and 267 in private facilities. Total 418 FIR have been filed for violation of quarantine orders in the state," said Ravi.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Granite Creek Copper Ltd. (GCX.V) ("Granite Creek") announces the appointment of Rebecca Moriarty of Malaspina Consultants Inc. ("Malaspina") as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Moriarty is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has over 20 years of experience in the mining industry. As a senior member of the Malaspina team, she is focused primarily on the resource sector, drawing on her unique combination of technical and business accounting expertise with a degree in geology from Queens University and a Chartered Professional Accountant designation. Prior to joining Malaspina, Ms. Moriarty worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where she was a manager working exclusively with resource companies.

Malaspina is a leading Vancouver based financial consulting firm providing accounting and advisory firm providing accounting and outsourced finance solutions for high-growth companies, particularly in the resource sector. In addition to providing the Company with CFO services, Malaspina will also provide accounting and corporate advisory services as required. Ms. Rebecca Moriarty replaces Mr. Tim Thiessen, who has stepped down from his role as CFO for the Metallic Group companies, in order to concentrate on other opportunities.

Timothy Johnson, Granite Creek President and CEO, stated, "We are pleased to be working with Malaspina and recognize their provision of top quality, comprehensive accounting services as a good fit for Granite Creek. Ms. Moriarty will be assuming the role of CFO for the Company, supported by an experienced, dedicated team with extensive experience in the mining exploration sector. Granite Creek is very appreciative of the contributions Mr. Thiessen has made to the Company since its launch in 2018 and wish to extend our best wishes in his future pursuits."

Covid-19 Update

Based on guidelines from the World Health Organization, national governments and local communities, Granite Creek has implemented precautionary measures to reduce the risks associated with the spread of COVID-19. These measures include reducing travel and in-person meetings for all personnel. The Company is closely monitoring recommendations and guidance related to Corona virus for all of the communities in which we operate. Technical work on the Stu Copper-Gold project is ongoing, and the Company will provide further updates on operations and corporate developments in the coming weeks and months.

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About Granite Creek Copper

Granite Creek Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on the advancement of its 100%-owned Stu Copper-Gold project located in the Yukon's Minto Copper District. This 115 square kilometer property is on trend with Pembridge Resources' high-grade Minto Copper-Gold Mine to the north and the Carmacks Copper-Gold-Silver project to the south. The Stu project has excellent access to infrastructure with the nearby paved Yukon Highway 2, along with grid power within 12 km. More information about Granite Creek and the Stu Copper-Gold Project can be viewed on the Company's website at www.gcxcopper.com.

About the Metallic Group of Companies

The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry's highest-grade producers of silver and gold, platinum and palladium, and copper. Member companies include Metallic Minerals in the Yukon's high-grade Keno Hill silver district and La Plata silver-gold-copper district of Colorado, Group Ten Metals in the Stillwater PGM-nickel-copper district of Montana, and Granite Creek Copper in the Yukon's Minto copper district. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry's leading explorer/developers and major producers. With this expertise, the companies are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven, but under-explored, mining districts. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTC, and Frankfurt stock exchanges.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Timothy Johnson, President & CEO

Telephone: 1 (604) 235-1982

Toll Free: 1 (888) 361-3494

E-mail: info@gcxcopper.com

Website: www.gcxcopper.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Granite Creek Copper Ltd.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/583826/Granite-Creek-Copper-Appoints-CFO-and-Provides-Updates-Regarding-COVID-19-Response




A barista packs a coffee for online sales at a Luckin Coffee store in Beijing, China July 17, 2018. Jason Lee | Reuters

Here we go again. It sounds outrageous: The chief operating officer of Luckin Coffee, the largest domestic coffee chain in the China, was accused by his own company of fabricating much of its reported sales in 2019. Luckin also said that certain costs and expenses were substantially inflated and advised that investors shouldn't rely on previous financial statements for the nine months ended Sept. 30. The company has only been public since May. To add insult to injury, Luckin sold 4.8 million shares of stock in a secondary stock offering in January at $42 a share, raising over $380 million in new capital. The stock, which trades on Nasdaq, dropped more than 75% on Thursday. You can already smell the lawsuits.

'A wake-up call for U.S. policymakers'

Muddy Waters Research published a critical report on the company in January describing it as fraud and a "fundamentally broken business." It was quick to take a victory lap and make an even broader claim. "This is again a wake-up call for U.S. policymakers, regulators, and investors about the extreme fraud risk China-based companies pose to our markets," founder Carson Block said in a statement to CNBC. While this is a particularly egregious example, this has happened many times with Chinese companies, including those that have listed in the U.S. More than a decade ago, hundreds of Chinese companies went public in the U.S. via reverse mergers, merging into public but mostly dormant U.S. companies. Many turned out to be frauds  so many that a movie, "The China Hustle," was made about the whole wild affair.

The weak point in oversight: Auditing

Fast forward to today, and one particularly weak point stands out: auditing procedures. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton and William Duhnke III, chairman of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, have often noted that U.S. regulators are prevented from inspecting audit work and practices of audit firms in China. They have called for more cooperation from China, to no avail. All foreign companies that list on U.S. exchanges must have their financial statements audited by an independent firm. Multinational companies are generally audited by firms in their own country. This is true regardless of whether the firm listing in the U.S. is based in China, Russia, Turkey, France or anywhere else. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 established the PCAOB. It required that every domestic and foreign accounting firm that issues audit reports for companies that report to the SEC register with the board. The board is required to periodically inspect registered firm audits of U.S. public companies, including those done by foreign firms, and this has caused significant friction with foreign accounting firms and their regulators. Over time, the PCAOB negotiated agreements with foreign counterparts that allowed them to perform audit inspections. Clayton and Duhnke issued a joint statement in December 2018 noting that the board had entered into cooperative agreements with 23 foreign regulators that allow them to conduct either joint inspections or share inspection findings with regulators in those jurisdictions. China, however, is one of the few countries that has not been cooperating with the board. Clayton and Duhnke reiterated their frustration in a Feb. 19 statement, where they noted that the board "continues to be prevented from inspecting the audit work and practices of PCAOB-registered audit firms in China on a comparable basis to other non-U.S. jurisdictions." Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has also been vocal about the reluctance of China's regulatory authority to cooperate with the United States. In June, Rubio and several other senators introduced a bill to delist firms that are out of compliance with U.S. regulators for a period of three years, with a particular emphasis on China. In an email to CNBC, Rubio had this to say about the Luckin misconduct: "It's outrageous that we continue to allow the Chinese government to shield U.S.-listed Chinese companies from complying with the SEC's disclosure and audit regulations. While some have used recent events to call for increasing investments in China-based securities, this unfortunate but unsurprising incident highlights the tremendous risk posed by such investments. This should be a major wake-up call for policymakers and regulators: if Chinese companies want to be listed on U.S. exchanges, they must comply with American laws and regulations for financial transparency and accountability."

Should Luckin continue to trade on a U.S. exchange?
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  The Philippines now has eight health facilities nationwide that can conduct COVID-19 tests, increasing the country's testing capacity, Inter-agency Task Force spokesperson Karlo Nograles said on Friday.

The accredited facilities are the following:

Luzon

- Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City

- San Lazaro Hospital in Manila City

- University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health in Quezon City

- Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City

- Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in Benguet

Visayas

- Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo

- Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Cebu

Mindanao

- Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao

Previously, only the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine was conducting COVID-19 testing, resulting in delays in the release of test results.

Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the increase in testing laboratories will help identify cases to effectively curb COVID-19 spread. She added this will also lead to an increase in the number of cases.

The Philippine government is targeting an April 14 start of "massive testing" of persons suspected of coronavirus infection.

The Philippines has 2,633 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 107 deaths, and 51 recoveries.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 09:29:10|Editor: Wang Yamei

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DUBLIN, April 2 (Xinhua) -- A flight carrying medical supplies from China arrived at Shannon Airport in west Ireland on Thursday afternoon, Irish national radio and television broadcaster RTE reported.

Later on Thursday, the Irish Department of Health reported 402 more cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the total to 3,849, together with an additional 13 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 98.

The flight, operated by Qatar Airways, carried ventilators, emergency beds and other medical equipment which are much needed by Ireland in its on-going fight against the pandemic, said the report.

This is part of a larger purchase of medical equipment that the Irish government has ordered from China, according to an earlier RTE report.

The RTE earlier reported that the first shipment of the order worth 208 million euros (about 226 million U.S. dollars) arrived at Dublin Airport on Sunday.

Earlier on Thursday, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told a press briefing that the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to come.

The government will make a decision on whether or not it should extend its "stay-at-home" order towards the end of next week, he said.

On Friday, the Irish government issued a "stay-at-home" order, demanding all the people in the country are only allowed to leave their homes under some special circumstances such as when they have to go outside to work or buy food and medicine.
Portugal's president announced late on Thursday that the country will be entering another two weeks of state of emergency in its fight against the new coronavirus.

It will "continue to be a radical change in our lives," said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, "but what matters is to know that this change is worth tens of thousands of lives saved."

The televised statement came after both the government and parliament gave their seal of approval to the two-week extension.

Temporary legal changes have already given authorities enhanced powers to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus and allow for a declaration of a lockdown.

The new measures will allow authorities to order nursing home staff to work and order the elderly into hotels for their safety.

Officials will be allowed to release some prisoners, while others may receive pardons.

There are government fears that people will be reluctant to stay at home during the approaching Easter weekend.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in several weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Portugal has officially recorded 9,034 cases of COVID-19 and 209 deaths.

The state of emergency now runs through April 17.
Gruesome videos of physical assault and stone pelting at doctors and cops in different parts of the country including Indore, Hyderabad, Bihar and Ahmedabad have come forward in the recent times. These people who are risking their own lives to ensure our safety and well-being are facing the wrath of the mob. We need to stop this violence!

Expressing anger and disappointment, Bollywood stars have also condemned these attacks.



Rishi Kapoor requested people to cooperate in this difficult time.

"An appeal to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please dont resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!

An appeal  to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please dont resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please. Jai Hind!  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 2, 2020

Condemning the horrible incidents, veteran actor-politician Hema Malini tweeted: In the midst of the entire countrys appreciation of the sacrifices of doctors, health workers & paramedics comes the news of unwarranted attacks on them in Indore by ungrateful miscreants. How could a mob attack ppl who are risking their own lives to save ours? Sad! Shameful!

In the midst of the entire countrys appreciation of the sacrifices of doctors, health workers & paramedics comes the news of unwarranted attacks on them in Indore by ungrateful miscreants. How could a mob attack ppl who are risking their own lives to save ours? Sad! Shameful!  Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) April 3, 2020

"I strongly condemn those who have thrown stones on the doctors in Indore and hope that Indore police will not to show any leniency to them n I request others to CO-operate with the doctors Police n administration every where . The whole nation should be united to fight Korona," wrote Javed Akhtar.

I strongly condemn those who have thrown stones on the doctors in Indore and hope that Indore police will not to show any leniency to them n I request others to CO-operate with the doctors Police n administration every where . The whole nation should be united to fight Korona  Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) April 2, 2020

Actor-politician Paresh Rawal offered a reality check to citizens and tweeted: Just think what will happen if Doctors refuse to treat those who have treated them so inhumanly!

Just think what will happen if Doctors refuse to treat those who have treated them so inhumanly ! https://t.co/gE2PRj3y7u  Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) April 2, 2020

"Omg is this for real? We should be thanking our health workers everyday and praying for their well-being,they are sacrificing everything to beat this disease at the cost of their own lives and this is what they get from these ungrateful barbarians," wrote Raveena.

Omg is this for real? We should be thanking our health workers everyday and praying for their well-being,they are sacrificing everything to beat this disease at the cost of their own lives and this is what they get from these ungrateful barbarians. #TributeToDoctorsAndForces https://t.co/KB5efgDWJQ  Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) April 2, 2020

Preity Zinta shared that it is upsetting to see such incidents happening in the country. The actress tweeted: Sad to see that Millions are quarantined inside their homes trying 2break the corona chain while many are going hungry due 2the lockdown. Then there are those breaking quarantine and pelting stones on Cops & doctors who are working without proper PPE. Whats happening to India? #Sad.

Sad to see that Millions are quarantined inside their homes trying 2break the corona chain while many are going hungry due 2the lockdown.Then there are those breaking quarantine & pelting stones on Cops & doctors who are working without proper PPE. Whats happening to India?#Sad  Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) April 2, 2020

Meanwhile, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has lauded the selfless performance of doctors and paramedical staff across the country and the world.



T 3491 - "        ..." 

( my song from film 'Coolie' ) pic.twitter.com/XfeSIYSn3R  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 3, 2020




Washington, April 2 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against a "sneak attack" on American forces and assets in Iraq, threatening a "very heavy price" as a consequence.

"Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on US troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed," Trump said in a tweet on Wdnesday, without providing detailed information.

Trump tweeted immediately after his intelligence briefing on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The President's remarks comes after US media reports, citing intelligence, said that Iran or Tehran-backed forces were plotting attacks against American forces in Iraq.

"We've been seeing something brewing and developing pretty seriously," Xinhua quoted a US official as saying to The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

Trump's warning also came days after a New York Times article revealed that the Pentagon had ordered military commanders to plan for an escalated military campaign against Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq.

The US military and Iran-backed militia fell into direct conflict last month.

On March 11, a rocket attack on Camp Taji killed two US soldiers and one British service member, and wounded 14 others.

The next day, the US military retaliated and destroyed facilities of Kata'ib Hezbollah's (KH), a Shia militia group.

Camp Taji was under a similar rocket attack on March 14, and three US service members were injured.

The US government last week designated 20 individuals and companies based in Iran and Iraq, accusing them of supporting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force and other Iranian-backed militias.

Commander of US Central Command Kenneth McKenzie previously said that the threat to America in the Middle East remains very high and that the tensions have not gone down.

The US has enhanced its defence posture in the region. Two U. aircraft carrier strike groups currently were cruising in the area, namely the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS Harry S. Truman.

Washington said that the KH was responsible for numerous attacks against the US and the US-led coalition forces in Iraq, including a rocket attack on an Iraqi base near Kirkuk (the K1 base) in December 2019 that had killed an American civilian contractor and injured four service members.

The rocket attack on the K1 base led to the US drone attack on January 3 in baghdad that killed Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani.

--IANS

ksk/
A Chinese Kuaizhou-1A rocket launches six satellites into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center just six hours after a different Kuaizhou-1A launched a separate mission.

An anonymous patron purchased a real-life rocket for $5.6 million during an online, livestreamed auction on April Fools Day.

On Wednesday (April 1), a Kuaizhou-1A (or KZ-1A) rocket developed by ExPace, a commercial subsidiary of the defense contractor the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), was put up for auction online. Cao Meng of ExPace announced the item on a livestreamed auction held by Taobao, the world's biggest e-commerce website. Within just about five minutes, over 800 people put down 500,000 yuan (about $4,611.50) as a deposit, according to CGTN .

The KZ-1A rocket, which is mostly used to launch small satellites into low-Earth orbit, was quickly sold to an anonymous buyer for 40 million yuan, which is about $5.6 million at current exchange rates. The purchase of the KZ-1A service package includes a launch, custom painting for the rocket body and launch site access.

Related: Photos of China's new spacecraft to take astronauts to the moon

The KZ-1S rocket has three solid states and a liquid propellant upper stage. The rocket can deliver an over 441-lb. (200 kilograms) payload into a sun-synchronous orbit.

An Expace Kuaizhou-1A rocket to launch from Jiuquan in April will be dedicated to the medical staff fighting the coronavirus in Wuhan. pic.twitter.com/sH5Nw4Z6qjMarch 30, 2020 See more

CASIC plans to launch the KZ-1A rocket with new satellites onboard later this April. The launch, sponsored by Chinese automaker GAC, will be dedicated to the medical workers of the city of Wuhan in China, where the COVID-19 outbreak, which is now a global pandemic, first started to grow.

This collaboration between Taobao and the ExPace team pulled in over two million viewers following the rocket auction, and the topic was viewed over 500 million times on the social media platform Sina Weibo as of today (April 3), according to SpaceNews .

This commercial rocket sale is part of a new but growing commercial space sector in China. State-owned space firms are still the primary source for space missions from China, but private companies have been popping up and gaining support. In fact, in June of 2019, a regulation was issued to support the development of commercial space missions by China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Central Military Commission's Equipment Development Department, according to CGTN.

The KZ-1A rocket, in particular, is restricted to launching only commercial payloads and has launched eight times since it first took off in 2017. The company is currently developing the Kuaizhou-11 rocket, which is set to launch for the first time in the first half of 2020. The new Kuaizhou-11 rocket will be capable of bringing a 2,205-lb. (1,000 kg) payload to space.

Follow Chelsea Gohd on Twitter @chelsea_gohd . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
BEIJING/SHENZHEN, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Tsinghua University on Thursday established a school of public health to help "enhance China's capabilities in public health management."

Margaret Chan, former director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), will be the first dean of the school that will focus on research fields including preventative medicine, comprehensive healthcare, big data in healthcare and public health policy and management.

The school on Thursday received a donation of 200 million shares of Vanke, a Shenzhen-headquartered property developer. The donation, worth 5.3 billion yuan (747 million U.S. dollars) according to the closing price on Wednesday, was made by Vanke staff to set up a special fund for the school's development.

Tsinghua said the school will in the next five to 10 years "provide support to China's epidemic control, vaccine development and decisive think tanks related to major public health policy making."

In a recorded video message, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said "the opening of this school could not come at a more critical moment."

"You have already begun making progress on COVID-19 research into vaccines, testing and epidemic prevention systems. I look forward to future collaborations between the School of Public Health and the WHO, as we strive together to keep the world safe through research and by strengthening our health and preparedness systems," he said.
Dr. Matthew Meyerson wrote us yesterday to express his disagreement with the gist of a post or two on the site. I think that you are underestimating the seriousness of this epidemic, he stated, and I would like to address this with you. I asked Dr. Meyerson for permission to post his comments and to identify him as a Power Line reader. He has graciously granted his permission and authorized us to identify him as a Power Line fan! Holding both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees, Dr. Meyerson is professor of genetics and medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also Director of the Center for Cancer Genomics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Although his research is focused on cancer genetics, he is pitching in to help out in the present emergency with COVID-19 research. Dr. Meyerson writes:

1. COVID-19 is very highly transmissible. There are numerous news stories of a single event where probably a single infected individual caused dozens or hundreds of infections and numerous deaths: a choir practice in Washington state, a funeral in Georgia, a medical conference in Boston, a bridge tournament in El Paso county, Colorado. These are often not high-touch environments but the transmissibility has been very high.

2. COVID-19 causes severe illness in medical professionals and otherwise healthy young people. There are numerous examples of previously healthy young people, especially physicians, who are becoming severely ill or dying from COVID-19 infections. This almost never happens in other diseases. Now medical practice is dangerous, like serving as a soldier in a war. And the physicians and nurses and other health professionals not only get the disease, they spread the disease. Both the risk of illness and death, and the risk of spreading disease, have caused sheer terror in the medical and other health professions.

3. It is hard to compare deaths from COVID-19 to deaths from influenza. The data on influenza deaths are of limited value as we do not routinely test for influenza virus infection or other respiratory infections the way we do for COVID-19. We should, but we dont. So we truly have no idea of how many people get influenza or other respiratory viral infections or how many die from it. The pneumonia and influenza heading in death records may represent a very broad mixture of diseases.

4. I do not believe that we are overreacting to COVID-19. We are seeing a highly transmissible disease (as high as 100-fold transmission rate, averaging 4-fold in Chinese data with the best estimates, but almost certainly higher) with a 1 percent to 2 percent mortality across large populations. That would suggest the possibility of 3 million to 6 million deaths in the US if we got to 300 million infections, and we could. We will likely have far fewer deaths than this, but a stronger, earlier response would have saved more. And a stronger response today could still save far more people than a more mild response.

5. Until we have treatments and vaccines, preventing transmission is the only way to go. Every blocked transmission could be a life savedor many lives, given how transmissible the virus is. And every person-to-person interaction that we dont have could be a new case of COVID19 prevented.
K ate Garraways husband Derek Draper is receiving emergency treatment on an intensive care ward after testing positive for coronavirus.

Garraways representative confirmed the news on Friday afternoon, stating that Draper, 52, was admitted to hospital on Monday.

The spokesman said: "Kate's husband, Derek Draper, has been taken to hospital and is being treated in intensive care with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

The couple married in 2005 and have two children together.

Garraway's family appeared on Lorraine to share support for her during I'm A Celebrity / ITV

The Good Morning Britain host, also 52, has also suffered mild coronavirus symptoms and is in strict isolation with the couples children, the rep added.

She has not been tested for coronavirus.

Following the public confirmation of the news, Garraways GMB co-host Piers Morgan tweeted a supportive message.

Now its been made public, I can say this horrendous situation has brought the Coronavirus crisis sharply into the hearts of all of us @GMB, he wrote. My love & prayers to Kate & Derek.

On Thursday, Garraway and her children joined the nation to #ClapForTheNHS at 8pm.

The presenter shared a video of the noise on her street on Instagram, with the caption: "We had a an extra special reason to #clapthecarers in our house tonight but theres a special reason for us all isnt there.

"Thank thank you to all the health workers caring for our loved ones and key workers keeping our lives going."

Susanna Reid commented with a heart emoji.

A number of famous faces have spoken publicly about being diagnosed with coronavirus, including magician Dynamo who suffered "severe" symptoms.

The TV star explained that he paid to have a covid-19 test as his existing health issues, which include Crohn's disease, make him a "high risk" patient.

Celebrities make a show of thanks for frontline NHS key workers 1 /9 Celebrities make a show of thanks for frontline NHS key workers Daniel Craig and Phoebe Waller-Bridge were among stars featuring in celebrity show of thanks to the NHS NHS/Twitter PA PA PA PA PA Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge was among stars who join in a show of thanks for NHS workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis NHS/Twitter

Former glamour model Linda Lusardi was discharged from hospital earlier this week, after needing help to breathe during her hospital stay.

The 61-year-old's husband was also diagnosed with the virus and Lusardi, 61, said of their ordeal: "It got to the stage where both of us were praying we wouldnt wake up because it was so bad."
WASHINGTON (JTA)The White House has come to an agreement with Democrats and Republicans on a $2 trillion stimulus package, the biggest in U.S. history, in response to the major economic downturn triggered by the coronavirus.

Congress passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act as an emergency relief package in response to the needs created by the coronavirus public health crisis and associated economic fallout. The emergency relief package provides tax rebates, expanded unemployment benefits, and numerous tax-relief provisions aimed at shoring up individual, family, and business finances, among other provisions.

Money will flow to workers suddenly unemployed, businesses large and small, and a medical infrastructure poised to be overwhelmed by the spread of COVID-19.

Jewish organizations are lobbying for a piece of the pie and to influence the bills final language.

The devil is in the details, and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency spoke to a range of Jewish community professionals who were scrambling to get their hands on copies of the measure and were speaking with its drafters.

Heres a look at what they expect:

Funds for nonprofits

Jewish nonprofits already are feeling the crunch of the coronavirus-induced spending slowdown. The threat of an extended quarantine would inhibit philanthropic giving and also dry up sources of income like tuition for religious schools and camps, said Eric Fingerhut, the Jewish Federations of North America president, and Stephan Kline, the umbrella bodys associate vice president for public policy.

Jewish Federations has asked its members to press their local lawmakers for provisions that would assist nonprofits. Fingerhut and Kline said they welcomed news that funding for nonprofits would likely be included among the loans to businesses amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars, but they also expressed concern about two possible exemptions.

Under one, loans would not be available to agencies already eligible for assistance through Medicaid, the health care program for the impoverished that has been a critical revenue source for Jewish agencies that administer to the poor and the elderly.

Also, nonprofits employing more than 500 people will not be eligible for the loans under the bill language they had seen. That could exclude some of the larger Jewish community centers and camps, among others. Plus, they said, what constitutes an employee is not clearly defined, which could allow government officials to count seasonal workers or temporary workers.

That would exclude JCCs that have lots of preschools and adjunct staff, Fingerhut said.

Jewish Federations has joined with over 100 other nonprofits, including about half a dozen Jewish groups, in pressing for a dedicated $60 billion cash infusion into the nonprofit sector to preserve jobs, as the bill is said to direct to other sectors.

Just as they have for airlines and other industriesits certainly as urgent as any of those major other industries, Fingerhut said. (One estimate says airlines would get a $46 billion infusion, by comparison.)

Fingerhut said it was critical to have trained nonprofit professionals in place once the pandemic has passed in order to transition back to normalcy.

If you lose your leadership teams and operating teams, and lose people maintaining facilities and they dissipate or cant regroup, you lose your operating ability, he said.

The nonprofits also are asking that taxpayers be allowed to deduct more charitable donations from their federal income tax burden, as they could until the 2017 reforms. The bill is set to restore the line item, but only up to $300.

This would restore charitable incentive, Kline said.

The coalition is asking for the change to happen in time for 2019 tax filing, which has been extended to July 15.

Tweaking it to include 2019 would encourage immediate contributions, said Eric Fusfield, the director of legislative affairs at Bnai Brith International. The group maintains a network of homes for the elderly.

Lobbying for the provisions will likely continue beyond the passage of the current stimulus. On Wednesday, Jewish Federations announced that it was working with seven other major Jewish organizations to coordinate pandemic policy. Among the four policy items was a unified advocacy and lobbying effort.

Nathan Diament, the Orthodox Unions Washington director, said the bill extended emergency education funding to non-public schools, which he welcomed.

We appreciate that the Jewish day schools in our community will be able to receive financial support in these very challenging times, Diament said.

No funding for food security

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and the National Council of Jewish Women have joined in pressing Congress through petitions and lobbying to expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.

Abby Leibman, MAZONs president, said she understood from congressional contacts that the SNAP expansion did not make the final cut. She called it devastating.

So many people are going to be in need because theyre losing their jobs, Leibman said. What is paramount during this crisis is getting healthy, and what is critical to getting healthy is getting food.

Abortion and the Violence Against Women Act

The National Council of Jewish Women and other feminist organizations have been pushing for the 1994 Violence Against Women Act to be reinstated since it lapsed last year. The act dedicated funding to prosecuting and preventing domestic violence.

NCJW says violence is likely to intensify while families are confined to close quarters and unemployment increases.

The current COVID-19 crisis is making it even more difficult for survivors of domestic violence to seek help, an NCJW talking points sheet says.

Meanwhile, some right-wing lawmakers want to make sure stimulus spending does not go to pay for abortions. Those provisions likely wont be included.

Jewish groups also are watching emergency funding measures in state governments.

Ohio and Texas have classified abortions as nonessential medical procedures during the pandemic, which could delay abortions for women who need them immediately, said NCJW CEO Sheila Katz.

The organizations state chapters are reporting that other Republican-dominated state governments are poising to do the same.

It means fewer people will have safe abortions, Katz said. Even a few days delay will jeopardize the life of the pregnant people, and in Judaism the life of the pregnant person is always considered paramount.

Support for voting by mail

Some state primaries have already been delayed because of the pandemic, and there are concerns about limitations on mail-in voting ahead of the Nov. 3 general elections. The Anti-Defamation League has joined with an alliance of civil rights groups asking for $2 billion to facilitate voting by mail and expand early voting and online registration.

Michael Lieberman, ADLs Washington counsel, said it looks like the funding will be $400 million.

Thats inadequate, he said, but an important recognition of the need and a start towards what is actually needed.

Going broad

Jewish organizations cannot confine their advocacy to issues directly affecting Jews, said Rabbi Jonah Pesner, the director of the Reform movements Religious Action Center, or RAC.

Were not separate. There will be Jewish people who get fired, Jewish small businesses who will go under, Jewish elderly, Jewish people with disabilities, Pesner said. This is about the Jewish community and about the other. Theres no dichotomy.

That accounts for RACs lengthy action alert to synagogues urging advocacy for relief for laid-off workers, protections for first responders and expanded screening for the virus, as well as funding for nonprofits.

Pesner recalled a Hasidic reading that said God dictated that the Israelites wander the desert for 40 years because the robust among them neglected the stragglers.

We must empower governments and society to put the most vulnerable at the center, he said.
In an emergency move in 2015, E.U. nations agreed to relocate up to 160,000 refugees from Italy and Greece as those two countries buckled under the number of migrant arrivals. Five years on, Greece is still struggling to manage the burden, with thousands of people held in deplorable conditions on the Greek islands.
The parliamentary polls in Sri Lanka cannot be held before the end of May due to the coronavirus pandemic, the election commission said on Friday, expressing concern that the situation could lead to a constitutional impasse as the new Parliament must meet within three months of dissolution.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on March 2 dissolved the Parliament, six months ahead of schedule and called a snap election on April 25.

There are 150 COVID-19 cases in the country and four people have died of the disease. The outbreak of the pandemic has seriously impacted Sri Lanka's economy, especially the tourism industry.

According to the Gazette notification issued by the government, elections will be held on April 25 and the new Parliament will have its first session on May 14.

On March 31, we wrote to the president that elections must be held at least before the end of May, for that we must start making preparations from at least April 20, Mahinda Deshapriya, chief of the Independent Elections Commission, said.

He said the commission met again on the following day and decided that it will not be possible to hold the election by the end of May.

So we wrote another letter to the president saying that it will not be possible to hold the election by the end of May and he should seek the opinion of the Attorney General, he said.

Deshapriya said as it appeared now the election cannot be held and the new Parliament would not be able to meet on or before June 2, this will cause a conflict with article 70 of the Constitution.

It stipulates that the new Parliament must meet within 3 months of its dissolution.

Since it has now become a constitutional issue, the commission was powerless to decide, Deshapriya said.

It is now up to the president to seek the Supreme Court's view, he said.

Since the country is in lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus,



Deshapriya said the new date for the election would be announced after May 14.

The parliamentary polls were announced 6 months ahead of the schedule as Rajapaksa, who was elected as president in November, wanted a new Parliament to implement his mandate.

Rajapaksa is also under pressure to re-summon the dissolved Parliament in order to approve finances for government business from May.

The previous Parliament had approved funds till April 30.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Disease modelers warn that Britain will face a peak of cases in the next two to three weeks. Depending on whether strict social-distancing measures continue to be enforced through the spring and summer, this April wave could be the first of many.
In Dauphin County you can now obtain a marriage license at least temporarily without ever walking into the courthouse.

The county closed the courthouse on March 17 due to the coronavirus pandemic. So the Dauphin County Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans Court has developed virtual processing for marriage license applications.

The video conferencing processes were authorized by administrative order by President Judge John F. Cherry on March 18 and began on March 23.

Our office assists the public through many life-changing events that typically involve in-person transactions and close contact, Jean Marfizo King, Dauphin County Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans Court said in a press release. By instituting these virtual procedures, we are able to continue serving our residents during the global pandemic.

The office is utilizing the Avaya Spaces cloud-based videoconferencing service and can also be downloaded as an application on any smartphone.

During the video conference meeting, the couple must appear together to be sworn in that the facts they presented on the marriage license application are true, and they are also required to sign their applications during the video conference.

In addition to marriage licenses, wills can also be probated utilizing video conference technology.

Attorneys and residents interested in scheduling virtual appointments can call 717-780-6500.

For more information you can visit www.dauphincounty.org/wills.

The coronavirus pandemic has crashed the wedding industry and has many brides-to-be rescheduling their walk down the aisle. But, some elected officials have held small private ceremonies. Highspire Mayor Brenda Hoerner officiated at a small wedding in her kitchen on March 28. Mechanicsburg Mayor Jack Ritter officiated a wedding from his jeep this week. And Mayor Maria Romano Marcinko in Steelton has also said she would officiate weddings as well.

Highspire Mayor Brenda Hoerner marries Kristina Souders and Brian Handley in the kitchen of her home.The couple had applied for a marriage license prior to the coronavirus pandemic and decided to go ahead with the ceremony and make it very small to go along with social distancing practices. March 28, 2020 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

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New York's Times Square is virtually empty on Friday. (Angela Weiss / AFP-Getty Images)

The flags at Rockefeller Center fly over a desolate concrete canyon. Photojournalists with long-lens cameras wander through Times Square to capture the solitude on one of the worlds busiest thoroughfares. White tents have been erected on the northern section of Central Park to accommodate the overflow of patients from Mount Sinai Hospital  a grim tableau evoking a previous century.

As the national death toll of more than 6,500 from the pandemic doubles the number of fatalities from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, New York has been transformed, and new habits formed. Many of the 4 million people who come to work in Manhattan are now staying connected with their jobs remotely. The restaurants and cafes that remain open have become takeout stops as they struggle to stay afloat. Public transportation has seen as much as an 80% drop in passengers.

After months of devastating loss and unfathomable fear following 9-11, the nation's most populous city proved its resilience, rebounding more prosperous than ever. Experts believe the city will endure significant pain before experiencing that kind of comeback, given the pandemic's death toll (more than 1,500 as of Thursday evening) and catastrophic economic losses  pegged at $5 billion by one financial watchdog group. At the very least, months, if not years, of uncertainty lie ahead.

I think people were afraid after 9-11, but they werent afraid to go out and eat, said Melissa Fleischut, president and chief executive of the New York State Restaurant Assn. As long as the pandemic continues to go on, I think the prospects for the majority of restaurants to come out on the other side is slimming. I think it is an altering event  a moment of change for the industry for sure.

A recent survey by the National Restaurant Assn. showed that 5% of New Yorks restaurants have closed due to the restrictions imposed to contain the pandemic. On March 20, all workers in nonessential businesses across New York state were ordered to stay home by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Story continues

An additional 12% expected to close permanently in the next 30 days if the current situation did not improve. The growth of the restaurant business had already been slowing due to the states $15-an-hour minimum wage.

We had already seen life get more challenging for the restaurant owner and operator throughout the state, Fleischut said. They were trying to manage with labor costs that have increased dramatically. Rent was always concerned. Profit margins are slim, and they have no savings to speak of to get them through a catastrophic event like this.

Nearly half of restaurants in New York are closed even with the provision that they can serve food and alcoholic beverages for takeout and delivery. Dante, a 105-year-old cafe on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village, has its bartenders preparing their specialty cocktails to go, offering them in glass containers that are lined up on tables that would otherwise have seated customers.

Were bottling these, Jessica Friedman, a server at Dante, said. Its keeping us all employed.

Bartenders Liam Pierce and Jessica Friedman are making their drinks to go at the Greenwich Village cafe Dante. (Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times)

Fleishcut said one restaurant proprietor had remodeled so he could sell meal kits for customers to heat and serve at home. She expects an acceleration in the number of restaurants converting to a fast casual service, especially if social distancing continues after the pandemic abates.

Caterers and event planners are also anxious over how long it will take for the public to feel comfortable going back to business conferences, trade shows, conventions, social galas, festivals and award presentations, which brings an influx of billions of dollars to New York. Midtown's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, normally host to trade shows like Book Expo America, has been turned into a field hospital.

David Adler, founder and chief executive BizBash, a New York firm that advises the event business, said he has been on calls with companies trying to determine when normalcy, whatever that is, will return and how to navigate the economic shutdown.

Its all about how you not cancel events but postpone them, Adler said. The problem is nobody knows when they can postpone till. There is all of this unknown in the markets. A lot of people are living off deposits for future events.

Cash flow is an issue, Adler said, and many operators serving the event business will eventually fold or be forced to sell while other entrepreneurs step in.

"There will be a lot of carnage," he said.

Long term, Adler does not believe the meeting and event business will experience a negative impact from the growth in web conferencing services  such as Zoom and Webex  that businesses are being forced to use.

There will be a pent-up appetite for human connection once the pandemic passes, Adler said. But it will take work to bring the business back. In the years following 9-11, he was part of a coalition that held numerous events at Gracie Mansion  the official residence of the mayor  and lighting displays at the Empire State Building to signal to businesses that the city was ready to return as a convention and meeting destination.

New Yorkers are very vibrant in that they worked hard in getting people come back, Adler said. It doesnt happen by accident.

But the number of New York-area residents forced to work at home while their offices are shut down is likely to become a permanent situation for some of them, according to Sam Schwartz, who heads a transportation planning and engineering firm in New York.

Im realizing, Hey, do I really need to take that extra floor?'  he said. A lot of people were able to get a lot done remotely, including me. You will see some employers offer an alternative to work at home.

Schwartz puts the current percentage of New York employees working remotely at 2% to 3% and sees it doubling as a result of the pandemic. But he doesnt see it making commuting any less crowded.

Subway ridership fell off dramatically in the months after 9-11 as people feared another attack. Ridership bounced back after a year, and in the following decade, the city saw record numbers of passengers.

Schwartz noted that the drop in the number of cars crossing the Hudson River into Manhattan has dropped about 25% to 30% in March, far less than the steep declines in trains, buses and ferries making the same trip. But he does not believe prolonged fear of COVID-19 will put more commuters back in their cars. Schwartz said that would be unsustainable and ultimately paralyze the city; moreover, New York is moving to install a "congestion charge" on driving in the most heavily trafficked parts of Manhattan, starting next year.

Rockefeller Center in New York. (Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times)

New York has endured numerous catastrophes  the sinking of the steamship General Slocum in 1904, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, the near-bankruptcy in the mid-1970s, numerous plane crashes and even terrorist attacks  and always bounced back.

"There are a lot of people traveling today who barely know 9-11  they were children," Schwartz noted. "Now they make up a big chunk of the commuting population.




A row has erupted over new Department of Education guidance for schools on how to keep learning going during the Covid-19 shutdown.

A worker cleans a classroom desk of a school closed as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus in Sidon, Lebanon. Photo: REUTERS/Ali Hashisho

A row has erupted over new Department of Education guidance for schools on how to keep learning going during the Covid-19 shutdown.

The advice includes that primary teachers should, if possible, engage with their pupils every day and that post-primary teachers should do so on the days that they are normally timetabled for lessons with students.

The new Guidance on Continuity of Schooling notes that many schools and teachers are making huge efforts to support students at home.

Read More

It includes of examples of good practice that has been happening in school communities since the sudden shut-down, and makes a range of suggestions about how to maintain contact with, and support students and parents.

However, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has condemned a lack of consultation on the document and said it had offered to help draft this guidance, having produced a large body of advice for its members in recent weeks.

INTO general secretary John Boyle said it was wholly unacceptable that this important document should have been published without any consultation with the union representing primary school teachers and principals, despite our repeated offers to aid the department in formulating such a document.

The timing of issue is terrible, emerging on a Friday where schools are due to commence an Easter closure during which many parents would reasonably anticipate less emphasis on formal learning supports.

He said that throughout the current crisis INTO members had risen to the challenge and continue to provide an ongoing education service to their pupils in extraordinary times, guided by a belief that we are all in this together and must endeavour to work together in the common interest.

Its just not good enough to set aside appropriate consultation processes and proper communications during a national emergency. Surely the least thats to be expected is that the voices and expertise of teachers representatives would be heeded at a time like this.

The guidance issued to schools, at both primary and post-primary level and published on the Department of Educations website last night, states it is critical to ensure that the momentum of has issue learning is not lost.

It also addresses the issue of the State exams and says teachers should continue to prepare candidates using the most effective tools and resources available to them.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said yesterday that they were working to ensure that exams would go ahead by hook or by crook.

A Department of Education spokesperson said today that decisions on holding the exams would be based on the public health advice and on what the Government decides in relation to current restrictions.

It acknowledges that it is a particularly difficult time for students who are homeless or marginalised, students with special educational needs, students whose families are experiencing stress and uncertainty, and exam candidates. It recommends that schools employ specific and customised supports for students at risk of educational disadvantage.

The document draws from the experience of different types of schools that are actively engaging with their students using a range of approaches and resources.

It is largely based on by the findings of a telephone survey by school inspectors in the past few weeks, a survey among 2,808 primary school principals/deputy principals, conducted by Maynooth University, and a survey of post-primary schools.

Ironically, it comes on the day that schools would normally be closing for the Easter holidays and it is expected that teachers will take their usual two week break.

As well as range of advice on different from a distance teaching and learning approaches, and the online communications platforms that are working well, it also suggests that schools could host assemblies on local community radio and other meeting platforms.

For pupils with special education needs, it suggests that resource teacher send packages of supports to parents and guardians and engage with their students through e-mail, apps such as Skype and Seesaw and through virtual learning environments.

It stresses the importance of feedback and says teachers should ensure that they respond regularly to students on the work that they submit. Schools are also encouraged to consult with students and their parents/guardians on how well the arrangements are working for them.

The Department acknowledges that it is a particularly challenging time for parents/guardians, many of whom will be worried for older or vulnerable family members and concerned about the fact that their children are missing so much school.

So, it says school should be judicious about the amount of work sent home for students as too much can be as much a problem as too little.

However, it also gives an example of how one post-primary school in Munster, which is helping parents to upskill by directing them towards training in the use of Google Classroom so they can support their children in the use of the platform which was already in use in the school. If students do not engage, these families are contacted and further support is offered.

But its not all about technology and schools are asked to encourage parents/guardians to engage in non-formal learning activities where appropriate, such as reading with and to children and taking part in daily exercise.

The document also addresses the widely varying ICT skills levels among teachers and points to a one-hour course from the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) covering how to get started, find online resources, communicate with students and create digital resources.

At school level, among its recommendations are regular collaboration between school leaders and teaching staff and communications between teachers to maintain staff relations, support each other and to plan and co-ordinate students learning.
As COVID-19 spreads throughout society, academic institutions are forced to adjust and adapt, limiting interactions but continuing teachings. Northern Arizona University announced its transition to online coursework for the remainder of the semester following a March 16 website update. For many faculty, staff and students around the community, this digital conversion demanded sudden change  both good and bad.

Anne Scott, a professor in the Department of English, said online curriculums could allow faculty to complete old work and set personal agendas. Furthermore, NAUs work-from-home and alternative schedule policies add to this potential.

Some staff will be very productive because they can catch up on a backlog of work that built up while students were here, Scott said. They will also be able to do tasks that might need more quiet and downtime.

In contrast, other NAU employees may have additional responsibilities to handle at home, Scott added. Certain faculty members may have young children, elderly parents or even relatives to take care of, all while working during a health crisis. This mixture of personal and professional lives could ultimately create difficulties throughout the semester.

Restructuring in-person classes to fit online formats also demands time and energy, Scott said. Regardless of a professors digital knowledge  or inexperience  this development presents a clear challenge.

Even for faculty members who have taught online before, it is very time-consuming to transform an on-campus course to an online course and to do this well, Scott said. Even with extra help from e-learning and ITS on campus, this conversion process will be burdensome for many faculty.

Scott explained that although NAU has a reputation for distance learning, many professors and instructors have not taught a full-length online course. Some faculty are also unfamiliar with basic BbLearn shells, she added, which most digital classes are centered around.

Arianne Yago, a training and communications specialist at ITS, said the university is hosting drop-in support hours at the Flagstaff mountain campus, North Valley campus and online to assist faculty with this digital transition. Some specific resources include helping with remote instruction, video conferencing and other online tools, she added.

Despite all coursework occurring remotely, other services are still available and operational on campus  specifically to help students succeed.

The North and South Academic Success Centers on the Flagstaff mountain campus will remain open to provide tutoring, supplemental instruction, and academic and peer mentoring, Yago said.

For seniors, this conversion effectively ends the face-to-face, interpersonal nature of many undergraduate careers. Barbara Youngs, coordinator for the Honors Writing Center, said she is deeply saddened by the prospect of upcoming graduates not receiving a proper ending.

My heart breaks for the students who will probably not be able to participate in their graduation ceremonies, deliver their work at the Undergraduate Symposium, or celebrate their accomplishments at the Honors Senior Dinner and Honors Convocation, Youngs said. What an anticlimactic ending to their undergraduate careers. I hope, though, that they will be healthy.

Becca Casteel, a senior studying sociology, said she is disappointed and disheartened about moving online for the remainder of her final year.

Im honestly devastated, Casteel said. I love going to classes and learning in person with my professors and other students. I cant even express how sad I am about all of this.

The only way to persist and prosper through the COVID-19 pandemic, Casteel said, is by supporting each other. She explained how people around the country are living paycheck-to-paycheck, uncertain about their employment, while others are bulk-buying and using their savings.

Sometimes, people are prone to taking everything for granted, Casteel added. Once these regularities and routines are suddenly gone, they are missed.

I know they say seniors are so excited to leave and move on to the next step, which is true when we are mentally ready for it, Casteel said. I know, personally, that I wasnt ready, and this process will be hard to get through.
Statement From SECNAV on Relief of CO Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200402-11

Release Date: 4/2/2020 6:29:00 PM

From the Office of the Navy Chief of Information

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Statement from the Acting Secreatry of the Navy Thomas B. Modly, regarding the relief of the Commanding Officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt.

---------------

Good afternoon. Thank you again for your diligence and courage in keeping the American people informed as we all deal with the profound ramifications, and rapid developments, associated with this crisis.

I am here today to inform you that today at my direction, the Commanding Officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Captain Crozier, was relieved of command by the Carrier Strike Group Commander, Rear Admiral Stuart Baker.

The Executive Officer, Captain Dan Keeler, has assumed command temporarily until such time as Rear Admiral Select Carlos Sardiello arrives in Guam to assume command. Rear Admiral Select Sardiello is the former commanding officer of the Theodore Roosevelt so he is extremely well-acquainted with the ship, many members of its crew and the operations and capabilities of the ship itself. He is the best person in the Navy right now to take command under these circumstances.

As Secretary of the Navy, I could not be more proud of our men and women serving as part of the Navy and Marine Corps team. I can assure you that no one cares more than I do about their safety and welfare. I myself have a son in uniform, who is currently serving right now on active duty in Koreaone of the first nations in the world to have a significant spike in Coronavirus cases. I understand, both as a parent and a veteran, how critical our support lines are for the health and well-being of our people, especially now in the midst of a global pandemic.

But there is a larger strategic context, one full of national security imperatives, of which all our commanders must all be aware today. While we may not be at war in a traditional sense, neither are we truly at peace. Authoritarian regimes are on the rise. Many nations are reaching, in many ways, to reduce our capacity to accomplish our national goals. This is actively happening every day. It has been a long time since the Navy and Marine Corps team has faced this broad array of capable global strategic challengers. A more agile and resilient mentality is necessary, up and down the chain of command.

Perhaps more so than in the recent past, we require commanders with the judgment, maturity, and leadership composure under pressure to understand the ramifications of their actions within that larger dynamic strategic context. We all understand and cherish our responsibilities, and frankly our love, for all of our people in uniform, but to allow those emotions to color our judgment when communicating the current operational picture can, at best, create unnecessary confusion, and at worst, provide an incomplete picture of American combat readiness to our adversaries.

When the Commanding Officer of the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT decided to write his letter of 30 March 2020 that outlined his concerns for his crew in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of the Navy had already mobilized significant resources for days in response to his previous requests. On the same date marked on his letter, my Chief of Staff had called the CO directly, at my request, to ensure he had all the resources necessary for the health and safety of his crew.

The CO told my Chief of Staff that he was receiving those resources, and was fully aware of the Navy's response, only asking that the he wished the crew could be evacuated faster. My Chief of Staff ensured that the CO knew that he had an open line to me to use at any time. He even called the CO again a day later to follow up. At no time did the CO relay the various levels of alarm that I, along with the rest of the world, learned from his letter when it was published two days later.

Once I read the letter, I immediately called the Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Gilday, and the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, ADM Aquilino. ADM Gilday had just read the letter that morning as well, and ADM Aquilino had it the day before. We had a teleconference within minutes of my reading of that article, including the Commander, SEVENTH Fleet, VADM William Merz, ADM Aquilino, ADM Gilday, the Department of the Navy's Surgeon General, RADM Bruce Gillingham, and others. That evening, we held another teleconference with the entire chain of command.

The next day, I spoke with the CO of the THEODORE ROOSEVELT myself, and this morning, I have spoken to the TR's Carrier Strike Group Commander, RDML Stuart Baker. RDML Baker did not know about the letter before it was sent to him via email by the CO. It is important to understand that the Strike Group Commander, the CO's immediate boss, is embarked on the Theodore Roosevelt, right down the passageway from him. The letter was sent over non- secure, unclassified email even though that ship possesses some of the most sophisticated communications and encryption equipment in the Fleet.

It was sent outside the chain of command, at the same time the rest of the Navy was fully responding. Worse, the Captain's actions made his Sailors, their families, and many in the public believe that his letter was the only reason help from our larger Navy family was forthcoming, which was hardly the case.

Command is a sacred trust that must be continually earned, both from the Sailors and Marines one leads, and from the institution which grants that special, honored privilege.

As I learned more about the events of the past week on board USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71), including my personal conversations with the Strike Group Commander, Commander, SEVENTH Fleet, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations, and CAPT Crozier himself, I could reach no other conclusion than that Captain Crozier had allowed the complexity of his challenge with COVID breakout on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally, when acting professionally was what was needed most. We do, and we should, expect more from the Commanding Officers of our aircraft carriers.

I did not come to this decision lightly. I have no doubt in my mind that Captain Crozier did what he thought was in the best interests of the safety and well-being of his crew. Unfortunately, it did the opposite. It unnecessarily raised alarms with the families of our Sailors and Marines with no plan to address those concerns. It raised concerns about the operational capabilities and operational security of the ship that could have emboldened our adversaries to seek advantage, and it undermined the chain of command who had been moving and adjusting as rapidly as possible to get him the help he needed.

For these reasons, I lost confidence in his ability to lead that warship as it continues to fight through this virus, get the crew healthy, so that it can continue to meet its national security requirements. In my judgement relieving him of command was in the best interests of the United States Navy and the nation in this time when the nation needs the Navy to be strong and confident in the face of adversity. The responsibility for this decision rests with me. I expect no congratulations for it, and it gives me no pleasure in making it. CAPT Crozier is an honorable man, who despite this uncharacteristic lapse of judgment, has dedicated himself throughout a lifetime of incredible service to our nation.

Pursuant to this action, and with my full support, the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gilday has directed the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Robert Burke, to conduct an investigation into the circumstances and climate of the entire Pacific Fleet to help determine what may have contributed to this breakdown in the chain of command. We must ensure we can count on the right judgment, professionalism, composure, and leadership from our Commanding Officers everywhere on our Navy and Marine Corps team, but especially in the Western Pacific. I have no indication that there is a broader problem in this regard, but we have obligation to calmly and evenly investigate that nonetheless.

To our Commanding Officers, it would be a mistake to view this decision as somehow not supportive of your duty to report problems, request help, protect your crews, and challenge assumptions as you see fit.

This decision is not one of retribution. It is about confidence. It is not an indictment of character, but rather of judgement. While I do take issue with thevalidity of some of the points in Captain Crozier's letter, he was absolutely correct in raising them.

It was the way in which he did this, by not working through and with his Strike Group Commander to develop a strategy to resolve the problems he raised, by not sending the letter to and through his chain of command, by not protecting the sensitive nature of the information contained within the letter appropriately, and lastly by not reaching out to me directly to voice is concerns, after that avenue had been provided to him through my team, that was unacceptable.

Let me be clear, you all have a duty to be transparent with your respective chains of command, even if you fear they might disagree with you. This duty requires courage, but it also requires respect for that chain of command, and for the sensitivity of the information you decide to share and the manner you choose to share it.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I would like to send a message to the crew of the Theodore Roosevelt and their families back here at home. I am entirely convinced that your Commanding Officer loves you, and that he had you at the center of his heart and mind in every decision that he has made. I also know that you have great affection, and love, for him as well. But it is my responsibility to ensure that his love and concern for you is matched, if not exceeded by, his sober and professional judgement under pressure.

You deserve that throughout all the dangerous activities for which you train so diligently, but most importantly, for those situations which are unpredictable and are hard to plan for. It's important because you are the TR, you are the Big Stick, and what happens onboard the TR matters far beyond the physical limits of your hull. Your shipmates across the fleet need for you to be strong and readyand most especially right now they need you to be courageous in the face of adversity.

The nation needs to know that the Big Stick is undaunted, unstoppable and that you will stay that way as we as a Navy help you through this COVID-19 challenge. Our adversaries need to know this as well. They respect and fear the Big Stick, and they should. We will not allow anything to diminish that respect and fear as you, and the rest of our nation, fights through this virus. As I stated, we are not at war by traditional measures, but neither are we at peace. The nation you defend is in a fight right now for our economic, personal and political security, and you are on the front lines of this fight in many ways.

You can offer comfort to your fellow citizens who are struggling and fearful here at home by standing the watch, and working your way through this pandemic with courage and optimism and set the example for the nation. We have an obligation to ensure you have everything you need as fast as we can get it there, and you have my commitment that we will not let you down. The nation you have sworn to defend is in a fight, and the nations and bad actors around the world who wish us harm should understand that the Big Stick is in the neighborhood and that her crew is standing the watch.

Thank you, and I am ready to answer any questions you may have.

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The first Saturday in March now seems like a decade ago. New Yorkers were not yet sheltering at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and on that night Franca Vercelloni was more immediately concerned with taming the noisy crowd at Maries Crisis, the storied Greenwich Village piano bar known for show-tune singalongs.

Either you be quiet and listen when we sing, she said from behind her piano, or Im going to turn this car around and were not going to Disneyland.

As usual, it worked. After all, Vercelloni  who was playing at Maries Crisis when Liza Minnelli made a surprise appearance over a dozen years ago and was annoyed when, more recently, Jimmy Fallon threw himself on top of her piano as if it were a chaise longue  sees herself as the dominatrix of piano bar musicians.

She finished her shift with Let the Sunshine In from Hair, greeted fans and went upstairs to an office. Wearing latex gloves, she counted her tips, spraying them with a lavender scent.
The NIA on Friday filed a supplementary charge sheet against two members of the outlawed JMB terror group for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit terror attacks in India, an official said.

Hafizur Rahman and Azaharuddin Ahmed have been charged with relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the supplementary charge sheet filed before the special NIA court here, the official of the investigation agency said.

On July 29 last year, acting on a tip-off regarding the presence of a trained suspect of terror outfit Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Assam's Barpeta district police conducted a search at Rahman's house and recovered a country-made revolver, four rounds of live ammunition and Jihadi literature from his possession, the official said.

A case was registered against Rahman and on his disclosure, other trained JMB cadres -- Yakub Ali, Sariful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohamad Hafiz Safikul Islam and Ahmed -- were subsequently arrested, the NIA official said.

The NIA filed a charge sheet against Rahman, Yakub, Sariful, Mustafizur and Hafiz on January 24, the official said.

Investigation revealed that the accused are the trained members of the JMB, a proscribed terrorist organisation in India and Bangladesh, the NIA said.

They were recruited by Sahanur Alom, a resident of Barpeta district, who was earlier arrested by the NIA in the Burdwan blast case in 2014, it said.

He has already been convicted and sentenced to eight years of imprisonment in the Burdwan blast case on charges of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in India and recruiting and training other members of the JMB, it said.

The accused underwent training as JMB cadres in Barpeta at Alom's house and some of them were trained at Simulia madrasa in West Bengal, the NIA said.

They procured weapons and ammunition in a conspiracy to commit terror attacks in pursuance of the JMB's Jihadi ideology, it said, adding that further investigation was underway.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Every August, the Scottish capital of Edinburgh plays host to some of the funniest and most talented - not to forget strangest - performers from the UK and the wider world.

Not this year. Organisers cancelled the city's collection of late summer festivals on Wednesday as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision marks the first cancellation since the Edinburgh International Festival launched in 1947 in the aftermath of World War II as an attempt to reconcile people and nations through the performing arts.

A bronze theatre mask on Edinburgh's Royal Mile in Scotland. Credit:Jane Barlow/PA via AP

Now numbering five, including the wildly popular Fringe lineup of both obscure and mainstream acts, Edinburgh's annual August festivals draw 4.4 million people to more than 5,000 events involving over 25,000 artists, writers and performers from 70 countries, according to organisers.
As the world grapples with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, San Antonio Water System wants to reassure the community they can always feel safe about their water supply.

SAWS will continue to uphold our commitment to deliver safe, reliable drinking water to our community.

SAWS technicians test for water quality over 1,000 times each month. All those tests must pass to ensure approval by state and federal authorities.

Between the quality of our source water, chlorine disinfection and testing, there is no concern about COVID-19 being transmitted through our public water system.

Service interruptions suspended: To ensure customers have access to water for washing hands and cleaning as a means to combat COVID-19, SAWS has halted service disconnections due to nonpayment, but account balances will continue to accrue.

We also understand that some families, more than ever, may be facing financial hardships. SAWS Uplift programs help ease the burden of utility costs for those who qualify  to ensure all our neighbors have access to life-sustaining water and sewer services. Learn more at uplift.saws.org.

Ensuring community well-being with a healthy workforce: The health and safety of SAWS workforce, which provides vital, 24/7 essential service to our community, is critical to providing safe and reliable water and wastewater services to our customers.

Through years of business continuity planning, SAWS had alternatives in place to enable most employees to work from home, which began March 20. Board and committee meetings will be conducted online, and meetings with external visitors and contractors will now be conducted by phone or video conferencing.

SAWS first priority  and core function  will always be delivering safe, reliable water services to our community, as well as planning for a safe future for generations to come.

As chairman of the SAWS board of trustees, I want to remind customers that SAWS is more than just your local water provider  we are a neighbor you can rely on.

Berto Guerra is chairman of the SAWS board of trustees.
New Delhi: As the coronavirus COVID-19 spreads its claws in India, the number of positive cases reported is 2224 with 2069 cases, 155 cured and 53 deaths as on April 2, as per the date released by Ministry of Health and Family welfare. Atleast 235 new cases of the infection has been reported in the last 24 hours.

Maharashtra, Kerala and Delhi continue to report the maximum number of infections with 377, 290 and 227 cases, respectively. The most number of deaths have been reported from Maharashtra which is as high as 13.

The Tablighi Jamaat meet which had taken place in New Delhi, has emerged as the latest hotspot in the country with around 400 cases having being linked to the congregation. At least 15 of the 53 deaths have been linked to the Delhi meet  nine in Telangana, and one each in Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Mumbai, Kashmir and Tamil Nadu.

At the daily briefing, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Lav Agarwal said that about 9,000 people  those who attended the gathering and their contacts  had been quarantined, including 1,306 foreigners.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister held a digital meet with the Chief Ministers of all the states on Thursday, where he asked the heads of states come up with an exit strategy with the common goal to "ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once the lockdown ends." He also ivited the states to send their suggestions for such an exit strategy.

It cant be business as usual, a government release quoted the PM as saying, at least till next year when we find a vaccine for this virus.

(With agency inputs)
People self-isolating at home who are struggling to find ways to help health care workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic may now be in luck.

Multiple Boston-area restaurants are offering the option for customers to be able to buy hot meals for hospital employees in the city. Some of those same businesses are seeing a loss in revenue during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Shy Bird - a bar, cafe and rotisserie located in Cambridge - announced over Instagram this week it would be partnering with Massachusetts General Hospital so that customers at the restaurant could place online orders to be delivered to staff members at the Boston medical facility.

You can purchase a meal, or a group of meals, directly from our online ordering website, the businesss Instagram post said. In turn, youll also help keep our kitchen cooking too!

The restaurant offers customers the option to purchase a $10 meal to be delivered to a Mass. General worker. Patrons can buy up to 100 orders for $1,000.

Shy Bird has issued a mandatory 20% crisis operations fee on all purchases to support the businesss own employees and their health benefits.

Another service, called Off Their Plate, is being run in collaboration with the Cambridge restaurant. The site allows people to similarly donate $10 to provide a meal to a frontline health care worker.

The organization is operating out of Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Pittsburgh and San Francisco. Other Massachusetts restaurants enrolled in the program are Little Donkey, Mei Mei and PAGU.

The Boston hospitals in partnership with the group include Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Mass. General, Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare in Dorchester, Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Healthcare for the Homeless in Boston, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and West Roxbury VA Medical Center.

The program has provided more than 31,000 meals to date and has supplied $155,550 in wages to restaurant workers through donations, according to the organizations website.

The group was founded by two Boston chefs - Tracy Chang of PAGU and Ken Oringer of Little Donkey - and the first hospital to get involved with Off Their Plate was Brigham and Womens.

This work is powered by a coalition of private citizens, medical students, socially-minded restaurant owners, hospital leaders and the communities around them, the programs website says.

Off Their Plates goal is to provide nutritious meals to hospital teams and help streamline revenue to restaurant workers who may be suffering financially in the midst of the outbreak of the viral respiratory infection.

We rally around the tireless frontline COVID healthcare workers by restoring work and livelihoods to our local frontline workforce, the organizations website says. We can do more than stay home.

Related Content:
The historic oil price crash from last month could lead to as many as 50 million job losses globally in the oil refining and retail industry, Reuters quoted the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) as saying on Friday.

The oil price collapse is bad for consumers, too, IEAs Executive Director Fatih Birol said.

Also on Friday, Birol said that he had held a call with Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, during which the two shared our concerns over the situation in global oil markets.

I conveyed my hope that at this critical juncture, Saudi Arabia can once again play a stabilising role, via its G20 Presidency, Birol tweeted on Friday, a day after Saudi Arabia called for an emergency meeting of OPEC+ producers and an additional group of producers to seek solutions to the price crash and the growing global glut.

The video meeting is set for Monday, April 6, and the U.S. oil regulator is also expected to be invited to the talks, which will reportedly include discussion of a massive global production cut of 10 million bpd.

Earlier this week, the IEA said that the world has seen some oil shocks before, but none has hit the industry with quite the ferocity we are witnessing today.

The impacts will be felt throughout oils global supply chains and ripple into other parts of the energy sector, the IEA said on Wednesday. According to the Paris-based agency, some production will grind to a halt, investment cuts will hit the industry, refiners will also come under immense pressure, and there will be a considerable strain in some oil-exporting nations. In addition, the price collapse and the demand collapse will impact the broader energy sector, the global economy, and trade.

Comparisons with previous periods of disruption in oil markets are inevitable but misplaced. The oil industry has never seen anything like 2020, the IEA said this week.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The BSE Auto index has corrected 28 percent in the last month over fears of a higher impact from coronavirus (COVID-19) on the economy and further slowdown in the already slow auto industry. This disruption could result in a longer wait for a recovery in auto demand. Along with this, the Indian auto industry is battling with the Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) to BS-VI transition, which has a deadline of March 31, 2020. (Image: PTI)

According to Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities Research the industry will take longer to see a revival in demand as it has missed a mild festive period to the lockdown and coming few months will be seasonally slow due to the monsoon. (Image: Reuters)

The recent meltdown in auto stocks has brought the sector in the value zone for long term investors. Research firm Nirmal Bang has upgraded its rating from sell to buy for select stocks in the sector as on March 30, 2020. (Image: Reuters)

Nirmal Bang has upgraded Maruti Suzuki rating from sell to buy post the recent correction of 26 percent. | Target Price: 5,576 | CMP: 4,243. (Image: Auto Expo)

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has corrected 36 percent in the last during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research firm Nirmal Bang reiterating their buy rating with SoTP-based on revised target price of Rs 438 | CMP: 272 (Image: Auto Expo)

Nirmal Bang upgraded Bajaj Auto from accumulate to buy post the 26 percent correction in the stock in the last month owing to COVID-19 disruption. It is now trading at 11.5x FY22E earnings, which is quite a discount to its long-term average one-year forward PER of 17x. | Target Price: Rs 2,635 | CMP: 2,047 (Image: Moneycontrol)

Nirmal Bang has cut volume and earnings estimates for Eicher Motors as the company is facing supply issue of BS-VI components since Chinese manufacturing has been locked down. The company will also lose sales due to lockdown in India. Post the revision in the estimates, the research firm maintains buy on the stock. | Target Price: Rs 20,372 | CMP: 13,001 (Image: VECV)

Hero MotoCorp has corrected 20 percent in the last month and is now trading at 9.4x our FY22E EPS, which is way cheaper than its average one-year forward PER of 16x. Nirmal Bang reiterate buy on the stock with a one-year target price of Rs 2,471. | CMP: 1,629. (Image: PTI)
Be nice  two words not found anywhere among the 45 words of the First Amendment. Also not found: positive, or get ya or trust.

All of those words are out of place in a brief statement leading off the Bill of Rights at the start of our Constitution, the document that empowers all of us to express ourselves as we wish, regardless of whether others agree with or like what we have to say or write.

We  not government  get to choose which of the concepts found in those words that we will follow, live up to, or earn.

The words come to mind because, once again, President Trump had a contentious moment with a journalist. He squared off with PBS NewsHour reporter Yamiche Alcindor during the now-daily briefing on the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Alcindor asked Trump about comments he made during a Fox News interview regarding requests from governors for medical equipment to combat the virus effects, which the president claimed were inflated or unnecessary. Alcindor said she was quoting him directly from the program.

As Alcindor asked the question, Trump interrupted to say he had not made such comments, and then said, Why dont you people act in a little more positive?  Its always get ya, get ya, get ya, Trump said to Alcindor. You know what? Thats why nobody trusts the media anymore.

Actually, a lot of people do trust the free press today. By most accounts, journalists are earning trust  or re-earning it, if thats your point of view  and disproving misinformation by reporting facts about the coronavirus pandemic, by holding accountable government officials high and low as they respond to the virus spread and by providing the national, regional and local news we need in this unprecedented time of COVID-19.

From Dallas to Washington, D.C., Tampa to Seattle, New York to Denver, readership  mostly measured for digital versus traditional news outlets  is up, particularly since the virus crisis hit. Even declining audiences for network evening newscasts are, for the moment, stable or growing.

But, even with the vital pandemic-reporting role reminding us of the value of journalism, there are any number of dire indicators, and even gloomier actions, that make it likely we will have even fewer journalists and news outlets on the job even as we depend on them more.

A Newsonomics report for NeimanLab, prepared by news industry analyst Ken Doctor, coupled with announcements of COVID-19-driven newsroom layoffs and cost-cutting orders nationwide, provide hard facts behind the decline in of working journalists, which went from a high of more than 60,000 a few decades ago to around 23,000 today.

Doctors most recent view: Tomorrows life-or-death decisions for newspapers are suddenly todays, thanks to coronavirus. He writes that virus-related business closures are gutting local advertising overnight. A week earlier, he wrote about the impending destruction of local news and noted that since 2006, U.S. newspapers have lost more than 70 percent of their advertising revenue. While television news is somewhat more robust, industry watchers forecast as great as a 20 percent drop in revenue over the next three months  and a slow decline in advertising and jobs just a few years behind the decline seen by print publications.

And as Doctor and other industry experts note, in all too many instances where community news outlets still exist, it is as mere shell operations, publishing with vastly understaffed newsrooms and little actual reporting  all with a goal of wringing the last drops of revenue from a locality before closing doors.

Gannett, the nations largest news publisher, furloughed staff in more than 100 newsrooms nationwide in the face of what the companys chief executive officer said would be a considerable decline in ad revenue between April 1 and June 30. Other news companies are reported to be deep into merger talks, with the inevitable consequences of fewer journalists overall in the name of efficiency.

A recent column in The New York Times posited the idea of let newspaper chains die as a way of reinventing the news business across the U.S. The notion was to let existing for-profit news organizations  many now owned by private equity firms more interested in squeezing out profits than funding good journalism  fade away to be replaced by independent, locally operated entities more dependent on philanthropy or public support than by a disappearing advertising marketplace.

The concept of a free press as provided for and protected by the nations founders was that of a robust set of independent critics, working to hold government accountable on behalf of a public and of particular value to voters. Such a concept does not thrive  or perhaps survive  in a news world populated by shells, where there simply arent enough journalists on the job to keep a watchful eye on what elected officials are doing or spending, or not doing or spending. Nor should we value the press for being nice or even respectful; rather, we should value it for asking tough questions, pulling no punches (and now and then, not hesitating to praise) in pursuit of the truth.

A free press is defined and justified not by how it works, but by what work it does. For our part, we should support whats left of our sources of news, local to national. Subscribe or donate where you can. Let our support follow our need for real, fact-based news, which is greater now than at any other moment in our lifetimes.

Now, that would be nice.

Gene Policinski is president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. He can be reached at gpolicinski@freedomforum.org, or follow him on Twitter at @genefac.
Up to 80,000 Eastern European farm workers to be allowed to enter in April and May, relaxing earlier travel blocks.

Germany will allow foreign workers into the country to help harvest fruit and vegetable crops on farms, the government said on Thursday, relaxing previous travel restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Countries across the European Union, including Germany, have set up border controls to stem the spread of the virus but with the side effect of preventing cross-border workers travelling to their jobs.

German farmers and vegetable processors had warned that such restrictions would prevent thousands of East European seasonal farm helpers from gathering harvests and undertaking planting on Germanys farms, possibly leading to reduced fruit and vegetable crops and higher prices.

Most of the farm workers come from countries in the east of the EU, including Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.

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The European Union Commission on Monday also urged EU countries to allow the hundreds of thousands of seasonal migrant workers who plant or harvest crops to cross borders despite national measures to contain coronavirus.

Germanys agriculture ministry said on Thursday it had reached an agreement with Germanys Interior Ministry to allow up to 40,000 seasonal farm workers into the country in April and another 40,000 in May.

The workers should travel by air rather than by bus to protect against the threat of the coronavirus, the agriculture ministry said.

A series of other conditions include seasonal workers undergoing a medical check and keeping their distance from one another while they work while their accommodation should only contain half the normal number of people.

In addition, the two ministries said they will seek to attract an additional 10,000 people in Germany to work on farms including the unemployed, students, asylum-seekers and people temporarily laid off from other jobs.

Today we have found a pragmatic and goal-orientated solution which meets two justified requirements, said German Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner. Protection from infection on one side and securing the harvest on the other side.

German farmers had been especially concerned about a lack of workers for the asparagus harvest which starts in the coming weeks.
Disney Theatrical Productions has released educational resources for families for free online.

Featuring content for three different age brackets  6 to 11, 11 to 14 and "all ages", for those who just want a bit of Disney fun  there are tips for costume making, set-model building and behind-the-scenes videos. The company will also present podcasts featuring technicians working backstage on Disney shows.

The productions involved include Frozen, Aladdin, Mary Poppins and The Lion King, all of which have either run, are currently running or are scheduled to run in the West End.

As venue closures continue, theatres and shows have been releasing more material to keep families entertained while in lockdown. You can read more in our round-up.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 19:12 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f96769 1 City anies-baswedan,Jakarta-governor,Jakarta-administration,virus-korona-indonesia,coronavirus,COVID-19,novel-coronavirus,ramadan,virus-corona,food-supply,staple-food,Idul-Fitri Free

The Jakarta administration has secured sufficient food supplies for residents to prevent shortages during the coming Islamic holy month of Ramadan as the COVID-19 outbreak stokes uncertainty in the capital, the countrys hardest-hit area.

The food supply is enough for the needs leading up to Ramadan and through Idul Fitri, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said during an online video conference with Vice President Maruf Amin on Thursday.

The month of Ramadan will begin on April 23 and will end with Idul Fitri celebrations. People typically buy more during the fasting month, which pushes up the prices of basic commodities.

The city administration is expecting a surge in demand for staple foods as millions of Jakartans are Muslim, 85.3 percent of the capitals 10 million people, according to the 2010 census.

Some commodities, such as garlic and sugar, are of particular concern in Jakarta. Statistics Indonesias Jakarta office (BPS Jakarta) found that the average price of garlic had risen by 0.21 percent to Rp 44,465 (US$2.68) per kilogram and the average price of sugar by 20.62 percent to Rp 15,583 per kilogram, according to data released on Wednesday.

Read also: 70 million informal workers most vulnerable during pandemic

President Joko Jokowi Widodo previously said the government would keep garlic prices between Rp 20,000 and Rp 30,000 per kilogram and would keep sugar prices to Rp 12,500 per kilogram by procuring additional supplies from overseas.

Disrupted logistics, however, are posing a challenge to both the administration and the central governments plans to ensure the food supply.

Jakarta has had the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. As the national epicenter of the outbreak, the capital city has declared a state of emergency between March 16 and April 19, including the suspension of schools, in-office work, large religious gatherings and public activities.

The suspension of such activities is in line with the governments recently issued large-scale social restriction (PSBB) measure.

The suspension of public religious activities drew the governments attention as Muslims traditionally perform more rituals during the holy month.

Read also: People are dying, Pak Maruf: Anies reports Jakartas harrowing situation to VP

When Vice President Maruf asked Anies how long the measures would last, the governor said his administration had not made any decisions.

We still have time, and we will observe the developments before Ramadan, said Anies. We will probably wait for the Indonesian Ulema Council [MUI] to give advice if the COVID-19 situation shows no improvement leading up to Ramadan.

In addition to declaring a state of emergency, the Jakarta administration is allocating Rp 3 trillion of its Rp 87.9 trillion 2020 regional budget for COVID-19 efforts until May.

If [the outbreak] drags on beyond May, we will definitely raise the allocation, Anies said.

The governor is planning to allocate more money to fund the COVID-19 response from a profit-sharing fund worth Rp 7.5 trillion run by the Finance Ministry.
The first obvious reaction was of suspicion and fear and a sense of tiredness and submission as they must have already received a huge number of calls by then.

Itna bada hangaama hoga maloom nahin tha. (Didn't know this would turn out to be such a huge ruckus.) These words are from 25-year-old Anuarul Haque Laskar from Hailakandi in Assam who is now in quarantine along with 15 others at a railway facility in Delhi. Laskar and his group are among those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat held at the Markaz building in Nizamuddin which has turned into a hotspot for the highly contagious COVID-19.

So intense was the shock of the discovery of a congregation at these times that it sent an entire nation into a tizzy forcing states to race against time to locate those who attended the religious event in an attempt to prevent a community spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Despite massive government awareness programmes on the need for social distancing to break the chain of the epidemic, the Tablighi Jamaat not only flouted norms by organising such a gathering during this critical period but its participants who returned home also behaved irresponsibly by wilfully disobeying the guidelines of home quarantine of 14 days or even informing the authorities for that matter.

On the morning of 31 March as a horrified nation glued to television sets watched hordes of people being escorted out of the Markaz building and taken in buses after buses to different quarantine facilities across Delhi and other neighbouring places, the Central government got busy tracing those who attended the event. After an extensive mapping exercise of mobile numbers active in and around the hot zone in the last few days, a list of 456 mobile numbers having links to Assam was passed on to the Assam government to be immediately tracked so that their holders can be assessed for their health status. Similar lists were sent to other states as well.

Alarm bells ring in Assam

The list was never out officially but a list containing 299 mobile numbers with the names and addresses of the holders was already doing the round on social media. This list was not wrong and it only got expanded later. For a state which had not a single case of COVID-19 till then, panic gripped its citizens and the administration alike. After initial disbelief, the state launched itself in a big way to track these individuals using all resources at its disposal including public support.

To gauge the magnitude of the work on 1 April, I started calling these numbers one after another and managed to dial 30 of them in a day in between other works. Eight of these numbers were switched off, four of them did not receive the call, one picked up but insisted that it was a wrong number and two were outside the network coverage area.

The time I took to call these 30 numbers and the brief interaction I had with 15 of them gave me a clear impression of the enormity of the job. It goes without saying the people who called them on an official capacity had to carry out much longer conversations than I probably did. These people truly deserve praise. What worried me more were those numbers which were either switched off or ignored the call. That category must have been a herculean task for the government to trace.

The response to these calls I made was interesting. The first obvious reaction was of suspicion and fear and a sense of tiredness and submission as they must have already received a huge number of calls by then. Not all of them I called had attended the Tablighi Jamaat and those who did, made sure to inform that they are doing fine healthwise. Probably a sense of guilt have already started penetrating their souls.

Fait accompli for the faithful

"We are a group of 16 who came by train from Hailakandi in Assam to attend the Jamaat and reached Delhi on 25 February. We lodged at the Markaz building itself since our arrival until we were brought to this railway colony (he probably meant a guesthouse) by the police for quarantine. Our return tickets are already booked for 23 April. None of us is ill and we are doing fine," said the BA 5th semester student from AL Choudhury College in Hailakandi who was clearly taken aback by the swiftness of the event and the sudden media attention.

He also claimed that there are 70 people from Assam who are now kept in different locations by the Delhi government.

For Abul Hussain, who is using his son Abdul Hannan's phone, it was well-planned religious activity disrupted. Not that he was complaining.

Click here for Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates

"I reached Nizamuddin on 1 March and have been participating in the Tablighi Jamaat since then. I came here from Morigain district in Assam. We are a group of 53 who are present in Delhi now. Actually originally it was a group of around 60 but the rest quietly escaped to Assam. I have heard that they are now quarantined in Gauhati Medical College," said Hussain.

An employee of the Nagaon Paper Mill in Jagiroad in Assam, Hussain is now in quarantine along with his group in the National Capital.

Stressing that everyone is in fine health, he said, "I am sharing my room with two others. Our beds are placed 2-2.5 metres away from each other. Lodging and food are good. We had our return ticket is on 1 May. We came by train and our return ticket is also by train. I came to attend the Jamaat alone and my family is in Assam. Perhaps the government will take the call now."

Maybe to convey that he didn't flout any guidelines, Hussain said, "No restrictions were there when we came here."

Md Jafar Sharif was particularly tensed when he received the call at a Meerut hospital.

"I am not from Assam. I am from Thoubal in Manipur. There are nine others with me. We have been now brought to a Meerut city hospital for testing. We had reached Nizamuddin on 12 March. We attended the Tablighi Jamaat till 15 March and left for Meerut. We were in Meerut since then," Sharif said almost wanting to believe what was happening wasn't for real.

Devastated accurately describes the mood of Wahida Rahman when she received the call at a quarantine facility in Assam. The 42-year-old was in a shock as to how a religious trip can go so wrong.

"I attended the Tablighi Jamaat along with my mother, sister, brother-in-law and their two boys. We left Jorhat on 10 March by train and reached Delhi on 13 March. Again we took the train on 19 March and were home by 21 March. Now my family has been quarantined at the Dhekorgorha Mini Public Health Centre in Jorhat," said Wahida.

What was concerning was that she had a seriously sore throat which immediately struck me as one of the symptoms of the novel coronavirus. She is under medical observation now and I did not think it proper to comment but her sore throat did worry me particularly when I heard the small boys of her sister playing nearby. There was a sense of guilt somewhere in her mind, still she attempted a feeble defence.

"When we left for Nizamuddin nothing of that sort (read lockdown perhaps forgetting about social distancing)had happened," she said.

Caught in a maze

When Md Akbar Shah picked up the phone, he was outright defensive. No sooner had I asked him if he was at Nizamuddin, a scared Shah immediately put up a defensive shield.

"I did stay at the Nizamuddin Dargah but I am not part of the Tablighi Jamaat. I have nothing to do with the Markaz building. I had not come to be a part of any Tablighi. I have no idea about Tablighi. I stayed in a different building and you can check the CCTV cameras for proof," he said.

Although he was not sure exactly where he was, Shah did inform that he was quarantined somewhere near the Nizamuddin police station.

"I came to Delhi for an ongoing litigation involving my firm. I came to Delhi on 11 March. I was supposed to return on 22 March. But then my office told me that the date of hearing was postponed until 25 March. But then again they told me the date was postponed until 27 March. That's how I got stuck," Shah said trying to figure out the head or tail of the turn of events.

Although he is from Thoubal district in Manipur, his number somehow appeared on the Assam list. Shah said he was not tested for COVID-19 so far and that the Thoubal district deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, chief medical officer and other officials had contacted him enduring about his physical wellbeing.

The 22-year-old Yousuf from Kokrajhar in Assam was equally flustered.

"I am about to complete a year of stay in Nizamuddin. I am a student and I am studying Arabic. I stay in a hostel. I have nothing to do with the Tablighi Jamaat. Now they (the authorities) brought me to Narela for quarantine. I have not been tested for COVID-19 yet (as on 7 pm on 1 April 2020)," he said.

As if to convince me that he was actually following the social distancing norms, Yousuf said, "I stay in a big room with two others."

Fluent Hindi, soldierly manner of speaking were the first things I noticed when Joynal Hussain Laskar picked up my call.

"Sir, I am with the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and now I am currently posted in Delhi. I have nothing to do with the Tablighi Jamaat. My SIM card is from Assam and that's why it got detected," said Joynal who is from Silchar in the Barak Valley in Assam.

A member of the housekeeping staff in a Delhi firm, Raju Ali must have never received so many calls in his lifetime on a single day.

The moment I mentioned Nizamuddin, he rattled off instantly as if he is reading from a script.

"I have not attended any function of the Tablighi Jamaat. I have no idea how my name appeared on the list. I have been staying in Delhi since 2006. I live here with my family. I have also not gone out due to the lockdown. Even our landlord doesn't allow us to step outside. I have never received so many calls in my fire," said Ali, who is originally from Mukalmuwa sub-division in Assam's Nalbari district.

It is important to note that he lives around a kilometre away from the Tablighi Jamaat but his number was still within the radar giving an idea of the geographical scope of the tracking effort.

For Md Sirajuddin Laskar, a petty trader who lives in Nizamuddin West and is from Jamunamukh in Assam's Nagaon district, his journey to Delhi from Assam on 13 March immediately raised suspicion.

"My rented accommodation is not far from the Dargah. I live in Nizamuddin West. I have no involvement with the Tablighi Jamaat," said Sirajuddin.

Abdur Rahman from Majgaon Bajali in Barpeta, who has been living in Delhi since 2009, was in for a rude shock when the police landed in his shanty half a kilometre away from the Nizamuddin Dargah on 31 March.

"I have been living in Delhi since 2009. They included name by mistake. I am engaged with housekeeping work in a company. I never went to the Jamaat. In fact, if you are not a member you are not even allowed to enter there. Moreover, I went to Assam two years back. At least, they should verify before including a name," said a shaken Abdur.

Another young fellow, Anowar Islam, found himself in a similar situation whose shanty is not too far from Abdur's.

"I am from South Salmara district in Assam. I work as a housekeeping staff in a company. I have nothing to do with the Tablighi Jamaat," said Anowar.

Sahed Ali from Barpeta, who now works as a scrap dealer, has been staying in Nizamuddin for more than a year now.

"My place is at least 2-kilometre away from the Dargah. I have no connection to the Tablighi Jamaat," said Ali.

Md Muchleuddin Thakuria Ali is a nervous man. The fear of contracting the virus has gripped him and the worry of unintentionally harming his family even more.

"My daughter was studying in Shaheen Bagh. I went to Delhi to bring her back. I left Morigaon on 14 March and returned home on 17 March. I didn't go to Nizamuddin. I went to Shaheen Bagh. Yesterday people from the health services did the screening. Since it is nearly 15 days I have returned home, I hope I won't be infected. Please pray for me to the Malik (God) and bless me so that I remain safe," said Muchleuddin.

Not just Muchleuddin, it is the whole world that needs blessings now to be safe and sound.
The Queen will address the nation in a special televised broadcast about the coronavirus outbreak from Windsor Castle which will air this Sunday at 8pm.

Buckingham Palace said the broadcast to 'the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth' by the 93-year-old monarch has already been recorded.

Expectation has been growing about when the head of state would make a public statement about the unprecedented events that have put the country into lockdown.

It will mark only the fourth time the Queen has addressed the nation during her 68-year reign, following the Gulf War, the death of Diana and when the Queen Mother passed away.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is 'feeling better' after suffering from coronavirus but will remain in self-isolation until his temperature drops.

Meanwhile the Department of Health confirmed 684 more people have died in hospital after testing positive for the virus, bringing the total UK deaths to 3,605.

The Queen speaks to Prime Minister Boris Johnson from Windsor Castle on March 25 last week

And royal aides have been speaking to Downing Street for a fortnight about Her Majesty giving a morale-boosting television address to the UK amid the pandemic.

Sources had stressed last week the country was at the start of a very long and difficult process and that the timing of the address 'needs to be right'.

As well as on television and radio, The Queen's address this weekend will be shown on the royal social media channels, including @RoyalFamily on Twitter.

The Queen is highly experienced at public speaking and records her Christmas message in just one take, reading her script from a monitor.

But her message during the coronavirus pandemic had the added technical challenge of taking place while the UK is in lockdown.

The Queen has left Buckingham Palace and is staying with the 98-year-old Duke of Edinburgh with a reduced household at Windsor Castle for their safety.

The @RoyalFamily account announced the broadcast on Twitter shortly after 2pm today

A royal spokesman said: 'Her Majesty The Queen has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus outbreak.

'The televised address will be broadcast at 8pm on Sunday April 5, 2020. The address was recorded at Windsor Castle.'

It will be only the fourth special address of her 68-year reign. Her Majesty gave her last speech in 2002 on the eve of her mother's funeral.

Her previous special addresses to the nation were in 1997 after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and 1991, when she spoke about the First Gulf War.

Eighteen years ago on the eve of her mother's funeral, the Queen thanked the country for their support and the 'love and honour' shown to the Queen Mother.

Dressed in black, the Queen added: 'I count myself fortunate that my mother was blessed with a long and happy life. She had an infectious zest for living, and this remained with her until the very end.'

The Queen made a special televised broadcast after the Queen Mother's death in 2002

The monarch spoke to the nation in 1997 on the eve of the funeral for Diana, Princess of Wales.

Diana's sudden death in a Paris car crash triggered one of the monarchy's worst crises in modern history.

When the Queen initially remained at Balmoral to comfort her grandsons Princes William and Harry, the newspaper headlines screamed: 'Show us you care' and 'Where is our Queen? and 'Where is her flag?'.

A sea of flowers was left at the gates of Diana's London home, Kensington Palace, by shocked members of the public, but the flag pole at Buckingham Palace remained bare, as was the protocol, because the Queen was away in Scotland.

A rare palace statement was released telling of the royal family's hurt at suggestions they were untouched by the tragedy.

The Queen speaks to the nation in 1997 about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales

The Queen had been due to pre-record her message, but in an unprecedented move for a royal broadcast of this kind, it was decided she should deliver it live.

Royal author Robert Lacey wrote of how it was a high-risk strategy, but an aide told him: 'It was a psychological thing.

'(The Queen) goes flat when she know's it being recorded. When she knows it's real, she rises to the challenge.'

Speaking from Buckingham Palace and against a backdrop of a view of the crowds of mourners outside, Her Royal Highness, dressed in black, said she was speaking from her heart as both the nation's Queen and as a grandmother.

She paid tribute to Diana as 'an exceptional and gifted human being', adding: 'In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness.'

In February 1991, the Queen recorded a brief televised address to the nation during the Gulf War.

It came as the allied land offensive began against Iraqi forces occupying Kuwait.

The Queen called on people to unite and pray that the Armed Forces' success would be as 'swift as it is certain', and that it would be 'achieved with as small a cost in human life and suffering as possible'.

She expressed her hopes for a 'just and lasting peace'.

The Queen recorded a brief televised address to the nation during the Gulf War in 1991

The monarch also made a televised address when she thanked the nation for the festivities commemorating her Diamond Jubilee, describing it as 'a humbling experience'.

As the special bank holiday came to a close in June 2012, the monarch said in the two-minute pre-recorded televised message she was deeply touched.

She added: 'I hope that memories of all this year's happy events will brighten our lives for many years to come.'

In 1983, Whitehall officials drew up a script for the Queen to read during the Cold War if Britain faced annihilation at the hands of a nuclear-armed Soviet Union.

Records released under the 30-year-old rule showed the monarch, in the event of a Third World War, would have urged her 'brave country' to stand firm as it faced up to the 'madness of war', but the speech was never recorded.

Over the weekend it emerged that one of the Queen's footmen had tested positive for coronavirus, sparking further fears for the monarch's health.

But Buckingham Palace said earlier this week that the monarch was in good health and that every precaution was being taken.

It is understood the staff member's duties included walking the Queen's dogs, corgi-dachshund crosses Candy and Vulcan, and bringing her food  both of which would have brought the pair into close proximity. It is not known, however, when they fell sick.

Prince Charles, who last saw his mother on March 12, tested positive but has since recovered. Doctors say the earliest he could have become contagious was the next day.

He came out of self-isolation on Monday in Scotland, while his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, who tested negative for the virus, will come out by the end of the weekend.

The Prince of Wales offered his own message of hope to the country earlier this week when he recorded a video after coming out of isolation.

Charles said in his words of support: 'As a nation, we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation, which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens.

'None of us can say when this will end, but end it will. Until it does, let us all try and live with hope and, with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come.'

The footman was promoted to a role closer to the Queen six months ago and worked in her private apartments at Buckingham Palace.

Yesterday, the Queen thanked Armed Forces personnel working tirelessly to build London's new NHS Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel convention centre.

The monarchy's Twitter account paid tribute to the military who have been on 15-hour shifts to transform the site into a 4,000-bed hospital for coronavirus patients.
Independence Blue Cross and Horizon, the largest insurers in the Philadelphia area and in New Jersey, have eliminated cost-sharing  co-payments, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs for consumers  for COVID-19 inpatient hospital treatment, joining some of their national competitors in going that route.

For Independence customers, the changes are effective retroactively to March 30 and extend through May 31. Horizon made its changes retroactive to March 1 and effective through at least June 30. New Jersey so far has been much harder hit by coronavirus infections than Pennsylvania.

The policy change does not automatically apply to individuals who have coverage through employers who pay health-care costs without buying insurance. Those employers can opt out of the change.

Horizon specified that the change also applies to Medicare and Medicaid. The insurer, based in Newark, said that plans covering state employees and school employees had already agreed to the change. In all, the change affects 2.4 million Horizon customers, a Horizon spokesperson said.

Independence did not say how many of its customers the change would affect.

Neither insurer provided estimates of the financial impact. Insurance rates for this year were set before the coronavirus was a factor.
(Natural News) A Florida woman faces felony charges after coughing on the face of a paramedic, claiming she had the coronavirus. The woman was in the process of being arrested for assaulting her boyfriend when she sprayed copious amounts of saliva on a paramedic, according to police.

Police were responding to a domestic violence call on Wednesday, March 18, in the Orlando suburb of Lady Lake when they encountered the victim. According to the man, who was sporting a broken nose, he had been attacked by his girlfriend, LaDonald Shakkie Holmes. (Related: Spring-breakers pack Florida, Texas beaches as pandemic threatens societal collapse.)

The man had been lying in bed with Holmes, 38, at a home on Berchfield Road in Lady Lake according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriffs Office, when the latter turned to him asking if he wanted to have sex with her. However, the report then states that the victim refused to have sex with her because, according to him, she was planning to leave him to get back together with her ex-husband.

At this point, the report states that Homes became very agitated, assaulting the victim, first round house kicking him in the nose and then punching it. The attack resulted in the victims nose breaking after which, the report that he started bleeding all over himself and the residence, before leaving the residence and calling 911.

It should be noted the arrestee is a blackbelt in martial arts, the officers added.

Officers thought Holmes was suffering a medical episode

When a police officer attempted to arrest Holmes, she was lying in bed and refusing to answer questions. When the officer tried to take her to his police cruiser, she would proceed to go limp and fall to the ground. Concerned that she may have been suffering from a medical episode, the officer proceeded to contact Lake Emergency Medical Services for an ambulance.

When the paramedics arrived, they sought to evaluate Holmes, however, she became physically combative. The paramedics eventually forced to sedate Holmes to be able to place her on a stretcher. It was while she was being placed onto the stretcher where Holmes shouted I have the coronavirus and then proceeded to cough on the paramedic who administered the sedative. According to the report, copious amounts of saliva landed on the paramedic.

Following the incident, Holmes was subsequently transported to the Leesburg Regional Medical Center for further evaluation, including whether or not she actually has the disease. The court filing for her arrest, however, did not indicate whether or not she tested positive for the coronavirus. In addition, the affidavits did not reveal what treatment, if any, was afforded to the paramedic she coughed on. Neither did the reports say anything about her boyfriends broken nose.

Charged with felony battery and released on bond

After being released from the hospital, Holmes was booked at Lake County Jail. She was charged with one count of felony battery for attacking her boyfriend and another count of battery on a law enforcement officer for coughing on the paramedic.

According to Florida law, felony battery is defined as intentionally touching or striking another person against their will in a manner that causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement. The offense is counted as Third-Degree Felony punishable by up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a $5,000 fine. Meanwhile, battery on a law enforcement officer is also counted as a Third-Degree Felony and carries the same penalties.

Lake County Sheriffs office records show that Holmes, who has had prior convictions for battery, has since been released on a $7,000 bond. She is scheduled to be arraigned on April 13.

Sources include:

TheSmokingGun.com 1

TheSmokingGun.com 2

FLSenate.gov

LCSO.org
CIL subsidiaries have distributed more than 3.3 lakh face masks to the people in and around coal mines as the country battles the coronavirus crisis, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Friday.

"As #IndiaFightsCorona, coal companies are contributing immensely to the battle against #COVID19. So far, @CoalIndiaHQ with support from subsidiary companies, has distributed more than 3.3 lakh face masks to the populace in and around coal mines," the minister said in a tweet.

Of the 3.3 lakh face masks, Coal India Ltd (CIL) arm ECL has distributed the maximum 76,367 masks followed by NCL- 66,847, SECL- 64,536, WCL- 52,613, among others.

CIL had earlier pledged Rs 220 crore to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM CARES)Fund to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

CIL accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output. The PSU has taken various initiatives to continue the dry fuel supply to various sectors, including power, even during the lockdown period.

The measures include extending the time for coal lifting and making payments and relaxing penalty against defaulters, the minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Talks between Bayer AG and plaintiff lawyers to settle claims that the German companys glyphosate-based weedkillers cause cancer have been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic, Bayers Chief Executive told daily Handelsblatt.

This is about currently not being able to meet in person for talks. All this of course slows down the negotiations, CEO Werner Baumann told the newspaper in an interview published on Thursday.

Court-appointed mediator Ken Feinberg told Reuters last month that the talks were slowed by the pandemic.

In the Handelsblatt interview, CEO Baumann reiterated remarks he made at the end of February that he was under no time pressure to strike a settlement deal and that he would not submit to a schedule or deadline.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Patricia Weiss Editing by Michelle Martin)

Topics COVID-19
After years of struggle, electric scooters and e-bikes will be legal to use in New York state.

The provision was included in the recently unveiled state budget for 2020, about which state legislators and Governor Andrew Cuomo have reached a tentative agreement.

Electronic scooters will be legally allowed to travel at speeds up to 15mph.

A provision in New York's tentative state budget for 2020 will legalize electric scooters and e-bikes across the state, though municipalities will still have the option to ban them

The budget also specifically three new classes of e-bikes that will be legal to use, according to a report in Engadget.

The first class are pedal-powered bicycles that also have electric motors with top speeds up to 20mph.

The next class are throttle-powered bikes that reach top speeds of 20mph; and the final class are throttle-powered bikes that reach top speeds of 25mph.

Anyone riding this final class of e-bike will also be required to wear a helmet by law, and 16 and 17 year-olds will also be required to wear helmets while riding electric scooters.

The absence of a helmet provision was part of what caused a previous attempt to legalize e-bikes and electric scooters in 2019 to end up vetoed by Andrew Cuomo after passing through state legislature.

It's unclear where New York City will go along with the statewide legalization. Electric scooter rental firm Lime started a pilot program in Hoboken, New Jersey in 2019 and is hopeful to expand its business across the Hudson in 2020

While the budget legalizes the e-bikes and scooters across the state, it leaves an exemption for municipalities to enforce local bans.

It's unclear whether the new provision will help electric scooter rental companies like Bird and Lime get permission to start operating in New York City.

Lime began operating a pilot program across in Hoboken, New Jersey in 2019.

Between October 23 and November 10, 673,000 trips were taken on Lime's electric scooters with an average ride time of six minutes.

In a survey of people who used the program, 74.5 percent said they wanted the e-scooter rental service to continue (or continue with some improvements).
The UK government said Friday it was rushing to build more emergency field hospitals ahead of an expected surge in coronavirus cases, hours after recording a record 569 deaths from the disease.

Two new facilities will be built in Bristol in the west and Harrogate in the north to house up to 1,500 patients, the state-run National Health Service (NHS) said in a statement.

The announcement comes as a similar 4,000-bed facility in London -- built in less than ten days -- prepares to open Friday, and as criticism mounts over the government's failure to provide screening, particularly for frontline healthcare workers.

"Further such hospitals will open next in Birmingham and Manchester, offering up to 3,000 beds between them," the NHS statement added.

The health ministry announced a record 569 deaths from the virus in Britain in the 24 hours up to 1600 GMT on Wednesday -- the largest single-day rise yet.

It followed 563 deaths over the previous corresponding period.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Britain will "massively increase testing" for the COVID-19 virus following criticism of his initial light-touch approach to the outbreak.

Johnson has been in self-isolation "with mild symptoms" at his Downing Street official residence since announcing on March 27 that he had caught the virus.

Heir to the throne Prince Charles Thursday made his first public comments since coming out of self-quarantine after contracting the disease, telling the PA agency the experience had been "strange, frustrating and often distressing".

In a video message, he praised the "utter, selfless devotion to duty" of Britain's health workers.

The country took part in another collective round of applause at 8:00 pm (2000 GMT) Thursday, with social media videos capturing cheers across its cities, towns and villages.

Johnson is facing criticism even in normally supportive media outlets after officials revealed that just 2,000 out of about 500,000 NHS staff had been tested.

Health minister Matt Hancock said Thursday the government was "determined" to scale up tests across the board in the coming weeks, with a "goal of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month".

Hancock blamed global demand for swabs and reagents for the lack of tests, and said that some they had bought were faulty.

In order to meet the demand, the government said it would work with private firms such as Amazon and chemist Boots, and that three new "mega labs" would soon be online.

Testing for the general public has also been criticised as not widespread enough and is currently largely limited to hospital admissions of the most serious COVID-19 patients.

On Tuesday, 10,000 hospital patients and NHS staff were tested in England, well below the daily target of 25,000 and the 70,000 a day achieved in Germany, which has been used as a comparison.

Paul Nurse, chief executive of biomedical research centre the Francis Crick Institute, told the BBC Thursday that the government should summon "the Dunkirk spirit" and let "small ship" labs start screening for the killer disease.

So far, Public Health England (PHE), the body tasked with testing, has insisted all screening should be carried out centrally.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Melbourne hospital gripped in a COVID-19 outbreak responsible for multiple deaths failed to confirm it was battling infections for two days.

The sixth Victorian to die from COVID-19 had been part of a cluster of 15 cases linked to The Alfred hospitals cancer ward.

The Alfred declined to confirm to Daily Mail Australia that it had a coronavirus outbreak two days before spilling the beans last Friday evening.

Daily Mail Australia understands five new portable mortuaries have recently been brought in to The Alfred.

The Alfred hospital in Melbourne has become a hot spot for coronavirus infections, with a cluster of deaths linked back to it

The Alfred is now screening all visitors into the hospital. It remains unclear how COVID-19 got into its cancer ward

A view of the COVID-19 Clinic at the Alfred Hospital on March 26. It did not reveal it had an outbreak until the following evening

Word of the outbreak had been circulating several days before The Alfred publicly revealed the problem on the evening on March 27, with sources telling Daily Mail Australia it had already closed a ward three days earlier on March 25th amid concerns hundreds of staff may have been exposed.

On Thursday, The Alfred confirmed a woman in her 60s had become the third inpatient in the haematology and oncology ward to succumb to COVID-19, following the deaths of two men in their 70s last week.

Another two patients and 10 staff members have also tested positive.

A week ago, in a statement issued to a Melbourne newspaper, The Alfred revealed four inpatients within the ward had tested positive to the virus, two of whom died.

Three ward staff had also tested positive to the virus and an unspecified number of staff had been sent into self-isolation.

The hospital said contact tracing had not yet identified the source of the infections and it was carrying out a full investigation.

Days earlier, as four healthcare workers from Werribee Mercy Hospital were revealed to have contracted coronavirus, The Alfred was already locking down its cancer ward.

Daily Mail Australia put it to the hospital twice - on March 25 and 26th - that a COVID-19 outbreak had occurred, but was ignored.

On Friday, 135 health workers were among Victorias 1036 COVID-19 cases. Melbourne remains in practical lockdown with tough new restrictions in place

The Alfred's COVID-19 disaster Wednesday, March 25: Word from within The Alfred leaks that someone had tested positive to the virus 1.02PM: Daily Mail Australia emails The Alfred putting to its media team that an infected person has spread the virus and that a ward had been closed The Mail asked: 'Anything remotely similar to this going on over there?' Thursday, March 26, 2.55PM: Daily Mail Australia emails The Alfred again requesting a response Again it is ignored Friday, March 27: The Alfred releases a statement that its haematology and oncology ward has been limited after four inpatients tested positive for coronavirus and two had already died April 2: The Alfred announces access to its haematology and oncology ward has been limited and a third patient is dead Advertisement

Sources have told Daily Mail Australia the virus was most likely brought in by one of the staff.

'How on earth did an inpatient bring it in? That's just nonsense,' a source said. 'It would of come in from one of the staff.'

Melbourne hospitals were caught off-guard by the rapid movement of the virus and have been criticised for being late to implement strict measures to protect vulnerable patients.

While visitors entering hospitals are required to undergo temperature checks, it is understood staff at some hospitals are still not being tested.

In a statement, The Alfred declared it had introduced further restrictions on visitors this week.

'Temperature screening of all visitors is also now in place, and visiting hours have been reduced to a four-hour window each day  one visitor per patient for a maximum of one hour,' it stated.

Daily Mail Australia has been told The Alfred is one of a number of hospitals erecting portable mortuaries, with some hospitals bringing in shipping containers to act as makeshift morgues.

It is understood that five portable mortuaries were prepared at The Alfred on March 25th in readiness for a possible influx on coronavirus-related fatalities.

The Alfred hospital chief executive Prof Andrew Way. The hospital has been hot with a deadly outbreak of COVID-19

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton (pictured) said the source of the cluster of infections at The Alfred remained unknown

Last week, it was revealed The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre could become a massive makeshift intensive care hospital or temporary morgue to store what is feared could be a large number of bodies of victims of the pandemic.

The Alfred refused to answer Daily Mail Australia's questions about the portable morgues or lack of response to its initial enquiries about an outbreak.

In a statement issued on Thursday night, Alfred Health chief executive Andrew Way said the situation was upsetting for everyone involved.

'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of our patient, who passed away yesterday,' Prof Way said.

'Our Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention teams have supported us to put the most stringent plan into place, and we remain completely focused on the wellbeing of our patients and staff as this pandemic unfolds.'



On Friday, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the source of the cluster of infections remained unknown, but the hospital was doing 'everything possible to get on top of it' and he believed they would.

'It does illustrate the fact that when you are looking after very vulnerable patients in hospital, settings like this, you have to be absolutely strict about everything, including visitors and the screening of visitors,' he said.

'Everyone in the community also has a role to play in keeping the illness away from vulnerable people.

'It starts with us, the more that we can apply the social distancing measures that we are all talking about, the fewer cases we will have, the less likely the introduction into our hospital and aged care and other settings will be.'

The national death toll stands at 24, with 5139 cases confirmed.

Mr Sutton revealed 135 health workers were among Victorias 1036 COVID-19 cases, as the Peter MacCallum Cancer centre confirmed a staff member had the virus and six staff at a Frankston radiography clinic in Melbournes southeast also tested positive.
NBC News correspondent Janis Mackey Frayer reunited Wednesday with her young son after 49 days apart  including a full 14-day quarantine  and the emotional video was shared far and wide.

With work travel, restrictions and quarantine in #China, our family was apart for 49 days, the China-based journalist wrote on Twitter. And yes, every one of them was hard  the worry, the decisions, the failed plans, isolation. Our little guy has been brave and resilient and this was easily the best. hug. ever.

Also Read: Longtime NBC News Employee Dies After Testing Positive for Coronavirus

In the clip she posted, her young son stands outside a fence squealing with excitement to see her as she runs down a driveway wearing, of course, a protective mask. She rushes past workers in full protective gear to crouch down and grab the child in an extended embrace. In a later tweet, she thanks her husband, photojournalist Kevin Frayer, for capturing the entire moment, as well as the many days and weeks leading up to it, for her.

When airing the moment on NBC Nightly News later in the day, Lester Holt told viewers it had touched so many people within the company.

Janis has been on the front lines of covering the coronavirus crisis in China and Japan and the U.K. Now, back in China and after a 14-day self-quarantine, she is back with her family and we want to thank her and thanks to all of our correspondents and producers and crews who are working so hard away from their families to bring this global story to you and your families. To Janis, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Holt explained.

Watch the touching video above.

Read original story Watch NBC News Reporters Touching Reunion With Her Young Son After 49-Day Coronavirus Coverage (Video) At TheWrap
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khaskhabar.com : , 03  2020 3:40 PM
A gentle giant humpback whale was caught on camera 'playing' with a fishing boat - leaving the tiny vessel rocking from side to side as it swam directly under it.

Colin Sutton was searching for Yellowfin tuna in the Sea of Cortez off San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, on February 29, when he was greeted by the 35-foot-long visitor.

The huge mammal swam playfully around the Indigo Adventures boat for 45 minutes, before deciding to glide directly under the hull of the vessel.

A gentle giant humpback whale was caught on camera 'playing' with a fishing boat - leaving the tiny vessel rocking from side to side as it swam directly under it

As it's gargantuan body slid under the 28-foot-long boat, the humpback knocked the side, causing the craft to rock from side to side.

Mr Sutton and his friends Reed Gunderson and David Reid managed to keep their balance as they followed the whale's path to the open water beside them.

Once past the boat, the humpback turned gracefully in the crystal clear water before heading straight back towards Colin and his crew.

Mr Sutton said: 'In the eight years I've been running Indigo Adventures, I've never had an encounter like this.

Colin Sutton was searching for Yellowfin tuna in the Sea of Cortez off San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, on February 29, when he was greeted by the 35-foot-long visitor

The huge mammal swam playfully around the Indigo Adventures boat for 45 minutes, before deciding to glide directly under the hull of the vessel

'For a whale to be focused on us like that for 45 minutes, it was genuinely magical. I've seen lots of marine life before, but nothing similar.

'The boat moved from the whale once or twice when it very gently nudged us, otherwise only a little from the swirling water from its tail and fins.

'Its energy was calm and curious.'
JOHANNESBURG, April 3 (Reuters) - ArcelorMittal South Africa has issued force majeure notices to customers and suppliers "where appropriate" as a nationwide three-week lockdown impacts Africa's biggest steel producer.

Triggering a force majeure clause in contracts allows certain terms of an otherwise legally binding agreement to be ignored because of unavoidable circumstances.

"While the need for such action is clear and supported, it will result in further challenges over and above the effects of an already struggling economy and the economic impact of COVID-19 globally and locally," the company said in a statement on Friday. ArcelorMittal South Africa also said on Friday it has cut salaries for all employees, effective this month, for a "likely" period of three months.

All staff are working from home except essential staff needed for care and maintenance of the plants, the ArcelorMittal subsidiary, which runs the Vanderbijlpark steel works and Saldanha steel works, added.

Anticipating an impact from the new coronavirus on the South African economy, the firm also said it would cut spending on noncritical goods and services.

ArcelorMittal said "early signs" of weaker local demand were apparent even before the first case of COVID-19 was reported in South Africa, as the pandemic hobbles the global economy.

South Africa has been under a government-mandated lockdown to battle the spread of the new coronavirus for a week, with people's movements severely curtailed and many mining and processing operations halted.

(Reporting by Helen Reid in Johannesburg Editing by Hugh Lawson and Matthew Lewis)

+27 11 595 2852;))
AY CARAMBA!!!! PANDEMIC SHUTS DOWN CORONA!!!

Grupo Modelo suspends production of Corona and other beer brands amid coronavirus crisis in Mexico Grupo Modelo, which produces and exports several popular beer brands including Corona, Pacifica and Modelo, will be temporarily suspending production after its breweries were deemed non-essential by the Mexican government. BUSCH OFFERS FREE BEER FOR PEOPLE WILLING TO ADOPT A DOG DURING HEALTH CRISIS The company confirmed the news via a press release shared to Twitter early on Friday, and pledged its "total commitment" to slowing the spread of coronavirus.

Upscale Local Rent Break

One KC shopping plaza deferring business owners' rent payments this month KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With the turn of the calendar to April many local business owners are hoping they are getting closer to being able to reopen their doors. But the new month has also meant some tough times for hundreds of area shops. Rent is now due.

Rock Chalk Bravery

Some KU School of Medicine doctorate students to graduate early to help COVID-19 fight The University of Kansas made a major announcement regarding its medical students Friday morning. Students studying to be doctors who have completed all or most of their courses, and who have been matched with a hospital for residency, will be allowed to volunteer graduate early.

Local Futbol Preview

Sporting KC's Vermes expects MLS will need 'mini-preseason' if and when season resumes KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes, a people person, this quarantine doesn't exactly fit. "I'm a face-to-face type of person," Vermes said Thursday via conference call. "So, the fact that you have to do everything by phone or Zoom conference calls, that part is a little difficult."

Name Game For Kansas City Cuteness In Captivity

KC Zoo asking for help naming adorable, endangered baby goat triplets KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There are some new kids on the block at the zoo, and officials are asking for help from the public in naming them. The Kansas City Zoo announced five new Arapawa goats were born and are bouncing around the Billy Goats Gruff yard.

Season Of Hype Redux

The Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver Corps Should Be Even Better This Season Most thought the Kansas City Chiefs would be fortunate to have either wide receiver Demarcus Robinson or wide receiver Sammy Watkins on their roster this season. Instead, both are returning to the defending Super Bowl champions, meaning the Chiefs will retain their four leading wide receivers: Tyreek Hill, Watkins, Mecole Hardman and Robinson.

Katie Teaches Weather To Local Students And Oldsters

KMBC 9 Classroom: Katie Horner explains how hail is formed, answers your questions wait. Good morning. I'm meteorologist Katie Horner. We are going to do a Facebook live classroom. We are live in the K N B C studios. Right now, we apologize for our delayed start. We're having problems with my microphone, and if by chance it should go out, we will stop for a moment and reset with a different microphone.

The "Corona Chicas" might not have been as talented as other promo babes but they hold a special place in our heart.Remember that Corona beer suffered a negative association with the pandemic at its outset . But than more "enlightened" souls decried bad polling and claimed it simply represented Americans wanting to believe the worst about each other As always, that market had the last word as we link this update and a few more local links:And this is thefor right now . . .
Oil jumped more than 16 per cent in London as OPEC+ scheduled an urgent meeting next week to try and stem the crude markets rout, with an output cut of 10 million barrels a day of global production being discussed.

The coalition will hold a meeting of its members by video conference on Monday. It will be open to all producers  not just members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries or its allies  though its still not clear who will attend, according to delegates.

A delegate said a global cut of 10 million barrels a day is a realistic goal. Russian producers are ready to participate, people familiar with the matter said.

Every corner of the market has rallied over the last 24 hours, from timespreads used to gauge market health, to key North Sea swaps.

The announcement first came from U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, driving Brent $10 (U.S.) higher at one point. But those gains subsequently ebbed away in the face of the mammoth task for the producers.

Getting countries from all over the world to agree would be a tough ask. Even if thats successful, an output reduction of the size thats being discussed will be just a fraction of the 35 million barrels of daily demand destruction some traders now see.

Citigroup Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have argued any supply deal would be too little, too late as demand craters due to efforts to stem the coronavirus.

There does appear to finally be collective acceptance that the market is in such an extraordinary state of oversupply that co-ordinated action is needed, said Callum Macpherson, head of commodities at Investec Bank. Given how difficult it is for OPEC+ to agree on a position, how they will manage to successfully co-ordinate with the U.S. and other countries remains to be seen.

The guest list for Mondays meeting will be crucial as Saudi Arabia has made clear it will only cut production if others, including the U.S., shoulder some of the burden. While Trump tweeted Thursday that he had spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had in turn spoken with the Russian president, a person familiar with the situation said the U.S. leaders goal is purely aspirational and will ultimately hinge on whether Riyadh and Moscow can reach a deal.

The physical oil market continues to be weak, giving producers more urgency to react. Belarus said Russian companies are offering Urals oil for $4 a barrel. Crude in the Bakken region of the U.S. is still only worth $12 a barrel.

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London, April 3 : Researchers have created a web application that provides an overview of the coronavirus pandemic across the globe, in a way that is more interactive than other maps and statistics.

The app titled 'COVID19' is based on data from Johns Hopkins University in the US, the Danish National Serum Institute in Denmark, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations.

"We began working on the app as a pet project, to deal with our boredom and inability to physically meet up. While Skyping one day, we wondered why we couldn't find a graph that portrayed the evolution of coronavirus cases in Denmark," said Phillip Bredahl Mogensen from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, one of those behind the app.

According to the study, the app provides an overview of how COVID-19 is spreading and the number of people who have both passed away and recovered.

Statistics from every country on earth are available and readily compared. For example, in only a few clicks, one can see how Spain or Italy are faring with the pandemic compared to Denmark.

They also said that this is the first app that attempts to estimate suspected numbers - as opposed to reporting back confirmed positives from the test result.

"With the help of Danish and South Korean mortality statistics, we are able to provide an estimate of how many people were actually infected 20 days ago," explained Bredahl Mogensen.

"For example, on March 9, there were 92 confirmed cases in Denmark. We estimate that there were actually between 1,163 and 3,615 people infected. In other words, 10 times the number of people were infected as compared to the official statistics," he added.

The researchers used South Korean COVID-19 mortality data because the country has been dealing with the epidemic for a longer period of time and because South Korea has broader and more precise data sets than other countries.

"Even though the method is under development, and has yet to be validated, it presents an incredibly interesting estimate of the unknown extent of this virus," the authors wrote.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Prestige Group leads from the front in providing support during COVID-19 pandemic

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru, Apr 03: At a time of crisis, it takes a nation to join hands to bring about a change, and protect their most vulnerable. While the Government is doing everything in their capacity, given India's overpopulation and severe economic disparity, just their efforts alone will not be enough. India Inc. has to come together to lend their support.

And leading from the front is the Prestige Group, one of India's biggest and most successful developers. Through the Prestige Foundation, they are providing meals to about 10,000+ daily wager workers, underprivileged children and the needy in Bengaluru daily. And these numbers are set to go up exponentially in the days to come. In addition, they are providing the same to all the daily wagers at their labour colonies across India. They have also set up a 24-hour national helpline to aid the needy. However, these are just their initial efforts. They plan to initiate additional campaigns in the coming weeks, to create the maximum impact to get through this extremely difficult period.

Mr. Irfan Razack - CMD, Prestige Group said, "Historically, the daily wage sector in India has been largely disorganized, as a result of which there is a vast majority of daily wagers who are not registered with the state welfare boards. In the wake of COVID-19, the central government has initiated a process to release nearly Rs. 52,000 crore as a short-term relief to construction workers across the country. However, that still leaves a huge amount of unregistered labourers who have lost access to any earnings, with no means to feed themselves and their families during this crisis."

"At Prestige, realizing that the pressing need of the hour is to first protect this section, we have started providing the daily wagers at all our labour camps across India with the the basic needs of the hour, namely food, water and sanitation. At a time of unprecedented crisis like this, we, the real estate developers' community, have to take responsibility for ALL our people. After all, it is a symbiotic relationship - we are as dependent on them, as they are on us. How can we forget their plight and leave them to their own defenses in the middle of this? At Prestige, we are hoping to lead by example on this front to ensure that all our workers are protected during this time. With our 24-hour helpline, we hope to extend our help to the needy beyond the daily wagers. We have extended our full support to our Government to aid in any way possible. We plan to initiate many more campaigns to ensure that our country's most vulnerable are safeguarded during this period.", he added.

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Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 17:58 [IST]
The Gish Bac tlayuda from Gish Bac in Mid City. (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)

There is hope in the sight of Wes Avilas sweet potato taco splotched with almond salsa. Its a patch of sunshine on days when we may not be otherwise noticing blue sky.

I gobbled one recently while picking up an emergency taco kit from Avilas Guerrilla Tacos in the Arts District. I paid for my order online, naming a specific window of time to claim my meal. At 5 p.m., I stood at the restaurants entrance behind a line of thick black tape and, as instructed by a sign, texted my name to a staffer. She came out, waved hello and smiled, placed a bag on a precisely distanced table and disappeared back inside. I grabbed the food and bolted; the process felt about as safe and seamless as is humanly possible right now.

Avilas tacos nourished me on many levels. So did the tortas, tamales, tlayudas, burritos, rellenos, barbacoa, frijoles, ensalada de nopales and arroz con leche Ive savored from nearly two dozen restaurants over the last week.

There are no easy answers about eating food made away from home right now. Marquee restaurants in Los Angeles and around the country are closing for the safety of their employees. Others, including countless tiny, independent mom-and-pops, remain open; their owners likely dont know how else theyll survive.

See these recommendations as a celebration and a record of a blurring landscape. Keeping up with the many changes is nearly impossible; Avila, for example, stopped serving single tacos a few days ago. Everything on his menu, food and drink, now comes in various emergency kits. The pivot is apt.

Ive supported these 20 restaurants with recent takeout orders. Delivered, if possible, with a generous contactless tip left for the courier. Otherwise, I dashed out for pickup  rigorously sanitized, watchfully distanced and ultimately well fed.

Family meal with pork belly chicharron from Broken Spanish (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)

Broken Spanish

Ray Garcia funnels a few headliners from his downtown restaurants modern Angeleno menu into generous family-style meals. Choose between three mains: a horseshoe-shaped hunk of pork belly chicharron (a Broken Spanish signature), achiote-roasted chicken or a vegetarian chile relleno swathed in cream sauce. Handmade blue corn tortillas are useful for swiping through refried lentils fragrant with epazote and creamy with cotija. Two vegetable sides, salsa verde (dense in flavor and texture) and vanilla bean-speckled arroz con leche, complete the feast. While claiming the order I noticed a posted menu also mentioned turkey mole tamales packaged for freezing. Sold. Pickup only.

Story continues

1050 Flower St., Los Angeles, (213) 749-1460, brokenspanish.com





Burritos La Palma

Long before the recent birria mania, the Banuelos Lugo family perfected the birria burrito at its first taqueria in Jerez, Zacatecas, back in the early 1980s. The winning equation: spiced stewed beef (and nothing else) swaddled in a flour tortilla thats crisped on the griddle to a golden sturdiness. The stateside locations in Santa Ana and El Monte maintain the simplicity. You can also disappear into the very midcentury American platillo especial, made with two birria burritos baked, like overfilled enchiladas, in green chile pork sauce and cheese that melts to rivulets. Pickup only.

5120 N. Peck Road, El Monte, (626) 350-8286, and 410 N. Bristol, Santa Ana, (657) 266-0575, burritoslapalma.com





Cacao Mexicatessen

Ropy, crunchy duck carnitas, packed into tacos or enveloped in a burrito, are the clutch order at this Eagle Rock institution. For unabashed stress eating, I love the fries given the nacho treatment with molten yellow cheese, pintos, cebollitas and cilantro. If a few carnitas happen to topple into an order of fries covered in Mission fig mole, even better. Other laudable taco fillings include fried avocado, cauliflower chorizo and chicken; order them in singles or in family packs meant to feed four to five people. Pickup or delivery.

1576 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 478-2791, cacaodeli.com





Carnitas El Momo

If ever there were a food named appropriately for the times, its the Aporkalypse, a massive carnitas taco filled with a mix of maciza (chopped pork shoulder), cuerito (squiggly slivers of pork skin) and buche (delicate, wishbone-shaped slices of pork stomach). Its a specialty of the Acosta family; its carnitas rate as a civic treasure. Carnitas by the pound, ordered for pickup in Boyle Heights, come with tortillas, salsa, limes and garnishes. Check El Momos Instagram account for details. Pickup only.

2411 Fairmount St., instagram.com/carnitaselmomo

Camarones borrachos from Coni' Seafood in Inglewood. (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)

ConiSeafood

Connie Cossio, owner of this institution serving Nayarit-style seafood dishes, answered when I called the restaurant. I asked her what she eats at a time like this. Camarones borrachos, she replied in a millisecond  a dish of shrimp sauteed with garlic and crushed pepper then set alight in tequila. Fluffy rice alongside absorbs the thin, rich sauce. Cool, bright mariscos  ruddy, punchy campechana; inky ceviche marinero garnished with diced mango  help lift spirits even higher. Delivery or pickup.

3544 W. Imperial Highway, Inglewood, (310) 672-2339, and 4532 S. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 881-9644, coniseafood.com





Gish Bac

Need overt beauty in your life right now? Behold the tlayuda Gish Bac  a circle of life layered with pureed black beans, lacy Oaxacan string cheese, grilled steak and chicken, chile-marinated pork, with slices of tomato, avocado and slivers of rajas arranged like spokes radiating from a wheels center. The crackle of the foundational oversize tortilla is key, as is to consume it as quickly as possible. The other specialty at Maria and David Ramos restaurant is barbacoa, either goat long-simmered with chiles or a less saucy cumin-scented variation with lamb. Both are wonderful. Weekends only. Pickup or delivery.

4163 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 737-5050, gishbac.com

A delivery bag awaits pickup at Guelaguetza in Koreatown. (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)

Guelaguetza

Moles are the crossword puzzles of Oaxacan cooking. Their complexities tease and challenge our brains; we need them more than ever. Bricia Lopez and her family have created family meals with one of four moles (negro, rojo, coloradito and the stewy variation, fortified with almonds and raisins, known as estofado) and either grilled chicken or pork carnitas. Scroll through the online menu to see other combination and solo meal options, including a platter of seven appetizers (guacamole, taquitos and fried guacamole among them) and herbed chicken soup to feed a crowd. Lopez also recently published a cookbook; now might be an ideal time to master Guelaguetzas moles yourself. Or you could split the difference and gift yourself a jar of mole paste from the restaurants online store . Open Thursday through Sunday. Pickup or delivery.

3014 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 427-0608, ilovemole.com





Guerrilla Tacos

If you remember Wes Avilas singular tacos served from a scrappy Arts District stand nearly a decade ago, you know the chefs mettle: He knows how to make a situation work. At his restaurant, in the same neighborhood where Guerrilla Tacos began, emergency kits are on the menu: sweet potato tacos, wild boar nachos and, to drink, pre-made margaritas or wines by the bottle. His largest emergency taco kit, a no-nonsense supply of steak or chicken that stays juicy and smoky when reheated, includes tortillas, two salsas and garnishes, plus 30 eggs and a roll of toilet paper. The Q&A for this one alone is worth a click to the website. Pickup only.

2000 E. 7th St., Los Angeles, (213) 375-3300, guerrillatacos.com





Madre

At his two locations, in Torrance and in Palms, Ivan Vasquez has created microwavable meals (including chicken mole, beef barbacoa and shrimp sauteed in chintextle, a smoky Oaxacan chile) as well as family-style meals available hot. Major bonus: Marquezs restaurants have some of the areas largest selections of mezcal and other agave spirits. Call the restaurant and have someone talk you through the options; bottles range from a subtle $44 Mal Bien espadin to a rare Lalocura pechuga for $165. Pickup or delivery.

1261 Cabrillo Ave., Torrance, (310) 974-8005, and 10426 National Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 559-4732, madrerestaurants.com





Mariscos Jalisco

It has long been popular for food writers to suggest that Raul Ortegas shrimp tacos, blazing from the fryer with a cooling overlay of avocado and salsa, might be the first or most essential dish for visitors to eat to understand Los Angeles. Its a critical time to support this culturally vital Boyle Heights food truck. Supplement the tacos with the Poseidon, a flavor-bomb mashup of shrimp ceviche and octopus aguachile. Pickup only.

3040 E. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles (and other locations), (323) 528-6701, instagram.com/mariscosjalisco

Jalapeno and cheese tamal from Mi Ranchito Veracruz, steamed in banana leaf. (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)

Mi Ranchito Veracruz

Worthy standards include the chile relleno, cochinita pibil and a monster breakfast burrito. But the stars at Mi Ranchito are the Veracruz-style tamales, wrapped in banana leaves, that imbue the masa with their sweet, herbaceous aroma. Three versions stay in heavy rotation: chicken with mole negro, chicken with tomatillo sauce and a standout jalapeno-and-cheese variation thats extra gratifying when bathed in softly spicy red salsa. Two will satisfy the average appetite. Delivery or pickup.

13363 Saticoy St., North Hollywood, (818) 287-6911, miranchitonoho.com





Mole de los Reyes

As the Bell restaurants name suggests, its draw is moles  some of them gloriously outrageous. (Rocio Camacho, L.A.'s mole goddess, once cooked here; the mole recipes still bear her imprint.) Traditionalists will favor the smooth, balanced mole verde. On the wilder side are one buzzing with coffees pleasantly bitter edge and another sweet (but not cloying) with strawberry. Staffers talk you through the best protein matches for each sauce, including sliced filet mignon and veal cutlet. Pickup only.

6242 Maywood Ave., Bell, (323) 588-5536





Ponchos Tlayudas

The beloved South Los Angeles pop-up run by Alfonso Martinez and Odilia Romero continues to soldier on. Ask for Martinezs crisp-edged, hubcap-size folded tlayudas filled with blood sausage (the favorite), chorizo, beef, mushrooms or nopales. The couple also sells sublime tamales, including a chicken mole version and a vegan tamal stuffed with black beans that is steamed in avocado leaves, a traditional preparation from the Sierra Norte de Oaxaca. Tamales are available for takeout on Sundays; the rest of the menu is available on Fridays only. Contact Ponchos via Instagram. Pickup only.

4318 S Main St., Los Angeles, instagram.com/ponchostlayudas

Carryout tacos from El Ruso in Boyle Heights. (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)

El Ruso

Walter Soto and Julia Silva make some of the most spectacular tacos in Los Angeles. Silva is a tortilla artist; Sonoran-style flour discs are her pliant canvases. Soto grills the meats and composes the tacos. Carne asada, beef birria and a wondrous, chin-staining chile colorado typically comprise the fillings: get all three. Eating these directly from the box alone in your car doesnt in any way diminish their grandeur. Saturdays only. Pickup only.

1401 Mirasol St., Los Angeles, (323) 246-6819, elrusola.weebly.com





Sonoratown

The Burrito 2.0 is both a delivery godsend and superb encapsulation of what makes Jennifer Feltham and Teodoro Diaz-Rodriguezs downtown taqueria so special. The elastic, almost creamy tortillas are made from Sonoran flour and pork lard. Carne asada  short ribs grilled over mesquite and blitzed with a cleaver  is the meat of choice, though you can also opt for chorizo, chicken, tripe or chile poblano. Guacamole, Monterey Jack, sharply spicy chiltepin salsa and pinto beans round out the tidy package. Burritos (and smaller, equally wonderful chivichangas) also show up in party sizes. A meatless option includes grilled poblanos and spring onions with corn tortillas.

208 E. 8th St., Los Angeles, (213) 628-3710, sonoratown.com





Tacos 1986

2019 was the year of Tacos 1986. Jorge Joy Alvarez-Tostado and Victor Delgado grew their roving Insta-sensation  a stand selling Tijuana-style tacos and outfitted with an eye-catching trompo  into permanent locations in downtown and Westwood Village. The power move in the takeout era is the Perron taco, a once-secret menu item now openly listed online. Cheese sizzles on the griddle and fuses onto a flour tortilla; on top are beans, onions and a healthy slick of guac. To complete it, choose either carne asada or the restaurants inky mushrooms simmered in salsa macha. Delivery or pickup.

609 S. Spring St., and 10874 Kinross Ave., tacos1986.com

Exterior of Tacos Ensenada in Duarte. (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times)

Tacos Ensenada

A weekend afternoon spent reading the deep archives of grass-roots-journalism paragon L.A. Taco led me to Duarte and the spectacular fish tacos from this mini-mall taqueria. The restaurant assembles textbook Baja-style beauties: crisp slabs of fried tilapia; small, doubled-up corn tortillas; whiskery shreds of cabbage, pico de gallo and a finishing gloss of spiced mayo that distantly rumbles with heat. Very easy to down two or three. Rickys Fish Tacos, arguably the citys most famous purveyor of the genre, is currently closed; a quick run to Tacos Ensenada makes for an excellent alternative. Pickup only.

2171 Huntington Drive, Duarte, (626) 359-4959





Teddys Red Tacos

Teddy Vasquez crowns his tacos with Tijuana-style birria de res and its consomme, which dyes everything in its path a shade between traffic-cone orange and the piercing red of Moira Roses lipstick on Schitts Creek. His Deluxe plate is a fixture in modern L.A. life. It was one of the final things I ate in a group before the shutdown, at a communal table on an Echo Park sidewalk. Now at my own table, the taste rings with the familiar peal of chiles and herbs; the flavor is almost nostalgic.

46 Windward Ave., Venice, (310) 452-7910, instagram.com/teddysredtacos





Tortas Ahogadas El Rey

I hunkered for a torta ahogada, the drowned sandwich thats a specialty of Guadalajara; an article by Cesar Hernandez on L.A. Taco guided me to the two restaurants run by Abraham Mota and his father, Francisco. In the restaurant the cooks would assemble the torta; now the ingredients are packaged for home assembly. Pork carnitas come stuffed in a birote salado, a Guadalajaran roll with a craggy crust and soft, gently salty crumb. Pour warm, brothy tomato sauce and a salsa infused with zinging chile de arbol over top; youll start with a fork and likely graduate to a spoon. El Rey also makes solid tacos de canasta  soft steamed tacos designed for portability (theyre traditionally sold from baskets in Mexico, as the name implies) and thus perfect for this moment. Pickup or delivery.

6503 Pacific Blvd., Huntington Park, (323) 387-4156, and other locations, info.laliveapps.com/m/tortaselrey





Zacatecas Restaurant

Times writer Gustavo Arellano clued me into the Hawthorne restaurants Zacatecan-style of birria de res, typically served on its own rather than as a taco filling. Humming with the smokiness of guajillo chile, a bowl of Zacatecas birria is good medicine. Its an off-the-menu special thats always available. On the more Southern Californian end of things, Food colleague Jenn Harris nudged me to Toms burrito, an imposing torpedo filled with carne asada, beans, cheese, guacamole, onions and sour cream, smothered in fiery green chile and yet more cheese. A nap-inducing burrito is healing in its own way.

13737 S. Inglewood Ave., Hawthorne, (310) 679-5161, zacatecasrestaurant.com
Grocery stores are listed among the essential businesses that must remain open in North Carolina during Gov. Roy Coopers stay-at-home order, and shoppers continue to make trips in search of fresh meat, bread and toilet paper.

But safety in grocery stores is a major concern, and chains across the nation are busy implementing measures designed to help keep shoppers and employees safer during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Hilary Thesmar, senior vice president of food safety for the Food Industry Association (also known as FMI), told The News & Observer this week that the stores they advise are trying to create a safe place for customers and employees to get the essential supplies families need.

One way retail chains are trying to do that is by changing policies and practices to meet social-distancing guidelines from public health officials. And there are many ways to do that.

A sign at the entrance of the Wegmans grocery store in Raleigh reminds shoppers about the recommended 6-foot social distancing practice in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

For instance, many Trader Joes stores are limiting the number of customers that can enter the store at one time (the number varies; its a 40-shopper limit at the Raleigh store). Target announced on April 2 that they would also start monitoring  and metering when necessary  the number of people inside our stores nationwide.

Other stores have open access but mark floors near checkout stands to remind shoppers to keep a 6-foot distance from other people.

Many chains have also installed plexiglass shields at checkout stands to offer an additional barrier between the customer and the cashier, and offer special shopping hours for seniors and others with high risk factors.

Theres no one standard that can be applied for all stores, Thesmar said.

There are different floor plans in retail and different square footage, Thesmar said. Huge stores and small stores, some with narrow aisles. Its best decided by the operator or company how to meet the needs of their customers and provide physical distance  we provide stores with options and they choose what to do.

Story continues

Signs placed at cash registers in Food Lion stores remind shoppers about the recommended 6-foot social distancing practice in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

Keep your distance, but also keep it moving

Thesmar said shoppers and employees should also be aware that theres a time element to the social distancing guidelines. When youre shopping, never linger near other customers or around employees who are stocking shelves.

The goal is not to have a six-foot bubble, its to avoid close contact, and theres a time element to that, she said. Passing someone in an aisle is not a known risk factor, because its seconds when you are passing someone.

There has been concern over employees who must work around customers but without protective masks, especially now with guidance over the wearing of masks seeming to change.

Lowes Foods has installed plexiglass shields at customer checkout stands to help stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

Most stores have policies that allow employees to wear masks if they have them, but they dont always have current access to supply them.

Our valued associates are permitted to wear masks and gloves for their own personal comfort, said a spokesperson for Matthews, NC-based Harris Teeter. However, we cannot provide them because we do not have them available. The healthcare industry  rightfully so  takes priority in the procurement of personal protective equipment.

Grocery delivery or pick-up is more popular than ever

One of the safer ways to get groceries now is by ordering online and picking up the items curbside or having them delivered.

Online orders and deliveries have increased dramatically in recent weeks, and some services, such as InstaCart and Shipt, are struggling to keep up with demand. Orders that took a few hours to be filled and delivered a few weeks ago, now take a few days.

Should you get groceries delivered? Wash them? Tips for safe food shopping amid fears.

Research released this week from Brick Meets Click and ShopperKit shows a 233% increase in sales for online grocery delivery and pickup over a 30-day period with data compiled from August 2019 to March 2020, and a nearly 200% increase in the number of orders placed. There was a 146% increase in the number of customers.

New research also shows that 31% of U.S. households (about 39.5 million in total) have used an online grocery delivery or pickup service during the past month, according to the two groups.

Its a great shopping alternative, especially for those in higher risk groups, but moving to a pick-up or delivery-only model isnt practical right now, said Thesmar.

Signs at Fresh Market stores remind customers about social distancing practices in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

If we went to a 100% delivery or pick-up model, that would shift the shopping to different people, but the high demand is still there, she said. People need food and we want to provide food. Delivery and curbside pickup are good options, but that would create ripple effects.

If you do go into stores to shop, its important to do everything you can to lessen your risks: go early or late when crowds are lighter, avoid close and prolonged contact with others, touch as few surfaces as possible, keep your hands clean and dont touch your face.

I still go to the store and I feel very comfortable doing that, she said. I dont go as frequently, though. I wash my hands and wipe down my cart and take precautions.

What stores are doing

Heres what some of the local chains are doing, in addition to the enhanced cleaning and sanitizing that began a few weeks ago, as of April 3, 2020.

Harris Teeter

Carts: When cart wipes are not available, associates at the door clean carts for customers.

Social distancing: Signs at checkout stands and in the lobby remind customers about social distancing. Stand here floor decals are currently being installed (should be in place soon).

Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Special hours: Customers 60 and over shop 6 to 7 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays. The store also offers ExpressLane Online Shopping pick-up times reserved for seniors from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays. They also offer no fee and $5 delivery option for seniors. More info here: https://bit.ly/2WDs6WZ.

Plexiglass: Shields are installed at checkout stands, customer service and pharmacy counters.

Employees: Full-time hourly associates in retail, distribution center, dairy and corporate offices get a $2 increase for hours worked April 1-21. Full-time hourly associates also receive a one-time bonus of $300 and part-timers got $150. The company is also giving employees emergency paid leave, making funds available for those facing hardships due to COVID-19, and providing access to mental health services. Harris Teeter says it has already hired 2,800 new workers and is seeking an additional 2,300.

A newly installed plexiglass shield at a cash register at a Harris Teeter store on Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh offers protection from COVID-19 coronavirus spread on March 28, 2020.

Food Lion

Carts: A statement from Food Lion says that they are working to ensure sanitizing wipes are available in stores. Where wipes may be unavailable, our associates have been given guidance to wipe down carts before customer use.

Social distancing: Food Lion has removed hand baskets and small shopping carts from stores and they are asking shoppers to use large carts to increase distance from other shoppers, noting that two cart lengths is approximately the 6-foot space recommended by the CDC. They also have signage in stores to remind customers and associates about distancing.

Hours: So far, Food Lion has maintained its normal shopping hours. Those hours may vary from store to store.

Special hours: Customers 60 and over and those who are immunocompromised can shop from 7 to 8 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Plexiglass: Plexiglass safety guards installed at checkout, customer service and pharmacy areas.

Employees: Food Lion says they have implemented pandemic exception guidelines, including modified attendance policies, compensation and other key benefits.

Lowes Foods

Carts: Lowes will either have sanitizing wipes in the front of the store or an employee scheduled there to wipe them down.

Social distancing: Lowes has signage already in the store, and said it will add additional signage as the situation evolves.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. until further notice.

Special hours: Lowes Foods is dedicating 7 to 8 a.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday as shopping hours for seniors and others who are vulnerable to the virus. Those who are not at risk are being asked to shop at Lowes Foods after 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays or other days of the week. The special shopping hours are in place until further notice.

Plexiglass: Screens have been installed to help with separation at the registers.

Employees: Current full-time hourly employees hired at Lowes Foods before March 1 will receive $300; part-time workers will receive $150. The store also enacted a new emergency leave policy for its companies: all employees and hosts, both full time and part time, who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive an additional 10 paid days off.

Publix

Carts: If cart wipes are not available, associates are at the door to clean carts.

Social distancing: Six-foot spacing is marked off at registers. Signs throughout the store reminding shoppers about safe distances as well as announcements made over the store intercom.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Special hours: Publix is designating Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7 to 8 a.m. for seniors 65 and over.

Plexiglass: Shields are installed at registers, customer service and pharmacy centers.

Employees: Permanent pay increases and accelerated merit reviews that will offer recognition pay, effective April 11. Publix also offers paid leave for 14 days for associates who test positive for COVID-19 in addition to notification, quarantine and paid leave for associates who have been in close contact with that associate. Publix is hiring 2,000 employees to work in its stores and distribution centers.

Food Lion stores have installed plexiglass shields at checkout stands in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

Wegmans

Carts: Wegmans provides cart wipes but also has an associate at the door to clean carts.

Social distancing: Wegmans has signs at the entrance reminding shoppers to keep their distance from others, and they have placed decals on the floor near checkout areas showing customers where to stand.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Special hours: Wegmans does not offer special senior shopping hours, and they explain why on their website. Their statement includes this note: We do not believe putting an entire population of highly susceptible people together in one location, at one time is a good idea. In addition, products arrive at each of our stores at different times throughout the day.

Plexiglass: Plexiglass shields are being installed at pharmacies and front-end registers.

Employees: Wegmans increased hourly employee pay by $2 an hour for the months of March and April. The company has always offered disability paid sick leave for all employees, part- and full-time, but has added COVID-19 disability paid sick leave with a higher rate of pay starting on day one and eliminates the need for medical documentation from the healthcare provider. The company says it has tried to accommodate employees who are more vulnerable by offering them the opportunity to move into different roles.

Target

Carts: If disinfecting wipes are not available, associates are cleaning carts for customers.

Social distancing: Starting April 4, Target says it will actively monitor and, when needed, limit the total number of people inside based on the stores specific square footage. If metering is needed, a team member will help guests into a designated waiting area outside with social distancing markers, while others will guide guests inside the store and keep things moving quickly and conveniently. The stores also have signage to remind shoppers of social distancing guidelines, in addition to floor decals and audio messages.

Hours: Stores close at 9 p.m.

Special hours: Target will devote the first shopping hour of each Wednesday to seniors and those with health issues that put them at a greater risk. Target store hours vary location to location, so check with your store for current store hours (many stores are operating with reduced hours now). That first hour on Wednesday is the time to go.

Plexiglass: Target is installing plexiglass partitions at checkout lanes and at other centers where employees interact with shoppers.

Employees: Target will begin providing all employees in stores and in their distribution centers with high-quality, disposable face masks and gloves at the beginning of every shift. They will also provide masks and gloves to Shipt shoppers (home delivery) as they enter stores. The masks should be available within the next two weeks. Target has also given a $2 per hour raise to employees until at least May 2 and said that 20,000 hourly department managers would be given bonuses between $250 and $1,500. The company also offers a new paid leave option for staff who have underlying health conditions or who are 65 or older (30 days paid leave). Employees also get quarantine pay for 14 days and confirmed illness pay at 100% of their pay for 14 days. Employees also get dedicated shopping hours.

Walmart

Carts: The Walmart website says it has associates dedicated to cleaning high-touch areas like shopping carts and checkouts.

Social distancing: Floor decals at both entrances and at checkouts remind shoppers to practice social-distancing.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Special hours: Walmart stores will devote one hour prior to the store opening each Tuesday through April 28 to senior shoppers (60 and older). Pharmacies and Vision Centers will also be open during this time. Current new Walmart hours are 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. nationwide, so seniors would shop at 6 a.m.

Plexiglass: Walmart is installing sneezeguards at pharmacy and cash registers.

Employees: Hourly employees are receiving a special cash bonus and the company is accelerating its first quarter bonus for hourly employees. All employees have access to telehealth doctor visits at no cost to them during this time. The company website says that if an employee or that employees work location is part of a mandatory quarantine, the employee will receive up to two weeks of pay and the absences will not count against attendance. Similarly, an employee who tests positive to the virus will receive up to two weeks of pay. Those employees may be eligible for additional pay replacement for up to 26 weeks if they are not able to return to work after being sick.

A floor decal at the Wegmans grocery store in Raleigh notes the recommended 6-foot social distancing practice in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

Aldi

Carts: Aldi said in an email to customers this week that they have increased the frequency of cart cleaning throughout the day.

Social distancing: The same email says Aldi has started intalling signs and floor decals in stores to remind customers and employees to keep their distance.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Special hours: Special shopping hours for seniors 8:30-9:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Plexiglass: Temporary panels have started rolling out to stores this week.

Employees: Aldi said it is actively sourcing personal protective equipment for our employees to use, upon request. That includes disposable gloves, which they started sending out to stores this week, and masks, which they will start to ship next week as supplies permit.

Lidl

Carts: Disinfecting wipes are available at the entrance to stores.

Social distancing: The company announced on March 24 that new signage will be installed at all stores reinforcing the importance of social distancing and contactless pay (where possible).

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Plexiglass: The company announced on March 24 that new protective barriers will be installed in all checkout lanes.

Employees: Lidl describes their healthcare coverage for employees as a first-in-the industry policy, designed with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield: all temporary employees without health insurance are immediately eligible to receive comprehensive COVID-19 medical benefits, which waives copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles and allows virtual visits through the CareFirst Video Visit platform. Current Lidl US employees enrolled in company insurance plans automatically receive the enhanced COVID-19 medical benefits package at no additional cost. Further, employees over the age of 65 are encouraged to stay home during the outbreak, and will continue being paid. As for personal protective equipment, employees are allowed to wear masks (if they have them) and gloves (provided) during their shifts; the company said it is actively working to secure masks for store and warehouse employees.

Hiring: Lidl is hiring up to 1,000 additional temporary employees

Fresh Market

Carts: Associates at the door to clean carts for customers. (Also, front-end team members take hand washing breaks every 30 minutes, and the rest of the store team every hour.)

Social distancing: Implemented physical distancing throughout the store to facilitate the six-feet distancing guidance, including checkout lanes, and service counters.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Special hours: 8-9 a.m. weekdays for those in the CDC high-risk category.

Plexiglass: Shields installed at registers (also offers no touch checkout)

Employees: A 5% bonus based on hours worked in March and increased discount of at least 30% on all food purchases at Fresh Market. Up to 14 days of paid leave for any employee required to go into mandatory quarantine.

Hiring: Fresh Market says it has hired extra employees.

Whole Foods

Carts: The Whole Foods website says the number of hand sanitizer stations have been increased inside the store, including for shopping carts andn checkouts.

Social distancing: The Whole Foods website says the stores are operating under social distancing guidelines but no additional information was provided when requested.

Hours: Store hours vary by location, but they are closing early in most locations.

Special hours: Whole Foods is setting aside the hour before they open each day to senior shoppers (ages 60 and up) in all stores in the U.S. and Canada. Check with your closest Whole Foods to see when they open.

Employees: All full-time and part-time hourly employees are getting a $2 per hour increase through April and will receive double their hourly base rate of pay for every overtime hour worked from March 16 to May 3. If employees test positive for coronavirus they get an additional two weeks of paid time off. The company also has an emergency fund that aids employees faced with an unforeseen emergency. The company said employees who wish to wear a mask while working may do so, but the company does not provide them. They also have special shopping hours for employees. (NOTE: Some employees at Whole Foods stores nationwide took part in a sick out work stoppage March 31 to call attention to their need for improved workplace safety and better benefits.)

Trader Joes

Carts: Carts are sanitized by associates in between shoppers.

Social distancing: Theres no corporate-wide policy, but many Trader Joes stores are limiting the number of customers allowed into the store to promote social distancing. The Raleigh location currently allows 40 shoppers at any given time.

Hours: 8 or 9 a.m. (depending on the store) to 7 p.m.

Special hours: The first shopping hour of each day (either 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. depending on the store) is reserved for senior customers over the age of 60 and for those with disabilities who may need assistance shopping.

Employees: Trader Joes has actually closed some stores after employees tested positive for COVID-19. The company is offering additional paid sick leave to employees who have any symptom of illness. Employees who work at cash registers are also given opportunities to wash their hands.

Carlie Cs IGA

Carts: Carlie Cs IGA says they are instituting continuous cleaning of cart handles and other touch points in their stores.

Social distancing: The company is placing floor decals throughout the store to remind shoppers about proper social distancing.

Special Hours: The Dunn-based chain has announced a special senior (age 60 and up) shopping hour each Sunday from 7-8 a.m. They also offer special shopping hours for first responders, including health care workers, police, fire, emergency medical technicians and ambulance technicians: 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. each Wednesday.

Plexiglass: The company is installing shields at the checkout lanes, the service desk and pharmacy areas, to be completed by April 15.

Employees: Employees are being supplied with protective masks, to wear if they choose, and with gloves, which they are being asked to wear. They will be checking the temperature of employees as they report to work, to make sure employees dont have a fever. Employees are also getting crisis pay that means at $1.50 per hour increase.

Dollar General

Carts: Information requested.

Social distancing: Information requested.

Hours: Hours vary by location, but stores are closing one hour early.

Special hours: Dollar General is strongly suggesting that the first shopping hour of each day be devoted to senior customers, and theyre asking other shoppers to plan their shopping to avoid that time.

Employees: The company is giving bonuses to store, distribution and private fleet employees who worked during a six-week period starting in mid-March. The company also announced it plans to hire up to 50,000 new employees by the end of April.

Costco

Carts: Carts are cleaned at the door before being handed over to customers.

Social distancing: Costco customers must line up to be admitted into the store, with a limit of two people per membership admitted. Shoppers are asked to respect otherss space and keep a six-foot distance in the line and inside the store.

Hours: Store opening hours can vary, but typically open at 9:30 or 10 a.m. Currently, they close at 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Saturday and Sunday hours are unchanged. (Gas stations open at 7:30 a.m. each day and close at 7 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 p.m. on weekends.)

Special hours: 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for members who are 60 and older.

Plexiglass: Costco stores have installed shields around cash registers at checkout stands.

Employees: Costco employees are getting an additional $2 per hour for time worked during the five-week period between March 2 through April 5.

Sams Club

Carts: The Sams Club website says stores have additional cleaning supplies for use at registers and on shopping carts.

Social distancing: Information requested.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Special hours: Sams offers early shopping hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. for seniors and those with disabilities or compromised immune systems. This includes pharmacy and optical centers and will last until further notice. These customers are also eligible for concierge service to pick up items without leaving their cars.

Plexiglass: Plexiglass shields are being installed.

Employees: Sams Club and Walmart are doing temperature checks on employees to make sure no one is coming to work with a fever. The company says that any employee with a fever of 100.0 degrees or more will be sent home, urged to seek medical treatment and told not to return to work until they are fever-free for at least three days. The company also says they will make masks available for employees to wear if they wish, as supplies last.

BJs Wholesale

Carts: The BJs website touts enhanced cleaning procedures that includes wiping down cart handles (and touch screens) with greater frequency. The website said that sanitation supplies are provided inside the stores for customers and employees.

Social distancing: Starting April 4, BJs will limit the number of members allowed inside at one time. The number will vary by location based on square footage, but should not exceed 20 percent of the stores normal capacity. They are asking members to send only one person per household inside to shop. BJs has also posted signs throughout each store and makes audio announcements inside the stores reminding shoppers to keep a distance. They have also positioned stanchions to promote social distancing at checkout lines and have team members stationed near lines to make sure shoppers are obeying the rules.

Hours: Hours vary store to store, but stores open at 9 a.m. and close early.

Special hours: 8 to 9 a.m. for seniors aged 60 and up.

Employees: BJs said on April 3 that they will begin to check the temperatures of employees as they report to work, and if they have a fever they will be sent home and instructed to seek medical care. The company also says it will begin to provide masks and gloves to employees, as supplies permit. Hourly employees earn an additional $2 per hour from March 23 to April 12. At the end of March, store managers and key personnel receive a one-time bonus ranging from $500 to $1,000. The company has waived its absentee policy so that team members can stay home if they need to. If they are under mandated quarantine, they will receive their standard pay for up to 14 days. The company also has a special fund available to team members facing financial hardship.

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Its one thing when the fish arent biting.

Its a completely different scenario when the customers arent biting the fish.

Bret Floyd cares about his customers, but he understands that in the current environment many must find a way to survive without patronizing his establishment.

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One of three owners/operators of Floyds Cajun Seafood restaurants across the Texas Gulf Coast  including one in Pearland that opened in 2009 at 1300 East Broadway  Floyd is feeling the financial crush of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

As much as it pains him to not meet all the needs of his patrons, it hurts him even more to have to reduce staff.

Between all the stores, we laid off between 150 and 200 employees, Floyd said, but we plan on hiring everybody back.

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Ive got some guys that have been with us for years. Thats the hard part of this.

While there are dark days now in the restaurant business, Floyd is hoping theres a light at the end of the tunnel.

Webster, Sugar Land locations closed for now

The Pearland location of Floyds, a popular restaurant, is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., for take-out orders.

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The Webster and Sugar Land locations have been closed until further notice.

Webster has been open since 2004, Floyd said. We were about to have our big 15-year parking lot reunion on April 20, and of course, thats been canceled.

Thats been a tradition since we had our place in The Heights. Wed had parking lot parties and the big crawfish boil, and everybody looks forward to it.

Floyd said the pandemic has forced difficult decisions, none of which are pleasant.

Basically, we shut down Webster and Sugar Land-based on the revenue from to-go orders, he said. Both of those locations are in an area where there are a lot of restaurants.

If you look at Webster, thats all there is  restaurants and retail. Sugar Land is the same way. Right in the middle of a mall and next to a hospital. Nobodys coming from the hospital to eat with us.

The Beaumont location is also open, operating for take-out orders, too.

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The Pearland location on Broadway near Friendswood is meeting its customers needs as best as possible.

I guess being in a primarily residential area has helped, Floyd said. Usually, the opposite is true if youre in a residential area.

Ive brought all my general managers and my kitchen managers from Sugar Land and Webster to Pearland to work.

Im trying to keep my key guys as long as I can. When we open back up, its going to be like opening a restaurant again.

The one thing I guess I can say, if theres any good thing in all this, is that its given us time to clean and do some projects in the stores.

The uncertainty of everything relating to the virus and his business is a day-to-day adventure.

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When we made the decisions at Webster and Sugar Land, we didnt know anything about the (Small Business Administration) loans, Floyd said. At that point, everything was still a question, and it still is.

You look at your payroll protection plan and the different plans from SBA and you just dont know what to think. Nobody really knows exactly what youre going to get.

Weve completed all of our paperwork (for loans). Were meeting with our bank today. The good thing is we have a great local bank we deal with, and theyre assisting us with what we need.

Different challenge than Harvey

Floyd and fellow owners Floyd Landry and Gary Pearce experienced a different challenge during Hurricane Harvey.

This is not like a hurricane, Floyd said. You worry in a hurricane that youll lose your employees to somebody else or them moving to another area.

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Thats just the service industry world. With this, theres nowhere to go for these employees. Youve got some of these kitchen guysthe restaurant business is all they know.

They go from one restaurant to another restaurant seven days a week.

Floyd has crunched the numbers for sales, and theyre not pretty. Still, hes better off than many others.

For the first two weeks, from March 16 to March 29, we were down 48 percent, he said. Thats only because we had two stores open. Im going to bet in the next two-week time period its going to be at 70 percent.

Floyd said hes tried to provide a timetable for his employees, but he knows that could be out of his hands.

What I told my employees is that were going to make it through April, he said. Then well see. My goal is to stay open through April and hope this doesnt exist past then.

While dine-in revenue is sorely missed, Floyd said he was also counting on other streams of income.

I had probably 10 crawfish boils lined up for the month of April and theyre gone, he said. Im talking big crawfish boils  stuff weve been doing for 25 years.

I had one for Gulf Coast Veterinary Clinic off Loop 610. Dr. (Wayne) Whitney is a big LSU grad, and Ive been doing his crawfish boil every April for 25 years. Maybe 27 years. Its stuff like that weve been doing forever, and now its a tradition thats going to break.

Amidst the deflating news, Floyd is keeping his chin up.

The community support has been great, if you follow us on Facebook and social media, he said. Weve been posting specials on there, and people love our family packs.

Floyd said the restaurant community in the Pearland area is tightly knit.

Im friends with Russell (Ybarra, Gringos Mexican Kitchen), the guys at Grazia, Ronnie Killen, Floyd said. Believe it or not, we all talked when this started going down.

I talked with Alan (Franks) from Swamp Shack and to T-Bone Toms. In a way, you compete against each other, but were all in it together. Buddy Schultz, who owns (Number 13 restaurant) in Galveston called me immediately and said Bret, what are you going to do? Are you going to file insurance?

I said I dont think the insurance is going to cover this, Floyd said. Theres no pandemic provision in our insurance even with business interruption. We have no pandemic provision, but hopefully the higher courts or whoever is responsible for doing that will put something in there. I hope this never happens again.

Floyd said the franchise stores in Cypress (two years old) and Mont Belvieu (six months old) have been hit hardest.

While business may be sagging for Floyds, he knows there are others in worse predicaments.

I really think, unfortunately, that some restaurants may have to shut down permanently, he said. The guys that havent been in it before or havent been in it that long, its really going to affect them.

This payroll protection planif it can get me some money and we can get it going again, I think we can make it happen.

We love our customers and they love us. We have a lot of loyal customers and we get new ones every day. This is tough. I cant compare this to anything Ive been through.

Floyds Cajun Seafood in Pearland, which opened in 2009, is located at 1300 East Broadway.

tdunnam@hcnonline.comu
The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus has crept above one million globally, and questions are being raised about the scattershot, patchwork approach Canadian provinces are taking when disclosing pandemic data to the public.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus has crept above one million globally, and questions are being raised about the scattershot, patchwork approach Canadian provinces are taking when disclosing pandemic data to the public.

Health authorities across Canada are being asked to balance competing interests, including privacy rights and public safety concerns, when deciding what to reveal  and in what detail  as the pandemic continues to spread.

The result is a vast discrepancy in the public health information available to Canadians based on where they live.

A Free Press analysis of COVID-19 data disclosure shows Manitoba is in the middle of the pack when it comes to the level of transparency provinces employ as the virus spreads.

When the pandemic took root in Manitoba, chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, who has been holding daily news conferences for weeks, revealed not just aggregate data on the outbreak, but also case-specific detail.

With each new case, Manitobans were provided the following information: approximate age, gender, general geographic location, and travel history.

By late March, that had changed. Now, Manitoba only releases aggregate data as the number of infections continues to rise.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he plans to work with provincial governments to improve the sharing of data in the country. He also said modelling projections for how the pandemic may spread should be made public in the future, as has been done in other countries.

So far, provinces have not had a uniform approach to what the public should be told.

Screenshot of COVID-19 case data published to Ontario's Open Data portal. The province is providing case-level details including age group, gender, location and whether the case is travel-related. This information is updated daily and freely available to journalists, researchers and the general public.

Two provinces leading the way on the breadth of information released to the public, British Columbia and Ontario, happen to be two of the hardest hit. In B.C., there are at least 1,066 COVID-19 cases, with 25 deaths. Meanwhile, Ontario has had 2,793 cases, including 53 deaths.

On many fronts, B.C. has been the most transparent of all provinces. Last week, government officials revealed not just the statistical models theyre using, but also provided a detailed accounting of medical resources, from ventilators to hospital beds.

Both B.C. and Ontario provide the public with aggregate data and epidemiological summaries. Ontario recently began uploading case-level information into the provinces open data portal.

In a written statement to the Free Press, a Manitoba government spokeswoman said multiple factors went into the decision to claw back the depth of information provided to the public on COVID-19 infections.

"From a public health reporting perspective, individual case data is less helpful than collating data over time. Age and gender are much more meaningful when collated, because it helps identify any trends in testing or cases over the long term," the spokeswoman said.

"Providing collated data (also) helps reduce the risk of someone being identified by their personal health information."

Screenshot of a chart illustrating age and gender distribution of Manitoba's COVID-19 cases posted to the province's COVID-19 website. Critical details are missing including the applicable date of the data depicted.

In addition, the spokeswoman noted the province has finite resources, so focusing on aggregate data "reduces the strain on front-line public health staff as they work to investigate cases and respond to the pandemic."

But it remains unclear how minimal details such as age group, gender and general geographic location breach privacy concerns. Releasing raw numbers without such detail could also have a dehumanizing effect, while keeping the public in the dark about who is getting sick and where.

Crisis communications specialist Donald Steel said public health authorities across the globe, including provincial governments in Canada, are dealing with an incredibly difficult situation.

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Speaking generally, Steel said its possible provincial governments dont have the resources needed to compile the type of data many Canadians would like to see.

He also said governments must perform a delicate balancing act: weighing privacy concerns versus the publics right to information, and respect for civil liberties versus mandated social distancing measures.

"Theres a general principle in communications where you want to give enough information so the public recognizes the seriousness of whats going on, but not so much it isnt helpful or can cause people to be overly fearful. We want the public to be alert, but not alarmed," Steel said.

"Having said that, consistency across areas in terms of how the public is being informed would be a good thing."

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

michael.pereira@freepress.mb.ca
A nurses representative body has urged Northern Irelands health minister to explain mixed messages around personal protective equipment supplies.

Robin Swann has insisted the health service has significant levels of PPE in stock, but said every effort is being made to secure more ahead of the expected surge of coronavirus cases.

Chief nursing officer Charlotte McArdle also said there was sufficient stock at the moment.

Health Minister Robin Swann has been urged to allay nurses concern over stocks of PPE (PA)

However Dr Cathy Jack, chief executive of the Belfast health trust, earlier told the Stormont health committee that while there are sufficient basic masks, gloves and aprons, securing respiratory FFP3 masks was a challenge.

We are making sure that we match our requirement to make sure our staff are protected but PPE, and in particular the FFP3, is a real challenge for us, and we are doing everything we can to protect our staff, make sure they are fit tested and have the right equipment at the right time, she added.

Pat Cullen from the Royal College of Nursing has asked for clarity over both supplies of PPE and Covid-19 testing.

The number of people who have died in Northern Ireland after contracting the virus has risen by six to 36, health officials said.

Testing has resulted in 85 new positive cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the region to 774.

Belfast City Hospital is being set up as Northern Irelands Nightingale hospital ahead of the expected surge in the region and will include 230 intensive care beds for the most seriously ill.

Ms Cullen has urged Mr Swann to allay nurses concerns.

Please just come out and say to them, it is here nurses, weve got it in our stocks, its in our supply chain and you will definitely have it for every single procedure that you will carry out. We will not expose you or we will not place you at any risk, she told the BBC.

Thats all we want to hear.

Story continues

Dr Jack told the health committee that the trust had expected to get 10,000 1895 masks for intensive care staff this week, but just 1,000 arrived.

She said the trust has 8,000 of another type of mask in stock and an assurance from the department that 30,000 more are on the way, but cautioned there are only 666 employees in high-risk areas fit tested for it.

Dr Jack was as straight forward as she could be, where she said shes got concerns so can you imagine what that concern is like when you translate it to the front line, it is more than concerning, it is very concerning with an extra 230 beds coming to the City Hospital that require the highest level of PPE, Ms Cullen said.

Under our legal obligations to our members last night we did write to each and every one of them to say they will not be expected to carry out care where they are not provided with the proper and correct PPE  we have taken our legal advice on that today.

The minister for health and the department for health  I would ask them again tonight, if there has been mixed messages today, perhaps they have got lost in translation, just come out, either issue a letter to them, do that this evening, send it to them and absolute support for people trying to do their job.

At the daily ministerial press conference at Stormont, finance minister Conor Murphy said there was a huge scramble for PPE across the world.

He said the situation had been exacerbated by the fact the US and India had woken up to the catastrophe and were now actively trying to source supply, moves that were overshadowing efforts by smaller countries.

Those are challenges but those are challenges that nonetheless we are working on every single day, he said.

Ms Cullen also expressed concerns over the supply of coronavirus tests and urged that the promised ramping up of testing is made to happen.

Mr Swann gave evidence to the health committee on Thursday morning and was asked by acting chair Pat Sheehan (Sinn Fein) how many of the 400 million items of PPE referred to as being distributed in the UK in the last two weeks had come to Northern Ireland.

Mr Swann responded: We havent received any of that as of yet but we are in the supply chain so that is on the way to us.

We still have our own stocks and supplies, and what I wouldnt want to do here is get into any sort of political discussion about who has supplied or who hasnt supplied. The order is in its on its way, its not that it is being denied to us, or its not that we havent got it, it is in the distribution chain.

Mr Swann also said testing facilities are being prepared in a car park at the SSE Arena and MOT centres.

A drive-thru coronavirus testing facility being built in the car park of the SSE Arena in Belfast. (Niall Carson/PA)

He said authorities have been trying to get testing improved as hard and as fast as we can.

We havent pushed it as hard or as fast as I would like it to have been, but every day we see changes and developments in our testing capability, he said.
Delaware State Police to Conduct Checks of All Vehicles From Other States

State police in Delaware will conduct checks of all vehicles from other states, the latest measure taken in the United States amid a crackdown on movement.

Anyone entering Delaware from another state is required to self-quarantine for 14 days in an attempt to slow the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Delaware State Police cited Gov. John Carneys state of emergency order requiring the self-quarantine while announcing they can stop any vehicle simply because it has tags from a different state.

During the stop the officer may ask limited questions related to the drivers recent travel. The driver then must be informed of the governors declarations and will be explicitly advised that if they are coming into Delaware from out of state, they are required by law, to self-quarantine for 14 days while in Delaware, or immediately return to their home state, state police said in a statement.

Troopers will be conducting directed patrols on non-interstate roadways which have been identified as having a large volume of out-of-state travelers, in an effort to enforce the governors declaration.

State police wont be stopping travelers on I-95, I-295, or I-495, three major highways in the state.

Limited exceptions to Carneys order focusing on out-of-state travelers include people passing through Delaware to other states and people coming to Delaware from other states to work.

An arriving traveler fills out a form for the National Guard at TF Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, on March 29, 2020. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

People who come into Delaware from another state and fail to self-quarantine for the required time period could face criminal charges. The state Attorney Generals office has said violating the order could land people in jail for up to six months in addition to a fine of up to $500.

Delawareans need to stay at home, and anyone from another state visiting Delaware should immediately self-quarantine for two weeks. Everyone needs to take this threat seriously, Carney said in a statement announcing the order on Sunday.

Maryland, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Maine, and Texas are among the other states mandating that people from out of state enter quarantine for two weeks.

Domestic travel has sharply decreased in recent weeks as more governors order residents to stay at home except for essential trips amid the pandemic.

Law enforcement in a number of states have been arresting or issuing citations to people violating mandates. The length of prison sentences and maximum fines differ from state to state.

Marylands order, one of the strictest, says people in violation can land up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
Ranchi, April 2 (IANS) Jharkhand has got its second confirmed case of coronavirus as a 50-year-old man of Hazaribagh district has been tested positive.

The man had attended a marriage party in Kolkata. His sample was sent to Rajendra Institute of Medcial Science (RIMS), Ranchi for test. On Thursday his sample was found positive. He will be brought to Ranchi for treatment.

Earlier a Muslim woman who had come Ranchi along with her husband from Malaysia was tested was tested. She was part of 24 Muslims who were hiding in a Ranchi mosque and they were sent in quarantine. Of the 24 Muslims 19 were foreigners.

A screening team of health department was sent to Hindpiri for conducting tests of the people had to face protest from Muslim community members. The Malaysian woman tested positive had visited many homes of Hindpiri. The medical team was forced to return.

Curfew has been also imposed by the administration in Hindpiri. After the team reached the area, residents of Hindpiri did not agree to undergo any test and created a scene. The efforts of districts administration to pacify them failed.

--IANS

ns/kr
Intel INTC recently rolled out 10th generation Core H-series mobile processors with high performance and fast frequency capabilities to provide immersive gaming experience to enthusiasts.



Particularly, Intel Core i9-10980HK offers faster gaming performance with up to 5.3 GHz Turbo frequency and 2.4 GHz clock speed; and features eight cores and 16 threads and 16 MB of Intel Smart Cache.



Moreover, unlocked feature of Core i9-10980HK processor aids gamers and creators to optimize, customize and tune the CPUs performance to ensure an advanced gameplay.



The improved technical features to deliver high performance and faster loading of games, and enhanced gameplay are expected to boost adoption. This, in turn, is anticipated to drive revenues in the coming quarters.



Markedly, laptops featuring the latest processors, from companies including Dell, Lenovo, HP, MSI, GIGABYTE, are set to launch in the days ahead. For instance, GIGABYTE has already launched latest version of AORUS and AERO series of professional gaming laptops, which utilize Intels new processors and NVIDIAs NVDA GeForce RTX 20-Super GPUs.









Notably, shares of Intel were up 4.8% on Apr 2, eventually closing at $54.35. On a year-to-date basis, the stock is down 9.2%, compared with the industrys decline of 7.8%.



Robust Features at a Glance



Intel aims to deliver lower latency and facilitate more responsive PC gaming experience on a laptop with higher frequency feature.



With the new processors, laptops will be able to utilize the chipmakers Optane memory, Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (Gig+), and Thunderbolt and advanced tuning technology functionalities, as well.



These integrations provide advanced desktop-quality gaming experience with faster game launch and seamless load of 4K content graphics, with more frames per second.



Gaming Market Growth to Aid Amid Stiff Competition



Gamers are increasingly opting for more mobile solutions, primarily thinner and light weight gaming notebooks. Per IDC data, gaming notebook market is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.4% to reach 26.4 million units in 2023. The market share of gaming notebooks is expected to grow to 48.5% by 2023, from 45.5% estimated in 2019.



Overall, the gaming market is projected to hit $160 billion in 2020, up 7.3% year over year, per a report by Newzoo. Moreover, the cloud gaming market is expected to hit $3.107 billion by 2024, from $306 million in 2019 at a CAGR of 59%, according to MarketsandMarkets data.



These growth projections strengthen prospects of Intels new processors. Moreover, coronavirus-induced lockdown has triggered a stay-at-home wave and led to a spike in gamers, which is likely to boost demand for advanced gaming laptops. This scenario bodes well for the chipmakers latest offering.



However, the company has been facing stiff competition from AMD AMD lately, primarily due to process delays. Notably, Intels chips utilize process technologies that are designed in-house.



Meanwhile, AMD is currently leveraging Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Companys TSM 7 nanometer (nm) process technology, which is enabling it to deliver its advanced 7 nm chips faster to market.



Further, AMD aims to deliver Zen 4 core architecture, which is currently in design utilizing advanced 5 nm process technology.



This is a major concern for Intel, which is yet to deliver 7 nm chips. Intense competition from AMD is likely to lead to pricing pressure and limit margin expansion at least in the near term.



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T1 Payments is proud to donate to Farm Share and support their mission. We want to help people in need around the nation as much as possible, said Donald Kasdon of T1 Payments. With everything that is going on, we need to come together and lend a helping hand to families and individuals who need food.

T1 Payments, a leader in high-risk merchant processing, is donating to Farm Share to assist in feeding the South Florida community.

Farm Share was established to bring fresh food, free of charge to the people in need throughout Florida. Their mission is to make sure that no Floridian goes hungry and no food goes to waste. The Farm Share organization has grown to feed millions of people and continues to distribute healthy and nutritious food during the COVID-19 shutdown.

With shoppers hoarding during the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes it difficult for low-income families to find necessities, like food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and more. Farm Share is prepared to support hungry families and individuals during this time of need and uncertainty.

T1 Payments contribution will help fund the purchase of nutritious food to feed the hungry of Florida.

We want to help people in need around the nation as much as possible, said Donald Kasdon of T1 Payments. With everything that is going on, we need to come together and lend a helping hand to families and individuals who need food.

T1 Payments is proud to donate to Farm Share and support their mission.

With the help of individuals, corporations, and municipalities, Farm Share is looking to host additional food drives for those affected by the COVID-19. The nonprofit hopes to feed more than 500 families.

For more information about how to donate to help feed the Florida community in need, visit the Farm Share website.

More about T1 Payments:

T1 Payments is a high-risk merchant processing company that is flexible, transparent, and scalable. T1 Payments secure gateway and integrated shopping cart solutions are compliant with all Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS).

For more information, please visit the T1 Payments website (https://t1payments.com/) or call 1-866-518-2216.
PARIS  The worldwide race to protect people against being infected by unwitting coronavirus carriers intensified Thursday, pitting governments against each other as they buy protective gear and prompting new questions about who should wear masks, get temperature checks or even be permitted to go outside.

In the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pandemic began in December, a green symbol on residents smartphones dictates their movements. Green is the health code that says a user is symptom-free. Its required to board a subway, check into a hotel or enter the central city of 11 million. Serious travel restrictions still exist for those who have yellow or red symbols.

In northern Italy, the country with the most virus deaths in the world at over 13,000, guards with thermometer guns decide who can enter supermarkets. In Los Angeles, the mayor has recommended that the citys 4 million people wear masks. Theyre mandatory for all Israelis who leave home, as well as customers of grocery stores in Austria and pharmacies in Pakistan.

A top official in Frances hard-hit eastern region complained Thursday that American officials swooped in at a Chinese airport to spirit away a planeload of masks that France had ordered.

On the tarmac, the Americans arrive, take out cash and pay three or four times more for our orders, so we really have to fight, Dr. Jean Rottner, president of the Grand Est regional council and an emergency room physician in Mulhouse, told RTL radio.

A study by researchers in Singapore on Wednesday estimated that around 10% of new infections may be sparked by people who carry the virus but have no symptoms yet or never do.

In Greece, authorities placed an entire refugee camp of 2,400 people under quarantine Thursday after discovering that a third of the 63 contacts of just one infected woman tested positive  and none had showed symptoms.

The top U.S. infectious disease official, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said medical experts are no closer to figuring out why some seemingly healthy people have only mild or no symptoms while others become catastrophically sick.

Ive been doing infectious diseases now for almost 50 years, and I can tell you I dont fully understand exactly what the mechanism of that is, he told NBCs Today show.

In response to the study, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed how it defined the risks of infection, saying essentially that anyone may be a carrier, whether they have symptoms or not. But neither it nor the World Health Organization changed their recommendations that not everyone need to wear a mask.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said even a tucked-in bandanna could slow the spread of the virus and remind people to keep their distance from each other.

Were going to have to get used to seeing each other like this, he said, donning a mask.

In Japan, where masks are a household staple, the government planned to mail two gauze masks each to the countrys 50 million households.

Nine leading European university hospitals warned Thursday they will run out of essential medicines for COVID-19 patients in intensive care in less than two weeks. The European University Hospital Alliance said countries should cooperate, not compete and refuse to export drugs elsewhere, to ensure a steady supply of these drugs for critically ill virus patients.

They wrote that existing stocks of muscle relaxants, sedatives and painkillers were likely to run out in two days in the hardest-hit hospitals, and in two weeks in others. The group represented hospitals in Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Spain.

In the United States, from New York to Los Angeles, officials also warned that the worst is still ahead.

How does it end? New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. The answer is nobody knows for sure.

New York states coronavirus death toll doubled in 72 hours to more than 1,900. Cuomo has already complained that U.S. states are competing against each other for protective gear and breathing machines, or being outbid by the federal government.

President Donald Trump acknowledged that the federal stockpile is nearly depleted of the personal protective equipment needed to protect doctors and nurses on the front lines of the coronavirus fight. The Pentagon said Thursday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had asked it to help by sending 100,000 body bags.

Altogether, more than 956,000 people around the world have contracted the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 48,000 have died from the virus and another 202,000 have recovered.

The real figures are believed to be much higher because of testing shortages, differences in counting the dead and mild cases that have gone unreported. The virus, which is spread by tiny droplets from sneezes or coughs. causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people but can cause severe illness and death for the elderly or the ill.

Many governments are modeling their response to the virus after China, which in January closed off an entire province of over 70 million. People in Wuhan, once the epicenter of the crisis, are starting to return to work, tracked by a smartphone app.

Walking into a subway station, Wu Shenghong, used her phone to scan a barcode on a poster that triggered her app. A green code and part of her identity card number appeared on the screen and a guard wearing a mask and goggles waved her through.

A red code could have told the guard that Wu was infected or had symptoms and was awaiting a diagnosis. A yellow code means she had contact with an infected person but hadnt finished a two-week quarantine.

People with red or yellow codes are definitely not running around outside, said Wu, 51. I feel safe.

___

Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As government officials and experts debate whether the U.S. should prioritize its economy over protecting people from the coronavirus, a new study suggests public-health interventions could both limit deaths and lead to a faster economic recovery once the outbreak is contained.

Economic data from the years after the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic suggests the U.S. does not need to make a stark choice between public health and maintaining its economy. American cities that implemented stricter social distancing measures in 1918 limited deaths and experienced faster economic recovery, according to a study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Federal Reserve economists.

We find that cities that intervened earlier and more aggressively do not perform worse and, if anything, grow faster after the pandemic is over, the study says.

The findings are detailed in the study Pandemics Depress the Economy, Public Health Interventions Do Not: Evidence from the 1918 Flu. It was co-authored Emil Verner, an economist and assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Sloan School of Management; Sergio Correia, a U.S. Federal Reserve economist; and Stephen Luck, a Federal Reserve Bank of New York economist.

The study comes as some government officials have argued the U.S. may need to reopen businesses sooner than public health experts recommend to limit the economic fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak. President Donald Trump suggested he wanted to see the U.S. open for business by Easter before he reversed course Sunday and extended his administrations social distancing guidelines to April 30.

Several economists told cleveland.com they are skeptical of comparing the recovery from the 1918 pandemic to the potential economic fallout of the coronavirus shutdowns. Todays economy is more global and is less dependent on manufacturing and agriculture.

Its very hard to draw inference from things in 1918, said Scott Shane, an economics and entrepreneurship professor at Case Western Reserve Universitys Weatherhead School of Management. In 1918, the economy was largely manufacturing-driven, and many people still lived on farms.

Economists agreed a short-term closing of businesses is necessary to protect the public. Still, an extended shutdown could damage the U.S. economy to an extent not seen since the Great Depression.

I do think we will reach a stage where well have to balance the public health with the economy, said Mark Partridge, an economics professor at Ohio State University.

Public health interventions can mitigate economic damage, study says

In 1918, most U.S. cities implemented various measures similar to the steps taken to combat the coronavirus. They included social distancing; closing schools, churches and theaters; banning large public gatherings; and an increased focus on personal hygiene.

Even still, the 1918 pandemic killed about 675,000 in the U.S. and roughly 50 million worldwide. By comparison, The White House coronavirus task force has estimated that COVID-19 could lead to 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S.

The 1918 pandemic depressed the economy on both the supply and demand sides, the study says. The production of goods decreased, as did the buying of those goods. Banking assets also suffered because households and businesses defaulted on loans amid the pandemic.

The 1918 pandemic caused an 18-percent decrease in U.S. manufacturing output through 1923, the study says. But cities that acted quickly to limit the spread of that virus, such as Omaha, Nebraska and Oakland, California, performed better in the years after the outbreak was contained. Cities that did not act quickly, such as Philadelphia, struggled during those years.

Cities that aggressively implemented social distancing and other public health measures saw a 5-percent increase in manufacturing employment over cities that acted 10 days later and a 6.5 percent increase over cities that acted 50 days later, the study says.

Altogether, our evidence implies that pandemics are highly disruptive for economic activity, the study says. However, timely measures that can mitigate the severity of the pandemic can reduce the severity of the persistent economic downturn.

Ohio economists skeptical of comparing 2020 to 1918

The study includes several caveats about the 1918 findings. Modern global supply chains, broader service industry and advancements in technology are hard to gauge in the analysis, for example. Partridge was skeptical of comparing todays economy to 1918 for those very reasons.

Its really hard to extrapolate from a very local supply chain of that era. Everything was done locally, he said.

Since the coronavirus is affecting parts of the U.S. and the world at different times, it could disrupt the global supply chain, Shane said. American consumers living under stay-at-home orders may not be in a position to buy goods produced in China.

The economy is not a light switch that you turn off, and then you turn it back on after an hour, and its just the same, Shane said.

Lack of available date from the period also makes it difficult to judge the economic health of individuals in the wake of the 1918 pandemic. Gauging the recovery from the coronavirus shutdowns will involve more focus on statistics that convey whether people are better off, such as unemployment rate, Partridge said.

Americans may someday face a choice between health and economy, economists say

Economists told cleveland.com that if the shutdown persists, Americans might face a difficult choice between protecting the public and mitigating the economic damage. Partridge called reopening businesses soon insanity, but said it might need to be considered closer to the summer.

An extended shutdown could create long-term economic anxiety among consumers, who may be less willing to buy a new car or go on a vacation for fear of another economic downtown, Shane said.

He also suggested an extended shutdown could have an adverse public-health effect. It could lead to depression and an increase in suicides, or a rise in drug or alcohol abuse, he said.

My personal take on it, having looked at some of the numbers, is that there is a trade-off, and you cant get around that fact, Shane said.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Weve been here before: How Cleveland survived the 1918 Spanish flu, compared to coronavirus

The necessary new normal: How the deadly coronavirus pandemic will reshape Ohio, the world and us

Why are different coronavirus models predicting a wide range of outcomes in Ohio?

Unemployment claims in Ohio skyrocket higher to more than 272,000 in one week amid coronavirus crisis
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that people of the country have set an example by showing courage, discipline and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19 but expressed concern over two incidents in Delhi - gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar and the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin - which caused a setback to the efforts.

The President, along with the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, held a video-conference with the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and administrators of states/UTs and discussed ways to contribute to the measures taken by the central Government to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The President said all efforts should be made so that no one stays hungry during the nationwide lockdown.

The conference on Friday was a sequel to a similar video conference held on March 27.

While 15 Governors and LGs apprised the President and Vice-President about the situation in their states and UTs on March 27, the remaining governors spoke about the efforts of their states on Friday.

According to a President's Secretariat release, there was unanimity that there is no scope for laxity or complacency in fighting the invisible enemy.

In this context, the President noted with concern the incidents of attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel in some parts of the country.

He endorsed Prime Minister's appeal today to all citizens to switch off lights in homes at 9 pm on Sunday and instead switch on their mobile flashlights, torches or lamps in an expression of solidarity in the fight against coronavirus.

The President cautioned people not to let their guard down and steadfastly adhere to the practice of social distancing.

Referring to the problems faced by the homeless, the unemployed and the weaker sections of society during this crisis, the President said there was need to be extra- sensitive towards them.

He invited suggestions to involve and encourage maximum participation of the voluntary agencies as well as the private sector in meeting the humanitarian challenge.

The President said that efforts so far have been in the right direction in battling the global pandemic notwithstanding some incidents. "We are moving ahead with firm determination," he said and expressed confidence that the people of the country will continue the campaign against the pandemic with full alertness and firm determination.

The President expressed appreciation for fellow citizens for their patience and cooperation and thanked doctors and employees who have been serving society despite risk to their lives.

The Vice President, who conducted the conference, urged the Governors/Lt Governors and administrators to persuade leaders from different walks to life to come forward and support the most vulnerable sections of society, particularly farmers, as the lockdown coincides with the harvesting season in many states.

He urged all Governors to revive units of the Red Cross Society and spread awareness about the measures initiated by the Government in helping farmers in this harvesting season.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel said universities and medical colleges were collaborating to devise methods to attend to the patients on war-footing. She also pointed out that online classes for students have begun to enable them to continue with their academic session.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu pointed out that the UT administration has been keeping intensive surveillance and has identified hotspots to preempt the outbreak of disease.

"We faced problems because of movements of Tablighi Jamaat," he said.

He said the administration was taking care of migrant workers as also students. "We are also ensuring food supplies to far-flung areas," he said.

Ladakh Lt Governor Radha Krishna Mathur expressed concern over rise in cases due to the return of pilgrims from Iran where some of them had been infected.

He appreciated work of voluntary, religious and social organisations.

Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Admiral D K Joshi (retd) said that 10 positive Covid-19 cases were related to Tablighi Jamaat and all those who participated in the event of the organization were quarantined.

Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikey said that the state government had launched a comprehensive strategy to check the spread of the disease at the earliest.

The President commended Governors, Lt Governors and Administrators for keeping their ears to the ground to ensure the welfare of people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading expert on infectious diseases, who has become a regular at President Donald Trump's coronavirus briefings, will receive enhanced personal security after receiving threats following his repeated pleas for Americans to help slow the spread of the deadly pandemic, officials said Wednesday.

Fauci has been the Trump administration's most outspoken advocate of social distancing rules that have shuttered the nation's schools, forced businesses to close, kept people in their homes and battered the U.S. economy.

That has made him a target of online conspiracy theorists who have accused Fauci, a longtime scientist and civil servant who has served presidents of both parties, of trying to undermine Trump during a year in which the president is fighting for reelection.

The Department of Health and Human Services granted the enhanced personal security for Fauci, 79, after the Justice Department signed off on a request for extra agents to guard him, officials said. Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, had grown worried that the threats against the doctor were increasing as more of the country shut down in response to the coronavirus.

"Yesterday, upon the recommendation of the U.S. Marshals Service, the department approved the special deputization request from HHS for nine HHS-OIG special agents to provide protective services for Dr. Fauci," the Justice Department said in a statement, referring to the Office of the Inspector General at the health department. The Washington Post first reported the news of the enhanced security.

Caitlin Oakley, a spokeswoman for the health department, would not confirm Fauci's enhanced security but called him "an integral part of the U.S. government's response against COVID-19," referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus.

"Among other efforts," she added, "he is leading the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and he regularly appears at White House press briefings and media interviews."

The coronavirus could kill 100,000 to more than 200,000 Americans in the coming weeks. Fauci, along with a fellow task force member, Dr. Deborah L. Birx, encouraged Trump to extend the amount of time that the country would remain shuttered through the end of this month. Some states, like Virginia, have issued stay-at-home orders that do not expire until further into the spring.

The idea that Fauci is responsible for the country's hardship  and for whatever political damage Trump might suffer as a result  was fueled in part by a moment during a news briefing in which Fauci dropped his head and touched his forehead as the president was speaking. The image went viral online and right-wing supporters of Trump cited it as evidence that Fauci sought to undercut the president.

Fauci has been targeted by some of the president's supporters even though Trump himself has praised the doctor.

During Wednesday's briefing, when a reporter asked about Fauci's personal security, the president said: "He doesn't need security. Everybody loves him."
Russia's Coronavirus Man Of The Moment? For Now, It Looks Like Moscow's Mayor

By Mike Eckel April 02, 2020

There he was, riding down the escalator at one of Russia's leading infectious disease hospitals alongside Vladimir Putin as the president toured the facility and its preparations for the coronavirus epidemic.

There he was, announcing sweeping new restrictions for Russia's capital on March 30, catching Moscow's 12 million residents off-guard and sending them scrambling to run errands before being all but confined to their homes.

And there he was, visiting another Moscow hospital on April 1, ordering reconstruction work to be quickened, and more beds added.

"We are mobilizing all our efforts in the fight against the coronavirus," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said during the visit. "The reconstruction of these locations, the logistics, equipping them with the necessary equipment is vital. Such work is carried out around the clock. Thousands of people are on the job."

Sobyanin is the head of Russia's largest and most important city, and the location of the majority of Russia's coronavirus cases.

He's also frequently the face, and signature, of some of the increasingly restrictive orders that the government has imposed in an effort to curtail the disease's spread. As of April 2, nearly 70 percent of the country's 3,548 confirmed cases were in Moscow.

Sobyanin was the first, and most prominent, government official to be shown issuing a dire warning -- publicly -- about how serious a threat COVID-19 was.

"The fact is that the testing volume is very low, and the true picture...no one in the world knows," he told Putin on March 24.

And Sobyanin has been the official pushing out some of the more controversial and draconian measures aimed at curtailing the disease's spread: first ordering cafes and restaurants closed; then, a few days later, ordering a virtual Moscow lockdown, including a restriction on how far you can go outside to walk your dog.

Putin gave public approval to the lockdown -- calling it "justified and necessary." Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, meanwhile, was relegated to following Sobyanin's lead, calling on regional authorities around the country to implement similar orders to keep people at home.

It's a prominent perch for Sobyanin at a time when the Russian government is in flux.

In January, Putin surprised many Kremlin watchers by pushing out his longtime protege Dmitry Medvedev as prime minister and replacing him with Mishustin, who was the well-regarded, but largely obscure head of the Federal Tax Service.

'Trusted By Putin'

The uncertainty was also due to the proposed constitutional amendments Putin called for. Among the amendments, which were to be voted on this month, was one that would open the door for Putin staying in office until 2036.

"Sobyanin has a unique position," said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. "He is trusted by Putin, highly experienced, and knows how the system works. It's hard to see who else could step up for Putin. Mishustin is new to the PM role and not well known."

To be sure, Putin still commands Russia's political stage, particularly in a crisis. And the country, be it the political elite or average Russian, still watches him for instructions and guidance.

On April 2, in his second major televised speech since the coronavirus exploded into a major national crisis, Putin repeated warning about the dangers of an outbreak, and called for extending a national work holiday until the end of the month. He also said he would grant regional authorities more legal powers to impose anti-coronavirus measures.

At the same time of Putin's address, Mishustin's press service announced a multimillion dollar fund to compensate small and mid-sized businesses for their coronavirus-related losses.

Some observers have argued that Putin's response has been uneven and sporadic. His visit along with Sobyanin to the Kommunarka infectious disease hospital, widely publicized by state media, was followed by his televised speech a day later.

Images of Putin appearing in a yellow, full-body hazmat suit, while lauded by state TV, was met with derision in other places.

"Sobyanin is more visible as a virus fighter than the president and prime minister," Andrei Kolsenikov, a political analyst for the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote in a commentary. "The head of state, who is accustomed to dressing up in public relations clothing of various kinds (naval officer, deep sea diver, eco-tourists, etc.), received a powerful counterattack to his image when he put on a costume to fight the virus. It caused nothing but ridicule."

Gould-Davies said there have been two surprises in the Kremlin's public coronavirus response.

First, he said, was that Putin had all but dropped out of sight following the hospital visit, and the speech that followed. Second was that many of the measures being taken -- for example, stay-at-home orders -- are being taken at the region level, not the national.

"Absent leadership carries risks: if not a 'Chernobyl moment' then a 'Kursk moment,'" he said, referring to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and the 2000 sinking of the Kursk submarine.

Both events are seen by many historians and political scientists as critical leadership failures: by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986, and Putin himself in 2000.

From Tyumen To Moscow

Prior to becoming mayor, Sobyanin, 61, was governor of the Siberian region of Tyumen, and then rose to top positions in previous governments. He was chief of staff for Putin's administration from 2005 to 2008, and became deputy prime minister when Putin shifted to become prime minister in 2008.

He was tapped to run Russia's capital city in 2010, after its longtime mayor, Yury Luzhkov, was pushed out by Medvedev amid a behind-the-scenes power struggle.

It made sense that Sobyanin would become the face of the government's coronavirus response, given Moscow's importance, politically and economically, said Vladimir Gelman, a political scientist and professor at the European University at St. Petersburg and the University of Helsinki.

Gelman drew a parallel to the United States, where the governor of New York State -- the hardest-hit U.S. state -- has taken a prominent public role in the coronavirus response.

But Gelman said there appeared to be a deeper political calculation at work here: a way to insulate Putin, and the Kremlin, from potentially unpopular moves -- for example, declaring an outright state of emergency; or measures to halt the economic swoon the country is facing.

"Neither the president nor the prime minister would like to take responsibility for the coronavirus response," Gelman said.

"Putin may worry that harsher [measures] will harm his ratings, and so better to let others be the public face of coronavirus policy," Gould-Davies said.

Historically, the position of Moscow's head has also been a springboard to national political office. Nikita Khrushchev and Boris Yeltsin, for example, both went on to become the country's leaders. Luzhkov also aspired to national office.

Sobyanin "is considered one of the likely successors of Vladimir Putin as president, if [Putin] decides to abandon the regime of personal power," said Ivan Priobrazhensky, a Russian political scientist and commentator now based in the Czech Republic.

"It can be predicted that the power and influence of Sobyanin in this situation will only increase," he said.

Even if Russia's virus containment is successful, the country will still have to reckon with the economic fallout. On April 1, former Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin said Russia's economy could contract by as much as 8 percent this year.

"Most probably, it could be a kind of switch of responsibility not only in terms of combating the virus but also in terms of responsibility for economic security," Gelman said. "Why don't you switch the blame to Mr. Sobyanin?"

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-s-coronavirus -man-of-the-moment-for-now-it-looks- like-moscow-s-mayor/30525784.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Representatives fighting for children born exposed to opioids while fetuses in their mothers womb are encouraging their parents, grandparents, and guardians, to file a proof of claim in order to qualify to obtain compensation from Purduereportedly up to $6 billion in funds will be made available by Purdue as part of its bankruptcy settlement.

The COVID-19 national emergency has dominated the news media and other public communications outlets that otherwise could have notified these same parents and guardians of the need to take immediate action in the best interests of their children, says Brylski, principal of New Orleans-based Brylski Company. Brylski is a spokesperson for Opioid Justice, a resource for attorneys fighting to end our nations opioid epidemic by identifying real solutions to the crisis. "We are waving a red flag that families need to contact an attorney today."

The federal judge overseeing the Purdue bankruptcy proceedings is determined to swiftly reach an agreement over the distribution of the Purdue funds.

To direct needed relief and assistance to children suffering from the complications of NAS it is vital that parents and guardians act now by filing a proof of claim," said Donald Creadore, an attorney and member of the Ad Hoc Committee for NAS Children in the Purdue Bankruptcy action. "Right now, no determination has been made about how much of the reported $6 billion settlement will be directed towards relief and assistance to children suffering from the complications of NAS, so these families can make an impact and obtain relief by acting today to have their needs fully represented.

Brylski says that exposure to opioids in the womb has resulted in birth defects, such as club foot, spina bifida, heart defects, cleft palate, hydrocephalus, esophageal atresia, gastroschisis, anorectal atresia, anddiaphragmatic hernia. The most common adverse outcomes upon birth include body shakes, excessive crying or yawning , feeding problems, diarrhea, sleeping problems, fever, or runny noses. As these children grow, many experience behavioral problems, cognitive delays, delayed speech and walking, mental or motor deficits, or attention-deficit disorder (ADD).

With America more than two decades into a crisis triggered by over-prescription and abuse of prescription painkillers, the public is stunningly unaware of the dangers caused by pregnant women exposing  often unknowingly  babies in the womb to these opioids, said Brylski.

There are already class actions filed in 43 states on behalf of such infants and children, said Ms. Brylski, but there is still time for more families to join these legal efforts.

But the clock is ticking, said Brylski.

Jennifer Scully is a 42-year-old career nurse who lives in upstate New York. Scully says shes gotten used to the phone calls from the school attended by her 5-year-old daughter from teachers and staff who dont understand the seizures occasionally experienced by her child, in which she would stare blankly into space for a minute or two, unresponsive to adults.

To Scully, the seizures are one more problem  on top of her childs small size, limited vocabulary, and delayed potty training  that she connects with opioid exposure.

The career health-care professional trusted her doctors in 2014 when she unexpectedly became pregnant while under treatment for both the aftermath of a broken back and breast cancer, which is why she was on a drug regimen that included OxyContin.

They said, Were not taking you off and besides, it wont affect the baby, Scully recalls. Instead, her newborn daughter spent five days in the hospital coping with the symptoms of NAS, including tremors and high-pitched crying. When they finally left the hospital, doctors insisted the worst that Scully would have to deal with would be an occasionally cranky baby  a gross underestimation of the developmental problems her daughter has faced.

The number of American children  and families  affected had been grossly undercounted. Based on information that about one-in-three pregnant women in America  or roughly 1.3 million out of the 3.8 million women who gave birth  were given a prescription for opioid painkillers, our team has estimated that a baby with serious problems related to opioid exposure is born somewhere in the United States every 15 minutes, said Ms. Brylski.

Nurse Scully is suing, like other impacted families, for long-term health care and a medical monitoring fund for children exposed to opioids in the womb. She says the big pharmaceutical firms need to be held responsible for what theyve done. I expected a healthy child. None of this is my fault.

Children born exposed or dependent on prescription opioids due to the mothers use of Oxycotin, Butran, Dilaudid, or other forms of oxycodone, tramadol or related prescription medicines can file a claim by calling (800) 529-8170 or going to http://www.opioidjusticeteam.com.
In wake of the coronavirus, the couple had to decide between two unappealing options: trim their guest list of more than 150 friends and family to less than 10, or postpone their wedding, which was scheduled for April 3.

Lutanya Wilson, 40, of Cascade, and her fiance, Darren Hubbard, of Danville, decided the best option was to just push the date back to June 27.

Everything was done except for the seating chart, Wilson said.

As a result of restrictions on gatherings and the mandated closure of all non-essential businesses in Virginia, events like weddings and funerals  two important, contrasting events that bring families and friends together  have largely been put on hold for the time being.

Jessie Decker, venue coordinator the Farmstead at Gentlemans Ridge in Blairs, said many of their couples have decided to postpone, but several did move forward with their original date with an extremely small ceremony.

It was so last minute  they didnt really have a plan B or anything, she said of one couple that got married last weekend.

Matthew Switick, owner of Cottontail Wedding and Events, said six couples had weddings scheduled in March and April, and the majority of those already have rescheduled.

Theres a lot of uncertainty with everything, he said.

After a year-long engagement, Wilson and Hubbard elected to push their ceremony back just a few months. Wilson is slightly nervous the timeline still wont work, but Hubbard said no matter what happens they are getting married on that day.

June 27th were getting married somewhere, he said.

But Teisha Penn and her fiance, Devin Mckenzie, both of Danville, ended up postponing their wedding ceremony by almost a year because of complications in finding a date that fit their venue and vendors, as well as concern about the coronavirus still having an impact on society in the next few months. Their wedding was scheduled for May 16, but they have moved it into April 2021.

Even if they lifted everything  thats still not enough time to get out invitations and get a response back. Everything would be rushed, Penn said.

Since all of these postponements are being mandated by the governor and not a choice the couples can make, vendors and venues are working with these couples to change dates without losing their deposits, Penn and Wilson said.

Jessica Lyons, who runs her own photography business, was scheduled to take pictures at three weddings in April. All of them were postponed.

From the vendors standpoint, you want to be really understanding  its out of everybodys hands, she said.

Both Penn and Wilson managed to simply push all the dates back with their caterers, photographers and planners without losing any of the money they had deposited.

We invested too much money into it already, Hubbard said on why they decided to postpone and not just have a small ceremony.

But the next few months are normally her busiest season for photography, with weddings, senior pictures and proms keeping her busy. All of those events are being pushed back for the time being, as are many funerals services.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, is all but stopping traditional funeral services, which usually bring family and friends together in large numbers.

Funeral homes have been forced to drastically cut their offerings. Instead of services and visitations with large groups of friends and family, the only options available at this point are graveside services with just the immediate family present.

There wont be chairs for the family to sit close together in under the tent. ... there will be standing only, said Scott Bennett, a partner with Wrenn-Yeatts Funeral Home in Danville.

In addition to restrictions on having regular funeral services, funeral homes are making adjustments to how they serve the families. David Norris, owner of Norris Funeral Home, said that he is encouraging families to make arrangements online. At Wrenn-Yeatts, only four family members can come in at a time to make arrangements.

Were trying to accommodate families the best we can but do it in a very limited way, Norris said.

Most families are having a graveside service for now, but planning to have memorials for their loved ones at a later, undetermined date.

For the family of the late Landon Spradlin, a Gretna resident who died on Wednesday in North Carolina due to complications from the coronavirus, funeral arrangements will be put on hold for the time being. That is partially because of the restrictions on gatherings, and partially because his wife, Jean Spradlin, remains in quarantine in North Carolina.

Jesse Spradlin, Landon Spradlins daughter, said they still are figuring out the details, but likely will have a small graveside service once Jean Spradlin gets out of quarantine and then wait to have a big memorial service.

Ayers reports for the Register & Bee. Reach him at (434) 791-7981.

Ayers reports for the Register & Bee. Reach him at (434) 791-7981.

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The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has rippled across the globe and affected about 180 countries and territories. The number of infections skyrocketed, prompting many countries and territories to impose lockdowns in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.

A new study has shown that the restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom are slowing down the spread of the virus, showing promise in the countrys aim to flatten the curve and ease the burden on the healthcare system.

The researchers of the study, published in the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, reveals that the lockdown and social distancing measures imposed by the British government may already be working. The findings of the study hints that the countrys infection rate is declining.

Social distancing measures

The UK Government has announced social distancing measures on Mar. 15, as health secretary Matt Hancock, warns that those who are over 70 years old should self-isolate within weeks, as they are at a high risk of developing severe disease due to COVID-19. The next day, Prime Minister Boris Johnson advised everyone against non-essential travel and contact with others. People were advised not to go to movie theaters, clubs, and pubs, while employers were encouraged to provide work from home schemes.

But on Mar. 20, Johnson ordered the closure of public places, including restaurants, bars, gyms, pubs, and cafes. By Mar. 23, the prime minister announced a nationwide lockdown, a strict measure that aims to restrict movement to stem the spread of the deadly virus. The public was advised to stay at home.

A large number of people follow these measures that the UK government has imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19. It could be driving the reproduction number of the disease o below one. The study by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine aims to determine if the lockdown efforts are working.

Social contact matrices showing the average total number of daily reported contacts made by participants in different age groups with individuals in other age groups, with results shown for all contacts reported in the CoMix and POLYMOD data. Participants contacts in CoMix for age groups 0-4 and 5-17 are imputed using the POLYMOD data. (B) The estimated value of R0 at the time of the survey, assuming values of R0 ~ Norm(2.6, sd = 0.54) prior to physical distancing reducing all contacts.

Reproduction number

One of the critical aspects of an infectious diseases transmission is the reproductive number. It is defined as the average number of people who will catch a disease from an infected individual. A reproductive number below one hint that the epidemic will start to decline.

The team used an online survey to gather data from 1,300 people, who were asked to list their contacts the previous day. The researchers used the change in contact pattern to compute changes in the reproduction number before the lockdown and after the lockdown. The team unveiled that the mean number of contacts per person measured was more than 70 percent lower now than before the lockdown was imposed.

With the declined contacts, the reproduction number would now be between 0.37 and 0.89.

If we see similar changes across the UK population, we would expect to see the epidemic to start to decline. However, our estimates are not to be read as job done. Rather, they should be used as motivation for us all to keep following UK government instructions, Professor John Edmunds from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said.

Its imperative we dont take our foot off the pedal. We must continue to stop transmission of the virus to reduce the burden on the NHS now, and over the coming months, he added.

The team added that tracking behavioral change can provide a fast and efficient assessment of the impact of social distancing measures that regular epidemiological surveillance.

Global status

The coronavirus disease is infectious and can affect those who are older, with comorbidities, and those who are immunocompromised. The COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 50,000 people, while the number of confirmed cases increased to over one million.

Italy reports the highest number of deaths, with nearly 14,000 people succumbing to COVID-19. Meanwhile, the United States has the highest number of infections, with more than 245,000 people testing positive for the virus.
Two sherrif's deputies from the same California police department died from COVID-19 Thursday, as law enforcement agencies across the country face the prospect of being crippled by coronavirus.

Deputies David Werksman, 51, and Terrell Young, 54, were both employed by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department south of Los Angeles.

The department has been stricken by the virus, with another 24 of its employees testing positive to COVID-19.

Both Werksman and Young were much-loved members of the force, and each leave behind wives and several children.

The dual tragedies reflect the coronavirus outbreak has rocked US police departments to their core, as bosses grapple with how to protect the health of their employees while simultaneously trying to serve their communities.

On Thursday, police departments in llinois and North Carolina also reported officers had died from COVID-19.

On the same day, the NYPD revealed that coronavirus cases continued to surge among their staff, with more than 1,500 now testing positive to the disease.

Nearly one in five officers called out sick Thursday, reporting that they were suffering from flu-like symptoms.

Across America, more than 244,000 people have been sickened by COVID-19, and more than 6,200 have died.

Deputies David Werksman, 51, and Terrell Young, 54, both employed by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, died from COVID-19 Thursday

On Thursday, the NYPD revealed that coronavirus cases continued to surge among their employees, with more than 1,500 now testing positive to the disease. An NYPD officer is pictured on duty Wednesday

TWO DEATH AND 25 MORE CASES: CORONAVIRUS ROCKS ONE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT TO ITS CORE

Riverside County Deputy Terrell Young, 54, was the first member of the department to be pronounced dead Thursday, two weeks after he he was exposed to COVID-19 by an inmate at a local prison.

On March 16, Young transported a prisoner from the Byrd Detention Center to a local hospital, before he came down with a high fever six days later.

The inmate later became symptomatic himself.

24 officers from the department have now tested positive to coronavirus, including 22 who were assigned to the Byrd Detention Center.

60 inmates at the facility have now been quarantined, according to The Press Enterprise.

Young was a 15-year veteran of the Riverside County Police Department, and leaves behind his wife of 31 years and their four children.

Just hours later, it was confirmed his colleague, Deputy David Werksman, had also succumbed to the virus.

Werksman was a 22-year veteran of the Riverside County Police Department, and leaves behind his wife and three children.

Another Riverside officer told the publication that the Police Department is struggling with the deaths and the influx of other coronavirus cases.

'There are a lot of emotions in the department. There's a lot of uncertainty, there is a lot of anxiety, there is a lot of anger, there's a lot of fear, and combine that with losing your friends,' they stated.

'When this normally happens, there is a huge outpouring of support from friends and coworkers and extended family. And the unfortunate part of this is all of that is out the window,' they continued.

NYPD CASES CONTINUE TO SOAR AMID MORE DEATHS

The largest police department in the country continues to report skyrocketing cases of COVID-19 within its ranks.

On Thursday, the NYPD confirmed that 1,354 uniformed officers and 169 civilian members had tested positive to COVID-19.

On the same day, nearly one in five officers was out sick with flu like symptoms - up from 15% on Tuesday.

Several precincts across the city - including one in Harlem and another in The Bronx- have reported that more than a third of its force is sick.

Meanwhile, the department also reported its seventh coronavirus death Thursday.

NYPD Auxiliary Officer Lynford Chambers, who worked at the 113th precinct in Queens, died from complications related to COVID-19 earlier this week.

It has not been disclosed whether he had any preexisting conditions.

'The message to New Yorkers is we are scrambling, but that shouldn't have a negative connotation. We are able to handle many, many different tasks here. We're still fighting crime,' Commissioner Dermot Shea said Thursday.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the NYPD added '10 to 15 more phone lines to handle the volume of sick calls'.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said State Police will fill in for NYPD members and he will also draft police officers from other communities around the state to come and patrol and the city if the NYPD becomes too short-staffed.

Nearly one in five NYPD officers was out sick with flu like symptoms Thursday - up from 15% on Tuesday

NYPD Auxiliary Officer Lynford Chambers worked at the 113th precinct in Queens. His death was announced Thursday

Healthcare workers help a woman who fainted outside a coronavirus testing center in Brooklyn, New York Wednesday

MORE OFFICER DEATHS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Other police departments across the country also reported officer deaths Thursday, as coronavirus cases continue to soar throughout the US.

North Carolina deputy Sypraseuth 'Bud' Phouangphrachanh, 43, died of coronavirus complications Thursday.

The father-of-five worked as a deputy and school resource officer with the Montgomery County Police Department, east of Charlotte.

It is currently unclear whether Phouangphrachanh - who was a 14-year veteran with the force - contracted the virus while at work.

Montgomery County has reported six confirmed cases of COVID-19.

North Carolina deputy Sypraseuth 'Bud' Phouangphrachanh, 43, died of coronavirus complications Thursday

Meanwhile, the Chicago Police Department also reported its first COVID-19 death Thursday, with undercover officer Marco DiFranco succumbing to the virus

Meanwhile, the Chicago Police Department also reported its first COVID-19 death Thursday, with undercover officer Marco DiFranco succumbing to the virus.

The 50-year-old officer leaves behind his wife and two childre, aged seven and 10.

DiFranco had cystic fibrosis, a ore-existing condition that affects the lungs, but did not receive medical clearance to stop him from going to work.

During a press conference Thursday, one local union official stated that DiFranco's death is likely to be the first of many in the Chicago Police Department.

So far, more than 60 officers have tested positive to the virus.

'The fact that we were not prepared in any way, shape or form for this is kind of ridiculous,' the official stated, according to The Chicago-Tribune.

'Even if the officer did have pre-existing conditions, if we had proper masks, proper sanitizers, there could have been precautions taken much sooner for people with those conditions so they weren't so directly exposed to this stuff'.
A police officer has been forced to isolate himself from his newborn baby after a thug spat at him while he was on duty.

PC Richard Bracey has moved out of his home, away from his nine-week-old baby daughter, Isla-Rose, after he was spat at while arresting a man on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.

The proud father-of-four, who is based in Walsall and has worked for West Midlands Police for 11 years, had previously posted pictures of the newborn asleep in his police helmet on social media.

But the 30-year-old has now decided to move into his mother's house, which is empty while she cares for her elderly parents, to protect his family.

PC Richard Bracey has moved out of his home, away from his nine-week old baby daughter, Isla-Rose, after he was spat at while arresting a suspect

The proud father-of-four, who has worked for West Midlands Police for 11 years, had previously posted pictures of the newborn asleep in his police helmet on social media

He plans to keep in touch with partner Kelly and her son, and Isa as well as his three other children using social media and Skype.

PC Bracey, who is based in the Bloxwich area of Walsall, said: 'It's been a really hard decision to make, but I feel it's the right one for my family.

'I also have three older children who I won't see during this time.

'Isla's health must come first, she's so small and vulnerable, I wouldn't want to put her at any further risk.

'It worries me that I'm missing out on vital bonding with Isla, but it won't be forever.

'I've still got my job to do and I'm passionate about continuing to help and protect our communities during this pandemic.'

The spitting incident took place on the same day that PC Bracey, a response officer, returned to duty after a period into self-isolation.

After returning to the frontline on Thursday, he was called to deal with a 35-year-old man in Walsall town centre, who was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

Following his arrest, the man attempted to spit at PC Bracey and also spat in the police car.

The incident comes following a spate of assaults on officers, who have been spat and coughed at by suspects in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

As previously reported by the MailOnline, Marc Olley, 36, from Grimsby, was jailed for 20 weeks after angrily biting and spitting at two officers before saying he had coronavirus.

He admitted two offences of assaulting on-duty emergency police on March 28.

Marc Olley, 36, from Grimsby, was jailed for 20 weeks after angrily biting and spitting at two officers before saying he had coronavirus

It follows an abhorrent man being jailed for attacking a woman with a can and coughing in a police officers face.

Alex Wood grabbed a woman by the chest and hit her over the head with a can with enough force to leave a lump.

Wood coughed in the face of the arresting officer who was wearing a protective face mask.

Wood was charged at Oxford Magistrates Court on Tuesday March 24 and convicted the next day.

He pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating, one count of assaulting an emergency worker and one count of criminal damage to property.

Wood was jailed for 10 weeks for assaulting an emergency worker and 12 weeks for assault by beating, a total of 22 weeks.

A further four weeks were added for criminal damage, but to run concurrently.

Meanwhile Oliver Cook, 35, was was jailed for 120 days after admitting two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, theft and criminal damage.

Cook, of Chatham, Kent, was arrested outside a supermarket in Whitstable, also Kent, at around 6.20pm on Sunday after he was seen trying to steal meat.

As Cook was searched, he spat at a police officer and laughed as he said: I have coronavirus.
Murdered college student Cameron Blair told his friend: Dont worry lad, I dont want to be fighting moments after a teenager had plunged a knife into his neck, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

The 20-year-old, who was acting as a peacemaker outside a house party in Cork city, was not aware that he had been stabbed.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, appeared at the court today for his sentence hearing, after having pleaded guilty last month to murdering Mr Blair on Bandon Road in Co. Cork on January 16, 2020.

Mr Blair was a native of Ballinascarthy in west Cork and a second-year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).

He died at Cork University Hospital (CUH) on January 16 after being stabbed in the neck while attending a student party at a house in Cork city.

At the defendant's sentencing hearing today, three victim impact statements were read to the court by Mr Blair's mother, father and younger brother.

In an emotional victim impact statement, the deceased's mother Kathy Blair said that no parent expects to bury their child and called it unnatural. She said it was something she would never come to terms with.

She added: Camerons murder has shattered our lives. My heart aches everyday for the loss of my son. The loneliness can sometimes be overwhelming.

Often when I am alone in the house I scream at the injustice of this.

"How could someone so cruelly take the life of our beautiful boy? Why has this happened to our family? We are not bad people.

The victims father, Noel Blair, said the ripple effect of his son's murder had been felt far and wide. The death of your child is described as the ultimate grief. Unfortunately, I now know this to be true, he said.

The deceased's younger brother, Alan Blair, also read a statement saying: When I go to my brothers grave I stare in disbelief at his name on the plaque. How can Cameron be dead? It doesnt seem real. He had so much to live for. I had so much to ask him and get his advice on.

Garda forensics at the scene of the stabbing in January. Pic Dan Linehan.

The court also heard from Detective Garda Martin Canny of Togher Garda Station in Cork who told counsel for the State Anne Rowland SC that Mr Blair possessed leadership qualities and was thought of in very high esteem.

He was also a very well-rounded and solid young man with an infectious personality, who drew people into him and was always smiling, said Det. Gda Canny.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded the defendant in custody to Oberstown Children Detention Centre until April 20, when he will be sentenced.
They say you can buy just about anything on Chinas leading online shopping platform, Taobao. Well, you can now add commercial rocket launch to that list as well.

In what was originally deemed an April 1st joke, Chinese media recently reported that an anonymous online shopper paid 40 million yuan ($5.6 million) for his very own rocket launch. The unique online auction was hosted by Chinese celebrity sales anchor Wei Ya and over two million people tuned in to watch the sale live on Taobao. Bidder swere told that winning the auction would allow them to paint the body of the commercial rocket and the launch platform, as well as the chance to visit the launch site and control the launch.

Photo: Pixabay

Posters advertising the launch of a rocket went viral on Chinese social media on April 1, and the hashtag #WeiYaSellsARocket was used over 620,000 times on Weibo alone. Many speculated that this was just an ingenious April Fools Day stunt, but national newspaper Global Times claims that Taobao confirmed that the rocket sale was for real in a public post.

The Global Times suggested that the launch sale, headed by Chinese entrepreneur Luo Yonghao, was inspired by an earlier Taobao online poll, where people were asked what they would rather win, a rocket, a satellite, a partner or a cleaning lady.

The name of the person who paid a reported 40 million yuan ($5.6 million) for the chance to personalize and control the rocket launch has not yet been revealed.

Interestingly, the commercial rocket launch will be held in Wuhan, Chinas Hubei province, and the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. Members of the media were quick to note that the advertised event and the accompanying livestream were opportunities to re-promote Wuhan and all it has to offer.

To be honest, this still smells kind of fishy However, this wouldnt be the first grandiose auction on Taobao. The BBC reports that in 2017 the Chinese online platform hosted an auction for two Boeing 747 jets.
The Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails has announced a partnership with Loves Travel Stops aimed at donating cookies to truck drivers.

The states subsidiary organization of Girl Scouts said this week that it wanted to show its appreciation for truck drivers who are delivering critical supplies to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The group says Donations for Drivers allows individuals and businesses to say thank you by donating boxes of cookies that will be given to drivers at Loves Travel Stops along Interstate 40 in New Mexico.

Donations from the public are being accepted at NMGirlScouts.org through April 19 or until supplies run out. Each $5 donation buys one box of cookies that will be delivered to a professional driver stopping for fuel, food or rest at a Loves location.

If people or businesses also still want to purchase cookies, they can do so through the same website, NMGirlScouts.org, just be sure to select ship to home rather than donate.

We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com.
A report from the University of Texas at Austin estimates 20,000 to 30,000 Midlanders could be infected with coronavirus as it reaches its peak.

The report released earlier this week analyzed 22 cities in Texas and projects the number of residents who will be infected in those cities, when the virus will peak and the resulting number of hospitalizations and deaths.

The estimates are not forecasts and do not represent the full range of uncertainty, the report states, but are meant to be used as plausible scenarios for gauging the likely impacts of social distancing measures in Texas cities.

About 30,000 Midlanders could be infected if there are no social distancing precautions taken, according to the analysis. That projection shows COVID-19 peaking on May 25.

If schools remain closed through Aug. 17 and residents reduce contact with others outside their households by 50 percent, Midland will reduce the number of infections and lengthen the time between infections, the analysis shows. About 20,000 people would be infected in this projection, with the virus peaking in July.

The first projection, with no social distancing, shows the majority of infections occurring over a three-month period between April and June. This has the potential to overwhelm Midland Memorial Hospital, as the report estimates 1,500 people could require hospitalization at the virus peak  in this scenario and between 150 and 200 residents could require intensive care treatment.

Hospitalizations could be reduced by one-third, down to 1,000, if residents reduce outside contact by 50 percent, the report shows. The number of Midlanders projected to need intensive care treatment in this scenario is between 100 and 150.

Closing schools through Aug. 17 and practicing 50 percent social distancing would lengthen the duration of the virus to a four- to five-month period and decrease the sharpness of its peak, according to the report. Experts have frequently described this as flattening the curve so as not to overwhelm health care providers and available resources.

Projections for Odessa are largely the same as those for Midland. The report estimates up to 1.5 million people could be infected in both the Houston and Dallas metro areas, 4 million in Austin, 150,000 in El Paso and 60,000 in Lubbock.

The report states its estimates are initially based on the number of reported cases in a city as of March 22. The parameters for the study were an epidemic doubling time of four days, reproduction number of 2.2, average incubation period of 7.1 days and the proportion of asymptomatic cases being 17.9 percent.

The results of the study were shared before peer review to provide intuition for policy makers regarding the immediate threat of COVID-19, the risks of medical surges, and the extent to which early social distancing measures can mitigate the threat.

Our projections indicate that COVID-19 may quickly exceed healthcare capacity across Texas cities and that extensive social distancing measures can both delay and diminish pandemic surges, the report states.

Officials with Midland Health said Thursday they had not had a chance to study the report, and therefore couldn't comment on it. They did say that the report could be used for planning purposes for a worst-case scenario.
On Thursday, March 19, users attempting to share the latest World Socialist Web Site articles on the subreddit r/coronavirus were notified that the wsws.org domain had been banned and labeled as an unreliable source by moderators. The message said, wsws.org may not be reliable. Your post has been automatically removed. If possible, please resubmit with a link to a reliable source, such as a reliable news organization or an [sic] recognized institution.

The label also says, I am a bot, and this action has been taken automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. Efforts by the WSWS to contact the r/coronavirus moderators have gone unanswered.

Significantly, the notices banning the WSWS began appearing less than 24-hours after Reddit users shared our article Mounting anger as workers demand protection from unsafe conditions which subsequently received thousands of upvotes and hundreds of comments. Although no new WSWS article links can be posted and this article is labeled as removed by moderators of r/coronavirus for off-topic political discussion, it has been locked and remains available to readers. It has more than 21,000 upvotes and 2,500 comments from workers.

Message noting that a popular posting of a WSWS article had been removed by the moderators of r/coronavirus

Given that references to reliable and recognized sources are well-known euphemisms for the corporate media and our article had already received a widespread response on r/coronavirus, the banning of the WSWS by subreddit moderators is unmistakably an act of political censorship designed to block our analysis of the unfolding crisis from reaching the public.

The following timeline of events leading up to the WSWS domain ban confirms this assessment:

On March 11, the White House hosted a video conference call chaired by US Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios which included the participation of major technology companies and other administration officials. Although the reported details of the tech conference call are limited, it is clear that a major topic of discussion was shutting down so-called misinformation and the implementation of a censorship regime aimed controlling online and social media information about the coronavirus.





On March 16, a group of eight major tech platformsmost of whom were in attendance at the White House callpublished a joint industry statement which says, We are working closely together on COVID-19 response efforts. Were helping millions of people stay connected while also jointly combating fraud and misinformation about the virus, elevating authoritative content on our platforms, and sharing critical updates in coordination with government healthcare agencies around the world. We invite other companies to join us as we work to keep our communities healthy and safe.





Reddit was one of the signers of the joint industry statement and posted it on the Reddit Twitter account at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 16 with the following comment, Together with @Facebook, @Google, @LinkedIn, @Microsoft, @Twitter and @YouTube, we are committed to keeping our communities informed.

By signing the joint industry statementalthough there is so far no evidence that Reddit participated directly in the White House tech conferencethe social news aggregation site that identifies itself as The Front Page of the Internet is demonstrating its collaboration with online censorship of content about the coronavirus that does not conform to the narrative developed by the US political establishment and faithfully repeated by the corporate media.

Redditwhich was founded by college roommates Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian in 2005is owned today by Conde Nast, a subsidiary of the Advance Publications conglomerate which is owned by the Newhouse family publishing and news empire that dates back to the early twentieth century. Conde Nast acquired Reddit from its founders and others, including Aaron Swartz, in 2006 for an estimated $10 to $20 million.

Beginning in 2014, a series of private and institutional investors injected hundreds of millions of dollars into Reddit and transformed it into a multi-billion dollar enterprise. With just 500 employees and an estimated valuation of $3 billion, Reddit is one of the most valuable assets in Silicon Valley.

The presence of the billionaire Peter Thielcofounder of Pay Pal and right-wing technology advisor to the Trump administrationon the list of private investors in Reddit is an indication of the types of figures who are playing a role in the organization and directing its collaboration with the White House censorship initiative.

Due to the way that Reddit is organizedwith subreddit moderators given autonomy in making decisions about the activity of users, posts and shared linksthere is no way to know for certain what role, if any, is being played by the management or owners of the company in preventing WSWS content from being posted on r/coronavirus.

Frequently, subreddit moderators are Reddit users who sign up and volunteer for the role and are then granted significant authority over the activity of users within the community and the content that is posted there. The Reddit structure allows for different levels of moderators with various degrees of permission. The top level has Full Permissions including the ability to remove posts and ban users among many other rights.

Like all Reddit users, subreddit moderators enjoy a degree of anonymity and their identity is often concealed behind obscure usernames. Despite this feature of the platform, it is possible to develop a picture of individual moderators based on the subreddits that they moderate as well as their own posting activity on Reddit.

In the case of the subreddit r/coronavirus, there are 67 moderators. The top ten moderators listed on the subreddit all have the top level Full Permissions. As an example, one of the r/coronavirus moderators with Full Permission named justcool393 is also a moderator of 206 other subreddits. Among these are sexually-explicit subreddits, including one called r/porn_cringe and one specifically political subreddit called r/radicalcentrism.

Significantly, on another subreddit called r/subredditcancer, the moderator justcool393 was asked why Reddit had abandoned its commitment to freedom of speech, to which the moderator replied, Its a multi-faceted answer that requires a lot of history and has a lot to do with the complexities of reddits situation. Firstly and foremostly, its a company that needs to make a profit. Is not exactly that shocking of a revelation but its probably the biggest reason.

With such people having the authority to make the decision to label the World Socialist Web Site as an unreliable source, our characterization of the banning of our domain from the subreddit r/coronavirus as political censorship is entirely justified.

Therefore, the World Socialist Web Site is demanding the r/coronavirus moderators provide an explanation: Why are our reports and analysis of the global pandemic coronavirus being labelled unreliable? We further demand that all links from the wsws.org domain be restored, and users be permitted to share them on the subreddit immediately .

The WSWS has been published daily for twenty years by the International Committee of the Fourth International and is recognized internationally as a major source of authoritative Marxist journalism and analysis. We are quoted in numerous books and dozens of academic papers. Some of the leading historians of American history have been interviewed on and published statements on the WSWS.

Meanwhile, links from the WSWS have been posted on Reddit for years and our content is whitelisted on r/politics.

The WSWS is currently playing a decisive role in telling the public the truth about one of the greatest global disasters to ever confront mankind. Since January we have published nearly 300 articles on the COVID-19 pandemic by writers based in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. Throughout this coverage, we have sought to educate the public about the details and dangers posed by the pandemic.

Earlier than other news sources, the WSWS recognized the significance of the emergence of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China and its global implications:

On January 24, we pointed to the growing danger in an article entitled, Major Chinese city on lockdown as novel coronavirus spreads internationally.





On January 25, we raised the question, One must ask, how prepared would the United States be should an epidemic similar to that presently developing in China affect it?





On January 28, we wrote, It must be noted that while the situation in China is dire, the so-called first-world countries are no more prepared to deal with an outbreak on the scale currently occurring in Wuhan.





On January 29, we raised the impact on the world economy and stated, The underlying fragility of global share markets, which have been boosted to record levels by the injection of trillions of dollars from the worlds central banks over the past decade and more, was underscored by the sharp falls on Monday and Tuesday in response to the coronavirus crisis.

As these warnings made by the WSWS were being fully vindicated, the political establishment on every continent was seeking to conceal the implications of the unfolding crisis from the public.

Our reports throughout the month of Februaryincluding Coronavirus to have deep impact on global economy on February 8, The coronavirus pandemic: A global disaster on February 11 and The coronavirus pandemic and the need for global socialized medicinefocused on the expanding international crisis, its impact on the working class in countries around the world and on the global capitalist economy.

The WSWS analysis proceeded in direct opposition to the incompetent statements and actions of political figures around the worldincluding US President Donald Trumpabout how the crisis was under control and public risk was extremely low.

On February 28, the WSWS published a statement from the International Committee of the Fourth International For a globally coordinated emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic which stated, The working class must demand that governments make available the resources required to contain the spread of the disease, treat and care for those who are infected, and secure the livelihoods of the hundreds of millions of people who will be affected by the economic fallout.

Throughout the month of March, our articles and statements continuously urged independent action by the working class in the face of the criminal negligence of the ruling class. These included, Capitalisms disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic on March 4, What must be done to fight the coronavirus pandemic on March 6, The response of the working class to the coronavirus pandemic on March 11 and Capitalism is at war with society on March 13.

It was during the second week of Marchas workers around the world began to take action in defense of their own health and safetythat the state, media and tech corporations came together in an effort to control of the flow of online and social media information about the coronavirus crisis.

Given these facts, it is clear that the banning of WSWS content from r/coronavirus is political censorship which only serves those, like US President Trump, who seek to downplay the disease and disorient the public about the meaning of the unfolding crisis.

We demand immediate action by moderators to restore access to our coronavirus pandemic reports, articles and analyses on the subreddit r/coronavirus and the removal of the label on our content as coming from an unreliable source.
Latin America is heading into "a deep recession" in 2020, with an expected drop in the region's GDP of 1.8 to 4.0 per cent due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UN economic commission for the region said Friday.

"We are at the beginning of a profound recession. We're faced with the largest fall in growth that the region has had," said Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL).

Latin America was already struggling economically, with feeble growth of just 0.1 per cent in 2019.

As with other parts of the world, the region's main stock markets have suffered drastic losses as the virus crisis has escalated, and several currencies have plunged in value against the US dollar.

A reduction in economic activity due to lockdowns imposed to combat the spread of the virus, a drop in the value of raw materials and the blow to tourism have all contributed to the bleak outlook.

Barcena said the best-case projection takes into account only the drop in economic activity with China, the region's largest trading partner.

But if a drop in trade with the United States and European Union is also factored into the calculation, then a 3-4 per cent contraction is expected.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Emergency room physician Dr Frank Gabrin, 60 (pictured), developed coronavirus symptoms after treating patients

A friend of an emergency room doctor who died says the physician knew he contracted coronavirus after had to reuse his surgical mask over multiple shifts.

Frank Gabrin, 60, died in his husband's arms at their New York City home on Tuesday, just days after he began developing symptoms related to COVID-19.

His best friend, Dr Debra Vaselech Lyons, told Good Morning America that Gabrin told her the hospital didn't have enough personal protective equipment (PPE).

'He also knew exactly when he got it,' she said. 'He knew it was those four shifts he had to use the same mask. He knew it.'

'He never complained about anything, he just wanted to work and help people,' his heartbroken widower Arnold Vargas told NJ.com.

Late last week, Gabrin, who worked at East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey and St John's Episcopal Hospital in Queens, New York, came down with flu-like symptoms that quickly worsened.

He was never tested for coronavirus, but the doctor was pretty sure he had the disease because he had seen similar symptoms in patients he treated

On March 24, he woke up unable to breathe and died in his husband's arms as they waited for an ambulance. Pictured: Gabrin, left, with his husband, Arnold Vargas

Gabrin's best friend, Dr Debra Vaselech Lyons (pictured), said he knew he had been infected after having to use the same surgical mask over four shifts

Gabrin was a two-time survivor of cancer and told his husband that he would just recover at home.

'He told me: "I can handle this. I survived cancer and this is just the coronavirus,"' Vargas said.

According to his husband, Gabrin woke up March 24 with chest pain.

'He had a lot of coughing and two days ago he was very sick. [He said]: "Baby, I can't breathe,"' Vargas told NJ.com

Vargas called the New York Police Department and was placed on hold. The couple waited for an ambulance for half an hour.

'By then, his breathing was almost nonexistent,' Lyons told Good Morning America.

'When paramedics arrived, they tried to revive him for 45 minutes.'

This is not the first time, Lyons has suggested he fell ill after having to reuse PPE.

'Symptoms developed 9 days after he'd been forced to use the same mask for multiple shifts,' she wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

'He was told to self quarantine. He woke up this morning and couldn't breathe. In less than two hours he was gone. He never made it to a hospital.'

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers across the country have said they are running short on critical PPE.

'Emergency physicians understand that sometimes in our efforts to save your life, we may end up sacrificing our own,' William Jaquis, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, wrote in a statement.

'We know the risks of the job we signed up for, but we are on the frontlines in this historic war against COVID-19 with insufficient protection.

'America can't afford for more emergency physicians and other frontline health care providers to get sick or worse due to PPE shortages.'

On Friday, healthcare workers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York held a demonstration calling for more PPE and free testing for workers treating coronavirus patients

At the rally, Mount Sinai healthcare worker Ted Levine held up a photo of Feda Ocran, a nurse who died of coronavirus (pictured)

On Friday, healthcare workers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York held a demonstration, calling on officials to enforce more protective measures at once.

The frontline employees said they want more PPE such as masks, standardized safety procedures at all state hospitals and free testing for workers who've been exposed to the virus or have symptoms.

In one heartbreaking moment of the rally, worker Ted Levine held up a photo of Feda Ocran, a nurse who died of coronavirus .

In the US, there are currently more than 270,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 7,000 deaths.
S ince the worldwide outbreak of coronavirus, face masks seem to have become an essential part of the fight against the spread.

But production of the masks has been affected by the shutdown of workforces all over the world, yet demand for the face masks has never been higher.

New research suggests masks could be more vital in helping stop the spread of infection than previously thought, and advisors from the World Health Organisation are looking into whether they should change guidance on wearing protection in public.

So does wearing a mask actually help prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus? The Standard Online takes a look.

Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP

What is the current advice?

The World Health Organisation says masks are only needed for those looking after people with COVID-19, as well as those already diagnosed with the virus.

It also recommends that people keep at least one metre from anyone else who is coughing or sneezing.

Dr Jonas Nilsen, co-founder and MD of Practio, told the Standard: COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing.

Facial masks can help limit the spread of respiratory droplets from an infected person when that person coughs or sneezes and thus decrease the risk of the disease spreading.

Facial masks can however also provide some protection to healthy individuals as facial masks of good quality can block respiratory droplets from the surroundings from being inhaled.

However, the WHO goes on to add that masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Instructions have also been given out about the best practice for putting on face coverings.

Hands should be washed with alcohol-based soaps and water, before masks are put on and checked to make sure there are no gaps between the face and the mask.

Washing your hands is also key to stopping yourself from getting infected / Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

What is the new research?

Trump admin moves toward promoting broader use of face masks

The WHO is now exploring whether the public could benefit from wearing face masks in public to prevent the spread of infection.

New research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, America, has suggested that the virus can be projected further than it was previously thought.

Current advice recommends that people stand at least one metre away from anyone coughing or sneezing.

However, the MIT study found that sneezes and coughs can project droplets much further distances - up to six metres for a cough and eight for a sneeze.

This has led to implications over the concept of 'safe distances'. Professor Lydia Bourouiba, who led the study, told the BBC: "So having this false idea of safety at one to two metres, that somehow drops will just fall to the ground at that distance is not based on what we have quantified, measured and visualised directly."

WHO advisors are now looking into whether the public should be wearing face masks more, while in America government is formalising new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings.

However, this has not changed the advice in the UK, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying he has not been advised to change the UKs approach on the public wearing face masks.

Mr Hancock told Good Morning Britain: I havent been advised that we should do that. Ill follow the scientific advice on that, which was very clear when we went through it at the start.

Masks are very important to protect healthcare workers who might have a lot of incoming virus but that (public being advised to wear face masks) isnt something that weve done here because weve followed the advice and weve followed the medical and scientific advice and the whole basis of our response has been making sure that we follow the science.

What type of face mask should I use?

Not any mask will do in the case of Covid-19.

In order to make sure the virus cannot get through, the mask must be of N-95 type.

Dr Nilsen added: Facial masks must be of the N95-type, which block 95 percent of small particles.

Paper masks do not provide much protection against inhaled droplets but might limit the spread from infected individuals to some extent.

Military gas masks intended for biochemical warfare will obviously provide good protection but is probably not a feasible option for the mass population.

What is the best practice for using face masks?

Masks do not work forever and should not be reused.

The WHO adds that masks should be removed if they get wet, and the front should not be touched.

Once you have covered your moth and nose with the mask, you should ensure there are no gaps between it and your face.

As well as this advice on masks, the NHS say other methods to help prevent the spread of the disease include putting tissues in the bin straight away, covering your mouth and nose with your sleeve (not hands) when you sneeze, washing your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water often and avoiding people who are ill.

Dr Nilsen concludes: Good hand hygiene is a prerequisite for any facial masks to work as the hands are needed to place the mask correctly over the mouth and nose.

Any virus particles on the hands would be transferred to the mouth, nose or eyes when putting on the facial masks if not washed and disinfected beforehand.
Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Terrell Young died of coronavirus. (Riverside County Sheriff's Department)

Terrell Young, a Riverside County sheriff's deputy who died of coronavirus, likely contracted COVID-19 from an inmate, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said.

Young, the sheriff said, was as a compassionate deputy in working with the public and inmates.

"He was a fantastic role model for his kids, especially for his daughter," Bianco said. "Employees knew they could count on him for good advice. Terell was always on time and very well liked by his peers and supervisors, and always willing to lend a hand. He was always smiling. According to many, he was known for his smile and he will be deeply missed."

He was survived by his wife of 31 years and four children.

Bianco said he believes Young contracted the virus from an inmate whom he had escorted to the Riverside University Health System during the week of March 16.

On March 22, Young came down with a fever and went home. The next day, 10 employees, including Young, called in sick.

The inmate whom Young had escorted also began experiencing symptoms that day. The inmate has tested positive for the virus, although it's unclear whether he tested positive before or after contact with Young.

Bianco said all employees and inmates who have exhibited symptoms have been quarantined and tested.

So far, 25 employees and 11 inmates have tested positive for the virus, some of whom did not show any symptoms.

Bianco said 60 inmates are in quarantine and 51 inmate tests are pending. In addition, 16 employees are awaiting their test results. Several of the sheriff department's employees have been or are currently hospitalized.

One is in critical condition, Bianco said.

"We are not considering this any type of jail emergency," Bianco said. "We believe we have this contained at the moment. It should be an eye opener for the general public. We are seeing the drastic and the viral aspects of this, and it's not pretty."

Bianco said Young's family has received an outpouring of support on social media, but deputies have not been able to have contact with his family members or hold the usual gatherings of support when a deputy dies. Young's family has also become ill but is recovering in isolation at home.

"There are a lot of different emotions in the department. There's a lot of uncertainty, there's a lot of anxiety, there's a lot of anger, there's a lot of fear, and combine that with losing one of your friends," he said. "If you really want to honor his death, stay home."
While the numbers of coronavirus cases from China, Italy and the United States have been particularly high, Spain too is dealing with a catastrophe of an immense scale. The death toll in Spain has been alarming, with nearly 950 reported deaths in a day. In fact, the country has the worlds second-highest COVID-19 death toll after Italy at 10,003. Here are some heartbreaking pictures from inside Spain.
Amid the nationwide, 21-day COVID-19 lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the police officials are leaving no stone unturned to keep the spirits of the people high.



In one such instance in Kolkata, officers from the Gariahat Police Station sang their own rendition of filmmaker Anjan Dutta's acclaimed song Bela Bose with a coronavirus twist and music in the background.

"An initiative by Gariahat PS to cheer up the citizens in times of crisis along with spreading awareness," DC SED Kolkata Police said in its tweet.

The polices efforts didnt go unappreciated on social media for its efforts to spread positivity and boost morale of the people amid the lockdown.

An initiative by Gariahat PS to cheer up the citizens in times of crisis alongwith spreading awareness. #FightCoronaTogether #StayHomeStaySafe #WeCareWeDare @KolkataPolice pic.twitter.com/0kgIqoZbON  DC SED Kolkata Police (@KPSoutheastDiv) April 2, 2020

This is how people on social media reacted to the heartwarming video:



Fantastic, it's simply a treat to eyes !! Very human, motivator & friendly face of Kolkata police on display !! My heart just wants to salute them



This is our great India.  Ashok Shah (@AshokSh64706061) April 2, 2020

Keep it up @KolkataPolice . Great effort by you to entertain people . In this situation this is very important to defeat the loneliness and frustration specially those persons who has a habit of evening walk .  Anirban Dutta (@Anirban__Dutt) April 2, 2020

Hats off to the team @KolkataPolice  soumya R (@brickonthewall) April 2, 2020

Keep it up our Kolkata police we all are proud of u stay safe all of God bless all of u  jyotirmoy chakraborty (@jyotirm87885155) April 2, 2020

Wonderful initiative by Kolkata police.... hats off to you...Proud to be a citizen of the dream city....  Subhayan Banerjee (@subhayanbanerj1) April 2, 2020

I love Kolkata

I miss you so much Kolkata

Kolkata is the Best police in the all over India  ANWAR (@ANWAR10910886) April 2, 2020

I'm awed by this exemplary gesture of @KolkataPolice  Deep Banerji (@deepbanerji) April 2, 2020

Meanwhile, videos of police officials in another part of the state singing We Shall Overcome went viral on social media on Thursday.

The video shows one of the officers holding a mic and singing We Shall Overcome while other cops are seen clapping and cheering. Meanwhile, some onlookers recorded the beautiful gesture by the policemen on their phones. One officer, in fact, also encouraged residents of the area to sing from the balconies of their apartments.

.@KolkataPolice has a beautiful message for the citizens of the city. #Coronawarrior teams of Gariahat and Entally Police Stations spread awareness by singing superhit Bengali numbers and #WeShallOverCome.#UserGeneratedContent @manogyaloiwalhttps://t.co/FAHzdjSiWA pic.twitter.com/G7R2DE3cYY  indiatoday (@IndiaToday) April 2, 2020

Innovative way to guide people, we all should respect their efforts, salute @KolkataPolice  Dibakar Debnath  (@dibakarindia) April 2, 2020

It wouldnt be wrong to say that this crisis has brought together people in this fight against the global pandemic that has brought everyones lives to a standstill.

Indian police are putting in a lot of effort in cheering up people and boosting their morale at a time like this and also doing their every bit in this fight against the deadly virus.

Recently, cops in Chennai wore the 'Corona' helmet while Maharashtra police officials were seen singing Zindagi Maut Na Ban Jaaye in a bid to persuade people to stay at home.

PM Modi had announced a complete lockdown in the country from March 25 till April 15 and every measure is being taken to ensure people stay inside their houses.

According to the news reports, the number of confirmed cases of the virus infection in India has crossed 2,500 with at least 69 deaths, as of April 3.
53 Oman nationals who were stranded in Kerala due to COVID-19 lockdown in the country were airlifted today from Cochin International Airport by Oman Air.

The Indian government has curtailed all international flights and later extended that suspension on domestic flights as well in the view of coronavirus outbreak.

With 478 cases reported in the last 24 hours, the highest spike so far, India's tally of positive coronavirus cases on Friday rose to 2,547 including 162 cured/discharged and 62 deaths, as per the latest data of 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.)
Amid the confusion, fear, and uncertainty surrounding the outbreak of the Chinese coronavirus pandemic in the United States, one thing is obvious: this country is astonishingly fortunate to have Donald Trump as our president.

In predictably trite, small-minded fashion, the liberal media and clueless Democratic politicians have treated the pandemic as nothing more than an opportunity to score shallow political points against President Trump. All manner of "Trump has blood on his hands" and "His Pollyanna-ish downplaying of the scope of the crisis at the beginning cost us valuable time" comments and criticism have been forthcoming on an almost daily basis from the usual suspects. Although he hasn't been perfect (there's no such thing), such criticism is blatantly unfounded. The president has acted swiftly and surely and taken concrete steps to counter the outbreak right from the beginning. Certainly, his travel restriction order against the Chinese in January reduced the size and scope of the crisis here by an order of magnitude. The president undoubtedly knew he'd face calls of racial bias and xenophobia with that decision (and he did), but he knew that it was the right decision for the American people. He didn't take a poll or assemble a focus group or ask his Cabinet for their recommendations. He just made the call. Bold. Quick. Correct.

The Democrats seem more interested in damaging President Trump politically than they are in taking care of the American people. Speaker Pelosi tried to attach all kinds of extraneous, irrelevant addenda to the relief bill (support for Planned Parenthood, voting rights modifications intended to make things more favorable to Dems in future elections, money for NPR and the Kennedy Center, etc.), all of which delayed the bill  needlessly  for a week. As millions of businesses close their doors and tens of millions of Americans lose their jobs, Pelosi and the Democrats continue to look upon the entire situation as nothing more than an opportunity for a power grab. The bill went through in bi-partisan fashion a week later than it should have, and most, but not all, of the Democratic fat was trimmed out. But it didn't have to be that way at all. When asked about the fact that most of the Kennedy Center money was still in the bill, President Trump said, "I'm not happy, but sometimes you just have to give the other side a little something. That's how it works."

His daily coronavirus press briefings are examples of tireless hands-on presidential leadership. President Trump is aware of every small detail. He knows which drugs are looking promising as treatments; he knows which companies have begun to switch over to manufacturing ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE); he knows how many ventilators are in stockpile, where they are, what the plan is for distributing them. He knows what new hospitals are being built by the Army Corps of Engineers, how many beds they have, when the Navy hospital ships will arrive and where they'll be. Trump enacted the Defense Production Act to mandate that our industries switch their manufacturing capability over to coronavirus-needed items. Swift, positive action. Instantly beneficial to the country. It was totally sloughed off and minimized by the liberal media and his political opponents, both of whom would have jumped on him had he not done this.

He speaks in a self-congratulatory style at his daily briefings that infuriates his critics and detractors. He unabashedly pats himself on the back for taking the actions he has taken ("unprecedented...never before in history...it's faster and bigger than ever before...we're doing this in record time, record time"), but his somewhat controversial personal style does not alter the facts on the ground: President Trump is, unquestionably, commanding an all-out effort on a huge scale, on multiple fronts, to confront a challenge to our society the likes of which no one alive today has ever experienced.

In stark contrast, national Democrats and national liberal media figures look small. Chuck Todd of NBC tried to toss poor Joe Biden a softball by asking him if "Trump has blood on his hands for his initial slowness to react to the crisis." Once he understood the question, even Biden wouldn't agree with Todd. But rather than acting like a statesman  an American statesman  and publicly supporting the president, Biden has instead either been silent (offering nothing constructive or supportive) or made 8th gradestyle snarky criticism from the safety of his unaccountable sidelines. Biden has confirmed his smallness.

The president seems to delight in calling out the good reactions and positive rapport he's enjoyed with people who've been political opponents in the past, such as California governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom has moved rapidly to institute the kind of social distancing guidelines and other measures that the president approves of. "He's doing a great job, a great job, and we've had many great phone calls together," Trump said at a recent press briefing.

He does things like that for two reasons, both of which point to his tall stature on the presidential stage. 1) As a shrewd business negotiator, President Trump knows that by complimenting a rival, you pre-empt him from effectively criticizing you. You take the negative wind out of their sails and move the negotiation that much closer to a successful conclusion. It's experienced and smart. 2) President Trump is genuinely warm and truly enjoys a positive personal connection. If he has the opportunity to compliment a so-called "opponent," he will. He touted the bi-partisan nature of the relief bill because he was truly happy about it. Trump fights back hard when he's treated, as he puts it, "unfairly," but his default factory setting is friendly and cooperative. He enjoys the win-win. He strives for it, every time.

President Trump has great stamina and an unmatched energy for the demands of the presidency, especially in these times of crisis. (One can only imagine the inability of the severely physically compromised Hillary Clinton to deal with all of this and then stand up at the podium and answer questions and provide leadership for hours on end. And Joe Biden? He'd have a stand-in from the opening bell.) President Trump has a command of the facts and the situation that is amazing. And his willingness  more like pure joy  to work with all comers toward a successful outcome marks a "tallness" unmatched by any president in recent memory. He is the right person at the right time.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEx:2318; SSE:601318) announced that Ping An and its Chairman Ma Mingzhe are now responding to the urgent needs of the British government by donating medical supplies to the United Kingdom (U.K.) with a total value of GBP1.1 million (approximately RMB10 million). The donation is an initiative in response to the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit's call to support various nations in fighting the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The donated supplies include medical equipment such as COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, surgical masks, protective clothing, ventilators and safety googles, to help address the serious shortage of medical supplies in the U.K. The donation also includes technological support such as the COVID-19 smart image-reading system developed by Ping An, which can generate rapid and accurate analysis of Computed Tomography (CT) lung scans for each individual case within 15 seconds, with a 97% accuracy rate. This service can aid and support doctors' efficiency and accuracy in diagnosis.

In more detail, Ping An's medical supply donation to the U.K. includes 100,000 surgical masks, 100,000 pairs of gloves, 10,000 safety goggles, 10,000 hand sanitizers, 10,000 face masks, 10,000 COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, 4,000 sets of protective clothing and 15 respirators. The medical technological aid includes 1,000 sets of the COVID-19 smart image-reading system. In China, Ping An's COVID-19 smart image-reading system has supported more than 1,500 medical institutions in China, including Hubei Province, and has assisted doctors with analysis in over one million CT scans for more than 20,000 patients.

As early as 2015, China and the U.K. established a strategic partnership for the 21st century. Both countries have always worked together to help each other. During the fight against the pandemic this year, President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have spoken twice over the phone. The two leaders focused on reaching an agreement on strengthening cooperation in fighting the pandemic and exploring the establishment of a global health partnership. At present, the domestic COVID-19 situation in China is effectively under control, with China in the process of resuming work and production, as its economic and social systems are being restored in an orderly manner. With the current situation in the U.K. being severe and complex, the serious shortage of medical supplies threatens the safety of medical staff and the British people. With this donation, Ping An is supporting Britain's efforts in fighting the outbreak.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," a Ping An spokesperson said. "Many parts of the world are facing a pandemic, and the situation in the U.K. is serious. The Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit has called on the international community to accelerate efforts to contain the outbreak. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in China earlier, countries around the world, including the U.K., have supported China in its fight against the epidemic. Ping An stands ready to fulfill its corporate social responsibility, using its advantages in insurance protection, financial services and healthtech to contribute to the international community's pandemic control efforts. Ping An believes that by working together with the international community, we will triumph over the pandemic."

Last week, Ping An also responded to the needs of the Indonesian government by donating USD1.5 million (RMB 10 million) of COVID-19 medical supplies, including 10,000 sets of safety goggles, 10,000 sets of COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, 150,000 swab kits, 200 infusion pumps, and 100 patient monitors. Medical technology support included 1,000 sets of the COVID-19 smart image-reading system and 10,000 AskBob medical artificial intelligence (AI) assistants. Previously, Ping An Good Doctor cooperated with Grab, the Southeast Asia ride-hailing service provider, to co-launch an online medical service platform, GrabHealth, to provide more than 10,000 daily online consultations.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic in China, Ping An has introduced several initiatives in terms of insurance protection, public welfare donations and medical services. To date, Ping An has donated more than USD20 million (RMB150 million) of supplies and cash. Ping An has also provided free insurance protection for frontline medical staff, journalists, police officers and volunteers. Ping An partnered with the Ming Yuan Charity Fund and has donated RMB18 million (USD2.5 million) to the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to support the Phase III clinical trials of COVID-19 drug remdesivir and other clinical trials to combat COVID-19.

Ping An's subsidiary Ping An Good Doctor, an online health platform, has cooperated with 62 provincial, municipal and regional governments to provide real-time online and phone consultations. Since the outbreak, it handled 1.72 billion platform visits. The Ping An Healthcare Testing Center was among the first batch of third-party medical institutions authorized by Hubei Province to carry out the Nucleic Acid Test (NAT), the primary reference for COVID-19 diagnosis. The center has also deployed mobile CT-imaging vehicles to perform 64-slice lung CT scans to screen and diagnose the novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia. The vehicles have conducted over 500 tests daily and over 22,000 tests in total since the end of January.

Ping An Smart Healthcare, the smart health care team of subsidiary Ping An Smart City, created the National Real-time COVID-19 Update System, covering 21 provinces and 31 cities. It provides smart epidemic forecasting for relevant national ministries and commissions as well as 15 provincial health committees, achieving more than 98% accuracy for one-day forecasts and 97% accuracy for seven-day forecasts.

- End -

About Ping An Group

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") is a world-leading technology-powered retail financial services group. With over 200 million retail customers and 516 million Internet users, Ping An is one of the largest financial services companies in the world.

Ping An has two over-arching strategies, "pan financial assets" and "pan health care", which focus on the provision of financial and healthcare services through our integrated financial services platform and our five ecosystems of financial services, health care, auto services, real estate services and smart city services. Our "finance + technology" and "finance + ecosystems" strategies aim to provide customers and internet users with innovative and simple products and services using technology. As China's first joint stock insurance company, Ping An Group is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate reporting and corporate governance. The Company is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

In 2019, Ping An ranked 7th in the Forbes Global 2000 list and 29th on the Fortune Global 500 list. Ping An also ranked 40th in the 2019 WPP Millward Brown BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list. For more information, please visit www.pingan.cn .

SOURCE Ping An Insurance Group Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.pingan.cn


An Upstate New York man has died of COVID-19 before getting tested for coronavirus.

The Livingston County Department of Health announced Monday that a Caledonia, N.Y., resident was the first in the county to die from coronavirus. LCDOH officials said that he died suddenly on Saturday, March 28, and tested positive for COVID-19 two days after his death.

Spectrum News reports the man was identified Tuesday as 27-year-old Vinnie Coons by his family. His brother, Pat, said Vinnie called a doctor when he became symptomatic about nine days before he died; Pat said the doctor told Vinnie not to get tested, and to stay home and self-isolate.

Their mother, Marjorie Coons, told WHAM that Vinnie was overweight, but otherwise healthy. He first started to feel funny a few days after St. Patricks Day, and his condition declined quickly; on Saturday, he started having trouble breathing.

He was like on fire. His body was so hot," she said. The ambulance came in and did everything they possibly could. They did CPR, and my son passed away.

Pat Coons told Spectrum News that he thinks his brother should have been tested sooner, and raised concerns about the limited recommendations from his doctor.

Im just broken, he said. Im a little angry in a way too. I think that some people have failed in stepping in to save my brothers life. I think some steps should have been taken.

Marjorie Coons told WHAM that she has tested negative for COVID-19, but she and her family are remaining quarantined while they grieve.

The Livingston County Department of Health told Spectrum that they were not alerted to Vinnie Coons illness until he died. Health officials say people should get tested once they show symptoms, which include fever, cough or trouble breathing.

We know this virus is deadly and now that reality has hit home in a terrible, tragic way. We are sending our deepest condolences to this mans family and friends, Livingston County Public Health Director Jennifer Rodriguez said in a statement. To our residents, stay home and stay safe. We must work together to protect the health and safety of all community members."

Friends and family set up a memorial page for Vinnie Coons on Facebook. A GoFundMe has also been set up to help pay for medical expenses, including the autopsy, and a funeral.

More than 86,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in New York state, including at least 18 in Livingston County, located south of Rochester. Over 216,000 have been infected nationwide, and over 5,000 have died in the U.S.

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Coronavirus: Its not just the elderly who are at risk of severe illness

Parents make heart-wrenching decision to not visit newborn until coronavirus scare passes

When will the peak of the coronavirus pandemic hit CNY? What to watch for
Plaque bearing the United Nations logo above the podium of the General Assembly Hall. (File Photo: Ryan Brown/UN Photo/IANS) Image Source: PK

United Nations, April 3 : The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution on COVID-19, calling for "intensified" international cooperation to defeat the pandemic.

Resolution 74/270 adopted by the world body on Thursday states that the 193-member UNGA notes "with great concern" the threat to human health, safety and well-being caused by COVID-19, which continues to spread globally, reports Xinhua news agency.

It says the UNGA recognizes the "unprecedented" effects of the pandemic, including the severe disruption to societies and economies, as well as to global travel and commerce, and the devastating impact on the livelihood of people.

The UNGA also recognizes that the pandemic requires a "global response" based on unity, solidarity and renewed multilateral cooperation, it said.

The resolution therefore calls for "intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat the pandemic, including by exchanging information, scientific knowledge and best practices and by applying the relevant guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization".

It calls upon the UN system, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, to work with all relevant actors to mobilize a coordinated global response to the pandemic and its adverse social, economic and financial impact on all societies.

The resolution is the first to be adopted by the UNGA on the pandemic that is sweeping the world and causing great global concern.

It was adopted under a silence procedure, as the UNGA is not holding meetings due to the pandemic.

The resolution comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally has crossed the 1 million mark.

As of Friday, there were a total of 1,017,693 coronavirus cases across the world, with 53,179 deaths, while 212,072 others have recovered, according to the new tally from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

The US has reported the highest number of cases, at 245,573, along with 6,058 deaths.

Italy, with an overall 115,242 cases, accounts for the highest number of deaths at 13,915.

In terms of the number of cases, Spain comes third with 112,065 infections, while it has the second highest death toll after Italy with 10,348 fatalities.
PM faces questions over 'immunity passports' for recovered coronavirus patients

Boris Johnson faces fresh questions over the UKs coronavirus battleplan after it emerged controversial immunity passports could be issued to patients who have recovered.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed the government is considering handing out the documents to allow people to start getting back to normal life amid a nationwide lockdown.

But experts have been quick to criticise the potential move, describing it as dangerous and warning it could lead to people deliberately trying to get infected to obtain one of the certificates.

Charles to open London's NHS Nightingale Hospital via video link

Prince Charles will today open London's huge new NHS Nightingale Hospital via video link as he pays tribute to those on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus.

The heir to the throne will also thank those who have worked tirelessly" to create the new medical facility at the ExCel centre to ease the growing pressure on hospitals amid the crisis.

The Prince of Wales will carry out the engagement from Birkhall, his home in Scotland on the Balmoral estate, where he is recovering after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

Corbyn's wife defends outgoing Labour leader's legacy in rare intervention

Jeremy Corbyns wife has defended the ongoing Labour leaders legacy in a rare public intervention before his successor is named.

Laura Alvarez said it was difficult to watch her husband be vilified and attacked by his own party during his five years in the top job.

His wife of seven years has steered clear of making public comments since the 70-year-old was elected Labour leader in 2015.

But as Mr Corbyn prepares to stand down on Saturday when his replacement is revealed, she decided to speak out and issue a warning to those vying to take his position.

Soaring temperatures to last into next week

Britain is set to enjoy yet even more sunshine and unseasonably high temperatures after a weekend of heat, with the mercury expected to hit 20C on Sunday,

After a weekend hotter than Greece and Portugal, even more warm weather is on the way.

Temperatures are expected to peak at about 16 - 17C on Monday. Thats far above the average for this time of year, which is around 12C.

The hot weather comes as Brits are still being told to stay at home and comply with the government's coronavirus lockdown measures.

Nation's biggest stars pay tribute to NHS

Celebrities make a show of thanks for frontline NHS key workers 1 /9 Celebrities make a show of thanks for frontline NHS key workers Daniel Craig and Phoebe Waller-Bridge were among stars featuring in celebrity show of thanks to the NHS NHS/Twitter PA PA PA PA PA Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge was among stars who join in a show of thanks for NHS workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis NHS/Twitter

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, David Beckham, Sir Elton John and Daniel Craig were among A-listers who paid tribute to NHS staff risking their lives to fight coronavirus.

Celebrities from the world of film, television, music and sport were filmed holding up a placards bearing the hashtag slogans OurNHSPeople and ThankYouNHS.

The video was shared as the nation saluted key workers for a second successive Thursday.
President Donald Trump says he has brokered a deal with Saudi Arabia and Russia that would see sweeping oil output cuts. Riyadh has called for emergency talks, and Moscow has said it no longer plans to hike production in a battle for market share. But the question remains: even if the world's top three producers reach an unprecedented pact to curb oil output, can any deal remove enough oil when the coronavirus has destroyed a third of global demand for crude? One thing, however, has become clear: as oil prices in the past three months made some of their biggest gyrations ...

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Digital Editor
A day after the Navy abruptly fired the captain of a carrier over the way he made a plea for resources amid a novel coronavirus outbreak, more than 120,000 have signed a petition calling for the service to put him back in charge.

Capt. Brett Crozier's Thursday firing from his post as captain of the carrier Theodore Roosevelt sent shocks far beyond the defense community. Videos shot from the carrier and shared to social media showed Crozier departing to applause as sailors chanted his name. One of those videos was reshared via Twitter by Joe Biden, former vice president and now a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Captain Crozier was faithful to his duty -- both to his sailors and his country. Navy leadership sent a chilling message about speaking truth to power," Biden wrote in the tweet. "The poor judgment here belongs to the Trump Admin, not a courageous officer trying to protect his sailors."

Crozier's letter went public as coronavirus cases aboard the Roosevelt surged past 100 following a port visit to Vietnam. The carrier was ultimately sidelined in Guam, and plans made for evacuation of most of the nearly 5,000 personnel aboard.

Related: Videos Show Sailors Sending Off Ousted USS Roosevelt Commander with Cheers

"We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die," Crozier wrote in the message. "If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset -- our Sailors."

Navy officials, who addressed the media at the Pentagon on Thursday evening in a hastily assembled press conference, have said Crozier acted unprofessionally by copying several dozen personnel on an email in which he described in detail his struggle to care for sailors on a virus-stricken ship. The email would ultimately be published by the San Francisco Chronicle. Resources were already on the way when Crozier sent his message, they contended, adding that he should have gone to his direct commander for help.

"It misrepresented the facts of what was going on on the ship as well," Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said. "And at the same time, the families here in the United States were panicked about the reality."

The groundswell around Crozier continues to grow.

"He's my CO and I want him to know he did right by us, even if it won't bring him back," a signer of the Change.org petition wrote Thursday.

The author of the petition, an active-duty enlisted sailor, told Military.com he had not served under Crozier, but had met him at a friend's promotion ceremony. The sailor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said he was struck by Crozier's genuine demeanor and the time he took to greet each guest individually.

"I am grateful for his actions," the sailor said. "I feel like he did the right thing for his shipmates and I'd like to return the favor. His philosophy was, 'Keep your head on a swivel, an eye on your shipmate and be ready for the fight when the day comes.' He lived up to that, and now it's our turn to fight for him."

The sailor added that he was gratified, but not surprised, to see his petition get viral attention.

"I hope the chain of command intervenes," he said. "I'd also love to see President [Donald] Trump take action."

On Capitol Hill, a group of Senate Democrats is calling for intervention of a different kind. Some 17 senators signed on to a letter to Defense Department Inspector General Glenn Fine, asking that the IG formally investigate the Navy's response to the coronavirus outbreak aboard the Roosevelt and Modly's decision to fire Crozier.

"We are particularly alarmed by the stark reversal from the Navy regarding CAPT Crozier's leadership during this crisis," the letter, first reported by Bloomberg, stated. "One day before CAPT Crozier was relieved of command, the Acting Secretary of the Navy stated in reference to the Captain's 30 March request for assistance that 'the fact that he wrote the letter to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any kind of retaliation.' [...] This reversal sends a mixed message to sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt and, given the remarkable show of support for CAPT Crozier by members of his crew, we are additionally worried about the impact of this decision on morale and readiness."

In a briefing with the press Friday afternoon, Pentagon Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman declined to address the firing and ensuing controversy directly. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, who appeared Friday on the Fox News show "Outnumbered Overtime," voiced support for Modly, though he acknowledged he didn't have all the details on the matter.

One party who has yet to weigh in, however, is Trump. The president has sidestepped tradition to intervene in military affairs already during his term, using his authority to pardon two soldiers in connection with war crimes charges and reinstate the rank of a Navy SEAL demoted for taking a photo with a corpse in a war zone.

Asked about Crozier during a Thursday night White House briefing, Trump demurred, appearing to disagree with the premise of a question asking whether the captain had been fired for trying to save the lives of sailors under his command.

"Oh, I don't think so at all. But we're going to wait a little while because I understand there's a news conference by the secretary of defense about that," Trump said. "But, you know, I don't -- I don't agree with that at all. Not at all. Not even a little bit."

He was silent on the subject Friday.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Read more: Trump Orders VA to Stop Withholding Money from Veterans
SSH COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE April 23, 2020, AT 9:00 A.M

ROBUST SALES GROWTH WITH STRONG LICENSE AND SUBSCRIPTION SALES PERFORMANCE, POSITIVE OPERATING CASH FLOW

January-March 2020: Our net sales grew 15.9 % compared to the previous year, driven mainly by strong license sales and supported by growth in our subscription revenue.

Net sales totaled EUR 3.1 million (1-3/2019: EUR 2.7 million).

EBITDA was EUR -0.1 million (EUR -0.8 million).

Operating loss was EUR -0.6 million (EUR -1.3 million).

Loss for the period was EUR -0.4 million (EUR -1.2 million).

Earnings per share was EUR -0.02 (EUR -0.04).

Operating cash flow was EUR 1.2 million positive (EUR 0.5 million), and our cash position remained strong. Equity ratio remained good 77.7 % (80.3 %). Liquid assets were EUR 11.7 million (EUR 12.5 million).

KEY FIGURES EUR million 1-3/2020 1-3/2019 Change % 1-12/2019 Net sales 3.1 2.7 15.9 14.4 EBITDA -0.1 -0.8 92.5 0.9 % of net sales -1.8 -28.3 93.5 6.0 Operating profit/loss -0.6 -1.3 54.5 -1.2 % of net sales -18.5 -47.1 60.7 -8.4 Profit/loss before taxes -0.4 -1.2 62.8 -1.3 Profit/loss -0.4 -1.2 64.4 -1.5 Return on equity, % -3.8 -9.2 58.7 -11.3 Return on investment, % -3.7 -8.7 57.8 -9.8 Liquid assets 11.7 12.5 -6.2 12.0 Gearing (%) -102.4 -97.5 -5.0 -92.3 Equity ratio (%) 77.7 80.3 -3.3 78.0 Earnings per share, EUR -0.02 -0.04 54.3 -0.06 Shareholders' equity per share, EUR 0.28 0.31 -11.9 0.31

SSH Communications Security provides alternative performance measures, which are not defined by IFRS standards. Alternative performance measures should not be considered as substitutes for performance measures in accordance with the IFRS. From the first quarter of 2020 onwards, SSH Communications Security has introduced the following new alternative performance measures:

EBITDA = Operating profit/loss + depreciation and amortization

CEO REVIEW

Valued shareholders, customers, partners, and co-workers,

The first quarter of 2020 unrolled against an unprecedented backdrop: during the quarter, the COVID-19 pandemic altered the world as we know it. While the immediate business impact of the pandemic was still relatively minor, the pandemic profoundly changed the way we operate. SSH.COM adopted a remote work posture in early March and will remain in this posture for as long as it is required to ensure the safety of our employees.

I am proud of how the entire SSH.COM team responded to the crisis: productivity has remained high, new product versions were released, and our sales are functioning well.

Our financial performance was not significantly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak during the first quarter. Our net sales grew by 16 % compared to Q1 2019. All other key figures also improved: we improved our gross margin, our operating expenses remained flat despite the growth in sales, and we improved our EBITDA significantly.

Financial Performance

Net sales for the first quarter were EUR 3.1 million (EUR 2.7 million), up 16 % compared to Q1 2019. The increase in revenue was driven by the significant growth of 109 % in SSH software fees. The main driver of the growth was a substantial license sales increase, which was also supported by growth in subscription revenue. Our maintenance sales stayed strong, showing a slight growth compared to Q1 2019.

Due to continued careful cost management, the company's operating expenses stayed flat despite the sales increase. The EBITDA for the quarter improved significantly to EUR -0.1 million (EUR -0.8). Similarly, we narrowed our operating loss and loss considerably to EUR -0.6 million (EUR -1.2 million) and EUR -0.4 million (-1.2 million), respectively.

Operating cash flow for the quarter was EUR 1.2 million (0.5 million). Our balance sheet and cash position remain strong and allow SSH to proceed with the execution of its strategy.

Sales Performance

From a regional perspective, sales in the AMER and EMEA regions stayed flat compared to Q1 2019, while the APAC region showed robust growth of 85 % compared to Q1 2019.

The continued growth in the APAC region shows the company's increasing strength in the South-East Asian market. The highlight of the region was a large Tectia and PrivX license and subscription deal to one of the largest banks in Asia, OCBC Bank, towards the end of the quarter.

For our market-leading SSH key management product, UKM, we saw a license deal expansion to a major US financial institution that we initially signed in 2019. For PrivX, we saw several new deals from the financial services, telco, and consumer goods segments.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was not yet severe during the quarter, but we saw some project delays by customers who are assessing the effects of the pandemic on their business.

PrivX Business

The development of the SaaS version of PrivX is proceeding well, and we anticipate the pilot launch during Q2.

We continued to see increasing demand for PrivX from the enterprise segment. We had several new deals, and several more opportunities are nearing closing in our sales pipeline. An illustrative example of these new customer cases was Aktia Bank, which chose PrivX to replace its existing Privileged Access Management solutions as they no longer matched Aktia's needs and could not scale with Aktia's needs.

We have started the active conversion of existing CryptoAuditor customers to use PrivX. We saw the first successful conversion projects during the quarter.

We also received further public funding for PrivX development during the quarter. This funding of nearly EUR 750.000 from the EU and Business Finland helps to take PrivX development further and supports, in particular, the development of machine-to-machine, automation, and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) features of PrivX.

Looking forward

There were significant changes in our organization during the quarter. At the end of March, I started as the CEO, and our founder and largest shareholder, Tatu Ylonen, returned to the position of Chairman of the Board. I am excited to take the helm of SSH and look forward to working closely with Tatu and the full SSH.COM team.

Our medium and long-term focus is to turn SSH towards a path of sustainable, profitable growth, and to increase our shareholder value significantly. While the full impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown, we see many opportunities for SSH. Our product portfolio is strong and consists of both mature and up-and-coming products. These products address and solve fundamental cybersecurity challenges that enterprises worldwide face during and after the crisis.

We withdrew our 2020 guidance on March 23 due to the changes in the business environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the difficulty in forecasting their impact on our performance. While I was not yet a part of the team making this decision, I strongly support it. While our performance in the first quarter was not impacted in a significant manner, it is still too early to assess the full business impact of the pandemic accurately. We will issue new guidance only when we have better visibility.

We are preparing for the short-term future with even more rigorous cost controls to make sure we not only survive this crisis but emerge strongly from it, ready to grow and thrive. To ensure our ability to take advantage of the new opportunities presented, we will keep investing in developing our products and our operational capabilities, even during this crisis.

To further safeguard our cash position and ensure we can make sufficient investments in our future, we are also actively pursuing all available support funding options. In addition to the product development funding we announced recently, we have already received a smaller government support grant, and we are in the process of securing more grant and loan-based support funding.

We have on our balance sheet a EUR 12.0 million perpetual convertible capital security, which has carried an interest rate of 7.5 % per annum. According to the terms and conditions of the emission, the instrument had an interest reset date at the end of March, where the per annum interest rate increased 4.0 percentage points to 11.5 %. We have had ongoing negotiations concerning the restructuring of the instrument, but these negotiations were put on hold until the COVID-19 related turmoil on the capital markets subsides. We will evaluate the situation during the coming months. The increased interest rate does not have an immediate impact on the cash flow in 2020, as interest is paid in arrears every March.

To give our investors better visibility into our performance and the health of our core business, we are introducing EBITDA (Operating profit/loss + depreciation and amortization) as a key non-IFRS alternative performance measure in our financial reports. EBITDA is a good measure of SSH's operating performance and improves visibility into our core business performance.

Again, I am looking forward to working with the SSH.COM team and all of you. This year is likely to be challenging, and the year may be marked by some rough periods. My priorities are ensuring the safety and well-being of our team as well as managing our cash and resources wisely so that we can emerge from this crisis in good shape. Then, we will focus on sustainable, profitable growth and strengthening our position on the cybersecurity market.

Teemu Tunkelo

Chief Executive Officer



CONSOLIDATED NET SALES

Consolidated net sales for January-March totaled EUR 3.1 million (EUR 2.7 million), increased by 15.9 %, year on year.

The Americas region accounted for 51.6 % (58.8 %); the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region 19.4 % (23.0 %); and the Asia Pacific region 29.0 % (18.2 %) of reported net sales.

EUR million 1-3/2020 1-3/2019 Change % 1-12/2019 BY SEGMENT AMERICAS 1.6 1.6 1.8 7.8 APAC 0.9 0.5 84.6 2.9 EMEA 0.6 0.6 -2.5 3.6 Total 3.1 2.7 15.9 14.4 BY OPERATION Software fees 0.9 0.5 108.7 5.2 Professional services & other 0.0 0.1 -73.3 0.6 Recurring revenue 2.1 2.1 1.3 8.6 Total 3.1 2.7 15.9 14.4

Most of the company's invoicing is U.S. dollar-based. With comparable exchange rates, net sales growth would have been -12.8 % compared with the corresponding period in 2019.

RESULTS AND EXPENSES

Operating loss for January-March was EUR -0.6 million (EUR -1.3 million), with net loss totaling EUR -0.4 million (EUR -1.2 million).

Selling, marketing, and customer support expenses for the January-March reporting period amounted to EUR -1.8 million (EUR -2.0 million), while research and development expenses totaled EUR -1.3 million (EUR -1.1 million) and administrative expenses EUR -0.7 million (EUR -0.6 million).

BALANCE SHEET AND FINANCIAL POSITION

The financial position of SSH Communications Security was good during the reporting period. The consolidated balance sheet total on March 31, 2020, stood at EUR 20.8 million (March 31, 2019: EUR 20.8 million; December 31, 2019: EUR 23.8 million), of which liquid assets accounted for EUR 11.7 million (March 31, 2019: EUR 12.5 million; December 31, 2019: EUR 12.0 million), or 56.2 % of the balance sheet total). Interest-bearing liabilities were EUR 0.8 million (March 31, 2019 EUR 0.7 million, December 31, 2019 EUR 0.9 million). On March 31, 2020, gearing, or the ratio of net liabilities to shareholders' equity, was -102.4 % (March 31, 2019 -97.5 %; December 31, 2019 -92.3 %) and the equity ratio stood at 77.7 % (March 31, 2019 80.3 %; December 31, 2019 78.0 %).

The reported gross capital expenditure for the period totaled EUR 0.6 million (EUR 0.6 million). The reported financial income and expenses amounting in total to EUR 0.1 million (EUR 0.1 million) consisted mainly of exchange rate gains or losses and interest expenses from sales and leasing contracts.

During January-March, SSH Communications Security reported a cash flow of EUR 1.2 million (EUR 0.5 million) from business operations, and investments showed a cash flow of EUR -0.6 million (EUR -0.6 million). Cash flow from financing totaled EUR -1.0 million (EUR -1.0 million). Cash flow from financing includes the payment of hybrid instrument interest of EUR 0.9 million and the cash payment for the principal portion of the lease liability of EUR 0.1 million. Total cash flow from operations, investments, and financing was negative EUR -0.4 million (EUR -1.1 million).

There were no short-term investments at the end of the reporting period.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Research and development expenses for January-March totaled EUR -1.3 million (EUR -1.1 million), the equivalent of 40.6 % of net sales (42.9 %). During January-March, the company has capitalized new product R&D costs EUR 0.4 million (EUR 0.6 million). Capitalized product development expenses were reduced by the amount of EUR 0.2 million received as funding from the EU in 2019 (EUR 0.0 million). Depreciation from R&D capitalization assets was EUR -0.4 million (EUR -0.4 million).

HUMAN RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATION

At the end of March, the Group had 87 employees on its payroll (March 31, 2019: 88; December 31, 2018: 90). The number of employees decreased by one person from the previous year and by three persons from the year-end (-3.3 %).

At the end of the period, 34.5 % (37.5 %) of the employees worked in sales, marketing and customer services, 52.9 % (50.0 %) in R&D, and 12.6 % (12.5 %) in corporate administration.

BOARD AND AUDITORS

The Annual General Meeting of SSH Communications Oyj was held on March 26, 2020. The Annual General Meeting unanimously adopted the financial statement and consolidated financial statement and granted discharge from liability to the Board members and CEO who have been active during the accounting period between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019. Tatu Ylonen was re-elected, and Aino-Mari Kiianmies and Sampo Kellomaki were elected as new members of the Board of Directors. Tatu Ylonen was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Board's organizing meeting.

The Authorized Public Accountants Ernst & Young Oy was re-elected as the auditor of the company. Ernst & Young Oy have informed that Erkka Talvinko, Authorized Public Accountant, will continue to act as the principal auditor.

SHARES, SHAREHOLDING, AND CHANGES IN GROUP STRUCTURE

The reported trading volume of SSH Communications Security shares totaled 1,963,022 shares (valued at EUR 2,100,885). The highest quotation was EUR 1.45 and the lowest EUR 0.65. The trade-weighted average share price for the period was EUR 1.07, and the share closed at EUR 0.80 (March 31, 2020).

The company's principal owner Tatu Ylonen holds directly 47.2 %, Timo Syrjala holds directly and through his company Acme Investments SPF S.a.r.l. 9.2 % and Juha Mikkonen holds directly 5.2 % of the company's shares. More information about the shareholding can be obtained from the company's web site www.ssh.com.

No dividend or return of capital has been distributed during the reporting period.

SHARE CAPITAL AND BOARD AUTHORIZATIONS

The company's registered share capital on March 31, 2020, was EUR 1,164,066.99, consisting of 38,802,233 shares.

The Annual General Meeting approved the Board of Directors' proposal to authorize the Board of Directors to decide upon the issuing of a maximum of 6,000,000 shares as a share issue against payment or by giving stock options or other special rights entitling to shares, in accordance with Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act, either according to the shareholders' pre-emptive right to share subscription or deviating from this right, in one or more tranches. Based on the authorization, it can be either issuing of new shares or transfer of own shares, which the company possibly has in its possession.

Based on the authorization, the Board of Directors shall have the same rights as the Annual General Meeting to decide upon the issuing of shares against payment and special rights (including stock options) in accordance with Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act. Thereby, the authorization to be given to the Board of Directors includes, inter alia, the right to deviate from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights with directed issues providing that the company has a weighty financial reason for the deviation in respect of the share issue against payment.



Furthermore, the authorization includes the Board of Directors' right to decide upon who are entitled to the shares and/or stock options or special rights in accordance with Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act as well as upon the related compensation, subscription and payment periods and the registering of the subscription price into the share capital or invested non-restricted equity fund within the limits of the Finnish Companies Act.



The authorization will be valid until the next Annual General Meeting, but will however expire at the latest on June 30, 2021.



The Annual General Meeting approved the Board of Directors' proposal to authorize the Board of Directors to decide upon acquisition of a maximum of 2,000,000 own shares of the company with assets belonging to the company's non-restricted equity, which amounts to approximately 5.2 percent of the company's total shares. The shares can also be acquired otherwise than in proportion to the holdings of the existing shareholders. The maximum compensation to be paid for the acquired shares shall be the market price at the time of purchase, which is determined in public trading.

The Board of Directors proposes that the authorization for the acquiring of the company's own shares would be used, inter alia, in order to strengthen the company's capital structure, to finance and realize corporate acquisitions and other arrangements, to realize the share-based incentive programs of the company or otherwise to be kept by the company, to be transferred for other purposes or to be canceled. The acquisition of shares reduces the company's distributable non-restricted equity.

A decision concerning the acquiring of own shares cannot be made so that the combined amount of the own shares, which are in possession of, or held as pledges by, the company or its subsidiaries exceeds one-tenth of all shares. The Board of Directors shall decide upon all other matters related to the acquisition of shares.



The authorization will be valid until the next Annual General Meeting but will however expire at the latest on June 30, 2021.

CHANGES IN GROUP MANAGEMENT TEAM

Teemu Tunkelo started as Chief Executive officer on March 24, 2020.

Simo Karkkulainen, Chief Marketing Officer and a member of the Management Team, left the company on February 15, 2020.

After these changes, the Group Management Team consists of seven members at the end of March 2020:

Teemu Tunkelo, Chief Executive Officer

Sami Ahvenniemi, Chief Customer Officer

Timo Lilja, VP of Engineering

Jussi Mononen, VP Strategy and Business Development

Niklas Nordstrom, Chief Financial Officer

Markku Rossi, Chief Technology Officer

Joe Scaff, Chief Sales Officer

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a major new macro-level risk that may affect SSH Communications Security. Otherwise, the most substantial risks that might impact the profitability of the company have remained by and large the same as in the previous reporting period and are listed below.

Largest risks:

- uncertainty of the macroeconomic environment, such as the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

- cybercrime, including e.g., ransomware

- delays in product development and closing new business as well as phasing of new business cases

- ability to execute the strategy

- ability to retain and recruit key personnel

- maintaining the ability to innovate and develop the product portfolio including intellectual property rights (IPR)

- IPR litigation and utilization of the patent portfolio

- a large portion of the company revenue is invoiced in USD currency, and possible significant fluctuation in USD currency rates during 2020 could have unpredictable effects for profitability that are at the time difficult to estimate. The company decides on hedging of USD based contracts case by case.





Principles and organization of risk management of SSH Communications Security can be read from the company's webpage: www.ssh.com.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the reporting period, there have not been any significant transactions with related parties.





EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE

After the balance sheet date, there have not been any significant transactions.



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME STATEMENT EUR million 1-3/2020 1-3/2019 1-12/2019 Net sales 3.1 2.7 14.4 Cost of sales -0.1 -0.2 -0.5 Gross margin 3.0 2.5 13.9 Other operating income 0.1 0.0 0.1 Selling, marketing, and customer support expenses -1.8 -2.0 -7.5 Research and development expenses -1.3 -1.1 -4.9 Administrative expenses -0.7 -0.6 -2.9 Operating profit/loss -0.6 -1.3 -1.2 Financial income and expenses 0.1 0.1 -0.1 Profit/loss before taxes -0.4 -1.2 -1.3 Taxes 0.0 -0.0 -0.1 Profit/loss for the period -0.4 -1.2 -1.5 Attributable to: Owners of the parent company -0.4 -1.2 -1.3 Non-controlling interests -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.4 -1.2 -1.5 Other comprehensive income Items which might be later transferred to profit or loss: Foreign subsidiary translation differences -0.1 -0.0 -0.0 Total comprehensive income -0.5 -1.3 -1.5 Attributable to: Owners of the parent company -0.5 -1.2 -1.3 Non-controlling interest -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.5 -1.3 -1.5 Earnings per share Earnings per share (EUR) -0.02 -0.04 -0.06 Diluted earnings per share (EUR) -0.02 -0.04 -0.06







CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET EUR million March 31, 2020 March 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2019 ASSETS Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 0.2 0.1 0.1 Right-of-use assets 0.2 0.5 0.3 Intangible assets 5.5 5.3 5.5 Investments 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total non-current assets 5.8 6.0 5.9 Current assets Inventories 0.0 0.0 0.0 Trade and other receivables 3.3 2.3 5.9 Financial assets 0.0 0.0 0.0 Cash and cash equivalents 11.7 12.5 12.0 Total current assets 15.0 14.8 17.9 Total assets 20.8 20.8 23.8 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Equity Attributable to parent company's shareholders 10.1 11.3 11.4 Non-controlling interest 0.5 0.8 0.6 Total equity 10.7 12.1 12.0 Non-current liabilities Borrowings 0.6 0.2 0.6 Lease liabilities 0.0 0.2 0.1 Advances received and deferred revenue 1.4 0.7 2.4 Total non-current liabilities 2.1 1.0 3.0 Current liabilities Trade and other payables 2.3 2.3 2.5 Lease liabilities 0.2 0.3 0.2 Advances received and deferred revenue 5.7 5.0 6.0 Total current liabilities 8.1 7.7 8.7 Total equity and liabilities 20.8 20.8 23.8

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY Attributable to the owners of the Company EUR million Share capital Hybrid capital securities Translation difference Unrestricted invested equity fund Retained earnings Total Non-controlling interests Total equity Equity Jan 1, 2019 1.2 12.0 -1.4 22.7 -21.1 13.4 0.8 14.2 Change - - -0.0 - -0.9 -0.9 - -0.9 Net profit -1.2 -1.2 -0.1 -1.2 Equity March 31, 2019 1.2 12.0 -1.5 22.7 -23.1 11.3 0.8 12.1 Change - - 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 - 0.2 Net profit -0.1 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 Equity Dec 31, 2019 1.2 12.0 -1.4 22.7 -23.0 11.4 0.6 12.0 Change - - -0.1 - -0.9 -0.9 - -0.9 Net profit -0.4 -0.4 -0.1 -0.4 Equity March 31, 2020 1.2 12.0 -1.5 22.7 -24.2 10.1 0.5 10.7

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS EUR million 1-3/2020 1-3/2019 1-12/2019 Cash flow from operations 1.2 0.5 0.3 whereof change in working capital 1.3 1.2 -0.6 Cash flow from investing activities -0.6 -0.6 -1.1 Cash flow from financing activities -1.0 -1.0 -0.8 Increase(+) / decrease(-) in cash -0.4 -1.1 -1.6 Cash at period start 12.0 13.5 13.5 Effect of exchange rate 0.2 0.1 0.1 Cash at period end 11.7 12.5 12.0

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

The interim report for the three months reporting period ended March 31, 2020, has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. This interim report does not include all the information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. The information presented in this interim report is unaudited.

The accounting policies adopted for this interim report are consistent with those applied in 2019 consolidated financial statements except for the adoption of new standards effective as of January 1, 2020. The Group has not early adopted any standard, interpretation or amendment that has been issued but is not yet effective.

Several amendments and interpretations apply for the first time in 2020, but do not have an impact on the interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the SSH Group.

CHANGES IN PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT EUR million 31 March 2020 31 March 2019 31 Dec 2019 Carrying amount in the beginning of the period 0.1 0.2 0.2 Increase 0.0 - 0.0 Depreciation and impairment -0.0 -0.0 -0.1 Foreign exchange rate differences 0.0 0.0 0.0 Carrying amount at the end of the period 0.2 0.1 0.1

CHANGES IN RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS EUR million 31 March 2020 31 March 2019 31 Dec 2019 Carrying amount in the beginning of the period 0.3 0.5 0.5 Increase - 0.1 0.1 Decrease - - 0.0 Depreciation and impairment -0.1 -0.1 -0.3 Foreign exchange rate differences 0.0 0.0 0.0 Carrying amount at the end of the period 0.2 0.5 0.3

Right-of-use assets include leased offices. The Helsinki office has moved to new premises in April 2020. The new lease contract is for a period of three years and will add right-of-use assets and lease liabilities with EUR 0.6 million in April 2020.

CHANGES IN INTANGIBLE ASSETS EUR million 31 March 2020 31 March 2019 31 Dec 2019 Carrying amount in the beginning of the period 5.5 5.2 5.2 Increase 0.4 0.6 2.0 Amortization and impairment -0.4 -0.4 -1.7 Foreign exchange rate differences 0.0 -0.0 0.0 Carrying amount at the end of the period 5.5 5.3 5.5

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES EUR million 31 March 2020 31 March 2019 31 Dec 2019 Interest on hybrid capital securities 0.0 0.0 0.7 Rent security deposits 0.2 0.1 0.1







KEY FIGURES AND RATIOS

SSH Communications Security provides alternative performance measures, which are not defined by IFRS-standards. Alternative performance measures should not be considered as substitutes for performance measures in accordance with the IFRS. From the first quarter of 2020 onwards, SSH Communications Security has introduced the following new alternative performance measures:

EBITDA = Operating profit/loss + depreciation and amortization

EUR million 1-3/2020 1-3/2019 1-12/2019 Net sales 3.1 2.7 14.4 EBITDA -0.1 -0.8 0.9 % of net sales -1.8 -28.3 6.0 Operating profit/loss -0.6 -1.3 -1.2 % of net sales -18.5 -47.1 -8.4 Profit/loss before taxes -0.4 -1.2 -1.3 % of net sales -14.5 -45.1 -9.3 Return on equity (%) -3.8 -9.2 -11.3 Return on investment (%) -3.7 -8.7 -9.8 Interest-bearing net liabilities -10.9 -11.8 -11.1 Equity ratio (%) 77.7 80.3 78.0 Gearing (%) -102.4 -97.5 -92.3 Gross capital expenditure 0.6 0.6 2.0 % of net sales 19.8 20.7 13.9 R&D expenses -1.3 -1.1 -4.9 % of net sales 40.6 42.9 34.0 Personnel, period average 89 88 88 Personnel, period end 87 88 90

PER SHARE DATA EUR 1-3/2020 1-3/2019 1-12/2019 Earnings per share undiluted1 -0.02 -0.04 -0.06 Earnings per share diluted1 -0.02 -0.04 -0.06 Equity per share 0.28 0.31 0.31 No. of shares at period average (thousand) 38 802 38 802 38 802 No. of shares at period end (thousand) 38 802 38 802 38 802 Share performance Average price 1.07 1.61 1.34 Low 0.65 1.32 0.97 High 1.45 1.97 1.97 Share price period end 0.80 1.37 1.04 Market capitalization period end (EUR million) 31.0 53.2 40.2 Volume of shares traded (million) 2.0 1.2 5.3 Volume of shares traded as % of total 5.1 3.1 10.2 Value of shares traded (EUR million) 2.1 1.9 4.0 Price per earnings ratio (P/E) neg. neg. neg. Dividend per share 0.00 0.00 0.00 Dividend per earnings, % 0.00 0.00 0.00 Effective return on dividend, % 0.00 0.00 0.00



1 Earnings per share is impacted by the unpaid interest of hybrid capital securities

RECONCILIATION OF ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

The following table presents the reconciliation of EBITDA to the operating profit/loss.

EUR million 1-3/2020 1-3/2019 1-12/2019 EBITDA -0.1 -0.8 0.9 Depreciations and amortizations -0.5 -0.5 -2.1 Operating profit/loss -0.6 -1.3 -1.2

DISCLAIMER

The content in this report is provided by SSH Communications Security and its third-party content providers for your personal information only. And does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase any securities. Nor does it provide any form of advice (investment. tax. legal) amounting to investment advice. Or make any recommendations regarding particular investments or products. SSH Communications Security does not provide investment advice or recommendations to buy or sell its shares or the shares of others. If you are interested in investing in SSH Communications Security, please contact your financial adviser for further details and information. Past performance of SSH Communications Security shares is not indicative of future results. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE COMPULSORY LAW SSH COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. AS TO THE AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY OF THE CONTENT PROVIDED, OR AS TO THE FITNESS OF THE INFORMATION FOR ANY PURPOSE.

SSH Communications Security will release its next interim report for the period January 1 - June 30, 2020, on July 21, 2020.

Helsinki, April 23, 2020

SSH COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY

Board of Directors

Teemu Tunkelo

CEO

For further information, please contact:

Teemu Tunkelo, CEO tel. +41 79 227 8362

Niklas Nordstrom, CFO tel. +358 50 541 0543

Distribution:

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Major media

www.SSH.com
* Wave of distressed debt from emerging markets expected

* Payment delays, lower recovery anticipated

* May need changes to laws governing bonds

By Tom Arnold

LONDON, April 3 (Reuters) - Private sector creditors face potential delays to payments and lower recovery values from a wave of distressed sovereign debt from emerging markets hammered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Around $190 billion in emerging market sovereign bonds are trading at a 1,000 basis point premium above benchmark U.S. Treasuries, considered the threshold for debt to be classed as distressed, according to ING analysts.

Against this backdrop, Zambia and Kyrgyzstan are among the latest countries taking steps to restructure their debt, joining Argentina, Lebanon and Venezuela which were already in distress before the current crisis.

More could join with around 21% of emerging market sovereign dollar bonds trading at a yield above 10%, signalling rising borrowing costs.

"Governments already struggling under increasing costs relating to the outbreak may find it politically untenable to repay international creditors when their population is suffering," said Jim Ho, a debt restructuring lawyer at Cleary Gottlieb.

"If a suspension of debt payments becomes inevitable as the crisis worsens, the goal is to ensure that any debt restructuring is done in an orderly fashion."

The list of countries seeking help is poised to grow as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund urged official bilateral creditors to provide debt relief to help lower-income nations struggling with the effects of the coronavirus.

EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

Tellimer estimates that around 22 International Development Association (IDA) countries have international bonds outstanding, with just over half of them in Sub-Saharan Africa, amounting to a total stock of nearly $60 billion.

So far, the IMF and World Bank have only asked bilateral lenders for some debt relief.

However, calls for private investors to bear a share of the burden will likely increase into the IMF Spring Meetings on April 16-17, said Trieu Pham, EM sovereign debt strategist at ING, noting that the UN Economic Commission for Africa had called for sovereign bondholders to be part of any solution.

Story continues

A financing backstop by the IMF generally requires private creditors to take a hit, as is the case in Argentina.

Fund managers may have to share the pain in any deal to help some debt-laden countries, particularly those also facing a hit from lower commodity prices, said Nachu Chockalingam, senior emerging market debt portfolio manager at Federated Hermes.

"All creditors will have to be at the negotiating table at some point as some of these countries are so highly indebted and facing issues on the economic side," she said.

For private creditors that could mean partial debt relief, conversions into longer-term and lower interest instruments, postponing 2020 bond redemptions by a year and waiving interest payments this year, said Pham.

How this is carried out will be tricky.

One option, the establishment of a bankruptcy court for countries, was previously considered by the IMF in the early 2000s but floundered because of lack of political support.

Another is to fall back on so-called collective action clauses used in some existing bond contracts to stop a minority of dissenting creditors from blocking a settlement agreed by the majority, Ho said.

"Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures," he said. "If there were to be widespread defaults, we may need to consider some kind of legislative solution in order to ensure an orderly restructuring for all debtors in the same situation."

(Reporting by Tom Arnold, Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
April 2, 2020

News

By C. Todd Lopez

Defense.gov

250-Patient Army Field Hospital in Seattle Expected to Open Next Week

The Army is assembling a 250-bed field hospital at the CenturyLink Event Center in Seattle that's meant to treat non-COVID-19 patients so area hospitals will be able to free up their own beds to care for those who have contracted the coronavirus disease, the commander of the 627th Hospital Center said.

"We have an important mission," Army Col. Hope Williamson-Younce said during a telephone news conference with reporters at the Pentagon today. "We are expeditionary, we're agile, and we're responsive. We have medical doctors, nurses and support staff from all over the world  they mobilized in a moment's notice to support the American people."

The field hospital, Williamson-Younce said, will relieve some of the burden on local hospitals, allowing them "freedom of maneuver" to better take care of patients who have COVID-19. "That is the best place for those patients to be  inside the fixed facility in a controlled environment," she said.

The field hospital involves about 500 military medical personnel from multiple units, including the 627th Hospital Center's 10th Field Hospital; the 62nd Medical Brigade; the 47th Combat Area Support Hospital; and the 520th Area Support Medical Company.

Army Lt. Col. Jason Hughes, commander of the 10th Field Hospital, said his unit will be providing 148 beds to the facility, including 48 intensive care unit beds. The 10th Field Hospital also includes an emergency room, operating suites, a lab, a microbiology unit, blood banking capability, X-ray capability and services for mental and spiritual health. He described it as "a one-stop shop for your mind, body and soul."

"These soldiers are excited to be here and do their mission," Hughes said. "That's why they signed up: to serve the nation, raise their right hand and come and serve the American people, whether that's abroad or, in this case, at home."

The field hospital is still being set up, and the expectation is that by next week it will be ready to take on patients, Hughes said.

While some of the 500 personnel assigned to the field hospital are busy constructing the facility, others are working closely with local officials to develop plans for determining what patients will come to the hospital and how they will get there, he said.

"While we're building this hospital, we have the clinical teams integrated and discussing with the Department of Health here at Washington state and the local medical community to make sure that we do this the right way and the patients that come here get the care they deserve without compromising this facility," he added.

Because the field hospital is to receive only non-COVID-19 patients, Williamson-Younce said, patients will be screened at both the referring hospitals and then again at the field hospital to ensure they are not afflicted with COVID-19.

Another challenge at the field hospital is providing for civilian patients the kind of experience they would get in a civilian hospital  which is understandably different from the kind of care service members would expect in a wartime environment.

"When we go to war, we set up on a field and we set up in tents," Hughes said. "We construct a tent city, and we have beds that are close, near to each other. So [there are] privacy concerns that we have for civilian patients. We're constructing barriers in between the beds that we wouldn't normally have in a field setting."

Hughes also said they are keeping in mind concerns about noise, such as that from power and oxygen generation systems, while setting up the hospital. While that kind of noise might be common around a field hospital at a forward operating base, he said, it would be unusual for civilians. The team is working to ensure civilians treated in the field hospital have "an experience commensurate with what they'd have in a local hospital," he said.

Hughes said that while it's likely that patients will begin arriving early next week, the numbers of patients coming to the field hospital is not yet known.

"Whether the hospitals offload patients to us immediately, that remains to be seen," he said. "But we'll be ready, whether they come or not. We'll see what the local network can handle. But we'll be ready to go early next week."

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Wanted ex-judge arrested on bribery allegations

 flickr.com/Chris Potter

10:43 03/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 3 (RAPSI)  A wanted ex-magistrate judge, who had allegedly took bribes for delivering rulings declaring rightsof ownership of property units, was arrested in Russias Saratov region, the Investigative Committees press service reported Friday.

The woman is put in detention, the statement reads.

Earlier, an arrest warrant in absentia was issued for her. The peace judge emeritus is charged with 23 counts of abuse of power and 14 bribery counts.

According to investigators, from 2011 to 2014, the accused received bribes for issuance of illega property rights rulings.
Ryanair expects to carry minimal if any traffic this April and May as the coronavirus pandemic forces its fleet to stay largely grounded.

Both depressed demand and government restrictions have forced Ryanair to stop flying, slashing the number of passengers it carries.

The company said that the number of passengers it carried in March was 48% lower than the same month last year.

It is currently flying less than 20 daily flights, compared to its usual 2,500.

Flight bans and travel restrictions... have closed Europes skies to all but a tiny number of rescue and medical flights.

It operated 33,000 scheduled flights in March, carrying 5.7 million passengers, though 64,000 flights had been budgeted.

The budget carrier revealed it would not be able to give guidance for the next financial year and warned that its profit was likely to be in the lower end of guidance for the 12 months that just ended.

It expects pre-exceptional profit after tax will fall between 950m and 1bn in the 2020 financial year, which ran until March 31.

The pandemic has seen airport car parks stand empty as flights are cancelled and passengers stay away (Nick Ansell/PA)

In the last 12 months, about 149 million passengers took a Ryanair flight, a 4% rise on the year before, even though the company was on track to carry 154 million as late as the beginning of March. This was before the worst of the pandemic hit Europe.The airline said: Due to widespread EU government flight bans and restrictions, Ryanair expects to carry minimal if any traffic during the months of April and May.

Ryanair Group Airlines continue to work with EU governments to maintain minimum flight links for emergency reasons and to operate rescue and medical flights when requested to do so.
Britains Prince Charles, on April 3, opened a new 4,000-bed temporary hospital in a conference centre in east London. The temporary hospital marks the first of several being built in Britain to deal with the deadly coronavirus pandemic. The Prince of Wales officially launched the state-run National Health Service (NHS) Hospital via video link from his Scotland home, where he is self-isolation with his wife Camila.

We are officially open! In less than two weeks, @ExCelLondon has been transformed into London's newest hospital, and we will be available as soon as patients across London and the south of England need us: https://t.co/jEyCb1rBNQ pic.twitter.com/TLSg3j4ZxH  NHS Nightingale London (@NightingaleLDN) April 3, 2020

READ: UK Troops Deliver Protective Gear To Hospitals

The new hospital is named after that trailblazing 19th-century nurse Florence Nightingale and has been built in just nine days. According to the official NHS website, the hospital is built in Bristol and Harrogate to provide beds if local services need them during the peak of coronavirus. While paying tribute to everyone involved in the project, Prince Charles said that it is incredible to have transformed the giant ExCeL centre into a critical care facility in such a short space of time.

It is symbolic of the selfless care and devoted service taking place in innumerable settings, with countless individuals, throughout the United Kingdom.



The Prince of Wales today opened the new NHS @NightingaleLDN hospital via video link from his home in Scotland.  pic.twitter.com/n7t5IYlX41  Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) April 3, 2020

Just 10 days after the start of construction at @ExCeLLondon, the new @NightingaleLDN hospital is now ready to support patients with coronavirus in London.  https://t.co/al1H6MOim4  Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) April 3, 2020

READ: UK Charities Urge Govt To Find Shelter For Homeless Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Shining light

He further said that he is relieved that everyone can now have the reassurance that they will receive all the necessary technical care that many need, and every chance to return to a normal life. Moreover, he called the facility a shining light but added that he hoped that it would not be required for long. As per reports, the hospital will initially take only 50 people in the coming days. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the facility will take incentive care patients with coronavirus from other London hospitals, which have seen the most number of cases across the country.

As per reports, the new facility is the size of ten district general hospitals. It has more than 80 wards, each contains 42 beds. Furthermore, once it's fully operational, the hospital will be requiring more than 1,600 staff to run. Hancock reportedly said that in this trouble times and with this 'invisible killer stalking the whole world, NHS is more valuable than before.

Additionally, according to the NHS website, temporary hospitals are being built in exhibition centres in the cities of Birmingham and Manchester as well. Another facility is also under construction in Glasgow and the authorities further also plans to build two more in Bristol, in western England and the northern city of Harrogate. However, NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens reportedly said that he hopes that the extra two sites would not be needed.

READ: UK Students Use 3D Printers To Make Face Masks

READ: "We Love You NHS": UK Health Service Gears Up For Virus Peak
The US on Friday criticised a Pakistani court for overturning the death sentence of British-born top al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted in the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi in 2002 in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attack, terming the verdict an "affront" to victims of terrorism everywhere.

The US' response comes after the Sindh High Court on Thursday found the 46-year-old Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping and commuted his death sentence to seven years in prison. Sheikh has been in jail for the past 18 years. A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha also acquitted the three others - Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil- serving life sentences in the case. "The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl's murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere," Alice Wells, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, said in a tweet.

READ: Pakistan court overturns UK-born terrorist Omar Sheikh's death sentence

But the US' top diplomat for South Asia welcomed Pakistani prosecutors' indications that they would appeal the decision. "We welcome Pakistan's decision to appeal the verdict. Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice," Wells said.

READ: Coronavirus pandemic will not affect CPEC: Pakistan

Daniel Pearl murder case

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story on the alleged links between the country''s powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. Sheikh, who was the mastermind behind abduction and killing of Pearl, was arrested from Lahore in February 2002 and sentenced to death five months later by an anti-terrorism court. The incident had come three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814. He was serving prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country.

"Justice has been done to my clients," said one of Sheikh's lawyers Khawaja Naveed. The case had strained the relations between Pakistan and the US when terrorism was at its height in Pakistan after the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre.

READ: Pak PM Imran Khan declares "jihad" against Covid; asks youth to join 'Corona Tiger Force'

Pakistan on FATF list

The verdict on Thursday came more than a month after Paris-based Financial Action Task Force warned Pakistan that stern action will be taken against it if the country fails to check the flow of money to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) among others.

The FATF, which supervises effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, last year placed Pakistan on its "Grey List" of countries for failure to curb funnelling of funds to terror groups like the LeT and the JeM.If not removed from the list by April end, Pakistan may move to a blacklist of countries such as Iran that face severe economic sanctions.

READ: Sirsa slams Pak PM Imran Khan over pro-Khalistani's Nankana Sahib land loot allegation
Amid coronavirus outbreak, a medical team of the Indian Army has been provided to the local administration to help at Narela quarantine facility in Delhi.

The Indian Army sources said, "A medical team of the Army, including two doctors and two nursing assistants, has been provided to the local administration in Delhi to help them at Narela quarantine camp."

This is the first time Army doctors have been deployed to help civil administration within the country to help tackle coronavirus, the Army sources said.

The Narela quarantine facility of the Delhi government also houses a number of Tablighi Markaz attendees who had to evacuate their mosque after government intervention.

More than 2000 perons were present inside the Markaz when reports started emanating that the building had become a hotspot of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the three defence forces have dedicated 19 hospitals for COVID-19 treatment. The collective bed capacity of these hospitals, spread across the country, is 4000 along with 200 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, government sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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: 3 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 80,590 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,424 pence 17.45 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,390 pence 17.04 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,403 pence 17.19 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 3 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 84,804 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 17.34 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 17.26 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 17.31 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 3 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 136,766 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 17.48 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 17.02 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 17.23 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 27.72 USD 22.32 GBP which was calculated as of 31 March 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 200,449,338 Public Shares outstanding, or 206,158,589 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 10,507,412 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/20200403005482/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

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Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
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Donald Trump says hes a wartime president. Were at war, and were fighting an invisible enemy, he declared last week. We are all joined together as one people against the coronavirus, he told Americans. As long as I am your president, you can feel confident that you have a leader who will always fight for you, and I will not stop until we win.

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In many ways, we really are in a war against the virus. And much of what Trump is belatedly doingshipping out virus tests and ventilators, for instancewill save lives. But primarily, he thinks about himself. Thats why he adds as long as I am your president. Trump understands that he can improve his chances of reelection by appealing to patriotism, but he doesnt understand what patriotism is. Hes using the language of national unityas he has done so many times beforeto pursue personal grievances, not to serve his country.

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Throughout the crisis, Trumps behavior has been selfish and partisan. He has blamed states for their own suffering. He has sent aid more promptly to some states than to others. He has demanded praise from governors and has refused to speak to those who, in his view, are insufficiently appreciative. He has refused to interact with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He invited no Democrats to his signing of a bipartisan financial relief bill. As body bags pile up, Trump has used daily White House briefingswhich are supposed to be about the virusto complain that hes mistreated by the press. On Thursday, after Democrats called for congressional oversight of the administrations multiple failures in responding to the virus, he accused them of undermining Americas war against this enemy.

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But Trumps incomprehension of patriotism doesnt just show up in his treatment of states, governors, and lawmakers. It also shows up in the way he treats other countries.

The presidents favorite lie, which he repeats in every speech, is that in late January, against the advice of all his aides, he bravely banned travel from China to the United States. We had 20 people in the office, 21 to be exact, and we had a lot of experts, he told Sean Hannity last week. They never really thought to do that. Trump has tweeted pictures of everyone who was in the Situation Room during these deliberations, including Alex Azar, the secretary of Health and Human Services; Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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Trump tells this story because it makes him look bold and prescient. It plays on his identity as a champion of strong borders. But the story is fake. In reality, Trump was reluctant to impose the travel ban. His aides had to push him into it. And instead of following up with virus control measures inside the United States, he used the travel ban as an excuse to do nothing more.

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In January, U.S. intelligence agencies warned that China was concealing the extent of the outbreak. These warnings were relayed directly to Trump, but he insisted that China was being candid and had the virus under control. Azar, Redfield, and Fauci all recommended a travel ban, but Trump resisted it. He trusted Chinese President Xi Jinping, and he agreed with advisers who worried that a ban could roil the financial markets. Specifically, Trump warned that it might scare investors and disrupt trade talks with China. Not until Jan. 31after hundreds of thousands of travelers had arrived from China since the start of the outbreak, and after U.S. airlines had already moved to suspend flights between the two countriesdid the administration finally announce a ban.

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Trumps China-bashing about the virus, like his Mexico-bashing about immigrants, was never about loving America. It was about helping himself.

Throughout February, as intelligence assessments discredited Chinas assurances, Trump continued to defend Xi. Then, in March, infections in the United States became undeniable. The virus emerged as a threat to Trumps reelection, and he snapped into action, branding it the Chinese virus. He needed to divert blame from his negligence, and his best bet was to frame the enemy as a foreign intruder. He even managed to work Mexico into the new shtick, announcing new travel rules at our northern and southern borders to halt the entry of the Chinese virus.

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Trumps China-bashing about the virus, like his Mexico-bashing about immigrants, was never about loving America. It was about helping himself. He was happy to vilify Beijing, but only as a weapon against his domestic enemies. At a White House briefing on March 19, after U.S.-based news organizations criticized his Chinese-virus rhetoric, a right-wing journalist accused them of promoting Chinese Communist Party narratives and siding with foreign state propaganda. Trump agreed. They are siding with China, he said.

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But Trump was just as happy to defend China when he disliked its American adversaries. On March 26, at a briefing that was supposed to be about the virus, Trump changed the subject to trade deficits. China has taken advantage of the United Statesuntil I came herewith Sleepy Joe Biden and Obama and Bush, he complained. Rather than denounce China, he denounced his predecessors. I dont blame China, he said. I blame the people that were right here, because they should have never allowed it to happen.

In the virus crisis, as in the Russia scandal, Trump rejects American intelligence and media reports about foreign interference. On Monday, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade asked him about new disinformation operations conducted by Russia, China, and Iran. Citing a Washington Post article, Kilmeade explained that these campaigns blamed the virus on the United States, using the same principles [Russia] used to infiltrate our 2016 election. But Trump dismissed the article. When you read it in the Washington Post, you dont believe it, said Trump. I see stories in the Washington Post that are so fake.

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Kilmeade insisted the article was true. So Trump reached for another excuse he has often used on Russias behalf. If China was peddling propaganda, Trump argued, that was no big deal, since the United States puts out propaganda too. They do it, and we do it, the president shrugged. Every country does it.

On Wednesday, Bloomberg News reported that according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, Chinas tallies of coronavirus infections and deaths have been fake and intentionally incomplete. The Bloomberg article, citing three U.S. officials, said the White House received this intelligence document last week. But on Wednesday evening, when Trump was asked about the story, he insisted, We have not received that. He conceded that Chinas numbers were a little bit on the light side, but he changed the subject to trade. Theyll be spending $250 billion buying our product, Trump said of the Chinese. So we have a great trade deal, and wed like to keep it.  As to whether or not their numbers are accurate, uh, Im not an accountant from China.

Trump has no loyalties. When Russia interferes in our elections or when China lies about an epidemic, he doesnt ask how it affects America or American values. He asks how it affects Trump. If talking trash about other countries helps him politically, thats what hell do. But he doesnt care which countries they are. Nor does he care whether youre a foreign dictator or the governor of Michigan. All he cares about is whether youre nice to him.

For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to The Gist.
A group of Derry musicians have come together to give NHS and frontline staff a glamorous night out once the coronavirus crisis has passed.

The collective of over 20 performers including Micky Doherty, Paul Molloy and Una Dunne first got together to stream a 12 hour Facebook Live concert on Mother's Day which raised 3,000 for deserving causes in the local community.

Organiser Gavin Gallagher said was bowled over by the response.

"We had 60,000 people watching and they were tuning in from America and Australia.

"James McCarron at Rosie Joe's bar generously allowed us to use his venue, which was empty apart from the artists.

"All the performers gave their time for free which I think is important to mention, especially at the moment when all their gigs have been cancelled.

"The money was divided between Destined, Moji, Creggan Community Collective, and the RathMor Centre who are providing groceries and necessities to the needy in the local community free of charge at this time."

Buoyed by the success of the Mother's Day concert Gavin and his friend Stevie Gallagher of local band 'Stevie and the Gs' decided to raise money for a black tie dinner for NHS workers and frontline staff.

"We have already secured a venue and it's going to be like a wedding," said Gavin.

"From here on in we hope to be raising as much as we can to give these heroes a night to remember.

"You will not get any better than the people of Derry for getting behind each other in a crisis

"We know its a difficult time for everyone, but if youre in a fortunate position then we would ask you to please donate a small amount.

"I'd also urge everyone to get behind and support all our amazing musicians who are lifting our spirits every night of the week with their amazing talent.

"The sooner we beat this thing the sooner we can all get back out & have one massive party."

The series of concerts will begin on Facebook live tonight with Paul Molloy and Niall O'Connor at 9pm.

To watch the live stream and for detail on how you can donate to the fund through Paypal see Gavin Gallagher's page on Facebook.


Sweden's coronavirus death toll surged by 51 in the last 24 hours to 333 as the country continued to resist calls from experts to instigate a full lockdown.

Inhabitants of the Nordic country are still allowed to go to restaurants, get haircuts and send their children to school, unlike those in its European neighbours.

But experts have warned the liberal approach, which has aimed to minimise disruption, could lead to a cascade of cases overwhelming the health system.

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 have swelled by 612 since yesterday from 5,466 to 6,078. The number of deaths has also risen from 282 on Thursday.

Sweden's stores remain open. Above is a busy shopping street in Stockholm on April 2

People pictured riding bikes in the Sodermalm district of Stockholm on April 1

As many as 2,300 academics signed an open letter to the government at the end of last month calling for much tougher measures, especially in the capital Stockholm where half the country's deaths have been reported.

'We don't have a choice, we have to close Stockholm right now,' said Cecilia Soderberg-Naucler, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis at the Karolinska Institute.

'We must establish control over the situation, we cannot head in to a situation where we get complete chaos. No one has tried this route, so why should we test it first in Sweden, without informed consent?'

She told The Guardian yesterday: 'We're not testing enough, we're not tracking, we're not isolating enough - we have let the virus loose.

'They are leading us to catastrophe.'

Sweden reported its first three cases on March 16, and since then has seen numbers skyrocket to 6,078. The rise has prompted warnings half its population could be infected by the end of April.

There are growing signs the virus is spreading at elderly care homes, mainly in the capital, where some staff at hospitals and nursing homes have publicly warned of a lack of protective equipment such as masks.

The country's head of the Health Agency, Anders Tegnell (centre), has refused to call for a lockdown as he said calling it too soon would lead to people disobeying the instruction

The area outside Stockholm's city hall was virtually deserted on April 2

The government has instigated liberal measures, compared to its European neighbours, as it focuses on isolating and treating those who are infected.

They have also banned gatherings of more than 50 people, asked high schools and universities to teach online and advised against taking unnecessary trips.

Stockholm has also constructed a field hospital in a convention centre at the south of the city, to deal with a potential rise in cases.

Tom Britton, a mathematics professor from Stockholm University, warned yesterday that its possible a million Swedes are already infected.

He used these numbers to suggest that by the end of the month up to five million people could be infected. Pressure on hospitals will then peak two weeks earlier, around April 15.

'China succeeded in [reducing its R value] by very comprehensive measures, and very quickly, so that less than 1 per cent will be infected in Wuhan,' he said. 'I am not convinced that we will be as effective in Sweden.'

The head of Sweden's Health Agency, Anders Tegnell, has spearheaded these tactics saying it is important not to lockdown too soon.

'It is important to have a policy that can be sustained over a longer period, meaning staying home if you are sick, which is our message,' said Tegnell, who has received both threats and fan mail over the country's handling of the crisis.

'Locking people up at home won't work in the longer term," he said. "Sooner or later people are going to go out anyway.'

Sodermalm is seen on the background of Stockholm, Sweden, on April 2

Above is a general view of the country's central station in Stockholm. The government has banned gatherings of more than 50 people

The centre-left Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has tightened restrictions in recent days - but refused to follow other European countries, arguing he can trust Swedes to act responsibly if they are unwell.

'We all, as individuals, have to take responsibility,' he said yesterday. 'We can't legislate and ban everything. It's also a question of common sense.

'We who are adults need to be exactly that: Adults. Not spread panic or rumours. No one is alone in this crisis, but each person has a heavy responsibility.'

The relaxed approach has caused consternation in neighbours Denmark, Finland and Norway - which have a combined lower death rate.

The WHO's Europe branch said there were 464,859 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 30,098 deaths in the 53 countries that make up its region.

Some 80 per cent of those who died from the virus had at least one underlying illness, in particular cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
A family friend of the 13-year-old Londoner with "no underlying health conditions" who died after contracting the coronavirus has spoken of the family's heartbreak.

Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab is believed to be the youngest person in the UK to have died after falling ill with COVID-19.

Mohammed Motib told ITV News that the nature of the virus meant that no one was allowed to be at Ismail's side as he died.

"A young boy aged 13, without his mother, without any sibling (...) in (his) last moments (...) that's very hard to digest and really understand as to how lonely and how sad that moment must have been."

Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab died early on Monday.

He had tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, a day after he was admitted to London's King's College Hospital with coronavirus-related symptoms, his family said.

The family released a statement through GoFundMe, saying Ismail was a "loving son, brother, nephew to our family and a friend to many people who knew him. His smile was heart-warming and he was always gentle and kind."

They also urged people to observe social distancing to "protect the NHS (National Health Service) and save lives", stressing that the virus was "attacking all members of our society, not just older people or those with pre-existing conditions."

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.

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.
T he US Navy has fired the captain of a coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier after he raised the alarm about an outbreak on his ship.

More than 100 sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for Covid-19, but none are in hospital.

In a letter, Capt Brett Crozier had urged his superiors to act to prevent US troops dying outside of wartime.

He had warned the Pentagon that the outbreak on board his ship was accelerating because crew members were living in confined spaces.

More than 100 sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for Covid-19, but none are in hospital / US NAVY/AFP via Getty Images

He called for "decisive action", saying uninfected sailors had to be removed and isolated.

"We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die," he said in the four-page letter, dated 30 March, which was later published by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Capt Crozier called for "decisive action", saying uninfected sailors had to be removed and isolated. / via REUTERS

But acting navy secretary Thomas Modly said the ship's commander "demonstrated extremely poor judgement" in the middle of a crisis.

On Thursday, Mr Modly told reporters that Capt Crozier was being fired for allegedly leaking the letter to the media.

Acting navy secretary Thomas Moldy touring the ship after the removal of Capt Crozier / AP

He said the captain copied too many people into a memo, which was leaked to the California newspaper and then quickly spread to many news outlets.

He said Mr Crozier should have gone directly to his immediate commanders, who were already moving to help the ship.

Acting navy secretary Thomas Moldy touring the ship after the removal of Capt Crozier / US NAVY/AFP via Getty Images

Mr Moldy said the letter "created the impression the Navy was not responding to his questions".

He also said Mr Crozier created a panic by suggesting 50 sailors could die.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

"What it does, it undermines our efforts and the chain of command's efforts to address this problem and creates a panic and creates the perception that the Navy is not on the job, the government is not on the job, and it's just not true," Mr Modly said.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, with a crew of nearly 5,000, is currently docked in Guam and unaffected crew disembarked and went into quarantine on Friday.

The US island territory's governor said they could stay as long as they had no interactions with locals.

In a statement, Democratic leaders of the House Armed Services Committee said: "While Captain Crozier clearly went outside the chain of command, his dismissal at this critical moment... is a destabilising move that will likely put our service members at greater risk and jeopardise our fleet's readiness."
The CBD Farmers at Plain Jane have Cloned Two Different Plants Together to Create a New Strain of Hemp Flower

MEDFORD, OR / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / The founders of Plain Jane, a Southern Oregon based company that offers a wide selection of CBD hemp flower products, are pleased to announce the launch of the "Name that CBD Strain" contest. People are welcome to submit their ideas for the new CBD hemp flower strain in the Plain Jane website's comment section.

To learn more about the contest, which, not so coincidentally, ends on April 20, 2020, please visit https://tryplainjane.com/cbd-flower-strain/.

As a company spokesperson noted, the CBD farmers from Plain Jane decided to clone two different plants together to create a new strain of wild hemp flower. Both customers and fans of CBD are welcome to suggest a name for the new strain, which should be harvested and ready to go by the middle of April.

"We've crossed a Jack Herer CBD Flower strain with a Berry Blossom. The result should be exciting and we're not totally sure what the CBD flower will look like," the spokesperson noted, adding that as long as people keep their language clean and don't use any bad words, they are welcome to suggest pretty much anything they want for the new name.

Even though the contest was only recently announced, it is already getting a lot of positive attention from visitors to the Plain Jane website. Suggestions for the new name include: Magic, Love Berry, Fruit Salad and The Empress.

Every minute or so, the team from Plain Jane recalculates the point total and refreshes the leaderboard. Prize info is also available on the site.

About Plain Jane:

Plain Jane was started to make CBD hemp flower products more accessible and affordable. They now have more than 75,000 customers in almost all of the United States. Their goal is simple. To get their customers the best CBD flower at the best prices. They are located in Southern Oregon and licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. All of their CBD flower is sourced from American farms using organic practices. Plain Jane has a variety of products including: CBD flower, CBG flower, CBD cigarettes, and CBD joints. With more than 20 hemp strains, they source the highest quality outdoor, greenhouse, and indoor flower. For more information, please visit https://tryplainjane.com/.

Plain Jane

253 E Barnett Rd

Medford, OR 97501

Contact:

Evan Marshall

max@plainjane.io

(833) 420-6621

SOURCE: Plain Jane

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583787/Plain-Jane-Launches-a-Name-that-CBD-Strain-Contest-for-a-New-CBD-Hemp-Flower-Strain
I think there is genuine frustration and some outrage about Chinese behavior throughout this process, but its a big stretch to say that absolves anybody from having been underprepared for what would hit or downplaying it too long, said Richard Fontaine, president of the Center for New American Security who has advised Republican presidential candidates. Its too simple an answer to say none of this would have happened had we known the real number of cases in Wuhan a couple weeks earlier.
Delhi government has announced that they will be providing a financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to each of the drivers of public transport vehicles including autos, taxis and e-rickshaws in the city rendered idle due to lockdown.

PTI

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had early promised that the drivers will be taken care of and that his government was committed to provide help to them in the times of crises. The 21-day nationwide lockdown has affected auto and taxi drivers and their source of income.



Kejriwal added the government is planning how to do this since bank account numbers of drivers of public service vehicles like autos, taxis, e rickshaws, Gramin Sewa, RTVs and other such vehicles were unavailable.

Agencies

Kejriwal said he will ensure that no one in the city face starvation and the financial assistance will be provided to public service drivers in next 7-10 days.



Delhi government has already provided the assistance of Rs 5,000 each to over 35,000 construction workers in the city. The whole world and the country is affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the poor have been hit hardest because of it, he said.

Agencies

The number of coronavirus cases went up to nearly 300 in the national capital on Thursday, with 141 fresh cases and two deaths reported in a day, according to the Delhi Health Department.



The total number of 293 cases includes 182 people who took part in a religious congregation in the Nizamuddin area last month.





Till Wednesday night, the number of cases of the deadly virus in the city stood at 152, including two deaths.
Modern scientific research on materials relies heavily on exploring their behavior at the atomic and molecular scales. For that reason, scientists are constantly on the hunt for new and improved methods for data gathering and analysis of materials at those scales.

Researchers at the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility located at the DOEs Argonne National Laboratory, have invented a machine-learning based algorithm for quantitatively characterizing, in three dimensions, materials with features as small as nanometers. Researchers can apply this pivotal discovery to the analysis of most structural materials of interest to industry.

What makes our algorithm unique is that if you start with a material for which you know essentially nothing about the microstructure, it will, within seconds, tell the user the exact microstructure in all three dimensions, said Subramanian Sankaranarayanan, group leader of the CNM theory and modeling group and an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

For example, with data analyzed by our 3D tool, said Henry Chan, CNM postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study, users can detect faults and cracks and potentially predict the lifetimes under different stresses and strains for all kinds of structural materials.

What makes our algorithm unique is that if you start with a material for which you know essentially nothing about the microstructure, it will, within seconds, tell the user the exact microstructure in all three dimensions.  Subramanian Sankaranarayanan, CNM group leader and associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago

Most structural materials are polycrystalline, meaning a sample used for purposes of analysis can contain millions of grains. The size and distribution of those grains and the voids within a sample are critical microstructural features that affect important physical, mechanical, optical, chemical and thermal properties. Such knowledge is important, for example, to the discovery of new materials with desired properties, such as stronger and harder machine components that last longer.

In the past, scientists have visualized 3D microstructural features within a material by taking snapshots at the microscale of many 2D slices, processing the individual slices, and then pasting them together to form a 3D picture. Such is the case, for example, with the computerized tomography scanning routine done in hospitals. That process, however, is inefficient and leads to the loss of information. Researchers have thus been searching for better methods for 3D analyses.

At first, said Mathew Cherukara, an assistant scientist at CNM, we thought of designing an intercept-based algorithm to search for all the boundaries among the numerous grains in the sample until mapping the entire microstructure in all three dimensions, but as you can imagine, with millions of grains, that is extraordinarily time-consuming and inefficient.

The beauty of our machine learning algorithm is that it uses an unsupervised algorithm to handle the boundary problem and produce highly accurate results with high efficiency, said Chan. Coupled with down-sampling techniques, it only takes seconds to process large 3D samples and obtain precise microstructural information that is robust and resilient to noise.

The team successfully tested the algorithm by comparison with data obtained from analyses of several different metals (aluminum, iron, silicon and titanium) and soft materials (polymers and micelles). These data came from earlier published experiments as well as computer simulations run at two DOE Office of Science User Facilities, the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center. Also used in this research were the Laboratory Computing Resource Center at Argonne and the Carbon Cluster in CNM.

For researchers using our tool, the main advantage is not just the impressive 3D image generated but, more importantly, the detailed characterization data, said Sankaranarayanan. They can even quantitatively and visually track the evolution of a microstructure as it changes in real time.

The machine-learning algorithm is not restricted to solids. The team has extended it to include characterization of the distribution of molecular clusters in fluids with important energy, chemical and biological applications.

This machine-learning tool should prove especially impactful for future real-time analysis of data obtained from large materials characterization facilities, such as the Advanced Photon Source, another DOE Office of Science User Facility at Argonne, and other synchrotrons around the world.

###

This study, titled Machine learning enabled autonomous microstructural characterization in 3D samples, appeared in npj Computational Materials. In addition to Sankaranarayanan and Chan, authors include Mathew Cherukara, Troy D. Loeffler, and Badri Narayanan. This study received funding from the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

About Argonnes Center for Nanoscale Materials

The Center for Nanoscale Materials is one of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers, premier national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale supported by the DOE Office of Science. Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The NSRCs are located at DOEs Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. For more information about the DOE NSRCs, please visit https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities/User-Facilities-at-a-Glance.

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.
Russian woman fined $400 for fake coronavirus news

 flickr.com/ Mike MacKenzie

17:32 03/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 3 (RAPSI)  A court in Russias Chelyabinsk fined a local woman, who had published false information about the number of coronavirus positive people on her VKontakte page, 30,000 rubles ($400), the regional police directorates press service reported Friday.

The woman was found guilty of misuse of freedom of the mass media.

Moreover, according to the Interior Ministry, a resident of Magnitogorsk, who had published on his social network page a fake image of the border of Samara and Orenburg regions with military vehicles, was fined 30,000 rubles.
China has reportedly discovered a rare form of natural gas in the South China Sea.

The substance is known as flammable ice. It is a frozen mixture of gas and water that comes from under the sea floor.

Chinas Xinhua News Agency reported last week that China had removed at least 861,400 cubic meters of flammable ice as part of operations that began in February.

International observers say the discovery could give China a new source of energy for its 1.4 billion people and another reason to support its claims to the South China Sea.

China claims most of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea as its territory. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of the area.

China has angered other claimants in recent years by creating small artificial islands in the disputed waterway. Observers say Chinese crews have developed some of the land for military purposes.

The experts say China could expand its influence in the area by selling flammable gas extraction technology to other countries or partnering with them to remove it.

Eduardo Araral is with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. He told VOA he thinks the discovery simply strengthens their argument about why China should remain in the sea to extract oil and gas.

However, Araral noted that international law would not recognize an energy discovery as a cause for claiming sovereignty.

Chinas minister of land and resources said the country mined flammable ice at sea for the first time in 2017 after about 20 years of research, Xinhua reported. The area of the discovery, known as Shenhu, sits in undisputed Chinese waters 320 kilometers from the mainland.

The energy source  which can also be found in Arctic tundra - is considered clean and easy to transport, yet hard to monetize.

Flammable ice is thought to exist in other parts of the sea, notes Stuart Orr, a professor of management at Deakin University in Australia. He said this means other countries will likely take an interest in the discovery.

While other claimant governments are busy working to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, they are likely to react in the future if China expands its exploration.

Nguyen Thanh Trung is director of the Center for International Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City. So far, I havent (seen) any official diplomatic protests from the Vietnamese side, but I think that they are closely watching the development, he said.

Collin Koh is a researcher specializing in security issues at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He told VOA he thinks the latest flammable ice operation presents a chance for China to demonstrate its technological prowess and seek partnerships with other countries.

Koh noted that other claimants to the South China Sea lack their own flammable ice technology. They do, however, organize their own search operations for oil and natural gas.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

source  n. where something comes from

flammable  adj. easily set on fire

artificial adj. something not natural, but created by people

extraction  n. the act of taking something out, especially using force

sovereignty  n. a countrys independent power and the right to govern itself

tundra  n. flat, treeless part of the Arctic in which the soil is permanently frozen

prowess  n. great skill at doing something
Bella Thorne surprised her 22.6 million Instagram followers with a heartfelt ballad, while urging fans to digest the lyrics.

As she remains under California's coronavirus lockdown, the 22-year-old Midnight Sun actress posted two videos of herself singing an unreleased track on Friday.

'This song is so close to my heart its very important to really take the lyrics and digest them,' she captioned the footage of herself singing and dancing in a midriff-baring blouse.

Listen up: Bella Thorne surprised her 22.6 million Instagram followers with a heartfelt ballad, while urging fans to digest the lyrics on Friday

The powerful lyrics describe waking up and reading 'war crimes' in the news that 'cost a million lives.'

'Fight your own d**n battle, if you even dare,' she says in the seemingly political anthem, before swinging her arms up in the air and dancing.

'Try to get to know one another, before releasing the bombs,' the chorus begins, before jabbing the government with the lines that she's 'sick and tired of the blaming.'

As she remains under California's coronavirus lockdown, the 22-year-old Midnight Sun actress posted two videos of herself singing an unreleased track on Instagram

Her song encouraging others to 'get to know one another' comes in the wake of a spike of hate crimes during the coronavirus outbreak against Asian communities and ahead of the US' presidential election in November.

As she shared her new track, the Disney alum flaunted her phenomenal figure in a pair of low-waisted denim bottoms in front of staircase garnished with flowers.

While dancing to her latest work, she appeared joyful, as she later sat on a white chair and leaned sensually into the camera, before flipping her blue hair.

Fired up: Her song encouraging others to 'get to know one another' comes in the wake of a spike of hate crimes during the coronavirus outbreak against Asian communities and comes ahead of the US' presidential election in November

Earlier this week, she teased she would be sharing unreleased music, while puffing on a joint from her marijuana brand Forbidden Flowers.

Plenty of her fans asked for a full-length version of the song, and Bella pondered in the comments if she should release another video on Wednesday.

Again, her followers poured in approvingly with praise when she asked if she should 'should release it during quarantine.'
Unemployment is likely to peak at 25% by early summer, as the economy tanks at an unprecedented rate, but the outlook could get a lot worse if the Government needs to extend the Covid-19 lockdown, the Central Bank has warned.

The banks latest quarterly report focuses on the up to 500,000 jobs, including construction workers, threatened temporarily by the pandemic.

Such is the severity of the economic hit that the Central Bank said there is huge uncertainty about the potential depth and persistence of the downturn currently underway, in particular if the lockdown is required to extend through the summer months.

"An extraordinary number of individuals have been laid off and the economy faces more persistent scarring effects should the lockdown be prolonged, it said.

A 25% peak unemployment rate was not matched even during the worst of the years of the banking and property crash of over a decade ago, as the global Covid-19 crisis delivers a double whammy by hitting household spending as well a depressing demand for Irish exports.

In terms of the economic hit, the Central Bank assesses that under a 12-week shutdown that unemployment falls back to around 12.5% by the end of the year.

GDP nonetheless posts a drop of 8.3% in 2020, while output under an alternative measure could slide by 25% in the quarter, it said.

And the Central Bank starkly warned that under under a number of scenarios the economic fallout will be much higher  if the pandemic is not controlled relatively quickly.

If the measures were to remain in place for a longer period in 2020, the output losses would be larger than calculated, it said, suggesting that a further 12 weeks of restrictions could potentially mean that the fall in output almost doubles.

It said the costs of the Government measures to protect the economy and additional spending on health was around 8.2bn, while the final cost will, of course, depend on factors such as the length of the crisis and the uptake of various schemes.

Last years budget surplus turns into a deficit of over 10% under the modified measure of Irish output, or a deficit of 6% of GDP.

The States debt accelerates to 112% of economic output from 97% last year, equivalent to a debt load of 66% of GDP, up from 58% in 2019.

The overall fiscal costs of dealing with the pandemic runs out at 21.8bn  as the exchequer suffers from a loss of tax revenue and from additional expenditure.

The near-term outlook for the economy is very unfavourable and, beyond that, the path ahead for the economy depends on the path of the virus, both domestically and globally, the Central Bank said.

On financing the costs, it said the NTMA had large positive cash balance" although there are a number of debt issues which are due to mature this year.

Possible additional sources of finance to bridge the expected gap between Government revenue and expenditure this year include", using the the Rainy Day Fund, it said.

On the banks, the Central Bank said the crisis will affect their loan losses but they have built up reserves and their resilience in recent years.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending that Americans wear face coverings when in public to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The president immediately said he had no intention of following that advice himself, saying, Im choosing not to do it.

The new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people, especially in areas hit hard by the spread of the coronavirus, to use rudimentary coverings like T-shirts, bandannas and non-medical masks to cover their faces while outdoors.

The president exempted himself from his administrations own guidelines, saying he could not envision himself covering his face while sitting in the Oval Office greeting world leaders.

Its a recommendation, they recommend it, Trump said. I just dont want to wear one myself.

The new guidance, announced as states are bracing for critical shortfalls like those that other parts of the world have experienced, raises concern that it could cause a sudden run on masks.

Trump and other administration officials sought to minimize any burden by stressing the recommendations did not amount to requirements and that a variety of homemade coverings were acceptable. Federal officials said that surgical masks and N95 respirator masks should be left for those on the front lines of fighting the spread of the infection.

Fridays announcement capped an evolution in guidance from the White House that officials acknowledged has at times been inconsistent and confusing, with the administration insisting over the last month that masks were not necessary or even helpful.

I want to unpack the evolution of our guidance on masks because it has been confusing to the American people, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Friday.

Adams said that although and he other public health experts initially believed wearing a mask would not have a substantial impact on curbing the spread, the latest evidence makes clear that people who dont show any symptoms can nonetheless pass on the virus.

Were looking at the data, were evolving our recommendations, and new recommendations will come as the evidence dictates, Adams said.

First lady Melania Trump embodied the contradictory messaging with a tweet endorsing the new guidance even as her husband chooses to disregard it.

As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously, she tweeted.

The administration has said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies, but its not clear if anyone is prepared for the potential rush that could ensue if people try to obtain medical masks for themselves from private industry.

In rural Florida, Okeechobee Discount Drugs has been sold out of face masks for almost two weeks, and we dont know where you can find any masks at this point, said Stacey Nelson, one of the pharmacys owners.

Its very hard to get these products, but people want them, Nelson said. Theyve been getting mixed messages and people arent sure if they should be wearing masks in our daily lives. Its very confusing. Wear them, or dont wear them?

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 older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

In fashioning the recommendations, the administration appeared to be striving to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

The White House has faced pushback against rigorous social distancing guidelines from states with lesser rates of infection. For the hardest-hit areas, where social distancing has already been in place for some time, the White House coronavirus task force thought there would be less risk of people ignoring the other guidance if they covered their faces.

The CDC is recommending that people wearing cloth face coverings in public places, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The guidance especially applies in areas of significant community-based transmission.

The White House task force was debating into Friday on the final language of the CDC guidance. CDC scientists wanted to make it national guidance, believing that would do more to slow the spread of the virus.

White House advisers, including Dr. Deborah Birx, wanted to limit the guidance to virus hot spots. Birx said Thursday that she feared wider guidance would lead to a false sense of security for Americans and cause them to back away from more critical social distancing.

In the end, they found a middle ground: a national advisory with special emphasis that those in hard-hit areas should wear masks. Two people familiar with the discussions outlined the internal debate, speaking on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to describe it publicly.

As with other public health guidance, the recommendation on face covering has been a moving target for the administration. Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks.

Adams wrote on Twitter at the end of February that people should STOP BUYING MASKS and said they were not effective in protecting the general public.

On Monday, he noted that the World Health Organization does not recommend masks for healthy members of the population. Three days later, he tweeted that though there remains scant evidence that wearing a mask, especially improperly, can protect the wearer, emerging data suggests facial coverings may prevent asymptomatic disease transmission to others.

Dr. Michael Ryan, the WHOs emergencies chief, on Friday acknowledged a very important and very healthy debate about how masks are used.

We still believe the main driver of this pandemic is symptomatic (transmission), he said, not people who may be infected but arent showing symptoms.

We can certainly see circumstances in which the use of masks  but homemade or cloth masks  at the community level may help in an overall comprehensive response to this disease, Ryan said.

____

Schneider reported from Orlando, Florida. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in Washington and Jamey Keaton in Geneva, Switzerland, contributed to this report.
The Rebecca Foundation Relief Boxes Challenge has been launched in Accra to help mitigate the economic suffering of the vulnerable groups as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.



The Relief Boxes Challenge, launched by the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo on Thursday, would focus on giving out food, personal hygiene and sanitary items to members of identifiable groups who are adversely affected by the situation.

The identifiable groups include Kayayei, the aged, the destitute and single mothers who live in the poorest communities.



The initiative, which is in partnership with corporate Ghana and other partners, would work towards supporting the most vulnerable women who have difficulties in providing food as well as basic hygiene products for themselves and their families in the light of the current situation.



Giving a background to the initiative at the launch in Accra, Mrs Akufo-Addo, who is also the Executive Director of the Rebecca Foundation, said the COVID-19 global pandemic had brought about significant changes in social and economic interaction and had adversely affected many, particularly women and children.



She said with the current situation where schools have closed and economic activities curbed, socio-economic burdens, especially for the very vulnerable, mostly women, had significantly increased.



Women tend to be the primary care givers in households. They need to provide extra food and allot extra supervision time for the extra hours children spend at home, as well as in some cases, care for other vulnerable members of their families.



Additionally, more women than men who live in the lock-down zone of Accra and Kumasi are engaged in the informal sector, earning their wages on a day to day basis in many cases. Hence, the current shutdown and complete closure of economic activities for the next 14 days, will spell out great difficulties for women who are employed in the informal sector.



She said the ultimate objective of the initiative, was to provide respite from the social and economic hardship as a result of COVID-19, and to ensure that children, women of childbearing age and the aged, regardless of the current situation would have at least, one healthy meal a day for the next 14 days.



It was again, to ensure that families have access to hygiene products to enable them stay in line with the WHO recommended standards for reducing infection of the virus.



Mrs Akufo-Addo announced the Rebecca Foundations very first partnership with Orca Decor Ltd under the Relief Boxes Challenge, saying, the Company provided the first tranche of 5,000 boxes of food and essential hygiene products to her Foundation for onward distribution to the needy families in Accra.



Among the items contained in each box are Chocolate drinks, milk, sugar, biscuits, Gari, KokoPlus, Rice, oil, canned tomatoes, canned meat and fish, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and sanitary pads.



The First Lady said the first relief items donated by Orca Decor Ltd. presented the platform for other corporate organisations and individuals to follow suit, by supporting The Rebecca Foundation with equal or more boxes of relief items to be supplied to many needy and vulnerable families.



She commended other corporate institutions and bodies who have already made donations towards alleviating the hardships that have arisen because of the health menace stating that, the current COVID-19 situation should guide us to be each others keeper in ensuring that we halt or slow down the process of spreading the infection.





Beneficiaries of the first 5000 boxes of relief items were Kayayei at the CMB, Tema Station, Tudu, Arts Centre, Agbogbloshie, Darkuman, Malata Market, Madina, Dome and Nima markets



Some elderly people, widows and single mothers in poor communities in Accra Central, Mamprobi, Chorkor, Santana Market, Kumasi, Osu, Bortianor, Ayigbe Town, Osu, Avenor, Teshie, Nungua and Nima have also benefited.

Source: GNA









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As if being synonymous with a worldwide pandemic was not bad enough, now the company that brews Corona beer is shutting down because Mexico has declared beer making a nonessential industry.

Reports out of Mexico on Thursday were that Grupo Modelo, the company that bottles Corona, Pacifico, Modelo and other beers, is ceasing production for the time being.

Reuters is reporting that the shutdown is a result of the Mexican government order that apparently lumps beer production under the category of nonessential industries

The Mexican government this week declared a health emergency and ordered the suspension of nonessential activities after the number of coronavirus cases in the country surpassed 1,000. On Thursday, it reported 1,510 cases and 50 deaths.

The brewer said in a statement that the suspension will go into place Sunday. It was already preparing to scale down production to a level at which it could resume once the suspension is lifted.

If the federal government considers it appropriate to issue some clarification confirming beer as an agro-industrial product, at Grupo Modelo we are ready to execute a plan with more than 75% of our staff working from home and at the same time guaranteeing the supply of beer, the statement said.

If beer production in Mexico is considered a nonessential business, then beer drinkers all over the world  especially those stuck at home with nothing else to do  can only exclaim, A Dios mio!

Corona Extra, perhaps the most popular beer from Mexico, enjoys sales throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. But since the start of the pandemic with the similar-sounding name, Corona the beer has suffered indignity after indignity.

There was the man in Chicago who was arrested for coughing at two officers as a threat. His headline-ready taunt  now you got the corona  quickly encircled the globe. And then there was the poll from early February where apparently 16% of Americans said they were confused about whether Corona the beer is somehow connected to the coronavirus.

Constellation Brands, which owns Grupo Modelo, was forced in late February to directly address this irresponsible linking of the beer and the virus.

In a company statement, Constellation Brands President and CEO Bill Newlands said despite the growing COVID-19 pandemic, sales of Corona Extra had been strong, with sales up 5% in the quarter.

Its extremely unfortunate that recent misinformation about the impact of this virus on our business has been circulating in traditional and social media without further investigation or validation, he said.
Noida, April 3 : In an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered the Noida administration to deploy drone cameras for monitoring the Friday prayers in the city mosques.

Recently, the number of Covid-19 cases in India soared to over 2,000, fuelled largely by infections linked to the March Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi that emerged as the biggest domestic source of the disease in the country.

A video went viral last Friday, that shows a large congregation offering prayers in mosques here in Sector 16. Soon after that the state government decided to deploy drones at these religious sites to see that social distancing is maintained.

A large number of police personnel were deployed outside the Sector 8 Jama Masjid and the Sector 31 Nithari village mosque.

Police Commissioner of Gautam Budh Nagar, Alok Kumar Singh said that "People can be monitored in many areas and action can be taken against those who break the rules." "Drones will help us a lot and it will be easier to keep surveillance in the areas while the police forces in the residential areas are deployed to prevent any untoward incident,", Singh added.
North Korea has had, for more than a decade, growing problems with loyalty and obedience. Several major efforts have been made to address this and none of them have solved the problem. Growing poverty and access to information about much greater affluence in China and South Korea have even well-off North Koreans reconsidering their loyalties. Even the secret police and senior bureaucracy have become corrupted with incorrect thought. So now North Korea is going to reexamine who can be trusted. To do that the government is revising one of the fundamental social structures. Everyone is going to be checked for loyalty and, when needed, the social caste (songbun) they were born with will be changed.

One of the events that triggered this fundamental change was another reform, instituted several years ago. This program recruited an elite group of agents who would be sent abroad. Membership in this elite group was only open to members of the hereditary elite North Korea families. The children of these families are eligible to attend the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Academy. Graduates of Mangyongdae are most likely to get the most senior government and military jobs. There are only about a hundred graduates a year and, for the last few years, a computer science program has provided a specialized course for Mangyongdae students seeking to become foreign agents in enemy countries, especially South Korea. These agents are trained to hunt down high-level defectors in foreign countries and either arrange to kill the defector or at least find out how the defector is doing, how many secrets they have divulged and, if possible, persuade the defector to shut up or even return to North Korea. To accomplish this the Mangyongdae students are taught the latest hacking techniques, what tools and mercenary hackers are available in the hacker underground and how to use the tools, and the mercs, to put together specialized efforts to track down defectors and monitor them. This means the Mangyongdae must be able to pass as South Korean, as in speak with a South Korean accent, know the customs and slang, and assume a false identity convincingly.

As important as all these skills are the most important item is loyalty to North Korea. The Mangyongdae agents go after the growing number of high-level North Koreans who are illegally leaving the country. The agents are trained to use social media to seek out known or suspected defectors, make contact and obtain more information about them. In the process of screening so many high caste North Koreans for this critical job, it became apparent that many of these children of the well-off elite were not as loyal to North Korea as believed. There were other indicators of this such as these high caste children already adopting a South Korean accent and appearance, This was not done in preparation for a career as a secret agent, but because these well-off young men and women admire South Korea. Such admiration and imitation is illegal in North Korea but the children of the elite know that the police will avoid bothering them unless given direct orders to do so. This aberrant behavior had been noticed by senior leaders, who dismissed it as youthful experimentation. After all, supreme leader Kim Jong Un had spent much of his youth in the West and adopted many of the habits and mannerisms of what he now calls decadent foreigners. When called on by his father, the second Kim to rule North Korea, he obeyed and emulated his father by keeping his tastes for Western luxury living in the background while playing the part of a stern and austere ruler. Kim thought many children of the elite were emulating him. That was not the case and the evidence collected from the interviews for the secret agent jobs made it clear that the caste system was no longer a reliable way to keep track of who was loyal.

Over the last decade, Kim Jong Un has been growing more concerned about key people defecting to South Korea or simply getting into China and making asylum deals with the Chinese government. The Chinese have always been receptive to such arrangements and there have been more of this as the hundreds of families at the top of the social pyramid in North Korea get out. This is a risky endeavor although there are more and more people smugglers who, for enough money, can get anyone out of the country. Worse, many high-level defectors were already outside North Korea on official business when they arranged to disappear and defect. Some of these defectors have been diplomats and some of them were senior enough to be noticed when they disappeared.

These high-caste North Koreans report to foreigners that there is a sense in the ruling families that the system isnt working and is doomed. The top people in North Korea are easy to identify. When North Korea was founded in the late 1940s the songun caste system was established to ensure that the most loyal and capable North Korean communists were recognized and rewarded for their efforts to maintain the new communist government for now and generations to come. The newly established secret police and communist party reported on everyone making it possible to create an official list of every family assigned to one of 51 social classes. From the beginning, most (29) of these classes were composed of people considered either hostile to the government or leaning that way. These new lower classes are where most of the new (and often quite wealthy) donju (entrepreneurs) are coming from. Most of the population falls into these 29 social classes, and they are getting increasingly hostile to a government that seems to do nothing but create one disaster after another. Members of higher-caste families are catching on as well and younger members are increasingly abandoning promising careers to flee the country. All that bribe money making its way to the higher caste North Koreans doesnt just go to buy an easier life in North Korea, it often buys an escape. To deal with this problem among the most trusted classes a special program at the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Academy counter-intelligence program was established. Apparently, some of the Mangyongdae agents have been identified or even caught and this program is no longer as secret as it once was. Meanwhile, the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Academy and its ultra-loyal students get a lot more publicity inside (and outside) North Korea.

In addition to tracking down high-caste defectors, the Mangyongdae level agents are also assigned to monitor the loyalty of North Korea hackers working outside North Korea. North Korean defectors have revealed much about how North Korea has managed to establish and maintain hacking operations outside North Korea and make a lot of money for the cash hungry North Korea leader. This became a higher priority operation in the last few years because of the growing list of economic sanctions imposed. At the same time, there were more opportunities for Internet based misbehavior. Some of these defectors were associated with the North Korean hackers who are, it turns out, mostly based outside North Korea because Internet access is better while operating outside North Korea makes it easier to deny that North Korean hackers are engaged in illegal activity. South Korea has obtained a lot of details about the North Korean hacker operations and even allowed some defectors familiar with those operations to speak openly about it. Obviously, many of these North Korean hackers are not as loyal as they are supposed to be and something much be done to identify and punish the ones that defect and expose how the hacker program works.

The Mangyongdae agents are also trained in the usual methods of secretly contacting the center, usually via North Korea operatives based outside of North Korea and able to relay messages to and from North Korea itself. The skills North Korea hackers have developed are world class and increasingly difficult to counter or even detect. But this edge in skills and techniques depends on having loyal operatives in key positions, thus the importance of the Mangyongdae agents.

The Mangyongdae agent reports made it clear that the traditional caste system was not working and it became obvious that North Korea would have to do what China had already done, establish a social value system that is applied down the individual level. North Korea has not got the tech China uses to constantly monitor all Chinese and automatically raise or lower scores. But North Korea can afford a one-time revision of who belongs in which of the 51 songbun castes and move on from there. This is not a solution to what ails North Korea but it will be interesting to observe.
WASHINGTON  Nearly every night when he takes the podium for his televised coronavirus press briefing, President Donald Trump talks about New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The governor is doing an excellent job, Trump praised Friday evening. Theyre all working very hard together.

Numerous governors have seen their political visibility skyrocket as states spearhead the response to the devastating pandemic, but none more so than Cuomo, who is managing the nations largest outbreak.

The national spotlight has rarely shown as strongly on state leaders, many of whom are issuing orders affecting peoples health and livelihoods on a near daily basis. The epidemic has put governors in closer contact than ever before with Trump and the inner rings of his administration. Governors  even the Democrats who have sparred with Trump  are now regularly on the phone with him, Vice President Mike Pence and others.

Since COVID-19 virus has really become a national emergency, we have seen the emergence of a lot of governors as national figures, said J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of the nonpartisan political newsletter Sabatos Crystal Ball. Governors across the country has tended to see a big boost in their approval ratings. Andrew Cuomo is a great example.

Between Cuomos own televised daily briefings and his cable news interviews, more and more of the country is meeting New Yorks third-term governor. Online you can Cuomo for president tees and sweatshirts, although the 62-year-old isnt running right now.

Cuomo isnt the only one. Michigans Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, or that woman from Michigan, as Trump dubbed her, has gained attention for her outspoken criticism of the federal governments medical supply distribution.

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This is a national crisis. Youre simply going to have, by nature, the focus on the incumbent president and the incumbent governors, said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia and editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball. The Democratic party really has official responders in a sense to any presidential presser or address in the governors and thats precisely what theyre doing. Not just governor Cuomo in New York, but Democrats all over the country.

Republican Govs. Mike Dewine of Ohio and Larry Hogan of Maryland also have pushed back on Trump for wanting to open up the country too soon and not helping governors enough.

The virus appears to have also turned the tables on some previously fraught Trump-governor relationships.

Trump has conceded that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is now doing a good job, to respond the virus  often mentioning him in the same breath as Cuomo at briefings  although last year Trump called Newsom a do-nothing governor. Newsom retorted the president was a bully.

Now, Trump has publicly celebrated the fact that Newsom has praised parts of the federal coronavirus response.

To other relationships, it has added new venom, like after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee recounted on Twitter telling Pence that the administration should stick to the science and tell the truth more. Trump blasted Inslee as a snake.

But its also clear that Trump craves further kudos from the nations governors. Trump said last week that he told Pence not to reach out to governors who arent appreciative of his administrations coronavirus efforts.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

If they dont treat you right, I dont call, Trump said of those governors.

I think they should be appreciative. Because you know what? When theyre not appreciative to me, theyre not appreciative to the Army Corps (of Engineers), theyre not appreciative to FEMA, Trump said. Its not right.

Cuomo and Trump have sent hard knocks back and forth, but seem to have landed on a working relationship. The pair speak by phone often daily, as the federal government marshals more supplies and aid to New York.

When Trump suggested on March 28, he was considering enforcing his own quarantine on New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Cuomo blasted the policy proposal as likely illegal, but noted If the president was considering this, I guarantee he would have called.

Trump said Monday Cuomo would be a tougher presidential opponent than former vice president Joseph Biden.

I wouldnt mind running against Andrew, Trump said on Monday on Fox and Friends. Ive known Andrew for a long time. I wouldnt mind that, but Ill be honest, I think hed be a better candidate than Sleepy Joe.

Biden has now secured enough delegates that it would be nearly impossible for Cuomo to take the Democratic nomination from him in 2020, Sabato said.

But many politicos have speculated that the coronavirus popularity bump  if it lasts  will prompt some governors to launch presidential runs in 2024, perhaps with more success than the governors and former governors who ran in 2020  Inslee, Steve Bullock of Montana, John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Deval Patrick and Bill Weld of Massachusetts  and struggled to crack the ranks of top candidates.

Cuomos brother Chris Cuomo, a CNN anchor, asked the New York governor if he might consider a run in the future, giving his present stardom. Cuomo was adamant in his one-word answer: No.
National Trends in Disability Employment -- Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation & University of New Hampshire IOD - featuring The Women's Project, which supports women with special needs transitioning from the justice system

East Hanover, NJ - April 3, 2020 - Based on data from early March, today's indicators showed gains for people with disabilities and slight declines for people without disabilities, according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment - Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). This positive news is tempered by the substantial declines for all workers that will be reflected in next month's Jobs Report.

In the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report released Friday, the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 31.1 percent in March 2019 to 31.7 percent in March 2020 (up 1.9 percent or 0.6 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio decreased from 74.2 percent in March 2019 to 73.5 percent in March 2020 (down 0.9 percent or 0.7 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, reflects the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).

"We actually have positive news this month for people with disability, but today's job numbers don't reflect the devastating losses of the last three weeks of March. We have yet to see the impact of COVID-19 on the employment situation of people with or without disabilities," said John O'Neill, PhD, director of employment and disability research at Kessler Foundation. "Next month's nTIDE will almost certainly reveal the expected downturn."

The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities increased from 34.2 percent in March 2019 to 34.9 percent in March 2020 (up 2 percent or 0.7 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate decreased slightly from 77.2 percent in March 2019 to 76.9 percent in March 2020 (down 0.4 percent or 0.3 percentage points). The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the population that is working or actively looking for work.

"For our release on May 8, to provide the complete picture, we will add the unemployment rate to this report," added Andrew Houtenville, PhD, interim director of the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability. "This will include the large numbers of people furloughed or laid off who are considered to be unemployed, even if they intend to go back to work for the same employer."

To provide additional information during this upheaval in the labor market, the nTIDE team plans to distribute a special report in mid-May. "We will look at the numbers for people furloughed and laid off as well the proportion of people absent from work due to illness," explained Dr. Houtenville. "This will provide greater insight into the sectors being affected."

In March 2020, among workers ages 16-64, the 4,772,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.3 percent of the total 144,907,000 workers in the U.S.

Beyond the Numbers

Even in a strong economy, finding and maintaining employment is difficult for those living with disability, and making that transition is complicated further by poverty, mental illness, and incarceration. Women dealing with these issues need comprehensive and consistent services in order to achieve personal freedom, meaningful work, and financial independence while meeting their personal goals and family responsibilities.

The Women's Project provides an alternative to pretrial detention for women who cannot afford monetary bail. Part of a partnership of Wildcat Services Corporation, an agency of The FEDCAP Group (FEDCAP), defenders and district attorneys, The Women's Project aims to reduce the number of women being held pretrial, supporting them as they return to court and participate in their own defense. The Women's Project focuses on high-needs women detained on Rikers Island in New York City, helping them manage the complexities of the justice system, re-enter their communities and join or rejoin the workplace. Women with special needs are referred to The Women's Project by their defense attorneys. Care coordination begins during their detention and continues after their release.

The Women's Project is directed by founder Valentina Morales, FEDCAP's senior director of Justice Initiatives. "Having strong relationships with stakeholders in the criminal legal system and the support of many community organizations enables The Women's Project to provide the culturally competent and person-centered services these women need," explained Morales. "Our integrated care team is small and mobile, with service provision led by well-trained licensed social workers who provide a continuous and consistent connection to women from detention through stability in the community - a model that is fundamental to the successes achieved by The Women's Project," she said.

The Women's Project connects participants to employment services provided through FEDCAP's specialized programs, which include job training and placement. These services are part of The Women's Project's holistic program that includes benefits assistance, advocacy, support in entering transitional housing, access to medical care, training in self-advocacy and financial literacy, and clinical support for every court appearance.

"For women with pending court cases, progress toward economic stability can be especially challenging," Morales said. "The collateral consequences of arrest and detention often include loss of housing, disconnection from care and resources, family separation, job loss, or prolonged absence from employment or training opportunities. Additionally, more than half of the women in our community have significant mental health needs and nearly 98% report a past history of physical, sexual or emotional abuse." she relates. "Holistic support services and advocacy can make a significant difference in overcoming these barriers to employment and successful reintegration."

The spread of COVID-19 brings new challenges to supporting women released from local jails and upstate prisons. Despite the disruptions, The Women's Project continues to provide ongoing support to its community members leaving Rikers Island. "New York City is practically under siege and changing rapidly," she observed. "Maintaining a strong connection to women who have been released, those detained pre-trial and those in upstate correctional facilities through The Women's Project is now more important than ever."

###

Ask Questions about Disability and Employment

Each nTIDE release is followed by an nTIDE Lunch & Learn webinar at noon ET. This live broadcast, hosted via Zoom Webinar, offers attendees Q&A on the latest nTIDE findings, provides news and updates. On April 3, Valentina Morales, director/founder of The Women's Project, and senior director of Justice Initiatives at FEDCAP, joins Drs. Houtenville and O'Neill and Denise Rozell, Policy Strategist at AUCD. Join live or watch the recordings at: ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE.

NOTE: The statistics in the nTIDE are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers but are not identical. They are customized by UNH to combine the statistics for men and women of working age (16 to 64). nTIDE is funded, in part, by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (90RT5037) and Kessler Foundation.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes -- including employment -- for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.

About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was established in 1987 to provide a coherent university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. For information on the NIDILRR-funded Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, visit ResearchonDisability.org.

For more information, or to interview an expert, contact: Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org
World Britons Reconvene on Doorsteps to Clap for Health Workers

National Health Service workers applaud on the streets outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of Britains NHS amid the spread of the coronavirus, in London on April 2, 2020. / REUTERS

LONDONBritons stood on doorsteps and leaned out of windows on Thursday for a second national round of applause for doctors, nurses and all other essential workers battling the coronavirus outbreak that is forcing them to stay at home and avoid other people.

For the second Thursday in a row, people across the United Kingdom banged on pots and pans, shouted, clapped and set off firecrackers to show their support for health and care professionals seen as the superheroes of the hour.

With the beloved but overstretched National Health Service (NHS) facing its toughest challenge since it was founded after World War II, the applause provided a moment of unity and emotional release in the midst of anxiety and isolation.

In some London streets, children banged on xylophones and shook maracas to say thank you, while fireworks could be seen and heard on the skyline.

The top of the Shard, a skyscraper in the London Bridge area that is the tallest building in Western Europe, was lit up in blue, the color of the NHS logo.

Landmarks across the country were also bathed in blue light, including one of the towers at Queen Elizabeths Windsor Castle and the Gothic exterior of Kings College Cambridge.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has tested positive for the virus and is self-isolating, briefly stepped out into Downing Street to join in the applause.

Mirroring similar initiatives in other countries from Italy to India, the event was widely promoted on social media networks under the tag #ClapForCarers and looks likely to become a weekly ritual for as long as the lockdown lasts.

Fire brigades tweeted videos of firefighters clapping in front of rows of fire engines with their blue lights flashing, while police in several parts of the country posted footage of officers clapping next to police cars with blazing lights.

The crew of several Royal Navy ships including the HMS Severn and the HMS Trent put out videos of their vessels blowing their horns to join in the moment of celebration.

The NHS, which provides free healthcare to everyone living in the United Kingdom, inspires a passion and loyalty in Britons that has been compared to a religion, but the chronically short-staffed service is also a perennial subject of concern.

Tapping into the publics attachment to the service, the government has made the slogan Protect The NHS central to its messaging aimed at persuading people to stay at home to avoid spreading the virus.

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Amid Accelerating Spread of COVID-19, Poorest Nations Need Debt Relief: WHO
China's services sector struggled to get back on its feet in March after a brutal month of unprecedented shop closures and public lockdowns amid the coronavirus outbreak, a private survey showed on Friday.

Services companies cut jobs at the fastest pace on record as orders plunged for the second straight month and businesses scrambled to reduce their operating costs. Export orders also slumped again as more countries imposed their own tough virus containment measures.

While the Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rebounded to 43 in March from a record low of 26.5 in February, it still remained deep in contraction territory and was the second weakest reading since the survey began in late 2005. The 50-point mark separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis.

The findings add to fears that consumer-facing services firms could be hit much harder and longer by the downturn than factories, which are slowly getting back to work, albeit at below normal levels. Similar business surveys will be released for Europe and the United States later on Friday.

The services sector is an important generator of jobs in China and accounts for about 60% of its economy, which now looks likely to shrink for the first time in 30 years. Many companies are smaller, privately owned firms with much less cash to see them through an extended slumps than larger, state-owned enterprises.

While some restaurants, malls, and movie theatres are slowly reopening as China eases restrictions, many remained closed or are operating at limited capacity as authorities sound the alarm about a possible second wave of infections and advise people to avoid gatherings.

Schools remain shut in most part of the country, and some cities and regions, including a county in China's central province of Henan, have introduced strict quarantine measures in light of new infections.

"Services activity remained under huge pressure and continued to shrink markedly amid restrictions to contain the coronavirus epidemic," Zhengsheng Zhong, director of macroeconomic analysis at CEBM Group, wrote in a note accompanying the Caixin PMI release.

"The recovery of economic activity remained limited in March, although the domestic epidemic was contained," he said.

The slump in the private sector survey, which focuses more on small, export-oriented companies, also contrasted with an official survey this week, which showed an expansion in activity.

The rapid spread of the pandemic outside China has put more pressure on demand, CEBM Group's Zhong said, and wreaked havoc on global supply chains.

Services companies cut their selling prices for the fourth straight month in an effort to boost sales, even as they had to plough more money into safety equipment for staff, the private survey showed. Businesses remained deeply pessimistic and concerned over how long the crisis will last.

"There are signs of lasting damage to domestic demand, and on top of that the external shock resulting from widespread lockdowns in other major economies is arriving fast and furious," analysts from Societe Generale said in a note on Thursday, noting Beijing's stimulus policy response has been "incremental".

The analysts said they expect "a decent dose of domestic policy stimulus" will kick in around the middle of the second quarter.

Officials have cut some taxes and fees, and told banks to extend cheap loans and debt payment relief to firms that have been hardest hit.

They have also signalled additional monetary and fiscal stimulus, including bank reserve ratio cuts and special treasury bill issuance, while some local governments are handing out vouchers worth billions of yuan to boost consumer spending.

Caixin's composite manufacturing and services PMI, also released on Friday, picked up to 46.7 from a record low of 27.5 in February. Though the rise suggests that the sharp initial shock from the virus outbreak is easing, the reading remained below historical averages.

($1 = 7.0977 Chinese yuan renminbi)
The COVID-19 pandemic that has infected over a million people across the globe and claimed the lives of over 53,000 at the time of writing this continues to spread in different parts of the world.

With no cure available for the SARS-CoV-2 that causes the COVID-19 disease, governments across the world have ordered lockdowns and urged the citizens to practice social distancing and remain at homes to curb the COVID-19 spread. And, to help public health officials and governments ascertain if these measures are working, Internet search giant Google released COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports for 131 countries and regions.

These reports chart movement trends over time by geography, across different places like parks, transit stations, workplaces, residences and retail and recreation, to show how busy these locations were and what changed in response to lockdowns and other COVID-19 combating policies.

Google doesn't provide the exact number of visits at places and claims that it doesn't collect any personally identifiable information about its users, like their locations, contacts or movements.

Google says these insights are created by collecting aggregated, anonymized data from users who have enabled the Location History setting on their smartphones - similar to how data for Google Maps is collected.

Google says these mobility trends will be provided over several weeks, with the latest information being two to three days old.

By providing this data, Google also hopes to make it easier for authorities and public health officials to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, if people are persistently visiting transportation hubs like railway stations, then government officials could arrange more trains to allow more room between the passengers for social distancing.

Furthermore, Google is also collaborating with a few epidemiologists working on COVID-19 in a bid to better understand and forecast the pandemic.

You can head this way to download the COVID-19 Community Mobility Report for your country.

Source
Companies Require Digital Tools To Support Their Business and Customers Invontos program will help companies meet their current technology needs and prepare their business for accelerated growth when the current crisis ends.

Invonto, a technology consulting company based in New Jersey, recently announced support initiatives for US-businesses affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. To combat the virus, companies are practicing social distancing by operating remotely. Companies that do not have the proper technology infrastructure are finding it difficult to operate efficiently and meet customer needs. While large corporations have cash reserves to rapidly create new digital solutions to meet new business requirements, small and medium-sized businesses are feeling the crunch.

Funding critical digital solutions may not be feasible for small businesses. Companies that fail to adapt to this new world of social distancing are especially vulnerable to losing their customers and eventually their business. To support companies through these crucial times, Invonto is offering $5 Million for service credits to assist companies in improving their technology operations. Invonto is also offering technical assistance to the biotech companies in building tech solutions to fight against COVID-19.

We are not healthcare professionals. We cannot be on the frontlines against the Coronavirus. However, we dont want to stay on the sidelines either. With our initiatives, we are offering support to the companies that need help. We believe that by improving technology operations now, these companies will be in better shape to succeed in the future. said Maulik Shah, CEO of Invonto.

Invonto has announced several key initiatives as part of its program to award $5 Million in service credits towards eligible projects. Invonto will provide free cloud hosting to customers for one year. Invonto will reduce consulting and development fees for new projects. Invonto will also provide hourly and on-demand services without long-term commitments. Additionally, Invonto will defer payments up to 60 days. The detailed announcement is published on Invontos website at https://www.invonto.com/insights/covid19-support-initiatives/.

These are unprecedented and uncertain times. We are simultaneously facing a health and economic crisis. Besides these support initiatives, we are also talking with biotech and pharma companies researching solutions for Coronavirus and offering our technical assistance. We have to support our community to get through the current crisis. That is the only way forward. Maulik said.

Invontos program will help companies meet their current technology needs and prepare their business for accelerated growth when the current crisis ends.

If you are a business that needs help maintaining your current technology operations or creating new technology solutions for the changing business environment, Invonto can help. Please contact the Invonto team at info@invonto.com to see if your business is eligible.

To learn more about Invonto, visit https://www.invonto.com.

Social Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Invonto/

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A 24-year-old Breyan Romero was obligated to vacate the hostel in downtown Bogota, which he was renting when he could not pay for the everyday rent amounting to $3. Using a walker because of his paralyzed legs, Romera arrived in Bogota, Colombia two years ago from his Venezuela, in the hope of finding a better life there.

In order to survive every day, he was selling biscuits on the streets, and as the days were quite a struggle, Romero was able to earn adequately to put food on the table and pay his daily rent.

However, recent days have become tough for this Venezuelan, and many other people in Colombia, with 19-day quarantine across the nation, in place to assist in stopping COVID-19 from spreading fast. Relatively, the streets have turned deserted and the "informal workers" got forced to remain at home or indoors just like everyone else.

READ: Beyond Trump's Wall: The American Backpackers Riding Out COVID-19 in Latin America

Moreover, 39-year-old Milsen Solana, who came from Tachira, a Venezuelan border state, sold empanadas and coffee on the busy streets of Bogota before the start of quarantine on March 24.

At present, she resides in the same apartment block with her spouse and two kids, where Romero lived. Solana is now worried it may take a while before she gets the chance to sell again, not to mention, her family having less food as their supplies are running low these recent days.

Almost 1.8M Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in Colombia

Romero said the landlady took his phone because he failed to pay his last rent. After his eviction, the former biscuit seller went "outside the blocks of apartments where" he needed to move in along with his cousins who added, their last supplies of food "are running out."

To date, Colombia hosts almost 1.8 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants who, in recent years, left their country, escaping a collapsing economy, shortages in medicine and food, political crisis and poverty.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) head in Colombia, Josef Merkx said, the UNHCR does not have the accurate quantities on informal Venezuelan workers, although he added, what they know is that nearly 60 percent of the 1.8 million Venezuelans in Colombia do not have regular status.

Meanwhile, a study that the Externado University in Bogota released in February came out with a result that only 25 percent of the total number of Venezuelan workers there has a contract.

READ NEXT: The US Outlines Recommendation to Lift Venezuela Sanctions

Increase in Prices of Commodities

What's even making the lives of the Venezuelans and many others in Colombia is the increase in prices of commodities. They said a pound of chicken has now a marked up price of 4,500 Colombian pesos ($1.5) from 3,500 ($0.90).

Meanwhile, a pack of orange is now priced at 3,400 Colombian pesos ($0.85) from 2,800 ($0.70). A piece of egg, on the other hand, amounts to 600 Columbian pesos ($0.15) from 300 ($0.07).

These small changes, as the economists have observed, have a big impact on the poor people's lives especially now that they are unable to work.
ALBANY  Amid both a pandemic and an economic crisis, the state Legislature approved a $177 billion budget overnight Friday with special provisions allowing Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos administration to readjust the spending plan during the fiscal year.

The financial plan was passed early Friday morning, about two days past the Legislatures Tuesday night deadline  a timely spending plan in the eyes of most Albany politicos. Despite a looming recession and billions of dollars in anticipated revenue shortfall related to the coronavirus pandemic, legislators agreed to a budget that kept education aid at last years levels and targeted Medicaid overspending.

The financial plan assumes state leaders will need to revisit the budget three times this year to adjust spending as needed, depending on the states financial health. The first period ends April 30; the second on June 30; and the third on Dec. 31. Cuts could be made if tax receipts are less than 99 percent of what had been projected or if the state overspends by at least 1 percent.

This is not the budget we had hoped to pass at the beginning of session, or even the budget we had envisioned just a month ago, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, said as she stood on the floor of a largely vacant Senate chamber on Thursday. Our states financial situation has been thrust into a true economic crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The budget, a package of nine bills, was approved over three days largely along party lines, as Republicans took issue with packing policy items in the budget and the provisions authorizing Cuomos administration to cut spending throughout the year. Bill language grants the Legislature a 10-day period to pass a concurrent resolution addressing periodic budget shortfalls, but if lawmakers miss that deadline, the Division of the Budget would implement changes.

Who knows what this governor is going to do in the three events he has to reduce funding in a whole bunch of areas? state Sen. James Tedisco, R-Glenville, said. I think the Legislature should be ashamed of itself, relinquishing its power.

The coronavirus pandemic had crushed New Yorks financial health, costing the state an estimated $10 billion to $15 billion in revenue. Those numbers added to an already-difficult budget year, in which officials faced a $6.1 billion budget gap mostly attributable to Medicaid overspending.

But a historic $2.2 trillion federal relief package has largely enabled the state to plan for spending levels similar to that of years past. The state will also take out $8 billion in short-term loans to make up for lost revenue between April and July, as both the federal and state governments moved back tax filing deadlines, delaying payments to New York until the summer. Fiscal policy experts estimate the borrowing could reach $11 billion.

Although the state kept total school aid in line with last years, with a slight increase of nearly $100 million for total aid to school districts at $27.4 billion, New York saves about $1.2 billion by using federal aid to alleviate costs, said E.J. McMahon, founder and research director of Empire Center for Public Policy, a fiscally conservative think tank based in Albany.

Bob Lowry, deputy director for the New York State Council of School Superintendents, said given the grim outlook for the state, the budget for education exceeds our expectations. But the freeze on Foundation Aid will fall hardest on poor districts that rely heavily on state aid.

The possibility of mid-year reductions in aid is worrisome, Lowry said. Every school superintendent we have heard from would favor starting with realistic aid estimates, even if low, rather than face having to make mid-year cuts to school budgets. No one wants to contemplate laying off teachers and reconfiguring classes part way through the school year if state aid comes up short.

McMahon cautioned the deep hole the state finds itself in amid the pandemic will require painful cuts and stretch on for years.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The whole budget pretends theyre going to spend as much as they did last year, and that whatever they lost in taxes the feds will make up, he said. They have to be aware that isnt going to happen.

While education is flat now, New York will move forward with cuts and changes to its Medicaid program, through recommendations the state received from the second iteration of the Medicaid Redesign Team. Among the panel's suggestions are nearly $400 million in cuts to hospitals, $715 million in reductions to the state's long-term care programs, and $71 million in reductions through changes to pharmaceutical practices.

When those adjustments will take effect, however, can be changed, state Budget Director Robert Mujica told reporters during a news conference at the Capitol on Thursday. The legislation allows the governor to delay implementation until up to 90 days after the end of the states emergency declaration in response to the novel coronavirus.

The piecemeal strategy to Medicaid changes will ensure New York can access an estimated $6 billion in emergency federal funds  with the caveat that states not alter their Medicaid programs. The final plan dropped a Cuomo proposal to shift some Medicaid costs to localities.

In turn, the state will withhold $50 million annually of sales tax receipts from counties and $200 million from New York City to hold in a Distressed Providers Assistance Account, said David Friedfel, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.

Notably, the budget did not include tax increases, even as some progressive Democrats downstate pushed the governor to tax the rich to help the state deal with its projected budget shortfall.
The Maharashtra government has



distributed around 6.94 lakh quintals of food grains to 28.61 lakh ration card holders through the public distribution system since Wednesday, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said on Friday.

A state government release said this amount, distributed during the lockdown imposed for the coronavirus outbreak, was a record.

"From April 1 to April 3, a record around 6.94 lakh quintals of food grains was distributed to 28,61,085 ration card holders. They were given 3.83 lakh quintal wheat, 3.01 lakh quintal rice and 3,564 quintal sugar," Bhujbal said in a statement.

He said some 1.67 lakh card holders, who migrated but are struck in parts of the state due to the lockdown, have also got food grains through the state's online portability system.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Bank has come in for some criticism around its handling of the economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Central Bank has said the reduction in economic output this year will be greater than any year during the financial crisis.

It said the economy could collapse by 25% over the next three months and up to half a million people could lose their jobs.

It has also warned that unemployment is likely to peak at 25% by early summer, but the outlook could get a lot worse if the Government needs to extend the Covid-19 lockdown.

It said public finances could be 19.6bn down this year.

However, economist David McWilliams has said the Central Bank should be a player not a spectator.

Mr McWilliams said: "What riles me a little bit is listening to the Central Bank give their tuppence-ha'penny on the economy without actually standing up and saying 'we are an active part of economic policy and we will do our part'.

"I think the Central Bank has been incredibly unresponsive, they have gone missing in action, in a way."

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Zoom, which on Friday stopped development of new product features so it could focus on fixing various privacy and security issues, clamped down even further on security weaknesses over the weekend.

The company on Saturday switched on default password settings and waiting rooms for users of its Free Basic tier and those with a single account on its cheapest paid tier, such as K-12 eduction accounts. All meetings that use a Personal Meeting ID (PMI) will now need a password, and password settings that had been disabled will be re-enabled. As a result, passwords will be required for instant meetings, for participants joining by phone and when a new meeting is scheduled.

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan acknowledged in an interview with CNN on Monday that the company moved too fast as the COVID-19 crisis unfolded and should have enforced tighter security to protect users. The company also acknowledged in response to research from the University of Torontos Citizen Lab that its encryption efforts need more work.

The company has seen a surge in the use of its platform in recent weeks, as self isolation in response to the pandemic ramped up the demand for video software. As its popularity has boomed  both for business and personal use  and the companys stock price rocketed, underlying vulnerabilities in the platform have become apparent.

Referring to the latest security changes, Zoom said schools using its software will have the new password settings locked permanently, while others with free accounts, or paid accounts with a single licensed user, can remove the requirements if the want.

(Zooms waiting room feature has also been enabled by default to let hosts vet participants before letting them in to a meeting.)

Zoom-bombing, where intruders have been able to access video meetings that were not password protected, has led to serious privacy concerns, with uninvited attendees harassing online A.A. meetings and church meetings, for example. The FBI last week warned of unauthorized access to virtual classrooms and recommended that users change security settings to protect meetings.

Meanwhile, Elon Musks SpaceX aerospace company apparently banned the use of Zoom by its 6,000 employees because of privacy and security worries, according to Reuters. Zoom has also come under fire for a vulnerability that enabled hackers to steal passwords on Windows devices, though that flaw has since been addressed.

More recently, New Yorks Department of Education also banned the use of Zoom, with teachers and administrators barred from using it due to concerns about Zoom-booming, according to The New York Post. A letter to staffers said Zoom should be replaced with Google Hangouts Meet or Microsoft Teams.

Zoom CEO apologizes for recent issues

Yuan published a blog post last Wednesday detailing the companys response and said that over the next 90 days Zoom will direct necessary resources to better identify, address, and fix issues proactively.

We are also committed to being transparent throughout this process. We want to do what it takes to maintain your trust, he said.

Measures include a freeze on feature development, with Zoom engineers told to focus on trust, safety and privacy issues.

The company also plans to work with third-party experts to review security for consumer use of its platform; create a council of CISOs to discuss security best practices; create a transparency report in relation to requests for data, records, or content; expand Zooms bug bounty program; and conduct white box penetration tests to identify other security issues.

Yuan will also host weekly webinars to provide privacy and security updates.

Zoom needs to prove it's enterprise-ready

Zoom is going above and beyond by putting its roadmap on hold to address recent concerns, said Raul Castanon, senior analyst for workforce collaboration at 451 Research / S&P Global Market Intelligence. This should help restore confidence with enterprise users, assuming the company comes up with a clear list of improvements after the 90-day period.

Zoom is getting a lot of attention with the pandemic, and the security issues could actually be an opportunity for the company to prove it can address privacy and security for its enterprise customers, he said.

However, Zoom still has a way to go in terms of ensuring that its platform is ready for enterprise use.

"Yuan contradicts himself with his comment about Zoom being developed for enterprise customers with full IT support and not a broader set of users, Castanon said. It is true that the pandemic is uncovering opportunities for improvement  not just for Zoom, but for most vendors  but the security flaws that have come up show the platform is not quite enterprise-grade. Yuan could have been better off without that remark.

In another privacy incident, Zoom is being sued in California for sharing user data with Facebook. Zoom said in a March 29 blog post that it has never sold user data in the past and has no intention of selling users data going forward, and would remove the Facebook SDK (software development kit) from its iOS client, which it said was responsible for collecting device data.

Castanon commended the way Zoom handled privacy issues related to the Facebook SDK.

Zoom will be okay, but this incident will further damage Facebooks reputation, he said. Mark Zuckerberg should pay close attention to Eric Yuans detailed response about how Zoom is addressing security and privacy concerns.
THESE days Tullamore native, Michael Farrell probably spends as much time in the air as he does on the ground.

Working for Aer Lingus, as a member of their senior cabin crew, he has just come back from Toronto in Canada. We caught up with him while he was on a well earned rest in Naas where he now lives.

Michael is the son of Carmel and the late Mick Farrell of Tinnycross. He describes his childhood as idyllic.It was great, I had the open countryside of Tinnycross with great neighbours and friends. Then I got the bus into school where I had more friends in the town.

Having received his early education at St Josephs NS and Scoil Bhride in Kilcruttin his secondary education was at the Vocational School now known as Tullamore College.

On leaving school he trained as a chef at Athlone Regional College. I worked at that for a while. I was in Limerick and then the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise. Then I went into the restaurant end of the business and I was in the Phoenix Arms Hotel in Tullamore.

It was hard work, but it was great fun. We had great craic. We were like a family, but the hours were very tough. I ended up going into retail then and worked mainly in menswear and fashion. I started off with Smart Brothers in Dublin, I worked there for a year, then I came down and worked with Kevin Moriarity Menswear on Patrick Street, Tullamore, for nearly 7 years. From there I went to Texas, then to Galvins and I ended up managing McGorisks for Men in Athlone.

Venturing out on his own, Michael decided to open his own business and moved to Naas where he operated Little Piggies - a childrens shoe shop.

I opened in 2006 and closed in 2012 due to the downturn in the economy. At that time in Naas, Superquinn, Penneys and Marks and Spencer closed and the town went into decline.

Michael was now unemployed probably for the first time in his life.

Because I was self-employed I wasnt entitled to social welfare so I went to work with a guy who owned a dry cleaners next door to me, called Sunny Dry Cleaners and I stayed there for five years. But I always had aviation or cabin crew in the back of my mind so I gave it a shot and I ended up working with Aer Lingus, says Michael.

I have been there now for three years. This will be my fourth summer. Its great. Its a fantastic opportunity to see the world. Its hard work and its very tiring, but it is very rewarding and you meet all sorts of lovely people.

One of the most demanding aspects of the job for Michael is that every time he flies, there is a completely different cabin crew.Its good in one way because you dont get complacent with anybody but you dont get to know everybody as well as you would like. It has its challenges as well when flights are delayed, its not like a 9 to 5 job where you know you are going to be in work at 9am and finish at 5pm.

Michaels days normally begin at around 4am. He likes early flights because then he can get home early in the evening. The crew can bid to go on early flights. I bid for earlies, because its easy for me going up and down the M50. But I could check in at any time between 5 and 7 in the morning, then Im normally home about 3 or 4 pm. Its roughly a 5-day week, one week you might do six days the next week you might do only 3 so it varies.

During the last three years, Michael has been to many countries including most of Europe and the UK. Places he has flown to in the US include New York, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Washington and San Francisco.

On the long haul flights, you fly over on a Monday and you fly back on Tuesday through the night and you land back Wednesday morning. After a transatlantic flight you have to have two days off. If you do a westcoast flight like San Francisco or LA you have three days off.

Michael can go out sightseeing depending on the landing and pick up time. Usually on any of the city flights you have good opportunities to tour around and see some of the sights. We get a two-nighter during the winter because the flights dont go as frequently, so in places like LA, Chicago and Toronto, Miami and Orlando, you would have two nights in those.

My favourite cities have been Boston and Chicago, but I like Toronto too. When you arrive everything is looked after. You are collected from the airport by bus and brought to the hotel. We are looked after very well.

During his many flights Michael has met some quite famous celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick who were travelling to Ireland for Christmas where they have a home in Donegal. He has also met actors Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters and Eilish OCarroll better known as Winnie McGoogan from Mrs Browns Boys.

Michael says the coronavirus has posed serious challenges for passengers and staff.

Its quite tense and surreal, the airports are all very quiet and the flights themselves are very quiet. We are working at the moment to repatriate people home to their families. We take all the precautions to keep the passengers and the crew safe. People are afraid. We try not to be nervous, I suppose you are performing every day and trying to put on an act that everything is fantastic when deep down you are scared, especially if someone on the flight starts to cough, you wonder is that just a cough or something else. You cant exactly open the door and tell them they have to go out. It is challenging and its tough on the airline business. Obviously all the Italian and Spanish flights have been cancelled.

And his tips for jet lag? Drink lots of water about three days before you travel, it does help a little bit. If you try to set your time to the destination, dont go straight to bed try to stay going until you would normally go to bed, the next day you will be better adjusted. If you dont you wake up at 4 oclock in the morning and you are wrecked the next day.

Michael was recently promoted to senior cabin crew, which is not bad going after just three years in the job he loves and hopes to remain in until he retires.

In his spare time Michael is a member of Naas and Newbridge Musical Societies, though his early morning starts means he gets to spend very little time with them. He has also graced the stage with the Tullamore Musical Society and the Tullamore Drama group. In his early years he was a member of the Tullamore town band.

Speaking about his parents, his dad Mick died 10 years ago this year, while his mother Carmel is still going strong and will be 85 in August.

Mick Farrell was well known for his involvement in the town band, and the multiple sclerosis and Irish Cancer Societys. He lived in Tinnycross all his life. His mother Carmel is originally from Killeigh, but is now part of the fabric of Tinnycross where Michael says there is a great little community and a network of neighbours and friends.

Michael is not sure where he will be flying to next, but he has some holidays coming up and he plans on enjoying them even though he cant go away anywhere. No doubt it will include catching up on some much needed sleep
A member of Metropolitan Police staff has died after contracting coronavirus, in the first linked death to hit Britains largest force.

A spokesperson said the person worked in the contact centre, which handles 999 and 101 calls from the public, other forces and dispatches police to incidents.

It is with great sadness that we can confirm that a member of police staff working in MetCC, who had pre-existing health conditions, has died after contracting Covid-19, a Scotland Yard spokesperson said.

We are at this time respecting the needs of the family and not releasing a name.

This is believed to be the first coronavirus-related death within the Metropolitan Police Service.

A Dorset Police officer died on Monday after being suspected of contracting coronavirus.

The force said the 56-year-old had been unwell since Christmas with a chest infection.

He had been off sick since 19 March and went into self-isolation after displaying covid-19 symptoms.

Several doctors have also died during the outbreak in Britain.

Police leaders have not disclosed how many officers and staff are currently off work due to coronavirus.

Contingency plans have been drawn up by forces across the UK for a maximum of one fifth of officers to be lost at any one time.

Police leaders have said they may be forced to prioritise crime reports, but have vowed to continue responding to emergencies and protecting vulnerable people.

Officers have been given unprecedented powers to enforce the UKs lockdown with fines and arrests, which they have been told to use as a last resort after a series of controversies.

There have been numerous incidents of people deliberately coughing on police officers and claiming they have coronavirus during the outbreak.

Prosecutors are charging the offences as assault on an emergency worker, which can be punished by up to two years in prison.
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Boadu, has urged security personnel deployed to enforce the partial lockdown directive to arrest and prosecute persons found to be flouting the law.

He said doing so would serve as a deterrent to others who have taken the directive for granted.



Speaking on an Accra-based radio station, Asempa FM, on Thursday, Mr Boadu said it was evident that people were flouting the directive but cautioned the security not to take the law into their hands and discipline such people.



The processes are there. If you arrest someone who you believe is not part of the exemptionswhen we prosecute one or two I think things will be ok, he said.



He also advised the security personnel to exercise caution since they are also at risk of getting the disease.



Following the passage of the Imposition of Restriction Bill 2020 in March, President Akufo-Addo announced a partial lockdown of Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi as part of measures to fight the Coronavirus disease. The President however gave exemptions to the lockdown directive, giving permission for essential workers to go about their daily activities.



The law stipulates that anyone found flouting the restrictions commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than 1000 penalty units and not more than 5000 penalty units. Each unit is GH12 putting the range of fine at between GH12,000 and GH60,000. The convict could also be liable to a prison term of not less than three months and not more than six months or both a fine and imprisonment.



But the military and police personnel deployed to enforce the directive have had to deal with some civilians who seem to be flouting the directive.



In its wake, social media has been awash with videos suggesting that the security personnel are abusing civilians; a claim that has been disputed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Abraham Yeboah Nsiah.

Source: Daily Graphic









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Colum McCann went to hear them when he went to Israel and Palestine with his storytelling organisation Narrative 4. He wept as he listened. He knew next to nothing about this part of the world, he says, but he burned with curiosity about it; perhaps it would become a starting point for a book.

The two fathers were already friends, both members of an organisation called Combatants for Peace. The second tragedy made them brothers. They now spend their lives talking about what happened to them, telling their stories as a protest and a plea for peace.

For most of us, losing a child is the worst thing you could imagine. Rami Elhunans 13-year-old daughter Smadar died when three Palestinian bombers blew themselves up in a Tel Aviv shopping street. Bassams daughter Abir was 10, buying a bracelet of sticky sweets when, a decade after Smadars death, an Israeli soldier in a passing tank fired the bullet that crushed the back of her skull.

Later, as he wrestled in vain with a quite different story about the West Bank, on the verge of giving up, a Narrative 4 friend asked what he remembered most about their trip. Rami and Bassam, of course. She said, Why dont you write about them? It all kind of unfolded from there. It seemed like the right thing to do.

The result is Apeirogon, a word that means a geometric figure with an infinite but countable number of sides. Imagine that figure twirling in front of you like a disco ball, its facets catching the light. That is how McCann tells his story, moving from past to present and back again, interpolating the lives and deaths of the two girls with political and historic contextual snippets, imagined conversations, real-life testimony, literary quotations and drifts of thought that ostensibly have nothing to do with the central characters at all.

The origin of the word dextrose, for example. The flight paths of migratory birds. The history of the slingshot used to bring down these birds by Bedouin boys. Slingshots that are now used by boys trying to hit passing tanks. One subject touches and inhabits the next subject, McCann says. And you know, all of it comes back to the elemental story of Samira and Abir. We are connected, we touch each other, we move in parallel. Even the smallest story can affect all of us.

Because of the new coronavirus  another thing connecting us, as he observes wryly - McCann and I cant meet in person. He asks me to send him some written questions. I look over his books. This isnt the first time he has written about this primal source of grief; it is there in Transatlantic (2013), where Senator George Mitchell meets the mothers of dead paramilitaries outside Stormont; it is the subject of one of the stories in Thirteen Ways of Looking (2015); it is there, inevitably, in his response to the World Trade Center attacks, Let the Great World Spin (2009). Why is that?

I have never, thank God, lost a child, he emails back within a couple of hours. I was about to say: I cant imagine that pain. But I have attempted. Rami and Bassam say that I have imagined it: thats one of the reasons they find the book so painful to read. They had told the story a billion times: they had just never seen it said this way.
On Friday morning, California Governor Gavin Newsom stood by the state's decision to close schools through the rest of the school year, dismissing a claim by Rep. Devin Nunes (R.-Calif.) that such a move was "way overkill."

Newsom appeared on "The View"  or rather, a home-recorded version of it as hosts remain in quarantine  in conversation with Joy Behar. Asked if he had a response to Nunes, Newsom, speaking from California's Emergency Operations Center, said he didn't "want to give it much air."

"I've not sourced [Nunes] for advice on pretty much any issue  I say that as respectfully as I can  but particularly on public health issues," Newsom said. "He's made some statements in the past that were not consistent with the advice from the experts. Well continue to listen to the experts, try to avoid some elected officials that frankly may not have the benefit of the insight many of us do here."

Newsom added that at the Emergency Operations Center, he and the state's health officials are constantly getting new information from around the world and anticipating trend lines.

"Not everyone has that benefit," Newsome continued, "so Ill forgive him."

On March 31, California Superintendent Tony Thurmond told district education officials in a letter that "due to the current safety concerns and needs for ongoing social distancing it currently appears that our students will not be able to return to school campuses before the end of the school year.

Thurmond further explained that school is not out, but that teachers and administrators should continue their learning via distance learning. Governor Newsom on Thursday announced an effort with Google to expand internet capabilities for students in more remote areas of the state to facilitate the new teaching methods.

Nunes, who represents parts of Fresno and Tulare Counties, called the move to shutter schools "way overkill."

Look, the schools were just canceled out here in California, which is way overkill, he said in a Fox News appearance. Its possible kids could have went back to school in two weeks to four weeks, but they just canceled the rest of the schools.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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Alyssa Pereira is an SFGate digital editor. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira


If you're trying to get a refund for a canceled trip, prepare for an unpleasant surprise. Although some airlines, cruise lines, and hotels have offered customers their money back amid a wave of coronavirus cancellations, others haven't.

They include airlines that are openly defying the government's refund rules, tour operators pocketing hefty cancellation fees, and cruise lines taking three months or more to refund the price of a ticket.

The travel industry is desperate. If companies make every refund, it could put them out of business. Tightening refund policies might stem the losses  or postpone the inevitable.

Here are typical industry policies:

Most airlines are offering a full refund when they cancel a flight, but theyre pressuring customers to accept a ticket credit.

Cruise lines are still giving refunds for canceled cruises. Theyre also encouraging customers to accept a credit by offering extra incentives, such as raising the value of their vouchers.

Hotels chains have loosened their cancellation policies, allowing refunds for rooms that originally couldnt be canceled until late spring.

But there are outliers. Take United Airlines' refund policies. In early March, United quietly revised its refund rules, effectively forcing most passengers affected by its schedule changes to accept a ticket credit instead of a quick refund. It later amended its new policy in response to public pressure, allowing refunds when travel is disrupted by more than six hours.

Then United revised its policy again, this time just for international flights. When there's a flight cancellation, the airline is offering a voucher for the full value of the ticket. If you don't use the voucher, you can get a refund after a year.

Leslie Wiercinski found out about United's policy when she tried to get a refund for a canceled flight from Washington to the Cayman Islands. Wiercinski, a retired social worker from Brookeville, Md., asked for a refund, but a United representative told Wiercinski that she could receive only a voucher for future travel.

"But the Department of Transportation says I should get a full refund," she says. Her travel agent contacted United and cited the Transportation Department's ticket refund rules. Only then did United fully refund her ticket.

United would not comment on recent policy changes. I asked the Transportation Department about the new refund policies, which have since spread to other carriers. A representative said the department is investigating refund issues but reiterated that when an airline cancels a flight, a full refund is due.

A Colorado-based tour operator, Voyageurs International, has a refund policy that has drawn many complaints.

Elizabeth Dachel was looking forward to a 16-day high school trip to Europe in June, with stops in England, France, and Italy. The tour operator canceled that trip last week, refunding $4,445 after charging a $1,900 cancellation fee. A representative told her father, Jim, that the company needed to cover its expenses and pointed out a clause in the contract that allowed it to charge the fee.

They refuse to provide an itemized list of what costs were incurred for the students thus far, says the elder Dachel, a manufacturing representative from Colfax, Wisc.. I believe this cancellation fee is about profiteering.

John Flanders, an attorney for Voyageurs International, says the cancellation fee covers what the tour operator spent to organize the trip. "There's a lot of investment and a lot of upfront costs," he says.

After last month's State Department travel advisory, the company decided to cancel all of its tours. But Flanders says it isn't trying to profit from the decision. "Right now, we're just trying to keep this business afloat," he says.

Other travel companies are delaying refunds. Kevin Garvey decided to cancel his family's Oceania cruise, scheduled for September. Under the cruise contract, he had until May 9 to cancel and receive a full refund of his $5,250 deposit.

Three weeks ago, he canceled the vacation and started waiting for his money. It didn't come. "Oceania just informed me that it's decided to prioritize refunds," Garvey, a retired lawyer from Chicago, says. "Since our cruise was not scheduled until September, it would take up to 99 days to get the refund."

Ninety-nine days? I checked with Oceania, and a spokesperson said refunds were taking up to three months, compared with the industry standard of 30 days. I gave Garvey the email address of Oceania's director of passenger services. After he contacted her, the cruise line processed an immediate refund. (Many company contacts are listed at Elliott Advocacy (elliott.org).

Why is this happening? Vacations are all being canceled at the same time, placing an enormous strain on the travel industry. Many companies, especially smaller ones, don't have the cash on hand to give refunds for all the canceled trips at one time.

"The entire system is conserving cash right now," says Eric Martin, owner of Wilderness Voyageurs, an adventure tour operator based in Ohiopyle, Pa. "So everyone is issuing credits."

Martin says the new policies are meant to help travel companies survive a run on refunds. "No one is intentionally instituting policies to [harm] their customers," he adds. "We will need them once this is over."

There's a way to deal with these policies. First, review the terms of purchase and any applicable rules. Often, the refund rules are unambiguous, as was the case with Garvey. If you can live with a credit, it's worth considering. Martin is correct: Many travel companies won't survive if everyone, all at once, asks for their money back.

How about a credit-card dispute? That's an option, but be careful with it. If you're filing a legitimate chargeback against a large company, that's fine. But if there's a travel agent involved, you may hurt a small business that's unable to sustain a big loss. "It may come back to the agency for fulfillment," says Linda Halstead, a travel specialist in Northern Virginia.

Fortunately, these refund policies shouldn't be with us for long. Experts predict that when the coronavirus crisis abates, businesses will return to customer-friendlier policies. Assuming the companies survive, of course.

Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate, journalist, and co-founder of the advocacy group Travelers United. Contact him at elliott.org.
Actor Tom Holland came up with a super difficult challenge for actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds and only one of them could deliver. The Spider-Man: Homecoming star challenged them to put on their shirts while performing a headstand.

In a video shared on his Instagram stories, Tom did a headstand in his room,shirtless. However, he then began putting on his shirt while still upside down and with great difficulty. While he did nail the challenge, it left him out of breath by the end of it. Tom then tagged Jake and Ryan to also take up the challenge.

For your approval: Tom Holland tries to put on a shirt while doing a handstand pic.twitter.com/M7eOhDfm6r  Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) April 2, 2020

A shirtless Jake also shared a video of himself acing the challenge. He was seen looking fit as ever and even showed off his stylish ponytail in the video. However, Deadpool star Ryan was in no mood for any of it. He reposted Toms video and then a video of himself with an annoyed expression. He took a long minute of silence then simply said no to his offer. Tom reposted the video and reacter with laughter emoji.

Tom and Jake starred together in Spider-Man: Far From Home. While Tom played the titular Peter Parker, Jake played the evil Mysterio in the film. The two struck a friendship while touring around the world to promote the film.

Right now, all three are in self isolation to avoid the spread of coronavirus. Ryan and his actor wife Blake Lively have donated $1 million to food banks in US and Canada, as well as $400,000 to hospitals in New York City. He has also pledged to donate a percentage of sales of his gin to help out-of-work bartenders.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
National COVID-19 Coordination Commission boss Nev Power has said Australia and the world are too reliant on Chinese supply lines and the disruption caused by the coronavirus could spark a renaissance in smart, high-tech local manufacturing.

The comments on Perth's 6PR Radio came as Australian businesses scramble to fill the demand for medical equipment and supplies ahead of the pandemic's peak.

COVID-19 coordination commissioner Nev Power is working on the local manufacture of critical medical supplies. Credit:Carla Gottgens

Mr Power, the former chief executive of Fortescue Metals Group, said Prime Minister Scott Morrison had tasked the commission to look at long-term manufacturing competitiveness and how disrupted supply chains could be replaced by Australian manufacturers.

He said the decline in local industry had been happening for decades with the growth of manufacturing centres in across Asia.
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- US mattress manufacturers, including Brooklyn Bedding, Corsicana Mattress Company, Elite Comfort Solutions, FXI, Inc., Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., and Leggett & Platt, Incorporated are fully engaged in responding to the COVID-19 situation. Our companies and the US mattress industry as a whole have the capacity, experience, supply chain, and geographic reach to meet demand for mattresses across the country. Across many US states, mattress manufacturing plants remain open as essential business. Our facilities are mobilizing swiftly to meet the special needs of the COVID-19 response, with hard-working and resourceful Americans quickly redesigning processes and specifications to build emergency hospital beds  already more than 30,000 per day with the capacity for many more  as well as a variety of other non-traditional products, including converting sewing operations to manufacture safety masks, isolation gowns, privacy curtains, disinfecting wipes, shoe covers, filters, and other safety and protective supplies.

"The US mattress industry is here  we have the capacity to meet the entire US market's demands related to COVID-19 and we are broadly located across all regions of the United States. Collectively, we are able to quickly produce and deliver on immediate needs, including hospital beds which are often at different size specifications than our typical offerings and have different cover requirements. We can produce to order based on specific needs and deliver when and where beds are needed," said Karl G. Glassman, CEO of Leggett & Platt, Incorporated, "as opposed to the time it takes to import mattresses from other countries."

"Our operations are also supported by a largely American supply chain, meaning that every mattress we produce also benefits American workers manufacturing textiles, foam, innersprings, machinery, and other components, as well as many transportation and retail workers," said John Merwin, CEO Brooklyn Bedding, "and give me two hours on the phone and I can find you 50,000 mattresses a day of capacity right now in the United States and we could start that production tomorrow," he continued.

Earlier this week, American mattress manufacturers and labor unions filed a petition requesting unfair trade investigations be conducted on imports from eight countries that are relative newcomers to the US market. "US mattress manufacturers and unions filed this case in order to protect the tens of thousands of American workers who manufacture mattresses in this country," said Yohai Baisburd, counsel to the petitioners.

The filing of this petition has no negative impact on America's COVID-19 response. In fact, the need to preserve US manufacturing capabilities is never more apparent than in crucial moments like this. Contrary to what others might say, neither the availability or pricing of imported mattresses is immediately impacted by the filing of a case as no duties can be imposed for at least 4 months.

SOURCE The Mattress Petitioners
This month marks the 73rd year since the Port of Texas City's fertilizer explosion that claimed more than 500 lives and injured 3,500.

Houston-born Jay Thames has relived the calamity of that time for decades, since his grandfather, Jesse Thames, could offer a firsthand-witness account of that devastating time.

"When we came to the office that morning...this huge column of orange smoke coming from down at the dock. We knew it was a ship burning," Jesse Thames would tell Jay. "There was such a spectacular fire, and so people went down to watch it. After a few minutes, I heard this detonation."

The explosion happened just after 9 a.m. April 16, when it nearly "knocked me across the room," he says, adding that hundreds of Texas City residents, age 2 to 85, lost their lives in the blast.

According to Hugh W. Stephens, author of "The Texas City Disaster, 1947," the tragedy started with the 2,300-ton vessel SS Grandcamp, which held ammonium nitrate fertilizer.

After smoke was detected on board that ship, hasty attempts to extinguish the fire failed, and the flames quickly spread, leading to a detonation. It set off a chain of subsequent explosions, some of which were spaced apart as far as several hours.

The High Flyer, which was docked in the slip next to the Grandcamp, exploded a reported 16 hours after the initial blast. People were helpless to stop it, and the entire Texas City fire department had been killed during the Grandcamp-ignited blaze. During that time, survivors of prior blasts nervously anticipated its explosion.

Those days of uncertainty and fear would stay with some survivors for the rest of their lives.

Texas City, which was quickly becoming a major seaport, was decimated. Instead of becoming the thriving business center south of Houston, it's now a quiet small suburb that's best known for its outlet shops and a large Buc-ee's, a popular stopping point for drivers heading down to Galveston.

However, for the longtime residents of Texas City and their younger generations, it will forever be remembered as the up-and-coming port town filled with boundless promise.
Google has pledged to donate $6.5 million to fact-checkers and nonprofits to fend off misinformation about coronavirus and more. The search giant blogged about its decision this week, citing the importance of factually correct information in a global health crisis. More directly, the company points to the crucial link between fact-checkers, nonprofits, and journalists.

Among the organizations set to benefit from the funding, pushed forward under the Google News Initiative, is the nonprofit First Draft. The organization serves as an online resource hub, with training and simulations for journalists covering coronavirus. But that organizations CrossCheck network wont be the only beneficiary.

In Brazil, Google is renewing support for Comprova, a collaborative verification project.

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Immediate support is also being provided to Full Fact, Maldita.es, PolitiFact, Kaiser Health News, and LatamChequea. The first two beneficiaries are coordinating their efforts in Europe. Specifically, thats in hard-hit regions such as Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and the UK. LatamChequea provides a hub for the work of 21 different fact-checking organizations across 15 Spanish-speaking and Latin American countries.

Conversely, Politifact and Kaiser Health News will be able to expand health-related fact-checking partnerships with the aid of the funding.

Beyond those donations, Google is also funding several other journalistic resources. The company lists SciLine, the JSK Journalism Fellowships, and the International Fact-Checking Network. Each of those will be able to build out, maintain, and advance their respective database as well as support fact-checkers worldwide, in part with assistance from the search giants funding.

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Non-monetary donations are part of the latest efforts too

The latest organizational partnerships and fact-checking push from Google on coronavirus are part of a much larger bid from Google to halt the spread of misinformation and provide the best information possible. That also includes efforts to highlight fact-check articles as well as to track the spread of related misinformation.

To that end, Google isnt solely focusing its efforts around the need to donate to fact-checking organizations with a focus on coronavirus. Not only is the search giants focus on COVID-19 mostly temporary  the company plans to continue addressing misinformation going forward. The company also hopes to support fact-checkers, reporters and health authorities in other ways. To begin with, its pledged to make localized Google Trends data more widely available.

Google says its goal is to provide relevant persons with information about what information users still need. For instance, the company says users might want to know what temperature kills coronavirus? but may not have ready access to that information. By providing that detail to the appropriate health authorities or fact-checkers, those questions may eventually be answered for end-users.

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Summarily, the bid centers around providing experts with a better idea of what information end-users need.

Additionally, the company is providing support to several organizations focused on training and informing journalists globally.

This stacks on top of a much larger coronavirus donation from Google

Now, the latest efforts from Google are not the only push the search giant has made since the global pandemic began. Not only is the company behind one of the largest relevant US resources, a web hub sponsored by the US government. The company has also been donating a substantial amount of money toward community-led efforts.

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In late March, Google donated $800-million in funds and resources to communities around the globe to help deal with the crisis. That was meant to alleviate the effects of the ongoing pandemic in the private sector. It additionally supported organizations working toward the same goal. The company took that a step further still by incentivizing donations from its workforce.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the job market has imploded. The unemployment rate  which was looking good at 5.6 per cent just last month  is predicted to rise by more than 13 per cent when the pandemic runs its course.

Among the hardest hit will be the Class of 2020, and those in the process of completing degrees: but many students and new graduates wont qualify for Ottawas current $107 billion bailout plan. The government needs to find a way to support students and grads, who are both uniquely vulnerable and essential to economic reconstruction efforts.

In the coming weeks, more than 500,000 students will earn a certificate, diploma, or degree from a post-secondary institution in Canada. Awaiting students is a job market in the throes of the worst economic recession in generations. Already, university students have begun to feel the effects: internship programs have been cancelled, work start-dates are being postponed, and job postings have dissipated.

Despite employment prospects looking increasingly grim, and opportunities for casual work being almost non-existent, students have been notably absent from the governments expansive relief plan. Ottawas Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) only covers individuals who have stopped working because of COVID-19, not those entering the workforce facing scant job opportunities. The Government of Canada website states: If you are a student who had a job last year and were planning on working this summer you do not qualify for the benefit.

University students tend to be financially precarious, and are becoming more so, due to rising tuition, cost of living, and student debt burdens. Post-secondary education is a significant investment, and many students rely on the financial gains expected to come post-graduation.

Beyond the personal, government must not forget that education is Canadas greatest strength. Canada has the highest educational attainment out of any OECD country, with 57.9 per cent of 25 to 64-year-olds holding some kind of post-secondary degree in 2018.

The simplest way to determine the economic impact of university education is by looking at the income premium generated from human capital development. According to a 2017 study by the Council of Ontario Universities, Ontario university graduates earn around $37,397 more per year than those with only a high school degree. Multiply this by the number of university graduates working in Ontario (over 1.3 million), and this premium translates to $48.7 billion. While some of this income goes to taxes and savings, the rest goes right back into the economy, resulting in the creation of 229,950 jobs and a $24.5 billion GDP boost.

This impact, of course, is dependent on graduates staying financially secure. To ensure students stability, and future economic growth, the government must expand the CERB to cover all graduates and mid-degree students experiencing lost income due to COVID-19.

Retention rates and future enrolment should also be a serious concern, as the knock-on personal financial effects will endure beyond the economic collapse. Long-term, the government should look at offering education subsidies for students impacted by the pandemic.

Im sure many can relate to the feeling that the world as we know it has been completely upended. But when all of this is over, and we need to rebuild our economy, university graduates will be a vital part of the effort. Lets help keep them afloat until then.
(JNS)-A Jewish mother in Maryland created an illustrated online book in a PDF format that helps parents explain to preschoolers and toddlers the school closings due to coronavirus.

"My School is Closed" by Meredith Polsky, co-founder of the Jewish organization Matan, is written from the point of view of a child, who says on one page "I'm not sick now. My friends are not sick. We are staying home to help people stay healthy."

Polsky, also a developmental support coordinator at Temple Beth Ami Nursery School in Rockville, Md., told the website Kveller, "Short picture stories are a great way to help children adjust to new situations. When school closures became more and more real over the past week, I tried to think about how young children and children with disabilities would understand what was happening. I was worried about their level of anxiety, and I wanted to create something that would be age-appropriate and wouldn't induce fear."

Polsky sends similar illustrated stories to her students to help them cope with the first day of school and other transitions in their life, she told Kveller. She said she wants children "to know that their teachers love them and miss them, and wish they could see them."

Polsky added, "I also wanted to reassure them that their teachers and friends are not sick, and that this kind of thing almost never happens."
WASHINGTON  Texas is opening the door to an expansion of mail-in voting during the coronavirus outbreak, though the state is unlikely to heed calls to have every voter cast ballots by mail to avoid exposure to COVID-19 at polling places.

The states director of elections on Thursday sent guidance to elections officials in all 254 counties telling them that voters can ask for mail-in ballots if they are worried that coronavirus will make showing up to a polling place a danger to their health.

The guidance isnt a mandate and it doesnt create new policy. But it offers a green light to county officials to take a lenient approach in approving requests for mail-in ballots.

Democrats and voting rights advocates have pushed for states to expand voting by mail, arguing that forcing people to show up to polling places during the largest public health crisis in a century is tantamount to vote suppression. Texas has so far opted to delay elections, rather than fully expand mail-in voting, pushing the statewide runoffs from May to mid-July.

This years elections could end up being some of the most consequential in years, with control of the state House, a slew of congressional seats and U.S. Sen. John Cornyns re-election all on the line, not to mention the potential emergence of Texas as a battleground state in the presidential race.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The guidance notes that the election code currently includes a disability clause that allows voters to apply for an absentee ballot if showing up at a polling place risks injuring the voters health. It suggests counties can get a court order to temporarily expand eligibility for mail-in voting  especially in areas under quarantine.

The guidance also suggests that counties be more lenient with curbside voting and says counties should consider recruiting and training more poll workers this year.

Advocates say the guidance seemingly opens the door for anyone worried about coronavirus to apply for a mail-in ballot  but the state needs to be more clear. Texas is one of the few states that still require voters younger than 65 to have an excuse to cast a ballot by mail. Fewer than 7 percent of Texas voters mailed in ballots in 2018.

"This is a big step in the right direction, said Bay Scoggin, director of Texas Public Interest Research Group, one of dozens of groups that have urged the state to expand mail-in voting as at least one option for this years elections. While we still want a more concrete expansion of vote by mail, this plan gives guidance to counties on a number of important issues.

Democrats say the state still isnt going far enough.

In the middle of this public health crisis, we must all be working together to keep people safe and healthy, while also keeping our democracy moving forward, said U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat. This should include a statewide no-excuse vote-by-mail program that will give every eligible Texan the opportunity to make their voice heard in this years electoral process and guarantee their well-being.

Every Texas Democrat in Congress wrote a letter to Abbott this week urging an expansion of voting by mail, pointing out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests shifting that way for 2020 elections.

FOR THE LATEST: As Houston leaders strongly encourage working from home, own staff report to empty buildings

The state guidance handed down this week comes after the Democratic party and a slew of civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against the state to force it to offer mail-in voting as an option to everyone.

Right now, no voter we know of has immunity to COVID-19, and physical polling places could risk exposure and cause injury by way of sickness, said Ed Espinoza, executive director of Progress Texas. We believe that election law provides a remedy for all voters to vote by mail, but we need clarity from the state. Texas already allows no-excuse vote-by-mail for voters aged 65 and up, and we need our statewide lawmakers to step up and expand the benefit to everyone.

But even advocates for universal mail-in voting admit that shifting entirely to mail-in voting would be a heavy lift for states, especially with such a quick turnaround.

The state would have identify and mail ballots to all voters, spend millions to hire a new wave of elections officials, set up drop boxes and launch a massive PR campaign to educate voters on the new system  a process that has taken some states years  all within the span of seven months.

Democrats in Washington have sought to include funding to help states make that shift in the coronavirus relief bills Congress has passed. The $2 trillion stimulus package Congress passed last month includes $400 million to help states bolster elections during the outbreak.

Texas could get as much as $24 million of that. But the funding requires a state match, and with the Legislature out until next year, its unlikely the state will be able to put up the money to get that new funding.

Even if Texas could swiftly access the funding  which would require a special session  civil rights groups say the $400 million in the last stimulus is far from enough to cover the costs of switching to all-mail voting. The Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute based in New York City, estimates it would take closer to $2 billion.

COVID-19 IMPACT: Its a democratic tragedy  Coronavirus threatens Texas voter registration efforts

House Democrats are pushing to get that funding including in the next coronavirus relief bill  which wont happen until the end of April at the earliest. And the chances of that are slim. President Donald Trump calling Democrats' attempts to put funding for mail-in voting into coronavirus relief bills totally crazy.

They had things, levels of voting that if you ever agreed to it, youd never have a Republican elected in this country again, Trump recently said on Fox News.

The presidents remark was taken by his critics as confirmation that the GOP mainly objects to mail-in voting because it would make political participation easier for disenfranchised and minority voters who lean Democratic.

I think expanding the franchise is something that they have spent years and years and years trying to stop, said Page Gardner, founder of the Voter Participation Center, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter registration among people of color, unmarried women, and young people. This is within a longstanding playbook.

If you think about Texas  just the vast number of people in Texas who will be wanting to vote, but may be concerned about it if the virus is still around, Gardner said. Unless this is fixed, it could be a real blow and quite damaging to our democracy.

ben.wermund@chron.com
NHS staff testing for COVID-19 has been boosted by repurposing the Francis Crick Institutes laboratory facilities as a testing facility, to help combat the spread of infection and allow key workers to perform lifesaving duties and remain safe.

Across the country, a significant proportion of healthcare workers are self-isolating with suspected symptoms or because family members are ill, adding pressure to frontline services. This new access to reliable testing, developed in partnership with University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust and its diagnostic partner Health Services Laboratories, will give staff the information they need to know whether they can safely return to work.

In order to become a testing facility, scientists from across the Crick have refocused their work to support the UKs coronavirus response.

Testing is an essential part of the national effort to tackle the spread of COVID-19. We wanted to use our facilities and expertise to help support NHS staff on the front line who are battling this virus. Institutes like ours are coming together with a Dunkirk spirit  small boats that collectively can have a huge impact on the national endeavor. Paul Nurse, Director of the Crick

Staff from across the Crick have rapidly pulled together to make this happen, and we are very grateful to them, said Steve Gamblin, Crick Director of Scientific Platforms, who has been organizing the new testing facilities.

The Institute estimates that by early next week, scientists should have the capacity to be conducting around 500 tests a day or 3000 a week. In the longer term, researchers are aiming for 2000 a day.

They will aim to provide results within 24 hours, to enable NHS staff to return to work as quickly as possible.

Starting with UCLH, the Crick will also offer its testing to other hospitals.

Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UKs chief clinician, Group Leader at the Crick and Consultant at UCLH, helped lead the endeavor after witnessing first-hand the urgent need for additional tests.

He says: Access to rapid COVID testing is critical. I am seeing and hearing daily of the pressures facing frontline NHS staff. The Crick has the facilities and expertise to help. We wanted to use our resources and expertise to benefit staff and patients at a time when the NHS faces what is the biggest test in its history.

We hope this additional capacity for testing will make a difference to NHS staff, boost morale and keep themselves, their families and their patients safe, as well as supporting the wider national effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

UCLH Chief Executive Marcel Levi said:

The Crick has been a fantastic partner. They have rapidly set up the laboratory processes needed for our staff COVID-19 testing service. This will enable us to gradually ramp up access to testing for UCLH staff.

Rachael Liebmann, Vice-President at the Royal College of Pathologists and Group Medical Director at Health Services Laboratories said:

Health Services Laboratories is delighted to contribute towards this project, in addition to testing patients for COVID-19 in all the hospitals we serve. As diagnostic laboratories, this is our main function. Pathology testing laboratories are frequently overlooked but now it is becoming clear to politicians and to the public alike, we have a crucial role to play in the healthcare of the nation."

The testing method used at the Crick, which involves RT-PCR, has been compared and verified against the national standard. The methodology is flexible, allowing for variations in technique where necessary, which should help protect it against global shortages of reagents and equipment.

These methods will be shared with one of the Institutes founding partners, Cancer Research UK, so that they can investigate whether similar efforts could be set up at their other scientific facilities. They will also be shared with other laboratories across the country.

Iain Foulkes, Cancer Research UKs executive director of research, said:

Our funded scientists at the Crick are playing a vital role in the national COVID-19 testing effort. They are providing desperately needed capacity at a time of national crisis, and testing NHS staff quickly so they can decide if they can return to their life-saving work. As well as the Crick, many Cancer Research UK laboratories throughout the country are providing vital testing kit and skills. And we are proud of our scientists, some of the best in the world, who are turning their focus to COVID-19 during this global pandemic. As a scientific research community, we need to beat the pandemic together  the sooner we do that the sooner our researchers can get back to beating cancer."

Volunteer scientists

In addition to performing tests at the Crick, over 100 of the Institutes scientists with relevant skills, have volunteered to perform shifts in Public Health Englands scale-up testing labs, lending practical scientific skills as demand continues to grow.

COVID-19 in the lab

Crick experts in virology, immunology, bioinformatics and imaging also continue to improve our understanding of COVID-19 and the way it interacts with the human body. Together, theyre tackling questions including:

How does the virus structure allow it to infect humans?

How does the virus replicate in human cells?

Why do some people end up in intensive care?

What treatments are best for people with severe symptoms?

How can we tell whos already had the virus?

How long does immunity last?

This pandemic requires a concerted research effort on all fronts, drawing on a range of expertise from across science and healthcare added Paul Nurse.

Tackling the spread of coronavirus and protecting as many lives as possible requires everyone to work together; the Government, with the NHS, and scientists across the world.
Barely 24 hours after the federal government of Nigeria received backlashes for begging American billionaire, Elon Musk for ventilators, plans have been revealed that protective equipment for the novel coronavirus would be sources locally.

This was made known by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the minister for culture and information during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.

He said:

PPE is in short supply globally and we want to see how we can start manufacturing them locally.

All over the world, people are making mask locally because there is a short supply of masks.

Read Also: Why Cases Of Coronavirus Are On The Rise In The Country: FG

Those we got from Jack Ma have been shared with the states.

We call them starter packs and they contain masks and test kits. We have given them to states according to their needs.

Naturally, Lagos got more because it is the epicenter of the virus.

We are trying to source the PPE more locally, but one thing about PPE is that if you dont get it right, you may lose more lives,
The Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned the reported widespread use of physical torture and the cases of extra-legal executions by suspected armed soldiers of Nigerians who purportedly violated the curfew imposed by the Nigerian government as a measure to contain and curtail the spread of the CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA.

The Rights group said that since the President Muhammadu Buhari did not invoke Section 305 of the Constitution but relied on a pre-colonial Quarantine Act, it therefore follows that the Provisions of the Constitution especially chapter 4 of the Constiturion can't be abridged in a limited way in line with Section 45 of the Constitution just as the Rights group said even nations that are under a MARSHAL LAW the Right to FREEDOM FROM TORTURE is absolute and the Right to life can't be wantonly violated.

HURIWA has therefore asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai to immediately arrest the soldiers who reportedly killed a youth in Warri, Delta State and the two soldiers seen on a viral video threatening to rape and infect mothers and young girls of Warri in Delta state with the Human Immune Virus (HIV) and other killer diseases in addition to the use of other physical harms as a way to retaliate what these professionally incompetent soldiers seen in that viral video called the killing of a soldier in Warri.

HURIWA in a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf said that it is becoming increasingly frightening that the armed security forces deployed to check the violations of the 14 days lockdown and other curfews imposed by other State governors, are viewing the present time of the health emergency caused by the sweeping trends of CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC as same thing as a time of MARSHAL LAW OR MILITARY DICTATORSHIP whereby the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended is suspended. HURIWA argued that it's practically impossible for the government that came in through democratic process to now serk to transform itself into a full dictatorship hiding under the Quarantine law which lacks the power of override over the GRUND NORM.

"Far from it, we want to remind the Federal government that the Quarantine law cited by the President a day after he declared the 14 days lockdown as the legal authority for his decision can not and has no power to override the CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA which is the law that the current head of the administration and his officials vowed and took oaths of offices to comply totally with. The Constitution is supreme and can not be overridden by any other legislations or edicts because the provisions of the Constitution in Chapter 4 are explicit on the Absolute ban on the use of torture against the citizens. The President must be told in black and White that FREEDOM FROM TORTURE IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIVERSALLY RECOGNISED HUMAN RIGHTS. TORTURE IS CONSIDERED SO BARBARIC AND INCOMPATIBLE WITH CIVILISED SOCIETY THAT IT CANNOT BE TOLERATED. TORTURERS ARE SEEN AS THE ENEMY OF ALL MANKIND.

"HURIWA also wishes to cite international law authorities to say that the ban on torture is found in a number of international treaties, including Article 2 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, Article 3 of the Human Rights Convention and Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A number of institutions work to enforce the ban on torture, including the UNs Committee against Torture and the Human Rights Court. Article 3 of the Human Rights Convention (ECHR) declares: President Muhammadu Buhari must note that he can be dragged before the International Criminal court in The Hague Netherlands for crimes against humanity petpetrated by soldiers during the current lockdown. This is because no one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Human Rights Court of European Union has stated that torture is deliberate inhuman treatment causing very serious and cruel suffering. It attaches to such treatment a special stigma. Similarly, Article 1 of the UN Convention Against Torture defines torture as the intentional infliction of severe pain or suffering, for a specific purpose (such as obtaining information or punishment) by, or with the consent of State authorities. It is legally umperative that the Army Chief and the President makes it clear to the soldiers that they are not permitted to carry out tortures again civilian populations no matter the provocation. These attitudes of some of these misbehaving soldiers are a direct threat to the huge efforts the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai had made in mainstreaming the respect of human rights in all internal security operations. WE APPEAL TO THE CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF TO IMMEDIATELY HALT THESE CRIMINAL ACTS OF INFLICTION OF PHYSICAL TORTURE AND THE USE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS AGAINST CIVILIANS BY SOLDIERS on the ongoing internally military operation connected to the lockdown ".

HURIWA stated that as a CONSTITUTIONAL democracy, it is impossible for a subsidiary and indeed a lesser statute to be cited as an authority to try to jettison the time honoured and time tested supreme law of Nigeria which is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria just as the Rights group said since Nigerian President working in partnership with the National Assembly did not take any verifiable steps to clearly declare a state of emergency it follows therefore that section 45 of the Constitution does not apply in this instance. Section 45 of the Nigerian constitution states as follows: "

Chapter 4. Section 45. Restriction On And Derogation From Fundamental Human Rights states- (1) Nothing in sections 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of this Constitution shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society

(a) in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or

(b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom or other persons

(2) An act of the National Assembly shall not be invalidated by reason only that it provides for the taking, during periods of emergency, of measures that derogate from the provisions of section 33 or 35 of this Constitution; but no such measures shall be taken in pursuance of any such act during any period of emergency save to the extent that those measures are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period of emergency: Provided that nothing in this section shall authorise any derogation from the provisions of section 33 of this Constitution, except in respect of death resulting from acts of war or authorise any derogation from the provisions of section 36(8) of this Constitution.

(3) In this section, a  period of emergency means any period during which there is in force a Proclamation of a state of emergency declared by the President in exercise of the powers conferred on him under section 305 of this Constitution."

HURIWA argued that the steps adopted to contain the spread of the CORONAVIRUS affliction are such that should be done to promote public good and therefore wondered HOW the widespread use of tortures by soldiers and police AGAINST CIVILIANS will serve the national interests. These brutes in military and police uniforms must be arrested; prosecuted and jailed for these seroes of crimes against humanity.

HURIWA calls on the governors the 36 states and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory to take transparent steps to call these various task forces to stop the use of tortures against the citizens or they will similarly be made suspevts to be dragged to the International Criminal court in The Hague Netherlands for crimes against humanity.
Since Wednesday, 980 people have been arrested in the city in a span of 24 hours for defying the lockdown order imposed by the government in its attempt to control the spread of COVID-19, a senior police officer said.

Representative image -AFP

The arrests were made by the Kolkata Police during Naka checking and patrolling activity across the metropolitan city, he added.

The total of 980 arrested from which 284 were from the central division , 166 from the south and 112 from the eastern suburban division.

Another 111 were captured from the south suburban division, 61 from the southeast division and 84 held from the north division as per officials.

Representative image - AFP

In the east area, 20 people were caught for defying the Total Safety Restrictions, while 71 were apprehended from the southwest area and the port division, he further added.

Those arrested will be legally prosecuted under IPC sections dealing with disobedience of an order.

Kolkata Police commissioner Anuj Sharma has directed officers to take strong legal action against those found violating the norms. Also requested people to strictly follow the lockdown rule and order.

"Don't come out without valid permission /reasons. I have asked Officers @KolkataPolice to be stringent & take strong legal action. My appeal to citizens to kindly cooperate & #StayHomeStaySafe during #CoronavirusLockdown We shall continue with legal action against violators," Sharma tweeted.


United Nations, April 3 : UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that terrorists could be taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic devastating large areas of the world.

"Terrorist or extremist groups may take profit from the uncertainty created by the spread of the pandemic," he said at a virtual news conference.

Outlining the various threats to world from the pandemic beyond the health aspects, he said the world "must mobilise every ounce of energy to defeat it".

"We know the pandemic is having profound social, economic and political consequences, including relating to international peace and security," Guterres said, listing postponement of elections or limitations on voting, movement restrictions and spiralling unemployment "that could contribute to rising discontent and political tensions".

Reiterating his call for a global ceasefire to concentrate on fighting the epidemic, he said the "appeal is resonating across the world." Besides 70 countries, those endorsing his call include "non-state actors", he said.

"Non-state actors" is a euphemism for terrorists and militias.

But he also said: "In many of the most critical situations, we have seen no let-up in fighting - and some conflicts have even intensified." He gave the example of Afghanistan, where fighting increased.

But a 21-member team, which includes five women, has been formed for direct negotiations with the Taliban, he said.

The Afghan government and the Taliban have also established technical contacts for a prisoner release, he added.

"I believe the time has come for the government and the Taliban to cease hostilities as COVID-19 looms over the country. I pledge my full support," he said.

Among areas where the ceasefire is holding is the Idlib region of Syria where a temporary truce was negotiated by Turkey and Russia.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
Chandigarh, April 3 : The Haryana government on Friday directed all private schools in the state not to pressurise the parents of the students to deposit fees until the lockdown period is over, thus banning all types of fees collection with immediate effect.

An official spokesperson for the Haryana School Education Department said the department has directed all the private schools in this regard.

The spokesperson said that when all educational institutions in the state have been closed till further orders in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, it has come to the department's notice that some private schools are pressurising the parents to deposit the fees immediately.

India is under a 21-day lockdown till April 14 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Actor Vikrant Massey turns 33 on Friday and has said that he will spend his birthday with fiancee Sheetal Thakur and his mother. In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, he also added that unlike others he is not unhappy with Covid-19 lockdown and is using the time reading scripts and books.

He said: I have been spending my birthday on the sets for the past six-seven years. Since 2018, I have mostly been out of the city, as most of my films have been shot outdoors. After two years, Im home for longer than a week. Ill cook pavbhaji, I have bought all its ingredients, and maybe kheer as well. But probably, my mother and Sheetal will end up doing all the cooking.

Vikrant doesnt mind the lockdown: I am not constantly checking the clock to see how much time I have left. Im readin scripts and books at leisure, writing in my journal and doing the household chores.

The actor was to begin shooting for Taapsee Pannus Haseen Dilruba in Haridwar. However, the schedule for the rest of the year has gone for a toss, the report added.

Vikrant, who starred opposite Deepika Padukone in Chhapaak, told IANS around the films release that with every new project, he tries to be a part of important stories because cinema has the power to bring social change.

Cinema has always been instrumental in shaping society, not just in India but all over the world. Even in the West, cinema played a huge part in ushering revolution and initiating conversations among people. When I say revolution, I am not saying that after watching films people will take to the streets and start chanting slogans. The very idea of taking up a topic can lead to a revolution, and cinema has the power to do so, Vikrant had said.

Writing about Vikrant, the Hindustan Times review of Chhapaak had said: Vikrant Massey as a former journalist, Amol Dixit, who now runs an NGO, is a great casting call for a role that needed to be loud yet subtle. He not only looks convincing in his role but also supports Deepika in their scenes together.

(With IANS inputs)

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Vietcombanks completion of the sale of shares to foreign investors in early 2019 and BIDVs action in late 2019 are expected to help attract foreign banks to Vietnam.

OCB has spoken with shareholders about the private offering to a foreign investor  Aozora Bank from Japan  which would increase the bank's charter capital.





As of December 9, 2019, reports showed that Aozora Bank registered to buy nearly 87 million OCB shares out of total 118 million shares the bank could offer, which accounted for 11 percent of the current charter capital, and 9.91 percent of capital after the offering.



Nikkei Asian on January 8, 2020, said Aozora would buy up to 15 percent of OCB shares worth 15 billion yen, or $139 million, prior to April 2020 after getting approval from Vietnamese agencies.



In the past, OCB had a foreign shareholder  BNP Paribas  for 10 years, from 2007 to 2018.

Vietcombanks completion of the sale of shares to foreign investors in early 2019 and BIDVs action in late 2019 are expected to help attract foreign banks to Vietnam.

Vietnams commercial banks have been told to list shares on the bourse by 2020 at the latest, under a banking development strategy by 2025. The banks are actively looking for foreign strategic partners to sell shares to before the official listing.



Military Bank (MBB) in 2019 planned to sell 7.5 percent of shares to foreign investors by issuing 141.5 million new shares and selling 47 million treasury stocks. But the plan has not been completed.



The bank recently announced registration to sell 23 million treasury stocks, with sales no later than March 31.



Investors believe that MBB has found a foreign partner to sell shares. The deal is expected to be completed soon.



Nam A Bank (NAB) in early 2019 announced a plan to raise its charter capital from VND3.3 trillion to VND5 trillion and sell shares to foreign investors. However, it could only raise VND3.89 trillion by the end of 2019.



NAB on January 6 got approval from the State Bank to implement the second phase of the plan to raise capital to VND5 trillion.



The private offering of 50.3 million shares, or 15 percent of capital, will be a part of the plan. It is highly possible that NAB would ask for the State Banks permission to sell up to 20 percent of shares to foreign investors.



The National Citizen Bank (NCB) in late October 2019 said that two foreign investors from Japan and Singapore would buy NCB shares in the next issuance campaign.



Meanwhile, Maritime Bank is drawing up a plan to sell 20 percent of capital to foreign investors, including 10 percent of treasury stocks.

Chi Mai

Foreign banks start consumer finance boost in Vietnams market Foreign banks have decided to boost consumer finance loans as the business segment is forecast to maintain double digit growth this year.
To start with, who is normally addressed as the First Lady of a nation? Is it the wife of the nations President, Prime Minister, the leader or any woman in the country? Who then is the First Gentleman of a nation? Could it be anyone else apart from the President, Prime Minister or the leader of the nation?

Let me pose a question to my entire fellow Ghanaians the world over who are discerning, sane and behave, think and reason as human beings but not like the beasts in the wild. Even the animals in the jungle do at times demonstrate some level of intelligence to keep them surviving. Check the chimpanzees, the pride of lions and the hyenas.

My question is, who could possibly be the elected government official 1 (one) in a democratic country? Is it not likely to be the President, the Prime Minister or the leader of the nation? If I should be asked, who is currently the elected government official 1 in Ghana? I will not hesitate to say it is the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Similarly, if you should be asked, reasoning as a human being but not as a low-level animal in the wild lacking any little level of intelligence, who was the elected government official 1 in Ghana between years 2012 and 2015, what will be your response?

If you are given a multiple answer choice question of who was the elected government official 1 in Ghana between years 2013 to 2016, which answer will you choose among the following?

Rockson Adofo Mr Arthur Amissah Mr John Dramani Mahama Nana Akufo-Addo

Whoever was correctly the elected government official 1 in Ghana in that period is the one to be investigated as having taken kickback in the Airbus saga. Do you agree with me?

I shall come back to discuss how that person has not only tainted the image of Ghana in the international circle but also, has caused financial loss to the nation hence must be held to account according to the laws of the country.

Stay tuned for my next write-up where I shall reveal how he has swindled Ghana hence must be made to face the full rigours of the law despite how far his supporters will go exhibiting their bestiality and beating the war drums. I am using common sense approach to unravel the enigma. I am ready to take any challenger on intellectual debate to divulge the identity of whoever took the bribe of 5 million Euros from Airbus as the elected government official 1 in Ghana during the operation of that illegal activity that has culminated in Airbus agreeing to a fine settlement of 3 billion for breaching international business regulations.

Rockson Adofo

Friday, 3 April 2020
WANATAH  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardships that it is causing for families, children, and seniors, Kankakee Valley REMCs Operation Round Up Trust organization recently made donations to area food pantries totaling $20,000.

The donation to each pantry will the pantries to continue the fight against hunger in their community.

With schools closed and lives disrupted due to the loss of jobs, food pantries are seeing a spike in demand by area residents in need. During this critical time, local food pantries are the lifeline for so many families when it comes to having ample food.

Food pantries have been applying to the Operation Round Up Trust organization for grants for many years. With COVID-19, the board of directors recognized the effect that this pandemic would have on families and made the decision to provide emergency funding, said Amanda Steeb, director of marketing & communications for Kankakee Valley REMC.

The food pantries selected for emergency funding were organizations that had previously applied and received grants in the past from Operation Round Up Trust. Each food pantry received $2,000 to be used to purchase food to restock their pantry shelves.
22 persons including seven foreign nationals linked to Nizamuddin event have been traced in Odisha, an official in states Health and Family Welfare Department said, adding that all are now in the government quarantine facility

Bhubaneswar: Of the 22 persons including seven foreign nationals, who came to Odisha after attending the congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi, 17 have tested negative for COVID-19 and all are quarantined in the state, an official said on Thursday.

Among the returnees from Tablighi Jamaat congregation, so far samples of 17 persons tested negative, said Subroto Bagchi, Odisha Government spokesperson on COVID-19.

As per reports available so far, 22 persons including seven foreign nationals linked to Nizamuddin event have been traced in Odisha, an official in states Health and Family Welfare Department said, adding that all are now in the government quarantine facility.

While the state government still does not have a clear idea about the number of people who went from Odisha to the religious congregation at Nizamuddin, a senior police officer said at least 37 people including seven from abroad have so far been traced having links with the Delhi event.

"So far till Thursday noon, we have traced 37 persons including seven from abroad, who attended the event at Nizamuddin," the senior police officer told PTI, adding that the seven foreign nations comprise six from Sudan and one from Djibouti.

He said while 22 persons are quarantined in Odisha, 15 others have been kept under observation in Delhi.

The officer said the state government has engaged personnel in tracing all the people who attended the event at Nizamuddin, a COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi.

Meanwhile, Khurda District Collector SK Rout said that 13 persons from the district took part in the religious congregation in Nizamuddin. Of the 13 persons, seven are from Jatni and three each from Tangi and Khurda, the collector said.

"Nine of them are now kept at a quarantine centre in New Delhi and one at a hospital at Kishanganj in Bihar while the remaining three persons, who have returned to Khurda, have been admitted to hospital isolation ward. Their blood and swab samples were sent to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday for the COVID-19 test," the collector said.

Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak

Jajpur district administration on Thursday said that it had traced two more persons from the district who had attended the event at Nizamuddin in Delhi.

Jajpur district collector RK Das said while they had on Wednesday traced one man from Binjharpur block to have visited the religious congregation in Delhi, the administration on Thursday located two others, one from Brahmabarada and another from Rasulpur, who have visited the religious event.

"The blood and swab samples of these two persons and their families will be sent for medical tests" the collector added.
Lucknow, April 3 : After the Dargah Ala Hazrat in Bareilly, it is now the Shia clerics who are demanding a ban on the Tablighi Jamaat in the country.

The controversy over holding of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in Delhi, during the coronavirus outbreak has upped the ante against the Tablighi Jamaat.

UP minister Mohsin Raza described Tablighi Jamaat as an extremist organization while the Shia Waqf Board Chief Waseem Rizvi said the organization produced suicide bombers.

The two leaders have demanded a ban on such organizations for alleged involvement in anti-national activities.

Mohsin Raza, the only Muslim face in UP government, said: "An extremist organization has displayed anti-India behaviour at a time when the country is unitedly fighting against coronavirus. They defied government order to hold the congregation. The organization's international funding should also be looked into and legal action must also be taken." Earlier, in a video message, Rizvi alleged that Tablighi Jamaat had deliberately got its followers infected with coronavirus and sent them to India so that maximum people got infected.

"Such a mentality deserves death and nothing less. The organization should be banned," he stated.

Meanwhile, Sardar Parvinder Singh, member, UP Commission for Minorities, who has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that the statements made by Maulana Saeed, convener of Nizamuddin Markaz Tablighi Jamaat, could disturb communal harmony in the country.

"Tablighi Jamaat went against the directions of Delhi and central governments which barred gatherings of more than 50 people. They also violated prohibitory orders (Section 144 of CrPC) putting innocent people at risk. The organization should be banned nationally," he stated.

He further said: "The convener of Jamaat has said that convention is being targeted by non-Muslims and is asking the youths to stay with their brethren. All these statements can disturb communal harmony."
Jefferson County Health Officer Mark Wilson says he is considering issuing stricter orders for Jefferson County after seeing some areas of concerns in public parks and big box stores.

Alabamas statewide stay-at-home order issued Friday afternoon supercedes any less strict local rules, but does allow the local health officers in Jefferson and Mobile counties the ability to tack on stricter orders where needed. Wilson said hes still reviewing the order, but expects to make another, more stringent order for Jefferson County over the next one or two days.

I want to emphasize that we only want people going to places unless its for things they absolutely need to get along with to live and survive. What we dont want to happen is a lot of people on Saturday, when the weather is nice, going and congregating and increasing chance of coming into contact with one another and spreading the disease, Wilson said.

Wilson said they are getting reports that people just arent taking this seriously and are going out to big box stores for stuff they dont need in any essential way.

If we see areas where we need to take action, we will do that as quickly as possible. Every day counts. Every day may cost a life.

On Friday morning, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said he would close city parks if visitors do not abide by social distancing guidelines.

Watch the full press conference here:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on April 3, 2020

2020/04/03

CCTV: Samuel Brownback, the US State Department's Ambassador at large for international religious freedom, said at a briefing on April 2 that China continues to have a number of people imprisoned for their faith, including a million Muslims. He said that those should all be released in this time of pandemic. What is China's comment?

Hua Chunying: Mr. Brownback is also an expert in rumor-mongering. His claim that China has imprisoned a large number of people for their religious beliefs, including a million Muslims in Xinjiang, is totally out of thin air and could not be farther from the truth.

Through hard work, the Chinese people have achieved positive results in the fight against the pandemic, effectively safeguarded the health and safety of all Chinese people, including those who follow Islam, and made important contributions to global public health security. This is universally acknowledged, but a handful of US politicians, such as Mr.Brownback, are simply unwilling or afraid to face up to the fact.

The Chinese government protects its citizens' freedom of religious belief in accordance with law, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups enjoy full freedom of religious belief. There is no such thing as "religious prisoners" in China, let alone "a million Muslims from Xinjiang in detention". Meanwhile, as a country under the rule of law, China will never allow anyone to engage in illegal and criminal activities in the name of religion. At present, China has nearly 200 million religious believers, of whom more than 20 million are Muslims. There are more than 380,000 clerical personnel, some 5,500 religious organizations and more than 140,000 venues for religious activities registered according to law. Xinjiang now has 24,400 mosques, one for every 530 Muslims. A few American and western politicians can repeat their lies a thousand times but it's impossible to alter these facts.

Pandemics are a common challenge to mankind, regardless of national boundaries or ethnic groups. Only by working together can countries stand a chance to win the war. We urge Mr. Brownback and his like to stop manipulating political issues under the pretext of the pandemic, stop smearing China and undermining the cooperation between China and the US in fighting the pandemic, and instead focus on responding to the situation in the US and rescuing American lives.

Beijing Media Network: There have been some latest developments in Afghan. Technical teams from the government and Taliban held discussions on the release of prisoners in Kabul and made some progress. The government released a list of participants for intra-Afghan talks, which has got the consent from major parties in Afghanistan but not the Taliban. UN Secretary-General Guterres called for a global ceasefire to focus on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. This is generally believed to apply to the Afghan issue as well. What's your comment?

Hua Chunying: China welcomes the meaningful and fruitful dialogues between the Afghan government and the Taliban. We note the consensus among various parties in Afghanistan on the formation of the negotiating team as well as the Taliban's reservations. We hope all important items in the US-Taliban peace agreement can be steadily implemented, including withdrawal of troops, reduction of violence, release of prisoners and intra-Afghan negotiations.

China firmly supports the broad and inclusive peace and reconciliation process that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. We support all efforts towards a political settlement of the Afghan issue. We call on all parties in Afghanistan to put the country and people first, respond to Secretary-General Guterres' initiative and the aspiration of the international community, and cease conflict and confrontation. We hope they will start intra-Afghan talks at an early date, resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, make proper political and security arrangement for the future, and work together for peace and stability in the country.

China stands ready to join relevant sides and the international community to continue playing a constructive role in promoting the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

CNN: More reports have emerged recently on Chinese media about foreigners in China violating local regulations on epidemic control. Statistically speaking, before China announced an entry suspension for foreigners holding valid Chinese visa and residence permit, 90% of those coming to China are Chinese citizens. What I gathered from my interviews is that most foreigners who came here during this period have been following China's rules. There are concerns that China's control measures are increasingly targeting foreigners. What is your comment? Will there be immunity for foreign diplomats? Also, some places in China including Beijing have seen discrimination against foreigners, such as services refusing to receive them. Is the foreign ministry aware and coordinating with other departments to address this?

Hua Chunying: At present, China is faced with the arduous task of "preventing imported cases from abroad and resurgence at home". Given the current worldwide spread of the pandemic, experts all suggest minimizing non-essential travel to prevent the risk of cross-infection both for public health safety and personal health. This is also the advice of WHO and a prevention measure commonly adopted by all countries.

Everyone is equal before the virus. Diplomats have immunity due to their posts, but the virus does not know that. You said that after international flights were cut down, most of those returned are Chinese. But our information is that there have been confirmed cases among the foreign diplomats who returned to China. In the past week or so, of the 84 foreign diplomats who have returned to China through 12 entry points, 66 percent were traced as close contacts. Relevant departments and local governments including the Beijing Municipal Government have recently rolled out strict quarantine measures upon entry, which pose some inconvenience to returning foreign diplomats. Therefore, taking into account the need of the current prevention and control situation and the safety of foreign diplomatic and consular personnel in China, we suggest that all diplomatic missions suspend for the time being personnel returns or rotations. This is purely for epidemic prevention and control. No need to read too much into it.

These prevention and control measures taken at all levels are applied equally to Chinese and foreign citizens. These measures will not be enforced more strictly or loosely just because foreign citizens are in question. This is to ensure the safety of all. I believe that the majority of foreign citizens in China, the diplomatic community in particular, will understand and cooperate.

Beijing Daily: An open letter to the US people from 100 Chinese scholars was published in The Diplomat on April 2, which calls for global solidarity and cooperation to defeat COVID-19, a common enemy of humanity. The scholars wrote that the effort to overcome both the virus and its impact will be nothing short of a long-term and arduous global war, and countries should be working together, not complaining, finger pointing, and blaming one another. Do you have any comment on the open letter?

Hua Chunying: I noted many positive responses to this letter from foreign leaders. I retweeted this open letter myself.

Like it said, the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. China, like other countries affected, is a victim of the virus. All countries must uphold solidarity and cooperation to achieve the final victory and protect the life and health of all people across the globe. We hope for and welcome more such rational, calm and positive voices at this moment, especially from the US side.

China Daily: According to the Bureau of International Information Programs, which is part of the US State Department, many Chinese state-run news outlets work to spread Chinese Communist Party propaganda around the world, and that was the conclusion of Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo when he ordered the State Department to limit the number of Chinese employees that five Chinese media outlets could have in the United States. It also said the Party aims to control China's population and influence media narratives around the world. I wonder if you have any response to that?

Hua Chunying: The US State Department is just trying to find some excuses for discriminating against and expelling 60 Chinese journalists, and attempting to drive a wedge between the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people.

Since the very day when China and the US established diplomatic relations 41 years ago, the US has been well aware that China is a socialist country under the leadership of the CPC. It is extremely unfair and non-sensible to impose restrictions on Chinese journalists and deliberately make things difficult for them just because they come from a socialist country led by the CPC. China doesn't put any US professional news media in a different category due to its partisan leaning. For example, we don't say CNN is a professional one because it's at odds with the ruling party, and we don't say Fox News is not real media because it's amity with the Republicans. We make our judgments based on whether they can make fair, fact-based and accurate reports, not their political or ideological preferences. The US shouldn't wantonly oppress Chinese media out of ideological bias.

Due to its wedge-driving behaviors, the US has triggered indignation among all Chinese people. It is under the leadership of the CPC that the Chinese people achieved independence, freedom and liberation, made enormous progress in national development, and pulled over 800 million people out of poverty. Faced with the horrific spread of COVID-19, the CPC and the Chinese government put people's life and health as the first priority and left no patients behind. All those infected got free testing and treatment at the earliest time possible. Our arduous efforts yielded remarkable results within two months, and the life and health of all 1.4 billion Chinese people has been protected to the highest extent possible. As the CPC has been dedicated to wholeheartedly serving the people, its domestic support rate has remained on top of public opinion polls conducted by well known companies for many consecutive years.

The year 2021 will mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. There are now over 90 million CPC members, which is about 27 percent, more than a quarter of the total US population. Such a large number of Party members, together with their family, relatives and friends, constitute inseparable ties between the Party and the people. The CPC comes from the people and serves the people. Certain US politicians, including some in the State Department, are just wasting their time and energy to try to drive a wedge between the CPC and the Chinese people. Here's a piece of kind advice: in light of the current situation, why not focus on domestic problems first?

Xinhua News Agency: Some in the Western countries say China is turning the COVID-19 pandemic into a geopolitical weapon to raise its influence. I wonder if you have any comment?

Hua Chunying: This pandemic is indeed a war that caught us by surprise. When fighting an intense battle, does anyone think of how much prize they will get after the war? The most important thing is doing your best and racing against time to achieve the final victory. In China, we are doing our best to protect people's life and health at the minimal cost possible, while contributing as much as we can to other countries affected.

We would like to share China's good practice and experience with other countries, but we will not turn it into any kind of geopolitical weapon or tool. Besides, leadership is not gained by boasting or jostling. China would like to contribute our experience and ideas to global public health security and governance, which is something we should do as a responsible major country.

RIA Novosti: The Chinese government donated 25.5 tons of supplies to Russia including surgical masks and protective suits, which arrived in Moscow on April 2. Can you offer more details? A photo from the Wechat account of the Chinese embassy in Russia showed a Russian plane carrying the supplies. Could you confirm and share more on China-Russia cooperation in fighting the pandemic?

Hua Chunying: First I'd like to thank Russian journalists and their media agencies, who have been widely and accurately covering the Chinese government's effective epidemic response with professionalism and dedication. This is also an embodiment of the friendship between the Chinese people and the Russian people.

As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, China and Russia have always rendered each other understanding and support. We will not forget how the Russian government and people first brought to us much-needed medical supplies in our most trying days. I remember seeing Chinese media reports on the special plane from Russia leaving without a word after unloading 23 tons of hardcore medical supplies. Yesterday China sent over 25.5 tons of supplies, which as you mentioned, arrived in Moscow yesterday. I have seen some photos showing the words "the virus shall be defeated and victory will be ours" on the packages.

Anyone interested in history will remember how the Russians won the famous Battle of Moscow in 1941 during World War II. There is a saying by the Soviet Red Army to the effect that "we cannot retreat, because Moscow is just behind us". In the face of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Chinese government has never retreated, because behind it is the safety and health of 1.4 billion Chinese people. With arduous efforts, we have won our "Battle of Moscow". As Secretary-General Guterres said, "COVID-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations". The international community needs solidarity, cooperation, trust and science. These are our weapons to win the unprecedented "Battle of Moscow" against the virus. China stands ready to work with Russia to further enhance bilateral and global coordination and facilitate the UN and WHO's work to overcome the pandemic as soon as possible. I am convinced that victory will be ours. Mankind will triumph.

As to other forms of cooperation between China and Russia beside the assistance I mentioned, the Russian side also purchased a batch of supplies from China the other day. We will continue to offer convenience and facilitation to future Russian procurement of medical supplies.

AFP: Some French officials accused the US of hijacking face masks from China intended for France. They say masks that France ordered from China were bought by the US as the masks waited to be loaded into planes in China. Does China have any detail on this incident?

Hua Chunying: I'm sorry I'm not aware of the specifics. I'll leave that to the US side if you want confirmation and details.

However, after seeing relevant reports, I just wish the Chinese manufacturers could have greater capacity to make enough masks that satisfy all countries' demand. In fact, they have been working around the clock to provide supplies for all countries, and we will continue making all-out efforts in this regard.

The Paper: US Republican Senators Cotton and Hawley introduced a bill named after Li Wenliang, which allows President Trump to revoke visas for foreign government officials who "deliberately conceal or distort" information about a public health emergency. Some also suggested President Trump award the Medal of Freedom to Li Wenliang. What's your comment?

Hua Chunying: I really cannot understand how these lawmakers were elected because they have been doing everything but fulfilling their own duties. If they were in China, the people would long have called for their removal from office.

Late Dr. Li Wenliang was awarded the title of "advanced individual" for COVID-19 prevention and control in the national health sector, and identified as one of the 14 martyrs who fought on the frontline of epidemic containment in Hubei Province. These US politicians' political manipulation of Dr. Li Wenliang's passing, driven by vicious intentions, is utter disrespect of and insult on Dr. Li and his family with total indifference to morality.

Today I read a long article published by the Brookings Institution that combs through the timeline of the US administration's coronavirus response this year. Besides, I also talked about this topic at my press conference yesterday. If those US politicians truly care for so-called concealment of public health emergencies, I suggest they read that article carefully.

As to some people's suggestion about conferring medals, I just said Dr. Li Wenliang has already been honored as a martyr posthumously. The Chinese people will mourn and remember him and all other medical workers who gave their lives for the people. They are our heroes and will not be forgotten.

For these few people in the US, why not suggest awarding Dr. Helen Y. Chu who sounded the alarm on the epidemic in the US back in January, or Dr. McCarthy who pleaded to health authorities to test suspected cases, or Deboroh Burger, president of National Nurses United, who called for testing and protection for nurses? I also saw a report saying Capt. Brett Crozier, now the former commanding officer of aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, was dismissed for calling for disembarking the crew on board. I don't know if it is true or not, but I think he was saving sailors' lives. By American values, he should be hailed as a hero instead of being punished, right?

Beijing Youth Daily: US Secretary of State Pompeo said in a recent press conference that the US contribution to WHO's global anti-pandemic response is far larger than that of China. Can you comment on that?

Hua Chunying: I took a similar question the other day. I find it interesting that Secretary Pompeo counted the US contribution since 1948. He said the US contribution to the global anti-pandemic response is far larger than that of China. Well, we don't want to compete at all. I'm not sure of the real situation when it comes to US assistance, but I read some news reports saying the US is withdrawing foreign assistance already on the way. I wonder if that's true? As my colleague said before, Secretary Pompeo and the US government announced $100 million anti-epidemic aid to China and other countries, but we haven't received a cent from them. The US Agency for International Development once said it would provide assistance to China, but it didn't materialize. We were only notified on March 11 that the supplies were ready. Considering the progress in China's epidemic response by then and the fast spread of the pandemic around the world, China told the US side that we no longer need the supplies and asked it to deliver them to countries in more urgent need. We haven't heard of what happened to them afterwards.

Indeed, some US localities and businesses extended a helping hand to China in our most difficult period. Now as the US is facing a severe situation at home, many Chinese companies and localities have been offering assistance to the American people. The two peoples have shown mutual understanding and support in this joint fight against the pandemic.

By the way, I have been wondering, has the US paid its overdue contributions to the UN and WHO yet?

China News Service: According to reports, a Canadian government official said recently that China will allow some Canadian canola seed exports to continue, provided shipments contained less than 1% foreign material such as straw or chaff. There are also reports saying that China has agreed to resume imports of Canadian canola seeds. What is your comment?

Hua Chunying: Actually this is not a question for the foreign ministry. But noting online reports, we checked with the competent Chinese authorities and found them to be false information.

In March 2019, after repeated detection of hazardous organisms in Canadian canola seed imports, China suspended the export qualifications of two Canadian canola businesses whose quality problems were serious. So far, the Chinese side has not received any investigation results or rectification measures by the Canadian side.

On the issue of impurity rate in Canadian canola seed imports, the relevant memorandum signed by the competent authorities of China and Canada has expired on March 31, 2020. In order to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms, the Chinese side has decided not to extend the above memorandum. Based on the existing quarantine requirements, it is decided that canola seeds from Canada with the amount of foreign material exceeding 1 per cent of the shipment will not be allowed to enter China. The Canadian side should take comprehensive quarantine measures to cut off at the source the spread of harmful organisms along with canola seed imports.

Shenzhen TV: Taiwan decides to donate 2 million masks to the US. In response, a spokesperson for the State Department said that "Taiwan is not just a democratic success story, but a true friend in times of need, for which the American people are deeply grateful." What is your comment?

Hua Chunying: I have noted the heated exchanges between the US and Taiwan in recent days. It seems that the US has really let its standard fall, as 2 million masks are enough to make Taiwan a model of democracy and a "true friend". I have noticed that Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation donated 1 million masks and 500,000 testing kits to the US. And Huawei, a Chinese company targeted by unwarranted US suppression, is making generous donations to the American people. It appears on a list of appreciated donors released by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Some provinces, cities and enterprises in China have also extended a helping hand to the American people, and the US has purchased a fairly large amount of medical supplies from China. How will the US comment on this?

It goes without saying that we should all help each other out during his extraordinary period with the spreading pandemic. However, if someone attempts to take advantage of and politicize the situation to undermine China's core interests, they'd better think twice.

Reuters: Are China and the US having talks about allowing Taiwan greater access to WHO and on if China will permit Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly as an observer this year?

Hua Chunying: The US government and the Taiwan region are fully aware that WHO members must be sovereign countries. According to arrangement between China and WHO, medical and health experts in the Taiwan region can, on the precondition of the one-China principle, participate in WHO's technical activities in their own capacity. With International Health Regulations (IHR) contact point in the Taiwan region, it has no problem at all in accessing WHO information on global public health emergencies, including notifications and cooperation on epidemics. I hope certain people will refrain from politicizing the pandemic.

The following questions were posed after the regular press conference:

Q: Martin Griffith, UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Yemen, said on April 2 that he was in regular contact with relevant parties on reaching agreements on a nationwide ceasefire, humanitarian measures and the resumption of the political process, aiming to foster joint efforts to counter the threat of COVID-19. Situation in Yemen has recently been escalated. Last Saturday the Houthis fired missiles at Saudi cities, including the capital Riyadh, which were intercepted by Saudi Arabia. I wonder if you could comment on that? Hua Chunying: China supports political settlement of the Yemen issue and opposes any action targeting civilians or escalating tensions. We support the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Yemen in making mediating efforts, and we hope all sides concerned will continue attaching importance to the interests of the country and people, de-escalating the tensions through dialogue and negotiation, and advancing the political settlement process, so that the peace, stability and normal order of Yemen can be restored as soon as possible. It will also help Yemen and regional countries better fight the spreading COVID-19. Q: It is reported that on the early morning of April 2, a Vietnamese fishing boat sank after colliding with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel in waters off the Xisha Islands. Can you confirm this? What is China's comment?

Hua Chunying: On the early morning of April 2, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, during a routine patrol, spotted a Vietnamese fishing boat illegally fishing in the internal waters off China's Xisha islands and immediately called out to it to leave. The Vietnamese boat refused to leave and suddenly veered sharply towards the Chinese vessel. Despite its best efforts to keep clear, the Coast Guard vessel was struck at the bow. The Vietnamese fishing boat then took in water and sank. The Chinese Coast Guard vessel immediately carried out a rescue operation, and all eight Vietnamese fishermen were rescued without any injuries. The Chinese Coast Guard vessel let the fishermen go after fulfilling necessary investigation and evidence-collection procedures.

For some time, Vietnamese fishing boats have frequently entered the territorial sea and internal waters off China's Xisha islands and infringed upon the fishing rights of the Chinese side. They ignored and even took dangerous actions to resist China's law enforcement. The Chinese side has expressed its grave concern and deploring to the Vietnamese side over this, and demanded that the Vietnamese side earnestly inform its fishermen and regulate their fishing activities to make sure they will not invade the relevant waters of China's Xisha islands or make hazardous moves against China's law enforcement.

***

In observance of the Qingming Festival (Tomb-sweeping Day), our press conference will be halted for Monday, April 6 and resumed on Tuesday, April 7. You can still reach the spokesperson's office by fax, Wechat or email.
The death toll due to the coronavirus in New Jersey jumped by more than half on Thursday and now stands at 537.

At his daily press briefing, Gov. Phil Murphy announced 182 new deaths and 3,489 new positive tests. That brings the statewide total of coronavirus cases to 25,590, still second most in the U.S.

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We have lost another 182 members of our New Jersey family, said Murphy at the Trenton War Memorial. Our prayers and thoughts and sympathies go out to their family and friends.

For the third time in four days, the number of new cases was over 3,000, a figure due at least in part to the opening of new testing sites. For seven of the last eight days, at least 2,000 new positive tests have been announced.

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A number of the cases announced on Thursday did not come in the last 24 hours, as the state works through a two-week backlog of test results. State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said, All of the labs are overwhelmed at this point."

The 182 new deaths are more than occurred in the first 15 days after the state reported its first death combined. The day-over-day increase in deaths was 51% from Wednesday, the largest jump in over a week.

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Noting that its been just 12 days since he issued his stay-at-home order, Murphy said, Were still a week or so away from really knowing what those last set of actions we took, what impact those have on the positives.

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Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Nick Devlin is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at ndevlin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nickdevlin.
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Louise Vincent of Greensboro, North Carolina, says methadone, a medication that curbs opioid cravings, lets her lead a normal life. Methadone works best for me. It allows me to go to grad school, she says. Vincent directs the North Carolina chapter of the Urban Survivors Unions, an organization of former and current drug users advocating for the human rights and decreased stigmatization of their community. She notes that even before the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, medication-assisted opioid treatment could have used improvements. I am chained to my city, she says, and estimates as many as 500 people show up to her clinic during the early-morning window when patients are allowed to pick up their daily medication. Especially for new patients, clinics typically distribute a dose a day per person, to help wean them off stronger drugs while preventing them from overdosing or diverting the drug to other people. Eventually, patients can take home multiple portions. The coronavirus pandemic has complicated an already fraught but essential treatment, as hundreds of people standing in line together goes against the six-foot social distancing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For people addicted to opioids, daily visits to treatment centers for medication, syringe distribution, or other harm-reduction efforts can be a lifesaver. Now, as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, providers are struggling to continue offering services safely. In March, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) updated its guidance for opioid treatment programs to allow participants to take home up to 28 days of doses. The Harm Reduction Coalition has also published national guidelines for participants and volunteers with organizations to continue giving out supplies, information, and other essential resources to the drug-using community, especially people who are homeless or have few other support systems. As opioid overdose deaths continue at a rate of nearly 4,000 per month, many providers vow to do whatever it takes to keep people safe.

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As inconvenient as daily methadone dosing can be, it prevents the debilitating experience of opioid withdrawal. You sweat, youre agitated, you get diarrhea, you feel like youve got the worst case of the flu ever. Most people will you tell you they think theyre gonna die, says Dr. Charissa Fotinos, an addiction-medicine doctor and Washington State Healthcare Authoritys deputy chief medical officer. Opiate withdrawal is so uncomfortable that people cant tolerate it, which is why its so important not to get them to that point. At a fever of 103, theyll take whatever they need to.

Fotinos is working to keep methadone patients in Washington from experiencing painful withdrawal, or worse  overdosing out of desperation to feel better. She helped draft state guidelines for opioid treatment during the COVID-19 outbreak. These included specific recommendations for people to receive take-home doses earlier in their treatment than they would under normal circumstances.

Washington guidelines now recommend most patients who need daily doses visit the clinic every other day, with the population split into two different pickup schedules, to halve the number of daily visitors. Depending on their stability as a patient, elderly people or those with other health conditions may take home up to two weeks of medication. Dose check-ins, where a doctor determines how much medication a patient is eligible to receive at one time, can now be done via secure video call, thanks to new federal guidelines for telemedicine.

We tried to separate out people who didnt need to be there, Fotinos says. And they did so with the above-and-beyond support of representatives from SAMHSA and the DEA (They gave us their cellphone numbers, she says). Theyve been able to keep all 29 treatment facilities in the state open serving 12,000 people. Fotinos hopes the eased restrictions might even change the way people think about opioid treatment in the future. Maybe this will calm the fear around managing people with substance-use disorders, she says. If we put the same restrictions around peoples insulin and blood-pressure pills, people would be dead in the street.

In Vincents state of North Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services has also increased flexibility in telemedicine and take-home doses for methadone patients to help thin out the number of people in the waiting rooms and ensure access to medication, says a representative for HHS. Yet Vincent says she still sees dozens of people in line outside her clinic in Greensboro. She and her fellow organizers are drafting an open letter to providers, encouraging them to request more take-home doses from the state. When I have to go stand in line with all the people and theres not quick action, Im getting the message that I dont really matter, Vincent says. There are people there with comorbidities like COPD. I would think the people who were the most at risk would be the people we take care of first.

Vincent thinks providers are worried most about patients diverting their medicine to other people, something she claims is extremely uncommon among people who qualify for take-home doses. I would say the risk to our health right now trumps the risk of diversion, she says.

Outside of treatment facilities, harm-reduction organizations also aim to limit the negative impact of drug use, offering everything from safe-injection sites and needle exchanges to Narcan training sessions and distribution of clean syringes or fentanyl test strips. Now, many organizations are trying to marry safe-drug-use supplies and advice with information on preventing the spread of COVID-19, while keeping providers safe at the same time.

Christine Rodriguez, who recently launched a harm-reduction program in Baltimore with a focus on helping the drug-using community during system-disrupting emergencies, helped write nationwide guidelines for the Harm Reduction Coalition. Advice for users includes avoiding sharing pipes or nasal tubes, washing your hands before prepping drugs, and stocking up on Narcan and fentanyl test strips in case emergency services are overwhelmed by cases of COVID-19.

Mike Gilbert, an epidemiologist who volunteers with the Portland Peoples Outreach Project in Oregon, says theyve switched from a self-serve table where people take whatever supplies they need to more of a lunch-counter format, with prepackaged kits and bags they hand out. In a city with a significant homeless user population, he worries about social distancing during a chilly March. People are doubling up in tents for warmth, he says. Its hard to promote behaviors that are impractical to apply to people sleeping in a confined space. Plus, staying together can help prevent overdose deaths. People can go off on their own and sleep, but then for folks who use drugs, social isolation can lead to increased overdose risks.

The Peoples Harm Reduction near Seattle has provided mobile sinks at distribution sites so staff and participants can wash their hands. They also switched up the self-serve model of giving out supplies. We have bags, everyones gloved up; we try not to have any physical contact, says executive director Shilo Jama. Were dedicated to staying open.

Getting treatment now may be an uphill battle. Bill Kinkle, a registered nurse who is in recovery himself while also working as a care coordinator at CleanSlate, a Philadelphia outpatient addiction-medication clinic, has seen drug users unable to begin treatment at in-patient facilities because of the pandemic.

Several treatment centers Ive called were requiring people to get tested for coronavirus before theyll consider taking them in, Kinkle says. The ER will do a questionnaire and screening, but if you dont have symptoms, theyre not testing you. He says at least one recovery house he called said theyd essentially locked down and decided not to accept new patients for fear of bringing in the coronavirus. The situation is even more dire for those without housing. There are people on the street experiencing homelessness saying, I dont want to do this anymore, and theyre being denied access to treatment.

One bright spot Kinkle has observed is the loosening of restrictions on telemedicine, which can be useful for opioid treatment. If I cant get them down to the office, we can use Zoom or a telemedicine app and engage them right on the street corner, he says. Most often, though, he just goes out with a pocket full of Narcan to hand some out and talk to drug users he meets.

I know outreach workers are struggling with the idea of social distancing and self-quarantine, Rodriguez says. They dont want these people out there without resources, information, and supplies. They are the folks who have the best relationships with the vulnerable, marginalized communities, with people who use drugs. For providers, the HRC guidelines recommend measures like sanitizing surfaces in delivery areas and preparing for staff shortages due to illness.

Providers say theyll keep coming out for their communities, though, to help however they can. Needs-finding is the biggest thing right now, says Gilbert, the night before taking supplies to users in Portlands homeless encampments. Thats gonna be my aim tomorrow. I need to hear what people are needing, and then I can work to provide that.

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Real estate has been added to an exclusive list of businesses allowed to continue operating in New York during a statewide shutdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus  but all agents arent happy about it.

A Buffalo realtors petition demanding the state take back the essential designation has amassed 2,300 signatures in two days.

Under Wednesdays rules, the state considers residential home and office showings to be essential, along with home inspections and appraisers.

Some Central New York realtors who spoke to syracuse.com were upset and even fearful about the new rules. They note their industry is competitive, so giving agents carte blanche to continue working incentivizes everyone to get out and sell.

They say they are concerned because their jobs entail interacting with dozens of people and entering multiple homes per day, putting them at risk of contracting or spreading the virus.

The designation also means they likely wont be able to qualify for unemployment because, under the states rules, they are able to continue working.

Dylan Wise, a Howard Hanna agent in Camillus, said despite the incentive to keep working in a competitive industry, he doesnt feel he can go back to work when he has a 7-month-old son at home. Wise said that while returning to work is tempting, he would have preferred his industry be kept home, so agents could file for unemployment during the shutdown. Before New York made real estate essential," Wise had tried calling to file for unemployment 351 times in two days.

I feel like Im being forced to choose between the safety of my 7-month-old or putting food on the table for him, Wise said. Its not a choice I think we should have to make.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said he thought if real estate workers can return to work and practice social distancing, it would be good for the local economy.

If we can have parts of our economy working in a safe way, we think thats OK, McMahon said. Knowing that industry the way I do, I believe there is a way to do it in a safe way.

But hundreds of agents, as well as healthcare workers, signed a petition asking New York state to reconsider once again whether real estate is actually essential. They wrote that they did not believe real estate agents could return to showing properties safely.

Buffalo-area realtor Mary Wagner started the petition and is urging the state to allow virtual home showings only, to comply with the states orders for most businesses to work remotely.

This is obviously political, with monetary concerns, Wagner wrote. Tell NYS this will jeopardize lives and further the spread of COVID.

Wise said the main problem with allowing realtors to continue home showings is the volume of people and homes they have to interact with on a daily basis. He estimated in a typical week, he would average 50 home visits.

During those visits, realtors and clients are touching the same doorknobs and lockboxes, even if they practice social distancing. Often, a seller still lives in their home, which could potentially expose more people to the virus if someone is infected.

Within a two-week period, just I alone could infect quite a few hundred people, Wise said.

Wise said he thought the state could allow some exceptions for real estate transactions that already are in the pipeline, without opening up the rules so broadly. Wise said he understood why closing out transactions and conducting final walk-throughs would be necessary, even during the shutdown.

Wise and others who posted online said they were concerned the states decision to deem them essential was motivated by large number of unemployment claims.

The federal relief bill newly allows independent contractors and self-employed people to file for unemployment. The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials estimates there are 2 million active real estate agents in the U.S, which could represent a massive strain on states to pay out claims.

You cant flip-flop non-essential to essential because we dont fit in the budget, wrote Rose Rapisardi, a Long Island realtor.

This puts realtors and the people and families we serve in unsafe conditions, Leisha Dukat, a Fayetteville realtor, wrote on the change.org petition. We cant flatten the curve when we cant stay home.

Wise, the Camillus realtor with the 7-month-old baby, said even if he didnt have personal motivations for wanting to stay at home and socially distance, he has moral considerations for his clients, too.

How do I truthfully look a client or seller or buyer in the eye and say its in your best interest to go through this house or invite someone into your house? Wise said. Its not right."

Reporter Michelle Breidenbach contributed to this story.

Have a question about your industry? Contact Reporter Julie McMahon: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 14:37 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f800f3 1 National COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Galang-Island,pulau-galang,pekerja-migran-indonesia,emergency-hospital,rumah-sakit-darurat Free

The designated COVID-19 emergency hospital on Galang Island, Riau Islands will be prioritized for migrants returning home, an official has said as its construction is nearing completion.

Indonesian Military Regional Defense Joint Command I (Kogabwilhan I) commander Vice Adm. Yudo Margono said the hospital would prioritize migrants as the country expected an influx of migrants coming home from Malaysia.

Previously, President Joko Jokowi Widodo raised concerns over an increase in imported COVID-19 cases as migrant workers are expected to return from abroad for Idul Fitri, adding that reports estimated around 3,000 Indonesian migrant workers returning from Malaysia in the past several days.

The migrants from Malaysia, especially ones who tested positive, would be treated at the hospital, Yudo said at a virtual press conference on Friday, adding that around 20,000 personnel had been prepared for the migrants repatriation.

Read also: Third Indonesian dies from COVID-19 abroad

If the number of migrant patients is small, Yudo said the emergency hospital would also treat local patients to help local hospitals as the Riau Islands had recorded seven COVID-19 cases and one fatality as of Thursday.

Yudo said the hospital was about 96 percent done and was on track to open on April 6, after previously being delayed for several days due to building material shipping issues. The construction started on March 11 and is led by State-Owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya (WIKA).

The hospital is being built on a 16-hectare former Vietnam war refugee campsite and comprises three zones.

Zone A will serve as the dormitory for medical workers and the management of the hospital equipped with 158 beds, laundry facilities and sterilization facilities, while zone B will be used as a patient ward with 20 isolation beds and 340 observation beds. The third zone is assigned for the future development of the hospital.

Read also: Residents now approve of construction of COVID-19 hospital in Batam, officials claim

We have assigned a team of doctors and a new health task force taken from the local military district command, Yudo said. We are now looking to recruit personnel from the National Military (TNI), National Police (Polri) and volunteers. We have 77 personnel ready,.

Yudo said medical and healthcare equipment from the Health Ministry, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and state-owned enterprises were currently being shipped to the island.

As of Thursday, Indonesia had recorded 1790 COVID-19 cases with 170 fatalities and 112 recoveries while Malaysia recorded 3,116 cases with 50 fatalities and 767 recoveries. Globally, the pneumonia-like illness has infected more than 1 million and killed some 50,000.
Kroger, the nations largest grocery chain and the owner of Marianos, reported a 30% jump in March sales at stores open at least a year. Credit Suisse has projected that retail sales of packaged food companies will grow, on average, by as much as 15% to 30% during March through May. Some of the largest companies have announced production increases by as much as 40% to keep up with demand, it said.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-03 22:32:16

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HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Camber Energy, Inc. (NYSE American:CEI) ("Camber" or the "Company") today announced notice of a change in location of its Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (Houston Time) (the "Special Meeting"). In light of the growing health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the extensive federal and local restrictions on non-essential activities and travel, the restriction of public gatherings of 10 or more people in Texas, and out of concern for the health and well-being of our colleagues and stockholders, the Special Meeting has been changed to be held in a virtual meeting format only.As described in the proxy materials for the Special Meeting, stockholders are entitled to participate in the Special Meeting if they were a stockholder of the Company as of the close of business on March 2, 2020, the record date, or hold a legal proxy for the meeting provided by your bank, broker, or nominee.Instead of being held in a physical location, the Special Meeting will be held virtually. To be admitted to the Special Meeting at https://www.iproxydirect.com/CEISpecial , you must enter the control number found on your proxy card or voting instruction form. You may vote during the Special Meeting by following the instructions available on the meeting website during the meeting.Further information regarding the change of location of the Special Meeting can be found in the Notice of Change of Location of Special Meeting of Stockholders filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2020.Whether or not a stockholder plans to attend the Special Meeting by virtual means, the Company urges its stockholders to vote and submit their proxy in advance of the Special Meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy statement. The proxy card included with the proxy statement previously distributed will not be updated to reflect the information provided above and may continue to be used to vote each stockholder's shares in connection with the Special Meeting. If Company stockholders have previously submitted a proxy using one of the methods described in the proxy statement and proxy card, their vote will be counted and they do not need to submit a new proxy or vote at the Special Meeting.About Camber Energy, Inc.Based in Houston, Texas, Camber Energy (NYSE American: CEI) is a growth-oriented, independent oil and gas company engaged in the development of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in the Texas Panhandle. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.camber.energy SOURCE: Camber Energy, Inc.
The biggest cemetery in Latin America, a seemingly endless stretch of graves on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, is adapting to the new funeral rites of our times: six-minute burials, no wakes, no hugs. And it is bracing for things to get a lot worse. On a recent afternoon at Vila Formosa cemetery, coffins were arriving so quickly the grave-diggers had to ask mourners to wait. Mourners with "D3" marked on their loved one's death certificates -- for suspected or confirmed cases of the new coronavirus -- were ordered to keep funeral parties to less than 10 mourners, no open caskets or embracing allowed. Some, unable to hold back, collapsed into their loved ones' arms. "My grandmother had the symptoms and got tested, but they told us the result would take another two weeks," said Ricardo Santos, who held a small, quick ceremony for 92-year-old Regina Almeida. Her closed coffin was wrapped in a green cloth in a bid to avoid spreading the virus. Burials took six minutes total, from the moment the hearse was opened to the wreath of flowers laid on the closed tomb. Toiling under a hot sun in white protective suits, masks and gloves, grave-diggers lowered four coffins into a single grave in about half an hour: one confirmed and three suspected COVID-19 victims. Genilton de Santana was burying his 77-year-old father, Jose, with a white mask on his face and a lone friend. "Cause of death to be determined, awaiting exams," said the death certificate. "Show people that and see if they start to understand how serious this is," said an enraged De Santana, with tears in his eyes. - Deadly 'little flu' - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly minimized the pandemic, comparing COVID-19 to a "little flu," warning against "hysteria" and chastising local authorities for closing businesses and schools. That goes against the containment recommendations of the World Health Organization and the far-right leader's own government. Paradoxically, the federal government this week authorized burials without a death certificate in exceptional cases, anticipating a surge in funerals even as the president downplayed the virus. The coronavirus pandemic is probably just getting started in Brazil, the hardest-hit country in Latin America, with 6,836 cases and 241 deaths so far. Those numbers have been rising fast. Authorities expect the worst will only arrive between late April and June. - 'Awaiting exams' - Vila Formosa is already feeling the pressure. The cemetery stretches as far as the eye can see on the east side of Sao Paulo. Its more than 750,000 square meters (185 acres) are estimated to hold 1.5 million people's remains. "We usually bury about 45 people a day. But last week there were 12 to 15 more per day," a grave digger told AFP as he dug a long line of plots in the deep red earth of the cemetery's oldest wing, getting ready for the next day's burials. "It's a lot worse than what people are seeing on the news." Sao Paulo, a sprawling city of 12 million people, is the epicenter of the outbreak in Latin America, with nearly 3,000 cases so far. Experts say the real number is probably much higher. Preparing for a surge in burials, the city has hired 220 temporary workers for its 22 municipal cemeteries. The reinforcements were badly needed: the city's usual brigade of 257 grave-diggers has been diminished by 60 percent, many of them in self-isolation because they are at high risk for the new coronavirus. Sao Paulo city, which usually purchases 6,000 coffins every six months for public funeral homes, ordered 8,000 more in March alone.
Coro Energy has introduced new cost-cutting measures to manage the severe disruption in the oil and gas market, which resulted in the 'termination' of chief executive James Menzies.

The Italy-focused energy company offered all executive directors three options: take an unpaid sabbatical, receive three months' notice in shares or become non-executive directors.

Menzies did not accept any of these, so the board sacked him with immediate effect and without payment.

Massive disruption: Coro Energy has introduced new cost-cutting measures

Chief financial officer Andrew Dennan chose to become a NED, while Nick Cooper, a non-exec director, resigned.

The oiler also temporarily suspended production at two fields in Italy which, alongside other measures, should save $2.3million.

Together with the $4.5million in the bank as of Tuesday, Coro expects to survive until April 2021.

To top it all off, the company warned the sale of its Italian portfolio and the potential acquisition of assets in South East Asia are expected to be delayed amid the ongoing global crisis.

The shares tumbled 25 per cent to 0.4p.

The wider market fared a little better, with the AIM All-Share down 0.4 per cent to 663, outperforming the FTSE 100, which dipped 1.6 per cent to 5,410.

And it was a week for risers on AIM, led by industrial coatings technology firm Hardide, which skyrocketed 121 per cent to 32p.

The firm said half-year revenues rose over 25 per cent thanks to strong demand and confirmed the coronavirus crisis has not caused any significant reduction for now.

Hardide reassured investors that, despite the aircraft industry is taking a battering, its contracts with Airbus and other suppliers are still ongoing.

What's more, the manufacturer is still operating as it was asked to supply a unnamed customer designated as an essential critical infrastructure company in the US.

Shifting: Oil and gas group Star Phoenix rose 68 per cent to 2p after it sold off its Range Resources Trinidad business

Elsewhere, oil and gas group Star Phoenix rose 68 per cent to 2p after it sold off its Range Resources Trinidad business and paid off all its US$95million debt to field services provider LandOcean.

Functional foods group Optibiotix soared 55 per cent to 47p after signing two separate contracts to licence its weight loss ingredient SlimBiome with Danish firm Fipros and Australian company Optipharm.

In Africa, Botswana Diamonds gained 47 per cent to 0.5p after being awarded six prospecting licences and four renewals, though it will start operations once the lockdown is over.

In the tech sector, Seeing Machines surged 36 per cent to 2p after inking a $5million deal for its driver monitoring system technology with an unnamed automotive firm.

Music streaming provider 7Digital leaped 31 per cent to 0.2p after renewing a contract with GrandPad, which produces a tablet designed for people over 75.

Corero Network Security jumped 22 per cent to 4p after posting a record quarter for order intake, securing US$2million of additional customer wins in March.

Similarly, cybersecurity firm Falanx Group was up 21 per cent to 0.7p after announcing it has been able to fully service its clients during the pandemic with no loss of quality or service.

Pandemic: The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on markets all over the world

Sector-mate Kape Technologies rose 14 per cent to 173p, after it said it too had seen increased demand for its privacy software products.

Miner Tertiary Minerals shot up 10 per cent to 0.2p after US-based institutional investor Precious Metals Capital Group agreed to buy 600,000 worth of shares.

Foreign exchange specialist Argentex advanced 9 per cent to 120p after reporting 'strong client demand' despite market volatility caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Among the fallers, Gfinity slumped 46 per cent to 1p after raising 2.25million by selling 225million shares at a 34 per cent discount, which will be used to support growth.

Contamination detectors provider Modern Water tanked 35 per cent to 0.5p despite announcing two months' worth of products have been shipped in the last two weeks, as the coronavirus crisis is believed to drive up demand.

Finally, gaming platforms designer Quixant dropped 12 per cent to 65p after reporting declines in revenue and profits for 2019, while it suspended dividends payment until the impact of the pandemic becomes clearer.
Amid the nationwide coronavirus lockdown, FMCG giant Marico Limited has announced a tie-up with food delivery platforms Swiggy and Zomato to launch an initiative to enable the delivery of essential food items to consumers. The company has introduced 'Saffola Store' on the food delivery platforms, via which consumers can order food items under the Marico Brand  Saffola Oils, Saffola Plain Oats, Saffola Masala Oats and Coco Soul Virgin coconut oil.

Service in metros

In a press release, Marico said the service is already available on Zomato in Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR and will soon be extended to other metros like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad starting next week. Meanwhile, Marico's Swiggy stores have started delivery in Gurugram and the service will be extended to the rest of Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai this weekend.

READ | Finance Ministry Releases Rs 17,287 Cr To 14 States Under Disaster Management Relief Fund

Extension of support

Sanjay Mishra, Chief Operating Officer- India Sales and Bangladesh Business, Marico Limited, said the company intends to extend its support to the country while it faces the Coronavirus crisis. As one of Indias leading consumer companies, we are working towards ensuring the availability and easy access of essential food items to consumers. In an effort towards this, we have partnered with Swiggy and Zomato to provide Saffola and Coco Soul products to individuals doorstep in a safe manner, he said.

READ | Zomato Asks If People Are 'doing Fine Without Pani Puri', Netizens Can't Stop Craving

READ | Swiggy-like Food-ordering Apps Permitted Delivery During 21-day Coronavirus Lockdown

Vivek Sundar, Chief Operating Officer, Swiggy, said, "Through our partnership with Marico, Swiggy will leverage its extensive delivery fleet to ensure that essential products such as cooking oil and oats reach consumers quickly and in a safe manner."

READ | Zomato Recommends 'ghar Ka Khaana' Amid Lockdown, Netizens Say 'available 24X7'
China has sentenced a man to prison for 18 months after he spent nearly a week in Europe during the coronavirus pandemic and then failed to report his journey to the police upon his return.

The 29-year-old, known by his surname Guo, refused to self-isolate and tried to hide his symptoms from the authority after developing fevers and a sore throat, according to public prosecutors.

Officers put him under forced quarantine after tracking his movements using the country's mass surveillance system.

The criminal, known by his surname Guo, has been found guilty of impeding authorities' efforts to control and prevent the coronavirus. He was handed an 18-month prison sentence today. The above photo shows passengers from abroad arriving at a Shanghai airport on March 29

Guo was classified as an imported case by the local officials.

More than 40 people have been put under medical observation after coming into close contact with Guo.

The case was reported by the Supreme People's Procuratorate of China today through its official social media account.

According to a statement, Guo lives in the city of Zhengzhou in central China and was sent to Europe on a business trip from March 1 to March 7.

He arrived in Milan on March 2 via Beijing and Abu Dhabi before flying to Paris the next day.

He returned to Milan one day later and on March 6 flew back to Beijing, again via Abu Dhabi.

Beijing now views the coronavirus as a 'foreign' problem and has increased its efforts to screen 'imported cases'. The picture shows a volunteer spraying disinfectant in Henan on April 3

Guo reached his hometown on March 7 after taking a high-speed train from the Chinese capital city.

Instead of carrying out self-isolation for 14 days, a mandatory requirement from the Chinese government on arrivals from abroad, Guo went back to work straight away.

The notice said he took the subway to work on March 8 and March 9 before experiencing high body temperatures and a sore throat on the night of March 9.

He walked to a pharmacy near his home to buy drugs and then took them at home.

His mother made a tonic with herbs for him to take after being informed of his illness.

Guo went to a pharmacy near his home to buy drugs after developing symptoms on March 9. The picture shows a woman wearing a face mask visiting a pharmacy, in Wuhan on March 30

The prosecutors claimed that on March 10, the local police officers discovered Guo's recent journey abroad using 'big data'.

The 'big data' technology, part of China's 13th five-year plan, is backed by a national surveillance system featuring hundreds of millions of AI-powered street cameras.

It is said that when the police called Guo to confirm the trip, he refused to answer his phone. And when they called Guo's mother, she claimed that her son had not been abroad.

Officers caught Guo after calling his mother again and asking her to inform him to meet them outside his building.

Chinese cities have rolled out strict health screening procedures at international airports for new arrivals from abroad. The picture shows workers donning protective suits check information of an inbound passenger at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on March 27

Guo was then taken to a quarantine centre, where he was diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The police launched an investigation into Guo on suspicion of 'impeding the control and prevention of infectious diseases' on March 9.

He was put under house arrest on March 27 after finishing his quarantine and charged on March 30.

The Zhengzhou 27th District People's Procuratorate today handed out an 18-month sentence to Guo.

With the number of new cases dropping to zero in China but soaring abroad, Beijing now views the coronavirus as a 'foreign' problem and has increased its efforts to screen 'imported cases' to prevent a second outbreak.

The United States now has the most coronavirus cases in the world, followed by Spain, Italy, Germany and China. Medical workers are seen moving a body from the sidewalk into a refrigerator truck outside Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, on April 3

Worried oversea students have rushed to flee the coronavirus pandemic after schools across Europe closed campuses and moved classes online to contain the spread of the virus.

Major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai, where travellers from overseas land, have set up the so-called 'medical fortresses' in their airports to give strict health screening to new arrivals. All of them must undergo 14-day isolation upon landing.

China has so far registered 870 cases of COVID-19 among people entering the country.

Official statistics show that more than a third of the imported cases in the Chinese capital of Beijing were detected among people arriving from Britain, followed by those coming from Spain and Italy.

More than 3,322 people have died of the deadly disease and over 81,620 have been infected in China.

The global count of confirmed cases has exceeded one million, with more than 53,000 deaths.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 20:14:52|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (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 disease.

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday agreed to give 300,000 yen (2,800 U.S. dollars) in cash to each household whose income has fallen to a certain level owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I told the prime minister that 300,000 yen should be given to each household whose income has decreased to a certain level," LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida said.

- - - -

SINGAPORE -- Singapore will close most workplaces and schools will move to full home-based learning, amid stricter measures to minimise the COVID-19 spread, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong here Friday.

"Despite our good contact tracing, for nearly half of these cases, we do not know where or from whom the person caught the virus," said Lee while delivering an address to the nation on Friday afternoon. The number of coronavirus cases hit 1,000 in Singapore on April 1.

- - - -

HANOI -- Nissan Vietnam has announced a temporary shutdown over the concerns of complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming the fifth automaker in the country to suspend operation, Vietnam News Agency reported Friday.

Nissan Vietnam will halt production and assembly activities from Sunday by closing its auto factory in the central city of Da Nang, while its dealers in Hanoi and Da Nang have already closed and others in the southern region maintain less than 20 staff members each day to support customers when necessary, according to the report.

- - - -

UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday adopted a resolution on COVID-19, calling for "intensified" international cooperation to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resolution 74/270 states that the 193-member UNGA notes "with great concern" the threat to human health, safety and well-being caused by COVID-19, which continues to spread globally.

- - - -

NEW YORK -- The United States tallied over 240,000 COVID-19 cases as the global total surpassed 1 million as of Thursday night local time, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Nearly 6,000 deaths were reported across the country, with over 20 percent occurred in New York City, the data showed.

- - - -

WELLINGTON -- The New Zealand government will be introducing legislation to make changes to the Companies Act to help companies facing insolvency due to COVID-19 to remain viable and keep New Zealanders in jobs.

The temporary changes include giving directors of companies facing significant liquidity problems because of COVID-19 a "safe harbor" from insolvency duties under the Companies Act, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in a statement on Friday.
Employees are being temperature scanned as they enter the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Penn has fast-tracked programs aimed at keeping pregnant women out of the hospital as much as possible as the coronavirus spreads. Read more

The coronavirus crisis has had a special and profound impact on women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. Anxiety abounds that they or their newborn will contract the virus. Some are fleeing hot spots such as New York to seek care elsewhere. And most women in labor can have just one person with them, if that.

Much of the fear comes from the need to be in hospitals or doctors offices for prenatal care  checkups, ultrasounds, blood-pressure monitoring  as well as for delivery and those critical first few days after the infant is born, while both baby and mother are typically confined to the hospital.

The science isnt yet certain on whether mothers who contract COVID-19 can pass it to a fetus. And hospitals are taking steps to keep COVID-19 patients isolated, especially from other at-risk patients such as pregnant women, and expanding telemedicine and remote-care capabilities.

But theres more to be done to help pregnant women maintain social distancing, and physicians at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania are now fast-tracking high-tech solutions that aim to keep them away from the hospital as much as possible before delivery, and to get them out of the medical center sooner after birth.

One new program distributes blood-pressure cuffs  so pregnant women can monitor their own blood pressure and report it to their doctors, potentially eliminating three appointments. Another is a postpartum check-in system that aims to get women out of the hospital a day earlier by using a chatbot to answer questions about everything from umbilical cords to breastfeeding.

 ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters.

The physicians rolling out the programs say every minute in the hospital matters. Anna Graseck, who is overseeing the cuff-distribution program, said Thursday that she saw three new pregnant patients, and all told her it was the first time they had left the house in more than a month.

Pregnant patients are taking social distancing extremely seriously, as they should, said Graseck, an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology. When people are rationing their groceries over three weeks, that one trip matters.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia-area stores with dedicated hours for seniors, pregnant women and the immunocompromised

In the prenatal phase, Penn obstetricians last week began distributing blood-pressure monitoring cuffs to women who are pregnant. Doctors prompt patients via text to check their blood pressure at home, then the women read the monitor  which interprets the reading, so no counting  and report it to the doctors for monitoring. The process is used in conjunction with counseling via phone.

Blood-pressure monitoring is a critical component of prenatal care, particularly in the third trimester, Graseck said, as elevated blood pressure is incredibly common but a leading cause of pregnancy-related death if left untreated.

Routine prenatal care is anywhere from nine to 12 visits over the course of a pregnancy, Graseck said, and lowest-risk patients who use the cuff at home could require just six to nine trips, largely for lab testing and ultrasounds that cant be done remotely.

HUP delivers about 4,000 babies a year, so Penn could easily enroll 1,000 pregnant women in the cuff-distribution program over the next several months, Graseck said. The equipment is covered by insurers, including some Medicaid payers that have really stepped up, she added.

As for postpartum care, Penn has accelerated and expanded the rollout of its Healing at Home program, which was launched in 2017 with the goal of getting new mothers out of the hospital as soon as possible.

The program, piloted last year, involves using augmented intelligence, whereby a new mother and her infant can be discharged early, and mom is set up to communicate with a robot by text that can counsel her on frequently asked questions, said Kirsten Leitner, an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology who oversees the program.

 READ MORE: Fleeing coronavirus in NYC, pregnant women head to Philly area but struggle to find prenatal care

Its not all communication with the chatbot (whose name is Penny, after Penn, of course). Leitner said the questions and answers are monitored by providers, and any question that isnt answered with a programmatic response is answered by a clinician, who typically responds within 30 to 60 minutes, far sooner than the full business day it can take to get a phone call back from a physician.

In addition to answering such questions as When should the umbilical cord fall off? and Is this rash normal?, providers are also offering lactation counseling and postpartum depression screening, all via text.

The early-discharge program can reduce post-delivery time in the hospital from, on average, about two days to just over one day. Its available for mothers who delivered vaginally  women who have cesarean sections have different questions that havent been programmed in yet  and had little to no complications.

The programs will also be used post-pandemic to help Penn tailor care to women who are pregnant.

Leitner said much of the value for the new mothers, especially during a pandemic, is just in knowing help is a text away.

Call volumes to our office are up, she said. To know there is something established they can be grounded in is a huge benefit to this program.
 Flash

People-to-people diplomacy plays a unique role in the global coronavirus fight, said a report released by a government-affiliated think tank in Shanghai on Thursday.

It is also a crucial counterforce against the forces of populism and anti-globalism, said the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies in the report titled "Working Together with One Heart: People-to-people Diplomacy in the Coronavirus Crisis."

As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, people have come to realize that only through global solidarity can a victory against the disease be secured, said the report.

The report identified non-state actors as important extra-governmental resources that have displayed immeasurable capacities, stating that such robust people-to-people diplomacy complements government efforts by providing additional channels for communication and coordination and is crucial to global epidemic prevention and control.

International non-state actor cooperation and people-to-people diplomacy should be seen as essential subsystems and vital links of the anti-virus global network, which underpins the robustness of the whole structure, said the report.

It emphasized that global solidarity and coordination not only help pool materials and manpower, but also help promote people's recognition of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Many countries and international organizations offered aid for China's fight against the epidemic in the early stages to help weather the most difficult times.

As the epidemic rampages through the world, non-state actors in China such as charities and enterprises have become proactive contributors, donating medical materials and sharing anti-virus experience to aid other countries, it said.

These acts of goodwill and humanitarianism all reflect long-cherished Chinese values as expressed in such sayings as "Love has no boundaries" and "A favor, however trivial, should be returned with much greater kindness." It also shows the unique role of people-to-people diplomacy in this global epidemic fight, according to the report.




CORNING, N.Y., April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation (the Company), a publicly traded holding corporation, will host a hybrid annual shareholder meeting Tuesday, April 14, 2020, at 10 am. In compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, the Company strongly encourages shareholders to participate online or via phone. Shareholders may access or participate in the annual meeting in the following ways:



via Ring Central from your computer or smartphone- https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/3926469259?pwd=N0hpUm9qRkNFbmVxWE45OE52cDFPdz09;

via telephone or smartphone dial 1-469-445-0100, or 1-623-404-9000, enter meeting id 392 646 9259; if prompted for a participant id, ignore it, and wait for the prompt for the password; password id is 774 325;

via international numbers: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/teleconference;

go to http://www.corninggas.com/cng-investor to view or download the 2019 CNGHC Annual Shareholder PowerPoint and to access the Ring Central link and phone numbers;

to view or download the 2019 CNGHC Annual Shareholder PowerPoint and to access the Ring Central link and phone numbers; if you wish to attend in person, the meeting will be held at 330 W. William Street, Corning, NY and will be limited to ten people.

The Company is required to keep attendance records for this meeting, so you will be asked to give your name when you call in or join the meeting remotely. If you intend to virtually vote at the annual shareholder meeting, you will need to indicate that when you log in or call in. However, in order to do so, you must first scan your proxy card to investorrelations@corninggas.com, or fax it to the attention of Julie Lewis at 607-962-2844 no later than 5 pm eastern time, Monday, April 13th, 2020. The company is required by law to prove persons voting at the annual meeting are eligible shareholders. By scanning or faxing your proxy card ahead of time, we will have satisfied this requirement.

If your shares are held with Computershare, and you received your proxy materials from them, you may still vote by mailing your proxy card in the usual manner. If you received your proxy materials from Broadridge, you may vote at www.proxyvote.com, or you may mail your proxy card. In either case, your vote must be received by April 13th, 2020 to be counted.

Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation is the parent company of its operating subsidiaries Corning Natural Gas, Pike County Light & Power, and Leatherstocking Gas Company, a 50% JV with Mirabito Regulated Industries. The subsidiaries provide natural gas and electric service to customers in New York and Pennsylvania.

From time-to-time, Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation may produce forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products, and similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Corning Natural Gas Holding Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experiences to differ materially from anticipated results or other expectations expressed in any forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Julie Lewis

607-936-3755, investorrelations@corninggas.com
Oil prices spiked 25 percent on Thursday after President Trump tweeted that Saudi Arabia and Russia would cut production by 10 to 15 million barrels per day (mb/d), but there are a variety of reasons why a cut of this size faces steep odds.

This should be prefaced with the fact that nobody knows what will happen and that the onset of a global pandemic means that all of the old rules are thrown out the window. Anything can happen in the context of the greatest public health and economic crisis in a century.

But Trumps tweets raise a ton of questions. Right off the bat, a 10-15 mb/d cut is incredibly massive. How could that be divided up? Russia and Saudi Arabia are both at around 11 mb/d; would they both cut their output in half? Thats an absurd notion.

Indeed, immediately, Russia shot down the idea that there was some agreement. That was followed by a clarification from Saudi Arabia, which called for an emergency OPEC+ meeting that could lead to cuts with another group of countries in an attempt to arrive at a fair solution.

That statement means that Saudi Arabia has not signed onto anything, and would only cut if a lot of other countries did the same. The Saudi statement hints that it wants more than just the OPEC+ coalition, which presumably would include the U.S., Canada, Brazil and/or some other non-OPEC producers.

Then, news surfaced that Saudi Arabia was willing to cut output below 9 mb/d if others joined them. That means that Saudi will chip in around 2 mb/d of cuts, which is incredibly modest compared to what Trumps tweet suggests.

SAUDI ARABIA MULLS OIL-OUTPUT REDUCTION TO BELOW 9 MLN B/D IF OTHERS JOIN EFFORT -SOURCES#OOTT  *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaOne) April 2, 2020

It would also bring Saudi output roughly back to where it was a month ago, prior to the breakdown of the OPEC+ negotiations.

Meanwhile, an even larger question is what the U.S. would need to give in order to achieve anything close to what Trump claimed. With U.S. shale on the ropes and destined for a substantial decline, the American government would presumably need to offer quite a bit to get Saudi and Russia on board with deep cuts.

Related: Trump Tweet Sends Oil Soaring 25%



Will the U.S. implement its own production cuts? Its not clear how the U.S. could do this with hundreds of privately-owned oil companies, whether the government even has that authority, whether it can practically implement such a plan, and whether the oil industry itself wants such an outcome.

One avenue could be a federal ban on exports, an idea that would be highly controversial and would require Congressional action, which essentially rules it out. A group of Republican Senators from oil states have also proposed a tariff on imported oil, but the American Petroleum Institute has pushed back on that.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton upped the ante midday on Thursday, stating that he spoke with Russian energy minister Alexander Novak about 10mbpd out of global supply, and that he would soon speak with the Saudi energy minister. Texas regulators had already started exploring state-led production cuts, something that has divided the U.S. oil industry.

Just had a great conversation with Russia's @novakav1. While we normally compete, we agreed that #COVID19 requires unprecedented level of int'l cooperation. Discussed 10mbpd out of global supply. Look forward to speaking with Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman soon.

 Ryan Sitton (@RyanSitton) April 2, 2020

Not long after Trumps tweet, Reuters reported that the Trump administration does not actually plan on asking domestic drillers to cut production. Trump is set to meet with a group of oil CEOs on Friday, but he apparently wont ask them to cut output, Reuters says.

Bloomberg reported that there was widespread confusion even within the U.S. government about what Trumps tweet meant.

If the U.S. is not going to cut, what, then, is Trump talking about? One thing to consider is that Saudi Arabia can earn some goodwill in Washington by agreeing to call for an emergency OPEC+ meeting. The Saudis could be nodding along with Trump, commiserating about low oil prices, while also suggesting that they could take strong actionif others go along. Riyadh does not have to agree to anything immediately, but by putting the ball in the court of the U.S. and Russia, they may entice production cuts from elsewhere.

Oil prices jumped sharply on Trumps tweet, but his assertion raises more questions than answers. While international diplomacy does seem to be accelerating, a massive unilateral cut from Saudi Arabia, or even a bilateral cut with Russia, remains highly unlikely.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
US buyers paid three times the going rate to secure a shipment of face masks from China that were due to be dispatched to the areas worst hit by coronavirus in France, two French officials claim.

Paying cash to divert the air cargo to the US, the buyers, who have yet to be named, are said to have commandeered the shipment of masks as they sat on a plane at Shanghai airport ready for take off.

The order of several million masks had been due to arrive in part to the Grand Est region in north west France, an area where intensive care facilities are already struggling to cope with the volume of coronavirus patients.

Jean Rottner, a doctor and president of the GrandEst regional council, told RTL radio that the US buyers had turned up on the tarmac offering cash.

Boxes being unloaded from an Antonov 124 aircraft transporting 10 million face masks ordered by France from China at the Paris-Vatry Airport in Bussy-Lettree, eastern France, 30 March

He said: 'On the tarmac, they arrive, get the cash out  so we really have to fight.'

The leader of the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, also accused unidentified Americans of swooping in with cash at the last minute to secure shipments already promised to French buyers.

Valerie Pecresse, the chief of France's most populous region, said: 'We lost an order to the Americans who outbid us on a shipment that we had lined up.'

Pecresse claimed that while France pays on delivery for such supplies - crucial in the global fight against the pandemic - 'Americans pay cash' without bothering to see the goods.

A worker next to cargo unloaded from a different plane carrying 10 million face masks ordered by France from China, at the Paris-Vatry Airport in Bussy-Lettree, eastern France, 30 March

They 'are just looking to do business on the back of the whole world's distress,' she told LCI television.

France has ordered 1 billion face masks due to be delivered within the next 14 weeks and has deployed an air-bridge flight with China to deliver them amid the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.

Shipping company Geodis is responsible for the organisation of 16 flights by two chartered cargo planes, reports World Cargo News.

A senior US official on Thursday rejected allegations from French politicians that Americans had accroached the French shipment during the coronavirus crisis, calling the stories 'completely false.'

In Washington, a senior administration official told AFP 'the United States government has not purchased any masks intended for delivery from China to France.'

'Reports to the contrary are completely false,' said the official, asking not to be named.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday asked officials to look into similar claims that masks were being diverted from his country, calling such reports 'concerning.'

France has ordered 1 billion face masks and has deployed an air-bridge flight with China to deliver them amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

'We need to make sure that equipment that is destined for Canada gets to and stays in Canada, and I've asked ministers to follow up on these particular reports,' he told a press conference.

Ottawa has recognized that its stockpiles of protective medical equipment are not enough to meet demand, as it looks to care for a surge of infected patients and slow the spread of the virus.

Canada has earmarked Can$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) to buy medical equipment while asking local companies to pivot assembly lines to make masks, medical scrubs and ventilators.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said more than 12 million masks were received from abroad, donated locally or released from government stockpiles this week.

'We understand that the needs in the US are very extensive, but it's the same in Canada, so we have to work together to ensure that we can control the spread of this virus,' Trudeau concluded.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds said yesterday that there has been a "dramatic reduction" in connectivity in Northern Ireland - as aviation and ferry companies remain in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The DUP MLA also outlined the "massive shock" to the local economy after it was revealed that another six people had died here after contracting Covid-19, bringing the death toll to 36.

Another 86 people were tested positive for the virus, bringing that total to 774.

Mrs Dodds was speaking during yesterday's daily press conference at Stormont Castle alongside Finance Minster Conor Murphy and Chief Nursing Officer Charlotte McArdle.

She said that the crisis immediately impacted the tourism and hospitality sector, but due to the lack of connectivity challenges are beginning to emerge in other parts of the region's economy.

"Northern Ireland is reliant on our air and sea connectivity, but with significant pressures on the aviation industry and on ferry companies we have seen a dramatic reduction in connectivity," said Mrs Dodds.

"The haulage industry is under tremendous stress with fewer return loads as a direct result of the impact of manufacturers in Great Britain.

"We need to move to ensure that domestic markets are protected.

"This week I have spoken to Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay, to remind them that strong transport links between GB and Northern Ireland are of vital importance to our economy and our supply chains, particularly our food supply chains.

"This morning I spoke to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, to press upon him the urgent need for a solution to this issue to be found without delay."

Mrs Dodds added that 17,000 jobs in the province have been notified to Invest NI as being furloughed, claiming that they would have "been lost altogether".

"This demonstrates the importance of the scheme for Northern Ireland," she said.

"However, greater clarity is needed from the Treasury and HMRC around the eligibility and I have been working all week to ensure that the relevant information goes out to employers."

The Upper Bann MLA also said that 10,000 small businesses in Northern Ireland have received financial assistance through the 10k grant scheme, while another 3,200 applications are currently being processed.

Mrs Dodds added that further announcements on the 25k scheme will be made next week.

"That represents over 100m that has already been paid out to small businesses across Northern Ireland and a further 170m in grants that will be paid in the coming days," she said.

"For those small business owners who have not yet received a payment I would encourage them to go on to NI Business Info and register today."

Commenting on the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the health service, Mrs Dodds said she was "heartened" that more than 40 companies are assisting in the search, while another 30 businesses have offered to help manufacture ventilators.

The Finance Minster explained that 140m has been allocated to the Department of Health to finance the purchase of PPE and Covid-19 tests and added that the Executive is working with both the British and Irish governments to procure the equipment.

Mr Murphy said: "The scale of the pandemic means this will necessitate multiple orders containing a range of products from a variety of suppliers.

"We are sourcing the market for supplies locally, nationally and internationally in places like China. There is clearly a global demand for these goods and equipment.

"We are wrapping up supplies from local companies including those that have re-purposed their business to help in the fight against the virus.

"We must protect frontline workers in this fast changing and challenging time. We will provide fuller updates as the supplies arrive and the PPE and testing must be ramped up without further delay."

Meanwhile, Ms McArdle said that the Northern Ireland health system has increased its ventilator total to 165 and further orders have been placed and are being processed.
Jonah Hauer-King is used to being challenged by roles.

Its what he does as an actor.

For his latest role, Hauer-King plays Harry Chase in the Masterpiece miniseries World on Fire, which will premiere at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 5, on New Mexico PBS.

The series begins in summer 1939 and takes viewers across the first year of the war, from ordinary life in Manchester to the beaches of Dunkirk, getting right under the skin and into the hearts and minds of those living during this extraordinary time as they grapple with the unthinkable: a world in flames.

It is told from different perspectives and stars Leslie Manville, Sean Bean, Julia Brown, Ewan Mitchell, Victoria Mayer and Helen Hunt.

Hauer-Kings character is a translator working at the British Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, falling in love with Polish waitress Kasia, played by Zofia WichAacz.

When German tanks roll into Poland and Britain declares war on Germany, Chase and Kasia are faced with terrible choices.

Hauer-King was drawn to Chase because of the characters depth.

Hes a very complex character. I dont think hes an archetypal hero at all, and thats one of the best things about Petes (Bowker) writing, is that he really tries to stay away from stereotypes and predictability, he says. Harrys someone with a huge amount of humanity and compassion but with a lot of flaws as well. People arent perfect; they have light and shade. Reading the scripts, I really felt like Harry goes on such a journey. He learns and grows so much. For an actor, any character that you see having a huge arc and some kind of transformation is really attractive.

Hauer-King says the series is mostly about the triumphs that were won by people  soldiers and civilians alike  in the Second World War.

In any war movie, theres a tendency to focus on the great actions of people running around fields and shooting down planes. Thats only partly why the war was won, he says. Whats so special about this is it really delves into what it might have been like for all different kinds of people in the war with small acts of kindness  but also small acts of defiance. Without giving too much away, I think Harrys real moment of starting to find himself occurs at Dunkirk, but its not about shooting lots of enemy soldiers. Its about actually just helping a small group of soldiers that he looks after and feels protective of and compassionate towards. That is the moment in his journey which is the real switch for him. Its an act of leadership and of kindness.

ON TV

The Masterpiece miniseries World on Fire will premiere at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 5, on New Mexico PBS.
MONTREAL - When he officially succeeds Alain Bellemare as CEO of Bombardier Inc. on Monday, Eric Martel will confront sobering questions about the future of a Quebec institution grappling with share-price lows, credit downgrades and a financial position some deem "unsustainable."

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Bombardier logo is shown at a Bombardier assembly plant in Mirabel, Que., on October 26, 2018. Bombardier Inc. is confronting sobering questions about its future following new share price lows and two credit downgrades. The plane-and-train maker's stock sunk to its lowest in more than 25 years on Thursday, closing at 42.5 cents before falling a further six per cent in midday trading Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL - When he officially succeeds Alain Bellemare as CEO of Bombardier Inc. on Monday, Eric Martel will confront sobering questions about the future of a Quebec institution grappling with share-price lows, credit downgrades and a financial position some deem "unsustainable."

The plane-and-train maker's stock sunk to its lowest level in more than 25 years on Friday, closing at 40.5 cents.

The stock plunge came after Fitch Ratings last week cut its credit rating to CCC from CCC+ several days after the manufacturer suspended Canadian production due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Standard & Poor's has also lowered its rating for the company to CCC+ from B-, entrenching its junk status.

Meanwhile, 12,400 Bombardier employees remain on unpaid leave.

S&P said Bombardier's financial commitments appear unsustainable in the long term, warning that the company may have to restructure its debt within 12 months.

The Montreal-based firm carries US$9.3 billion in debt despite multiple asset sales over the past five years. It will be reduced to a single revenue stream  business jets  after announcing the sale of its rail division to French train giant Alstom SA in February, just as demand for private planes falls away amid the broader economic slowdown triggered by the outbreak.

The sale once again shrank a company that a year ago boasted three major divisions  commercial aircraft, trains and business jets.

It's not looking great. Just not looking great," said Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with Teal Group in the Washington, D.C., area.

The collapse of oil prices around the globe could ripple out to Bombardier, he said, as large oil-producing companies and states pull back on expenditures like large-cabin private jets  Bombardier's Global 7500 lists for US$73 million.

Liquidity risks remain a "top-of-mind concern," said Seth Seifman of J.P. Morgan.

While the ultra-long-range Global 7500 is sold out through 2022, Seifman lowered his forecast on business jet deliveries by more than 100 for the next two years  to 91 planes from 162 for 2020 and to 129 planes from 164 for 2021.

"Our downward revisions are the result of supply constraints from COVID-19, with Bombardier closing its Canadian manufacturing operations through at least April 20, as well as expectations for lower business jet demand, including deferrals and cancellations, because of the economic fallout from the virus," Seifman said in a research note.

Disruption to the aeronautics supply chain presents another problem, with plane makers depending on hundreds of suppliers that are now at risk as giants like Boeing Co. and Airbus SE halt production.

Bombardier spokesman Olivier Marcil took issue with the credit rating agency downgrades.

"We disagree with the S&P and Fitch analyses. In particular, S&P acknowledges that its analysis is based on a forecast that is 'highly uncertain at this time,'" Marcil noted. "The comments as to the debt measures that we may possibly have to take are only pure speculation."

Marcil pointed to the agencies' acknowledgment of Bombardier's solid short-term liquidity. "In addition, the reports recognize Bombardier's advantageous positioning in the large business jet sector and our well-filled order book," he said in an email.

Looming on the horizon are debt maturities of US$1.48 billion and US$1.7 billion due in 2021 and 2022 respectively. About 60 per cent of the US$9.32-billion total debt is due within five years.

The US$8.2-billion deal with Alstom and other recent transactions will leave Bombardier with net proceeds of between US$4.2 billion and US$4.5 billion after deducting the Caisse de depot's equity position, as well as adjustments for debts and other liabilities, Bombardier said in February.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2021, if it can move through European Union regulatory hurdles.

Bombardier shored up its cash reserves with the sale of its remaining stake in the A220 commercial jetliner program to Airbus in February, netting US$531 million so far with US$60 million more expected as part of a bonus structure in the deal.

And it continues to work on closing the US$550-million divestiture of its CRJ region jet program to Mitsubishi and the US$500-million sale of its aerostructures business in Belfast and Morocco to Spirit AeroSystems, both of which were initially expected in the first half of 2020.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Bombardiers price has sunk to roughly half its previous 25-year low in February 2016, raising questions about whether it will remain listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

TSX rules state that it may delist a company if "it appears that the public distribution, price, or trading activity of the securities has been so reduced as to make further dealings in the securities on TSX unwarranted."

Asked about Bombardier's status, spokeswoman Catherine Kee said in an email that "delistings are a result of a long-term process and careful consideration, they are not determined quickly."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020.

 with files from Julien Arsenault

Companies in this story: (TSX:BBD.B)
I was going to work for several months and then take off later in the race. It just didnt end up happening that way, she said. Its hard to keep a job or find a job when youre running against a Democratic incumbent.

She is doing her best to keep her campaign going while she recovers from pneumonia, staying present on social media until she feels healthy enough to become more active.

We structured our campaign to where it continues to roll even when Im sick, Ms. Bush said. We will be able to make it day by day. But once Im back, Im back.

Ms. Lopez, who was once homeless herself, left her job at a nonprofit group that builds housing for the homeless in order to run.

She mulled the decision for months, and the prospect of losing her health insurance and her income was one reason it took so long to make up her mind. She had some savings, enabling her to take the leap, but she said that money would run out soon.

Right now, she said, her focus is on helping people in her Bronx district, where many people live in poverty and which has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus. As her entire campaign operation moved online, she began using her network of volunteers not only to phone and text bank but also to try to get resources and supplies to those who needed them.

Shes currently staying isolated, since she knows her health is directly related to the well-being of her campaign.
Instagram influencers are facing a bitter backlash after using face masks as bikinis, known as 'quarankinis', as part of a shocking new trend that is sweeping social media amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Many people have been stocking up on face masks to keep germs at bay as millions of people across the world are now self-isolating due to coronavirus - with many medical workers around the globe left without essential protective equipment as a result.

However, while so many healthcare workers beg others to leave medical masks for those who really need them most, a group of 'covidiot' influencers have been carelessly turning them into a 'must-have' selfie accessory which they then proudly flaunt for their followers.

Outrage: Influencers have sparked fury online after taking part in a shocking trend that sees them turning much-needed medical masks into bikinis

Blasted: Instagram stars like Yulia Ushakova, from Russia, have come under furious fire for the 'quarankini' posts, with many commenters labeling their wasteful behavior as 'shameful'

Several influencers have posted pictures of themselves using face masks as bikinis, a trend that has been dubbed the 'quarankini'.

The bizarre online trend comes after the World Health Organization asked healthy people not to wear face masks because there is little evidence they help and they would be better used by healthcare workers and patients who test positive for COVID-19.

However, the agency is said to be reconsidering that advice, according to a former infectious disease director at the organization.

On Wednesday, LA's mayor told all four million of the city's residents that they must wear masks at all times to slow the spread of the coronavirus, despite contrary advice from their governor.

But whether or not people choose to wear the medical masks - which are in very short supply around the world - as a method of slowing the spread of COVID-19, there is no question that turning the much-needed medical equipment into a bikini is senseless.

That hasn't stopped the trend from taking off online however, with several online stars showing off their take on the 'quarankini' - infuriating Instagram users in the process.

Russian influencer Yulia Ushakova shared an image of herself wearing two masks with filters as a bikini top, while she had fashioned a more traditional string mask - those so often used by doctors - into a skimpy bottom.

And while the picture racked up more than 10,000 likes, it was also met with horror from some who voiced their upset at the wasteful use of such precious medical equipment.

'There arent enough masks in the country, but here it is...' one person commented.

Another added: 'Yulia. This is blasphemy! Its better to give masks to your grandmothers.'

Remorse? Australian influencer Jade Marie shared this since-deleted image on her Instagram, prompting one person to comment, ''A waste to use four masks to one person'

Wasteful: Yana Koshinka, from Russia, used another sought-after product, toilet paper, to make herself an outfit, which she posted while joking about self-isolation

'[Is your] father proud of such photos?' one person chimed in.

'There is a global lack of masks,' a commenter pointed out, adding: 'This is the worst joke I have seen during these horrible days.'

Many people noted that the masks that Yulia was wearing represent the difference between life and death for so many healthcare workers, with one saying: 'In a moment when those masks can save a life, this is not the best kind of joke you can do.'

Another commenter agreed, writing: 'The nursing team does not have masks and people like you take it as a joke, what a shame... a little respect please..'

Model Yana Koshinka from Russia, whose username is @yana_koshkina_official, is another one of the many online stars to post a photo of herself using face masks to cover her intimate areas.

She even posted a snap of her covering up in toilet paper - another essential item that has been in short supply thanks to hoarders - while walking down the stairs.

'Found a little toilet paper in the store,' she captioned the image in Russian. 'Ready for self-isolation.'

Meanwhile, Instagram model Katja, whose username is @katjakrasavice, uploaded a selfie of herself in a face mask bikini, having tied two of them together to make a bikini top.

She then used another to cover her private parts, transforming the mask into a string bikini.

Jade Marie, a model from Melbourne, Australia, who is known as @jadee__marie online, pictured herself in a black string-tied face mask bikini on her Instagram page - which since appears to have been deleted, perhaps as a result of the backlash.

'A waste to use four masks to one person,' one commenter wrote on the photo before it was taken down.
Ukraine's Embassy in the United States has asked Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to provide medical ventilators to Ukraine.

The embassy wrote this on its Twitter account.

"Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe with a population of nearly 40 mln citizens. The pandemic situation in Ukraine is approaching its peak, April is going to be the hardest. People in hospitals need ventilators. We are ready to cooperate!" the tweet reads.

Dear Elon,

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe with population nearly 40 mln citizens. The pandemic situation in Ukraine is approaching its peak, April is going to be the hardest. People in hospitals need ventilators. We are ready to cooperate! Dyakuyemo!  UKR Embassy in USA (@UKRintheUSA) April 1, 2020

Earlier, former Ukrainian Health Minister Ulana Suprun asked Musk to hand over ventilators to Ukraine.

Musk earlier proposed delivering ventilators to hospitals worldwide to treat COVID-19 patients.

"We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions," he tweeted, noting that the device and shipping cost are free.

op
Risk communication goes to the heart of EPAs mission of protecting public health and the environment, Wheeler told EPA employees in a July 2018 speech. We must be able to speak with one voice and clearly explain to the American people the relevant environmental and health risks that they face, that their families face and that their children face.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Export of defense industry products from Turkey to world markets dropped 21.5 percent from January through March 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $482.6 million, Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend.

Over the reporting period, Turkeys export of defense products to world markets amounted to 1.1 percent of countrys total export.

Turkeys export of defense products to world markets amounted to $141.8 million in March 2020, which is 49.8 percent less compared to March 2019. Meanwhile, Turkeys export of defense products to world markets amounted to 1.1 percent of countrys total export.

Turkeys foreign trade turnover in February 2020 exceeded $32.2 billion.

In February 2020, export from Turkey increased by 2.3 percent compared to February 2019, exceeding $14.6 billion.

Turkey's import increased by 9.8 percent in February 2020 compared to the same month of 2019 and exceeded $17.6 billion.

From January through February 2020, Turkeys trade turnover exceeded $66.1 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
The sun was rising over the River Severn as I crossed the bridge from Wales into England.

I was driving home to a party for my 60th birthday. I had not slept the night before. I had been at the bedside of my father as he lay dying.

Death finally came, as so often, in the darkest hour. You may think it callous beyond belief that I did not cancel the party. But I was not in mourning.

Death was what my father had wanted for a long time  probably since my mother had died suddenly some years earlier. He'd taken to drinking a bottle of whisky a day and then developed vascular dementia.

Winifred and George Humphrys, parents of John, with their grandchildren

Eventually, he collapsed and was rushed into hospital. The consultant told me and my siblings he would recover but would never again be the man he once was. His brain was severely damaged.

He invited us to consider the possibility that we should allow nature to take its course. My two brothers and I nodded silently. My sister  a wonderful, saintly woman who had cared for him with uncritical love even after his illness had turned him into her tormentor  would not hear of it.

'You must do everything to keep him alive,' she told the consultant. And they did. The next year or so was hellish. No nursing home could cope with his unpredictable behaviour and occasional violence and he ended up in a psychiatric hospital.

I remember walking down his corridor and hearing him shout: 'Help me! Help me!' I have no doubt he meant: 'Help me to die.' Eventually, they found the right drugs for him and we moved him into another hospital for the elderly mentally infirm.

His physical health worsened. After one particularly serious infection, I asked his consultant what treatment he would suggest. 'None,' he told me. 'He has turned his face to the wall.' And so my father was allowed to die.

Allowed.

What a strange word in this context.

We might 'allow' a child to have another biscuit. We might not. We might force a child to undergo essential medical treatment. We make important decisions for them.

Not so with adults  always assuming they are mentally competent. We have no right to refuse loved ones the right to die if there is clear evidence that that is what they want to do.

John Humphrys tells how his seriously ill father begged him to be allowed to die after falling ill

As I write, the BBC is reporting that some care home managers in Brighton and Hove have been 'advised' by NHS bosses that their residents might not be admitted to hospital if they catch Covid-19.

It was also suggested hospital treatment might not be desirable because it could increase pain and suffering. The reaction has been predictably angry. A few days ago this newspaper reported that a doctor in Lancashire, Andy Knox, is facing calls to be sacked from his job as director of population health for Morecambe Bay because of a video he posted.

He was accused by local rabble-rousers of 'coercing' people into choosing to die. What he had actually done was tell people at high risk from coronavirus that GPs want to know how they wish to be treated if they get the virus.

Did they, for instance, want to stay at home 'even if it means you won't get better'. He went on: 'We are not trying to coerce you into any decision... we just want to have a really honest, upfront conversation with you... about what your wishes are about what will and will not happen to your own body.'

Sacked? He should be promoted for his compassion. The British Medical Association (BMA) wants an urgent public debate about the treatment of those most at risk or already with serious health problems, based not only on their needs but also on the capacity of the NHS to deal with them.

It wants many questions to be asked. How ill are they? How frail? How old? Let's hope this debate goes much wider and focuses attention on one of the great unresolved ethical dilemmas of our time: physician-assisted dying.

I wrote a book about it with my then GP Dr Sarah Jarvis more than ten years ago. We expected to get plenty of stick and we did. We argued that the law should be changed to allow doctors to help patients to die if they were terminally ill and had made it clear that they did not want to be kept alive come what may.

Our opponents claimed  and some still do  that this is a form of euthanasia and gives relatives the power to get rid of an unwanted burden, perhaps so they may get their grubby hands on the dying person's savings.

If that were true, it would, indeed, be a terrible stain on any society that prides itself on its fundamental humanity. But it is not. Today, medically assisted dying in one form or another has become legal in nine states in America and in a small number of European countries.

There have been a tiny handful of cases where it has been alleged that the law has been abused. But if that has, indeed, happened, it is because the legislation has been written with inadequate safeguards.

In this country there have been several attempts to get the law changed. The last was five years ago. MPs were asked to allow doctors to help someone to die if they were expected to live for no more than six months.

The Bill included all the legal safeguards you would expect. But MPs threw it out by a twothirds majority. I've no doubt some of those MPs were driven by their conscience or strong religious convictions.

Others were simply scared of the power that the Church still wields in this debate. Or maybe they fear public opinion. If they do, they are sadly out of touch with the national mood.

The latest poll, conducted by the National Centre for Social Research a year ago, shows that over 90 per cent think assisted dying should be legalised for those suffering from terminal illnesses.

Another survey found that almost as many people considered it acceptable for dementia sufferers to receive help to end their lives, provided they consented before losing their mental capacity. And doctors themselves, who have always been opposed, are having second thoughts too.

The BMA is in the process of surveying its 160,000 members. If they approve, MPs will surely take note. In one of his less famous novels, the great Victorian writer Anthony Trollope imagined a British crown colony in the middle of this century which had been given independence.

It was run by a senate of young men desperate to build a modern state. It approved a proposal to terminate citizens' lives at a fixed age to spare them undignified suffering and to help cut down on the state's expenditure on unproductive people. The age was fixed at 67.

Grotesque, of course  except for that single word 'undignified'. I once knew a woman who lived in Athens  a bright woman whose beautiful daughter married my oldest child.

She's still alive but she is not the woman I knew. Sixteen years ago she was struck down by dementia. For the last seven years she has been bedridden, unable to speak or move. Can she even think? No one knows.

A few months ago she was attacked by a life-threatening infection and hauled off to hospital. Her life was saved. Why? Forgive me if this column adds to your gloom in the middle of our great crisis.

It should do the opposite. The great philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote that two things filled his mind with awe: '... the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.'

What I am arguing for is a different approach to life and death, one which allows us to end our suffering with all the help we might need and accept death with dignity. There is no greater moral law.

It puts the starry heavens within our reach.
Gov. Kay Ivey issued a stay-at-home order for Alabama, effective Saturday, April 4 at 5 p.m. The move, which follows similar ones by other states, comes as the number of coronavirus cases in Alabama continue to rise. As of Friday afternoon, Alabama has 1,432 COVID-19 cases and 34 reported deaths.

Folks, April stands to be very tough, and potentially very deadly, the governor said during a Friday afternoon press conference. You need to understand we are past urging people to stay at home. It is now the law.

Alabama had already banned non-business gatherings of more than 10 people or gatherings of any size where a 6-foot distance between people could not be maintained.

One addition to previous Iveys previous orders: Starting Saturday, all essential retailers are limited to no more than 50 percent of normal occupancy. Businesses can continue to operate through pickup, delivery or any other methods that do not involve a customer entering their business. Also, the order stipulates that an "employee of the essential retailer may not knowingly allow customers or patrons to congregate within six feet of one another.

Under Iveys order, every person in the state is ordered to stay at their home except to perform essential activities.

The order will remain in place until April 30 at 5 p.m.

You can read the entire order here:

My fellow Alabamians, effective at 5 p.m. TOMORROW, I am mandating a #StayAtHome order for our entire state. Read the order here: https://t.co/V7o5ck5HGd. #alpolitics #TogetherAL  Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) April 3, 2020

People may leave their homes to:

Obtain necessary supplies  This covers supplies needed for your family or pet, or a loved one or friend who is unable to leave their home.

Food and other consumer goods needed to maintain safety, sanitation and routine operation of a home.

Supplies needed to work from home

Pharmaceutical prescriptions or medical supplies

Fuel and vehicle supplies

Materials for distance learning and other education-related purposes

Any other supplies necessary to maintain a persons or pets daily routine or to maintain the safety, sanitation and routine operation of a home or residence.

Obtain or provide necessary services: Again, includes a persons family, pets or a loved one or friend who is unable to leave their home. It includes:

Dental, medical or surgical procedures, as stipulated by previous order for emergency procedures or part of ongoing care

Government-funded services or benefits

Automobile repairs

Services for people with disabilities or substance-use disorders

Services related to public or private distance learning or education.

Attend religious services. This also covers weddings and funerals, as long as the event involves few than 10 people who can maintain a 6-foot distance from each other.

Drive in worship services are allowed as long as people stay in their vehicles and only people who live together are allowed in the same car. Participants can not come within 6 feet of participants in other vehicles.

Youre also allowed out to take care of a family member, friend or pet in another household, to donate blood or to transport family members, friends or pets.

Go to work

You can leave to perform essential businesses and services.

This includes:

Managing inventory, processing payroll and employee benefits

Work-related activities that allows people to work or ship remotely through drive-by, curbside or door to door delivery.

Work related activities that do not require regular interaction within 6 feet of another person.

You may also leave to:

Engage in an outdoor activities, as long as they involve fewer than 10 people that can maintain a 6 foot distance from others.

To transport a child as required by a custody agreement.

To seek shelter or travel as required by law.

Essential services/personnel include:

Government operations, including first responders, 911 employees, federal state and local employees

Health care providers

Utilities workers and other infrastructure operation employees. This also covers Uber and Lyft drivers.

Manufacturing facilities.

Agriculture and farm operations

Essential retailers. These are those outlined earlier during Gov. Iveys order closing all non-essential businesses. Grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware and home improvement stores, gas stations and gun stores will all remain open. Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food or goods directly to residences are allowed to operate.

Restaurants and bars are allowed to remain open for curbside or to go orders.

Essential personal services such as trash collection, home repair, auto sales, animal shelters, and public transportation are open.

Media operations are considered essential, as are education operations, financial services, professional services such as accounting and banking, non-profits, construction and military and defense institutions.

The stay-at-home order echoes the essential vs. non-essential list previously released by Ivey. That order had already closed non essential businesses.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime minister Imran Khan on Friday said that no one was sure how long the COVID-19 pandemic would last as he announced a massive package to the construction sector to restart economy, as the number of coronavirus patients rose to nearly 2,500 in the country.

"We have decided that those investing in the construction sector during this year will not be asked about their source of income, he said while addressing the media in Islamabad.

He also announced a fixed tax regime on the basis of constructed area and offered 90 per cent tax reduction for investment in his 'Naya Pakistan Housing' project, which aimed to build houses for poor.

Khan announced to withdraw withholding tax on several sectors of construction, except cement and steel.

He also waived capital gain tax on sale of housing units by people.

He said his government will give construction sector the status of industry.

"We will open construction sector from April 14 and we will also see how we can open other industries, he said.

Khan also said Rs 12,000 per month were being given to support the most vulnerable families. He said 12 million families would get the support in the initial phase.

He also said that 400,000 volunteers have so far registered to join the Corona Relief Tiger Force to identify poor and help to convey food to them.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

Meanwhile, Pakistan's coronavirus cases on Friday jumped to 2,458 as authorities struggled to stop congregational prayers in mosques.

So far 37 people have died due to the pandemic while 126 recovered.

Punjab province registered 928 coronavirus cases, followed by Sindh 783, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 311, Balochistan 169, Gilgit-Baltistan 190, Islamabad 68 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 9 cases.

The number of COVID-19 cases were increasing despite more than one week of partial lockdown to minimize the movement of the people.

Meanwhile, several mosques remained opened on Friday across Pakistan and people offered prayers there despite a government ban on big congregational gatherings in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Sindh government had announced curfew like restriction from 12 noon to 3pm to stop people from visiting mosques, while the Punjab government had issued fatwa for people to offer prayer in their homes.

Similar instructions were issued by other provinces and the federal government.

The mosques made announcement urging people to pray at home, but some people defied the instruction and visited mosques, according to reports.

Some clerics also encouraged people to attend prayers in mosques.

"The government and police are making statements to create a sense of fear. Nothing will happen. Karachi is a city of 20 million, the government cannot implement its decision in every nook and cranny, the prayer leader of the Jamia Mosque Quba told The Express Tribune.

Reports from different areas of Karachi suggested that the majority of mosques followed government orders, however, some continued to hold regular prayers.

In other towns and cities of the province, including Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions, the doors of most of the mosques were locked with only four to five people, including the prayer leader, allowed to pray.

But in rural areas, especially in villages, the ban could not be implemented.

We have offered Friday prayers in our Jamia mosque with the same crowd," said Abdul Hanan, who lives in a village in the Kamber Shahdadkot district. The situation in Balochistan was not much different. A big crowd came to attend Friday prayers in Qandhari mosque in the provincial capital Quetta.

In Punjab, announcements were made from mosques urging the people to pray at homes.

In cities, the orders were mostly followed but the situation in the rural areas was different as people came out in big numbers to offer prayers.

Officials said that it was not easy to stop people from visiting mosques unless they willingly cooperate.

Dar ul Iftah Jamia Naeemia, an Islamic university in Lahore, issued a fatwa, saying that people who are stopped by the government from coming to mosques were not obliged to perform the prayers in congregation.

There were reports of confrontation between police and people on the issue of going to mosques in some parts of Karachi.

Last week, the Grand Imam Shaikh of Egypt's Jamia Al Azhar, an authority on Islamic injunctions, and the Supreme Council in Egypt, issued a fatwa on the request of Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, empowering the head of the state to suspend Friday prayers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Alvi had asked clerics in Pakistan to act as per the principles of Islam from Quran and Sunnah, and said it purely Islamic to cancel Friday prayers over coronavirus concerns, The News reported.

In several Arab countries, the 'azaan' (call for prayer) has been amended and now it urges people to pray in their homes.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is trying to treat the COVID-19 patients through plasma of recovered patients, and the first case in Pakistan, who recovered last month, donated plasma in Karachi.

Earlier, Tahir Shamsi, a renowned hematologist of National Institute of Blood Diseases, said the technique could be used to treat patients and China also used it effectively.

Meanwhile, Radio Pakistan reported that the World Bank has approved USD 160 billion emergency aid, including USD 200 million to Pakistan, over 15 months to help countries deal with the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-04 00:01:01|Editor: huaxia

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Palestinian Atef Shkokany works on his lap-top computer inside his house in the West Bank city of Ramallah, April 4, 2020. A Palestinian young man has succeeded in developing a computerized program for diagnosing cases infected with the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

by Sanaa Kamal

RAMALLAH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian young man has succeeded in developing a computerized program for diagnosing cases infected with the novel coronavirus.

The 24-year-old Atef Shkokany, who comes from the West Bank city of Ramallah, told Xinhua that the computer program could show the test result through regular X-ray and CT images in only a few seconds.

Shkokany said that he has succeeded in developing it through many experiments and the accuracy rate at the beginning of the experiment was 94 percent.

"I want to help the Palestinian authorities to discover the infected cases early," said Shkokany, adding that Palestine lacks the necessary equipment for examination.

Currently, the young man is working to increase the number of scans in the databases of cases infected with the virus. "After that, we can use the program for all cases, either infected or non-infected with the virus," he added.

Palestine recorded so far 161 coronavirus cases. The Palestinian Health Ministry complained about the lack of medical supplies as well as the equipment, calling on the donor countries to help it as soon as possible.

Osama Al-Najjar, director of the assistant professions in the Ministry of Health, told Xinhua that the program showed high accuracy in the test results.

Shkokany said he is happy to get the final approval from the Ministry of Health to use his program in some relevant authorities.

"I am going to launch a website for all specialists around the world to use my new computerized program," added Shkokany.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Taipei, Taiwan/Beijing, China  Fri, April 3, 2020 15:50 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8a620 2 World Taiwan,US-China,WHO,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,role Free

Taiwan and the United States this week discussed how to get "closer coordination" between the island and the World Health Organization (WHO) during the coronavirus outbreak, drawing a rebuke from China for "political manipulation" of the epidemic.

Taiwan's is excluded from the WHO due to diplomatic pressure from China, which considers it merely a wayward province with no right to the trappings of state.

Its omission has become a major source of anger for the Taiwan, which says it has been unable to get first hand information from the WHO, putting lives on the island in danger for the sake of politics. Both the WHO and China say Taiwan has been given the help it needs.

The US State Department said on Thursday senior officials from the United States and Taiwan on Tuesday held a "virtual forum on expanding Taiwan's participation on the global stage", with particular focus on the WHO and how to share Taiwan's successful model of fighting the coronavirus.

"Participants also discussed ongoing efforts to reinstate Taiwan's observer status at the World Health Assembly, as well as other avenues for closer coordination between Taiwan and the World Health Organization," it said.

The World Health Assembly is the WHO's decision-making body.

Taiwan attended it as an observer from 2009-2016 when Taipei-Beijing relations warmed, but China blocked further participation after the election of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who China views as a separatist, charges she denies.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry expressed thanks to the United States on Friday for its "continued taking of concrete actions to support Taiwan's participation in the WHO and other international organizations".

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the United States and Taiwan were both well aware that members of the WHO must be sovereign states, and accused Taiwan of seeking political capital from the outbreak.

"We hope they will not attempt to use this epidemic to engage in political manipulation," she told a daily news briefing.

US President Donald Trump signed a new law last month requiring increased support for Taiwan's international role. China threatened unspecified retaliation in response.

Like most countries the United States has only unofficial ties with the island, but is its strongest backer on the world stage.

Taiwan has been far more successful than many of its neighbors keeping the virus in check thanks to early and stringent steps to control its spread. It has reported 348 cases and five deaths to date.

In its latest measure, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said on Friday people who don't wear face masks on public transport would face fines of up to T$15,000
Today, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that all schools, universities and workplaces will be closed for a month-long period until May 4.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some countries have gained recognition for their excellent handling of the difficult situation. Among them has been Singapore, a small nation that famously did not announce a lockdown - until today.

Today, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that all schools, universities and workplaces will be closed for a month-long period until May 4. Only essential businesses, like grocery stores and banks, will be permitted to function. This move comes after an uptick in the number of confirmed cases.

Its also common knowledge that Singapore imports all goods, including essentials. To preemptively address this concern, PM Lee added that the nation has enough to survive this period and even longer.

As of the afternoon of April 3, the country that is half the size of New Delhi had 1,114 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. Theyve had a total of 5 deaths - the first of which only occurred on March 21, when they already had over 385 confirmed patients. This may, in part, be due to the planning that occurred post the SARS outbreak in 2002-03, like the building of isolation hospitals and negative pressure rooms. Testing was also widely available and the social campaign to spread awareness about COVID-19 was extraordinary.

The measure before today included strict border controls, contact tracing, quarantine, home isolation and social distancing. Citizens were also provided with an app that could make contact tracing much easier for officials after one was diagnosed with COVID-19. The cooperation of citizens was what made these measures successful though - for a country that is famous for its food courts, it wasnt odd to see friends sitting at separate tables while having dinner. Under the new lockdown directives, food establishments will still remain open.

The government had also made sure that all events until June 30 that included large gatherings were suspended. The government also ensured that at-risk populations like the elderly knew of the infection and the precautions they needed to take.

For more information, read our article on COVID 19 Prevention Tips for Older People and Those Living with Chronic Illnesses.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths accelerated past 50,000 on Friday as the United States, Spain and Britain grappled with their highest tolls yet and the world economy took a massive hit.

The human scale of the pandemic has never been more stark -- experts warning that more than one million cases of COVID-19 disease confirmed globally is probably only a small proportion of total infections as testing is still not widely available.

The United States accounts for around a quarter of confirmed cases but Europe is far from being out of danger -- Spain reported more than 900 deaths in 24 hours on Friday, for the second day running.

The virus has now killed more 10,000 people across Spain, but not 29-year-old Javier Lara, who has just returned home after being treated in an overburdened intensive care unit.

"I was panicking that my daughter would get infected. When I started showing symptoms, I said I wouldn't hold her or go near her, or change her nappies," he told AFP, describing his fear for his eight-week-old after facing death at the "worst moment in his life".

While Italy still leads the world in fatalities, France, Belgium and Britain have also been hard hit. The UK government is rushing to build field hospitals after a one-day toll of 569.

The battle waged by public health experts across the world ebbed and flowed on Friday, with German experts saying the rate of new infections is slowing thanks to lockdown measures, but Asian city-state Singapore confirming it would close schools and workplaces to fend off a possible upsurge in cases. - China's 14 'martyrs' - ======================== The world economy has been pummelled by the virus and associated lockdowns, with more than half the population of the planet under some kind of stay-at-home order. Some 10 million people in the United States lost their jobs in the last two weeks of March, and economists warn it will get worse. "No words for this," said Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics. "Total layoffs between the March and April payroll surveys look destined to reach perhaps 16 to 20 million, consistent with the unemployment rate leaping to 13 to 16 percent. In one month." Things were no better in Europe, where analysts from IHS Markit warned that business activity in the 19-nation eurozone had suffered its worst crunch ever recorded, and the central bank of eurozone member Ireland saying its output could be slashed by 8.3 percent this year. Financial ratings agency Fitch predicted both the US and eurozone economies would shrink this quarter by up to 30 percent and the Asian Development Bank warned on Friday the global economy could take a $4.1 trillion hit -- equivalent to five percent of worldwide output. World leaders have announced huge financial aid packages to deal with the crisis and the World Bank has approved a plan to roll out $160 billion over 15 months. The outbreak began last year in China, which announced a day of national mourning on Saturday for those who died fighting against the disease. Fourteen deceased frontline workers will be celebrated as "martyrs" of the epidemic. In India, where more than a billion people are under lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to hold candles and mobile phones aloft for nine minutes on Sunday to dispel the "darkness and uncertainty" of the pandemic. Australia took the extreme step of declaring it would not allow the 15,000-strong crews of multiple virus-stricken cruise ships to disembark and ordering them out out of its waters -- dealing the world's teetering tourism industry another blow.

Even in the world's richest country, health authorities are under pressure. New Yorkers like COVID-19 survivor Diana Berrent are donating blood plasma in the hope their hard-won antibodies can be used to help treat future victims.

"We can be superheroes," the 45-year-old photographer told AFP. "These are unprecedented, frightening times where everything is beyond our control -- except we as survivors can help."



The virus has chiefly killed the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, but recent cases of deaths among teenagers and of a six-week-old baby have highlighted dangers for people of all ages.

And in Spain, mothers like 34-year-old Vanesa Muro who gave birth while suffering from COVID-19 are warned not to touch their newborn without wearing gloves and masks.

"It's hard," she told AFP at her home in Madrid. "He grabs your finger, the poor little thing and holds on to the plastic, not on to you. But at least that's another day over, you have to think of it like that otherwise you get depressed." The personal strains of the virus have also not spared world leaders.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel left her Berlin home for the first time in almost two weeks on Friday after she was quarantined following contact with an infected doctor, but British premier Boris Johnson was still working in isolation after testing positive.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Anne Kantor, the sister of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has reaped a scorching $12.06 million from the sale of the Commonwealth Bank branch in Camberwell Junction.

The Commonwealth Bank branch in Camberwell Junction.

Fitzroys agents Chris James and David Bourke had expected around $8 million for the 844 square metre bank.

The double-storey building at 735-737 Burke Road had been held by the Kantor family since 1997. Its April auction was pulled last week for a shorter expressions of interest campaign.

Mr James said the deal reflected a sharp 3.5 per cent yield.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3) - A total of 248 Filipino seafarers evacuated from a virus-hit cruise ship in Miami, Florida are now in the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

The DFA said the plane carrying crew members of MSC Divina landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 6 a.m. The flight was chartered by the cruise ships manning agency, MSC Cruises.

The department assured that mandatory medical procedures were conducted on the repatriates before they were brought to a quarantine facility.

It added that more evacuation flights are scheduled on Friday.

On Thursday, the DFA said over 1,000 Filipino seafarers from Spain and Miami, Florida had been flown home despite flight cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, three chartered flights carrying Filipino crew members from the U.S. and Brazil were the first to arrive this week.

DFA Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. earlier said some 4,000 Filipino crew members are expected to be repatriated in the next three weeks.

Under the countrys current travel restrictions, Filipinos stranded abroad shall be allowed to go home but subject to quarantine procedures.
Capt. Erik Kornmeyer, a spokesman for the county fire department, said in a statement that they were searching for two people near Shadyside, Md., after a concerned person called authorities around 4:30 p.m. Thursday to say he saw two people in a small canoe or kayak drifting in the bay while at the Columbia Beach pier. Crews on boats and helicopters, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, helped in the search. The search went on until dark and resumed Friday.
Ryanair is set to show a 300m hit from fuel costs in its latest annual results as the effects of the Covid-19 crisis begin to materialise on its balance sheet.

The airline said it will still post a profit for the 12 months to the end of March, but that it will be at the lower end of a narrower guidance of 950m-1bn.

Ryanair is currently running fewer than 20 daily flights across its European route network; 99% fewer than its normal pre-Covid-19 schedule of more than 2,500 flights per day.

It said its planes will remain largely grounded during April and May at least.

As a result, it said its fuel hedging  the practice of buying fuel at an agreed price to guard against future oil price volatility  for its recently-started current financial year will be ineffective and will equate to an estimated 300m cost hit.

The airline said it will record that as an exceptional charge item in its annual results for the 12 months to the end of March, which will be published in May.

Ryanair still has one of the strongest balance sheets in the airline industry, and ended its year with cash equivalents of 3.8bn and 77% of its fleet debt-free.

It has done a lot to cut operating costs to face down the current crisis  including grounding its fleet, cutting executive and staff pay, deferring spend, suspending its share buyback programme, and freezing recruitment.

However, that cash position is down from 4bn at the time of its last update on March 16.

Goodbody aviation analyst Mark Simpson said that suggests Ryanair has burned through 100m a week dealing with the crisis since mid-March.

We think that this cash-burn could move to around 135m a month if the lockdown continued into the next quarter, Mr Simpson said.

He said Ryanair is likely to announce further exceptional charges when it reports results for the first quarter of its new financial year, which began at the start of April.

Ryanair also said the early effects of the coronavirus outbreak meant it missed its full-year passenger growth targets.

In March, the first month of serious virus defence measures, Ryanairs group passenger levels  when its Austrian subsidiary Lauda is included  plummeted 48% year-on-year to 5.7m people.

That slowed full-year passenger growth to just 4%; meaning Ryanair carried 149m people in its latest financial year instead of a targeted 154m, which the airline said it was on track to achieve even as late as early March.

Currently, half the worlds aeroplanes are in storage, suggesting the aviation industry may take years to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

It is likely that when we get across to the other side of the pandemic, things wont return to the vibrant market conditions we had at the start of the year, said Olivier Ponti, vice president at data firm ForwardKeys.

Its also possible that a number of airlines will have gone bust, and uneconomic discounts will be necessary to attract demand back, Mr Ponti said.

Data firm OAG said that several years of industry growth had been lost, and that it could take until 2022 or 2023 before the volume of international fliers returns to the levels that had originally been expected for 2020.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel makes a press statement on the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 at the Chancellery, in Berlin on March 22, 2020.

Almost half a million companies in Germany have sent their staff on short-term working schemes  known as "Kurzarbeit"  to trim their payroll costs with immediate effect.

Never before, not even in the financial crisis of 2008, has the number of these applications jumped so rapidly.

Short-term working worked well as a tool to prevent massive layoffs during the last crisis. It sends people home or slashes their hours substantially, but keeps them officially employed with the state funding around two-thirds of their salary.

Essentially, workers get as much as two-thirds of their pay even if they don't work. And the company is not burdened by staff costs in times of severe economic stress.

"Kurzarbeit is a great tool both for employees and employers as it gives the former income security and the latter more security for planning the next months when the economy really contracts," Stefan Schneider, chief German economist with Deutsche Bank, said in a phone interview.

It is a proven tool from the last crisis. When German economic output contracted by 5% in 2009, an average of 1.1 million workers were affected over the year, costing Berlin around 10 billion euros ($10.9 billion). But by the end of that year, the unemployment rate stood at 7.6%  lower than it was in 2008.
Addressing the nation in a video message on the ninth day of the lockdown today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the discipline and restraint shown by the people was unprecedented. The government, administration and the public have done their best to deal with this problem, he said.

The way you greeted and appreciated the coronavirus fighters on March 22 was exemplary; everyone everywhere is trying to emulate you. You have shown to the world that an entire country can unite and fight against a crisis like this. Now that everyone is locked in at home, many would be feeling ...
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday asked Primary & Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar to be the governments spokesperson on the COVID-19 crisis management effort, a move that is seen as keeping too many cooks from spoiling the broth.

At a high-level meeting to review measures on COVID-19 containment, Yediyurappa is said to have taken exception to his Cabinet colleagues making multiple, and often contradictory statements, leading to confusion.

Follow live updates on coronavirus

The CM has directed Suresh Kumar to be the only one to brief the media on COVID-19 going forward, a source from the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) confirmed. Accordingly, Kumar will brief the media on Friday evening.

Kumar, who represents Rajajinagar in Bengaluru, was the one who briefed the press on Cabinet decisions for the most part when the BJP was in power earlier (2008-13).

Yediyurappa was forced to appoint Kumar as the governments spokesman because lack of coordination had become evident in disbursing information related to COVID-19.

Initially, it was apparent that Health & Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar had issues with coordination - both used to brief the press, dishing out contradictory numbers. The CM had to intervene by making Sudhakar responsible for COVID-19 affairs in Bengaluru, while Sriramulu would look at the rest of Karnataka.

The latest example of ministers being out of sync is the Tablighi Jamaat convention - Sriramulus numbers would be different from Sudhakars, with Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai citing fresh figures altogether.

The CM is also said to have asked ministers to refrain from appearing on news channels for panel discussions on COVID-19.

In other decisions, the CM asked officials to place orders for 2 lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) in addition to 1 lakh PPEs already ordered. It was also decided that 15 lakh construction labourers will get Rs 2,000, as against Rs 1,000 approved earlier.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to start moving coronavirus patients with mild or no symptoms out of hospitals and into hotel rooms as early as next week. It aims at vacating hospital beds for a possible surge of more serious cases.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko disclosed the plan at a news conference on Friday.

She said the Metropolitan Government will rent an entire hotel building for that purpose.

As of Thursday, Tokyo had 628 patients in hospitals. Most of them had mild or no symptoms.

Officials say they have so far secured 750 beds for patients with infectious diseases, and that they need to be prepared for a rapid rise in the number of infections.

Patients who are moved into hotel rooms are to be monitored by doctors and nurses. Officials plan to move patients back into hospital if their symptoms worsen.

On Friday, Tokyo reported 89 more cases of coronavirus infection, bringing the city's total to 773.
A new gift to UC Health from a private foundation will help expand the capacity and speed of testing for COVID-19 across the region's academic healthcare system.

Through the University of Cincinnati Foundation, the anonymous donor has funded the purchase of two pieces of equipment for the UC Health Precision Medicine Laboratory, which can be put to immediate use in accelerating in-house testing for the novel coronavirus responsible for the global pandemic.

Two machines and their associated peripherals at a value of $170,000, as well a quantity of test kits for an additional $30,000, have been purchased and are en route to arrive at UC Medical Center within the next two weeks.

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and timing of this donation. These donorsas well as many others who have stepped up to show their support across the community in recent weeksare helping us to collectively work through this public health event as a region, said UC Health President and CEO Richard P. Lofgren, MD. We are working to grow our capacity to test for COVID-19 within our laboratories, and as testing supplies and capacity increase, we intend to be able to provide access to testing to our larger community.

Dani Zander, MD, chief of pathology and laboratory medicine for UC Health and MacKenzie Chair and Professor of Pathology at the UC College of Medicine, says the gift allowed for the purchase of the GenMark ePlex(R) and the KingFisher(TM) extraction instruments and associated test kits for the UC Health Lab, which recently began testing for COVID-19. The ePlex is made by GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., Carlsbad, California, while the KingFisher is made by ThermoFisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts.

With the purchase and arrival of these machines, paired with the recent capabilities of our in-house instruments, we should be able to more than quadruple the number of COVID-19 tests that we can process in one day, said Dr. Zander, noting that the typical turnaround time for a test result is one to three days.



Also, with the GenMark, we will have the ability to run a rapid test for COVID-19, that will take about 90 minutes for a positive or negative result. This helps doctors promptly make informed decisions about care for those patients who are already hospitalized or planning to have procedures done and helps conserve personal protective equipment by allowing us to use these resources when people truly need it.

Aside from testing for COVID-19, this equipment can be used for other testing purposes in the future, such as performing cancer genotyping that is important for determining cancer treatment.



"We truly appreciate the continued wonderful support from our community, said Andrew Filak Jr., MD, senior vice president for health affairs and Christian R. Holmes Professor and Dean of the College of Medicine. These technologies will help to improve care, protect both patients and the medical staff through expanded and speedier testing, and be valuable tools for our faculty and clinicians.

The testing will be conducted at the UC Health Precision Medicine Laboratory located at the UC Medical Center.
A social group which aims to raise funds for charity has been launched in Belfast.

Social Dist Co was founded by a group of people from across the city.

Already members have helped to raise cash for purchasing vital health service equipment.

The group plans community events which are accessible online, with the profits going to charity.

It started with a Saturday night quiz which has raised over 350 to provide 500 full visor masks for those working front line in the health service in Belfast.

One of the organisers said: "We came together on St Patrick's Day - not in a pub or at a parade. We were #stayathome. Instead, we all came together, apart, in a Zoom call.

"At the end of the call, we decided we should open this up to the world and so began the start of our Social Distancing Community (Social Dist Co)."

For more information visit www.Socialdist.co
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The sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor is a rare type of cancer derived from the stromal component of the ovary and testis. This tumor comprises granulosa, thecal cells, and fibrocytes. Sex cord-gonadal stromal tumors are mostly of seven types, namely, granulosa cell tumor, Sertoli cell tumor, thecoma, Leydig cell tumor, gynandroblastoma, Sex Cord Tumor with Annular Tubules (SCTAT), and Sertoli Leydig cell tumor. In humans, this type of tumor accounts for 8% of the ovarian cancers and around 5% of testicular cancers.





It is noted that the increasing cases of ovarian and testicular cancer, technological advancements, and increasing healthcare expenditure are the key factors driving the sex cord gonadal stromal tumor market





Various other factors such as the growing awareness about the cord-gonadal stromal tumor, unmet medical needs, enhancing regulatory framework, increasing government assistance, and rising funding and reimbursement are continuously contributing to the growth of the global sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market.

Owing to the increasing cases of ovarian and testicular cancer, technological advancements, increasing healthcare expenditure, growing awareness about sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor, unmet medical needs, enhancing regulatory framework, increasing government assistance, and rising funding and reimbursement, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market has evolved significantly.





However, huge capital investments with low-profit margins, strict FDA regulations, and poor healthcare system in low and middle-income countries are likely to hamper the growth of the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market over the forecast period.





It is estimated that the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period of 2017-2023.





Key Players





Some of the key players in the global sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market are Abbott, Abcam plc, Affymetrix, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Beckman, Dickinson and Company (BD), Bio SB Inc., BioCurex, BioModa, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Clarient, Inc., CooperSurgical Inc., Correlogic Systems, Inc., Danaher Corporation, Epigenomics AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Gen-Probe, Inc., Hologic, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Karl Storz GmbH & Co. Kg, LiNA Medical USA, Merck Millipore, PerkinElmer, Inc., Qiagen, Radient Pharmaceuticals, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Veridex LLC, and others.





Regional Analysis





The Americas dominates the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market owing to the increasing prevalence of ovarian cancer in this region and high healthcare expenditure. According to the American Cancer Society, around 22,240 women are likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and 14,070 women are likely to die from ovarian cancer, in 2018.





Europe holds the second position in the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market. The financial support provided by the government towards R&D and technological advancements are expected to drive the European sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market. The increasing healthcare expenditure is also boosting the European sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market.





According to the data suggested by Eurostat, it is observed that among the EU Member States, the highest value of healthcare expenditure was recorded in Germany in 2014, i.e., EUR 321 billion which is further followed by France with EUR 237 billion and United Kingdom with EUR 223 billion. In 2016, the R&D expenditure in the pharmaceutical industry was EUR 35000 million, suggested by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Association.





Asia Pacific is the fastest growing sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market owing to a huge patient pool and development in the pharmaceutical sector. Healthcare expenditure is found to be boosting in various regions of Asia Pacific. As per the data suggested by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare during the year 2015-2016, the total health expenditure was nearly USD 170.4 billion, i.e., 3.6% higher than the expenditure of 2014-2015.





The Middle East and Africa holds the lowest share of the global market due to slow development, lack of technical knowledge, and poor medical facilities.





Segmentation





The global sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is segmented on the basis of type, diagnosis, treatment, and end-user.





On the basis of tumor type, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is classified as granulosa cell tumor, Sertoli cell tumor, thecoma, Leydig cell tumor, Sertoli Leydig cell tumor, gynandroblastoma, and Sex Cord Tumor with Annular Tubules (SCTAT). The granulosa cell tumor is further classified as functioning tumors and non-functioning tumors.





On the basis of diagnosis, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is classified as microscopy immunohistochemistry, tumor marker, ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and others. The tumor marker segment is further classified as inhibin-alpha, calretinin, Melan-A, and others.





On the basis of treatment, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is classified as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and others. The surgery segment is further classified as salpingo-oophorectomy, abdominal hysterectomy, Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RPLND), and radical inguinal orchiectomy. The sub-segment of salpingo-oophorectomy includes unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.





On the basis of end-user, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, cancer research centers, research and academic institutes, and others.





https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sex-cord-gonadal-stromal-tumor-market-5912 Get full report @





Intended Audience





Medical Device Companies

Research and Development (R&D) Companies

Diagnostic Laboratories

Government Research Institutes

Academic Institutes and Universities





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New Delhi, April 3 : To meet the shortage of doctors in various hospitals, the Haryana government is considering to take services of AYUSH doctors. The state government will soon take a decision on this.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal said: "In view of COVID-19, the state government is considering taking the services of AYUSH doctors to provide uninterrupted quality health care services to the people. The doctors also being provided online training for the purpose".

The Chief Minister said this during the video conferencing meeting with the state MPs and, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly in wake of coronavirus epidemic. Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala was also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the video-conferencing with the Chief Ministers of various states, has also emphasized on taking services of AYUSH doctors to meet the shortage of doctors in view of the situation arised after COVID-19".

About 13,500 people are under surveillance in Haryana. Sample of 817 people exposed to positive coronavirus patients have been taken, of which 546 have been found to be negative. Currently, there are only 20 positive cases in the state. So far, 33 positive cases have been reported in Haryana and 13 of these patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovering.

The most coronavirus patients in Haryana came from Millennium City Gurugram. After tests, 10 persons were found to be corona positive. However, nine out of those 10 patients have recovered completely and have been recharged.

The Haryana government has set up 3,000 bed capacity COVID-19 hospitals at 14 locations in the state, where all necessary arrangements have been made to cure patients.
Direct selling major Amway India on Friday pledged Rs 1.61 crore to support the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The company said Rs 1 crore will be contributed towards the PM-CARES Fund for combating, containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak, while Rs 25 lakh will be for donation towards the Tamil Nadu CM's Public Relief Fund for relief measures in the state by way of setting up quarantine centres, free treatment to those infected with coronavirus, support to workers from several unorganised sectors, among others.

Amway India further said it is contributing Rs 36 lakh to drive wide range of initiatives to support the government's on-ground health and sanitation services, including distribution of hygiene kits like masks, gloves, sanitisers, hand wash to public health service providers benefitting 15,000 people in Gurgaon and Mumbai in partnership with United Way Delhi (UWD).

It is also supporting 'The Association of Surgeons of India' (ASI), Delhi Chapter, and will provide 1,200 N95 masks to surgeons and other healthcare providers in government hospitals in Delhi such as Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital which have been declared as COVID hospitals by the government.

Moreover, Amway India said it is also supporting Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Center (MMHRC), Madurai, Tamil Nadu and provide disposable masks and gloves to the public service providers in Madurai and Dindigul District in Tamil Nadu with an aim to help over 10,000 people.

The company said it will also conduct a disinfection and sanitation drive in association with select non-governmental NGO partners across 12 cities benefitting more than 3,000 children and adults.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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MSNBC cut away from Trumps coronavirus briefing to do a live fact check of several lies told by Trump and Steve Mnuchin about the availability of COVID-19 stimulus.

As Trump was promising immediate money to get businesses back up and running, Chuck Todd broke in and went to Stephanie Ruhle for a fact check.

Ruhle said:

He said this is up and running tomorrow. You can call any FDIC bank. Thats not true. Youre only allowed to apply from this loan for your existing bank. From someone, you have a relationship with. I know they are making this sound very cut and dry and clear but the banking industry is one of the most highly regulated industries there are. There are huge anti-money laundering and know your customer issues.

Thousands of smaller FDIC insured banks have announced today and moments before secretary Mnuchin started speaking JP Morgan Chase said they cannot accept applications. Its not because they dont want to. Congress, the president, Steve Mnuchin, all of these banks want to help the American people. The administration, the SBA and the Treasury Department have not gotten the framework, the actual rules that these banks need to understand to accept the applications. Thus far, are you ready for this? I spoke to one of the heads of these business banks and they have put together their solution of this is based on a guess.

Video:

MSNBC cuts off coronavirus briefing to do a live fact check just after Trump resumes speaking. pic.twitter.com/B7VA7z4d2K  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 2, 2020

The ability to cut in with live fact checks is something that has been long overdue in these briefings. CNN and MSNBC have both stopped airing these Trump rallies disguised as news uninterrupted. There are two ways that the networks could handle these briefings. They could tape them and only show the relevant information on tape delay, or they could live fact check on the screen as Trump and his administration speak.

Trumps free ride on the coronavirus briefings is ending, and the public will be better informed when the cable networks stop amplifying Trumps lies.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
A tradesman accused of brutally bashing his wife with a hairdryer because he believed she was having an affair has been given bail after his lawyer expressed concern he could catch coronavirus in jail.

Abdul Rakielbakhour, a landscaper from Sydney's west, was charged with assault offences after neighbours allegedly heard his wife's cries for help after 2pm on February 26.

The 31-year-old repeatedly punched his wife in the face and body before tackling her and striking her with a hairdryer to her face and head, a police fact sheet alleged.

The court document claimed his wife's face was left swollen, scratched, bruised and was still bleeding when police arrived. Neighbours allegedly told police: 'She's all bashed'.

The 31-year-old man was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault (stock image of a Sydney jail inmate above)

Police alleged Rakielbakhour beat his wife with a hair dryer (stock image)

Rakielbakhour was arrested and remanded in custody.

His lawyers from the Matouk Joyner firm applied for bail at the NSW Supreme Court on Monday, asking Justice Peter Hamill consider COVID-19 as a factor.

The court heard several criminal cases have been adjourned due to the pandemic, which originally began in Wuhan, China and has since spread throughout the world.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

Defence barrister Jehane Gabriel told the court the disease spreads quickly.

She said that the nation has seen an exponential rise in the number of cases over just a number of days.

She told the court there had been 'lengthy lockdowns' at Bathurst jail 'as a result of inmates suspected of having COVID-19'.

The virus has affected the court system. Defended hearings at New South Wales local courts have been postponed because of the virus.

Prosecutors conceded that the criminal justice system may not return to normal by July, when Rakielbakhour is due to return to court.

In his decision, Justice Hamill said NSW Health has found 'people in detention facilities' are among those 'at greatest risk of serious infection'.

The judge noted Rakielbakhour had 'a case to answer' although he was not sure where police sourced their allegations.

But he said prosecutors had a 'significant problem' in that Rakielbakhour's wife had claimed to police she had 'fell in the shower and hit her head on a step'.

The prosecution alleged Rakielbakhour 'believed his wife was having an affair after she had exchanged telephone numbers with a real estate agent' before the incident.

That claim was reported to Rakielbakhour by his mother, the court was told.

The court heard 'eople in detention' are among those at greatest risk to the COVID-19 pandemic. Above, prisoners in Sydney's Metropolitan Remand Centre

DEFENCE LAWYERS SEIZE ON COVID-19 The New South Wales Public Defenders' office - barristers who appear in criminal cases for accused people on legal aid - has posted a list of 'COVID-19 resources' for lawyers. The list includes cases for defence lawyers to reference in their submissions to the court in bail and sentencing matters, including this case. Advertisement

The judge found the pandemic raised issues under Section 18 of the state's Bail Act.

That section forces judges to consider the length of time an accused person will be in custody and their ability to prepare for court cases.

The court also heard about a Victorian Supreme Court case where a judge found a COVID-19 prison lockdown would be a 'dramatic development' in an inmate's life - even though they would likely recover from the illness.

Rakielbakhour was bailed under strict conditions which place him under virtual house arrest.

He's not to leave his address except to report to police, for a medical emergency, for any appointments, or for work jobs, if he gives officers 24 hours notice.

The judge said his conditional bail was not unlike the self-isolation 'practised by sensible citizens all over Australia'.

Rakielbakhour posted $10,000 bail and must report to police three times a week. His case is set to return to court in July.
India's telecom operators were hoping against hope. But the March 18 order of the Supreme Court gave them no route for escaping AGR (adjusted gross revenues) liabilities. The court even came down heavily on them for self-assessing the dues instead of straightaway paying the amounts it had fixed in an earlier order. It was the second time the court had rapped telcos and the DoT (Department of Telecommunications) for not obeying its orders. It said telcos had done serious violations and were liable to pay the entire amount they owed to the government. "We see that attempt has been made to scuttle the effect of order of this court and that is a gross violation of the order of this court by entering into a process of self-assessment/re-assessment that is virtually reopening of entire dues, that kind of exercise is not at all permissible and is tantamount to sitting over the order of the court," said the three-judge bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra.

Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices had done their own assessments of AGR dues and submitted the amount to the DoT. Vodafone Idea deposited Rs 6,854 crore in three tranches based on the self-assessed liability of Rs 21,533 crore, way short of the DoT's provisional estimates of Rs 58,254 crore. After the court order, it is clear Vodafone Idea will have to deposit the entire amount (that is Rs 58,254 crore), which would potentially jeopardise its future. So is the case with Airtel, which has been asked to pay Rs 43,980 crore against its own assessment of Rs 13,004 crore (see Duel Over Dues).

"After this decision, incumbents continue to face headwinds and stand at the same position as they were when the new definition of AGR was accepted," says a March 23 report by CARE Ratings.

Although the court told the government that it will consider giving relief to telcos in the next hearing (which was fixed for two weeks from March 18), telcos have to pay the dues as per the DoT's calculations - either lumpsum or in annual instalments over 20 years. If telcos are supposed to pay the entire amount - Rs 1.69 lakh crore - upfront, in all likelihood, it would lead to duopoly, and in the worst case scenario, monopoly in the sector, with depleted state-run BSNL-MTNL combine. Besides, there will be serious repercussions for consumers, banking and ancillary telecom businesses in addition to government's revenues and India's image as an investment destination. "The difference between the DoT's demand and telcos' self-assessed amount is huge. I don't think any of them have the appetite to pay upfront. It's going to be pretty bad situation for Vodafone Idea particularly," says Harsh Walia, partner at law firm Khaitan & Co.

How the Telcos Messed Up

Soon after losing the AGR judgment, telecom companies approached the DoT seeking a relief package from the government. The government did listen to them and formed a committee of secretaries (CoS) in late October to come up with measures to prevent a collapse of the sector following the AGR judgment. The committee, reportedly headed by the Cabinet Secretary, suggested a half-hearted step, and based on it, the government announced a two-year moratorium on spectrum payment due for 2020/21 and 2021/22. This Rs 42,000-crore relief would ensure easing of telcos' liquidity for the immediate future.

Meanwhile, telcos kept hoping that they would get some relief from the court. But that didn't happen. On three different occasions, the court has taken a strict view against them. In January, the SC rejected the review petition, which was followed by the apex court's rap on their modification plea in February. This was followed by the March 18 order.

In a conversation with Business Today, Rajan S. Mathews, Director General of COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India) said that the telcos' demands were in line with the DoT's 12-point application filed with the Supreme Court. Experts say that the current approach of telcos seems to be wrong. They should have taken their own path rather than aligning with the DoT on this issue.

"Instead of combining forces with the DoT, telcos should have challenged the DoT demand in court. Our demands were in line with the 12-point application filed by the DoT in the Supreme Court recently. Instead, they deposited the amount, and approached the court for succour. Remember these entities fought fiercely tooth and nail against each other for 14 years. Suddenly they are on the same side. This would seem like a waste of time and resources that could have annoyed the court," says a large equipment maker executive.

It's Complicated

So while the DoT seems to have realised that upfront AGR payments could result in a high level of distress in the sector, the way it is handling things is likely to create confusion going forward. The DoT's application in court said all licensees be allowed to pay the "unpaid amount" (total dues minus amount already paid) in annual instalments over 20 years at an interest of 8 per cent. "Interest on the unpaid amount, penalty and interest on penalty to the past dues ...will not be levied beyond the date of the said judgment [October 24]," the DoT application said.

It seems the idea to stagger the dues over 20-year instalments hasn't been thought through. Why? In India, there are 22 telecom circles, and telcos like Airtel and Vodafone Idea hold licences (and spectrum) with different validities across these circles. If the DoT is proposing a staggered payment option for telcos, these annual instalments will be paid circle-wise. What will happen to dues if a licence is expiring before 20 years? According to brokerage Motilal Oswal, 57 megahertz (MHz) of Airtel's spectrum in eight circles, including Tamil Nadu, is expiring in September 2021. It will cost Airtel about Rs 12,000 crore to renew this spectrum at previous auction rates.

"If the staggered payment plan is approved, telcos will get a lifeline but will continue to operate under financial duress. Their balance sheets would be stretched, and telcos might be constantly evaluating all options on the table, including exiting some less-profitable circles. What would happen if a telco fails to clear dues in a particular circle, and exit? Can the DoT take action against it by revoking licences in other circles? All these modalities would have to be worked out," says a sector analyst.

Losing Hope

While the DoT's AGR demand is applicable to 15 operators, 70.4 per cent has to come from just three operators - Vodafone Idea, Airtel and Tata Teleservices. Some penalised operators have already shut shop, including Loop Telecom, S Tel and Etisalat DB Telecom, while others like Reliance Communications, Aircel and Videocon Telecom are going through insolvency proceedings.

It seems Airtel is the best placed among the lot to repay dues whereas Vodafone Idea is in the worst situation with highest AGR dues and losses piling up for over three years. Recently, some reports suggested that promoters of Vodafone Idea could infuse $1.5 billion into the company if the self-assessments (of AGR dues) are accepted and repayments are allowed over several years. But after the recent order, there's no room for telcos to negotiate dues; it's just a question of how and when they have to pay up.

In January, Airtel raised $2 billion in QIP (qualified institutional placement) and another $1 billion by issuing FCCBs (foreign currency convertible bonds) to pay the dues. Marquee investors like GIC, Temasek and Warburg reportedly subscribed to Airtel's QIP highlighting their long-term optimism for the telco. Vodafone Idea, on the other hand, suffered another setback in February when Bharti Inftratel (the tower arm of Airtel) announced extension of the date of its merger with Indus Towers, which is the largest towerco in the country with 125,649 towers. Bharti Infratel and Vodafone India hold 42 per cent each and Vodafone Idea holds 11.15 per cent in Indus. Vodafone Idea had plans to sell its stake after the merger to generate about Rs 4,500 crore for its core mobile business. E-mail queries sent to Airtel and Vodafone Idea didn't elicit response.

It seems options for Vodafone Idea are limited. Unless promoters decide to bring in fresh capital, help from other quarters is highly unlikely. Banks, for instance, will unlikely lend to it as they are already saddled under huge non-performing assets (NPAs). State Bank of India alone had NPAs of Rs 12,165 crore as on December 2019 in the telecom sector. Besides, the financial condition of Vodafone Idea is stressed, which will make it difficult for any investor/lender to justify fresh funding to the company. In the third quarter 2019/20, Vodafone Idea's gross debt, excluding deferred spectrum payment liabilities of Rs 88,530 crore, stood at Rs 27,320 crore, with cash and cash equivalents of just Rs 12,530 crore.

5G Goes for a Toss

Even as the world grapples with coronavirus and Indian telcos struggle with AGR dues, the biggest casualty is likely to be 5G auctions. The manufacturing units and supply chain of large equipment makers - Ericsson, Huawei, and Samsung - have been reportedly hit by the lockdown in various countries. The government has been delaying the 5G spectrum auction and trials dates for several months now. Last September, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said 5G spectrum auctions would be conducted in end-2019 or early-2020. Recently, operators submitted their trial proposals to the DoT but the government is yet to take action.

China, which is expected to lead the market with mass-scale production of affordable 5G handset/equipment, has stopped production lines, which will push the 5G launch forward by a few quarters if not a year.

Even if the government decides to hold the auction this year to plug the revenue shortfall owing to coronavirus, the participation will be low. Already singed by the AGR crisis, telcos will find it unviable to buy exorbitantly-priced spectrum. For instance, the base price of the 5G spectrum (in 3300 megahertz to 3600 megahertz band) is highest in India. At telecom regulator TRAI's recommended reserve price of Rs 492 crore per MHz, operators will have to pay around Rs 50,000 crore for 100 MHz pan-India spectrum - thats the minimum spectrum required to deliver 5G services (in sub-6000 MHz bands) as per global body ITU.

The Last Resort

So, what's the way out for telcos? Analysts say that in the larger interest of the sector and consumers, telcos could be given a last option of paying the dues over a period of time. "Whenever there's a logjam between the government and the court, the government typically makes changes in existing laws to wriggle out of the situation. That could happen in telecom also - in what form is still unknown. But at the moment, the staggered payment option is the only way to save telcos," says Khaitan & Co's Walia.

@manukaushik
Russia is trying to make use of the ongoing crisis "to advance its own narrow political interests".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine says Russia's manipulations aimed at evading responsibility for aggression in Ukraine is detrimental to the efforts of the United Nations to combat coronavirus, the ministry's press service told UNIAN.

Ukraine welcomes the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution Global Solidarity to Combat COVID-19 and, as its co-author, expresses its gratitude to Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Ghana, Indonesia, and Singapore for the initiative to introduce a draft decision, as well as to all co-sponsors for their support.

"An unprecedented level of state participation in the adoption of the resolution is a clear signal that we stand united, while the UN is able to take on the role of coordinator of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We welcome the leading role of the chairman of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, in organizing the work of the UN General Assembly in this difficult period," the statement said.

Read alsoUkraine blocks Russia's UN declaration on fighting coronavirus

Ukraine supports the call of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to resolve the issue of health emergencies and focus on measures of social influence and economic response. In particular, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General w during their telephone conversation on April 2.

"In the context of the global crisis, when the world especially needs unity, the Russian Federation decided to make use of the situation to advance its own narrow political interests. Ignoring the lack of support from the vast majority of UN member states, Russia submitted a parallel draft resolution, the main message of which, despite the inclusion of the issue COVID-19 in its title, fully fits into the logic of its previous calls for the lifting of restrictive measures that had been introduced in response to its grave international crime  armed aggression," the foreign ministry said.

"Russia defiantly ignores the call of the UN Secretary General for a global ceasefire, continuing armed provocations and blocking access of international organizations to the occupied territories of Ukraine against the backdrop of the spread of COVID-19. The draft resolution introduced by the Russian Federation is yet another attempt to create a propaganda cover for its aggressive foreign policy," the statement emphasizes.

In this regard, Ukraine opposes the attempts by the Russian Federation to take advantage of the difficult humanitarian situation in order to avoid international legal responsibility.

Read alsoWar amid virus spread: Russia attempting to exploit global quarantine issue to have sanctions lifted

"These manipulations only harm the important efforts being made by the UN Secretary General and the United Nations in strengthening cooperation between states in the fight against COVID-19 and minimizing its consequences," the statement said.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry calls on all countries to show unity in the fight against an unprecedented pandemic.

Ukrainian diplomats are convinced that it's only through joint efforts, not by slogans and declarations, that it's possible to tackle the most complex challenges humankind is facing.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on March 30, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said Kyiv was working to prevent the lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia in connection with the aggression against Ukraine under the pretext of combating coronavirus and supposedly for humanitarian reasons.

Today, April 3, at night in New York, Ukraine blocked the Russian-initiated UN declaration on the fight against coronavirus that could entail the lifting of Russia sanctions.
A man who has just got over coronavirus is not the obvious choice to saddle up when the cavalry is called in to save the day.

After a series of dire performances by a procession of ministers in the daily Downing Street briefings, the pressure was on Health Secretary Matt Hancock to respond to nationwide calls for someone  anyone!  in the Government to get a grip!

And Hancock, the Covid-19 comeback kid, is less likely to fall at Bechers Brook than most. In 2012 he won a real race  astride Dick Doughtywylie  at Newmarket in his West Suffolk constituency. He is, however, better known for his ability to don the political colours of whichever Tory leader will serve his interest the best. Pragmatic rather than principled, cocksure rather than compassionate.

Not yesterday.

Boris Johnson regularly channels his inner Churchill and Hancock did the same. Coronavirus was a war on which the whole of humanity was on the same side a common foe over which we will prevail; he would strain every sinew.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock speaking during a media briefing in Downing Street, London on Thursday

Then suddenly it was Arnold Im back Schwarzenegger in full-on Terminator mode, Ive been away, now Im delighted to be back. Ill tell you this, Ive come back with redoubled determination to fight this virus with everything Ive got. I will stop at nothing.

The shiny NHS badge he wears on his lapel glinted under the lights. Hes so attached to it, he probably pinned it on his pyjamas while in self isolation.

Keenly aware of claims by critics that he is to blame for failing to provide NHS staff with lifesaving personal protection equipment, he devoted time to those who had paid the ultimate price and died on the NHS frontline. He was awed and profoundly moved by their dedication, singling out migrant hospital workers for their sacrifice for their adopted country.

Only after paying fulsome tribute to NHS staff, did he approach the intimidating political fence that has prompted less steady Tory ministers to refuse in recent days: public fury at the shambles over testing.

For this, he came over all Tony Blair, deploying the folksy glottal stop: Testing, I geddit! he said. He conceded the Government could expect criticism over its handling of the outbreak.

Charts show the number of new cases have jumped sharply in the latest information released by the government today

Another 569 deaths have been declared in the UK on Thursday, taking the total death toll to 2,921

SIMON WALTERS: After a series of dire performances by a procession of ministers in the daily Downing Street briefings, the pressure was on Health Secretary Matt Hancock to respond to nationwide calls for someone  anyone!  in the Government to get a grip!

Then to the high point  Hancocks well trailed five point plan to put things right  the cliched response of any politician trying to show they are in control of a crisis. In fact, he gave it a near sacred gloss, presenting his five pillars, as though they were at least half as important as the Ten Commandments.

When he got round to explaining how he was going to get more testing kits and more protective gear for doctors and nurses, he made it sound like a good news story.

The Government intended to create an entire new British industry to provide them, he said. Did he want us to clap him, as we all did for NHS workers again last night?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson applauds in support of the NHS during Clap for our Carers, outside 11 Downing Street on Thursday

By the time he walked back past the Union flags that frame the lectern, we had little grounds for believing the near vertical rise in the coronavirus trajectory weve witnessed will start to fall like a firework whose fuse has sputtered out. But to give him credit, Hancock did bring some confidence, competence and candour as well as energy to the Governments public response.

With Boris Johnson still in the No 10 sick bay, a revitalised Hancock held the reins more firmly than senior Cabinet ministers like Michael Gove and Dominic Raab who have faltered badly in the spotlight in recent days.

In a typically canny move, he diverted attention away from the Governments failures with a headline grabbing promise to increase tests to 100,000 a day within a month.

But can he really reach German-style efficiency in just four weeks? It is an ambitious target set by an ambitious man.
In March, while Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was scrambling to reach a deal with the White House on a coronavirus relief package, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was missing in action. He was not working on his own proposal or whipping votes for the Trump administrations. Rather, McConnell was in Louisville, Kentucky, with Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Justin Walker, a close ally of both men, to a federal district court. The American Bar Association gave Walker a rare Not Qualified rating, yet the majority leader persuaded the Senate to confirm the nominee on a party-line vote in October. Walker took his seat on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky that same month, but delayed his formal swearing-in ceremony until March. The event served as a victory lap for McConnell as well as a break from his duties addressing the burgeoning pandemic.

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Walker, 37, has done nothing of note during his five months on the district court. Nonetheless, on Friday, Donald Trump nominated him to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the second-most-powerful court in the country. With this unusually fast promotion, Trump is elevating another partisan hack who will faithfully implement the Republican Party platform from the bench for decades to come.

Its no surprise that the ABA rated Walker Not Qualified, since his chief qualifications seem to be his political work, Washington connections, and longtime membership in the Federalist Society. Walker graduated from Harvard Law School in 2009, clerked for Brett Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit, then for Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. The ABA found it challenging to determine how much of his ten years since graduation from law school has been spent in the practice of law, and he has never served as lead or co-counsel on any case, civil or criminal.

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Why, then, did Walker get tapped for the bench in the first place? After Kennedy announced his retirement, Walker sprang into action to lobby on Kavanaughs behalf. Walker made 162 media appearances between June 27, 2018, and Oct. 6, 2018, to defend his former boss, many on Fox News. He consistently praised Kavanaugh in political terms. For instance, he declared that Kavanaugh is a fighter for conservative legal principles who will not go wobbly, a dig at Chief Justice John Roberts occasional deviations from the GOP party line. He touted Kavanaughs record on conservative issues like Second Amendment, executive power, and EPA regulations. He predicted that Kavanaughs confirmation would usher in an end to affirmative action, an end to successful litigation about religious displays and prayers, an end to bans on semi-automatic rifles, and an end to almost all judicial [decisions allowing abortion]. And, noting that Trump is a big fan of generals and warriors, Walker said, I think Judge Kavanaugh fits that bill, you know, if you imagine Judge Kavanaugh storming a beach, his military uniforms torn and tattered from fighting for conservative legal principles.

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After Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault in 1982, Walker grew even more overtly partisan. He condemned Senate Democrats desire for an FBI investigation as a farce and lobbed personal attacks at Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He mocked Sen. Richard Blumenthal for claim[ing] to be a Vietnam War veteran, falsely, a favored Trump line, and suggested that the FBI should investigate Sen. Dianne Feinstein instead. He announced that Ford must be mistaken about her account of the experience. And when Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt asked him what Democrats next line of attack might be, he responded: Oh my goodness. You know, Ainsley, there are limits to my imagination.

Shortly before this publicity blitz, Walker told McConnell he was interested in a federal judgeship. Days after Kavanaughs confirmation, he brought up this possibility with Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Mike Lee. Eight months later, Trump nominated him to a Kentucky district court. And now, just weeks after Walkers swearing-in ceremony for that position, Trump and McConnell seek to elevate him to the D.C. Circuit, which hears frequent challenges to federal laws and regulations. According to the Washington Post, both Kennedy and Kavanaugh recommended Walker for the vacancy. If confirmed, he will replace conservative George W. Bush appointee Thomas Griffith. McConnell has been privately asking Republican-appointed judges to retire soon so Trump can appoint their replacements; it is unclear if Griffith stepped down at his prodding.

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There is little chance that Senate Republicans will reject Walkers nomination given that theyve already put him on a lower court and routinely confirm unqualified ideological extremists to the bench. Once on the D.C. Circuit, Walker will serve alongside fellow Trump judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas. (He will not alter the ideological balance of the court, which is fairly liberal.) Rao has already distinguished herself as an unapologetic partisan who tirelessly runs interference for the president who appointed her, and Katsas has joined her crusade to shield Trump from oversight. With colleagues like Rao and Katsas by his side, Walker will fit right in.
By Akbar Mammadov

Armenian armed forces shelled Azerbaijans positions using large-caliber weapons and sniper rifles on April 3, Azerbaijans State Border Service reported.

Starting from 04:30 am, Bala Jafarli village of Azerbaijans Gazakh region and the border-combat points near the village were intensively shelled by the Armenian armed forces deployed in near the village of Aygeovit, Ijevan region of Armenia.

The State Border Service thwarted the provocation act, suppressing Armenian attack by a return fire

Armenian armed forces shelled Mezem and Gushchu villages in the Gazakh district on April 1, targeting Civilians as well as military and civilian vehicles.

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
03.04.2020 LISTEN

Doctors at the Department of Accident and Emergency at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have expressed dissatisfaction with the level of preparedness of the department in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Memo signed by the Doctors to their Head of Department and sighted by Citi News, they decried the usage of a sideward as an isolation centre without the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

We write to express our general dissatisfaction with the preparedness or lack thereof of the department to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic. We also wish to express our displeasure with the events surrounding the hospital's first confirmed case.

Firstly, the pandemic; an existential threat to us, you will agree has to be handled with decisiveness and transparency. It is based on this that, we are aghast at the actions or inactions taken before, during and after the case had been confirmed.

The said ward, according to the doctors hosted the first patient who tested positive at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

They are threatening to withdraw their services if a proper isolation centre is not provided and a quick testing of all staff of the department for Coronavirus is not done.

We will like to remind management of the department that, it has failed woefully in providing adequate protection for the staff and as such, we're left with little choice than to resort to protecting ourselves in the face of clear and present danger.

We will like to state; with no fear of equivocation that, if these measures are not put in place, we will be forced to stop attending to patients to the endangerment of the patients, ourselves, our loved ones, and Ghana as a whole, portions of the memo said.

The doctors are making the following demands:

1. Provision of appropriate PPEs; including N-95 face masks

2. Provision of a proper isolation unit for suspected cases in lieu of the current

sideward we use at 'yellow'

3. Expediting the testing of all staff of the department for SARS-Cov2

4. Creating clear channels of communication between management and the staff of the department ; in order to prevent the events surrounding the first confirmed case from happening again.

5. The immediate closure of the ER for fumigation.

The World Health Organisation has already stressed the importance of the Personal Protective Equipment amid shortages in some of the worst-hit countries by the virus.

Shai-Osudoku District hospital constructs COVID-19 isolation centre

The Shai-Osudoku District hospital within the Shai-Osudoku District in the Greater Accra Region has constructed a five-man capacity isolation centre to handle Coronavirus patients.

The facility was funded from the hospital's internally generated fund.

It was spearheaded by Dr Ken Brightson, Director at the Hospital.
Sara Trabalzini. spa manager at the Spa at Monteverdi Tuscany. Photo courtesy of Monteverdi Tuscany

Though travel to Italy is currently on 'pause,' Monteverdi Tuscany is making sure that anyone can bring a bit of Italy into his/her place of shelter. In its continuing mission to share the gift of beauty and culture with the world, Monteverdi Tuscanys award-winning Spa at Monteverdi Tuscany is also sharing at-home treatments curated by spa manager Sara Trabalzini.

Located in Castiglioncello del Trinoro, Italy, between Rome and Florence, Monteverdi Tuscany is a paragon of 21st-century luxury and elegance situated within a 12th-century Medieval village. The boutique hotel comprises eighteen individual rooms and suites plus three poshly appointed villas, each perfect for individuals, couples, families, or groups of friends. The property features an award-winning restaurant, a Culinary Academy, a piano lounge and terrace bar, a separate enoteca and Library Bar, an outdoor swimming pool, a modern gym, an art gallery, and a beautifully restored 700-year-old Romanesque church that serves as the hotels performing arts venue.

Monteverdi Tuscany. Photo courtesy of Monteverdi Tuscany

But one of the hotels most spectacular features is undoubtedly its strikingly sumptuous Spa at Monteverdi. This idyllic sanctuary is surrounded by natural greenery and features panoramic views that stretch as far as Montalcino and Siena. Amenities include an underground heated pool evocative of ancient Roman baths, a relaxation lounge with views of the Tuscan hills, outdoor matching travertine soaking tubs, and a wide range of organic facial and body treatments featuring luxurious spa products from Florences exclusive Santa Maria Novella and Paris Charme dOrient.

The Spa at Monteverdi Tuscany. Photos courtesy of Monteverdi Tuscany

Until you can schedule your appointment for a Spa at Monteverdi Royal Hamman Ritual, a Monteverdi Purifying Facial, or a Tuscan Olive Oil Massage, gratify your spa wanderlust with simple at-home treatments as created and provided by Trabalzini. Self-care moments are easy to create at home, especially if you have the right recipes for organic, homemade beauty products, says Trabalzini. Nature best provides us with what our body needs, the ingredients for brighter, more hydrated, and more beautiful skin. At The Spa at Monteverdi we use ancient beauty rituals and rare, historically grounded recipes made with natural ingredients. With the right combination of herbs, plants, spices and flowers from your own kitchen, you can craft powerful, harmonious recipes to fit your specific beauty needs, from anti-aging face masks to exfoliating scrubs, from hydrating hair masks to organic facial tonics. Take the time to relieve stress and regenerate your mind and body. Enjoy your moments of luxury!

Exfoliating and Detoxifying Sea Salt Body Scrub

Ingredients: 5 Tablespoons coarse sea salt, add olive oil to desired consistency

Method: Mix ingredients and apply in the shower using a gentle circular motion

Restorative/Anti-Aging/Rich in Vitamins Kiwi Body Scrub

Ingredients: 4 ripe kiwis, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, juice of one lemon

Method: Peel and smash kiwis, mix in olive oil and lemon juice, and apply in the shower

Smoothing and Gentle Exfoliating Lip Scrub

Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon honey, 1 Tablespoon olive oil

Method: Mix ingredients, apply with a circular motion, rinse with water.

Recommended: Apply lip balm after using scrub

The Spa at Monteverdi Tuscany. Photos courtesy of Monteverdi Tuscany

Additional Spa at Monteverdi Tuscany At-Home Spa Treatments will be released on a regular basis, and can be found on Instagram Stories @MonteverdiTuscany and on Facebook at Monteverdi Tuscany. In addition to the series of homemade spa treatments, Monteverdi Tuscany releases weekly musical performances featuring world-renowned artists. Additionally Monteverdi Executive Chef Giancarla Bodoni will be sharing simple, easy-to-follow, signature-to-the-region recipes that are Monteverdi favorites.
Preacher planning to host outdoor Easter blowout service despite coronavirus warnings

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A preacher in Pennsylvania says he's planning to host an outdoor Easter blowout service that will be like Woodstock, despite government guidelines urging people to avoid mass gatherings.

Jonathan Shuttlesworth, who oversees a ministry called Revival Today in the city of Prosperity, which is located around 40 miles from Pittsburgh, posted a video on YouTube Monday titled The Rodney Howard-Browne Tribute Special.

The video was named in honor of the Florida pastor who was arrested Monday for hosting worship services in spite of a state order advising people in South Florida to stay home to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Shuttlesworth denounced the idea of churches canceling in-person worship in response to concerns of spreading the coronavirus.

If somebody would have asked you, as a Christian, would you allow the government to tell you to not go to church on Sunday for any reason? If somebody would have asked you in January, what would your answer have been? Shuttlesworth asked.

And then why is it a different answer now?  Everybody would have bucked up, Oh no, not me. Im willing to die for my freedom.

Shuttlesworth found it hypocritical that some politicians and government officials believe churches should be closed, but not grocery stores, marijuana dispensaries, and abortion clinics.

Shuttlesworth then announced his plans for an Easter event, stating he wanted to bring people out to realize that God still has a remnant that will fight for freedom, fight for the Gospel.

I'm going to announce it, but we're going to hold an outdoor Easter blowout service, not online, a national gathering, you can come from all over like Woodstock, said Shuttlesworth.

We're going to gather and lift up Jesus Christ. I'm not ashamed that Dr. Rodney got arrested. I'm ashamed that when they wanted to arrest preachers for having church in an entire state, there was only one to come for. Im ashamed my butt wasnt seated next to him.

Shuttlesworth said he still respects pastors who decided to close their churches over the health concerns, but added, "I am in the lighting a fire under a behind, business."

In response to calls to fight the spread of COVID-19, most churches in the United States have canceled their in-person worship, with many switching to online services.

Last month, Word of Life Church in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, issued an official apology for holding a large worship service during efforts to curb mass gatherings for public health reasons.

Word of Life pastor Tom Walters posted a statement on Facebook apologizing for the decision to hold the service and explained that they will switch to exclusively online worship.

Walters explained in the statement that the worship gathering began with him and the church staff coming together to pray, with others joining them because they felt led to.

Please believe me when I say that it was not out of arrogance or defiance, but solely for the purpose of praying for our churches, communities, and nation, explained Walters.

We certainly want to be a blessing to our community and have certainly tried to be in years gone by. My heart was so heavy to experience the amount of hateful comments we received, but I guess I can understand.
NASA and SpaceX are moving ahead full-steam with the Demo-2 launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft -- the first launch from American soil to carry astronauts to space aboard a private launch vehicle. The Falcon 9 rocket that will propel the Crew Dragon to space will include a NASA logo that has been -- technically -- retired from active duty since 1992.

The 1970s-era "worm" logo is a take on NASA branding that has, for more than 20 years now, been relegated to souvenir status. You've probably seen it adorning caps, sweatshirts, stickers and other swag, but it hasn't graced an official NASA spacecraft since its retirement from use. The NASA "meatball" logo that the agency does use on in-space assets today actually predates the "worm" and was developed in the late 1950s -- but the latter's tubular simplicity still has a more "retro" feel.

That vibe returns to active use with the SpaceX Demo-2 mission, which is currently set for launch some time in early-to-mid May, and which will carry NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to space, and to the International Space Station, for the final step in certifying Crew Dragon for regular use in operational astronaut transportation missions.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - AUGUST 10: NASA's "meatball" logo displayed on the vehicle assembly building at Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post)

NASA shared an image of the red "worm" logo emblazoned on the side of the Falcon 9 rocket currently being readied for that mission in Florida, and the agency also said that it's likely not the last time you'll see it in official, active mission use. Don't worry, fans of the meatball classic: The agency says that one's still its primary symbol, even if the worm has poked its head out of the ground.
To that purpose, Bowker manages to have his everyday characters bump into each other here and there around the continent without setting off too many implausibility alarms. Lois (Julia Brown), who sings for the British troops, has a brother, Tom (Ewan Mitchell), who is wounded at Dunkirk and rescued by the gay American doctor Webster (Brian J. Smith), whose lover Albert (Parker Sawyers) is in a Paris jazz band with Eddie (Ansu Kabia), who needs to get back to Manchester to be with his wife, Connie (Yrsa Daley-Ward), who plays piano for Lois. That sort of thing.

The themes and outlines of World on Fire are firmly middle of the road  you imagine a good share of the audience watching it over tea and a biscuit  but Bowker has worked conscientiously to make the manifold subplots a little different from the norm for World War II dramas. Notably, none of the major characters are Jewish; the shows principals deal with other dangers: being a Polish Catholic, a German epileptic, a British pacifist or, in a deadly trifecta, a black, gay jazz musician.

Bowker is also notably hard on his men, who are generally a whiny, callow bunch, at least until theyre toughened up by the rigors of war. The primary male character, Harry (Jonah Hauer-King), a wealthy young Briton posted to Warsaw, marries a Polish woman while also knocking up Lois back in Manchester; escaping into the army, he is made a lieutenant and promptly freezes up in battle. Hes useless as either an officer or a gentleman.

The women, meanwhile, are uniformly tough: Lois, given an appealing doughtiness by Brown, quickly sets aside the wishy-washy Harry; Kasia (Zofia Wichlacz), Harrys wife, joins the Polish resistance; Nancy (Helen Hunt), an American radio journalist in Berlin, is an Edward Murrow stand-in, trying to get out the truth despite the censor sitting outside her booth.

Strongest of all is Harrys mother, Robina, a thorough prig and a fan of the British fascist Oswald Mosley, who begins to soften when she suddenly has to take care of Kasias young refugee brother. (Harry dumps his schoolboy brother-in-law on her before heading back to the continent.) And the best thing about the show is the great Lesley Manvilles performance as Robina, a believable and craftily comic portrayal of a woman who reluctantly lets down her guard in response to the war  though shes farthest from the front, the changes she undergoes are as profound as anyone elses. Shes Bowkers proof that in a world on fire, no one escapes the flames.
NEW YORK (JTA)Some 38,000 people work at Jewish community centers across North America, staffing preschools, camps, gyms, classes, activities for seniors and more.

Because of the coronavirus crisis, a lot of them are going to lose their jobs.

The cuts are going to be painful and deep, said Doron Krakow, CEO of the JCC Association of North America.

They are going to go into what I would call a hunker-down mode, which means that theyll be subject to the kind of staff reductions that we are reading about affecting other industries.

When the crisis ends, Krakow said, The institutions themselves will be smaller, lesser versions of themselves operationally.

In other words: Its going to be bad.

Thats the message leaders across the Jewish organizational world are sending as the scope of the coronavirus-induced financial crisis becomes clearer. In addition to having health concerns surrounding COVID-19, Jewish nonprofits are anticipating layoffs, downsizing and closures during the economic downturn that will most likely deepen over the course of the virus scare.

And even as Jewish philanthropic leaders work to shore up short-term funding, the longer-term prospects for Jewish organizations, as for so many others, appear increasingly bleak.

If you go to a zero-revenue model for an undetermined amount of months, even the strongest of institutions is going to be challenged, said Eric Fingerhut, CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, the umbrella organization for a $3 billion Jewish philanthropic network that employs some 10,000 people.

This is literally hitting every single institution in every single community, he said. Every synagogue, every JCC, every camp, every human service agency, every, every, every.

JCCs across the country are closed for social distancing. As 80% of their revenue comes from fees that clients pay for services, they are making almost no money. Thus, Krakow said, people like personal trainers, preschool teachers anddepending on the time framecamp counselors are going to be laid off.

Krakow said the other 20% of JCC income comes largely from donors and foundations. As these funders see their stock portfolios dip and endowments shrink, they may donate less to institutions that need money now more than ever.

Jewish cultural institutions are hurting, too. The Tenement Museum, which tells the stories of Jewish and other immigrants on Manhattans Lower East Side, shrunk last week from a staff of 68 full-time and 70 part-time employees to a core group of just five that are still receiving full-time pay. Everyone else has either been laid off, had their hours cut or is not receiving salary.

The museum had 282,000 visitors in the last fiscal year. Now its closed until at least March 31and likely far longer.

Its president, Morris Vogel, is working full-time with no pay. But he says he draws optimism from the stories of immigrants who survived the 1918 flu epidemic, as well as an 1892 quarantine of residents on the Lower East Side.

They took enormous risks, they displayed extraordinary bravery, he said. We cant fail in our obligation to keep their stories alive. In doing so we find hope to which we can lay claim in moments that are as unknowable to us as the Lower East Side was to folks who came from the Polish shtetl.

The Jewish Funders Network, which convenes large donors and foundations, has called on funders to increase or maintain their givingsomething that CEO Andres Spokoiny said did not always happen after the 2008 financial crisis. The network got 18 foundations to commit publicly to paying out grants for conferences or programs that have been canceled. But Spokoiny said uncertainty about what lies ahead makes long-term planning difficult.

We may have a recession, we may have a depression, we may have massive economic impact, we may not, he said. In other words, funders are trying to find out what the needs are going to be not today but in the medium and long term. Its not the time to cut down on grants.

Layoffs by JCCs and other Jewish organizations could spark a vicious cycle that deprives other Jewish groups of fees from those people, he said.

When somebody has no money, they cant pay for synagogue membership or JCC membership or day school tuition, he said. Crises have a domino effect.

But philanthropies, particularly ones with large cash reserves, also have an obligation to use whatever money they have to help people impacted by the crisis, said Lila Corwin Berman, an expert in American Jewish philanthropy. During the Great Depression, she said, Jewish nonprofits pulled out all the stopseven at the risk of going broketo help their constituents.

Im worried that this is going to make philanthropic organizations feel like they need to be really tight-fisted when I actually think its the opposite, said Berman, an American Jewish history professor at Temple University. It is for moments like this that that money must be directed toward the public quickly.

In the face of lost service fees and a potential decline in donations, Jewish nonprofits are joining others in looking to the federal government for help. A letter signed by dozens of nonprofits across the country, including Jewish groups groups like the Jewish Federations of North America, JCC Association and Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, requests that $60 billion in government stimulus funds be set aside to shore up the countrys nonprofit sector. A bill that would provide some of that stimulus funding is now stalled in the Senate.

The nonprofits are asking as well for increased access to another set of emergency loans and requesting that taxpayers be allowed to deduct a larger share of their philanthropic donations from their taxable income.

Americas charities are frontline responders providing food, shelter, medical services and other critical services to those in need in their communities, the letter reads. Without dramatic and immediate financial and programmatic backstop from government, Americas charitable nonprofits and the people we serve face a precipitous decline in mission services at a time when our efforts are needed like never before by the most vulnerable in our communities.

Even as they face down an uncertain future themselves, many Jewish organizations are also trying to respond to the crisis in real time. The Tenement Museum is providing its curricula on immigrants free to the New York City Department of Education, which has switched to online learning. The Jewish Funders Network conference, which begins Monday, has been moved online, and most of its sessions deal in some way with the coronavirus crisis.

The Jewish Federations of North America is sending fundraising tips to local federations, as well as security guidelines for shuttered institutions. Local JCCs are providing online programming for kids, delivering meals to homebound seniors and providing child care for the kids of medical professionals.

Once you close all these institutions and move everything online, people adapt to this new way of operating, we think there will be some fundamental changes... in how institutions deliver services, Fingerhut said. We hope and intend to help when the world reopens.
COVID-19 round up from the UAE

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention reported 210 new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus on Thursday. The Dubai Health Authority tweeted the updated numbers and urged everyone to stay at home.

The Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi (DED) has decreed that commercial establishments and pharmacies caught arbitrarily hiking prices of food products and medicines illegally or hoarding essential items will face fines ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh2 million.

On the directives of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, @AbuDhabiDED has issued a decision to take disciplinary action against companies that increase prices without justification. pic.twitter.com/x2yIJWoRl5     (@admediaoffice) April 2, 2020

If you find any establishment that does not comply with the prices of goods, circulars, and the terms & conditions issued by ADDED, please file a complaint by contacting the toll-free number 800555 for the Abu Dhabi Government.@AbuDhabi_TAMM#__ #__#stayhome pic.twitter.com/jRN2SNEwj5     -  (@AbuDhabiDED) March 29, 2020

The UAE is extending the 'suspension of entry of all foreign nationals holding valid UAE residence visa ' -who are currently outside the country - for an additional two weeks starting today.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) said that this is a bid to contain the spread the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensure their safety.

MoFAIC has requested those holding valid UAE visas, and now staying abroad, to register in the 'Tawajudi for Residents' Service, if they need to return to the UAE in emergency situations.

   "          

Extending the 'Suspension' of entry to holders of valid residency residing outside the country starting today and for an additional two weeks

#__ #__ pic.twitter.com/bM843DLXZ7  MOIUAE (@moiuae) April 2, 2020

National carrier of the UAE, the Emirates updated in a series of tweets, that it has received approval from UAE authorities to start flying a limited number of passenger flights which will initially carry travellers outbound from the UAE, effective April 6.

Emirates has received UAE government approvals to operate passenger flights to certain cities. Initial flights from 6 April to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich and Brussels will only carry passengers outbound from Dubai. @DXB https://t.co/sRCpfiuzer 1/3 pic.twitter.com/RfbWgL9YW2  Emirates Airline (@emirates) April 2, 2020

Initial flights will commence from Dubai International airport Terminal 2 to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels and Zurich.

We advise travellers to check all destination entry requirements. We continue to monitor the situation and will announce further plans for service resumption. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/hIGmQHEpJw  Emirates Airline (@emirates) April 2, 2020

Emirates will also carry belly-hold cargo in both directions, supporting trade and communities with the transport of essential goods.

The safety and well-being of customers and crew remain our top priority. We have taken several health and safety measures across our operations for your added peace of mind. Read more. https://t.co/sRCpfiuzer 3/3 pic.twitter.com/JbTxkcccFS  Emirates Airline (@emirates) April 2, 2020

Etihad Airways too announced last night that it plans to operate regular service to few destinations from Sunday (April 5). Over the past week, the airline has deployed special charter services to the US, Australia and Sri Lanka.

Starting 5 April, Etihad will resume passenger flights from Abu Dhabi to select destinations.



This will be done in coordination with local authorities to help those who were unable to return home from the UAE.



Visit https://t.co/MQSXwrHcj6 for full details. pic.twitter.com/iYoCFcDakM  Etihad Airways (@etihad) April 3, 2020

More than 259,00 people from all over the world have signed up for the 'Community Immunity Ambassador Programme' launched by the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU).

Lets break the #COVID19 chain together! We are excited to launch the 1st #MBRUCommunityImmunity Ambassador Program to empower you in your community-based advocacy on how to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.



Join now: https://t.co/R5zaNQzGyN#MBRU @WHO pic.twitter.com/iFemz1c2ym  MBRU (@MBRUniversity) March 25, 2020

Many have completed the course and received their certificates and ambassador status within a week. The MBRU has been commended for launching this program which empowers many in the community who can complete the program while staying at home or stuck in various locations due to travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
This post was published in partnership with Wirecutter , the site devoted to finding the best gear and gadgets. Every product is independently selected by the Wirecutter team. We update links when possible, but note that deals may expire and prices are subject to change. If you buy something through our links, Slate and Wirecutter may earn an affiliate commission.

By Alex Arpaia

Wirecutter Staff

Becoming a parent can be a wonderful and mixed bag of emotions, especially if youre a first-time one. People can experience the transition into parenthood in so many different ways, and the best gift for a new mom is one thats tailored to the individual. At the end of the day, you know the new mom in your life best. But here we offer a few suggestions from parents on our staff that we think will make this first Mothers Day an even more memorable one.

A cozy robe

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Natori Shangri-La Robe ($98 at the time of publication)

A comfy robe is a great gift for new parents who are spending more time at home with a newbornits an easy item to throw on thats both comfortable and functional. In our guide to the best robes, we suggest several options, but parents on staff especially loved the Natori Shangri-La Robe for its exceptionally soft and drapey fabric. If you think the new mom in your life would like something a bit more plush or with more structure, Restoration Hardwares Luxury Plush Long Robe is the coziest robe we recommend.

Fresh fruit to stay energized

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Frog Hollow Farm Fresh Fruit (price varies)

Friends Ranch Plain Jane Variety Box ($48 at the time of publication)

Fresh fruit makes a thoughtful and delicious gift for anyone, at any time of year. But for new moms, whether theyre recovering from pregnancy and birth or theyre just tired of haphazard meals and takeout, its a particularly welcome offering. My friends sent me a box of fruit after both my births, and it was so nice having really good fruit around to refuel with, says Wirecutter editor Winnie Yang. Frog Hollow Farms produce varies seasonally, so head to its website and see whats currently featured. (Winnie has enjoyed its stone fruit in the past.) Friends Ranchs Plain Jane box is a sampler of whatever is best the week its being sent out. Both companies ship from California.

Framed memories

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Framebridge custom framing (price varies)

A framed family photo, a print of tiny footprints, or another memento from the first few months with the new baby are cherished events that deserve memorializing. Our favorite online framer, Framebridge, has services for printing and framing digital photos or original art. And the company even has a few baby-oriented styles, if you need some inspiration to get started.

Easy-to-fit-into pajamas and slippers

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Hanna Andersson Adult Long John Top and Adult Long John Pant ($44 for each at the time of publication)

L.L.Bean Womens Wicked Good Moccasins ($80 at the time of publication)

Help make sure the new moms long days (and nights) spent caring for a newborn are as comfortable as possible. We love these cotton Hanna Andersson pajamas (you can mix and match tops and bottoms), which have a stretchy waistband and a soft rib knit. And they wont wear out with frequent washings. Wirecutter writer Jackie Reeve recommends giving these pajamas along with our favorite slippers (L.L.Bean Womens Wicked Good Moccasins), because theyre easy to slip into when ones old shoes still dont fit due to postpartum swelling.

A toilet upgrade

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Toto Washlet C200 (price varies, but usually around $430 at the time of publication)

Toto Washlet C100 (price varies, but usually around $340 at the time of publication)

Brondell Swash 300 (price varies, but usually around $250 at the time of publication)

A bidet may seem like an odd Mothers Day gift, but a lot of our moms on staff said they wouldve loved having one while they were recovering from childbirth. Wirecutter editor Courtney Schley says, A washlet can make using the bathroom easier in the weeks after giving birth. Its more convenient than a squirt bottle in caring for a sore perineum. And a bidet toilet is a quality-of-life improvement that continues to deliver long after recovery. The Toto Washlet C200 is the top pick in our guide to washlets. Yes, its a lot of money to spend on a toilet seat, but the Totos intuitive controls, as well as its ability to customize things like water temperature and pressure and seat temperature, will make any skeptic a total convert after they use one. Our runner-up and budget picks are slightly more affordable and still great if you need other options. Just be sure to read our washlet installation section to confirm that a bidet will fit a new moms current bathroom setup.

A really big scarf

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Scarf Shop Cotton Giant Scarf ($70 at the time of publication)

A big, soft scarf may be one of the most underrated gifts for new moms, according to some of the parents on our staff. Scarf Shop offers a range of great neckwear options, but its Cotton Giant Scarf is the best one for people who have babies. Measuring 54 inches by 108 inches, its large enough to cover a stroller or a car seat on a particularly sunny day. And in a pinch itll also work for concealing a nursing baby or even for using as an impromptu picnic blanket. These cotton scarves have a gauzy transparency when unfolded, but they easily double up for a more opaque look. Available in 35 colors and machine-washable, theyre a chic yet useful accessory for new parents.

Swaddles in sweet patterns

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Aden + Anais Silky Soft Swaddle 3-pack ($45 at the time of publication)

If scarves arent the new moms thing, or she prefers a thicker fabric than the giant cotton scarf, we love Aden + Anais swaddles. Theyre attractive and versatile, and they can serve as nursing covers, burp cloths, and lightweight blankets. Wirecutter editor Harry Sawyers reports that his Aden + Anais swaddles have lasted seven years, across three kids. He recommends giving a set of three since at least one of them will likely be dirty at any given time.

Fresh sheets

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L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set ($150 for a queen set at the time of publication)

Wirecutter editor and parent Courtney Schley recommends giving a new set of sheets around the time a new baby arrives: With all the dribbles, leaks, and other mishaps, new parents will likely be swapping out bed linens more often than theyd been accustomed to. These L.L.Bean cotton percale sheets, which have been a Wirecutter pick for seven years, are super-soft and feel luxurious on a bed, but theyre also durable and can withstand even the most frequent wash-dry-repeat cycle.

A better way to vacuum

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Dyson V7 Motorhead ($290 at the time of publication)

Housecleaning is one of those chores you might want to help new parents witheither by doing the work yourself or by hiring a cleaning service for them. But right now, social distancing will make that difficult. The next best thing? A light and powerful cordless vacuum, such as the Dyson V7, which will at least make the task a whole lot easier. Staff members who have cordless vacuums swear they vacuum moreand dread it lessbecause its so effortless.

Easy reading

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Kindle Unlimited (30-day free trial, then $10 per month at the time of publication)

New parents may find, to their surprise, that they have time to fill between feedings and during naps, or while a partner takes over. Easy access to Kindle Unlimiteds library of ebooks (in the millions) and current magazines may be exactly the kind of escape theyre craving. Wirecutter senior editor Erica Ogg told us, With both of my kids, I found that I had a lot of time to read during the early part of my maternity leave while the baby napped. You could pair this gift with an ebook reader, but the service works with any mobile device that can download the app; it also includes thousands of audiobooks. (If the new parents are already embedded in the Apple ecosystem, they may instead enjoy a subscription to Apple News+, which gives them access to hundreds of magazines and news publications, but no audio- or ebooks.)

A soothing salve

Earth Mama Organics Perineal Balm ($13 at the time of publication)

If you know the new mom particularly well, Earth Mama Organics Perineal Balm would be a thoughtfulthough admittedly very personalgift. This botanical balm is a godsend for people who have had difficult births or who struggle with tears and hemorrhoids. It has a pleasant smellthe ingredients include lavender and peppermintand if its been stored in the fridge, its cooling effect and anti-inflammatory properties will be especially soothing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 20:51:37|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said that 2,989 people had been infected with the COVID-19 virus in Japan as of Friday evening, with the daily number of new infections topping 200 for a fourth straight day adding to concerns the healthcare system here could buckle.

The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 86 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo.

Of the 2,989 confirmed COVID-19 infections in Japan, 773 cases are in Japan's capital city of Tokyo, with 89 new cases confirmed Friday, amid concerns about spikes in urban areas in Japan overloading the healthcare system.

The Tokyo metropolitan government along with healthcare specialists have said the number of hospital beds available for coronavirus patients will soon reach capacity, with the health ministry rapidly trying to secure more.

Adding to pressure on the government to demonstrably bolster its preventive and counter measures to the spread of the virus, a panel of government experts warned this week the country's healthcare system could collapse if coronavirus cases here continue to spike.

The healthcare system in Tokyo and four other prefectures is under increased strain and "drastic countermeasures need to be taken as quickly as possible," the experts concluded.

Recent spikes in infection rates in the capital and other urban areas have seen calls from regional authorities for people to work from home as far as possible, regularly clean their hands, avoid crowded places and conversations in close quarters, and avoid going outside unnecessarily, especially in the evenings, but the central government has yet to declare a state of emergency over the situation.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has taken a cautious approach to declaring a state of emergency as doing so could infringe on the rights of people, although the prime minister has acknowledged that, "It's critically important to prevent a sharp rise in cases in the Tokyo metropolitan area with a large population, which is at the center of economic activity."

Abe has said that COVID-19 infections across Japan are not at a point necessitating a declaration of a state of emergency, although he has stated the nation is "on the brink."

"At this point, we have not seen infections spreading rapidly and widely across the country. We are just about holding the line," Abe said in parliament a day earlier.

"But if we lower our guard now even a little, infections could accelerate suddenly at any moment. We continue to be on the brink," the Japanese leader said.

As cases in Tokyo continue to rise, those in Osaka Prefecture are also spiraling, with 311 new infections confirmed Friday, followed by Tokyo's neighboring prefecture of Chiba with 206 cases. Kanagawa Prefecture, meanwhile, recorded 205 COVID-19 cases, the latest figures showed.

The health ministry also said there are currently a total of 72 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, 1,124 people have been discharged from hospitals after their symptoms improved, according to the latest figures released Thursday evening.
Kannauj: In yet another incident of attack by unruly mob on frontline workers of Coronavirus, a police team, including a chowki in-charge, was attacked in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday (April 3) after they tried to stop a family from offering group namaaz. The incidet took place at Kagjiyana Mohalla at Sadar Kotwali in Kannauj.

According to reports, the chowki in-charge and two other police personnel were injured in the attack and were rushed to the district hospital where they were provided medical treatment.

As per IANS reports, the attackers also damaged the motorcycle of a LIU personnel.

Following the incident, additional forces were called in and four persons were taken into custody.

Heavy police force has deployed in the area after the attack on the police team and drones are being used by the authorities to monitor the situation.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially stepped down as senior members of the royal family.

The couple has completed their final royal duties in March, have shut off their official Sussex Royal Instagram as well as their website, and are now living in a private compound in Los Angeles, California, where they are self-isolating with their 10-month-old baby, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer considered "working royals" and their family will now be financially independent and open to pursue other endeavors.

While they have already left the UK, the couple is still "much-loved members" of the British royal family, according to Queen Elizabeth.

The 93-year-old grandmother is believed to have talked to the couple that the door is always ajar for her grandchildren's return if things don't work out in the US.

She made it clear to Prince Harry that he and his family are "always welcome back if they change their minds," and will be welcomed with open arms.

While the head of the monarchy was reportedly upset about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's decision to leave, Queen Elizabeth II would want to see more of her great-grandson.

She also wanted to make it clear for the duo that their arrangement can only work if they don't exploit their royal status and try to cash in, such as adding the word "royal" to their foundation.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also have a 12-month review period that has been put in place, effective April 1.

If, for whatever reason, the couple isn't having the time of their lives in the US, at the end of the review period, they may be able to ask to return to their royalty.

Aside from that, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also allowed to keep their HRH titles. However, they will not be using it since they don't represent the monarchy anymore.

For the Queen to allow them to keep their titles and expressing publicly how the couple had helped the British royal family in the past couple of years, it may give Prince Harry an urge to return to his royal duties.

After all, Prince Harry has already made it clear that he is hoping to continue serving the Crown.

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be back in the UK if things don't work out for them, as per royal expert Penny Junor, it is "not very likely."

The pair quit royal life because they wanted a non-toxic environment for their son.

A friend close to the couple told several British tabloids that the 38-year-old decided that they will be stepping back was because she didn't want Archie to pick up on her stress and anxiety.

Meghan reportedly felt like she couldn't be the best mother to her son if she weren't her authentic self.

"Something she felt couldn't be in the royal family confines. She felt like it was a toxic environment for him. Because there were too much tension and pent-up frustrations."

READ MORE: Kate Middleton Forced To Accept Prince William's Roving Eye Early On - 'Accept It or Leave Him!'
Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined at a hospital here allegedly misbehaved with the nurses, making lewd remarks and dropping their pants, provoking the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to invoke the stringent National Security Act against them.

The six Jamaat members at the district hospital were shifted to an isolation ward set up at a private educational institute after the complaints against them.

They are among the thousands who attended a religious congregation at organisation's New Delhi headquarter, now being seen as a coronavirus hotspot.

In a sharp reaction, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called those involved in the incident enemies of humanity.

They will neither accept the law nor follow arrangements. Whatever they did with women health workers is a heinous crime, he said on Friday. The NSA is being invoked against them. We will not let leave them," he said, accord in a government statement in Lucknow.

Ghaziabad police said the Jamaat members were booked for indulging in ugly acts and passing lewd remarks against the women staff members at the hospital.

A case was registered against them at the GT Road Kotwali on receiving a complaint from the chief medical officer.

Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said stringent action will be taken against them.

In the complaint, a nurse has alleged that the coronavirus suspects were roaming without trousers in the hospital.

They sang vulgar songs and made ugly gestures, the nurse alleged, adding that they were not taking their medicines.

They were also not following social distancing norms, she said.

Police have registered the case under Sections 269, 270, 271, 294 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code, the SSP said. The sections relate to sexual harassment and actions which spread disease. Over 150 members of the Jamaat have been quarantined at different hospitals in Ghaziabad.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The fans of Mollywood superstar Mohanlal have handed over 18000 masks to cops, informs the hero.

As we stay inside our homes as part of the COVID 19 lock down, the cops are toiling hard during day and night for our security. No words of appreciation would be enough to congratulate their genuine efforts, says Mohanlal.
Whether millions live or die depends on the decisions the worlds leaders take in the coming days and weeks.

The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening lives and livelihoods across the world.

In just three months, more than a million people in 180 countries have fallen sick from the viral illness, while at least 50,000 have died in a public health emergency the United Nations is calling the worlds most challenging crisis since World War II.

In large swathes of the globe, lockdowns aimed at stemming the viruss spread have brought life and economic activity to a virtual standstill. In the worst-hit regions, hospitals are overwhelmed with the sick and dying, while the poor and vulnerable everywhere are facing severe food shortages and starvation.

Highlighting the risk this poses to peace and stability in the world, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued an urgent appeal for action on Tuesday, calling on politicians to forget political games and come together for a strong and effective response.

The world is facing an unprecedented test. And this is the moment of truth, he said.

Indeed, the stakes could not be higher.

Whether millions live or die depends on the decisions the worlds leaders take in the coming days and weeks. But analysts say the early signs are worrying.

In some countries, responses from heads of governments have been marked by dithering and denial, driven by personal interests, distrust of science or fears of wreaking economic havoc.

Its been disappointing in many countries  too many, said John M Barry, a historian who studied the Spanish flu pandemic that killed as many as 100 million people in 1918. In some countries, its been outright reprehensible  some leaders actions will unnecessarily kill many of their citizens.





In Xi Jinpings China, where the illness was first detected in late December, authorities are accused of engaging in a cover-up and punishing doctors who sounded the alarm in the early days of the outbreak  moves critics say allowed the virus to spread out of the central city of Wuhan to every corner of the globe.

In the United States, President Donald Trump initially downplayed the severity of the threat, predicting the virus would disappear like a miracle one day, and dismissing growing concerns over the disease as a hoax by his political rivals. He only changed tack last week after polling showed an increasingly worried public and modelling predicted that 200,000 people could die in the US without drastic containment efforts.

In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro continues to dismiss the illness as a fantasy and a little flu. Just last week, he defied the advice of his own health officials on avoiding social contact by touring the streets of the capital, Brasilia, in a campaign to get his countrymen back to work.

Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, meanwhile, held political rallies late into March, kissing his supporters and urging Mexicans to live life as normal. That came even as his health minister called on citizens to stay home to contain the virus.

Charles Call at the Washington DC-based Brookings Institute said Bolsonaro and Lopez Obradors approaches are marked by an aversion to scientific inquiry and state institutions. Their cavalier attitudes are attracting widespread criticism, he wrote in a blog post, predicting the crisis will pose a test for populism in both countries.

In Indonesia, President Joko Widodo admitted last week to deliberately withholding information on the outbreak; a strategy he said had been used to prevent panic. In the early days of the epidemic, some of his ministers said prayer would keep the disease away, while others said the countrys warmer weather would slow the viruss spread.

Writing in The Diplomat, Asmiati Malik, assistant professor at the Universitas Bakrie in Indonesia, said the governments unscientific approach was based on concerns over the economy in the worlds fourth-most populous country. But engaging in the politics of denial and limiting the publics access to information on the viruss spread could cost thousands of lives, she wrote.





The denial and delays will hurt these countries if and when tougher restrictions are required to stem the epidemic, said Barry, the historian. If you expect public compliance with calls for social distancing, the public has to believe in them. If they dont trust those who advocate them, they wont, and compliance will not be as good and they will be less effective.

That is why the single most important lesson from the 1918 pandemic is to tell the truth, he said.

There are some leaders who have done that.

On March 11, as infections began to spike in hard-hit Italy, Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel said some 70 percent of her countrys population would contract the virus  a sober warning that stood in stark contrast to pronouncements from other politicians at the time. A week later, the chancellor appealed to Germans in a dramatic television address to respect tough restrictions on movement and social contact.

The situation is serious; take it seriously, she said. In a democracy, such curbs should not be enacted lightly  and only ever temporarily. But at the moment they are essential in order to save lives.

Germany has since led the way in Europe with large scale testing for COVID-19, collecting nearly a million samples since the start of the crisis. And although the country now ranks fifth among territories with confirmed cases  recording more than 80,000 infections  it has a much lower fatality rate than most.

Praising Merkel, Judy Dempsey of Carnegie Europe said the chancellors approach points the way forward to the unified, decisive response that is necessary and how democracies can best deliver it.

In Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is also winning plaudits for an aggressive testing and tracing campaign that has kept the number of infections in the country low  about 1,000 cases since the beginning of the outbreak. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Lee said transparency and trust were key to his countrys battle against the virus.

We are transparent  if there is bad news, we tell you. If there are things which need to be done, we also tell you, he said. If people do not trust you, even if you have the right measures, it is going to be very hard to get them implemented.

South Koreas President Moon Jae-in, New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele are also receiving praise for similar decisive and transparent action.





Then, there are those leaders accused of using the crisis as a cover to amass power.

Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday obtained the open-ended right to rule by decree in a new law that also imposes jail terms of five years on those who spread false information  a move critics say could be used to muzzle journalists. Similar concerns are being raised in the Philippines, where President Rodrigo Duterte secured emergency powers that grant him the authority to crack down on false claims about the coronavirus.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using a state of emergency over the pandemic to authorise intelligence services to step up surveillance of the public and to close down the countrys courts ahead of his trial on corruption charges.

We recognise that this pandemic is posing an unprecedented test for world leaders, said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Our problem is that some leaders have adopted authoritarian approaches. This is not the time for politics any emergency powers must be proportionate, and states must always protect peoples rights.

In addition to the covert power grabs, observers are also concerned by fighting between world powers, particularly between the US and China. Officials in Beijing, angered by Washingtons insistence on labelling the coronavirus the Chinese virus, are now engaged in a propaganda offensive, with some claiming  without evidence  that the US military had brought the virus to Wuhan.

The deteriorating US-China ties  as well Washingtons retreat from the world stage under Trumps America First policy  are jeopardising a coordinated response to the pandemic.

There isnt a global response. And its a huge problem in the sense that this a crisis that is much better handled if key countries came together, said Charles Kupchan of the US-based Council on Foreign Relations.

Whether the Ebola crisis of 2014 or the financial crisis of 2008, the US was a country that stepped up and said How are we going to manage this together? But those days are over. The Trump administration has been extremely slow at responding to crisis at home, and its leadership abroad has been minimal.

This could be disastrous for the worlds most vulnerable, Kupchan said.

Core issues that need addressing include procurement and distribution of medical equipment, sharing of best practices on testing and isolation, and dealing with lower-income communities, he said. I fear the worst if this virus hits refugee camps and countries with less-developed healthcare systems. It could be quite devastating.
I directed all health care facilities -- hospitals, surgical centers, veterinarians, dental offices, dermatologists -- and yes, abortion clinics, to postpone or cancel all elective or non-urgent procedures, Holcomb said. Unless, of course, by doing so would cause harm to the patient, in which case, I would leave up to the doctor to determine and decide. Any and all medical expertise and personal protective equipment first needs to go toward ... defeating COVID-19.
NEW YORK -- Alone again, Diedra Nottingham spends her days flipping through photo albums of dead friends. She hasn't left home for weeks, fearing "death by touch," she said. Typical of her generation, Nottingham, 69, a lesbian residing in Stonewall House, the city's first LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing center, is trapped in memories of how to survive a plague. She escaped HIV infection by being celibate for a decade, although she lost a brother, two foster brothers, an ex-girlfriend and a dozen friends to that other pandemic. Now with the coronavirus lockdown, "it's like a bad memory come back to haunt you," she said.

In 1991, AIDS activists scaled the rush-hour timetables at Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal and unfurled an ominous banner: "One AIDS Death Every 8 Minutes." They called it a "Day of Desperation." Those days are back. And now, as then, New York City has more deaths than anywhere else in the country.

Citywide, a death due to covid-19 comes roughly every 10 minutes, and some days it's one every four minutes, according to daily reports from city officials. For the city's roughly 800,000 LGBT residents -- especially elders, who find themselves among the most at risk once again -- the coronavirus pandemic's woes of loneliness, panic, and fear of being vulnerable to infection are searingly evocative of the HIV/AIDS crisis a generation ago.

"People were just living their life. One minute they were with you at the club and the next day at an ER being intubated because it came on so quickly," said Philip Monaghan, 65. "You didn't know if you got it from a bar glass or a towel at a beach house or that guy you slept with last week. You'd sit around wondering: Do I have it? Just from standing around I thought I was going to get it."

Monaghan has been HIV-positive since 1993 and had lost 40% of his address book by then. About covid-19, he said, "It feels so chillingly familiar, and it's bringing up a lot of emotions for many of my peers who lived through the early days."

John Kelly, 65, a dancer with asthma and bronchitis, has had HIV since 1989; but covid-19 got him to prep a go bag for the hospital.

- - -

In interviews about the AIDS crisis, gay elders recalled being shunned by churches, having cashiers drop change into their hands to avoid touching, nurses leaving food outside hospital rooms, and even friends and relatives crossing the street to avoid them, or throwing out the dishes after they'd come over for dinner.

"Memorials became our new social lives and caregiving our lifestyle," said Guy Lawrence Aiossa, 67, a retired hair stylist who lives at Stonewall House. "Our uniforms became sneakers and jeans so we could run from visiting one sick person to another sick person."

Today is not as bad as that -- yet.

"My assistant had [covid-19] and was like, 'I can't taste!' but that's not AIDS, honey," said Daniel Nardicio, 53, a longtime New York nightlife impresario. "It's not like I'm losing three friends a week."

But for many gays, a rage felt long ago has returned: fury at the government over its haphazard initial response, suspicion about abatement or promises of a vaccine, and anxiety about how much worse this could get for the marginalized.

Larry Kramer, an HIV-positive playwright who in the 1980s co-founded AIDS-focused support and advocacy groups, attacked President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis and drew a corollary to Ronald Reagan's often criticized approach to confronting AIDS (although Kramer called Trump "worse than Reagan"). "How do we have him actually acknowledge the stupid things he's doing that's just getting in the way of help?" said Kramer, whose husband has covid-19 symptoms and is in isolation.

"I want to go out there and start another ACT UP again," Kramer said, referring to his political action coalition, "but I haven't got the strength or the energy left. I'm 85 years old. And so I feel guilty about that, because I have a voice and feel unable to use it effectively now."

The survival playbook LGBT activists wrote during the AIDS crisis -- sitting by hospital beds of sick strangers, hospice and food delivery, camaraderie and solidarity rooted in an intimate buddy system -- is hamstrung by covid-19's social distancing requirements, the quarantines and lockdowns. AIDS shuttered bathhouses and backrooms; coronavirus has shut down much more. Even sex.

"We are still seeing the legacy of where infection meets inequality," said Ofole Mgbako, an infectious-disease specialist at Columbia University with an expertise in HIV. He called the AIDS crisis "the greatest example in history of how social inequality, racial inequality, income inequality, gender-based discrimination, homophobia, all of those things allowed a virus to run rampant in society."

He noted that even today, decades after antiretroviral remedies, HIV infection is disproportionately prominent in the South and nationwide among black and Latino populations. Trump and others on the political right have labeled covid-19 a "Chinese virus." Mgbako sees a parallel to the early designation of AIDS as a "gay cancer."

HIV ravaged gay men in particular because anal sex involves a high risk of transmission. Their lifestyle made them vulnerable. Similarly, Mgbako argued, as the United States becomes an outsize hot spot of reported coronavirus cases, perhaps there's something about the way Americans live that makes them more susceptible to infection: the lack of universal health care, workers earning less than living wages, and 78% of the workforce lurching from paycheck to paycheck.

"I really worry that for the same people who are left out of the conversation," said Mgbako, "we might see more-substantial deaths."

Many of this city's sectors of essential work -- in restaurants and hotels, construction, post offices, mass transit, laundromats and nursing homes -- have prominent populations of otherwise marginalized people. Last week, as well, the Rikers Island prison emerged as a flash point of infection among both prisoners and guards. But this week, evangelist Franklin Graham built a makeshift hospital in Central Park that requires volunteers to adhere to a statement of faith that those deemed unrighteous are doomed to "everlasting punishment in Hell."

Looking ahead, Mgbako said the AIDS crisis has taught us that we should ready ourselves for post-coronavirus survivors' guilt. The city's medical professionals during the AIDS crisis were so traumatized that many developed drug abuse problems to cope with the stress.

Alex Roque, director of the Ali Forney Center, an LGBT youth shelter in Manhattan, flagged coronavirus-related, gay-specific crises, such as coming out to hostile families and now having to remain with them in lockdown. "It's interesting to hear this message of 'go home, stay home, be safe' and that everyone was finding that definition of safety in the comfort of their family," he said. "Our young people didn't have that." His center's March intake was up 62 percent over March 2019.

At 32, Ritchie Torres, a Democrat, is the city's youngest councilman. Afro-Latino, gay and raised in public housing in the Bronx, he is running for Congress and recently recovered from a confirmed case of covid-19. He noted that affluent Brooklyn, with a million more residents than the Bronx, the city's poorest borough, has the same death toll -- and that Queens, the city's most immigrant-heavy borough, has the most deaths.

"The common refrain is that the coronavirus does not discriminate, but the notion of a pandemic as an equalizer is not entirely true," he said. "The poorest people with the poorest health outcomes and the poorest access to health care are often condemned by Zip code to be the hardest-hit."

On Tuesday, two staff members of SAGE, a nonprofit for LGBT elders that runs Stonewall House's social services, gave shelf-stable meals to residents like Nottingham. The center opened in December with a ceremony filled with rainbow-colored columns of balloons. Then these elders, a quarter of whom came from homeless shelters, moved in over January and were soon forced by the pandemic to become shut-ins.

Amid such gloom, LGBT Americans have a mantra: It gets better. If the country can learn to work and go to school from home, said Roque, it can learn to help from home, too. He borrowed some advice from the late Fred Rogers, star of the long-running children's television program "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood": "Lookfor the helpers." Kelly, the dancer, called AIDS "a huge ruptured and profound moment," adding that for those living through the covid-19 pandemic, "there are possibilities for insight and wisdom, hopefully, in the wake of that." Nottingham agreed: "When this is over, everybody better wake up and realize it could happen again. Or something worse. So just be kinder to people."
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Linkedin Lynda Ibrahim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 14:15 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f7f427 1 Lifestyle #column,#UrbanChat,#health,#virus,#coronavirus,#COVID19,#Indonesia,#pandemic Free

As the number of COVID-19 patients rises daily, so does the number of stories about blue-collar workers struggling to make ends meet.

Creative industries such as fashion and art, often deemed as secondary if not tertiary needs, suffered an early blow as countless festivals and bazaars got canceled during the supposedly profitable pre-Idul Fitri months.

Powered mostly by small and medium-sized enterprises, many creative business owners are quietly counting their liquidity to pay out the mandatory Idul Fitri bonus and measuring their survival beyond. The creative human resource, many of whom are proud freelancers, are starting to wonder.

Another problem also soon emerged. A large chunk of Indonesia's labor force works in the informal sector, largely unregulated and seldom shielded by an adequate safety net.

The app-based ride-hailing drivers, taxi drivers, food hawkers, self-employed parking attendants, seamstresses, low-skilled construction laborers  not only do they live a hand-to-mouth existence, their daily income comes from a healthily running economy.

Now that work from home, physical distancing and quasi-lockdown measures are in place, these folks are rapidly losing their livelihood. They still go out, risking infection to feed the family.

Continuing to work while risking infection has also been forced upon many of our medical professionals. A sudden surge of infectious patients of this magnitude was not factored into the supply chain of protective suits, which left our medical and burial workers making do with raincoats and other makeshift protection.

The problem is by no means unique to Indonesia, as doctors in Europe and the US are screaming loudly on social media over the lack of standardized protective suits (a doctor in New York tweeted what she was given to wear, a New York Yankees plastic poncho).

During a press briefing last week, State of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo openly admitted that his team had been scouring suppliers around the world for masks and gloves.

The good thing is, when push comes to shove, generous souls come forward. Global luxury giant Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy reappropriated its perfume production line to make free hand sanitizer for France, while Prada bought complete ICU units for Milan hospitals.

Paragon, the mother company behind the lucrative cosmetics brands Wardah and Makeover, generously donated billions of rupiah to referral hospitals  a move soon followed by other large corporations in Indonesia, some preferred sending out goods than money.

The Indonesian Twitterati, for all their noise and snarkiness, have been known to be fast in mobilizing help. Either through private donations or public crowdfunding accounts, wallets were quickly opened to distribute masks and hand sanitizer to informal sector workers, or meals to overworked health workers.

A handful of resourceful names in the local fashion scene sprang into action. Renowned designer Anne Avantie announced a shift of production line to make protective suits for hospitals, Cotton Ink aimed to produce 10,000 protective suits through crowdfunding, Major Minor donated much-needed masks, while young designer Yosafat Dwi Kurniawan raced to sew coveralls for often overlooked community health centers (Puskesmas).

Party organizer Ola Harika Rachman endeavored to produce facial visors for hospitals, as many are running out of goggles and face shields to protect from patients respiratory droplets, the main source of infection.

However, in the midst of this madness, alongside the well-meaning charities, roam profiteering charlatans.

A friend ordering boxes of surgical masks for donations got scammed, receiving used masks instead while the online seller disappeared without a trace.

Another friend trying to simultaneously giving cloth masks to the poor while empowering work-needing seamstresses almost got robbed with an exorbitant sewing fee from a cheeky operator.

A pals sister wanting to send factory-issue disinfectant ended up with both the hired driver and hot items vanishing into thin air.

A buddys brother selling cheap cloth masks for donations saw his products being resold for profit.

The diehard leftists instantly, and oh-so-predictably, blamed capitalism. The misty-eyed yogis blamed the dark side of humanity. I just blame the charlatans, note their full names, and prep my voodoo dolls (What? They so deserve it).

Does that mean that you should withdraw from helping out? God, no.

Help out in any way you can and feel safe to do. Donate to crowdfunding efforts, distribute sanitizer, send out meals, even spread the information as there are well-meaning people who want to donate but arent very informed. Most of these things can be done from inside the safety of your house with a click or two on your gadget.

Even if you have no extra pennies to spare, you can still help by keeping yourself healthy, keeping your job, or keeping your business afloat so your workers get to keep their job. Being healthy and employed today means helping the government for not becoming yet another burden.

Until this pandemic passed us all. After which, if my voodoo dolls didnt prevail, we round up the profiteering charlatans. (ste)

 Lynda Ibrahim is a Jakarta-based writer with

a penchant for purple, pussycats and pop culture.
Justmoh Construction Limited, a wholly Ghanaian-owned construction company, through its Chief Executive Officer, Justice Amoh, has presented a cheque of GH500,000 to help the nation fight of the coronavirus outbreak.



The money that was donated to the COVID-19 Trust Fund was handed to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Akosua Frema Osei Opare who received the cheque on behalf of government and the Trust Fund.



She noted in her brief remarks that government and the people of Ghana are grateful to Justmoh Construction for their rich contributions towards the fund and governments Coronavirus Alleviation Programme.



She further indicated that the secretariat of the COVID-19 Trust Fund will be fully operational from Monday the 6th of April 2020 and their accounts and locational address would be advertised so that all donors can channel their contributions to them accordingly.



Justice Amoh before presenting the cheque commended the President and his government for the bold decisions taken so far to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic for gaining ground in Ghana as is the case in Europe, North America, and other jurisdictions.



We are confident that the plans of government will work. So far, we have managed our cases well and the plans that have been put in place are working. Government never planned for this development but it still has to ensure that everything goes on well.



As a responsible company, we have decided to support the fight with this amount and we will continue to pray and preach all the safety protocols to ensure that the nation wins this fight the CEO told the media.



He urged the state to use their donation to support the work of first responders and frontline workers in the nations battle against COVID-19.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President Trump indicated Friday hes unlikely to take major steps to prop up oil prices and help an industry imploding as coronavirus chokes oil demand.

Why it matters: The pressure is now on for a planned Monday meeting of OPEC and other producing nations to strike a deal absent big action by the U.S. government. If that falls through, the industry could plunge even further into the abyss. Prices, now hovering below $30 a barrel, could breach $10, some experts say.

Driving the news: After meeting with oil-industry executives Friday afternoon to discuss options to help the ailing sector, Trump seemed to only endorse finding more places to store oil.

That move would be a small and fleeting band-aid.

Trump also said he isnt thinking of imposing tariffs on oil imports as of now, an idea pushed by some domestic producers.

The industry itself is divided on the scope of help the government should offer.

The big picture: As the pandemic threatens lives around the world, its shutting down a global economy driven by oil consumption. This, along with a related price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, is sending oil prices into a tailspin and producers scrambling to stay afloat.

What theyre saying: Despite tweeting earlier this week that he had talked to leaders of both Saudi Arabia and Russia, Trump suggested Friday that he wants to stay out of it. Ultimately the marketplace will take care of it. I think they are going to work out their problem fairly quickly, the president said.

What were watching: Whether Texas or other producing states bypass the federal government to try to hash out a deal to curtail production.

What to watch: Monday's virtual meeting is planned with Saudi Arabia, other members of the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries, Russia  collectively known as OPEC+  and possibly other producing nations.

Go deeper: Trump calls to fill up more places with oil
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Coronavirus killed another 188 people in New York City on Friday, taking the death toll to 1,867, as the city's mayor Bill de Blasio called on President Trump to create a mandatory enlistment for healthcare workers in order to sufficiently staff hospitals.

During a press conference on Friday afternoon, de Blasio called on the president to do 'what no president had ever done before' and force medical staff from around the US to come to New York to fight.

He says the theoretical army of doctors could then be deployed anywhere in the country to fight the virus where it strikes most viciously.

An emergency alert was also sent to cell phones in New York City on Friday evening, calling on licensed healthcare workers to volunteer to 'support facilities in need'.

De Blasio also announced he has given the NYPD permission to raid businesses that are hoarding vital medical supplies.

It comes amid warnings that New York City will run out of crucial supplies by the end of next week and that Sunday will be 'D-Day' in terms of assessing what is needed for the weeks going forward.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is calling on President Trump to enlist doctors and nurses from around the country to come and help his overstretched hospitals in the fight against coronavirus

An emergency alert was also sent to cell phones in New York City on Friday evening, calling on licensed healthcare workers to volunteer to 'support facilities in need'

Earlier on Friday, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order to retrieve all equipment that the state needs - ventilators and PPE equipment - and use it where it is needed.

De Blasio celebrated the decision on Friday and said he'd gone further to give the FDNY, NYPD and New York Sheriff's Office permission to raid any businesses that are hoarding the supplies.

There are more than 57,000 cases of coronavirus in the city of New York and 1,867 people have died.

He also wrote an op-ed in The New York Times about his strategy.

He believes there are still masks and gloves in the construction industry and in manufacturing businesses and also in non-essential medical scenarios.

'Right now there are docs and nurses and medical professionals going about their normal lives but a lot of them could be freed up in a crisis. I have called for today, something unprecedented: A national enlistment effort; a national effort to bring all available medical personnel into the fight, wherever that fight is raging the most, to recruit docs nurses and medical pros from all over the country send them rapidly and move them rapidly to the next biggest problem.

'We will then offer our personnel to go to the next front. it's never been done but we know what it looks like because this country's been through war and our military has the ability to put together a national structure and insure they get where they need to go.

'Our military have not been brought in in anywhere near the way they could have been I'm really thankful USNS comfort are here but they are few in number compared to the might of the military. there's a very small presence; it should a huge presence.

'They have not been called up to action - it's time for the commander-in-chief to give the order. If we're fighting a war lets act like we're fighting a war.

'I'm telling the president, do something no president has had to do in modern history; create an enlistment for medical personnel and make sure our military medical personnel are not on their bases. We need them now.'

De Blasio went on to say the nation - but particularly New York City - was 'in the middle of a war'.

Medical workers remove a body from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn on Friday

There are makeshift morgues set up all over New York City to cope with the escalating death toll

'If another country were attacking the US, our largest city and simultaneously attacking Florida, Michigan, Louisiana, and thousands of Americans had died and if i said, "do you think the military would be called up?"

'You'd say yes. The enemy is killing thousands of Americans who don't need to die, who should not die if the right medical help were there for them. You cant say every state for themselves every city for themselves.

'That's not America when there's a disaster. Everyone goes from all over the country to help. It's an American belief that we go to help. We have to wake up with the reality we're facing, this is a war with many many fronts.'

De Blasio believes that most businesses that still have supplies will turn them over. However if they don't, he says law enforcement can take them.

He did not specify how they will find out what is where, or whether or not the businesses will be punished for not giving them up.

'We know for a fact that there's still a lot of supplies that have not been applied - they're sitting in offices and warehouses and that's not acceptable. I'm authorizing the NYPD, sheriff's office, FDNY to support the efforts to acquire these supplies from these private companies.

'I'm certain many will comply readily. in the event that any private organization attempts to resist this new instruction from the state and does not provide those crucial, life-saving supplies and equipment - I'm authorizing the NYPD to use their law enforcement capacity to make sure those items are turned over immediately and brought immediately to where the need is greatest in our hospital system,' he said.

He also thanked the president and Jared Kushner for getting 200,000 N-95 masks to the city 'within hours' on Friday.

'I want to give special thanks to the president and to Jared Kushner they told me they would get 200,000 n-95 masks to our hospital system. I was on a call with them yesterday, they said they would produce them immediately and low and behold... a few hours later, that they had been delivered.
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MOSCOW, RUSSIA / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Mechel Group's (MOEX:MTLR)(NYSE:MTL),one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies) sales network Mechel Service is supplying steel rolls for construction of infectious disease hospitals designed to fight coronavirus all over Russia.As part of the government's plan to prevent the spread of coronavirus, rapidly erectable medical centers designed for fighting infectious diseases are being built. Construction works are held round the clock.Russia's defense ministry is speeding up construction of 16 medical centers. Mechel Service is supplying rolled products for construction of the defense ministry's multifunctional medical centers in Moscow Region's Odintsovo, Volgograd and Orenburg Region. Steel rolls are also supplied for construction of hospitals in Novosibirsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Supplies mainly include beams, rebar and flats produced by Mechel Group's Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant.Mechel Service also provides rolls for construction of an infectious disease hospital in Moscow's Voronovo town, which will become an addition to the ward in Kommunarka and the infectious disease hospital #1. Earlier, the company supplied more than 5,000 tonnes of rebar for construction of the medical center in Kommunarka, which is currently Moscow's key medical facility for coronavirus patients."Today we face the task of providing enough steel rolls for construction of infectious disease centers as quickly as possible. We do everything in our power to make these supplies in the shortest possible time," Mechel PAO's Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov commented.***MechelPAOEkaterinaVidemanTel: + 7 495 221 88 88***Mechel is an international mining and steel company. Its products are marketed in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, steel, rolled products, ferroalloys, heat and electric power. All of its enterprises work in a single production chain, from raw materials to high value-added products.***Mechel Service is a sales and service network which markets domestically products made by Mechel Group's metallurgical facilities.Mechel Service's 53 storage sites are located in 42 Russian cities and towns. The company also includes 18 service centers for additional treatment of steel rolls.Mechel Service sells a wide range of steel products - rebar (including cold-deformed rebar), regular and profiled steel flats, quality rolls, Bp-1 wire, sections, hardware, wire ropes, stainless steel longs and flats, welded and contoured pipes, welded mesh.***Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Mechel, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements. We refer you to the documents Mechel files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisitions, the impact of competitive pricing, the ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and licenses, the impact of developments in the Russian economic, political and legal environment, volatility in stock markets or in the price of our shares or ADRs, financial risk management and the impact of general business and global economic conditions.SOURCE: PJSC Mechel via EQS Newswire
Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal asked the city government on Friday to take the help of retired doctors and medical students if the national capital witnesses a steep rise in COVID-19 cases in the coming days, officials said.

The LG held meetings with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Police Commissioner S N Srivastava, district magistrates and deputy commissioners of police via video-conferences.

"The LG asked officials to take the help of retired doctors and medical students to deal with the situation if there is a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in Delhi," officials said.

A total of 91 new coronavirus cases were reported in the national capital in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of such cases to 384.

Later, the LG's office issued a statement, saying an effective lockdown is the strongest weapon in the decisive battle against COVID-19.

"The health department will plan and procure medical essentials, and ensure the safety and well-being of the frontline health workers," Baijal was quoted as saying in the statement.

The LG also instructed the officials to ensure a strict vigil of all home quarantine cases and deterrent action against violators.

The police commissioner told the LG that the force is continuously registering cases and detaining people for violating the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown.

Besides, an extensive checking of e-passes is going and action is being taken against those found misusing the passes, the police commissioner told Baijal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gov. Kristi Noem drafts bill limiting 'action civics'

This legislation prohibits colleges and schools from directing, requiring or compelling students to protest or lobby as part of a grade or a class.
A world-renowned scientist who held honorary roles at some of the country's top universities, including Cambridge, has died after a suspected coronavirus infection.

Professor Michael Wakelam, Director of the world-leading Babraham Institute in Cambridge, passed away on Tuesday.

The father-of-two, who was 64, died of complications from what is thought to be a Covid-19 infection.

Professor Michael Wakelam was the Director of the Babraham Institute in Cambridge. The institute is one of a world-leading centre of biological research

Professor Wakelam's main area of research was cell signalling and communication, which he studied for more than 20 years

The institute, which is one of world's top centres of biological research, has since tribute to Professor Wakelam and say his loss will be 'felt widely across the scientific community and all those who knew him'.

In a statement, the Babraham Institute said: 'The institute is devastated to announce the news of the death of Professor Michael Wakelam.

'Professor Wakelam brought a dedication to scientific expertise, both in creating and protecting the environment required for excellent science to happen, and in creating an environment that developed expertise and capabilities in each individual to allow them to achieve their best.

What is the Babraham Institute? The Babraham Institute, based in Cambridge, undertakes world-class life sciences research. Its work centres around biological mechanisms underpinning ageing, development and the maintenance of health. The research focuses on cellular signalling - which governs basic activities of cells and coordinates multiple-cell actions. The ultimate aim is to improve wellbeing and support healthier ageing. The institute is 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. Source: The Babraham Institute Advertisement

'He was passionately committed to providing an excellent training experience for the Institute's PhD students.

'He was a strong advocate of the power of uniting academic and commercial research, as exemplified by the fruitful partnerships that exist today between the Institute's academic research and the commercial research community of the Babraham Research Campus.'

Born in 1955, Professor Wakelam went on to complete a BSc in medical biochemistry in 1977 at the University of Birmingham.

In 1980, he completed his PhD in biochemistry at the midlands-based university.

Professor Wakelam later worked in Germany and London before he was given a lectureship in biochemistry at Glasgow University in 1985.

Professor Wakelam was an honorary professor at the Cambridge University Clinical School, which is co-located with Addenbrooke's Hospital (pictured)

He returned to Birmingham in 1993 as a professor, before joining the Babraham Institute as director in 2007.

Professor Wakelam was also an honorary professor at the Cambridge University Clinical School and at the University of Birmingham and was a visiting professor at King's College in London.

His main area of research was cell signalling and communication, which he studied for more than 20 years.

He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and a member of the Academia Europaea and received the prestigious Morton Lectureship from the Biochemical Society in 2018.
Reporters Without Borders has accused Algeria's government of taking advantage of the coronavirus epidemic to "settle scores" with independent journalists, including those covering long-running anti-government protests.

In a statement co-signed with Algerian NGOs, the watchdog called on Thursday for the immediate release of its correspondent Khaled Drareni, who has been in pre-trial detention since March 29 on a charge of inciting an unarmed gathering and endangering national unity.

Drareni has been arrested several times for covering the "Hirak" anti-government protests held in the capital Algiers every Friday since February 2019.

Imprisoning people during a pandemic is "an act of physical endangerment",F said, accusing the government of "taking advantage of the coronavirus epidemic to settle scores with independent journalism".

The statement also called for the immediate release of journalists Belkacem Djir and Sofiane Merakchi.

Merakchi, a correspondent for Lebanese TV channel Al-Mayadeen, has been in jail since September 26 and is accused of "concealing equipment" and providing images of the protests to Al-Jazeera and other foreign media.

The reasons for Djir's imprisonment are unknown.

In early March, justice minister Belkacem Zeghmati said Djir and Merakchi were both being prosecuted for "common law acts", without giving details.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune pardoned 5,037 prisoners on Wednesday, but the amnesty was not extended to the dozens of supporters of the anti-government protest movement.

Algeria has reported 986 cases of the COVID-19 disease and 83 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GDPR and other data protection and privacy regulations -- as well as a significant (and growing) number of data breaches and exposees of companies' privacy policies -- have put a spotlight on not just the vast troves of data that businesses and other organizations hold on us, but also how they handle it. Today, one of the companies helping them cope with that data in a better and legal way is announcing a huge round of funding to continue that work. Collibra, which provides tools to manage, warehouse, store and analyse data troves, is today announcing that it has raised $112.5 million in funding, at a post-money valuation of $2.3 billion.

The funding -- a Series F, from the looks of it -- represents a big bump for the startup, which last year raised $100 million at a valuation of just over $1 billion. This latest round was co-led by ICONIQ Capital, Index Ventures, and Durable Capital Partners LP, with previous investors CapitalG (Google's growth fund), Battery Ventures, and Dawn Capital also participating.

Collibra was originally a spin-out from Vrije Universiteit in Brussels, Belgium and today it works with some 450 enterprises and other large organizations. Customers include Adobe, Verizon (which owns TechCrunch), insurers AXA and a number of healthcare providers. Its products cover a range of services focused around company data, including tools to help customers comply with local data protection policies and store it securely, and tools (and plug-ins) to run analytics and more.

These are all features and products that have long had a place in enterprise big data IT, but they have become increasingly more used and in-demand both as data policies have expanded, as security has become more of an issue, and as the prospects of what can be discovered through big data analytics have become more advanced.

With that growth, many companies have realised that they are not in a position to use and store their data in the best possible way, and that is where companies like Collibra step in.

Story continues

Most large organizations are in data chaos, Felix Van de Maele, co-founder and CEO, previously told us. We help them understand what data they have, where they store it and [understand] whether they are allowed to use it."

As you would expect with a big IT trend, Collibra is not the only company chasing this opportunity. Competitors include Informatica, IBM, Talend, and Egnyte, among a number of others, but the market position of Collibra, and its advanced technology, is what has continued to impress investors.

"Durable Capital Partners invests in innovative companies that have significant potential to shape growing industries and build larger companies, said Henry Ellenbogen, founder and chief investment officer for Durable Capital Partners LP, in a statement (Ellenbogen is formerly an investment manager a T. Rowe Price, and this is his first investment in Collibra under Durable). We believe Collibra is a leader in the Data Intelligence category, a space that could have a tremendous impact on global business operations and a space that we expect will continue to grow as data becomes an increasingly critical asset.

We have a high degree of conviction in Collibra and the importance of the companys mission to help organizations benefit from their data," added Matt Jacobson, general partner at ICONIQ Capital and Collibra board member, in his own statement. "There is an increasing urgency for enterprises to harness their data for strategic business decisions. Collibra empowers organizations to use their data to make critical business decisions, especially in uncertain business environments.
Over 40 years ago, Americans from the Great Lakes to the Deep South found themselves under assault from a multi-day barrage of tornadoes that would not only go down as one of the worst tornado outbreaks in U.S. history, but also a crucial turning point in the field of meteorology.

The dates April 3-4, 1974, will live in infamy as nearly 150 tornadoes ripped through 13 states. In the horrifying aftermath, hundreds were found dead and thousands injured. Amid the onslaught of severe storms, as many as 15 tornadoes were wreaking havoc simultaneously. Only the 2011 Super Tornado Outbreak from April 25-28 produced more tornadoes in a 24-hour period.

A 1978 documentary produced by the federal government's former Office of Civil Defense showed extensive footage of the storms and the carnage they left behind. The documentary referred to April 3 as the Day of the Killer Tornadoes.

The Ohio Valley was one of the hardest hit locations, with two violent F5 tornadoes ravaging the Ohio towns of Xenia and Sayler Park. According to the National Weather Service, the Xenia tornado was the deadliest of the entire outbreak. Thirty-four people lost their lives as the twister flattened entire neighborhoods.

Brandenburg, Kentucky, was another town that was devastated. More than 120 homes were obliterated by a monster 2,400-foot-wide F5 tornado, which left 28 people dead in the small town.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski lived through the outbreak while attending college at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Kottlowski, who has worked at AccuWeather for 43 years forecasting many types of severe and tropical weather, said the atmospheric ingredients in place that day were typical of a setup for severe weather.

Warm, moist air was moving up from the Gulf of Mexico, ahead of a very impressive storm in the central U.S., Kottlowski explained. At the same time, cold air aloft was wrapping around the back side of the storm, over-topping the warm, moist air and creating instability.

Story continues

"Aloft the air spread out in a fan-shaped pattern causing the mid- and upper-levels of the atmosphere to lift at a faster rate than normal, causing the air east and along and ahead of the advancing cold front to be vented very effectively like a large chimney," Kottlowski said. "The contrast at the surface combined with the enhanced lift aloft led to dramatic thunderstorm development."

Several scientists throughout the weather industry used the outbreak as a springboard to learn more about tornadoes. Among them was Dr. Ted Fujita, a researcher from the University of Chicago, who would closely examine every tornado from the two-day stretch. Several years earlier in 1971, Fujita created the Fujita Scale, a six-point measurement system which became the international standard for rating tornadoes based on intensity and area, until it was later modified in 2007 to the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

This outbreak served as an opportunity for Fujita to put his scale into use by cataloging and gathering information about the twisters, according to AccuWeather Certified Consulting Meteorologist Steve Wistar, who was just finishing his meteorological studies in college at the time.

A number of damaging twisters were caught on film on April 3-4, 1974.

"What stands out for me in addition to it being a black swan' event in the atmosphere is [the tornado outbreak] offered the opportunity for Ted Fujita, perhaps the single most creative, inventive, insightful meteorologist in my lifespan, to further refine his theories about the way severe weather comes about," said Wistar, another AccuWeather veteran who has been with the company for 43 years.

In 1974, NWS offices were not all equipped with radar, and forecasters at certain offices that did have access to radar would need to trace storms from the screens onto thin paper maps to determine movement. In addition, meteorologists would lean heavily on identifying "hook echoes" and storm spotters' reports to issue tornado warnings.

Kottlowski said in the aftermath that there was a major push to conduct extensive research through government-funded university field programs to understand severe weather and tornado development.

"This led to the development of better diagnostic tools such as doppler radar, mesoscale computer models and advanced techniques to diagnose severe weather potential through satellite imagery," he said.

Kottlowski added that the development of faster computers and better mesoscale observational data enabled this research to succeed. With a better understanding of the atmosphere and more advanced tools at their disposal, forecasters then had greater lead times to warn citizens of tornado danger as well as educate them on how to mitigate severe weather risks.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

former President John Mahama has stated, "It is time for the Akufo-Addo government to use the Stabilisation Fund to build some additional buffers for the economy, since the two-week well-intentioned partial lockdown of parts of the country, as part of efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, which has, so far, killed five out of two hundred and four people in Ghana, has obviously, led to some unintended consequences.

The use of the fund, the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress said, Should be directed at cushioning the general population through this period of economic slowdown. These measures may include short term temporary tariff relief in respect of utilities, he suggested.

According to him, While petroleum prices have dropped in recent times, the directive to commercial drivers to reduce the number of passengers means their incomes have also reduced, and, so, Additional relief, in the form of a temporary waiver of some petroleum taxes to further reduce fuel prices, will be helpful to the motoring public, especially commercial drivers.

A few days ago, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta told Parliament that the total estimated fiscal impact, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, is GHS9.5 billion (2.5% of revised GDP).

This would be from the shortfall in petroleum receipts, shortfall in import duties, shortfall in other tax revenues, the cost of the preparedness plan, and the cost of Coronavirus Alleviation Programme.

He said a recalibration of the 2020 Fiscal Framework underpinning the approved 2020 Budget to reflect the fiscal impact of the coronavirus, without incorporating measures, shows that the overall fiscal deficit will increase from the programmed GHS18.9 billion (4.7% of GDP) to GHS30.2 billion (7.8% of revised GDP).

Also, the primary balance will correspondingly worsen from a surplus of GH?2.811 billion (0.7% of GDP) to a deficit of GHS5.6 billion (1.4% of GDP).

According to the Finance Minister, measures are, therefore, required to close the fiscal gap of GHS11.4 billion (2.9% of revised GDP).

Since we are faced with extraordinary circumstances which require extraordinary measures, we would like to propose the following measures for the consideration and support of the House, Mr Ofori-Atta revealed.

The measures include to lower the cap on the Ghana Stabilisation Fund (GSF) from the current US$300 million to US$100 million in accordance with Section 23 (3) of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA).

This measure, he believes, will enable the excess amount in the GSF account over the US$100 million cap to be transferred into the Contingency Fund, consistent with Section 23 (4) of the PRMA.

The amount transferred into the Contingency Fund will be used to fund the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP). Through this process, an estimated GHS1.250 billion will be transferred into the Contingency Fund to Fund the CAP.

Others are an arrangement with the Bank of Ghana to defer interest payments on non-marketable instruments estimated at GHS1.22 billion to 2022 and beyond, as well as adjust expenditures on Goods & Services and Capex downwards by GHS1.248 billion, secure the World Bank DPO of GHS1.71 million and obtain the IMF Rapid Credit Facility of GHS3.145 billion.

---classfmonline
WASHINGTON  Thirty-two U.S. Coast Guard personnel have tested positive for coronavirus, including two in the New York City region, according to numbers shared with Hearst Connecticut Media Thursday.

Thats in addition to four U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets who had confirmed cases, after traveling to Spain in March.

Meanwhile, Coast Guard members are being tapped to screen ships entering U.S. ports for the virus, to evacuate cruise ships and participate in enhanced counter-narcotics efforts.

Across all sectors of the military, more coronavirus cases are being reported, as branches assists in the domestic response to covid-19.

The news comes one day after a U.S. Navy captain was removed from his post four days after he pleaded for help as coronavirus infected the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and 17 other senators, asked a government inspector general to launch a formal investigation into the situation on Friday.

RELATED: Homecoming for CT residents stranded abroad due to coronavirus

Over 1,752 people affiliated with the Department of Defense have contracted the virus, including nearly 1,000 troops, according to numbers released by the Pentagon Friday. The Department of Defense oversees the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and National Guard. Six people have died.

The U.S. Coast Guard cases are not included in these figures because it is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard has nearly 42,000 members.

The 32 Coast Guard personnel with confirmed coronavirus cases have been isolated, said Petty Officer John Hightower of the U.S. Coast Guard. Their condition is not known at this time.

The four cadets with coronavirus never returned to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy campus in New London, Connecticut, which now sits largely empty as cadets complete online classes from home.

Of these four, two exhibited no symptoms, said Commander Dave Milne, an external affairs affairs officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Two had mild symptoms.

Earlier this week, U.S. Coast Guard vessels escorted the USNS Comfort into New York Citys harbor, where the massive hospital ship will reduce the burden on the citys hospitals by treating patients with ailments other than COVID-19.

RELATED: The new retail reality for shopper during coronavirus

At the port of New York  one of the busiest in the nation  and other U.S. ports, the Coast Guard is also screening vessels for coronavirus by questioning commercial and passenger ship operators about what countries they have traveled to and the symptoms of all people aboard. Ships that traveling from countries with severe coronavirus outbreaks or with passengers with symptoms may be turned away or referred to the Centers of Disease Control and Protection, Hightower said.

Foreign-flagged cruise ships, for example, must be prepared to care for covid-19 patients on their vessels for an indefinite period of time at sea or seek help outside the U.S., due to overwhelmed health care systems, a Coast Guard bulletin said Sunday. The Coast Guard had been facilitating many medical evacuations of coronavirus patients off cruise ships.

But it now appears such aid will be limited, even as dozens of cruise ships are at sea, with many near ports in Florida.

On one ship seeking a landing, the Zandaam, owned by Holland America, four people have died and over 200 are ill from coronavirus.

The cruise ship industry is now under a 30-day suspension of trips from the U.S.

Concerned that drug cartels may be exploiting the coronavirus epidemic as a time of U.S. distraction, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that multiple U.S. Coast Guard ships will now participate in an enhanced counter-narcotics effort in U.S. waters, along with the Navy and other military forces.

U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr said that American officials often were aware of drug traffic arriving on U.S. shores, but only had the capacity to stop a fraction of the traffic. He said Wednesday their new effort would double their capacity for interdiction.

Were at war with covid-19, were at war with terrorists and were at war with drug cartels as well, said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
With the Easter break fast approaching, locked down Brits have retained their trademark humour by making light of what is a very bleak situation.

With travel plans being cancelled left, right and centre, many face the prospect of staring at the same four walls during a prolonged period of quarantine as the coronavirus crisis unfolds.

The Government has urged the nation to remain inside, venturing out only for essential activity such as a local shop for necessities or a daily exercise.

Despite plans in ruins, however, Brits have taken to social media to post hilarious memes in an attempt to see the brighter side of life.

Some joke that an exotic getaway has now had a minor tweak, with the destination of 'Las Kitchenas' or 'Santa Bedroomes' soon to be stamped on the passport instead.

Some families are now hit with the double header of not only having a relaxing break cancelled, but also now have to face up to the prospect of having the children home from school for the foreseeable future.

One Twitter uses mused about the different 'exotic' locations around the house he may travel

Over on Instagram jokes were being cracked about Easter getaway plans taking shape

The reality of the Easter holiday is certainly hitting home with all the kids away from school

Parents have joked about balancing the act of homeschooling with working remotely at home

Already comical memes have appeared after home isolation has altered the concept of days

Some big lockdown choices are being made; including the bedroom or living room conundrum

Some have already been hilariously looking beyond Easter at the (limited) opportunities summer may bring as the weather begins to heat up

Holiday destinations have drastically altered, yet some can thankfully see the funny side

Creativity is emerging as families search for alternative topics of interest during Easter break

It hasn't been lost on many that the recent weather in lockdown Britain has been glorious
[April 02, 2020] Shareholder Alert: Robbins LLP Reminds Investors ProPetro Holding Corp. (PUMP) Sued for Misleading Shareholders

Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP reminds investors that a purchaser of ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE: PUMP) filed a class action complaint against the Company for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 between March 17, 2017 and August 8, 2019. ProPetro is an oilfield services company that provides pressure pumping and other related services. If you suffered a loss as a result of ProPetro's misconduct, click here. ProPetro Holding Corp. (PUMP) Reveals Multiple Weaknesses in Financial Reporting According to the complaint, on March 27, 2018, ProPetro filed its annual report for fiscal year 2017 touting revenue of $981.86 million and stating in relevant part that the Company had concluded that its disclosure control and procedures "were effective at the reasonable assurance level." In its annual report on 10-K for fiscal year 2018, ProPetro touted increasing revenue of $1.7 billion and maintained its statement on its disclosure controls and procedures. Then, in August 2019, the Company had disclosed that it was conducting an audit concerning, amongst other things, expense reimbursements and certain transactions involving related parties or potential conflicts of interest and that $370,000 had been improperly reimbursed to members of senior management. In addition to the Company's internal audit, ProPetro remains under investigation by the SEC (News - Alert). On this news, ProPetro's share price fell $4.59, or over 26%, to close at $12.75. Finally, on February 24, 2020, ProPetro revealed that a board committee had found multiple material weaknesses related to its financial reporting and disclosures and consequently the Company announced it was unable to timely file its annual report.



ProPetro Holding Corp. (PUMP) Shareholders Have Legal Options Contact us to learn more:

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(800) 350-6003

[email protected]

Shareholder Information Form

Robbins LLP is a nationally recognized leader in shareholder rights law. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits, and has helped its clients realize more than $1 billion of value for themselves and the companies in which they have invested. Click here to receive free alerts from Stock Watch when companies engage in wrongdoing. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200402005877/en/

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The Rev. Richard Mosson Weinberg canceled the Boston ferns and the yellow daffodils for the Easter service ordered for his Episcopal church in Washington's affluent Kalorama neighborhood. Rabbi Levi Shemtov scrapped plans for the 200-person Seder dinner for Passover in his Chabad synagogue nearby. And Imam Yahya Luqman called off the Ramadan dinners at his mosque down the street.

These three faith leaders, who normally lead worship within walking distance from each other in Northwest Washington, are all scrambling to find socially distant ways to celebrate major religious holidays this month. They are joined by clergy and the faithful around the world, including at well-known Christian, Jewish and Muslim sites in Jerusalem and beyond.

On Sunday, Christians will launch Holy Week with Palm Sunday, preparing to recount the biblical story of Jesus's death and resurrection. Since St. Margaret's canceled services, including for Easter on April 12, Weinberg has been working on a sermon about the life and message of Jesus that he will post on YouTube.

"People are dealing with profound loss, so we have to adapt," Weinberg said.

He knows his religious peers are in the same boat.

"We collegially greet one another because we share an alley," Weinberg said of Shemtov and Luqman, whose houses of worship are located around the corner from his Connecticut Avenue church, on Leroy Place NW. "There's a beauty in that we're in this together."

At TheSHUL of the Nation's Capital, Shemtov has personnel arranging boxes that include matzoh and the other traditional elements of a Seder meal to be distributed to the Jewish community. The rabbi, who avoids the use of electronics on holy days, will lead a live-stream demonstration of the Seder before Passover begins at sundown Wednesday.

"Being alone is antithetical to the spirit of Passover," said Shemtov, whose synagogue is attended by President Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

For many families, the multigenerational aspect will especially be missing because older people are in isolation, Shemtov said, and Jewish families often invite people who have no place to go to join them for the Seder meal.

"People are doing the absolute best they can," Shemtov said. "It's different and not as joyous as other years have been, but people are focusing inward on their family and personally as opposed to outward."

The synagogue shares the same tiny, one-way street as the American Fazl Mosque, a stately converted rowhouse that is the oldest Muslim house of worship in the nation's capital. Luqman said his mosque, established by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1950, would normally host about 50 people each night of Ramadan for an iftar, the evening meal when Muslims break their Ramadan fast, starting on April 23. Instead, this year, families will break fast in their homes.

"I wouldn't say it's a blessing in disguise because there's a pandemic, but there are all these distractions in people's lives that disrupt their religious duties" Luqman said, citing the obligation to pray five times a day as one such duty. "When people are at home, they can turn their attention to these prayers."

In Jerusalem, the strict coronavirus social distancing regulations that have been in place for most of March look set to continue through April, upending traditional holiday plans for Jews, Muslims and Christians and threatening the country's tourism industry.

Passover, Easter and Ramadan typically draw hundreds of thousands of international visitors and pilgrims of all faiths to Israel, but this year Christian and Muslim leaders have accepted that flagship events will be carried out with only essential clergy and, in many cases, streamed online for followers.

Israeli Jews, who spend the first night of Passover recounting the exodus from Egypt during the festive Seder meal, were instructed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold a "lockdown Seder" this year.

"I request that you hold in it in the context of the nuclear family that lives with you," he urged in a televised address.

He also shared a public service announcement urging Jews not to gather in groups. "We outlasted and overcame Pharaoh, we'll outlast and overcome this."

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said police patrols would be stepped up to enforce the social distancing restrictions and ensure people adhere to all the regulations.

For all Christians groups, the restrictions mean annual parades are canceled and the number of people at the main prayer ceremonies will be vastly reduced. The Holy Fire Ceremony, an Orthodox tradition that takes place in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site in Jerusalem's Old City where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and later resurrected, typically draws 25,000 the day before Easter.

This year, only key clergy and a camera crew will be present. The fire, which is flown to churches in Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Serbia and Cyprus, will be transferred with a police escort to the country's airport. Clergy, sent from Orthodox churches to guard and collect the flame, will not be permitted to leave their planes.

Wadie Abu Nasser, director of the media committee of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, estimated that the majority of the estimated 180,000 Arab Christians living in Israel and the Palestinian territories would pray at home with the vast majority of churches live-streaming events. "It is very sad but we believe health comes first," Abu Nasser said.

At the Haram al-Sharif holy sanctuary - the third holiest site in Islam, which includes the al-Aqsa Mosque and the golden Dome of the Rock - the gates have been shuttered for more than two weeks. The site, which is also holy to Jews who refer to it as the Temple Mount, is closed to Jewish and other non-Muslim visitors too.

"I never thought I would see something like this," said Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, director of the Waqf Islamic trust, which manages the compound under a special arrangement between Jordan and Israel. "In Islam, the priority is to protect human life, before spiritual and religious practices. But this situation is sad for me."

The long-term impact of the social distancing on religious groups is unclear, though many leaders fear the immediate impact on giving donations to houses of worship.

"I'm wondering what the effects on future public attendance will be," said Gabriel Said Reynolds, professor of Islamic studies and theology at the University of Notre Dame. "Will people feel comfortable being in the same pew, or being shoulder to shoulder, as they're used to?"

Robert Putnam, who wrote the 2000 book "Bowling Alone" about how Americans had become increasingly disconnected from one another by joining fewer clubs, having fewer family dinners and having friends over less frequently, said he doesn't believe this period apart will likely have a lasting impact on religious attendance in the United States. But it will cause religious organizations and families to be creative in the short-term.

Putnam, who also co-wrote "American Grace" about how religion unites and divides Americans, said he will be having a virtual Seder with his children and grandchildren who are scattered across the globe.

"Some people surely will say this reminds them how nice it was to sit in pews with people," he said. "Being isolated has reminded some, I like being around people."

---

The Washington Post's Ruth Eglash reported from Jerusalem. Sufian Taha in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and broadband provider Virgin Media have expressed concern about plans by the telecoms regulator to provide extra radio spectrum to mobile telephone and broadband suppliers to cater for the huge increase in demand provoked by the Covid-19 crisis.

The IAA and Virgin have warned ComReg that its proposal for extra temporary spectrum to allow additional capacity on mobile networks poses a threat to their operations.

ComReg claims the swiftness and impact of Covid-19 measures introduced by the Government has resulted in significant increases and changes to the normal level of traffic on mobile communication networks as well as in the geographic and time-of-day patterns of use.

The regulator has emphasised the importance of ensuring that people who depend on communication networks continue to have access to essential Government services and stay in contact with relatives and friends.

It follows a joint request last month from all three mobile network operators - Eir, Three and Vodafone - for ComReg to temporarily release extra radio spectrum on the 700MHz and 2.6GHz bands available along with a temporary liberalisation of the licensed 2.1GHz band so that it can be used for 4G and other technologies rather than just 3G.

Three said its network had seen new records set for daily demand and data use on several occasions over the past few weeks and expected such levels will be surpassed in the near future as more people follow the Government's "stay at home" guidelines.

However, the IAA has said it is "greatly concerned" at the proposed use of the 2.6GHz band because of its proximity to the band used by radars that assist the work of air traffic controllers.

The IAA said its radars were critical to the safe and efficient operation of a key facility like Dublin Airport which was the main point of entry for many medical supplies required by the HSE during the current crisis.

It warned that anything that could affect the performance of radars could lead to delays and possible cancellation of flights to and from Irish airports and through Irish controlled airspace.

Virgin Media, which uses the 700MHz band on its closed fixed cable network, claims the temporary release of spectrum on this bandwidth is likely to result in interference which would have "a significant adverse impact" on its services.

Virgin said it provides services to over 950,000 premises. It services consumers and Government bodies, including the HSE.

Virgin claimed ComReg's proposal seemed to be wholly driven by requests made by mobile network operators concerned about recent growth.
On March 30, when French lawyer Damien Viguier bought a copy of Le Monde, one of the most widely-distributed newspapers in France, he was livid.

When he read it, he found a fake news report about masks delivered from China to France being nothing more than political propaganda to gloss over its COVID-19 cover-up, reflecting its prejudice against China.

However, just two months ago, the newspapers claimed that China exaggerated the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak, and that the lockdown in Wuhan was a violation of human rights. The lawyer condemned the newspaper for telling a bare-faced lie.

Freedom of the press in France has been seriously undermined as news media has been controlled by billionaires for decades, Damien said angrily.

Video source: Guanshipin Studio
Governors and Mayors Take to Social Media to Address Constituents

CovidActNow.org Visualizes Projection Data

Developers Launch COVID-19 State Policy Database

The 2020 U.S. Census Is Online Now

Seattle Firefighters Dance for Social Distancing on TikTok

As the novel coronavirus crisis wears on, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is looking to hire a chief data officer.The position appears to be a new one for the federal agency that is tasked with combating outbreaks such as the COVID-19 spread taking place right now. This also marks continued modernization for a government agency that has voiced the desire to do so for more than a year The posting went up Tuesday and will remain live until April 28.According to the job posting, the position will be based in Atlanta, and it will be a full-time, permanent executive-level position, reporting to the CDCs chief information officer. Responsibilities for the role include leading the agencys public health data modernization initiatives, positioning the agency well within the wider data health science community, establishing a data governance structure, and advising the CIO as well as other leaders on tech trends within the public health sector.Data has been at the center of some of the discussions as to whether the federal government could have responded better and faster than it did to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with health experts stressing that testing data specifically is key to learning all they need to stop the spread of the virus.More information about how to apply for the role can be found here Governors and mayors this week took to their social media feeds to address constituent questions about the continued spread of the novel coronavirus.Indeed, a wide range of executive government leaders held Twitter question-and-answer sections this week, ranging from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and so on. The sessions were simple enough in nature, with the government leaders asking their constituents to bring all their coronavirus inquiries.Doing so was a means first of interacting with anxious residents who are self-isolating in their homes and concerned about the sizable implications this period is all but guaranteed to have on the world. Second, misinformation around the coronavirus has been a problem within the United States since the onset of the global pandemic back in January.To participate in the question-and-answer sessions, all interested parties had to do was log on to Twitter, find the announcement post, and leave their inquiries as replies.Other leaders in this time of crisis are regularly taking to social media to disseminate information through video briefings, with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo specifically doing so on a frequent basis, accruing thousands of live viewers as he discusses the latest news from the government there.A new website  CovidActNow.org  is visualizing the latest projection data from the ongoing coronavirus crisis.The site, which is a volunteer tech project, has accumulated more than 10 million visitors in the past week. Essentially, it has evolved into a platform that offers visitors open access to statewide projections for COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations and hospital overloads. According to a recent Bloomberg Cities Medium post, the development team for the new site has also started to take requests for customized data to suit localized needs.This civic tech project also continues to grow in scope, with its list of volunteers now numbering more than 100. Former Google Cloud executive Max Henderson initiated the site, noting that he did so in order to create reliable publicly available data that could help policymakers make decisions around the ongoing crisis.The site began life as a newsletter with 1,000 subscribers before growing into the wider open platform that it occupies now. The way the projects on the site work is that users click on a state in order to view the projected hospitalizations as well as the date of projected hospital overload, which is visualized for limited action and various levels of sheltering compliance. The different layers of data like that creates a contrast that shows why the measures being taken to stem the tide of the pandemic are so important.A new database is tracking the state policy actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The database includes info such as when a state of emergency was declared, when schools were closed, when non-essential businesses were closed and more. There is also other data tied to the spread of illness such as population density, square miles, days of paid sick leave and more. The sources for the data can be found here via Dropbox The project was built primarily by faculty at Boston University The 2020 U.S. Census, which will influence much of the data that civic technologists and others rely on for the next decade, is online now, and it can and should be answered in a matter of minutes by everyone.The Census data supplies other derivative data for technologists to work with. In addition, the Census also helps determine the allocation of billions of dollars of federal funding each year, as well as political representation at the federal level. The Census ranks as the largest peacetime mobilization of the U.S. government, and planning for the Census has been underway for years.The outbreak of the coronavirus in the weeks before the Census began in earnest is a complication. This marks the first-ever highly digital Census , which is an advantage because responding can now be done online.In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the Census Bureau has temporarily suspended field operations.Seattle firefighters took to TikTok recently to help spread awareness about safe behaviors during the pandemic, and they did so by dancing, which is apparently the main reason that TikTok exists.Anyway, this video  which you can find here  is an absolute delight, as well as rich with important subject matter about how to stay safe and healthy. Enjoy!
How did the family you had been working for tell you they no longer wanted you to come?

I have been working for them for two years. Its a divorced couple and I am kind of like a secondary mom for the children. They have special needs and the father needs the help at his home. They just said they didnt want me to come anymore and that they would call me when I can come back. Then they told me they could not contribute anything to me while I am not coming.

What do you wish people understood about your work right now?

Its a huge sacrifice. I know I can die if we are exposed, but we are also going to die if we dont have basic needs. We need the stability of an earned income no matter what. We should not be invisible, but we are all humans, too. We have families and we should be able to have sick leave, so that we can stay home and take care of them. We should not have to choose between working and living.

I want Congress to include us, to give us help, too. A crisis is not the time we should say, you need to have documents to have the basic necessities. We should not be excluded from everything. The system is so broken and does not include people like us, even when we are called essential.
Though some charter schools receive private donations, the bulk of their funding comes from the government. But Pearson and charter school leaders said that many campuses have spent extra money to buy laptops and provide groceries and school supplies to students during the extended closures. Others expect to see private donations dry up, and they fear they will require more resources in coming months to ensure their students do not fall behind in their studies.
With large gatherings being banned around the world due to the pandemic, many couples are cancelling and postponing their weddings  but some are just approaching them in a different way.

Several couples who haven't wanted to wait to get married  even if it means giving up a traditional ceremony and reception  and gone ahead and tied the knot at home.

But that doesn't mean they're doing it without friends and family: Using Zoom, these couples are having tele-weddings, inviting their loved ones to join them via group video chat to watch them say 'I do.'

Can't wait! The pandemic has forced many couples to cancel or postpone weddings, but some are still going through with weddings over the Zoom video conferencing platform

Adapting! Jillian Lee and Joshua Ogundele from Atlanta, Georgia had initially planned a wedding in Savannah at the end of March, but when they moved the ceremony online, instead

Going strong! On the big day, more than 100 loved ones joined them via video chat

Cute: The newlyweds sent out new invitations with Zoom meeting ID and password, urging everyone to dress 'virtual casual'

Jillian Lee and Joshua Ogundele from Atlanta, Georgia were one such couple to wed in front of family and friends on the internet.

According to WSB-TV, the couple had initially planned a wedding in Savannah at the end of March, but when COVID-19 disrupted their plans, they moved the ceremony online, instead.

The newlyweds sent out new invitations with Zoom meeting ID and password, urging everyone to dress 'virtual casual.' They also asked everyone to join the waiting room 30 minutes prior to the ceremony, and remember to mute their microphones.

On the big day, more than 100 loved ones joined them via video chat, and even the Rev. Thurmond N. Tillman, of the First African Baptist Church connected to the meeting, officiating the ceremony over video.

Eye on the prize: Lisa Kabouridis and Graeme Blackett of Edinburgh also had a Zoom wedding, broadcasting from home to friends and family

'Our original (and a few following plans) were thwarted by the current circumstances,' Lisa wrote on Facebook

'We thought it would be anticlimactic, but it really wasnt,' Lisa told The Verge . 'There were loads of people crying on screen. It was really beautiful'

Said the bride: 'This was the first of three weddings  our vows, rings, and first part of the handfasting. The registration will take place when restrictions are lifted and the party we'll have when we can!'

Lisa Kabouridis and Graeme Blackett of Edinburgh also had a Zoom wedding, broadcasting from home to friends and family.

'Our original (and a few following plans) were thwarted by the current circumstances,' Lisa wrote on Facebook.

The bride and groom still dressed up  the bride in a gown, the groom in a kilt  and had cake and drinks on hand.

Lisa's sons and Graeme's youngest child were also there with them, though Graeme's oldest son had to be there virtually.

'We thought it would be anticlimactic, but it really wasnt,' Lisa told The Verge. 'There were loads of people crying on screen. It was really beautiful.'

'This was the first of three weddings  our vows, rings, and first part of the handfasting. The registration will take place when restrictions are lifted and the party we'll have when we can!' Lisa added on Facebook.

Sticking to the plan! Scott Westergren and Kristy Washer had to cancel their Louisville, Kentucky wedding, but held their nuptials online on March 26

Meanwhile, when Scott Westergren and Kristy Washer had to cancel their Louisville, Kentucky wedding in March, they decided they still wanted to say 'I do' sooner rather than later.

Scott told The Verge that he said to Kristy, 'Look, I dont care what we do. Even if I have to marry you on a video call were getting married on March 26th.'

Their kids had started taking online classes on Zoom, so they came up with the idea to use the platform for their nuptials.

'The first couple minutes were awkward and weird trying to figure out what we were doing,' Scott said. 'Honestly, once the officiant started going, we were both locked in and the emotion of the wedding definitely came through.'

Later, he tweeted: 'Taking Social Distancing to the next level and doing our best to follow our KY governor @GovAndyBeshear instructions. Got married via Video Conference last night!! Not ideal, but we were surrounded virtually and safely by our families.
Democratic presidential front runner Joe Biden called Thursday for the United States to ease sanctions on Iran to reduce suffering as the Islamic republic reels from the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden said the United States should set up a dedicated channel for banks and other companies to operate in Iran and issue licenses for the sale of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

The former vice president also called for guarantees to aid groups that they will not be penalized for operating in Iran  and said Tehran should reciprocate by freeing detained Americans.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about responses to COVID-19 at an event in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., March 12, 2020. /Reuters

Biden said that President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which includes sweeping sanctions, had "badly backfired" by encouraging aggression from the clerical regime.

"It makes no sense, in a global health crisis, to compound that failure with cruelty by inhibiting access to needed humanitarian assistance," Biden said in a statement.

"Artificially limiting the flow of international humanitarian assistance to pursue a political point will not only allow the Iranian government to deflect responsibility for its own botched response, it will increase the threat this virus poses to the American people, now and in the future," he said.

His appeal came a day after his rival for the nomination, Bernie Sanders, led left-leaning lawmakers in calling for a lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran, where more than 3,100 people have died from COVID-19.

File photo of Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Moscow, Russia. /Reuters

The Trump administration has proposed U.S. aid to Iran while the Islamic country rejected it amid "vicious" sanctions.

With the sanction issue, the conflict of the two sides has been escalated as the U.S. military activities across Iraq and the Gulf have increased over recent days.

On Wednesday, Trump alleged that "Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops or assets in Iraq."

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday rejected U.S. claims, saying that Iran has no plan of an attack on U.S. troops in Iraq.

Chief of Staff of Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri also slammed on the same day that Iran will respond severely if the United States does anything to undermine security of his country.

"If (the U.S.) takes the smallest step against the security of our country, they will be faced with the most severe reaction," Baqeri was quoted as saying by Press TV.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem warded off criticism of her hands-off approach to handling the CCP virus pandemic, stating that the one-size-fits-all approach is herd mentality, not leadership.

The governor addressed the state on Wednesday after facing pressure for not issuing a stay-at-home order in light of the CCP virus pandemic, commonly referred to as the coronavirus pandemic.

Read More Giving the Right Name to the Virus Causing a Worldwide Pandemic

Noem has been limiting state guidelines to personal hygiene and social distancing measures, requesting telework for businesses, deferring elective surgeries, and asking restaurants to limit business to takeaway, the Dickinson Press reported.

My role with respect to public safety is something I take very seriously, Noem said during a press conference. [But its] the people themselves [who] are primarily responsible for their safety. They are the ones entrusted with expansive freedomsthey are free to exercise their rights to work, worship, and playor to stay at home, or to conduct social distancing.

Noem said she did not want to resort to draconian measures like those seen in Wuhan, and increasingly in the hotspot of New York City. The calls to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to this problem in South Dakota is herd mentality, not leadership, she said.

The governor further argued that the situation in rural South Dakota is distinctively different from that of a metropolitan area like New York City. Currently, some thirty states have adopted some form of stay-at-home orders, unlike South Dakota.

South Dakota is not New York City, she said. Our sense of personal responsibility, our resilience, and our already sparse population density put us in a great position to manage the spread of this virus without needing to resort to some of the measures weve seen in some of these major cities, coastal cities, and other countries.

The South Dakota State Medical Association wrote a letter to Noem urging for more stringent guidelines alongside several Mayors and County officials. Noem, however, has refrained from issuing stricter regulations, although she did say that townships are indeed free to implement their own COVID-19 control plans.

Instead, she advocated for a more rational approach based on conservative values, facts, and data:

My responsibility is to respect the rights of the people who elected me and to manage our state operations in a way that reflects the realities of what we have here on the ground.

On the foundation of my principles, commonsense conservative values, and the principles we hold dear in America, the facts, the science, and the data will guide our decision-making here in South Dakota, she said.

South Dakota has one of the lowest numbers of CCP virus infection in the country. As of Thursday, the state has 169 known CCP virus cases. Two have died from the virus and 57 have recovered.
UK based multiple award winning Gospel Artiste, Nana Amankwah Tiah of Ekaa De Fame has advised upcoming female Artist, Queen Ayorkor to appreciate the value placed on her song by Bisa Kdei.



Queen Ayorkor in a recent interview disclosed how she managed to get Bisa Kdei's verse on her yet to be released song titled "Saa Side Ho".



Speaking to Ghanaian blogger, Kobby Kyei, she added that "during the second meeting, Bisa Kdei demanded a whopping amount of money but my management and that of his finally agreed on $13,500 for his verse on the song and video appearance".



Ekaa De said he has not regretted paying huge amount of money to feature Bisa Kdei on his hit track Odomfo Bi', which is being played on all radio stations in the UK and beyond.



Ekaa De hinted that the Odomfo Bi and No Knife Crime No Blood are tipped for the upcoming Ghana Music Awards UK, 2020.



Ekaa De through his experience urged upcoming artists to shut up and focus on their good works that will sustain their careers.



Ekaa De has not only featured Bisa Kdei, but Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Alex Acheampong, Oheneba E. K Shadrack, Bright Abi, Megaplus of Nigeria, Lady Ann, Agya Koo & Insp. Drama Group.



Prophet Kumchacha was also featured in his homeless video.



He also acted with popular movie star Agya Koo in his powerful song "Anidaso nsaa Y". A must watch movie written by him.



Ekaa De won the 2017 GMA-UK Best Gospel Album of the Year, and four nominations in 2019. He has been tipped by the public to win best gospel song of the year in the upcoming GMA-UK 2020.



Ekaa De Has 5 Powerful Albums



1 Nyame Ay Bi



2 Ekaa De



3 The Prodigal Son



4, Eden Na Menye Ma Wo?



5 Wabr?



He also has over 30 singles under his belt.



Check him out on his Youtube channel



Ekaa De TV.



























Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The United Nations General Assembly on April 2 unanimously adopted a resolution on global cooperation to fight and contain the coronavirus outbreak. As per reports, this was the first resolution adopted by the United Nations since the global pandemic broke out in December last year. The 193-members body voted unanimously to adopt the resolution in order to increase "international cooperation" and "multilateralism" in the fight against COVID-19.

Read: COVID-19: Telangana Minister Lauds 'small Farmer With Big Heart' For Donating Rs 50,000

As per reports, 188 of the 193 members voted in favour of the resolution that was submitted by Switzerland, Indonesia, Singapore, Norway, Liechtenstein and Ghana. Media reports suggest that Russia also submitted a resolution with its own text which apart from discussing global cooperation, included a demand for a lifting of international sanctions. Russia's text was supported by four countries, namely the Central African Republic, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Read: Australia Announces Heavy Penalty For Illegally Exporting Essential Medical Supplies

The resolution by the United Nations was approved at a time when the confirmed coronavirus cases globally surpass the 1 million mark. Countries across continents have imposed some sort of lockdown in order to block the further spread of the virus. United Nations on March 23 had called for a global ceasefire in all corners of the world.

Read: Person Walks Dogs Dressed Up As Unicorn Amid COVID-19 Lockdown; Watch

Coronavirus outbreak

COVID-19 has claimed more than 53,200 lives across the world and has infected over 10,18,900 people globally since it first broke out in December 2019. China was the most affected country until last month before Italy and Spain surpassed it to record the most number of deaths anywhere in the world due to COVID-19. The United States and France have also surpassed China in terms of the number of deaths recorded in these countries. Iran and the United Kingdom are also on the verge of overtaking China in terms of deaths recorded. The virus is believed to have originated from a seafood market in China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the disease, where animals were reportedly being traded illegally.

Read: Harsh Goenka Spreads COVID-19 Awareness With A Twist, Netizens Amazed

(Image Credit: AP)


If I signed it today, more than 700,000 people would get up and go to work tomorrow, he said, adding another 100,000 would be suddenly unemployed.

The different approaches have created a rift between states, angering other governors and residents living under stricter orders just across state lines. A Tennessee congressman wrote the governor of Arkansas asking for a stay-at-home order so that the virus did not spread next door.

What are you waiting for? Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who issued the first statewide order last month, told CNN when asked about governors who have not followed suit. What more evidence do you need? If you think its not going to happen to you, there are many proof points all across this country.

People demanding tougher measures are barraging elected officials with phone calls and social-media messages.

A doctor in Iowa and a registered nurse in South Dakota have started online petitions. In Nebraska, the Facebook page of Gov. Pete Ricketts is filled with commenters second-guessing his decision. PLEASE issue a stay at home order! one person wrote. Very soon it is going to be too late!!

Weve got people begging us, said Rod Sullivan, the chair of the board of supervisors in Johnson County, Iowa, who said he had gotten calls at home and on his cellphone asking why he had not done more to keep people at home. Under state law, he said, such an order must come from the governor.

Its hard to just tell them theres nothing we can do, he said.

Many residents said they were taking precautions and social distancing anyway, organizing virtual Bingo games, taking children on bear hunts to see teddy bears positioned outside homes or in windows in the neighborhood and organizing car cruise nights, where residents pile in their cars and drive the local strip, waving at each other from a safe distance.
Far from the metros and big cities, the coronavirus crisis in the country's districts, towns and villages is being led by district magistrates.

The responsibility of keeping the pandemic under control lies with the DM or collector.

Subrat Kumar Sen, the young district magistrate of Saran, north Bihar, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih how he and his staff are combating a crisis that no one has confronted before.

IMAGE: The deserted Sonarpatti market in Chhapra, Saran district, April 3, 2020.

Subrat Kumar Sen, the young district magistrate of Saran in north Bihar, has been receiving 400 to 500 calls every day.

If he is unable to answer the calls himself, the call is forwarded to the district control room and someone at that end returns the call almost immediately.

When I call him, someone calls me back in two minutes asking me the reason for the call.

"A DM has many responsibilities, especially in the current crisis. There are many meetings, coordination, monitoring of various departments etc, I transfer the calls I can't attend to the control room for grievance redressal," says Subrat Sen, a 2013 batch Indian Administrative Service officer, over the telephone.

"People think if they tell the DM it will get done, their expectation is also valid because these are difficult times," explains Sen.

Since he took over as district magistrate of Saran last year, the COVID-19 health crisis is the biggest emergency he has had to face rather early in his career in the civil services.

Unlike metropolitan cities with various departments like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Mumbai attending to the coronavirus crisis, in India's smaller towns, sub divisions, blocks and villages, the responsibility for keeping the pandemic under control is the responsibility of the district magistrate who heads all the state government's departments in the district.

IMAGE: District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen.

"We are new to service, but many senior officers have told us personally that they too have never seen something like this in their lifetime. This is the first time a country-wide lockdown has been enforced, it is a learning experience and an opportunity to serve our people," says Sen.

"Our duty is to provide help to citizens, especially the neediest, poorest without the least problem to them," adds Sen who is in his first tenure as a DM and sits in a British-designed collectorate in the district headquarters where staff have been asked to come in rotation and social distancing is being followed.

"Compared to a metropolitan district, a district operates differently," points out Sen. "The infrastructure may be an issue, but there has to be teamwork."

By way of example, he explains how his staff went about contacting travelers who had returned from overseas from the data received from the central bureau of immigration. On finding that some phone numbers were incorrect, the local police thanas were contacted and the station house officer told to get in touch with people.

There are around 800 residents in Saran district with a recent foreign travel history. Those who fell within the 14-day period were called to isolation centres and their samples taken.

"We had to take samples of around 160 recent travellers of which 135 samples have already been taken," says Sen. "Some of these travellers have moved on to Kolkatta or elsewhere."

Luckily, so far Saran has not had any positive case of coronavirus. The district has sent 150 samples and received 30 reports till March 31 which were all negative.

IMAGE: The deserted Chhapra-Patna road in Saran district, April 3, 2020.

How the lockdown was enforced

As soon as the lockdown was ordered and the Union health ministry's guidelines were received, Saran district created seven different cells -- the quarantine cell, the 104 helpline for ambulance/medical services was beefed up, an independent cell to deal with confirmed COVID-19 cases which included officers and doctors, a cell to regulate prices because panic calls about price rise had started coming in.

An independent control room was set up apart from the existing law and order cell, and the 24-hour district emergency operation centre was augmented with additional manpower.

200 raids were conducted when the lockdown began to prevent hoarding of essential commodities and 16 FIRs were filed against those trying to create an artificial crisis.

"Transmitting the information is also a challenge because the end of the chain is manned by a constable. Unless s/he knows and has understood the direction, any order will be difficult to implement," says the young district magistrate. "The dissemination of information is extremely important."

"You have to ensure that the correct information is being passed down," adds Sen. "There are many links and joints and all have to be briefed properly to ensure that orders are understood down the line."

The Return of the Migrant

In the third phase, the control room started receiving calls from Bihari migrants stranded in different parts of the country.

They wanted to return home and were finding it difficult to feed themselves.

"We made arrangements for them in the district and at Bihar Bhawan in Delhi," says Sen.

A register with their names was created. With news of migrants leaving Delhi on foot started coming in, vehicles were arranged to transport Biharis to their respective villages.

"Since these were in the high-risk category their medical screening had to be done and a record maintained. The state government made an app where their details, mobile numbers were fed. They were placed in home quarantine and their mobile location was placed under tracking," points out Sen.

Since Saran district shares a border with Uttar Pradesh, 2,500 people entering the state from the UP border in Ballia were transported to different parts of north and south Bihar.

1,000 to 1,200 residents also returned to Saran from other parts of Bihar.

Some labourers were provided stay during the 14-day quarantine in their panchayat buildings or government buildings like schools.

Such quarantine centres were developed in the 323 panchayats of the district with stay and food arrangements.

"To cater to those who are from outside and were facing problems about food in the towns, we created the Aapda Rahat Kendra in subdivisions of the district," points out Sen.

The district has also conducted checks if any resident of Saran was present in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin, New Delhi. "There is no one from here who attended the jamaat. We have confirmed with religious leaders of the district," notes Sen.

IMAGE: The civil court in Chhapra, Saran district, April 3, 2020.

Hospital and hotels as isolation centres

A 200-bed isolation centre has been readied at the district hospital. 17 local hotels have also been roped in. "We have drawn an agreement with the hotels because we need rooms with separate toilets," explains Sen.

The out patient department at the local hospital has been closed to reduce crowds. Samples collection is being undertaken at the district hospital.

"PPE (personal protective equipment), N95 masks are a challenge in the entire country. We have kept them for ambulance drivers, technicians, doctors and symptomatic patients. We have a ready supply of surgical masks. N95 masks are being given according to the ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) guidelines," says Sen.

The samples of suspected cases are sent to Patna in a vehicle with PPE attired staff.

Interaction with the Bihar government in Patna

There is almost a daily interaction with the state government in Patna, says District Magistrate Sen. There have been several video conferences with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, instructions from the chief secretary and phone calls from senior officers.

There is regular interaction with the departments that are directly involved. "We receive directions from them and if there is any confusion, we receive clarity. To deal with a crisis like this you need clarity and teamwork," points out Sen.

"I think we are on the right track in Bihar which is why in spite of high population density, we have been able to contain the transmission," adds the DM. "There has been an increase in testing also."

Mukhiyas or sarpanchs, members of panchayats and zilla samitis who have good ground knowledge also play an important role in this mission.

"The CM did a video conferencing with them and told them what was expected of them. Coordination is a very important aspect, teamwork, distribution of responsibilities, preparing a database and strict monitoring is crucial to dealing with this emergency," says Sen.

Harvesting wheat in the middle of a lockdown

Just as maintaining different services is a major challenge during a national health emergency, in the rural hinterlands of the fertile Indo-Gangetic plain, it is time to harvest the wheat crop swaying in the golden fields.

"It is harvesting season and if we don't allow that, it will affect the supply chain. The government has allowed harvesting in accordance with a protocol of maintaining social distancing and using machines as far as possible to reduce the number of farmhands. Also, if a mazdoor is unwell, he will not be put to work," clarifies Sen.

The ASHA and anganwadi warriors in the villages

The moment a suspected case is reported, the block development office supported by a medical team start tracing contacts according to WHO guidelines.

If there is a confirmed case -- which hasn't happened in Saran as yet -- a 3 km radius area will have be decontaminated and residents screened.

A database of around 5,400 people who have come to the district from different parts of the country has been made. They are in home quarantine and posters sent by state government have been stuck on their houses indicating the 14-day quarantine period.

"Every two days, the panchayat functionary visits to ask if they have developed any symptoms. If there are symptoms, we transfer them to the isolation centre. The negative cases are sent back," says Sen.

"ASHAs, anganwadi workers and district functionaries are doing good work in the grassroots," the DM adds.

The district administration distributed around 20,000 pamphlets in villages to spread awareness.

"People are very aware, we can see that from the calls we are receiving. They are informing us about those who have come from outside and those with cough, fever etc," says Sen. "The moment we are informed, we send a team. The home quarantine poster outside the house is very effective in keeping a watch."

Since the lockdown, the Saran district magistrate realises that getting the message down the line to the last government functionary is vital in this moment of crisis.

His schedule is packed with reviews, videos conferences with those heading different cells, monitoring, ensuring that people do not face problems in quarantine centres, maintaining supplies and issuing passes to those with genuine needs etc.

Meanwhile, he also wields a lot of phone calls, many from panic-striken residents with a slight fever, cough and cold.

"It is a learning experience and an opportunity to serve people," he says. "After all, this is why we joined the civil services."
New Delhi: The government on Friday (April 3) informed that as many as 336 fresh cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths reported in the last 24 hours with the total number of coronavirus positive cases has gone up to 2301 in the country. A total of 157 patients have recovered so far, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, while addressing a joint press conference.

Lav Aggarwal said that there were coronavirus cases in the country and the situation was under control amid lockdown, but cases from Tablighi Jamaat have increased the challenge.

"In the last two days around 647 confirmed cases related to Tablighi Jamaat evacuees from Delhi`s Nizamuddin area were found in 14 states - Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Delhi, Himachal, Haryana, J&K, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh," said Lav Aggarwal.

He also said that so far about 66,000 tests have been done with, 8,000 tests being conducted in the last 24 hours, the highest in a single day.

He also stated that Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has appealed to patients and their families that they should not create any obstacle in the path of doctors while they discharge their duties. "He also expressed concerns over misbehaviour with doctors and medical staff," Lav Aggarwal added.

He said that some incidents of misbehaviour with health workers have come to our notice, adding "We have asked the state governments to take strict action against such people."

Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary of Home Ministry, however, said, "Union Ministry of Home Affairs has written to state governments to take strict action in cases of attack on healthcare and frontline workers and ensure the security to medical fraternity."

She added, "There were seven helpline numbers in the control room of the Union Home Ministry. Now, we have introduced two more helpline numbers - 1930 (all India tollfree number) and 1944 (dedicated to Northeast)."

The Home Ministry`s instructions to the states were given amid reports that from various states including Madhya Pradesh and Bihar where health workers and the police officials who went to collect the blood samples of the suspected COVID-19 patients were allegedly attacked by a mob.
A view of an empty restaurant is seen at Grand Central Station on in New York City on March 25, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Economy Lost 700,000 Jobs From Mid-February to Mid-March March, New Data Shows

The American economy has lost more than 700,000 jobs in the first weeks of government efforts to slow the spread of the CCP virus. The hospitality industry was hit the hardest, but virtually no sector escaped the contraction, data released April 3 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows.

One after another, governors across the country issued shutdown orders, closing bars, theaters, and all non-essential businesses.

The CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan around November 2019 and was allowed to spread across China and the world due to a coverup and mismanagement by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The United States has now more than 240,000 cases and nearly 5,000 dead.

The BLS data doesnt capture the full brunt of the shutdown, as its based on a survey conducted between March 8 and March 14, before many of the mitigation measures were adopted.

Claims for unemployment benefits soared to a record high of more than 6.6 million for the week ending March 28.

Oxford Economics is predicting payrolls could plunge by at least 20 million jobs in April, which would blow away the record 800,000 tumble in March 2009.

The unemployment rate increased to 4.4 percent in March, up from 3.5 percent the month before. But this number is inaccurate, the BLS cautioned, due to misclassification of some workers laid off during the shutdown. The real rate would be close to 5.4 percent, the bureau said.

A majority of the job losses, nearly 420,000, were in the restaurant sector, which was largely only allowed to provide takeout. Some restaurants have adapted by switching to grocery sales, and with encouraging results. Some states have lifted regulations to allow restaurants to sell as retail the items they buy wholesale and some have allowed restaurants to sell alcohol with takeout orders.

The counter-virus measures have brought to an end a historic 113 straight months of employment growth.

The only areas that saw some job growth were some merchandise stores (nearly 9,000), warehousing (over 8,000), outpatient care centers (over 5,000), and a few others. The federal governmentother than the U.S. Postal Service, which lost jobsadded nearly 20,000 jobs.

President Donald Trump has tried to maintain some level of optimism in the markets, saying the economy will come roaring back once the virus restrictions are lifted. The administration has recommended people to follow social distancing rules until April 30. It has also worked with Congress to pass a $2.3 trillion relief package that will provide cash to individual Americans, loans to small businesses, and bailouts for affected industries, such as the airline industry.

Trump said he wants another package that would provide $2 trillion for infrastructure.

Correction: A previous version of the headline for this article incorrectly characterized the period when the United States lost 700,000 jobs. It happened from mid-February to mid-March. A previous version of this article also incorrectly stated the date until which President Donald Trump recommended following social distancing. The correct date is April 30.
A B.C. woman who had been working toward an international adoption for more than four years is now safely in quarantine in Maple Ridge with her newly adopted son, but the global pandemic nearly made her wait a lot longer.

Kelly Strongitharm flew to Montreal on Sunday, not even sure seven-year-old Fanelson had even made it onto an increasingly rare Air Transat flight from Haiti.

It was only after a stopover in Toronto that she knew he was actually en route.

"It was huge relief and then just pure, pure joy seeing his face," said Strongitharm.

International adoptions don't move quickly, but once everything was cleared in her case  except travel documents like a passport and visa  the COVID-19 pandemic was declared and services and travel options began shutting down.

'I just pushed really hard'

"I knew I had a limited window to try to do whatever I could to get him home," she said. "I just pushed really hard."

Strongitharm said the rules kept changing on her, presenting hurdle after hurdle.

"I'd get somewhere and they'd say, 'Well no, you can't do this.' I just ... a lot of the time felt so defeated," she said.

But with the help of friends, her adoption agency, the airline and government officials, Strongitharm was able to get Fanelson on a flight with a group of four other Haitian children bound for Canadian families.

Kelly Strongitharm

She said several other children weren't able to get on the flight.

Air Transat, which has now suspended all flights until at least April 30 due to the pandemic, declined an interview about the assistance it provided Strongitharm and the other families with children on the flight. In a statement, a spokesperson said the company was very moved and proud to have been able to participate in the effort.

'He's pretty amazing'

Even before the pandemic, the federal government was advising against travel to Haiti, citing civil unrest and security risks.

Story continues

Now, Fanelson, who first met his new mother about a year ago, is safely in his new home in Maple Ridge. His first impressions? It's beautiful and cold, said Strongitharm.

Kelly Strongitharm

They'll have plenty of time to get to know one another in quarantine, she said.

"He's pretty amazing. He's very sweet and bright and loving and he's been through a lot in his short little life, but he's probably the bravest and strongest person I've ever met," said Strongitharm.

With files from Kamila Hinkson.

Do you have more to add to this story? Email rafferty.baker@cbc.ca

Follow Rafferty Baker on Twitter: @raffertybaker
Gov. Tom Wolf said for the first time that all residents should wear a mask when out in public.

Wolf said in a news conference he is now asking all Pennsylvanians to wear a mask.

Today, Im asking all Pennsylvanians to wear a mask if you must leave the house, Wolf said.

But he said a mask is not fool-proof and he urged people to stay at home unless you absolutely cannot.

The governor said: Ask ourselves if we really need to leave our house."

Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine provided an update on the coronavirus and its effects on the state in a 2 p.m. news conference.

You can watch their news conference here.

Levine said wearing a mask or bandanna could offer some protection against exposure to the coronavirus. She stressed residents should not use the N-95 masks needed by health care professionals.

Levine said the question of wearing a mask has been a hot topic among health care professionals. But she said ultimately, state officials decided it would be wise to recommend a mask as a step to help people protect themselves and others.

A mask isnt a pass to go back to work, or go visit friends, or go socialize," Levine said. A mask is one more tool in our toolbox to protect ourselves against COVID-19.

Staying home is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family against COVID-19," Levine said.

Last week, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. became the first member of Congress to endorse the burgeoning Masks4All movement. Toomey said he is glad Wolf is asking residents to wear masks.

Earlier this week, I urged the Wolf administration to update state guidelines and encourage all Pennsylvanians to wear cloth masks or facial barriers if they must leave their homes," Toomey said in a statement. With the CDC poised to announce new guidelines on this issue, I am pleased that the governor has taken this action.

The health department is posting information on its website to show people how they can make their own masks.

Earlier this week, Wolf issued a statewide order for all Pennsylvania residents to stay at home, except for essential trips. The order is in effect through April 30.

The state health department on Friday announced 1,404 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 8,420. At least 102 people have died, including 12 new deaths reported today. Cases have been found in 63 of the states 67 counties.

Were beginning to see the first glimpses of the full force of this pandemic, Wolf said.

Levine said 852 patients - about 10 percent of those who have tested positive - have required hospital care. She said 12 percent of all nursing homes have had at least one confirmed case of the virus.

A plea for faith groups

Wolf asked church leaders to observe upcoming holidays without bringing people together. Sunday is Palm Sunday and next Sunday is Easter.

The governor said he knows its disappointing for faith groups who want to observe these significant holidays. Many faith groups have stopped holding public services in recent weeks and Wolf said that should continue.

Any type of gathering can serve as a petri dish for COVID-19, Wolf said.

Wolf said he is a person of faith and doesnt make that call to faith leaders lightly. But he said its essential to protect the public.

Stay home, Wolf said. Pray at home.

Concerns over bias

Wolf said hes disappointed to hear Pennsylvanians have directed hate toward Asian Americans. He said he fully supports authorities pursuing hate crime charges when necessary.

We cannot let COVID-19 take tolerance away from us, Wolf said. He urged all Pennsylvanians to take a stand against bias toward Asian Americans.

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has reported about an uptick in reports of racial harassment directed at Asian Americans. Around the country, advocacy groups have said bias incidents targeting Asian Americans are increasing.

Hate is just one more symptom of this terrible disease, Wolf said.

Economic impacts

Earlier Friday, Wolfs administration told nearly 9,000 state employees  more than 10% of its workforce  that it will stop paying them by the end of next week to reduce spending. The affected people have jobs that cannot be completed through teleworking.

Nationwide, the unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% from a 50-year low of 3.5%. Around 10 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the past two weeks.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

More:

Telemedicine, the future of doctor visits, arrives sooner because of coronavirus: UPMC Pinnacle

High school students face missing big milestones during coronavirus pandemic

Are Pa. rural hospitals ready for coronavirus surge? I dont think any small communities up here are ready

Coronavirus silver lining: Crime and crashes plummet across Pa.
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Department, Clear Lake Police Department: Thermometer donations

Thermometer donation dates have been extended due to a continued need in Cerro Gordo County. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Department and Clear Lake Police Department are accepting non-mercury thermometers until April 10, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. If you are unable to bring the thermometer to a drop-off site, call CG Public Health at 641-421-9300 for pick-up.

MercyOne North Iowa: N95 masks, gowns, face shields

Here in North Iowa, MercyOne announced early Thursday afternoon that it is now seeking donations of factory-made, new, in the package, personal protective equipment such as N95 masks, gowns and face shields.

That's according to MercyOne North Iowa Marketing Specialist Angie Anstine who wrote that anyone able to donate such equipment should email question@mercyhealth.com.

Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank: Monetary donations

Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank will reopen Monday, April 6 and operate 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday each week. The food bank is accepting monetary donations so that it can purchase exactly what it needs.

To donate to Hawkeye Harvest, you can send a check to the food bank at 122 S. Adams Ave., Mason City, IA 50402, or call 641-424-3073.

Mohawk Market: Monetary donations

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mohawk Market has pivoted to a grocery-delivery service open to any family in need in Mason City. It operates 100% on donations. Like Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, Mohawk Market needs monetary donations to continue its work.

To donate to Mohawk Market through Grace Church, click here (make sure Mohawk Market is the selected recipient): http://bit.ly/3dauHgU. The link is also found on Mohawk Market's Facebook page.

United Way: COVID-19 Relief Fund

United Way of North Central Iowa has established a COVID-19 relief fund to aid nonprofit partners, emergency management and public health organizations.

To make a donation, visit unitedwaynci.org and click on the COVID-19 Disaster Relief Funds tab.
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Information Technology company employees are on edge. With the United States, Europe, Australia and Singapore under lockdown, the Forum for IT

Employees (FITE), an IT employees union, has raised an alarm claiming that signing of new projects has either been postponed or is getting cancelled as businesses in many countries are in crisis.

Projects catering to companies in the aviation and auto sector are being benched, said an employee in a reputed company in Sholinganallur. He said no employee has been sacked in his company. "We have been taken care of during the lockdown but we don't know what will be our fate after the lockdown," he said.

Aditya Narayan Mishra, CEO, CIEL HR Services, a staffing firm, predicts that there could be layoffs of anywhere between 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 in the IT sector, which includes both large and smaller IT companies. Mishra says that the bigger firms can weather the crisis and around 5 to 10 per cent of the workforce may get affected. "It all depends on how the companies will weather the crisis in the next 60 weeks," he said.

ALSO READ: Layoffs, hiring freezes are the new normal as companies feel COVID-19 heat

P R Vignesh Raja, the owner of Fusion Global Solutions Pvt Limited, a Chennai-based IT and manpower outsourcing company, told The New Indian Express that 40 to 50 per cent business in the eastern United States is hit. "We are also not able to collect our revenues from the clients. As a result we are not able to pay back our vendors who have to be paid bi-monthly as part of the contract," said Vignesh.

"We managed for the month of March but April will be a difficult phase. Now it all depends on how soon the situation in the US improves," said Vignesh highlighting the predicament of smaller IT companies. "Since I have to pay for the staff who are benched as the projects have come to a standstill, my only alternative is now to look at banks. But getting loans is not easy. The government has to step in and provide us with help," he said.

An IT professional working in a top Chennai-based IT company said companies catering to banking and healthcare are still getting orders although the on-site work has been shut for the next six months.

Parimala, president of FITE, told Express that IT employees are under tremendous pressure now. "The IT industry is one of the formal sectors which deploys more than 40 lakh employees. Even 5-10 per cent of job losses will have a serious social impact especially during this lockdown period and in the coming days. In addition to this, there are thousands of workers already on the bench waiting for new project allocations even before the announcement of the lockdown. The bench concept is a special arrangement used by IT companies to sign off on new project deals easily," she said.

She said FITE has put forth demands to both state and central governments urging that IT companies be told not to carry out forced resignations of employees in bench/service and ensure virtual/online joining provisions for new job offers considering the COVID-19 lockdown.

Meanwhile, switching over between companies to take up new or better employment opportunities across the industry is a usual phenomenon in the IT industry. "This has become a problem during the lockdown period. People who quit or are serving the notice period after resignation are facing either cancellation or postponement of their new job offers stating the cancellation of new projects by clients. Usually the last month's salary and final settlement from the last employer they served will take at least a month to come into their hands. So, the cancellation or postponement of new job offers will have an immediate effect on the financial stability of workers," Parimala said.

The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM),

a trade association of the IT industry, refused to comment. "Our main task (now) is to follow the Prime Minister's directives and ensure safety of our employees. This can wait," a Nasscom official said.
More than half a million Irish people are signing on the live register and over 300,000 of these are people who are being paid some form of Covid-19 pandemic unemployment benefit by the state, according to the latest CSO figures.

The Central Statistics Office figures show that the unadjusted Live Register total stands at 205,209 for March 2020. Alongside this 283,037 people were in receipt of the coronavirus Pandemic Unemployment Payment. A further 25,104 persons benefitted from the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.

The CSO says a range of measures have been introduced by the Government in relation to providing income support for those whose employment has been affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland. The available schemes are being administered by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) and the Revenue Commissioners.

Edel Flannery, Senior Statistician, CSO explains the approach taken today with regard to the publication of todays Live Register and COVID-19 payments:

The majority of those whose income from employment has been affected due to COVID-19 are currently being facilitated through the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment which is administered by the DEASP, while a smaller cohort are currently being facilitated through the Revenue Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme," he said.

The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty emphasised that the publication of todays Live Register figures were a stark reminder of how much has changed in the space of a few weeks and the scale of the employment challenge posed by the Covid-19 emergency.

This it is perhaps the most unique Live Register data ever published by the CSO and reflects both the huge shock to the labour market arising from the public health measures to address the Covid pandemic and the statistical challenge faced by the CSO to accurately measure unemployment in these circumstances.

When the last Live Register figures were published, in February, we recorded a further fall in the numbers and we were still talking about being technically at full employment. The COVID emergency has completely up-ended that narrative. The crucial challenge for the Government is that we dont let what is a temporary health emergency become a permanent economic crisis.

The measures we have introduced  at breakneck speed  such as the COVID Unemployment Payment, an enhanced illness benefit scheme, the extension of the fuel allowance grant and the wage subsidy scheme are providing immediate relief and have shown that this country can rise to significant challenges, that its people can, and do, support each other in times of need.

First and foremost, this is a health emergency and our highest priority has to be the protection of public health and human life, preventing the spread of the virus and working to mitigate its impact on our people. However, the income supports we have introduced are crucial to alleviate the financial hardship that so many now face and will also play an important role in sustaining incomes and positioning the economy for what we hope will be a fast recovery.

In particular, I would like to commend those employers who have availed of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Maintaining the link between employer and employee will be crucial for when we come out the other side of this, to reboot businesses as soon as possible so that people can start going back to work quickly, she said.

The Minister stated that her Department is continuing to process more claims from income support arising from the temporary lay-offs from employment that are arising from the further public health measures announced last Friday. She assured people who are being temporarily laid off that her Department is dealing with these income support claims and putting them into payment as quickly as possible.

The Minister also pointed out that her Department has today published an updated information notice for employers and employees, including Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs) and it is available here.

This document provides basic information in respect of the income supports now available from the Department together with answers to the most commonly asked questions.
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Market Introduction:

Pisco is a traditional drink of Latin America which is yellowish or can say colourless brandy specifically produced by distilling fermented grape juice into a high-proof spirit. Pisco is highly produced in the region of Chile and Peru as an alternative to orujo, a pomace brandy that was being imported from Spain since the 16th century. This practice of producing Pisco domestically in abundant quantity has reduced the volume of alcoholic beverages imported to this region. Ever since the production of pisco started, different variety of grapes were used in order to give the beverage too many different flavors so as the beverage is exported internationally as the market would not accept the wide variety under the same name. For the same reason, the Chilean and the Peruvian governments set standards as to what kind of grapes should be used to make the beverage that could be labelled as a pisco.

To Get Free Sample Request Visit @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/20464

Market Segmentation:

Pisco market is segmented on the basis of source, distribution channel, type and region. On the basis of source, the market is segmented into Peruvian pisco and Chilean pisco. Peruvian pisco is exported in a great quantity throughout the world and is expected to hold a relatively high-value share in the Pisco market. On the basis of distribution channel the market is segmented into supermarket/hypermarket, specialty stores and online stores. Online stores have also contributed significantly to the growth of Pisco market over the forecast period. On the basis of type, the market is segmented on the basis of puro, aromaticas, mosto verde and acholado. Among all these segment puro segment is expected to grow enormously in the coming future, followed by acholado segment.

Market Regional Outlook:

A regional segment for the market of Pisco is divided into five different regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and MEA. Among these segment, Latin America is expected to have the major market share globally, as it is one of the largest producer and consumer of Pisco. In Asia Pacific region the countries like China and Australia are generating the major revenue. In terms of revenue, Europe is also among the prominent contributor in the Pisco market, as the consumption of alcoholic beverage is quite high in this region.

Market Drivers:

According to the recent past activities in various regions in the world, it can be concluded that consumption of alcoholic products has become an accompaniment for a number of reasons such as celebrations, commiserations, the end of the working day, and others. In many developed regions such as Europe, Canada, the U.S., alcohol is a socially accepted part of their daily life. Younger population of the world is influenced by their peer group or peer thinking, which is a factor driving growth of alcohol-based market. The gender gap in terms of alcohol consumption is closing as there is increasing acceptance of female drinking in the societal norms. Because of all these factors, people are attracted towards alcoholic products, which is driving growth of the pisco market and this is expected to continue over the forecast period. Moreover, changing lifestyles, influence of social media and internet, increasing social parties, adolescents with high social network influence, greater family incomes, and others have easier access to alcoholic drinks and alcoholic products, which is also driving demand for pisco. The pace at which new technologies are impacting the food and beverage sector is high, and it has become necessary for manufacturers to increase the speed and scale of their R&D efforts. Many flavor manufacturing companies are shifting their R&D activities away from their headquarters.

For More Details and Order Copy of this Report Visit @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/20464

Market Key Players:

Some of the key players in Pisco market are Pisco Porton, LLC, Barton Solvents, Inc., La Diablada Pisco, and Machu Pisco among others.
Indian expatriates in the US and other countries, who have lost their jobs or have a work permit that has expired, may not be able to return before the current ban on international flights is lifted, in view of the virus outbreak.

Senior government officials have confirmed that no evacuation flights to the US are on the radar, given the surge in cases to above 245,000 (as of Friday), in the country. For all jurisdictions, our first priority is students, tourists, and those on short-term visas. However, Indias six diplomatic missions across the US are in touch with ...




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Limitation of traffic in the South

From this Sunday, public transport vehicles will be prohibited from going to or leaving the Department of the South. As for private vehicles, they must not contain more than 4 people who will be subjected to tests. This decision was taken by the southern branch of the association of owners and drivers of Haiti, APCH, in concert with local authorities to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in this department, said Bertrand Banatte, head of the APCH in the SOUTH.



Concerted action against Covid-19

Working session between Minister Pradel Henriquez (Culture), Mrs. Myriam Jean (Tourism), Nader Joiseus (Public Works) and General Directors Daniel Joseph of National Radio and Gamall Jules Augustin of National Television of Haiti, around concerted action against the Covid-19 coronavirus. On the agenda, to make a beam between the State institutions with a view to bringing an immediate response in the fight against the Coronavirus which risks causing a health crisis in the country.



Quarantine center for Haitians returning from DR

In addition to the premises of the Volunteers for the Development of Haiti, the border market space of Ouanaminthe, will be used as a quarantine center to accommodate Haitians returning from the DR, inform the local authorities.



Did you know ?

In Jeremie, in the department of GrandAnse, the "tonmtonm" is the gastronomic star. This dish made from real trees is accompanied by a very sticky "kalalou okra" sauce. It is so popular that a local group very famous in the 90s was called "Tonmtonm". It should also be added that a pastry from the city of poets, the "konparet", is very widespread in the community. Some Jeremiens who live abroad claim it every time a friend or loved one goes to Haiti.



SNGRS : Operational contingency plan

"A contingency plan of the National Solid Waste Management Service (SNGRS) is operational with the aim of cleaning up the metropolitan region and other major cities in the country. Spraying operations in public places are also planned as well as the distribution of hygiene kits," said Eudes Lajoie at a press conference on Thursday DG of the SNGRS.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















ANN ARBOR, MI - Through the decades, the State and Michigan theaters have found endless community support in becoming Ann Arbor institutions, Russ Collins said.

Collins, Michigan Theater executive director, is hoping the community can come through once again for the theaters, as they struggle to maintain operations without ticket or concession sales expected through June due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A GoFundMe with an initial $100,000 goal was started Friday, April 3, to help the theaters make up for what is expected to be more than a $1-million loss in net revenue during the closure. Collins said both theaters have a total operating budget of $6.5 million.

The crowdfunding description indicates the theaters are in a vulnerable, potentially tragic situation," with funding helping the theaters to pay utilities and keep some workers employed. After just two hours Friday, the GoFundMe has raised nearly $10,000.

The Michigan and State theaters rely on operating revenue in the same way as we do contributor revenue, Collins said. Our earned income, which tends to be in the $4 million a year level, has fallen to essentially zero. That puts a pretty big dent in your budget.

The theaters had tried to remain open in the early stages of the COVID-19 spread, with staff members working to mitigate contamination concerns by cleaning and disinfecting frequently and diligently." The State Theatre also had switched to general admission tickets in order to allow patrons to spread out in the auditorium.

An executive order requiring Michigan residents to stay at home on March 16, however, forced all movie theaters statewide to close operations temporarily.

Collins doesnt dispute the need for the theaters to be closed during this time for the greater good. But, during a time when people are being asked to support a wide variety of worthy causes, he hopes supporters realize the nonprofit has tried to run a prudent business operation while being thoughtful about how it is incurring costs and saving funds.

I dont know what the next three, six or 12 months hold for the Michigan and State theaters, but I do know we have a community that embraces and supports a tremendous range of organizations, Collins said. I know there is a lot of goodwill in this community in supporting all of those things in ways that are meaningful.

"We hope enough of this community appreciate what we are and what we do on a daily basis that, as things progress and we look to open up after all of this subsides, the support will allow us to maintain operations during a period of great distress.

READ MORE:

Remembering how Ann Arbor saved the Michigan Theater 40 years ago

Michigan Theater stays open, but asks moviegoers to spread out as coronavirus precaution

19-story high-rise behind Michigan Theater gets initial OK
Backpackers have been removed from buses and locals are being caught trying to cross the Queensland-New South Wales state line on foot as police crack down on the border ban.

One driver tried to sneak across the border, travelling along the footpath to avoid the barriers that cut Queensland off from interstate travellers.

Police are seen stopping cars at a check point on the Queensland and New South Wales border on Griffith Street in Coolangatta at the Gold Coast on Friday. Credit:Darren england/AAP

"It is extraordinarily disappointing," police commissioner Katarina Carroll said.

"We have had complaints about backpackers on buses blatantly disregarding what's been asked of them and enforcement action will be taken.
Experts raise forecast for Ukraine's grain yield, exports in MY 2020-2021

16:00, 03.04.20 2167

In particular, the forecast for maize harvest grew from 34.3 million tonnes to 36.8 million tonnes.
National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre speaks at the NRA Annual Meeting of Members in Indianapolis, on April 27, 2019. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

NRA Sues States Over Gun Store Closures Amid CCP Virus Outbreak

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has sued the governors of New York and California for deeming gun stores as non-essential and requiring them to close as part of state measures to control the spread of the CCP virus.

The gun rights association filed its latest lawsuit against New York on Thursday alleging that its governor Andrew Cuomos order to suspend the operations of gun stores by not designating them as essential businesses is in violation of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

New York has become the epicenter for the outbreak in the United States, with over 2,900 deaths and 102,000 cases across the state, according to Cuomo during a news conference on Friday.

Cuomos order, signed on March 20, requires all non-essential businesses to close through April 19. Businesses or services deemed essential such as grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and laundromats are not subject to the order. Any businesses not in compliance with the order would face fines.

The complaint (pdf) calls the order a pointless and arbitrary attack on the constitutional rights of New York citizens and residents. The lawsuit states that firearms are essential to public safety and security especially during a time when many New Yorkers have valid concerns about the ability of the government to maintain orderand criminals are being prematurely released from jails.

Andrea Schry (R) fills out the buyer part of legal forms to buy a handgun as shop worker Missy Morosky fills out the vendors parts after Dukes Sport Shop reopened in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on March 25, 2020. (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo)

People wait to check in for their appointment to enter Martin B. Retting gun shop in Culver City, California March 24, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

It also cited a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance that lists workers of firearm manufacturers and retailers as critical infrastructure to justify its claims.

Following the DHS guidance, New Jersey reversed its earlier position that deemed gun stores non-essential in order to comply with the federal governments advice.

In accordance with the guidance released over the weekend by the federal Department of Homeland Security, we will allow firearms retailers to operate by appointment only and during limited hours to conduct business which, under law, must be done in person, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said during a media briefing on Monday.

Wayne LaPierre, NRA CEO and executive vice president, said that the lawsuit aims to protect the Second Amendment freedoms for New Yorkers.

There isnt a single person who has ever used a gun for self-defense who would consider it nonessential, Wayne LaPierre, NRA CEO & Executive Vice President, said in a statement.

The New York suit follows a similar suit (pdf) filed by the NRA and several pro-gun groups in California last week against its governor, Gavin Newsom, who also deemed gun stores non-essential in a stay-at-home order.

The New York Attorney General office said in a statement on April 2 that everyoneincluding the NRAmust follow the law and all executive orders of New York. We will aggressively defend the state against yet another legal assault by the NRA.

The New York governors press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The article was updated to include a statement from the New York Attorney General office on April 3.
Washington: US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she will form a bipartisan select committee on the coronavirus crisis to oversee the spending of $US2.3 trillion ($3.6 trillion) that Congress has approved to respond to the pandemic.

In a conference call with reporters, the Democratic House leader also said she believed the administration of Republican President Donald Trump was "more inclined to be supportive" than Senate Republican leaders of her push for infrastructure spending as part of a fourth major bill in response to the coronavirus crisis.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signs the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). Credit:AP

Congressional Democrats and the Trump administration have been clashing over how to implement the massive coronavirus rescue bill - the largest financial relief bill in US history. When he signed the bill, Trump questioned whether he had to adhere to restrictions on his powers included in it.

Trump has suggested he has the authority to decide whether an inspector-general appointed to oversee it has to share information with Congress.
Whiting Petroleum Corporation WLL recently filed for bankruptcy as the worlds energy demand has nosedived and oil prices have slumped owing to the global coronavirus pandemic and Russia-Saudi Arabia price war. The companys board of directors reckoned filing for Chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the Plan) to negotiate with its creditors for providing the best part forward in a highly capital constrained market environment. Denver-based Whiting Petroleum faced the maturity of $262 million convertible notes. It listed debt of $3.6 billion and assets worth $7.6 billion in its bankruptcy petition, filed in the Southern District of Texas.

Per the Plan, Whiting Petroleum will exchange 97% of the new equity of the reorganized company for erasure of more than $2.2 billion debt, payment or refinancing of its revolving credit facility, payment of all other secured lenders and employees, and 3% of the new equity of the reorganized company and warrants for its existing stockholders.

The company has also proposed financial restructuring and reached an arrangement with creditors of its 1.25% convertible senior notes due 2020, 5.750% senior notes due 2021, 6.250% senior notes due 2023, and 6.625% senior notes due 2026. This would ease its debt burden and create a more sustainable capital structure.

Whiting Petroleum expects to continue business operations in the usual course with sufficient liquidity, including $585 million in cash, which would allow it to meet financial obligations during the restructuring without the need for further financing. Even in the past, we have seen volatile energy markets tipping shale drillers into bankruptcy. Alta Mesa Resources Inc. and Sanchez Energy Corporation had filed for protection last year.

The proposed restructuring would enable Whiting Petroleum to compete in the current environment by addressing balance sheet issues and capitalising on the cost structure. The company stated that it undertook measures to boost cash flow and cut spending when it eliminated one third of its workforce in 2019 and would carry out these actions in the current year as well.

Story continues

Whiting Petroleum, once the largest oil producer in North Dakotas Bakken shale region, also operates in northeast Colorado. Other two Colorados major energy players Occidental petroleum OXY and Noble Energy NBL are also rationalizing their expenditure by cutting employees pay and work hours to weather the weak oil demand scenario.

Moelis & Company MC, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and Alvarez & Marsal are Whiting Petroleums financial, legal and restructuring advisors, respectively.

About the Company

Founded in 1980, Denver, CO-based Whiting Petroleum is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas properties in the United States. With majority of its output coming from the Bakken play, it holds one of the largest acreage positions in the region. The company currently carries Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil



Kumar Modi on Friday said that there will be no cut in the salary and pension of state government employees despite it receiving Rs 25,000 crore less from the Centre as its share in taxes.

The payment for salary and pension for the month of March will be timely made to the employees like last year, Modi said, adding that the process for making the payments has begun.

Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have decided to slash 50 to 75 per cent in the salary of their employees due to the financial crisis.

Besides, these states have also cut 10 per cent salary of their Grade IV employees, he said.

Kerala has decided to deposit money into the disaster relief fund by compulsorily effecting a cut into its employees' salary, he said.

There are 3.10 lakh state government employees, besides 3.80 lakh pensioners in Bihar, the deputy chief minister said.

The state government spends Rs 3,800 crore on account of their salary and pension, he added.

While Rs 330 crore is spent every month on the salary of teaching and non-teaching employees of colleges and universities, Rs 850 crore is spent on contractual and other teachers in the state every month, he said.

A total of Rs 4,880 crore is spent on the salary and pension every month in the state, Modi said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man has been arrested on animal cruelty charges after he was allegedly seen on video beating a senior black Labrador named "Bear" on the rooftop of a downtown Houston apartment complex.

Manuel Salvatierra, 24, was arrested and charged with cruelty and torture to non-livestock animals, according to Harris County court records.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston vet clinics go curbside, postpone elective surgeries amid coronavirus pandemic

Animal cruelty investigators with the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals presented videos to the Houston Police Department of a man beating Bear on March 29 on the rooftop of an apartment complex located off Main Street in downtown Houston. The man was later identified by police as Salvatierra, and he was arrested on a felony warrant.

In a series of videos, Salvatierra can allegedly be seen physically punching, kicking and dragging the dog multiple times, court records show. In a few of the videos, the suspect can be seen looking around him before allegedly punching and hitting the dog, as if he is trying to look for witnesses.

Court records state the dog did not appear to provoke the attacks.

PETS OF THE WEEK: Meet Clark, the three-legged dog who just needed a chance, and others at the Houston Humane Society

Bear was taken to the Houston SPCA's medical center campus to undergo exams, according to a release from the shelter. He will be taken care of until a virtual court hearing is scheduled for later this month.

The SPCA relies solely on donations to care for animals like Bear. To donate to the organization, click here.

Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com




Federal officials are beefing up security for Dr. Anthony Fauci after he received multiple threats and encounters with admirers.

Fauci, who is now at 79, is a key member of the White House coronavirus task force. He appears on televised briefings and news shows daily. He is known for putting his utmost focus and effort on the job he has chosen.

In an interview on Thursday, Dr. Fauci, who has been the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) since 1984, said his enhanced security detail was due to a few "uncomfortable personal encounters" and online threats he received in recent weeks.

The increase in security was requested by the Department of Health and Human Services who asked US Marshals to deputize a group of agents to handle the doctor's protection.

Authorities refuse to reveal the nature of the encounters and threats. They also declined to provide information on the extent of physical protection the doctor will receive.

An anonymous source who is allegedly familiar with the arrangements said the Justice Department allowed nine special agents to join Fauci's security team.

The US President Donald Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci are known to occasionally butt heads about COVID-19 and the nation's efforts to curb the virus. Fauci, however, said he and Trump work well together despite disagreeing on some things.

Dr. Fauci also spoke of the great pressure he feels as a part of the government's coronavirus response team, saying "it would be foolish to deny that."

Read More:







Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the virus response, revealed a recent projection on Tuesday, saying that with preventive measures the United States could face between 100,000 to 240,000 coronavirus deaths---a far cry from the predicted 1.5 to 2.2 million deaths should serious mitigations be ignored.

Fauci did emphasize that the model shows the worst-case scenario, with the reality usually somewhere in between. He also added the United States could see millions of cases.

The NIAID director, along with other health experts, said COVID-19 will get worse before recovery happens.

The recent surge in coronavirus cases drew concern from health care professionals as they fear running out of necessary medical equipment to treat COVID-19 patients---supplies which are now vanishing fast.

The rapid spread of the virus put the country's health system at a tipping point. Numerous hospitals across the nation are expecting to run out of beds within two weeks should the number of cases continue its drastic surge.

Apart from a shortage of medical supplies, various states are also reporting a shortage of trained respiratory therapists to operate ventilators which are critical to the survival rate of a coronavirus patient in serious conditions.

Various medical professionals are also reporting a possible shortage of drugs needed to sedate patients who require intubation as part of their treatment.

Dr. Michael Ganio, a senior director at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists said there is a nationwide demand for COVID-19 drugs.

"Do we have the drug supply to match it? Right now, the answer appears to be no."
NEW YORK, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has announced its first set of COVID-19 related emergency response grants totaling $11 million.

The money will go to hospitals throughout Israel facing the COVID-19 pandemic, in the center and the periphery, to pay for creating new isolation wards and intensive care units (ICU), medical equipment, and personal protective gear for medical personnel. Additional support to dozens of Helmsley's other grantees serving vulnerable populations will be announced in the coming weeks.

The current Helmsley grants include $5 million for eight Clalit Health Services hospitals to help them create COVID-19 wards, purchase ICU beds, ECMO life-support machines, remote monitoring systems, and personalized protective gear for their medical staff in those hospitals. One hospital, HaSharon, will be turned into a dedicated COVID-19 facility.

In addition, Helmsley has made emergency grants for COVID-19 facilities at each of the following hospitals:

Poriya - $1,006,717 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 emergency ward; Hadassah - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 isolation ward; Rambam - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for two COVID-19 isolation wards; Shaare Zedek - $1,000,000 for COVID-19 testing equipment and construction of a COVID-19 isolation ward and ICU; Sheba - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 ICU; and Sourasky - $1,000,000 for personal protective gear for medical personnel, and medical equipment for a COVID-19 ICU.

These emergency grants are part of Helmsley's ongoing efforts to help Israel strengthen its healthcare system across the country. Over the past decade, Helmsley has awarded more than $340 million to Israeli institutions to improve access to healthcare, support scientific and medical research, and strengthen the understanding and appreciation of Israel throughout the world.

"Helping the Israeli people in times of crisis is core to the mission of the Israel Program at the Helmsley Charitable Trust," said Sandor Frankel, a Helmsley Trustee. "Israel is a nation that excels at rapid response in emergencies, but they shouldn't have to do it alone. Helmsley's support will help Israel's outstanding medical personnel and frontline workers have the equipment and facilities necessary to protect their patients and themselves as they face the COVID-19 crisis. We continue to be involved in responding to the country's emergency needs, and hope our support will galvanize others to help in this critical moment."

"In these unpredictable and unsettling times, we must come together to support each other and those working on the frontlines," said Professor Ehud Davidson, CEO of Clalit Health Services. "Helmsley has been a stalwart supporter of the Israeli people over the past decade, and their support now will undoubtedly save lives in the coming weeks and months."

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $2.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. For more information on Helmsley and its programs, visit helmsleytrust.org.

SOURCE Helmsley Charitable Trust

Related Links

http://www.helmsleytrust.org


Chennai, April 3 : The Greater Chennai Corporation has asked all those who had visited the upmarket Phoenix Mall here between March 10-17 to be cautious as three employees of Lifestyle Store located there have been tested positive for coronavirus.

According to the Corporation, three workers of Lifestyle Store in Phoenix Mall have been tested positive for coronavirus and all the workers in the store are under home quarantine.

All those who visited the shopping mall between March 10-17 and all others who worked in other stores in the mall should be cautious, said Greater Chennai Corporation.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has viewed the work done as part of the expansion of Baku-Sumgayit highway, Trend reports referring to the presidential press-service.

The head of state also attended the inauguration of an overhead pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street.

Informing President Ilham Aliyev about the work carried out as part of the expansion of the Baku-Sumgayit highway, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov said:

- Dear Mr. President, according to your executive order, we have been expanding the roads from the 7th kilometer of the Baku-Guba-Russian Federation state border highway to the 14th kilometer of this highway, a place called the Masazir Bridge, for five months now. Our main goal here has been to expand the existing four-lane highway starting from the exit of a tunnel called 20 January - Shamakhinka. In addition, on your instruction, we have begun the construction of a new tunnel at a place called the Khirdalan Roundabout. Thus, automobiles will move from the center only in the direction of Baku-Guba-Russian Federation. We plan to separate the direction of traffic from the 20 January Roundabout using road signs. In other words, automobiles will move towards Binagadi, Bilajari and then Masazir and Sumgayit on the right side. At the Khirdalan Roundabout section of the road, we have opened a new tunnel and a two-lane adjoining road with a length of 495 meters and a width of 7.5 meters. The width of the new tunnel is 9 meters. In addition, we have introduced another innovation  we restricted the entry of cars coming from Shamakhi, Khojasan and Lokbatan directly to

the 20 January Roundabout. At this site, we have already completed 80 percent of the work. We will probably finish the work by the end of May.

Dear Mr. President, this railway bridge was built in the 1960s and its supports interfered with the new tunnel. According to your instruction, the construction of a new bridge without medium supports is envisaged here. We will completely build this bridge, which will consist of metal structures. There will be no disruption to the railway traffic. We will bring and install the bridge as soon as it is ready.

President Ilham Aliyev: Will the road be expanded from there?

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, we will expand it. The checkpoint is being removed. There will also be a turn here for vehicles moving from Khirdalan and Shamakhi to the central road. We will provide access onto the central road for both vehicles moving from the Russia-Guba direction and from Sumgayit, Shamakhi and Sulutapa.

Dear Mr. President, this is a new pedestrian crossing built at a place called Shamakhinka. For the first time in Azerbaijan, the crossing has been built using a pylon method, i.e. without the middle support. The arch rests on cables.

***

President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Many road and transport projects have been implemented in Baku in recent years. If these projects hadnt been implemented, it would be impossible to move in Baku now because of the traffic jams.

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, Mr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: Dozens of bridges, road junctions, the construction of new roads, the expansion of existing ones, the standards observed during their construction. It is no coincidence that the Davos World Economic Forum gives the highest assessment to the quality of road infrastructure in Azerbaijan. We are in 30th place in the world in terms of the quality of our roads. But the population is growing and public activity is increasing. Even though economic activity has declined today, during the coronavirus period, it is, however, a temporary problem. At the end of the fight against this disease, economic activity will recover.

Considering the fact that the Baku-Sumgayit road is no longer able to cope with the existing traffic, which has become very busy, it was necessary to expand the road, of course. Baku and Sumgayit are somewhat connected now. Many people work in Baku but live in Sumgayit and vice versa. Therefore, we are implementing this project due to the strategic nature of this road  it is also a road leading to the north. Of course, technically this is not a straightforward project, because it involves numerous resettlements, construction of new bridges and relocation of some facilities. The implementation of this transport project is also provided for in the State Investment Program. Therefore, additional steps will be taken to build pedestrian crossings. A lot has been done in this direction in recent years, and this is of great importance for the safety of our people  modernization of the road infrastructure, reduction and elimination of traffic jams. Of course, Azeravtoyol, the Baku Transport Agency and other agencies dealing with transport issues should coordinate all of the work related to both the expansion and quality of the roads. At the same time, as a result of the application of regulatory rules on the roads, the creation of green corridors is also envisaged, and work in this direction is already under way. Therefore, it is necessary to continue this work. The road and all interchanges must be put into operation on time, i.e. within about two, maximum three months. This will bring people comfort and help avoid traffic jams on this road.

Saleh Mammadov: Mr. President, all this is being implemented according to your instructions. We, in turn, promise to complete all work within two months and thereby completely adjust comfortable movement in the direction of Sumgayit and Russia.

President Ilham Aliyev: Are you expanding this section of the Shamakhi road?

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, so that the cars traveling from here do not hamper each other.

President Ilham Aliyev: There have always been traffic jams here and the turn was narrow.

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, this section was narrow.

President Ilham Aliyev: Which side are you expanding it towards?

Saleh Mammadov: Towards the roundabout on the right.

X X X

Despite the recent sharp decline of the oil price in the world and the economic difficulties it has brought about, all the work envisaged in Azerbaijan in relation to socioeconomic development is being implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev successfully and in a timely manner. Clear evidence of that is the modernization of the road infrastructure as an important element of the social sphere and the widespread reconstruction of roads in the country. Large-scale work involving the reconstruction and expansion of roads at the modern level has also been done in Baku in recent years. All these measures are being taken in the interests of peoples comfort and safety. From this point of view, a major role is played by the project to expand the Baku-Sumgayit road being implemented on the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev. This project is very important for eliminating traffic jams and congestion, especially at rush hours, at the northern entrance to Baku. The implementation of the project will pave the way for a comfortable and safe entry and exit of vehicles.

***

The head of state then attended the inauguration of the overhead pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street.

On the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev and on the basis of relevant orders, comprehensive measures are currently being taken to ensure traffic safety on roads and provide citizens with comfortable and safe road crossings. In this regard, the construction of overhead and underground pedestrian crossings is of particular importance. In general, this work contributes to the modernization of the transport infrastructure in the capital. As part of the comprehensive measures taken in this direction, the overhead pedestrian crossing built at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street represents great importance as well. There is a high density of both vehicles and pedestrians in this territory. The construction of an overhead pedestrian crossing here will not only ensure the safety of pedestrians but also prevent possible traffic jams in the area, which will help intensify traffic. The construction of the 130 meters long and 3 meters widecrossing began in 2018.








American actor Jennifer Aniston used her star power on Thursday (local time) to brighten the day of a coronavirus frontline worker, who tested positive for the virus.

According to Fox News, the 51-year-old star appeared as a surprise guest on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' show, for the purpose of surprising a cardiovascular nurse from Utah, who contracted the novel virus.

Kimmel welcomed the nurse, named Kimball Fairbanks, to the show via a live video chat. The nurse, who is a mother of two, said she began feeling sick a few days after working a shift at her hospital last week.

Fairbanks said, "I kind of felt like I got hit by a train. But I think I just have really mild symptoms. I feel like I have a head cold combined with the flu. It feels decently manageable so that's good."

Kimmel informed Fairbanks that she had a surprise planned to cheer her up.. Seconds later, Aniston appeared on the screen from her home.

The 'Murder Mystery' actor said, "Hi, honey, it's so good to meet you. I just have to say, God bless you and all of you that are out there doing what you're doing. I just, I don't even know how to express my gratitude to everything that you guys are doing, putting your health at risk and all of that. You're just phenomenal."

To which Kimball replied, who was in a state of shock with a wide smile on her face and hand on her chest, "Wow it's so good to meet you. I really appreciate that."

Aniston asked Fairbanks how she was feeling. To which she replied, "I woke up today and decided I'm not going to be sick any longer."

Fairbanks explained that due to her positive test result, she has been furloughed from work at the hospital. She is now in quarantine and cannot be near her family, including her 4-year-old and 18-month-old daughters, for two weeks.

The show host, Kimmel asked her how she's been able to prepare food for herself and the nurse said she's been mainly ordering delivery.

Aniston told the nurse, who erupted in laughter, "Oh, that's good because you know what? You're going to be getting 10,000 USD gift certificate from Postmates."

To which Kimmel added that each of the nurses on Fairbanks' floor will also receive Postmates gift cards

Jennifer also informed Kimmel of what's going on inside her home in Los Angeles and revealed that she hasn't left the house in "three weeks."

'We're the Millers' star shared that the most challenging thing is watching the news and trying to digest all that's going on out there. She said," I allow a check-in in the morning, and then I'll do a check-in in the evening, and that is it because basically it's regurgitating the exact same thing."

Aniston added that washing the dishes has become her "favourite thing in the world" because it kills two birds with one stone.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
File photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meeting with Belgian King Philippe in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Hailing King Philippe's efforts to boost China-Belgium ties, Xi stressed that China is willing to work with Belgium to overcome the pandemic's influence and promote cooperation in various fields in a coordinated manner, so as to further advance China-Belgium and China-Europe relations.

BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday China is willing to help Belgium overcome the current shortage of medical supplies within its capacity.

Xi, in a telephone conversation with King Philippe of Belgium, also said China is ready to share useful COVID-19 prevention and control experience with the European country, and promote cooperation in vaccine and medicine joint research and development, and other areas.

Noting that the coronavirus disease is spreading across the world and posing a serious challenge to Europe, including Belgium, Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, conveyed sincere sympathies and firm support to the Belgian royalty, government and people.

During the critical phase of China's fight against the epidemic, various sections of Belgian society extended sympathies and support in various ways to China, which has demonstrated the profound friendship of mutual support between the two peoples, Xi said.

Chinese medical supplies for Belgium are unloaded at the Liege Airport in Liege, Belgium, on March 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

China is willing to help meet Belgium's urgent needs, Xi stressed, adding that he believes that under the leadership of the Belgian royalty and government, the Belgian people will definitely defeat the virus.

Meanwhile, Xi voiced the hope for the Belgian side to pay close attention to and take measures to guarantee the safety of the Chinese nationals living in the European country, especially Chinese students.

Reiterating that viruses recognize neither borders nor races, and pose a common challenge to all humanity, the Chinese president pointed out that only by joining forces can the international community prevail over them.

Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China is enhancing international cooperation in a comprehensive fashion, he said, adding that at the recent extraordinary leaders' summit of the Group of 20 major economies, he laid out a set of proposals on pooling global efforts against the pandemic and stabilizing the world economy.

On the basis of reinforcing the results of its COVID-19 prevention and control, China will speed up the resumption of work and production throughout the country, Xi said.

Staff work at a medical mask production workshop in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

China, he added, will overcome difficulties to prioritize the restoration and expansion of the production capacity in medical and anti-epidemic supplies, tighten up quality control measures, and provide as many resources as it can for the global fight against the disease.

Hailing King Philippe's efforts to boost China-Belgium ties, Xi stressed that China is willing to work with Belgium to overcome the pandemic's influence and promote cooperation in various fields in a coordinated manner, so as to further advance China-Belgium and China-Europe relations.

For his part, King Philippe said that as the pandemic is striking all countries in the world, China takes the lead in putting it under control, and its experience is of important value to other countries.

Noting China has been supporting and contributing to other countries' fight against the disease, King Philippe said Belgium appreciates China's provision of emergency medical protective supplies, and is willing to collaborate with China on drug development.

A friend in need is a friend indeed, and China is a real friend of Belgium, said the king, adding that he will cherish the friendship forever and continue to promote the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
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Statistics reliably show that men have fewer close friends than women and that these numbers steeply drop off as guys reach fatherhood and head into retirement. As dads are faced with the prospect of working from home surrounded by kids, and older men can't go out to their local footy club for some banter, we'll have to make do with what we have. Consider it a survival kit for mateship in the time of COVID-19.

Men need to make the call. They need to make the call to look after themselves and those around them. That means finding a productive outlet for the inevitable anger and frustration at the changes in your daily life. That means putting your energy into home renos, cleaning or looking after the kids to ease the pressure on your partner, who might be struggling with their own monumental balancing act. That means checking in with those more vulnerable, those less fortunate in your community, to see where you can lend a hand. That means accepting that while there might not be a solution for a problem just yet, there's still a way to utilise your strengths to build up those around you.

Thanks to modern tech, we can also bring that 'doing' style of support to social distancing. We can build things together while on the phone or laptop, from puzzles to cabinets. There are plenty of guys out there setting up weekly happy hours with their mates and a beer over the phone. Long-lost friends reconnecting on social media.

There is no excuse for not calling your mate if he just lost his job. While you probably can't get it back for him, and you might not be able to give him a loan right now  that doesn't mean you shouldn't check-in. You don't need to know what to say: as uncomfortable as it might be, it's fine not to have all the answers. Just let him know you hear him, you're with him, and you'll get through this together.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:38:25|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A chartered flight arranged by China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government for Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru is expected to depart from Lima on Friday local time, the HKSAR government said.

The chartered flight is scheduled to depart from Lima, capital of Peru, to London, Britain at around 4 p.m. local time on Friday. Upon arrival in London, the Hong Kong residents concerned will take an ordinary connecting flight with secured flight bookings back to Hong Kong. The cost will be borne by the users.

The HKSAR government earlier appealed to the Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru who wish to take the chartered flight to contact the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department (ImmD) by 1 p.m. on Wednesday Hong Kong time.

Up till this point, the ImmD has received a total of 98 assistance requests from Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru, among whom 13 have left there already through other arrangements, according to a spokesman of the HKSAR government.

At present, 65 people have indicated that they would take the chartered flight arranged by the HKSAR government to depart from Lima to Hong Kong via London while the rest who are still in Peru will not take the chartered flight on personal preference or because they are subject to quarantine, said the spokesman.

Currently at least four Hong Kong residents are required to stay in Peru for quarantine and undergo COVID-19 testing, said the spokesman, adding that the HKSAR government will continue to follow up with the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR and the Chinese Embassy in Peru to provide practicable and appropriate assistance to the affected Hong Kong residents.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

City College of San Francisco on Thursday announced Dianna Gonzales, senior vice chancellor for administrative student affairs, will serve as short-term interim chancellor, becoming the first Asian American woman to lead the college.

Gonzales will serve in the short-term position through June 30, 2020, replacing former Chancellor Mark Rocha, whose resignation took effect this past Tuesday.

Gonzales has worked for the college since 2016 and brings more than 16 years of education experience, having previously worked at the San Joaquin Delta College, the San Juan Unified School District and the Oakland School District.

"This is an important step in moving the college forward," Board President Shanell Williams said. "The board will work closely with Interim Chancellor Gonzales during these next few months to develop our budget, and improve college operations to ensure all our students needs are being met."

The board has admitted to recent budget problems, ultimately leading to the cancellation of more than 300 classes from the school's Spring 2020 semester.

Last week, Rocha stepped down as chancellor due to a confidential personal issue. The terms of Rocha's resignation included 12 months of salary valued at $340,481, and among other compensation, continued health and welfare benefits for 12 months, college officials said.

The college's Board of Trustees will continue its search for a long-term interim chancellor who can serve by July 1, 2020, and serve through June 30, 2021. Once the interim chancellor role is filled, the board will begin a nationwide search for a permanent chancellor that can start by July 2021.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Northern Ireland jeweller firm Lunns has taken out a substantial loan from Danske Bank through the governments coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS), it has been announced.

Danske Bank also said it has provided 49 loans through the scheme at a combined value of 13m over the last week.

The government has come under fire over aspects of the scheme, leading Chancellor Rishi Sunak to announce changes including widening the number of firms who can benefit.

Lunns has been in business for 60 years and is one of Northern Irelands most famous retailers, with shops in Belfasts Queens Arcade and Victoria Square and at Shipquay Street in Derry.

But retailers like jewellers have seen their sales come to a standstill after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all but essential retailers to shut two weeks ago.

John Lunn, managing director of Lunns Jewellers, said: Lunns has a proud history of delivering consistent cash flow, but we realised very quickly that we were facing a prolonged period of closure because of coronavirus. It is a situation that I know many other successful businesses now find themselves in.

I commend Danske Bank for their ability to deliver this loan to us so smoothly and efficiently in a short timeframe. It will make a significant difference as we look to the future.

The loan scheme was set up to provide support to businesses around the UK that had been trading successfully before the outbreak of coronavirus.

The amount of the loan taken by Lunns has not been disclosed but Dankse Bank said the loan was substantial... to bridge the period while its shops are closed and customers are restricted in terms of leaving their homes.

Shaun McAnee, managing director of corporate and business banking at Danske Bank, said:The CBILS scheme is a great initiative for supporting businesses.

"Were committed to supporting our customers and the Northern Ireland economy by implementing the scheme swiftly. Our relationship managers and small business advisers are working hard to help the many businesses approaching us about applying for facilities through this scheme.

He added: Were pleased to be able to support Lunns through the CBILS scheme and to ensure that one of Northern Irelands best-known family businesses is ready to return to normal trading when this unprecedented coronavirus crisis ends.
Trivandrum-based Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), an institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has developed a portable and lightweight emergency ventilator system based on Artificial Manual Breathing Unit (AMBU).

It is essentially a hand held device also called as bag-valve-mask (BVM) to provide positive pressure ventilation to a patient who is either not breathing or who is breathing inadequately. The device can assist the breathing of the critical patients who have no access to ICU ventilators.

Covid 19 causes moderate to severe symptoms of pneumonia in 14 per cent of patients, who need oxygen and ventilation support. But of this only 5 per cent of cases develop several adult respiratory distress syndrome that requires them to be hospitalised in the ICU and provided advanced mechanical ventilator therapy.

Explaining the rationale of the product, Asha Kishore, Director, SCTIMST says, "Many of these cases can be managed in isolation wards using our ventilator system or even be provided with supervised home care with a simple ventilator system developed by us. This will save ICU beds and advanced ventilator systems for severe cases. High-end ventilators are very expensive and need a lot of inventory to be stocked which may not always be possible during an epidemic. The majority of our population is distributed in towns and rural areas and ICU trained doctors are limited. Managing advanced ventilators in these areas may not be possible. With its simple design and ease of use, automatic AMBU based ventilators system can be used by healthcare personnel with minimum training."

The institute will do its clinical trial, development and manufacturing along with Bangalore-based Wipro 3D, business division of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, to meet COVID 19 related crisis.

The institute says the technology was developed in a week and the device is designed with readily available components. The idea is to produce it fast so that is available quickly as an alternative.

The tie-up with Wipro 3D also involves joint further improvements and developments during clinical trials, and production.

The institute involved a cross-departmental team in developing the know-how and was led by personnel from the Artificial Organs Division, the Biomedical Technology Wing and Department of Anaesthesia of the Hospital.

The other fast track products lined up are: ventilator sharing kit, isolation pods, disposable safety face shield, battery operated assistive breathing unit amongst others.

INDIA CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: BusinessToday.In brings you a daily tracker as coronavirus cases continue to spread. Here is the state-wise data on total cases, fatalities and recoveries in one comprehensive graphic

Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Delhi reports 4 COVID-19 deaths; Country's toll at 56

Also Read: Coronavirus: Indian Olympic Association raises Rs 71 lakh
When I was a child, my parents taught me nasyam, the ayurvedic home remedy for severe cold and sinusitis. The technique is to suck in copious amounts of warm salt water and once it accumulates in your throat, spit it out. No amount of water should be swallowed. This procedure must be repeated a few times through one nostril, and then with the other. Also you can blow your nose once or twice to remove mucus and any residual saline in the nasal passages. Over the years, I have immensely benefitted from this remedy. The same holds true for many others in my family. I have been able to avoid antibiotics on many occasions as my sinusitis settled rapidly with nasyam.

Anecdotal evidence is not objective evidence; but now there is objective scientific evidence of its usefulness. On October 11, 2016, the clinical virology department of the Christian Medical College celebrated its golden jubilee with an international symposium on medical virology. One of my old students, Sandeep Ramalingam, a senior faculty member of the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK, gave a talk on nasyam and gargling, and presented scientific evidence on antiviral effects of chloride ions in the nasal mucosal cells.

In yoga, a similar procedure, nasal douche, with salt water is practiced called jala neti. In the western world, jala neti has become popular for treatment of nasal allergies and infections. They use a neti pot or jar, made in copper or plastic, with a nozzle to fit the nostril. Since neti requires a neti pot, nasyam is what I prefer.

The medical use of neti and nasyam has been researched by scientists in Australia, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. Unfortunately no such research has happened in its country of origin, India. These researches show that saline therapy in the nose protects against wood dust allergy and reduces the severity and duration of common cold.

Ramalingam investigated nasyam and gargling with saline and clinched the pathway  chloride ions do the trick, sodium is irrelevant, but without sodium chloride, in other words sea salt, choride ions cannot be delivered on nasal mucosa easily and without irritation or toxicity. Inside mucosal epithelial cells chlorine in chloride is converted to hypochlorous acid which effectively kills viruses that are already in the cells. This was the take-home lesson from his talk in Vellore in 2016.

We are in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), caused by the respiratory tract infection. The immediate question that arises from the above background is the potential of nasyam or neti as prophylactic or therapeutic for Covid-19. On March 29, 2020, the Journal of Global Health carried a paper by Ramalingam and colleagues, suggesting that hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling should be considered as a treatment option for Covid-19.

There is no study so far, but here is a simple and harmless procedure that may help protect your nasal mucosa from getting infected by any respiratory virus. I am sure that scientists in various biomedical research institutions will begin research to measure its prophylactic and therapeutic value in this epidemic in India.

We promote repeated hand-washing with soap and water; in certain situations, repeated salt-water nasyam may help prevent infection with any virus or even treat infection as it has documented anti-viral property.

Now that we are all at home, practice nasyam. If anyone gets symptoms of cold or sore throat, everyone in the household could practice nasyam and gargling, with warm salt water, made with boiled and cooled water, with salt to taste just perceptibly salty, and use for nasal washes and gargling about every 4 hours during waking time.

T. Jacob John is fomer head, the Indian Council for Medical Researchs Centre for Advanced Research in Virology.

The views expressed are personal
Britain on Friday opened a new 4,000-bed temporary hospital to treat the most seriously ill coronavirus patients, as day-on-day deaths surged to a new record and royal officials said Queen Elizabeth II would make a rare crisis address to the nation. Heir to the throne Prince Charles opened the state-run National Health Service (NHS) Nightingale Hospital, which has been built at London's ExCeL conference venue in just nine days. The 71-year-old prince officially launched the facility via videolink from Scotland, where he has been in self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 55, who has also tested positive, said he would remain at home in quarantine because he still had a temperature. Charles and Johnson are among 38,168 confirmed coronavirus cases across Britain. Numbers increased by 4,450 in the 24 hours to 0800 GMT on Friday, according to the health ministry. There was also a third consecutive day of record deaths from confirmed hospital cases -- 684 -- taking the overall toll to 3,605 as of 1600 GMT on Thursday. Two NHS nurses and two healthcare assistants were among the fatalities in the last 24 hours, Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has also tested positive for COVID-19, told a daily briefing. Chief Nursing Officer for England Ruth May added: "I worry that there's going to be more. I want to honour them today and recognise their service." The announcement of the new figures coincided with news the queen would make a rare special broadcast to Britain and the Commonwealth at 1900 GMT on Sunday. The queen, 93, has made only three other special addresses in her 68-year reign: after her mother's death in 2002; before Diana, Princess of Wales' funeral in 1997; and during the first Gulf War in 1991. She has been with her 98-year-old husband Prince Philip at Windsor, west of London, since March 19 as a precaution but palace officials have said the couple were in "good health". - Shining light - The NHS Nightingale Hospital is named after the trailblazing 19th-century nurse Florence Nightingale, who is seen as one of the founders of modern nursing. Charles paid tribute to everyone involved its construction, calling it "quite frankly incredible" to have transformed the giant exhibition centre into a critical care facility so quickly. "I was one of the lucky ones to have COVID-19 relatively mildly," he said. "But for some, it will be a much harder journey. "I am therefore so relieved that everyone can now have the reassurance that they will receive all the necessary technical care they may need, and every chance to return to a normal life. "In this dark time, this place will place will be a shining light," he said, but added that he hoped it would not required for long. The hospital will initially take 500 people in the coming days, said Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has also tested positive for COVID-19. It will take intensive care patients with COVID-19 from other London hospitals, which have seen the highest numbers of cases across Britain. Government ministers and scientists have refused to comment on reports that Britain could hit a peak of cases by April 12. But they said there were more than 2,000 critical care beds free, even before the opening of new field hospitals. - 'Invisible killer' - The NHS Nightingale Hospital London -- one of six being set up around the country -- is the size of 10 district general hospitals, and has more than 80 wards, each containing 42 beds. When fully operational it will require more than 16,000 staff to run it. Britons have been told to stay at home wherever possible and non-essential shops and services have been shut since March 23, as part a nationwide lockdown designed to stem the spread of coronavirus. Health officials say will take weeks to have an effect but the government said it was dependent on people maintaining social distancing. Hancock said it was not a guideline but an "instruction". The hospital has been built in just nine days Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the hospital will initially take in 500 people in the coming days
While the media agitators continue to rage and ruthlessly attack the president for not acting in a timely manner to forestall or perhaps even prevent the coronavirus from arriving in the United States, one thing is becoming abundantly clear: the chance of contracting the virus is exponentially higher if you reside in or in the vicinity of a crowded, congested American city. Your chances are greater if you use the subway, city bus, or light rail system. There is an undeniable correlation between population density and the odds of contracting COVID-19, yet the Green New Deal mandates herding small-town and rural dwellers into densely packed city housing, eliminating the ownership of privately owned automobiles, and imposing a rationed form of government run medical care. The sardine effect is proving to be a deadly consequence of green thinking.

Using the United Nations' Agenda 21 platform, the framers of America's Green New Deal first cherry-picked from the U.N. mandates and cobbled together their own fantasy wish list. They then slapped on a 2030 completion year in order to overhaul life in our United States. At the top of the wish list is the seizure and confiscation of small-town and rural landowners' private property; forcing the newly homeless to relocate into Soviet blocstyle city apartments modified to meet equally ridiculous GND building and energy specifications. The ideology behind the madness is simple: consolidate the masses to ensure control. What it achieves is hundreds of thousands, if not millions more urban dwellers packed and jammed into already congested cities, paving the pathway for viral contagions to multiply and spread rapidly. Currently, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in NYC has outpaced any other American city. The corresponding death rate proves that overcrowded living conditions help to accelerate the transmission, as was the case in the crowded Chinese province of Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated. To date, there is a low number of positive cases in sparsely populated areas of the U.S. compared to the numbers of both positive cases and related deaths due to COVID-19 in large American cities.

Forcing the small-town and rural American population into overcrowded city centers isn't the only way to achieve total control. Outlawing privately owned vehicles is the second prong of imposing the GND lifestyle upon the masses, which must first be accomplished by eliminating the use of petroleum oil and coal. Without petroleum, there is no gasoline and no fuel. Without coal-fired plants, there will be a severely limited amount of renewable energy for electric cars, which will also be phased out over time in favor of public transportation rationed and proportioned among massive, overpopulated city centers. Public transportation such as subways, light rail, and city buses are now shut down, or the route schedules have been limited, all across the U.S., in the effort to stop the COVID 19-spread.

Exerting control over the movement of people in the massive city centers of the future is a critical component. However, in the grand scheme of things, the question arises: did the GND planners anticipate the rise, spread, and transmission of newly emerging viruses whether domestic or foreign? Regardless of permissible movement edicts issued by state governors during the current crisis and depending on where you live, most people still retain the ability to use their cars, enabling them to get groceries, stop by the drugstore for prescriptions, use the bank drive through or pick up a restaurant food take out order. In a car-free, one-size-fits-all public transportation scenario, which would also come to a standstill in a similar virus contagion crisis, what's the plan?

Finally, if the thought of a sardine-packed lifestyle or cramming into a city subway tram isn't appealing, consider the following: socialized medical care similar to the GND mandate is currently underway in NYC hospitals. There are simply too many sick people overwhelming the system. There aren't enough resources, not enough medical care personnel, not enough supplies, and not enough beds for the sick. It's called rationing, and it is not the fault of President Trump, despite what his critics are claiming.

Welcome to the brave new world of the Green New Deal.
Ask Dr. Land: Is it permissible to ration health care in a medical crisis?

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Question: Is it ever permissible to ration health care in a medical crisis? If so, under what moral circumstances should it be allowed?

Unfortunately, it appears, that despite the best efforts of our elected leaders and the heroic efforts of the medical community, the coronavirus pandemic may very well create a tidal wave of seriously ill patients that will simply overwhelm the capacity of some local hospital facilities to adequately meet the needs of all the critically ill patients who seek treatment.

If and when that happens, what are Christian doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators to do? What does Christian morality allow them to do? Historically, in modern Western civilization when there is such a crisis and there is insufficient life saving care available to treat all patients who are imperiled, a triage system is implemented.

A triage system assigns highest priority to those critically ill patients who most immediately require medical care if they are to have any hope of survival and recovery. The second group in triage are those patients who do not have life threatening illnesses or injuries and thus can wait for medical treatment to become available. This second group is triaged and seen as care becomes available.

The third triage group comprises those patients who are deemed to have sustained mortal injuries or their illnesses have progressed to the state where they have an almost certain probability of dying even if they were given the treatments that are given to group one. The patients in this group are the ones labeled do not resuscitate because of their almost certain terminal status and are merely made as comfortable as possible until they expire.

Now, as Americans, of whatever faith, we all pray that it does not come to that in any of our hospitals during the Great Pandemic of 2020. But if and when this sad and lamentable state of affairs does eventuate in some of our hospitals, American culture is not at all prepared to react in as Christian way as we would have earlier in our history.

The most crucial question that must be asked when confronting a triage model is what are the criteria being used to make the decision to relegate some patients to the do not treat category as opposed to receiving the urgent care they desperately need immediately? Any evaluative criteria other than the individual medical condition of each patient must be rejected as prejudice and a denial of the innate dignity of each and every human being. Of course, no racial, ethnic, or gender discrimination must ever be used to disqualify someone from treatment.

Unfortunately, because of the significant inroads of the nefarious and treacherously named quality of life ethic in our culture, which argues that some lives arent as worth living as others, it would apply categories such as advanced age or mental or physical challenges in patients in any age group. Such thinking is starkly utilitarian, morally repugnant and the antithesis of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which assigns equal and reverential value to each and every human life as made in Gods image (Gen.1:26-27).

Each of us, even in our fallen state, bares the indelible image of our divine Creator, which means each and every human being is different in kind, not merely degree, from the rest of creation and must be recognized and treated with sacred, reverential value.

If the criteria used in triage take value points away from anyone purely based on their age or their lack of some cognitive or physical skills, then it is founded on a pagan value system and must be rejected with vigor and fought in court if necessary.

Pope John Paul II warned us that a culture of death was loose in Western civilization and was running rampant in the academy and other places of culture influence. Where does such a repugnant moral ethic lead? Concerning a proposed California law legalizing assisted suicide five years ago, Los Angeles Catholic Archbishop Jose Gomez wrote the following: Once we start down this path, once we establish in law that some lives are not as valuable as others . . . there will be no turning back. The logic of doctor assisted suicide does not stop with the terminally ill. Unfortunately, Archbishop Gomez is absolutely right. Where such laws have been passed, the right to die all too quickly under societal pressure becomes an obligation to die or a duty to die.

Allow me to close with the following example of how serious this issue has become in our society. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel is the poster boy for the so-called quality of life ethics morbid fascination with death. Dr. Emanuel, President Obamas health care advisory, a chief architect of Obama Care and its death panels which rationed care, is also the most prominent member of former Vice President Joe Bidens Health Care Advisory Team. Dr. Emanuel has stated in the Atlantic Magazine that he wants to die at age 75 (he is currently 63) and that we should all desire the same thing. He described the elderly as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic. He has strongly advocated rationing health care to people simply as a function of their chronological age. The irony here is that Joe Biden is 77, so according to Dr. Emanuel former Vice President Biden should already be dead.

This is serious business  deadly serious. We must strongly oppose the devaluing of the elderly and the mentally and physically challenged in this time of the Great Pandemic of 2020.

Otherwise, barbarisms death culture will ever more rapaciously devalue human life like one of the horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Agrochemical firm UPL Limited on Friday pledged to contribute Rs 75 crore to PM-CARES fund in assisting the government to fight against the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed the lives of over 50 people and infected more than 2,300 others.

The Mumbai-based agricultural solutions company has also kept on standby the premises of its educational institutions such as Gyan Dham School and Sandra Shroff Rofel College of Nursing, both at Vapi in Gujarat, with necessary arrangements to operate as quarantine centres as and when required, it said.

It is also continuously providing large numbers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to frontline healthcare and sanitisation workers who are fighting the battle against the novel coronavirus, the company said in a statement.

Jai Shroff, the CEO of UPL Limited, said: "These are very challenging times for the entire mankind, and we find ourselves duty-bound to serve the nation and assist with our resources and expertise in this critical fight. As a responsible corporate, we remain committed to support the government of India and various state governments in every possible manner.

The company said that it is additionally supplementing the Central and state governments' efforts by engaging 200 modern mechanical spraying machines (falcons) and 225 staff members to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The company teams are assisting local administrations by providing services of disinfectant spraying at various public and private spaces such as hospitals, streets, police stations, railway stations, municipal corporations among others.

Tushar Trivedi, Head, AFS, UPL said: "We recognise that keeping public spaces disinfected is one of the most important aspects in checking the spread of coronavirus. Upon call from the authorities, we quickly aligned our resources and deputed our mechanised spraying vehicles to disinfect public spaces with Sodium Hypochloride provided by the government".

The company has so far sprayed 11.5 lakh litre of disinfectant solution Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, and is working to extend the exercise to other states as identified by the government.

UPL has also mobilised its operational capabilities to manufacture hand sanitisers produced as per the WHO guidelines for distribution to police and municipal corporations.

The Union Health Ministry said on Friday that there have been 2,301 cases of COVID-19 in India and 56 deaths, out of which 12 were reported since Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Neighbourly location-based crowdsourcing app launched by Google in India in May 2018 will shut down as it had failed to grow the way the company expected it to.

Neighbourly was first launched in Mumbai and gradually expanded to other cities such as Ahmedabad, Coimbatore and Mysore. It helped users connect to the community to get information and reliable insight into what's happening in their neighbourhood.

We launched Neighbourly as a Beta app to connect you with your neighbours and make sharing local information more human and helpful. As a community, you've come together to celebrate local festivals, shared crucial information during floods, and answered over a million questions but the app hasn't grown like we had hoped, said Google in a statement.

Neighbourly uses Google's expert speech recognition to transcribe queries in the app to the language a user is comfortable in. It also enables you to share pictures, hold community polls, and share information on any event in the neighbourhood.

In these difficult times, we believe that we can help more people by focusing on other Google apps that are already serving millions of people every day, the statement added.

Google said that it plans to learn the lessons from Neighbourly and utilise it to improve their other products. Users can use download content and data on Neighbourly till October 12 this year.
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Rohan Patil

The benchmark index Nifty on April 1 witnessed a smaller degree upward rising trend line breakdown.

The index, on the daily chart, has given a pennant pattern breakdown. Pennant pattern normally acts as a continuation pattern of the prevailing trend.

The Indian stock market witnessed one of the steepest monthly falls and shut the shop in deep red with a fall of more than 23 percent in March 2020 on a monthly closing basis.

Momentum Oscillator RSI (14) seems to have flattened out in an oversold zone and looks least concerned to spike on weekly charts.

Nifty confirmed its closing below a 100-month exponential moving average (EMA), which is placed at around 8,850 level on the monthly time frame.

Previously, 100-EMA on the monthly chart was breached during the period of November 2008 to February 2009, and their aftermarket witnessed a sharp reversal and since then it never revisited its 100-EMA on a monthly interval.

Bank Nifty is underperforming the benchmark index Nifty on the weekly chart which is observed by relative strength (RS) indicator.

In the banking sector, state-run banks are underperforming private sector banks. In the majority of banking stocks, technical indicators and oscillators are in oversold zone and are not in any hurry to spike up.

Current chart formation suggests a sustained rise above 7,900 will surely create a demand zone for the benchmark index.

A break below the said level will make Nifty test 7,341 in the coming weeks which is supported by Fibonacci retracement level. However, on the higher side, the index may continue to face hurdles around 9,000 level.

Here are three stock recommendations for the next 3-4 weeks:

Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) | Buy | LTP: Rs 1,382.20 | Target: Rs 1,575 | Stop loss: Rs 1,290 | Upside: 14%

The stock price seems to have hit its intermediate bottom on the weekly chart and has formed two consecutive green candles.

The 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) is acting as an anchor point and is one of the main reasons for the likely short-term bottom in the stock.

The counter is forming a base near Rs 1,350 levels since the last couple of days, which is supported by momentum oscillator RSI (14) which has rebounded from the oversold zone with positive crossover on the daily interval.

Traders can accumulate the stock in a range of Rs 1,385-1,400 for the target of Rs 1,575 with a stop loss below Rs 1,290 on a daily closing basis.

Voltas | Sell | LTP: Rs 472.55 | Target: Rs 420 | Stop loss: Rs 505 | Downside: 11%

Voltas has breached its almost 30-month long horizontal trendline and is currently trading below its support level on the weekly timeline.

The majority of Indicators and oscillators are negatively poised and looking week to drift further.

The stock has drifted below its 50 and 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) on the weekly time frame, which indicates bears are in full control to push price lower.

The counter is likely to underperform the benchmark index which is visible on the Relative Strength Indicator (RSI).

Traders can short the stock in a range of Rs 470 - 475 for the target of Rs 420 with a stop loss above Rs 505 on a daily closing basis.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) | Sell | LTP: Rs 775.55 | Target: Rs 690 |Stop loss: Rs 825 | Downside: 11%

A recent pullback in the stock was capped around Rs 890 and it was unable to fill the gap which was created by the gap-down opening of March 23.

The current chart formation suggests prices are likely to form an inverse V-shape bearish pattern on the daily interval.

The monthly chart clearly indicates long-term bearishness in the counter, as prices have witnessed rising channel pattern breakdown.

RSI (14) is in the oversold zone, but the current bear market flow indicates the indicator may stay in the oversold zone for a longer period.

Traders can short the stock in a range of Rs 771-777 for the target of Rs 690 with a stop loss above Rs 825 on a daily closing basis.

(The author is Technical Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio)

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
The future of the oil industry, it seems, all depends on who you ask. Many industry insiders and experts are crying armageddon, while others say that United States shale is not only poised for a comeback, it will be better than ever. Early last month, global oil prices experienced their worst single-day setback in almost 30 years thanks to a series of unfortunate geopolitical events and a certain virus you may have heard something about. China was the first country to have to all but shut down its entire economy to stop the spread of coronavirus, and whenever anything happens to the second-largest economy in the world, the rest of the world is certain to feel the aftershocks.

First, the demand for oil plunged. This prompted discussions between the OPEC+ leaders of Saudi Arabia and Russia to enter talks to determine how they would respond to this setback. The talks did not go well, to put it mildly, and Russia and Saudi Arabias alliance quickly devolved into an all-out oil price war. All of this came to a head-on March 9, when oil prices crashed by a spectacular 30 percent.

Brent lost $15.65 from its weekly close to settle at $34.36 per barrel on Monday, while WTI lost $14.6 of its value to close at $31.13 reported the Nationals Business section. Since then, the energy industry has been awaiting the stimulus package with bated breath, as the Permian Basin experiences tens of thousands of layoffs.

But some are optimistic about a serious rebound. One such entity is Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which believes that the bruised and battered U.S. shale industry is poised to emerge from the oil crash a winner, says Bloomberg. In a March 31 note, Goldman Sachs analyst Damien Courvalin expressed that shales high-pressured wells and short drilling time mean the industry is well-positioned to benefit if the current plunge in oil causes long-term damage to production capacity, resulting in a price jump when demand returns.

Related: Iraq On The Brink Of Civil War As Oil Revenues Evaporate



Goldman Sachs is not the only group feeling optimistic about oil. Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning oil historian and vice chairman of IHS Markit Ltd. told Bloomberg in an interview for an earlier article that Companies go bankrupt, but rocks dont go bankrupt, and that when this all shakes out, there will be other people to develop shale.

Vincent G. Piazza, Bloomberg Intelligence's senior oil analyst, even believes that shale will not only bounce back, but it will also be better than ever. In a scenario not unlike Darwinian natural selection, the weakest companies would be weeded out and we will be left with only the strongest, most efficient, and more resilient companies with better technology and better preparedness for future market volatility. The weakest companies will go into stronger hands, he said. The industry is going to be in a lot better shape than in 2014-2016. The balance sheet is in a lot better shape. I wouldnt underestimate the ability of this industry to re-create itself.

This scenario is not unprecedented. In the 2014-16 oil crash, oil prices dipped significantly lower than they are now, and, not long after, which was followed by an unprecedented shale rebound that changed the global energy industry. The American shale industry shocked the world with its rebound after the 2014-2016 bust, says Bloomberg, setting records for output that pushed the U.S. to the top spot among oil-producing countries. Ironically, it was the very same 2014-16 oil crash that prompted the alliance between Saudi Arabia and Russia whose meltdown led to the current crash.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Some encouraging news in this difficult time comes from the World Bank, highlighting how distance learning is being rolled out in a number of African countries during the coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdowns.

Highlights include steps to implement distance learning and assessment in Egypt via access to the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, providing content by grade level and subject. There's also a digital platform that offers a communication channel between students and teachers to enable approximately 22 million students distributed over nearly 55,000 schools to communicate with teachers.

A contract with the online learning provider Edmodo and free SIM cards to students are also part of Egypts remote learning initiatives.

In Kenya the ministry of education has designed online learning programmes and resources. Materials and programmes will also be delivered using radio, television, YouTube and other platforms. Meanwhile, Orange Liberia has announced that it is granting free access to online educational content to students and teachers while all schools and universities are closed via a website called Orange Campus Africa.

In Libya local television stations will be broadcasting lessons for middle and secondary schoolchildren, while Morocco has put together content in order to help students with their remote learning, and, in South Africa, leading operator Telkom has zero-rated education websites to provide cost-free access to learners.

Finally, at least for now, the Tunisia-based Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) has launched an e-learning initiative.

The World Bank says it is actively working with ministries of education in dozens of countries to support their efforts to utilize educational technologies of all sorts to provide remote learning opportunities for students, and is in active dialogue with dozens more.

It is also cataloguing emerging approaches, by country, in an internal database.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 18:42:54|Editor: Yurou

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BERLIN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Chancellor Angela Merkel returned to her office on Friday after two weeks of self-quarantine, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert has said.

"Now the work continues from the Chancellery," Seibert said here at a press conference Friday. Merkel had three tests for coronavirus during the quarantine, with all returned negative.

Merkel had been in self-quarantine since March 22, after being informed that a doctor she had been in close contact with on March 20 had tested positive for the coronavirus.

During quarantine at home, the German leader has held government meetings via video link.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

The extension of term of the phased application of mandatory health insurance (MHI) in Azerbaijan was discussed at the plenary meeting of Azerbaijans Parliament, which is being held on March 30, Trend reports.

In this regard, a change to the law on medical insurance has been proposed. According to the change, the introduction of the MHI will be carried out step by step, and the process is set for completing in 2021.

Under the current law, this process was supposed to be completed in 2020.

After discussions, the proposal has been put to the vote and adopted.
While on a video call with Kerry Singleton, the Singapore-based cybersecurity sales director for Asean at Cisco to discuss his work from home life, his three-year old son, holding a small toy, video-bombed the interview to say 'Hello' to the writer. The mother pulled him out as he kept saying, "Do I need to go?" Singleton says, "He likes seeing and talking to people. This happens at least once a day, so you are lucky. Sometimes it's difficult to manage him alongside work."

That's become the new normal for millions of employees across the world as companies mandate work from home due to the prevailing lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. While many new-age and technology firms have always offered flexi-work options, the difference now is the sheer number of employees working from home for such a long period considering that the lockdown is likely to last for more than a few weeks.

However, it is not everybodys cup of tea. "Everyone's situation is different, and so are concerns," says Singleton. For people with families, it is kids playing around, dogs barking or grandparents talking loudly as they try to get their work done. For millennials, many of who live alone, it is isolation and boredom. As the reality of one of corporate Indias biggest social experiments kicks in, companies are not only providing employees the right tools to be productive but ensuring they stay happy and productive too.

Working from home is nothing new. Over the years, academic research has highlighted where work from home strategy works and where it does not. Research by Stanford University professor Nicholas Bloom shows remote workers were 13 per cent more productive than on-premises counterparts. Plus, they were sick less, took less time off and had lower attrition rates. But, work from home doesn't tick all boxes for productivity. IBM and Yahoo both called back employees to work after offering remote work for years. The answer lies in research by Judith Olson, who finds that remote work is good for solo work but not for work which requires collaboration.

Social Space

As many more individuals are working from home now, many are facing issues. It is for the first time they are working in pyjamas and that too completely unsupervised. Bharat Suvarna, Marketing Manager, Schindler India, says it was a bit disorienting in the beginning. It took him some time to align to the new way of work. Several companies have collaboration tools in place that allow them to work anywhere, anytime-Zoom, Yammer, Microsoft Teams, Cisco's Webex, Skype among others. But now, companies are leveraging those not just to get work done but also to ensure that interpersonal communication and camaraderie between team members is not lost.

One thing people miss while working from home is the personal touch, says Nathan S.V., Partner and Chief Talent Officer, Deloitte India. Offices for many have become social spaces where people eat, go to the gym, play video games and depend on colleagues for social interaction. Nathan says their routine calls, called Check Ins, which often related to work reviews, are today more about how they are managing working from home and dealing with the new life. "As other cues of conversation go missing in these uncertain times, one needs to be hyper-sensitive and read between the lines. It doesn't hurt to ask one extra question: Are you ok?", he says.

Firms like Publicis Sapient, Schindler, Microsoft Hexaware and Cisco are encouraging employees to do more of face time. Shubha Arora, Chief People Officer, India and South Asia, Schindler, says they are encouraging people to turn on video conferencing where managers are being asked to have a fixed time in their calendars to touch base with their teams. "At home, we are missing the chai breaks with colleagues, so we are doing no-agenda 'Coffee on VC' sessions where anyone can join for a tete-a-tete."

Teams at Cisco are being creative to add fun to video conference calls. Last Friday, upon a team member's suggestion, Singleton's team did the meeting wearing Superhero masks. "It changed the dynamics of what was a work review call. Everybody started laughing and having fun. It sort of broke the monotony." Hexaware is running many contests to continue with the fun spirit. It started with CEO R. Srikrishna sharing his selfie from an empty office that led to a deluge of photos being shared from employees on their #WFH life on their social media platform Yammer, says Vishwanath Joshi, Chief People Officer, Hexaware. That led to the start of the #selfie content, #workingwithpet video contest, among others.

Firms like Flipkart and Cisco are going beyond team members and getting families involved as work and home boundaries blur. As the writer speaks to Microsoft India's COO Rajiv Sodhi, his pet dog comes looking for attention. He says, "It is important to tell employees that it is ok and such disturbances will happen. People are anyway stressed about what is happening and the last thing you want to be stressed about is the background noise of a dog barking or kids playing."

At Flipkart, parents are encouraged to bring young kids to greet colleagues during video meetings. "This way kids feel happy they are being involved and it creates a sense of togetherness," says the Flipkart spokesperson.

Virtual Etiquette

There are a unique set of challenges while working from home. It put individuals in a totally unprecedented situation where entire families are home. Plus, many might not have private spaces in their homes.

As work and personal times blur, where all is merged into one, building discipline is quite important. "Self-management is a big area when employees work from home for such prolonged period of time. They have to manage the social self by maintaining a daily schedule and setting clear boundaries of when they work and when they stop, says Kameshwari Rao, Group Vice President, People Strategy at Publicis Sapient. It has started doing webinars on working from home etiquette and a module on what employees owe the company.

Employees also have to be taught virtual teaming, says Nathan. As virtual teaming and virtual meetings become important, people have to learn to be inclusive where they hear everyone and also speak up. "Virtual meetings often end up being a cacophony of sounds and not speaking up is equivalent to being invisible, which can lead to gradual phasing out," he says.

To give everyone a fair chance to express, Microsoft's Rajiv Sodhi says they are practising inclusive meetings. They are telling everyone that even if they don't want to speak up, they can send inputs on a chat, or whiteboard on their collaboration tool teams. Also, unlike physical meetings that extend for hours, they plan shorter virtual connects with a pointed agenda. "We want to ensure meetings are purposeful, so we are sensitive to the fact that people today have to manage responsibilities at home too."

In these circumstances, Nathan says it is best to clearly communicate start and end time of work and break times. This will ensure consideration to others' routine and time zones. He shares how he had to miss his afternoon meal for two days in a row because his overseas colleagues went for lunch when it was his breakfast time. "Since there is no playbook for working at home, we need to be more emphatic," says Nathan.

Let Go

Managers too have to develop a mindset to give space to employees to work. Often managers start micromanaging when their team is not in front of them. In these cases, over-communication can turn to be a controlling strategy. A PolicyBazaar employee shares how one of their leaders wanted to copied in all final content pieces. Another employee shared how his boss asked him to share a screenshot of the work after every hour. "I am already working longer than I was in office," he says.

Rao says firms will have to change this attitude. One way to avoid intrusion at Publicis Sapient is to define goals clearly and have pre-determined standards to compare the work against. "Orientation of the entire firm has to be such that it rewards not the effort put in but the impact created," she says. What's abundantly clear is that the current trends will change the future of work. "Work from home is a reality for many companies but there is still this distinction on job roles which can work remotely and which can't," says Neharika Vohra, Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

@sonalkhetarpal7
The HRD Ministry directed schools and colleges on Friday to advise students to follow protocols developed by the Ayush Ministry to boost immunity and light diyas and candles on April 5 as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a letter sent to CBSE, UGC, AICTE, NCERT and other bodies under the HRD Ministry, Secretary Amit Khare has listed suggestions to aid the fight against COVID-19.

"As addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, students may light candle, diya or torch of their mobile for 9 minutes on April 5 at 9 pm to realise power of light and to highlight objective of which we are all fighting together. However, no one should assemble in colonies or road or anywhere outside their houses," Khare said.

"Ministry of Ayush has developed a protocol for immunity boosting measures for self care for kids. Students may also download Arogya Setu app, which has been developed to fight against COVID-19. The app will be helpful for students, faculty members and family members too," he added.

According to the Union Health Ministry, India has recorded 2,547 cases of COVID-19 infection so far and the number of fatalities has reached 62.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Highland Hospital, a public institution that serves the homeless, the uninsured and the working poor, wouldnt be able to operate without Derrick Boutte and his team.

Bouttes work is critical to saving lives, but hes not a doctor or a nurse. He works in the environmental services department.

Bouttes a housekeeper.

He strips soiled sheets from beds. He wipes and sanitizes surfaces and equipment in rooms  from the emergency room to patient rooms to break rooms. He changes trash can liners and disposes of biomedical waste.

Anything he touches in the hospital could be contaminated. And if hes not careful, anything he touches in the hospital could become contaminated.

As the coronavirus wreaks havoc across the country, housekeepers are indispensable because not only do hospitals have to care for the expected surge of sick patients, they must also stop the virus from running rampant in their facilities. And thats housekeepings job.

Housekeepers are heroes, too.

Now think about this: If theres a shortage of personal protective equipment for doctors and nurses in America, what must it be like for housekeepers, food service workers and other hospital departments staffed predominantly by people of color, like at Highland?

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 has just put a magnifying glass on the inequalities that we face as a country, particularly for people of color, said Liz Ortega, executive secretary-treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council, which represents workers in health care, education, construction and other fields.

Bouttes concerned that all workers on the front lines dont have what they need to stay protected.

If not for us, doctors, nurses  every individual there  will not be protected, he said. Its just a challenge knowing youre looked at as not being as important as you really are.

Hospitals run on low-wage workers who are essential to patient safety, Rebecca Kolins Givan, a labor studies and employment relations professor at Rutgers University, told me.

If somebody who is responsible for cleaning the room or doing laundry or bringing meals to patients isnt serious about hygiene and infection control, theres a patient safety hazard, she said.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Boutte, an Oakland native, has worked at the East Oakland hospital for 20 years. The hospital is part of Alameda Health System, which is run by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

Last week, nurses created their own protective equipment by cutting holes in trash bags because they werent given protective gowns. In a statement, Alameda Health System said that it is conserving the use of personal protective equipment and other resources to ensure availability if theres a significant patient surge.

Environmental services is vital to the prevention of serious infections and the efficient running of the hospitals and clinics, the statement said. They play an important role in the care of the patients and a critical part of the care delivery team. If EVs were not able to execute on their roles, the health system would truly screech to a halt.

It still might, because Boutte says for years Alameda Health System has steadily cut environmental services positions. According to Boutte, there used to be two to three housekeepers per floor per shift. Now theres one. And to prevent cross-contamination, hed normally change gowns before he entered a new room to clean. Now hes using the same gown and mask for an entire shift.

As minority workers from the community that we serve, we always feel like were expendable, Boutte, 50, said. You got one person trying to cover multiple areas, so the hospital is not even getting cleaned.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Some departments at the hospital, like food and nutrition, have been told they dont need masks.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

They dont believe that were being exposed to this virus as much as doctors and nurses, said Craig Smith, a chef whos been cooking and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at Highland for 11 years.

The 31-year-old Oakland native who lives with his parents, brother and nephew wants to make sure he doesnt infect them.

We need to secure everyone whos an employee within the hospital to guarantee everyones safety, Smith said. Im willing to go to war, but provide me the materials I need.

Months before the pandemic, Ortega said the union reached out to each supervisor to discuss worker and supply shortages.

Prior to all of this, we were going in to talk about the lack of supplies, the lack of gloves, the lack of sanitation, she said. And now its just exploded.

Supervisor Nate Miley told me he believes what front-line employees are saying.

Weve had many conversations with labor in terms of their concerns with the structure and the governance at AHS, Miley said. In fact, labor is pushing for that whole model to be restructured, and they were pushing for that prior to the pandemic. As a result of the pandemic, theyre even more focused on that happening.

When Boutte gets home, he takes his uniform off in the backyard, stuffing his clothes into a bag like he does sheets from a bed at work. Hed like to see more of his teenage daughters, who attend college in Atlanta, but theyre staying with their grandparents in Sacramento.

Thats the best thing for them, Boutte said. We just want to make sure that theyre protected.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
Egypt's Sisi called Italian PM Conte to express readiness to provide support, especially through coordination between health care officials in the two countries.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed to Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte his full readiness to support Italy as it combats a coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 13,000 people.

El-Sisis spokesman Bassam Rady said the president called Conte to express readiness to provide support, especially through an exchange of experience and coordination between health care officials in the two countries.

El-Sisi reiterated his condolences for the victims of the coronavirus in Italy, Rady said, and the president stressed Cairos solidarity with the government and people of Italy.

The Italian premier expressed his countrys willingness to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries relevant authorities under international efforts to combat the coronavirus.

Italys death toll reached 13,915 on Thursday, a daily rise of 760, up from an increase of 727 the previous day.

The country has confirmed 115,242 positive cases of the virus.

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Ndi Anambra ekenem unu.

I am here to update you on the on-going global war against the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the efforts we have made so far to flatten the curve on this virus and shut it out of Anambra State.

As you may recall, my last broadcast on this pandemic was on March 19, 2020 when we took our first decisive steps against this menace by announcing the suspension of schools, nightclubs and bars, weddings, funerals, ofala ceremonies and other social events that bring people together in one place.

Update on Testing and Results:

Here is an update on what has happened since my last broadcast. In Anambra State, we respect our experts. My Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala has reliably informed me that at this moment in time, our dear state does not have a single recorded case of Coronavirus. Six samples have so far been sent for testing and four of the samples were declared negative. The results of the other two have not been released yet. We have sent three new samples today for testing.

Anambra Coronavirus Protection Centres at Onitsha General Hospital

Please note that samples are usually taken from what the experts call CASE DESCRIPTION. Case Description is a situation where an individual who has just returned from any of the countries and cities that have serious Covid-19 cases begins to show symptoms of Coronavirus or a situation where someone who has come in contact with people suffering from Coronavirus begins to show symptoms of the pandemic. These symptoms are usually cough, runny nose, fever and a difficulty in breathing. Samples are usually taken from such people and sent to the testing center. So, far, Anambra is safe. But we shall continue our efforts in testing to ensure that Coronavirus does not take us by surprise.

Update on Isolation Centers:

We have successfully set up a 250-bed Isolation Center at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Mbaukwu/Umuawulu and another 16-bed Isolation Centre at the General Hospital Onitsha. By the Grace of God, I shall commission both centers tomorrow. The Onitsha Isolation Centre has been described as one of the best in the country today. At the same time, the Isolation Center at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku-Awka is being fitted out to standard just in case we have an outbreak.

Meanwhile, we have two Surge Centers at Ekwulobia General Hospital and Umueri General Hospital. Ndi Anambra, I am happy to announce the Management of Fidelity Bank and the Management of Access Bank have both volunteered to equip the Surge Centers at Ekwulobia General Hospital and Umueri General Hospital with a 60-bed facility each that meets the World Health Organization standards on Coronavirus. I have been assured that both facilities shall be up and running within one week. On behalf of Ndi Anambra, I express my profound gratitude to Fidelity Bank and Access Bank for their kind gesture.

Members of Anambra Covid19 Action Committee during the broadcast

Economic Stimulus Package:

Ndi Anambra, our response to the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic is multi-dimensional. We have mounted a massive awareness campaign on all media platforms to enlighten our people on the threat of Coronavirus. We have closed our boundaries with neighbouring states and shut down our 63 major markets in Anambra State to flatten the curve on this virus. We have set up Isolation Centers and equipped them with facilities that meet WHO standards. And finally, we have also rolled out an Economic Stimulus Package to cushion the effect of steps we have taken against the virus on the most vulnerable members of our communities. We have commenced the distribution of 200 bags of rice to each of the 181 communities in Anambra State to be distributed among our senior citizens from 70 years and above. In communities where we have more than 200 people within the specified age bracket, distribution shall start from the oldest to the youngest in the age bracket.

Beyond that, we have also given a 10% relief on personal income taxes to businesses in Anambra State for the year 2019. This means that if you have been paying your taxes regularly, you will get a 10% refund of the entire sum you paid in 2019. I have no doubt that this will be of great help to businesses in the state.

Beds and medical equipment at Anambra Coronavirus Protection Centres at Onitsha General Hospital and NYSC Camp Mbaukwu-Umuawulu.

Interventions from the Private Sector

Our call for assistance from corporate bodies and successful Ndi Anambra has started yielding results. So far, we have received the following donations in cash and equipment from the following people 

UBA Plc  N28, 500,000

Ibeto Petrochemical  N10m

J I Ejison of Ejison International Ltd - N5m

Chief Ken Nwogbo  N5m

Chief Ejeson Ukeje  N5m

Chief Daniel Chukwudozie of Dozzy Oil  N2m

Senator Victor Umeh  N2m

His Royal Highness, Igwe Gerald Mbamalu, Igwe Ojoto  N1m

Ezeemo Godwin Chukwunenye  N500,000

Obinna Okechukwu Nwosu  N3000

7Com Enterprises N2000

Dr Ernest Audialor Obiejesi  4000 Facial Masks and 900 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

Other illustrious indigenes of the state that have pledged to assist the government with Personal Protection Equipment and other medical supplies are Chief Engineer Arthur Eze, Dr Cosmas Maduka, Chief Innocent Chukwuma (Innoson), Sir Emeka Offor, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu (Chisco), Emma Bishop Okonkwo (Ekulo Group) and Chief Allen Onyema (Air Peace).

Ndi Anambra we are still appealing for donations to boost our capacity to overcome the threat posed by this pandemic. We especially need ventilators and Personal Protection Equipment like gloves, goggles for the eyes, apparels and masks. We shall appreciate any intervention that will strengthen our capacity in these areas.

His Excellency Gov Willie Obiano and members of Covid19 Action Committee during the broadcast

What we shall do next

Ndi Anambra, we are determined to strengthen our campaign against Coronavirus in our dear state with the following measures 

1. We shall soon commence the distribution of 3 million masks residents of Anambra State 181 communities in Anambra. The Igwes and the PGs will assist the government in profiling the tailors in the various communities that will help in mass-producing these masks for distribution to the members of the communities. Our intention in handing out 3 million masks is to ensure that after the 14-day shutdown of the state, no one will step out of their home without wearing a facial mask. The Czech Republic is relying largely on a heavy use of facial masks to minimize the incidence of Coronavirus in its territory. These masks shall be made by our own tailors carefully selected from each of the 181 communities of Anambra State. The modalities for the manufacturing and distribution of the masks shall be worked out and announced subsequently.

2. We shall also commence the fumigation of the 63 markets in Anambra State while the traders are at home. This will help to reduce the toxicity of the business environment and minimize the exposure of our people to different kinds of infections.

3. We are giving a two-month waiver to Keke and shuttle bus operators in the state on the usual permits they pay. The grace period covers the months of April and May, 2020. The leadership of the Tricycle Union and the Bus and Shuttle Bus Drivers Union have also given a two-month waiver to Keke and Shuttle bus drivers. I hope that this will cushion the sudden fall in their income occasioned by the restricted number of passengers they are expected to carry at a time these days. This is also a part of our Economic Stimulus Package for the vulnerable.

4. To ensure that our children are not adversely affected by the closure of schools, we have migrated our classrooms to Radio, television and Facebook. A partnership between the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) and the Ministry of Basic Education is meeting the educational needs of our children with a programme title Anambra Teaching on Air. Visit the ABS website for further details.

Medical equipment at Anambra Coronavirus Protection Centres at Onitsha General Hospital and NYSC Camp Mbaukwu-Umuawulu.

We are Ready:

Finally, Ndi Anambra, learning from the experience of the approaches adopted by France and Lagos in battling this pandemic, we have stockpiled the medicines used in managing outbreaks in both places in case we experience an incident here. I therefore urge you to be calm and ensure adequate compliance with the standard directives on Covid-19 which includes  wash your hands regularly with soap, use hand-sanitizers regularly, cough and sneeze into your elbows, put on a face mask while going out and most importantly; stay home and stay safe!

Before I end this broadcast, I must not fail to thank the entire business community in Anambra State for complying with our directive on Coronavirus. I must also thank the owners of schools, the church, the civil society and traditional rulers who have lent their voices to the enlightenment campaign on coronavirus in their various domains. My gratitude also goes to the members of the Task Force on Covid-19 who have been working day and night to get our dear state ready and of course the Service Commanders of the various security agencies in the state who have been helping us to enforce the standard Covid-19 protocol in the state.

In conclusion, Ndi Anambra, I urge you to see the threat of Coronavirus as the greatest threat to us all as one people under God. I urge you therefore, to come together as one and shut out this pandemic from Anambra State. Ndi Anambra, we can do it if we truly come together. In the words of American auto icon, Henry Ford, coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress but working together is success.

I have no doubt that if we all wash your hands regularly with soap, use hand-sanitizers regularly, cough and sneeze into your elbows, put on a facial mask while going out and most importantly; stay home and stay safe, we shall win this battle and eventually win this war!

God bless Anambra State

God Bless Nigeria.

Willie Obiano

Governor
(Photo : Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash) Proper hand sanitation (Photo : Markus Spiske on Unsplash) Record of COVID-19 Cases

Since the first Coronavirus case surfaced in Wuhan, China in 2019, the virus has now become a epidemic, according to the World Health Organization. It has, in fact, affected nearly every continent in the world. However, despite the enormity of its contamination, there still are countries that the virus has not reached yet. How come these nations have not been affected by the disease? What have they been doing in terms of their safety measurements against this pandemic? Are these countries the last safe place to be in or will they be the next hotspot for the virus?

Countries that are COVID-19 Free

According to a report of BBC News, while COVID-19 cases around the globe have increased, there are still countries that have yet to report a single positive patient. It was stated in the report that that 19 countries have not yet confirmed any case of COVID-19 as of April 2.

These countries are the following:

Kiribati, Malawi, Comoros, Lesotho, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, North Korea, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, South Sudan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Yemen.

These countries that the virus has not yet reached are mostly small islands that receive only a few visitors from foreign countries. According to the data from the United Nations, 7 out of the world's 10 least visited places are free from COVID-19.

And while they remain to have zero cases of the virus, the President of Nauru, Lionel Aingimea has said that they are still not being complacent with this virus. They are taking serious safety measures to secure the safety of his country and his people.



Is Nauru the safest place to be in against Coronavirus?

Nauru is an isolated island located in the Pacific Ocean. It is 200 miles (320 kilometers) away from any island. The Banaba Island, which is a part of Kiribati, is the nearest landmass to Nauru. The closest major city with direct flights to Nauru is Brisbane, which is 2,500 miles away from the Island.

It takes more than just a quick bus or train ride to visit the island, which has perhaps contributed to its lack of foreign visitors. It is known as one of the least-visited places on earth according to the recent UN data with only 160 tourist visits each year. This is the second-smallest UN state as the island only has 10,000 residents.

President Aingimea, however, is still not satisfied with the island's safe geography since the country has only one hospital that has no ventilators and also a shortage of nurses. He has implemented a plan called "Capture and Containment" which includes the banning of flights from China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran--known COVID-19 hotspots. The country also suspended Nauru Airline flights going to Kiribati, Fiji and Marshall Islands. The President also ordered a 14-day quarantine for residents returning from Australia.

"We're keeping things at the border. We're using our airport as the border and our transit facilities as part of our border," said the president.

Despite the crisis that is currently taking place, the president thanked his people for being calm and collected. He is also grateful for the help they are receiving from Australia and Taiwan which the Island has good relations with.

Also Read: [VIDEO] NASA's Webb Telescope Deployed: How Big It Is?

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Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) is giving a large group of its borrowers a large break. The company is allowing 50,000 of them to defer their mortgage payments, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. Those customers may defer their payments for up to three months due to the financial impact of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus outbreak.

In mid-March, the bank announced that mortgage clients facing hardship could request that it grant both deferrals and refunds for late fees on their payments.

According to a spokesman for the bank quoted by Bloomberg, those 50,000 customers have various kinds of mortgages, and many are not backed by federal agencies. Federally backed loans qualify for the forbearance provisions in the federal government's recently passed coronavirus stimulus bill. This permits them to halt mortgage payments for a minimum of six months, with a possible extension of six more.

Below the federal level, some governments have enacted their own mortgage-relief initiatives. A prominent example is California, which recently agreed to a deal with several top banks operating in the state on a 90-day deferral program for borrowers affected by the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak. Bank of America is one of those banks, as are California-headquartered Wells Fargo and Citigroup.

Bank of America is one of the top mortgage lenders in the country. In 2019, its residential mortgage loan portfolio reached over $236 billion in size. That represented growth of 13% over the 2018 figure.

On Thursday, Bank of America stock closed the day just over 4% higher, exceeding the gains posted by major stock indexes.
Loading If the government gave it a bridging loan, it would inspire confidence that a recapitalisation will work. But the prospect of a government loan became steeped in politics when Qantas raised the stakes and demanded a $4.2 billion loan to level the playing field. This is despite Qantas saying it didnt need any help and that it still intended to pay its shareholders a dividend. Indeed, at a time when the government is calling for Team Australia, the aviation sector has turned into one of the ugliest and dirtiest dogfights, which has prompted a probe by the competition and corporate regulators into Qantas behaviour. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is examining whether Qantas breached the law and engaged in false or misleading statements about Virgin, which could have influenced moves in the share prices of both airlines. Meanwhile, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is following up on a complaint made by Virgin boss Paul Scurrah that Qantas had spread rumours to the media that the airline was running out of cash and had appointed Korda Mentha as its administrators.

Qantas denies the allegations. But some of the comments made by Qantas in the past few weeks have been described by business leaders who asked for their identity not to be revealed, as unedifying, shrill and crass. They were referring to comments that the government shouldnt have to help companies that had been poorly managed as well as reports that Qantas staff were told on a conference call, that "governments are definitely not there to support a company thats owned by Singaporeans, Chinese, Abu Dhabi and a British billionaire". Virgins shareholders include Singapore Airlines, China's HNA Group, and Nanshan Group, Etihad and Branson. Scurrah played down the comments at the time and said "We all need to remember were in a national crisis and now is not the time for rivalry... this is not a game of Survivor. Its a global pandemic creating unprecedented challenges that require unprecedented decisions." But these are not ordinary times. A doubling of unemployment benefits, wage subsidies for millions of stood down workers, small business lifelines, free child care and a mandatory code for commercial landlords and tenants in financial distress. Australias financial system is in uncharted territory. Consultants, including the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), predict that by the end of May most airlines will be bankrupt without coordinated government and industry intervention.

It is why the US, New Zealand and Singapore governments have already come to the party. Air New Zealand was recently crowned airline of the year yet it was one of the first airlines to receive assistance. Loading Even before the crisis the government has intervened in specific projects and industries that could arguably have been left to the private sector. They include the NBN, Westconnex receiving federal concessional funding in the form of a subordinated loan (Coalition) and various ideas about a government funded coal fired power station in Queensland. The clock is ticking. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced on Friday that global passenger traffic data for February recorded a 14 per cent slump in demand, which was the steepest decline in traffic since the 9/11 terrorism attack. Carriers in Asia Pacific the slump was 41 per cent. Without a doubt this is the biggest crisis that the industry has ever faced, IATA said in a statement. It estimated that airlines could burn up to $61 billion of cash reserves in the three months to June 30. Air transport will play a much-needed role in supporting the inevitable recovery. But without additional government action today, the industry will not be in a position to help when skies are brighter tomorrow, IATA boss Alexandre de Juniac warned.

Loading The IATA is right. Aviation underpins the travel and tourism sector and when the Morrison government is ready to return the economy to normality after a period of hibernation, the airline industry needs to be intact. To put it into perspective, tourism is Australias fourth biggest export industry, it employs more than 666,000 workers and in the year to June 2019 domestic and international tourism spending totalled $122 billion. But it is a brutal business. Aviation requires substantial capital investment and even when planes are grounded and workers stood down, they still need to be serviced. It is why rumours that if Virgin collapses a new player such as Ryanair will step in is nonsense. For starters, if Ryanair could afford to enter the Australian market, it is a low-cost carrier and it would therefore be competing with Jetstar not Virgin, which is a full service carrier.
Healthcare workers risk contracting Covid-19 due to a lack of infection control in hospitals, doctors say amid complaints about substandard personal protective equipment ( PPE) and lack of basic items like N 95 masks and even sanitisers.

Dr Indranil Khan, an oncologist in Kolkata, who was detained for complaining about sub-standard PPEs on March 29, said doctors are at risk of getting infected along with other patients.I have friends, juniors, seniors who are working in various hospitals in Kolkata and outside like in Siliguri who will not lie. The material supplied to hospitals has been substandard and inadequate. ...fighting a disease like Covid-19 is not a joke, said Khan. ...we were not prepared for an epidemic of this scale but government hospitals are not equipped at all which, in turn, will lead to the spread of infection not just among health workers but also among other patients. He said doctors and sanitation workers interacting with any suspected patient need to be protected because they go to other wards as well.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

Khan on March 29 cited a news report about substandard PPEs and tweeted to request West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to take necessary action. All I need is real PPE to protect frontline doctors nurses fighting COVID 19. Raincoats are not adequate..., he tweeted.

Also Read: In crisis, Indian firms hope for quick payments of dues by govt

He received a response from the government assuring him of immediate steps to address the situation. But that evening I was picked up by cops for bringing disrepute to the government. After moving the high court, I got interim relief after the court upheld freedom of speech, Khan said.

Also Read: Delhi CM calls for calm over spike in coronavirus cases, allays fear of spread

Dr Raveendra Reddy, an Intensive Care Unit consultant in Bengaluru, said anybody interacting with patients with Covid-19 like symptoms or even with asymptomatic ones will need a good two-layered fluid-resistant apron. They will need goggles, N 95 masks, ideally a face shield, PPE gowns. China had two to three different kinds of PPEs. That is not needed. We need basic fluid-resistant gear. The load of asymptomatic patients is very high and for interactions particularly in fever clinics, this is a must. It should be a composite kit. That is not happening.

Krishna Murthy, a doctor at a private Bengulrur hospital, said let alone N95 masks, there is a shortage of surgical masks. He added some vendors are providing PPEs but its very difficult to get them and so health workers are wearing raincoat like gowns. Even hand sanitisers are not available. We have some pneumonia patients but they have not been tested yet. N 95 masks used to cost Rs 150 but are being sold at Rs 400 now. Bodysuits cost Rs 2,000 per piece, surgical masks are being procured for Rs 20; they used to cost Rs 2. These need to be standardised very urgently.

Some doctors and nurses at Delhis Hindu Rao Hospital have submitted resignations allegedly due to lack of safety and protective gear, the hospital administration said on April 1. The resignations are not being accepted in view of Covid-19 pandemic. They are resigning because of some family issues. We are getting PPEs here but they are not of appropriate quality. The matter is being taken up with authorities to procure better and safe material, said Dr Piyush Pushkar Singh of the Hindu Rao Hospitals Resident Doctors Association.

Federation of Resident Doctors Associations president, Dr Shivaji Barman, said it is still being investigated whether the doctors, who have contracted the infection, got it in hospitals or outside. As far as doctors and health workers quitting in some hospitals... I think those are individual decisions. The resident doctors can complain to the hospital authorities if there is a shortage.

Officials said the Union health ministry has designated public-sector undertaking (PSU), HLL Lifecare Limited, as the single window procurement agency for PPEs for hospitals and healthcare organisations. The ministry has also issued guidelines on the rational use of PPEs.

An HLL executive responsible for procurement said, I do not want to comment. We have been asked not to.

Preventive Wear Manufacturers Association of India chairman, Sanjiv Relhan, said they are getting frantic calls from hospitals to provide PPEs, which means there is an acute shortage. Manufacturers are not able to comply with guidelines issued by the government. The material cannot be sent for testing to Coimbatore, as per protocol because of the lockdown. This needs to be addressed urgently, he said.

The health ministry on Saturday announced it will procure a million masks from other countries and was in talks with Indian manufacturers to supply PPEs.

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* Philippines secures Vietnam commitment to continuous rice supply

* Thai rates jump to $560-$570/t this week from $468-$495/t

* Bangladesh domestic rice prices hit 2-year high

By Swati Verma

BENGALURU, April 2 (Reuters) - Thai rice export prices soared to their highest in seven years this week on expectations of a sales boost after top exporter India went into a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus and main rival Vietnam temporarily banned new export contracts.

Thailand's benchmark 5% broken white rice <RI-THBKN5-P1> was quoted around $560-$570 per tonne on Thursday, its highest level since April 2013.

"The situation in Vietnam, India, and Cambodia have us prepared for the unexpected, so Thai rice prices are going up and up," a Bangkok-based trader said.

"Where is anyone going to buy rice now if not from Thailand?"

Cambodia said on Monday it will ban exports of white rice and paddy rice to ensure local food security during the coronavirus pandemic.

But even as anticipation of demand ran high among Thai exporters and traders, they said they were afraid higher prices might discourage regular customers.

Thai prices jumped from $468-$495 per tonne quoted last week on speculation that the Philippines might have to import some rice from Thailand to meet its target of 300,000 tonnes announced on Tuesday, traders said.

But later on Thursday, the world's top rice buyer, the Philippines, said it has secured Vietnam's commitment for continuous supply of the staple food.

The announcement came even as Vietnam banned signing new export contracts under a review to ensure domestic supplies are sufficient during the coronavirus outbreak.

"We are still waiting for the final decision from the prime minister to lift the ban so that we can resume rice shipments as domestic supplies are abundant," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.

Rates for 5% broken rice <RI-VNBKN5-P1> were unavailable for a second straight week.

Story continues

Bangladesh will begin selling cut-price rice from next week to help the poor as domestic prices of the staple grain hit two-year high amid panic buying due to the virus fears.

Millions of marginalized people are in a tight spot amid the nationwide lockdown that has been extended to April 11 to combat the virus' spread.

Indian rice exporters were not quoting prices this week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown on March 24 to protect India's 1.3 billion people from the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Top exporter India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety <RI-INBKN5-P1> was quoted $361-$365 per tonne last week, its lowest in three months.

Exporters were not operating this week due to the lockdown, said a Mumbai-based exporter. (Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok, Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Khanh Vu in Hanoi; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel)
Could a common vaccine used for decades to protect against tuberculosis help shield health workers from COVID-19? While developing a specific immunisation against the coronavirus sweeping the planet will likely take many months, researchers are studying the potential benefits of the BCG shot, which many people around the world receive as children.

Laboratories and pharmaceutical firms are racing to find medicines to tackle COVID-19, which has infected more than a million people, killed at least 50,000 and for which there is currently no known treatment, vaccine or cure. They are also looking at repurposing existing drugs.

"We have known for decades that BCG has non-specific beneficial effects", in that it protects against diseases other than the one for which it was created, Camille Locht, of the French public health research institute Inserm, told AFP.

Children vaccinated with BCG suffer less from other respiratory illnesses, it is used to treat certain bladder cancers and it could protect against asthma and autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes.

Researchers want to test whether the tuberculosis vaccine could have a similar effect against the new coronavirus, either by reducing the risk of being infected, or by limiting the severity of the symptoms.

In France, where the BCG vaccine was compulsory until 2007, "most of the study participants will have already had a first vaccination", but the protective effect of this decreases over time, said Locht.

Because healthcare workers are on the front lines of the efforts to tackle COVID-19, they should be the "first target" if there is any benefit found with the BCG vaccine, said Locht, who is finalising details for a clinical trial in France. But experts remain cautious on the potential of the BCG to provide protection.

"That is exactly the reason for this research," says Mihai Netea, professor of experimental internal medicine at Radboud University in the Netherlands, which recently announced a clinical trial, with the University of Utrecht involving hundreds of healthcare workers.

This will see 500 medical professionals receive the BCG jab and 500 get a placebo.

"If during this epidemic fewer people in the BCG-vaccinated group would drop out due to illness, this would be an encouraging result," added Netea, a specialist in "trained immunity".

This is a relatively new concept based on the discovery that our innate immune response -- the body's generalised defences -- also has a memory, alongside the acquired immunity, which develops antibodies after coming into contact with a specific pathogen.

The BCG vaccine does not directly protect against the coronavirus, but provides a boost to the immune system which may lead to improved protection and a milder infection, Radboud university said of the study.

The idea is that the innate immune system can be prepared, or "trained" to better combat attacks, thanks in particular to live attenuated vaccines, such as BCG or measles, which contained a weakened sliver of the original pathogen. In the case of COVID-19, in addition to infection by the virus itself, some patients have also suffered excessive immune responses, with the uncontrolled production of pro-inflammatory proteins, cytokines.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The brother of a British volunteer kidnapped and murdered by Islamic State says he believes the abduction was an 'inside job' by someone on the aid convoy he was part of.

Father-of-two Alan Henning was kidnapped in Syria December 2013 by the group of British jihadis dubbed the Beatles and beheaded in October 2014, aged 47.

He was on his third mission delivering aid in the war zone when he was captured.

Mr Henning, a taxi driver from Eccles, Greater Manchester, had volunteered with the charity Al-Fatiha Global, after hearing about its work through fellow cabbies.

This week, a damning report has been published about the organisation following an investigation by the Charity Commission. It was condemned for placing the lives of volunteers at 'undue risk'.

Some men who travelled with the convoy were subsequently revealed to have jihadist links, an earlier court case was told.

Mr Henning's brother Reg said of Al-Fatiha: 'I think there was something dodgy about them.' He added: 'I've heard that ISIS were tipped off by someone on the convoy that there was a white man who was worth more money (to kidnap).'

Reg Henning (pictured) believes the kidnapping and murder of his brother Alan Henning by the Islamic State in 2013-14 was an 'inside job' by someone working in the charity

Alan Henning had volunteered for the charity Al-Fatiha when he was attacked in Syria

Reg Henning said his brother had volunteered with previous convoys because he 'loved helping the kids out there'.

He added that his brother 'always saw the good in people' and would have believed the aid convoy was safe because most volunteers were taxi drivers from around the Britain, who have to undergo background checks for work.

But he fears the convoys may have been used to 'smuggle people into Syria or back home', as well as cash to jihadists.

He added: 'Alan would have been a big bonus (to his kidnappers). I believe the initial ransom demand for him was 10million.'

The Charity Commission found Al-Fatiha Global failed to undertake vetting or checks of people on its convoys.

No records were kept of how its money was spent, while some people on the aid convoys who went to Syria failed to return to the UK, the report said.

Joint leader of the convoy from which Mr Henning was kidnapped was Adeel Ali, now 34, the son of Al-Fatiha's founder, Mumtaz Ali, 60. The younger Mr Ali had been photographed posing with masked militiamen bearing AK47 rifles.

Adeel Ali and another man leading the convoy were said to have picked up 80 additional volunteers in Turkey and within Syria but the extra recruits did not have background checks.

A trial at the Old Bailey in 2016 heard three men on the fateful convoy with Mr Henning were smuggling cash to terrorist snipers. Two men were convicted and jailed for terror offences.

Kasim Jameel, an humanitarian aid convoy leader and friend of murdered British aid worker Alan Henning, addresses members of the media from his home in Bolton in 2014

Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar, who accompanied murdered British aid worker Alan Henning on mercy missions to Syria, attends a press conference at Manchester Central Mosque in 2014

Questioned by the Charity Commission about Mr Henning's kidnap and murder, representatives of Al-Fatiha tried to deny he had been on its convoy.

The Charity Commission said there was 'no evidence of any due diligence or risk management systems'... and that 'volunteers and property had been placed at undue risk.'

Al-Fatiha, based in Worcester, was being monitored by the Charity Commission eight months before Mr Henning's abduction 'following concerns that the charity was planning to operate outside of its objectives' in 'high risk' Syria, Palestine and Burma.

Details of Adeel Ali's photograph with fighters - reportedly in Syria - emerged in newspaper reports in March 2014.

Al-Fatiha said the picture was taken in Gaza rather than Syria, and dated from before he joined the charity.

Press reports also alleged 'a number of people' on the 2013 aid convoys 'had not returned to the UK', while 'the charity was linked by social media to a convicted terrorist and another person who held in custody for alleged terrorism offences'.

The 2014 newspaper revelations prompted the commission to open an inquiry - leading to the report, published on Monday.

The Charity Commission said: 'There was little or no risk assessment or contingency plans.'

The commission said Adeel Ali's 'conduct in posing for a photograph with masked gunmen in a conflict zone' - 'irrespective' of when or where - 'was not behaviour appropriate for a charity to be associated with'.

The Charity Commission said there was 'no substantive control' of the convoy leader or Adeel Ali by Al-Fatiha's trustees - and no vetting of recruits. No background checks were carried out and no training or support in place for volunteers, the report said.

Referring to Mr Henning's death, the Charity Commission said Al-Fatiha failed to submit a 'serious incident report' to the commission, liaise with the Foreign Office or authorities in Syria.

Mr Henning said he remains angry with the Government's initial response to his brother's kidnapping.

He said: 'What amazes me is that for 10 months, they said they had no idea where he was yet they have satellites with technology powerful enough to read a car number plate.

'He was just an average bloke who meant nothing. They weren't bothered.'

Al-Fatiha - which last filed accounts in 2018 - did not respond to requests for comment.

A man who answered the door at the suburban house where the organisation is registered said of the Charity Commission report: 'There is no one here who can make a comment on it. I can't give you any more information.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:26:29|Editor: huaxia

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HANGZHOU, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang will gradually reopen schools, with classes for senior students in middle and high schools to resume on April 13, the provincial government said Friday.

Students in Grades 4-8 and Grades 1-3 will return to school after April 20, and after April 26 respectively, while kindergartens will reopen after May 6. Colleges and universities should prepare to reopen in late April.

Students with difficulties in returning to schools, foreign students and teachers who are still abroad can postpone the time to return to school.

By March 30, students in their final year of middle and high schools in Guizhou Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Tibet Autonomous Region have returned to school. In Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, and Hainan, students in their senior year will return to school on April 7.

Beijing, Shanghai, and provinces including Guangdong and Hubei have not announced reopening dates for schools yet.
President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian today had a video call with Director for Investment and Enterprise at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) James Zhan. The video call was part of the consultations that President Armen Sarkissian is holding with international partners to overcome the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Sarkissian underlined the role of the UNCTAD in assessing the impact of the novel coronavirus on world economy.

Sarkissian recalled their meeting in August 2019 when he had recommended that the UNCTAD conduct an analysis in the context of global challenges and opportunities in the report on Armenias investment policy and added that his recommendation is more than current and relevant to the economies of all countries today during the coronavirus pandemic. He also stated that an update of the report on Armenia would be very important and valuable for Armenia.

Zhan stated that he fully agrees with the President in terms of expansion of international cooperation to overcome the economic consequences of COVID-19 and asked President Sarkissian to organize consultations with the members of the UNCTAD Panel of Eminent Persons for exchange of experience and information.

Zhan also expressed willingness to update the report on Armenia as soon as possible, and the parties reached an agreement to continue consultations over this and other issues in the weeks to come.
G rowing concern over whether UK insurers will scrap dividends hit shares on Friday amid fierce debate over whether regulators should step in to force their hand.

Legal & General (L&G), Aviva, M&G and Phoenix fell between 5% and 7% after EU regulators said insurers on the Continent should halt dividends.

Although the UK insurance sector is regulated separately by Bank of England, there is concern the EU move may put pressure on UK insurers to cut.

Lenders like Barclays and HSBC have already been forced by the Bank to halt dividends after its raised eyebrow approach failed to stop planned payouts.

Insurers have faced similar mood music but have not been told to cut.

Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) chief Sam Woods wrote to insurers boards on Tuesday telling them to be prudent with dividends and bonuses and look after policyholders  but some say stricter words are needed for insurers to cut.

If L&G cuts and Aviva doesnt then L&G gets crucified," said one industry observer. "They cant act independently. They need to go as a group and its easier to go as a group if the PRA forces you to do it. It gives them cover."

Forcing a cut, however, may undermine capital buffer rules known as Solvency II, which were introduced by the PRA to make sure insurers are strong enough to withstand disasters.

Insurers are currently strong enough to pay dividends due to the rules, so forcing them to cut anyway would call into question Solvency II.

The UK insurance sector is also a main contributor to the fund management income sector, which is relied on by millions of pensioners, and depriving funds of income could trigger wider problems. Companies could also face an investor backlash if they cut, further driving down share prices.

Analysts at UBS said they were "surprised" by the move by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), the EU insurance regulator, to cut dividends because the sector is well capitalised.

EIOPA's call is only a suggestion to national regulators and Europe is split.
Incheon International Airport.



South Korea's justice ministry said Friday it has implemented an administrative order that restricts the scope of activities for all foreign arrivals for the first time over the new coronavirus pandemic.



The restriction order has begun to apply to all foreign entrants who have arrived in South Korea since Wednesday as the government is struggling to curb imported cases of COVID-19.



A justice minister can issue an order to limit the scope of activity for foreigners when there is a need to keep public orders and protect the country's key interests.



It marked the first time that such an order has been implemented. Violators can face a prison term of a maximum three years or a fine up to 20 million won ($16,261).






Season 3 of Ozark dives back into the complicated criminal lives of the Byrde family. In the first season, the Byrdes leave Chicago and move to the Missouri Ozarks to launder money for a dangerous drug cartel. The show is riveting, but its locations and landscapes are just as impressive. Heres where Ozark is actually filmed.

OZARK | Netflix

The Netflix series is set in Missouri

Ozark is centered around Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy (Laura Linney) Byrde, and their relationship with a Mexican drug cartel. In season 1, the Byrdes strike a deal with the head of the cartel to launder money in exchange for their lives.

Martys pitch is that hell buy a resort in the rural Missouri Ozarks and launder money through it without anyone catching on. However, Marty and Wendy soon learn that the locals are just as dangerous as the cartel, and they have to adapt to the constantly evolving threats around them.

The shows creator, Bill Dubuque, worked at the Alhonna Resort in Missouri in the 80s. And it was his fascination with the place that inspired him to work it into the show.

But Ozark is not filmed in the Ozarks

Throughout the three seasons of Ozark, viewers can see aerial shots of Missouris Lake of the Ozarks. But aside from these breathtaking views, most of the show is actually filmed in Georgia.

Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier in Georgia serve as the backdrop for most of the Byrdes waterfront activities. The Blue Cat Lodge shown in the first two seasons is actually a restaurant called J.D.s on the Lake in Canton, Georgia on the banks of Lake Allatoona.

Martys house on the series is actually a property in Flowery Branch, Georgia. It is on the southern edge of Lake Lanier, near Van Pugh North Park. In season 1, Agent Petty (Jason Butler Harner) visits a diner, which is actually an Atlanta restaurant called The Silver Skillet.

In fact, the home of the Mexican drug cartel head is also a Georgia location. Chateau Elan is a sprawling resort and winery in Braselton, a town about 50 miles north of Atlanta. While many of the outdoor scenes in Ozark are filmed in these beautiful locations throughout Georgia, most of the indoor scenes were shot at Eagle Rock Studios in Atlanta.

Why is Ozark filmed in Georgia?

In an interview shown on Explore Georgia, Ozark actor and director Jason Bateman said that the state was an ideal place to shoot the series because of its waterfront locations and friendly atmosphere. Our show being one that takes place a lot on a lake, Lanier and Allatoona are fantastic for us, he explained. Because one lake is a little bit more residential and the other one has some commercial looks, so we kind of combine the two.

Laura Linney, who plays Wendy Byrde on Ozark, told the outlet that Georgias diverse landscapes add to the shows aesthetic. There are these beautiful neighborhoods with these gorgeous homes right next to a city, Linney said. Within a few blocks, you have these incredible changes of neighborhood to neighborhood, its just an exciting vibrant sort of place to be. Theres a little bit of something for everybody, and thats unusual.


The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced it will close all 56 Tennessee state parks and state-owned state natural areas to the public effective Saturday through April 14, in support of Governir Bill Lees Executive Order 23.

This is a complete closure of facilities and access to all Tennessee State Parks and Designated State Natural Areas.

We decided to close the parks in support of Governor Lees Executive Order 23, TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. The health and safety of Tennessee citizens is all of our top priority right now.

Tennessee State Parks officials will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.tnstateparks.com.
A Perthshire farming business that supplies table and seed potatoes around the world is modernising its operating processes after securing a 1m fund.

FIMM Potatoes, which exports to UK, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, will use the facility to purchase a best-in-class optical potato grader.

The huge multi-level, fully automatic potato sorter includes innovative technology and intelligent controls which will help increase throughput by up to 100%.

The new equipment will also relieve FIMMs 10-strong team from repetitive manual labour, allowing them to focus on additional duties and developing technical skills to help the business continue to grow.

Mike McDiarmid, Director at FIMM Potatoes, said: We have a young and talented management team in Mitch Hayfield and James McDiarmid who are driving the business, continually looking at ways to improve efficiency on the farm.

"It is an important time for the sector and the new optical grader will modernise our equipment and help to safeguard the business."

The finance was allocated from HSBC UKs national 14 billion SME Fund, which aims to support British businesses grow amid Brexit and the coronavirus.

What support has HSBC UK announced?

The bank has announced a package of support for small and medium sized businesses dealing with Covid-19.

 5bn to help businesses that need support

 Preferential financial solutions for ventilator businesses

 Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme launched

 100 Small Business Loan fee waiver

 Relationship managers proactively contacting customers to see what help their businesses need

 Launching a helpline to support any customer queries (08000 121 614, open 9am  5pm Monday to Friday)

 Offering repayment holidays to free up cash within businesses

 Reviewing overdrafts or trade loans to allow stock to be held for longer

 Providing trade finance solutions to support customers with their supply chains
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The World Bank said on Friday that it will give Armenia $3 million to acquire medical equipment and supplies needed for containing the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The bank said nearly half of the assistance requested by the Armenian Ministry of Health will be spent on buying 50 lung ventilation devices used for lifesaving treatment of people infected with coronavirus. The ministry will also obtain protective personal equipment for healthcare workers, it said in a statement.

The equipment will be procured directly through United Nations agencies supply channels in view of the current constraints for these types of medical emergency equipment in the global market, read the statement.

I would like to recognize the unprecedented dedication of health professionals in Armenia to protect the people, it quoted Sylvie Bossoutrot, the head of the World Bank office in Yerevan, as saying.

I would also like to strongly encourage each citizen of Armenia to strictly abide by the requirements of these emergency times and observe social distancing and isolation measures aimed at minimizing the impact of the pandemic, added Bossoutrot.

The World Bank, which is Armenias number one foreign lender, also expressed readiness to provide additional coronavirus-related assistance to Yerevan. It would be provided at the expense of other projects which were due to be financed in Armenia by the Washington-based development bank.

The announcement came the day after the European Union promised 51 million euros ($55 million) in assistance designed to help the Armenian government deal with not only the coronavirus epidemic but also its severe socioeconomic consequences.

The United States allocated last week more than $1 million in similar aid to Armenia. The South Caucasus state has also received medical supplies from Russia and China.

The Armenian Ministry of Health reported on Friday morning that the total number of coronavirus cases in the country rose by over 10 percent to 736 in the past 24 hours. According to the ministry, three more people died of COVID-19 on Thursday, raising to 7 the national death toll from the virus.
RACINE COUNTY  A man in his 70s from Racine County has died from complications related to COVID-19. It marks the first death caused by the novel coronavirus in the county amid more than 5,400 deaths nationwide.

There have been 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Racine County, with 1,916 confirmed statewide, although Central Racine County Health Department Health Officer Margaret Gesner warned Friday that the actual number of cases is much higher.

We are so saddened by this death and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends, and community, Gesner said in a statement Friday. Our Health Department continues to work tirelessly and employ all possible resources to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its impact on our community.

Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave added: Today is a heartbreaking day for all of Racine County. We send our deepest condolences to his family members and friends, and our hearts are with all those who are battling this extremely dangerous disease.

Many people who have COVID-19 do not exhibit symptoms and only about 25% need to be hospitalized, which is why Racine County has again reminded people to follow the Safer at Home order and practice social distancing.

For young people, especially children, the chance of death from COVID-19 is less than 1%, but for those between the ages of 65 and 74 the death rate could be as high as 5%. For those over 85, the death rate is between 10% and 27%, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statewide numbers

At 2 p.m. Friday, the state reported that 37 people had died in Wisconsin. Soon after, the county released information about the death here, bringing the total to 38 deaths in the state.

According to new data, there are a total of 1,916 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin  an increase of 186 from the 1,730 reported on Thursday.

Friday marked the ninth consecutive day in which the number of statewide confirmed cases increased by at least 100.

As of 2 p.m. Friday, 487 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19, about 25% of the total confirmed cases.

Elsewhere in the area, according to the DHS, the reported totals are: 81 confirmed cases in Kenosha County; 15 in Walworth County; 133 in Waukesha County and 955 in Milwaukee County.

Of the 46 cases reported Friday, 20 are in the City of Racine Health Departments jurisdiction (which includes Elmwood Park and Wind Point), and the other 26 are elsewhere in the county.

Court changes

The Racine County Circuit Court system has made many changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the recent changes includes the way that initial court appearances are being handled.

Typically, the Racine County District Attorneys Office releases a list of criminal complaints Monday through Friday. The list, which includes the names and narratives detailing recent arrests and charges, as well as upcoming initial appearances in Racine County Circuit Court, is now anticipated to be released only on Mondays and Thursdays.

The intake proceedings, which before the COVID-19 pandemic were held at 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in Circuit Court, are now being held on Monday and Thursday via Zoom, a video conferencing service, to reduce exposure.

The intake proceedings may be aired live on YouTube, as soon as next week.

Hazardous waste collection canceled

The Racine Wastewater Utility has canceled upcoming hazardous waste collections in April and May due to the pandemic.

Collections set for Saturdays, April 18 and May 16, at 6200 21st St., have been canceled.

Residents are encouraged to keep their unwanted household hazardous waste (such as oil paint, pesticides, pool chemicals, antifreeze, rechargeable batteries and other hazardous substances) until the next scheduled waste collection, which so far is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20 at the same address.

For additional information, go to cityofracine.org/HHW/ or facebook.com/RacineHHW/.

Changes to BASD meal distribution

The Burlington Area School District announced changes to its meal assistance program, effective Monday

Adults can visit pickup locations on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 12:30 p.m. for a school weeks worth of breakfast and lunch meals for their students at the following locations:

Cooper School, 249 Conkey St., Burlington, by the main entrance.

Michaels On the Lake restaurant, 3101 Eagle Road, Kansasville, in the parking lot.

Behind Burlington Fireplace & Solar, corner of Paul Street and Midwood Drive, Burlington.

Lois Fago Park, near the pavilion at the corner of Park and Robers street, Bohners Lake.

Waller School, 195 Gardner Ave., Burlington, door by the cafeteria.

Cross Lutheran Church, 126 Chapel Terrace, Burlington, parking lot near the covered entrance.

Lyons Center School, 1622 Mill St., Lyons, by the main entrance.

As in the past, there will be no charge to families for these meals. Meals primarily include white milk, chocolate milk, cereal, snack crackers, fruit, veggies and a sandwich.

These meals are for ages 18 or younger, or adults age 19 to 21 enrolled in a public or private educational program. Meals will be provided as a Grab and Go, but participants should be aware that meals will contain perishable items and will need to be refrigerated promptly.

Since the BASD Meal Assistance program kicked off on March 17, it provided 478 meals the first week, 519 meals the second and over 600 in the past week. Demand is anticipated to grow further with these simplified distribution procedures for district families.

For more information, go online to basd.k12.wi.us.

No dogs in county parks

Racine County issued a reminder that although county parks remain open, dogs are not allowed in county parks, per ordinances.

This is for the safety of all visitors to parks, the release read. We know this is a difficult time, so thank you in advance for your cooperation and doing your part to ensure parks remain accessible.

Today is a heartbreaking day for all of Racine County. We send our deepest condolences to his family members and friends, and our hearts are with all those who are battling this extremely dangerous disease. Jonathan Delagrave, Racine County executive
Skopje: North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski on Friday signed a final accession document required for the country to become the next member of NATO.

Pendarovski signed the so-called instrument of accession after Spain earlier this week became the last alliance member to ratify the former Yugoslav republic's membership.

People wave the old and present national flag in a protest against the change of the country's constitutional name, in downtown Skopje, in November 2018. Credit:AP

Following the Spanish vote, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he expected the formal accession to take place "soon" with North Macedonia becoming the 30th member of the alliance.

The country's bid to join NATO had been held up over a long-standing dispute with neighbour Greece, when it agreed to change its name from Macedonia to North Macedonia.
Alarm bells sounded more than two weeks ago, when European nations started contacting their citizens.

On March 17, as stringent lockdowns started rippling around the world, the German Embassy warned citizens of flight disruptions on their Facebook page and urged them to contact their airlines. Over the next week and a half, Germany and France organized flights to take out hundreds of people, including citizens of Finland, Austria, Denmark and Belgium.

As Europeans were receiving early warnings to leave, John Arns, 47, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, tried to get information about what the American government was doing. But all he could find on the embassys Facebook page was information about proper hand-washing techniques and Womens History Month.

I am incredibly disappointed with the embassys response, he said.

Some Americans stuck in Nepal said they were being pointed out and called corona when they stepped outside of their hostels. The perception among some South Asians is that foreigners are responsible for importing the virus; Nepal has just six confirmed cases, including one person who has recovered.

The Nepalis here are afraid of us, said Stacy Kim, 58, from Santa Cruz, Calif., who was stranded in a remote town near the countrys border with India. When we try to buy food they are scared we are exposing them to the virus and try to get us to go away.

Even in Kathmandu, tourists said they were worried about the logistics of something as basic as reaching the airport. The police have threatened people on the streets.
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The global 3D projector market size is expected to reach USD 4.34 billion by 2025, registering a CAGR of 5.4% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The increasing demand for a variety of 3D projectors from the cinema and corporate sectors is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period. The demand is ascribed to vast benefits that a 3D projector provides, including an enhanced and a realistic viewing experience.

A 3D projector also finds extensive demand in events and large venues that require the projection of an image or video to be large, clear, as well as visible from a considerable distance. As a result, the demand for 3D projectors that have a brightness range of more than 4,000 lumens is increasing. Projection devices with higher brightness range provide better clarity and the projection is easily visible from a certain distance. In the near future, the demand for products of more than 4,000 lumens brightness is expected to notably increase among event management agencies.

Furthermore, the promising growth prospects of the market are also attributed to the increase in the number of 3D movie screens, especially in the APAC region. Furthermore, the education sector is witnessing a paradigm shift in terms of teaching and training methods. The use of innovative and more immersive products is witnessing a notable rise ensuring quality education and better retention, engagement, and learning outcomes. These factors are expected to emerge as promising growth opportunities for the market in the near future.

Further key findings from the study suggest :

The 3D projector market is anticipated to witness a substantial growth owing to the increasing number of 3D movie screens globally and digitalization in the education sector

In terms of technology type, the DLP segment witnessed the highest market share in 2018, owing to advantages these projectors provide in terms of color, brightness, and visibility of the projection

In terms of brightness, the 4,000 to 9,999 lumens segment accounted for a significant share in the market in 2018 and is likely to expand at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period

In terms of light source, the laser segment is anticipated to witness significant opportunities in the market. Offering a longer life cycle and better accuracy, the rising demand for these products in museums, boardrooms, and classrooms has emerged as a significant factor driving the growth of the segment

The Asia Pacific regional market accounted for the dominant share in the market in 2018 and is likely to retain its dominance over the forecast period as well. This can be attributed to the continuous rise in the number of 3D movies being produced in the region

Key companies in the market include Optoma Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, Barco, Panasonic Corporation, NEC Display Solutions, and Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. These companies stay ahead of the competition owing to their emphasis on geographical expansion and new product development.

Request a Sample Copy of the Global 3D Projector Market Research Report @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-projector-market/request/rs1

Grand View Research has segmented the global 3D projector market based on technology type, brightness, light source, application, and region:

3D Projector Technology Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

DLP

LCD

LCoS

3D Projector Brightness Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

Less Than 2,000 Lumens

2,000 to 3,999 Lumens

4,000 to 9,999 Lumens

10,000 & Above Lumens

3D Projector Light Source Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

Laser

LED

Lamps

Others

3D Projector Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

Cinema

Education

Corporate

Home Theater and Gaming

Events and Large Venues

Others

3D Projector Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025)

North America US Canada

europe UK germany france Russia

Asia Pacific china India japan

Latin America brazil mexico

Middle East & Africa

Access full research report on global 3D projector market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-projector-market
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 43-year-old man who has admitted to carrying out the theft of a bag in Edogawa Ward so he can play pachinko, reports TV Asahi (Apr. 3).

At around 9:00 a.m. on March 22, Nobuhide Sekimoto used a motorbike to come up from behind a woman, 55, as she commuted home on a road in the Nakakasai area and snatch her bag containing around 35,000 yen in cash.

a[The crime] was necessary for pachinko and living expenses,a the suspect was quoted by police in admitting to the allegations.

Police are aware of 7 other similar incidents that have taken place in the same area since February. The value of lost property is around 500,000 yen.

Police are now investigating whether Sekimoto was also behind those cases.
- FG says it continues to open the borders for Nigerian returnees because "no human is stateless"

- Speaking at the Covid-19 task force briefing, interior minister, Rauf Aregbesola, said returning Nigerians have right to their fatherland

- FG made the explanation amid criticism that trailed the entry of 127 returnees from Ivory Coast of which 12 tested positive to Covid-19

The federal government has defended its reason for opening borders for Nigerian returnees despite the presidential directive that all borders should be closed amid rising tension of coronavirus in the county.

Speaking at the presidential task force briefing on Thursday, April 2, in Abuja, Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola said Nigerian citizens have the right to enter their fatherland "at any time irrespective of the situation, Premium Times reports.

Legit.ng recalls that the Nigerian government was embroiled in another criticism after opening the border for 127 returnees from Cote dIvoire last week out of which 12 tested positive to the coronavirus pandemic.

FG says it continues to open the borders for the Nigerian returnees because "no human is stateless."

Source: UGC

The Nigerians were said to have returned back home following the lockdown directive of the government on Abidjan, Cote dIvoires densely populated economic capital.

The government of Ivory Coast took the step amid growing index of coronavirus cases and most importantly after the country recorded its first casualty.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government on March 18 gave the directive for the closure of the borders as part of drastic measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Aregbesola, while speaking with journalists at the presidential task briefing, said no human is stateless, hence the reason Nigerians will be permitted to enter their fatherland.

"We have signed into an international treaty that says no human being is stateless. We cannot deny our citizens entry into our nation. If we do that it will be embarrassing and not speak well of our nation.

"Every citizen of every nation has the right to return to his fatherland whenever he or she wishes regardless of the situation, even at war, the interior minister submitted.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the war against coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit a massive breakthrough as Oyo government confirmed the discharge of the index case in the state.

Taiwo Adisa, the chief press secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo, made this known in a statement on Monday, March 30.

According to Adisa, the index case was discharged after the completion of his treatment at the Agbami Chest Hospital Isolation Centre in Ibadan.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service!

Market Survey: Coronavirus cannot kill everyone in Nigeria | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 3

By Nargiz Sadikhova  Trend:

Three infectious diseases hospitals will be constructed in Kazakhstan using prefabricated structures to battle coronavirus spread in the country, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Commission of Provision of Emergency State under Kazakhstans President.

The hospitals will be constructed in Nur-Sultan, Almaty and Shymkent cities.

Additionally the commission made a decision to extend suspension of ventures and organizations operation period in Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities till Apr. 13, 2020, excluding ventures operation of which provide for livelihoods of two cities and the health of their population.

The latest data said that the total number of coronavirus infected in Kazakhstan is 453 people, including 199 in Nur-Sultan, 93 in Almaty and 11 in Shymkent.

First two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to the coronavirus outbreak, which came in force from 08:00 (GMT +6) on March 16 and will last till 08:00 April 15, 2020.

By a decision of State Commission on Provision of Emergency State under the president of Kazakhstan, quarantine regime has been introduced in Kazakhstans Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities at 00:00 (GMT +6) on March 19, 2020.

The outbreak of the coronavirus began in the Chinese city of Wuhan (an international transport hub), at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 53,000. Over a million people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 211,000 people have reportedly recovered.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
The coronavirus pandemic is hitting European economies sharply, with the latest economic data showing massive falls in services activity across the region. In Italy, the services industry dropped in March at the fastest rate since the IHS Markit survey began in 1998. In Germany, the services sector laid off staff at the steepest rate in about 23 years. In Spain, services activity contracted for the first time in six-and-a-half years. The data released Friday showed the final Composite Purchasing Managers' Index  which includes services and manufacturing  for the whole euro zone crashed to a record low of 29.7 in March, from 51.6 in February. This was the biggest monthly fall since the survey began. Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said that "with various countries stepping up their measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus," the final numbers were "no surprise." "The data indicate that the euro zone economy is already contracting at an annualized rate approaching 10%, with worse inevitably to come in the near future," he added.

The gloomy picture adds further pressure on European leaders to address the economic consequences of the coronavirus. The pandemic, which emerged in China in late 2019, has spread all over the world and brought all major economies to a halt. In most European countries people have been stuck at home for weeks, only allowed outside to purchase groceries and medicines. "Time is of the essence here, that's why we are working day and night, all the countries of the Eurogroup and all of the countries of the European Union, to find a package by next Tuesday that is credible and can be implemented fast," Pierre Gramegna, finance minister of Luxembourg, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" Friday. European nations have been at odds on how to address the current crisis. Southern European countries want the group to take bold steps and go as far as issuing joint debt to finance the costs of the crisis, so-called "corona bonds." However, northern EU capitals, traditionally more fiscally conservative, are reluctant to go that far and prefer developing loans with conditionality attached.

Gramegna, a vocal supporter of common debt issuance, said the EU "will come up with good ways of ensuring liquidity to all countries." Southern countries argue that the crisis is hitting every country and therefore all the EU member states need to come together and help each other financially. Valdis Dombrovskis, an executive vice president at the European Commission, said Friday that the pandemic is a "major challenge for the European Union, among other things because it is a symmetrical shock." "We should be responding in a spirit of European solidarity and coordination," he added. The northern-southern split witnessed over the last few weeks has resurfaced concerns over anti-EU sentiment. The bloc has recently lost one of its members with the U.K. halting its membership on January 31.
NEW HAVEN  Contract talks with two hotels over housing the homeless in New Haven are stalled, while the city continues to work on the logistics of opening an emergency shelter at Career High School.

Steve DiLella, of the state Department of Housing, said a number of contracts were signed Thursday with hotels to house the homeless in other cities. But no contracts have been signed this week in New Haven, as the details are worked out with local hotels that have already taken in 84 individuals under earlier agreements.

DiLella said there will likely be agreements with 12 to 14 hotels statewide.

While New Haven has 133 confirmed cases of COVID-19, Director of Public Health Maritza Bond said she has not been informed of any homeless individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.

The peak of COVID-19 infections in Connecticut is expected within a few weeks.

Bond said her department is working closely with Yale New Haven Hospital to establish a protocol so that city officials would be informed of any homeless person who may be in need after contracting the virus.

Mayor Justin Elicker, during the virtual news conference he holds daily on news related to the pandemic, said there are a lot of moving parts to the planning on how best to keep the homeless safe so officials can determine what type of facilities they will need. He said the state is engaged in similar planning.

A week ago the city, and possibly the state, did not know that a step-down field hospital would be set up at Southern Connecticut State University, the mayor said

Those 250 beds are for COVID-19 patients released from intensive care at Yale-New Haven Hospital, but who still need considerable medical intervention. Homeless persons who meet that medical definition would also be sent there, a hospital official said.

As different sites get created, and our assessment of the needs changes, it may change some of our plans, Elicker said.

The mayor announced at the news conference that the city has trained the first class of 19 volunteers for its Medical Reserve Corps. The assumption is they will be used to conduct routine medical triage at the emergency shelter at Career High School for the homeless who are released from the hospital after treatment for COVID-19, but still need to be monitored.

Bond said the volunteers in the Medical Reserve Corps are mainly nurses. The mayor said they have doctors, including a behavioral practitioner, who are volunteering to be on call for consultation at Career. The exact makeup of the staffing is not fixed yet.

Elicker said it is helpful for the city to have a variety of skilled people in the Medical Reserve Corps to be used as needed.

The mayor said city officials want to be prepared to care for a large number of sick homeless, but if that does not materialize, they hope to be flexible enough to meet other needs.

In any event, Elicker said, the goal is to only send the homeless who are asymptomatic to the hotels.

The original planning assumed the need for medical assistance for up to 75 homeless individuals after they are released from the hospital. The next tier was the use of hotels for homeless who are asymptomatic. The last grouping are homeless who have been exposed to the virus and are awaiting the results of testing.

Elicker said he wasnt sure if the smaller shelters would be closed.

Richard Cho, the executive director of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, said the goal is to decompress the citys homeless shelters, including the warming center run by the 7th Day Adventist Church on Winthrop Avenue, to allow the homeless to practice social distancing.

In earlier reports on the Columbus House shelters, they had sent more than two dozen residents to two hotels already with plans to move the rest. On Tuesday, there were 65 residents in its shelters.

Cho said the plan in each city is to have enough hotel space to accommodate the vast majority of homeless as well as new demands as they surface. The original group of 84 individuals in New Haven were over age 60 and also had underlying medical needs.

He said they are trying to consolidate the homeless in the two hotel sites in New Haven so it would be easier to make service deliveries. Elicker said there are plans to deliver food to the hotels and to the isolation site at Career.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced recently that Connecticut will be reimbursed for 75 percent of the cost of the hotels.

Cho said most of the hotel rooms will be double occupancy with some single rooms where people have to be isolated.

As for homeless individuals not in the shelters already, he said they should contact 211, which is being handled through United Way. Cho said there has always been a shortage of call takers, but the nonprofit is now staffing up.

Cho said persons trying to get into the system to find housing used to be interviewed in person, but that has been dropped.

He said while face to face contact is better, the new process has decreased the time it takes to get an answer on housing.

Cho said the highest number of calls to 211 are at noon and individuals needing housing, should call at other times.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577
Foreign nationals from at least 41 countries including the US participated in the controversial Tablighi Jamaat gathering at the communitys headquarters in the Nizamuddin area of the capital in violation of their visa conditions, as per an initial official estimate seen by the Hindustan Times.

The government had blacklisted these foreign attendees of the Jamaat, who had entered India on tourist visas but ended up partaking in a religious event, a flagrant violation inviting revocation of their visas and blacklisting for future travel.

Most of the 960 foreign nationals, who were blacklisted, were from Indonesia (379), Bangladesh (110), Kyrgyzstan (77), Myanmar (63) and Thailand (65). Several attendees from as far as Djibouti in East Africa and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Islands in North America, have also been banned.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs had said in a statement that 960 foreigners present in India on tourist visas had been blacklisted for their involvement in activities of the Tablighi Jamaat.

Coronavirus live updates

As many as 4,200 foreigners have thus far been blacklisted by the Home Ministrys Immigration Department for flouting tourist visa norms and engaging in Tablighi activities, particularly missionary work, since 2015, according to government officials familiar with the matter.

The Tablighi Jamaat has come into increased limelight after a gathering it organized in March was found to be responsible for hundreds of Covid-19 infections across India.

At least 182 (62%) of the 293 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Delhi were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, the Delhi government said on Thursday.

Click Here for Latest Reports on Coronavirus
Empty shelves that once housed disinfectant wipes at a store in New York, U.S., March 3, 2020. /AP

Editor's note: Keith Lamb is a University of Oxford graduate with a MSc degree in Contemporary Chinese Studies. His primary research interests are international relations of China and China's "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics." The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

U.S. President Donald Trump believes China is telling lies about the number of people infected with the coronavirus. His logic is that if the U.S. has a certain amount, then China with its population that dwarfs the U.S. must have even more. I'm not here to dispute the figures, I, just like Trump, neither have the capacity to check the ins and outs behind the figures in China or the United States.

However, unlike Trump, I have had the pleasure of being locked down in two countries, namely China and the UK, a country which is handling the virus considerably better than the United States. Being a witness between how these two countries have dealt with the virus can shed light on why China's figures might be significantly lower than a Western state.

I left China in early February. The day I left I had over ten temperature checks going through the airport and getting onto the plane to make sure I didn't have any signs of infection. Upon landing in the UK, to my surprise, nothing happened. There was no social distancing as there had been on Tianjin Airways with each passenger having a row of seats to themselves and except for a leaflet, telling me to dial 111 if I had any symptoms. There was no sign of any change in the UK.

In many ways this was reassuring perhaps calls by the WHO were hyperbolic and Western states knew something they didn't. By the time things were getting bad in Italy, still nothing was being done in the UK. This may be considered worrying considering the outbreak in Italy was about 1,000 miles from where I lived in the UK. This was the same distance from Wuhan to where I lived in China. The advice though was not to lock down. This was a measure considered "draconian" when carried out in China.

However, things were, as I found out, getting out of control in the UK too. A relative of mine working for Britain's National Health Service told me that already there had been a death from coronavirus in the hospital they work in. Hospital staff had been forbidden from going to the media. The government knew but had decided not to release the information.

What's more, hospital workers didn't have masks then, and they still don't have them today. Behind-the-scenes knowledge of the cover-up was leading to petty pilfering of things like hand-wash as hospital workers realized the extent of the situation.

Needless to say, if hospital workers don't have masks then nor does the average UK citizen. Compare this to what I saw for myself in China. It was impossible to do anything in China without wearing a mask. Public transport and access to buildings were all denied without wearing one. Once, after eating food, I forgot to put it on promptly, and this led to me being reminded to put it on again.

Residents are issued "entrance cards" in residential compounds, Beijing. /CGTN

In terms of social distancing it was taken much more seriously in China than in the UK. I have witnessed bands of adults clearly drunk on the streets with no regards to the rules set by the government. In contrast, Chinese cities were turned into true "ghost" towns. This is especially true considering the density of Chinese cities. Internet shopping in China ground to a halt while Britain has seen a boom in internet consumption.

Probably, the biggest difference between China and the UK is that so far, I have not had a single medical check. In China, leaving the house to go to the supermarket I would get a temperature check going out of my community, possibly one getting on the bus, definitely one going into the supermarket which repeated again on the way home.

In China, residential buildings and city villages set up temporary barriers to prevent access to them by outsiders. These were manned by neighborhood watches who checked proof of residence and would also give a ubiquitous temperature check. Needless to say, a high temperature would lead to being denied access and a trip to the hospital to check for coronavirus.

My experience is that clearly though China had little warning, the country acted in a rapid, determined and decisive manner to mobilize the entire population against this invisible disease. Despite warnings, states like the United States and the UK had wasted their lead.

Upon seeing the stringent measures China took, it is simply immoral for the United States, and let's not forget some in the British cabinet too, to cover up their own inadequacy and time-wasting by pointing the finger at China. Even worse behind Trump's claims, there is an inherent bias against China, an inherent chauvinism that somehow China, because it's China, couldn't do a better job than the United States.

This is not about cheering for one side. It's about seeking truth from fact so that Western states and China can mutually learn from each other in our shared world. If Trump were a little more honest he would recognize that clearly, China's dealing of the crisis has many advantages. This shouldn't come as any surprise. With the SARS crisis, China learned the need to rapidly mobilize its population and prevent movement. It is precisely this that has led to the relatively low infection rate in today's China.
Kilkerley: Dancing - Dancing in the Community Centre on Sunday nights has been cancelled until further notice in line with recommendations issued by government regarding the Corona Virus.

Recent Deaths

Condolence to the family and relatives of Matthew Birch, snr, Thomastown Cross, Kilkerley whose death took place on Wednesday of last week.

Parish News

All Confirmations, First Communions, Baptisms, Wedding ceremonies are postponed until further notice. . Attendance at funeral Masses should be limited to immediate family but this may change to just committal services at graveside.

A Live Streaming of Mass in the church takes place at 6.00pm on Saturdays. Log into: MCN Media, scroll to Rep. of Ireland then Co. Louth and then click on the image of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kilkerley. This Mass will be offered for the anniversaries that have been booked for both Saturday and Sunday. Fr. Gerry and Fr. Brian will also celebrate Mass on weekdays at 9.30am via webcam on Tuesdays and Thursdays for all parishioners and for those nationally and internationally who have contracted the Coronavirus as well as for those who are caring for them at home or in hospital.

If an elderly or vulnerable family member or neighbour would like Fr. Gerry or Fr. Brian to phone them for a chat or prayer please call the parish office , leave their name and number and Fr. Gerry or Fr. Brian will phone them. In keeping with data protection the phone number given will be used for this purpose only.

Remember in your prayers, Matthew Birch, Thomastown, Rose Crawford, Donegal, Kay Murphy, Faughart, Billy Campbell, uncle of Fr Gerry. Best wishes to parishioners who are hospitalised or unwell at home presently.

A reminder that all dead flowers/wreaths, excess waste from graves should be taken home and not left around.

Familly Tree Healing mass by webcam takes place on Monday, April 6, at 8.00pm.

Lotto

Due to the COVID 19, restrictions in place presently, Kilkerley Emmets weekly lotto has been put on hold until further notice. When Lotto resumes it will be for Jackpot of 6,200.

Enrolment

Any parent/guardian who wishes for their child to be considered for enrolment in the next school year 2020/2021, in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal should contact the school office on 042 9337187or secretary@kilkerleyns.ie

Easter Triduum

All ceremonies this year will be celebrated without the physical participation of the faithful.

Holy week Ceremonies: (vis webcam) Psalm Sunday, April 5 - Vigil Mass in Kilkerley on Saturday at 6.00pm and on Sunday Mass in Knockbridge at 11.30am. Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, April 9, in Knockbridge at 7.30pm. Good Friday, April 10, at 3.00pm in Knockbridge 'The Passion' and 'The Stations' in Kilkerley at 7.30pm. Easter Vigil Mass in Knockbridege on Saturday, April 11, at 7.30pm. Easter Sunday Mass on April 12, in Kilkerley at 10.00am.

Emmets GFC

All club activities have been suspended, pending further updates and decisions by Government and GAA. Due the COVID19 situation, the club men and ladies adult teams are offering a service to anyone in our Community, Member or Non-Member, who needs help with collecting groceries, prescriptions, etc. All requests will be treated in confidence. Contact 0858783433.

Sympathy is extended to family and relatives of Aidan Duffy, Ard Leathan and formerly of Ard Easmuinn who died on Friday last. Aidan figured on many of the clubs successful Scor na nOg dancing teams back in the 80's. He attended our dinner dance a few weeks ago in the Imperial Hotel to meet up with members involved in Scor back then. May he rest in peace.

Bus Service

LH 501 Kilkerley to Dundalk Local Link Bus Service runs each Friday with pick up points-The School 9.00am, Quigley's Cross 9.05am, Hackballscross 9.10am, Little Mills 9.30am, Carrick Road 9.35am, arriving in Dundalk at 9.40am. The return journey begins at 12.30pm in Dundalk. Travel Pass holders travel free. Contact number is 046 9074830. Check www.locallinklmf.ie

Text Alert

If you want to receive text messages from Kilkerley Community Alert 'Text Alert' then text your full name, address and mobile number to 089 472 5650

Medjugorje Pilgrimage

June 16, 2020, - 7 Nights Spiritual Director Fr Gerry Campbell. September 8, 2020 - Fr Oliver Brennan. Full bonding Insurance with Joe Walsh Tours. Contact Phyllis. 0872028492.

Knockbridge

Easter Triduum

All ceremonies this year will be celebrated without the physical participation of the faithful.

Holy week Ceremonies: (vis webcam) Psalm Sunday, April 5 - Vigil Mass in Kilkerley on Saturday at 6.00pm and on Sunday Mass in Knockbridge at 11.30am. Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, April 9, in Knockbridge at 7.30pm. Good Friday, April 10, at 3.00pm in Knockbridge 'The Passion' and 'The Stations' in Kilkerley at 7.30pm. Easter Vigil Mass in Knockbridege on Saturday, April 11, at 7.30pm. Easter Sunday Mass on April 12 in Kilkerley at 10.00am.

Baptism

Welcome into the community Conall Sweeney, Grange and Lucy Anne Kirk, Drumcah who were baptised recently.

CE Scheme

There are vacancies for environmental workers for Knockbridge Parish, 19.5 hours per week. Contact CE Supervisor Tommy Reilly on 042 9374926 at Old School Building, Tallanstown, or email-midlouthceltd@gmail.com

St Brides GFC.

Due the COVID 19 situation, St Brides Healthy Club Project Team offer a service to anyone in our Community, Member or Non-Member, who needs help with collecting groceries, prescriptions, etc. All requests will be treated in confidence. Contact 085 7234668 or 086 4017098.

Lotto draw continued on Monday of this week, March 30, for a jackpot of 20,000 along with bonus draw for a ticket for the Louth GAA Board Pick a House Draw. Tickets on sale (Priced 2) from Giovanni's Chipper, Brodigan's Shop, Cluskey's Bar, Finnegan's Foodstore, Louth, any Committee Member/Player or play online at www.stbridesgfc.com. Membership for 2020 is now due: Adult Player 100; Adult non Player 50; OAP 25; Juvenile 40; Family 100 (2 Parents and 3 children U-18). Can be paid online at www.stbridegfc.com or to Paul Smyth.

Parish News

All Confirmations, First Communions, Baptisms, Wedding ceremonies are postponed until further notice. Attendance at funeral Masses should be limited to immediate family but this may change to just committal services at graveside.

A Live Streaming of Mass in the church takes place at 11.30am on Sundays. Log into: MCN Media, scroll to Rep. of Ireland then Co. Louth and then click on the image of St. Mary's Church, Knockbridge. This Mass will be offered for the anniversaries that have been booked for both Saturday and Sunday. Fr. Gerry and Fr. Brian will also celebrate Mass on weekdays at 9.30am via webcam, on Wednesdays and Fridays for all parishioners and for those nationally and internationally who have contracted the Coronavirus as well as for those who are caring for them at home or in hospital.

If an elderly or vulnerable family member or neighbour would like Fr. Gerry or Fr. Brian to phone them for a chat or prayer please call the parish office, leave their name and number and Fr. Gerry or Fr. Brian will phone them. In keeping with data protection the phone number given will be used for this purpose only.

Remember in your prayers Alice Geoghegan, Crossabeigh, Pat Nugent, Ballybarrack, May Marry, Newtown, Patrick McCaffrey, Rathbrist, who died recently.

Employment

If you would like to full or part time, due to unemployment resulting from and accident, illness, injury, disability, we can help you seek employment.

For further information on this service please contact Employ Ability Service, Louth on 042 9386718 or 087 6386885.

Medjugorje Pilgrimage

June 16, 2020, 7 Nights-Spiritual Director. Fr Gerry Campbell. September 8, 2020-Fr Oliver Brennan.

Full bonding Insurance with Joe Walsh Tours. Contact Phyllis. 0872028492

Bus Service

Flexibus Local Link is running a bus service from Knockbridge to Dundalk every Friday. The pick up time for this service is 9.00am and the return time is 12.30pm.

For more information on this service or to book a seat ring 1800 303 707.

In need

From time to time families and individuals can find themselves in real need. It may be big or small, short or long term, so if you find yourself in that space why not contact St Vincent de Paul Society on 0873518684

Parish Centre

Those wishing to book the Parish Centre for Funerals and other occasions, must contact Jean Myers directly at 042 9338670. Fr Gerry has asked a Sub Group and a few others to explore the upgrading of the Centre.

Louth

Congratulations

We have being asked by Louth Abbey Vintage club St .Mocthas G.F.C. along with all other clubs and organisation to join with the whole parish in sending congratulations and best wishes to our popular Parish Priest Fr. Sean Mc. Ardle who celebrated a very special event on Tuesday 31st March today Tuesday. Despite of all the restrictions we hope he enjoyed the day.

Lock down

Like every else the parish is in lock down although some of the organisations are still functioning. One of these is the Credit Union and the Louth Office is opened as normal. The opening hours are Friday 12.30pm until 4pm and Saturday 9.30am to 1pm. All normal business is still taking place. Please don't forget you can also use the Ardee office whic has longer opening hours. Because of the present circumstances members are encouraged to do transactions on line if possible.

Also don't forget that The Church Of The Immaculate conception remains open during normal hours and Mass is said privately for your intentions each day.

The local C.E. Scheme has being instructed to close like all other works for at least two weeks which makes even more important to try and everyone to try and keep the village clean Please take your litter home.

Condolences

During the week the parish especially in the Mullacrew area was shocked with the sad news of the death of popular Mullacrew resident Eugene Murphy whose death took place in London. Eugene was a member of an old and highly respected Mullacrew family. Although Eugene lived in London for many years in latter years he came home regularly and along with his wife Briege bought a home at Bannons Cross and they became a very popular couple to their neighbours and friends. At the time of writing we believe his funeral arrangements are not yet finalised. We send our deepest sympathy to his family his wife Briege sons Barry and Glen daughters Mandy and Carol Son In Law Daughters In Law Grandcildren brothers Joe James P.J. and Collie sisters In Law nephews and nieces.Relatives and friends.

We also send our deepest sympathy to Elizabeth Mc. Ardle Church Hill Louth on the death of her mother Rosaleen Holmes who died during the week. We send our sympathy to Elizabeth and all her family and friend and relations.

Despite all the restrictions the was nice to see a group of youngsters doing a clean up of the roads last week and still obeying the social distancing. If everyone pick up a little litter from the road s they walk it would certainly help the tidy towns committee in their endeavour to keep the roads clean.
The Canadian Press

SYDNEY (AP)  Australias New South Wales state reported 16 deaths on Sunday in its deadliest day of the pandemic, even as it relaxed rules to allow some essential workers in isolation to return to work if they are asymptomatic. Just over 30,000 new cases were reported in Australias most populous state, forcing those people to join more than 200,000 others in isolation. No statistics are kept to determine how many of those are essential workers in the food and manufacturing sectors. But some em
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Trump was directly confronted by NBCs Geoff Bennett with the perception that his firing the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt because he pleaded for coronavirus help.

Bennett asked, The Navy is set the fire the captain of the USS Teddy Roosevelt after he raised red flags about the COVID outbreak on his ship. It appears hes being punished for trying to save the lives of the sailors in his command. Whats your assessment?

Trump answered, No, I dont agree with that at all. Were going to wait for a little while because I understand theres a news conference by the Secretary of Defense about that, but I dont agree with that at all.

Geoff Bennetts mic was cut off and Trump moved on to another question without denying that the captain was fired for asking for his sailors to be taken off of a coronavirus infected ship.

Video:

Trump said he doesn't agree with the perception that he is firing the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt because he raised concerns about coronavirus on his ship. Notice that Trump didn't deny that is why he is being fired. pic.twitter.com/YotFyppT2Q  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 2, 2020

The captain was let go because the letter that he wrote pleading with the Trump administration not to all sailors to die on an infected ship somehow made its way into the media.

If the letter wasnt the reason for his dismissal, Trump could have said no, that is not the reason. The President, instead, tried to pivot into an opinion without denying the question.

Trump is firing a captain because he tried to save the lives of his sailors during a pandemic, and he didnt really deny it.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Sheila S. Arnold, age 65, of Orlando, passed away peacefully at her residence on Sunday, March 22, 2020. A native of Chicago, Illinois, she was born on Feb. 20, 1955, to the late Marshall and Esther Chervony Sorkin. Sheila was a graduate of Northwestern University and worked in retail her whole career, holding a number of executive positions. Sheila was a force of nature until the end. She was an avid theater goer, wine drinker, art collector, and Green Bay Packers fan (Go Pack Go!) More than anything, she loved to spend time with her family and many friends across the country. As a loving and devoted Bubbie, she never missed an opportunity to celebrate with her loved ones.

She is survived by her son, Daniel Arnold (Taylor Pomeranz) of Philadelphia; and her daughter, Rebecca Arnold (Jane Ann Salisbury) of New York City. Sheila was the proud grandmother of Gili (2), Roz (23 months), and Siggy (4 months); and the devoted sister of Howard, Norman, and the late Jerry Sorkin.

Funeral services and interment were held in New Jersey for the immediate family only out of an abundance of caution during the coronavirus outbreak. The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date once it is safe to do so. In lieu of gifts, please consider donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org) or the Broadway Cares Fund (www.broadwaycares.org)

Arrangements were entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 640 Lee Rd., Orlando 32810, 407-599-1180, http://www.bethshalommemorialchapel.com.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday clarified the ground level issues being faced by states in ensuring smooth flow of the supply chain of essential items during nationwide lockdown to fight COVID-19.

"Exceptions to sale (including through eCommerce), production, warehousing and transport of essential goods such as food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk products, meat and fish, animal fodder, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, agriculture produce, drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, their raw material and intermediaries have been specifically mentioned in the guidelines for transport of essential goods. In my letter dated March 29, it was clarified that grocery would include hygiene products, charger and battery cells, etc," Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said in a letter written to the states/UTs.

"At the ground level different interpretations are being made on the items given exceptions, which hinder the smooth flow of supply chain of these essential items," he added.

Suggestions have also been received from some quarters in regard to these Guidelines. In view of these developments, Union Home Secretary, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla has written to all State Chief Secretaries clarifying on ground level issues being faced by States in ensuring smooth flow of supply chain of essential items during lockdown to fight COVID-19. The communication deals in detail with different categories of essential items exempt from the lockdown restrictions.

The Home Secretary outlined the measures that could be taken at the ground level to ensure smooth supply of essential goods.

The State/UT governments are advised to interpret food and grocery items as all items of food and grocery that are usually consumed by people on day to day basis.

Production, warehousing and transport of essential goods are included under exceptions in the guidelines and the district authorities are issuing individual passes to businesses covered in the exempted category. Difficulties in getting passes are, however, being faced by businesses having nation-wide supply chains of essential goods.

In order to address this concern, the State/UT Governments have been advised to issue authorization letters to companies/ organizations having nation-wide supply chains of essential goods, allowing them to issue regional passes for easy movement of critical staff and workers in order to maintain their supply chains. It has been further advised to keep the numbers of such authorizations bare minimum.

Railways, ports and Airports are allowed to issue passes for a critical mass of staff and contractual labour that are essential for the movement of essential goods, the Home Ministry said.

"Inter-state and Intra-state movement of all trucks and other goods/carrier vehicles should be facilitated by local authorities for licensed drivers and one helper," it added.

The Home Ministry further said that all movement of persons with the passes shall be subject to strict adherence to norms for hygiene and social distancing as is required in the context of COVID-19.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday said that there are 2,547 coronavirus positive cases in India, including 2,322 active cases, 163 cured/discharged/migrated people and 62 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Erin Hughes, still suffering the headaches, body aches and high temperature of COVID-19 three weeks after visiting the US, fears Australias system for handling the quarantine of pandemic victims is dangerously flawed.

Citing her own experience, she is concerned that those infected with the coronavirus might be returning to the wider community while still infectious, either as a result of communication blunders or because there is no physical check at the end of the mandatory 14-day isolation period.

Erin Hughes in happier times with her husband Trevor and their three children.

On March 23 she received a text from Victorias Department of Health and Human Resources advising that your 14-day period of home isolation has now ended.

Ms Hughes had been diagnosed with COVID-19 only three days earlier.
Those essential activities included health care, law enforcement, food and agriculture, energy, financial services, and holding in-person gatherings at houses of worship, as long as social-distancing guidelines were followed.

At first, the governor shied away from calling his new order a statewide stay-at-home mandate. A stay-at-home strategy would mean that you have to stay at home, you cannot leave home under any circumstances, Mr. Abbott told reporters. That obviously is not what weve articulated here.

The next day, however, Mr. Abbott released a video message, clarifying, I issued this executive order that requires all Texans to stay at home, except to provide essential services or do essential things. And on Friday, asked if Texas was indeed under a statewide stay-at-home order, Mr. Abbotts spokesman, John Wittman, said that it was.

Of the San Antonio nursing homes 84 residents, 11 have had their tests come back negative; those residents were being kept in a separate part of the building, and employees treating them were not providing services to those who are infected. Six residents tests were still pending or were inconclusive, officials said.
Several flights have arrived in Dublin airport this week from China with personal protective equipment, to address the shortage here.

HSE chief executive Paul Reid says, even more, may be needed.

He said: "I know the issue of PPE (personal protective equipment) has been an issue of major concern.

"We have been in negotiations worldwide to secure a very significant order of over 2,000,000 [Items of PPE] and that delivery has started over the last few days.

"We are however engaged to secure alternative stocks should these supplies not materialise to the extent we expect."

Harris introduces new GP regulations

Minister for Health, Simon Harris has introduced new regulations for patient prescriptions handled by GPS.

The new rules will prevent patients from going to their GP for certain prescriptions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health Minister Simon Harris said it will take some pressure off doctors and will limit the requirement of patients to visit their GP.

Repeat prescriptions have been extended from 6 months to 9 months and Mr Harris said this will allow pharmacists "to use their own judgement on occasion" and that "these important measures will try and really free up crucial GP slots."

Earlier: Holohan: Shutdown may be extended

It is too early to say if Irelands restrictions on movement will end on Easter Sunday, the countrys chief medical officer said.

Tony Holohan was speaking as it was announced a further 13 people had died from Covid-19 in Ireland. The total deaths in Ireland now stands at 98, with last nights announcement of 402 additional cases bringing the countrys total to 3,849.

Dr Holohan echoed sentiments voiced earlier by Tanaiste Simon Coveney that the ban on non-essential travel, the restrictions on gatherings, and the closure of non-essential businesses could remain in place until the end of this month.

Its difficult for us to say with certainty, but we wont be surprised if we find ourselves getting closer to April 12 that we have to ask the public to work with us again to ensure that we continue to see the benefit of the measures that we have in place, said Mr Coveney.

Well know fully towards the end of next week what the position is. Well be able to make a better assessment of where we stand  do we need further improvement or have we, in fact, turned the corner?

Dr Holohan said improvements had been made, specifically in the reproductive number of confirmed cases  that is, the number of people those who had been diagnosed with the virus had been in close contact with. This had come down from over 20 to just three.

He said it was impossible to ignore the effect the measures were having on the country, but public health was the overriding priority.

Were very conscious of the scale of impact that this is having on society, he said. Whether its people in the educational system, the workplace, or society generally, the ask is significant, so it weighs heavily on us.

We dont come to government to ask for measures, as we have three times, without giving significant consideration. This is unprecedented territory in society.

He said lifting restrictions would be done only if a robust tracing and response capacity was available.

Dr Holohan said Ireland is not yet on course to avoid the nightmare scenario of healthcare capacity being overwhelmed.

If we keep growing at the rate at which were growing, we will not avoid that scenario, so we need to keep improving, he said. There are two ways to do that, one is continue to suppress and drive down the infection rates  thats the most important strategy. Its clear that by flattening the wave, we have saved many, many lives already.

Secondly, we have to have capacity if we need it. But we dont want to be admitting people to ICU.

Asked about the Leinster nursing home raised in the Dail yesterday, where 70 staff and residents have tested positive for the illness, Dr Holohan said that all clusters were worrying.

A cluster is a group of linked cases, and the average is around four or five, he said. But were concerned about any cluster which breaks out [somewhere like a nursing home] because, even if the cluster is small, it is happening in the context where staff and patients have not picked up the illness.

That carries the risk of spread to vulnerable residents and to staff who can then spread the virus into their communities and their families.
by Nirmala Carvalho

Ashfaq Alamis, 43, and his mother-in-law Fazila Bibi, 62, are unemployed, without money or food. They risk being evicted. The country's "lockdown" has created a flood of 120 million jobless migrants. "My dignity has also been taken away from me." Premier Modi invites all Indians to light a candle on April 5 at 9pm "to fight the darkness" of the coronavirus.

Varanasi (AsiaNews) - Ashfaq Alamis and his mother-in-law Fazila Bibi are two migrants from Murshidabad (West Bengal). Both came to Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) to find work and help their families. Now they are at risk of becoming beggars, with no money, no roof over their head, no chance to help their loved ones.

This is the other side of the "lockdown" model decided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the closure of all non-essential activities and transport for 21 days starting from March 29, in his attempt to stop the coronavirus epidemic.

Ashfaq Alamis, 43, was a day laborer: with a hand-drawn cart he transported objects and food to the city. Now he is out of work. I worked for five years here in Varanasi - he tells AsiaNews - and now I have had no work for at least 20 days. The lockdown has made me unemployed. But without work I am deprived of everything. We have no money to buy food, we have nothing: the future is truly dark. Previously, in the previous five years, I was able to send money home, to my wife and children to Murshidabad. But now, without work, even my family at home will starve."

Ashfaq's condition mirrors that of day laborers throughout India who were made jobless overnight, without wages, without food, without a home. At least 120 million people across the confederation, left without work, are trying to return to their villages of origin. And since transport has also been halted, many of them face the return journey on foot for routes up to 700 km.

Prime Minister Modi apologized for the "difficulties" that have reduced his "compatriots" to their knees, but guarantees that "with these steps ... India will defeat the coronavirus".

Ashfaq continues: The government does not give us any help. We are surviving thanks to the food Fr. Anand".

Fr Anand Matthew is the director of Vishwa Jyoti Communications in Varanasi, who has decided to set up a coordination group to help the poorest people in the slums of Varanasi and among the Dalits of the district.

I was so happy to work, to earn money for my family - continues Ashfaq - Now my dignity has also been taken away and I receive food to survive. Now I don't even have the money to pay the rent and there is the risk of being evicted by the landlord: we will be reduced to homeless beggars. "

Fazila Bibi, 62, Ashfaq's mother-in-law, is even more pessimistic: For three days I haven't been lighting the fire in my kitchen. I have no food or money to buy something to eat: what is the purpose of lighting the fire? These are terrible days: dark nights and days and with no hope for tomorrow. Of course, these priests [Fr. Anand] are helping us by giving us parcels of food, but how long can we receive charity? There are so many people like us; the fathers must distribute parcels to many families; there are hungry children, and they too must eat to survive. I no longer even have tears to cry. I just hope I don't die before I see my family in Murshidabad again."

Meanwhile, the official figures of the epidemic, to date, register 2301 positive cases and 56 deaths. In a video message released today, the premier invited the entire population to light a candle on the evening of April 5 at 9 pm, with the lights off in their home, for nine minutes, in a demonstration of solidarity "to fight the darkness" of the coronavirus.
It will be weaponized by the Ukrainian army

Open source

Ukraine has successfully tested the new Neptune missile system. It was reported by the Secretary of National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov on his Facebook page.

"The second successful test. The Neptune missile system successfully hit floating targets at the Alibei range in the Black Sea area," the statement said.

The NSDC Secretary noted that the launch rage of the Neptune rocket was up to 100 km.

It is worth noting that Ukraine's Defense Ministry planned to purchase about 3,000 missile systems worth more than 2.4 billion hryvnias (almost 95 million USD) in 2020.

"It is planned to purchase about 3,000 missile systems and missiles for them in the amount of more than 2.4 billion hryvnias (almost 95 million USD), taking into account state guarantees," the message reads.

As we reported earlier, a contingent of the Russian military went for exercises in the area of Pechenga, a few kilometers away from the Russian-Norwegian border.

Over 1,000 men and 220 vehicles were involved in the Russian drill; that number included Grad multiple rocket launchers, Gvozdika and Akatsiya howitzers and anti-tank missile launchers.
But a Navy official familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly about it said that the captain had repeatedly asked his superiors for speedy action to evacuate the ship. His letter, the official said, came because the Navy was still minimizing the risk.

Mr. Modly insisted that his firing the captain for writing a letter asking for more help does not mean that subordinate officers are not allowed to raise criticisms and ask for assistance. To our commanding officers, Mr. Modly told reporters on Thursday, it would be a mistake to view this decision as somehow not supportive of your duty to report problems, request help, protect your crews, challenge assumptions as you see fit.

But the removal of Captain Crozier will likely have a chilling effect on the willingness of commanders to bring bad news to their superiors.

Theres no question they had the authority to remove him, Kathleen H. Hicks, a former top Pentagon official in the Obama administration, said in an email. The issue is one of poor judgment in choosing to do so. They are fueling mistrust in leader transparency, among service members, families, and surrounding/hosting communities.

Ms. Hicks, who is now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, added that the episode lays bare the broader incompatibility in the Defense Departments dual-track approach of attempting to tightly control and centralize its strategic communications at the same time it has adopted a highly decentralized approach to combating the coronavirus.

Representative Ruben Gallego, Democrat of Arizona, is a former enlisted Marine who saw heavy combat in Iraq. In an interview Friday, he described the Navys actions in firing Captain Crozier as dangerous.

For the men and women on the Roosevelt and across the Navy, the message is this, Mr. Gallego said. If the commander is looking out for you and doesnt go about it the right way hes going to get punished. Its dangerous, its going to impact morale and retention rates.
A LUCKY mouse escaped his 'Ring of Fire' in a west Cork gorse blaze thanks to the eagle-eyed heroics of a fire fighter.

The tiny mouse was saved as Agriculture Minister Michael Creed warned that landowners who start gorse fires will be prosecuted as he slated the extra pressure being exerted on Ireland's emergency services by such blazes when they are already stretched due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Fire brigade units have attended a number of gorse fires in west Cork - and fought one Castletownbere blaze for over six hours.

Another blaze in Durrus threatened to engulf an entire hillside.

The small mouse had a lucky escape when one fire fighter, despite the heat and smoke, spotted the tiny animal trapped and terrified on a hillside outside Bantry.

He managed to defy the flames, safely grab the mouse and bring the creature to safety tucked inside his protective jacket.

His Bantry Fire Brigade colleagues immediately dubbed the fireman a 'Fearless Mouse-keteer.'

As for the tiny mouse, he has been nicknamed Johnny Cash - because he defied a 'Ring of Fire'.

However, Mr Creed warned that gorse fires are not only illegal but they are exerting unnecessary pressure on the emergency services.

"There are sanctions that are available to my department - there have been inspections on foot of these fires previously not just by my department officials but also by special audit teams.

"This is just not acceptable at so many levels but particularly because of the crisis we are going through.

"It is a breach of the law and it is not acceptable."

His warning came as firefighters have over the past week had to battle major gorse blazes in Cork and Kerry.

Kerry fire fighters last weekend dealt with a major blaze which erupted in Muckross adjacent to Killarney National Park and threatened to spread rapidly.

It is estimated that around 150 acres have been damaged by fire - with three units of Kerry Fire Brigade from Kenmare and Killarney struggling to contain the blaze.

Luckily, the wind direction ensured the spread of the blaze was hindered by its burning towards Muckross Lake.

The recent spell of fine weather has increased fears of further such blazes across Ireland.

Councils warned that such fires are illegal and anyone found to be deliberately starting such blazes could face prosecution.

Such fires are used to clear land, usually along mountainsides, from gorse to benefit grazing for sheep and livestock.

Kerry, Cork and other councils had appealed only last Friday for landowners to refrain from such land clearance fires.

The Mayor of Cork Councillor Ian Doyle stressed that landowners need to be responsible and not place further demands on emergency services.

"Cork Co Council wishes to advise that it is illegal to use burning to control vegetation between March 1 and September 1," he said.

"Cork fire services continues to respond to gorse fire call outs - however given the current Covid 19 pandemic and its impact on resources, landowners are being called upon to act responsibly and observe these laws.

Now, more than ever, we need to consider how our actions affect our own wellbeing, that of the community, and the nation.

This pandemic has revealed just how connected we are and it is essential that we all do our part to protect the public health.

The lives of property owners, people on the land and our front line emergency personnel, who are already under pressure, are endangered by illegal fires.

Everyone in our community needs to be mindful of how their actions can affect the lives of others. Now is the time for solidarity and observance of the law and of guidelines set out by the HSE.

We all need to do everything we can to allow our emergency services to respond to the situation at hand.

The warning came amid fears gorse fires could rage out of control depending on wind strength and dry conditions.

Last year, a Donegal gorse fire raged out of control and destroyed a residential property.

In 2017, a gorse fire in Cork blazed out of control and destroyed over 300 acres before it was extinguished.

Dublin, Wicklow, Tipperary and Waterford have also witnessed major gorse fires over recent years.
On this day in 1680, Maharashtra's tallest icon and the son of the soil Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj breathed his last. Even after 340 years of his death, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is celebrated as one of the great leaders of India. Shivaji, whose Maratha empire spanned from modern-day Pakistan to Tamil Nadu at its peak and lasted for close to two centuries, died after falling ill with fever and dysentery.

Read: Mumbai-based Animator Creates Portrait Of Shivaji Maharaj With Over 46,000 Plastic Bits

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj punyatithi

Shivaji was born in the Bhonsle Maratha clan to Shahaji and Jijabai on February 19, 1630, in present-day Maharashtra. The government of Maharashtra celebrates the day as Shivaji Jayanti every year as a mark of honour for the great warrior. Shivaji's father was a Maratha general who served the Deccan Sultanates. At the time of Shivaji's birth, the power in the Deccan was shared by three Islamic sultanates.

Read: Uddhav Thackeray Pays Tributes To Shivaji Maharaj On Birth Anniversary

As a teenager, Shivaji expressed the concept of Hindavi Swarajya (Indian self-rule) in a letter. According to reports, this was the first time that somebody in the Indian sub-continent had expressed the concept of self-rule. Shivaji developed guerrilla techniques and became an expert in warfare. His biggest achievement came at the age of 15 when he brave-heartedly negotiated with Bijapuri commander Inayat Khan to hand over the Torna fort to him.

Read: Prakash Javadekar Pays Tribute To Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj On His Birth Anniversary

Shivaji was formally crowned as the Chhatrapati (emperor) of his realm at Raigad in 1674. Shivaji was also known for reviving the Hindu political traditions and he promoted the usage of Marathi and Sanskrit language in administrative processes rather than the Persian language, which was widely used at the time of Mughal rule in India. The government of India in 2016 approved the proposal to build a giant memorial called Shiv Smarak (Shivaji statue) on a small island in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai. The 210 metres tall statue when completed will be the world's largest statue.

Read: Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Status: Wishes To Share With Your Friends And Family
While in India coronavirus lockdown rule-breakers are facing the blows of a lathi by the police, in the US authorities are using devices with GPS trackers to discipline those who refuse to listen.

According to reports, Kentucky officials are making people wear ankle monitors to ensure they follow the orders.



Twitter/Picture For Representation





According to an international media outlet, circuit judges in Louisville ordered two coronavirus patients and one relative of the patient to wear the monitors after they broke out of quarantine.

The new measure comes as the number of confirmed cases in the US are increasing rapidly and several people are refusing to follow the quarantine orders.

Local reports state that the most recent person ordered to wear a GPS monitor is a man who hadnt tested positive for coronavirus, but lives with a confirmed case and refused to sign a quarantine order, according to the Courier-Journal. The mans sister allegedly told health officials he leaves the home often.



Governor Beshear shares updated information on #COVID19. Watch live: https://t.co/1Oztmt0GFU  Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) April 1, 2020

On March 27, Judge Charles Cunningham ordered two relatives to wear ankle monitors after they refused to stay indoors even after being tested positive for the deadly virus.



Reuters

Amy Hess, the citys chief of public services, also reportedly said that the house arrest approach is useful when it comes to enforcing social distancing. Under state law, officials with Louisvilles public health department have the power to issue an order of isolation, which is then presented to a judge for approval.






Before the coronavirus pandemic, community on Shabbat centered around synagogue. Some people have relationships that exist only within the walls of their synagogue. Friends, for decades, sitting near or next to each other  because of Shabbat at synagogue.

The pandemic took that physical community away from us. But because of technology  once a distractor and now a savior  we are able to immerse in community despite our physical isolation.

Yes, there are traditional Jewish legal challenges about using a computer on the Sabbath. Many rabbis have written about this over the past several decades in support and against logging on. But the absence of community takes a person down a path of despair. It can lead to life-threatening depression. Building and engaging in community saves lives  and violating the Sabbath has always been acceptable in the name of saving a life, even if the danger was not imminent.

The pandemic has cut many of us off from our communities, and so weve forged new paths to connect. This is a good thing. And it extends beyond the Sabbath. Families will be joining together virtually for Seder on Passover  iPads and laptops, intentionally and strategically placed around the table. We will each be able to very obviously answer the question of how different this night is from all other nights (and years). The memorial service on the last day of Passover will be broadcast from each community into nursing homes and private residences alike. The smell of Pop-Pops matzo brei may not waft through the screen, but the smiles and laughter of the great-grandchildren as they connect over FaceTime may indeed be as soothing.

We will eventually keep this virus at bay and return to our normal daily life. But that normal really is no longer. We will be changed and the world will be changed.

We as a synagogue will have reached people weve never reached before. The collective world is finally realizing that this is the type of outreach and engagement we should have been doing all along. Meeting people where they are, bringing light into their dark corners  that is how you change and build a world.

Rabbi Avi S. Olitzky is a senior rabbi of Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park, Minn.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
Onetime Superman Dean Cain was spotted popping out out for some necessities in Los Angeles on Thursday amid the coronavirus lockdowns.

The dashing 53-year-old, who played the superhero on Lois & Clark, cradled one of his pooches as he made a CVS run.

Dean stuck to a casual look, modeling a dark T-shirt, shorts and a pair of flip flops as he stopped off at the pharmacy.

Stepping out: Onetime Superman Dean Cain was spotted popping out out for some necessities in Los Angeles on Thursday amid the coronavirus lockdowns

Last week he put up a breathless Instagram selfie video taken after a jog and shared how he is doing his bit for those around him amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Michigan native revealed he has 'been helping out a lot of my friends and neighbors who aren't able to get to the store, looking out for them, delivering supplies and goods and trying to be a good neighbor.'

A day earlier he had posted a sweet Instagram selfie album in the car with his dogs, whom he was taking to get vaccinated.

Canine company: The dashing 53-year-old, who played the superhero on Lois & Clark, cradled one of his pooches as he made a CVS run

'Dogs headed to get vaccinations...in the car!! They actually got to stay in the car as they got vaccinated!!' wrote Dean in the caption.

Dean, who in recent years hit the headlines over his support for U.S. President Donald Trump, wrote: 'The ride home was happier!! #doglife #socialdistancing'.

The God's Not Dead actor is the proud father of a college-age son called Christopher from his relationship with former Playmate Samantha Torres.

Getting the gang together: Last week he posted a sweet Instagram selfie album in the car with his dogs, whom he was taking to get vaccinated

He rose to fame opposite Teri Hatcher on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman, which ran from 1993 to 1997 on ABC.

More recently Dean, who told the Epoch Times in 2018 he is 'fully pro-choice,' starred as a real life detective James 'Woody' Woods in Gosnell: The Trial Of America's Biggest Serial Killer.

The 2018 film was based on the story of Kermit Gosnell, a Pennsylvania abortionist who was convicted of murdering three infants after their live births as well as involuntary manslaughter of a pregnant woman in his care, among other counts.
Hong Kong: 65 to take Peru flight

Sixty-five Hong Kong residents will take a chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government out of Lima to London, then a regular connecting flight with secured bookings from London to Hong Kong.

The chartered flight taking Hong Kong residents out of Peru is scheduled to leave Lima for London at 4pm on April 3 local time (5am on April 4, Hong Kong time).

Up until this point, the Immigration Department has received 98 assistance requests from Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru, among whom 13 have left through other arrangements.

At present, 65 people have indicated they would take the chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong SAR Government from Lima to Hong Kong via London. The cost will be borne by the passengers.

Those remaining in Peru have chosen not to take the chartered flight as a matter of personal preference or because they are under quarantine.

Hong Kong residents in different locations in Peru, depending on the distance between their current location and Lima, will have to take a domestic flight or other long-haul land transport to go to Lima.

As Peru is in a state of national emergency, there are strict restrictions on all land and air traffic and all travel must be approved by the Peruvian authorities.

With the full assistance of the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Peru, the Hong Kong SAR Government has arranged for an international chartered flight out of Peru, a domestic chartered flight to take 29 Hong Kong residents in Cusco to Lima, and assisted those in other locations to get to Lima by land transport through local travel agencies.

The Hong Kong SAR Government has made available masks for each Hong Kong resident to use during their flights.

The Hong Kong residents returning from Peru, upon their arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, will proceed to the Centre for Health Protection's testing centre at the AsiaWorld-Expo for mandatory COVID-19 testing.

If the test result is negative, they may go home or to a designated place to continue completion of the 14-day compulsory quarantine.

The Chinese Embassy in Peru has been co-ordinating with the Peruvian authorities in issuing travel certificates and permits to the Hong Kong residents concerned to ensure they can reach Lima Airport smoothly.

The chartered flights are mainly arranged for Hong Kong residents. All the residents who have informed the Immigration Department of their wish to take the chartered flights have been allocated a seat.

To ensure sufficient use of resources and for mutual co-operation and benefit, the Hong Kong SAR Government has accepted requests for assistance from other governments to allow their residents to take the remaining seats on the chartered flights.

According to current estimates, four Malaysian residents will take the chartered flight from Cusco to Lima, while six Malaysian residents and five British residents will take the chartered flight from Lima to London.

They will arrange their own itinerary upon arrival in London. The cost of taking the chartered flights is also on a user-pays basis.

The cost of taking the Lima to London chartered flight followed by an ordinary connecting flight to Hong Kong is $30,000; while the Cusco to Lima flight costs $5,600.

Residents of other countries will pay the same amount for taking the chartered flights.

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The United States recorded 1,169 Covid-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the Johns Hopkins University tracker showed Thursday, the highest one-day death toll recorded in any country since the global pandemic began.

The toll reflected figures reported by the university between 8:30 pm Wednesday (0030 GMT) and the same time Thursday.

The grim record was previously held by Italy, where 969 people died on March 27.

The US has now recorded 5,926 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began.
The European law enforcement agency Europol says criminals are targeting a fearful public and affecting the fight against the coronavirus.

Last week, Europol officials reported that criminals are selling counterfeit products and falsely representing themselves as health care workers. They also accused criminals of attacking computers at a time when many people do their work online at home.

One Europol report noted a cyberattack on a hospital in the Czech Republic where workers carry out tests for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. It said the attack forced hospital officials to cancel planned operations on patients.

Organized crime groups are well-known for identifying new ways of earning money. The agency said that some groups have found new ways to trick people who are afraid of the virus.

Catherine de Bolle is Europols executive director. She noted that criminals have quickly seized the chance to profit from the crisis by changing their methods of operation or developing new ones.

De Bolle added that organized crime groups capacity to exploit this crisis means we need to be constantly  prepared.

Europols report lists four main forms of illegal activity: cybercrime, fraud, counterfeit and poor-quality goods and organized property crime. It noted that criminals make and sell high-demand products like face masks or medicine. Some may even act like medical workers to get into homes or businesses. Europol noted the relative ease of collecting personal information with so many Europeans now doing their jobs online at home.

Coronavirus-related criminal activity is not limited to Europe. An operation in 90 countries, overseen by international police agency Interpol, identified many suspects. They were seeking fast money, notably with the sale of counterfeit masks and medicines. The operation was carried out in early March.

Interpol said it halted the work of 37 organized crime groups, and seized 34,000 false and poor-quality masks, as well as more than $14 million in possibly dangerous medicines. The corona spray, corona packages and medicine are but the tip of the iceberg for this new rise in counterfeiting, the agency said.

COVID-19 causes mild health problems for most people. They develop a high body temperature and have difficulty breathing. But the disease can cause more serious health problems and death for others, especially for older adults and people with existing health problems.

Europol noted how one European company sent 6.6 million euros to another in Singapore to buy face masks and personal cleaning products.

The goods were never received, the report said. It did not identify either company.

Criminals also are a threat to individuals as governments order hundreds of millions of people to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus. There have been several different methods of fraud that criminals have used to get inside private homes. But they often involve someone acting as a medical official, running a corona test and providing cleaning products or informative material, Europol said.

In one European country, an individual was notified by phone of a family member hospitalized with the virus. The individual then received a middle-of-the-night visit from people who falsely identified themselves as doctors. These people wore protective equipment and even gave the victim a false virus test for the coronavirus.

European officials have warned the public to be careful about possible fraud during these unusual times.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that many people are spending increased time on the internet, for work or to just to keep busy at home. She said this means that criminals exploit our concerns about the coronavirus.

Our fear becomes their business opportunity, she said.

Im Pete Musto.

Elaine Ganly reported on this story for the Reuters news agency. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

target(ing)  v. to direct an action or message at someone or something

counterfeit  adj. made to look like an exact copy of something in order to trick people

cyberattack  n. an attempt by hackers to damage or destroy a computer network or system

capacity  n. the ability to do something

exploit - v. to use someone or something in a way that helps you unfairly

constantly - adv. happening all the time or very often over a period of time

fraud  n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person

mask(s)  n. a covering for your face or for part of your face

tip of the iceberg  n. a small part of something, such as a problem, that is seen or known about when there is a much larger part that is not seen or known about

opportunity  n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done
LONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to ramp up testing for coronavirus saying it was the key to defeating the outbreak after his government faced criticism for testing much fewer people than some of its European peers.

Britain, which initially took a much more restrained approach to the coronavirus outbreak, has faced widespread criticism that it was carrying out far too few tests, particularly for front line staff in the National Health Service.

"We're also massively increasing testing," Johnson said in a video message from a flat in Downing Street where he is self-isolating after testing positive himself. "I want to say a special word about testing because it is so important.

"As I have said for weeks and weeks, this is the way through: this is how we will unlock the coronavirus puzzle, this is how we will defeat it in the end," Johnson said.

While Germany has been testing about 500,000 people a week, Britain's current capacity is just about 12,750 a day, a figure the government said it was aiming to double by mid-April.

"What we need to do is massively ramp up not just tests so that you can know whether you have had the disease in the past - so-called antibody tests - so that will enable you to go to work in the confidence that you can't be infected or infectious," Johnson said.

"Second, people need to know whether they haven't got it rather than isolating themselves at home for no reason, and that's very, very important above all for our NHS staff," he said.

As of 0800 GMT on April 1, 152,979 people in the United Kingdom have been tested, of which 29,474 were confirmed positive. As of 1700 on March 31, 2,352 people in the United Kingdom who tested positive have died.

Ministers have suggested that shortages of necessary chemicals had been a factor, although the industry has said it necessary reagents are being manufactured and delivered to the NHS.

It has led to accusations that Britain, whose initial approach to the countering the virus abruptly changed after modelling showed a quarter of a million people in the United Kingdom could perish leading to more stringent measures, had been too slow to prepare for the outbreak. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Michael Holden)
English French

Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares forming the capital

as of March 31, 2020

CLICHY  April 03, 2020

Article L 233-8-II of the French Code de Commerce and Article 223-16 of the General Regulations of the French Autorite des Marches Financiers.

As of March 31, 2020, the total number of issued shares of SOCIETE BIC is 45,532,240 shares, representing:

67,009,836 voting rights,

66,429,842 voting rights excluding shares without voting rights

ABOUT BIC

BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as Cello, Conte, BIC FlexTM, Lucky Stationery, Made For YOUTM, Soleil, Tipp-Ex, Wite-Out and more. In 2019, BIC Net Sales were 1,949.4 million euros. The Company is listed on Euronext Paris, is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit www.bicworld.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.

CONTACTS

Sophie Palliez-Capian  VP, Corporate Stakeholder Engagement - sophie.palliez@bicworld.com Investor Relations Contact: + 33 1 45 19 52 98 Press Contacts Michele Ventura



michele.ventura@bicworld.com Albane de La Tour dArtaise +33 1 45 19 51 51 Albane.DeLaTourDArtaise@bicworld.com Isabelle de Segonzac : +33 1 53 70 74 85



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2020 AGENDA  ALL DATES TO BE CONFIRMED

First Quarter 2020 results 23 April 2020 Conference call and Webcast 2020 AGM 20 May 2020 To be determined First Half 2020 results 29 July 2020 Conference call and Webcast Third Quarter 2020 results 28 October 2020 Conference call and Webcast

Attachment
A doctor has been tested positive in Mumbai's Dharavi area on Friday. The 35-year-old doctor was found positive at a suburban lab. He is a surgeon in Wodkhard Hospital, Mumbai Central. The doctor went to get tested after he felt he had developed COVID-19 symptoms. His samples will be go for a second round of testing at Raheja Hospital. Besides, the doctor's family will also be tested for infection. The doctor has no foreign-travel history.

The doctor called and informed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) about his COVID-19 report. The BMC has sealed the building where he resides.

Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: After doctor, 2 nurses test COVID-19 positive at Delhi Cancer Institute

This is the second case from Dharavi. Earlier, a 56-year-old man was tested positive for coronavirus. However, the patient passed away at Sion Hospital.

Among all Indian states and union territories, Maharashtra has reported the highest confirmed cases of coronavirus at 335, according to the Ministry of Health. According to ANI news agency, the states' capital, Mumbai, has reported 235 cases.

Maharashtra, on Thursday, launched a COVID-19 self-assessment tool. The government has created a digital platform, wherein citizens can assess their symptoms from their homes and later contact authorities if they have any doubts about their condition. The state government has collaborated with Apollo 24x7 and launched an online tool, which can help people assess their symptoms at home.

Also read: Coronavirus outbreak: 9-minute Diwali! PM Modi says light candles on April 5

Also read: World Bank's $1 billion emergency fund: How will India spend it to fight coronavirus?
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have seized around 100 liquor bottles by arresting two persons who were involved in selling the bottles illegally at higher price amidst of COVID-19 lockdown.

The arrested have been identified as Dhananjay, 29, a resident of Vijayanagar, and Sanjay, 29, a resident of RT Nagar.

On Thursday, the police got a tip-off on the duo selling liquor bottles illegally. The duo had stored liquor bottles in a flat in an apartment building in RT Nagar. A team of CCB officials conducted a raid and caught the duo red-handed.

Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here

Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) said, after the lockdown was imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the government has banned the sale of liquor in all outlets. The duo had stored hundreds of liquor bottles in the flat knowing that there will be a huge demand for the liquor. So they were involved in selling each bottle at the price of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000.

The duo wanted to make quick and easy money, Patil said.

The raid was conducted around 4.30 pm on Thursday. The seized bottles include 26 bottles of William Lawson's blended whisky 750 ml, 23 bottles of Dewars White Label whisky 750 ml, 48 bottles of Kingfisher pint beer, three bottles of Vodka 750 ml. The liquor is worth Rs 1.25 lakh, according to MRP.

A case has been registered against the duo under the Excise Act and for violating prohibitory orders in RT Nagar police station. Further investigation is on.
Roy and Darlene Curry say that they - like all believing Christians - have the power to miraculously heal the sick. Roy once raised a friend from the dead right at the coffin, he says. A few years ago at their house church in Severn, Maryland, the couple laid hands on the cancer-riddled body of a young woman who was soon disease-free.

These days, the Currys are praying for guidance on how to heal in the socially distant era of coronavirus.

Would they be in danger if they approached the sick to pray, placing their hand upon the ailing person's body? What about scriptures like Romans 8:2 that some interpret as saying believing Christians are free from the power of sin that leads to death? But the Bible also says to obey those in authority, say the Currys, who will socially distance as officials have ordered - unless God directly tells them otherwise.

For now, they believe healing by phone is effective. That's how they have prayed for the healing of a few people in their extended community who have the virus.

"In the spiritual realm, there is no distance or time, and I'm relying on the faithfulness of God that even though I can't physically be there, I know my prayers will pierce through all that," said Roy, 68, a retiree who travels often for mission trips centered on healings, but for now spends much of his days on phone calls praying for healing. "God guides us in all things. If he would tell us to go lay hands on someone specifically, we'd do that. God didn't say: 'Go to the hospital.' We have to make sure we are hearing from God."

There is no scientific evidence that prayers can directly combat disease. However, some studies have raised prayer as a factor in inexplicable healings, and other research notes a reduction in some people's physical pain after prayer. A national 2008 Pew Research survey found that one-third of Americans reported having experienced or witnessed a divine healing.

Unlike members of older denominations, Pentecostal and charismatic Christians believe that any Christian of faith potentially can be a prophet or a healer who has access to miracles and wondrous signs like speaking in tongues, raising people from the dead or reversing disease.

Many charismatic Christians are socially and politically conservative, and some had embraced President Donald Trump's initial dismissal of the virus as something that wasn't that serious and that the United States would easily conquer.

At the same time, to many believers, the arrival of a pandemic that has swept up the entire world certainly looks like a sign. Or at least an opportunity God can turn for the good. As the tally of victims has soared in the hundreds of thousands, those who believe that prayer can heal are turning their attention toward helping patients recover, and hoping the virus will lead to many conversions.

Chris Gore, head of healing ministries at the 12,000-person Bethel Church in Redding, California, has shifted his 700 healers from healing people at the front of the sanctuary on Saturday mornings to staffing online healing rooms that are available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

About 100 calls from around the world come in every day - many related to stress from the virus. The requests feed into a Google Doc, "which we push out to the ministers, and someone phones you," Gore said. "We're in impact mode. We're going after this thing."

In a statement, Bethel said its church community believes in God's ability to heal supernaturally, but "we also deeply value and access medical professionals."

But in mid-March, the church shared a video on its Facebook page from Kevin Dedmon, who used to teach at Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry. In it, Dedmon said of the virus: "There is no way this thing can live in the presence of God. And we say that our declarations make a difference, that we have the antidote, we have the answer to this virus. . . . So we declare today to those that have it, those who think they'll get it, we declare no fear and we declare healing in Jesus' name."

Even as charismatic and Pentecostal ideas may still be fringe or new to many American Christians, the belief in spiritual healing - that prayers have impact - is woven through historic Christianity. The rub is in how it works. Is the Christian an equal partner with Jesus in healing? Or are they meant to accept and embrace the humbling alternative - profound prayer whose impact they can't in any way control?

Bruce Hindmarsh, an expert on Christian spiritual history at Regent College, wrote earlier this week that narratives of Christians willing to risk and give their lives in times of plague have been considered a key reason for the faith's early success.

Unlike in the past, when Christians were called to physically embrace the sick and dying, Christian activism today "means protecting the vulnerable from the deadly, silent transmission of the coronavirus," Hindmarsh wrote in a March 23 essay for his school. "It means trying to help the medical system cope with the numbers. We must be especially creative to find other ways to bring the love of Christ to the suffering and the outcast."

For many Christians who believe in faith healing, the virus presents questions that don't have simple answers. How does spiritual healing really work? Aren't they not supposed to fear death?

Caleb Brundidge, 53, lives in Los Angeles and runs a healing dance ministry that uses flags and banners - items mentioned in the Bible. He says Christians' ability to heal is as basic as "children's bread." At the same time, he notes, God gave people the ability to understand science, including how airborne disease spread. So he's staying inside for now.

"I pray for people on the phone, and there is no difference in the spirit realm," he said. "It doesn't matter if you're touching or not. It's not about me, it's about God and releasing his spirit to take control over the elements of the body and speak life into them and to the disease."

While Darlene Curry and her husband don't believe God sent the coronavirus, they absolutely believe God can make something miraculous of it. They feel they see more Americans turning to prayer and hope that means openness to God.

"This is an opportunity like we've never seen before - for God to be shown to the whole world," said Darlene, 61. How exactly that will happen, she can't say. "Our ways are not God's ways."
A Willow City bar owner who has been cited five times since March 25 for violating Gov. Doug Burgums order closing bars and restaurants to on-site service to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus says he "prefers a dangerous freedom to a peaceful slavery."

David Corum, owner of Gunslingers, was issued citations on March 25 and 26, two on March 27 and another on March 28, court documents show. The charges against him are infractions, an offense that does not rise to the level of a misdemeanor.

Corum said he understands that behind every statistic detailing coronavirus infections and deaths there is "a face, there's stories, there's loved ones," but he added "you also have to be realistic and pragmatic."

"Three dead out of 760,000 people? 5,000 dead out of 330 million people?" Corum said. "You're just not going to convince me this pandemic is the threat they claim it is."

Corum said he and certain county officials "go way back" and he believes some of the motivation behind the citations is political.

Corum feels President Donald Trump and Burgum can be seen standing closer than 6 feet to others in the rooms at recent meetings.

"The hypocrisy is outrageous," he said.

He's not "flipping the governor off," he said, but "he's not my daddy, he's not gonna send me to my room, I'm not skipping supper."

Bottineau County Sheriff Steve Watson received a number of texts and calls from county residents who complained about the bar being open. He gave Corum information about the governor's order but the bar owner continued to stay open.

People were congregating," Watson said. "He wasnt following the rules of the governor.

A recording on the bar telephone informs callers that the business closed as of March 20, no longer serves the public, has nothing to sell and that the phone will not be answered. Corum posted a sign on the door informing the public that the club was private, his licenses had been surrendered, and anyone entering did so at their own risk.

Corum cant have more than three people in the bar -- besides himself and one employee -- under the terms of a pretrial agreement and order signed by Northeast District Judge Anthony Benson. Corum "may not provide, dispense, sell or otherwise give anyone alcohol at the location formerly known as Gunslingers, the order states. Corum was not arrested and is free on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond, the document shows.

Watson and his deputies have made a daily ritual of the 18-mile trip to Willow City to check on Corum, patrolling highways as they travel, the sheriff said.

We wont go in there again unless we see a group larger than three, he said.

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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The Delhi High Court Friday directed Yes Bank not to take any coercive action against a private company which has been declared as a non performing asset due to automated process for failing to pay loan installments.

The court was hearing a plea by Anant Raj Limited seeking direction to the bank not to take any coercive steps for its failure to pay loan installments since January this year.

In the meantime, no further coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner (company) pursuant to declaration of the status of the petitioner as a non performing asset, a bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva said.

Justice Sachdeva, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, listed the matter for further hearing on April 6.

The court was informed by the counsel for the bank that the declaration of the status of an account as a Non Performing Asset (NPA) is an automated process and the computer system automatically picks up any default which has not been serviced for a period of 90 days and declares the account as NPA.

He further said that the company was in default with regard to the instalment which was payable on January 1, 2020, accordingly, the computer system automatically on March 31, changed the status of the account as a NPA.

The court asked the company's counsel to file rejoinder to the bank's counter by email latest by 2 PM on April 5.

The court on April 1, had directed the bank to file its response to the company's plea in which it has sought direction to the bank not to take coercive or adverse steps as proposed by it in its emails of March 25 and 27.

The company said that in the emails, the bank has informed the company that since the instalments for the months of January and February, 2020 are due and in case the amount is not paid by March 31, the petitioner's account shall be declared as a non-performing asset.

The petitioner's counsel had contended that in view of the March 27 circular issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which gives mortarium on terms of loan, the bank cannot declare the company's account as a non-performing asset and have to defer any coercive action till June 1, this year.

The counsel for the bank had argued that the moratorium is applicable only with regard to instalments which fell due after March 1, 2020 and are not applicable on instalments that had fallen due as on March 1, this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government will set up a Rs 1,000 crore fund for enhancing testing lab facilities and procurement of ventilators, masks, and sanitizers.

Apart from the state government, contribution of others including industrial houses will also be sought, the Uttar Pradesh government stated.

Moreover, efforts will be made to ensure the provision of testing facilities in all 24 government medical colleges.

As many as 172 new positive COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on Friday. Out of these, 42 had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi according to Uttar Pradesh government sources.

The total number of coronavirus cases in India on Friday climbed to 2,301, including 156 cured and discharged and 56 deaths, said 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.)
With the number of COVID-19



cases rising in the country, the Odisha government has urged the ICMR to allow three more hospitals in the state to conduct COVID-19 tests to ensure timely diagnosis of the disease.

A request has been made to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, to grant permission to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla and Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in Rourkela for conducting COVID-19 tests, a senior official said on Friday.

"The ICMR has been requested to allow these three hospitals to conduct tests for COVID-19, in addition to the three places, where the samples of suspected cases are being tested at present," he said, adding that it is necessary to increase testing facilities in the state in view of a spurt in coronavirus cases in the country.

This apart, orders have also been placed for procurement of additional kits for testing at least 50,000 samples in the near future, the official said.

Following the outbreak of coronavirus infection in the country, the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in Bhubaneswar was the first in the state to start testing samples for diagnosis of the disease.

Subsequently, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar also started conducting tests for the highly infectious disease, he said.

A facility for conducting COVID-19 tests was operationalised at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on March 31, he said.

Though Odisha has so far reported five COVID-19 cases, there is a need for more testing centres to deal with the emerging situation.

"Therefore, the state government has been taking expeditious steps to start new units for conducting COVID-19 tests and the ICMR was approached for the benefit of the people of the state, he said.

More testing facilities will ensure speedy and timely identification of patients so that they could be isolated to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the official said.

The state government has also urged the Centre to supply more high-quality masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for treatment of the COVID-19 patients. Among other demands, we have emphasised the need for an adequate supply of N-95 masks and PPE, he said, adding that thousands of quarantine centres and isolation wards have been opened in the state to deal with the situation.

Besides, dedicated hospitals, exclusively for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, are being opened in different parts of the state as part of its preparedness to tackle any situation, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three members of the Tablighi Jamaat, who were at the congregation in Delhis Nizamuddin Markaz in March, tested positive for the coronavirus disease in Uttarakhand late on Thursday, officials said.

With this, the number of cases of coronavirus infection in the hill state has gone up to 10.

Three people, who tested positive for the deadly virus, were among the 13 members of Tablighi Jamaat, who were caught entering Udham Singh Nagar district from Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday and booked by the police, Ashok Kumar, director general of police (law and order), said.

Also read: A peek inside the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz

They were quarantined after a health check-up at Pant Nagar Krishi Bhawan premises.

On Wednesday, US Nagar police had arrested 13 Tablighi Jamaat attendees near the railway track and Nainital Road in Rudrapur. They were coming from the Moradabad and Rampur areas of Uttar Pradesh.

We were informed that some Jamaatis are passing through the railway track from Rampur side and entering Uttarakhand. Police intercepted them and took them into custody. They were nine in number. Later, four more were held from Nainital road in Rudrapur, Devendra Pincha, US Nagars additional superintendent of police, said.

Pincha said they were booked under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Also read: Amit Shah orders blacklisting of 960 foreigners who took part in Tablighi Jamaat events

On March 15, Uttarakhand reported the first Covid-19 case in the state. A 26-year-old trainee Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer was confirmed positive after he had returned from a tour of Finland, Russia and Spain. He was part of a group of 62 trainee IFS officers who had visited these countries for an educational tour.

On March 23, an American tourist was confirmed to be the fourth Covid-19 case in Uttarakhand. On March 25, a 25-year-old man from Kotdwar in Pauri Garhwal district with recent travel history to Spain became the fifth Covid-19 patient in the state.

Uttarakhand reported its sixth case of Covid-19 on March 28 when a 21-year-old boy, who had come back from Dubai, tested positive in Dehradun. The next day, a 47-year-old military official posted in the Chakrata area of Dehradun tested positive for the coronavirus disease.
It's Wednesday night and Danny Salsbury is busier than usual. The Hope Dinner soup kitchen he runs in Sydney's CBD usually serves 180 meals; tonight his vegetable curry will feed 250 people.

"There seems to be a lot more people on the streets at the moment," Salsbury says.

The ban on public gatherings has left him short of volunteers and forced the three-course sit-down meal to become takeaway only. He's had an influx of requests for food hampers, including from people new to the welfare system. "They're just coming in saying they have been to Centrelink but it's going to take seven days and they've got $20 in their pocket and they have three kids at home," Salsbury says.

Danny Salsbury (right) has seen rising demand for meals and food hampers. Credit:Edwina Pickles

This swift spike in demand for assistance highlights a looming crisis facing Australia's community welfare charities. The charity sector is remarkably resilient. In fact it thrives on crises, whether through drought, bushfires, floods or persistent funding cuts from governments hunting for savings. Financially, many charities are used to running on the smell of an oily rag, propped up by dedicated volunteers and with little cash in reserve.
C ybercriminals are no different to any other criminal. They are opportunistic, often merciless and prey on the most vulnerable in society.

With the world in the middle of an unprecedented crisis, triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, it is no surprise that we are seeing hackers and phishers looking to exploit the new weaknesses that present themselves.

One of the biggest changes we have seen in recent weeks as the country has gone into lockdown is the move of most of corporate Britain to working from home.

Employees everywhere are getting used to the new reality of conducting meetings and conference calls via web apps and chat programmes, and dialling into their corporate data via their home network.

Were also all more reliant than ever on digital tools to go about our everyday business, whether thats keeping in touch with family and friends or checking bank accounts.

Some older people who do not traditionally use such technology have been forced to adopt it because they have been told to self-isolate by the Government and need to go online to communicate with loved ones or shop for essentials.

Almost overnight, the internet has become the primary channel for interaction with others and the main way that we work, contact and support others in society.

What people may not realise is that these novel arrangements expose them and the companies they work for to huge cybersecurity risks, as criminals seek to take advantage of the new vulnerabilities that are exposed.

At ThreatAware, we have seen a drastic rise in the number of computers that are now extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks, with 55 per cent of computers that we monitor now using home networks, most of which have little to no cybersecurity protection, up from just 18 per cent before the coronavirus crisis.

Having conducted analysis across our entire user base we believe home networks are at least four times more vulnerable than office networks.

Evidence of cyber-attacks within businesses have already begun with cybercriminals disguising themselves as The World Health Organisation in order to steal money or information from the Italian population. An elaborate phishing scam targeted over 10 per cent of all organisations in Italy.

In recent days, the coronavirus statistics site worldometers.info has also been the target of cyber attackers seeking to disrupt its operations.

There have been allegations that cybercriminals have been hacking into social media and bank accounts via the video-calling app Houseparty, which saw a huge increase in its user base as people turned to alternative online methods to chat with groups of friends.

Many employees will be working on personal computers as they work from home, completely unaware of the many cyber security risks associated with it. Personal computers are often unencrypted, meaning that if they are stolen, all downloaded data including emails and company documents can be easily extracted. They are also often lacking suitable antivirus software, which exposes the machine to malware and malicious programmes. Most importantly, if there is no monitoring or visibility, corporations will likely have no knowledge of potential problems or what vulnerabilities they are even exposed to.

Even where workers are using work computers at home, the risks are elevated. This is because almost all will use home networks, which have two key issues associated with them. The main issue lies within the home network firewall which is often not kept up to date and vulnerabilities get frequently exploited. If a network has been breached, hackers are able to try a plethora of methods to gain access to corporate data. The other key risk is that home networks rarely have any web proxies or filters protecting them from malicious websites, which are usually blocked when using the corporate network.

Despite the increased level of risk, it can be easily mitigated by ensuring experts have visibility of an organisations entire IT infrastructure, and are constantly keeping an eye out for problems. Computers that access corporate data and lack fundamental security measures need prompt and decisive action to secure them  and with so many millions of people now being asked to work from home, its up to companies to ensure that their staff are protected.

UK individuals and companies have never been at such great risk of cyber-attacks. Its imperative to make sure that you and your staff have the protection that they need, and are more careful than usual when installing software and giving out any personal information online.
Dr Alex George has given another first-hand report from the frontline of the current coronavirus pandemic.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the Love Island star, 30, shared an empowering snap of himself and his colleagues in the A&E department at University Hospital Lewisham, London, clad in scrubs with their fists raised into the air.

Dr Alex, provided his followers with a link to his latest YouTube video, which sees him give an insight into life on the NHS frontline, and in which he explains the TWO types of coronavirus testing as well as the 'barriers' to rolling them out across the UK.

Life on the frontline: Dr Alex George, 30, has given another first-hand report from the frontline of the current coronavirus pandemic, taking to Instagram with an empowering photograph

Alex captioned his Instagram snap: 'From my family to yours, stay home and stay safe. We are on shift and so won't be able to hear your clap tonight, but know that the message is received loud and clear.

'Latest video from the frontline is live on my YouTube channel. Link in bio.' He later added: 'So much love and support! THANK YOU.'

In his YouTube video, Dr Alex documented his day on shift in London at University Hospital Lewisham's A&E department.

The reality star explained how he's seen a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths over the past few days.

YouTuber: Dr Alex, provided his followers with a link to his latest YouTube video, which sees him give an insight into life on the NHS frontline

What it's really like: The Love Island star explained what it's like on the ground, and explained the TWO types of coronavirus testing as well as the 'barriers' to rolling them out across the UK

A day in the life of an A&E doctor: In his YouTube video, Dr Alex documented his day on shift in London at University Hospital Lewisham's A&E department (Pictured with Dr Farah Khan)

'Departments up and down the UK are getting busier and busier as the pressure from coronavirus builds up.

'We're seeing more patients requiring ventilators, requiring specialist input and support from us in the accident and emergency department.

'We're very grateful for those who are maintaining social distancing, who are staying at home, because at the end of the day that's what's going to take pressure off us on the front line, and allow us to keep as many people safe and the death rate as low as possible.'

'We've split the department into sections, almost military style, keeping those patients who may be infected away from those without coronavirus symptoms.'

In good spirits: Despite the frighting situation, Dr Alex assured his followers that moral on the frontline was good, and that they had the protective equipment needed

Despite the frighting situation, Dr Alex assured his followers that moral on the frontline was good, saying: 'I just wanted to give you an insight into what's going on at the moment.

'My spirits are high and I feel that we've got enough protective equipment on the frontline to do what we need to do and to be able to perform our job as safely as possible.'

During a chat with his colleague Dr Farah Khan, Dr Alex said of the influx of patients with coronavirus: 'Some of them are doing really well with a little bit of help, and then we're sending them home.

'It's worth saying that, that we're sending a lot of people home, actually,' he added.

The pair discussed how it has tended to be those in the 'vulnerable groups' who have been struggling the most to fight off COVID-19.

They urged those with 'minor' symptoms to stay at home, increase their fluids and self-medicate with paracetamol, unless they deteriorate and require medical assistance, in which case they should call 111.

At home, following his shift, Dr Alex discussed coronavirus testing: 'There are two types, really, that we broadly split this into. There's antigen testing versus antibody testing.

'Antigen testing is essentially: Is there the presence of that virus in your body right now? And we're using swabs to do that.

'We're taking swabs from the nose or the throat, sending them away to a lab,' where Dr Alex explained that they're then tested by experts.

'Antibody testing, is where we usually do a finger prick test or we take a sample of blood, and we look for antibodies against that virus - either IGG or IGM, the two types of antibodies we usually look for when doing these tests.'

The Love Island star explained that the two tests were done in order to find out: 'Do you have it 'right now'? Yes, or no?

'And: have you had it 'at some point'? Yes or no, and are you immune to that at present?'

An increase in cases: The pair discussed how it has tended to be those in the 'vulnerable groups' who have been struggling the most to fight off COVID-19

Dr Alex moved on to discuss why there's a 'barrier' to wide-spread testing in the UK, while other countries across the world are testing hundreds of thousands of people daily.

He said: 'Part of the reason is: a lot of these countries are ahead of us - they had cases much sooner. And in some cases, like in South Korea, they were very quick to act.

'Around the world, everyone has tried to buy the components and parts to these testing kits. Because we're a little bit later on, we're in a very different market place to buy these bits of equipment.'

Testing: At home, following his shift, Dr Alex discussed coronavirus testing: 'There are two types, really, that we broadly split this into. There's antigen testing versus antibody testing'

Dr Alex explained that three new testing lab checkpoints have been set up in order to ramp up antigen testing NHS frontline staff, who are 'beginning to see the roll out of that now.'

In terms of antibody testing, the Love Islander explained that it will take more time, because the tests need to be 'reliable and accurate' but they're hoping to have 3.5 million of them as soon as possible.

'It'll obviously be very important and very useful in the frontline sense: Knowing you have had it and you're hopefully immune to the coronavirus is very, very important for NHS workers and staff.'

Dr Alex confirmed that people won't be able to buy the tests privately, instead they will be allocated by public health and the NHS to where they are needed at that time.

A warning appeared on screen, which read: 'There are some tests available online, often unregulated and not approved by the appropriate regulatory body so be very careful before buying!'

He explained that the rollout of antibody testing will begin with: 'Frontline staff, to those who are symptomatic in the community, to those who are Asymptomatic as well.'

'Do I think that it [the tests] will be available to buy in the future? Potentially even abroad? Probably... But I don't think it will be that soon, in the UK at least it will very much be controlled so the tests go to the right places at the right time.'

Warning: Dr Alex confirmed that people won't be able to buy the tests privately, instead they will be allocated by public health and the NHS to where they are needed at that time

Dr Alex's YouTube video comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged any doctors or nurses who quit or retired in the past three years to return to help tackle COVID-19.

NHS officials have not put a figure on the number of former doctors and nurses they expect to bring back, but Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he hoped to 'get our hands on as many as possible'.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty previously warned that London hospitals would soon be under severe pressure.

He claimed measures such as social distancing and school closures intended 'to pull down the peak' of cases would take time to have an effect.
A suspected coronavirus patient, who had allegedly committed suicide in a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, has been tested negative for COVID-19, an official said on Friday.

The sample of the 40-year-old man was sent to Meerut Medical College and the report is negative for coronavirus, said chief medical officer Sanjay Bhatnagar.

The man was admitted to the quarantine ward of the district hospital on Tuesday, Shamli DM Jasjit Kaur had said.

The patient allegedly committed suicide by hanging on Wednesday night and the reason behind him taking the extreme step is yet to be ascertained, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ex-Envoy Bildt Questions Serbia And Hungary's Use Of 'China Card' Amid COVID-19 Crisis

By Nevena Bogdanovic, Andy Heil April 02, 2020

BELGRADE -- Influential former UN and European envoy to the Balkans Carl Bildt has unloaded a torrent of concern over Serbian political signals amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In a far-ranging interview with RFE/RL's Balkan Service on March 30, the former Swedish foreign minister acknowledged European failures in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic but warned that Serbian leaders' reliance on "the China card" could prove "counterproductive from the Serbian point of view."

He has seen a similar "political pattern" in EU member Hungary, he said, whose government has sought to stifle criticism of Beijing since the Chinese government seemingly bungled containment efforts after the coronavirus moved from animals to humans in November (not December).

Bildt was asked about Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's very public criticism of the EU when he said in a televised address on March 15 that "European solidarity" was just "a fairy tale," adding that only China "can help us in this difficult situation."

Bildt said he saw Serbia "playing the China card much stronger."

But he asked "What's the political strategy behind that? I don't understand it. I think it is counterproductive from the Serbian point of view."

Days later, with Beijing's conspicuous efforts to overshadow criticism of its steps early in the COVID-19 crisis gaining steam, Vucic welcomed a Chinese delegation and a planeload of medical equipment at the airport.

Bildt cited tens of millions of euros in immediate EU aid to help Serbia's health sector battle the pandemic, which had killed 31 of the 1,171 people there confirmed as infected with the coronavirus by April 2.

"These are very significant funds of support, far in excess of a couple of more symbolic things that have arrived from other countries," Bildt said. "If the reward for that is that the president thanks everyone else, complaining about Europe, then I think long-term the incentive for Europe to give support will decline."

Serbia is an EU candidate country, and the new European Commission government under President Ursula von der Leyen has signaled a new will for expansion that had waned under her predecessor, Jean-Claude Juncker, amid disputes over immigration, budget priorities, and Brexit.

EU Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said in February after meeting with Vucic that he wanted by 2024 "to have at least one country" from the Western Balkans be ready for EU membership.

And the Western Balkans received a boost last week when the European Council decided to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, signaling a return to enlargement once the current political storms blow past.

Holding A Grudge?

Belgrade's relations with the West have been complicated by a lingering dispute over the independence of Serbia's former province, Kosovo, weapons purchases and other aspects of Belgrade's relationship with Russia, and perceived backsliding on free media and democracy issues.

"I noted the fact that [the Serbian government] made the big splash, whatever, out of the fairly limited Chinese aid," Bildt said. "President Vucic was there at the airport, and I see they have posters up in Belgrade saying, 'Thank you to China,' while I haven't seen any corresponding 'Thank you' for the far more substantial help [that came] from the European Union. And that, I think, has been noted throughout the [EU]."

The European Union has allocated at least 93 million euros ($102 million) in support for health care and social and economic recovery in Serbia, and hundreds of millions more in the other five of the so-called Western Balkans Six: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

Yet Serbia's government has gone to considerable lengths to publicly praise Beijing, including the aforementioned billboards.

Bildt called the actions by Belgrade officials "a very divergent reaction," adding that he failed "to see the political wisdom of it."

China has funneled loans and investment into the Balkans in an effort to boost its own influence, much of it bound for regional economic leader Serbia.

The value of its support for Serbia related to the pandemic is unknown, but it appears to have been limited to Chinese medical materiel including ventilators, drugs and medicines, protective masks and gloves, and a visit from a six-member team of public-health advisers.

Bildt at one point tweeted what he suggested to RFE/RL were double standards by Serbian officials regarding aid from the EU and help from China.

Serbia's prime minister, Ana Brnabic, tweeted back, accusing Bildt of "spreading fake news to send strong political messages." She further chided Bildt at a joint press conference where she and Vucic repeated the "fake news" allegation.

'Propaganda Exercise'

Bildt suggested to RFE/RL that the European Union had made mistakes in its coronavirus response but said it had not spread the word enough about its own aid efforts.

"We have seen that, I think, the Chinese have been hurt by the fact that it all started with them and they [made] significant mistakes in the beginning trying to cover up," Bildt said. "And now they are trying to do a sort of a goodwill exercise with sending flights and whatever to different countries in order to make good, to a certain extent."

He added that "all help should be welcome, but there is undoubtedly an element of...[a propaganda exercise] going on."

Bildt said he had seen a similar scenario play out in Hungary, where entrenched Prime Minister Viktor Orban has courted closer relations with Moscow and Beijing amid EU-wide concern at his nationalism-fueled populism and restrictions on media and the opposition.

"It's early days -- but I think there is a tendency towards a political pattern here," Bildt said. "Hungary has been very supportive of China in every single respect -- we've seen the Hungarians blocking statements inside the European Union that have been critical of China, the human rights record and things like that, and also on the South China Sea. So Hungary has been acting as a close ally of China within the European Union. And it might be that this is some sort of reward."

Bildt was the EU's special envoy to the former Yugoslavia and co-chaired the Dayton Peace Conference in 1995. He also served as the international community's high representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1995-97 and as the UN secretary-general's special envoy for the Balkans in 1999-2001. He was Swedish prime minister in 1991-94 and foreign minister in 2006-14.

Nevena Bogdanovic Nevena Bogdanovic is a fellow in RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ex-envoy-bildt-questions -serbia-and-hungary-use-of-china-card-amid -covid-19-crisis/30525795.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Next, Dr. Blackiston swept the skin cells into a little well, forming a milky ball. Soon the cells glued themselves back together. Then he cauterized away some parts of the ball, carving a tiny figurine  a living skin-sculpture, about the size of a fine grain of salt, that looked like Mr. Kriegmans quadruped. Two weeks later, he showed a picture of the entity to the Vermont computer scientists.

We were just dumbfounded, Dr. Bongard said. The moment we saw that, both labs really just kind of dove into this full time.

Function follows form

In Vermont, he and Mr. Kriegman began crafting virtual worlds that would reward particular behaviors by the clumps of repurposed frog. Take walking: First an algorithm produced many random body designs; some just sat there, others rocked or waddled forward. Then the algorithm let the best of the walkers procreate into the next generation; from these, another generation was produced, and so on, each one improving on the best designs. Another simulation, aimed at finding designs that could carry an object, became crowded with bagel-like bodies that had evolved a central cavity to hold things.

After the process ran for about a day, it produced body shapes preprogrammed to execute the initial tasks. Then the Vermont team relayed the resulting best body shapes to Dr. Levin and Dr. Blackiston, who began trying to sculpt cellular figurines that resembled those designs: first with just skin cells, then also with cardiac tissue  an assemblage of muscle cells that contracts and expands. The Tufts team offered feedback, to make the next round of simulations better at predicting what would happen in a real petri dish. And so on, in a loop.

In their paper and in press coverage, the team hinted at what these xenobots might someday do. Sweep up ocean microplastics into a larger, collectible ball? Deliver drugs to a specific tumor? Scrape plaque from the walls of our arteries? The xenobots would biodegrade after using up the yolk inside their cells. And whatever their intended purpose, their bodies would be designed not by an engineer but by a simulacrum of real evolution built to encourage the right behavior in the target environment.

What should a robot look like thats crawling through your arteries? Mr. Kriegman said. Should it have four legs? I dont know!
An employee prepares a surface for cleaning bodies in a religious manner at Daniel J. Schaefer Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York. 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. (Image: AP)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 00:53:05|Editor: zyl

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ADDIS ABABA, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The UN Child Fund (UNICEF) has hailed China's support to the endeavors being made in improving the quality of maternal and neonatal health services in Africa in general, and Ethiopia in particular.

In a statement on Thursday, UNICEF said China, through its international aid agency the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), has contributed one million U.S. dollars to improve the quality of health care provided to newborn babies in Ethiopia.

Stating that the contribution to Ethiopia is part of the eight million dollars grant that CIDCA has made to eight African countries to improve their maternal and neonatal health services, UNICEF said the grant will help improve the quality of health care for newborn babies through competency-based training and mentorship of health practitioners and tailored provision of equipment.

UNICEF, which helped to negotiate the grant, will work with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and its bureaus at the regional, district, and primary health care level to increase the availability of basic emergency obstetric and newborn care and newborn corners, according to the statement.

The grant will also help improve quality of services provided through newborn intensive care units (ICU), integrated management of newborn and childhood illnesses, community-based newborn care, and clinical mentorship.

The project will be implemented to cover 49 health centers, 219 health posts, and six primary hospitals in selected areas in the country, and an estimated 94,000 pregnant women and newborn babies will benefit from the project, according to UNICEF.

"Improving quality health care around the time of birth and providing special care for sick and small newborn babies is absolutely essential to saving babies," said Ethiopia's Minister of Health Lia Tadesse.

"We are delighted with this grant as it will go a long way towards improving the quality of health care provided to some of the most remote and disadvantaged communities in Ethiopia," said UNICEF Representative Adele Khodr. "For this, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the People's Republic of China."

The UNICEF statement said that the grant comes against a backdrop of progress in reducing child deaths in Ethiopia.

In 1990, about 222 children out of a thousand were dying before their fifth birthday. By 2019, the number had declined to 55 deaths. Despite this reduction, deaths of newborn babies have remained stubbornly high, with 100,000 dying every year and accounting for 55 percent of all under-5 child deaths.
(ISRAEL21c)The global Israeli company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is donating more than 6 million doses of hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets to hospitals across the United States to meet the urgent demand for the medicine as an investigational target to treat COVID-19.

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of malaria, lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Teva-manufactured drug is not approved for use in treating COVID-19. However, it is under investigation for efficacy against the novel coronavirus and has been requested by U.S. government officials to be made available for testing purposes.

Immediately upon learning of the potential benefit of hydroxychloroquine, Teva began to assess supply and to urgently acquire additional ingredients to make more product while arranging for all of what we had to be distributed immediately, said Brendan OGrady, Teva Executive Vice President, North America Commercial.

We are committed to helping to supply as many tablets as possible as demand for this treatment accelerates at no cost.

OGrady said that additional production of hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets is also being assessed and subsequently ramped up with materials that are being sent to Teva from its ingredient supplier.

Teva will ship 6 million tablets through wholesalers to hospitals by March 31, and more than 10 million within a month.

The company is also reviewing supply of both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine globally to determine whether there are additional supply and access opportunities for patients.

Teva is a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Teva provides more than 10% of the US drug supply, providing American patients with approximately 1 out of 7 prescriptions they take.
NEW DELHI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- India's federal health ministry on Friday morning said the death toll due to the COVID-19 in India rose to 56 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 2,301.

"As on 9:00 a.m. (local time) today 56 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," read the information released by the ministry.

This is a jump of three deaths and an increase of 232 cases since Thursday evening.

On Thursday evening the number of COVID-19 cases was 2,069 and the death toll was 53.

According to ministry officials, so far 157 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement.

"The number of active cases in the country right now is 2,088," read the information.

Friday marks the tenth straight day of ongoing 21-day lockdown across the country announced by the 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 which are exempted.

The federal government has asked states to strictly enforce the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of the COVID-19 and break the chain of its transmission in the country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to show a joint resolve in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic by switching off their lights at homes on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. (local time) and light up candles, torch or mobile flashlights for nine minutes.
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Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh stopped implementation of a Dearness Allowance (DA) hike given by the Kamal Nath-led Congress dispensation on March 16, days before the latter fell on March 20.

The order by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government to stop the DA implementation, which was to come into effect from July 1, was taken on Wednesday.

The Kamal Nath government had issued orders on March 16 to increase the DA of employees by five percent, taking the

DA of employees in the seventh pay commission scale to 17 percent.

Nath criticised the move and said the Congress would agitate if the BJP government did not pull back its "dictatorial" order.

"This was a historic decision which was welcomed by lakhs of employees of the state. But the Shivraj Singh government stopped the implementation of this order," he said in a series of tweets.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal called it an appropriate decision and said the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government's priority at the moment was to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Galaxy foundation Ghana donates hygienic tools to Orphanages and deprived communities in Obuasi. As part of the measures to increase awareness about the preventive measures towards the COVID-19 pandemic, Galaxy foundation presented hygienic tools to orphanages and deprived communities in the municipality. We targeted the orphans and deprived communities because of the number of people they encounter daily which makes them highly prone to the virus. Awareness was created and proper handwashing was taught by the health coordinator for the foundation. The residents in these areas couldnt hide their joy for the wonderful gesture bestowed on their communities to help them fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Galaxy foundation is a non-profitable organization that visits villages and orphanages to assist those with difficulties in accessing health facilities due to geographical, social and financial reasons. Galaxy foundation also provides free reconstructive plastic and general surgeries to poor people.
As of Friday, the number of coronavirus deaths matched the number of lives claimed by influenza in 2019-20, according to Pennsylvania Department of Health data.

The final flu report tallied 129,912 known cases of influenza in the commonwealth. They were recorded between Sept. 29 and March 28.

According to the data, 102 people died from it during the 2019-20 season. The coronavirus, which was first reported in Pennsylvania on March 6, also has taken the lives of 102 people here.

Last years flu season was anticipated to run through May 16, however, there was a drastic drop in recent weeks in the number of flu cases reported. The drop implied to health experts that the flu has run its course. Data collection of people who contract influenza will begin at the beginning of the next flu season.

County breakdowns can be found on the health departments website, which tracks the number of people struck by the flu statewide.

"Influenza activity has decreased significantly, so the Bureau of Epidemiology will stop updating this flu activity webpage, according to the health department's website.

The final report, which doesnt include COVID-19 cases, is week 13 ending March 28. Forest County reported the lowest number at seven. Allegheny County had the most at 13,694.

Brittany Lauffer, health department spokeswoman, told the Pittsburgh Tribune that the 2019-20 flu season "is the most cases on record in Pennsylvania during a flu season.

"Although there were many cases, they were not as severe as the 2017-2018 flu season, she said. "There are many factors on why we saw more cases this season, including more individuals getting tested for flu-like symptoms, especially as the concern for covid-19 grew. It is also important to note that flu cases are largely under-reported each year because not everyone who has the flu gets tested for it.

York County reported the most number of flu cases in central Pennsylvania. Perry County had the least.

Influenza cases by county:

Adams: 1,941

Cumberland: 2,657

Dauphin: 3,338

Franklin: 987

Lancaster: 2,783

Lebanon: 1,246

Perry: 473

York: 4,622

All 67 counties: 129,912

Reported influenza deaths
Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/03/2020 -- The Weigh-In-Motion System Market is estimated to be USD 913 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 1,656 million by 2026, at a CAGR of 8.9%. Factors such as the growing traffic congestion, increasing public-private partnerships (PPPs) & government focus towards intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and economic systems compared with static weight systems are projected to drive the weigh-in-motion system market.



Some of the key players in the weigh-in-motion system market are Kapsch TrafficCom (Austria), Q-Free (Norway), METTLER TOLEDO (US), Avery Weigh-Tronix (Illinois Tool Works) (US), TE Connectivity (Switzerland), International Road Dynamics (Quarterhill) (US), Kistler (Switzerland), TransCore (Roper Technologies) (US), Axis Communications (Sweden), and EFKON (Austria).



Opportunities:







- Increasing Investment in Smart Cities



- Free Trade Agreements



- Onboard WIM System





Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=242065043



The highway toll segment is estimated to be the largest weigh-in-motion system market by end-use industry during the forecast period



Most of the highway tolls are equipped with high-speed weigh-in-motion systems as they help in detecting overweight vehicles without hampering the traffic flow. However, regions such as the Asia Pacific and North America are equipped with low-speed weigh-in-motion systems because of its low cost and regulatory issues. On the other hand, highway tolls in Europe are equipped with high-speed weigh-in-motion systems due to increasing freight traffic and free movement of goods across the European countries. The highway toll segment is expected to dominate the weigh-in-motion system market during the forecast period. Weigh-in-motion systems are mostly used in highway tolls to reduce traffic congestion and detect overweight vehicles.



The hardware segment is expected to be the largest segment in the weigh-in-motion system market, by component, during the forecast period.



The hardware segment comprises several sensors and controllers. These sensors are used to collect information regarding vehicle characteristics. On the other hand, a controller processes the traffic and other related information collected by the sensors and stores it in the data warehouse. The hardware segment is estimated to dominate the weigh-in-motion system market during the forecast period. The hardware market is dominated by the European region, followed by North America as of 2019.



The low-speed WIM system segment is estimated to be the largest weigh-in-motion system market, by vehicle speed



The low-speed WIM system segment is estimated to dominate the weigh-in-motion system market. The low-speed system offers various advantages such as low operating cost, low maintenance, ease of installation, and higher accuracy than the high-speed weigh-in-motion systems. Low-speed systems are installed in logistics centers, oil & refinery, agriculture, and mining industries. According to inputs from industry experts, industries such as mining and agriculture are potential markets for the low-speed WIM system. In the Asia Pacific and North America, most of the highway tolls are equipped with low-speed weigh-in-motion systems. The key reason behind the high adoption rate of a low-speed weigh-in-motion system in the Asia Pacific region is the low cost compared to the high-speed weigh-in-motion system. In North America, regularity authorities do not allow a system with lower accuracy.



Request FREE Sample Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=242065043



Key Questions Addressed by the Report:



Which type of a weigh-in-motion system is preferred, and which type will dominate in the future?



When is the onboard WIM system likely to have a mass adoption rate?

How are industry players addressing the challenge of data fusion and the accuracy of the WIM system?



What are the key opportunities for WIM system suppliers during the forecast period?

Which end-use industry will dominate the market in the coming years?
My hope is that we will give each other grace, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday, addressing this issue. She urged landlords if at all possible to forgo this months payment just to give people a little bit of peace of mind and a cushion in really, really tight financial circumstances." She should also have urged renters, if at all possible, to meet landlords partway and to see them as allies in the much larger fight were now in.
Miles long gas lines are forming outside gas stations in Caracas Thursday causing frustration among the unlucky who are stuck for days waiting for a chance to fill up their vehicles tank.

Hundreds of cars hugged the shoulder of a freeway in Caracas including taxis, flatbed tow trucks, a truck carrying bottled water, beat up pickups and shiny new cars.

Javier Serrano said that he pulled his blue 1968 Ford Falcon into the line on the edge of Caracas three days ago, hoping he would finally inch his way to the pump and fill up.

His gas gauge was long busted, but he knew he was near empty, eyeballing how much remained in his tank by opening a cap in the trunk next to his bald spare tire.

The old car Serrano bought for roughly $200 about 20 years ago remains a lifeline for his family and neighbors.

He supports his wife, two adult children and grandson who live at home by doing odd jobs, sometimes turning his car into a taxi, driving ill neighbors to the clinic or making deliveries.

"The only thing more plentiful in Venezuela than the Corona virus is the gasoline shortages," said Russ Dallen, a Managing Partner for Caracas Capital Markets in Miami.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 00:09:34|Editor: huaxia

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An ICU nurse from Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital, tends a patient at Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

China slammed several U.S. officials' accusations of the country under-reporting the number of the COVID-19 cases and deaths as shameless and immoral.

BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday refuted several United States intelligence officials' accusations that China concealed the extent of the coronavirus epidemic and under-reported the number of the COVID-19 cases and deaths, and noted that such remarks were "shameless and immoral."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the comments at a news briefing when answering a relevant question.

"China has been giving open, transparent and timely updates to the world as demonstrated clearly in the details my colleagues and I have elaborated on China's response many times," Hua said.

On international public health security, it is the World Health Organization (WHO) and experts on epidemiology and disease control who are entitled to make judgement, rather than several politicians who are habitual liars, Hua said.

Bruce Aylward, an epidemiologist who led an advance team from the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks during a press conference of the China-WHO joint expert team in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

She said a senior WHO official on Wednesday refuted unjustified accusations against China's epidemic data at a press conference in Geneva.

China has always been open, transparent and responsible in all its efforts, Hua said. "The decisive and strong measures taken by the Chinese government ensured to the highest possible extent the life, safety and health of the Chinese people and bought precious time for stemming the global spread of the virus."

"We understand that the United States is facing difficulties and some U.S. officials are under pressure, and we feel deeply for the hardship of the American people," Hua said. "Out of humanitarian spirit, we would like to provide help and support within our capability to the United States in the fight against the pandemic."

Medical area of the temporary hospital is seen at Jacob K. Javits Center in New York, the United States, March 30, 2020. (Guang Yu/Handout via Xinhua)

However, Hua said the remarks by these few U.S. politicians are just shameless and immoral. "Slandering, smearing and blaming cannot make up for lost time and more lies will only waste more time and lead to more lives lost."

"We advise these politicians that, at this moment, they should put the safety of people's lives and health before politics," Hua said. "It is immoral and inhumane to continue to politicize public health issue, which should be condemned by all people of the world, including people of the United States." 
The Islamic faith requires the deceased to be buried in accordance with religious guidelines and it is forbidden to cremate the deceased as long as there is no proven threat to the living.





by Latheef Farook





The islands Muslim community has appealed to the government to reconsider its decision to cremate Muslim coronavirus dead but to allow burial according to their religious rites. Many pointed out that the living Muslims have their obligation towards the dead such as cleaning, clothing conducting special funeral prayer before the burial.













According to Daily Financial Times of March 26 the Muslim community along with all other communities fully supports the efforts made by the Government and public health professionals to combat this pandemic.





While acknowledging the much-needed steps taken by the Government, we are alarmed by the recent decision to cremate the bodies of the deceased due to COVID-19 mandatorily, fearing the spread of the virus and health hazard it may present.





The Islamic faith requires the deceased to be buried in accordance with religious guidelines and it is forbidden to cremate the deceased as long as there is no proven threat to the living.





In recent days we witnessed similar bill passed by British Parliament and after intense consultation and the demand by the Muslim and Jewish faith communities, the Government amended the bill to respect the religious beliefs and sensitivities by recognizing the importance of ensuring the faith communities are able to bury the deceased instead of cremating in the event of deaths due to COVID-19.





There is no scientific evidence of spread of disease after the body has been sealed in a body bag from respiratory or gastrointestinal fluids and therefore there is no difference in cremation or burial with regard to spreading of the virus. Countries like United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Iran and Italy too had permitted to bury the dead bodies of those infected with COVID-19.





Emphasizing the need for religious burial columnist Haaris Mhmud had this to state; Sri Lanka has devised plans to cremate bodies so affected. It is a matter of regret that these plans have been taken without due consultation with the religious communities adversely affected by this ruling.





This largely affects and cause concern to the Muslim community which constitute 10% of the population. The basis of objection is religious and does not in any way reflect negatively on the preparedness of the Muslims to cooperate with the authorities by putting a cog in the wheel in the process of controlling the pandemic.





In fact, the Muslims have been cooperating with the government authorities fully. They even closed mosques, suspended Jumma weekly prayers and even the daily congregational prayers too. But, the subject of cremation is a very sensitive issue which cannot be considered as one which can be compromised or ignored as a first resort.





For Muslims cremation is forbidden. Funeral rites for followers of Islam are prescribed by divine law, and they must bury their dead as quickly as possible  preferably within a day of death. The body should be treated with equal respect in both life and death. Burning the dead is considered a form of mutilation, forbidden by Allah. The sanctity of the dead body and the importance of religious burial is therefore an integral component of religious practice for Muslims, as well as Jews as well.





Hence cremation is forbidden in Islam and Judaism. It is therefore insensitive for a government to impose a cremation upon the loved ones of these communities, thus adding further anguish and trauma to bereaved families, who themselves may be in self-isolation at the time of cremation. The body of a dead Muslim is as sacred as the body of a living Muslim. Handling should be gentle and respectful. To them, once the soul has gone and the body is dead, they still feel pained if it is not treated properly.





The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) should respect the wishes of religious minorities in line with international and constitutional obligations that protects freedom of thought, belief and religion, and amend the proposed ruling to ensure no Muslim family is forced to undergo the trauma of seeing their loved one cremated.





There is a point of view emerging in Sri Lanka promoted by some hate groups, especially after the Easter Sunday that Muslims seems to enjoy special privileges in Sri Lanka, not afforded by the other communities. This is a warped view to say the least. It is a right of any community to defend their cultural identity and rights; so are the Muslims.





Muslim corona dead were given the same funeral in several parts of the world.

Muslim corona dead were given the same funeral in several parts of the world. For example in Philippines the government gave Muslim coronavirus victims religious exemptions from cremation.





Dimapuno Datu Ramos Jr., chief of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, said the exemption was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease in Manila.





The IATF agreed to put in place strict procedures to prevent the virus from spreading. The burial must also be done within 12 hours or half the period normally allowed in Islamic rites.They must be placed in an airtight sealed cadaver bag and must be buried in the nearest Muslim cemetery within 12 hours in the presence of an imam wearing personal protective equipment for the brief Muslim burial rites, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano told.





The writer is a journalist and author based in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Businesses are facing uncertainty worldwide as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Their rights and obligations have come into question, with competition authorities worldwide moving swiftly to provide clarity and guidance.

Safe harbour

Carve-outs

Does the exemption go far enough?

Over the past few weeks, the minister of trade, industry and competition has issued various regulations, seeking to address the difficulties facing South African businesses during the national disaster and lock-down. These regulations govern various facets of the South African economy, including healthcare, consumer goods, banking, hospitality and retail.On 24 March, Minister Ibrahim Patel issued a block exemption to the retail property sector. The block exemption creates a "safe harbour" for firms in the sector to co-ordinate particular activities to ensure the survival of tenants of retail properties during the Covid-19 national disaster.This means that certain retail tenants and retail property landlords are free to reach agreements between and among one another in relation to payment holidays and/or rental discounts for tenants, limitations on the eviction of tenants and the suspension of or adjustment to lease agreement clauses that restrict the designated retail tenants from undertaking reasonable measures required to protect their viability during the national disaster. These agreements, provided they meet certain conditions, will be exempt from the provisions of sections 4 and 5 of the Competition Act which prohibit anti-competitive agreements between competitors (section 4) and anti-competitive agreements between suppliers and customers (section 5).However, as the block exemption includes a number of carve-outs and specific requirements, businesses in the retail property sector need to be extremely careful that their activities do not fall foul of the Competition Act. For example, the agreements and practices may only be implemented for the sole purpose of responding to the Covid-19 national disaster. Furthermore, the exemption does not apply to any communication or agreements relating to pricing (unless specifically authorised by the Department).It is also important to note that the exemption only applies to retailers involved in clothing, footwear and home textiles, personal care services, and restaurants. It is unclear why the department has limited the exemption to such a narrow category of businesses when a plethora of other retail businesses who rent property from landlords will undoubtedly also be affected, not only by the national disaster, but in particular by the 21-day lock-down.It is also concerning that any businesses seeking to apply the exemption may only do so at the request of and in co-ordination with the Department. The Department should not be surprised if it receives a tidal wave of concerns, not only from the designated retailers, but also other retailers who have not been identified.Similar questions are emerging in the UK, following Boris Johnson's much anticipated "stay-at-home" order. The UK Government has since announced that commercial tenants who cannot pay their rent because of Covid-19 will be protected from eviction. These emergency measures, included in the Coronavirus Act, will mean that no businesses can be forced out of their premises if they miss a payment in the next three months. This clear and unequivocal declaration of support will be welcomed by UK retailers.Comparing the South African governments measures with those of the UK government, we doubt whether Patel's exemption goes far enough in supporting all participants in the retail sector from the drastic effects which the South African lock-down will have on their businesses.
Apple on Friday released a website and an iOS app that allows users to screen themselves for coronavirus symptoms, marking another response to the pandemic by a major tech platform.

Both tools were developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the White House's Coronavirus Task Force and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Apple said in a statement to CNN Business. The app and website include a questionnaire and information about the novel coronavirus.

Apple said it will not collect or store users' answers to the questionnaire, though it will collect anonymous information about usage of the tools.

The screening tools do not require an Apple account to use, the company said.

Friday's announcement follows statements by CEO Tim Cook that Apple will be donating 10 million face masks across Europe and the United States.

"Our ops teams are helping to find and purchase masks from our supply chain in coordination with governments around the world," Cook tweeted this week.

It also comes on the heels of a nationwide website launched by Google last week to provide users with information about the coronavirus. The website was expected to add links to a CDC screening tool when it became available; a Google spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Written along with the names of 10.9 million science fans who participated in the "Send Your Name to Mars" campaign is a hidden message etched into an aluminum plate on the side of the rover, which at first glance looks like an abstract image of the sun. But with closer examination, it reveals that the hidden message is written in Morse code.

On their Twitter account, NASA's Perseverance Mas Rover acknowledged the message in a post on Tuesday saying that the Morse code hidden message in the sun's rays written along with the 10.9 million names read as "Explore As One." This message connects our home planet with the one the Perseverance rover is about to explore, they wrote.

pic.twitter.com/GhcS1HgsIN Some of you spotted the special message Im carrying to Mars along with the 10.9+ million names you all sent in. Explore As One is written in Morse code in the Suns rays, which connect our home planet with the one I'll explore. Together, we persevere. https://t.co/Bsv1mqpxlA  NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) March 30, 2020

Despite field-work disruptions brought by the coronavirus, the Mars rover is still scheduled to leave for it's planned launch date this July and expected to land on Mars in February 2021. It is set to explore Mars and look for signs of possible past life by collecting samples from the red planet's surface.

Once the Perseverance rover lands on Mars, it will be joining the Curiosity rover, which still functions and also the now-deceased Opportunity rover. But unlike the two rovers, Perseverance will carry the "first helicopter that will fly on another planet," according to NASA.

The American space agency's long-term goal is to be able to send a manned mission on Mars in the 2030s.

Also Read: Is There Life on Mars? NASA InSight Rover Detect Quakes

COVID-19 DELAYS NEXT MARS MISSION UNTIL 2022

The next Mars mission of the European Space Agency will be delayed until 2022 due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. ESA, in cooperation with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, posted a statement on their website regarding the second ExoMars mission, known as Rosalind Franklin rover, that still needs additional testing.

Moreover, with the pandemic still going on, there have been concerns that this will affect the availability of the workforce needed to operate and maintain the rover.

But the NASA's Perseverance rover has reportedly not affected by the recent COVID-19 crisis. The team began reconfiguring the rover on March 21, so it can ride atop the Atlas V rocket.

NASA'S 'SEND YOUR NAME TO MARS' CAMPAIGN

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), through their 'Send Your Name to Mars' campaign, invited people around the world to submit their names to ride aboard their new Mars rove. They received about 10,932,295 names that were stenciled through the use of an electron beam onto silicon chips attached to an aluminum plate on the rover.

The illustration of the Earth and Mars joined by the sun that gives light to both planets is laser-etched on the rover's anodized plate that pays tribute to the elegant line art of the plaques onboard the Pioneer spacecraft and golden records carried by Voyagers 1 & 2.

Also Read: Over 10 Million Entries Sent to NASA's 'Send Your Name to Mars' Program

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Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: More than 1,300 Tablighi Jamaat workers have been traced in Haryana, of which 106 are foreigners from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal and Thailand. The state police has registered cases against all the foreigners.

Haryana Director General of Police Manoj Yadava said, "We have been able to track 1305 workers of the Tablighi Jamaat from 15 different districts of Haryana. Most of them were immediately placed under quarantine in various centres

established by the district administrations. Out of these, about 500 Tablighi Jamaat

workers admitted to having visited Banglewali Masjid located in Nizamuddin area of Delhi. After testing eight persons, three each from Palwal and Nuh and two from Ambala, have tested positive for COVID-19 so far."

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES

He added, "106 Tablighi Jamaat workers are foreign nationals who have been

tracked down from five different districts of Haryana (Faridabad, Ambala,

Panipat, Palwal and Nuh). These foreigners belong mostly to Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand. All of them have been placed under quarantine and their passports have been taken into possession by Police. Five separate FIRs have been registered under the relevant provisions of IPC and Foreigners Act in these five districts.

Yadava said, "933 Tablighi Jamaat workers belonging to different states including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Bihar who were in Haryana have also been tracked down and all of them have been placed in quarantine centres or in the mosques where they were found. Their samples have been collected and sent to laboratories for examination."

He said, "We also tracked down 266 Tablighi Jamaat workers belonging to Haryana who had visited different states and had returned during the last ten days to their villages. Since they are also potential carriers of coronavirus, they have also been placed under quarantine. They mostly belong to Gurugram, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Panipat, Nuh, Sonipat, Jind and Palwal districts."

"One interesting aspect of this data is that about half of the Tablighi Jamaat workers tracked throughout Haryana were found in Nuh. In fact, 636 Tabligh Jamaat workers including 57 foreigners and 528 from other states have been tracked down in Nuh alone," Yadava added.

"Till date a total of 4,539 violations of lockdown have been reported in the

state, 948 cases have been registered and 1,374 people have been arrested. All

182 entry points in the state have been sealed and the police personnel who are

deployed at these points or who are guarding quarantine and isolation facilities have been provided with masks and hand sanitisers and also undergo medical check-up every week, he said, adding that farmers would be allowed in the fields but social distancing has to be maintained.

Additional Chief Secretary Rajiv Arora said, "Presently two hospitals, PGIMS Rohtak and BPS Government Medical College for Women, are doing testing for Covid. Now private laboratories in Gurugram also testing at Panchkula, Karnal, Rohtak, Hisar and Nuh will start soon as per the protocol." He claimed that Haryana is yet to enter the community transmission stage.

Arora said that the state has 19,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 90,000

N-95 masks, 10 lakh triple ply masks and 1282 ventilators. "We have ordered

2.5 lakh PPE kits, 1.45 lakh N-95 masks and 210 ventilators."

Meanwhile, with eight new cases, the number of COVID-19 patients has gone up to 43 in Haryana. As per the medical bulletin, there are 10 cases in Gurugram of which five are new. Two of them are from Maharashtra who had visited the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi and one is from Uttar Pradesh.

Three men from Kerala who attended the congregation and were quarantined in Nuh have also tested positive.

There are six positive cases in Faridabad, four each in Panipat and Palwal,

three each in Sirsa and Ambala, two cases in Panchkula and one each in Hisar,

Sonepat and Rohtak.

Thirteen coronavirus patients have been treated and discharged so far, taking the number of active patients in the state to 30.
Pakistan will appeal in the Supreme Court the decision by the Sindh High Court to set aside the death sentence awarded to Ahmad Omar Saeed Shaikh, the man found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002.

The government has also disallowed the release of the three co-accused in the case who were set free by the high court judgment announced on Thursday. All have been detained for three months under the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance.

A press statement issued by the Pakistan government on Friday stated that it was

well aware of the facts of the judgement issued by the Honorable Sindh High Court in Daniel Pearl case, dated 2nd April 2020.

The statement added: the Federal Government is concerned about the decision however, as per constitutional scheme of things prosecution in criminal matters is a provincial subject, therefore similar concern has been shared with the Government of Sindh.

It added With reference to this, the Government of Sindh has decided to file an appeal next week against the said judgement in the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan in order to ensure that the ends of justice are met. Government of Pakistan has asked Government of Sindh to dedicate its best resources in the pursuance of appeal before the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The statement said that the Government of Sindh has been advised to consult the Attorney General for Pakistan in the matter as well. In the meantime, all the accused in the said case have been arrested and detained under Section 3(1) of the West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 for a period of 3 months pending filing of the appeal in the apex court. Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan reiterates its commitment to follow due process under the laws of the country to bring terrorists to task.

The move comes a day after the Sindh High Court on Thursday overturned the murder conviction of Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh and instead found Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

Saeed has already spent 18 years in prison on death row. The seven-year sentence was expected to be counted as time served, said Khawaja Naveed, his lawyer.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha, announced the verdict on the appeals filed by the convicts 18 years ago after hearing arguments and examining the record and proceedings of the case.

The SHC further dismissed an appeal of the state seeking enhancement of life term of three co-accused.

While arguing the case, the lawyers for the appellants, Rai Bashir and Khawaja Naveed Ahmed, had submitted that the prosecution had miserably failed to prove its case against their clients beyond any reasonable doubt and prosecution witnesses were mostly policemen, whose testimonies could not be relied upon.
<! Dr. Kayode Fayemi >

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has called for urgent fiscal measures to safeguard liquidity of state governments as the country continues with efforts to curtail the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The 36 state governors made the appeal in a communique issued at the end of the 2nd COVID-19 teleconference meeting of the forum held on Wednesday, made available to the media on Thursday in Abuja.

The communique signed by the Forum Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said that members of the NGF at their second teleconference meeting deliberated on the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and resolved as follows:

Following a briefing from the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning on fiscal measures taken by the Federal Government to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the Forum called for urgent fiscal measures to safeguard the liquidity of state governments.

This include the acceleration of an arrangement to suspend all state deductions and restructure all debt service payments on Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria-owned debts.

Members also received briefing from the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, on stimulus incentives from the Federal Government to support vulnerable households across states cope with the expected loss of income and livelihoods in the coming months.

Governors committed to leading the effort through state focal persons in charge of social protection to ensure that palliatives, including food and cash transfers, reach the most vulnerable population in all states.

Members also discussed the legality or otherwise of lockdowns in other states around the country and resolved to maintain the status quo until the Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State resolves the matter with the Presidential Committee on Covid-19.

The governors, according to Fayemi, also resolved to leverage on the lockdown situations to send essential food items across borders as part of the palliatives so that perishables produced in one state get to states that need them unhindered.

He disclosed that the next meeting of the forum would be convened on April 8.
A man was shot dead Thursday morning in a volley of gunfire in rural Josephine County, troopers say.

The Oregon State Police said a property owner confronted a man in a car who was shooting on his property. The man in the car shot at the property owner, troopers said, and the property owner returned fire.

The man in the car was killed.

Authorities determined the property owner acted in self-defense. No criminal charges are expected, troopers said.

The incident unfolded in the 2700 block of Speaker Road, which is near the community of Wolf Creek.

On Friday, state troopers identified the man who was killed as Preston Sweaney, 29, of Grants Pass. State police have not yet released the name of the property owner.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
The Centre's move to scrap a local law under which people were appointed on a contractual and ad hoc basis, as well as the opening of senior-level government jobs to 'outsiders', has triggered a backlash in Kashmir with both politicians and civil society activists slamming the authorities over the decision

Srinagar: The Centre's move to scrap a local law under which people were appointed on a contractual and ad hoc basis, as well as the opening of senior-level government jobs to 'outsiders', has triggered a backlash in Kashmir with both politicians and civil society activists slamming the authorities over the decision.

The Central government has repealed the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Special Provisions Act, under which the jobs were filled on a contractual and ad hoc basis from among Kashmiris, before the employees were regularised after seven years of service. As per the Gazette Notification, New Delhi has also amended the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Decentralisation Act  removing the requirement of a state subject for all categories of jobs and instead making the domicile residence as a requirement for jobs in the lower category of employment, while opening up senior-level appointments to people from different states of India.

What has also left the locals upset is the inclusion of all children of Central government employees having served in Jammu and Kashmir for 10 years, as well as those living in the erstwhile state for the past 15 years or having studied for seven years and having taken Class 10 and 12 exams as domicile residents.

Through fresh regulations, the Centre has removed the requirement of permanent residence as eligibility for the three categories of jobs  district, division and now, the Union Territory, while asserting that domicile will be mandatory only for lower-rung jobs up to Level 4 (in the pay range of Rs 25,500), which is seen by many as "insulting". Former chief minister and National Conference leader, Omar Abdullah, tweeted that the new regulations for the government jobs is an "insult heaped on the injury".

The assertion in the regulation that it was framed also for the "purposes of appointment to any post carrying a pay of not more than Level 4 (Rs 25,500)" has been made in addition to the change in the JK Civil Service law designating the state cadre as the UT cadre and altogether "omitting" the sections that made it mandatory "for a person to be a state subject for the jobs".

The appointments will continue to be made under the district cadre posts which exist in the pay-scale of jobs not exceeding that of a senior assistant; divisional cadre with employees not exceeding the level of section officer or the notified gazetted posts. The state cadre has been designated as UT cadre and will fill the posts in the gazetted and non-gazetted category that are appointed at the level of "the headquarters" of a department.

The changes in the local civil service law came over seven months after the Centre scrapped the semi-autonomous status of the region abolishing Jammu and Kashmir's separate constitution as well as removing the state flag. At the time of scrapping of Article 370, the government had, however, retained the JK Civil Service Law as part of the JK Re-organisation Act.

Earlier, the officials of the UT had said that they had no "plans" to change the law, while the officials in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had said that any changes to "local laws have to be made by the UT government only and not by the Centre". An MHA official had told this reporter earlier, "There is a set procedure given in the Re-organisation Act to make the changes in the laws and the local laws would have to be changed by the UT government."

The notification about the new job regulation has been issued however in the Gazette of India under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act by the MHA. The new regulations came as a blow to the newly-formed Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) that had positioned its politics on the promise of protecting the "jobs of the local people".

Party president, Altaf Bukhari, said in a statement, "Being a government-issued order and not a law made by the Parliament, the new Gazette Notification regarding domicile rule for Jammu and Kashmir is not immune to any judicial review. The order issued is totally unacceptable to the JKAP. In the matter of employment  non-gazetted and gazetted posts in the service, and admissions to professional colleges  a tangible legal and constitutional mechanism was supposed to be put in place to safeguard and protect the privileges of the people of Jammu and Kashmir."

Through the order, the Centre has also removed a requirement for the district and division-level posts that "a person shall be deemed to be resident of a particular district or division if he or she has resided in such district or division as the case may be, for a period of not less than 15 years before the date of applying for a particular post and is actually residing in the said area.

BJP spokesperson, Brigadier Anil Gupta, however said that the "new job regulation will bring transparency into recruitment and also ensure that the people from the rest of country participate in the economic development of the UT," adding, "After the scrapping of Article 370, we had given voting rights to people from other parts of country and now, with the new law, they can participate in the economic development of the UT. There were many jobs that remained unfilled, now that won't be the case," he said.

Civil society activist and former leader of the employees joint action committee (EJAC), Abdul Qayoom Wani, however said that the new law will "rob Kashmiris of their jobs". He claimed, "Delhi has always plundered Kashmir. They looted our resources, our power and now our jobs are being stolen. In Kashmir, government jobs are the only means of livelihood and now they have also gone. Our bureaucracy mostly has officers from other states and now, the lower-paying jobs have also not been spared," he said.
World Bank President David Malpass predicted the bank could provide up to $160 billion in assistance over the next 15 months.

Washington: The World Bank has approved its first funds to help some of the globe's poorer countries combat the coronavirus outbreak.

It approved total aid of $1.9 billion for 25 countries on Thursday. The largest amount of assistance was $1 billion for India followed by $200 million for Pakistan, $129 million for Sri Lanka, $100 million for Afghanistan and #83 million for Ethiopia.

World Bank President David Malpass predicted the bank could provide up to $160 billion in assistance over the next 15 months.

World Bank officials said the emergency resources would include money to purchase critical medical supplies such as masks and ventilators, with the World Bank lending its procurement expertise to help obtain these supplies on global markets.

The approval of the first round of support for 25 countries will be followed quickly with aid to another 40 countries, officials said.

In addition to the support effort, Malpass said he and Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, are lobbying the Group of 20 major industrial countries to support instituting a 14-month pause in requiring the poorest countries to make debt repayments.

Malpass said that would free up about $14 billion over the next year that the countries would be able to use to fight the coronavirus.

He said the proposal was discussed at last week's conference call with President Donald Trump and other G-20 leaders.

Malpass said he hoped it would receive approval when the World Bank's policy panel, the Development Committee, holds a virtual meeting on 17 April.
The law is so broad in places that it is sometimes referred to as a commandeering authority. Lawyers prefer to say the president would act at the zenith of his authority under the paradigm presented in Justice Jacksons concurrence in the Supreme Courts landmark Youngstown case. But its use is not as extraordinary as some suggest, and it is not commandeering. The Defense Department alone uses the prioritization authority some 300,000 times a year, while the government uses Title III incentives 20 to 30 times per year. Although the allocation authority has not been used since the Cold War, some civilian airliners and freighters remain allocated for the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. Nor does exercise of the prioritization and allocation authority equate to state ownership. Under the act, corporations are paid fair market value for their products. Any actual commandeering of production would require just compensation under the Fifth Amendments Takings Clause. Moreover, price controls under the D.P.A. require a joint resolution of Congress signed into law by the president.

The D.P.A. also contains built-in safeguards. A majority of its provisions expire every five years. That is why it has been reauthorized by Congress over 50 times since its passage in 1950. Congress can decline to do so or do so with amendments when the act comes up for reauthorization in 2025, or sooner. The law also gives federal courts jurisdiction over disputes including the power to determine and award fair market value and forbid the executive branch from using the statute improperly. If a business feels the government is overreaching or unrealistic in its timelines, it can seek relief in court and do so on an emergency basis. Finally, the government reports annually on the D.P.A.s use: Not only will the Congress know how the act is used, the public will, too.

What about liability? The first answer is to make equipment that works. The second answer is Title 42, giving the secretary of health and human services authority to determine that the coronavirus pandemic constitutes a public health emergency, recommend use of covered countermeasures to fight the pandemic and in doing so grant broad protection from liability under both state and federal law, except in the case of willful misconduct. There are other solutions as well, like special legislation, indemnification clauses to contracts, the government contract defense and, if all else fails, waivers.

Heres the big picture: In times of crisis, when lives are at stake, lawyers and policymakers are supposed to find solutions to problems  to get to yes with honor and within the law  and not to create obstacles.

State and local authorities are imploring the federal government to use the authority it has to secure our medical supply chain. So far, the administration appears to have responded like a parent doling out candy to a child: one piece at a time. This is an all hands on deck moment, not merely to flatten the curve but to leap ahead of the curve. America was once the arsenal of democracy; the D.P.A. can help make us the arsenal of public health.
Ontario could see 1,600 deaths from COVID-19 in April alone if stricter physical distancing measures arent followed  and hospital intensive care units could be swamped soon, modelling projections released by the province show.

But hundreds of lives can be saved, with deaths in April limited to 200 and ICU capacity stretched but not overwhelmed, if the province adopts stricter interventions to limit person-to-person contact  and if residents comply with those orders, health officials said Friday.

If we do all that we can, we get a much better result, said Peter Donnelly, the president of Public Health Ontario.

The measures taken so far have thwarted far worse outcomes: 300,000 cases and 6,000 deaths by the end of April if left unchecked, the models suggest. As of 5 p.m. Friday, the provinces regional public health units were reporting 3,675 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 and at least 105 deaths.

Premier Doug Ford, who ordered more commercial shutdowns soon after the models were released, pleaded with Ontarians to stay home, noting that 1,600 potential deaths is 50 a day or two an hour.

Each one could be your brother, your sister, your mother, your father, your grandparents or a friend, he said.

What is the cost of a life? Is a life worth a picnic in a park? Is a life worth going to the beach? Is a life worth having a few cold ones with your buddies in the basement? The answer is no.

The researchers whose work underpinned Fridays projections said forecasting the path of a new infectious disease is uncertain because of limitations on the data available which has muddied by Ontarios laggard and limited testing.

But they all agree that without strict physical distancing orders  and everyone in the province complying  thousands of lives will be lost.

What we can say is we have exponential growth in Ontario, which is a very scary thing. We have to bend that because it will drown our health-care system, said David Fisman, an epidemiologist at University of Torontos Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Depending on how effective public health interventions are, between 3,000 and 15,000 fatalities over the next 18 to 24 months are projected as the epidemic runs its course.

Donnelly urged people not to scoff at those numbers given high casualty counts in other countries, noting about 1,350 Ontarians die annually from seasonal flu.

When you think that the mortality of this disease is up to 10 times higher and you remember that we have no vaccine, we have no specific treatment, and this is a disease which is entirely new, then suddenly the figure of 15,000 becomes entirely logical and comprehensible.

More steps are essential to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed by the end of April, warned Matthew Anderson, president of Ontario Health, a new agency overseeing the provincial health system.

Another model the province presented on Friday showed that in the best-case scenario, COVID-19 related admissions to intensive care units (ICU) will strain Ontarios critical-care units to the limit, even with significantly expanded capacity.

In the worst-case scenario, the provinces ICUs, which have specialized staff and equipment in place to treat the sickest patients, could be overwhelmed within days or weeks. Ontarios ICUs are now 70 per cent full on average across the province.

Epidemiological modellers also stress that the exact number of cases and deaths in any projection is less important than the range of possible outcomes: they are not intended to be a crystal ball, and are most useful for comparing how different interventions might affect the course of the outbreak.

We need to take (physical distancing) very, very seriously, because theres a possibility that we do run out of ICU beds next week or this weekend already, depending on how fast and how much we increase capacity and what trajectory were on, said Beate Sander, a scientist at the University Health Network whose COVID-19 modelling group, a collaboration between UHN, U of T and Sunnybrook Hospital, also contributed to the projections.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said hospitals, which are now treating 462 COVID-19 patients, including 194 in intensive care with 140 of those on ventilators, have been authorized to do whatever necessary to increase capacity. Plans are underway to add 900 beds.

For some of them, it may mean renting space in hotels or motels, some of them are renting space in retirement homes and some are actually creating field hospitals, she told reporters in a separate news conference Friday.

Hospital officials have a hotline to call if they need more ventilators to help patients breathe or are full and need to send patients elsewhere.

Sander noted that building ICU capacity goes beyond just adding beds and equipment.

Staffing is hugely important. Weve seen already quite a few health-care workers being infected. Capacity at the end of the day also depends on whether we have enough doctors and nurses and support workers to staff all these beds, and whether they have their PPE  everything needs to be place.

With the current measures, the province might see 80,000 cases by the end of April the models suggest, a number that can be reduced to 12,500 with stronger public health interventions.

The modelling report recommended shrinking the number and types of essential workplaces allowed to operate, enhanced enforcement of business and industry closings and social distancing, entry restrictions for some communities, including vulnerable First Nations, and more sheltering in place with limited exceptions.

More tracing of contacts of COVID-19 patients and better testing is also necessary.

Ford brushed aside a question on whether more lives could have been saved with better testing  which was slowed by lengthy backlogs  and stricter measures sooner than the ones imposed in mid-March.

I look at the lives weve saved, Ford said. You can always look back. I always want to look forward.

Donnelly said bearing down hard on the virus at this point will help to stamp it out and allow the economy to recover sooner.

There is no dilemma between saving lives and saving the economy.

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10:16 p.m. Liberty County is reporting its fifth confirmed COVID-19 case. The new patient is a man between 20 and 30 who is experiencing mild symptoms and is self-isolating.

9:30 p.m. Houston Methodist Hospital transfused blood from recovered COVID-19 patients into two additional severely ill patients Friday, the same day the federal government made it easier for people afflicted with the coronavirus to receive the experimental therapy.

Doctors offered the therapy to the new patients just before the Food and Drug Administration approved a clinical trial that allows research hospitals to transfuse patients without applying for permission each time, Methodist said in a news release.

-Todd Ackerman

9:15 p.m. As Texas college students adjust to their new normal taking online classes, reporter Brittany Britto speaks with some about how they are coping.

8:55 p.m. President Trump has used emergency powers during the pandemic to implement the kind of strict enforcement regime at the U.S. southern border he has long wanted, suspending laws that protect minors and asylum seekers so that the U.S. government can immediately deport them or turn them away, reports the Washington Post's Arelis R. Hernandez and Nick Miroff.

8:30 p.m. The city will assume that any employee who tests positive for the new coronavirus contracted it while on duty, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Friday, hours after the Houston firefighters union announced that one of its members was denied workers compensation benefits related to COVID-19.

8:15 p.m. A woman who said she tested positive for COVID-19 could face charges after she left her home at a Nederland apartment complex, reports Chris Moore.

7:14 p.m. Some Houston apartment landlords are offering financial help to tenants who have lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Nancy Sarnoff.

Camden Property Trust will provide certain residents in good standing a grant of up to $2,000 per apartment to help with living expenses.

Residents much complete an application and provide reasonable proof of job or income loss, the company said. Camdens relief fund is capped at $5 million. The Houston-based company owns interests in and operates 164 multifamily properties with 56,107 units across the United States. Houston is its largest market, with 9,301 units.

6:54 p.m. There are now 6,050 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas, the Chronicle's data team reports. There have been 100 confirmed coronavirus deaths in the state as of Friday evening.

6:15 p.m. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has extendedits deadline for Half-Price Carnival Pack buyers to request a refund or roll-over for the 2021 carnival. The deadline is now April 10. More information can be found here.

6 p.m. Webb County and the City of Laredo has confirmed an additional 10 cases of COVID-19 in their 5 p.m. update., bringing the total number of positive cases in Laredo up to 83.

5:45 p.m. A Houston man in his 40s is believed to be the youngest person in the city to die of COVID-19, city officials announced Friday.

5:23 p.m. Harris County Public Health has reported its fifth COVID-19 death outside of the city of Houston.

Another 70 confirmed cases have brought the agency's total to 519 positive cases, with 118 recoveries to date, Harris County Public Health confirmed on Friday.

The latest death is a woman between the ages of 80 and 90 years old, who had underlying health conditions. She lived in northwest Harris County and contracted COVID-19 likely after being in contact with a confirmed case, county health officials said. She was admitted to the hospital after developing symptoms.

We at Harris County Public Health send our heartfelt condolences to the patients' family and friends, said Umair A. Shah, Harris County Public Health Executive Director. COVID-19 does not discriminate and we want our residents in Harris County to stay home and practice social distancing as much as possible. It is our responsibility as a community to do this for one another so we can protect ourselves and loved ones.

-Samantha Ketterer

5:15 p.m. The Brazoria County Health Department Friday evening reported 13 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 136 in the county.

The new cases include:

-A Pearland man between 30 and 40. He is recovering in home isolation

-A Pearland woman between 20 and 30. This case is not travel related. She is recovering in home isolation.

-A Pearland woman between 50 and 60. She is hospitalized.

-A Pearland woman between 30 and 40. This case is not travel related. She is recovering in home isolation.

-A Manvel woman between 40 and 50.

-A Pearland man between 60 and 70.

-A Clute Man between 40and 50. This case is not travel related. He is recovering in home isolation.

-A Pearland man between 70 and 80.

--A Pearland man between 30 and 40.

-An Angleton man between 80 and 90.This case is not travel related.

-A Manvel woman between 40 and 50. She is recovering in home isolation.

-A Manvel woman between 40 and 50.

-A Manvel woman between 30 and 40.

All of the cases are being investigated by the Brazoria County Health Department.

5 p.m. A METRO police officer has tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced Friday, bringing the of METRO employees awho have tested positive for COVID-19 to six.

The officer is assigned to the METRORail division at 1900 Main and was last on the job March 26. METRO said it is working with public health officials so they can identify and notify any employees or others who may have been in close contact with the officer.

4:30 p.m. More than 80 residents and employees at a Texas City nursing home have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the Galveston County Health District announced Friday, Nick Powell reports.

4: 15 p.m. Pasadena women and children's shelter Sarahs House is issuing an urgent plea for donations so it can continue its work providing temporary shelter, food, clothing and other necessities, reports Yvette Orozco.

4 p.m. Those filing for unemployment benefits in Texas should call the Texas Workforce Commission during an assigned time based on their area code, the agency announced Friday. The measure is effective immediately, reports the Chronicle's Erin Douglas.

3:48 p.m. For the first time Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott described the states ventilator and hospital bed capacity in detail after fielding frequent questions in recent weeks about how Texas would manage a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Abbott said the state has 8,741 ventilators as well as 19,695 hospital beds available, up from Sunday when hed said there were about 16,000 on hand. The nearly 20,000 beds represents about 41 percent of Texas overall capacity of 47,585. In intensive care units, 2,107 beds are available statewide, he said.

We are fully prepared with hospital beds, Abbott said, speaking from the Texas State Capitol Auditorium.

-Taylor Goldenstein and Jeremy Wallace

3:32 p.m. Two more Harris County Sheriffs Office employees who work at the jail have tested positive for COVID-19 test results, bringing the agencys total number of confirmed cases among staff to 15, according to officials.

One is a female detention officer in her late 30's. The other is a female deputy in her late 40's. Five employees assigned to the 1200 Baker Street jail have now tested positive for the virus, the agency says.



There are currently 178 Harris County Sheriffs Office deputies, detention officers and support staff on quarantine for possible COVID-19 exposure. One of these employees is currently in the hospital.

Sixty-one previously quarantined employees have now been cleared to return to duty. Seventy-three Sheriffs Office employees have been tested, but are still awaiting results. Twenty-three employees have received negative test results.



The sheriffs office said it is working with Harris County Public Health to identify co-workers, inmates, and members of the public who may have had close contact with the diagnosed employees so they can take necessary precautions, including quarantine and testing for those with symptoms.



Three inmates in the jail have tested positive for COVID-19 ad another 33 are in quarantine with symptoms awaiting test results.

3:26 p.m. There will be a PPE drive at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, from noon to 3 p.m., Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today.

The drive is a joint venture from the Astros Foundation, Project C.U.R.E. and Cheniere Energy, reports the Chronicle's Dylan McGuinness.

3:07 p.m. The Woodlands Township is jumping in to collect personal protective equipment for emergency service providers, the Chronicle's Jeff Forward writes.

The program will allow local residents and non-essential medical providers with extra, unused PPE items to drop them off twice a week during specific hours at The Woodlands Fire Departments Central Station on Grogans Mill Road.

The new program is called Help Our Heroes and will continue until the COVID-19 novel coronavirus crisis ends.

Township President and General Manager Don Norrell said on Thursday that the most desired items for donation include isolation gowns, hair nets, N95 face masks, disinfectant wipes and spray, plastic medical face shields, protective eye wear, boot covers and shoe covers.

The items collected will be distributed by the countys office of emergency management.

3:02 pm. Montgomery County has 11 new COVID-19 cases confirmed, taking the county total to 130, county health officials said Friday afternoon.

Three deaths have been reported in the county, according to the county's online tracking system. Eighteen people have recovered and 18 remain in area hospitals, officials said.

2:54 p.m. Employees at two offices have tested positive for COVID-19, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The chief federal law enforcement officer notified his staff Thursday at the downtown Houston office that an employee had tested positive for the infection. He said the office would be closed and cleaned, according to a notification obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Patrick alerted workers the office had narrowed down the infected persons contact to the 23 and 29th floors of the Wells Fargo building on Louisiana Street.

The safety of my staff and the public is my number one priority," Patrick said, noting he is "taking all appropriate steps following CDC and local health guidance in order to ensure staff safety, including telework, home quarantine, and special office sanitizing" as well as continuing to perform its "critical mission.

"The Southern District of Texas continues to be open for business," added Patrick.

-Gabrielle Banks

2:27 p.m. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says a court has stopped his office from releasing inmates from the jail to lower the population during the COVID-19 crisis.

By late Friday morning 22 inmates had been released, according to Murray Fogler, a lawyer for Gonzalez. Eighty-eight had been cleared for release and several hundred more were being reviewed. That stopped with Harris County Administrative Judge Herb Ritchie's order.

Inmates deemed low risk began to be released from the Harris County jail Thursday night and Friday morning, following Judge Lina Hidalgos decision to free hundreds of inmates to try to prevent a widespread outbreak of coronavirus within the facility.

2:05 p.m. Dont look to Wall Street for solace form worries, with markets set for a fourth week in a row of losses.

U.S. stock indexes held steady at first on Friday, then headed lower after the price of oil lost some of its momentum. That undercut a rally for energy stocks, which had been helping to keep the overall markets losses in check. Losses accelerated after New York's governor announced the biggest daily jump yet for deaths caused by the coronavirus in the country's hardest-hit state.

The worry is, there's just too much uncertainty, said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research for Nationwide.

The losses came after the government said U.S. employers cut 701,000 more jobs than they added last month, the first drop in nearly a decade. Many businesses have screeched to a halt amid attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, and economists say the dire data is only going to get worse.

Meanwhile the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday the number of people filing for unemployment in Texas since the public health measures to slow the coronavirus began shutting down businesses has now surpassed 600,000.

1:54 p.m. A fast reminder, courtesy Galveston County, that the teeter-totter is a no-no.

A number of local governments have urged people to get out and about, but do so at a safe distance and without touching playgrounds and public exercise equipment.

Even as the pandemic has picked up speed in Texas, many state residents appear to have shrugged off warnings about social distancing, writes the Chronicle's St. John Barned-Smith. A photo in Austin of scores of sunbathers hanging out at Bartons Springs drew widespread criticism on social media. In Houston, photos of residents playing volleyball at city parks led to similar criticism, and big box stores like Dillards closed after public shaming by a prominent local TV reporter.

Some of the complaints appear to reflect genuine concern about social distancing requirements.

One caller complained about a popular restaurant, because it had a line outside in close proximity.

1:32 p.m. Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena is pushing back against claims by the union representing city firefighters, which claimed earlier today a firefighter's claim for COVID-19 related workers' compensation was denied.

Pena told the Chronicle's Jasper Scherer that firefighters who are placed in quarantine are initially carried on workers compensation. And if a quarantined firefighter does not develop symptoms, meet testing criteria or receive medical care, and his claim is denied, Pena said the city does not reduce the sick or vacation time he has accrued.

The result is that no out-of-pocket costs is incurred, and no reduction in benefit time will be experienced by the employee, Pena said.

Any city employee that tests positive for the coronavirus will be presumed to have a work-related acquired COVID-19 illness, according to Pena.

Tristars response to the firefighter indicated that he had tested negative for COVID-19.

It also stated that An occupational disease does not include an ordinary disease of life to which the general public is exposed outside of employment.

1:27 p.m. A Texas City nursing home complex is the newest major battleground to contain COVID-19 in the Houston region, writes the Chronicle's Nick Powell, where 13 residents and employees tested positive for the virus on Thursday.

The Galveston County Health District announced late Thursday that it had tested roughly 150 residents and employees at The Resort, a Texas City nursing home. The health district became aware of the first positive case at The Resort on Saturday and saw an increase in positive coronavirus cases from the facility early this week.

"We are gravely concerned about the spread of this virus within nursing homes because of the close proximity and vulnerability of the residents," said Philip Keiser, Galveston Countys local health authority, in a statement.

Nursing homes have for weeks been at the forefront of concern for spread of the virus among a vulnerable population, prompting bans on visitation and activities.

1:18 p.m. In her latest Q&A with the Chronicle's Lisa Gray, disaster and recovery expert Angela Blanchard notes how far we've all come since early March, and how far we're likely to go as we address some hard choices.

"Twenty-three days ago we were all vaguely aware there was a virus," Blanchard says. "Now, in 23 days, we've all become epidemiologists and disease-spread experts and market watchers. Were all checking regularly to see the price of a barrel of oil.

"What's happening today in the minds of us who think all the time about disasters  the anticipators, I call us  is, this is what we dread, the one thing that triggers the other thing. And then at some point, you're not sure which of the two is more devastating.

"We've heard this terrible and painful conversation around coronavirus and jobs: Do we really sacrifice our economy, our worldwide economy, to save lives? Country by country, city by city, individual by individual, were all making that decision. Were deciding whether to stay home, whether to forego economic activity in favor of protection for ourselves and families and to save the lives of people we may never meet."

1:01 p.m. Ranks within the Harris County Jail continue to drop, and by late Friday morning 22 inmates had been released, according to Murray Fogler, a lawyer for Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Eighty-eight had been cleared for release and several hundred more were being reviewed, the Chronicle's St. John Barned-Smith and Gabrielle Banks write.

Hidalgo earlier this week ordered Gonzalez to prepare a list of inmates accused of certain nonviolent offenses and who did not have previous convictions for violent crimes. That list was expected to include the names of some 1,000 inmates, which would be reviewed  and likely significantly pared down  by other county departments.

A vital piece of maintaining public trust in this process is being transparent about how we arrived at these decisions and who will qualify for release, county spokesman Rafael Lemaitre said. The decision to release nonviolent offenders wasnt made in a vacuum, it was done in consultation with public health experts, law enforcement, and victims rights groups, and we want to continue working together during this emergency so were on the same page.

County officials have posted the names of the inmates on the website of the countys Justice Administration Department. The county plans to update the list daily, Lemaitre said.

12:56 p.m. Claims for unemployment since the state's shutdown to limit COVID-19 spread have officially passed 600,000, the Texas Workforce Commission said.

The figure, which captures filings through the first half of this week and provides an early look at the data ahead of next weeks Labor Department report, has climbed by nearly 200,000 since the end of last week, writes the Chronicle's Erin Douglas.

Economists have said claims data reported in Texas and other states almost certainly fails to capture the extent of the job losses because thousands of people have been unable to get through jammed phones lines and crashing websites to file applications for benefits.

We want everyone to get full unemployment benefits, wrote Governor Greg Abbott on Twitter late Thursday. The Workforce (Commission) is adding staff to process claims quicker.

12:48 p.m. Woodlands gardeners can get back to exercising their green thumb in the township's community garden, the Chronicle's Jeff Forward reports.

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors approved re-opening the three gardens in Wendtwoods Park and at the sports field complexes in Alden Bridge and at Bear Branch Sports Fields park. The locations had been off-limits to the 141 citizen farmers renting the plots as well as workers from the Interfaith of The Woodlands Veggie Village gardens.

We had heard from residents the areas had not been crowded, Township President and General Manager Don Norrell said, noting the gardens are classified as food production. With a little bit of oversight, we can allow the community gardens to continue.

12:36 p.m. Yacht rock icon and San Antonio native Christopher Cross said on social media this morning he has COVID-19.

"Although I am fortunate enough to be cared for at home, this is possibly the worst illness Ive ever had," Cross, who is scheduled for a July 9 stop in Houston as part of his latest tour, said.

12:15 p.m. The union representing Houston firefighters is taking the city to task for denying the first workers' comp claim filed, the Chronicle's Jasper Scherer reports.

Tristar Risk Management, the third-party claims administrator that handles workers compensation for the city, told the firefighter there is no evidence that  the risk of contracting COVID-19 is inherent in your specific type of employment or that disease was indigenous to your work or present in an increased degree in that work.

In a statement, Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Marty Lancton blasted Mayor Sylvester Turner, who he has feuded with over firefighters pay and the citys denial of cancer-related workers comp benefits.

The Turner Administration just sent a despicable message to Houston firefighters and paramedics: Do your dangerous job and do it well, but if we mandatorily quarantine you or you contract the COVID-19 virus, you may be on your own, Lancton said.

Lancton also said the city is requiring firefighters to use vacation or sick time while in quarantine.

Turner could not immediately be reached to respond to questions about Lanctons account. The mayor last week said city employees who feel uncomfortable, and they dont want to work, they certainly can exercise their vacation time or their accrued sick leave time.

12:07 p.m. State education officials will take a pass on issuing accountability ratings to schools this year, writes Chronicle education reporter Jacob Carpenter.

While we continuously work to ensure our A-F accountability system paints an accurate picture of school performance, these unprecedented circumstances have forced all of us to change and adapt, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement.

All Texas public schools will be labeled not rated: declared state of disaster for 2020.

The one-year suspension of accountability ratings likely will have no impact on Houston ISDs lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency, which is attempting to replace the districts elected school board after Wheatley High School received its fifth-straight failing grade under the accountability system in 2019.

12:03 p.m. Dallas County commissioners on Friday extended the stay at home order the state's second-largest county to May, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The decision makes Dallas County, which has fewer cases than Harris County, the first major city in the state to keep people home under order in to May. Harris County's current stay at home order expires April 30, but could be extended if necessary.

11:40 a.m. As Harris County begins releasing inmates from the jail to avoid what officials have called a potential catastrophe, some local elected leaders remain skeptical, predicting the outcome of letting defendants out will be a crime bomb.

.@LinaHidalgoTX says the jail is a "ticking time bomb", with her order, public will experience a "crime bomb" in HC with burglars, thieves, forgers, fraudsters et al released in the midst of #COVID19. Thanks to 8 Reps in HC speaking out against! https://t.co/TTNqDDwtes #txlege pic.twitter.com/3Jip8hUT7a  Team Bettencourt (@TeamBettencourt) April 3, 2020

Staking a position apart from the countys Democratic leadership is nothing new for State Sen. Paul Bettencourt. Late last month, he said the countys stay at home order was unnecessary and would do lasting harm to small and medium-sized businesses. He said compliance with social distancing recommendations by the public has been quite high.

Taking sweeping action against  the backbone of our local economy with a shelter in place order eliminates the chance to take a targeted, measured, data-driven approach to achieve better social separation results and far less economic disruption, Bettencourt said in a statement.

11:27 a.m. For the Conroe ISD robotics team Texas Torque, manufacturing masks was an automatic fit, writes the Chronicles Jamie Swinnerton.

Scott Rippetoe, lead mentor for FIRST Robotics team 1477, also named Texas Torque, was contacted by a friend in the medical community about two weeks ago who was looking for help getting more Personal Protective Equipment. Rippetoe and his students started printing parts for face shields after getting the go-ahead from Conroe Regional Medical Center.

So we have kids 3-D printing those, we have adult mentors 3-D printing, Ive got a couple of the teams printers here at my house, plus I have my own printer running, Rippetoe said.

It takes about two hours to print the part for the face mask using this particular design. But once printed, the plastic shield just has to be slid into place. But with some collaboration, Rippetoe said that they will be able to produce more shields, faster. So far theyve been able to give away about 150 3-D printed face shields.

11:20 a.m. Texas is poised to expand mail-in election options for counties, but unlikely to end polling places even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, writes Chronicle Washington correspondent Benjamin Wermund.

The states director of elections on Thursday sent guidance to elections officials in all 254 counties telling them that voters can ask for mail-in ballots if they are worried that showing up to a polling place could be a danger to their health. The guidance also suggests that counties be more lenient with curbside voting and says counties should consider recruiting and training more poll workers this year.

The guidance notes that the election code currently includes a disability clause that allows voters to apply for an absentee ballot if showing up at a polling place risks injuring the voters health. It suggests counties can get a court order to temporarily expand eligibility for mail-in voting  especially in areas under quarantine.

Advocates say while it appears to allow anyone with concerns about the coronavirus to get a mail-in ballot, the state still needs to be clearer. Democrats say it doesnt go far enough.

No one should have to decide between exercising their constitutional right to vote and their health and the health of their families, every Democratic member of Congress from Texas wrote in a Thursday letter to Abbott, pointing out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests shifting to mail-in voting during the outbreak.

11:09 a.m. Harris County jailers released 14 inmates in the past few hours in response to efforts to reduce the population in the lockup, the Chronicle's St. John Barned-Smith reports.

BREAKING: The first batch of inmates to be released from Harris County jail includes 14 people. After a very confusing 18 hours, it looks like six people were released yesterday and eight today. BKGD: https://t.co/qrRGwyu75w



Here are the names of the first batch of inmates: pic.twitter.com/iSOlHBnLtU  St. John Barned-Smith ? (@stjbs) April 3, 2020

On Wednesday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo ordered Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to prepare a list of inmates accused of certain nonviolent offenses and who did not have previous convictions for violent crimes. That list was expected to include the names of some 1,000 inmates, which would be reviewed  and likely significantly pared down  by other county departments.

Officials have 32 hours from the time of the sheriff hands over the list to complete releases.

10:59 a.m. Some folks just won't listen about social distancing, so they're getting snitched on.

Records show the citys 311 call-line has received more than 700 complaints of such violations about COVID-19 related problems, writes the Chronicle's St. John Barned-Smith. The list shows a cross-section of life in Houston  with residents complaining about churches, kids playing basketball, loud restaurants, even adult entertainment stores  and offers a glimpse into ways some businesses tried to wiggle out of orders to shut down.

Officials from the Harris County Fire Marshals Office responded to 121 complaints, said Rachel Moreno, a department spokeswoman. When the fire marshals office received complaints that fell within other cities jurisdiction in Harris County, the department shared that information with local agencies to follow up on, she said.

Everyone weve gone to talk to has complied and closed their business, or early on switched from dining inside to takeout, she said. Theyve complied with whatever weve asked them to do.

10:48 a.m. There are no plans for Harris County officials to encourage or require residents to don masks while in public, the county's emergency operations spokesman said Friday.

"There is no current county recommendation in terms of face masks," said Francisco Sanchez, public information officer for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.

The update comes as reports from Washington suggest federal officials are about to encourage widespread use of masks. So far, Sanchez said county officials are unsure of the benefits.

"The science as we have been told does not recommend that at this time," he said.

Hospitals and nursing homes already struggle to find the necessary supplies to equip workers in close contact with COVID-19 patients and those most vulnerable to the disease.

10:42 a.m. Stop touching your face.

Its not quite a reflex, but its automatic and we dont think about it, which is what makes it so hard to stop doing it, said Jim Pomerantz, a professor of psychological sciences at Rice University.

On average, people touch their face 23 times an hour, according to a 2015 study in the American Journal of Infection Control, the Chronicle's Maggie Gordon writes. Whats more, the study reported that 44 percent of these touches involve contact with a mucous membrane, like the eyes, nose and mouth.

Here's a handy guide to the full set of guidelines to kick the habit, according to the Psychonomic Society.

10:37 a.m. As the risk of COVID-19 increased in the region, some began to rethink living in assisted living and senior nursing centers. After three people died as the infection spread in a Montgomery County complex, Emily Foxhall writes that hindsight has some counting their blessings.

Marie Hemphill decided to leave early on. Hemphills son was worried about her being around so many people. She has leukemia and is 91. So she moved March 11 to a family beach house in Port OConnor.

Her granddaughter, Angela Hemphill, 45, said she had been impressed by how the facility tried to keep residents safe but knew those efforts only went so far.

I really feel they went out of their way, above and beyond, Hemphill said. Theres only so much you can do when it comes to a virus.

The three elderly men who lived there died within days of County Judge Mark Keough issuing a shelter-in-place order for the complex on Monday.

10:23 a.m. U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Sylvia Garcia on Friday pressed President Donald Trump and federal emergency officials for more testing kits to Houston and Harris County as the region struggles to test enough people.

Currently the city of Houston and Harris County are sharing test kits and are only able to test around 1000 persons per day, the two members of Congress say, according to the Chronicle's Jeremy Wallace. It is imperative that test kits be provided immediately as the outbreak intensifies, especially in our urban areas.

Texas testing numbers have begun to grow over the last few days, but Texas has tested vastly fewer people than other big states such as New York and Florida, which have fewer people.

As of Thursday afternoon, Texas had reported conducting 50,679 tests. Florida had tested 78,604. And in New York, more than 238,000 people had been tested.

Texas needs test kits now, Jackson Lee said. Houston and urban centers around the State are in dire need right now. We must save lives

10:12 a.m. Bring a sweater for the U.S. Womens Open when contestants tee off a five months later than planned.

The tournament scheduled for June 4-7 at Champions Golf Club, has been postponed to Dec. 10-13, writes Chronicle sports editor Reid Laymance.

Decisions regarding the U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Senior Womens Open as well as the eight remaining amateur championships will be made in the near future.

We are grateful to the LPGA and our broadcast partner FOX for their terrific collaboration in finding a new date for the championship, Davis said. Our priority remains ensuring the safety of all involved with the U.S. Womens Open, while still providing the worlds best players the opportunity to compete this year.

10:03 a.m. Remember the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo? That annual event where up to 170,000 people could pile into NRG Park in those days before groups of ten were verboten?

Well, today is your last day to get your money back for this year, reports the Chronicle's Rebecca Hennes.

Ticket holders and season ticket holders can either donate their refund to RodeoHouston, have it refunded back or have the balance transferred to the 2021 season.

9:37 a.m. A $100 billion bailout might not be big enough for the hospitals on the front lines.

The funds can only be used to reimburse for coronavirus-related expenses and lost revenues, Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy, told the Chronicle's Gwendolyn Wu.

Strata Decision Technology, which provides financial technology for health care systems, estimates almost every American hospital is set to lose an average of $2,800 per COVID-19 case at current insurance reimbursement rates. Extreme cases could cost up to $10,000.

"Almost every hospital big or small is going to show a significant loss," Ho said.

9:24 a.m. ROCO can rock out even when they can't be in the same room.

Last week the 39-member ensemble attempted a particularly complicated task: to perform Anthem of Hope, Anthony DiLorenzos four-minute composition from 39 different locations.

This is how weve always done it, ROCO founder, artistic director and principal oboeist Alecia Lawyer told the Chronicle's Andrew Dansby. We have musicians from all over, but we still feel connected.

Lawyer and Brooks Cruzen of the Houston-based Blueprint Film Co. spent time last Monday sketching out an idea: Each ROCO member would record video of them performing their parts of the piece of music. They sent the pieces to Cruzen, who spent about 40 or 50 hours assembling all the material into a quite moving piece of sound and vision.

9:10 a.m. Big Bend National Park is closed, so folks thinking they can flee there will need to find another spot.

The National Park Service on Friday said the park in far western Texas will close temporarily, including the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River.

"No entry will be allowed into the park, except for employees, residents, and other authorized persons," park officials said in an online statement. "Through traffic will be prohibited, as will travel on Terlingua Ranch Road within park boundaries."

8:54 a.m. The Houston region's confirmed COVID-19 cases have not spiked, but hospitalizations are telling a different story, Mike Hixenbaugh of NBC News reports.

8:39 a.m. Houston's chapter of the SPCA is taking to the streets... for checkups on foster pets.

.@LinaHidalgoTX: Really the most accurate information, b/c of the lack of widespread testing, comes from the hospitals. Theyre still seeing their rates of COVID go up exponentially  So, we know right now we are very much tracking the path that Italy or New York were on.  Mike Hixenbaugh (@Mike_Hixenbaugh) April 3, 2020

For now, this is the new normal for our veterinary staff, said Dr. Dev, Chief Veterinarian at the Houston SPCA, on moving vaccinations and minor medical treatments outside so foster parents for pets can avoid contact with the staff.

During the stay at home order, foster pet owners can drive up and receive medicines, food and other supplies. If necessary, veterinary staff don protective gear and head into the parking lot for curbside medical visits.

Pet services on the go are a growing part of animal shelter activities of late. Houston's BARC shelter is allowing only pickup and drop off of animals to limit contact between people.

8:20 a.m. The novel coronavirus has changed how we're living for the next few weeks at least, but the Chronicle's Dwight Silverman reports some of the changes will stick around far longer.

Houston SPCA

People are going to reexamine the defaults and the things they took for granted before this happened, said Matt Mullenweg, the founder of Automattic, the company behind the blogging platform WordPress. Mullenweg wrote the first version of WordPress in Houston while a student at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

The internet has become a critical factor in coping with the coronavirus pandemic, Silverman said. And when this is over  whenever that might be  we will come out of this changed, more reliant that ever on being connected.

While no firm statistics are available on how many people are now working from home, internet traffic suggests its a lot. Comcast said last week that peak traffic on its network is shifting to earlier in the day, and upload traffic  in which people send rather than receive data, an indicator of work  is up 27 percent.

Although working from home has been a way of life for some knowledge workers since the first modem was plugged into a phone line, a new wave of employees is finding it a better way to work. And control-freak managers and tradition-bound executives are learning its not the productivity apolocalypse they feared.

8:03 a.m. The union representing Houston firefighters, a dozen of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, announced Friday morning that the city has rejected its first claim of exposure on the job to the virus.

The denial comes from Houston's workers' compensation administrator, Tristar, which handles the claims for the city. In a letter to the firefighter quoted in the release by the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, the firefighter was told there is no evidence that  the risk of contracting COVID-19 is inherent in your specific type of employment."

Union president Marty Lancton, who has sparred with city officials over insurance denials of firefighter claims, lashed out the Mayor Sylvester Turner.

The Turner Administration just sent a despicable message to Houston firefighters and paramedics: Do your dangerous job and do it well, but if we mandatorily quarantine you or you contract the COVID-19 virus, you may be on your own," Lancton said in a statement.

7:44 a.m. Employment and leisure businesses nationally lost 459,000 jobs in March, shooting the U.S. unemployment rate to 4.4 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday morning.

The losses amounted to a historic 0.9 percent increase in the jobless rate.

"This is the largest over-the-month increase in the rate since January 1975, when the increase was also 0.9 percentage point," officials said in a release.

Unemployment claims in Texas nearly doubled last week, the Chronicle's Erin Douglas wrote, surging to nearly 276,000 as measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus shutdown wide swaths of the economy, and jobs in sectors from retail to restaurants to energy evaporated.

More than 400,000 Texans have filed applications for benefits in two weeks since the shutdowns began, but that number likely understates the extent of job losses in the state as overwhelmed websites and phone lines prevent an untold number of people from filing claims. On a single day last week, 1.7 million calls jammed phones lines, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, which administers the unemployment benefits in the state.

7:35 a.m. A quarter of those infected with COVID-19 might never realize it, the Chronicle's Andrea Leinfelder writes.

Studies have identified individuals in China, Iceland and onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined in the port of Yokohama, Japan, who tested positive for the new coronavirus without exhibiting symptoms.

Some people may be pre-symptomatic, meaning they will later show symptoms, but there are apparently others who never show symptoms.
A specialist doctor at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, also known as the Ridge Hospital has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The affected doctor returned to Ghana from South Africa where he attended a medical conference. This makes the case an imported one.

He is now under self-quarantine as a result.

A release from the Ridge Hospital mentioned that the confirmation of the virus came after the doctor underwent a 14-day self-mandatory quarantine.

The doctor is also said to be doing well.

A Specialist doctor with the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge is under self-quarantine after returning into the country from South Africa prior to the partial lockdown. The doctor who left Ghana to attend a medical conference has tested positive for COVID19. This came to the fore after he had undergone the two weeks of mandatory self-quarantine. The COVID19 team has since been taking care of him at the self-quarantine center and he is currently doing well, hospital authorities said.

Management wants to state categorically that the case was not locally transmitted but rather imported from the South, they added.

Meanwhile, management of the hospital says no other frontline has currently tested positive as safety measures have been put in place to ensure that no staff member is affected.



More soon

---citinewsroom
If youre employed by us, it is expected you can be reassigned to an area of need, David Battinelli, Northwells chief medical officer, said in an interview. Those who do not agree will be furloughed without pay, he said.

Dr. Battinelli said clinical staff would be reassigned based on their skills and comfort level. All elective surgeries have been canceled across the Northwell network, and only 20 percent of its patients, he estimated, were coming in for non-coronavirus emergencies like heart attacks, strokes and injuries.

Conference rooms, lobbies and some cafeterias were being converted to intensive care units; the network plans to expand its bed capacity by 60 percent.

Obviously that puts pressure on trying to find staff to support those patients, said Terry Lynam, a Northwell spokesman. Thats the biggest concern  to try to get additional staffing.

On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio called for a national draft of doctors and medical workers to be sent to places where the virus has hit hardest, starting with New York. Some hospital systems had already been pleading for help from outside their networks. On Wednesday, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital put out a call on Twitter for doctors and nurses, as it tries to expand intensive care units and emergency rooms in its hospitals.
Home is where the learning is these days due to the stay-at-home order in Illinois. Rantoul City School students will begin their remote-learning studies on Monday.
The Group of 77 and China has called for an end to unilateral sanctions against developing countries during the coronavirus crisis, warning they could hinder efforts to tackle the pandemic.

In a statement implicitly aimed at the United States, which has tough sanctions against Iran and Venezuela, the coalition of developing nations on Friday said the application of "unilateral coercive economic measures will have a negative impact on the capacity of states to respond efficiently."



It warned that such measures would affect targeted countries' acquisition of medical equipment and supplies "to adequately treat their populations in the face of this pandemic."



"We therefore call upon the international community to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries," the statement said.

Since the start of the year, the US has been rejecting demands for any suspension of sanctions that are having a serious impact on countries that have been badly hit by the pandemic, such as Iran.

In some cases, it has even tightened its punitive measures.

The European Union says sanctions must not be allowed to hobble the fight against the coronavirus.

European diplomats said that if any measures hurt a targeted country's ability to battle the pandemic, exemptions can easily be made.

Friday's statement only targeted unilateral measures and not international sanctions taken by the United Nations against countries as North Korea.

China takes part in G77 business but does not consider itself to be a member of the 134-member coalition, meaning official statements are issued by the "G77 and China."



The grouping represents three quarters of United Nations members and some 80 per cent of the world's population, according to the UN.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tribesmen loyal to the Houthi movement raise their weapons during a Feb. 25 gathering in Sanaa, Yemen, aimed at mobilizing more fighters for their cause. (Hani Mohammed/AP)

With governments worldwide increasing health measures to keep the spread of the deadly coronavirus at bay, one might think there would be virtually no time for waging war.

But it hasnt turned out that way, at least not in parts of the Middle East.

Despite calls for a global cease-fire  Its time to put armed conflict on lockdown, said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement in March  regional conflicts appear to be immune to the coronavirus even as more than 4,000 have died across the Middle East and almost 90,000 people have confirmed cases.

In Syria, Iraq and Yemen, as authorities have shut down businesses and imposed curfews, battles between the belligerents have persisted.

In Libya, theyve intensified.

For almost a year, the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and the country's U.N.-backed government led by Prime Minister Fayez Serraj has been the target of a wide-scale campaign by Gen. Khalifa Haftar, a renegade general who aspires to consolidate his rule across the country. Since last April, more than 2,000 people have been killed, humanitarian groups estimate, including 300 civilians; some 150,000 have been internally displaced.

After the ouster of Libyan strongman Moammar Kadafi in 2011, the country has been wracked by successive waves of civil war. After intense diplomatic efforts by the U.N., Serraj and Haftar participated in talks in 2019 to forge a new unity government. As they were on the cusp of an agreement, Haftar launched an onslaught of drones, artillery and Russian mercenaries on Tripoli.

The latest combat, said Amru Salahuddien, a photographer embedded with forces loyal to the Tripoli government, has also been intense.

Haftar is taking advantage of the world being preoccupied to escalate, Salahuddien said in a phone interview Wednesday from Tripoli.

Over the last few weeks, U.N. officials, world leaders and humanitarian groups launched multiple appeals to suspend hostilities so that basic medical equipment and protective materials could be distributed, said Caroline Gluck, spokeswoman for the U.N.s refugee agency in Libya. As of Friday, the country had 11 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and one death.

Story continues

Its really disappointing. It has gotten worse in the last week to 10 days, which is really concerning, she said. The people who are suffering are civilians, and people are very fearful, theyre scared.

There's a 12-hour curfew after 6 p.m., with various areas under lockdown and travel between cities forbidden. Jobs are harder to find while Haftars forces have imposed an oil blockade, sending fuel prices skyrocketing. Social distancing is something most cannot afford: Refugees cram into rooms shared by anywhere from six to 10 people in Tripoli and elsewhere.

At particular risk are the more than 600,000 migrants trying to leave Libyas shores for Europe. They face increasingly harsh conditions, Gluck said, with landlords throwing them out of rental properties or taxis refusing them service as fears of the virus blend with xenophobia.

In a nod to the requirements of the outbreak, militiamen defending Tripoli dutifully donned surgical masks and headed to the front, Salahuddien said.

But they only put them on the first day they got them because they were excited to try something new. I havent seen anyone putting a mask on again since, he said. If the virus gets to these groups, itll spread like wildfire.

In Syria, the government of President Bashar Assad had reported 10 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including two deaths.

But the Assad government is dealing with a country fractured by nine years of conflict, and testing capabilities are low. Many observers fear the number of those infected is far higher.

Judging from other places, that is the tip of the iceberg, Mark Lowcock, head of the U.N.s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), said of the Assad government numbers during a briefing to the Security Council this week.

Syrias health services are extremely fragile, he said, with approximately half of its hospitals and primary healthcare centers destroyed in the nine-year conflict.

The country has some 6.1 million internally displaced people  almost a million of them in the opposition-controlled province of Idlib  living in tents or the carcasses of buildings.

The government has taken a series of increasingly restrictive measures, including curfews that start at noon and end at 6 a.m. the next day, shutting down all but the most essential businesses and suspending travel as well as public transport.

Yet the restrictions have not stopped the fighting. On Wednesday, government forces and rebel factions accused each other of breaking an ever-tenuous cease-fire in northwestern Syria with renewed bouts of artillery and mortar shelling. There were no reports of casualties.

On Tuesday evening, Syrian state media and activists accused Israel of carrying out an airstrike on what a pro-opposition watchdog group said was an Iranian-controlled base in central Syria. Israel did not confirm such an attack.

The region has experienced a shadow war pursued by the U.S. and its allies to cut down Iranian influence. Both sides have engaged in tit-for-tat attacks, often conducted without claims of responsibility or by proxy forces.

Even without the coronavirus outbreak, Yemen has faced a humanitarian crisis. The country has gone through years of war, with a coalition led by Saudi Arabia seeking to dislodge the Iran-supported Houthi rebels from the capital, Sana. It has left the country in tatters and put it on the verge of famine.

Yemen, a country of some 24.5 million people which has so far reported no coronavirus cases, is under the control of rival governments. Both sides had given positive responses to calls for a cease-fire, according to a statement last week by the U.N.s special envoy to the country, Martin Griffiths, so as to fight the common enemy, COVID-19.

Instead, the Houthis lobbed ballistic missiles over the weekend on the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and areas near the Saudi-Yemeni border, while their forces retook a military base in central Yemen. By Monday, Saudi warplanes were roaming the skies of Sana for the first time in months. They conducted 19 air raids, pro-Houthi media said.

The violence in Iraq continues as well, despite repeated warnings from officials and aid groups that the contagion could easily overwhelm the country's shattered health system; authorities say it has 772 confirmed cases and 54 dead.

The U.S. last week accused Iranian-aligned paramilitary factions of conducting another in a series of rocket barrages targeting personnel with the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State. The attack targeted an area near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and left no casualties. An earlier fusillade in March killed killed two Americans and a British soldier.

In recent days, the coalition has withdrawn from several outposts and consolidated its presence in a few major bases in western and northern Iraq as well as Baghdad. Coalition representatives have denied the moves were in response to the recent attacks, but said they were instead because Iraqi forces were increasingly more independent in conducting anti-Islamic State operations.

Islamic State, meanwhile, in March wrote in its weekly newsletter that the coronavirus was punishment upon the United States and its allies for their battle against the militant group.

The duty upon the Muslims today, along with protecting themselves and their families from the disease," the newsletter said, "is to increase the pressure on the infidels.




#PeruEstaEnNuestrasManos El presidente @MartinVizcarraC informa sobre la situacion del Estado de Emergencia en el #Dia19 y las acciones que realiza el Gobierno para contener la propagacion del COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/fI2saAlRtW https://t.co/30NJpOkaaY
New Delhi, April 3 : The Congress has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Friday's video message where he asked the people to light candles on April 5 at 9 p.m.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said: "You asked us to clap, we clapped. Now you have asked us to light a candle or a diya, we will do that too, but some questions need to be asked. The doctors and medical staff for whom we clapped deserve personal protection equipment (PPE). It is the responsibility of the government to provide PPEs to them and also fix the responsibility for the delay in doing so." "The poor, labourers and farmers for whom you want us to light a candle also deserve to have fire in their stoves. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure this," he said.

He said it was expected that the Prime Minister will announce that PPEs have been made available for the doctors and medical staff working amidst great threat to their own lives.

Khera said the country expected that the PM will announce that Rs 7,500 will be deposited in the Jan Dhan accounts, in the PM Kisan Scheme accounts, in the accounts of pensioners. MGNREGA workers were expecting advance payments for three months and states were expecting payments of GST dues but that was not announced.

Talking about the crisis farmers are facing, the Congress spokesperson said farmers are not able to sell vegetables and fruits in the markets, therefore, consumers are not getting them.

He said, "Apart from this there has been an unprecedented hike in the prices of vegetables and essential commodities in the last 10 days because the inter-state and intra-state supply chain has collapsed. Therefore, we were expecting Centre's intervention to restore the supply chain." Talking about the number of tests going on in the country, Khera said in a country with a population of 130 crore, we have tested less 50,000 people. "As Prime Minister it becomes your duty to inform the country about the steps being taken to increase the number of tests. Testing is the first critical step towards containing corona," he added.
Shes an engaging combination of Indiana Jones and Miss Marple, a glamorous, risk-taking sleuth with an eye for adventure. If you havent done so already, meet Miss Phryne Fisher.

Some UK viewers will have seen her crime-busting in 1920s Australia during three series of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries on Alibi and Netflix.

Now shes spreading her wings to Britain. Set in 1929, the feature-length Miss Fisher And The Crypt Of Tears finds Phryne (pronounced Fry-nee) tackling injustice in British-ruled Palestine then here in Blighty.

There are gorgeous country houses, expertly piloted biplanes, dramatic escapes, precious jewels, a simmering romance, an alcoholic aristocrat... oh, and a couple of murders.

Essie Davis (pictured) who is best known for playing Lady Crane in Game Of Thrones, stars as Miss Phryne Fisher in a new feature length film

At the heart of it all is Phryne, played by Australian actress Essie Davis, best known as Lady Crane in Game Of Thrones.

Its been a while since she donned the stylish 20s garb, and her return now is only thanks to public demand.

We thought it might be the end when we finished the TV series in 2015, admits Essie, but people wanted more.

The story swings between the Middle East and England. We first find our heroine in Palestine, where shes trying to help a young woman, Shirin Abbas, whos been locked up for daring to challenge the authorities.

Miss Fisher has no difficulty springing her from jail, but getting her away from Palestine is more challenging.

In a scene that might have come straight out of an Indiana Jones film, we see Phryne and Shirin leap on to the roof of a speeding train to escape their pursuers, then trying to crawl inside before it disappears into a tunnel.

Phryne is trapped on the roof as the train hurtles along the track. Can she avoid the collision or does she suffer a horrible death?

Its not a big spoiler to reveal she does indeed survive. But the action then shifts to Lofthouse Manor in the London area, the palatial home of Phrynes aristocratic friends the Lofthouses, where a memorial service is taking place in Phrynes honour.

Essie (pictured) revealed one of the film's most spectacular scenes is when Phryne arrives at her own memorial service in a biplane

Guests include her aged aunt Prudence Stanley (Miriam Margolyes), her police detective friend Jack Robinson (Nathan Page), to whom she grew close while in Australia, as well as the rescued Shirin and her uncle Sheikh Kahlil Abbas, who has business links to Lord Lofty Lofthouse (Daniel Lapaine) and his brother Jonathon (Rupert Penry-Jones).

In one of the films most spectacular scenes, Phryne arrives at her own memorial service at the controls of a biplane which lands on the lawn.

The assembled gathering is stunned, says Essie. They cant quite believe she avoided death.

Sadly, other people in the drama arent so fortunate. Essie stands in for Shirin to attend a late-night rendezvous with a mystery man whom Shirin refers to as her guardian angel.

Phryne cant be pinned down, shes a free spirit

But tragedy unfolds in the London church where the meeting takes place. Then, at a party organised by Lofty, theres another murder  with the hard-drinking lord a prime suspect.

Along the way, Phryne develops the happy knack of discovering precious gemstones. An emerald is found on a pendant in the hands of the man found murdered in the church.

A rather larger emerald is found among the possessions of the man killed at Lofthouse Manor.

Phrynes investigations take her back to the Middle East, explains Essie.

Jack Robinson (pictured) who is a quietly spoken Melbourne detective, becomes Phryne's constant companion

Theres a mystery surrounding the business deal that involves Lofty and Sheikh Kahlil, and Phryne also wants to discover what happened to Shirins mother.

'She realises the Crypt of Tears in Jerusalem may lie at the heart of the whole mystery.

Theres a fair bit of discussion in the show between Phryne and Jack Robinson, the quietly spoken Melbourne detective who carries a torch for her. Will they take their relationship further?

The answer  and again, not a huge spoiler  is yes. After recovering from the shock of discovering shed survived her adventures in the Middle East, Jack becomes Phrynes constant companion and is beside her when the going gets really tough.

Fans of the series all over the world said they wanted to see the romance renewed and we listened, says Essie. Although its far from being a smooth ride.

Writer Deb Cox adds, You see Jack grappling with questions like, What do you do with a woman you cant keep tabs on, someone you cant marry and who you cant pin down because shes an independent, free spirit? She fascinates him and Phryne loves him, but she doesnt want to be tied down, so they have this dilemma.

But by the end theres progress and there is also a little bit of bending from both of them.

Parts of the film were shot in Morocco, in and close to the town of Ouarzazate, which doubles as Jerusalem.

Pictured: Miriam Margolyes as Prudence, Essie's aged aunt

Sand dunes on the edge of the Sahara were used to spectacular effect, and a crater in the desert  where 1999 movie The Mummy, starring John Hannah and Rachel Weisz, was shot  was also used.

Filming did suffer a few bumps in the road. Many of the cast and crew were hit by a stomach bug, and the shoot was affected by sandstorms.

The production did need a couple of them for filming  theres a flashback scene where Shirin sees her mother disappear into one  but they didnt necessarily blow when they were wanted.

We soon realised why most of the Moroccans on set wore a turban on their heads, says director of photography Roger Lanser.

When the storms hit, they instantly wrapped their face in a cloth that protected their ears, nose and eyes from the sand, which is relentless. The rest of us just did the best we could!

The producers also had to deal with unexpected visitors to the buried Bedouin village they had re-created.

Wed built a series of half buildings and to make them look sunken, we had truckloads of sand imported, says production designer Robbie Perkins.

But on the day we were due to film, we arrived to discover the crater filled with 200 tents  no one had told us about a music festival taking place. We lost time, but managed to set up our village elsewhere.

Miss Fisher And The Crypt Of Tears airs on Good Friday at 7pm on Alibi. The three series of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries are available on Netflix.
The coronavirus outbreak has not



only created a health emergency in Maharashtra, but it has also rendered thousands of daily wagers and migrant labourers jobless, triggering a mass exodus that cost some of them their lives.

Despite the Maharashtra government's measures to quell the exodus, by setting up relief camps and shelter homes, the loss of income has pushed thousands of migrant labourers to leave cities with women and children in tow.

Labourers, who mostly worked at the construction sites in urban area including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune and Nashik, were seen escaping to their villages within Maharashtra and some as far as Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

From walking hundreds of kilometres along railway tracks or highways to latching on to trucks or tempos that came their way, migrant workers continue risk their lives to reach their villages.

Those who are caught escaping are taken to government-run relief camps, where they are provided with basic essentials to survive the lockdown.

At least 250 people, including women and children, are housed at one such camp in Navi Mumbai's Vashi area, since last week.

For 35-year-old Ramu Rathod, escaping to his village in Yadgiri, Karnataka was the only option, as he was unble to feed his children a proper meal after he lost his job at a construction site following the lockdown.

Another resident of the Vashi camp, Shankar Chavan said, "I will start farming in my village, as the monsoon season will also start in the next couple of months."



"I cannot see my children go hungry," said the 30- year-old father of two.

The men were caught by the Navi Mumbai police with 70 other labourers, who were travelling in a tempo to Karnataka.

"I have to send money to my elderly parents back home and with no work how can I do that?," said 30-year-old Nur Ul Kamar.

After being caught travelling to his village in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh, Kamar was brought to a government- run relief camp.

"They are providing us good food and everything is taken care of," he said, adding that he will head back home once the train services start.

The government, which is doing its best to contain the spread of the pandemic, has also been addressing the issue of migrant workers on war footing and its efforts may have softened the blow a little.

"As there is a threat of coronavirus outside, we are keeping them safe at the camp," R B Borhade, circle officer of the state government told PTI.

Labourers at the camp were provided food and other essentials, including toiletteries and bedding, he said, adding that everyone was screened for infection.

The Maharashtra government has set up 262 relief camps, which are currently housing 70,399 migrant labours and homeless persons.

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Saturday also took a stock of the situation by video-conferencing with divisional commissioners.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The meeting comes even as the government was mounting efforts to track people who took part in the conference at Delhi

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said Muslim MLAs of the state have agreed to provide details of those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi, to the government and also convince them to undergo COVID-19 tests along with quarantining themselves.

Yediyurappa held a meeting with Muslim leaders and legislators, seeking their cooperation in containing coronavirus in the state that was attended by N A Haris, C M Ibrahim, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Rizwan Arshad, Saleem Ahmed among others.

"They have responded positively and assured to extend full cooperation in this endeavour," the Chief Minister said in a statement after the meeting.

Noting that the MLAs have agreed to give details of those who visited Jamaatand convince them to undergo tests for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves for a stipulated period, he said, "They informed that, they have conducted meetings with religious leaders of the community and created awareness about it."

They (legislators) are advising the members of the community to offer prayers at home and also to stay indoors to maintain social distance during "azan," he added.

Observing that the leaders unanimously agreed to the fact that prevention was the only way to contain the virus, the CM said they will appeal to and convince the people from the community to cooperate with the health workers.

"I appeal to the people of the state to not heed to any rumours. Let all of us strictly follow precautionary measures and win the battle over Coronavirus," he added.

The Chief Minister's meeting with Muslim leaders comes even as the government was mounting efforts to track people, who might have travelled to the state after taking part in the conference at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month, which has turned out to be the hotbed of COVID-19 spread in the country. Nearly 1,000 people from Karnataka, who are linked to Tablighi-Jamaat have been screened and so far 10 men from Bidar and one woman from Kalaburagi (who is the contactof a person who has attended congregation), have tested positive, health department officials had said on Thursday.

Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan said the CM has requested us to appeal to the community regarding COVID-19 tests, especially those attended theTablighi Jamaat meet.
Auburn, N.Y.  As the number of positive tests for COVID-19 continues to climb in Onondaga County and most surrounding counties, the number of cases in Cayuga and Cortland counties remains very low.

Cayuga County, with just over 77,000 residents, had recorded six positive cases as of Thursday night. Cortland, with 47,800 residents has 14 cases. Thats compared to Madison County, with nearly 71,000 residents, which had 77 cases.

Health officials in Cayuga and Cortland counties said less testing is one reason they are reporting fewer positive cases. Thats due to limited access to the tests and personal protection equipment, they said.

The low numbers, however, dont mean the virus isnt present in both counties, officials stressed.

We dont think for a moment that were immune to this, said Catherine Feuerherm, Cortland Countys director of health. The test results have been very slow in coming back.

Heres a look at how the Central New York counties compare:

(Note: This graphic is updated frequently; the numbers will differ from those in this article over time.)

Cayuga County, for example, had only received 301 test results as of late Thursday, compared to Madison, 402; Cortland, 424; Oswego, 461 and Onondaga, 4,054.

Faced with a limited number of test kits and personal protection equipment, Cayuga County health care providers have been asked to be very judicious in who it allows to have the tests, said Kathleen Cuddy, Cayuga County public health director. And theres no testing done from self referrals.

"Right from the start, we knew that from limitations on personal protective equipment ... that we only had so much," she said. "There were also limitations to the viral testing swabs that we were able to get. Health care providers have been very deliberate and judicious in screening their patients."

Cortland County does not do its own screening, so those who suspect that theyre infected must go to private providers, such as Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, or be tested in Tompkins and Onondaga counties.

"I think certainly the larger hospitals and larger hospital systems had access to more testing material," said Feuerherm, in explaining one factor contributing to her county's low number.

Feuerherm said Cortland County hasnt yet seen the clusters of cases that might have hiked numbers in some other locales.

Weve had no clusters, she said. I cant speak for other counties, but it would appear that if you have related cases your rates are going to rise quicker.

Cuddy said the lower numbers in Cayuga havent necessarily bolstered the countys case for receiving more testing and PPE supplies from the state.

"It's kind of a double-edged sword," she said. "We don't test more people, we don't find more positives, we don't get more supplies. That's been the circle of frustration."

Cuddy acknowledged that there are a number of cases in the county that aren't known simply because those infected haven't been tested.

And she and Feuerherm agreed that their counties will see a rise in cases in the coming weeks.

"Absolutely. And we're not wishing for more, either," she said. "We like to think that the fact that we're a little bit more rural, and perhaps because people are truly trying to practice social distancing, good hand hygiene, and staying home when they're sick, hopefully we are making an impact."

However we can also anticipate, based on what we are seeing downstate, that its kind of a slow wave thats coming towards us. We are naive not to think that were going to see an uptick in the next several weeks.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

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After 18 days in coronavirus quarantine, Syracuse couple wonders: When can we leave?

Nolan Weidner is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached by call or text at 315.247.7419 or via email at nweidner@syracuse.com.
A member of a popular folk music group that is banned in Turkey has died on the 288th day of a hunger strike protesting the government's treatment of the band, according to a post on the group's Twitter account.

Group Yorum said Helin Bolek died Friday at a home in Istanbul where she had been staging the hunger strike to force the government to reverse its treatment of the band and its members.

Group Yorum, known for its protest songs, is a folk collective with rotating band members. It has been banned from performing since 2016 while some band members have been jailed.

The government accuses Group Yorum of links to the outlawed Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front, or DHKP/C. The militant group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Bolek and fellow band member, Ibrahim Gokcek, embarked on a the hunger strike to press the government to lift the ban and free band members.

Turkey's Sozcu newspaper said the two were forcibly hospitalized on March 11 but discharged a week later after they refused treatment.

Hunger strikers in Turkey traditionally refuse food but consume liquids that prolong their protests.

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A meeting of the Operational Headquarters of the Azerbaijani parliament chaired by Prime Minister Ali Asadov was held in the Cabinet of Ministers on April 2, Trend reports.

The issues related to the application, regulation through more specific mechanisms of a special quarantine regime were discussed and appropriate decisions were made at the meeting.

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Eight more people tested positive for coronavirus in Haryana on Friday. Out of the eight new cases, five are from Gurugram while the rest are from Nuh.

The Haryana State Department said that these eight new cases take the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state to 43, including 13 cured or discharged cases.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases on Friday rose to 2,301 in India, including 1,860 active cases. Till now, 156 patients have either been cured or discharged, while 56 deaths have taken place, 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.)
President Trump accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of being "missing in action" during the coronavirus crisis, writing in a scathing letter on Thursday that Schumer's focus on the "ridiculous impeachment hoax" resulted in New York being ill-prepared for the pandemic.

Why it matters: It's a blistering response to Schumer urging Trump to assign a senior military officer to enforce the Defense Production Act to produce more medical supplies.

The big picture: The president formally authorized the use of the Defense Production Act to ramp up domestic ventilator production on Thursday, and said he had appointed White House trade adviser Peter Navarro to enforce the act last week.

Rear Adm. John Polowczyk is in charge of coordinating America's coronavirus supply chain and is seeking to fill the most urgent needs: ventilators and personal protective gear.

is in charge of coordinating America's coronavirus supply chain and is seeking to fill the most urgent needs: ventilators and personal protective gear. So far, the authority of the DPA has only been used to compel ventilator production  and not other personal protective gear or medical supplies, like surgical masks and gloves.

What they're saying:

Schumer: "While companies that volunteer to produce ventilators and PPEE are to be commended and are appreciated, America cannot rely on a patchwork of uncoordinated voluntary efforts to combat the awful magnitude of this pandemic. It is long past time for your Administration to designate a senior military officer to fix this urgent problem."

"While companies that volunteer to produce ventilators and PPEE are to be commended and are appreciated, America cannot rely on a patchwork of uncoordinated voluntary efforts to combat the awful magnitude of this pandemic. It is long past time for your Administration to designate a senior military officer to fix this urgent problem." Trump: "The Defense Production Act (DPA) has been consistently used by my team and me for the purchase of billions of dollars' worth of equipment, medical supplies, ventilators, and other related items. It has been powerful leverage, so powerful that companies general do whatever we are asking, without even a formal notice. They know something is coming, and that's all they need to know."

The bottom line: The letter, which appears on White House letterhead, reads much like a Trump tweet would. The president finishes by writing: "Ive known you for many years, but I never knew how bad a Senator you are for the state of New York, until I became President.

Read the letter.

Go deeper: Fixing America's broken coronavirus supply chain
A growing number of workers who are crucial to supplying the world with meat are demanding that their companies do more to keep them safe from the coronavirus.

Labor unions are starting to speak out as their members fall ill, there are reports of increased absenteeism and some front line workers have even walked off the job. That's raising the specter of mass protests that could threaten global meat supplies just as supply chains unravel and grocery stores struggle to keep food on their shelves.

It's part of the balancing act facing meat and agricultural producers in a pandemic: how to keep the world fed while safeguarding employees. Slaughterhouses and processing plants are sanitizing their operations more, staggering lunch breaks and checking people's temperatures, but unions say they're still falling short.

"They're scared to make that decision that you guys need to be six feet apart because the production is going to plummet," said Paula Schelling, acting national joint council chairwoman of food-inspector locals for the American Federation of Government Employees.

The first case of a worker at a major U.S. meat producer testing positive for the virus was reported last week at poultry giant Sanderson Farms Inc. Since then, infections have cropped up everywhere from JBS plants in Iowa to Harmony Beef in Alberta.

While scattered factories have closed temporarily or cut output, generally companies are keeping plants running when workers get sick. Rather than shutting entire plants, they've focused on identifying areas where infected people have had direct contact.

In Brazil, a labor judge granted a petition in mid-March by workers at two JBS facilities in Santa Catarina state, a chicken-production hub, to halt or reduce operations because of safety concerns. The next day, JBS won a decision to overturn the ruling because food processing is considered essential.

Workers still feel unsafe, Celso Elias, a director at the union, said in a telephone interview.

JBS cited its strict measures to guarantee the health and safety of employees, including steps to reduce crowding. "The company proved to the federal court through documents, photos, videos and elements attached to the lawsuit, that it is adopting all the recommendations" of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health, JBS said in a statement.

In Uruguay, workers at some of the country's largest meat exporters started an eight-day strike Wednesday to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. About 11 plants, including subsidiaries of Brazil's Marfrig Global Foods and Japan's NH Foods, halted operations, said Martin Cardozo, chairman of the main chapter of meatpackers union Foica.

In the U.S, social distancing is not possible in processing facilities where workers are side by side, and the Department of Agriculture is not equipping its consumer-safety or food inspectors with protective masks or hand sanitizer, Schelling of the American Federation said.

Dozens of inspectors who are at high risk of coronavirus complications due to health issues are on safety leave, and one consumer safety inspector died of coronavirus in New York City, she said.

While food safety inspectors follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "there are times when the physical layout of the plants they work in make social distancing a challenge," the USDA said in a statement. "Unlike doctors and nurses in hospitals, there is no data to suggest that slaughter establishments are at higher risk of exposure."

Inspectors may wear their own face masks to plants if they choose to, the agency said.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest Latino civil-rights organization in the U.S., said workers are being exposed "with little recourse." The group is asking the Department of Labor to provide clear guidelines on proper safety equipment, paid sick days and regular health checks for workers.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Workers further along the food chain are also starting to organize themselves in a coordinated action to demand more protection for employees working through the pandemic.

An employee at Amazon.com said he was fired for leading a strike at a warehouse in New York, while workers at Whole Foods Market went on a sickout strike in an effort to extract protections and better working conditions from their managers. The city of San Diego also urged Instacart Inc. to treat its shoppers as employees and provide paid sick leave.

For processing workers, a Canadian union representing them has asked employers to increase the space between each employee's work area, even if line speeds drop.

"We're calling on all these employers to look themselves in the mirror and say no matter what happens we did everything we could to keep food on the table and everyone safe," said Thomas Hesse, president of United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 401, the largest private-sector union in Western Canada with 32,000 members in Alberta, mostly in food processing and retailing.

Just as hospitals have reached out to staff with previous critical-care experience, some companies are working to create a relief pool of workers to keep plants running.

Chicken giant BRF in Sao Paulo is hiring more than 2,000 people in Brazil and other countries to replace those who may be unable to work because of the pandemic, Chief Executive Officer Lorival Luz said.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans to redeploy internal staff and use emergency measures, including contacting recent retirees, to address potential inspector shortages related to absenteeism.

JBS USA is paying a bonus to retain staff while hiring more people to make sure it will be able to run plants if absenteeism increases.

"There's a risk, but we have to balance that as we have a responsibility to continue to produce food," Andre Nogueira, who heads U.S. operations, said on a conference call last week. "We cannot stop. Otherwise, you call it a big, big issue for the whole nation."
Nearly 1.3 million coronavirus tests have been conducted with one-fifth coming back positive, according to new data.

Across state and local laboratories, 1,290,619 tests for the virus, have been run, according to The COIVD Tracking Project.

And while the majority of swabs have come back negative, at least 270,000 people - including 33,000 who have been hospitalized - been confirmed to have the virus.

However, with health experts say that with millions across the US still awaiting tests, the number of tests that have been performed are far from adequate.

In both state and local laboratories, a total of 1,290,619 tests for coronavirus, have been conducted. Pictured: A medical worker takes a swab sample from someone at a coronavirus drive-thru center in Jericho, New York, April 2

So far, at least 245,000 people have been confirmed positive, about one-fifth of those tested. Pictured: EMTs lift a patient into an ambulance in New York City, March 24

Dr Deborah Birx, the response coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said 50 percent of testing data is missing. Pictured: Birx speaks during a coronavirus task force press briefing at the White House, April 2

But Dr Deborah Birx, the response coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, says 50 percent of the data for tests that have been conducted.

On Thursday, Birx said that all tests were required to be report their results to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the $2 trillion economic stimulus measure signed into law by President Donald Trump.

'Well, I'm telling you, I'm still missing 50 percent of the data from reporting,' she told reporters.

'I have 660 [thousand] tests reported in. We've done 1.3 million...So, we do need to see - the bill said you need to report. We are still not receiving 100 percent of the tests.'

When asked about reports that one in three tests had resulted in false negatives, Birx reported: 'I haven't seen that kind of anomaly.'

On Wednesday, CNN reported that Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest commercial labs in the US, is facing a severe backlog.

About 160,000 coronavirus test orders were waiting to be processed on March 25, and people were waiting up to 10 days for results.

The Department of Health and Human Services told CNN that only five locations of major pharmacy chains - such as CVS and Walmart - were offering drive-thru testing.

It comes on the heels of news that Trump denied testing delays in a phone call with governors.

According to audio obtained by The New York Times, Montana Governor Steve Bullock, a Democrat, said several states don't have enough tests.

Trump replied: 'I haven't heard about testing in weeks' and 'I haven't heard about testing being a problem.'

'Yeah, that's just not true,' Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, later told NPR on Tuesday.

Worldwide more than 1.03 million people have been infected with the virus and more than 54,000 people have died.

In the US, there are more than 270,000 confirmed cases and more than 7,000 deaths.
Michael Bulkin lost his job as a lift operator last month when Mt. Hood Ski Bowl shut down, joining at least 169,000 Oregonians who suddenly found themselves seeking unemployment benefits.

The coronavirus pandemic has closed all manner of businesses and forced record-setting layoffs in each of the past two weeks. The resulting spike in jobless claims has completely overwhelmed the states system for processing new claims, leaving Bulkin and tens of thousands of others stymied when they try to check the status of their claims or update their information.

When you try to call unemployment its just a busy tone, all the time, said Bulkin, 32.

Uncertain when his first benefits checks will arrive, Bulkin decided to move out of his studio apartment in Beaverton and back in with family. He said hes facing a cash crunch while he waits for clarity on what benefits he will receive, and when.

Its happening to everybody, Bulkin said, but its definitely happening to me.

The Oregon Employment Department acknowledges it has been completely swamped by the flood of jobless claims. More people filed new claims in the past two weeks than in the prior 39 weeks combined.

Its not like anything weve seen and so thats causing some frustration for people who are trying to get through and get help, employment department economist Gail Krumenauer said in a video the department posted this week to explain the delays and confusion.

The states online claims system appears to be holding up comparatively well under the strain, but some people cannot file online because of particular aspects of their case, or because they fall into categories of workers newly eligible for benefits under the coronavirus rescue package Congress passed last week.

Others say theyre getting error messages or confusing responses from the filing system. When laid-off workers return to the website a week later to file their next weeks claims, the employment department says some are getting a message that the system cannot find their initial claim from the prior week.

The issue, according to the department, is their claims havent been processed yet. If online filers receive a confirmation number, that indicates a claim has been filed and will be processed. The department says those filers should keep updating their status each week, even though the online system says it cant find their claims.

please allow a few weeks for your claim to be processed, at which point you will be notified.



In the meantime, please continue to file weekly, (even if something pops up that says it cannot find your initial claim, which just means it is still processing) as this will all ...  Oregon Employment Department (@ORemployment) April 2, 2020

Such confusion is producing additional calls, further overwhelming the system. The employment department says it has doubled the number of people taking calls, and will soon triple it. Still, that doesnt come close to keeping up with the nineteenfold increase in the total number of new claims.

For individual Oregonians, its impossible to know how long it will take before they start receiving relief checks.

Were catching up to this really unprecedented level of claims, Krumenauer said. And so we know that its taking more than a week to get to those initial claims.

Portland massage therapist Eliza Crockett closed her practice on March 10, well ahead of the shutdown orders. Crockett is in her 60s and concluded it wouldnt be possible to keep her and her clients safe given the virus rapid spread.

At the time, the laws governing unemployment benefits excluded self-employed people like her. So Crockett said she was thrilled and surprised when Congress changed the rules last week to make her and others eligible.

That delight turned to frustration, though, when Crockett tried to file her claim online. The system seemed to suggest she couldnt claim benefits so she gave up and tried to call. Like so many others, all she got was a busy signal -- and that left her and her claim in limbo.

The employment department says it is awaiting advice from the federal government on how to implement changes in eligibility and benefits.

The department advises independent contractors, gig workers and others who are newly eligible for benefits to continue trying to file online  though the department acknowledges there may be glitches that will prevent them from completing the process, or that stop claims from going through.

So you just wing it and you hope you will get enough information in there so there will be some follow through? Crockett asked. OK, she said, she will try.

While the claims process has been delayed for many, there is no indication their money is permanently blocked. The state says its unemployment insurance trust fund totaled $5 billion at the beginning of the year, among the best funded in the nation according to U.S. Department of Labor rankings. Congress added billions of dollars in federal money nationwide when it expanded the program at the end of March.

Nationally, 6.6 million people filed for unemployment claims last week  double the record-breaking total from the week before.

The 168,000 claims Oregonians filed over the past two weeks surely understate the depth of the states economic cataclysm for the simple reason that thousands of people havent been able to complete the filing process.

Im assuming that my claim is just on hold and who knows how many others are in the same boat, lamented Erika Schroeder, a Southeast Portland chef who filed her initial claim two weeks ago after the cafe where she works closed.

The online claims system indicated Schroeder, 47, needed to speak to someone by phone to complete the process of getting her check. Shes called as many as 50 times a day, Schroeder said, but hasnt been able to through.

While Schroeder said her family isnt facing an immediate financial crisis, she knows many other Oregonians are.

I dont even know whats wrong with my claim, she said. Nobodys called me back. I dont even know what the problem is or when relief is in sight.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway |

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
" Whatever you did for one of the least of these  you did for me. / Depart [from the presence of God]  you who are cursed / For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, / I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."  From Matthew 25:40-45 of the Christian Bible (New International Version).





By Deauwand Myers



Many Americans pride themselves on being Christian, and on the right/far right of American politics, they even go so far as to say America is a Christian nation, founded on Christian values. Conservatives have always been ahistorical to a fault; it's part of their charm.



Notwithstanding the genocidal land theft of indigenous populations (replete with their own rich religions) having lived in America for thousands of years before Europeans even knew America existed, if "Christian" means being altruistic and good and kind and decent, the Christianity displayed throughout American history is anathema to anything resembling true Christians, or true human beings, for that matter. Slavery and Jim Crow just scratch the surface of this moral hypocrisy.



In truth, American Christians, certainly the most vocal and politically potent of those who profess said faith, have a very myopic, calcified, white supremacist, and ethnocentric view of how Christianity should be practiced. One must only believe in the story of the Christ, be anti-abortion, and homophobic to get into the membership.



We express our core beliefs through public policy. Conservative Christian voters, and the politicians who represent them, say abortions should be illegal, and thus proclaim women's bodies, once impregnated, are property of the state.



Yet, in that same breath, they are fiscally conservative, cutting all the social programs directly targeting the women (and their children) most likely to seek abortions (working class and women of color). This is maddeningly cruel, and again, morally hypocritical.



Conservatives and Republicans are not "pro-life." They are "pro-birth." They care about the life of the baby until birth, and nothing thereafter.



From the death penalty, to civil rights, living wages, paid maternal and paternal child leave, decreasing America's unusually high maternal birth mortality rates, subsidized childcare, environmental protection, affordable housing, and most glaringly, universal healthcare, the right cares about the wealthy and corporations, and the rest should just try their best.



Socialism for the very rich and big business juxtaposed with rugged individualism for most of the electorate is about as anti-Christian and just objectively immoral as one can imagine, but considering the bloody four centuries of American history perpetuated by gallant Christians, this is not surprising, just wholly depressing.



The COVID-19 pandemic, and America's late and frighteningly incompetent federal and state responses to it, lays bare the amorality of our so-called Christian nation, although a pandemic wasn't necessary to see the yawning gap in the quality of life for the few uber-rich and everyone else, particularly in regards to healthcare.



If America had universal healthcare and paid sick leave, average citizens wouldn't have to worry about making the Orwellian decision of whether to risk getting sick or going to work. Hospitals, not seeking profits, would have had ample supplies for the eventuality of a pandemic or nationwide disaster.



But because hospitals are profit centers, funds were never allocated for serious stockpiling of protective medical equipment and respirators, as the fiduciary responsibility of the hospitals are to their stakeholders, not public health and welfare.



Healthcare should not be a business model or a profit center, nor should pharmaceutical companies charge Americans 10 times what they do sane countries that demand fair pricing.



Korea is half Buddhist; Japan is mostly areligious; Western Europe is culturally Christian, but for the most part, non-adherent. How is it that non-Christian countries have a humane, Christian-like safety net? How is it that hyper-fundamentalist Christian America's Hunger Games/Chronicles of Riddick-style society (you keep what you kill) still exists to the point of secular ethos?



That's easy. Christianity, like most religions, is ideal in the abstract, but often nightmarish when mediated through human societies. You can explain away genocide and all manner of society through your interpretation of holy texts. It's one of the oldest stories in human history.



In America, Christ was never king. Cash is king, god-like and long-lived. And this god requires cruelty and malice.



Greed and the vilification of the poor, launched to great success by the conservative President Ronald Reagan 40 years ago, and perpetuated by all Republican administrations and governments thereafter, ridiculed and actively dismantled America's safety net and the federal apparatus used to competently handle major crises.



Turns out when everyone is the least of these, healthcare and a strong welfare state are actually necessary. Behold: this is what an emaciated government produces.





Deauwand Myers (deauwand@hotmail.com) holds a master's degree in English literature and literary theory, and is an English professor outside Seoul.


- Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said he has gone on self-isolation after possible exposure to persons who have tested positive for Covid-19

- Governor Bello said he and his family members have undergone the Covid-19 test and are waiting for their results as they all self-isolate

- The Niger state governor also instructed his close aides and cabinet members who might have had contact with him to self-isolate

The governor of Niger state, Abubakar Sani Bello, has reportedly gone on self-isolation after possible exposure to some of Nigeria's confirmed coronavirus cases.

The Nation reports that Governor Bello took the decision to self-isolate following his presence at the Nigeria Governors Forum meeting which was held on Wednesday, March 18.

Legit.ng notes that the meeting was attended by a lot of Governors, including Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, who has tested positive for Covid-19.

Mary Noel Berje, Governor Bello's media aide, said the Niger state governor has been tested and is now awaiting his status as he self-isolates.

Member of Governor Bello's family have also undergone the test and are waiting for their results.

The governor has also instructed his close aides and cabinet members who might have had contact with him to self-isolate.

Recall that Governor Bello had earlier declared a lockdown in the state, imposing restriction of movement from 8am to 8pm.

The restriction of movement which the governor announced in a state broadcast on Monday, March 23, will commence on Wednesday, March 25.

Governor Bello said the move became necessary due to the new cases emerging from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), noting theta Niger state is very close to the FCT.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the best news on Nigeria's #1 news app

In a similar development, Ekiti state has been plunged into anxiety after Governor Kayode Fayemi confirmed he has taken coronavirus test after meeting with two confirmed cases.

Fayemi made this known in a tweet on his verified official Twitter handle on Wednesday morning, March, 25.

The governor's revelation came in barely twenty-four hours after President Muhammadu Buhari's chief of staff, Abba Kyari, tested positive to the deadly infection.

The fear at Aso Rock was heightened as three aides who established contact with the chief of staff also allegedly tested positive for the virus.

Similarly, the presidency has confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari tested negative for the novel coronavirus infection.

Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity made the confirmation in a statement on Wednesday, March 25.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better

Coronavirus: Nigeria's health minister speaks on chloroquine as cure for COVID-19 | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
Curb your Enthusiasm...

While watching "Curb your Enthusiam" recently, actor/producer/director/writer of the television show (and formerly producer/writer of the very successful television show "Seinfeld" starring JERRY SEINFELD, LARRY DAVID, mentioned my very famous cousin, writer DANIEL KEYES and also one of Dan's books, "Flowers For Algernon," which, by the way, was required reading in most New York City schools.

The book incidentally, was turned into the movie "Charly" starring Cliff Robertson.

Danny's mom and my mom were sisters. We are close family. Unfortunately, Danny passed away a few years ago. We will always be proud of him!

(Incidentally, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld are also Jewish and, like me, were born in Brooklyn!)

A DONALD TRUMP look-a-like?...

"I refer to British Prime Minister BORIS JOHNSON, who recently pledged to introduce legislation to undermine the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.

Some local authorities have voted to support BDS by opposing products produced in the West Bank. If Johnson's legislation passes, the new law would supplant current local law and prevent local councils from imposing boycotts, as well as ban universities from organizing BDS campaigns against any country.

In documents laying out his party's agenda, Prime Minister Johnson said that BDS had fueled anti-Semitism, citing the censorship of Jewish films and threats to ban Jewish university societies.

MARIE VAN DER ZYL, president of the WJC affiliate Board of Deputies of British Jews, welcomed the announcement, noting that the boycott, divestment and sanctions of public bodies 'intimidates Jewish communities in the Diaspora and does nothing to build peace in the Middle East.'

Britain is not the first country to announce3 steps to combat BDS. In May of last year, the German Bundestag passed the first symbolic resolution of its kind in the European Union designating the BDS movement against Israel as anti-Semitic and calling on government bodies to refrain from funding or supporting any groups that question Israel's right to exist.

WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER called that motion 'a moral gesture worthy of emulation' that sets a 'strong example worthy of emulation' that sets a 'strong example to other governments in Europe on contending with the funding for groups which call Israel's right to exist into question and promote agendas which run contrary to European values and the quest for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.'

Days later, in a video message, Prime Minister Johnson unequivocally condemned anti-Semitism and emphasized the importance of the British Jewish population, declaring that 'Britain would not be Britain without its Jewish community' and encouraging Jews to celebrate their unique identity.

'Recent years have not been easy ones for British Jews,' he acknowledged, as anti-Semites 'have been emboldened to crawl out from under their rocks and begin once again to spread their brand of noxious hatred far and wide,' but he reassured his Jewish citizens that they are not alone in their fight against anti-Semitism and that 'every decent person in this country' is fighting by their side."

To change the subject...

Here is some good advice from LYA EISENBERG:

Never blame anyone in your life.

The good people give you happiness.

The bad people give you experiences.

The worst people give you a lesson.

The best people give you memories.

P.S. Drink lots of water!

(So true! Thanks, Lya.)

A Successful Businessman...

In these days of coronavirus threats, it's great to hear that someone is doing well!

Here is a message just received from our own LARRY H. OKSIN, head of Marketing Solutions/Art Beautique.

"Good News! I was just featured as 'A well-respected Clermont/South Lake area Marketing & PR Expert' on South Lake TV!

JOE CARLISLE, the SLTV producer wanted me to help share some basic marketing, branding and PR ideas with him and their online TV audience."

Larry David

Larry was just interviewed on local TV and did a great job!

(Wow, Larry, that's great!)

One for the road...

Sydney and his wife Miriam join their shul's Hebrew Reading course. At the end of their first week, their teacher, Rabbi Bloom, goes over to Sydney and asks, "So tell me Sydney, what do you think of my Hebrew class?"

"It's not as bad as I thought it would be, rabbi," replies Sydney.

"What do you mean by that?" asks Rabbi Bloom.

"If I'm honest, Rabbi, I must admit that I really only have to learn the first part of every Hebrew sentence."

"Why do you say that?" asks Rabbi Bloom.

"Because, as she always does, Miriam finishes all my sentences for me."
Venezuela, once one of Latin Americas most affluent countries, is today deep in an economic and political crisis due to the gross mismanagement and corruption of Nicolas Maduro and his illegitimate regime.

Severe shortages of necessities, including food, medicine, and potable water, as well as the regimes brutal suppression of political dissent, have caused some 4.5 million of Venezuelas 30 million people to flee the country. But this means that close to 26 million people are left to endure horrendous conditions. Ninety percent of Venezuelans remaining in the country now live in poverty, while hundreds of political prisoners languish in jail without just cause or due process.

Despite a 2018 Organization of American States resolution that declares Maduros presidency illegitimate due to a deeply flawed election, Maduro has retained power over Venezuelas military forces, thanks in large part to the support he receives from Cuba and Russia.

As early as 2018, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro warned that more than 20,000 Cubans are in Venezuela to prop up Maduro. They are collecting intelligence about dissidents, performing migration services, and training Venezuelan government forces to torture and repress political prisoners.

In the meantime, Russia has supplied military equipment and weapons systems to Venezuelas military, and loans and investments to the regime and to regime-controlled companies, thus helping the regime withstand U.S. sanctions that target significant human rights abusers. To pay for Cuban and Russian support, and to enrich himself, Nicolas Maduro is looting Venezuelas oil assets, giving tens of millions of barrels of oil to Cuba annually and channeling billions of dollars worth of oil to the Russian-owned Rosneft Trading company.

In January, the United States sanctioned Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, or MINFAR, for gross human rights violations. As head of MINFAR, Cintra Frias bears responsibility for Cubas actions to prop up the former Maduro regime in Venezuela, said Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.

One month later, the United States imposed sanctions on Rosneft Trading and its Chairman, Didier Casimiro.

In addition, President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Moscows interference in Venezuelan affairs, while Secretary of State Pompeo addressed the issue with his Russian counterpart.

The United States calls on Russia and Cuba to cease propping up the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro, who has brought nothing but grief and hardship to the Venezuelan people.

The United States remains firmly committed to the people of Venezuela and to the cause of freedom there, said the State Departments special representative to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams. We look forward to the day when Venezuela is free.
Lawmakers on Friday urged Gov. Charlie Baker to expedite or waive credentialing requirements so that nurses can help treat COVID-19 patients and track down people who may have been exposed to the virus.

The letter, signed by 29 lawmakers, was sent to Bakers office on Friday, the same day he announced a collaborative that aims to expand tracing efforts across Massachusetts.

Please allow school nurses, many of whom are home due to statewide school closures, to assist local communities with this effort. This authorization has the potential to help save lives, the letter states. Our school nurses know their communities well and are qualified to assist boards of health with this urgent work.

Lawmakers described the tracing process as a labor-intensive form of epidemiological detective work that could prove difficult to do on larger levels with the current number of tracers.

The governors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The collaborative that Baker announced Friday afternoon would make Massachusetts the first state in the nation to create an infrastructure for contact tracing. Partners In Health, a Boston-based nonprofit that is working on the collaborative, will oversee the logistical and organizational functions, Baker said.

The collaboration will have a virtual call center with up to 1,000 virtual contact tracers." Baker said people have already agreed to sign up to work the call center, and the company is hiring.

As of Friday, 192 people in Massachusetts have died from the coronavirus, and 10,402 people have tested positive. More than 62,000 residents have been tested, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Baker said on Thursday that he expects new coronavirus cases to peak between April 10 and April 20, leading to as many as 172,000 confirmed cases in Massachusetts.

Lawmakers signing the letter included Sen. Eric P. Lesser, Sen. Joanne M. Comerford, Sen. Brendan P. Crighton, Sen. Anne M. Gobi, Sen. Michael O. Moore, Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, Sen. Barry R. Finegold, Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, Sen. Patrick M. OConnor, Rep. Brian M. Ashe, Rep. Anthony F. D. Cabral, Rep. Michelle L. Ciccolo, Rep. Marcos A. Devers, Rep. Carmine L. Gentile, Rep. Hannah Kane, Rep. Adrian C. Madero, Rep. Brian W. Murray, Rep. Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Rep. Jose F. Tosado, Rep. Natalie M. Blais, Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, Rep. David F. DeCoste, Rep. Mindy Domb, Rep. Stephen Hay, Rep. Patrick J. Kearney, Rep. Joseph D. McKenna, Rep. John H. Rogers, Rep. William M. Straus and Rep. John C. Velis.

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Bhubaneswar, April 3 : The first coronavirus (COVID-19) patient of Odisha has recovered completely and was discharged from hospital after being tested negative, Health officials said on Friday.

"The first COVID-19 positive case, belonging to Bhubaneswar who is being treated at Capital hospital has recovered and tested negative for COVID-19. He is being discharged. Active COVID-19 cases in Odisha now stand at 3. Congratulations to the medical team at Capital Hospital," said a Health department tweet.

The youth from Bhubaneswar with travel history to Italy had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 15.

The second COVID-19 patient of the state was discharged on Wednesday.

So far, the government has conducted 1,113 tests, while five were confirmed COVID-19 positive.
In a clear statement that saving lives in the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be allowed to interfere with the war aims of US imperialism, the U.S. Navy fired the commander of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt who warned about the spread of the disease.

Capt. Brett Crozier conducts a remembrance ceremony for the 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami victims. (U.S Navy)

US Navy Captain Brett Crozier was fired on Thursday just two days after he sent a letter asking his superiors to take emergency action to allow the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which is suffering a major COVID-19 outbreak, to disembark.

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 in the letter.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly was clear about the message he was sending. Simultaneously referring to the ship by its nickname, the big stick and using the term to euphemistically refer to the power of US imperialism, Modly said The nation needs to know that the big stick is undaunted and unstoppable our adversaries need to know this as well. They respect and fear the big stick and they should. We will not allow anything to diminishes that respect and fear.

He continued, We are not at war by traditional measures, but neither are we at peace.

On Wednesday, US president Donald Trump announced a deployment of forces to Latin America, in a nominally counter-narcotics operation targeting Venezuela Were deploying additional Navy destroyers, combat ships, aircraft and helicopters, Coast Guard cutters and Air Force surveillance aircraft, doubling our capabilities in the region, Trump declared.

Earlier in the day, Trump had made another war threat, stating, Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on US troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!

The USS Theodore Roosevelt pulled into the island of Guam, a US territory in the western Pacific Ocean, last week after several soldiers on board tested positive for COVID-19. Sailors began falling ill about two weeks after it made a port call at Da Nang, Vietnam. About 100 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in Vietnam at that time, with most of them near Hanoi, well north of Da Nang.

The four-page letter, which included an uncharacteristically emotional appeal to top Navy officials, was sent to between 20 and 30 individuals identified as Navy leaders. The letter was leaked by the San Francisco Chronicle the following day.

Crozier called for all but ten percent of the over 4,000-person crew to disembark the ship and be quarantined in isolation as soon as possible in Guam, with remaining crew members to remain on as a necessary risk to sanitize and secure the ship while docked.

The letter raised concerns about the impossibility of social distancing and isolation of those diagnosed with COVID-19. Due to the close quarters required on a warship and the current number of positive cases, every single Sailor, regardless of rank, on board the [Theodore Roosevelt] must be considered close contact, Crozier wrote.

Naval ships require large amounts of sailors to live and work together in a confined space around the clock, with shared sleeping quarters, restrooms, workspaces and computers, a common mess hall, movement constraints requiring communal contact with ladders and hatches, and complex workflows which require close contact. The current strategy will only slow the spread, he wrote. The current plan in execution on TR will not achieve virus eradication on any timeline.

Crozier criticized the promises made by senior military officials for tests for all crew members aboard the carrier last week, as it was not a solution to the tight quarters which exacerbated the spread of the virus.

Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump made his position clear on the situation on the Theodore Roosevelt, offering no sympathy or concern but simply saying that he would let the military make that decision.

Modly denounced Croziers writing the letter as an uncharacteristic lapse of judgment that created a panic. Modly continued, And thats whats frustrating about [it], it created the perception that the Navys not on the job, and the governments not doing its job.

David Lapan, a retired Marine Corps colonel and former top spokesman for the Pentagon Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Marine Corps, did not believe that Croziers letter created any more panic than what already existed. He told DefenseOne, The idea that it got out there and it created panic among families  you dont think the families didnt already know what was going on on that ship? You dont think the sailors werent already telling their families what was happening on the ship? Thats ridiculous...Its more believable that the letter would cause the families to be upset that the Navy wasnt taking the right steps to protect their loved ones.

According to military.com, which tracks official cases of COVID-19 in the Department of Defense, as of Thursday there have been 1,638 total cases of COVID-19: 893 military, 256 dependents, 306 civilians and 95 contractors. 85 of the total have required hospitalization and five have died.

The US Navy announced Wednesday that it had begun moving 3,000 sailors of the nearly 5,000-large crew into available hotel rooms in Guam. Because there are not enough beds on the island currently, Modly told the press that the Navy would work to create tent-type facilities when needed. The Navy has denied that the letter or public reaction spurred these actions, claiming that preparations had been under way.

In a Wednesday morning press conference, Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero confirmed she would agree to allow sailors off the aircraft carrier and into strictly guarded and monitored hotels off the Navy base under certain restrictions.

In partnership with the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association, public health officials and representatives of the Navy, only sailors testing negative for COVID-19 will be housed in vacant Guam hotels ... subject to a 14-day quarantine period enforceable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, she said.

Senator Sabina Perez of Guam raised concerns over the ability of the island to handle the influx of patients from the ship and fears among the islands residents that without protective measures in place that the virus would spread at an accelerated pace on the island, which had 82 cases and three deaths since Thursday. Perez called on President Trump to utilize the Defense Production Act to accelerate the manufacturing of needed medical supplies and for the US military to mobilize available medical resources.

The US Navy stopped giving information to the Guam media on the breakdown of positive cases aboard the ship after a Pentagon memo prohibited its release, citing it as information which could compromise national security.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
LOS ANGELES - A California directive that could open the way for some patients sickened with COVID-19 to be sent from overburdened hospitals to nursing homes is being criticized by industry officials who fear vulnerable, elderly residents would be placed at risk.

The California Association of Health Facilities, which represents most skilled nursing homes in the state, warned that many of the nursing homes lack sufficient gloves, masks and other protective supplies to limit the spread of coronavirus infections. Instead, the group is urging government officials to create separate facilities to care for COVID-19 patients who are well enough to be moved from hospitals.

Under California law, facilities are not required to admit any patient if they are unable to meet their needs, and right now we cant meet patient needs, the group said.

Patricia McGinnis, executive director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, called the plan a recipe for disaster.

You have the most vulnerable population in California in nursing homes, McGinnis said. Many facilities are understaffed ... . They are not prepared.

Looking to get ready for an expected surge in COVID-19 patients, the Newsom administration notified nursing homes last month to prepare to receive patients with suspected or confirmed cases. The Department of Public Health noted that some infections may be mild and not require hospital care, while in other cases patients might have recovered sufficiently to leave a hospital but still require assistance, which could be provided by a nursing home.

The state has over 1,000 nursing homes that provide long-term medical care, known as skilled nursing facilities.

A March 30 state order to skilled nursing homes said the facilities shall not refuse to admit or readmit a resident based on their status as a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case.

However, there are restrictions: In an April 1 order, the state said patients should not be sent to nursing homes without consultation with local health officials, and the nursing home must have adequate supplies and be following federal guidelines for the care of patients with COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus.

The Department of Public Health said in a statement that COVID-19 patients can only be transferred to nursing homes that have been prepared to care for them, such as setting up portions of their facilities with separate staff and supplies.

The coronavirus crisis requires our whole health care delivery system to work together seamlessly for the health and safety of all Californians, the agency said.

Earlier this year, coronavirus outbreaks at nursing homes in Washington, Illinois, New Jersey and elsewhere highlighted the industrys long-running struggle to control infections with often limited, poorly paid staff.

At the Life Care Center in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, federal investigators believe a contributing factor in dozens of deaths was low-pay employees who came to work with the illness and potentially even spread it to other nearby facilities where they took shifts.

In California, Contra Costa Health Services said Friday that at least 27 people who live or work at a skilled nursing facility in Orinda, California, have tested positive for COVID-19. No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak.

In Yucaipa, in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles, eight nursing home residents were hospitalized in a coronavirus outbreak that infected more than 50 people and killed two of them, officials said earlier this week. Six staff members also tested positive for the virus.

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer reported four new deaths at skilled nursing or assisted-living facilities.

Gov. Gavin Newsom alluded to the dispute Friday, though he didnt directly address any of the criticisms about potentially bringing the sick into nursing homes.

We continue to also focus with acuity on whats happening in our skilled nursing facilities, whats happening with our senior centres and our adult care facilities throughout the state, he said. We said at the beginning of this epidemic that homelessness and our seniors, those were our top priorities. They remain so.

Jan Emerson-Shea of the California Hospital Association said there is a need to get patients out of the hospital who no longer need a high level of care. But at the same time hospitals dont want to create a worse problem by moving them into a facility that isnt ready to care for them, Emerson-Shea said.

Its absolutely going to be on a case-by-case basis, she said.

___

Associated Press Writers Robert Jablon and John Antczak in Los Angeles and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento contributed.
Ever on the hunt for acquisitions, Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE:IIPR) announced a fresh one on Thursday. The company has closed a deal for an industrial facility spanning roughly 199,000 square feet in Athol, Massachusetts, for which it's paying around $26.8 million (exclusive of transaction costs).

The company, so far the only specialty cannabis property real estate investment trust (REIT) on the stock market, also said that it has a tenant. This is privately held marijuana company Ascend Wellness Holdings, which is occupying the property under a long-term, triple-net lease agreement.

Under the terms of their agreement, Innovative will also provide up to $22.2 million in reimbursement for Ascend to improve and renovate the property.

Ascend will use it as a growth and processing facility, presumably to supply product to its large dispensary in downtown Boston. In January, the company received preliminary approval from the state to conduct retail sales from the five-story building. At the time, Ascend claimed that this outlet would be the biggest dispensary on the East Coast. According to Innovative, the store should open next January.

The deal marks the third collaboration between the two companies. Last summer, they entered into a similar arrangement for a smaller industrial facility in Michigan, and in December 2018, Innovative bought a 75,000 square foot property in Illinois that it leased to Ascend.

As for the Massachusetts property, Innovative said that Ascend should reap its first cannabis harvest there this month.

On Thursday, in contrast to the gains enjoyed by the broader stock market, Innovative's share price dipped by 0.2%.
Good for them.





Im gonna hold my nasty comments for JT cuz I wanna be a better person. But god I hate him.

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Link below if you're looking for ways to donate or volunteer in your own community. Stay healthy, stay calm, and help everyone stay fed.  Spread the word. @feedingamericahttps://t.co/Ixa3qi6u2G pic.twitter.com/wepfGL4E0N  Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) March 15, 2020 The OP hates Timberlake and failed to include Justin's post about his own donation

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Did we need the Justin Timberlake hate bait in this post? Its not even a new tweet. We all hate him, lets save the shit talking for posts that arent about helping people.

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lol I agree.

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We love her again never stopped loving her!

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if it was anyone else with that photo id be like are they for real but since it's timberalke... yeah makes sense



rich people should donate more since they dont pay taxes anyways

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can someone explain how feeding america works?



how do they distribute money locally? are they legit?

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Feeding America, meanwhile, is the U.S.s largest hunger-relief organization, serving more than 40 million Americans through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs with a presence across the U.S. Its COVID-19 relief efforts involve its Response Fund, launched to help member food banks secure the resources they need to continue operations.



If you want to donate to a local food bank feeding the hungry  or volunteer  in your own neighborhood, you can do so from Feeding Americas website here. From its search results, youll get the web addresses for the food banks in your city. And from their own websites, you can find out how to give directly.



https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/02/apple-laurene-powell-jobs-and-leonardo-dicaprio-launch-a-gofundme-with-12m-for-the-hungry/



This article is skeptical of the GoFundMe. They basically tell you to directly contribute to the two foundations (Feeding America and World Central Kitchen) this new fund raising campaign is raising money for. This article is skeptical of the GoFundMe. They basically tell you to directly contribute to the two foundations (Feeding America and World Central Kitchen) this new fund raising campaign is raising money for.

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Feeding America is a non-profit that organizes a national network of food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and other anti-hunger organizations. They provide funding for those in their member network (usually through grants) and also do education, policy advocacy and lobbying around hunger issues in DC and support for people who do policy advocacy in different states. (I work for a member org and have to deal with them a lot, so I'm happy to answer questions)

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how are the strikes going?



Also, I found out the amzon organizer in Long Island was Black and I'm super proud lolol

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Edited at 2020-04-02 11:50 pm (UTC) I think that's the highest donation from celebs after Ralph Lauren so far.

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Aww Leo looked so cheeky here. RIP

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lol he use to be in his earlier days before he really hit the fame. He was def friendlier~ with the papz before.



Rodrigo, we're ready~

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God he was dreamy back then. My first ever crush.

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Thanks for the post, OP. Could you add covid tag, plz?

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NEW: Brazil has determined that a woman who died on January 23 was infected with coronavirus, more than a month before South America's first confirmed case - G1  BNO Newsroom (@BNODesk) 2. April 2020





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Yeah these cases are scary. I remember a few people here saying who knows who have the virus but maybe thought it was a simple fever/flu since not everyone has a strong reaction to it back in nov/december time.



:|||

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I know some ppl laugh at the optimism (including my best friend who has a public health degree so ) but Im trying to remain hopeful that a lot of people have already had it. Not that Im celebrating a woman dying, not in any form. But if more people have had it were closer to this being over =\

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my grandpa had a terrible cold this february, tested negative for the flu, no fever but he was coughing a lot for weeks



i do wonder about that now

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I'm almost convinced I had it in Feb. I had the worse fever I've ever had and was coughing a lot. One Sat I could barely move and ended up passing out at 7p and waking up the next day at 8. The only thing was that I felt immediately better 2 days later, not in line with how the symptoms currently are playing out

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A friend of mine was really sick in Jan and tested negative for flu/strep/etc.. hes pretty convinced he had it before it was widely known in the US

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Ive posted this before, but I think I had it mid february. I get strep a lot so Im pretty good at diagnosing it and getting myself to urgent care as soon as I feel it. I thought I had strep but tested negative for both it and the flu. The only thing not strep like was the cough I had. The doctor chalked it up to a cold with bad allergies. I was EXHAUSTED the next two days. But bounced back, aside from my cough, after that.

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Realistically corona has been in other parts of the world since December. Wasnt it reported that China knew of it back in November/early December but didnt do anything? That was more than enough time to infect people, them leave China, go elsewhere and infect people there. My friend thinks she had it in early January and I believe her.

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My mom swears my dad had it in November.

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i wonder if i had it tbh in january i had what i thought was a cold and it was mild, but i was exhausted in a way i've never been exhausted before. it was about 2 weeks after christmas when i was traveling through LAX. and i didn't really have any congestion which is what i ALWAYS have with a cold/flu. but i just hope that the majority of people have mild cases, including all of us if we haven't.

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The first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the Amazon. A 20 year old Indigenous woman has tested positive for the virus. She is from the Kokama Tribe, which is located in the district of Santo Antonio do Ica. #Coronavirus #Brazil #Amazon https://t.co/lNP0H56bzh  Rainforest Fund (@_RFUND) April 2, 2020

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Oh no :(

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I want to say this was preventable but I dont think it was. Maybe the doctor should have self quarantined before he went back to his post?



Hopefully now that theyve isolated these cases it wont spread further.



Edited at 2020-04-03 12:05 am (UTC)

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Shit :(

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What was the point of adding in the JT tweet, which has been in multiple other posts for some reason?

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WHAT is Jeff Bezos wearing in that picture

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Its a Nehru jacket, he was speaking in India. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehru_jacket

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oh ok, that makes sense. vests are a big tech bro thing here so that's where my mind went

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tbh Jeff Bezos would probably do more good by a. compensating the people that work in his warehouses appropriately & providing them with a safe/humane working environment, and also b. paying fair (read: way more) taxes.



but money to food banks is always good. hope these celebs actually go through w/ it and it's not another notre-dame where everyone pledged and never paid up.

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Yep!



Point A would also help feed lots of low income families.

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Yup and yup.

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Bezos can still do more.



His net worth is way too big to be let off the hook. Sorry. I don't care.

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IA. He could make sure his employees get hazard pay and sick leave and pay his fucking taxes for a start.



But he won't do any of that.

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he could donate a billion. lets be fucking real

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South Africa: Department steps up efforts to relieve water shortages in Gauteng

The Department of Water and Sanitation in Gauteng has stepped up efforts to relieve water shortages in desperate Gauteng communities.

The department has delivered 852 water tanks and 20 tankers to water-stressed communities that have the least capacity to avert the rapid spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the province and thus flatten the curve.

The department said it is working collaboratively with Rand Water and municipalities to provide water to desperate communities in the most densely populated informal settlements to reduce the chances of the virus passing from one person to the other.

Various areas in the province, including Roodepoort, Soweto, and Ennerdale in the City of Johannesburg, Hammanskraal in the City of Tshwane, benefitted from the effort. Other areas that benefitted include municipalities in the West Rand District Municipality, as well as Benoni in the City of Ekurhuleni.

Roodepoort received 100 water tanks with a capacity of 2500 litres while Soweto got 194x2500 litres and 16x5000 litres capacity tanks. Hammanskraal received assistance with 57 water tanks of which 37 have a capacity of 2500 litres and the rest have a capacity of 5000 litres, the departments Gauteng Provincial Head, Sibusiso Mthembu, said.

In Benoni, 70 water tanks with a capacity of 2500 litres and four water tankers were delivered.

The West Rand District Municipality also recieved 126x5000 litres water tanks together with three water tankers, while the Lesedi Local Municipality got 34x2500 litres water tanks and two water tankers.

The Midvaal Local Municipality was the recipient of 34x2500 litres of water tanks with two water tankers.

A total of 95 water tanks were also delivered in Merafong Local Municipality with 40x10000 litres, 17x2500 litres and 38x 5000 litres.

Thirty three water tankers with 10x10000 and 23x5000 litres were delivered in Mogale City.

Mthembu said that as the countrys epicentre of the virus, Gautengs infection rate was not increasing as steeply since the lockdown, but it was still increasing.

There was therefore a need for everyone to put their shoulder to the wheel to stem the infections.

He said the deployment of water tanks and tankers had increased significantly since Minister Lindiwe Sisulus announcement to provide water to destitute communities.

Mahlobo visits Vaalkop Water Treatment

Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, David Mahlobo, will today visit Vaalkop Water Treatment Works and Madibeng Local Municipality to ensure that the communities are supplied with adequate and quality water.

The visit follows a visit by Human Settlements Deputy Minister, Pam Tshwete, to the same municipality in March.

The department noted that even though Tshwete had instructed Madibeng Local Municipality to develop an action plan that will assist in ensuring that communities are supplied with adequate and quality water, this has not helped, as the challenges besetting the municipality seem not to be reducing.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/02/2020 -- Anaphylaxis is a serious, allergic reaction that is to be treated immediately. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction with cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, or cutaneous manifestations resulting from exposure to an offending agent, usually insect sting, food, physical factor, or medication. It is typical causes more than one of the symptoms such as throat or tongue swelling, itchy rash, vomiting, shortness of breath, light-headedness, and low blood pressure. Anaphylaxis occurs due to the release of mediators from white blood cells that initiate immunological or nonimmunologic mechanisms. Anaphylaxis is primarily treated by epinephrine through IV route or intra-muscular route. Addition to epinephrine antihistamines, H2 blockers, vasodilators, and steroids are used to relieve the symptoms.



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Top Emerging Market players includes are:



ALK-Abello (Denmark), Impax Laboratories Inc. (U.S.), Lincoln Medical Ltd. (New Zealand), Mylan NV ( U.S.), Adamis Pharmaceutical Corporation (U.S.), MannKind Corporation (U.S.), Pfizer Inc. (U.S.), GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (U.K) , Merck & Co., Inc. (U.S.) to name a few.



Scope of the Anaphylaxis Treatment Report-



The Author of the Report is Providing a piece of detail information about the Main local markets and their progress in the recent periods. It explores each segment of the Anaphylaxis Treatment market in depth so that the reader can be guided towards the future opportunities and profitabilities of the industry. Our professional and expert analysts use the Government Documents, Press Releases, White Papers, Financial Reports, Investor Information, and Public or Personal Interviews for gathering exact Data and Information related to the market place. Additionally, it involves a comprehensive study of market dynamics, Growth Initiators, constraints, challenges, opportunities, and Trends.



Based on drug class, Anaphylaxis Treatment Market is segmented into



Adrenergic Agents (Epinephrine)



Anti-Histamines



Others



Based on route of administration, Anaphylaxis treatment market is segmented into



Parenteral



Oral



Others



Based on distribution channel, Anaphylaxis treatment market is segmented into



Hospital Pharmacies



Retail Pharmacies



Online Pharmacies



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Major Topics Covered in this Report



3. Global Anaphylaxis Treatment Market Dynamics



3.1. Drivers



3.2. Restraints



3.3. Opportunities/Unmet Needs of the Market



3.4. Trends



3.5. Global Anaphylaxis Treatment Market Dynamics - Factors Impact Analysis



3.6. Global Anaphylaxis Treatment Market - Regulations



3.6.1. U.S



3.6.2. Europe



3.6.3. Japan



3.6.4. China



3.7. Global Anaphylaxis Treatment Market - Product Innovations



4. Global Anaphylaxis Treatment Market Analysis, 2014  2018 and Forecast, 2019 - 2025



4.1. Market Analysis, 2014 - 2018 and Forecast, 2019 - 2025 (Revenue, USD Mn)



4.2. Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) Growth Analysis (%)



4.3. Market Oppurtunity Analysis



5. Global Anaphylaxis Treatment Market, By Drug Class, 2014  2018 and Forecast, 2019  2025



5.1. Adrenergic Agents (Epinephrine)



5.1.1. Market Analysis, 2014 - 2018 and Forecast, 2019 - 2025 (Revenue, USD Mn)



5.1.2. Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) Growth Analysis (%) and Market Share Analysis



5.1.3. Market Opportunity Analysis



5.2. Anti-Histamines



5.2.1. Market Analysis, 2014 - 2018 and Forecast, 2019 - 2025 (Revenue, USD Mn)



5.2.2. Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) Growth Analysis (%) and Market Share Analysis



5.2.3. Market Opportunity Analysis



5.3. Others



5.3.1. Market Analysis, 2014 - 2018 and Forecast, 2019 - 2025 (Revenue, USD Mn)



5.3.2. Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) Growth Analysis (%) and Market Share Analysis



5.3.3. Market Opportunity Analysis



6. Global Anaphylaxis Treatment Market Forecast, By Route of Administration, 2014  2018 and Forecast, 2019  2025



6.1. Parenteral



6.1.1. Market Analysis, 2014 - 2018 and Forecast, 2019 - 2025 (Revenue, USD Mn)



6.1.2. Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) Growth Analysis (%) and Market Share Analysis



6.1.3. Market Opportunity Analysis



6.2. Oral



6.2.1. Market Analysis, 2014 - 2018 and Forecast, 2019 - 2025 (Revenue, USD Mn)



6.2.2. Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) Growth Analysis (%) and Market Share Analysis



6.2.3. Market Opportunity Analysis



6.3. Others



6.3.1. Market Analysis, 2014 - 2018 and Forecast, 2019 - 2025 (Revenue, USD Mn)



6.3.2. Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) Growth Analysis (%) and Market Share Analysis



6.3.3. Market Opportunity Analysis



Many more....



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Thomas Jefferson medical personnel sit around a space heater under their tent at the coronavirus swab testing facility at 10th and Sansom Street. Read more

A slew of new coronavirus tests is coming  and so is confusion about them.

Stephen Hahn, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, didnt help matters Thursday when he told CBS radio, Were going to announce today our first approval of a serology test that will, in laboratories, allow the labs to determine exposure in the antibodies. A few moments later, he added that those serology tests arent FDA approved. but weve given them the flexibility to go forward as long as theyve done their own quality assurance."

Serology tests  so called because they examine the blood serum  could be transformative in managing the pandemic, if they work. In theory, the tests could help diagnose and even treat infections. The tests might also identify people who could safely go back to work, and answer questions about the transmissibility and lethality of the virus.

But just like the laborious, time-consuming molecular tests that have been used worldwide to diagnose the coronavirus over the last three months, the serology versions are fraught with unknowns and pitfalls. Here is an overview:

Immunology

When a virus invades the body, it starts producing telltale proteins, called antigens. The bodys disease-fighting immune system then produces antibodies that zero in on the antigens and neutralize the virus. Thats a bit of an oversimplification, but its what Hahn was referring to. Serology tests detect immune activation.

Rapid diagnostic tests, which use a sample of blood or another body fluid, look for antigens (think of the influenza and strep tests) or antibodies, (the HIV test), or both.

The implications

Numerous academic and commercial labs around the world have developed and validated serological antibody tests because of their potential to fill critical needs.

Last week, for example, researchers led by Florian Krammer at Mount Sinais Icahn School of Medicine, published instructions for making their antibody test to encourage its wide use.

 HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you.

Daniel Stadlbauer, a virologist in Krammers lab, said the first goal of testing is to recruit recovered COVID-19 patients to donate their blood so the antibody-laden plasma can be extracted and given to critically ill patients. Mount Sinai has so far given convalescent plasma to four patients.

Another goal is to screen workers, starting with health-care providers, to find those with enough antibodies to safely return to work.

That could restart the economy, he said. There is already talk of immunity passports in European countries."

Experts agree that serology tests could also identify people who lack immunity so they can be first in line for a vaccine, which could be available within 18 months. Ultimately, with population testing, called serosurveys, public health authorities could map the full scope of the pandemic and be on guard for resurgences.

China has begun doing such serosurveys. In the United States, United Biomedical is offering its antibody test, free, to all 8,000 resident of Telluride, the wealthy Colorado ski town where the companys cofounders have a residence.

 READ MORE: Why a coronavirus vaccine may take 18 months to reach the public

Limitations

If serology tests are so quick and easy, why havent we been using them since the beginning of the pandemic?

One reason is that looking for secondary evidence of a disease-causing germ is tricky. Timing matters; if there arent enough antigens or antibodies to be detected, that can undermine the accuracy. Or, if the test isnt precise enough in probing for a protein, it may detect antibodies to the wrong virus, a problem called cross-reaction. Coronaviruses that cause common colds can cross-react with tests for the new virus.

There is a lot we dont know about the immune response to the virus, said Kelly Wroblewski, director of infectious-disease programs at the Association of Public Health Laboratories. What antibody [level] is enough for immunity? We have to make some assumptions.

The clinical value of these tests is not known yet, researchers wrote in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. There are challenges such as cross-reactivity, and ... sometimes the test does not detect the virus when it is there.

The Spanish government can attest. It bought and then withdrew 340,000 Chinese-made coronavirus antibody testing kits, deeming the test too inaccurate to use to diagnose patients. The maker, Bioeasy Technology, said it would replace some of the tests.

Until now, worldwide diagnosis of coronavirus has relied on time-consuming molecular tests that use PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to look for viral RNA in nasal swab samples. But even this highly sensitive technology isnt perfect; in one Chinese study, 30% of infected patients got negative results.

Regulations

Over the last month, the FDAs regulation of coronavirus testing has gone from restrictive (only the governments test was initially authorized for emergency use) to liberal. Now, any lab or company that wants to roll out a molecular PCR test for coronavirus can do so as long as the maker submits data to the FDA for review within 15 days.

As for serology tests, the makers dont even have to go through FDA review because the tests are less complex than molecular tests and are solely used to identify antibodies to the virus. Makers still have to validate their serology tests, notify the FDA, and include warnings that the results should not be used as the sole basis for a diagnosis.

Nonetheless, Cellex, a North Carolina company, went through FDA review and got an emergency authorization, issued Wednesday, for its serology test. Cellex is the first approval of a serology test that Hahn referred to.
Various Google products received price cuts - from Pixel phones to Nest smart speakers. You can buy them from the official Google store as well as several British retailers.

Google is offering 150 store credit with each Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. Or you can get the discount up front - the Pixel 4 is 520 at Currys, John Lewis and Carphone Warehouse. You can also find the XL at those stores for 680.

The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are 30 off - you can find the smaller phone for 300 on Google.com, the XL model is 370. Currys and Carphone Warehouse are selling them at the same prices. This particular discount will last until April 21.

The Nest Mini (the replacement for the Home Mini) is 40% off, costing just 30 on Google.com. If you want a bigger speaker, the Home Max is down 50 to 250. If you prefer a smart screen instead, the Nest Hub is half off, you can grab one for 60. The Nest smart thermostats and cameras are discounted by up to 50 too.

The Pixel Slate (Chrome OS tablet) is 300 off, but note that only the Core i5 version is in stock (the i7 one was 550 off, but there are no units left). The Chromecast Ultra got a small 10 discount to 60 and if you don't care about 4K, the regular Chromecast is down to 25.

Via
Workers wheel a deceased person outside of Brooklyn Hospital Center during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 30, 2020. Brendan McDermid | Reuters

The world is reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, and some countries are reeling more than others. But Germany seems to be taking the epidemic in its stride with a high number of cases but a low number of deaths, thanks to a number of factors. In Europe, while Italy and Spain are the worst hit countries with over 100,000 cases each, as of Friday, Germany has recorded 84,794 confirmed cases but has witnessed just 1,107 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The low mortality rate in Germany, at just over 1%, is far below its neighboring European countries, and this has been put down to Germany's decision to implement widespread testing of people suspected of having the virus, as opposed to Italy or the U.K.'s decision to only test symptomatic cases. Karl Lauterbach, a professor of health economics and epidemiology at the University of Cologne, and a politician in the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Germany, told CNBC that Germany's less severe experience of the pandemic so far was down to a handful of factors. "I think so far we've been lucky because we were hit by the wave of new infections later than many other European countries, for example Italy, Spain and France," he told CNBC Thursday.

"So we had a minor but important delay in the wave of infections coming to Germany. Secondly, the first people that got infected in Germany tended to be younger than the average of the population ... so we were hit later and with younger patients initially." Lauterbach noted that a third factor that helped Germany was a slow increase in the number of infections, allowing those patients to be treated at the country's top medical institutions, including some of the country's best university hospitals (including those in Bonn, Dusseldorf, Aachen and Cologne) in the Heinsberg region where there was a cluster of infections at the start of the outbreak. "Number four, all things considered, the German health-care system and hospital system has been modernized by the Social Democrats and Christian Democrats over the last 20 years ... this meant we had more hospital beds, more ventilators, more ICU (Intensive Care Units) beds and more hospital doctors, roughly speaking, than any other comparable country in Europe ... So our system is in a reasonable shape for such an epidemic."

Suppression strategy

While almost all European countries have introduced lockdowns to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, fatality rates have differed wildly. The mortality rate in Italy around the end of March stood at 11%, for example. Germany's rate is comparable with South Korea, a country that has also attracted plaudits for its management of the coronavirus crisis with extensive testing, contact tracing and digital surveillance of its citizens. Germany's lockdown, alongside a rigorous testing regime, has also helped, Lauterbach said. While countries like the U.K. now have to build a diagnostics industry from scratch, Germany already had one built around the multinational might of Roche. The country reportedly has the capacity to carry out up to 500,000 tests a week, whereas the U.K. can currently only manage just over 10,000 a day.
The Paris Club of creditor countries have agreed to restructure Somalias external public debt with an immediate cancellation of $1.4 billion.

The decision cancels 67% of the debts owed to Paris Club by Somalia.

Several of Somalias Paris Club creditors, including the United States, the UK and Norway, as well as the World Bank and the IMF, urged Paris Club members to provide generous debt relief to Somalia after more than nine hours of discussions by videoconference, according to Reuters.

Somalia has been pushing for the cancellation of its ballooning debt, some of which date back over four decades ago when the country was fighting the regime of Siad Barre, who was toppled in 1991.

Somali Finance Minister Abdirahman Beileh called the decision a big step forward for his country. Somali government would hold separate bilateral discussions with the creditors to finalize the process he said, adding that his government would continue the economic reforms it had undertaken over the past eight years to enable the debt relief.

The Paris Clubs decision comes after the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund canceled $823 million out of the countrys $927 million debt.

Beileh said Somalia, which was affected by a recent desert locust problem, was not ready financially to deal with the coronavirus crisis, and has sought monetary aid.
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Skeletal remains of a shipwreck have appeared on the Maine coastline nearly every 20 years, but have remained a mystery for more than six decades  until now.

Researchers have finally identified the wooden wreck as a British cargo ship that dates back before the Revolutionary War  making it older than America itself.

Using drones equip with geographical dating technology to determine it was built in 1754 and laid to rest in a sandy grave sometime during 1769.

Stefan Claesson who is a certified unmanned aircraft (UAS) mapping scientist and head of the project told DailyMail.com that the ship was carrying a four man crew along with flour, pork and English goods when it encountered a fierce storm that forced it ashore onto York Beach.

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Skeletal remains of a shipwreck have appeared on the Maine coastline nearly every 20 years, but have remained a mystery for more than six decades  until now. Researchers have finally identified the wooden wreck as a British cargo ship that dates back before the Revolutionary War  making it older than America itself

'Following the 2018 storm exposure, there remained questions about the age and origin of the shipwreck,' Claesson shared.

'The sample timbers matched a New England tree-index indicating a felling date of approximately 1753.'

'Shipwrecks like this can also be thought of as living organisms, or environmental warehouses that store and can reveal information about regional climate variations through the study of tree rings.'

'In this initial study, we now have tree-ring data for multiple species from the early 1600s to the 1700s.'

Using drones equip with geographical dating technology to determine it was built in 1754 and laid to rest in a sandy grave sometime during 1769

Stefan Claesson who is a certified unmanned aircraft (UAS) mapping scientist and head of the project told DailyMail.com that the ship was carrying a four man crew along with flour, pork and English goods when it encountered a fierce storm that forced it ashore onto York Beach

A storm had first revealed the ship in the 1958 (pictured) then again in 1960, 1983, 2013 and finally in 2018 - giving experts the opportunity to investigate its origins

A storm had first revealed the ship in the 1958 then again in 1960, 1983, 2013 and finally in 2018 - giving experts the opportunity to investigate its origins.

The team used a range of archaeological techniques during this project, including scientific dating and documentary research.

Using his specialty, Claesson unleashed a drone with geographic information system (GIS) to map and survey the site, allowing him and his team to unravel the shipwreck's secrets.

They determined the ship dates back to the mid-eighteenth century and was constructed in 1754 with wood that was cut down from trees in 1753.

It was about 60 feet long when it sailed the ocean, but the remaining structure only spans 50 feet

'Historical research revealed an account documenting a sloop called Defiance that wrecked at the York Beach location in 1769,' Claesson wrote in the email. 'The account details that a sloop Defiance was sailing out of Salem, MA bound for Portland, ME'

It was about 60 feet long when it sailed the ocean, but the remaining structure only spans 50 feet.

After determining the dates, Claesson set out to identify the ship itself.

He looked at the archives at Peabody Essex Museum and searched the records of Daniel Moulton, a local notary who documented all the wrecks in Maine between 1750 and 1794.

'Historical research revealed an account documenting a sloop called Defiance that wrecked at the York Beach location in 1769,' Claesson wrote in the email.

'The account details that a sloop Defiance was sailing out of Salem, MA bound for Portland, ME.'

'Following the 2018 storm exposure, there remained questions about the age and origin of the shipwreck,' Claesson shared. 'The sample timbers matched a New England tree-index indicating a felling date of approximately 1753.'

'The sloop and 4-man crew encountered a fierce storm, they took anchor, but in heavy seas the crew was forced to cut the anchor cables, and they were pushed ashore onto York Beach.'

'The ship was carrying a cargo of flour, pork, and English goods. The ship was a total loss, but the crew survived.

'Research also identified a sloop of the same name that was coincidentally built in 1754 in Massachusetts, which fits well with our tree-ring dates of circa 1753.

'However, additional historical research and archaeological investigations are needed to confirm the identification of the wreck as Defiance. It is assumed that the timbers were used to build the vessel shortly after felling.'
Press Release

April 3, 2020 Drilon supports two-week extension of enhanced

community quarantine in Luzon Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon warned against prematurely lifting the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). "We have sacrificed so much to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 and a total collapse of our health system. It will be a total waste if we lift prematurely the enhanced community quarantine," Drilon said in a statement on Friday. Drilon said a two-week extension is necessary in order to get a clearer and more accurate assessment of the situation. "We are only beginning to see the data. I see some data that shows it is effective, but it is too early to tell. An extra two weeks would help," he added. "During the two-week extension, the government must be able to move fast and decisively in order to prevent the scarcity of food, feed around 18 million poorest of the poor, assist those who lost livelihood, and take care of the depleting health workforce." "When more than 100 million lives are at stake, any amount of delay in government response is a mortal sin and unforgivable," Drilon stressed. "Kawawa naman po ang 18 milyong pinakamahihirap na Filipino. They are the most affected by this lockdown," he added. Drilon is a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee that will review and evaluate the implementation of the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. The World Health Organization (WHO) last April 1 also advised caution against lifting the ECQ too soon. Drilon said the government must ensure food supply and movement of essential goods and services. The minority chief said that come May, the government may consider easing the ECQ. "From May 1 to May 31, we must continue to restrict travel to and from Luzon and ban mass gathering," he proposed. He said malls and churches should remain closed, but critical manufacturing should gradually open (food and non food and supply chain), as well as critical construction (power plants, infrastructure). "What is essential is we open more jobs and livelihood, as well as access to food and supplies. This way, more people have income," he explained. To facilitate, Drilon proposed opening some modes public transportation, but not jeepneys, but only those where social distancing can still be practiced (LRT, MRT, buses).
The Islamic Republic of Iran Red Crescent Society is set to financially assist two million Iranians who have lost their jobs amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, its acting chief said on Friday, April 3.

Speaking at a news conference, Karim Hemmati said that nearly two million have been identified across the country who have lost their jobs and are not covered by the state benefits or charities.

"Those affected would soon receive 2,000,000 rials each (approximately $12.5 at free market rate)", the chief of Red Crescent said.

According to Hemmati, none of the two million are employed by the state-run departments or covered by the Relief and Welfare Committee.

"The Coronavirus crisis has hit a significant number of vulnerable individuals including daily wage earners and street peddlers. The Red Crescent Society will provide help to these people in the coming days," he promised.

Furthermore, Hemmati admitted that hospitals in Iran are suffering from a lack of ventilators, adding, "While the ministry of Health urgently needs 2,000 ventilators, the charitable donors have promised to purchase 100 ventilators and 52 devices have been purchased so far."

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Islamic Republic government, Ali Rabiei, has warned that due to the economic crisis created by the novel coronavirus outbreak, up to 400,000 might lose their jobs.

Declaring twelve million people are employed at the service sector, Rabiei promised that President Hassan Rouhani's administration would offer support facilities to the people who have lost their jobs.

Moreover, he maintained that Rouhani was highly worried about an economic breakdown, followed by a lengthy recession.

Iran is already in deep recession since 2018, that reached to a 9.5 percent drop in GDP in 2019.

In the meantime, Rabiei said in a note for the government's official news agency (IRNA) that the outcome of the novel coronavirus outbreak could be a decrease in the people's purchasing power and intensified poverty.
Wyandotte police are seeking the publics assistance in apprehending a man who held up Chase Bank, 1909 Fort St.

The robbery occurred at 3:03 p.m. on March 25.

The suspect entered the bank, demanded money and threatened to shoot the teller if she did not cooperate, said Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton.

Police are not releasing any additional information at this time.

However, they are releasing an image of the thief, taken by a bank surveillance camera, as well as a photograph of the truck he was driving.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the man, or who has information about this robbery, is asked to contact Detective Devin Geiger at 734-324-4434.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S



Yediyurappa on Friday said Muslim MLAs of the state have agreed to provide details of those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi, to the government and also convince them to undergo COVID-19 tests along with quarantining themselves.

Yediyurappa held a meeting with Muslim leaders and legislators, seeking their cooperation in containing coronavirus in the state that was attended by N A Haris, C M Ibrahim, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Rizwan Arshad, Saleem Ahmed among others.

"They have responded positively and assured to extend full cooperation in this endeavour," the Chief Minister said in a statement after the meeting.

Noting that the MLAs have agreed to give details of those who visited Jamaatand convince them to undergo tests for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves for a stipulated period, he said, "They informed that, they have conducted meetings with religious leaders of the community and created awareness about it."



They (legislators) are advising the members of the community to offer prayers at home and also to stay indoors to maintain social distance during "azan," he added.

Observing that the leaders unanimously agreed to the fact that prevention was the only way to contain the virus, the CM said they will appeal to and convince the people from the community to cooperate with the health workers.

"I appeal to the people of the state to not heed to any rumours. Let all of us strictly follow precautionary measures and win the battle over Coronavirus," he added.

The Chief Minister's meeting with Muslim leaders comes even as the government was mounting efforts to track people, who might have travelled to the state after taking part in the conference at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month, which has turned out to be the hotbed of COVID-19 spread in the country.

Nearly 1,000 people from Karnataka, who are linked to Tablighi-Jamaat have been screened and so far 10 men from Bidar and one woman from Kalaburagi (who is the contact of a person who has attended congregation), have tested positive, health department officials had said on Thursday.

Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan said the CM has requested us to appeal to the community regarding COVID-19 tests, especially those attended theTablighi Jamaat meet.

"I appeal to the Muslim community of the state, who ever had been to Nizamuddin, voluntarily get the medical checks done, it is good for you, also for every one. There is nothing wrong in it," he said.

He stated that 11 people got tested in his constituency and all turned out to be negative.

"I appeal with folded hands, go get tested. Those who have gone to Saudi Arabiaand other countries also get health checkups done," he added.

Congress MLC C M Ibrahim, assuring full cooperation to the government said, the authorities have made a list of those who had been to Jamaat and are testing them.

"By getting tested it is both good for the individual and to the society.... we appeal to all those who had been to these places (Nizamuddin)," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Measuring how badly health providers have been hit is difficult because no nationwide data have been released. But among the deaths so far from the virus: two nurses in New York City, an emergency room physician in New Jersey and a nurse at Howard University in the District. The experience of other countries is grim: In China, more than 3,000 doctors were infected; in Italy, at least 50 health-care workers have died. Emergency health providers know they always face risks, but they shouldnt have to accept doing their jobs without even the basics of proper equipment. Stories of doctors being rationed surgical masks that are stored in paper bags between shifts, nurses outfitted in garbage bags instead of protective gowns, janitors made to clean hospital rooms after a patient died from covid-19 without an N95 mask are  or should be  insupportable.
Two Marion County sheriffs deputies who work in the jails booking area have tested positive for the new coronavirus, and the jail is ordering tests for all its approximately 320 adult inmates.

The confirmed cases are the first ones in a jail in Oregon.

Marion County Undersheriff Jeff Wood told Marion County Presiding Judge Tracy Prall about the positive tests Tuesday and Prall alerted court staff, prosecutors and defense lawyers. The Sheriffs Office also alerted all Oregon chiefs of police and sheriffs.

While the Sheriffs Office has ordered COVID-19 tests for inmates in custody, its unclear when those tests will be available.

Two other sheriffs deputies are ill and are awaiting testing, a consortium of defense lawyers were told.

Jail visits were previously halted, and defense lawyers have been making no-contact visits with their clients, going into the jail to talk by phone with an inmate as they sit divided by glass.

Court arraignments are continuing with defense lawyers, judges, court reporters and a sheriffs deputy appearing in court. The in-custody defendants appear one-by-one in the courtroom behind a glass partition.

Going forward, the court is considering requiring having a judge, attorneys and staff who are present wear masks.

Its just a very difficult circumstance. We all assumed it would happen at some point, Prall said Thursday. Theres only so much we can do, short of shutting down the court.

Sheriffs officials acknowledged the cases in a news release and said they found out Monday, but said they could release no information about the employees to maintain their privacy.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team began taking proactive measures to prepare for a situation such as this, the Sheriffs Office said in a statement. We have acquired personal protective equipment for all staff, increased cleaning protocols, and enhanced medical screening prior to adults being brought into the facility. We are utilizing an unused housing unit to transition adults in custody to individual cells within the next few days.

Jessica Kampfe, executive director of the Public Defender of Marion County, said shes concerned the virus will spread, or already has, as the booking intake deputies who have tested positive helped book new prisoners into jail and checked others out.

My concern is we have COVID-19 in the jail, and its not possible to do appropriate social distancing in the jail, Kampfe said. Theres not sufficient hygiene being provided to the clients. No hand sanitizers, and theres common touch points. Those are my biggest concerns.

Kampfe said most of her 15 public defenders are working from home, except when they have to appear in court or speak to a client by phone at the jail. The jail hasnt provided any sanitizing wipes for defense lawyers or inmates who use the phones to speak with one another. Defense attorneys have had to bring their own wipes, she said.

Im also concerned that lawyers are personally appearing in courtrooms that have more than 10 people in them, she said.

The National Sheriffs Association has announced the creation of an action group to assist sheriffs offices and first responders across the nation.

Sheriffs have a desperate need for N95 masks, disposable gowns, eye protection, disinfecting products, including hand sanitizer other items, to protect staff, inmates and citizens, said Jonathan Thompson, the associations executive director, in a statement. Our deputies are working long hours, running directly into harms way to assist vulnerable citizens. They protect us, so were working tirelessly to protect them.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

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Photo taken on April 2, 2020 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C., the United States. The United States on Wednesday became the first nation with more than 200,000 COVID-19 infections, according to a new tally from Johns Hopkins University. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Editors Note: On Wednesday, the number of US coronavirus cases skyrocketed past 200,000, fueling public anxiety over the diseases spread in the US and prompting more people to question the US governments coronavirus response.

The Brookings Institution, one of Washington's most prestigious think tanks, released a report on the official actions taken by the US government in response to the coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday, outlining four phases of crisis response and highlighting some of its most important apparent failures.

The US governments response saw massive failures of judgment and inaction in January, February, and even March of this year, which compare unfavorably to a number of other countries, said the report.

On Friday afternoon, the coronavirus has infected 245,573 people in the U.S., killing at least 6,058, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Here are the four phases of the US governments crisis response from the report.

FIRST PHASE

From the first knowledge of the viruss spread in Wuhan in early January through nearly the end of that month, the administration publicly treated the virus as a minor threat that was under control, at least domestically, and repeatedly assured the public that the risk to Americans was very low.

However, by the middle of January, the virus had clearly spread beyond China, as cases were reported in Thailand, Japan, and South Korea, among other countries. On January 17, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started screening procedures at three U.S. airports for passengers who had been traveling in Wuhan, but by then the virus had already spread to countries other than China. By the end of the month, there were about 12,000 reported cases in China, and growing rapidly by the day. At this point, the U.S. had a handful of confirmed cases, but there was almost certainly already significant community spread in the Seattle area.

SECOND PHASE

Beginning with the creation of the White House Coronavirus Task Force on January 27 and the declaration of a public health emergency on January 31, the federal government began to put in motion executive, legal, and regulatory pandemic response procedures that were already on the books. It also banned foreign nationals who had traveled to the Chinese mainland from entering the country.

Most critically for this second phase, it was clear early on that any effective response was going to depend on rapidly scaling our testing capacity. The virus genome was publicly available in mid-January, and the first tests were developed shortly thereafter. The World Health Organization (WHO) sent hundreds of thousands of tests to dozens of laboratories around the world by early February. But the Trump administration and CDC decided to rely exclusively on domestically developed tests, apparently in keeping with past practice. The CDC developed its own test in early February, which was then distributed to labs. But, as became clear roughly a week later, one of the reagents in its kits proved to be faulty, which meant that most labs were unable to proceed using CDC-provided test kits.

Nevertheless, for at least two weeks after the problem became clear, alternative paths to testing were either neglected or stymied by existing regulations. Indeed, although the Emergency Use Authorizations required by the declaration of a public health emergency were meant to facilitate rapid testing, it soon became clear that their required procedures were actually significantly retarding the development of effective testing at scale. CDC was reassuring state and local officials that testing capacity was adequate in late February, although it was reported that fewer than 500 tests had been conducted at that point. (CDCs own count, which includes its own tests plus those of U.S. public health labs, puts the total number of tests at the end of February at around 4,000.) Perversely, the failure to test at scale kept the publicly recognized number of cases low, which served as a justification for insisting that the existing testing regime was adequate.

This phase lasted through nearly all of Februarya lost month during a critical period. As China and other countries took extreme measures to contain the spread of the disease, the federal government and most state and local governments took few actions to disrupt normal economic and social lifeindeed, some governments infamously discouraged their citizens from altering their behavior. By the end of the month, the United States had two dozen confirmed cases (artificially low because of the low levels of testing), and Italy was already in the early stages of uncontrolled viral spread with nearly 2,000 reported cases.

THIRD PHASE

A third phase began in late February, when the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demonstrated a clear shift in their sense of urgency. Beginning with the CDC widening testing criteria on February 28 and FDA allowing use of non-approved tests (with retroactive approval) on February 29, the federal government signaled that it had begun to recognize and correct for the flaws in its testing regime. Travel bans were extended to foreign nationals who had traveled in Iran. US Federal officials worked more concertedly to promote private sector involvement in the crisis response, and Congress passed an $8.6 billion supplemental appropriation bill to promote vaccine and treatment research, emergency telehealth, and preparedness.

Although testing was finally expanding during this phase, availability was still severely limited, in spite of the administrations insistence that there was adequate testing.

FOURTH PHASE

The fourth phase, dating from President Trumps nationally televised address on March 11 and his March 13 declaration of a national emergency, finally saw the federal government fully engage in its efforts to hasten mass testing, improve the availability of medical supplies, and encourage all Americans to radically alter their behavior in order to arrest the spread of the virus. Further travel restrictions were placed on foreign nationals who had traveled in continental Europe, and then in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Various emergency powers, including the Defense Production Act, were activated and then later employed.

Commercial tests were approved quickly and mass testing finally became a realitywhich, in turn, helped reveal the considerably advanced spread in the U.S. Over the month of March, confirmed cases in the United States increased at a rapid clip, passing 100 (March 5), then 1,000 (March 11), then 10,000 (March 18), and by the end of the month 100,000 (March 27), reflecting in part that our testing capacity had begun to catch up with the reality on the ground.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr.3

By Orkhan Juvarly - Trend:

The SMS messages which are required to be sent by Azerbaijani citizens for exiting their homes during the coronavirus pandemic, will be paid for by the state, spokesman for the Cabinet of Ministers Ibrahim Mammadov said in an interview with Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint Stock Company (AzTV), Trend reports.

Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ulvi Mehdiyev, noted that SMS messages sent to # 8103 to get permission to leave the place of residence will be free for citizens.

He also said that citizens shouldn't worry about late responses to the sent SMS, and patiently wait.

Restrictions on movement have been imposed in Azerbaijan within the framework of the special quarantine regime introduced in the country in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

In order to ensure the protection of life and health of the population, uninterrupted operation of state structures and life support facilities, as well as activities of economic entities at the appropriate level, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan has made the following decision in connection with the introduction of restrictions on movement in the country from 00:00 April 5, 2020 to 00:00 April 20, 2020.
YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Finance informs that a total of 864 million and 664 thousand drams has been donated to the Armenian government for its anti-coronavirus efforts, ARMENPRESS reports the government said.

The treasury account (900005001947) was opened on March 17th for citizens and organizations willing to make donations.

The government said a total of 3346 payments were made since.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. acquired Voysis, an artificial intelligence startup that developed a platform for digital voice assistants to better understand peoples natural language.

Dublin, Ireland-based Voysis focused on improving digital assistants inside online shopping apps, so the software could respond more accurately to voice commands from users. A now-removed company webpage said the technology could narrow product search results by processing shopping phrases such as I need a new LED TV and My budget is $1,000. Voysis provided this AI to other companies to incorporate it into their own apps and voice assistants.

Read more about the startup here: Synthesizing Realistic Human Speech Just Got a Lot Easier

An Apple spokesman said the company buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.

Voysiss system taps into Wavenets, an AI-based method for creating more human-like computer speech that was first developed by Googles DeepMind in 2016. Voysis co-founder Peter Cahill said in 2018 that his company managed to shrink its system to the point where, once the AI is trained, the software uses as little as 25 megabytes of memory -- about the same size as four Apple Music songs. That made it much easier to run on smartphones without an internet connection.

Apple could use the acquired know-how improve Siris understanding of natural language or to offer the Voysis platform to thousands of developers that already integrate with the Apple digital assistant. Apple has been the top buyer of AI startups in recent years and has a portfolio that already includes former startups including Turi, Xnor.ai, and Laserlike.

Read more: Big Tech Swallows Most of the Hot AI Startups

Voysis was founded in 2012 and sold its services to several companies. It also had offices in Edinburgh and Boston and got $8 million in venture funding from Polaris Partners in 2017.

The acquisition is the second Apple deal disclosed this week. The Cupertino, California-based tech giant also bought Dark Sky, a popular weather app for iPhones and iPads.

Story continues

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.
Armenia health minister: National Center for Burns to be turned into new medical center for fight against coronavirus

Armenia health minister: National Center for Burns to be turned into new medical center for fight against coronavirus
If Italy, Spain and New York are any indication, we know our health-care system will be pushed to its limits in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19.

If you are one of the million-plus Canadians living with cancer, this is especially terrifying. It is difficult enough to be told that you have cancer. Now you are learning that your treatment may be delayed or substantially altered.

There is a possibility that cancer patients could suffer collateral damage from COVID-19 as surgeries are cancelled, appointments postponed, and tests delayed. As a high-risk population with compromised immune systems, patients living with cancer may be more vulnerable to COVID-19. They rely on the very healthcare system that is now forced to turn them away, the community support organizations that are overwhelmed, and an emotional support system of family and friends who cant come within 2 meters.

The immediate impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients is easy to grasp. But what about the long-term effects? When this pandemic is over, how big will the backlog be for necessary treatment? Patients with delayed therapies will be up against the clock, hopeful that their disease hasnt spread further. If the work of our world-leading cancer researchers stalls, better treatments for cancer patients will be delayed.

Perhaps we avoid these thoughts because they are just too painful. Perhaps  rightfully so  we are consumed by managing the chaotic impact of the pandemic on our families and work. One thing is certain: cancer patients, their caregivers and loved ones are deeply aware of the impact today and the uncertainties that lie ahead.

When you or someone you love has cancer, time is different. It is measured in hours, days and weeks. It is measured in sleepless nights and the number of times you will hug someone you love. As all Canadians delay those activities in the name of social isolation, imagine how hard it is for someone with cancer to pause the clock. What if organizations created specifically to support cancer patients are not available when its needed most?

It might not seem like a major charitable organization like the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) could be threatened by COVID-19. But the reality is that the impact of the pandemic on charities has been devastating and could threaten the stability of a support infrastructure that took decades to build.

April is Daffodil Month  the time of year when 27,000 volunteers would usually be out in communities all over Canada, raising funds for CCS to provide trusted information and support for cancer patients and their families to help them through their cancer journey. But our volunteers are doing their civic duty by staying home and hundreds of fundraising events are cancelled.

As a result, we forecast a drop of about $100 million in donations in the year ahead., more than half of our budget. This is the greatest financial challenge in our 80-year history.

The pandemic is forcing us all to react rapidly and creatively to an unprecedented threat.

At the Canadian Cancer Society, daffodils are going digital and our kids camp is gathering around a virtual campfire. Our toll-free cancer helpline is providing critical information and reducing anxiety and isolation.

Patients, survivors and caregivers are connecting in new ways. We are finding creative solutions to help those who need us. The same is happening in the healthcare system  weve seen advancements in virtual care in just four short weeks. Healthcare workers are taking their rightful place as real-life superheroes. Everyone in the cancer community is pulling together to help cancer patients in different ways.

Despite the challenge that we are facing, the Canadian Cancer Society knows that our role in helping cancer patients has never been more important than it is today. We are rapidly developing solutions with government that would take pressure off the healthcare system and improve the supports available for Canadians affected by cancer during this challenging time.

As the entire globe grapples with this pandemic we are reminded, now more than ever, that we are all in this together. We need to find ways to work together and explore new and innovation solutions. This is true for each of us individually as it is for governments, business and charities.

As our government navigates unchartered waters, we are here to help. We cant do it alone, but together we can weather this storm.
Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/02/2020 -- According to a new market research report "Perimeter Security Market by Component (Systems (Perimeter Intrusion Detection, Video Surveillance, Access Control, Alarms and Notifications), and Services (Professional, and Managed Services)), Vertical, Region - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, Perimeter Security Market expected to grow from $110.64 billion in 2017 to $196.60 billion by 2022, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.2% between 2017 and 2022.



The growth of the market is primarily driven by the rise in terror attacks worldwide. The increasing technological developments in video surveillance is said to have fueled the demand for perimeter security systems and services. Furthermore, the increased usage of internet of things (IoT) and rise in the number of perimeter intrusions, leading to property damage and data theft is also expected to be contributing to the growth of the perimeter security market. Perimeter security comprises systems and technologies, which are used to protect people and places within a predetermined perimeter by blocking any unauthorized intrusion across that perimeter. The aim of perimeter security is to ensure the security of critical assets, such as commercial, industrial, private, public, and other sites.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Perimeter Security Market"

89- Tables

27- Figures

149- Pages



Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1311



Based on systems, the video surveillance system segment is estimated to lead the perimeter security market during the forecast period

Based on systems, the perimeter security market has been sub segmented into perimeter intrusion detection systems, video surveillance systems, access control systems, alarms and notification systems, and others (fencing, lighting, and detection devices for metals, explosives, drugs, and chemicals). The video surveillance systems segment is estimated to lead the perimeter security market between 2017 and 2022. One of the main benefits of the video surveillance system is that it ensures a full-time monitoring in both, densely populated as well as remote areas. Therefore, the installations of video surveillance are increasing to provide comprehensive security to people, places, and plants. The increasing use of video surveillance systems, especially in the commercial and services, industrial, and military and defense verticals for protecting the organization of assets is said to be enhancing the growth of the video surveillance systems segment in the perimeter security market.



The commercial and services vertical in the perimeter security market is estimated to hold the largest share in 2017

The increasing incidence of crimes, such as theft of physical as well as data/information, has led to the need for security systems to protect not only the property owners, but the property as well. With this intention, corporate organizations are investing substantial amounts to protect sensitive data and their employees. The high demand for security systems in large and small retail businesses aims at reducing robbery and inventory loss. In the commercial sector, financial institutions and banks are highly in need of video surveillance systems, to provide security to the buildings, maintain cash management, and monitor customers and staff activities. These factors enhance the security parameters and drive the need for video surveillance systems in the commercial sector.



North America is expected to dominate the perimeter security market during the forecast period

The North American perimeter security market is projected to be dominating during the forecast period, followed by Europe. The growth of this market can be attributed to the increasing need for security against terrorist activities, strict government regulations for safety and security, rising illegal immigration, technological developments in physical security solutions, and the increasing criminal activities in North America. In North America particularly in the U.S., the government has taken initiatives to implement advanced surveillance systems at government buildings and high-security areas. North America is considered the pioneer in adopting perimeter security systems for public safety. Also, there is constant progress in adopting new technologies, mainly the transition to IP-based video surveillance.



Speak to Research Expert @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=1311



The report encompasses the competitive landscape, which presents the positioning of the 25 key perimeter security systems and services vendors, based on their product offerings and business strategies. Some of the major solution vendors include Axis Communications AB (Sweden), Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (US), Dahua Technology Co., Ltd. (China), Bosch Security Systems (Germany), United Technologies Corporation (US), Honeywell International Inc. (US), Southwest Microwave, Inc. (US), Johnson Controls International plc (Tyco Systems Inc.) (Republic of Ireland), RBtec Perimeter Security Systems (US), Fiber SenSys, Inc. (US), CIAS Elettronica (Italy), Senstar Corporation (Canada), and PureTech Systems, Inc. (US).



About MarketsandMarkets

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The Leprosy Mission England and Wales has warned of a "Covid-19 human time bomb" in the poorest communities across Africa and South Asia.

Cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in all 10 countries where the charity works in these two regions.

They include Mozambique, where many people live without any access to healthcare. The entire country has just 30 ventilators for a population of nearly 30 million.

In the face of such a shortage, the Leprosy Mission fears that millions may needlessly die if coronavirus gains momentum in the country.

On the other side of the African continent, the spread of coronavirus threatens to undo the progress in fighting the deadly Ebola virus, which has killed over 11,000 people in West Africa in the last six years.

The Leprosy Mission warned that halting the spread of coronavirus in developing countries will be difficult because of low levels of literacy and digital communication, particularly in rural areas.

With many people living without running water in their homes, it says that it will be very hard for people to self-isolate and wash their hands frequently. In the face of this challenge, the Leprosy Mission is currently working on finding practical solutions to stop people congregating at public water pumps.

"Concepts such as social distancing are not only culturally alien but totally unattainable, for example in overcrowded slum communities. People are either unaware or very afraid," it said.

It went on to say that those living with leprosy are among the most at risk of Covid-19 because of their weakened immune systems.

Head of Programmes at Leprosy Mission, Sian Arulanantham, said: "We must act now, at a time when the coronavirus is on the brink of ripping through the majority world, overwhelming fragile health systems.

"Devastatingly, this is a human timebomb waiting to explode.

"As ever it is people living in leprosy-affected communities that will be hit the hardest. Well-off travellers have returned to developing nations bringing with them the Covid-19 virus. Yet these travellers are able to self-isolate, stockpile food and stay at home.

"Communities affected by leprosy are among the most vulnerable. Individuals are more likely to be disabled, have weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions.

"And like leprosy, malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions and poor sanitation make an ideal breeding ground for the spread of coronavirus."

The charity is working with partners across Asia and Africa to provide clear messaging about Covid-19 to leprosy sufferers and poor communities across the two regions.

In countries already under lockdown, it has created WhatsApp groups and is phoning people to share vital health information.

The Leprosy Mission is making preparations to support governments in testing and contact tracing of known cases to slow down the spread of the virus, but Ms Arulanantham warned that in densely populated areas, social distancing and isolation will be "an almost impossible task".

"These are communities who know only too well the suffering caused by fear and age-old myths, such as leprosy being a curse for sins committed in a previous life," she said.

"The truth is the greatest slayer of fear so it is vital that our communities, which all too often lie on the fringes of society, are reached.

"They must receive clear messaging on the symptoms of Covid-19 the importance of self-isolation, social distancing and the necessity for frequent handwashing."

With millions in poverty facing the prospect of even greater hardship, the Leprosy Mission is calling on governments to ensure that poor communities receive state aid, including food parcels.

The charity said it is preparing to provide practical assistance where this is not available from the state.

"People in the majority world face very different challenges to the Covid-19 pandemic from us in the UK," Ms Arulanantham explained.

"For those living hand to mouth, it is difficult to blame a day labourer for being tempted to work with a sore throat. If they stay at home, it is very likely their family will not eat that day.

"We heard of a young woman who cannot work because of lockdown and she and her family had no food for days. Her three children were crying with hunger. Thankfully we were able to help. We can't stand by and watch, we need to act."

Despite discrimination being illegal, Ms Arulanantham said that some people with leprosy scars are refused medical treatment.

"So, we are working hard to ensure anyone needing medical attention for symptoms of Covid-19 receives it," she added.

Republished with permission Christian Today
Workers at the service plazas along Connecticut highways have found themselves on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic with fewer hours of pay and little protection against the disease.

The workers, deemed essential under the executive orders by Gov. Ned Lamont, say they are working without personal protective equipment, often without sick days or health insurance, and with reduced staffing as hours are reduced due to COVID-19.

And unlike many restaurant employees, they must face travelers leaning right over the counter as they sell burgers, fries, sandwiches and convenience items.

That is a danger because it forces people like us to come to work sick and we cant afford for us to miss a day of pay because we have families we have to take care of, bills that we have to pay, especially now, with this coronavirus, threatening everybody around, said Josh Rivas, a worker at the Subway at the Madison northbound service plaza on Interstate-95.

Rivas, 29, spoke on a Zoom event Thursday, organized by SEIU 32BJ, the union attempting to organize the roughly 950 workers at the states 23 service plazas, in stores such as McDonalds, Subway, Dunkin Donuts and Alltown.

Rivas said he has worked at the service plaza for 12 years, but said his last day of work was last week, forcing him to apply for unemployment  which is delayed by the crush of filings.

Now the workers, joined on the call by many of the states top elected Democrats, are demanding protection from McDonalds and other franchised chains at the rest stops for the duration of the crisis and beyond.

A union spokesman said at least one worker has shown symptoms of illness and a small number of others fear they may have had exposures. The status of testing is unclear. The union does not represent the workers and is not in regular contact with all of them.

One worker at a fast food location informed her manager that her husband had tested positive and has not worked for two weeks  but has not received paid sick time she had earned under state law, the union said. Workers said they cant afford not to work and fear that colleagues are coming in even though they have sick family members at home.

Democratic state legislators, along with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, pledged to help the employees access benefits such as paid healthcare, sick days granted by the federal government under a coronavirus response package and income during the crisis.

They called on the corporate franchises to protect their workers health and safety.

Make no mistake what is at stake here. Its not just the working conditions or even the health and safety of the workers, it is all of our health and safety, Blumenthal said. These service plazas and rest stops along our highways are potential points of infection. They are the height of hazard as long as employers refuse to follow basic standards of health and safety and they are defying not just their legal obligation, but their moral obligation, to make their workplaces safe and healthy.

The service plazas along I-95 and the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways are owned by the state with a master contractor, Project Service LLC, running the plazas and contracting to bring in the retail businesses.

Project Service said in an email that the service plazas have implemented many changes to comply with the governors executive orders. The company said it considers the role of protecting workers to be a joint effort between the state, Project Service and the franchises that employ the workers.

The plazas on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Orange and the Merritt Parkway in New Canaan have been closed in both directions.

All seating or access to seating has been removed from the plazas. Social distancing is encouraged with guests able to use mobile ordering apps for brands such as Dunkin, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Chipotle and Subway for ordering and payment, the company said.

In addition, the statement said, A number of the tenants have created A and B teams who dont interact in case there is an identified case - there is a team available to staff the store who didnt have exposure to the other team.

He added that the gas pumps are being disinfected and physically wiped down, and the service plaza common areas are disinfected regularly.

It isnt clear whether the franchise owners, the plaza operators or the state will ensure compliance with the governors order that all retail workers receive protective equipment.

Workers on the call cited many concerns that theyve had all along, which they said were exacerbated during the crisis, such as lost hours and inattention to safety measures.

Michell Enterprises, which owns about ten of the McDonalds stores in the plazas and has been the subject of some worker complaints through SEIU 32BJ, did not return a message left with an employee. A message left with the North American Association of Subway Franchisees was not returned.

The union has filed complaints with the state Department of Labor on behalf of individual workers, but has not been recognized as a bargaining agent for the workers.

Its tragic that this crisis has provided an opening for companies like McDonalds to ramp up their abuse, said Juan Hernandez, Vice President of 32BJ SEIU, which has been supporting service plaza workers for the past year during their fight to unionize.

Dan Haar contributed to this story

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
All tourists and foreign students who are unable to support themselves financially during the coronavirus pandemic have been told to go home by Scott Morrison.

The prime minister said that while 'it is lovely to have visitors in good times', now is the time for them to leave so officials can focus on supporting Australians in need.

It is likely a difficult position for Mr Morrison to take, given his previous role as director of Tourism Australia, where he famously hired Lara Bingle to help lure travellers in.

But now ministers are focused on helping to keep Australians afloat, pledging $130 billion for a JobKeepers package for workers, many of whom faced losing their jobs.

His call comes to foreign nationals who are unable to support themselves financially during the pandemic - saying they are not 'being held here' and should leave.

A group of backpackers (pictured) were seen leaving Bondi on Friday, shortly after Scott Morrison announced that travellers with no financial support should go home

Young sunseekers at St Kilda beach (pictured) on March 27, despite strict social distancing rules to stop the spread of COVID-19. Police have broken up several backpacker parties

Shocking pictures this week showed large groups of backpackers flagrantly disregarding strict social distancing rules, designed to stop the virus spreading.

'These (student) visas, and those who are in Australia under various visa arrangements, they are obviously not held here compulsorily,' he told reporters on Friday.

'If they are not in a position to support themselves then there is the alternative for them to return to their home countries.

'We still have quite a number of people who are here on visitor visas.

'As much as it is lovely to have visitors to Australia in good times, at times like this if you're a visitor in this country, it is time, as it has been now for some while  and I know many visitors have  to make your way home and to ensure that you can receive the supports that are available  in your home countries.'

Backpackers (pictured) are seen leaving Bondi and heading to Sydney airport on Friday after Mr Morrison's announcement

Scott Morrison (pictured on Friday) said tourists, such as backpackers and those on student visas, who are unable to support themselves should 'make their way home'

Backpackers in Bondi (pictured) are seen packing up and heading to the airport on Friday shortly after Mr Morrison encouraged travellers to 'make their way home'

The prime minister explained that some travellers to Australia, such as those on working-holiday visas could work in fruit picking and other agricultural work.

But he said they must first self-isolate before travelling to regional areas, amid fears the migration could spread the virus from cities to 'more vulnerable' regions.

He also said workers will be required to abide by social-distancing rules.

'This is being done to ensure that those producers can get the work done but also to ensure that the communities are protected,' he said.

Travellers leaving Australia are seen presenting their flight documents to airport security in Sydney on Monday (pictured)

It comes as Australians continue to return home to see out the pandemic. Passengers returned on a special flight repatriating Australians from abroad (pictured on Thursday in Brisbane)

Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane on Friday (pictured)

'You cant have six backpackers in a caravan up out in rural parts of the country,' he added.

'Thats not on. Not going to happen.'

He reiterated the current visa regulations which state that students who come to Australia must prove they have enough money to support themselves for 12 months.

Mr Morrison commented that given students will have known about this rule before arriving, it is 'not unreasonable' to expect them to look after themselves.

'That is a requirement for their visa when they come for the first year,' he explained.

A group of young European partygoers was filmed ignoring all COVID-19 social distancing rules as they crammed together for a barbecue in a Bondi apartment on Tuesday night

The prime minister was director of Tourism Australia when it launched its now world-famous campaign featured model Lara Bingle (pictured), encouraging tourists to visit the country

'That is not an unreasonable expectation of the government that students would be able to fulfill the commitment that they gave.'

But those who can be useful to the health system, such as student nurses, have had restrictions on their visas lifted - bringing 20,000 more nurses into the workforce.

'For those backpackers who are nurses or doctors or have other critical skills that can really help us during this crisis then there will be opportunities for them as well,' he added.

'But our focus and our priority is on supporting Australians and Australian residents with the economic supports that are available.'

French nationals are seen queuing to enter Sydney airport to be repatriated to France on Thursday (pictured), with the French government chartering three A380 Airbus planes

Departing travellers are seen at Sydney airport on Monday (pictured) as they prepared to leave the country during the COVID-19 pandemic

The call comes soon after Mr Morrison told Australians not to go on holiday for Easter, fearing mass movement could increase the spread of the deadly virus.

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

He said families should not even drive to see relatives and instead stay at home, with many state borders already shut.

'People should not be going away for Easter holidays. Holiday at home,' he said.

'People should not be getting in their cars and going to other places.'

The prime minister said his wife Jenny and two daughters had set up decorations at his house in Canberra in preparation for next weekend.

Mr Morrison said places of worship are closed to the public but services will be live-streamed.

It comes after fines began to be dished out across NSW for those breaking social-distancing laws.

Australians are being fined $1,000 for what would normally be innocent acts. Police are seen gathered at Surfers Paradise Beach on the Gold Coast on Thursday

A policeman speaks with sunbathers (pictured) on Surfers Paradise beach on the Gold Coast on Thursday

Australians are being fined $1,000 for what would normally be innocent acts thanks to strict new coronavirus laws - including sitting in a car and talking to a mate in the street.

The crackdown in New South Wales saw 13 fines given out by police in the space of 24 hours, including to a man, 21, trying to enjoy a kebab on a park bench in Newcastle.

Anyone who breaches the social distancing guidelines in NSW faces a maximum fine of $11,000, six months in jail or a hefty $1,000 on-the-spot fine.

The unprecedented measures were brought in on Sunday, with Mr Morrison urging Australians to stay at home for all but essential activities.

Australians may have to live with the harsh restrictions on their everyday lives until at least October, Mr Morrison warned.

A police officer in Sydney checks that a returned traveller is self-isolating at home on Friday (pictured) amid fears that Australians coming back from overseas could spread the virus

To help ease pressure on those struggling with work, the government is working on a plan to save commercial tenants from eviction.

Under a national code of conduct proposed by real estate groups, tenants participating in the JobKeeper scheme could ask landlords for a rent reduction proportionate to the amount of revenue they have lost due to coronavirus.

'The turnover reduction of the tenant needs to be reflected in the rental waiver of the landlord,' Mr Morrison said.

'We want both parties to negotiate in good faith.'

This could mean that some tenants have to make no rental payments for months.

The code, expected to be finalised next week, will be mandatory and incorporated into state and territory legislation.
Four Americans, nine Britishers and six Chinese nationals were among the 960 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists who were blacklisted and their tourist visas cancelled by the Union home ministry, officials said on Friday.

New Delhi: Four Americans, nine Britishers and six Chinese nationals were among the 960 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists who were blacklisted and their tourist visas cancelled by the Union home ministry, officials said on Friday.

The foreign Jamaat members, who are currently in different parts of the country, some of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, also include 379 Indonesians, 110 Bangladeshi, 63 Myanmarese and 33 Sri Lankan citizens.

As many as 77 citizens from Kyrgyzstan, 75 Malaysian, 65 Thai, 12 Vietnamese, nine Saudis and three French nationals were also among those Tablighi Jamaat activists who were blacklisted and their visas cancelled, a government official said.

Action against the foreign Tablighi Jamaat members were taken after over 2,300 activists, including 250 foreigners of the Islamic organisation were found to be living at its headquarters located at Delhi's Nizamuddin despite the 21-day lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus.

More than 300 of these Tablighi Jamaat activists have tested positive for COVID-19 while others have been put in different quarantine centres. At least 9,000 people had participated at a congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz last month after which many have travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works.

So far, around 400 COVID-19 positive cases and about 12 deaths in the country were found to have links with the Nizamuddin Markaz. The other foreigners include seven from Alegria, one from Australia, two from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, three from CUte d'Ivoire, five from Djibouti, one from Egypt, three from Ethiopia, one from Fiji, three from Gambia, 24 from Iran and one from Jordan.

They also include 14 from Kazakhstan, one from Kenya, three from Madagascar, two from Mali, 10 from Philippines, three from Qatar, one from Russia, one from Senegal, one from Sierra Leone, one from South Africa, four from Sudan, one from Sweden, eight from Tanzania, one from Togo, three from Trinidad, three from Tobago, two from Tunisia, two from Ukraine, 12 from Vietnam and others six.

The Union home ministry on Thursday had blacklisted these 960 foreigners and cancelled their visas after finding they were involved in Tablighi Jamaat activities, violating their visa conditions. The home ministry also asked Delhi Police and police chiefs of other states, where these foreigners are currently living, to take legal action under the Foreigners Act and the Disaster Management Act.

The home ministry on Tuesday had said about 2,100 foreigners have come to India since 1 January and indulged in Tablighi activities in different parts of the country. On Thursday, the ministry said over 1,300 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists, including those from the US, France and Italy, have been identified in different parts of the country and most of them have been put in quarantine. Most of these foreigners came to India on tourist visa, which prohibits involvement in any religious activities.

The government has also decided not to issue tourist visa to any foreigner who wishes to visit India and take part in Tablighi activities. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba had also told states and UTs to take action against foreigners, who have participated in the missionary activities of the Tablighi Jamaat, in violation of -visa conditions.
A World War Two veteran has celebrated his 104th birthday after overcoming coronavirus.

Bill Lapschies, who lives at the Edward C. Allworth Veterans' Home in Lebanon, Oregon, began showing symptoms of Covid-19 on March 5 and was soon suffering from a fever.

But on Tuesday, after surviving the virus, he was wheeled outside to celebrate his 104th birthday with friends and family who brought presents, plaques and balloons while keeping a social distance.

More than 200 people showed up to mark the occasion as Mr Lapschies sat sheltered under an awning from the rain, wearing a Second World War veteran hat and wrapped in blanket adorned with American flags.

Bill Lapschies, who lives at the Edward C. Allworth Veterans' Home in Lebanon, Oregan, began showing symptoms of Covid-19 on March 5 / KOIN 6

He said it felt "pretty good" to turn 104, adding: "I made it", in a video posted by Oregon Public Broadcasting.

When asked by granddaughter Jamie Yutzi how he had survived the virus, he said: "I don't know.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

"It just went away. Sit out here and you can get rid of anything," he added.

Dr Rob Richardson, who oversees care at the home, told the broadcaster that Mr Lapschies had a moderate case of the virus and did not develop any respiratory issues.

He said: "This could have easily gone another way. There's not a lot of interventions that can be done."

Two residents at the home have reportedly died after contracting Covid-19.

Mr Lapschies was born in Oregon in 1916 and survived the Spanish flu pandemic, The Great Depression and his time in the US Army during the Second World War.

He has two daughters with his wife of 60 years Alamadean, who died in 2001.

It comes as a 95-year-old grandmother became the oldest person in Italy to overcome Covid-19 last month.
The New York Fire Department has been seen giving hospital workers a standing ovation for their hard work during the coronavirus pandemic, climbing on top of their trucks to show their respect.

Rows of FDNY vehicles lined up outside hospitals such as Elmhurst in Queens, one of the city's worst hit areas of the city which has reported more than 51,800 cases and 1,560 deaths.

The gesture came after this week as COVID-19 deaths in the US surpassed the 2,977 killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

As of Thursday evening, the total fatalities passed 6,000.

In New York State alone, the figure came close to the 9/11 death rate, with 2,389 deaths recorded late Thursday.

The gesture came after this week COVID-19 deaths in the US surpassed the 2,977 in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

Governor Andrew Cuomo said about the display: 'You have to remember, in the darkest of days, New Yorkers shine the brightest.'

Comparing the events to how NYC pulled together after the terrorist attack that changed the world 19 years ago, he told Anderson Cooper on CNN: 'We went through 9/11 and that changed us as I believe this situation is going to change us. But we dealt with terrible adversity, we dealt with loss, we dealt with pain, we cried we went to funerals and we came together united, stronger than even before.

'And that's the New York instinct, that's the American instinct.'

Cuomo added: 'We have a problem, we rally together and that's what you're seeing at Elmhurst hospital. You're seeing it all across the state.'

Medical staff outside Elmhurst Hospital in Queens are seen filming the applause from FDNY

An entire FDNY battalion shows up at Elmhurst hospital to thank health care workers as they make their shift change. This hospital in Queens is one of the hardest hit in NYC. Heroes, all of them. 

via @NYCFireWire pic.twitter.com/sC4mpe0Gpt  Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) April 3, 2020

In an incredibly overwhelming gesture, our local @FDNY firehouse gathered outside our Emergency Room tonight to salute our #HealthcareHeroes. We are so deeply honored. Thank you.  pic.twitter.com/WRPUDgfXl2  Mount Sinai Morningside (@MSMorningside) April 2, 2020

Selfless heroism is at the heart of every #FirstResponder. This generosity was on full display at #NYPLowerManhattan, where the brave men & women of @FDNY showed their appreciation for our #NYPHeroes. We salute #NewYorksBravest as they honor our fight against #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/32HCBoOpax  NewYork-Presbyterian (@nyphospital) April 2, 2020

FDNY members from #Battalion1 acknowledge and salute the medical staff at @nyphospital Lower Manhattan Hospital for their hard work in response to COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/MeBehq5dwb  FDNY (@FDNY) April 2, 2020

Another clip showed firefighters doing the same for staff at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Lower Manhattan.

Similar scenes were captured on video outside Mount Sinai Morningside here a doctor died after contracting coronavirus.

A total of 500 EMTs from other states arrived in New York to help assist in the fight against COVID-19 this week. A quarter of all NYC paramedics called out sick.

The state is also fast running out of hospital beds, body bags and morgue space. Images this week showed bodies being lifted in refrigerated trucks for storage.

Above shows the number of New York State and New York City coronavirus cases, as well as NYC deaths per day as of Thursday

Firefighters have been put on coronavirus calls to help cope with the demand as 911 calls were up 50 percent in the Big Apple to 6,000 a day.

In a message to all Fire and EMS members, FDNY Chief of Department John Sudnik said Thursday: 'The FDNY is the best fire department in the world, and our workforce is second to none. Our City is mired in a crisis of the epic proportions, and the citizens need our help. That is our mission.

'We are all part of one department. We will utilize any and all resources at our disposal to fulfill our mission and we will do it working together.'

Comparing the events to how NYC pulled together after the terrorist attack that changed the world 19 years ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo (right) told Anderson Cooper (left) on CNN: 'We went through 9/11 and that changed us as I believe this situation is going to change us'

A total of 500 EMTs from other states arrived in New York to help assist in the fight against COVID-19 this week. A quarter of all NYC paramedics have called out sick

In a message to all Fire and EMS members, FDNY Chief of Department John Sudnik said Thursday: ''We are all part of one department. We will utilize any and all resources at our disposal to fulfill our mission and we will do it working together'
Dedicated Covid-19 facilities are being readied at 51 hospitals operated by the armed forces across the country including Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Dundigal near Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kanpur, Jaisalmer, Jorhat and Gorakhpur, the defence ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The Covid facilities at these hospitals include intensive care unit (ICU) beds and high dependency units that are a scaled down version of an ICU.

The ministry said the Indian Air Forces transport fleet has been deployed to airlift essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment, and it has so far transported 60 tonne of stores. Thirty transport planes and 28 helicopters are on standby at various bases across the country to support the fight against the pandemic.

The ministry said the military is running quarantine facilities at Mumbai, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai where 1,737 cases have been handled. Of them, 403 people have been released. Fifteen other facilities are on standby, the ministry said.

The 15 facilities, with a combined capacity of 7,000 people, are in several cities including Babina, Jhansi, Barmer, Bhopal, Kolkata, Bhatinda, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Kochi.

More than 8,500 military doctors and support staff are ready to help the government in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, apart from 9,000 hospital beds that have been prepared to meet emergency requirements. Five hospitals run by the armed forces are equipped to carry out Covid-19 tests and six more would be added to the list soon.

Six warships and five medical teams are on standby to provide assistance to neighbouring countries, the ministry said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation has also come up with solutions for sanitizing areas such as metro stations, railway stations, hospitals, malls, airports, isolation areas, quarantine centres and high-risk residential areas.

The DRDO said the Delhi-based Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi has developed two configurations of sanitizing equipment (portable and trolley mounted) that are spin-offs from technologies developed for fire suppression.

Two of these systems are being provided to Delhi Police for immediate use. These can be made available to other agencies with the help of industry partners, an official release said.
MOSCOW -- The head of a doctors' union that has criticized the Russian governments response to the coronavirus pandemic has been detained during a trip she made to assess the preparedness of provincial hospitals and supply medical workers with masks and other safety equipment.

Anastasia Vasilyeva of the Doctors' Alliance, a group backed by Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, was stopped by the police in the town of Okulovka, some 400 kilometers north of Moscow, and held overnight for questioning, a representative of the labor union told RFE/RL.

A video posted on the Twitter account of the Doctors' Alliance late on April 2 appears to show Vasilyeva being detained by police in a rough manner.

"Police ambushed Anastasia Vasilyeva, and tried to drag her by force into the police station," reads a text appended to the video, alleging that Vasilyeva had lost consciousness after one of the officers tried to strangle her. "This is real fascism."

Ivan Konovalov of the Doctors' Alliance told RFE/RL on the phone that Vasilyeva was driven to a local police station in an unmarked vehicle.

After a brief court hearing on April 3, she was fined 1,600 rubles ($21) for violating the rules of a lockdown imposed by Russian authorities on March 30 and disobeying police orders.

Amnesty International denounced Vasilyeva's arrest in a statement on April 3 saying it was "staggering that the Russian authorities appear to fear criticism more than the deadly COVID-19 pandemic."

Since Russia began reporting a spike in coronavirus cases in early March, Vasilyeva has criticized the government's response to the epidemic and accused it of downplaying the number of infections in Russia.

"The government is openly lying," she told RFE/RL on March 20, alleging that the authorities "don't want people to understand the dire state that our health care is in."

The Doctors' Alliance trip to the Novgorod region was part of a campaign it dubbed the All-Russian Medical Inspection, a tour of the country's hospitals to assess their preparedness for the coronavirus epidemic and provide medical workers with equipment to weather the coming storm and ensure the local population has sufficient health care.

"We'll travel the length of Russia to inspect medical facilities and bring protective equipment to doctors in those places, where the government can't provide it," Vasilyeva said in a promotional video for the campaign.

Konovalov, the spokesman who was with Vasilyeva in Okulovka and spoke to RFE/RL from outside the police station where she was being questioned, said the union had traveled to the Novgorod region in a group of 12 people, including a lawyer and three camera operators tasked with documenting the trip.

The medical equipment they were transporting had been partly bought through public donations. Konovalov said the Doctors' Alliance had gathered 3 million rubles ($40,000) since announcing its funding drive on Monday afternoon.

"This is a pretty big sum considering our labor union is small and the country is going through an economic crisis. The ruble has depreciated and oil prices have plunged," he said.

Konovalov insisted the group was taking precautionary measures, wearing face masks and traveling three people to a car. He said they were unsure if they'll continue visiting hospitals in Russia's regions after Vasilyevas detention and fine.

"We'll have to discuss that," he said. "We don't want to abandon this mission."

Igor Trunov, the head of the Moscow branch of the Red Cross, said in a press conference on March 26 that at least 17 Russian regions were short of ventilators and other vital medical equipment.
(Kveller via JTA)Born into a Catholic family with a Jewish surname, I should have expected I would one day find myself leading a Passover seder.

To date, my husband Larry and I have hosted nine seders, eight of which Ive had the honor to lead. This role was bestowed upon me after my Jewish husband concluded that in light of my organized, creative, teacher-like nature, I was the right person for the job. The tradeoff was food prep, which he happily agreed to tackle. Not one who enjoys cooking, I acquiesced. Besides, the man makes a mean brisket.

I love a good Passover seder.

But I didnt always feel that way

In the beginning, I found it a tough ceremony to swallow. I felt like the token Christian, the stranger in the wrong outfit eating the matzah out of order. The structure of the service confused me, and the intensity associated with staying on task gave me the perfect excuse to keep quiet. I felt excluded by the deluge of Hebrew spoken by those in the know and, in general, lostdrowned in a Red Sea of rigidity, pomp and circumstance. For years I couldnt wait to suck down that fourth cup of wine and hightail it home.

But I married a Jewish man, and we were raising our kids Jewish. Determined to do right by my Catholic self and our Jewish family, I set out on a mission to create an interfaith-friendly seder.

First, I compiled a Haggadah full of catchy ditties, kid-friendly verses and hands-on plagues. I switched up the order of the service, made the blessings accessible in English and Hebrew, added passages about civil rights and the human condition, highlighted springtime symbolism, and offered readings that would appeal to different belief systems.

Interfaith marriage is about building bridges. Larry was open to the idea and respected my effort to design a Haggadah that made sense for me, but also maintained traditions he felt strengthened the Jewish identity of our sonsand encouraged new and experienced guests to discuss important Passover themes like freedom, rebirth and tikkun olam, healing the world.

It took a few years to earn our seder hosting chops, but we eventually found a balance.

Your Haggadah puts me in a position to think about what matters, Larry concluded. See? Marrying outside my faith is making me a better Jew.

Fast forward to Passover 2014.

Walking by a local church the morning of Passover, I noticed a passage carved into the steeple:

How wonderful it is

How pleasant for Gods people

To live together in harmony

Psalm 133

I thought about our seder guests. That evening, 16 peopleJews, Catholics, Muslims, a son of Methodist missionaries, family, old friends and new faceswould gather around our table like a bona fide interfaith, intergenerational jamboree.

As suspected, it turned out to be just that.

We waited to kick off the festivities so my Muslim neighbor could run home to say her afternoon prayers.

My father, a good ol boy and the son of Methodist missionaries who has a mezuzah affixed to his doorpost out of respect for our Jewish ancestors, joined us for his first seder and my first holiday with him since I was a baby.

Adults and young people alike wore sunglasses to symbolize darkness, the ninth plague, and enjoyed an enthusiastic food fight of marshmallow hail.

Twentysomethings and teenagers were just as jazzed as the under-10 population to hunt for the afikomen.

The widow and sister of a dear friend, a devout Irish Catholic who always attended our seders but passed away a few years ago, recited the concluding poem together, a job historically reserved for him.

And when the seder ended, that sistera retired high school special education teacher, mother of four, grandmother who attends daily Mass and a Passover newcomerstood up and addressed the group.

She shared:

We are a society of self-absorbed immediacy. It seems that all anyone cares about today are the latest trends, the hottest stars and themselves. It is important to pass on traditions, talk about ancestry, tell stories and make connections to the past. Doing this creates a necessary foundation for our children. For me, the seder represents hope and a renewed determination to keep ALL the traditions we have alive and fun.

Then she took home our Haggadah to use as a teaching aid in her Catechism class.

Last Passover, this friends theory became practice when my son, then 9, asked to do more. He read the story of Exodus and recited the 10 plagues along with a couple of blessings in Hebrew. And on the second night, when we held an intimate seder with family, he wowed the crowd by taking the lead.

I was not raised Jewish. I did not convert to Judaism. But watching my son embrace his Jewish identity made this interfaith mama proud.

Larry and I will soon welcome the usual crew to our pleasant Passover. Should Elijah slip through the open door, I hope hell stay for a sip or two of wine. There are 16 people who value tradition, freedom, inclusivity, harmony and humanity hes going to want to meet.

Jennifer Reinharz writes for children and blogs for grown-ups. A BlogHer 2015 Voice of the Year and author of the blog Red said what?, Reinharzs writing has also appeared online at InterFaithFamily, Scary Mommy, Mamalode and Brain Child, as well as other publications.
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Canada has signed an agreement with Amazon (AMZN) to distribute critical medical supplies across the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday.

The federal government has tapped the online behemoth to manage the distribution of medical supplies, including masks, face shields, gowns, ventilators, and test kits. Trudeau said that the company will use its large distribution network to deliver medical equipment where it is needed most.

For the past few weeks, our government has been working closely with industry to produce the supplies our healthcare workers need like masks, face shields, gowns, ventilators, and test kits, Trudeau said at his daily press conference on Friday.

Today, I can announce that our government has signed an agreement with Amazon Canada to manage the distribution of this equipment to the provinces and territories.

Earlier this week, Trudeau announced that the federal government will spend $2 billion on protective personal equipment, including masks, face shields, gowns, along with ventilators, test kits and swabs and hand sanitizer as the country fights the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those supplies will be manufactured in Canada, as the government works with companies to increase production of critical supplies.

Amazon will be working with Canada Post, Purolator and other local delivery service partners to transport the supplies and equipment across the country.

The Amazon Canada team is proud to partner with the Government of Canada by leveraging our fulfillment network and delivery service partners to ship critical supplies to front-line professionals across the country, Amazon Canadas country manager Mike Strauch said in a statement.

Amazon, the worlds largest online retailer, has seen a spike in demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the company to hire an additional 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers.

Ottawa has spoken to more than 3,000 companies that have offered to contribute in various ways in the fight against COVID-19. It has so far reached formal agreements with Thornhill Medical, as well as Medicom Group and Spartan Bioscience to produce medical supplies and equipment.

The agreements are part of the governments effort to mobilize Canadas manufacturing industry in a war-time effort to fight the spread and impact of the coronavirus. Various federal programs have been refocused to prioritize the fight against COVID-19, including the Strategic Innovation Fund, the National Research Council, Innovation Solutions Canada and the governments Superclusters fund.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief.
Pedro Sanchez, Leader of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Prime Minister of Spain (R) and his wife Maria Begona Gomez (L) leave after casting his vote on November 10, 2019 in Pozuelo de Alarcon, in Madrid province, Spain. (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Perspective on Pandemic: Spain PMs Relatives Tested Positive for the CCP Virus

Commentary

Two more relatives of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez recently tested positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers Party) leaders mother and father-in-law were admitted to the Puerta de Hierro University Hospital in Majadahonda in Madrid on March 21 after confirming their diagnoses.

Sanchezs wife, Maria Begona Gomez Fernandez, and Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo also tested positive for the CCP virus.

Spain is the second worst-hit nation in Europe, with over 94,000 infections and over 8,200 deaths as of March 31.

The Epoch Times editorial article, Where Ties With Communist China Are Close, the Coronavirus Follows suggests that the heaviest-hit regions outside China all share a common thread: close or lucrative relations with the communist regime in Beijing.

So, what are Sanchezs ties with the CCP?

When other countries criticized the Chinese regimes coverup and botched response to the outbreak that caused the worldwide pandemic, Sanchez did the opposite.

On Feb. 4, Sanchez received representatives of the Chinese Association in Spain and the charge daffaires of the Chinese Embassy in Spain, Yao Fei, at the Moncloa Palace. He welcomed Chinas efforts to achieve effective management of the epidemic and has shown the governments readiness to face the health crisis, according to Spanish medical news website Medicinatv.

So why is Sanchez so friendly with the Chinese regime?

Sanchezs Political Background

Sanchez was sworn in as Spains Prime Minister in June 2018.

Sanchez also serves as the Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE). The PSOE is historically a Marxist party that gradually turned into a socialist-democratic political party.

Sanchez has been a member of PSOE since 1993.

In 2014, he was elected Secretary-General of the PSOE, but left his post due to conflicts within the party. He was subsequently re-elected in 2017. After winning the primary election for Secretary-General, he celebrated by singing the socialist anthem, The Internationale.

Sanchez Reaffirmed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership With China

Xi Jinping visited Spain in November 2018, and is the first state visit by a Chinese leader in 13 years.

The two countries published a joint statement of their comprehensive strategic partnership, and relations between Spain and China were renewed. Sanchez expressed satisfaction with the terms of the agreements, according to Spains official website lamoncloa.gob.es.

There were 10 business agreements between Spanish and Chinese companies, including Instituto de Credito Oficial and Telefonica.

Telefonica is a Spanish multinational telecommunications company. It has relied entirely on Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei for its core 4G networks in key markets of Spain and Germany. The loopholes, or back doors existing in Huaweis equipment have raised security concerns that it would enable the Chinese regime to spy on other countries.

Though Telefonica decided to drastically reduce the amount of equipment it buys from Huawei in December 2019, it will continue to buy Huaweis radios and antennas that connect smartphones to the mobile network equipment, which accounts for the bulk of the cost.

Sanchez Campaigns for Xis Belt and Road Initiative

According to the Chinese regimes mouthpiece, Xi spoke highly of Sanchezs dedication to developing Sino-Spanish relations and his support for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road).

Although Spain did not sign an agreement to join the BRI, he campaigned for the project during his visits to Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, and Costa Rica in August 2018. Sanchez encouraged Spains Latin American companies to bridge the gap between Europe and South America, and to work with Chinese companies.

During Xis state visit in November 2018, both sides also explored joint initiatives between Spain and China in regions of common interests, such as Latin America and Africa, as well as the role of and cooperation between the two countries at the multilateral forums of which they are both members, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the G-20.

In April 2019, Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell Fontelles attended the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. He told the regimes state media that the BRI reflects the reality that China is now a world power.

Sanchez Aligns With the CCP Amid the Pandemic

On March 25, Spain signed a multi-million-euro contract with China to acquire medical supplies, including 550 million masks, 5.5 million rapid test kits, 950 respirators, and 11 million pairs of gloves to address the medical supply shortages in the country.

Health Minister Salvador Illa said this 432 million euros ($467 million) deal was sealed following a conversation between Sanchez and Xi.

According to the regimes overseas mouthpiece CGTN, Sanchez expressed his gratitude to China for its help in combating the epidemic. Sanchez added that the Spanish side appreciates Chinas open attitude in promoting international cooperation and stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields.

However, the reality is a slap in the face for Sanchez.

On March 27, Spanish media El Pais reported that the rapid test kits from China were unreliable. Spanish microbiologists reported that the first 9,000 tests correctly identified positive cases only 30 percent of the time, when experts recommend a sensitivity of at least 80 percent. Health Minister Salvador Illa said the government has sent the tests back to the Chinese manufacturer named Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology.

Special Coverage:

For our latest coverage of the CCP Virus Outbreak, visit our new section and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Bengaluru, April 3 : The city police have deployed the department's 250 emergency response vehicles to attend to 4,500 requests from commoners amid the Covid-19 induced lockdown, a top police officer said on Friday.

"City police have attended over 4,500 requests to ferry those who wanted to go for dialysis, chemotherapy, labour related calls, heart attacks and senior citizens' calls," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao tweeted.

Rao said there are about 250 Hoysala vehicles and emergency police cars in the city.

He urged Bengaluru denizens to dial 100 in the event of an emergency.

"Dial 100, we will reach you, we are not taxi," he added.
President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals about COVID-19s risks and how long Americans will need to stay at home to contain this new disease. But on Sunday he took a sensible new stance, extending strict social-distancing guidelines at least through April 30.

Thats 18 days beyond Easter, when Trump had hoped to see pews packed at churches to celebrate the Christian holy day. The extended guidelines appear to heed the concerns of Trumps respected medical advisers and reflect a grim reality.

This is a new virus for which there are no treatments and no vaccine. The nation also appears to be on the front end of the contagion. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, publicly estimated Sunday that 100,000 to 200,000 people in the U.S. could die of COVID-19, even with aggressive mitigation measures.

Still, dangerous COVID-19 denialism abounds. Some of it is fueled by amateur number-crunching about current confirmed cases and death rates. These lowball calculations have several major problems. Among them are the lack of testing and the fact that this is the early stage of the contagion in this country. Todays numbers arent tomorrows numbers, and medical experts have a lot to learn about the behavior of this new coronavirus. How it acts in one location is no guarantee it will act the same in another.

Trumps inconsistent statements about COVID-19 have also not been helpful in getting people to take this public health threat seriously. He downplayed the diseases spread earlier this year, and since then his statements have varied week to week.

The presidential social distancing guidelines, which were announced March 16, were helpful. They include avoiding nonessential travel and eating out, as well as avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people. But last weeks open things up by Easter announcement suggested wrongly that the epidemic would be under control by the holiday.

The month ahead is critical in containing the virus, and everyone needs to help by staying home to break the chain of infection. Trump should keep pounding on the presidential bully pulpit. Given the bitter political divisions in this country, some will need to hear the message directly from him.

Sadly, its not difficult to find examples of those still not taking COVID-19 seriously. Spring-break revelers from across the country jammed Florida beaches. A church in that same state is still gathering worshipers together. With COVID-19 symptoms appearing from two to 14 days from exposure, we are just beginning to learn what role this recklessness is playing in the diseases spread.

But a cluster of cases in Mount Vernon, Wa., previews the price for underestimating risk. Members of the Skagit Valley Chorale group decided to go ahead with practice at a local church on March 10. While Seattle was a hot zone about an hours drive south, Skagit County, known for its tulip farms, hadnt yet had any confirmed cases.

Sixty members came and sang for two-and-half hours. Nearly three weeks later, 45 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or ill with the symptoms, at least three have been hospitalized, and two are dead, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Trumps welcome new guidance underscores the prudence of stay-at-home orders implemented by individual states and signals the need to move with caution in the weeks after to contain this viral threat.

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

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Julian Kadish is a resident of Norton and has practiced as an Emergency Department physician at Milford Regional Medical Center for more than 40 years.
The UN has called on internet providers to shore-up networks and boost their capacity to help prevent the coronavirus pandemic from having a long-lasting effect.

The UNs advisory body has set out an Agenda for Action to ensure networks that the whole world is relying on during the health crisis are robust, resilient and within reach of as many people as possible.

The agenda, set out at an emergency virtual meeting on Friday, outlines immediate measures that governments, industry, the international community and civil society can take to support digital networks and strengthen capacity.

Network providers and tech companies have been asked to enhance digital cooperation and accelerate efforts to connect the remaining half of the population that dont have internet access at a time when reputable health advice is crucial.

Developing countries are home to the vast majority of the estimated 3.6 billion people who remain offline, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UNs IT and communications-focused agency.

A UN advisory body has set out an Agenda for Action to ensure the networks the whole world is now relying on are robust, resilient and within reach of as many people as possible

As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerates, making in-roads in the developing world and threatening all of humanity, we need to take immediate action to ensure no one is left behind, said ITU Secretary-General and Commission Co-Vice Chair Houlin Zhao during the meeting.

This unprecedented crisis shows that nobody is safe until we are all safe.

And it shows, with no ambiguity, that we will not unleash the full potential of broadband until we are all connected.

The Agenda for Action is built around three pillars, defined as resilient connectivity', affordable access and safe use for informed and educated societies, under which are multiple recommendations.

These include increasing bandwidth and restoring service access where this has been restricted, prioritising connections to vital services such as hospitals, increasing affordability and availability of services and promoting child safety online.

The agenda is said to serve as a framework for the 50-odd commissioners of the UNs Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development (BCSD), who each represent their particular organisation or company.

Commissioners of the BCSD  which is a joint initiative between the UN and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to promote internet access  include Paul Mitchell of Microsoft, Facebooks Kevin Martin, Ericsson CEO Borje Ekholm and Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins.

UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor Fabrizio Hochschild made a plea to the commissioners and their respective companies to share initiatives, make new commitments and foster collaboration and partnership in response to COVID-19.

Network providers have been asked to strengthen capacity at critical connectivity points like hospitals and transport hubs, and boost 'digital access and inclusivity'

He said tech companies should do all in their power to combat misinformation and rising inequality and maximise access to relevant data for public good.

Millions of children who are going online for the first time during the crisis for the purpose of connecting to remote learning platforms following school closures also need to be protected, he said.

Mexican economist Dr Carlos M Jarque highlighted the need to harness technology for the common good, saying that no past epidemic has had access to the broadband services we have today.

Broadband can save lives and mitigate the economic consequences of the pandemic, he said.

It is important to use networks to disseminate timely information to preserve good health, to support e-learning for the more than 1.5 billion students working from home, to train, by digital means, workers in confinement to increase overall productivity and to promote e-commerce and digital services.

UN chief Antonio Guterres described the pandemic as the biggest threat to the world since the Second World War

More than 100 representatives from around the world participated in the virtual meeting, which brought together stakeholders from international organisations, the tech sector, civil society and academia, including global CEOs, heads of agency, and leaders of tech and health industry bodies.

Earlier in the week, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned coronavirus is the greatest global crisis since the Second World War and that the potential longer-term effects on the global economy and individual countries are 'dire'.

Guterres said at the launch of a report on the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic that there is also a risk the crisis will contribute to 'enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict'.
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner made a rare appearance in the White House press briefing room Thursday amid reports about his expanded role in handling the coronavirus crisis and criticism of his efforts.

Kushner has put together a group of private-sector friends, including his former roommate, to aid the administration's response to the coronavirus.

He said President Donald Trump 'wanted us to make sure that we think outside the box, make sure we are finding all the best thinkers in the country, getting all the best ideas and that we are doing everything possible to make sure we can keep Americans safe.'

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner made a rare appearance in the briefing room amid reports about his expanded role in handling the coronavirus

Jared Kushner's 'shadow' coronavirus task force has come under criticism for causing confusion in the government about who plays what role

Kushner specifically talked about getting surgical masks to New York, saying he was made aware of the problem by the president, who got a call from a friend of his in the state to complain about the lack of protective gear.

'Got a call from the president, he told me he was hearing from friends of his in New York that the New York public hospital system was running low on critical supplies,' Kushner said.

He described making a series of calls to officials and said the result was the administration would 'send a month of supply.'

'We'll be doing similar things with all the different public hospitals that are in the hot spot zones,' he said.

He then proceeded to lecture governors - many of whom have been begging the federal government for medical equipment as they struggle to respond to the pandemic amid dwindling supplies - on how to be 'good managers.'

'You have to take inventory in your state, and you have to be able to prove that theres a real need,' he said of the requests for they were getting for ventilators, marks and other protective gear for workers on the front line, who are at high risk of contracting the contagious disease.

He said that governors should know 'the number of how many ventilators they have in their state because that's the first thing a good manager will do.'

'What a lot of the voters are seeing now is that when you would like somebody to be a mayor or governor or president, you're trying to think about who will be a competent manager during the time of crisis. This is a time of crisis, and you're seeing certain people are better managers than others,' he added.

Jared Kushner advised governors begging for masks and other supplies to be 'good managers' during the pandemic

Jared Kushner also defended his team's work and down played reports of tension with Vice President Mike Pence's coronavirus task force

Kushner's appearance before the press comes as his new team has caused tension and confusion among officials who are unclear about the exact role Kushner's 'shadow' response team plays and how it fits in with the official task force led by Vice President Mike Pence.

Kushner, the son-in-law to President Donald Trump, has not been a public face to the response but Thursday he appeared to be coming out of the shadows to talk about his work.

He defended his work, pushing back at reports of tension with Pence's team, saying he and the vice president talk multiple times a day.

'I've been serving really at the direction of the vice president. He's asked me to get involved in different projects, the Vice President I speak to, probably, sometimes 5 to 10 times a day. But everything that I'm doing is at the direction of vice president,' Kushner said.

President Trump also stepped in to describe the multiple reports of confusion and tension caused by the different teams at work as fake news.

Kushner's 'shadow' team includes a slew of McKinsey consultants plus his former roommate and current U.S. foreign investment czar Adam Boehler, and Brad Smith, the head of Medicare's innovation center.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner has put together a group of private-sector friends to respond to the coronavirus

Kushner's group includes his former roommate, U.S. foreign investment czar Adam Boehler

Jared Kushner had his own brush with the coronavirus when his wife Ivanka Trump had to be tested after she met with an Australian official who later tested positive for the disease

Despite the confusion, officials have described a line of distinction in operations. Kushner's group leads the 'all-of-private' sector response while Pence leads the 'all-of-government' effort is how sources described it to Politico.

At that point, the Trump administration was struggling to play catchup in its response to the pandemic, including making sure there were enough tests available to detect the disease.

A senior administration official described to DailyMail.com an all-hands on deck effort by Kushner's office that consisted of round-the-clock work by his team, including Hope Hicks, the former communications director who returned to the administration.

Kushner has been spotted leaving his Washington D.C. home early - around 7:30 a.m. most mornings - to head to his office in the West Wing, which is just down the hall from the Oval Office.

His presence has been seen and felt. He's in White House meetings with private sector officials on responding to the virus, he joined President Trump's call with governors at FEMA and was with the president on Capitol Hill when Trump went there to rally Republicans around an aid package.

Kushner had his own brush with the coronavirus when his wife Ivanka Trump had to be tested after she met with an Australian official who later tested positive for the disease. Ivanka Trump's test result was negative.

But Kushner's involvement in the response effort has also led to criticism.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - a government watchdog group - charged Kushner's 'shadow coronavirus task force' with violating the Presidential Records Act by using private email instead of their government accounts, which makes an automatic record of the correspondence.

That 'leaves the public in the dark about the work the shadow task force has done and the influence of private industries on the administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic,' the group charged.

His group also has also duplicated existing efforts and teams, Politico reported after talking to multiple officials involved in the response effort, and its focus on rapid, short-term decisions has created concern among some health-agency officials.

One official told The Washington Post earlier this month they're getting emails from private industry employees on Kushner's team but have no idea what role these people play.

'We don't know who these people are,' a senior official said. 'Who is this? We're all getting these emails.'

There is concern about a lack of coordination - causing confusion about who is doing what - and there has been limited vetting of the private sector officials involved, raising questions about possible conflicts of interest.

Jared Kushner has been spotted leaving his Washington D.C. home early - around 7:30 a.m. most mornings - to head to his office in the West Wing

Jared Kushner attends a teleconference with governors at the Federal Emergency Management Agency on March 19

An official told Politico that the proper ethical precautions are being taken.

'There have been two rules: People signed voluntary service agreements that were vetted by career legal professionals  and that there is no one doing procurement, outside of government officials,' the senior administration official said.

There's also the usual bickering about who's territory is whose since Kushner's group has gotten involved in all areas of the government's response, including at Health and Human Services and at FEMA.

And he's had his missteps. Kushner helped write the Oval Office address the president gave earlier this month - a speech that was widely panned and saw the stock market tank the next morning.

The criticism has been muted, however, Kushner is seen by many officials as 'untouchable' within the administration given his closeness to the president, to whom he speaks many times a day.

Both Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump have frustrated chiefs of staff who have tried to impose order on the unruly White House when they go outside the command structure by simply walking into the Oval Office to speak to the president.

A senior administration official told DailyMail.com that Kushner's and Pence's teams are working together and described Kushner's group as working to support government agencies in their work.

White House adviser Jared Kushner listens as President Donald Trump talks to reporters on Capitol Hill on March 10

Jared Kushner attends a meeting with President Donald Trump and several CEOs of major banks to discuss the coronavirus response in the Cabinet Room at the White House on March 11

Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump, seen with President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at a December Hanukkah reception, are seen as untouchable within the White House

Kushner also has his defenders, who say the presidential son-in-law has plugged gaps in helping move supplies and helped arranged flights to bring medical supplies in from overseas instead of the usual method of using ships.

And Kushner himself defended his work to The Washington Post earlier this month.

'We're getting things done in record speeds and are doing everything possible to avoid damage and mitigate the negative impacts,' he told the newspaper. 'In America, some of our best resources are in our private sector. The federal government is not designed to solve all our problems; a lot of the muscle is in the private sector and there's also a lot of smart people.'
Amazon had a strategy to smear the organizer of a worker walkout at the online retailing giants Staten Island, N.Y., fulfilment centre on Monday, according to leaked notes from a company meeting.

The notes, circulated as a memo within Amazon, and acquired by Vice News, addressed many issues about the companys planned actions during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Amazon fired Chris Smalls, the organizer of the workplace walkout, several hours after the event Monday.

In response to any regulatory or media query about Smalls, we should spend the first part of our response strongly laying out the case for why the organizers conduct was immoral, unacceptable, and arguably illegal, in detail, and only then follow with our usual talking points about worker safety, according to the memo, reportedly forwarded within Amazon by the companys general counsel David Zapolsky.

Hes not smart, or articulate, and to the extent the press wants to focus on us versus him, we will be in a much stronger PR position than simply explaining for the umpteenth time how were trying to protect workers, the memo says.

Zapolsky said in a statement sent to USA TODAY: My comments were personal and emotional. I was frustrated and upset that an Amazon employee would endanger the health and safety of other Amazonians by repeatedly returning to the premises after having been warned to quarantine himself after exposure to virus COVID-19. I let my emotions draft my words and get the better of me.

The memo is from a daily meeting to update Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos, Vice reported. Other topics included plans to begin checking the temperature of employees and giving them masks, measures the company announced Tuesday. Amazon says it is checking 100,000 workers per day for fevers and that masks will be available at some locations by Thursday and at all locations by early next week.

Also addressed in the memo: plans to partner with a medical organization to test employees for COVID-19. There are legitimate reasons for investing in more testing resources. Lets not just figure out the best PR strategy. Lets figure out what the right thing is for the country, the memo says.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union shared the text of the memo with USA TODAY.

Amazons behaviour is disgusting! Rather than focusing on trying to fix the serious COVID-19 safety issues which threaten their own employees, they choose instead to smear the courageous whistle-blower, RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum said in a statement sent to USA TODAY.

The RWDSU and several other unions including the AFL-CIO, as well as more than 40 New York state and local public officials, called for the swift reinstatement of Smalls. The unions and officials also asked Amazon to CLOSE Amazon warehouses until you put into place real solutions  with independent monitors  to protect your workers and the public in this moment of public health crisis.

Amazon has seen increased demands for delivery of products as tens of millions of Americans have stayed in their homes in attempts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Three weeks ago, the company said it planned to hire 100,000 workers to assist with online deliveries during the pandemic and temporarily raise its minimum pay to $17 an hour. Amazon is also seeking current warehouse workers who would want to temporarily work in its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Prime Now services, loading groceries at Whole Foods, with a $2 hour pay increase.

Also on Thursday, Bezos announced a donation of $100 million to Feeding America to support the nonprofits national network of food banks and food pantries.

Smalls posted Thursday on Twitter that more employees had tested positive at the fulfilment centre. He planned a protest at the office of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Manhattan.

Amazon targeted me because the spotlight is on me, Smalls said in an opinion piece in The Guardian, a United Kingdom newspaper. Posed as a letter to Bezos, Smalls says, I am getting calls from Amazon workers across the country and they all want to stage walk-outs, too. We are starting a revolution and people around the country support us.

 Contributing: Jefferson Graham

Read more about:
A former minister for aviation, Femi Fani Kayode says he has never been so ashamed of being a Nigerian until he heard that the federal government publicly begged American billionaire, Elon Musk for ventilator to fight coronavirus.

Speaking via his official Twitter handle, he queried why the president of a country with over 200 million people would be begging an individual for help.

READ: COVID-19: FG Begs US Billionaire For Ventilators On Twitter

He wrote:

I have never been so ashamed of being a Nigerian than when I heard that our Govt. publicly begged @elonmusk for help to supply ventilators and other things to fight Covid 19. A country of 200 million people is begging a man like that for a handout? @MBuhari has killed Nigeria!
LANSING, MI  Small businesses across the state can now apply for $349 billion in Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans through the U.S. Small Business Association, the Whitmer administration announced Friday.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, the current Small Business Association of Michigan president, have launched a new website to provide businesses with key resources to assist with the PPP application and loan processes to ensure the greatest amount of federal funding is able to be used by small businesses for economic relief throughout the state, according to an April 3 news release.

The website, which includes eligibility information, videos and instructions to help with the application process, was launched as a collaborative effort between the Small Business Association of Michigan, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan SBDC, according to the release.

Strong participation from Michigan businesses in the PPP is critical for economic relief efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, the release states.

All across Michigan, small businesses and families are doing their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, but this unprecedented time has, understandably, created uncertainty for many employers, Gilchrist said in the release.

Thats why we are working to make it as easy as possible for even the smallest businesses to apply for additional funding with the launch of the Michigan Paycheck Protection Program website. The Paycheck Protection Program offers much-needed financial support for our small businesses and their workers to help them get through this tough time.

Michigan small businesses, including hospitality and food industry businesses and sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons, are eligible to apply for loans to ensure employees continue receiving paychecks.

The loans are designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll and may be forgiven if all employees are kept on payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities.

Loans from the PPP will be awarded on a first come, first served basis with funding caps in place. The state is encouraging small businesses to apply early, starting today, and to utilize the website to make the process as streamlined and simple as possible.

The Paycheck Protection Program will provide critical capital for businesses facing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of coronavirus and protect the livelihoods for workers across the state that these businesses provide, said Mark Burton, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. While we are looking at every resource possible to support our small businesses and workforce in the face of the significant challenges they are facing, we know that federal loans, like the Paycheck Protection Program, will be paramount to economic recovery efforts in the state.

Last month, the Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $20-million economic relief program to help struggling small businesses make payroll and cover their bills during the COVID-19 outbreak. An estimated 117,000 businesses and 593,000 employees are directly impacted by Gov. Gretchen Whitmers order to temporarily close bars, restaurants, cafes, recreational facilities and other personal service businesses.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

READ MORE:

Friday, April 3: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Michigan restaurants struggle to survive solely on takeout as coronavirus shutdown continues

West Michigan small businesses hurt by coronavirus eligible for $10k grants

Kalamazoo creates $2M fund to help small businesses hurt by coronavirus
POLICE have released a new CCTV image of a man who robbed a Henley shopkeeper at knifepoint.

The image is thought to have been captured in the street around the time of the robbery at Station News in Station Road at around 6.10am on March 27.

The man, who was dressed from head to toe in black, threatened shop manager Yogarajah Rajkumar with a 6in knife before escaping with about eight packets of cigarettes, two bottles of whisky and a tray of 40 lighters.

It was the fifth time in two years that the shop has been targeted by criminals.

Police are appealing for anyone who recognises the man come forward. He is described as white, aged 25 to 30 and about 5ft 8in.

Anyone with information, should call Thames Valley Police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference number 43200098771.
You never know what San Francisco is capable of until you put it to the test.

And the coronavirus pandemic is certainly doing that.

As of Thursday, San Francisco had 450 confirmed coronavirus cases and seven deaths. Residents have been sheltered in place for 17 straight days, disrupting virtually all aspects of life  including something as simple as a 4-year-olds birthday.

But, as the Russian Hills Llopis family found out Wednesday, putting San Francisco to the test has proven the city is capable of a heck of a lot.

Wednesday was Vicente Llopis fourth birthday  a quiet, indoors-only celebration with his parents and little brother that turned into a whole lot more at 5 p.m.

I posted something on NextDoor asking for a little help from the neighborhood, his mother Trish Llopis told SFGATE. I was nervous too, because you can get a lot of slack on NextDoor for doing things wrong on there.

The ask was to sing "Happy birthday" to Vicente at 5 p.m.

I thought it would just be people in my building singing out of their windows, she said.

Instead, more than 40 people  all properly social distanced  on rooftops, hanging out of windows, and in the streets serenaded the Llopis third-story window with a birthday belting the family wont soon forget.

Russian Hill, Ive been in this neighborhood for 18 years, and this apartment with my husband for the past seven years. Especially not having immediate family close by  my husband and I are both transplants from the East Coast  its why we like living here so much, it is like a family. Guys who own corner store, New Russian Hill Market  theyre our family. Our mailman Gus  hes our family. Our neighbor downstairs who owns Hedge Coffee, theyre our family.

And one of the perks of having such a large neighborhood family?

Everyone brought presents and just left them by the door, Trish said with a laugh.

Presents aside, Vicente was mostly just excited about the gesture.

I mean people were on the rooftops across the street, Trish said. Vicente is still talking about it, he just keeps saying, That was so awesome.

The efforts from his parents were also warmly received.

Mom and dad stayed up until 3:30 a.m. building a cardboard pirate ship in the living room, put together a treasure hunt through their one-bedroom apartment, and even got him a giant doughnut from Bobs Donuts, all of which Trish cataloged on Instagram (@trishllopis).

RELATED: 'We're a tight-knit group': Nob Hill bands together to get groceries to seniors

I feel like in this neighborhood, surrounding this block, a lot of neighbors have been here a long time; theyve known each other for a long time. Ive called to check up on a few others, and theyve called to check up on a few others, and were all helping each other, especially the older people who live here  everyone is coming together.

Even though they all have to physically be apart.

The Llopis' coffee shop-owning downstairs neighbor Olga Sobal set up a coffee window for her building neighbors and has been using leftover coffee from her shop to make morning and afternoon flat whites and cappuccinos for her adult neighbors, and hot chocolates for young Vicente.

To have something that little thing to brighten your day  to have a little social interaction  its great, she said.

Grant Marek is Editorial Director of SFGATE. Email: grant.marek@sfgate.com | Twitter: @grant_marek

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  The Quezon City government said Friday it has received "numerous reports" that some indigent residents have not received the food relief allotted to them amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

This should not be happening because we have already distributed one million food packs in Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.

Belmonte reiterated the food packs should be distributed to families most affected by quarantine guidelines, which include a stay-at-home order to contain the spread of the corovonavirus disease.

Belmonte warned they will suspend barangay captains and other city officials who would fail to aid the residents in need.

Favoritism and politics have no place during this time of need. Food packs should be given to those in need, regardless of political affiliation and preference, she added.

Belmonte called on residents who have not received any aid to report to her office by sending an e-mail to covid19foodrelief@quezoncity.gov.ph. Barangay officials earlier sent the local government a list of beneficiaries, Belmonte said.

On Wednesday, authorities arrested 21 protesters demanding food and other assistance in Quezon City for staging a rally without government permit. They are residents of Sitio San Roque in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa.

The local government has stressed that it has distributed food packs throughout the city, and that some of the protesters eventually admitted to receiving aid.

Quezon City has 464 confirmed coronavirus cases. Thirty-three patients have died from COVID-19 while 14 have recovered from the viral disease. The city government is implementing an extreme enhanced community quarantine in 18 barangays.

Nationwide, there are now 2,633 COVID-19 cases, with 107 deaths and 51 recoveries.
The ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown has been stressful to most of us, to say the least. As most of the employed population started working from home and started spending more time with their partners and coupled with the stress around the COVID-19 outbreak, are having an impact on personal relationships.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has received over 250 complaints since the country-wide lockdown was imposed to control the spread of coronavirus out of which 69 were cases of domestic violence, which it said has been increasing since then.

Since the lockdown was imposed, a total of 257 complaints related to various offences against women were received, out of which 69 complaints are related to domestic violence, the data released by the NCW showed. NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said the number of cases of domestic violence must be much higher but the women are scared to complain due to the constant presence of their abuser at home.

She said from March 24 till April 1, the NCW has received 69 domestic violence complaints and it is increasing by the day.

"Women are not approaching the police because they think that if they take her husband away, the in-laws would be torturing her. Because of the lockdown, women are not able to reach out to the police. They don't even want to go to the police because they are afraid that once their husband comes out of the police station, he will again torture her and she can't even move out. "

"Earlier women could go to their parents' place but now they are unable to reach. The NCW is in touch with these complainants," she said.

According to Vani Subramanian, a member of the women's group Saheli Trust, "captivity anyway drives people crazy and abusive situations only make it worse". Ranjana Kumari, the director of the Centre for Social Research, said everyone was at home due to the lockdown and women were not getting the courage to contact for help.

Mental health experts had warned that such situations could lead to troubles in relationships.

"Having everyone at home is also not easy, especially for those who are not used to being like that. So there will be some conflicts over the mealtime, dividing work, etc," Tanya Vasunia, the Lead Psychologist at Mpower - The Centre, a Mumbai-based mental health counseling center said.

This, however, is not something that is limited to India. In China, the country which went to lockdown first there is an increase in the number of divorce cases. There has also been an increase in domestic violence reports.
Unemployment in the US is set to surge to its highest rate since the Great Depression after a second week of record lay-offs dealt a stunning blow to the world's largest economy.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the week ending March 28 doubled to almost 7 million, with economists warning that up to 20 million jobs could be lost across the country as lockdowns bite.

US jobless figures are soaring, and analysts believe they will eventually rival the Great Depression. Credit:AP

Wall Street analysts predicted that unemployment will hit 16 per cent within months - a rate not seen since the end of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

The shocking figures show that employers are shedding workers at a frightening pace to combat a sudden stop in economic activity as the White House struggles to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. The weekly rise was 10 times higher than the pre-coronavirus record set in 1982 and means just under 10 million people have filed for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks. James McCann, of Aberdeen Standard Investments, said: "This is eye-watering and we are still only at the beginning of the layoffs spurred by the lockdowns.
C oronavirus is severely hitting more young and seemingly healthy people, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.

An increasing number of Covid-19 patients in their 30s, 40s and 50s are being admitted to intensive care and dying, despite having no underlying health issues, the international health body found.

WHOs Covid-19 technical lead, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, said there were still many unknowns as to why the proportion of younger patients is growing.

We are seeing more and more younger individuals who are experiencing severe disease, she told a press conference in Geneva on Friday.

I should say, overall, most of the people who are experiencing severe disease and ending up in ICU are people of older age, and are people who have underlying conditions.

But what we are seeing in some countries, individuals who are in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are in ICUs and have died.

She said the WHO needs to better understand why young people are dying from the infection, adding there are still many unknowns at this present time.

One in six fatalities in Korea have been people under the age of 60, her colleague Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of WHOs emergencies programme, told the briefing.

And over the past six weeks in Italy, at least 10 to 15 per cent of people in intensive care units (ICU) with the disease were aged under 50, he said.

Its not that anything has changed, Dr Ryan explained. Its that we collectively have been living in a world where we have tried to convince ourselves that this disease is mild and more severe in older people.

But I think the evidence has been there all along, he said, adding: There is a spectrum of severity.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast

At the same press conference, the International Monetary Funds (IMF) managing director said the worlds economy had come to a standstill due to the pandemic.

Kristalina Georgieva described the situation as humanitys darkest hour and that the world was in a recession more severe than the 2008 financial crisis.

She said: This is a crisis like no other, never in the history of the IMF have we witnessed the world economy coming to a standstill.

We are now in recession. It is way worse than the global financial crisis. It is a crisis that requires all of us to come together.
By David Henry

NEW YORK, April 3 (Reuters) - Questions are building about whether big U.S. banks will have to cut dividends later this year as the coronavirus crisis puts a record portion of Americans out of work, making it difficult for borrowers to pay back loans.

Wall Street analysts were initially skeptical that U.S. lenders would have to follow European counterparts and non-financial companies that have already done so, but in recent days, some have started to take the possibility more seriously.

Banks that have heavy exposure to credit cards are most at risk, they said.

Those lenders, including Citigroup Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Capital One Financial Corp, may breach Federal Reserve limits on using capital for dividends when loan losses escalate and erode profits.

"One of the most important variables that will determine whether banks have adequate capital to maintain dividends is the extent to which consumers draw down on outstanding credit-card lines," Goldman Sachs bank analyst Richard Ramsden said in a report on Thursday.

Credit cards have an "outsized impact," Ramsden said, because lenders have extended some $2 trillion in those loans to consumers, and performance is so closely tied to unemployment.

Card loan loss rates may double under severe economic stress, and be more than three times the rate on commercial loans, he said.

On balance, however, "all of the banks should be in a position to maintain dividends at, or close to, the current run rate," he said.

FINANCIAL HEALTH

Dividends are seen as evidence of good financial health and encourage loyalty from investors who expect that income, which makes companies leery of cutting them.

However, nearly 10 million Americans have filed jobless claims as the coronavirus has shut down retail stores, restaurants and other businesses deemed "non-essential" across the country.

Economists expect the unemployment rate may eventually spike as high as 20% and U.S. economic output fall as much as 34% before the country can get back to normal.

The European Central Bank told their lenders on March 27 to skip dividends and share buybacks until at least October, estimating they could save 30 billion euros by doing so.

Story continues

Although major U.S. banks already halted share repurchases through June to conserve capital, they face political pressure from Democratic lawmakers, prominent former regulators and some economic commentators to cut dividends as well.

Banks have so far resisted those calls, arguing that they are financially stronger than European banks.

"Our dividend is sound," Citigroup Chief Executive Mike Corbat told CNBC on Wednesday. "We plan on continuing to pay it."

Goldman Sachs Group Inc CEO David Solomon and Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman made similar statements in television interviews this week.

Behind the scenes, however, dividends have increasingly become a top agenda item, an industry lobbyist told Reuters, with bankers discussing what they should do and whether they should coordinate any action.

A main concern is that suspending dividends will hurt share prices at a time when stocks are already under intense stress, the person said, asking not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

The industry may have no choice if banks get too close to the Fed's limits on capital use for dividends, analysts said. That could happen as soon as the second half of this year, particularly for major card lenders, as delinquencies and loan-loss provisions increase, Ramsden said.

If unemployment reaches 10%, banks might report less in quarterly profits than they planned to pay out in dividends, Oppenheimer & Co analyst Chris Kotowski said. (Reporting by David Henry in New York; Additional reporting by Michelle Price in Washington. Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Sonya Hepinstall)
Australia, one of the most preferred destinations for Indian students, on Friday refused to offer any economic support to international students who were unable to support themselves in the ongoing coronavirus crisis with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying the country must focus at present on its citizens and residents.

''People should know though, in particular for students, all students who come to Australia in their first year have to give a warranty that they are able to support themselves for the first 12 months of their study, Morrison said while addressing media in Canberra.

That is a requirement for their visa when they come for the first year. That is not an unreasonable expectation of the government that students would be able to fulfil the commitment that they gave,'' he said.

Morrison said that the country must focus at present on its citizens and residents. "These (student) visas, and those who are in Australia under various visa arrangements, they are obviously not held here compulsorily," he said after a National Cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders.

''If they are not in a position to support themselves then there is the alternative for them to return to their home countries. We still have quite a number of people who are here on visitor visas,'' he said and also asked all international visitors to head back home in this current crisis.

"As much as it is lovely to have visitors to Australia in good times, at times like this if you're a visitor in this country, it is time, as it has been now for some while - and I know many visitors have - to make your way home and to ensure that you can receive the supports that are available ... in your home countries."



India is the second largest source of enrolments in Australia after China with over 140,000 enrolments recorded last year. International students are allowed to work 20 hrs a week under their student visa arrangement.

A former international student Karthik Arasu who has set up a group to help support needy overseas students in Melbourne, said ''its very unfortunate international students have been left in limbo citing their visa conditions of proving they are financially fit to study in Australia....whole world was not prepared for it let alone the students.''



Another Melbourne-based former student Jasvinder Sidhu called it a blunt reaction from Morrison stating that the international students were the ones doing odd, casual and night jobs with low pay and now the government was now treating them as if they added no value.

However, Australia has relaxed restrictions for nurses or doctors or those having any other critical skills that can help in this crisis,



The prime minister said for them ''there will be opportunities ... But our focus and our priority is on supporting Australians and Australian residents with the economic supports that are available."



Major supermarkets and aged care providers are also allowed to offer more hours temporarily to international students employees. According to official data, Last year over 956,000 enrolments were recorded in Australia.

Morrison also said anyone in Australia from overseas who wanted to work in fruit picking and other such seasonal agricultural employment would be required to self-isolate for 14 days before travelling to "another part of the country".

He said it was to avoid a "lift up of the virus" from metropolitan areas, where it is more prevalent, to "more vulnerable" rural or regional areas.

"This is being done to ensure that those producers can get the work done but also to ensure that the communities are protected," the Prime Minister said.

He said accommodation for workers must also adhere to strict health and social distancing requirements. "You can't have six backpackers in a caravan up out in rural parts of the country," Morrison said. "That's not on. Not going to happen.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
London: European Union (EU) legislators have called out Hungary for trying to ban transgender people from changing their sex on some official documents as a "deliberate" attack on the community.

The Hungarian ruling Fidesz party proposed on Tuesday to change the law so that birth, marriage and death certificates show "sex at birth" - reversing a policy that allowed trans people to change their legal sex to match the gender in which they live.

"This attack on the trans community is outrageous and deliberate," Marc Angel, a member of the European Parliament and co-president of its informal Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, said in a statement reacting to the omnibus bill.

Hungary wants to wind back legislation that allows transgender people more flexibility when filling in official documents. Credit:iStock

"This move does not only intentionally silence the trans community - it seeks to erase it and deny its existence."
Shirley B. Jones, 70, of Edgewater Park, N.J., died March 31 of complications from the coronavirus. Read more

Retired federal worker Shirley B. Jones began feeling ill shortly after returning to Burlington County from a trip to Connecticut in March. Her husband thought she had a cold, possibly the flu, and nursed her at home.

Days later, her condition worsened. She was fatigued, coughing uncontrollably, and not eating or drinking. Bruce Jones Sr. summoned an ambulance to their Edgewater Park home and followed by car.

At Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly, Shirley Jones, 70, was taken to the emergency room and later moved to the ICU. Her husband sat in his car, anxiously waiting for answers.

Doctors believed she was infected with the coronavirus and began treating her with medications pending test results, said her son, Bruce Jr., 49, of Sicklerville.

Eleven days later, on March 31, Shirley Jones died. She was among the 646 victims claimed by the pandemic in New Jersey as of Friday.

 READ MORE: Philly coronavirus patients were white at first, but new cases are primarily African-Americans, data indicate

Her family members described an emotional roller-coaster ride that began around March 18 after she returned from a sorority conference and felt sluggish. Perhaps she was tired from her Amtrak trip from Philadelphia to Hartford, they thought.

You could tell that she was tired, Bruce said. But thats not uncommon. She always stays up late.

Shirley was active in the community and always busy, her son said. She was a substitute teacher two days a week at Edgewater Park Elementary, where she enjoyed working with younger students.

She was relatively healthy without any underlying medical conditions, he said. The family believed she would recover with treatment at the hospital. She was given oxygen, which seemed to help.

Unable to see her, relatives got regular updates from hospital officials. They suggested a trial drug; doctors said she was already getting it and others. A nurse arranged for the family to speak with her.

You could tell she was in pain. It sounded scary to me, said Bruce, an eighth-grade math teacher. He ended the conversation by telling his mother, I just want to let you know I love you.

He said his mothers condition deteriorated, and after a week on a ventilator the prognosis was grim. Her doctor asked his father, What do you want to do?

The family anguished over the decision and decided to stop life support on Tuesday. Jewelle Sutherland, a pulmonologist who considered Shirley like a big sister, volunteered to sit at her bedside because the family could not. She reviewed her chart and reassured the family that they had made the right decision, that there was little chance of recovery.

She died minutes after the machines stopped, and Sutherland immediately called to tell the family it was peaceful.

I just feel for these families, said Sutherland, of Virtua Pulmonology. She was not the treating physician.

Not getting a chance to say farewell to his mother was heartbreaking, said Bruce, her only child. I would have liked to have been there for my mom."

Born in Suffolk, Va., Shirley Jones was one of 10 children. She was raised by her paternal grandparents. She met her future husband in high school. He became curious about her after learning they had the same birthday, Oct. 20.

She was a beautiful person in and out, he said, choking back tears.

The couple married in 1970 and relocated to the Philadelphia region when he accepted a position with a pharmaceutical company. She obtained a bachelors degree from Temple University and a masters from Central Michigan University.

She was employed by the Department of Defense in Philadelphia as a program manager and contracting supervisor. She retired in 2010 and later worked at Kingsway Elementary in Haddonfield.

She liked working. She didnt want to stay home with me, joked her husband of 49 years, who retired in 1995.

She organized an annual cruise for about 20 couples. Known as Shirleys cruising group, they traveled to Alaska, Aruba, France, Jamaica, and Spain. She also was an avid bowler.

She was a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and served two terms as president of its Willingboro chapter. She was also a member of the LINKS Inc., Rancocas Valley Chapter, and Tabernacle Baptist Church in Burlington, where she served on the Greeters Ministry.

She was one of a kind, said the Rev. Cory Jones, the churchs pastor.

In addition to her husband and son, she is survived by four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the National Autism Association, 1 Park Ave., Suite 1, Portsmouth, R.I. 02871.
- Anne Curtis wowed netizens as she showed her baby Dahlias face on social media for the first time

- The Kapamilya star uploaded the special photo to celebrate Dahlias first month of life

- The first-time mommy said that she is hoping the baby girls adorable photo will be able to give happiness to a lot of people amid the COVID-19 crisis

- Baby Dahlia Amelie is as good-looking as her mother Anne and her father, Erwan Heussaff, based on the viral picture

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Anne Curtis took to Instagram to show her baby Dahlias face on social media for the first time.

KAMI learned that Anne uploaded the special photo to celebrate Dahlias first month of life.

According to the first-time mother, she is hoping that the baby girls adorable photo will be able to give happiness to a lot of people amid the COVID-19 crisis in the country.

Based on the viral picture, baby Dahlia Amelie is as good-looking as her mother Anne and her father, Erwan Heussaff.

Yesterday, we celebrated her 1st month of life. We love you our little Dahlia Amelie.

Hoping this brings a smile to your face today, Anne posted on Instagram.

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KAMI previously reported that Annes donations for the COVID-19 frontliners in the Philippines went viral.

Anne Curtis is a famous actress and one of the pioneer hosts of Its Showtime. On November 12, 2017, she tied the knot with social media star Erwan Heussaff. The famous celebrity couple now has a baby girl named Dahlia Amelie Heussaff.

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!

Welcome to the new episode of our Pinoy Confessions feature! Our team gave some pieces of advice to our followers who are going through difficult situations in life. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
Governor Newsom Announces New Help for Small Businesses & Workers Displaced by COVID-19

Federal government offering first-come, first-serve loans of up to $10 million for small employers

Governor Newsom announces $50 million in loan guarantees for small businesses that may not be eligible for federal relief

Governor joins Bitwise Industries in announcing OnwardCa.org, a platform connecting COVID-19 displaced workers with over 70,000 job opportunities in critical industries

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State is also allowing small businesses to defer payment of sales and use taxes of up to $50,000, for up to 12 months

SACRAMENTO  Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a series of new resources to aid small businesses and help California workers who have lost work due to COVID-19.

Beginning tomorrow, California small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis can apply for a loan from the federal government for up to $10 million. Importantly, the program is first-come, first-serve and the Governor encourages all eligible California small businesses to contact their lender to learn more.

Today, the Governor also announced that the state is allocating $50 million to the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank for loan guarantees to small businesses to help eliminate barriers to capital for individuals who do not qualify for federal funds, including low wealth and undocumented immigrant communities. The state is also allowing small businesses to defer payment of sales and use taxes of up to $50,000, for up to 12 months.

Additionally, the Governor joined Bitwise Industries and the Kapor Center to launch OnwardCa.org, a new platform connecting displaced California workers with more than 70,000 job opportunities in critical industries.

Earlier this week, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to help small businesses, granting a 90-day extension for small businesses to pay sales taxes.

Governor Newsom also today announced $17.8 million in new state initiatives to support California workers impacted by COVID-19. The allocation will come from Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds with $7.8 million going to the Los Angeles region and $10 million made available statewide.

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The COVID-19 pandemic is having cascading effects for millions of California families and small businesses, said Governor Gavin Newsom. Through no fault of their own, more than a million Californians have lost a job and countless more are seeing their businesses fail. California will emerge from this crisis stronger than before, and until then, the state will work overtime with the federal government and private sector to get families the help they need.

For more information, go to covid-19.ca.gov.
Francis recalls the Virgin Marys "seven sorrows". She didn't ask herself to be a quasi-redeemer or a co-redeemer: no. There is one Redeemer and this title not a dual title. Only disciple and mother. And so, as a mother we must think of her, we must look to her, we must pray to her. She is the Mother.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis introduced mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta with a prayer for those who help today and who are also thinking about how to help us all when the pandemic will end.

"There are people - he said - who are now starting to think about the aftermath: the aftermath of the pandemic. Of all the problems that will arise: problems of poverty, of work, of hunger ... We pray for all the people who help today, but also think about tomorrow, to help us all. "

On this Passion Friday, which commemorates Mary's sorrows, Pope Francis dedicated his homily to Our Lady of Sorrows. Today, he said, it will do us good to think about Our Lady's Sorrows and to thank her because she accepted to be a Mother. Pope Francis recalled that, Christian devotion has collected Our Lady's sorrows and speaks of the "Seven Sorrows". The first, he said, is just 40 days after the birth of Jesus, Simeon's prophecy that speaks of a sword that will pierce her heart. In the second sorrow, she thinks about the flight to Egypt to save her Son's life, while the third recalls, those three days of anguish when the boy remained in the temple.

The fourth and fifth sorrow, he said, see Our Lady meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary and his subsequent death on the Cross. Pope Francis noted that in the sixth and seventh sorrow, Mary continues to accompany Jesus when he is taken down from the Cross and then buried. It is good for me, said the Pope, late in the evening, when I pray the Angelus, to pray these seven sorrows as a remembrance of the Mother of the Church, who, with so much pain, gave birth to all of us.

Our Lady never asked anything for herself, Pope Francis underlined. She only agrees to be a Mother. She accompanied Jesus like a disciple, because the Gospel shows that she followed Jesus: with her friends, pious women, she followed Jesus, she listened to Jesus. The Pope issued an invitation to Honour Our Lady and say: This is my Mother, because she is a Mother. And this is the title she received from Jesus, right there, at the moment of the Cross.

Our Lady did not want to take away any title from Jesus, said Pope Francis, she received the gift of being His Mother and the duty to accompany us as Mother, to be our Mother. She didn't ask herself to be a quasi-redeemer or a co-redeemer: no. There is one Redeemer and this title not a dual title. Only disciple and mother. And so, as a mother we must think of her, we must look to her, we must pray to her. She is the Mother. In the Mother Church. In the motherhood of Our Lady we see the motherhood of the Church which receives everyone, good and bad: All.

Francis concluded: Today it would do us good to stop a little and think about the pain and sorrows of Our Lady. She is our Mother. And how she bore them, how she bore them well, with strength, with tears: they were not fake tears, it was a heart destroyed by pain. It will do us good to stop a bit and say to Our Lady: 'Thank you for accepting to be Mother when the Angel told you and thank you for accepting to be Mother when Jesus told you.' "

The Pope ended the celebration with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a blessing.
Maharashtra CET Cell has announced the extension of the application deadline for several entrance exams

Maharashtra CET Cell has announced the extension of the application deadline for several entrance exams. The decision has been taken in view of the 21-day nationwide lockdown over coronavirus.

Maharashtra CET Cell informed about its decision through a notice on its official website. In view of the total lockdown imposed due to the COVID-19 scare and precautionary measures imposed, some candidates who are dependent on cybercafe services for filling the online applications have requested CET CELL for extension of the form filing date, read the notice.

The extended dates for the aforementioned courses are as follows:

MAH B.P.Ed CET2020: The earlier deadline for filing the application was 7 April, but now it has been extended to 20 April. The exam will be conducted on 11 May.

MAH BEd-MEd Integrated Course CET-2020: The last date for application has been extended to 20 April from 3 April. The exam is scheduled to be held on 12 May.

MAH MPEd CET2020: The last date for filing the application is 20 April now. Earlier, it was 7 April. The exam is on 14 May.

MAH BA/BSc BEd Integrated Course CET-2020: Candidates can now apply for the exam till 20 April. The previous deadline was 13 April. The exams are scheduled on 20 May.

MAH MEd CET2020: The CET Cell has extended the deadline for filing the application from 8 to 20 April. The exam will take place on 26 May.
KALAMAZOO, MI  In response to a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Buck Baits LLC over the use of the name Deer Camp, Bells Brewery Inc. and its subsidiary, Upper Hand Brewery, have denied any wrongdoing and simultaneously filed a counterclaim of their own.

Sterling Heights-based Buck Baits, makers of Deer Camp Coffee, filed a lawsuit against Bells Jan. 20 in U.S. District Court. The filing came a little more than one year after Upper Hand Brewery, a division of Bells, began using Deer Camp as the name of one of its beers.

Buck Baits states that, on two occasions, it sent Bells cease and desist letters but the craft beer giant refused to concede, so it had no decision but to move forward with the suit. Buck Baits lawsuit also attests that Upper Hands logo is very close to the one it has used for its coffee since 2015.

Both Deer Camp products, the Buck Baits coffee and the Upper Hand beer, use all capital letters as well as a similar color scheme in their respective logos, something Buck Baits alleges confuses its customer base.

Bells filed a response and counter complaint March 20 in U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, in which the brewery denies there are identical or similar elements in the logos or that the companies are attempting to reach the same target audience, something Buck Baits asserts in its complaint.

In the response, Bells said not only does it have every right to use the name, but argues Buck Baits lawsuit is founded on nothing more than the companys failed effort to force Bells into a licensing agreement that they undoubtedly hoped would generate substantial revenue for them.

Buck Baits, which had the Deer Camp name registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2016 for a wide range of coffee-related products, has said it had plans to begin making a coffee-infused beer. In the companys January lawsuit, Buck Baits stated it acquired the domain, www.deercampbeer.com, when it first started producing coffee and applied for the trademark in 2015.

Bells, in its counter-complaint, states the brewery was threatened by Buck Baits to enter into a licensing agreement in November 2019 and that it refused. According to the March 20 court filing from Bells, Buck Baits co-owner Anthony Majewski sent a letter to Bells on Nov. 23.

In the event you do not wish to engage (sic) into a licensing agreement, I will hereby demand that you immediately cease and desist in any additional use of my trademark," Majewski wrote in the letter, according to the court filing.

Four days later, both parties agree, a telephone conversation occurred between Majewski and Bells owner Larry Bell in which Bell said he would not stop using Upper Hands Deer Camp logo or stop making Deer Camp beer.

Bells further asserted that, on Dec. 2, the next business day following the conversation, Majewski filed a trademark application to register Deer Camp for use in connection with beer, ale, lager, stout and porter; malt liquor as well as ... insulating sleeve holder for beverage cups; insulating sleeve holder for bottles; Insulating sleeve holder for beverage cans; Tumblers for use as drinking glasses; Beverage glassware; Drinking glasses, namely, tumblers."

All of the accessories can be seen and purchased at this time on the Buck Baits website.

Bells claims that not only did Buck Baits have no actual plans to make beer, but that the plaintiffs do not own a trademark registration for the words Deer Camp in connection with beer. Furthermore, Bells states, Buck Baits move to begin to produce alcohol-related products and begin beer production violates Bells own trademark rights.

Upon information and belief, Majewski did not file this application because he had a bona fide intent to use his alleged Deer Camp trademark in connection with beer and other alcoholic beverages and related glassware, but to enhance the trademark infringement claims he was then planning to assert against Bells Brewery, Bells counter complaint states.

By selling, offering for sale, advertising and/or promoting goods through plaintiffs beer website (www.deercampbeer.com) and plaintiffs coffee website using the BELLS mark, plaintiffs are engaged in willful trademark infringement in violation, Bells states.

Buck Baits asserted in its lawsuit in January that Bells had applied twice for a registered trademark for the name Deer Camp, in 2017 and 2018. And both times, the company was denied because it causes a likelihood of confusion with plaintiffs registered Deer Camp trademark," according to the complaint.

Despite being notified by the patent office that its proposed use of the Deer Camp trademark infringed upon trademark rights, Bells nonetheless moved forward and began selling beer and related merchandise under the Deer Camp name through its Upper Hand Brewery division, Buck Baits complaint states.

Buck Baits contends in its complaint that its target consumer base is the same as Upper Hands, which can lead to confusion with consumers. This includes hunting, archery, outdoor and fishing enthusiasts, as well as trail and mountain hikers, camping and RV enthusiasts and especially consumers in those groups from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan," the complaint states.

Bells, in its response, argues that Buck Baits has not gained strong commercial recognition with its brand among the Buck Baits target customer or any other group of consumers. It points out further that Bells is one of the most well-known craft brewers not only in the nation, but in the world, and that Buck Baits has nothing to lose, but only to gain by any confusion if there was any.

The craft beer giant further denied allegations from Buck Baits that coffee-infused beer, coffee flavored beer, and other types of beer are products related to coffee, or that Buck Baits has taken bona fide steps to expand its product line into any type of beer.

In its complaint, Buck Baits listed a half-dozen brewers that sell both craft coffee and craft beer in its lawsuit, including Marshalls Dark Horse Brewing, which also owns and operates Dark Street Roasting Company and Coffee House. The company also listed Cultivate Coffee and Taphouse in Ypsilanti, which happens to host events sponsored by Bells Brewery, it claims.

Bells, in its response, denied that "there is a widespread practiceof beer and coffee being sold by the same suppliers and/or under the same brand, or that there are common market channels for craft beer and coffee or any crossover in market and customer for craft beer and coffee

Bells go so far to deny that there is a prevalence of coffee-infused and coffee-related beer and that such beer is important to the craft beer industry." The defendant does admit; however, to partnering with regional coffee makers to create coffee-infused beers including Bells Java Stout and Milchkaffee and Upper Hands Fluffalo.

We have made several efforts to find a friendly resolution to this matter, but Bells has shown no interest in working together to resolve this matter, Buck Baits owner Julie Majewski said in a statement emailed to MLive in January. Thus, as a small business, we were left with no choice but to engage legal counsel and file this lawsuit to protect our business, brand, and trademark rights.

Also on MLive:

Bells Brewery Inc. sued over alleged Deer Camp trademark infringement

Bells Brewery loses trademark dispute with North Carolina brewery

Bells Brewery cancels Oberon Day gathering as coronavirus hits Michigan

Revelers let their alter egos shine during Eccentric Day at Bells Brewery
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, has said the government is putting up more isolation centres to accommodate patients with coronavirus.

Mr Abayomi spoke Friday during a media briefing in Lagos.

Last week, the Lagos State government took delivery of a 110-bed isolation facility it conceived and built in collaboration with the management of Guaranty Trust Bank.

The isolation facility at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba has about 100 beds.

So with the increase in the number of beds we have in our isolation facilities, and we are hoping that in another month or so, we will have about six or seven isolation facilities each with a capacity of just over a 100 beds, said Mr Abayomi, a professor.

That will give us a total bed capacity of close to a thousand. And even if we are seeing several hundreds a day we will be able to absorb them in our various isolation facilities across the state. So the important thing to remember is that everybody doesnt get sick at the same time. It gives us time to treat people and to discharge them.

Fifteen persons were discharged from the Infectious Disease Hospital this week, the commissioner said, bringing the number of discharged persons since the index case to 24.

Mathematical modelling

Last week, Mr Abayomi said the governments mathematical modelling shows that the number of coronavirus cases in the state could reach 39,000, but the figure could be reduced by a third if good social distancing is adhered to.

When we stop seeing new cases, that will indicate that the outbreak is about to burn out, Mr Abayomi said at Thursdays press conference.

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So at the moment, we are still seeing a handful of cases every day. It seems to be increasing slightly but as I said we had anticipated a much larger number of new cases every day. So we are seeing a controllable number of cases and we believe that our modelling indicates that the graph (curve) is beginning to flatten, but were still seeing new cases every day.

So we have not reached our peak. But were prolonging the time till we reach our peak, which is a good thing for us because it gives us time to accommodate new cases, it gives us time to train, to analyse the projectile and to put different policies in place.
FT. MYERS, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO), a leading provider of cancer-focused testing services, today announced that it has integrated Indica Labs enterprise-level HALO AP image analysis platform for Image Analysis, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Multiplexing across its Clinical Services and Pharma Services businesses. The platform's robust workflow modules streamlines analysis algorithms and provides rapid, quantitative results for a multitude of tissue types.

"NeoGenomics is delivering in a significant number of clinical and pharmaceutical sponsor-driven studies, and requests for our image analysis testing continues to increase," said Douglas M. VanOort, NeoGenomics' Chairman and CEO. "This technology will enable us to deliver our growing client requests with high-quality data in an efficient and timely manner."

Given the company's greater throughput demands and IT infrastructure, NeoGenomics is able to utilize the advantage of HALO's parallel processing technology, which significantly increases the rate of analysis compared to prior approaches. NeoGenomics integrated the use of HALO algorithms in a study deploying a novel two panel multiplexing approach, where T cell exhaustion was profiled and quantitated with the tumor and stroma of the tumor microenvironment of HNSCC samples, where only a limited number of studies have been published to date that characterize the location, expression and co-expression of TIGIT, LAG-3 and PD-1 in the HNSCC microenvironment.

"We are pleased to continue expanding our partnership with NeoGenomics, a global leader in pharmaceutical research services and oncology testing," remarked Steven Hashagen, CEO, Indica Labs. "By implementing this enterprise-scale HALO deployment, NeoGenomics maintains its leadership at the forefront of computational pathology and is equipped to deliver the rich scientific data that their pathology and pharmaceutical clients demand."

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About NeoGenomics, Inc.

NeoGenomics, Inc. specializes in cancer genetics testing and information services. The Company provides one of the most comprehensive oncology-focused testing menus in the world for physicians to help them diagnose and treat cancer. The Company's Pharma Services Division serves pharmaceutical clients in clinical trials and drug development.

Headquartered in Fort Myers, FL, NeoGenomics operates CAP accredited and CLIA certified laboratories in Ft. Myers and Tampa, Florida; Aliso Viejo, Carlsbad, Fresno and San Diego, California; Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; and CAP accredited laboratories in Rolle, Switzerland, and Singapore. NeoGenomics serves the needs of pathologists, oncologists, academic centers, hospital systems, pharmaceutical firms, integrated service delivery networks, and managed care organizations throughout the United States, and pharmaceutical firms in Europe and Asia. For additional information about NeoGenomics, visit http://www.neogenomics.com/.

About Indica Labs, Inc

Indica Labs is the world's leading provider of computational pathology software and services. Our flagship HALO image analysis platform enables fast, quantitative evaluation of tissues using a broad range of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision algorithms. HALO Link and HALO AP facilitate remote image analysis, collaboration and management. Through a combination of precision, scalability, and usability our software solutions enable pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic labs, research organizations, and Indica's own contract pharma services team to advance tissue-based research, clinical trials, and diagnostics. For more information, please visit https://www.indicalab.com or contact info@indicalab.com

* HALO is a registered trademark of Indica Labs

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as the result of the Company's ability to continue gaining new customers, offer new types of tests, integrate its acquisitions and otherwise implement its business plan, as well as additional factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020. As a result, this press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's periodic filings with the SEC. In addition, it is the Company's practice to make information about the Company available by posting copies of its Company Overview Presentation from time to time on the Investor Relations section of its website at http://ir.neogenomics.com/ .

Forward-looking statements represent the Company's estimates only as of the date such statements are made (unless another date is indicated) and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if its estimates change.

For further information, please contact:

NeoGenomics

William Bonello

Phone: +1 239 690 4238 / Mobile: +1 239 284 4314

bill.bonello@neogenomics.com

Indica Labs

Investor Relations

Steve Hashagen

Phone: +1 505 492 0979

Info@indicalab.com

SOURCE: NeoGenomics, Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/583700/NeoGenomics-Integrates-HALOR-From-Indica-Labs




Deaths of children and adolescents in China due to infectious diseases were becoming rare prior to the covid-19 pandemic, according to a new study.

Quarantinable conditions with high death rates such as cholera and plague had effectively disappeared and many traditional and vaccine-preventable infectious diseases of childhood including diarrhoea, measles and rubella became uncommon.

The research, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and Peking University and published in the British Medical Journal, found the leading causes of death from infectious diseases in China had shifted markedly over a 10 year period from rabies and tuberculosis to HIV/AIDS.

But overall deaths from infectious diseases decreased steadily between 2008-2018 from 0.21 per 100 000 population in 2008 to 0.07 per 100 000 in 2017.

MCRI Professor George Patton said until now no study had reported on recent trends in infectious diseases among children and adolescents in China.

The new research analysed national surveillance data across 31 mainland Chinese provinces. It involved 5 million students aged six to 22 years, and involved 44 notifiable infectious diseases.

Study author Yanhui Dong, from Peking University, said China had made 'remarkable progress' in infectious disease control in this age group.

But Dr Dong said while animal-to-human infections like bird flu remained low, the potential for major outbreaks like SARS-CoV-2 remained a very real possibility.

After the SARS outbreak in 2003, China made substantial investments in laboratory testing, surveillance system enhancement, national intervention programs for specific diseases, and collaboration with international partners.

Professor Patton said despite the progress, China faced new challenges in responding to seasonal and unpredictable new infectious diseases in children and adolescents.

Comprehensive national surveillance systems and rapid proactive government responses would be an integral part of future infectious disease control in China and around the world, he said.

"China will need to continue its successful efforts against older infectious diseases of children and adolescents, including measles, tuberculosis, rabies, and scarlet fever and now scale-up vaccination for mumps, seasonal influenza, and hepatitis B," Professor Patton said.

"Along with the rest of the world, China will also need greater vigilance around the highly transmissible seasonal and unpredictable diseases that we have seen in the past two decades including SARS, MERS, novel influenzas, Zika, Ebola and now the new SARS-CoV-2 virus."

Despite expanding the national childhood immunisation program in 2008, the most common infections in early childhood in China were still vaccine preventable diseases and gastrointestinal and enterovirus diseases, such as hand, foot and mouth disease.

Sexually transmitted diseases and bloodborne infections largely affected older adolescents.

Dr Dong said the significant increase of HIV/AIDs and STI's among 15-24 year olds seemed related to high risk sexual behaviours and poor awareness of infection risks.

"There is a pressing need for more school and university-based sex education programs as well as peer education, and access to rapid testing for sexually transmitted infections," Dr Dong said.

Dr Dong said the data especially highlighted the need for prevention programs to pivot towards a different set of risks, which would also require different interventions.

Researchers from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the University of Melbourne and The Royal Children's Hospital also contributed to the study.

Key findings for the six to 22 year age group in China included:

Deaths from infectious diseases has decreased between 2008-2018 from 0.21 per 100 000 population in 2008 to 0.07 per 100 000 in 2017

Quarantinable conditions with high death rates have effectively disappeared

Zoonotic infections like bird flu remained low but there is potential for major outbreaks

Notifiable infectious diseases decreased from 280 per 100 000 in 2008 to 162 per 100 000 in 2015, but rose again to 242 per 100 000 in 2017, largely related to mumps and seasonal influenza

Most vaccine preventable diseases were at low levels, but seasonal variation in mumps, rubella, measles, and influenza suggested these diseases should remain a priority for public policy

Vectorborne diseases, such as those transmitted by mosquitoes and fleas, have declined

Gastrointestinal and enterovirus diseases remained constant, but typhoid, paratyphoid, and dysentery continued to decline

Tuberculosis remained the most common bacterial infection, although cases of scarlet fever doubled between 2008 and 2017

Sexually transmitted diseases and bloodborne infections increased significantly. By the end of 2018, 149 000 people with newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS had been reported, 95 per cent of which were sexually transmitted. Of these, 16 000 new HIV/AIDS cases were reported among 15-24 year olds

Children and adolescents in western China continued to carry a disproportionate burden from infectious diseases

###

Publication: Yanhui Dong, Liping Wang, David P Burgner, Jessica E Miller, Yi Song, Xiang Ren, Zhongjie Li, Yi Xing, Jun Ma, Susan M Sawyer and George C Patton. 'Infectious diseases in children and adolescents in China: analysis of national surveillance data from 2008 to 2017,' BMJ. DOI: 10.1136 bmj.m1043
T he commander of the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt has been fired after writing a scathing letter demanding stronger measures to control a coronavirus outbreak on his ship.

Captain Brett Croziers removal from command was announced by acting US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who said he had exercised poor judgment and the letter raised alarm bells unnecessarily.

More than 100 of the 4,000 crew on the carrier at Guam, in the western Pacific, have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Coronavirus test results could be ready in just 25 minutes through a method identified by scientists.

A team of academic clinicians from King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust identified the novel method "LAMP" which can produce results in under 30 minutes.

They say it could help improve patient services in the wider community.

The researchers piloted the test in a south London NHS care home with a Covid-19 outbreak, comparing it to standard tests using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

Led by Dr Claire Steves from King's College London, they found LAMP nasal swab testing was fast, easy to use and worked on a par to these currently used methods.

It accurately identified 80pc of cases detected by standard methods and identified a further three positive cases. Eight further cases were negative using both methods.

The method has previously been used in tuberculosis and norovirus outbreaks away from centralised large-scale laboratories and without the need for skilled technicians.

Genetic

LAMP stands for Loop mediated isothermal Amplification and uses magnetic bead capture of genetic code and a key identifier gene of Sars-CoV-2 to enable the testing to have such a quick turnaround.

The scientists believe this method has two key advantages - how fast it is at the point of care, critical to stemming outbreaks in facilities where lots of people live together, such as in care homes, hostels, prisons and also hospitals.

And it uses dry swabs, which means it could be useful if supply of media and reagents used in PCR methods become short during the pandemic.

The small pilot study also revealed that a number of the patients suffering from Covid-19 developed hypothermia, a temperature less than 36C, as an early symptom.
Karpowership Ghana Company Limited has made a contribution of three hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC300,000.00) to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund aimed at supporting efforts of government to combat the spread of the Coronavirus disease in Ghana.



President Akufo  Addo over the weekend announced the setting up of the crucial trust fund that would be used to combat the outbreak of the disease here in Ghana. He named the board of trustees to be chaired by former Chief Justice Sophia Akufo and appealed to Ghanaians and institutions to support the fund.



Presenting the cheque on behalf of the company Corporate Communications Specialist Sandra Amarquaye said that Karpowership Ghana as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility projects decided to contribute to the fund to support government in catering for people whose lives would be negatively impacted by the COVID19 pandemic.



Receiving the donation on behalf of the President, the Chief of Staff Honorable Akosua Frema Opare, thanked Karpowership Ghana for its timely contribution that would allow government to continually be ahead of the virus and not to chase it thereby enabling government to quickly bring the curve down. She implored other companies to emulate their gesture of pivotal support.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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In a tweet that has now been followed by more than 100 tweeters, Anne Applebaum says shes looking forward to the justifications for the Hungarian governments state of emergency law responding to the COVID-19 crisis from Rod Dreher, from so many others, and from me. She also speculates on what our justifications might be. Will it be justified by circumstances? Or the people support it? Or some whataboutism?

As Ms. Applebaum has pointed out in The Atlantic magazine, the Danube Institute, of which Im president, has received funding from the Batthyanyi Foundation, which itself gets money from the Hungarian government. I invite those who think my opinions tainted by this to visit our website, on which we post all our events, to judge if that is so. Ms. Applebaum presumably doesnt think so because she has just asked me, rather than Viktor Orban, for my opinion. And my response is an eirenic one:

I dont justify the emergency law as it stands.

As an old classical liberal of a conservative disposition, I accept there will be occasions when a crisis is so severe that a government needs emergency powers to deal with it outside the regular law. The coronavirus threat is plainly such a challenge. If a law granting emergency powers to the government to deal with it is proposed, however, I would submit it to certain tests before supporting it.

The tests are those most people would impose. Is this emergency law within the constitution or a violation of it? And theres no doubt that its constitutional. It was passed by the super-majority that such a law requires. Are there safeguards in it? There are two. First, the constitutional court could reject it in whole or in part, either today or after the epidemic has receded. That is unlikely since all the required constitutional procedures were fulfilled in its passage, but constitutional courts are unpredictable. The second is that Parliament can vote to end the state of emergency at any time by the same two-thirds majority by which it passed the law. I would not entirely rule out that happening if the Orban government were to abuse these powers, but I judge both serious abuse and a parliamentary rebellion against it to be unlikely. Third, are the emergency powers granted to the government too broad? Some of them may be. The fines and prison sentences for breaking quarantine and spreading false rumors, though not unreasonable in themselves when panic and plague are in the air (the latter quite literally), look to me to be too high. But those sentences wont be imposed arbitrarily; courts will determine them; and the terms of the legislation are tightly written to prevent its being used for political censorship or anything unrelated to the pandemic. So I would urge moderation on the courts and government, and leave it at that. Finally, shouldnt the legislation have a sunset clause  say of one year on the British model  rather than staying in force indefinitely or until ministers judge the epidemic to be over? And there I think that it should.

Story continues

My principal reason for wanting a sunset clause arises from a liberal desire to protect peoples liberties against over-broad interpretation of emergency prohibitions by over-zealous public officials who themselves feel the hot breath of a public panic at their back. At present the coronavirus panic is raging throughout the whole of Europe and driving governments to make major decisions on health, economics, and the relationship between them, under pressure. Heres how Lord Sumption, a former justice of the U.K. Supreme Court, described the situation in The Times of March 30:

Public pressure for action at whatever cost pushes the measures beyond what they can realistically expect to achieve. It may well push them beyond what is worth achieving if the price is the destruction of our personal liberty, livelihoods and sociability. There are dissenting voices, but not many and they are drowned out in a torrent of collective emotion and abuse.

What difference would a sunset clause make? It would warn ministers that they have power and time  but limited time  to reach prudently considered decisions; it would reassure everyone else that this extraordinary period will end at a known and certain point; and it would therefore lower the political temperature on all sides. My second reason is that without such a clause, the state of emergency risks being self-destructive for the Orban government and therefore damaging to its COVID-19 strategy. Far from strengthening the government, a state of emergency with no time limit is likely to weaken ministers by enabling their opponents at home and abroad to paint everything they do as a power grab.

The best example of this is Ms. Applebaums second tweet:

And there it is: The European Unions first dictatorship. None of these powers is needed to fight the virus. But they will help distract and deter opposition, especially when it becomes clear that the government has no better plan.

I wonder if Ms. Applebaum knows whats in the legislation. She attaches her tweet approvingly to another by Balasz Cseko to the effect that Parliament has been suspended, elections canceled, and that Viktor Orban will now rule by decree. In fact, far from suspending Parliament, the emergency legislation keeps it in place and gives it, alongside the constitutional court, greater oversight powers over the governments conduct throughout the emergency. Nor will local and parliamentary elections be canceled. It would hardly matter if they were, anyway, since the next parliamentary elections are not due for another two years, the next local elections for another five, and the epidemic is unlikely to last so long as to exhaust either period. I imagine the claim refers to by-elections in constituencies that become vacant through death or resignation. These are indeed banned during the state of emergency for the eminently practical reason that there can be no campaigning or even voting when people are prohibited from gathering in large groups or lining up closer than six meters to cast their ballots. It is the third claim thats most extraordinary, however. I magnanimously concede that the Orban government will rule by decree in this time because a state of emergency is the term of art for a government ruling by decree. Macron is already ruling by decree, and both Boris Johnson and Angela Merkel are doing the same in effect, through primary and secondary legislation.

Im also perplexed when Ms. Applebaum writes that none of these powers is needed to fight the virus and that theyre in the legislation to confuse the opposition because the Hungarian government has no better plan. Is that true? After all, it has more or less the same plan as most European governments  social distancing, lockdown, quarantine, extreme hygienic care when meeting people, and so on  and these regulations are a direct attempt to halt the spread of the virus. The most draconian loss of freedom under the emergency  requiring people to stay at home except for exercise and shopping  is the same in those countries. If that strategy were to fail, i.e., be abandoned because its costs proved too high economically and humanely, Hungary would then doubtless be in trouble, but so would most every other country.

There are alternative plans, of course. Sweden is using one. But they seem to involve heavier risks to life at an earlier stage than the lockdown strategy. That is why most governments have passed either states of emergency or emergency laws written in very similar terms. They fear they may be faced by the combination of a continuing pandemic and a growing economic recession, and they want to be able to act quickly and decisively for a limited period to deal with the difficulties  rumors fueling mass panic, the premature breakdown of curfews  this may generate.

That would seem to be some sort of defense for the Hungarian state of emergency, but Ms. Applebaum has already erected a defense against that defense in her first tweet. She mentioned Whataboutism as one of the justifications Rod Dreher and I might use for the legislation. Shes implying that such a response would be an irrelevant distraction from Orbans dictatorial power grab almost as if European countries such as France, Britain, and Germany were not an appropriate standard by which to judge Hungarys rules on executive power and individual rights. Shes wise to be cautious, because here are a few comparisons.

Merkels government may be preparing a state of emergency to loosen restraints on state spending, which in Germany would be a very big deal. Even if she doesnt go ahead with that, however, she has already imposed most of the restrictions familiar from other countries  a ban on gatherings, reimposing borders, curfews, etc.  under the wide-ranging Infection Protection Act. In addition to these civil restrictions, as Spectator correspondent Constantin Eckner wrote, the Act also allows the ministry of health to confiscate products, issue sales bans, close production facilities or force companies to change production through a statutory order. And these powers are of indefinite duration.

France has a state of emergency that lasts for twelve days and which can be repeatedly reimposed. Regulations under it are tougher and more intrusive than under earlier emergencies: People have to stay in their homes except for essential visits outside such as medical appointments or physical exercise.

Like Chancellor Merkel, the U.K. government has not brought in a formal state of emergency, but it has imposed a lockdown, quarantine, and most of the other restrictions through emergency coronavirus legislation passed by Parliament. Boris Johnson, a temperamental libertarian, seems to have been pushed into doing so by a panicked public opinion and a Labour Party keener on restrictions than he was. The law gives the government unprecedented powers over a wide range of issues  ministers can rule by decree despite lacking a formal declaration of emergency  and it now runs for one year with a provision for MPs to debate its workings every six months. After passing the legislation, however, Parliament left for a month, in part because MPs didnt want to catch the virus in the crowded chamber.

When we compare the Hungarian state of emergency with these three responses on paper, the differences between them seem formal and extremely modest. Frances state of emergency must be renewed every twelve days, for instance, whereas Hungarys has no time limit. But the last state of emergency in France lasted two years  2015 to 2017. So how these governments actually implement their wide-ranging powers matters as much as, maybe more than, paper distinctions. And here the record is illuminating and sometimes surprising.

Not perhaps in the case of France, which has a strong record of deference to executive power. On this occasion the rules are both intrusive and firmly enforced. Violators of the household curfew are punished with fines and imprisonment  9,000 fines were issued in the first few days. Gendarmes demand official proof of a right to leave the home for those found in the streets  it can be downloaded from a government website. They have been seen physically forcing people back into their homes if they dont have them. And officials have drawn up a list of exercises approved by the state as legitimate reasons for leaving home. So tough restrictions are being firmly enforced.

Germany is entering the repressive stage of the coronavirus response quite late and in a less panicked public mood than others because its efficient and wide testing for the virus has held down the number of fatalities to low levels compared with its neighbors. If that changes, which it probably wont, then both public and official attitudes may harden. So far, however, the German public has been self-disciplined and the police wonderful.

It is Britain that has provided the most alarming picture. In a number of instances, the police have gone well beyond their powers to enforce social distancing and home isolation. In Derbyshire they dyed a lake dark blue in order to discourage urban drivers from visiting it. They have taken to stopping cars at random to inquire if their drivers had a legitimate reason for being out. They told a shopkeeper not to sell Easter eggs on the grounds that they werent essential goods. And they forbade a Labour MP from visiting his father  Lord Kinnock, a former Labour leader and EU commissioner  to celebrate his birthday. (His son went anyway.) None of these interventions have any basis in the emergency legislation. They originate from an often neglected streak in the respectable side of the British character, which is a bossiness that, though usually held in check by sensible rules and the mockery of others, has been encouraged to express itself by the ruling atmosphere of panic. It has even spread to the nervous libertarian in Downing Street. As Lord Sumption pointed out in his Times article, it is probable that when Boris Johnson told the public in a press conference that they all had to stay at home, he lacked any statutory power to issue such instructions at that point. Sumption draws an important conclusion:

These are not just technicalities. There is a difference between law and official instructions. It is the difference between a democracy and a police state. Liberty and the rule of law are surely worth something even in the face of a pandemic.

How does Hungary compare on that criterion? So far, though Viktor Orban has equipped his government with strong emergency powers, it doesnt look as if they are being abused at ground level. There is no heavy-handedness on the streets of Budapest. Having enjoyed exercise walks around the city for the past two weeks, I can say two things: the first is that the people of the city are generally staying home (the streets are far less crowded than usual) but that when they go out, they keep the rules like Germans. They take a wide berth when they walk past you, and they keep six meters distant in groceries and pharmacies (which sometimes admit only two people at a time). Maybe thats why the police are able to interpret their duties in a very relaxed way. There is none of the officious behavior of the British police nor the aggressive tactics of the French. That may change, but thats how it is now.

I dont draw the conclusion, however, that this means we neednt worry about the lack of a sunset clause. The longer emergency powers remain on the books, the more tempting it might be for Orbans government  or any government  to keep them there. As Sumption (finally) points out:

Governments armed with vast powers are usually reluctant to part with them. The wartime defence regulations, which required the population to place themselves, their services and their property at the disposal of His Majesty, had to be renewed annually but were not allowed to expire until 1964. Other wartime powers were expressed to continue until the government declared the war to be over, which it never did. They continued to be used until the 1980s, when the Scott report exposed this unsatisfactory corner of governmental practice.

Now, I dont think that will happen. Its not in Orbans interest now or later. First, the mere existence of emergency powers is fueling the epidemic of hysteria toward him in the international media. Extending them would make it a pandemic. Second, the constitutional lawyers point out that there is a sunset clause already, but its in the Constitution that governs the state of danger rather than in the emergency powers themselves. This says that when the danger (i.e., the epidemic) ends, government decrees made under the emergency become invalid. Any attempt by the government to ignore this provision would certainly be appealed to the court which just as certainly would find against the government. And, third, why would Orban risk the obloquy that this dispute would call down on his head? His government already has a two-thirds parliamentary majority that enables him to do almost anything he wants within the law and constitution. A sunset clause wouldnt remove that practical power, but it would dramatize his commitment to returning to regular constitutional government.

Boris Kalnoky of Die Welt, the best observer of Central European politics in Budapest, has issued a challenge:

If Orban doesnt close down the state of emergency within a few days of Boris Johnson doing so, Kalnoky will pay out a bottle of Borsodi beer to whoever takes the bet. If Orban does end the emergency, Kalnoky gets the beer. I wouldnt take that bet. If Anne Applebaum believes her dictator view of Orban, she should.

Well, Anne, are you feeling lucky?

More from National Review
The 69-year-old woman from Shimlapuri who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday has no recent history of foreign travel.

Health authorities suspect this may be a case of community transfer and she may have come in contact with an infected person during her recent visit to Mohali.

As per information, she had travelled on an AC super luxury Punbus on March 17 to visit her niece Manjeet Kaur who lives in Sector 91 Mohali.

She had visited her younger son in Canada but that was way back in 2018 and had returned on June 29. She currently stays with her older son and daughter-in-law in Shimlapuri.

Family members say she started showing symptoms of the virus, cough and fever on March 23 on her return from Mohali. Other family members, including her niece and grandson, also developed similar symptoms.

Though they have not tested positive so far, all immediate family members have been advised home quarantine.

The 69-year-old woman was rushed to a private hospital on Chandigarh road on March 31 after she experienced a sudden drop in her sugar levels, diarrhoea and breathing difficulty.

She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Punjab special chief secretary Karan Bir Singh Sidhu said that ambulance driver and class four driver, who rushed the Covid-19 patient to the hospital have been quarantined.

Currently she is undergoing treatment at the multi-specialty hospital and has been kept under the observation of a chest specialist.
As for the American press, it was slow to accept the reality of the pandemic and is often overly defensive and allergic to introspection. Well continue to learn more about the virus, but as the death count rises, so will political and social tensions, all of which will be seized upon by trolls, opportunists and even foreign actors trying to sow division. What we dont know about Covid-19 will degenerate into ever more intricate conspiracies  some almost believable, some outrageous but all dangerous.

Were in a stream of ever-evolving data, and its being shaped around cognitive biases, partisanship and preferences embedded in our cultural identities, Peter Pomerantsev, a senior fellow at the London School of Economics and the author of This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality, told me. I called Mr. Pomerantsev because the information vacuum around the virus made me think of the title of his earlier book on Russia  Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible. In the absence of new, vetted information, reckless speculation takes its place, muddling our conception of the truth.

A pandemic seems like a unique opportunity to set aside our differences and focus on the facts. After all, were in this crisis together. And we need to trust experts  epidemiologists, doctors and scientists  because theyre all weve got. But in crisis situations  especially early on  our desire for information exceeds our ability to accurately deliver it. Add to this the complexities of epidemiology: exponential growth; statistical modeling; and the slow, methodical nature of responsible science. Together, they create the ideal conditions for distrust, bad-faith interpretations and political manipulation, the contours of which were only beginning to see.

The really big question that haunts me is, When do we return to reality? Mr. Pomerantsev mused over the phone from his own quarantine. Or is it that in this partisan age absolutely everything is chopped, cut and edited to fit a different view? Im waiting for society to finally hit up against a shared reality, like diving into the bottom of swimming pool. Instead we just go deeper.

This piece has been updated to reflect news developments.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email:letters@nytimes.com.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
Aurobindo Pharma share price fell 15% in early trade today after the firm said the $900 million deal to acquire Sandoz Inc's US-based generic oral solids and dermatology businesses, has been mutually called off.

Share price of Aurobindo Pharma fell 15% to Rs 333.35 compared to the previous close of Rs 392.15 on BSE. Aurobindo Pharma stock opened 10% lower at Rs 352.95 and hit an intra day high of 395 , signaling weak signs of recovery.

Total 3.33 lakh shares changed hands amounting to turnover of Rs 12.31 crore on BSE. The large cap stock has lost 49% during the last one year and fallen 14.26% since the beginning of this year.

Investors lost Rs 37.59 lakh crore in FY20 amid coronavirus fears

Holzkirchen-based Sandoz is a leading player in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars and a division of Swiss drug major Novartis.

"This decision was taken as approval from the US Federal Trade Commission for the transaction was not obtained within anticipated timelines," said Aurobindo Pharma.

In September 2018, Aurobindo Pharma had said that its US subsidiary has entered into an agreement to acquire commercial operations and three manufacturing facilities in America from Sandoz Inc, USA, a Novartis Division, for $900 million.

The acquisition was to be made through its wholly owned subsidiary Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc. The deal was expected to close in 2019 following the completion of customary closing conditions, including US Federal Trade Commission clearances. Repeated delays, however, led to it being mutually terminated.

The transaction if completed would have positioned the Hyderabad- based firm as the second largest dermatology player and the second-largest generics company in the US by prescriptions.

By Aseem Thapliyal
A Scotland-based virtual biobank dealing in ethically sourced human tissue samples is helping to speed up the provision of COVID-19 samples for researchers and drug developers working to find a cure for the global pandemic.

Morag McFarlane, CEO at Tissue Solutions

Tissue Solutions Ltd, founded in 2007, responded to the UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centres (TDCC) call to action in helping to triage requests of COVID-19 tissue samples to streamline the fight against the virus.

The company, which sources and ships bespoke tissue samples worldwide from its base in Glasgow  will help ensure that there is no waste of the limited supply of COVID-19 samples, as demand continues to rise with thousands of researchers trying to increase their understanding of the virulent disease.

The company will support the TDCC in analyzing each tissue request to ensure that there is no duplication of studies and will recommend where researchers can work and share developments with each other, to promote faster findings. With their scientific insight, Tissue Solutions will also help to make sure that the limited supply of samples is shared with experienced researchers. Tissue Solutions is well placed to work with the TDCC thanks to its wealth of industry expertise and global reach.

Over the coming months, TDCC will coordinate biobanks access to COVID-19 samples, with Tissue Solutions making itself available for collaboration. The companys strong ethics framework will give researchers all the necessary ethics approvals to move forward as quickly as possible. Furthermore, Tissue Solutions will manage the shipping and logistics for these biobanks.

Morag McFarlane, CEO at Tissue Solutions Ltd, said:

Scientists across the UK have lifesaving work to do as Coronavirus sweeps across nations worldwide, so COVID-19 resources must be shared effectively. This shift in operations with TDCC is playing an important role in the efforts to speed up our understanding of the disease. Were making sure that researchers can access the material they need. For example, if one team wants to order a blood sample, we will look into their study and make sure that they are not asking for more than necessary, so that other researchers can use the same sample, too.

To help with the triaging process, the TDCC is calling on researchers to fill in an online form to record their requests for human tissue samples.

Phil Quinlan, Director at TDCC, said:

I am thrilled that Tissue Solutions Ltd has responded to our call to action. Their expertise in refining research requests will be incredibly valuable in maximising the use of available COVID-19 tissue samples in the UK. We look forward to developing our processes to ensure the efficient release of samples to advance COVID-19 research.

Tissue Solutions is leading the way in disrupting the traditional method of tissue supply and storage. Every sample is sourced on demand, ensuring that each one is collected to specific requirements and delivered when fresh so that nothing is wasted.
NACKA STRAND, Sweden, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon's Annual Report 2019 and separate Sustainability Report is now available at Hexagon's website hexagon.com. Hexagon intends to solely distribute the reports digitally. If you however still want to receive a printed copy of the Annual Report, please contact Hexagon at [email protected] or call +46-(0)8-601-26-28.



As previously communicated, Hexagon's Annual General Meeting will be held at 17:00 CET, 29 April 2020, at City Conference Center Stockholm (Norra Latin), Drottninggatan 71 B, Stockholm, Sweden. Notification of attendance must be made on 23 April 2020 at the latest. Due to the uncertainty regarding the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), precautions will be taken. The AGM will be held as short as possible and registration will commence at 16:30 CET. No food will be served.

This information is information that Hexagon AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication at 08:00 CET on 3 April 2020.

For further information please contact:



Maria Luthstrom

Head of Investor Relations

Hexagon AB

+46-8-601-26-27

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/hexagon/r/hexagon-publishes-the-annual-report-and-sustainability-report-2019,c3080143

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/387/3080143/1223428.pdf Hexagon Annual Report 2019

SOURCE Hexagon
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According to a New Article on the OnlineTenders Website, the South African Company Finished 2019 on a High NoteLOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / The founders of OnlineTenders are pleased to announce that they are now securing 900 tenders each day, thanks in large part to a very busy Q3 in 2019. To share this positive news with their valued clients, the founders recently posted an article on their website.To check out the article in its entirety, please visit https://www.onlinetenders.co.za/news/onlinetenders-subscribers-securing-900-tenders-each-day As the new article notes, OnlineTenders, which is the leading online tenders platform in South Africa, attributes this healthy growth to a series of initiatives and earnestness on the company's part."We've been quite busy lately, trying to take OnlineTenders to the next level. Whether it's expanding markets from South Africa to Africa, or catering to the users of a competitor going out of business," said OnlineTenders' Operations Director Sherlin Pather.For example, the article notes, last June the online tenders platform took on the subscribers of TradeWorld when it closed its doors. OnlineTenders also expanded its market reach beyond South Africa, into Africa. The company also upgraded its website and mobile apps in addition to targeting international subscribers.These actions and more have resulted in OnlineTenders experiencing a great deal of activity, with a rapidly growing number of tenders being secured by OnlineTenders subscribers. The public sector's procurement of goods and services has increased, the article notes, which is indicative of a recovering economy.OnlineTenders has also continued to maintain its policy of being an affordable yet profitable solution. It continues to offer its services, leading to lucrative tender opportunities, and reasonable packages continues to drive the growth of OnlineTenders and its subscribers each day."We've always been proud of our contribution to the country's economy. And the boost in procurement activity by the public sector gives us confidence that the economy is slowly turning around. So we are optimistic that OnlineTenders will be used by more parties, and used more efficiently," Mr. Pather said.About OnlineTenders:Founded in March 2007 and based in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, OnlineTenders is a trusted tender notification service throughout Africa. Each day, new opportunities are listed from all levels of government and private sector companies throughout South Africa and Africa. Using hi-tech online Internet software, tenders and business leads are collected and classified by industry type, keywords and regions to match exactly the kind of tenders relevant to a number of businesses. Learn more about the OnlineTenders at www.onlinetenders.co.za Contact:Sherlin Pathersherlin@ onlinetenders.co.za (+27) 010 823 2600SOURCE: OnlineTenders
In one of the most mesmerizing interviews you can imagine, Terry Gross of National Public Radio was joined yesterday by war surgeon David Nott. Called by some as the Indiana Jones of Surgery and by others as the foremost trauma surgeon in the world, Nott has for 20-something years volunteered as a life-saver for Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and the Red Cross to venture into the most dangerous parts of the world. He has successfully operated on warriors who are heroes, though not on his level, and hes saved mankinds most despicable, those of the ISIS stripe and once tending to one of Osama bin Ladens wives who was suffering from a severe fibroid issue.

Understand this: For several weeks every year, Dr. David Nott goes where no one else will go. Its not an ego thing, a power rush. He goes because he can save lives. He reminds me so much of Manny Sethi, my great trauma surgery at Vanderbilt (and hopefully our next U.S, Senator, or Erlangers trauma surgeon Phillip Smith, who has pulled my fat out of the fire a time or two, and  of course  my beloved genius Cauley Hayes, far and away the best surgeon and best friend whose endured me for over half a century.

Today the popular Nott, a native of Wales, is feverishly working for two hospitals in London and, as the interview was taking place, was pinged by his pager no less than three times. It is also strikingly clear the coronavirus is easily the greatest killer hes ever faced. His passport can match that of any mercenary for hire; Syria, Afghanistan, Congo, Iraq, Yemen, Sarajevo, just for starters. And who would have thought as early as six months ago his homeland would be on rank with the worlds most intense combat zones where thousands will die.

"When you're in a war zone and you're operating on somebody  any moment the hospital could get blown up or people could come into the operating theater with guns and hold you ransom," Nott told NPRs Gross. "It's very similar, really, with the virus, because you have to appreciate that it is an invisible enemy  and you have to make sure that the invisible enemy doesn't get you."

The biggest difference in this life-death war against a virus, he said, The health workers treating COVID-19 did not volunteer for it  in the weeks and months to come they will face profound challenges, especially with shortages of critical supplies. You will see things that you have never seen before," he promised. "You will have to make very difficult decisions  which are those difficult decisions you actually make in war zones  about saving somebody's life."

The interview is available for listening on the NPR website under Fresh Air and pay particular attention to the brilliant way the NPR host  Terry Gross  is masterful at her craft. Allow me to share some of the highlights, and what follows are direct quotes from Dr. Nott:

* * *

TREATING COVID-19 PATIENTS IS STRESSFUL, BUT TEAMWORK HELPS

It's really difficult. We're all in this together, and you don't make those decisions on your own. You make them with a team. ... We call them pods. We all look after about five ventilated patients in our pod. Then we have a senior who is in charge of the whole ICU. So that person then is in charge. You go up to that person, say, 'Look, I've got this problem.' And so you work at it as a team, rather than individual. And that seems to make it easier to take the stress.

But of course, everybody goes home with their individual problems. ... And sometimes it's quite insidious. Sometimes it will take a while for that to develop. And I'm sure after the end of this week in the U.S. and in the U.K., there'll be a whole host of people with post-traumatic stress after this. And at the time you work like, you know, 20 hours a day. And you come home and you go back to work and you're all in it together. And the good thing about it is it's very collegiate.

You work together, you're in it together, and it's like a band of brothers almost  and that's what war is like, too. ... And sometimes when you come back from a war and there [are] those people there that don't understand, that's when it becomes very, very difficult. And that's really when the post-traumatic stress comes in, when you feel isolated and alone.

* * *

IN SYRIA, YOU WERE DOING A SURGERY AND FOUND A LIVE (BOMB) DETONATOR?

I was operating on a lady who ... was the wife of somebody who was building bombs back in 2012. And the whole house had blown up, and she came into the hospital having had a severe injury to her left leg, and above the knee joint. She was exsanguinated  bleeding a lot through this hole. So we put a tourniquet on, which is the right thing to do, and then [stopped] the bleeding with the tourniquet and then took [her] to the operating theater where I prepared for surgery.

And, making the incision ... I felt this sort of round object, which felt a bit unusual. And so I got both fingers around it and just pulled it out. And suddenly the whole attitude in the operating theater just went silent. When [the] Syrian interpreter, standing next to me, shouted ... "detonator!" And so I was holding up this detonator in my hand. My legs started to shake.

If it was going to go off, then it would significantly cause a problem  probably wouldn't kill me, but it would certainly blow my hands off. We managed to put it into a bucket of water and gingerly take it out of the operating theater. But it's one of those very dangerous moments that you often find in war zones that you'd never find elsewhere.

* * *



HOW DO YOU HANDLE SAVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO KILL GOOD PEOPLE?

You go in as a humanitarian surgeon and your role there really is to help the human being that's in front of you  and you will do everything possible to save the life of somebody in front of you if it's possible to save. ... Your job as a surgeon, as a medical person, is to offer the human being that's in front of you the best chance of life. And that's my ethos, really, wherever I go.

I don't know [what that person has] done in the past. But again, I have the feeling that if I was to save that person's life, that he may well realize that his life was saved by somebody who had no feelings of malice against him and [who] was completely apolitical and realized that he transcended all the issues that that person had, and maybe I might change that man's life again. I don't know. But this is the way that I feel about when I go and operate on people, that I'm doing it purely as a humanitarian act.

* * *

WITH THE PANDEMIC WORLDWIDE, THE FIGHTING HAS STOPPED 

I'm hopeful in one respect that this pandemic at the moment, which has occurred throughout the whole world, will change people's minds to realizing that we are all human beings, that we're all here to help each other and we must stop killing each other.

The warring factions in Saudi and Yemen now have stopped fighting; the warring parties in Syria have stopped fighting; and I hope then that they will readjust to a new life. ... They've stopped fighting because of the pandemic. ... Everybody's self-isolating  the Saudis are self-isolating. ... Nobody wants to go in.

Everybody wants to save themselves. And so the wars have at this moment stopped. ... This is a golden opportunity to say, "Okay, we're all in it together. Let's not restart them. Let's talk. Let's communicate."

* * *

YOU OPERATED ON ONE OF OSAMA BIN LADENS WIVES

I'd never heard of Osama bin Laden. I didn't know who he was and I knew nothing about him, but one of his wives came in with fibroids, and I was told that he was going to come in shortly afterwards because the surgeon before me had treated him for kidney stones. [I was told], 'You may well be having to treat him,' and [that] he was also a very important person in the Taliban regime.

But he never came in, actually. And it's something I always think about  if I knew who he was or, you know ... had had something to do with him, then maybe, perhaps, I could have stopped it all. But that's just fantasy, right?

* * *

ON FEELING CLOSE TO A HIGHER BEING WHEN YOU ARE FEARFUL

I don't pray every day. I'm not particularly religious. I don't go to church as often as I probably should ... but it's interesting when you're in such a dreadful situation and when you realize that your life may be coming to an end very rapidly, and the situation is such that the stress is so much that you need to turn to somebody. ... And, of course, you haven't got your parents there. You haven't got your loved ones there, and there's nobody there. So, who do you turn to?

It's quite funny that there is no doubt in my mind that there is a higher being there. There's no doubt  because on occasions where my life has been almost on the line, where I felt that within a split second, I'm going to die here ... something happens in my head and I start to pray and I feel like I have a frequency band on the radio in my head that I turn on to. And I do go on to that frequency and I feel that I am able to talk to God.

"And I do feel that he is listening to me and he's listening to my severe anxieties at the time. And it gives me enormous comfort to realize that I am talking to him and that he is giving me some strength back. It's surprising how you feel this  almost, strength  come back into your body. A couple of times I felt [this]: Once, there was a priest in Aleppo who put his hand on my head, and again, the same thing happened to me. I thought I was going to die there, and he put his hand on my head and I could feel the radiation going through my body. It was a very odd experience  but that's getting close to God.

* * *

DAVID NOTT is the author of a new memoir, WAR DOCTOR: Surgery on the Front Line. It is published by Harry N. Abrams Inc., and I have first-hand knowledge you can find it on Amazon, hardbound $23.35, or on Kindle, $9.99.

* * *

THERE IS ALSO The David Nott Foundation, a London-based effort that provides surgeons and medical professionals with the skills they need to provide relief and assistance in conflict and natural disaster zones around the world. As well as providing the best medical care, David Nott Foundation surgeons will train local healthcare professionals; leaving a legacy of education and improved health outcomes. www.davidnottfoundation.com

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OSLO, Norway, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Targovax ASA (OSE: TRVX) announces that its nomination committee has nominated Mr. Damian Marron for election as Chairman of the Board at the company's Annual General Meeting.

Mr. Damian Marron is an experienced non-executive director, corporate advisor and life science executive with a successful track record of value creation through public and venture capital financing, portfolio planning, M&A, licensing agreements as well as R&D collaborations, both as an executive and in advisory roles. He has notably specialized in immuno-oncology, cell therapy and orphan diseases. Mr. Marron is currently Non-Executive Director at Bone Therapeutics a clinical stage, regenerative medicine company listed on Euronext and Resolys Bio, a private, late pre-clinical US startup. He is also Head of Biopharma with Treehill Partners, a global pure-play healthcare advisory firm. Mr. Marron has formerly been Chair of the Board of PepGen Ltd and the CEO at Agalimmune Ltd, TxCell SA, Cytheris SA, and Trophos SA.

Chairman of the Nomination Committee, Mr. Ludvik Sandnes says: "We are very pleased to propose Mr. Damian Marron as new Chairman of the Board. At this stage of the development of Targovax, it is important to propose a proven Chairman with extensive industry experience to achieve our commercial and scientific goals. He has a very strong track record of value creation through public and VC financing, M&A, strategic and portfolio planning and company development. His wide network of contacts globally from big pharma through to biotech companies and with investors, banks and analysts will prove invaluable. This will enable him to bring considerable experience and solutions to Targovax as we continue to develop our clinical pipeline of oncolytic viruses to target hard-to-treat solid tumors for patients."

Mr. Marron is proposed to replace Mr. Patrick Vink, MD, who has informed the Nomination Committee that he will not stand for re-election at the upcoming AGM due to increased workload, responsibilities and competing priorities. Targovax expresses the company's gratitude for the excellent work Mr. Vink has done as Chairman of the Board over the past three years.

For further information, please contact:

Renate Birkeli, Investor Relations

Phone: +47-922-61-624

Email: renate.birkeli@targovax.com

Media and IR enquires:

Andreas Tinglum - Corporate Communications (Norway)

Phone: +47-9300-1773

Email: andreas.tinglum@corpcom.no

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/targovax/r/targovax-asa-announces-proposed-new-chairman-of-the-board,c3079411
A couple of months before COVID-19 paralyzed the world, a group of researchers published a study that suggested the mere fact of living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside for a long time could effectively cause cognitive decline  which in turn increases your chances of dying.

It should have been eye-catching, but the paper raised barely a headline.

It certainly got nowhere near the attention the same long-term study received in 2015 when it found that Downtown Eastside residents were dying at eight times the national average.

The subjects of the so-called hotel study are those who now find themselves at high risk from the pandemic's devastation: residents of tightly packed single-room occupancy hotels juggling addiction, poverty, disease and mental illness.

As officials warn about the threat of the novel coronavirus sweeping through the Downtown Eastside, the question remains: Why  after years of research and reports; opioid and HIV/AIDS epidemics; tent cities and serial killer Robert Pickton  nothing before COVID-19 appears to have caused sufficient shock to permanently improve the conditions that now leave area residents so vulnerable?

"The statistics are quite striking," said Dr. Kristina Gicas, who led the most recent study on cognitive decline and mortality in the Downtown Eastside.

"And I think that it reflects largely failings in our systems."

Further measures 'urgently needed'

As of Thursday, B.C. had confirmed 1,121 cases of COVID-19, with 31 deaths.

Although no deaths have occurred in the Downtown Eastside from the respiratory illness and no positive results have been confirmed in the neighbourhood, B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has expressed particular concern for area residents.

The neighbourhood is often described as Vancouver's historic heart, one of the oldest parts of the city.

The Downtown Eastside is comprised of a few dozen blocks to the east of the downtown core. But in the past three decades, the gritty streets and alleys have earned a notorious reputation, plagued by successive waves of overdose, crime and disease.

Story continues

The City of Vancouver is working with Vancouver Coastal Health and B.C. Housing to secure locations for people to self-isolate should they become ill. They've opened two emergency response shelters for people dealing with homelessness and installed sanitation stations for people to wash their hands on the streets.

Ben Nelms/CBC

But a glance at the blocks around the Main and Hastings intersection at the heart of the neighbourhood highlights the depth of the challenge. The streets are still teeming.

In an open letter published this week in the Georgia Straight newspaper, a group of registered nurses and frontline workers said the closure of community centres, drop-ins and libraries had inadvertently made the problem worse.

"We have seen large numbers of people being forced back onto the streets with nowhere to go and no way to ensure physical distancing," the group wrote, calling for personal protective equipment for workers and increased action to find housing.

"Further measures are urgently needed. Every hour that goes by put the lives of our most vulnerable community members at risk and contributes to the preventable spread of COVID-19."

'The Downtown Eastside ... is done'

Karen Ward, a longtime resident and advocate for drug users, recently wrote a passionate Facebook post about the virus and its possible impact.

She predicted that the future would not be the same.

"It doesn't have to be worse. We make our own history, and these are new circumstances. We can make something better, even in this place," she wrote.

"The Downtown Eastside, as it's been all this time  is done."

Rafferty Baker/CBC

In a telephone interview, Ward said people have got into the habit, over decades, of saying, "Oh, it's just the Downtown Eastside" as though it's an "irreversible, natural, unchangeable way of being" in the face of rates of HIV infection and overdose deaths that at separate points have been some of the highest in Canada and North America.

But she feels the pandemic has placed the neighbourhood at the centre of a crisis to which the general public cannot turn a blind eye.

"It puts into sharp relief the fact that this is about everybody. If we don't address this directly and practically, the middle class will continue to have to socially isolate and fall apart economically," she said.

"The entire structure will completely collapse unless we address the Downtown Eastside and get people inside into housing with decent medicine and food and income, because people will continue to go out."

'Mostly or somewhat off-track'

And yet, advocates, health professionals and politicians have issued dire warnings about the Downtown Eastside in the past.

Gicas, an assistant psychology professor at York University in Toronto, said the research on cognitive decline that she led came out in January. It's part of an ongoing study conducted through the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.

Researchers have been conducting brain scans and comprehensive psychiatric and neurological tests on about 500 residents of single-room occupancy hotels for the past decade.

WATCH | Advocates worry about spread of COVID-19 in the Downtown Eastside:

Most of the subjects already suffer from substance abuse and mental impairment. But time spent in the area appears to play its own role.

"Individuals who's spent more years living in the Downtown Eastside were declining at a faster rate on some aspects of cognitive functioning," Gicas said.

"I think that speaks to the impact of the environment."

The city had a Downtown Eastside "plan" before COVID-19 to build "a vision, policies and strategies" focusing on ways to improve the lives of community members.

The work has been ongoing since 2014. But a consultation summary from last August doesn't exactly paint a rosy picture of progress.

Of the 206 people who completed a questionnaire, only 25 per cent thought the vision was "mostly or somewhat on track" while 50 per cent thought it was "mostly or somewhat off-track."

'A push or a nudge'

The slow struggle to find solutions is reflected in the battle over a tent city that has taken over Oppenheimer Park in downtown Vancouver for the past year and a half. Despite police concerns about violence, and a fatal assault in January, the city's Park Board is still working on a "decampment plan."

Meanwhile, the park's residents recently posted a change.org petition calling for a COVID-19 plan for the park's 100 or so residents that is "immediately resourced, culturally safe and actionable."

WATCH | COVID-19 modelling suggests we're in it for the long haul:

Dr. Bill MacEwan, the clinical lead on the hotel study, said he's noticed a breakdown in "the basics of civil order" in the area in the past two years.

More guns. More violence. More people in the streets. And now a pandemic.

"Yes, there's always been the sense of 'what's next?'" he said.

"We had HIV, then Hepatitis C was a big problem. The opioid crisis has never really gone away. Now, there's more meth out there than ever. And now, it's a matter of what's next?"

The province and the provincial health officer have already used the sweeping powers of emergency declarations to radically alter the lives of British Columbians, forcing them to stay indoors and to stay apart.

To address the Downtown Eastside, the province has taken the extraordinary step of ensuring the provision of medication to addicts, including a safe supply of prescription alternatives to illegal drugs.

The legislation that allows for those kinds of orders also permits even bigger interventions, such as the requisitioning of buildings and resources for any use needed to fight the pandemic.

Ben Nelms/CBC

Both in the short term and the long term, MacEwan says, COVID-19 may finally force a change in thinking around the Downtown Eastside.

"I do wonder if the whole social change that we've had to bring about with COVID will allow us to finally say 'OK, some things we have to say no to,'" he said.

In the same way citizens refusing to physically distance on Vancouver's beaches or seawall needed enforceable orders to comply, MacEwan said, residents like those he and his colleagues have been studying for the past 10 years may need more than just encouragement to lift them out of an environment that's literally killing them.

He applauds safe drug injection sites and efforts to lift people out of poverty.

"But are they working?" MacEwan asks.

"Part of it has to be a bit of a push or a nudge (toward improvement). Because I don't think we're seeing any evidence that if it needs to be done, it'll be done voluntarily. I think we've just seen for two decades that it doesn't occur."
An Iranian lawmaker says the interior minister rejected his advice to postpone the February 21 parliamentary elections in Iran to prevent the quick spread of the coronavirus.

Bahram Parsaee who represents the city of Shiraz says as soon as there was evidence of infections, he asked the interior minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli to postpone the elections or at least not hold the vote in the city of Qom, the epicenter of the outbreak.

Rahmani-Fazli last month admitted that the idea of postponing elections had been suggested but he said he had disagreed because any delay would have also postponed the term of the new parliament. He did not explain why he opposed cancelling elections in Qom.

Iran announced the first coronavirus case on February 19, two days before the nationwide poll, but many accuse the government of not revealing the outbreak earlier. Apparently, the first cases existed in Iran in early February.

The critics believe the Islamic Republic wanted a large election turnout and was afraid that news of a viral outbreak would keep people at home. There was also the anniversary of the 1979 revolution days before the government announced the first Covid-19 cases.

The lawmaker, Parsaee renewed his criticism of not quarantining Qom, telling ILNA news agency that if the epicenter had been closed off the disease would not have quickly spread to all provinces.

Irans health ministry says there are more than 50,000 Covid-19 cases in the country and more than 3,000 have died, but Radio Fardas estimates put the numbers at more than 70,000 infections and 5,000 deaths.
New Jersey has more people infected with COVID-19 than any state but New York, but is still testing far fewer individuals than officials say they should to get a clear picture of how the virus is spreading.

Now, two new technologies being deployed in New Jersey as part of the fight against the coronavirus could boost those testing numbers enormously  if they can perform.

One is a test developed by Abbott Laboratories that its makers say can detect the COVID-19 virus in as little as five minutes.

The other comes out of a Rutgers University research center that uses a laboratory technique to make millions of copies of the COVID-19 nucleic acid. It can perform 10,000 tests a day using high-throughput, automated equipment. But instead of using nasal and throat swabs to obtain viral material, the analysis can be performed on saliva samples obtained by spitting into a tube  a far easier way to collect samples without relying on health care workers.

If approved, this would be a game changer in what we know about SARS-CoV-2 and how we go forward controlling the spread of this virus," said New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli of the test developed by RUCDR Infinite Biologics  a unit of Rutgers Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey.

New Jersey so far has conducted only about 59,100 tests for the coronavirus since the outbreak began. The automated testing enabled by the RUCDR test could perform the name number of tests in a few days. With additional diagnostic equipment, the task could be done in even less time.

Epidemiologists and other experts say that testing for the virus and tracking the results remains the best defense states have to slow its spread, enabling them to monitor the population for possible infection in its earliest stages.

Its clear even today that the lack of testing is one of the fundamental reasons were in the bigger part of the growing curve," said Rangarajan Sampath, chief scientific officer of the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, a Geneva-based non-profit group, of the rapidly increasing number of people now infected. You want to find these cases early and clamp them down.

But while the number of test sites in New Jersey have grown, two drive-thu testing sites in Bergen and Monmouth counties established with help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been inundated every day. Traffic backs up for miles each morning, and most are turned away soon after the facilities open because they have hit capacity. Several county-based testing sites have also coming on line, but offer very limited testing.

Meanwhile, testing supplies, even at commercial labs, remain in short supply. And New Jersey-based lab giant Quest Diagnostics has had thousands of coronavirus test orders backing up, leading to days of delays in reporting results, CNN said Wednesday, citing internal company documents.

Quest, headquartered in Secaucus, had about 160,000 coronavirus tests waiting for processing on March 25, according to CNNs report. The company has 320,000 orders for tests in all. A spokeswoman told news network that the backlog has dropped. Quest can do more than 30,000 tests daily and return results in about four to five days, according to the company.

An analysis of the latest statewide testing numbers across the country shows that New Jersey is still No. 2 in the U.S. for confirmed cases, both in the raw number and on a population-adjusted basis. Yet it ranks 9th in testing per capita, according to data collected by The COVID Tracking Project. As of Wednesday afternoon, state and private labs had run about 665 tests per 100,000 residents. New York State had run 1,135 tests per 100,000 residents.

The new tests developed by Abbott and Rutgers RUCDR Infinite Biologics have the potential to boost those numbers enormously.

This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. TNS

The Abbott test runs on an existing lab instrument already in use in thousands of physicians offices, urgent care clinics and hospital emergency departments across the country it markets as ID NOW, used to provide rapid detection of infectious diseases, such as influenza and strep throat. The size of a small toaster, the diagnostic device runs a new test that Abbott said can detect COVID-19 in five minutes or less, as compared to the four to five days it now takes commercial labs.

The company received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this week said one of the machines will be going to hard-hit Bergen County, which is the states epicenter for the coronavirus.

Its a modest first step, but its an important first step, he said.

The other test developed by Rutgers offers a far larger scale of testing that could mean sweeping changes in the number of people being screened for COVID-19.

We think its a big deal, said Andrew Brooks, CEO and director of technology development at RUCDR.

He said the lab, working with Perkins-Elmer, developed an automated system that can do 10,000 nuclear extractions a day from collected specimens to search for the SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleic acid.

But beyond the automation, the break-through of the RUCDR test was the enabling of people to easily provide a sample, using saliva for detection of COVID-19, which employs what are called standard QPCR approaches in a manner that allows a lab to do thousands of tests at a time.

Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, amplifies tiny bits of genetic material to enable detection, and is the basis for most coronavirus testing. Its the same type of molecular analysis already being used in New Jersey, but although highly accurate, the turnaround time for the current testing is slow and the nose swabs are more arduous.

At hospital labs can run 20 to 30 samples a day, said Brooks. We can run potentially tens of thousands of samples a day and do it quickly.

If approved, the test will first be made available to the RWJBarnabas Health network, which has partnered with Rutgers University, and includes Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and University Hospital in Newark.

Other new testing approaches being examined worldwide, meanwhile, are looking to sequence the virus directly, or use the genome editor CRISPR.

Sampath, whose organization is focused on advancing the development and delivery of new diagnostics to combat major diseases, said the need for testing has led to a growing array of new testing approaches  some of them not so accurate. So-called rapid diagnostic tests, which are typically plastic or cardboard test strips similar to a home pregnancy or HIV test, use a chemical analysis that is supposed to flag the presence of a virus have been purchased by governments around the world.

Its exciting because you get a quick readout and its cheap. But many put them out and the performance data is questionable, he noted.

Spain was so desperate for testing kits that it purchased 650,000 rapid tests from a Chinese firm that mostly did not work. According to Sampath, a subsequent analysis found they had only 30% sensitivity, meaning they correctly identified those with the virus just 30 percent of the time. The U.K. acquired millions of them as well.

Our concern is many of the tests are based on manufacturers claims that they have done testing, without any understanding of what it takes to make these tests, he said.

The new tests being rolled out in New Jersey by Abbott and Rutgers are different, and use state-of-the-art molecular-level analysis, noted Sampath.

Abbott, he said, was not a fly-by-night manufacturer trying to make a quick buck.

I trust the data a lot more. Its gone through the extra scrutiny, he said.

The test by the Rutgers lab is also based on well-established analysis. Although he has not looked at any studies that show the accuracy from a saliva sample is as good or better than a nasal swab, as officials at Rutgers claim, he said the idea is good.

Potentially it could be attractive because sampling is one of the biggest issues, he said.

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Leaning on his experience as a restaurant owner, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Friday the U.S. government has an obligation to aid small businesses that are shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I had a business that was closed. It was doing great, and then one day I learned I was closed," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." "You better help."

Cramer owns Bar San Miguel and co-owns The Longshoreman. Both are in Brooklyn, New York.

The "Mad Money" host's comments Friday came on the launch day of a $350 billion government program to help small business owners who are trying to navigate the economic shock from the coronavirus.

The program, created as part of the $2 trillion economic relief package passed last month, creates potentially forgivable loans for small businesses.

The Small Business Administration is partnering with banks and other financial institutions such as credit unions to dole out the loans  portions of which can be forgiven if they are used for expenses such as payroll.

There is a lot of uncertainty facing the program on its first day, both for lenders and potential borrowers.

Bank of America became the first major U.S. bank to say its loan portal was up and running, but others such as Wells Fargo and Citigroup were not accepting applications as of Friday morning. JPMorgan Chase' small business portal became available a little after 1 p.m.

Despite the challenging start for the loan program, Cramer said small business owners who are thinking of permanently closing their business should "rethink their plan."

He said he understands the confusion around how, exactly, to access the loans, but he advised small business owners to start by calling their banker or a community bank.

Cramer also mentioned the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, which was amended during the COVID-19 crisis and includes what is essentially a $10,000 grant.

Business owners just need to request a "loan advance" in their EIDL application. The advance does not need to be repaid.

"This is a $10,000 grant that makes it so you're nuts not to keep your business open. I'm not kidding. You got to keep your business open," Cramer said.

He said he also acknowledges he has the financial means to weather the storm from the coronavirus better than most restaurant owners. "I have the money to be able to do it. I'm lucky. I'm blessed," he said.

However, the burden of assisting all small business owners is on the government, Cramer said.

"These people have businesses, and they were closed by the government, for heaven's sake, so the government has to do something. It's only right," Cramer said.

"That's what they need to do because this is the base. Not President Trump's base. But the base of America," he added.
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed gaps in U.S. medical manufacturing and distribution. Cheap foreign materials and just in time shipping have made it tough to meet the sudden demand for cleaning agents, protective gear, and ventilators  even as sick patients are filling hospital ICUs.

And yet U.S. companies that make vaccines  the kind of low-priced, one-dose commodity product that drugmakers often leave to foreigners  have stepped up.

Last Friday, President Donald Trump signed the $2 trillion CARES Act, including $27 billion for vaccines and protective gear. On Monday, drug giant Johnson & Johnson said it was joining the CARES-enriched Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to spend more than $1 billion developing anti-coronavirus vaccines.

 READ MORE: Why a coronavirus vaccine may take 18 months to reach the public

J&J said the first emergency shots should be available on a not-for-profit basis early next year  well in advance of the usual five- to seven-year timetable  and an eventual billion doses will be made in a new U.S. factory at an unnamed location.

J&Js Janssen unit, which includes the companys vaccines business, has labs in Belgium, central New Jersey, and Horsham.

The Philadelphia area is the historic center of vaccine science. Maurice Hillemans labs at Merck developed preventives for measles, mumps, meningitis, hepatitis, pneumonia, and flu, among others. Hilary Koprowski and colleagues at the Wistar Institute on the Penn campus developed vaccines against polio, rabies, and more. Scientists at Merck and GlaxoSmithKline labs in the western suburbs and start-ups in University City remain focused on new generations of vaccines.

 HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you.

And specialized firms such as Fort Washington-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals have lately announced accelerated coronavirus vaccine schedules, also armed with federal funding  from the U.S. military, in Inovios case.

The fact that U.S. vaccine capability hasnt withered along with other commodities once made here is no accident, but a result of steady lobbying, medical initiative, and government foresight, advocates say.

 READ MORE: Philly vaccine pioneer: We cant rush a coronavirus vaccine | Q&A

Washington has funded vaccine development and other pandemic preparation in uneven doses. But the framework of a national vaccine policy has endured between crises and into periods of neglect  and will now be flush with new anti-coronavirus billions.

We are very pleased to see the governments increased appreciation for vaccines, which save both lives and substantial costs to the U.S., said Amy Pisani, executive director of Vaccinate Your Family, a Washington-based advocacy network backed by the CDC, vaccine makers, and charitable groups.

Our country has an amazing brain trust of scientists who are aware of the potential threats to the world from future viruses, but they need R&D funding, as well as support from better public health education. There are still some who believe coronavirus is a conspiracy, Pisani added.

 READ MORE: Inside a Philadelphia lab, scientists race to design a coronavirus vaccine

In the emergency preparedness climate that followed the 2001 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York, the federal government rolled out Project BioShield, a $5.6 billion pandemic preparedness program funding testing and vaccines, initially designed to run from 2003 to 2013.

When the H5N1 flu hit hard in early 2005, President George W. Bush, joined by the CDCs top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, summoned executives from Baxter, GSK, Wyeth, and other vaccine makers to the White House.

Bush said, Wheres the flu vaccine? This should make you a lot of money, recalls Berwyn lawyer Frank Rapoport, who prepped the GSK executives for the meeting. And they said, Sir, we wont make money, but we will get sued.

Bush and Congress responded with the federal PREP Act, which extended legal protections from plaintiff lawsuits to vaccine, testing, and antiviral makers building medicines for pandemics, said John Clerici, a founder of pharma consulting firm Tiber Creek Partners in Washington.

 READ MORE: Skunkworks at Johnson & Johnson is rushing to develop a coronavirus vaccine

Clerici worked to draft PREP with then-Republican Senate aide Robert Kadlec, whom Trump in 2017 named assistant secretary for preparedness and response, overseeing BARDA and its vaccine funding, and the Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies  making Kadlec a key leader in the coronavirus fight.

Without legal liability protections, Clerici says companies such as J&J would be 100% against developing vaccines in the U.S.

In 2013, when the original BioShield funding ran out, Congress began a series of annual appropriations totaling about $1.5 billion a year to fund BARDA vaccine development efforts and to build up the emergency medical stockpile. A special $5 billion was appropriated for the multinational Ebola virus fight in 2015.

But flu planning has been stuck at about $250 million a year in each of the last three federal budgets  extremely underfunded, in Clericis view.

 READ MORE: Most anti-vaccine ads spreading misinformation on Facebook were paid for by two groups, study finds

The CARES Act has multiplied those resources, splitting $27 billion between rebuilding the depleted medical stockpile and BARDA vaccine funding  on top of $6 billion appropriated for those purposes in the first anti-coronavirus bills last winter.

Clerici said BARDA also has the power to bypass very burdensome federal purchasing regulations, and speed vaccine development by paying companies for mass-producing vaccines and antivirals while their clinical trials are not yet concluded, even if they end up proving unsuitable.

He said the agency has remained very conservative about using such powers, preferring the National Institutes of Health style of sequencing development, then animal, and finally human trials, rather than the more expensive but faster approach of attempting different stages at the same time.

 READ MORE: Russian trolls politicized vaccines in 2016. Could coronavirus be next?

Pisani says this new attention to vaccines should lead to permanent higher funding. Shed like to see higher appropriations for the CDC and state, city, and tribal health departments, as well as higher vaccine and antiviral R&D spending.

The coronavirus stimulus packages to date have provided critical funding for the immediate emergency, she said. And there will be others.
Peru has imposed even stricter quarantine measures that mean men and women will be assigned designated days they can leave their homes based on their gender.

President Martin Vizcarra announced on Thursday that only men are allowed to leave their homes to get essential supplies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Women, on the other hand, are allowed to go out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On Sunday, no one is allowed to leave home.

According to Reuters, Vizcarra said in a virtual news conference with his cabinet of ministers that the authorities were implementing these gender-based measures to get more people off the streets.

He added that the new restrictions would make it easier for security forces to enforce the quarantine order, instead of a method used in other countries, whereby citizens must carry certain documents.

Men and women in Peru must adhere to their designated days until 12 April, but the measures would not affect people with an emergency or key workers who are authorised to work during the quarantine period.

But Interior Minister Carlos Moran said the restrictions apply to every single person on Sundays, warning: On Sunday, everyone has to be at home. Banks will not work and supermarkets, markets and shops will be closed.

There will also be no pharmacies. No one has justification for leaving.

Peru imposed a nationwide lockdown on 16 March, and the country has recorded 1,414 coronavirus cases with 55 deaths so far.

A day before Peru announced its gender-based restrictions, Panama also said women and men would only be allowed to leave the house on specific days depending on their gender.

Panamas rules are the opposite of Perus  men will be allowed out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while women can run errands on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Both genders will only have two hours to complete their shopping for supplies on any day, reported CNN.

Sundays are also off-limits to anyone in Panama. The restrictions will last for at least 15 days, said government officials.

Panama Security Minister Juan Pino said at a virtual press conference: With an absolute quarantine, men and women will have a schedule to transit. The decision is part of an operational strategy to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

Under the lockdown, Panamians must adhere to a nightly curfew and cannot leave their homes between 5pm and 5am. The country also banned all domestic and international travel.

Pino also warned that a substantial rise in people needing intensive care treatment could overwhelm the countrys health system.

Panamian President Laurentino 'Nito' Cortizo said in a statement on Twitter that the decision to restrict the publics movement further was made because of a great quantity of people circulating outside their homes, despite the obligatory national quarantine.

There have been 1,317 coronavirus infections reported in Panama, with 32 deaths.
The Morrison government will have to boost spending beyond the coronavirus pandemic to help rebuild a shattered economy, some of the nation's most senior economists believe, arguing it could take years for households and businesses to properly recover.

A special Scope survey shows many senior analysts believe all governments will have to look at infrastructure or tax incentives to kick-start the economy as it emerges from the various shutdowns aimed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

A man pushes a trolley across a near-empty Sydney CBD street. Economists say after virus restrictions pass, governments will have to look at stimulus to re-boot the economy. Credit:Kate Geraghty

More than half of the analysts surveyed by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age expect a "U" shaped recovery but the turnaround - tipped for the second half of the year - will vary depending on the damage caused by the restrictions and introduction of social distancing required to control the pandemic.

The Morrison government has already committed more than $200 billion in packages to protect employment and the general economy while the states and territories have promised at least $20 billion more.
MCLEAN, Virginia, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, family-owned Mars, Incorporated has today shared an update on actions to better support the communities in which it operates, and the most vulnerable in its extended supply chains.

The new commitment includes an initial cash and in-kind donation of $20 million to support the people, pets and communities most affected by COVID-19. The support package includes:

$5 million donation to support CARE for critical supplies and expertise that will be deployed in the developing world, to women, children and refugee populations.

donation to support CARE for critical supplies and expertise that will be deployed in the developing world, to women, children and refugee populations. $2 million donation to the United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) to aid in the transport and delivery of critical supplies for all United Nations agencies as they respond to the pandemic.

donation to the United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) to aid in the transport and delivery of critical supplies for all United Nations agencies as they respond to the pandemic. $1 million donation to Humane Society International (HSI) to help cats and dogs that have been abandoned, left behind or surrendered to shelters due to their owners falling ill or no longer having the financial means to care for them.

The balance of $12 million will come from a combination of cash and in-kind donations from across the markets where Mars operates as well as donations from its Foundations including: The Mars Wrigley Foundation, the Banfield Foundation, the Pedigree Foundation and the Tasty Bite Foundation.

Grant F. Reid, Chief Executive Officer, Mars said: "Our approach for working through this COVID crisis has been, and will continue to be, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our Associates, doing our part to prevent the spread of the virus and caring for our communities. This week, we're announcing a commitment of $20 million in cash and in-kind product donations to support the hundreds of communities where we live and work, or whom we depend upon for our agricultural ingredients. We're all in this together and we want to do our part to help those most in need."

Frank Mars, Chair of the Board of Directors for Mars, said: "All our lives, our family has believed that our Five Principles are fundamental to the culture and success of Mars. However, it's during times of crisis that purpose and key guiding principles are both most important and really tested. We will only get through this pandemic by thinking mutually -- by supporting one another, and that's what this commitment to our communities is all about."

More on the community giving

As part of the support package, the $5 million donation to CARE will help to further the organization address the specific needs of the world's most vulnerable, including women, children and refugee populations in underdeveloped countries where the virus is just beginning to spike, but also where they will be the most unprepared. More on CARE here: https://www.care.org

The $2 million package of support will help the United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) manage logistics for emergency food and lifesaving equipment to hospitals in affected areas. More on WFP here: https://www.wfp.org

The $1 million donation for the Humane Society International (HSI) will help ease the burden of overcapacity shelters. The Humane Society International (HSI) is currently focused on helping pets that have been abandoned, left behind or surrendered to shelters due to their owners falling ill or no longer having the financial means to care for them as a result of COVID-19. More on this here: https://www.humanesociety.org

Supporting quotes

Michelle Nunn, President & CEO, CARE, said: "This incredible commitment from Mars is going to save lives. CARE is already working every day in places where healthcare systems are fragile and food supplies have been cut off by disaster and conflict. Investing now in these vulnerable communities will make a tremendous difference. CARE's focus on women and girls on the frontline of response to COVID-19 will both protect and empower the caregivers, families and communities. We are deeply grateful to Mars for this investment."

Ute Klamert, Assistant Executive Director of Partnerships & Advocacy of the United Nation's World Food Programme: "During this time of global crisis, no one is immune as the virus spreads from person to person and country to country, and fragile communities already grappling with conflict, climate change and economic challenges are particularly vulnerable and ill-equipped to respond to it. Flexible funding from Mars that supports WFP's greatest needs is critically important and greatly appreciated so we can direct resources and respond dynamically as the situation changes on the ground."

Jeffrey Flocken, President Humane Society International: "We are incredibly grateful to Mars for this generous donation, which recognizes that dogs and cats are a vital part of our families -- a source of comfort and unwavering affection, particularly in times of crisis. As the world struggles with this pandemic, these critically needed funds will directly help companion animals around the world impacted by the coronavirus crisis."

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 125,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, MILKY WAY, SNICKERS, TWIX, ORBIT, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, SKITTLES, UNCLE BEN'S, WHISKAS, COCOAVIA, and 5; and take care of half of the world's pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, Pet Partners, and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles - Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom - inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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The frequency of searching Serbia for tourism information increased by 480 percent month-to-month, according to Mafengwo, a Chinese travel SNS website.

The Danube River in Serbia (Photo/pixabay.com)

On March 15, while declaring a state emergency due to the epidemic, the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic asked China for assistance, resulting in the receival of medical supplies and experts from China, deepening the friendship between the two countries.

Closer relations between Serbia and China have driven a large number of Chinese tourists to search for tourism information about Serbia on online platforms in March, according to data from Mafengwo.

Mafengwo also showed the frequency of searching for tourism information on "travel strategies for Serbia" has increased by 279 percent month-to-month.

Chinese tourists have suspended long-haul and outbound travel plans due to the pneumonia outbreak, but people still expect to start new trips after the epidemic, said Feng Rao, director of the Mafengwo's tourism research center.

Feng also noted that Serbia, once a niche destination in Europe, will also see more Chinese visitors in the future thanks to its increasing popularity among the Chinese people during the outbreak.
All business lines post year-over-year increases: Options ADV up 69%, Futures up 35%, U.S. Equities up 129%, European Equities up 29% and Global FX up 43%

Cboe's four options exchanges combined set a new monthly ADV record with nearly 12 million contracts traded

S&P 500 Index (SPX) options set a new monthly total volume record with more than 43.4 million contracts traded

Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) options and futures ADV up 112% and 36% year-over-year, respectively

Cboe FX set a new monthly ADNV record with nearly $55 billion in notional value

CHICAGO, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), one of the world's largest exchange holding companies, today reported March monthly trading volume.

The data sheet "Cboe Global Markets Monthly Volume & RPC/Net Revenue Capture Report" contains an overview of March and year-to-date trading statistics and market share by business segment, volume in select index products, and RPC, which is reported on a one-month lag, across business lines.

MONTHLY TRADING VOLUME Year-To-Date

March March % February % March March % 2020 2019 Chg 2020 Chg 2020 2019 Chg OPTIONS (contracts, thousands) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

19

62 61

Total Volume 263,373 148,748 77.1% 209,552 25.7% 665,343 430,838 54.4% Total ADV 11,971 7,083 69.0% 11,029 8.5% 10,731 7,063 51.9% FUTURES (contracts, thousands) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

19

62 61

Total Volume 7,545 5,338 41.3% 7,182 5.1% 20,514 14,112 45.4% Total ADV 343 254 34.9% 378 -9.3% 331 231 43.0% U.S. EQUITIES (shares, millions) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

19

62 61

Total Volume 59,421 24,781 139.8% 28,464 108.8% 113,805 73,516 54.8% Total ADV 2,701 1,180 128.9% 1,498 80.3% 1,836 1,205 52.3% EUROPEAN EQUITIES ( millions) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

20

64 63

Total Notional Value  259,065  191,498 35.3%  173,999 48.9%  581,890  580,817 0.2% Total ADNV  11,776  9,119 29.1%  8,700 35.4%  9,092  9,219 -1.4% GLOBAL FX ($ millions) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

20

64 63

Total Notional Value $1,209,632 $809,512 49.4% $825,067 46.6% $2,773,720 $2,299,044 20.6% Total ADNV $54,983 $38,548 42.6% $41,253 33.3% $43,339 $36,493 18.8%

ADV= average daily volume

ADNV= average daily notional value

March 2020 Volume Highlights

Options

Cboe Global Markets' four options exchanges (C1, C2, BZX and EDGX) combined set a new all-time monthly average daily volume (ADV) record with nearly 12 million contracts traded per day.

The four options exchanges had the highest combined single-day volume of all-time on Thursday, March 12 , with more than 16.7 million contracts traded.

, with more than 16.7 million contracts traded. C1 Options Exchange set a new monthly total volume record with more than 148 million contracts traded.

BZX Options Exchange set a new all-time monthly ADV record with more than 3.5 million contracts traded. The exchange also saw its highest single-day volume of all-time on Thursday, March 12 , with more than 5.3 million contracts traded.

, with more than 5.3 million contracts traded. EDGX Options Exchange set a new all-time monthly ADV record with more than 1 million contracts traded.

S&P 500 Index (SPX) options set a new all-time monthly total volume record with more than 43.4 million contracts traded. ADV was up 62 percent over March 2019 .

. ADV in options on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) during March was 1.18 million contracts, up 112 percent over the 556,214 contracts traded per day in March 2019 .

Futures

ADV in futures on the VIX at Cboe Futures Exchange (CFE) during March was 342,162 contracts, up 36 percent over the 252,129 contracts traded per day in March 2019 .

U.S. Equities

Cboe Global Markets' four U.S. equities exchanges (BZX, BYX, EDGX and EDGA) saw nearly 2.7 billion shares traded per day in March, up 129 percent over the 1.18 billion shares in March 2019 .

European Equities

Cboe LIS, Cboe Europe's block trading platform, reported record average daily notional value (ADNV) traded of 571 million in March, up 112 percent over the 269 million ADNV traded in March 2019 .

. Cboe Periodic Auctions reported record ADNV traded of 1.7 billion in March, up 131 percent over the 726 million ADNV traded in March 2019 .

Global FX

Global FX set a new all-time monthly record with nearly $55 billion in notional value (ADNV).

in notional value (ADNV). Full Amount ADNV reached a new all-time monthly high with $12 billion in notional value.

First-Quarter 2020 RPC/Net Revenue Capture Guidance

Options

The company currently expects RPC for total options for the first quarter of 2020 to be 6.0 to 7.0 percent higher than the amounts noted below for the two months ended February 29, 2020, primarily reflecting a higher percentage of volume from index options in March compared to the two-month average. The RPC for multi-listed options for the first quarter is expected to be 1.5 to 2.5 percent above the two-month average, due in part to a mix shift, with ETFs accounting for a higher percentage of total volume. The RPC for index options is expected to be 1.5 to 2.5 percent above the two-month average noted below, reflecting a mix shift by order execution and type, as well as the impact of a fee increase for SPX options implemented on February 2.

Futures

The RPC for futures in the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be 0.5 to 1.5 percent above the two-month average noted below, reflecting lower volume-related rebates in March.

U.S. Equities

The revenue capture for U.S. Equities for the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be 7.0 to 8.0 percent above the two-month average noted below, reflecting a mix shift in volume.

European Equities

The revenue capture for European Equities for the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be 5.5 to 6.5 percent below the two-month average noted below, reflecting the net impact of volume-based tiers on March's higher volume.

Global FX

The revenue capture for Global FX for the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be 1.0 to 2.0 percent below the two-month average noted below, reflecting the impact of higher volumes in March.

These expectations are estimated, preliminary and may change. There can be no assurance that our final RPC for the three months ended March 31, 2020, will not differ materially from these expectations.

The following represents average RPC and met revenue capture based on a two-month and a three-month rolling average, reported on a one-month lag. The average RPC represents total transaction fees for C1, C2, BZX and EDGX Options Exchanges and CFE recognized for the period divided by total contracts traded during the period. For U.S. Equities, "net capture per 100 touched shares" refers to annual transaction fees less liquidity payments and routing and clearing costs divided by the product of one-hundredth ADV of touched shares on BZX, BYX, EDGX and EDGA and the number of trading days. For European Equities, "net capture per matched notional value" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments in British pounds divided by the product of ADNV in British pounds of shares matched on Cboe Europe Equities and the number of trading days. For Global FX, "net capture per one million dollars traded" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments, if any, divided by the product of one-thousandth of ADNV traded on the Cboe FX Markets and the number of trading days, divided by two, which represents the buyer and seller that are both charged on the transaction. Average transaction fees per contract can be affected by various factors, including exchange fee rates, volume-based discounts and transaction mix by contract type and product type.

(In Dollars unless stated otherwise) Two-

Months

Ended 1Q20 Guidance vs. Two-month Avg Three-Months Ended Product: Feb-20

Feb-20 Jan-20 Dec-19 Nov-19 Multi-Listed Options (per contract) $0.053 1.5 to 2.5% above $0.053 $0.051 $0.055 $0.055 Index Options (per contract) $0.764 1.5 to 2.5% above $0.764 $0.758 $0.766 $0.765 Total Options (per contract) $0.219 6.0 to 7.0% above $0.221 $0.215 $0.225 $0.224 Futures (per contract) $1.731 0.5 to 1.5% above $1.747 $1.779 $1.794 $1.788 U.S. Equities (per 100 touched notional value) $0.024 7.0 to 8.0% above $0.026 $0.025 $0.023 $0.020 European Equities (per matched notional value, bps) 0.255 5.5 to 6.5% below 0.255 0.256 0.248 0.243 Global FX (per one million dollars traded) $2.72 1.0 to 2.0% below $2.741 $2.787 $2.803 $2.818

About Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE) is one of the world's largest exchange holding companies, offering cutting-edge trading and investment solutions to investors around the world. The company is committed to defining markets to benefit its participants and drive the global marketplace forward through product innovation, leading edge technology and seamless trading solutions.

The company offers trading across a diverse range of products in multiple asset classes and geographies, including options, futures, U.S. and European equities, exchange-traded products (ETPs), global foreign exchange (FX) and volatility products based on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX Index), recognized as the world's premier gauge of U.S. equity market volatility.

Cboe's subsidiaries include the largest options exchange and the third largest stock exchange operator in the U.S. In addition, the company operates one of the largest stock exchanges by value traded in Europe and is a leading market globally for ETP listings and trading.

The company is headquartered in Chicago with a network of domestic and global offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia, including main hubs in New York, London, Kansas City and Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.cboe.com.

Media Contacts

Analyst Contact







Angela Tu Stacie Fleming

Debbie Koopman +1-646-856-8734 +44-20-7012-8950

+1-312-786-7136 atu@cboe.com sfleming@cboe.com

dkoopman@cboe.com



CBOE-V

BZX, Cboe, Cboe Global Markets, Cboe Volatility Index, CFE, EDGX, and VIX are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. or its affiliates. S&P 500 and SPX are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC and has been licensed for use by Cboe Exchange, Inc. Any products that have the S&P Index or Indexes as their underlying interest are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's or Cboe and neither Standard & Poor's nor Cboe make any representations or recommendations concerning the advisability of investing in products that have S&P indexes as their underlying interests. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All statements that reflect our expectations, assumptions or projections about the future other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: changes to trading behavior due to the temporary suspension of open outcry trading in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19); the loss of our right to exclusively list and trade certain index options and futures products; economic, political and market conditions; compliance with legal and regulatory obligations; price competition and consolidation in our industry; decreases in trading volumes, market data fees or a shift in the mix of products traded on our exchanges; legislative or regulatory changes; our ability to protect our systems and communication networks from security risks, cybersecurity risks, insider threats and unauthorized disclosure of confidential information; increasing competition by foreign and domestic entities; our dependence on and exposure to risk from third parties; fluctuations to currency exchange rates; our index providers' ability to maintain the quality and integrity of their indexes and to perform under our agreements; our ability to operate our business without violating the intellectual property rights of others and the costs associated with protecting our intellectual property rights; our ability to attract and retain skilled management and other personnel; our ability to accommodate trading volume and transaction traffic, including significant increases, without failure or degradation of performance of our systems; misconduct by those who use our markets or our products; challenges to our use of open source software code; our ability to meet our compliance obligations, including managing potential conflicts between our regulatory responsibilities and our for-profit status; damage to our reputation; the ability of our compliance and risk management methods to effectively monitor and manage our risks; our ability to manage our growth and strategic acquisitions or alliances effectively; restrictions imposed by our debt obligations; our ability to maintain an investment grade credit rating; impairment of our goodwill, long-lived assets, investments or intangible assets; and the accuracy of our estimates and expectations. More detailed information about factors that may affect our actual results to differ may be found in our filings with the SEC, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and other filings made from time to time with the SEC.

We do not undertake, and we expressly disclaim, any duty to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/622233/Cboe_Logo.jpg
At least 1,000 undertrial



prisoners have been released from various correctional homes in West Bengal on interim bail in keeping with the Supreme Court's directions to consider decongesting the jails in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said here on Friday.

The process of granting bail to the undertrials commenced on March 23, State Legal Services Authority secretary Durga Khaitan said.

Following the apex court's direction, the Calcutta High Court had formed a three-member committee to examine the situation in correctional homes in the state and the number of inmates who can be granted bail or parole to decongest the jails.

The committee is headed by Calcutta High Court judge Justice Dipankar Datta, who is also the chairman of State Legal Services Authority, while the Director General (Prisons) and Principal Secretary of the Home Department are the members.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four constables in Bihar have been



dismissed from service for misbehaving with senior officials and indiscipline, amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

Three of them have ended up behind bars as they were found to be under the influence of alcohol -- sale and consumption of which is banned in the state.

According to a release issued by the state police headquarters, constables Pappu Kumar, Saroj Kumar, Rakesh Kumar and Dilip Kumar - who were with the Bihar Military Police -- had misbehaved with officials in Rafiganj Circle of Aurangabad district on March 28.

Pappu, Saroj and Rakesh looked inebriated and medical tests confirmed that they had consumed liquor, the release said, adding that accordingly they were booked for violating the prohibition law and sent to jail.

The release also noted that the conduct of all four constables tantamount to "indiscipline" at a time when "there is a nationwide lockdown, hence there is neither the need for, nor the scope to, order an inquiry".

Therefore, services of the four constables have been terminated forthwith, the release added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Megan Rowling

BARCELONA, April 2 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The postponement of key U.N. climate and biodiversity summits to next year, as coronavirus sweeps around the world, should not be used as an excuse to shirk action to curb global warming and species loss, officials, analysts and activists said.

They urged governments to work together to solve environmental problems beyond the immediate health crisis and ensure that economic recovery packages they are now putting in place help lead to greener, fairer societies.

Sonam P. Wangdi of Bhutan, who chairs the group of 47 least-developed countries at the U.N. climate talks, said climate change would continue "to threaten the lives and livelihoods of our people after the pandemic has ended".

"Deep and permanent reductions of global emissions are urgently needed. A postponed meeting should not mean postponed global action on climate change," he said in a statement after the delay to the COP26 climate summit was announced Wednesday.

U.N. climate chief Patricia Espinosa said that though the COVID-19 outbreak was "unlike any other challenge we've seen in modern times", economies that have ground to a halt under lockdowns aimed at stemming the virus would "soon" restart.

"This is an opportunity for nations to green their recovery packages, an opportunity to include the most vulnerable in those plans, and an opportunity to shape the 21st century economy in ways that are clean, green, healthy, just, safe and more resilient," she added.

Researchers and climate campaigners echoed Espinosa's call for trillions of dollars in economic stimulus now being approved to be channelled towards low-carbon measures rather than propping up the fossil fuel industry after an oil-price plunge.

The annual U.N. conference had been scheduled to take place in November in Glasgow, Scotland, in what was seen as a critical year for ramping up action towards a global goal of limiting warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally to 1.5C.

Story continues

But on Wednesday, the U.N. climate change secretariat, together with the governments of Britain, Italy and Chile - the main COP26 partners - decided summit preparations could not be completed in time as countries prioritised fighting coronavirus.

"In light of the ongoing, worldwide effects of COVID-19, holding an ambitious, inclusive COP26 in November 2020 is no longer possible," they said in a statement, adding dates for a rescheduled conference in 2021 would be "set out in due course".

A U.N. official told Reuters a parallel summit on preserving threatened species, which had been due to take place in Kunming, China, in October, would also be pushed back to next year.

Alden Meyer, director of strategy at the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said the emissions driving global warming were "at record levels and impacts are increasing every day".

"Climate change wont pause even for a pandemic of epic proportions," he said. "Its vital that the postponement of these negotiating sessions not slow down national and international efforts to accelerate climate action and build a safer, more resilient world."

He and other policy experts said governments - especially in higher-emitting nations - should ensure they used increased public spending in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic to fund cleaner economies, including measures to boost energy efficiency and create new jobs in renewable power and green technology.

Chema Vera, interim executive director of aid agency Oxfam International, called on policy makers to "avoid repeating the same mistakes that were made after the 2008 global financial crisis when stimulus packages caused emissions to rebound".

Andrew Steer, head of the World Resources Institute, urged states to craft the stronger climate commitments they are due to deliver in 2020 under the Paris Agreement alongside efforts to offset the impacts of coronavirus.

"These national climate plans should not be disconnected from the (COVID-19)recovery, but instead should be an integral part of national efforts to create jobs, boost growth, reduce health risks, and build more resilient economies," he said.

DOUBLE THREAT TO POOR

Several environment and development groups emphasised that now, more than ever, poorer nations needed rich countries to keep their promises to provide finance to deal with more extreme weather and rising seas as the planet warms.

Harjeet Singh, global lead on climate change for ActionAid, noted climate disasters "won't stop for the COVID-19 crisis".

The coronavirus outbreak will hit the poorest and most marginalised the hardest - those who are already facing food shortages and who are on the frontline of the climate crisis," he said.

The United Nations has launched a $2-billion appeal to help such communities cope with the COVID-19 threat. Many are in sub-Saharan African, South Asia and the Middle East, where the virus has been slower to strike.

Andrew Norton, director of the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development, said that, as well as stimulating their own economies, rich nations needed to give financial help for the poorest facing the climate crisis.

The voices of people in the most vulnerable countries also must be heard in the U.N. climate change talks, "which without face-to-face meetings, is not possible", he added.

The U.N. climate secretariat said interim negotiations to prepare COP26 had also been shifted from June to October to allow all countries to participate fully.

It urged governments to push forward with work on their updated climate plans in the meantime, adding it would continue to provide support.

Cassie Flynn, head of climate strategy at the United Nations Development Programme, said the postponement of COP26 was "an opportunity to help governments develop more ambitious climate policies that protect vulnerable communities".

"By spring next year, we can hope that a world that has come together to beat the coronavirus will be in much better shape to beat the climate crisis," she added. (Reporting by Megan Rowling @meganrowling; editing by Laurie Goering. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate)
Prime Minister Scott Morrison teared up this week as he reflected on his grandmothers tales of Depression-era life. How does this generation view the current crisis, and what can they teach us about how to survive it? I have a wave of feeling that comes over me, says Anne Walsh, 87. The isolation, the lock-up, and the fear of what is about to happen. I compare it very closely to the feelings I had during that war period.

Mrs Walsh, who now lives in Maroubra, Sydney, was a seven-year-old living in east Sydney with her family when the war began. All I knew was something terrible was happening out there, because everyone seemed so tense and worried. Her father, a warden, donned a helmet every night to check their Darlinghurst street was blacked out. There were food scarcities. Children were issued with a kit bag containing a piece of wood to place between your teeth when the bombs fell so we didnt break our teeth. When the Japanese attacked Sydney Harbour in 1942, Mrs Walsh remembers the ghostly white of her fathers face as the family sheltered under the kitchen table.

The other similarity with now is the feeling of putting the television on every morning and seeing the bad news, she says. Back then, when the paper would come, there was a section of notices with three columns: dead, injured, missing. People would buy it to look up if there was anyone close to them who died. Ros Collins, 90, was a nine-year-old living with her parents in Ilford, London, when Neville Chamberlain declared Britain was at war with Germany. She survived the Blitz  dark hours in air raid shelters, and the red glow of the night sky when St Pauls Cathedral was bombed.

Her family was Jewish, and Mrs Collins strongest memory of the war is her neighbour, an ex-Indian Army officer, visiting her parents and telling them he had heard about concentration camps in Europe. He said, I want you to know, I still have my rifle from India and if the Germans invade  which we were certain they would  I want you to know I will shoot you and not let you go to the camps, she recalls. Ros Collins thinks young people are in for a dreadul shock. Credit:Simon Schluter For a 10-year-old, I thought that was pretty amazing. Mrs Collins, who migrated to Australia and now lives in Elwood, Melbourne, thinks todays young people are in for a dreadful shock.

Life will never be the same, she says. Loading We were coming out of the Depression and we were used to a much simpler way of life. They will have to adjust their thinking away from McMansions with four bathrooms. Phyllis McCaughan, 92, lives in Essendon, Melbourne. She was 18 when the war finished. Her three brothers fought in it.

She remembers the rationing  petrol and butter were the most scarce. She remembers buying the Sun every day to check for her brothers names in the lists of war dead. She remembers local dances, empty of young men to dance with. Of the current crisis, Mrs McCaughan says: Its just a hard time, and the world will never be the same again, of course. Mrs McCaughan believes people should just do as theyre told in response to the crisis. Dan Long, with his daughters Vicki Long and Bonnie Goodfellow and grandson Riley Lavelle. Credit:Louise Kennerley Asked for his advice to young people, Mr Long says: The younger generation have to learn to be tolerant, honest and kind to their fellow man.
In less than a month since its first case of COVID-19 was confirmed, Pennsylvania has seen at least 7,000 cases and 90 deaths from the viral disease.

Leading the charge on the front lines against the coronavirus are ambulance crews, firefighters, police and health care workers.

Thursday afternoon, first responders hit the lights and sirens for a parade past St. Lukes Hospital in Bethlehem for a show of solidarity with those inside caring for the sickest of those infected with the coronavirus.

Pennsylvania coronavirus cases now total 7,016 and at least 90 people have died, according to the latest release by the state health department.

Of those infected, 730 have been hospitalized since Pennsylvanias first case was confirmed March 6. Those ages 65 and older comprise half of those hospitalized, followed by ages 50-64 (28%) and 25-49 (20%), the department says.

The situation is even more dire in New Jersey, with 537 deaths and 25,590 COVID-19 cases.

A projection of COVID-19 deaths and the growing strain on the nations health care system shows New Jersey is about a week ahead of Pennsylvania in terms of infections.

St. Lukes University Health Network organized Thursdays demonstration of thanks to its Anderson Campus employees.

For the first responders who took part, it's another example of going beyond their regular duties, already compounded by the threat of the coronavirus, to give their communities a psychological boost during these difficult times.

Fire companies have also started doing full lights-and-sirens visits to area children on their birthdays, while theyre under state orders to stay home as part of efforts to halt the virus spread.

Avoid leaving your house like someones life depends on it.



Because ultimately, someones life does depend on it. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/C8c5cG6QY7  Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) April 2, 2020

For those looking to join in recognizing hospital workers, a new group formed this week called Front Line Appreciation Group Lehigh Valley is looking for members and donations.

The groups focus is paying local restaurants to prepare and deliver food to area hospitals. The first deliveries are set for Friday, with 185 total meals from Union and Finch, The Bayou and Mission BBQ headed for Lehigh Valley Hospitals Muhlenberg campus in Bethlehem, Cedar Crest complex in Salisbury Township and 17th and Chew streets facility in Allentown.

Organizer Kathy McFall, of Bethlehem Township, invites those interested in learning more to join the group on Facebook.

"We're all scared and we are all feeling helpless because we're actually trying to comply with the state-at-home" order, McFall said Thursday. "So you're staying at home and you're thinking, 'OK, what can I do?'

This is a wonderful opportunity for people to help without leaving home. Were hoping that they will become a part of this and, as a result, see that they can make a difference.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
by Shafique Khokhar

Due to government restrictions, he was fired and fell ill. He worked on a gas pump and earned 600-700 rupees / less than $ 5 a day. Post mortem reveals he was not suffering from coronavirus. But the family didn't have the money to go to the doctor. The parish will guarantee food and education to the deceased's family.

Karachi (AsiaNews) - Sarfaz Masih, 35, committed suicide by hanging himself in Mehmoodabad (Sindh province): he feared he had contracted coronavirus, but it was poverty that killed him.

Masih was the only wage earner in the family: he worked on a gas pump, earning 600-700 rupees (less than five dollars) and was paid per day.

On March 22, due to restrictions imposed by the Sindh government to prevent coronavirus infections, he and other employees at the distributor were fired because there was no work.

On the same day of his dismissal he fell ill. Having a cold and fever, the doctor advised him to stay indoors, but isolated from the rest of the family, because those were the symptoms of Covid-19. Masih, fearing that he was infected, tried to stay away from his two little daughters and his wife, who is pregnant with twins in her ninth month.

But being in solitary confinement for long days, Sarfrazs health did not improve and he began to lose hope of recovery, fearing for the future.

His wife Maria kept telling him that they should go to another doctor to get another opinion, but they had no money and postponed the visit. Between expenses for the preparation of childbirth, rent and food, the money they had was already gone.

Perhaps fearing he would infect his family, or fearing their stark economic future, in the early hours of March 28 he killed himself by hanging himself in his room.

Aijaz Khan, an officer of the Station House in Mehmoodabad, said a post-mortem analysis revealed Sarfaz was not affected by Covid-19 and had committed suicide only out of fear. Not being infected, his funeral took place normally at the Bethel Church of Pakistan.

A member of the Karachi National Justice and Peace Commission, Ms Saba Mushtaq, informed Fathers Edward and Shakeel of St. Paul's Parish, who assured that they will take care of the Sarfaz family in terms of food and education of children. Ms. Saba met Maria's family and parents, and said that she will find financial help for her, as she is about to give birth.

Social activist Ayaz Morris, moved by the tragedy of Sarfaz's death, pushes Christian politicians and leaders to "come out of their quarantine and isolation, to be with the people."

The suicide of this one man during this situation has actually revealed the real picture of disorder and failure of our community, which in future, not only the church and but also the other leadership of the community have to be more open to the social development of the community, and must organize a system in which they may help people in education and even have community financial assistance fund."
Afghan government, Taliban prepare for prisoner swap

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 1:45 PM

Afghanistan is set to release from prison 100 Taliban militants in a prisoner exchange for 20 of its security forces personnel, the government and Taliban sources say.

Both sides on Thursday confirmed that the Taliban prisoners were to be released at the Bagram military base north of the capital, Kabul.

An unnamed senior official in the office of President Ashraf Ghani said the names of those to be released had been sent to prison authorities.

"It was decided in the morning that 100 Taliban should be released in exchange for 20 members of Afghan security forces today," media outlets quoted the official as saying.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said teams from the warring sides were working out technical details and logistics for receiving prisoners.

"The technical issues require some time," said Mujahid, adding, "I think the release of 100 Taliban fighters and 20 Afghan security force members will happen either tomorrow or the day after."

On Tuesday, a Taliban team arrived in Kabul to begin the prisoner exchange process and met Afghan officials for face-to-face negotiations.

The Office of Afghanistan's National Security Council said on Twitter on Wednesday that the talks were observed by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The US reached an agreement with the militant group in February, but Kabul was not a party to the negotiations that led to that deal. The Taliban would refuse at the time to recognize the Afghan government.

The agreement between the US and the Taliban called for the completion of an exchange of prisoners before the start of dialog between the Taliban and the Kabul government on March 10.

The swap was delayed amid a power struggle between Ghani and his main rival in Afghanistan's 2019 presidential election, Abdullah Abdullah, who disputed the results of the voting.

Under the agreement involving the US, the Afghan government was required to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, and the militant group to free 1,000 government captives.

The talks on the prisoner exchange come despite a deterioration in the security situation in Afghanistan.

Taliban militants, which control more than 40% of the Afghan territory, have since the signing of the deal been attacking Afghan military positions.

The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 and overthrew a Taliban regime in power at the time. But US forces have remained bogged down there through the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and now Trump.

The Taliban, meanwhile, have never stopped their attacks, citing foreign military presence as one of the main reasons behind its continued militancy.

The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 under the pretext of eliminating the Taliban militant group.

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DUBLIN, April 2 (Xinhua) -- A flight carrying medical supplies from China arrived at Shannon Airport in west Ireland on Thursday afternoon, Irish national radio and television broadcaster RTE reported.

Later on Thursday, the Irish Department of Health reported 402 more cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the total to 3,849, together with an additional 13 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 98.

The flight, operated by Qatar Airways, carried ventilators, emergency beds and other medical equipment which are much needed by Ireland in its on-going fight against the pandemic, said the report.

This is part of a larger purchase of medical equipment that the Irish government has ordered from China, according to an earlier RTE report.

The RTE earlier reported that the first shipment of the order worth 208 million euros (about 226 million U.S. dollars) arrived at Dublin Airport on Sunday.

Earlier on Thursday, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told a press briefing that the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to come.

The government will make a decision on whether or not it should extend its "stay-at-home" order towards the end of next week, he said.

On Friday, the Irish government issued a "stay-at-home" order, demanding all the people in the country are only allowed to leave their homes under some special circumstances such as when they have to go outside to work or buy food and medicine.
One of Britains most decorated Royal Marines has paid tribute to his Blitz hero grandfather who died alone after falling ill with coronavirus.

James Glancy, who served three tours in Afghanistan, said 91-year-old Alec Somerscales tested positive for the killer disease in hospital after suffering a fall at his home in Surrey last month.

The pensioner, who as a teenager pulled bodies out of the London rubble during the Second World War, was admitted with a bleed on the brain, having been left unable to stand or talk.

He was diagnosed with coronavirus on Saturday 21 March and died the following day, three days after being rushed to Croydon University Hospital.

James Glancy, left, and his grandfather, Alec Somerscales, right, with the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross which Mr Glancy won for heroism in Afghanistan in 2012

James Glancy poses for a picture in Afghanistan while serving with the Royal Marines

Alec Somerscales on a motorbike while serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the late Forties

Alec Somerscales, left, and his grandson James Glancy, right, drinking wine together

Mr Glancy, 37, won the prestigious Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) for bravery in 2012. Only 60 have ever been awarded.

He is now a TV presenter and said his grandfather was a no-nonsense character who never asked for sympathy.

The worst thing was that he had to die alone, Mr Glancy told MailOnline. We were unable to visit him because of the virus, even before he tested positive.

He was 91 and had a good innings. He had cancer and other health problems, and we knew he didn't have long left. But this wasn't how we wanted him to go.

Mr Somerscales, whose devoted wife Sheila died last year, was just 14 when war broke out in 1939, but volunteered for the auxiliary fire service.

He would be at school during the day, and at night hed go out while the bombs were falling and put out fires, Mr Glancy said. Once he pulled the bodies of one of his classmates and her family out of the rubble.

When he was old enough, Mr Somerscales served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in Austria, aiding with reconstruction efforts after the War.

He then became an inventor, supplying sensitive parts for Britains Polaris nuclear missiles system.

Mr Somerscales own father, William Somerscales, had fought at both the Somme and Passchendaele in WWI. He used to treasure an old photograph of him in uniform on horseback.

Alec Somerscales, right, and his devoted wife Sheila, left, who sadly died last year

Alec Somerscales while serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Alec Somerscales' father, William, who fought at both the Somme and Passchendaele in WWI

James Glancy, left, delivers a piece to camera in his post-military role as a television presenter

Master metalworker Alec Somerscales shows a young James Glancy how to use a lathe in 1997

Mr Somerscales' postwar ration books

Id describe my family on both sides as all having done their bit, Mr Glancy, who stood for the Brexit Party last year, said. When duty called, all served in the armed forces.

My grandfathers brother Don fought under Field Marshal Montgomery in the Desert Rats, and many in my fathers family were in the Royal Navy. They were not career soldiers, but everyone stepped up.

Mr Glancy and his grandfather had always had a special bond on account of their parallel experiences of war.

He was delighted when I passed out at Lympstone (the Royal Marines commando training centre), he recalled.

He and my grandmother came to my passing-out parade. I gave him a Royal Marines cap and he wore it for 15 years, every time he went to the pub.

When I won my medal, he was incredibly proud. It built a strong connection between us that enabled him to talk about things like war, which is quite hard for the older generation to do.

He went through memories with me that he wouldnt talk about to anyone else in family, because he recognised that Id been to war in Afghanistan and dealt with life-or-death situations.

We would have long conversations about his fathers experiences in the Somme and hed always talk about the tragic deaths of the horses  he was an animal lover like me.

Alec Somerscales, left, wearing a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers cap, enjoys a cup of tea with his wife, Sheila, right

James Glancy pictured while on a tour of duty with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan

Alec Somerscales produced specialist parts for Britain's Polaris nuclear weapons programme

Alec Somerscales proudly wears his Royal Marines cap with his great-granddaughter Isabella

Alec Somerscales was born in 1928 and died on Sunday 22 March 2020 in Croydon hospital

As one of a dwindling number of the wartime generation, Mr Somerscales was a very direct, old school, no-nonsense man from the Forties and Fifties, Mr Glancy said.

He never wanted any sympathy and never gave any. He was incredibly tough: a hard, skilled, working class man who would often be seen in working mens clubs and pubs around Thornton Heath in Croydon.

He was very well-known in the community, devoted to his family, his country and his metalwork businesses.

In the Sixties, Mr Somerscales  who worked bloody hard and was always in the shed restoring Merlin engines or classic cars  invented specialist medical instruments which revolutionised the treatment of cataracts.

In return, he was offered experimental treatments by ophthalmologists when his sight began to fade in later life.

Duty and public service were part of him, Mr Glancy said. He grew up knowing about the huge public commitment to service on front line and volunteered at the earliest possible opportunity.

We wont see the like of his generation again.

Alec Somerscales is survived by his sisters Eileen, 94, and Edith, 96.
Chennai: In a quick healing touch, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Dr Beela Rajesh made clear that this was no time to play fire with any row over a large number participants from the State for the Tablighi Jamaat meet at Nizamuddin in Delhi recently, who tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the overall number of positive cases in the state shot up to 309 on Thursday.

More test results keeps coming in of the samples taken from all the 1,103 identified returnees from Delhi, who self-declared after appeal by the chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, the Health minister Dr C Vijayabaskar and the Health secretary.

74 of the 75 new positive cases yesterday were from the group of persons with 'travel history' to the Jamaat congregation.

All the 1,103 persons have been isolated and quarantined. The only other new case is of a railway doctor in Chennai who tested positive due to 'contact history' with a Covid-19 positive case.

Dr Beela Rajesh told reporters in Chennai yesterday evening after taking stock of the overall situation at the DMS control room, that test results of more returnees from the Delhi meet would be known by Friday.

So far, out of the total of 309 positive cases, 264 were from the group of persons who attended the Delhi conference and the remaining 45 patients were due to 'contact history'.

Taking multiple questions on a controversy sought to be raised over the contribution to the large number of Covid-19 positive cases from Tamil Nadu till date to the participation in the Jamaat conference, Dr Beela Rajesh made clear that this was not the time to play around with such a major public issue. Rather, "we should all wholeheartedly attack (the spread of the new coronavirus)", she said.

Pointing out that the Jamaat meeting in Delhi was not just a sudden one-day event and that it was happening over a period of one month or so, the health secretary said Tamil Nadu did not delay in asking all the returnees from there to self-declare voluntarily in the interests of their families and larger public interest.

"Once, we came to know (of the travel history), we made the appeal; there was no delay," asserted the Health secretary.

Dr Beela Rajesh traced this development to when two of the persons (Islamic clerics) from Thailand (who went to the conference) developed fever and had tested positive.

In all, eight of the positive patients were foreigners including two from Thailand, five from Indonesia and one from Myanmar.

This necessitated tracking travel history of all those who went for the meet and local contact history, if any.

Reiterating that Tamil Nadu was still in stage-II of the disease and expressing the hope that can be contained to avert stage-III (community transmission), Dr Beela Rajesh said with the help of highly qualified medical experts, including a Community Health specialist from the U.S., the State government has worked out the possible "worst case scenario" and working backwards from there to all the requirements that should be in place to avert a crisis.

The health secretary disclosed that now 20 districts in Tamil Nadu have been affected by the Covid-19 and everyone was working round-the-clock to stick to the protocols, including testing, home quarantine, government quarantine, monitoring and treatment of the positive cases in the hospital isolation wards.

Six more lab facilities will be added to the present 17, she added.

As of Thursday, Chennai, Erode, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Theni and Namakkal led the number of positive cases, district-wise, in that order with 46,32, 30, 29, 20 and 18 cases respectively.

Board Exam Papers

Meanwhile, the government has postponed the evaluation of State Board Plus-1 and Plus-2 answer sheets from the scheduled April 7, to until further orders.

Across 37 districts of the State, the government has also identified 2,574 higher secondary schools and 3,000 high schools to be quarantine-ready centres should the need arise.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  The office of Vice President Leni Robredo continues to assist frontline workers in the battle against coronavirus disease after being accused of competing with the national governments drive against COVID-19, her spokesman said Friday.

Barry Gutierrez told CNN Philippines that Robredo's office, through the help of its partners, is opening two more dormitories near hospitals in Manila for frontline personnel.

The third dorm is on Roxas Blvd., and near Manila Doctors Hospital and Philippine General Hospital. The fourth one is in Sampaloc area, and near Mary Chiles Hospital, Sampaloc Hospital, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (extension), UST Hospital, and Perpetual Succor Hospital.

On Thursday, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner Manuelito Luna called on the National Bureau of Investigation to probe Robredo as she may have violated certain laws when she received donations to assist frontline workers.

Robredo dismissed the allegation by posting a short clip of her doing a hair flip on Twitter, saying she's busy with work to waste time for such a complaint.

However, PACC member Greco Belgica clarified in a statement that Luna's stance was just a personal opinion and not the position of the Malacanang's anti-corruption body.

Gutierrez welcomed Belgica's statement, adding that since it is not the PACCs position, the issue is for all intents and purposes effectively dead. He said the OVP can now go back to focusing on responding to the health crisis.

Robredos camp said the dorms they are providing will be available on a first come, first served basis because of limited space.

Those interested may email ovpfreedormservice@gmail.com or contact 0998 591 7408. Other updates will be posted on the Facebook page of the Vice President.

Earlier, Robredos team opened two dorms for healthcare workers  in Cubao and UP Village in Quezon City.

Gutierrez also said the Office of the Vice President continues to receive donations for PPE. He added they are looking for other sources as local suppliers are running out of stocks.

As of April 1, he said they have raised P42.5 million for the purchase of PPE, and have distributed 33,000 sets to 108 hospitals, clinics and local government units nationwide.

Gutierrez said this is just the tip of the iceberg as they have nearly 500 pending requests for protective gear.

They also provide food and care packages for frontliners as well as warm meals in hospitals and military and police personnel manning checkpoints, the spokesperson reported.

Gutierrez said the OVP also gave extraction kits that could conduct 12,750 tests to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine last March 19.
Chinese Navy holds drills amid US violation

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/2 23:28:40

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy conducted combat-oriented drills featuring surface vessels, submarines and fighter jets in the South China Sea in late March, a month in which the US frequently sent warships and warplanes to intrude the waters.

Experts said on Thursday the drills showed the Chinese PLA Navy can effectively control and safeguard the waters as it continues to enhance its combat capabilities.

A naval base under the PLA Southern Theater Command organized in late March fleet training drills using combat scenarios in the South China Sea, according to a statement the PLA Southern Theater Command released on Wednesday.

Featuring surface vessels, submarines and fighter jets, the live-fire drills tested more than 20 subjects, including anti-aircraft, anti-ship, anti-submarine, land attacks, maritime replenishment, fleet navigation and wartime political work, the statement said.

The drills demonstrated a new characteristic of the PLA Navy in the South China Sea: multidimensional, with warships, submarines and warplanes coordinating, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Thursday.

These tactics will help the PLA Navy effectively control and safeguard related waters, islands and reefs, as the Chinese military's combat capability to defend the South China Sea keeps rising, Wei said.

The drills came after the US military frequently sent warships and warplanes into the South China Sea recently. A US destroyer passed through China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands on March 10, and the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group and the America amphibious assault ship expeditionary strike group conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea on March 15.

After the novel coronavirus epidemic broke out on the Theodore Roosevelt, the US again sent a P-3C patrol aircraft to the region on Tuesday, China Central Television reported on Wednesday, citing foreign reports.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly lowered the US Navy's warship deployment capability in the Asia-Pacific region, and an increase in warplane deployment was expected, so it can maintain its presence while also gaining related intelligence, Wei said.

With the drills, the Chinese military showed that it is capable of driving intruders and unfriendly priers away, he said.

When asked about frequent US military activities in the South China Sea, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang said at a regular press conference on March 26 that the US actions have threatened the security of the littoral countries in the region and undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The Chinese troops will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and security, Ren said.

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Teresa Giudice has started divorce proceedings from husband of 20 years, construction worker Joe Giudice.

And it was the realty TV siren's brother Joe Gorga who shared the news when he stopped by Andy Cohen's show Watch What Happens Live on Thursday.

'The paperwork is almost done,' the 40-year-old Real Housewives of New Jersey star told an astonished Cohen.

On their way to being exes: Teresa Giudice has officially started divorce proceedings from husband of 20 years Joe Giudice. Seen in 2011

Teresa and Joe split in December after they spent time together in Italy.

Joe has to live in Italy as ICE considers if he should be deported or not. This follows a prison sentence of 41 months for fraud.

Since then, Joe has been seen with women in bikinis while on vacation while Teresa seems to spend most of her time at home in New Jersey with their four daughters - Gia, 19, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10.

Joe Gorga also said that his sister has not started dating yet even though she has been linked with many men over the years.

'No, not yet,' Gorga told Andy.

They had it all: They were on the hit show RHONJ, had four kids and a mansion

In December Joe said that he was done with Teresa.

Writing on Instagram, the former Real Housewives Of New Jersey star admitted: 'It's time to let go.'

He then shared a second post, which read: 'Every next level of your life will demand a different you.'

The couple decided to go their separate ways after their family reunion in Italy, a source told People.

Rocky times: Teresa and Joe split in December after they spent time together in Italy. Joe has to live in Italy as ICE considers if he should be deported or not. This follows a prison sentence of 41 months for fraud. Seen in June 2013

She stood by her man: Teresa went to court with Joe over their fraud case; seen in July 2013

'They discussed their future when Teresa and the girls went to Italy in early November and they agreed that each had to move on. They are doing so amicably and very slowly,' the insider said.

'Joe has been out on a few dates, Teresa has not. She has been too busy with the girls, with work obligations and taking care of her father. She is happy for Joe,' the source said.

'They have been very friendly with one another and are very supportive of each others happiness. They still love one another, but as Teresa told Andy Cohen on the WWHL special, they are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Neither is interested in a long distance relationship.'

With her family: The siren with her kids as well as her father who has been in poor health

The couple's decision to separate may not come as a surprise to fans who have been following their lives post-prison.

Both Teresa and Joe were sent to prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges in 2014, and were allowed to serve their sentences in succession for the sake of their children.

Joe served his sentence after Teresa, but his legal battle continued even after he was released.

Joe, who came to America from Italy as an infant, was placed in ICE detention for five months following his prison release.

He was eventually released to Italy, where he awaits the final decision in his deportation case after his green card was revoked following his prison release in March.

Thew new Teresa: She has been on her own taking care of all four kids and even got her chest altered

The legal battle took a toll on their marriage, and Teresa expressed doubts about the future of their relationship during an interview with Good Morning America.

The reality star, who had just visited Joe in Italy with their daughters at the time, said she did not plan on filing for divorce soon.

'Not anytime...,' she started to say, before answering firmly: 'No.'

As for their future together, she was less certain.

'I don't know. Imagine he lived in Italy and you lived here? I don't know if that's a feasible relationship.'

Asked if she believed she would find happiness and love with her husband again, she replied, 'To be determined!', adding that they were 'taking it day by day'.

Teresa also insisted she had been 'completely' faithful to him the entire time, but gave pause when asked if he had been loyal to her.

She keeps in killer shape: The star has been working out nonstop since getting out of prison

Solo: The TV vet has not been dating, says her brother, even though she has been linked to many men

'I never caught him, it was like hearsay.'

The reality star said she was open to finding love again with someone else if her marriage ended.

'I'm still young. If it does go that path, I want the same for Joe... if that's the path we choose, yes.

'We only really want the best for each other, we really do. I'll start crying because we both do. I kept crying on the trip because of that.

Struggling: Meanwhile, her father's health has not being very good. On Thursday she shared her pain. 'At this trying time Im graciously asking for any extra prayers, good vibes, love....please send my fathers way,' she wrote on social media. 'My father is struggling and my girls and I need him, we need his love, his presence & his strength'

'I do want happiness again, I want Joe to be happy, my daughters, well they are happy,' she said.

Meanwhile, her father's health has not being very good. On Thursday she shared her pain.

'At this trying time Im graciously asking for any extra prayers, good vibes, love....please send my fathers way,' she wrote on social media.

'My father is struggling and my girls and I need him, we need his love, his presence & his strength.'
S&P Global Indices disclosed on April 1 that department store retail giant Macy's (NYSE:M) "will be removed from the S&P 500 effective prior to the open of trading on Monday, April 6." The company will be moved to the S&P 600 SmallCap Index instead, and it will be replaced by Carrier Global Corp. (NYSE:CARRW), an air conditioning company being spun off of United Technologies (UTX). According to S&P Global Indices, Macy's no longer belongs on the S&P 500 because of its low market cap and low growth expectations.





During the first three months of 2020, shares of Macy's fell 71% as the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) caused it to close all 775 of its brick-and-mortar locations. Earlier this week, the company announced that it would furlough the majority of its 125,000 employees as it moves "to the absolute minimum workforce needed to maintain basic operations."

On April 2, shares of the company traded around $4.45 for a market cap of $1.37 billion. In addition to the most recent declines, Macy's has seen its share prices drop since 2015 due to waning investor enthusiasm as revenue stagnated.

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In addition to the fall in market cap, Macy's had its credit rating cut to junk by the S&P on Feb. 18, since "improvement trajectory" proved to be weaker than expected. The company has a cash-debt ratio of 0.1, a current ratio of 1.18 and an Altman Z-Score of 1.46, all of which will come under heavy pressure as sales grind to a near halt.

However, Macy's isn't the only S&P 500 component that has seen its market cap plunge below the $2 billion level amid business evaporation and financial weakness over the past quarter. It also isn't the only company on the index that has been struggling in terms of share price and earnings for years. Below are three companies whose spots in the S&P 500 may be precarious.

Story continues

Alliance Data Systems

Alliance Data Systems Corp. (NYSE:ADS) is a provider of private label credit cards and loyalty and marketing services to businesses. Shares fell 70% during the first quarter of 2020, following a longer trend of share price declines and stagnant revenue.

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On April 2, shares of Alliance traded around $27.34 for a market cap of $1.3 billion. The cash-debt ratio of 0.37 is average for the industry, and the current ratio of 2.03 indicates short-term stability. However, the Altman Z-Score of 1.24 indicates that the company is at risk of going bankrupt over the next two years.

Compared to Macy's, whose market seems to be drying up as more consumers shop online, Alliance is more of a pick-and-shovel play on the broader physical and online retail sectors. Though its shares are down, its earnings are likely safer since the company earns its revenue through a combination of credit cards, data capture and marketing.

Going by the company's earnings per share of $11.25 for full fiscal 2019 and assuming a fair price-earnings ratio of 15, shares would trade at around $168 apiece for a market cap of $8.03 billion. Alliance's history of being undervalued by shareholders may make it less likely to be booted off the index, but that might change if it doesn't deliver on earnings.

Apache

As an oil and gas exploration company, Apache Corp. (NYSE:APA) has experienced a double blow from the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia and the economic downturn from Covid-19 shutdowns. Shares fell 83% during the first quarter of 2019 following a decade-long decline in both revenue and share price.

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On April 2, Apache shares traded around $4.69 for a market cap of $1.77 billion. With a cash-debt ratio of 0.03 and an Altman Z-Score of -0.49, the company is at the bottom of the barrel even compared to the rest of the heavily indebted U.S. oil sector.

While global oil demand is expected to rise over time, its growth has slowed down significantly from the explosive levels of the early 2000s. Intense competition for market share between the U.S., OPEC and Russia have resulted in an oversupply, driving prices down and threatening to squeeze out the smaller, weaker players in this space. Thus, Apache seems like it could be a likely candidate for leaving the S&P 500.

"We have taken aggressive actions to protect our balance sheet and cash flows: decreased planned 2020 upstream capital investment by approximately $1.3 billion, or 54% year over year, reduced our annual dividend by $340 million, and targeted more than $150 million of annualized cost structure reductions through organizational changes we began in late 2019," Chief Financial Officer Stephan Riney said in a statement, indicating that the company expects a significant period of financial struggles and lack of profitability.

Capri Holdings

Capri Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:CPRI) is a global luxury fashion group that owns the brands Versace, Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. Shares of the company fell 71% during the first quarter of 2020. Though the company has seen its stock decline after peaking in early 2014, revenue growth has been strong, though this may be expected of luxury brands during a strong bull market. In a bear market, the company is likely to see its earnings drop as consumers spend less on luxury items.

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On April 2, shares of Capri Holdings traded around $8.13 for a market cap of $1.21 billion. Its cash-debt ratio of 0.06 is lower than 85.99% of competitors, and the current ratio of 0.77 also indicates short-term financial instability. Given its rapidly increasing debt and the potential of having to borrow more if sales decrease, the company might face issues financially.

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As an owner of luxury brands, Capri Holdings has a higher addressable market compared to Macy's, though whether it can tap that market depends on the strength of its brand names. Thus, it may be less likely in comparison to be booted off the S&P 500. However, the company's credit rating was recently cut to junk by Fitch as the rating agency expects sales to plummet and borrowing to increase. If S&P Global Indices wants to add a large-cap, non-retail company to the index, Capri Holdings may be a candidate to give up its spot.

"Fitch has assumed a scenario where discretionary retailers in the U.S. are essentially closed through mid-May, with sales expected to be down 80% to 90% despite some sales shifting online, with a slow rate of improvement expected through the summer," said a Fitch representative about the wave of credit downgrades following Covid-19 shutdowns.

Disclosure: Author owns no shares in any of the stocks mentioned. The mention of stocks in this article does not at any point constitute an investment recommendation. Investors should always conduct their own careful research or consult registered investment advisors before taking action in the stock market.

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SES S.A. held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) today in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, in which all resolutions were approved by shareholders.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200402005503/en/

Shareholders Approve All AGM Resolutions and SES Board Elects Frank Esser as Chairperson (Photo: Business Wire)

The meeting was held based on the rules set out in the Grand Ducal Regulation of 20 March 2020 with shareholders participating remotely by appointing SES designated proxyholders to represent them at the meeting and to carry out their voting instructions given ahead of the meeting. Compliance with voting instructions was verified by the bureau of the AGM.

The approved resolutions included the company's 2019 financial accounts and the proposed dividend of EUR 0.40 per A-share which will be paid to shareholders on 23 April 2020. Accordingly, SESs 2019 Annual Report has been published and is available to download at http://www.ses.com/annual-report.

Shareholders also approved a reduction in Board size from 14 to 12 Directors.

In addition, shareholders elected Beatrice de Clermont-Tonnerre and Peter van Bommel for an initial two-year mandate and elected Paul Konsbruck and Frank Esser for another three-year mandate. They also re-elected Ramu Potarazu, Kaj-Erik Relander and Anne-Catherine Ries for three years.

In the context of the reduction in Board size, shareholders also noted the resignations of Victor Casier, Hadelin de Liedekerke Beaufort, Marc Serres and Francois Tesch as Directors of SES. The AGM thanked those Directors for their contributions.

Consequently, the Board is now composed as follows: A-shareholders are represented by (all of them independent) Romain Bausch, Beatrice de Clermont-Tonnerre, Frank Esser, Tsega Gebreyes, Ramu Potarazu, Kaj-Erik Relander, Peter van Bommel, Katrin Wehr-Seiter; and B-shareholders are represented by Serge Allegrezza, Paul Konsbruck, Anne-Catherine Ries, Francoise Thoma.

At the AGM, Romain Bausch, Chairman of the SES Board and former President and CEO, informed the shareholders that he would not seek a new mandate as Chairman. Mr Bausch will remain on the Board as an independent Director.

Accordingly, in its meeting following the AGM, the Board of Directors elected Frank Esser as Chairperson of the Board for a period of one year and re-elected both Tsega Gebreyes and Anne-Catherine Ries as Vice-Chairpersons of the Board, also for a period of one year.

Having been at the helm of the company for 25 years, firstly as CEO and latterly as Chairman and with the company now entering an exciting period of transformation under Steve Collars leadership and with a newly invigorated and streamlined Board, I consider it to be the right time to pass the baton to a new Chair in the renewed Board, said Romain Bausch. It has been a true privilege to serve SES in these different roles and I want to thank our shareholders for their continued support.

I am honoured to be elected Chairperson at this important and exciting time for our company with SES being in a great position for further development, said Frank Esser. I am delighted to be joining the Board with several new Directors who will each bring strong competencies, complementing those of the rest of our Board colleagues. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Romain and his contribution, commitment and on-going service to SES with his continued presence as a Director.

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SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the worlds only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs video network carries over 8,300 channels and has an unparalleled reach of over 365 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200402005503/en/
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 10:30:24|Editor: huaxia

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HEFEI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Medical experts from eastern China's Anhui Province shared COVID-19 treatment experience with peers from seven countries including Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, India and Pakistan via a video conference on Thursday.

Representatives from more than 70 hospitals such as Cambridge University Hospitals and the University Hospital of Cologne attended the online meeting that lasted more than two hours.

At the conference, doctors of the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China introduced detailed experience on chest computed tomography manifestations, methods to deal with the cytokine storm and disease diagnosis and treatment plans.

They also answered questions on epidemic prevention and control, virus detection, patient treatment, imageological examination and recovery criteria.

"We are willing to share experience with our counterparts around the world to save more patients and do our part in the fight against the pandemic," said Liu Lianxin, executive president of the hospital.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy has confirmed an order for PPE from China he announced last week as part of a cross-border initiative was "not fulfilled".

In a Stormont press conference on Friday afternoon, Mr Murphy said officials from the Republic of Ireland were forced to go ahead with an order for the equipment after global powers, including USA and India, entered the race for PPE, before a joint order was agreed with Northern Ireland.

"Yesterday afternoon, despite the best efforts of all involved, I received confirmation the order would not be fulfilled through this route," he said.

He said there is a possibility Northern Ireland might still receive some of the equipment on its way to the Republic.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Northern Ireland will receive over five million items of PPE from Great Britain.

Last week Mr Murphy said health authorities on both sides of the Irish border were jointly involved in the purchase of a "significant" amount of PPE from China.

But the Republic's Department of Health later confirmed no joint order was placed, although ministers for health and chief medical officers on both side of the border are in "close and regular contact".

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said on Friday: "We are ready to discuss any area where we can cooperate effectively, North and South, including on procurement of PPE and critical supplies," they said in a statement.

"In relation to procurement, while it has so far not proved possible to place a joint order in the context of what is an increasingly challenging international environment, discussions between procurement teams are ongoing and active, and it remains our intention to continue to cooperate in this area."

Speaking on March 27, Mr Murphy had said an agreement had been reached with Dublin.

He said: "We've today agreed that joint order with Dublin, there is procurement going on with the British system as well, but I think to be prudent we want to ensure that if the crisis that is coming our way becomes more severe in Britain and those supply lines across the Irish Sea start to dry up, that we have our own supplies.

"This is a joint effort with the Dublin Government, the order has been placed, so I can't give certainty in terms of the flights, but we obviously want to get it here as quickly as possibly."

On Tuesday, he mentioned the order in response to a question from the DUP's Paul Givan.

On Tuesday I asked the Finance Minister Conor Murphy when his joint order to procure PPE with the Republic of Ireland will be delivered. We need more details to assure our key workers this vital equipment will be delivered to give them the confidence & protection needed #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/OZsNDynorq  Paul Givan (@paulgivan) April 3, 2020

In a statement on Friday morning, the Department of Finance said: "In the last couple of weeks the finance minister has been assisting efforts to procure PPE and other supplies with both the Irish and British governments.

The task has become even more challenging with the US and India entering the market

"There is global demand for all these goods and equipment and the scale of the pandemic we face means this will necessitate multiple orders from a range of suppliers at home and overseas.

"We are sourcing the market for supplies locally, nationally and internationally in places including China. The task has become even more challenging with the US and India entering the market.

"We must all protect our frontline workers and the executive will be updated on the latest position on PPE later today."

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Earlier Pat Cullen, Northern Ireland director of the Royal College of Nursing, told the BBC's Nolan programme on Friday morning that nurses could not treat patients with coronavirus in intensive care if they do not have the correct protective equipment.

She said the college would be seeking legal advice on the issue of personal protective equipment and said nurses should not be asked to practice outside of their code of conduct, which requires them to wear the appropriate equipment.

While PPE is currently available and there are some supplies according to Ms Cullen, there is no guarantee it will be available when the coronavirus surge hits later this month.

"It's ad hoc in places, it's not at the level they require it and they've had to make numerous requests, and I've had access to their email trails, where they constantly request PPE and are told it's not available. I have absolutely no doubt that nurses are struggling," she said.

Come out and say we will always have the right level of PPE for you every shift you do

Speaking in Stormont on Friday, Health Minister Robin Swann acknowledged the concerns around PPE and said his department is "aggressively chasing" supplies.

Ms Cullen said: "Come out and say we will always have the right level of PPE for you every shift you do. [Nurses] would be putting their patients at risk and they would be putting themselves at risk."

Meanwhile, concerns have been expressed about the quality of the most recent delivery of PPE from China to the Republic of Ireland.

The PPE, which has been distributed to Covid-19 test centres, mobile ambulance units and hospitals in the country is being described as "not fit for purpose" and "unusable" by medical staff.

RTE reported some new deliveries of PPE distributed this week contained protective gowns which are three-quarter length on the arm - rendering them unusable as they do not offer full protective cover.

Paul Reid, chief executive of the Republic of Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE), said the organisation is engaged worldwide to secure alternative stocks should these supplies not materialise to the extent that they expect.

He said: "It is a very competitive worldwide market but our procurement teams have done really well to secure what we have to date."
Laura Raicovich may have proved too radical for the Queens Museum, where she was politically outspoken during her three years as president and executive director there before she stepped down in 2018.

But that brazen activism makes her a good fit for the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, which is devoted to queer art. On Friday, Ms. Raicovich was named its interim director, replacing Gonzalo Casals who next week becomes New York Citys new Cultural Affairs Commissioner.

We needed someone to hold down the fort, who could hit the ground running, said Margaret Rose Vendryes, one of the boards two presidents. We feel very fortunate that someone of Lauras caliber would become a part of our family.

It was Mr. Casals who initially asked Ms. Raicovich if she would consider filling his role while the museums board searches for a new director. I witnessed firsthand how she transformed Queens Museum into a dynamic, welcoming public space that touched the lives of diverse residents in every neighborhood in the borough, said Mr. Casals, who is active in the civic life of Jackson Heights.
Advertisement

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And for some, that principle may seem particularly apt for British photographer Alastair Philip Wiper's new book - Unintended Beauty.

It sets out to challenge the common perception of beauty with Mr Wiper's photographic eye sweeping across scenes not commonly thought of as aesthetically pleasing from the world of industry and science.

'Something I want to do is challenge what people think of as beautiful,' says Mr Wiper, 'because there are a lot of things that you can say are ugly and beautiful at the same time. A lot of beautiful things should have a bit of ugliness to them.'

Do you agree with him?

Scroll down and gaze upon a selection of images from the book of a giant knitting machine, a slaughterhouse and more.

Aurora Nordic medicinal cannabis greenhouse, Denmark: Mads Pedersen, a third-generation tomato grower, is the owner of Scandinavias largest tomato-growing empire, Alfred Pedersen & Sons, the book explains. Around 2015 Mads realized that his infrastructure and know-how could be applied to growing medicinal cannabis. Madss new idea coincided with a huge surge in Danish public interest - and political debate - about medical cannabis, and, just as his plans were coming to fruition, the Danish parliament began issuing trial licenses to produce medical cannabis. Mads snapped up the first one and began building a 60,000-square-metre facility, the largest in Europe

Danish Crown's Horsens Slaughterhouse, Denmark: Completed in 2004, this slaughterhouse kills approximately 100,000 pigs a week, according to the book, making it one of the largest in the world. It employs 1,420 people and receives around 150 visitors per day. The slaughterhouse was designed with openness in mind - every step of the production, from the pigs arriving, to the slaughter itself, to the butchering and packaging, can be seen from a viewing gallery

Circular knitting machine at Kvadrat Febrik's Innofa textile mill, Netherlands: Dutch company Kvadrat Febrik boasts an impressive circular knitting machine, the books reveals, which has 'around 4,000 small needles to knit wool in a continuous loop with no seams - the fabric is then cut to create one wide, flat piece of textile'

Plywood mock-up of part of the Atlas Detector, Cern, Switzerland: 'The Atlas Detector is the largest of seven detectors on the Large Hadron Collider, and this model of a small part of the detector was used to test wiring scenarios before installation. I found it at the back of a warehouse gathering dust,' Alastair reveals

Odeillo Solar Furnace, France: Unintended Beauty says that this solar furnace opened in 1970 and is the largest in the world, working on the same principle as its older, smaller brother just down the road. The suns energy is reflected via a series of 9,600 mirrors and concentrated on one very small point to create extremely high temperatures, it explains. It is still used by space agencies like Nasa and the ESA as well as scientists and technology companies to research the effects of extremely high temperatures on certain materials for nuclear reactors and space vehicle re-entry, and to produce hydrogen and nanoparticles. In this photo, the grey structure in the centre of the reflector array is where the suns rays are focused onto a point about the size of a cooking pot, where temperatures reach 3,500C

Maersk Triple E container ship under construction, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, South Korea: Mr Wiper explains that when it was built the Maersk Triple E was the largest container ship in the world, with a capacity of 18,000 containers - enough space to transport 864 million bananas. He continues: 'Twelve of these ships were in different stages of construction when I visited the DSME shipyard, where 46,000 people are building about 100 vessels and oil rigs at any time. It could reasonably be described as the worlds biggest Legoland. The ships are built in sections called megablocks, which are then lifted into place with cranes and welded together'

Absolut Vodka Distillery, Sweden: Established in 1879, Absolut Vodka is the third biggest spirit brand in the world, the book says, and all the 99 million litres produced every year are made here in Skane, southern Sweden. Over one kilogram of wheat is used in each bottle of Absolut, all of it grown locally. The wheat is milled, blended into a mash with water for three hours, yeast is added and the mash then ferments for 48 hours, after which the alcohol level is 10 per cent. The mixture is then continuously distilled, and the resulting fine spirit is 96 per cent. It then moves to a bottling plant and is diluted to 40 per cent. The 11-storey-high storage warehouse in Ahus contains up to 13 million bottles at a time. This image was shot as part of a project in collaboration with human science strategic consultants ReD Associates

British photographer Alastair Philip Wiper (pictured in a self-portrait) says: 'The title of the book Unintended Beauty is meant to be a bit provocative. A lot of beautiful things should have a bit of ugliness to them'
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Bangkok, April 3, 2020  Cavite City authorities in the Philippines should withdraw their criminal complaints against journalists Mario Batuigas and Amor Virata, and refrain from threatening journalists covering the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On March 27, the Philippine National Police filed a criminal complaint against Batuigas, owner of the Latigo News TV news portal, and Virata, an independent online reporter, for spreading false information about the countrys COVID-19 crisis, Rappler reported. The police complaint was filed in response to a complaint issued by the government of Cavite City, according to that report.

Authorities alleged that the journalists violated several criminal statues, including Section 6(6) of the newly enacted emergency Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which criminalizes the dissemination of false news, according to CNN Philippines.

Convictions under the new law, passed by Congress on March 24 to give the president emergency powers to contain the nations coronavirus outbreak, allow for two-month prison terms and one million peso ($19,600) fines, according to CPJ research.

Authorities should immediately withdraw their criminal complaints against journalists Mario Batuigas and Amor Virata, said Shawn Crispin, CPJs senior Southeast Asia representative. The government must not chill potentially vital reporting on the public health crisis by pursuing criminal charges against journalists or news outlets.

The complaint stemmed from social media posts by Noveleta Mayor Dino Reyes Chua, whom authorities allege had posted rumors about coronavirus patients at a hospital in Cavite City, according to Rappler. The complaint alleges that Virata and Batuigas spread the information from Chuas post, according to that report.

Authorities also filed a criminal complaint against Chua, according to CNN Philippines.

The Cavite City Government office did not immediately reply to CPJs emailed request for comment.
(Newser)  After losing heavily in his bid to run for a Senate seat again, former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice Roy Moore is riding into battle once moreagainst measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Moore appeared Thursday at the Life Tabernacle Church in Central City, Louisiana, which has been flouting a statewide ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. He vowed to support and protect Pastor Tony Spell, who is facing charges for violating the order, NBC News reports. "There is no more clear violation of the First Amendment than this prohibition to assemble in a church," Moore told dozens of parishioners from the pulpit.

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"We've got to remember the First Amendment exists because we can worship God the way we want to and no government can come in and tell you you can't assemble in church," said Moore. He slammed Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards for not labeling religious institutions essential services, as the governors of Florida and Texas have done. Moore said he would apply to practice law in Louisiana and serve as co-counsel for Spell and the church, reports the Advocate. Spell, who held a church service hours after being hit with six misdemeanor charges, says the pandemic is "politically motivated" and the faithful do not fear COVID-19. "The virus is attracted to fear, and we are fearless people," he told reporters Thursday. (Read more Roy Moore stories.)
As many stores shift operations online to help contain Covid-19, delivery staff face the peril of infection while trying to make a living.

No-one picked up the phone after several calls, with Tran Van Nghia thinking he would have to return with the food. Suddenly, a rope tangled down from the second floor.

"I am sorry it took so long to find the rope. Can you attach the package to it?" Nghia was asked by the customer.

He suddenly thought about his wife and children, in close contact with him daily.

"If customers are that careful, how about my family? Will I accidentally infect them?" he told himself before responding to another order.

Since, to avoid close contact, the 40-year-old now steps away from customers retrieving deliveries from his bag.

Employed at Bac Thang Long Industrial Zone for three years, Nghia spends his evenings and weekends offering ride shares, earning up to VND 9 million ($384) a month.

However, since the novel coronavirus hit Hanoi, he earns less than VND100,000 ($4.3) per day.

"We gathered at crossroads or near residential buildings but receive no customers. Since the beginning of this month, I have worked as a food delivery person," Nghia said, adding he preferred night orders since customers were generous at tipping.

A delivery man waits to deliver a customers food from a restaurant on Hanois Com Vong Street. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Nga.

Since March 26, the capital has required "non-essential" stores to shut down amid the pandemic. Without clients, delivery people have become saviors.

That was when Nghia received an order to deliver food and got a response from the client, who asked him to tie the food package onto a rope from the second floor.

"It is reasonable that they are careful, but delivery staff like me have no choice. No work means no money. We do not come into close contact with customers, but still handle the cash - the risks are here to stay," he lamented.

On his daily rounds, Nghia uses a mask and bottle of hand sanitizer to protect himself from the deadly virus.

A tricky delivery as both handler and receiver try to avoid contact. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Nga.

With the pandemic getting worse in Hanoi, many delivery personnel are now more careful when choosing their routes.

Receiving phone calls from a loyal customer near Bach Mai Hospital, Nguyen Van Hung did his best to ignore them, but failed.

The hospital is now the nations largest infection hotspot. The number of patients linking to Bach Mai has increased to 43, of whom 27 are employees at the Truong Sinh Company, the food and logistic services provider to Bach Mai.

On the other end of the line, the woman told him she needed to send out medicine to some clients but could not find anyone to execute delivery. Hung, 29, put on his gloves, mask and helmet, and rushed to help his loyal patron.

In the last few days, Hung has rejected all customers living within 2 kilometers from the hospital, now a Covid-19 hotspot.

"Previously, their phone calls made me happy, now it is difficult to dismiss them," he maintained.

Phuong Mai Street, situated near Bach Mai Hospital, has become deserted as local shops and restaurants closed.

"These days, most people I meet are colleagues, wearing red, yellow or blue shirts. But I hardly see them around Bach Mai," he said, speaking about other delivery staff.

Since the beginning of March, many have given up on ride-sharing services, forcing drivers to work as delivery personnel.

Hung estimated his earnings would decrease by more than 30 percent this month, while his family back in his hometown kept telling him to quit. Hung, sole breadwinner, knows he could not stop working now.

Hung and his colleagues now work around the clock to meet the increasing demand for food delivery.

He had 15 orders on March 26, and the following day too many he failed to deliver all.

The busier he is, the more he earns, but the greater his health concerns.

Hung doesnt when he will be listed F (those having contact with suspected infections) in future.

At a restaurants on Saigons Ung Van Khiem Street, delivery men are asked to keep their distance while waiting for food on March 29, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Mong Diep.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Van Thanh faced another challenge as many local restaurants have ceased online operations.

During lunchtime, he usually has no customers, responding to a desperate message only to find out the restaurant in question had failed to cancel its online ordering service.

"Previously, I did not dare turn on the application during lunchtime. Now, no order for hours," said Thanh, who sometimes delivers up to six orders at lunchtime.

He works in a location with a lot of universities and student dormitories. Currently, with all schooling halted for months and many students back in their hometowns, his number of orders has decreased by 50 percent.

Many customers have also requested him to leave their orders in front of the entrance gate or use ropes to handle cash.

After a while, Thanh finally had a new order. The restaurant was 700 meters away, but his customer was 5 kilometers away, meaning he had to travel 10 kilometers to earn VND24,000 ($1.1) in shipping fees.

"It is fine, better than nothing," he said with a sigh.

As of Friday morning, Covid-19 tally in Vietnam had risen to 233, of whom 75 have been discharged after recovery.

Globally, the Covid-19 pandemic has killed more than 53,000 people as it spread to 294 countries and territories so far.
Mike Pont/Getty Images

The search for a granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy and her 8-year-old son, who went missing after they took a canoe out into rough waters on Chesapeake Bay, turned into a recovery mission late Friday, a family member said late Friday.

Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and her son, Gideon, rowed the canoe out around 4 p.m. on Thursday to fetch a ball that had been kicked into the water by children playing in their yard, Maeves husband, David McKean, told The Washington Post. They just got farther out then they could handle, and couldnt get back in, he said.

Emergency services said they received calls around 4:30 p.m. about a pair in a canoe struggling to return to shore. An overturned canoe matching the description of the one that went missing was recovered, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources police said.

Thursday was very windy and an ocean storm off the coast of New England made conditions treacherous.

After search operations late Thursday and throughout the day on Friday, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Maeves mother, announced on Friday night that efforts had turned from rescue to recovery.

My heart is crushed, yet we shall try to summon the grace of God and what strength we have to honor the hope, energy and passion that Maeve and Gideon set forth into the world, she wrote in a statement, noting that Maeve had devoted her life to helping societys most vulnerable and did everything with her full self and her whole heart.

McKean is executive director of the Georgetown University Global Health Initiative and the grand-niece of former President John F. Kennedy.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan confirmed the suspected drowning on Friday and said an intensive search was underway.

I spoke with Lieutenant Governor Townsend and, on behalf of the people of Maryland, I expressed our most heartfelt sympathies to her and to her entire family, he said.

McKean served in the Peace Corps in Mozambique before returning home in 2002 to help her mother, Kathleen, campaign for governor of Maryland. She also worked for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), where she met her husband, also a human rights lawyer. McKean worked on the State Departments global AIDS program and on human rights in the Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama administration.

Story continues

Kathleen Kennedy (right) pictured on the campaign trail in 2002 with daughter, Maeve (center). Brendan McDermid/Reuters

The Kennedy family has endured an extraordinary amount of tragedy over several generations, from the high-profile assassinations of McKeans grandfather and great-uncle to the fatal plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy Jr., to the heart attack that killed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s niece, Kara, in 2011 and the death by suicide of his ex-wife, Mary, in 2012.

Just last year, McKeans cousin, Saoirse Roisin Kennedy Hill, died of an accidental drug overdose at the Kennedy family compound in Cape Cod.

In a 2003 New York Times profile on her marriage to David, McKean was described as a free spirit who was, according to her father David L. Townsend, always playful, a kind of Annie Oakley character.

The pair were married at the Womans National Democratic Club, a sprawling Washington mansion, and told the Times that they bonded over everything from literature to politics and social justice. Were very much in love, Maeve told the newspaper. And were kind of cheesy, too.

Gideon is the couples first child and was reportedly named after a Supreme Court case that ordered states to pay for public defenders. They have another son and daughter.

Maeve McKeans sister, Kerry Kennedy Meltzer, is an ER doctor who has been working on the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.

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YANKEE HILL, Calif. - The Butte Sheriff's Office announced they arrested two men after finding over one thousand marijuana plants being grown in east Butte County on April 2.

Officials served a search warrant at a Rich Gulch Road property in Yankee Hill and say they detained two men who they found sleeping inside a "makeshift cabin".

Deputies say they learned the two men had been tending to the 1,354 marijuana plants being grown inside eight greenhouses.

During the search and eradication, deputies say they also found evidence hinting the property had previously been used for marijuana cultivation.

Deputies eradicated all of the plants and arrested 24-year-old Juan Cortez and 33-year-old Nelzon Ramirez, both from Honduras, for illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.

Both men were booked into the Butte County Jail.
Other people in my family work in the business and encouraged me to get involved.

And depending on the insurance role  this will be different for consumer-facing brokers compared to number-crunching actuaries  I enjoyed studying X at college and thought my skills fit the industry.

For Lester Pierre (pictured), the new chief technology officer / chief information security officer at Protecdiv, a US-based property/casualty insurance and reinsurance broker, the answer is innovation. Over 28-years in the business, it is innovation, technology and transformation that has piqued Pierres interest and resulted in a highly successful career.

During his senior year at New York University, Pierre interned with a firm called U.S. Trust, where he worked on programming and support in the data center. There he learned programming language for the IBM mainframes and the Pick operating system  skills that soon landed him an opportunity at Aetna, where they were looking to develop an agency automation system. He joined a team of around 200 people tasked with designing, programming and building this system, which the health insurance giant hoped would increase speed, efficiency and accuracy for its agent partners.

Read next: Trailblazer makes waves with AI-powered E&S insurance platform

After that, Pierre worked stints with multiple top financial services firms, such as Citibank and Prudential, always with an eye towards innovation. He most recently spent 11 years as vice president and chief information officer at the reinsurance broker Holborn Corporation, where he was responsible for critical business application support, service delivery, and the development of client facing technology solutions.

Every opportunity at every insurance firm Ive worked with has been based around innovation. They were all trying to do something innovative and trying to leverage technology to transact business in a more efficient manner. That has been the key theme throughout my career, said Pierre. When I first started out, technology was just being introduced on a broader scale, with the introduction of PCs and so on. So, Ive grown up with technology from the very beginning, and Ive had a lot of opportunities to learn how the insurance industry makes the most of innovation.

The latest chapter in Pierres career is with Protecdiv, a tier-one minority-led insurance and reinsurance broker, with a focus on large publicly-traded and privately-held companies, as well as government and government-sponsored entities. As Protecdivs technology leader, Pierre has overall responsibility for the development, maintenance, and deployment of all mission critical IT applications, analytics and infrastructure at the brokerage.

Read more: Embroker CEO: From private investor to digital insurance innovator

When it comes to technology, you dont throw out everything that was done in the past because youve created or found something new. Rather, you incorporate it, Pierre told Insurance Business. Kael Coleman and Paul Little [the co-founders of Protecdiv] first approached me on a consulting basis to help them launch some new technologies in their business. Since it was 2019, I pitched the idea of being cloud-based and supporting a teleworker or a virtual company. So many industries have leveraged cloud capabilities today and they can have a huge impact on business.

With all the cliches buzzing around the tech industry, its refreshing to have the support from Kael and Paul to incorporate innovation into our processes. Were going to use the latest and greatest technology if it fits with our business goals, and were going to do things to be innovative without changing the fundamentals of insurance. In reinsurance, for example, we still have to get the treaty, and service the cedent and the reinsureds. But if we can find ways to use new tools like the cloud to enable greater efficiency and collaboration, lets embrace that and lets make that a differentiator. Thats what attracted me to Protecdiv - the fact that I have this blank canvas to create innovation.
In the wake of the growing coronavirus pandemic, UH professor Dr. Seamus Curran developed a viable solution to a pressing problem. When Curran first heard about the critical shortage of N95 masks, he wanted to help.

"To be absolutely frank with you, I was horrified when I first heard these calls about doctors and nurses in very unsafe situations," he said.

Curran is now waiting for FDA approval of an innovative waterproofing solution he created for the N95 masks.

STAY POSITIVE: 15 pieces of good news to come out coronavirus pandemic

"Standard masks are somewhat porous, and especially if they get wet, they can allow the virus to penetrate," Curran said. "The virus requires the medium of water. Water is the conduit, the roadway. So if doesn't have a road, it has nowhere to go."

Curran is well-renowned for his work in nanotechnology using a hydrophobic coating to improve the protection of surgical masks to prevent the transmission of the virus. He first launched a nanotechnology business in 2013.

His company, Integricote, based at the UH Technology Bridge, has created manufacturing sealers for masonry, wood and concrete. Since 2011, Curran has also worked with nanotech coatings for fabrics. He's now implementing this technology to provide more protection against SARS and COVID-19.

FEVER HE COULDN'T SHAKE: Houston ER nurse lacking proper protection is now fighting for his life

N95 masks are the gold standard, able to filter very small particles and offering better protection than standard surgical masks, Curran said. But they are hard to manufacture, and global demand is for tens of millions of masks.

Curran has strived to undertake research that specifically provides solutions for societal problems.

We were seeing the virus spread around the world, and thinking about what we could do, he said. I hate playing defense. I wanted to do something.

He purchased masks approximately six weeks ago and started experimenting with the technology. We can make them impervious to water, he said. The solution can improve protection.

Curran's strongest motivator is to simply help those healthcare workers on the frontlines.

"I'm just trying to help those care workers, because they're the ones fighting the fight," Curran said, and added he has begun talking with investors and manufacturers to potentially ramp up manufacturing capacity.

We're waiting for mask producers to come to us, and we'll try this out," he said. Curran said he's confident that if the mask producers come forward, FDA approval will come quickly.

alison.medley@chron.com
A 'covidiot' who wandered around his local hospital to see the impact of coronavirus and posted about his visit on Facebook has been jailed for three months.

Kierran Stevenson, 32, was captured on CCTV at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire after posting on social media that he was going to go walk around the hospital to see the extent of the coronavirus pandemic for himself.

He posted photos on Facebook of himself at the hospital on March 30 and images of hospital corridors, and commented that staff were not taking safety measures seriously.

Kierran Stevenson, 32, decided to wander around his local hospital purely to witness the coronavirus pandemic on the frontline and make postings to Facebook

Stevenson, from Aylesbury, Bucks was arrested and charged with one count of causing a public nuisance and one count of contravening the requirement as to the restriction of movement during the Coronavirus emergency period.

Thames Valley Police say he posted on social media saying he had attended numerous parts of the hospital without a medical need to do so when it is treating COVID-19 patients, and is closed to visitors and those with non-urgent appointments.

A spokesman said: 'His actions within the hospital, and in not complying with the government restrictions, caused considerable distress and disruption to hospital staff and members of the public.'

He appeared at Oxford Magistrates Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to both charges, and has been sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment.

Corridors appeared eerily quiet as NHS staff packed into the wards to help sick patients, as Stevenson carried about his business despite strict Government orders to stay at home

He was also ordered to pay 300 compensation to the NHS Trust.

Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Prescott-Mayling of Aylesbury CID, said: 'Stevenson's actions were reckless in attending the hospital without a genuine medical need.

'He has ignored the government advice, the clear signage at the hospital and caused upset to members of the public and NHS staff following his social media posts. In doing so he has breached the law.

With the hospital battling against the strain of increasing Covid-19 patients, Stevenson sauntered through will documenting his journey for social media

'At this time we must protect the vulnerable in our communities and do all we can to support the NHS.

'Thames Valley Police will consider any offences and take the appropriate action in order to play our part in achieving this.

'The overwhelming majority of people are acting sensibly and we have not taken this decision to arrest Stevenson lightly, but we believe this was necessary and proportionate given his attendance at the hospital.

'The Court ruled his actions were a brazen disregard for the law which is there to protect lives, and that these could only result in a custodial sentence'.

The Local Police Area Commander for Aylesbury Vale, Superintendent Michael Loebenberg, said: 'The vast majority of our communities are following the government guidance and we hope this is an isolated case.

'We will be visible in our communities, engaging with the public, explaining the restrictions in place and encouraging compliance.

'Where necessary though, as in this case, we will take enforcement action to protect the NHS and the wider public'.

Neil MacDonald, chief executive of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Neil Macdonald, said: 'We would like to thank our colleagues in Thames Valley Police for their prompt and effective action in this case, and their continued support during what are challenging times for all of us.

In a lengthy post alongside the images, Stevenson described his visit for Facebook friends and laid in to NHS and policing staff for what he appeared to be a lack of safety practice

'To keep everyone safe, please stay at home, do not meet with others, even friends or family - and when you do have to go out for essential supplies, stay 2 metres away from the nearest person.

'If everyone follows this simple advice, it really will save lives and enable the NHS, the police and all the other emergency services to look after and protect the public'.

Chief Crown Prosecutor Jaswant Narwal for the Crown Prosecution Service Thames and Chiltern prosecution. said: 'Despite there being clear warnings about entering the hospital, Stevenson walked around the building, speaking with staff and breaching social distancing guidelines.

'His reckless behaviour was extremely distressing for staff and put them, patients and the public at risk. We will continue to prosecute anyone who acts irresponsibly risking harm to others during the current pandemic.'

On Thursday another 569 coronavirus deaths were declared in the UK, meaning Britain's death toll has quadrupled in six days with 2,921 confirmed victims of the deadly infection.

The sharp rise made it the worst day so far in the outbreak - which has crippled Britain since it began spreading around the nation in February. Thursday was the third day in a row that a new one-day high in deaths was recorded, in a trend which looks set to continue.

A further 4,244 people were diagnosed with the life-threatening infection in the past 48 hours, pushing the total number of positive tests to 33,718 - but officials are clueless about the true size of the outbreak.
Bhopal: The almost three-week-long political instability witnessed in Madhya Pradesh during March 2-20, following sudden disappearance of a number of Congress MLAs had literally rendered the administration here ineffective leading to the current crisis facing the state in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

Madhya Pradesh has recorded eight deaths caused by coronavirus and 154 Covid- 19 patients so far.

The preparedness by the state health department to deal with the situation has seriously been affected owing to absence of health minister in the then Kamal Nath ministry for nearly two weeks since the then incumbent health minister was among 22 Congress MLAs who had raised a banner of revolt against then former CM Mr Nath and subsequently resigned from the assembly.

There was hardly any meeting of health department to review the preparedness to deal with coronavirus outbreak in the state when MP was passing through political turmoil.

Former state finance minister Tarun Bhanot held a less than half-an-hour meeting to take stock of the situation in the dying hours of the Kamal Nath government. The meeting was more symbolical than a meaningful one, a senior officer in the state health department here told this newspaper on Friday unwilling to be quoted.

The Centre was frequently nudging the then Kamal Nath government to gear up to face the situation. But, the former chief minister Mr Nath had appeared more preoccupied with saving his government than acting on advisories by the Centre then, the officer said.

As a result of it, no mechanism to combat the virus menace could be put in place by the state government then, sources revealed.

There was no plan to establish labs for testing samples and create isolation wards in hospitals for suspected coronavirus people. The entire administration was literally groping in dark about its future course of action to deal with the situation at the time, sources said.

A one-man-ministry headed by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took over rein of state administration barely ten days ago on March 20.

The disease is spreading its tentacles to new areas in the state. The state was yet to enhance the capacity to meet the challenge, a health worker revealed.

MP has currently six testing facilities. The state has a population of 7.3 crore people and needs at least 25 testing labs to test coronavirus cases, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, an NGO extending its helping hand to deal with the situation, noted.

Rate of testing is still low in MP in view of increasing cases. The state needs to increase its capacity at the level of sample collection as well as testing facilities. It is crucial to set up at least five testing facilities per region so that all the 52 districts in the state are covered, S R Azad of the Abhiyan said.

As of April one, 2020, the state government health department has reported a total number of 16709 PPE kits, 74380 N95 masks, and a total of2073 ICU beds and 836 ventilators across government hospitals, medical college hospitals and private hospitals in the state.
New Delhi: Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and unarguably the most celebrated military general in the history of Independent India. Popularly called as 'Sam Bahadur,' the nation on Friday (April 3) remembered his 106th birth anniversary. A recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, Manekshaw died in 2008.

Manekshaw, who is known for his visionary military leadership, was a key architect of India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War that led to creation of Bangladesh. As Indian Army chief, he is reported to have told the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the army's lack of preparation ahead of the war with Pakistan in April 1971.

Born in 1914 to Parsi parents in British India, Sam Manekshaw was the fifth of six children of his parents. He acquired his school education at Sherwood College, Nainital, and then studied at the Hindu Sabha College in Amritsar. In July 1932, he joined the Indian Military Academy as part of its first batch.

In 1934, Manekshaw began his career with the British Indian Army and was commissioned into 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment. During the World War II, he sustained multiple bullet injuries against Japanese Army in a Burmese jungle in 1942. He was evacuated from the location by his orderly Sher Singh, and fortunately, survived.

Manekshaw got married to Silloo Bode on April 22, 1939 and had two daughters.

Mankeshaw, who was appointed the eighth chief of the Indian Army in 1969 and served on the post till 1973, retired in January 1973.

At the end of 1947, when Pakistani forces infiltrated Kashmir and captured Domel and Muzaffarabad, Manekshaw carried out an aerial survey of Kashmir and suggested the immediate deployments of troops to prevent Kashmir and Srinagar from being captured.

In 1961, Manekshaw was charged with sedition for allegedly making derogatory comments about the political leadership, but was exonerated and he took command of IV Corps in November 1962. In 1963, Manekshaw was promoted to the position of the Army Commander and took over the Western Command, and in 1964, he was transferred to the Eastern Command.

An ardent admirer of Gorkha soldiers, Manekshaw once famously said, If a soldier says he is not afraid of death, he is either lying or he is a Gorkha.

Manekshaw was also honoured with the nation's highest civilian awards of Padma Bhushan in 1968, and then with Padma Vibhushan in 1972 for his service to the nation.
Most Malaysian households will still be able to weather through their debt despite the negative effects of the current Covid-19 pandemic and an ensuing economic decline, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in a report published today. However, households that fall within the B40 category may face greater difficulty in maintaining their debt repayments.

In the Financial Stability Review 2019, the central bank commented that although the countrys overall household debt has increased since the first half of 2019, most Malaysians can still survive the recent impact on the local economy. The current household debt is revealed to stand at the equivalent of 82.7% of Malaysias entire economy, which saw a 0.5% increase from the household debt in the first half of 2019. The report also mentioned that the increase is largely driven by home financing.

Bank Negara further commented that the households resilience is supported by income growth and adequate financial buffers. This is in reference to the various measures that the government, banks, and institutions in the country have introduced in a bid to help the public, such as the lowering of the overnight policy rate (OPR), a six-month automatic moratorium, the Economic Stimulus Package 2020, and the Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package. Additionally, the prudent lending guidelines practiced by local banks in providing loans  thereby ensuring that all borrowers are properly qualified  have also proved to be vital in reducing the risks of households experiencing financial difficulties as a result of their loans.

At the aggregate level, both outstanding household financial assets and liquid financial assets remained broadly stable at 2.2 times and 1.4 times of debt, respectively, said the report.

Households earning below RM3,000, however, face a less optimistic prospect as the report indicated that there is a high likelihood of them defaulting on their loans, particularly mortgages. In Malaysia, such households fall within the category of B40, an income group with a median income of RM3,000 per month.

Additionally, the report mentioned that households in this group typically have about nine times more debt than assets. The situation is primarily caused by the increase in residential loans, which occurred due to the launch of the Home Ownership Campaign 2019.

Low income, coupled with poor financial planning, continued to be the main causes of financial difficulty faced by these borrowers, as they tend to overestimate their ability to cope with higher costs of living and debt obligations, said BNM, who also noted that the B40 category accounted for more than half of those who sought for credit counselling.

The situation for the B40 category is exacerbated by the ongoing movement control order (MCO), which required the stop of all non-essential businesses. This subsequently meant a halt to their earnings and livelihood as many of them are day labourers who are paid only when they work.

However, the central bank again stressed that the various financial measures that have been offered thus far should lighten their burden, in particular the Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package and the automatic moratorium.

(Source: Malay Mail, Bank Negara Malaysia)

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:10:32|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Spreading fake news about alleged reopening of wild animal markets in China is irresponsible and could harm the global action to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, said several Turkish experts.

On Monday, Euronews published a story which claimed the opening of wild animal markets in China on its website in Turkish, citing a report by the Daily Mail.

The news story also quoted a tweet by a Turkish journalist, Mete Sohtaoglu, claiming "Chinese markets are still selling bats, rabbits, cats, dogs ..."

Additionally, Turkey's state-run TRT Haber channel published a video story on the same subject.

Selcuk Colakoglu, director of the Ankara-based Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies, urged the international community to stand together against fake news.

"People and countries should focus on the solutions of real global problems like the coronavirus pandemic that we face," Colakoglu told Xinhua.

He noted that such reports would undermine joint global action against the COVID-19 epidemic. The disease first prompted a public health emergency in China and is widely believed to be linked to mutated pathogen from wild animals.

In response to such unfounded reports, the Chinese Consulate General in Istanbul denied the allegations and said the illegal hunting, trading, transporting of wild animals, and consumption of their meat are strictly banned in China.

Both the TRT video and the photos used in the Euronews story were not even shot in China, according to the consulate.

An editor for a national broadcaster in Turkey said the foreign desks of some Turkish media outlets usually follow the lead of international agencies, without verifying the accuracy of such news stories.

Meanwhile, the Western media, often biased against China, regularly churn out stories that cast China in negative light, without any solid foundation, said the editor, who wanted to remain anonymous.

For Ahu Ozyurt, a prominent Turkish journalist, several groups in Turkey are spreading the fake news to serve their racial agendas.
Hearing implant maker and stock market darling Cochlear last week completed an emergency $880 million raising through an institutional placement that was so unexpected from such a successful company it was described as an "unsettling" sign by fund managers.

Share prices are jumping around up to 250 basis points during the 10-minute match at the end of the day. Credit:Louie Douvis

This isnt a flashback to 11 years ago, during the depths of the global financial crisis. This happened on Friday.

But after the placement is over, one major fund pops up with a much larger stake than it held previously, indicating it has been given preference over other shareholders to receive a large allocation of the heavily discounted shares. The disclosure raises eyebrows.

Theres an economic crisis. The company, once a top stock, is now in dire straits. It quickly looks to raise money from investors through an institutional placement.

By the end of this week, existing Cochlear shareholder Veritas Asset Management popped up as a substantial shareholder in Cochlear. Its notice shows that Veritas purchased $304 million Cochlear shares during the raising -- or 34.5 per cent of the new shares on issue.

"There was so much demand they had to upsize the offer from $800 million to $880 million, but it looks as though it was still placed by the company selectively," says governance expert and fund advisor Dean Paatsch of Ownership Matters.

Contacted by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald over the large allocation to Veritas, a Cochlear spokesman said "every institutional shareholder that bid for shares was given their pro rata allocation at a minimum, so no one was diluted".

This week, as the economic impact of coronavirus started to be felt by boards of listed companies, the Australian Securities Exchange (which shares a chairman with Cochlear) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission once again loosened the rules for capital raisings. The change came in good timing for groups like Webjet and ooh!Media, and is expected to help other groups like Flight Centre.

The key changes in the new interim rules are increasing the amount of capital a company can raise in a single placement from 15 per cent of its current equity base to 25 per cent, and lifting the cap on entitlement offers so that they are no longer restricted to one new share for each share owned.
Social media giant Facebook has launched a desktop version of its Messenger app for Windows and Mac with free unlimited group video calls.

It replicates some of the features of popular video conferencing service Zoom - already available on desktop - which is in the midst of a security and privacy crisis.

The new desktop Facebook Messenger app is similar to the mobile version which launched for iOS and Android in 2011, with video calls being added in 2016.

Facebook says it will offer group video calls on a larger screen to help people stay in touch with family and friends, workout together, or host a virtual happy hour.

Social media giant Facebook has launched its messenger app for Windows and Mac with free unlimited group video calls

The new desktop Facebook Messenger app is similar to the mobile version which launched for iOS and Android in 2011, with video calls being added in 2016

The move comes as people around the world are having to work from home, home-school their kids, and not go outside to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

As a result, a number of video call and conferencing apps have risen in popularity - from Microsoft Teams for shared working to Zoom and Houseparty for group video.

Zoom has been plagued by a string of privacy and security issues that led the company to announce there would be no new features while it dealt with them.

Facebook said: 'Now more than ever, people are using technology to stay in touch with the people they care about, even when physically apart.

'Over the past month, we saw more than a 100 per cent increase in people using their desktop browser for audio and video calling on Messenger.'

It said the app version will offer unlimited free group video calls and a better experience than just using the browser.

The company says it is easier to connect with the new app and 'you don't need to know someone's email or phone number since all your Facebook friends have Messenger'.

All chats will be synced across mobile and desktop versions of the Messenger app.

It replicates some of the features of popular video conferencing service Zoom - already available on desktop - which is in the middle of a security and privacy crisis.

Facebook says it will offer group video calls on a larger screen to help people stay in touch with family and friends, workout together or host a virtual happy hour

'We hope the Messenger desktop app will make it a little bit easier for people to stay in touch with friends and loved ones during this time. Stay home, but stay connected,' Facebook said in a blog post.

With people staying at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, there has been increased interest in video chat, screen sharing and gaming platforms.

However, this has brought to light a range of security and privacy flaws with these apps as they're used by more people.

Zoom says it will take the next 90 days to dedicate the resources it needs to identify, address and fix the flurry of security issues.

'We are also committed to being transparent throughout this process. We want to do what it takes to maintain your trust,' said CEO Eric S Yuan.
On Monday night, Q&A brings together doctors and nurses from emergency wards, ICUs and fever clinics, GPs struggling with a lack of protective equipment, and mental health professionals facing the surge in corona-related anxiety.

The show is Live from Sydney with host Hamish McLachlan.

As coronavirus spreads across Australia, frontline health workers are frantically preparing for the inevitable explosion of seriously ill patients. With the pandemic expected to peak here in the next few weeks, doctors and nurses are increasingly under pressure, desperate to avoid the horrifying scenes from Italy, Spain and now the United States.

Will the extra PPE gear promised by government arrive here in time? How will our remote and regional hospitals cope? Who will staff the ICU units when we already have a shortage of nurses? And how are frontline workers dealing with these traumatic circumstances?

Guest panel:

Dr Stephen Parnis, Emergency Doctor and Former AMA Vice President

Danielle Austin, Senior Nurse and Disaster Manager at St Vincents Hospital

Dr Vyom Sharma, General Practitioner

Dr Lucy Morgan, Respiratory Physician, Nepean Hospital

Monday, April 6 at 9.35pm AEST on ABC.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:11:47|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has approved a 128.6-million-U.S. dollar "COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project" for Sri Lanka as the country fights the pandemic, the World Bank said in a statement here Friday.

The project includes a 35-million-U.S. dollar loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) through the World Bank Group's COVID-19 Fast-Track Facility and a 93.6-million-U.S. dollar credit from the International Development Association (IDA) which is the World Bank's concessional credit window for developing countries.

Sri Lanka's Health Ministry will implement the project with support from United Nations agencies and other stakeholders engaged in emergency response, prevention and readiness, the World Bank statement said.

The statement added the goal of the project is to help the country prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness.

The Workd Bank said the package "will benefit the entire Sri Lankan population and prioritize stopping or slowing the spread of the virus, reducing case numbers, and preventing outbreaks in communities."

Sri Lanka has so far detected 151 confirmed COVID-19 cases out of which 22 have recovered.

Four people have died from the virus.
Actor Ayushmann Khurranas wife and writer-filmmaker Tahira Kashyap on Friday started her series, The Lockdown Tales, to cheer up the mood of people amidst the coronavirus lockdown.

The stories depict emotions and moments from everyday lives of people and how they are affected by the lockdown. The video series will be shared by Tahira on her social media handle. She just posted her first lockdown tale, 6 Feet Durr.

Storytelling has been a part of our culture and it has always fascinated me. Though we are living in tough times, lets not let the lockdown lock our spirit. Unleashing the various characters and stories that have been brimming inside of me, I present to you this series called THE LOCKDOWN TALES. And the first story is 6 FOOT DUUR. Written and narrated by me. #TheLockdownTales. Packaged by @packuppictures, Tahira wrote in an Instagram post.

Also read: Dont thank me, order me, says Shah Rukh Khan as Arvind Kejriwal thanks him for contributing to Covid-19 relief fund

Im really excited to bring these special stories from everyday life to the people out there. They are really simple stories about humanity but in complex times. I love writing and honestly without any agenda, these stories just started flowing. These lockdown tales are a mere moment or thought taken out from our lives and at times we just need to cherish that, she said.

Apart from this, Tahira recently directed a short film titled Pinni, which features veteran actress Neena Gupta.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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SCHAUMBURG, Ill., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As businesses across the world are confronted with the impacts of the coronavirus, Zurich Insurance has launched a new podcast series, Risk Insights: Coronavirus . The series brings together key risk management leaders sharing their knowledge to help manage the evolution and impacts of COVID-19 and plan strategies for protecting their businesses, employees and the communities they serve.

"Helping our customers understand and manage emerging and evolving risk is at the center of all that we do. We know many businesses are seeking guidance as they continue to manage the evolution and impacts of COVID-19," said Colleen Zitt, incoming Chief Risk Officer for Zurich North America. "The insights within our podcast series are designed for Business Risk Managers, CFOs, insurance distributors and others who are in charge of mitigating risks throughout their organizations."

The first six episodes are currently available on podcast platforms Stitcher and Spotify and are coming soon to Apple and Google. They also are available on Zurich's Coronavirus Resource Hub at www.zurichna.com/covid19.

The short episodes, ranging from four to ten minutes in length, cover all types of coronavirus scenarios with which businesses find themselves dealing. Here are the first six segments in the series.

Help Stop the Spread - Why this virus is different and what you can do to help stop its spread with Dr. Nina McIlree, medical doctor and Zurich North America's Vice President of Medical Management

Supply Chains - How the COVID-19 virus has impacted global supply chains, what businesses can do now to minimize the disruptions with Chris Snider, Zurich Canada's interim head of Risk Services

Reducing the Spread in Facilities - Strategies to help you reduce the spread of the coronavirus in your facilities with Clayton Shoup, a Zurich Risk Engineer focusing on Large Casualty

Cyber Risks of Remote Working During Coronavirus - Reducing cyber risks at a time when working remotely has heightened the digital perils facing your business with Gerry Kane, Zurich North America's Head of Cyber Risk Engineering

Effective Risk Management for Businesses - The first four steps of an effective risk management program while facing the pandemic with Bart Shachnow, Director of the Zurich Academy Broker Training Program

Crisis Standards of Care for Healthcare Facilities - Crisis standards of care for healthcare facilities in the wake of COVID-19 with Krishna Lynch, Senior Healthcare Risk Engineering Consultant

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Hub

In addition to housing the Risk Insights podcast series, Zurich's Coronavirus Resource Hub is a comprehensive resource for businesses that continue to watch the evolution of COVID-19. It features articles on a variety of risk management topics including cyber risks, supply chain challenges, telehealth services and more; as well as information on the federal COVID-19 economic relief package. There are also links to key resources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. Visit Zurichna.com/covid19 regularly for updated info.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  The National Bureau of Investigation has summoned at least 17 private citizens in the past few days for allegedly violating a law that prohibits posting false information online. Seasoned lawyer Chel Diokno said authorities did not disclose the exact posts in question.

Diokno, chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group, gave some tips on how to deal with such a subpoena. He added that one of the recipients of the summons is now his client, but admitted that they are having a hard time to prepare for the probe as they have no idea what the complaint is based on.

A copy of the one-page subpoena sent by the NBI's Office of the Cybercrime Division demanded an explanation for an online statement made by his client which supposedly alleged the misuse of public funds, and is said to run counter to Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code.

In a tweet, the legal expert gave a step-by-step guide in responding to the NBI.

The first step is to hire a lawyer, preferably someone reputable or trusted by the person.

Diokno also clarified that a person being investigated should never appear before the NBI alone, adding that this is a task better left to the lawyer.

Should an NBI agent pay the accused a visit either at home, at work, or in any public place, Diokno said it's best to first ask the investigator to disclose his name and present his ID. Jot these details down. Should the agent ask questions, Diokno said a person can always refuse to answer these unless his/her lawyer is present.

"Dapat agad humingi ang abogado mo ng kopya ng complaint at supporting documents galing sa NBI [Your lawyer should immediately ask NBI for a copy of the complaint as well as supporting documents]," added Diokno.

This has been Diokno's concern for his new client, who has no idea which of his posts may have gotten him in trouble.

"We feel it's so unfair that we now have to guess which of those posts are supposedly violating the law. I hope they provide us with basis for the issuance the subpoena... Its just basic fairness that should happen," Diokno told CNN Philippines' The Source.

Requesting additional details regarding the complaint would help the accused as well as their lawyers to "respond intelligently" to the charges, he added.

Other lawyers have also offered to help recipients of a similar NBI subpoena online.
Panchayat

Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav,

Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra

Recall a sharp and suave Shah Rukh Khan leaving his comfortable and rewarding NASA job to come back to his motherland and serve his own people in Swades? 16 years later, Jitendra Kumar lands in a village to take up the government job at a panchayat, but his reasons are far less patriotic, at least in the beginning. He is neither as intelligent as SRKs Mohan Bhargav nor is he bidding goodbye to a rewarding career. However, this rural drama is as compelling as the Ashutosh Gowariker creation, with a lot of humour thrown in.

Watch Panchayat trailer here

Say panchayat and what comes to the mind is the social science chapter about an evergreen tree and a sarpanch in its shade with the villagers in attendance. Its time to unlearn those dated lessons and get an updated picture of a modern village where the problems are far quirkier than just land disputes and child marriages. The Amazon Prime Video series created by TVF brings to the urban audience a hardly ever seen picture of a village panchayat run by an unofficial pradhan pati - well, husband of a pradhan is a pradhan himself, not by law but by logic.

Meet Neena Gupta, the elected pradhan of a village in the Balia district of Uttar Pradesh, who is pradhan simply because the seat was made reserved for women, disqualifying her husband due to his gender. While shes the pradhan on paper, the entire village has happily made its peace with her husband (Raghubir Yadav) being the one in power. Ignorance is bliss for this uneducated homemaker who is only bothered about her daughters marriage and prefers to call the shots at home but hands over the reins of the panchayat office to the man of the house.

Neena Gupta as Pradhan Manju Devi in Panchayat.

Enters Jitendra Kumar, a living example of why one should work hard in high school to not end up with a dead-end job like his. As his corporate buddy parties the night away every Friday, he is charging emergency lights and killing mosquitoes. Its a shame how we see the village from the eyes of Jitendra and burst into laughter during situations which will hardly amuse a common villager. There is no dull moment as the duties of a panchayat secretary -- from making birth certificates to implementation of government policies like MNREGA and family planning -- are shown in the most hilarious manner possible. From addressing grassroot corruption, dowry culture to the birth of a blind belief, the show presents some never seen before aspects of a panchayat in the most light-hearted manner.

The 8-episode series moves at its own pace, just like the mundane life of a village where lights go out soon after sunset. There is no extra effort to carve a hero figure out of the modern-day bachelor (Jitendra) who wont move an inch to help the needy. One thing that definitely catches the eye is the camera work. The aerial shots and low angles add a magical touch to the cinematography, which could otherwise look dull and faded amid the empty fields and irregular skyline.

Raghubir Yadav as Pradhan Pati in Panchayat.

The planning that goes into the making of an original socially relevant comedy is clearly visible. The moment Raghubir Yadavs phone rings to Rinkiya Ke Papa, you are paying as much attention as the actor himself. These little touches add mood to the series.

The character arc of Neena Guptas Manju Devi is worth applause. Jitendra steps into rural space for the first time and looks as bewildered as his character. His resilience is sometimes heartbreaking as he holds back his deep-embedded frustration for the sake of a government job. Raghubir is the life of the party and again re-emphasises that experience and talent will tell.

Also read: Neena Gupta on lockdown: Nothing cheers me but one tries to be cheerful, what else can one do

Panchayat is a perfect example that what you really need to make a series sing is a solid script. If you are looking for something beyond the good old Ramayan and Mahabharat during lockdown, Panchayat should definitely be on your must-watch list.

Author tweets @ruchik87

Follow @htshowbiz for more
90 Day Fiance star Lisa Hamme has had fans of the show feeling so many different kinds of ways. The American woman traveled to Nigeria to meet Usman Usmar, a local rapper and aspiring musician who she met online. However, Lisa Hamme seems to struggle with jealousy issues. Shes also very active on social media, and doesnt seem afraid to throw shade when she feels like it. However, she might be a little too active. Lisa Hamme has changed her Instagram name 24 times in a year and a half.

Lisa Hamme throws shade at Usman Usmar on Instagram

Fans of 90 Day Fiance were a little caught off guard when they noticed Lisa Hamme getting shady with Usman Usmar on Instagram. Her posts poking fun at Usmar started shortly after her debut on the show, and had some fans wondering if the two were still together today.

In one post, Lisa Hamme poked fun at a message Usmar wrote for her on Facebook, apologizing to her. In the message, Usmar wrote, Hello Lisa Renee Hamme Im very sorry for what I said TV, maybe it hurt U bcus of language barrier but i dont mean HURT to YOU [sic].



Above the message, which Hamme appeared to have screencapped, she wrote, When losing the chance at a K1 visa becomes reality.

It remains unclear if this was just a joke at Usmars expense, or if Lisa Hamme was really trying to shut Usmar down on Instagram. However, it seems like a pretty aggressive joke to make at Usmars expense, and almost feels more like an attack.

The post has since been removed, but stood alongside other posts directed at Usmar, including one in which Hamme suggested that Usmar smelled poorly.

Lisa Hamme caught slinging homophobic epithets

Meanwhile, Lisa Hamme was caught out throwing around some hurtful words on social media recently. It seems as if the 90 Day Fiance star is getting fed up with various social media accounts speculating about her storyline, or messaging her and Usmar.

Hamme has railed against 90 Day Fiance bloggers on her Instagram account previously, via stories and posts. Sadly, it seems one individual took it upon themselves to release Lisa Hammes phone number to the public on a Facebook group.

Clearly Hamme has a right to be angry with the person that released her personal information, but homophobic slurs arent the answer. In a screenshot of a message Hamme sent to the person who posted her phone number, Hamme wrote, F*ggot. Your wife sucks c*ck.

The recipient replied, Lisa why are you homophobic.

Hamme answered, She big mad. Im going to smash your wife.

The 90 Day Fiance star changed her handle 24 times

Lisa Hamme and Usman Umar of 90 Day Fiance | _90_day_babygirl_lisa via Instagram

Interestingly, it turns out the 90 Day Fiance star has had many names on Instagram over the last year and a half. Hamme seems to change her name often and remove old posts, including the ones aimed at Usman Usmar.

A Redditor dove into her Instagram account history, and discovered that shed changed her name 24 times in 17 months.

About the list of names, one Redditor commented, Im cringing! This looks like a list of a tween/teen girls AIM usernames a girl who has a crush on a boy and really, really wants the world to know about it.

That is legit disturbing. I always assumed that she played up her craziness and cluelessness for the show and on social media to tie in with the show, but it looks like she has been nuts long before her season started airing. What the f*ck is I am ghost of Sojaboy? Who is Fatima? How is she Sojaboys WiFi connection?! What does that even mean??? asked one Redditor of Hammes various names.

It remains to be seen whether or not 90 Day Fiance fans will see Lisa Hamme change her handle yet again before the end of her story arc on the show.
This will increase the availability of testing for the population

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine is already enlisting the services of private laboratories in order to diagnose coronavirus among the citizens. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko during a briefing, which was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV channel.

"There are different mechanisms for engaging laboratories: it is their medical equipment for the use of PCR diagnostics of coronavirus disease, as well as their workers and mobile teams," he explained.

Viktor Lyashko also said that it would increase the availability of testing for the population of Ukraine.

As of 10 a.m. of April 3, 942 cases of coronavirus were observed in Ukraine. The amount increased by 138 cases over 24 hours.

As we reported earlier, on March 31, a cargo plane from China delivered another batch of medical supplies to Ukraine.

It was loaded with 100,000 PCR tests for coronavirus, 40,000 multiple-use glasses, medical masks and the facilities for lung ventilators.
Tamil Nadu government is planning to create special COVID-19 hospitals in all the districts, said State Health Minister Vijaya Baskar who visited the Stanley Hospital here on Friday.

"We are creating exclusive COVID-19 management hospitals in all districts of the state," State Health Minister told ANI.

Speaking about the hospital facility he visited, he said that the Dean plans to create a 500-bedded COVID-19 hospital. "The dean has a very good initiative where he is using robotic equipment in order to provide food and medicine to the patients. It is highly appreciable," he said.

"The staff over here was very energetic, enthusiastic and they are taking care of patients very well," he added.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday said that there are 2088 coronavirus positive cases in India out of which 156 have been cured/discharged. The death toll has reached 53 across the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thomas William Ingram, 34, has been jailed for two years for scamming 40,000 from rail companies

A serial fraudster who scammed 40,000 from nine train companies through delay compensation schemes to fund trips to Las Vegas has been jailed for two years.

Thomas William Ingram, 34, from Blackpool, Lancashire, produced and printed hundreds of fake tickets and then submitted hundreds of claims nationwide using more than 40 aliases and false addresses.

The reimbursements for rail journeys he never made allowed him to fund multiple trips to Las Vegas, British Transport Police (BTP) said.

Ingram, of Fairfield Road, targeted rail firms from 2013 to 2018 before its financial investigators managed to trace the fraudulent payouts that were either transferred into his four personal bank accounts or alias PayPal accounts, BTP officials added.

He firstly targeted the chargeback method to pay for rail travel using an account that contained no cash and then in 2016 he turned to using the delay repay compensation scheme.

He was arrested and a search of his home found 7,300 in cash, along with a number of printers, laptops and other items used in the commission of the offences.

Ingram was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to nine counts of fraud.

Ingram plead guilty to fraud and spent the stolen cash on multiple visits to Las Vegas, Nevada

The Blackpool resident is pictured at Universal Studios, British Transport Police say he funded the trips with money stolen from his fraudulent activities

BTP financial investigator Gary Francis said: 'The delay repay scheme makes it easier for passengers to claim compensation when their journey is delayed. Unfortunately, Ingram targeted the scheme over a five-year period to fund his lifestyle, which included multiple trips to Las Vegas.

'This case is testament to the partnership working between BTP and train operating companies, and serves as a warning to others that this type of fraudulent activity will be treated seriously and result in prosecution.'

The 34-year-old made multiple trips to Las Vegas with the 40,000 he fraudulently made

Ingram made hundreds of fake tickets and fake aliases to carry out the scams over five years

BTP investigating officer Detective Sergeant Paddy Kerr said: 'Scams like these don't just affect train operating companies but also the passengers that use them.

'The delay repay compensation scheme was put in place to compensate honest fare-paying members of the travelling public who have genuinely been inconvenienced by delayed trains.

'This isn't a victimless crime. It is not right that someone should use dishonest means to steal from legitimate companies to fund a lavish lifestyle while impacting on the costs of rail fares for honest, paying passengers.'
Ukraine intends to build new supply chains of its products in the world markets, especially in Asia, and Singapore is one of the key countries in this context.

"Coronavirus should not undermine political and economic cooperation. The current situation is an opportunity for Ukraine to build new supply chains of its products in the world markets, first of all, in Asia, and Singapore is one of the key countries in this context, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said during a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan, Ukraines Foreign Ministry press service reports.

Kuleba emphasized the willingness of Ukraine to continue to actively develop partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, noting Singapore's special role in ASEAN.

Minister Kuleba congratulated his Singaporean colleague on the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and expressed his gratitude for the solidarity and principled support of Singapore for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

The parties noted an increase in Ukraine-Singapore trade in recent years, as well as significant potential for trade and investment cooperation.

Dmytro Kuleba thanked his colleague for the support to Ukrainian citizens in Singapore in settling visa issues due to cancellations of flights.

The ministers also discussed mutual support in a number of international organizations.

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P rince Charles will today open London's huge new NHS Nightingale Hospital via video link as he pays tribute to those on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus.

The heir to the throne will also thank those who have worked tirelessly" to create the new medical facility at the ExCel centre to ease the growing pressure on hospitals amid the crisis.

The Prince of Wales will carry out the engagement from Birkhall, his home in Scotland on the Balmoral estate, where he is recovering after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Executive of NHS Nightingale will join a small group representing medical staff, the Ministry of Defence, contractors for the ceremony.

PA

Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, will host the event with Mr Hancock and Prof Knight due to give brief remarks.

Natalie Grey, head of nursing at NHS Nightingale, will then unveil a plaque on behalf of Charles to mark the hospital's official opening.

Five hundred beds are already in place and there is space for another 3,500.

Londons new hospital could need a staggering 16,000 members of staff to treat coronavirus patients should it reach full capacity.

The Evening Standard was the first to reveal the ExCel convention centre would be turned into a special hospital to help the capital battle with crisis.

NHS Nightingale Hospital - In pictures 1 /33 NHS Nightingale Hospital - In pictures Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital PA General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital via Reuters Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital will be PA Medical equipment is labelled and prepared for use by NHS staff at the ExCel centre PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital PA Medical equipment is labelled and prepared for use by NHS staff at the ExCel centre in London PA Natalie Forrest, Chief Operating Officer of the Nightingale Hospital at the ExCel centre PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital will be PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital will be PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital will be PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital will be PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital will be PA Work being carried out at the ExCel Centre, where the new temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital will be PA The new NHS Nightgale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre PA AP The new NHS Nightgale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre PA The new NHS Nightgale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre PA The new NHS Nightgale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre PA Work being carried out at the new NHS Nightgale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre PA Work being carried out at the new NHS Nightgale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre PA Worker at the new NHS Nightgale Hospital at London's ExCel Centre PA

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.

And 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.

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.

Staff prepare for first Covid-19 patients in London's Nightingale Hospital

The facility will be used to treat Covid-19 patients who have been transferred from other intensive care units (ICU) across the capital.

The Nightingale will also include support services found in other NHS hospitals, such as pharmacies and therapy treatment, Mr Sullivan said.

Military personnel worked 15-hour shifts to help transform the convention centre in east London into the hospital.

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Colonel Ashleigh Boreham, from the Army Medical Services, said plans for the hospital were only conceived on March 21 in a meeting between the NHS and military.

Since then, up to 200 personnel, including infantry from the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, have been assisted contractors and NHS staff with its construction.

Two more Nightingale hospitals will be opened in Bristol and Harrogate.

The newly-planned sites at the University of the West of England and the Harrogate Convention Centre will look after patients from their regions.

The Bristol hospital will be able to look after up to 1,000 patients, while Harrogate can care for up to 500.

They will join other sites due to open at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre and Manchester's Central Complex.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the presidents press service reported on Thursday evening.

The interlocutors discussed the security situation in Donbas. The President responded positively to the UN Secretary-General's call for an immediate global ceasefire, noting that Ukraine was one of the first countries to support it. The President called on the UN to start preparing an efficient United Nations plan for attracting investment to restore Donbas after its de-occupation reads the statement on the presidents website.

The parties paid special attention to the issue of the liberation of Ukrainians, who are illegally detained in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, occupied Crimea and Russia.

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Scottsbluff Public Schools and Gering Public Schools officials released alternative plans for graduation ceremonies for this year's senior class.

The full text of the release:

As we continue to navigate closure guidelines, questions regarding graduation are frequently discussed. Both Scottsbluff and Gering Public Schools understand the importance of graduation in the lives of our seniors and want to ensure that district conversations we are having about our ability to continue them as planned are not being taken lightly.

Per the current Directive Health Measure from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited until at least April 30th and school closures have been announced through the end of the school year.

At this time, plans for the Gering and Scottsbluff High School Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremonies for Sunday, May 17, 2020 have been rescheduled. As we have seen in recent weeks, circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are rapidly changing, and we need to remain flexible. Both districts are working together on plans to best fit the needs of the community as a whole. Knowing that, we are committing to the following responses:
The ruling doesnt mean anything to anyone, and Mwonzora should know that. We cannot be bound by a decision of a captured judiciary. We went into elections with our own insignia and Khupe went with her own insignia. We have had separate congresses too, indicating that we are different entities. How will such disciplinary action be effected? Its a joke, he said. Zimbabwe Independent
Schools and non-essential businesses are closed as New York remains under a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of coronavirus. Essential workers, such as law enforcement, healthcare professionals and staff at grocery stores and restaurants, are still on the job; the rest of us are supposed to only go out for essentials, like food and medicine, and practice social distancing by staying six feet apart from other people at all times.

So... are we doing a good job? Is Central New York staying at home?

Google mobility data released Tuesday shows where people in 131 countries are going amid the COVID-19 pandemic, using anonymous location data from users of Google products and services. The information is compiled into charts showing population trends in six categories: Retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

The COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports website breaks down the data by state and county, showing which regions are following social distancing rules by comparing baselines from late January to the end of March. Heres how well were doing in New York state, Onondaga County and the surrounding area:

NEW YORK STATE:

Retail & Recreation: -62% (compared to baseline from six weeks ago)

Grocery & Pharmacy: -32%

Parks: -47%

Transit stations: -68%

Workplace: -46%

Residential: +16%

ONONDAGA COUNTY:

Retail & Recreation: -53%

Grocery & Pharmacy: -29%

Parks: +38%

Transit stations: -55%

Workplace: -36%

Residential: +11%

MADISON COUNTY:

Retail & Recreation: -40%

Grocery & Pharmacy: -18%

Parks: Not enough data

Transit stations: -62%

Workplace: -36%

Residential: +22%

CORTLAND COUNTY:

Retail & Recreation: -42%

Grocery & Pharmacy: -9%

Parks: Not enough data

Transit stations: Not enough data

Workplace: -31%

Residential: +22%

CAYUGA COUNTY:

Retail & Recreation: -39%

Grocery & Pharmacy: -15%

Parks: Not enough data

Transit stations: -49%

Workplace: -29%

Residential: +20%

OSWEGO COUNTY:

Retail & Recreation: -39%

Grocery & Pharmacy: -14%

Parks: +15%

Transit stations: Not enough data

Workplace: -26%

Residential: +10%

ONEIDA COUNTY:

Retail & Recreation: -45%

Grocery & Pharmacy: -25%

Parks: -6%

Transit stations: -50%

Workplace: -33%

Residential: +10%

The charts show residential data usage increased in every county, while it declined dramatically in retail and recreation (such as movie theaters and libraries), grocery stores and pharmacies, transit stations and workplaces. In some cases, there was an increase at parks, where people may be able to exercise in open spaces and continuing to practice social distancing.

In other words, people appear to be staying at home more and limiting trips to stores and other places. The figures also match grades given by human mobility data company Unacast last week, showing most Empire State residents were making improvements in social distancing compliance through GPS location monitoring data.

But is it enough?

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced Friday that the county has now seen the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalized and critical all more than double over the past week. There have been 322 confirmed cases, up from 123 cases last Friday; 52 hospitalized, up from 19 a week ago; and three deaths.

Last week, McMahon expressed frustration with some Central New Yorkers continuing to gather in large groups, including a tailgate party in Radisson. He issued an emergency order last Friday making a party, celebration or other social gathering of any sort a crime, a misdemeanor punishable by a short jail sentence.

Coronavirus cases also continue to grow across the state. More than 100,000 New Yorkers have been confirmed for COVID-19, with over 2,900 deaths.

CNBC reports Googles data could help public health departments identify potential hotspots and prepare for treatment, and also give officials the ability to take action when residents are flouting the rules.

At the same time, it could reignite concerns over how Google collects information about users locations.

As global communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasing emphasis on public health strategies, like social distancing measures, to slow the rate of transmission, the company said in a blog post. In Google Maps, we use aggregated, anonymized data showing how busy certain types of places are  helping identify when a local business tends to be the most crowded. We have heard from public health officials that this same type of aggregated, anonymized data could be helpful as they make critical decisions to combat COVID-19.

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Coronavirus parties: NY bar owner arrested as some ignore social distancing rules

Coronavirus: Sorry, hanging out 6 feet apart isnt social distancing, expert says

Coronavirus social distancing: Can children play ball? Whos checking this stuff?
While the nations prayers are answered and the virus disappears, there is still a need for governments across the country to ensure that there is no passive pandemic left undetected.

At least in this case, the governments have the time. They should begin employing a B-Team of bureaucrats to draw up an action plan on what needs doing and how to do it, when the migrant labour, and even the local population, begins to hit the streets all over again,' says N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Volunteers of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust distribute food and bottled water to traffic police personnel at Mahim in north central Mumbai, March 26, 2020. Photograph: Kunal Patil/PTI Photo.

Now that the nation has risen to the occasion and cooperated with the authorities in self-imposing the 21-day curfew in these early days, the question arises if continued obedience of the law is sustainable for a longer period, if at all it came to that.

Already, the Army has denied rumours that the current phase of curfew will be followed up with the proclamation of Emergency. That should put a lot of people at ease.

Yet, it would have been better if a civilian authority had issued the clarification on behalf of the government, headed by a strong and tough Narendra Modi as prime minister. In the normal course, proclamation of Emergency is in the exclusive domain of the Union Cabinet, and the actual act of proclamation is done by the President of India.

In this case, Rashtrapati Bhavan cannot be expected to -- and should not, either -- issue denials to unfounded rumours of the kind. Anyway, the President comes in to the picture only when the Cabinet resolution is formally put up before him for approval, though the elected political leadership would have kept him abreast at every turn.

That should leave the PMO or the Union home ministry to issue the denial, the latter better than the former. By issuing a denial for what essentially is a political decision, the Army might have set an unwelcome precedent in such matters.

However, a denial is very much in order and should set at rest speculation attending on coronavirus control and all such measures that are strictly in the domain of medical care and civilian control over community spread, the much-feared third stage.

If the Army has denied rumours of an imminent imposition of coronavirus-linked Emergency in April, the Union home ministry has denied any intention to extend the 21-day curfew beyond mid-April. That is also the time when states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala celebrate their New Year, as well a few other states. Hopefully, those new year celebrations would usher in a better year than the one that is now winding up, in every which way.

But then, the Centres decision not to extend the curfew does not automatically mean that the pandemic could be wished away. In administrative terms, all responsibilities to extend or later revive local or localised shut-downs would devolve on the state governments. So could be the larger responsibilities of monitoring existing and new patients, if any.

Considering that Indian states and people are not insulated from one another despite the Centres best efforts and Prime Minister Modis repeated initiatives, New Delhi will have to work backward to ensure that the national laxity did not return with equal force.

Prior to the PMs call for a Janata curfew, which alone shocked the nation into treating the pandemic with the seriousness it deserved, there were accusations that the Government of India could have fought better and early on had it not expended all its energies on the celebratory visit of US President Donald Trump, in an election year in his country.

All of it showed that the PMs 21-day curfew call went on without much thought and preparations than became possible. It showed that the Centre had not learnt enough from the demonetisation declaration and GST rollout. It is now agreed that both were noble and much-needed ideas, but proved counter-productive to a large section of the nations population in the absence of a clear-cut roll-out plan and last-mile preparations.

The irony is that those very sections, namely, the unorganised, migrant labour, suffered at the tail-end of the long economic chain or production and distribution. They are the main sufferers this time round too.

According to some industry estimates, their numbers add up to a high 20-plus crore for all of the country. It seems that no one at the higher echelons of the bureaucracy (and political leadership) was available to visualise and imagine the mass movement of those people criss-crossing the country, almost at the same time.

Else, the announcement of 21-day curfew would have been preceded by decisions on their mobility, and the possibility of their employers asking them to go back as their own units had been shut -- and they were losing money even when closed. The inherited fiscal burden on individual industries, big, small and tiny, pre-virus, did not seem to have been considered at all,

Today, any decision not to extend the curfew, be it by the Centre or by the states or both together, needs to be accompanied by belated evaluation as to what it means at the tail-end population and the tail-end administration.

They cannot continue to pass on their policy-blames on the officialdom, by ordering the suspension of officials as has been done in Delhi and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. By ordering the suspension of Delhi officials, the Union home ministry has acknowledged that the job of monitoring the movement of migrant workers in the national capital, like the management of the police there, was their job -- and not that of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and company.

Likewise, at the other end of the migrant labour fiasco on the Delhi-UP border was Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He left it to Lord Ram, and said He would take care of it all. True enough, not many cases have been reported from the nations most populous state, at least not yet. But protecting the interests of the migrant labour, who in a way had left the care of their families in the hands of the state government, was the chief ministers job.

In a way, migrant-labour exporting states like UP, Bihar, West Bengal and the north-eastern states did not seem to have ever taken any special steps to improve the lot of them all before virus hit, for them to be able to spare time or thought to their care when the pandemics fear caught them too unawares.

Sad that the north-eastern states did not consider such measures even after a similar exodus from across the country occurred a couple of years ago, based on a fake social media message, which was later traced to Pakistan and the ISI.

Maybe, the post-coronavirus phase at least should be time that they planned something for the future care of those migrant labour who have been pumping lots of money into the economy of individual states.

When the Centre is talking about helping to revive the post-coronavirus economy, then at least they need to remember that without efforts to revive the prospects of those sectors and industries that employ migrant labour in tens of thousands, the economy of their mother-states could suffer even more than the host-states that employ them.

There is an additional problem, not limited to the migrant labours return to their employer-states. While the nations prayers are answered and the virus disappears, there is still a need for governments across the country to ensure that there is no passive pandemic left undetected.

At least in this case, the governments have the time. They should begin employing a B-Team of bureaucrats to draw up an action plan on what needs doing and how to do it, when the migrant labour, and even the local population, begins to hit the streets all over again.

After all, if only the officials had been told to apply conventional wisdom and institutional experience in dealing with such natural calamities as floods and other natural calamities, they would have adopted the SOP of putting up the affected population in government school buildings and funded local authorities to feed them as long as required.

Replace the local flood victims with the coronavirus-threatened migrant labour, and the solution was staring at the face of the bureaucracy and political leadership alike  and across the country, top to bottom, bottom to top. Yet, nothing was thought of, nothing was done.

It cannot be allowed to happen again. It only requires someone somewhere to be able to wear the thinking cap, which has been left hanging in archaic coat-stands and hat-stands in the civil secretariats in Delhi and state capitals.

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Head-Chennai Initiative, Observer Research Foundation. Email: sathiyam54@nsathiyamoorthy.com.
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

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Ursula von der Leyen, incoming president of the European Commission, left, speaks during news conference at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

European tech industry groups are stepping up their lobbying efforts to ensure the EU supports start-ups hit hard by the coronavirus crisis.

In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a coalition of start-up communities called for the bloc's chief to "give startups a central role in your solutions to the COVID-19 outbreak."

The group, led by Brussels-based Allied for Startups, warns of the impact a coming economic downturn will have on the continent's once fast-growing tech sector. The pandemic has forced many start-ups to reconsider their business model and cut costs as sales start to dry up.

"As with preceding disasters, this crisis is also an opportunity," the industry leaders said in the letter. "In the first instance it is an opportunity for better cooperation and coordination between nations."

"Beyond that, it is also an opportunity for innovation. When looking for solutions to combat and resolve the COVID-19 outbreak, but also when looking at where growth opportunities are coming from after the economic downturn, startups are the key actors in both equations."
The headline on BCN12 (ADVISORY) has a misspelling. The truck crashed into a pole (sted 'police'). Please read it:

BERKELEY: TRUCK VS. POWER POLE CLOSES INTERSECTION FRIDAY MORNING
Priya K*, a techie, is employed in a tech startup in USA and is an H-1B visa holder. These two reasons could be enough for anyone to be assured about job security. But she has not been able to sleep for the past few weeks due to anxiety issues.

"I wake up sweating thinking when we will have to leave the country," said Priya, fearing that her company, like many others in the USA, may get rid of H-1B workers.

"There are many who are working without pay. It will not be too long before layoff begins," she said. She has a year-old daughter and her husband holds H-1B visa as well.

"If both of us lose, we will just have to pack up and go home," she added.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Priya's sentiments are far from misplaced. An industry source estimated that close to 20-30 percent of H-1B and H4 visa holders may be forced to return home in the next 5-7 months. "This is only an estimate as things are changing fast and the number may increase, the source said.

In the US, there are close to 3,00,000 H-1B visa holders.

It does not matter that some of them have been working in the US for as long as 10-15 years and are on their way to become permanent residents or citizens.

Indian tech companies have been one of the biggest beneficiaries of H-1B visa. For Indians, the visa is a passport to becoming a permanent resident and it would not be too much of a stretch to say it has attracted many of them to the IT field. However the grand American dream is once again staring at uncertainty, now due to coronavirus outbreak.

Imminent Layoffs

The novel coronavirus outbreak in January, which intensified in March, had a huge impact across sectors. The US has close to 2.77 lakh COVID-19 positive cases with death toll amounting to 7,000.

In the US, one of the biggest markets for the IT firms, unemployment is on the rise. According to reports, close to 6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week. A CNBC report pegs the job losses in the US to be about 47 million.

To ensure business continuity some of the enterprises have started retrenchment and are cutting down their budget.

Larger retailers such as JCPenny and Macy's have laid off workers. Hotel major Marriott too has reportedly laid off 4,000 employees. Norwegian Air has laid off 50 percent of its workforce. According to reports, British Airways is likely to layoff close to 30,000 people.

Also Read: Working from home, IT employees battle job pressures & mental health issues

Jyotsna Sharma, who is a board member of non-profit group Highly Skilled Immigrants for America, said: "In situations like this (COVID-19 outbreak), it is the H-1B workers who are at the risk of losing their jobs."

Track this blog for latest updates on coronavirus outbreak

All these will directly impact the Indian IT service providers and its IT workers, who are contract employees there.

The many challenges

The employees will face multiple issues. If their H-1B visas are valid and their job contract is terminated, they will have 60 days to find a new job. However, given the travel restrictions and recession, it will be difficult if not impossible, to find a new job.

If their H-1B visa is expiring, renewing them now is tough since the USCIS and embassies are closed. The USCIS said in a statement that relaxation would be given to Request for Evidence (RFE) for renewals, but there is not much clarity on the stand the companies will take.

Also Read | IT firms start issuing pink slips; around 1.5 lakh employees may lose their jobs

In case of rejections, they will have to change their status to B2 visa (visitor).

"This means that they cannot look for new jobs. So they will have to come back to India, find a new employer to sponsor the H-1B," said Netra Chavan, who runs a Facebook group for H-1B and H4 visa holders.

This is applicable for those in the green card queue as well. Some of them have been working in the US for more than a decade. In case of H4 EAD (Employment Authorisation Document), whose visa validity depends on his/her spouse's H-1B, will also be impacted.

Another issue, Chavan pointed out, is passport renewals.

"Many here who had applied for passport renewals are stuck. They cannot extend their visa nor change their status," she said.

While the government may relax rules given the situation, there is no clarity yet on that front from them, said Chavan.

There is a fear of immigration law implications, where visa holders fear a lot of detention or forced deportation during pandemic situations, she added.

Fear and hopelessness

Demand for H-1B came down in FY07 and FY08 as the US faced high unemployment and many corporate houses cutting down budgets and were unable to hire from abroad, according to a report by Brookings.edu.

In FY10 as well, there were more than 20,000 slots of the 65,000 available for H-1B as the sentiments did not improve, the report added. So thousands returned home then.
An Australian who was arrested for 'committing espionage' against North Korea has revealed how he was detained by secret police for nine days and forced to confess to his 'crimes'.

Alek Sigley, 30, had been a Masters student at Kim Il-sung University in the country's capital city Pyonyang, for three semesters when he was abruptly whisked out of the foreign student dormitory by two men on June 25 last year.

He was blindfolded and taken to an interrogation facility where he was forced to write 'confessions' about his crimes, which centred on him taking photos inside the notoriously secretive country and uploading them onto social media.

Alek Sigley flew to Tokyo to be reunited with his wife, Yuka Morinaga, a few days after arriving in Beijing

He spent nine days in a room without a clock and was forced to sleep with the light on as a squad of interrogators threatened to have him executed if he did not comply with their requests to admit to the offences.

'Do you wanna die you f**ng bastard? You s*n of a b***h Coming into our country and committing all these crimes. You think Trump or Pompeo will save your sorry a**? Huh?' one man said, Sigley wrote for the Guardian.

Sigley said he believes the men were from the North Korean Ministry of State Security but they never revealed their identity.

During one of the sessions, the men pointed to a picture Sigley had taken of an artefact inside a North Korean museum as 'evidence' for one his many offences.

'You uploaded a photo of this toy tank onto the internet  Thats military espionage!'

The picture of a toy military tank Sigley uploaded to Instagram - an act described by the communist country as 'military espionage'

'Alek, you do realise that this is serious business, dont you? If youre lucky, youll only get 10 years hard labour. We have a mountain of evidence on your crimes. Youd better confess if youd like to be treated leniently,' the man said.

After confessing, he was taken to the airport where he flew to freedom in Beijing, then to Tokyo to be reunited with his wife Yuka Morinaga.

Sigley was the only Australian living in North Korea when his sudden disappearance from within the country drew international attention.

There were grave fears for his safety as the communist dictatorship is known for harshly punishing those who do not abide by the country's extremely strict laws.

Days after being reported missing by friends, Australia's Department of foreign affairs were able to ascertain that he had been detained.

Australia does not have an embassy in North Korea and enlisted the help of Sweden to negotiate his release.

A special envoy from the Swedish government was sent to speak directly to North Korean regime leaders. Sigley was freed shortly thereafter.

North Korea is known to heavily censor its inner operations to outside world.

Tourists have restricted access to the country and are bound by photography regulations that forbid snaps of certain aspects of life in North Korea, in particular the military, construction sites, portraits of leaders.

Citizens must conform to rules on what they do or say, and those who speak unfavourably about the government can be arrested.

The last foreigner to be detained in North Korea prior to Sigley was University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier in 2017.

He was released in a vegetative state after spending 17 months in custody and later died after being medically evacuated to America.
The US continues to outpace every other country in coronavirus cases as the pandemic spreads.

There are more than 270,000 confirmed cases in America. That is twice as many as the country with the second-highest number of cases: Spain at 117,000.

In just a matter of weeks, the US surpassed other countries once considered to be the epicenter of the global outbreak including China, Italy, Germany, Iran and South Korea.

A new graph shows that just 20 days after the first case was reported, the US had more than 20,000 cases.

Over the same time period, Spain had around 7,000, Italy and the UK had under 5,000 and Iran had about 1,000.

The US is now reporting five-figure numbers when it comes to new cases per day, five times as many as China did during its peak. The Asian country never reported more than about 3,800 cases in a single day.

Just 20 days after the first coronavirus case was reported, America had more than 20,000 cases, more than any country over the same time period

The US is now reporting five times as many cases as China did during its peak, which was around 3,800 in one day

America is now recording more new coronavirus cases per day than anywhere else in the world, although Italy has a higher fatality rate.

And the rate of spread in the US - 28,990 new cases yesterday alone - suggests that the peak of the outbreak is still weeks away.

On Thursday, officials reported more than 1,000 deaths from the pandemic in a single day - a record high. At least 7,000 have died across the U.S. as of Friday.

It was also revealed that more than 6.6 million Americans had sought unemployment benefits in a single week.

New York City has become the new epicenter of the global pandemic.

On Thursday, the city recorded 1,562 deaths, up 188 from 1,374 on Wednesday, which is a rate faster than cities such as Madrid and Lombardy, Italy's worst-hit region.

New York state alone recorded 2,373 cases on Thursday - behind Spain, which had 2,770 cases yesterday.

The Big Apple has the fastest growing death rate, with the death toll doubling nearly every 1.5 days. By comparison, Lombardy saw a doubling every three days.

Italy's older population means its fatality rate is 10.19 percent, much higher than America's 1.5 percent fatality rate.

However, the number of cases being recorded every day in America now far exceeds the number of cases that China ever admitted to at the peak of the outbreak despite China's larger population.

There are suspicions that China has been covering up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak from the start.

The higher number of cases per day in America could also be due to the large number of tests being carried out in New York state - which is about 25 percent of all test being performed in the US.

Mount Sinai West Hospital in New York City are now bringing out their dead at night

Medical staff at Mount Sinai brought out at least four bodies in around an hour

The figures seem to indicate the pandemic will reach all corners of the nation even as President Donald Trump says he hopes to open the country 'soon'.

it comes as the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects that the peak resource use (meaning when we will need the most hospital beds, ICU beds, and ventilators) is just two weeks away.

Officials are expected to be short 87,000 beds and about 20,000 ventilators.

The projection also estimates that the peak day of deaths is April 16, with more than 2,600 expected to be recorded in one day.
Mumbai: For Raheja Vistas Co-operative Housing Society Limited in Chandivli, the lockdown has meant setting up a system to record who is coming in and going out of the complex, as well as online classes for its residents.

With 771 flats and a number of expats among its 3000-odd residents, Raheja Vistas knew the adjusting to the lockdown would be challenging but necessary. The society sees regular visitors and several residents are known to fly in and out of the country.

Raheja Vistas resident, Sarthak Shah, who is an attorney by profession, said the society has maintained a record of everyone who has travelled internationally in recent times, and checked up on them.

We had one resident who self-quarantined herself in a hotel so that there was no inconvenience caused to other members. A tenant, who is Chinese, was a little apprehensive about how he should step out and interact with others, but the management committee made him feel comfortable, said Shah.

The society has also restricted movement into and out of the complex. Domestic help for only 10-12 families is allowed inside and in the past, a session was held in which domestic help were taught hygiene practices that must be followed during the outbreak in their own homes as well as workplaces.

Atul Sharma, chairman of the society, said various online activities are conducted throughout the day for different age groups, to keep everyone occupied. From yoga to e-learning as well as religious sessions, there is a variety of options.

By having these sessions, we have people socialising, their fitness is maintained and there is competitive spirit as they stay engaged in an activity, he said.

Yoga instructor Hemamalini PJ said she has seen more interest in yoga during the lockdown than before.

Now that they have some time on their hand, I have had people inquiring to join the [online] classes and do a trial month to keep themselves engaged, said Hemamalini.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: he Editors Guild of India has said it is "deeply perturbed" over the government blaming the media in the Supreme Court for causing panic among migrant workers, leading to their exodus in the wake of the lockdown, and asserted that such actions could obstruct the process of dissemination of news.

In a strongly-worded statement, the Guild said blaming the media at this juncture can only undermine the current work being done by it under trying circumstances.

"The Editors Guild of India is deeply perturbed over the recent government statement before the Supreme Court putting the blame on the media for causing panic among migrant workers leading to their mass movement in the wake of the lockdown," the statement said.

This led the apex court to observe that while it didn't want to inhibit the debate on the pandemic in any way, the media should refer to and publish the official version of the developments pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic, the Guild said in the statement issued Thursday night.

The Editors Guild of India has issued a statement pic.twitter.com/eCYKoY73BO  Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) April 2, 2020

The Guild stated that it holds the court in the highest respect, but finds this advice "gratuitous and unnecessary".

Such charges can also obstruct in the process of dissemination of news during an unprecedented crisis facing the country, it said.

"No democracy anywhere in the world is fighting the pandemic by gagging its media," it said.

The Guild also hit out at the lodging of a First Information Report against the Editor-in-Chief of the website TheWire.

"A police action in the form of an FIR under criminal laws at this stage is an overreaction and an act of intimidation," the Guild said.

Any such intimidation of the media or blaming the media for mass migration of workers will be counterproductive, it said, adding that such actions will be tantamount to disabling the messenger.

"The Guild believes for sure that the media must be responsible, free and fair. But such interference can only undermine those goals," the statement said.



COVID-19 LIVE | Modi calls for nationwide show of solidarity by lighting candles on April 5 at 9 PM



Taking a serious note of the panic caused among migrant workers due to fake news, the top court had earlier this week 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 had said the migration of a 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.
Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - With additional 5 new coronavirus cases confirmed in Rwanda on Friday, the number of patients has reached 89, according to the latest update released by the ministry of Health in Kigali
Hong Kong, China  As inbound travellers arrive in Hong Kong they are met with the new face of border security  the Department of Health.

In a bid to curtail a rise in COVID-19 cases, arrivals are tested, instructed to download a government mandated app  StayHomeSafe  and wear a wristband that is linked with the app.

As Hong Kong and other jurisdictions rush to contain the virus, a slew of technology is being deployed to monitor individuals movements. With police and military personnel also being used to enforce quarantines, curfews and social-distancing measures  one recent case in Kenya allegedly resulted in the death of a 13-year-old  the pandemic is encroaching on personal freedoms and privacy, giving the authorities powers some fear they may be reluctant to give up once the outbreak is over.

In Hong Kong, where the relationship with the government is already fraught as a result of the pro-democracy protests that began last year over a now-shelved extradition bill, measures that monitor citizens movements have been met with some concern.





While Chief Executive Carrie Lam told reporters the government had consulted the privacy commissioner during the apps development, a front-line Department of Health staff member told Al Jazeera inbound travellers made to use the app had raised privacy concerns because they had little to go on regarding its use.

After receiving several complaints, Hong Kongs chief information officer Victor Lam Wai-kiu apologised for the glitches in the system, but the government later released a statement saying that these issues had been resolved.

When Janis Wong, a doctoral researcher on privacy at the University of St Andrews arrived at Hong Kong airport on March 22, she was given a piece of paper containing information on the app, barred from leaving home until a certain deadline and given a hotline number to call.

Wong, whose academic interests include data ethics, says she was able to fill in her personal details and sync the app with her wristband as instructed.

But her concerns about data privacy were not resolved.

A screenshot taken by Wong shows that extensive Android app permissions were required. Android permissions are typically lumped together in larger categories and in order to enable certain functions, such as Bluetooth, a wider bracket of location permissions are switched on, she explained.

iOS, by contrast, requires individual permissions to be explicitly granted.

With regards to StayHomeSafe, it is not clear what the storage permission is used for as I have not been asked to take images or upload images through the app, Wong said.

All overseas travellers to Hong Kong are required to install the StayHome app on their smartphones so their movements under quarantine can be tracked [Jeremy Smart/Al Jazeera]

Developed by Gary Chan, a professor at the Department of the Computer Science and Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the app maps a unique footprint of persons locality. Should someone venture out beyond certain perimeters, an alert will be triggered. Chan has licensed the technology to his private company, Compathnion Technology.

Compathnion Technology did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment.

Asia-wide trend

Hong Kong is far from unique in using technology to monitor individuals under quarantine.

Over the border in mainland China, more intrusive surveillance measures are used. In February, a Chinese government-backed app that logs close contacts was launched. The app, which is registered using the persons phone number also collects names and national ID numbers.

More recently, quarantine rules have tightened. Michael Smith, a China-based correspondent for the Australian Financial Review who is based in Shanghai says that when he returned from Hong Kong in February, he was allowed to leave his compound to shop and walk his dog. But after returning from overseas two weeks ago, the restrictions increased.





I spent 24 hours after landing in Shanghai at a coronavirus testing centre where we slept on chairs before being allowed to go home. We have an alarm installed on our door which we can only open four times a day to collect food and put out garbage, Smith said.

While in Hong Kong some individuals have been caught for flouting quarantine orders, in China comparatively fewer people have been apprehended.

Chinas home quarantine rules were easy to breach back in February but in March people in quarantine are monitored by the police, security guards and their neighbours, Smith said. But despite the intense surveillance there, there is little doubt that there have been many under-reported breaches given the size of the population, he says.

In South Korea, which according to the Pew Research Center, has the highest proportion of smartphone ownership in any advanced economy, the country has declared war on the outbreak. Overseas travellers who do not download a government-mandated quarantine app are barred from coming in.

GPS phone tracking is also used to monitor peoples movements. One COVID-19 patient whose personal travel history was inadvertently released has reportedly filed a complaint to the countrys National Human Rights Commission.

In some countries, including South Korea and China, apps have also been developed to map outbreaks and alert the public to avoid areas with large clusters of cases.

Normalising surveillance

As countries race to monitor and contain the outbreak, experts say human rights are at serious risk.

Marcus Michaelsen a senior postdoctoral researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel who focuses on digital surveillance and repression against transnational activist networks says that for now, many are prepared compromise on their civil rights in order to contain the pandemic. And by and large, people are prepared to put up with intrusive surveillance methods because of the current climate of fear regarding COVID-19.

In Germany, for instance, a number of people even demanded a curfew when they saw that others still continued meeting and even partying in public parks, Michaelsen said. Therefore, its not difficult to imagine that people will also readily give up their right to privacy in order to allow for measures to track and monitor the spread of the virus, in the hope to get back to the normal life they had before.

Rights advocacy group Privacy International has called the roll-out of emergency laws, mandatory tracking and various other surveillance tools an assault on peoples liberties unprecedented in its global scale.

People under quarantine in Hong Kong also have to wear an electronic wristband that is connected to the app [Jeremy Smart/Al Jazeera]

Advocacy director Edin Omanovic says that while many measures are based on the advice of health experts and some well-designed apps based on consent are relatively harmless and effective, it is vital to make sure they are based on evidence and need and respect data protection laws.

There should be no place for apps that are effective but overstep peoples civil rights, he says.

You could also force someone to quarantine by aiming a sniper sight at their head, but that doesnt mean we should celebrate the utility of snipers in responding to the crisis, Omanovic said.  There are far less intrusive alternatives which dont undermine peoples safety and empower unaccountable government units.

Used for political gain?

A key concern held by many human rights groups is that such measures may be something of a Trojan Horse, normalising future surveillance and setting the stage for politically motivated use further down the line.

Erik Baekkeskov, a senior lecturer in Public Policy at the University of Melbourne, told Al Jazeera that two factors often seen in public policy-making could work in tandem so political power can be consolidated.

One is the window of opportunity presented by the crisis to create new policies that actually favour the leadership, its allies or its constituencies. COVID-19 is enabling leaders in many countries to enact policies in the name of responding to the disease that they would not normally be able to get approved, Baekkeskov said.

The other factor is institutionalisation, which allows such policies to stay in place even after the problems they were developed for have gone away.

Medical workers wearing protective gear take samples from all arrivals from overseas after they land in Seoul. They will then spend 14 days under quarantine and anyone who refuses to download a monitoring app is denied entry [Kim Chul-soo/EPA]

Once new ways of doing things or new rules are in place, they can be difficult to change or remove  unless there are explicit sunset clauses written into the bills that contained them, he added.

In Hong Kong, most of the frustration so far has been directed towards technological glitches.

One customer on the Google Play store dismissed the system as rubbish like the government while another said their grandmother could do better.

But Baekkeskov says the technologies used for surveillance could easily be deployed for other, more sinister purposes and the public would do well to be sceptical about them.

Yes, they may help in fighting disease, Baekkeskov said. But they can easily be turned towards anyone who is in one way or another violating rules or norms put in place by rulers. Once they exist, it takes action and effort to eliminate surveillance and other tools used to control who is where, when and doing what.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi Govt on Thursday launched a dedicated WhatsApp helpline number for the citizens to have access to credible information around COVID 19. This initiative by the Health & Family Welfare Department of Govt. of NCT of Delhi will provide accurate and up-to-date information about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

So in order to use the COVID-19 helpline number on WhatsApp, you are required to save the number +91 88000 07722 in your contacts. After saving it, go to the WhatsApp application and send Hi to the number from the messaging app and you will start receiving all the necessary information about the coronavirus pandemic. The information available on the messaging app will be solely in English as of now, the service has been built on the WhatsApp Business API, using Infobip India.

Our focus, at this time, is to make sure every citizen can access credible and accurate health information. We value the opportunity to support the Government of Delhi and urge people to do their part by relying on authentic and official sources of information, said Abhijit Bose, Head of India for WhatsApp in a statement.

The Delhi Govt's corona helpline on WhatsApp is basically is an automated chatbot service that will give necessary answers to questions about Coronavirus. The questions will be answered by the Health & Family Welfare Department of Govt. of NCT of Delhi within 24 hours of the question being asked. The information will mainly surround topics like Coronavirus prevention and symptoms along with tips on how to contain the disease. Users can also obtain service helpline numbers on WhatsApp, apply for e-passes and acquire general information on the measures that the state is taking to combat the deadly virus.

Urging people to only rely on official information for coronavirus and be vigilant, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a statement, The Delhi Govt. is happy to partner with WhatsApp to establish a dedicated Coronavirus helpline for its residents to ensure that all your queries related to Coronavirus are answered with credible and accurate information. We are doing everything we can to keep our citizens safe in these challenging times and urge everyone to stay indoors and ensure they rely only on verified channels of information

The entire country is under a 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. As of now, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India is 1,764 while the total number of deaths has been 50 as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's website.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights has published the casualty figure for March, and documented the killing of 145 civilians.

A total of 145 civilians were killed in attacks in Syria last month, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said Wednesday.

The group said five children and three women were among the victims that included 36 who were killed by regime forces and allied militias, 14 tortured to death in regime prisons, 12 in areas occupied by the YPG/PKK terrorist group, 19 in Russian airstrikes and two by Syrian opposition forces.

The SNHR said 76 were killed without being able to identify those responsible.

The watchdog estimates 707 civilians have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the year.

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 number of Americans predicted to be out of work by next month could soar to 20 million as economists warn no one is safe from the rapidly increasing unemployment toll amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A soaring number of Americans are now out of work with 10 million people filing new claims for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks of March.

The staggering figure doesn't include the many Americans who have so far been unable to apply for benefit because the sheer volume of people trying to submit claims is causing websites to crash and phone lines to be backed up.

While the tourism and hospitality industries were among the hardest hit when travel restrictions and lockdowns were announced in early March, the pain is now starting to widen dramatically.

Initially the job losses were felt at restaurants, hotels, retail stores and airlines with many businesses closing or seeing a dramatic decrease in sales. But industries that would normally emerge unscathed in a recession, like healthcare and education, are now also feeling the effects.

Lay offs are being felt tech start-ups, law firms and even at hospitals that are having to cancel elective surgeries. Some white collar workers that initially started working from home when lockdowns were first announced are now also being laid off as companies deal with their revenue collapsing.

'People are being way too sanguine about a lot of the white-collar industries,' Martha Gimbel, an economist at Schmidt Futures, told the New York Times.

'This thing is going to come for us all.'

'This thing isn't slowing down it's accelerating. We're watching a nightmare unfold in real time,' Gimbel added in a tweet.

A soaring number of Americans are now out of work with 10 million people filing new claims for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks of March. Pictured above is a line of people trying to make claims in Arkansas on Monday

New claims for unemployment benefits rose to 6.65 million in the latest week from the 3.3 million the previous week. It means that 10 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the two weeks that the coronavirus started rapidly spreading across the country

The coronavirus dealt a swift end to the nation's 50-year-low unemployment rate with employers reporting hundreds of thousands of job cuts in March.

The Labor Department's employment report released on Friday details the worst job loss since the depths of the global financial crisis in March 2009 and the biggest single-month jump in the jobless rate in more than 45 years.

The true picture, though, is far worse, because the government figures do not include the last two weeks when nearly 10 million thrown-out-of-work Americans applied for unemployment benefits.

Economists say the April report is set to be dramatically worse with a double digit unemployment rate and as many as 20 million jobs destroyed, which would blow away the record 800,000 tumble in March 2009.

One sign of how painfully deep the job losses will likely prove to be: During its nearly decade-long hiring streak, the US economy added 22.8 million jobs. Economists expect the April jobs report, which will be released in early May, will show that all those jobs will have been lost.

Some economists have now forecast that the unemployment rate could go as high as 15 percent within the next month - a rate that hasn't been seen since the Depression in the 1930s. During the Great Recession in the 2000s, unemployment peaked at 10 percent.

With coronavirus cases topping a million worldwide, a quarter of which are in the US where the death toll is more than 6,000, cities have turned into ghost towns and officials are struggling to find ways to ease the ruinous damage to the economy and individuals.

Roughly 90 percent, or 297 million, of the US population is under some form of stay-at-home orders. As a result, many factories, restaurants, stores and other businesses are closed or have seen sales shrivel.

Laid off workers have issues applying for benefits as some employers say they're trying to maintain ties so they can quickly re-hire staffers after the pandemic

Emily Tucker, a sales associate in San Antonio, Texas, said she was laid off after just two weeks on the job. She said she has been trying to file for unemployment benefits for two weeks but can't get in contact with anyone.

'I am stuck with bills to pay, mouths to feed and no job to provide me an income,' Tucker told Good Morning America on Friday.

Jacklyn Balean, who was let go from her job as a chef in Las Vegas two weeks ago, has also been trying to file for job benefits.

'I am running out of all my money, which was not a whole lot to begin with,' she said. 'Now I'm being told by my insurance company that if I can't pay my premium then I have to switch to Medicaid and lose all my benefits.'

Jacklyn Balean (left), who was let go from her job as a chef in Las Vegas two weeks ago, has also been trying to file for job benefits. James Pennyman (right), who lost his photographer job in Houston, Texas, is currently battling cancer for a third time

Nearly 10 million people have filed new claims for unemployment insurance, but that record number doesnt even include the self-employed or undocumented workers. @rebeccajarvis reports. https://t.co/Zqi7ipxBFZ pic.twitter.com/36vUPUAgJm  Good Morning America (@GMA) April 3, 2020

US officially shed 701,000 jobs in March - but statistics do NOT show the worst because they were gathered before millions were laid off in shutdown A record-long streak of U.S. job growth ended suddenly in March after nearly a decade as employers cut 701,000 jobs because of the viral outbreak that's all but shut down the U.S. economy. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% from a 50-year low of 3.5%. Last month's actual job loss was likely even larger because the government surveyed employers before the heaviest layoffs hit in the past two week. Nearly 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in the last two weeks of March, far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record. One sign of how painfully deep the job losses will likely prove to be: During its nearly decade-long hiring streak, the U.S. economy added 22.8 million jobs. Economists expect the April jobs report being released in early May to show that all those jobs will have been lost. As recently as February, employers had added 273,000 jobs. Some economists have now forecast that the unemployment rate could go as high as 15% within the next month. That rate would be the worst since the 1930s. During the Great Recession, unemployment peaked at 10%. Economists at Goldman Sachs have forecast that the economy will shrink at an annual rate of 34% in the April-June quarter - the worse fall on records dating to World War II. Goldman expects the economy to rebound with 19% growth in the third quarter. But even by the end of next year, the economy will not have fully recovered from the damage, Goldman projects. Advertisement

James Pennyman, who lost his photographer job in Houston, Texas, is currently battling cancer for a third time.

'My family, my wife and kids, are my number one concern and I want to make sure they're taken care of,' he said.

While job cuts continue to tear through the US economy, some employers are trying to maintain ties to the staffers they've had to let so they can more quickly rehire them once the pandemic has passed.

Several large retail chains are furloughing workers - a form of temporary job cut that often maintains health insurance - rather than laying them off. Retailers including Macy's, Kohl's Corp and Gap Inc said this week they would furlough tens of thousands of employees as they prepare to keep stores shut for longer.

Many small businesses, too, are keeping in touch with workers they have let go.

One of them is Tracy True, who said she is keeping in touch at least once a week with the 10 furloughed staffers of her clothing store in Vestavia, Alabama.

'As soon as we're given the all clear we'll be back,' True said.

Britney Ruby Miller, co-owner of a chain of steakhouses, said her Cincinnati-based company is paying for health insurance through June for the roughly 600 workers they had to lay off.

The family-run company is also sending weekly updates to its former employees and keeping them on an employee assistance program for those with depression or anxiety.

'The goal is to welcome 100 percent of our employees back,' Miller said.

Macy's has said it will furlough the majority of its 125,000 workers and operate with a minimal workforce after closing its 600 department stores but said it would continue to pay for health insurance for laid-off workers at least through May.

'We expect to bring colleagues back on a staggered basis as business resumes,' Macy's said.

The Gap, too, has furloughed 80,000 workers but will still provide health benefits for them.

While the three major American autoworkers, as well as Honda and Toyota, have closed their factories, their unionized workers are receiving nearly their full salaries from unemployment benefits and payments from the companies. Most expect to return to their jobs.

Dressmaker Flor Hernandez is now selling face masks on the street after losing her job in Los Angeles, California due to coronavirus

Bartender Jessie Klenke, who is on leave from her job due to COVID-19, poses for a photo with her dog Maddux outside her Las Vegas home

Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino table game dealer Kelly Douglas is on leave from her job as the coronavirus pandemic plays out

Ten million Americans are now jobless amid coronavirus pandemic after record 6.6million new unemployment claims are filed in one week The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week has shot to a record 6.6 million - as layoffs increased amid the coronavirus pandemic and more states enforced stay-at-home orders. New claims for unemployment benefits rose to 6.65 million in the week ending March 28, according to figures released by the Department of Labor on Thursday. The number of first-time applications for jobless benefits was double the previous record of 3.3 million new claims filed for the week ending March 21. It means that roughly 10 million Americans have lost their jobs and filed for unemployment in the two weeks that the coronavirus started rapidly spreading across the country. In the same week of last year, only 211,000 people requested benefits for the first time. The new unemployment claims account for the week in which states like New York shuttered non-essential businesses and enforced stay-at-home orders. About 90 percent of Americans are now under some form of lockdown - up from less than 50 percent just a few weeks ago - as the death toll rose to 5,647 as more than 236,086 Americans have tested positive for the virus. All 50 states reported rises in new unemployment claims, according to the report, with Pennsylvania (up 362,012), Ohio (up 189,263) and Massachusetts (up 141,003) reporting the largest increases. In New York, 370,000 people filed new claims last week - an increase of 2,674 percent compared to last year. Meanwhile, in California nearly 900,000 people sought benefits last week, almost four times the previous week's figure, and equivalent to 5 percent of the state's workforce. In Michigan, jobless claims more than doubled last week to 311,000. In Florida, filings tripled to 227,000. In South Dakota, they quadrupled to 6,645. Some of last week's jobless claims could be delayed filings from the previous week when state offices that handle unemployment benefits were overwhelmed by a surge of online and telephone claims. Many of those offices are still struggling to process all the claims they have received, suggesting more claims will be pushed into the following week. There is anecdotal evidence that people who have tried to file claims online have not been able to with some forced to wait five hours to log onto the website and others calling hundreds of times just to get through. Numerous state unemployment agencies have struggled to keep up with the flood of applications for jobless benefits. New York's Labor Department is asking people to file on different days depending on their last names, for example: Monday is reserved for those last names that start with A through F. The government's weekly report, the most timely data on the economy's health, offered the clearest evidence yet that the longest employment boom in US history likely ended in March. Before the virus hit, unemployment in the US was at its lowest in 60 years and the economy was stronger than it had ever been. Advertisement

Caesars Enterainment Corp, which operates the Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas, said Thursday it would furlough about 90 percent of its workforce - accounting for tens of thousands of employees.

Auction houses including Sotheby's and Christie's are also furloughing employees.

The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan also announced on Friday it would lay off about 80 percent of its employees and start cutting pay for its remaining workers.

How long millions of other laid-off employees will remain without work will help determine the depth and duration of a US recession that's almost surely begun and is destined to worsen in coming months.

Workers on temporary layoff typically spend less time unemployed compared with those who permanently lose work and must transition to new industries and acquire new skills.

For the economy to recover relatively fast, many workers would need to return quickly to their former jobs.

But some economists fear that even companies that intend to rehire workers will struggle to do so if the coronavirus outbreak lasts into late summer or fall.

'There is a strong possibility that the crisis goes on long enough that employer-employee relationships will begin to fray,' Martha Gimbel, of Schmidt Futures, said.

The data were released on the same day as the government began a new program to encourage businesses to retain workers and rehire those who were laid off.

Why sweetened layoff benefits may be at odds with US loan program

The generous US unemployment benefits rolled out to blunt the economic harm caused by the coronavirus could have an unintended effect: it may actually be an incentive for companies to choose layoffs rather than keep staff on their books.

That's at odds with a government-backed loan forgiveness program set to launch for small and medium-sized firms that opt against job cuts, so long as the bulk of the money is used to keep staff on at full salary.

The CARES Act passed by Congress a week ago was designed to keep businesses and workers from economic freefall. For workers losing their jobs, an unprecedented expansion in unemployment benefits until the end of July was put in place.

On Friday, millions of firms are expected to apply to lenders approved by the Small Business Administration for low-cost loans that the government says will be forgiven if employers keep people on their payroll through the end of June.

But businesses are already grappling with a tricky equation: which route is best for them and their employees?

'Unemployment insurance, at least short term, is quite generous so the firms may decide that that's a better way to go,' said former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen at a Brookings Institute event earlier this week.

Employers have to weigh up the cost to them of keeping their businesses open even if they have limited or no revenue versus at least some of their workers temporarily earning more by seeking unemployment benefits.

A blanket provision of a $600 weekly unemployment benefit on top of each state's replacement rate of lost wages, which averages about 45% up to a certain salary cap, was implemented by Congress to quickly make more workers whole on their lost paychecks.

Though benefits vary by state, the average unemployment benefit plus the $600 pandemic payout exceeds the weekly median pay of $933. Perhaps 56 million or more workers would be better off temporarily receiving unemployment benefits than staying on the job, Labor Department data shows.

Chief among them are retail and food service industry employees, who have already been hard-hit by states putting in place 'stay at home' orders.

Many economists say a better designed unemployment program would have been to compensate a percentage of wages lost, based on a person's previous salary, but at a much higher rate than during normal times. They point to European programs, such as in the UK, where the government has said it will pay 80% of workers' salaries for firms that keep them on.

Outdated computer systems made it too difficult for states to individually calculate different payments per US worker.

The so-called Paycheck Protection Program, administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), is aimed at keeping businesses with less than 500 employees from having to fire their employees.

Lenders have said they have been inundated as businesses seek a slice of the initial tranche of $350 billion the U.S. government has set aside. Each loan is capped at $10 million and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday the enhanced unemployment benefits are targeted at workers laid off from bigger companies that can't afford to pay them and don't have access to the loan program.

Small businesses, including restaurants, would want to take the loans because they will cover not just payroll but also overhead like rent and utilities, he said.

David von Storch, president and founder of Urban Adventures Companies, which owns the VIDA gym chain as well as Bang Salons in Washington DC, said he plans to apply for the SBA loan, while still pursuing layoffs for employees who would be better off going on unemployment benefits than continue to get his paychecks.

'Under this scenario, we would continue to pay the health insurance of these employees and bring them back as soon as we reopen,' he said.

It also depends on how long businesses think the lockdown orders will last, and whether the economic damage will dampen demand even when they can re-open.

'If their business hasn't dried up completely right now, then the incentive to jump through the hoops to get a loan is much stronger,' said David Wilcox, former head of the Federal Reserve's research and statistics division, now at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

That uncertainty is making firms 'stressed' about what is the best option for both their business as well as employees in the short term, said Holly Wade, director of research for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which represents hundreds of thousands of small and mid-size firms.

It's one thing for those firms to take out the loan and then business picks up after two months, according to Wade. The bigger issue is if demand deteriorates, and they have to close.

'That's a huge concern,' she said.
Sweden has got broad media attention for its soft approach to the new coronavirus outbreak, but it strongly rejects the idea that life is carrying on uninterrupted as the country passes 6,000 confirmed cases. A cradle-to-grave welfare state with strong social protection, Sweden has in recent weeks been accused by some, both internationally and domestically, of risking the lives of its citizens by not taking more stringent measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. "No, it's not business as usual in Sweden," Health Minister Lena Hallengren told international media outlets this week. Sweden has not ordered a lockdown, instead issuing recommendations and calling on citizens to "each take responsibility" and follow the guidelines. Hallengren, who together with Deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lovin and Foreign Minister Ann Linde held a special briefing for international media, stressed that the Nordic country had introduced a string of measures and was ready to do more if needed. People over the age of 70 and in risk groups have been strongly encouraged to avoid contact with other people, and higher education institutions have been advised to conduct classes remotely. Economic measures have been adopted to make sick leave less costly, and people have been repeatedly asked to work from home and self-isolate at the slightest symptom of the new coronavirus. Among the stricter measures are bans on gatherings of more than 50 people and on visits to nursing homes. The ministers stressed the recommendations were having a noticeable effect. They estimated that about 70 percent fewer people were moving about the city centre, and one-third of Stockholmers were now working from home. But in stark contrast to much of Europe and its Nordic neighbours, restaurants and primary schools remain open. And even though the streets of Stockholm - the epicentre of Sweden's outbreak - are less bustling than usual, it's far from a ghost town. - 'Russian roulette' - "Everyone is responsible for their own well-being, for their neighbours and their own local community. This applies in a normal situation, and it applies in a crisis situation," Linde said, stressing that public trust was a key element of Sweden's strategy. So far the approach seems to resonate with voters. A poll published earlier this week by analyst firm Novus showed that faith in the government was significantly up in March, with 44 percent of respondents saying they had a lot or a great amount of trust in Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, up from 26 percent in February. However, not all are fans of the Swedish approach. Marcus Carlsson, a mathematician at Lund University, went so far as to accuse Sweden of playing "Russian roulette with the Swedish population," in a video posted to YouTube and cited by The Guardian among others. And a study published last week in the medical journal The Lancet, titled "COVID-19: Learning from Experience," said that the "initial slow response in countries such as the UK, the USA, and Sweden now looks increasingly poorly judged." As of Friday, Sweden had reported 6,078 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, with 333 deaths. On Wednesday, state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell at the country's Public Health Agency said that while Sweden had observed a relatively flat curve for several weeks, it was now seeing "a fairly steep curve". Healthcare services have reported shortages in equipment, but they have so far not been overrun like in Italy and Spain. However, Stockholm plans to open its first field hospital this weekend amid a sharp rise in cases in the capital. Public broadcaster Swedish Radio also reported on Thursday that a third of the country's municipalities had confirmed or suspected cases of the new coronavirus in elderly care facilities. - Trust being questioned - Speaking to AFP, Foreign Minister Ann Linde conceded that she did receive a lot of questions from foreign counterparts about Sweden's response, but said this was in part because of disinformation. Linde said her government had "the same goal as every other government," the main difference being that most of Sweden's measures were not legally binding. According to Linde, this can partly be explained by Sweden's tradition of ministries taking their cue from expert authorities, and that citizens typically have high a level of trust in politicians and authorities. "But politicians and authorities also trust people to take responsibility," she said. However, as cases have increased, that trust in authorities is being questioned. Last week, a group of 14 scientists wrote an op-ed in newspaper Dagens Nyheter asking the Public Health Agency for more transparency, questioning why Sweden had stayed its course when others, like the UK, followed the rest of Europe with tougher measures. "Different countries have different conditions, but we struggle to see why the Swedish context is so different from the British," they wrote.
Its happening. After a few unsuccessful attempts to convince a judge to permit an early release, Tekashi 6ix9ine was finally granted his request.

The rapper  whose real name is Daniel Hernandez  will be leaving jail ahead of schedule due to health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The news was announced on April 2.

Tekashi 6ix9ine | MICHAEL CAMPANELLA/Redferns/Getty Images

Tekashi 6ix9ines request was recently shot down

In March, the rappers attorneys asked US District Judge Paul Engelmayer to release Tekashi 6ix9ine to home confinement. Citing his asthma as a medical vulnerability in the wake of coronavirus, they wanted the judge to consider his health.

At the time, the judge denied the request. But according to the New York Times, he wrote a note of instructive guidance for the Bureau of Prisons stating he could not have known that the final four months of Mr. Hernandezs sentence would be served at a time of a worldwide pandemic to which persons with asthma, like Mr. Hernandez, have heightened vulnerability.

Under the circumstances, Judge Engelmayer added, Had the Court known that sentencing Mr. Hernandez to serve the final four months of his term in a federal prison would have exposed him to a heightened health risk, the Court would have directed that these four months be served instead in home confinement.

Tekashi 6ix9ine leaves federal detention center

On December 18, 2019, 6ix9ine was sentenced to two years in prison with five years of supervised release plus community service. At the time of his sentencing, hed already served 13 months. Originally, he would have been freed on July 31, 2020.

According to The Associated Press, Judge Engelmayer made the ruling on April 1 that Tekashi 6ix9ine be released from the Manhattan facility where he was being housed.

In light of the heightened medical risk presented to Mr. Hernandez by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are extraordinary and compelling reasons to reduce Mr. Hernandezs sentence.

Prosecutors did not fight the decision, and the rapper was transported to a residence to complete his sentence in home confinement, Vulture reported.

Per the outlet, the judge issued the order on April 1, but things were kept under wraps until April 2 to ensure Tekashi 6ix9ines safety. He was serving time in a private institution due his cooperation with the federal government as a witness.

R. Kelly and Bill Cosby want out early too

Tekashi 6ix9ine isnt the only famous person who asked for a compassionate release because of coronavirus. Bill Cosby, who is serving 3 to 10 years in a Pennsylvania prison, wants a judge to consider sending him home and placing him on house arrest.

His attorneys argue that he is elderly, blind, and susceptible to the virus. According to the New York Times, the petition will be filed soon.

R. Kelly is currently in a Chicago jail awaiting trial, and last week, his lawyers filed a petition to request bail. They also cite Kellys health, social distancing practices in jail, and the coronavirus pandemic.

Per the Chicago Tribune, prosecutors do not want him granted bond, stating his crimes make him a threat and he is not high risk. A decision has not been made.
The Zacks Foreign Banks Industry consists of overseas banks that also have operations in the United States. Since a foreign banking organization might have both federally- and state-chartered offices in the United States, the Federal Reserve plays a key role in supervising their U.S. operations.



In addition to providing a broad range of products and services to U.S. customers, these banks offer financial services to their corporate clients having businesses in the United States.



Moreover, these financial firms establish relations with U.S. corporations operating in their home country. Some units of foreign banks offer a broad range of both wholesale and retail services, along with conducting money-market transactions for their parent organizations, while others involve in developing only specialized services.



Here are the three major themes in the industry:



Escalating economic uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus crisis might affect overseas banking transactions further. The COVID-19 pandemic has shattered business confidence, looming over corporate earnings and global growth. Moreover, monetary-policy normalization induced by some central banks across the globe to combat the crisis are expected to further impact foreign banking activities.



Near-term growth prospects of foreign banks are being called into question due to the weak recovery expected by banks in developed nations and the prevalent troubles faced by the financial firms in most emerging economies due to the outbreak. Amid the current turbulence, monetary-policy normalization varies across nations, with the developed ones  which are homes to a number of major foreign banks  being on the rise but might not be supportive for foreign banking operations.



Sluggishness in global economic growth might dampen the prospects for rising banking activities. Further, foreign banks in the United States are trying to push the Fed to get some regulatory relief in terms of capital requirements, which are perceived to be too high for carrying out operations profitably.

Story continues

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bleak Prospects



The Zacks Foreign Banks Industry is a 60-stock group within the broader Zacks Finance Sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #207, which places it at the bottom 19% 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 continued underperformance in the near term. 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.



The industrys positioning in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of bleak earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually losing confidence in this groups earnings growth potential. Since May 2019, the industrys earnings estimate for the current year has been revised 17.5% downward.



Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, lets take a look at the industrys recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.



Industry Lags on Shareholder Returns



The Zacks Foreign Banks Industry has underperformed both the S&P 500 and its own sector in the past year.



While the stocks in this industry have collectively depreciated 39.1%, the Zacks S&P 500 composite and Zacks Finance Sector have lost around 10.2% and 23.1%, respectively.



One-Year Price Performance



Industrys Valuation



One might get a good sense of the industrys relative valuation by looking at its price-to-tangible book ratio (P/TBV), which is commonly used for valuing banks because of large variations in their earnings results from one quarter to the next.



The industry, currently, has a trailing 12-month P/TBV of 0.87X. When compared with the highest level of 2.09X and median level of 1.67X over the past five years, there is apparently plenty of upside left.



Additionally, the industry is trading at lower levels when compared with the market at large, as the trailing 12-month P/TBV for the S&P 500 is 9.76X and the median level is 9.15X.



Price-to-Tangible Book Ratio (TTM)



As finance stocks typically have a lower P/TBV ratio, comparing foreign banks with the S&P 500 might not make sense to many investors. But a comparison of the groups P/TBV ratio with that of its broader sector ensures that it is trading at a decent discount. The Zacks Finance Sectors trailing 12-month P/TBV of 2.30X and the median level of 3.46X for the same period are way above the Zacks Foreign Banks Industrys respective ratios.



Price-to-Tangible Book Ratio (TTM)



Bottom Line



While the developed nations are yet to make the backdrop favorable for their banks, nothing similar is anticipated even from the emerging economies any time soon. Furthermore, the industry is unlikely to tide over the broader challenges due to the coronavirus crisis in the near future. Nonetheless, it would be wise to bet on a few foreign bank stocks with stellar earnings outlook.



We are presenting four stocks with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) that investors may consider betting on.



(You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.)

4 Foreign Banks to Bet on



KB Financial Group Inc (KB): Shares of this South Korea-based bank have lost 38.6% in three months time. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the 2020 EPS has remained unchanged, in the last 30 days.

Price and Consensus: KB



Macro Bank Inc. (BMA): Shares of this Buenos Aires, Argentina-based bank depreciated 53.4% in the past three months. The consensus EPS estimate for the current year climbed around 1%, over the past 30 days.

Price and Consensus: BMA



BBVA Banco Frances S.A. (BBAR): The ongoing-year consensus EPS estimate for this Buenos Aires, the Republic of Argentina-based bank moved 8.8% north, in 30 days time. The stock has plummeted 52%, over the past three months.

Price and Consensus: BBAR



Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd (SHG): The stock of this Seoul, South Korea-based bank has depreciated 41.1% in the past three months. The consensus EPS estimate for this year has remained unrevised in the last 30 days.

Price and Consensus: SHG



5 Stocks Set to Double





Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.



Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.



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Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd (SHG) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Macro Bank Inc. (BMA) : Free Stock Analysis Report



BBVA Banco Frances S.A. (BBAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
State-owned Air India's pilot unions on Friday opposed the 10 per cent cut in employees' allowances, terming the decision as "unequal" and that goes against the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to the companies to ensure that the salaries of the employees are not slashed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In a joint letter to Air India chief Rajiv Bansal on Friday, the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) and Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said the reduction in allowance was against the labour and employment ministry's advisory to all employers of public or private establishments not to terminate their employees or reduce their wages.

"We, the flying crew of Air India feel, immensely let down by the self-serving approach of the Executive Management Committee in the name of cost cutting measures. The committee has completely disregarded the appeal made by the prime minister and the advisory from the labour and employment ministry," the pilot unions said.

Two days after Modi's appeal during his televised address to the nation on imposition of a 21-day lockdown to curb spread of the coranvirus infection, to companies not to cut employees salaries (due to the lockdown), Air India decided to reduce 10 per cent of allowances paid to all employees, except cabin crew, for a period of three months to tide over the economic fallout of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The reduction, however, did not impact the basic pay, house rent allowance and variable dearness allowance.

On March 18, the airline had decided to withdraw special allowance to pilots while revising downward the layover allowance for cabin crew. Significantly, flying allowance accounts for as much as 70 per cent in a pilots' salaries.

"By effecting a 10 per cent cut in allowances for all employees, the category that has been affected the most are pilots. Flying-related allowances of pilots' wages allowances constitute to 70 per cent of the gross emoluments.

"By affecting a cut only on allowances, the directors and senior management executives have deviously exempted themselves from any meaningful austerity cut as their allowances are extremely small while pilots and cabin crew who are the frontline warriors flying and risking their lives, are forced to bear the maximum cut," the unions said in the letter.

It also said that the fact remains that the core of an airline is the airplanes and the staff who keep them flying and that every other department exists to support them in this endeavour.

"As you are aware, the flying allowance is not paid on-time. While all the other employees are paid in full, flying crew alone are made to bear the brunt with delayed flying allowance. Implementation of sham austerity measures to cut the flying allowances on top of all this would be adding insult to injury," it said.

Reminding the management that "many flying crew" are held at "home quarantine/self-quarantine" after operating international and special flights, the unions said "one of our crew has been diagnosed COVID-19 positive and is hospitalised".

The pilot unions, in the letter, also questioned the airline's decision to enter into a contract with other countries to repatriate their citizens on commercial charters which does not come under the purview of the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

"We are hopeful you will treat all your employees equally. The pay cut on allowance is unequal, and not acceptable to us. We request you to advise the senior executive management to rise above self during these testing times, to draw up fair cost cutting measures and not to manipulate the system to safeguard their salaries by merely burdening the frontline soldiers of the national carrier," the letter stated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
David C. Driskell, an artist, art historian, art collector, art teacher, author and curator who became a primary sponsor and advocate for the role of African American art in the national culture, died April 1 at a hospital in Washington, D.C. He was 88.

The cause was complications from the novel coronavirus, said Rodney Moore, his nephew and arts manager.

As an artist, Driskell was best known for a 1956 painting, "Behold Thy Son," a graphic representation of the mutilated corpse of Emmett Till, a black 14-year-old lynched in Mississippi the year before for allegedly flirting with a white woman.

Driskell served on the art faculties of several historically black colleges but was best known for his affiliation with the University of Maryland from 1977 to 1998. The university's Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora, founded in 2001, was named in his honor.

In addition, Driskell wrote several books on African American art and became an artistic adviser to television star Bill Cosby and his wife, Camille, recommending hundreds of pieces by black artists for their private collection. When Bill Cosby phoned him, he initially thought it was a prank. "I thought my brother-in-law was playing a trick on me," he told a Smithsonian Institution interviewer. "We would call back and forth and pretend we were celebrities, imitating different people's voices from time to time."

In 1976 he curated "Two Centuries of Black American Art" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art - an exhibition of more than 200 works by 63 artists that Thelma Golden, a New York curator, later described to The Washington Post as "a watershed in both its scholarly approach and popularity."

Yet the exposition was not universally acclaimed when it reached New York's Brooklyn Museum in 1977, and New York Times art critic Hilton Kramer wrote that the show was more "social history" than art, that some of its art was "mediocre" and through important commissions came across as scattershot. Defending the exhibit on national television, Driskell criticized Kramer and told NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw that all art is a form of social history.

Driskell was said to have amassed one of the most comprehensive private collections in the country of mostly African American and African art. But his holdings also included a Rembrandt etching that Driskell said he found in Denmark and bought for $10, and a Matisse linocut he acquired at an Alexandria, Virginia, flea market for $3.

His own paintings include landscapes, images of chairs and themes from the Bible. He designed stained glass windows for Peoples Congregational Church in Washington, which he attended. For a chapel at the historically black Talladega College in Alabama, he also designed stained-glass windows.

His work "Behold Thy Son" is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture. It's described in the museum's catalogue as a "modern-day Pieta ... depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Christ following his crucifixion. ... Driskell's powerful tribute to this tragic event is a testament to a mother's loss of her son."

David Clyde Driskell was born in Eatonton, Georgia, on June 7, 1931, and grew up in the Appalachian community of Hollis, North Carolina, in a stone house that was accessible only by a dirt road. He was the youngest of four children and the only boy.

His father was a blacksmith who also made furniture and served as pastor of two Baptist churches. His mother wove baskets from bulrushes and pine needles and made quilts.

As a boy, he ducked household chores and excelled in school. "I guess I was the only kid who showed any interest in art when I was in grade school, which was a one-room segregated schoolhouse," he told the Baltimore Sun. "So my teachers prevailed on me to do everything that looked like it was art."

Driskell was the first in his family to go to college. But he didn't know that to go to college he had to apply. He just showed up one day at Howard University and talked his way in.

He courted a fellow student, Thelma Deloatch, by taking her to church services and movies. They married in 1952. In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Daviryne McNeill and Daphne Cole, all of Hyattsville, Maryland; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Driskell said he was on a pathway to becoming a history teacher before an encounter at Howard with painter Howard Porter, who become his mentor and persuaded Driskell to switch his major. He graduated in 1955, taught art at Talladega College in Alabama (where he painted "Behold Thy Son"), then returned to the Washington area and received a master's degree in fine arts at Catholic University in 1962.

He taught at Howard and then at Fisk University in Tennessee from 1966 to 1977, a period when he curated and wrote catalogues on 40 exhibits, including the work of such artists as Aaron Douglas, Jacob Lawrence, Palmer Hayden and Alma Thomas.

In Hyattsville, Driskell lived in an old Victorian-style house with a historic-landmark plaque. "Students regularly crowd into the house to soak up its warmth and eat his gumbo or his wife Thelma's sweet potato pie," according a 1998 Washington Post profile.

"This is a man who doesn't need to thunder," the article continued. "His speaking style combines the cadence of a minister, the restraint of a gentleman, the erudition of a scholar and the irreverence of an artist. ... He is of that generation of Southern black men and women who got where they were going through gentle but persistent nudging."

Outside his house was a yard replete with flowers, vegetables, vines and trees, including a leafless bottle tree surrounded by bottles of soda and milk of magnesia.

Sometimes Dr. Driskell would tell guests that the tree was a "spirit catcher" intended to honor his parents.

"Art was always functional for African people," he told The Post. "If there is anything different for us, it's how we deal with the arts and deal with history."
ZEELAND, Mich., April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gentex Corporation (GNTX), the Zeeland, Michigan-based supplier of digital vision, connected car, dimmable glass, and fire protection technologies, is pleased to announce that it will release its first quarter 2020 financial results on Friday, April 24, before the market opens. The Company will host a conference call for the investment community at 9:30am ET to discuss the results. The call will also be available to the general public via a live audio webcast.



The dial-in number to participate in the call is 1-844-389-8658, passcode 4182544. Participants may listen to the call via audio streaming at www.gentex.com or by visiting https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/f2wkbro9 .

A webcast replay will be available approximately 24 hours after the conclusion of the call at http://ir.gentex.com/events-and-presentations/upcoming-past-events .

Contact Information:

Gentex Investor Relations

616-772-1590 x5814
The Editors Guild of India has said it is "deeply perturbed" over the government blaming the media in the Supreme Court for causing panic among migrant workers, leading to their exodus in the wake of the lockdown, and asserted that such actions could obstruct the process of dissemination of

In a strongly-worded statement, the Guild said blaming the media at this juncture can only undermine the current work being done by it under trying circumstances.

"The Editors Guild of India is deeply perturbed over the recent government statement before the Supreme Court putting the blame on the media for causing panic among migrant workers leading to their mass movement in the wake of the lockdown," the statement said.

This led the apex court to observe that while it didn't want to inhibit the debate on the pandemic in any way, the media should refer to and publish the official version of the developments pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic, the Guild said in the statement issued Thursday night.

The Guildstated that it holds the court in the highest respect, but finds this advice "gratuitous and unnecessary".

Such charges can also obstruct in the process of dissemination of during an unprecedented crisis facing the country, it said.

"No democracy anywhere in the world is fighting the pandemic by gagging its media," it said.

The Guild also hit out at the lodging of a First Information Report against the Editor-in-Chief of the website TheWire.

"A police action in the form of an FIR under criminal laws at this stage is an overreaction and an act of intimidation," the Guild said.

Any such intimidation of the media or blaming the media for mass migration of workers will be counterproductive, it said, adding that such actions will be tantamount to disabling the messenger.

"The Guild believes for sure that the media must be responsible, free and fair. But such interference can only undermine those goals," the statement said.

Taking a serious note of the panic caused among migrant workers due to fake news, the top court had earlier this week 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 had said the migration of a large number of labourers working in the cities was triggered by panic created by fake that the lockdown would continue for more than three months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
03.04.2020 LISTEN

In the matter of the Receiverships of 347 Microfinance companies and the 23 savings and loan companies, the Receiver has issued a statement to announce the commencement of bond payments.

In a statement issued on Thursday 2nd April 2020, the Receivership gave an account that As at Tuesday 31 March 2020, of the GHS1bn cash component of Governments funding made available to the Receiver/Official Liquidator on 24 February 2020, approximately GHS920mhas been disbursed, leaving an amount of approximately GHS80mto be distributed to relevant depositors of the above-resolved entities and Micro Credit institutions placed in official liquidation.

The statement went further to inform of the commencement of bond payments. Notice is hereby given that with effect from Thursday 2 April 2020, Consolidated Bank Ghana Ltd (CBG) will be issuing a Government-backed non- interest bearing Financial Instrument worth approximately GHS4bnto depositors of the above institutions whose validated and agreed claims in the resolution exercises have not been fully extinguished by the application of the GHS1bn cash component of Governments funding provided for this purpose, the release stated.

The Receivership stated that Depositors should note further that SMS messages will be sent from the Receiver/Official Liquidator to relevant depositors, setting out their Account numbers and the amounts credited to their Non-Interest-bearing Accounts held at CBG.

See full release and modalities below:

IN THE MATTER OF THE BANKS AND SPECIALISED DEPOSIT-TAKING INSTITUTIONS ACT, 2016(ACT 930)

AND

IN THE MATTER OF THE RECEIVERSHIPS OF 347 MICROFINANCE COMPANIES AND THE 23 SAVINGS AND LOANS AND FINANCE HOUSE COMPANIES

AND

NOTICE OF FULL PAYMENTS TO DEPOSITORS OF RESOLVED MICROFINANCE, AND SAVINGS AND LOANS AND FINANCE HOUSE COMPANIES WHOSE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN VALIDATED IN THE RESOLUTION PROCESS

In line with Governments commitment to protect depositors funds and to shore up public confidence in the financial system, Government has made available to the Receiver of the above resolved companies, as well as the Official Liquidator of the Micro Credit Companies in official liquidation, a combination of cash and Financial Instrument totalling approximately GHS5bn to fully settle outstanding depositor claims of these institutions.

As at Tuesday 31 March 2020, of the GHS1bn cash component of Governments funding made available to the Receiver/Official Liquidator on 24 February 2020, approximately GHS920m has been disbursed, leaving an amount of approximately GHS80m to be distributed to relevant depositors of the above resolved entities and Micro Credit institutions placed in official liquidation.

Notice is hereby given that with effect from Thursday 2 April 2020, Consolidated Bank Ghana Ltd (CBG) will be issuing a Government backed non- interest bearing Financial Instrument worth approximately GHS4bn to depositors of the above institutions whose validated and agreed claims in the resolution exercises have not been fully extinguished by the application of the GHS1bn cash component of Governments funding provided for this purpose.

The main features of the Government backed Financial Instrument are as follows:

Coupon Rate : Zero coupon rate i.e. Non-interest bearing

: Zero coupon rate i.e. Non-interest bearing Tenor : 5 Years

: 5 Years Draw downs : 10 Equal instalments every six months

: 10 Equal instalments every six months Timing of First draw down payment: 31 March 2021.

Depositors should please note that based on information to be provided by the Receiver/Official Liquidator on depositors due for payment, CBG will open Non Interest bearing Accounts for all depositors whose validated and agreed claim(s) remain outstanding after cash payments have been made to them by the Receiver/Official Liquidator, to defray part of their deposit claims in the resolution exercises.

Depositors should note further that SMS messages will be sent from the Receiver/Official Liquidator to relevant depositors, setting out their Account numbers and the amounts credited to their Non Interest bearing Accounts held at CBG.

The Receiver and Official Liquidator are in discussions with CBG aimed at providing depositors the opportunity to liquidate portions of their Account balances prior to the first draw down date of 31 March 2021.

Stakeholders may direct all questions or clarifications on the above to the coordinates below:

Tel: 024 243 9441/ 0550000966

www.ghreceiverships.com

SGD

ERIC NANA NIPAH
Israel Tolentino was born to be a firefighter.

It wasnt out of a love of the uniform, though Tolentino beamed with pride everyday he walked out wearing the Passaic Fire Department emblem. It wasnt even out of a mountain of bravery or a penchant for running towards the flames.

It was, his wife Maria Vazquez said, because he couldnt help but be selfless.

It fulfilled his urge to serve others, said Vazquez, his wife of more than 10 years. He was so selfless. It drew me closer to him. It drew everyone closer to him.

On Tuesday morning, Tolentino, 33, died from complications with the coronavirus after battling it for nearly two weeks. The Passaic firefighter leaves behind Vazquez and their two children, daughter Ailani, 9, and son Israel III, 7.

Tolentino also leaves behind a gaping hole in the city of Passaic where the man many called Nudge or Izzy protected and served people with an easy smile and a relentless push to help others before himself.

Passaic firefighter Israel Tolentino, 33, died from complications with the coronavirus.

Always a firefighter

When Vazquez met Tolentino at their church Iglesia De Dios in November 2003, sparks did not immediately fly, Vazquez said.

After growing up in Paterson, moving to Puerto Rico for a few years, then returning to Paterson, Tolentino had few roots in Passaic other than the church, she said. And their initial relationship was one of dutiful worship and little romance.

But day after day of meeting in the pews of their church coaxed a friendship to grow into more.

Talks after church services soon became a regular date, with conversations stretching all night - to 5 or 7 a.m. - before either realized the time, she said. Soon, it was clear that the two were more than just friends.

On July 25, 2004, the two started dating.

And five years to the day, in keeping with Tolentinos attention to detail, the two were married, she said.

Throughout their time together, Tolentino, who also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, was always a firefighter, said Vazquez.

When the two met, Tolentino was a volunteer at the fire department and first aid squad in West Paterson, now Woodland Park. And for years, he was also a member of the Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC) and at Cardinal Ambulance Corps, in Totowa.

When he moved to Passaic with Vazquez, Tolentino would volunteer as an EMT and as a member of the citys community emergency response team, part of its Office of Emergency Management.

But every volunteer job Tolentino took was with his lifelong dream in mind: becoming a Passaic firefighter. It all started when he met Manny Rivera, his uncle and a former battalion chief in Paterson.

Hes the son I never had, said Rivera, who recently retired from the fire department. My daughter has actually compared the two of us like we were twins. He did look up to me and I always tried to guide him in the right direction.

Meeting Tolentino when he was an adult, Rivera shared the same sense of humor, constantly making each other and those around them break out into fits of laughter. When the two had free time, theyd ride side by side on chopper motorcycles, Rivera said.

And in December 2018, after years of setbacks and difficulties, Tolentino finally fulfilled his dream. And his mentor Rivera was there to pin the fire department badge on him.

"He finally got on and I was very proud of him, said Rivera, holding back tears.

Passaic Emergency Medical Service personnel hold a candlelight vigil April 1, 2020 at the home of 33-year-old Passaic firefighter Israel Tolentino, who died from the COVID-19 virus.Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Izzy cared more about everyone first

Tolentinos life as a father, husband and a firefighter were all defined by a drive to help others, his friends said.

Longtime friend Cesar Perez, an EMS supervisor in Passaic, recalled Tolentino not taking no for an answer when it came to help. After Perezs wife suffered a stroke, Tolentino, or Nudge as Perez called him, would constantly check on the man he called viejo" and abuelo: which means old man and grandpa.

'You sure you dont need anything?' was his answer to me, whenever I tried to change the conversation," Perez said. I made the mistake of telling him about some car problems my daughter was having. He quickly told me to pick up the keys to a black Mustang he was working on.

Sometimes, Tolentino would refuse the payments Perez would give him.

Izzy cared more about everyone first, Perez said. I have been so lucky to have been graced by his presence, his intoxicating smile and the love he imparted. I have lost a 'grandson, a brother Marine, a truest friend. I consider myself fortunate to have had the times I spent by his side.

The funeral procession for 33-year-old firefighter Israel Tolentino who died from the COVID-19 virus, on Thursday morning in Passaic. 04/02/2020Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

A final farewell

Standing in the Wednesday dusk, fellow EMTs lined up outside Tolentinos house, holding candles, clad in face masks and gloves, and socially distanced - a stark reminder of the pandemic that permeates the world and threatens first responders like Tolentino, who remained on the frontlines of the outbreak.

Vazquez stood on her porch and looked out at the rows of men and women who came to pay their last respects to her husband, a man who at the age of 33 had mentored many of them. Looking out at the masked men and women, their children - Ailani, who Tolentino called his princess," and Israel, who Tolentino always called my best friend" - stood at her side.

On Thursday morning, his funeral procession took off from Alvarez Funeral Home. A Passaic fire truck, with red and blue lights flashing and its sharp sirens blaring, passed by rows of cherry blossoms, following the hearse that would bring Tolentino to his final resting place at the East Ridgelawn Cemetery, in Clifton.

Due to state law meant to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, only 10 of Tolentinos closest friends and family would be able to attend the burial ceremony, a final cruel jab from the virus that took his life.

At the burial, the family and friends, all in masks, left flowers, as Tolentinos son and namesake Israel clutched his fathers fire helmet.

Days after their father and husband had died, thinking about Tolentino was painful, bringing back into focus the harsh reality and the road ahead for the family, said Vazquez. But it was also inevitable that more than a few minutes remembering Tolentino would end in laughter, she said.

We have moments where we break down and we cry, his wife said. Then we have moments where we start thinking of him and when you start thinking of him you cant do anything but laugh."

The family of fallen 33-year-old firefighter Israel Tolentino watches from their porch as Passaic Emergency Medical Service personnel hold a candlelight vigil at his home on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

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Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon.
For Withers, who died on Monday at 81, repetition was central to his songcraft from the start. The West Virginia native got a famously late break, having spent his late 20s doing repetitive work in Californias airplane factories, reciting musical ideas over and over in his head so as not to forget them before the end of his shift. When he officially entered the record business at age 31, he was wise enough to be properly repulsed by it, and he resolved to approach his songwriting in a broad-minded way. You can make songs about trucks, ducks, Withers told a Dutch television crew in 2011. Everything you could possibly think or feel or imagine, whether youre happy or homicidal or whatever  theres probably a song for it.
Spirits maker Beam Suntory on Friday said it is partnering the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) to pledge support of Rs 1 crore to be used to provide relief to thousands of staff of member restaurants and their families during the lockdown period.

With the lockdown of restaurants and bars across India to maintain social distancing, several thousand members of the hospitality community have been affected financially, the company said in a statement.

"The global pandemic has threatened the survival of many businesses, especially the food and beverages (F&B) industry, at a time when it was emerging strongly in India," Beam Suntory India Managing Director Neeraj Kumar said.

He further said, "Although we are confident that the industry will rebuild and continue to thrive after this crisis, the current economic anxiety is spilling over to thousands of dedicated professionals who have passionately supported the industry with their talent."



Through these initiatives, Kumar said, "We want to give back to our partners in the F&B community. They are our greatest champions and we want to support them in these difficult times."



NRAI President Anurag Katriar said, "This corpus will enable NRAI to extend helping hand to its members and their employees in times of such unprecedented crisis."He said the restaurant is going through some very trying times and the support from Beam Suntory is extremely reassuring and encouraging and the gesture will further cement the relationship between the F&B fraternity and the company.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JACKSON, MI  While people are doing what they can to halt the growing spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by novel coronavirus, it has not been an easy endeavor.

From more than 100 inmates being released from the jail, to school districts reacting to the end of in-person classes for the remainder of the school year, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way of life for everyone.

Aside from the increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases being confirmed throughout the week, a variety of other coronavirus-related stories have been done in the Jackson County community to keep people informed on whats going on and how everyone is coping.

Here are the top coronavirus headlines from Jackson County and the surrounding area you may have missed this week.

Coronavirus crisis in pictures: How people in Jackson and Ann Arbor are battling the outbreak

The coronavirus pandemic has upended lives all across the globe  including right here in Michigan.

Throughout the outbreak, MLive photographers have spent time with people all over the state  police chiefs, shop owners, politicians and regular everyday residents  as they go about their days, many in isolation. These are just some of the pictures our photographers have captured, the portraits of a pandemic in Michigan.

Jackson jail releasing inmates to help mitigate coronavirus spread

The Jackson County Jail has released inmates to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

At least 114 inmates have been released, Sheriff Steve Rand said. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order March 29, which allows for the release of inmates in vulnerable populations, including those with chronic health conditions and the elderly.

Coronavirus pandemic changes hiring practices with virtual job fair

Medical marijuana sales have grown enormously during the COVID-19 pandemic and Common Citizen is hiring, its CEO said.

The company is hosting a virtual job fair every Tuesday and Thursday for the foreseeable future, CEO Michael Elias said. Common Citizens grow operation is based in Marshall.

Compliant but compassionate, Jackson County superintendents react to school closings

With all K-12 schools closed for the remainder of the school year, Jackson County educators are creating plans to continue teaching students.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Thursday, April 2, closing the schools as cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by novel coronavirus, continue to grow daily.

With 45,000 meals distributed, its not just for the impoverished, Jackson school district says

More than 45,000 free meals have been distributed in 12 days by Jackson Public Schools.

The meals are being provided while all K-12 schools are closed amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The district started giving out meals March 16.

Henry Ford Allegiance Health doesnt need homemade face masks, officials say

Henry Ford Allegiance Health is no longer accepting donations of hand-sewn masks, according to an email from hospital officials.

The hospital has enough face masks for the foreseeable future and has an industrial sewing company to make masks as a last resort. Such sewn masks are not considered personal protective equipment, officials said.

Hillsdale Hospital asks for donations, creates support signs during COVID-19 crisis

Hillsdale Hospital is asking the community to show support of medical workers during the novel coronavirus pandemic via donations of personal protective equipment.

The hospital has specifically asked for donations of N95 or higher health-grade or construction-grade masks, Nitrile or latex-free exam gloves of all sizes, single-use surgery masks, multi-use cloth or homemade masks, bleach wipes, isolation gowns and empty pump bottles from hand sanitizer or soap.

Hillsdale College donates 12,000 gloves, sanitizer supply to hospital

Rather than lend a hand during the novel coronavirus pandemic, Hillsdale College lent thousands of gloves to the many hands working at Hillsdale Hospital.

The school donated more than 12,000 latex gloves and enough supply to make 20 gallons of hand sanitizer, a news release states.

Jackson-area theater brings monologues, hope to living rooms amid coronavirus crisis

The set for a youth production of Madagascar  A Musical Adventure Jr. is sitting on stage at The Sauk, Jonesvilles community theater, and its only company for three weeks has been a ghost light.

After 40 children performed to a limited audience on opening night, March 13, , the theater announced it would close for three weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak. That time frame has since been lengthened and two shows have been postponed.

Northwest schools celebrate spirit week from home with dancing, crazy hair

The halls of Northwest Community Schools have been empty for nearly three weeks, but staff and students are still finding ways to come together.

With all schools closed across the state amid the coronavirus outbreak, and talk of not reopening this school year, Northwest High School choir director Matt Snell decided to start a virtual dance party between staff from each of the districts schools. A few days and some video editing later, a virtual spirit week was announced.

Heres how Jacksons small businesses can apply for relief funds amid coronavirus outbreak

The Michigan Small Business Relief Program is offering grants for businesses with less than 50 employees and loans for business with less than 100 employees. Businesses cant receive both a grant and a loan, according to a news release from The Enterprise Group of Jackson, which coordinates economic development initiatives in Jackson County.

United Way establishes Jackson supply donation sites amid coronavirus crisis

The United Way of Jackson County is the community to lend a helping hand amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The organization helped to create a community collaborative called Jackson COVID-19 Action Network, JCAN. To ensure community members basic needs are met, JCAN has opened two donation sites in Jackson County for hard-to-find items.
With things slipping into semi-dystopian reality local governments are learning to serve the public in new ways. Here are some links, updates and the whats up from our local governments.

All Together Now Stay Home

Bernalillo County and the city of Albuquerque are on the same page when it comes to following the directives set by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for the State of New Mexico to try to stop the spread of the virus. These include physical distancing, stay at home orders and the shut-down of non-essential businesses.

Governor Lujan Grishams team set up a webpage to let people know what type of help is available through the state agencies such as how to get unemployment and health care. There is a lot of information here to help guide New Mexicans through the foreseeable future. Here is the link - https:/ / www. newmexico. gov .

Mayor Tim Keller and County Manager Julie Morgas Baca along their teams have closed city and county buildings to the public. But doing business with the clerks, planning and permitting folks, and payment to the local water authority still can be done online or regular mail. City buses are running but on an abbreviated schedule. Senior citizen essential services are continuing. The grocery store plastic bag ban is off for the foreseeable future as reusable bags might be germ bombs.

Bernalillo County links to assistance can be found here  https:/ / www. bernco. gov .

City of Albuquerques pile of helpful information is here - https://www.cabq.gov .

Worker Bee Help

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions has waived the work search requirements for workers who have had their hours reduced or have lost their jobs completely because of COVID-19. Help is also available for those who have had to self-isolate or have immediate family who is isolated. Be patient when you call, because since the pandemic broke out, more than 586,000 calls have rung into the unemployment folks. On the flip side there are jobs and hiring being advertised in the supply chain businesses, medical services and other businesses deemed essential. For more information check out www.jobs.state.nm.us .

Business Help

There will be $500,000 in grant money available for Albuquerque businesses impacted by the COVID-19 virus. The Micro-Business Relief Program will provide working capital grants of up to $5,000 for qualifying businesses. The State of New Mexico has several programs to try to help our small businesses stay afloat. One big chunk is the states access to Small Business Disaster Loan Assistance money to provide up to $2 million in relief to small businesses and non-profits in all 33 counties. There are many other programs available on the state, county and city COVID-19 webpages.

Roof Over Heads

The New Mexico Supreme Court ordered a temporary moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Tenants must participate in a hearing via phone and provide evidence of the inability to pay the rent.

The Federal Housing Finance Authority Agency will allow forbearance for an Enterprise-backed single mortgage payment for up to 12 months due to coronavirus hardship. If you have received an eviction notice you can call the states COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-551-0518 for more information.

Local gas, electric and water utilities will not be cutting folks off for non-payment at least through April 6. All major internet providers have signed onto the Federal Communications Commissions Keep America Connected Pledge to not terminate any residential or small business customers who cant keep up due to the pandemic and to open wi-fi hotspots to any American who needs them. If your internet or cell phone service has been cut off call the states COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-551-0518.

Never Going Back To My Old School

Boom just like that school went home. For those parents adjusting to being teachers, the State Department of Education is posting resources daily to keep the states nearly half million students learning. Check it out here: https:/ / webnew. ped. state. nm. us

Albuquerque Public Schools is trying to stay on top of the changes necessary to keep our students on track. This is not a small task as this is the largest school district in the state with more than 86,000 students. Check out the APS webpage at https://www.aps.edu

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center has opened up its Indigenous Wisdom, Pueblo Based Educational Curriculum to be downloaded for free at - https:/ / www. indianpueblo. org.

Central New Mexico Community College students who have been booted as well can find information here - https://www.cnm.edu

University of New Mexico students had to abandon campus as COVID 19 threatened to spread. There is vital information for UNM students at - https:/ / www. unm. edu/ coronavirus/

Be Wise, Be Gentle, Be Patient, Be Helpful

As we move forward collectively from our abodes we need to keep in mind that all experts say that we will get through this. There is a beginning, middle and end to any pandemic. The balancing acts required by democracies in all times, between individual rights and the public good, are manageable.

We must weigh and consider data and information molded into sensible policy choices within each locale and business and neighborhood, with built-in flexibility to adapt and evolve. Things work better from the ground up, including practical solutions to problems from the need for physical distancing to deciding what neighborhood businesses are essential. Now is the time to tap into local neighborhood associations, send e-mails to local leaders with constructive ideas, not ugly criticism, as we are all learning as we move forward.
As the Long Beach Unified School District commits to keeping classes in-person, the city a new testing site opens for LBUSD employees and students only. The city is also ramping up its own testing efforts with a new 3,000-person per...
Members of the Kano state House of Assembly have contributed the sum of N5, 000, 000.00 million to the Fund Raising Committee on Covid-19 pandemic.

This was announced by the commissioner for Information and member of the committee, Malam Muhammad Garba while giving update on the activities of the committee in a press statement issued on Thursday.

He also disclosed that chairmen of the 44 local government councils in the state have donated 50 per cent of their salary to the committee.

Other donors are Alhaji Mande Rogo, N200, 000: Igbo Community in Kano, N200, 000: Intercontinental Schools, N100, 000: Alhaji Uba Zubairu Yakasai, Managing Director, Abubakar Rimi (Sabon Gari) Market Company, N100, 000; Nigeria Labour Congress, Kano Council, 1,008 pieces of sanitizers; Alhaji Ahmad Rabiu, former commissioner of commerce, N300, 000: Capt. Musa Shuaibu Nuhu, Director Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, N1, 000, 000.00.

The statement stated that doors of the committee are open for organizations and well to do individuals within and outside the state to donate generously towards the committee which seeks and collects donations in cash or kind and distribute same to those in need so as to cushion the harsh effect of the measures being taken by government against the spread of Covid-19 in Kano.

Donations/contributions by willing individuals and organisations to the committee in cash should be paid/transfered to this account: Kano State COVID-19 Support, UBA, Account No: 1022751785.

It stated that donations in kind are also collected at a warehouse at number 94, Maganda Road and Kano State Government Printing Press, Emirs Palace Road
Four Americans, nine Britishers and six Chinese nationals were among the 960 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists who were blacklisted and their tourist visas cancelled by the Union Home Ministry, officials said on Friday.

The foreign Jamaat members, who are currently in different parts of the country, some of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, also include 379 Indonesians, 110 Bangladeshi, 63 Myanmarese and 33 Sri Lankan citizens.

As many as 77 citizens from Kyrgyzstan, 75 Malaysian, 65 Thai, 12 Vietnamese, nine Saudis and three French nationals were also among those Tablighi Jamaat activists who were blacklisted and their visas cancelled, a government official said.

Action against the foreign Tablighi Jamaat members were taken after over 2,300 activists, including 250 foreigners of the Islamic organisation were found to be living at its headquarters located at Delhi's Nizamuddin despite the 21-day lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus.

More than 300 of these Tablighi Jamaat activists have tested positive for COVID-19 while others have been put in different quarantine centres.

At least 9,000 people had participated at a congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz last month after which many have travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works.

So far, around 400 COVID-19 positive cases and about 12 deaths in the country were found to have links with the Nizamuddin Markaz.

The other foreigners include seven from Alegria, one from Australia, two from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, three from Cte d'Ivoire, five from Djibouti, one from Egypt, three from Ethiopia, one from Fiji, three from Gambia, 24 from Iran and one from Jordan.

They also include 14 from Kazakhstan, one from Kenya, three from Madagascar, two from Mali, 10 from Philippines, three from Qatar, one from Russia,one from Senegal,one from Sierra Leone, one from South Africa, four from Sudan, one from Sweden, eight from Tanzania, one from Togo, three from Trinidad, three from Tobago, two from Tunisia, two from Ukraine, 12 from Vietnam and others six.

The Union Home ministry onThursday had blacklisted these 960 foreigners and cancelled their visas after finding they were involved in Tablighi Jamaat activities, violating their visa conditions.

The Home ministry also asked Delhi Police and police chiefs of other states, where these foreigners are currently living, to take legal action under the Foreigners Act and the Disaster Management Act.

The Home Ministry on Tuesday had said about 2,100 foreigners have come to India since January 1 and indulged in Tablighi activities in different parts of the country.

On Thursday, the ministry said over 1,300 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists, including those from the US, France and Italy, have been identified in different parts of the country and most of them have been put in quarantine.

Most of these foreigners came to India on tourist visa, which prohibits involvement in any religious activities.

The government has also decided not to issue tourist visa to any foreigner who wishes to visit India and take part in Tablighi activities.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba had also told states and UTs to take action against foreigners, who have participated in the missionary activities of the Tablighi Jamaat, in violation of visa conditions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three men were shot during a robbery Thursday night in southeast Houston, police say.

The trio was standing in an apartment parking lot in the 2600 block of Beatty Street around 9 p.m. when another group of men tried robbing them at gunpoint, according to Houston Police Department Lt. Larry Crowson. At some point during the heist, at least one of the robbers opened fire, striking all three victims, Crowson said.

HoustonChronicle.com: First responders at the brunt of the epidemic

All three were conscious when they were taken to nearby hospitals, Crowson said. One of the men was struck in the chest.

It is unclear if the gunmen made off with anything of value. Police did not have a description of the robbers as of late Thursday night.

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
Robert Downey Jr.'s "Iron Man" became one of the most admired characters in the film industry. But it has been revealed that RDJ almost failed to land in this big break.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is indeed one of the most successful franchises in history. To look back, they began the journey of the Avengers in 2008 through the first "Iron Man" film.

Since the birth of Phase 1, RDJ -- who was once a controversial choice for the role of Tony Stark -- became an icon as he stood there as the father of all the MCU superheroes. He then joined the list of the pioneers and original actors of the franchise.

However, Marvel Studios almost took a different route since the 54-year-old actor was not their first choice -- not even their second nor third!

It is a given that nobody would have been perfect enough for the role other than RDJ. But still, here are some of the actors who could have made it instead of the original Mr. Tony Stark actor.

Tom Cruise

The "Mission Impossible" actor became the first and original choice to play the role of "Iron Man." But in the end, he failed to reach an agreement with the team, as Cruise wanted to make a few changes with the script.

In the same year when the first "Iron Man" was released, the 57-year-old actor came out and recalled the time when he almost bagged the role.

"Not close, and I love Robert Downey Jr. I can't imagine anyone else in that role, and I think it's perfect for him," he said in his exclusive interview with ComicBook.com in 2008.

Sam Rockwell

After failing with Cruise, Marvel continued searching for another potential actors and bumped into Sam Rockwell.

In his interview with The A.V. Club years ago, Rockwell revealed that he was up to portray the role of Tony Stark in the franchise's early development. In fact, Jon Favreau, the director of the first MCU film, reportedly approached him for screen testing as the billionaire philanthropist.

Though it did not work out for him either, he eventually came back in "Iron Man 2" as Justin Hammer.

Hugh Jackman

The 51-year-old actor is most famous for his role in the 2000 film "X-Men" and through his seventh and last film "Logan" in 2017. He currently holds the Guinness World Record for "longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero."

But according to CBR, Jackman was also considered for the role way before RDJ. Had he accepted the role, he could not have won the acknowledgment from Guinness!

Nicolas Cage

The actor, who also underwent a screen test for Superman, expressed his intention to take the role of Tony Stark a decade before it has been released.

According to ScreenCrush, the 56-year-old "National Treasure" star failed to get both Man of Steel's title and Iron Man's suit in the end.

But still, he landed on several superhero roles, including Johnny Blaze in the 2007 film "Ghost Rider" and Big Daddy in "Kick Ass."
WASHINGTON  The CIA has been warning the White House since at least early February that China has vastly understated its coronavirus infections and that its count could not be relied upon as the United States compiles predictive models to fight the virus, according to current and former intelligence officials.

The intelligence briefings in recent weeks, based at least in part on information from CIA assets in China, played an important role in President Trumps negotiation on Thursday of an apparent detente with President Xi Jinping of China. Since then, both countries have ratcheted back criticism of each other.
Photograph: Barcroft Media/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Earlier this month, after being exposed to the coronavirus, Chaele Davis had to decide if she would spend her quarantine with her primary partner, whom she has been dating for a year, or her secondary partner, with whom she just celebrated a four year anniversary.

Davis, a polyamorous woman living in Brooklyn, had arranged her life not having to make choices like these. But when you love two people, in a time like this, you just have to make the call, she said.

Related: Can I have sex? A guide to intimacy during the coronavirus outbreak

The coronavirus has spread around the globe, infecting more than 750,000 and putting countless cities on lockdown. New social distancing guidelines have led many Americans to question whether its safe to touch the same basket at the supermarket as other shoppers, let alone whom it is safe to sleep with. For those who are polyamorous, meaning having intimate relationships with more than one partner, it has meant renegotiating fundamental aspects of their dating lives.

On 27 March, the New York City department of health and mental hygiene issued guidelines surrounding safe sex, advising New Yorkers not to have sex with anyone outside of their immediate households and to take a break from in-person dates. Coronavirus is highly contagious and spread by droplets of saliva or mucus, making contact with others risky.

For people who consider themselves part of the poly community, that has meant making difficult decisions surrounding sexual monogamy and cohabitation, said Daniel Saynt, founder and head of New York City sex club New Society for Wellness (NSFW).

Its a terrifying time for non-monogamy, Saynt said. There has been a stronger consideration recently for coupling off. Its kind of like cuffing season, but for corona season.

Although just 5% of people in the US identify as polyamorous, up to 20% have attempted some form of consensual non-monogamy in their lifetimes, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy found.

Story continues

Cat, a polyamorous woman living in New York City who asked her last name be withheld to protect her privacy, has spent the last 14 days in self-imposed quarantine with her roommate, who had been exposed to the virus. After she leaves the quarantine, shell have to decide which of her two partners to see  and if it is ethical to do so. Ultimately, she said, she is leaning towards quarantining alone to avoid hurting either partner.

Coronavirus is making everyone polyamorous, in a sense, she said. We all have to navigate disclosure, safety, and health in similar ways.

Being holed up at home with one partner does not necessarily mean strict monogamy, said Saynt the NSFW founder. A lot of non-monogamous couples are still seeking to interact in a virtual way, and a rise in online events is making it more accessible.

In a way, this is also creating a new safety net for people who were curious about non-monogamy but were afraid of that initial intimacy point, Saynt said.

NSFW has started to coordinate online parties for couples to engage in non-monogamy from a safe distance. Its first online playdate attracted nearly 100 people who met one another through group video chats and could pair off for private sessions. Like NSFWs in-person parties, the event had a dress code and a set of rules stressing consent and privacy. The group used the video streaming app GetVokl for the event.

New York City artist Olivia Jane has been dating their partner for seven years, and during the last two they have introduced other people into their coupling. After learning about social distancing orders, Jane and their partner cut ties with a woman they were both dating when she fled the New York City area to quarantine in a remote cabin.

Meanwhile, Jane said they have all but stopped using dating apps like Tinder and Feeld for the foreseeable future. We are maintaining chats and sending nudes to people we were previously intimate with, but our schedule has really cleared up, Jane said.

Their relationship with another couple who lives in Philadelphia has gone purely digital for now, but Jane said they are considering moving in together to create a quad relationship as they struggle to pay rent during the pandemic.

We are comfortable being monogamous, but we prefer not to be, Jane said. We are being forced back into it. But out of all the people I have to be stuck with, my primary partner is the one I would want to quarantine with forever.
Young Vietnamese Covid-19 patients share a moment of joy as they are released from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, April 1, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

About 70 percent of the Covid-19 cases in Vietnam are in the 20-49 age group thats dominated by those in their 20s.

Vietnam had recorded 233 Covid-19 cases. Of these, the majority are Vietnamese at 83 percent, and the remaining are foreigners, expats and visitors.

Of the total confirmations, 85 patients are in their 20s, which make up the majority (36 percent), according to the Ministry of Health. People in their 30s and 40s comprise around 15 percent each.

The infection demographics can be explained by the fact that most cases were imported. Patients in the above-mentioned age ranges are returning overseas students and migrant workers.

Young patients from 10 to 19 years old are also overseas students or children accompanying their parents returning from abroad. Vietnam has only seen seven children being infected by the coronavirus, three of whom have been discharged from hospital.

Family transmission has been the cause of all infections among children under nine.

Since the fortnight-long Lunar New Year holiday that started January 17, most students at secondary level and under have not gone back to school with their break being extended multiple times on safety considerations. This could be a factor that has prevented infections in this age group. Vietnam has not reported any school-related infection so far.

The elderly consist of 10 percent of all reported cases. Of these, there are 18 patients in their 60s (7.7 percent), and four patients in their 70s (1.7 percent).

There was only one patient in her 80s, "Patient 161", a 88-year-old Vietnamese woman who lives in Van Lam District in the northern province of Hung Yen. She was at the Bach Mai Hospital March 17-22, Vietnams largest Covid-19 hotspot to date, where she was treated in the same room with another infected patient.

Of the five critically ill patients, four are senior citizens - the 88-year-old, a 64-year-old Vietnamese women and two British, 69 and 74 years old.

The Health Ministry has advised elders in Vietnam to stay at home. HCMC authorities said Thursday the city will provide home treatment or deploy remote medical counseling for the elders.

As of Friday, 85 patients in Vietnam have been discharged.

Vietnam declared Covid-19 a national epidemic Wednesday afternoon.

To date, the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed almost 53,000 lives as it spread to 204 countries and territories.
Lockdown 3.0: Ready reckoner of what is allowed, what is not

Uber is available in these cities from today

Lockdown 3.0: Full list of what is allowed and what is not allowed

Full list of what is allowed and not allowed during lockdown 4.0

Next phase of lockdown: States want strict implementation of guidelines in containment zones

No evidence of widespread community transmission of COVID-19

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: The Union Health Ministry said it has identified 20 existing and 22 potential hotspots of COVID-19 in the country and asserted that although there is no evidence of widespread community transmission, containment measures will require large human resource.

The ministry said this in an advisory on human resource management of COVID-19 to provide guidance to the states on manpower that can be mobilised for the management of the disease along with possible role assignments and their training requirements.

"Although there is no evidence to widespread community transmission, 20 existing and 22 potential hotspots have been identified. The containment measures to break the cycle of transmission and clinical management of those affected would require large human resource," it said in the document.

The advisory stressed on capacity building, saying identified human resource needs to be trained online using online training programs developed by the ministry.

Coronavirus lockdown: Significant improvement in air quality

The training for different target groups shall cover areas like field surveillance, contact tracing, sampling, packaging and shipment of specimen, hospital infection prevention and control, including use of appropriate PPEs and biomedical waste management, clinical case management including ventilator management, training on managing quarantine and isolation facilities and community based training in pyscho social care, the document said.

The ministry advised states to identify and designate a nodal officer for training who will coordinate all these activities.

For COVID-19 management, it advised the district administration to pool-in the requisite human resources who would stay in the containment zone till such operations are over.

"For isolation areas, in addition to training, all hospital staff, dentists and AYUSH practitioners available should also be trained. Retired doctors and other healthcare professionals should be identified to work in non-COVID areas in hospitals in case of emergencies," the advisory stated.

For surveillance activities, the ministry said COVID Warriors @ 1 per 250 population may be identified and trained.

It stated quarantine facilities are meant to house asymptomatic cases and the number identified and trained manpower should be equal to the number of COVID Warriors.

Fake: Healthy Muslims are not being injected with coronavirus

The advisory highlights major areas where enhanced deployment of human resource is required such as surveillance activities at grass root level, supervisory management of containment operations, laboratory testing and clinical management of suspect/confirmed cases in isolation wards.

It also listed out critical care management of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases in ICUs, patient transportation and referral, cleaning, disinfection and waste management, management of quarantine, isolation facilities and pyscho-social care as some of the important areas.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 8:52 [IST]
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the Baton Rouge region rose to 867 on Thursday, a nearly 30% spike from the day before as testing results from commercial labs begin to roll in statewide.

The region also saw its number of coronavirus-related deaths increase to 37, with three additional fatalities reported in East Baton Rouge, two in Ascension and one in Iberville.

Only 15% of ICU beds in the region are still available, with 391 out of 462 beds now occupied, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Baton Rouge General is working to convert its Mid City campus into an acute-care hospital and expects to add 34 ICU beds in the next few weeks.

Baton Rouge General Mid City opens as coronavirus surge center, needs doctors and nurses Baton Rouge General is opening its Mid City campus on Florida Boulevard to serve as an acute-care hospital for coronavirus patients and is ask

More than half of the available ventilators in the Baton Rouge area are now in use, with 117 of 208 ventilators hooked up to a patient.

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Jared Hymowitz, director of Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broomes Healthy City Initiative, said the relatively low levels of testing means officials still don't have an accurate grasp on the true number of people positive for coronavirus in the region.

"Right now we don't believe there is a correlation between the number of positive tests reported and the number of positive cases that actually exist in our community," he said.

Meanwhile, BREC said it is closing the Frenchtown Conservation Area to the public on weekends beginning at 5 p.m. Friday after law enforcement was called last weekend to break up a crowd ignoring social distancing recommendations and other infractions.

"We are trying to balance the need to offer trails and green spaces where people can engage in healthy activity and relieve the stress of the ongoing situation with COVID-19 while urging our visitors to keep a 6-feet distance between them and others, said BREC Superintendent Corey Wilson.
Dear Valued Y Members,

Our Y leadership team remains in constant contact with state and local agencies and we will continue to communicate with members in a timely and transparent manner. The Y continues to re-assess the situation in conjunction with prevailing recommendations from federal and local officials. Unfortunately we will remain closed until April 30. We will update our members no later than Saturday, April 29, via our website, social media accounts and email regarding the status of our facilities and programming moving forward.

We are here for you and want to hear from you. You can message us on our Facebook page (Beatrice Mary Family YMCA) or by email (info@beatriceymca.org). Please consider setting up time for a fifteen to thirty minute phone check-in by contacting Shely Bauman, our Wellness Director, via email (rlbauman@beatriceymca.org) or through the Y's Facebook Messenger to help set goals, strategize opportunities for continued wellness, and share with us how you and your family are doing. Visit our website (beatriceymca.org) or Facebook page for our weekly updates as they are subject to change based on unexpected needs within the community. We will be checking our voicemail at the YMCA on a daily basis if you would like to leave us a message. Our number at the YMCA is 402-223-5266.

As I'm sure you realize, all of our efforts come at a cost. We are continuing to explore ways to ensure that we can take care of our own staff, so that they, in turn, can take of their family and loved ones.

You can join us in our efforts to strengthen our community by continuing to keep your membership active during this unprecedented time. Your support will enable us to focus fully on supporting our community in staying active and healthy. Should you choose to do this, know how grateful we are for your generous support. The YMCA is a community and this situation has only proven again that our community is not defined by a physical building. It is defined by the many caring and generous people who make it up - you are one of those people.

If requested, members may place their membership on hold by emailing info@beatriceymca.org. While we do encourage you to help us in our service to others, we do recognize circumstances, and will work with you to place a hold on your membership while we all get through this pandemic situation together. While some of us have the resources we need to navigate these uncertain times, many do not. And many of our neighbors must turn to the Y for support now more than ever.

We continue to work closely with community leaders and will communicate with you about the status of our operations. In the meantime, we hope that you will join us in our efforts to serve those in our community who need us most. Thank you for your continued support.

Know that you are in our hearts and minds, and we look forward to connecting with you virtually in the immediate, and in-person in the near future. We pray every day that we can resume all activities at the Y very soon.

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Italy was engaged in a war of words with Russia today over allegations Moscow hid spies among doctors it sent to the country's coronavirus epicentre.

The fierce exchange followed claims made by unnamed sources in an Italian newspaper that 80 percent of Russia's coronavirus aid is 'useless'.

President Vladimir Putin vowed to help the virus-stricken country last Saturday during a phone call with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

Moscow then dispatched nine aircraft and more than 100 experts along with medical supplies to Milan, the epicentre of Europe's coronavirus outbreak.

But anonymous sources within the Italian Government told La Stampa newspaper that the Russian delivery contained equipment for bacteriological disinfection and a field laboratory for chemical-biological sterilisation - not ventilators and PPE.

'Of those Russian supplies, 80 percent were completely useless or of little use to Italy. In other words, the delivery was more like a pretext,' one source alleged.

Russian military officer looking at a map at an Italian Air Force base, on the outskirts of Bergamo in Alpine Lombardy, one of the worst hit regions of Italy during the pandemic

Russian servicemen sit inside a truck as medical equipment and special disinfection vehicles are loaded into cargo planes heading to coronavirus-stricken Italy

Russian military officers in respirators at an Italian Air Force base, on the outskirts of Bergamo

Russia sent a coronavirus aid package to Italy, where 915 people who tested positive have died

Officials claimed that Russia's 104-strong contingent, run by the military, is likely to contain operatives from the GRU intelligence wing.

They also said that Mr Conte accepted the package, dubbed 'From Russia With Love', in order to secure a good personal relationship with Mr Putin.

Moscow dismissed La Stampa's report, with Ambassador Sergei Razov telling state-run RIA Novosti news agency: 'Such assertions are the product of a perverse mind. A selfless desire to help a friendly people in trouble is seen as insidious.'

The Russian Embassy in Rome tweeted a statement from a regime spokesperson condemning La Stampa's so-called 'Russophobic Cold War fake news'.

Russian military officers at an Italian Air Force base, on the outskirts of Bergamo in Alpine Lombardy, one of the worst hit regions of Italy during the pandemic

Vladimir Putin (left) vowed to help Italy last Saturday during a call with Giuseppe Conte (right)

Russian Army truck being refilled at an Italian Air Force base, on the outskirts of Bergamo

Its Defence Ministry accused the Italian paper of 'hiding behind the ideals of free speech' to spread stories reminiscent of 'anti-Soviet propaganda'.

The Italian Government subsequently told Russia to back off, saying: 'Freedom of expression and the right to criticise are fundamental values of our country.

'While grateful for Russia's support, one cannot but criticise the inappropriate tone of certain expressions used by the Russian Defence Ministry spokesman.'

It said Moscow had 'the right to respond, but in a formal and correct manner'.

Russian spokesman Maria Zakharova accused La Stampa of 'distinguishing itself by running a number of defamatory articles about Russian humanitarian aid'.

She insisted that Italians near Milan had 'met the Russian column of trucks with applause, singing the Russian national anthem'.

La Stampa said it was 'sorry and surprised' by the range of Russian comments.

'Our articles have raised questions - both from Italians and others - about the possible presence of intelligence officers in the Russian mission,' it said.

Experts believe that Mr Putin is exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to improve Russia's diplomatic and geopolitical reputation.

According to UK chemical weapons expert Hamish De Bretton-Gordon, the fact that the Russian mission is headed by a general is suspicious.

'It's like all their Christmases have come at once. It would be naive to think that they are not collecting intelligence,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

'Without a doubt, there are GRU officers among them'.

The UK Government is accusing GRU officers of trying to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in 2018.

US intelligence agencies believe the GRU hacked the computer servers of President Donald Trump's Democratic rivals during the 2016 election campaign.
STRATFORD, CT  Two Fairfield County residents are back in Connecticut after their vacation last month to Peru took an unexpected turn that left them stranded when the country closed its borders amid the global spread of the new coronavirus.

Amy Pavlik is a Stratford native and Giuliana Candiotti moved to the area when she was 12. Both women now live in Shelton. They departed Connecticut on March 15 for Lima but, before their scheduled return six days later, Peru issued a state of emergency, canceling flights and closing airports.

Immediately after notice was given, all flights out of the country were sold out, Pavlik said in an interview with Patch via Facebook Messenger. It was a stressful and scary situation. We showed up at the airport anyways in hopes that we would be able to buy a ticket at an airline counter, but we were sent away.

The two ended up staying in Peru eight days longer than planned, quarantined in an Airbnb and uncertain when they would return home. They went to the U.S. Embassy the day after the border closed, but got no answers, Pavlik said.

We were in touch with our families the whole time, she said on Messenger. My parents were worried but tried to stay positive because they knew I was having a hard time. Giuliana has a daughter that we were in touch with daily  it was just hard to not have answers for her because we didnt have the answers ourselves.

Eventually, Pavlik and Candiotti decided to try their luck and go the embassy.

We just showed up to the embassy and made it on standby on a flight and they just happened to have a few extra seats, Pavlik said on Messenger.

Passengers wait to board a charter flight from Lima, Peru, to Washington, D.C. (Amy Pavlik)

The chartered embassy flight departed March 29 from a military base in Lima and landed in Washington, D.C. Pavlik and Candiotti must reimburse the government for the flight at a rate of anywhere from $800 to $1,500, Pavlik said.



It was much different than flying out of a regular airport, she said on Messenger.  They couldnt do regular security checks on us so they had dogs sniff our bags.

Story continues

Now, several days after their return, Pavlik and Candiotti are settling into the country's new normal amid the coronavirus, staying home and working remotely.

We are doing OK  both happy to be back, Pavlik said on Messenger.

The state of emergency in Peru has been extended to April 12, according to the embassy. The country had 1,414 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 55 virus-related deaths as of Friday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. As of Thursday, Connecticut had 3,824 confirmed cases of the virus, 59 of which were in Shelton, according to state data.

This article originally appeared on the Stratford Patch
(Photo : REUTERS/Yara Nardi ) A woman waits to be checked by the medical team of NGO Intersos in a squatted building as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Rome, Italy, April 3, 2020.

A frontline nurse who had been fighting coronavirus in the United Kingdom died just moments after her husband whispered, 'do not worry about the kids. Areema Nasreen, 36, died in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, wherein she had worked.

ALSO READ: [BREAKING] Nurse With Coronavirus Kills Herself Over Fear of Infecting Others

Risking lives

The mother-of-three, who leaves behind youngsters elderly 8, 10, and 17, has become the country's youngest health worker to be killed by the disease.

Areema first tested positive for the virus after growing a soaring temperature, body aches, and a cough.

The nurse, who has no underlying health situations and had worked for the NHS for sixteen years, was placed on a ventilator but died earlier these days.

Areema's sister Ash, 31, told the Sun the whole family was distraught. "We are all just broken - we've just got no words," she said.

Ash narrated her sister was placed on the ventilator and just earlier than she died. "Her husband [told] her, 'do not worry about the kids'," she added.

Areema started to cry, according to Ash. The doctors told the husband not to hug her because of the virus; however, Ash said the husband had to.

The nurse passed away afterward. Her family is pleading that people should observe the coronavirus lockdown rules.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust's chief government Richard Beeken told BBC News Areema became a "very respected member of the team." Mr. Beeken added Ms. Nasreen had "always dreamed of being a nurse."

The official described Nasreen as a professional, passionate nurse who started out as a housekeeper in 2003, before running to gain her nursing qualification in January 2019.

Beeken said Areema's dedication to her role and her popularity among her colleagues is obvious to see with the outpouring of grief.

Areema, according to Beeken, always said that she was so blessed to have the role of a nurse, which she absolutely loved. Beeken added Areema wanted to feel like she could make a difference.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street also commiserated with the whole family.

Such tragic news this morning, my heart goes out to Areemas family and three children. Frontline workers across the West Midlands are risking their lives day after day to protect us, the least we can do to help them is follow Government advice. https://t.co/nbxlrnDryI  Andy Street (@andy4wm) April 3, 2020

"Frontline workers across the West Midlands are risking their lives day after day to protect us," the official said. He added the following government advice would be the least everyone can do to help.

Dr. Samara Afzal, a GP in Birmingham who knew Ms. Nasreen, informed BBC Asian Network it turned into "simply devastating news for the own family."

Tragic deaths

Another nurse Aimee O'Rourke, who worked on the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, has additionally died after contracting the virus.

The "rather talented" nurse died on the health facility in which she worked on Thursday night after testing positive for COVID-19.

"Heartbroken" colleagues and relatives have paid tribute to Ms. O'Rourke, who changed into additionally a mother-of-three.

According to The Sun, Aimee's daughter Megan said her mother is now an angel.

"You will wear your NHS crown forever more because you earned that crown the very first day you started!!!," Megan added.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock paid tribute to the NHS staff who have died while serving the nation.

He said the whole nation is grateful for the incredible bravery of every member of the NHS who goes into work knowing that these dangers are there.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus Update: Teenager With Coronavirus Was Denied Treatment Because He Didn't Have Health Insurance

The situation comes as novel coronavirus has infected more than 1,030,000 people and killed more than 54,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Coronavirus can be transmitted between cats, a study has confirmed, days after reports that a pet in Belgium had been infected with the disease.

Researchers at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China found the animals are highly susceptible to the infection.

Lab experiments conducted on a small number of cats found they can transmit the illness to one another through respiratory droplets.

It came just six days after health officials in Belgium confirmed a domestic cat had contracted Covid-19 after its owner had displayed symptoms.

There is no evidence to suggest that cats can pass Covid-19 onto humans.

The study also found that dogs, chicken, pigs and ducks were found unlikely to harbour or pass on Covid-19.

The cats we used in this study were [...] were highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 , which replicated efficiently and transmitted to naive cats, the study states.

Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in cats should be considered as an adjunct to elimination of of COVID-19 in humans.

The study has not yet been peer-reviewed although experts said the findings were credible.

Researchers conducting the study administered a high dose of the virus to a small number of cats.

Three of the animals were put in cages next to cats that had not been infected, with one of the exposed cats becoming infected, suggesting transmission occurs through respiratory droplets.

The process was then repeated with a second group of cats.

Virologists and infectious disease experts told The Guardian the findings did not show that cats could spread Covid-19 to humans.

However, two professors did encourage cat owners to take extra precautions when near the animals and highlighted the importance of hand washing.

Prof Eric Fevre, chair of veterinary infectious diseases at the University of Liverpool, said: People should take usual precautions of hand washing when handling their pets, and avoid overly intimate contact, especially if sick with Covid.

It is important to add that this says nothing about how the virus coming out of a cat may or may not be infectious to humans.

Prof Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the University of Nottingham, added: [...] It should be remembered that cats are not playing much, if any, role in the spread of this virus.

Human to human transmission is clearly the main driver, so there is no need to panic about cats as an important source of virus.

Obviously, if you think you have Covid-19 and share a house with a cat, then it would be sensible to limit close interactions with your furry friend until you are better.
WALTHAM, Mass. (JTA)Like so many others, I am feeling the spiritual loss and pain of our current inability to learn Torah and pray together in person. Many mourners are devoted to the customary recitation of Kaddish for a deceased close relative and struggling with how to do so in the absence of a minyan.

Some rabbis are encouraging internet-based solutions to hold us over until this crisis abates. Im concerned that those solutions come with a significant cost.

The decision to blur virtual reality with actual reality and relax the rules of minyan should not be taken lightly. Well-intentioned rabbis may think they are permitting something on a temporary basis, but the implications could be far-reaching. After we flatten the curve of this pandemic, I wonder if people will still appreciate that, in Rambams formulation, there is a spiritual value of running to the synagogue. Will it not seem more convenient to log in from home?

Here are some of the solutions other rabbis are offering, why I believe they fall short and an alternative suggestion.

While most Orthodox authorities maintain that a minyan consists of 10 adult men gathered together in one place, others argue that the minimum requirement is for them simply to be able to see each other (Pesahim 85b, Rambams Laws of Prayer 8:7 and Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayyim 55:13-14). Since we generally resolve doubts about the rabbinic requirements for a minyan leniently, the argument goes, we can consider videoconferencing as seeing each otheras leading Israeli rosh yeshiva Rabbi Eliezer Melamed has reportedly argued. Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosefs variation on this is that if 10 adult men are physically in one place, then others can join via the web.

These arguments are a leap of imagination. On a video call, we see images of others, but it is not the same as seeing someone through an open door or window.

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, a rosh yeshiva, or head of school, in Israel, has taken a different approach by questioning what would be so terrible about saying Kaddish at home without a minyan. Since Kaddish does not mention Gods name, saying the prayer at home privately, though not ideal, would not constitute taking Gods name in vain. In our situation, Rabbi Cherlow correctly says, the greater transgression would be to violate the instructions of the health authorities.

This offers a possibly meaningful option for mourners, but I believe it obscures the uniqueness of Kaddish. While most prayers are a dialogue between God and people, the Kaddish is a conversation between people. Talmudic sources note that the merit of Kaddish is for those who respond (Shabbat 119b and Berakhot 57a). All of this is missed when someone says the words alone.

Students often tell me that friendships and relationships are stronger when they arent conducted through screens and devices, and that they are seeking more personal ways of connecting with one another outside of the classroom. No device can replace the emotional energy of dozens of students singing together on Shabbat afternoon. And while fewer minyan attendees on campus need to say Kaddish than do at a synagogue, the responsibility to physically be at services to support a friend saying Kaddish is a powerful opportunity to shape ones character.

Our ancestors created legitimate substitutions for Kaddish when a minyan wasnt available, or when someone arrived late to shul, by using biblical verses with words similar to Kaddishand we would do well to avail ourselves of those solutions now. According to the 13th-century work Sefer Hasidim, a person who lives in a village without a minyan or who arrived late to the communal prayer after they had already said may Gods great name... can say a modified version of the traditional prayer privately at home.

A small number of American Orthodox synagogues, including the one I attend in this Boston suburb under the guidance of Rabbi Benjamin Samuels, learn Torah together online and then allow mourners to recite a medieval Kaddish for an individual poem (two versions available here in the original Hebrew and in translation).

This approach allows us to maintain the integrity of communal prayer and locate a solution within the tradition without stretching halacha (Jewish law) beyond its limits.

We have rushed to get our normal lives onlineprayer services, lectures, music lessons, Torah learning and school. But we may be deluding ourselves by trying to live normal lives during a pandemic. Life right now is drastically different. We need to find ways to nurture strong interpersonal tiesand maintain our traditionsso that our communities will still be there when we are ready to go back to them.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
The Minority in Parliament says it does not believe that the $100 million allocated to boost the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus disease in Ghana is available as suggested by the Minister of Finance.

President Nana Akufo-Addo directed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to make available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance Ghana's Coronavirus preparedness and response plan during his first address to the nation on March 11, 2020.

The Finance Minister earlier this week told Parliament that the $100 million was ready for distribution.

Mr. Speaker, as announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo on March 11, 2020, during his first broadcast on the coronavirus pandemic, Government has earmarked the cedi equivalent of US$100 million for the fight against COVID-19. Contrary to views of some sceptics that the money is not available, I wish to assure you that the money has been secured and is available to be disbursed in accordance with our public financial management procedures and rules. Indeed, from day one, Government has not stopped spending in the fight against COVID-19, he noted.

But the Minority side in Parliament is disputing the claim describing it as inaccurate.

The Minority insists that apart from the $35 million World Bank facility Parliament approved on Wednesday, government has not provided clarity on where the remaining $65 million dollars will come from.

The Deputy Minority Leader, James Avedzi while addressing the press in Parliament today, Thursday called on the government to come clear on where it intends to raise the remaining amount.

The President of the Republic announced to the nation that an amount of $100 million was made available by the Finance Minister to fight the virus. Yesterday, Parliament approved $35 million from the IMF and the World Bank. So now, if you take the $35 million from the %100 million, youll see there is a difference of $65 million. As we speak, where the government is going to raise that money, we all dont know. So first of all the announcement of the said amount by the President is not the case and it means that the President didnt tell the people of Ghana the truth.

Mr. Avedzi insisted that the $100 million is not available and that government is struggling to get that money.

As of yesterday, $35 million was approved by the House so we are calling on the government to come and tell us where the difference is going to be raised from because it is very important that we all get the money for the government to fight the pandemic. So our call here today is to find out where the government is going to raise that money, he said.

$100m dedicated to Coronavirus fight isn't ready, claims false  John Jinapor

A Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, John Jinapor had earlier debunked claims by the Finance Minister that the US$100 million allocated to fight the novel coronavirus in the country is available.

On Eyewitness News, John Jinapor, who also doubles as a Former Deputy Minister of Power, said that those claims by the Finance Minister were dishonest.

The claim by the Minister that the US$100 million has been secured and is available is false. A document that I have, joint memorandum to Parliament by Ministers for Finance and Health on a proposed US$35 million loan from International Development Administration of the World Bank to finance the proposed Ghana COVID-19 emergency preparedness and response project is dated 27th March 2020. So they have just brought us a loan agreement and it was considered by the Finance Committee subsequent to which we may grant approval for government to go to the World Bank and borrow US$35 million in order to be able to raise that US$100 million.

Another US$65 million is an amount that will be coming from the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID). This is another loan from the International Development Authority (IDA) of the World Bank. So all the US$100 million is being borrowed from IDA and Parliament has not even prepared a report, let alone lay it before the floor to be debated, granted approval, for the Minister to proceed to go to the World Bank to collect the money. I think that honesty has to be a key issue, he argued.

---citinewsroom
I know those loaves look like someone toiled for years to perfect, but you too can inspire jealousy on Facebook or your social media network of choice with minimal effort. All you need is one book. (Id reprint the full recipe here, but the directions go on for several pages. I believe theres a difference between a recipe thats simple and one thats easy to follow.) Youll also need some very basic equipment and a whole lot of time. Dont most of us have an excess of the latter right now?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 10:52:28|Editor: huaxia

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FUZHOU, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Having just woken up from their siesta, a group of young people sat down and waited for snacks in a courtyard where a sweet scent of pomelo flowers lingered.

The yard was exceptionally quiet. While eating, some of them repeatedly drew circles in the air, some tapped their foreheads with their hands.

They are people with autism, often called "children of the stars" in China. The two-story building they live in is hence named Star's Home.

"I wanted to build this place into a 'utopia' where autistic people can live comfortably," said Cao Fang, the founder.

Star's Home is in Jingxia village, not far from Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province. It is now home to 21 people with autism, including Cao's son.

Cao noticed that her son was a little different in 2002. "He always crumbled every biscuit before eating. No matter how many times I taught him, it was still hard for him to put the biscuit into his mouth."

Like many parents of autistic children, Cao embarked on a thorny road of trying to help her son become "normal."

She went to Beijing and Hong Kong to learn how to educate autistic kids. She tried hard to teach him to read, speak and follow simple social rules. But to her disappointment, her boy's condition continued to deteriorate.

In 2008, her son often screamed with anger and ripped books, and sometimes stayed up all night. It was then that Cao realized she might have been on a wrong path to "cure" her child.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves difficulties with social interaction, restricted and repetitive behavior, and a lack of communication skills. Neither the cause nor cure of the disease is known to doctors.

According to the World Health Organization, about one in every 160 children is autistic on this planet. A report released in 2019 shows that the morbidity rate of autism in China is about 0.7 percent. Among all those with the disease, about 2 million are aged below 12.

"Every autistic individual is different. They are like leaves on a tree -- none of them are the same," said Cao. "These people shouldn't be trained in a rigid, unified method but be taught according to their own character to help them adapt to adult life."

She once read an article about Hogeweyk in the Netherlands -- a village designed specifically as a pioneering care facility for elderly people with dementia. All the villagers are patients with severe dementia and staff at the local bakery and markets are geriatric nurses or carers. Residents are made to feel they are leading normal lives with regular household duties.

Drawing inspiration from the idea, Cao opened Star's Home in July 2018 with six "residents" in the beginning.

"It took me 10 years to finally understand autism," said Cao, who added that she had given up on the idea of changing her 20-year-old son, but put more energy into building Star's Home as a place for autistic people to live comfortably.

"Merely teaching them to speak and some art skills is not enough to support autistic people to live independently," said Cao.

Lu Pinyuan, a resident at Star's Home, received training on language skills before coming to Star's Home. He can recite hundreds of poems and even have a simple conversation. However, Cao found that the talkative young man could do little more than that. He was even unable to use the toilet.

Now with proper guidance, Lu has mastered some basic survival skills.

Apart from Star's Home, Cao also built a Star's Farm and a Star's Workshop. A nursing home for families of autistic people is also under construction.

Just like Hogeweyk, residents at Star's Home can work at the farm and workshop and get paid -- such work can help develop their social interaction abilities.

The residents are also responsible for weeding the farmland and need to help with the cooking. They go for a 5-km hike twice a day, which can help them sleep well at night. Three of the six staff at Star's Home are special education teachers who help the residents study and form healthy living habits.

Cao's wish for a "utopia" is coming into a reality.

Lin Baolu, the youngest resident at Star's Home, weighed just 14 kg when he arrived half a year ago. The 14-year-old always forced himself to vomit after drinking or eating, which made him extremely frail.

Two staff at Star's Home have been accompanying him to eat, with one holding his left hand while the other guides him to chew 20 times before swallowing. The once extremely malnourished teenager has finally gained some weight and vomits less.

"Life is tough especially for older children with autism," said Cao. "Star's Home can give them the necessary companionship and help them live happier lives. At the same time, it can attract more public attention."

Cao is now planning a second Star's Home. She hopes that more people can join her to build more such centers.

"We do not exclude people with autism," said Wu Xiumei, a local villager. "We are getting closer and will greet them when we see them hiking."

At around 3 p.m., each of the residents of Star's Home put on sneakers, grabbed a water bottle and lined up for their afternoon hike.

Lead by Cao and other teachers, the team marched joyfully out of their home and walked into the sweet scent of pomelo flowers.
NEW YORKOne out of every six New York City police officers is out sick or in quarantine. A veteran detective and seven civilian workers have died from the disease caused by the coronavirus. And two chiefs and the deputy commissioner in charge of counterterrorism are among more than 1,500 others in the department who have been infected.

With weeks to go before the epidemic is expected to peak, the virus has already strained the Police Department at a time when its 36,000 officers have been asked to step up and help fight it by enforcing emergency rules intended to slow its spread.

The epidemic has also added a new level of risk and anxiety to police work, even as reports of most serious crimes have dropped steeply since the city imposed the new rules. Every arrest or interview now carries the potential for infection, officers say.

Its a stressful job at the best of times, the police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, said Tuesday in a livestream. Right now, I dont think you can imagine a worse point of time.

Police departments across the country are facing similar challenges. In Detroit, for instance, a fifth of the police force is quarantined, and the chief of police is one of about 40 officers infected. But the magnitude of the crisis for police in New York dwarfs the dozens of cases reported in other big-city police departments and sheriffs offices, like those in Houston and Los Angeles.

On Thursday, 6,498 New York officers called in sick  about 18 per cent of the force  with most of them reporting flu-like symptoms. The numbers have been steadily climbing for about three weeks, Shea said. The departments weekly Compstat meetings, usually devoted to dissecting crime patterns, have been usurped by daily meetings to address the pandemic, he said.

In Manhattan, a third of the officers in two precincts  the 30th in Harlem and the 33rd in Washington Heights  were out sick this week. So were dozens of officers from the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx, one that has some of the citys highest crime rates.

Police commanders in New York have begun taking pages from disaster plans designed for blackouts, hurricanes and terror attacks, and officials are making revisions by the hour. Theres no blueprint, said a sergeant who tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Its a worst-case scenario across the board.

Security officers have been posted outside precincts to screen people entering in an effort to minimize foot traffic, and face masks are being used inside some precinct station houses. Some commanders have moved their daily rollcalls outdoors so that officers can spread out. Officers on patrol are carrying N95 masks to pop on if they feel endangered.

The White House, responding to what an official described as an urgent SOS from the police department, arranged shipments of 4,000 Tyvek suits for homicide detectives and 6,000 gallons of hand sanitizer.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has promised to send state police, if necessary, to fill in for sick officers, but Shea has declined the offer for now. He has also said he does not see a need, yet, to ask officers to work 12-hour tours to cover staff shortages.

While paramedics were responding to a record surge in emergency calls, Shea said the calls funnelled to police were down. There have also been no parades or large gatherings.

Since the city imposed emergency rules, reports of the seven most serious crimes  including rape, robbery and assault  have dropped to about 187 a day, compared with about 267 a day in the 11 days before the rules went into effect. Nobodys on street and thats really helping us, Shea has said.

But at the same time, nearly 700 officers have been assigned to enforce Mayor Bill de Blasios new social-distancing rules. That has pulled officers from specialized assignments, like film and narcotics, onto patrol.

The nature of police work and the officers lack of training in public health puts them at a greater risk of contracting the virus, researchers say. So far, almost four per cent of the force has tested positive, and the number increased sevenfold last week.

When a cop is patrolling, they have to go into homes, they have to go into stores, they experience a whole different world of environments, said Timothy Akers, an assistant vice president at Morgan State University in Baltimore who studies the emerging field of epidemiological criminology.

Some of the departments most sensitive work has been slowed by the virus. More than half of the special victims squad in Queens is sick or in quarantine, and precinct domestic violence officers have also curtailed visits to homes with histories of complaints.

Most of the departments civilian staff are working from home, a move that Shea said was unprecedented. The offices inside Police Headquarters have been reduced to skeletal staff.

As the virus has spread, the availability of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant has become a point of contention between police commanders and the rank and file. Police officials say the department has a sufficient supply of respirator masks, gloves and disinfectants, but it has instructed officers to use the equipment sparingly.

The dearth of supplies has forced the police to stretch what they have. A department memo Wednesday advised officers to hold on to their empty hand sanitizer bottles because it was possible the department would acquire 55-gallon drums to refill them.

Police union leaders say the department did not distribute enough of the equipment in the early days of the crisis and supplies are still short. For instance, one police official said, the special victims squad in Brooklyn received just 15 masks for 28 detectives, who sometimes must visit hospitals that have coronavirus patients to meet victims of sex crimes and retrieve rape kits.

In recent days, the department has said it distributed more supplies and accepted donations from large charities and local businesses; so have the labour unions. The problem we are running into is that things arent moving fast enough, said Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

Some officers said in interviews that they believe a shortage of masks and gloves, especially in the early days of crisis, was partly to blame for the rapid rise in infections in their ranks. They requested anonymity to speak without department approval.

One Brooklyn detective who contracted the virus said in a text message that he had been given only one N95 mask and two disinfectant wipes to use over several days. He said he had no choice but to reuse the mask on a daily basis.

They are one-time use only mask, the detective wrote. I mean, theres only one mask. So its either we reuse or we dont have anything. He was later diagnosed with the coronavirus after getting a sore throat, headaches and a dry cough.

Another detective said that, aside from being given meagre supplies  including four surgical face masks, four sets of plastic gloves and eight sanitizer wipes to use while on assignment  she was not given much guidance from supervisors.

Its so disappointing given the fact that we are revered as the best in the world, she said.

An officer assigned to the South Bronx, who fears passing the virus to his young children, was more blunt: Its a damn shame that a city like New York that is the epicentre of the coronavirus and the financial capital of the world cant afford a $3 mask.

For many officers, the hazards of the pandemic were put into sharp relief last week by the death of Detective Cedric Dixon, a veteran who had not missed a day of work because of illness in seven years.

The 32nd precinct, where Dixon worked, is one of dozens of commands where, union officials said, there were shortages of protective gear.

Monique Dixon, 45, Cedric Dixons younger sister, said her brother did not complain about the lack of masks and gloves. He was the type to head toward danger without thinking twice, she said, holding back tears.

People need to understand that this is real, she said. Please stay home.
ITS a great idea, in principle: the Manitoba government has announced a program to provide online therapy to people during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has awarded a $4.5-million contract to deliver the program to an Ontario company, Morneau Shepell, while local care providers, the people best placed to understand and respond to the needs of Manitobans, face the collapse of their own businesses.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

ITS a great idea, in principle: the Manitoba government has announced a program to provide online therapy to people during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has awarded a $4.5-million contract to deliver the program to an Ontario company, Morneau Shepell, while local care providers, the people best placed to understand and respond to the needs of Manitobans, face the collapse of their own businesses.

While a crisis such as this requires rapid action, we still need accountability. The province needs to explain its decision. We would like answers to several questions:

1. Why was a huge contract such as this awarded to an out-of-province company? We have never seen public spending on this scale on therapy services in Manitoba.

This sort of support is desperately needed, but Manitoba already has an extensive network of qualified therapists. Why couldnt the money be given directly to Manitoba providers, in order to transform their own businesses to provide services remotely? Many local providers are set up for online therapy; funds could be given directly to residents to access these services.

2. Why werent the Manitoba psychiatric, psychological, social work, marriage and family therapy associations consulted? We understand this is a crisis, and speed is necessary, but existing stakeholders in the industry could have provided feedback in a matter of days.

3. We have serious questions about whether the program as announced conforms to clinical best practice. A standard 12-session cognitive behaviour therapy program may suit some patients; however, individual therapists need to determine, in consultation with their patients, what is the best approach for that individual. Why did the government mandate a single therapeutic protocol for all patients, removing discretion from individual therapists?

4. Why was a huge contract such as this awarded to an out-of-province company?

Morneau Shepell has 5,000 counsellors available, but only 80 of these are in Manitoba. Out-of-province therapists are normally not allowed to see clients in Manitoba; will this program be excepted from this requirement?

Morneau Shepell says it is recruiting more Manitoba therapists, but if the company acknowledges it did not have sufficient therapists licensed in Manitoba, why did the government contract with it rather than use local providers?

The only argument for awarding this contract so quickly is to deliver services immediately, but if Morneau Shepell needs time to recruit more therapists to meet demand, why didnt the government use that time to find local providers?

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

5. At a time when local therapists are facing a revenue crisis due to the pandemic, will this program allow Morneau Shepell to establish a lasting dominance in the provision of mental-health care in Manitoba, at the expense of the provinces independent providers  and, importantly, using our provinces public funds? Will therapists in Manitoba have to become employees of an Ontario corporation, whose primary business is not the provision of mental health services, in order to make a living?

6. What was the process by which this contract was awarded? Was it open to other bidders?

The need to ensure transparency is even more important when a contract is awarded to a company formerly headed by the current federal finance minister, Bill Morneau.

People in Manitoba need help right now to ensure their mental health, and the government is to be lauded for trying to respond. However, we cannot allow this response to escape accountability. We also believe that the current funds will not, on their own, be sufficient to meet the mental-health needs of Manitobans.

The government should make further funds available, and should ensure that all such funds go to local providers who are best placed to deliver the highest quality service to people in this province.

Darek Dawda is a registered clinical psychologist who practises in Winnipeg. Neil McArthur is the director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, University of Manitoba.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 11:58:40|Editor: Xiaoxia

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SYDNEY, April 3 (Xinhua) -- An international team of researchers led by Australia's La Trobe University have unearthed the earliest known skull of Homo erectus -- an early ancestor of modern humans similar in their anatomy and behavioral aspects.

The 2-million-year-old fossilized skull was pieced together over a five-year period from 150 individual fragments found in the Drimolen cave system north of Johannesburg in modern day South Africa, according to the study which was published on Friday.

Lead researcher Professor Andy Herries, Head of La Trobe's Department of Archaeology and History, said that the age of the skull shows that Homo erectus existed 100,000 to 200,000 years earlier than previously thought.

"The Homo erectus skull we found, likely aged between two and three years old when it died, shows its brain was only slightly smaller than other examples of adult Homo erectus," Herries said.

"It samples a part of human evolutionary history when our ancestors were walking fully upright, making stone tools, starting to emigrate out of Africa, but before they had developed large brains," he added.

Herries said that the skull is further evidence that our ancestors evolved in Africa, adding that Homo erectus was not the only early hominid species existing at the time.

"We can now say Homo erectus shared the landscape with two other types of humans in South Africa, Paranthropus and Australopithecus," he said.

The question of why our bloodline survived while that of similar species died off will be a focus for further research by the team, looking into the role of changing habitats, resources, and the unique biological adaptations of our ancient ancestors.

"However, as the last surviving human species, we should not think we are immune to the same fate as Australopithecus, who likely became extinct as a result of the changing climate 2 million years ago," Herries said.

Co-director on the project, University of Johannesburg PhD student Stephanie Baker, said the discovery of the earliest Homo erectus marks an incredible milestone for South African fossil heritage.

"Not only does the research illustrate the importance of South Africa in the human story, but this project is the first major breakthrough in hominin research with a female, South African director," Baker said.
The Y is For Youth dinner benefiting YMCA of San Francisco planned to honor philanthropist Cissie Swig and celebrate the retirement of YMCA President-CEO Charles Collins.

That April 27 fundraiser was not only canceled  but Collins remains on the job.

Im not retiring until this crisis is over, Collins said by phone. I dont have the bandwidth to be anything other than determined. In this new reality, Im solely focused on creating what our community needs now.

While the Ys fitness facilities are closed, almost 100 pre-K children are able to access early-childhood centers in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties. Social-distancing is strictly adhered to in pods of 12 children, guided every day by the same YMCA leader.

Much of this need derives from parents who are doctors, first-responders, nurses, orderlies and public servants.

The YMCA has always served as an epicenter of safety and trust in our communities, Collins said. And we remain dedicated to our mission of youth development.

For families with no child-care options, Collins and his team have pivoted, in conjunction with family-related city departments, to develop Pop-Up YKids centers. The YMCA has also updated its website with vital information on food pantries, family resources, virtual wellness classes and  donations.

Some of us have the privilege of options of choice, flexible jobs and homes, Collins said. But what happens to kids who relied on the Ys after-school programs? Or the learning gap thats widening for children living in public housing who may not have computers?

With schools suspended and summer looming, the YMCA is working with the S.F. Unified School District to reconfigure its programs for elementary and high school students.

This war will only be won if we shelter in place, with all of our essential workers in their place, protecting the community, Collins continued. But we must take care of the children.

CV-19 cancellations: As shelter-in-place orders are extended through sometime in May (its a fluid situation), this list of spring fundraiser cancellations also expands: California Academy of Sciences Big Bang Gala (April 23). The SPCA Metamorphosis Gala (April 28).

Up north, the 15th-anniversary Festival Napa Valley  the Wine Country celebration of performing arts, top toques and primo vino  has canceled its entire two-week season (July 17-26.)

Full credit for purchased tickets or passes will be applied to the 2021 season. Or supporters may donate their 2020 purchases to sustain the festivals mission of free arts education for Napa County schoolchildren.

However, Kaushik Roy, executive director of Shanti Project, has his fingers crossed that Petchitecture (June 4 at Fairmont Hotel) holds. This beloved four-legged fete benefits PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support), a Shanti program providing care to the animal companions of HIV/AIDS guardians.

Im nothing if not an optimist, says Roy. PAWS is a wonderful, heartwarming program thats uplifting for humans and animals.

With the citys Department of Disability and Aging Services, Shanti has also launched CERV, a COVID-19 Emergency Response Volunteer program to assist Shantis vulnerable adult clients with essential tasks, including grocery shopping, mail pickup, dog walking and medication deliveries.

New emergency funds: The Foundation for the Zuckerberg-Chan San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, the safety net for every EssEff citizen, invested $250K in its recently established ZSFG COVID-19 Fund.

And in just days, the fund has attracted more than $3 million, which will supply life-saving medical devices, increased testing and care for hospital patients, staff and their families.

Our health-care workers are the front line during this unprecedented and trying time, said foundation board president John Bell. This fund enables us to support essential personnel and meet their evolving needs as the COVID-19 pandemic builds.

The California Pacific Medical Center Foundation also quickly convened a give now campaign to augment urgent COVID-19 needs  from increased coronavirus testing to procuring additional protective gear for hospital staff. But, according to CPMC CEO Dr. Warren Browner, the hospitals most urgent need is to buy 85 new ICU beds equipped with IVs. Each bed costs $20,200. The total cost to upgrade all beds is $1.717 million.

A pull-down menu directs supporters to specifically designate their dollars to CPMC COVID-19 Response Fund.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Meals on Wheels is seeking donations to replenish food supplies, subsidize transportation and personnel costs and enable tech-based efforts to safely check on isolated seniors.

Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) in San Mateo County has a donation wish list of specific items (including pull-up diapers, clean toys, feminine hygiene products) to support women and children sequestered in the nonprofits safe houses.

Drop-off service is available Wednesdays (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) at CORAs office (2211 Palm Ave., San Mateo). However as donations are in person, follow these social-distancing guidelines.

Rachel Ball

Code 911: The doors at Code Tenderloin (55 Taylor St.) remain open. This job-training program for the homeless, formerly incarcerated or generally marginalized partners with such organizations as Twitter, the Public Defenders Office and St. Anthonys Foundation.

With its free courses currently available online only, Code Tenderloin Director Donna Hilliard is on a new mission  providing health kits, clothing, food and a Code Care Resource Line (415-787-3069) for hygiene information to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Donations (a health kit is just $25) will assist this neighborhoods vulnerable denizens.

Im 73 and Ive never seen anything, anywhere like this, says Code Tenderloin founder Del Seymour, a Vietnam veteran, former incarcerated drug addict and mayor of the Tenderloin. Ive been through the Cold War, SARS epidemic and 9/11. But good things can emerge from bad. And during this crisis, Code Tenderloin remains committed to uplifting people.

Recently an employee laid-off from the nearby, and nearly empty, Hilton Hotel came for help.

But she didnt have any sort of device to start a job search, recalls Seymour. So we gave her a laptop, a few lessons and, hopefully, a new lease on life.

Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicles society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow
He's currently in prison serving a 22 year sentence in Texas for attempting to pay someone to murder his arch nemesis Carole Baskin from Big Cat Rescue.

The Mirror has reported that hes tested positive for COVD-19 and has immediately been transported to hospital.

Despite isolating himself within prison, he managed to get infected.

Hopefully Carole Baskin had nothing to do with it. Here's hoping the Tiger King will pull through...
With COVID-19 affecting 206 countries, areas and territories, IBM is helping government agencies, healthcare organizations and academic institutions throughout the world use AI to put critical data and information into the hands of their citizens.

With a flood of information requests from citizens, wait times in many areas to receive answers can exceed two hours. Available for no charge for at least 90 days and available to our clients citizens online or by phone, IBM Watson Assistant for Citizens on the IBM public cloud brings together Watson Assistant, Natural Language Processing capabilities from IBM Research, and state-of-art enterprise AI search capabilities with Watson Discovery, to understand and respond to common questions about COVID-19.

While helping government agencies and healthcare institutions use AI to get critical information out to their citizens remains a high priority right now, the current environment has made it clear that every business in every industry should find ways to digitally engage with their clients and employees. With todays news, IBM is taking years of experience in helping thousands of global businesses and institutions use Natural Language Processing and other advanced AI technologies to better meet the demands of their constituents, and now applying it to the COVID-19 crisis. AI has the power to be your assistant during this uncertain time. Rob Thomas, general manager, IBM Data & AI

Watson Assistant for Citizens leverages currently available data from external sources, including guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and local sources such as links to school closings, news and documents on a state website. IBM already is delivering this service across the United States, as well as engaging with organizations globally in Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, UK and more.

Here are examples where IBM is engaging with government and healthcare agencies on Watson Assistant for Citizens:

ARKANSAS: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences  In 9 days, deployed a virtual agent so citizens can get their questions answered quickly about testing, symptoms or resources. Information is automatically sent to a mobile COVID-19 triage clinic electronically to help speed response. Average registration time has been reduced by fifty percent for those using the agent.

 In 9 days, deployed a virtual agent so citizens can get their questions answered quickly about testing, symptoms or resources. Information is automatically sent to a mobile COVID-19 triage clinic electronically to help speed response. Average registration time has been reduced by fifty percent for those using the agent. CALIFORNIA: City of Lancaster in Los Angeles County  COVID-19 information for citizens on common questions such as symptoms and recommended procedures to follow in case of infection.

 COVID-19 information for citizens on common questions such as symptoms and recommended procedures to follow in case of infection. GEORGIA: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta  The COVID-19 Pediatric Assessment Tool walks parents through a series of questions and results in suggested next steps that a parent should take. Recommendations on next steps are made according to the healthcare systems established protocols.

 The COVID-19 Pediatric Assessment Tool walks parents through a series of questions and results in suggested next steps that a parent should take. Recommendations on next steps are made according to the healthcare systems established protocols. NEW YORK: County of Otsego  COVID-19-related information will be available within the next few days for citizens to help them quickly get their health and non-health related questions answered regarding the pandemic. Otsego Countys COVID-19 virtual agent will be able to answer citizens questions like: How do I apply for unemployment?

 COVID-19-related information will be available within the next few days for citizens to help them quickly get their health and non-health related questions answered regarding the pandemic. Otsego Countys COVID-19 virtual agent will be able to answer citizens questions like: How do I apply for unemployment? TEXAS: City of Austin  COVID-19-related information will soon be available for citizens with interactive conversation on where to get testing and other information.

 COVID-19-related information will soon be available for citizens with interactive conversation on where to get testing and other information. CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech Ministry of Health  COVID-19 virtual agent called "Anezka" advises citizens about prevention, treatment and other related topics on the coronavirus.

 COVID-19 virtual agent called "Anezka" advises citizens about prevention, treatment and other related topics on the coronavirus. GREECE: Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance  COVID-19-related information for citizens and interactive conversation on preventive and precautionary measures issued by the Greek Government.

 COVID-19-related information for citizens and interactive conversation on preventive and precautionary measures issued by the Greek Government. POLAND: Polish Ministry of Health  COVID-19 information for Polish citizens on common questions such as symptoms and recommended procedures to follow in case of infection.

 COVID-19 information for Polish citizens on common questions such as symptoms and recommended procedures to follow in case of infection. SPAIN: Andalusian Government  A virtual agent to help respond to citizens queries about COVID-19 is available through the app Salud Responde and the Public Agency for Health Emergencies (EPES) website, built also in collaboration with the Andalusian Health Service (SAS).

 A virtual agent to help respond to citizens queries about COVID-19 is available through the app Salud Responde and the Public Agency for Health Emergencies (EPES) website, built also in collaboration with the Andalusian Health Service (SAS). UK: National Health Service Wales: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board  CERi, an English and Welsh speaking virtual assistant, will soon go live to support healthcare workers and the general public in Wales who need information or have questions on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 along with general information about the virus.

Austin residents are counting on us to provide timely updates on COVID-19 response. The City is pleased to use artificial intelligence technology to respond to that need, with a tool that quickly and easily helps residents find the information they need 24/7. Tauseef Khan, Chief Technology Officer, City of Austin, Texas

The AI solution from IBM will be a great resource for the countys residents and will help alleviate call center volume to allow county employees to dedicate efforts elsewhere, said Brian Pokorny, Director of Information Technologies, County of Otsego, New York.

Using information provided by clients, Watson Assistant for Citizens automates responses to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 that come in via phone call or text, such as What are symptoms?, How do I clean my home properly? and How do I protect myself?

State and local government agencies, hospitals or other healthcare organizations can choose to customize the solution to address questions specific to their area or region, including What are cases in my neighborhood?, How long are schools shut down?, and Where can I get tested?

IBM is offering Watson Assistant for Citizens for no charge for at least 90 days and will assist with initial set up, which can typically be done in a few days. The initial solution is available in English and Spanish and can be tailored to 13 languages.

The offer includes access to 15 pre-trained COVID-19 intents or queries. Intents are purposes or goals that are expressed in a customer's input, such as answering a question. By recognizing the intent expressed in a customer's input, the Watson Assistant service can choose the correct dialog flow for responding to it.

Clients can also work with IBM to customize the offering on top of the base model and intents to include information related specifically to a city or region for specific information that is pertinent to those citizens or constituents, as well as integrate with client's back-end ERP systems.

IBM is also working with global businesses in other industries to apply AI to help them respond to COVID-19 and reimagine the way work will get done in this new operating environment.
MINNEAPOLIS, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Vemos announced they will host a live streamed benefit concert in partnership with Icehouse called Bridge the Gap to raise money for local artists and hospitality workers who have been forced out of work due to the COVID-19 shutdowns.

The concert will be live streamed on April 11, from 6:00-10:00 P.M. and will feature local Minnesota artists , including headliners Gabe Douglas of 4ontheFloor and Pavielle.

"In Minnesota, nearly 50,000 hospitality workers have been laid off in the last few weeks due to COVID-19," said Whitney Larson, Co-Founder and President of Vemos. "It's devastating to our industry, and we want to do what we can to help bridge the gap many in the industry are facing during this crisis."

The livestream concert produced by Feedback will take place at Icehouse on April 11. The concert venue and artists will strictly follow CDC protocol on social distancing  artists will perform solo with full sanitation between sets, no patrons will be present, and no two bands will be in the same space at the same time.

"We are honored to be a part of this wonderful mission to support, not only our own employees, but all those in the hospitality industry who are struggling during these tough times," said Brian Liebeck, Co-Owner of Icehouse.

Tickets to access the livestream are available at vemos.io/bridgethegap and are priced at the Minneapolis minimum wage of $11, with the idea that one ticket pays for one hour of work for displaced industry workers. Ticket proceeds will be donated to The North Stands, a Sanneh Foundation fund providing financial relief to hospitality industry professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vemos has also partnered with The Silver Linings Fund created by Utepils Brewing to offer special ticket packages that include growlers from local breweries that are available for curbside pickup. Growler sales will be donated to The Silver Linings Fund.

The Bridge the Gap Benefit Concert would not be possible without the effort of local business leaders who pulled together as a team of volunteers to make the concert a reality, including Modern Foundation who is leading the digital marketing efforts, Schuler Publicity who is leading the publicity efforts, and Middlebrook Design who created all the branding assets. The goal is to sell at least 10,000 tickets to raise a minimum of $110,000 to benefit displaced workers in the hospitality industry.

Carol Schuler

[email protected]

612-281-7030

SOURCE Vemos
A hospital in London almost ran out of oxygen last weekend because it was treating so many coronavirus patients at the same time.

The incident, at a hospital which hasn't been named, sparked fears that huge numbers of patients needing breathing support could run oxygen pipelines dry.

Large numbers of ventilators running at once could lead to pressure drops in hospitals' central oxygen supplies or even lead to them running out, officials warned.

NHS England has since written to hospital bosses asking them to work out their limits for how many devices could safely be used at once.

It raises questions about whether hospitals can cope with the delivery of more ventilators being sourced by the Government.

Currently around 8,000 ventilators are in use across England trusts. But it is thought some 30,000 COVID-19 patients will require one.

A further 569 deaths were recorded yesterday - the third day in a row that a new one-day high in fatalities has been revealed.

An unnamed London hospital almost ran out of oxygen for coronavirus patients last weekend because it had to treat so many (Stock image of a medical oxygen tank)

Trusts have been advised to calculate exactly how many patients can be treated using oxygen machines at once. Pictured, oxygen tanks being delivered to the new NHS Nightingale hospital at the ExCel centre

The coronavirus can, in severe cases, lead to pneumonia and leave patients in need of life support machines which help them to breathe.

Those pump pure oxygen out of tanks and through tubes directly into a patient's airways so their failing lungs can get enough of it into their blood.

Hospitals have central pipelines of high-flow oxygen which pump the gas into ventilators from a large reservoir tank.

After the oxygen shortage crisis at the weekend, NHS bosses urgently warned all hospital trusts in England to consider limiting how many patients were hooked up to oxygen-based therapy at any one time, The Times reports.

This includes mechanical ventilators  which push air into the lungs of a patient who is physically unable to breathe by themselves - and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines  which supply oxygen through a face mask.

In a letter on Monday, NHS England said it was a 'critical safety concern'.

The hospitals' liquid oxygen storage tanks, known as vacuum insulated evaporators (VIEs), have limited capacity.

The letter said that if the demand from multiple wall-mounted CPAP machines exceeds the maximum capacity of the VIE delivery system, there is a risk of 'rapid pressure drop in oxygen supply pipes', which are kept at a safe level for patient treatment.

'This could lead to a failure of oxygen delivery systems throughout the hospital, including to patients on face masks, CPAP, ventilators and [in] operating theatres', the letter said.

TWO-THIRDS ON VENTILATORS 'WILL DIE', DATA SHOWS Two-thirds of coronavirus patients in the UK who need to be hooked up to a ventilator will die from the illness, official NHS data suggests. A report from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Center (ICNARC) found ventilated patients succumb to the virus 66.3 per cent of the time. That is double the mortality rate of non-virus patients who were put on breathing support between 2017 and 2019, before the outbreak. The ICNARC report looked at the first 775 patients who had fallen critically ill with COVID-19 across 285 intensive care units. Of the 98 patients who needed advanced respiratory support when their lungs started to fail, just 33 patients lived (34 per cent). 'The truth is that quite a lot of these individuals [in critical care] are going to die anyway and there is a fear that we are just ventilating them for the sake of it, for the sake of doing something for them, even though it wont be effective. Thats a worry,' one doctor told The Guardian. The report broke down the risk of death from coronavirus by age, with the the over-70s unsurprisingly being the most at-risk group. It comes after MailOnline revealed volunteers working at the NHS Nightingale super-hospital in London were given the stark warning that 80 per cent of patients on ventilators could die. Selfless heroes flocking to staff the emergency 4,000-bed unit in east London were told to 'be prepared to see death', with a mortality rate of 50 to 80 per cent among those on ventilators. Advertisement

Extra strain on the VIE could also lead to it rapidly becoming run down, NHS England said.

'Both of these situations present a potentially significant risk to multiple patients simultaneously.'

Trusts have been advised to check the capacity of their oxygen tanks and calculate exactly how many patients can be treated at once.

They should then set a limit on the number of machines available to prevent systems becoming overloaded.

If too many coronavirus patients are having support with their breathing, it could cause the hospital's oxygen supply to fail for all patients, the letter said.

This would result in the supply being switched off all together, putting potentially hundreds of patients' lives at risk.

The letter is problematic because it comes amid a race to ramp up numbers of ventilators 'significantly' in the next couple of months.

It's thought that some 30,000 patients will need ventilation, or up to 93,000 by May in a worst case scenario, according to predictions by healthcare data analysts, Edge Health.

Britain's National Health Service has around 8,000 ventilators at its disposal. But more are being bought from abroad or being built domestically by manufacturing companies including Dyson, Siemens and Rolls-Royce.

At least 1,500 ventilators a week could be rolling off British production lines by the end of the month to help in the fight against Covid-19.

The NHS is set to get 30 new ventilators next week with the Government promising 'hundreds' more to follow.

At the same time, experts warn oxygen supplies could run out if the coronavirus crisis worsens.

Gas suppliers have allegedly been told to quadruple production to help hospitals prepare and military drivers may be requisitioned to do the deliveries.

Mr Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said the NHS was right to warn of oxygen depletion during the pandemic.

'This is a very serious matter,' he said. 'The particular characteristics of coronavirus mean that hospitals are likely to be using many more ventilators and much more oxygen than they normally do.

'We understand that the usage of CPAP machines on a systematic basis can use up significant amounts of oxygen. So it makes sense to highlight the risk of both how quickly oxygen supplies might be depleted and if that happens the potential risk to the core oxygen flow system.

'No hospital would want to knowingly run the risk of having all its oxygen throughout the hospital fail at once, because of the impact on the patients using the oxygen, because oxygen treatment is so central to life-saving care.'

Current ventilator systems in British hospitals are highly sophisticated pieces of equipment that are both mechanical and electrical

Ventilation with oxygen can be the difference between life and death for many critically ill COVID-19 patients. Pictured, stock of a critical care patient on ventilation

Ventilation with oxygen can be the difference between life and death for many critically ill COVID-19 patients.

But recent developments have highlighted that doctors will need to make grave decisions about which patients should be prioritised to receive equipment.

The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, has warned that staff may be faced with difficult decisions over scarce resources, including ventilators.

It may involve withdrawing treatment from an individual who has a lower chance of surviving compared to another patient.

At the same time, experts warn oxygen could run out if the coronavirus crisis worsens.

Gas suppliers have allegedly been told to quadruple production to help hospitals prepare and military drivers may be requisitioned to do the deliveries.

Mr Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said the NHS was right to warn of oxygen depletion during the pandemic.

'This is a very serious matter,' he said. 'The particular characteristics of coronavirus mean that hospitals are likely to be using many more ventilators and much more oxygen than they normally do.

'We understand that the usage of CPAP machines on a systematic basis can use up significant amounts of oxygen. So it makes sense to highlight the risk of both how quickly oxygen supplies might be depleted and if that happens the potential risk to the core oxygen flow system.

'No hospital would want to knowingly run the risk of having all its oxygen throughout the hospital fail at once, because of the impact on the patients using the oxygen, because oxygen treatment is so central to life-saving care.'

Ventilation with oxygen can be the difference between life and death for many critically ill COVID-19 patients.

But recent developments have highlighted that doctors will need to make grave decisions about which patients should be prioritised to receive equipment.

The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, has warned that staff may be faced with difficult decisions over scarce resources, including ventilators.

It may involve withdrawing treatment from an individual who has a lower chance of surviving compared to another patient.
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 16:39 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8df52 1 City COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,Jakarta-administration,regional-budget,Formula-E,Jakarta-governor,anies-baswedan Free

The Jakarta administration has allocated an additional Rp 2 trillion (US$121 million) for COVID-19 countermeasures, increasing the total amount of regional funds earmarked for fighting the disease until May to Rp 3.03 trillion.

Jakarta Financial Management Body (BPKD) head Edy Sumantri said the additional money was allocated from the budget for urgent expenditures, land acquisitions as well as other regional investments, including for the infrastructure development for the now-delayed Formula E electric vehicle race.

For now, we are adding Rp 2 trillion to overcome the outbreak as well as for social security measures for affected residents, Edi said in a press statement on Thursday.

He added that Governor Anies Baswedan had issued two gubernatorial regulations in March regarding the regional budget reallocation for COVID-19 matters. The money would be given to various agencies, including the health agency, social affairs agency and the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

Read also: Indonesias budget to fight COVID-19: What we know so far

The Jakarta administration will increase the budget to handle the outbreak if the outbreak cannot be contained by May, said Edi.

The provincial administration had allocated Rp 54 billion in March to the Jakarta Health Agency for urgent expenditures of handling and preventing the transmission of COVID-19.

The budget reallocation was stipulated in a 2019 gubernatorial regulation, which allowed the administration to allocate funds to regional expenditures for urgent matters outside the control of the regional administration.

Jakarta also reached out to the Social Affairs Ministry, which agreed to provide Rp 1 million to each affected family for two months.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the capital city has continued to surge, as health authorities had recorded 971 confirmed cases and 90 deaths as of Thursday.
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The captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after a letter he wrote pleading for help with a coronavirus outbreak on his ship made it into the press.

The San Francisco Chronicle obtained a letter written by Capt. Brett Crozier:

This will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do, Crozier wrote. 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.

..

Due to a warships inherent limitations of space, we are not doing this, Crozier wrote. The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating.

He asked for compliant quarantine rooms on shore in Guam for his entire crew as soon as possible.

Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure.  This is a necessary risk, Crozier wrote. Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care.

The Navy responded by relieving Crozier of his duties:

The Vice CNO's closing words in a letter to commanders that night were (his caps) "WE HAVE YOUR BACK" I guess the "in our crosshairs" part got left out https://t.co/qpLyx0L0RX  David Burbach (@dburbach) April 2, 2020

Reuters reported that it was because the letter got leaked (and Trump hates bad press):

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Navy is expected to relieve commander of coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier after a letter was leaked https://t.co/FkbOU5CKvQ pic.twitter.com/E5wI0fhFhY  Reuters (@Reuters) April 2, 2020

Capt. Crozier is a hero who was willing to lose his career to save young sailors from needlessly dying from their Commander In Chiefs incompetence.

The pattern has repeated itself throughout the Trump presidency. Anyone who speaks out, or says anything less than Trump is doing a great job gets punished.

Here is hoping that the next president after Trump corrects this grave injustice.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Three persons from Uttar Pradesh were among the four who tested positive for COVID-19 in Assam on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 20, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

All the patients are linked to a religious congregation in Tablighi Jammat Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin West last month, he said.

Three persons tested positive in Nalbari and they were a part of an 11-member group that came from Shamli in Uttar Pradesh and were visiting different mosques in the district, Deputy Commissioner B B Dev Choudhury told PTI.

They are undergoing treatment at the Nalbari Civil Hospital, he said.

Another member of the group who had tested positive on April 1 is undergoing treatment at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The team arrived in the Mollapara area of Nalbari town on the night of March 21 after attending the congregation in Nizamuddin.

The fourth person who tested positive during the day is from the South Salmara district, the health minister said.

The first positive case in the state was reported from Silchar on March 31. Twelve cases were reported the next day -- four in Guwahati and eight in Jorhat -- and later three people tested positive in Goalpara.

All the eight patients testing positive for the disease in Jorhat are from Golaghat district and include four women who accompanied their family members to Delhi. They are undergoing treatment at the Golaghat Civil Hospital, officials said.

The patients who tested positive in Guwahati are being treated at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, they said.

Besides, three patients are admitted to Goalpara Civil Hospital and the first patient is undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, the officials said.

Samples of 361 people who attended the congregation were collected, with 20 testing positive, while reports of the rest are awaited, they said.

Altogether 503 people from the state attended the Delhi congregation, while 488 of them were already in quarantine, the remaining 15 were located during the day, they said.

Sarma said there could be more who attended the congregation and they should reach out to health workers for testing.

They "are now like human bombs who can infect their immediate family members, the neighbourhood and the entire society", he said.

Sarma visited the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital and Golaghat Civil Hospital along with Minister of State for Health Pijush Hazarika and Agriculture Minister Atul Bora to take stock of the situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Theres a competing theory  of an accidental lab release of bat coronavirus  that scientists have been puzzling about for weeks. Less than 300 yards from the seafood market is the Wuhan branch of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers from that facility and the nearby Wuhan Institute of Virology have posted articles about collecting bat coronaviruses from around China, for study to prevent future illness. Did one of those samples leak, or was hazardous waste deposited in a place where it could spread?
The Bombay high court (HC) has refused to discharge an official of the SBC Bank at Singapore, booked for allegedly aiding Pune businessman Hasan Ali Khan who is accused of laundering over USD 8 billion in foreign banks.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed that Vishwanathan Venugopal, the SBC Bank officer, helped Khan in opening an account with the foreign bank and thus committed an offence under section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The agency, in January 2007, registered a case against Khan for allegedly laundering crores in foreign banks. The ED, at the end of the investigation, concluded that Venugopal, being an account opening official in SBC Bank at Singapore, had aided Khan in concealing his crime-tainted money.

The ED then filed a plea, requesting the special PMLA court in the city to take cognisance of offences committed by Venugopal and 10 others under section 3 of the PMLA - direct, indirect involvement in concealing proceeds of crimes or aiding or assisting any such activity.

Venugopal moved the high court after the special PMLA court on November 22, 2018, issued process against him based on EDs plea and also summoned him.

The SBC bank employee argued in the HC there was no material on record to even remotely indicate that process could be issued to prosecute him under section 3 of the PMLA. He also contended that the order under challenge was passed by the special PMLA court without application of mind.

Justice Sadhana Jadhav, who was hearing the case, refused to accept Venugopals contention. The judge said that it is not appropriate for any court to undertake a roving enquiry into the investigation at this initial stage. All that is expected by the court is to ascertain whether prima facie a case is made out against the accused, said the judge.

The HC also noted that Venugopal had opened an account with the SBC Bank in Singapore based on forged documents and this has been confirmed by the principal accused Khan, and other accused Kashinath Tapuriah and Amlendu Pandey.

The HC then rejected the bank officers plea, stating that it could not be said that ED had filed a complaint without any material evidence and therefore the agency deserved an opportunity to substantiate the allegations by adducing substantive evidence and the documents collected during the investigation.

The court said it cant be oblivious to the fact that this is an economic offence affecting the society at large. It affects the economic health of the society as well as national economy and therefore, it would not be appropriate to quash the order of issuance of process at this stage, said the judge.
by Sumon Corraya

Police threaten an electrician for violating the quarantine. The epidemic hits daily labourers the hardest. The government does nothing to help the jobless. Catholic students donate food parcels to the poor who cannot work because of the lockdown of economic activities.

Khulna (AsiaNews)  Daily labourers and those employed in small businesses are the most affected by the bans imposed by the Bangladeshi government to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Currently, Bangladesh has 54 confirmed cases of infection with six deaths.

One of those unemployed workers is Michael Sarker, a 45-year-old electrician who lives in Khulna, south-eastern Bangladesh.

I ventured out of the house to look for work but the police tried to beat me for violating the coronavirus quarantine, he said.

Sarker was left without a job after factories in Khulna closed. He used to earn 350 taka (about US.10) a day; too little already to meet the needs of his family. Now, it is even harder for him to feed his wife and two children.

We are out of money. If any of my loved ones gets sick, I couldn't afford a doctor, "Sarker told AsiaNews. He hopes local factories will reopen soon, so he can go back to work.

Usha Mazumdar, a 50-year-old widow, is in the same condition. The construction company where I work had to close for the quarantine, she said. I was earning 300 taka per day (around US.50). It was little, but at least I could give my son something to eat.

She had to ask her neighbours for some rice to survive. She accuses the government of doing nothing to help people left without work.

Like others in Khulna who cannot work because of the restrictions imposed by the authorities, Sarker and Mazumdar have been helped by a group of Catholic students from the local branch of the Catholic Student Movement of Bangladesh, which is associated with the Catholic Bishops Conference of Bangladesh.

The aid consists of a food parcel with 5 kilos of rice, a kilo of legumes and potatoes, oil, salt, and a piece of soap.

For us, this gift is a great help, Sarker said. I have to thank the generosity of these young people. The package Mazumdar received from the students will help her and her son for a week.

In addition to Catholic students in Khulna, many local Catholics are also helping out by contributing money to pay for the food parcels. Raising more funds and helping more people remain the goal.

We work to improve living conditions in our city, said Sourov Saha, president of the student group. This can be achieved with a fundraiser for the neediest, an educational campaign, or an initiative to clean and repair city streets.
Millions in underdeveloped regions face penury and deprivation as economic activity grinds to a halt due to lockdown.

Mumbai, India  For farm worker Manisha Uke, being able to survive is contingent on two factors  one, getting a daily wage of 100 Indian rupees ($1.3) a day and two, receiving a widows monthly pension of 1,000 rupees ($13.1) from the government.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in India at the beginning of March, both sources of income have dried up.

Just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an unprecedented three-week lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus, Uke, 30, who lives in a village in Maharashtra in western India ran out of money and groceries. So, I started feeding my three young girls rice with a chutney, made of crushed onions or tomatoes, she says.

She managed to find work in a neighbouring village for a day. With the money she earned, she was able to buy some food from a market 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) away.

Countries are asking ppl to #stayhome & shutting down population movement to limit #COVID19 transmission. These steps can have unintended consequences for the poorest & most vulnerable. I call on countries to ensure these populations have food & life essentials during the crisis.  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2020

But getting to the market with an autorickshaw cost her 300 rupees ($3.9)  three times her daily wage  as no buses were running due to the lockdown. She offered to compensate the driver later, but he insisted on her paying him immediately

So I gave him my necklace to keep, till I can pay him back, she says. He agreed but said he would charge an additional dollar in interest.

As the coronavirus cases in India climb, imposing a lockdown on 1.3 billion people was always going to be challenging. So far, the country has had a reported 2,032 cases and 58 deaths. But the movement restrictions will prove economically devastating for Indias poor, who live in its vast rural areas, say analysts.

Manisha Uke has run out of money and groceries since the Indian prime minister announced an unprecedented lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus on March 24 [Kunal Purohit/Al Jazeera]

Modis sudden announcement on March 24 sent waves of panic across the country. But for Indias 40 million migrant workers it was a do-or-die situation to seek the safety of home.

Exodus of working class

The announcement, just four hours before the lockdown was due to start, caused an exodus among the working poor. Thousands fled on foot to their villages, often hundreds of kilometres away, leading to the death of at least 20 people.

But not all of its effects have become apparent yet.

With the lockdown suspending all forms of work for three weeks, Indias poorest from some of the countrys most underdeveloped regions now face penury and deprivation.

With very little savings and a poor social security net, families in rural India are having fewer meals, borrowing money and braving the threat of police violence in order to go out and work.

I feel ashamed saying this but I dont think I have even Rs 100 left with me. Modi should tell us how people like me are supposed to survive in this lockdown, she says.

On Thursday, the director-general of the World Health Organization said the lockdown to limit the COVID-19 transmission had unintended consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable.

I call on countries to ensure these populations have food [and] life essentials during the crisis, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted.

According to the World Banks 2015 estimates, India has 176 million people living in extreme poverty and like Uke, who earn less than $1.9 a day.

The United Nations 2019 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), a more holistic measure of poverty that looks at deprivation through the lens of nutrition, health indicators, schooling, sanitation and access to essential amenities puts the number of poor in India at 369 million.

What makes the situation so grim is that at least 380 million people in India  more than the population of the United States  are employed in the informal sector, according to an analysis of the data gleaned from the International Labour Organization and the Indian government.

Possibiilty of near-starvation

Like Uke, most informal workers earn anywhere between 100 rupees and 300 rupees, depending on the work, the region and their gender, just enough to make ends meet.

Government data shows, on average, Indian rural households have a monthly surplus of only 1,413 rupees ($18.5) which is often used to repay their debts.

But in Jharkhand, one of Indias poorest states, most rural households only have a surplus one-fifth of that figure.

The possibilty of near-starvation is now being discussed in many rural areas in India.

Kalamuddin Ansari works with a local community organisation helping the poor get access to legal aid and is from a village in Jharkhand in eastern India. He earns 7,000 rupees ($91.7) a month but it barely covers expenses for his family of five.

But since the restrictions were imposed in March, Ansari was not able to go in person to collect his monthly stipend.

It has been more than a month since I got my last salary. I dont know how much more we will be able to hold it up for, he says. His family now mostly has rice supplemented with a few vegetables.

Karmu Bhuiya, 45, lives in the same village as Ansari and has to support his mother, wife and son.

Bhuiya is a casual labourer who does odd jobs which get him about 250 rupees ($3.3) a day. But since the lockdown started, work has dried up. Most days, the family eats rice with a little oil and salt.

Other days, if we find any edible greens growing around our house, we crush it into a chutney and eat it with rice, because spices are too expensive, he says.

But with the current movement restrictions, Ansari and Bhuiya cannot even pick up the occasional odd job.

Ansari says villagers are full of stories of police using violent means to stop anyone who ventures out of the house. His smartphone is filled with videos showing some of these purported incidents, which reportedly took place in a village close to his.

Rahul Bais, a co-founder of Swarajya Mitra, a non-governmental organisation that works on issues of education and womens empowerment in rural Maharashtra, says most rural households do not have the means to cope with the lockdown.

Most families buy goods on a weekly basis at weekly village markets. Thats just how much liquidity they have. Which is why, shutting down the economy means shutting down all the flow of money in, anyway, precarious households, he says.

For now, Bhuiya and Ansari are supported by the governments public distribution system, a long-standing government food security programme that distributes grains at heavily subsidised rates.

State support

But the food distribution scheme is frequently interrupted. After not receiving any rations for four months, they were resumed in March when the Modi government announced a $22.50bn relief package to help the poor cope with the loss of income during the lockdown.

The programme offers the poor support by distributing free food to 800 million families, cash transfers of 500 rupees ($6.6) for 200 million women, 1,000 rupees for 30 million seniors citizens and free gas cylinders for families for the next three months.

However, many analysts question whether these supplies can be distributed in time.

Dipa Sinha, an assistant professor of economics at the School of Liberal Studies in Ambedkar University Delhi, calls the measures inadequate and a little too late.

It has been close to a week since the announcement, but we dont see that it has been implemented yet, not even in the capital, New Delhi. These were supposed to be emergency measures and one wonders if Indias systems, weak anyway, will be able to deliver these benefits, Sinha says.

Back in Amravati, Uke has heard little about the Modi governments relief package. She is not even sure if she qualifies. And even if she does, she thinks the scheme is not for her.

How am I supposed to reach the bank, more than 10 kilometres away to claim the cash transfers now that they shut the public transport too? I will have to pay more for the travel fare than what I get, she says.
New Delhi, April 3 : In his second communication with all Governors, Lieutenant Governors (LGs) and Administrators, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said that gathering of migrant workers and Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi caused a setback to the efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

He was referring to the gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar a few days after the nationwide lockdown was imposed, and the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin on various occasions in March -- both in Delhi.

Both the gatherings, specially the Tablighi Jamaat, have caused havoc across India as it could be the main cause of spread of novel coronavirus pandemic with many positive cases identified so far.

The President emphasized the need to ensure that no one remains hungry during the 21-day lockdown that will continue till April 14.

In the video conference from Rashtrapati Bhavan in which Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu also took part, ways to contribute to the measures taken by the Central government and the state governments in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 were discussed.

It was the second such conference held by the President and the Vice President within 10 days.

In a video conference on March 27, 15 Governors and Delhi LG Anil Baijal had shared with the President their experience. On Friday, the Governors, LGs and administrators of 21 remaining states and UTs briefed the President and Vice-President on COVID-19 related efforts.

There was a unanimity that there is no scope for laxity or complacency in fighting the "invisible enemy". In this context, the President noted with concern the incidents of attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel in some parts of the country. He wholeheartedly endorsed the Prime Minister's appeal earlier on Friday morning to all citizens to switch off lights in homes at 9 p.m. on Sunday and instead switch on their mobile flashlights, torches or lamps in an expression of people's solidarity to fight against Coronavirus.

He, however, cautioned people not to let their guard down and steadfastly adhere to the practice of social distancing.

Taking note of the problems faced by the homeless, the unemployed and the weaker sections of society during this crisis, the President said: "We will have to be extra sensitive towards their needs". He invited other participants in the conference to deliberate upon the ways to ensure nobody remains hungry.

Acknowledging that this was a big challenge, he said he was confident the Governors will contribute to the efforts made by the Central and state governments and involve all sections of society.

While ensuring that food and other essential items are made available to the needy, care has to be taken that no compromise is made on the question of social distancing, he added.

The President invited suggestions to involve and encourage maximum participation of the voluntary agencies as well as the private sector in meeting the humanitarian challenge.

"In battling the pandemic, our efforts so far have been in the right direction, notwithstanding some incidents, and we are moving ahead with firm determination," the President said in his remarks.

The President expressed appreciation of the fellow citizens for their patience and cooperation and thanked the doctors and all officers and employees who have been serving the society.

The Vice President, who conducted the conference, emphasised roping in volunteers of the Indian Red Cross Society, social organisations and private sector to mitigate the plight of the poor.

He urged the Governors, LGs and administrators to persuade leaders from different walks to life to come forward and support the most vulnerable sections of society, particularly farmers, as the lockdown coincides with the harvesting season in many states.

Intervening in the discussion, the President urged all Governors to revive units of the Red Cross Society and take their help. Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu pointed out that the UT administration has been keeping intensive surveillance and has identified hotspots to preempt the outbreak of disease.

"We faced problems because of the movements of Tablighi Jamaat," Murmu said.

He, however, assured that the administration is taking care of migrant workers, students and has also set up adequate quarantine centres.

The Ladakh Lt Governor Radha Krishna Mathur expressed concern over rise in cases due to the return of pilgrims from Iran where some of them had been infected, and pointed out that inaccessibility of certain areas and tough terrain make operation difficult.

The Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Admiral D.K. Joshi ((Retd.) said that 10 positive Covid-19 cases were related to Tablighi Jamaat. All those who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat event are quarantined after identifying them.

Chhattisgarh Governor Sushri Anusuiya Uikey, said that the state government had launched a comprehensive strategy to check the spread of the disease at the earliest.

Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya said that the state had suitably augmented its capacity to meet any situation arising out of the crisis.

The other governors who gave a briefing about the initiatives in their states include the Governor of Goa, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, and LGs of Puducherry and Delhi.

Those who briefed the President and Vice-President in the conference held on March 27 also provided the latest information from their states and UTs.
Ondo State on Friday recorded its first COVID-19 case after several suspected cases had turned out negative.

The state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who confirmed the development via his verified Twitter handle, also said the patient is an army officer who recently returned from India.

We have just received confirmation of our first positive #COVID19 case in Ondo State this evening. The infected person is currently under isolation and will be monitored. We have activated all necessary protocol to locate all contacts and will be working closely with @NCDCgov.  Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) April 3, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Mr Akeredolu was the first in the state to undergo COVID-19 test after fears he was in contact with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who is currently undergoing treatment for the virus. The governor tested negative for the virus.

We have just received confirmation of our first positive #COVID19 case in Ondo State this evening, Mr Akeredolu wrote on Friday evening.

The infected person is currently under isolation and will be monitored. We have activated all necessary protocol to locate all contacts and will be working closely with @NCDCgov.

The state during the week was in celebration after 12 persons suspected to be carrying the virus came out negative.

The case of a female resident in Arogbo Ijaw, in Ese Odo Local Government Area of the state, who was said to have recently returned from abroad, created a stir in the area, but after a laboratory test, she was found negative.

As of 11 a.m. on Friday, the total national figure for infected persons had risen to 190, with 20 persons treated and discharged and two deaths recorded.

With Ondo State joining the list of affected states, the number is now 191, although the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is yet to formally announce the Ondo case.

It is with great concern that the Ondo State Government announces the first index case. A suspected case tested positive to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, said in a statement on Friday evening.

We thank God for His protection thus far. Ours has been a case of anxiety while we enjoyed a COVID-19-free state status.

This development has, however, repudiated that enviable status even as we urge all to be vigilant and keep ourselves within the precincts of measures put in place.

God help Ondo State.

Mr Akeredolu followed his earlier tweet with another, clarifying that the coronavirus index in the state is a military officer who recently arrived from India.

The governor said the returnee from India had been in isolation since he returned and had been monitored by the medical team of the military and the Ondo State team through the period.

Upon showing some symptoms, his samples were taken and the diagnosis confirmed by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control at their lab in Ede, the governor said.

We have now commenced the transfer of the officer to the state isolation center.

The governor said there was no need for any panic as the infected officer was in a very stable condition and we ask for calm from all in Ondo State.

We are on top of this and ask that our citizens continue to follow all preventive measures to ensure they remain safe, he added.

In his statement, Mr Ojogo said the state government considered it necessary to allay the fears of the people and explain that the confirmed index case, an army officer, had voluntarily isolated himself as soon as he arrived in the country from India over a week ago.

During this period of self isolation, he was monitored by the State Inter-Ministerial Committee in collaboration with the NCDC, said Mr Ojogo.

Necessary tests were carried out and result is what we have today.

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However, we appeal to all and sundry not to panic as both the NCDC and the State Inter-ministerial Committee have jointly commenced efforts to effect needful protocols in line with COVID-19.

However, in spite of the measures taken to stem the spread of the disease, residents in the state have continued to flout the stay-at-home order and the closure of markets.

Some markets still opened for business on Friday, as well as some shops in the outskirts of Akure, where enforcement is minimal.

The popular Oda market where farm produce are usually sold, came alive in the early hours of the morning, where residents made brisk purchases. The market is a morning market.
BISHKEK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd April, 2020) A 61-year-old man has died of the coronavirus in Kyrgyzstan, becoming the first victim of COVID-19 in the Central Asian country, a spokesman for the national coronavirus response center told Sputnik on Friday.

"A 61-year-old patient has died at the Nookat territorial hospital in the Osh Region," the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that the victim had recently arrived in Kyrgyzstan from a foreign country and had "serious coexisting diseases."

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11. To date, more than 1 million people have been infected with the coronavirus worldwide, with over 53,000 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Lucknow: In view of instances of attack on policemen and health workers in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued a directive ordering stern action under the National Security Act (NSA) against those who target police personnel in the state during the coronavirus lockdown.

''The accused will be booked under the NSA a statement issued by the Yogi Adityanath government read. "During the lockdown, strict action will be taken against those who attack the police at any place in the state. They will be booked under the NSA," it said.

The Yogi government further stated that female health staff and women police officials will no longer be engaged for medical service and providing security cover to the members of Islamic religious group Tablighi Jamaat, a day after staff nurses of Ghaziabad-based MMG District Hospital complaint of alleged misbehaviour by some of them, who were lodged in the isolation ward.

As per the statement issued by the state government, only male health staff and policemen will be deployed in the service of the Jamaat members from now. In addition, the Yogi Adityanath government has also decided to book members of the Tablighi Jamaat, who allegedly misbehaved with the female nursing staff at the Ghaziabad hospital, under the National Security Act (NSA).

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh government had also warned of strict action against anyone found attacking the health workers or the policemen. In several parts of the country, the suspected COVID-19 patients along with locals are attacking health workers and policemen who are visiting their areas to collect blood samples for COVID-19 tests.

On Thursday, three people were detained after a group of miscreants pelted stones at officials in Rampur`s Tanda area. This holds significance since the number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 134 in Uttar Pradesh with a total of eight fresh cases reported in Agra and Jaunpur on Friday.

While six cases were found to be positive in Agra, two positive cases were found in Jaunpur. "Six more COVID-19 positive cases have found here. The total number of cases in the district are 18 now," Agra District Magistrate Prabhu Narain Singh said.

"Two more cases have been found to be coronavirus positive in Jaunpur. Now the total positive cases in the district are three," Jaunpur District Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Singh said. The two fresh cases are of those who attended the Tablighi Jamat congregation in New Delhi, he said.

According to officials, the district-wise tally of coronavirus cases in UP is Gautam Budh Nagar (48), Meerut (24), Agra (18), Lucknow (10), Ghaziabad (9), Bareilly (6), Bulandshahr and Jaunpur (3 each), Basti, Varanasi, and Pilibhit (2 each), Ghazipur, Hapur, Baghpat, Shamli, Moradabad, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri (1 each).

Of these 134 cases, 17 have been fully cured and discharged while two have died -- one each in Meerut and Basti.

Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said, "The good thing is that there has been a decrease in the average rate of infection in the state". He said the Health Department has been maintaining an aggressive containment exercise in and around various districts from where positive cases have been reported and this has helped to some extent in containing the spread of the virus.
In South Asia, the World Bank also approved $200 million for Pakistan, $100 million for Afghanistan, $7.3 million for the Maldives and $128.6 million for Sri Lanka.

IMAGE: Railway police officers donate blood at a camp to tackle the blood shortage during a 21-day nationwide lockdown to slow the spreading of the coronavirus at the closed Howrah railway station in Kolkata. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

The World Bank has approved $1 billion emergency funding for India to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed 76 lives and infected 2,500 people in the country.

The World Bank's first set of aid projects, amounting to $1.9 billion, will assist 25 countries, and new operations are moving forward in over 40 nations using the fast-track process, the bank said on Thursday.

The largest chunk of the emergency financial assistance has gone to India.

"In India, $1 billion emergency financing will support better screening, contact tracing, and laboratory diagnostics; procure personal protective equipment; and set up new isolation wards," the World Bank said after its Board of Executive Directors approved the first set of emergency support operations for developing countries around the world, using a dedicated, fast-track facility for COVID-19 response.

In South Asia, the World Bank also approved $200 million for Pakistan, $100 million for Afghanistan, $7.3 million for the Maldives and $128.6 million for Sri Lanka.

The World Bank said it was now working to grant up to $160 billion over the next 15 months to support measures to tackle the pandemic which will focus on the immediate health consequences and bolster economic recovery.

The broader economic program will aim to shorten the time to recovery, create conditions for growth, support small and medium enterprises, and help protect the poor and vulnerable.

There will be a strong poverty focus in these operations, with an emphasis on policy-based financing, and protecting the poorest households and the environment, it said.

"The World Bank Group is taking broad, fast action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we already have health response operations moving forward in over 65 countries," said World Bank Group President David Malpass.

"We are working to strengthen (the) developing nations' ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and shorten the time to economic and social recovery. The poorest and most vulnerable countries will likely be hit the hardest, and our teams around the world remain focused on country-level and regional solutions to address the ongoing crisis," Malpass said.

According to the bank, $100 million will support Afghanistan to slow and limit the spread of COVID-19 through enhanced detection, surveillance, and laboratory systems, as well as strengthen essential health care delivery and intensive care.

In Pakistan, $200 million will support preparedness and emergency response in the health sector and include social protection and education measures to help the poor and vulnerable cope with the immediate impacts of the pandemic, the bank said.

Responding to widespread supply chain disruptions, the World Bank is helping countries access critically needed medical supplies by reaching out to suppliers on behalf of the governments.

The World Bank is encouraging others to provide financial support to developing countries for the COVID-19 health response, said the media statement.

A total of 1,002,159 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with 51,485 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Youths, who came together to help during Kerala floods and won wide appreciation including from the UN, are back again, this time to battle COVID-19 crisis.

As many as 2.36 lakh volunteers across the state have enrolled in the special Youth Task Force set up by Kerala State Youth Commission to carry out various activities with regard to COVID-19.

Speaking to ANI, Chintha Jerome, chairperson, Kerala State Youth Commission said, "2.36 lakh young people have come forward across the state to assist in various activities undertaken by the government and district authorities to combat COVID-19."

"The task force comprises 200 members each in 941 panchayats, 500 each in 87 municipalities and 750 each in six corporations. During floods, the youth initiated voluntary activities in the state which was appreciated even by the UN. During a UN conference in Germany which I had attended, they applauded the activities of youth in the state," she said.

Chintha underlined that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the Youth Commission to set up such a task force.

"The Youth Task Force will help in various activities like starting of community kitchen in every district, home delivery of food and medicines for the needy and for home delivery of ration from PDS. Even there are youths who came forward to volunteer as bystanders for patients in hospitals," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Welcome to Good Weekend Talks, a weekly chance for our audience to luxuriate in a long-form story from the magazine, read by an actor and followed by a discussion with an editor, a writer and an expert.

This week, Nic English will bring to life Good Weekend senior writer Tim Elliott's June 2019 cover story  Oh baby: How one hippie town became the anti-vaxxer capital of Australia  about the small town of Mullumbimby, which has become ground zero for the anti-vaxxer movement in Australia.

Tim will then be joined by Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland, along with Sydney Morning Herald health editor Kate Aubusson, to discuss the issue of vaccine hesitancy and the long road to a potential coronavirus vaccine.
New Delhi, April 3 : Twenty six questions were posed to Mohammad Saad, the organiser of a religious meet here in Nizamuddin Markaz that has turned out to be the lone booster of staggering increase in the number of positive coroanvirus cases and deaths throughout the country.

Relevant documents in support of the answers have been sought from the organiser of the event -- the Tablighi Jamaat wherein thousands of people from India and 41 foreign countries gathered amid COIVD-19 threat.

The religious event held last month by Tablighi Jamaat, a Sunni organisation, has 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.

The police has asked to provide information of the 26 questions under section 91 of Criminal Procedure Code. The Section 91 means 'summons to produce document or other thing'.

He is one of the accused in a case registered by the police for violation of Epidemic Act and Disaster Management Act on March 31. The case is registered under various sections of Epidemic Act and Disaster Management Act and Indian Penal Code.

One of the questions is: "Whether any permission from Delhi Police or other authority was obtained by the management of markaz (Centre) for holding religious gathering in this year?" IANS has accessed to the two-page questionnaire sent to Mohammad Saad.

The police has sought information like 'full name, address and registration details of the organisation', details of office bearers, details of persons in Markaz committee and details of the Income Tax returns filed by the organisation in last three years.

It has also asked for the PAN number, bank account and bank statements of the organisation, list of employees working in the organisation and number of religious gatherings organised from January 1 till date. The cops also sought details of all devotees, including foreigners who came after March 12. They sought original register of the record of the people who attended the event after March 12.

The crime branch unit of Delhi Police, which is probing the case, also sought details of persons from government agencies who visited Markaz after March 12.

The policemen, probing the case, further sought details of a map or site plan of the premises. It also asked whether CCTVs were installed in the premises and, if yes, then submit the details of the cameras The sleuths also want to know whether any written guidelines issued to Mohammad Saad by any authority to hold religious events and any other correspondence between management and government authorities was there.

The police sought audio or video recording of the persons participating in the meet. The police also wanted to know whether any devotee fell sick during the meet.

The police sought information regarding all the steps that were taken to disperse the congregation at Markaz on March 12 and steps taken to disperse the congregation after promulgation of Section 144 CrPC on March 24.

The list of staff, volunteers and parking attendees and date-wise list of invitees after March 12 were also sought. The police also wanted to know the date wise list of inmates who were taken to hospital after March 12 and date wise list of inmates taken to mosques or other places.

The police sought information about details of persons who attended the meet and died thereafter. The police also sought details of the curfew passes issued to anyon (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in )

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
With 14 new cases identified recently, the number of active coronavirus cases in Indore have seen a steady climb.

With the total now reaching 89 in the city, healthcare officials have stepped up their screening efforts in the region. So much so, that they are back on the field today, having escaped the violent attack by some locals only yesterday.

Dr Zakiya Sayed is a part of one such team. Back on the job just a day after the attacks, she understands the importance of the task at hand and refuses to get bogged down.

#WATCH "We'd been working on screening of contacts for last 4 days.But what we saw y'day we'd not seen earlier.We sustained injuries but we have to do our job and will not be scared," says Dr Zakiya Sayed who was pelted with stones by locals in Indore's Tatpatti Bakhal area y'day pic.twitter.com/XxtS6hgkBl  ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2020

We had been working on the screening of contacts for the last four days. But what we saw yesterday, we had not seen it earlier. We sustained injuries but we have to do our job and will not be scared, Dr Zakiya Sayed told ANI.

For those unaware, a team of health officials on a field duty for screening potential coronavirus cases in Indore were pelted with stones by locals on Wednesday. Dr Zakiya Sayed was one of the women doctors in the team. She reportedly sustained injuries during the incident.

We have been visiting the locality for the past three days for the screening of residents. We had information about a person coming in contact with a COVID-19 patientWe were talking to the person (the elderly woman) when, all of a sudden, residents got agitated and attacked us, a doctor from the team had stated after the attack. The attack was highly criticised by people from all across the country.

Police arrested seven people for the attack on the team on Thursday. As the Centre asked the state police to ensure the security of health workers from such attacks, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured healthcare workers that their safety is his governments responsibility.

'The human rights are for humans. Troublemakers will be dealt with firmly. This is not just a tweet. It is a warning", Chouhan wrote.



"All my doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, ANM, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and urban bodyworkers fighting the war against COVID-19, you continue your fight against Corona, your complete security. The responsibility is mine! I bow to your devotion," he added.





Chouhan also mentioned earlier that there'll be strict punishment for those involved in pelting stones and added that the accused will be booked under the National Security Act (NSA). And true to his word, action has been taken.

The Madhya Pradesh government has now slapped the National Security Act (NSA) against four residents of Indore.



(With inputs from ANI)
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He did conduct thorough investigations of his neighbors, what few there are, and even hired a nationally recognized security defense company to offer recommendations of further securitization of the property, Gentry wrote. What they found was having the National Forest border much of the property, its rural and remote location, and relatively few private neighbors, the property essentially acts as a secure compound as it is. Additionally, the elevation of High Mountain offers additional security as trespassers would have an incredibly tough time making it up the steep cliffs due to the height and dense foliage.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:14:41|Editor: Yurou

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Photo shows the financial district in Singapore's Marina Bay on April 3, 2020. Singapore will close most workplaces and schools will move to full home-based learning, amid stricter measures to minimise the COVID-19 spread, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong here Friday. "Despite our good contact tracing, for nearly half of these cases, we do not know where or from whom the person caught the virus," said Lee while delivering an address to the nation on Friday afternoon. The number of coronavirus cases hit 1,000 in Singapore on April 1. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore will close most workplaces and schools will move to full home-based learning, amid stricter measures to minimise the COVID-19 spread, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong here Friday.

"Despite our good contact tracing, for nearly half of these cases, we do not know where or from whom the person caught the virus," said Lee while delivering an address to the nation on Friday afternoon. The number of coronavirus cases hit 1,000 in Singapore on April 1.

Comparing these stricter measures to a "circuit breaker", Lee said that it decided to make a "decisive move" now, to reduce the risk of a big outbreak occurring and to bring the numbers down.

From next Tuesday, Singapore will close most workplaces, except for essential services like food establishments, markets and supermarkets, clinics, hospitals, utilities, transport and key banking services, he announced.

Key economic sectors will also remain open, such as those that form part of a global supply chain. People working in these industries can continue to go to work, with safe-distancing measures in place.

In addition, schools and institutes of higher learning will move to full home-based learning starting next Wednesday. All preschool and student care centres will also be closed, but will provide limited services for children of parents who have to continue working and are unable to make alternative care arrangements.

These heightened safe distancing measures will be in place for four weeks from April 7 to May 4.

Singapore will also tighten restrictions on movements and gatherings of people to minimise physical contact.

Lee said people should stay at home as much as possible, avoid socialising with others beyond their own household and leave the house only for essentials.

While these are "painful adjustments", Lee said that he hopes Singaporeans understand why they have to take social distancing "extremely seriously" in this period.

"This is the only effective way to slow the transmission of the virus, so that we gradually bring our numbers down," he said. "It is also the best way to keep our families safe, and particularly to protect our seniors from getting ill."

According to Lee, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will announce in parliament on April 6 additional support for households and businesses, which comes on top of two earlier economic packages to tide the people over the economic slowdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Singapore will also legislate to require landlords to pass on property tax rebates fully to their tenants. It will also pass new temporary legislation to let businesses and individuals defer certain contractual obligations for a period, such as paying rent, repaying loans, or completing work.

Singapore's President Halimah Yacob also stressed on Friday that every Singaporean needs to "be on board" and do their part to break the COVID-19 transmission chain by observing strong personal hygiene, not shaking hands and practising other social distancing measures.

Halimah said the government is doing its level best to contain COVID-19 from spreading.

"Our healthcare system is well prepared to manage the crisis. Our health care personnel too have done really fantastic work testing suspected cases as well as treating those who are infected," she added.

But the increase in locally transmitted cases should be a cause of worry as it means the virus is spreading in the community, she said.

"The success of our effort really depends on the will, forbearance and tenacity of our people. So we cannot be the weakest link in the chain," she said. "If we don't step up our individual efforts to keep the virus away, all the other measures will be compromised too."
The Elections Department (ELD) said that it must make contingency plans for precautionary measures to ensure a safe election, should the upcoming general election take place amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

SINGAPORE  A Bill on contingency plans to be put in place should a general election be held amid the COVID-19 outbreak will be debated in Parliament next Tuesday (7 April).

In response to media queries, the Elections Department (ELD) said on Friday that, in view of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, it must make contingency plans for precautionary measures to ensure a safe election, should the upcoming general election take place amid the pandemic.

The Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Bill contains the necessary legislative provisions to allow ELD to implement temporary arrangements to ensure the safety of voters, candidates and election officials during Parliamentary elections held on or before 14 April 2021, said ELD.

The health and safety of voters, candidates and election officials is paramount to us, it added.

In recent weeks, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has given strong hints that a general election will be held shortly. The ruling Peoples Action Partys term ends on 15 January 2021, after which an election must be held by 14 April 2021.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has confirmed 1,000 cases of COVID-19 infection, with 245 patients fully recovered and discharged. On Friday morning, a fifth patient - an 86-year-old female Singaporean - died of the disease.

Related stories:

Could Singapore's Lee Hsien Loong stay on as PM because of COVID-19?

Is China to blame for the COVID-19 pandemic? No, says PM Lee
For the past 60 years, every generation of freshman students at Izumo Agricultural and Forestry High School, in Izumo, Japans Shimane prefecture, has taken the Class of Life, a controversial six-month course during which the students help hatch and raise chickens, before having to slaughter and eat them.

Last year, the Class of Life at Izumo High School started in October, when they were presented with around 60 chicken eggs. Under the guidance of a teacher, they prepared them for incubation, washing them, arranging them in a special tray and learning to adjust the humidity and temperature on the incubator. For the next three weeks, they were in charge of monitoring the eggs and making sure that the right conditions for hatching were met. Once the chicks hatched, each student had to pick one and raise it as their own, knowing full well that in just a few months they would have to kill and eat it.

Photo: video screengrab

The students were responsible for the well-being and proper growth of the chickens. They had to feed them, change their water frequently, monitor the temperature of their enclosure, as well as weight them periodically and record their progress. As you can imagine, some students get attached to the chickens, with some going as far to treat them like pets, despite knowing the gruesome conclusion of the class. Other try their best not to get to close to the birds, for that exact same reason. For example, Arakawa Yumesui, one of the students taking the Class of Life last year, told Nippon TV that she did not dare name her chicken for fear of attachment. Even so, when the time came to take its life, she said she felt uneasy because it was kind of like a pet to her.

Last month, after a final measurement and weighing of the chickens, the students were taught how to kill a chicken by their teacher, before having to slaughter the ones they had spent six months raising. In a Nippon TV video, some of the girls taking the Class of Life can be seen turning away as the teacher and other students slaughter the chicken, while others shed tears as they force themselves to look on, and told the chickens Im sorry before taking their lives. Its a painful experience, but one that is supposed to teach the students a valuable lesson.

Photo: video screengrab

Finally, after killing their chickens, the students must cook and eat them to complete the Class of Life. In the video, the students are shown frying chicken meat and then eating it, and thanking the chickens for their sacrifice.

Its been awful and sad, so I am lonely because I do not have a duty to go back to, but I am glad that I became able to appreciate food, Arakawa Yumesui said.

Photo: video screengrab

The Class of Life has been part of the Izumo Agricultural and Forestry High School curriculum for the past six decades, and appears to have also been adopted by this high school in Fukuoka as well. However, not many know about it outside of Japan, so when the Nippon TV video went viral on Chinas Pear Video platform recently, it caused quite the controversy.

While some praised the course, claiming that it teaches students that life itself can be cruel, and that the best way to show you respect food is to eat and not waste it, others called it unnecessary and possibly traumatic for the students.

Photo: video screengrab

The Class of Life may seem cruel and pointless, but those who support it consider it the perfect way to teach children both to value life and appreciate the meat and fish they consume. Many children are brought up with delicious animal-based dishes without ever being told that they come at the expense of other life. They live comfortable, convenient lives without ever giving thought to the lives lost to fill their bellies. This way, at least they know what it feels like to take a life for sustenance.

Japanese film director Tatsuya Mori, the author of a book called How to Eat Life, believes that anyone who consumes fish and meat should take the Class of Life at least once in their life. If they are not comfortable doing so, perhaps they should become vegetarians.
A Vancouver lawyer has lost his court case against the Northwest Territories Legal Aid Commission.

Veteran lawyer David Tarnow was challenging legal aid's decision not to give him any new work this year. He said the commission told him he was not getting any new work because it had increased the number of Alberta lawyers on its roster of out-of-town lawyers and said it was less expensive and more efficient to use those lawyers than to bring him up from Vancouver.

But in a written decision released on Tuesday, N.W.T. Supreme Court Justice Virginia Schuler said being denied work this year does not amount to being removed from the list. Schuler said Tarnow had presented no evidence to show he would never be called on again by the commission.

Schuler said the law does not give her the authority to review legal aid decisions about which lawyers are assigned to which cases.

Tarnow also lost his bid to have a tweet from an Ottawa lawyer introduced as evidence after the case was heard. In the tweet, the lawyer laments the possibility of missing out on his first time working as a legal aid lawyer in Inuvik due to COVID-19.

Tarnow said it would cost more for legal aid to fly up that lawyer than it would have to fly him up from Vancouver to do that circuit, undermining legal aid's explanation that it was going with Alberta lawyers because, in part, it's less expensive to fly them up.

In her decision, Schuler said that months ago, legal aid provided Tarnow with a schedule that included the names of lawyers assigned to do legal aid work for the first six months of this year. The lawyer who tweeted about working in Inuvik was on that list.

Tarnow is still representing clients in three N.W.T. cases he began working on last year.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2020) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) ("TransCanna" or the "Company") today announces that it anticipates a delay in the filing of the financial statements required pursuant to Part 4 of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (the "Instrument") as a result of the completion by the Company of the recent acquisitions of Tres Ojos Naturals LLC (dba Soldaze), and Lyfted Farms, Inc. in the Fall of 2019, both US corporations, as new subsidiaries of the Issuer.

The delay is due to the Company's new management's difficulties in coordinating with the auditor the collection of all of the required data and documentation to complete the audit on a consolidated basis. As well, certain key persons who are needed to complete the audit are being affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic due to self-isolation requirements.

The Instrument requires that the Company's audited financial statements and MD&A for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019 be filed by March 29, 2020 ("Original Filing Deadline"). The Company and its auditor are in the process of completing the required audit work to complete these audited financial statements and associated MD&A (collectively, the "Required Filings"). The Company expects that the Required Filings will be completed and filed on or before April 30, 2020.

In these circumstances, and considering the anticipated delay in making the Required Filings within the time period mandated by the Instrument, the Company intends to rely upon the temporary blanket relief afforded by Canadian securities regulators to extend the date for the filing of the Required Filings for up to 45 days from the date of the Original Filing Deadline.

During the period that the Required Filings remain outstanding, TransCanna's management and other insiders are subject to a trading black-out policy that reflects the principles in section 9 of National Policy 11-207 Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisdictions.

The Company confirms that there have been no other material business developments since August 31, 2019, the date of the Company's last filed third quarter interim consolidated financial statements, other than the two business acquisitions described above.

About TransCanna Holdings Inc.

TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a California based, Canadian listed, company building Cannabis focused brands for the California lifestyle, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries.

For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com or email the Company at info@transcanna.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Steve Giblin, President

604-207-5548

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54118
An international team of paleoanthropologists has unearthed a 2-million-year-old skull of Homo erectus, the first of our ancestors to be nearly human-like in their anatomy and aspects of their behavior, in the fossil-rich Drimolen cave system north of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Homo erectus is one of our direct human ancestors and is best known for migrating out of Africa into the rest of the world.

They walked upright and were a more human-like species than the other hominins found in the Cradle of Humankind.

Homo erectus had shorter arms and longer legs. They could walk and run for longer distances over the African grasslands than the others.

The Homo erectus skull we found shows its brain was only slightly smaller than other examples of adult Homo erectus, said Professor Andy Herries, a researcher at La Trobe University and the University of Johannesburg and corresponding author of a paper published in the journal Science.

It samples a part of human evolutionary history when our ancestors were walking fully upright, making stone tools, starting to emigrate out of Africa, but before they had developed large brains.

The 2-million-year-old fossil, designated DNH 134, was reconstructed from more than 150 individual fragments recovered from the Drimolen site over a five-year period.

Before we found DNH 134, we knew that the oldest Homo erectus in the world was from Dmanisi in Georgia dating to 1.8 million years ago, said co-author Stephanie Baker, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Johannesburg.

The newly-discovered fossil demonstrates that Homo erectus, our direct ancestor, clearly evolved in Africa, added co-author Jesse Martin, a Ph.D. student at La Trobe University.

The age of the DNH 134 skullcap shows something else  that at least three hominins lived in southern Africa at the same time.

Unlike the world today, where we are the only human species, two million years ago our direct ancestor was not alone, Professor Herries said.

We can now say Homo erectus shared the landscape with two other types of humans in South Africa, Paranthropus robustus and Australopithecus.

This suggests that one of these other human species, Australopithecus sediba, may not have been the direct ancestor of Homo erectus, or us, as previously hypothesized.

The new crania offered an unparalleled insight into how three different human species, with quite different adaptations, shared a changing environment together, said co-author Angeline Leece, a Ph.D. student at La Trobe University.

The discovery raises some intriguing questions about how these three unique species lived and survived on the landscape, said co-author Dr. Justin Adams, a researcher at Monash University.

One of the questions that interests us is what role changing habitats, resources, and the unique biological adaptations of early Homo erectus may have played in the eventual extinction of Australopithecus sediba in South Africa.

Similar trends are also seen in other mammal species at this time. For example, there are more than one species of false saber-tooth cat, Dinofelis, at the site  one of which became extinct after two million years.

Our data reinforces the fact that South Africa represented a truly unique mixture of evolutionary lineages  a blended community of ancient and modern mammal species that was transitioning as climates and ecosystems changed.

_____

Andy I.R. Herries et al. 2020. Contemporaneity of Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and early Homo erectus in South Africa. Science 368 (6486): eaaw7293; doi: 10.1126/science.aaw7293
Some things and people get better when they get older, just like Brad Pitt. At 56, he proves that he is still Hollywood's reigning heartthrob.

For three decades in the industry, the Oklahoma-born superstar became a celebrity icon due to his award-winning movies such as "Fight Club," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and "Ocean's Eleven."

Earlier this year, Pitt bagged every major supporting actor award for his recent film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." This includes the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and British Academy Film Award (BAFTA).

Quentin Tarantino Failed To Direct Brad Pitt

During the recent interview of Quentin Tarantino in Amy Schumer's podcast "3 Girls, 1 Keith," the award-winning director revealed that he failed to direct Pitt in his acting scene during his rooftop sequence in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."

He shared that the "Thelma and Louise" star is really shy in person, which he thinks is funny because he is actually different on screen.

"At the same time, he knows exactly what time it is. I go, 'So, I'm thinking maybe you unbutton the Hawaiian shirt, and you peel that off, and then peel off the Champion T-shirt.' He was like, 'Really? You want me to go through all that button bullshit? I'll just take it off in one bit. Go!" Tarantino recalled.

"Let the master do his job," the director added.

The scene that Tarantino is referring to is when Brad Pitt's character Cliff Booth climbed to the rooftop of Rick Dalton's house to fix an antenna. And because of LA's scorching summer, Cliff was forced to take off his shirt while showing off his rock-hard abs.

"Once Upon Time in Hollywood" is the 57-year-old director's ninth film, which also won major awards such as the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Screenplay - Motion Picture, as well as the Oscars for Best Production Design.

Aside from Pitt, the movie also includes a star-studded cast like Leonardo DiCaprio who was nominated for Oscars Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Aussie actress Margot Robbie, "Into the Wild" star Emile Hirsch and "Palo Alto" actress Margaret Qualley.

On His 10-film Retirement Plan

The cinematic genius also opened up about his 10-film retirement plan and the idea of "nothing lasts forever," referring to his career in show business.

Moreover, in his 30 years in the film industry, Tarantino revealed that he put all his world into his passion, so much so that he even forgot to get married and have children of his own.

That is how dedicated he is in making movies, and he will be forever grateful to be given this kind of opportunity.

However, aside from directing, he wanted to challenge himself and do other things.

"I've given what I've got to work at this level. And to work at another level is not interesting to me. Another level would be, OK, well, now I'm not trying to make each movie the masterpiece of all time," Tarantino shared during his interview with Time Magazine.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: Two persons were on Thursday arrested by the Ernakulam Rural police under the newly promulgated Kerala Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020, for violating the lockdown advisory. Sojan Antony, 30, hailing from Piraroor in Kalady, was arrested for unnecessary travel and ignoring the warnings of health workers, according to the Rural police.

Sojan and a few others, who were loitering in the streets, allegedly verbally abused Gireesh Kumar, health inspector with Community Health Centre (CHC), Kalady, when they were asked to go home at 5.30 pm on Wednesday. He was produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody, said an officer with the Nedumbassery police station.

In the second instance, Mahinkutty, 52, residing at Mandatharam, Perumbavoor, was arrested for allegedly obstructing the duty of police personnel deployed on duty at Bangladesh Colony in Palakattuthazham, Perumbavoor.

The Ordinance vests the government with sweeping powers to ban public gatherings, impose curbs on both public and private transport, issue guidelines for social distancing and restrict functioning of offices, commercial establishments and schools/colleges. Violation of the regulations and instructions is punishable with a two-year jail term or fine of up to Rs10,000 or both.The offence is cognisable and bailable.

Earlier, Ernakulam Rural SP K Karthik said Rural police will intensify vehicle checking at various locations and will initiate legal action under Kerala Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2020, against those violating the lockdown advisory.

Sweeping powers

The Ordinance vests the government with sweeping powers to ban public gatherings, impose curbs on both public and private transport, issue guidelines for social distancing.

Violation of the regulations and instructions is punishable with a two-year jail term or fine of up to D10,000 or both
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown confirmed in a statement Thursday that she plans to call lawmakers into a special session to address the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak. But she offered no specifics on how soon such a session might be.

Once we have sufficient clarity about the federal stimulus, I will call a special session and ask lawmakers to take further action," Brown said in a statement, referring to Congress $2 trillion aid package passed last week.

The governors position quickly received a polite rebuke from House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, who said state lawmakers should act immediately to direct money currently available to help Oregonians.

We can and should do more now to provide gap funding for essential needs like food and shelter while we wait for federal assistance, Kotek said in a statement. "I will work to get more support to Oregonians through Emergency Board funding. I urge my colleagues to support this effort and find ways to make sure no Oregonian falls through the cracks during this crisis.

The Legislative Emergency Board has approximately $53 million available to spend between legislative sessions, after it appropriated roughly $22 million in early March for the states coronavirus response, Browns new greenhouse gas regulations and long-term relief for flooding damage in eastern Oregon.

These funds are limited, but they could be allocated strategically to provide some relief until the federal stimulus ... reaches Oregonians pocketbooks, Kotek said.

She did not provide further details on the type of aid she supports and a meeting of the Legislative Emergency Board has not yet been scheduled. Since the board includes members of both the House and Senate, it would also need the support of Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, to meet and vote on spending plans.

Koteks public break with the governor over the timing of a legislative session is in stark contrast with comments by other Democratic and Republican leaders in the Legislature earlier this week, who emphasized their interest in a collective response to the coronavirus crisis and downplayed any disagreement. At the time, Republicans and a spokesman for the governor said the need for a special legislative session was less urgent than some lawmakers had said. Kotek has pushed for lawmakers to assemble immediately.

In the governors statement Thursday, she thanked lawmakers on a special coronavirus committee who met several times to sift through proposals to help Oregonians. They wrapped up their work last week and sent a lengthy list of recommendations to the governor.

Right now, the state is focused on expanding hospital bed capacity, increasing testing capacity, and procuring personal protective equipment so we can safely treat those who fall ill, Brown said in the statement. We are also working together to ensure Oregonians can economically survive during these difficult times.

Brown suggested her administration might be able to implement some of the coronavirus committees suggestions by executive action, which could be faster than lawmakers passing legislation. She already did so in at least one case, with an order Wednesday putting a 90-day moratorium on commercial evictions. The governor previously issued a similar temporary ban on residential evictions.

"My team is reviewing the policy changes recommended by the legislative committee to determine which are the most urgent and which can be accomplished through other means, Brown said.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Bakery worker Florencio Almazo Moran, 65, known as Tio by colleagues at Piece A Cake in New Dorp, passed away on April 1 due to complications from the COVID-19 virus.

Born in Zapotitlan Lagunas, a town in Oaxaca, Mexico, Florencio Almazo immigrated to the United States in the 1980s to find financial stability.

His nephew, Marco Antonio Reyes Almazo, also worked with Tio in the bakery and detailed his life from when he was a young, responsible man who toiled in farm work alongside his father. He said Tio married at 16 and moved from Zapotitlan Lagunas to Mexico City. From there he made his way to New York City. As a laborer he lost two fingers on his right hand in an accident.

Reyes reported, As time goes,by with much effort, crying and pain to try and find work to help provide for his family back home, he comes across with the luck of God to be able to work in a clothing factory. Employment spurred him forward and he continued to send money back to Mexico in support of the family.

Florencio Almazo Moran was born in 1955 in Zapotitlan, a town in Oaxaca, Mexico. (Courtesy of Maria Carrozza)

In 2012 Florencio Almazo found his way to Piece A Cake, hired by Maria and James Carrozza. He worked there for eight years doing kitchen work six days a week with a start time of 5 a.m.

I will remember him as a strong and supportive person and a great co-worker, said Reyes.

Her younger son, Armando, also worked with Tio. Armando recalled, He was one of the people who would clean all the pans and the pots, kind of like a one-man army.

Tio and the crew joked around as they worked in happier times. Armando remembered fondly, He would indulge in a handshake, a secret code, and we had one. We would call each other different animal names in Spanish. He always put out a good vibe."

His employer, Maria Carrozza, said she was devastated over the loss. She reported that he wasnt feeling well last week and she told him to get tested for coronavirus. Carrozza said she spoke with him Tuesday night. He had a cough and reported a fever. She encouraged him to visit a drive-through testing center. As his breathing labored on Wednesday, Florencio Almazos son called 911 and performed CPR.

I told him over the years he was my favorite person in my kitchen. I never believed he would die, said Maria. The family has since shut down Cookie Jar in West Brighton and Piece A Cake.

All of us are profoundly saddened and we will miss Tio very much, said Maria.

Florencio Almazo Tio Moran leaves behind nine children, 12 grandchildren, six brothers, three sisters. He is also survived by his mother, 95, who lives in New Brighton.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.

*** More coverage of the coronavirus crisis can be found here. ***

9 No slow down at Staten Island's Coronavirus testing site

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On March 5, as the deadly coronavirus was racing through the United States, Vice President Mike Pence paid a visit to the Minnesota headquarters of 3M, the manufacturing giant that produces protective respiratory masks.

Pence, who leads the White House's coronavirus task force, praised the company during a public roundtable for deciding at the outset of the crisis "to go to full capacity" and ramp up production of high-grade N95 masks.

With its factories in South Dakota and Nebraska cranked up and running around the clock, 3M was on pace to double its global output to nearly 100 million a month, according to the company.

But in a private meeting shortly before Pence spoke publicly, company leaders had warned the vice president 3M had a problem, according to people familiar with the session, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door discussion.

Chief Executive Michael Roman said he was concerned that repurposing the company's industrial masks, which made up a bulk of its production, for use by doctors and nurses could leave the company vulnerable to lawsuits. The lack of a liability waiver from Congress - a protection the industry has sought for years - would hinder full distribution of the gear, he said.

While all N95 masks, also known as respirators, filter at least 95 percent of airborne particles, masks for construction and medical use vary in design and fit, and are subject to different regulations.

The liability issue, which set off a scramble by Pence's aides, was one of a number of roadblocks that delayed the distribution of a basic protective item desperately needed to stem the spread of the virus.

The confluence of a slow initial response by the Trump administration, its wariness of compelling the industry to produce gear and a long-running debate about granting manufacturers legal protection in a health emergency contributed to a critical shortage of masks to front-line workers, according to an examination by The Washington Post of the early weeks of the crisis.

The dearth of masks for medical workers in the United States, despite weeks of warnings as the virus ravaged parts of China and Italy, has become symbolic of the nation's wider failure to properly prepare for the pandemic.

The first coronavirus case in the U.S. was reported Jan. 21 in the state of Washington. By early February, the federal government had declared a public health emergency. But it took nearly a month, until March 2, for the Food and Drug Administration to issue an emergency order giving manufacturers formal blessing to begin repurposing industrial masks for health care workers, a necessary step to getting construction masks into hospitals.

It was another two weeks before Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed emergency legislation that included the protection against lawsuits that 3M sought, settling a long-running political battle over liability when industrial masks are used in health emergencies.

The liability waiver - which was then extended to future health emergencies in the $2 trillion stimulus package - helped open the floodgates. 3M is on track to distribute at least 31 million masks to health care workers this month, up from five million a month it was providing earlier this year, according to the company and White House officials.

On March 21, the federal government awarded manufacturers contracts to produce about 600 million N95 masks over the next 18 months to supplement the private sector's supply.

By then, the virus had been spreading in the United States for two months, and the need for masks was so dire that some doctors in Seattle and New York were reusing them or making their own from craft supplies.

"It is a basic role of government to provide defense, in this case against a public contagion. But they have not met the test," said Rhonda Medows, a doctor in hard-hit Seattle, who serves as an executive with one of the region's largest medical centers.

The need to dramatically ramp up U.S. production and distribution of masks should have been apparent early on in the crisis, former disaster preparedness officials said. For years, public health advocates had warned that the U.S. national stockpile of medical supplies was woefully inadequate. Domestic mask makers had repeatedly tried to sound the alarm about the country's overreliance on foreign-made masks - a problem that became acute when China shut down its factories as the virus swept through that country.

Katie Miller, a spokeswoman for Pence, said the vice president worked intently on procuring more masks from the moment Trump tapped him to lead coronavirus response in late February.

"We were trying to do this in any way that we could, as fast as we could, understanding the urgency of the issue," she said.

The Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement that it had been working with American manufacturers since January to respond to the outbreak.

"HHS has been transparent that more supplies are needed," the department said in a statement.

Some critics said the industry itself could have done more. Despite the emergency order from the FDA and another declaration intended to give companies protection from lawsuits, it was only after the passage of the legislation in mid-March that 3M, one of the country's biggest mask manufacturers, substantially increased its distribution of industrial masks for health care customers.

Roman, the company's CEO, said in a March 22 statement that the new law helped "ensure that all N95 disposable respirators can be used in health-care settings, and has enabled us to increase distribution to those workers beginning this weekend."

3M declined to comment on Roman's private remarks in his meeting with Pence. In a statement, the company said it did not delay shipments, adding it shipped more than 1.35 million industrial masks to health care customers in the two weeks before the law was signed. But the company acknowledged the volume increased after it secured liability protection.

"Don't talk to your lawyers if you're making masks or gowns or ventilators," said Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at New York University School of Medicine. "See where the need is and get moving as fast as you can."

In the past week, 3M said it delivered 10 million N95 respirators to health care facilities across the country. The company is now manufacturing 35 million N95 masks a month in the U.S., more than 90 percent of which are designated for health care workers, it said, and expects to be up to 50 million a month in June. 3M did not respond to questions about the mix of medical versus industrial masks it is now producing.

Still, the need is outstripping supply, industry officials and health care experts said.

So far, the Trump administration has refused to use one major tool at its disposal, the Defense Production Act, to force companies to produce and distribute masks, part of a pattern of showing deference to private industry in fighting the outbreak.

Instead, the president has praised companies that have volunteered to help produce masks. On Sunday, Trump outraged many doctors and nurses by questioning whether they need as many masks as they have requested, even suggesting without evidence that some were being squandered or "going out the back door."

"We're delivering millions and millions of different products and all we do is hear that, 'Can you get some more?' " he told reporters on Sunday, citing the case of a New York hospital whose mask usage has spiked. "I don't think it's hoarding; I think it's maybe worse than hoarding."

For two decades, experts on pandemics have cited the need for mass stockpiles of protective equipment and rapid production to replace quickly diminished supplies as key steps to contain outbreaks.

"What was done in the U.S. in early January - in those precious weeks - would have been critical," said Christopher Kirchhoff, a former Pentagon and White House national security aide who worked on the Ebola mobilization and later put together a "lessons learned" report about the experience.

In response to the mask shortage, volunteers around the country have stepped forward to try to fill the gap. Members of sewing circles are stitching masks at home. The clothing manufacturer Hanes has said it will shift underwear production lines to make gear. Americans have scoured work sites and storage closets to find unused masks to donate - including Washington National Cathedral, which located 5,000 unused respirators in a church crypt.

But some experts said those efforts, while heartening, may be too haphazard to make a dent in the problem. Health care workers have said they continue to suffer shortages on the front-lines - a problem dramatically illustrated by guidance from the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention last month advising workers to use bandannas to cover their faces as a last resort.

In a normal year, the U.S. health care system uses about 25 million medical N95s, according to Premier Inc., an organization that helps hospitals purchase supplies. Many of the masks are disposable and meant to be used once.

HHS has estimated that the United States could need as many as 3.5 billion N95 masks during a pandemic.

A 2016 planning document prepared by the National Security Council called on the White House to prioritize procuring protective equipment in case of a pandemic. The planning guide, first reported by Politico, drew on the expertise of multiple agencies. It was developed by a White House medical preparedness task force established by President Barack Obama but disbanded by the Trump administration in 2018. White House officials have said the task force's functions were folded into another office.

At the time, the issue was hypothetical. Now, nations around the world are grappling with the sheer scope of the need. Massive quantities of the filtered masks are sought now not just in the United States, but simultaneously in nearly every nation of the world.

The need has spiked just as countries have closed borders and worked to stockpile their own supplies.

"The pressure is just so intense because of the global nature of this," said Khatereh Calleja, president of the Healthcare Supply Chain Association.

Despite known worries about possible pandemics, manufacturers said one reason for the shortage has been a decision by many hospitals to adopt just-in-time purchasing of items like masks as a cost-savings mechanism.

"Manufacturers don't carry inventory and if you do, you are less competitive," said Charles Johnson, president of the International Safety Equipment Association, a trade group that represents mask-makers. "They produce what they need to satisfy orders. That's what has happened to global manufacturing."

American manufacturers have also been warning for years that more and more production of medical supplies, including masks, has been relocated overseas, including to China. That has reduced costs for American health care companies, but has made the supply chain more vulnerable to global pandemics.

China, which experienced the world's first coronavirus outbreak, was quick to stop exporting masks its own doctors and nurses needed at home, making stockpiling more difficult in recent months, U.S. health care executives say.

An analysis by the Associated Press last month found that there had been no shipments of medical grade N95 masks from China since Feb. 19 and only 13 shipments of nonmedical N95 masks, which was about half as many that had arrived in the same period a year earlier.

To satisfy demand in the case of emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government in 1999 established the Strategic National Stockpile, a last-resort cache of drugs and supplies intended to be tapped only in moments of crisis.

But the national stockpile was significantly depleted during the H1N1 influenza outbreak of 2009, when 85 million N95 respirators were distributed from the cache and was never significantly replenished despite repeated warnings and requests from health care and industry groups.

Federal officials said in March that the stockpile contained about 12 million N95 respirators and 30 million surgical masks, a tiny percentage of what is now needed by health care workers and emergency responders.

The Trump administration has begun distributing the meager supplies but with so much more demand than supply, many states have received only a fraction of their requests.

By this week, the stockpile was nearly exhausted, The Post reported Wednesday.

In a statement, HHS said Secretary Alex Azar pushed for more funding for the stockpile and began transferring supplies to Washington state, site of the nation's first outbreak, on March 1.

The agency noted, however, that "health care supply chains are private sector driven."

Some experts said mask production and distribution could be accelerated if Trump used the Defense Production Act, a 1950 law that gives the commander in chief the power to marshal resources in time of war and order industrial manufacturers to produce specific items.

"The administration has considerable power in this regard," said Nicole Lurie, who served as a top HHS official in the Obama administration.

Trump did invoke the act last week to compel General Motors to manufacture ventilators to help handle the surge of coronavirus patients, but he has otherwise resisted bipartisan calls to embrace it more fully.

"We are, as you know, using the act, but we use it only when necessary," he told reporters on Thursday. "We use it as leverage. We generally don't have to use it to accomplish what we want to accomplish."

3M, which dominates the mask market in the United States, produces most of its respirators for industrial use. Even after boosting production, only five million out of 35 million of its masks a month were going to health care workers before the law passed last month, Pence said at a White House briefing.

Other manufacturers include Moldex, based in Culver City, California, which produces eight million a month, also largely industrial, and Honeywell and Owens & Minor, which declined to disclose their production figures.

The manufacturing lines that make medical and industrial models are generally regulated by two different agencies, so converting them from making one product to the other is not straightforward, according to Dan Glucksman, a spokesman for the International Safety Equipment Association. Some retooling would be required, as medical N95 masks include an extra material that makes them splash-proof, he said.

Over the years, 3M executives have warned about rising costs due to liability lawsuits, including those related to the use of industrial and medical protective equipment. The company has faced lawsuits from people who allege they were exposed to pollutants such as asbestos, coal dust and hazardous chemicals, according to a review of 3M financial reports.

For more than a decade, mask manufacturers have sought extra legislation to protect themselves from lawsuits over the use of their industrial masks in health emergencies, arguing that such a waiver was necessary to ensure supply during a crisis.

Industrial respirators meet most of the performance standards of medical masks, but are not tested for fluid penetration, according to the FDA.

During the 2006 avian flu outbreak, six companies wrote in a letter to then-President George W. Bush that without legislation, "the ability for American manufacturers to address emergency preparedness or have surge production capacity is and will be severely constrained."

Opponents of such a measure have said such a blanket protection could leave the U.S. government - and by extension, American taxpayers - on the hook if health care workers file lawsuits after becoming sick while wearing industrial masks distributed during a pandemic.

The trial lawyers lobbying organization, the American Association for Justice, has spent years working with consumer advocates and others to block attempts by 3M and other manufacturers to secure waivers from lawsuits, officials there said, adding that court actions have historically been an important check on unsafe equipment.

The liability issue was still unresolved when Azar declared a public health emergency on Feb. 4.

It took another month for the FDA to address the shortage of medical N95 masks, issuing an emergency authorization on March 2 that legalized the sale of many types of industrial masks for health care workers.

Agency officials did not say what caused the delay or respond directly to a question about whether they regretted not moving faster. In a statement, the FDA said it began creating "a more streamlined access to market" for some protective masks in 2018.

On March 10 - five days after Pence visited 3M - Azar went further, using his authority under a law adopted during the avian flu outbreak to declare that manufacturers, distributors and other parties would be immune from federal and state lawsuits if they distributed products in accordance with the FDA emergency action. Instead the federal government would assume the liability risk.

But manufacturers wanted the protections to be reinforced in new legislation.

"Whether or not the agency chooses to issue that order, it had to be tested in a court of law," Johnson said. "Without clear cut legislative action that allows the government to take on that liability . . . our members would still face our day in court."

Jonathan Moreno, a professor of medical ethics and health policy at University of Pennsylvania, said a pandemic was the wrong time for companies to dwell on their liability concerns.

The dire medical need "was very clear in early March," he said. "You didn't have to be a fancy epidemiologist or Dr. [Anthony] Fauci to know what was coming."

The liability language that the industry was seeking was included in an early draft of the first coronavirus relief act that Trump signed into law on March 6, but House Democrats cut the language, according to people familiar with the negotiations, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., who opposed including the provision in that bill, said what industry wanted amounted to "an indefinite, blanket liability."

Democrats agreed to include key liability protections that the industry was seeking in the second coronavirus-related legislation, passed on March 18. It explicitly covered many industrial masks used to combat coronavirus until October 2024.

Pallone said he agreed with that approach because it was a "targeted liability waiver" with an end date.

On March 19, the day after the bill was signed into law, Pence described the measure as having opened the floodgates.

"Following the signing of last night's bill, all of those masks now have liability protection and the companies can sell industrial masks to hospitals," he said during the White House's daily coronavirus briefing.

Standing beside him, Trump echoed that view. "They had a big problem with liability," he said, in an apparent reference to 3M.

Roman, the company's CEO, also cast the law as a game-changer.

"As I write this, more than 500,000 respirators are on the way from our South Dakota plant to two of the more critically impacted areas, New York and Seattle, with arrivals expected starting tomorrow. We are also ready to expedite additional shipments across the country," he said in a statement.

Later in the month, the industry got even more cover when Senate Republicans included liability protection as part of the $2 trillion stimulus package, over the objections of some Democrats, who had said such a move would give away too much.

"Let me be very clear that this provides immunity for respirator manufacturers from this point forward," Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said during a floor debate over the measure in mid-March.

The final bill - which waived manufacturer liability for more types of industrial masks used during the coronavirus crisis, as well as future public-health emergencies - was signed into law Friday by Trump.

- - -

Beth Reinhard contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  Malacanang defended President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial statement ordering government forces to shoot and kill unruly violators of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine once they become a threat to law enforcers' lives.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a statement said Duterte did not violate any law in issuing an "incisive and blunt" warning.

"Threatening violators and enemies of the state with deathly violence is not a crime," Panelo said.

"The law allows the use of lethal violence when the persons life using it hangs on balance. That is a universal law anchored on the principle of self-preservation," he added.

Panelo pointed out that the President was actually doing his constitutional duty under Section 18, Article 7, which states that "whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion."

"In issuing the warning to the Left as well as to those who instigate riots and violence, he is merely reminding them that the government is ready to forcibly quell any unrest and disturbance that threaten public safety specially at this time of national emergency," Panelo said.

He also hit critics for raising "the specter of martial rule" following Duterte's statement. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases earlier stressed that the placing the country under military rule is not among the options being discussed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Talks of a possible martial law declaration were revived after Duterte in a speech on Wednesday night said, "My orders are sa pulis pati military, pati mga barangay, na pagka ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead!"

[Translation: My orders to the police, the military and the barangays: If they become unruly and they fight you and your lives are endangered, shoot them dead!]

Duterte's statement was widely seen as a response to an earlier protest in Quezon City where dozens of residents of Sitio San Roque claimed they have not received any aid from the local government. The Quezon City government has denied this, saying there has been continuous distribution of food packs across the city.

Lawmakers, human rights advocates, and leftist groups have condemned Duterte's statement, saying his administration should address the pleas of the poor instead of resorting to violence.

READ: 'Don't threaten the hungry with bullets': Groups, lawmakers condemn Duterte's order vs. lockdown violators

Philippine National Police Chief General Archie Gamboa earlier stressed that authorities will use their firearms only as "last resort," and that they will fight back only when they are attacked first.
M en and women will only be allowed to leave their homes on separate days in Peru, in the country's continued fight against coronavirus.

Men can leave the house on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for essential items, while women will be allowed out on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, President Martin Vizcarra said on Thursday. Everyone must stay home on Sundays.

The only exceptions to the new rule are key workers - people who work in healthcare, food shops, pharmacies and banks.

The restrictions will last until April 12 - the original end point to the lockdown Mr Vizcarra announced on March 16.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

Peru has had more than 1,400 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far, according to Johns Hopkins University in the US, which is tracking the spread of the disease. Fifty-five people have died after contracting the virus in Peru.

Mr Vizcarra said that the police will not discriminate against people with different gender identities.

He added: "Our Government is inclusive, do not be afraid... The Armed Forces will have clear instructions and the National Police... so that this is not a pretext for any measure of a homophobic nature."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  An ambulance driver in Candelaria, Quezon suffered injuries from a gunshot fired by a neighbor, local police reported on Tuesday.

Sofronio Agno Ramilo, a 51-year-old ambulance driver at Peter Paul Medical Center of Candelaria Inc. (PPMCCI), was parking the hospital vehicle inside their subdivision when he was confronted by suspect Ramil Galeon Alcantara, the police report said.

Alcantara reportedly fired to the ground, but the bullet ricocheted upwards and inflicted permanent damage to Ramilo's hand, the police report said.

PPMCCI said that prior to the shooting, the suspect complained that the hospital ambulance should not be allowed inside the subdivision, alleging the vehicle carried patients infected with COVID-19.

But Ramilo explained he was transporting hospital personnel and the ambulance is being disinfected regularly, the hospital added.

He is now under hospital care while Alcantara is under police custody and will face charges, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

Condemning the incident, the department ordered the police anew to ensure the safety of frontliners.

Local governments were also commanded to disseminate correct information on the virus to avoid confusion, fear, and violence.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday mandated the police and military to keep an eye out on anyone who harms health workers.

In related moves, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Manila city government separately issued pronouncements rejecting all forms of discrimination against COVID-19 frontliners and patients.
By Lee Kyung-min







Lee Eun-hyung, the newly appointed vice chairman of Hana Financial Group, is expected to accelerate the group's global expansion initiative.







Group Chairman Kim Jung-tai recently named Lee as one of three vice chairmen alongside former Hana Financial Investment President Lee Jin-kook and former Hana Bank CEO Ham Young-joo.







The 46-year-old, among the youngest of the group's management, will bring a fresh perspective to the group's overseas expansion drive in China, following years of experience as an academic and key industry player.







The Korea University graduate earned a master's and doctorate at Jilin University, where he later taught Northeast Asian studies before being recommended as a professor at Beijing University.







The appointment of Lee, who served as the group's vice president under the helm of Kim Seung-yu, a former group chairman, is largely considered an indication of his capabilities, experience and network management.







Lee will return to the group six years after he was recruited by China Minsheng Investment (CMI), a private equity investment service provider in 2014.







His experience as an executive vice chairman at the largest financial consulting and investment firm in China includes jointly setting up a lease-based financing firm in China with Hana Bank, the group's largest and most lucrative subsidiary.







He was also instrumental in the group's investment in Bank of Jilin, a commercial bank in China, a feat he achieved as a head of GCIC Investment, a multi-national consultancy.







The decision is considered the group's best overseas investment to date with foresight







The most pressing issue of great importance will be setting up a joint fund in the amount of 1 trillion won ($810 million) with China Investment Corporation, China's sovereign wealth fund.







His mediation skills will be key to managing possible conflict brought on by differing interests of the two countries in a high-stakes investment scheme.






A grilled ham and cheese sandwich and a scene from the 1988 disaster flick "Miracle Mile." (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

I've twisted myself into a yoga pretzel on Zoom. I've downloaded the meditation apps. I've watched koala bear naps on the San Diego Zoo's koala cam. (OMG, the baby.) All of it has helped soothe my simmering coronanxiety to some degree, though none quite as much as streaming a film festival's worth of disaster flicks and diving into a pile of snacks.

"Armageddon." "The Towering Inferno." "San Andreas." "28 Days Later." If it in some way features the end of humanity  or a piece of humanity  I will watch it. And I will it find it relaxing. Mainly because nothing makes me feel better about my station in life than knowing that at least a bunch of zombies aren't gnawing at my dangling entrails. I'm also a Scorpio and we have dark, dark souls.

Naturally, whenever I watch, I always  always  prepare a plate, since impending doom builds an appetite. Here, I outline five very simple dishes that can be made from just about any stock of disaster rations and pair them with five of my favorite disaster films.

Consider this your disaster degustation.





1970s cheese

The 1971 alien contagion movie "Andromeda Strain" with Kraft mac and cheese and Campari soda. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Movie: "Andromeda Strain"

Based on the book by Michael Crichton, the plot revolves around an alien contagion that crash lands to Earth aboard a satellite and turns human innards to dust. A team of scientists take to a secret underground bunker to study the rapidly multiplying organism so that they can develop a cure. It's a race against time and a U.S. president who isn't big into science.

And it's totally worth it for the rudimentary technology, 1970s sets and Kate Reid as the lone female scientist, a sassy lady with a sensible haircut who chainsmokes and utters lines like, "I never liked red lights. It reminds me of my years in a bordello."

Watch the 1971 version. Don't mess around with any updates.

Food pairing: Kraft macaroni and cheese and steamed broccoli, accompanied by a glass of Campari and soda.

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This pairing is all about aesthetics: the film's unnatural palette  those '70s reds, greens and oranges  begs for food and drink of an equally unnatural color. Kraft, with its nuclear shade of orange, and its undertones of milk protein concentrate, is just the sort of thing you might eat in an underground bunker. Campari adds color, as well as the bitter taste of certain annihilation.

Preparation tips: The Kraft recipe calls for 1/4 cup milk and 4 tablespoons of butter. Change that to 1/8 cup milk and 5 tablespoons of butter and you've got creamier mac. While you're at it, add some butter to the steamed broccoli. (While everyone was out buying toilet paper, I was amassing a critical butter stockpile.)

Refill your Campari as often as necessary.





Instant soup's on

Nongshim instant ramen paired with the 2013 film "The Flu," starring Hyuk Jang. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Movie: "Flu"

Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion," the 2011 movie that features Gwyneth Paltrow as patient zero in a flu pandemic, has been hogging the contamination movie spotlight since the novel coronavirus hit. But when it comes to flu flicks, I am incredibly partial to South Korean director Sung-su Kim's 2013 thriller, which features all the right teeth-gritting plot lines: a fast-moving, fatal virus and a single-mom doctor who is laboring to find a cure  in a race against time and an official from the World Health Organization with an itchy trigger finger.

Added bonus: Hottie actor Hyuk Jang as a charismatic rescue worker, and terrifying, slow-motion coughing scenes that may lead you never to take off your N95 mask again.

Food pairing: Nongshim instant ramen.

It may seem glib to suggest Korean instant ramen for a Korean movie, but it's a match made in disaster heaven. One, because Nongshim instant ramen is featured in a scene that takes place inside a quarantine camp. Also, because Nongshim ramen is good, and I keep a stock of it in my earthquake kit and in my desk drawer at work. (I am prepared for all manner of disaster.) Two of my preferred flavors are Spicy Seafood Ramyun and the Shin Ramyun Noodle Soup in Gourmet Spicy flavor. The slogan for the latter is: "Nongshim Shin Ramyun can make a man cry!"

Preparation tips: Prepare as directed, then add whatever toppings you can scrounge up. My favorites include canned or frozen corn (we're in a pandemic, don't judge), sliced mushrooms, an egg and a pat of butter. Scallions, chopped cilantro and left over bits of chicken or beef are also great. Nongshim's Gourmet Spicy version is truly spicy. And while it may not make you cry, it will clear out the congestion from your upper respiratory system.





Eggs and a side of apocalypse

Bacon and eggs and Seth Rogen in 2013 gross-out apocalypse flick, "This Is the End." (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Movie: "This Is the End"

I thought the end of the world was going to be super-Mad Max. Instead, it's a tedium of Zoom video conference calls and celebrities singing "Imagine." Which is why I deeply appreciate the lowbrow humor of "This Is the End," the stoner-bro comedy directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, that captures the banalities and fragile egos of a pack of callow actors as they muddle through a biblical apocalypse.

Plus, there's Emma Watson fighting off a bunch of dudes with an ax, Channing Tatum as a BDSM slave, and cameo by the Backstreet Boys. It's the end of days  as written by People magazine.

Food pairing: Fried eggs and bacon with toast.

If the devil is about to consume your soul, you might as well eat all your protein in one go  like the unrepentant Danny McBride, in a key scene in the movie.

Preparation tip: Fry the eggs in the bacon grease. We can't see your too-tight pants on Zoom. Hell, we can't tell if you're wearing pants at all.





A lo cubano

Alexis Diaz de Villegas as Juan in "Juan de los Muertos" (Juan of the Dead)  with roasted chicken and rice and beans. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Movie: "Juan de los Muertos" (Juan of the Dead)

Zombie movies come in all flavors. My favorite is Cuban. In this humorous 2011 political allegory by director Alejandro Brugues, a group of rum-drinking Havana slackers face off against an army of the undead  flesh eaters they initially confuse for dissidents. The action is centered around the lanky Juan, a veteran of the Cuban intervention in Angola (wonderfully played by a deadpan Alexis Diaz de Villegas), who makes an under-the-table business out of dispatching zombies with a variety of implements, including an oar.

As he says in the film: "I'm a survivor. I survived the Mariel. I survived the Special Period and whatever came after." In other words: a few thousand brain-chewing zombies? No problem.

Food: Oven-roasted chicken with rice and beans and tostones.

A Cuban movie calls for Cuban food, a cuisine that knows how to make a lot of out of a few basic staples: rice, beans, chicken. But the critical part are the tostones: green plantains that you fry twice for a crisp-on-the-outside, soft-and-starchy-on-the-inside sweetness that will have you praising the wonder of carbs.

Preparation tips: Slice a green plantain into 1-in. thick diagonal wedges. In a broad frying pan ( I use Teflon), heat enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan over medium heat. The oil should sizzle but not sputter. Fry the banana slices lightly on each side  about three-to four minutes total  and remove them when they start to soften and change color. Drain on a paper towel.

Then comes the smashing. Cut a couple of large squares out of a brown paper grocery bag. Place a piece of banana between them and use the palm of your hand to press them to about a 1/2 in. width. (My Mexican-Irish husband's Cuban tia swears by this method and it is generally good advice never to question the cooking methods of a Cuban tia.)

Fry for about 3 to 4 more minutes at medium heat, turning the bananas until they are golden and crisp. Salt to taste.

You are now ready for zombies.





Diner dash

A grilled cheese and ham sandwich and a dazed Anthony Edwards in "Miracle Mile." (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)

Movie: "Miracle Mile"

This 1988 flick by writer-director Steve De Jarnatt features a lovely young couple, played by Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham, who meet and fall in love at the La Brea Tar Pits  because gazing upon a drowning mammoth is just the sort of thing to bestir hot pangs of desire. Their blossoming union, however, is cut short when Edwards picks up a ringing pay phone outside of Johnie's Coffee Shop on Fairfax, and learns that a nuclear attack is imminent. Then it becomes a race against time to get out of L.A. before the bombs hit.

The terrible haircuts and the scenes of the Miracle Mile in the '80s make this a must-see for anyone who considers themselves an Angeleno. And, of course, there's the dialogue: as riots consume Wilshire Boulevard, Winningham declares: "Hell, I'll write an article about all this for Esquire. Someone will probably make a TV movie out of it."

Or maybe a full feature film.

Food: Grilled ham and cheese sandwich.

Since much of the action is set around a diner, it's only right to eat diner-y food. Pancakes, burgers and watery coffee are all good options. I went with what I had on hand: ham and American cheese, the sort of cheese that will survive any end-of-the-world scenario.

Preparation tip: In grilling your sandwich, use all the butter you can. American cheese may survive a nuclear attack, but the butter definitely will not.
Georgia gets another crack at 'Bama for college football title
Arati Kadav is planning to release her film Cargo on a digital platform as the nationwide coronavirus lockdown poured water on her plans for a theatrical debut

Filmmaker Arati Kadav says she is planning to release her film Cargo on a digital platform as the nationwide lockdown poured water on her plans for a theatrical debut.

(Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak)

Starring Vikrant Massey, Shweta Tripathi, and Nandu Madhav, the sci-fi movie has been written and directed by Kadav.

The story revolves around a lonely demon Prahastha who has been working on a spaceship for years for the Post Death Transition services with the help of a female astronaut where dead people are recycled for rebirth.

Kadav said she has started talks with leading streaming players for the film's digital release in the coming months.

"We have started conversation with a few platforms such as Hotstar, Netflix, Amazon, Sony LIV and others and we are hoping to release it as soon as possible, maybe in one or two months. The idea is to release it soon on OTT when the lockdown is lifted," she told Press Trust of India.

The country is witnessing a 21-day lockdown, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Kadav said though she was keen on releasing the film in theatres, the situation is such that it's best to bring it out on OTT platform.

"I don't know when people will find the courage to go to theatres and watch a film, I hope very soon. I am a big fan of theatrical experience. But we don't know when the situation will normalise. It is a wiser decision right now (to release on OTT) and this is what everybody is advising me as well. We want it out by mid this year. Let's hope that it works out for us," she added.

Cargo, produced by Arati, Navin Shetty, Shlok Sharma, and Anurag Kashyap, had its India premiere at the 2019 MAMI Film Festival under the spotlight section.

The film was set to be screened in March at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival, which was later cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The film was also to be screened at Miami festival, we were opening the festival over there. There were film festivals in Brazil and Argentina. I guess they are going online and there is one more festival going online.

"We were upset that we couldn't go to the film festivals but I am trying to turn that around and make it a positive thing for me."

During the lockdown period, Arati said she is trying to keep herself busy by working on a few innovative ideas.

"I am trying to make the most of the lockdown by actually working on a concept. The state we are in is also inspiring me to write stories, reflect on nature and our relationship with it."
All markets within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in the Western Region will on Monday, April 6 be closed for a disinfection exercise.

Two of the markets  Takoradi Market Circle and Sekondi Market will, however, be closed to the public on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at 12 noon to enable officials of the Ghana National Fire Service to flush all drains ahead of the planned disinfection exercise.

The exercise forms part of the government's program to disinfect all markets and other public areas across the country following the recorded cases of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Regular market activities are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly will on Monday, April 6, 2020 close down the Takoradi Market Circle, Sekondi, Kojokrom and other community markets to business activities for disinfection spraying exercise. The exercise is expected to cover all the markets and other public areas such as transport terminals, events ground, drains and others, a release from the Metropolitan Assembly announced.

A total of 125 sprayers are expected to undertake the exercise which will commence simultaneously in all the markets at 6 am.

Sellers of food-related items have been advised to move their wares to safer locations or properly cover them with strong polythene or rubber materials to avoid contaminations.

Assembly converts Takoradi Jubilee Park into market centre

Even before this announcement, the Sekodi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly converted the Takoradi Jubilee Park into a market as a measure to enforce social distancing at the Takoradi Market Circle.

It follows fears of a possible spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the congested market.

The Sekondi-Takoradi Metro Director of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), James Obeng, speaking to Citi News said the assembly did not have any choice but to decongest the overcrowded inner perimeter of the Market Circle.

The place [Takoradi Jubilee Park] is more convenient than the market centre. Here [Takoradi Jubilee Park] the women who are selling are not attacking each other. Also, individuals buying are not forcing their way through the market. So this is more convenient as we have electricity or street lights available.

But some traders who were moved to the Takoradi Jubilee Park complained about low sales due to lack of publicity.

COVID-19 and market disinfection

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is spearheading a disinfection exercise in collaboration with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) countrywide to ensure the success of the exercise.

The exercise began in the Greater Accra region on Monday 23 March 2020 with the disinfection of 137 markets.

The second disinfection exercise was undertaken within parts of the Ashanti Region and Kumasi on March 27, 2020.

The exercise was repeated in markets within the Ahafo, Bono and Bono East on March 30, 2020.

On April 1, 2020, 110 markets in the Upper West Region were disinfected.

A team of sprayers also had arrived in the North East Region to disinfect 57 markets on April 1, 2020.

---citinewsroom
This is a lifeline for people, said Betsey OBrien, communications director for the alliance. Being able to meet with people who understand what you are going through  who you dont have to explain how you feel because they already know, they are in the same place  that is the value of a support group, whether face-to-face or online.
Gaeltacht development agency Udaras na Gaeltachta has established a Social Enterprise Programme that will support a network of Gaeltacht community development organisations beyond the current COVID-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, the public offices of Udaras na Gaeltachta have been closed since Monday of this week and wll remain shut until further notice, following the direction issued by the Government but the development agency continues to offer all its servicces via phone, email and online.

The gTeic digital hub offices located in Gaeltacht areas, including the gTeic hub in Beal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh, are closed to visitor and the public.

In the case of companies or remote workers operating in a gteic hub, whose work is identified as essential work in the Government guidance, special individual arrangements will be made for the use of the facility with that organisation/company/user.

It is necessary to contact Udaras na Gaeltachta or the management of the local gteic beforehand to make such an arrangement. The use of gteic facilities is subject to social distancing policies which must be strictly implemented by all users.

According to Ronan Mac an Iomaire, the Udaras' Regional Development Director, it was important to look ahead 'with hope and make arrangements for a time that will be more positive and a time when the Gaeltacht will be able to reap the benefits of the development of social enterprise in particular'.

"It is in the current uncertain times that the value of our Gaeltacht community development network shines through and this programme will add significantly to their skills and the opportunities that will exist for communities to benefit from Social Enterprise.

There could be opportunities here also for trainers and mentors with the appropriate expertise who may be under pressure at the present due to the current crisis."

The Gaeltacht Social Enterprise Programme (G-SEP) is a social enterprise training and mentoring programme that will serve a network of community development organisations in the Gaeltacht.

This bespoke and flexible programme will look to increase business development skills, explore new trading opportunities, build networks and explore areas of potential social enterprise growth in 2020.

A panel of experts is being compiled by Udaras na Gaeltachta to give function to the Gaeltacht Social Enterprise Programme and who will be capable of delivering training and mentorship to participating community development organisations in order to develop said Gaeltacht Social Enterprise Programme.

The organisation is welcoming applications from experienced trainers and mentors who wish to express an interest in the panel and to use their skills and experience to support social enterprises and community development organisations in the Gaeltacht.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 7 April 2020 and further information can be received from Udaras na Gaeltachta's website, www.udaras.ie.

The agency has also repurposed its Brexit Preparedness Grant which offers up to 5,000 to companies encountering difficulties in terms of trade and operations due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

If you're interested in finding out more about this package you should contact Udara's business development team.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-02 22:45:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KATHMANDU, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Nepali government on Thursday confirmed the sixth COVID-19 case as the number of cases in the Himalayan country keeps increasing.

Bikas Devkota, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, said at a regular press briefing at the ministry that the sixth case was confirmed during the test at the National Public Health Laboratory on Thursday.

He didn't confirmed the age and gender of the person who was infected but said that the concerned person had arrived to the Himalayan country on QR 652 aircraft of Qatar Airlines from Doha on March 17. It is the same plane which was shared by the third and fifth persons infected with the novel coronavirus.

The fourth victim of the COVID-19 was a 19-year old girl, a resident of western Baglung district who had returned from Belgium. She was tested positive on March 28. Earlier, another 19-year girl who had travelled to Nepal from France on the same flight was tested positive.

All the six cases reported in Nepal are imported ones.

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Nepali government has enforced nationwide lockdown on travels from air and grounds, closing borders with both China and India, and closing most of the industries and shops except those which are related to essential goods. The lockdown will last until April 7.
Cancer-ravaged and nearly blind, Rabbi Dr David Goldberg knew he was close to death. A major figure on the Left-leaning, intellectual wing of progressive Judaism, his life had been long and distinguished.

On the walls of his North London home there were photographs of the Rabbi with Prince Charles and Prince Harry, Pope Benedict and the Dalai Lama. Perhaps the most surprising picture on display showed him being received by Yasser Arafat, the then leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.

While this contact made him enemies among some of his co-religionists, Rabbi Goldberg believed firmly in peace, reconciliation and Palestinian rights. He was awarded an OBE for encouraging interfaith dialogue.

But as the light faded his thoughts turned  once again  towards what he saw as an existential threat facing British Jewry; a threat from an organisation he had previously trusted. For which he had been a loyal voter: the Labour Party.

Sir Keir Starmer and his Jewish wife Victoria at a count in the 2017 General Election

Now, during one of his final walks  more of a painful shuffle  on Hampstead Heath, he let rip. His companion on that day early last year was his oldest personal friend and confidant, himself a Jew.

As so often, Rabbi Goldberg complained to him bitterly about Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the dominant hard-Left which had fostered, played down or simply ignored vicious anti-semitism within its ranks.

But there was another more moderate party figure against whom, the Rabbi said, he felt not only anger but surprise and hurt. 'I am very disappointed with Keir Starmer,' he said.

'Particularly as his wife and children are members of my synagogue. It's their community which is under threat and yet he's done so little. It's pathetic.' 'I was astonished,' his friend recalled this week.

'I never knew Keir Starmer had a Jewish family, let alone that they attended David's synagogue, which is my own.' His surprise was not unique in the community, as we shall see.

During the course of their walk the rabbi's condemnation of the Shadow Brexit Secretary, hot favourite to succeed Mr Corbyn as Labour leader when the result of party's leadership race is announced today, was typically forthright.'

He said: 'Starmer hasn't come out fighting (Labour anti-semitism) like (Ian) Austin, (Luciana) Berger, (John) Mann and the other Labour MPs (with Jewish connections) who are willing to put their careers on the line',' recalled the friend.

'He felt Starmer had kept his head below the parapet even though he was in a stronger position to make a difference, as a leading member of the Shadow Cabinet'.

The then Shadow Secretary for Exiting the European Union Sir Keir Starmer KCB QC (L) and the British Labour leader and Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn (R) in March 21, 2019

Recounting the rabbi's opinion, the friend said: 'David believed that Starmer was scared of the Corbynista anti-Semites. That he may have thought by doing what was obviously the right thing he would only damage his chances of promotion in a future Corbyn government, let alone his own ambition to be leader.

'He told me: 'I believe Starmer has remained comparatively silent (about anti-semitism and his family's Judaism) for cowardly and entirely self-serving political reasons.' Sir Keir says otherwise, as we shall see.

Rabbi Goldberg lost his fight with cancer last April, aged 80. One wonders, if he were still alive today, what he would make of the Labour Party leadership race. And particularly Sir Keir's recent surprise promotion of his own previously discreet Jewish ties.

A hustings was held in February at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John's Wood, the very place of worship where Rabbi Goldberg preached for three decades. That evening all four remaining candidates  Sir Keir, Rebecca Long Bailey, Lisa Nandy and Emily Thornberry  were vociferous in their public condemnation of the way the Labour Party had treated allegations of anti-semitism.

Politician Christian Percy (left) with his wife Tulip Saddiq (centre left), Kier and Victoria Starmer (right)

All claimed to have taken Mr Corbyn to task about his handling of the scandal. Or at least they had done so behind the scenes. Of course, all were desperate for leadership votes.

On this occasion votes from Labour's now deeply disillusioned Jewish membership. The event was hosted by the Jewish Labour Movement and compered by the ITV political editor Robert Peston.

Sir Keir, a QC and former Director of Public Prosecutions, had a surprise for the 750-strong audience. Quizzed on whether he considered himself to be a Zionist  a supporter of the existence of the state of Israel  he answered: 'I don't know how many people know this (but) my wife's family are Jewish and we have got extended family in Israel.

'I don't describe myself as a Zionist but I understand and I sympathise and I support Zionismbut of course we have family in Israel and that is part of my family.' The charm offensive gathered apace last month when he gave the Jewish Chronicle an interview in which he promised, if elected leader, to patch up Labour's relationship with the Chief Rabbi.

Shami Chakrabarti at Labour Party Conference in September 2018 in the middle of the Labour party race row over antisemitism

He also spoke enthusiastically of his wife Victoria's Jewish background and the part he took in her family's religious observances. He said it was important to his father-in-law that they came together on Friday night  the eve of Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. Prayers would be said.

And yes he felt quite comfortable attending other Jewish family events such as bar mitzvahs, weddings and funerals. He had 'no issue' with standing for the traditional wedding toast to the President of Israel.

He also revealed that following the recent death of his mother-inlaw in a road accident, a rabbi from the Liberal Jewish Synagogue had conducted the funeral service.

The Mail understands that Sir Keir's Jewish links were unknown to the Chronicle until as recently as December, when the paper was tipped off by a third party. The newspaper then approached him for an interview, which took place after a number of apparently unavoidable delays.

A source at the Chronicle said: 'All we'd ever heard before that was that he was useless on (tackling) anti-semitism. His favourite fall-back was 'I have not seen the details. I need to take a look at the details before commenting.'

It was so striking.' I have spoken to a number of other prominent members of the Jewish community who are  or have been  involved in frontline Labour politics. They have also voiced their disappointment and disillusionment with Sir Keir's relative inaction during Labour's anti-semitism crisis, which no number of cosy interviews with the Jewish press or revelations about his family will now dispel.

In fact, they have only served to exacerbate the resentment against him. 'He should have done more not because he has a Jewish wife but because it was the right thing to do,' one former Labour MP told me.

'I asked him last summer: 'Why are you not doing something about this and taking a tougher line?' And he said: 'Don't think I don't take it seriously. My wife is Jewish and my kids are Jewish.'

'But the proof is in your actions. Supine is not the word. It was just incredible.' Another Jewish former Labour politician told me: 'It felt to me as if Keir was always number 40 or 50 in line to speak out on issues related to anti-semitism.

He was never number one. He was always towards the back of the queue. I didn't know he had Jewish family until a year ago. Rabbi Goldberg told me. Some may feel, rightly or wrongly, that he hid that connection because he was afraid it would damage his relationship with the Labour Left-wing.'

Former Labour MP Luciana Berger was for three years the parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement. She quit the party last year after vicious antisemitic bullying.

Friends of Ms Berger are also critical of the man who could be Britain's next PM. One said: 'He has a Jewish population in his constituency (Holborn and St Pancras) but many are very disappointed in him. He did nothing.

'When Luciana spoke in a room at Parliament after the big demonstration against anti-semitism she got a standing ovation. One of the few people who did not stand was Keir Starmer.

'He never contacted her during her great ordeal. He responded to her only once, with a message about Brexit.'

The friend added: 'He personifies one of the greatest problems within the Corbyn-led party. That is the issue of being the useless bystander.' Is this really fair on Sir Keir?

He was first elected to Parliament in 2015, being almost immediately appointed a Shadow Home Office minister by Mr Corbyn. Sir Keir resigned the following summer over the leader's approach to Brexit but was reappointed to the Shadow Cabinet as Brexit Secretary in a matter of weeks.

This was shortly after the delivery of Shami Chakrabarti's now-discredited inquiry into Labour antisemitism which many saw as a whitewash exercise. The Mail has studied what has been written in the Press about Labour's anti-semitism scandal and Sir Keir's reported comments and actions about the crisis.

Some 340 articles about the Labour Party contained both the term 'anti-semitism' and Sir Keir's name. Obviously he cannot control what others write about him but taken together they make for instructive reading.

In November 2017 there appeared in The Times a plaintive letter from Professor Vernon Bogdanor. He wrote: 'Sadly, anti-semitism in the Labour Party has gone beyond the association with Zionism

'If Corbyn will not now take action to eradicate the antisemitism that has become a stain on British politics, is it not time for members of the Shadow Cabinet such as Sir Keir Starmer and Baroness Chakrabarti, who have a particular concern with human rights and share collective responsibility for Labour policy, to speak out publicly and repeatedly against this evil?

'Otherwise they may seem complicit in what appears to be institutional racism in Labour's leadership.'

A few months later Sir Keir did speak out  at a dinner hosted by a Jewish community in North London. He was reported  by the Jewish Chronicle  to have said: 'Jeremy Corbyn has said that antisemitism has no place in the Labour Party. If that isn't getting through, then he needs to say it again and louder  and I'm very happy to make sure that happens.'

The tone was hardly gladiatorial.

But Sir Keir weighed in again in April 2018 to condemn an anti-semitic mural which had been 'liked' by his boss. During a TV interview on Peston On Sunday he said the mural was 'grotesque and disgusting'.

The same month he took a swipe at Unite union boss Len McCluskey who had questioned whether there was an anti-semitism problem in the Labour movement.

On the Today programme Sir Keir said: 'I disagree with Len McCluskey. Jeremy Corbyn has made it clear, and it is obvious, that we have got a problem with anti-semitism. We have got to deal with it robustly and effectively.

'Part of that is the disciplinary procedure, which needs to be much quicker and much more effective, but there is also a cultural question.' He added: 'Part of that cultural question is to stop those denying that there is even a problem.'

In July, during an interview on The Andrew Marr Show, he 'rebuked' Labour for failing to have signed up in full to the antisemitism definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

'We need to get into that position and sharpish,' he declared. These mild critiques were not good enough for many in the Jewish community. In a letter to the Guardian which appeared that summer under the headline

'These are strange times for Jewish socialists' a correspondent wrote: 'Thanks to Jeremy Corbyn's far-Left, anti-Zionist worldview, we are for good reason portrayed as a party that tolerates anti-semitism, alienating many Jewish voters and perplexing many potential voters tired of an incompetent Tory government.

'We have capable leaders with clout such as Chuka Umunna, Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper Surely now is the time to show courage and act?' In February 2019 seven Labour MPs did just that, by leaving the party.

They were followed soon after by two more. One was Ian Austin, the MP for Dudley North, who went complaining that 'a culture of extremism, anti-semitism and intolerance' had taken over.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir apparently concentrated himself on Labour's Brexit policy, though in June last year he joined a general outcry against the reinstatement of Corbyn hardliner Chris Williamson.

The MP had been suspended for making anti-semitic comments. Sir Keir called for the equalities watchdog to investigate the case. The watchdog had already launched a formal investigation into whether Labour 'unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people' from the Jewish community.

Dozens of whistle-blowers had come forward and evidence was being compiled by the Jewish Labour Movement. The dam had finally burst, though Corbynistas would cause yet more fury by questioning the motives and loyalties of those brave enough to came forward.

Sir Keir's public contribution was to declare that the party should show it would 'throw open the books and say 'you have got access to anything'.

'By then the battle had been fought by others who were prepared to speak out and risk all for what was right. Of the aforementioned 340 press articles only a handful contained criticism by Sir Keir of Labour's handling of its anti-semitism problem.

Again, he cannot control what is written about him, but most of these instances occurred during wide-ranging broadcast interviews and were in answer to questions.

The criticism was never savage and never aimed directly at Corbyn. In all but a handful of the articles Sir Keir's name simply appeared in the context of a Brexit policy issue. When it came to antisemitism others were exposed on the parapet.

One of his former colleagues directed my attention to a broadcast interview he gave as recently as November when he said he was '100 per cent behind Jeremy Corbyn. It is only since it became clear Corbyn was stepping down that Sir Keir has been more robust in his criticism of the party leader.

In response to detailed questions about the criticisms made by Jewish Labour supporters, Sir Keir's office issued this statement to the Mail. 'Keir has spoken out repeatedly over anti-semitism, both publicly and privately, during his time in the Shadow Cabinet.

'Multiple times, over several years, Keir called for stronger action from the Labour Party, such as automatic exclusion of members for anti-semitism and the adoption of the full IHRA definition of anti-semitism.

He also spoke out strongly against those who dismissed anti-semitism complaints as smears. 'Keir has set out how he would take a personal grip of this problem on numerous occasions.

If elected leader he will ensure a new, independent complaints process, auto-exclusion from the party for anti-semitism, and would demand updates on the progress of ongoing cases from day one.

'If you are anti-semitic, there is no place for you in the Labour Party.' T his exchange occurred shortly before the publication of the latest issue of the Left-leaning New Statesman magazine.

In the course of a sympathetic interview, Sir Keir can be found referencing his previously shrouded Jewish ties. 'He has a personal stake [in fighting anti-Semitism]' the interviewer declares. 'Victoria, whose father is a Polish emigre, is of Jewish parentage...

'It's very important that [my children] understand the history of their granddad,' Sir Keir says. 'Occasionally on a Friday night we'll have prayers with him.' It must annoy him, then, the interviewer wonders, 'when he is told he hasn't done enough to stand up to anti-Semites in the Labour Party.'

'It does,' Sir Keir replies, no doubt sadly. 'Particularly because I said stuff on The Andrew Marr Show, on the Today programme, and we had big rows in the Shadow Cabinet.' Who is convinced by this?

The Independent recently observed wryly that Sir Keir's 'discipline in avoiding taking any public position that would divide opinion in the Labour Party is impressive. 'Since he re-joined the front bench in 2016 ... he has avoided any kind of factional positioning.'

Sir Keir's refusal to step into the recent row over Trevor Phillips's widely condemned suspension for alleged Islamophobia was typical. This habitual fence-sitting will almost certainly deliver him the top job today.

But many in the embattled community into which he married remain deeply unimpressed
Amaravati, April 3 : The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government on Friday reported the state's first death associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

AP's nodal officer Srikant Arja stated that a 55-year old Sheikh Subhani, who was admitted to the General Hospital in Vijayawada at 11.30 am on Monday, breathed his last, an hour later at 12.30 pm.

However, there was a delay in confirmation behind the cause of the death because the authorities needed to rule out pre-existing conditions as likely causes of death. Following tests, the authorities concluded that Subhani had died of COVID-19 and made the announcement on Friday.

At the time of admission to hospital on Monday, Subhani was known to suffer pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiac problems.

Arja said, "When Subhani visited the hospital on March 30, swab sample was taken immediately and the sample sent for testing within the hour. However, Subhani passed away in the meanwhile." Subhani was a resident of Kummaripalem, near Vijayawada. The authorities have identified and put 29 of his contacts in quarantine.

Sheikh Subhani's son had returned to Vijayawada from Delhi, by flight, on March 17. On March 31, Subhani's son tested positive for COVID-19.A His flight details and other COVID-19 protocol formalities have been completed by the state government.

The number of COVID-19 affected persons in AP reached 162 on Friday morning.
EDMONTONA mother of two young girls and her roommate have been sentenced to eight years in prison for beating, starving and confining the children in the basement of their Edmonton home.

The 26-year-old mother and 25-year-old friend, who cannot be named because of a publication ban, entered guilty pleas in September to aggravated assault and confinement.

Queens Bench Justice Gaylene Kendell said in her sentencing decision Thursday that had a babysitter not rescued the two girls, they may have suffered more injuries.

How much longer would the abuse have gone on? Kendell said.

Their actions were calculated, deliberate and were done to prevent (the girls) from coming up the stairs to obtain food, or to turn on the lights in an unfinished, unfurnished basement without water or bathroom facilities.

Court heard the girls mother moved to Edmonton from Calgary in the summer of 2017 to flee an abusive relationship. She moved in with her friend, who had three children of her own.

An agreed statement of facts read out by the judge said that for weeks, the sisters, who were ages six and three at the time, were locked up in the basement with a single mattress and rug on the floor.

At times, one girl was confined inside a cardboard box with the lid tapped shut and a rug placed on top so she could not escape.

The roommates children were not disciplined in this way, Kendell noted. The women had agreed to keep their children separate because an older daughter was acting out and allegedly touching the other children inappropriately.

The women admitted that they both disciplined the two abused girls and were both present when they were hit with belts, court heard.

In December 2017, the babysitter removed a dresser in front of the basement door and found the sisters injured and begging for food.

A police officer who responded smelled urine and discovered the floor was soiled with feces.

Medical examinations of the girls found they were undernourished, dehydrated and had bruises, scars and lacerations all over their bodies. One had to undergo plastic surgery so the skin around her hip and upper leg could heal. The other required dental surgery.

One could only imagine how frightened the girls were to be placed in that situation  dark, hot, the odour of urine and feces, thirsty, hungry, injured, in pain and knowing that their mother and their auntie were responsible, Kendell said.

In a submission to the court before the sentencing, the roommate said she was beaten by her stepmother as a child and was sexually assaulted by men who dated her mother.

She reported that her addictions caused her to lose her priorities and robbed her of being a parent, Kendell said.

But the judge noted that the roommates own three children were well-fed and uninjured, indicating she knew right from wrong.

A psychiatric assessment of the mother of the two abused girls noted that she often cast blame for the abuse on her roommate and likely minimized her actions out of shame and distress.

RELATED STORIES Edmonton Two Edmonton mothers admit to beating two girls with belts, locking them in filthy basement

She also drank and consumed cocaine on weekends, often relying on her friend to take care of the children.

Kendell said the mother could have turned to family for support and noted she often said things in her assessment that contradicted the agreed facts.

(Her counsel) argued that her low IQ and level of cognition should reduce her moral culpability. I disagree, Kendell said.

The fact that neither child was taken to school or daycare for a number of weeks because of the fear third parties would become aware of the childrens injuries speaks to her high level of knowledge and awareness.

Both women were credited for the time they have already spent in custody, reducing their sentences to about half.

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After their opening receptions were canceled and the gallery housing their shows was shuttered due to threats of COVID-19, two visual arts MFA students at the University of Montana are working to find creative ways to share their thesis shows with the public.

Ceramicist Ryan Caldwell and Darla Pienciak, a printmaker and installation artist, are turning to online platforms as they wrap up their masters projects and look to get their art in front of the public eye. In addition to updating their personal artist websites to include photos of their thesis shows, Caldwell and Pienciak will be part of a newly created Instagram account.

Social Distance Gallery, created and run by Ohio painter Benjamin Cook, is an Instagram page specifically dedicated to hosting MFA and BFA thesis shows amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The idea is ... if your MFA or BFA exhibition was affected by COVID-19, youre able to send him your stuff and hell post it on the Instagram page, Caldwell said, adding the benefit is his work can reach a much wider audience than a personal website or a gallery show.

The Social Distance Gallery has been up for two weeks and has amassed nearly 18,000 followers. Already, BFA and MFA projects from around the world have been shared on the page.

A culmination of the last three years, both said its important that people see the hard work and hours of time theyve put into their thesis art.

'Permutation'

Caldwells work focuses on functional pottery, like cups, mugs, plates and bowls, and how they interact with the setting they live in.

His thesis show, Permutation, in the shuttered Gallery of Visual Arts on campus, has been set up to quite literally resemble a kitchen and features his ceramic pieces placed on countertops, in cupboards and spread out over a table as if youre getting a peek into someones home.

The title comes from the mathematical term of the same name, which refers to the several possibilities or variations in which a set number of things can be ordered or arranged, he said.

I wanted to focus on the idea of these things being in use, Caldwell said, adding his project includes themes of variation, arrangement and choice. I wanted to bring a domestic feel into the gallery.

He started working on the mugs, cups, plates and bowls in his show towards the end of his third year of grad school, creating the pieces in batches.

All my work usually starts on the wheel. With cups or mugs, Ill sit down and make 20 or 30 at a time. Ill do 15 or 20 plates at a time, he said. I start out with the same amount of clay. Through repetition, it allows me to get something almost exactly like the previous one.

Caldwell uses different cuts, shaping techniques and earthy color tones of yellows, browns and blues to individualize each mug, cup, plate or bowl, but theres a cohesive look and feel to his work.

While all the plates on the table are different, they have similarities because of the way I cut and my lexicon of different cutting patterns, he said, referring to the wood kitchen table displaying part of his exhibition.

His favorite tool is an old school cheese cutter, possibly a side effect of his interest in the intersection of pottery and the culinary world. One of his committee members is Chef Aimee Elliott, chef instructor at the Missoula College Culinary Institute, whom hes worked with before.

Last year he partnered with culinary students who were making Montana-themed dishes for a project called Tasting of Big Sky, creating custom ceramics for them to plate their food on.

I found working closely with chefs was very interesting. Theres an upsurge of restaurants partnering with potters to use their dishes for their restaurants and certain events, he said. Im pretty interested in the partnership of culinary arts and physical plates and the interaction that happens between two artists that team up that have very different views.

Caldwell acknowledges that seeing his thesis show in the gallery is different from what hell be able to show people online.

I hope that viewers who see it digitally can understand the arrangements and see that the pieces are not arranged in perfect flows  some are stacked, some not stacked, there are three mugs here and then one over there in the corner by itself, like it was taken off the cabinet, used and then forgotten.

Caldwell said he wants his work to be interesting enough that someone would put it on display, but utilitarian enough to be put to good use.

My work is not in the forefront of fine arts, its more in the craft and domestic field, he said. The most important thing is that people use my work and that it lives in someones home.

'The Space Between Points'

In her print and installation work, Pienciak said shes focused on finding the commonalities in different communities in the hopes of instilling empathy and understanding between people with seemingly different points of view.

Her thesis project, The Space Between Points and Their Navigational Reference, looks at the experiences that make up the journey of life through a familial lens.

In everyones life, there are significant things that stick out, and you go back to them time and time again in memories or photographs. The space between is everything that happens while youre going from one point to the next, she said.

The project includes a series of prints that go along with an installation made up of hundreds of strings of twine. She said she took turns working on the prints and the installation, as the two processes are very different.

Printmaking is step by step, and I have to be very attentive and clean while working, whereas the installation was a lot of cutting and dying of twine. The work was more freeing and messy, she said. I had to get my brain working in those different tracks to get an optimal production for each one.

The prints feature Pienciaks personal family photos of beach vacations, birthday parties, a mother holding a child, a wedding.

I wanted to make sure the individuals in the pictures kind of conveyed relatable moments and times, she said, adding she manipulated the photos so the people in them are more like silhouettes. She wanted to separate her personal attachments to the photos to be able to understand what the viewer could see and interact with.

The images represent moments in life, while the strings represent the trails and paths of interactions created during ones life. She said the different groups of strings represent different communities, but each grouping is connected to one another.

Pienciak said her project in particular will be difficult to understand online.

In person, its built so you can interact with it. Ive created alcoves viewers can walk into, and in other areas, its so dense theyd have to break through the strings, she said. Without being able to see it in person, that is lost.

Virtual thesis defense

Both Pienciak and Caldwell will be holding virtual defenses with their committees through Zoom, and they were able to meet one on one with them before the gallery closed to answer any questions.

Pienciak said the School of Art is considering leaving the show up through September and having it be the first show in the Visual Arts Gallery in the fall. Shes hopeful people will eventually be able to experience her exhibition in person.

In the meantime, the MFA students are encouraging people to keep an eye out on the "Social Distance Gallery" Instagram account, where their work should be popping up over the next few weeks.

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A 90-year-old coronavirus patient from Belgium touched the hearts of millions after she selflessly refused a ventilator and told the doctors to keep it for the younger patients.

Woman dies from coronavirus after refusing ventilator

Suzanne Hoylaerts, a resident from Binkom, near Lubbeek, was hospitalized on March 20, when her health rapidly deteriorated after contracting the coronavirus. She sought medical attention after she suffered from shortness of breath and a lack of appetite. Hoylaerts was admitted to the hospital immediately and tested positive for the virus. She was placed in isolation and her daughter was unable to visit.

According to the doctors at the hospital, she said "I don't want to use artificial respiration. Save it for younger patients. I already had a good life." Hoylaerts passed away on March 22, just two days after she was hospitalized.

Hoylaerts' grieving daughter, Judith, told the 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 did not know how their mother got the virus as she had stayed at home and followed all of the lockdown measures. Belgium has now recorded 15,348 cases, 1,011 deaths, and 2,495 recovered cases.

A 12-year-old girl from Belgium was confirmed infected with the virus and she became the youngest person in Europe to die from the disease. Ventilators are important to help keep the severely ill patients alive and for them to recover. They are machines that pump oxygen in someone's lungs when they become unable to breathe on their own.

Also read: Italy Bans Catholic Funerals Because of the Coronavirus

Recovered coronavirus patient speaks out

Meanwhile, the first Belgian who was infected with the coronavirus, Philip Soubry, left St. Pieter hospital in Brussels on February 15, 2020. He spoke about his experience with De Morgen.

Soubry stayed in the hermetically sealed hospital room for almost two weeks. The room was around 4 x 5 in size, with a chair, table, armchair, and a television. The windows in the room could not open, but there were massive ventilation systems on the ceiling. The staff could leave food and objects to pass on to him through the airlock in front of the entrance door.

The nurses would take 15 minutes to get ready before they could enter his room as they dress according to a strict procedure, including glasses, hairnet, mouth mask and blue protection suit. Despite the strict guidelines, the staff was friendly, Soubry told De Morgen.

Soubry said he did not come into contact with people in China who were showing symptoms. His wife, who is Chinese, visited her parents, who were not sick. He said that chances are, his wife would have the virus as well. He told her that she could stay away from overcrowded hospitals as long as she does not have any symptoms.

His wife stayed at home and went outside to shop, an employee of the factory told on her and now their house is sealed and she is not allowed to set foot outside. His wife is instructed to take her temperature a few times a day. Soubry expressed is dismay and regret, as he wished he brought his wife with him to Belgium if he'd known that they would be vessels of the virus.

Related article: Netherlands Recalls Defective Masks From China

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One photographer is changing the way she does business by giving away free video shoots to local restaurants and companies to help boost their business.

Amid the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and entrepreneurs across the nation have had to shut their doors and halt their services like Gabriela Gonzales of Photos by Gabriela.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: H-E-B taps 3 Houston restaurants to create dishes for select area stores

"Being in business for over 25 years, my agenda had never been empty, never, never, never. With Harvey I was probably down 2 weeks or less but, never like today," said Gonzales.

"I will never forget the restaurant owner sitting alone on a dining room table with her head down," Gonzales said. "You could see the fear, the worry on her face, my heart broke for her."

That look is what gave Gonzales the idea of using her skills and services to help Houston businesses in her area.

We feel Blessed to have Gabrielas expertise with photo shoots and video commercials. What an amazing opportunity to be able to let Customers know we are open for business," shared Jesse Canas owner of Cattle Drive BBQ.

FAMILY-SIZED MEALS TO GO: Houston restaurants offering family-sized feasts to-go during coronavirus pandemic

Meeting these business owners and encouraging them to hang on has given Gonzales a new perspective. "I believe in giving, especially when I can, and during a time of need."

Gary LaFave of FitChef Foods Texas said it was a blessing to benefit from Gonzales' services. "I put the business in God's hands, God works in mysterious ways," said LaFave.

"Gaby is such a giving and caring person in her efforts to help boost our economy in a new reality of the virtual world," said Mary E. Ramos of Ramos Law Group, PLLC. "This exposure only helps us adjust to the not so future norm of Zoom and electronic-only courtroom participation."

"Photography isn't just my way of life, but it's my passion so why not go help?" Gonzales said.

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In a bid to bridge the shortage of ventilators in the country amid rising cases of coronavirus, the Uttar Pradesh government has given approval to Noida-based Agva Healthcare to manufacture and supply 10,000 life-supporting devices in partnership with Maruti Suzuki India. AgVa Healthcare, in a joint venture with Maruti Suzuki India, will deliver 10,000 ventilators to central government in a month, a state government official said.

"A Noida-based firm AgVa Healthcare, in conjunction with Maruti Suzuki (automobile giant), in association with several firms, are going to do the job. Chief executive officer (CEO), Noida, has facilitated what all the UP government needs to do," Additional chief secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi reportedly said.

"Ventilators are vital towards saving the lives of such coronavirus patients, whose illness attains severity. Making 10,000 ventilators, a highly specialised and complicated lifesaving machine, in a month is no mean task. It will be a record of sorts, but more than the record, it will be a swift response to the epidemic," he said.

On March 28, auto major Maruti Suzuki India had announced that it entered into an arrangement with AgVA Healthcare to produce up to 10,000 ventilators per month to help bridge the shortfall.

According to state government official, AgVa will use its technology and expertise while Maruti Suzuki will provide manpower and additional space to manufacture ventilator. State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) will provide electronic chips for the ventilators.

The official said that the ventilator manufacturer has been facing problems due to the lockdown and manpower crisis. The government has sorted the issue by providing 126 passes to manpower for their movement under the lockdown, he added.

Meanwhile, Narendra Bhooshan, Chief Executive Officer of Greater Noida Authority, has been asked to assist Maruti in issues related to the manufacturing and supply of ventilators to hospitals across the state.

Amit Mohan Prasad, principal secretary, health, said the government needs extra ventilators for installation in COVID-19 dedicated hospitals.

With the number of COVID-19 cases in India rising every day and the death toll reaching over 50, the shortage of ventilators in the country is likely to get woefully exposed in the days to come. According to a Brookings report, if the number of cases spirals in India, it may need as many as 1,10,000-2,20,000 ventilators as early as mid-May. It estimated the number of ventilators today in the country at a maximum 57,000.

The Indian government has reached out to other companies including Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata Motors and Hyundai to look at ways to manufacture ventilators expeditiously.

By Chitranjan Kumar with agencies inputs

Also Read: Battle against coronavirus: Maruti ties up with AgVA Healthcare to produce 10,000 ventilators per month

Also Read: Coronavirus: Here's how Mahindra, Maruti will produce ventilators at plants

Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: 647 COVID-19 cases linked to Tablighi Jamaat event, says Health Ministry
The new platform supports and encourages knowledge transfer in the field of creative and handicraft industry management and culture management

The Goethe Institute has launched the first Arabic educational platform for young entrepreneurs and innovators in the field of arts and crafts, with the aim of boosting the entrepreneurship ecosystem, creative and cultural industries in Egypt and the wider Middle East.

The new platform, ebtedy.com, has the slogan Its time to move outside the box.



Ebtedy provides content and resources for young entrepreneurs in simple language, aiming to help them turn their ideas into creative and commercial products and services.

According to UNESCO, cultural and creative industries are among the fastest growing businesses in the world and have proven to be a sustainable development option that relies on a unique and renewable resource, which is human creativity, says Selma Halilovic, a coordinator at the Goethe Institute Cultural and Creative Economics programme.

There is no specific definition of creative projects. They are the product of combining human creativity with knowledge and technology to produce several fields, ranging from culture management and jewellery and ceramics to architectural design, artistic and theatrical production, electronic publishing, software development and electronic games.

Focusing on the scene in Egypt and the Arab world, Halilovic adds, we found an absence of platforms for knowledge transfer in the field of creative and handicraft industries management and culture management, which we have been keen to support through several projects.

Heba El-Cheikh, one of the content developers, explains that the platform combines all needed technical tools and expertise for entrepreneurs such as the stages of project creation, planning, financial management and marketing of the cultural and creative products, and finally project evaluation. The site also includes a number of successful stories from Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.

We hope that young people in Egypt and the Arab world will benefit from it to transform their ideas and dreams into creative and marketable products and services that contribute to providing job opportunities and marketing the cultural product locally and internationally, El-Cheikh adds.

The website was implemented with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the German Agency for International Cooperation.

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

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MBABANE  Kombi owners who have taken a heavy blow from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown say they are losing 90 per cent of income each day.

The kombi owners say the negotiations for compensation from government would be of help, if the state were to extend a lifeline worth half of what they are losing each day.



This is because the terms of the partial lockdown were to the effect that all kombis should not carry above nine passengers, which is part of the social distancing principle that requires people to be a metre away from each other. The number was only increased yesterday afternoon to 70 per cent.



curfew



The government spelt curfew also states that public transport should not operate between 9am and 3pm.

The partial lockdown also dictates that people should stay in their homes and go to town if they are an essential service or in need of essential goods.

Musa Dube, an owner of kombis operating between Manzini and Ntabamhloshana said on a daily basis, after refuelling, each of his kombis was making between E800 and E1 000 on a busy day. Rough calculations show that each kombi rakes in about E20 000 per month. During the days of the lockdown, he said this had been greatly reduced to about E150 per day at most.



He said if government were to compensate local kombi owners, he would appreciate a compensation of at least E10 000 for each kombi per month.

compensate



Given that the total number of kombis operating at the Manzini and Mbabane bus ranks are about 3 000, a rough estimate by Eswatini News shows that the implication is that government would have to part with about E3 million just to compensate local kombi owners.



Meanwhile, Dube said he was well cognisant of the fact that the restrictions on public transport were necessary for the flattening of the curve of infections, but said something had to happen to ensure that businesses survive.



He said in the absence of the compensation, most of the owners had already negotiated with employees to settle for half pay.



pessimistic



Though the negotiations for compensation are still ongoing, we are very pessimistic because the state has no money. We are happy that government has spoken to the banks with a view to convince them to halt loan repayment. That is a positive step because the defaulting on loans can further plunge us into further debts in arrears.



Dube said public transport owners did not want to spread COVID-19, which is why they were complying with all the government restrictions and regulations.

Another prominent Kombi owner Sibusiso Criminal Dlamini, who operates a fleet of kombis servicing the Mbabane/Manzini route, said he had suspended half his fleet, something that impacted negatively on his business.



compare



We are losing 90 per cent of the business if we compare daily takings this week, to what they were before the lockdown. My main worry is why are people prohibited from boarding public transport when they are going to town after 9 am. If one is supposed to start work at 2pm, does that mean he has to be in town by 8am and linger around until its time to start work.



If shops are open, then surely the public transport should be allowed to operate, he said.

When asked on the progress in negotiations for compensation, he said he lost track of progress in such meetings because even the members of the National Road Transport Council, which is spearheading the talks, were unknown to him.



The Chairperson of the NRTC, Sihlangu Nhlabatsi, said modalities for the compensation were still being deliberated upon, and that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport would issue a statement in due course.

The Minister said yesterday that talks were still in progress and had not yielded any fruit as yet.

passengers

In Mbabane it was said that atleast 31 645 passengers enter the Central Business District (CBD) by public transport per day, while 31 075 leave the CBD per day.



The modal split between bus and kombi is 9 per cent and 91 per cent respectively. There are currently 814 permits issued in combination for non-scheduled kombis, taxi cabs, school bus, staff bus, freight (goods) transport, tourist permits and scheduled bus.

Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said this week that there was still no plan in place for the compensation of public transport owners.



He advised companies to take advantage of the Central Banks measures for financial institutions to consider reduction in discount rate, which will see the cost of debts reduced by one per cent. He also said those businesses requiring short-term financial support should approach the banks.
PARIS (Reuters) - Here is a list of countries that have applied or are considering trade restrictions on food or agricultural products due to the spread of the novel coronavirus around the world.

EURASIA

The Eurasian commission, which unites the customs zone of Russia and Kazakhstan, has decided to restrict exports of sunseeds, buckwheat, rice and rye until June 30 due to the coronavirus, the RIA news agency quoted the commission as saying on Tuesday.

This customs union, which also includes Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, will also not be supplying soybeans and some vegetables such as onions outside of the union until June 30, it added.

The measure will come into force on April 12, Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.

RUSSIA

The Russian government on Thursday adopted an agriculture ministry proposal to limit grain exports to 7 million tonnes from April through June.

The agriculture ministry also said it would sell up to 1.5 million tonnes of grain out of its 1.8 million tonne stockpile to help meet domestic demand.

The measures are aimed at easing pressure on domestic food markets faced with a slide in the rouble currency. However, the authorities have so far refrained from using tough grain export curbs seen in past crises.

UKRAINE

Ukraine has banned buckwheat exports until July 1 to defend the local market from excessive demand, the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture said on Thursday.

Ukraine's biggest grain traders agreed on Monday to an economy ministry proposal to limit wheat exports to 20.2 million tonnes in the 2019/20 season to avoid a rise in domestic bread prices.

Bakers and millers in Ukraine, a major global grain exporter, last week asked the government to limit exports of grain and related products to maintain bread prices in the event of the coronavirus spreading.

The economy ministry had said it would control wheat export shipments, sell flour in the domestic market and agree with traders a maximum volume of wheat for export.

Story continues

KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan will allow exports of 200,000 tonnes of wheat and 70,000 tonnes of flour this month, the country's agriculture ministry said on Friday.

The ministry said Kazakhstan was also introducing quotas on exports of buckwheat, sugar, sunseeds, and certain vegetables such as potatoes and onions instead of earlier announced export bans.

The country had banned flour exports last month to ensure steady domestic supply before saying it would replace the ban with quotas for flour and wheat exports.

VIETNAM

The world's third-largest rice exporter, which temporarily suspended rice export contracts until March 28, has not yet lifted its ban, traders said on Monday.

The Prime Minister said on Tuesday he had asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to submit a rice export plan before April 5.

CAMBODIA

Cambodia will ban some rice exports to ensure local food security during the coronavirus crisis, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday.

INDIA

Indian rice traders have stopped signing new export contracts due to labour shortages and logistics disruptions that have also hampered the delivery of existing contracts, industry officials said.

EGYPT

Egypt will halt the export of legumes for three months to preserve local supply, the trade ministry said on March 28.

(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide and Gus Trompiz; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Mark Heinrich, Jan Harvey and Sonya Hepinstall)
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday asked the Haryana government to provide adequate protection to doctors and others who are at the frontline of the battle against coronavirus.

Citing instances from Haryana in which some doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have been exposed to risks due to the alleged shortage of Personal Protection Equipment, Surjewala said his party has been regularly warning the government about the need to protect the frontline workers.

In government hospitals too, there is dearth of Personal Protection Equipment. Recently, a doctor working at PGIMS in Rohtak wrote in detail on her social media account raising the issue of shortage of PPE and said when doctors like her will be no more, these equipment should be sent to their grave, Surjewala, a former MLA from Kaithal, told media via video link.

He claimed that pressure was built by authorities on the woman doctor and she was forced to delete her social media account the same day she had raised the concern.

He cited another example in which a woman government doctor working in a civil hospital in Gurgaon contracted the infection in the absence of adequate personal protection equipment".

The woman doctor was discharged from the hospital after recovery.

Another nurse in Panchkula tested positive for COVID-19. In Rohtak medical college, a doctor had to wear a helmet while treating patients in the absence of PPE and in Panchkula doctors and nurses are wearing raincoats to treat patients, Surjewala said.

When a reporter asked if there was a delayed response on the Centre's part to deal with the situation, Surjewala replied, On February 12, (Congress leader)Rahul Gandhi warned that coronavirus was going to hit the country in a big way and said necessary measures should be taken by the government to combat it.

But at that time the government was busy in welcoming the US president and holding a big rally for him in Gujarat. Later, also the government remained busy in some other issues," he said.

The government took it lightly and instead accused Congress that it was trying to spread fear. But again we humbly told them that the issue concerns the nation not any party, he added.

Earlier in the day, Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajiv Arora had said that there was no dearth of Personal Protective Equipment for doctors, nurses and paramedics.

Meanwhile, Surjewala hit out at the Khattar government on the farmers' issue.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had recently asked farmers to store their wheat and mustard in their houses in view of the lockdown situation, saying wheat procurement would start on April 20, while mustard would be procured from April 15.

For wheat and mustard procurement, the government seems to have come up with no planning, no preparation and no arrangement. Wheat and Rabi crops cannot be purchased in this scenario. The government is also rubbing salt on their wounds asking them to store produce in their homes, Surjewala said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Mayor of the City of Miami has asked US President Donald Trump to suspend flights to Miami International Airport from coronavirus 'hotspots', and to instead prioritize the transport of crucial supplies to defeat the deadly virus.

In an urgent letter yesterday, Miami mayor Francis Suarez insisted President Trump halt flights to Miami International from 'international and domestic' locations where Covid-19 is rampant.

He urged the president to instead focus on the movement of medical equipment, food stuffs, and protective gear, in the fight to curb the rate of contagion.

The US is now the world leader in coronavirus cases, with 245,356 people infected, and 6,056 deaths.

Mayor of the City of Miami Francis Suarez wants Trump to focus on food and medical supplies

Powerful words - the Mayor of the City of Miami Francis Suarez's letter to President Trump

A much quieter Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, since the deadly Covid-19 outbreak

A single airport worker wandering a somewhat empty Miami International Airport in Florida

These figures represent roughly a quarter of the world total which is now more than 1 million registered cases of Covid-19, and more than 53,000 deaths. Over 212,000 have since recovered.

In his April 2 letter Suarez writes: 'We are at war with a silent, deadly, and merciless enemy.

'I personally have witnessed its speed, its spread, and its lethality among my residents in Miami, and now in the state of Florida.

Suarez goes on to say the US must 'wield our power in a smart, targeted way'.

'I am requesting that you immediately suspend flights from international and domestic Covid-19 hotspots to Miami International Airport; and now prioritize the movement of medical supplies, food, and protective personal equipment to contain Covid-19 based on your authority under existing federal law,' he adds.

Miami International - The global Covid-19 pandemic has seen commercial air travel plummet

Taken March 29 - a ghostly quiet view of the parking lot at Miami International Airport, Florida

Suarez is careful not to mention which states and countries he means by 'hotpots' - but New York, New Jersey, California and Washington are among some of the hardest hit in the US.

His impassioned letter to the president followed a statewide order on Wednesday by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who asked that all residents stay at home during the pandemic and only venture out for essential travel or items.

The majority of US states have already issued similar restrictions.

In closing, Suarez writes: 'My administration stands ready to provide any assistance within our powers and resources. Thank you for your attention to this critical crisis.

'With your assistance, I assure you that we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail in protecting our residents and prevailing against this viral pandemic.'

One person on Twitter wrote about the letter: 'This should have been done long ago.'

Another wrote: 'Unless I missed a recent fire sale, Miami-Dade County owns and operates the airport. If the mayor wants to shut down the airport, it is entirely within the countys ability to do so.'

And yet another wrote: 'Trump will tell Miami what hes told the governors. Youre on your own.'
Bloomington, Ind.-based senior living community operator Heart of CarDon LLC has been sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by refusing to accommodate a qualified employee with a disability, which resulted in the employee losing her job.

According to the EEOCs lawsuit, Heart of CarDon determined that an employee at its Rawlins House facility, in Pendleton, Ind., could no longer perform the essential functions of her certified nursing assistant job after a work injury resulted in lifting restrictions.

The employee expressed interest in several jobs she could have performed without violating her lifting restrictions, but Heart of CarDon refused to transfer her to a vacant position for which she was qualified, the EEOC said.

Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employers from failing to consider reasonable accommodations for employees with a disability. The EEOC filed suit (Case No. 1:20-cv-00998-JRS-MJD) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

The agency is seeking back pay and compensatory and punitive damages against Heart of CarDon as well as a permanent injunction to prevent the company from engaging in future disability discrimination in the accommodation process.

Source: EEOC

Topics Lawsuits Indiana
You can often tell from a politicians facial reaction if theyre uncomfortable with a question, says 2GB morning host Ray Hadley. If they bring an adviser into the studio and the politician says something they werent supposed to, you can practically see the colour draining from the advisers face. (Nine Entertainment owns 2GB and this masthead.)

When social distancing measures were introduced to slow the spread of coronavirus, Hadley broadcast from a hotel room in suburban Sydney until the necessary equipment was installed in his home.

Like most radio hosts, 2GB morning presenter Ray Hadley is working remotely. Credit:2GB

Ive been doing outside broadcasts [as a live sports caller] for 35 years, so its not foreign to me, he says. I miss having guests in the studio and even though we tell our listeners were in another location, they probably cant hear the difference.

But the restrictions have forced Hadley and fiancee Sophie Baird to postpone their wedding.
Press Release

3 April 2020

Airbnb's new Frontline stays program offers places to stay for those fighting the spread of COVID-19

In the last week Airbnb has announced a series of partnerships and collaborations with medical organizations around the world such as the National Health Service in the UK, Sutter Health in California, the Ministry of Housing in France and Barcelona Official Doctors Association.

Advertisements

Last week, we announced a new program to allow hosts to open their homes to those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we're proud to share that our incredible community of generous hosts have offered 100,000 places to stay for people responding to the pandemic. Through this program, Frontline staff can book both free and paid stays in 160 countries and regions, with hosts in Paris, New York City and London each offering over 2,000 places to stay in their cities for those doing lifesaving work. Airbnb will waive all fees on the first 100,000 stays booked through this program.

New: Frontline stays for individual responders

When we launched last week, stays were only able to be booked through our growing list of partner organizations. Today we have expanded the program so that individual responders can book directly on our platform. This new functionality will allow hosts to help even more people who are in immediate need. While we will continue to work with partner organizations like government agencies, nonprofits, and healthcare providers to book stays, we recognize that time is essential during this crisis, and many responders immediately need comfortable and convenient places to stay.

Frontline responders can now submit their professional information and housing needs, and when Airbnb has reviewed their information and has sufficient eligible stays in a region, we will send those eligible responders an email invitation providing access to search and book places to stay. Hosts will be able to see that their guest is an eligible frontline worker. Airbnb will continue to waive all fees for the first 100,000 stays booked through this program.

Airbnb, Inc.

A global program driven by local partners

Partners and collaborators continue to be a mainstay of our program, and we're proud to be working with organizations making a meaningful impact in the fight against the pandemic. At launch, we announced our work with partners including the French government, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Medical Corps and the International Rescue Committee. Since then, we have brought on more renowned organizations around the world to utilize our platform.

In the United Kingdom, we are offering direct support to NHS hospitals and trusts, and other healthcare organizations, and help their frontline staff book accommodations.

In Spain, we are working with the Barcelona Official Doctors Association to offer access to our program to their medical workers.

Since our pilot launched in Italy two weeks ago, more than 3,000 homes in Italy have been made available by hosts. Today we have expanded the program to support medics that need to isolate to prevent exposure to their families as they continue their critical work.

Earlier this week in France the Minister of Housing announced that more than 5,000 listings have been made available by hosts and 11,000 nights have been booked by COVID-19 responders.

In the US, we are working with Sutter Healthan integrated, not-for-profit health networkto support their Northern California front line health care workers and help them find temporary lodging around hospitals where they may be relocated.

Our goal is to continue to remain responsive to the evolving needs at the local level to help connect COVID-19 responders with Frontline stays. If you are affiliated with an organization with a need to provide stays for your staff, please let us know.

How to participate

During times of crisis, our host community has always extended a hand to those in great need. They have opened their homes to couples who have lost their homes in fires, families who are resettling in new countries, and patients who need to travel for critical medical treatment. While this crisis is unprecedented, our hosts have remained as generous as ever, and we are incredibly grateful. For any hosts interested in joining this community of Frontline stays, please sign up here. Partners who have a need visit here to learn more and sign up for support. If you are a COVID-19 responder, get started here. And anyone who may not be able to open their home, but still would like to help, you can donate to help fund even more stays.
Latin America's biggest cemetery, a never-ending stretch of graves, on the Sao Paulo outskirts, has currently adapted to the new funeral rites, in this time of COVID-19 pandemic-no hugs, no wakes, and short six-minute burials.

What's even sadder is that the cemetery is even preparing for things to worsen. One of the most recent afternoons at Vila Formosa Cemetery arrived at the coffins. They arrived so fast that the grave-diggers needed "to ask the mourners to wait."

Incidentally, mourners who had "D3" marked on the death certificates of their loved ones for either suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, were given an order that funeral parties should be kept to below 10 mourners, and no embracing and open caskets are allowed.

There some families who were not able to hold back and eventually, they collapsed into the arms of their loved ones amid the strong call for social distancing.

READ: The US Outlines Recommendation to Lift Venezuela Sanctions

Burials in Just Six Minutes

Ricardo Santos sadly told of his grandmother's death whose COVID-19 test has not come out yet. He said, his grandmother "had symptoms and got tested" but was told it would take two more weeks before the result would be available. She did not live to see those results.

Santos said, his 92-year-old grandmother, Regina Almeida had a very quick funeral ceremony. The closed casket, he recounted, was wrapped in a cloth to avoid the virus from spreading fast.

Burials, he continued, took only six minutes in all, from the time the hearse opened to the flowers which were laid on the closed tomb.

READ MORE: Sorry, Miss Chiquita Is at Home; Popular Brands Take On Social Distancing

Sweating under the heat of the sun in gloves and masks, and wearing white protective suits, grave-diggers started to lower four caskets into one grave, in roughly 30 minutes: one confirmed COVID-19 case and three suspected victims.

Moreover, in the same cemetery, Genilton De Santana was having his father, Jose, a 77-year-old suspected COVID-19 patient, wearing a mask on his face with just one friend beside him. As mentioned, his dad's cause of death had yet to be determined as they were still awaiting test results.

Enraged, De Santana said, "Show people that and see" if they have started to understand the seriousness of this pandemic.

READ NEXT: US COVID-19 Death Toll Hits 5,800, Surpassing 9/11 Terror Attack Deaths

Little, but Deadly, Flu

Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian President, has repeatedly minimized COVID-19, comparing it to what he described as a "little flu," cautioning against panic and reprimanding the local officials for closing schools and businesses. However, this reaction from the President goes in contrast to the recommendations of containment of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ironically, just this week, the federal government, allowed burials without the death certificate in exceptional conditions, anticipating a rise in funerals, even as the president minimized the pandemic which as of this writing, has already infected over 1 million, and killed more than 50,000 people globally.

Relatively, COVID-19 has probably just got started in Brazil, the most affected country in Latin America, now with more than 6,000 confirmed cases, and over 200 fatalities so far.

The Pressure Now on Vila Formosa

Typically, a gravedigger said, they burry around 45 people each day. Last week though, he continued, "there were 12 to 15 more every day." The situation, according to this cemetery worker, is a lot worse compared to what the public sees on the news.

Sao Paulo, with a 12-million population, is reportedly the epicenter of the pandemic in Latin America with almost 3,000 confirmed cases as of this writing. And, as it braces for the swelling in burials, the city hired over 200 more temporary workers to help in its 22 other municipal cemeteries.
While Canada and the U.S. have historically had strong ties in times of crisis, the current pandemic seems to be setting a different tone.

It was recently reported that a shipment of Quebec-bound masks ended up in Ohio. Additionally, the White House has ordered 3M, which manufactures medical devices, to stop exporting N95 masks to other countries, including Canada.

At his Friday morning briefing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured Canadians that his government was doing all it could to get much-needed supplies across the country, while also maintaining a positive and mutually-beneficial relationship with the U.S.

We will always seek to make sure that trade with the U.S. remains open, because both countries depend on the exchange of essential goods and services in both directions, Trudeau said, stressing that this included thousands of nurses who live in Windsor but work in the American health care system in Detroit.

We are going to follow up on shipments, but in the meantime, were confident well continue receiving what you need.

Change from historical stance

A truck crosses the Bluewater Bridge border crossing between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan on March 16, 2020. (Photo by Geoff Robins / AFP) (Photo by GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images)

These examples bring to question whether the relationship between Canada and the U.S. will be one of the many things to shift during the pandemic.

The current dynamic between the two countries is vastly different from WWII, when the two sides bonded together and abolished the border, in order to freely transfer war supplies. Canadian agencies would sometimes have their own offices inside certain U.S. departments like agriculture and the wartime research and development undertaking, The Manhattan Project, which produced the first nuclear weapons.

During the Cold War, both countries shared a list of supplies that they would not send to the opposing side, the Communists.

But with the borders currently closed between the two countries, and starkly different leadership styles from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump, does the current pandemic have the potential to put a strain on our relationship?

Story continues

Robert Bothwell, a professor at the Monk School of Public Affairs, says that now is the time to work together for the best interest of the two countries.

It would make a lot of sense to combine purchasing mechanisms that would allow us to order together and avoid competition, he says. What we dont want is to be at the wrong end of a supply chain, with the U.S. above us, because Canada will lose every time.

While the current administration is unlikely to agree to partnering with Canada to order and share supplies, those further down appear to be more willing.

For example, CBC reported that the mayor of Stewart, B.C. said last month that the towns grocery store will continue to deliver supplies to Hyder, Alaska  population 80  even if it means leaving them right at the border. The tiny American town relies on Stewart for essential resources like food and fuel.

Here is the mayor of Stewart, B.C., promising her community will look after the residents of Hyder, Alaska if they are cut off by the Canada-U.S. border closure, even if it means leaving supplies at the crossing. "We are one community." #covid19 pic.twitter.com/Um2FslxU0T  Andrew Kurjata  (@akurjata) March 21, 2020

Robert Speel, an associate professor at Penn State Erie, who co-teaches a class on Canadian-American relations with a professor at Ryerson, says Canada taking the lead at trying to block American visitors from entering the country can prove to be problematic.

This probably doesn't hurt diplomatic relations between the countries, but it does great damage, at least in the short term, to the tourist industry, to businesses along the border, and to people who have family and friends on both sides of the border, he says.

On the other hand, the two countries are working together to make sure that the supply chain is not interrupted by the border closures for routine visitors.

With the approval of the new trade agreement earlier this year, that should indicate that commerce between the two countries can continue to thrive, Speel says.
Measuring Public Joint Stock Company Inter RAO UES's (MISX:IRAO) track record of past performance is a useful exercise for investors. It enables us to understand whether or not the company has met or exceed expectations, which is an insightful signal for future performance. Today I will assess IRAO's recent performance announced on 31 December 2019 and weigh these figures against its long-term trend and industry movements.

See our latest analysis for Inter RAO UES

How IRAO fared against its long-term earnings performance and its industry

IRAO's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2019) of 82b has jumped 15% compared to the previous year.

However, this one-year growth rate has been lower than its average earnings growth rate over the past 5 years of 26%, indicating the rate at which IRAO is growing has slowed down. What could be happening here? Well, let's examine what's occurring with margins and if the rest of the industry is feeling the heat.

MISX:IRAO Income Statement April 3rd 2020

In terms of returns from investment, Inter RAO UES has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 15% instead. However, its return on assets (ROA) of 9.7% exceeds the RU Electric Utilities industry of 4.9%, indicating Inter RAO UES has used its assets more efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Inter RAO UESs debt level, has increased over the past 3 years from 12% to 17%. This correlates with a decrease in debt holding, with debt-to-equity ratio declining from 30% to 0.6% over the past 5 years.

What does this mean?

While past data is useful, it doesnt tell the whole story. While Inter RAO UES has a good historical track record with positive growth and profitability, there's no certainty that this will extrapolate into the future. I suggest you continue to research Inter RAO UES to get a better picture of the stock by looking at:

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for IRAOs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for IRAOs outlook. Financial Health: Are IRAOs 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. 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.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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.
Moroccan authorities to disinfect fishing boats in Al Hoceima port

by Taha Mebtoul

April 03,2020 | Source: Morocco World News

Moroccos Mediterranean Sea Fishing Chamber (CPMM) decided on March 30 to organize a vast disinfection operation of fishing boats at the port of the northern city of Al Hoceima, amid mounting fears of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).



CPMM launched the initiative in coordination with the Ministry of Maritime Fisheries (MPM) of Al Hoceima.



The port of Al Hoceima hosts over 54 boats, and such a large number could provide a fertile spot for COVID-19 to spread among seamen and fishmongers.



CPMM Vice President Mounir Derraz told Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) that the operation joins Moroccos preventive measures and efforts in fighting the spread of COVID-19.



CPMM and MPM came to an agreement with the Provincial Council of Al Hoceima to disinfect any boats that are operative in the port every Friday, which should range from 15 to 20 boats in a given week.



The Provincial Council of Al Hoceima will conduct the weekly disinfection sessions.



The two parties also organized a campaign to inform seamen and shipowners about COVID-19, and to raise awareness about necessary preventive measures and sanitary rules to adopt, especially frequent hand washing and boat cleaning.



Meanwhile, the National Fisheries Office (ONP) will be responsible for cleaning commercial fish crates.



The disinfecting operation aims to provide sea workers with safe working conditions and preserve their health, said the MPM delegate of Al Hoceima, Abdelmalek El Houari.



Six fishing boats entered the port of Al Hoceima on Sunday, March 26, carrying 33 fishermen. The boats have been disinfected and the sea workers were subjected to COVID-19 tests. The workers were then asked to remain in their houses voluntarily.



Morocco has commenced several disinfecting operations in public spaces since declaring a state of emergency on March 19, and suspending risky operations including most public transport.



The tram operator in Casablanca, RATP Dev, announced that it has implemented hygiene measures and awareness-raising campaigns, including disinfecting equipment and supplies at tram stations throughout each day, especially entry and exit gates and ticket machines.



Cleaners are also applying measures in courts, prefectures, and public offices.



Rabat recently allocated MAD 20 million ($2 million) to purchase cleaning and disinfectant products.

 Morocco World News

Theme(s): Others.
State of Emergency Draft Law Would Allow PM Hun Sen to Run Cambodia 'by Fiat': HRW

2020-04-02 -- Draft legislation authorizing a state of emergency to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Cambodia would "empower Prime Minister Hun Sen to override fundamental human rights protections," a rights group said Thursday, urging his government to withdraw the bill.

On March 31, Cambodia's Council of Ministers approved the "Law on Governing the Country in a State of Emergency," which New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned in a statement would allow the government to "restrict all civil and political liberties and target human rights, democracy, and media groups."

A vote on the bill by the country's one-party National Assembly, essentially a rubber stamp parliament, is expected later this week or early next week.

Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, noted that Hun Sen has claimed the law is necessary to respond to a pandemic that only weeks ago he had dismissed concerns over, and suggested the prime minister is using the crisis as an excuse to give himself even greater control over the country.

"Even before the coronavirus, Hun Sen ran roughshod over human rights, so these sweeping, undefined, and unchecked powers should set off alarm bells among Cambodia's friends and donors," Adams said.

"Instead of passing laws to protect public health, the Cambodian government is using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to assert absolute power over all aspects of civil, political, social, and economic lifeall without any time limits or checks on abuses of power," he added, referring to the disease caused by the virus.

In particular, HRW highlighted article 5 of the bill, which it said contains "overly broad and vague provisions that would violate fundamental rights" without explaining why they are needed to fight the spread of the virus.

The article includes language that would grant the government unlimited surveillance of telecommunications, control of media and social media, and what HRW called "catch-all unfettered powers," referring to a clause through which authorities could put in place "other measures that are deemed appropriate for and necessary to responding to the state of emergency."

Other articles

Additionally, articles 1 and 4 would allow the government to declare a state of emergency even after the end of the coronavirus crisis, citing a need to "defend national security, public order, the lives and health of citizens as well as property and the environment," while article 3 says that a declaration can last for an "unlimited period of time," without specifying how a decision on its length would be reached.

The bill also would create a permanent opportunity for the government to declare martial law, HRW said, and fails to include any oversight for the powers it grants the state.

"The emergency law will allow Hun Sen, at long last, to run the country by fiat," Adams said. "It will make his dictatorial rule legal and official."

HRW warned that if the bill passes, it could be easily used against critics of the government, the oppositions, nongovernmental organizations, and the mediagroups that have already been targeted in a longstanding crackdown by Hun Sen.

The group noted that United Nations human rights experts have cautioned states against emergency declarations based on the coronavirus "as a cover for repressive action under the guise of protecting health  and should not be used simply to quash dissent."

"From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hun Sen has denied or downplayed the risks posed to Cambodia by the coronavirus in Cambodia, but evidently he's more than willing to join the bandwagon of autocratic leaders using the crisis to justify giving themselves vastly expanded powers," Adams said.

"The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights should remind Hun Sen that if he wants to suspend certain rights, he has to notify the UN Human Rights Committee. But pandemic or not, many rights cannot be suspended, and Cambodia will remain bound by its international legal commitments."

Government response

Ministry of Justice spokesman Chhin Malin on Thursday dismissed criticism of the draft law, but refused to comment on specific articles within it, saying the language is not official yet.

He said the government's decision to pursue the bill is "not out of the ordinary" amidst the coronavirus outbreak and vowed that it would comply with international norms based on the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"Before criticizing us, I would like Human Rights Watch to look into other countries' laws in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak," he told RFA.

"Do those laws restrict people's freedom during the outbreak? For Cambodia, we are drafting the law for the public's benefit and we are doing it in a way that will comply with international law."

In the Philippines, where the country's Congress declared a state of emergency to deal with the virus that has infected 2,633 and killed 107, rights groups have expressed concerns that new powers granted to President Rodrigo Duterte will make it dangerous for local governments to express dissent over how to respond to the crisis.

Cambodia's National Assembly spokesman Leng Peng Long told RFA that members of parliament have yet to receive the draft law, but would review it "as soon as possible," as quick action is needed to protect the public.

He stressed that even if the law is passed, only Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni can officially declare a state of emergency.

Activists weigh in

Meanwhile, activists around Cambodia expressed concerns over the bill, saying they believe it will restrict their freedom if enacted into law.

A student from the capital Phnom Penh named Chea Kunin told RFA that the law will impact freedom of expression, travel, and her work as an environmental activist who regularly monitors protected areas for illegal logging.

"We will endure difficulties expressing our views," she said. "If we speak out and [the government] finds it offensive, we will be in trouble."

Another activist named Suth Ban said the government can control the outbreak without placing the country under a state of emergency and called on lawmakers to consider the draft law carefully before passing it.

"When the draft law is approved, we will have problems speaking publicly," he said.

HRW's statement came a day after local NGOs also called on the government to ensure that authorities will only use the law to combat the coronavirus.

Speaking to RFA's Khmer Service on Wednesday, Ny Sokhachief of the human rights department of the Cambodia-based rights group Adhocexpressed concern over several points of the bill that he said might be used by Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to control the country.

"We urge the government to use only those measures that are needed to fight the spread of COVID-19," he said. "Nothing should be done that will harm democracy and human rights in the country."

As of Thursday evening, Cambodia had recorded 110 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The government announced the first infection within the country's borders on Jan. 27.

Reported by RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Even the renowned prime ministerial critic Mike Carlton was moved this week to remind Twitter that "Morrison is shouldering a burden unmatched by any other Prime Minister". We must remember prayer is a non-partisan activity: according to the Pew Research Centre, the same number of Democrats and Republicans pray every day. People who pray are less likely to drink, be depressed, and more likely to be selfless in relationships. There is also some evidence that praying, instead of distracting from the task at hand, focuses it. A 2013 study from Georgia State University found that praying about a problem appeared to liberate cognitive resources that are presumably otherwise consumed by worry and rumination, leaving individuals better able to process other information, and additionally to bias attention to favour detection of problem-relevant information. Some pray, some meditate, others still the mind. Its the time for it. There have been some beautiful prayers circling the internet lately. Like this one from Brother Richard Hendrick, a Capuchin Franciscan living in Ireland, that went viral for good reason. It reads, in part:

So we pray and we remember that: Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love. Loading My favourite Lutheran pastor, Nadia Bolz Weber tweeted, Morning by morning, new mercies I see. Also, things I need my waxer to deal with eventually. She has also, like so many others, prayed for those who care for the sick, for those who grieve in isolation, for the caregivers, the grocery workers, the grieving, and "for the ability to turn off the fear-mongering and unhelpful commentary and worst-case scenario click bait, strengthen us". Lets not scoff at prayer; millions are reaching to God and the good, hoping we can somehow survive. Lets be gentle with each other.

Julia Baird is the author of Phosphorescence: On awe, wonder and the things that sustain you when the world goes dark. Lockdown by Brother Richard Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer thick with fumes But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi People are singing to each other

across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today churches, synagogues, mosques and temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality To how big we really are. To how little control we really have. To what really matters. To Love.

So we pray and we remember that Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing, Spring is coming, And we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul And though you may not be able
A senior Amazon.com Inc. executive called a fired Staten Island warehouse worker not smart or articulate in internal discussions about how the company should respond to employee criticism of its handling of the pandemic, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Amazon General Counsel David Zapolsky said fired worker Christian Smalls should be the focus of Amazons public-relations campaign countering activist workers, said the person who saw an internal memo. Employees around the country have been walking off the job or holding demonstrations to highlight what they describe as inadequate safety precautions.

The company has emerged as a go-to provider of essentials for customers looking to avoid stores during the outbreak. But it has also been criticized for not doing enough to protect workers in its warehouses and those making deliveries.

My comments were personal and emotional, Zapolsky said in an emailed statement. I was frustrated and upset that an Amazon employee would endanger the health and safety of other Amazonians by repeatedly returning to the premises after having been warned to quarantine himself after exposure to virus Covid-19. I let my emotions draft my words and get the better of me.

Vice reported Zapolskys comments earlier.

Smalls participated in a worker demonstration at Amazons Staten Island facility and was fired afterward, prompting complaints from the New York attorney general and other officials, including presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. Amazon said Smalls was fired for violating safety guidelines, including social distancing. He declined to comment on Zapolskys remarks.

Amazon workers and delivery people are panicking as the illness spreads to warehouses and delivery stations around the country. Theyve complained about a lack of communication from the company about the full scope of coronavirus cases in the ranks. And they cite inadequate protective measures despite Amazons insistence that its cleaning more and enforcing social distancing guidelines. Some workers said theyre being asked to come in for nonessential work, such as processing returns and packing toys, clothes and cosmetics.

Their concerns are getting the attention of lawmakers and regulators even as Amazon executives downplay them on social media. The Zapolsky remarks could hurt Amazons reputation in the long term, said Christopher Borick, director of Muhlenberg Colleges Institute of Public Opinion.

In the short term, as Americans turn to Amazon for many of their needs this incident may not catch the publics attention or be of limited concern, he said. But as we emerge from the height of the pandemic, and the performance and roles of companies and institutions are evaluated, I think this type of incident can add to the publics existing uneasiness with Amazons workplace practices.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) rapid response team on Covid-19 has urged government to embark on a mass nationwide testing to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in Ghana.



In a proposal presented to the Information Minister, the team said the partial lockdown being implemented by government may not be effective because many of the economic migrants in the lockdown cities moved back to their hometowns before the action took effect.



"The present approach  in particular the lead time built into its enforcement  is likely to prove counterproductive to the key technical objectives of reducing per capita average daily contacts over the lockdown period by two-thirds. The instances of public congestion at fuel stations, markets, malls and other key retail locations resulting from the 48-hour lead time may represent a sharp increase in per capita daily contacts concurrent with a sharp decrease in the average interval between those contacts. Both dynamics present optimal transmission conditions."



"We propose a repurposing of part of the USD 3 billion proceeds from the most recent Eurobond sale to immediately finance the urgent actions that must be taken in the coming days to protect Ghanaian citizens, our households and our economy. The prior intention to utilize the same for restructuring energy sector debt is not a priority at this time, and must be shelved under the circumstances to allow for a rapid deployment of resources to fight the COVID-19 menace. The Minority in Parliament is prepared to engage in this respect, and can provide an expenditure proposal upon request," a portion of the proposal read.



Read proposal below



1. Public Health Management Ghanas current strategy appears to rely heavily on the efficiency of our testing and the effectiveness of our contact tracing protocols. It is clear that our efforts in both respects are limited. Given the porosity of our land borders, the risks posed by asymptomatic carriers in a low testing context, the basic reproduction number of the pandemic, and its low serial interval  we agree that the targeted lockdown of national hotspots is the best practice. However, there are several complementary imperatives that must accompany the lockdown, and we must be reflective of the implications of its modalities for the national effort:



1.1. The present approach  in particular the lead time built into its enforcement  is likely to prove counterproductive to the key technical objectives of reducing per capita average daily contacts over the lockdown period by two-thirds. The instances of public congestion at fuel stations, markets, malls and other key retail locations resulting from the 48-hour lead time may represent a sharp increase in per capita daily contacts concurrent with a sharp decrease in the average interval between those contacts. Both dynamics present optimal transmission conditions.



1.2. The lead time for the enforcement of the lockdown appears to have allowed for mass evacuation of economic migrants from the hotspots, among who may be infected persons including asymptomatic carriers. The risk of spread outside the lockdown perimeters, therefore, is concerning. We recommend, as a matter of urgency, the review of the testing strategy under consideration from one focused on contact tracing within the lockdown perimeters to a nationwide mass testing approach. The risk of outward spread has been exacerbated by the unintended consequences of the lead time, and it is essential to curtail that threat in its infancy. This recommendation of a nationwide mass testing program must be paired with enforced quarantine of recent arrivals in the hinterland under the supervision of REGSEC or DISEC, and progressive health education of returnees, their families and their communities.



1.3. The limited success of the containment strategy employed prior to the announced lockdown portends difficult days ahead for the healthcare system. It is our considered opinion that a wave of incubating infections is likely to break within the next week, with serious consequences for the capacity and effectiveness of our healthcare system. This concern extends to the safety and sustainability of our healthcare workforce as well.



1.4. A catastrophic failure of the healthcare system  especially with regards to acute care  is imminent without the immediate deployment of logistical support and immediate financial aid to healthcare facilities. Our public providers, in their entirety, must be placed on a disaster preparedness footing, and private facilities must be given immediate support to adopt that posture as well. One key aspect of this is the immediate settlement of NHIA debt to providers, the suspension of capitated outpatient payments, and the inclusion of COVID-19 testing and treatment to the NHIS list of essential health benefits. These will provide demand-side incentives for proactive care-seeking behavior, and eliminate the risk of perverse incentives created by supply-side cost-sharing.



2. Information Management This is a crucial part of heightening awareness of the threat, enhancing public understanding of preventive measures, and improving preparedness for the weeks ahead. This will require the mobilization of the entire communication and information infrastructure of the state, and a collective focus on a single purpose. Critical stakeholders in the private sector will also need to be engaged so as to ensure that a consistent and contextually appropriate message reaches every corner of this country in a timely manner.



2.1. At present, messaging on COVID-19 appears to be targeted at a literacy level that precludes many millions of Ghanaians from the critical health information about the virus and its disease. That has manifested in a proliferation of false information and fake cures that are themselves a great risk to health. Of greater concern, the low permeability of the messaging into marginalized communities is occasioning a skewed risk perception that, ultimately, is limiting the degree of appropriate behavioral changes necessary to prevent infection.



2.2. The reach of the message appears to be limited by the inadequacy of state infrastructure around information dissemination. While there are purely logistical components to this obstacle, there also appear to be issues of contextual suitability of the messaging. Clear, concise translation of the key messages into every local language must be an immediate priority of the Ministry of Information.



2.3. With respect to the logistics of information dissemination, we believe that the mobilization of existing structures used by civil society organizations, political parties and religious groups for their own information dissemination purposes offers some immediate recourse. Many political parties, for example, already have vehicles mounted with loudspeakers in areas where state infrastructure is absent or lacking. These may be sourced through active engagement with the stakeholders for the purpose of ensuring deep penetration of the message into the hinterland areas.



2.4. To ensure consistency of outside efforts aimed at improving the reach of the key messages, the Ministry of Information must make available to any of the interested groups above clear messaging points developed in conjunction with community leaders in the respective target communities. These groups should have some flexibility in approach to allow them to leverage local trust in their brands and familiarity of their approach even as they deliver core messages about COVID-19. Religious organizations, especially denominational churches with national presences, have germane competencies that can also be leveraged to this cause.



2.5. It is crucial for the Ministry of Information and the Ghana Health Service to develop a proactive strategy for monitoring and refuting the false information on COVID-19 circulating on social and digital media. The rapid spread of fake remedies and hoaxes about susceptibility, among others, may themselves create a false sense of security that reduces vigilance in personal preventive measures. It is important to identify these messages and to be proactive in debunking and disproving them to ensure that the signal does not get drowned out by the noise.



2.6. The management of information related to the size of the outbreak itself, the details of the testing program, and the outcomes for patients must be consistent. This information is vital to reinforcing messages about the reality and risks of COVID-19 and to fill the information vacuum that supports the spread of inaccurate information. It is also important as a source of data for the academic and research communities, whose evaluation and analysis of the state of affairs and progress in this fight are crucial in aiding our collective preparedness for any germane crisis we might face in the future. That data should be structured in a user-friendly format and made available in a template common to researchers such as a downloadable online table.



3. Community Impact Mitigation The announced lockdown  and the broader economic impacts of COVID-19  will have serious consequences for economically and socially vulnerable citizens. The financial and social limitations they face may limit their ability to adequately prepare for and survive a prolonged halt to our national life. This is in acknowledgement of the situation in our country with regards to housing, sanitation, food security and healthcare access, all of which follow the inequality gradient in our society. At this time, government has yet to table a comprehensive proposal to address the grave consequences that an economic slowdown or standstill would have for daily wage earners and other categories of vulnerable persons in Ghana. Anecdotal evidence from the first few days of the partial lockdown of hotspots suggests that there is great anxiety among these groups on the question of their sustenance and survival, which have the potential to evolve into serious social unrest if ignored.



3.1. It is essential, in our view, that a meaningful safety net be put in place to mitigate these risks as these Ghanaians should not be doubly punished by the ill and the cure. All proposals should aim to tap into strategic national reserves of manpower and resources, and they should seek to harness the core competencies of local government, social welfare agencies, and community based organizations in their execution.



3.2. Strategies for community impact mitigation are recommended as the topmost priority in the face of the public response to the lead time of the partial lockdown of hotspots. The aforementioned risk of outward spread may occasion the phasing out of exemptions within the respective perimeters if the technical objectives of the lockdown are to be achieved. At the extreme, adverse implications of the present strategy may occasion the imposition of a nationwide lockdown. The poorest communities and most vulnerable households must be provided with a practical means of sustenance in such an eventuality lest a declaration of an enhanced lockdown materialize itself as a starvation order.



3.3. The reports of dramatic price hikes must be addressed as an immediate step to protecting the poor from an extremely regressive public policy outcome, which may be accomplished by standardizing prices of essential goods. Alternatively, a supply-side solution may be found in the strategic deployment of reserves maintained by the National Buffer Stocks Corporation (NBSC) to induce lower costs through price competition. The maintenance of such retail outlets may be delegated to local government under the supervision of DISEC and REGSEC. The NBSCs reserves may also be employed for a direct nutrition assistance program to the most vulnerable communities and households nationwide to guarantee their food security. IV. Safeguarding the Economy The outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana presents the greatest risk to our economic stability that we have faced to date. The impact of the pandemic on the global economy was already wreaking havoc on our economic outlook well before the first cases were confirmed. Government must now formulate a plan to address the unprecedented risk our economy faces and to support the fight against the virus, to mitigate its impacts on trade and enterprise, and to preserve human health and dignity at this difficult time. A reasonable, sustainable funding plan is essential to accomplish these goals.



4.1. The governments current proposal to appropriate $590 million from the Heritage Fund as part of this funding plan is a non-starter. That money is an investment in the future of this country, and it cannot be touched at any cost.



4.2. This is especially true when government has not fully explored other sources of funding and alternate proposals for resourcing the fight against COVID-19. The deprioritization of nonessential spending is a first step in this respect, and that remains to be seen in the proposals presented to Parliament by the Honorable Minister of Finance.



4.3. We propose a repurposing of part of the USD 3 billion proceeds from the most recent Eurobond sale to immediately finance the urgent actions that must be taken in the coming days to protect Ghanaian citizens, our households and our economy. The prior intention to utilize the same for restructuring energy sector debt is not a priority at this time, and must be shelved under the circumstances to allow for a rapid deployment of resources to fight the COVID-19 menace. The Minority in Parliament is prepared to engage in this respect, and can provide an expenditure proposal upon request.



4.4. The spending plan laid out by the Honorable Minister of Finance has an overt focus on mitigating the economic impacts on enterprises in the travel and tourism sector. It is silent on any potential contingencies for the broader economy, especially for the small- and medium-scale enterprises that form the bulwark of economic activity in Ghana. The income loss faced by such enterprises has considerable consequences on overall economic activity, and the risk of their large scale collapse in the event of an extended lockdown is not adequately addressed.



4.5. The specific strategy employed in this partial lockdown may occasion certain unintended consequences both within the designated areas and without. These externalities are likely to compel a more intensive lockdown protocol, including the phasing out of exemptions targeted at food access. The logistical operation necessary to execute a large scale nutrition assistance program, for example, does not appear to be articulated in governments proposals. This and other such progressive social interventions will be necessary contingencies as the situation unfolds, and government must have the foresight and flexibility to respond rapidly with financial support

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
I just really want people to understand that its hard right now to go to work and live for other people, said Adarra Benjamin, a health worker in Chicago who is proud to be essential but worried about getting ill from the virus. Joshua Lott for The New York Times

It has been about two weeks since the Illinois governor ordered residents to stay at home, but nothing has changed about Adarra Benjamins responsibilities. She gets on a bus nearly every morning in Chicago, traveling 20 miles round trip some days to cook, clean and shop for her clients, who are older or have health problems that make such tasks difficult.

Ms. Benjamin knows the dangers, but she needs her job, which pays about $13 an hour. She also cannot imagine leaving her clients to fend for themselves. Theyve become my family, she said.

In cities across America, many lower-income workers continue to move around, while those who make more money are staying home and limiting their exposure to the coronavirus, according to smartphone location data analyzed by The New York Times.

Although people in all income groups are moving less than they did before the crisis, wealthier people are staying home the most, especially during the workweek. Not only that, but in nearly every state, they began doing so days before the poor, giving them a head start on social distancing as the virus spread, according to aggregated data from the location analysis company Cuebiq, which tracks about 15 million cellphone users nationwide daily.









Beginning in early March, people across the country started limiting their movements as the coronavirus spread. Similar trends can be seen from coast to coast, including in the 25 most populous metropolitan areas. The wealthiest people, those in the top 10 percent of income, however, have limited their movement more than those in the bottom 10 percent of the same metro areas, according to a Times analysis of cellphone location data. By March 16, when President Trump asked people to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus, those in the wealthiest and poorest areas were both moving less than usual. But by that date, those in the highest-income locations had already cut their movement by nearly half. Poorer areas did not see a similar drop until three days later.

The data offers real-time evidence of a divide laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic  one in which wealthier people not only have more job security and benefits but also may be better able to avoid becoming sick. The outbreak is so new that the relationship between socioeconomic status and infection rates cannot be determined, but other data, including recent statistics released by public health officials in New York City, suggests that the coronavirus is hitting low-income neighborhoods the hardest.

Concerns about getting infected have incited protests and strikes by workers in grocery stores, delivery services and other industries who say their employers are not providing them with enough protection or compensation to counter the increased health risks, even as their jobs have been deemed essential.

Rules vary among states, but essential workers generally include those in health care and public safety roles, as well as caregivers, delivery drivers, grocery clerks and plumbers. Hardware stores, pharmacies and takeout restaurants also remain open and staffed. All of these workers are able to stay on the job  a boon in an economy seized by shutdowns  but in most cases they cannot claim unemployment benefits if they quit.

People want to talk about this virus as an equal opportunity pathogen, but its really not, said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, a doctor and public health professor at Columbia University. Its going right to the fissures in our society.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois announced a stay-at-home order in his state on March 20 to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The mobility data provides a snapshot in time, and the behaviors it captures could change amid a fast-moving crisis. Although several public policy experts who reviewed the data said it strongly indicated that wealthier people are better able to stay home, they added that there could be other reasons for the differences  perhaps higher awareness of the risks or better access to information, for example  and others that are not yet obvious.

Economists and public health researchers said the data pointed to holes in the governments response to the pandemics fallout for low-income workers, which has focused on those who have lost their jobs because of shutdowns and not on those with essential duties.

Covid-19 is exposing a lot of the structural disadvantages that low-income people face, including a lack of job security and uneven access to health care, said Adie Tomer, a fellow at the Brookings Institution who has studied the essential work force. The well-off are employed in industries where they are at a desk, and so there are some advantages built into these high-income neighborhoods during this pandemic, he added.

In metro areas with the greatest disparity between the richest and the poorest residents  and where there are orders to stay home  people in higher-income neighborhoods have essentially halted movement. People in lower-income neighborhoods have also drastically reduced their movement, but the data shows an uptick in their movements after the third weekend of March, coinciding with the start of another workweek.

Change in movement in metro areas with high income disparity

In other areas where income disparity was not as high, it was much more likely that both the richest and poorest continued to move. These cities were also in places that were less likely to have mandated that residents stay home.

Change in movement in metro areas with low income disparity

Many essential workers are in lower-income jobs and have positions that require them to leave home and work face-to-face with others, economists said. The people at this income, theyre either furloughed and not coming in to work, or they are essential construction, grocery cashiers, workers in long-term care institutions, said Matthew Rae, who directs a program on health care markets at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

And hundreds of thousands of them dont have health insurance.

Ms. Benjamin, the health worker in Chicagos Woodlawn neighborhood, is 26 and among those without health insurance. She carries bottled soap and hand sanitizer with her and is vigilant about not touching her face. But she is worried.

I do have gloves, but I just ran out of masks, she said, and I have no idea where Im going to get any from.

Just 15 miles north of Ms. Benjamin, in the Uptown neighborhood, John Williams has been working at home since March 16, five days before the governors order went into effect. A communications worker for nonprofits, Mr. Williams said people on his team were already used to telecommuting but that his husband, a high school music teacher, had faced more challenges.Honestly, we are grateful for the privilege and security we have at the moment, knock on wood, he said. Its uncomfortable, but its not life-threateningly scary.

Ms. Benjamin waiting for a transit bus to get to work. She is an essential worker but does not have health insurance. Joshua Lott for The New York Times

As federal lawmakers contend with shuttered businesses and millions of people suddenly out of work, little of their legislation has been tailored to help essential workers affected by the pandemic. These workers will get the same stimulus checks that other people get from the $2 trillion economic stabilization package, and the second phase of the coronavirus legislation expanded the mandate for paid sick leave related to Covid-19. But while Democrats have renewed their push to include expanded occupational safety requirements for workers, which failed to gain traction in the most recent legislation, and are also calling for additional hazard pay for workers on the front lines, it is unclear if either of those will prevail in future negotiations.

Mr. Tomer, of Brookings, said life insurance and targeted coronavirus-related health insurance for essential workers could help. Its about peace of mind for them and their families, and a form of compensation, he said.

In reports from many cities, workers have alternated between fear at being exposed to the virus and relief at having a job while so many others are unemployed. Ridership on New Yorks subway system has plummeted, but stations in poorer areas remain crowded.

In Seattle, one of the earliest coronavirus hotspots in the country, Cassandra Fejarang, a Teamsters union member, was laid off from her restaurant supply position in March but was able to find work in a Safeway grocery distribution center. She travels a few miles by car to the warehouse in Auburn, Wash.

Im blessed to still be able to work, said Ms. Fejarang, 34. She said she has been pulling 10- and 16-hour shifts, loading packs of frozen food, toilet paper, bleach and other goods onto pallets to be taken to stores. Grocery warehouse workers in her union make a good wage  $20 to $29 an hour  and have negotiated extra benefits during the coronavirus crisis.

I definitely wear gloves and try to keep my mask on because were surrounded by people all day, she said. We are all washing our hands, trying to keep our distance. Its hard, but I feel safe when Im there.

Washington State, which had the earliest known major outbreak of coronavirus in the United States, stands out from the rest of the country because the wealthiest people there had nearly a weeks head start over the poorest when it came to staying home.

With this highly transmissible virus, even days can make a difference in limiting or igniting an outbreak, said Dr. Vasan, the Columbia professor.

Its just moving like wildfire through communities, Dr. Vasan said. We talk about flattening the curve, and every day people are not staying home just makes that harder.

When groups started to decrease their movement by half

Dr. Vasan and other public health experts cautioned that the nature of this virus means that inequality in health outcomes puts the entire population at greater risk. Pockets of people who are untested or who dont get the appropriate medical treatment can quickly become new clusters.

Ms. Benjamin, the home care worker, said she was proud to be essential but would feel better with assurances that she could be taken care of if she fell ill.

I just really want people to understand that its hard right now to go to work and live for other people, she said. I want to make sure that they know were all in this together. Everyone is scared, but the world is in this together.
(GETTY)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that Canada has been in communication with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) about cooperation to address the dire state of global oil markets.

The historic downturn in oil prices has hit Canadas energy sector hard. The dual impacts of the Saudi-Russian price war and anemic demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic have seen billions in planned spending cut this year.

We are continuing our conversations with the international community, including with OPEC. There have been communications between OPEC and Canada, we will continue to stress that we need to work together as a world to get through this economic crisis as well as a health crisis, Trudeau said at his daily press briefing on Friday.

At one point last week, Western Canadian Select heavy crude tumbled as low as $3.82 a barrel.

OPEC and its allies will hold an emergency meeting via video conference on Monday. The hope is to find a resolution to the spat between Saudi Arabia and Russia that erupted earlier this month over a proposal to limit supply in response to COVID-19.

Trudeau did not respond to a question about whether Canada will be granted a seat at the table.

Rory Johnston, managing director and market economist at Price Street, said this type of back-and-forth between Canada and OPEC is another surprising development in what has been a historic few weeks for commodities.

Im not aware of a moment where this has happened in this way, he said. Because things are so unprecedented. We're seeing a whole lot of creativity around what policy solutions to that could look like.

Rachel Ziemba, founder of Ziemba Insights, agrees.

Coordination between Canada and OPEC, let alone the U.S. and OPEC is unprecedented, she said. Whats clear is that Canadian producers are losing a lot of money, making both current production as well as future production unprofitable.

Trudeau said Canada has also reached out to the United States about how to address the current oil rout.

Story continues

Conversations are ongoing with the United States on how we can work together to ensure that we are countering some of the measures being brought in by OPEC, Trudeau added.

A number of energy observers have framed the ongoing price war as an attack on the market share of U.S. shale oil companies. U.S. President Donald Trump is attempting to broker a truce between Moscow and Riyadh.

Oil (CL=F) rallied on Friday in a sign investors see an end to the price war. Ziemba has her doubts.

I fear that market expectations may be a little too optimistic on the volume of a cut, she said. This might mean some price reversals.

However, Ziemba notes Albertas 2019 supply curtailments set a president if Ottawas plan is to push producers to cut their output in line with coming supply restriction from OPEC. The situation is different in the U.S. White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said on Friday that the Trump administration cannot dictate decisions on oil production.

Johnston predicts energy infrastructure will start to buckle under the weight of excess crude. He estimates the current supply overhang is as much as 30 million barrels per day.

What were probably going to need to see is an agreement between national governments, governments of OPEC producers, he said.

We're in a world right now of so many potential tail risk eventualities that we're just kind of inundated with a bunch of what would otherwise be very, very low probability events, like a trans-global producer production agreement. Which, in any normal time would be completely outside the realm of the possible.

Ottawa has yet to spell out its promised support measures for Canadas energy sector in response to COVID-19. On Monday, Trudeau named the energy sector as one of the significant areas where we are going to have to do more, referencing the impact of Saudi Arabia and Russia driving down oil prices.

Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Police in San Francisco arrested a man suspected of setting several fires in the city, after an officer spotted him starting one in Alamo Square Park on Wednesday.

Just after midnight, officers followed the suspect into the park, near Pierce and Hayes streets, and witnessed him start a fire against a restroom building and flee.

Police and firefighters put out the fire.

Officers then saw the suspect try to start a second fire, and after a brief struggle, officers were able to take him into custody.

Police identified the suspect as Mark Major, 54, of San Francisco, and booked him on suspicion of several arson-related offenses.

Police said Major has been linked to other arson fires, including a Feb. 15 vehicle fire in the 400 block of Hickory Street and a Feb. 21 vehicle fire near Linden and Laguna streets.

Since November, officers with the department's Special Investigations Division Arson Task Force began looking into a series of intentional fires in the city's northeast. Police credit the investigation with Major's arrest.

Major remains in custody and is being held without bail, according to jail records.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Chicago-based United Airlines on Friday said it will operate special flights from Delhi to San Francisco beginning April 5 to repatriate American citizens stranded in India due to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

The repatriation flights are for San Francisco only, the US Embassy in India said.

"The U S Embassy is unable to assist in arranging onward travel from that city to any other destination in the U S. You will be responsible for arranging and paying for travel to your finaldestination, including domestic flights, lodging and local transport costs," the embassy said.

India has imposed a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Consequently, all domestic and international commercial passenger flights have been suspended for this time period.

However, cargo flights, offshore helicopter operations, medical evacuation flights and special flights permitted by Indian aviation regulator DGCA are permitted to operate during the lockdown.

Till now, around 2,500 people have been infected and more than 60 people have died due to the novel coronavirus in India, according to the Union health ministry.

United Airlines in a statement said, "We are working closely with government officials here in the US as well as in other countries where flying has been restricted to gain the necessary approvals to operate service."



"We will continue working with government officials in the near-term to play our part in bringing Americans home. Beginning April 5, United will begin operating repatriation flights from Delhi to San Francisco," the airline added.

United has operated 56 repatriation flights till April 2 bringing nearly 8,000 Americans home from places like Guatemala City, Lima, Quito, Roatan, San Salvador, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 12:50:25|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a 20 million U.S. dollars credit for the Cambodia COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, the World Bank-Cambodia said in a press statement on Friday.

"This fast-tracked financing will help Cambodia confront this unprecedented global health emergency by sourcing much-needed medical supplies and facilities to diagnose and treat COVID-19, reduce the spread of infection, strengthen pandemic response capabilities, and shorten the time to recovery for both people and the economy," Inguna Dobraja, World Bank country manager for Cambodia, said in the statement.

She said this project will help Cambodia meet the targets set out in its COVID-19 Master Plan, which includes strengthening disease prevention activities, rapid detection, and preparedness and response.

The project will finance the construction of isolation and treatment centers and increase the diagnostic capacity of laboratories at all 25 of the country's provincial and municipal referral hospitals, and will finance the purchase of medical supplies needed to treat patients and prevent the spread of infection, the statement said.

The project will also support the deployment of the Ministry of Health's Rapid Response Teams across the country through the hiring and training of additional staff, strengthening the National Public Health Emergency Operation Center which coordinates the country's COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts, and establishing provincial-level emergency operations centers, it added.

The Southeast Asian country has recorded a total of 114 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 to date, with 35 patients cured, according to a Ministry of Health's statement on Friday.
03 Apr 2020, 11:53 AM

PM Modi plans for staggered exit from lockdown; asks state govts for help

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, asked chief ministers to send suggestions on a joint strategy for a "staggered" exit from the lockdown. He also urged the CMs to focus on COVID-19 containment measures - testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine- in a coordinated manner to ensure minimum loss of life.

PM Modi asks people to switch off lights for 9 minutes on April 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Friday asked people to spare nine minutes on April 5 (Sunday) and switch off their home lights. He urged people to come to their balconies, doors and switch on their mobile phone flashlights and light diyas also to strengthen their fight against novel coronavirus pandemic. PM Modi asked the people not to assemble on roads during the said nine minutes on April 5, as this will break the chain of social distancing.

World Bank grants $1 billion to help India fight coronavirus

The World Bank has granted $1 billion emergency funding to India for strengthening infrastructure to contain coronavirus. These funds are meant to develop the machinery required for fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Efforts are being made to redeploy resources in existing World Bank financed projects worth $1.7 billion.

Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Country's active COVID-19 cases rise to 2,088 ; death tally at 56

Coronavirus lockdown: Delhi govt to give Rs 5,000 to auto, cab drivers

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has promised to help auto and cab drivers in the city, as their livelihood has been severely hit due to the 21-day lockdown. Talking about the special plan the government has for them, Kejriwal said, "Rs 5,000 will be put in your accounts. But the problem is that we don't have all your bank details. So it will take seven to 10 days. Please be patient."

Volunteer disinfectant sprayers help Wuhan prepare for a return to work

Volunteers in hazmat suits have been spraying Wuhan with disinfectant to help the Chinese city where the coronavirus first took hold get back to work as the number of new cases in China drops. Wuhan, where 11 million people live, had been paralysed by containment efforts imposed by authorities, who shut down public transport as well as taxi services as part of a lockdown, leaving it mostly to ordinary citizens to keep the city running.

Coronavirus effect: India's property prices likely to face steep decline

India's real estate market is likely to see a significant price correction for the first time in a decade as the coronavirus pandemic stalls businesses across the country, according to a half-dozen industry insiders. Experts say property prices may come down by 10-20% across geographies, while land prices could see an even higher reduction of 30%. In the last year, things had taken a turn for worse because of a liquidity crunch at shadow banks - which are big lenders to both developers and property buyers - forcing companies to offer discounts.

Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: 9-minute Diwali! PM Modi says light candles on April 5
A meeting of Group of Ministers (GoM) on coronavirus is being held at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's residence on Friday.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Textiles and Women & Child Development Smriti Z Irani, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan, MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy, among other Union Ministers, are present in the meeting.

The meeting is being held after 9 days of the completion of the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Earlier today, through a video message the Prime Minister had urged people to gather together for a unique exercise on April 5 at 9 pm to show they were together in the fight against coronavirus.

"On this Sunday, April 5, we will challenge the darkness of coronavirus threat together. On April 5, at 9 pm, I need your 9 minutes. At 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your houses and light a Diya, candle, torch or flashlight for 9 minutes at your doors, or balcony," Modi said.

"I have one more prayer to all of you, nobody has to gather at any place during this event. Everyone will light a Diya only at their doors, windows or balconies. The Laxman Rekha of social distancing must be followed," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kolkata, April 3 : Three villagers in West Bengal's Nadia district spent days in a tent away from the human habitation to quarantine themselves after returning from Odisha in order to prevent the spread of Covid 19.

The three inhabitants of Raghunathpur-Hijli II gram panchayat under Ranaghat block have now been shifted to their homes for quarantine by the local administration.

The troika, who work as carpenters, did not enter their village after returning from Odisha.

"We don't want any people of our village to be infected if at a later stage we are detected positive for the virus. That's the reason we pitched a tent away from the human habitation. However, the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) has told us that we don't have any symptom related to coronavirus," said one of them.
(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. on Thursday told employees that its retail stores in the U.S. will remain closed and work-from-home procedures will stay in place until early May due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a memo to employees, Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and People Deirdre OBrien told staff that the company anticipates that flexible work arrangements will remain in place for all offices, and all retail stores will remain closed, until early May.

She said that Apple is continuing to monitor local conditions for every Apple facility on a daily basis and that the company will make reopening decisions on the basis of thorough, thoughtful reviews and the latest guidance from local governments and public health experts.

Read more: Apple Culture of Secrecy Tested by Employees Working Remotely

The company is working on options to make sure parents have the support and the flexibility to adjust their schedules as needed, according to the note. OBrien also added that Apple is aware many parents are balancing homeschooling with working and is encouraging employees to be open with management about their challenges.

OBrien previously told staff that some stores outside of the U.S. could open as early as the first half of April, Bloomberg News has reported. In Thursdays note, OBrien also said that the companys executive team is meeting daily and closely coordinating with teams across the company.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant has about 270 stores in the U.S., which are part of the 458 stores outside of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong that were shuttered in March to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

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.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: ASHA workers, engaged to spread awareness about the coronavirus and identify suspected cases, were allegedly assaulted in Saadiqnagar, near Saraipalya, on Wednesday. They were conducting a survey in view of the virus spreading through those who had returned to the state after attending a religious congregation in Delhi.

Based on a complaint by a senior health inspector from the health department, the police finally filed a case and detained three persons on Thursday and are questioning them.

Condemning the incident, Sriramulu shared the video in his Twitter handle and said, The doctors, nurses and health workers who toil day and night are like Gods. Respect them. Will not sit idle if they are attacked. Beware!

Krishnaveni, one of the victims, in a video message which went viral, alleged that they were gheraoed by some residents and all of them abused. Hennur police filed a case on Thursday against a group of men who allegedly thrashed and misbehaved with the ASHA workers, only after Health Minister B Sriramulu and Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan tweeted and demanded immediate action against the culprits.

Krishnaveni said she and other co-workers had gone there to collect details of the suspected patients of COVID-19. Then a man went inside a mosque and announced that residents should not share any details with the ASHA workers. A group of men who heard this, gathered and snatched Krishnavenis mobile phone and also tore the papers which had details of the suspects. They did not allow her to call the officials of the health department or the police. Meanwhile, other workers who were in the neighbourhood were also thrashed by the men.

A senior police officer from East Division said, Hoysala police arrived when they received an alert. It was a verbal argument between the ASHA workers and the local residents. They did not give any complaint, so no case was registered.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:48:53|Editor: Yurou

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TOKYO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday agreed to give 300,000 yen (2,800 U.S. dollars) in cash to each household whose income has fallen to a certain level owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I told the prime minister that 300,000 yen should be given to each household whose income has decreased to a certain level," LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida said.

Kishida made the remarks to reporters after the agreement was made in a meeting with the prime minister. He also said that the amount was decided upon based on a number of factors including average household numbers.

The amount initially floated by the government was a cash handout of 200,000 yen to each household, but was increased by 100,000 yen with Abe agreeing that households required more substantial support amid such trying times.

The government will give the cash to households "as soon as possible", Abe said, adding that small and medium-sized businesses have also suffered hardships due to the pandemic.

The financial support for households whose income has dropped to a certain level as a result of the virus will be allocated from a supplementary budget for this fiscal year, with the government seeking its swift passage through parliament.

The cash handouts will be made without setting an income limit and will be tax free, government officials said, although an "unprecedented" method of judging which households are eligible for the payment will be implemented, Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, said.

"If we set an income limit, we would have to check individual incomes, which would take a lot of time. Instead of that, we'll come up with an unprecedented way to judge who should receive cash," Nishimura told a press briefing on the matter.

The handouts would be made to those in need whose lives had become difficult due to income falling as a result of the pandemic. Politicians, corporate executives, among others, whose livelihoods had clearly not been affected by the pandemic, would not qualify for support, he added.
"Patient 231," 57, is an employee of the Truong Sinh Company, the food and logistics provider to Hanois Bach Mai Hospital, now the nations biggest Covid-19 hotspot. She is a native of Bac Kan, living in the northern provinces Kim Ngu Commune, Na Ri District.

On March 31, she joined a team at the Bach Mai Hospital for a business trip to the nearby Ha Nam Province. After learning about the infection cases at Bach Mai, the Ha Nam health sector isolated members of this team. After she tested Covid-19 positive, she was admitted to Ha Nam General Hospital for treatment.

She takes the number of patients linked to the Bach Mai Hospital to 43, 27 of whom are employees of the Truong Sinh Company.

The other five patients are people quarantined on arrival from abroad. Patients 228, 229 and 230 returned to Vietnam on March 20 and were quarantined in the northern province of Ninh Binh. Further details of their flights home have not been revealed.

"Patient 228" is a 29-year-old man from the northern province of Bac Giang now undergoing treatment at a medical center in Ninh Binh Provinces Ninh Thang Commune, Hoa Lu District.

"Patient 229" and "Patient 230," women aged 30 and 28 respectively, are from the central province of Ha Tinh who have been admitted to the Ninh Binh General Hospital for treatment.

Patients "232" and "233" flew back to Vietnam March 27 on Aeroflot flight SU290 from Moscow and were quarantined in the northern province of Vinh Phuc. They are being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanois Dong Anh District. "Patient 232" is a 67-year-old man from the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and "Patient 233" is a 24-year-old woman from Nghe An Province in central Vietnam.

Of the 233 cases of new coronavirus infection confirmed in Vietnam until now, 75 have been discharged from hospitals.

Vietnam declared Covid-19 a national epidemic Wednesday afternoon.

To date, the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed almost 53,000 lives in 204 countries and territories.
Indian information technology (IT) segment is set to take a hit as force majeure clauses due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have either halted or slowed down sectors serviced by these companies, Business Standard reported.

Indian IT companies provide application and maintenance services to firms in the United States, the UK and Europe and while there have been no contract cancellations so far, many clients have asked for reduced support, a mid-tier IT services company official told the paper.

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

These firms usually pay on the basis of service staff strength, so when the numbers reduce the billing is affected too. This may be a precursor to price negotiations over the coming quarters, the source added.

An IT outsourcing advisor backed this saying, contracts signed in January and February are good to go, but ramping up these deals would take time.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

This is a significant development as these services contribute as much as 60 percent of Indian IT firms top line and reduction the supporthence billingwill affect revenue. Travel, hospitality, oil & gas, and manufacturing which are some of the worst-affected sectors, will likely trim IT spend  impacting 10-12 percent of export revenue, a neat $15 billion.

Among airlines, Delta Airlines has already said it will reduce expenditure, while American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue and United Airlines have hinted of the same. Among oil companies, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Corporation, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, and Total SA are also likely to cut expenditure as oil prices plummet.

The IT industry is expected to grow by 4 percent in the current fiscal, but revenues are likely to fall, according to brokerage firm Anand Rathi.
Hi. My name is Eliza Hittman. And I am the writer and director of Never Rarely Sometimes Always. I want to spend a few minutes talking with you about your relationships, O.K.? Because they can affect your health. Did you know that? The scene that youre watching an excerpt from is the pivotal scene of the entire film. The main character her name is Autumn. The actors name is Sidney Flanigan has finally reached Planned Parenthood in Brooklyn. And she is going through her intake questionnaire with a counselor before she has an abortion. The scene is shot actually at Margaret Sanger, which is a Planned Parenthood on Bleecker Street. And that level of authenticity was really important for me in shooting the film. And the actress, Sidney Flanigan, is doing the scene not with another actor, but with an actual counselor named Kelly Chapman who I met doing research for the film. Always. Why are you asking me this? I want to make sure that youre safe. The shooting style of the scene was very simple, intentionally so. I didnt want to do anything stagy to get in the way of the intimacy of the questions that are being asked. Your partner has hit you, slapped you, or physically hurt you. Never, rarely, sometimes, always. So we went for a very stripped down, minimal approach. We used two cameras. One is frontal on Sidney, and one is actually 3/4 profile. And those two cameras were pushed very, very, very close to her. Because we wanted to trap her a little bit to intensify the emotions of the scene. Its just a couple more questions, all right? I spent a lot of time rehearsing the scene, because it was so important. And on the day that we shot, I took Sidney aside. Because, sometimes, when you work on an independent film set, its a little like being on a construction site. And I wanted to quarantine her away from all of the commotion. And I found a private office for her to sit in. And she sat for several hours. And I remember, I came in, and she said, Im ready, lets do it. And the scene that is in the film, its actually the first take. Then after she did it, she said it was cathartic, and she couldnt do it again. - Has anyone forced you into a sexual act ever in your lifetime? Yes or no.
LONDON  Construction has started on a new temporary mortuary for victims of the coronavirus pandemic on parkland usually used by joggers and dog walkers.

With a crematorium and a cemetery situated nearby, the mortuary in the Manor Park area in the east of the city is located 4 miles away from the new, temporary 4,000-bed National Health Service Nightingale Hospital due to open Friday at the nearby ExCeL London convention center.

An aerial picture of the site shows a large fenced-off area with temporary structures partly built.

Image: The site of a temporary mortuary, is pictured during construction in Manor Park, east London on April 2, 2020, as part of Britain's government's plans to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tolga Akmen / AFP - Getty Images)

Local residents were notified of the work by Rokhsana Fiaz, mayor of the London borough of Newham.

The facility will act as a holding point before a respectful and dignified cremation or burial can take place to send a loved one on their final journey, she wrote. Sadly, relatives will not be able to visit the site.

Fiaz said the land  owned by the City of London Corporation, the authority that governs London's financial district and historic center  was sequestered for the purpose by the government under recently passed emergency legislation.

Similar projects have been reported at two other locations across the British capital including in the borough of Hillingdon and in the borough of Waltham Forest. Residents there received notification that the council was building a temporary facility in their neighborhood.

Image: The site of a temporary mortuary during construction in Manor Park, east London on April 2, 2020, as part of Britain's government's plans to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tolga Akmen / AFP - Getty Images)

I would like to reassure all residents that there is no risk to the health of people in the area, the deputy leader of the Waltham Forest Council, Clyde Loakes, wrote.

We expect that many families will sadly experience the loss of a loved relative, he added, our role is to ensure each person placed in our care experiences a respectful and dignified final journey.

Currently in its second week of a complete national lockdown, the United Kingdom has recorded approximately 3,600 deaths from the coronavirus to date.

Officials at the the Cabinet Office, which is helping coordinate the government's coronavirus response, did not answer when asked where and how many temporary mortuaries were being being erected around the country, and how many bodies the facilities were expected to hold.

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"The Government is pursuing local and regional solutions to provide additional storage which meets the standards necessary to protect the dignity of the deceased as well as the safety of those handling them," a spokesperson said in an email.

The London borough's of Hillingdon and Waltham Forest did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An FIR has been registered against six persons from Tablighi Jamaat who were in quarantine at MMG District Hospital for misbehaving with the hospital staff.

"The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the MMG Hospital in Ghaziabad had complained that six of the admitted patients in the isolation ward were misbehaving with the nurses and not cooperating with the hospital staff," Manish Mishra, SP City, Ghaziabad told ANI.

FIR has been registered against persons from Tablighi Jamat who are in quarantine at MMG District Hospital for 'walking around the ward without their trousers on and making lewd gestures towards the nurses'.

The patients have been shifted to Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology & kept under quarantine.

"The accusations have been found relevant and a case has been registered under IPC Section 294, 354, 269 and 270 against the six accused persons," he added.

"It has been directed to ensure fair investigation in the matter," SSP added.

Further investigation is underway in the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Krystal Hu and Jeffrey Dastin

(Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O> is postponing its major summer shopping event, Prime Day, until at least August and expects a potential $100 million hit from excess devices it might now sell at a discount, according to internal meeting notes seen by Reuters.

The company also sees a risk to cloud computing sales in France, while another business - video on demand - is shaping up to post $100 million more in revenue than Amazon had planned for the first quarter, the document said.

Amazon declined to comment.

The notes, in which Amazon's general counsel wrote critical comments reported by Vice News about an employee it fired on Monday, offer a rare insight into planning inside the world's largest online retailer.

They reflect how the company is rapidly responding to business risks from the novel coronavirus, which has caused a surge in demand for household staples and led to several demonstrations by some Amazon warehouse workers fearful of contagion.

Prime Day, a marketing event Amazon started in 2015 to drum up sales during the summer shopping lull, has previously occurred in July, though the company never publishes the date far in advance.

The decision to delay it means Amazon will have 5 million extra devices it would have expected to sell sooner, items like its suite of voice-controlled Echo speakers that have been popular orders during the event. It also affects third-party merchants who have come to depend on Amazon's platform for revenue.

"We probably have to promote sooner, which will be difficult if were capacity constrained," General Counsel David Zapolsky wrote in notes from a daily meeting of Amazon executives. The notes said this would result in a $300 million impact "worst case," with a $100 million hit being more likely.

It was unclear how solid the estimates were or what the impact to Amazon ultimately would be.

The company does not disclose revenue from the event but has said merchants contributed to $2 billion in sales during Prime Day in 2019, which spanned 48 hours and 18 countries. Promotions for members of Amazon's loyalty club, Prime, have also proven an effective way for the company to draw more people during the event to subscribe, at $119 per year in the United States.

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RISKS TO CLOUD

Amazon and its workers have been at the front line of supplying essential goods to consumers during the coronavirus outbreak, a pandemic that has infected more than a million people globally and led to more than 54,000 deaths.

Unions and some elected officials have said Amazon has not done enough to protect workers; some are risking infection by staffing warehouses where colleagues have fallen ill, while others could be exposed from handling deliveries. A walkout was planned for Friday at a delivery station in Chicago, according to a labor and activist coalition, the latest in several protests by employees in small numbers.

Amazon has largely resisted calls to shut down worksites and on Thursday announced it would make millions of masks available and check temperatures at all its U.S. and European warehouses.

The meeting notes viewed by Reuters show the company plans to enforce guidelines that workers must stay at safe distances to minimize any risk of infection.

"Were looking at lower performing sites for social distancing and taking action to hold them accountable," the notes said. "Two strikes and youre out."

It was unclear if the comment reflected brainstorming or potential policy. The company said earlier this week it will audit whether workers are keeping apart by using machine learning software that analyzes building camera feeds.

The notes illustrate that Amazon is concerned about data centers as well as warehouses.

The company has been working to open additional data centers in Ireland for its cloud unit Amazon Web Services (AWS). That plan is now at risk, the notes said, and Amazon has floated the idea of offering preventive health measures to those handling construction.

"AWS has certain clusters where were worried about government shutting down or employees not being willing to work on scaling efforts," the document said. "Ireland is an issue. Some construction companies are showing reluctance to go forward."

Cloud sales, which for years have grown at a fast pace, could also take a hit in places hurt by the virus. The notes specified AWS revenue in France as a risk.

(Reporting by Krystal Hu in New York and Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Matthew Lewis)
China Cracking Down on Those Critical of COVID-19 Response

By Xiao Yu, Si Yang April 02, 2020

It was a familiar phone number, from secret police officer Sun.

"Where are you? Send me a GPS location," said Sun, a member of the guobao, an arm of China's domestic security force tasked with monitoring dissidents and keeping them in line, said.

Gao Fei, 32, a native of Huanggang, Hubei province, was a welder in Guangdong province. He got in trouble and met Sun in 2014 for participating in human rights activities.

Gao has returned from Zhongshan, Guangzhou province to his hometown at the end of last year, just as the first cases of a mysterious, pneumonia-like virus were showing up at local hospitals. Like other small cities near Wuhan where COVID-19 originated, Huanggang quickly became one of the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus.

Gao knew the police would come to him sooner or later. On Jan. 28, the day before Sun called, Gao had "climbed the wall"  used a virtual private network (VPN) - to circumvent the Great Firewall that China uses to control its citizens' access to online content.

Beyond the reach of Beijing's censoring technologies, Gao tweeted that Huanggang hospitals were facing serious supply shortages, and this proved President Xi Jinping did not take ordinary people's lives seriously. Xi was "anti-human," as Gao put it.

"This tweet was said to have alarmed high-level officials," he told VOA Mandarin last month. "County police told me that the Ministry of Public Security had issued instructions to arrest me."

For seven days after Sun called, Gao was detained, a step that often begins the formal process that ends with an official arrest, once approved by an administrative official.

"It's completely the rule of man now, there's no rule of law," he told VOA. "No one's personal safety is guaranteed."

Clamping down

The COVID-19 pandemic emerged late last year in Wuhan. As of March 31, Chinese authorities have reported roughly 81,000 cases and 3,300 deaths. Globally, the coronavirus raged through more than 200 countries and territories, sickened 809,608 and killed 39,544 as of the end of March.

It is the second pandemic of the 21st century to originate in China. Between November 2002 and July 2003, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which originated in Guangdong province, killed 774 people, and sickened 8,098.

Once Chinese officials grasped the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak, they further censored the internet. People who mentioned almost anything about the disease found themselves in trouble.

Passing along information that a neighbor had just returned from Wuhan? Repeating something about the virus overheard at the grocery store? Discussing the origin of the coronavirus? Expressing anger at the government's response? Worrying about the difficulty of arranging a proper funeral?

The chatter of everyday life became offensive to the guobao.

"I think it takes people more by surprise because they don't think of (what they've done) as being something political, or something dangerous," said Sarah Cook, senior research analyst for East Asia at Freedom House. "So, they don't even realize that they might get in trouble. Then they get a knock at the door."

As one netizen put it, "Every day, I have friends being taken away, losing contact, being detained, and 'drinking tea.'"

Drinking tea, or he cha, means being "summoned and interrogated by the state security police."

Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), a coalition of Chinese and international human rights nongovernmental organizations, said as of March 12, there were 5,511 cases related to people being punished for allegedly spreading information about the epidemic. That is also the number used in official Chinese media.

Most of the people detained for COVID-19 remarks have been held for three to 15 days and forced to plead guilty. Some were subjected to fines, verbal warnings, education and criminal detention. Of the cases collected by CHRD, the youngest person detained for allegedly "spreading rumors" was 15 years old.

VOA contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment but was disconnected after being directed to an extension that played music.

Even during the coronavirus pandemic, Cook said suppression of dissent remains a top priority of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) because Beijing is treating the current public health crisis as a political threat.

The magnitude of that threat is reflected by the recent disappearance of real estate tycoon and CCP member Ren Zhiqiang, 69.

Well-connected  China's Vice President Wang Qishan was Ren's counselor when he was in middle school  and nicknamed "The Cannon," Ren has criticized China's ruling Communist Party on many occasions. In early March, he condemned Beijing authorities for covering up the magnitude of the epidemic.

In a sharply worded essay, he called China's top leader Xi Jinping "a clown who stripped naked and insists he is an emperor." Several of Ren's friends told the Reuters news agency that authorities spirited him away on March 12.

A source who requested anonymity told VOA that Ren initially shared his scathing essay among a small circle of friends  private entrepreneurs who also belong to a foundation dedicated to protecting the environment.

The source, who said he has many friends in common with Ren, told VOA that "Ren probably shared (the essay) with 11 people. Some who lacked political sensitivity may have distributed it further."

"Then people came to him and asked if the essay was written by him. A hard bone like Ren would of course say yes, and that triggered the series of events," the source said.

A "hard bone" is a person who does not yield to circumstances.

The source also told VOA that authorities detained Ren's eldest son and said other family members will likely be affected, as well.

Ren was put in liuzhi, a form of detention that operates outside existing boundaries of China's criminal law. The government has deemed his case significant.

"No one can step in. No one can intervene. No one can ask for mercy. And that may also include Wang Qishan," the source told VOA.

Liuzhi is employed by China's anti-corruption National Supervision Commission (NSC), which targets party members, state functionaries and the management of entities such as schools, hospitals, universities, and state-owned enterprises. Often used against journalists, businesspeople and even local contractors, liuzhi lets the commission "disappear" those under investigation or people who are tangentially involved.

Ren's connection, Wang Qishan, has not appeared in public since the coronavirus outbreak. He did not attend the Feb. 23 virtual people's teleconference that Xi "personally directed" to make clear to the 170,000 party members who dialed in that the priority for most of China was to restore economic activity slowed by COVID-19.

Chinese media used the teleconference to showcase Xi as battling the epidemic at a time when public anger at Beijing's response countered official propaganda.

"Wang Qishan has pretty much been sidelined. He poses no checks and balances on Xi Jinping," the source said. "Among party members and nonparty members, there is a general sympathy toward Ren. But very few dares to speak up. Ren Zhiqiang has basically become a piece of meat on the chopping block."

One of China's best-known entrepreneurial women, Wang Ying, is a friend of Ren's and was one of the few who spoke on his behalf after he disappeared.

When VOA contacted her last week, she said there has been "no progress" on his case.

She added, "I'm afraid at this point, speaking out for him won't be of much help. They have used all means to limit the flow of information. Intimidation and physical control are both very effective. Control of family members is also very effective."

Peter Dahlin, a Swedish human rights activist told VOA that since Xi came to power in 2012, China has developed liuzhi, and can use it against as many as 300 million citizens, both party members and others.

"It's a systematic and institutionalized system for disappearing, or using normal language, kidnapping people for up to half a year outside of any control. No protection whatsoever," said Dahlin via Skype. He was in a lockdown in Spain at his home in Madrid because of the pandemic.

Dahlin said despite its anti-graft roots, the NSC exists to strictly enforce political discipline and achieve political control.

According to statistics from his NGO, Safeguard Defenders, in 2019 alone, the NSC launched nearly 2 million investigations. About 25,000 to 30,000 people were taken into "disappearance"  between 16 to 80 people each day.

Dahlin told VOA that Chinese authorities used enforced disappearances instead of simply arresting people because "It's a very effective form of political terrorism" to take just one person.

Liuzhi is a way to "scare a larger group of people  all of that person's colleagues, friends and partners," Dahlin said.

Lin Yang contributed to this report from VOA Mandarin.

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Is the coronavirus behind the fevered imaginations supplying the plots for this weeks tawdry tabloids?

The lives of the British Royal Family play out like the pre-dawn sweats of a hallucinatory nightmare of unprecedented horror.

"This is the royals' greatest crisis ever," an unidentified palace courtier, who clearly never heard of Oliver Cromwell, tells the 'National Enquirer.'

"It could end the monarchy"  a phrase becoming as commonplace as "the most dramatic season of 'The Bachelor' ever."

What's the existential crisis this week?

"Harry Ordered Home! Charles' infection creates chaos! Fears Queen has virus, too! Furious Meghan threatens divorce as exit deal is scrapped."

Firstly, that's burying the lede, since a divorce between Harry & Meghan would be a truly dramatic development, if only it were true. Which it's not.

Secondly, Prince Charles has recovered from his quadrille with COVID-19 quite nicely, thank you, and the Queen has not tested positive for the virus, so there's probably a lot less chaos in Buckingham Palace than the 'Enquirer' might like to imagine.

Finally, if Charles ordered Harry home, he would have gone, since Charles is still funding Harry to the tune of several million pounds a year, even though the British taxpayer is no longer on the hook for Harry's fun and games. The fact that Harry and his wife and baby Archie flew instead to the Los Angeles area speaks volumes about how how much Charles dared to order around his youngest son.

"Prince Andrew Indicted!" screams the over-sized headline on the cover of the 'Globe.'

But was he?

In a story remarkably free of detail or logic, even by usual tabloid standards, it seems highly unlikely that Prince Charles' younger brother has actually been indicted.

And for what?

"Epstein Sex Scandal Nightmare!" the 'Globe' cover yells again, as if we need reminding.

But on what charge has Prince Andrew allegedly been indicted?

For allegedly having sex with a minor? For obstructing justice by refusing to cooperate with investigating authorities? For lying about his hypohydrosis problem when clearly he sweats like a pig when he dances?

The 'Globe' laughably admits "details are scarce," but claims that "Andrew has been secretly indicted by a federal grand jury."

U.S. Attorney for New York's Southern District Geoffrey Berman has said he was "considering options" about how to get Andrew to testify, and one might imagine that his first option would be to issue a subpoena ordering Andrew to submit to an interview. An indictment on unknown charges by a grand jury seems far-fetched, but we'll watch this space for developments.

"Harry's Private Pain  What Have I Done?" cries the cover of 'Us' magazine. Prince Harry is evidently "Guilt-ridden by Queen & Charles' health crisis. Flees Canada for L.A. amid border chaos. Panicked over $1m security bill to protect Archie."

Harry's probably a sight less guilt-ridden now that Charles has been given a clean bill of health and the Queen remains virus-free, but the mag says: "He's overwhelmed with guilt over not being closer to home."

But is he? And why is his pain so private (apart from being smeared across the cover of 'Us' mag)? Harry is allegedly shielding his fears from wife Meghan, who "doesn't know the extent of Harry's anxiety." Well she does now, if she reads 'Us' mag.

Angelina Jolie, one of the tabloids' favorite targets, gets it on all sides from this week's rags.

"Kit's Wife Fears Angie's Games!" reports the 'Enquirer' about 'Game of Thrones' star Kit Harrington going on tour with Angelina Jolie to promote their movie 'The Eternals,' which allegedly has his wife worried because "everybody knows that Angie is on the prowl for a man," according to an unnamed insider. Right.

The 'Globe' meanwhile portrays Jolie as a manipulative vixen, with its highly dubious claim: "Lethal Weapon! Angelina plotting to use Jennifer against Brad in custody war."

Implausibly, the story suggests that Jennifer Aniston will be called as a witness in Jolie's custody battle with Pitt to prove that ex-husband Brad Pitt is an unfit father to his children with Jolie. Don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen.

Meanwhile Ben Affleck and his new girlfriend, 'Knives Out' actress Ana de Armas, also get the treatment from both sides of the tabloids, though to very different, quite schizophrenic ends.

"Ben and Ana's First Big Fight," reports the 'Enquirer,' after the couple were allegedly spotted by a photographer talking heatedly, or at least, waving their arms around. "She's already had it with his whining," the rag explains.

But the lovebirds couldn't be happier according to stable-mate the 'Globe,' which captured the couple unable to keep those wildly gesticulating hands off one another, under the headline: "Sealed With A Kiss!"

Because the tabloids truly have no idea what's going on in any relationship, beyond the fleeting moments a photographer captures in a long lens.

Stating the blindingly obvious, the 'Enquirer' reports on jailed sex criminal Bill Cosby: "Cosby Wants Out of Cage To Escape Coronavirus!" Okay, so he's legally blind, not stupid.

'People' mag devotes its cover to the scandal-free nuptials of the late animal expert Steve Irwin's daughter: "Bindi Irwin's Emotional Wedding."

It's unclear from the cover photo if she's married the gorgeous koala bear or the goofy-looking guy holding it. The photo spread inside shows the happy couple posing variously with a giraffe, python, koala and two pet dogs, which is quite crowded even for the most polyamorous of relationships.

Fortunately we have the crack investigative squad at 'Us' mag to tell us that Cara Delevingne wore it best, that 'Westworld' star Jeffrey Wright's first job was "as a locker room attendant in a public swimming pool in Washington, D.C.," and that the stars are just like us: they go on coffee runs (Christian Bale in a photo from March 9  good luck finding an open coffeeshop these days), they cheer at sporting events (where are those these days? Lily Allen was at one way back on March 13), and go shopping (Lucy Hale on March 9 doing something we all vaguely remember once doing.) Yes, it's apparently been three weeks since the paparazzi even saw a celebrity doing anything out in public, so 'Us' keeps digging deeper into its archives to keep alive the illusion that the stars are just like us.

And is this the end of an era? 'Us' magazine is published this week without a single D-List star willing to open their handbag to spill the contents  invariably keys, lipgloss, moisturizer and sunglasses. Has the magazine finally run out of non-entities willing to disgorge the mess inside their purse? Or has the mag's Editor, shamed by this regular feature's vacuous fatuity in the face of such an existential threat as a global pandemic, given the celebrity handbag the boot?

Nah, it'll probably be back next week.

Onwards and downwards . . .
Health chiefs today insisted 'well' Britons do not need to wear face masks amid the coronavirus crisis - despite US officials set to advise exactly the opposite.

England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam claimed wearing masks was 'wired into' some Asian cultures.

But he ruled that there was no evidence masks helped stop the spread of the deadly infection, which has now killed 3,605 Britons.

His claim came housrs before Donald Trump recommedned all Americans wear the masks - though the US president said he wouldn't be donning one himself.

England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam claimed wearing masks was 'wired into' some Asian cultures

The UK Government has long held the view that the cheap paper masks offer little protection against catching COVID-19. Passengers on the London Underground wear them on Thursday

Shoppers wearing face masks queue to enter Sainsbury's supermarket on Ladbroke Grove in West London on Wednesday

In tonight's Downing Street press conference, Professor Van-Tam added: 'We do not recommend face masks for general wearing by the public.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning also said that the evidence on masks being useless had been 'very clear from the start'.

The US Centers for for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dramatically switched its stance overnight and is now advising all Americans to wear them.

President Trump announced at his Friday press briefing that the Centers for Disease Control was now recommending that Americans wear non-medical cloth masks - but pressed that it wasn't a mandate.

'So it's voluntary, you don't have to be doing it,' the president said from the briefing room podium. 'This is voluntary, I don't think I'm going to be doing it.'

Minutes later, first lady Melania Trump tweeted that Americans should take mask-wearing seriously.

President Trump said the CDC would put out a recommendation that Americans wear masks - but said it was voluntary and he would not be doing it

'As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously,' she tweeted from her FLOTUS account. '#COVID19 is a virus that can spread to anyone - we can stop this together.'

But the president suggested it might make him look foolish as he communicated with world leaders.

'I'm feeling good,' Trump said when asked why he wouldn't sport face-wear. 'Somehow sitting in the Oval Office, sitting behind that beautiful Resolute Desk, the great Resolute Desk, I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens, I don't know, I just don't see it for myself,' Trump said.

For days, top experts, including members of Trump's coronavirus taskforce said they were debating whether or not to put out a mask recommendation.

The president urged Americans not to wear medical-grade masks and instead could make masks from fabric at home

One concern is that Americans not working in the medical field would scoop up masks needed to protect doctors, nurses, first responders and others on the front lines.

For days, Trump suggested that Americans could simply wear scarves to get by.

But on Friday he said the CDC was putting out the new recommendation for masks.

'From recent studies we know that transmissions from individuals without symptoms is playing a more signifcant role in the spread of the virus than previously understood, so you don't seem to have symptoms and it still gets transferred,' the president explained.

'In light of these studies the CDC is advising the sue of non-medical cloth face covering as an additional voluntary public health measure,' he said.

The president suggested cloth or fabric masks that could be ordered online or made at home.

They should also be able to be washed.

'I want to emphasize that the CDC is not recommending the use of medical grade or surgical grade masks and we want that to be used for our great medical people that are working so hard and doing some job,' the president said.

Minutes after Trump said he would not personally be wearing a mask, first lady Melania Trump sent out a tweet saying that Americans should take the CDC recommendations seriously

The first lady sent a Friday evening tweet telling Americans to 'take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously'

The World Health Organization (WHO) - which does not recommend healthy people wear them - is also said to be reconsidering its guidance on masks.

The British Government says surgical masks are too thin, loose-fitting and porous, which make it easy for the tiny viral particles to pass through.

But experts have always maintained that, while the masks may not shield someone from contracting the illness, they stop the wearer from infecting others.

This may have been more important than initially thought now that researchers know infected people are contagious for several days before they have symptoms.

The virus can be transmitted via droplets that are released when a patient talks, breathes, coughs or sneezes.

Donald Trump's administration is encouraging all Americans to wear cloth masks or other face coverings if they go out in public

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said the UK would not change its approach because he claims there is little evidence to show the masks help, and they would be better used by healthcare workers and patients who test positive

South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong have issued millions of masks to their people and managed to prevent full-scale outbreaks, despite being in such close proximity to China. Critics say masks don't work because China still suffered more than 80,000 cases

Professor Van-Tam told the public: 'There is no evidence that general wearing of face masks by the public who are well affects the spread of the disease in our society.

'In terms of the hard evidence and what the UK Government recommends, we do not recommend face masks for general wearing by the public.'

Speaking on Good Morning today about changing the advice, Mr Hancock said: 'I haven't been advised that we should do that.

'I'll follow the scientific advice on that, which was very clear when we went through it at the start.

'Masks are very important to protect healthcare workers who might have a lot of incoming virus but that (public being advised to wear face masks) isn't something that we've done here.

How to make your own coronavirus face mask: Online DIY tutorials detail method for vacuum cleaner bag or T-shirt to create protection that leading scientists say is effective against bug

People around the world have been using scarves as makeshift masks (like this woman in Lisbon) because they can't get access to them

Other have resorted to crafting masks out of household items. A man is seen using a nappy as a makeshift face mask in Brooklyn, New York City

THE TRUTH ABOUT FACE MASKS: WHAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN Research on how well various types of masks and face coverings varies but, recently, and in light of the pandemic of COVID-19, experts are increasingly leaning toward the notion that something is better than nothing. A University of Oxford study published on March 30 concluded that surgical masks are just as effective at preventing respiratory infections as N95 masks for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. It's too early for their to be reliable data on how well they prevent infection with COVID-19, but the study found the thinner, cheaper masks do work in flu outbreaks. The difference between surgical or face masks and N95 masks lies in the size of particles that can - and more importantly, can't - get though the materials. N95 respirators are made of thick, tightly woven and molded material that fits tightly over the face and can stop 95 percent of all airborne particles, while surgical masks are thinner, fit more loosely, and more porous. This makes surgical masks much more comfortable to breathe and work in, but less effective at stopping small particles from entering your mouth and nose. Droplets of saliva and mucous from coughs and sneezes are very small, and viral particles themselves are particularly tiny - in fact, they're about 20-times smaller than bacteria. For this reason, a JAMA study published this month still contended that people without symptoms should not wear surgical masks, because there is not proof the gear will protect them from infection - although they may keep people who are coughing and sneezing from infecting others. But the Oxford analysis of past studies- which has not yet been peer reviewed - found that surgical masks were worth wearing and didn't provide statistically less protection than N95 for health care workers around flu patients. However, any face mask is only as good as other health and hygiene practices. Experts universally agree that there's simply no replacement for thorough, frequent hand-washing for preventing disease transmission. Some think the masks may also help to 'train' people not to touch their faces, while others argue that the unfamiliar garment will just make people do it more, actually raising infection risks. If the CDC does instruct Americans to wear masks, it could create a second issue: Hospitals already face shortages of masks and other PPE. Advertisement

'We've followed the advice and we've followed the medical and scientific advice and the whole basis of our response has been making sure that we follow the science.'

When Professor John Newton, director of public health improvement for Public Health England, was quizzed about masks on the radio this morning he said they were 'very helpful' in hospital.

But he questioned their efficacy for every day use. He said the Government would 'wait to see how the science evolves'.

Professor Ian Jones, a virologist from the University of Reading, told MailOnline the mass-issuing of masks 'should now be considered' by health bosses in the UK.

Warning that the crisis is spiralling rapidly, he added: 'Anything that reduces the rate of transmission will bring it under control sooner.'

Dr Stephen Griffin, associate professor of infection and immunity at the University of Leeds, said masks prevent people with no symptoms spreading the disease by catching tiny droplets they exhale.

He added: 'They are also useful for people that are themselves symptomatic in stopping coughs and sneezes.

'They also reduce the propensity for people to touch their faces, which happens many more times a day than we all realise and is a major source of infection without proper hand hygiene.'

South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong have issued millions of masks to their people and managed to prevent large outbreaks, despite being in such close proximity to China.

George Gao, director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, this week said the 'big mistake' in the US and Europe was that 'people aren't wearing masks'.

He told Science magazine: 'This virus is transmitted by droplets and close contact. Droplets play a very important role  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.'

The new policy marks a profound change in messaging as both the CDC and World Health Organization previously said people don't need to wear masks unless they are sick.

Health officials believe wearing masks would reduce the risk of people not showing symptoms from spreading the virus.

Dr Deborah Birx, who coordinates the day-to-day administration response to the virus for the US Government, cautioned people should not consider masks as a guarantee of protection.

'We don't want people to feel like I'm wearing a mask, I am protected, and I'm protecting others. You may be protecting others, but don't get a false sense of security that that mask is protecting you exclusively from getting infected because they were other ways that you can get infected because the number of asymptomatic and mild cases that are out there,' she said at the White House briefing.

Lord Alan Sugar has been blasted after posting a photo of makeshift coronavirus masks made out of coffee filters, elastic bands and staples

LORD SUGAR BLASTED FOR ENCOURAGING BRITONS TO MAKE MASKS OUT OF COFFEE FILTERS Lord Alan Sugar has been blasted after posting a photo of makeshift coronavirus masks made out of coffee filters, elastic bands and staples. The Apprentice star tweeted: 'Improvise - make your own masks from kitchen roll or coffee filters, elastic bands and a stapler.' Experts say masks without filters offer little to no protection. Twitter user Crocidolite said: 'Throw them straight into the bin. 'Unless they're FFP3 which these aint, they're a waste of time.' Deborah Walker posted a photo of a proper mask and said: 'Or you could save your coffee filter and buy one of these that we've diversified to make? 'They cost less than a pint.' Lewis Carter fumed: 'Absolutely useless.' Stephen Szmidt said: 'It was April Fools yesterday.' Advertisement

She advised people to continue social distancing practices and to wash their hands. The new guidance will make it clear that N95 surgical masks should be saved for health care workers and others on the front lines, who have been in dire need of them.

Simple cloth masks - or scarves or bandannas - will be the recommendation for when people go to the grocery store, for a walk or are outside.

'In light of these new data, along with evidence of widespread transmission in communities across the country, CDC recommends the community use of cloth masks as an additional public health measure people can take to prevent the spread of virus to those around them,' according to a copy of the guidance obtained by The Washington Post.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned all New Yorkers on Thursday that they should cover their mouth and nose with a homemade cloth mask when they go outside, even if they are healthy, if they can't access a mask.

Speaking during his daily press conference on the city's coronavirus response, the mayor revealed that new evidence has suggested that face coverings may prevent the spread of the coronavirus but added he did not regret delaying the order.

De Blasio warned that most New Yorkers should craft their own face covering using cloth, a scarf or a bandanna, leaving face masks for medical staff and others working on the front line.

He also said that he had spoken with President Donald Trump earlier on Thursday, calling for a national enlistment to be established for medical professionals, or anyone with medical training at all, that would deploy even civilians to the major outbreak hotspots.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is mulling a decision to recommend healthy people to wear the masks if they can.

Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that New Yorkers should now cover their mouth and and nose if they leave their homes after new evidence suggests that asymptotic carriers may be leading to more spread of the coronavirus in the community than was previously thought

Not all masks are created equal: Single-use masks and surgical masks have larger pores which the coronavirus can easily slip through. A more expensive N95 mask is the gold standard for healthcare workers fighting infectious diseases

IF YOU CAN'T GET A MASK, SHOULD YOU MAKE ONE? Experts in the US have suggested home-made masks could be a powerful defence against the coronavirus if there is a shortage of masks. 'Homemade masks theoretically could offer some protection if the materials and fit were optimized, but this is uncertain,' Dr Jeffrey Duchin, a Seattle health official told the Washington Post. A 2013 study found that next to a surgical mask, a vacuum cleaner bag provided the best material for a homemade mask. After a vacuum bag, kitchen towels were fairly protective, but uncomfortable. Masks made of T-shirts were very tolerable, but only worked a third as well as surgical mask. The Cambridge University researchers concluded that homemade masks should only be used 'as a last resort.' Public Health England still does not recommend Britons wear face masks, unless they are infected themselves. The health body also does not advise people use items of clothing as makeshifts masks, because they it claims they offer practically no protection. Advertisement

A recent study found that coughs and sneezes can spread virus particles up to 27ft (8m) in a cloud around an infected patient.

The WHO currently does not recommend that people without the illness wear face masks because there is little evidence they help and they would be better used by healthcare workers and patients who test positive.

But it might be about to change its mind, according to a former infectious disease director at the organisation.

Professor David Heymann, now an in-house expert at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the WHO was reopening its discussions about masks today.

He said officials could decide to advise people that masks are beneficial - but people would have to wear ones with a proper seal around the nose and wear them all the time.

Professor Heymann said: 'There is right now a debate about the usefulness of masks because Hong Kong has provided some evidence that masks may be useful in protecting individuals from infection. It's not clear yet whether or not that's true.

'WHO, the group that I work with, is debating that with a group of experts around the world tomorrow, to understand whether there is evidence which would call for a change in what WHO is recommending now for masks.

'[What is recommends] is that they really don't have a major role in protecting people from infection except in healthcare workers where they also wear eye protection and they also have a role from protecting others from coughs or sneezing.'

The World Health Organization has a list of recommendations for safely wearing and removing masks to avoid the risk of infection

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 UK's Department of Health recommends the same thing

He added: 'But as the evidence becomes available, it seems there will be a debate trying to decide whether masks play a role at some point in the outbreak.

'And believe me, if they do, there is a private sector healthy enough to begin producing those masks in quantities necessary.'

He made the comments in a briefing at British think-tank Chatham House in London yesterday.

The WHO currently says healthy people only ought to wear a mask if they're looking after a COVID-19 patient, or if they are coughing and sneezing themselves.

The coronavirus is thought only to spread through close contact with others - defined as being within 6'6' (2m) of someone.

But a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston found that infected patients can create a cloud of virus particles around them with coughs and sneezes.

This can stretch out up to 27ft (8m) and could carry enough of the virus to infect someone, the researchers said.

Droplets from people's lungs could also linger in the air and be blown about, they added.

The study - from one of the US's most prestigious universities and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) - was done in lab conditions rather than the real world.

But it could change the way health authorities look at protective equipment like masks, which are currently being stockpiled for health workers.

In France, for example, the government banned wholesalers from selling masks to the public so it could save them for medical staff.

Although scientists say the vast majority of masks do not have fine enough filters to stop viruses getting through, there is a growing school of thought that they could be useful.

Even if they don't stop viruses in their tracks they could redirect air flow which might be carrying them into people's mouths or noses.

A smaller initial dose of the virus has been linked to less severe symptoms in some coronavirus patients.

EX-BANKER 3D PRINTING PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR NHS WORKERS AMID SHORTAGES An ex-city financial worker turned craftsman is now spending 32 hour stretches 3D-printing face visors for nurses on coronavirus wards - after inventing his own method for quickly making PPE. James McConville, 28, has spent the last four days making dozens of the face shields for NHS staff, paramedics and care home nurses who lack personal protective equipment - not sleeping for days at a time. The former high-flying financial analyst, who swapped his city job to launch a 3D printing business in his home city of Liverpool a year ago, began printing the masks earlier this week after being shocked at the lack of protective gear staff were wearing at his local supermarket. And since sharing his good deed on Facebook, he has already been inundated with more than 300 requests for his simple but effective protective wear from desperate staff at hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes and shops. Mr McConville said: 'I went into a supermarket at the weekend and I couldn't believe that staff had no masks or gloves. 'I was wearing a respirator and one of the members of staff asked me where I got it from, and told me the company she worked for couldn't source any masks to protect the staff with. 'I was shocked so I went to my workshop and got the 3D printer up and running and thought I'd try and make some myself. 'The design I opted for is a mishmash of a few different ones I've seen, but the main difference is that my visor uses a piece of 3D printed plastic to hold it in place, rather than an elastic band. 'It's more hygienic than some of the other designs I've seen, as the plastic is easier to clean than an elastic band. 'I fired off a quick post on Facebook saying I was making them for people who needed them, and woke up to over 300 requests for the visors from all sorts of professions. 'It was overwhelming the amount of people getting in touch. 'I've had lots of requests from front-line hospital staff and workers from seven different hospitals across Liverpool. 'It's the requests from front-line staff that shocked me - I thought surely NHS workers would be provided with the right equipment. 'But there are so many people on wards treating people with Covid-19 who don't have enough, so I've been trying to prioritise those. 'Most of the people getting in touch have been based in Merseyside where I live, but we've had request from workers across the country, including paramedic staff in Northampton.' James is working non-stop making the visors from his workshop in Everton, where he has been a craftsman since quitting his job as a financial analyst last year and where he previously designed and constructed backdrop events. The face shields are made from an A4 sheet of transparent plastic which he hole-punches and attaches to an orange plastic band, manufactured using the 3D printer. The visors, which take less than an hour to make each, are extremely light, weighing only 14g, and can be easily disinfected by being wiped with alcohol. James can currently make up to 22 visors a day, way below the number he is being asked to supply, but is hoping to increase production and is currently seeking out more 3D printers. And so far he has been making the visors, packaging and delivering them to hospitals completely by himself. James said: 'It takes just under an hour to make one of the face shields and I have been working 32 hours without sleeping. 'They're so lightweight, you can hardly feel them when you're wearing them which makes them perfect for NHS staff working long hours. 'After witnessing how many people needed the visors, at first I felt like I had to work non-stop to help out. 'Now I'm trying to pace myself and produce as much as I can, while also caring for myself. 'I thought it would only be just care home workers and supermarket staff who wouldn't have visors, but it's not the case.' James has dropped 68 visors to NHS staff and paramedics so far and on Wednesday [April 1] alone dropped 10 visors to nurses at Liverpool's Walton Centre and another 15 to staff at the city's Broadgreen Hospital. He plans to increase the number of deliveries over the next few days. But after being inundated with messages, he has had to sort the requests into an 'urgent,' pile, from NHS workers and paramedics, and a 'non-urgent' pile, from shop workers, care home staff and teachers. So far he has 84 'urgent' requests for the face shields, 222 'non-urgent' requests and more than 280 other requests for help which he has not yet had time to sort. James said: 'The nurses I dropped visors off to at the Walton Centre were front-line staff treating patients on an infective ward and needed the visors as soon as possible. 'I also dropped 15 visors off with nurses at Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool and when I was walking in, I got stopped by a young doctor who asked where I got them from. 'I explained that I made them and he said he couldn't source any visors. 'The doctors are so distressed that they're asking strangers walking down the street where they can get PPE. 'It has been challenging making them because you can't just put it on hold, as the 3D printer needs to be manned at all times. I've had off offers from so many people to help out, but because of social distancing I can only really get help with the deliveries. 'I've been overwhelmed with the level of interest but I'm determined to keep on helping.' Advertisement

How to make your own coronavirus face mask: Online DIY tutorials detail method for vacuum cleaner bag or T-shirt to create protection that leading scientists say is effective against bug

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has led to a shortage of protective face masks, leading to a deluge of online tutorials ion how to make your own using a t-shirt or pillowcase.

Homemade masks offer significantly less protection than the N95 medical masks, which are made of a thick, tightly woven material that fits over the face and can stop 95 per cent of all airborne particles.

Public Health England still does not recommend Britons wear face masks, unless in a medical setting.

But there are good reasons to think DIY masks could be effective in tackling the pandemic, as they have been widely used in Hong Kong,Mongolia and South Korea -countries that largely have the disease under control.

The World Health Organisation also currently does not recommend that people without the illness wear face masks, but it could be about to reverse its decision due to evidence from Hong Kong that they may be effective in fighting the virus.

And in a further sign that attitudes about masks are changing, LA's mayor, Eric Garcetti, yesterday told all four million of the city's residents that they must wear face masks at all times to slow the spread of the deadly pandemic.

MailOnline has investigated how you can make your own face mask using everyday household items such as a t-shirt, kitchen towel or vacuum bags.

How to make a face mask from a t-shirt

A YouTube tutorial by Runa Ray shows how to make a face mask without any need for sewing, using just a plain t-shirt.

First of all you need scissors, pencil and a ruler, and a t-shirt you don't mind being used to make a face mask.

Cut out a 16' by 4' rectangle from the middle of the t-shirt, then fold it in half, and measure four inches on either side.

Then mark the t-shirt with an even number of tassels on each side and use scissors to cut them.

Turn the t-shirt inside out and separate the corner tassels, but tie the remaining ones in-between.

Then with the remaining t-shirt material cut some ear straps using the hem of the shirt.

Attach the straps to the remaining outer tassels and you have yourself a face mask, with no sewing involved, and using an old t-shirt.

A slightly more complicated method has been perfected by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh also managed to design a face mask that could be used if 'commercial masks' are not available during a virus outbreak.

A woman wearing a mask walks past a closed shop window display during the pandemic lockdown in Manchester

They used a regular cotton t-shirt, which was boiled for 10 minutes and then air-dried to sterilise the material, but also to shrink it.

The researchers used a marker and ruler to measure out what they wanted to cut and then formed the mask using an outer layer and then eight inner layers covering the nose and mouth.

The mask does not require any sewing, and instead involves it being tied multiple time around the face.

How to make a face mask from vacuum cleaner bags

By following the simple steps in the graphic, you can create your own face mask from a T-Shirt or vacuum cleaner bag,

Even UK politicians have got in on the act, with Gillian Martin, who is MSP for Aberdeenshire East, describing how she made a face mask from vacuum cleaner bags and elastic.

She told the Daily Record: 'I live in a small village and have been here for over 20 years. I don't want to worry or offend people when I go out.

'I started researching what other countries have been doing and came across a chart with the best materials to use to make a mask out of just about anything.'

'Just below medical material was a hoover bag. I have loads of them lying around and found Hepa-Flow bag that just goes on your Henry hoover'.

The chart the MSP is referring to from a University of Cambridge study which shows the materials that work the best against virus sized particles.

The top three are a surgical mask, vacuum cleaner bag and tea towel.

She added: 'I cut it up the bag and secured it with elastic. I live with my family of three who have all been self-isolating so I made one for each of us'.

Gillian Martin posted about her mask that she made from a vacuum cleaning bag

'I made it because I'm nervous of people coming up to me when I'm out walking the dog. I don't want to have to run away from them.'

Another popular YouTube method shows how to fold up a scarf, using hair ties at either end, to make a simple and easy no-sew mask. The same method can be used with a handkerchief and doesn't involve any sewing.

How to make a face mask from kitchen towel

For this you need two layers of kitchen towel and one of tissue.

You cut it in half, and then use masking tape on each end to ensure the mask is stiff.

Then you punch holes through either end of the mask and thread elastic bands through the holes.

Some Japanese women have even been posting instructions about how to make a face mask from a bra.

The method is simple and involves cutting off one cup with scissors and then sewing the bra straps on, so they can be attached to your face.

Do masks have to be complex to be effective?

The idea that masks do not have to be complex to be effective does have some support from recently published studies.

A University of Oxford study published this week concluded that surgical masks are just as effective at preventing respiratory infections as N95 masks for doctors, nurses and other health care workers.

It's too early for there to be reliable data on how well they prevent infection with COVID-19, but the study found the thinner, cheaper masks do work in flu outbreaks.

Two elderly women wearing protective face masks walk in Westminster on Wednesday

The difference between surgical or face masks and N95 masks lies in the size of particles that can - and more importantly, can't - get though the materials.

N95 respirators are made of thick, tightly woven and molded material that fits tightly over the face and can stop 95 percent of all airborne particles, while surgical masks are thinner, fit more loosely, and more porous.

This makes surgical masks much more comfortable to breathe and work in, but less effective at stopping small particles from entering your mouth and nose.

Droplets of saliva and mucous from coughs and sneezes are very small, and viral particles themselves are particularly tiny - in fact, they're about 20-times smaller than bacteria.
On Thursday, Sen. Chuck Schumer wrote a letter to President Trump, accusing him of failing in his leadership, thereby creating a void that left America with an ugly spectacle in which States and cities are literally fending for themselves, often in conflict and competition with each other. (Californias Governor, Gavin Newsom, by the way, would disagree.) Schumer further insisted that the only way to solve this alleged leadership failure would be for Trump to hand his responsibilities to a military officer who would then take over the country through the Defense Production Act.

Schumers attack on President Trump was not only a lie from start to finish, it represented an unadulterated will to power. If this were 1942 and Schumer thought that rooting for the Nazis would win him the White House, thats what hed do.

For Trump, the counterpuncher, Schumers vile accusations on Senate letterhead required a knockout blow and Trumps responsive letter to Schumer is that blow. The opening line sets the tone: Thank you for your Democrat public relations letter and incorrect sound bites, which are wrong in every way.

Following that first blow, Trump proceeded to pummel Schumer. In his terse response, Trump reminded Schumer of the following:

President Trump had long ago assigned oversight of the federal COVID-19 response to Vice President Pence, adding, By almost all accounts, he has done a spectacular job. President Trump has already been using the Defense Production Act to buy billions of dollars worth of equipment, medical supplies, ventilators, and other related items. Importantly, because of the power of the DPA, the administration hasnt had to use it. Instead, the threat is enough to make businesses fall in line. A senior military office is in charge of purchasing, distributing, etc. His name is Rear Admiral John Polowczyk. He is working 24 hours a day, and is highly respected by everyone. If you remember, my team gave you this information, but for public relations purposes, you choose it ignore it. The federal government has gotten all sorts of emergency supplies to New York. The problem with New York is that it was very late in its fight against the virus. Further, under our federal system, the states, not the federal government, are the front line. Unfortunately, writes Trump, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others.

Having disposed of Schumers dishonest narrative, Trump wound up for the knockout blow: If Schumer and his party hadnt been so focused on impeachment, and had instead focused on New York, the state would have been better prepared for the virus. No wonder, the President added, AOC and others are thinking about running against you in the primary. If they did, they would likely win.

That may have been the knockout blow, but the President isnt above kicking someone as malevolent and useless as Schumer, even when the latter is down. Trump added that others in New York  notably Cuomo and DeBlasio  have been trying to be useful, while Schumer has been useless. He also reminded Schumer that Schumer's open dislike for Cuomo shouldnt prevent him from working for the people of his state.

In closing, Trump said that, despite having known Schumer for a long time, until he became president, he never knew how bad a Senator you are for the state of New York. And then, with a last kick at Schumers inert body, Trump offered a snide, disdainful sign-off: If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. Or, in the alternative, call Rear Admiral Polowczyk.

That, my friends, is how you respond to a letter that is entirely composed of ambition, distraction, uglification, and derision, mixed in with dollops of malice, lies, and a raw hunger for unearned power.

Schumer, of course, did what all bullies do when someone calls them on their efforts to intimidate: He cried foul. Having started the fight, and then lost, he instantly whined that he was appalled and clucked that Trump should just stop the pettiness.

The usual handwringers (heres an example), sided with Schumer, saying that Trumps conduct was unpresidential. The handwringers are wrong.

None of us have forgotten that Bush responded with gracious, dignified silence to the calumnies that Democrats hurled against him. Unfortunately, Bushs silence gained him nothing and, indeed, lost him political ground by allowing lies to stand unchallenged.

Americans voted for Trump in part because they didnt want a repeat of the Bush years. As Evan Sayet wrote a long time ago, Trump is a winner because He fights.

Kudos to President Trump for a successful ground-and-pound against a type of man we all know: the schoolyard bully, someone everyone agrees needs to be beaten and beaten soundly.
Evacuees from the Camp fire arrive at a shelter in Butte County in 2018. The American Red Cross has designed new shelter protocols in the face of the coronavirus. (Peter Dasilva / EPA/Shutterstock)

With the traditional start of California's dreaded wildfire season approaching, the spread of the coronavirus has threatened to complicate state firefighting efforts.

Although top emergency officials say they are hopeful that the spread of COVID-19 will taper off by the time serious fire weather arrives in the fall, the outbreak has already forced departments to put large training exercises on hold, cancel controlled burns and delay inspections of fire-prone properties in Los Angeles.

Of greatest concern to American Red Cross officials is preventing the spread of illness at evacuation centers, which can quickly grow crowded with evacuees of all ages.

Another question is how battalions of firefighters might guard against the pathogen while battling flames in close formations, or while eating and sleeping in fire base camps that were notorious for outbreaks of "camp crud" even before the pandemic.

"If it were to happen this minute, were really going to have to step it up to have more facilities so we dont have more folks crammed in there at the end of the day," said Kim Zagaris of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

However, Zagaris, who was pulled out of retirement to help deal with the coronavirus outbreak, said he hoped that statewide social distancing orders would limit the effects of the coronavirus months from now. "Were all in the same boat and hoping that  at least here in California  that we got folks working from home, staying at home, that well get out of this a little sooner than the other folks have," he said.

In just the last few years, California has experienced some of its deadliest and most destructive wildfires on record, and officials say climate change is increasing the likelihood of such devastating blazes in the future. These larger fires have required ever larger numbers of firefighters who travel throughout California or come from other states to assist.

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Under such circumstances, illnesses can be spread from fire incident to fire incident as personnel are reassigned, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. "Wildland fire incident management activities create an ideal environment for the transmission of infectious diseases: high-density living and working conditions, lack of access to and use of soap and sanitizers, and a transient workforce," according to a guidance published by the group's Emergency Medical Committee.

Similar concerns are shared by the Red Cross.

We will only open a shelter if health officials think its safe to do so and were taking every precaution, said Trevor Riggen, senior vice president of disaster cycle services for the American Red Cross.

Those precautions would start the moment evacuees arrive at the shelter, where theyd find workers wearing protective gear.

All arriving evacuees would have their temperature taken before entering  if theyre running a fever, theyd be taken to a different area for isolation away from the rest of the evacuated community, Riggen said. Those who are allowed in would still have their temperature taken three times a day, like the shelter workers.

Inside, there will be extra hand-washing stations, while sleeping cots will be six feet apart. Meal times for evacuees will be staggered to avoid crowding.

As COVID-19 became more prevalent, we have been planning for some level of spread in the U.S. and so weve been working the last couple of weeks as its taken hold, Riggen said.

If an evacuee does show symptoms of an infection, the person would be isolated and county public health workers would take it from there.

The outbreak has caused other changes as well.

Recently, the U.S. Forest Service announced that all prescribed burns in California were canceled to minimize smoke exposure for those already vulnerable to COVID-19.

Prescribed, or controlled, burns involve the deliberate burning of wildland to reduce the amount of plant matter that can fuel larger fires spread. The technique is most often used in the northern part of the state.

Also, a refresher training session on how to manage a large incident for the states fire commanders has been delayed and may end up being a videoconference, officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

In Southern California, Los Angeles city firefighters have delayed their annual defensible space inspections for homes in the foothills by at least two weeks, while other agencies in the region have canceled public outreach and education events.

Amid the silent march of the coronavirus, however, there has been some good news for firefighters.

Late-season rains in March helped reduce some of the spring fire risks Californians were facing after one of the state's driest Februaries on record.

"This much rain is definitely going to help with alleviating the chances of wildfires in the spring, but probably not going to help out with our normal wildfire season in the fall," said Alexander Gershunov, a research meteorologist at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "It's actually going to grow the fuels a little more."
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Press release

2020 Annual Shareholders Meeting of MRM

Paris, 3rd April 2020

Given the difficulties of holding annual shareholders meetings in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the request of the Chairman, the Board of Directors of MRM decided at its meeting of the 2nd of April 2020 to postpone the holding of the companys Annual Shareholders Meeting to the 26th of June 2020. This Annual Meeting was initially set for the 26th of May 2020.

Owing to the current situation, the Board of Directors reserves the possibility to revise the indications given on the 28th of February 2020 related to the shareholders distribution for 2019.

A press release will be issued at a later date to inform shareholders of the arrangements regarding the holding of the companys Annual Shareholders Meeting, as well as of the availability of the preparatory documents, including the resolution related to the distribution for 2019 that will be submitted to shareholders approval.

Calendar

Revenues for the first quarter of 2020 are due on 7 May 2020 before market opening.

About MRM

MRM is a listed real estate investment company that owns and manages a portfolio of retail properties across several regions of France. Its majority shareholder is SCOR SE, which owns 59.9% of share capital. MRM is listed in Compartment C of Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000060196 - Bloomberg code: MRM:FP  Reuters code: MRM.PA). MRM opted for SIIC status on 1 January 2008.

For more information:

MRM

5, avenue Kleber

75795 Paris Cedex 16

France

T +33 (0)1 58 44 70 00

relation_finances@mrminvest.com Isabelle Laurent, OPRG Financial

T +33 (0)1 53 32 61 51

M +33 (0)6 42 37 54 17

isabelle.laurent@oprgfinancial.fr





Website: www.mrminvest.com

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(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd April, 2020) There are currently no reported COVID-19 cases in war-torn Yemen, making many international humanitarian organizations concerned about the embattled country's fragile healthcare infrastructure, which would neither be able to detect the deadly virus nor treat the potential patients, Erika Tovar Gonzalez, the communication coordinator at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Yemen, told Sputnik.

For the last five years, Yemen has been mired in a conflict between the UN-backed government, headed by President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi, and the Houthi rebels. The parties signed a ceasefire agreement in late 2018, which, however, quickly collapsed. The United Nations has repeatedly called the situation in the country the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 24 million people  close to 80 percent of the population  currently in need of aid.

"The main concern for the ICRC is the impact of a possible spread of the COVID-19 in a country like Yemen with a weakened health system, after 5 years of an ongoing conflict. About 50 percent of health facilities in Yemen are out of service and others are partially functioning across the country, while active front lines pose security risks for ambulances and health services nearby, weapon wounded are mostly occupying the working facilities. Confrontations also prevent these hospitals from receiving the needed material and training," Gonzalez said.

The official also noted that the ICRC found it challenging to provide enough supplies to prevent the coronavirus from spreading across Yemen.

"The challenge is to have all the stock of supplies quickly enough to satisfy the country's needs, to assist communities affected by conflict while providing support related to COVID-19 prevention. Humanitarian cargo is allowed but finding enough material, specific to the COVID-19 prevention, in the internal or external market is still challenging," Gonzalez said.

She added that refugees were especially vulnerable given their poor living conditions in overcrowded camps for internally displaces people, with limited or no access to health care, shelter and proper nutrition.

"Our focus is on continuing to be able to reach and assist the people affected by the ongoing conflict in Yemen with a focus on lifesaving activities," Gonzalez said.

The humanitarian worker went on to say that the organization was being kept informed of the coronavirus situation in the country and was in constant contact with government agencies.

"The ICRC is closely following the COVID-19 situation in Yemen and is in contact with a number of government agencies and WHO [the World Health Organization] in-country who is leading and coordinating the response," Gonzalez said.

Last week, the situation in Yemen escalated as Saudi-led coalition forces carried out massive attacks on positions of the Houthi rebels in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. The attack came after the Houthi movement fired several missiles and used drones to attack Riyadh and southwestern Saudi city of Jizan.
How Tablighi Jamaat has become the super spreader of the coronavirus

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: Those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi have been rightly called as the super spreaders of the coronavirus by many. Nearly 65 per cent of the new all India cases are linked to the event that took place in the city.

At least 295 delegates from across the country who had attended the religious congregation at Delhi last month have tested positive, accounting for more than 60 per cent of the 485 confirmed cases across the country recorded till Thursday.

The nation wide count has crossed 2,000 with Delhi (141), Maharashtra (88) and Tamil Nadu (75) adding to the numbers in a big way.

Tablighi Jamaat patients roaming naked, making lewd gestures at nurses says letter to police

On Thursday Delhi led the tally with 129 of the 141 cases being linked to the Jamaat. The states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka accounted for 143 Tablighi delegates of their contacts testing positive.

In Tamil Nadu 74 of the 75 cases comprised Tablighi delegates or their contacts. In Telangana the number stood at 26 of 27 while in Karnataka it was 11 of 14. All 32 cases reported in Andhra Pradesh were linked to the Jamaat.

In the states of Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur all the cases reported were linked to the congregation.

960 Tablighi foreigners blacklisted, visas cancelled by MHA; states told to take legal action

In Rajasthan out of the 13 cases, 3 were linked to the Jamaat while in UP the number was 2 out of ten. In Maharashtra, 8 out of the 88 cases were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat.
A new species from the prehistoric group of flying reptiles known as pterosaurs has been found in Morocco by British scientists.

The new species, named Afrotapjara zouhrii, belongs to a group of pterosaurs called tapejarids from the Cretaceous period, between 145 million years and 66 million years ago.

Tapejarids were small to medium-sized pterosaurs with wingspans as wide as 13 feet (four metres), most of which had broad crests sweeping up from the front of the skull.

Tapejarids are well known in Brazil and China, and remains have been discovered in Europe, but this latest discovery marks the first time they have been found on African soil.

The new pterosaur, named Afrotapjara zouhrii, follows the classification of three other pterosaur species, also found in Morocco, last week.

The new pterosaur, named Afrotapejara zouhrii, differs from the three species reported last week, as this one had no teeth  it was edentulous

This new specimen was reportedly collected from a series of small excavations in the Kem Kem beds near a small plateau called Ikhf N Taqmout (Takmout)

You wait ages for a pterosaur and then four come along at once, said study leader Professor David Martill at the University of Portsmouth.

The study of Moroccan material shows that we are still far from having found all the paleontological treasures of North Africa.

Even fragmentary fossils, like the jaw piece of the new pterosaur, can give us important information about the biodiversity of the past.

Pterosaurs, the less well-known cousins of dinosaurs, had an adept flying ability, some as large as a fighter jet and others small like a model aeroplane.

Partial rostrum - or beak - of Afrotapejara zouhrii from the Kem Kem beds. A, right lateral view; B, left lateral view; C, occlusal view; D, dorsal view

The fossil remains of the other three toothed pterosaurs were identified by an international team of scientists led by Baylor University in Texas.

However, this most recent findings differs from the previous three in that it had no teeth  in other words, it was edentulous.

Researchers studied the fossilised jaw of Afrotapjara zouhrii, which has a length of about 5.8 inches (148mm).

The structure and shape of the jaw specimen was sufficient to distinguish the fossil from other tapejarids, as well as require classification as a new genus, as well as a new species.

Afrotapjara zouhrii was named as such to honour the Moroccan palaeontologist Professor Samir Zouhri.

Originally a mammal specialist, Zouhri contributed to several discoveries of pre-historic reptiles in Morocco, including dinosaurs and pterosaurs.

He also organised scientific conferences in Morocco and edited a volume for the Geological Society of France on the subject of vertebrate palaeontology in his native country.

The pterosaurs reported on by Texas researchers last week can be distinguished from this new discovery by the presence of teeth (artists's impression above)

The opportunity to illuminate the diversity of pterosaurs in Africa while honouring a colleague does not happen every day, said Professor Martill.

The remains were found down a large escarpment known as Kem Kem Beds, where miners climb down every day to dig in coarse sand.

This new specimen was reportedly collected from a series of small excavations in the Kem Kem beds near a small plateau called Ikhf N Taqmout (Takmout).

The fossil material is part of the collections of the Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Casablanca Hassan II University in Casablanca, Morocco.

The new species has been described in the journal Cretaceous Research
[April 03, 2020] HUAWEI CLOUD: Fighting COVID-19 with Technology

SHENZHEN, China, April 3, 2020 /CNW/ -- HUAWEI CLOUD announced today that they launched a global action plan to help customers around the world to fight COVID-19 with cloud and AI services. As part of this international action plan against the coronavirus, HUAWEI CLOUD will be providing free AI and cloud services and will be recruiting partners around the world to help fight this pandemic together. Deng Tao, President of HUAWEI CLOUD Global Market, stated, "HUAWEI CLOUD has been working with partners in China to use innovative technologies such as cloud and AI to fight the pandemic, and has accumulated practical experience with AI-assisted CT scan analysis, drug discovery, online education, and telecommuting technologies. Now, we are launching this intenational action plan to share our practical experience to the international market. We will make every effort to leverage technology to help our customers around the world cope with challenges faced in the midst of this crisis."



In the healthcare domain, HUAWEI CLOUD provides EIHealth free of charge, which includes services such as viral genome detection, Antiviral drug in silico screening, and AI-assisted CT patient screening service. In the education sector, HUAWEI CLOUD works with partners to provide online education services for schools and other educational institutions. They are also helping enterprises migrate businesses to the cloud to ensure continuous operations while the pandemic continues. HUAWEI CLOUD is now offering up to 1,500 hours of free cloud resources for each newly registered user, complete with 24/7 professional support on the HUAWEI CLOUD (international) website. HUAWEI CLOUD has also released the Anti-COVID-19 Partner Program, a program focused on five main scenarios: remote office, AI support, enterprise assistance, smart healthcare, and online education. Partners who participate in this program can not only obtain comprehensive business, technological, and market support, but will also have the opportunity to obtain free cloud resources worth up to USD $30,000.

To join the Global Action Plan for Fighting COVID-19, contact us at [email protected]. For more information, please visit: https://activity.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/fight-covid-19.html View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huawei-cloud-fighting-covid-19-with-technology-301034777.html SOURCE HUAWEI CLOUD

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:41:05|Editor: yhy

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VIENTIANE, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 520 suspected cases for COVID-19 in Laos have been tested, with 510 cases being negative, Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Meaungpak said on Friday.

As of Friday, samples from 520 persons were tested, with 510 cases testing negative. Therefore, the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Laos remained at ten, the deputy minister told a press conference.

Ten confirmed cases of COVID-19 including seven cases in Lao capital Vientiane and three cases in Luang Prabang province.

All of them are not in serious condition and the treatment is going well, according to the official.

Laos has detected the first two cases on March 24.
Analysts think the worst may already be over for the hard-hit Australian and New Zealand dollars and see them slowly regaining ground over the year ahead, a surprising mark of faith given the economic carnage caused by the coronavirus.

Analysts polled by Reuters see the Aussie at 60.20 US cents in one month, just under the 60.55 US cents level it was trading at on Friday.

That was a steep downgrade from the 67 US cents predicted in the last poll in February, reflecting the wild swings seen since then. Indeed, the market was so manic a poll could not be conducted properly in March.

Was this as bad as it gets for the Aussie? Credit:Louie Douvis

The Aussie plunged from 67 US cents to a 17-year low of 55.10 US cents in a nine-day period in early March, as the spread of the virus sent global markets into a tailspin.
Patna, April 3 : There is a steady increase in the number of people contracting coronavirus in Bihar with 13 people in the state getting infected after coming in contact with the first coronavirus patient. This patient, who lived in Munger, died during treatment on March 22. He had a travel history to Qatar.

He had returned from Qatar on March 13.

Principal Secretary in the Health Department, Sanjay Kumar, said that 13 people including two family members got coronavirus infection after coming in contact with this patient. The number is expected to go up.

Three personnel of the private hospital in which this patient was admitted have tested positive for the virus.

Twenty nine people have been found to be suffering from COVID-19 in Bihar so far including seven from Munger.
While most of men nowadays are afraid of commitment, fearful of jumping into marriage and afraid to carry the responsibility of being a father, Hollywood A-lister Ben Affleck is ready to make more babies and add to the number of children he already has.

It looks like the 47-year-old actor's new motto in life is "the more, the merrier," as he reportedly wants to have a baby with his new lady love, Ana de Armas.

A source recently revealed that Affleck is on board with the idea of starting a family with his "Deep Water" co-star.

"Ben loves children and loves being a dad," a source told Us Weekly. "He would love to have kids with her one day."

Ever since the duo was cast to play as husband and wife in the said psychological thriller movie and filmed together in New Orleans in November 2019, rumors already sparked that Affleck and De Armas are getting to know each other more.

It could be recalled that it was just last month when the news broke that Affleck is exclusively dating the 31-year-old Cuba native, and the couple is reportedly very happy in each other's arms.

The couple's romances started to heat up after they were spotted "making out" in Cuba's airport security line, minutes before they boarded a private jet for a romantic getaway to Havana.

"They are definitely dating," a source told People.

Another eyewitness told Page Six that Affleck and de Armas' romance are beaming, and they are not afraid to show it.

"I saw Ana grab Ben's arm as they walked out together, they looked super happy-she's absolutely stunning! I totally think they're dating," the eyewitness said.

Seeking A Stable Relationship

Affleck and De Armas's romance came after the "Batman" star himself admitted that he is not into a short-term fling, and instead, he is looking forward to having a stable relationship in the coming years.

During his interview with Good Morning America, Affleck was asked how he sees himself in the next five years. He responded by saying that five years from now, he sees himself happy and completely sober while getting regular visitation time with his kids.

Career-wise, Affleck said he envisions himself starring in three or four movies and directing at least two films that, hopefully, he would be proud of

"And is in a healthy, stable, loving, committed relationship," he added.

Jennifer Garner's Support

As we all know, Affleck shares three kids with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. They are now co-parenting their children, namely 14-year-old Violet, 11-year-old Seraphina and 8-year-old Samuel.

The same source said that Affleck's ex-wife is expressing her full support to his newfound romance.

"Jen has completely moved on from Ben in a romantic sense," the source said. "She considers him a friend, thinks he is a good dad to their children, and respects him. She is happy in her own life and happy for him and his relationship."
EU fishing reps welcome COVID-19 proposals as a first measure

by Lia ni Aodha

April 03,2020 | Source: The Skipper

In a joint, the European Association of Fish Producers Organisations (EAPO) and Europeche cautiously welcomed the additional COVID-19 support measures announced today (April 2) by the European Commission for the fishing sector as a first measure. However, additional funding must now be provided, they say.



Welcoming the emergency measures proposed by the Commission in support of the sector in the face of the coronacrisis which unlocks existing EU funding and market schemes, the European fishing bodies say they look forward to the quick adoption of those measures so as to allow a speedy and flexible implementation of the provisions in the Member States.



However, indicating that more supports will be required, the fishing bodies say they are disappointed no additional funding, beyond the use of existing EMFF funds, is included and call for this to be addressed urgently in light of the fact that otherwise the measures proposed will not be effective to cope with the unprecedented crisis.



Regarding the changes to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) proposed by the Commissionallowing for additional flexibilities and for support for the temporary cessation of fishing activities, alongside the reintroduction of storage aid mechanisms for unsold fishEAPO and Europeche state that while these are welcome they would have liked to see a higher level of ambition regarding the measures proposed.



Mr Garat, President of Europeche, said: We are facing a paradox: EU and national governments are encouraging our operators to continue fishing but, for the moment, they are not tabling any measure to compensate the loss of income faced by our companies due to the huge reduction of up to 50% of fish prices threatening their financial viability.



It should be seen as fundamental that our fishermen continue to supply healthy food under these very difficult circumstances. Therefore, it is essential for them to receive a certain level of income compensation through the EMFF or other funds to make this possible.



Pim Visser, President of EAPO commented: The COVID-19 pandemic will have tremendous and unpredictable implications for the future of our industry. We appreciate the efforts and legislative changes made by the Commission to unlock and redistribute the existing funding possibilities.



However, many countries have already spent or committed most of their available national funding under the EMFF. In addition, the market situation, once the public health crisis is under control, is expected to be very difficult.



Therefore, extra-funding should be injected in the fisheries fund by the EU, in order for these measures to effectively cope with the crisis. We are just in the midst of a horrific storm and we do not know how long it will last.



Javier Garat, concluded: The fishing industry is a vital, sustainable and responsible sector, committed to continue fishing and maintaining food security. However, the fishing sector has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 crisis.



If we want to have a healthy fishing industry after the crisis we need additional funding and full flexibility in the interpretation and application of any new rules.

 Mara Media Ltd. Company

Theme(s): Others.
Press Release

April 3, 2020 Hontiveros welcomes start of mass-testing for COVID-19: "A much-needed move to save lives" "Mass testing will save lives. By moving towards mass testing for COVID-19, we now have a better chance of defeating COVID-19 and of protecting the lives of countless Filipinos." This was how Senator Risa Hontiveros today welcomed government's announcement that it will soon commence mass testing for the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), as part of efforts to stop the spread of the disease in the country. "I am glad that the government has listened to the demands of the public and finally acted on this much-needed initiative. Matagal nang kailangan ito, at sana ay agad itong maipatupad para masiguro natin ang kalusugan ng lahat" she said. Hontiveros made her statement after Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the national task force on the COVID-19 pandemic, disclosed that government will begin mass testing starting April 14, 2020, and that nine hospitals have already been accredited to conduct the tests, with more on the way. This is following previous announcements by the Department of Health that they have received 108,000 testing kits from South Korea, China and Singapore. "We need to urgently expand the number of Filipinos tested for COVID-19 every day, with priority testing provided for frontliners such as health workers, those considered at-risk such as the elderly and the immunocompromised, and those exhibiting symptoms. This is the only way we will be able to track and isolate cases, and respond in timely fashion to the treatment and care of patients," she said. The senator then urged government to speed up the acquisition and distribution of testing kits, and invest in increasing the country's capacity to locally produce testing kits, citing the kits developed by scientists from the University of the Philippines as "promising examples." Hontiveros said that the government should improve the capacity of testing centers by coordinating a network of hospital-based and stand-alone laboratories to help speed up and increase the number of tests conducted daily. The Senator likewise emphasized that testing should be free or fully covered by PhilHealth. "We have to do everything we can to make mass testing of Filipinos a reality at the earliest time possible. Early detection of COVID-19 cases allows us not only to stop the spread of the virus, but also bring lifesaving treatment to those who need it. Tandaan natin, buhay ng mga kababayan natin ang nakataya dito," she said.
Rowley attributes much of the current situation to insurers trying to compete onprice  a situation thats understandable when youre trying to build new market share, but one that almost always proves unsustainable in the long run.

Youve always got a finite lifespan when you go that route, Rowley says. Its good from a buyers perspective, but the crunch always comes, and I think weve seen a lot of that play out over the last 12 to 18 months.

The good news, however, is that such a situation presents an opportunity for Australian insurers to bring their own talents to bear and fill the gap where international insurers have fallen short.

I think its a great chance for Australian players in the market to step up and look at what they can bring to the industry, Rowley says. At our end, weve obviously got a sizeable capacity and broad risk appetite, which we can leverage  so, day to day, its about finding that sweet spot between being able to support clients and brokers with their needs while still ensuring its being done at a sustainable price point for all parties.

Commodities and coverage

Of course, Rowley is well aware of the complexities inherent to marine insurance. Given that shipping is one of the oldest means of transporting goods around the globe, its perhaps not surprising that its an industry with its share of legacy issues and eccentricities.

Were working to do our bit to keep pace with technology changes, but thats just standard practice, Rowley says. What I think were going to need further into the future is closer attention being paid into specific areas of marine insurance in order to develop even more up-to-date products  thats something where brokers are invaluable, because theyre the ones on the front lines with customers every day, helping them assess where their exposures might be. Its invaluable information.

Rowley points to commodities as one such area of marine insurance. The nature of commodities is such that clients can have wildly different needs for their products.

Its a sector thats very influenced by technology, Rowley says. So, for certain horticultural or food produce, you might need to ensure that climate and temperature control is being utilised to make sure theyre going to arrive safely at the other end.

This would be a reasonably obvious consideration for most brokers, he adds, but there are other situations where more specific insider knowledge is required to ensure the best possible outcome for the client. The traditional method of offering varying levels of coverage across a variety of classes is becoming increasingly outmoded. Today, its crucial to ensure that clients have not only the correct coverage, but also the correct resources to ensure safe passage.

For example, think about fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood  theyre a few common items that might require some form of climate control, Rowley says. Freight is very rarely just about sticking something on a ship anymore, and brokers need to be asking their clients the right questions.

Responding to a pandemic

As might be expected, the spread of COVID-19 has also had a significant impact on the marine industry. Though the disease has already caused issues worldwide, Rowley believes the full effects will emerge over the coming months.

Weve already seen cancelled voyages, which youd expect, he says. But China is such a major centre of world trade and manufacturing  were going to see a lot of flow-on effects across a whole range of industries.

Theres a broader desire in the market to better defi ne risk appetite and draw some delineation around what can and cant be done from an insurance perspective Nick Rowley, NTIs Marine Protect

He points to Australias seafood industry as one example. China is one of Australias major purchasers of seafood, but that had almost entirely dried up when IB spoke to Rowley. It represents a microcosm of the wider issues that have been raised by the coronavirus pandemic, he notes.

It raises a whole host of questions for marine operators, he says. Do these operators want to be sailing and taking risk for produce they might not be able to sell afterwards? Then youve got the actual transport issues  ships wont be visiting certain ports, so produce is getting o oaded at intermediate ports, which adds additional steps to the supply chain process.

Rowley also points to the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran as a potential issue that could resurface later in the year. The risk of war naturally means increased risk for businesses and, by extension, insurers.

Its not a situation that would necessarily impact every marine client  but its certainly something that could affect those who have trade connected to the region, Rowley says.

Hes swift to add that hes no doomsayer, but its crucial for those in the industry to stay up to date on wider world events, because they can have a very direct impact on the field.

Theres a broader desire in the market to better defi ne risk appetite and draw some delineation around what can and cant be done from an insurance perspective, Rowley explains. We always want to work closely with brokers to keep them up to date on coverage requirements. World events are just part of that process.

Broker support and beyond

One of the key areas of focus for NTIs Marine Protect in 2020 and beyond is ensuring brokers have the tools they need at hand. Rowley is well aware of the demands brokers have on their time and is keen to look for the most e cient solutions  primarily digital. More generally, Rowley notes, NTI is aiming to ramp up its interaction and messaging to keep the broking community as up to date as possible.

One of the first touchpoints is NTIs various blogs, Rowley says. These are updated regularly to keep pace with industry news and world events  its an easy way to disseminate information that brokers can digest at their own pace. NTI also puts webinars and seminars with subject-matter experts online, and theyre recorded so they dont have to be watched live.

Weve got the capacity to get the message out there, Rowley says. With all of the developments taking place in the industry, we want to make sure that brokers are able to provide the best possible service and prod-ucts for their customers needs.
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Linkedin Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 12:53 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f770a3 1 Art & Culture #art,#culture,#theater,#play,#performance,#TeaterKoma,#health,#virus,#COVID19,#coronavirus Free

With the government issuing policies in an attempt to control the movement of people to curb the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, many performing arts events have called for postponement  or worse, cancellation.

This includes the 80th anniversary event of poet Sapardi Djoko Damono, who was to appear on March 20, together with stage actors Slamet Rahardjo and N. Riantiarno, at Teater Kecil of the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts center in Central Jakarta. No immediate information has been made available on when the event would be staged  if ever  as the center is closed until May 20.

The Ciputra Artpreneur Theater in South Jakarta has also temporarily closed its doors on all public performances.

One of these is Inggit Garnasih, a musical theater in which actress Happy Salma was to perform a monologue as Inggit Garnasih, the second wife of Indonesias founding president Sukarno.

The shows organizer, Titimangsa Foundation, announced that the musical would be postponed to Aug. 22 from the original date of April 18.

Woman with a monologue: Actress Happy Salma is taking on the titular role as the second wife of Indonesias first president Sukarno to deliver a monologue in 'Inggit Garnasih'. The musical theater has been postponed from April to August due to the COVID-19 epidemic. (Courtesy of Image Dynamics/-)

Meanwhile, the theatrical performance Under the Volcano was to have its Jakarta premiere on April 4-5 at Ciputra Artpreneur. Due to the pandemic, it is rescheduled to July 4-5.

A Komunitas Seni Hitam-Putih (Black-and-White Arts Community) production directed by Yusril Katil with music composed by Elizar Koto, Under the Volcano premiered internationally at the 6th Theater Olympics in 2014 in Beijing and in 2016 at TheatreWorks in Singapore. A shorter version of the theatrical drama was performed at the 2018 Borobudur Writers & Cultural Festival at the namesake temple in Central Java.

On hold: Theatrical performance 'Under the Volcano' was to have its Jakarta premiere on April 4-5 at Ciputra Artpreneur but due to the pandemic, it is rescheduled to July 4-5. (Courtesy of Ciputra Artpreneur/-)

Brought by Bumi Purnati that presented the epic creation myth of Bugis people I La Galigo, the West Sumatra drama is based on Muhammad Salehs Syair Lampung Karam (Poem on the sinking of Lampung), published in 1883, about a witnesss account of the infamous eruption of Mount Krakatoa that same year.

Teater Koma also had to postpone Sampek Engtay, originally scheduled at Ciputra Artpreneur for March 28-29 to mark the seminal theatrical troupes 43rd anniversary.

As organizers scrambled to sign new dates for their shows, Teater Koma secured Aug. 15-16 for its first show of the year. In better days, the troupe held up to four major performances a year, not including private events and childrens shows at the National Museum.

Everything is ready  the set, the costume, everything. We are always ready three months in advance and start selling tickets the month before [a show], said Teater Koma manager Ratna Riantiarno. We have sold 50 percent of tickets to three shows, including 500 seats at a 43 percent early-bird discount.

She was grateful that the troupe could still perform at the original venue, as refunding the tickets was out of the question.

We spent so much on preparations, but its still a good decision to delay [the show]. We really hope we dont have to cancel it altogether, that would unimaginable, Ratna told The Jakarta Post.

Time is tough for us performers because of [the current] situation. None of us would dare do anything and we are not allowed to, at least until April. There goes our source of income, she said.

Another group that has been hit financially by the epidemic is EKI Dance Company, which has dozens of professional dancers and musicians.

The cancellation of shows and the call for social distancing at first bothered the dance companys patron, Rusdy Rukmarata, who shared his rant at being out of work on social media.

His frustration is understandable, as the dance company must still pay its artists and staffers their monthly salaries until the next show  as well as cover utilities and daily meals at its dormitory.

But the responses and additional discussions later on made me realize that there are actually many things we can do as artists or performers, Rusdy told the Post.

We have the social responsibility to maintain art as an important [cultural] vein of this citys pulse. Although its an important job, I dont think using social media to campaign for social distancing is the job for us. We still have to produce art, no matter what, he said.

While EKI is using its time staying at home by inventorying its archives and costumes, the company is also working on new choreography and plans to produce videos of its performances.

Weve seen how musicians have created digital concerts, while fashion designers and painters are releasing their new work on social media. I think the dance community should also join the cause of lifting the peoples spirit, said Rusdy.

Ratna, however, believes that YouTube and other online platforms could never be a stage for live performances.

We can survive for a while, but not if this situation goes on. I just hope we will get out of this situation smoothly, she said. (ste)
Mumbai, April 3 : A Mumbai court refused to grant bail to Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor, and he will continue to remain in judicial custody till April 16, his lawyer said here on Friday.

"We had made a plea, seeking bail in view of the coronavirus pandemic and the risks that he faced in jail in view of his health condition. However that has been rejected," said advocate Subhash Jadhav.

In the bail plea, the 62-year old Kapoor had contended that he was suffering from severe hypertension, anxiety, depression and chronic immunodeficiency syndrome, besides a long history of asthma which put him at great risk due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Kapoor on March 8 in connection with a money laundering case, besides another case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and he has been in custody since nearly a month now.
She went on to work for Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in California  where she met her future husband. Gideon is their first child; the pair of human rights lawyers named him after a Supreme Court case ordering states to pay for defense attorneys for the poor. During the Obama administration, McKean worked in the State Departments global AIDS program and on human rights in the Department of Health and Human Services.
General Motors and its joint ventures delivered more than 461,700 vehicles in China in a challenging first quarter.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, GM shifted its primary focus to supporting control and prevention of the coronavirus while also ensuring the safety of its employees as well as company and dealer operations.

The company's brands adopted new tactics to stay connected with their customers and offer them peace of mind. New sales channels and methods such as livestreaming and touch-free vehicle services were introduced across the brands to reach out to customers in a secure way.

Despite the unprecedented situation, GM's brands continued delivering products, strengthening their market presence and enhancing their product mix.

Cadillac deliveries topped 26,800 units. The CT4 sedan being launched in China this month will give Cadillac its strongest and most complete lineup ever, enabling it to compete in all key luxury segments.

Buick had deliveries of nearly 129,600 units. Preorders for the all-new GL8 Avenir luxury MPV family, which added four-seat and six-seat variants, commenced in March.

Chevrolet deliveries surpassed 50,900 units. The brand likewise began accepting preorders for the Blazer SUV to tap into the popular large SUV segment.

Baojun sold nearly 82,200 vehicles and Wuling deliveries exceeded 172,200 units. The brands remained resilient and had March sales of more than 124,000 units, making SAIC-GM-Wuling the best-selling automaker in China during the month.

GM reinforced its commitment to a zero-emissions future and is on track to exceed its plan of introducing 10 new energy vehicles in the domestic market between 2016 and 2020. The Chevrolet Menlo, the Chevrolet brands first all-electric vehicle in China, was launched in February. The all-new E300 will soon join the E100 and E200 in Baojun's electric vehicle portfolio. Wuling also revealed its first all-electric models, the Hong Guang MINI EV and the Rong Guang electric van, in March.

In addition to electric vehicles, GM is maintaining its focus on the introduction of luxury vehicles as well as midsize/large SUVs and MPVs  the segments with the strongest increase in customer demand. Underpinned by its global resources and growing local capability, the company will continue transforming its portfolio and providing high-quality products and services in China to meet the rising aspirations of local consumers.
Tens of thousands of Britons are stranded abroad after borders around the world were closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Airlines have grounded planes, leaving UK nationals trapped in dozens of countries across the planet, from gap year travellers in South America to holiday-makers in Asia, Australia and Africa.

And, while the Foreign Office has insisted the government is doing everything it can to get them home, many are reporting a complete absence of help and vacuum of information

One such person is Samantha Smith.

The 47-year-old mother of three, from Lancaster, was on the trip of a lifetime travelling around India for two months when, with unprecedented speed, the global travel industry started to shut down last month.

Since then she has been living, under curfew, in a basic guesthouse in the northern city of Rishikesh, while keeping a diary of her attempts to get home.

Here, she shares excerpts with The Independent in a bid to offer a glimpse into the fears and frustrations felt by the tens of thousands like her.

20 March

As the coronavirus has spread, I have started to become anxious about my flight home on 30 March from Delhi to Manchester. Will it still go ahead? I've checked the airline's website and it says the flight remains scheduled but I am worried and want to come home earlier.

So today I phoned and emailed to try and reschedule but their numbers are ringing out and emails going unanswered. My travel agent isnt responding either. I called all five British embassies in India to try and get some clarity on what might happen but no-one is picking up at any of them. I called the Foreign Office in London who said I should wait for my scheduled flight in 10 days. It seemed like the exact opposite of good advice but, for now, I dont know what else to do. So, I will stay in Rishikesh in my guesthouse room and try to remain calm.

I am fortunate that I am a seasoned solo traveller and that I am in such a peaceful place but there will be many British people in India and around the world feeling far more vulnerable than I.

23 March

I have received an email from my airline telling me my flight has indeed been cancelled and that I have to get in touch with the travel agent to get a refund. The only problem is my travel agent isnt answering. For now, it seems, that money, is gone. I do not want to book a new flight online and have that cancelled, and lose even more so I have made a decision. Tomorrow I will make the five-hour trip to New Delhi, to the closest international airport, and will pay for the first available flight I can get back to western Europe. I feel positive having come up with a plan of action. Tried calling the embassies again for information. No pick ups.

24 March

India has gone into lock down and people are not allowed to travel between states. That means I cannot get to New Delhi or any other international airport. I phoned the foreign office in London to see if I could get some certificate or right-to-pass but they told me it was impossible. So, now, I admit, I am starting to panic. I am trapped here.

A daily curfew has been announced too, which will last at least until 31 March. We are allowed out only between 7-10am to exercise and buy essentials but the atmosphere is unpleasant. Police are stationed in the streets armed with bamboo sticks and not afraid to use them. Locals now appear wary of foreigners like me. This is a disease from another land and it feels like we, as strangers, are being held responsible by some people here.

Samantha Smith (Samantha Smith)

25 March

I emailed my local MP Cat Smith and she replied within a couple of hours. She said she would bring up repatriation in parliament questions and get back to me. What a relief to actually get through to someone who appears to care. I just want to be home.

To take and stay productive, I spent hours today scouring the internet and social media for any information that might help. I have been in contact with people from the UK all over India, and no one appears to know anymore than me about how they can get home. There are stories of people being thrown out of hostels because they can no longer pay. They are sleeping on the street or beaches. Some people say they will run out of vital medicines if they cannot get home soon. Others report not being allowed into shops to buy food or provisions. It's a mess.

Then, in the evening, a possible way home! I found out there were several buses from the German embassy already in the city, here to pick up German nationals, and that other Europeans were being allowed on board. But the moment of hope was over as soon as it arrived. The buses, I learned, were virtually ready to set off  and leaving from the other side of the city. Id missed my chance of escape.

26 March

Joy! Someone answers at the embassy. Can she help? No. She scolded me that I should have gone home days ago. I said I was trying to do that but pointed out borders were being closed and flights grounded. Her reply was to tell me to hold tight, and keep reading the FCO website. She appeared annoyed I had bothered her.

I keep trying to stay positive. In the morning today I bought coffee and sat with it alone on the river bank looking at others doing the same. It was a beautiful day. At least until the police came and shouted at everyone to leave. I stayed indoors after that.

29 March

Today, I have struggled. I have done everything I practically can to try and find a way out of India and back home but I keep hitting only dead ends. I am fearful for what lies ahead if I have to remain here indefinitely. I do not have unlimited money. When that runs out, I do not know what will happen. What if I catch the infection and die here? What if I never get to see my children again? It's all too much. I feel suffocated and completely alone. And yet I know Im lucky in many ways. I have a room, food and water, for now. Still, I struggle to stop crying.

Coronavirus: London on lockdown Show all 29 1 /29 Coronavirus: London on lockdown Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man walks down a deserted Camden High Street Photos Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Goodge Street Station is one of the many stations closed to help reduce the spread Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown An empty street in the heart of Chinatown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown People in masks in Chinatown a day after the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A near-empty Piccadilly Circus during the first week of lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Sonja, my neighbour, who I photographed while taking a short walk. It was nice to briefly chat even from a distance Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple sit on the empty steps of the statue Eros in Piccadilly Circus Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Making sure I stay two-meters apart  DArblay Street, Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A mannequin behind a shop window. UK stores have closed until further notice Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A notice displayed on a shop window in Camden Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown As part of the lockdown, all non-essential shops have been ordered to close.Image from Camden High Street Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A skateboarder wearing a mask utilises his exercise allowance in the Camden area Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Communities have been coming together in a time of need Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman stands alone in a deserted Oxford Street. Up until a few weeks ago, on average, half a million people visited the street per day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple walk hand in hand down a street in Soho, a day before the stricter lockdown was announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown During the first week of March, shoppers focused on stockpiling necessities ahead of a countrywide lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Many supermarkers are operating a queuing system to make sure only a limited amount of customers are allowed in at anyone time Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Stay Safe  Curzon cinemas are temporarily closed under the new measures Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Pubs, restaurants and bars were ordered to shut as part of the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street There are fears that coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling shops Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden Town is eerily silent on a normal working day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Shops and supermarkets ran out of hand sanitisers in the first week of the lockdown. As we approach the end of the second week most shops now have started to stock up Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty streets around Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A noticeboard on Camden High Street urges the public to stay at home Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street, one of Londons busiest tourist streets turns quiet Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Thriller Live confirmed its West End run ended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty and eerie Soho streets after stricter rules on social distancing announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman pauses for a cigarette on Hanway Street, behind Tottenham Court Road Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man steps outside onto Hanway Street, that sits behind what is usually a bustling retail hub Angela Christofilou

30 March

I spoke to my children today, Hannah, Joe and Livi. They reminded me that it's good to cry and to get it all out. Doing so made me feel better: stronger and more resilient.

Im resigned that I will probably be here for months. I've let go of the idea of getting home. I will keep trying and emailing the embassy but I have accepted it may not happen.

I heard from someone who was on the German embassys buses. She made it back to the UK. They were all put on flights back to Frankfurt, and, from there, she could make her way home. Meanwhile, the British embassy continues to ignore phone calls and emails. It is embarrassing and shameful.

This all came before I then heard Dominic Raab telling a press conference that he and FCO staff have been working round the clock to get Brits home. Really? Because tens of thousands of us dont only remain standard but havent heard a single thing form the government. We have been cut adrift.

2 April

An email from Cat Smith. She says the government are working to make some flights available for us to buy next week. There are no more details than that.

There is still nothing from the embassies or the Foreign Office itself so there are many unanswered questions. India is a huge country. Where will these flight leave from? Will I be able to get to the flight if the state boarders are still closed? Will they even be affordable? I have told myself not to get my hopes up; and yet I cant help hoping.

The Independent has contacted the FCO for comment.
Karachi, Pakistan

A Pakistani court on Thursday overturned the murder conviction of a British Pakistani man found guilty of the 2002 kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

Instead, the court found Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

Pearl disappeared Jan. 23, 2002 in Karachi while researching links between Pakistani militants and Richard C. Reid, who became known as the "shoe-bomber" after he was arrested on a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives in his shoes. Prosecutors said Saeed lured Pearl into a trap by promising to arrange an interview with an Islamic cleric who police believed was not involved in the conspiracy.

One of Saeed's lawyers, Khwaja Naveed, said Saeed could go free unless the government chooses to challenge the court decision. Faiz Shah, prosecutor general for southern Sindh province, said the government will appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement expressing disappointment at the court decision and supporting an appeal.

"The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply disappointed to see justice in the murder case of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl denied by a Pakistani court today," said Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, asked for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' response, said: "We stand against the use of the death penalty. We do, however, strongly believe that there needs to be accountability for people who take the lives of others, especially in this case of a journalist."

Saeed has already spent 18 years in prison in southern Hyderabad on death row. The seven-year sentence for kidnapping was expected to be counted as time served, said Naveed.

The Sindh High Court also acquitted three others accused in the case: Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil, and Salman Saqib, who were earlier sentenced to life in prison. They were also collectively fined $32,000.
The global Covid-19 confirmed case count passed one million on Thursday, with 181 countries and regions recording cases. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus map, as at 2130 hours GMT, there were also more than 51,480 deaths.



The United States, Italy, Spain and Germany are the hardest hit.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) at a briefing on Thursday morning, cautioned that the world would in the next day or two, reach more than one million confirmed cases, with 50,000 deaths.



Dr Ghebreyesus said in his opening remarks at the mission briefing on the respiratory disease, which has disrupted social and economic life across the globe that, this is a new virus, and the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus  two firsts.

He cautioned that gaps in essential care could result in many more deaths than the novel coronavirus itself.



Dr Ghebreyesus said the coronavirus had exposed the weaknesses and inequities in health systems and societies, the lack of preparedness, and the gaps in supply chains and other essential systems across the globe. He urged countries to implement the WHOs recently published guidance on maintaining essential health services while responding to COVID-19.



Research and development efforts were, however, moving quickly as about 74 countries had joined in the solidarity trial, he said. The trial is assessing potential treatments for COVID-19, with more than 200 patients randomly assigned to one of the study arms.



On experience sharing, he said, the health body planned to hold a session in a few weeks to have more experiences shared from Europe and elsewhere.



The first 100,000 cases of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new virus, were reported in around 55 days, and the first 500,000 in 76 days. Cases doubled to one million within the past eight days.



While most cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been reported in the U.S. , Europe, and China, the virus is spreading rapidly across the African continent.



Ghana has recorded 204 cases COVID-19 with five (5) deaths. The number of regions reporting cases remain five (5) namely Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Upper West and Eastern. The Greater Accra Region has most of the cases (183) followed by the Northern Region (10), Ashanti Region (9), Upper West Region (1) and Eastern Region (1).



Most of the cases are reported from routine / enhanced surveillance activities. Cases from travellers under mandatory quarantine remain 89.

Source: http://net2tvgh.com/









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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She said that the droplet can contaminate the surfaces along its trajectory and may stay in the air for hours.

Staying two meter away from others may not work, an MIT researcher has warned  saying the coronavirus can rather travel eight metres and can linger for hours.

The study was conducted by MIT associate professor Lydia Bourouiba, who has researched the dynamics of coughs and sneezes for years. It was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Bourouiba warned that the current social-distancing guidelines to stay two metres from others are based on outdated models from the 1930s, reported the New York Post website.

The professor has said that the "pathogen-bearing droplets of all sizes can travel seven to eight metres ."

In the newly published research, Bourouiba also warned that "droplets that settle along the trajectory can contaminate surfaces"  and "residues or droplet nuclei" may "stay suspended in the air for hours."

According to the New York Post, she noted that a 2020 report from China showed that "virus particles could be found in the ventilation systems in hospital rooms of patients with COVID-19."

Also read: What is contact tracing and how does it help limit the spread of the virus?

Bourouiba fears that the current guidelines of social-distancing are "overly simplified" and "may limit the effectiveness of the proposed interventions" against the deadly pandemic.

She also says that the health care workers face an "underappreciated potential exposure range" while treating the sick and dying.

"There's an urgency in revising the guidelines currently being given by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the needs for protective equipment, particularly for the frontline health care workers," Bourouiba told USA Today.

The World Health Organization  which suggests 3 feet is enough to remain safe  told USA Today it "welcomed" studies.

"WHO carefully monitors emerging evidence about this critical topic and will update this scientific brief as more information becomes available," WHO said in a statement to the paper.

According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has affected over ten lakh people globally.
Have Sheriff Offices in North Carolina, possibly even Beaufort County's Sheriff Office, become too political in the discharging of their sworn constitutional duties?

No, the sheriff is a constitutional officer.

Yes, the Sheriff Office, on strong occasion, often reverts back to political patronage in the dispensation of their sworn constitutional duties.
Instagram/Nafisa Ali

In less than 12 hours of reaching out to a news agency for help, the Goa government sent its officials to help actor Nafisa Ali who is stranded in the coastal state since lockdown was announced to contain coronavirus.



DiCaprio and Powell Jobs donated a joint $5 million and Apple gave another $5 million to a GoFundMe web page; Winfrey donated another $1 million, and the Ford Foundation also put in $1 million. America's Food Fund will aim at working jointly with the existing food relief charities World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.

BCCL

From food for migrant workers to Personal Protection Equipment for medical professionals, he pledged his support to organizations that include PM Cares and Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund among others.



Ramayan, the over three-decade-old TV series based on Hindu mythology, garnered 170 million viewers in four shows over the last weekend in its new avatar, the BARC said on Thursday.



nyt.com

DiCaprio and Powell Jobs donated a joint $5 million and Apple gave another $5 million to a GoFundMe web page; Winfrey donated another $1 million, and the Ford Foundation also put in $1 million. America's Food Fund will aim at working jointly with the existing food relief charities World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.






A People Before Profit councillor says Randox - a Northern Ireland company producing COVID-19 testing kits - should be brought under public ownership to put health ahead of profiteering

People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said: "We are being asked to scrutinise whether or not a joint order was made by the Stormont Executive and the Dail for PPE in China.

"There certainly should be a coordinated approach North and South but there are actions Stormont Executive parties and the Dail have not been willing to act on when it comes to PPE, Covid-19 test kits and ventilators.

"They haven't been willing to put public health ahead of private companies raking in massive profits in the midst of this crisis. This is why their response has been slow, inadequate and putting lives at risk.

"When the WHO declared Covid-19 a global pandemic on January 30 manufacturers should have been directed by Westminster, Stormont and the Dail to repurpose production to mass produce PPE. This didn't happen and now we're scrambling to get them from China. It can still happen. For testing of Covid-19 and mass testing, Randox Laboratories in Crumlin, Antrim, should be put under public control.

"Randox has received tens of millions in public money but have be allowed to go on a profiteering binge. Instead of being directed to mass produce testing kits as part of an integrated all-Ireland health strategy they've been able to charge exorbitant prices. Prince Charles, Boris Johnson and elites get tested while workers and the sick don't. Put Randox under public control now.

"Randox pays Tory MP Owen Patterson 100,00 a year and have been allowed to put profits for shareholders ahead of people and profit. The rich and powerful shouldn't have access to testing when frontline workers can't.

"Thirdly, Medtronic based in Galway, is a global manufacturer of life-saving ventilators. Medtronic should also be put under public control to produce thousands of ventilators for health services North and South.

"Business can't go on as usual in response to this crisis. Private companies can't be allowed to put profiteering ahead of people and health. These are actions that should be taken but the political establishment, so long subservient to powerful corporations, won't contemplate them unless they come under pressure to do so. We need to keep pressing and demanding."
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, that police and military may shoot troublemakers dead, while an anti-corruption official wanted an investigation on Vice President Leni Robredo for allegedly undermining governments effort, but the Vice President found the charges ridiculous.

I will not hesitate. My orders are -- sa pulis, pati military, pati mga barangay -- na pagkaginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay ninyo ay malagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead, the President said.

Duterte, in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday night, was visibly irked by reports about the protest staged by over 100 residents of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City Wednesday morning.

Duterte blamed the leftists for the riot, which led to the arrest of 20 people.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte later asked the Quezon City Police District to release the 20 people for humanitarian reasons. The President, however, said they would not be released to set an example to those who challenge the government, create public disturbance and incite riots.

We are ready for you - gulo o barilan o patayan. I will not hesitate. My soldiers will shoot you. I will not hesitate to order the police to arrest and detain you, the President said. Hwag nyo akong takutin ng gulo-gulo kasi kung gusto talaga ninyo ng gulo, guguluhin natin ang bayan natin, tutal wala pa namang pagkain, he added.

He said the task of distributing cash and food assistance has been transferred from the politicians to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Under the governments social amelioration program as approved by Congress, 18 million low-income families will receive between P5,000 and P8,000 monthly subsidy for two months to help them cope with the fallout from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak.

Duterte ordered the DSWD to hasten the distribution of rice and other food items. Ang pera, dadating. Ang pagkain dadating, huwag lang kayong magulo para smooth -- sa Bisaya pa, hapsay. Ayaw og hadloka ang gobyerno. Do not intimidate the government. Do not challenge government. Matatalo kayo. Sigurado, Duterte said in his appeal to Filipinos not to entertain doubts about dishonesty and corruption.

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Magtiis na lang kayo ng delayed delivery, pero dadating yan at hindi ka magugutom. Hindi ka mamatay sa gutom, he added.

He warned those involved in repacking relief goods and distributing cash to the people against dishonesty and corruption.

Hwag ninyong kaltasan, hwag ninyong kunan, he said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Manuelito Luna of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) wanted the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate Vice President Robredo for illegal solicitation and undermining the efforts of the National Government in this time of national calamity.

Being a part of the National Government, Robredo is barred from competing with the DOH (Department of Health), DSWD and OCD (Office of Civil Defense) / NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), or undermining their efforts, and from soliciting donations, in cash or in kind, from the taxpaying public, especially since funds have already been appropriated or set aside for relief assistance, disaster mitigation, rehabilitation, Luna said in a statement.

However, Greco Belgica, another PACC commissioner, said PACC is not asking anyone to investigate VP Leni Robredo.

He said Lunas statement is his personal opinion and not of PACC.

This is not the time for politicking. We are not concerned with any personality. Our main concern is to make sure all the needy Filipinos get all the help they need the President promised, Belgica said.

Barry Gutierrez, Robredos spokesman, found Lunas call ridiculous, so inappropriate, so out of touch, that I had to verify if it was really true. I am deeply disappointed that it was.

Gutierrez said Robredo has done all she can to help the health workers, government institutions, and ordinary Filipinos overcome the challenges they have had to face due to the restrictions on travel, the shortage in supplies.(SunStar Philippines)
Health packs issued to overseas Chinese students

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-04-03 15:28

500,000 health packs including 11 million face masks are on their way to serve the overseas Chinese students.

According to a press conference held on March 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said that there are currently 1.6 million Chinese students studying overseas, 1.42 million of whom are still staying in resident countries.

(Chinese students in Iceland receive health packs.)

How to ensure the young peoples safety? What should they do when encountering difficulties? Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Civil Aviation Administration responded to such public concerns.

(A press conference is held to brief the public about the safety of overseas Chinese students.)

The ministry is now allocating 500,000 health packs to countries where there are a large number of Chinese students, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu.

For instance, the Chinese Embassy in Iceland has prepared a health pack which contains dozens of surgical masks, disinfectant, hand sanitizer, and an anti-epidemic guidebook.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China launched on March 25 the transportation of the first batch of health packs to 12 countries. With a total weight of 300 tonnes, they will arrive at 46 Chinese consulates in Italy, South Korea, France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Australia, Canada and Malaysia and then be delivered to the young students.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese consulates abroad have been solving a variety of difficulties for overseas Chinese students, including providing 24-hour hotlines and video conferences. A total of ten medical expert teams have so far been dispatched to eight countries to help contain and fight the coronavirus.
Medical workers bring in a patient at a special coronavirus intake tent at Brooklyns Maimonides Medical Center.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Several key factors make the novel coronavirus pandemic a new and distinct challenge from an influenza outbreak.

During flu season  even a severe one  much of the population is already immune. That's not the case with the COVID-19 virus.

A botched rollout of testing for COVID-19 has left the US less prepared for the disease than for a flu pandemic.

For the latest global case totals, death tolls, and travel information, see Business Insider's live updates here.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Know thy enemy," Sun Tzu advised in "The Art of War." That axiom rings true not just for military strategists, but also for your immune system: Your body might "know" the flu, either from a prior infection or a vaccine. That familiarity makes the flu easier to vanquish than the novel coronavirus sparking the current pandemic.

Beyond a lack of immunity, testing mishaps and unproven treatments make the novel coronavirus pandemic a new and distinct challenge from influenza outbreaks, which researchers have been working to control for decades.

No herd immunity

During flu season  even a severe one  much of the population is already immune. Your immune system might recognize the viral enemy from a previous infection and pump out antibodies to clear the contagion. Or you might have received a flu shot, a dose of dead influenza viruses that trains your body to fend off a live attack.

People with immunity, whether by infection or injection, help keep the greater public relatively safe from the flu, according to Abigail Carlson, an infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis.

"When the virus infects them, it reaches a dead end," Carlson told Business Insider. "They don't get sick, they don't pass it on. And they stop the virus in its tracks."

This protective process is called herd immunity. While not perfect  tens of thousands of Americans die of flu every year  herd immunity generally keeps the flu at levels that hospitals can manage. That's not the case for the new coronavirus.

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The flu shot is actually a dose of dead influenza viruses that trains your body to fend off a live attack.

David Greedy/Getty Images

"There's very little to no herd immunity" with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, Carlson said. "Even though the virus might not be extremely deadly, there's a larger number of people who can get infected."

Without herd immunity, humans are ideal hosts for the coronavirus, which has raced across the globe in mere months and encountered few dead ends.

"We're at a point now where the health system is under enormous strain," Carlson said. "Masks are limited, ventilators are limited, beds are limited." As of Thursday afternoon, the US had recorded more than 236,000 COVID-19 cases and at least 5,600 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

A novel coronavirus vaccine to seed herd immunity is likely more than a year away, and developing it is a tall order compared to configuring the annual flu shot, according to Otto Yang, an infectious disease researcher at UCLA.

First, there's no precursor vaccine to work from: Of the seven coronavirus types that infect humans  including four that cause the common cold  none has a proven vaccine. Researchers are still seeking how best to craft a vaccine against the new coronavirus, whether by using active virus particles, inactivated ones, or synthetic compounds.

Last month marked the first of many clinical trials  another reason Yang believes a COVID-19 vaccine will prove more elusive than the flu shot. The FDA doesn't require clinical trials to approve the annual flu vaccine. Although the exact strains the shot targets vary from year to year, the basic biochemistry stays the same and has proven safe.

So while researchers can fast-track the flu shot each year, they must carefully test any new coronavirus vaccine before offering it to the public. And that's likely to be a lengthy process.

Testing and treatment troubles

The US eschewed the World Health Organization's testing protocols for the new coronavirus and was slow to produce and distribute its own.

AP Photo/John Minchillo

A botched rollout of testing for COVID-19 has also left the US less prepared for the disease than for a flu pandemic, Yang said. To find out if a patient has a viral disease like flu or COVID-19, researchers search for the virus' genes in a swab sample from the patient's nose or mouth.

For the flu, that testing process is reliable. Though the virus mutates, most changes affect proteins on its outer surface, which bind to your cells to initiate an infection. Flu tests target more stable genes that encode for proteins inside the virus' shell. When it comes to flu, "we have PCR tests that test all the strains," Yang said, adding that the same flu testing procedures are used every year. "All that infrastructure for testing was already in place."

In contrast, figuring out which genes to target in a test for the coronavirus "had to be worked out from scratch," Yang said. The World Health Organization developed an effective protocol in January but the US decided to develop its own, and then was slow to produce and distribute it. The lack of testing has hindered researchers' understanding of how widely the disease is spreading.

The US has "failed pretty miserably" when it comes to COVID-19 testing, Yang said. Testing rates in countries like South Korea and Italy are more than double those of the US.

COVID 19 testing per capita V02

Ruobing Su/Business Insider

Patients who do test positive for the novel coronavirus have little choice but to ride out the illness. Antiviral medications that help fight the flu appear to be less effective for COVID-19 patients, Yang said.

"There's no proven treatment at this point for SARS-CoV-2." Some doctors are administering anti-malarial drugs to try and combat the coronavirus, but the efficacy of such treatments is still unclear.

Keep your distance

The new coronavirus pandemic poses numerous distinct obstacles compared to the flu. Still, Yang and Carlson see room for optimism as we await a vaccine, because so many people  though not everyone  are taking social distancing seriously.

"You're really seeing people doing their best to stay at home, stay away from others, and bring that curve down in the US," Carlson said. "Those interventions are working if we just give them a chance  Things will get better and this pandemic will indeed pass."

Read the original article on Business Insider
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 3

By Eldar Janashvili - Trend:

High efficiency of allocation of budgetary funds will help Azerbaijan easily overcome difficulties, Trend reports on April 3 referring to the Asian Development Banks report (ADB).

"Lower oil prices narrowed the current account surplus. A further decline amid the COVID-19 outbreak will slash growth in 2020 with growth recovering in 2021. The current account surplus will narrow in 2020 with lower oil prices and then widen in 2021 as oil prices recover," said the report.

The bank said Azerbaijan's government aims to reduce the ratio of external debt to GDP to 11 percent by 2025, in line with a debt management strategy approved in 2018.

"A decline in oil prices, amid the COVID-19 outbreak, will slash growth to 0.5 percent in 2020. A recovery in prices and higher oil and gas production are projected to raise growth to 1.5 percent in 2021," said the report.

"Expansion in industry, projected at 0.5 percent in 2020 and 2.0 percent in 2021, will come from stronger hydrocarbon performance, in particular higher output at the Shah Deniz II gas field with the completion in 2020 of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline to carry gas from Turkey to Italy. Growth in agriculture is expected to slow to 4.5 percent in 2020 and 4.0 percent in 2021, though continued subsidies for imports of fertilizer and seed should promote higher cash crop production. Services are expected to show little growth in 2020 as the COVID-19 outbreak hits tourism and retail trade, but they will expand by 1.0 percent in 2021 as the economy improves," the bank said.

"On the demand side, higher civil service income will fuel public consumption, and a 34 percent increase in minimum salaries should boost private consumption.Investment is expected to slow in 2020 as low oil income cuts public investment before stabilizing in 2021 as private investment picks up. Strong gas output will strengthen net exports, supporting growth," said the ADB.

The report said fiscal policy is expected to become more expansionary in 2020 with the budget deficit rising to at least 3.4 percent of GDPor 17.2 percent when excluding transfers from SOFAZas higher social spending and continued strong public investment boost total expenditure by 10.2 percent.

"The budget originally projected revenue, including transfers from SOFAZ, equal to 29.4 percent of GDP in 2020, based on an assumed oil price of $55 per barrel. Actual revenue could be lower if March 2020 oil prices persist for the rest of the year. With changes in the tax code expanding tax collections, transfers from SOFAZ were originally projected to cover 47 percent of revenue in 2020 and 45 percent in 2021. The government projected SOFAZ to receive $12.4 billion in revenue from export earnings in 2020," said the bank.

The government allocated 147 billion manat ($86.5 billion) to regulate macroeconomic stability, the labor market and reduce the negative impact of coronavirus on entrepreneurship, the ADB noted.
3M warned on Friday that the Trump administration's request for the company to stop exporting respirator masks could actually make the protective gear less available in the United States.

The Minnesota manufacturing giant issued the warning a day after President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to force 3M to step up its production of desperately needed respirator masks for front-line health workers to use in the fight against the coronavirus.

The text of Trump's order issued Thursday night directs acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to "use any and all authority available under the Act to acquire, from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company, the number of N-95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate."

In its statement, the company said the Trump administration "also requested that 3M cease exporting respirators that we currently manufacture in the United States to the Canadian and Latin American markets."

It added that "there are, however, significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies" to health care workers in those countries, where 3M is a "critical supplier of respirators."

"In addition, ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done," 3M added. "If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease."

"That is the opposite of what we and the Administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, listens as President Donald Trump speaks about COVID-19 at the White House, in Washington, on March 31, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Top Health Official Supports Idea of National Stay at Home Order

One of Americas top health officials endorsed the idea of a national stay at home order amid the COVID-19 pandemic, wondering why it hasnt been implemented yet.

Dozens of states have ordered residents to stay at home unless theyre taking essential trips, including for groceries, medicine, or healthcare. Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota are among those without a stay at home order.

Asked about a national order being made, Dr. Anthony Fauci late Thursday said it should be.

I dont understand why thats not happening, Fauci responded. If you look at whats going on in this country, I just dont understand why were not doing that. We really should be.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, acknowledged the tension between federal orders and state rights. Earlier Thursday, he said during an appearance on NBCs Today that there still is that issue of central government versus the ability and the right of a state to make their own decision.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing on COVID-19 in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, on March 31, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump has declined to issue a national order, preferring to leave orders up to governors. A number this week issued stay at home orders for the first time, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, citing Trumps extension of social distancing guidelines until April 30.

You have to give a little flexibility, Trump said at this week at a briefing at the White House. If you have a state in the Midwest, or if Alaska, for example, doesnt have a problem, its awfully tough to say, close it down. We have to have a little bit of flexibility.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams said during an appearance on Today this week that America has a system of federalism that lets governors make the decisions. But were going to give them the best possible guidelines we can, and thats to stay at home and to social distance, he added.

Some states in the middle of the country have seen far fewer cases than the coasts and governors have resisted giving orders to stay at home.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem told reporters this week that she takes her role with respect to public safety very seriously but added that the people themselves are primarily responsible for their safety.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks at the White House in Washington in a Dec. 16, 2019, file photograph. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

They are the ones entrusted with expansive freedomsthey are free to exercise their rights to work, worship, and playor to stay at home, or to conduct social distancing, she said. The calls to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to this problem in South Dakota is herd mentality, not leadership.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said at a press conference on March 25 that he doesnt want to enter a shelter-in-place environment.

I do not want to shut down our manufacturing or our, other than essential, businesses. I dont want to go to that step, he said.

And so how do you avoid having to go those additional steps, like weve seen in other states? And the answer is: lets all do our responsibility.

State Health Secretary Dr. Nate Smith said residents should take care not to gather in crowds.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (round magenta objects), which the Epoch Times refers to as the CCP virus, emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. (NIAID-RML)

I dont think we have to shut down every place that has crowds, but you do not have to be crowded together just because its a public place, Smith said. Its important that we all take responsibility and be mindful of what were doing.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said at a press conference on April 2 that his state is much earlier in the epidemic curve than states like New York, which has the most CCP virus cases in the United States.

Our rules are more strict than some places with shelter at home orders, he added. We are taking the appropriate steps.

South Dakota has 165 confirmed cases, 17 total hospitalizations, two deaths, and 57 recoveries. Arkansas has 683 confirmed cases, 66 current hospitalizations, 23 patients on ventilators, and 12 deaths. Nebraska has 255 confirmed cases and six deaths.

States without stay at home orders have announced a number of other measures, including asking the elderly to stay at home and shutting down businesses deemed non-essential.
President Trump speaks about the coronavirus at the White House on Friday. (Associated Press)

When President Trump battled impeachment early this year, his reelection campaign staff blasted out Facebook ads, texts and emails to donors and supporters, arguing that he was delivering gonzo job figures and a soaring stock market in the face of bitter partisan obstruction.

Those ads drew Trumps highest audiences on Facebook, his campaigns chief advertising platform, which it has used to test out thousands of messages and images since the 2016 election.

Now with the nations economy reeling, more than 10 million Americans out of work and the stock market plummeting 30%, Trump and his aides are struggling to find a new message he can take to Americans for the November election.

Five weeks ago, it was all going to be about this amazing economic machine that we had built, said Stephen Moore, an economic advisor to Trumps 2016 campaign who remains in contact with the White House. It seems like 100 years ago.

So far, at least, Trumps campaign has not directly mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic in its Facebook ads. It is test-marketing a handful of ads that only vaguely allude to it, casting Trump as a unifying leader for a "nation facing uncharted territory." One says Trump is uniquely suited to keep the country "SAFE."

Whether voters agree with that argument, and how they view his competence in battling the coronavirus outbreak and reviving the ravaged economy, will probably determine his political fate, overwhelming other judgments about his rocky tenure in office. Polls show he faces widespread concern that he mismanaged the governments early response.

After weeks of downplaying the coronavirus crisis, Trump cast himself as a "wartime president" in mid-March, recommended drastic social distancing measures and signed the countrys largest-ever stimulus package. During his nightly news conferences, he went from rosy projections of a quick turnaround to grim-faced warnings of 100,000 to 240,000 American deaths and a deep economic recession, if not worse.

Story continues

Larry Kudlow, Trumps top economic advisor, said Friday that the 10 million jobless claims filed in the last two weeks dont fully reflect the economic pain. Kudlow, who had spent weeks suggesting the stock market crash offered investors a chance to buy on the cheap, conceded that hardships will get worse before they get better.

In response to another bleak jobs report Friday, Trumps campaign promised relief for small businesses and workers in the $2-trillion stimulus bill passed by Congress, even though the initial rollout of $350 billion in loans for small businesses was mired in confusion and delays.

It also accused former Vice President Joe Biden, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, of useless partisan sniping from the sidelines. Since the crisis worsened, Biden has been forced to run his campaign from the basement of his home in Wilmington, Del.

Bidens campaign called Fridays job report, which said the economy shed 701,000 jobs in March, sending the unemployment rate to its sharpest one-month rise since 1975, a flashing red light and said that Trump needs to push another stimulus package to stop the economic bleeding.

Other red lights are flashing for Trumps campaign, however.

After embracing national guidelines for social distancing in mid-March, Trumps approval ratings for his handling of the crisis began to climb. But a poll released Friday by ABC News and Ipsos showed a decline from 55% three weeks ago to 47%.

Several governors, especially those who issued stringent stay-at-home orders, saw their poll numbers jump.

Governors have been seen as more clear and decisive about their actions, and theyve gotten a lot of credit, said Charles Franklin, who conducts a monthly tracking poll for Marquette University in Wisconsin, a crucial state for Trumps reelection prospects. Trump has been less consistent in his rhetoric about how we should think about the crisis, but the consequences of those actions are less clear.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, wins high marks for his handling of the epidemic from three-quarters of the states voters, for example. Trumps handling rates well with just over half of Wisconsin voters, according to Franklins poll.

Some of that difference may be the result of Trumps divisive rhetoric, which has helped him maintain a solid core of support, but has prevented him from winning over Democrats and independents throughout his presidency.

Attitudes about the president are deeply ingrained, both positive and negative, said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. So there is a powerful tendency to view the presidents performance through the preexisting lens.

Trump has done best in polling when he has spoken realistically about the threat  as when he introduced the social distancing guidelines last month and when he extended them on Monday until April 30, with a painful assessment of the potential death toll.

The more his briefings are like Sgt. Joe Friday  just the facts  the stronger he is, said Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster, a reference to the old Dragnet series.

My advice is to be realistic  to describe things as they are, not as a salesman  and the more realistic he is, the more reassuring he can be, said Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for President George W. Bush. If theres a problem, point it out in a nonaccusatory manner and explain how youre going to fix it.

Trump has done that on rare occasions. But in many tweets and public appearances, he has lashed out at governors for demanding too much and not being appreciative enough  even as their hospitals and morgues overflow  and suggested he might divert resources to those who say nice things about him.

He has denied responsibility for widespread testing problems, falsely insisting any American who wanted a test could get one. And instead of using his authority to coordinate a unified response, he had told states to solve their own supply problems, leading to a Darwinian fight for test kits, ventilators, masks and other critically needed medical gear.

Some Republicans believe voters will forgive or forget Trumps many statements downplaying the danger, his boasts that infections were under control, and his repeated claims, as recently as a week ago, that COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, was no worse than the flu.

Both Bidens campaign and Priorities USA, the main Democratic super PAC, have launched TV and digital ads in swing states featuring Trumps early expressions of nonchalance about the coronavirus.

Tim Miller, a Republican strategist who worked on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bushs failed 2016 presidential campaign and has become a vocal critic of Trump, said Democrats can argue that Trump not only dismissed the danger with his rhetoric, but also failed to act swiftly enough on the information he had.

The timeline here is critical, because this is such a slow-moving disaster, Miller said. Theres this flattening of time with us all stuck in our homes, and people are open to the idea that everyone was caught by surprise and came to it late, and thats not the case.

He cited a Feb. 5 tweet from Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), who concluded after leaving an administration briefing that Trumps team isnt taking this seriously enough.

There has to be no mistaking the fact that the Trump administration knew this was coming, knew enough to brief the Hill, and yet the president failed to act when it would have really mattered, Miller said. The Democrats challenge is making this as clear as possible, and its a lot harder, politically, than just clouding things up and making it seem like everyone is just as guilty as he is.




Robots can significantly help in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that is spreading across the globe. As the number of cases tops one million, and the death toll reaching 53,000, scientists race to develop a drug or vaccine for the infectious disease. Now, robots are playing a major role in this fight, improving the health and safety of individuals and patients.

Six robot nurses at Circolo hospital in Varese, Italy, are reading information from equipment that measures patients' vital statistics and relaying it to doctors and nurses. The area has been hit the hardest by coronavirus and medical staff say the robots enable them to monitor patients more closely. Credit: Reuters

A team of international scientists from the Institute of Medical Robotics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, Texas A&M University, Stanford University, and the, The BioRobotics Institute in Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, highlights the role of robots in the current global pandemic, offering cost-effective solutions to contribute to the control of the spread.

There are many ways robots can help combat the coronavirus disease. They can work as disinfectant-spraying robots and drones to monitor people during a lockdown. Many scientists worldwide are currently working to reduce the impact of the pandemic, and at the same time, shed light on the role of automation in supplementing human skills. Robots can also provide aid to health workers by doing some of the jobs.

In the study, published in the journal Science, the team explored the potential of robot technologies to fight the pandemic.

Role of robotics in the COVID-19 fight

Robots play many roles and can be useful resources during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Robots have the potential to be deployed for disinfection to deliver essential goods such as medicine and food, assisting in border control, and monitoring vital signs of people.

In Italy, for instance, they are using a robot nurse called Tommy. Tommy is one of six robots providing aid to doctors and nurses, caring for COVID-19 patients at the Circolo Hospital in Varese City, in Lombardy, the epicenter of the outbreak in Italy.

Robots keep medical staff safer in Italian hospital by monitoring patients Play

The robot plays the role of a nurse who stays at the patient's bedside so doctors can look after others who are in serious condition. The robot monitors the patient in the room and relays information to the hospital staff. The patient can use the robot's touchscreen to allow them to record messages and talk to doctors. The robot helps to significantly limit the number of direct contact doctors, and nurses have with a patient, hence, reducing their risk of infection.

Areas were robots are needed

In the 2015 Ebola outbreak, the White House Office of Science and Technology organized workshops that identified three broad areas where robotics are beneficial  clinical care, logistics, and surveillance. Clinical care encompasses decontamination and telemedicine, logistics involve the handling and delivery of contaminated waste, and reconnaissance entails the monitoring compliance of voluntary quarantines and those who are in locked-down regions.

China has used many of these applications, and other countries can do it, too. For instance, in a city in the Philippines, disinfectant drones are being used to help contain the virus. Further, frontline practitioners are exposed to the pathogen through direct patient contact, emphasizing the need for protective gear. Robots like Tommy protect the health workers from contracting the virus.

The current COVID-19 outbreak has introduced another area of robotic use  continuity of work and maintenance of socioeconomic functions.

Disease prevention is vital in containing the virus, and this can be done through disinfection. Robot-controlled noncontact ultraviolet (UV) surface disinfection is now being used since the virus can spread through contaminated surfaces. The virus can stay on surfaces for days, especially plastic and metals. Hospitals can use robots to disinfect the area and reduce the infection of health workers.

Robots can also play a pivotal role in the screening and diagnosis of patients. Robots can act as vital signs monitoring devices in public areas. They can help monitor the temperature in places where people enter and in ports of entry. Camera systems can help screen multiple people at the same time in large areas.

Robots can help in other areas like in collecting and testing throat swabs for diagnosis and drawing of blood for collecting samples through venipuncture. They can also aid in delivering medicines and essential goods. Other areas where robots can be beneficial include telemedicine, teleoperation, online seminars, handling of dangerous waste products, and doing other high-risk tasks for humans, among others.
T he Health Secretary has called for backing from private bodies to hit the 100,000 per day coronavirus testing goal.

Matt Hancock said yesterday that the Government hoped to ramp up to that figure, conceding that numbers had not reached the level of other nations due to a lack of test infrastructure from the outset of the outbreak.

Today, he said institutions that can assist will need to throw their weight behind the target for it to be met.

"We need to bring companies, private organisations, the universities all need to bring their testing capabilities to bear on this. Britain didn't go into this crisis with a big testing industry," he told Sky.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

Pressed by the BBC on the testing goal, he was asked if he can guarantee 100,000 tests a day will happen by the end of April.

To this he said: Yes, its got to happen.

He added: Ive got a plan to get us there. Ive set it as a goal. It absolutely is what the nation needs.

However, he conceded a "huge amount of work" is still needed to get there.

He said: One of the things I tried to do yesterday was set out just some of the real-world challenges that there are. There are barriers, there will be bumps in the road and some of this is going to be very difficult.

It comes after the Government faced immense pressure to up testing levels, with calls for frontline care and NHS staff in particular to receive assessments.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast
Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, responded to an attack on him by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu.

Mallam Shehu, while speaking on behalf of the Presidency, had urged Nigerians to ignore Soyinkas comments on the lockdown order declared by Buhari on Sunday during a broadcast.

The lockdown taking place in Lagos, Ogun and FCT, was part of wider measures adopted by government to halt the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

Garba Shehu therefore said that Nigerians should ignore Soyinka for kicking against the move because he lacked knowledge on issues of health and science in general.

But responding to this on Thursday morning, Soyinka described Shehu as a paid propagandist doing the bidding of a clueless administration.

He said, Mr, Shehu Garba failed to mention a most important profession in which I am confirmed: Alarmist. Unpaid. Its a universal function of humanity even in the midst of the worst of crises.

To save me the trouble of responding to the mind boggling irrelevances of paid errand voices, a professional colleague kindly sent me an affirmative article in the New York Times.

You will understand that I cannot take issues with a propagandist whose clear mission is to distract public attention from the complex issues of health  both the physiological and the mental.

The New York Times article referred to by Soyinka raises concern on how the global health crisis was creating an avenue for political leaders to exhibit dictatorial tendencies.

The article went on to express fear over whether the new powers acquired by heads of governments in many countries of the world including in Nigeria will be relinquished by the end of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Recall that several leading legal practitioners in Nigeria including Femi Falana had said that the lockdown order by Buhari could not stand except backed by law.

Shortly afterwards, Buhari on Monday announced the signing into law of the COVID-19 Regulations.

Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004) conferred such powers on him.

It was the legal framework needed to enforce the lockdown order in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT.

The order has taken effect in Lagos and FCT while it will be enforced in Ogun starting from Friday.

Source  Sahara reporters
Back in January, in the time before the world changed forever, a friend in a government position who would know texted me with a warning. Stock up on essential medications, he advised. The virus in Wuhan is going to affect supply chains because a lot of meds are made in China.

I shared this information with family and a few other friends, but even as I did it I felt a little grotty, like I was spreading alarm when the whole thing seemed a bit far-fetched. My own selfish anxiety was that there wouldnt be an epidural for me when I gave birth mid-year. But pregnant in a pandemic? That scenario wasnt on my radar.

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Now things are serious, and my conversations with other friends expecting children tend to circle back to a handful of studies conducted on infected women giving birth in Wuhan in January.

We have all read them, even those of us  like me  who do not generally read The Lancet for fun. The data set is small (nine women in one study, three in another), the conclusions confusing. Mother does not appear to pass the virus to baby, whats known as vertical transmission. (How I wish I never needed to know that phrase.)
Ward Greenberg, an American lawyer working in Germany, said he was going to give up drinking temporarily for lent, but when the coronavirus pandemic hit, he decided it would be sufficient to stay dry just on weeknights. But he soon decided five nights without a drink was too many.

"Now it's no drinking midweek - so Wednesdays are dry," he said.

Kelly James, a content specialist for a digital marketing company outside of Chicago, said the stress of "home schooling" her 10-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son has her imbibing a couple of glasses of wine a night. In the past, she rarely drank on weeknights. She also said she's an extrovert who thrives on connection, and the lack of human contact beyond her children has been a big challenge for her.

"I am walking, staying connected with friends and practicing gratitude, but for now the wine is a crutch to get me through a challenging situation," she said. "Is it ideal? Nope. But right now it's one of a handful of tools in my tool kit - along with healthier ones I mentioned - that I'm going to use."

The extreme worry and isolation sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is likely leading many people to increase their consumption of beer, wine and hard alcohol, experts say. A recent survey by the market research firmNielsen reported off-premises sales of alcoholic beverages across the United States have grown 55 percent in the week ending March 21, said John Bodnovich, executive director of the American Beverage Licensees, which represents about 13,000 bars, taverns, restaurants and package stores. (Some of that growth may be due to bars and restaurants now being closed in many places.)

Stress is a common trigger for drinking, said C. Vaile Wright, director of clinical research and quality in the Practice Directorate for the American Psychological Association, and this pandemic has led to an unprecedented period of stress.

"We are seeing more people using alcohol as a way to cope with the anxiety and stress and uncertainty of this situation," she said. "I think a lot of people use it to numb out. While that's certainly a very human response to what's going on right now, it's generally not the best way of managing stress."

For one thing, alcohol is a depressant, both physically and mentally, so those already prone to depression or sadness may find those feelings exacerbated by drinking, she said.

And it can actually increase one's anxiety, because it interferes with the ability to get quality sleep at night, Wright said. Without quality sleep, it can be hard to manage stress the next day.

Anxiety is definitely a factor for Noelle Farra, a human resources officer in New Jersey. Since the pandemic has unfolded in her hard-hit state, her weekend cocktail has morphed into a nightly cocktail, sometimes two.

"The real fear of the virus, as well as the manufactured fear, from the media, has made me more anxious," she said." Getting to the end of the day without paralyzing anxiety is almost a goal. I reward myself with a glass of wine or light beer."

During a recent weekend, Farra said, she actually worried she and her husband might run out of wine. That's not a thought that would've cropped up in the past.

Maria Sommerville, a school administrator in Pittsford, New York, says she used to drink about a glass or two of wine or bourbon a month. Now, she has a glass of wine or a cocktail every night.

"There is so much uncertainty - illness, job insecurity, social isolation," she said. The anxiety ratcheted up a recent weekend when she found out her hometown of Albany, Georgia, had one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the world.

"When I think of people from there, I think of gregarious, fun-loving folks," she said. Now, she wonders how many of the deceased she'll know.

For some, drinking is just something to do when stuck at home with little to do.

Before the pandemic, Bart Calendar, an American freelance writer living in Montpellier, France, which is under lockdown, said he would go out most nights with friends and have a few beers and maybe a shot of hard alcohol. Now, he drinks vodka and tonics most afternoons - and finds he's going through a bottle of vodka every several days.

"It's super boring just sitting at home all day long," he said. A bottle of spirits also lasts longer than a six-pack of beer, so he doesn't have to go to the store as often.

For those who work in health care, the need to relax at the end of a stress-packed day can make a drink feel almost essential.

"I usually drink one to two glasses of wine a week, on the weekend. Now, I drink one to two glasses nightly, after work," said a New Jersey doctor who asked that her name not be used for privacy reasons. "It helps to deal with the stress and anxiety of uncertainty."

She is doing a combination of telehealth and outpatient medicine, and she is not in the frenzy of hospital coronavirus treatment. But given that New Jersey is one of the pandemic's hottest hot spots, she fears she will soon be recruited to the "front lines," which could mean having to quarantine herself from her husband and two children to protect them.

Another doctor who tends patients in the New York-area hospitals and also asked not to be named for privacy reasons, said healthy colleagues have gotten very sick, some requiring ICU and ventilation support. It's been upsetting and unnerving.

Faced with the potential prospect that she might get the disease at work, she said she spent the past week compiling passwords for accounts, reviewing her life insurance policy and updating her will.

"These are things we all do 'just in case.' But the scary part for some physicians and nurses is that 'just in case' may not be so far down the road," she said. While she would have an occasional glass of wine in the past, she now finds she has a drink every night to decompress

"Tonight, I hugged the kids good night and told them I loved them ... not knowing if I will have to be quarantined when I return from my next 24-hour call tomorrow, or worse, get really sick sometime in the not so distant future," she said.

Liquor stores, meanwhile, which in most states are allowed to continue operating despite restrictions on many other stores, have noticed an uptick in sales. In the San Francisco Bay area, for instance, which had one of the earliest orders to stay at home, residents reportedly drank 42 percent more than usual during the first week of the rule.

"People are certainly purchasing more alcohol, and the numbers have born that out," said Bodnovich, adding that the Nielsen survey found the biggest uptick was in tequila, gin and premixed cocktails, followed by wine and then beer.

People want to remain social, even if its via Zoom, FaceTime or Skype, and having a virtual drink together is part of that, he said. "I think there's also been a general pantry-stocking across consumer package goods, whether it's alcohol, toilet paper, or ground beef," Bodnovich said.

Thomas Murray, who co-owns Bottle Shop, a liquor store in Spring Lake, New Jersey, said there was a spike in business a few weeks ago amid reports that the state was going to shutter liquor stores, along with other retail stores, to combat the spread of the virus. When Gov. Phil Murphy instead deemed liquor stores "'essential businesses," Murray said he thought his sales would slow - they haven't.

"Our traffic just spiked big time going into that week, right before the governor declared us as essential, and it hasn't tapered off to the degree I thought it would," he said. "When I look at last March to this March, consumption is up considerably."

Helen Wolkowicz, a writer in Montreal, said she was never a big drinker, preferring to get her calories from food. But in the past several weeks, she's been trying out new cocktails with her 20-year-old daughter, who lives with her.

"Prior to the pandemic, I'd have a drink at home maybe once or twice a week. Last week, I realized I had one every ... day," she said. "I think the motivation is subtle and complex: trying to feel 'normal' while indulging in what pleasures are available."

But now she feels like her body expects it, she said.

"I don't like that feeling," she said.

That feeling may not be her imagination. Wright said it doesn't take long for the body to become addicted to drinking alcohol, even in a short period of time.

"It's a habit, like anything else. And it's an incredibly addictive substance," she said.

For that reason, she recommended being mindful of your alcohol use. Pay attention to when you're drinking, why you're drinking and how much you're drinking. When one or two drinks in the evening turns into drinking during the workday, or having so many drinks at night that you're not well rested, you will wake up with a hangover and you become emotionally dysregulated.

"Because that's what alcohol can do," she said. "It can make you more depressed, tearful, hopeless and anxious."

She suggested balancing the alcohol intake with more effective coping skills - physical task such as exercise, baking or dancing, or cognitive tasks, such as puzzles, crosswords or reading, or sensory tasks, such as spalike baths, with candles and lotions.
An American who spent more than two months locked down in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus epidemic first emerged, is urging people back home to prepare for a lengthy interruption to their lives.

Don't go into this thinking it's going to be over in a few weeks, Benjamin Wilson told NBC News from his apartment in Wuhan where he and his family spent eight weeks in confinement.

After initially experiencing problems getting evacuated back to the U.S., Wilson, 38, chose to stay in the city where he has lived for more than 16 years, with his Chinese wife, Li Qin, and seven-year-old daughter Jasmin as it went into lockdown in late January.

For six out of the eight weeks that the family spent cooped up inside, they could not leave their apartment at all, relying on delivery services for their daily needs.

No one would have anticipated that it would be this long, said Wilson, originally from Alexandria, Louisiana.

Image: A woman wearing a face mask pedals along a street in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province (Noel Celis / AFP - Getty Images)

As the virus spread outside of China, infecting nearly a million people around the world, a number of European nations have entered nationwide lockdowns.

In the U.S., which now has the world's highest number of cases, no federal quarantine has been enacted although a number of states have imposed "shelter in place" orders.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Wilson warned Americans they should be be prepared to be in it for the long haul.

Act as though it's going to be a lot longer from the beginning  financially pace yourself, physically try to set up a routine, keep some kind of schedule with exercise, with your childrens education and just prepare for it to be a lot longer.

For more than two months, Wuhan residents faced draconian restrictions, with all movement in, out and around the industrial city of 11 million people blocked.

But in recent days, Wuhan has been showing signs of going back to normal.

With its subway and train service resuming this weekend, some businesses, supermarkets and shopping malls have also re-opened their doors, hoping for customers to start trickling in. Travel restrictions are also expected to be lifted on April 8.

Story continues

But despite restrictions easing off, Wilson said there has been a shift in the psyche of Wuhans residents, with few rushing to go outside or take their masks off.

People are still in a quarantine mindset and I don't know how many weeks or months they are going to continue to behave as though there's still an imminent threat, even though we might have almost no infections, he said. There's always a fear that it's not actually under control, that it could re-emerge.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage and alerts about the coronavirus outbreak

The reopening of Wuhan marks a turning point in Chinas fight against the virus, with nearly no domestic new cases reported in recent days and the majority of new infections coming from abroad. But lingering questions about whether the city has completely stemmed the epidemic are not making the return to the normal easy.

Wilson expects it could be months before life gets back to what it used to be before the outbreak despite Chinese governments optimistic outlook and eagerness to reignite the economy.

I myself don't really have a clear bright line for when I would say it's safe, that I don't need to wear a mask anymore or socially distance myself, he said. I'm not sure any newspaper or any government could just tell me that and I would believe it.

I think that its going to be a very slow transition, he added.
Bengaluru: So far Covid-19 pandemic has killed 3 elderly persons in Karnataka, however 13 youngsters in the state have committed suicide due to non-availability of liquor.

Sudden lockdown across the country has led to multiple problems, including non-availability of alcohol making youngsters go to depression.

According to the latest statistics, 13 persons across the state have ended their lives. Among 13 deceased, 6 were from Udupi district alone and all were below 40 years age group.

Pressure is mounting on chief minister B S Yediyurappa to open the MRP liquor shops across the state. The Excise department is the second highest revenue generating department in the state after commercial taxes.

On top of this, many deaddiction centres in the state have shut down following lockdown orders.

Many youngsters who are addicted to alcohol developed depression symptoms. Sleeplessness, headache and body shivering has been reported and 104 helpline of the state government was flooded with calls from alcohol addicted persons.

They are pleading to the 104 helpline workers to prevail upon the government to open the liquor shop for at least two to three hours in a day.

Many calls have been received by the 104 helpline seeking medical assistance to addicted persons. Meanwhile, NIMHANS has offered medical assistance to alcohol addicted persons, as many people have been admitted to the deaddiction centre of NIMHANS at Bengaluru.

The Health and Family Welfare department has arranged emergency medical assistance to alcohol addicted persons and asked them to approach district psychiatrists, even telephone number has been provided to them through 104 helpline, says a senior officer in the Health and Family Welfare department.

Dr N Manjunatha, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Principal Investigator (KTM Program) of NIMHANS offered medical assistance to alcohol addicted persons.

He sent an email to government doctors stating Karnataka prohibited sale of alcohol during this lockdown. In turn, patients with alcohol addiction will come with withdrawal symptoms such as tremor of hands and body, shivering, sweating, flushing, palpitation, even seizures (withdrawal seizures) and confusion (delirium tremens). These patients can be managed at PHCs too. In case any patients of you reach with these symptoms, please contact me for telephonic or video consultations.

Minister of Excise H Nagesh was not available for comment despite repeated attempts to reach him regarding whether the government will look into humanitarian grounds of the demand of alcohol addicted people in the state to open liquor shops across the state.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:32:36|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's state pharmaceutical enterprise told the media on Friday that it is expecting 400,000 sets of N95 masks and 400,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) suits to arrive from China next week to assist Thai medical workers in fighting the COVID-19 patients.

"These products are urgent and we will have an airline to fly to China to pick them up," said Dr. Withoon Danwiboon, managing director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO).

Withoon said the purchasing process of the N95 masks and PPE took a while as it needed approval from Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several medical schools.

"However, this lot will not be enough as it will be used up in less than a month," said Withoon. "We will be ordering a million more from China."

Meanwhile, FDA Secretary-General Dr. Paisarn Dunkum said every country has placed orders of N95 masks and PPE suits as they are in high demand, especially with the current COVID-19 crisis.

"We have already placed order from our local manufacturer 3M Co. Ltd in January, but we need more," said Paisarn.

Withoon said the GPO has spent 660 million baht (20 million U.S. dollars) in buying the first lot of N95 masks and PPE suits from China.

The Ministry of Public Health on Friday reported 103 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,978 in Thailand.
The Coptic Orthodox Church has said that it will further extend the suspension of prayers and activities in its churches, including Holy Week prayers, until the coronavirus epidemic is contained.

The church said in a statement on Thursday that it will halt many important occasions and rituals that were scheduled to take place in the near future.

Easter Sunday falls on 19 April this year.

Holy Week prayers and the preparation of chrism, the holy anointing oil, are among the activities that will be halted due to the suspension, the church, to which the majority of Egyptian Christians belong, explained in its statement.

Marriage services have also been halted, while funerals are being limited to the family of the deceased.

The church added in the statement that it will donate EGP 3 million to the state charitable fund Tahya Masr to purchase ventilators.

It also directed the sewing workshops in different parishes to contribute to making medical garments needed for medical workers, to assist them in their greatly appreciated national efforts.

On Friday, Al-Azhar, Egypt's top Sunni Islamic authority, donated EGP 5 million to the fund, as a contribution to Egypts efforts in fighting coronavirus.

On 11 March, Egypt suspended mass prayers at mosques in an unprecedented move aimed at curbing the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country.

The Coptic Orthodox Church also suspended services on that date.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Egypt stands at 865, as of Thursday.

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A Pakistani court has overturned a death sentence and murder conviction imposed on a British-born militant over the 2002 killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl.



Defense lawyer Khawja Naveed said that, in handing down the decision, a two-member bench of the High Court of Sindh Province reduced Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh's sentence to seven years in prison for kidnapping, in what international media freedom watchdogs called a "denial of justice."

The United States said the decision was an "affront to victims of terrorism."

Since Sheikh has been in prison since 2002, he was expected to be released, but the court had yet to issue such an order, Naveed added.



Pearl, 38, was The Wall Street Journal's South Asia bureau chief when he was abducted and beheaded in Karachi in 2002, while researching a story about Islamist militants.



A video showing Pearl's decapitation was delivered to the U.S. consulate in Karachi nearly a month later.



Sheikh, a former student at the London School of Economics, was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court, while three other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment.



Naveed said those three had been acquitted by the court in its new ruling.



Faiz Shah, the provincial prosecutor-general, said he intends to appeal the ruling.



"We will go through the court order once it is issued, we will probably file an appeal," Shah told Reuters.

Alice Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asian affairs at the U.S. State Department, said on Twitter that the overturning of the convictions was "an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere."

"We welcome Pakistans decision to appeal the verdict," Wells added. "Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice."

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said it was deeply disappointed to see justice in the murder case of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl denied by a Pakistani court today."

Reporters Without Borders condemned the court's "incoherent" ruling, which the watchdog called "a shocking denial of justice" for Pearls family and "a symbol of impunity for crimes of violence against journalists in Pakistan.

In January 2011, a report released by the Pearl Project, an investigative journalism team at Georgetown University in Washington, claimed that the wrong men were convicted for Pearl's murder.



The investigation claimed the reporter was murdered by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks.



Mohammed was arrested in Pakistan in 2003 and is being held in the U.S. facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP
Actress Sana Saeed Reveals Her Father Passed Away On Janta Curfew Day While She Was Stuck In LA Due To Coronavirus Pandemic
Looking for something fun, tasty and totally socially distant, that helps members of Tucsons four-legged community? Food Truck Take-Out Fridays at Medella Vina Ranch checks all those boxes.

The ranch, at 4450 S. Houghton Road, is teaming up with the Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank for an event meant to raise money for local animal care while helping food trucks stay afloat during the global pandemic.

The first roundup is this Friday, April 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. and will be held every Friday for the foreseeable future.

Heres how it works:

Hungry patrons can check out which food trucks are participating on the Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank (tucne.ws/saafb) and Medella Vina Ranch (facebook.com/MedellaVina) Facebook pages.

From there, they place their order directly with the food trucks through contact information listed on each trucks page.

When the order is ready, the customer will receive a text. They can then drive up to their truck of choice to pick up their meals.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- Businesses seeking the communitys support to stay afloat amid the coronavirus outbreak will soon have another way to seek assistance and help workers.

Joe Malcoun, co-founder of the Cahoots tech hub, has a history of helping build companies like Ann Arbor-based Nutshell and The Blind Pig. After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered non-essential services and businesses to close to limit the spread after COVID-19, Malcoun, motivated by his passion for small businesses and a tip from the Detroit mayors office, developed an initiative that could help local companies while prioritizing support for front-line workers.

Ann Arbor businesses urge customers to buy gift cards, use curbside and online services amid coronavirus closures

Ive been thinking about how we can stand them up together, Malcoun said. A friend called me, and she works for the mayors office in Detroit. She was talking about this idea of buying gift cards and sending them to people at hospitals. I then went to the Cahoots teams.

Cahoots houses about 50 companies with hundreds of workers, he said. Members communicate through a Slack channel, which Malcoun used to ask for help on an initiative where people can donate money to be transferred into a gift card that front-line workers will receive.

We will then partner directly with hospitals and f stores to obtain and identify people working on the front lines," Malcoun said. "Well send them an email with a code. That code can be used on our site to enter the marketplace. You can then use that credit to pick and choose whichever gift card from participating restaurants and retailers.

It puts money into bank account of those businesses. It gives a token of gratitude to the folks on the front line."

He and his wife and Caitlin Klein are committing $25,000 to launch the program. Once the website launches, it will also have a section that lists local fundraisers and relief funds for businesses seeking aid.

SaveMIFaves.org now features more than 250 Michigan restaurants, gift cards

Michigan Medicine is partnering with Malcoun to provide gift cards for a variety of employees, from nurses, technicians, physicians, social workers and environmental services. Molly White, director of patient experience, said the initiative could serve a significant percentage of employees.

Theyre worried and have the same stress and fears we all do about keeping our families safe, because theyre not working from home, White said. Some of the core principals that we try to operate from is trying to have a compassionate and caring environment ... not just for patients, but our team members. The gift card is just one component.

The hospital has several initiatives in place to identify staff with a variety of needs, such as providing food, household or childcare support. The gift cards will be a nice surprise and will recognize them with a small token of appreciation," White added.

This effort is more just appreciation, but making sure theyre distributed equitably, so were going to look at all staff considered front-line healthcare team members, White said. Were really appreciative of this partnership."

The website is expected to launch within a week and it will have a field for donations. All funds will be managed by Ann Arbor SPARK, Malcoun said. The idea was to launch with some level of participation, then drive more businesses to participate once the website is live.

I really hope our community recognizes the significance and need here, Malcoun said. This is not about supporting my specific project. I just hope anybody who has means and cares about this community finds a way to reach out and help those who may not survive.

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CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Complete coverage of coronavirus in Michigan.
California Announces Partnerships, Strategies to Count Youngest Children in 2020 Census

Today, the California Census 2020 Campaign and the First 5 Association of California announce a range of outreach strategies and partnerships to help ensure the states youngest children are counted in the upcoming 2020 Census.

Through their All Kids Count campaign, First 5 Association of California is using the campaign to complement its outreach to young children and their families and has forged a partnership that brings together Californias largest networks working with children aged zero to five in California.

Through the First 5 campaigns toolkit, which includes social media, videos, and printed materials, families will receive information in ways that are most respectful of their first language. First 5s across California are partnering with partnering with school districts and foodbanks across the state to distribute Census materials to families with young children as part of existing food distribution operations. The campaign will deploy trusted messengers including in PSAs in English and Spanish airing on PBS from April 1.

They are also sharing resources with relevant state agencies and departments like the California Health and Human Services Agency to inform Californians they already serve. Each partner serves the most at risk and isolated, and hardest-to-count families in the state.

Young children in California have been historically undercounted in previous censuses. They are also those with the most to gain from a complete count  it is their future that this Census will fund, their representation that will be determined. It is crucial that parents and guardians have the tools and information necessary to ensure that our young children are counted in 2020, said Ditas Katague, Director of the California Complete Count  Census 2020.

Ensuring the youngest children are counted has been a historic challenge. Moreover, there is evidence that the undercount for this population has been increasing while there has been an improvement in coverage for other age groups. The 2010 Census had a net undercount of 4.6 percent for young children, compared with a net overcount of 0.1 percent for the total population[1]. That translates into a net undercount of almost 1 million young children nationwide, and around 210,000 in Californiathe highest of any state.

This campaign is about helping families secure the support they need for the next decade. An undercount of young children in 2020 would affect funding for programs that support children: schools, childcare, health care, food assistance, housing, and public transportation, said Kim Goll, President of the First 5 Association of California Executive Committee Board.

In light of COVID-19 concerns, it is important to highlight that every Californian can respond to the Census online at https://my2020census.govor by phone by calling the numbers available below, or by mail if they received a paper form.

The California will continue outreach and education efforts in a way that protects the health and safety of all Californians. That includes shifting toward phone banks, webinars and events where partners can continue to give the states hard-to-reach communities the information and the support they need to participate in the Census with confidence.

What Californians Need to Know About the 2020 Census:

 The Census is a simple, confidential 9 question survey

 Questions include name, address, sex, race, ethnicity, age, and whether you own or rent the home

ADVERTISEMENT

 Californians should self-identify in regard to race, ethnicity and gender

 Make sure you count everyone in your home, including any friends or family members who are living and sleeping there most of the time

 The Census Bureau will never ask about your citizenship status, or for sensitive information like your social security number, bank accounts, or payments/donations

 The Census Bureau will never reach out to you on behalf of a political party

 Your responses to the Census are protected by law and cannot be shared with, or used by, any other government agencies. Answers cannot be used for law enforcement purposes, to determine eligibility for government benefits or immigration enforcement

 For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit californiacensus.org.

Why Californias Participation Counts

Ensuring every California household participates in the Census is critically important. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the Census determines how billions of dollars of federal funding are distributed to each state every year for education resources, affordable housing programs, nutrition and health care services, and more. Estimates show that for every person uncounted, California could lose $1,000 a year for 10 years. Thats as much as $10,000 per person in funds lost over the next decade.

The Census also determines the states political representation through the number of representatives in the U.S. Congress and the California State Legislature. Participating in the Census can help ensure Californians voices are heard in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

###

The California Complete Count  Census 2020 Office

Once each decade, the U.S. Census Bureau attempts to count every person in the United States. California leaders have invested $187.2 million toward a statewide outreach and communication campaign. For more information, please go to https://californiacensus.org/ .

DATA: To see data on the hard-to-count populations in cities, counties, congressional and legislative districts in California, please visit: https://census.ca.gov/htcfactsheets/.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  An assault with a bat Thursday night in the city landed one person in the hospital, according to officials.

Around 8:20 p.m., AMR alerted police to a possible assault.
Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe has described as diversionary attempt by Martin Amidu to investigate the Airbus Bribery scandal.



"As for this government anytime they are under pressure they look for something to divert attention," he said in an interview on Neat FM, Wednesday.



The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has invited four individuals to assist in investigations into an alleged act of bribery and related offence in the purchase of three aircrafts from Airbus SE for Ghana.



Those invited include: UK/Ghanaian citizen Samuel Adam Foster alias Samuel Adam Mahama and UK nationals; Philip Sean Middlemiss; Sarah Davis and Sarah Furneaux.



However, Edudzi Tamakloe believes, Martin Amidu's quest to get to the root of the Airbus scandal is 'much ado about nothing' and further bemoaned why the Special Prosecutor is allowing himself to be 'used for a political agenda at his age'.



It's just much ado about nothing. In this era of coronavirus where our borders have been closed how are they going to come; to do what? If the time is not right, why are you publishing it? This is mere politics. Have you seen an invitation where passport details and guarantors are published?



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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"Im proud of our company and mission, said Max Yoder, Lessonlys CEO and co-founder. And I am grateful to everyone who made this possible.

Lessonly announced a $15 million Series C funding round led by AXA Venture Partners, with participation from Zendesk, Allos Ventures, Atlas Peak Capital, Rethink Education, and The Yard Ventures. The companys online training platform makes it easy to build learning and practice scenarios in minutes, not weeks or months.

Lessonlys unique focus on Better Work has influenced the training of over 3 million learners at over 1,000 companiesincluding Jostens, TrunkClub, HelloFresh, and SalesLoft. The company has also been rated the #1 corporate LMS on independent review sites like G2 and TrustRadius.

Im proud of our company and mission, said Max Yoder, Lessonlys CEO and co-founder. And I am grateful to everyone who made this possible.

In addition to its existing offerings, Learn and Practice, the company will launch Assess in mid-2020. Assess enables learners to demonstrate proficiency in existing skills and hone those that need improvement. This skills engine will guide learners to the lessons, practice scenarios, and certifications they need to advance in their careers and deliver greater value for businesses.

The Series C funding round was led by AXA Venture Partners, a global venture capital firm. Lessonlys easy to use software helps companies increase sales and delight their customers, said Alex Scherbakovsky, General Partner and Lessonly board member. "We are proud to partner with Max and the Lessonly team to scale the company globally.

Zendesk, a service-first CRM company, also participated in the Series C funding round. Lessonly integrates with the Zendesk platform, making training a seamless part of customer service and sales workflows.

We are committed to investing in SaaS companies that empower their customers and users to be their best, said Hilary Shirazi, director, corporate development, at Zendesk. We are impressed with how Lessonly helps customer-facing employees excel at their craft and do better work each and every day. We look forward to furthering our support of an already great partner who is working to enhance customer experience for companies, and customers, everywhere.

The company has found a strong foothold among the multi-billion dollar sales and customer service enablement industries by supporting revenue leaders who train thousands of reps every year via on-demand, remote, and live traininglike Mark from Jostens.

Lessonly was so user-friendly, right off the bat. It was so flexible and met our needs. Lessonly was interested in more than just delivering a platform, said Mark Bussell of Jostens, They were interested in partnering and walking along the way with us.

The growing demand for training and enablement continues to fuel Lessonlys rocket-ship growth. The team has more than tripled the number of Lessonly llamas (employees) and the number of users since their Series B funding in 2017. They also opened a brand-new, Indianapolis-based headquarters in summer 2019 to fuel continued growth. To learn more about Lessonlys product, people, and culture, visit lessonly.com/series-c/.

About Lessonly

Lessonly is powerfully simple training software that helps teams learn, practice, and Do Better Work. We are used by 3 million learners at more than 1000 leading companies including Honeywell, Trunk Club, Jostens, and U.S. Cellular to power enablement, develop skills, and reinforce best practices. The result is faster onboarding, higher NPS scores, more closed deals, and a superior customer experience. Learn more at lessonly.com.

About AXA Venture Partners

AXA Venture Partners (AVP) is a venture capital firm investing in high-growth, technology-enabled companies. AVP has built, in less than 5 years, a unique investment platform specialized in tech investments with $800 million of assets under management (AUM) through three pillars of investment expertise: Early Stage, Growth Stage and Fund of Funds. To date, AVP has invested in more than 45 Early and Growth equity deals and more than 15 Funds. The AVP team operates globally with offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong. Beyond investments, AVP provides unique access to business development opportunities helping portfolio companies to scale globally and accelerate their growth. Visit our website axavp.com.


"We urge the U.S. to stop purposeful slandering and look at China's policy in an objective way," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told Reuters at a daily briefing on Thursday when asked about China's response toward a new export restriction on advanced high-tech products from the U.S.

According to Reuters, the Trump administration is tightening the rules to prevent China from obtaining advanced U.S. technology for commercial purposes and then diverting it to military use.

Senior U.S. officials agreed on three measures in a meeting last Wednesday, but nothing was finalized. The measures would create hurdles that could be used to stop Chinese companies from buying certain optical materials, radar equipment and semiconductors, among other things, from the United States.

"It's very common to turn commercial technology innovations into military applications, and the other way round. Many countries around the world, including the United States, are taking it as an attempt to promote both technology and military development," Hua said.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, nearly 49 million U.S. dollars has been awarded to 172 domestic university researchers under the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), to support the purchasing of major research equipment to augment the current capacity and develop new capabilities. These grants will benefit 91 institutions across 40 states in 2020.

Through DURIP, the department said universities and research institutes would have the ability to perform cutting-edge research that boosts the United States' technological edge while ensuring that its future science, technology, engineering and math workforce remains second to none.

But the U.S. officials ignored the facts and misinterpreted China's 'civil-military integration' policy and took it as an excuse to restrict technology export to China, China's Foreign Ministry said, noting that the move will further hinder the cooperation between China, U.S. companies and other countries.

It was not clear if President Donald Trump would sign off on them, despite the decision last week to press ahead with their roll-out.

The industry fears the new rules, which include withdrawing license exceptions, could drive Chinese consumers into the arms of foreign rivals.

"There's a chilling effect when they start taking away the availability of these license exceptions for particular exports," said Washington trade lawyer Eric McClafferty. "It makes people more nervous to export to China."

The White House and the Commerce Department did not respond to requests for comment.

(With input from Reuters)
The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi has risen to 384, including 259 who were evacuated from Nizamuddin Markaz, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday.

In last 24 hours, 91 new cases were reported in the national capital and one more person evacuated from the Markaz died due to coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths in the city to five, he said.

Of the 384 cases, 58 had recent foreign travel history and 38 contracted the virus after coming in contact with them, he added.

Kejriwal said community spread of the virus is not taking place in Delhi yet and there is no need to panic as the situation is under control.

The government has made preparations if the virus starts spreading among people, he said.

The chief minister also launched a WhatsApp helpline - 8800007722 for people to enquire about COVID-19, food banks, shelters among others.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and experts will interact with students and answer their queries related to the virus at 3 pm on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Rania El Gamal, Alex Lawler, Vladimir Soldatkin and Laila Kearney

DUBAI/LONDON/MOSCOW/NEW YORK (Reuters) - OPEC and its allies are working on a deal for an unprecedented oil production cut equivalent to around 10% of worldwide supply in what they expect will be a global effort including the United States, but the White House did not make such a commitment after a Friday meeting with oil companies.

While U.S. President Donald Trump pledged help for the industry at the meeting, he made no commitment to take the extraordinary step of persuading U.S. companies to cut output.

In a subsequent phone conference, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told industry executives that the White House is not negotiating with Saudi Arabia or Russia, but it is encouraging them to come together to reach an agreement to cut production, a source who listened to the call said.

The oil market has crashed, with prices falling to $34 a barrel from $65 at the beginning of the year, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Fuel demand has dropped by roughly a third, or 30 million barrels per day, as billions of people worldwide restrict their movements.

A global deal to reduce production by as much as 10 million to 15 million barrels per day would require participation from nations that do not exert state control over output, including the United States, now the world's largest producer of crude.

Trump said on Thursday he did not make any concessions to Saudi Arabia and Russia, such as agreeing to a U.S. domestic production cut, a move forbidden by U.S. antitrust laws. Some U.S. officials have suggested U.S. production was set for a steep decline anyway because of low prices.

A meeting of OPEC and allies such as Russia has been scheduled for April 6, but details were thin on the exact distribution of production cuts. No time has yet been set for the meeting, OPEC sources said.

OPEC producers were waiting to see if the United States commits to any efforts to stabilize the markets, two OPEC sources said. They said a deal must include producers from outside OPEC+, an alliance which includes OPEC members, Russia and other producers, but excludes oil nations such as the United States, Canada, Norway and Brazil.

Story continues

"The U.S. needs to contribute from shale oil," an OPEC source said. Russia has long expressed frustration that its joint cuts with OPEC were only lending support to higher-cost U.S. shale producers.

RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that his country was ready to cut production along with OPEC and the United States, while still blaming Saudi Arabia for the market's collapse. Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman responded, telling state media that it was not Saudi Arabia that refused to extend a production-cut deal that would have reined in output in early March.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Russian state media that he understands the United States has legal restrictions on output cuts, but it should still be flexible.

Brouillette, in his call with the industry, did not mention the possibility of U.S. industry production cuts, the source who listened to the call said.

Jason Kenney, the premier of Alberta, Canada's primary oil-producing province, said on Friday that the province would join the Monday OPEC call.

The Norwegian oil and energy ministry declined to comment on Friday on whether Western Europe's largest producer could cut output to support prices.

The International Energy Agency warned on Friday that a cut of 10 million barrels per day would not be enough to counter the huge fall in oil demand. Even with such a cut, inventories would increase by 15 million barrels per day in the second quarter, said Fatih Birol, the head of the agency.

OIL PRICES RECOVER, FOR NOW

Oil prices recovered from the lows of $20 per barrel this week with Brent settling at $34.11 per barrel on Friday, but far below the $66 closing level at the end of 2019.

Prices plunged in early March after Russia and Saudi Arabia could not come to an agreement to curb output. The Saudis shocked the oil industry with an aggressive series of steps to take back market share that included cutting export prices, pumping at maximum production and trying to sell cheaper oil to refiners that buy Russian crude.

The oil market was dealt a heavy blow by the freefall in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic, which sent crude prices to their lowest levels since 2002.

The oil-price crash spurred regulators in the U.S. state of Texas, the heart of the country's oil production, to consider regulating output for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Major global producers have already scaled back production, as fuel demand has dropped precipitously and storage is rapidly filling. This past week, U.S. drillers idled more rigs in one week than at any time in the last five years.

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal, Alex Lawler, Olesya Astakhova, Ahmad Ghaddar and Laila Kearney; writing by David Gaffen and Dmitry Zhdannikov; editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Leslie Adler and Sonya Hepinstall)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 02:49:59|Editor: Yurou

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A woman wearing a face mask waits to enter a market in Rome, Italy, on April 2, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed close to 14,000 lives in locked-down Italy, bringing the total number of infections, fatalities and recoveries to 115,242 by Thursday, according to the latest data released by the country's Civil Protection Department. (Photo by Elisa Lingria/Xinhua)

ROME, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed close to 14,000 lives in locked-down Italy, bringing the total number of infections, fatalities and recoveries to 115,242 by Thursday, according to the latest data released by the country's Civil Protection Department.

Speaking during a televised press conference, Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli confirmed that there were 2,477 new active coronavirus infections compared to Wednesday, bringing the nationwide total to 83,049 cases.

Of those infected, 28,540 are hospitalized, 4,053 are in intensive care and the rest are quarantined at home, Borrelli said, adding that there were 1,431 additional recoveries compared to Wednesday, raising the tally to 18,278.

Thursday saw 760 new fatalities, bringing the toll to 13,915 since the pandemic first broke out in northern Italy on Feb. 21.

Among the casualties were many medical professionals. The National Federation of Medical, Surgical and Orthodontists Boards (FNOMCeO) which is keeping a running tally of doctors who died fighting the virus, said a total of 69 doctors have passed away.

In a statement, health care union ANAAO-ASSOMED said over 10,000 health care workers have been infected with the coronavirus, 20 percent being doctors.

Borrelli went on to thank Italian citizens for their donations to the Civil Protection Department for the coronavirus emergency, which he said have topped 100 million euros (108 million U.S. dollars).

The pandemic has dealt a huge blow to the Italian economy.

The General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) said on Thursday that industrial production "in the first quarter of 2020 is expected to contract by 5.4 percent, the largest drop in the past 11 years."

Confindustria analysts said that "the impact of COVID-19 and the measures to contain the infection have been devastating in March, when (industrial) activities decreased by 16.6 percent compared to February, rolling the production index back to the levels of 42 years ago."

Confindustria said this was due to the "closure of about 60 percent of (Italy's) manufacturing industries" in order to contain the pandemic.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Confindustria noted that if "the acute phase of the health emergency ends in May 2020 and production resumes gradually between the end of April and the end of June, (we) estimate that gross domestic product (GDP) in Italy will fall by 10 percent in the first two quarters compared to the end of 2019 On average for 2020, GDP will drop 6 percent."

However, if the emergency continues beyond May, "our forecast will have to be revised downwards," Confindustria analysts wrote, adding that national GDP will likely drop by "a further 0.75 percent" for every additional week that production is at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Confindustria members include 150,000 small, medium and large sized manufacturing and service companies, employing over 5.4 million people.
That India's healthcare system is grossly inadequate to provide quality infrastructure and manpower to millions of its citizens is well known. What the COVID-19 pandemic has done is to bring a sense of urgency to fix it. If the virus can wreak havoc in developed countries with far superior healthcare, India is surely sitting on a time bomb.

A glaring evidence of this inadequacy is reflected in an abysmally low number of COVID-19 tests India has carried out. The Health Ministry does not provide data on the number of tests. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body of biomedical research, did it and then stopped on the morning of March 27. At that point the number read: 27,688.

This was three days after the country was locked down for 21 days. By then, 691 had been found positive and 17 dead.

Big risk from reverse migration

A far bigger threat now stares in the face.

The ICMR did say a few days ago that there was no community transmission of the virus yet but the situation could change overnight with millions of migrant workers heading home due to loss of jobs, shelter (small industries and landlords apparently asked them to vacate) and fear of starvation.

The crowding of inter-state borders for days in many parts of the country has the potential to undo any gain India may be expecting from 'social distancing. Panchayats, talukas and districts can hardly be expected to effectively quarantine a large population, provide food and medical support. What happens next is a scary scenario.

India did realise the poor state of its healthcare when the COVID-19 scare hit home. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared allocating Rs 15,000 crore to improve healthcare even as he announced the 21-day lockdown. Most part of the fund would, presumably, go into meeting the emergencies, import of safety and testing kits, ventilators etc.

What part of it goes towards rebuilding healthcare, and how, is not known yet. But when such an exercise is carried out it would require a better understanding of the ground realities.

Here are some of the most critical ones.

Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Delhi govt to give Rs 5,000 to auto, cab drivers

Access to quality care for the vast majority holds the key

It is not enough to build a quality healthcare system if it is not accessible to millions of India's citizens. How poor is the accessibility? Here are some pointers.

The Global Burden of Disease study of 2016 (GBD 2016), published in the medical journal Lancet in 2018, put India at number 145 among 195 countries (including sub-Saharan Africa), in the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index. India's score was 41.2, against the global mean value of more than 60, and lower than some of the neighbours like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

That is because of high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOP)-the amount of health expenditure paid from the pocket of individuals as a percentage of total public healthcare expenditure of a country.

What is India's OOP level?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows India's OOP stood at 65% in 2016, the last year for which the comparative data is available. For the same year, the global OOP average was a little over 30% (green line in the graph below) and for the South East Asia region (at the top), a bit over 40%, according to a WHO study published in 2018.

India has a long way to go.

Poor public investment in healthcare

What is clear from the above graph is that India has largely left its citizens to fend for themselves by gradually retreating from healthcare (also education), especially after the 1991 liberalisation.

Though this is a global trend, India is an outlier.

The latest National Health Profile 2019, released in October 2019, shows India's public expenditure on health (centre plus state) has been less than 1.3% of the GDP for many years.

The NHP 2019 also shows how India's public investment is one of the lowest in the world, lower than even the 'low-income countries'. (India is in the 'lower middle income' category)

High cost driving millions into debt and poverty

Low public investment in healthcare has its human costs.

Way back in 2011 a study published in the Lancet, Health care and Equity in India, first alerted India by showing that 39 million people were falling into poverty every year because of high out-of-pocket (OOP) spending on healthcare.

Again in 2018, another study published in the British Medical Journal said that in 2011-12, 55 million Indians fell below the poverty line due to OOP. Of this, 38 million fell into poverty due to medical costs alone.

These studies failed to wake up India all these years.

These studies are also important for providing one big answer to why a large population of Indians perpetually lives below the poverty level despite decades of economic growth.

Also Read: Coronavirus Lockdown II: How serious could the impact be on Indian economy and GDP

Public sector or private sector-led healthcare?

Going by the data and studies presented so far, it is clear that what India needs is a quality healthcare system which is affordable to most of the Indian citizens. This can only be ensured by a healthcare model that revolves around the public sector, not the private sector.

Just one example would suffice.

When the central government asked the private sector players to chip in for the COVID-19 tests, it fixed the cost of such tests at Rs 4,500 ($60 at exchange rate of Rs 75) to prevent exploitations.

What would be the cost of treatment in a private facility which may involve the use of a ventilator or COVID-19 vaccine or some other treatment that may be developed? Surely, several times more than Rs 4,500. With a per capita income of about $2,010 (2018), how many Indians would be able to afford such a treatment in private care?

In recent years, India has switched gears. From neglecting public healthcare, it has started building private healthcare with public money and other support.

Here are some recent instances.

Public money, private healthcare

In September 2018, India took a major initiative in healthcare when the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan (PM-JAY) or the Aayushman Bharat was launched.

It aims to provide hospitalisation cover (insurance) of up to Rs 5 lakh to 10 crore poor and deprived families (about 50 crore people). It is fully funded by the taxpayers' money (Centre and states share funds at 60:40). The central budget of 2020-21 earmarked Rs 6,400 crore for it.

There is no study or assessment yet to establish its efficacy, but the PM-JAY has sparked conflicts between the Centre and states. Here are the reasons.

In January 2019, the Health Ministry issued a 'Broad guideline for private investment in the setting up of hospitals in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities subsequent to PM-JAY'.

It asked the state governments to do three things for the private investors in healthcare: (i) earmark and provide land within specific times (ii) facilitate administrative clearances and (iii) provide 40% viability gap funding (VGA) - advance payment from the exchequer (taxpayers' money) to help build the private facilities and provide gap funding up to 50% of tax on various costs, including capital cost, granting the status of industry to hospitals for ensuring that VGF is provided.

Apparently, it had few takers and there was little progress. Nevertheless, the central government pressed forward.

A year later in January 2020, the Niti Aayog brought out a public-private participation (PPP) plan envisaging handing over the government-run district hospitals to private players (who were to be given 40% VGF, land and various concessions as per the January 2019 guideline).

Called "Scheme to link new and/or existing Private Medical Colleges with functional District Hospitals through PPP", it said the following.

It may be pointed out here that India abandoned the PPA model many years back for failing to bring in private investment but contributing significantly to the growth of NPAs (bank loan defaults). The PPP model has long gone out of public and policy discourse.

Nevertheless, the Budget 2020 chipped in, saying that the states that "fully" cooperate in its efforts to promote private healthcare will be rewarded with VGF (a notorious UPA era mechanism that drained public resources to private players for doubtful public gain).

The governments of Kerala and Madhya Pradesh have strongly opposed the move. India's apex body of medical professionals, the Indian Medical Association (MCA), too has opposed it. The IMA's secretary-general Dr RV Asokan says the PM-JAY "is yet to take off".

But that is not why he is opposed to the central government's plan to handover public (district) hospitals to private players.

Public healthcare for public service

Dr Asokan says whatever India has achieved in its fight against COVID-19 so far is due to its public healthcare system: thermal screening and surveillance at airports, contact-tracing, tests and the process of quarantine. Going forward, a bulk of the burden would be shouldered by the public healthcare resources, from community level (ASHA) to panchayat, district, state and central levels. Now that India is talking about dedicated COVID-19 hospitals, the public healthcare system is even more important, he adds.

His explanation, "Suppose we didn't have public hospitals at the district level. What would have happened? What hold would the government have on the situation if we enter into the third stage of fighting the COVID-19 (i.e., treatment) and the entire healthcare setup is with the private sector? The government would have to take over these healthcare centres to get control over the situation."

"That is exactly the case in the US where the federal government has no control over hospitals. Many Americans may be denied access to treatment for not having health insurance," he adds.

Building for the future

By all accounts, the fight against COVID-19 would be a long haul. Experts say the virus would survive for several months after "flattening the curve" (slowing down infections) that India aims to achieve through social distancing.

This would mean India can't afford to restrict itself to a few weeks of emergency measures. It would have to think long-term and plan for future exigencies, something that calls for redesigning its healthcare system to respond to people's needs.
The Uttar Pradesh government has said that it has removed hurdles for a Noida-based firm to manufacture and supply 10,000 ventilators in collaboration with Maruti Suzuki in order to prevent deaths in severe cases of coronavirus.

The joint venture will supply the ventilators to the central government in a month, the government added.

Additional chief secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said: A Noida-based firm AgVa Healthcare, in conjunction with Maruti Suzuki (automobile giant), in association with several firms, are going to do the job. Chief executive officer (CEO), Noida, has facilitated what all the UP government needs to do.

Ventilators are vital towards saving the lives of such coronavirus patients, whose illness attains severity. Making 10,000 ventilators, a highly specialised and complicated lifesaving machine, in a month is no mean task. It will be a record of sorts, but more than the record, it will be a swift response to the epidemic, said a state government official involved in removing hurdles for the company.

Infrastructure and industrial development commissioner (IIDC), Uttar Pradesh, Alok Tandon said: AgVa, a ventilator manufacturer, will supply 10,000 ventilators within one month by staggering supplies in batches through the month. They had been facing problems related to the lockdown and manpower. The government cleared the hurdle by providing 126 passes to manpower for their movement under the lockdown.

AgVa will use its ventilator manufacturing technology and expertise while Maruti Suzuki would provide manpower and additional space, a state government spokesman said.

BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) will provide electronic chips for the ventilators, said Awasthi.

Chief executive officer, Noida, Narendra Bhusan has been directed to coordinate with Maruti for the production and supply of ventilators to hospitals established across the state for treatment of Covid-19 patients.

The health department required extra ventilators for installation in designated Covid hospitals as well as district hospitals where isolation wards were established, principal secretary, health, Amit Mohan Prasad said.
Matheo Vergnolle, a 19-year-old French university student with great passion for mathematics, is working as a teacher in Vietnam.

Matheo Vergnolle spent two years at the Preparatory Class for Great Schools (PCGS) before attending Ecole Polytechnique lX, the famous school that produces engineers in France.





Before coming to Vietnam to have a 5-month (from November 2019 to March 2020) internship, he spent 24 months to prepare for the entrance exam to IX. According to Matheo, in order to pass the exam to the school, one doesnt need to be good, just excellent.

He has had the opportunity to visit many tourism sites, such as Hoi An, Hue, Da Lat and HCM City. He visited history and art musuems, and discovered traditional Vietnamese culture through performances and water puppet shows.

IX decided that its future engineers not only need to have professional learning, but they need to be equipped with multi-field knowlege.

Therefore, Matheo is working in Vietnam to discover cultural characteristics in the country and experience the role of a competent person  something that graduates will face when they go to work.



He is a mathematics teacher at Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted in Binh Dinh province.



Realizing that the textbooks for high school students in Vietnam mostly show texts, numbers and formulas, with few illustrative examples, Matheo decided to take full advantage of computer software to teach mathematics.



The software such as GeoGebra, Python and the knowlege about computing science serve as my powerful assistants. I use them to illustrate the changes of parameters in graphs and inequalities. Thanks to them, maths is not just dry numbers and formulas, he said.



For example, when teaching the lesson about the limits of numerical sequences, he uses Python to create a Sierpinski triangle.



The young teacher encourages his students to explain their homework to classmates, because this is a good way for them to learn specialized English.



Knowing English math vocabulary is essential, especially for those who intend to study advanced math in college, he said.



Bui Minh Hoang, a 10th grader at Le Quy Don High School, said he finds the young teachers lessons very interesting, because the teacher usually uses software to illustrate equations and inequalities.



Perhaps the teacher does not have much pedagogical experience, but in return, he is very devoted to his lectures, he said.



Matheo came to Vietnam to teach mathematics, but he can also learn many things in Vietnam.



He has had the opportunity to visit many tourism sites, such as Hoi An, Hue, Da Lat and HCM City. He visited history and art musuems, and discovered traditional Vietnamese culture through performances and water puppet shows. He also enjoyed a traditional Vietnamese Tet with Tran Thanh Son, deputy director of ICISE (The International Center of Interdisciplinary Science Education).

Mai Lan

Foreign teachers at language schools lose jobs amid COVID-19 crisis Because of the epidemic, many international examinations have been postponed, and all foreign language centers have closed.
Howrah: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee presides over a meeting with District Magistrates to review the situation in the state during the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, at Nabanna in Howrah on Marc Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, April 3 : Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to the citizens to light a candle or diya at 9 p.m. on April 5 to show solidarity with the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday described it as a 'personal matter', saying those agreed with the PM should follow his direction, "but if I feel I will sleep, I will do that".

Responding to a query on the issue, Banerjee asked mediapersons not to ignite a political battle amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

"He has told you... You do it. Why are you asking me? I will say what I have to, the Prime Minister will say what he has to.

"Why should I interfere in other people's matters? Should I tackle coronavirus, or you want a political war to break out? Please don't ignite a political battle. If you feel what the Prime Minister has said is good, you abide by that. If I feel I will sleep, I will do that. It is a personal matter," Banerjee said.

In a video message to the nation earlier in the day, Modi urged citizens to light a candle or a diya on April 5 at 9 p.m. for nine minutes to dispel the darkness and gloom brought by the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus.

"This Sunday, April 5, we have to challenge the Covid-19 pandemic, we have to introduce it to the power of light," Modi said in a video address to the nation.

"We have to take the Mahasankalp (strong determination) of 130 crore citizens to new heights. I ask for your nine minutes at 9 p.m. on April 5," Modi said.

He then asked the citizens to switch off the lights at their homes, reach out from their windows, gates or balconies and light a candle or diya for nine minutes. Even torches and mobile phone flash lights would do, he said.
Human beings always aspire to be part of something larger. Theres the family but its limited, they want a level beyond that. So they find other entities to feel they belong to, like nations, religions, movements or generations. Very often  most of the time  those involve heavily symbolic elements.

A generation of Americans recalled where they were when they heard JFK had been shot. (Im Canadian but I was napping in my dorm in Boston on a Friday afternoon getting ready to lead a service that night when the head of the Jewish student group woke me saying, The presidents been shot, I think an American should lead prayers tonight.)

None of them had actually been there and few were directly connected; but they identified. Same for 9/11. Americans felt it deeply, many enlisted for Afghanistan and Iraq. 9/11 transformed everything, yet for most, it held no direct connections, it was all via symbolism. Thats a risky base to build identity on since it was largely mythic and unrelated to any experienced reality.

This also goes for generations. I remember being stuck on the Long Island Expressway, many lanes of cars on either side, seeing everyone nodding their heads as I was, to the refrain in Hey, Jude. You felt, We are one.

Benedict Anderson described these as imagined communities. They were/are powerful despite that, or due to it; they shaped individual, national and global realities. In the U.K., Brexit, wrote someone in the London Review, was fuelled by a desire for the society of a collectively imagined past.

Of course, imagined communities contain real elements. Theres a mix.

But now theres COVID-19. In the U.S., it has meant a run on two things: toilet paper and guns, the latter perhaps to protect the former. But COVID-19 is different. Its not symbolic or at a distance. It touches people directly, not symbolically, although who they imagine they are, still affects how they react.

I find myself thinking, If only the U.S. had public health care. Its something real that affects everyone and gives them cause to believe they can trust and help each other. It unites people through a reality  versus a mighty but flawed myth. It wont solve everything  Canadians hoard TP  but its a counterweight.

COVID-19 itself is like a counterweight to imagined communities: its a community-building experience thats unimagined and nonsymbolic. It doesnt spawn separate identities, it transcends them because it menaces everyone everywhere. Its transnational but subsumes nations. It links people in dangers that are real: real fears, needs, losses. It produces an unimagined community.

It creates a community that everyone, literally, can identify with it. Its general in nature: the identity of being human  but not an abstraction or symbol. Its total fact, right in front of, or in, our noses. Its an identity that runs against other identities, whether imagined or a mix of real plus imagined.

Yet this identification with all others comes about through massive, nearly universal, isolation and asociality. Our lockdowns and quarantines unite us.

For sure, different communities, more and less imagined, are differentially affected by COVID-19. As they say in Louisiana, When its cold, the poor get colder, when its hot the poor get hotter, when theres sickness  Yet the existential thrust of this plague undercuts distinctions and privilege. Speaking as a privileged person Im struck by its ability to thrust most of that aside.

On this matter  the virtues of unimagined community  Canada may be uniquely placed. We have relatively little thats mythic or symbolic to build a community on (though many of us have tried.)

So we rely on other foundations that are real if not as emotive, to construct unity: especially institutions like the railroad, the CBC, the health care system. They dont engender passion the way a martyred leader or a 9/11 does but they have the merit of being actual, usable and the result of concrete efforts by people we know or are.

My late friend, Graeme Gibson, often noted our luck avoiding the nightmare of war that our parents knew. But we never talked about the comparable scourge of epidemics. It seemed so unlikely: scarcely worth a mention.
The PSNI is investigating "potential domestic murders" during the coronavirus crisis, a senior officer has revealed.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd had previously predicted a rise in domestic violence during the epidemic, and he said yesterday that has sadly materialised across the service.

He said: "Regrettably, we now have potential domestic murders that we are investigating.

"Some of those are likely to come before the courts today or tomorrow."

He told Stormont's justice committee his officers are seeing more reports of abuse and violence in the home.

People are currently confined to their homes apart from to make essential trips, in a bid to limit the spread of the virus.

Mr Todd said: "We are certainly seeing that volume (of abuse) rising as was predicted.

"We are doing a significant amount of work around that in terms of communications."

DUP committee chair Paul Givan said the officer's remarks will cause alarm.

Mr Todd added: "Regrettably, we are seeing increases across the service."

Northern Ireland's main domestic violence charity has called for more resources as it braces itself for a surge in cases during the lockdown.

Women's Aid urged a "guaranteed commitment" from Stormont ministers following restrictions imposed on movement.

Emergency accommodation for women fleeing domestic abuse at home is being set up at three locations across Northern Ireland as part of coronavirus lockdown response.

Women's Aid, the PSNI and the Housing Executive are working together to rescue women and children at immediate risk of harm because of additional pressures of being confined with an abusive partner while in lockdown.

Marie Brown from Foyle Women's Aid in Londonderry said her organisation continues to give support to many women and children who have sought help through non direct contact but is concerned about women who hadn't yet asked for help.

She said: "For women who have never reached out for help but who are in an abusive home, this will be an incredibly stressful time because they are under the same roof all day long with their abuser instead of getting some respite during working hours.

"They will also have the added fear of 'Where would I go?' now because they can't go to family which is why we have responded by making sure that no one - when they reach breaking point - will feel like that.

"Most of our accommodation is full but we are working urgently with the police and housing to finalise the details on getting crisis pads for women who are in this kind of high risk emergency situation. These crisis pads are being set up in Foyle, Belfast and Ballymena but our helpline is also being answered.

"It has been amazing what has been done so quickly to recognise how the coronavirus measures of people being at home all the time will impact on women living with an abusive partner.

"We do anticipate that this will become an issue more and more as the coronavirus crisis goes on," she added.

Meanwhile, Mr Todd said that "eye-watering" amounts of personal protective equipment will be arriving with the PSNI over the coming weeks as officers tackle the fall-out from the epidemic.

Stocks of protective kit are only "modest" at present but nobody is being sent into risky situations unprotected, Mr Todd said.

He added: "We have ordered eye-watering amounts of equipment. Those are going to come online this week, next week and the week after.

"With increasing infection rates in the community, increasing risks to my officers and staff, invariably the huge amounts of equipment coming in will be matched by huge amounts of equipment going out.

"This is going to be an issue for some time."
As numbers climbed, Prime Minister Khan continued to oppose a complete lockdown, on the grounds that the poor would suffer.

Just recently, a Pakistani top-level committee announced the extension of a lockdown imposed on 22 March, for another two weeks due to rising coronavirus cases. Oddly that announcement followed hard on the heels of the address to the nation by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who railed against the need for such a measure and has been doing so for weeks.

Khans stature has been bleeding for months and Pakistan has actually been locked down months ago. In the aftermath of the pandemic, it continues to close doors, and pull the curtains on what is happening inside the country. At a time of a virus spread, that is a dangerous practice.

Pakistans reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak was strange, to say the least. In February, the health minister declared that Pakistan did not have a single case, even while the state refused to take back its citizens stranded in China.

It did not, however, baulk at a series of religious congregations that included the movement of Pakistanis to Iran, which led to the first virus case being detected on 26 February. Unprepared officials put more than 5,000 people in a quarantine in Taftan that did not differentiate between the infected and the healthy.

Many were sent back after tests that proved insufficient. Pakistans outbreak started from there, but has since been multiplying by a series of policy twists and turns that hugely hit health conditions. As numbers climbed, Prime Minister Khan continued to oppose a complete lockdown, on the grounds that the poor would suffer.

Click here for Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Update

Analysts, however, observe that this diffidence is due to business interests that back the government, rather than anything else. As the country saw its first death the prime minister was still asking people to use judgement and conversely, praising Chinese measures to handle the crisis.

That Beijing put Wuhan under a complete and absolute lockdown didnt seem to register. Hard hit provinces like Sindh begged in vain for a strict lockdown. On 11 March, a congregation of more than 100,000 from the Tablighi Jamaat met at Raiwind, despite suggestions from the authorities not to do so.

Barelvi leader Asif Ashraf Jalali vowed to hold a huge gathering on 21 March, guaranteeing the safety of the public. Meanwhile, Pakistan President Arif Alvi just returned from China, seemed to suggest that removing prayer mats during prayers would prove useful.

On 19 March Maj General Babar Iftikhar, the head of the ISPR ( Inter-Services Public Relations) went public on to announce that the Armed Forces had begun assisting civil authorities with hospital beds and building quarantine facilities. The announcement was hailed with relief by a disbelieving public.

Three days later, the Sindh chief minister imposed an absolute lockdown on the state and formally requested army assistance to impose it. By 23 March, the army was deployed into all provinces. Thereafter, matters moved swiftly.

Punjab declared a partial lockdown the same day. A National Coordination Committee became the apex body, with the Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar at the helm. The ministry is also the primary channel for all interaction with China on CPEC. The implementation arm is the National Command and Operations Centre, to be headed by the head of the Army Air Defence Command.

On 27 March, the border with China was reopened to allow assistance to flow into the tune of a reported $3 billion. As for the prime minister, even as he declared that there was no escalation in cases, his special public adviser on health announced at the NCA meeting that the total number of suspected cases are 17,331 out of which an increase of 1,436 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The surge is high; the average increase per day is 12 percent.with an increase of 178 in the past 24 hours.

Theres no doubt at all who is in charge, and most Pakistanis would heave a sigh of relief, barring those at the receiving edge of a cane. Troops are using heavy force to implement the lockdown, but that is no longer likely to be reported. Pakistan media has been virtually shut down.

In mid-February, Pakistan instituted a clampdown on social media that shut was condemned by the US State Department as a set back.

On 12 March, it detained the head the Jang Group Mir Shakil-ur Rehman, which also owns Geo News. Another journalist Sajid Hussain who fled Pakistan recently has gone missing in Sweden. Earlier, the government had made its intentions clear enough by blacking out Geo TV and lifting liberal academics in a development that is new even for Pakistan.

It had even blacked out its own retired officers including Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani and a retired DG ISPR. The reputed Dawn faced down attacks on its office, while its editor received death threats. More dangerously, information on the pandemic is being suppressed, with government officials told to keep information on deaths from the media.

While Pakistan claims 1,650 cases nationwide, the highly regarded Edhi Foundation estimates it at 14,000 with some six to seven deaths in Punjab alone in a single day. That news is only being published outside the country.

Worse, information on the spread is simply unavailable in the erstwhile FATA ( Federally Administered Tribal Areas) which is under a complete internet shut down. Information as a whole is restricted, for instance, with quarantine centres being set up in PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) but under a heavy veil of secrecy.

Meanwhile, all government web sites dealing with the health emergency seem to be off the air. A possible India/region only shut down seems to be apparent in terms of the foreign ministry, the defence ministry among others, but even the health ministry is no longer available.

Such complete lack of data is hardly conducive to the envisaged SAARC level cooperation. Even as government data is shut down, reputed studies indicate that the bureaucracy is paralysed. In short, the Pakistan Army decides on what information to share, with the media, international bodies or the government itself.

It might also be receiving some help from a not unexpected quarter. The World Health Organisation declared on 1 March that it was impressed at the swift and diligent government response. Pakistanis battling the pandemic would disagree.
Saluki Entrepreneur Corps is sponsoring Zoom webinars this month

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  The Saluki Entrepreneur Corps, a Southern Illinois University Carbondale registered student organization, is continuing its mission of fostering entrepreneurship and innovation albeit in a different way with social distancing now in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization is ramping up its online presence by sponsoring a series of free Zoom webinars and the public is invited to participate.

Two April sessions planned

Jake Coddington, SEC president, said two webinars are scheduled this month, both offering valuable information from successful entrepreneurs. The sessions are:

Celina Maniece, a Du Quoin native and double alumna of SIU who is the CEO and owner of BizClips, will speak at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7. BizClips is an interactive video-based social media networking app and site that connects individuals, businesses, professionals and consumers via video-based imagery.

The Zoom link for Manieces event is at https://zoom.us/j/831928230.

Archa Jain, founder and CEO of Lumos, will speak at 5 p.m. on April 22. Lumos, a San Francisco-based company, offers an artificial intelligence-powered search tool that provides physicians with answers to clinical questions through trustworthy sources. Lumos was part of the Y Combinators Winter 19 company batch, one of the few founded by a female.

Register for Jains webinar at https://zoom.us/j/659273047.

The organization recently hosted a webinar featuring Franco Brockelman, founder of Releaf, an informational and tracking app for medical marijuana. Brockelman was named one of Entrepreneur Magazines 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs.

International partners

The Saluki Entrepreneur Corps is also collaborating with Tilburg Universitys Entrepreneurship Hub in the Netherlands for a webinar series coming during the 2020-2021 academic year, Coddington said.

We have already begun working on the series, he said. This is a great opportunity for students interested in gaining international connections.

Students can join free

Anyone is welcome to view the webinars but SIU students are encouraged to also join the Saluki Entrepreneur Corps. Membership is free this semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The application form and additional information are available at incubator.siu.edu/saluki-entrepreneur-corps/.
Irish universities are to replace traditional exams with a variety of assessments that will be conducted online.

The announcement was made by the Irish University Association, in response to the outbreak of Covid-19

The regular classroom-based written tests will be replaced with essays, reports, problem sheets, multiple-choice questions and other formats, the IAU announced.

"The seven universities represented by the IUA plan to complete arrangements for end of semester assessments within the next week," the group said in a statement.

"The primary objective of the universities is that students be able to successfully complete this semester and either graduate or progress to the next year of their studies.

"The universities recognise that this is a stressful time for students," they acknowledged.

As teaching has gone online many students have faced challenges, including studying in difficult conditions, caring for others and limited internet access for some.

In response to those challenges, flexible arrangements can be made in "exceptional" circumstances, the IUA said.

The seven third-level institutions under the IUA umbrella are; Dublin City University; Maynooth University; NUI Galway; Trinity College; University College, Cork; University College, Dublin; University of Limerick.
YORK  Local businesses can now apply for financial assistance from the citys Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) fund to help them through this pandemic crisis.

The York City Council members unanimously agreed that the remaining money in that fund should be allocated toward this effort, during their regular meeting Thursday night.

Community Development Block Grant funds already exist for the city of York in the amount of $218,000. These were granted by the state to the city for allocation to businesses.

Historically, the CDBG funds are used to assist new businesses and business expansions, as an economic development tool. The money is loaned to the businesses and the businesses pay it back in order for it to keep circulating in the local economy.

Now, the remaining funds are being made available  through application and approval  to assist existing businesses during this coronavirus crisis.

A total of $210,000 will be made available to businesses -- $8,000 will be reserved for costs.

Applications would be first reviewed by the CDBG committee (as they had been done in the past) and then would go to the council.
The White House announced Friday a new recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urging Americans to wear face masks in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

President Donald Trump announced the new guidance, calling on Americans to wear washable cloth face masks to prevent the transmission of the virus from people without symptoms.

Previously, the CDC only advised Americans to wear a face mask out in public if they were sick.

People are asked to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers and continue to maintain social distancing measures and wash hands often.

The president emphasized that the measure was voluntary and said he would not wear one himself.

I just dont want to wear one, Trump said. Im feeling good.

The president tested negative for COVID-19 a second time, the White House announced on Thursday.

This morning, the president was tested again for COVID-19, utilizing a new rapid point-of-care test capability. He is healthy and without symptoms, White House physician Sean Conley said in a memo released by the White House.

He was first tested in mid-March after coming into connect with two people who tested positive for COVID-19.

The White House is performing temperature checks before people come into contact with President Trump or Vice President Mike Pence.

Worldwide, there are more than a million confirmed cases of COVID-19. The United States has the most confirmed cases, just over 270,000 as of 5 p.m. Friday.

As of Friday evening, 6,889 Americans have died from coronavirus-related illness.

Increasingly, health officials have called for a nationwide shutdown to limit spread of the virus, including the top infectious disease expert in the United States.

I dont understand why thats not happening, Dr. Anthony Fauci said during CNNs town hall focused on coronavirus Thursday evening.

The majority of Americans - about 80% - are under lockdown orders, with governors closing schools, banning social gatherings and ordering residents to stay home. But a handful of states have enacted only partial stay-at-home orders.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases urged governors who have resisted calls to issue stay-at-home orders to reconsider.

Comments by Fauci were in contrast to the message shared by Trump, who has repeatedly pushed against a national shutdown.

You have to look -- you have to give a little flexibility, Trump said Wednesday during the daily White House press briefing. If you have a state in the Midwest, or if Alaska, for example, doesnt have a problem, its awfully tough to say, close it down. We have to have a little bit of flexibility.

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Mid Michigan schools continue to adapt and plan their school years out amidst Governor Gretchen Whitmers executive order to close schools for the remainder of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-35 on April 2nd. The order includes the closure of all K-12 school building for the remainder of the year and, as stated in a press release from Gov. Whitmer ensures the continuing of learning by setting guidelines for remote learning.

Since the executive order was released, school districts like Shepherd and Mt. Pleasant are preparing to work with the order.

Its a terribly unfortunate situation but the health and safety of the students has to take precedence over everything else, Shepherd Public Schools superintendent, Steve Brimmer said. We will be working with our legal counsel and the Gratiot-Isabella RESD to develop a distance learning program that can be adopted.

Mt. Pleasant Public Schools (MPPS) has also been looking in to working with the order.

The order is disappointing as we miss the students and hoped wed be back in a month but health and welfare are more important, MPPS superintendent, Jennifer Verleger said. We will be working on planning events that recognize the class of 2020. We wont forget them.

The school district has been providing breakfast, lunches, and academic supplies to students in need at the high school and at Gainard Elementary as well as through school bus delivery to families. This is accomplished through help from the Community Compassion Network and the Nutrition Club as well as other local organizations like Arnold Farms in Midland, Michigan.

While the pandemic continues, MPPS has used different resources in order to help their students learn from their homes. This includes distributing academic enrichment packets and talking to their teachers through social media and zoom, among other programs.

We will be working on a continuous learning plan, Verleger said.

The executive order likely remain in effect unless restrictions are lifted at a later time.

The latest information about the outbreak is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. More information about Shepherd and Mt. Pleasant schools can be found at shepherdschools.net and mtpleasantschools.net.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexicans are known to endure challenges and that resiliency extends to neighborhoods, as well.

Take, for instance, Wells Park, which in the early 1900s, was home to one of the biggest employment hubs in Albuquerque.

That community is the subject of a new documentary, part of One Albuquerque Medias series Neighborhoods at a Crossroads.

The documentary will air at 6 p.m. Friday, April 3, on Comcast channel 16 and on YouTube by searching One Albuquerque Media GOV-TV.

According to the Wells Park Neighborhood Association, the area is located south of Interstate 40 until Mountain Road, and then east and west from First until Twelfth.

Anthony DellaFlora is the series producer.

He said this is the fifth film in the series and a world premiere is usually held at a location in the neighborhood being highlighted. However, due to social distancing measures, this one will be broadcast on TV and stream online.

Wells Park has a long history of overcoming challenges, so this is just another one, DellaFlora said. We hope to host a neighborhood event, but in the meantime, were excited to be able to present this documentary to a wide audience and still keep everyone safe.

DellaFlora and his crew began working on the documentary last spring.

Along the way, he found out interesting facts about the area.

The railroad was one of the biggest employers in town since 1880 when it came through, he said. The other huge employers in the area were the lumber yards located in the Sawmill area. Theres a lot of history here. People dont know the history of the area and how big of an employment center it was.

Of course, there are some downsides.

Because of the lumber mills and industrial uses, Wells Park residents suffered from environmental pollution  which was a big issue for decades.

They had water, air and land pollution, DellaFlora said. It took a very big effort to finally get some of the industry shut down, and money to come in and clean up the stuff. Its a remarkable example of a neighborhood being active to take a stand.

Over the course of months of research and interviews, DellaFlora learned something new.

I was surprised to find out that the Alianza Federal de Mercedes, or Federal Land Grant Alliance led by famed land grant activist Reies Lopez Tijerina, of Tierra Amarilla Courthouse Raid fame, was headquartered in Wells Park at Third and Mountain, he said. Theres a section on it in the film.

Other neighborhoods featured in the series include Barelas, Martineztown, Alamosa and Thomas Village. All are available for viewing online on the One Albuquerque Media YouTube channel.

These neighborhood profiles have become an important way to preserve our local history, expose viewers to the diversity within our community and build pride in the featured neighborhoods, DellaFlora said.

On TV

A Neighborhoods at a Crossroads documentary will highlight the Wells Park neighborhood. It airs at 6 p.m. Friday, April 3, on Comcast channel 16 or streams on YouTube by searching One Albuquerque GOV-TV.
Google is shutting down its crowdsourced social Q&A platform Neighbourly. The service will cease to be available from May 12, 2020.

Neighbourly was launched as a Beta app in the Indian city of Mumbai back in May 2018 and was later extended to New Delhi and Bengaluru. It was designed to help people learn more about their neighborhood with inputs from local experts.

Users could post questions about any neighborhood in a supported city. People familiar with that particular neighborhood could then respond to those queries. Neighbourly could come handy in situations like floods when users could ask people how the condition is at the other end of their neighborhood.

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Google says that over one million questions were answered on Neighbourly since its release two years ago. However, the app never gained the traction that the company was hoping for. It didnt come out of the beta phase.

As a result, Google will be shutting the app down on May 12 this year. Users will be able to download a copy of their data until October 12, 2020.

We launched Neighbourly as a Beta app to connect you with your neighbors and make sharing local information more human and helpful.

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As a community, youve come together to celebrate local festivals, shared crucial information during floods, and answered over a million questions. But the app hasnt grown like we had hoped, Google explained.

In these difficult times, we believe that we can help more people by focusing on other Google apps that are already serving millions of people everyday.

Google plans to take the lessons learned from Neighbourly and use them to improve its other products. The company is steering interested users to make use of the Google Maps Local Guides feature and keep continue sharing their local knowledge.

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Neighbourly joins the Google Graveyard

Neighbourly is not the first Google app to see the dead end this year. In January, the company announced the closure of its App Maker. A G Suite service for enterprise users, the tool lets users build applications without writing much code. App Maker will remain live until January 19, 2021.

Google also recently announced the closure of its free Wi-Fi service  Google Station. Initially launched in India and later extended to Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and others, the service offered free internet to commuters at several railway stations across the country.

Hangouts might also soon join Neighbourly, App Maker, Google+, and several others in the Google Graveyard. The company is striping Hangouts off features one by one. Most recently, it removed the location-sharing feature from the app, suggesting that the service may be shut down soon.
Over the last month or so, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have been net sellers (sold more than purchased) in the Indian markets. In March, foreign investors (FIs) have so far sold equity worth Rs 59388 crore and debt amounting to Rs 55175 crore. This has decimated many portfolios. The Nifty 50 lost nearly 23 per cent between February 26 and March 26. Fixed income investors too lose out on their investments in bond funds, as bond yields rise. Rising bond yields lead to mark-to-market losses, which in turn hurt net asset values. Equity mutual funds across categories, including those investing in stocks with high FII holdings, lost 20-30 per cent within a month.

So, whether you are an equity scheme or a debt fund investor, FIIs can influence the returns of your holdings significantly.

Why are FII selling?

When the COVID-19 pandemic initially struck, it was assumed that only China was affected. Being the engine for world growth, FIIs and FPIs may have sold off there anticipating slower growth there. But as the disease spread to almost every continent and country over February and March, including to India, FIIs and FPIs sold massively, anticipating a recession. Additionally, the domestic lockdown from the third week of March added to the woes of an already weak Indian economy.

For FIs with investments in India, the problem does not end there. In such times, there is a tendency to exit emerging markets and go for safer options such as the US dollar. That means the INR may depreciate and further reduce returns for foreign investors. Hence, in a hurry, the foreign investors pressed the sell button. The intensity in the selling was massive, at levels not witnessed in the last 10 years.

How do FII actions impact markets?

Foreign investors participation was one of the factors that ensured that Indian stock markets did well from 2003 to 2007. The strength of foreign money was visible in 2008. In that year, FIs sold stocks worth Rs 52987 crore in India. Nifty 50 lost 51.7 per cent. Domestic institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 11771 in that year.

FIIs may be dominant participants in Indian financial markets. But domestic institutions too have been deploying larger sums. Indian mutual fund have been receiving upwards of Rs 8000 crore every month through the SIP route. The formalisation of the economy and moves such as demonetisation have meant that financial assets are preferred investments for investors vis-a-vis gold and real estate. Over the last few months DIIs deployments have somewhat been balancing FIIs outflows with consistent investments.

As with all investment cases, FIIs' interest in India will depend on how soon the countrys economy revives and the COVID-19 pandemic abates, apart from of course the fundamentals of domestic companies.
With 67 persons diagnosed for



COVID-19 on Friday, the number of coronavirus positive cases in Maharashtra has gone up to 490, health officials said.

Of the 67 new patients, 43 are from Mumbai, 10 from MMR, nine from Pune and three from Ahmednagar district.

One patient each in Washim and Ratnagiri tested positive on Friday, a statement from the statehealth department said.

Six COVID-19 patients died on Friday. They include 2 from Mumbai and one each from Vasai-Virar, Badlapur in Thane, Jalgaon and Pune, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Daily Beast

Fox News White House correspondent and perpetual nemesis of Jen Psaki thought he had Joe Bidens press secretary cornered on Monday when he asked her why the president is still referring to COVID-19 as a pandemic of the unvaccinated when so many people are getting breakthrough infections. He was wrong.I understand that the science says that vaccines prevent death, Doocy began, before undercutting that basic truth. But Im triple-vaxxed, still got COVID. Youre triple-vaxxed, still got COVI
South Africas coronavirus figures are still relatively low but officials and experts warn against complacency.

Johannesburg, South Africa  One week into a nationwide lockdown, South Africa is scrambling to set in motion an ambitious track-and-trace programme to identify people who may have contracted the new coronavirus as infections begin to proliferate across informal settlements in the worlds most unequal society.

The country confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 5, and in the weeks that followed infections were mostly confined to suburban areas and largely involved travellers from Europe, the United States and other countries.

However, the situation is rapidly changing. Earlier this week, officials confirmed the first coronavirus infections in the huge, sprawling townships of Alexandra and Khayelitsha in Gauteng and the Western Cape, respectively.

And although South Africas confirmed figures are still relatively low (1,462 cases and five deaths), the arrival of the virus in crowded urban areas  where access to clean water for hand-washing is scarce and self-quarantine practices are challenging  holds the potential for a much larger outbreak.

What is the worst-case scenario? We just dont know, South Africas Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday.

The small growth in numbers may be the calm before a devastating storm. We need to be aware that there may not be many further warnings before the pounding descends.

Testing boost

Along with the enforcement of the three-week lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the government has rolled out a series of sweeping measures, including travel restrictions, school closures and bans on mass gatherings.

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So far, almost 50,000 people have been tested across the country, and authorities are mobilising 67 mobile testing units to ramp the figure up to 30,000 people daily.

Meanwhile, the recently unveiled track-and-trace programme will see up to 10,000 health workers descend on various communities across the country to trace primary contacts and ensure testing for secondary contacts.

It is hoped the scheme will delay and, at best, prepare for a predicted onslaught South Africas health system will confront in the face of a severe outbreak.

Surveillance is paramount as this will guide the ongoing response, said Professor Helen Rees, chairperson of the World Health Organizations (WHO) African Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group.

We cant predict how this virus will spread in African countries where the age demographic is quite different to that of Europe. Social conditions make distancing very difficult and the risk of household spread is very high.

The continents youthful population  with a third of all Africans under 30 years  should be a boon in the fight against a virus shown to affect older people disproportionately more. But as societies across Africa already battle pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, tuberculosis and HIV on a large scale, any advantage could be outweighed in the long run.





Experience with HIV

The track-and-trace system is being developed by the government alongside the countrys National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It takes into account South Africas particular experiences in dealing with one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world.

Currently, 7.7 million people live with HIV in South Africa, a country of some 57 million. HIV prevalence among the adult population stands at 20.4 percent.

This has led the country to develop the largest state-sponsored HIV/AIDS treatment in the world, primarily providing Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) to those living with the disease. In 2017, South Africa invested more than $1.54bn to run its HIV programmes. The success of South Africas ART programme increased national life expectancy from 56 years in 2010 to 63 years in 2018.

South Africas experience in dealing with HIV and AIDS means the country is well prepared for this, said Rees, referring to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ability to focus treatment on those communities which need it most alongside the institutional memory the health system has in contact tracing will be very important.

The World Health Organization defines contact tracing as the identification and follow-up of persons who may have come into contact with an infected person.

South African police officers confiscate unlawfully sold items at an informal trading post in Hillbrow, Johannesburg during the second day of the countrys lockdown. [Marco Longari/AFP]

The novel coronavirus causes a highly infectious respiratory disease called COVID-19 that in severe cases can ruin a patients lungs.

In South Africa so far, the capacity of both the countrys public and private healthcare sectors has largely been able to cope with the number of infections. But according to Professor Alex van den Heever, a health economist at the University of the Witwatersrand, there are just 1,178 intensive care unit (ICU) beds in state hospitals and 2,140 in private hospitals across the country, with each being equipped with life-saving ventilators.

Right now, there are adequate ventilators. We need to have them in reserve  we cant just go manufacture some when we need it, Mkhize said.

Its all about forward planning  we must be prepared.

Homeless people queue for a meal and shelter in Hillbrow, Johannesburg [Themba Hadebe/AP]

Meanwhile, attempts to enforce a three-week lockdown that began on March 27 have turned violent, especially in densely populated communities.

Police and the army used whips, rubber bullets and tear gas throughout the first week to disperse people who were not heeding the call to self-isolate at home or respect social-distancing in Hillbrow, an inner-city Johannesburg neighbourhood.

What home must we go to if we live on the street? asked Thulani Nkomo.

The Zimbabwean immigrant was one of the thousands of homeless people cajoled off the streets by army and police officers and transported to open fields, empty school grounds and stadiums where makeshift shelters have been set up across the city to enforce social distancing.

The 21-day shutdown by government to quell the spread of the coronavirus is also having a disastrous effect on an economy that was already in the midst of a recession before the outbreak. All industries except those deemed to be essential in maintaining food supply, security and basic services such as water and electricity have been forced to close. Compounding the challenging situation is the high unemployment rate, standing at 29.1 percent.

We are looking at the biggest economic decline since at least 1937, said economist Mike Schussler.

There could be a year-on-year real GDP decline of 6.5 percent and possibly up to four million jobs being at risk in both the formal and informal sectors.
 Close Governor blasts Trump for months of delay and withholding equipment: 'He does not understand the word federal'

Donald Trump has said he hopes the US is starting to see light at the end of the tunnel while New York, the epicentre of the countrys coronavirus outbreak, reported a potential "plateau" of cases, as a grim streak of hundreds of deaths appears to have levelled rather than continue to spike.

On Monday, the number of Covid-19-related deaths in the US eclipsed 10,500, including the nation's youngest victim, a one-day-old newborn in Louisiana.



The president optimistic comments came in stark contrast to those of US surgeon general Jerome Adams, who warned Americans to brace for levels of tragedy similar to the September 11 attacks and the bombing of Pearl Harbour in the week ahead, as states continue mitigation efforts and prepare for several more weeks of quarantine and stay-at-home measures.

In a press conference attacking his predecessor Barack Obama, Democrats, reporters and a US Navy captain who alerted officials to a potential coronavirus outbreak on his ship before he was fired for doing so, the president dismissed an inspector general report that outlined the shortages of critically needed medical supplies in US hospitals.

The president also said he has considered "getting involved" with Captain Brett Crozier's case, and said that the captain's emailed letter "shows weakness."

The president said: "We don't want to have letter-writing campaigns where the fake news finds a letter [and] gets a leak. We don't want that."

Mr Trump continued to push for a controversial malaria drug that officials in his own administration have warned is not clinically proven to safely combat the virus. Despite warnings from Dr Anthony Fauci and the federal Food and Drug Administration, the president and his chief trade adviser Peter Navarro have insisted on administering the drug.

Mr Navarro has reportedly clashed with Dr Fauci about the drug's efficacy, though he told CNN he's qualified to measure the drug's effectiveness, despite not having a medical background.

On Monday, Dr Fauci was hesitant to say that mitigation efforts are showing signs of working across the US, but early results in hard-hit areas like New York are starting to show decreasing numbers of hospitalisations requiring ventilator support. He said: "You never want to think about declaring victory prematurely."

He said that health officials may be "overshooting" the models using initial data that showed as many as 200,000 deaths.

Meanwhile, a Democratic primary election in Wisconsin scheduled for 7 April cannot be postponed despite pleas from lawmakers and a last-minute push from the state's governor, which was overruled by the state's Supreme Court. The decision sends the election into chaos, with a drastic shortage of poll workers and an electorate that has been ordered to stay home under threat of the virus.

Ballots include thousands of local races in addition to a crucial race between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders for the party's nomination to face the president in November.

Follow live updates
At least 15 people have died in the last 12 days of what staff members at the Charlwell House Health & Rehabilitation Center in Norwood believe are infections caused by the coronavirus, the Boston Globe reported on Thursday.

According to the Globe, a co-owner of the facility said that seven residents who died had tested positive for the virus, but due to underlying health conditions, COVID-19 was listed as the official cause of death for only three of the residents. Chris Roberts, the vice president of operations at the health and rehabilitation center, said the other eight recent people who died had not been tested for the coronavirus. Their deaths were also connected to pre-existing conditions, he told the newspaper.

The news comes the same day as Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus announcing the deaths of three people three people at the Jewish Healthcare Center in Worcester. Augustus said the three deaths were among 16 people that tested positive for the virus.

Those who tested positive for the virus, Augustus said, were asymptomatic.

Everything that we know, its an unfortunate situation where people that dont know they have it, because they are asymptomatic, expose other folks, Augustus said. When the first evidence that someone may have the disease, you do the testing, but youre playing catchup at that point.

Related Content:
A DUP councillor has apologised after he compared himself to Noah in the bible in a Facebook post in which he appeared to suggest the global coronavirus pandemic was the judgement of God on the legalisation of abortion and same sex marriage in Northern Ireland, and an immoral and corrupt government.

John Carson, who represents Ballymena, in County Antrim, the former stronghold of ex-leader Ian Paisley, has been criticised for his disgraceful Facebook post, which he said was misinterpreted.

In the original post, he wrote: I said when abortion was legalised that our nation would be judged by God because of its departure from his word and the legalisation of the murder of the unborn child as well as same-sex marriage.

I was laughed at and mocked by some but as I said at the time, they laughed at Noah until the rain started.

You reap what you sow and our nation is now reaping the judgment of God because of an immoral and corrupt government.

Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Show all 11 1 /11 Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Pro-choice campaigners stood outside the Stormont Estate on Monday 21 October with the word "decriminalised" spelt out in front of them as some of Stormonts assembly members returned to the chamber for the first time in nearly three years. A group of Northern Irish lawmakers returned to parliament in a failed last-minute protest at the decriminalisation of abortion in the region. AFP via Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Attendees at a pro-choice press conference embraced one another ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage in Belfast. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A member of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice smiled as she and others marched in support of abortion rights in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following a pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice groups Alliance for Choice and Pro Life held demonstrations outside Stormont on Monday 21 October as a last-minute attempt to stop the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland was made by the Democratic Unionist party. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A rally was held in Dublin City centre on Monday 21 October in celebration of the eminent decriminalisation of abortion and same-sex marriage. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Equal marriage campaigners Martha Brown and Louise McCullough celebrated at Maverick Bar in Belfast as same-sex marriage and abortion were legalised in Northern Ireland. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice made their way to Stormont carrying abortion rights signs. Getty Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Kellie Turtle and Emma Campbell embraced as members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice held a press conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Activist Ashleigh Topley wiped away her tears during the Alliance for Choice press conference on Monday 21 October. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of Alliance for Group embraced one another after their pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Abortion rights campaigners marched through the streets of Belfast ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Getty

It is time to repent and turn again to the God of our fathers.

The DUP, which strongly opposed Westminster legislation liberalising the law surrounding terminations, has distanced itself from the comments.

On Thursday, Mr Carson wrote: Folks yesterday afternoon l put a post on Facebook which was taken by some and totally misinterpreted, anyone who knows me will know that l would not intentionally set out to cause hurt or offence to anyone and if l did then for that l humbly apologise.

However l will never apologise for my Christian faith and will not be silenced by those that are opposed to the truth of Gods word.

The Rainbow Project, a Belfast-based LGBT support organisation, told the Press Association Mr Carsons post was disgraceful but not at all surprising.

Pro-choice campaigner Naomi Connor accused Mr Carson of fundamentalist religious rhetoric.

DUP economy minister Diane Dodds described Mr Carsons Facebook posts as a bit of a distraction.

She said they did not reflect the views of the DUP and said party officers are likely to examine potential disciplinary action.

They do not reflect the views of the vast majority of people, she said.

They are a bit of a distraction from what we all need to do... which is a very, very serious challenge of fighting against Covid-19.

I think we should place on record our thanks to the churches and to those people who have faith for all that they have done as well in reaching out to the lonely, in reaching out to those who are isolated, in working in food banks.

I believe that we have a God of love and mercy.

And I think thats where most people will take comfort.

And I think that all faith communities in Northern Ireland have been working incredibly hard in challenging and very, very difficult circumstances.

In regard to potential disciplinary action against Mr Carson, Ms Dodds said: Im presuming it will go to party officers  it certainly does not reflect the views of the DUP.

Earlier this week, a senior DUP member claimed Northern Ireland has introduced the most extreme abortion laws in Europe.

Westminster MPs passed provisions on terminations last year in the absence of the powersharing Assembly.

The regulations will allow terminations on request for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and up to 24 weeks in the case of a risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl.

Abortion will also be available in cases of severe and fatal foetal anomalies, with no gestational limit.

Campaigners have claimed many barriers still exist to terminations after 12 weeks, and they have called for greater use of telemedicine to provide pills, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Additional reporting by PA
As we enter April, caring for those sick with Covid-19 and preventing others from becoming so remains the priority in New York City, as in the rest of the country. But how can we look out for others particularly affected by the crisis? Citywide closures of nonessential services have devastated the arts at every level: Exhibition and performance spaces have shuttered indefinitely, and thousands of New Yorkers working in creative industries, many of them freelancers, have seen their livelihoods disappear with no assurances about when theyll be able to work again. Many of these people also work in bars and restaurants, the closures of which threaten to change the face of the industry forever  the longer a restaurant stays closed, restaurateurs will tell you, the harder it will be to reopen.

Certain institutions and individuals are getting creative about expanding their digital presence. Museums and galleries have opened digital viewing rooms, screened films and hosted artist talks online. Broadway stars are providing free Living Room Concerts featuring songs from shuttered shows, and the Metropolitan Opera is offering a free Nightly Opera Stream. Meanwhile, dancers and musicians who have been laid off are giving classes online and performing live on social media. And restaurants and bars are amping up their delivery options, artisanal cocktails included.

Even so, most artists ability to generate income has been severely hampered, and while the federal stimulus package makes some provision for the arts, support falls well short of the $4 billion sought by advocacy groups. In addition to following along from home, arts lovers who are able have been encouraged to be generous in making purchases and donations, whether to the various grass roots relief campaigns popping up on sites like PayPal and GoFundMe, such as the NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund, or to established nonprofits such as the New York Foundation for the Arts, which will hold an online benefit auction featuring work by artists including Donald Lipski and Sandy Skoglund on April 10. Here is a small sampling of the many other groups in need. The newly launched Artist Relief, which has a seed fund of $10 million and is actively fund-raising for more, is a joint initiative organized by the Academy of American Poets, Artadia, Creative Capital, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, the MAP Fund, the National YoungArts Foundation and United States Artists to provide emergency grants to creators of all disciplines.
Jared Kushner meets with Service Members at a forward operating base near Qayyarah West in Iraq, April 4, 2017.

DoD/Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/Handout via REUTERS

Jared Kushner's outsize role in the White House's coronavirus response is ruffling feathers, with senior officials mocking the president's son-in-law in interviews with The New York Times.

Kushner has dispatched "dozens" his own political appointees to various federal agencies in an effort to streamline efforts like sending out medical equipment, but many of his deputies are from the private sector and, like Kushner, have little public health or disaster management experience.

His self-described "impact squad" has been nicknamed the "Slim Suit Crowd" by FEMA veterans more accustomed to sporting khakis, according to The Times.

Another senior official described Kushner's squad as a "frat party" that "descended from a U.F.O. and invaded the federal government," according to The Times.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Jared Kushner once made a Gossip Girl cameo, but now he seems to be in a real-life version of Mean Girls set in the White House during a deadly pandemic.

Two descriptors that would be perfectly at home in a burn book emerged in a recent New York Times story on Kushner's outsize role in the White House's coronavirus response.

Kushner, who is both a White House senior adviser and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, has reportedly assembled "dozens" of private sector go-getters to be dispersed through federal agencies in an effort to streamline public health response efforts.

His self-described "impact squad" has been mocked by FEMA veterans as the "Slim Suit Crowd," a reference to their fish-out-of-water vibe from those in the agency more accustomed to sporting khakis or maybe a windbreaker, according to The Times.

Another federal official pulled no punches in his assessment of the Kushner squad.

"The culture clash between public and private sectors has been jarring," The Times reports. "The senior official described the Kushner team as a 'frat party' that descended from a U.F.O. and invaded the federal government."

Story continues

Kushner's cohort even used the website freeconferencecall.com to conduct "high-level meetings," according to The Times.

These leaks come amid Kushner's growing public role in the coronavirus response, with his first briefing appearance coming yesterday and his coronavirus "shadow" task force facing criticism for downplaying the severity of the pandemic to President Trump.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Actor Karisma Kapoor says staying away from the camera was a conscious decision as she wanted to focus on her children.

The 45-year-old actor, whose last full-fledged on screen appearance was in 2012 "Dangerous Ishq", believes motherhood is a huge commitment and she didn't want to miss out on her kids, Samiera and Kiaan's growing up years.

"I never really missed being in front of the camera, or not being in the spotlight. I do work regularly, but I haven't faced the camera in a full-fledged role in a long time.

"This decision was completely made out of choice because I wanted to spend time at home and not do a movie, which at that time was a big commitment. I really felt that I wanted to give the time to my family, my children and I didn't want to miss out on that, Karisma told PTI in an interview.

The actor, who ruled the 90s and early 2000s with films Coolie No.1, Jeet, Raja Hindustani, Hero No 1, Dil To Pagal Hai, Fiza and Zubeidaa, has returned to acting with web series Mentalhood.

Karisma said she decided to the board the ALTBalaji and Zee5 comedy-drama series, which also marks her digital debut, because it focuses on the life of a parent.

The show is completely based on motherhood, something that's very special to me. When Ekta (Kapoor) told me about the show, I told her that I wasn't really sure if I wanted to act again. But when she made me hear the script, I just fell in love with it. I wanted people to know what I go through on a daily basis and this was the perfect platform.

The actor said she knew that whenever she would return to acting, it would be a subject with a purpose.

I really felt like I wanted to do something different and meaningful that serves a purpose giving people a lot to reflect upon. I felt this was the right platform and I thoroughly enjoyed the script and that's why I did Mentalhood.

"I really also wanted people, all the women, ladies, mothers-to-be and single men who have children to know that they aren't alone. These are emotions and feelings we go through on a daily basis and we go through it together. Be it the highs and the lows, she added.

The series, written by Ritu Bhatia and directed by Karishma Kohli, also features Shilpa Shukla, Tillotama Singh, Shruti Seth and Sandhya Mridul.

It is one of the first web shows in India to have virtually an all-female cast and crew and Karisma said working on women-led set was a delightful experience.

The energy on the set was really fantastic. To have a predominantly female crew right from the producer to the director to most of the cast, female technicians, writer, online producer, we were all women. It was really wonderful to be back on set and give my best in front of the camera.

The actor said digital medium has given a voice to many and is the best platform for artistes right now.

You can speak a lot and say a lot more things. That's why I am really happy that I did Mentalhood'. I really never planned anything in my life. I never even thought I would land up doing Mentalhood' and would act again. I just take each day as it comes. If I do find a project interesting and really want to do it, maybe I will, maybe I won't. Who knows, time will tell, she ad. PTIded.

Produced by Filmfarm Productions, "Mentalhood" is streaming on ALT Balaji, Zee5.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The spread of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. has placed an unimaginable financial burden on companies and forced many to layoff and furlough hundreds of thousands of workers indefinitely. In Texas, the cuts have led to an "exponential" increase in unemployment claims that are overwhelming the state's website and call centers.



But while some companies are closing shop and laying off employees, others have had to ramp up hiring efforts in order to meet the demand brought on by the pandemic.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Exponential increase in Texas unemployment benefit apps overwhelming states capacity to process claims
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 17:53 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f929dc 1 National #PostScript,COVID-19,death-toll Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo finally declared a COVID-19 public health emergency on March 31, one month after the first two cases in the country were confirmed on March 2.

The President issued Government Regulation No. 21/2020 on large-scale social distancing as an implementing regulation of the 2018 Health Quarantine Law to restrict the movement of people and goods within a control zone but he stopped short of allowing regional administrations to close their borders.

What does this mean? Will it be enough to curb the spread of the coronavirus?

Read also: Indonesia's latest official COVID-19 figures

Large-scale social restrictions

Large-scale social restrictions include the closure of schools and workplaces, restrictions on religious activities and restrictions on activities in public places.Experts say the measures are not much different from what the nation, especially the capital, had already been implementing since March 15, when the President called for social distancing.

Several regional administrations had imposed these measures, although not strictly, since before the President announced them.

With the announcement of a public health emergency, however, regional administrations must submit a request to apply large-scale social restrictions in their respective regions with the Health Ministry, which will approve the request.

Regional quarantine

There are three other measures besides the large-scale social restrictions stipulated in the Health Quarantine Law, namely home quarantine, hospital quarantine and regional quarantine.

Regional quarantine measures mean border restrictions in specific areas. Under the public health emergency measures, the central government allows regional administrations to make a request to close their borders, but not large-scale areas.

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said President Joko Jokowi Widodo had told his subordinates that provinces, cities and regencies may only implement large-scale social restrictions, whereas regional quarantines  also known as partial quarantines  were to be imposed only in smaller areas.

Without large-scale regional quarantines in place, provinces and cities cannot close their borders.

A taxi driver washes his hands at a temporary public sink on Jl. MH. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on March 24. (JP/Seto Wardhana)

Jokowi has also decided not to ban the mudik (mass exodus) on Idul Fitri, although he has advised people not to mudik.

Read also: COVID-19: 'Mudik' risks mass contagion across Java

Civil emergency

Before declaring a public health emergency, President Jokowi had been weighing up a declaration of a civil emergency as he ordered his Cabinet to impose stricter rules on social distancing, also known as physical distancing, to contain the coronavirus.

This had raised concerns among experts that a civil emergency status might disrupt the handling of a health crisis since such a status, as stipulated in Government Regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) No. 23/1959, implies a heavy-handed security approach.

Presidential spokesperson Fadjroel Rachman said that the civil emergency policies were only anticipatory measures to prepare for if the situation gets significantly worse.

Lokataru Legal and Human Rights Foundation executive director Haris Azhar said with the declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency, health experts and medical workers should be in the forefront in enforcing the measures, not the police.

Sanctions

The government regulation on large-scale social distancing stipulates no legal consequences for violators.

However, the President stressed that the National Police could take legal steps against anyone violating the rules under the large-scale social-distancing measures.

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said people could be charged with a criminal offense if they violated the large-scale social-distancing measures based on Article 93 of the Health Quarantine Law.

The article he referred to states that people who violate a health quarantine face a maximum of one years imprisonment and/or a Rp 100 million (US$6,238) fine.

A health official in Pandeglang regency, Banten, checks the body temperature of travelers on April 2. (Antara/Muhammad Bagus Khoirunas)

Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) chairwoman Asfinawati said with reference to the law, people violating quarantine measures could not be charged with the above sanctions if they caused no harm that might lead to a health emergency.

If somebody goes out in public but makes no contact with anyone, for example, security personnel can ask the person to go home, but the person cannot be charged under the law, she told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, she added, the repressive nature of the Health Quarantine Law was not to control citizens individually but rather to restrict commercial activities.

Asfinawati also warned the government not to apply repressive measures.

Health problems cannot be solved by imprisonment, she said.

Incentives

Legal experts have said that rather than punishing social-distancing violators, the government needs to instead make sure people can stay at home without losing their income.

Constitutional law expert from Jakarta-based Jentera School of Law Bivitri Susanti said the government should provide stimulus packages for companies that would face major losses if productivity decreased as a result of closure.

The government cannot directly order all companies to ask their employees to work from home, Bivitri told the Post on Tuesday.

She feared that without incentives, employees asked to work from home would be unpaid or that there would be mass unemployment where companies took into account costs and laid off manual workers or employees with temporary contracts.

With the large-scale social-distancing measures, restrictions on activities must take into consideration meeting of the basic needs of the people, as stipulated in Article 4 of the government regulation.

The government has issued Perppu No. 1/2020 on state financial policy and financial system stability, refocusing state expenditure of Rp 405.1 trillion on the health sector, social-welfare safety net and tax incentives.

A detailed explanation of the Perppu can be found here. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/04/01/indonesias-covid-19-stimulus-playbook-explained.html

Is it enough to defeat the coronavirus?

Padjajaran University epidemiologist Panji Fortuna Hadisoemarto said social restrictions alone were not enough without large-scale regional quarantines especially for areas with demographic characteristics of high inter-regional movement.

If the population is relatively static, large-scale social distancing can help. But for such high mobility in Jakarta, a regional quarantine is really needed, he said.

As the coronavirus continues to spread to different regions, some local administrations have proactively imposed limitations on social activities and applied border restrictions to prevent further transmission.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan previously proposed that the central government close the capitals borders while prohibiting all activities within the city except for those related to energy, food, health, communications and finance.

The President, however, has repeatedly urged local and regional leaders to abide by the same rules of play through his governments current regulations and not issue their own regulations.

With the issuance of this government regulation, everything is clear. I ask regional leaders not to make their own policies, Jokowi said.

A health worker helps a colleague at the emergency COVID-19 hospital at the athletes village in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta on March 23. (Antara/Pool/Hafidz Mubarak A)

Even so, the government has issued a temporary ban on foreigners entering the country. The curbs will not apply to holders of work permits, diplomats or other official visitors.

Panji said that besides the need for regional quarantines, the central government also must play an active role in advising local governments in taking the correct measures to curb the epidemic.

He argued that the current policy served only as the legal basis for mass social distancing but it was not an obligation, leaving the relevant local governments reluctant to make decisions.

Regional administrations can prioritize different things for the same problem. I am afraid they will make the wrong decision -- like those who are hit hard but dont propose social restrictions because of limited resources, he said.

Article 2 states that regional proposals for large-scale social restrictions must be based on epidemiology, threat magnitude, effectiveness, supporting resources and operational, technical, political, economic, socio-cultural, defense and security considerations.

Panji said the central government needed to provide assistance to regional governments, including technical assistance and especially expert resources that could help assess their epidemiological situations.

Rules are not enough. They need to make sure there are enough appropriate resources in the regions. In the meantime, they can assess whether certain virus-hit regions need large-scale social distancing before they make proposals, he added.
With thoughts of the Coronavirus in the minds of everyone across Ireland, a leading Irish charity has urged people to also remember the plight of those living in abject poverty in some of the worlds poorest countries.

World Vision Ireland, a child-focussed overseas aid agency aligned to the largest privately funded NGO in the world, delivers clean water, education, healthcare and sanitation to more than 120 million children in almost 100 countries across the globe.

World Vision Ireland CEO Niall McLoughlin said they were deeply concerned about the likely impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on vulnerable children around the world.

In response to this concern the charity is appealing for the Irish public to help fund its three programming priorities: promoting preventative measures to inhibit the spread of the Coronavirus, supporting health systems and workers and helping children direct impacted by COVID-19.

Mr McLoughlin pointed out that, for example, wealthy countries typically have 2 - 12 beds per 1,000 people, as compared to the 1 bed per 1,000 head of population in the worlds poorest nations

"World Vision Ireland has emphasized that a global effort is needed to stop the Covid-19 pandemic, and that children in extreme poverty are always the most vulnerable in a crisis," he said.

"When children living in poorer countries lose loved ones, they risk ending up in unsafe situations. Often times, they must engage in child labour to survive; see their families sink into poverty; or suffer isolation and psychological harm."

The charity plans to reach 11 million people in their 17-priority country response, to flatten the curve.

Mr McLoughlin said the charity has set a target of reaching 11 million people in their 17 priority countries in an attempt to flatten the Civid-19 curve.

"This includes children whose families have serious underlying health conditions and are already battling tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria, HIV and AIDS, in communities with high rates of malnutrition. Children in extreme poverty are living where health facilities are poorly equipped, lack isolation facilities and intensive care and respiratory equipment," he said.

"Millions of refugees and displaced people are also living in large, overcrowded, often unhygienic areas, with limited access to medical care. Our worst nightmare is this virus taking hold in these conditions, because it will spread rapidly and there won't be sufficient resources to flatten the curve."

He pointed out that World vision has gained huge experience and expertise in helping communities across the globe prepare for and respond to different virus outbreaks. These include combating the spread of Ebola in Africa and Zika in Latin America, educating thousands of communities about the importance of hand hygiene, basic health care, and disease control.

"Responding to the Coronavirus is going to take the same kind of experience. A key approach for World Vision all around the world has been to partner with leaders who are trusted by communities. We train leaders who then share effective health messages in their communities," said Mr McLoughlin.

"Failure to do this can lead to rumours and misinformation quickly spreading, which then hampers efforts to slow the spread of a disease. If we don't tackle the Covid-19 pandemic at a global level, it will be far more difficult to treat at a national level," he warned.

Mr McLoughlin said urged people to help World Vision in its efforts by donating what they can to www.worldvision.ie/ways-to-give/Children-in-Emergencies.
The minister for culture and information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says corpses of people who tested positive for coronavirus before death would not be released to the family for burial because they are contagious.

Read Also: Why Cases Of Coronavirus Are On The Rise In The Country: FG

Speaking during a media briefing with News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Friday, he added that the ministry of health would oversee the affair of burying such corpse.

He said:

Coronavirus is very dangerous and contagious; there is no medicine for it yet and it is not just capable of killing, overwhelming healthcare system, it will destroy the economy. In some countries, they are putting dead bodies in big refrigerators, because the morgues have filled up. Nigerians should not forget that these are not the type of corpses that can be claimed for burial because it must be handled by the ministry of health, he said.
American billionaire, Bill Gates has said the United States missed the opportunity to stay ahead of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. ...





American billionaire, Bill Gates has said the United States missed the opportunity to stay ahead of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.





The novel coronavirus has infected more than 1,016,000 people and killed over 53,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.





The US has reported more than 245,500 cases, with over 6,000 deaths. Top infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has called for a federally mandated stay-at-home order.





However, Gates, on his twitter handle said all the work that rich countries were doing now to develop vaccines would save lives in developing countries too.





Without a vaccine, those countries are at even greater risk than wealthy ones, because its even harder for them to do physical distancing and shutdowns.





If everything goes well, there might be an effective vaccine in less than 18 monthsthe fastest a vaccine has ever been developed. That will depend on decisions we make today, including the federal government investing in building up manufacturing capacity.





Theres no question the United States missed the opportunity to get ahead of the novel #coronavirus. But the window for making important decisions hasnt closed. The choices we and our leaders make now will have an enormous impact, he said.





Gates said in the meantime, frontline health care workers were making heroic efforts to test and treat patients across the United States and the world.





Here in my hometown, Public Health Seattle & King County is doing incredible work that we should all be very proud of.





If we make the right decisions nowinformed by science, data and the experience of medical professionalswe can save lives and get the country back to work, he said,




A bikie who headbutted a paramedic half his size so hard he damaged his victim's eye socket will not spend a day in jail.

Blake Jon Moller, 40, walked free from a Perth court on Tuesday with a suspended sentence.

Paramedics fear he avoided prison to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in Western Australian jails by having fewer inmates, although there was no mention of COVID-19 during sentencing.

Veteran ambo Andrew Wilson, 36, was bashed after he arrived at a domestic dispute on October 6 and was confronted by the drunk 130kg bikie.

Andrew Wilson, 36, was headbutted by a bike twice his size during a routine domestic call out

Blake Jon Moller, 40, (pictured) walked free from a Perth court on Tuesday with a suspended sentence

'He grabbed me by the shoulders and put his head through my head. He just destroyed me, I fell down to the ground dazed and confused,' he said.

Moller pleaded guilty two weeks after the attack and attended a rehab clinic in Northam, about 100km east of Perth.

The heavily-tattooed thug was found guilty in the Perth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday and given a seven-month prison term, suspended for nine months.

Mr Wilson said his attacker dodging jail was a 'real kick in the guts' for all paramedics who were sick of being treated like 'punching bags'.

'Everyone is livid he did this to me and gets off with no jail time. We feel really let down,' he said on Wednesday.

Western Australia has not followed NSW's lead in releasing some prisoners to ease crowding amid concerns coronavirus could rapidly spread through jails.

Mr Wilson pictured with his wife Sarah and eldest son Billy, now 10, eight years ago when he first joined St John's Ambulance as an eager young recruit

Eight years later he is sick of paramedics being treated like 'punching bags' after a series of attacks that left him battered and bruised

But Mr Wilson was furious his attacker was not sent to jail in WA, which has 364 COVID-19 cases and two deaths.

'It's an absolute cop out. It's just horrible that just because this virus is going around people like him are let out on to the streets,' he said.

'He's a violent offender guilty of a serious assault on a public officer, that should mean jail time.

'He should take priority in going into jail over a lot of people. Let someone else out to make room if you have to.'

Mr Wilson said he still played the traumatising incident, which left him with a damaged eye socket and concussion.

'I don't know how I'll feel going to a similar job, especially now that it's clear there's no repercussions for these people, the system's s**t and failing,' he said.

'Paramedics will start leaving because they're subjected to so much violence and the magistrates let them off.

'Many of us already have backup plans to do something else.'

Mr Wilson, who has been a paramedic for eight years, said just six months earlier he was headbutted again by a drunk patient in a hospital emergency department

Mr Wilson's wife Sarah with their sons Billy (left) and Eddy (right) worry that he won't come home

Mr Wilson said his wife, two young sons Billy, 10, and Eddie, 5, and father didn't want him returning to work after a series of other assaults.

He spent weeks off work after Moller's shocking attack, but managed to secure a transfer to a fly-in fly-out role on Barrow Island in the state's north.

Instead of a dangerous city environment, he stabilises offshore oil and gas workers and evacuates them to hospital in a helicopter.

'It's a much more controlled and safety-conscious environment up here, I'm not dealing with so many drunks and drug addicts, which is refreshing,' he said.

Mr Wilson told Daily Mail Australia days after the attack that he was sick of his family bearing the brunt of his frequent injuries.

'My kids see me come home with black eyes and they don't understand. I go to work and my family doesn't know if I'll come home tonight,' he said.

His five-year-old so Eddy made him a get well soon card, but his older son Billy, 10, is getting far too used to his father getting hurt.

'This shouldn't be normal for a child with a paramedic dad to be seeing them with black eyes and broken noses,' he said.

'I don't tell them about the verbal abuse, but I can't hide that from them.'

His five-year-old so Eddy made him a get well soon card after seeing his black eyes from the bikie assault

Mr Wilson the assault was on a routine job on North Beach Drive in Tuart Hill, Perth, about 1.10am.

Moller's partner said no one was injured but she wanted him out of the house because he was drinking and belligerent, so Mr Wilson radioed for police.

'I told them he's a big guy and it's going to escalate, he's going to lose his s**t, can we get the police here now,' he recalled.

Suddenly, the well over 6ft, bald, heavily tattooed bikie kicked off a security screen and ran through the window out of the house towards the 70kg paramedic.

'He grabbed me by the shoulders and put his head through my head. He just destroyed me, I fell down to the ground dazed and confused,' he said.

Mr Wilson got up and staggered away while hitting the panic code on his phone to summon police reinforcement in minutes.

His older son Billy, 10, is getting far too used to his father getting hurt. 'This shouldn't be normal for a child with a paramedic dad to be seeing them with black eyes and broken noses,' he said

Mr Wilson is pursuing a transfer to northern Western Australia where his family believes he will be safer on the job

He said the man's partner was very apologetic and distressed about the attack and claimed the bikie had high-powered guns in the house.

Multiple officers eventually wrestled the attacker into a paddy wagon and Mr Wilson was taken to hospital.

Mr Wilson, who has been a paramedic for eight years, said just six months earlier he was headbutted again by a drunk patient in a hospital emergency department.

He said the man was in a drunken fight and police said to take him to hospital. He was abusive on the way and attacked after they arrived.

Mr Wilson's nose was broken but the man got off with a six month good behaviour bond.

'I'm sick of paramedics being punching bags. We get abused three or four times a day, mostly verbally but too often also physically,' he said.

'Anyone I know will say I'm the mellowest guy, I don't aggravate anyone, but this happens all the time anyway.'

Mr Wilson said his wife Sarah was still a bit rattled by Sunday's attack and worried about when he goes back to work

Mr Wilson said about 70 per cent of ambulance jobs were drug or alcohol related and many cases simply didn't need to involve ambulance officers

Mr Wilson said about 70 per cent of ambulance jobs were drug or alcohol related and many cases simply didn't need to involve ambulance officers.

'We get called out to a lot of jobs where it's just people who are drunk and don't really need medical attention,' he said.

He argued paramedics shouldn't have to treat them as it put officers at risk for people who just needed to go home and sleep it off.

'People think we have a duty of care because we are there, but if they're just drunk they don't need us. We should just be able to say we won't take them,' he said.

'Ambos let their patients abuse them because they think it's part of the job, but it's not. It happens too much and I'm sick of it.'
ISLAMABAD  A Pakistani court Thursday overturned the murder conviction and death sentence of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British-born militant who had been convicted of masterminding the 2002 abduction and killing of U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl, lawyers said.

The court also overturned the convictions of three other men who had been serving life sentences in the case. All four men were expected to be freed soon, lawyers said.

Pearl, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted in January 2002 in the city of Karachi, while working on an article about Pakistani militant groups with links to al Qaeda. He was later beheaded.

A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court in Karachi, headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha, found that there had been sufficient evidence to convict Saeed of kidnapping, but not of murder.

The court reduced Saeeds sentence to seven years. Because he has been imprisoned for 18 years, he was expected to go free along with Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil, the three other men whose convictions were overturned, Ahmed said.

Steven Butler, the Asia program coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the organization was deeply disappointed.

We urge prosecutors to appeal the decision, which found Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh guilty only of kidnapping Pearl in a crime that led directly to his murder, Butler said.

Soon after Pearls killing, Pakistans government, then led by President Pervez Musharraf, moved quickly to arrest Saeed and the other men amid a global outcry and pressure from the United States.

But a 2011 report, based on investigative work by students and faculty at the journalism program of Georgetown University and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, cast doubt on the four mens convictions. It found that Saeed and the three other men had been involved in the plot to abduct Pearl but were not responsible for his murder.

U.S. officials have said they believed that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had personally carried out Pearls murder.

Salman Masood is a New York Times writer.
Since the last time rent was due, numerous local businesses have shut down and thousands of workers have been laid off or furloughed or had their hours cut.

That means a lot of rent checks didnt get dropped off April 1, or rent amounts were debited online, though some landlords are offering discounts and freezing planned rent increases.

Like their tenants, many of them are worried about covering their expenses. Theyre also trying to avoid laying off their employees.

Theyre in a bind, were in a bind, said Marc Ross, president of Bob Ross Realty, which operates about 700 units in the area.

His company is setting up payment plans with renters who are financially struggling. Ross said hes hoping that unemployment checks will kick in soon.

About 430,000 Texans have filed for unemployment insurance over the past two weeks, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

On ExpressNews.com: I feel hopeless right now: San Antonio renters worried

Ross is also trying to keep his employees on the job and protected from the coronavirus, equipping them with gloves and hand sanitizer. Then theres the bevy of small businesses the company uses for services such as painting and cleaning.

All these people are depending on us to pay them, Ross said.

To prevent people from losing their homes, the Texas Supreme Court recently ordered lower courts to temporarily suspend most eviction proceedings.

Highland Commercial Properties, which owns and operates about 1,500 apartments and rental homes in San Antonio, is freezing rent increases and giving tenants a 10 percent discount, president Mark Hurley said. Its also providing extra laundry credits.

The company is directing affected tenants to relief organizations and helping them fill out paperwork for assistance, said Hurley, whos also president of the Texas Apartment Association.

We told them that should they not be able to pay, they should come and see us, and well make arrangements, he said.

Missed payments could cut into landlords ability to pay an assortment of bills. Rent goes toward paying off debt on properties, taxes, insurance, utilities, payroll and other expenses, said Ryan Baldwin, senior vice president of multifamily at Franklin Apartment Management, part of Franklin Cos.

After nearly 26 years in the industry, Baldwin said: This is the most stressed Ive ever been.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are offering mortgage forbearance or relief options.

But many of the properties Franklin owns or operates are conventionally financed  it didnt rely on loans backed by Fannie or Freddie  and some mortgage payments were due as early as Friday. The companys portfolio includes senior living facilities and affordable complexes.

Were literally having to go day by day and look at deposits, Baldwin said.

On ExpressNews.com: 275,000+ Texans seek jobless benefits, more than doubling last week's record high

The company is waiving late fees this month, and employees are calling tenants to see if they need assistance.

This is just so uncertain, and we dont know how long its going to last, Baldwin said. We dont know what our residents are going to be experiencing.

The San Antonio Apartment Association announced a program last week connected to the citys risk mitigation fund, which helps residents who are struggling to stay in their homes because of rising rents or other issues.

The group is encouraging landlords to forgive 25 percent of a tenants rent, said Teri Bilby, SAAAs executive director. The city will determine if tenants meet the mitigation funds qualifications before disbursing payments to the landlords.

About $430,000 is available through the fund, and the city is processing $30,000 in grants, leaving $400,000, said Edith Merla, interim public relations manager for the citys Neighborhood and Housing Services Department.

The fund policy allows up to $3,500 for rent or mortgage aid per household, but the average disbursement is $1,000.

Before March, the program fielded 56 inquiries a week on average, Merla said. But in one recent week, the number skyrocketed to more than 2,000 requests, and its expected to keep rising.

The city is partnering with the San Antonio Area Foundation and accepting donations for the risk mitigation fund.

Officials also are looking at other funding sources. The city requested $1 million from the San Antonio Housing Trust Foundation, and staff members are in discussions with local community banks and organizations, Merla said. The trust will vote this week on contributing $500,000.

After President Donald Trump signed a coronavirus relief package recently, San Antonio and Bexar County will receive about $14 million from several of the Housing and Urban Development Departments grant programs.

City officials are determining the best use for the federal funds, Merla said.

On ExpressNews.com: 5 things to know about eviction in San Antonio during the coronavirus pandemic

Kairoi Residential is informing tenants of regional, state and federal relief options, said Kari Warren, the companys executive vice president of operations. Residents also have received a list of San Antonio companies that are hiring.

The company, which owns about 3,500 apartments in the San Antonio area and is the third-party manager for about 1,000 other units, is waiving fees and working on payment plans with tenants.

Its too early to say how many people wont be able to pay rent in April  and the number may be bigger in May and June, Warren said. In the meantime, the company is looking at ways to trim expenses.

Paul Barkhurst, an attorney who owns two rental properties in the region, told his tenants not to worry about April rent. Both lost their jobs because of the pandemic, he said, and one has young children.

Im not rich, but I dont need the money as much as they do, he said. Im just going to eat the loss. Theres no need to add stress to them.

Kevin Knight, president of Liberty Management Inc., said the company is talking to owners and tenants about resources, including using the SAAAs program and applying for unemployment.

Liberty oversees about 720 single-family units in the area. Most of the property owners the company works with are people who fell into real estate  for example, they bought a house and then got a job transfer. Many rely on the rental income to make their mortgage payments.

A lot of them are really concerned, he said.

The fallout from the pandemic could have a domino effect on tenants, owners, mortgage and loan holders, and banks, said Shann Chaudhry, a local attorney who focuses on real estate transactions and business planning.

Chaudhry is advising his clients in residential and commercial real estate to talk to their mortgage companies about either forbearance agreements or restructuring loans. Hes also recommending that clients check in with tenants to see how theyre faring.

This is an unprecedented situation, he said. Its going to start playing into economics on a large scale.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
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Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 20:21 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f98ecb 1 Business state-owned-enterprises,State-owned-Enterprises-Ministry,Garuda-Indonesia,pertamina,telkom,erick-thohir,Merger,divestment,liquidation Free

Two-thirds of Indonesias 142 state firms and around 800 subsidiaries and sister companies will be consolidated as the government focuses on slimming down to help profitable businesses that add value to the state, a top official has said.

The State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry announced Friday its plan for business rationing and consolidation within state firms. Energy giant Pertamina, telecommunications firm Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) and flag carrier Garuda Indonesia stand on the front line of plans to merge, liquidate or divest stakes in subsidiaries.

SOEs Minister Erick Thohir said the business overhaul would also reduce the number of business sectors covered by state firms to 14 from 27 sectors today.

We are slimming down gradually, but we are prioritizing some [companies] first like Telkom and Garuda because they are publicly listed companies, Erick told a teleconferenced briefing.

Of course there will be questions on the fate of the employees. We would try to minimize layoffs.

Pertamina and Garuda executives said they would reassign employees in the affected companies to their respective parent companies or other business units.

Overhauling the countrys state firms has been a key goal of President Joko Jokowi Widodo since he appointed Erick as minister in October last year, as he believes that SOEs are scattered across too many sectors with management groups that burden their companies.

Read also: Government redirects state capital injections as COVID-19 hits businesses

We continue to focus on the core business, sustainable efficiency, so we continue to remain healthy. Especially with COVID-19, corporations need efficiency, Erick said.

Garuda may need to restructure its sharia-compliant sukuk (Islamic bonds) due in June as the airline struggled to pay its dues with COVID-19 hitting the travel industry hard, the minister said on March 20.

The companies would of course generate some money from the liquidation and divestments, but the amount is insignificant. Whats more important is that we make SOEs more efficient and consolidate them, Erick said. Pertamina, Telkom and Garuda refused to go into detail on the amount of funds they would pocket from the asset liquidation and divestments.

Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati said the company planned to liquidate and divest its stakes in 25 direct and indirect subsidiaries to make its business more efficient and focus more on its core business.

We plan to liquidate and divest our stakes in eight subsidiaries this year and the rest would continue next year, she said during the video conference. Nicke did not mention the names of the companies or their businesses, but said that many of them were no longer operational.

Telkom plans to reduce its subsidiaries in the next two years as nearly half of them, along with its sister companies, overlap. The companys president director, Ririek Adriansyah, said that, of the 49 direct and indirect subsidiaries in its portfolio, around 20 companies had business segments that overlapped and they therefore could be merged gradually until 2021.

Read also: Garuda, severely affected by COVID-19, may restructure bonds: Minister

Garuda Indonesia is poised to follow in Telkoms footsteps, with president director Irfan Setiaputra saying that the company would merge six of its subsidiaries.

Among them are our online logistics platform Garuda Tauberes and our aircraft charter subsidiary, he said.

The Garuda Tauberes platform would be merged with its cargo unit to make the business more efficient. The aircraft charter subsidiary would be merged with the parent company, Irfan added.

Center of Reform on Economics (Core) Indonesia economist Piter Abdullah said the ministrys decision was difficult to comprehend, noting that subsidiaries and sister companies needed to be established for profitability and efficiency in the first place.

If those subsidiaries were meant to create inefficiencies and losses, the minister should look into possible legal violations, Piter said, calling for transparency.

We need to wait for a further explanation from the SOEs Ministry. Which subsidiaries are to be liquidated? Is it really because they are making losses?

Business rationing can benefit other parties by way of reducing competition or through the acquisition of state firms subsidiaries that are actually profitable.
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Prioritising the good of society, a sub-inspector (SI) working for the Government Railway Police (GRP) recently chose not to attend his mothers last rites, and watched the proceedings over a video call instead.

The SI, K Shantaram, heard about her demise when he was enforcing lockdown orders near the Vijayawada Railway station on Saturday. "He grieved for her, but chose to stay and continue his work. He remained calm and actively fulfilled his duties despite the loss," said GRP circle inspector (CI) Udatha Bangarraju.

Shantarams mother Seethamahalakshmi, 69, who passed away due to age-related ailments, was living with her younger son in a small village in Vizianagaram district. When asked why he didnt attend the proceedings, Shantaram told The New Indian Express, "To reach Vizianagaram, I would have had to cross four districts and 40 checkpoints, and come across several people. If I got infected with COVID-19 on the way, I might have spread it to others. Im not only concerned about my safety; I cannot put other peoples lives at risk."

Being the eldest son, Shantaram handed over the responsibility of conducting the last rites to his brother. "My family is proud of me for this decision. My mother wouldnt want me to abandon my duties at a time like this, and I am doing what I can to honour her," an emotional Shantaram said.
Brasilia, April 3 : The death toll from the novel coronavirus climbed to 299 in Brazil as the number of confirmed cases went from 6,836 to 7,910, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

In the past 24 hours, 59 COVID-19 patients died, raising the mortality rate to 3.8 per cent, and 1,074 people tested positive, slightly less than the 1,119 new cases reported in the previous 24-hour period, Xinhua reported.

Brazil's more prosperous southeast region continues to be the epicentre of the national outbreak, with 4,988 cases, followed by the northeast, with 1,180 cases.

Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta on Wednesday said officials were expecting a spike in cases in April.

He urged Brazilians to "redouble" their efforts at social distancing and sheltering in place, saying "this is not the time to waver".
(Newser)  A worker cutting grass in an industrial area made a grisly discovery this weekthe body of a missing mom of three who vanished after reportedly leaving her home in Midfield, Ala., in February. Sergeant Michael Jeffries of the Midfield Police Department says the worker found the decomposing body of Tiffany Smitherman Osborne, who would've turned 31 on March 17, on Wednesday in Bessemer, NBC News reports. Bessemer police officials say Osborne's body was wrapped up and underneath an old mattress, at the end of an unfinished road in a section where garbage is usually dumped, per WVTM. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office IDed the body as Osbourne's on Thursday; cops are looking into her death as a homicide.

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Police say the boyfriend of Osborne told them she'd left her house around 11pm on Feb. 17 to walk to a store a block or so away to get cigarettes, leaving her boyfriend in the house with their 3-month-old son; she never returned, he said. "She would never just walk out on her children," her mother, Cathy Smitherman, told Dateline last month, per NBC. "And she would never not let anyone know where she's going. That's just not her." Osbourne also had two older children, ages 7 and 12, who were with Smitherman when she disappeared. Her mother has custody of all three children. WVTM notes this is the second body found by workers in Bessemer in 2020. The remains of a woman who'd gone missing in December 2018 were found in a city manhole in February. That death has been ruled a homicide, though no arrests have been announced. (Read more missing mom stories.)
Matt Hancock speaking during Friday's media briefing in Downing Street. (PA Video/PA Images via Getty Images)

In recent days, the government has come under increasing fire for not answering difficult questions about the coronavirus crisis.

As the number of UK deaths continues to accelerate, health secretary Matt Hancock led the governments press briefing in Downing Street on Friday evening.

Here are three questions he did not answer.

1. Hancock was asked if the governments antibody tests are ever going to materialise

Antibody tests detect whether someone has had the virus. The government said it has ordered 17.5 million, but they are still being checked to see if they work.

If they do work, the antibody tests would form part of Hancocks target of carrying out 100,000 tests a day by the end of April.

However, Hancock couldnt guarantee they will be used.

Here is his response: As Ive been clear all along, we will only use them if they work. Its clear that no G7 country has yet found a home antibody test that works but we continue to search for one.

This is an area where the science is constantly developing and there is a huge amount of global effort going into finding one of these tests that does work.

Ive also been clear that weve put the orders in place so that should they work, we can get them here in the UK.

2. Hancock was asked if the UKs relative lack of testing has cost lives

South Korea was raised as an example of a country which has carried out effective testing: 443,273 as of Friday. Its death toll is just 174, despite being the second worst affected country (behind China) at the beginning of the outbreak.

On Friday, the UKs death toll increased to 3,605, with 173,784 tests carried out.

Hancock did not say if its perceived weakness in testing has caused the death toll to rise.

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Here is his response: The truth is, weve had a clear ramp up in testing as part of the strategy from the start. We had just under 2,000 tests a day a month ago and I set the goal of reaching 10,000 a day. We have reached that and hit that on target at the end of March.

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Now we have got the clear goal of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. There are countries that have tested more than us, like Germany, but theres others like France that havent tested as much as us.

The question of the correlations is a very complicated one with lots of factors in it.

Read Yahoo News UKs analysis of South Koreas coronavirus approach HERE.

3. Hancock was asked what help patients are being given for their mental wellbeing when they are on their own in hospital

Hancock only said the government had given 5 million to the MIND mental health charity for its work during the pandemic, without addressing the question about patients who are on their own.

Here is his response: I really worry about the impact of coronavirus on the mental health of those who are badly affected, and I really feel for those who have seen their loved ones die and not been able to be with them at the end.

This is a really difficult issue. We have to make sure we support people with compassion and understanding for what theyre going through.

This is going to be an issue of increasing importance as the crisis goes on.

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Detectives hunting a sex fiend who raped a teenager have issued images of a man they want to trace.

Police say the victim, in her late teens, was approached as she got off a night bus.

Detectives hunting the individual who struck in Bromley, south east London, last month have released CCTV images of the suspect they are trying to trace.

The victim told officers she had been dragged into bushes and raped by a stranger in the early hours of Friday 20 March.

Police are on the hunt for this pictured man, who was last seen with a teenager before she was dragged into bushes and raped by a stranger last month in South East London

Paramedics treated the teen and she was taken to hospital with a head injury and two black eyes. She is now being supported by specially trained officers.

Officers searched the area near Turpington Lane, Bromley, but there was no trace of the suspect. Detectives have now released an image of a man who was on the N199 bus with the victim.

Both got off at the Southborough Library stop on Southborough Lane and he was the last person to be seen alongside the victim that night in the area.

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were called at 00:39hrs on Friday, 20 March to reports of a man restraining and assaulting a woman in Turpington Lane, Bromley.

'Officers quickly attended and found the woman, aged in her late teens.

'The victim told officers she had been dragged into the bushes by an unknown man and raped.

Officers searched the area near Turpington Lane, Bromley, but there was no trace of the suspect. Detectives have now released an image of a man who was on the N199 bus with the victim.

'The London Ambulance Service attended and took the victim to a south London hospital. She received a head injury and two black eyes in the attack.

'Officers, including the Met's Dog Unit, with assistance from the National Police Air Service searched the area but there was no trace of the suspect.

'The victim is being supported by specially trained officers.

'Detectives have released an image of a man who was on the N199 bus with the victim. Both alighted at the Southborough Library stop on Southborough Lane.

'He is the last person to be seen alongside the victim that night in the vicinity of the attack.'

Anyone who recognises the man is asked to call police.
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Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 4 2020

Distancing: Chairman of the Banda Aceh Legislative Council Farid Nyak Umar (right) and Pertamedica Ummi Rosnati Hospital director Rahmad inspect a hospital waiting room, where some seats are cordoned off to promote physical distancing, in Banda Aceh on Friday. (Antara/Irwansyah Putra)

As the COVID-19 pandemic grows, non-coronavirus patients are worried about getting sidelined and fear that visiting hospitals might expose them to the highly contagious disease.

In December of last year, 24-year-old freelance TVC producer Gilang Prabu was diagnosed with a grade-two brain tumor. He was on the waiting list for months at two cancer hospitals in Jakarta before starting chemotherapy in early March, in addition to more frequent general checkups and blood tests.

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Wellington, April 3 : The New Zealand government will introduce a legislation to make changes to the Companies Act to help firms facing insolvency due to COVID-19 to remain viable and save jobs.

The temporary changes include giving directors of companies facing significant liquidity problems because of COVID-19 a "safe harbour" from insolvency duties under the Companies Act, Xinhua news agency quotd Finance Minister Grant Robertson as saying in a statement on Friday.

The changes also include enabling businesses affected by COVID-19 to place existing debts into hibernation until they are able to start trading normally again.

"These measures will support the government's work to cushion the economic impact for New Zealand and to support businesses and protect jobs and incomes," Robertson said.

However, these changes will not mean that directors are free to disregard the consequences of their actions for the next six months.

Other protections in the Companies Act, such as those addressing serious breaches of the duty to act in good faith and punishing those who dishonestly incur debts, will remain in place, he said.

Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said the changes would help retain jobs and support the New Zealand economy to recover as quickly as possible.

Faafoi urged businesses to talk to their creditors and banks, and also reminded them that the government had a Wage Subsidy scheme in place as well as a Business Finance Guarantee Scheme, which can offer loans up to NZ$500,000 ($295,683) over three years.

New Zealand has reported 868 coronavirus cases, with a single death.
Author and paramedic Benjamin Gilmour.

The night we encountered our first patients with suspected COVID-19 was surreal. It happened like the flick of a switch.

My fellow paramedic and I walked into an apartment and heard a man coughing violently at the end of a hallway.

Having read the latest COVID-19 updates issued by our employer that evening we backed away. At the ambulance I pulled out the yellow infectious disease kit, sealed with tape. It was the first time in a decade I'd opened it for a reason other than to check the use-by dates.

We put on masks, gowns and gloves, then turned to face each other, triggering a burst of laughter.
With her, the list of regime critics has been incommunicado during the crisis is getting longer. There is also no news about the billionaire who called Xi Jinping a "clown", and a student from Shandong who told Chinas president to resign. Xu Zhiyong, Xu Zhangrun and He Weifang have suffered the same fate.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  Ai Fen, the Wuhan doctor who blew the whistle the coronavirus outbreak, has gone missing. She is believed to be in detention for her essay in Renwu (Chinas People) magazine. The piece, which appeared on 10 March, has since been deleted.

Ai first mentioned the new infection in a WeChat post on 30 December. Her superiors ordered her to keep quiet so as not to create panic, accusing her of being an informer.

According to 60 Minutes Australia, she has been held incommunicado since mid-March, when she reassured everyone on Weibo, the Chinese Twitter, that she was well and that she was back to work.

Soon after the show aired, Ai's Weibo account sent out a single, cryptic post that read A river. A bridge. A road. A clock chime. According to Radio Free Asia, the account is updated under police order to show that things are fine.

Ai shared sensitive information with her hospital colleagues, one of whom was Li Wenliang, who was later arrested by police for talking about the virus.

Li died from the infection on 7 February, followed by other doctors in Wuhan. For him, local officials could have intervened sooner and saved many more lives.

With Ai, the list of regime critics gone missing during the epidemic crisis has grown.

Ren Zhiqiang, a billionaire member of the Communist Party of China (CPC), rose to prominence on 12 March after he described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "power hungry clown".

Ren slammed the government for its handling of the epidemic crisis, trade relations with the US and the Taiwan file. He is believed to be in detention in Taipingzhuang, a Beijing suburb.

A Shandong university student, Zhang Wenbin, disappeared on 30 March after posting a video calling on Xi to resign.

In the post, which received thousands of visits, Zhang praises the courage of the young people of Hong Kong and the people of Taiwan who oppose the Chinese Communist Party.

According to press reports, the student was arrested by the police for disturbing public order, a charge often made against those who peacefully challenge the regime.

Many intellectuals have also disappeared after attacking the government for its reaction to the outbreak.

Human rights activist Xu Zhiyong is in a secret prison for "inciting subversion of state power." He called on Xi to resign for his failures. Xu was arrested on 15 February in Guangzhou (Guangdong).

Since February, the whereabouts of Xu Zhangrun and He Weifang remain unknown. The two said that the lack of press freedom favoured the spread of the coronavirus.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government has banned the sale and use of chewing gum and bubble gum for three months in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through droplets.

An order issued on April 1, by Food and Drug Administration commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena states, "Whereas WHO has declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as pandemic, there are more than 13,000 persons are under the surveillance in Haryana state. It is necessary to take further steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Whereas COVID-19 transmits through droplets, there may be a possibility of transmitting Covid-19 by spitting of chewing gum/bubble gum towards another person," stated the order.

The order whose copy has been sent to all the deputy commissioners, superintendent of police, civil surgeons besides others further states, "Whereas under the law and interest of public health the commissioner of food safety is responsible for prohibiting in the interest of public health the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of any article of food whereas the under signed in duly authorized under clause (a) of sub section (2) of section 30 of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (Central Act 34 of 2006) to make this order."

"Therefore in the exercise of the powers conferred by the clause (a) of sub section (2) of section 30 of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (Central Act 34 of 2006). I, Ashok Kumar Meena IAS Commissioner Food and Drug Administration department, Haryana hereby prohibit the sale and use of chewing gums/bubble gums and similar products or otherwise by what so ever named called, where packaged or unpackaged and/or sold as one product or through packaged as separate products sold or distributed in any manner whatsoever in the interest of public health for period of three months from date of issue of this order till June 30 in the state of Haryana," the order added.

It is learnt that the government has asked the authorities to effectively implement the ban orders. A leading doctor on condition of anonymity said, "If anyone spits violently and deliberately towards another person only then droplet infection can happen otherwise if one spits normally towards the ground then no chance."
In the wake of a disruptive winter storm across the Plains and Midwest and a meandering storm just off the New England coast, a moderating trend in temperatures is on tap for millions of Americans into next week.

The wintry mess that has targeted the central United States in recent days will slowly give way to moderating conditions through the weekend.

As the storm continues to progress eastward, it will help to eject the coastal storm away from the East coast, where it has been stuck in a bit of an atmospheric roadblock, causing it to remain nearly stationary for a time.

The core of the warm weather will begin to shift eastward into the weekend, extending from the Southeast into portions of the interior Northeast.

The effects from the Atlantic storm will continue to be felt, however, as coastal communities will struggle to warm up courtesy of sea breeze.

Into the day on Sunday, warmth will continue to expand from the Plains to the East Coast as a ridge of high pressure bulges northward. Motorists traveling along Interstate 70 anywhere from Baltimore to Denver can expect widespread 60s and 70s along their route. Temperatures in the upper 50s and 60s will be more common farther north along Interstate 80 during the day on Sunday.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

By Monday, 60s and 70s will continue to expand northward into the Interstate 80 corridor, spanning from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains.

As the temperatures continue to rise into the spring season, an increasingly strong case of cabin fever is building up amongst Americans as more and more stay-at-home orders are being issued nationwide. While local, state and federal laws should be followed, the upcoming forecast should not be of any hindrance to those seeking some fresh air outside.

In places like Louisville and Nashville, daily high temperatures are expected to top out in the 70s through the middle of next week, providing multiple opportunities to get outside or at the very least, open up the windows to let some fresh air in.

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The persistent stretch of above-average temperatures across the mid-South and Ohio Valley will likely accelerate the spring foliage bloom through next week. Along with the greener conditions expected, a rise in seasonal allergy cases will not be far behind.

As the sniffling and sneezing associated with allergies begins to increase, it is more important now than ever before to remember to properly cover your mouth and wash your hands to avoid spreading germs.

Also, to avoid an additional influx in doctor's offices, it is important to know the differing symptoms between seasonal allergies and COVID-19.

As the temperatures rise into next week across the Eastern states, chances for showers and thunderstorms will also increase. The typical "April showers" will likely target portions of the Midwest, mid-Mississippi Valley and mid-South during the day on Monday and expand eastward toward the East Coast into Tuesday.

While no single area across the mid-South and Ohio Valley are expected to face a serious threat for flooding through early next week, the heat and humidity will be in place, providing the potential fuel for locally heavy rain.

The above-average warmth will likely begin to erode away across the Great Lakes and Northeast into the middle and latter parts of next week as a storm system is expected to dive southward from Canada, ushering in chillier air.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
The Youth Service Continue to Provide Sessions for Young People via Online App

The Gibraltar Youth Service has increased their online Zoom sessions continuing to reach out to their existing youth club members and welcoming new ones.

The Minister for Youth, the Hon Steven Linares joined one of the sessions earlier this week to chat to young people, giving them advice on the importance of establishing a routine and include some form of exercise to support their mental wellbeing during the isolation period.

The online sessions on offer hosted by the youth workers, cater for a variety of age groups between the ages of seven to twelve, teenagers and young adults, with sessions for those with mild learning disabilities also on offer.

The contents of the sessions vary from arts & crafts, mindfulness, scavenger hunts, music, quizzes, games and general group discussions on topics of interest.

The response so far from some of the participants has been very positive with many forwarding messages of appreciation, support and of thanks to the youth workers.

The Hon Steven Linares said;

I am proud of my team at the Youth Service. The work undertaken by the Youth Workers during these difficult times is commendable. The provisions they are offering our younger generation is paramount during these difficult circumstances. Not only are they assisting the young people in keeping them entertained, but also giving support to aid their social and mental wellbeing. Well done to all involved.

During these difficult and challenging times, the Youth Service will to continue to reach out to young people in the community. These sessions are free and young people can contact the Youth Service via the www.youth.giFacebook page to register their interest of participation.
(Newser)  SoftBank's cold feet apparently became frozen. WeWork's largest investor announced Thursday that it was backing out of a deal to buy $3 billion in shares of the communal office-space startup, including some $970 million worth from founder and former CEO Adam Neumann. SoftBank said it was "fully committed to the success of WeWork" but had "no choice but to terminate the tender offer" reached in October as several conditions weren't met, per the Guardian. It also acknowledged "multiple, new, and significant pending criminal and civil investigations" targeting the startup since the agreement, which valued WeWork at around $8 billion. It had been valued at $47 billion only months earlier, before a swift collapse.

story continues below

Bloomberg is now calling Neumann an "ex-billionaire," estimating his current personal net worth at $450 million, down from $14 billion less than a year ago. In a statement, a special committee of WeWork's board said it was "surprised and disappointed" and considering all legal options, including litigation, per CNN and the Guardian. In a letter to investors, obtained by CNBC, leaders said WeWork "has a strategic plan and a sound financial position" with $4.4 billion in cash and cash commitments. Per the Guardian, WeWork has signed $47 billion worth of long-term rental agreements in the US and is "the single biggest office tenant in Manhattan, and the second-largest in London after the government." Both areas are locked down. (Read more WeWork stories.)
We have learned a lot from our fight against Covid-19 and those learnings are not going to go away. Our world is changing. The reference frame of politics is being restructured in front of our eyes.

Hard chestnuts have been cracked open recently.

Last week, the mystery shortage of hospital beds and step down beds was resolved when the Government found a formula to magic a few thousand beds for patients out there in Citywest and around the country. Who knew?

It would be a foolishly brave politician indeed who would plan to hide those beds again.

Rent freezes were introduced without a whimper. Whatever happened to all those arguments about constitutionality and more which prevented this previously?

In our hour of need we did not turn to the leaders of commerce or to our offshore billionaires. No! Last week, the country stood together to applaud our frontline workers including nurses, doctors, gardai and others.

And we acknowledged the input of educationalists, the important role of retail staff, the crucial role of creches and the list goes on and on.

We recognised that those in society, often described as mere "cogs in the wheel", are actually the foundation blocks in our hierarchy of need.

We learned too to trust our experts and that our professionals are world class. They minded us. Great stuff guys, thanks for all that. But after we applaud them off the stage, what happens next?

During the crisis we have caught a glimpse of the future and it can work. We have seen what is possible. With political will problems can be resolved and things made better.

Knowing that, what are the odds our heroes and heroines will meekly accept being put back in their boxes?

Will they accept being told to go quietly back to their over-priced rented accommodation and get on with their lives and not to be forever whingeing about not being able to get a mortgage?

Will society tolerate the levels of homelessness we have seen to date?

Will communities allow their loved ones spend undignified days on hospital trolleys?

Will those bright young medics who dashed home from Australia any longer tolerate unacceptable, overcrowded conditions for their patients?

Will the nation find its voice and reject second best?

Will nurses, gardai, teachers, and others accept a level of reward inadequate to nurture reasonable expectations?

Having realised that the meek are not about to inherit the Earth and that "sure we're a great little country" does not butter the parsnips, we can expect health and housing to be front and centre with a new urgency and the old excuses won't hold.

And when it comes to paying we'll remember that when we were at our wits' end recently lining out against Covid-19, the Government produced extra billions of euro that we never knew we had. Because when need was acknowledged, the political will changed.

Austerity, taxes or cuts will again confront us.

Remember those inferences that European fiscal or State Aid rules were somehow blocking the off balance sheet funding for housing? We won't be hearing that again either.

Government will get bigger and things will never be quite the same.

Every global crisis where ordinary folk have to fight together to protect their community invariably leave a legacy of social tension and unease.

The world changed after WW1, even the Treaty of Versailles recognised that "peace can be established only if it is based on social justice". Really there was a social revolution. Women got the vote, compulsory school attendance to age 14 was introduced. Workers demanded to be rewarded and more much more changed for ever.

The world changed again after WW2. Within a year or two in the UK the Butler Education Act and the establishment of the National Health Service revolutionised British life. In Ireland, Sean Lemass introduced the most comprehensive labour legislation.

Yes, post-crisis people get louder, governments get bigger. Even the world order changes. For us, last month it was Beijing and Brussels where once it would have been the UK and the US.

Politics is driven by compromise and pragmatism and self-protection.

And political will is all.
Synopsis:

This article will be covering the following subject matters.

The comparison between the Anti-defection laws in India and in other nations The system of anti-defection in the countries around the world, the various relative and relevant laws to check upon the same. The Provision for Recall, the Provision for Curing the Splinter Party, The Provision for resignation, etc. An analysis of some major factors that influence the defection systems in some major countries around the world.

This article explores the magnitude of such regulation. The question that why and how often legislators are seen switching parties; why some scholars favour banning party switching; how this phenomenon has been studied; why politicians have legislated in contradiction of party defections; and the consequences of such bans for political parties and party systems which often brings up the question of floor tests.

It has been appropriately supposed that democratic and egalitarian form of government in any nation is one of the most operative as well as effective forms of political and the administrative system that the human ingenuity has so far formulated to ensure that the rules made for the people end up being positive and useful for their own benefit and betterment. But, in a democracy, the existence and thereby the survival of political parties is indispensable - be it in the form of multi-party system like India and that of France or in the form of a bi-party system like that of Great Britain and the United States of America. Nonetheless political parties have extra-constitutional existence, they leapt up and emerged as a private accretion of personagesand individuals but as thetime went by, they have now become institutions of the stateor agencies of the government through which self-determining sovereign power is exercised by the people.

Quoting Nigel Nicholson herein, "The party systemreduces multiple points of view to two or three, and makes opinion inside and outside Parliament more manageable." A political party fuses minor alterations and differences to the point where they can be disregarded, and gives supervisionand formulates guidelines on major policy and procedural issues in such a way that guidance is usually indistinguishable from the decision itself. A party makes and promotes vague aspirations to be articulate, coherent, effective and also communicative. In this sense, its function is considered to be so valuable, so exceptional and irreplaceable, that it is almost impossible to perceive anydemocratic society without it."

Nevertheless, the rule of the mainstream majority is the primarycomponent of democracy and every so often it turn out to betough for the political parties to reach, the numbers and the same results into political bargaining or horse-trading and in the same sense political defection has grown synonymous to party democracy in almost all the major democratic systems of the world.

However, in the developed nations, the ideologies of ethics, morality, culture and philosophy have been so cavernousand deep rooted in the awareness of both the voters and over and above their elected representatives. The practice of constitutionalism has thus made the coordination of governance so picture-perfect that contemplations like the covetousness for power, greed for money and obsession for the public office  all these find little place in the cognizance of the political representatives in these countries. Therefore, the need for anunambiguous and specific law to limit defection has not arisen in the developed democracies as it has become indispensable in India and often gets to the feet of the politicians and even the citizens of the nation in one way or the other. But then again, it can't be said that nothingness of the precise Anti-Defection Laws in other democracies of the world, excluding those like Sri Lanka and Pakistan etc. which have got their own defection lawsprecedingthat of India do not by themselves stand as a guarantee or an assurance that there have been no defections of members of the political parties in those countries.

If one might discuss about the system of anti-defection in the countries around the world, there are relative and relevant laws to check upon the same. The most commonly used provision is the Provision for Recall. It is a conjoint acquaintance that in contemporary parliamentary democracies, a member, just the once elected has zero accountability and responsibility to his constituents and he endures the same thereby continuing to sit in parliament till the arrival of the next elections and then he or she goes to the electorates asking for the votes.

Then, there are provisions of placing curbs over the splinter parties in many nations. There are patternsand precedents in the Constitution of other nations of comestiblesand provisions made against the bourgeoning of parties and also against uncommitted candidates. At onceit must be said conversely, that these are not countries where the pure majority system in elections applies as in the case of the United Kingdom, France or Turkey, but in the countries where there is moreovera "one party rule" like the former USSR, Yugoslavia or the present Russia or a miscellaneous system as in previous West Germany where partial seats are occupied in the single-member constituencies and the rest are disseminated in the form of supplementary seats bestowing to the voting system of the parties or the list system of comparativedemonstration as for instance, in Austria, Denmark, Greece and Italy.

Another Provision of Resignation is also relevant in this regard. In Nigeria, the political parties have formulated the arrangement of procuring undated letters of resignation from the candidates, approvingand authorising the leader to place them in the hands of the Speaker in case the Member of Parliament crosses the floor. But, in India, Under Article-103(3)(b) resignation becomes effective only when it is conveyed or delivered by the member himself or transmitted through duly authorised agent to the Chairman or the Speaker.

In Thankamma Vs. Speaker[1],the hon'ble High Court of Travancore hadverbatim stated that "the resignation under this provision must be a voluntary, act of the Member and the Civil Court has jurisdiction to enquire whether the letter of resignation was void on the ground that it was forged or obtained by force or fraud and direct the Speaker to allow the Member to take his seat upon declaration that he has not lost his seat by the alleged resignation. On the same ground, the Court can also declare that the advance resignation has become void by virtue of its withdrawal and revocation of power granted by him to the Leader."

As one gradually moves forward, there are certain factors that affect major instances of defection in the countries around the world. If one may talk about the United States, The position of a Legislator in the United States is up to some extent peculiar. While the legislator mightstick broadly to the viewpoint of the party on whose ticket he is nominated and elected, on specific applications and legislative proceduresapproaching before him/her, he/she is more or lessfree from inflexible party whips. It is therefore true to say and it has been said on many occasions that each congressman or a Senator in the U.S. is a legal commandment unto himself. Party lines get distorted over every major parliamentary action and party associations are no controller to his decision or action as replicated in his voting.

Talking about France, when the Constitution of the Fourth Republic was drafted, it seemed to conform to the profound historical traditions of the nation, and in effect represented a compromise among the principal political forces in France. The rapporteur of the Constitution, Paul Caste - Floret (MEP), summed up the debate by declaring before the Constituent Assembly that the Presidential regime might lead to dictatorship, while the Assembly administration would attend and serve revolutionary commitments. The only solution was a sense of balance between the Legislature and the executive.

Concluding, it can be said that the anti-defection laws in India are much liberal and easy going as opposed to the systems prevailing in the developed nations which often creates issues and chaotic situations in the political administration of the Country. The Nations like that of United States of America and United Kingdom etc. are on a different pathway as to the contemplation of the defection laws in this regard.

[1] 1952, Travancore - Cochin 161



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People review information explaining the COVID-19 coronavirus at the Phyongchon District People's Hospital in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, April, 1, 2020.

Two smugglers were savagely beaten by a North Korean anti-smuggling task force this month as the countrys tolerance of smuggling across the border with China has given way to a crackdown due to concern over coronavirus, a source near the border told RFAs Korean Service.

North Korea, which Wednesday claimed it was completely COVID-19-free, has been taking extensive precautions, including closing the border with China to all legitimate trade and an order from leader Kim Jong Un issued to deal with smugglers harshly to discourage the spread of the pathogen from China.

An incident this month in Ryanggang Province showed that North Korea has deployed crack troops to stop border crossings and the special forces are beating anyone who approaches the Yalu River border with next-door China.

In mid-March, two residents of Kimjongsook county here in Ryanggang Province were attacked by guards at a border guard post while attempting to smuggle a bundle of goods from [across] the Yalu river, resident of Ryanggang province told RFAs Korean Service.

The six soldiers were staking out the border, added the source.

The guards who attacked the smugglers were not the typical border guards, but members of a maneuver company under the 25th brigade of the 252nd regiment of the 2nd battalion of the Ryanggang provincial border patrol, the source said.

[They] do not have a fixed guard post. During the day they work by collecting firewood for the company, but when it gets dark, they choose an area where they suspect smuggling is happening and stake it out in groups of three, said the source.

The two residents did not know there were undercover guards there and they were severely assaulted that day while trying to bring their goods across, the source added.

Smuggling goods from China is a way of life for many who live close to the border.

While technically illegal, smuggling is a vital part of an economy where many people are unable to survive on a paltry government salary.

North Korean authorities have long tolerated the most common form of smuggling in which North Korean traders will travel to China, buy mass quantities of goods that are not easy to get in North Korea, and sneak it back across the border for sale in local markets.

Smugglers are often in collusion with border authorities or if caught they can avoid punishment by paying a bribe.

Even though there are orders to harshly punish smuggling, people still take risks because they have few other options to support themselves, according to the source.

Residents in the border area are trying to smuggle rice anyway, because they are having a hard time making a living. This is why the maneuver company has doubled the number of undercover posts, the source said.

But with the increased presence at the border and clear directives to punish smugglers, the special force has been targeting anyone in the border area, smuggler or not, according to the source.

[They] assault people who even approach the Yalu River without determining if they are smugglers first, said the source, adding, This is enraging the locals.

The source said that the task force has currently dispatched around 60 soldiers to the border area in Ryanggang.

The maneuver company is the first line of troops that were mobilized for the personal safety of Kim Jong Un. They usually provide special security whenever there is a No. 1 event, the source said, referring to the North Korean term used to describe events where Kim makes a personal appearance.

They are now, under the supreme commanders orders, punishing smugglers harshly under military law, the source said.

But the source suggested that the crackdown was more a show of force than any actual concern over the coronavirus.

The tyranny over these people who cant even bribe the guards, under the pretext of cracking down on smuggling is severe, said the source.

Ordinary North Koreans with no involvement in smuggling have also been mistreated by the special troops.

A few days ago, a resident of Kimjongsook countys Sinsang village was on his way to fetch some water from the Yalu, the source said.

He was stopped by the undercover guards and they hit his head with the stock of their rifles. He was bleeding all over and he fainted, said the source.

His enraged family reported [the incident] to the maneuver company, demanding compensation and punishment, the source said.

But the military simply brushed the victims family aside.

They warned [the family] not to show up in the suspected smuggling area again, saying [the attack] was an accident in the execution of the supreme commanders order to control smuggling, said the source.

The angry family protested strongly, saying that their neighbors have no choice but to smuggle. They also complained that it was [a special force] and not members of the Peoples Army that is beating people [almost] to death.

Crime, suicides on rise

Life in North Korea under the coronavirus is not only difficult for smugglersthe governments preventative measures have disrupted the lives of ordinary people, many of whom were already living hand-to-mouth.

The sudden halt of entire industries has left many with no way to earn a living, causing many to resort to crime or even suicide.

As the coronavirus crisis continues, were starting to see violent incidents more frequently because living conditions are worsening, another source, a resident of North Hamgyong province, told RFA Wednesday.

Some people are even making extreme choices [like suicide], and the people are in shock, the second source said.

The North Hamgyong resident recounted a horrifying incident that occurred in Hoeryong, a city near the Chinese border, last month.

A resident set herself on fire in her house. She was in her fifties and she made her living in the local market, the second source said.

She committed suicide because the coronavirus increased the pressure on her business, causing her debts to snowball, the second source added.

The woman had been a trader, shuttling goods between Hoeryong and the provinces capital and largest city, Chongjin, according to the second source.

She protested strongly when authorities prevented her from going to Chongjin. So they branded her as an ideological criminal, shouting insults at her and roughing her up, the second source said.

So she went home and ended her life, leaving behind her son, who is currently serving in the army.

The second source said that the people sympathize with the late trader.

Despite warnings from the authorities not to discuss the womans suicide, the people are expressing their anger about the situation. They say that life in the current social environment is making it too hard to live, and thats what killed her, the second source said.

A third source, another resident of North Hamgyong told RFA that crime was on the rise following the suspension of trade with China two months ago.

Prices have risen day after day, and the authorities grip over peoples lives has intensified, the third source said.

The added stress acts as a pressure cooker, which has boiled over into a series of shocking incidents, according to the third source.

Violent crimes targeting [elite] officials, the rich, and their families are happening more frequently. In late February, the son of a citys [Korean Workers] Party official was kidnapped for ransom, the third source said.

The kidnappers were brothers in their forties who were [laid off] from their jobs at a steel mill. They committed the crime because they had nothing to eat at home, said the third source.

With the new coronavirus presenting difficulties on top of those caused by UN sanctions, everything in North Korea is a mess, the third source said.

As hatred between the rich and the poor have gradually intensified, suicides and violent crimes like kidnapping and robbery, have increased, and residents are on the edge.

Reported by Hyemin Son and Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
By Heekyong Yang and Hyunjoo Jin

SEOUL, April 3 (Reuters) - South Korea is struggling to retain its lead in global next-generation 5G telecom services, as the coronavirus pandemic further cools sentiment of consumers whose interest in the technology has waned due to cost and quality concerns.

The Asian nation's telecom operators, led by SK Telecom and KT Corp, launched the world's first 5G services exactly a year ago. And Samsung Electronics , its dominant mobile phone manufacturer, stole a march on equipment makers globally by launching the first 5G phone around the same time.

But after an early growth spurt driven by generous subsidies for 5G smartphones, the hype has almost vanished as customers question the value of pricier handsets and sometimes-spotty 5G services. Now the coronavirus crisis is hitting demand hard.

Sales of Samsung's new 5G-ready Galaxy S20 phones, which were launched at the end of February with prices as high as 1,595,000 won ($1,308.81), are down about 30% in South Korea compared with early sales of its previous model S10 series, an official at a South Korean operator told Reuters.

The weak reception came even though sales of new phones usually surge right after the product launch, the person said.

The 5G slowdown in South Korea shows how the coronavirus could hobble the takeoff of the technology globally. Smartphone makers, including Apple Inc, which is currently scheduled to launch 5G phones in the fall, had been counting on 5G for a sales boost after two years of industry-wide contraction.

Plans for futuristic services such as self-driving cars and fully automated factories and cities could also be affected by 5G delays. Spain, Italy, France and Austria have postponed auctions for 5G spectrum because of the coronavirus.

China's 5G sales, by contrast, are expected to recover in the second quarter, boosting Chinese companies including Huawei , said Tom Kang, an analyst at research firm Counterpoint.

Story continues

Xiaomi Corp, which recently unveiled a new flagship 5G smartphone, said it is seeing signs of a sales recovery in China as the country starts to return to normal following the coronavirus lockdown.

Samsung has only a small presence in China and sells most of its premium 5G phones in other markets.

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South Korean carriers added about 400,000 new 5G customers in February, government data showed, an increase from 290,000 in the preceding month. But analysts saw that as a subdued number given the launch of Samsung's S20. And it was less than half the 880,000 recorded in August.

The 5G market started slowing in November as telecom operators curtailed marketing spending and customer complaints grew about choppy network connections and a lack of differentiated content.

Analysts said operators and handset makers have to rely on fresh subsidies to revive demand, eroding their bottom lines.

Samsung had counted on South Korea to take an early lead in the 5G phone market last year. It was expected to expand 5G phone sales in other major markets like the United States and Europe, ahead of Apple's iPhone launch, but the coronavirus is setting back such plans, analysts say.

U.S. retailers are already offering about 20% discount for online sales of the S20, which was launched in America just a month ago. Samsung's unlocked S20 devices are being sold at $799.99 on Best Buy and Amazon.com Inc, about $200 discounts from its original $999.99 price.

Samsung declined to comment for the story. A Samsung Electronics chief executive told shareholders in mid-March 5G smartphone demand was expected to rise this year.

In an effort to boost volume, Samsung plans to launch more affordable 5G smartphones such as the A71 series in Korea in the first half of this year, a telecom source said.

"Consumers are cautious about buying new phones, because of little perceived differences between 4G and 5G phones and price hike from 4G phones, especially with the virus dampening consumer sentiment," said Kim Hoi-jae, an analyst at Daeshin Securities.

"Therefore, handset makers are expected to launch budget 5G phones faster."

South Korea reported on Friday 86 new coronavirus infections that raised the national tally to 10,062. While the daily infections have eased from their peaks, consumers are seen wary of buying handsets.

"In times like this, changing your phone is not just a priority," said a manager at a phone retail store in Seoul. $1 = 1,218.6600 won)

(Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
WGN-TV has had a robust internship program for many years and we fully expect it to continue once the COVID-19 outbreak is over, Paul Rennie, the stations general manager, said in an email. We have worked hard to enable as many employees as possible to work from home. At this time, we felt it was not prudent to have additional people in the building.
Today we'll evaluate Digital China Holdings Limited (HKG:861) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, we're going to calculate its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), in the hopes of getting some insight into the business.

First of all, we'll work out how to calculate ROCE. Next, we'll compare it to others in its industry. And finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities are impacting its ROCE.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. All else being equal, a better business will have a higher ROCE. Overall, it is a valuable metric that has its flaws. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that 'one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar'.

How Do You Calculate Return On Capital Employed?

The formula for calculating the return on capital employed is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

Or for Digital China Holdings:

0.034 = HK$501m  (HK$26b - HK$11b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.)

So, Digital China Holdings has an ROCE of 3.4%.

View our latest analysis for Digital China Holdings

Is Digital China Holdings's ROCE Good?

When making comparisons between similar businesses, investors may find ROCE useful. We can see Digital China Holdings's ROCE is meaningfully below the IT industry average of 10.0%. This performance is not ideal, as it suggests the company may not be deploying its capital as effectively as some competitors. Putting aside Digital China Holdings's performance relative to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms is poor - considering the risk of owning stocks compared to government bonds. Readers may wish to look for more rewarding investments.

Story continues

Our data shows that Digital China Holdings currently has an ROCE of 3.4%, compared to its ROCE of 1.4% 3 years ago. This makes us wonder if the company is improving. You can see in the image below how Digital China Holdings's ROCE compares to its industry. Click to see more on past growth.

SEHK:861 Past Revenue and Net Income April 3rd 2020

When considering ROCE, bear in mind that it reflects the past and does not necessarily predict the future. Companies in cyclical industries can be difficult to understand using ROCE, as returns typically look high during boom times, and low during busts. ROCE is, after all, simply a snap shot of a single year. Future performance is what matters, and you can see analyst predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

How Digital China Holdings's Current Liabilities Impact Its ROCE

Current liabilities include invoices, such as supplier payments, short-term debt, or a tax bill, that need to be paid within 12 months. The ROCE equation subtracts current liabilities from capital employed, so a company with a lot of current liabilities appears to have less capital employed, and a higher ROCE than otherwise. To counteract this, we check if a company has high current liabilities, relative to its total assets.

Digital China Holdings has current liabilities of HK$11b and total assets of HK$26b. As a result, its current liabilities are equal to approximately 43% of its total assets. In light of sufficient current liabilities to noticeably boost the ROCE, Digital China Holdings's ROCE is concerning.

The Bottom Line On Digital China Holdings's ROCE

There are likely better investments out there. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

I will like Digital China Holdings better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider 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.
The Queen is to address the nation on Sunday evening to deliver a message about the coronavirus crisis, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Expectation has been growing about when the head of state would make a public statement about the unprecedented events that have seen the country go into lockdown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The monarch has already recorded a special broadcast on the outbreak from Windsor Castle, where she and her husband Prince Philip have been since 19 March.

Her Majesty The Queen has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus outbreak, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

The televised address will be broadcast at 8pm on Sunday 5th April, 2020. The address was recorded at Windsor Castle.

The Queens televised address to the nation will be only the fourth of her 68-year-reign during times of national crisis and grief.

Amid celebratory times, the Queen made a televised address to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. While she broadcasts a recorded message each year on Christmas Day, special addresses from the monarch in troubled periods are rare.

There have been three previous speeches broadcast  after the Queen Mothers death in 2002, ahead of Diana, Princess of Waless funeral in 1997 and about the First Gulf War in 1991.

Her Majesty held her weekly audience with the prime minister today by telephone last week, speaking to Boris Johnson from Windsor Castle.

Earlier on Friday the Prince of Wales opened the temporary hospital facility at the ExCel centre in east London via a video-link from Scotland and praised its speed of construction as an almost unbelievable feat of work.

He hailed the new NHS Nightingale hospital as a practical message of hope for coronavirus patients during a time of national suffering.

Charles, who this week completed a period of self-isolation after contracting coronavirus, added: It is without doubt a spectacular and almost unbelievable feat of work in every sense  from its speed of construction as weve heard to its size and the skills of those who have created it.

An example, if ever one was needed, of how the impossible can be made possible and how we can achieve the unthinkable through human will and ingenuity.
A report by ThCable reports Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, is responding very well to treatment but his doctors have asked him to rest more. Since the diagnosis, he has had the occasional cough, which, though not chesty, remained stubborn, hence his decision to transfer to a private facility in Lagos for further tests and observations. Up till now, he has had no high fever or difficulty in breathing, and the cough is subsiding after treatment, so he is making good progress. The doctors want him to sleep and rest more for now, so they took his phones away but he is stable and improving, a family member told TheCable on Thursday, April 2. In a press statement on Monday, March 29, he said he chose private treatment in order not to become an additional burden on the countrys overstretched health system. Kyari wrote on his transfer to Lagos: This is a precautionary measure: I feel well, but last week, I tested positive for coronavirus, the pandemic that is sweeping the world. I have followed all the protocols the government has announced to self-isolate and quarantine.

He said like many others that will test also positive, I have not experienced high fever or other symptoms associated with this new virus and have been working from home. I hope to be back at my desk very soon.

Post Views: 9
March turned out to be an absolute disaster for the D-Street. The benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty50 dropped about 23 percent each and slipped into bear territory.

Now, as we step into April, investors are hopeful that the worst is behind us. But, given the continued exponential rise in COVID-19 cases in India and across the world, recovery may still be some time away despite a slew of measures undertaken by the central bankers around the globe.

Data from the last 10 years suggest that bulls got an upper hand seven times in the month of April.

Nifty50 jumped over 6 percent in April 2018, followed by 4.3 percent in April 2013 and over 1.48 percent in April 2016  three of the biggest gains in April in the last 10 years.

On the other hand, Nifty fell three times in April in the last 10 years  in 2015 (Nifty down over 3 percent), 2012 (Nifty down 0.90 percent) and 2011 (Nifty down 0.6 percent).

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Experts feel that the trend of the market will be driven by institutional activity, especially foreign investors who have pulled out more than Rs 60,000 crore from the cash segment of Indian markets and rise in coronavirus cases across the world including India.

It is very tough to make a call for April after a brutal fall in March series because there are still lots of uncertainty about COVID-19 where the market has discounted almost worst-case scenario including a lockdown of 21-Days but if the situation further deteriorates from here then the market will again adjust itself in the downside, Amit Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, TradingBells told Moneycontrol.

We can say that the April is going to be very choppy with moves on both sides, unlike March where the market has fallen vertically, he said.

After losing more than Rs 30 lakh crore of investor's wealth in March, traders and investors are hoping for some stability in markets.

History suggests that markets have usually bounced back after steep moves on the downside. Hence, the swing low of 7,511 recorded on 24 March could act as a near-term bottom in April  only if there is no sudden spike in COVID-19 cases or selling from FIIs continues.

Well, past trends indicate that in the months following an abnormal fall, markets usually retrace some of their losses in the immediate next month (like in October/ November 2008). That does give us hope for a positive April series, Sameer Kaul, MD & CEO, Trustplutus told Moneycontrol.

Currently, there is a bottom at a place at around 7,500 on the Nifty. At 7,500 selling abated and there was some buying witnessed across the board. However, markets have the tendency to retest the previous lows which investors should be careful about, he said.

FII Activity:

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have pulled out more than Rs 65,000 crore from the cash segment of the Indian equity markets in March, as per provisional data.

The large sell-off by FIIs due to increased volatility is largely over. Some amount of selling will continue until we see signs of flattening of the virus infection curve. DIIs, on the other hand, have seen good inflows in this month till date as investors and asset allocation funds move more money to equities seeing the markets at attractive levels, Mahesh Patil, CO CIO Equities, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund told Moneycontrol.

However, if the lockdown is prolonged and the impact on the economy is much more severe, the savings will get impacted and the domestic flows could slow down, he said.

If we look at the historical data, they have been mostly net buyers in the last 10 years in April. FIIs were net buyers of equities worth nearly Rs 20,000 crore in April 2019, followed by Rs 9,700 crore inflows in April 2010, and Rs 8,702 crore inflows recorded in April 2015.

On the other hand, mutual funds were mostly net sellers in the last ten years in the month of April. They pulled out more than Rs 5,000 crore in April 2019, followed by Rs 2,600 crore selloff in April 2014, and over Rs 1,600 crore in April 2010.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Watch the 'pink' supermoon rise over the Eternal City in live webcast.

A supermoon - the biggest and brightest moon of 2020 - will be visible over Italy on the night of 7 April.

Compared to standard full moons, supermoons can appear between seven and 14 per cent larger and up to 30 per cent brighter, despite being 356,000 kilometres away.

This year, due to Italy's lockdown, people will be unable to go to the traditional vantage points, such as the Gianicolo or Monte Mario, but don't fear as the rising moon can be watched live online.

The Virtual Telescope, a free webcast, will show the moon as it rises above the Rome skyline. The online webcast will begin at 17.00 on 7 April 2020.

What is a supermoon?

Supermoon is not an astronomical term. It was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle and has since become used widely by the media.

Astronomers would call the phenomenon a perigean full moon. This means a full moon occurring near or at the time when the moon is at its closest point in its orbit around Earth.

Photo The Virtual Telescope
By Syed Raza Hassan and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A Pakistani court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of the main person accused in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of an American Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl, and acquitted three other co-accused in the matter.

All four had been convicted in connection with Pearl's kidnapping and murder, including British-born Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was sentenced to death in 2002 for masterminding the murder. He has been in jail for 18 years awaiting the outcome of an appeal.

Pearl, 38, was investigating Islamist militants in Karachi after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped in January 2002. His case grabbed headlines globally, after a video of his beheading emerged weeks after Pearl was abducted.

"No evidence has been brought on record by the prosecution to link any of the appellants to the murder of Pearl and as such all the appellants are acquitted of murder," said a two-member bench of the Sindh High Court, in a ruling seen by Reuters.

The United States slammed the ruling, with the top U.S. diplomat for South Asia writing on Twitter that the verdict "is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere."

The court also acquitted all four of charges of kidnapping the American for ransom too, and found Sheikh guilty only on the charge of abduction.

Sheikh was sentenced to seven years on the abduction charge, but he is expected to be freed soon given time already served.

"Omar has already served 18 years, so his release orders will be issued sometime today. He will be out in a few days," Khawaja Naveed, a defence lawyer in the case, told Reuters.

A senior Pakistani government law officer told Reuters via phone that the state would appeal against the Sindh High Court's verdict.

"We welcome Pakistan's decision to appeal the verdict," acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells said. "Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice."

Story continues

Pakistan's Foreign Office said the issue pertains to the Ministry of Interior "who will be looking at the judgment in detail." The Ministry of Interior did not respond to a request for comment.

The convictions in Pearl's murder case had been brought into question after another defendant, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the alleged masterminds of the Sept. 11 attacks, told a U.S. military tribunal in 2007 that he beheaded Pearl.

In a statement, the Wall Street Journal said it continues to seek justice for the murder of Pearl.

His widow, Mariane Pearl, was not immediately reachable for comment.

'CAN'T STOP RELEASE'

Another lawyer not involved in the case told Reuters that Pakistan would likely have to release all of the accused while any appeal was filed.

"The prosecution cannot stop their release in this case, unless they produce a Supreme Court interim order," Muhammad Farooq, a lawyer at the Sindh High Court, said, adding that the government could also seek to keep them detained by using a law related to the maintenance of public order.

"Legally they cannot stop their release in this particular case," Farooq said.

Sheikh was born in Britain and enjoyed a privileged upbringing before going to study at the London School of Economics.

He was arrested in India in the 1990s for his involvement in the kidnapping of Western tourists in 1994 as part of Sheikh's support of Muslim separatists battling Indian security forces in the disputed Kashmir region.

He was one of three men released from an Indian prison after militants hijacked an Indian airliner in late 1999 and flew it to Afghanistan, where the then-ruling Taliban government helped negotiate an exchange.

The Indian foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the matter by Reuters.

Indian police later linked Sheikh to the Sept. 11 attacks, accusing him of involvement in transferring $100,000 to Mohammad Atta, one of the militants who flew airliners into New York's World Trade Center.

Pakistan is currently under close scrutiny by a global watchdog on terror financing, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), where the country's inability to prosecute terrorism cases has been highlighted.

"The FATF situation is quite serious. I think pressure will come on Pakistan (after this verdict)," said Amir Rana, director of the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, an Islamabad-based think tank that monitors anti-terrorism policies in Pakistan. He added that Pearl's case was high-profile and bound to get global attention.

(Reporting by Syed Raza Hassan in Karachi and Gibran Naiyyar Pehsimam in Islamabad; Additional reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Writing by Euan Rocha; Editing by Robert Birsel, Matthew Lewis and Alistair Bell)
Kottayam : April 3 (IANS) An octogenarian couple in Kerala who was under treatment at the Kottayam Medical College hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, was discharged on Friday after recovery.

The husband 93-year-old Thomas and his 88-year-old wife Mariamma left for their home at Ranni in Pathanamthitta.

"Thanks to all, we are really humbled that we are able to go home only because of the work of the entire medical professionals who took care of us," said the elderly couple.

They where wheeled out of the ward and put in an ambulance and the mood was sombre as the nurses, doctors and other staff waved at them, as they waved back.

Sajith Kumar and his team of doctors were looking after the couple since March 9 , when they were admitted here.

"It was because of systematic team work that we were able to do this. There were times when the going got tough as Thomas developed cardiac problems. But everything was managed and they have been cured," said Kumar.

The couple will now have to remain in isolation for 14 days at their home, on account of other underlying ailments.

Incidentally, one nurse who was taking care of the couple since their admission, later tested positive but has also been discharged after treatment.

Trouble started for the aged couple when their son, his wife and son arrived from Italy on February 29.

Things turned sour when the three, their cousin, the aged couple and the two who drove them from the airport to their home at Ranni developed symptoms of coronavirus and tested positive.

All of them were later discharged after treatment with the couple being the last to be allowed to go home.
E ven cynics like me who claim to not enjoy hugs admit that touch makes us feel better  be that a steadying hand on your shoulder or an arm around you after youve had bad news. Its been 13 days since Ive touched another person and it feels much longer.

I was making coffee when I realised something wasnt right. I couldnt smell the beans, even when I pressed them to my nose. Taking deep breaths, I googled it. Id read that loss of smell was one of the ronas calling cards but, like many of the symptoms, it could be anything  hayfever, a cold, maybe even PMS?

I abandoned the coffee and did a circuit of my flat, sniffing pepper, spices, even Dettol, in the desperate hope that I might be able to smell something. No such luck. I was numb to everything.

My boyfriend came in and said the room smelt of perfume; Id been spraying Miller Harriss Tea Tonique liberally. It was the wrong thing to say, but he wasnt to know. He tried to hug me but instinctively I backed away. If I was contagious we were to keep two metres apart for two weeks.

That distance is measured out across London for us to see, outside shops and in playgrounds  many now sadly locked up. Thankfully I have no other symptoms and yesterday I could smell a tangerine. I keep going back to the perfume to measure my progress. Im showering more in case I smell and dont realise (I use the soap I dont normally like because I cant tell the difference), while cooking only reminds me of what I cant do. But it could be so much worse.

A girl removes her mask to smell flowers on a blooming tree in Skopje, North Macedonia March 20, 2020 / REUTERS

Covid-19 has made me cautious small, previously inconsequential acts like going to buy milk feel too risky  so Im waiting a bit longer before leaving the house or going near my boyfriend.

A relationship conducted two metres apart is challenging. Cross words that could be healed with a hug are more likely to linger. I dont know how they did it in Jane Austens time, when courting was governed by strict rules of social distance. A friend tried to console me with an update about a socially-distanced third date she went on  they spent a cold hour at opposite ends of a bench in Soho Square. Forging a connection was more difficult when she knew that even brushing his hand with hers could cause harm.

Video calls are better than no social contact, but after the novelty of seeing friends wears off the conversation just doesnt flow in the same way. Admittedly the first week of them was fun  so fun for one friend, who has always been hyper-social, that she triple-booked and couldnt make our call. Some things never change.

Before I lost my sense of smell I had been considering co-ordinating shopping trips with friends who live nearby. We could gossip two metres apart in the queue. Beyond that, and beyond my temptation to just feel scared all the time, Im trying to think of the future, when the fear will dissipate and well be able to hug again. And Im going to buy a fresh bottle of perfume that Ill have a renewed appreciation for.

Cocktail hour with Ina Garten

When you are confined to a one-bed flat, how do you mark that its the end of the working day? Drink. Once my sense of smell returns I plan to make Ina Gartens cosmo.
Four out of the UK's five biggest banks fought to maintain their dividends against the wishes of the Bank of England.

On Tuesday HSBC, Barclays, RBS, Lloyds and Standard Chartered said 7.5 billion of shareholder handouts would be cancelled to protect cash reserves.

But bosses at all of the lenders, except taxpayer-owned RBS, initially baulked at the idea, and only made the announcement after heated phone calls with the Bank's deputy governor Sam Woods.

Under pressure: Bosses at all of the lenders, except taxpayer-owned RBS, initially baulked at the idea of cancelling dividend payouts

One senior banking source claimed that without this, lenders would have left themselves open to a shareholder revolt.

The Bank has also called on banks to scrap bonuses, placing more pressure on senior bosses.

Banks have also been criticised for failing to pay out emergency Government-backed loans to small businesses. Business Secretary Alok Sharma said it was 'unacceptable' they were withholding vital cash.
We thought it couldn't get much worse here in Virginia after Democrat Governor Ralph "Blackface" Northam issued Executive Order 53 almost two weeks ago, closing all non-essential businesses for 30 days and K12 schools for the remainder of the year, due to COVID-19. Then, this past Monday, Northam went off the deep end, extending the order to the day after the June 9 Republican primary. As a political stooge on a tight leash, Northam using a pandemic to interfere with the opposition party's primary election is not only possible, but business as usual.



One of these is Governor Northam.

On Tuesday, the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia challenged Northam to explain what's behind his decision to set June 10 as the expiration date for his statewide stay-at-home order. While other states with higher infection rates have set shorter deadlines more in line with the White House Task Force's guidelines of April 30, Northam's random date prompted RPV chairman Jack Wilson to remind Northam that the Republican primary for nominating all federal candidates is on June 9.

From FairfaxGOP.org:

In these challenging times, we want to give the Governor the freedom to make necessary decisions without partisan rancor, but the timeline seems all too convenient, We ask that Governor Northam show us the data that led to his decision. It is not our opinion that the Governor is purposefully engaging in voter suppression, but an explanation would help to mitigate any concerns[.] ... Fairfax GOP Chairman Steve Knotts echoed Mr. Wilson's call today. "Virginians should know they are still free to vote ... Governor Northam  publicly, in his own voice  should make that very clear to his constituents.

This is such an obvious move by the corrupt Democrat party to impact election day on June 9 that Virginia Republicans will be waiting a lifetime for "rational data" justifying Northam's decision.

The governor's spokeswoman, Alena Yarmosky, responded to Wilson, insisting that the order does not apply to government operations, which includes operating and participating in elections. She also stated that the administration is encouraging people to vote absentee by mail. She then did what all Democrats do: she predictably accused Republicans of doing exactly what her Democrat governor and his masters are doing

"I'd remind folks that this is not the time for partisan politics," Yarmosky said. "The governor looks forward to continuing to work with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect the health and safety of Virginians."

Wilson later urged Northam to reassure voters publicly that the stay-at-home order will not interfere with their right to vote in person on June 9. The governor stated that he would issue "further guidelines in the next few days."
COLUMBUS, Ohio  On March 14, Matt Vaughan, a top executive at Battelle, the Columbus science and technology firm, was working late on a Saturday when he got an email from a colleague.

A Battelle engineer, Kevin Hommema, said his wife, a doctor at a Columbus hospital, was worried about a shortage of protective masks in light of the coronavirus pandemic. He said the problem could be addressed using technology Battelle had developed a few years before to disinfect and re-use masks exactly for that reason, but never scaled up for use.

Hommema had emailed earlier in the day. But Vaughan, Battelles senior vice-president of contract research, had skimmed it, busy with other problems related with COVID-19, he said.

At 10:08 that night, my email lit up," Vaughan recalled in an interview. "It said, Hey Matt, we need to do this right now. Lets get going. I said Thats right. We corralled the team, we got working on it that Sunday, and havent stopped working since.

Less than three weeks later, Battelles technology has been approved by the FDA  with Gov. Mike DeWine publicly enlisting President Donald Trumps intervention in fast-tracking the technology  and is being used to clean masks at a global epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City.

Its also being used in Ohio. A system is set up at Battelles headquarters in Columbus, available to any hospital in the state.

A system is en route to Seattle, another COVID-19 hot-spot, and Battelle plans to send them elsewhere as soon as they can be built. Theres widespread interest in the machines, including from the military and the Veterans Affairs hospitals, Vaughan said.

Our commitment is to ensure that communities in Ohio are served first with technology that was born right here in Ohio, and yet were working really fast to meet the nations needs across the whole country, Vaughan said.

Battelle first performed the research behind the technology for the FDA in 2015. The project specifically contemplated a scenario in which an influenza epidemic leads to a shortage of respirator masks used by health-care workers for protection. The masks could be used in an emergency to buy time, offering protection to health-care workers while more masks are manufactured.

Each device, capable of cleaning up to 20,000 masks per day, looks similar to a shipping container. As many as four can run off a common generator, meaning a full system can sanitize 80,000 masks per day.

Battelle decontamination chambers, used to sanitize masks for the COVID-19 crisis, set up at the firm's headquarters in West Jefferson, near Columbus. (Photo courtesy of Battelle)

Inside each container are two chambers. The first chamber is an airlock, where the air is sealed off from the outside. Technicians, carrying bags of contaminated masks, step in here first.

A technician carries a bag of contaminated masks into a Battelle decontamination chamber, used to clean masks for the COVID-19 crisis. (Photo courtesy of Battelle)

The second, inner chamber is where technicians load masks into racks, sealing it behind them when theyre done. Each cycle can handle up to 10,000 masks.

Masks hung inside the decontamination chamber built by Battelle to help with the COVID-19 crisis. (Photo courtesy of Battelle)

After the technician leaves, the machine pumps in vaporized hydrogen peroxide, an antiseptic chemical, for a set amount of time, until the masks are sanitized.

On the way out, the technician is sprayed with alcohol, which decontaminates them.

After the process is over, usually about 2.5 hours later, the air is sucked out of the chamber and filtered, and technicians go back inside, get the masks and repackage them.

The loads of masks come in boxes, shipped directly from hospitals. Theyre generally returned the next day. Just like your dry cleaning, Vaughan said.

Under the parameters approved by the FDA, each mask can be cleaned up to 20 times before it must be destroyed. Technicians mark the number of times a mask has been cleaned with a sharpie, so health-care workers can see, while a computerized system keeps track of entire batches.

The technology first made the news on Saturday, March 28, when Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine touted it as a breakthrough technology on the brink of approval, capable of cleaning 80,000 masks and helping mitigate the national shortage of respirator masks.

But that night, the FDA granted only limited approval for its use, requiring it only to be used at Battelles headquarters in Columbus and only for 10,000 masks a day.

Following pressure from DeWine, who announced an impromptu press conference on Sunday morning and called the White House, the FDA fast-tracked it for full approval later that night. One system was already built and deployed to New York City, and another was up and running in Columbus.

By March 31, Jenny Marshall, an emergency-room nurse at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, posted her thanks on Twitter.

@GovMikeDeWine the fine nurses in Columbus at Riverside 4Blue ICU thank you for putting the pressure on so that @Battelle can reuse our N95s. We got our first batch back yesterday pic.twitter.com/vKLGXKUNUJ  Jenny Marshall (@JennyMarshall11) March 31, 2020

Wed done the science," Vaughan said. "What we had never done was turn it into a full-scale, deployable system. We designed and built this full end-to-end system in just over a week. All we had before that was science, proven and validated, and we turned that into systems being deployed all over the country. And thats just an amazing accomplishment this team has put together.

Read related stories:

2,902 people in Ohio have confirmed coronavirus, 81 dead: Gov. Mike DeWines April 2 briefing

Columbus-based Battelle is at the forefront of battling the coronavirus: 5 facts about the nonprofit firm

U.S. FDA OKs expanded use of new mask-cleaning technology after pressure from DeWine, Trump

Deftly, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine blasts federal response to coronavirus while also praising President Donald Trump

Gov. Mike DeWine: FDA reckless in limiting use of new mask-cleaning technology
CMIC state president calls for construction industry to be classed as essential

03 April 2020

As previously announced, the cement mills that make up Mexicos National Cement Chamber will suspend operations due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The president of the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC) for Queretaro state, Alvaro Ugalde Rios, has noted that the shutdown would lead to the construction sector stopping with a week or two.



Therefore, the state president has reportedly called for the construction industry to be classed as an essential industry and for the cement industry to also be included in that classification.



"At the national level, it has not been clearly handled (...) I see construction essential because it's a quick way to give people resources through employment, we all know that it's one of the fastest ways to distribute economic income," said Mr Rios.

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CLEVELAND, OHIO  The big question this week has been asked by Lake Erie anglers. Are they still allowed to fish for Lake Erie walleye if they follow Gov. Mike DeWines social distancing mandate?

The answer from Sarah Wickham of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on Thursday evening: We have our staff in the field monitoring the situation closely, with the understanding that safety is our top priority. We are responding quickly and making changes when changes are needed  as they were at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the boardwalk at Maumee Bay State Park.

"According to our wildlife and natural resource officers, the ramps are busy, but people are respecting each others space and maintaining proper social distance. If people leave their home to fish, they should use common sense and follow CDC guidance while they are out.''

Rocky River trout bonanza

Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio Division of Wildlife have teamed up to create a rainbow trout bonanza in the Cleveland area. Heavy stockings of trout should be the perfect pastime for young anglers, who are out of school right now, and their families from Hinckley to Berea, with social distancing in mind during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 1,800 pounds of rainbow trout have been released by the Cleveland Metroparks since March 17 in the East Branch of the Rocky River between Strongsvilles Route 82 and Wallace Lake in Berea. The recent rainstorms kicked up the Rocky River, and scattered the stocked trout throughout that stretch of the East Branch.

Fishermen should be aware that access to the prime locations along the East Branch of the Rocky River will be a bit more difficult, but easier for the park rangers to enforce social distancing.

The roadway between Spafford Road and Berea Falls, which should be a top spot for catching trout, has been closed to vehicle traffic. It is open to anglers who walk or bicycle to that fishing hot spot, as a couple of miles of the Metroparks road becomes a 20-foot wide hiking and biking trail.

Hinckley, Ledge lakes put trout in spotlight

The Ohio Division of Wildlife has released about 2,000 rainbow trout in Hinckley Lake in the Cleveland Metroparks, part of the divisions spring stockings. The trout are slightly smaller than the rainbows the Metroparks had been releasing, making them the perfect target for young anglers and their families.

To boost the rainbow trout experience in the Hinckley area, the Cleveland Metroparks has redirected its weekly stockings in the East Branch of the Rocky River to Ledge Lake in the Hinckley area and Ranger Lake in Strongsville.

With the stream and lake waters warming, look for the pan-sized trout to chase very small spoons and in-line spinners, such as Mepps and Rooster Tail spinners. Also a good bet is to mold a dime-sized hunk of Berkley PowerBait around a small hook and rig it behind a small barrel sinker and a 15- to 18-inch leader.

Work the rig on or close to the bottom of the lake or stream. PowerBait floats, so vary the length of the leader to keep the bait in the strike zone.

Steelhead trout fishing heats up as waters clear

The Northeast Ohio rivers and streams have been high and muddy after big rains recently, but the water levels are coming down. On Thursday the waters of the Rocky and Chagrin rivers were stained, but fishable. By the weekend, good numbers of trophy trout should be caught.

Spawn bags and marabou jigs tipped with maggots or waxworms will be the best bet in the stained waters. Look for flies, spinners and spoons to be successful this weekend.

Be aware that the rivers had been in flood stage lately, and many of the prime holes will have changed. Big currents can move logs and boulders, and anglers may find their favorite holes have a new look.

Walleye runs have begun, Sandusky River closed in Fremont

The spring walleye spawning runs have begun on the Maumee and Sandusky Rivers, but Mayor Danny Sanchez of Fremont has shut down the walleye fishing on the Sandusky River.

The city is unable to provide adequate facilities, such as restrooms and hand washing stations, for visitors, said Sanchez. Our local grocery stores are struggling to keep their shelves stocked and the influx of fishermen would deplete our resources even further.

Maumee Bait & Tackle on the Maumee River reports anglers are maintaining social distances and fishing the river areas where angling pressure has been light. With the river stabilizing and a lot of walleye in the system, expect a lot of weekend walleye warriors.

Recent outdoors stories by DArcy Egan:

Fishing in the age of social distancing: Lake Erie is wide open

Lake Erie walleye numbers in stratosphere, future is bright

Coronavirus cabin fever? Fishing, hunting can entertain kids and families away from crowds
An Offaly teddy bear has become a viral hit this week after becoming a member of An Garda Siochana and travelling the country.

Ted, the mascot for the online activist group Ma's On A Mission and their toy appeal, had been missing for many months before he was discovered by gardai in Dublin.

Gardai featured him on their social media channels all week as he helped with the frontline response to Covid-19, keeping up spirits and even donning the garda uniform on his travels.

He has now been featured in the national media and won fans all over the world.

It was soon discovered that this mysterious bear was indeed Ted and gardai returned him to Edenderry to Ma's On A Mission leader Suzanne Burke.

Suzanne said: "I want to say a massive thank you to Garda Damien and his colleagues who picked Ted up and got him home safe to me. The guards are not only keeping us all safe from crime but they have also been doing people's shopping, even walking dogs and of course, bringing home missing teddies.

"I'm so proud of our frontline workers and all they do. In times of hardship they are still taking time out to put smiles on people's faces and Ted has certainly done that too.

"Damien was reluctant to say goodbye but Ted has so much more work to do so, unfortunately, his time with the guards in Store Street Garda Station must come to an end.

"But Ted had a ball, not only did he raise a serious amount of toys for kiddies at Christmas, he was also assisting the guards and bringing joy to those who need it through such a hard time. He's been washed, sprayed and is having a well-deserved rest until he's needed again. Our Super Ted."
There's a lot of bad news out there. That's why we've launched this regular roundup of positive headlines, funny videos, and inspiring stories to brighten your day.

Today, we've found another reason to love The Office's Jimit seems John Krasinski was also in need of some good news. Plus, the Bay Area is drinking and bakinga lotand April Fool's traditions lived on.

John Krasinski's "Some Good News" is exactly what the world needs now. Watch it below. YouTube.

Some Good News with John Krasinski www.youtube.com





Amid home baking craze, San Franciscans get creative to swap sourdough starter at a safe distance, Hoodline

Flour and yeast have joined toilet paper and hand sanitizer on the list of grocery store scarcities as shelter in place continues and many a favorite local bakery is closed. But when the craving for sourdough rises up, SF foodies get crafty. Read more.





On the bright side: How one Palo Alto family maintained its April Fool's Day tradition, San Francisco Chronicle

Mustard and hot sauce replace shampoo and conditioner, Danny DeVito pops up in the family photos, and a picket fence gets a cheeky makeover. Read more.





East Bay couple creates face shield to add extra protection to healthcare workers masks, Kron4

Brentwood couple Jeremy and Kelly Coleman have a five-cent solution to help save the lives of healthcare workers on the frontlines of Covid-19: a laminated sheet with a velcro mask attachment. And guess what? You can make them too. Read more.





'Zoom Choir': Bay Area Children's Choirs Keep Singing Through Coronavirus, KQED

The show must go on. Read more.





The Bay Area is drinking 42% more alcohol than usual while sheltering in place, San Francisco Chronicle

"We're shocked," said no one around here. Read more.
A study conducted by two associate professors of marketing at The University of Texas at Arlington shows that people are more likely to base decisions on anecdotal information instead of facts when they feel anxious and vulnerable.

Traci Freling and Ritesh Saini, both in the College of Business, published "When poignant stories outweigh cold hard facts: A meta-analysis of the anecdotal bias" in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.

"We found that people are more likely to consider personal anecdotes than fact-based information, especially when it deals with medical emergencies," Freling said. "This has a high importance in the current environment, where everyone is concerned about the coronavirus."

Freling said people are more likely to listen to personal stories instead of facts because emotions run high during medical emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

"They are especially dismissive of facts if the incident is something they personally experienced," Freling said. "Specifically, we show that when an issue is health-related, personally relevant or highly threatening, then decision-making is compromised and people tend to rely on anecdotes."

Freling pointed to the run on toilet paper buying during the COVID-19 pandemic as one example of not basing decisions on facts. This example illustrates how consumers who feel vulnerable to a particular problem may rely more heavily on subjective, anecdotal information instead of objective, statistical facts to make decisions.

Former UTA faculty member Zhiyong Yang, now a professor at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and two graduate students contributed to the analysis.

The research also revealed that when emotional engagement is low, statistical evidence weighs more heavily.

"Primarily, when there is low-threat severity or it's a non-health issue, people tend to take cold, hard facts into account rather than personal accounts and stories," Freling said.

Additionally, Saini noted that people make "more fact-based decisions when choosing for others, but become surprisingly irrational when choosing for self."

Elten Briggs, chair of the Department of Marketing, said Freling and Saini's analysis could have implications on decision-making processes for business and industry, especially during medical crises.

"Their research provides guidance on how to craft more influential messaging during times like these, when anxiety is heightened for so many people," Briggs said.

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The number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus in the worst-hit part of the UK fell for the first time.

London, which has been at the heart of the pandemic in the UK, saw new admissions fall below 4,000 again on Wednesday, according to Government data released tonight.

There were also falls in the Midlands, East Midlands and North West as the death toll rose sharply by 684 today to take the total number of tragic fatalities so far to 3,605.

The 24-hour total has risen by a record amount almost every day this week, with a five-fold increase in deaths in a week.

However at tonight's news conference Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, cautioned against reading too much into the data.

He said that overall the number of admissions was still rising. Asked about seeing any 'green shoots' in the battle against the virus he added: 'If you're asking me about the healthcare hospital admission data then I think it's too early to make any kind of interpretation such as that.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, cautioned against reading too much into the data.

'There will be day-to-day variations in the number of hospital admissions that occur as a feature of near-random chance.

'Please stay at home for them': Chief Nurse pleads with public not to go out in mini-heatwave this weekend England's chief nurse invoked the memory of medics killed by coronavirus today as she made an emotional plea for the public to stay at home this weekend, despite a mini-heatwave due to sweep the country. Ruth May said was vital they remain in lockdown despite the warm spring weather, after two nurses were revealed to have been killed in the past 24 hours. Mother-of-three Aimee O'Rourke, 39, passed away last night at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, Kent, following the surfacing of symptoms two weeks ago. Just hours later, Areema Nasreen, 36, died shortly after midnight in intensive care at Walsall Manor Hospital, West Midlands, were she had worked. Flanking Health Secretary Matt Hancock at a news conference this afternoon, Ms May said: 'I ask you to remember Amy and Areema. Please stay at home for them.' Advertisement

'So one mustn't interpret the data, one needs to be patient and look for a long-term trend.'

However, Prof Van-Tam said he 'absolutely sees green shoots' of hope over containing the spread of Covid-19, given the response to the social distancing measures.

He said: 'I absolutely see green shoots, I really do in terms of the massive change in public behaviour that has already taken place.

'If that continues for as long as the Government asks for it to continue then they really will be quite big green shoots in the end.'

Asked when the peak of the epidemic is expected to be, he said: 'We don't know the answer to that yet.

'We've always said that we will know if our social distancing measures are working a few weeks after we've put them in place.'

He reiterated it was 'too soon to say', adding: 'It'll partly depend upon how well those social distancing measures are adhered to by every one of us.

'I hope it will be soon. We're going to watch very carefully to see when we've hit the peak and when we're starting to turn it but we will not take any premature actions.'

Addressing whether the NHS will have enough ventilators during the peak, given some fear they will not receive the critical care they need, Professor Van-Tam expressed confidence in equipment supplies.

He said: 'I can tell you I don't think we're anywhere close to that kind of scenario at the moment. We will watch it extremely closely and we will make decisions as we need to on a day-by-day basis.'
Chinese students flying home from overseas to escape the coronavirus pandemic face a frosty reception from sections of the public who view them as wealthy, spoiled -- and potentially contaminated.

The number of officially reported cases in China has dwindled dramatically over the last month, but the country is now taking drastic steps to try and stem a second wave of infections brought in from abroad.

With most international flights cancelled and nearly all foreigners barred from entering the country, the vast majority of returnees are Chinese nationals, including many students.

The situation has exposed animosities over class and privilege in Chinese society, fuelled by online posts stereotyping returning students as ungrateful and even dangerous -- using the irresponsible behaviour of a few individuals as proof.

"Right now, public opinion in China is very unfriendly towards Chinese overseas students, and quarantine facilities there are mixed," said Hestia Zhang, a master's student at Yale University.

She has decided to stay in self-isolation on campus rather than go back, despite the United States now accounting for almost a quarter of reported global infections.

"There are also a lot of risks on the journey home, so I might as well stay here and wait it out," she told AFP.

Meanwhile Cathy, who landed in China on Tuesday morning, is resigned to the fact that she may encounter prejudice. Using her English name to conceal her identity, she said she had "no choice but to bear it".

Nearly half of China's 800 imported virus cases are overseas students.

Most returnees need to spend two weeks in isolation, and a widely shared video of a returned student who tried to escape her quarantine accommodation in the city of Qingdao has prompted outrage online.

A similar angry reaction met clips showing another returnee angrily demanding bottled mineral water from quarantine facility workers in Shanghai.

"They eat food from our bowl, yet turn on the motherland as soon as they stop eating. We don't need to take them back," wrote one user, garnering thousands of likes. There is a widely held belief that international students see themselves as superior to their fellow citizens, said Yik-Chan Chin, a professor of media and communications at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

This is often compounded by perceptions of the students' extreme wealth and multiple nationalities, she said.

The vast majority of China's 1.6 million outbound students are still overseas, according to the ministry.

Many want to come back but face astronomical ticket prices and gruelling multiple-transit flights, plus the increased risk of infection en route.

Beijing chartered a flight Monday to rescue some 200 overseas students left stranded in Ethiopia after their transfer flights to China were cancelled last-minute, and another took off on Thursday to bring students back from the UK.

"I hope those you're taking back are conscientious and patriotic, and not a group of ungrateful, China-hating wretches who are only concerned with living a life of luxury," one user fumed.

However there has been some sympathy, especially as many overseas students donated medical supplies in the initial stages of the outbreak.

"Who emptied global supermarket shelves of protective supplies and sent them back to China? International students!" wrote the film director Lu Chuan in a Weibo post.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Part of the Trump administrations $2 trillion relief package is about to get underway as small businesses, defined as those employing less than 500 people, begin applying for loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Under the scheme the full amount of any loan authorised by the SBA will be forgiven if it is used for wages, rent and utilities in the two months after it is received, with any amount not forgiven accruing interest at a rate of 5 percent and repayable after two years.

People walk past an electronic board showing Hong Kong share index outside a local bank in Hong Kong, Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Along the way banks stand to reap considerable benefits from the scheme.

As the Financial Times (FT) reported earlier this week: Banks stand to collect billions of dollars in fees on the $350 billion in loans that are being offered to US small businesses.

The SBA does not hand out the money directly but makes it available through banks and credit unions. They pick up a fee, provided by the federal government, for the service.

The fees will vary according to the size of loan. It will be 5 percent for loans under $350,000, 3 percent for loans under $2 million and 1 percent for loans greater than $2 million.

With $350 billion to be disbursed and the lowest fee to be charged set at 1 percent, there are clearly several billions of dollars up for grabs.

Not surprisingly Wendy Cai-Lee, chief executive of a digital start up bank specialising in lending to small and medium-sized businesses, told the FT: Its great that the government has done this so quickly.

Initially only federally-insured banks and credit unions will be able to make loans under the SBA program. But others, such as online lenders, are eager to get into action and take their slice of the available fees.

The doors could soon be open to them with US Treasury saying that additional lenders were encouraged to apply to the SBA and obtain approval.

Banks are not the only ones looking for fees for services as the massive bailout package is carved up.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that, while the coronavirus outbreak had dealt a devastating blow decimating industries and wiping out millions of jobs, in the national capital business is booming for the influence-peddling business.

It said companies were snatching up lobbyists and regulatory experts to help them navigate through government bureaucracy including figuring out how to get a slice of the roughly $2-trillion stimulus package.

One senior executive of a major global law firm, which describes itself as providing insights at the point where the law and government meet, told the Journal he had never seen anything like the demand for information right now in all his 30 years of practice.

Besides seeking stimulus loans companies are also looking for lobbyists to push for beneficial changes in regulations and also to help shape the framework for another stimulus package.

The Washington lobby firms have been down this path before. As the Journal pointed out: Economic crises are often good for the lobbying industry in the nations capital. The governments pumping of money into the financial system after the 2008 crisis sparked record growth in this area.

According to article, in the decade since then total spending on lobbying had been flat. Now, however, the coronavirus-related stimulus package has put a premium on insider knowledge of Washington.

A senior executive at one lobbying firm said he had signed up a dozen clients in the past few weeks.

The bailout for the airline industry is another area where there is money to be made. The stimulus package included $50 billion for passenger airlines, $8 billion for air cargo carriers, and $3 billion for airline contractors such as catering companies.

There was also $17 billion set aside for companies deemed to be essential to national security, under which aid will be provided to Boeing.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the Treasury Department plans to hire three Wall Street banks to provide advice on how to dole out the tens of billions of dollars in aid.

Because of the wave of hostility that erupted over the bank and corporate bailouts in 2008 and the deep anger that remains, all stops are being pulled to present this latest, even bigger, bailout operation as in the service of the nation.

You could grow very rich if you were paid just a dollar every time the sentence Were all in this together was used.

Accordingly, in reporting on the role to be played by banks in assisting the Treasury in organising the airline bailout, the Journal said: Such advisory roles are highly coveted, not only for the fees they can yield but because of the importance of the assignments to the health of the national economy.

And it noted the major hedge fund Blackrock was hired last week to help the Federal Reserve buy hundreds of billions of dollars of corporate bonds. No doubt this is another service directed to the health of the national economy.

In the 2008-2009 crisis, Obamas closest adviser, Rahm Emanuel, declared: You never let a serious crisis go to waste.

Banks, lobby groups, hedge funds, major law firms and others have taken this to heart as they scramble to secure a slice of the biggest corporate and financial bailout in history.

The first part of Emanuels remark in the Wall Street crisis is most often cited but he made a important elaboration. And what I mean by that, its an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before. That is very applicable in the present situation.

In some ways the coronavirus pandemic has been a fortuitous accident for Wall Street.

Before the virus outbreak, the market was surging to record highs. As a result of financialization, in which the accumulation of profit was increasingly based on parasitism and manipulation, divorced from productive activity in the real economy, stock prices and the entire financial house cards were heading for a collapse.

It only required one or another accident to bring it crashing down, that would have required massive government and Fed intervention.

In the event, it was the coronavirus pandemic that set off the collapse. But this had the advantage of enabling the crisis and the corporate and financial bailout to be presented as if it were a necessary response a natural disaster, rather than the inevitable outcome of a terminally-diseased socio-economic order.
A 23-year-old man who fired a gun while arguing with someone at a Turkey Hill in Swatara Township Thursday night has been charged with aggravated assault, authorities said.

Township police said Trevor Bolden fired two shots from a handgun during an argument around 10:30 p.m. at the convenience store, located on the 2000 block of Paxton Street.

The victim was not hit by either of the shots, and both the victim and Bolden left the scene after the incident.

Police took Bolden into custody early Friday morning at his home.

Bolden is also charged with recklessly endangering another person. He is being held at the Dauphin County Booking Center pending charges.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact Swatara Township police at 717-564-2550.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set up 35 control rooms across 35 states and Union Territories to help the needy people amid nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, BJP president JP Nadda on Friday held interaction with party leaders in Uttar Pradesh and reviewed the actions being taken in combating the coronavirus.

Nadda said that in this hour of crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government has taken several steps for the welfare of the villages, poor, farmers and women of the country.

"To strengthen the economic condition of the country, the central government has taken many decisions which everyone is appreciating but the Congress party does not see it because they are blindfolded," Nadda said.

Nadda stated that some Opposition parties are trying to undermine BJP-led government's resolve to defeat coronavirus by making "baseless and irresponsible statements".

He also requested party leaders to light candles on Sunday, as urged by Prime Minister Modi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T he BBC's BBC Bitesize, 14 weeks of daily online lessons for children of all age groups who are staying home from school due to the coronavirus pandemic, starts today.

Touted as the BBCs biggest push on education in its history, its been introduced to support every child in the UK.

Kicking off Monday April 20, just after the Easter holidays, BBC Bitesize will deliver daily online lessons for kids of all age groups, while daily programmes will help guide parents and children.

BBC Director General Tony Hall said in a statement: In these uncertain times parents look to the BBC to support them and offer education while children cant be in school.

This is the biggest education effort the BBC has ever undertaken. This comprehensive package is something only the BBC would be able to provide.We are proud to be there when the nation needs us, working with teachers, schools and parents to ensure children have access and support to keep their learning going  come what may.

The new programme has been designed to reflect the UK school curriculum and to provide rhythm and routine to kids and parents during these unprecedented times. It will be delivered across a series of platforms like BBC iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Bitesize website and app, BBC Four and BBC Sounds.

UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, added: Millions of parents are supporting their children to continue learning at home while schools are closed, to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

As a parent, I know encouraging children to learn at home is no easy task and I am delighted that the BBC has worked with experts and exceptional teachers to create this educational package to support schools and parents by bringing learning to life on TVs, computers and tablets across the country.

BBC Bitzesize will have a new English and maths lesson for every child, every day and more subjects are set to follow. Teachers will join forces with big name partners like the Premier League, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Puffin Books to offer content and activities for kids.

The BBC has designed the programme, which will provide curriculum-led activities, after working closely with education providers like Twinkl and White Rose Maths, as well as teachers, the Department of Education in England, the Welsh Government, Scottish Government.
YORK  Misty Mousseaux of Kearney, 35, a former inmate at the Nebraska Center for Women in York, has been charged with assaults, a first degree sexual assault and being a habitual criminal.

The case against Mousseaux has been bound over to York County District Court as she has already waived her preliminary hearing in York County Court.

According to court documents, Mousseaux was an inmate in the prison when she allegedly assaulted two separate fellow inmates and sexually assaulted one of those two inmates.

She has been formally charged with two counts of assault by a confined person, Class 3A felonies which carry possible maximum sentences of three years in prison and 18 month of post-release supervision. Mousseaux is also formally charged with first degree sexual assault which is a Class 2 felony which carries a possible maximum sentence of 50 years in prison, upon conviction.

The prosecution is also seeking the designation of Mousseaux as a habitual criminal which would have the ability to tack on an additional 10-60 years in prison on top of other prison sentences that could be handed down in this case.
With over a million coronavirus cases, economic freefall looms Outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Singapore

By John Geddie and Edgar Su

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore will close schools and most workplaces for a month as part of stricter measures to curb a recent jump in coronavirus infections, it said on Friday, an announcement that sent locals racing to supermarkets to stock up on staples.

The city-state has won international praise for its two-month long battle against a virus that has infected over a million people globally, avoiding lockdown measures increasingly common around the world.

But authorities said record jumps in new infections this week, taking its total to 1,114 cases, pointed to the need for a tougher approach.

Disease experts have said breaches in Singapore's lauded virus defence have underlined the challenge of containing the pandemic around the world.

"We have decided that instead of tightening incrementally over the next few weeks, we should make a decisive move now, to pre-empt escalating infections," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a speech.

Long queues promptly formed outside shops across the island and residents cleared shelves despite authorities saying supermarkets will remain open.

"I rushed here an hour ago because my friends sent me a message about a lockdown. Even now in the supermarket, there are empty shelves," said Kim Melissa Hwang, 57, adding she had also just lost her job at a restaurant.

"If there is no job and no food...it's very sad."

"CIRCUIT BREAKER"

PM Lee said the government would next week announce more support for households and businesses to tide them over the next month.

The wealthy finance and shipping hub is bracing for the worst recession in its 55-year history due to the pandemic, and the government has already announced virus relief measures this year equal to 11% of its GDP.

Under the new measures - which authorities have called a "circuit breaker" - markets and supermarkets, clinics, hospitals, utilities, transport and key banking services will remain open. Restaurants will be only allowed to do takeaway or delivery, while museums, casinos and gyms will be closed.

Story continues

The new measures will be in place from April 7 until May 4, while schools will move to full home-based learning from April 8. The measures could be extended beyond a month if the situation did not improve, authorities said.

Lee urged everyone to stay at home as much as possible and to avoid socialising with others beyond their own household.

"Go out only to do essential things," he said.

Authorities held back from raising the national virus risk assessment to red, the top level, saying the spread could still be controlled through other preventative measures such as contact tracing and quarantine.

But the government said it would no longer discourage people from wearing masks in a reversal of its previous advice as public health officials globally rethink their stance due to the growing possibility of undetected coronavirus cases.

"We also now have evidence that an infected person can show no symptoms, and yet still pass on the virus to others," Lee said.

The government will distribute reusable masks to all households from Sunday, while conserving surgical masks for healthcare workers.

(Reporting by John Geddie, Edgar Su and Aradhana Aravindan; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Neil Fullick, Simon Cameron-Moore and Nick Macfie)
The latest developments in Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: - Singapore to close schools, workplaces - Singapore will close schools and most workplaces while people are being told to stay home, as the city-state ramps up curbs to stem the spread of the virus. The country has generally been successful in keeping the outbreak in check, and had previously resisted imposing the kind of tough restrictions seen elsewhere. But Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it was time to apply a "circuit breaker" following a sharp rise in locally transmitted cases. - Oil extends gains - Crude prices bounced back in Asian trade from earlier losses, to extend the previous day's record surge following reports that exporting cartel OPEC had called an emergency meeting for next week. The news reinforced optimism in the embattled oil market after US President Donald Trump claimed Russia and Saudi Arabia were set to slash output. - China to hold mourning for virus victims - China will hold a national mourning event on Saturday to commemorate those who died in its fight against the virus, including 14 frontline workers. Starting at 10 am, all people nationwide will observe a three-minute silence and cars, trains and ships will sound their horns, alongside the wails of air raid sirens, said the State Council. - Australia tells virus-stricken cruise ships to go home - Australia insisted it would not let the crew of multiple virus-stricken cruise ships into the country, slapping aside suggestions it was falling short on legal and moral obligations. More than a dozen ships are believed to be off Australia's coast, carrying around 15,000 crew and some experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. - Thai curfew to begin - Thailand will begin enforcing a six-hour curfew from Friday night in a bid to control the virus's spread, and has warned that anyone who breaches the order faces a two-year jail term. The curfew runs from 10 pm to 4 am and bars everyone in the country from leaving their home, except for workers in essential services. - Indonesia releases prisoners - Indonesia has freed 29,000 people from jail in a bid to prevent coronavirus from wreaking havoc on its notoriously overcrowded prison system. The lightning-fast release, which only started this week, is equivalent to more than 10 percent of the Southeast Asian nation's prison population of some 270,000, crammed into jails routinely criticised for deplorable conditions. - Modi candle call - Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to hold candles and mobiles aloft for nine minutes on Sunday in order to dispel the "darkness and uncertainty" of the coronavirus crisis. "Friends, amidst the darkness spread by the corona pandemic, we must continuously progress towards light and hope," Modi said in an address to the nation of 1.3 billion people under a lockdown since March 25. - Sumo tournaments postponed as Japan cases spread - Two sumo tournaments scheduled for later this year have been postponed, the Japan Sumo Association said -- the latest sporting events to fall victim to the coronavirus. The next sumo "basho" or tournament, scheduled to open on May 10 in Tokyo -- host city of the next Olympics, which have been postponed to 2021 -- will be delayed by two weeks, the JSA said. The July basho suffered the same fate. - Aussie plane delivers pizza to locked-down outback - Pizza and beer are being delivered by plane to remote ranches in the Australian outback in an attempt to bring a slice of cheer to those in extreme isolation under the virus lockdown. The Dunmarra Wayside Inn, a roadside diner in Australia's Northern Territory, used a small fixed-wing aircraft for a trial run of what it hopes will become a weekly flying takeaway service to far-flung cattle stations. burs-sr/kaf
There are now over a million cases of COVID-19 across the world. At last count, the figure was 1,017,567, including over 53,200 deaths.

There are now over a million cases of COVID-19 across the world. At last count, the figure was 1,017,567, including over 53,200 deaths. The rise in cases has been alarming, with instances doubling over the last week. A quarter of the cases are from the US, while half are from Europe. It is widely acknowledged that there are far more cases than have been reported.

Developments in India

As the country enters the 10th day of the lockdown, there has been an increase in the number of cases across the country. The total number of confirmed cases in India has reached 2,567. The Tablighi Jamaat congregation has been linked to a fifth of the cases, with officials across state lines scrambling to track and isolate all those associated with the gathering. Lav Agarwal, the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health, said in a briefing yesterday that over 9,000 people countrywide have been placed in quarantine as a part of these tracing efforts.

Antibody testing may be implemented

Given the rise in cases, ICMR has suggested that antibody tests can be used at the discretion of individual states to determine the degree of outbreaks in hotspots. So far, Kerala has already started using these tests, whereas Tamil Nadu and Chattisgarh have expressed interest as well.

Light a candle this Sunday night

In a recorded video this morning, PM Modi commended the countrys efforts in combating the pandemic and said that other countries were following Indias lead in establishing lockdowns to limit infections. He also requested citizens to light a candle or diya in their homes for 9 minutes at 9 pm on Sunday, April 5. This is to symbolize the resilience and solidarity of the people and to show everyone that they are not alone in this battle.

Possibility of a staggered emergence from the lockdown

In another major development, PM Modi held a video conference with the CMs, and it seems that the idea of a staggered exit from the lockdown is gaining currency. This means that restrictions may be lifted in a phased manner, and low-risk places with fewer cases may be unlocked while clusters or hotspots may remain locked down longer.

World Bank pledges $1 billion in support to India

The world bank has pledged USD 1 billion to support the Indian fight against the coronavirus. The assistance aims to build testing capacity, increase the production and supply of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), and add more isolation wards to the healthcare arsenal.

Global developments

A further 950 people lost their lives to the virus in Spain, and the number of cases increased by 8%. Over 10,000 people have now succumbed to the virus in the country. Officials, however, have said that the 8% increase has been stable for some days suggesting that the virus has peaked and cases will soon begin to come down.

As the virus spreads in the US, which has seen over 6,000 deaths and over 245,000 cases, 6.65 million people applied for unemployment benefits as the economy continues to suffer as well.

Read our Tips on how to protect yourself against COVID-19 infection for more detailed information.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
New Delhi [India], Apr 2 (ANI): Amid movement of migrant workers during the coronavirus pandemic, Preeti Sudan, Secretary at Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has written to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union territories asking them to assure redressal of migrant labourers grievances as directed by the Supreme Court.



The letter, written by Sudan, states that the Supreme Court has directed that "migrant workers in relief camps or shelter homes should be provided adequate medical facilities besides proper arrangement for food, clean drinking water, and sanitation."

Along with this, trained counselors or community group leaders belonging to all faiths should visit the shelter camps and the police and other local authorities too should understand the "anxiety and fear of the migrants" and should deal with it in a humane manner.

It further implored the governments in the state or Union territories to "engage volunteers along with the police to supervise the welfare activities of the migrants and all concerned."

All states have also been asked to take necessary action and further submit a compliance report to the Supreme Court as per its directions.

Migrant workers from around the country are facing numerous hardships as they proceeded to return to their homes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus. (ANI)


In an April 2 Moneybox, Aaron Mak misstated when Pamela from Philadelphia lost her job. It was in March, not April.

In an April 2 Music, Carl Wilson misidentified the 2007 film Music and Lyrics as Words and Music.

Due to a photo provider error, the photo caption for an April 2 War Stories misspelled the name of the Adriatic coast. Fred Kaplan also misspelled Capt. Brett Croziers first name.

In an April 1 Books, Rachelle Hampton misspelled Capitol Records.

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In an April 1 How to Do It, Rich Juzwiak misspelled Hibiclens.

In an April 1 Jurisprudence, Stephane D. Andrade, Brittany Pearl Battle, and Maretta McDonald misidentified the program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families as Temporary Aid to Needy Families.

In an April 1 World, Laura Kasinof misstated that Yemen is the most populous country in the Middle East. It is Saudi Arabia.

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In a March 31 Future Tense, Charles Kenny misspelled Venezuela.

A March 31 Life misspelled Tucson, Arizona.

In a March 31 Politics, Jeremy Stahl misstated that California was the earliest state to order an eviction freeze. It was the earliest to authorize cities to implement such freezes.

In a March 29 Brow Beat, Matthew Dessem misstated the date government officials and film studio executives met to discuss the production of a series of short films to promote the National Recovery Administration. It was Aug. 8, 1933, not Aug. 8, 1932.

Slate strives to correct all errors of fact. If youve seen an error in our pages, let us know at corrections@slate.com. General comments should be posted in our Comments sections associated with each article.
For the states 725,000 students with special needs, the closure of classrooms for a five-month stretch will not mean the absence of just academics, but also of critical therapy and specialized services that they cant get from home.

Parents fear the five-month loss of personal interaction with trained special education teachers and therapists could set their children back well behind their peers.

District officials and teachers across California have been ramping up digital learning for all students, but those with intellectual impairments and physical disabilities including autism, speech disorders, Down syndrome and dyslexia require more than worksheets and online lessons, parents say.

So far, its been a waiting game while districts figure out how to teach those with the greatest academic, behavioral, physical and emotional needs through a computer screen.

Kids not being in school is really rough, said Juno Duenas, executive director of Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, a San Francisco-based nonprofit. These children arent necessarily getting that therapy and support they were getting in schools. Parents are expected to do it.

In many districts, the switch to online learning for students with special needs has been slow, with teachers and administrators waiting for federal and state guidance on how to navigate the legal requirements associated with special education.

So far, the guidance from the federal Department of Education has urged schools to press forward to do what they can, even if they cant provide the required services identified in each childs individualized education plan, or IEP.

The Department understands that, during this national emergency, schools may not be able to provide all services in the same manner they are typically provided, according to guidance issued at the end of March.

Modified services can include extended time for assignments, videos with captioning, or speech or language therapy video conferencing, officials said.

The state Department of Education held an online webinar for special education teachers Thursday to help them adjust to the distance learning, which will last at least through the end of the term. At least 5,000 teachers signed up, said State Superintendent Tony Thurmond.

Were taking advantage of the things we can do, Thurmond said.

Yet district officials said guidance has been vague and a long time in coming to help special education teachers provide intensive, individualized services through a screen.

In San Francisco, officials said schools will start reaching out to families Monday to amend IEPs for distance learning  support that will arrive three weeks into school closures.

SFUSD is working hard to serve students with IEPs even with the difficult conditions presented by school closure, said Laura Dudnick, district spokeswoman.

For single mom Olivia Fraga, a home-care provider, help cant come soon enough. Her son, Martin, is a fourth-grader at San Franciscos Sanchez Elementary School. He has Down syndrome, requiring significant support at home and when hes at school.

Now, its just her.

I cant go to work because my son has a different condition and I cannot leave him anywhere or with anyone, she said, adding Martins immune system is compromised. Having the school closed due to a situation like this changed our lives and also the routine.

The school closures were so sudden that families across the region were thrown for a loop, but it was especially hard for those with special needs.

Students with disabilities rely more heavily on schedules and predictability, said Annette Nunez, an expert in autism.

There was no transition, she said. Parents are having to deal with the abrupt change.

She has encouraged parents to create schedules, pick small learning goals, take breaks. Whatever parents need to do to help survive the day, do it.

Parents are going to have to advocate for services during the school closures, Nunez said.

They should be asking how services are going to be provided and if theyre going to be provided.

If not, what is it that teachers can offer parents? she said.

Once schools reopen, parents and teachers will have to figure out whether the students require compensatory services that they were unable to get during the shutdown to help them catch up.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

They used to get something every day and now they have nothing, Duenas said. The system was not ready in any way, shape or form.

Jody Miller operates a school for severely disabled students, with 60 public school districts contracting with them to provide an education for those children who need more than local educators can provide.

The Esther B. Clark school sites, in Palo Alto and Santa Clara, serve 130 children from Marin to Gilroy, where the students often get one-on-one support and intervention.

Now, they are all at home.

The parent became a teacher, a behaviorist, a therapist all in a matter of a day, she said. Were in an environment weve never been in before.

Meagan Zamora fears a five-month wait to restart the process when school reopens will be a huge setback for her son, James.

The 6-year-old is in kindergarten in Oakley, and has struggled all year with reading and letter sounds, Zamora said.

His personal doctors have diagnosed him with ADHD and likely with high-functioning autism. With that diagnosis, she went to her school district and set up meetings with school officials to have James evaluated and identified for treatment.

The scheduled March 31 meeting was canceled, with no new date set.

Im not educated in a way to know how to teach him those things, she said. Hes at a standstill.

Its hard and its sad.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
In a symbolic move on the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a call to citizens to switch off the lights in their homes and light oil lamps, candles, and flash their mobile phone torches on April 5 at 9pm, for nine minutes. This, he suggested, will be a mark of the collective power of people and showcase their determination in taking the country from darkness to illumination.

The government also embarked on a substantive review of the efforts to tackle both the pandemic and deal with the fallout of the nationwide lockdown, with a meeting of a Group of Ministers (GoM) led by defence minister Rajnath Singh. Key government stakeholders were represented at the meeting, where ministers felt that issues related to migrant workers had been addressed while impediments related to essential supplies were in the process of being addressed. The government also set up 10 groups of secretaries to deal with specific issues on Friday.

Addressing the nation, Modi said that Friday marked the ninth day of the lockdown  and praised citizens for their discipline and service. He also said that the battle against the pandemic was not an individual one but a collective one of 1.3 billion people.

Underlining that the poor had suffered the most due to the pandemic, and all efforts had to be directed to taking the country towards hope and certainty, the PM said: This Sunday, on April 5, at 9pm, I want nine minutes of your life. Please switch off the lights of your house  and then either at the door, or in the balcony of your house, please light a candle, a diya, or flash the mobile phone light. That light will show that no one is alone.

The PM was, however, quick to emphasise that no one should congregate on the occasion or go out on the streets  in what was possibly a reference to many citizens gathering in large crowds after applauding front line workers during the janta curfew on March 22, and thus undermining the principle of social distancing.

Opinion was divided on the PMs address. Supporters saw it as a laudable effort to mobilise citizens in bleak times and motivate them and praised his consistent communication  this is the fourth time the PM has spoken to citizens in less than a fortnight.

But the Opposition was critical of the PM for not having addressed more critical issues. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that the country was expecting the PM to speak on low testing, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers, relief for migrant workers and the poor, and the state of the economy. People will support the PM in switching off lights and lighting candles, just as they did while clapping for doctors and paramedics, but some questions need to be asked and answered.

The PMs statement also led to a high-level review meeting in the power ministry to ensure that the fluctuation in the grid  on Sunday  did not lead to any power interruption and blackout. The grid is already confronting a situation where demand has dipped by up to 30% due to the lockdown.

For Sunday, there are concerns about the impact of the switching off, and then switching on, of lights, across millions of households, almost simultaneously, on the grid. This will first create a supply excess, and could potentially disrupt frequency. And then, once demand surges at the 10th minute, it will be a test of the supply capacity. Mishandling this process can potentially lead to extended power outage.

This is absolutely unprecedented. If this is effectively implemented, then we are looking at an impact of 10-15GW of load going down and coming back again which will have a very severe impact on the grid. I am not aware of any event before leading to such a sharp fluctuation before, said Vinay Rustagi, managing director at renewable energy consultancy Bridge to India Energy Private Limited. This, Rustagi emphasised, will need careful management and planning. They will have to judicially use hydro and gas power plants to come back and curtail risk.

But the power ministry is confident that it can manage the situation. An official said on condition of anonymity: We are making arrangements since the event is known to us in advance. The current peak load of the country stands at around 120GW; of this domestic household lighting comprises of 12-15GW and we will need to manage and monitor this 15GW of fluctuation. The fact that only lights may be off, and other electric household appliances will remain operational is also expected to ensure that the dip in demand may not be as drastic as expected.

Separately, a group of ministers met at defence minister Singhs residence. Participants included home minister Amit Shah, food minister Ram Vilas Paswan, railways minister Piyush Goyal, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, agriculture and rural development minister Narendra Singh Tomar, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri, among others. This is the third meeting of the GoM since March 25.

Officials familiar with the proceedings of the meeting said that the ministers deliberated on various arrangements being made to deal with the increasing number of Covid-19 cases as well as to ensure adequate supplies of medicine and essential commodities during the lockdown.

The ministers were briefed that supply of essential goods was continuing smoothly and no concerns were reported in this regard. However, at certain places, issues related to scarcity of workers for loading and unloading operations have created issues and are being addressed, an official said on condition of anonymity.

Another official indicated that the government was fully aware of the need to ensure smooth supplies for the remaining period of the lockdown and that was the focus of the meeting. To have the support of citizens in these difficult times, we have to ensure that they are not inconvenienced. Getting food and dairy items right to the neighbourhood level is key to ensure the success of the lockdown.

On the movement of migrant workers, the GoM felt the issue has been resolved, as they are being looked after in temporary shelters set up by state governments, news agency Press Trust of India quoted an official as saying. The GoM also appreciated the contribution, dedication and the hard work of thousands of health professionals, police, paramilitary and armed forces, and those engaged in maintaining the supply chain of essential commodities across the country.

Experts have suggested that India should continue to confront key challenges in handling the pandemic. The lockdown has not yet led to the flattening of the curve of infections  though, to be sure, this was always expected to take some more time. More worryingly, there has been a surge in cases in recent days, largely because of the congregation at Nizamuddins Tablighi Jamaat. Health workers have got infected  due to the absence of PPE.
The dairy industry appears increasingly susceptible to the booms and busts of the economy.

Accordingly, the Board of Management (BoM) at Vinamilk has lowered the company's consolidated revenue growth rate target to 8 per cent on-year in 2020  a slight reduction from the 10 per cent of 2019.

The revision was sparked by the BoM's increasing cautiousness in the domestic market as higher unemployment rates can impede demand for milk, according to KIS Securities. Besides, the longer-than-expected school break also made things worse in Vinamilks school milk earnings.

Board of management at Vinamilk  the largest dairy firm in Vietnam  is lowering expectations for 2020s revenue growth.

Vinamilk targets to maintain its operating expenses at around 25-26 per cent of the total revenue. To combat the slowdown, Vinamilk is adopting marketing strategies focusing on healthy products beneficial to the human body, such as yoghurt and milk powder.

2019 recap

Vietnams dairy product consumption recovered strongly, rising 7 per cent on-year in the four biggest cities and 15.5 per cent on-year in rural areas, according to Kantar World Panel.

VNDIRECT noted the recovery begun after domestic dairy producers started to provide a variety of products as well as adopt effective marketing strategies.

Vinamilk, as the market leader, launched 19 products, the most remarkable ones being Organic Gold, a brand for organic infant formula and drinking milk, and the premium Yoko Gold infant formula, with all materials imported from Japan.

As a result, last years domestic revenue increased by 6.3 per cent on-year (versus 2.7 per cent on-year in 2018) to VND47.555 billion ($2.1 million), accounting for 84.4 per cent of the total revenue.

On the other hand, Vinamilks exports have accelerated as traditional markets recovered, such as the encouraging performance in the Middle Eastern markets.

Vinamilk is currently applying for an export permit to China

With the recovery of this market, Vinamilks exports bounced back 14.8 per cent on-year in 2019, rising to VND5.175 billion ($225,000) after a weak growth of 2.3 per cent on-year in 2018. Export turnover contributed 9.2 per cent to 2019 net revenue.

It is noted that the checking process for China-bound official export permit is underway due to the large size of Vinamilks factories and milk farm system.

Last year, Vinamilk snapped up a majority of GTNFoods  the parent firm of Moc Chau Milk, Vinatea, Ladofoods. The strategic tie-up deal is expected to boost Vinamilks revenue as well as beef up its market presence.

However, the move did not have time to make an impact on Vinamilks profit and loss in the last quarter of 2019. Furthermore, the increased rate of corporate income tax (CIT) has curbed Vinamilks net profit growth. Notably, last years tax rate stood at 17.5 per cent, which was higher than that of 2018 since there was no longer tax incentive period. Such a tax policy created a strong pressure on the firms earnings: after-tax profit in 2019 gained slightly (3.4 per cent) to reach VND10.554 billion ($458,870).
The headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, March 22, 2016. /VCG

Editor's note: Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. He writes on topics pertaining to China, the DPRK, Britain and the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Throughout the course of the global COVID-19 pandemic, there has been considerable criticism aimed at the World Health Organization (WHO). Among the allegations fired towards it is its early assessment of the virus, its praise of China's response, and most frequently its policy of adopting the one-China principle and its dealings with Taiwan, most notably in a politically motivated interview by a Hong Kong journalist.

In drawing these lines of attack, commentators and observers have persistently claimed that Beijing has "too much influence" over the WHO and in turn has even "bought it" through donations and other superfluous claims of financial power. In any sense, any positive attitude towards China is seen as suspect and illegitimate.

Make no mistake about it, these attacks are political and they are rooted largely in narrative than facts. Because the WHO, as medical experts, do not reflect desirable political narratives about China's response to the pandemic to which many commentators would like, this has led to an all-embracing assault on the institution's integrity.

However, these claims do not hold up to evidence. China does not even come close to being the largest financial contributor of the World Health Organization. Thus in creating a defamatory campaign against it, western commentators are weaponizing ideology to discredit the organization, spurring up public distrust and enmity against a global medical body, which is in nobody's interest.

Western political thought creates a binary and lopsided view of China which pushes observers to discredit anything that does not reflect their prevailing narratives of the country.

To critics of China, anyone who dares to praise the country, to challenge prevailing assumptions or to question underlying narratives is branded as inauthentic and illegitimate, either deceived or part of a grander plot by the Chinese government, therefore such an opinion can never be valid.

This underlying psychology has fueled a motive amongst western commentators to subsequently discredit the World Health Organization and accuse it of being "suspect" for having offered praise of Beijing's COVID-19 response, especially in line with broader narratives to portray China's handling of the outbreak as a large scale political failure and thus discredit the system as a whole.

As a consequence, a narrative that China has excessive "influence" over the WHO has spread like wildfire, as well as a belief that Beijing financially dominates the institution. As a Bloomberg headline goes "China's Global Influence operation goes well beyond the WHO."

An interview with Dr. Bruce Aylward by a Hong Kong journalist on the matter of Taiwan went viral on the internet and has been used repeatedly to affirm people's prejudices, thus reinforcing the belief that the WHO is not a reliable, independent or impartial organization of experts, but its controlled by Beijing.

Bruce Aylward, an epidemiologist who led an advance team from the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks at a press briefing at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, February 25, 2020. /Xinhua

However, these claims do not hold up to the facts. First of all, a recent report released by the U.S. State Department found that as of 2019 America's donations to the WHO exceeded that of China's by up to 10 times, standing at more than 400 million U.S. dollars to Beijing's 44 million U.S. dollars.

Going deeper into this, a 2013 report on WHO financial contributors found that alongside America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Italy, and Spain all individually contributed more money to the organization than China did, which stood at 36 million U.S. dollars in that particular year. That does not sound like a China dominated institution.

In addition, why should its application of the one-China principle be suspect? The WHO follows the position which is set by its parent organization, the United Nations. This is not a controversial or unusual stance and it is one adopted by most of the world.

Instead it seems rather than it being excessively "influenced" by China some are attempting to project pro-Taiwan activism against the organization. Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan leader, has also sought to do this, by claiming they attempted "to notify the WHO" of the coronavirus, yet conveniently did nothing to warn the rest of the world at the same time.

This pattern of behavior reflects as set out above, that many commentators are waging an ideological crusade against the WHO than offering it fair and impartial scrutiny.

As a whole, it is western commentators who are doing the World Health Organization into a political battleground and in turn, stifling global health cooperation by cynically damaging public trust in the institution.

This is not a political body; it is a body of experts who do the best in the circumstances by which they are given for the good of mankind. The fact that some voices have sought to discredit it by making exaggerated claims of "China influence" or pursuing activist crusades over interpretations of the one-China principle, is not appropriate nor is it ethical. Instead, its time this opportunistic narrative is exposed for what it is.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The state-owned Air India's pilot unions on Friday opposed the 10 per cent cut in employees' allowances, terming the decision as "unequal" and one that went against the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to companies to ensure that salaries of the employees are not slashed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In a joint letter to Air India chief Rajiv Bansal on Friday, the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) and Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said the reduction in allowance was against the labour and employment ministry's advisory to all employers of public or private establishments not to terminate their employees or reduce their wages.

"We, the flying crew of Air India feel, immensely let down by the self-serving approach of the Executive Management Committee in the name of cost-cutting measures. The committee has completely disregarded the appeal made by the prime minister and the advisory from the labour and employment ministry," the pilot unions said.

Air India had decided to reduce 10 per cent of the allowances paid to all employees, except cabin crew, for a period of three months to tide over the economic fallout of COVID-19. The reduction, however, did not impact the basic pay, house rent allowance and variable dearness allowance.

On March 18, the airline had decided to withdraw special allowances to pilots while revising downward the layover allowance for cabin crew. Significantly, flying allowance accounts for as much as 70 per cent of a pilot's salary.

"By effecting a 10 per cent cut in allowances for all employees, the category that has been affected the most are pilots. Flying-related allowances of pilots' wages allowances constitute 70 per cent of the gross emoluments.

"By effecting a cut only in allowances, the directors and senior management executives have deviously exempted themselves from any meaningful austerity cut as their allowances are extremely small while pilots and cabin crew who are the frontline warriors flying and risking their lives, are forced to bear the maximum cut," the unions said in the letter.

It also said that the fact remains that the core of an airline are the aeroplanes and the staff who keep them flying and that every other department exists to support them in this endeavour.

"As you are aware, the flying allowance is not paid on time. While all the other employees are paid in full, flying crew alone are made to bear the brunt with a delayed flying allowance. Implementation of sham austerity measures to cut the flying allowances on top of all this would be adding insult to injury," it said.

Reminding the management that "many of the flying crew" are held at "home quarantine/self-quarantine" after operating international and special flights, the unions said "one of our crew has been diagnosed COVID-19 positive and is hospitalised".

The pilot unions, in the letter, also questioned the airline's decision to enter into a contract with other countries to repatriate their citizens on commercial charters which does not come under the purview of the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

"We are hopeful you will treat all your employees equally. The pay cut on allowance is unequal, and not acceptable to us. We request you to advise the senior executive management to rise above self during these testing times, to draw up fair cost cutting measures and not to manipulate the system to safeguard their salaries by merely burdening the frontline soldiers of the national carrier," the letter stated.
Hyderabad, April 3 : In Telangana, the BJP is locking horns with Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi over the issue of Tablighi Jamaat returnees spreading COVID-19.

On Friday, BJP's chief spokesperson in Telangana, K. Krishna Saagar Rao slammed the MIM strongman for standing by the Tablighi Jamaat, after it emerged that its adherents had contributed to the spurt of COVID-19 cases in the country.

In his statement, Rao noted that Owaisi is yet to condemn the developments surrounding the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamuddin in the month of March, "and the thousands of participants who are openly defying all government directives nationally." "Asaduddin Owaisi has in fact openly supported this cluster, which by far is the largest infecting cluster in the entire world. Tablighi Jamaat cluster is rapidly transmitting coronavirus across India. However, Asaduddin is busy promoting these super spreaders through his supportive statements," the statement said.

Rao defended the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives and said Owaisi had no moral right to criticise the Prime Minister.

Earlier this week, the MIM chief from Hyderabad had come out in the defence of the Tablighi Jamaat after it emerged that members of the organisation had a major role in the spread of COVID-19 across the country, particularly in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He had come out strongly against alleged attempts to communalise the COVID-19 issue by tarnishing the Tablighi Jamaat.

Around 1,000 people from Telangana are believed to have participated in the Tablighi Jamaat event at Delhi between March 15-17, and returned to their homes in the state. A large number of the participants had contracted COVID-19 at the event and the authorities are trying to locate them all in an effort to contain the spread of the infection.

Telangana's total COVID-19 positive cases on Friday reached 229 and the death toll stood at 9.
The day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special fund to aid India in its fight against Corona pandemic, entrepreneur Amit Singh didnt waste a minute before lending a helping hand to the fund and with that, to the rest of the country.

Singh owns the Fusion Gym in Mumbai and has already self-isolated himself and his family for quite a while. Speaking about the current situation, he says, We all are going through a very hard time. The entire world is devastated and it has become a need of the hour for each one of us to.

Amit is a well-known fitness enthusiast who is also mad about automobiles. His journey from a young lad of Patna in Bihar to Mumbai is inspiring, to say the least. Fuelled by hard work and perseverance, Amit has achieved his goals and gained immense popularity in the world of fitness. This budding entrepreneur was interested in fitness since his childhood. However, he is not a fan of outer beauty only. He believes the wholesome concept of being fit with a healthy lifestyle.

In addition, his craze extends to the world of automobiles as well. His social media accounts are proof of his undying love for cars. As he says for himself, he is not just crazy about fitness but my love for cars is undisputed.

Being counted as one of the most important social media influencers regarding fitness and health, Amit realizes the responsibility that puts on his shoulders. Speaking about his lifestyle choices, Amit says, A fit body and a healthy mindset has always been my motive and to do something about it has always triggered me. Venturing into this business has helped me achieve my goal and Fusion Gym is just the start to it. I dont just support the idea but also make sure that I put my best foot forward to encourage the youth and society to stay healthy and maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Wise words, we say!

Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content.
Airlines in the country can accept domestic bookings after April 14, provided the 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus is not further extended, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said.

Reuters

As far as the civil aviation ministry is concerned, it is proceeding on the basis of the understanding that the lockdown is till mid-April, Puri said while addressing a video press conference.



Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola also reiterated that airlines are free to take ticket bookings from passengers for any date after April 14, suggesting that those bookings may have to be cancelled in case the 21-day lockdown is extended.

India is currently under the 21-day lockdown which came to effect on March 25. Last time the flights were operational was on March 24, a day before the restrictions were imposed.

Reuters

The curfew doesn't end till April 14, but there has been no confirmation if it will be extended. It is to early to call, but if the restrictions are indeed lifted, then domestic services might resume.



"The government direction is very clear that the lockdown has been announced, and the lockdown is up to April 14. That is what has been said so far," Kharola told reporters in a press conference.

Reuters

"As far as post that (April 14) is concerned, it is all up to airlines. Airlines have to judge the situation and they can take the bookings. In case the lockdown gets extended, then the same process has to be followed, and if the lockdown is not extended, then the bookings will be honoured," he added.

There might be a confirmation in the next few days, but so far the aviation ministry has maintained the restrictions are till April 14.




Experts have said it could take another two weeks before it becomes clear whether Australia's partial lockdown to combat coronavirus has worked or not.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has welcomed a drop-off in national infection rates as the growth rate in cases reduced from 30 per cent per day to about 10 per cent over the past five days.

But epidemiology researchers at the University of Melbourne said at least a week is needed from the start of increased physical distancing to see a difference in the COVID-19 spread rate.

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French nationals enter Sydney's international airport to be repatriated back to France on Thursday. Experts have warned it may not be clear if Prime Minister Scott Morrison's measures to combat the coronavirus - including an international travel ban - have worked for another two weeks

A policeman speaks with sunbathers on Surfers Paradise Beach on the Gold Coast on Thursday

Another two days is needed for people to realise they are sick and get tested, and then an additional 11 before there is a change in admissions to intensive care units.

'Think of our current measures against COVID-19 like being at the back of an oil tanker and steering it with the rudder of your two-person dinghy,' the head of the university's centre of epidemiology Professor Tony Blakely said.

'Until we have a bit of experience, we don't really know how much the oil tanker will turn (with a lag) as a result of a nudge versus a panicked throwing of the rudder.'

It could therefore take a total of three weeks for the shutdown of pubs, cafes, clubs and cinemas and the international travel ban - which began on March 23 and March 25 - to have an impact.

Australia are still also then weeks away from seeing if the mandatory hotel quarantining for return travellers, enforced on Saturday, will be effective.

The estimates were supported by Australian National University infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon, who said the time required to see an effect was between five and 10 days.

The drop-off in national infection rates has seen the number of new cases fall from a 30 per cent growth rate per day to about 15 per cent - a change welcomed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison

'I will feel more confident in a week's time, but there is a suggestion it is (the infection rate) trending downwards,' he said.

'If what you had was uncontrolled spread then those numbers would be going up and up.'

It comes as the first fines are issued for breaches of the strict social distancing rules put in place by the state and federal governments.

The crackdown in New South Wales saw 13 fines given out by police in the space of 24 hours, including to a man, 21, trying to enjoy a kebab on a park bench in Newcastle.

Anyone who breaches the social distancing guidelines in NSW faces a maximum fine of $11,000, six months in jail or a hefty $1,000 on-the-spot fine.

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 unprecedented measures were brought in on Sunday, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison urging Australians to stay at home for all but essential activities.

Australians may have to live with the harsh restrictions on their everyday lives until at least October, Mr Morrison warned.

These essential activities do not include one unusual excuse given to police by a man in Albury, who explained he had been trying to visit his drug dealer.

He was hit with the $1,000 fine on Wednesday, as were two young mates who were caught by eagle-eyed police chatting on the Princes Highway in Artarmon, on Sydney's north shore.

One of the young men tried to run from police, but was later caught, with officers not accepting either of the men's reasons for being outside.

The pair were among 13 infringements notices given out on Wednesday, including a 21-year-old woman walking down the street without an essential reason.
They're trying to figure out how big it will be, knocking out much of a busy spring's worth of hotel/motel, food-and-beverage and sales taxes.
Delaware has already begun pulling over cars with out of state plates. Police are out in full force. Posted by Karen Bowers Falk on Monday, March 30, 2020

In an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus, police in Delaware are pulling over people they catch driving into their state with out-of-state license plates and ordering them to self-quarantine or go home.

Now is not the time to visit Delaware. As a state and a nation, we are facing a serious situation that is getting worse each day, Master Corporal Michael Austin, spokesperson for Delaware State Police, said in a statement Thursday.

Drivers from other states who get stopped will be required to either quarantine for 14 days in Delaware or return to their home states, Austin said.

The order does not apply to out-of-state drivers on I-95, I-295, or I-495. Out-of-state drivers are allowed to pass through Delaware while traveling to another state.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

News video shot Thursday in New Castle County shows state troopers in patrol cars parked in lots outside liquor stores, where out-of-state motorists were expected to purchase tax-free alcohol, according to CBS Philly.

In New Jersey, where coronavirus is now the most common cause of death, 25,590 people have been infected with COVID-19. The states death toll from the virus rose to 537 on Thursday after 182 more deaths were reported.

As of Friday morning in Delaware, there were 393 cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths.

Delaware Gov. John Carney on Sunday signed a modification to an earlier emergency declaration that addresses out-of-state drivers traveling into Delaware.

Any individual who enters Delaware from another state, and who is not merely passing through, must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days, states the order.

The action is an effort to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 from other states and cities with substantial community spread to individuals within the state of Delaware, Carney states in the order.

Delawares first coronavirus case was on March 11. Two days later, Carney declared a state of emergency.

The governor later issued nine modifications, which included closing non-essential businesses, ordering residents to stay at home and shelter-in-place and ordering the self-quarantine of out-of-state travelers.

Exceptions to the self-quarantine requirement are healthcare and public safety workers, anyone providing assistance to an essential business or those driving to the state to provide care to family, friends or pets.

The governor said failure to comply with the order constitutes a criminal offense and violators could face fines and other penalties.

Timothy Smith, an attorney from Essex County, questioned the legality of the order.

He said Delaware will likely face legal challenges from drivers pulled over for having out-of-state license plates who are then charged with drunken driving or other, more serious offenses.

If the original basis for the stop was illegal, then everything is deemed to illegal, Smith said. Whether these stops are justifiable or not would have to be litigated. The law is always a balancing act between individual liberties and public safety.

Delaware State Police say they plan to enforce Delaware's mandatory quarantine rule for out-of-state travelers during COVID-19 emergency. #NetDE https://t.co/wpNM3ebuH5  Sean Greene (@SeanGreeneWDEL) April 3, 2020

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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By Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, agreeing to a request from evangelical Christians, said on Friday that he was calling for a national day of fasting and prayer this Sunday to "free Brazil from this evil" coronavirus epidemic.

As the death toll mounts in the country, along with criticism of his handling of the public health crisis, Bolsonaro met with Pentecostal evangelical pastors outside his official residence. Evangelicals have been among the right-wing leader's most faithful supporters.

"With the pastors and religious leaders we will call for a day of fasting by Brazilians so that Brazil can free itself from this evil as soon as possible," he later said on radio station Jovem Pan.

On Friday, the country's coronavirus deaths increased to 359 from 299, while confirmed cases jumped to 9,056.

Brazilians overwhelmingly disapprove of Bolsonaro for minimizing the epidemic and support governors and health officials that he has attacked for advocating social-distancing measures, two polls showed on Friday.

Bolsonaro has become increasingly isolated politically as he continues to rail against state and municipal shutdowns, calling them economically disastrous responses to an over-hyped risk.

The idea of fasting and prayer gained momentum on Friday among Bolsonaro supporters and evangelical preachers on social media.

"Brazil is in a serious crisis. The forces of evil are rising against a God-fearing Christian president and family defender. Sunday will be a day of fasting," Congressman Marco Feliciano, an evangelical pastor, said in a Twitter post.

Pastor Silas Malafaia, a leader of Brazil's largest Pentecostal church, the Assembly of God, proposed on social media that the fast begin at midnight on Saturday and last until midday Sunday.

Bolsonaro's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since he took office last year. He was elected in a conservative swing by Brazilian voters, with massive evangelical support for his family values platform opposing abortion and gay marriage.

A former army captain turned politician, Bolsonaro was raised a Roman Catholic and was re-baptized by an evangelical pastor in the River Jordan in 2016 in Israel, as he began to plan a run for president.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has found a unique way to request everyone to stay indoors and follow the directives issued by the Government.

Posting a black and white photo of himself on Instagram, the megastar captioned it in Hindi and wrote, "Khabardar!!! Ghar mein raho, baahar na niklo. Iss kambakht corona ko ulta matt padne dijiye. Nahin nahin. Aap meri baat nahin samajh rahen hain. Corona ko ulta padheye... ho jayega naroko. CO RO NA... the reverse becomes NA RO KO!!! (Beware! Stay at home and dont step out! Don't let this Corona fall back on you! No No you have not understood what I have said! Please read Corona in reverse it will become. Na Ro Ko (Don't stop)."

In another post, the veteran actor heaped praises on all medical professionals, doctors and paramedical staff across the world who are selflessly working day and night to fight the battle against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing a cartoon, which shows a doctor holding the globe on his shoulders like Atlas, Big B said that this reminds him of his song from the 1983 film Coolie, which goes, "Saari duniya ka bojh hum uthate hain".

Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus deaths globally topped 50,200 on Thursday as the pandemic continues to ravage the United States and Europe, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Paul Blanchard is accused of being involved in a timeshare scam run by John 'Goldfinger' Palmer

A retired accountant will fight extradition to Spain over his alleged involvement in a massive timeshare scam run by murdered gangster John 'Goldfinger' Palmer.

Paul Blanchard, 73, is said to have helped criminals in the Canary Isles launder and invest their ill-gotten cash between 1999 and 2001.

Palmer, who was murdered at his gated home near Brentwood, Essex in June 2015, was jailed for eight years in 2001 for ripping off 17,000 sun-seekers in the UK's biggest ever timeshare con.

Blanchard is said to have acted as a financial adviser to Mohamed Jamil Derbah, 55, who allegedly laundered money through timeshare sales and fraudulent holiday packages.

Derbah is said to have acted as right-hand man to Palmer before the pair became embroiled in a feud over rival timeshare operations in Tenerife.

Lebanese-born Derbah is alleged to have set up a rival gang and paid accountant Blanchard for financial advice.

Blanchard denies any dishonesty but when Spanish authorities began investigating Derbah, who they suspected of funding militant group Hezbollah, he agreed to help as an informer.

John 'Goldfinger' Palmer (pictured) was murdered at his gated home near Brentwood, Essex in June 2015. He was jailed for eight years in 2001 for ripping off 17,000 sun-seekers

But he now maintains he was 'sold down the river by the Spanish authorities' and unlawfully forced to incriminate himself.

Blanchard's extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court has now been adjourned until 16 April.

District Judge Nina Tempia said: 'As far as Mr Blanchard is concerned we can certainly endorse that the deputy chief magistrate has agreed this should be adjourned to 16 April.'

Blanchard was arrested in Fulford, York, in 2018 by North Yorkshire Police for money laundering in Spain.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued in April 2018 but he is battling the extradition bid.
A Chinese-Canadian woman says she was attacked by a stranger on a recent trip to Costco because she is Asian and was wearing a face mask.

Chen He wrote on Facebook that she was at the Costco is Brossard, Quebec, on March 13 when a woman whose face was obscured by a scarf came after her and her partner, cursing at them and calling them out for being Asian.

Chen included three photos of the attacker, who appears to be looking at her angrily and raising her arms to attack, while others have stepped forward to stop her.

Harassed: Chen He says she was at the Costco is Brossard, Quebec on March 13 when she was attacked by a woman whose face was obscured by a scarf (pictured)

Furious: She said the woman gave her the finger and was angry that she was wearing a mask

'We went to Costco for grocery shopping today,' Chen wrote.

Community: Commenters have chimed in to express their anger, telling Chen they're sorry such an awful thing happened to her

'A woman gave us the middle finger and tried to attack me because we are Asian and wearing masks.

'This is so ridiculous,' she added. 'She also covered her mouth, why cant we cover our mouths?

'Asians in masks SHOULD NOT be the face of the coronavirus!!! She is a Racist!!!'

The woman's mouth is, in fact, covered int he pictures, with her entire face except her eyes and forehead hidden behind a black scarf.

The attacker, a brunette of indeterminate age, is pictured staring threateningly, seemingly mid-charge. In the next photo, she has lunged forward with her arm out, appearing to be physically attacking Chen and her partner.

Crazy: Photos Chen posted show the woman physically attacking her, lunging forward

Bad behavior: The woman had to be restrained from physically attacking

A third photo shows two men stepping forward to restrain her, holding her arms back.

The woman has not yet been identified, though Chen's post has gone viral on Facebook and Reddit, with commenters quick to condemn the stranger's behavior.

'Im so sorry you had to go through that. People are so ignorant. I wish I was there to let her know her behavior is not ok. I wear my mask too and it makes me feel a little safer,' wrote one.

'Omg I cannot believe she even tried to get physical with you! Smh,' wrote another.

'What is this world becoming?' another chimed in. 'Seriously, would expect this from a child but not from an adult.'

'Ignorance and bigotry spreads faster than this virus,' commented yet another.
Governor John Bel Edwards discusses the track of Louisiana as it compares to other countries hit hard by coronavirus during a press conference to discuss updated statistics on the presence of coronavirus in the state, Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at GOHSEP in Baton Rouge, La.
You mean to tell me that people are fluffing their coffee? Photo: YouTube

If youve found yourself endlessly scrolling through any social-media platform in the past few weeks, youve likely come across a precious two-tone beverage served in a transparent glass that looks like something an anime fairy would drink. The bottom is unmistakably some sort of milk, but the light-brown top layer is more perplexing. In some photos, it resembles a soft peak of Swiss meringue; in others, the top of a Wendys Frosty. And, over the past month, the alluring bev has become increasingly inescapable.

The drink, which bears the cutesy name fluffy coffee, is actually quite simple: To create it, you vigorously whisk instant-coffee powder with hot water and sugar until it becomes frothy, and then plop it atop cold milk, voila. And it is, truly, everywhere. Every proud foodie worth their salt has tackled the drink on their food blogs and vlogs, painstakingly reviewing the drinks tasting notes and uploading their own recipes. Its all over Instagram and TikTok. So viral has it gone that even BuzzFeed Video has whipped up the beverage.

I think, more than anything, its a drink thats a really fun distraction for specifically right now, Los Angeles Times cooking columnist Ben Mims, who meticulously documented himself making the drink on Instagram, told the Cut. It uses an ingredient that everyone already has in their pantry, either by accident or on purpose, and manipulates it to create this frivolous fluff that makes you feel like you created magic.

The trend originated in South Korea. As early as February, YouTubers like ddulgi were posting incredibly soothing, ASMR-esque videos of themselves whisking the iced drink. Some of these have amassed over 4 million views each. In these videos, the drink bears the name dalgona coffee, which pays tribute to South Koreas popular honeycomb candy of the same name.

So why are we all losing it over this one? First of all, its just very cute! It has mass appeal, its relatively easy to prepare, and its photogenic. It also doesnt hurt that it emerged at a time when all our neighborhood coffee shops have locked their doors amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has consequently inspired some of us to pursue our dreams of being at-home baristas.

Just one question, and I mean absolutely no offense to all you fluffy-coffee-makers: You people know you can just brew coffee like a normal person, right?
By PTI

BEIJING: The trade between China and India fell 12.4 per cent year-on-year to USD 12 billion in the first two months amid the coronavirus outbreak, according to the latest data from Chinese customs.

From January to February, China's exports to India were 67.1 billion yuan (USD 9.5 billion), down 12.6 per cent on a yearly basis and imports from India dropped 11.6 per cent to 18 billion yuan (USD 2.5 billion), the state-run Global Times reported on Friday.

Bilateral trade fell by 12.4 per cent to 85.17 billion yuan (USD 12 billion) in the first two months, the report quoted Chinese Customs data.

The lockdowns in both the countries due to COVID-19 is expected to badly affect the bilateral trade which declined by three billion dollar last year to USD 92.68 billion from USD 95.7 billion in 2018.

The declining trade was largely attributed to the slowdown of the economies of the two countries.

The trade deficit for India continued to be high amounting to USD 56.77 billion in 2019.

The trade deficit has become a major irritant in India-China bilateral relations, figuring high in the bilateral discourse.

India has been demanding China to open up its IT and pharmaceutical sectors to enable it to increase its exports.

As China continued to promise to address India's concerns, the two countries discussed initiatives over the issue at various levels last year.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

As a result of lockdowns, the Indian pharma industry is concerned as India is a big importer of the main raw materials called APIs (Active pharmaceutical ingredients) from China.

API shipments have started coming in for pre-manufactured stocks which were lying at ports in China, Lan Jianxue, deputy director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.

"This is hampering business sentiment and affecting investment and production schedules of companies in India," he said.

Lan noted that sectors like pharmaceuticals, healthcare and non-traditional securities are likely to become new forces to drive cooperation between China and India in the near future.

The coronavirus outbreak is slowing down Indian exports to China, Atul Dalakoti, executive director for China at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said.

China in recent years has emerged as a major market for Indian products like seafood, petrochemicals, gems and jewellery, he said.

The COVID-19 outbreak has adversely impacted exports of these items to China, Dalakoti told PTI.

The fall of exports could result in losses in the Indian fisheries sector.

India also exports 36 per cent of its diamonds to China.

The cancellation of four major trade events between February and April could also cause major losses to India's diamond industry, he said.
The logo of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) sits outside its headquarters in Vienna

DUBAI (Reuters) - Kuwait supports Saudi Arabia's invitation for a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, an informal grouping known as OPEC+, to curb global oil supply and halt the oil price rout, oil minister Khaled al-Fadhel said on Friday.

The energy ministry of non-OPEC producer Azerbaijan, meanwhile, said the OPEC+ meeting is planned for April 6 and will be held as a video conference, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

The Kuwaiti minister, cited by state-news agency KUNA, also announced the resumption of crude shipments from the so-called Neutral Zone, which the country shares with Saudi Arabia, for the first time in five years.

The shipment, of about one million barrels will be loaded on a Kuwaiti tanker on Saturday and Sunday for export to Asia, he said.

"The export of this shipment, produced from the shared Wafra field, is in line with the orientation of the state of Kuwait to increase crude production after the expiry of the OPEC+ agreement on March 31," he added, referring to a previous agreement between oil exporters to curb global oil supply.

Saudi Arabia, the de-facto leader of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and non-OPEC Russia failed to renew that pact at a meeting in March, causing oil prices to crash by half to less than $30 a barrel for Brent crude.

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, both OPEC members, agreed last year to end a five-year dispute over the Neutral Zone, allowing production to resume at two jointly run fields that can pump up to 0.5% of the worlds oil supply.

The Gulf neighbours started trial oil production from the jointly operated Wafra and Khafji oilfields in February.

(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Jason Neely and David Goodman)
Former commerce and industry minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday urged the Maharashtra government to help cashew farmers of the Konkan region who are facing problems due to the lockdown.

"Several thousands of tonnes of #cashew crop needs to be marketed immediately.#Farmers in #Konkan, will lose their only source of income. Requesting @CMOMaharashtra @OfficeofUT to address this urgently. Marketing, supply chain ,transportation issues,need coordinated efforts," he said in a tweet.

He added that freight rates have been increased by airlines for exports of agriculture, horticulture and marine products as the aviation sector is facing challenges.

"If cargo rates are fixed appropriately, volumes can increase for them. Farmers and exporters can benefit too. It would be a win win situation," Prabhu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sherpa for the G-20 summit, said.

A leading cashew farmer in the region Sanjay Naik said about one lakh tonne of cashew is lying as mandis are not working here.

"We need immediate help from the government. There are about 2 lakh farmers in this region. We need permission to transport this and sell in the mandis. If we will not get the permission, we will be in a big problem," Naik said.

RK Bhoodes, former chairman of the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India, advised cashew farmers that they should dry their produce properly and pack them in jute bags.

He said the commodity should be treated as an essential commodity and the government should allow factories to operate.

"Lot of export orders are getting cancelled due to Covid 19 crisis. We are not able to ship the product as we are not able to process it due to lockdown," he added.

Prabhu, a member of Rajya Sabha, has also donated his one month's salary to the Prime Minister's relief fund to strengthen the efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak. He hails from Konkan region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)




THE Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) says Zimbabwe has lost an opportunity in the past 40 years to redefine its history, foster national healing and to end corruption, international isolation and to save the collapse of the countrys infrastructure.





In their 40th anniversary of Zimbabwes independence pastoral letter yesterday, the ZCBC raised concern over the non-effectiveness of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), which it accused of having an unclear mandate in the promotion of peace and reconciliation in the country.





This is a missed opportunity as the lifespan of the NPRC is almost coming to an end, the bishops said.





While the ZCBC acknowledged that the first decade of independence witnessed achievements in education and health sectors, they said there were still a lot of missed opportunities to seek a different political path from what colonialism had chartered.





The NPRC gives hope to promote healing and reconciliation in our nation. However, the NPRC is still to be fully operationalised and the duration of its mandate remains unclear, apart from other grey areas, which is leading to loss of confidence in the commission, the ZCBC said.





We have also failed to develop a political culture of tolerance. There are so many issues that need to be addressed like corruption, international isolation, collapsing infrastructure and emigration.





The ZCBC said Zimbabwes gradual economic recession had led to closing of industries, foreign investor flight, job losses and seen a decline in agricultural activity and escalation of poverty.





There are so many things that need to be addressed like corruption, international isolation, collapsing infrastructure and emigration. The greatest asset of any nation is its people and we keep losing our people for various reasons, the clerics said.





Some of the lost opportunities, they said, were failure by government to acknowledge some of the countrys dark episodes such as the Gukurahundi era that wiped out around 20 000 civilians between 1983 and 1987 in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.





On COVID-19, the ZCBC warned it may spell doom given that hospital structures in the country were not well equipped to combat the spread of the disease.




The true number of coronavirus cases around the world could be up to 10million, Australia's chief medical officer has claimed.

Dr Brendan Murphy told reporters in Canberra on Friday there could millions of more people infected with COVID-19 who have not been diagnosed.

'We know that judging by the death rate, the testing rate in many countries, they're not detecting all the cases,' he said.

'In Australia we're pretty confident that our testing has been probably the best in the world.'

Dr Brendan Murphy said there could millions of more people with COVID-19 who have not been diagnosed

Dr Murphy acknowledged there are certainly a number of undetected cases in the country, but affirmed the government has a 'pretty good idea' of the size of the outbreak.

About one per cent of the population has been tested, or more than 1,000 tests per 100,000.

Dr Murphy specifically pointed to China, where the virus originated, and the United States, as having numbers he couldn't trust.

The pandemic is currently exploding in the US, as published figures put the global caseload at just over one million on Friday.

'We believe the true number is five or ten times as much as that,' Dr Murphy said.

'The only numbers I have total faith in are the Australian numbers, frankly.'

More than 5,200 cases have been recorded in Australia, with 27 deaths.

The health chief confirmed the 'growth rate' of infection has declined to about 5 per cent thanks to social distancing measures.

Dr Murphy acknowledged there are certainly a number of undetected cases Australia, but said the government has a 'pretty good idea' of the size of the outbreak

The number of cases will rise as travellers are still returning to Australia from overseas

'We're still detecting returned travellers, still detecting contacts of returned travellers, but those numbers are reducing.

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 still have cruise ship people to come home. We still have a lot of issues with people who have contracted the virus from overseas. But we are in control of those issues,' he added.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said if the nation had not followed strict social distancing measures in recent weeks another 5,000 people would have been infected.

Infectious disease expert Peter Collignon said Australia has more than flattened the curve of the virus.

The global fatality rate is now over 5 per cent of all reported cases, with countries including the UK, the US and Spain reporting a spike in fatalities over recent days.

Around 22 per cent of total cases have been reported by the US, while Italy and Spain have each reported 11 per cent of global cases.

China, where the virus emerged in December, has reported 8 per cent of total cases globally as the epicentre of the pandemic moved to Europe and the US.

Europe together accounts for over half of cases and more than 70 per cent of deaths linked to the virus. Countries in Southern Europe with higher older age demographics have been hit particularly hard.

It comes as more than 3.9 billion people, or half of the world's population, are now being called on to remain in their homes to combat COVID-19.
Ector County Health Department confirmed four new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, which brings the total to 15 in Ector County, according to the ECHD website. The age range of patients with confirmed cases is 29 to 69. The four confirmed cases that came back Thursday were privately done. Investigation revealed that a positive case on Thursday came from community-spread exposure.

Medical Center Health System president and CEO Russell Tippin and Odessa Regional Medical Center chief medical officer Dr. Rohith Saravanan answered questions during a Facebook live press conference. Tippin said MCH has had four positive cases with three patients in the hospital on ventilators. MCH has had 38 negative cases so far, with 16 pending cases.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 20:19:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has approved a 40 million U.S. dollars loan to strengthen the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health's capacity to face COVID-19, said a statement by the World Bank.

"The amount will help the ministry to respond to the crisis by equipping governmental hospitals and increasing their ability to test and treat suspected cases," the bank said in the statement on Thursday.

World Bank Mashreq Regional Director Saroj Kumar Jha said that COVID-19 outbreak comes at a time when Lebanon's economy has already been going through the worst economic crisis in recent history and the government of Lebanon has limited resources to respond.

"The World Bank stands ready to support Lebanon's efforts to contain the rapid spread of the virus and help the Lebanese people in these particularly challenging times," he said.

Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Friday by 14 cases to 508 while death toll increased to 17.
An Italian priest has reportedly been fined for walking around his local town carrying a crucifix during the lockdown.

Police penalised him for doing a procession on his own around the streets of Rocca Imperiale in southern Italy, according to local media.

He was fined 400 (350) for breaking the rules of the lockdown, local newspaper Il Quotidiano del Sud reported.

The mayor of the town in the southwest region of Calabria had stressed religious processions were banned under the restrictions, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

People in Italy have been ordered to stay at home unless for a list of essential reasons, such as to buy food or medicine, to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Several priests have been reprimanded by authorities for going ahead with funerals while all public events are banned, according to local media in Campagna and Veneto.

Meanwhile, a couple in the northern Piedmont region have been charged for meeting up in a car, while a cyclist was fined towards the end of last month after taking his bike into the sea to avoid police checks.

Tougher sanctions for those who break the rules have been brought in by the government, with fines raised to between 400 and 3000 (2,640) for those caught on non-essential trips outside.

On Thursday, around 7,600 people across the country were penalised for ignoring the restrictions on movement, according to interior ministry figures.

Italy has been one of the worst-affected nations in the world during the coronavirus pandemic, with around 115,200 confirmed cases to date.

More than 13,900 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 as of 3 April, according to the latest figures, while around 18,200 people have recovered from the disease.

Italy had the highest official death toll in the world on Friday.

The head of the nations Civil Protection Agency has said it looks likely the national lockdown will continue beyond the start of May as the country continues to battle the outbreak.

We have to be extremely rigorous, Angelo Borrelli said in an interview with state broadcaster RAI.

This week the government extended the lockdown, which has imposed severe restrictions on movement and shut down all non-essential business, until 13 April.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Freed Nigerian prison inmates in Ethiopia have appealed to the Federal Government to rehabilitate them before their evacuation from the East African country possibly after the Coronavirus pandemic.

Ethiopian Government had on March 25, 2020 set free 4,011 convicts whose cases are not homicide in nature as part of measures to curb the rapid transmission of Covid-19.

Ethiopia's Federal Attorney-General, Adanech Abebe was quoted as saying that those freed were serving jail terms in five federal prison facilities including Qaliti maximum prison, Kilinto, Shewarobit, Ziway, and Dire Dawa prison facilities.

Among the freed inmates are 57 Nigerians, said to have be trapped while in transit in search of greener pastures.

Miss Chika Nwachukwu, an Asaba-based freedom advocate and international business executive, alleged that the freed inmates have been abandoned after the Ethiopian government granted them amnesty, adding that they have been screened to ensure that they don't have the dreaded virus.

Nwachukwu lamented that the Nigerian citizens were now been denied of the little care they were hitherto getting as inmates, adding that most of them who need proper medicare cannot access medical facilities.

She accused Nigerian government of not showing concern after their liberty, adding that the governments of other freed foreign inmates have already taken their citizens out of the prison premises to safer places within Ethiopia.

"The people are just there unattended to. They can't go out because of this Covid-19. Even the usual meals which they were being given while prison, are no longer be served.

"For now, they are assumed to be safe but if Ethiopian security agents make any arrest, the suspect is brought to the prison, and if such a suspect has Covid-19, the spread will be massive.

"They are lamenting, all they need now is for the Nigerian authorities to come and identify them and make provision for a safer place, probably a hotel where they can stay until the airspace is opened.

"For me, I don't know why it is taking this long for the federal government of Nigeria to respond and rehabilitate her citizens. Is it because most of them are from the eastern part of the country," she wondered.

It would be recalled that one of the inmates, Efe Odemu, a native of Delta State, died last year while serving his term in one of the federal prison facilities in Ethiopia.
PROVO, Utah, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced it will release first-quarter results after the market closes on Wednesday, May 6. The Nu Skin management team will host a conference call with the investment community later that same day at 5 p.m. ET. During the call, management will discuss historical results and upcoming business initiatives.

The webcast of the conference call, including the financial information presented, will be available on the investor relations page of the company's website at ir.nuskin.com. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same location through Wednesday, May 20.

About Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Founded 35 years ago, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NSE) empowers innovative companies to change the world with sustainable solutions, opportunities, technologies, and life-improving values. The company currently focuses its efforts around innovative consumer products, product manufacturing and controlled environment agriculture technology. The NSE family of companies includes Nu Skin, which develops and distributes a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions through a global network of sales leaders in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific; and a collection of sustainable manufacturing and technology innovation companies. Nu Skin Enterprises is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NUS." More information is available at nuskinenterprises.com.

SOURCE Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nuskinenterprises.com


YEREVAN.  Startups in Armenia can be offered up to 5mn-dram guarantee loans without collateral by the Investment Support Fund. The Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan stated this during a meeting with journalists on Friday. He explained that the government may reconsider the amount of funding for this program.

As for systemic measures to restore the countrys economy, the minister said that the state will increase spending, including at the expense of increasing debts, which the public must repay later, so it is necessary to calculate all the steps well.

"The government shall outline the areas of expenditure that will be used, for the most part, for capital construction, road construction intensification, and implementation of economic and social assistance measures," he added. "The businesses, in turn, also must make sensible decisions."
Amaravati, April 1 (IANS) Stating that there is no stigma attached to people affected by COVID-19 as it is similar to any other infection that can be easily cured if timely treatment is obtained, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy urg Image Source: IANS News

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy chairs a meeting on the eve of a public meeting where the CM is expected to give away cheques to the AgriGold victims, in Vijayawada on Nov 6, 2019. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Amaravati, April 3 : With COVID-19 infrastructure in place, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is now intensifying efforts to aid people of the state, stranded in other states. He has also called for effective monitoring and quarantine measures for the persons who returned to the state from the Tablighi Jamaat event at Delhi in March.

With the majority of COVID-19 cases in the state having a Tablighi Jamaat connection, the Chief Minister called for locating and enforcing monitoring measures efficiently.

Of the 161 positive cases reported in the state, 140 are connected to the Tablighi Jamaat event, it was revealed at the review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister.

The state government has calculated that 1,085 people had attended the event, of which, it has located 946 persons in AP. While samples have been collected and tests, the results of 881 samples indicate that 108 samples are COVID-19 positive. Test results of 65 Delhi-returnees are awaited.

Officials said that nearly 626 persons who came in contact with the event attendants have also been tested, of whom, 32 tested positive. Results of 335 tests are yet to come, said officials.

Reddy also directed that an officer be sent to aid Telugu people stranded outside the state in places such as Mumbai, Gir, Varanasi, Goa, Ajmer, and Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the door-to-door survey in the state is continuing at a brisk pace, officials said. As many as 1.28 crore households of the 1.45 crore households have been surveyed.

The state is also raising its COVID-19 testing infrastructure. In addition to four functional test centres, two new testing centers, in Guntur and Kadapa, have begun operations functional and testing capability will be further strengthened with the addition of a third centre at Visakhapatnam, from Monday.

With this the testing capacity will cross 900 tests per day in the state.

Ministers Alla Nani, Mopidevi Venkataramana, Botsa Satyanarayana, C.S. Nilam Sawhney, DGP Gautam Sawang, Special Chief Secretary to the Ministry of Health Jawahar Reddy and other officials were among those present at the review meeting.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has no plans to increase its oil output as the market has been oversupplied, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Reuters on Thursday.

International crude prices <LCOc1> have fallen around 50% to under $26 a barrel since the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other large oil producers led by Russia failed last month to agree to extend their deal to curb output.

However, they jumped 10% on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to reach an agreement soon to end their oil price war. [O/R]

Novak said Russia has not yet discussed the oil market situation with Saudi Arabia, but does not rule this out.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Jan Harvey)
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Linkedin Norman Harsono and Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 19:18 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f96dc7 1 Business electricity,village,remote-areas,electrification,Jokowi,PLN,Papua,West-Papua,East-Nusa-Tenggara,Maluku Free

The government has set a target of electrifying 433 remote villages in Indonesias four most impoverished provinces before year end as the country struggles to provide electricity for the entire population.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has pledged to introduce regulations that boost funding for the village electrification program, which will cost at least Rp 1.26 trillion (US$76.14 million).

State-owned electricity firm PLN pledged to deploy new technology in mapping and electrifying the 433 remote villages in Papua, West Papua, East Nusa Tenggara and Maluku.

The number is small compared with the total number of villages in the country  around 75,000  but we still have to get this done, said Jokowi on Friday when announcing the plan prior to a limited Cabinet meeting.

The program is part of the effort to achieve a 100 percent electrification ratio this year. PLN achieved a 98.89 percent ratio last year but it is struggling to cover the last mile, mainly due to logistical hurdles in the worlds largest archipelago.

Read also: Electrification hits rocky roads

Once things return to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, we will execute the program, said PLN president director Zulkifli Zaini after the meeting. In fact, if possible, we want most of the 433 villages electrified by August 17th, which is Indonesias Independence Day.

To achieve this the state electricity company plans to deploy new mapping technology in charting the hard-to-access villages, including their power needs and most readily available energy sources. Many of the targeted villages in Papua are located in densely forested mountain areas.

PLN will also deploy an unconventional electrification strategy by installing electricity charging stations around the four provinces and distributing handheld Talis battery packs to villagers. The battery packs, which were jointly designed by five Indonesian universities, have a 15-year lifespan.

[The Talis] are similar to a power banks except that they can light up a house, said PLNs Zulkifli.

PLNs system allows villagers to light their homes by recharging the battery packs at the charging stations, which will be powered by small, mostly renewable energy-based, power plants.

The system is similar to supplying water by digging a well and distributing buckets. It is also unconventional as Indonesia previously relied on distributing solar photovoltaic (PV) kits to power remote households.

Zulkifli went on to say that PLN would spend Rp 735 billion on installing the charging stations while regional administrations would pool Rp 525 billion from their respective coffers to buy the battery packs.

PLN will coordinate with the Indonesian Military (TNI) to escort PLN technicians into the conflict-prone regions of West Papua and Papua. The companys office in Wamena, Papua, was torched by residents in September last year amid social unrest.

Jokowi stressed that the village electrification program has to really add value in increasing economic productivity within the eastern Indonesian villages.

His statement resonates with the critique of energy watchdogs and politicians, who say that the 98.89 percent electrification ratio does not fully represent field conditions.

Read also: PLN can only fund one fifth of $803m needed to power isolated regions

Many villages do not enjoy 24-hour electricity and many have low-power electricity that is only enough to power lightbulbs and charge mobile devices. Neither conditions are suitable for powering the electronics needed for productive economic activity

There are still people in rural areas who have electricity poles right in front of their houses, but cant afford to connect them to their homes, said Surya Dharma, chairman of the Indonesian Renewable Energy Society (METI), the countrys largest renewables association.

Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Electrification Director General Rida Mulyana previously said Indonesia needed Rp 11 trillion to power all of its isolated regions this year yet PLN could only fund one fifth of the projects.

Hopefully, well have a solution in the first half of the year. We could have PLN and the private sector work together to resolve the issue, he said in February.
Full speech: PM Lee's address on stricter measures to deal with COVID-19 spread in Singapore

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the nation on Friday, April 3 to announce a series of enhanced measures to battle the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore.

This is the Prime Minister's full speech in English:

My fellow Singaporeans,

Good evening.

I last spoke to you on COVID-19 three weeks ago.

Since then, the number of new cases daily has begun to rise.

We used to see fewer than 10 new cases a day.

But in the last two weeks, despite our best efforts, we have routinely had more than 50 new cases daily.

Initially, many of the new cases were imported from overseas, mostly returning Singaporeans.

Then last week, we began to have more local cases.

Furthermore, despite our good contact tracing, for nearly half of these cases, we do not know where or from whom the person caught the virus.

This suggests that there are more people out there who are infected, but who have not been identified.

And they may be passing the virus unknowingly to others.

In the last few days, we have also discovered several clusters at foreign worker dormitories, and one at a nursing home.

These are very worrying, because large numbers of people live together in dormitories and nursing homes.

A single case can quickly lead to a large cluster.

Furthermore, nursing home patients are mostly old and frail, and very vulnerable to the virus.

As the situation developed over the past weeks, we have tightened our safe-distancing measures progressively.

Singaporeans have responded well, calmly and responsibly, and made adjustments in their daily lives.

By working together, we have kept the outbreak under control.

But looking at the trend, I am worried that unless we take further steps, things will gradually get worse, or another big cluster may push things over the edge.

I discussed this with the Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF).

We have decided that instead of tightening incrementally over the next few weeks, we should make a decisive move now, to pre-empt escalating infections.

We will therefore impose significantly stricter measures. This is like a circuit breaker.

It will help reduce the risk of a big outbreak occurring.

And it should also help to gradually bring our numbers down.

This in turn will then allow us to relax some of the measures.

This circuit breaker will apply for one month, in the first instance.

The Task Force is holding a Press Conference immediately after I finish speaking to you, to explain the details.

But let me give you the key points.

First, we will close most workplaces, except for essential services and key economic sectors.

Food establishments, markets and supermarkets, clinics, hospitals, utilities, transport and key banking services will remain open. They are essential services.

We also should not disrupt economic sectors that are strategic, or form part of a global supply chain.

People working in these industries can continue to go to work, with safe-distancing measures in place.

But most other work premises must close.

If the person can work from home, he should do so.

But others will not be able to, including foreign workers on construction sites and in shipyards.

These workers live in dormitories, and we will make arrangements to look after them.

This will take effect from next Tuesday.

We have to ensure that most of our workforce stays at home and limit their physical interaction to as few people as possible.

Second, we will also move to full home-based learning in our schools and institutes of higher learning (IHLs).

We started with one day of home-based learning this week.

This has gone smoothly, with teething issues being resolved.

MOE will work with the schools to implement full home-based learning starting next Wednesday.

All preschool and student care centres will also be closed, but will provide limited services for children of parents who have to continue working and are unable to make alternative care arrangements.

Third, we will tighten our restrictions on movements and gatherings of people.

It boils down to three things.

First, stay at home, as much as possible.

Second, avoid socialising with others beyond your own household.

Gatherings should be confined to your household.

Avoid visiting even your extended families who are not staying with you, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable.

Third, go out only to do essential things.

For work, if you are in essential services or key economic sectors.

To buy food at markets, or to take out from restaurants and hawker centres.

Or to exercise in the neighbourhood park, keeping a safe distance from others.

The spirit of these measures is to get all of us to minimise physical contact.

If we dont go out, if we avoid contact with others, then the virus wont be able to spread.

It is as simple as that.

I know this is very hard to do.

As a practical matter, in places like hawker centres and wet markets, it is difficult to practise safe-distancing, especially on the weekends when it is crowded.

It will help if we all adjust our habits.

For example, do our marketing on weekdays instead of weekends to avoid the crowd.

We will also deploy more Safe-Distancing Ambassadors to encourage people more firmly not to crowd together, so please cooperate with them.

Safe distancing is also hard for a psychological and emotional reason: it goes very much against our human instincts.

It is in our nature to want to socialise, to be close to those we are talking to, to take comfort in the warmth and company of friends and family.

I fully understand this.

But I hope you will also understand why we all have to take social distancing extremely seriously in this period.

This is the only effective way to slow the transmission of the virus, so that we gradually bring our numbers down.

It is also the best way to keep our families safe, and particularly to protect our seniors from getting ill.

So please bear with the painful adjustments that we have make.

Each and every one of us can, and must do our part, to keep everyone in Singapore safe from COVID-19.

I decided to speak to you directly today to explain why we need to make this major move.

But also to reassure you that things will be alright.

Essential services will continue running so that all of us can cope with this new situation, as we hunker down to fight this virus.

We have enough food supplies to last us through this period and beyond.

You can still shop at the supermarket or wet market.

And you need not rush to stock up for weeks at a time.

You can still buy food from your favourite hawker centres or coffee shop.

Though you will have to take out and eat at home with your own family.

Rather than hang out and eat outside with your friends.

I know these measures will impact our workers and businesses severely.

This is already a very difficult time for them.

We will help them come through this.

On Monday in Parliament, DPM Heng will announce additional support for households and businesses, over and above what was provided in the two earlier Budgets.

We will also legislate to require landlords to pass on property tax rebates fully to their tenants.

And pass new temporary legislation to let businesses and individuals defer certain contractual obligations for a period, such as paying rent, repaying loans, or completing work.

Besides implementing this circuit breaker, we also are rethinking our advice on face masks.

Up to now, the Government has advised the general public that you only need to wear a mask if you are not feeling well, and this is to protect others from your germs.

This was based on scientific advice and guidelines from the WHO.

We also did not have community spread in Singapore then, so it was very unlikely for you to run into anyone with COVID-19 on the street, much less be infected by them.

Nevertheless, the Government gave each household four surgical masks, to use in case you got sick, and to give people peace of mind.

Now, the situation is changing.

We now think there are some cases out there in the community going undetected, though probably still not that many.

We also now have evidence that an infected person can show no symptoms, and yet still pass on the virus to others.

This is why the WHO is reviewing the issue of face masks, and so is the US CDC.

Therefore we will no longer discourage people from wearing masks.

Wearing a mask may help to protect others, in case you have the virus but dont know it. This is so that you keep your droplets to yourself.

It can also protect yourself a little better, especially if you are elderly, or vulnerable because of pre-existing conditions.

We still want to conserve surgical masks for the people who really need them  healthcare workers in clinics and hospitals.

For everyone else, in a community setting, alternatives like reusable masks will give some added protection.

So from this Sunday, the Government will distribute reusable masks to all households.

Meanwhile, many community groups have been making and distributing reusable masks for the elderly and vulnerable. I applaud these efforts. They show our community spirit and care.

But remember, mask or no mask, you still need to wash your hands, and keep a safe distance away from other people.

The next few weeks will be pivotal.

Even after these stepped-up measures, the number of cases will quite likely still go up in the next few days.

They can be cases who have already been infected earlier.

Except they have not yet shown symptoms, or gone to see their doctor.

But if we keep our efforts up, within a few weeks we should be able to bring the numbers down, and get into a more sustainable position.

We will keep on doing our utmost to protect every Singaporean from COVID-19.

Many people have been working tirelessly for the past two months.

Our nurses and doctors, our contact tracers and healthcare staff, we thank them all for their efforts and sacrifices.

Now we are all enlisted to join them on the frontline.

It will be a long fight.

But if any country can see this through, it is Singapore.

We have the resources. We have the determination. We are united.

By helping one another through this, we will prevail, and emerge stronger.
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan apologized on Thursday for a number of recent security lapses, saying the popular video chat company has been grappling with a major spike in users due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Yuan said the company will be pausing its work on all new features for the next three months to shift its focus to beefing up its security.

We recognize that we have fallen short of the communitys  and our own  privacy and security expectations, Yuan said in a blog post. For that, I am deeply sorry, and I want to share what we are doing about it.

Zooms stock is down about 5% in early-morning trading to $132 per share, following Yuans post; it was down as much as 16% at one point, but rebounded after hitting $115.30 per share soon after markets opened.

Also Read: Streaming Era's 2nd Wave: Will 'Shelter-at-Home' Orders Give New Services a Leg Up?

The San Jose-based company was sued earlier this week, with the lawsuit claiming Zoom has failed to sufficiently warn its users about the data it shares with Facebook and other third-party apps. There have been other issues, too. Trolls have taken delight in recent weeks in Zoom bombing, or crashing random Zoom conference calls; some Zoom calls have been marred by racist outbursts from crashers, while one school in Norway had to drop its call with students after a naked man guessed his way into their meeting, among other examples. Zoom has also been vulnerable to having hackers take the Windows credentials of its users, reports indicate.

Yuan said the company would be enhancing its bug bounty program, which compensates users for finding flaws in its system, and conducting a comprehensive review with third-party experts over its security. As millions of people have started working from home, Yuan said Zoom has been flooded with new users, jumping from 10 million daily users in December to 200 million daily users in March.

We did not design the product with the foresight that, in a matter of weeks, every person in the world would suddenly be working, studying, and socializing from home, Yuan said. We now have a much broader set of users who are utilizing our product in a myriad of unexpected ways, presenting us with challenges we did not anticipate when the platform was conceived.

Read original story Zoom CEO Apologizes for Security Issues, Stock Drops 5% At TheWrap
Community spread transmitted coronavirus to two of the latest positive patients confirmed in Lincoln, city officials said Friday.

A woman in her 20s and a man in his 60s each tested positive for the viral disease, but neither had traveled recently or been exposed to someone known to have COVID-19, interim Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Director Pat Lopez said.

Also, the city reported that a man in his 70s tested positive for the virus Friday after returning from a cruise earlier in March, Lopez said.

He disembarked from his cruise ship in New York City, returned to Lincoln and was hospitalized, she said.

The close contacts of all three patients have self-quarantined, Lopez said.

Lincoln had 14 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease by Friday afternoon.

No patients in Lancaster County have died of COVID-19 to date.

Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department staff continued monitoring 107 people, and five tests sent to the Nebraska Public Health Lab in Omaha were pending results.
Sunrise in the Canazei area, which hosts a kosher Passover package that is being forced to shut down due to coronavirus concerns.

NEW YORK (JTA)-For the past three years, Esther Possick has avoided the hassle of hosting Passover at her Long Island home by traveling to kosher hotels in foreign locales.

In 2017, she spent the holiday at a resort in Stresa, a resort town on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy not far from the Swiss border. The following year she tried out Rimini, a coastal city on the Adriatic. Last year she opted for a program in Spain.

This year, she was planning to spend the holiday at a seafront hotel in Milano Marittima, a resort area three hours southeast of Milan, capped off by a weekend in Rome. But in late February, as Milan became the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in Europe, bringing life in Italy's second most populous city to a halt, Possick started having second thoughts.

On Monday, when Possick's air carrier announced it was suspending flights to Milan, Possick couldn't hold out any longer.

"I kept saying, OK, this is going to pass. Something is going to change," Possick told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "But it doesn't seem to be changing for the better."

As the coronavirus spreads across the globe, the effects are being felt not only in the public health arena but in business, education and tourism-and a small but significant subset of the Jewish world: Passover vacations.

The eight-day holiday, with its extensive home cleaning preparations and succession of major meals, has emerged as a popular time for getaways. The Passover travel industry has ballooned into a major business, with over 170 programs this year offering kosher meals in nearly every corner of the planet. Jews from Israel, the United States, Europe and elsewhere are willing to pay an often hefty fee to avoid the drudgery and inconvenience of holiday prep.

As of early March, at least three programs-two in Italy and one in Thailand-have been canceled because of the virus. Others are keeping a wary eye on the situation.

"The buzz from consumers has been that they've been nervous," said Doni Schwartz, who runs the website PassoverListings.com, an advertising and review platform for the holiday's programs. "They've put down a lot of money. A lot of them are scrambling for new programs in the U.S."

Leisure Time Tours, an American operator based in New York, had to cancel its Rome program due to concerns about the coronavirus. The company, which also runs programs in Prague, Florida and New York, was able to transfer some customers to its other hotels while offering full refunds to the rest, managing director Robert Frucher told JTA.

The Israeli operator Gem Kosher canceled its sole Passover program, in Pattaya, Thailand, offering partial refunds to the hundreds of guests who had booked rooms at the Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa, 100 miles south of Bangkok. Owner Aharon Lipner said the cancellation was a big financial hit for his company, but he had no choice.

"I don't want to put any of my guests at even 0.0 percent, at any risk," Lipner said. "This virus, it is, let's say, it's more than just what people know about. It's much worse."

In Italy, the European country worst hit so far by the virus, more than a dozen programs are planned for 2020. Several operators said they remain committed to holding their programs and are keeping a close watch on the situation, but others have been forced to throw in the towel.

One is Belinda Netzer, who owns My Kosher Hotel in the Dolomite Mountains of northeastern Italy. The hotel was fully booked throughout the winter ski season through Passover, which begins this year on the evening of April 8.

But the vast majority of Netzer's clients are Israelis, and after Israel's national air carrier, El Al, announced in late February that it was halting all flights to Italy, the cancellations started rolling in. That forced Netzer to nix the program. However, she is not canceling another program she is hosting in Rimini, Italy.

"I feel I'm living in wartime," Netzer said. "It's like a tsunami mixed with an-I don't know. It's like a catastrophe. It's a really terrible feeling."

Tour operators that decide to cancel programs typically offer full refunds to their patrons. And industry insiders say that even those that have not canceled are often inclined to return what they can, if only to preserve goodwill among their clientele.

Possick said her operator, Koltuv Events, offered a 50% refund and two years to put the remaining money toward a future program. Koltuv owner Itzhak Sakav told JTA that only about 20 people had canceled this year and over 400 people were still planning to attend the company's two Italy programs.

Toby Schwartz was planning to attend a Koltuv program in Italy, but she has asthma and her mother is elderly, and they decided not to take the risk. The two decided in February to switch to a Passover program in South Carolina.

"Normally if I was planning a vacation, I'd wait a little to see what would happen," Schwartz said. "But because it's Passover, you don't want to get stuck with no plans."

For operators like Koltuv that run just one or two programs annually, a single bad year can spell disaster. They typically spend the entire year planning for Passover, which between the logistics of delivering kosher food to exotic locales and the multiple requirements of traditionally observant Jewish traveler is both complicated and pricey.

Profits are often made only on the last 10% to 15% of rooms booked, meaning even a small drop in participation can make a world of difference.

"Often in this industry, those final rooms can be the difference between a loss and a profit," said Raphi Bloom, the co-owner of TotallyJewishTravel.com, which claims to be the largest Jewish travel site on the internet. "Running a Pesach program is not cheap for the operator. If people are hesitant at this stage, that's where it could have an effect."
/ -- Even after the lockdown to fight coronavirus, the students at Vogue Institute of Art and Design continue learning their courses through virtual classes. From interior designing to fashion designing, visual arts to jewellery designing, the institute has begun conducting live classes for its students.

The field of art and design needs the right balance of theory and practical sessions to meet the industry demands. Keeping this in mind, the faculty members strategically prepared a time table for the classes to be conducted. The students are given live theoretical classes through platforms like Zoom. The students undertake practical sessions through video tutorials which share step-by-step processes to create various designs. To keep track and analyse the learning and growth of every student, they undergo online tests regularly.

The students are given practical assessments through sketch designs and mock-up versions of their ideas. The institute also provides videos related to every course, and reference documents to teach the undergraduate and postgraduate students. The faculty members guide the students while they work on their projects and are available on digital platforms anytime to address all queries and challenges of the students.

Dr. Vijaya Kumar, Principal, Vogue Institute of Art and Design, said, "It is essential for the students to make use of this time constructively. Every day counts and we are glad to seek advance technology support for our classes to be conducted through digital platforms. Our classes have been planned in a manner that the students do not come under any pressure once the lockdown ends. We aim to give the best training for our students through virtual platforms."



Speaking about the new measures at Vogue Institute of Art and Design, Nandita, a student from Fashion and Apparel Design, said, "The virtual classes have been a great experience. We have more one on one discussions and this new format of live classes has kept us engaged during the lock down. We are glad to learn from this new method."



About Vogue Institute of Art and Design:Vogue Institute of Art & Design is a unit of Manduda Educational Trust, a charitable organization registered under the provisions of charitable trust vide no. 352-98/99. The institute has created a niche for itself as a professional Art & Design institute in the country in the realm of design education. Vogue has one of the finest art and design campuses in the country with nearly 800 students studying in various disciplines doing their undergraduate and post-graduate studies in the fields of Fashion, Gems and Jewellery, Interiors, Animation and Graphic designing. Apart from being ISO 9001:2008 certified, Vogue Institute of Art & Design is approved by AICTE (The All India Council for Technical Education), recognized by the Government of India. The courses are affiliated to Bengaluru North University.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Meghan Markle's biggest cheerleader was right by her side as she recorded the voiceover for the new Disney+ documentary "Elephant." Filmmakers Mark Linfield, Vanessa Berlowitz and Roy Conli shared details from their experience of working with the Duchess  and revealed that Prince Harry even joined her in the studio. "It was amazing having him there," Berlowitz told PEOPLE magazine. "He had a connection to Botswana, of course." But Harry wasn't just there to observe! The Duke of Sussex also gave his wife a little direction from what he called "the cheap seats." Linfield revealed with a laugh that, "Harry was correcting her pronunciation!"
Lyon,France: "Can my husband spend the weekend with his mistress?" "A stranger stroked my horse, could he have infected it?" France's police emergency number has been inundated with queries, some downright odd, since the country went into coronavirus lockdown.

The quick-dial emergency "17" number reserved for matters of a criminal nature, has been abused more than usual with thousands of calls since a period of home confinement for French residents started on March 17, duty officers said.

"There has been an explosion in the number of calls, multiplied by three," said a police official in northern France.

"People are calling for everything and nothing, because they are bored. Some just want to talk," another policeman said.

In Dijon in the country's east, a woman called the number seeking romantic advice.

"After my divorce, I managed to find someone. But he lives 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) from my place. How do I deal with confinement?" she asked an incredulous responder on the other end.

"We get serious calls for information" but also "abusive calls that border on stupidity," said another police member.

"We had one rather libertine couple call to ask if the husband can spend the weekend with his mistress as he normally does!"

Police on patrol have also encountered some gems.

One motorist from Picardie in the north explained in all earnestness at a checkpoint that he was 50 km from home "because he needed to buy cassoulet" -- a typical bean and sausage dish.

While sometimes amusing, police are especially riled by misuse of the emergency number at a time when home confinement has led to a rise in reports of domestic violence and neighbourly disputes.

Of course, many in France have also taken to dialling "17" to snitch on neighbours receiving guests at home against the lockdown rules, or to report people they suspect of leaving the house too often, personnel reported.
Not stupid to switch off lights as suggested by Modi says NCP leader

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Apr 03: The NCP on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his light up lamps message, saying it left citizens quite disappointed in the fight against coronavirus even as one of its Maharashtra ministers termed it as pure stupidity to tell people to do so.

Maharashtra Housing Minister and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad also said he will not switch off lights as appealed by Modi as he is "not stupid.

In his 9 AM video message to the nation, the prime minister urged people to switch off lights of their homes at 9 pm for nine minutes on April 5 and light up lamps, candles and mobile flashlights to display the nation's collective spirit to defeat coronavirus.

Another Maharashtra minister and NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik said it was expected Modi would speak about measures being taken to combat COVID-19, but people were instead told to light up lamps.

People were left quite disappointed after Modi jis speech delivered at 9 AM, the Minority Affairs Minister said.

Turn off lights on Sunday at 9 pm, light candles, PM Modi tells nation in video message

People were expecting he would talk about what measures the Centre has taken for combating the COVID-19 outbreak, steps being taken to give relief to the affected people. But were instead told to light up lamps, Malik said.

Attacking Modi, Awhad, too, said it was expected of the prime minister to talk about providing essential services and food to the people and assure about adequate availability of masks, sanitisers and medicines in the country.

Awhad said it was expected of the PM to shed light in the lives of people, particularly the poor, who are faced with darkness due to the outbreak of the disease.

But instead he asked them to switch off lights and flash mobile phone lightsIt is pure stupidity and childishness to tell people to switch off lights therefore, Awhad said in a video message.

The minister said he is working among people and will not switch off lights at his home.

I will give the money that will be required for (buying) candles and oil (to light lamps) to the poor. But I will keep lights in my home switched on and wont light up any candle. I just want to say I am not stupid, he added.

Awhad also accused Modi of trying to make an event out of everything.

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Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 15:44 [IST]
The Group had previously received the first disbursement of USD 149 million from the Facility in 4Q 2019. Credit Suisse AG (Singapore) is the Original Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner (OMLAB) of the transaction.

When the world economy is facing new challenges, a new disbursement for a Vietnamese real estate developer obviously indicates that investors and international lenders remain positive outlook on the Vietnamese real estate market in general, as well as their confidence and a long-term investment strategy in Novaland in particular.

Novaland currently is one of a few property developers that receivinge strong support from the leading international financial institutions in accumulating more landbank, constructing and developing new projects, which landbank, constructing and developing new projects, which help accommodating Novalands active and diversified fundraising channels at competitive financial costs.

Currently, Novaland is the sole Vietnamese real estate developer successfully listed its convertible bond on the Singapore Stock Exchange. On the Vietnam Stock Exchange, Novalands shares (BBG: NVLVN) has been added into the two leading ETF funds - FTSE Vietnam and VNM ETF after 6 months from its listing. In 2019, Novalands shares were also added into the Viet Nam Sustainable Development Index (VNSI) of the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange as well as into other leading stock indices, namely VN30 and VN100.

In 2020, Novaland Group continues implementing Phase 2 of its strategic development roadmap, primarily focused on the development of mid to high-end properties with 3 key product lines comprise of central real estate in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Satellite Urban Areas in HCMCs surrounding provinces, and Residential projects & Integrated Resorts (Second Homes) in high potential tourism destinations. One of Novalands competitive advantages is its total accumulated and under-research landbank of approximately 4,894 hectares, ensuring sustainable growth of the Group in the next 10 years. Novaland is introducing residential projects in HCMC, Aqua City environmental township in Dong Nai province and Second Home products in NovaWorld Phan Thiet, NovaWorld Ho Tram. Novaland has continued recognizing relatively high take-up rate for low-rise and villa units in Q1 2020 amid the shortage of property supply meanwhile the demand stays high in the real estate market in the South.

At the moment, Novaland Group has speedily implemented the Business Contingency Plan (the BCP) to assure the Groups continuous business operations and customers uninterrupted transactions. Novaland greatly appreciates the investors strong confidence and commitment to Vietnam and Novaland in this loan upsize, especially in this extraordinary time. Novaland is well prepared not only to overcome this difficult situation with our tested experience and in-advance planning but also throughly take advantage of appropriate opportunities presented to us during this challenging time.

We strongly believe in our direction: a centralized orientation, clear business strategy, stable landbank, healthy financial structure, prudent risk management, and strict law compliance; strengthening competency to become the Vietnamese international brand

We will work more diligently and harder to meet the invaluable trust of our customers partners and investors put on Novaland, said Mr. Bui Xuan Huy, CEO of Novaland Group.

Thu Thao
There are dozens of excited children in their starched new uniforms trying to manoeuvre luggage trunks. Theyre heading off for their boarding school adventure on a special train from London.

But theres no Harry, Ron or Hermione on this particular jaunt. In fact, no boys are allowed.

This is the opening scene for new series Malory Towers, based on the boarding school books that young fans around the world have long adored.

Written by Enid Blyton between 1946 and 1951, the series of six novels has never been out of print but, astonishingly, this is their first British TV adaptation.

Enid Blyton's six novels penned between 1946 and 1951, are receiving their first British TV adaptation for CBBC. Pictured: Twinkle Jaiswal as Katherine, Zoey Siewer at Alicia, Imogen Lamb as Mary-Lour, Saskia Kemkers as Emily, Beth Bradfield as Jean, Sienna Arif-knights as Sally, Ella Bright as Darnell, Danya Griver as Gwen and Natasha Raphael as Irene

They may not have wizards and magic, but there are things just as special  midnight feasts, tricks on the indomitable matron and a group of 12-year-old girls finding their place in the world.

Its one of my favourite book series, says the shows co-writer Sasha Hails.

As a teenager Id go back to it. Theyre fantastic stories, they have so much to teach us about friendship.

Blyton, who was inspired to write the books by her daughters time at Benenden School, is no longer fashionable even though all her books, with 500 million sold, remain popular.

Last year there was a furore over the Royal Mints decision not to put her on a commemorative coin  she was deemed a racist, sexist homophobe and not a very well-regarded writer.

But the team behind this new series for CBBC want to reclaim her reputation as a writer of quietly empowering childrens stories.

It was a changing world when Blyton wrote these, and a pivotal point for women, says Sasha. Its a chance to show todays kids what the world was like

Theres a quietly feminist message. The headmistress Miss Grayling is very progressive and the lead is a fiery girl with a temper, which isnt shown on TV much.

New series Malory Towers, follows Darrell Rivers who is played by Ella Bright, 13, (pictured), as she joins the school

Sashas co-writer Rachel Flowerday adds, This is a world without helicopter parents and screens.

'Kids could make decisions and learn from them. They have an autonomy ours can only imagine.

The story focuses on Darrell Rivers as she joins the school. She wants to be a doctor, like her dad, but other new girl Gwendoline Lacey tells her girls can only be nurses.

The series focuses on Darrell as she navigates finding out who her true friends are and trying not to fight too much with the always-difficult Gwendoline.

It will show kids what the world was like

She isnt the smartest person in school, like me, says Ella Bright, now 13, who plays Darrell, when Weekend visits the Malory Towers set at the picturesque Hartland Abbey in Devon.

She also has a big temper  I think about how my two sisters annoy me when I do those scenes.

But she wants to do the best, which might not always be the right thing. Shes a bit of a feminist and shes a role model to the other girls.

The series has been made by David Walliamss production company King Bert.

The series combines nostalgia with modernity, as it portrays a nation scarred from the Second World War. Pictured: Matron screams after a prank in a dorm

As its a co-production with a Canadian company, the cast went out to Canada to shoot the interior scenes for ten weeks. It was like a real boarding school experience, says Ella.

The show has interest from around the world, partly because of producers selling it as Downton Abbey for children. It certainly showcases some of the best of British.

As well as Hartland Abbey (its cottage was in The Night Manager), the incredible tidal pool at Trevone in Cornwall is featured.

The series also combines nostalgia with modernity. The girls uniforms are based on what pupils of the era would have sported, and their lives are pretty idyllic.

Yet theyre in a nation scarred from the Second World War. Miss Graylings office has a picture of her dead fiance with a black ribbon on it.

Nothing is said but the message is there  despite the outward privilege, these are often people who have suffered.

The series features a multicultural cast  reflecting that girls from around the Empire would have been at a British boarding school  and new characters. Theres a deeper look at the psychology of the characters too.

Ashley Maguire who plays Matron, revealed the terrifying character is a mix of Miss Trunchbull from Matilda and Les Dawson. Pictured: Ella Bright as Darnell Rivers

The vicious Gwendoline is given a little sympathy. She isnt nice but theres a reason for it, says Danya Grivers, 13, who plays her.

She has only ever been with governesses and hasnt mixed with children.

Even Matron is given sympathy. I didnt want her to be a one-dimensional villain, says Ashley Maguire, the This Country actress who takes the role.

I dont think she likes children and so shes vile. Shes terrifying; she screams and would probably be violent if she could.

'But theres something of a reluctant clown about her; I see her as a mix of Miss Trunchbull from Matilda and Les Dawson.

I had to improvise terrifying the kids and all of them were under my command. You can see how power corrupts, as it still does now.

Malory Towers, Monday, 5.30pm, CBBC. The series is on iPlayer now.
Health Minister Robin Swann and Finance Minister Conor Murphy during a daily media broadcast in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Friday. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Sinn Fein is set to potentially back a request by Stormonts health minister to use the British Army in efforts to tackle coronavirus in Northern Ireland.

Robin Swann said he will likely ask fellow ministers in the powersharing government to support to a MACA (Military Aid to the Civil Authorities) request next week.

Given the regions troubled past, any move to bring soldiers back onto the streets would ordinarily prove politically contentious.

But Sinn Fein minister Conor Murphy has indicated his party would consider that request if required.

We are about saving lives and thats the number one priority, were not about politics in this game at this time  all rules are out the window, he said when asked about the issue on BBC Radio Ulsters Inside Politics show.

We are about saving lives and protecting the community so any assistance we can get from anywhere if thats what it lends itself towards then we will absolutely consider that, thats our priority.

Expand Close Robin Swann is to request executive backing for a military assistance request (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Robin Swann is to request executive backing for a military assistance request (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Swann is seeking logistical support from the Army.

If deployed back into the region, one of its main task would be to construct a Nightingale hospital at the site of the former Maze paramilitary prison near Lisburn for an anticipated second wave of cases in the autumn.

Mr Swann revealed his intention to bring the matter to Stormonts leaders in response to a question during Fridays coronavirus press briefing in Belfast.

I said in the Assembly a number of weeks ago that I wouldnt turn down any reasonable offer of support and I wouldnt turn down any reasonable offer of support from the British Army, he said.

Weve already seen it being used to establish Nightingale facilities across the United Kingdom.

When we have to use it here in Northern Ireland, I will use it.

Ill probably put forward a MACA request to the executive office at the start of next week to make sure that that process is in place, because I cant afford to do anything that puts anybodys life at risk.

Because at the end of this pandemic for the people of Northern Ireland theres potentially and there will be only one thing that divides us  and thats those that are still alive and those that are dead.
Nationwide curfew starts today

THAILAND: The government has imposed a curfew, banning all people nationwide from leaving their homes from 10pm to 4am starting tonight (April 3), in its latest move to contain the spread of coronavirus.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthdeathSafetytransporttourism

By Bangkok Post

Friday 3 April 2020, 09:39AM

Powered air-purify respirator (PAPR) helmets are being developed by Vajira Hospitals Faculty of Medicine for use among hospitals treating COVID-19 patients with critical conditions to better protect medical personnel against the virus. Photo: Chanat Katanyu

Appearing on the TV pool last night, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha announced the curfew, effective until further notice. The prime minister called for calm and asked the public not to stock up on food as they will still be allowed to go out during the daytime, though they will be required to observe social distancing.

Medical and banking personnel - as well as logistics workers handling consumer goods, agricultural produce, pharmaceutical products, medical supplies and equipment, newspapers, fuel, post, products bound for export and imported goods - are exempt from curfew restrictions.

The travel of people to quarantine venues is also allowed.

Exemptions also apply to employees working night shifts, individuals heading to or from airports with necessary documents stating their purpose, officials carrying out official orders and those who have received prior permission from officials to leave for emergencies.

Violations will result in a jail term of no more than two years and/or a fine of no more than 40,000 baht.

Existing curfew orders in other provinces with stricter requirements shall remain in effect, he said.

Gen Prayut added that outlets will be set up to distribute face masks.

I wont let anyone hoard the products and take advantage of people during this difficult time, he said.

More economic stimulus packages will be introduced, which include financial aid, debt suspension and restructuring, and a liquidity boost.

In terms of disease mitigation, a centre will be set up to manage travel in and out of the kingdom with more strict screening, quarantine and monitoring measures.

In terms of communication, a briefing will be held every day at the governments COVID-19 centre.

Unauthorised people will not be allowed to give interviews, Gen Prayut said.

He again warned of the consequences of spreading fake news or sharing information from unknown sources, before urging everyone to cooperate for the ultimate goal of zero infections.

Earlier in the day, Gen Prayut said the government will block all travel to Thailand including by Thais, starting today until April 15, to prepare quarantine facilities after more local cases were linked to imported cases.

He said the government needs time to prepare.

In the meantime, agencies will prepare the venues and coordinate with Thai embassies to ensure all Thais returnees will be quarantined and get proper medical checks, he said.

Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the governments Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said yesterday Gen Prayut told the officials at the centre that arrivals of foreigners and Thais from abroad will have to be slowed down to stop the disease.

The new ban does not apply to people who already received permission to travel to Thailand, he said, before urging affected travellers to contact Thai embassies and follow their instructions.

Dr Taweesin said arrivals from abroad have proved to be a major source of infections.

Recent cases included an infected Thai man who had visited Pakistan and died on a South-bound train in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. (See story here).

He also cited six Thais who returned from meetings in Italy, four of whom tested positive. The cases led to 50 other people being quarantined.

Out of the 132 Thais who attended a religious gathering in Malaysia, 47 contracted the disease, four died and about 1,000 others were quarantined.

Meanwhile, out of the 56 Thais who had attended a similar gathering in Indonesia, 32 were infected and about 500 were quarantined.

Four Thais who recently returned from the United Kingdom contracted the disease and one of them died.

This group included a patient who concealed his symptoms to return to the country, Dr Taweesin said. About 200 people were quarantined as a result.

Furthermore, 19 Thais crossing the border from Poipet, Cambodia were found to be infected and about 300 had to be quarantined.

The government yesterday reported 104 new local cases of COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,875.

Three more deaths were also reported, raising the death toll from the novel coronavirus disease in Thailand to 15.
A mother-of-two living in Wicklow town has established a fundraising campaign so sandwiches are delivered to over-stretched health and emergency service staff on the front-line.

Local graphic designer Hazel Hoad set up a gofundme page with the aim of providing at least one sandwich to every ambulance service worker, hospital personnel, doctor, nurse, pharmacist and healthcare worker doing their bit to combat Covid-19.

She has also created a 'Sambos for Ambos' webpage to highlight her campaign.

'It's a way to say thank you and that we appreciate all their hard work,' said Hazel.

'I created the gofundme page as a place to donate as little as 5 to buy a couple of sandwiches for our hard-working heroes. You might say it's only a sandwich but to a stressed-out ambulance driver who hasn't had a chance to stop today and grab some food, it's appreciated. To the volunteer who also lost their job due to Covid-19 closures and has decided to help at the new pop-up testing centres its a meal, they don't have the money to buy themselves. It's a quick bite to eat for a crazy busy nurse trying their best to just keep up.'

As donations come in, sandwiches will go out to front-line health service staff. A range of daily fresh hand-made sandwiches will be delivered to local ambulance bays, hospitals, testing centres and doctors' offices.

'We can do this with the support of local small businesses, who also need support in these trying times,' added Hazel.

'A sandwich costs 2.50 to supply and deliver, thanks to the help of local small businesses. But we need the help of the public for this to work. Can you spare 5 to buy a couple of sandwiches for these hard-working heroes? Any amount little or large will go a long way to showing appreciation. I am also thinking of the small businesses and their employees and hopefully, these sandwich orders will help them out in these hard times too.'

Hazel also intends to post all activities on social media so the process if completely transparent and it's clear exactly where the donations are going. She is urging people to keep front-line staff in mind and the sacrifices they are making in leading the fight against Covid-19 and the treatment of extremely-ill patients.

'These are unprecedented times and everyone is a little scared right now. Can you imagine how our front-line servicemen and women must feel? They are putting their own health aside in aid to do their job and help our country and our sick and vulnerable cope with this coronavirus pandemic Ireland is facing. None of us know yet what will come and what will happen in Ireland but what we do know is that the Irish are there for each other in times of need. We look out for one another, we support each other and we help each other where we can.'

So far the initiative has received plenty of support, with two loads of 75 sandwiches along with 75 drinks delivered by Friday.

'We delivered sandwiches to the ambulance bays in Wicklow town, Arklow and Loughlinstown, local pharmacies, Westmount Clinic in Wicklow town and the Medical Assessment Unit at St Columcille's Hospital. The sandwiches went out thanks to The Coffee Place in Newtownmountkennedy. We are also open to suggestions over places to deliver to,' added Hazel.

To make a donation then just visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/qry7fm.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, we are living in the United States of Propaganda.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Washington: Videos posted on social media showed a huge send-off for Navy Captain Brett Crozier, the commander of an aircraft carrier who was ousted on Thursday after sending a letter pleading with Navy leadership to protect his crew from the spreading coronavirus.

One video from the Facebook account of Michael Washington shows hundreds of service members on the hanger deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which is currently docked in Guam, chanting "Captain Crozier! Captain Crozier!" and clapping.

Someone in the video says, "and that's how you send off one of the greatest captains you've ever had," and adding "The GOAT [Greatest Of All Time], the man for the people."

Crozier was fired just four days after he pleaded for help as the coronavirus ravaged his crew on the Roosevelt. Crozier had sent an urgent letter to the US Navy on Sunday, seeking to evacuate and isolate the crew as cases of coronavirus infection increased on the vessel.
After a turbulent journey on The Bachelor, Peter Weber looks like hes having fun again  with Kelley Flanagan. Recently, fans have been wondering whether Weber and Flanagan are dating, as the reality stars have been spotted together on multiple occasions. Neither party has come out to address their relationship status to the public. But then Pilot Pete tagged Flanagan on Instagram while laughing at his haters.

The Bachelors Peter Weber reads hate comments on Instagram and tags Kelley Flanagan

On April 1, Weber released a short clip of himself dancing to Roddy Ricchs The Box on TikTok. However, the solo performance didnt exactly sit well with fans. The following day, Weber filmed a video on Instagram where he read comments out loud. And although it was clear a few Bachelor Nation fans didnt get Rachel Lindsays memo during the Women Tell All special, it seems Weber couldnt care less about the haters.

Just enjoying some cookies and Tik Tok comments on a Wednesday night, Weber wrote in the caption. Then while munching on his snack, the former bachelor picked out a few of his favorite comments.

Peter, dont ever do this again, Weber read. Meanwhile, another fan wrote, Someone put this mans voodoo doll down right now. The 28-year-old chuckled.

Kelley Flanagan and Peter Weber on The Bachelor | John Fleenor/ABC via Getty Images

Then Weber dove into some comments comparing the dance to his season of The Bachelor. I didnt think I could watch something worse than his season. But I was wrong, a fan wrote. And another fan shared, Who let him be the bachelor? Im cringing so hard right now. He thought he did something.

Finally, Weber ended the Instagram video with a comment that said, This triggered my fight or flight. But the Delta pilot did not simply read the remark. He spread his arms  erm wings  and stared straight into the camera. The video concluded with Weber grinning from ear to ear.

Watching Weber react to his haters tells fans where Pilot Petes head is at after The Bachelor finale. However, there is more than meets the eye. Despite her absence in the Instagram video, Weber tagged Flanagan of all people, possibly hinting they have some sort of relationship now.

The Bachelor fans react to Peter Weber tagging Kelley Flanagan on Instagram

When Weber posted the Instagram video, Bachelor Nation fans quickly noticed Flanagans tag. And of course, fans expressed their disbelief.

But damn was shocked he actually tagged her in this, a fan wrote on Reddit. AND SHES NOT EVEN IN IT.

Meanwhile, other fans were a little confused by Webers behavior. The Bachelor Season 24 finale aired on March 10, and Weber professed his love to Madison Prewett. They then broke up two days later in separate Instagram posts.

This is so weird to me, I feel duped, a fan wrote. He was just on stage weeks ago, saying how in love he was with Madi. Then he moves on to Kelley like none of that just happened. His season was a waste honestly. Good luck to them.

But regardless of what actually happened on the reality show, most fans seem excited about Webers real-life happiness.

Peter has his faults and it was a horrible season. But he looks so happy and relaxed, a fan wrote. And seeing him tag Kelley did make me smile I hope it works out for them.

And a few viewers pointed out Webers personality came through in the Instagram video and wondered why it wasnt shown on The Bachelor.

Ok but where was this Peter all season? a fan wrote. I am loving how cute, confident, and dorky he is. Let this be a lesson to TPTB: Just because you can get away with play-dohing your lead doesnt mean you should. I would have loved to see this funny, awkward-but-in-a-cute-way Bachelor.

For now, viewers will probably have to wait until Webers Bachelor contract is up to find out the truth. However, even if we dont get the Colton Underwood-level of tea, it appears fans are just delighted to see Weber happy with Flanagan at this point.

As for whether or not theyre together, The Bachelorettes Dustin Flanagan  who is currently quarentining with the pair in Chicago  teased Weber and Flanagans relationship. But Kendricks basically in the same boat as the rest of us.

I think its fair for them to come out and say what they want to say, but the only thing I can say is that they look really cute together and their interactions are really cute as well, he said. Thats all I can say on that. And Im sure youll be possibly hearing stuff in the future from them. But Ill let them say that.

He continued: [With being on The Bachelor], that was a lot of pressure that he was under and you see people saying hateful things and bad things. Its just good to see him happy and just living his truth and being happy with someone. After this is all over with, Peter and Kelley could be a thing. Im not opposed to it. From what Ive been seeing, theyre very cute together.

Read more: The Bachelorette: Chris Harrison Says Clare Crawleys Season Wont Return Until They Can Do It Safely
That the Corona Virus , otherwise known as Covid- 19 is a global health pandemic is no longer news as the WHO has already designated it as such . With over one million cases confirmed globally according to latest US survey ,what is of paramount importance at this material time however is what should be done to contain the spreqd of the virus and eventually exterminate it from the surface of the earth.

In Nigeria, the federal government towing the line of what is obtainable globally has ordered the lockdown of two major cities of Lagos and Ogun State and the Federal capital Territory, Abuja for two weeks in the first instance. While Lagos and Abuja are already into the end of their first week of lockdown, Ogun is at the verge of commencing.

But, beyond the two weeks' lockdown, the most appropriate question to ask is " What Next after the two weeks' lockdown ?.

This question is inevitable due to the fact that most residents of the state under lockdown whose means of livelihood have been disrupted and who probably might have exhausted whatever stockpile of food and other supplies they had are eager to return to work . But, the most appropriate question to ask at this juncture is can the government afford to allow normalcy to return to the business climate , just after two weeks ? This is a million dollar question.

This question for now can not be answered in the affirmative, but it sure calls for concern. Although, the Federal government's directive on lockdown came with a proviso , which state that the order will take effect for two weeks in the first instance, which

invariably means that the lockdown order may be extended if the federal government is not yet satisfied with the result obtained after the first round.

The social media has been awash with the story of China where the virus emanated in December 2019 and how it dramatically beat the rest of the world including the more technology savvy US into containing the virus , especially at Wuhan and the entire Hubei Province.

Contrary to widespread insinuations of conspiracy however, China was able to limit the spread of the virus to other important city such as Beijing and Shanghai due to the coordinated approach it adopted . China at the peak of the crisis was prepared to sacrifice Wuhan where the outbreak was first reported and a place designated as the epicentre of the health crisis and as such locked down Wuhan for nearly three months by restricting in bound and outbound of transportation to the entire Hubei Province.

This control measure for the 11 million population coupled with other responses is a great lesson to learn from China' s response , but the question again is can Nigeria afford such huge sacrifices of prolonged lockdown .? How long can the people and the entire nation afford the self- inflicted quarantine in the name of lockdown? These are questions still begging for answers.

By April 8 when in bound transportation to Wuhan would be lifted finally and the people are let loose to go about their normal daily activities, the people of Wuhan must have stayed at home for a total of 76 days , which is almost three months and they cooperated with the law enforcement agencies in obeying the restriction order and adhered to other safety measures.

In Nigeria with a total confirmed case of 190 at at press time ,and the epicentre of the crisis being Abuja and Lagos State with an estimated population of over 20 million, can Nigeria afford a total lockdown for three months without the attendant consequences in these commercial cities? Would the rules be relaxed ? What happens if the rule is relaxed ?

After the two weeks lockdown, how will the government deal with the post lockdown challenges ? These are some of the questions that most analysts are finding hard to answer.

Part of the proactive measures by the Chinese authorities is the coordinated medical response. At the last count ,no less than 43,000 medical workers from 340 medical teams dispatched from across China to Hubei Province alone were involved in the cleansing process . This is another good response from the Chinese citizens in addition to a good number of volunteers who rallied round the government to put a stop to the pandemic.

In Nigeria, such situation is not yet being witnessed. Instead ,each government even in states where there are yet no cases recorded are setting up isolation centres. While it is not a bad approach to invent such proactiveness, it may not also be out of place for the Federal government to order coordinated medical responses especially in states knows as the epicentre..

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and the Presidential Special Task Force in conjunction with the health Ministry has been doing a yeoman job in monitoring situations and giving updates on the pandemic .. These efforts should be sustained. Lucky enough, the NCDC has revealed that with over 71 per cent of the contacts of the virus careers already traced and monitored , there is a ray of hope that more cases would be detected which would lead to early treatment and cure. Also, while efforts should be intensified towards tracing more contact, this time calls for better patriotism from the people. This can be ensured when more people with suspicious cases are reported to the appropriate authorities. From all indications , contracting the virus is not a death sentence as has been revealed . With just two deaths and more cases being discharged especially from the Lagos State isolation centre, those who come up for treatment are sure of cure.

The efforts of coalition of corporate organisations and we'll meaning individuals who have rallied round through the donation of cash and medical equipment is also commendable and this period presents a better opportunity for others in these categories to join the fray .

While the end is not yet in sight and the collateral economic damages that will be the consequences of the ongoing pandemic is yet to be determined or ascertained , it is also very important that the entire nation continue to cooperate with the authorities and play individual roles by adhering to all safety and hygiene measures to contain the spread of the virus. The safety of one ,is the safety of all.

Waheed Ogunjobi, a Public Affairs analyst, writes from Abeokuta, Nigeria and can be reached on 08035004741 or [email protected]
TUNIS - Tunisian prime minister Elyes Fakhfakh has said that compliance with the country's general quarantine to prevent spread of COVID-19 will make it possible to limit damage to the country as much as possible. The quarantine has been extended for two weeks from April 5. The PM was speaking in an interview broadcast on national television and the private television station El Hiwar Ettounsi, underscoring that Tunisia ''has the means necessary to deal with all the possible catastrophe scenarios'' through prevention plans. Fakhfakh said that the country has enough medicine to treat about 20,000 people infected with the virus as well as hospital beds in intensive care units isolation centers, personal protection equipment and screening tests that will arrive next week and will make it possible to conduct almost 400,000 tests. To manage the emergency, some 120 million dinars have been allocated to help 900,000 people. The funds will be distributed as postal money orders. A specific category of small shipowners and workers in private companies that have suffered from the ceasing of their activities will also be able to benefit from the 200-dinar financial assistance starting on April 4. The prime minister has announced a special 100-dinar cheque for pensioners whose pensions are under 180 dinars. The total amount allocated by the government to deal with the temporary unemployment, to help workers and state-owned companies, will be 300 million dinars with another 100 expected to be added. On the issue of food, the prime minister underscored that there the production chain for distribution to supermarkets has been improved, with the availability of a large quantity of flour and strategic food stocks, and that there will be a gradual return of prices to their previous levels. On the issue of Tunisians stuck abroad, Fakhfakh said that over 2,000 were waiting to be repatriated and that they will be put in special isolation centers once back in the country.
Heavy tanks and armoured vehicles are being offloaded from US vehicle carrier Endurance, which arrives in Bremerhaven, Germany for DEFENDER-Europe 20 on Feb 21, 2020. (Photo by Sgt Dommnique Washington)

By Hai Jing

Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has been even more serious in Europe, forcing multiple countries to upgrade their protective measures, and also pressing the "pause" button on NATO's Exercise Defender-Europe 20.

The exercise, scheduled to run from the end of February to the end of June, is one of NATO's largest joint military exercises in recent years. The basic conception of the exercise is a NATO-led counterattack against an assault on a NATO member country in 2028, by following the NATOs Common-Defense Provision. Despite NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's claims about Defender-Europe 20 not being aimed against any particular country, it is clear what this really means.

In response to the "threat" of "a certain country," the United States and Europe have repeatedly conducted targeted military exercises to ensure that once a war begins, the US military can rush to Europe for reinforcements on a large scale promptly. Although the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the expansion of NATO eastward have made the pressure a "past tense", with the advancement of Russian military modernization and its overtaking on a curve in many areas in recent years, the "nightmare" scene has been roused in many European countries felt really concerned; thereby the United States also intends to take the opportunity to continue to shroud Europe with its protective umbrella.

The preparations for the exercise are fancy: a total of 37,000 soldiers from both the United States and 17 European countries involved, of which more than 20,000 are from the US military. These exercises will take place mostly in Poland, Georgia, and the Baltic states near Russia. The US military has spent $ 50 million and used more than 100 transport ships to deploy troops to Europe. Several B-2A Spirit stealth strategic bombers, which are usually deployed only in the United States, have also flown to Europe in urgency.

Although the Russian military accused NATO of "going beyond the limits of self-defense" in launching the exercise and strengthened its military alert, Russia is relatively calm in response. However, what is unexpected is that the large-scale exercise is now in an awkward position. What has prevented NATO from conducting a grand exercise is not the imaginary enemy, but the virus: many senior European officials have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after attending the exercise preparatory meeting in Wiesbaden, Germany on March 6; as of March 20, the Pentagon had confirmed that 2,600 US military personnel in Europe had shown symptoms such as fever and been under self-isolation, and another 35 been confirmed to be infected.

In worrying about the spread of the virus, European countries have asked for "withdrawal from the exercise", and refused to host US troops. The United States is neither willing to put its investment in jeopardy, nor dare to hastily take home the US personnel who may have been infected with the virus in the affected area. Thus, the participating US troops have been left to stay in Europe on standby. However, as the pandemic situation has been constantly deteriorating, Europe has been already in lack of supplies for its own, and the US troops have to rely on support from nearby US military bases with the ever-decreasing supplies they could buy herein.

Facing the embarrassing situation, the Pentagon has promptly modified the exercise scheme: setting the exercise background as a comprehensive protection against the imaginary enemys biological and chemical weapon attacks, and proactively lobbying European countries to keep the big picture in mind, to reopen the exercise one month later. However, even if European countries want to bite the bullet and maintain the image of Western Unity at this time, they are still in an unacknowledged dilemma

In the past few days, from a diplomatic war targeting the acquisition of a German vaccine company to the sudden release of a travel ban on Europe, and to the fact that all leaders of major European countries cannot obtain the US entry visa and can only have the Group of Seven (G7) Summit by video-teleconference... In the face of the pandemic, "America First" has sent another wave of sense of presence, even to its European allies. Not long ago, when the epidemic in Italy was becoming more and more serious, the United States sent military aircraft to Italy to take 500,000 throat swabs back from therein, instead of sending aid supplies, despite that the medical supplies in Italy had been extremely scarce at that time.

The US has always made vocal claims to defend Europe. However, it cannot share hardship with its European allies in the face of the pandemic. The scaling down of the exercise with a grand opening, may not lame the sudden outbreak altogether. Russia's annual military expenditure is only one-tenth of that of NATO. What Europe needs to worry about most today is probably the alliance relation that cannot stand up to the tests time and time again, rather than the threat of this imaginary enemy based on Cold War mentality.
The Indore district



administration on Friday invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in Taatpatti Bakhal area of the city.

This is first such action related to COVID-19 pandemic in Madhya Pradesh, an official said.

A five-member team from the health department had gone to Taatpatti Bakhal on Wednesday to quarantine relatives and acquaintances of a COVID-19 patient, when an unruly mob attacked them with stones, injuring two women doctors.

The police had arrested seven persons for the alleged attack on Thursday and the district administration has slapped the NSA on four of them, the official said.

The Indore police on Friday detained six more men in connection with the incident.

Six more men are being questioned about their involvement in the incident, Indore's Chhatripura police station in-charge Karan Singh Shaktawat said.

Meanwhile, additional superintendent of police Crime Branch (Indore), Rajesh Dandotia said, four persons were booked under the relevant provisions of the IPC and Information Technology Act for spreading a rumours and inflammatory messages about coronavirus on social media.

Arif Khan (26) has been arrested in this case, while search is on for three other absconding accused, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse)  Fri, April 3, 2020 16:03 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8bd23 2 News Accor-Hotels,Hotel,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

French group Accor said Thursday two-thirds of its hotels around the world will be closed within weeks as the coronavirus obliterates global tourism.

"Our business has been very, very severely impacted" by the global outbreak, chief executive Sebastien Bazin told journalists on a telephone conference.

He also announced that it will no longer distribute 280 million euros ($304 million) in dividends.

The world's sixth-largest hotel group, which has already closed half its facilities, will allocate a quarter of the planned dividend payout -- 70 million euros -- to a fund dedicated to staff, and "preserve" the remainder.

Read also: COVID-19: Almost 700 hotels in Indonesia shut down

Just last month, AccorHotels said it had earned a record profit last year, but that was due to a boost from the sale of a stake in its property unit.

The company, which includes the Pullman, Raffles, Novotel and Mercure brands, announced at the time it was returning to the name Accor.

The sale of the real estate stake was part of shift by the company to manage hotels rather than own them.
Texas public school districts and campuses will not receive accountability ratings in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, state education officials said late Thursday.

The announcement is a mere formality after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last month canceled the states annual standardized tests, commonly known as STAAR, which largely serve as the basis for calculating accountability ratings issued in an A-through-F grade format. All Texas public schools will be labeled not rated: declared state of disaster for 2020.

While we continuously work to ensure our A-F accountability system paints an accurate picture of school performance, these unprecedented circumstances have forced all of us to change and adapt, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement.

The one-year suspension of accountability ratings likely will have no impact on Houston ISDs lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency, which is attempting to replace the districts elected school board after Wheatley High School received its fifth-straight failing grade under the accountability system in 2019.

State law mandates that Texas education commissioner must appointment a replacement board of trustees or close long-struggling campuses if a single school in a district receives five consecutive failing grades. Lawyers for HISD argue Wheatley has not yet triggered sanctions, and that state officials are misinterpreting the law requiring punishment.

The lawsuit is pending in the Austin-based Third Court of Appeals after a Travis County judge issued a temporary injunction in January blocking the boards ouster.

If Wheatley had received a passing grade this year amid the ongoing legal battle, its success likely would not negate sanctions tied to its prior failing grades  though it could have soured public opinion on the need for state intervention.

There some peril for them, not in what I would call the strictest legal sense, but what lawyers would call the battle for hearts and minds, said Kevin OHanlon, a lawyer representing HISD trustees.

Theres some peril for them in what I wouldnt call the strictest legal sense, but what lawyers would call the battle for hearts and minds.

STAAR canceled: Gov. Greg Abbott suspended standardized testing due to coronavirus

Schools and districts in danger of receiving their fifth straight failing grade this year will remain under the threat of sanctions in 2021. No Houston-area districts are home to schools with four consecutive F ratings.

State officials have not yet decided if or how state accountability ratings will be issued in 2021.

Under Texas current accountability system, many ratings are partially based on students year-over-year growth, as measured by performance on state standardized tests. With no tests administered in 2020, the Texas Education Agency cannot use its current method of evaluating academic growth.

Districts and high schools also are partially rated on measures of college, career and military readiness from the prior years graduating class. Many exams used to measure post-secondary readiness have been canceled or changed for the Class of 2020, which would significantly impact academic accountability ratings in 2021.

Terry Faucheux, an associate with the Austin-based education consulting firm Moak, Casey & Associates, said state officials likely would need to make several tweaks to the current accountability system before ratings could be issued in 2021. If state leaders move forward with an accountability framework next school year, she expects to see a proposed system no later than February or March 2021.

It would be a very difficult lift to get that past the Legislature and federal government to scrap STAAR altogether and not do accountability for another year, Faucheux said.

In a document posted online Thursday by the TEA, state officials said they are asking the U.S. Department of Education for guidance on how lagging indicators, such as post-secondary readiness rates for the Class of 2020, will impact next years accountability ratings.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
American deaths from the coronavirus pandemic have topped 1,000 in another grim milestone for a global outbreak that is taking lives and wreaking havoc on economies and day-to-day routines everywhere.

In recognition of the scale of the threat, the US Senate late on Wednesday passed an unparalleled 2.2 trillion dollar (1.85 trillion) economic rescue package steering aid to businesses, workers and health care systems.

The unanimous vote came despite misgivings on both sides of politics about whether it went too far or not far enough, and capped days of difficult negotiations as Washington confronted a national challenge unlike it has ever faced.

President Donald Trump gives his daily White House coronavirus briefing as reporters practise social distancing (Alex Brandon/AP)

The 880-page aid package is the largest economic relief bill in US history, its value equivalent to more than half of the nations entire $4 trillion annual budget.

Worldwide, the death toll climbed past 21,000, according to a running count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

The number of dead in the US rose to 1,041 late on Wednesday, with nearly 70,000 infections.

96-0 in the United States Senate. Congratulations AMERICA!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 26, 2020

Spains death toll has risen past 3,400, eclipsing that of China where the virus was first detected in December, after a one-day spike of 700 fatalities.

Spains count is now second only to that of Italy, with more than 7,500 deaths.

Lidia Perera, a nurse at Madrids 1,000-bed Hospital de la Paz, said more workers were desperately needed, adding: We are collapsing.

The Spanish parliament voted to allow the government extend strict stay-at-home rules and business closings until April 11.

An overview of air traffic across the European Union on December 18 (above) and on March 25 (below) following a drastic reduction in flights due to the coronavirus (Flightradar24,com via AP)

Such measures are becoming increasingly common in the US, where New York is the current epicentre of the domestic outbreak, accounting for more than 30,000 cases and close to 300 deaths, mostly in New York City.

Story continues

Public health officials in the city hunted down beds and medical equipment and put out a call for more doctors and nurses for fear the number of sick will explode in a matter of weeks, overwhelming hospitals as has happened in Italy and Spain.

A makeshift morgue was set up outside Bellevue Hospital, and the citys police  their ranks dwindling as more fall ill  were told to patrol nearly empty streets to enforce social distancing.

In Washington, President Donald Trump has called for Americans to dedicate themselves for 15 days to social distancing, including staying home from work and closing bars and restaurants to help try to stall the spread of the disease.

Ciudadanos party deputy Maria Munoz Vidala wearing protective gloves, gestures in a nearly empty parliament in Madrid on Wednesday, when the majority of parliamentarians follow the session online, before a vote to approve the extension of the national lockdown (Mariscal/Pool/AP)

Yet, he has also grumbled that our country wasnt built to be shut down.

He has also vowed not to allow the cure be worse than the problem, apparently out of concern the outbreaks devastating effects on financial markets and employment will harm his chances for re-election later this year.

The LameStream Media is the dominant force in trying to get me to keep our Country closed as long as possible in the hope that it will be detrimental to my election success, Trump tweeted on Wednesday.

Democrats say Mr Trump is prioritising the economy over the health and safety of Americans.

Id like to say, lets get back to work next Friday, said Joe Biden, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. Thatd be wonderful. But it cant be arbitrary.

Rios Christ the Redeemer statue is lit up with the flags of countries currently afflicted by the coronavirus (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

Elsewhere, Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro has also called to reopen schools and businesses. But state governors, including some of his traditional right-wing allies, are defying the call, dismissing Mr Bolsonaros argument that the cure of widespread shutdowns is worse than the disease.

Meanwhile, the governor of a state in central Mexico said the poor are immune to the coronavirus pandemic, even as the federal government suspended all non-essential government activities in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.

Puebla governor Miguel Barbosas comment was apparently sparked by statistics showing that wealthy people who travel frequently make up a significant percentage of Mexicans infected to date, including some prominent businessmen. The country has had six deaths so far.

The majority are wealthy people. If you are rich, you are at risk. If you are poor, no, Barbosa said. We poor people, we are immune.

In other developments:

 South Korea reported 104 new cases and five more deaths, bringing its totals to 9,241 infections and 131 deaths.

 Chinas National Health Commission on Thursday reported 67 new COVID-19 cases, all of which it says were imported infections in recent arrivals from abroad.

 Once again, there were no new cases reported in Wuhan, the city where the virus emerged in December. After a months-long lockdown, Wuhan residents are allowed out of the city, but cannot leave the surrounding province of Hubei until April 8.

 Citing the coronavirus, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday postponed a nationwide vote on proposed constitutional amendments that include a change potentially allowing him to stay in office until 2036. The country reported its first two deaths from the virus on Wednesday.

 The French Riviera city of Cannes opened the site of its world-famous film festival to the homeless.
State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine as of Thursday was making no prediction on when Pennsylvania might reach a peak in coronavirus cases, continuing to stress, "The virus will determine the timeline. We dont determine the timeline.

Pennsylvanias case count grew by 21% percent on Thursday, slightly more than the day before. The growth rate also indicated continued exponential increase, rather than the hoped-for shrinking of new cases that could mark a downward turn in the curve.

Levine said she continues to watch models created by the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as one from the University of Washington, which as of Friday morning was predicting Pennsylvania will reach a peak on April 18.

Levine said on Thursday whats most important are what conditions are now, with the current numbers showing the critical importance of following the stay-at-home-order and the handwashing and other guidelines for preventing spread of the coronavirus.

Asked about a the timing for a possible surge of COVID-19 patients at Pennsylvania hospitals, she said, None of us know exactly when that surge will occur and it wont be one day, it will be over time  The virus will determine the timeline. We dont determine the timeline.

As of Thursday, about 730 people had been hospitalized with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania since March 6, with about 216 needing intensive care, and about 130 needing a breathing ventilator. About 345 health care workers had tested positive, Levine said.

As of Thursday, the growth factor, calculated by dividing each days new cases by the new cases on the previous day, was again more than 1, pointing to continued exponential growth of cases. A growth factor of less than 1 can indicate the rate of new cases is slowing.

Below are daily breakdowns of some of the essential numbers. Watch PennLive for new numbers expected to be released by the health department on Friday morning, and additional numbers and insights expected to be discussed by Levine this afternoon.

April 2

1,211 new cases

7,016 total cases

21% increase

1.26 growth factor

16 new deaths

90 total death, all adults

April 1

962 new cases

5,805 total cases

20% increase

1.27 growth factor

74 deaths, all adults

about 620 hospitalized since March 6

March 31

756 new cases

4,843 cases

18% increase

1.09 growth factor

63 deaths

about 514 hospitalized since March 6

about 159 needed ICU

about 94 needed ventilators

March 30

693 new cases

4,087 total cases

20% increase

1.06 growth factor

48 deaths

about 386 hospitalized since March 6

about 110 needed ICU

about 67 needed ventilators

RELATED: Real all PennLive coverage of the new coronavirus

March 29

649 new cases

3,394 total cases

23% increase

1.22 growth factor

March 28

533 new cases

2,751 total cases

24% percent increase

1.004 growth factor

March 27

531 new cases

2,218 total cases

31% increase

.95 growth factor

March 26

560 new cases

1,687 total cases

50% increase

2 growth factor

March 25

276 new cases

1,127 total cases

32% increase

1.33 growth factor

March 24

207 new cases

851 total cases

32% increase

1.25 growth factor

March 23

165 new cases

644 total cases

34% increase

1.53 growth factor

March 22

108 new cases

479 total cases

29% increase

1.05 growth factor

March 21

103 new cases

371 total cases

38% increase

1.24 growth factor

March 20

83 new cases

268 total cases

45% increase

1.6 growth factor

March 19

52 new cases

185 total cases

39% increase

1.4 growth factor

March 18

37 new cases

133 total cases

39% increase

1.85 growth factor

March 17

20 new cases

96 total cases

26% increase

1.54 growth factor

March 16

13 new cases

76 total cases

21% increase

.81 growth factor

March 15

16 new cases

63 total cases

34% increase

4.0 growth factor

March 14

6 new cases

47 total cases

14% increase

.31 growth factor

March 13

19 new cases

41 total cases

86% increase

3.2 growth factor

March 12

6 new cases

22 total cases

38 percent increase

1.5 growth factor

March 11

4 new cases

16 total cases

33% increase

2 growth factor

March 10

2 new cases

12 total cases

20% increase

.5 growth factor

March 9

4 new cases

10 total cases

67% increase

growth factor 2

March 8

2 new cases

6 total cases

50% increase

1 growth factor

March 7

2 new cases

4 total case

100% increase

1 growth factor

March 6

Pennsylvania registers its first 2 cases

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Q: Whats the greatest challenge for financial services in Australia right now?

A: Taking a more macro view, I would argue that the full impacts of the coronavirus and the bushfires are yet to be realised. Many Moneytech clients import goods from China and are currently having trouble getting access to stock due to factory closures. As an organisation, we have reached out to our customers who may be affected by these events, and worked through how we can best support them. We have contacted all of our import customers to understand if the Chinese factory closures have, or will, impact their businesses. Depending on the outcome, we have offered loan repayment support by deferring future principal repayments until trading conditions improve for them.

Q: Do you think the industry is ready for open banking?

A: The finance industry, like any other industry, can benefit from more competition to deliver better services and products to Australians. Open banking is the first application of the Consumer Data Right by the ACCC; later this will come to include personal information held by utilities, etc. For finance, specifically, it will mean seamless trusted third-party access to information currently held by banks. In practice this means faster onboarding, smoother credit checks and an overall better customer experience. Our customers are ready for this and so are we.

Q: What was your first job?

A: It was an IT support apprenticeship. I joined straight out of school and did that for a couple of years before going travelling and then working for Lloyds in the UK.

Q: What are your top survival tips for working in finance?

A: Be resilient and have thick skin! Most loans have many ups and downs throughout the application process. When you face adversity on a transaction, be sure not to bury your head in the sand; instead, work through the issues to create a positive outcome for both you and the customer.

Q: Whats one thing, personal or professional, that you hope to achieve before 2021?

A: The launch of Moneytechs amazing new Equipment Import Finance product! We are excited to work with brokers and aggregators to get the message out there, as these relationships are extremely important to us.
Researchers provide a guideline regarding who should be actually taking antimalarial drugs as prophylaxis to prevent getting COVID-19. They say health professionals who are being exposed to COVID-19 positive patients and those who test positive but are asymptomatic should be taking drugs such as Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine. They explain that these populations remain most in need, and because of limited supply, these individuals need to be prioritized.

A research letter to this effect titled, "To consider or not antimalarials as a prophylactic intervention in the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic," was published in the latest issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Why review?

Chloroquine is one of the standard drugs used against malaria, and hydroxychloroquine is derived from the former and is used in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases. These drugs have been in use for forty more years now, and they are useful in several conditions. Common side effects with these drugs include gastrointestinal upset, severe nausea, and vomiting. Severe side effects include eye damage or retinopathy and cardiac toxicity.

The Italian researchers wrote that there is an acute shortage of these antimalarial drugs, Chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine due to the recent surge in demand. They explain that these drugs have been included in the Chinese guidelines for the management of pneumonia caused by COVID-19 (int their version 7 released on 3 March 2020). Some small overseas studies found that the drugs could be used as a way to treat COVID-19, sparking a massive uptick in demand, but many experts are skeptical of the evidence. Several new clinical trials have started trying to assess the efficacy of these drugs in preventing more severe disease.

The problem with the use of these drugs as a treatment or as prophylaxis in COVID-19 cases or exposure is unethical since their efficacy is not yet conclusively proven by large scale clinical trials. The team wrote, "Is it permissible to take a controlled risk in the event of a pandemic? In such a case: would it be reasonable to consider antimalarials as primary prophylaxis in healthy subjects living in highest risk regions or, at least, to use them in those testing positive for COVID-19, but still asymptomatic?"

What was found in this review?

The research was undertaken as an observational study collating the available evidence on the issue and was not peer-reviewed. The researchers outline several published studies and the effects of these drugs. For example;

A study by Wang et al. showed how low concentrations of Chloroquine was able to block the replication of COVID-19. This could be achieved at doses of 500 mg of Chloroquine, they write.

Another study by Yao et al. showed that hydroxychloroquine has shown an anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect and reduced the replication of the virus. This effect was seen with increasing therapeutic doses in lab studies. Studies reveal that both Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can prevent viral entry into the host cell and thus protect the consumer.

The dose of hydroxychloroquine was 400 mg twice a day on day 1 and 200 mg twice a continued. Hydroxychloroquine was found to be more effective than Chloroquine in this aspect.

A study by Gao et al. with 100 patients positive with COVID-19 infection treated with Chloroquine has shown beneficial effects. This was a case series, and it showed that chloroquine use could reduce lung complications, improved lung clearance of the disease, shortened the course of the disease, and had minimal adverse effects.

After six days of use, hydroxychloroquine use in those with COVID-19 infection showed negative nasopharyngeal samples. Among those treated with hydroxychloroquine, 70 percent showed viral clearance and 100 percent of those treated with a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin showed viral clearance or freedom from the viral load. This was comparable to 12.5 percent viral clearance among those who did not receive hydroxychloroquine. This was a study by Gautret et al.

Conclusions and implications

The authors concluded, "If mass prophylaxis was accepted as an option worldwide, this would raise the question of whether there is enough supply of [chloroquine] and [hydroxychloroquine] to support this approach."

They wrote that The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) worries that with a higher demand for hydroxychloroquine by COVID-19 patients during this pandemic, the patients of rheumatoid arthritis who require this drug may suffer. EULAR President, Professor Iain McInnes called for more concrete studies, and EULAR's patient membership group (PARE) also urged increased supply of the drugs to meet the demands of COVID-19 as well as non-COVID-19 patients. McInnes said, "EULAR is concerned, however, that the diversion of drug supplies away from people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases may compromise the health of this important and sizeable group of patients in Europe and beyond." He said, "A balanced approach that meets the imperatives of the ongoing pandemic, but which also takes account of the needs of patients already taking these drugs is essential."


In the wake of the Covid 19 outbreak, entire mankind across the globe is suffering. Enhancing the bodys natural defence system (immunity) plays an important role in maintaining optimum health.

We all know that prevention is better than cure. While there is no medicine for COVID-19 as of now, it will be good to take preventive measures which boost our immunity in these times.

Ayurveda, being the science of life, propagates the gifts of nature in maintaining healthy and happy living. Ayurvedas extensive knowledge base on preventive care, derives from the concepts of Dinacharya - daily regimes and Ritucharya

seasonal regimes to maintain healthy life. It is a plant-based science. The simplicity of awareness about oneself and the harmony each individual can achieve by uplifting and maintaining his or her immunity is emphasized across Ayurvedas classical scriptures.

Ministry of AYUSH recommends the following self-care guidelines for preventive health measures and boosting immunity with special reference to respiratory health. These are supported by Ayurvedic literature and scientific publications.

Recommended Measures

I General Measures

1. Drink warm water throughout the day.

Daily practice of Yogasana, Pranayama and meditation for at least 30 minutes as advised by Ministry of AYUSH (#YOGAatHome #StayHome #StaySafe)

Spices like Haldi (Turmeric), Jeera (Cumin), Dhaniya (Coriander) and Lahsun (Garlic) are recommended in cooking.

Ayurvedic Immunity Promoting Measures

Take Chyavanprash 10gm (1tsf) in the morning. Diabetics should take sugar free Chyavanprash.

Drink herbal tea / decoction (Kadha) made from Tulsi (Basil), Dalchini (Cinnamon), Kalimirch (Black pepper), Shunthi (Dry Ginger) and Munakka (Raisin) - once or twice a day. Add jaggery (natural sugar) and / or fresh lemon juice to your taste, if needed.

Golden Milk- Half tea spoon Haldi (turmeric) powder in 150 ml hot milk - once or twice a day.

Simple Ayurvedic Procedures

Nasal application - Apply sesame oil / coconut oil or Ghee in both the nostrils (Pratimarsh Nasya) in morning and evening.

Oil pulling therapy- Take 1 table spoon sesame or coconut oil in mouth. Do not drink, Swish in the mouth for 2 to 3 minutes and spit it off followed by warm water rinse. This can be done once or twice a day.

IV During dry cough / sore throat

Steam inhalation with fresh Pudina (Mint) leaves or Ajwain (Caraway seeds) can be practiced once in a day.

Lavang (Clove) powder mixed with natural sugar / honey can be taken 2-3 times a day in case of cough or throat irritation.

These measures generally treat normal dry cough and sore throat. However, it is best to consult doctors if these symptoms persist.

1 The above measures can be followed to the extent possible as per an individuals convenience.

2 These measures are recommended by following eminent Vaidyas from across the Country as they may possibly boost an individuals immunity against infections.

Padma Shri Vaidya P R Krishnakumar, Coimbatore

Padma Bhushan Vaidya Devendra Triguna, Delhi

Vaidya P M Varier, Kottakkal

Vaidya Jayant Devpujari, Nagpur

Vaidya Vinay Velankar, Thane

Vaidya B S Prasad, Belgaum

Padma Shri Vaidya Gurdeep Singh, Jamnagar

Acharya Balkrishna ji, Haridwar

Vaidya M S Baghel, Jaipur

10. Vaidya R B Dwivedi, Hardoi UP

11. Vaidya K N Dwivedi, Varanasi

12. Vaidya Rakesh Sharma, Chandigarh

13. Vaidya Abichal Chattopadhyay, Kolkata

14. Vaidya Tanuja Nesari, Delhi

15. Vaidya Sanjeev Sharma, Jaipur

16. Vaidya Anup Thakar, Jamnagar

Disclaimer: The above advisory does not claim to be treatment for COVID 19.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Dirac matter is an intriguing class of materials with rather peculiar properties: electrons in these materials behave as if they had no mass. The most prominent Dirac material is graphene, but further members have been discovered during the past 15 years or so. Each one of them serves as a rich playground for exploring 'exotic' electronic behaviours, some of which hold the promise to enable novel components for electronics. However, even if Dirac matter and other so-called topological materials -- in which electrons behave in similarly unexpected ways -- are among the currently most intensively studied condensed-matter systems, there are only very few examples where the topology of the electronic bands is connected in a well-defined manner to the magnetic properties of the materials. One material in which such interplay between topological electronic states and magnetism has been observed is CaMnBi2, but the mechanism connecting the two remained unclear. Writing in Physical Review Letters, postdoc Run Yang and PhD student Matteo Corasaniti from the Optical Spectroscopy group of Prof. Leonardo Degiorgi at the Laboratory for Solid State Physics of ETH Zurich, working with colleagues at Brookhaven National Laboratory (US) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, now report a comprehensive study in which they provide clear evidence that it is a slight nudge on the magnetic moments, known as spin canting, that provokes substantial changes in the electronic band structure.

Compass points to the right direction on a bumpy road

CaMnBi2 and the related compound SrMnBi2 have recently attracted attention as they display quantum magnetism -- the manganese ions are antiferromagnetically ordered at around room temperature and below -- and at the same time they host Dirac electrons. That there is interplay between the two properties has been suspected for some while, not least as at ~50 K there appears an unexpected 'bump' in the conduction properties at these materials. But the precise nature of this anomaly was still poorly understood until now.

In earlier work studying optical properties, Corasaniti, Yang and co-workers had established already a link to the electronic properties of the material. They used in particular the fact that the bump-like anomaly in the transport properties can be shifted in temperature by replacing some of the calcium atoms with sodium. To get now to the microscopic origins of the observed behaviour, they studied samples with different sodium dopings by torque magnetometry. In this technique, the torque on a magnetic sample is measured when it is exposed to a suitably strong field, similarly as a compass needle aligns with the Earth magnetic field. And this approach proved to point the team to the origins of the anomaly.

A firm link between magnetic and electronic properties

In their magnetic-torque experiments, the researchers found that at temperatures where no anomaly is observed in the electronic transport measurements, the magnetic behaviour is such as one would expect for an antiferromagnet. This was not the case anymore at temperatures at which the anomaly is present. There, a ferromagnetic component appeared, which can be explained by a projection of magnetic moments onto the plane orthogonal to the easy spin c-axis of the original antiferromagnetic order. This phenomenon is known as spin-canting, induced by a so-called super-exchange mechanism.

These two sets of experiments -- optical and torque measurements -- were supported by dedicated first-principles calculations. In particular, for the case where spin canting was included in the calculations, a peculiar hybridization between the manganese and bismuth atoms was found to mediate the interlayer magnetic coupling and to govern the electronic properties in the material. Taken together, the study therefore establishes that sought-after direct link between the magnetic properties and changes to the electronic band structure, reflected in the bump anomaly of the transport properties.

With such detailed understanding on board, the door is now open to exploring not only the electronic properties of CaMnBi2 and related compounds, but also the possibilities arising from the connection between magnetic properties and topological states in these intriguing forms of matter.
NEW YORK, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Mattress Alliance announced today their response to an official petition filed March 31 with the International Trade Commission by a group of U.S. corporations including Brooklyn Bedding, Corsicana Mattress Company, Elite Comfort Solutions, FXI Inc., Innocor Inc., Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., Leggett & Platt Incorporated, and others. These petitioners are suppliers and producers for major mattress brands such as Tempur-Pedic, Serta, Simmons, Sealy, Casper, Purple, Tuft & Needle, and others.

The petition aims to bar imported mattressesincluding medical-grade mattresses under a number of HTS codes including 9404.21by imposing insurmountable tariffs up to 1,008 percent. Seven countries known as strongholds of mattress manufacturing were targeted: Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, Serbia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodiarepresenting 80% of all mattress imports in the U.S in 2020.

News agencies are reporting that beds are one of the most essential medical devices hospitals need now. COVID-19 projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation indicate American hospitals will not have 87,674 hospital beds and 19,863 intensive care unit beds in time to save lives.

If this ITC case reaches the preliminary hearing on April 21, it ends U.S. importers' ability to supply mattresses to help throughout the pandemic.

"If we shut down the supply of hospital beds, the immediate effect would be catastrophic as more and more hospitals and emergency centers are calling out for more beds," said Michael Roizen, MD, emeritus chief wellness officer at Cleveland Clinic. "We are in this for the long run and should be planning for additional peaks later this year and into the future."

This global crisis is the worst possible time for corporate power moves to increase market share. Imported mattresses make up a significant percentage of beds in hospitals. And American importers need to continue ordering beds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said, "In the midst of a global health crisis, this opportunistic corporate warfare could cost many American lives. This is not the time to be restricting these supplies."

Maven, a U.S. importer and member of the American Mattress Alliance, is currently supplying thousands of beds to hospitals and crisis centers across the country. Maven has distribution channels in place for overnight and two-day fulfillment across North America to get beds in hospitals and emergency centers immediately.

Matt Poyma, account manager for a leading healthcare equipment company, said, "We are in the process of converting doctor office exam rooms into patient rooms to care for COVID-19 infected patients at this critical time. Our normal suppliers could not meet the urgent need for beds and we had to look elsewhere for these critical supplies. Maven was able to send the rollaway beds we needed to help our patients."

Steve Douglas, vice president of operations for Maven, stated, "These petitioners are willing to put American lives at risk for their personal gain. It is abusive. It is immoral."

To learn more about the American Mattress Alliance and this issue, visit americanmattressalliance.org.

About American Mattress Alliance

The American Mattress Alliance exists to provide high-quality products to American consumers with an emphasis on innovation and accessibility. The American Mattress Alliance was created in response to an antidumping petition filed on March 31, 2020. Members include Maven, Lucid, Linenspa, and others. The communications chair is Bryce Larsen. Learn more at americanmattressalliance.org.

SOURCE American Mattress Alliance

Related Links

http://americanmattressalliance.org


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She's currently self-isolating with her husband Ty Comfort and their children.

And, Caprice, 48, looks sensational in photos taken by her step-daughter Isabella, 12, after being styled by her sons Jett and Jax, 6, for the shoot in their stunning home in Notting Hill, London, amid the coronavirus lockdown.

With a team of professionals not able to come together for a planned cover shoot, Caprice asked her young step-daughter - who has been studying photography - to try taking the photos, while her boys helped pick the outfits - with fantastic results.

Wow! Caprice, 48, looks sensational in photos taken by her step-daughter Isabella, 12, after being styled by her sons Jett and Jax, 6, for the shoot in their stunning London home

A source told MailOnline: 'Caprice has been asked to front the cover of a renowned business magazine but couldn't get a team together due to the 2 metre distance rule and government advice to stay at home.

'As her family have been self-isolating her kids have been interested in mommy's business. It is really cute! So when this most recent photo-shoot booking came in she got her family fully involved.

'Caprice asked her 12 year old step-daughter who has been studying photography to take the photos and surprisingly they are really good! Caprice is really amazed at how well they came out!

'Caprice even got her two boys to help her pick out the outfits and she did her own hair and makeup.

Talented: With a team of pros not able to come together for a planned cover shoot, Caprice asked her young step-daughter - who has been studying photography - to try taking the photos

Beauty: Caprice showcased her ageless beauty in the flawless photographs

Stylish: Caprice's two young sons helped to choose her outfits for the photoshoot

Wow: Caprice showed off her enormous home, while posing for the snaps

Stunning: The model's blonde locks were parted in the centre styled into voluminous waves

'For the location she used her own house in order to get the shoot done as she only leaves the house for groceries.

'Her Notting Hill home is stunning and often used for photoshoots so it was a no brainer and Caprice knows all the best spots to shoot'.

Meanwhile, Caprice recently hit back at popstar Peter Andre, branding him 'unprofessional' for calling her 'foolish' for 'undermining a doctor' on Jeremy Vine during a recent coronavirus debate.

Pete, 47, had said in his OK! column: 'I didn't see Caprice Bourret's appearance on Channel 5's Jeremy Vine programme last week, but I heard that she was slammed by viewers for arguing with a qualified doctor about how to contain the coronavirus.

Work it: The model showed off her skills in front of the camera, while sitting on a swing in the middle of her Notting Hill home

Elegant: Posing on the stairs, Caprice gave a glimpse of her artwork selection

Stylish: While clad in a strapless blue pencil dress, the TV personality stood in front of her dining table and eye-catching chairs

Stunning: Caprice did her own hair and make-up for the home photoshoot

'She apparently claimed that she knew just as much as the health experts because she'd read reports online.

'If Caprice was intentionally trying to undermine the doctor, then she's absolutely foolish, because it's the medical professionals who are being told first hand what is going on. I know who I'd listen to!'

But a source close to the model told MailOnline: ''Caprice feels it was unprofessional for Pete to call someone out when he didn't have his facts right.

'Caprice would never undermine a doctor or a specialist in their field. She was simply questioning the doctor as the World Health Organisation had contradictory information.

Family matters: 'Caprice even got her two boys to help her pick out the outfits and she did her own hair and makeup' an insider told MailOnline

Amazed! 'Caprice is really amazed at how well they came out!' a source told MailOnline

'It was a debate show and Caprice was directly referencing the World Health Organisation who is the authority in this space. A lot of these key facts are referenced in the media.'

The source continued 'Caprice referenced the WHO guidelines and that we should learn from other territories that successfully contained the virus such as Taiwan and Singapore who wore masks and closed all schools early and then went into lockdown in order to prevent the spread and assist healthcare with the overload.

'It is a bit ironic that we are actually following those same steps now which is what Caprice was referencing two weeks ago.

'Someone in Pete's position who writes a column that hundreds of thousands of people read has a responsibility to be objective and have the decency to watch the clip and get the facts correct. It seems really unfair of him to comment on something that he hasn't even seen'.

MailOnline contacted Caprice's representative for comment at the time.

Finishing touches: Caprice had her nails painted blue, with a single nail painted silver

Elegant: Within her home, Caprice has white roses in chic black slimline vases

Caprice's fiery Jeremy Vine debate came days after she was seen stepping out wearing a mask covering her nose and mouth, after narrowly avoiding catching coronavirus.

The model wore the protective item as she headed out in London before the lockdown, with sources exclusively telling MailOnline that Caprice was 'left shaken' over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The insider revealed that Caprice had a near-miss with the virus, after a friend of hers caught it, and she is now 'following every precaution necessary' to avoid falling ill.
Amazon Worker Fired After Organizing a Walkout

Whole Foods and Amazon employees have been speaking out about the lack of protections and PPE theyve received since the start of this pandemic. Since an organized walkout this week, worker frustrations are coming to a culmination.

Earlier this week, an Amazon warehouse worker in New York helped organized a walkoutand was soon fired. Amazon and Whole Food workersboth managed by Amazonhave been calling for better sick paid leave policies, better pay, safer protections at work and more flexibility from managers. While Amazon claims it has gone to extensive measures to provide what it can, many workers do not think its enough.

On Monday, March 30, a group of workers walked off the job at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, and a sickout called by Whole Foods Market workers also occurred on Tuesday week. They were protesting what they see as inadequate safety measures and insufficient pay for the risks they confront, according to a New York Times article.

Amazon fired one of the workers who led the Staten Island walkout.

Delivery service workers and grocery store workers are among those individuals not only asked to go to work during the pandemic, but they are working overtime to keep up with the nonstop demand for groceries, online orders and other materials. Healthcare workers, postal service workers and cleaning personnel are two other groups that face increased risk to the virus while many Americans have either lost their jobs or are working from home.

This pandemic has highlighted the differences in social status and economic inequality in the country right now. While many white-collar workers can work from homeanswering calls and emails and using webcast meetingsmany blue collar workers (like those listed above) have continued to report to work, putting themselves and their families at heightened risk.
A week after Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an executive order to prevent evictions of Nebraskans significantly affected by the coronavirus, evictions in many cases still have been moving forward "business as usual," one legal advocacy group says.

"That's not at all what occurred," Milo Mumgaard, executive director of Legal Aid of Nebraska, said Thursday of the reprieve anticipated to follow the governor's March 25 order.

He said he's heard of landlords working with tenants. And that's a good thing. But there also are "lots of folks who are just going to go forward business as usual," he said.

This week, Mumgaard estimated, there have been about 100 evictions in Lincoln and Omaha.

On Friday, State Court Administrator Corey Steel said that the Douglas County Courthouse would close for the next two weeks at least. Which Mumgaard said should lead to a delay for the hearings there for now.

But Thursday morning, so many people filled a hallway outside a Lancaster County courtroom for hearings all set at the same time, County Court Judge Thomas Zimmerman let people wait in the courtroom to be called up, like they did before coronavirus concerns and social distancing.

Mumgaard said the first five tenants weren't allowed to raise a COVID-19 defense to ask for a continuance. Zimmerman gave them extra time, 10 to 12 days, to move out. But they still were evicted.

Other judges  even other Lincoln judges  have liberally granted continuances.

The inconsistency is troublesome, Mumgaard said, because it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for someone in Omaha to be treated one way and someone in Grand Island another way.

When the hearings are set, the tenants  most low-income and without an attorney  are required to go to court.

"This means they are gathering at the courthouse on these days when courts are scheduled to hear these evictions," Mumgaard said. "The court process and the resulting movement of people (out of homes) is a public health problem."

The executive order signed by the governor last week was intended for those who have become ill, lost income because of job loss or wage reductions or missed work to care for a loved one, such as a child who cannot attend school or a sick family member.

It applied to rent due on or after March 13 and doesn't cancel any rent payments.

But it means judges no longer are required by statute to hold a hearing on new cases in 10 to 14 days, Mumgaard said. He said it gives judges the green light to continue evictions in an effort to reduce the number of people who have to go to the courthouse and curb the potential spread of the coronavirus.

"What we're all concerned about is not that evictions can and should take place. You've got to pay your rent, and if you don't, you run the risk of being evicted," he said.

But, Mumgaard said, evictions can be continued just like every other civil action being continued. He said the downside to not continuing them is what Legal Aid attorneys are seeing now at courthouses in Lincoln and Omaha: dozens of people at court, waiting with others in crowded hallways.

"This is not an emergency. This is just a civil action between a landlord and a tenant. We can put them on ice for a couple of months," he said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger
On April 2, American Thinker published a post in which I suggested that China's culture was responsible for the coronavirus. This post riffed off the fact that, on Sunday, Tucker Carlson had highlighted a study from China holding that the bat responsible for COVID-19 was not one of the bats sold and eaten at Wuhan's infamous wet markets. Instead, the bat was of a type used at two nearby research laboratories.

Carlson said  and this seemed correct  that, to the extent the Chinese government had to have signed off on the study, we would be wrong to assume that China deliberately unleashed the virus on the world. (It could have, but that's not the conclusion one should draw from the study.)

The April 2 post I wrote said the problem could well be that the Chinese just don't do things meticulously. Theirs is not a Japanese culture, one in which everything is done with reverence and obsessive attention to detail. Instead, the Chinese have a slapdash approach to just about everything.

Part of this is because the communist government's mercantilist business model is to dump cheap products on the foreign market, undermining local economies. Meanwhile, Chinese tariffs mean that other countries cannot make up their job losses by bringing unique merchandise to the Chinese market. It's this type of trade depredation that Trump has been fighting since his first day as president.

Another part of this is because, for whatever reason, Chinese manufacturers don't mind producing garbage or even toxic products, so long as they can make a profit. This may be because they're going through the same "robber baron" phase that America had in the postCivil War era. In many ways, Chinese manufacturing is following that old model of worker exploitation and "anything for a profit" production.

It may be that communism has sapped China's traditional moral cultural markers and left nothing in their place. After all, it was Stalin who allegedly said, "If only one man dies of hunger, that is a tragedy. If millions die, that's only statistics." Communism operates on statistics, with little respect for the individual, and this harsh metric may have trickled down to become part of Chinese culture. The Chinese are fiercely loyal to family, but loyalty often ends there.

Or the Chinese disregard for quality and safety may be attributable to something else altogether that hasn't yet occurred to me.

Be that as it may, the point of yesterday's American Thinker post was that the Chinese need to pay the price for their malignant negligence. Sadly, it appears that the Chinese aren't paying the price at all. Instead, according to the Daily Caller, they're back to business as usual, and raking in the money, helped along by (again) cutting corners:

Chinese manufacturers are seeing profits spike as global demand for masks and other medical equipment has reached a fever pitch. Nearly a fifth of mask manufacturers in the country only jumped into the business after January, the Financial Times reported, citing official data. "A mask machine is a real cash printer," Shi Xinghui, a sales manager of an N95 mask manufacturer in China, told Agence France-Presse. "The profit of a mask now is at least several cents compared to less than one in the past," Xinghui added. "Printing 60,000 or 70,000 masks a day is equivalent to printing money." [snip] But defective products remain a serious problem. Several countries have already recalled or stopped using hundreds of thousands of faulty masks and coronavirus tests they received from Chinese manufacturers.

Read the rest here. And if you have a little excess cash still available once this pandemic dies down, think about using that money not to buy cheap Chinese products, but, instead, to buy slightly more expensive American products.
CONTACT - Media:



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CONVENING OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF EURONEXT N.V.

Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, London, Oslo and Paris  2 April 2020  Euronext today announced that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Thursday 14 May 2020 at 10.30 CET, at Beursplein 5, 1012 JW Amsterdam, The Netherlands, subject to any legislative developments in the context of the current COVID 19 crisis.

Shareholders are strongly encouraged to provide voting instructions and not to attend the AGM in person. To ensure as much interaction as possible, shareholders are invited to submit questions regarding the agenda items in advance by sending an email to ptheunissen@euronext.com . Our aim is to answer during the meeting all questions submitted in advance. A webcast of the AGM will be available on https://channel.royalcast.com/webcast/euronextwebcast/20200514_1/ . Other options are being explored. Announcements will be made on Euronexts website ( https://www.euronext.com/en/investor-relations/shareholder-meetings ) closer to date.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

1. Opening

2. Presentation of the Chief Executive Officer (discussion item)

3. Annual report 2019

a. Explanation of the policy on additions to reserves and dividends (discussion item)

b. Proposal to adopt the 2019 remuneration report (voting item 1)

c. Proposal to adopt the 2019 financial statements (voting item 2)

d. Proposal to adopt a dividend of EUR 1.59 per ordinary share (voting item 3)

e. Proposal to discharge the members of the Managing Board in respect of their duties performed during the year 2019 (voting item 4)

f. Proposal to discharge the members of the Supervisory Board in respect of their duties performed during the year 2019 (voting item 5)

4. Composition of the Supervisory Board

Story continues

a. Re-appointment of Dick Sluimers as a member of the Supervisory Board (voting item 6)

5. Composition of the Managing Board

a. Appointment of ivind Amundsen as a member of the Managing Board (voting item 7)

b. Appointment of Georges Lauchard as a member of the Managing Board (voting item 8)

6. Proposal to adopt a new remuneration policy with regard to the Managing Board aligned with the Shareholder Rights Directive II as implemented in Dutch law (voting item 9)

7. Proposal to adopt a new remuneration policy with regard to the Supervisory Board aligned with the Shareholder Rights Directive II as implemented in Dutch law (voting item 10)

8. Proposal to appoint the external auditor (voting item 11)

9. Proposal to designate the Managing Board as the competent body:

a. to issue ordinary shares (voting item 12); and

b. to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights of shareholders (voting item 13)

10. Proposal to authorise the Managing Board to acquire ordinary shares in the share capital of the company on behalf of the company (voting item 14)

11. Proposal to authorise the Supervisory Board or Managing Board (subject to approval of the Supervisory Board) to grant rights to French beneficiaries to receive shares in accordance with Articles L225-197-1 and seq. of the French Code of commerce (voting item 15)

12. Any other business

13. Close





The AGM will be conducted in English.

Registration date AGM

Pursuant to Dutch law and Euronext N.V.s Articles of Association, the persons who will be considered as entitled to attend and vote at the AGM are those persons who are registered as such in the administrations held by their financial intermediaries (the Shareholders) on Thursday 16 April 2020, after processing of all settlements on that date (the Registration Date).

Registration

Shareholders holding their shares through Euroclear France S.A. (i.e. the public) who wish to attend the AGM, provide instructions or grant a power of attorney to vote on their behalf, must complete the form (voting form / attendance card request) provided for this purpose by their financial intermediary or by Euronext Securities Department  BNP PARIBAS Securities Services. The Shareholders should be aware that these documents must be received, no later than on Thursday 7 May 2020 by their financial intermediary for receipt no later than on Friday 8 May 2020 by BNP Paribas Securities Service CTS Assemblees Generales, 9 rue du Debarcadere 93761 Pantin Cedex, France. The financial intermediary should deliver to the Shareholder a certificate of holding containing: name and city of residence of the Shareholder; number of shares; name and city of residence of the attendee (if different from the Shareholder) and declaration that the shares were in custody with the Euroclear France admitted institution on the Registration Date. This certificate will serve as the admission certificate for the AGM for the Shareholder.

Shareholders holding their shares through Interbolsa in Portugal who wish to attend the AGM, provide instructions or grant a power of attorney to vote on their behalf, must complete the form (voting form / attendance card request) provided for this purpose by Euronext Securities Department  BNP PARIBAS Securities Services. The Shareholders should be aware that these documents must be received, no later than on Thursday 7 May 2020 by their financial intermediary for receipt no later than on Friday 8 May 2020 by BNP Paribas Securities Services, PT Local Team, Edificio ARTS  Av. D. Joao II  Lote 1.18.01, Bloco B, 1998-028 Lisboa, Portugal. The financial intermediary should deliver to the Shareholder a certificate of holding containing: name and city of residence of the Shareholder; number of shares on the Registration Date; name and city of residence of the attendee (if different from the Shareholder). This certificate will serve as admission certificate for the AGM for the Shareholder.

We advise Shareholders to make contact with their financial intermediary for any questions.

Persons without a valid admission certificate will not be given access to the meeting. Attendants may be asked for identification prior to being admitted.

At the time of the publication of this convening notice, Euronexts total issued share capital in number of issued shares and in voting rights is published on Euronexts website:

https://www.euronext.com/en/investor-relations/capital-and-shareholding

The articles of association of Euronext N.V. do not allow for electronic voting. If emergency legislation or emergency measures in that context are introduced in the Netherlands, this convening notice must be considered to include the possibility of electronic participation (and the exercise of rights).

Given the circumstances, shareholders are strongly encouraged to provide voting instructions and not to attend the AGM in person.





Agm Documentation

The AGM Documentation (i.e. this convening notice, the agenda and the explanatory notes thereto including the information on the persons to be appointed to the Supervisory Board and the Managing Board, as well as the 2019 Annual Report) is available:

at the registered office of Euronext N.V.: Beursplein 5, 1012 JW Amsterdam, The Netherlands

at the following addresses:

 in Belgium: Euronext, Rue du Marquis, 1 / Markiesstraat 1, 1000 Bruxelles / 1000 Brussel, Belgium

 in France: Euronext, 14, place des Reflets, 92054 Paris La Defense, France

 in Ireland: Euronext, Exchange Buildings, Foster Place, Dublin 2, Ireland

 in Norway: Oslo Brs VPS, Tollbugata 2, 0152 Oslo, Norway

 in Portugal: Euronext, Av. da Liberdade, n. 196 - 7, 1250-147 Lisboa, Portugal

 in the United Kingdom: Euronext, 10th floor, 110 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6EU, United Kingdom

on Euronexts website https://www.euronext.com/en/investor-relations/shareholder-meetings

at BNP PARIBAS Securities Services CTS Assemblees Generales  9 rue du Debarcadere

93761 Pantin Cedex, France - + 33 1 57 43 02 30

Managing Board and Supervisory Board of Euronext N.V.

Beursplein 5, 1012 JW Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, under number 60234520

CONTACTS -

Media

Pauline Bucaille: +33 1 70 48 24 41 ; media@euronext.com

Analysts & investors

Aurelie Cohen/ Clement Kubiak: +33 1 70 48 24 27 ; ir@euronext.com

About Euronext

Euronext is the leading pan-European exchange, covering Belgium, France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the UK. With close to 1,500 listed issuers worth 4.5 trillion in market capitalisation as of end December 2019, Euronext has an unmatched blue chip franchise that includes 26 issuers in the Morningstar Eurozone 50 Index and a strong diverse domestic and international client base. Euronext operates regulated and transparent equity and derivatives markets and is the largest centre for debt and funds listings in the world. Its total product offering includes Equities, FX, Exchange Traded Funds, Warrants & Certificates, Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and Indices. Euronext also leverages its expertise in running markets by providing technology and managed services to third parties. In addition to its main regulated market, Euronext also operates Euronext GrowthTM and Euronext AccessTM, simplifying access to listing for SMEs. The Norwegian stock exchange and its clearing & settlement subsidiary, together operating as Oslo Brs VPS, joined Euronext on 17 June 2019.

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Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode has lashed out at those peddling rumour that Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari was dea...





Critic, Femi Fani-Kayode has lashed out at those peddling rumour that Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari was dead.





Reports on social media suggested that Kyari, who is currently being treated for Coronavirus was dead.





But Fani-Kayode has described those peddling rumour of Kyaris death as vicious and heartless.





He said Kyari was not dead but very much alive.





It is not true that Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to Muhammadu Buhari is dead. Those that are behind that rumour are vicious and heartless.





I remain opposed to the Muhammadu Buhari administration, but to wish or proclaim someone dead simply because you disagree with him politically is unacceptable, he tweeted.





The rumour was started Thursday via a tweet by Kemi Olunloyo, a pharmacist, who now claimed to be an investigative journalist.





She claimed a high ranking member of President Buharis Cabinet has DIED from coronavirus complications.









Her followers on Twitter swallowed the news hook, line and sinker. By midnight, it had recorded over 5,600 retweets and 9,700 likes.





However presidential spokesmen Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, in text responses to our correspondent, dismissed the tweet as fake news.




Hyderabad, April 3 : At a time when farmers across the country are worried over losses amid a 21-day nationwide lockdown, a small farmer from Telangana has come forward to donate Rs 50,000 for COVID-19 relief measures.

Mora Hanmandlu of Adilabad district, who owns four-and-half acres of land, decided to donate a part of the money he earned from his crop.

"I have been reading in newspapers about coronavirus and how the lockdown has been affecting the people. I know that the unprecedented move has stung millions of poor in the country. So, I decided to donate some money for the relief work," he said.

Hanmandlu said he had a good crop this year and recently received money for the same. On suggestion by his son that they should make a contribution, he decided to donate Rs 50,000.

"Mora Hanmandlu -- a small farmer with a big heart. My citizen heroes of the day," tweeted Telangana's cabinet minister K. T. Rama Rao.

Top leaders, corporate, businessmen, prominent personalities from various walks of life and many from the middle class have been donating to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Hyderabad, April 3 : A posse of policemen in protective gear was deployed at government-run Gandhi Hospital here, where a majority of coronavirus patients are undergoing treatment, a day after an attack on doctors.

Two Covid-19 patients had attacked doctors on duty after the death of their relative who too was under treatment for the virus in the same ward on Wednesday.

The policemen deployed at the hospital could not enter the isolation ward earlier as they lacked personal protective gear like masks and suits.

The attack had sparked protest by doctors and paramedics who demanded protection. Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar visited the hospital to assure the doctors about security.

"Proud policemen deployed at Gandhi hospital for safety of doctors," tweeted Anjani Kumar along with a picture of the policemen wearing masks and protective gear.

Meanwhile, the director of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Adilabad has written to Superintendent of Police and District Collector to provide extra security for doctors and other hospital staff.

Due to alleged non-cooperative attitude of six men undergoing treatment, the hospital authorities fear an attack on doctors.

All six had attended Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi last month. At least 40 others who attended the meet from Adilabad have been kept at other quarantine facilities.
USS Theodore Roosevelt

Jackie Hart/US Navy

The commanding officer of an aircraft carrier who penned a leaked letter to his leaders had followed military procedures and is not expected to be punished, according to senior Navy officials.

Capt. Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt wrote a letter to Navy leaders on Sunday urging for an "immediate and decisive action" as the crew dealt with a novel coronavirus outbreak.

Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said that if Crozier had leaked the letter, it would "violate the principles of good order and discipline," but added "I don't know that."

"The fact that he wrote the letter to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any kind of retaliation," Modly said.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The commanding officer of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier who penned a letter to his leaders had followed military procedures and is not expected to face retaliation, according to senior Navy officials.

Capt. Brett Crozier, the commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt and its roughly 4,800 service members, issued a letter to Navy leaders on Sunday urging for an "immediate and decisive action" as the crew dealt with a novel coronavirus outbreak. Information on the four-page letter and its contents were obtained by The San Francisco Chronicle.

According to The Chronicle's report, Crozier urged that he needed a "political solution" to the number of positive cases, which one senior officer aboard the ship said was numbering around 150 to 200 sailors.

"We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die," Crozier reportedly wrote. "If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset  our Sailors."

Navy Secretary Thomas Modly and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said Wednesday that their staff were in "constant communication" with Crozier and other commanders.

Story continues

"I think there were some timing issues related to when that letter was sent, when that letter finally made its way out to the media," Modly said at the Pentagon. "But we've been reacting, obviously, because we want them to tell us what their issues are so we can react to them."

Modly said that if Crozier had leaked the letter, it would "violate the principles of good order and disciple," but added "I don't know that."

"The fact that he wrote the letter to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any time of retaliation," Modly said.

Capt. Brett Crozier.

US Navy

Modly stressed that he made it clear prior to the letter's publication that if Crozier "felt that he was not getting the proper response from his chain of command, that he had a direct line into my office."

"He submitted this letter through his chain of command," Modly said. "How it got out out into the media, I don't know. I don't think anyone will ever know. We certainly would prefer that it wouldn't."

"We really want people to tell us if they see problems, they should not be inhibited from telling us, from being transparent about the issues that they see," Modly added. "But they need to do it through their chains of command. And if they're not getting the proper responses from their chains of command, then they need to maybe go outside of it."

Adm. Mike Gilday noted that plans to address the outbreak on the ship were "already in motion" before the letter was sent, and that he did not fault Crozier, who had an "extraordinary responsibility of command," for writing to Navy officials.

Asked what may have prompted the captain to write the letter if the Navy was already addressing his concerns, Gilday said there may have been "potentially a breakdown" in communication at some point.

"If he has a difference of approach and he thinks he has a better way to do it, and if he doesn't feel that we're acting at the speed of urgency, then absolutely we need to know about that, and we need to adjust," Gilday said.

Crozier is a native of Santa Rosa, California, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1992.

Following the publication of Crozier's letter, sailors were rotated off the ship in Guam. Roughly 2,700 of them are expected to be taken off in the coming days, with many being isolated to nearby hotels.

"The letter worked," a sailor aboard the ship told The Chronicle.

Read the original article on Business Insider
It's Leo to the rescue again. Leonardo DiCaprio has launched America's Food Fund, which has already managed to raise $12 million to help communities impacted by the coronavirus.

nyt.com

On Thursday, Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey donated millions of dollars to help launch America's Food Fund.

Their efforts are aimed at minimalizing the damage caused by the most at-risk people during the COVID-19 crisis.

Who's pledging what?

DiCaprio and Powell Jobs donated a joint $5 million and Apple gave another $5 million to a GoFundMe web page; Winfrey donated another $1 million, and the Ford Foundation also put in $1 million. America's Food Fund will aim at working jointly with the existing food relief charities World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.

"In the face of this crisis, organizations like World Central Kitchen and Feeding America have inspired us all with their unwavering commitment to feed the most vulnerable people in need. I thank them for their tireless work on the front lines. They deserve all of our support," DiCaprio said in a statement.

The organization has added that these funds will be aimed to help low-income families, the elderly, individuals facing job disruptions and children who rely on school lunch programs.

The food fund will work with hunger relief organizations World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.

The global tally of the total number of people infected by coronavirus as of Friday crossed 1,000,000 and the death toll from the disease exceeded 50,000.





The US, the world's hardest-hit country, recorded a total of 5,316 coronavirus deaths, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. It has confirmed more than 226,000 cases of the disease.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-04 04:19:06|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iran climbed to 53,183 on Friday, as the total of confirmed cases in Turkey rose to 20,921.

Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East, reported 134 more deaths, raising the death toll to 3,294. So far, a total of 17,935 patients have recovered from the novel coronavirus, while 4,035 others remain in critical condition.

Iran's flag bearer Iran Air said it has suspended all its flights to Germany amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. The decision came after Germany recently imposed new restrictions on arrivals.

In Turkey, the second hardest-hit country in the region, 2,786 new cases and 69 more deaths from COVID-19 were confirmed on Friday, as the tally of confirmed cases rose to 20,921 and the death toll to 425. A total of 484 Turkish patients have recovered from the viral respiratory disease so far.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a 15-day curfew for the citizens under the age of 20 in a bid to curb the fast spread of the coronavirus. Vehicles will also be banned from entering and leaving 30 major provinces and the Black Sea province of Zonguldak, where pulmonary diseases are widespread.

Erdogan and President of the European Council Charles Michel on Friday discussed over the phone the cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

In Israel, the number of COVID-19 cases surged to 7,428, up by 571 from Thursday, while the death toll rose to 39 after three more fatalities were recorded. A total of 403 Israeli patients have recovered from the disease, up by 65 from Thursday.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced 240 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases to 1,264.

UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention said one more death from the disease was confirmed, raising the death toll to nine, while 12 more patients recovered from the virus, raising the tally of the recoveries to 108.

Algeria reported 185 new COVID-19 cases, and 22 new deaths, raising the tally of confirmed cases to 1,171 and the death toll to 105.

Djamel Fourar, head of the COVID-19 Detection and Follow-up Commission, said the hospitals in Algeria have been using the Chloroquine treatment on 419 patients and the initial results were positive, which would encourage doctors to expand the treatment for more patients.

Saudi Arabia confirmed 154 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total tally to 2,039. The death toll rose to 25 after four more fatalities were recorded, while the total number of recoveries increased to 351 after 23 more were added.

Qatar reported 126 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number to 1,075. A total of 21 people recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries to 93.

Egypt confirmed eight more COVID-19 deaths and 120 new cases, bringing the death toll to 66 and the total number of cases to 985. The new cases included 117 Egyptians and three foreigners.

Kuwait reported 75 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 417, of whom 82 have recovered.

In Morocco, a total of 70 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, raising the number of confirmed cases to 761, including 47 deaths and 56 recoveries.

Iraq reported 48 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 820, including 54 deaths and 226 recoveries.

Tunisia reported 40 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 495, of whom 18 have died.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye announced 32 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections in the Palestinian territories to 193. Most of the new cases were Palestinian workers who returned to the West Bank from Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree of expanding the state of emergency in Palestine for another month as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the virus.

Oman announced 21 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 252, with one death.

Lebanon's total number of COVID-19 infections increased by 14 cases to 508, including 17 fatalities after one more death was recorded on Friday.

The World Bank said it has approved a loan of 40 million U.S. dollars to strengthen the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health's capacity to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Marina Wes, World Bank's country director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti, said the bank decided to provide Egypt with 7.9 million dollars to fund its emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Kwara State Government has denied that the state has recorded a case of COVID-19.

It, however, said that all the six samples of suspected cases so far tested in the state have been negative.

The Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19 wishes to clarify that the state has not recorded any confirmed case of COVID-19. As of now, all the six samples tested from Kwara State have returned negative, Rafiu Ajakaye, spokesman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, said in a statement in Ilorin.



The committee states that there is no fact, at this moment, to support suggestions that a male patient who died on Wednesday night at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital was a COVID-19 patient.

Findings by the medical advisory subcommittee revealed that the patient and his wife arrived from the United Kingdom, reportedly came to Ilorin on 20th March, 2020, and went into self-quarantine without reaching out to the government or the technical committee. On the 13th day of the self-quarantine, the husband suddenly had difficulties breathing after reportedly eating dinner and was rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Efforts to resuscitate him proved abortive and he was pronounced dead.

The deceased, a Muslim, was promptly taken to Offa, his hometown, where he was interned on Thursday. Owing to the travel history of the deceased, all the medics who attended to him at the UITH have gone into self-quarantine. Similarly, family members who have had contact with the deceased and his wife have been directed to do same. For abundance of caution, samples have been taken from his wife and four others and results are expected in the coming days.

The committee hereby repeats that there is no record that the UITH patient ever tested positive for the virus.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 18:29:13|Editor: yhy

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DAKAR, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Senegal on Friday reported 12 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the country's total to 207.

The 12 new cases are seven imported ones and five close contacts of earlier confirmed patients, Minister of Health and Social Action Aboudulaye Diouf Sarr told a daily briefing. A total 153 tests were conducted.

The seven imported cases are among Senegalese nationals who were intercepted on March 29 when trying to return to Senegal from another African country, Sarr said.

Among the 207 cases now confirmed, 84 are imported ones. Besides one death, one was evacuated back to his country, and 66 patients have been declared cured by local health authorities.

On March 23, President Macky Sall declared a state of emergency across Senegal, imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Sall also banned public or private meetings of any kind, and ordered temporary closure of public places and meeting places.

Senegal has suspended all international passenger flights till April 17.
Rescue operations have been called off in the search for Robert F. Kennedy's granddaughter and her eight-year-old son, with the pair feared dead after they took a canoe out on a Maryland bay to retrieve a lost ball on Thursday.

Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and her son Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean, failed to return to shore after paddling in the Chesapeake Bay on Thursday.

The Coast Guard ended rescue operations on Friday night, but a search will continue in the hope of recovering their bodies. An overturned canoe matching the one used by the mother and son was found on Thursday night.

McKean's mother, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, is the eldest daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and niece of the late President John F. Kennedy.

Kathleen's brother, Robert F Kennedy Jr, posted on Instagram: 'Tonight, the Coast Guard informed our family that It has terminated rescue operations. The search for remains continues. Rest In Peace Maeve and Gideon.'

David McKean confirmed on Thursday that his wife, Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, and son Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean (center right) were missing

Kathleen's brother, Robert F Kennedy Jr, announced on Instagram that the rescue operation had been called off

Kathleen herself said in a statement Friday night: 'With profound sadness, I share the news that the search for my beloved daughter Maeve and grandson Gideon has turned from rescue to recovery'.

Coast Guard sector commander Matthew Fine told CNN: 'This was a difficult case, and even more difficult to make the decision to suspend the search.

'Our crews and partners did everything they could to find them. We've kept the family informed at every step during the search, and our thoughts are with them tonight.'

The search had started on Thursday afternoon after authorities responded to a report of two people on a canoe in the Chesapeake Bay who appeared to be overtaken by strong winds.

Authorities said the pair, who they didn't name, were paddling the canoe from their home in Shady Side to retrieve a ball but couldn't paddle back to shore.

Maryland's Governor Larry Hogan addressed the pair's disappearance during a coronavirus briefing on Friday, during which he offered sympathies to the family.

'I reached out to and spoke with Lt. Gov. Townsend this morning and on behalf of the people of Maryland I expressed our most heartfelt sympathies and prayers to her and to her entire family during this difficult time,' Gov Hogan said.

Robert F Kennedy Jr announced that the rescue search had been called off

McKean's mother, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, is the eldest daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and niece of the late President John F. Kennedy. Kathleen (right) and her daughters Maeve (center) and Katie (left) are pictured above in 1995

Maeve, who is the executive director of the Georgetown University Global Health Initiative, had tweeted a photo of her son Gideon just last week as she home-schooled him during the coronavirus pandemic

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said Friday: 'News of this tragedy hit me and my family hard this morning.'

'We are holding Kathleen and her family in the light and holding our own loved ones a little closer as we reflect on their pain and their loss,' he said.

Maeve's husband, David McKean, told the Washington Post that the family had been at his mother-in-law's home when the ball they were playing with flew out into the water.

He said his wife and son 'popped into a canoe to chase it down' but said 'they just got farther out than they could handle and couldn't get back in'.

Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and her family were at her mother's house in Shady Side, Maryland (above) when she and her eight-year-old son set off in a canoe but failed to return to shore

The Maryland State Police, US Coast Guard, and local police and fire departments all joined the search the the mother and son. The search was called off overnight but resumed Friday morning

The Maryland State Police, US Coast Guard, and local police and fire departments all joined the search for the mother and son.

The disappearance comes less than a year after Saoirse Kennedy Hill (above), another of Robert F Kennedy's granddaughters, died from an overdose at the age of 22. Saoirse, who was the daughter of Courtney Kennedy Hill, is Maeve's cousin

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan's coronavirus-related shutdown has prohibited most forms of recreational boarding but kayaking and paddleboarding are still allowed.

There are currently more than 2,700 infections recorded in the state with the death toll now at 42.

Maeve had tweeted a photo of her son Gideon just last week as she home-schooled him during the coronavirus pandemic.

The photo showed the eight-year-old smiling as he watched an interview between Stephen Curry and Dr Anthony Fauci - the nation's top coronavirus expert.

'@StephenCurry30 and Dr. Fauci's very informative interview was part of my 8-year old son's homeschooling today! #ParentingInAPandemic,' she tweeted alongside the photo.

Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean's is pictured above with her family, including her son Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean (bottom right)

Maryland's Governor Larry Hogan addressed the pair's disappearance during a coronavirus briefing on Friday, during which he offered sympathies to the family and said an intensive search had been underway

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan's coronavirus-related shutdown has prohibited most forms of recreational boarding but kayaking and paddleboarding are still allowed. There are currently more than 2,700 infections recorded in the state with the death toll now at 42

Maeve, a public health and human rights lawyer, has served as executive director of the Georgetown University Global Health Initiative.

The initiative's website says her work focuses on "the intersection of global health and human rights'.

She previously served as an associate research professor at the City University of New York School of Public Health.

The disappearance of the mother and son is the latest tragedy to involve the Kennedy family.

It comes less than a year after Saoirse Kennedy Hill, another of Robert F Kennedy's granddaughters, died from an overdose at the age of 22.

Among the prescription drugs found in her system were diazepam and nordiazepam (first marketed as Valium), fluoxetine (Prozac) and norfluoxetine (the anti-depressant Luoxetine).

Her death came just one month before she was set to start her senior year at Boston College.

Saoirse, who was the daughter of Courtney Kennedy Hill, is Maeve's cousin.
Andrea Schry (R) fills out the buyer part of legal forms to buy a handgun as shop worker Missy Morosky fills out the vendors parts after Dukes Sport Shop reopened in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on March 25, 2020. (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo)

Gun Sale Background Checks Soared to All-Time High in March

The number of firearm background checks performed by the FBI soared to an all-time high in March amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background checks spiked to 3.74 million, according to the FBI, by far the most ever performed in one month.

The previous record was the 2.93 million performed in December 2019; 2.7 million checks were performed in January and 2.8 million were performed in February.

The 9.24 million performed this year through the first three months is already nearly 33 percent of the checks performed across last year.

Some 2,644,851 checks were performed in March 2019, versus the 3,740,688 performed last month.

People wait to check in for their appointment to enter Martin B. Retting gun shop in Culver City, California on March 24, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

The numbers represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIS). A bill Congress passed in 1993 mandates the FBI conduct background checks to see whether the person requesting a transfer of a firearm should be disqualified from receiving guns.

When a person tries buying a firearm, the seller contacts the system over the internet or by phone. The prospective buyer fills out paperwork and the seller relays the information given to the system. Staff at the NCIS then perform a background check.

Since launching in 1998, the system has checked more than 300 million possible sales, leading to more than 1.5 million denials.

Some states and counties have deemed gun stores and related businesses non-essential, mandating their closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A worker unpacks parts for an AR-15 rifle at Delta Team Tactical in Orem, Utah, on March 20, 2020. (George Frey/AFP via Getty Images)

The federal government last week in recommendations for states said that gun stores, gun manufactures, and firing ranges should be deemed essential.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges are essential, listing them under he designation for law enforcement, public safety, and other first responders.

Seeing the new guidance, some areas that had tried forcing the closure of gun stores reversed the decisions.

The DHS guidance was advisory, but is persuasive given its national scope, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who ordered all gun stores to close, wrote in a statement.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also said the state would let firearm sellers operate based on the guidance.
Brandon Lewis is Northern Ireland Secretary, and is MP for Great Yarmouth.

There can be no doubt that we are living through extraordinary and unprecedented times. In only a matter of weeks, our everyday lives have changed dramatically. But this Conservative Government is committed to standing side by side with everyone in this country as we all make sacrifices to shield the most vulnerable, protect the NHS and save lives.

As the Prime Minister has said, we cannot guarantee that no-one will suffer hardship as a result of this coronavirus outbreak but we are determined to put our arms around every individual, and businesses both large and small, in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK.

Protecting people is at the heart of our strategy to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 and we will do our utmost to support individuals, families and businesses, with the economic measures we have put in place on a scale not seen since the Second World War.

And as a crucial part of our efforts, we have promised to work hand in glove with the devolved administrations  to guarantee comprehensive and coordinated measures are in place to protect our families and communities, wherever in the UK you may live.

For me, that means my focus is on working as closely as possible with the Northern Ireland Executive to provide the support it needs to take concerted and decisive action to combat the unprecedented challenges of this pandemic. I am in regular contact with the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and the rest of the Executive via phone and video conferencing. And I am redoubling my engagement with the Northern Ireland business community because now more than ever they need to know that despite our current challenges we are committed to ensuring UK connectivity remains strong.

People in Northern Ireland have been pulling together in the most amazing ways over the last few weeks  with businesses stepping in to ensure medical supplies arrive at hospitals and food is on the shelves at supermarkets. It is just one example of the resilience and resolve that characterises our great country.

In the last few weeks, we have seen the start of Twitter film clubs and musicians doing live concerts from their living rooms. People are hosting video coffee mornings, organising Skype parties, starting e-dining clubs and pitching in to local community WhatsApp groups offering to collect shopping for elderly neighbours or those who are self-isolating.

And if all of us continue this commitment to social distancing and stay at home as much as possible, we will be able to save thousands of lives. Now more than ever, we will be turning to our families, friends and neighbours for support. And our Conservative family  in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland  can be a lifeline for those who are vulnerable or living on their own.

I posted my first campaign leaflet when I was 11 and I grew up surrounded by an extended Conservative family. And having been Party Chairman I have had the privilege of attending countless events on the campaign trail and many a social gathering  I have seen the power of our community spirit. It is now time to turn that spirit into action, to help everyone, wherever they live, in cities, towns and villages across all of our four nations.

The Government is in no doubt that we are asking a lot, but for us to succeed this must be a collective national effort, across the length and breadth of the country. As the Conservative and Unionist Party we are proud of our family of nations  we believe together England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are safer, stronger and more prosperous. For more than 300 years our people have built this country together and it is at times of national crisis such as this that we are able to truly see the strength of the bonds that unite us.

We may be facing an invisible enemy but it is beatable. And together  will come out the other side, stronger and with a greater appreciation of the power of our shared unity of purpose. Huge sacrifices are being made in all four corners of the United Kingdom as we tackle this crisis; from the NHS workers and social care staff working tirelessly on the frontline, to the key workers keeping the country running and those whose routines and normal lives have been put on hold as we all heed the necessary advice to stay at home and save lives.

This is a once in a generation challenge  let us be able to look back at this defining moment in our shared history and remember how we all stood together, shoulder to shoulder in every corner of the UK and faced this battle as one strong United Kingdom.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Gov. Andrew Cuomos plan to divert ventilators and other medical supplies to New York City could leave Upstate hospitals in the lurch when they need that equipment the most, a Central New York health expert warned.

Most hospitals dont have tons of stuff stashed away in a corner, said Tom Dennison, a health care expert and Syracuse University professor emeritus.

Cuomo said today he will order hospitals across the state to turn over spare ventilators, masks, gloves and other supplies so those items can be sent to hospitals in the New York City area which have nearly 90 percent of the states coronavirus cases. The National Guard will collect the equipment. Hospitals that give up equipment will eventually get it back or be reimbursed for it, Cuomo said.

Dennison said the redistribution plan may create a big dilemma for hospitals responsible for meeting their own communities needs.

Although many hospital officials will be unhappy with Cuomos decision, they must comply with it because their institutions are licensed by the state, Dennison said.

Will that equipment be returned in time to be used upstate when its needed? Dennison said. You cant say, Take that person off that vent and send it back to me because I need it now.

Cuomos plan to reimburse hospitals for confiscated ventilators is pointless, Dennison said. Thats because the life-saving machines are in such short supply its unlikely hospitals would be able to go out and find new ones to buy, he said.

He compared it to taking away someones food and reimbursing them with a check at a time when theres no food available in grocery stores. What am I going to do? Eat the check? he said.

James T. Mulder covers health news. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com

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Ambassador Theatre Group  who run 40 venues across the UK, have confirmed that its theatres will now remain shut until at least 31 May.

You can see the company's full statement below:

The theatres have been shut since 16 March when it was advised by the prime minister that all venues should shut. Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre has been postponed, with the theatre hoping to reschedule performances to later in the year. Baby Reindeer and The Shark is Broken at the Ambassadors Theatre are looking to be rescheduled later in the year.

West End venues affected:

- Ambassadors Theatre

- Apollo Victoria Theatre

- Duke of York's Theatre

- Fortune Theatre

- Harold Pinter Theatre

- Lyceum Theatre

- Phoenix Theatre

- Piccadilly Theatre

- Playhouse Theatre

- Savoy Theatre

Venues affected outside of the West End include:

- The Alexandra, Birmingham

- Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

- Bristol Hippodrome

- Edinburgh Playhouse

- Grand Opera House, York

- King's Theatre, Glasgow

- Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone

- Liverpool Empire

- Milton Keynes Theatre

- New Theatre, Oxford

- New Victoria Theatre, Woking

- New Wimbledon Theatre

- Opera House, Manchester

- Palace Theatre, Manchester

- Princess Theatre, Torquay

- Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

- Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking

- Richmond Theatre

- Stockton Globe

- Sunderland Empire

- Swansea Arena

- Theatre Royal Brighton

- Theatre Royal Glasgow

- Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  Mass testing for the coronavirus disease in the country remains an aspiration after the COVID-19 response chief clarified his earlier announcement.

On Thursday, Presidential Peace Adviser and COVID-19 response head Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the government was targeting an April 14 start of "massive testing" of persons suspected of coronavirus infection.

But in an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday, Galvez said what he meant was mass quarantine facilities will "more or less be ready" by April 14.

He said mass testing "is ongoing."

"Gusto po naming i-convey sa public na ongoing po ang testing ngayon ng ating DOH (Department of Health); 16,368 na po ang kanilang na-test na tao," he added.

[Translation: We want to convey to the public that testing is now ongoing and the DOH has tested 16,368 people.]

Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire confirmed that 16,368 individuals have been tested, but clarified that this does not mean mass testing has begun. She said the idea is still being discussed at the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The Philippines now has 3,018 coronavirus cases, with 136 deaths and 52 recoveries.

Galvez said in Metro Manila alone, more than 200 cases are considered "mild" while 185 do not exhibit symptoms. They should be moved to quarantine facilities to decongest hospitals and prevent the spread of COVID-19, he added.

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila will begin operating as a quarantine facility on April 6. Galvez said it can accommodate 200 people.

Other quarantine facilities seen ready by the second week of April are the Philippine International Convention Center and World Trade Center in Pasay City, which can accommodate around 300 and 500 patients, respectively.

Galvez said talks are underway to also convert the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan into another quarantine facility. It can house 1,000 patients, and can be the main quarantine area for Central Luzon, he said.
Vitamin D can play a critical role in the fight against COVID-19, boosting a persons resistance to respiratory infections, researchers in Trinity College Dublin revealed today.

But one in eight Irish adults under 50 are deficient in Vitamin D and need to increasing intake. And some 27pc of adults over 70 who are cocooning are estimated to be low in the vitamin.

The findings come from researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin by exposing the body to just 10-15 minutes per day of sun.

In Ireland Vitamin D can only be made between late March and late September. It cannot be made in winter, and the amount that we make in summer depends on how much sun we get, weather and other factors. Even in summer, getting a sufficient amount of Vitamin D can pose a challenge due to cloud cover, rainy weather and a lack of sunshine.

The deficiency can be remedied by adequate intake of foods and by supplementation. Vitamin D is readily found in foods like eggs, liver and oily fish  such as salmon or mackerel  as well as fortified foods such as cereals and dairy products.

TILDA researchers have found there is insufficient daily intake of the vitamin across Ireland.

Some of TILDAs key findings are:

47pc of all adults over 85 are deficient in winter

27pc of adults over 70 who are cocooning are estimated to be deficient

1 in 8 adults over 50 are deficient all year round

Only 4pc of men and 15pc of women take a Vitamin D supplement

People who get little sun exposure or eat inadequate amounts of fortified foods are most at risk, especially those who are currently house-bound or confined to their homes.

Other people who fall into the high-risk category are those who are obese or physically inactive, and those that have asthma or chronic lung disease.

Vitamin D is available without prescription. What is needed now is for people to increase their Vitamin D intake, especially as supplementation is low across the nation, and particularly low in men.

TILDA researchers recommend that adults over 50 should take supplements  not just in winter, but all year round if they dont get enough sun. Those who are cocooning at present should also take supplements.

Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Principal Investigator of TILDA, said:

We have evidence to support a role for Vitamin D in the prevention of chest infections, particularly in older adults who have low levels. In one study Vitamin D reduced the risk of chest infections to half in people who took supplements.

Though we do not know specifically of the role of Vitamin D in COVID infections, given its wider implications for improving immune responses and clear evidence for bone and muscle health, those cocooning and other at-risk cohorts should ensure they have an adequate intake of Vitamin D.

Cocooning is a necessity but will reduce physical activity. Muscle deconditioning occurs rapidly in these circumstances and Vitamin D will help to maintain muscle health and strength in the current crisis.

Dr Eamon Laird, Research Fellow in Medical Gerontology and co-author of the report, said:

These findings show our older adults have high levels of vitamin D deficiency which could have a significant negative impact on their immune response to infection.

There is an even larger risk now of deficiency with those cocooning or confined indoors. However, vitamin D deficiency is not inevitable  eating foods such as oily fish, eggs, vitamin D fortified cereals or dairy products and a daily 400 IU (10ug) vitamin D supplement can help avoid deficiency.

However, Ireland needs a formal vitamin D food policy/recommendation, which we are still lacking  for instance Finland has such a policy and has virtually eliminated deficiency in their population.
The aqua products are being exported thorough Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Krishnapatnam ports with 270 MT shipped on Friday alone.

Amaravati, April 4 (IANS) Despite the overall lull in all economic sectors due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Andhra Pradesh government is sparing no effort to keep its fisheries and aqua products sector alive. By Friday, the state has exported 1,530 Metric Tons (MT) of aqua products besides opening up 56 aqua processing units to facilitate exports.

The aqua products are being exported thorough Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Krishnapatnam ports with 270 MT shipped on Friday alone.

Addressing media on Friday, state Fisheries and Livestock Development Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana reiterated that the state government is committed to the safety and financial interests of the aqua farming sector. He requested farmers to not believe the fake information being spread on the export of aqua products.

"I request the shrimp farmers not to go for distress sale. Any decision or announcement related to the department will be given only by the officials concerned," he said.

The Minister said that district-level processing units are now functioning at Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Prakasam, and Nellore districts, and nodal officers are appointed to monitor the situation.

They are directly interacting with farmers, people and collecting data of workers to ensure that the processing work should not be halted, he added.

The Minister assured shrimp farmers that no one would incur losses and that the government would fix the price and purchase the shrimp for export.

"803 MT of shrimps have been purchased at the price fixed by the government and the system would be streamlined in another two days,"he added.

The Covid-19 crisis had put the aqua sector in the state on tenterhooks, but the government has assured that it would take all measures to protect it.
Panaji, April 3 : Police in North Goa's Bicholim town on Friday arrested one Mohsin Shaikh for allegedly making objectionable references related to the Tablighi Jamaat and the spread of COVID-19 to harass the Jamaat members on social media.

A Goa Police spokesperson on Friday said that the Shaikh, who runs a garments store in the mining town, was arrested under sections 269 and 188 of the Indian Penal Code. While Section 269 deals with commission of an act which is likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life and 188 is related to disobedience of an order given by a public servant.

Shaikh has been accused of putting up posts on Facebook, one of which said "I love Nizamuddin".

In another post the Shaikh is alleged to have said: "Allah, if the Nizamuddin Tablighi Jamaat is wrong, then do not forgive them. But if someone harasses them unnecessarily, give then corona".

The Markaz organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, has emerged as a hotspot for the spread of COVID-19 not just in Delhi, from where the infection has spread to other parts of the state.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday had claimed that 46 persons who had attended Markaz had been hiding in Goa and had been quarantined and also said a free hand had been given to the state police and health authorities to search for more members of the Jamaat who are possibly hiding in the state.
The number of reported COVID-19 cases in Michigan surged to 10,791 on Thursday as the states death toll rose to 417. The vast majority of cases are in the Detroit metropolitan area.

The largest city in the state, Detroit, had 2,858 cases and 101 deaths. Suburban Wayne County had 2,221 cases while Oakland County and Macomb County, which contain the northern Detroit suburbs, had 2,183 and 1,332 cases respectively.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer [Credit: AP Photo/David Eggert]

Nationally Michigan was nearly even with California for the third largest total of COVID-19 cases in the US but led California in the number of deaths. Those communities hardest impacted are some of the poorest in the state, including Detroit, which has the highest percentage of residents living in poverty of any major US city.

One factor in the high infection rate in Michigan was the delay by state officials in issuing a stay-at-home order. Wealthy business interests in the state, in the first place the auto industry, insisted on keeping workers in the factories as long as possible even after the extent of the pandemic was well apparent. The auto plants were only closed after workers took wildcat strike action in a number of major plants.

In a town hall meeting Thursday evening, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, attempted to cover up the record of her administration, demagogically assuring residents we are all in this together. She called for shared sacrifice, appealing to national patriotism and evoking memories of WWII and the role of Detroit as the supposed arsenal of democracy.

Whitmer also announced Thursday that schools in the state would remain closed through the end of the current school year. Earlier in the week the governor declared a state of disaster and extended the state of emergency. She requested the legislature pass a concurrent resolution extending the state of disaster and state of emergency for 70 days.

The governor evaded a question at the town hall about the dangerous spread of coronavirus in Michigan prisons. As of Thursday, 148 prisoners being held by the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) had tested positive for COVID-19.

Despite the crowded and unsanitary conditions in prisons that make social distancing impossible and create a breeding ground for coronavirus and other diseases, only 120 prisoners out of the states total prison population of 38,000 were released this week through the normal parole procedure. Under terms of the states brutal truth in sentencing law that require that prisoners serve 100 percent of minimum sentences, MDOC says it cannot release prisoners early, even to protect life.

In response to the outraged wife of an auto parts worker, who was being forced to work even though his job was non-essential, Whitmer feigned concern, but offered nothing but a pious moral appeal to employers to do the right thing.

Like Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is attempting to divert attention from the role of his administration and the Democratic Party in the deplorable situation confronting workers in the city. In a press briefing Wednesday, Duggan denied that Detroits high poverty rate had any connection to the high infection rate in the city.

Health experts have cited the citys poverty rate, including the large numbers of people without health insurance, many suffering from serious medical conditions, as a significant factor in the heavy impact of the pandemic on Detroit. One study found that 14.5 percent of Detroit adults have asthma, compared with 10.7 percent statewide. Detroit residents also have higher incidence of kidney disease. Both can be factors in COVID-19 mortality.

Compounding the health crisis, more than 2,500 Detroit households are still without running water due to the Duggan administrations brutal shutoff policy instituted in the wake of the 2013 Detroit bankruptcy. With the surge in coronavirus cases Duggan and Whitmer belatedly announced that the city would restore all water service, but so far only several hundred homes have had their water reconnected.

In an effort to divert attention from the abysmal social conditions in the city, Duggan suggested that Detroits high number of COVID-19 cases was due to the widespread testing being carried out. While a testing center was opened at the old Michigan Fairgrounds, a resident must first obtain a doctors order to get a test. A high portion of Detroit residents lack access to a primary care doctor.

The obstacles to obtaining testing were tragically illustrated by the death of a 25-year-old Western Michigan University student. Bassey Offiong, a student of Nigerian descent who grew up in Detroit, had initially been denied testing several times for COVID-19 before being admitted in grave condition to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Weeks away from achieving a degree in chemical engineering, Offiong instead spent the last two weeks of his life on a ventilator.

Illustrating the dangers that workers face in the city and the lack of adequate protections, a Detroit city bus driver, Jason Hargrove, died Wednesday of COVID-19. Hargrove had posted a video online warning of the hazards that bus drivers face due to close public contact. Detroit bus drivers staged a protest last month over the lack of protection from coronavirus.

With Detroit developing as one of the epicenters of the coronavirus pandemic, the US Army Corps of Engineers has begun the conversion of the TCF Center downtown into a quarantined makeshift hospital with 1,000 beds to deal with the crush of cases. The pandemic has already overwhelmed Detroit area hospitals. In an effort to recruit staff the state has issued a call for volunteers and relaxed interstate medical licensing regulations. A spokesman for the Whitmer administration indicated that more such hospitals are likely.

At the same time, this week Detroit became one of the first localities to implement testing for COVID-19 with a new device that can return test results in as little as 5 minutes. The standard test can take five days or longer to return results. The new testing device, about the size of a small kitchen appliance, was developed by Abbott Laboratories and just approved by federal regulators, setting off a scramble among states and cities for access.

In an indication of the unplanned and chaotic response of US authorities at all levels to the pandemic, according to a report in the Washington Post, Mayor Duggan secured a personal commitment for 5 machines and 5,000 tests via an early Sunday morning phone call to Abbott CEO Miles White. The city has unilaterally decided to prioritize testing for police, firefighters and bus drivers, not those residents showing symptoms. Those whose tests are negative will be cleared to return to work. Some 500 Detroit cops are currently quarantined.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration has substantially scaled back paid leave requirements for employers that were created by a new coronavirus relief law, effectively exempting many small businesses in a move that infuriated lawmakers who had fought to expand the benefit.

In guidance issued on Wednesday, the Labor Department said that employers at companies with fewer than 50 workers had broad latitude to decline to offer the 12 weeks of paid leave that the law required for workers whose children were home from school or for child care because of the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation, which provides two weeks of paid sick leave and 12 weeks of paid family leave, and reimburses employers for it with tax credits, already excludes workers at companies with more than 500 employees.

In all, more than 75 percent of American workers are at companies that qualify for exemptions from the law.

Enacted in March, the law said that businesses with fewer than 50 employees could be exempted from providing the leave if it would prevent the business from functioning, leaving it to the Department of Labor to specify what that meant. The department on Wednesday issued its guidelines, giving an expansive definition that allowed small businesses significant leeway not to provide the leave. Under the guidelines, small businesses cannot be exempted from providing sick leave for an employees own illness.
Photo credit: Matthew Lloyd - Getty Images

From Town & Country

Tired of being cooped up at home? Perhaps you'd like to imagine life someplace a bit bigger, a bit grander, and a bit more, well, royal? You're in luck, because many of the British royal family's palaces and castles now offer extensive virtual tours. Whether you want to traipse around Buckingham Palace or peek down the corridors of Windsor Castle, you can get a bit closer to achieving your dreams through these interactive online resources. Test them out and remember that there's nothing wrong with a bit of escapism.

Buckingham Palace

Photo credit: Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library - Getty Images

It makes the most sense to start with Buckingham Palace, the Queen's official residence and the royal family's headquarters. London's grand Palace also hosts a variety of special events, including jubilees, weddings, and the annual Trooping the Colour, which marks the Queen's official birthday. Buckingham Palace welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year, and you could be one without leaving your home.

The Palace's virtual tour includes the opulent Grand Staircase, the White Drawing Room, the vibrant red Throne Room, and the Blue Drawing Room.

Windsor Castle

Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

While you may not have been invited to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, you can imagine being there while touring the venue. Windsor Castle has been a royal home and fortress for more than 900 years. When royal weddings are not occurring, the castle acts as the Queen's homewhere she usually spends the weekendand as a royal residence where she performs certain official duties.

With this virtual tour, you can start by going inside a traditional State Banquet in St. George's Hall. Then visit the Waterloo Chamber and the Crimson Drawing Room. Make sure to click on the "i" icons for even more information about each space.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse

Photo credit: Tim Graham - Getty Images

If you want something with a bit of Scottish flair, take a look at the Queen's official residence in Scotland: The Palace of Holyroodhouse. Located in Edinburgh, the Palace was the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scots starting from the 16th century. This Palace hosts visitors throughout the year, and is available for your own personal viewing online through this virtual tour.

Story continues

The Tower of London

Photo credit: Kypros - Getty Images

While no one currently lives in the Tower of London, the building is technically a castle and is officially known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London. Founded in the eleventh century by William the Conquerer, the Tower has been used as an armory, a treasury, a menagerie, a public record office, the home of the Crown Jewels of England, and, most commonly, a prison. The Tower is now mostly a tourist attraction and a place to display the Crown Jewels.

Take a virtual tour, which includes photos of many of these precious jewels, here.

10 Downing Street

Photo credit: Scott Barbour - Getty Images

If you're in the mood for something more castle-adjacent (i.e. a MASSIVE house), Google Arts & Culture offers a virtual tour of 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Casually referred to as Number 10, the home is over 300 years old and has approximately 100 rooms. Number 10 was first used when King George II offered it to Sir Robert Walpole, the de facto first British Prime Minister, in 1732, so it certainly has royal ties.

On your virtual tour, you can explore the Cabinet Room, the Study, and the Grand Staircase. Each area also has accompanying informational videos, so you can really brush up on your British political history as you peruse.

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The devastating toll the coronavirus is having on nursing homes has escalated with an outbreak in one facility leading to the deaths of four residents and 89 others contracting the infection.

Fianna Fail TD Stephen Donnelly told the Dail yesterday that the nursing home has 200 staff - with 70 of them testing positive for the infection.

Of the 100 residents, 19 have tested positive and four have died. Some kitchen and cleaning staff have left.

Read More

The number of clusters of the coronavirus in nursing homes has soared to 38, new figures reveal today.

The jump of nine clusters in the space of a day highlights the huge impact the virus outbreak is having on nursing homes where most of the residents are older and vulnerable to the infection.

Six clusters have happened in HSE-run nursing homes.

The figures show that eleven clusters have hit residential centres and hospitals have suffered twenty nine.

It also emerged yesterday that several residents of the HSE-run Peamount Hospital long-term care centre in Dublin are being treated for the virus and another public home has to be closed to new admissions.

It comes as another 13 people have died from the virus here, increasing the numbers of people who have tragically succumbed to the infection to 98.

Yesterday also saw a record 402 new cases, driving the total so far up to 3,849.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the daily growth in new cases had dropped to around 10pc - compared to 33pc before emergency measures - but it is still not enough to avoid hospitals buckling under the strain if there is a huge surge.

Dr Holohan, who attended St James's Hospital for tests for non-Covid-19 symptoms after he felt unwell on Wednesday, revealed he is now fine and on new medication.

But he said he was struck by the hospital's empty emergency department and appealed to people not to be afraid to seek medical help if they need urgent care for any illness "lumps, chest pain or other concerns".

"I would also like to highlight a worrying scene I witnessed during my visit to hospital on Tuesday evening; empty waiting rooms and empty beds," he said.

"While protecting yourself from Covid-19 is a priority, no one should ignore signs that they may need medical attention.

"Please do not ignore any symptom outside of Covid-19.

"The hospitals are there for all ailments, not just Covid-19."

Shortages

Dr Holohan said some nursing home residents have died in the facility where they were cared for.

Meanwhile, Catherine Cox of Family Carers Ireland has expressed concern following an agreement to ask hundreds of HSE carers who look after people in their own homes to transfer to nursing homes to relieve staff shortages.

Some carers have been freed up because their clients are self-isolating but Ms Cox warned it is important people who need home care do not "fall through the cracks" in this crisis.

Dr Holohan revealed 932 people with the virus have been hospitalised so far and 148 patients admitted to intensive care.

Among those who were admitted to intensive care, 14 lost their lives but 25 recovered enough to be discharged.

He said 109 people remain in intensive care. They have a median age of 62.

Overall the median age of people who died of the illness so far has been 82 and more men than women who contracted the virus passed away.

Six in 10 people who contract the disease do not know where they picked it up, highlighting the way it is circulating in the community.

Meanwhile, in a desperate move, the HSE has been forced to outsource the testing of thousands of swabs taken from people suspected of having the virus to Germany as laboratory services here struggle to cope.

The shortage of a reagent needed to process the swab in the laboratory has led to a massive backlog of tests and is forcing some patients who have given a swab to wait 14 days for a result.

Use of Department of Agriculture labs is also planned.

The HSE has declined to say what the name of the German laboratory is and how many tests have been sent for analysis.
YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenias foreign ministry once again reminds that the citizens of the Republic of Armenia cannot return from the Russian Federation to Armenia by land routes: they have been closed since March 18. The Upper Lars checkpoint is open exclusively for cargo transportation.

For information on the restrictions applied by different countries within the fight against the novel coronavirus, as well as on possibilities of movement for our citizens abroad, please, follow exclusively the updates provided by Commandants Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic representations of the Republic of Armenia abroad, the ministry said in a statement.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Progressives were floored by the announcement that Donald Trump had tapped former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch to lead the Womens Suffrage Centennial Commission. Congress created the commission to preside over commemorative activities and educational efforts celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment, which extended voting rights to women.

During her eight years serving as lieutenant governor in Scott Walkers administration, Kleefisch amassed a record that embodies anti-feminist views. Kleefisch lost her third race for re-election race last November to former state Rep. Mandela Barnes.

A former broadcast journalist, Kleefisch shocked the LGBT community during her 2010 race to become ex-Gov. Scott Walkers running mate by ridiculing same-sex marriage on a Christian-right radio show. She described marriage equality as a slippery slope that would lead to all sort of bizarre and unanticipated relationships.

Kleefisch said: At what point would we allow marrying inanimate objects? Could I marry this table or this clock? How about a dog? This is ridiculous.

A fundamentalist Christian who says the Rapture is near at hand, Kleefish believes that women are subservient to men and that wives must obey their husbands.

The Progressive recently listed a number of other views held by Kleefisch that make her an inappropriate choice to lead the Womens Suffrage Centennial Commission. She denies that theres a war on women, she mocks climate change and she believes that impoverished parents are responsible for their children suffering from lead poisoning.

Last fall, in the run-up to her re-election as lieutenant governor, Kleefisch tweeted that her opponent Barnes had kneeled during the playing of the national anthem at the opening of the Wisconsin State Fair. She later apologized for the statement, saying that she hadnt seen him kneeling but that an unidentified person told her he did.

Barnes is African-American.

Progressive writer Jud Lounsbury also noted that the choice of Kleefisch to head the Womens Suffrage Centennial Commission is consistent with other sarcastic leadership choices by the Trump administration. For instance, Last year, Trumps appointee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was caught buying tobacco stock while at the office, which oversees anti-smoking efforts. Sticking to the pattern, he recently tapped a coal lobbyist to run the Environmental Protection Agency, he wrote.
The Ghana Prisons Service has activated the process for the release of the 808 prisoners who have been granted amnesty by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



The list has gone to the stations and they are doing the documentation and then release them, the Chief Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Prisons Service, Mr Courage Atsem, told the Daily Graphic in Accra.



Although he could not give figures, he said his checks are that all those granted amnesty at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison have been released.



He said the release of the prisoners depended on when the documentation would be completed.



It depends on how far the officer in charge and his team are able to do the documentation for the release, but I believe that by now a lot of them have gone out, the PRO stated.



The amnesty



On Thursday, March 26, 2020, President Akufo-Addo granted official pardon to 808 prisoners based on the recommendation of the Prisons Service Council and in consultation with the Council of State.



A statement issued by the Director-General of Prisons, Mr Patrick Darko Missah, explained that the list included 783 first-time offenders who had served half of their sentences, 11 seriously ill prisoners and three aged (very old) prisoners.



The others were seven prisoners on death row whose sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment and four prisoners serving life sentences whose sentences have been commuted to 20-year definite terms.



Process



Explaining the process for the release of prisoners granted official pardon by the President, Supt. Atsem said: When the President comes with the list of inmates who have been granted amnesty, the Prisons Headquarters submits the list to the various stations for them to implement the amnesty.



The stations have to check their records to be sure that they are releasing the right people, he added.



Details



Providing further details of the amnesty, the PRO said those whose life sentences had been commuted to 20 years would have their 20-year sentences take effect from the time the amnesty was granted.



It means they will now start afresh, he said.



He said per the law, for one to qualify for amnesty from death row to a life sentence, that person might have done at least 10 years on death row.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Amid the coronavirus outbreak, hospitals across the country have reported a lack of protective equipment leading to exposure to the virus. And now some hospitals are telling staff not to talk to reporters, threatening disciplinary action if they speak out.

Im okay. Dont tell Mom and Dad. Theyll worry, Kious Kelly, a nurse manager at a Manhattan hospital, said via text to his sister days before his death of coronavirus, as reported by The New York Times.

A nurse that worked with Kelly declined to give their name because the Mount Sinai West hospital had said that no one is authorized to talk to the press. They told the Times that the hospital had offered nurses only one protective gown for their shift. Usually, workers would change gowns between each patient.

Marya Patrice Sherron, Kellys sister took to Facebook to express her anger at her otherwise healthy brothers death as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hes a number in a growing figure on a screen ... that number is an uncle, son, brother, and friend to so many, said Kellys sister Marya Patrice Sherron on Facebook. His death could have been prevented.

In Washington, Ming Lin, who has been practicing medicine for 30 years, was let go from the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center after speaking out against the hospitals failure to protect staff from COVID-19 to the Seattle Times.

Lin received a message saying, Your shift has been covered. After phoning his supervisor for clarification he was informed that he had been terminated.

Although he was working at the hospital, his employer was TeamHealth, a national firm that contracts with PeaceHealths emergency department.

Despite it[s] flaws, said Lin on social media. Peacehealth St Joseph Hospital has many staff and colleagues who have my respect and are doing their best to provide care to the community.

In Massachusetts, the largest nurses union is pushing back against such policies.

They have the absolute right to say whatever they want about the COVID-19 situation, the lack of PPE and working conditions, said Massachusetts Nurses Association spokesperson David Schildmeier said of nurses in the union. As long as its true.

The only way to protect the public, and weve been very effective about it, is by going public about the concerns, said Schildmeier, of hospital policies. That puts pressure on them

The nurses union has spoken out regarding a lack of protective equipment during the coronavirus outbreak.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced multiple efforts to offer additional equipment to health care staff this week. He coordinated with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who used the team plane to pick up 1.2 million N95 face masks to bring to the United States for use in Massachusetts and New York. About half a million pieces of PPE didnt fit on the plane, so another shipment will be made.

Massachusetts public health officials announced 154 new coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, the highest reported in a single day since the outbreak began.

Eighty-nine people have now succumbed to the virus, according to new data. The number of statewide COVID-19 cases rose to 8,966 on Thursday, up from 7,738 on Wednesday.

Schildmeier told MassLive that the only way for the public to respond safely is with accurate information and to be informed about what is really happening during the pandemic.

These nurses across the country and the media who are giving them a voice to be heard, said Schildmeier. Apart from social distancing, maybe the most important aspect of the response to this pandemic.

Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook orTwitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.

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Sign up for free text messages about important updates on coronavirus in Massachusetts
Thank you for joining us for a very special live interview with Stacy Bohlen, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, and Dr. Aaron Payment, first vice president of the National Congress of American Indians. Kevin Abourezk is our host tonight. Another special guest will be joining us tonight, a young tribal leader who was recently diagnosed with COVID-19 but is feeling well enough tonight to join us and share her story.

With the $33.7 billion Indian gaming industry at a standstill in the midst of the worst public health crisis in decades, tribal casino operations are in danger of being left out of a major coronavirus relief program.

The Trump administration on Friday morning began accepting applications for the new Paycheck Protection Program . But conflicting guidelines issued by the Small Business Administration the day prior are preventing tribes from accessing billions of dollars in funds that would enable them to keep thousands of casino workers on their payrolls.

"We need clarification now," Dante Desiderio (Saponny), the executive director of the Native American Finance Officers Association , told Indianz.Com.

"We need clarification now": With the $33 billion tribal gaming industry at a standstill, the Trump administration is sending mixed signals about the #Coronavirus Paycheck Protection Program. Issue is EXTREMELY time sensitive because applications start today. #COVID19 #CaresAct  indianz.com (@indianz) April 3, 2020

The matter is extremely time sensitive. The Paycheck Protection Program is open to millions of small businesses across America, and the fear is that Indian Country won't get a fair shot with the guidelines affecting tribal gaming operations in dispute.

"They need to clarify this for tribes," Desiderio said.

Some tribes already started working with lending institutions in hopes of securing backing through the Paycheck Protection Program. But the uncertainty from Washington, D.C., has put a hold on efforts to keep their economies -- which are often the major driver in their regions -- up and running amid the coronavirus crisis.

"We want to keep our employees, and we want them to keep the health insurance we provide," President Bryan Newland of the Bay Mills Indian Community told Indianz.Com. "It is going to be a real challenge if we can't access paycheck protection loans like other businesses can."

#COVID19 UPDATE: Small businesses can now apply for the #PaycheckProtectionProgram. The program is designed to keep small business workers employed & provide small businesses with capital through the nations banks & other lending institutions. Apply here: https://t.co/JvWDCXtDP4  SBA (@SBAgov) April 3, 2020

The impact is significant in Indian Country. Newland said a loan covered by the Paycheck Protection Program would enable the tribe to continue paying 400 gaming employees -- including benefits, such as health care, that have become even more critical during the pandemic -- for at least the next two months in Michigan.

"The new guidance has upended our plan, leaving us to scramble for answers with one week left in our pay period," said Newland.

The exclusion of gaming operations from the Paycheck Protection Program is also of national importance. The American Gaming Association blamed outdated and "discriminatory" regulations in Washington that will hurt "hundreds of thousands" of people unless the Trump administration changes course.

This decision will affect hard-working Americans from Pennsylvania to Nevada, Ohio to Colorado, and everywhere in between who need and deserve the same level of support as anyone across the country during these unprecedented times," President and CEO Bill Miller said in a statement on Friday, calling on Jovita Carranza, the head of the Small Business Administration , to take action before it's too late.

The American Gaming Association has already called on @SBAgov Administrator Jovita Carranza @SBAJovita to address the exclusion of gaming interests from #Coronavirus Paycheck Protection Program. Statement from President and CEO Bill Miller: https://t.co/a799Tk5lNB  indianz.com (@indianz) April 3, 2020

The conflicting information from the executive branch comes after Congress, through H.R.748 , the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, authorized the Paycheck Protection Program. The bipartisan law set aside $349 billion for small businesses to stay afloat during the crisis, which has already put millions of Americans out of work.

But while the application for the program states that loans are available to any "tribal business" leaders and advocates in Indian Country found out that a pre-existing definition -- buried elsewhere in thousands of pages of federal regulations -- excludes gaming establishments.

"It is really a big deal," Desiderio told Indianz.Com. "This is the relief that tribes needed."

The Trump administration has pitched the "unprecedented" program as a way for small businesses to secure loans quickly in a time of crisis. Administrator Carranza, who has addressed tribes at meetings like the National Congress of American Indians and previously represented the Department of the Treasury on the Tribal Advisory Committee , announced outlines on Tuesday.

Speed is the operative word; applications for the emergency capital can begin as early as this week, with lenders using their own systems and processes to make these loans," Carranza said in a news release . "We remain committed to supporting our nations more than 30 million small businesses and their employees, so that they can continue to be the fuel for our nations economic engine.

Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin also boasted that Paycheck Protection Program loans could be "approved on the same day" as paperwork being submitted.

According to the National Indian Gaming Association, 100 percent of tribal casinos have closed as a result of the #Coronavirus. It's a $33.7 billion industry, with tens of thousands of direct employees, plus tens of thousands more impacted indirectly. #COVID19 @IndianGaming85  indianz.com (@indianz) March 26, 2020

It wasn't until Thursday, however, when the "interim" guidelines were released by official Washington. That happened to be the same day the Bay Mills Indian Community began putting together its loan application with a local bank, President Newland said.

The SBA, where Shawn Pensoneau, a citizen of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, serves as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Native American Affairs , is set to discuss the conflicting guidance on Friday, according to advocates. A request for comment about the Paycheck Protection Program and tribal casinos has been placed with the agency.

According to the National Indian Gaming Association , 100 percent of casinos run by member tribes have closed as a result of the coronavirus. Some have laid off employees while others are keeping them on the payroll as long as possible.

"They need to clarify this for tribes," Dante Desiderio (Sappony) of NAFOA @nafoa told https://t.co/0yYFAWzrcJ. With applications starting today, the fear is that #Coronavirus Paycheck Protection Program will run out before Indian Country gets a fair shot. #COVID19 #CARESAct pic.twitter.com/agyAs6lKi7  indianz.com (@indianz) April 3, 2020

Kewadin Casinos is a committed community partner and, as such, we take our responsibility in assisting the stop of coronavirus seriously, Allen Kerridge, the interim chief executive officer of the gaming enterprise for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians , the largest Indian nation east of the Mississippi. Kerridge said the tribe continues to pay 900 full-time and part-time employees at five establishments in Michigan.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is in a more precarious situation. Workers at the Harrahs Cherokee Casino Resort and the Harrahs Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in North Carolina are only set to be paid through April 15, with furloughs for the "majority of employees" set to kick in on the following day, the operation said on Wednesday.

"Furloughed employees will continue to receive medical benefits which will be provided and paid for by the company through reopening or June 30, whichever comes first," Harrah's Cherokee Casinos said in a statement. June 30 happens to be the final date for which the loans obtained through the Paycheck Protection Program can be used to cover payroll costs.

A message from Brian Parrish, Interim CEO Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise. Posted by Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise on Wednesday, April 1, 2020

As of 2018, the tribal casino industry employed more than 670,000 people, with more than $36 billion in wages paid to employees, according to a comprehensive study released by the American Gaming Association at the time.

Overall, the American gaming industry, including operations in Indian Country, supported a total economic impact of $261.4 billion of output, with 1.8 million jobs and $40.8 billion in tax revenue, according to the AGA

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A leaked memo shows Amazon resorting to brass-knuckle tactics against a former employee who claimed he was fired for organizing a strike at the e-commerce giants Staten Island fulfillment center.

The memo, which was obtained and first reported on by Vice, was taken from an internal meeting of Amazon leadership after warehouse worker Christian Smalls helped organize a walkout involving more than 100 staffers at the Staten Island facility on Monday.

The strike was in response to Amazon's alleged lack of coronavirus safety protections. The media reported on March 24 that one worker at the Staten Island warehouse had tested positive for COVID-19. As part of the walk-out, Smalls had demanded that the facility be closed and sanitized in light of the infected employee. He was fired that day.

Photo: Amazon Day One blog.

Smalls told the press that his firing "was a targeted retaliation. Amazon, for its part, claims it fired Smalls because he violated the companys social distancing guidelines.

Smalls has since told media outlets that 10 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the warehouse.

The leaked internal memo details Amazons strategy to tackle employee efforts to unionize by characterizing Smalls as not smart or articulate in an effort to make him the face of the entire union/organizing movement.

Hes not smart, or articulate, and to the extent, the press wants to focus on us versus him, we will be in a much stronger PR position than simply explaining for the umpteenth time how were trying to protect workers, wrote Amazon general counsel David Zapolsky.

We should spend the first part of our response strongly laying out the case for why the organizers conduct was immoral, unacceptable, and arguably illegal, in detail, and only then follow with our usual talking points about worker safety, Zapolsky wrote. Make him the most interesting part of the story, and if possible make him the face of the entire union/organizing movement.

Amazons top spokesman Jay Carney told CNN host Brian Stelter on March 29 that the companys employees are its first and primary concern, and that Amazon has enacted extraordinary measures regarding safety and social distancing protocols to make sure its frontline workers are as protected as they can be as they go about doing this heroic work for their fellow citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Carney also said that Amazon has raised staff pay during this period and extended benefits, and allows unlimited unpaid time off through the end of April with no repercussions if employees feel unsafe coming into work.

Former White House spokesman Carney joined Amazon to head its then-newly-formed global corporate affairs department in early 2015.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio this week ordered the City's Commission on Human Rights to investigate Amazons firing of Smalls. de Blasio said that if Amazon had retaliated against Smalls for organizing a strike, that would be a violation of our citys human rights law and we would act on it immediately.
&flix, the destination for biggest Hollywood blockbusters, will now premiere an action-adventure film, before the world as a part of Flix First World Television Premiere. We all have dreamt of saving the world during a zombie apocalypse giving yourself some cool gun power and expert combat skills, even when you don't possess any.

But with &flix, you can see and feel the will to survive as the channel brings Zombieland: Double Tap, a movie about four humans trying to survive the wrath of Zombies, AGAIN. The horror-comedy movie is filled with action and adventure and keeps the viewers at the edge of their seat.

Directed by Reuben Fleischer, the movie ensembles Academy Award-winning and nominated star cast, Woody Harrelson, as Tallahassee, Jesse Eisenberg portraying the role of Columbus, Emma Stone as Wichita and Abigail Breslin dawning the role of Little Rock. Available on Zee Prime English Pack, viewers can enjoy the World Television Premiere of Zombieland: Double Tap on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at 1 PM, 7 PM and 9 PM only on &flix and at 2 PM and 11 PM on &PriveHD in four different languages!

The movie is about Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock move to American heartland where they meet zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family. Nerdy college student Columbus has survived the plague that has turned mankind into flesh-devouring zombies because he's scared of just about everything.

Gun-toting, Twinkie-loving Tallahassee has no fears. Together, they are about to stare down their most horrifying challenge yet: each other's company where they meet the deadly duo, Wichita and Little Rock who teams up with them to fight the apocalypse.

Watch how survival of fittest is tested as &flix brings the World Television Premiere of Zombieland: Double Tap on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at 1 PM and 9 PM. The movie also premieres as a part of Club Prive at 2 PM and 11 PM on &PriveHD
By Rania El Gamal, Vladimir Soldatkin and Jeff Mason DUBAI/MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had brokered a deal with top crude producers Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut output and arrest an oil price rout amid the global coronavirus pandemic, though details of how cuts would work were unclear. Trump said the two nations could cut output by 10 to 15 million barrels per day (bpd) - an unprecedented amount representing 10% to 15% of global supply, and one that would require the participation of nations outside of OPEC and its allies. A senior U.S.

By Rania El Gamal, Vladimir Soldatkin and Jeff Mason

DUBAI/MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had brokered a deal with top crude producers Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut output and arrest an oil price rout amid the global coronavirus pandemic, though details of how cuts would work were unclear.

Trump said the two nations could cut output by 10 to 15 million barrels per day (bpd) - an unprecedented amount representing 10% to 15% of global supply, and one that would require the participation of nations outside of OPEC and its allies.

A senior U.S. administration official familiar with the matter said Trump would not formally ask U.S. oil companies to contribute to the production cuts, a move forbidden by U.S. antitrust legislation.

Russia and Saudi Arabia have been at odds since early March, when they failed to agree on a deal curbing output as the coronavirus spread around the globe. The pandemic has worsened since, freezing economic activity and sending oil prices into a tailspin as producers confronted the prospect of a dramatic fall in demand along with a flood of unwanted oil supply.

Saudi Arabia, the de facto head of OPEC, called on Thursday for an emergency meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, an informal grouping known as OPEC+, state media reported, saying it aimed to reach a fair agreement to stabilize oil markets. Trump is separately set to meet with U.S. oil industry executives on Friday.

Trump said he spoke with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday. "I expect & hope that they will be cutting back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more which, if it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

Trumps call to Putin has changed everything, one OPEC+ source said, adding that initial talk among the group was about how other large producers such as Canada and Brazil would need to join in any coordinated output cuts.

Jason Kenney, the premier of Alberta, Canada's primary oil-producing province, said Thursday that Alberta was open to joining a production-cut deal, though he said, "It's the Saudis and the Russians here who are the problem." Canada produces roughly 4 million barrels of oil every day.

Global oil demand is expected to fall by about 30 million bpd in April, or about one-third of daily consumption. Some 3 billion people around the world have been put on lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus, which has sickened 1 million people worldwide and killed nearly 50,000.

The immense decline in demand sent oil prices to their lowest levels since 2002, close to $20 per barrel, hitting budgets of oil-producing nations and dealing a huge blow to the U.S. shale oil industry, which cannot compete at low prices.

The downward pressure has been exacerbated by the battle for market share between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Russia rejected the Saudi proposal to take supply off the market in part because it has cut its own output for years while U.S. production grew to a record 13 million bpd, gobbling up market share.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday that Moscow was no longer planning to raise output and was ready to cooperate with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers to stabilize the market.

It was not clear when Saudi Arabia's proposed emergency OPEC meeting could be held.

A meeting could represent a thaw in Saudi-Russia tensions. A senior Gulf source familiar with Saudi thinking told Reuters that Russia's opposition to its proposal to deepen output cuts was the cause of market turmoil.

At the time of the deal's collapse, OPEC and its allies were collectively cutting output by about 1.7 million bpd - making a 10-to-15 million-bpd cut a big hurdle unless it brought in other major worldwide producers.

The swift and aggressive Saudi response to the collapse of the OPEC+ deal shocked the oil industry. The kingdom slashed export prices, opened the taps to pump at maximum production and tried to sell cheaper oil to refiners that buy Russian crude.

OUTPUT CUTS

Major global oil producers including Chevron Corp , Brazil's Petrobras and Britain's BP Plc have already scaled back production estimates as fuel demand has dropped precipitously and storage is rapidly filling. Storage is expected to be full by May, analysts said, which would force oil producers to cut output anyway.

"I don't think this does anything in the near term. Our pipelines have told us they don't have room for our barrels," said Bob Watson, chief executive of U.S. shale producer Abraxas Petroleum, based in San Antonio, Texas.

The free-fall in prices has spurred regulators in the U.S. state of Texas, the heart of the country's oil production, to consider regulating output for the first time in nearly 50 years, while producers in neighboring Oklahoma asked state regulators also to consider cuts Thursday.

Ryan Sitton, one of three elected oil-and-gas regulators in Texas, tweeted on Thursday that he had spoken with Russia's Novak about a cut of 10 million bpd in global supply.

"While we normally compete, we agreed that #COVID19 requires unprecedented level of int'l cooperation," Sitton wrote.

Brent oil prices rose 21% to $29.94 per barrel, having earlier risen to as high as $36.29. U.S. benchmark WTI crude settled up 25% to $25.32 a barrel.

Even with Thursday's surge, Brent is still less than half its $66 closing level at the end of 2019.

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal in Dubai, Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow and Jeff Mason in Washington; additional reporting by Jessica Resnick Ault and Laila Kearney in New York and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov and David Gaffen; Editing by Tom Brown and Leslie Adler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
HARTFORD  Caregivers support groups provide emotional, educational and social support in a positive and uplifting atmosphere for those who care for an older loved one, particularly those with dementia. For many years, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging has offered monthly in-person support groups at numerous senior living communities and senior centers.

However, due to recent restrictions on social gatherings, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is now hosting four call-in caregivers support groups each week led by dementia specialists and resource coordinators. The call-in groups are held at 10 a.m. Mondays, 3 p.m. Tuesdays, 3 p.m.; 10 a.m. Wednesdays, and 2 p.m. Fridays. At the meeting time, participants can call 860.972.6338 and enter access code 19623#.

We want caregivers to have a sense of community and connectivity even if we cannot come together in person. This is an opportunity for caregivers to share how they are feeling, their successes and challenges, and be supported by others in similar situations, said Adrianne DeVivo, CDP, dementia specialist, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, in a statement.

Participants need not to have attended a previous caregivers support group. Confidential discussion and telephonic assessments can also be had one-on-one with a dementia professional outside of the online group.

Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services. Each of the 11 resource and assessment centers are designed to enhance access to services and information related to attaining optimal quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. For more information about Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, visit http://hhccenterforhealthyaging.org or call 877-424-4641.

Detox unit temporarily closed

MIDDLETOWN - The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is temporarily closing its detoxification, or detox, unit located at the Connecticut Valley Hospital within its Addiction Services Division in Middletown, to new admissions. The detox unit is expected to be closed by Friday, according to a statement. There are patients on the detox unit at CVH in Middletown. The average length of stay for patients on the unit is 4-7 days. It is anticipated that all patients will be discharged and the unit will be closed by Friday. The closure is temporary and the unit is expected to be reopened. Staff will be temporarily reassigned to a 13-bed isolation unit for CVH patients with COVID-19 or to fill staffing needs created by other hospital employees who have volunteered to work in the isolation unit.

CVH will continue to accept admissions to its detox unit located at the Blue Hills campus in Hartford and to its rehabilitation units in both Middletown and Hartford.

A total of 36 employees, including doctors, nurses, mental health assistants, social workers and a counselor will be temporarily transferred for 90 days in accordance with Article 18 of the collective bargaining unit contract with the State of Connecticut and the New England Health Care Employees Union District 1199.

Connecticut Valley Hospital is an inpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment facility operated by DMHAS with 209 psychiatric beds and 110 substance use treatment beds at the Middletown campus. An additional 42 substance use treatment beds are located on CVHs Blue Hills campus in Hartford. More than 3,000 individuals received treatment through CVH in 2019.

Conservation district holding annual plant sale

CHESTER  The Connecticut River Coastal Conservation Districts 29th annual plant sale fundraiser is set for April 24-25 at the Chester Fairgrounds, offering a wide variety of native shrubs, ground covers, evergreen tree seedlings, flowering perennials, ferns, grasses, and culinary herbs. This years list features some new plants, including Maple-leaved Viburnum, Steeplebush, Wild Ginger, Dwarf Hairy Beardtongue, and Broad-leaved Sedge. We will also have flowering perennial landscape plugs again and, for the first time, we are offering Balsam Fir, White Spruce, and White Pine plugs. We are also carrying the popular Collins Organic Compost again.

Orders can be placed now at www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal. Shoppers can also download a copy of the 2020 brochure and order form online, with photos and more detailed information about the extensive selection of plants. The online store has a larger assortment of perennials than the printed brochure. Quantities of certain plants are limited, and orders are due April 6. For information, contact the District office at 860-346-3282.

The Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Middletown, works to conserve the natural resources in the lower Connecticut River watershed and coastal areas through technical assistance and education. All proceeds from the plant sale support our conservation work. For more information about District programs and services, visit our website at www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal.

Scholarship applications available

MIDDLETOWN  For the 35th year, Middlesex County Farm Bureau Agricultural scholarship applications are now available at county high school guidance offices and from the Middlesex County Farm Bureau office.

The $250 award is to assist a student in the study of any field of agriculture. Applicants must be residents of Middlesex County OR be attending school in Middlesex County OR be a Middlesex County Farm Bureau family member. Current college students and high school seniors are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Applications must be postmarked by May 1. For further information, or an application, interested students should contact Middlesex County Farm Bureau, Inc. at 860-349-1250 or semintz43@gmail.com
It was announced today that Bank of Ireland is donating 1 million in emergency funding to communities with urgent needs arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In partnership with The Community Foundation for Ireland, the Bank is fast tracking 500,000 of the funds to 13 organisations that are working to support the immediate needs of vulnerable groups across the island of Ireland, north and south.

This support is being delivered to projects which will support children and older people, domestic abuse, rural isolation, cancer support, mental health, and food distribution.

The remaining 500,000 is being donated to The Community Foundation for Ireland and the Community Foundation for Northern Irelands Covid-19 Funds to help local charities and community organisations assisting vulnerable individuals and groups through this difficult period. The Community Foundations will launch these funds next week.

The organisations working on Covid-19 specific projects who have received funding from Bank of Ireland are Aware Northern Ireland, Cruse Bereavement Care NI, Age Action, FoodCloud, Irish Cancer Society, SAFE Ireland, St Vincent de Paul, Irish Rural Link, COPD Support Ireland, Childrens Rights Alliance, with a joint project being worked on by Asthma Society of Ireland, Cystic Fibrosis and Lung Fibrosis Ireland.

Commenting on the project, Group CEO at Bank of Ireland, Francesca McDonagh said, "A crisis like this presents a range of real challenges. Some are obvious, but other needs may be less visible. Thats why we are working with The Community Foundation for Ireland which has advised us on a wide range of social issues and needs that require immediate financial support."

She added, "As one of the largest employers on the island of Ireland, we want to practically support the communities where we live and work. We hope this will help some of those most at risk right now."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
(Newser)  The captain of a US aircraft carrier has lost his command after asking the Navy to let him evacuate crew members who tested positive for the coronavirus. Thomas Modly, acting secretary of the Navy, said Thursday that he gave the order to relieve Capt. Brett Crozier of his command, the Wall Street Journal reports. Crozier had written his superior officers asking for permission to remove ill crew members from the ship in Guam, where the USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked. It wasn't possible to isolate ill patients on the ship, he said. The San Francisco Chronicle, Crozier's hometown newspaper, saw a copy of the memo and reported it; Modly declined to say whether he thought Crozier leaked it but said that would violate Navy policy. Crozier did forward the memo to as many as 30 people, Modly said. President Trump said late Thursday that he didn't agree with distributing the memo, "not even a little bit."

story continues below

Modly said Crozier, who had written his bosses that "sailors do not need to die," had exercised poor judgment, per ABC. "I lost confidence in his ability to lead that warship as it continues to fight through this virus, get the crew healthy, so that it can continue to meet its national security requirements," he said. Distributing the memo, Modly said, "was a completely unnecessary thing to do in the midst of a crisis." The ship has nearly 5,000 personnel on board. Modley said Friday that 114 sailors had tested positive and that the number would climb, per NPR, "maybe in the hundreds." (Guam answered Crozier's request.)
(Alliance News) - easyJet PLC on Friday confirmed that it has rejected a requisition notice as invalid because it did not comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The stock closed 4.5% lower at 475.00 pence a share in London.

On Thursday, the budget airline said founder and largest shareholder Stelios Haji-Ioannou requisitioned a general meeting to remove Non-Executive Director Andreas Bierwirth from his position.

Bierwirth joined the board of the budget airline in July 2014 and is currently chief executive of Magenta Telekom, formerly known as T-Mobile Austria.

On Monday, Haji-Ioannou warned he would seek the removal of the entire board unless the company cancelled a GBP4.5 billion aircraft contract with Airbus SE, as the budget airliner grounded its entire fleet.

In a letter addressed to easyJet's board, Haji-Ioannou said he will send notices of general meetings to remove non-executive directors of the company for dereliction of duty unless his demands were met. He owns 34% of the company via investment vehicle easyGroup Holdings Ltd, which sent the requisition notice.

On Friday, easyJet said it rejected Haji-Ioannou's requisition notice.

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
David Kidd is a photojournalist and storyteller for Governing. He was the art director and staff photographer at Teacher magazine and the American Journalism Review before joining Governing in 2008. He can be reached at dkidd@governing.com


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Toyota City, Japan, Apr 3, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced that it has jointly developed(1) an innovative aluminum casting technology that improves the plant environment and product functionality, for which it has received the Okochi Memorial Production Prize in the 66th (2019) Okochi Memorial Prize awards. Presented by the Okochi Memorial Foundation, the Okochi Memorial Prize acknowledges remarkable achievements related to research and development, and the application of production engineering, production technology, and production systems annually. This marks the first time in three years that Toyota has been awarded the well-established, prestigious Okochi Memorial Prize. It is also the 12th Okochi Memorial Prize*2 overall for Toyota.Toyota is implementing initiatives to achieve the "Plant Zero CO2 Emissions Challenge," which is one of the targets in the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, announced in 2015. As the electrification of vehicles proceeds, engines will also have to evolve, such as through the use of technologies to achieve high thermal efficiency. For these two reasons, Toyota developed the aluminum casting technology that received this prize.Toyota received this prize for a world-first aluminum casting technology for cylinder heads*3, which affect engine performance. The cooling water channels of a cylinder head are normally formed using molds made from sand and adhesive, known as a core. The technology commonly used to make cores at present employs an organic material called phenolic resin as the adhesive. However, the casting process produces strong odors and smoke, giving rise to the issue of large deodorization equipment required to deal with the odorous gas by-products.Manufacturing cylinder headOn the other hand, increased cooling capacity of the cylinder head is necessary for improving engine performance, and this requires thinner and more complex cooling water channels. Also, using inorganic material as the adhesive is an effective way of eliminating smoke and odor, but there was previously no method of manufacturing cores that would allow for complicated shapes and reuse of sand.Structure of cylinder head cooling water channelsThe aluminum casting technology developed by Toyota uses the inorganic material, water glass, which does not cause odors or smoke. Moreover, this world-first technology enables complex shapes to be created and the sand to be reused. Using water glass, which is not subject to thermal degradation, to adhesive the sand has succeeded in reducing odor concentrations during the casting process to 1/100th or less, thereby reducing the investment required in deodorization equipment. Also, the action of surfactants creates a mousse-like consistency that improves the flowability of the sand, which enables the creation of thin and complex cooling water channels in the cylinder head. This is contributing significantly to mass production of new model engines with thermal efficiency of 41 percent. The temperature at which the sand is processed was also reduced, with the effect of more than halving the CO2 emissions of traditional methods.Comparison of sand flowabilityCylinder heads made using this technology are currently in use all around the world. Going forward, Toyota will extend this technology both internally and to other companies as well, and will take on new challenges to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through efforts to bring about positive effects to the earth and society.(1) Jointly developed with SINTOKOGIO, Ltd.(2) Including the Okochi Memorial Grand Production Prize, Okochi Memorial Production Prize, Okochi Memorial Technology Prize(3) Together with the cylinder block, the cylinder head is one of the parts that form the body of the engine. It is an important part that affects engine performance.About Toyota Motor CorporationToyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 29 countries, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.Source: Toyota Motor CorporationCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has tested negative to coronavirus infection, an official has said.

Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, gave the update on Friday on Twitter.

Mr Abayomi said the governor, his wife, and their immediate family as well as aides all tested negative to Covid-19.

I am happy to announce that #COVID19Lagos Incident Commander, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu @jidesanwoolu, the first Lady of Lagos @jokesanwoolu and their immediate family members as well as aides have all tested negative to #COVID19, he tweeted.

Mr Abayomi thanked Lagos residents for their concern and support in combating the virus and urged them to maintain social distancing, alongside other directives of the government.

Three state governors; the Presidents Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; and other top government officials have tested positive to coronavirus since its outbreak in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osibanjo tested negative to the virus.

As of Thursday, Lagos State has 98 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 78 active cases, 19 patients discharged and one patient moved to the United States.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, on Thursday said seven new cases were confirmed in Lagos State and three new cases in Abuja, totaling 184 confirmed cases across the country.

12 states and Abuja have recorded confirmed cases of coronavirus since its outbreak, while the ministry of health has speculated there would be more confirmed cases in the country.
Verizon has launched Pay It Forward Live, a weekly streaming concert series to support small businesses affected by COVID-19. The intimate shows kicked off last week with Dave Matthews, and continued this week with OneRepublic frontman and Grammy-winning superstar songwriter Ryan Tedder.

The performance, which originally streamed from Tedders home on April 2, will be available for replay here for one week afterwards.

As were all feeling right now, small businesses are a huge part of our daily lives, says Tedder. Im grateful that I am able to take part in an initiative to help lessen the impact of this crisis.

Video: Ryan Tedder Performs Better Days

Over the course of Pay It Forward Live, viewers are encouraged to tag their favorite local businesses and do what they can to support them  shop online, make a purchase in advance for when the crisis is over and the businesses reopen, or order a meal. Verizon will also donate $10 to support small businesses, up to $2.5 million, when the hashtag #PayItForwardLive is used.

Verizon is also giving consumers as many ways to support small businesses as possible, including partnering with PayPal and Square to give Pay It Forward Live viewers the ability to support small businesses within the live streams.

Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic. (Photo: Interscope)

Expanding its commitment to small businesses, this week Verizon Business will pay it forward to a number of small businesses preparing daily meals to feed healthcare workers. This program brings together multiple New York City restaurants with six area hospitals in an effort to help both the restaurants workers and hospital staff on the front line providing care to patients. Meals are being provided seven days a week throughout the month of April, at no cost to the hospitals or their employees. The ordering and delivery process is managed by Grubhub, which donated its service to help this cause.

Participating restaurants include: Blue Restaurant, Bella Notte, Dino, Dosa Royale, Locksmith Bar and Mimi Chengs. Medical centers receiving food include: Maimonides Medical Center and Hospital for Special Surgery.

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Video: Ryan Tedder Performs Counting Stars

Verizon is planning to scale these efforts, with continued support from Grubhub, to help as many as possible in our backyard and beyond. Verizon is urging companies in other cities to support similar efforts to fund local restaurants efforts to feed healthcare workers.

To date, Verizon is supporting communities through a combined $20 million donation to nonprofits directed at serving students, healthcare first responders, and small businesses. To find out more about what Verizon is doing to help customers and small businesses, visit verizon.com/about/news/our-response-coronavirus.

Verizon is the parent company of Yahoo.

For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. 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.
Aiming to offer point-to-point protection for online and offline video playback on any device content protection firm Verimatrix has launched a new toolkit to support the implementation and integration of embedded video security solutions.





The new Verimatrix Embedded DRM, a part of the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) , is designed to allow system integrators and device vendors to ensure that premium content distribution is compliant to industry standards by enabling close proximity secure handshakes between devices and displays.The solution offers point-to-point protection to address the gaps that occur when video content is delivered beyond the common TV, computer or mobile device connections. The company cites by way of example how premium content, such as Hollywood movies, requires a secure connection all the way to a compliant display, such as a video player in an airplane connected to the video displays located in each passenger seat. Failure to encrypt the handshake from the player to each display can be a compliance violation and a content protection gap.Verimatrix further warns that playback devices not continuously connected to a license server or otherwise reachable for content authorisation and entitlement require mechanisms other than traditional digital rights management (DRM) or conditional access (CA) systems to protect the valuable content they display to viewers. For such applications, the industry has defined two point-to-point protection standards for guaranteed device interoperability: high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) for premium content forwarded to external displays or TV sets and digital transmission content protection (DTCP) for content protection on the compressed level.The Verimatrix Embedded DRM toolkit includes customised software libraries for integrated or installable HDCP and DTCP applications and customised HDCP or DTCP source code for compiling directly into embedded systems. Specifically for HDCP, Verimatrix Embedded DRM offers HDCP 2.x stacks that address these use cases and meet the content owner requirements  even for 8K premium content.Content owners require their content to be protected throughout the entire delivery chain, including download, streaming, storage and playback all the way up to the display, but there are several scenarios in which content cannot be secured by typical DRM or CA systems, said Martin Bergenwall, SVP of product management at Verimatrix. [Verimatrix offers] Customised HDCP and DTCP software libraries and source code for playback use cases that go beyond traditional one-way or two-way communications, ensuring that any previous gaps can be closed with state-of-the-art security.
Finally! The first Kenyan tycoon has joined the war against COVID-19 in the country.

Steel magnate Narendra Raval, the founder of Devki Group of companies, has donated KSh 100 million worth of oxygen to hospitals to combat the deadly pandemic.

In a letter dated April 2, 2020, and addressed to the Ministry of Health, Raval said the oxygen will be collected from Devki Steels Mills branch factories in Mombasa, Ruiru and Athi River.

The oxygen, which is vital for patients with severe COVID-19, will be distributed to all government hospitals across the country.

I hereby confirm the pledge to donate oxygen worth KSh 100 million to all government hospitals throughout the country, Raval said.

The Devki Steels Mills chairman also declared that he was ready to pledge all his assets if he was required to do so.

If the need arises, I am ready to pledge all my assets to save my country and the people of Kenya from the Covid-19 devil, Raval wrote on social media platforms.

The donation comes a month after he predicted that China would find a vaccine for Coronavirus by May.

According to my Astrology, in exactly 40 days from today, China will be able to get a cure for the Coronavirus. Although the death toll may rise to 2800 between now and the beginning of March, all hope will be rekindled for there will be effective control of the spread of the disease by the 27th of March.

A preventive vaccine will be ready by May. When we pray for China, we pray for the world, Raval shared on Facebook.


The Ministry of Foreign Relations, sensitive to the concerns of the OSLs amidst the rapid spread of the COVID-19 and the inability to return to Sri Lanka, has held consultations over the past 2 days with its Heads of Missions based in 67 cities across the world, to facilitate the wellbeing and safety of Overseas Sri Lankans, while preparing for any exigencies they could have to meet in the coming days.

In a series of tele-conferences led by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha with Heads of Mission/Post in 5 regional clusters (South Asia, Middle East, South East Asia & East Asia, Africa & Latin America, as well as North America & Europe), issues that demanded attention in respect of Overseas Sri Lankans were discussed, in keeping with the Governments policy directives, on the COVID -19 pandemic. The focal point of the Foreign Ministry on COVID -19 Action and DG/East Asia Mr. Kandeepan Balasubramaniam, Additional Secretaries, respective territorial DGs and relevant functional DGs of the Ministry were associated in the discussions. The Acting General Manager of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), W.M.V. Wansekara, also attended some of the consultations which focused on Sri Lankan migrant receiving countries.

Overall, all Sri Lanka Missions, even though mostly in work from home mode, have been constantly interacting with the student communities and the migrant workers in their respective stations and have established 24-hour emergency hotlines providing easy access to the Mission staff. While the Missions are in the process of updating databases of Sri Lankans in their respective stations, social media platforms are also being used to maintain and enhance links by which information could be shared. The Sri Lanka Missions in these regions have assured the community members and students studying overseas that requests for return of Sri Lankans will be considered once the spread of the virus is contained in the country.

Sri Lanka Missions in the Middle East, as well as South East Asia, East Asia, Africa and Southern Europe, which host the largest concentration of Sri Lankan expatriate workers, informed of their efforts to constantly network with Sri Lankans overseas and the community representatives, assisting them in matters concerning emergency passports, visa extensions, and employment contracts, by discussing with the respective local authorities and intervening and seeking clearances, as required.

Highlighting the need to assist this important segment of migrant labour, one of largest contributors to Sri Lankas foreign exchange, the Ministry stressed that the Missions and the SLBFE should also look after and facilitate the well-being of Sri Lankans without valid visas, unemployed and also those not registered with the SLBFE. It was noted that some Sri Lanka Missions have liaised with local charities that support people who are unemployed, recruiting agencies, other community organizations, International organizations such as IOM and Caritas, to render assistance to Sri Lankans until such time they can be safely repatriated back to Sri Lanka. The declaration of amnesty periods by some Middle Eastern countries and the ramifications of such action, were also discussed during the

tele conferences.

With respect to Sri Lankan students enrolled across the globe, most Missions, including those in the West, reported having close contact with the University administrations and the students communities, to make certain that the students have continued access to their accommodation in hostels, access to food and medical facilities.

The Missions have also been striving to secure visa extensions for students, as well as others residents and those visiting abroad, whose visas are lapsing. This concession was granted for over 15,000 foreigners visiting Sri Lanka until 12 May, due to reasons caused by the pandemic.

On the economic front, the Ministry, through its Mission network, in collaboration with the Export Development Board (EDB) is in the process of facilitating Sri Lankan exporters at this volatile time period to re-position themselves in the long run. In this respect, the Missions network assists the EDB to obtain market information as well as address issues relevant to supply side constraints in our key export sourcing countries. This also includes seeking new opportunities for Sri Lanka for existing products, as well as requirements related to the COVID 19 situation.

The Ministry also took note of the positive action by some Missions in collaborating with the Sri Lankan Health authorities, to coordinate procurement of medicines and medical equipment urgently needed on a Government to Government basis. Missions were further requested to look for opportunities to obtain test kits and necessary medical equipment in consultation with the Ministry of Health, to help mitigate the spread of the virus in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the new Contact Sri Lanka online Web Portal launched by the Ministry of Foreign Relations on 26 March 2020, has to date seen 45,770 Sri Lankans living abroad register, a bulk of them from the Middle East. It is noteworthy that 1955 queries have also been directed to the portal, and been answered. The Portal is a direct interface for all Overseas Sri Lankans to voice their views and concerns to the Ministry and the Missions, and has been jointly created by the Foreign Ministry and Information & Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA). The web link is hosted on the Ministry web page www.mfa.gov.lk and also can be accessed at www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk.

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Colombo

2 April 2020

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Carley Furlow jokes shell pick up her high school diploma later this spring in the mail.

The Central Dauphin East High School senior has been looking forward to rites of passage such as senior awards, May Day, pep rallies, prom and graduation. But as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, shutting schools and canceling activities, Furlow, 18, has come to grips she may never walk the stage in her cap and gown.

Im missing big milestones most people look back on forever. Im sad, I guess, because Im not going to be able to experience these things, she said.

For teens, COVID-19 has mitigated socializing and schoolwork to livestreams, Zoom meetings and FaceTime. Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf announced last week school is suspended indefinitely for Pennsylvania students.

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Its bittersweet for seniors like Furlow, who may never again set foot in their schools except to pick up belongings or return textbooks. They wont have a chance to say goodbye to friends and teachers or experience end-of-year celebrations and gatherings with friends and family. Everything is on hold.

Gavin Ford, a senior at Dauphin County Technical School, said he acknowledges the seriousness of the situation and understands canceling activities is for everyones safety. But he said he feels like hes missing out.

I would feel really robbed if I missed this milestone that Ive been working on for 12 years, Ford said.

Gavin Ford is a senior at Dauphin County Technical School. Provided photo

Dr. Pauline Wallin, a psychologist in Camp Hill, noted in 20 years todays teens will have great stories to share with their children about life during the pandemic, but for now they are disappointed.

While the first couple of days off from school may have felt like a vacation, Wallin recognizes reality is setting in for many teens as they look to the future.

Everybody is anxious at this point. When there is uncertainty, there is anxiety, she said.

For parents, it can be a struggle knowing how to address their childs concerns. She notes most adults dont look back at high school graduation as a shining moment in their lives, so its easy to downplay the events.

To reassure them it wont matter in 10 years is not helpful, Wallin said. A better approach is to empathize with them. You dont have to come up with a solution for them, you just have to understand, and you realize how important it is.

Steven Lamar Johnson, a therapist and school counselor from Harrisburg, agrees more than ever this is the time parents need to validate their childrens feelings.

Sometimes thats really missed. We try and solve their problems. A lot of times we just need to listen, Johnson said.

He encourages parents to use the extra time together and have conversations, whether it be about sneakers and clothing or favorite rap artists. For senior high school students, Johnson said understandably it is upsetting to think they might not have prom or a graduation ceremony.

Think about it if you are a senior. You have been waiting for all of this. This is the culmination of blood, sweat and getting in trouble, and all the good choices and the poor choices you make as a kid, he said.

Johnson recommends parents talk to seniors to make alternative plans such as dressing up and hosting a dance at home with immediate family members. They also can start to focus on college and future plans, he said.

Furlow, who plans to study at Penn State Harrisburg in the fall, said her mom, Jody Furlow, has suggested different ways to mark some of the milestones including a backyard ceremony.

My mom is really feels really bad. Every day she tries to come up with ideas of things we could do and recreate things we are going to miss, Furlow said.

Wallin said its a good idea to give teens an opportunity to be creative and problem solve how they want to recognize the milestones they will miss. As suggestions, she said several groups have hosted drive-by birthday parties or shamrock hunts for St. Patricks Day practicing social distancing.

Families also can join for daily meetings to get a sense of how everyone is doing. When children ask questions such as When will this be over? Wallin suggests parents respond, not by answering the question, but asking their children how they feel.

Otherwise, Wallin said its similar to when a family pet dies and you have to explain to your child the animal is in heaven or in a better place.

Its a sad point of life and we all deal with it. And we have to deal with certain parts of life that are out of control, Wallin said.
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There is a double siege around Bethlehem, says Abdelfattah Abusrour.

Aida refugee camp sits on the outskirts of the city. Its residents live in cramped housing blocks, packed tightly together, in the shadow of the 750-kilometer wall that separates Israel from the West Bank territories it occupies. On one side we have the siege within, explains Abusrour, founder of the camps Al-Rowwad cultural center, speaking over the phone. The Palestinian Authority saying that everyone should stay at home, for their safety, and the safety of others. The other siege is forced by the Israeli occupation, of course.

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For Abusrour, the prospect of a coronavirus pandemic in Aida camp is extremely worrying. Aida refugee camp is very dense and there are about 6,000 people in a space of 0.07 square kilometers, he said. The houses are crowded. Families are living on top of each other.  There is no possibility for a family, for example, to isolate an elderly person in a room or whatever because most of the time the whole family lives in one room.

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He adds, If coronavirus defuses in bigger numbers in Palestine it would be completely catastrophic.

As of Friday, there have been 193 cases of COVID-19 recorded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Bethlehem, the epicenter of the Palestinian outbreak, has been locked down for almost four weeks, with other Palestinian towns and cities restricting movement and association in order to stem the spread of the disease.

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But whatever fears they may have of the pandemic, a lockdown is not a new phenomenon to the people of Aida. We are under surveillance 24 hours a day says Abusrour.

Mustafa Barghouti, a physician who was the runner-up in the last Palestinian presidential election and is a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organizations central committee, says the coronavirus is an unprecedented challenge.

The infrastructure we have is very poor, he explains. I think all we have is no more than 130 to 140 ventilators in the whole of the West Bank, and a much smaller number in Gaza. We have been struggling to get protective material, such as protective gowns, and especially masks.

Knowing that medical infrastructure will be overwhelmed by a large influx of coronavirus patients, organizations like the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, led by Barghouti, are focusing on prevention, distributing information both online and on the doorstep. We have to concentrate on prevention, because we cannot afford to have so many cases. If we have many cases, we will be in a disastrous situation.

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Its a policy similar to that being employed in countries across the world. But in the face of a pandemic that shows no respect for nationality or ethnicity, anyone hoping that the Israeli grip on the Palestinian territories would loosen would be disappointed.

The Israeli army and the Israeli occupation forces are hampering our work in a very bad way, he said. They havent eased the siege on Gaza, and in the West Bank they have been invading areas that are under curfew because of quarantine procedures.

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Twenty miles away from Aida refugee camp, the city of Hebron is a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite the city introducing severe restrictions on movement to curb the virus, Israeli military patrols in the city have not been halted. On a nightly basis we hear gunfire, describes Amena (not her real name), who has lived in Hebron her whole life. They go into weddings, they go to tribal law sessions and what have you, and that is something that the Palestinian Authority cannot control.

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Three weeks ago, a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed at a protest near Nablus, in the northern West Bank, and on Monday three teenagers were arrested and detained in Hebron. On Sunday, Israeli navy gunboats fired upon Palestinian shipping vessels off the coast of Gaza, while Israeli warplanes and artillery struck targets northwest of Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed these attacks were in retaliation to rockets being fired into southern Israel.

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In Hebron, Amena claims, some of the soldiers were actually seen spitting on cars and properties, which prompted the Palestinian Authority to disinfect the whole area. Videos have surfaced online showing a soldier spitting on the ground, though IDF officials reject the allegation that it was deliberate.

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For people across Europe and North America, the prospect of an enforced lockdown, of curfews, is alien. The sudden barriers that have been erected against freedom of movement and association are shocking. But in some ways, this new reality for the Western world has been a Palestinian reality for decades. The Gaza Strip has been blockaded for 14 years. Across the Arab world, millions of people of Palestinian descent are living in exile, denied the freedom to return to their homes since 1948. In the West Bank, freedom of movement has long been subject to random checkpoints, Israeli control of major roads, and, during major flare-ups of violence, curfews and forced lockdowns.

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Its sad for the younger people, says one man in his 50s who owns a small farm outside Bethlehem. They get bored, and have nothing to do. But for me? The Israelis stopped my freedom to move before. What does it change that I have no freedom to move now?

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Amena can well remember the Second Intifada from 200005, a period of intensified conflict between Palestinians and Israel that resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 people: Theyre used to it, especially the people my age who can remember 2002, when the occupation of the West Bank took place and a system of curfews had taken place.

So do the people from the 90s or late 80s, with the First Intifada, when you had that system of closed borders and curfews and you were not allowed to go out of the house, she says. For those too young to remember, lockdown may be a new state of affairsbut their parents and grandparents have seen it all before.
A soldier from Washington state has been charged in federal court with sending a false distress message to the US Coast Guard after allegedly faking his own suicide so that he could travel to Mexico and become a 'freelance fighter' against the drug cartels.

Devin Schmidt, 20, formerly of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and his cousin, Ryen Bell, 21, of Bonney Lake, Washington, were charged on Thursday in US District Court in Tacoma, accusing of scheming together to fake Schmidt's suicide.

According to a criminal complaint, in December 2019, Schmidt and Bell concocted the bogus suicide story so that the solider could leave the US Army and relocate to Mexico.

Devin Schmidt, 20 (left), and his cousin, Ryen Bell, 21 (right), have been charged with sending a false distress message to the US Coast Guard after allegedly faking Schmidt's suicide

Schmidt had been at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state until March 25, when he received an 'Other than Honorable Discharge' from the military

On the afternoon of December 18, Schmidt filmed a fake suicide message saying goodbye to his family and friends.

In the video shot on his cellphone, Schmidt said: 'I guess if you're watching this, I'm not longer alive. I can't... I havn't been living the life I wanted to live. I've been too depressed lately. I just felt lost. I just want you guys to know I love all of you. I know you guys won't forget abut me. Don't tear your own lives apart for it. Sorry. While I'm gone I want somebody to watch over my brother. And Ryen, I want you to go to all the places I wanted to go, and leave a memory for me there. love you guys.'

After receiving the video, Bell contacted the Port Townsend Police Department to report that Schmidt had sent him the video indicating that he had committed suicide in Fort Warden Historical State Park.

Bell and Schmidt's ex-girlfriend, who was not in on the hoax, then drove to the park , where the cousin found Schmidt's dog tags, unlocked phone and other personal belongings at the top of a 150-foot cliff towering over the beach at Fort Warden.

The missing person report to the police triggered a massive search first by the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, and on December 19 by the Coast Guard, which scoured the waters below the cliffs in dangerous weather conditions.

The search operation, which lasted 10 hours, cost the agency more than $172,000, according to the complaint.

Bell reported to the police that he had received a suicide video from Schmidt on December 18, and that he found his cousin's dog tags and found at the top of this 150-foot cliff towering over the beach at Fort Warden

The US Coast Guard launched a search for Schmidt, scouring the waters below the cliffs in dangerous weather conditions

The suicide hoax unraveled just hours later, when Bell's mother revealed that information she received from law enforcement made her suspicious of the missing person report.

The woman said that her son had told her Schmidt was missing and suicidal four hours before he had received the soldier's suicide video.

When police examined Bell's phone and went through his Facebook messages, they reportedly discovered that the two cousins planned to meet up at a Port Townsend McDonald's the evening of December 19 to begin the next step of their plan to travel to Mexico.

The idea was for Bell and Schmidt to become 'freelance fighters' to 'fight cartels,' according to the document.

Police were waiting at the eatery at 6pm and arrested both men.

Schmidt and Bell were arrested by police at a McDonald's. The soldier allegedly wanted to travel to Mexico and become a 'freelance fighter' to 'fight cartels'

When interviewed by police, Schmidt allegedly acknowledged that he was aware of the search efforts for him, saying he 'couldn't take if off my f***ing mind while I was out there.'

He also allegedly admitted to hiding out in a portable bathroom overnight, and then sneaking into his mother's home and using her computer to create a fake Facebook account under an assumed name, and then using it to arrange the meeting with his cousin.

Schmidt received an 'Other than Honorable Discharge' from the military on March 25.

He and Bell are due back in court on June 4. If convicted as charged, the two cousins could face up to six years in prison and fines totaling $350,000.
The impacts of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harrys abrupt and shocking departure from their royal duties have continued to ripple out. While many people have focused on the way the public perceives the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the midst of this upheaval, the rift it has made between Prince Harry and his older brother Prince William is also a matter of concern.

Meghan Markle| Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

A source close to the family says Meghan regrets the way things currently stand between these two brothers who have gone through so much together. She feels somewhat responsible for their current iciness and looks to a future when theyll be on better terms.

Prince Harry and Prince William are at odds

Prince William and Prince Harry share a unique and complicated history that helps make them closer than most brothers. Not only did they both grow up in the public eye with a lot of attention on their role in the royal family, but they also leaned on one another in the aftermath of their mothers tragic and untimely death.

Throughout their lives, the two princes have acted much more like best friends than just siblings. Growing up, they had friends in common and even broke with royal tradition to invite each other to serve as the best man in their respective wedding parties.

Since their marriages, however, the public has speculated that there is a growing distance between them. For one thing, they each have their own lives to live now with children of their own and adult responsibilities. For another, Prince Williams role as second in line for the throne places him in a much different position than his younger brother who is, at this point, quite far removed from the duty.

Early speculation pointed to a feud between Meghan and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. But more recent reports focus on the brothers themselves and the tension between them. The Sussexes unprecedented announcement that they would be stepping away from royal life only intensified the rumors.

Prince Harry confirmed the rumors

Before Prince Harry and Meghan announced their departure, they appeared in a documentary cataloging their trip to Africa. In it, Prince Harry seems to confirm that there is truth to the rumors about his relationship with his brother.

Were brothers and well always be brothers, he said. Were certainly on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him, as I know he will always be there for me. . . The majority of this stuff [media reporting] is created out of nothing, but you know, as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days.

A source close to Meghan reveals she does carry some sense of responsibility for the current state of things between the brothers. However, that does not mean that she feels regret or guilt about making the decision that best serves her familys sense of security and safety. She has, the source explains, a clear conscience.

Duchess Meghan believes the brothers will patch things up

Prince Harrys comments in the documentary alluded to good days and bad days, but that line of thinking could be extended. This might be a bad period for the brothers, but they have a strong bond based on family and friendship. The source close to Meghan says the duchess believes the pair will eventually patch things up.

The most likely scenario is that both brothers are busy finding their own footing at the moment. Prince Harry is veering off the beaten path to carve out his own way forward. Prince William is facing more and more responsibility as his own moment to shine grows nearer with each passing day.

Right now, those two paths have veered away from one another, but theyll likely come back together, allowing these brothers the chance to be as close as ever.
JERUSALEM (JTA)-As his Blue and White party was on the verge of breaking up, its leader, Benny Gantz, was elected speaker of the Israeli Knesset on Thursday evening.

Gantz has been tasked with forming a coalition government following elections earlier this month, Israel's third vote in less than a year.

The split in his party is over a debate about joining a unity government led at first by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

What does it mean: A unity government would provide Israel with a permanent government-something the nation hasn't had for a year-as it battles the current coronavirus crisis. It is not clear how stable the government would be, however. Talks on the unity government reportedly are continuing.

The Israeli media reported that Gantz would hold the speaker's position for a short time, until the formation of a unity government. According to reports, Netanyahu would serve first as prime minister for 18 months, with Gantz as foreign minister before taking over for Netanyahu.

Gantz was elected speaker in a 74-18 vote, with 28 lawmakers not showing up for the balloting. The entire right-wing bloc voted for him.

On Thursday, Gantz declared himself the candidate to become speaker in order to preserve the option of forming a unity government. He succeeds Yuli Edelstein, who stepped down a day earlier after shutting down the parliament for several days over losing his post and pressing for a unity government. Critics said Edelstein was undermining Israel's democracy.

The right-wing bloc agreed to support Gantz as speaker, a tacit acknowledgement of support for a unity government with the former military chief of staff, while Avigdor Liberman and his Yisrael Beiteinu party, as well as the mostly Arab Joint List, would join the new Blue and White in the opposition, according to reports.

On Thursday afternoon, Yair Lapid and Moshe Yaalon, the co-leaders of Blue and White, filed a request in the Knesset to break off from Gantz. Lapid and Yaalon reportedly will continue to use the name Blue and White, while Gantz likely will use the name of his party, Resilience.

Blue and White had said initially that it would support Meir Cohen of Lapid's Yesh Atid party for speaker. Cohen was to use the position to drive a further wedge with Netanyahu and his Likud party by proposing legislation that would forbid a lawmaker under indictment from forming a government and serving as prime minister. Netanyahu is facing three corruption counts, but his trial has been delayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Gantz and Netanyahu further discussed a unity government in talks late Wednesday night, according to reports.

"Gantz decided to crawl into Netanyahu's government," Lapid told his Yesh Atid faction, according to reports.

Reports said that in a unity government, a Likud member would serve as finance minister and Netanyahu agreed to give up the Justice Ministry, with Yechiel Trooper of Blue and White assuming the position.
The Olympics may have been postponed and the number of coronavirus cases is rising, but the Japanese government has not declared a state of emergency or ordered lockdown measures like those implemented in New York, California and countries such as China, Italy and Spain.

Businesses, bars and restaurants remain open in Japan and residents can, for the most part, move freely, leading some to express their unease at their governments slow reaction to the pandemic.

The Japanese government is really slow, hair stylist Natsumi Makino, who works at Hair Salon Nalu in Tokyos Shibuya ward, said.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Tokyo announced arecord 95 new cases on Thursday, up from 65 on Wedenesday and 78 Tuesday. Nationwide, Japan has about 3,000 cases, including 712 from a cruise ship, with 78 deaths.

Despite the increasing numbers, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ignored pleas from several high profile politicians to declare a state of emergency, even though a recently revised law would allow him to do so.

Image: Shinzo Abe (JIJI Press / AFP - Getty Images)

While schools in the country have been closed since late February, Abe has refused to implement similar measures to those seen in China, numerous European countries and in New York and California, where bars, restaurants and most retail stores have been shuttered.

Instead, local politicians like Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike have been forced to step in. On Tuesday, Koike urged the citys 14 million residents to avoid bars, restaurants and karaoke.

With little guidance from the top, businesses like Hair Salon Nalu have taken matters into their own hands.

The salons owners ordered their staff to wear masks at all times, disinfect seats and equipment after each customer, and shortened the store's business hours.

The salon is also leaving as much space as possible between customers, Makino said.

It was a similar story in the city of Osaka, where Mayor Ichiro Matsui also urged people to stay home and avoid nonessential travel.

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Jake Shilling, the owner of The Hearth, a board game and cafe bar told NBC News that people appear to be heeding the advice.

From when the mayor told people to stay at home, we've had an almost complete drop off in the evenings, and very quiet days, Shilling, an Australian who has lived in the city for more than eight years, said.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

He added that there were almost zero foreigners now too, expats and tourists alike.

Were social distancing measures to be put in place, he added that he would struggle to implement them in his small bar, although he began offering takeout from his restaurant over the weekend.

However, he was more concerned about his staff.

I've been very fortunate but I'm just not there financially where I can support my staff and pay rent while being completely closed for much more than a month, he said,

Ideally, he added, that he would like the government to announce a full lockdown for 3-4 weeks with the ability for small businesses to either receive a rent freeze/subsidy and a wage subsidy for my staff.

Instead, he expressed his frustration at a lack of direction from the government.

I honestly want something concrete, not wishy-washy, he said. That way, I can make firm plans.
A Virgin Atlantic captain who says he was unfairly forced out of his job after rumours circulated that he had taken '40 winks' during a long haul flight is claiming 1.7m compensation.

Mike Lawson, 48, claims the airline took action against him following a Heathrow to Hong Kong flight in September 2015, during which both his co-pilots fell sick.

With eight hours still to go, Cpt Lawson decided against aborting and instead flew on alone, landing safely after one of his colleagues recovered.

Captain Mike Lawson is suing Virgin Atlantic for 1.7million in compensation over a lost career

Afterwards, 'completely unfounded' rumours circulated, including that he had taken '40 winks' while his colleagues were indisposed and away from the flight deck.

Cpt Lawson said the airline's failure to publish a report into the incident meant he could not defend himself against the rumours.

Eventually, he was fired in May 2017, with Virgin citing his failure to pass two flight simulator tests in 2016 as the reason.

He is now suing for 1.7m over his dismissal, claiming the test assessor was 'unnecessarily aggressive' towards him because of the airline's hostile stance following the Hong Kong flight.

He is also claiming for disability discrimination on the basis that he was mentally unwell due to stress and anxiety at the time he took the tests - caused in part by his inability to defend himself against the rumours.

His disability claim was thrown out by an employment tribunal in January last year, but was reinstated by Judge Matthew Gullick at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London.

Setting out his case, Judge Gullick said Cpt Lawson's 'whole identity was tightly linked with being a pilot for Virgin,' having enjoyed a 19-year career with the airline.

The tribunal heard that Cpt Lawson was piloting a Virgin plane from Heathrow to Hong Hong in September 2015 when both of his co-pilots fell violently sick at the same time, leaving him alone in charge of the jet.

'Mr Lawson decided to continue the flight rather than land en route and he landed the aircraft safely in Hong Kong,' said the judge.

'But he says the incident gave rise to rumours and gossip among his colleagues.

'Such rumours were untrue, but nevertheless his colleagues were reluctant to work with him.'

His employers mounted an investigation into the events during the flight and Mr Lawson says he began suffering from stress and anxiety soon after, the judge said.

He was 'stood down' from flying duties between October and November 2015, but 'he was not told that he had done anything wrong and was not placed under any restrictions.'

The pilot insists that he was forced out of the company after a flight to Hong Kong in 2015

However, Virgin Atlantic did not publish a report about the investigation, leaving him plagued with anxiety because 'he felt he could not defend himself against the rumours.'

'He says he felt stressed and anxious when he heard of the rumours which were frequently brought up, especially in a meeting on 13 October 2015 when he was asked if he had taken '40 winks while the FO's [flight officers] were out of the flight deck?'.

'He describes feeling ostracised by his colleagues and becoming increasingly isolated, feeling his colleagues were avoiding speaking to him, fearing any association with him,' said the judge.

'He felt that in conversations with his flight crew he was being criticised, which made him doubt he was making the right decisions.

'He said he dreaded going to work knowing the Hong Kong flight would be brought up by colleagues.'

Cpt Lawson, who has since found a job with another airline, alleges unfair dismissal and disability discrimination, claiming he was mentally unwell at the time of the tests and his bosses should have considered retraining and re-testing him.

'He says the process was rigged against him because (Virgin Atlantic Airways) had decided to get rid of him after the events of September 2015,' said the judge.

However, Virgin claims that Cpt Lawson was legitimately dismissed and denies his accusations, as well as contesting his claim that he was disabled at the time of the tests.

Virgin dismiss the pilot's claims that an assessor was 'aggressive' toward him during testing

The airline claims that Cpt Lawson, who lives near Brighton, 'exaggerated' some of his symptoms and that his claims are not 'corroborated by the medical evidence.'

The case went before an employment tribunal in January last year when his disability claim was thrown out on the basis that he was not disabled at the time of the tests.

However, he appealed and in a recent ruling Judge Gullick overturned the decision and ordered that his disability claim be reinstated and heard in full again with the unfair dismissal claim.

'The case will be remitted and the tribunal will rehear the issue as to whether Mr Lawson was a disabled person,' he said.

No date was set for the case to return to the employment tribunal.
Kruger said about 40 employees will be called back to work at the start of bed production, but he hopes to bring the rest back as production capacity increases. The plan, he said, is to increase capacity each week until it can make 3,000 beds per day.

Were just excited to get our employees back to work and excited to start production, Kruger said.

The company will notify its workers when theyre needed, because their return will be done in waves, Spencer said.

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Designed to be comfortable, easy to clean and quick to assemble, the beds can be stacked for efficient storage, Spencer said. Engineers consulted industry experts and doctors during the design process.

To equip Pendas facility at 2344 W. Wisconsin St. in Portage to produce hospital beds, Spencer said the company has to create new tools. The 300,000-square-foot plant is currently set up to make plastic pickup truck bed liners.
The Taylor Tomlinson on my television screen was just striding across the stage in tight black jeans and a leather motorcycle jacket, lamenting her theoretically enviable but actually miserable condition: being 25 years old. She recently heard she was two years shy of developing the frontal lobe function that enables real adults to anticipate the consequences of their actions. This, she explained, made her feel unmoored, dumber than she'd like to be and vaguely useless.

"You have no intuition. No instincts," she said. "You can't make decisions, only mistakes. That's why you're thin in your 20s: You don't have a gut to listen to yet."

The Taylor Tomlinson on my FaceTime screen is sitting in her home in Los Angeles with a white scrunchie holding back her hair and clear-rimmed glasses on her face. All that gives Tomlinson "a reason to put in contacts and put on makeup" in the morning is shooting "New Couple Gets Quarantined" sketches with her boyfriend, comedian Sam Morril, who went from long-distance to live-in just weeks before, about five months into their relationship. She figures those two processes - expending any effort on her appearance, creating comedy - have "probably been helping keep me sane." She gestures at her get-up from sweatshirt to ponytail. "I would have just looked like this for two weeks, and I might have started to lose any sense of self I had."

Tomlinson's standup special, "Quarter-Life Crisis," was released by Netflix on March 3, right before the national response to covid-19 began to ramp up. For weeks now, we've all been stuck at home hitting "play next episode" over and over, treating our Netflix accounts like a morphine drip that keeps the panic at bay. The coronavirus has given a whole new meaning to the concept of a captive audience. "I feel like that's a popular post right now (on social media)," she said. "Everybody's like, 'This is a great quarantine watch!' "

Yet that success "also feels a little gross to acknowledge," she added. Before the gravity of this crisis seeped in across America, interviewers were still cracking jokes with her about how "at least everybody's indoors watching Netflix," she said. "And you're like, I mean, I guess? But I put out this special so that people would come see me live." All her upcoming tour dates are off; like the rest of us, her plans for the future are extremely TBD.

A return to normalcy, whenever that happens, may not be a return to comedy-business-as-usual. "People are going to be out of work for a while," she said. "They may not want to spend extra money on live shows. Maybe people are going to be afraid to be in large groups like that for a while. Or maybe they'll be starved for it and there'll be another huge comedy boom. We just don't know."

In the meantime, she and Morril are occupying themselves with "New Couple Gets Quarantined." The 90-second videos are usually based on a real conversation, like when Tomlinson suggested they watch "Contagion" and Morril, who is Jewish, countered "that would be like if the Jews watched 'Schindler's List' during the Holocaust." Or when Morril got mad at Tomlinson for coughing on him shortly after they'd had sex. ("That was a three-minute fight we had," she told me. "I was genuinely hurt by that.")

Tomlinson is, like her audience, in a holding pattern, trying to make something bearable out of a nightmare scenario. Who among us didn't have plans that have been totally upended, for who knows how long? Who doesn't just want the opportunity to work at work and not at whatever makeshift office we've been able to assemble in the living room? As the days blur together, we're all just sweating it out until the awful part is over, so we can get on with our lives. Which is something Tomlinson's been thinking about for a while. It's actually something she talks about in her standup.

Back in the spring of 2018, when Tomlinson made her "Tonight Show" debut, she put it his way:

"Being in your 20s is like having a virus. You can't do anything. You just have to wait until you're better."

Tomlinson was raised in a "really religious" Christian household. For years she toured the church circuit, performing "squeaky-clean" sets that her parents could see without flinching. Though she's not as religious as she once was, and she makes plenty of jokes that I was not allowed to quote in this newspaper, Tomlinson maintains that she is still deeply, hopelessly unfun. Much of "Quarter-Life Crisis" is devoted to Tomlinson's insistence on that fact.

She doesn't drink or smoke or have casual sex, the holy trinity for people who don't set too much stock by the original Holy Trinity. If fun is the whole point of your 20s, she figures, then her 20s are basically pointless.

"I don't want to be irresponsible and have fun right now," she said. "I'm so desperate for all the wisdom that only comes with age. But I can't do anything except wait for it. And even though I've always been told that I'm an old soul and mature for my age, I don't know what I'm doing. And it's frustrating to keep being reminded of that by life, every year."

Conan O'Brien, who's had Tomlinson as a guest on his show and brought her on his "Team Coco Presents Conan & Friends: An Evening of Stand-Up and Investment Tips" tour, respectfully disagrees with Tomlinson's harsh self-assessment. "When I toured with Taylor, we were playing to some very large venues and she would walk out on that stage without a hint of fear," he told The Washington Post via email. "I could not have done that when I was her age. Taylor has the steely resolve of someone who has been doing standup for decades, and I still cannot believe that she is so young."

"Taylor speaks so honestly about her family and her religious upbringing and she's unsparingly vivid about what it's like to be a young woman today," O'Brien said. "Whenever I speak about what it's like to be a young woman no one listens."

Tomlinson's jokes about being uncool - less "life of the party," more "faint pulse of the potluck" - have been in her set for years, as have bits about how nobody expects anything from her because she's so young. (For family dinner she is tasked only with bringing napkins, "and if they say 'Starbucks' on them, I swear to God, Taylor," she imagines her Nanna saying. "Just go to a Dollar Tree, stop ruining Easter.")

But the linchpin of her special came about in a totally unexpected way. Tomlinson broke off an engagement last summer, after she landed the Netflix gig but before she taped it. As she mined jokes from her pain in that several-month span, her existing material took on a new charge. It was the accidental but ultimate proof of concept: She didn't know what she was doing with her life. "The broken engagement feels like the turning point of, 'I thought I had it figured out,' " she said. "I obviously don't."

As we were talking, it dawned on her that she still hasn't picked up her wedding dress. She's been getting calls from the bridal salon every three weeks, politely reminding her to come in for a fitting. "I don't know what to do. I don't know if I should go in and pretend I'm still getting married. I don't know if I just say, 'Can you just put it in a trash bag and I'll come get it?' "

"It sucks that I had to get engaged and then go through an excruciating breakup and let go of this future I had planned for myself with another person," she said. "But the hour that ended up being 'Quarter-Life Crisis' was different and, in my opinion, so much better than what it would have been if I hadn't gone through that right before. And I felt like a different, better person after it as well."
In the documentary film April of Victory by Executive Director of Fifth Channel TV station Harutyun Harutyunyan, ex-chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Yuri Khachaturov says there is no doubt that Armenians won the Four-Day Artsakh War in April 2016.

It is necessary to acknowledge the fact that the adversary [Azerbaijan] succeeded in surprising the army. I must say that Armenian soldiers and commanders scored a brilliant victory, and I believe it will take the adversary a couple of years to come to grips with all that it lost during the war, Khachaturov said.

Khachaturov assured that the Armenian side would immediately report the death of every soldier and that all soldiers were buried with the honor of a serviceman.

According to Khachaturov, the adversary had set the objective to carry out an operation that would make people escape so that it could seize major territories, including Mataghis, Talish, Martakert, Fizuli and Jabrayil.

The adversary seized some military posts, and the Armenian side succeeded in retrieving them through counterattacks, but some posts in the south and north remained under their control. On April 3, we started planning how we were going to get those posts back, Khachaturov said.

Yuri Khachaturov also talked about how the Azerbaijani troops would take the bodies of dead soldiers after the ceasefire. There were three dead commanders, meaning there were no more special significance forces. They would load cars with dead bodies and take them for two days, and these are facts. The Azerbaijani troops had lost the special significance forces, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 09:46:46|Editor: zyl

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WASHINGTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 for a second time, the White House announced on Thursday.

In a memo, White House physician Sean Conley said Trump tested again for the virus earlier in the day, "utilizing a new, rapid point-of-care test capability."

"The President tested negative for COVID-19," Conley wrote. "He is healthy and without symptoms. Sample collection took just one minute, and results were reported back in 15 minutes."

During a White House press briefing on Thursday, Trump said he took the test "really out of curiosity."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the new coronavirus test last week, which officials have claimed can provide results in 15 minutes.

Trump was first tested for coronavirus on March 14, after a Brazilian official who previously met with him at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida had tested positive.

A staffer in Vice President Mike Pence's office tested positive for the virus on March 20. Both Pence and his wife later tested negative.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size What you see lives in the intricate world constructed around the songs, and which the songs inhabit, it is the material that gives birth to and nourishes the official work. By official work I mean the song or the book or the score that is released into the hands of the fans. The fans become its custodians. They own it. Yet beyond the song there is an enormous amount of peripheral stuff  drawings, maps, lists, doodles, photographs, paintings, collages, scribblings and drafts which are the secret and unformed property of the artist. These are not to be seen as artworks so much as the wild-eyed and compulsive superstructure that bears the song or book or script or score along. They are a support system of manic tangential information. To me, these pieces have a different creative energy to the formed work: raw and immediate, but no less compelling. Nick Cave's Lettera 25 manual typewriter, c. 1975 Credit:Nick Cave private collection Stranger than Kindness ONE

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You are born. You build yourself piece by piece. You construct a narrative. You become an individual, surrounding yourself with all that you love. You are wounded too, sometimes, and left scarred. Yet you become a heroic and unique embodiment of both the things you cherish and the things that cause you pain. As you grow into this living idea, you become instantly recognisable; among the billions of faces in the world, you become that which you think you are. You stand before the world and say, I am here and this is who I am. TWO But there is an influence at work. A veiled, magnetic force. An unnamed yearning drawing you toward a seismic event; it has always been there, patiently waiting. This event holds within it a sudden and terrifying truth. You were never the thing that you thought you were. You are an illusion, as the event shatters you into a multitude of pieces. THREE The pieces of you spin apart, a million little histories, propelling themselves away at a tremendous rate. They become like the hurtling stars, points of retreating light, separated only by your roaring need and the distant sky itself. Notebook containing song lyrics for And No More Shall We Part by Nick Cave, 2000 Credit:Gift of Nick Cave, 2006, Australian Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne Reproduced by kind permission of Mute Song Limited FOUR

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You scramble for the pieces of your shattered history. There is a frantic gathering up. You seize the unknowable fragments and begin to put yourself back together again. You reassemble yourself into something that seems absolutely foreign to you, yet fully and instantly recognisable. FIVE You stand anew, remade. You have rebuilt yourself. But you are different. You have become a we, and we are each other: a vast community of astonishing potential that holds the sky aloft with our suffering, that keeps the stars in place with our limitless joy, that situates the moon within the reaches of our gratitude, and positions us in the locus of the divine. Together, we are reborn. NC Deanna and the love song Nick Cave has said that the songs he has written about relationships have become those relationships themselves. Deanna, the songs namesake, was not happy to have a song written about her. She felt exposed and called the song, when it was at the height of popularity in the late 80s, the bane of my existence.

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Nevertheless, Cave feels drawn to writing love songs. Through the writing of the love song, one sits and dines with loss and longing, madness and melancholy, ecstasy, magic and joy with equal measure of respect and gratitude. Song lyrics for Deanna by Nick Cave, 1987 Credit:Gift of Nick Cave, 2006, Australian Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne Reproduced by kind permission of Mute Song Limited I was lost to her The first time I saw Susie was at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and when she came walking in, all the things I had obsessed over for all the years  pictures of movie stars, Jenny Agutter in the billabong, Anita Ekberg in the fountain, Ali MacGraw in her black tights, images from the TV when I was a kid, Barbara Eden and Elizabeth Montgomery and Abigail, Miss World competitions, Marilyn Monroe and Jennifer Jones and Bo Derek and Angie Dickinson as Police Woman, Maria Falconetti and Suzi Quatro, Bolshoi ballerinas and Russian gymnasts, Wonder Woman and Barbarella and supermodels and Page 3 girls, all the endless, impossible fantasies, the young girls at the Wangaratta pool lying on the hot concrete, Courbets Origin of the World, Batailles bowl of milk, Jean Simmons nose ring, all the stuff I had heard and seen and read, advertising and TV commercials, billboards and fashion spreads and Playmate of the Month, Carolyn Jones dying in Elvis arms, Jackie O in mourning, Tinker Bell trapped in the drawer  all the continuing, never-ending drip feed of erotic data came together at that moment in one great big crash bang and I was lost to her and that was that. NC Naked doodles When asked about his compulsive habit of doodling naked women, Nick Cave said, Well, Queen Victoria doodled horses, Mark Twain doodled whales, Claude Monet doodled paintbrushes, I doodle naked women. Mostly, I draw them sitting at a desk in hotel rooms on hotel stationery. They are a compulsive habit I have had since my school days and I have thousands of them floating around. They have no artistic merit: rather they are evidence of a kind of ritualistic and habitual thinking, not dissimilar to the act of writing itself, actually; I simply sit down each day and write. I have conditioned my brain to behave in this way. It is the applied mind that simply does its work regardless of inspiration. So it is with the doodles of naked women. I am compelled to draw them. Girl in Amber

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EXCLUSIVE: Actor Mukul Dev Remembers Nelson Mandela During Corona Lockdown For This Reason
BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- China will seek further opening-up and upgrade of foreign trade and investment, the hardest-hit sectors amid the global pandemic of COVID-19, to offset its economic shock, according to Zhong Shan, the country's commerce minister.

Despite the pandemic, China, instead of closing its door, will open wider to the outside world, which would translate into strong support for the two sectors, Zhong wrote in an article published on Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Disrupted global supply chain, volatility in global capital markets and a massive oil price tumble has fueled risk of a global economic crisis, weighing on both the supply and demand side of China's foreign trade and investment, which plays a significant role in ensuring supplies and creating new jobs, said the minister.

In the face of the stress, China would work to streamline clearance procedures, improve logistic service and advance free trade agreement negotiations to strengthen trade, Zhong said.

He also underscored innovation and upgrade in the foreign trade sector, pledging to nurture new business models, including cross-border e-commerce and market procurement trade, as well as expedite transformation and upgrading of service outsourcing.

The import and export value of cross-border e-commerce in the first two months surged 36.7 percent to 17.4 billion yuan (about 2.45 billion U.S. dollars), unleashing great potential amid the epidemic, he said.

To facilitate foreign investment, China will shorten the negative list on foreign investment, further open up the service sector including the financial industry, and improve China's business environment, Zhong said.

He also called for sound preparation for the China International Import Expo and China Import and Export Fair to improve the international marketing network.

Zhong said the downward pressure may only be short-lived and controllable, and China is confident in and capable of managing the COVID-19 impact and stabilizing the foreign trade and investment, which would contribute to building an open world economy and a community with a shared future for humanity.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 13:30:36|Editor: huaxia

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A cemetery staff member offers flowers to the deceased at the Babaoshan People's Cemetery in Beijing, capital of China, March 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)



As this year's Tomb-sweeping Day coincides with a critical stage of China's fight against the novel coronavirus disease, more Chinese families choose to remember the departed online to avoid mass gatherings.



SHANGHAI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Wiping the tombstone, reading out a letter of prayers and offering a bouquet and a cup of tea, a man is performing a ritual typical to a Chinese traditional festival - Tomb-sweeping Day in front of a tombstone in Fushouyuan cemetery park in Shanghai.

"Madam, I am here to pay respects to you on behalf of your children," the man chants while livestreaming the service to the family of the departed.

As this year's Tomb-sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, coincides with a critical stage of China's fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), more Chinese families choose to remember the departed in this way to avoid mass gatherings.

From March 12 to 19, Fushouyuan cemetery park carried out such memorial rituals on behalf of 1,542 families, a substantial increase from past years, said Zhao Yu, who spoke for the cemetery operator.

"While honoring the memory of my late husband, I also contributed to protecting the public," said Pu Zhizhen, a university professor in Shanghai. "I believe he would agree with me remembering him in this way."

A cemetery staff member distributes flowers at Yuhanshan Cemetery in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, April 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

In fact, tomb sweeping by proxy enabled by the prevalence of social media and short-video sharing platforms is not something new but has gained popularity among Chinese people in recent years.

"We have been offering the service for several years, helping those who couldn't go to the tombstone to pay respect to their ancestors in person," said Zhang Jingxue, a manager at a cemetery enterprise in Zhuozhou city, north China's Hebei Province.

"A rising number of people choose it this year due to COVID-19," Zhang added.

In an era when more Chinese people opt to migrate to big cities for better career prospects, many find it difficult to make it to their ancestors' graves in their hometowns and pay their respects on the day of Qingming, which falls on April 4 this year.

Also sparking public concerns are traffic jams and environmental costs caused by the surge of travelers for tomb sweeping as well as fire hazards brought by practices including burning incense and setting off firecrackers as part of a typical ritual.

These problems have sent people to explore more cost-effective and environmentally friendly manners to express love and reverence to their departed family members and ancestors.

Cemetery staff members distribute flowers at Yuhanshan Cemetery in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, April 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Many cemetery parks across China like Fushouyuan launched online reservation platforms for the service of tomb sweeping by proxy. The platform allows users to text messages, upload photos and short videos featuring the departed and offer virtual sacrifices as new ways to express reverence, according to Zhao Yu.

"We saw nearly 100,000 users visit our platform in a week after it was launched," Zhao said.

Cemetery staff bow to a tombstone after offering flowers at the Babaoshan People's Cemetery in Beijing, capital of China, March 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

Local authorities for civil affairs also gave support to such platforms. In Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, a reservation function for the service was embedded in the WeChat account of the local civil affairs department, and an operating guide was released on various platforms to encourage the public to choose the service.

In Zhao's eyes, the ongoing epidemic presents an opportunity for online tomb sweeping and green funerals to gain wider recognition. Zhao believes that the traditional funeral service will be transformed as new media technologies make interaction possible at every stage.

"In essence, wherever we are, what matters is our love and reverence for our ancestors and the departed," said Zhang Jingxue. 
Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina stated during Fridays media briefing that he will implement an mandate ordering locals to cover their mouth & nose whenever they enter a public building throughout all of Webb County.

READ MORE: Laredo, Webb Co. confirms eight new cases of coronavirus, totaling 73

All municipalities in the county will have to enforce the order that the City of Laredo put into place Thursday, requiring citizens to cover their mouth and nose with a mask, bandana or piece of fabric if they were entering a building that was not their home or else face a hefty fine.

The new policy is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday for the cities of Rio Bravo, El Cenizo and Mirando City. According to the judge, the same penalties as those imposed in the City of Laredo will also form part of the countys penalties as well.

I will also change the order to make it mandatory for all people in the county to use masks, as for us it is very important, Tijerina said. The fines will be the same as those implemented by the City (of Laredo), from $50 to $1,000 per citation or jail time if need be.

However, one major difference between the county and city policy is that the former will not implement a curfew for all residents. Laredo issued a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for all adults on Wednesday. However, the judge continues to promote only essential travel should be done outside of the home.

The reason I will not implement the curfew restrictions is due to the fact that there are many roads, which may require people to go out between the highways to get stuff done at those times, and it would be very unwise to implement such restrictions, Judge Tijerina said.

In the same media briefing, the county judge announced that on Tuesday the county will also begin a project to give up to five gallons of the disinfectant hydrochloride to the public. The county plans to make up to 25,000 gallons of the material to give away.

The county-wide implementation of the mask policy comes a day after the City of El Cenizo Mayor Elsa Degollado had posted on Facebook that she would make it mandatory for all residents of the municipal city to also follow the same mandatory order as in Laredo.

READ MORE: Coronavirus test kits planned for Laredo drive thru are likely fraudulent

The City of El Cenizo has the same rules as the city of Laredo, said the mayor in a post on Facebook in Spanish. Please cooperate in taking care of yourself and your family. Please pay attention to the security measures.
Iranian commanders have warned the United States about taking military action inside Iraq after the president tweeted about Iran on April 1. Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on US troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed! Trump tweeted.

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Irans armed forces, said that it was the United States that has been involved in troop movements in the Middle East. In the last few days American provocations and actions in Iraq and the Persian Gulf have increased, Bagheri said at a news conference April 2. He added that the United States has been creating a media storm with accusations but that it has intentions against resistance groups and the Popular Mobilization Units.

Bagheri added that Iran has been monitoring US troop activities in the region and that all of the Islamic Republic's defense forces are on alert. Referencing the rocket strikes on US bases in Iraq, Bagheri said, The events that have taken place in the last few weeks on American bases in Iraq is a natural reaction of the people of Iraq and resistance groups in response to the assassination of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and has no connection to us. Soleimani was an Iranian general and Muhandis a leader of the Popular Mobilization Units in Iraq.

Bagheri continued, The Americans are well aware that the people of Iraq and the people of the region are opposed to their military presence in these countries. He warned that the United States would face the most severe response if it were to take any action against Iran.

The United States moved out of three bases in Iraq in March in what it called an effort to consolidate its troops. It recently left the base in Kirkuk that was attacked by Iranian-backed forces in late December, killing an American contractor. This attack was the catalyst for an escalatory spiral that led to the US killing of Soleimani in Baghdad on Jan. 3 and which continues.

Mohammad al-Tabataei, deputy secretary-general for Asaib Ahl al-Haq, an Iraqi group with close ties to Iran, celebrated what he referred to as the US exit from its bases. In an interview with an Iraqi newspaper, which was translated by Iranian media, Tabataei said there will be news of more victories in Lebanon, Bahrain and Yemen.

Maj. Gen. Yayha Rahim Safavi, a military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also weighed in on what is going on in Iraq. In a statement published by Iranian media April 1, Safavi said the United States needs to clarify its position on international law given that the Iraqi parliament passed a bill in January requesting that US troops leave Iraq. He said, The era of decline of American political and security power in the world and West Asia is here and the American military knows it is not in its interest to take action.

Safavi also wrote, I recommend that American politicians and military commanders think about their responsibility and the consequences of taking provocative actions.
YWCA Brandons Westman Womens Shelter and Meredith Place transitional housing got a care package of protective equipment donated to them on Wednesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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YWCA Brandons Westman Womens Shelter and Meredith Place transitional housing got a care package of protective equipment donated to them on Wednesday.

Brandon Universitys faculties of health studies and science gathered 38 boxes of gloves, 14 containers of hand sanitizer, three boxes of face masks and six containers of sanitizing wipes that arent currently needed while the campus is closed to students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meredith Place manager Kerrie, whose last name was withheld, shows off the cleaning supplies and protective equipment donated by Brandon University's health studies and science faculties on Wednesday. (Submitted)

Candice Waddell, an assistant professor in the universitys department of psychiatric nursing, said she knew the facilities needed those supplies because shes an interim board member at the shelter.

With the help of her colleagues in various departments that use those supplies, they were able to collect all their unopened boxes of those goods for the donation.

YWCA executive director Heather Symbalisty said the supplies were needed "fairly urgently."

"Due to extra cleaning initiatives that weve had to put in place, we are going through the supplies quite fast just like all the other not-for-profit organizations," Symbalisty said.

She added that they were low on supplies at the beginning of the pandemic and the availability of supplies has only gotten worse since then.

"There was just none there to order and everything was on back order," she said. "So this donation has been huge for us. Its a big relief for us to have them and staff can feel more comfortable having the proper protective equipment to work with."

According to Symbalisty, the shelter and Meredith Place are sometimes overlooked when it comes to donations, so it was nice to have the university recognize the importance of what they do by making the donation.

"It is a comfort knowing that there are people out there for us," she said.

Symbalisty said that the donation of supplies should last both facilities for approximately three weeks, and they are not currently looking for more donations of that kind.

However, she said that they need financial donations. YWCA Brandon has had to postpone its annual Women of Distinction awards gala scheduled for May 7, which is its major annual fundraiser for the shelter and Meredith Place.

The facilities might be able to access some kind of emergency funding through government programs, but that is still uncertain at this point, so donations are needed.

Those interested in supporting Meredith Place are encouraged to drop off cheques at the YWCAs building at 148 11th St., mail cheques to the building or to contact representatives from the organization through its website at ywcabrandon.ca.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Twenty police officers and 10 firefighters in Mobile have tested positive for carrying the antibodies of COVID-19, according to officials.

All 30 of those first responders are now awaiting for the return of nasal swab tests to return from Birmingham-based Assurance Scientific Laboratories. Those tests will determine if the police officer or firefighters are contagious and should quarantine for 14 days.

James Barber, the citys executive director of public safety, said that close to two-thirds of the citys first responders have been screened, or roughly 600 people.

Barber said of the 30 quarantined, only one has shown physical signs of having coronavirus. But none of the nasal swab tests have been returned. The city began the testing Monday.

Some of the (tests) are coming back 24-48 hours and some are coming back in six days, said Barber. None of the first responders we can confirm have the coronavirus. We can only confirm the rapid tests of (first responders) who have the antibodies for COVID-19.

Barber said the police officers and firefighters were the first to be tested at Mobiles Ladd-Peebles Stadium, which has been set up for drive-through coronavirus testing.

Mobile County had 69 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Thursday evening, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

In addition, the Mobile County Sheriffs Department is reporting at least two positive cases of coronavirus within its corrections unit. An inmate at the Mobile Metro Jail has also tested positive. Mobile has reported three deaths.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, meanwhile, said no decisions have been made on whether the city will provide hazardous duty pay for its first responders who come in contact with the public on a frequent basis. The Mobile County Sheriffs Department, in a report to a local TV station, confirmed it was offering time-and-a-half hazardous duty pay to its corrections officers and sheriffs deputies.

Hazardous duty pay is additional pay beyond a first responders base salary for performing an essential job in a dangerous situation.

Stimpson said he should have a decision soon on whether police and firefighters will be offered a similar benefit.

When the county makes a recommendation to do hazardous pay, its within the Sheriffs Department and thats a very well-defined group of people within their organization, Stimpson said. When we talk about hazardous pay, were talking about 900 first responders. It also throws out the question about sanitation workers. And that all needs to be looked at. You cant do that on the back of a match book. It takes a lot of calculations to do that.

Stimpson said the city could fund the additional payout through the citys rainy day fund, but he said there are concerns over when the benefit would end.

When there is hazardous pay given, its usually given over a finite period of time such as during a hurricane, said Stimpson. But it ends. If you were to hypothetically pay everyone in the city hazardous duty pay, youll run out of money faster. Then what will you do? Yes, we can do this but how does it impact everything? We have to be able to come out of the other side of (the pandemic) strong and not handicapped.
280 Mexican nationals finally return home from Argentina

Mexico City, Mexico  Nearly 300 Mexican nationals who were left stranded in Argentina after border closures and commercial flight restrictions, have returned home.

The group of Mexicans landed in Mexico City after elements from the Secretarias de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena) and Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) repatriated 280 Mexican nationals from Argentina. All 280 were returned to Mexican soil on two Sedena flights, both of which underwent biosecurity and hygiene regulations.

After 12 hours of flying, which included a stopover in Ecuador, the 280 Mexicans stranded in different cities of Argentina arrived in Mexico City from Buenos Aires. Some of those on board had been stranded in Argentina since March 8.

The stranded Mexicans were returned home after humanitarian flights on Monday, left with 300 Argentinians who were stranded in various parts of Mexico.
MADISON  Gov. Tony Evers called the state Legislature to meet in special session on Saturday to take up changes to the spring election, scheduled for Tuesday.

However, that wont be happening.

Were not getting together tomorrow, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told The Journal Times Friday afternoon.

Ignored calls for the special session

In an announcement published just before 1:30 p.m. Friday, Evers said he is urging the Legislature to take up legislation allowing an all-mail election, to send a ballot to every registered voter who has not already requested one by May 19, and to extend the time for those ballots to be received to May 26.

Evers, a Democrat, has previously said he likes the idea of an all-mail election, but does not want to make such an order unilaterally.

I cant move or change this election on my own. My hands are tied, he said during a virtual press conference Friday. Heres the bottom line, folks: if, as elected officials, were going to expect the people of our state to make sacrifices to keep all of us safe, then, by golly, we better be willing do our part, too. So, today I announced that I am calling the Legislature into a special session to do its part  just as all of us are  to help keep our neighbors, our families and our communities safe.

Hours later, Republican leaders responded by questioning whether Evers concerns were legitimate and saying they will not entertain the request to change the election because in elections during uncertain times, its important that no one questions the process, Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a joint statement Friday afternoon.

If the governor had legitimate concerns, we could have come to a bipartisan solution weeks ago. This discussion would have happened long before today. The only bipartisan discussion weve had was to ensure the election would continue safely and to maximize the opportunity to vote absentee, the joint statement said, before describing the governors leadership as feckless and saying that Theres no question that an election is just as important as getting take-out food. Our Republic must continue to function, and the many local government positions on the ballot must be filled so that municipalities can swiftly respond to the crisis at hand.

Vos, during his phone call with The Journal Times, pointed to how difficult it would be to coordinate both a special session of the Legislature in 24 hours and the challenge of setting up an entire election by mail-in vote under such a time constraint.

It took years for Washington state to figure out how to do that safely, Vos said, referring to how Washington is one of a handful of states that already does its elections by mail-in only.

Vos said he plans to vote in-person on Tuesday. Evers said he voted absentee, breaking a 40-plus year streak of always voting in person with his wife.

Results to be delayed

A federal judge on Friday ordered that Wisconsin officials should withhold reporting any results from Tuesdays election until extended absentee balloting is completed on April 13.

Normally, the results of an election (like the one scheduled for April 7) are reported the night of the election or the following day.

This is subject to change as municipal clerks get updates from state leaders, and will be pushed back if the Legislature allows the election to be extended into May.

Legislating during a crisis

Evers has not always seen eye to eye with Vos and Fitzgerald over the past weeks regarding pandemic response, although there have been times of agreement  neither Vos nor Fitzgerald disagreed with the governors Safer at Home order, although Vos said he had wished the governor had consulted with Republican leaders first.

Vos and Fitzgerald have criticized Evers for having flip-flopped on the election.

When the idea of postponing the election was first floated, Evers said he did not want to do that for the same reasons the Republican leaders have said: The integrity of the election.

But Evers says now is the time because of how the COVID-19 pandemic has spread. Fitzgerald and Vos dont feel the situation is that dire.

We continue to support what Governor Evers has supported for weeks: the election should continue as planned on Tuesday, they said.

Shades of November

Evers request for a special session brings up memories of last November, when Fitzgerald gaveled out a special session on gun legislation immediately after it began. When Evers was asked Why do you think this time will be different? by a reporter on Friday, Evers replied: This is different. We have a surge going on. The virus sets the timetable, not me and not Robin Vos and not Scott Fitzgerald ... the time is now.

When asked why the move was being made now and not weeks ago, around the time that Ohios governor delayed that states election hours before its Election Day in mid-March, Evers chief legal counsel Ryan Nilsestuen said that the main thing that changed was the reduced number of polling places. With municipal clerks understaffed in terms of poll workers, fewer polling places are expected to be available on Tuesday throughout the state, and thus more people would need to congregate in a smaller area, making social distancing almost impossible to follow.

Plans for Election Day

The Village of Mount Pleasant has reduced its seven polling locations down to two, with voters from 19 wards casting ballots at Village Hall, 8811 Campus Drive. The City of Burlington has also reduced its polling locations to just one on Tuesday at the Department of Public Works, 2200 S. Pine St.

The City of Milwaukee normally has around 180 voting sites, but fewer than a dozen are expected to be open Tuesday. And the City of Waukesha went from 13 polling places down to only one.

Polling places have been forced to close mainly due to a lack of staffing; the majority of poll workers are older and thus more susceptible to complications and death from COVID-19. Earlier this week, Evers said he would deploy the National Guard to work at polling places on Election Day, but its unclear how many more locations will be able to stay open even with that extra staffing.

In response to the ruling by U.S. Judge William Conley, the City of Racine has updated its guidelines for how voters can cast their ballots safely next week.

Racine will still have its usual 14 polling locations on Election Day, but those locations will implement curbside voting.

With guidance from our Director of Public Health (Dottie-Kay Bowersox), we have put together a plan for Election Day that will allow voters to vote curbside, from their cars, so that we are able to maximize social distancing and help prevent community spread of COVID-19 on Election Day, said Racine City Clerk Tara Coolidge.

City staff and poll workers will direct traffic, ask if they are registered to vote, check photo ID, then will give and receive the voters ballot. Coolidge asked that voters, if possible, bring a hard surface to write on in their cars, like a clipboard or folder, so that they can easily fill out their ballot in their vehicles.

Maps of the traffic patterns at the citys polling locations and other COVID-19 updates are available at racinecoronavirus.org.

A wider look

Wisconsin is the only state with an April election with in-person balloting still planned.

In Conleys order, he gave voters one extra day to apply for absentee ballots. He gave voters until 5 p.m. Friday. But that deadline has passed. But he did extend the deadline of when ballots can be turned into the clerks office. The deadline had been Tuesday. But it was moved to April 13, one week later than normal. But in his order, Conley noted that going forward with in-person voting may be ill-advised because of coronavirus.

Republican leaders have not been fans of the idea of extending the election and doing away with in-person balloting, with one of the primary reasons being it makes voter fraud easier to commit and that it would be incredibly expensive to send ballots to every registered voter.

Although there was a concern that sending a ballot to every voter could lead to some voters receiving two ballots, if they had requested one the normal way already, Evers said his proposal would only send ballots to registered voters who had not requested a ballot already.

Evers request to the Legislature also includes that absentee voters do not have to be witnessed.

Racine Mayor Cory Mason, a Democrat and former state representative, last week called for Wisconsins election to become all-mail.

This is an unprecedented time in our nations history and conducting an election in the midst of a pandemic is extremely difficult, Mason stated in a press release.
It seems like Xiaomi is planning to launch a smartphone with a 144MP camera. This information comes from Sudhanshu, a tipster. He shared this information via Twitter.

The source also added that this could be the Mi 10S Pro or Mi CC10 Pro, which is possible. The Mi CC9 Pro basically debuted the 108-megapixel camera sensor that Xiaomi developed alongside Samsung.

Xiaomi smartphone with 144MP camera will probably arrive in H2 2020

So, it makes sense that its successor equips a new high-megapixel sensor. Were still dont know when is Xiaomi planning to launch this smartphone with a 144MP camera, but its coming this year, it seems.

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The Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro arrived back in November last year. If the Mi CC10 Pro ends up being the phone to debut this 144MP sensor, it wont launch anytime soon. That device will probably arrive in Q4 2020.

If we had to guess, wed say that Xiaomi is once again working with Samsung on this sensor. This will probably be one of Samsungs ISOCELL sensors, as was the case with a 108-megapixel one.

The Xiaomi MI CC9 Pro was a mid-range smartphone. It was a rather compelling mid-range smartphone, though. The Mi CC10 Pro will probably have the same characteristics.

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Its too early to guess what specifications will offer, but you can expect a really good mid-range processor. It would be great if Xiaomi included the Snapdragon 765G inside of the device.

The company recently introduced some really compelling smartphones

Xiaomi has been quite busy this year already. The company had recently introduced two new flagship smartphones, and a really compelling mid-ranger.

Were talking about the Mi 10 series of smartphones here, of course. The Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro arrived as the companys new flagships. The Mi 10 Lite, on the other hand, is an affordable mid-ranger.

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The thing is, all of these devices support 5G. The Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro are considerably more expensive than the Lite model. The Mi 10 Lite is set to cost 349, and it not only offers 5G, but the Snapdragon 765G as well.

Its still early in the year, but were expecting Xiaomi to release quite a few devices this year. The company still hasnt announced its first foldable smartphone, so thats something were expecting in 2020 as well.

Xiaomi has been really quiet when it comes to its foldable phone, in fact. We didnt hear much about it since the companys CEO demoed a prototype.
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Uttar Pradesh government has taken a serious view of the reports alleging some Tablighi Jamaat members misbehaved with the nurses at a Ghaziabad hospital and ordered booking of the offenders under the stringent National Security Act on Friday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is reported to have told officials to not allow a repeat of Indore-like incident in the state.

It was reported that some members of the Jamaat who had been taken for check-ups at city hospitals had misbehaved with police personnel and government officials and some others who were hospitalised were accused of rude behaviour with the nursing staff.

The Ghaziabad authorities have so far quarantined 156 people from the Jamaat and attempts were on to trace several others they came in contact with after attending the religious congregation in Delhis Nizamuddin in the month of March.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) N K Gupta said 90 people were quarantined at Sunder Deep Collage, 56 at Surya Hospital in Murad Nagar and five each at the MMG Government Hospital and the combined hospital in Sanjay Nagar.

The incident of misbehaviour was reported from M.M.G. Government Hospital.

The Adityanath government ordered on Friday that all the women health staff and women policemen be removed from Covid-19 wards in Ghaziabad hospitals where Tablighi members are admitted.

The order says that only male health staff and policemen will be posted in the wards housing the Jamaat members.

Coronavirus live updates

A couple of incidents of misbehaviour with government officials have been reported in the past couple of days, including one from Indore, where surveillance officers including two female doctors were injured when attacked with stones, when they were out contact-tracing and another from a railway isolation facility where the Jamaat members are alleged to have made unreasonable demands and spat on health officials.

Nine people were arrested for the Indore incident and booked under NSA.

In Bihars Munger, police and medical personnel were attacked while they were out to collect samples.

And in Maharashtra, a man was assaulted in Solapur because he had informed the village officials about the whereabouts of Tablighi Jamaat members, who had been to the Delhi gathering, in the area.

Click Here for Latest Reports on Coronavirus
A production of the mystery Sleuth was about to have its big debut at McCarter Theatre Center when the news arrived:

Everything was shutting down.

We had two nights of spectacular previews, recalls Sarah Romagnoli, who works as first hand at the Princeton theaters costume shop.

But the show would not go on. Initially, staff members were told theyd be out for two weeks.

We went in, we grabbed our things and came home," Romagnoli says.

However, it soon became apparent that the coronavirus outbreak would mean no more stage lights, no more wardrobe, no more anything for the foreseeable future. The theater would go dark through June 30.

Romagnoli, 56, a former resident of Skillman, planned to continue working from her home in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

Now, shes also keeping busy with a new project: sewing face masks.

On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that people wear cloth masks when they go out, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Romagnoli made these blue masks from Halyard sterilization wrap.Sarah Romagnoli

But Romagnoli started thinking about the importance of masks early on, thanks to her younger sister, a doctor.

I was only interested in making them to protect her," she tells NJ Advance Media. However, the scope of her project quickly expanded.

Anne Lee, Romagnolis sister, is a physician working for the military in Louisville, Kentucky. The siblings had started talking about a potential mask shortage weeks earlier, as they watched the outbreak unfold in China.

Lee had long suspected the virus was airborne, and hypothesized that Koreas mask-wearing culture was one reason why the country was successful in its curve-flattening efforts.

Still, she didnt have more than a few N95 masks, and while she can sew, she didnt have her machine in Kentucky.

Now, Romagnoli is shipping handmade face masks to her sister and other doctors across the country.

Sarah Romagnoli wearing a mask she made. "Im hoping to make hundreds of masks and get them to the places of greatest need," she says. Sarah Romagnoli

To make the masks  so far shes completed about 100  shes using both regular fabric and Halyard H600 sterilization wrap, a washable polypropylene material that is used to keep medical instruments sterile.

Im hoping to make hundreds of masks and get them to the places of greatest need," Romagnoli says.

A batch of masks she just finished are going out to physicians in California, New York and Boston. Romagnoli has also been contributing to the Mercer Mask Project, a local collective of volunteers sewing masks for New Jersey health care professionals and first responders.

After Cindy Rosen, who co-founded the project, issued a request for costumers, Romagnoli and her colleagues at McCarters costume shop answered the call, crafting face masks out of vibrant fabrics.

Rosen, who lives in Robbinsville, tells NJ Advance Media that about 950 masks from the project have been delivered to hospitals, rescue squads, homeless people, pharmacies and supermarkets, with 500 more on order from volunteers.

Masks made by staff from the McCarter Theatre Center Costume Shop.McCarter Theatre Center

To get started on her mask-making journey, Romagnoli studied some face masks she already had in her house from when her father had cancer.

I was looking at them and taking them apart," she says.

Well before stay-at-home orders were in place, Lee had recommended that her sister make some washable masks for the family.

Why not buy some, Romagnoli asked.

I dont think youre going to find any," Lee told her. Romagnoli watched as the prediction became a reality. Over video chats, she asked her sister what the ideal mask would look like.

Now, Lee is wearing Romagnolis washable masks over her N95 masks at work.

Unfortunately we dont have enough N95 masks," Lee says. Even people on the front lines are having to recycle their N95 masks. The masks are supposed to be fitted to your face and they tend to get misshapen with multiple uses."

Romagnoli's sister, Dr. Anne Lee, wearing a mask she made.Anne Lee

The masks Romagnoli made also have pockets that can store used paper filters.

Its good that were making a variety," she says. We thought about function and fit. We used fabrics that we knew were tight and tightly woven."

Lee has distributed the masks to colleagues. At first, people seemed almost amused by her the protective gear, because not many others were doing the same. But Lee, who in the process of transitioning from internal medicine to a career in public health, wasnt going to take any chances.

Lee and Romagnolis grandfather worked as a physician at Seoul University in the 1950s, during the Korean War. He quarantined people who had tuberculosis, separating the sick and telling everyone to cover their cough.

I could be a silent carrier and I dont know," Lee says. We dont have enough tests.

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

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Farouq Yahaya, a major general, on Friday took over as the new Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Yahaya took over from Olusegun Adeniyi, a major general, who was redeployed to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre as Senior Research Fellow.

In a brief ceremony, at the Military Control and Command headquarters, Mr Yahaya was presented with the Command flag by his predecessor after signing the hand-over and take-over notes.

READ ALSO:

In his remark, the new commander sought cooperation of all the components in the theatre to enable him to succeed in the ongoing operations against insurgency in the Northeast.

I solicit the support of all the components in the theatre; I am talking about Maritime, Air Force and other security agencies to enable us achieve total peace and sanity in the Northeast, Mr Yahaya said.

(NAN)
By Gina Lee

Investing.com  Oil prices fell on Friday morning in Asia as investors express doubts about a U.S.-mediated truce between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

U.S. Crude Oil WTI Futures jumped almost 25% in the last session as U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that Saudi Arabia and Russia had agreed to a cut of approximately 10 million barrels, and maybe substantially more.

He added, If it happens, will be GREAT for the oil&gas industry!

Saudi Arabia also called for an urgent meeting between OPEC and its allies via the Saudi Press Agency yesterday.

But the black liquid could not hold onto its gains as International Brent Oil Futures dropped 1.55% to $29.17 by 9:57 PM ET (2:57 AM GMT) and U.S. Crude Oil WTI Futures slid 4.42% to $24.2.

Investors expressed doubts that a deal is too little, too late.

The challenge though is the size of the oversupply problem. Saudi Arabia and Russia wont singlehandedly remove for instance half (5 million bpd) of their [countrys] oil production to save the potential 10-12 million bpd of upstream shut-ins required to balance the market in the second quarter, Rystad Energys head of oil markets Bjornar Tonhaugen, said to CNBC.

Analysts also doubted that the two producers will reduce supply without a coordinated cut from other big suppliers such as the U.S. and Canada.

At best, we believe parties will agree to continue discussing and monitor the market situation, Tonhaugen added.

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Resident of Russias Republic of Bashkortostan fined $200 for self-isolation breach

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

15:48 03/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 3 (RAPSI)  A magistrate judge on Friday fined a resident of Ufa, the capital of Russias Republic of Bashkortostan, 15,000 rubles ($200) for breaching the self-isolation order, the press-service of the regional Interior Ministrys Directorate reported.

During the hearing the man has pleaded guilty, the statement reads.

According to case papers, last night, police during the preventing raid found the 33-year-old violator of the self-isolation regime in a public place.
The German government has approved Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems license to supply a submarine to Egypt and four warships to Israel. Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier (CDU) announced these decisions of the Federal Security Council on Tuesday to the Bundestag's Economic Committee in a letter that was made available to the German Press Agency.

The German government has approved Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems license to supply a submarine to Egypt and four warships to Israel. Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier (CDU) announced these decisions of the Federal Security Council on Tuesday to the Bundestag's Economic Committee in a letter that was made available to the German Press Agency.

Egyptian submarine "S41" of the German submarine class 209/1400mod at the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Picture source: Marco Kuntzsch/Wikipedia)

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is due to deliver one Type 209 submarine to Egypt and four naval Sa'ar 6 corvettes (pictured) to Israel according to Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier.

Last year, Egypt was the third-best foreign customer of German manufacturers, ordering armaments for 802 million euros.

The contract for the delivery of the first two 209/1400mod class submarines to Egypt was signed in 2011. In 2015, Egypt decided to take the option for two additional units of the most recent version of 209/1400mod class submarines.

The contract for the delivery of four SAAR 6 class missile corvettes was signed in May 2015 with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as the general contractor. The ships have the stealthy design of a low-signature missile corvette with tailor-made solutions and numerous new technologies onboard.

Type 209/1400mod submarine of the Egyptian Navy, during sea trials (Picture source: AHMED XIV/Wikipedia)

Type 209 Submarines:

The Type 209-class diesel-electric attack submarine was a West German export-minded product of the Cold War that allowed budget-conscious navies of the world access to a fully modern attack class. This compact submarine design became a smart blend of cost-effectiveness, noise reduction practices, firepower, and undersea performance to instantly provide any discerning customer with a useful underwater weapon for deep blue patrolling. There originally proved 64 boats completed for the class though only 61 of this total were completed with three cancelled. As of 2014, the class still sees 59 of its boats in operational service.

Israeli Navy Saar 6 Corvette (Picture source: Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems)

Sa'ar 6 Corvettes:

The Saar 6 class of corvettes includes a series of four new warships being built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the Israeli Navy. Based on the German MEKO 100 patrol corvette, the Saar-6 class is designed to offer enhanced attack capabilities compared to its predecessor Saar 5 class. The steel-cutting ceremony of the first ship was held in February 2018. The hull and superstructures of the ships will be built at TKMS shipbuilding facility in Kiel, Germany, while the outfitting of combat systems, sensors and other subsystems will be performed in Israel.
Company to hold virtual Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders

Meeting materials are now available

TORONTO, April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX:K; NYSE:KGC) plans to release its financial statements and operating results for the first quarter of 2020 on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, after market close. On Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 7:45 a.m. ET Kinross will hold a conference call and audio webcast to discuss the results, followed by a question-and-answer session. The call-in numbers are as follows:

Canada & US toll-free  (877) 201-0168; Conference ID: 3084946

Outside of Canada & US  +1 (647) 788-4901; Conference ID: 3084946

Replay (available up to 14 days after the call):

Canada & US toll-free  (800) 585-8367; Conference ID: 3084946

Outside of Canada & US  +1 (416) 621-4642; Conference ID: 3084946

You may also access the conference call on a listen-only basis via webcast at our website www.kinross.com . The audio webcast will be archived on www.kinross.com .

Virtual Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders

Kinross Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

In response to the ongoing public health impact of COVID-19, the Company has elected to hold the meeting via a live audio webcast. Kinross believes this is a prudent approach that prioritizes the health and safety of its shareholders and employees, while still providing the same level of disclosure, transparency and participation as previous annual shareholder meetings.

The virtual meeting will be available online at: http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/KGC2020

The link to the virtual meeting will also be accessible at www.kinross.com and will be archived for later use.

Voting and participation instructions for eligible shareholders are provided in the Companys Notice of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders and Management Information Circular.

The 2019 Annual Report, Management Information Circular, Annual Information Form (AIF) and Form 40-F have also been filed with SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ) and EDGAR ( www.sec.gov ). Shareholders may also receive a copy of Kinross audited financial statements without charge upon request to Kinross Golds Investor Relations Department, 25 York Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2V5 or to info@kinross.com .

Story continues

Access Kinross 2019 Annual Report here:

https://www.kinross.com/news-and-investors/default.aspx?section=meeting

About Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Mauritania, and Russia. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (KGC).

Media Contact

Louie Diaz

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

phone: 416-369-6469

louie.diaz@kinross.com

Investor Relations Contact

Tom Elliott

Senior Vice-President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development

phone: 416-365-3390

tom.elliott@kinross.com

Source: Kinross Gold Corporation
Regional Army Chief arrives in Phuket, warns of action against those caught breaking curfew

PHUKET: Lt Gen Pornsak Poonsawat, Commander of the Fourth Army Region base in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, which is the leading Army base in all of Southern Thailand, in Phuket today (Apr 3) warned that action would be taken against any persons caught breaking the national curfew.

COVID-19Coronavirushealthmilitarypatong

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Friday 3 April 2020, 05:37PM

Military personnel are now in Phuket to support all heath regulations issued under Emergency Decree. Photo: Patong Municipality

Military personnel are now in Phuket to support all heath regulations issued under Emergency Decree. Photo: Patong Municipality

Lt Gen Pornsak was in Patong today to preside over the official opening ceremony to clean the Bangla Rd nightlife area and other communities in Patong as part of the nationwide Big Cleaning Day activities being held across the country in the hope of slowing the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Present to welceom and join Lt Gen Pornsak were Vice Admiral Cherngchai Chomcherngpat of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, Police Region 8 Commander Lt Gen Jirawat Thippayachan, Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana and Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup, among other high-level officials.

The government is concerned about the COVID-19 situation in Phuket. We dont want to be like Italy or other cities. Phuket now had 100 people confirmed as infected. In all of Southern Thailand, Phuket is considered to have a very high number of confirmed cases, so Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is very concerned [about this], Lt Gen Pornsak said.

He has assigned the 4th Army Region to help the Phuket Governor. Importantly, Phuket people must help each other, and come out to clean the front of their houses, he added.

Lt Gen Pornsak said that the national curfew from 10pm to 4am each night will be strictly enforced.

The government has issued a curfew, which will be clearly enforced by law. We must take action against anyone who violates the curfew, otherwise we cant stop the numbers [from rising].

Recently a small secret party was discovered [in Patong, see here], and yesterday there were tourists involved in an accident in Phuket which raised concerns about COVID-19 [spreading], resulting in the need to detain another 130 people.

If people tell the truth [about their history and who they have been in close contact with], it will greatly help medical personnel, he said.

Army Region 4 soldiers and military personnel will now be assisting efforts by officials in Phuket to police and enforce policies, including the curfew and other regulations irdered under the Emergency Decree, Lt Gen Pornsak said.

Region 8 Police will also bolster the ranks on the streets in support of enforcing the policies and regulations in Patong and other areas, he added.

Vice Admiral Cherngchai said Navy Navy personnel were already assisting police officers and other officials at checkpoints across the island.

Of the situation escalates to Stage 3, the military will be there to provide safety and help the people, he said.

Phuket Governor Phakaphong said, Phuket, especially Patong, is an important source of the disease spreading. Most of the people at risk are in Soi Bangla.

Six venues on Bangla Rd in particular were of concern, he added.

We already have a list [of persons concerned]. It is necessary to close the Patong area for the benefit of the disease investigation and these people must be taken into quarantine and placed under observation for 14 days, he said.

The Ministry of Public Health has dedicated a team to check people who present themselves at the Sleep With Me hotel in Patong, which is now serving as an accommodation centre for people under observation for the virus, he added.
Smokers face a greater risk of coronavirus and put their loved ones at risk, according to a stark warning from Public Health England.

Health chiefs said there has 'never been a more important time' to quit the habit than now because of the ever-worsening outbreak in Britain.

PHE also claimed family, including children, will also be at a higher risk of serious COVID-19 complications, as a result of inhaling secondhand smoke.

They based their advice on a 'small but impactful' study in China, which suggests smokers are more likely to see their disease progress.

But one team of experts from Wuhan - where the pandemic began - were mystified after finding smokers were less likely to catch the deadly virus in the first place.

However, leading experts who have scoured all of the available evidence collated so far say the proof is scarce and warnings are based solely on assumptions.

Scientists have called for further trials to clarify if smoking poses a real threat, but admit, in general, smokers are more susceptible to infection.

The tiny hairs inside the airways and lungs, which help move pathogens and mucus away, are often damaged by the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke.

Smokers face a greater risk of coronavirus and put their loved ones at risk, according to a stark warning from Public Health England.

The new stance from Public Health England (PHE) comes as the death toll reaches new record highs. Of the 3,605 Britons who have died, 684 were reported in a single day

The largest study which analyses health profiles of patients is published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Of the 173 patients who had severe symptoms, 16.9 per cent of them were current smokers and 5.2 per cent had previously smoked. In comparison, of the patients with less-severe symptoms, 11.8 per cent were current smokers and 1.3 per cent were former smokers

Researchers at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University made the conclusion that only 1.4 per cent of 140 hospitalised patients were smokers

A study of 41 patients found that none of the 13 patients who needed to be admitted to ICU were current smokers. In contrast, 11 per cent (three) of those who did not need intensive care were smokers

One study of 140 coronavirus patients found that among the 58 patients who severely ill, 3.4 per cent (two people) were current smokers and 6.9 per cent (four) were former smokers. In comparison, of the 82 with milder symptoms, none were current smokers and 3.7 per cent (three) were former smokers

WHAT DO THE FIVE STUDIES LOOKING AT SMOKERS SHOW? Leading experts who have scoured all of the available evidence collated so far say the proof smoking raises the risk of coronavirus is limited. The group of experts even admitted warnings made by health chiefs were based mainly on assumptions, given the known infection risks of smoking. The team, based at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the University of Crete in Greece, reviewed five of the first studies on smoking and COVID-19. Research showed smokers do face a greater risk of suffering complications but others suggested they were less likely to be infected in the first place. The review of the evidence, led by Harvard's Dr Constantine Vardavas, was published in the journal Tobacco Induced Diseases. Study 1: Wei Liu and colleagues at three tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China. How many people were involved? 78 How many of them were smokers? Unclear Where were the results published? Chinese Medical Journal What did it find? The patients who progressed had a 'significantly' higher number smokers compared to the patients who got better  27 per cent compared three per cent. Study 2: Guan et al at 552 hospitals in 30 provinces or regions of China. How many people were involved? 1,099 How many of them were smokers? A total of 12.6 per cent (137) were current smokers and 1.9 per cent (21) were former smokers. Where were the results published? The New England Medical Journal What did it find? Among the 173 patients with severe symptoms, 16.9 per cent (29) were current smokers and 5.2 per cent (nine) were former smokers. In comparison, 11.8 per cent (108) of the 926 with milder symptoms were current smokers, and 1.3 per cent (12) were former smokers. In the group of patients that either needed mechanical ventilation, admission to an ICU or died, 25.5 per cent were current smokers and 7.6 per cent were former smokers. But in the group of patients that did not have these adverse outcomes, only 11.8 per cent were current smokers and 1.6 per cent were former smokers. Study 3: Jin-jin Zhang and colleagues at No. 7 Hospital of Wuhan, China. How many people were involved? 140 How many of them were smokers? Some 6.4 per cent were either current smokers (two) or past smokers (seven). Where were the results published? Allergy What did it find? Among the 58 patients who severely ill, 3.4 per cent (two people) were current smokers and 6.9 per cent (four) were former smokers. In comparison, of the 82 with milder symptoms, none were current smokers and 3.7 per cent (three) were former smokers. Study 4: Fei Zhou and colleagues at Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, Wuhan, China. How many people were involved? 191 How many of them were smokers? Six per cent (11 people) were current smokers Where were the results published? The Lancet What did it find? Among those that died (54), nine per cent (five people) were current smokers. Of those who survived, four per cent (six people) were smokers. Study 5: Chaolin Huang, of Jin Yin-tan Hospital, Wuhan, China, and colleagues. How many people were involved? 41 How many of them were smokers? Seven per cent (three people) were current smokers Where were the results published? The Lancet What did it find? None of the 13 patients who needed to be admitted to ICU were current smokers. In contrast, 11 per cent (three) of those who did not need intensive care were smokers. ARE THE STUDIES REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REAL SMOKING POPULATION? In all of the studies, fewer than 15 per cent of the patients were smokers - a figure that clashes with China's smoking rate. The WHO says 300million people in China smoke - roughly a fifth of the country's total population and a third of the world's total. Data from a national survey conducted by China in 2015 found up to 60 per cent of men between the ages of 45 and 64 smoke. British researchers were clueless as to why the NEJM study, the largest studies on this topic, had such low rates of smokers (12.6 per cent), especially given 28 per cent of patients were between 50 and 64. Advertisement

The new stance from Public Health England (PHE) comes as the death toll reached 3,605 with a record 684 deaths announced.

In a statement, the government body said: 'If you smoke, you are not only putting yourself at greater risk of developing severe disease from the COVID-19 virus, but those around you exposed to second hand smoke, including children, are also put at increased risk.

'The repetitive hand to mouth movement provides an easy route of entry for the virus, putting smokers at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.'

PHE said COVID-19 - the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus - attacks the respiratory system, 'which explains why smokers are at greater risk'.

It pointed to one 'small but highly impactful survey' which took place at The Central Hospital of Wuhan, China. Wuhan is the city where the pandemic began in December.

Doctors followed 78 COVID-19 patients with pneumonia for two weeks, to assess how their health profile affected their outcomes. The findings were published in the Chinese Medical Journal.

The patients whose conditions worsened had a 'significantly' higher number smokers compared to the patients who got better  27 per cent compared three per cent.

Researchers who led the study also concluded that a history of smoking was a risk factor for disease progression, increasing the odds by 14 times.

The study was one of five evaluated by a team of experts led by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, who aimed to settle whether the debate over whether smokers should be concerned.

All of the five studies reviewed looked at either the risk of infection, disease progression or death among smokers in Chinese patients.

The largest of them all, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in February, involved 1,099 patients.

Of the 173 patients who had severe symptoms, 16.9 per cent of them were current smokers and 5.2 per cent had previously smoked.

In comparison, of the patients with less-severe symptoms, 11.8 per cent were current smokers and 1.3 per cent were former smokers.

In a group of patients that either needed mechanical ventilation, admission to an intensive care unit, or ultimately died, a quarter were current smokers  more than twice the rate than in patients who did not have such adverse outcomes.

It confirmed the findings of a smaller study in Wuhan which showed more than ten per cent of COVID-19 patients who were severely ill were either smokers or former smokers.

In comparison, of those with milder symptoms, none we current smokers. Just under four per cent had smoked previously, the findings in Allergy show.

Another study of 191 patients, published in The Lancet, showed a higher proportion of smokers among victims (nine per cent) than survivors (four per cent).

But not all the evidence suggests a negative prognosis for smokers. A study published in The Lancet made no connection between serious COVID-19 illness and smokers.

Among 41 patients, none of the 13 who needed to be admitted to intensive care were current smokers, the team in Wuhan said. But there were smokers in the group who fared better.

Similarly, researchers at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University - whose work was not included in the meta-analysis - were mystified after finding smokers were less likely to catch the deadly virus in the first place.

They made the conclusion that only 1.4 per cent of 140 hospitalised patients were smokers.

Writing in the journal The Lancet, the researchers added: 'The exact underlying causes of the lower incidence of COVID19 in current smokers are still unknown.'

But they admitted: 'The outcome of SARSCoV2 infection in smokers may be more severe.'

Although further research is warranted, smoking is 'most likely associated with the negative progression and adverse outcomes of COVID-19', the Harvard team concluded in the journal Tobacco Induced Diseases.

Doctors across the world have echoed the concern and called for further trials, aware that smokers generally are in danger of picking up more infections.

Dr James Gill, a locum GP and honorary clinical lecturer, Warwick Medical School, said: 'Possibly one of the biggest reasons smokers are at increased risk of respiratory infections is the impairment and death of the cilia in the airways and lungs.

'In simple terms, the airways are lined with cilia - small brush-like hairs - these structures provide an absolutely vital function in moving mucous, inhaled debris and potentially infectious agents out of the airways and lungs before an infection can take hold.'

Dr Tom Wingfield, a senior clinical lecturer and honorary consultant physician, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), highlighted the tendency of smokers to have a health condition.

They have higher rates of high blood pressure, high disease and chronic lung, 'all of which themselves are risk factors for severe COVID-19'.

But Professor Gordon Dougan, department of medicine, University of Cambridge, said it's 'too early' to make a call on whether smoking impacts COVID-19 infection.

'However, we do know that smoking does impair normal lung function in many ways,' he said.

Professor John Newton, director of health improvement at PHE said: 'In light of this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more important time to stop smoking. Not only for your own health but to protect those around you. It will also help alleviate the huge pressures on the NHS.'

WHY MAY SMOKERS BE MORE AT RISK OF SEVERE CORONAVIRUS? Dr James Gill, a locum GP and honorary clinical lecturer, Warwick Medical School, said: 'Smoking is a significant risk factor for coronavirus infections and, in fact, infections generally. 'There are many interlocking factors as to why smoking reduces the bodys ability to fight an infection. 'Possibly one of the biggest reasons smokers are at increased risk of respiratory infections is the impairment and death of the cilia in the airways and lungs. 'In simple terms, the airways are lined with cilia - small brush-like hairs - these structures provide an absolutely vital function in moving mucous, inhaled debris and potentially infectious agents out of the airways and lungs before an infection can take hold.' Increased levels of carbon monoxide in the blood, a by-product of smoking, blocks the blood's ability to carry oxygen to cells in the body. It puts smokers at a pre-disposed disadvantage if they catch coronavirus, considering the disease leaves patients unable to get enough oxygen into the bloodstream due to lung inflammation. Dr Tom Wingfield, a senior clinical lecturer and honorary consultant physician, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), said: 'Smoking both increases someones vulnerability to infection (repetitive touching of hand-to-face and hand-to-mouth) and reduces their ability to fight against it resulting in more severe disease.' He highlighted the tendency of smokers to have a health condition, such as high blood pressure, high disease and chronic lung, 'all of which themselves are risk factors for severe COVID-19'. Professor Gordon Dougan, department of medicine, University of Cambridge, said: 'The real danger lies in the lung and systems damage COVID causes. It will make people more vulnerable to secondary bacterial and viral infections. It is known that lung damage per say does that. 'I would recommend that people stop smoking but, having lost my own sister to lung cancer, know it is not easy.' Advertisement
Colleges that moved from on-campus classrooms to remote learning due to COVID-19 had to quickly upgrade networks to support new VPN connections for remote access. Fortunately, many online-learning platforms rely on cloud-based applications that dont put additional strain on campus networks.

For example, The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., added extra VPN user licenses for students and staff now working from home. It also ramped up its VPN-server capacity, according to Dr. Ellen J. Keohane, the colleges CIO. Were definitely seeing higher demand on that.

To accommodate remote learning, the school is using cloud-based services including Google Meet, Panapto (for video recording), and Zoom for videoconferencing. The college bought an upgrade to Zoom Enterprise, which adds classroom features such as breakouts and raise hand. It also integrates with Google email and calendars, Keohane said.

She said technology companies have been helpful. Im very happy to see some of the technology vendors stepping up to offer free services, such as Google adding Meet Premium to G Suite for Education customers, which allows recording of Google Meet conferencing sessions, said Keohane. I suppose its in their interest long-term, but not having to spend the extra money for the services at this time is really helpful.

A larger challenge is working with students to get them Chromebooks or other computers. The school is also scrambling to get enough wireless hot-spot devices that use WAN services such as 4G for Internet access. They can be used to connect students who dont have broadband internet access at home.

Students who do have home broadband may still have trouble connecting to two-way video and classroom services that require high bandwidth. Families may need to coordinate who is working online and for what content, giving priority to synchronous school work, said Keohane.

A recent upgrade helps USC

The IT staff at the University of Southern California found itself in luck when students were sent home to finiish off the semester. The complete re-architecting and replacement of our network that finished in January was capable of supporting the increased demand, said Douglas Shook, the CIO at USC. We are fortunate that we invested in our networks prior to COVID-19.

Shook said the school had signed enterprise licenses for Zoom and Slack in the fall, and that resource was in place for remote learning when the outbreak occurred.

The one upgrade the school needed: VPN server capacity, primarily to meet the demands of faculty and staff who are working from home, he said.

Students now take classes online are using a hybrid approach: the Blackboard app for course materials and Zoom for live, interactive lectures. The school overestimated the need for Blackboard by several times and quadrupled the number of VPN ports to support the demand.

We prepared for our first online-only classes in less than one week, Shook said. We are continuing to add capacity, documentation, support, help desk capacity, etc., on an ongoing basis.

The school said it will provide details soon on guidelines for technology assistance for people working from home.

A survey of students before they were sent home found that some had weak internet connections at home, so the school is working on recommendations to address that, including wireless hotspots.

USC also invested in online test-taking software, and spent time creating online training, documentation and help-desk support, Shook said. The technology upgrades were one aspect, he said. The human change management and support probably has been equally challenging.

VPN upgrades at San Jose State

San Jose State University and its 40,000 students and staffers benefitted from a network upgrade already underway that allowed it to adapt quickly to online-learning demands. It took the IT staff about four to five days to upgrade VPNs and add licenses for online-learning platforms.

There was no way we would have been able to do this if we hadnt started this process three years ago and hadnt looked at the technologies we would need to enable work from anywhere, said Bob Lim, the universitys CIO and vice president of IT. When we were given the green light to move forward online, we did it almost without any hiccups.

Like many other schools, San Jose State upgraded its VPN access. The team installed a new Cisco firewall appliance, boosting the universitys remote-access VPN supports to 10,000 concurrent connections to AnyConnect VPN clients. Shai Silberman, the schools network services manager, said the number of connections was chosen to support the work-from-anywhere scenarios, not as a specific response to the coronavirus situation. While the previous average was between 70 and 100 concurrent sessions, the team saw an uptick to about 500 due to the new work-at-home requirements for staffers.

While many students do not need the VPN access for regular online classroom learning or videoconferencing, the school is investigating the need for students in labs to be able to access their work remotely. Some areas of the school, such as medical facilities, also need the additional secure access due to HIPAA regulations.

In addition, Lim said the goal of the VPN upgrade was to make sure employees and students have the same network experience, whether theyre on the VPN or on the campus network.

[The 10,000 connections are] way beyond what we need, but the reality is we dont know how long this will sustain, said Silberman. We are investigating how we extend the laboratory experiences out to peoples homes, and that will be dependent on VPN as well.

Silbmeran said staff members who had been working as campus call center agents and other roles now work at home, and that requires secure remote access.

Lim said a big focus for the team was to make sure their network would be ready for the future, which will change teaching and learning methods as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

For example, he said many people feel that support systems need to be situated on campus, but in reality with secure VPNs those tasks can be handled farther away. For many organizations, campus buildings are very important, Lim said. Were looking at moving non-essential areas or areas that dont deal with students on a regular basis, moving them out further so the campus can be more student-focused in terms of teaching and learning.

Other areas that the IT team has dealt with in recent weeks include:

Training staffers, teachers and students on using the online tools, which includes programs like Zoom and the Canvas by Instructure classroom learning management system.

Transferring desktop phone numbers over to cell phones for staffers.

Assisting students with equipment needs such as Chromebooks, webcams, microphones and other computers for secure access.
On March 23, when Tapan Biswas, who works as a mason in Kerala, came back to his home at Madarihat in north Bengal's Alipurduar, his neighbours were swift to inform the police about his arrival. However, for five days, Biswas was not traceable while police, local Panchayat members and neighbours kept looking for him.

Biswas says he was hiding at his home as he was petrified by the prospect of being taken away by police for a health check up. Nevertheless, Biswas was screened for Covid-19 and let go after being asked to stay in isolation for two weeks. However, flustered with constant ...
Exclusive: Oil crash 'not permanent,' Mexico sticks to output, investment plans FILE PHOTO: Mexico's Energy Minister Rocio Nahle attends a news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City

By David Alire Garcia

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico will press ahead with oil investment and production plans, its energy minister told Reuters on Friday, arguing that a global crash in crude and fuel markets will be short lived and does not merit a change in strategy.

In the coming days, the government will offer investment opportunities in more of its mature oilfields and network of refineries owned by national oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Energy Minister Rocio Nahle said in an interview.

"Today we're in one of these phases where the price of oil is low, but this will not be permanent. Oil is a great business, the best in the world," said Nahle.

"We're going to wait, just like the rest of the world."

The administration of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is not considering reopening the auctions for exploration and production rights to oil and gas fields, she added, which are favored by many foreign companies.

A close confidant of Lopez Obrador, an energy nationalist who favors a stronger state role in energy, Nahle emphasized that the government was not planning to cut crude production from state-run Pemex, even at its most expensive oilfields, amid global benchmarks <LCOc1> <CLc1> losing more than half their value last month.

"All producing countries are maintaining output levels... Pemex is also doing that," said Nahle, who also heads the Pemex board.

She also said there were no plans to suspend expensive infrastructure projects including the new $8 billion Dos Bocas oil refinery currently under construction and a top priority for Lopez Obrador, who has repeatedly said he wants to wean Mexico off of imported fuels.

Heavily indebted Pemex has suffered 15 consecutive years of falling crude output despite relatively low lifting costs in its mostly offshore portfolio of projects. Its current crude production is more than 1.7 million barrels per day.

Later on Friday, Fitch Ratings downgraded Pemex's credit rating due to what it described in a statement as "the company's limited flexibility to navigate the downturn in the oil and gas industry."

Story continues

Nahle, who implored ratings agencies to be more "responsible" with the grades they give the Mexican oil giant, emphasized that Pemex will decide which fields it would like private investment, but said those details will likely be unveiled at the weekend or next week.

Mexico's national electricity company CFE will follow a similar tack, she added.

Producers of crude oil and refined products all around the world have already announced production cuts in reaction to lower demand due to the economic slowdown provoked by the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to growing difficulty finding space for storage.

In Latin America, the largest regional producer, Brazil's state-controlled Petrobras <PETR4.SA>, this week said it will widen production cuts to 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the 100,000 bpd in cuts originally planned, while shortening work hours and delaying investment in oil projects.

In Venezuela, state-run PDVSA has already seen its crude production to fall to around 670,000 bpd in recent weeks - a 25% decline vs previous months - mainly due to mounting inventories of unsold oil as U.S. sanctions on the firm and its trade partners tighten and demand for its crude in Asia plummets.

Latin America's flagship crude grades lost over $7 dollars per barrel in average this week versus their mid-March prices, according to a Reuters analysis of data provided by traders.

Mexico's Maya heavy crude, the most important regional benchmark, rose on Friday but for the week averaged $12.75 per barrel vs $17.34 in mid-March, according to data provided by S&P Global Platts.

Despite the prospect of a prolonged price slump, Nahle stressed that the soon-to-be announced government plan should help counter the industry's gloomy present.

"A lot of (investment opportunities) are coming, and those who are interested, those who are in this business and those who know will enter," she said.

(Reporting by David Alire Garcia; Additional reporting by Adriana Barrera and Marianna Parraga; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Cynthia Osterman)
Youve got to love Fairhope Brewing Companys frankness about jumping on the Tiger King bandwagon.

Darn right we're taking advantage of Tiger King by renaming some beers we had coming out anyway, the coastal Alabama brewery says. We're basically taking advantage of anything we can right now.

The brewery describes its Joe Hopzotic as a session IPA featuring some tropical-tasting hops. Its new Big Cat Radler is an IPA with just the right about of grapefruit juice. Which makes about as much sense as a Netflix docu-series with just the right amount of crazy.

Note: The brewery reported that Big Cat Radler sold out rapidly on Friday, and that it would open Saturday with a limited supply of Joe Hopzotic in addition to its regular selection. It may produce more in the future.

No tigers or millionaires were injured or disappeared by the production of these delicious brews, and theyll be available all weekend long, said Fairhope Brewing, which advised patrons to check for updates on its pandemic operating hours before traveling.

Fairhope isnt the only craft brewery to catch Tiger King fever. Monday Night Brewing, which operates in Atlanta and has plans to open in Birmingham, recently unveiled two versions of The Tiger That Killed my Father and said it reserved the right to refuse service to anyone named Joe Exotic.

Like many craft breweries, Fairhope has shifted to to-go operations to compensate for the inability to open its taproom during the COVID-19 epidemic. According to the most recent information posted on its Facebook page, itll be open 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. About a dozen different beers will be available. FBC is at 914 Nichols Ave. in Fairhope.
Karl Stefanovic is keen to make his fans laugh amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday night, the Today host launched the first episode of The Weekly Tonight Show with Karlos, from the rooftop of his rented Sydney waterfront mansion.

Dressed casually in a black T-shirt, patterned shorts and with a beer in hand, the 45-year-old told viewers that he enlisted the help of his 'redundant mates' to produce.

'Up yours, COVID-19! We'll see you next week': Karl Stefanovic (pictured), 45, launched his hilarious tonight show with his 'redundant mates', from the rooftop of his Sydney waterfront mansion on Friday

Richard Wilkins opened the show by poking lighthearted fun at the once-axed star.

'The star of the show, and God knows he's lucky enough to have one... ladies and gentlemen... is it Karl or Pete? Mr Karl Stefanovic,' the Today Extra star announced.

The camera then focused in on Karl relaxing amid self-isolation with a beer in hand.

'This would normally be me on a Friday night, we're in this together aren't we?' he joked, while seated on a deck chair in front of a stunning harbourside view.

Getting family involved: The Channel Nine star announced his guests for the evening, most notably his mother Jenny Stefanovic (pictured). The 70-year-old poked lighthearted fun of seniors who aren't familiar with FaceTime

The soon-to-be father-of-four announced his guests for the evening, most notably his mother Jenny Stefanovic.

In a hilarious clip, the 70-year-old poked lighthearted fun of seniors who aren't familiar with FaceTime.

'Are you there Karl, darling?' Jenny asked, while angling the camera to zoom in on just her neck.

A following segment also starred Nova's Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, who presented the show's 'album of the week'.

Familiar face: A following segment also starred Nova's Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald (pictured), 43, who presented the show's 'album of the week'

The 43-year-old couldn't help but take a swipe at Karl's miraculously full head of hair as he remarked, 'Hey, give me the number of the guy who put your plugs in so I can call the cops and dob him in.'

Bringing the laughs also was Karl's mate James Young, who admitted there wasn't much happening in sport to report on.

'In sport today, absolutely nothing going on,' James hilariously announced.

All jokes aside, Karl said in the show's final moments that he hopes to bring some light relief to Australians, and thanked the doctors and nurses on the frontline.

'I want to thank the doctors and nurses on the frontline. I hope you get a break if you can,' he said.

'Absolutely nothing': Bringing the laughs also was Karl's mate James Young (pictured), who admitted there wasn't much happening in sport to report on

'Australia loves you,' he continued. 'We couldn't do it without you.'

'Up yours, COVID!' Karl then playfully added. 'We'll see you next week. Cheers!'

A source close to the Channel Nine star told Daily Mail Australia on Friday that Karl has 'always wanted his own tonight show' and wanted 'to help out his mates who were made redundant' amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness accompanied by fever, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath and fatigue. It can produce pneumonia.

The spread of the disease, which began in Wuhan, China, has seen over 1,015,000 cases worldwide and more than 53,400 fatalities.

As of the evening of April 3, the number of confirmed cases in Australia is 5,350, including 28 deaths.

'We couldn't do it without you': Jokes aside, Karl said in the show's final moments that he hopes to bring some light relief to Australians, and thanked the doctors and nurses on the frontline
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: A record-long streak of US job growth ended suddenly in March after nearly a decade as employers slashed hundreds of thousands of jobs because of the viral outbreak that has all but shut down the US economy. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% from a 50-year low of 3.5%.

The job loss of 701,000 reported Friday by the US government - the worst since the depths of the Great Recession in 2009 - is still just a small indication of what's to come. For the April jobs report that will be released in early May, economists expect at least a record 20 million losses and an unemployment rate of around 15%, the highest since the 1930s.

The enormous magnitude of the job cuts is inflicting far-reaching damage on the economies in the United States and abroad, which are widely believed to be sinking into severe recessions. As rising numbers of people lose jobs - or fear they will - consumer spending is shrinking. That pullback in spending, which is the primary driver of the economy, is intensifying pressure on any businesses that are still operating.

Economists are holding out hope that an extraordinary series of rescue actions from Congress and the Federal Reserve will help stabilize the US economy in the months ahead. The key goals of Congress' just-enacted $2.2 trillion relief package are to quickly put cash in people's hands and incentivize companies to avoid job cuts or to soon recall laid-off employees.

The job losses during March were likely even larger than what was reported Friday because the government surveyed employers before the heaviest layoffs hit in the past two weeks. Nearly 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in the final two weeks of March, far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record.

Last month's job loss was derived from surveys of employers that were conducted in mid-March. The enormous layoffs that were reported over the past two weeks occurred only after those surveys had been completed.

"This was an ugly jobs report, showing that the pain in the economy started in early March, well before the spike in the weekly initial jobless claims data," said Joseph Song, an economist at Bank of America Securities. "It is going to get much worse in coming reports."

The nearly full point increase in the unemployment rate from February to March was the sharpest monthly rise since 1975. Virus-induced shutdowns have forced widespread layoffs throughout the economy, from hotels, restaurants and movie theaters to auto factories, department stores and administrative offices.

One sign of how painfully deep the job losses will likely prove to be: During its nearly decade-long hiring streak, the U.S. economy added 22.8 million jobs. Economists expect the April jobs report being released in early May to show that nearly all those jobs will have been lost.

Lower-income service workers bore the brunt of the job cuts in March, with restaurants, hotels and casinos accounting for roughly two-thirds of the cuts  a loss of 459,000 jobs. Retailers shed 46,000.

Yet the layoffs have also begun to creep into many other corners of the economy. Doctor's offices sliced 12,000 jobs, the most on records dating to 1972. Law firms cut 1,700. Banks and real estate companies also cut jobs.

There were some quirks in the jobs report that suggest it may be harder than usual for the government to track the impact of the virus. The government said the unemployment rate would have been nearly 1 percentage point higher if many workers who were told to stay home because of the coronavirus - most of whom aren't being paid - had been properly classified as temporarily laid-off. Instead, many of those workers said they still had jobs.

Even with that quirk, the number of people who said they were on "temporary lay off" soared to 1.8 million, the highest since September 2009, in the immediate aftermath of the Great Recession.

A key determinant of the economy's future will be whether businesses can survive the shutdown and quickly rehire those workers who consider themselves to be temporarily laid off. If so, that would help the economy snap back and avoid the type of weak recovery that followed the past three downturns.

But if the virus outbreak forces businesses to stay closed into the late summer, many may go bankrupt or won't have the money to rehire their old employees.

That would mean that many workers who now consider themselves on temporary layoff could lose their jobs.

So far, some large and small businesses are still paying for health care benefits and keeping in touch with their newly laid-off workers, a slightly hopeful sign amid the flood of job cuts.

More than 90% of the US population is now living under some version of a shutdown order, which has forced the closure of bars, restaurants, movie theaters, factories, gyms and most other businesses. Some hotels are closed; others are largely empty. Fast-food chains are either closed or providing only drive-through service, costing thousands of jobs.

With business activity tightly restricted, analysts expect a stomach-churning recession. Economists at Goldman Sachs have forecast that the economy will shrink at an annual rate of 34% in the April-June quarter - the worst fall on records dating to World War II. Goldman expects the economy to rebound with 19% growth in the third quarter. But even by the end of next year, the economy will not have fully recovered from the damage, Goldman projects.


Ministry of Health suggests imposing strict restrictive measures in order to prevent the spread of the virus

The Ministry of Health is closely examining the situation with the coronavirus that is taking place in EU countries and expects that COVID-19 incidence in Ukraine may increase in the near future. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko during a briefing that was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV channel.

"We predict that we will see a peak growth of coronavirus disease across the territory of Ukraine in the near future. Therefore, we suggest imposing rigid measures as our calculations show that we can significantly reduce the number of critical cases with the introduction of additional measures for isolation and limitation of mobility," Deputy Minister of Health said.

Lyashko added that these measures were a key to a significant reduction in the number of deaths that were caused by COVID-19.

As we reported earlier, in Ukraine, the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic is expected between April 15 and April 25.

That is why quarantine in Ukraine might be extended until May 15. As for todays morning, 669 cases of infection with coronavirus are spotted in Ukraine. 17 our fellow citizens died, Deputy Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko stated.
: Ridiculing Prime Minister Naredra



Modis call to switch off lights for nine minutes on April 5, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said the "country is not an event management company", drawing flak from Telangana BJP, which said he should first condemn the Tablighi Jamaat episode.

This country is not an event management company.

The people of India are humans who too have dreams & hopes.

Dont reduce our lives to gimmicks of 9 mins, @PMOIndia.

We wanted to know what aid states will get & what relief the poor will receive, instead we got some new drama, Owaisi said in a tweet.

"I know you only want #positivevibes & dont want us to raise some issues but WHERE is the light?," he questioned in a series of tweets on several issues.

He alleged that an unplanned lockdown has meant more and more suffering to the poor, who were left to the charity of rich and the limited economic abilities of states."



"When CMs ask you for financial relief, you ask them to switch off their lights?, he said in another tweet, reacting to a report that suggested that Modi was silent on states request for funds.

Modi on Thursday helda video conference with all chief ministers to discuss ways to check the spreadof coronavirus.

In another tweet, he opined that thepre-corona economic crisis will now become an impending financial disaster.

"What will happen to our savings? What'll happen to the banks? he questioned in the tweet.

Reacting to the Hyderabad MPs tweets, Telangana BJP in a statement said Owaisi should first explain what measures he took to contain coronavirus spread in his constituency, which has witnessed a steep rise in the number of cases.

Asaduddin hasn't yet condemned the Tablighi Jamaat episode and the thousands of participants who are openly defying all government's directives nationally, BJPs Telangana chief spokesperson K Krishna Saagar Rao said.

Owaisi has openly supported this cluster, which by far is the largest infecting cluster in the entire world,Rao alleged.

Tablighi Jamaat cluster is rapidly transmitting corona virus across India.

However, Asaduddin is busy promoting these super spreaders through his supportive statements.

Asaduddin has no moral and ethical high-ground to criticize PM Narendra Modi, who's working 24/7 to ensure India flattens the rising curve, the BJP leader said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Early this week when the security establishment and health workers came close to completing the evacuation of 2,300 people from the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters in central Delhi, investigations led the police to conclude that there were more foreigners staying in different mosques in the national capital. On 31 March, the Delhi Police sent an urgent message to the Delhi Government. It was to seek help to locate the remaining Jamaat workers out of the citys mosques. The police communication listed 16 mosques.

Investigators were prepared to find 187 foreigners and two dozen Indian nationals who had shifted to the mosques after attending congregation meetings at the headquarters of the religious sect in Delhis Nizamuddin area.

It turns out they were horribly wrong.

Also Read: With full weight of law: MHA orders FIRs against 960 foreign Jamaat workers, sponsors

In four days, the combined teams of police, health workers and civil servants widened the net to cover a large number of mosques and have located over 800 foreigners linked to the Jamaat in the national capital. And they still have some more distance to cover.

The big fear is that many of them would turn out to be positive cases, and could have already infected many others, the official said.

The Jamaat workers have been placed in multiple government-run quarantine facilities across the national capital. The ones who were found hiding in mosques are yet to be tested. That process is expected to begin in a day or two.

A senior official in the Delhi governments home department confirmed the development but underlined that he couldnt put a number on the foreigners found. We are still in the process of getting final reports from the field, he told Hindustan Times.

But there are some ballpark numbers from some districts. About 100 foreigners had been found in mosques of north-east district, 200 in south-east district, 170 in south district and 7 in west district, a senior official in the security establishment said.

Also Read: In 4 years, India put 4,200 foreigners on visa blacklist for Tablighi activities

Security agencies who poured over the registers for foreigners maintained at the Markaz found 2,100 foreign nationals had touched base after landing in the country between March 1 and 18. Of them, 216 were still at the Jamaat headquarters when the crackdown took place and 824 had already left for chilla, or proselytising activities.

We believe that the remaining 900-odd foreigners are mostly hiding in mosques around the city, he said, adding that they were keeping their fingers crossed.

Officials recall that by the time they evacuated the followers from the Markaz this week, 24 people had already tested positive and nearly 200 had symptoms. The Delhi government hasnt received all the test reports. But the Markaz-linked cases already make up for two-thirds of all coronavirus patients in Delhi.

Also Read: Markaz leadership resisted, then NSA Ajit Doval dropped by at 2 am

By this evening, the Delhi government counted 386 confirmed coronavirus cases in the city. Of them, a whopping 259 are Markaz Masjid cases. Reports from different parts of the country have also indicated that quite a few people who had attended the Nizamuddin Markaz congregation had tested positive.

Three of Delhis six deaths are also linked to the Markaz, the biggest hot spot of the Covid-19 infections.

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Moreover, he said, youre just never going to get as clean as rinsing with water. Cleanliness matters, since you can get seriously ill from diseases transmitted via feces. Cholera, hepatitis, and E. coli and urinary tract infections are prime examples. Recent studies have found coronavirus in feces, as well.

But while the majority of households in Japan have high-tech toilets capable of cleansing users with precisely directed temperature-controlled streams of water, the rest of the world has been slow to follow.

Blame prudishness and puritanism, at least in part: Bidets, once ubiquitous in France, became associated with hedonism and licentiousness. Marie Antoinette had a red-trimmed bidet in her prison cell while awaiting the guillotine. And during World War II, American soldiers first saw bidets in French brothels, which made them think they were naughty. An often-told joke was that a wealthy American tourist in Paris assumed the bidet in her hotel room was for washing babies in, until the maid told her, No, madame, this is to wash the babies out.

But even in France, toilet paper has taken over. Now, when constructing a new flat, nobody puts a bidet in it, Dr. Charlier said. Theres not room for it, particularly in Paris. Although, when the bidet is incorporated in the toilet, as modern versions are, space is a nonissue. Maybe there are also psychological reasons we do not embrace the newer technology, he said.

Which brings us back to the panic buying of toilet paper. Psychologists say its more than a little Freudian, what with the anal personality being tied to a need for order, hoarding and fear of contamination. The characteristics align with obsessive compulsive tendencies, which get triggered when people feel threatened, said Nick Haslam, a professor of psychology at the University of Melbourne in Australia and the author of Psychology in the Bathroom.

Many people are low-level paper hoarders even in the best of times  stuffing takeout menus in kitchen drawers and piling months-old magazines on coffee tables. The pandemic may have just kicked this tendency into high gear, and people are likely latching onto toilet paper because its subconsciously associated with controlling filth and disease. Theres also some evidence that animals hoard nesting materials, Dr. Haslam said. So maybe toilet paper has some sort of nesting component as were forced into our homes.

It could also be that, having given up so much of our freedom, some feel, albeit subconsciously, that going without toilet paper would be an indignity too far  a Mad Max descent into the realm of the uncivilized. And so, stockpiling of Charmin and Angel Soft will likely continue, even though there are far better ways to clean ourselves and despite environmental groups warnings that were flushing away our forests. No one wants to get caught without a roll within reach.

Kate Murphy is a journalist in Houston who contributes frequently to The New York Times and the author of Youre Not Listening: What Youre Missing and Why It Matters.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 10:02:08|Editor: zyl

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MANILA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Fostering greater innovation would bring faster and more inclusive economic growth in Asia and the Pacific, according to the theme chapter of the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020 released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday.

"Developing Asia invests 2.1 percent of its gross domestic product in research and development, but there are wide variations across countries," ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada said.

Sawada said "the five key drivers of innovation are sound education systems, innovative entrepreneurship, conducive institutions, deeper capital markets, and dynamic cities which bring together research universities and forward-thinking firms."

Over the last five decades, the report said that Asia and the Pacific region has become a major global innovation and knowledge hub, with the region's share of global research and development investment rising to 40 percent in 2017 from 22 percent in 1966.

According to the report, the region is also home to many of the world's most innovative economies, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

Overall, however, innovation in the rest of the region still lags that in advanced economies, the report said.

The report showed that countries that innovate more tend to have faster economic growth.

Middle-income economies in Asia and the Pacific that have graduated to high income such as South Korea increased spending on innovation, which is vital for productivity growth. Investment in research and development in these economies are three times bigger than in their peers, the report said.

In addition, the report said innovations contribute to more inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth in the region. The auto-rickshaw Tuk-tuks in Thailand and Manila's jeepneys powered by electricity or liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas are examples.

According to the report, sustained innovation requires an educated and skilled workforce.

For instance, it said that basic education systems need to provide a mix of hard and soft skills that combine the likes of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with learning to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

On-the-job training is important too, said the report, adding that firms that trained their employees are more likely to innovate than firms that do not by as much as over 12 percentage points.

The report further said that innovative entrepreneurs and small firms can be supported through conducive institutions, including stronger property rights, competition policies, rule of law, and good information and communications technology.

Access to capital markets and notably equity markets are key to financing innovation. Governments can play a major role in financing research and development, said the report.

The report concluded that there are no shortcuts to achieving innovative societies in the region. Building them is a long-term commitment requiring a lot of hard work.

ADO is the annual flagship economic publication of the Manila-based bank.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator for the White House, admitted that the US officials 'didn't know how contagious' coronavirus was early in the outbreak.

Birx made the revelation Thursday on Fox News during a digital town hall event with reporter Martha MacCallum.

She said that initial data about the Covid-19 outbreak from China had gaps in information, leaving the US unable to properly prepare for the pandemic.

'The bottom line is we didn't know how contagious it was,' Dr. Birx said.

'I think when you make misassumptions around contagion early on, then you don't prepare in the way that you should prepare for the level of contagion that this COVID-19 exhibits,' she added.

Dr. Deborah Birx (right), the coronavirus response coordinator for the White House, told Fox News reporter Martha MacCallum (left) that US officials 'didn't know how contagious' coronavirus was at first

Dr. Birx said China's early reports came during a 'very difficult situation' and weren't measuring asymptomatic cases or mild disease.

'In that case, that may be a significant portion of the epidemic, and so we didn't know how it was spreading,' she said.

US officials were also unaware of how coronavirus was spreading and surface contact.

In the United States - which has the highest number of infections worldwide - there are at least 245,356 confirmed cases and a death toll of 6,056.

As of Thursday, the United States has recorded more than 230,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and at least 5,647 deaths

MacCallum asked Dr. Birx about evidence that China intentionally undersold the severity and scale of the coronavirus, which begun in the city of Wuhan in late-December 2019.

The US intelligence community submitted a report to the White House that claims China under-reported confirmed cases and deaths, Bloomberg reports.

Trump doubled down on these claims, saying China reported numbers were 'a little bit on the light side.'

Dr. Birx answered that she was fighting the HIV epidemic in Africa when the outbreak started and watched new data come in from China.

Dr. Birx (pictured): 'I think when you make misassumptions around contagion early on, then you don't prepare in the way that you should prepare for the level of contagion that this COVID-19 exhibits'

'I think when we looked at the profile, first there was a question about human-to-human transmission - that's really key because it stops with that first set of transmission,' said Dr. Birx.

'So there was that first question, and I think when you're in the midst of an epidemic, it is hard for you to be testing at a level that you need to to really look for those asymptomatic cases and really look for those people with mild disease.

'So now we're finding out that most of the reporting was around very severe cases.'

In the US, healthcare workers and officials continue to scramble for a hold of the coronavirus outbreak as the the number of infections and deaths rise.

America is the first country in the world to report 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours.

Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday that blamed the CDC and China for America's delayed response to the pandemic.

Vice President Mike Pence blamed the CDC and China for the United States' slow response to the coronavirus

This comes after President Trump blamed the outbreak in New York - with 92,700 infections and 2,400 deaths - on the impeachment investigation in a letter to Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Pence told CNN's Wolf Blitzer: 'I will be very candid with you and say that in mid-January the CDC was still assessing that the risk of the coronavirus to the American people was low. The very first case which was someone who had been in China, I believe took place in late January around the 20th day of January'.

'The reality is that we could have been better off if China had been more forthcoming. I mean the reality is that Chinas been more transparent with regard to the coronavirus than certainly they were for other infectious diseases over the last 15 years.

'But what appears evident now is that long before the world learned in December that China was dealing with this, and maybe as much as a month earlier than that, that the outbreak was real in China,' he noted.

He also warned the United States could see conditions that are as bad as those in Italy, which has had over 110,000 cases and more than 13,000 deaths. Italy is also on a nationwide lockdown.

China reported its first known death from 2019 Novel Coronavirus on January 11th. The first U.S. case was reported in Seattle on January 21st - a person returning from a visit to Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began.

Pence defended President Donald Trump and the administration for criticism they responded too slowly to the pandemic.

'I don't believe the President has ever belittled the threat of the coronavirus,' Pence told Blitzer.

On Tuesday, the White House projected 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. if current social distancing guidelines are maintained.

Dr. Birx agreed with the estimate, but warned that there could be as many as 2.2million deaths if the US does nothing to contain the outbreak.

Dr. BIrx (center) agreed with estimates that as many as 240,000 Americans could die from coronavirus if the disease is not contained

The United States' outbreak came to. a head when the nation's first coronavirus-related death occurred in Washington state at Life Care Center of Kirkland (pictured)

Pence argued the work the administration did - including encouraging social distancing, limiting social gatherings, and eating take out as part of their '15 Days to Slow the Spread' guidelines - helped keep the rate of infection down.

'We put travel advisories and screening in place for people coming from Asia and also from Italy, then suspending travel from Europe, the U.K., and Ireland, and all the mitigation efforts that the federal government has advanced and states have -- advancing,' the vice president said.

Trump addressed the estimate on Tuesday during a press conference.

'It's absolutely critical for the American people to follow the guidelines for the next 30 days, it's a matter of life and death, frankly,' President Trump said.

'I want every American to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead. We're going through a very tough few weeks. And, hopefully, as the experts have predicted is a lot of us are predicting having studied it so hard, going to start seeing some real light at the end of the tunnel and this is going to be a very painful, a very very painful two weeks,' he noted.




The daily coronavirus update from Gov. Phil Murphy and other state officials on the latest number of coronavirus cases is scheduled to start around 1 p.m on Friday.

It will be streamed on the governors YouTube channel.

Murphy will be joined as usual by state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, State Epidemiologist Dr. Christina Tan, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan at the Trenton War Memorials George Washington Ballroom.

Persichilli and Murphy will provide updated coronavirus numbers and each of the officials will entertain questions from the media.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

The coronavirus outbreak in New Jersey continued to accelerate with a big jump in new deaths Thursday afternoon, bringing the statewide total to 537 deaths and 25,590 coronavirus cases.

Officials reported 182 new deaths and 3,489 new positive tests on Thursday.

Murphy announced Thursday that he signed an executive order to give Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of New Jerseys State Police, the authority to commandeer much-needed medical supplies and equipment from companies and people in the state that have not yet donated it to health-care facilities to help battle the outbreak.

Murphy also toured the first of four pop-up hospitals, at the Meadowlands in Secaucus, that the federal government is building in New Jersey to help create more hospital space.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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Playboi Carti Arrested in Atlanta for Traffic Violations, Charged With Drug Possession Torry Threadcraft Torry Threadcraft is a writer who covers music, sports, and

The Atlanta MC bonded out shortly afterward.

Clayton County, Georgia police arrested Playboi Carti after a traffic stop on Thursday. Officers stopped the Die Lit rapper after noting his Lamborghini had expired tags.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers found 12 bags of marijuana, three guns, Xanax, codeine, and oxycodone. According to court records, Carti faces marijuana possession, improperly passing an emergency vehicle, and not displaying an updated decal on his license plate. Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill addressed the arrest in a news release.

Jordan Carter later identified as Atlanta rapper PlayBoi Carti and Jaylon Tucker were both taken into custody, he wrote. They are now facing the wall at Georgias toughest para-military jail known as the Hill-ton. The Sheriffs office posted photos of the items discovered at the scene. Read the full report at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

According to multiple reports, Carti bonded out of jail by Friday morning. Tucker reportedly remains in police custody. Close friend Gunner Stahl corroborated these reports on Twitter. Carti is at home, lets stop the free stuff thanks :)

In July 2017, Carti faced domestic battery charges after an incident at Los Angeles International Airport. According to multiple reports, Carti admittedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend by her backpack after a heated argument at the airport. The following August, the Los Angeles City Attorney decided not to file charges, but hold an informal hearing between the two.
Mobile users be able to switch from postpaid to prepaid, vice versa using OTP; without changing SIM card

Are hand sanitisers safe for your mobile: Here is the right way to clean a phone

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: There are plenty of guidelines that have been suggested to keep you safe from the coronavirus. However not many understand the importance of cleaning a mobile phone.

An analysis by the Journal of Hospital Infection says that the coronavirus can live on surfaces like glass, metal or plastic up to nine days. This would mean even if you wash your hands or sanitise them, you could contract the virus if you pick up an unclean phone.

Experts have said that cleaning mobile phones was a more important preventive measure than wearing face masks.

Using a sanitiser is not a good idea to clean your phone. Using any form of liquid is also a bad idea as it could damage your phone. So here is the right way to clean your phone.

What you need:

Microfibre cloth

Water

Soap

This is what Apple and Samsung recommends:

Unplug all cables and turn off your phone

Remove any case or covering on the phone

Wipe the screen and surface with a soft, gentle, slightly damp lint free microfibre cloth

If material is still present, use a soft, lint-free cloth with warm soapy water

Avoid getting moisture in openings

Don't use cleaning products or compressed air

If you are using a case of covering, make sure you clean that too

Make sure you put the case back on only after the mobile has dried

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 11:39 [IST]
Google has unveiled the COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports in an effort to help public health officials understand how people are moving about in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The reports show location data from folks who have agreed to share their location history with Google in order to show places that are following instructions to shelter in place -- or not.

"As global communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasing emphasis on public health strategies, like social distancing measures, to slow the rate of transmission," wrote Google Geo SVP Jen Fitzpatrick. "In Google Maps, we use aggregated, anonymized data showing how busy certain types of places arehelping identify when a local business tends to be the most crowded. We have heard from public health officials that this same type of aggregated, anonymized data could be helpful as they make critical decisions to combat COVID-19."

The reports are available to all users in 131 countries, and in some regions, you can search for regional state and county data. Once a region is selected, Google will generate the report in a PDF form that's easy to share with workers in the field, the company said.

The reports cover six categories, including retail and recreation (restaurants, museums, shopping centers, etc.), grocery and pharmacy, parks (including beaches, marinas, etc.), transit stations, workplaces and residences.

Statista

Here in France, as shown in the posts lead image, there has been a massive decline in movement to most categories -- up to 88 percent -- with a 56 percent drop in workplace travel and an 18 percent increase in people staying at home. That's down to a government mandated lockdown (confinement) that prohibits any unnecessary travel, with penalties ranging from fines up to 1,500 euros and even prison time for extreme recidivists.

In California, which has implemented some of the strictest confinement rules in the US, we see a drop of just 50 percent in retail and recreation zones. Those rules are still essentially self-enforced, however, which could explain why France has started flattening its infection curve, while the US curve is a rocket ship traveling straight up.

Other mobile ad companies are also sharing similar data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the WSJ. However, Google has access to massive amounts of anonymized location data, and reportedly created the reports to help public health officials prioritize regions based on need.

Location tracking has been used by nations like Korea and Taiwan to track movements of quarantined and healthy citizens. However, such actions are of limited use alone. Those countries have also been testing a high percentage of their populations and implementing stricter social distancing rules as well.

On top of the reports, Google said its also collaborating with epidemiologists to created an updated dataset of anonymized aggregated data, "to better understand and forecast the pandemic," the company said.


LOS ANGELES COUNTY OPENS NEW DRIVE-UP TESTING SITES

INCREASING COVID-19 TESTING CAPACITY FOR RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT LA COUNTY

LA County is ramping up COVID-19 testing sites, opening three locations on April 3, 2020 and developing many others countywide. The sites opening April 3 are at the Pomona Fairplex (Gate 17  W. McKinley/Fairplex Drive), the South Bay Galleria (1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278), and the Antelope Valley Mall (1233 Rancho Vista Blvd., Palmdale, CA 91768). The testing is by appointment only. Walk-up appointments are not available.

At this time, COVID-19 testing is limited to the most vulnerable Los Angeles County residents who are:

65 and older; and/or

Have underlying health conditions including: Diabetes Heart disease Hypertension Chronic lung disease Moderate to severe asthma People who are immunocompromised, including as a result of cancer treatment; and/or

Have been subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period because they have been exposed to an individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and have more than 7 days of the 2-week quarantine period remaining.

Anyone interested in getting tested must first register on the screening website, coronavirus.lacity.org/Testing. This first step determines if people are eligible to be tested. At the website, individuals are asked to answer basic questions including name, date of birth, address, and whether they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. The website (in real time) determines and confirms an individuals testing eligibility. Those who receive confirmation of testing eligibility will then be given a selection of testing sites, available appointment times to complete the test registration process. The registration number will be required information at the testing site.

All of the testing locations are drive-up  clients stay in their cars for tests (though pedestrian clients with appointments can be tested as well). The test is a self-administered oral swab, meaning clients must swab their own mouths/throats using instructions provided to them at the site. The testing process takes between 5 and 10 minutes, however waiting times may vary. More information and frequently asked questions are available at covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.

ADVERTISEMENT

The goal is to increase testing capacity as quickly as possible in Los Angeles County to meet the communitys needs, which are growing every day, said Dr. Clayton Kazan, Medical Director of the LA County Fire Department, and is leading the county-wide coordination of COVID19 testing.

Dr. Kazan continues to reach out to healthcare stakeholders all across Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County seeks to support and scale the efforts of cities and health care providers who have begun their own testing programs, merge them into the county-wide network and ensure that they have adequate supplies. Additional sites in Northridge, Long Beach, Lancaster, and Pasadena are presently in planning stages.

For more information and FAQs: covid19.lacounty.gov/testing

To register and see if you are eligible for a test: coronavirus.lacity.org/testing
The Israeli army announced March 27 that it had struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to a rocket launched toward a settlement in the Gaza envelope on the same day. No injuries were reported. Thousands of Israelis rushed to shelters; this was the first escalation since the coronavirus outbreak in February. Palestinians and Israelis have been staying home as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

No Palestinian faction declared responsibility for the rockets, but Israel shelled Hamas positions because Gaza is under Hamas control. Islamic Jihad spokesman Musab al-Breem said in a statement March 28 that Israel is exploiting the worlds preoccupation with fighting the coronavirus to tighten the blockade on Gaza.

Meanwhile, the general atmosphere in Gaza points to a health and livelihood crisis, especially with 12 coronavirus cases reported as of April 2. Could this push Hamas to consider sparking a conflict as a means to deflect attention from the crisis? Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper warned March 29 of a dark, apocalyptic scenario if the Gaza factions clash with Israel amid the coronavirus outbreak. (As of April 2, Israel had 6,857 coronavirus cases, an increase of 765 over the previous day, and the Palestinians 160, an increase of 26.)

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor, The Gaza Strip is experiencing disastrous conditions due to the Israeli blockade, and Israel alone bears the responsibility for this ongoing situation. Hamas is communicating with mediators to force Israel to break the Gaza blockade, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, which has added fuel to the fire. The ongoing Gaza blockade does not contribute to a calm security situation.

Mohammed Awad, head of the Hamas-run Governmental Follow-up Committee in the Gaza Strip, announced at a March 31 press conference that government institutions in Gaza need local and foreign support to deal with the pandemic. He declared the allocation of urgent relief worth $1 million to 10,000 low-income families affected by the measures to confront the coronavirus, and the employment of 300 new staff at the Gaza Ministry of Health.

On March 28, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh discussed the ripple effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the Palestinian territories during a video conference with Nickolay Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East.

Muhammed Abu Jayab, editor-in-chief of Al-Eqtesadia newspaper in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, Hamas and Israel have no interest in a military escalation amid the coronavirus crisis. However, the rocket launched may come from security loopholes involving gunmen Hamas is trying to control. Israel fears the spread of the virus in Gaza because of its concerns that the international community might hold Israel responsible. Therefore, Israel might allow Gaza some assistance, such as the entry of treatment equipment and medical supplies. It might also mobilize financial support in light of the economic paralysis in the Gaza Strip after the outbreak of the pandemic.

Gaza mostly needs medical supplies, respirators, laboratory test kits for coronavirus detection and food and aid supplies for Gazans suffering under the measures to fight the virus.

Abdel Nasser Sobh, the director of the World Health Organization office in the Gaza Strip, told Al-Ain website March 31 that the health sector in Gaza has the capacity to deal with only 100 to 150 cases of coronavirus infection, and to examine 1,000 cases, because its health system is weak and cannot respond to large numbers. It has a modest availability of respirators and intensive care beds, in addition to a 39% deficit in medication, Sobh added.

Hussam al-Dajni, a professor of political science at Al-Ummah University in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, The recent escalation in Gaza may not be linked to a specific Palestinian organization, but at the same time it may send a message that Israel bears the responsibility for exhausting the health situation in Gaza, which will be exposed to a major catastrophe if the virus spreads. Whoever fired the rocket seems to be asking Israel to lift the siege on Gaza. Israel has to respond to Gaza's health and living needs. If the pandemic spreads among Palestinians, they will break and fire hundreds of rockets. They might even flock to the borders with Israel to save themselves from the virus.

Meanwhile, Hamas authorities in Gaza imposed a series of measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus, such as closing all mosques, schools, universities, popular markets, restaurants and event halls across the Strip until further notice. Travelers returning to Gaza through the crossings with Israel and Egypt are to self-quarantine for 14 days. Meanwhile, authorities are also considering a partial curfew, and if necessary could go as far as to impose a total curfew.

These measures, including isolation at home, have devastated groups such as cab drivers, owners of wedding halls, restaurants and cafes. The Qatari grant of $100 per month distributed to 100,000 poor families  which is part of the humanitarian understandings reached between Hamas and Israel in October 2018  may somewhat alleviate the burden of the Israeli blockade on Gaza and make its deteriorating economic situation less bleak.

On March 23, Qatar announced $150 million in aid to the Gaza Strip over a period of six months as part of efforts to alleviate the Palestinians' suffering and to help them deal with the coronavirus ciris. But it remains unclear how and which parties will benefit from this package.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza has distributed some 6,000 meals to quarantined people in medical centers. The ministry also conducted a census on the families most affected by the situation in order to offer them aid.

Iyad al-Qara, a former editor-in-chief of Gaza's Felesteen newspaper, which is close to Hamas, told Al-Monitor, The health and economic conditions in Gaza are very difficult, and the needs of the Palestinians are hardly met. The international agencies and the Palestinian Authority [PA] are only providing a small part. Government institutions in Gaza provide food and beverages to 1,600 Palestinians in quarantine centers, although they are facing a large financial shortage, and they need cash to cover their expenses to cope with the pandemic.

He added, The rocket launch may be a Palestinian message to Israel that the conditions in Gaza are far from perfect, and Israeli non-response to Gaza's humanitarian and health demands could bring about an increase in rockets in the coming period. However, a wide-scale confrontation between Hamas and Israel is unlikely  just an escalation round for several days  if the pandemic spreads frighteningly in Gaza.

Al-Monitor learned from Palestinian circles that Hamas sent through regional and international mediators messages to Israel that Hamas blames Israel directly for the deteriorating living and health situation in Gaza, and it will not stand idle facing a coronavirus outbreak. Hamas believes Israel is obligated to save the dilapidated health system in Gaza, through direct aid, or through the PA or international agencies.

Hamas has not claimed responsibility for launching the rocket at Israel, and engaging in a wide military confrontation might not be in Hamas' interest. However, the situation might spiral out of control, with the ongoing deterioration in the Gaza Strip and an increase in coronavirus cases. Meanwhile, there is insufficient medical equipment to test patients, and financial support for people whose jobs and livelihoods were hit hard by the massive closures across the Gaza Strip is missing. Amid this situation, Hamas might engage in a round of escalation with Israel to pressure it into providing missing supplies in Gaza. Still, Hamas realizes that its options are limited and it faces a massive public health crisis in fighting the coronavirus that is spreading like wildfire among Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Passengers from coronavirus-affected cruise ships were bussed from Port Everglades, Florida, to the nearby Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on April 3, local media reported.

The Miami Herald said the passengers, who were from two Holland America ships that docked at Port Everglades on April 2, would be escorted directly onto five chartered flights, with destinations in Toronto, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Frankfurt. The Holland America ships are named the MS Zaandam and the MS Rotterdam.

Holland America Line reported at least 90 passengers and 143 crew on the Zaandam had presented with influenza-like symptoms. Seventeen passengers on the Rotterdam had fallen ill.

The Zaandam had been left docked off Panama for several days as many South American ports denied the ship entry. Credit: @joshhowa via Storyful
VENETA, Ore. -- A Medford-based Grocery chain is helping students during the COVID-19 outbreak by giving them access to their Wi-Fi.

C&K Markets, which owns Rays Food Place and Shop Smart stores, has set up networks designed for students so they can access the internet in the store's parking lots. The company operates 38 stores in Oregon and Northern California.

Veneta Ray's Food Place manager Jay Payne said it's ready to go, all the students have to do is ask them for the password. He said any students, regardless of their school district or college, can use it. He said all they have to do is ask the staff for the password.

"I think it's really going to help the community," Payne said. "It should help those kids to be able to continue their school work."

Leaders at Fern Ridge School District said they are reaching out to their families to find find out what their online learning needs are. They plan to have their distance learning plan ready by April 13.

Sarah Naegeli is the business manager at West Lane Tech, a public charter high school. She said they have 100 students and were already doing online learning. She said at least six students don't have access to a computer or the internet at home. She said they are working to make sure all of their students have laptops.

"Ray's Food Place is a huge part of our community anyway," Naegeli said. "They do a lot to help support not only the community but the schools as well. So I think this going to be a great, great help."

The company has also set up set hours for customers over 60 and those with health risks. The stores are open exclusively for their shopping on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

They have also installed protective barriers in checkout lanes and adjusted their store hours to ensure that they are cleaned, sanitized and stocked.

Rays Oregon stores are in Bandon, Canyonville, Central Point, Drain, Eagle Point, Gold Beach, Gold Hill, Jacksonville, LaPine, Merlin, Myrtle Creek, Oakridge, Phoenix, Port Orford, Prineville, Rogue River, Roseburg, Selma, Sisters, Sutherlin, Talent, Veneta, Waldport and Yachats, with a Shop Smart location in Cave Junction.
EAGLEVILLE  The coronavirus death toll in Montgomery County rose to 12 on Thursday as officials reported the deaths of two more people, residents of Upper Providence and Springfield townships.

Officials identified the victims as a 79-year-old Springfield man and an 86-year-old Upper Providence man.

Both passed away while in a hospital and both had underlying medical conditions, county Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh said during a daily news briefing at the countys emergency operation center in Eagleville.

Officials said there were 113 new positive cases of the virus reported on Thursday, bringing the countys total number of cases to 707 since March 7.

The new cases included residents from 35 municipalities, two of which reported their first cases  Bridgeport Borough and Red Hill Borough. To date, 55 of the countys 62 municipalities have reported coronavirus cases.

The new cases in the county included at least 48 men and 62 women whose ages ranged from 1 month to 94. Six of the individuals are hospitalized, officials said.

Arkoosh said county officials continue to be in contact with Exelon representatives regarding the countys concerns that social distancing measures were perhaps not being adhered to during a maintenance refueling project involving more than 1,000 workers that began last month at the Limerick Generating Station operated by Exelon near Pottstown.

The countys Office of Public Health is currently reviewing information that it received from Exelon in response to questions the commissioners posed to company officials on Wednesday.

The information is helpful and I remain deeply concerned that this maintenance refueling will ultimately contribute to the number of people that are exposed to the coronavirus in our region, said Arkoosh, who was joined at the news briefing by fellow commissioners Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. and Joseph C. Gale, and Dr. Alvin Wang, regional EMS medical director, and Dr. Brenda Weis, administrator of the Office of Public Health.

Without being specific, Arkoosh said the information provided by Exelon generated more questions by the county and officials are awaiting answers to those questions.

We do have additional questions that we asked that we havent received answers to yet. Ive been told that theyre coming, Arkoosh said. We have established a daily communication from Exelon to our office of public health. So thats a good step.

On Wednesday, Exelon officials confirmed two cases of COVID-19 among the workforce at the Limerick plant, adding the full-time employees were sent home and were receiving care and that neither employee had been onsite since March 20. Company officials added that any employees who came in close contact with the affected persons or worked at that reporting location were notified, and that an additional deep cleaning occurred at all areas that potentially were exposed.

Arkoosh said officials believe they were misled about the start date of the refueling project.

We were always told March 30. An (event of public interest alert) went out on March 27 saying that they were starting that evening. Weve also been told by others that there were quite a large number of people here for a number of days before that, Arkoosh said.

County officials have requested the permanent address and the lodging information for all of the contractors hired to work on the refueling project.

We received information back from Exelon on about 950 of those individuals. They are staying all over the areasome people are driving from other states every day. Its quite a lot, Arkoosh said.

Officials said the contractors, many of whom travel from one generating plant to another to work on refueling projects, are staying locally at AirBnBs, private homes, campsites, hotels and other rental units.

I believe that they have an obligation to not only the families of these workers but to whatever community theyll be going to next to do a refuel, that these individuals should be sequestered for 14 days before they leave here so that at least when they leave they can be fairly assured that they have no disease, Arkoosh explained.

County officials said they are concerned that contractors where coming from other states into the county which was an area of community spread of COVID-19. Arkoosh said that situation could put the workforce at the Limerick plant at risk as well as local first responders.

We have a lot of people who are sworn to run into the Limerick Generating Station if theres ever an accident. Many of those individuals are volunteer firefighters and I think our community deserves to be treated better than this, Arkoosh said.

Im speaking about this publicly because not only do I believe that the people here in southeastern Pennsylvania have a right to know about this but I hope that this is a cautionary note to wherever they are going next, Arkoosh added.

On Wednesday, state Sen. Katie Muth (D-44th), who represents parts of Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties, sought answers from Exelon regarding the companys pandemic response plan.

It is my understanding that the plan is for many of these workers to move onto additional refueling projects, such as the scheduled Beaver Valley refueling project in western Pa., as well as at other nuclear facilities across the country, and without proper safety and quarantine measures, we are risking a massive spread of Covid-19 across this state and nation, Muth wrote in a letter to Exelon executives.

Were in an extraordinary situation. Were in a pandemic that is nothing like any of us who are alive today have ever seen. And extraordinary situations require extraordinary responses and I do believe that they have a responsibility to wherever they go next to do it better than they did it here, Arkoosh added.

One issue that arose during the ongoing situation is which government entity  federal, state or county  had the authority to regulate or temporarily stop the refueling project during the pandemic.

As we were working through this challenge, it was not clear at all to our solicitor who actually had the authority to stop this, Arkoosh said.

County officials first learned about a long scheduled maintenance operation at the Limerick Generating Station on March 16. The commissioners asked to see Exelons pandemic response site plan and concluded that the plan was not adequate for the COVID-19 pandemic. County officials asked Exelon to postpone the refuel until a time when the disease burden from COVID-19 was lower in Montgomery and Chester counties.

However, Exelon officials proceeded with the refueling, pledging to commit to mitigation measures, including social distancing at the worksite. On Tuesday, Arkoosh said the countys department of public safety received notice that adherence to social distancing measures may not be occurring at the worksite.

Liz Williamson, Exelon senior manager for nuclear communications, Mid-Atlantic & Northeast, released statements this week maintaining, We have strict procedures in place to keep the public, our employees and contractors safe during the outage, and we will continue to share updates with federal, state and county officials.

As part of comprehensive COVID-19 safety precautions, Williamson said, all workers must pass a symptom screening and body temperature check prior to entry every shift. Williams said the company also required social distancing, remote work where possible, frequent hand washing, and increased facility cleaning and disinfection.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  The Food and Drug Administration approved on Friday the first locally-made COVID-19 test kits.

The test kits are made by scientists from the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health, through its research and development firm Manila HealthTek, Inc.

The Department of Science and Technology funded the project of the countrys first local-made test kits, which is based from real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

The test kits were previously approved by FDA for field trial and gene sequencing last March 10.

Upon the companys submission of necessary requirements Friday, the FDA issued a certification for these COVID-19 test kits to be allowed for commercial use.

Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Higher and Technical and Vocational Education Committee, lauded the FDAs approval of the test kits and thanked the premier state university for its initiative in creating this tool.

With this development, we can expand our testing capability, identify and treat patients with dispatch," Villanueva said. "This breakthrough in our country's fight against COVID-19 underscores the value we put into research initiatives of our state universities and colleges."

The FDA also approved an additional COVID-19 test kit Friday, as it brings the total number of approved test kits to 30.

To date, the country has 3,018 confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with 136 deaths and 52 recoveries, according to the Department of Health.
As the number of positive cases of COVID-19 increases in Montgomery County, the Conroe ISD robotics team Texas Torque is providing the medical community with much-needed equipment.

As medical facilities around the country prepare for COVID-19, the demand for medical supplies like masks and face shields has increased dramatically. To help meet this demand, Texas Torque is designing and 3-D printing face shields for medical facilities in the area.

Scott Rippetoe, lead mentor for FIRST Robotics team 1477, also named Texas Torque, was contacted by a friend in the medical community about two weeks ago who was looking for help getting more Personal Protective Equipment. Rippetoe and his students started printing parts for face shields after getting the go-ahead from Conroe Regional Medical Center.

So we have kids 3-D printing those, we have adult mentors 3-D printing, Ive got a couple of the teams printers here at my house, plus I have my own printer running, Rippetoe said.

Printing process

It takes about two hours to print the part for the face mask using this particular design. But once printed, the plastic shield just has to be slid into place. But with some collaboration, Rippetoe said that they will be able to produce more shields, faster. So far theyve been able to give away about 150 3-D printed face shields.

Texas Torque isnt the only team working on this issue, and the printed masks arent their only design. The Robonauts in Houston and the Robowranglers from Greenville are both working on a design that can be produced much faster using a water jet cutter.

Now what they need is plastic. The teams are forging ahead on the design and production process, but the materials are in high demand, so theyre harder to get. Theyve ordered $15,000 worth of plastic for the shields but are still looking to buy more. Together with the two other teams, Texas Torque has the goal of making 10,000 face shields for the medical community.

That kind of plastic is getting really hard to find because thats what everyone is using them for, is face shields, Rippetoe said.

Community effort

The teams have a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for more plastic. Conroe Regional Medical Center has asked for around 300 masks to get started. Rippetoe said they will deliver masks where they are needed, as they produce them.

KD Duong is a junior at College Park High School and this years Computer Aided Design lead for Texas Torque, which means she digitally creates the design of the robot. She and her dad, William Vo, team programming mentor, have been using their own 3D printer to help make face shields.

The fact that were all having to stay home right now, from work, school, everything, it feels great to know that were contributing towards this type of initiative, Vo said.

Especially because were not in medical, were not there helping, like those people who work at grocery stores or are actually there taking care of these patients, its really nice to know that were at least helping people through this crisis, Duong said.

Expanding skills

The robotics competition season has been canceled, but being able to help people, even as shes stuck at home, makes it worth it, Duong said. She feels that by being able to create something using what shes learned in robotics she is also expanding her skill set.

Beyond the face shields, the team is also working on a design for an intubation box. The idea is to create a box around a patient that still gives medical personnel the room and access to be able to intubate, without risk of the virus infecting them. Duong, Rippetoe and the team are working on a design right now.

Since posting on Facebook that he and the team would be making the face shields, Rippetoe has gotten requests from former students who are in the medical field now for the equipment. Seeing the photos of them wearing the PPE he was able to provide was an emotional moment for him.

All these medical people are putting their lives on the line for all of us, a lot more than theyve ever been asked to before, he said. It really brings it home when somebody that you taught or worked with and you admire for what they do, and here they are having to ask for proper equipment to be protected.

It makes him sad that they have to ask, but happy that hes able to make a difference this way.

Find more information about the team, and the face shields, at http://www.texastorque.org/

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
As part of its mandate, the Ontario Racing task force, dedicated to addressing the financial impacts of COVID-19 as it relates to the industry, will provide regular updates to the Ontario horse racing community.

During this time of uncertainty, including the temporary suspension of live racing throughout the province, the task force would like to share an update regarding Canadas COVID-19 Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) (below), which may be of help to certain participants in the horse racing industry.

Applications for these benefits can be started beginning April 3, 2020.

Please note: those who qualify for this benefit can begin the application process April 3 and will be able to submit their application on April 6. This is designed to reduce the impact on the system by allowing people to enter early and compile their applications ahead of time.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

The CERB supports Canadians by providing urgently needed financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians who have been directly affected by COVID-19. It provides a payment of $2,000 for a four-week period (equivalent to $500 a week) for up to 16 weeks.

Following is a summary of measures, which may be of benefit to participants in the horse racing industry.

Who Can Apply

The CERB will be available to workers:

residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;

who have stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits;

who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and

who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period.

The income of at least $5,000 may be from any or a combination of the following sources: employment; self-employment; maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan.

The Benefit is only available to individuals who stopped work and are not earning employment or self-employment income as a result of reasons related to COVID-19. If you have not stopped working because of COVID-19, you are not eligible for the Benefit.

Once you apply, you can expect to get your payment in three business days if you have signed up for direct deposit, and approximately 10 business days if you havent signed up for direct deposit.

If your situation continues, you can re-apply for a payment for multiple four-week periods, to a maximum of 16 weeks (4 periods).

How to Apply

Application submissions for the CERB will begin the week of Monday, April 6, 2020.

There are two ways to apply:

Online with CRA My Account

Over the phone with an automated phone service

Get ready now



Although you can't apply yet (applications begin April 6), you can get ready now to ensure your application will be as easy and quick as possible. Check the government website here for more details on how to set up your application, what documentation is needed, and how to make sure you can access the funds when they become available.

(Ontario Racing)
Dutifully performing its role in a highly-choreographed display of political theatre, Russias highest court on Monday approved constitutional changes that opened the way for President Vladimir V. Putin to crash through term limits and stay in power through 2036.



With a dense 52-page ruling clogged with legalese, the Constitutional Court removed one of the last, albeit very flimsy potential obstacles to Mr Putin effectively becoming president for life.



A final hurdle to be crossed is a nationwide referendum on constitutional changes that is scheduled for April 22. That exercise, too, is little more than a formality because of the Kremlins tight grip on the news media and bodies responsible for organising the vote, not to speak of a ban on public protests.



The steady march of the coronavirus pandemic, however, could delay the final act of what the Kremlin and state-controlled news media have presented as a nail-biting drama of democracy at work but which critics denounce as a risible sham.



Russia has so far reported only 93 confirmed cases of the virus but the official count has been met with widespread scepticism in a country long accustomed to official dishonesty and cover-ups. Cynicism about officialdom has been strengthened in recent days by the Kremlins insistence that it was surprised by a proposal approved by legislators last week to let Mr Putin stay in office for another 16 years.



Most independent observers believe the Kremlin orchestrated the manoeuvre from start to finish. Mr Putin has not yet confirmed he will run again in 2024, but few doubt he will.



Ekaterina Schulmann, a political commentator and former member of Mr Putins human rights council, mocked the Constitutional Courts ruling on Monday as evidence of how cravenly pliant Russias nominally independent judicial system had become.



It is rare that the spirit of slavery and intellectual cowardice express themselves with such fullness in a written text, she said in a commentary posted on Facebook.



The Constitutional Court is headed by Valery D. Zorkin, a Soviet-trained legal scholar who has chaired the tribunal since it was formed after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.



Under Mr. Zorkin, the court ruled in 1998 that Russias first democratically elected president, Boris N. Yeltsin, could not ignore term limits and run for a third term in 2000. Mr. Yeltsin, exhausted and gravely ill, welcomed that decision, which was issued in response to a petition submitted by his political enemies.



Unlike Mr. Yeltsin, who resigned on Dec. 31, 1999, five months before the end of his second term, his successor Mr. Putin has shown no interest in stepping down. But he had made clear that he wanted the constitutional court to this time approve a rewriting of the rules similar to the one it rejected in 1998.



Mr. Putin has already been in power for two decades, either as president or prime minister, and was supposed to step down at the end of his current term in 2024 because of constitutional term limits. But these limits were swept aside last week by lawmakers who voted to reset the clock to zero when Mr. Putins term runs out, allowing him to run for two more six-year terms.











Source: nytimes.com/ Andrew Higgins









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Her rhythm has slowed but not the accolades and awards for her latest novel, "Lost Children Archive," which last week was honored with the British Rathbone Folio Prize. The book, Luiselli's third novel, is part fiction part documentary: A family's American road trip mixed with the stories of migrant children along the Mexico-U.S. border.

Luiselli accepted the prize at a ceremony held online because of the global coronavirus outbreak. In a phone interview with The Associated Press, the 36-year-old writer said she's sad that she could not be in London to receive it in person but grateful to see people keeping the faith in books.

"The fact that the literary community is still in full swing, even from their homes, and behind their screens, is moving and encouraging," she said, speaking in Spanish.

"I think it is my duty, and the duty of every writer, whether is a science-fiction writer, a journalist, a poet, each at their own pace and within their own capacities, to document this moment," she said.

"Lost Children Archive" has also won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, and a Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Literature. It is a finalist for The National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.

Luiselli's inspiration came from the immigration crisis of 2014, when thousands of children were trying to enter the U.S. in search of asylum, fleeing poverty and violence in Central America. The author said she started paying attention to how that story was being told, both in the media or at casual conversations in diners in Arizona.

"I started asking myself how (the migrant) children of this generation were going to eventually tell this story, what were they going to say about this reality - that on one hand was very real but on the other seemingly implausible - about thousands of children in a migratory limbo," she said.

In New York, she started volunteering with nonprofits as an interpreter in immigration court, writing down the interviews she did with migrant children so attorneys could help them out. That experience led to an essay about immigration, "Tell Me How It Ends," in 2017. "Lost Children Archive" came in February 2019.

Born in Mexico City, Luiselli grew up in South Korea and South Africa, among others, because of her father's work in nongovernmental organizations and later as a diplomat. She speaks both English and Spanish and can write in either language. In addition to writing during her seclusion, she's reading out loud to her family and taking photos.

"We are going to need this narrative fabric, some sort of fabric for us to lay down once we overcome this."
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Challengers George Gascon and Rachel Rossi combined to nab more than 50% of the vote in the race for Los Angeles County District Attorney. That denied incumbent D.A. Jackie Lacey the majority she needed to secure a third term, and sets up a rematch between Lacey and former San Francisco D.A. Gascon in November.

With the election results certified, we've mapped the results at the precinct level. Green areas saw a majority for Lacey. Pink ones mean her challengers combined for more than 50%.

You can click on precincts to view vote totals, and search for areas of the county in the toolbar.

Lacey found strong support in pockets all across the county -- particularly in the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita. She also won majorities in San Dimas and Rolling Hills Estates, and did well in Lakewood, Torrance, and the Northwest San Fernando Valley.

But in other parts of the county, Lacey failed to secure even a third of the votes, including West Hollywood and Culver City.

She struggled in broad swaths of the city of Los Angeles, and netted less than 40% in areas as diverse as East Los Angeles, South Gate, Santa Monica, and Glendale.

Nevertheless, Lacey won 48.7% of votes countywide. Neither Gascon nor Rossi won a precinct outright where more than 10 ballots were cast.

Lacey, a two-term incumbent, touts herself as a "reasonable reformer." But she has come under fire from criminal justice reform groups. "She's not standing up for the people of the county when police are the perpetrators of the crime," Black Lives Matter co-founder Melina Abdullah told LAist.

Gascon and Rossi both ran as reformers, promising to end cash bail, reduce jail populations, and address stark racial disparities in the criminal justice system. The challengers both promised action following a KPCC/LAist investigation into mega-landlords Mike Nijjar and PAMA Management.

The District Attorney's race was thrown into turmoil the day before the election, when Lacey's husband pulled a gun on protesters in front of the couple's home. By that point thousands of voters had already cast a ballot.

Gascon received the second-most votes in the March election, netting 28.2% of the vote. He and Lacey will face off on the November ballot, with the winner leading the nation's largest local prosecutorial office.
By Trend

A special mechanism for elderly people regarding sending SMS messages for permission to leave home in Azerbaijan during the coronavirus pandemic, has been developed, Trend reports referring to the Chairman of Azerbaijans State Agency for Services and Social Innovations (ASAN) Ulvi Mehdiyev.

According to him, citizens belonging to the older age group of the population will be able to carry out this process as follows:

"The elderly people, along with others, can get their IDs registeredin the system by sending an SMS message with necessary details from a mobile number of another family member. For example, a family of five, having just one mobile number, can receive permission to leave home for all other family members," he said.

Mehdiyev appealing to citizens noted that its banned to send false data via SMS.

Refrain from giving false information in the content of messages. Abuse cases will be considered as violation of the quarantine regime; persons guilty of this will be held accountable," the chairman added.

Restrictions on movement have been imposed in Azerbaijan within the framework of the special quarantine regime introduced in the country in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

In order to ensure the protection of life and health of the population, uninterrupted operation of state structures and life support facilities, as well as activities of economic entities at the appropriate level, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan has made the following decision in connection with the introduction of restrictions on movement in the country from 00: 00 April 5, 2020 to 00:00 April 20, 2020.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Health officials in Ohio are urging a mega church to stop holding mass gatherings and obey the "stay at home" order under Gov. Mike DeWine to stem the coronavirus outbreak

Solid Rock megachurch of Lebanon, north of Cincinnati took the opposite approach despite concerns that large-size worship services and gatherings could spread the COVID-19 virus.

Inside its large sanctuary in Lebanon, hundreds of people sat close to each other and worshipping. And despite the risks, Solid Rock doesn't seem ready to call off in-person worship any time soon, according to HuffPost.

"We are respectful of every individual's right to choose either to come to our service or to watch online," the church said in a statement posted on its website. "We do believe that it is important for our doors to remain open for whomever to come to worship and pray during this time of great challenge in our country."

The Butler County Public Health District sent a letter to the church last Friday, noting that it had received multiple concerns and complaints about its gatherings.

"Butler County Public Health officials highly encourage Solid Rock Church discontinue holding large mass gatherings and practice social distancing," stated the letter, according to Cincinnati-based Fox 19.

"Bringing together a large number of people during a pandemic increases the pace at which the virus spreads, overwhelming our hospital systems and posing a significant risk to members within the congregation."

The letter also noted that most of the houses of worship in the state "meet their congregation's spiritual fulfillment" through online materials and services.

However, the church statement on its website says, "There is no pressure from Solid Rock Church to require anyone to come to our services. We are respectful of every individual's right to choose either to come to our service or to watch online" the First Amendment "guarantees freedom concerning religion, expression, and assembly."

The church's move has received a great deal of negative feedback to its Facebook page, critics labeled the church "selfish" and "irresponsible." One of the online critics, wrote "loving your neighbor means not killing them." HuffPost noted.
MEXICO CITY  Mexicos Treasury predicted Thursday that the countrys economy will contract by as much as 3.9% in 2020 the face of the spreading COVID-19 pandemic, but private analysts are making even more dire predictions: the countrys worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

That was underscored Thursday when Mexicos Tourism Department said it was working with hotel companies to ensure the gradual closing of hotels in the country.

The Bank of America predicted Thursday that Mexicos GDP could contract by 8%. That would be a bigger downturn than the 2009 global recession  complicated in Mexico by a swine flu outbreak  when GDP contracted by 6.5%. It would also be worse than the December 1994 peso crisis, following which the countrys GDP contracted by 6.2% in 1995.

Bank of America analyst Carlos Capistran said: You would have to go back to the Great Depression or the war to find numbers like this.

The bank said Mexico will face the twin shocks of a predicted 6% economic contraction in the United States, its largest trading partner, and oil prices that have fallen to about $10.60 per barrel for Mexican export crude.

The U.S. downturn impacts Mexico negatively mostly through trade but also through lower remittances, the money that Mexican migrants send home, according to the report.

Mexican migrants sent home a record $36 billion in remittances in 2019, making it a larger source of revenue than tourism or oil exports.

But the report also noted that the recovery could be strong after the pandemic eases, with a strong upturn possibly starting in the fourth quarter of 2020.

We see a recovery to 4.5% GDP growth in 2021 in part due to a large US recovery but also as the depreciation of the peso is likely to help economic activity after the initial shock is over, according to the banks report.

Mexicos Treasury Department said even the best-case scenario for 2020 would be no growth.

Mexico was already in a technical recession. In a very short period the global economic panorama has deteriorated rapidly and significantly, the treasury said in its forecast to Mexicos lower legislative chamber Wednesday.

It said the high level of macroeconomic uncertainty provoked by the pandemic makes it difficult to predict economic growth.

Gabriela Siller, an analyst with Banco Base, said Thursday that the Treasury forecast appeared to be optimistic. She noted that the latest survey published by Mexicos central bank anticipated an average contraction of 3.99%

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador plans to lay out the governments economic recovery plan Sunday.
After being turned away from ports in South America, Holland America's Zaandam cruise ship was allowed to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Thursday afternoon.

Nine people on board the ship have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. Holland America's owner, Carnival Corp., said there are 45 passengers who are mildly sick, and they will stay on the ship to recover. The company reported that 10 people on board are in need of urgent medical attention, and four elderly passengers have died, with at least two due to COVID-19.

The Zaandam set sail from Buenos Aires on March 7, and was supposed to have stops in Chile and other South American ports before heading to Fort Lauderdale. As the coronavirus continued to spread, the Zaandam was not allowed to dock at its scheduled ports. The last time passengers and crew members were able to get off the boat was on March 14, and passengers have been self-quarantining in their rooms since March 22.

With nowhere else to go, the Zaandam waited off the coast of Panama, and its sister ship, the Rotterdam, came to its aid, picking up healthy passengers and taking them on board. Holland America, Carnival Corp., and Florida officials spent days working on an agreement that allowed the Zaandam and Rotterdam to disembark passengers at Port Everglades. Because of the number of COVID-19 cases in Florida, local officials were concerned about overwhelming hospitals with the sick ship passengers.

There are 1,250 passengers and 1,186 crew members on the Zaandam and Rotterdam, The Associated Press reports. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said passengers and crew who do not show symptoms of the virus will be put on private buses, driven to local airports, and directly boarded onto airplanes. Holland America said most will be going home on charter flights.

More stories from theweek.com

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Reuters

Infectious disease researchers are using Facebook Inc mobile location data to provide daily updates to US cities and states evaluating the effectiveness of social distancing orders aimed at slowing the novel coronavirus.

The COVID-19 Mobility Data Network, a group of 40 health researchers from universities including Harvard, Princeton and Johns Hopkins, said that since mid-March its members have been sharing insights gleaned from the social media giant's data with California, Massachusetts, and New York City.

Using mobile location data in the coronavirus fight comes amid intense scrutiny of the privacy practices of tech companies, which collect detailed information about people's interests on apps and websites, often to target ads.

Facebook and the researchers leading the project say they have overcome those concerns by aggregating the data several times over and funneling it through academics. The researchers share broad findings with state and local health departments, which do not receive any raw data.

Facebook confirmed it was sharing the data as part of its nearly year-old Disease Prevention Maps program, which has also aided efforts to increase vaccination rates in Malawi and track cholera outbreaks in Mozambique.

Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg told reporters last month that he would not consider sharing Facebook's data directly with governments.

The Mobility Data Network has become one of the first initiatives to harness mobile data for the US response to the coronavirus pandemic, an approach deployed early in places like China, South Korea and much of Europe but scarcely used so far in the United States.

With the virus already spread widely throughout the country, the research focuses on the success of measures designed to get people to stay home, as almost 40 US states have ordered.

Using the data, which is stripped of identifying information, researchers provide insights like the average distance of trips users have taken in a city and the proportion of residents in each county that have stayed within their 600 square meter home "tiles."

In New York, for example, researchers found mobility dropped significantly on the weekends but crept back up on weekdays, when many people - particularly those living in low-income neighborhoods - are still required to work.

The data can also show "if at first people stop moving but then begin to travel further once fatigue sets in," said Caroline Buckee, an epidemiologist at Harvard's School of Public Health who is among those leading the network.

Measuring changes in mobility and correlating them with later hospitalizations can also eventually help determine how to roll back social distancing orders, said Buckee, who previously studied the spread of malaria and dengue using mobile data.

Grabbing Location Data

About half of the apps on Alphabet Inc's Google's Play Store and a quarter on Apple Inc's App Store use at least one service capable of grabbing location data, according to industry research firm Appfigures.

Smaller location tracking services including Cuebiq and Camber Systems are queued up to provide inputs to the research network, too.

Others in talks to receive location analyses include Maryland, Washington and the District of Columbia, along with Los Angeles, San Jose, Santa Clara and Kansas City.

Kansas City confirmed that it was considering taking part in the project, while the other government agencies did not respond to requests for comment.

Facebook is in touch with the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a spokeswoman said, but added that no analyses have been delivered to any U.S. federal entities so far.

Another coronavirus data initiative, the Data and Research Technology Task Force, is liaising with Vice President Mike Pence's coronavirus task force and includes employees from Alphabet Inc's Google, Microsoft Corp and Amazon.com Inc , said Josh Mendelsohn, who worked on disaster aid programs at Google a decade ago.

The companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Although other countries have successfully used location data to warn contacts of those with infections, neither officials nor researchers in the United States have asked for such personal information, said Mendelsohn.

"Contact tracing is something that we were beyond weeks ago," said Mendelsohn. "They need something that shows how we are doing vis-a-vis social distancing, which statistically models what we are about to be in for, so as to predict patient load."
MARPLE  For residents practicing coronavirus stay-at-home protocols, shopping for food is the time they are most exposed. One longtime Delaware County business may have been ahead of its time with a solution  drive-thru shopping.

Swiss Farms drive-thru markets, which have been in Delaware County for more than 50 years, has seen a 45 percent rise in sales since Gov. Tom Wolfs stay-at-home orders hit Delaware County, according to CEO and President Chris Gray.

Our business is going extremely well. Were trying to be out there for customers, said Gray in a phone interview Friday. People appreciate the drive through. They dont have to get out of the car. Its been really good for our business. I hate to say it; its at a high cost.

There are 11 Swiss Farms stores, all in Delaware County, which have dual drive-in lanes with the store clerk in the middle allowing for a high volume of cars to enter. They have between 180-190 in-store employees and carry more than 1000 grocery items.

Gray said there have been challenges from the coronavirus pandemic affecting the supply chain, which, like at other stores, have led to short-term shortages of items like eggs and toilet paper. Thats forced the company to get creative in finding some products.

Certain items  toilet paper, eggs, basic items, paper products  were sourcing from venders to try to keep in stock of these high-movement items, Gray said. Kind of the trick now is when you get the stuff in, youve got to get there or its gone.

Gray said customers have been really great and the feedback the firm gets has been getting is overwhelmingly positive, with many crediting specific employees.

He said to protect employees, the company has issued gloves and has looked into masks, but like many others, have found the availability limited. Staff is welcome to wear their own if they wish.

Safety is paramount, Gray said. We have a coronavirus committee meeting three times a week on how to deal with customer and employee safety.

Gray said the stores have proper cash-handling procedures, product-handling procedures, and are following up every day. Some customers take the items through the car window; others have them placed in their trunks. Workers practice cleaning and sanitizing of the stores throughout the day and employees who are not feeling well are told to stay home. Gray said full-time employees have sick time built into their paid time off policy; part-time employees are being handled on a case-by-case basis, so if someone is truly being affected by the virus or worries about being sick, they will be taken care of.

To handle the thorough cleaning and stocking of the stores, they have adjusted hours to a 7 a.m. opening and 9 p.m. closing.

The company has a Level Up phone app that allows customers to pay by holding up their phone which the sales associate scans. They also offer fresh food, heat-and-eat items, which can be delivered through Uber Eats or GrubHub, depending on location.

Gray is hoping to maintain some of the new business he has seen and believes that after the pandemic is over, social distancing will continue to be a part of the culture.

While bemoaning the way it happened, Gray said the sales growth has helped his business. Were a small company. This is really a shot in the arm to assure we will be around the next 50 years, he said.

In the past, the company has only had a small numbers of stores outside Delaware County, with one in Goshen and another in North Carolina. The residential density has been a better guide to their business than traffic counts past the stores, but they have some aggressive expansion plans in the works for later this year.

Its been crazy, but were ready to keep doing this for as long as we have to during this pandemic, Gray said.
Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google Denis Balibouse | Reuters

Google has launched a new website that uses anonymous location data collected from users of Google products and services to show the level of social distancing taking place in various locations. The COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports web site will show population data trends of six categories: Retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential. The data will track changes over the course of several weeks, and as recent as 48-to-72 hours prior, and will initially cover 131 countries as well as individual counties within certain states. Google says the data will be collected in aggregate, rather than at an individual level, and it won't show absolute numbers of people showing up at parks or grocery stores. The idea instead is to outline percentages, which highlight potential surges in attendance. For example, its first reports states that San Francisco County has seen a 72% drop in retail and recreation, a 55% decline in parks' population, and a 21% increase in residential population between Feb. 16 and March 29.

For public health departments, this kind of data could be helpful in alerting them to the next potential COVID-19 hotspot. That's particularly true when combined with other forms of data that are already routinely collected on a local, state and federal level, such as the symptoms that patients are complaining of in emergency rooms. It might also be useful in helping public health officials target specific regions with further messaging about the importance of staying six feet apart, or close parks where residents are routinely flouting the rules. This kind of information could be particularly important as people in various countries start to return to school and work. In that case, public health officials can use the data to learn where the most congested areas are, and respond accordingly. "This information could help officials understand changes in essential trips that can shape recommendations on business hours or inform delivery service offerings," the announcement states. However, the effort could also renew privacy concerns over how Google collects information about users' locations.

The new site says that it uses aggregated and anonymized information from the "Location History" setting in Google Maps and other services, which "is turned off by default." However, Google's location tracking settings have been a source of confusion over the years -- in April 2019, CNBC's Todd Haselton found that Google had been tracking his location for years without him realizing it, and explained how to turn tracking off. In October 2019, Australian officials accused Google of misleading consumers in 2018 and earlier about the settings necessary to turn off location tracking. The latest efforts come as Google and its parent company Alphabet increasingly partner with government officials amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump administration has partnered with Alphabet's life sciences company Verily for a screening and testing website and it has created multiple landing pages for pandemic information and data insights. The global pandemic has caused policies to vary by state, without material uniformity, leading to officials learning increasingly on tech companies like Google.
Suspended Jammu and Kashmir police officer Davinder Singh, who was arrested while ferrying two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists in a vehicle on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway earlier this year, was on Friday sent to further custodial interrogation by a Delhi court till April 10.

Special Judge Munish Markan extended Singh's custody after the Delhi Police said that he was required to be further confronted with three other accused persons -- Javed Iqbal, Syed Naveed Mushtaq and Imran Shafi Mir -- arrested in the case to unearth their respective roles.

The court also extended the custody of Iqbal, Mushtaq and Mir till April 10 on a plea by the police.

The Delhi Police said that the accused were required to be interrogated further to identify the other persons involved.

The custody was required to ascertain the identity of other handlers, the police told the court.

The police said that further interrogation was required to unearth the larger conspiracy and role of the accused, to trace the details of financial transactions, verify and trace other offenders.

Defence advocate Prashant Prakash opposed remand on the ground that there were no fresh and adequate reasons for the remand demanded.

He further said that the grounds of remand were the same as the previous ones, hence police could not be allowed to interrogate the accused further.

The court directed the police to conduct Singh's medical examination after every 48 hours.

Singh was suspended from the Jammu and Kashmir Police in January this year.

The Delhi Police's Special Cell had brought Singh to the national capital from Hira Nagar Jail in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, the court had sent Syed Naveed Mushtaq and others to police custody till April 3 after police said that he and other co-accused were planning to execute terror attacks in Delhi and other parts of the country and targeted killings of protected persons.

The police said that Mushtaq, the commander of Shopian district of Hizbul Mujahideen, used to chat with other co-accused and militants through various internet platforms, including darknet chat.

Mushtaq, along with other militants of Hizbul Mujahideen, were planning to execute a terror attack in Delhi and other parts of the country and targeted killings of protected persons, police told the court.

The Delhi Police filed an FIR under Section 120B of IPC, and sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

The FIR said that the youths of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab were being trained for carrying out terrorist activities. The FIR also mentioned D Company and Chhota Shakeel.

According to the FIR, the Special Cell had received an input that the D Company was funding pro-Khalistan terrorist organisations in Punjab.

Under this FIR, Singh was taken into custody. The Special Cell had also interrogated Singh regarding the Khalistan angle, the police said.

Although Singh was not named in the FIR, the Special Cell had some inputs on the basis of which the enquiry was carried out and the suspended DSP was questioned.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leaders of opposition parties slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for urging citizens to switch off lights and light lamps and candles at 9pm for nine minutes on April 5.

Modi said the effort would display the nation's collective spirit to defeat the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed 56 lives till now in India and infected over 2,300 people.

Political leaders called the PMs new initiative unscientific and unfortunate at a time when the country is struggling to deal with the crisis.

CPI(M) Legislator Sujan Chakraborty said though the Centres 21-day lockdown decision was a welcome move, the PMs latest call for lighting candles and earthen lamps are of little value.

Such during a pandemic, such an unscientific message from Prime Minister is very unfortunate. We welcome the lockdown decision to contain the virus, but what is the science behind switching-off lights and lighting lamps and candles. We dont support such moves.

In a video message, the PM also requested to ensure social distancing and that no groups are formed while lighting the lamps.

This message holds significance in the wake of citizens reaction to his call for clapping hands and banging utensils on March 22 evening to express their gratitude towards those fighting the virus from the front.

Several videos and pictures of people assembling in large numbers in many parts of the country to ring bells or bang utensils had gone viral soon after.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Bhattacharya urged the PM to focus on scientific measures to deal with the pandemic.

At time when the world is looking for scientific approaches to curb the virus, the PM is talking about beating utensils and lighting lamps. He should concentrate more on scientific approaches, rather than coming up with such messages for people.

However, senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said the criticisms would not make any difference and his party would work hard to ensure a grand success of the PMs message.

We dont care what they have said. We only know that 130 crore people of this country are with the PM. We will actively participate in making his video message a grand success by lighting lamps and switching off lights.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz promulgated his first shutdown order on March 17 before broadening and extending it a week later. The governor promulgated his current shutdown order on the basis of a model that projected in excess of 74,000 deaths due to the Wuhan virus. We have questioned the projection and asked what model it is based on.

Today the Star Tribune finally gets around to taking a look  an extremely clouded look  at Walzs in Jeremy Olsons story Disease data modeling, in Minnesota and elsewhere, varies greatly. Subhead: Modeling by the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota directly informed Gov. Tim Walz and guided his stay-at-home order.

What is Walzs model? How many lives will the current, extremely destructive shutdown save, if any? Let us extract the references to Walzs model:

Modeling by the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota persuaded Gov. Tim Walz to announce the current stay-at-home order. The modeling is conservative, perhaps pessimistic, about the course of the outbreak, said Stefan Gildemeister, state health economist, but the Washington model may be optimistic and overlooking risk factors in the United States that could make the outbreak worse. Saying that the Washington approach is optimistic is not saying that we think were right, he said. Some of our assumptions might have turned out to be unusually conservative. In fact, weve been saying this from the beginning. We will continue to test our assumptions and change them. The Minnesota modeling wasnt designed to forecast deaths but rather how much they would decline under social distancing restrictions. Gildemeister and colleagues concluded that deaths could decline by one-third under the current stay-at-home strategy  primarily by delaying the surge of cases so that hospitals have more time to prepare. When it comes to the death numbers, any change in assumptions makes a dramatic difference. The Minnesota researchers used hospitalization and death rates that increase with age and were first used by colleagues at Imperial College.

We have adverted several times to the Imperial College model and related problems. Olson alludes to none of this.

Olson continues:

The local researchers also used a so-called R-naught estimate that one Minnesotan carrying the coronavirus would spread it on average to 2.5 people, whereas initial global estimates were only 2.2. In the world of R-naughts, tenths can make a substantial difference in estimating how rapidly a virus can spread, said Dr. Frank Rhame, a virologist for Allina Health. Over a couple of months, 2.2 and 2.5 is a big difference. With no interventions at all, the Minnesota model estimated 74,000 deaths in the state. Under the current stay-at-home strategy, it estimated around 50,000. However, Rhame said the reduced face-to-face contact in Minnesota could be reducing the R-naught, which in turn would reduce infections and deaths. The addition of ventilators could help as well, as the Minnesota model predicts local hospitals will run out before the COVID-19 outbreak peaks. Globally, only around 5% of COVID-19 cases have needed hospital intensive care, and fewer yet have needed ventilators to compensate for the severe respiratory symptoms that can occur. But death risks increase dramatically when people dont have ventilators available when needed. The Minnesota model also assumed that people with COVID-19 needing intensive care would remain in hospital ICU units on average for 23 days. The actual length of stay could be shorter, which would mean more availability of beds and ventilators. The length of stay affects available resources, and that affects the timing of when we reach overcapacity, and that affects [the rate of] mortality, Gildemeister said.

When it comes to saving some 24,00 lives at the costs imposed by the current shutdown, does anyone sense that we are walking in a wonderland of bovine excrement? Analyze this:

The Washington model suggests an improving situation in Minnesota. It predicted a death toll of more than 2,000 in the state a week ago but only 932 as of Wednesday because of the apparent impact of Walzs stay-at-home order.

But then there is this:

One concern about the Washington model is that it doesnt directly account for the high level of obesity and chronic disease in the U.S., which could result in more severe illnesses and deaths than in China or other countries, Gildemeister said. The Minnesota model was based on prior studies that demonstrated that people with chronic diseases were 7.6 times more likely to die from a COVID-19 illness than people without those conditions. Minnesota modeling has predicted only a delayed peak in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations because of the mitigation strategies, and not a reduction of cases, but updated analysis may show differently, Gildemeister said.

Does anyone seriously believe that we will save 24,000 lives in Minnesota by preserving the availability of health care resources that would otherwise be lacking? I doubt it, but Olson lets the question escape unasked.

The question of costs versus benefits is beyond Olson, or beyond the scope of his story. Reading Olsons story closely, however, and taking it solely on its own terms, I assess that we are at substantial risk of inflicting enormous damage on the Minnesota economy with literally no benefit in lives saved.

Im not saying this is the case. I dont know. Im saying it is a reasonable inference from Olsons story.

NOTE: See also Kevin Roches Healthy Skeptic post Be Extremely Cautious About Anything You See Based on a Model.
Odisha's first COVID-19



patient, a 33-year-old Italy-returned researcher, was on Friday discharged from the hospital, having recovered from the viral infection, a state health department official said.

The man, who was admitted to the hospital with coronavirus infection on March 15, tested negative for the disease twice in a span of 24 hours, he said.

Taking to Twitter, the state Health and Family Welfare Department congratulated the doctors and staff at the hospital, where he underwent treatment.

"The first COVID-19 positive case, belonging to Bhubaneswar who is being treated at Capital Hospital has recovered and tested negative to COVID-19," it said.

The 33-year-old man is the second patient in the state to have recovered from the disease.

On Wednesday, a 19-year-old London returnee, who had tested positive for the disease last month, was discharged from a hospital here.

Currently, Odisha has four COVID-19 patients all of them undergoing treatment in Bhubaneswar-based hospitals.

Meanwhile, National Health Mission (NHM) director Shalini Pandit on Friday said 15,000 people have returned to Odisha from abroad and other COVID-infected states within the country over the past 14 days. She asked the returnees to stay home and maintain social distancing norms.

"After 14 days, they should self-monitor their health for another two weeks. If they experience cough, cold, fever and breathing complications then they should call '104' helpline number" Pandit added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New York: Shares of Luckin Coffee tumbled on Thursday (US time) after the Chinese coffee chain said an internal investigation had shown that its chief operating officer and other employees allegedly fabricated sales transactions.

The company suspended COO Jian Liu and employees reporting to him following initial recommendations from a special committee, which was appointed to investigate issues in its financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Luckin said the investigation had found that fabricated sales from the second quarter of 2019 to the fourth were about 2.2 billion yuan Credit:Alamy

Luckin said the investigation had found that fabricated sales from the second quarter of 2019 to the fourth were about 2.2 billion yuan ($510 million). That equates to about 40 per cent of the annual sales projected by analysts, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

Liu has been the COO of the company, which competes with Starbucks in China, since May 2018.
Former Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson revealed she is postponing her wedding due to the coronavirus, according to People Magazine on Friday.

Vicki told the outlet that because of the current crisis, she isn't in the 'mindset' to plan a big celebration which had been slated for later in April.

Just about a year ago, the 58-year-old reality star accepted the proposal of her beau Steve Lodge, sharing the good news with fans on social media.

Hard times: Former Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson revealed she is going to be postponing her wedding due to the coronavirus, according to People Magazine on Friday

'I'm not in the right mindset,' Gunvalson told People.

She added they're 'doing nothing', meaning she's totally halted their wedding plans and explained that the couple is in no rush' to get down the aisle right now.'

Vicki said that she is instead focusing her energies on her job at COTO Insurance and Financial Services which has, like most businesses, been impacted by the currently global pademic.

'There's a lot more I've got to do which is keep this business and my staff who's not here right now,' she explained to People.

'I'm not in the right mindset,' Gunvalson told People. She added they're 'doing nothing' regarding their wedding planning at the moment

Earlier, the star had spoken to Hollywood Life about the plans for her intimate wedding to Lodge, telling them it was to include their blended family later this month.

Gunvalson likely has beloved daughter Briana on her mind a lot these days too, as she is an ER nurse on the frontlines of the coronvirus crisis.

Briana had a scare with the virus last month but received a negative diagnosis when tested.

'There's a lot more I've got to do [right now] which is keep this business and my staff who's not here right now,' she explained to People

Last April, Vicki posted a snap of her rose gold diamond engagement ring and exclaimed on social media: 'I said 'YES'

She had shared a happy shot of the couple. Adding a heart and diamond ring emojis and the hashtags #engaged #happy #mylove.

The original Housewives cast member has been married twice before and has two grown children.

Happier times! Last April, Steve popped the question with a stunning rose gold and diamond engagement ring

She was previously wed to Michael J. Wolfsmith from 1982-1991 and later to Donn Gunvalson from 1994-2014.

After her divorce from Gunvalson, Vicki struck up a rocky relationship with Brooks Ayers.

Many other celebrities have also been forced to shelve their wedding plans like Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, Emma Stone and fellow Housewive Tinsley Mortimer.

And others, like Bindi Irwin, who went forward with their wedding plans, were not allowed to have guests attend the celebration.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 18:25:58|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 2,715 COVID-19 cases were confirmed over the past 24 hours in Iran, bringing the total to 53,183, said a spokesman of the health ministry on Friday.

The novel coronavirus death toll rose to 3,294 after 134 more fatalities were reported across the country, Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of Ministry of Health and Medical Education, announced on Friday during his daily updates on the state TV.

Jahanpur said 17,935 of all the reported cases have recovered and have left hospitals, adding that 4,035 of the patients are in critical condition.

He said that so far over 69 million people, out of nearly 82 million, have been screened for the virus symptoms.

The Iranian health official urged the Iranians to register for online screening plan as part of the nationwide efforts aimed at containing the spread of the disease.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRIMO NUTRACEUTICALS INC. (CSE:PRMO) (BUGVF) (8BV.F) (8BV.F) (8BV.MU) (8BV.SG) ("Primo" or the "Company") Pursuant to discussions with IIROC (Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada) Primos board and management team are providing more clarity to its shareholders in regards to the press release issued on March 31st, 2020.



The Company has signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with Heather Marianna, LLC, doing business as Beauty Kitchen, a Nevada company, (Beauty Kitchen). The LOI is non-binding and subject to possible change and the signing of a definitive agreement.

Primo and Beauty Kitchen intend to draft and execute a definitive agreement (the Definitive Agreement) with detailed terms and conditions in the near future. Beauty Kitchen intends to incorporate a Canadian corporation, Marianna, Inc., (Marianna, Inc.) in which it will conduct operations in Canada. Primo will acquire an ownership interest of 25% of the common voting (TBC) shares in Marianna, Inc., for consideration to be determined in the Definitive Agreement. Primo wishes to inform its shareholders that the transaction described by the LOI is subject to change pending signing of the Definitive Agreement.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

PRIMO NUTRACEUTICALS INC.

Andy Jagpal

President and Director

For further information, please contact Zoltan, IR Representative at: 604-722-0305, or; info@primoceuticals.com.

To learn more about what this news means to the shareholders visit:

www.primonutraceuticals.com

www.twitter.com/Prmoinc

www.thrivecbd.com

www.beautykitchenonline.com

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, 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 expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release.
Indian-American politician Nikki Haley has cast doubt on the accuracy of China's official coronavirus figures, terming them 'clearly not accurate', amidst reports that the CIA has advised the White House not to trust the data being provided by Beijing.

Washington: Indian-American politician Nikki Haley has cast doubt on the accuracy of China's official coronavirus figures, terming them "clearly not accurate", amidst reports that the CIA has advised the White House not to trust the data being provided by Beijing.

President Donald Trump also told reporters on Wednesday that he did not believe the figures given by China.

"Their numbers seem to be a little bit on the light side," Trump said at a press conference.

"China has reported only 82,000 coronavirus cases & 3300 deaths in a nation of 1.5 billion people. This is clearly not accurate," Haley, the former US Ambassador to the United Nations, said in a tweet on Thursday.

As compared to China, the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the US on Thursday jumped to 240,000 and the fatalities rose to 5800.

"China cares more about its reputation than helping the rest of the world defeat a virus that was started in their country," Haley said, amidst news reports that the CIA is doing an independent assessment of COVID-19 figures in China and has advised the White House not to believe the numbers being provided by Beijing.

"CIA hunts for authentic virus totals in China, dismissing government tallies," said The New York Times headline of a report on this issue.

"Obtaining a more accurate count of the Chinese rate of infection and deaths from the virus has worldwide public health implications at a time of grave uncertainty over the virus, its speed of transmission and other fundamental questions," the report said.

"For American officials, the totals are critical to getting a better understanding of how Covid-19 will affect the United States in the months to come and of the effectiveness of countermeasures like social distancing, according to American intelligence agencies and White House officials," the daily reported.

According to China's National Health Commission (NHC), a total of 81,589 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 were reported on the mainland, and 3,318 people had died of the disease as of Wednesday.

US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien told reporters on Wednesday that there was no way to confirm the Chinese figures.

"Unfortunately, we are just not in a position to confirm any of the numbers that are coming out of China. There's no way to confirm any of those numbers," he said.

"There's lots of public reporting on whether the numbers are too low. You've got access to those reports that are coming out of the Chinese social media and some of the few reporters that are left in China. We just have no way to confirm any of those numbers," O'Brien said.

A total of 1,002,159 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with51,485 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

The US has reported 236,339 COVID-19 cases, the highest in the world, and over 5,000 people have died due to the disease.
George Poikayil By

Express News Service

KASARAGOD: Is Kerala winning the battle against Covid-19? Just a week into the 21-day lockdown, the states health department will not hazard a guess.But top police officers working on the ground is optimistic. We will smother the virus. Kerala will be the first in the country to do so, said deputy inspector general K Sethu Raman.He says his optimism is based on hard facts. In Kozhikode, more than 13,183 persons came from abroad since March 1, but there are only five positive cases, he said. But that is not the best news. There is not one case of local transmission in the district, he said.

In Kannur -- which has the second-highest number of Covid cases in Kerala at 49 -- there is no confirmed local transmission.The same in the case in Wayanad. Around 13,183 persons came from abroad since March 1. Only three persons are positive and there is no confirmed local transmission yet, he said.

Malappuram, with one of the highest number of expatriates, have 12 Covid patients, but no case of local transmission.

How did they do it?

For the police and the health department, it was not easy to maintain a clean slate to date.In Kozhikode, the number of positive cases is just six, but it has put 21,485 persons in quarantine -- the highest in the state.

Palakkad also has six positive cases, but it has quarantined 20,038 persons -- the second highest in the state.Though the number of positive cases are on the rise in Kerala now, it was just a matter of time before the graph begins to head south, said Raman, who has an MPhil in development economics.

The police never took the feet off the pedal. With the help of the anti-terrorists squad, the police drew up a list of those who returned from abroad. Then they shortlisted the high-risk persons and sent in the Janamaitri police to ensure they remain in quarantine. It is a task we took seriously. And the results are showing now, said the DIG.

Every day, four teams of police officers call up or visit those in quarantine. They also talk to the family members to ensure they do not engage with them. We have strictly told them: zero contact, he said.

The police also text the family and insist on reply.

The Health Department has bet big on the initiative of the police. On March 22, the last batch of NRIs arrived in Kerala. As of now, there is no evidence of a community spread. And the people have become more aware of the virus and are taking precautions, said Dr Amar Fettle, state nodal officer of Covid-19 initiative.

A coronavirus carrier could meet up to 50 persons in a day, he said. The lockdown has significantly brought down the number, he said.The next big challenge was the intra-family engagement. In big families, there can up to 15 members. So their level of engagement had to be brought down, he said.

The youngsters were told to care for the elders in the family but without getting close. Elders were also told not to hug children or make them sit on the lap. In the initial days of the lockdown, people used to go shopping every day. Now it has come down to once in a week and in several families the shopper is just one person. Such decisions have brought down the chances of infecting or contracting the virus to less than 1%, said Dr Fettle.

The officials are wary because a new study published in Nature said 40 per cent to 50 per cent Covid infected persons show no or mild symptoms. Such covert cases are a big threat. They can pass on the virus to vulnerable people. So it is very important every one stayed low and maintained distance, said Sethu Raman.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  John Zitzner thought he found a way last week to connect about 25% of the students in the Breakthrough charter school network to online classes.

He pulled the trigger and spent about $100,000 to order 500 Internet hotspot devices to give to students who dont have Internet access at home. Zitzner, a co-founder of the Cleveland chain, then started trying to solve several other challenges to enable remote learning for his nine schools while Ohios coronavirus schools shutdown continues.

But the plan was dashed early this week. The vendor could not deliver, so Zitzner and his staff had to scramble to find another.

Im not sure when well be ready to roll out the learning program, Zitzner said Tuesday. But we will!

Schools across Ohio, as well as the country, are rushing, much like Breakthrough, to launch online learning plans for their students while schools are closed. Gov. Mike DeWine had labeled the original three-week school closure an extended spring break, but when he extended it from today to May 1, schools now must move from short-term, patchwork lessons to providing real instruction by Monday.

While most districts expected schools to be closed beyond three weeks, possibly for the year, they are at different stages of clearing several hurdles to offering meaningful lessons online.

Students need laptops or other devices. Schools need to find an online program to host lessons. Teachers need to be trained in how to use the program, or the multiple programs a district picks. Then teachers have to take the lessons they were delivering in classrooms and start recording them for online use.

But thats not all. Parents have to be notified. And students have to sign on and participate.

In some cases, the differences between district plans are minor. Schools may be using different programs with different features. Some are distributing laptops to students this week, while others had already made one-to-one technology  providing an Internet device to every student  part of their academic plan long before the pandemic.

Some teachers are offering synchronous lessons online, classes in which both teachers and students are online at the same time and teachers can respond to questions as they lecture. But in most cases, teachers are recording short lessons in advance, letting students view them on websites like Google Classroom or even YouTube at any time. They then hold scheduled office hours on Google Meet or Zoom to talk to students or parents.

Brunswick teacher Lynette Miller can see images of several students and parents as she talks to them on Google Meet for her daily "office hours."

There are variations even between suburban districts that have already launched online classes, said Ryan MacRaild, a teacher in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights district, whose wife teaches in the Nordonia schools and whose children attend Independence schools.

Between the three districts that we either work in or live in, everybodys got a little different approach, he said. But the message is still the same. Were still trying to help students learn With a little patience and a lot of flexibility, I think well get through it just fine.

Some schools are far behind

But the differences between suburbs and cities is significant and has many school advocates, from teachers unions to legislators to advocacy groups, worry that learning and opportunity gaps between poor and affluent students will grow even wider.

While other districts already have been giving online lessons and told parents of their rollout plan long ago, the Cleveland schools still had not announced any plan for next week as of Friday morning. The districts only official lessons have been paper packets of exercises, though students and parents have reported that some teachers have done more on their own.

After a few days of paper lessons sent home when schools closed, parents and students must pick up new lessons at the 22 schools giving out free meals. But with fewer than 10% of district students picking up meals each day, it is unclear how many also picked up lessons, let alone completed them.

This week, the district and the Cleveland Teachers Union had teachers trying to collect updated phone numbers, addresses and email addresses for students  a challenge in a district whose students move frequently.

Columbus, Ohios largest district, had enough laptops and tablets for every student. But it has not solved the problem of Internet access for its poor students. One solution: upgrading wi-fi at its schools so students can do online lessons outside the locked buildings.

Spokesman Scott Wortman said students did that already, even before the shutdown.

Youll see them outside the front of their buildings accessing the Internet, Wortman said. You could pull up in the parking lot if you had a car.

And the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, which has schools in the city and suburbs, said its lessons will vary according to the age of students and the means by which connections are available.

Each school is reaching out locally as technology allows, from paper materials and phone calls, to in-person, real-time video classes and everything in between, Superintendent Frank OLinn told families in a letter posted on the Diocese website.

He did not respond to Plain Dealer questions about how many schools would provide lessons by paper and how many online.

A head start

In contrast, Brecksville-Broadview Heights teachers have already been sharing digital lessons this week like this one  a 5-minute video lesson on calculating the area of an object by 7th grade math teacher Ashley Roberts. It shows her talking, along with several slides explaining how to do it.

The Solon school district is also well ahead of Cleveland, having given parents a schedule on March 23, a week before DeWine extended the break, for how it would ramp up existing online lessons for all students. Most of its students have laptops already, other than the youngest elementary school students who use them only at school. But on Wednesday and Thursday it passed Chromebooks out to parents of those students with drive-through pickups at schools.

Debbie Roark hands off a laptop to a parent at the Solon's schools district's drive-thru pickup at Parkside Elementary School Thursday. Parents were scheduled to arrive at different intervals to reduce congestion. ( Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer

The Shaker Heights schools also mapped out a path to putting classes mostly online, moving from Level 1 to Level 2 and now Level 3 this coming Monday, with some synchronous classes and some just posted to be viewed any time.

It will be like schoolor the closest we can get to that in a virtual environment, said Superintendent David Glasner.

The district had already given computers at the start of the year to all 5th through 12th-grade students and has been passing out more to younger students. The district also set up a computer repair service, that lets families drop computers off in special lockers in the high school lobby and pick them up later, to avoid contact with anyone.

Casey Ailiff, with the tech support department at Shaker schools, returns a repaired computer to a locker at the high school Thursday. Students drop their broken computers off in lockers and the IT department fixes them and returns them to the lockers for pickup. (Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer

And the district ordered 200 hotspots to provide Internet access for $30 per month to any student that needs it.

Lynette Miller, a first-grade teacher in the Brunswick schools, has already been recording short lessons each day to post on Google Classroom, then going on Google Meet for an hour each morning and afternoon to discuss the lesson with students and parents.

Im available to re-teach [a lesson], Miller said. Im available to talk to the student. Ill be there for parents. If they want the right answer, or how to do something, I can walk them through that.

Jonathan Hicks, an art teacher at Brunswick High School, has also been recording short lectures for students in his photography class, like this one, while also asking students to send in digital images of their work.

He said the classes are not as good as in-person meetings, particularly since students cant use the schools darkroom or computers with Photoshop that stay at school.

We cant go fully in-depth, Hicks said. As opposed to teaching specifics with the tool, were having to teach bigger concepts.

But hes having photo competitions between students and doing as much as possible online.

I feel bad that theyre not able to get the full experience, he said. So, Im trying to do what I can to make it engaging and something thats worth their time.

Challenges remain

How well the online lessons will work is still to be determined. Online charter schools, which have a set curriculum and have practice teaching remotely, have poor results with many students, several studies have shown. Students need to be motivated or have parents taking charge for them to be successful, which might work in the short-term or it might overburden parents who also are doing their jobs from home.

Students may skip their classes, as happened with some online charter schools in recent years. Other cities, like Los Angeles, are already reporting major online absences.

Teachers say making the adjustment to teaching online is hard, but they can do it. They say they miss the in-person interaction and being able to look around the classroom and see, right away, which students understand a lesson, and which dont.

Miller, now in her 22nd year of teaching, said she even had to ask her daughter for help in learning some of the technology.

I have ever had to teach from home. Ever, Miller said. But she said teachers will make the most of a bad situation.

We got this, she vowed. Its just a different journey.
ISTANBUL - A draft law proposed by the government majority in Turkey for a large amnesty to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in jails is a ''step in the right direction'' but it excludes thousands of people sentenced to jail for terrorism, including those whose lives are at risk from the virus, the head of Human Right Watch for Europe and Asia Hugh Williamson said.



The move would release 90,000 detainees, almost a third of the total prison population. Williamson urged Turkey not to exclude dissident politicians and journalists, who are often charged under anti-terrorism laws.



Among them, the NGO noted, is former Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, who suffers from heart problems and who had suffered other health months in recent months. The text of the amnesty, presented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP and the allied MHP nationalists, arrived in the constitutional committee of the parliament on Friday, where it will be debated prior to arriving in the chamber next week for the vote. At the moment excluded from the draft law will be those sentenced for terrorism, drug, violence against women and children, sexual abuse, and premeditated murder.



Opposition groups support the initiative but have asked for political dissidents, intellectuals and journalists that have been detained to be included, including writer Ahmet Altan and the philanthropist and activist Osman Kavala.
Hayes Valley

Photo: Meaghan M. Mitchell/Hoodline

On Wednesday, police arrested a man for setting two fires in Alamo Square Park, which caused damage to a restroom structure.

They also believe he may have been responsible for a series of intentionally set fires in SFPD's Northern District, with information connecting him to two February blazes in Hayes Valley.

Just after midnight on Wednesday, police saw Mark Major, 54, igniting a fire outside a restroom building in Alamo Square Park. A plainclothes officer followed Major further into the park, where he spotted him in the process of igniting a second blaze.

Major spotted the plainclothes officer and quickly walked away. The officer gave chase, and after a brief struggle, took him into custody with the help of a second officer. Officers also located and seized items used by Major to ignite the fires.

The first fire set by Major was extinguished by police, but caused damage to the restroom structure and to some nearby foliage.

At 5 a.m. Wednesday, Major was booked into the SF County Jail on felony charges of setting a structure on fire, willful and malicious setting fire by distributing combustible or flammable substances on a structure or forest land, and possession of flammable or combustible incendiary devices with the willful and malicious intent to set fire to a structure or forest land.

Police are investigating Major, a San Francisco resident, as a person of interest in at least two other fires, both involving vehicles. One took place on the 400 block of Hickory Street (between Laguna and Buchanan) on February 15; the other, on February 21, was at Linden and Laguna streets, on February 21. No one was injured in either incident, but the vehicles were both damaged.

The case remains an open investigation, officials noted. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD 24-hour tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with "SFPD." You may remain anonymous.
NO INMATES in Irish prisons have to date tested positive for Covid-19 despite two prison officers having contracted the virus and 100 prisoners being placed in precautionary self-isolation.

The two prison officers who tested positive for Covid-19 - one in Portlaoise and one in Cork - are recovering well and are not understood to be in a serious condition.

As a precautionary measure, almost 100 inmates in various prisons are in now isolation as a precautionary measure.

Previously 12 inmates at the Dochas women's prison in Dublin had been in precautionary isolation.

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The two officers tested positive for Covid-19 as all Irish jails imposed a total ban on visits to inmates.

Instead, prisoners are being offered 'virtual' visits from their families and friends via agreed electronic platforms.

The ban on physical visits will remain in place throughout the current pandemic crisis.

In Cork, 12 colleagues of the prison officer who was confirmed to have contracted the virus have been asked to go into voluntary self-isolation.

All are understood to have had contact with the officer involved over the past 10 days.

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) two weeks ago moved to increase temporary releases from jails in a bid to ease pressure on facilities and create space for potential inmate isolation.

Some 200 prisoners were initially granted early release in a bid to assist with infection control and social-distancing measures, bringing to 579 the total number of prisoners currently on early release.

All were approaching the end of sentences.

The total number of people behind bars in Ireland's 12 prisons has dropped from almost 4,500 in mid January to 3,900 last week.

An IPS spokesperson said it was carefully monitoring the situation and adhering to all Health Service Executive (HSE) protocols.

"The IPS at all times ensures that up to date public health advice is followed by all of our staff, ensuring the need to self-isolate where appropriate, and on foot of medical and public health advice."

The Irish Prison Service is an organisation of almost 3,500 employees. Accordingly, it can only be expected that out of a staffing cohort of that size, there will be a certain number of staff who have been advised to self-isolate at any given time. However, the vast majority of staff continue to report for duty as normal.

A Government spokesperson said specific measures were put in place to try to shield facilities like prisons from the virus.

"The volume of people entering and exiting our prisons on a daily basis means effective infection control and vigilance is absolutely essential," a Government spokesperson said.

"Prisons are the home or the place of work of over 7,000 people and the IPS is taking a number of necessary measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 including the restriction of visits to prisoners."

"The IPS has made every effort to continue to run normal family visits for as long as possible. However, in the best interests of the health and safety of prison staff, prisoners and their families, normal physical visits will no longer be possible."

"Physical visits will be replaced by electronic visits via Internet platforms, video link and video-phone."
PITTSFIELD  Farmers State Bank Trust Services has announced that applications are available for five scholarship funds.

The Helen and Forrest Baughman Educational Trust Scholarship Fund was created through the will of Forrest Baughman and is available to graduating seniors of Pittsfield High School/Pikeland Unit 10. Applicants must be planning to pursue a career in health care.

The Barnes Scholarship Fund, established under the will of Ellen Barnes, is available to graduating seniors of Pittsfield High School who have participated in band or chorus or state music contests each of the four years of high school. Applicants must be planning to attend a two- or four-year college, pursuing any field of study.

The Earle Seaborn Scholarship Fund was established under the will of Delma Seaborn Mink, who taught in various Pike County schools. This scholarship is available to Pike County high school seniors and preference will be given to those attending a leading university in Illinois pursuing any field of study. The recipient will be selected by superintendents of Pike County schools, based on financial need, scholarship, leadership, service, character and earnestness and desire for educational advancement.

The Cox Scholarship Trust was established under the will of William H.H. and Edith Cox. Recipients must attend a college or university supported by the state of Illinois pursuing any field of study. A recipient from each of the graduating classes of Pleasant Hill and Pikeland will be selected by their respective school boards.

The Glen and Ada Schnepf Scholarship was established under the will of Glen and Ada Schnepf. Recipients must attend a college or university supported by the state of Illinois pursuing any field of study. A recipient from each of the graduating classes of Pleasant Hill and Pikeland will be selected by their respective school boards.

Applications for the above scholarships are available online at farmersstate.com. Scholarship applications are due by April 20.

For more information, call 217-285-6228.
Italy's coronavirus death toll has climbed by 766 to 14,681 today, with infections reaching nearly 120,000, though death and infection rates are continuing to slow.

Friday's figures, revealed by the Civil Protection Agency, are marginally higher than the daily tally of 760 fatalities registered a day earlier.

The number of new cases was slightly lower, growing by 4,585 from a previous 4,668, bringing total infections since the outbreak came to light to 119,827.

However, in positive news, today is the fifth consecutive day in which the number of new cases remained within a range of 4,050-4,782, with the government hoping that the epidemic has hit a plateau, ahead of an expected decline in the near future.

Today also saw the joint-lowest percentage rise in new cases at four per cent and the lowest percentage rise in new death at five per cent.

Italy hit a daily peak of 6,557 new cases on March 21.

The daily death toll has been between 727 and 766 for the last three days, down from 837 on Tuesday and a peak of 919 on Friday of last week.

Of those originally infected nationwide, some 19,758 had fully recovered on Friday, compared to 18,278 the day before. There were 4,068 people in intensive care, up from a previous 4,053.

Italy has registered more deaths than anywhere else in the world and accounts for more than a quarter of all global fatalities from the virus.

In Lombardy, the epicentre of the outbreak, the daily death toll was slightly lower than the day before, coming in at 351 against 367 on Thursday, but new infections rose to 1,455 versus 1,292.

The dead in Italy include at least 73 medics, according to a doctor's federation which is keeping a daily tally.

Another five were added to the count today, including a cardiologist, a general practitioner and a medical professor.

Around 10,000 medical workers are believed to have been infected, taking them out of service when they are critically needed.

Two nurses in protective gear look after a patient in a coronavirus intensive care ward in Cremona, in the region of Lombardy which has been hardest hit by the crisis

The Italian health system has been overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis, especially in northern Italy where the contagion started in late February.

Italy already has the highest death toll in the world, with Spain second, although the United States has the most cases in the world.

Civil protection agency chief Angelo Borrelli said today that Italy's lockdown measures were likely to continue into May.

The restrictions including a ban on non-essential business have already been extended to at least April 13.

In a radio interview with state broadcaster RAI, Borrelli was asked whether the measures would need to remain in place many more weeks.

'Unfortunately they will,' he replied. 'I don't believe this situation ... will have passed by May 1, we have to be extremely rigorous.'

A medical worker uses a swab to take samples from a doctor today at a drive-through testing centre in Rome. At least 73 medics have died of coronavirus

Coffins of coronavirus victims are laid out in a shed before being taken away for cremation by military trucks in Ponte San Pietro near Bergamo today

Some of the coffins are laid out in Ponte San Pietro today. Even Milan has had to close the city's main crematorium because it is overwhelmed by the number of deaths

A civil protection officer wearing a mask in Bologna today holds up a diving mask which will be used as a makeshift ventilator in Italian hospitals

The city of Milan has already shut its main crematorium for the rest of the month to deal with a backlog of bodies.

The capital of the hard-hit Lombardy region said it was seeing a 'constant and progressive increase of the deceased awaiting cremation'.

A statement from the city council said the waiting time at the Crematorio di Lambrate had reached 20 days.

Any longer could cause 'hygiene-sanitary problems', the city council said on its website.

'To help families in this difficult moment, starting Friday, it will be possible to bury loved ones at no cost,' officials say.

The city of Bergamo north-east of Milan was receiving a steady shipment of new coffins throughout March to deal with the spiralling numbers.

Its was eventually forced to send out dozens of bodies a week for cremation to neighbouring towns, with coffins transported by the military.

'The large number of victims has meant that Bergamo's crematorium could not cope on its own,' mayor Giorgio Gori said last week.

A woman walks with her dog through the quiet streets of Milan during Italy's lockdown yesterday

Healthcare workers wearing protective suits move a suspected coronavirus patient out of a retirement home in Naples so he can be treated in hospital

A man wearing a makeshift protective mask walks down the street in Rome as Italy battles to bring its coronavirus outbreak under control

Prime minister Giuseppe Conte, who first imposed the lockdown measures in early March, today renewed his row with Brussels as he demands more EU money to fight the pandemic.

Conte wants the EU to start issuing joint debt - dubbed 'coronabonds' - but frugal Germany has long been against the idea.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is instead backing an EU-wide guarantee that could raise 100billion (88billion) to help social security funds.

She told Italians said these EU-backed loans were 'demonstrating European solidarity'.

Von der Leyen had used a letter in the newspaper La Repubblica to apologise for an initially slow response from other European nations.

'Today Europe is mobilising alongside Italy. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case,' she admitted. 'It must be recognised that in the early days of the crisis, in the face of the need for a common European response, too many have thought only of their own home problems.'

Conte retorted with his own letter in which he demanded that Brussels 'show more ambition, more unity and more courage'.

'When fighting a war, you must do everything possible to win and equip yourself with all the tools needed for the (subsequent) reconstruction,' he said.

Conte said coronabonds would be 'useful to finance the extraordinary efforts that Europe will have to put in place'.

He added that they 'are in no way aimed at sharing the debt that each of our countries has inherited from the past'.
Guntur: A youth committed suicide at a police station in Andhra Pradeshs Guntur after having been detained for defying the coronavirus lockdown.

According to the social media reports, Srinivas, a native of Kaikaluru in Krishna district was working in Tirupati but due to lockdown, he started walking to his native place.

However, the police of Bapatla town in Guntur district arrested and allegedly thrashed him. Humiliated with the insult, Srinivas made a selfie video stating that the police are the reason for his death and committed suicide by hanging himself to a tree within the premises of the police station.

The incident came to light as he had sent the selfie video to some of his friends.

AP DGP Damodar Gautam Sawang responded, saying, "Inquiry has been ordered". The DGP directed Guntur district IG to submit a detailed report on the incident.
DANBURY  City Council is expected to consider a program that would allow residents struggling during the coronavirus outbreak to defer their taxes.

The program is among the items on City Councils agenda for its 7:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting, which will be held virtually, Mayor Mark Boughton said.

This would give taxpayers a 90-day extension to July 1 to make these payments, he said. Taxes normally must be paid from April 1 to May 4, he said.

That will take the pressure off of you having to pay your taxes on May 4, Boughton said during a Facebook Live on Thursday.

Under the proposal, residents still must pay their taxes and would be charged a 3-percent interest, he said.

You can take advantage of it though, if you're in a difficult and tight cast position right now, Boughton said.

Boughton had originally planned to present his budget proposal in April, but is holding off a month in light of the crisis.

This is a moving target budgetary wise, he said on a conference call with the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. Were not sure how were going to do this, given the incredible impact this is going to have on all businesses, big, small and medium.

The meeting will be held virtually through the Zoom platform to avoid large gatherings, he said. Council members have been trained on how to use their iPads, he said.

All our council members are enthusiastic about doing it, Boughton said.

Information will be posted on the citys website Monday on how to view the meeting. Residents may email comments, which will be read during the meeting.
THERE is "real concern" in government at the threat posed by coronavirus to the health of nursing home residents as the crisis continues.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe made the remarks as he said that work is being carried out on what additional supports can be introduced for the at risk residents and staff.

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The Dail was told yesterday that one nursing home alone had 89 cases of coronavirus - 19 among patients and 70 among workers - and that four residents had died.

Mr Donohoe said he didn't have information on the nursing home which was highlighted by Fianna Fail TD Stephen Donnelly yesterday.

But he said the government is "absolutely are aware of the strain and challenge that many of our nursing homes are facing at the moment."

Mr Donohoe acknowledged the "great worry" for many families who are "concerned about loved ones" in such homes.

He said: "A manifestation of where Covid-19 is at the moment is that the health now of those who are in our nursing homes is a matter of real concern to the government."

He said it was discussed by ministers last night and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is meeting today to consider what additional measures need to be put in place to support residents and carers.

At a press conference Mr Donohoe was asked about the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to health workers.

The government is spending more than 200m on PPE from China and Mr Donohoe said such purchases are of the utmost priority.

He said PPE is being sought by almost every other country in the world.

Mr Donohoe said the equipment already purchased will be different to PPE that Irish healthcare staff are used to.

He said it is being tested and assessed by the HSE to find ways it can be used that continues to protect those using the equipment and patients.

The government is also said to be "continuing to look at all opportunities to acquire new protective equipment."

"We want to ensure that all of our nurses or doctors who are working in our primary care centres, indeed who are working in homes, that they are protected and that those who are relying on that care are protected as well," Mr Donohoe said.

He said of the PPE being tested by the HSE that "Good use will be found for it, but we will continue in our efforts to look for additional equipment and ensure that everybody has the protection that they need."




Rome: Russian criticism of an Italian newspaper was "inappropriate", Italy's foreign and defence ministries said on Friday, in a case that has cast a cloud over Moscow's efforts to help Rome cope with the coronavirus crisis.

Russia has sent doctors, nurses and medical equipment to disease-stricken Italy in a goodwill operation that Moscow has dubbed "From Russia with love".

While the Italian government has warmly thanked Russia, La Stampa, one of the country's oldest newspapers, has questioned the help. In one article it quoted anonymous political sources as saying 80 per cent of the equipment was of little or no use.

It also suggested the activity could lead to a security breach because of the large number of military involved.

The spokesman of Russia's Defence Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov, took to Facebook on Thursday to denounce the article, accusing La Stampa of besmirching a "noble mission", whipping up anti-Russian sentiment and spreading fake news.
Abortion foes have used the coronavirus pandemic as a reason to institute new restrictions on abortions in several states. (Pete Marovich / Getty Images)

I will give abortion foes this: When it comes to finding new and creative ways of forcing women to give birth to unwanted babies, they are devilishly clever.

In the past few weeks, these relentless crusaders have unleashed a new war on a procedure that is safe, legal and time-sensitive.

Their casus belli? Coronavirus, of course.

Never let a good crisis go to waste, right?

Governors in Texas, Ohio, Alabama, Oklahoma, Iowa and Mississippi, where the right to abortion has been under assault for years, have now proclaimed that it is not an essential medical procedure, and that no abortions can be performed until the state government says so.

Guns, you may have noticed, are essential.

Womens healthcare? Not so much.

In Texas, a group of healthcare providers immediately asked a federal judge to overrule the sneaky new ban. United States District Court Judge Lee Yeakel granted their request, noting that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled there can be no outright ban on abortions.

The court, wrote Yeakel, 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. (Judges in Ohio and Alabama have made similar rulings in recent days.)

Unfortunately, in Texas, the legal skirmishing has not ended.

The state appealed, and a few days later the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the ban to stand, pending an April 13 hearing.

The bans, by the way, apply not just to surgical abortions, one of the safest procedures in the world, but also to medication abortions, which are even safer.

Medication abortions, though accomplished with a combination of pills, needlessly require in-person visits.

On Monday, a multi-state coalition of 21 attorneys general, led by California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, called on the federal government to loosen those rules. Rather than requiring women to appear in person at their doctors offices, they should be able to receive prescriptions over the phone or computer.

Story continues

Forcing women to unnecessarily seek in-person reproductive healthcare during this public health crisis is foolish and irresponsible, the AGs argued. The feds have not yet responded.

::

This is a moment of utmost peril for reproductive rights in America.

In recent years, states have come up with all sorts of legally questionable ways of discouraging abortion or making access impossible.

Weve seen them impose unnecessary conditions on abortion clinics.

Weve seen them try to force abortion doctors to obtain unobtainable admitting privileges at local hospitals.

Weve seen them force women to undergo ultrasounds, listen to a fetal heartbeat and to wait 24 hours before they can end a pregnancy.

As the foes of abortion have become increasingly desperate, weve seen them gin up fake scandals in the past few years.

One antiabortion group, for example, used fake IDs to infiltrate business gatherings of abortion doctors and used spy techniques like hidden cameras to make the preposterous case that Planned Parenthood is engaged in callous profiteering of aborted fetal remains.

::

This spring, the Trump/Pence administration imposed a new federal gag rule on health providers who receive Title X funds.

Title X is a family planning program, created in 1970, to provide services to mostly low-income patients  things like contraception, testing for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy tests and counseling.

The new rule prohibits any health provider receiving Title X funds from making referrals to abortion providers, or counseling patients about abortion.

Huge providers like Planned Parenthood, and small operations like the Venice Family Clinic, were then put in the position of either refusing these federal funds, or allowing the government to dictate what kind of healthcare they could provide.

Both made the principled decision to turn down the money rather than sacrifice the well-being of their patients.

Morally speaking, we could not accept Title X money under the current restrictions, said Dr. Karen Lamp, director of the Venice Family Clinics Briskin Womens Health program. We are turning away several hundred thousand dollars, and we are going to be under some severe financial challenges moving forward.

On March 4, the new, vigorously conservative U.S. Supreme Court heard its first abortion case, June Medical Services vs. Russo. At issue is whether a Louisiana law that requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals is constitutional, or whether it conflicts with a 2016 Supreme Court ruling, which struck down a similar Texas law.

This case should tell us once and for all whether the newest justices, Neil M .Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh, will respect the courts previous rulings upholding abortion rights, or find a way to nullify them.

Despite incessant attacks, abortion remains legal in every state.

Based on what I know of these justices, however, I doubt it will be much longer.




A Frech military aircraft touched down at Findel airport earlier this Friday. The aircraft will bring six French Covid-19 patients to Toulouse.

Lux-Aiport took to Twitter to applaud the Greater Region's cooperation.

#StrongerTogether: Today a military aircraft of the French Airforce landed @luxairport to fly COVID-19 patients from the French Grand-Est Region to Toulouse.The Greater Region closely works together,supporting each other to conquer these challenging times.Big thanks to the team! pic.twitter.com/6CDWwb8OsV  Luxembourg Airport (@luxairport) April 3, 2020

The six patients are in serious condition. Private ambulances brought them from the Moselle region to Findel airport. Police and the head of CGDIS joined the escort at the Luxembourg border. The A330 aircraft took off for Toulouse at 1.30pm.

The photos published on this site are subject to copyright and may not be copied, modified, or sold without the prior permission of the owner of the site in question.

According to the Republicain Lorrain, the transfer had initially been planned to take place via Lorraine airport. The patients were eventually brought to Findel airport instead due to technical problems.
Meek Mill and Jay-Z Donate 100,000 Masks to Correctional Facilities Torry Threadcraft Torry Threadcraft is a writer who covers music, sports, and

The supplies went to prisons in three different states.

As the coronavirus pandemic affects different sectors of society, celebrities are finding ways to aid in relief efforts. On Friday, the REFORM Alliance announced the donation of 100,000 masks to inmates and staff in correctional facilities.

Meek Mill and Jay-Z co-founded the organization, along with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and CNN contributor Van Jones. The organization donated 50,000 masks to Rikers Islands complex, 40,000 to the Tennessee Department of Corrections, and 5,000 to Mississippis State Penitentiary at Parchman.

THANK YOU to our friend @ShakaSenghor for leading this charge, the organization tweeted. 

Jessica Jackson, REFORMs chief advocacy officer, spoke with CBS News on Friday. Its a vulnerable population, she said. Were really worried about he number of people coming in and out of the facility, and the fact that the people living there might be sitting ducks during the pandemic.

Jackson says REFORM spoke with officials in each of the states. New York City and Tennessee officials expressed a desire to help but lacked the resources. Overwhelmingly the response was please provide the masks, we really need them, she said. They want to protect the people working and living in the facilities. I think Rikers Island especially, they are very aware the virus has hit and so many lives are now at risk.

Read more about REFORMs SAFER Plan to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the criminal justice system.
Scott Morrison is set to secure his place in history as one of Australia's most significant prime ministers.

Just months after he was slammed for deserting the country and fleeing for a family holiday in Hawaii during the bushfire crisis, Mr Morrison is now the man the nation hopes will guide the nation through the coronavirus pandemic.

With contagion spreading and the global economy in freefall, he is is set to go down in history as the prime minister who helped steer the country through its most dire challenge since World War II.

Only John Curtin faced a tougher job, leading Australia in 1942 as Darwin was bombed and Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour.

Australia's wartime Labor leader was so worried about the Japanese invading the Top End he died of anxiety on July 5, 1945.

Scott Morrison is set to go down in history as the prime minister facing the most dire challenges since World War II. The coronavirus pandemic threatens hospital resources and is already causing unemployment to hit levels last suffered during the early 1930s Great Depression

This was just six weeks before the Japanese surrendered, effectively ending a six-year war.

Griffith University politics lecturer Paul Williams said Mr Morrison was facing the biggest challenges for a prime minister since Mr Curtin stayed awake at night during his four years leading a nation under existential threat.

'The level of national anxiety at the moment as well as the pressures on national executive government would come second only to the Second World War,' Dr Williams told Daily Mail Australia on Friday.

During the last major crisis 'Curtin literally worked himself to death'.

'He got three or four hours sleep a night; he was terribly worried about the troops, a possible invasion of northern Australia,' Dr Williams said.

'He literally died of anxiety, he died of worry and work.'

Only John Curtin faced a tougher job, leading Australia in 1942 as Darwin (pictured) was bombed and Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour

Australia's wartime Labor leader John Curtin (pictured in May 1944) was so worried about the Japanese invading the Top End he died of anxiety on July 5, 1945

Dr Williams said the tired look on Mr Morrison's face, as he shut down Australian businesses to slow the spread of coronavirus, said it all.

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

'Morrison's looking very tired and most people would be bipartisan enough to say Morrison has grown into the job these last few weeks,' he said.

'The times are suiting him, probably because he has something to talk about and do.'

Dr Williams said the coronavirus crisis had also revived the standing of the prime minister, who suffered a backlash before Christmas as he holidayed in Hawaii during the summer bushfire crisis.

'You had the Hawaiian holiday and Morrison went from couldn't put a foot wrong to couldn't put a foot right,' he said.

'He'd become a standard joke at the barbecue.

'He wasn't up to the task during the bushfires, he's learned very quickly from that not to be reactive.'

The coronavirus pandemic threatens hospital resources and is already causing unemployment to hit levels last suffered during the early 1930s Great Depression.

Despite being a conservative leader, Mr Morrison has been anything but reactive when it comes to spending money, unveiling three stimulus packages worth $214billion in a bid to support workers and small businesses hit by coronavirus.

Economists are expecting Australia's jobless rate to more than double from 5.1 per cent in February to levels above 12 per cent in March, which would mark the highest unemployment since 1932.

Mr Morrison surprisingly succeeded Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister in August 2018 after Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton launched two failed leadership challenges in the same week, with support from the right-faction.
The peak of the UK coronavirus outbreak will come sooner than expected within the next few weeks, the health secretary has said.

Matt Hancock, who has returned to work after recovering from Covid-19, said the high point of pandemic will come within weeks if people continue to observe the lockdown, saying the spread was very sensitive to how many people following strict social distancing guidelines.

Mr Hancock admitted that antibody tests  which detect if someone has already had the virus  were unlikely to be available this month, as none of those trialled have worked.

These tests will not be included in his pledge to deliver 100,000 coronavirus checks in England by the end of April, which came amid mounting public criticism over the delays.

Asked when the peak of coronavirus cases was going to come, Mr Hancock told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: The modelling suggests that the peak will be slightly sooner than previous  in the next few weeks.

But it is very, very sensitive to how many people follow the social distancing guidelines.

So the real clarity I can give you is that the more people follow the social distancing rules, the sooner that peak will be.

Mr Hancock said his target of 100,000 tests by the end of the month were likely to be swab tests, as he was not assuming any [antibody tests] come on stream in time.

Testing is regarded as critical to ending the three-week lockdown, which is expected to be extended when it comes up for review next week.

Mr Hancock said it was possible to lift the lockdown without the availability of antibody tests but added: The more information we have from testing, the more accurately we will be able to do that.

Tests of lower quality give false assurance to people, he said, and insisted he was resisting pressure to approve checks which have not passed the safety assessments.

It comes after Mr Hancock emerged from self isolation to announce a five-point plan to ramp up testing as the UK lags behind countries such as Italy and Germany.

Mr Hancock described being struck down with coronavirus as pretty unpleasant, describing losing half a stone in weight feeling as if there were razors in his throat.

He said: Well it was pretty worrying, especially on the way down because you know how serious this infection can be.

After two days or so which were pretty unpleasant, and very, very like having a glass in your throat and a cough.

Thankfully Ive turned a corner and Ive recovered and its great to be back and having got through it.

Asked if he regarded himself as immune, he said: Well thats an important scientific question and I took advice on that. The advice is its highly likely that Im now immune or have a very high level of immunity but its not certain.

Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Show all 15 1 /15 Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A rose is delivered by drone to a woman on Mother's Day in Jounieh, Lebanon AFP/Getty Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Women dance on their balcony as a radio station plays music for a flash mob to raise spirits in Rome Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A skeleton stands on a balcony in Frankfurt, Germany AP Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies The film Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna is projected on a building in Rome AP Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A woman uses a basket tied to a rope to pull a delivery of groceries up to her balcony in Naples, Italy EPA Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies DJ Francesco Cellini plays for his neighbours from the rooftop terrace of his flat block in Rome Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A woman gestures from her balcony in Barcelona EPA Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Cellist Karina Nunez performs for her neighbours at the balcony of her flat in Panama City Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies DJ Nash Petrovic live streams a set from his roof in Brooklyn Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies People applaud medical workers from their balconies in Modiin, Israel Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A Brooklyn resident relaxes in a hammock hung on their balcony Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Residents toast during a "safe distance" aperitif time between neighbours in Anderlecht, Belgium Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Musician Adam Moser plays for neighbours from his balcony in Budapest, Hungary Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A man and his son on their balcony in Brooklyn Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A man sits alone on a roof terrace in Rome Reuters

Like everybody else who has been through it, Im social distancing.

We have a stream of work under way on immunity, with potentially having immunity certificates so that if people have been through it and when the science is clear about the point at which they are then immune, people can then start getting back to normal even more because they have been through it.

One of the big challenges in this is to know how long immunity lasts for.
Good Morning, welcome to Information Nigerias Newspaper headlines for today, 3rd April 2020.

Here are the major headlines.

Coronavirus: Lagos, Abuja Records Ten New Cases, Total Hit 184

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported ten new cases of coronavirus in the country, taking the total number of infections to 184. According to NCDC, Ten new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria; seven in Lagos and three in the FCT.

Osun Records Six Fresh Cases Of Coronavirus

Osun state government has announced the detection of six new cases of coronavirus in the state, thus taking the total figure recorded in the state to 20.

Germany Airlifts 222 Nationals Out Of Nigeria

A total of 222 German nationals and nationals of other European citizens were airlifted out of Nigeria on Thursday, says the Geman Mission in Nigeria.

FG Apologizes For Begging For Ventilators

The federal government of Nigeria has described as regrettable the post wherein it begged for ventilators from American billionaire, Elon Musk on social media.

COVID-19: Air France Evacuates Nationals Out Of Nigeria

The French government on Thursday airlifted over 399 of its nationals from Nigeria over the Coronavirus pandemic, The Nation reports. The French nationals were airlifted out of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, by an Air France aircraft.

Germany Pledges 5.5M To Nigerian Humanitarian Fund

The German Mission in Nigeria has pledged 5.5m to the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, says the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Nigeria.

Falana Ask Soldiers To Stop Enforcing COVID-19 Regulations

Human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to recall soldiers from enforcing the new stay-at-home order on Nigerians.

Coronavirus: Ondo State Government Closes All Borders

Due to the increasing cases of Coronavirus in the country, the Ondo State Government on Wednesday ordered the immediate closure of all its borders.

Coronavirus: Governor Lalong Orders Closure Of Plateau State Borders

The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has ordered the closure of all entry and exit points in the state as preventive measures against Coronavirus intensifies.

Coronavirus: FG To Pay N20,000 To 5,000 Homes In Abuja

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq has disclosed that the Nigerian government is paying N20,000 each to 5,000 households in the Federal Capital Territory, to help them cope with the difficulties the coronavirus pandemic might bring.
Inder Singh, CEO and founder of Kinsa Health, a health tech startup that monitors temperatures, says social distancing has helped save lives as it reduces fevers. Consistent high temperature is one of the key aspects of a patient infected by COVID-19. (kinsahealth.com)
Mariam Taha Thompson, a U.S. Army Arabic linguist contractor, was charged with espionage on March 4th. She was detected accessing eight intel documents between December 30, 2019, and February 10, 2020. These documents contained names, personal data and photos of foreign sources of information. The 61 year old linguist did not have a legitimate reason to look at those documents and apparently did not officially have access to those databases either. So the investigation continues to determine how she got access. Thompson was stationed at Erbil, in Kurdish Iraq at the time and the FBI searched her living quarters on an American base and found a document she had hidden containing the personal information on three of the names she had viewed. She had passed this information on to a nephew who worked for the Lebanese Ministry of the Interior. This nephew apparently had connections with Hezbollah. She had begun her data searches the day after U.S. airstrikes on the Iraqi branch of Hezbollah. Iran had ordered Hezbollah to find ways to strike back at the Americans. Thompson, who was born in Lebanon but moved to the U.S. and became a citizen, is being charged with Delivering Defense Information to Aid a Foreign Government and if found guilty could be sentenced to life in prison.

Disloyal linguists and translators are not a new problem for the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense. After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the United States military found its need for Arabic translators far exceeded its normal sources which involved training its own personnel. In addition to translators serving with American troops, there was a need for linguists to translate captured documents or recorded conversations. These linguists had to be American citizens so they could get a security clearance. In response, the Department of Defense established the Civilian Linguist Reserve. Those who qualified, in terms of skills and ability to get a security clearance, would be paid a monthly fee to be available in an emergency, to come work for the military. The Pentagon found a lot of civilian American Arabic speakers during the Iraq war who worked for contractors, or directly for the government, to provide translation services in the United States and Iraq. Many of these interpreters are already qualified for the Civilian Linguist Reserve. Same thing with Americans who could speak Afghan languages. Many more of these Afghan-Americans were sought to travel to Afghanistan and serve as interpreters. The pay was very good but there was some danger, and that discouraged some potential volunteers. For more than a decade the U.S. military has relied on these contractors to deal with the continuing shortage of Arabic and Afghan linguists.

For the troops, the problems were worse. By 2005 the army needed 6,200 translators, over 90 percent of them Arab speakers, the rest Afghan (Pushtu or Dari). By 2006 it was up to 7,960 (7,200 Arabic and 750 Afghan). The Department of Defense could not train enough new military interpreters so it had to hire qualified American citizens as contractors and, in Iraq and Afghanistan, local people to serve as translators for the troops. That soon became more difficult in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

The problem was that the local terrorists realized that the interpreters were important, and they could, well, terrorize the interpreters into quitting or, even better, becoming a spy. This obviously complicated things for the combat troops who needed the interpreters to get their work done. The solution has been to have the intelligence troops work closely with hiring and monitoring interpreters. These local interpreters were not U.S. citizens and thus unable to get a security clearance. As a result, less thorough screening methods had to be improvised on the spot.

In some parts of Iraq and Afghanistan, the interpreters were hired in secret, and much effort went into keeping their job status secret from the local community. Although the U.S. military has about 17,000 troops who speak languages like Arabic, Chinese, Farsi (Iran), Urdu (Pakistan), Hindi, and Korean, there simply aren't enough for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It didn't take U.S. troops long to realize that the most dangerous intelligence job in Iraq was that of an interpreter. Hundreds were killed by terrorists, including several dozen who were American citizen contractors from the Civilian Linguist Reserve. Many of the Iraqi interpreters, and their families have been allowed to live on American bases, and some were offered permanent residence in the United States. Most of the interpreters regarded the death threats from terrorists as part of the job. It was a good job, paying far more than most other work available in Iraq. Starting salary for interpreters was $600 a month, going up to $1,000 or more for particularly dangerous or difficult assignments. The average monthly salary in Iraq in those days was about a hundred dollars.

The danger was considerable. While two out of every thousand American soldiers serving in Iraq was killed, some 30 out of every thousand translators died. There were proportionately fewer deaths in Afghanistan, where it was still a very dangerous job. For many interpreters, the job was more than a big paycheck. English speaking Iraqis also had a better idea of how things worked in the rest of the world and were eager to help Iraq overcome its gruesome past. Another way to get Arabic interpreters was to hire them from other Arab nations. This wasn't as easy as it sounds, because not a lot of these non-Iraqi Arabs can easily deal with the Iraqi dialect. But the money was attractive, and many linguists in nearby Arab nations learned the Iraqi dialect in order to get these jobs. There is also a feeling that Iraq would soon present many economic opportunities, providing less dangerous work for non-Iraqis who understand the Iraqi dialect. Some Arabic speaking Americans, after one tour in Iraq, came back to help with screening English speaking Arabs applying as interpreters.

To attract the needed number of interpreters, many of the supervisory and screening personnel are hired via contractors. That way, these people, who are in short supply, could be offered enough money to induce them to take on this work. The Department of Defense was able to get enough interpreters for Iraq and Afghanistan operations, but only by hiring a lot of foreigners or foreign born American citizens. This was risky from a security point of view. Terrorist groups, and hostile governments, can get to these foreign interpreters eventually, and find out a lot about American intelligence techniques. Its a similar situation with foreign-born American citizens who still have kin in the old country. This is a long term price to pay in order to deal with the short term interpreter shortage. Mariam Taha Thompson was the latest example of that long-term risk.




Princess of Spain Maria Teresa was born on July 28, 1933 in Paris, France. She was a Spanish professor and a princess of Spain coming from Paris, French Third Republic. She was also a part of the Cadet Branch, says an article.

She spent her entire life being a philanthropist and a social activist. She was also able to express her support to the Carlist Political Movement.

She was nicknamed as the 'Red Princess' for her activist works and outspoken views.

First Royal to Die in the Hand of COVID-19

Just a few days ago, the entire world was shocked to find out about the death of the Spanish Princess. Princess Maria Teresa has lost the battle against COVID-19. She was 86 years old when she took her last breath on March 26. She was under treatment before finding out about the infection.

After Italy, Spain is the next European country that is evidently affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her brother Prince Sixto Enrique de Bourbon announced through a social media post, specifically on Facebook, that Princess Maria Teresa is the first death in the royal family caused by the novel coronavirus. The remains of Princess Maria Teresa was cremated on Friday in Madrid, Spain.

Life as a Bachelor

Princess Maria Teresa was a bachelorette until her death. She never got married nor had children. In her entire life, there were no rumors that revealed that she had an affair with anyone. Princess Maria Teresa loved being single. She was passionate about teaching and she enjoyed spending most of her time with her students.

Check these out:

101-Year-Old-Man Survives Two Pandemics: COVID-19 and the Spanish Flu

Why Do Many Rural US Counties Have Zero COVID-19 Cases?

COVID-19 Recoveries: Is the World Winning the Fight?

Her Family

The princess was born with the name Maria Teresa de Borbon-Parma. She was born into a Christian Royal family. Her father was Prince Xavier. He was the Duke of Parma and Piacenza. Her father was the head of the House of Bourbon-Parma.

Her mother was Madeleine de Bourbon-Busset. She was the queen of Spain from Carlist. She was also given the title of the Duchess of Parma.

Most of her childhood years were spent with her brothers.

Her Career

She was a well-educated royal who went to school at the Middle High School in Tours then to the Paris-Sorbonne University. She then graduated with a doctorate in Hispanic studies. Also, she attained a doctorate in political sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid.

After finishing her studies, she started with a teaching career at the Complutense University of Madrid. She taught sociology. Then, she was allowed to teach at Paris-Sorbonne University.

Additionally, the princess had significant knowledge of politics. She showed her support to her younger brother Carlos Hugo to conquer the battle of the Spanish Carlist Party. The fight occurred between the 1960s to the 1970s.

Her estimated net worth is USD 800 million. She was a kind-hearted person. She always gives donations to charitable causes. She was a philanthropist until her last breath.
Four COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. Akin Abayomi, the states commis...

Four COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.





Akin Abayomi, the states commissioner for health, made the announcement at a media briefing in Lagos on Friday.





This development comes a few hours after 11 patients were discharged on Thursday. Eight persons were discharged earlier.





The latest recoveries bring the total number of discharged persons in the state to 23.

Two patients had recovered and were discharged in Ekiti and Oyo states. The recovery toll nationwide is now 25.





So far, 98 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Lagos.





A total of 190 persons have tested positive for the disease across 13 states in the country  according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)  as of Friday.





Out of the 190 confirmed cases, Lagos state, which is the epicentre of the disease, has 98 cases; FCT, 38; Osun, 20, and Oyo, eight cases.





Akwa Ibom state has five cases; Ogun and Edo states have four each; Kaduna, four; Bauchi, three.





Enugu and Ekiti states have two cases each while Rivers and Benue states have recorded one each.





Nigeria has recorded only two fatalities from COVID-19 so far.
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Thanks to all, we are really humbled that we are able to go home only because of the work of the entire medical professionals who took care of us," said the elderly couple. (Image: PRD Kerala)
With more than 200,000 cases as of April 2, coronavirus has a big impact on America's health care systems. Due to the crashing economy, doctors and nurses who are serving to fight COVID-19 will also be facing pay cuts. This is just one of the many economic challenges that COVID-19 has left in its wake.

Companies which have agreements with hospitals to hire staffers in emergency rooms mentioned that the epidemic has affected their top earners of revenue, which is non-essential and elective procedures. Most services in states are affected by the coronavirus, that's why hospitals are requesting for more medical staff to help.

Pay cuts due to COVID-19 economic shockwaves

Alteon Health CEO Steve Holtzclaw released a memo addressed to all their employees that reads: "Despite the risks our providers are facing, and the great work being done by our teams, the economic challenges brought forth by COVID-19 have not spared our industry."

Alteon Health has more than 1,700 clinicians in 16 states and the District of Columbia. According to Holtzclaw, they will be mandating a 20% pay cut for administrative staff, including suspension of 401(k), matches, bonuses and paid time off, which ProPublica revealed.

In spite of the cut, Holtzclaw claimed that medical professionals working on COVID-19 cases will get more than what they're usually paid: "In fact, doctors and other clinicians who are working more hours on COVID-related cases will get paid more than they would have previously."

Holtzclaw added, "You can be assured that similar measures are being contemplated within these organizations and will likely be implemented in the coming weeks." On the other hand, it was not specified how long this pay cut will be implemented.

Also read: Woman Who Shot, Slashed Boyfriend's Face from Ear to Ear, Given life Sentence After Years of Trial

In a statement last Wednesday, Alteon Health has 'expanded eligibility for our clinician health benefits, and we are paying doctors who are self-isolating.' Holtzclaw said that expenses will be prioritized for those needing the finances most.

Cuts can amount to as much as $20,000

One doctor who is is classified as an Alteon Health administrative employee told ProPublica that the cuts made will be about $20,000 a year. He can see the reason for the cuts but want the employees to choose their tasks.

Meanwhile, more companies are adjusting compensation during the outbreak. Atrius Health in Massachusetts employs 1,100+ doctors, primary care providers, and clinicians who get 10%-25% pay cuts, which will be returned at a later date, according to the Boston Globe.

The CEO of Atrius Health is asking non-doctor personnels to opt for a one-month unpaid leave, but with health benefits. Boston Globe added that emergency room staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston will be exempted.

According to Matt Bivens, an emergency room doctor, "This is at a time when many of us have moved out to live like lepers separate from family to prevent spreading infection, and have already been working huge extra hours trying to scrape together personal protective equipment and otherwise brace for COVID-19."

Tenet Healthcare that runs 65 hospitals in Dallas, has stopped 401(k) matches, confirmed by ProPublica. The Tennessee-based company said, "We are not instituting any reduction in pay or benefits." They also claimed that their employees will not be affected by pay cuts.

Related topic: China-US Trade War: Trump Has Two Choices for America

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The idea is that we slow the train down for a couple reasons. The top level reason is to preserve the capacity of the health care system to care for people who get sick. But the other is if we bend the curve and are able to reduce the case count then we can go back to more refined containment strategies and marry those with the mitigation.

With more testing available, can the shelter-in-place orders be lifted and as soon as an outbreak is identified, a rush to contain it? Are you hoping thats what comes next?

Thats exactly right. We started out with containment, we are now in very broad-based mitigation.

Eventually if we slow it down enough, when we put together more resources and the numbers are less than 1,000, then we could do some more of the individual case investigations, rapid isolation, and that would be another way to slow things down.

All of this were doing while theres a race to develop a vaccine.

But we dont know if a vaccine will come or not. Weve had mixed results with previous coronaviruses.

Thats right.

Theres this paradox that the better you are at managing the first wave of the virus, the more vulnerable you are to the second wave because you have so many people who are not immune. Is there a fear for the second wave, that the initial success will not lead to any permanent solution short of a vaccine?

My hope, and Im generally an optimistic person, is that if we had just a few more tools at the ready we could focus our resources in a more precise way.

For example, if we had antibody tests, if we could stand on that, then we would do a much better job with health care workers.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday said that lighting diyas and candles are done to celebrate Lord Rama's return from Ayodhaya, however amid coronavirus outbreak doing such things seems inappropriate.

'Diya' is lit to celebrate Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya from Lanka. Dozens of people have died and people are living in fear due to coronavirus in the country. In these circumstances, I do not think it is appropriate to light 'diya', Baghel said.

Amid a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to countrymen to light diyas and candles on April 5 at 9 pm to fight the darkness spread by the pandemic.

The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister also said, "107 people returned to Chhattisgarh after attending Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. Samples of over 50 of them were sent for testing out of which reports of 28 people have been received and all of them have tested negative for COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Moray Council Secures SharePoint Data with TITUS This brief white paper details a SharePoint security system that protects your content while also allowing easy access to those who are authorized.

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By Akbar Mammadov

Australia supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and does not recognize the elections that took place in Nagorno-Karabakh on 31 March, Australian Ambassador to Turkey Marc Innes-Brown said in a Twitter post on April 3.

"It is more important than ever that the OSCE Minsk Group continues its role in the peace process to achieve a negotiated settlement," the ambassador tweeted.

Earlier, a number of countries, including, Germany, UK, Turkey, Italy, Georgia, Ukraine, Estonia, as well as international organizations, including the European Union, NATO, OIC expressed their concerns over the holding of illegal elections by separatists in Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region. OSCE Minsk Group that mediates the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan described the elections as illegal saying that no country has recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent entity.

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
One Media iP Group Plc

("One Media", or the "Company")

Option Awards and PDMR Dealings

The Board of One Media announces that the following options over ordinary shares of 0.5p each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") were granted under the One Media IP Group Long-Term Incentive Plan ("OMIPLTIP") on 2 April 2020 (the "Grants"):

Director Position Number of options over Ordinary Shares granted Exercise Price Market Price at Date of Grant Steve Gunning Chief Financial Officer 500,000 6p 5.75p Claire Blunt Non-Executive Chair 750,000 6p 5.75p Brian Berg Non-Executive Director 750,000 6p 5.75p

The Grants vest subject to the achievement of performance conditions as specified by the Remuneration Committee and are subject to claw back provisions in certain circumstances. The performance conditions require that the Company's total shareholder return (comprising share price appreciation and earnings) for each of the financial years ending 31 October 2020, 2021 and 2022 increases by 5% (or 15% in aggregate over the three years).

The notification below, made in accordance with the requirements of the EU Market Abuse Regulation, provides further detail:

1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name

Steve Gunning 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status

Chief Financial Officer b) Initial notification /Amendment

Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name

One Media iP Group plc b) LEI

213800PAVPCE7JDBF341 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted

a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Ordinary shares of 0.5 pence each Identification code GB000B1DRDZ07 b) Nature of the transaction

Grant of options to acquire ordinary shares (exercise price of 6p) c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 6 pence 500,000 d) Aggregated information n/a - Aggregated volume - Price e) Date of the transaction

2 April 2020 f) Place of the transaction

Off market

1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name

Claire Blunt 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status

Non-Executive Chairman b) Initial notification /Amendment

Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name

One Media iP Group plc b) LEI

213800PAVPCE7JDBF341 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted

a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Ordinary shares of 0.5 pence each Identification code GB000B1DRDZ07 b) Nature of the transaction

Grant of options to acquire ordinary shares (exercise price of 6p) c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 6 pence 750,000 d) Aggregated information n/a - Aggregated volume - Price e) Date of the transaction

2 April 2020 f) Place of the transaction

Off market

1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name

Brian Berg 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status

Non-Executive Director b) Initial notification /Amendment

Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name

One Media iP Group plc b) LEI

213800PAVPCE7JDBF341 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted

a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Ordinary shares of 0.5 pence each Identification code GB000B1DRDZ07 b) Nature of the transaction

Grant of options to acquire ordinary shares (exercise price of 6p) c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 6 pence 750,000 d) Aggregated information n/a - Aggregated volume - Price e) Date of the transaction

2 April 2020 f) Place of the transaction

Off market

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014. The person who arranged the release of this information is Michael Infante, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

One Media iP Group Plc

One Media iP Group Plc

Michael Infante - CEO

Claire Blunt - Chairman

www.omip.co.uk +44 (0)175 378 5500



+44 (0)175 378 5501 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser)

Liam Murray

Jo Turner

Ludovico Lazzaretti +44 (0)20 7213 0880





Cenkos Securities plc (Broker)

Max Hartley

Max Gould

Michael Johnson (Sales) +44 (0)20 7397 8900 Yellow Jersey PR (PR & IR)

Charles Goodwin

Dominic Barretto +44 (0)20 3004 9512

About One Media IP Group Plc

One Media is a digital music rights acquirer, publisher and distributor.

The Group specialises in purchasing and monetising intellectual property rights with proven, repeat income streams. One Media adds value to its content by maximising its availability in over 600 digital stores globally, including Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon and Spotify.

One Media's music is also widely used for synchronisation in film, TV and digital gaming whilst its video content is primarily viewed on YouTube where One Media operates over 20 YouTube channels as a certified partner.

One Media is listed on the London Stock Exchange on the AIM index, under the symbol 'OMIP'.

http://www.omip.co.uk/
Leading disease forecasters, whose research the White House used to conclude 100,000 to 240,000 people will die nationwide from the coronavirus, were mystified when they saw the administrations projection this week. The experts said they dont challenge the numbers validity but that they dont know how the White House arrived at them.

White House officials have refused to explain how they generated the figure  a death toll bigger than the United States suffered in the Vietnam War or the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They have not provided the underlying data so others can assess its reliability or provided long-term strategies to lower that death count. (Washington Post)

Featured stories

U.S. death toll tops 6,000 as global diagnosed cases cross 1 million (ABC News)

U.S. expected to recommend masks for Americans in coronavirus hot spots (NBC News)

Fauci: I dont understand why every state hasnt issued stay-at-home orders (CNN)

Trump rails against witch hunts after Pelosi announces committee to oversee coronavirus response (USA Today)

Fact-checking President Donald Trumps claims about coronavirus (NBC News)

Trumps company seeks to ease financial crunch as coronavirus takes toll (New York Times)

Navy removes captain who raised alarm about coronavirus on aircraft carrier (CBS News)

National news

U.S. weekly jobless claims double to 6.6 million (CNBC)

IRS to begin issuing $1,200 coronavirus payments April 9, but some Americans wont receive checks until September, agency plan says (Washington Post)

2 cruise ships with passengers sick with coronavirus dock in Florida (CBS News)

Trump says 3M will have a big price to pay over face masks (Reuters)

Justice Department will send seized medical supplies to New York, New Jersey (Politico)

Georgia Gov. Kemp slammed after saying he just learned coronavirus could spread without symptoms (USA Today)

The Navys twin hospital ships have treated fewer than 20 patients as coronavirus battle rages (CNBC)

Whitmer orders all Michigan schools to remain closed through academic year as coronavirus cases surge (mlive.com)

Residents in Texas city can face $1,000 fine for not wearing some form of covering over their nose and mouth after new motion (The Hill)

Hawaii will fine self-quarantine violators $5,000 or send them to prison (CNN)

Above normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season on tap, researchers forecast (CBS News)

Judge rebuffs Trump administration over border wall funding (Politico)

World news

Pope Francis, white figure standing alone at center, delivers an Urbi et orbi prayer from the empty St. Peter's Square last month at the Vatican. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vatican on Friday announced that Francis will celebrate Mass for Palm Sunday, on April 5, Holy Thursday, on April 9, and Easter vigil and Easter Sunday on the weekend of April 11-12 at the basilica's central altar. AP

Spain passes 10,000 deaths after its highest single-day rise yet -- but the curve is stabilizing (CNN)

Bodies pile up on streets in Ecuador as coronavirus spreads (CBS News)

The UK plans to issue coronavirus immunity passports so people can leave the lockdown early (Business Insider)

Coronavirus: Wuhan residents told to stay inside and be vigilant (The Guardian)

Putin tells Russians to stay home all month amid coronavirus threat (The Hill)

U.N. agency keeps Africa food aid flowing amid coronavirus (Reuters)
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Cathilea is CEO of e.Republic, where she oversees sales, editorial and operations for the companys award-winning media platforms: Governing and Government Technology. Her expertise in government, technology and business has made her a trusted advisor for both government and industry leaders throughout the United States. She is also the host of Governing's "In the Arena" podcast.
Sydney University vice-chancellor Michael Spence has urged parents not to worry about children missing school, saying the education system is adaptable and teachers would get children back on track when the COVID-19 crisis is over.

Dr Spence, who has eight children ranging in age from babies to adults, said families could have faith that Australian educators would be able to identify and fill gaps in children's learning when classroom teaching resumed.

Dr Michael Spence with his sons Theodore and Hugo Credit:Louise Kennerley

His comments come as parents - particularly those with children in primary school - say they have been overwhelmed with the stress of working from home, and fighting to hold onto vulnerable jobs, while supervising their children's lessons.

"I'm not saying education is not important, but I think we can act sometimes as if the education of a young person is a process of jumping through hoops, where every hoop has to be jumped through in the right order at the right height," Dr Spence told the Herald and The Age.
A future backlog looms for Ontarios health-care system as the province cuts down on surgeries and treatment for patients requiring care unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ontario government announced last month that all non-essential care and elective surgeries must be put on hold to protect health-care providers, patients and the public and to manage whats expected to be a tremendous demand on the system from the spread of COVID-19.

Patients with serious but not emergent medical issues  meaning patients who do not face imminent harm if not treated within the next 14 days  are encountering obstacles as they try to access normal care, like cancer surgeries or essential rehabilitation for stroke, cardiac and vascular patients, who could be facing permanent disability without it.

Experts warn it could lead to a future backlog for a health-care system that is preparing for tougher days ahead.

Ontarios health-care system is treating patients facing imminent harm normally, according to Dr. Madhu Natarajan, a structural and interventional cardiologist at Hamilton Health Services and the regional physician lead of the Hamilton-Niagara Integrated Heart Investigation Unit.

Urgent patients, meaning people who are hospitalized but are not in immediate danger, are being triaged daily in order to properly prioritize patients and minimize lengths of stay. Postponing elective surgeries for cardiac patients in urgent care should be safe for most people because wait times were short in Ontario before the coronavirus outbreak. Four to six extra weeks of waiting may cause some patients anxiety but should not compromise their well-being.

But there is another tier of patients, those who are currently at home waiting for a procedure or treatment, that Natarajan worries about. Part of the contingency planning involves doing as many regular procedures as possible during the ongoing pandemic to maintain a patient flow. If that gets bogged down because of coronavirus measures, the wait for procedures and treatments could grow.

This is going to be a big problem for (patients at home). Are they going to face long waiting lists? I think part of it is a little bit unknown ... the extent of the surge is difficult to predict, and how much outpatient care we can continue.

In some cases, people needing medical care are not going into the hospital at all, which also threatens to put further pressure on the health-care system in the future.

Experts in stroke care are seeing fewer people present to emergency departments with milder, non-disabling stroke symptoms, or transient ischemic attacks (TIA), according to Dr. Leanne Casaubon, a stroke neurologist and director of the TIA and Minor Stroke Unit at Toronto Western Hospital. The number of doctors referrals to stroke prevention services is also on the decline  anecdotally, she said, because the data hasnt totally been analyzed yet.

Life- and limb-saving acute care and stroke prevention services are intact as the countrys health-care system battles COVID-19, but patients with milder symptoms who may not be calling 911 or visiting the emergency department  either for fear of contracting coronavirus or adding unnecessary pressure to the health-care system  could fill hospitals beds in future if their symptoms worsen.

Our concern is that an unintended consequence of this will be a potential increase in stroke into the near future, that we certainly want to help to avoid as best we can, said Casaubon.

Planning for the inevitable backlog surge in elective surgeries is very much like trying to hit a moving target. While some of the logistical elements will be known  number of cases and their prioritization, for example  other elements, such as the length of the coronavirus crisis, and the resources available at the end of it, are completely up in the air.

Dr. David Urbach is the Surgeon-in-Chief at Womens College Hospital in Toronto, and a Professor of Surgery and Health Policy at the University of Toronto. Simply put, he defines elective surgeries as those which are scheduled in advance. By that nature, they are not immediately life-threatening, in contrast to emergency surgeries.

The numbers are not trivial: in 2017, there were 183,647 elective surgeries in Ontario; in 2018, the last year for which Ontario was able to provide totals, that figure was 184,125.

Within that elective surgery category are subcategories, which vary according to discipline. For example, Cancer Care Ontario subdivides surgeries into four priorities, ranging from priority one  surgery necessary within 24 hours  to priority four  surgery required within 84 days.

Across the board there are systems that prioritize the urgency of patients care, based in part on type of operation, patient status and hospital resources, said Urbach. These form the basis for decisions about which surgeries get postponed.

The directive is to curtail elective surgery as much as possible, he said. We know from modelling that the hospitals in Ontario are likely to be stressed, possibly overwhelmed in the next one to two weeks with very sick patients. And in order to make sure as many people can be saved as possible, they want to make sure that as many hospital resources are free for those people.

All of this is a tradeoff. Nothing is certain, and people are trying to essentially make decisions that will create as much net benefit as possible and minimize harm and save as many lives as possible.

Whatever decisions are made, what is certain is that at such time that the coronavirus lifts and eases the immediate pressure on the health-care system, there will be a backlog of elective surgeries to perform, and more difficult decisions will have to be made.

Theres going to have to be a catch-up period where were either going to have to increase our ability to do elective surgery at a later date once this crisis lifts, or there will be just a period of time where theres a lot longer waits to have surgery, said Urbach.

Post-coronavirus crisis, some of the solutions for the backlog could be found in unusual allocations of resources, he said. Certain hospitals could be designated as only for use by non-COVID-19 patients. Or hospitals that do treat COVID patients might segregate certain areas for use by non-COVID patients.

Depending on the trajectory of the pandemic in Canada, there might even be a scenario when hospitals, no longer as taxed as they were at its height, might go back to a regular schedule of elective surgeries in several weeks time.

Dr. Chris Simpson, a cardiologist and Vice-Dean, Clinical at Queens University School of Medicine, said the coming backlog will create complicated demands on the health-care system.

Simpson was the former chair of the now-disbanded Wait Time Alliance; a federation of medical specialty societies and the Canadian Medical Association that created benchmarks for wait times for all procedures and reported on provinces abilities to match those wait times.

He says the impact of the postponement of these elective surgeries is still an unknown. In the short term, everyone agrees its necessary. Hospital resources must be preserved; personal protective equipment must be conserved. But the long-term outlook is still fuzzy.

If were slowing down for three or four months, two things start to happen, he said. The first being, clearly weve got a very sizable backlog of procedures and care thats going to have to be provided after this is all over, which is no small task.

But the second thing is that a lot of things that are quote unquote elective today and can be safely put off  by three or four months from now, theyre no longer elective  theyve become more urgent because theyve waited longer than they should have.

Thats going to create strains on health care. First, he said, well be dealing with a health-care workforce that is tired and burned out from dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Asking them to work overtime to help clear the backlog of elective surgeries is asking a lot.

There are also physical limitations in that there are a fixed number of operating rooms, procedure rooms and clinic rooms in which to perform these surgeries. The capacity of those rooms could be increased by using them after hours and on weekends, but again, that creates a lot of strain on an already tired health-care workforce.

There is also the question of money.

A lot of funding, of course, is quite appropriately being redirected to scaling up for the COVID crisis, said Simpson Whats that going to mean for health-care budgets if they have to spend several months going at hyperspeed doing procedures that cost money? And to what extent will that be a constraint?

During the SARS epidemic in 2003, Toronto hospitals suspended elective surgeries for a number of weeks, creating a similar shutdown to the current one. Once the crisis passed, it took months  even with hospitals ramping up procedures as much as they could  to get back to a pre-SARS level of elective surgery.

Simpson believes scaling up from the SARS experience that it could be months to years before wait times for elective surgeries return to their pre-coronavirus levels.

While provinces and hospitals are creating plans for dealing with the anticipated backlog, those plans are necessarily incomplete  the information needed to flesh them out is just not available. For health-care administrators, said Simpson, the keys will be flexibility and adaptability.

I think its going to require a very thoughtful approach, he said. There will have to be a very concerted effort to devote resources to the patients who need them most.

Thats going to require a judgment call. And those judgments wont be easy. But I think everybody would buy into the notion well probably have to have a hierarchy of priorities and saving lives will be number one.
As Catholic schools bring holidays forward and attendance at public schools drops to five per cent, the early learning sector is surging with families sending children back to childcare after the federal government waived fees.

The conflicting messages about the safety of school and childcare, and the stress of parents trying to manage home lessons and work, also prompted a public health expert to urge governments to reveal the criteria for schools reopening.

Elizabeth Death, the chief executive of the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia, said inquiries had spiked at services after the federal government on Thursday announced childcare would be free during the COVID-19 crisis.

Childcare enrolments surge while school kids stay home Credit:Janie Barrett

The relief package [is] providing a great stimulus for them to return to a normal routine with educators they connect with," she said.
About 95,600 households in Mekong Delta face freshwater shortage because of drought and saline intrusion.

Ben Tre, Kien Giang, Ca Mau and other provinces in Mekong Delta have asked the government permission to build reservoirs in their localities to store freshwater.





However, some scientists believe that the solution wont help.



Duong Van Ni from the Environment and Natural Resources Faculty of the Can Tho University cited a series of reasons that make the solution unfeasible.

About 95,600 households in Mekong Delta face freshwater shortage because of drought and saline intrusion.

First, the saline intrusion which leads to freshwater shortage occur in coastal areas. The soil in this area is sandy which makes it impossible to prevent water from leaking and saltwater from outside from penetrating into the reservoirs.



This explains why salinization occurred just after six months of operation at Kenh Lap Reservoir, the largest in Mekong Delta, located in Ba Tri district of Ben Tre province, built with investment capital of VND85 billion.



Second, many coal-fired thermal power plants have been built in coastal areas, so it is necessary to re-assess the air quality in the region. There is a possibility of rainwater getting polluted.



According to Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent expert on the Mekong Delta, there are problems that need consideration when building ponds, reservoirs or water storage facilities for coastal areas.



First, it is necessary to separate the water sources for domestic use and for production.



The works to store water for production cannot satisfy the requirements for domestic use because the water may get polluted from production activities, which leads to organic eutrophication or accumulation of inorganic toxins.



Water stored in ponds and lakes has low oxygen content and it has low self-cleaning capability. Therefore, it is necessary to be sure that all pollutants cannot penetrate into the water sources.



Second, it is necessary to consider building many small reservoirs in many localities or one large reservoir.



With one large reservoir, it will be easier to manage and install a water processing plant. However, it would be more costly to transmit water to people because of long distances.



Third, it is necessary to consider the possible volume of water loss. Ponds, reservoirs and water storage facilities need to be deep enough to offset the water volume to evaporate.



Fourth, it is necessary to reinforce canal bed and roof to prevent water and saline intrusion, and alum intrusion. In addition, it is advisable to cover the surface with plants to help treat water and reduce evaporation.



Thien thinks that it would be better to apply different measures to satisfy freshwater needs. While large water supply works are better for urban areas because of high number of water users, they would be less helpful in thinly populated areas.

Thanh Lich

Can Tho to become first smart city in Mekong Delta by 2025 Can Tho, the most populated city in the Mekong Delta region, has achieved outstanding results in developing a project to build a smart city after nearly two years of implementation.
Photo: Sergio Rossi/Facebook

On Friday morning, it was reported that the famed Italian shoe designer Sergio Rossi died in Cesena, Italy at the age of 84. The cause of death was the coronavirus.

Italy is one of the nations hit hardest by the pandemic. At the end of February, Milan Fashion Week came to a screeching halt as the virus took hold of the countrys northern region. A little over a month later, Italy has a reported 115,242 cases and 13,915 deaths.

Today, everyone at Sergio Rossi joins me in remembering our dear Sergio, the inspiring founder of our dream, Sergio Rossi Group chief executive Riccardo Sciutto wrote in a statement. Sergio Rossi was a master, and it is my great honour to have met him and gotten to present him the archive earlier this year. His vision and approach will remain our guide in the growth of the brand and the business.

Mr. Rossi founded his namesake brand in 1951 and went on to become one of the most renowned accessory designers in Italy  a country known for handcrafted accessories  collaborating with everyone from Dolce & Gabbana to Gianni Versace. It was a family business: Rossis father was a shoemaker, and his son, Gianvito Rossi, went on to start his own successful accessories brand.

Gianvito said that his father put up a noble fight against the coronavirus, adding that he was hospitalized for a few days before his death. He has always stood out for his class and his strong, charismatic, generous, courageous character: a natural leader, loved and respected at the same time by his collaborators, with whom, in the long journey of his life, he created one big family, he wrote.

The family offers, with love, their last goodbye: With the unquenchable fire of your passion, you taught us that there are no limits for those who love what they do, Gianvito added. Goodbye, maestro.

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WALL, N.J., April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BIO-key International, Inc. (BKYI), an innovative provider of biometric identity, authentication and security solutions, today announced that Manny Alia, President, Exponential Launch Partners Limited; Chief Executive Officer, Technology Transfer Institute of Africa; and former Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase has joined the Board of Directors, with a particular focus on supporting BIO-keys African subsidiary. In March BIO-key secured two contracts to provide its biometric solutions to customers in Nigeria, with anticipated revenue totaling $75M.



Mr. Alia holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting and has earned an MBA from Cornell University. Manny is an astute leader with deep experience and forward-looking ideas on financial/banking services, security and Africa opportunities. Since leaving JPMorgan Chase, Mr. Alia has served as business development and management consultant in Africa, and played a role in recent BIO-key contract wins through his leadership at the Technology Transfer Institute of Africa (TTIA) and Exponential Launch Partners.

Manny Alia, remarked, I am very excited to join the BIO-key Board of Directors to help guide the Companys initiatives to bring their proven, state-of-the-art biometric solutions to Africa. The continent represents an enormous and growing market where the need and business opportunities for biometrics are imminent. This significant opportunity should drive revenue growth and bottom-line performance for BIO-key and its shareholders, and I am pleased to be part of the future of BIO-key.

At JPMorgan Chase in New York, Mr. Alia was head of wholesale in Receivable Operations in Corporate and Investment banking for the U.S. and Canada. The unit had an annual budget of $100M, over 1,000 employees, processed over 100M items and over $700B in deposits a year for Government, Healthcare, Insurance and other Corporate clients. Manny brings a wealth of knowledge and insight on security issues and enhancing operational efficiency.

Story continues

Michael DePasquale, BIO-key Chairman and CEO commented, We are thrilled to augment our Board with a senior executive with a strong financial services and technology background and wide base of relationships, particularly in Africa. Having Mannys support to drive initiatives within our African subsidiary should allow BIO-key to build on our successes in Africa and expand our leadership position on the continent.

About BIO-key International, Inc. ( www.bio-key.com )

BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and identity access management with biometric solutions that enable convenient and secure access to information and high-stakes transactions. We offer software-based alternatives to passwords, PINs, tokens, and cards to make it easy for enterprises and consumers to secure their devices as well as information in the cloud. Our premium finger scanning devices offer market-leading quality, performance and price  providing more ways to BIO-key your world!

BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement

All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "anticipates," "believes" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our history of losses and limited revenue; our ability to protect our intellectual property; changes in business conditions; changes in our sales strategy and product development plans; changes in the marketplace; continued services of our executive management team; competition in the biometric technology industry; market acceptance of biometric products generally and our products under development; our ability to expand into Asia, Africa and other foreign markets; delays in the development of products, our ability to conduct the closings under the private placement transactions on the terms described herein, and statements of assumption underlying any of the foregoing as well as other factors set forth under the caption see "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Engage with BIO-key

Facebook  Corporate: BIO-key International

Twitter  Corporate: @BIOkeyIntl

Twitter  Investors: @BIO_keyIR

StockTwits: @ BIO_keyIR
Scott Morrison has told Australians not to go on holiday for Easter to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

He asked Aussies to forget driving to see relatives and instead stay at home.

'People should not be going away for Easter holidays. Holiday at home,' he said.

'People should not be getting in their cars and going to other places.'

Scott Morrison (pictured) has told Australians not to go on holiday for Easter

Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane on 3 April

The Prime Minister said his wife Jenny and two daughters have set up decorations at his house in Canberra in preparation for next weekend.

Mr Morrison said places of worship are closed to the public but services will be live-streamed.

He made the comments in a press conference in which he announced the government is working on a plan to save commercial tenants from eviction.

Under a national code of conduct proposed by real estate groups, tenants participating in the JobKeeper scheme could ask landlords for a rent reduction proportionate to the amount of revenue they have lost due to coronavirus.

'The turnover reduction of the tenant needs to be reflected in the rental waiver of the landlord,' Mr Morrison said.

'We want both parties to negotiate in good faith.'

Sydney's Northern Beaches are pictured with people everywhere on April 3

This could mean that some tenants have to make no rental payments for months.

The code, expected to be finalised next week, will be mandatory and incorporated into state and territory legislation.

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

No announcements were made on residential tenancies but the Prime Minister said landlords and tenants should use 'common sense' in negotiations.

The Prime Minister also announced government modelling on the spread of the virus will be made public next week.

This would show when hospitals could be overwhelmed by coronavirus patients - and would help provide guidance on how long tough restrictions are needed.

Mr Morrison also ordered working holiday makers in Australia to self-isolate for 14 days before travelling to rural parts of the country for their farm work.

This is to stop workers taking the virus from cities to regions. He told tourists to go home.

In the same press conference, Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said for every confirmed coronavirus case around the world there are five or ten more unregistered cases.

'We know that judging by the death rate, the testing rate in many countries, they're not detecting all the cases,' he said.

A policeman talks to a driver at a checkpoint on the Queensland and New South Wales border on Griffith Street in Gold Coast on April 3

'In Australia we're pretty confident that our testing has been probably the best in the world.'

Professor Murphy said he did not trust any country's case figures except Australia's.

The press conference came after a meeting of the national cabinet.

Mr Morrison said the cabinet is focussing on the 'recovery phase' now that restrictions and economic support measures have been put in place.

A police officer in Sydney checks that a returned traveller is self-isolating at home on 3 April
The trouble with crying wolf is that sometimes the wolf shows up at your door. For years, critics have said that Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban is a tin-pot dictator, Central Europes answer to Vladimir Putin. The flaws in Hungarys democracy and Orbans own no-holds-barred approach to electioneering were held up as the decisive factors behind his political success, while other explanations  the advantages of incumbency, the pre-pandemic strength of the Hungarian economy, the divided state of the opposition  were downplayed or ignored. For those committed to the ideological project of ever-closer European integration, Orbans outspoken nationalism, his Euroscepticism, and his strident opposition to immigration made him a particularly inviting target.

Now, however, the Hungarian governments heavy-handed response to the coronavirus threatens to vindicate Orbans critics. On March 30, the Hungarian Parliament passed emergency legislation that allows Orban to indefinitely govern by decree and threatens jail time for anyone spreading false or misleading information about the pandemic. Technically, Parliament can revoke this extraordinary grant of power with another vote, but Orbans Fidesz party controls an overwhelming legislative majority.

Orban is sometimes compared to the likes of Putin or Xi Jinping. This is badly mistaken. Even after his assumption of broad emergency powers, the prime minister is best understood as the latest in a line of Hungarian leaders who have uncomfortably straddled liberalism and authoritarianism. During the late Soviet period, Hungary under Janos Kadar was known as the happiest barracks in the Eastern bloc, a relatively relaxed socialist alternative to the grim regimes of East Germany or Romania. Before World War II, the country was ruled by Admiral Miklos Horthy, a right-wing autocrat who nevertheless presided over parliamentary elections.

The signal fact about soft authoritarianism is that it is soft, and therefore amenable to change. Crudely lumping Orban in with hardline autocrats implies that Hungarys democratic backsliding is hopeless and irreversible. It would be better to recognize that the coronavirus is an unprecedented emergency and that ill-considered emergency powers may yet be relinquished.

Story continues

In recent years the EUs response to Orban has been either too weak or too broad. In 2018 the much-heralded Sargentini report on Hungary was presented to the European Parliament. The report, authored by a Dutch Green Party MP, included many legitimate complaints about the erosion of civil liberties and corruption, but it also took Hungary to task for its gender inequality, the inadequacy of its old-age pensions, and its failure to adopt same-sex marriage. It is hardly surprising that Hungarians were not interested in being lectured by a left-wing EU functionary about gender roles.

On April 1, after Parliament granted Orban the power to rule by decree, several EU governments released a mealy-mouthed statement that omitted any mention of Hungary and vaguely called for monitoring by the European Commission. Meanwhile, the American embassy in Budapest released a similarly weak statement that conspicuously failed to mention Orban or the Hungarian government. Foreign governments should make specific but forceful points about maintaining civil liberties and the integrity of the democratic process without needling Hungarians over unrelated issues. A commitment to liberal democracy does not imply a particular set of electoral outcomes, and the EU and the United States should recognize that Hungary is not Denmark or Canada.

Promoting liberal democracy is an unfashionable cause of late, but Hungary is worth fighting for. In the dark days of the Cold War, Milan Kundera sought to explain the enduring ties between Central Europe and the West by quoting the last dispatch of the Hungarian News Agency from the doomed but heroic 1956 uprising against the Soviets. We are going to die for Hungary and for Europe was the final message from Budapest before the agency was destroyed by Russian artillery. The message is a timely reminder that Hungary is at the heart of Europe, both geographically and culturally, with its own proud liberal traditions that stretch back over 150 years.

Orbans outsized presence on the world stage is another sign that what happens in Hungary matters, not just for Hungarians but for Europe more broadly. Fortunately, the stakes are not as high as in 56. There are no tanks on the streets, and Hungarian democracy is not a lost cause. But even in the midst of a global pandemic, it is time for other liberal democracies to stand up, both for Hungarys sake and for Europes.

Editors Note: This article originally claimed that the American embassy had been silent on the issue, when it had in fact released a statement.

More from National Review
San Francisco, April 3 : Google has announced to provide 4,000 Chromebooks and 1,00,000 Wi-Fi hotspots for rural students in California, who are studying from home due to coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative was announced by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Thursday.

"We are providing 4,000 Chromebooks to California students in greatest need & free wifi to 1,00,000 rural households during the #COVID19 crisis to make distance learning more accessible," Pichai tweeted.

Governor Newsom said the state's Department of Education will distribute the Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots, prioritising rural communities.

However, the governor estimated that California needs an additional 1,62,013 hotspots on top of the 1,00,000 hotspots and to meet the need the governor has asked other companies to donate.

The search engine giant has announced to provide over $800 million to support small and medium businesses (SMBs), health organisations, governments and health workers on the frontline of global COVID-19 pandemic.

The commitment would include $250 million in ad grants to help the World Health Organisation (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other measures to help local communities.
No one in the family got to say goodbye to Grandpa or see his face one last time, said Gao Yingwei, an IT worker in Wuhan whose grandfather, Gao Shixu, apparently succumbed to the novel coronavirus on Feb. 7. The 76-year-old died at home; funeral workers in hazmat suits came to collect his body, telling the family it would be cremated immediately.
A popular Australian restaurant is now delivering their one kilogram brie cheese wheel pasta straight to your door after the coronavirus restrictions forced dine-in services to close.

Across selected locations in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Salt Meats Cheese is offering the 'pasta on wheels' service to customers in surrounding areas.

Priced at $39, the meal serves two people and is available to order every Wednesday.

Across selected locations in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Salt Meats Cheese is offering the 'pasta on wheels' service to customers in surrounding areas

Customers can choose from for different types of cheesy pasta including classic, four cheese, carbonara and truffle, which is all served inside a wheel of brie.

The new one kilogram brie cheese wheel pasta service is available from selected Salt Meats Cheese locations including Drummoyne in Sydney, Newstead in Brisbane and Surfers Paradise.

Those in the surrounding suburbs can order through Uber Eats, Deliveroo and directly through the Salt Meats Cheese app.

The new one kilogram brie cheese pasta wheel service is available from selected Salt Meats Cheese locations including Drummoyne in Sydney, Newstead in Brisbane and Surfers Paradise

Customers can choose from for different types of pasta including classic, four cheese, truffle or carbonara, which is served inside a wheel of brie

This isn't the first Australian business to quickly adapt to the strict hospitality restrictions and offer delivery to their customers.

Melbourne bar Mr West is also now delivering 1.5 litre 'bagnums' of Negroni and Espresso Martini for $99.

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.

Also in Melbourne, Ben Shewry's Attica is now delivering their fine dining food to customers at home in quarantine.
LONDON (Reuters) - Aeroplanes with a total insured value of more than $160 billion are grounded around the world, presenting risks for insurers, a report said on Friday.

Singapore has the largest number of planes standing idle at airports, at 205, with Hong Kong second at 178, the report by insurance broker Gallagher said.

There are 158 planes on the ground in Madrid though only 40 in New York, with planes at the world's 20 biggest airports having a total insured value of $164 billion.

Airlines have seen revenues slump as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which has led to travel lockdowns around the world.

"There will be airline failures, meaning unpaid premiums and bad debt," Bruce Carman, Chief Underwriting Officer at Hive Aero, said in the report.

The airlines will likely seek some of their premiums back because passenger numbers are heavily reduced, he added.

Groups of grounded aircraft also present risks for so-called "aviation war" underwriters, as they are a far larger target for terror attacks.

The lead insurers in consortia of aviation underwriters are turning down some renewal business, with particular concerns including non-Western built aircraft and older aircraft, the report said.

Where insurers are offering cover, they are seeking rate increases of at least 20-25%, Gallagher said. Aviation insurance rates have been falling for many years due to an improving safety record and steep competition.

(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Mark Potter)
The Royal Dutch Shell logo Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Working at Royal Dutch Shell's Deepwater division in New Orleans gives Barbara Waelde a front-row seat to how the right data can unlock crucial information for the oil giant. So when her supervisor asked her last year if she was interested in a program that could sharpen her digital and data science capabilities, Waelde, 55, jumped at the chance. Since she began her online coursework, the seven-year Shell veteran has learned Python programming, supervised learning algorithms and data modeling, among other skills. Shell began making these online courses available to U.S. employees long before COVID-19 upended daily life. And according to the oil giant, there are no plans to halt or cancel any of them, despite the fact that on March 23 it announced plans to slash operating costs by $9 billion. In fact, the remote nature of the classes, offered by Udacity, the digital learning and workforce skilling platform, may become the training method of choice not only for Shell but for a growing number of companies who need to keep employees up to speed in the weeks and months ahead. The ability to get their jobs done, away from the office, is key to keeping productivity on track during this uncertain time. As artificial intelligence, machine learning and other advanced technologies fuel the digital transformation taking place at so many companies, business leaders are scrambling to reskill their employees. As they see it, this can give them an advantage at a time when nearly every industry is reeling from a shutdown of the U.S. economy, supply chain disruptions and a workforce strategy in constant flux. AT&T undertook a massive reskilling effort in 2018, vowing to retrain nearly half of its 250,000 workers because it simply couldn't hire enough of the tech talent it needed. Other oil and gas companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP, have also leveraged AI to help them improve operations and reduce costs.

A nanodegree in autonomous vehicles is just one of 40 programs that Udacity is offering for free to workers laid off in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Udacity

The program now under way at Shell with Udacity will help the Anglo-Dutch oil company build its AI skills at scale. Shell says about 2,000 of its 82,000 employees worldwide have either expressed interest in the AI offerings or have been approached by their managers about taking the courses on everything from Python programming to training neural networks. Shell says the training is completely voluntary. The relationship with Udacity began as a pilot program in early 2019. At the time, Shell realized it had a huge mismatch between the number of AI-related projects it was working on and the number of data scientists needed to deliver on them. The company has been an early adopter of AI, using it for everything from deepwater drilling and maintenance to predictive analysis and autonomous computing. The company approached Udacity about creating coursework that could fill this skills gap, says Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Udacity. With the pilot program a success, Shell decided to move ahead with a bigger engagement aimed at petroleum engineers, chemists, data scientists, and geophysicists, among others. Employees complete Udacity's customized online coursework  called a nanodegree  at their own pace, but typically take anywhere from four to six months to finish, working 10 to 15 hours per week. Shell pays for the training but declined to say how much it is spending on the Udacity program.

A changing energy landscape

The oil giant's focus on getting its workforce skilled in AI is being driven by two major transitions. First is the company's move to develop alternative sources of energy. By the end of this year, Shell claims it will spend up to $2 billion on new energy technologies, including providing electricity directly to consumers. That plan is, in part, a response to how the world's energy system is expected to shift to a much greater use of electricity in the years ahead. Dan Jeavons, general manager of data science at Shell, says its power business is "digitally native, and the differentiation is going to be around AI." At the same time, Shell still has a huge oil business that needs to be managed effectively and efficiently, Jeavons adds. Reskilling workers in AI through the Udacity platform will allow them to spot potential maintenance needs in equipment before it breaks down, and to identify areas of a facility where it can reduce carbon emissions. Machine learning algorithms could also enable Shell to automatically process seismic data and to gather better information about underground rock formations. "The potential to move the needle and help people understand that we're serious about trying to change the way we do things for the better is not an easy task," Jeavons says. "But one thing we do know is that technology is a huge element of that change. We need to find a way to provide more and cleaner energy and investing in AI is a key way in which we're going to do that."

Attracting a new generation of workers

The Udacity AI collaboration also serves another purpose for Shell: making it potentially more attractive to younger workers. A survey by EY, the global assurance and advisory services firm, shows that millennials and Gen Z view oil and gas jobs as blue-collar, dangerous, and physically demanding. "Young people are digital natives," says Paul Donnelly, director, industry marketing at Aspen Technology, a software company that specializes in complex manufacturing processes. "When they come into the workforce, energy and chemical companies are unfortunately competing with Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google. It's tough to compete with those companies." Technology will play a huge role in transforming the industry's workforce into one that is highly skilled and educated. "Younger people have the expectation that they're going to be continually reskilled in these advanced technologies," says Udacity's Dalporto, "and what's more, they'll leave if they're not." And it's not just workers on the front lines. In February, before news of the COVID-19 crisis altered everyone's lives, Udacity announced that it has been working closely with BMW Group to create AI for Business Leaders. The course is targeted at business leaders and functional heads that are responsible for developing AI strategies within their organizations, says Dalporto. "We're not teaching them how to apply an algorithm, but we are teaching them the various techniques, how to get operational leverage, and what bias in the models to look for. We want them to be able to speak the same language as their data scientists and engineers."

Short shelf-life
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said Muslim MLAs of the state have agreed to provide details of those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi, to the government and also convince them to undergo COVID-19 tests along with quarantining themselves.

Yediyurappa held a meeting with Muslim leaders and legislators, seeking their cooperation in containing coronavirus in the state that was attended by N A Haris, C M Ibrahim, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Rizwan Arshad, Saleem Ahmed among others.

"They have responded positively and assured to extend full cooperation in this endeavour," the Chief Minister said in a statement after the meeting.

Noting that the MLAs have agreed to give details of those who visited Jamaatand convince them to undergo tests for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves for a stipulated period, he said, "They informed that, they have conducted meetings with religious leaders of the community and created awareness about it."

They (legislators) are advising the members of the community to offer prayers at home and also to stay indoors to maintain social distance during "azan," he added.

Observing that the leaders unanimously agreed to the fact that prevention was the only way to contain the virus, the CM said they will appeal to and convince the people from the community to cooperate with the health workers.

"I appeal to the people of the state to not heed to any rumours. Let all of us strictly follow precautionary measures and win the battle over Coronavirus," he added.

The Chief Minister's meeting with Muslim leaders comes even as the government was mounting efforts to track people, who might have travelled to the state after taking part in the conference at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month, which has turned out to be the hotbed of COVID-19 spread in the country. Nearly 1,000 people from Karnataka, who are linked to Tablighi-Jamaat have been screened and so far 10 men from Bidar and one woman from Kalaburagi (who is the contactof a person who has attended congregation), have tested positive, health department officials had said on Thursday.

Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan said the CM has requested us to appeal to the community regarding COVID-19 tests, especially those attended theTablighi Jamaat meet.
Credit: Nels IsraelsonJackson Browne was supposed to have started a tour with James Taylor next month, but like most artists worldwide, he's been forced to postpone the trek due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All the dates are being rescheduled, perhaps as soon as late summer. All previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new dates. The original tour was to have started May 15 in New Orleans and had been set to wrap up July 10 in Camden, New Jersey. Browne recently announced that he's been diagnosed with COVID-19, but reported that his symptoms are relatively mild, thankfully.

In a joint statement, Browne and Taylor say, "it's deeply disappointing for both of us to have to call it off and reschedule (and reschedule we WILL)! As we all now realize, COVID-19 is a serious, real and present danger. Moreover, our public health is all of our responsibility."

They add, "So let us listen to and follow the directions of our public healthcare people and support their efforts in this unprecedented time of global pandemic," they add. "Love those around you and, above all, stay safe and healthy."

Tayor also has postponed a June 21 show he'd scheduled at Boston's Fenway Park with special guests Shawn Colvin and Brandi Carlile. In addition, he has a July 4 concert lined up the famed Tanglewood music venue in Lenox, Massachusetts, but right now, there's no information as to whether or not that event will go forward.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Dr Madhu Purushothaman By

Mankinds battle against germs has a long and triumphant history. In 1967, WHOs Donald Henderson devised a strategy to identify smallpox contacts and vaccinate these contactswhat is famously called the ring vaccination strategy. It was this strategy that wiped out smallpox from our planet. In fact, the history of smallpox eradication is a telltale example of targeted surveillance and containment that yielded rich dividends. John Snows ingenious approach in 1854 when he mapped the source of the cholera epidemic to a water pump in Broad Street, London, is another epidemiological breakthrough that focused on source identification and disease containment.

Henderson and Snows battles against germs were won through targeted public health measures. Targeted public health measures are those that are deployed on segments of population carrying the infection and acting as reservoirs of disease. In the case of COVID-19 in India, this segment of the population is people with a history of foreign travel and their close contacts. Segregating, isolating, testing and treating this segment of the population is what is required for disease containment. Lockdowns alone may not be the perfect answer to the problems created by germs. There are other tactical weapons that need to be deployed in the battle.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, has said: To slow the spread of COVID-19, many countries introduced lockdown measures. But on their own, these measures will not extinguish epidemics. To devise effective public health measures, one needs to have a proper understanding of virulence, pathogenicity and infectivity of a microbial organism. Infectivity is the rate at which a microbial organism spreads from one host to another. Pathogenicity refers to the ability of an organism to cause disease in the host. Virulence refers to the severity of disease caused in the host. Infectivity is denoted by a measure called R0. Latest data from the WHO estimated the R0 for COVID-19 as 2.0 to 2.5, meaning infected individuals transmit it to 2-2.5 others on average.

By contrast, the R0 for measles is 12-18, while for seasonal influenza its a little over 1. Also, COVID-19 may not have high pathogenicity as evidenced by the sizable number of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases, especially in the younger and paediatric age-group. COVID-19 also has a relatively low virulence as evidenced by its low case fatality rate (CFR). In fact, the average CFR globally for COVID-19 is around 2.3 %. Comparatively, the CFR for Ebola was 50%, that for smallpox was 30%, and that for SARS was 9.4%. In essence, COVID-19 has moderate infectivity and pathogenicity, but low virulence. While fighting in a war, one needs to know the nature of the enemy. To succeed in this battle, we must have a keen insight into the germs biology and behaviour.

The bottom line is that we are dealing with a disease where 80% of those infected hardly need any medical care, 20% need just medical advice and about 5% need hospitalisation. The panic-stricken must understand that COVID-19 is a self-limiting viral illness in the vast majority. Respiratory viruses dont thrive and spread at the same rate all through the year. If they did, humanity would have been wiped out a long time ago! It is common knowledge that respiratory viruses have higher rates of infectivity during the winter months. Seasonal variations, temperature and climatic conditions do have an impact on the infectivity of respiratory viruses. Emerging reports that COVID-19 does not thrive well in hot, humid climates should give some comfort to people living in tropical regions of the world, especially with the summer fast approaching.

Therefore, mathematical modelling that forecasts millions of cases based on the initial rate at which COVID-19 spread during the winter months and in cold climates can blow the reality out of proportion. Clinicians on the ground can understand these realities better than statisticians, mathematical modellers and bench-side researchers. Also, India has one of the youngest populations in an aging world. The median age in India is just 28, compared to 37 in China and the US, 45 in Western Europe and 49 in Japan. This is Indias demographic dividend. This is also Indias demographic protection against COVID-19, which has selective virulence in the elderly. Notwithstanding these facts, we must use this opportunity to build a long-term arsenal in the fight against germs.

Hand hygiene and cough etiquette are universal precautions that must be followed at all times and not reserved only for an epidemic. The government must invest resources in long-term public health measures like enacting a legislation to ensure that all public restaurants, canteens and toilets have soap and tap water to facilitate hand washing. In fact, studies have shown that hand washing with soap and water at least three times a day (before meals) can reduce school absenteeism by as much as 50%. The government must also invest in public infrastructure that will decongest cities and prevent overcrowding in public places.

Mass congregations and political rallies where thousands of people gather must be disallowed. These are measures that will have a far-reaching impact on improving health and preventing disease. India must take a leaf from history and imbibe valuable lessons from public health battles fought and won by Donald Henderson and John Snowboth examples of targeted public health approaches. And then we can stop worrying and start living!

DR MADHU PURUSHOTHAMAN



Chairman, Glanis Institute of Medical Sciences, Madurai and attending physician, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, US Email: madhu.purushothaman@gmail.com
Family Carers Ireland are calling for individual assessments as over 750 home care workers are to be redeployed to nursing homes and other facilities during the Covid-19 crisis.

The redeployment means several families will lose their home-help hours.

However, the organisation has come across instances where support has been withdrawn without taking into account the full implications.

In one instance a 71-year-old woman acts as a carer to her 98-year-old mother but has had their service withdrawn as there appeared to be wider family support available.

However, both the carer and her mother have been advised to cocoon during the Covid19 outbreak as they are both over 70.

On top of this, members of the wider family support network are frontline health care workers and therefore cannot help with the care of their relatives.

Family Carers Ireland has said this highlights the need for individual assessment of a family carer and their loved ones needs before any withdrawal of hours.

Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Carer Engagement with Family Carers Ireland said: "While we understand the necessity for redeployment of homecare hours, we need to ensure this is done fairly and takes into account the needs of the entire family.

"Family Carers Ireland wants to reassure family carers that they are not on their own. We are here to support them and we have a network of experts, health care professionals and community response teams ready to assist them.

She added: "If any family carer is struggling, they can call our freephone Careline 1800 240724. We will advocate for support on their behalf and together well get through this time of great uncertainty.
Early spring is generally a pretty hectic time for Gina Ruiz.

Owner of the Platinum House of Sweets in Washington Township (Gloucester County), Ruiz would be making elaborate wedding cakes and setting up dessert tables for special events. There would be bridal and baby showers. Weekends would be consumed.

"Tables average $1,500 a job and we would be doing six or seven dessert tables a weekend, and we'd be booking events every week," she said. "Right now, nothing. Everything is on hold. It's a significant hit.

"We had to think of ways within days on how to adapt to a new style and keep things alive. If you miss that window, you're almost defeated. We're trying to keep ourselves relevant. We've developed a whole different clientele base from what we've had before - from high-end items to more affordable."

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In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, its become the new normal. Welcome change in hopes of holding on.

Instead of wedding cakes, Ruiz and her team are making cupcake kits to help keep kids busy. She's producing smaller cakes, flower bouquets made out of cupcakes, even quarantine cakes for the Easter holiday - a bunny wearing a protective mask.

Ruiz has also helped those around her, making a number of donations, including Food4Staff - a service started by Washington Township resident John Chirico and his family to help feed various members of the health care community.

I have 10,000 followers on Facebook and a good amount on Instagram. Were doing curbside and local delivery. You can place and pay for orders online, Ruiz said. If you havent kept up with social media, you have to learn right now. Its the key. You cant walk in and see, so you have to do email blasts, make posts.

Ruiz is not in a unique situation. The coronavirus outbreak has delivered a significant hit to small business throughout the community, but they're finding ways to reinvent themselves in hope of surviving. From do-it-yourself (DIY) kits to carryout service to online ordering, Washington Township businesses continue to fight in the same way other communities are fighting, too.

John Rendino, owner/operator of Ott's, says things have been challenging in recent weeks.

Takeout was just a small part of the business, said John Rendino, owner of Otts Bar and Restaurant. "Now its the entire business. Its been challenging.

"We're fortunate to be in Washington Township, where businesses rally for each other throughout the year regardless of the times. The restaurant community is tight-knit and we understand each other. We're all going through the same thing."

Nicole Lannutti, owner of The Craftroom and Made of Paper, is president of the Greater Washington Township Chamber of Commerce. There are 125 businesses that are members and each is doing its part to help the community remain active and alive.

"A lot of our chamber members - even when they really can't afford to donate or contribute themselves - are the first to jump in and do something," she said. "So many members have stepped up and are trying to keep our community active. They are offering discounted services ... They are keeping the morale high in the community and staying alive themselves.

"There are so many diverse members that are trying to help each other. Someone in banking could spark an idea that sparks another. It's nice to see different people, different businesses coming together. They are helpful to each other, not every man for himself or trying to take business away from each other. We're all in this together."

Washington Township mayor Joanne Gattinelli knows what small business is like in her town. As a former business owner, she feels for those that are struggling. And as mayor, shes working to make sure current owners realize their town is there in a time of need.

President of the Washington Township Chamber of Commerce, Nicole Lannutti and family gather in front of her local business - The Craftroom.

"From the beginning of March, we started to put our heads together to see what we could do," Gattinelli said. "I know some businesses are going to close because of this; I know the struggle. Help is out there and as a community we'll get through this. That's what I've said from the beginning.

"We've been working diligently to be on top of everything and make sure that everyone has what they need. We've been in contact with business owners, made calls. We've put out on every platform all of the information our small business owners need and we're here to support them. We're a community and will continue to be a community. It's how we're built."

From bars and restaurants to novelty stores and everything in between, everyone has been impacted.

"People put their lives into this and then it was an abrupt halt," Lannutti said. "We're here to support our members but also look for ways to keep businesses in the forefront of people's minds even if they are not operating. Some have closed but are planning to re-open if they can.

Businesses are pretty much trying to reinvent themselves. A lot are doing things theyve never done before - turning to online sales, Facebook sales. In my business, people can come in and buy things, do projects. Ive had to adapt to something Ive never done before. Im selling online, packing things up with instructions and supplies and then having customers come and pick it up. Weve all had to think about things differently and pretty quick.

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Up to more than 200 airplanes have been left unused at Vietnamese airports as local airlines have had to restrict flights due to the worsening Covid-19 epidemic.



Following the Ministry of Transports request, from April 1, all local and foreign airlines had to halt their international flights to the country for Covid-19 prevention.



Each local airline will provide only one flight per day on Hanoi-HCM City/ Danang/Phu Quoc and HCM City-Danang/Phu Quoc routes. Airlines have to halt all remaining flights from and to HCM City.

Vietnam Airlines' airplanes left unused due to Covid-19



This means that except for some airports such as Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Danang and Phu Quoc, others including Van Don, will almost close temporarily.



Previously, the Hanoi-HCM City air route had around 1,000 flights. However, now, the situation is totally different. Each day, there are only eight flights on the route. On March 31, Noi Bai International Airport welcomed just 1,000 passengers compared up to 20,000 earlier.



Despite the flight restriction, airlines still have to spend hundreds of billions of VND per month or even more for airplane maintenance, salary payment for their staff and other costs per month.



For instance, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has 108 airplanes, including 15 Boeing 787 and 14 Airbus 350. Every month, the firm has to spend nearly USD30 million for its fleet.



Meanwhile, budget carrier VietJet needs to spend USD20 million per month for its fleet which consists of 75 airplanes of Airbus 320 and Airbus 321.



It costs Vietnam Airlines VND6 billion (USD260,869) to rent the parking area for its fleet per month; while the figure for VietJet is VND3.6 billion and Bamboo Airways is VND1.24 billion.



Speaking to DTiNews, Head of Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam Dinh Viet Thang, said currently, domestic flights have been restricted, adding more challenges to airlines.



It is impossible to guess about the Vietnamese aviation markets growth this year as it is uncertain that when Covid-19 will end. We worry about airline bankruptcy, Thang added.



Never before the aviation sector witnessed such a difficult situation, he emphassised.



According to Thang, Despite numerous difficulties for airlines, Covid-19 prevention and control is still the top priority. Dtinews

Airlines to stop carrying passengers to Vietnam from April 1 The Ministry of Transport has asked airlines to stop carrying passengers to Vietnam as from 00:00 of April 1 until the end of April 15 as part of measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.




Argentine beef exports to EU, China plunge amid virus

Beef export from Argentina's cattle ranches to the EU have plunged to almost zero amid the global COVID-19 outbreak, while sales to top buyer China have tumbled from last year's levels, industry officials stated.

The slump in exports underscores how the pandemic is affecting global food supply chains, with demand dented by widespread closures of restaurants and transportation of goods stymied by measures to control the virus' spread.

Argentine beef shipments have sky-rocketed in recent years, fuelled especially by demand in China, helping the South American nation boost beef exports to US$3 billion in 2019.

Shipments jumped 50% last year to 845,877 tonnes, with China taking around three-quarters of that, official data show. The EU accounted for 9% of beef exports.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen over a million people infected and caused over 50,000 deaths, has arrested the market, clogging global trade and hurting demand in a hit to Argentina as it grapples with recession and a debt crisis.

"Due to the impact of the pandemic, export markets have cut many of their purchases and are extremely restricted," said Mario Ravettino, president of the ABC consortium of Argentine meat exporters, which represents local meat packers.

Ravettino said that March beef exports to China slumped to around 15% of levels seen late last year, when the South American country was sending around 50,000 tonnes each month to meet consumer demand.

Argentina's exports to China, which rose rapidly last year, had already taken a smaller hit in January when Chinese buyers looked to renegotiate prices, but the impact since from COVID-19 has been much more damaging.

China, where the COVID-19 outbreak first appeared, has been in lockdown since the start of the year with strict quarantine measures that have hit the food service sector and prompted beef demand to plunge.

Argentine meat industry officials said the market in Europe, now at the centre of the pandemic, had seen demand collapse even harder, basically paralysing exports to the region that normally buys pricier cuts of the South American country's beef.

"In Europe practically all restaurants are closed because they are in quarantine and beef in Europe is basically consumed in restaurants," said Miguel Schiariti, director of the Argentine Chamber of Meat Industry and Commerce (CICCRA).

Ravettino echoed the sentiment, "The European Union has disappeared from the market. There are no exports to the EU at this time."

Argentine beef exporters have instead turned back towards the domestic market to keep their plants operating, even if that means thinner profit margins with lower domestic prices.

"We are trying to cope as best we can with the current situation," said Ravettino, adding that activity in local meat packing plants continued as normal for now.
(Natural News) Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is now asking the federal government to send her hydroxychloroquine just four days after she threatened to revoke the medical licenses of doctors who prescribed it.

(Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Summit.news)

Last week, Whitmer sent a letter warning physicians and pharmacists of punishments for the prescribing of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine despite a major study recommending COVID-19 patients be treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to cure their infection and to limit the transmission of the virus to other people in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the world.

Medical professionals were threatened with administrative action, with Whitmer claiming that hydroxychloroquine had not met the benchmark for proof of efficacy.

How quickly things change. Four days later, Whitmer is now begging the feds to send her hydroxychloroquine.

We want to ensure that doctors have the ability to prescribe these medicines, she said. We also want to make sure that the people who have prescriptions that predated COVID-19 have access to the medication they need. And so all of the work that weve done is trying to strike that balance.

Its also worth noting that Fox News host Laura Ingraham was forced to delete a tweet that promoted hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 cure under threat of suspension despite it already having been approved by the FDA.

In its approval letter, the FDA said, Based on the totality of scientific evidence available to FDA, it is reasonable to believe that chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate may be effective in treating COVID-19.

Read more at: Summit.news
The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and the Kerala government on the plea of Karnataka challenging a high court order for opening of borders to ensure movement of essential supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The top court orally asked the Kerala government to not to precipitate the issue of opening of borders till further hearing of the matter on April 7.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta, which took up the plea for hearing through video conferencing asked the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Karnataka to hold discussions with Union Health Secretary for amicable settlement of the issue and decide on parameters to be maintained in case of health emergencies.

It observed that in the present scenario, there cannot be indiscriminate opening of borders.

Karnataka's Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi, who appeared for the state, said that the order of Kerala High Court passed on April 1, was without any jurisdiction.

The Karnataka government's plea filed by advocate Shubhranshu Padhi said, "The issue involved in the present SLP (special leave petition) is with regard to the closure of a road between the State of Karnataka and State of Kerala in order to combat the spread of the pandemic COVID-19...from the bordering Districts of the States."



The plea said that the order of the Kerala High Court has been passed wholly without any jurisdiction and is thus liable to be set aside.

"The said direction has been passed despite the earlier observations in the same Impugned Order that the High Court had no territorial jurisdiction to issue any direction to the State of Karnataka to remove any impediments which are located in the State of Karnataka. On the face of it, the Impugned Order has been passed wholly without any jurisdiction and is thus liable to be set aside on this ground alone, the plea said.

The state government said that Karnataka has locked down its borders in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 except the movement of essential commodities.

The State of Karnataka had specifically closed the Makutta Check post on the Mysore-Virajepat-Kannur highway. However, the High Court vide the Impugned Order has directed Central Government to intervene and remove the closure on the said road, it said.

The plea said that the order passed by Karnataka is based on adequate material as the existing facilities in the Mangalore district would not support patients from outside the state and there was every possibility of a serious outbreak of COVID-19 in the border districts of Karnataka, if free ingress and outgress of patients is allowed.

The High Court had on April 1 gave the order on a PIL seeking directions for opening of the roads connecting Kasaragod in Kerala and Mangaluru in Karnataka, which had been closed by Karnataka in view of the lockdown to check the COVID-19 outbreak.

"...we feel compelled to issue directions to the Central Government today because we are of the view that any further delay could entail loss of precious lives of our citizens", the Court had said in its order delivered on Wednesday night after a detailed hearing earlier in the day.

The order came amid reports of deaths of at least seven seriously ill persons after the ambulances carrying them to hospitals in Mangaluru, 15 kms from Kasaragod, were allegedly not allowed by Karnataka police on the borders.

The court had said the national highways come under the administrative jurisdiction of the Central Government and that the provisions of the National Highways Act clearly provide for the maintenance of such highways by it.

The act even provides for penal measures to be taken against anyone blocking such a highway, it said.

The arterial roads that connect Mangaluru in Karnataka, to Kasaragod in Kerala were part of the National Highway network and it is therefore the duty of the Central Government to ensure that the said roads are kept free of blockades, the court had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Authorities in the UK say it is not necessary to make the wearing of face masks compulsory for all residents. (PA)

The official advice to the British public is that there is no need for everyone to wear a face mask to slow the spread of coronavirus.

It comes after health professionals, political leaders and the World Health Organization (WHO) said people do not need to use protective face masks to shield them against COVID-19.

However, the US government is formalising new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings, while the WHO is also said to be reconsidering its stance on the general public wearing masks.

Public Health England maintain masks should be worn by people who are sick or caring for those that have contracted the virus.

The health secretary says scientific guidance shows there is little evidence that face masks should be worn by all in the UK. (Getty Images)

Health secretary Matt Hancock said he has not been advised to change the UKs approach on the public wearing of coverings.

He maintained the masks would be better saved for healthcare workers and those who have tested positive for COVID-19.

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Hancock told Good Morning Britain: I havent been advised that we should do that. Ill follow the scientific advice on that, which was very clear when we went through it at the start.

Masks are very important to protect healthcare workers who might have a lot of incoming virus but [ the public being advised to wear face masks] isnt something that weve done here because weve followed the advice and weve followed the medical and scientific advice and the whole basis of our response has been making sure that we follow the science.

Read more: 'Vague' coronavirus laws criticised by legal experts after woman wrongly fined hundreds of pounds

Scotlands national clinical director also said face masks will not help the general public fend off coronavirus.

According to Professor Jason Leitch, surgical masks can be useful to stop the spread of the disease through droplets if worn by those who have contracted or for healthcare workers dealing with people showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Story continues

Various UK healthcare professionals say face masks are not effective against all types of virus. (Getty Images)

He said there was no evidence to support claims the masks will stop people from contracting the disease.

Leitch told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme: The global evidence  and weve looked properly, I promise you  is that masks in the general population dont work.

Read more: Coronavirus: Six residents die at Liverpool care home after contracting COVID-19

People dont wear them properly, theyre hard, theyre difficult, theyre uncomfortable. Masks are not fun  particularly the very high end masks.

Backing up the comments, Ian Jones - a Professor of virology, at the University of Reading - said:

What confuses people about mask use is whether it provides absolute protection; does it stop all viruses?

The answer to that, for most masks, is no. But if you ask if it stops some viruses, the answer is yes.

Read more: 300,000 'pose sexual threat to children' during COVID-19 lockdown, warns crime agency

If an aerosol droplet hits the weave of the mask fabric rather than the hole it is clearly arrested. And lessening the aerosol dose chips away at the R0 and helps to slow the epidemic.

If approved masks can be sourced there is clearly a case for making them widely available - how about at cost through the Boots tie-up just announced?

They are not a cure but they address the longer flatter epidemic curve everyone is trying to achieve.

Read more: Coronavirus: UK death toll rises by 684 in biggest daily increase yet to 3,605

Meanwhile, in the US, recommendations are expected to apply to those who live in areas hardest-hit by community transmission of the virus.

Two elderly women wearing protective face masks walk in Westminster, London as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Medical-grade masks are being reserved for those in the country dealing directly with infected people.

Read more: Coronavirus immunity certificates would be 'dangerous and unnecessary', says health expert

Donald Trump indicated on Thursday that he would support such a recommendation, saying: If people wanted to wear them, they can.

Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks.

The US government is said to be considering recommendations that face masks are should be worn by many Americans. (AP)

However, director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) George Gao said it was a big mistake that compulsory face covering measures were not being enforced in the US and Europe.

Read more: Coronavirus: Matt Hancock says it's 'highly likely' he's now immune to COVID-19

Gao told Science magazine: This virus is transmitted by droplets and close contact. Droplets play a very important role  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.

Other countries around the world are making it compulsory for citizens to wear masks.

In Europe, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bosnia-Herzegovina have introduced strict measures, while residents in the Philippines are ordered to wear a mask while out in public.

In Japan, the government plans to post two gauze masks to each of the countrys 50 million households.

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All those who had attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area and were traced in the state had entered Haryana before the nationwide lockdown was announced, state Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Yadava said on Friday.

The DGP said during investigation it had come to the fore that all 1,277 people including 107 foreigners had entered the state before the lockdown was enforced and a majority of them came on March 14, 17 and 20.

The countrywide lockdown was enforced from March 25.

There were no restrictions in place when they entered Haryana. I can assure that no one entered after March 25, the DGP said during a joint media conference addressed by him and Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Vijai Vardhan and ACS (Health) Rajiv Arora via video link.

State Home Minister Anil Vij had earlier said the 107 foreigners were from countries, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, South Africa, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

While Chief Minister M L Khattar had earlier said that their passports had been confiscated and FIRs registered against them for various violations like flouting visa norms, the DGP said these cases were under investigation.

These foreigners were traced to five districts of Palwal, Faribadad, Panipat, Ambala and Nuh, Yadava said. If any other violation comes to the fore during the probe, then charges will be added in the already registered FIRs, he added.

ACS (Home) Vardhan said all the foreigners have been quarantined.

When asked about the nearly 60-70 people who were in attendance at the Nizamuddin event and had been brought to AIIMS Badsa in Jhajjar district, ACS (Health) Arora said, As far the National Cancer Institute at Badsa is concerned, it has been declared as a designated COVID-19 hospital by the Centre. It is also the sub-centre of AIIMS, Delhi and directly comes under the Centre." He added that only AIIMS or the Union Ministry of Health can give updates on who all have been admitted there.

The Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West had emerged as a hotspot of coronavirus cases, following which a major area was sealed and an FIR lodged against its cleric for violating government orders.

The Telangana government had on Monday said six people, who attended the religious congregation between March 13 and 15, died due to coronavirus. Subsequently, 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.

Meanwhile, the three officials gave details about steps being taken to combat COVID-19 in Haryana.

DGP Yadava said police is at the forefront of the fight to prevent spread of coronavirus infection.

We have put adequate police force at all 162 entry points to the enforce the lockdown. Police personnel are also deployed in the mandis to ensure that when people purchase essentials, social distancing is maintained, the DGP said.

Care is also taken to ensure that police personnel on duty are provided with masks and sanitisers and each week their medical examination is conducted, Yadava pointed out.

ACS (Health) Arora sought to assure that there was no dearth of personal protection equipment for doctors, nurses and paramedics, who are at the frontline of the battle to prevent the spread of coronavirus, pointing out that none of them will be deprived of proper protection.

In reply to a question, ACS (Home) Vardhan said 573 relief camps and shelters have been set up across the state to provide succour to poor sections including daily wage workers who have been hit hard by the ongoing situation.

As many as 15,850 migrant workers have been accommodated in 288 relief camps, Vardhan added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Lunch Ladies (and occasional guy) have our back. During the school day they cook up and hand out food, reliable comforts through the decades. But with the coronavirus shuttering schools, the Lunch Ladies are stepping up big time.

Across Connecticut, they leave their homes and families and risk their health to make sure thousands upon thousands of students can still eat a healthy lunch. Some places serve breakfast, too.

I cant be worried, says Alice Corso of Danbury, pausing from making sandwiches and packing food bags for Bethel students this week. God help me and keep me safe, I say when I set out from home. A squirt of Visiting Angels hand sanitizer helps, too.

Parents have lost their jobs, it helps to know their kids will have food, she says.

Alice was perhaps the most popular Lunch Lady at Bethel Middle School, where she has worked for 10 years  she ran the snack table. So she knows a lot of the students, and when I ask whether she has a message for them she is quick to reply: Be safe. And Wash. Your. Hands!

Its 9:20 Wednesday morning at Francis A. Berry Elementary School in the Bethel Education complex. Chicken salad sandwiches are made and wrapped. Six Lunch Ladies, who have been there since 7 a.m., bustle with precision as they add a bagel, yogurt, two cereals, juices, an apple or orange, a snack and milk to row upon row of paper lunch bags. They place these into plastic bags, donated by Caraluzzis Bethel Market. Each plastic bag contains two breakfasts and two lunches for one student.

Ordinarily a lunch would cost as much as $3.30 a day; now its free for all students regardless of family income.

On Monday we served over 2,000 meals  560 kids times four meals, says Amanda Riley, the exuberant Food Service Director for Bethel Schools. Amazement tinged with pride infuses her voice.

John Blackwell, her daily driver and right-hand man, hauls food delivered to the nearby high school over to Berry. Before long, the scent of tuna fish wafts over the tables of bags as some Lunch Ladies begin mixing the salad for Fridays sandwiches.

Wednesday marks two full weeks of the food operation, and each time it gets tinkered and improved. Instead of preparing and serving one day at a time, Amanda shifted to double meals every other day. It limits the risk and gives an added benefit  with the Friday delivery students also get Saturday breakfast and lunch. Her teams, totaling 15 of the 24 food service workers in the school district, alternate in a complicated schedule that means every two weeks they work three times. She makes it sound simple.

Adjustments are made on the fly. Initially, parents would get out of the car and pick up a bag and carton of milk from a cooler. Trying to maintain a 6-foot distance among all was a challenge. Then Amanda got the idea to instead bring the food to the cars, which makes the whole process run safer and quicker.

It also relies on volunteers. On Wednesday, always tweaking, Amanda is testing out another idea.

Its 9:35 a.m. and already at least five cars line up for the 10 a.m. start.

Inside the school, the Lunch Ladies buzz in a model of organization and industry.

Emmie Riley arrives to run a bag-filled cart from the schools gymnasium to a table outside at the curb. Shes volunteering as a go-between to help her mom, Amanda.

More cars add to the line. 9:50 a.m. Please, Lord, let there be volunteers, Amanda whispers.

She neednt have worried.

Here comes Cindy Keane up the sidewalk.

Weve got a new system, were switching it up again, Amanda calls out gaily, from 6 feet away.

Ill do whatever you want me to do, responds Cindy.

Today is her fourth time volunteering; shes a paraprofessional in the pre-school program at Berry.

Im not a health care provider, but Im doing something to help, she explains. And sometimes shell see one of her students in a car.

Miss Cindy, I miss you, one little girl said the last time, Cindy tells as her eyes well up.

Five more volunteers appear.

Desiree Ross, a supervisory paraeducator in Ridgefield, is a Bethel resident with two teenage sons in the schools. Today is her second time volunteering.

Why not? she says, brushing aside any virus concerns. It feeds the kids and everything.

Its 9:57 a.m. OK, volunteers, listen up, Amanda raises her voice. She shows them whats new  an extended-length grabber. Now they can pick up a bag with the grabber  not their hands  and drop it in a car through a rolled-down window from a safe distance.

Start time, 10 a.m. I count 21 cars in the queue. Lets go.

First the driver stops at Amandas spot. She recognizes most of the families by now and doesnt need to consult her clipboard to verify a name. Suzanne Rodgers, a supervisor in the accounting office, meticulously records the numbers for federal reimbursement purposes.

Two! Amanda calls, not needing a megaphone. Cindy moves two bags from the main table supplied by Emmie to Desirees table. The car moves up and Desiree catches on quickly to wielding the grabber.

Five! calls out Amanda, and a car pulls up to another table.

The process moves smoothly and quickly. It looks like it might be an outing for some cars with children and dogs.

10:16 a.m. The line is shorter, but cars keep coming.

Emmie is the link from the Lunch Ladies to the outside. Until March 1, she had been teaching English to kindergarten students in South Korea.

Its weird, because even though I didnt speak Korean, I understood the steps being taken to stop the virus, she says. I hated the trend of everyone wearing masks. And now that trend is here as the United States faces the brunt of the pandemic.

Jill Rodgers also returned early from overseas, much to her mother Suzannes relief. She was studying in France on a semester abroad from Bucknell University when she was brought home to Bethel on March 13. After two weeks of self-quarantine, I wanted to help.

Wearing a Bethel jacket, Dr. Christine Carver, the superintendent of schools, checks in.

Hi guys! she waves to students in a car; they wave back.

The operation is even more efficient now than last week when 5,600 meals were served, she notes. The volume will be higher this week with Saturday breakfast and lunch added to the Friday pick-ups.

10:43 a.m. and for the first time, no cars. Until another pulls up. Three students walk up; Amanda recognizes them. It will go like this until noon.

Though the Lunch Ladies and Amanda and the volunteers are on the front line of feeding students, the community is behind them. Famous Pizza, with Bethel Cycle, twice donated fresh pizza. The word spread quickly and cars came in droves.

On Wednesday whats dubbed the Feeding Program is fulfilled with cheer and camaraderie. Its only when I pause to consider that everyone is at least six feet apart and wearing plastic gloves does the sense of unreality return. Schools are closed, most businesses are closed, we are told to stay home. People are dying.

But children must eat and so the Lunch Ladies, volunteers and others come out to help as safely as they can in a scene replicated across the state.

For however long it must continue.

Jacqueline Smiths column appears Fridays in Hearst Connecticut Media daily newspapers. She is also the editorial page editor of The News-Times in Danbury and The Norwalk Hour. She enjoys hearing from readers; please email at jsmith@hearstmediact.com
As the effects from the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic continue to morph by the day and residents are stuck inside unable to go to work, school or their favorite restaurants and businesses, mental health professionals in Montgomery County are warning about the possible negative impact on those already suffering from mental health issues and suicidal ideations.

Sherry Burkhard, executive director of Mosaics of Mercy, a local mental health resource center based in Magnolia, said the stressors of the dramatic changes and restrictions on what people can do outside their homes has increased pressure on everyone, leading to anxiety, depression, possible domestic disputes or violence and even heightened thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Staying connected

As the pandemic continues and stay-at-home orders limit who can go outside their homes and when, Burkhard said it is critically important for all residents to stay connected with friends and family, monitor their acquaintances for possible unusual behavior and practice good self-care practices.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Nonprofit teaches about mental health, addiction issues through mosaic hearts

We (Mosaics of Mercy) are a resource hub for mental well-being. We provide education and then connection to resources, Burkhard said of Mosaics of Mercy. We help people navigate and find counselors or help groups for whatever they are dealing with. And we have a creative program which is our mosaic making program.

Need for awareness

More Information Mental Health Resources National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 24-hour-a-day help line with counselors - 1-800-273-8255 or Via text message: text TALK to 741741 Mosaics of Mercy, 33300 Egypt Lane, Suite K300, Magnolia, Telephone: 346-703-0051. Licensed Professional Counselor Carolyn Robistow, https://joyeffectcounseling.com/ Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare: http://www.tricountyservices.org/ -Telephone hotline: 1-800-659-6994 See More Collapse

The COVID-19 pandemic has created more need for mental health awareness, Burkhard said, echoing comments also made by Montgomery County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Judge Wayne Mack, who is a co-founder of the Montgomery County Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force.

Both Burkhard and Mack said monitoring loved ones and friends as well as staying connected with support networks is critical as the pandemic continues to keep people inside.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Villager Q&A: Judge Wayne Mack discusses mental health during COVID-19 crisis

We need to practice good mental health and brain hygiene. Mental health professionals are encouraging people, that we are doing social distancing, but we are not social disconnecting. We need to still stay connected with our friends and loved ones. It is very, very important that if someone knows someone that has a mental health issue that we are continually checking on them and we are not disconnecting. Mack said. Hopelessness can create a lot of things. People that struggle with mental health and any behavioral health issues or suicidal thoughtstimes like this can be what it commonly referred to as a trigger. It is very, very important that we check on our neighbors, our friends and family that are being impacted by this.

Burkhard is also a volunteer member of the task force, and said she and her staff as seeing issues arise already after only a few weeks of COVID-19 changes to daily life.

What we are seeing is people in our community were already struggling. Specifically, with anxiety and then with depression. Now that this has started and people are home and isolated, they are having a lot of time just to be with themselves and if you are already struggling with anxiety, and you add this in on top of things, it can become overwhelming, Burkhard said. As far as depression, usually one of the ways to help with depression is connection. Being isolated makes that difficult. We are often seeing people being in addiction recovery, and part of that is going to support groups, and now theyre not able to. The normal things other people can help you cope with each day, they cant do now. (COVID-19) Is changing things in how they pursue their recovery.

Mosaics of Mercy offers a wide range of resources and lists of mental health providers and counselors on their website ranging from anxiety and depression to drug addiction recovery and eating disorders. The center also makes a new podcast focused on various elements of mental health and related issues available on iTunes, Google Play and other sites that offer podcasts.

Virtual appointments

Burkhard said it is critical that anyone suffering with anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns know that there are other ways to connect with help aside from in-person visits  namely virtual appointments. There is a special coronavirus landing page on the nonprofits website.

We have different virtual groups listed on our website. If people contact us, we have a spreadsheet of local counselors that lists who is seeing people virtually or if reduced rates are available. It is constantly changing, she noted.

Burkhard said anyone who cant find a resource on the website can telephone the center and an assistant will help them find what they are looking for.

In some ways, the calls (for assistance) are not as many right now. We are trying to get the word out, because we know people are struggling and they may not know there are still ways to connect to those resources virtually, Burkhard said. The other thing that is happening, a few people whove called have already lost their jobs. Maybe they have a teenager or someone who is struggling and now they are stressed because they dont know how they will pay for resources. A lot of counselors are stepping up and providing different options of what they are doing to help.

The centers podcast recently featured local counselor Lauren Hollis who discussed the varied emotional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Hollis) did talk a lot about parenting and how to talk to your teenager or child about these issues. We have one this week coming out on marriage in stressful times, because now, you are stuck at home together, Burkhard added. We know that is predicted to become an even bigger issue than it was and we want to talk about ways to navigate (domestic relations) now. There are still resources available.

Burkhard also said it crucial to be cognizant of potential flags for mental health issues among children, parents, spouses, relatives or friends, something that is easier due to being inside more than usual.

If someone in your house, one day they start isolating, or if you notice a consistent patternthey dont come out of their room, their sleeping habits change, their eating habits change, you want to ask them questions, she added.

Monitor behaviors

Mack also said monitoring family members, friends and relatives for unusual actions or changed behaviors is important during times of heightened stress such as a hurricane or the current COVID-19 pandemic.

It is very, very important that we ask the question, are you OK, and very, very important that we are social distancing but we should not social disconnect. If someone has a history of mental illness, or a history of mental health issues, or someone is just not acting normal, check on them, Mack said. When people start doing things differently, that is a flag. They are not returning phone calls, not checking back with youthese are all flags. We just need to be aware.

Burkhard said she especially wants to reinforce the message to all residents that there are resources for mental health counseling and assistance still going despite the stay-at-home orders and social distancing that has limited larger gatherings and interactions with others.

As this goes on, regardless of whether or not we have mental illness, this is impacting our mental health, which everyone has, she said. It is really important to take care of that and there are still resources to navigate that and we are happy to help people.

jeff.forward@chron.com
The Lehigh Valleys two counties on Friday surpassed 1,000 total COVID-19 cases, about six times the number known just a week ago.

According to Fridays daily update from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Lehigh County has the third most coronavirus cases in the state, while Northampton County is tied for third-most deaths.

A 10th Northampton County resident has died from COVID-19, the state announced. Monroe and Delaware counties also have reported 10 deaths; Montgomery County now reports 11 and Philadelphia has 14. Lehigh County has reported five deaths to date.

Combined, the Lehigh Valleys 15 reported deaths are more than Philadelphia, which has 14 deaths among far more cases, according to the states latest information.

As of Friday, Lehigh County has reported 584 known COVID-19 cases, up from 93 a week earlier. Northampton County now totals 466 cases; it had 79 a week ago.

Lehigh Countys cases are behind only Montgomery County (875) and Philadelphia (2,284).

Pennsylvania does not release statistics on recoveries due to the complexity of care. Health officials have noted the virus seems especially prevalent in the eastern part of the state and for weeks been warning that a surge of patients is likely, which is why all residents have been instructed to stay home as much as possible.

If you may have been exposed or exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19  fever, cough and shortness of breath  contact your health care provider.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov and the CDC website.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A group of 217 Indians evacuated from Italy have been found negative for the coronavirus after spending over a fortnight at an ITBP quarantine facility, officials said on Friday.

They said the inmates, who were brought here on March 15 after being evacuated from Italy's Milan town on a special Air India flight, are now being released from the centre in a phased manner.

"A total of 218 Indians were sent to the ITBP facility on March 15. 217 people have been found negative for COVID-19 after tests," a senior Indo-Tibetan Border Police officer said.

One inmate from this batch was allowed to leave sometime back on compassionate grounds due to the death of his father, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This Congress goes on until Dec. 31, and we intend to confirm all of the judges that are sent up to us this year, McConnell said. He also reiterated his promise that he would fill a Supreme Court vacancy this year, should there be one, a reversal from his argument in 2016 that a seat should remain open until the voters decide in the presidential election.
DUBLIN, Ohio, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CCF Holdings, LLC ("CCF"), the Successor to Community Choice Financial Inc. ("CCFI"), filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, March 12, 2020. CCF will host a conference call on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss the results for the year. This call will be available for replay for three months starting approximately two hours after the call has ended. The conference call can be replayed in its entirety by dialing (855) 859-2056 (toll free) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and enter conference ID "7338499".

Financials are publicly available at www.ccfi.com

Conference Call Dial-In Information:

International Direct: +1 (862) 298-9428

U.S. Toll Free: +1 (866) 996-5082

Conference ID: 7338499

About CCF Holdings, LLC

CCF Holdings, LLC is a retailer of financial services to unbanked and underbanked consumers through a network of 475 retail storefronts across 12 states and are licensed to deliver similar financial services over the internet in 28 states. CCF focuses on providing consumers with a wide range of convenient financial products and services to help them manage their day-to-day financial needs including consumer loans, check cashing, prepaid debit cards, money transfers, bill payments, and money orders. Please visit www.ccfi.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information:

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements in this release other than those relating to our historical information or current condition are forward-looking statements. For example, any statements regarding our future financial performance (including, but not limited to, CCF's ability to execute its long-term strategy and to manage operational efficiencies across its national footprint), our business strategy, and expected developments in our industry are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the current views and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, those views and expectations and the related statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are not under our control and may not even be predictable. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from our expectations as of today and any future results, performance, or achievements expressed directly or impliedly by the forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations: [email protected] or (800) 837-0381.

SOURCE Community Choice Financial Inc.; CCF Holdings, LLC

Related Links

http://www.ccfi.com


The Trump administration is still soliciting immigrants for specific jobs despite droves of Americans filing for unemployment.

It is urging medical professionals to contact a U.S. embassy to move their application process along, cognizant of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping America.

It is easing requirements for immigrants to get jobs as farm workers, landscapers and crab pickers, aware that industries, including those that fill grocery store shelves, could be hurt if they couldnt hire foreign employees.

And until facing criticism this week, it had been moving ahead with a 35,000-person increase in the number of seasonal workers in part for expected job openings at resorts and golf courses after the pandemic releases its grip on the economy.

Activists are irate that Trump hasnt backed down more. But business leaders say its needed to stabilize a cratering economy.

Indeed, Trump faces immense pressure to prop up the economy  both during and after the coronavirus outbreak. And hes adopting an approach the business community has long pushed: Recruit workers for perennially empty jobs, even if theyre not American workers. Business leaders say that even during the coronavirus crisis, foreign workers are critical to companies that might be unable to find enough unemployed Americans willing to take certain jobs, especially if those people can collect more money via jobless benefits.

Theres still a need for these types of workers, said one business industry representative in touch with the administration.

But the move poses political risks for the president, with hard-line immigration activists baffled that Trump would choose a moment of financial peril  with unemployment skyrocketing and a reelection campaign around the corner  to turn to foreign workers.

Its reprehensible, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates more immigration restrictions. Specifically importing workers into jobs unemployed Americans would be doing is absurd.

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A Department of Homeland Security official said the administrations moves were surprising given the soaring unemployment rate. A record-shattering 6.6 million people filed for their first unemployment benefits last week, as scores of industries have fully shuttered during the pandemic.

In response to pressure from opponents, the Trump administration did backtrack on some of its plans, pausing the approval of 35,000 more seasonal worker visas, pending further review. But the other moves remain in place for now.

Trump made cracking down on immigration the centerpiece of his 2016 campaign, promising to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico and deport millions of migrants who arrived in the country illegally. In his inaugural address, he promised to rebuild the country with American labor. We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American, he said.

Since the pandemic began, the administration has restricted foreign visitors from China, Europe, Canada and Mexico, and postponed hearings for immigrants wanting to remain in the U.S. More broadly, it paused visa processing for those that arent being granted exemptions.

But it has also begun easing the process for companies looking to hire foreign workers, altering some paperwork requirements, including allowing electronic signatures and waiving the physical inspection of documents.

The administration even talked about boosting the number of visas offered to wealthy immigrants who invest money in the U.S., though interest in that has cooled on Capitol Hill, according to the business leader.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Wednesday, April 1, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

DHS is expected to extend visas that are expiring but cant be renewed because federal offices are closed, according to the business group representative. Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf confirmed this week that he is considering that, among other changes.

We're looking at a  variety of different options that I think we will have soon, and it will be very beneficial, he said.

The White House and DHS did not respond to requests for comment.

Trump touted the importance of agricultural visas on Wednesday in response to a question at a news conference at the White House.

We want them to come in, he said. We're not closing the border so that we cant get any of those people to come in. They've been there for years and years, and I've given the commitment to the farmers: They're going to continue to come. Or we're not going to have any farmers.

NumbersUSA, which supports immigration restrictions, has been railing against the changes for days on social media and in alerts to supporters, specifically calling out Wolf, who once lobbied for an association that wanted to keep a visa program for foreign workers.

@DHS_Wolf is going to admit tens of thousands of foreign guest workers in the coming month to satisfy the corporate lobby, it posted on Twitter this week. These guest workers will be dispersed across the entire U.S. putting Americans out of work and hampering efforts to control the coronavirus.

The business community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, had been pushing for temporary slots for immigrants coming to the U.S., saying companies were struggling to fill jobs as unemployment has fallen. It continued lobbying even after the coronavirus, according to the business industry representatives.

Many immigrant workers are currently helping our nation fight the spread of Covid-19, said Jon Baselice, the chambers executive director of immigration policy, citing medical professionals, scientists and agricultural workers. Their contributions to our national well-being are critically important to our safety and security until we flatten the curve on this pandemic.

Immigrant advocates have joined in the call for not restricting foreign labor during the current pandemic.

Its never been more clear that the American economy depends on immigrants and immigration, said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, an immigrant advocacy group. This is a community that is currently contributing on the front lines and is also able to come in and meet gaps in the labor force.

Immigrant advocates have cautioned that being on the front line during coronavirus puts these foreign laborers in harms way. The issue made headlines after a video surfaced of farm workers laboring close to each other without proper protective gear. Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of the Latino political organization Voto Latino, said immigrants who dont speak English well might not understand confusing guidelines about how to protect themselves against the virus.

Despite Trumps campaign vow to reduce immigration, the number of immigrants with temporary visas has steadily increased during his presidency, reaching 925,000 in 2018, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

While there is no cap for the total number of temporary workers, there are annual limits on several of the dozen-plus visa categories. More than 1 million immigrants are allowed into the United States each year on a permanent basis, but only a fraction  140,000  come through employment categories.

Companies also request many more foreign worker visas than are approved. On Thursday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that companies initially were requesting 275,000 visas in fiscal 2021 for skilled workers in specialty occupations. Those visas, dubbed H-1B, are capped at 85,000 annually.

The Trump administration has also worked to prioritize visa processing for medical workers, given Americas resource-strained health system.

Last Thursday, the State Department encouraged medical professionals seeking a work or exchange visitor visa to contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a visa appointment. Hours later, after some criticism, the department clarified that the person must already have an approved visa petition.

The State Department later announced it would also waive interviews for some temporary worker visas, saying the program is essential to the economy and food security of the United States and is a national security priority.

The prioritization for some workers comes amid a broader suspension of visa services at embassies and consulates around the world. But the Trump administration created a carveout after a push by members of Congress and agriculture groups, who already had been coping with a worker shortage and the fallout from Trumps trade wars.

Separately, DHS had announced before the pandemic that it planned to allow an additional 35,000 workers into the country on non-agricultural seasonal worker visas as it tried to strike a careful balance that benefits American businesses and American workers."

The visas, dubbed H-2B, have been regularly used for workers in the landscaping, housekeeping and construction industries, and had been capped at 66,000. DHS has added additional visas in that category for the past three years.

The administration discussed reversing the decision, according to two people familiar with the situation, but moved forward last week with the plan. Employers expected to be able to hire workers within weeks, according to the business industry representative.

But after criticism, DHS reversed course yet again. DHSs rule on the H-2B cap is on hold pending review due to present economic circumstances, the department tweeted.
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Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang  Fri, April 3, 2020 06:00 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f5a21a 1 National pedophile,Central-Java,pedophilia,child-marriage,Pesantren Free

The National Commission for Child Protection has reported 54-year-old convicted pedophile Pujiono Cahyo Widianto, better known as Syekh Puji, to the police for allegedly marrying a 7-year-old girl.

We have reported Syekh Puji to the Central Java Police in mid-March. He already committed a crime in 2008, and has repeated it again now, claimed commission chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait on Thursday.

Arist said that the Central Java Police should arrest Syekh Puji immediately.

Seven of Syekh Pujis own relatives have taken issue with his actions and reported them to the police, he said. They witnessed his unregistered marriage [to the child] in 2018.

In 2009, Syekh Puji, who heads a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Semarang, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for marrying a 12-year-old, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of Rp 300 million (US$ 18,000) as stipulated in the 2002 Child Protection Law.

Arist said that because Syekh Puji was a repeat offender he should be sentenced to a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and chemical castration as stipulated in Law No. 35/2014 on Child Protection.

Central Java Police spokesman Gr. Comm. Iskandar F. Sutisna confirmed that the police had received the report.

So far we have already questioned six witnesses. The medical examination result shows that there are no signs of sexual violence against the underaged girl in question. Our investigators are still conducting an investigation to determine if there are signs of a crime having taken place, he said.

Separately, Central Java Womens Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning Agency official Saptiwi Mumpuni said the agency could not take any action against Syekh Puji because it was still awaiting evidence for the police.

As far as we know, the child is still attending school. According to the information that we have received, the child has not suffered from any violence, she said. (dpk)
Diwali, the festival of lights, has come early this year. In fact, it'll be celebrated on April 5 at 9 pm. But, there's a catch. You only light a candle or a diya and stay at home.

On Friday, PM Modi addressed the nation and asked the citizens to give him 9 minutes of their time at 9 pm on Sunday to end the "darkness" of COVID-19 by lighting candles or flashing torches, mobile phones from their doors or balconies.

130 crore Indians are in this. You aren't alone, he assured.

"The way you paid gratitude to people fighting against Covid-19 on March 22 has become a model that is being emulated by other countries. Janata curfew and ringing of bells/clanging utensils, made the country aware of its unity amid this challenging time," he said.

Almost instantly, Twitter was lit up with candles and diyas and many started "gearing up" for Diwali in April.

Candles or lights on 9 pm for 9 mins at 5th April  It will feel like Diwali  Miss Mridu (@x_Tulip_xx) April 3, 2020

Modi Ji : 5 April at 9:00 pm and light a candle and fight the corona #Diwali #ModiVideoMessage Me : pic.twitter.com/AVs4mRXnY9  Epic_Boy  (@Vishalrajput105) April 3, 2020

Only Modi could bring Diwali back in April  Himanshu (@TheIndianGooner) April 3, 2020

"Diya gif", "candle HD photos", "NASA fake Diwali India" and many other keywords saw a spike on Google in India soon after PM's address.

But amidst the "Diwali celebrations" on social media on Friday, concerned citizens also anticipated for the worst - Indians going out on the streets to burst crackers and defeating the purpose of a 21-day lockdown that was put in place to encourage social distancing.

I hope , people wil not misunderstand this time . Diwali samajhkar , don't get together to burn crackers !! Sirf Diya jalana hai 5th April,9.00 pm#indiafightscorona  SirishaRao (@SirishaRao17) April 3, 2020

Repeat: Sunday is an INDOORS show of solidarity. It is NOT diwali.  Vir Das (@thevirdas) April 3, 2020

The 14-hour "Janata Curfew" that was imposed by Modi on 22 March saw many enthusiastic Indians take to the streets. Ironically, it was to support the BJP government's call to commemorate doctors. At 5 pm, many Indians who had so far remained indoors took to streets with pots and pans, drums and conches, and cheerfully celebrated the victories of doctors.

Perhaps, the most neglected aspect of Modi's new announcement on Friday was that the Prime Minister himself asked Indians to assemble in their respective balconies and doors and not venture out in the streets and put themselves and the lives of others in jeopardy.

"You don't have to go out on the streets and in the colonies, but do it from your doorsteps and balconies," Modi added.

Now one can only hope that Indians adhere to Modi's appeal to boost the collective morale of the country and maintain social distancing while they are at it.
Nurses in Northern Ireland will not be able to legally treat patients in intensive care with coronavirus unless they have the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), the Royal College of Nurses has warned.

Pat Cullen, director of Royal College of Nursing NI, told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show that she has written to the Health and Safety Executive in Northern Ireland (HSENI) stating that under the nurses code of conduct and health and safety legislation nurses cannot treat patients if they are not sufficiently protected from the virus.

A HSENI spokesperson said: HSENI has been contacted by RCN and we are currently considering the concerns which have been raised.

Ms Cullen said: "Nurses work to a code of conduct in relation to their registration and under health and safety legislation in NI, it is abundantly clear that we cannot, as registered nurses, do anything that will cause unnecessary harm to a patient.

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"By not having the required PPE in line with the guidance, it will absolutely cause unnecessary harm to a patient should nurses not have the appropriate PPE. There is no argument here, if nurses don't have the PPE they will not be in a position to treat those patients."

Ms Cullen said that she has also sent letters to the first minister, the deputy first minister and the health minister to express her concerns.

She added that the number of calls she is receiving from nurses who are concerned for their safety, and that of their patients, was "heartbreaking."

"They (nurses) are asking me for reassurance that they won't be put in that situation," she said.

"That is the position we are in. I am not pointing the finger here at anyone. It would do good for some people to come and listen to those calls that we receive from people on the front line and hear their fears, their anxieties and their concerns."

Ms Cullen stressed that at the moment there is a supply of PPE for nurses but that the concern is that this will run out when the NHS is facing an expected surge of coronavirus patients next week.

She said the current supply was "ad hoc" in places.

Asked what she wanted to hear from the Department of Health, Ms Cullen replied: "Come out and say we will always have the right level of PPE for you every single shift that you do."

Asked what would happen if nurses were not given the appropriate PPE in the future, she said: "They would be putting their patients at risk and they would be putting themselves at risk and ultimately then those people in the community that they would come in contact with. "

Ms Cullen, who herself is a nurse, said that some colleagues have been told they only have nine days supply of PPE.

Ms Cullen said she was seeking legal advice on behalf of RCN members, which she expects to receive later on Friday.

"It is very clear nurses cannot practice outside their code of conduct or the health and safety legislation in Northern Ireland," she added.

Posting on Twitter following the interview, Ms Cullen clarified that nurses have never said they would "refuse" to provide care to Covid-19 patients.

She added: "They never refuse to care for their patients even at the time of industrial action, but its factual they need protective equipment to care for their patients. Nurses safety and protection is important."

In a statement on Thursday Health Minister Robin Swanned acknowledged frustration on PPE issues.

He said: Updated UK-wide NHS guidance on PPE use has been issued. This guidance will inform PPE use across our system and help us to prioritise distribution.

I fully understand that staff on the frontline need reassurance. I believe the updated guidance and securing greater quantities of PPE for Northern Ireland will both play a part in allaying concerns.

I want to make absolutely clear that the PPE guidance is about ensuring staff have the appropriate level of protection for the circumstances they are working in  it is absolutely not, nor will it ever be, about seeking to restrict the use of equipment.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy said last week that Northern Ireland put in a joint order with the Republic of Ireland to buy PPE supplies from China.

The department issued a statement on Friday saying: "In the last couple of weeks the Finance Minister has been assisting efforts to procure PPE and other supplies with both the Irish and British governments.

"There is global demand for all these goods and equipment and the scale of the pandemic we face means this will necessitate multiple orders from a range of suppliers at home and overseas.

"We are sourcing the market for supplies locally, nationally and internationally in places including China. The task has become even more challenging with the US and India entering the market.

"We must all protect our frontline workers and the Executive will be updated on the latest position on PPE later today."
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan today held another discussion on the solutions to the socio-economic issues caused as a result of the coronavirus, as reported the news service of the Government of Armenia.

The opportunities for introducing new tools to foster the production of various agricultural products and enhance farming economies were considered.

The Prime Minister attached importance to summing up the outcomes of the tools applied in these directions to this day in order to assess the demand for those tool and assigned the Ministry of Economy to submit the draft plan for future actions.

Once again, the Prime Minister attached importance to the governments actions to promote investment programs and added that it is necessary to introduce an operational mechanism for responses to investment proposals.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 13:10:45|Editor: Wang Yamei

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HOUSTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Thursday thanked the Chinese city of Shanghai for its donation of 21,000 face masks.

"Let me thank Shanghai, China because there are 21,000 masks that they offered. Those masks are on the ground here in the city of Houston and now within our possession. So I want to thank them for their donation. Thank you very, very much," Turner said during a news conference.

Chinese Consul General in Houston Cai Wei made a phone call to Turner Friday, promising that Shanghai will help Houston, its sister city, combat COVID-19.

In the phone call, Cai expressed support for the mayor and the citizens of Houston, saying that Shanghai and the Chinese Consulate General in Houston will provide help within its capacity to Houston in the fight against COVID-19.

Emphasizing that viruses know no borders, Cai expressed his hope that the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens, especially Chinese students, and the interests of Chinese enterprises in Houston will be protected.
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A local teen has been diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing La Crosse Countys total of lab confirmed cases to 20.

The patient, a female in her late teens, had traveled to Florida about two weeks ago, Jen Rombalski, director of the La Crosse County Health Department, reported during a Friday press conference. The case is under investigation and those believed to have been exposed will be notified immediately.

Of all those diagnosed with COVID 19 in La Crosse County, 14 are recovered and one of the two hospitalized patients has returned home. On the state level, as of early afternoon Friday, there were 1,916 total positive cases of the virus, with 487 hospitalizations and 37 deaths. Of all the COVID-19 tests conducted, 22,377 have been negative.

During the press conference, Sarah Johnson, mental health director for the La Crosse Area Family YMCA, spoke on mental health in the midst of COVID-19, acknowledging the stress, fear and anxiety surrounding the virus and related precautionary isolation.

We are facing something none of us have experienced in our lives, Johnson says. Its really, really important to be responsive (to our feelings).

Finding ways to creatively reach out, treating others with kindness and compassion, and maintaining calm are imperative, Johnson says, noting that While we cannot physically lean on each other right now, we can emotionally lean on (each other).

Rombalski during the press conference relayed National Public Health Week kicks off Monday, stating that It is ironic to find ourselves celebrating Public Health Week during the COVID-19 pandemic, but perhaps the timing is appropriate.

In the midst of the pandemic, the La Crosse County Health Department continues to address the core components of mental health, maternal and child health, violence prevention, environmental health, healthy homes, economics and education, Rombalski says.

The community is asked to commemorate the week by helping their neighbors stay healthy by staying home  though those eligible to donate blood are encouraged to do so  checking in with each other by phone, giving food to area pantries or visiting ugetconnected.com for ways to volunteer while social distancing.

Rombalski finished the press conference by reminding families to celebrate Easter only with their household members and to have just one person leave the house to purchase groceries or other essentials. Young children should remain at home.

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Phuket Lockdown: Tourists urged to hustle before airport closes

PHUKET: Phuket International Airport General Manager Thanee Chuangchoo is urging all foreigners wanting to leave the island before the airport shuts down on April 10 to contact their embassies and make travel arrangements urgently.

Friday 3 April 2020, 09:50AM

Ground staff wave as the last THAI flight out of Phuket until further notice lifts off at Phuket International Airport last Sunday. Photo: THAI Airways

The airport will remain closed until at least April 30 following a formal request by Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana in the latest move to try to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Airports of Thailand (AoT), which operates Phuket airport, published the official notice of the closure on Monday afternoon (Mar 30). The closure will begin at 00:01am on April 10, the notice confirmed.

It further explained that the purpose of the formal notice was to inform the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and other tourism-related offices so they could make preparations for the closure.

If tourists do not leave by April 10, they will likely have to stay here until the closure is lifted, Mr Thanee told The Phuket News.

However, Mr Thanee did confirm that emergency flights to have tourists airlifted home may be organised by the government at a later date.

Flights such as these will be allowed during the closure, but permission must first be granted by the government, he said.

The only other flights allowed at the airport during the closure will be authorised flights for government and military officials, and flights transporting emergency medical patients, he added.

Mr Thanee urged tourists to make travel arrangements as quickly as possible. Many airlines are no longer operating flights to Phuket, and domestic flights are already being suspended, he said.

No special preparations are being made at the airport ahead of the closure, as Mr Thanee expects only 600 to 1,000 tourists to depart the island by plane by April 10.

There are nearly no tourists here anyway, and all our standard procedures are in place, so no special preparations are needed, Mr Thanee said.

For those staying on the island, Mr Thannee urged people to stay indoors at their homes or accommodation as much as possible.

The best thing to do is to just stay at your home or accommodation to protect yourself from contracting COVID-19, he said.

The closure of the airport follows Phuket Governor Phakaphong last Sunday closing the bridges onto and off the island to all persons except those operating emergency vehicles and vessels, and vehicles delivering essential consumer goods and medical equipment and supplies, a move that caused panic among those wanting to get home  in Phuket or off-island  before the lockdown.

All boats expect those performing essential services or delivering essential goods were likewise banned from arriving in or departing Phuket in the same order.

The closing of the bridges came just one day after Governor Phakaphong ordered all beaches closed in the hope of preventing COVID-19 from spreading.

The order, following the decision of the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee, came after 8pm last Saturday night (Mar 28).

The order became effective immediately, and will remain in effect until at least April 10.

In a separate order, one of several issued last Saturday night, the committee also ordered Bangla Rd in Patong closed to all persons and traffic, except local residents, also effective immediately.

Patong Municipality was designated the authority to work with the Phuket Provincial Health Office to test for the virus in the Bangla area and to clean and sanitise any risk areas in the vicinity.

The move to close the beaches follows Governor Phakaphong earlier issuing an order that kindly asked and sought the collaboration of local residents and tourists (both Thai and international) in the Province of Phuket to remain in their residence from 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., with the EXCEPTION of urgent errand.

The order also called for the Provincial Labour Office and DEPA to collaborate and use an app to help with disease control surveillance of workers from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia who are unable to return home due to travel restrictions

It also repeated the warnings of overcharging for face masks, hand sanitiser and other essentials, and for spreading fake news.

All zoos and other places where all kinds of animal shows are shown were also ordered closed last Saturday. Any person who violates the order is to be punished under the Emergency Decree Act, the orders warned.

People organising any social activities or ceremonies, such as traditional ceremonies, auspicious ceremonies, charity ceremonies, funerals, Songkran ceremonies or family activities as well as activities or ceremonies organised by the government or in accordance with the official requirements, were urged to follow the governments guidelines to ensure such activities were appropriate and in accordance with disease prevention measures as stipulated in Article 11 of the Emergency Decree Act.
BRUSSELS, March 26 (Reuters) - The European Union marked the 25th anniversary of its open-border Schengen agreement on Thursday with all its land borders shut or subject to heavy checks imposed in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The Schengen agreement, underpinning an increasingly integrated and united Europe, came into force on March 26, 1995.

It initially abolished checks at frontiers between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain and Portugal. In the following months and years others joined, and today the Schengen zone has 26 members, including non-EU nations Switzerland and Norway.

But on its 25th anniversary, the agreement is virtually suspended because of the coronavirus, which has frozen most economic and social activity, disrupted supply chains and turned most Europeans into prisoners in their own homes.

"The COVID-19 outbreak is having a major disruptive impact on European cross-border mobility and transport," an internal document of the European Commission said, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The document, dated March 25, said all EU member states had introduced border restrictions or closures, with the exception of Ireland, which is not a member of the Schengen area and does not share any land border with EU states following Britain's exit from the bloc.

"THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO"

Airports in all but five EU states are subject to restrictions on arrivals and flights, the Commission document said, warning about the disruption caused by such measures on the supply of goods, including essential ones such as drugs.

"The very life of many of our citizens relies on unhindered movement across borders of workers, essential medical supplies and goods of first necessity," Jean Asselborn, foreign minister of Luxembourg, where the town of Schengen is located, said on Thursday.

He called for the lifting of checks and the reopening of borders as soon as possible.

But even the founding members of the Schengen accord have shut their borders, despite experts' advice that the measure is not effective against the virus.

Story continues

"I had heard in the news that the borders were closed, but I did not expect that there would be such strict controls. There's nothing we can do about it," said Dutch commuter Bart Jansen.

He was trying to go to work from his home town of Breda in the Netherlands via a shortcut on Belgian territory, but was not allowed to enter Belgium.

The two countries were, along with Luxembourg, France and West Germany, the signatories of the original Schengen agreement in 1985, 10 years before its application. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio and Bart Biesemans Editing by Gareth Jones)
People wait to receive cash under the government's Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program for families in need, during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, in Karachi, Pakistan. (Image: AP)
Johnson said he hopes people who hear the bells will be reflective about what is going on right now and thankful for people like healthcare workers and first responders because they are the ones who are leading this charge. He also asked that the public remember those who have contracted coronavirus and those who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration is using a Korean War-era law to redirect to the United States surgical masks manufactured by 3M in other countries as part of a heated pressure campaign to force the Minnesota company to cut off sales of surgical masks abroad.

The policy is a significant expansion of the American governments reach and a reversal of President Trumps hesitant use of the Defense Production Act, which allows the administration to force a company to prioritize the U.S. government over competing orders.

But in this case, the administration is invoking the law to compel 3M to send to the United States masks made in factories overseas and to stop exporting masks the company manufactures in the United States. Those moves, some trade and legal experts fear, could backfire and prompt foreign governments to clamp down on desperately needed medical necessities destined for the United States.

On Friday evening, the Trump administration issued an executive order directing federal emergency management and health officials to use the laws authority to preserve respirators, surgical masks and surgical gloves for domestic use.
The issue was discussed during a daily intercom meeting on the fight against the coronavirus, chaired by president.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's Office says the head of state has noted the need to protect Ukrainian citizens from the coronavirus epidemic during Easter holidays.

The issue was discussed during a daily Zelensky-chaired intercom meeting on the fight against the coronavirus, the press service of the Office of the President said on April 3.

"We must do everything to protect Ukrainians from the coronavirus epidemic. Easter is always an important period for people, a period of family reunification. I am sure that Ukrainians understand that there is a need to protect the loved ones at this important time as well," the Office quoted Zelensky as saying.

Read alsoNew quarantine restrictions being enforced in Ukraine (List)

In addition, the strengthening of restrictive measures to curb the spread of coronavirus was also discussed at the meeting. That is about a mandatory use of face masks and a ban on groups of over two people.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers on April 3 approved new measures to strengthen quarantine, which was introduced in Ukraine to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
Queenslanders are being warned the new restrictions enacted this week to stop the spread of coronavirus will likely be in place for the next six months, with a peak in cases still to come.

Queensland recorded 39 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the state's total to 873, with eight of those people in intensive care.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says authorities are preparing for the state's coronavirus peak in months, not weeks. Credit:AAP

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not hold a media conference on Friday as she had done every other day this week, instead going on ABC radio to update the case numbers and issue a stern warning of the trial ahead.

"Were not even on the curve yet, so that gives you an indication, so we havent even started to climb the curve ... we are about two or three weeks behind New South Wales," Ms Palaszczuk said.
The news added to a growing sense of dread: A third elderly man who lived in a luxury apartment community for seniors in The Woodlands died Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19.

Almost two weeks earlier, Montgomery County officials had learned a first resident at the complex had the new coronavirus. With 10 more known to be infected, the Conservatory at Alden Bridge now faced a nightmarish crisis.

Nursing homes have for weeks been at the forefront of concern for spread of the virus among a vulnerable population, prompting bans on visitation and activities. Independent living communities such as the Conservatory slipped through regulatory cracks.

And while Montgomery County officials moved to contain any spread of the virus after the first case was identified, it may have been too late for the complex. The three elderly men who lived there died within days of County Judge Mark Keough issuing a shelter-in-place order for the complex on Monday.

Individuals can be asymptomatic for quite some time and be contagious, said Jason Millsaps, who heads the countys emergency management office. They had all been having dinner together, going to afternoon activities at this facility together for weeks.

The Conservatory is one of a dozen senior communities in Texas operated by Florida-based Discovery Senior Living. While some offer assisted living and memory care, the Conservatory is a place where residents can basically come and go as they please and the management focuses on services such as meals and activities.

Conservatory offers the best value in affordable, care-free, independent senior living, the complex says on its website. Everything we do is focused on providing you the very best in senior living.

Then life began to change at many retirement communities. On March 13, state and federal authorities restricted visitors to and ended group activities and communal dining in nursing homes. The Conservatory, however, is considered an independent living facility  and so did not have to follow those rules.

NOTHING TO DO HERE: People in no-visit Texas nursing homes adapt

Not until March 17 did the Conservatory say it was implementing protocols for group dining. They did not end it, but instead took away the high-touch salt-and-pepper shakers and encouraged social distancing at tables.

Discovery Senior Living also limited the frequency of group activities, according to a March 18 brochure, turning to outdoor options and bus rides where residents sat spread apart.

Nursing homes across the nation and state had seen horrifying, fast spread of cases. One in Kirkland, Wash., foreshadowed the potential danger, with more than 20 deaths linked to spread of the coronavirus there.

In Harris County, a man who lived in a nursing home died in March. In San Antonio, 66 of 84 residents of a nursing home were known Thursday to be infected. One had died. And 13 residents and employees in a Texas City nursing home also tested positive.

But for the Conservatory of Alden Bridge, there was a sort of catch-22. While nursing homes provide around-the-clock medical care, independent-living communities focus on allowing residents autonomy.

At the Conservatory, where 235 people lived, the lack of enforceable rules may have had tragic consequences.

Some, such as Marie Hemphill, decided to leave early on. Hemphills son was worried about her being around so many people. She has leukemia and is 91. So she moved March 11 to a family beach house in Port OConnor.

Her granddaughter, Angela Hemphill, 45, said she had been impressed by how the facility tried to keep residents safe but knew those efforts only went so far.

I really feel they went out of their way, above and beyond, Hemphill said. Theres only so much you can do when it comes to a virus.

For those who stayed, the facility in ways offered an easy place for a virus to spread, and cause great harm.

The March community calendar was packed. Sundays brought a morning worship service, afternoon bingo and an evening movie. Other days offered planned bridge groups, line dancing and poker games.

A first case was identified there on March 20. An epidemiologist called the apartment complexs management the same day, said Misti Willingham, public information officer for the countys hospital district.

The epidemiologist told them to stop communal activities. They suggested residents stay in their own apartments, not allow visitors and take their temperatures twice a day.

This complex is geared toward people 55 and older and a lot of the cases were seeing are in their 80s and 90s, Willingham said. Unfortunately, they are very high risk.

At 5 p.m. that day, the facility posted on Facebook they would bar visitors  the state had now required this in retirement communities, they said, a full week after it did so in nursing homes.

The public health district sent employees to screen residents, looking for those who qualified for testing, Millsaps said.

He said the facility bent over backwards to accommodate the health district and county requests.

One man wrote in a Twitter message that his grandfather, who just turned 93, was taken to the hospital March 18 after he was found passed out in the hallway of a common area. The elderly man later tested positive for coronavirus and died.

On March 24, a woman asked on The Conservatorys Facebook page: I just heard a patient was taken to the hospital with Covid-19 virus! Have the other residents and workers been tested?

The Conservatory referred her to an official update on the site and added, Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate the current circumstances.

The complex stressed in Facebook posts that it has kept residents informed, required residents who may have been exposed to self-isolate and followed federal, state and local guidance and rules for containing the virus. If anyone has tested positive, we have strict quarantine protocols and (a) communication plan in which we follow, the Conservatory wrote on Facebook on March 26.

By Monday, however, Keough saw need to add more force: He required all residents immediately to shelter in place. They had until Tuesday evening to move in with a family member if they preferred.

Keough wrote of the residents to the Houston Chronicle, Many were not taking this serious enough.

A man in his 80s died Tuesday. Another man in his 80s and the man in his 90s died Wednesday.

In a statement Thursday, Discovery Senior Living spokeswoman Diana Thies said residents were obeying the order to stay at home.

Brooke A. Lewis contributed to this report.
Bruce DeRuiter and his wife typically winter in Naples, Florida, then drive back up to their Lake City residence in Northern Michigan sometime in April.

This year, their stay in Florida could be a lot longer than they expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DeRuiter said while they cant stay down here forever, the couple is planning to continue their self-isolation routine in their Florida condo until the peak of the disease has passed.

Like a lot of our friends, we dont know when were going home, he said. These are such unusual times, its out of our hands. We have just got to wait until its safe.

As COVID-19 continues its spread across the country, DeRuiter is one of many so-called Michigan snowbirds whose seasonal sojourn to warmer climates has left them far from home during a pandemic. Some are riding out the storm where they are, while others have returned or are planning trips home.

Dan Simonelli and his wife are planning to return to Michigan next week, driving straight through to avoid unnecessary contact with others.

Theyre currently in Venice, Florida, and theyre concerned they have more risk of exposure in their condo than they would on their two-acre rural property in Saline, a city in Washtenaw County.

Were anxious to get home, he said, noting they plan to wear gloves when getting gas and will only stop for essentials, like letting their dog out, and dont plan on leaving their property once they get back. Id rather be home if I am going to contract this virus.

While seasonal residents grapple with what to do, some communities with high populations of seasonal residents are bracing themselves for the possibility that some of those returning could bring COVID-19 with them.

So far, Southeast Michigan has been the Michigan region hardest hit by COVID-19. In all, 68 of Michigans 83 counties have at least one confirmed coronavirus case, but 79.5 percent of cases and almost 88 percent of the states deaths have occurred in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

But more cases are beginning to crop up in Northwest Michigan counties, which during the summer months are hotspots for seasonal residents and visitors from downstate and around the country. There have been five deaths confirmed by the state in the region, with the coronavirus claiming the lives of people from Grand Traverse, Emmet, Kalkaska and Missaukee counties.

Michigans stay-at-home order, which bars unnecessary travel for individuals and shutters in-person operations for non-essential businesses, doesnt prohibit people from traveling to homes they own.

The possibility of people coming up to their summer homes or cabins from places harder hit by the disease and not abiding by social distancing guidelines is worrisome, said Dr. Michael Collins, medical director of the Grand Traverse County Health Department.

Anecdotally, Collins said officials have heard some seasonal residents are coming back earlier than usual. He suggests anyone coming back to Michigan from another area should quarantine themselves for at least two weeks, avoiding trips to the grocery store or anything that would put them in contact with others in addition to basic practices like washing their hands frequently and using hand sanitizer.

It doesnt take many who dont follow that kind of instruction to really make a big difference in the ultimate success or failure, in terms of how many cases we get and how quickly, he said.

The concern of additional spread from people traveling back is shared by summer hotspots all over the country.

One island community in Maine, North Haven, briefly banned all visitors and seasonal residents from traveling there, although that outright ban was rescinded a few days later, according to the Bangor Daily News.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy asked those who have homes on the Jersey Shore to avoid them: The local infrastructure, especially the health care infrastructure, is not prepared for the influx of part-time residents, he wrote on Twitter.

Its hard to pin down exactly how many residents live in Michigan part-time, although a 2014 seasonal population study of the Northwest Michigan region conducted by the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute concluded seasonal residents made up about 10 percent of the regions total population in peak months.

Elk Rapids Village President James Janisse is one of several Northern Michigan community officials who have asked seasonal residents to delay their return up north or self-quarantine upon their arrival. Others have included Traverse City Mayor Jim Carruthers and Charlevoix Mayor Luther Kurtz.

Janisse said he understands some people have to return to Michigan and appreciates the social distancing measures hes witnessed in his community so far. But he warned the region is ill-equipped to handle an influx of COVID-19 cases, and said all residents need to use common sense and take social distancing seriously.

Northern Michigan has always been a place where you come on vacation - were safe up here, you get to relax, he said. Were not relaxed here. We need to be vigilant.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Related links:

Coronavirus continues rampage through Michigan as case total reaches 10,791, death toll hits 417

Michigan islands warn they are not a safe haven from coronavirus

Whitmers proposed 70-day emergency extension for coronavirus response too long, Senate leader says

DNR closes Tippy Dam due to social distancing violations, warns more closures are 'likely

Whats open, whats closed under Gov. Whitmers coronavirus stay-at-home order

Whitmer says those who dont follow Michigan stay home order are incredibly selfish,' risk coronavirus spread
Additional reporting by PA

Doctors have urged the Government to come clean over how long it will take to address problems with some

Read More:

Images posted online show gowns with three-quarter length sleeves, leaving arms exposed, and some staff have described gear as not fit for purpose.

(PA Graphics)

It is intended to protect doctors and nurses who are braced for a surge in the number of Covid-19 patients in the Republics hospitals over coming weeks.

The organisation representing doctors, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), warned: It is unacceptable to expect frontline health care staff to work without proper protection.

Health chiefs have acknowledged supplies in some cases are different from what Irish medics are used to.

They are attempting to source additional equipment.

The IMO said: We welcome the acceptance by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that there are problems with the recent supply from China and the fact that they are pursuing changes to future orders and alternate suppliers.

The equipment is intended to protect doctors and nurses (Niall Carson/PA)

It said it was monitoring the ongoing situation closely.

High quality and reliable personal protective equipment is an absolute necessity for frontline medical professionals and those working in each setting have to have access for the appropriate personal protective equipment for their roles so as to protect themselves, patients, and continue working in what are already highly stressful environments.

Irelands Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said available equipment was different from that which the countrys healthcare professionals are used to.

It is being tested and assessed by the HSE.

Good use will be found for it. We will continue to look for additional equipment.

It has become such a competitive environment for this equipment and we are looking at this all the time.

ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

The HSE has been forced to seek alternative sources of personal protective equipment (PPE) following issues with the quality and size of some supplies ordered from China.

Since Sunday last planeloads of PPE have been arriving into the country, as part of a 200 million plus order by the HSE for vital protective gear for frontline staff fighting the Covid-19 outbreak.

Issues have emerged with the size and quality of some of the supplies delivered to hospital and ambulance staff, such as gowns and face masks.

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid

It is not clear how much of the order is impacted but HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid said it will seek alternative supplies in the event materials from China do not materialise as expected.

HSE Clinical Lead for Infection Control, Professor Martin Cormican, told RTE: Some of it is suitable for use and some of it has limited use and some of it is not suitable for use. Its useful for us to have this new supply line and a good deal of the material that has come in will be useful to us and thats really important because its quite hard internationally to secure this."

Professor Cormican said it is important to keep the supply line open to gain access to the materials that were suitable.

Well have to work with the suppliers and make sure that those items that dont meet our standards, we dont want to receive any more of those items but the items that are of use to us we need to keep that supply line open.

The HSE Clinical Lead said he understands there is enough PPE to meet the needs of healthcare staff at the moment

"I think were okay for now based on what we can see and our projections but it is a very volatile situation, he said.

Meanwhile, a shortage of protective eye kit has also meant that some healthcare staff have been asked to disinfect and reuse goggles that are normally for single use only.

Professor Cormican said that reuse is an issue of very real concern in a number of healthcare settings and that it was supposed to be ended with the arrival of the new equipment.

Paul Reid advised staff in a video update that efforts are being made to address any concerns about supplies.

We have been in negotiations worldwide to secure a very significant order of over 200 million and that delivery has started over the last few days, he said. We are, however, engaged worldwide to secure alternative stocks should these supplies not materialise to the extent expected. It is a very competitive worldwide market but our own procurement teams have done really well to secure what we have to date."

In recent weeks the Netherlands recalled 1.3 million face masks produced in China because they did not meet the required safety standards or fit properly. The Dutch Ministry of Health said the shipment did not to meet its quality standard and would not be used.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said of the imported PPE equipment that he is confident the Irish taxpayer is getting value for money.

It is the case that some of the equipment will be different to what healthcare workers are used to. The HSE is now involved in testing and assessing it and finding uses for it to protect frontline staff. We are also continuing to seek all opportunities to acquire new PPE.

We do acknowledge that some of the equipment is different but good use will be found for it.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

Actress Lydia Forson has clapped back at critics who have been lambasting her on social media for not joining the cue of celebrities donating PPEs and other materials in the wake of Coronavirus disease.

According to the philanthropist and actress, nobody can force her to make her donations public.

She maintained that, even though some people feel good making their donations public, she feels even better to make hers private.

Not to condemn the act of making donations public, the actress has said: Some people like it public, others private, theres nothing wrong with either depending on what you want to achieve. You cant force me to make my donations public, if I dont feel like it.

"Some people like it public, others private, theres nothing wrong with either depending on what you want to achieve. I do both but Ive realized Im more comfortable with it being private she registers on her twitter page.

A host of celebrities have donated various preventive items to the public and other health institutions in the wake of the pandemic coronavirus disease which includes Rapper Criss Waddle, Shatta Wale, John Dumelo, Stonebwoy, Medikal among others.

Other religious bodies such as the Church of Pentecost, Methodist among others have also donated Personal Preventive Equipment and also some amount into the COVID-19 Fund account raised by the president.

Ghana is gearing up in fighting the novel coronavirus disease which she has recorded 204 cases with 5 deaths as of April 3, 2020.

---gideonweb.com
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Thursday urged prime minister Narendra Modi to ensure unrestricted movement of essential goods through inter-state borders during the lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus.

The State government has also requested the Centre to approve more testing centres in Kerala.

Central assistance would also be required in bringing the rapid test kits from Hong Kong, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told Modi during a video conference with the prime minister on Thursday.

"Neighbouring states should not create hurdles during this crisis period and all states should fight this pandemic together," Vijayan said.

With Karnataka closing down the the border roads to Kerala and the national highway, movement of trucks carrying vegetables and essential commodtiies is facing hurdles.

Ambulances carrying seriously ill patients who depend on Mangaluru hospitals for their medical needs were also not being allowed to cross over to Karantaka.

The chief minister also sought the intervention of the Central government in ensuring the safety of the Malayalee workforce spread across the world, Vijayan told reporters.

Indian Embassies should provide assistance in setting up quarantine centres in respective countries which has a large number of Indian expatriates and especially nurses from Kerala. It is our duty to ensure their personal safety also.

-Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala chief minister

Vijayan also informed Modi about the status and steps taken by the state to curb the spread of the virus.

"We have implemented all directives from the Central government in this regard", he said.

The state also sought an increase in its borrowing capacity from the current 3 per cent to 5 per cent, Vijayan said.

He also requested for making the necessary transport arrangements for migrant labourers to go back home after the lockdown period.

The chief minister also said the Union Health Secretary, who was present during the video conference, had appreciated the state's efforts in restricting the fatalities due to Covid-19 and in controlling the virus outbreak.

As suggested by the prime minister, all NCC cadets and NSS volunteers will be allowed to join the State's Community Volunteer Force.

Those who left NCC and NSS in the last five years will also be allowed to join, he said.
The best magic makes us gasp in awe and takes us to mysterious places. But rarely has there been a show as personal or heartfelt as Dynamo: Beyond Belief, the magicians first series in six years.

While the Bradford-born maverick, whose real name is Steven Frayne, always gives his routines a narrative, this one follows his journey to hell and back over the last three years.

The series moves between the unbelievable highs of his career  he was the first British magician to sell out arena shows  to him becoming seriously ill after his Crohns disease (a lifelong condition that causes inflammation in the digestive system) flared up after a bout of food poisoning.

Steven Frayne (pictured), from Bradford, who is best known as Dynamo, revealed the inspiration behind his new three-part series on Sky One

That led to crippling arthritis, and at one point he was spending most of his day in chronic pain, terrified he would never work again.

But the show also reveals how illness inspired him. During his weeks in hospital and long recuperation, he filled diaries with ideas and he describes his new Sky One three-part series as showcasing his best-ever work.

It takes the man who famously walked on the Thames and levitated next to a London bus to new heights, from driving backwards blindfolded through the busy streets of Moscow to pushing a banknote through the side of a glass tequila bottle.

Other stunts include withstanding extreme heat and stopping a high-powered car with his hands in Japan.

Its easy to take things for granted, like were walking through life with our eyes closed, says Dynamo, 37.

It seems like only yesterday that I had the world at my feet. If Im honest, success made me believe I was invincible, but the more successful I became the less inspired I was. Then, in July 2017, reality came knocking.

Stunts include withstanding extreme heat and stopping a car with his hands in Japan, pictured

That was when he was rushed to hospital with severe food poisoning. And because part of his intestine had been removed when he was 17 due to the Crohns, it was to have a brutal impact.

The pain was so intense that even the highest doses of morphine barely touched the sides, he recalls.

But Id have all sorts of dreams, and I dreamed my pain was a living thing that could be tamed. Id wake up in a sweat and furiously write everything down. I left hospital with hundreds of new magic ideas in my little black book.

Apart from a strange pain in his ankles, he felt well. Over the following months things returned to normal, he says.

FROM THE STREET TO THE STARS Dynamo first honed his skills when a stomach abscess meant he had to spend six months in hospital. Later, a loan from the Princes Trust enabled him to buy a laptop and video camera. He used them to film himself doing street magic around London. He would then blag his way onto red carpets and backstage at events to perform in front of stunned celebrities, which caused a sensation on YouTube. His first show, Dynamo: Magician Impossible, which aired in 2011 on UKTV, has been watched by more than 250 million people. His 2012 series was nominated for a BAFTA and his 2014 tour, Seeing Is Believing, lasted three years, during which he was the first magician to headline at Londons O2 Arena. Hes also had two No 1 bestsellers, The Book Of Secrets and Nothing Is Impossible: My Story. Dynamo (pictured) who was overwhelmed by his fame, admits being ill made him re-evaluate his life Advertisement

I was performing again and life seemed good. But over time the discomfort in my ankles started to intensify, spreading to my knees, shoulders, wrists and hands.

'My hands would shake  one thing you need as a magician is a steady hand. Some mornings the pain was so bad I struggled to get out of bed.

He was diagnosed with reactive arthritis, caused by the shock to his system of the food poisoning.

His treatment included steroids that made him bloated, and the show features videos he made at home showing how ill he was.

My home was my prison, he says. My body was in constant pain. I couldnt use cards, so I practised magic with anything I could.

I never appreciated what I had until I lost it all, thats the whole tragic point. We rarely take time to stop and reflect. Thats the beauty of magic. It helps us see the world in ways weve never seen it before.

Magic has always been Dynamos salvation. His mother was 16 when he was born while his father, who left when he was four, was in and out of prison.

He grew up on some of Bradfords most deprived housing estates and the Crohns meant the young Steven was small and weak so prone to being bullied.

But his great-grandfather Ken, a Second World War veteran who learned magic in the Navy, taught him what he knew and it transformed his life.

The first thing he showed me was how to take away the bullies strength, he once recalled.

People thought I was weird, he says now, but slowly they wanted to see me do things. Magic gave me the power to bring people to me. It made me stand out, but in a positive way.

The fame, he admits, was overwhelming and being sick forced him to re-evaluate life. His biggest fight was with fear and thats encouraged him to be braver in his magic. Theres power in having nothing to lose, he says.

At my lowest point I started to realise I could get sucked into the darkness or embrace it.

He is still often in excruciating pain, but as we learn on this journey, hes got better at controlling it. The stunningly produced new series takes him from Tokyo to Dubai and Moscow to Mexico City.

The stunningly produced new series takes him from Dubai and Moscow to Mexico City, above

They might be different people from different nations, but the reaction to him is the same  awe.

Ive always believed magic is a unifying force, he says.

I set out to make a show for people who felt isolated from society like I was during my struggles with chronic illness. The resulting trilogy is my best work to date, I hope everyone enjoys watching it as much as I did making it.

Dynamo: Beyond Belief, Thursday, Good Friday and Saturday 11 April, 9pm, Sky One. The series will be on Sky and Now TV from Thursday.
Bagaklot : , April 4 (IANS) A 75-year-old coronavirus patient succumbed to death in Karnataka's Bagalkot, taking the COVID-19 toll to 4 in the southern state, police said on Saturday.

"The patient died in the district hospital here on late Friday night," Navanagar police inspector Bannur told IANS on phone.

The victim was the 125th case in the state, under treatment in an isolated ward after he was admitted to the hospital in the town on Thursday for the virus symptoms.

Bagalkot is 475 km northwest of Bengaluru in the southern state.
Four people, including three who attended the Tablighi Jamat meet in Delhi, tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, taking the total number of the affected in the state to 128, the Health department said here.

The three men from Belagavi had attended the Tablighi- Jamaat congregation from March 13 to 18 at Delhi, while the other case was that of a 75-year-old man, who is a resident of Bagalkote.

A detailed investigation was underway to ascertain how he got infected, the department said in a bulletin.

It said that till date, 128 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, including three deaths and 11 discharges.

"With 128 cases we are in ninth position in the country in number of cases.Today four new cases were confirmed, of which three were those who attended Tablighi-Jamaat congregation," Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar told reporters, giving details about the bulletin.

He said 187 of the total of 288 samples collected from those who attended the congregation had tested negative and only 13 had turned positive so far.

"Out of 288 samples collected, we have got report for only 200 cases and are awaiting reports for 88," he added.

Though Kumar did not give any figures on the total number of people who went from Karnataka to attend theDelhi meet, the health department on Thursday had said nearly 1,000 people (including 19 foreigners) linked to Tablighi Jamat had been screened and swab samples of more than 200 people had been collected, while efforts are on to find out others.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday held a meeting with Muslim leaders and MLAs even as the government stepped up efforts to track those who might have travelled to the state after taking part in the meet in Delhi last month, which has turned out to be the hotbed of COVID-19 spread in the country.

After the meeting, the Chief Minister said Muslim MLAs agreed to provide details of those who attended the Jamaat's congregation to the government and also convince them to undergo COVID-19 tests, along with quarantining themselves.

Out of total of 114 active cases in the state so far, 111 patients (including 1 pregnant woman) are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while three are in ICU (one on oxygen and two on Ventilators).

Seven of the 128 cases detected and confirmed were transit passengers of Kerala, who landed at airports in Karnataka and are being treated in the state.

Among the 128 positive cases, 51 were reported from Bengaluru, 21 from Mysuru, 10 from Bidar, nine from Dakshina Kannada, eight from Uttara Kannada, seven from Chikkaballapur, five from Kalaburgai, four from Ballari, three each from Davangere, Belagavi and Udupi, and one each from Kodagu, Tumakuru, Bagalkote and Dharwad.

Those discharged include nine patients from Bengaluru and two from Kalaburagi and among the deceased are one each are reported from Kalaburgari, Bengaluru and Tumakuru.

The Chief Minister held a series of meetings to review the measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19 and implementation of lockdown in the state.

He asked the labour department to deposit an additional Rs 1,000 from the Construction Workers Welfare Fund to the accounts of 15 lakh labourers in the sector.

The government has already deposited Rs 1000 to their accounts (amounting about Rs 150 crore) in the first round.

During the meeting the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Kits for Doctors and health care professionals was discussed.

"Work order has been issued for 1 lakh PPE kits, and the Chief Minister has issued directions for the supply of 2 lakh more PPE kits," Kumar said.

Yediyurappa also chaired a meeting with Ministers from Bengaluru on steps to be taken to control spread of COVID-19, as the city has more than half the confirmed cases in the state.

He also decided to covene a meeting of city legislators in this regard on Saturday morning.

Kumar said it was also decided not to provide food free of cost at the state run Indira Canteens as concerns were raised about the quality and misuse that was happening during the Chief Minister's meeting with ministers today.

"We have decided to stop free food supply...we are providing foodgrains to poor through ration already," he said.

However, the Canteens will continue to provide subsidized food- breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs 10.

The government last month had decided that Indira Canteens would provide food packets free of cost to the poor and needy in the wake of the lockdown.

Meanwhile, in view of COVID-19, emergency Additional Chief Secretary, H&FW Department ordered extension ofservices of Medical and Para-medical staff, Clinical and Nonclinical staff retiring in April and May this year, to June 30.

Amid reports of lack of co-ordination between Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar and Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu, Chief Minister Yediyurappa has tasked Suresh Kumar to brief the media on COVID-19 related daily bulletins, official sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is seeking a 38-year-old man for questioning in connection to a Stapleton assault in which two others are being charged.

The NYPD is seeking Sean Whitted, in connection to the Feb. 24 group assault inside the lobby of 180 Broad St., police said. The assault left a victim with slash wounds and a bullet wound to the leg, according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Previously, Stapleton resident Vondel Howard, 26, was accused of attempted murder in the assault that left a 28-year-old with injuries.

Jordan Taylor, 27, of Richmond Hill Road, was the second defendant charged in connection with the alleged attack.

The NYPD provided a photo of Whitted, who is a resident of the 300 block of Richmond Terrace.

Anyone with information in regard to the whereabouts of the above individual is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, or on Twitter @ NYPDTips.

All calls are kept strictly confidential.
On Monday, March 23 a letter arrived at Margaret Claytons door at the Seeland Park retirement campus in east Grinnell. The letter confirmed what shed already heard  that the novel coronavirus COVID-19 had infected one resident at the facility shed called home for many years, and worse, that it was a case of community spread.

Community spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is the spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown.

In a statement, Seeland Park administrator Dion Schrack confirmed that one case of COVID-19 was diagnosed on Friday, March 20  the first in Grinnell, Iowa and Poweshiek County more broadly. We have learned that this person had not traveled out-of-state. This is an apparent case of community spread. We encourage all of our Seeland Park residents to stay home unless absolutely necessary.

Because of health care privacy rules, Seeland Park and the Grinnell Regional Medical Center do not disclose the names of their patients.

This individual resides in our independent living community, Seeland Park, and is in isolation off of our campus at this time, Tiffany Criswell, another representative from the retirement campus, said. Individuals who have been in direct contact with the resident have been contacted. We have no cases of COVID-19 in our nursing facility or our assisted living community.

On Wednesday, two more Poweshiek County residents between the ages of 60 and 81 tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected in the County to four. Seeland Park is no longer allowing any visitors onto its campus until further notice in an effort to protect residents of the facility.

In an independent living community like Seeland Park, residents live in individual housing rather than apartment-style units. This presents unique challenges for enforcing quarantine orders: family members and friends can come and go as they please.

Margaret Claytons son John, age 67, is doing just that. Theres no enforcement, he said, confident that any restriction would be waived for him, anyway. I put her medicines together, for instance. Ive got to come in.

John is doing his part to manage the risks to his mothers health as best he can, even in the face of a global pandemic. That means altering the rhythms of Margarets everyday life. A nurse who visits Margaret thrice a week to take her blood pressure will no longer be stopping by, and John has canceled house cleaning for his mother to cut down on exposure.

Now, Im the only contact person my mother has, so Ive got to be very careful so I dont carry it in to her, John said. Hes also concerned about his own health. People aged 65 years and older, as well as people who live in a retirement home or care facility, are at higher riskfor severe illness from COVID-19.

This is just one of the difficult decisions the Claytons have been forced to make amid an unprecedented time of social distancing and mounting strain on the nations health care system. Given the influx of COVID-19 cases, everyday doctors appointments and procedures will be delayed, with consequences ranging from annoying to urgent. COVID-19 cases will be prioritized. Something as simple as a sprained ankle could become a matter of life and death, especially for seniors.

The Claytons have had to cancel medical procedures at the University of Iowa. Margaret was scheduled to have her cataracts removed, but now, John says it could be November or even next year before it becomes possible to reschedule the procedure. A dental appointment has also been pushed back.

Although John does not reside in a nursing home, the rapid spread of the virus has also put his health at risk. He was scheduled for a procedure that would screen him for possible cancer. That appointment, too, was cancelled.

Well, three months is no big deal, but if you start talking about six months [or] eight months  if it is cancer  it could be leaping into other parts of my body, John said. Its like a bad dream that you cant wake up from.

To get his mind off the pandemic, John spends his days managing the family farm owned by his mother. Im happy to be outside in nature. Thank goodness. When Im out there, I can put it all to the side.

Even out in the fields, John can see traces of the coronaviruss reach. Although he says his familys farm wont be impacted tremendously by the economic downturn that has accompanied COVID-19, other farmers wont be so lucky. Some of the other[s] have payments to make on their machinery and payments to make on their land. Theyre the ones who are in real trouble.

John says Margaret, who will celebrate her 98th birthday in July, remains in good spirits even as COVID-19 encircles the Grinnell community.

Shes really a trooper. She went through the Depression and World War II. She lived on a farm for all of those decades, where youre very isolated, he said. She shows humor  shes not depressed or anything. Shes just like, Well do what we need to do.

Still, the threat of the coronavirus and the many questions still left unanswered threaten the livelihoods of Grinnells elderly, who, like Margaret Clayton, lead active, independent lives.

I would hate for this virus to come in and take her like that, John said.
RTHK: Unemployment claims in US hit record 6.65mn

Another 6.65 million US workers filed for unemployment benefits last week, the most ever recorded, as the coronavirus forces businesses to shut down nationwide, the Labor Department reported on Thursday.

The number of first-time applications for jobless benefits for the week ended March 28 was double the number registered in the previous week, which was revised up by 24,000 to 3.3 million  the previous record, according to the data.

"Nearly every state providing comments cited the Covid-19 virus," the report said, noting a wider impact across more industries, especially hotels, but also manufacturing and retail.

The result far surpassed even the highest of estimates by economists, and reflected the growing damage to the US economy as the pandemic worsens and the growing death toll prompts more states to impose lockdowns.

In the same week of last year, only 211,000 people requested benefits for the first time.

The government last week approved a US$2.2 trillion rescue package that includes a massive expansion and extension of unemployment benefits to cushion the blow for the millions of workers left without a paycheck.

The largest increases in first-time claims were in Pennsylvania (362,012), Ohio (189,263), Massachusetts (141,003), Texas (139,250) and California (128,727). (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Reliever Zack Britton said the idea of moving the Yankees home games to neutral sites over fears over the coronavirus has been slightly discussed."

We could possibly be a team that had to play in a neutral site for a little while, because New York has been such a hotbed for this, and guys are open to that, Britton said on SiriusXMs MLB Network Radio channel Thursday morning with hosts Steve Phillips and CJ Nitkowski. I know there are sites they have already discussed. Im not sure I should even say this publicly but there are four or five sites.

Britton, speaking from his home in Texas, didnt name the sites, but he said that the players union and the league talked about places that had resources and facilities and hotels to host a major-league team, if we get to that point.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Immediately, two locations come to mind: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, because its not far from the Yankees spring training home in Tampa. George M. Steinbrenner Field  the home of the Yankees High-A team and its big-league spring training site  could work, too, if the league and the Yankees are OK with a smaller crowd.

Its unclear where the other two or three cities could be located. Maybe Baltimore, considering its proximity to New York City? Maybe warm-weather sites such as Miami or Texas?

Britton said players and owners just want to play as many games as possible.

If weve got to do that in empty stadiums for the safety of the public, then I think thats the right move, he said.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.
A Second World War veteran, on April 1, celebrated his 104th birthday after overcoming the deadly coronavirus which has claimed more than 53,000 lives around the world. According to international media reports, Bill Lapschies first presented symptoms of COVID-19 almost 25 days back, however, it has been almost 19 days since he last had fever. On his birthday, he was reportedly wheeled out of Edward C. Allworth Veterans Home in Lebanon, US and he celebrated his day with socially distant friends and family, who came to visit bearing gifts, plaques and balloons.

Sending happy birthday wishes to Bill on his 104th birthday! He's one of Oregon's honored veterans and has just recovered from COVID-19.



You can wish him a happy birthday, and brighten the day of other residents at the Lebanon veterans home. Learn more: https://t.co/NZL2vrrvE9 pic.twitter.com/W3q44FSugr  Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) April 1, 2020

READ: Crowded In Camps, Rohingya Refugees Vulnerable To Coronavirus Spread

While speaking to an international media outlet, Bill said that he still doesnt know how he survived the deadly virus. When asked how he felt about turning 104, he reportedly said, pretty good. Bills doctor, Rob Richardson, said that the 140-year-old had a moderate case of the virus and didnt develop any respiratory issues. He further, however, added that he probably would have been hospitalised if he wasnt at the veterans home.

Richardson told the media outlet that Bills case could have easily gone another way as there is not a lot of interventions that could be done. The doctor also informed that coronavirus has also ready claimed two lives in the veterans home itself. As per reports, Bill was born in Oregon in 1916 and he has survived that Spanish flu, The Great Depression and his time in the US Army during the Second World War.

READ: Coronavirus Claims 53,218 Lives Worldwide, Total Cases Cross 1 Million

96-year-old recovers

As coronavirus is particularly dangerous for the elderly, Bill is not the first senior citizen to recover from the deadly disease. Last month, a 96-year-old South Korean woman reportedly infected with the novel coronavirus was fully recovered and had been released from quarantine, city officials reportedly confirmed. The patient was a resident at a nursing hospital in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan and was discharged from the Seoul hospital. The city is located nearby Daegu, an epicentre of the outbreak.

Meanwhile, coronavirus, which originated in China in December 2019, has now claimed over 53,000 lives worldwide as of April 3. According to the tally by international news agency, the pandemic has now spread to 204 countries and has infected more than one million people. Out of the total infections, 213,135 have been recovered but the easily spread virus is continuing to disrupt many lives. Major cities have been put under lockdown in almost all countries including Spain, and the economy is struggling.

READ: Coronavirus Hospital Set-up Near The Maracana Stadium

READ: China To Observe April 4 As Mourning Day For Coronavirus Victims


By Dahlia Nehme

DUBAI (Reuters) - Oman welcomes a U.S. invitation to OPEC members to discuss ways of halting a collapse in oil prices, the country's oil minister said, according to the Omani al-Watan newspaper on Thursday.

Oman is not in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, but is a member of the OPEC+ alliance of OPEC and non-OPEC nations that struck an oil output deal that had led to relatively stable oil prices since 2017.

The agreement collapsed last month after Russia refused to support deeper production cuts to support prices hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

In response, OPEC's de facto leader Saudi Arabia slashed its export prices and said it would raise production to maximum capacity.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had spoken to the leaders of both Saudi Arabia and Russia and believed the two countries would reach a deal to end their price war within a few days.

"The invitation addressed by the United States ... to main OPEC member countries to return to negotiations may rekindle hopes of reaching practical solutions to controlling the oil price decline," Omani oil minister Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy said, according to al-Watan.

"We don't support countries in increasing production at this sensitive stage, as it doesn't serve the global oil industry nor the states' interests."

"The oil market is going through a critical stage and the economical and financial losses, especially for countries dependent on oil revenues, will be large if prices remain where they are now," he added, ruling out the possibility of price drop to about $15 per barrel.

International crude prices <LCOc1> have fallen by around 50% to below $26 a barrel since the OPEC+ output deal collapsed.

Al-Rumhy announced ambitious plans late last year to invest more than $20 billion in downstream operations in the next five years. However, the impact of current economic conditions will put on hold any investments in new fields and projects, he was reported as saying on Thursday.

Story continues

The sharp drop in oil prices in 2020 will intensify Oman's fiscal and external pressures, leading to a faster deterioration in the government's balance sheet, S&P Global Ratings said in its most recent report.

Oman will face a trade imbalance due to lower oil prices and has limited fiscal space to adjust gradually, according to S&P, as hydrocarbon products comprise about 35% of GDP, 60% of current account receipts, and 75% of fiscal receipts.

(Reporting by Dahlia Nehme; Additional reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Jan Harvey and Pravin Char)
A random car that a 25-year-old man stole belonged to his boss, a court heard.

Solicitor Daragh Hassett told Ennis District Court that the circumstances of Eddie Carey stealing his employer's car were like something you would see in "a dark comedy".

Mr Hassett said: "The random car that he stole turned out to belong to the person who gave him a job. At times, you couldn't make up his life."

The court heard that Carey, of Maldron Hotel, Roxboro, Co Limerick, lost his job as a result.

Det Sgt Kevin O'Hagan told the court Carey had 103 previous convictions and a large amount related to car theft.

Mr Hassett said every time Carey "tries to pull himself up, the demons come on top of him" and "attending funerals of relatives and friends triggered darkness for him".

Judge Patrick Durcan imposed a nine-month jail term for a burglary offence and a six-month jail term for handling stolen goods, with the two sentences to run consecutively. Carey, who pleaded guilty to the charges, committed the burglary at a home at Cluain Droichead, Sixmilebridge, on February 17.

The judge said "people have to feel secure in their houses. 'Carey's law' is not to become the norm in Co Clare".

Judge Durcan told Carey: "It is my earnest hope that you can get your act together in prison and get out of it as soon as you can and look after your young son."
I f theres one thing that this sudden coronavirus pandemic has taught us, its how much we took the ease of travel (and the availability of toilet paper ) for granted.

Since commercial flights became more widely used in the 1950s, travelling the world has become a way of life. With the UK embedded in one of the worlds most culturally diverse continents, city breaks have become a cheap and easy weekend activity.

Yet, with the UK joining many other countries on lockdown, going grocery shopping is the nations most common weekend activity at the moment and the travel industry has all but come to a halt.

Luckily, as humans, we easily adapt and a new era of travel is upon us: virtual travel.

Virtual travel is where the internet allows us to visit places without leaving our sofa. A number of free webcams, tours and sites have started to pop up allowing armchair travellers to get their dose of travel just by using their phones or laptops.

One of the apps helping fuel our ever-increasing wanderlust, is Google Arts & Culture, which is currently hosting interactive documentaries with five US National Parks.

Through the app or online, avid travellers can immerse themselves through 360-degree video tours of Alaskas Kenai Fjords, Hawaiis Volcanoes, New Mexicos Carlsbad Caverns, Utahs Bryce Canyon and Floridas Dry Tortugas.

Kenai Fjords, Alaska / Unsplash

In each of the parks, a local ranger guides viewers through beautiful wilderness areas and an archive or artefacts from several of the National Park Services museums are also available to experience.

For example, when you choose the Bryce Canyon option, youre met with sweeping views across the canyon and led into it by a ranger. Theres the option to see the canyon by night, as its home to one of the darkest skies in North America, and you can explore constellations as well as see the Milky Way. It also allows you to explore the famed changing hoodoos in the park - the giant red stone rock formations it houses.
ALBANY, N.Y.As the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, cases soared, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio asked New Yorkers on Thursday to wear a face covering when they go outside to prevent the spread of the CCP virus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that the states supply of breathing machines could be exhausted in six days. And the COVID-19 death toll climbed to at least 2,400. While New York City remained a hotspot, there were troublesome trends around the state as the outbreak spread to every county. Unemployment filings skyrocketed too, as the pandemic wreaked economic havoc.

The latest developments in New York:

Face Covering

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio asked New Yorkers to wear a face covering when they go outside and will be near other people.

He cited research showing asymptomatic people could be spreading the CCP virus without realizing it. When you put on that face covering, youre protecting everyone else, he said.

The mayor said it could be a scarf or a bandanna or anything homemade, but it should not be a surgical mask needed by medical workers.

A recent study by researchers in Singapore became the latest to estimate that somewhere around 10 percent of new infections may be sparked by people who carry the virus but have not yet suffered symptoms.

A bandanna might not prevent someone from coming into contact with the virus, but it could help a person who has it not give it to others when they sneeze, cough or breathe.

The mayor of Los Angeles also told everyone in the city to start wearing masks on Wednesday.

Ventilators Running Low

Cuomo warned New York could be six days away from exhausting its supply of ventilators as the state reported 432 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to nearly 2,400.

More than 13,300 people were hospitalized statewide with about 3,400 in intensive care.

Ventilators have become the crucial piece of equipment sought by state and city officials as hundreds of patients a day are admitted to intensive care units.

The state sent 400 ventilators to New York City and another 200 to its suburbs. But the governor saw problems ahead.

At the current burn rate, we have about six days of ventilators in our stockpile, the governor said at a briefing at the Capitol.

If supplies run short, the state is ready to use anesthesia and converted BiPAP machines, usually used to treat sleep apnea, or put more than one patient on a single ventilator.

More than 92,000 state residents have tested positive for the virus. The true number is likely much higher because officials have rationed tests and encouraged all but the most seriously ill people not to seek treatment and instead ride it out at home.

Most people who get the virus experience mild or moderate symptoms, including fever and cough. Others, though, develop pneumonia, sometimes requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults and people with other health problems.

Unemployment Claims

More than 464,000 people have filed for unemployment in New York state in the three weeks since the pandemic shattered the economy, an increase of over 1,000 percent from the same period last year, according to the state Department of Labor.

Last week alone, more than 369,000 unemployment claims were filed, an increase of more than 2,600 percent from the same time last year.

The Department of Labors unemployment filing system has seen a 16,000 percent increase in phone calls and a nearly 900 percent increase in web traffic in recent weeks.

Outbreak Spreads

Cases have now been confirmed in every county, with worrisome trends in some regions.

Cuomo said Thursday that theres a troubling rise in suburban Long Island and Westchester County.

At the other end of the state, Buffalo and surrounding Erie County reporting 19 deaths and about 730 cases as of Thursday.

Among those infected in Buffalo is Common Council President Darius Pridgen, along with three of his adult children. His daughter was taken off a ventilator late Wednesday and began breathing on her own just before Pridgen went live on Facebook to offer an update from his own quarantine, frequently coughing and his voice hoarse.

It was pretty rough for a couple of days, he said of his daughter.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center could be used as an intensive-care hospital if needed during the projected peak in late April or early May.

Teacher Dies

Sandra Santos-Vizcaino, who taught third grade at an elementary school in Brooklyn, is the first New York City school teacher reported to have died of COVID-19.

This is a devastating tragedy, schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said Thursday. Sandra was a beloved teacher at P.S. 9.

Santos-Vizcaino, 54, was a more than 20-year veteran of the citys school system. She was recognized for her contributions to education in the Dominican Republic and won a grant to study bird sanctuaries there in 2009.

The notion that weve lost a teacher is very painful, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. We lost a principal last week, a young woman full of extraordinary promise.

Brooklyn principal Dez-Ann Romain was the first city education employee reported to have died of the virus.

Students in New York City havent been to school since March 13.

Prison Masks

Administrators of the state prison system said they will allow guards to wear masks on duty. Staff had been prohibited from wearing masks unless medically necessary.

Also, inmates subject to quarantine will be issued a surgical-type mask to further reduce the risk of any secondary transmission, officials said.

The state corrections department said Thursday that 176 employees and 24 inmates have had confirmed cases of COVID-19.

That includes Harvey Weinstein, the film producer serving 23 years for rape and sexual assault.

Other Developments

The virus hasnt spared any part of New York City, but new data shows that a few poorer neighborhoods in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn are getting hit especially hard.

Cuomos press briefing included a live video appearance by his younger brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

New York state is racing to roughly triple its hospital capacity as virus cases surge. Officials worry the massive effort wont be enough in the U.S. epicenter of the pandemic.

By Marina Villeneuve and Michael Hill

Epoch times staff contributed to this report
Fear for the future? A general feeling of helplessness? Frustration at our loss of freedom? A sense of disorientation at just how fast life has changed as millions of us adapt to working from home, to queuing to get into the supermarket, and seeing family and friends only on video?

No doubt all of the above will sound familiar as we all struggle to cope with life in lockdown. But this week, I want to dedicate my column to the forgotten victims of this pandemic, many of whom are the patients my colleagues and I would see routinely before coronavirus led to our deployment elsewhere.

So let us spare a thought for people suffering from chronic depression or who struggle with suicidal thoughts. For them, isolation is not what the doctor ordered. Mental health patients are some of the tragic collateral damage unwittingly created by the desperate re-organisation of the NHS in response to Covid-19.

Dont get me wrong. The health system is performing incredibly under huge pressure. It is something that is making everyone proud  just look at the millions of people who turned out again on Thursday night to clap and show their appreciation.

Photo shows tests being carried out at a coronavirus testing site in a car park at Chessington World of Adventures, in Greater London, as the UK continues in lockdown Friday April 3, 2020

We all knew that there would be changes to the services we offer, but the scale and speed of these changes has been simply breathtaking to witness. The unintended consequence is that many mental health patients have, in effect, been abandoned.

The services on which they rely up and down the country are being suspended as resources are diverted. Most are now only operating with little or no outpatient provision, a greatly reduced inpatient ward and a crisis team for those who are actively suicidal.

A few clinics are offering support via video-conferencing for the most seriously affected, but that is patchy and demand is great. As regular readers know, I work in a specialist eating disorder service. We have patients who have been waiting months for an appointment and who have now been put on hold indefinitely.

Of course, its not just mental health services. Many other services across the NHS have also been closed. Friends who work in paediatrics and cardiology have had to abandon their clinics and patients to help out on the corona frontline.

Cancer patients have had operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy cancelled. Stroke and heart attack victims may not get the emergency treatment they need. I shudder at what the fall-out will mean for all these patients  but as a psychiatrist, what I am seeing makes me profoundly worried for the mentally ill and for those who may become so.

We are living through unprecedented times and this will take a huge toll on everyones wellbeing. When we emerge from it, I fear the mental health care system will be woefully unprepared to cope.

But what about the challenges now? A study by Kings College London has found that putting suspected coronavirus patients in quarantine could cause long-lasting, psychological damage. Spending weeks in isolation can trigger PTSD, depression, feelings of confusion, anger and fear, and even drug abuse.

A friend, who is a secretary at a hospital trust in London, tells me receptionists have been warned that they will have to deal as best they can with acutely psychotic patients who phone in.

Police officers patrol the high street on April 02, 2020 in Exeter, England

Some of these will be experiencing paranoia and hearing voices, because they are no longer being monitored in the community and have stopped taking their medication. Yesterday, the tragic death toll due to coronavirus had reached 3,605 in the UK.

The chilling truth is that the number of deaths will potentially be far higher if we include mental health patients who cant get the help they need. Often the most vulnerable and isolated at the best of times, they are facing months without any form of support.

It breaks my heart to think of what is going on right now behind many closed doors around the country. Some mental health sufferers are totally alone, while others are reliant on their families, who are buckling under the strain.

Yes, we must fight the scourge of coronavirus with all the resources we can muster  but in doing so, we cannot ignore the thousands of other patients who are being sacrificed.

People queue inside a Sainsbury's supermarket in Watford as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues, Watford, Britain, March 19, 2020

Royal tributes food for thought

Prince Charles this week spoke about his own experience of infection with Covid-19. He acknowledged that he was lucky and had suffered relatively mild symptoms.

I was delighted to hear him pay tribute not only to NHS staff, but also to food retail workers. Hear, hear!

Ive been overwhelmed by the love shown for the health service these past two weeks, but lets not forget all the other people without whom things would quickly fall apart.

Food producers, delivery staff and, of course, those who work in food retail, from corner shops to supermarkets, stacking shelves and manning tills.

Together they are ensuring that we get food on our tables.

The lovely ladies at my local M&S have cheered me up these past few weeks.

They are among the many unsung heroes of this crisis.

I was one of the group of doctors and scientists who signed a letter this week sent by charity Sense About Science which promotes the public understanding of science.

We are asking the Government to improve its communication with the general public.

I dont believe the Prime Ministers office is being as open and transparent about the research on which it has based its decisions on tackling coronavirus as it should.

I appreciate that it must be tough for No. 10 to explain something that is so complex.

But it cant limit communication to what we must and must not do.

The Governments defensive approach seems suspicious.

Credit the public with more intelligence and tell us the truth.

In 1918, the world was recovering from a war that had killed 20 million people.

And then the Spanish Flu swept the globe, claiming up to 50 million lives. Back then, there was neither hope of a cure nor a vaccine.

There were no ventilators, antibiotics or intensive care facilities. We were decades away from cracking the genetic code understanding DNA.

As strange as it sounds in these grim times, this is the best time in human history for there to be a pandemic because of the great advances we have made in science, technology and clinical medicine.

Of course, its still scary and we must take all necessary precautions against it.

However, I am hopeful that we will get on top of this pandemic in a way weve never been able to in the past.

The perfect telly fix for our times

Having developed a dry cough this week, I was sent home from hospital and am now self-isolating. I know I should be making the most of it  reading improving books, catching up with arthouse films, discovering new music etc.

But sometimes whats on TV is just too good not to miss. Ive discovered the joys of what is keeping millions of others glued to the sofa  The Repair Shop on BBC One, which sees craftspeople restore cherished possessions to their former glory.

Even my coolest friends, who would usually sneer at something so gentle and pedestrian are hooked.

The genius of The Repair Shop is the backstories of the people who bring in items to be fixed.

In one tearjerker of an episode, a widower was overcome with emotion when the jukebox he and his late wife used on their wedding day was fixed  and he could listen again to the song the couple had their first dance to.

The show taps into that need we all have to feel connected to the past, to have a sense of belonging.

At times such as these, we look for diversions that are not only comforting, but also remind us of what really matters: other people.

And, above all, it reminds us that what is broken can be fixed.

Thats the dose of pure happiness we all need right now.

Dr Max prescribes... Bloom & Wild flowers by post

What could be more cheering and uplifting than a bunch of flowers?

I particularly love Bloom & Wild, because its bouquets are packed into a box which can fit through your letterbox  ideal during social distancing!

They are perfect to send to people who are isolating or those in high-risk groups unable to leave the house.

It also lets loved ones know youre thinking of them while you cant see each other in person. (Other florists are available online!)

bloomandwild.com

drmax@dailymail.co.uk
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has viewed the work done as part of the expansion of the Baku-Sumgayit highway.

The head of state also attended the inauguration of an overhead pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street.

Informing President Ilham Aliyev about the work carried out as part of the expansion of the Baku-Sumgayit highway, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov said:

- Dear Mr. President, according to your executive order, we have been expanding the roads from the 7th kilometer of the Baku-Guba-Russian Federation state border highway to the 14th kilometer of this highway, a place called the Masazir Bridge, for five months now. Our main goal here has been to expand the existing four-lane highway starting from the exit of a tunnel called 20 January - Shamakhinka. In addition, on your instruction, we have begun the construction of a new tunnel at a place called the Khirdalan Roundabout. Thus, automobiles will move from the center only in the direction of Baku-Guba-Russian Federation. We plan to separate the direction of traffic from the 20 January Roundabout using road signs. In other words, automobiles will move towards Binagadi, Bilajari and then Masazir and Sumgayit on the right side. At the Khirdalan Roundabout section of the road, we have opened a new tunnel and a two-lane adjoining road with a length of 495 meters and a width of 7.5 meters. The width of the new tunnel is 9 meters. In addition, we have introduced another innovation  we restricted the entry of cars coming from Shamakhi, Khojasan and Lokbatan directly to the 20 January Roundabout. At this site, we have already completed 80 percent of the work. We will probably finish the work by the end of May.

Dear Mr. President, this railway bridge was built in the 1960s and its supports interfered with the new tunnel. According to your instruction, the construction of a new bridge without medium supports is envisaged here. We will completely build this bridge, which will consist of metal structures. There will be no disruption to the railway traffic. We will bring and install the bridge as soon as it is ready.

President Ilham Aliyev: Will the road be expanded from there?

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, we will expand it. The checkpoint is being removed. There will also be a turn here for vehicles moving from Khirdalan and Shamakhi to the central road. We will provide access onto the central road for both vehicles moving from the Russia-Guba direction and from Sumgayit, Shamakhi and Sulutapa.

Dear Mr. President, this is a new pedestrian crossing built at a place called Shamakhinka. For the first time in Azerbaijan, the crossing has been built using a pylon method, i.e. without the middle support. The arch rests on cables.

X X X

President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Many road and transport projects have been implemented in Baku in recent years. If these projects hadnt been implemented, it would be impossible to move in Baku now because of the traffic jams.

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, Mr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: Dozens of bridges, road junctions, the construction of new roads, the expansion of existing ones, the standards observed during their construction. It is no coincidence that the Davos World Economic Forum gives the highest assessment to the quality of road infrastructure in Azerbaijan. We are in 30th place in the world in terms of the quality of our roads. But the population is growing and public activity is increasing. Even though economic activity has declined today, during the coronavirus period, it is, however, a temporary problem. At the end of the fight against this disease, economic activity will recover.

Considering the fact that the Baku-Sumgayit road is no longer able to cope with the existing traffic, which has become very busy, it was necessary to expand the road, of course. Baku and Sumgayit are somewhat connected now. Many people work in Baku but live in Sumgayit and vice versa. Therefore, we are implementing this project due to the strategic nature of this road  it is also a road leading to the north. Of course, technically this is not a straightforward project, because it involves numerous resettlements, construction of new bridges and relocation of some facilities. The implementation of this transport project is also provided for in the State Investment Program. Therefore, additional steps will be taken to build pedestrian crossings. A lot has been done in this direction in recent years, and this is of great importance for the safety of our people  modernization of the road infrastructure, reduction and elimination of traffic jams. Of course, Azeravtoyol, the Baku Transport Agency and other agencies dealing with transport issues should coordinate all of the work related to both the expansion and quality of the roads. At the same time, as a result of the application of regulatory rules on the roads, the creation of green corridors is also envisaged, and work in this direction is already under way. Therefore, it is necessary to continue this work. The road and all interchanges must be put into operation on time, i.e. within about two, maximum three months. This will bring people comfort and help avoid traffic jams on this road.

Saleh Mammadov: Mr. President, all this is being implemented according to your instructions. We, in turn, promise to complete all work within two months and thereby completely adjust comfortable movement in the direction of Sumgayit and Russia.

President Ilham Aliyev: Are you expanding this section of the Shamakhi road?

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, so that the cars traveling from here do not hamper each other.

President Ilham Aliyev: There have always been traffic jams here and the turn was narrow.

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, this section was narrow.

President Ilham Aliyev: Which side are you expanding it towards?

Saleh Mammadov: Towards the roundabout on the right.

X X X

Despite the recent sharp decline of the oil price in the world and the economic difficulties it has brought about, all the work envisaged in Azerbaijan in relation to socioeconomic development is being implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev successfully and in a timely manner. Clear evidence of that is the modernization of the road infrastructure as an important element of the social sphere and the widespread reconstruction of roads in the country. Large-scale work involving the reconstruction and expansion of roads at the modern level has also been done in Baku in recent years. All these measures are being taken in the interests of peoples comfort and safety. From this point of view, a major role is played by the project to expand the Baku-Sumgayit road being implemented on the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev. This project is very important for eliminating traffic jams and congestion, especially at rush hours, at the northern entrance to Baku. The implementation of the project will pave the way for a comfortable and safe entry and exit of vehicles.

X X X

The head of state then attended the inauguration of the overhead pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street.

On the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev and on the basis of relevant orders, comprehensive measures are currently being taken to ensure traffic safety on roads and provide citizens with comfortable and safe road crossings. In this regard, the construction of overhead and underground pedestrian crossings is of particular importance. In general, this work contributes to the modernization of the transport infrastructure in the capital. As part of the comprehensive measures taken in this direction, the overhead pedestrian crossing built at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street represents great importance as well. There is a high density of both vehicles and pedestrians in this territory. The construction of an overhead pedestrian crossing here will not only ensure the safety of pedestrians but also prevent possible traffic jams in the area, which will help intensify traffic. The construction of the 130 meters long and 3 meters widecrossing began in 2018.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:11:05|Editor: huaxia

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XINING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15,000 face masks donated by northwest China's Qinghai Province to South Chungcheong province of the Republic of Korea (ROK) was shipped off Friday morning, according to the provincial foreign affairs office.

The batch of anti-coronavirus supplies including 2,000 N95-rated masks and 13,000 surgical masks is expected to arrive at the ROK's Incheon Airport on April 7.

The office said the province received medical supplies including 2,000 pairs of medical rubber gloves and 40 sterilizers donated by the ROK when Qinghai was hit by the outbreak. As the epidemic eases in China, the province decided to donate supplies to South Chungyeong province to support its fight against the virus.

Qinghai and South Chungyeong province signed a letter of intent to establish friendly relations in 2014.
Comedian Eddie Large (centre) with Roger Daltrey (left) and comedy partner, Syd Little (right) during filming of an episode of the Little and Large show. Photo: PA

Eddie Large, the Scottish comedian best known for double act Little and Large, has died from coronavirus, aged 78.

His son Ryan McGinnis announced the news on Facebook, revealing that Large had been suffering with heart failure in hospital before contracting the illness.

"It is with great sadness that Mum and I need to announce that my dad passed away in the early hours of this morning," he said.

"He had been suffering with heart failure and unfortunately, whilst in hospital, contracted the coronavirus, which his heart was sadly not strong enough to fight."

Mr McGinnis added: "Dad had fought bravely for so long. Due to this horrible disease we had been unable to visit him at the hospital but all of the family and close friends spoke to him every day."

Large - real name Edward McGinnis - was best known for his comedy partnership with Syd Little (real name Cyril Mead), who is 77.

The pair's sketch series, 'The Little and Large Show', ran on BBC1 from 1978 to 1991.
As a Yale University postdoctoral researcher, economist Jude Bayham studied the potential consequences of a global pandemic that could shutter schools, close businesses, and strain hospitals. That was back in 2013.

Now, as the world grapples with the coronavirus, the Colorado State University economist and a multi-institutional team are turning those prescient modeling exercises into real insights for policymakers.

"We're repurposing models we had done a while back that frankly at the time, people didn't really care about," said Bayham, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. "It's an 'I told you so' moment. I'm not happy about it. It's unfortunate."

In the last several weeks, Bayham and Yale collaborator Eli Fenichel have run a series of analyses illustrating the toll that long-term school closures may have on U.S. health care providers. They're now fielding inquiries from all over the world, from state governments to child care needs assessment professionals, who think the economists' work could help them navigate the here and now. In the last two weeks, the researchers created an interactive dashboard for drilling down statistics on child care needs by state, city and industry sector. Their data were published in The Lancet Public Health April 3.

Bayham and Fenichel have also created another dashboard for viewing COVID-19 complication risk factors in the workforce.

A third of health workers care for young children

For their health care worker analysis, the researchers used data from the U.S. Current Population Survey to show that about a third of health care workers - doctors, nurses, hospital staff - care for children ages 3-12. Fifteen percent of those households don't have other adults or older children who can help with child care.

At the time they did their original analysis, a long-term school closure was a far-off hypothetical. Now, as school districts nationwide shutter for weeks or months, Bayham's work of yore takes on new significance, and the team is scrambling to update it with current figures.

School closures are intended to slow the transmission of the virus. But Bayham and Fenichel find that the toll school closures take on health care workers could potentially negate any mortality benefits from the closures. Their calculations indicate that if the health care workforce declines by 15 percent, due to the workers now having to care for their children, it could lead to an increase in coronavirus deaths, because the workers aren't there to care for sick people. Specifically, they report that assuming a 15 percent loss of the health care labor force, a coronavirus infection mortality rate increase of just 0.35 percentage points would net a greater number of deaths than would be prevented by the closures.

These calculations are just that - calculations, which don't take into account, for example, the potential rollout of state or federal programs to offer child care relief to workers. And the estimates aren't perfect; the researchers don't claim to know, down to a precise number, what one health care worker's absence portends.

"We don't know, in terms of a productivity measure, the estimate of one nurse saving this many lives or reducing mortality," Bayham said. "But we think it's not zero. So essentially we are getting at how productive they need to be for us to be concerned about how school closures would undermine the goal of saving lives."

The work is a sobering reminder of the societal and public-health tradeoffs of large-scale disruptions like long-term school closures.

Forming networks

As the pandemic continues to unfold, Bayham and colleagues at Yale, Northwestern University and other institutions have quickly formed a network of economists and epidemiologists to continue this and other lines of work. They hope to help inform decisionmakers on questions not only of tradeoffs of school closures, but also, strategies for peeling back such restrictive measures when the time is right.

As researchers all over the world converge their expertise around the pandemic, Bayham and colleagues are also jumping into other projects to help. For example, Bayham is serving on a U.S. Forest Service task force that will examine potential outcomes of coronavirus on firefighters as fire season returns.

And along with department colleagues Becca Jablonski and Dawn Thilmany, Rebecca Clary, Rebecca Hill and Alexandra Hill, he is also serving on a Colorado Department of Agriculture-focused task force looking at effects of social distancing measures on food supply chain issues. CSU's vice president for engagement and extension, Blake Naughton, established the CSU Task Force on Colorado Food Supply to conduct research on several key areas: food access and security; designating food retail establishments as "essential services;" food supply chain workforce readiness; and consumer expenditure and farm market access.

###

Link to interactive dashboard with child care needs by state: https://covid.yale.edu/resources/childcare/

Link to interactive dashboard with COVID-19 complication risk factors: https://foodsystems.colostate.edu/covid19/county-labor-force-risk/
50,000 dead in Europe; almost 6 thousand in the US. China focuses on imported cases. Numbers remain low in Taiwan. Pyongyang: no case in our country. Nightly curfew imposed in Thailand. GDP growth in Asia-Pacific will slow down to 2.2%.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies)  Global coronavirus infections passed the one-million-mark yesterday, with almost 53 thousand deaths. The growth in cases of infection is largely due to the spread of Covid-19 in Europe and the United States. In the Old Continent there are 50,000 dead; almost 6 thousand in the US.

China reported 31 new cases today, 29 of which imported from overseas. The National Health Commission states that as of today there are 81620 are infected, including 60 new asymptomatic patients and 3322 deaths. The numbers in Taiwan remain contained: 339 infected and 5 dead. Hong Kong reports about 800 cases and 4 deaths.

Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has not yet declared a state of emergency in the country. Japan has 2384 cases of contagion; 57 people have died. The cases of infection are stabilizing in South Korea, where the infected are more than 10,000; 174 the dead. Amidst foreign experts' skepticism, North Korea insists that the country is free from contagion.

India, which will remain in quarantine at least until mid-April, has more than 2,500 infected; the number of deaths has risen to 72.

The Thai government has imposed a nighttime curfew across the country. Thailand has 1978 infected and 19 dead.

Singapore has more than 1000 infected, but only 5 dead. Malaysia, has passed 3,000 infected (50 dead). In Indonesia the number of infected patients reached 1790, with 170 deaths. In the Philippines there are over 2600 cases and 107 deaths.

Due to lung infection, the Asian Development Bank calculates that economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region - excluding Japan, Australia and New Zealand - will slow down to 2.2% this year (in 2019 it was 5.2%). Chinese GDP growth will drop from 6.1 to 2.3%; Indias from 5 to 4%.
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson

China has been under pressure to permanently close its open-air wildlife markets where butchers slaughter wild and domestic animals on site. Last month, the nation announced a ban on buying and selling wild animals for food. Photo by Trevor Mogg/Alamy Stock Photo

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At the G20 coronavirus meeting today, global leaders, including President Trump, brainstormed on ways to control the pandemic that is now ravaging dozens of nations, leaving a vast trail of human casualties in its wake. But one thing that didnt come up was the reason why we are in this predicament in the first place: the unchecked trade, transport and consumption of wildlife.

Scientists believe that the novel coronavirus originated in bats, who are natural hosts to coronaviruses and were also linked to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002. In that case the coronavirus was transmitted to palm civetssmall, slender mammals with ferretlike faceswho were then sold at a wildlife market in Shenzhen, China. It is suspected that the current pandemic, traced to a wildlife market in Wuhan, China, may have originated in a similar way.

China has since been under pressure to permanently close its wildlife markets: open-air markets where butchers slaughter wild and domestic animals on site. Last month, the nation announced a ban on buying and selling wild animals for food. That ban has not yet been codified into law, and we hope the Chinese government will do so soon. We also hope the Chinese government will extend the ban to all wildlife trade, and not just animals used for food.

But it is not just China that needs to fix this problem. Wildlife trade, transport and consumption occurs in countries around the world, including the United States, and we need our leaders to agree to end these high-risk practices if we want to prevent another pandemic from sweeping the globe.

The United States also has a thriving exotic animal industry that often imports wild-caught species, including from China, and many facilities offer close encounters with wild animals that pose zoonotic disease risks. People buy exotic pets on a whim, then neglect the animal after they lose interest. Some unwanted exotic pets are turned loose where they pose a threat to native species. Many die prematurely due to improper care and many more die before even making it to the point of sale because of improper and grueling conditions during transport and grossly substandard conditions at dealer warehouses. Standard industry mortality rates at exotic animal wholesale facilities are as high as 70 percent due to poor sanitation, lack of food and water, improper temperatures, high stress levels, overcrowding and inhumane handling.

This is a serious animal welfare problem, by any measure. But it is also an extremely serious public health concern.

According to a 2007 article published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases that examined the risks posed by the wildlife trade and exotic pet industry, an estimated 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases among humans are zoonoticmeaning they are viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections that spread between animals and people.

A familiar example of this is rabies, which can be transmitted between mammals. Other zoonotic diseases that have emerged from various parts of the world include Ebola, HIV, SARS and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), all linked to contact with bushmeat (a term that encompasses meat from a range of wild animals, including chimpanzees hunted in tropical forests), civets and camels respectively. In a smart move, just last week, Malawi banned the sale and consumption of bushmeat.

In 2003, the United States experienced a monkeypox outbreak, caused when Gambian pouched rats imported from Africa transmitted the virus to prairie dogs who in turn transmitted the virus to people who obtained the animals as pets.

And we hear almost every year about E. coli and salmonella infections associated with petting zoos and county and state fairs.

Zoonotic disease risks work both ways. Measles as well as the virus that causes cold sores in people can be deadly to some primate species. And big cats and bears can suffer from canine distemper, which could be transferred from a person with an infected dog at home.

No matter how you look at it, plucking wild animals from their natural habitats and forcing them into lives of abuse and captivity causes more harm than good, both for animals and for people. The coronavirus crisis is a wakeup call to end all wildlife abuse wherever it exists. To truly prevent another global tragedy from ever recurring, we need our leaders to step up now and resolve to crack down on wildlife trade, transport and consumption with every tool at their disposal.

Sara Amundson is president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
Even as he is hailed as a hero by his crew, the fired commander of a coronavirus-stricken U.S. aircraft carrier is being reassigned while investigators consider whether he should face disciplinary action, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told Reuters on Friday.

Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his command of the Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday after a scathing letter in which he called on the Navy for stronger action to halt the spread of the virus aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was leaked to the media.

Modly said in an interview that the letter was shared too widely and leaked before even he could see it.

But the backlash to Modly's decision to fire Crozier has been intense. In videos posted online, sailors on the Theodore Roosevelt applauded Crozier and hailed him as a hero, out to defend his crew - even at great personal cost to his career.

"And that's how you send out one of the greatest captains you ever had," exclaimed one sailor in a video post, amid thunderous applause and cheering for Crozier as he left the carrier and its 5,000 crew members in Guam.

Modly did not suggest that Crozier's career was over, saying he thought everyone deserved a chance at "redemption."

"He'll get reassigned, he's not thrown out of the Navy," Modly said.

But Modly said he did not know if Crozier would face disciplinary action, telling Reuters it would be up to a probe that will look into issues surrounding "communications" and the chain of command that led to the incident.

"I'm not going to direct them to do anything (other) than to investigate the facts to the best of their ability. I cannot exercise undue command influence over that investigation," he said.Crozier's firing has become a lightening-rod political issue at a time when the Trump administration is facing intense criticism over its handling of a coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 6,000 people across the country, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden, accused the Trump administration of poor judgment and said Modly "shot the messenger."

The dismissal, two days after the captain's letter leaked, demonstrated how the coronavirus has challenged all manner of U.S. institutions, even those accustomed to dangerous and complex missions like the military.

His removal could have a chilling effect on others in the Navy seeking to draw attention to difficulties surrounding coronavirus outbreaks at a time when the Pentagon is withholding some detailed data about infections to avoid undermining the perception of U.S. military readiness for a crisis or conflict.

Reuters first reported last week that the U.S. armed forces would start keeping from the public some data about infections within its ranks.

'DECISIVE ACTION'

In his four-page letter, Crozier, who took command in November, described a bleak situation aboard the carrier as more of his crew began falling ill.

He called for "decisive action": removing more than 4,000 sailors from the ship and isolating them, and wrote that unless the Navy acted immediately it would be failing to properly safeguard "our most trusted asset - our sailors."

The letter put the Pentagon on the defensive and alarmed the families of those on the vessel, whose home port is in San Diego.

President Donald Trump, when asked about the captain during a White House news conference on Thursday, disputed the notion that Crozier appeared to have been disciplined for trying to save the lives of sailors.

"I don't agree with that at all. Not at all. Not even a little bit," Trump said.

The outbreak aboard the Theodore Roosevelt is just the latest example of the spread of the COVID-19 respiratory virus within the U.S. military. Navy officials say sailors on a number of ships have tested positive, including an amphibious assault vessel in San Diego.
A vicar's son has died after contracting coronavirus and his partner has appealed for young people to 'take this seriously.'

Josh Youngman, 26, who lived in Cardiff, was healthy before contracting the virus but has 'lost his battle' to recover.

Partner Charlotte Mills told friends in an Instagram post: 'Please read this. It's not just the old and the vulnerable, it's everyone.'

Josh Youngman, 26, was healthy before contracting the virus but has 'lost his battle' to recover (pictured right with partner Charlotte Mills left)

Charlotte said Josh, of Cardiff, South Wales, was her 'first love' but had 'lost his battle' within a week.

'Please take this seriously. No one is invincible', she wrote.

'I love you. I thought you were the one that I was going to spend my life with.'

'I want to wake up and see this is all a dream.'

Sound recordist Josh was the son of Rev Chris Youngman of Whitefriars Church in Rushden, Northamptonshire.

Josh Youngman (4th from the left). Mr Youngman was the son of the Reverend Chris Youngman of Whitefriars Church in Rushden, Northamptonshire

In a statement to BBC Wales, the church said everyone was 'deeply saddened and shocked' and asked for the family to be 'left alone to grieve'.

The news of Josh Youngman's death comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock today warned the UK's coronavirus outbreak could peak over the Easter weekend and by next Sunday up to 1,000 people a day could be dying from the deadly disease.

There has been 684 more coronavirus deaths today, taking the total number of fatalities to 3,605.

Yet again the number is a record one-day high - it has been every day this week, with each day announcing more victims than the last.

Yesterday there were 569 new fatalities announced by the Department of Health and today's statistics show a rise 20 per cent larger.

Mr Hancock said it was 'perfectly possible' that the one-day death record of 569, recorded yesterday, could double next week.

Global coronavirus cases soared past one million as the pandemic explodes in the US and the death tolls continue to climb in Italy and Spain.
Update 10:05 p.m.: Jacobey Stewart has been found safe in Chattanooga by DeKalb County Sheriffs Office investigators and Chattanooga police, the sheriffs office said. Emilia Newman, 13, who allegedly abducted Jacobey, is still on the loose.

UPDATE: The missing 3 year old has been located safe in Chattanooga by DCSO investigators and the Chattanooga PD. The runaway juvenile is still missing. Posted by DeKalb County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, April 2, 2020

Update 8:49 p.m.: The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has issued an AMBER Alert for Jacobey Stewart, saying the 3-year-old boy is in extreme danger after he was abducted by 13-year-old Emilia Newman.

The 3-year-old boy was last seen wearing a red shirt with a black and white stripe down the arms, black sweatpants and gray shoes at his home in Stewart around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Original story: Authorities in DeKalb County are searching for a 13-year-old girl who ran away with a 3-year-old boy Thursday afternoon.

MISSING: Today, 13 year old Emilia Newman ran away from Powell at 3:30 pm. Newman took 3 year old Jacobey Stewart with... Posted by DeKalb County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, April 2, 2020

Emilia Newman, 13, took off with 3-year-old Jacobey Stewart around 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Powell, according to the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office.

The pair was believed to be traveling in a light green Mercury Mariner with the tag 28BK859.

Authorities said the boy needs daily medicine for his kidneys. They said Newman ran away before to Chattanooga. The girl was described as 5-feet 3-inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the teen and the boy was asked to call the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office at 256-845-3801.
"We are so pleased to hear of Jennifer Thomas' recognition," says Gracie Lawson-Borders, Ph.D. , dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications . "She is one of the crown jewels of our school and we recognize and celebrate her accomplishment."

Thomas teaches in the Department of Media, Journalism and Film and advises students within the Howard University Chapter of National Association of Black Journalists (HUNABJ). "I am extremely humbled by this honor and excited to represent the institution that molded me as a student and has allowed me the opportunity to do the same as an alumna and associate professor," says Thomas, who teaches broadcast journalism.

Thomas has also served as producer and executive producer for 20 years and is a published author. Her research has dissected current practices and pedagogies in journalism, the transition from professional to professor, and the complex facets of women, media and images. Her research has led her to conferences in the U.S and Namibia, Africa as well as to South Africa as a featured guest with the U.S. Department of State's Office of the U.S. Speaker Program.

The award announcement arrived during the rise of COVID-19, and Thomas utilized her years of experience to help broadcast students learn remotely and prepare to be in the field themselves. She understands that the more digitally-savvy each generation becomes, the more it may require unique strategies for teaching.

"My teaching is interdisciplinary, active and holistic while emphasizing responsible and ethical journalism. I utilize my industry experience to provide both practical and pedagogical fundamentals to my instruction, with the ultimate goal of having graduates successfully transition from classroom to newsroom, control room, and ultimately the board room," says Thomas.

Thomas has converted the classroom into a newsroom, and "the studio and control room become 'labs,' complete with deadline management."

"A challenge with college students is to maintain their attention," she says. "I have several strategies that are part of my active pedagogy. These involve social media, field trips, guests, and interaction to include today's converged media landscape into my teaching practices. Some of these practices include using cell-phones to research and produce broadcast-digital quality pieces."

CONTACT: Alonda Thomas, [email protected]

SOURCE Howard University

Related Links

http://www.howard.edu


Health workers fumigate a street to help contain the spread of the new coronavirus in La Paz, Bolivia. AP photo

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has soared past one million and deaths have topped 50,000 as the United States reported the highest daily death toll of any country so far.

Despite more than half the planet living in some form of lockdown, the virus is continuing to spread rapidly, and to claim lives at an alarming pace, with the US, Spain and Britain all seeing their worst days yet.

Economic cost of Covid-19 pandemic rising

The economic cost of the pandemic is getting starker by the day, with new figures showing that an extra 6.65 million Americans signed on for unemployment benefit last week, taking to 10 million the number of people who lost their jobs in the last two weeks of March.

Trump again negative

US President Donald Trump again tests negative for Coronavirus.

Spain among worst hit

Spain virus death toll tops 10,000: government sources tell AFP

Trump doubts China's death toll figures

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump cast doubt on the accuracy of official Chinese figures on its coronavirus outbreak after US lawmakers, citing an intelligence report, accused Beijing of a cover up. "How do we know" if they are accurate, Trump asked at a press conference. "Their numbers seem to be a little bit on the light side."

Trump insisted that "the relationship with China's a good one" and that he remained close to President Xi Jinping. However, controversy around Beijing's transparency has strained ties, adding to bad feelings triggered by a conspiracy theory in China that the US military was to blame for the virus. - AFP

China to mark April 4 to commemorate fallen frontline workers

Beijing: China will observe a national day of mourning on Saturday for martyrs, including the "whistleblower" doctor Li Wenliang, who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and the over 3,300 people who died of the COVID-19 in the country.

During the commemoration, national flags will fly at half-mast across the country and in all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and public recreational activities will be suspended across the country, official media reported on Friday.

China to remember fallen heroes on April 4

South Korea reports 86 new Covid19 cases, count rises to 10,000

South Korea has reported 86 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing its caseload above 10,000. South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday said about half of the new cases came from the densely populous Seoul metropolitan area, where infections linked to international arrivals have been rising.

Another 22 infections were detected at airports where workers have been isolating and testing passengers arriving with fever or respiratory symptoms.

New cases in South Korea today

300+ new cases recorded in Philippines

385 new cases. Now at 3,018. Assuming no backlogs, this is CAUTIOUSLY ok news. Because the doubling time is now 5 days. We were at 1,546 cases March 30. Unimpeded acceleration is doubling time of 3 days. This MIGHT be because of ECQ. Fingers crossed. #COVID19 #Philippines  pic.twitter.com/j1rgLWvs0y  Dr. Edsel Salvana (@EdselSalvana) April 3, 2020

Global death toll reaches 50,000

As per AFP sources, the total death toll due to Coronavirus pandemic has reached 50,000.

Chinese mouthpiece claims clinical trial underway for vaccine

A group of 108 volunteers has been vaccinated in a clinical trial for a #COVID19 vaccine in #Wuhan and 18 of them have ended their 14-day quarantine as of Thursday. CT examinations and blood tests show they are all in good health. pic.twitter.com/b8fbwQ0gQi  People's Daily, China (@PDChina) April 3, 2020

UK to build more field hospitals

The UK government said Friday it was rushing to build more emergency field hospitals ahead of an expected surge in coronavirus cases, hours after recording a record 569 death s from the disease.

Two new facilities will be built in Bristol in the west and Harrogate in the north to house up to 1,500 patients, the state-run National Health Service (NHS) said in a statement. The announcement comes as a similar 4,000-bed facility in London -- built in less than ten days -- prepares to open Friday, and as criticism mounts over the government's failure to provide screening, particularly for frontline healthcare workers. - AFP

Poor nations need COVID-19 research to avoid system 'breakdown'

Research on the prevention of treatment of COVID-19 in poor and developing nations is urgently needed to avert a "complete breakdown" of health services, a coalition of more than 70 scientific bodies said Friday.

The pandemic is currently hitting Europe and the United States the hardest, straining even their health systems to the limit. But there are growing fears that widespread coronavirus outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia could prove even more catastrophic. - AFP

Iran death toll stands at 3,294

Iran on Friday announced 134 more deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the officially confirmed total to 3,294.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a news conference that 2,715 new infections had been confirmed in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 53,183. Iran is one of the countries worst-hit by the coronavirus pandemic and has been struggling to contain the outbreak since it reported its first deaths on February 19.

Belgium death toll crosses 1K mark

BRUSSELS: The number of deaths attributed to the global coronavirus epidemic in Belgium increased sharply and passed the 1,000 mark on Thursday, health officials said.

The official toll in the country of 11.4 million has doubled in the space of three days, in part because figures have been updated with a backlog of fatalities from retirement homes. There have now been 1,001 deaths and 15,348 officially recorded cases since the start of the outbreak, officials told a daily news conference. - AFP

Google to reveal user location data to help governments tackle coronavirus

Google will publish location data from its users around the world from Friday to allow governments to gauge the effectiveness of social distancing measures put in place to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, the tech giant said.

The reports on users' movements in 131 countries will be made available on a special website and will "chart movement trends over time by geography," according to a post on one of the company's blogs. - AFP

WHO issues guidelines on disabled being impacted by virus

NEW WHO guidance on disability during #COVID19. Populations with #disability may be impacted more significantly by #coronavirus. This can be mitigated if simple actions & protective measures are taken

 https://t.co/HPktRsm8Cv pic.twitter.com/FRUdcbPDEV  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 3, 2020

Recovery from #coronavirus must lead to a better world.



We simply cannot return to where we were before #COVID19 struck, with countries unnecessarily vulnerable to crises.



Now is the time to build more inclusive, sustainable and resilient societies.

https://t.co/7ZDpDi5VWS  Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 3, 2020

UN Secretary General says recovery from Corona must lead to better world

Coronavirus death mounting with alarming rate

NEW YORK: Coronavirus deaths mounted with alarming speed in Spain, Italy and New York, the most lethal hot spot in the United States, while the outbreak has thrown 10 million Americans out of work in just two weeks and by Friday had sickened more than a million people around the globe.

The public health crisis deepened in New York City, where one funeral home in a hard-hit neighborhood had 185 bodies stacked up more than triple normal capacity. The city has seen at least 1,500 virus deaths. - AP

French nationals wait at the check in area to board a chartered flight to France organized by the French government to evacuate its citizens from Thailand as cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus increase, at Suvarnambhumi Airport in Bangkok - AFP
Heading into 2020, things looked pretty good for state and local government. The economy was strong, money was flowing and many budgets had healthy reserves built up.Then COVID-19 came and sent the economy careening into a sudden recession . Now, many states are beginning to revise their budget estimates and brace for sharp drops in revenue that leave them looking for ways to fund programs and services.Exactly what they do, what will get cut and by how much remains to be seen. But Congress has already stepped in with some emergency funding in the form of the CARES Act , passed toward the end of March, which will send $150 billion to state and local governments, as well as tribes and territories. The legislation specifies that the money is only to be used for "necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency."The funding will be distributed proportionally to population, and some will be set aside for local governments  cities and counties  with populations larger than 500,000.More money is available for a wide array of specific work such as telehealth, education and election security.Here's a map showing how the nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that the funds will be distributed, along with local government allocations:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3

Trend:

The Azerbaijani State Migration Service has prepared another video footage as part of the raising awareness campaign # evdeqal (stay at home) on the prevention of coronavirus in the country, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani state structures.

"We express our gratitude to the representatives of the diplomatic corps and foreign businessmen who supported us in preparing the video footage and joined the appeals, the statement said. Stay at home and be healthy."
Here is the upcoming City Council agenda for Tuesday:

I. Call to Order by Chairman Oglesby.



II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation (Councilman Ledford).



III. Special Presentation.



Order of Business for City Council



IV. Minute Approval.



V. Ordinances  Final Reading:



PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION



Public Works



a. MR-2020-0009 Kevin Boehm (Abandonment). An ordinance closing and

abandoning a sewer easement within two (2) closed unnamed streets right-of-ways

abandoned by Ordinance No. 4021 located in the 3000 block of Broad Street, Tax

Map No. 155F-C-001, as detailed on the attached map. (District 7) (Recommended

for approval by Public Works)



Transportation



b. MR-2019-0163 Alan McMahon ? The Beach Company (Abandonment). An

ordinance closing and abandoning partially the right-of-way of the Northwest and

Northeast corner of 4th Street; Southeast corner of 3rd Street and Cherry Street;

Southwest corner of 3rd Street and Walnut Street, as detailed on the attached map,

subject to certain conditions. (District 7) (Recommended for approval by

Transportation)



VI. Ordinances  First Reading:



FINANCE



a. An ordinance to Amend Ordinance No. 13214, known as the Fiscal Year 2017-2018

Capital Improvement Budget Ordinance so as to appropriate $500,000.00 from the

Department of Economic and Community Development Capital Fund to the

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce for processing Small Business COVID-19

Coronavirus Bridge-Grants.



VII. Resolutions:



ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

SHORT TERM VACATION RENTAL APPLICATIONS



a. 2020-04 Eric Spahn. A resolution approving Short Term Vacation Rental

Application No. 19-STVR-00187 for property located at 1609 Long Street #102.

(District 7) (Deferred from 03-31-2020)



b. 2020-05 Bryson Moore. A resolution approving Short Term Vacation Rental

Application No. 19-STVR-00184 for property located at 1420 Madison Street.

(District 8) (Deferred from 03-31-2020)



c. 2020-06 Paula Green. A resolution approving Short Term Vacation Rental

Application No. 20-STVR-00001 for property located at 1721 W. 39th Street.

(District 7) (Deferred from 03-31-2020)



PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION



Public Works



d. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to

enter into blanket contract(s) for Horticultural and Green Infrastructure Consultation,

Materials, and Maintenance Contract No. S-18-001 for various City properties for a

one (1) year term with four (4) one (1) year renewals, for the following five (5)

vendors: (1) Circadian Consulting, LLC; (2) Ranger Ecosystem Restoration, LLC;

(3) Davis Kee Outdoor, LLC; (4) Clean Sweep, Inc.; and (5) Hickory Landscapes,

LLC, for an estimated contract amount of $1 million annually for all vendors for use

by Public Works-Water Quality.



Transportation



e. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Transportation to

enter into an agreement with Adams Contracting, LLC relative to Contract No.

T-14-036-201 for construction services associated with Caine Lane Greenway

Connector, in the amount of $647,921.00, with a contingency amount of $64,792.10,

for a total amount of $712,713.10. (District 5)



f. A resolution authorizing payment to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for

the City of Chattanoogas share of an agreement with Alfred Benesch and Company

relative to Contract No. T-14-036-101, for professional services associated with

Caine Lane Greenway Connector Construction Engineering Inspection, in the amount

of $35,921.60. (District 5)



g. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Transportation to

enter into an agreement with JD James, Inc. d/b/a Nature Bridges relative to Contract

No. T-15-032-201 for construction services associated with South Chickamauga

Greenway Connector, in the amount of $1,739,921.13, with a contingency amount of

$173,992.11, for a total amount of $1,913,913.24. (District 5)



h. A resolution authorizing payment to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for

the City of Chattanoogas share of an agreement with Arcadis U.S., Inc. relative to

Contract No. T-15-032-101 for professional services associated with South

Chickamauga Greenway Connector Construction Engineering and Inspection, in the

amount of $55,096.18. (District 5) (Revised)



VIII. Purchases.



IX. Other Business.



a. Cost Plus, Inc. d/b/a World Market - Certificate of Compliance



X. Committee Reports.



XI. Recognition of Persons Wishing to Address the Council.



XII. Adjournment.



TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

6:00 PM



1. Call to Order by Chairman Oglesby.



2. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation (Councilman Gilbert).



3. ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2020-2021



4. Special Presentation.



Order of Business for City Council



5. Minute Approval.



6. Ordinances - Final Reading:



FINANCE



a. An ordinance to Amend Ordinance No. 13214, known as the Fiscal Year 2017-2018

Capital Improvement Budget Ordinance so as to appropriate $500,000.00 from the

Department of Economic and Community Development Capital Fund to the

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce for processing Small Business COVID-19

Coronavirus Bridge-Grants.



7. Ordinances - First Reading:



PLANNING



a. 2020-0038 ASA Engineering (R-1 Residential Zone to C-4 Planned Commerce

Center Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38,

Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 7301 Shallowford Road, from

R-1 Residential Zone to C-4 Planned Commerce Center Zone, subject to certain

conditions. (District 4) (Recommended for approval by Planning)

2020-0038 ASA Engineering (R-1 Residential Zone to C-4 Planned Commerce

Center Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38,

Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 7301 Shallowford Road, from

R-1 Residential Zone to C-4 Planned Commerce Center Zone, subject to certain

conditions. (Staff Version)

2020-0038 ASA Engineering (R-1 Residential Zone to C-4 Planned Commerce

Center Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38,

Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 7301 Shallowford Road, from

R-1 Residential Zone to C-4 Planned Commerce Center Zone. (Applicant Version)



b. 2020-0040 N & R Properties ? Ross Timoshchuk (RT-1 Residential Townhouse

Zone to R-3 Residential Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part

II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 7509 Ziegler

Road, from RT-1 Residential Townhouse Zone to R-3 Residential Zone, subject to

certain conditions. (District 4) (Recommended for approval by Planning)

2020-0040 N & R Properties ? Ross Timoshchuk (RT-1 Residential Townhouse

Zone to R-3 Residential Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part

II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 7509 Ziegler

Road, from RT-1 Residential Townhouse Zone to R-3 Residential Zone. (Applicant

Version) (Recommended for denial by Planning)



c. An ordinance deannexing a certain parcel adjacent to the current city limits which is

located at 2815 Military Road, within the City of Chattanooga, in Hamilton County,

Tennessee. (District 7) (Deferred from 03-31-2020) (PUBLIC HEARING)



8. Resolutions:



ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT



a. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Economic and

Community Development to renew a contract with Civicplus, Inc. for a management

software system that facilitates on-line reservations and payments for city parks,

facilities, and Outdoor Chattanooga programs, for the first of two available renewal

terms, in the amount of $12,500.00.



b. A resolution authorizing the Administrators for the Department of Economic and

Community Development and Public Works to enter into a Joint Partnership

Agreement with the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga for project

management services provided by the Public Works Department and the Public Art

Division and the receipt of donations to support the site work for the Ed Johnson

Memorial portion of the Walnut Plaza project.



HUMAN RESOURCES



c. A resolution authorizing the Chief Human Resources Officer to renew a last year

option with Cornerstone OnDemand for the Learning Management System, in the

amount of $35,900.00.



LEGAL



d. A resolution authorizing the Office of the City Attorney to retain Croy Engineering,

LLC for expert witness services in the defense of two civil cases against the City,

Karen Allen, heir and next of kin of Charlie Allen, decedent v. City of Chattanooga

and James P. Little, M.D. and Little Company of Tennessee LLC v. City of

Chattanooga, for an amount not to exceed $50,000.00.



PLANNING



e. 2020-0032 MAP Engineers (Special Exceptions Permit). A resolution approving a

Special Exceptions Permit for a Planned Unit Development for properties located in

the 1900 block of Mac Lane, 8600 block of Igou Gap Road, and 1900 block of

Morris Hill Road. (District 4) (Recommended for approval by Planning and

denial by Staff)



PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION



Public Works



f. A resolution authorizing the approval of Change Order No. 2 (Final) for Integrated

Properties, LLC of Chattanooga, TN, relative to Contract No. C-16-005-201, City

Yards Carpenter Shop and Water Quality Storage Building, for an increased amount

of $4,839.00, to release the remaining contingency in the amount of $161.00, for a

revised contract amount of $278,632.75. (District 8)



g. A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with the City of

Red Bank adjusting the boundaries in accordance with T.C.A.  6-51-302 for a vacant

parcel of land adjacent to Pine Breeze Road so that it will be maintained and be

included in the corporate boundaries of the City of Red Bank from the effective date

of this attached Interlocal Agreement forward. (Deferred from 03-31-2020)

Transportation



h. A resolution authorizing the approval of Change Order No. 1 with ASA Engineering

& Consulting, Inc. for Contract No. D-17-019-101, for Patten Parkway Pedestrian

Plaza, for an increased amount of $84,893.78, for a revised contract amount not to

exceed $377,700.16. (District 8)



9. Purchases.



10. Other Business.



11. Committee Reports.



12. Recognition of Persons Wishing to Address the Council.



13. Adjournment.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 3 : Senior Congress leader and MP from here Shashi Tharoor has slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message on Friday morning in which he urged the people to light lamp on Sunday at 9 p.m.

Tharoor said there is no vision of future in PM Modi's speech.

"Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease people's pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by India's Photo-Op PrimeMinister," tweeted Tharoor, who is presently stuck at Delhi, after the parliament session ended.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must listen to the advice of epidemiologists and economists to tackle India's economic woes.

"Dear PM Narendra Modi, we will listen to you and light diyas on April 5. But, in return, please listen to us and to the wise counsel of epidemiologists and economists," former Finance Minister tweeted.

He alleged that the Centre has ignored poor amid lockdown and it was expected that the government would announce a financial assistance plan (FAP) II to support them.

"What we expected from you today was FAP II, a generous livelihood support package for the poor, including for those categories of poor who were totally ignored by Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance Minister) on March 25," he wrote on Twitter.

"Every working man and woman, from business person to daily wage earner, also expected you to announce steps to arrest the economic slide and re-start the engines of economic growth," he said.

Cornering the government, he alleged that the people are disappointed on both sides, stating that not just symbolism, ideas and measures are equally important.

"The people are disappointed on both counts. Symbolism is important, but serious thought to ideas and measures is equally important," he said.

Meanwhile, his son and fellow Congress leader Karti Chidambaram targetted the government more sharply and tweeted: "Will sticking pins into a voodoo doll in the shape of (the coronavirus) help?"

In a video message, the Prime Minister asked citizens to turn all lights off in their houses at 9 pm on Sunday (April 5) and to stand at their doors or windows with a candle, diya and torch for nine minutes in a battle against the COVID-19.

In his address to the nation on March 24, the Prime Minister had announced a 21-day lockdown in the country to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, which has infected over 2,000 people in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo issued a warning to American citizens Friday that said those with plans to return should do so now or risk being stuck here for an aindefinite period.a

Singling out Japanas lack of widespread testing, the embassy gave a sobering assessment of the potential strain the novel coronavirus could place on Japanas health care system should infections spike.

aThe Japanese Governmentas decision to not test broadly makes it difficult to accurately assess the COVID-19 prevalence rate,a the embassy said on its website, referring to the illness caused by the virus.

aWhile we have confidence in Japanas health care system today, we believe a significant increase in COVID-19 cases makes it difficult to predict how the system will be functioning in the coming weeks,a it said.

If U.S. citizens want to return to the United States from Japan they should do so now or risk staying abroad for an aindefinite period,a it said. It also noted that Americans with pre-existing medical conditions may not be able to get the medical care they were used to receiving before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

It also noted that only 11 percent of airlinesa pre-pandemic flight capacity from Japan to the United States remained in operation as of Friday. Since Japanas entry restrictions will further reduce availability in the near future, getting back for a family emergency in a timely manner could become difficult or even impossible, the embassy said.

It thus urged U.S. citizens to work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while limited commercial flights are still available, noting that travelers seeking return fights should do so immediately in light of the potential for rescheduling or cancellations.
Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple, speaks at the 2019 Dreamforce conference in San Francisco on November 19, 2019.

Four U.S. senators sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook on Friday asking questions about the company's COVID-19 app and how it handles personal data.

The letter was signed by Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez, Richard Blumenthal, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and asks for details about how Apple is handling personal information from the app and whether it complies with the healthcare data regulation HIPAA.

The senators also ask for "specific terms of any agreement between your company and the federal government and/or state governments."

Apple released a screening app and website called COVID-19 in March in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control, the White House-led coronavirus task force and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The app includes a screening tool for for COVID-19 symptoms as well as up-to-date information from trusted sources about the coronavirus outbreak. Apple is not providing any tests.

The app is currently No. 2 in the health and fitness category on Apple's App Store.

The senators note Apple's privacy-focused messaging inside the app, but are looking for more details.

"While we acknowledge Apple's statements regarding user privacy and that the questionnaire tools 'do not require a sign-in or association with a user's Apple ID, and users' individual responses will not be sent to Apple or any government organization,' we are nonetheless concerned for the safety and security of Americans' private health data," they write.

"Apple is not collecting your answers from the screening tool. To help improve the site, Apple collects some information about how you use it. The information collected will not personally identify you," Apple says on the COVID-19 website.

Last week, many of the same senators plus Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown sent similar questions to Verily CEO Andrew Conrad about the Alphabet company's COVID-19 screening program.
Napa County Public Health reported Friday the countys second confirmed death due to COVID-19, while the number of confirmed cases increased by two to 20.

The death involved an adult from the city of Napa who was being treated at a hospital in another county, officials said. The death occurred on Thursday, with Napa County Public Health notified Friday morning.

Pending notification of immediate family and due to confidentiality laws, no other information is being released at this time, the county said.

The first Napa County death from the novel coronavirus occurred Tuesday: American Canyon resident Marylou Armer, 43, who was a detective with the Santa Rosa Police Department. Armer had been treated at an out-of-county hospital.

On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement about Armer, who is survived by her husband and daughter, and ordered the state flag flown at half-staff.

Armer was the first peace officer in California to die from the COVID-19 virus.

As of Friday morning, Napa County reported 20 county residents had tested positive for COVID-19, an increase of two since Wednesday. Both new cases are placed in the city of Napas tally.

The city of Napa had 14 cases, the unincorporated areas three, while American Canyon, Calistoga and St. Helena have one each.

A total of 422 individuals have been tested in Napa County and 298 tests were negative and 104 tested patients are awaiting test results, the county reported. There are 73 individuals who are currently being monitored due to having a close contact to a confirmed case, officials said.

Statewide, there were 11,126 confirmed cases, while the national total was 257,773 as of Friday morning, the county reported.

For the latest updates, go to the Napa Countys COVID-19 website at www.countyofnapa.org/coronavirus.

Public Information & Support: 707-253-4540 (Monday  Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

Library Reference & Support: 707-253-4241 (Monday  Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.)

Editors Note: Because of the health implications of the COVID-19 virus, this article is being made available free to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. If youd like to join us in supporting the mission of local journalism, please visit napavalleyregister.com/members/join/.

You can reach City Editor Kevin Courtney at kcourtney@napanews.com or at 707-256-2217.

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A clinic to treat patients with 'mild to moderate' coronavirus symptoms is being set up in a residential Sydney street, angering some locals who fear it could lead to an outbreak among the community.

A small commercial building on Elliott Street in Balmain, in Sydney's inner west, will operate as a respiratory clinic for testing patients from Monday.

Residents found out about the clinic on Wednesday when they received a knock on the door from health officials and an accompanying letter from Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly.

Professor Kelly urged residents to 'support' the clinic, saying it would 'play a valuable role as a triage facility to help ensure hospitals are preserved for people with severe conditions'.

Treatment clinics are being rolled out across Australia as part of a $200 million initiative announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to turbocharge testing in the fight against the virus.

Tradesmen continued to move in and out of the building on Friday, rushing to have it ready for operation by next week to service an estimated 100 to 200 patients a day.

While understanding the need for such clinics as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, some locals say the location - sandwiched in between two homes and across from a popular children's park - is inappropriate.

Resident Kate Car with her kids Oliver, 6, Toby, 4, and Zavia, 3, are among locals who are upset about a coronavirus respiratory clinic being set up inside this small office building on their suburban street in Balmain, in Sydney's inner west

Situated between homes on the leafy street, the bottom floor of the two storey office building will treat an estimated 100 to 200 patients each day from next week

A small number of residents along Elliott St were told about the clinic on Wednesday by health officials.

However many only found out about its location when a copy of the letter was put in a popular local Facebook group that day.

'I'm writing to let you know that a GP respiratory clinic is being established in your local area to help test and treat patients with mild to moderate symptoms,' the letter read.

'The respiratory clinics are a crucial part of the mix of health care services being used to respond to COVID-19.'

Residents had an impromptu meeting with clinic management on Friday in an effort to allay their fears, with some families already considering moving out of Elliott St.

But things were only made worse when they discovered that if there is an overflow of patients for testing will be handed a buzzer - like those used in shopping centre food courts - and told to wait in their cars outside until their turn.

Alex Day and his pregnant wife live right next door to the clinic and are concerned it will limit their ability to leave the house.

'I am deeply unhappy about it. I've got a two-year-old and a baby on the way, so we have huge concerns about it,' Mr Day said.

'We got a copy of the letter but it is very vague, it doesn't even say where the clinic will be. I only found out by talking to someone coming out of the building.

'We are working from home and we are trying to self-isolate as much as we can, but like everyone there are times when we will have to take the kids out and that puts us at greater risk.

Locals found out about the clinic on Wednesday when health officials knocked on their door and handed over a 'vague' letter from Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly

Builders were constantly moving in and out of the office block on Friday as they desperately try to have it ready to treat 'mild to moderate' patients from next week

Among the concern of residents is the close proximity of the clinic to not only homes, but also a park popular with parents with young children

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's going to be people milling about on the pavement all the time, I am deeply anxious about it.'

The clinic is currently planned to run for three months but is expected to operate for as long as the coronavirus pandemic lasts.

Dr Michael Bonning will be overseeing the operations of the clinic and told Daily Mail Australia he understood the concerns of locals, but assured them all medical, health and safety requirements would be met.

'We are really listening to residents concerned, I walked around and doorknocked residents before any of this kicked off,' Dr Bonning said.

'Theres strict building requirements that were signed off by the commonwealth and then there's security, cleaning and infection control requirements - all of which we will meet.

'We recognise we need to do as much as possible to make the site workable for local residents and we are taking as many steps as we can, in particular with parking, and we will have security guards out the front to make sure people aren't lingering.

'But we will ensure there is a functional clinic that does what it needs for the broader community, which is testing so we keep the spread low and flatten the curve.'

There's security, cleaning and infection control requirements - all of which we will meet... Dr Michael Bonning, clinic operator

Rob Bileckji, a father-of-two young children who lives just a few houses up from the clinic, was not contacted by health officials and only found out about the plans in a text from his neighbour.

He said that while he understands the need for such clinics will increase if the expert predictions about the spread of coronavirus come true, he feels the location of this in inappropriate.

'Obviously these are important things that people are trying to do and it is a difficult time, but I think you need to try and get it right,' Mr Bileckji said.

'I don't think it's a situation where you have a bunch of selfish residents that only care for themselves, this location just seems to fall down on all fronts..

'There's no parking around here, it's a quiet residential street and with everyone now working from home, cars don't move all day so where are patients going to park.

'Plus you have a guy renting the second floor of the building with a shared entrance, residents living on either side - some with kids, expecting babies or who are elderly - so what it does is it creates fear and concern among peoples.

Residents had an impromptu meeting with clinic management on Friday (pictured) in an effort to allay their fears, with some young families already considering moving out of Elliott Street

A woman and her young child walk along the footpath on the opposite side of the clinic (right)

Locals were hotly debating whether the clinic was in a good location on a Balmain Facebook page, with many telling Elliott Street residents that such medical centres 'are needed'

'If the whole idea of this is to prevent the spread in the community well it seems that you could find a better location.'

The clinic is understood to have been part of $200 million in funding handed out by the federal government to establish COVID-19 respiratory centres across Australia.

It will be privately operated by a local GP who won the government tender.

Jamie Parker, the state member for Balmain in the NSW parliament, held a video meeting with concerned Elliott St residents on Thursday night.

He said he believes there needs to be a closer look at the criteria for handing out the funding to ensure clinics are popping up in inappropriate locations.

'I share the concerns of residents and while these clinics are very important we need to make sure they are adequate for all three of patients, medical staff and residents,' Mr Parker, a Greens party member, said.

Staff at the Royal Melbourne Hospital wear full protective clothing while carrying out coronavirus screening, similar to what is planned for the clinic in Balmain

There are currently more than 5,300 confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia, with 28 deaths directly linked to the virus

'The government should be looking for locations that don't have a shared entrance. If you look at this property it has a business upstairs who goes in and out through the same door.

'There needs to be adequate onsite parking and there are so many industrial areas or bigger office blocks that would be perfect for patients and staff.

'While these clinics are important they need to be adequate for everybody, and there has clearly been a lot of good points by locals about why this one doesn't work.'

The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.

Have you received a letter about a clinic near you? Email: tips@dailymail.com
Woolworths will be limiting the amount of customers allowed in each store to help slow the spread of coronavirus in the lead up to Easter.

The supermarket giant announced they will allow a certain amount of customers into each store based on the floor space.

The strict measures are expected to begin from Monday as each store implements social distancing rules to keep customers and workers safe.

The number of customers could be counted upon arrival and if the limit has been reached then shoppers will have to wait their turn.

Woolworths will place a limit on the amount of customers allowed in each store in the lead up to Easter (Pictured: customers lining up outside Woolworths in Balmain on March 17)

The number of shoppers allowed inside a Woolworths will be limited to help slow the spread of coronavirus (Pictured: Customers entering Woolworths in Coburg, Melbourne on March 19)

Coles is also expected to bring in similar extreme measures from next week to curb the spread of COVID-19, news.com.au reported.

'Keeping our supermarkets safe for our teams and customers remains our top priority,' Woolworths said in a statement.

'Customers will start to notice stores implementing new social distancing measures in the lead up to the Easter weekend.

'Depending on how busy a store is, we may limit the number of people entering the store from time to time.

'Customer limits will be specific to each location and based on the size of the store.

'Our store managers will use common sense discretion to manage this in the interest of community safety.'

Customers will see a change when arriving at Woolworths in the lead up to Easter (Pictured: Shoppers outside Balmain store)

Shoppers have praised supermarket giant Woolworths after they installed protective plastic screens at their checkouts, to protect both their staff and customers from coronavirus

Woolworths has also installed protective plastic screens into protect staff and customers from 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

In addition to the new screens, customers are asked to queue up for the checkout at specific positions that meet the required 'social distancing' measures.

Security guards have also been rolled out at stores nationwide following a number of heated arguments over in-demand items such as toilet paper.

Woolworths managing director Claire Peters said the measures were a way to make shoppers and staff feel 'safe'.

'We've started putting up some screens in order that our team and customers feel safe as they come and shop,' Ms Peters said.

'As our team members continue providing for the community, we will do everything necessary to uphold public health and safety in our stores.

'We know it's not always easy to maintain social distancing at our checkouts, so we've started installing plexiglass screens as an additional safeguard for our team members and customers.

'Our stores remain open and we will continue to stand by the Australian community through this health crisis.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Coles and Aldi for comment.

Security guards have also been hired to ensure the safety of customers and workers
A renowned plastic surgeon has teamed up with a natural skincare brand to launch an 'alcohol-free' hand sanitiser that kills 99.99 percent of germs and offers 24 hour protection against most viruses and bacteria, without drying your hands.

Dr Anh Nguyen, a mother-of-three who runs a cosmetic medical spa in Perth, Western Australia, was sick of spending hours hunting for antibacterial products which have skyrocketed in scarcity since COVID-19 reached Australian shores on January 25.

Dr Anh, 41, took matters into her own hands and discovered Biotopica, a Western Australian company specialising in soaps, deodorants and personal hygiene cleansers which recently developed a sanitiser with hospital-grade disinfectant.

Together with her chemist husband Vu Tran, Dr Anh collaborated with Biotopica to release a $27 hand sanitiser and $50 antibacterial surface spray safe for families with young children to use as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Dr Anh Nguyen has teamed up with Western Australian skincare brand Biotopica to launch an 'alcohol-free' hand sanitiser that kills 99.99 percent of germs and offers 24 hour protection against most viruses and bacteria

The hand sanitiser and surface spray can be bought on Dr Anh's official website, with a limit of eight hand sanitisers per customer.

'I was frustrated that I couldn't get any hand sanitiser. I would spend entire Sundays, my only day off, searching department stores, chemists and supermarkets, which is time consuming and risky in the current climate,' Dr Anh told Daily Mail Australia.

She and her husband combined their scientific and medical knowledge plus their 'roles as parents' to track down products still in development that would be gentle yet effective for families to use, and stumbled across Biotopica's formula.

The spray kills 99.99 percent of germs including the four human coronaviruses which cause millions to develop common colds and flu with mild symptoms every year.

The $27 spray (pictured) has not yet been proven to destroy COVID-19 specifically, but acts as a barrier against disease causing pathogens on the surface of the hands for up to 24 hours

While it has not yet been proven to destroy COVID-19 specifically, it acts as a barrier against disease causing pathogens on the surface of the hands for up to 24 hours.

It's made with quaternary ammonium compounds - strong surface disinfectants used to kill viruses and bacteria in hospitals and healthcare facilities - instead of alcohol, which makes it less drying on hands than typical sanitisers.

The product has been lab tested and proven to be effective against major hospital superbugs including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - commonly known as MRSA - which causes notoriously difficult-to-treat infections in humans.

The $50 disinfectant spray also kills 99.99 percent of germs and is safe to use on common household surfaces

How to make homemade hand sanitiser Place 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl alcohol) in a bowl Add 1/3 cup of aloe vera gel and mix well Add 5-10 drops of essential oil and mix again Ensure alcohol equals to 60% of mixture Use a funnel to transfer to a liquid soap container Ensure container is tightly sealed Ethanol can be used instead of rubbing alcohol Alternative non-alcohol methods swap one tablespoon of witch hazel and half a teaspoon of tea tree oil for the rubbing alcohol Advertisement

Biotopica had been planning to export more than 20,000 gallons of the hand sanitiser to China, but Dr Anh convinced them to keep the product in Australia.

'I thought it would fill a need here,' Dr Anh said.

The sanitiser is 100 percent Australian made, manufactured on the East Coast and bottled near Dr Anh's home in central Perth, WA, a decision she is proud of but one which comes at a considerable cost.

'It is not cheap because it's Australian made, and it's not produced in high enough quantities to bring the price down.

'Production and packaging are expensive, but it means we can keep some jobs locally,' she said, a welcome boost for the domestic economy in these extraordinarily uncertain times.
Immigrants rights advocates on Thursday urged a federal judge to order the release of two people from Maryland immigration detention facilities, saying their medical conditions carry a high risk of death or serious illness from a coronavirus infection.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang didnt immediately rule after hearing arguments from attorneys for the federal government and the two men who sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Chuang said he would issue a written decision as soon as possible.

Judges in other states have agreed to free people from ICE detention during the

The two plaintiffs in the Maryland case have been held in civil detention at the Worcester County Detention Center and the Howard County Detention Center while awaiting resolution of their immigration cases.

Practicing social distancing and better hygiene is impossible in crowded detention centers, plaintiffs lawyers claim. Even with the measures ICE has purported to take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its facilities, immigration detention centers are a hotbed for spread of the virus, the March 24 lawsuit says,

Neither Maryland detention center has a single confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case, Justice Department attorney Vincent Vaccarella said Thursday. A purely speculative risk of contracting COVID-19 doesnt entitle the plaintiffs to immediate release, Vaccarella said in a court filing this week.

Federal authorities say they are taking precautions to protect inmates and staff. The judge asked Vaccarella if the facilities could or will do more to help prevent the medically vulnerable detainees from an infection. Vaccarella said he didnt know.

Were not supposed to wait until someone gets sick, the judge said during a hearing held by video conference.

The Maryland plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, the Capital Area Immigrants Rights Coalition, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Maryland.

One of the plaintiffs, a 52-year-old citizen of El Salvador, has diabetes. The other, a 54-year-old citizen of Guatemala, has hypertension and prostate problems.

They were among more than 35,000 people who were in

Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states, including California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington state, according to the ACLU.

Earlier this week, federal judges in California and Pennsylvania ordered ICE to release several detainees who sued.

Our Constitution and laws apply equally to the most vulnerable among us, particularly when matters of public health are at issue. This is true even for those who have lost a measure of their freedom, U.S. District Judge John Jones III wrote in the Pennsylvania case.

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 older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and be life-threatening.
Graffiti that reads "COVID 19" is pictured in Fishtown. As the coronavirus crisis shuts down city schools, thousands of students in Philadelphia, the hometown of the countrys largest internet service provider, are without access to the internet. Read more

As the coronavirus crisis shuts down city schools, thousands of students in Philadelphia, the hometown of the countrys largest internet service provider, are without access to the internet.

About 14,700 kids in Philadelphia didnt own a computer in 2018, according to the latest census estimates. And thousands more lack the internet connection they need to learn from home, as more than 21,500 kids did not have an internet subscription.

Those children being effectively off the grid presents a significant challenge to officials in a city that has lagged behind the country in households with home internet. That digital divide, which disproportionately affects poor and predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhoods, has become an urgent issue as the pandemic forces many to study or work from their homes.

This really brings the issue into focus all of the sudden, and its a huge challenge in Philadelphia, said Andrew Buss, deputy chief information officer for the city. His office has been trying to spread the word about low-cost broadband options and public places with free WiFi, now that libraries have closed their doors.

A 2019 survey by the School District of Philadelphia found that only 45% of students in grades three through five accessed the internet from a computer at home, compared with 56% in grades six through eight, and 58% for high school students.

The survey of 130,000 people found that fewer than a third of the students at public and charter schools in pockets of North and Southwest Philadelphia used a computer at home to access the internet.

The district is strongly encouraging students to learn during the pandemic but is not penalizing those who cant, as many dont have the necessary technology. Last week, the school board authorized spending $11 million to buy as many as 50,000 computers to make remote learning possible for all students. Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts donated $5 million to help pay for the equipment.

On Thursday, the Philadelphia School Partnership announced an effort to buy 15,000 Chromebooks for students in city charter and parochial schools.

 READ MORE: As coronavirus closes schools, wealthier districts send laptops home with students. What about poorer districts?

Even if the equipment issue is resolved, connecting kids to the internet is more complicated. The School District said it is working with the city and Comcast to help as many Philadelphia families get free or low-cost access to the internet.

Our intention is to provide a comprehensive list of low-cost Internet options or details on accessing free WiFi mobile hot spots to ensure that our students can use the Chromebooks were providing, School District spokesperson Imahni Moise said in a statement.

In response to the pandemic, Comcast said its giving customers unlimited data for no additional charge and making its network Xfinity WiFi hot spots at public places and small businesses free for everyone. The company has also pledged that it wont disconnect service or impose late fees if customers cant pay their bills during the crisis. In addition, Comcast is offering new low-income customers 60 days of free internet service and boosting their broadband speeds. And until May 13, the company is waiving a requirement that barred consumers from signing up if owed Comcast a debt that was less than a year old.

In 2018, almost 80% of Philadelphia households had broadband, including smartphone-only plans, fourth-lowest among the 25 largest U.S. cities, according to the census estimates. The city saw an 8 percentage point improvement from the year before, the largest one-year jump made by any big city. Still, census data show that large swaths of the city are without a fixed wireline connection, putting them at a disadvantage as education, health care, and commerce increasingly move online.

Many households access the internet solely from smartphones, which are hardly a substitute for faster, fixed wireline connections to computers, experts have said. Just 66% of households in the city subscribed to cable, fiber-optic, or DSL broadband service, according to census estimates.

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Americans who rely on smartphones were more likely to run up against data caps, and say they had a hard time paying service bills, said Monica Anderson, a researcher at the Pew Research Center. These smartphone-only users were also more likely to apply for jobs on their phones, rather than computers with larger screens and more capabilities, she added.

Excluding homes that rely just on smartphones, subscription rates were much lower in the citys poorest neighborhoods, such as Fairhill, where 36% of households had a broadband connection. By contrast, 85% were wired to the internet in Center City.

As for the suburbs, most have ample internet access except for Chester City and Camden, where only about half of households have broadband.

A recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed significant disparities in broadband adoption between different places, income levels, and races and ethnicities.

For example, 71% of households in the district the bank covers  made up of Eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and Delaware  subscribed to broadband, compared with 58% of households in low- and moderate-income communities. Predominately white neighborhoods were far more likely to have broadband (73%) than black communities (53%) or Latino and Hispanic neighborhoods (50%), according to the March report.

Broadband access is about more than just posting TikToks and being able to stream Netflix. It can increase a persons quality of life quite a bit, said Alvaro Sanchez, the Fed analyst who authored the report. He noted that the coronavirus has made online health care and remote access to work and school more important. But theyve always been important in the past because broadband is essential infrastructure, he added.

Comcast declined to say how many people have signed up for low-cost internet since offering two months free after the pandemic started. Since its inception in 2011, the program, which offers broadband at slower speeds for $9.95 a month, has signed up 300,000 in Philly. But that doesnt account for people who later drop the service.

As the coronavirus crisis forced the Philadelphia School District to shut down, Lauren Ballester checked in with the families of her sixth-grade students to make sure they were all right. The answer from a few families surprised her.

We dont have internet at home, they told her. And they were afraid their kids would fall behind because schools were shut down, said Ballester, a teacher at William H. Ziegler School.

I knew that there were some kids who dont have WiFi, Ballester said this week. But it didnt become as clear what a barrier that was until now.
Cyclists pass the boarded up Smith & Wollesnky restaurant as they exercise in South Pointe Park on March 18, 2020 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Miami mayor Francis Suarez asked President Trump in a letter on Thursday to suspend flights to Miami International Airport from COVID-19 hotspots.

"As Mayor of the City of Miami, I am requesting that you immediately suspend flights from international and domestic COVID-19 hotspots to Miami International Airport, and now prioritize the movement of medical supplies, food, and personal protective equipment to contain COVID-19," the mayor wrote in the letter.

The letter didn't specify what countries or states would qualify as hotspots, but the hardest-hit states include New York, New Jersey, California and Washington.

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On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide order that all residents must stay home during the coronavirus outbreak, joining the majority of states that have already issued similar restrictions on people's movements. Residents can leave their homes for essential reasons.

In Florida, 9,008 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, 1,167 have been hospitalized and 144 have died, according to the state's department of health.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:42:12|Editor: Yurou

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MUMBAI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- India's central bank has curtailed its trading hours for call money, foreign exchange, bonds among others to four hours daily to minimize the risk from COVID-19 from six to eight hours in normal circumstances, said the bank in a statement on Friday.

The revised timing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will become effective from April 7 and continue up to April 17.

In an attempt to slow the spread of novel coronavirus, India has been under a three-week nationwide lockdown that will end on April 14. The move has considerably reduced the trade, cargo and passenger movement across the country.

Decision to revise trading hours is to ensure that market participants maintain adequate checks and supervisory controls while optimising thin resources and ensuring safety of personnel, the statement from the Reserve Bank of India, the country's central bank said.

The unprecedented situation created by the COVID-19 outbreak has adversely impacted the functioning of financial markets and has severely affected staff and information technology resources, posing operational and logistic risks, the bank said.
The Haryana Police has so far traced over 1,300 Tabligh-e-Jamaat members who came to the state after attending the organisation's congregation in New Delhi's Nizamuddin last month, said DGP Manoj Yadav on Friday.

He, however, said the Tabligh members entered the state before the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25 to check the spread of coronavirus.

There were no restrictions in place when they entered Haryana. I can assure that no one entered after March 25, the DGP said during a joint media conference with Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Vijai Vardhan and ACS (Health) Rajiv Arora though video link.

The DGP said a majority of all those 1,305 people, including 107 foreigners, who entered the state before the lockdown, came on March 14, 17 and 20.

So far, eight of them have been found to be COVID positive, the DGP said.

Among the eight infected people, three each are in Palwal and Nuh and two in Ambala, he said in a statement on Friday evening.

As many as 636 members, including 57 foreigners, have been traced to Nuh district alone.

All 1,305 were traced to 15 districts of the state.

The foreign members were located in five districts of Faridabad, Ambala, Panipat, Palwal and Nuh.

These foreigners belong mostly to Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand, the DGP said.

All of them have been placed under quarantine and their passports have been taken into possession by police.

Five separate FIRs have been registered under the relevant provisions of the IPC and the Foreigner's Act in these five districts, he said.

If any other violation comes to the fore during the probe, then charges will be added to the already registered FIRs, he added.

The authorities have maintained that nearly 1,200 of the Jamaat members who entered Haryana were from outside and belonged to states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Assam.

The DGP said 266 Jamaat members belonged to Haryana, who returned after visiting various states.

Since some of them could be potential carriers of coronavirus, they have also been placed under quarantine.

They mostly belong to Gurgaon, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Panipat, Nuh, Sonipat, Jind and Palwal, the DGP said.

When asked about the nearly 60-70 people who were in attendance at the Nizamuddin event and had been brought to AIIMS in Badsa of Jhajjar district, ACS (Health) Arora said, "As far the National Cancer Institute at Badsa is concerned, it has been declared as a designated COVID-19 hospital by the Centre."



It is also the sub-centre of AIIMS, Delhi, and directly comes under the Centre," he said.

He added that only AIIMS or the Union Ministry of Health can give updates on who all have been admitted there.

The Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz (headquarter) in Nizamuddin West had emerged as a hotspot of coronavirus cases, following which it was sealed and an FIR lodged against its cleric for violating government orders.

Giving details about the steps taken to combat COVID-19 in Haryanan, the DGP said they had deployed police personnel at all 162 entry points to the enforce the lockdown.

Police personnel have been deployed in the mandis to ensure that when people purchase essentials, social distancing is maintained, the DGP said.

In reply to a question, ACS (Home) Vardhan said 573 relief camps and shelters have been set up across the state to provide succour to the poor, especially daily wagers who have been hit hard by the ongoing situation.

As many as 15,850 migrant workers have been accommodated in 288 relief camps, Vardhan added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Security forces have apprehended four overground workers of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit from Handwara and Sopore areas of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said here on Friday.

A cordon and search operation was launched in Shalpora village in Handwara area of Kupwara district late on Thursday night following information about presence of militants there, the officials said.

Two overground workers of LeT were apprehended during the searches.

They were identified as Aazad Ahmad Bhat and Altaf Ahmad Baba, they said, addingtwo pistols and two hand grenades were recovered from their possession.

Security forces arrested two other LeT overground workers from Sopore in Baramulla district on Thursday evening during searches at a check point near Sadiq Colony.

They were identified as Waseem Ahmad and Junaid Rashid Ganai, the officials said adding one pistol, twoUBGL grenades and a grenade thrower were recovered from their possession.

Cases under relevant sections of law have been registered against the four arrested persons in respective police stations,they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 15:53 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8b0f8 1 Health self-isolation,self-quarantine,#coronavirus,COVID-19,Hotel,apartment,#COVID19,coronavirus Free

Numerous countries, including Indonesia, have urged travelers from abroad to self-quarantine for 14 days. They are prohibited from leaving their homes and meeting other people as part of preventive measures against COVID-19.

However, those who are unable to self-isolate at home have to consider other places to stay.

Jakarta resident Rahma Yulianti did just that following her arrival from Russia on March 26. Instead of coming home, she chose to self-quarantine at an apartment that she rented from her friends friend.

Id prefer to stay at home [than stay at the apartment], but I still live with my mother and I read that older adults are more vulnerable to COVID-19, Rahma told The Jakarta Post on Thursday, adding that the apartment was located not far from her home.

Rahma said her friends friend and the management of the apartment knew about her situation. During her self-isolation period, she routinely checks her body temperature, wears a mask, washes her hands, sprays disinfectant in her room and soaks up the sun. She also only comes down once a week to receive packages from the security staff.

Aside from apartments, hotels also serve as a sanctuary for those seeking to self-isolate.

Aryaduta Hotel Group, for instance, introduced a special program dubbed Comfort in Self Isolation in late March. Available in Aryaduta Lippo Village in Banten, Aryaduta Medan in North Sumatra and Aryaduta Palembang in South Sumatra, the program enables guests to self-quarantine for around 14 days and includes three meals per day.

Read also: Indonesian hotels offer food delivery service amid COVID-19 spread

Our staff are well-trained to follow strict protocols regarding physical distancing and hygiene, said Greg Allan, president of Aryaduta Hotel Group, a Lippo Group company, in a statement. Implementation of these protocols has been advised by Siloam Hospital Group [also part of Lippo Group] to minimize risk of exposure.

According to Allan, the staff are prohibited from entering the rooms dedicated to self-isolation nor have they direct contact with the guests. Meals will be delivered to their doors and the hotel areas have also been thoroughly disinfected.

With starting prices from Rp 850,000 (US$51), the program is open to healthy guests who want to self-isolate to ensure theyre not infected.

[The program caters to] someone who came into contact with a person who is COVID-19 positive but isnt sick, or someone who had tested negative but is still within the 14-day virus incubation period, Allan said. Its not for those who have been tested positive, with symptoms, or who have been tested and are waiting for the results.

Valentia Agustadi, group director of sales of Aryaduta Hotel Group, told the Post that the program had received a warm welcome from the guests as they were becoming more aware about isolating themselves. Among them are those who have just returned from overseas and, though they have not shown any symptoms, want to make sure that they are healthy enough before meeting their families.

We also have other guests who want to self-quarantine as their neighbor has been infected, while they have children and live with older adults. So, they want to stay away from their neighbor for a while, said Valentia. At least they feel safe at the hotel because they have minimum contact with other guests and our staff.

Another establishment that offers a similar program is Gran Puri Manado Hotel in Manado, North Sulawesi.

Dubbed the Self-Isolation Package, the program offers seven-day and 14-day self-isolation packages with starting prices at Rp 4.2 million and Rp 7.8 million, respectively.

According to Tribunnews.com, the program includes three meals per day and coffee breaks. The hotel also provides medical staff and an ambulance in case of emergency, in addition to sanitizers in public areas and routinely being sprayed with disinfectant.

Atria Residences Gading Serpong in South Tangerang, Banten, is also offering a self-isolation program.

Its full-board self-isolation package provides a number of facilities, including a COVID-19 rapid test kit, three meals per day, daily healthy beverages, laundry service and 24-hour on-call doctor service.

"We provide the COVID-19 rapid test kit as a complimentary [...] which we are doing in collaboration with Bethsaida Hospital," said Johannes Hutauruk, COO of hotel management company Parador, in a statement.

Guests staying in the air-conditioned one-bedroom suites can expect the place to be sprayed with disinfectant every day, as well as to have high-speed internet, kitchen set, in-room safety box, mini bar, hair dryer, satellite TV and complimentary tea and coffee amenities -- all available for a starting price at Rp 1 million per day with a minimum of two-night stay.

The Grand Palace Hotel is an option for those in East Javas Malang.

Arik Abadi, Grand Palace Hotels sales marketing officer, said the hotel provided seven-day and 14-day packages.

For superior rooms, the seven-day package is priced at Rp 1,575,000, while the 14-day is priced at Rp 2,590,000. Deluxe rooms for the seven-day package will cost Rp 1,975,000 while the 14-day is Rp 3,290,000.

Arik said every guest will have their temperature checked and will be provided with hand sanitizer at the entrance and the front office. Rooms are cleaned with disinfectant after every check out.

If a guest exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, the hotel will recommend that the guest go to the nearest hospital.

Whiz Prime Hotel Basuki Rahmat in Malang also provides self-isolation packages, priced at Rp 3 million for 14 days and Rp 1.5 million for seven days. Facilities include 3 liters of mineral water, breakfast, jamu (traditional herbal drink) and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Manager Azis Sismono said the hotel provided hand sanitizer and performed temperature checks on all guests. Hotel staff are required to wear masks and gloves, while guests luggage will be sprayed with disinfectant. All rooms are sterilized and sprayed with disinfectant after every check out. (kes)

--------------------------------

Nedi Putra AW contributed to this story from Malang.
April 2, 2020

News

By Terri Moon Cronk

Defense.gov

USNS Mercy, USNS Comfort Receiving Patients in LA, New York City

To free overwhelmed local hospitals focusing on patients with COVID-19, the Navy hospital ships USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are docked on both U.S. coasts to provide medical and surgical care to non-COVID-19 patients.

The USNS Mercy is in Los Angeles under the command of Navy Capt. John R. Rotruck, and the USNS Comfort is in New York City with Navy Capt. Patrick Amersbach in charge.

Both captains briefed reporters at the Pentagon by telephone today.

Since onboard medical personnel are not treating patients with COVID-19, referring hospitals are screening and testing patients for the virus before they're transferred to the Mercy or the Comfort.

So far, the Mercy has treated 15 Los Angeles-area patients, and the Comfort admitted its first three patients late yesterday, the captains said. Each ship has a 1,000-bed capacity and is well equipped for meeting the medical and surgical needs in their assigned communities.

"We are honestly looking forward to seeing a significant increase in patients being transferred to the Comfort today," Amersbach said.

To transfer patients between facilities, hospitals in Los Angeles call in to a centralized countywide medical alert center that coordinates the move. The Mercy is now part of that system providing patient care, Rotruck said.

The number of patients sent to the Navy hospital ships is driven by demand for the local hospitals based on their current capacity, the Mercy's captain explained, adding that the floating hospitals are supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the lead agency, as well as state authorities.

On the East Coast, the Comfort taps into a central communications and referral system coordinated through the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. The center has local health officials working with FEMA to ensure hospital transfers take place smoothly and that patients transferring to the Comfort are COVID-19-free and "suitable for that environment," Amersbach said.

The Mercy has accommodated patients recovering from traumatic accidents and those suffering from gastrointestinal, heart and lung problems. "[We're seeing] pretty much the gamut of patients that you'd expect to see in a community hospital," Rotruck said.

"Professionals aboard USNS Mercy left Naval Base San Diego March 23, after receiving a five-day notice of deployment," the captain said. "Although we have never responded to a pandemic, this is the type of mission that we train for, as our ship is uniquely outfitted for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," he added.

The Mercy staff came together as a team quickly, Rotruck said. "We are accomplishing our mission and showing the power of Navy medicine in support of the American people," he added. "And we will stay here until it is decided that our support seems no longer necessary. We are honored to answer the call in the time of need and are committed to protecting the health of our force and the health of our nation."

"The hope is that our presence [will help] local hospitals focus on treatment of COVID-19 patients,  and we are grateful to serve the needs of our nation," Amersbach, the Comfort's captain, said.

The goal of the Defense Department's senior leadership was to get the capability and capacity of the Mercy and the Comfort in place before local hospitals were overwhelmed, Rotruck said. That way, the ships' medical teams are able to establish local relationships and ensure the processes for transferring patients to their facilities are meeting the needs of each location.

"When the capacity demand really increases, we'll be ready," he said.

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Senate Republicans are proceeding with a probe into Hunter Biden despite the ongoing global pandemic. Democrats have clashed with GOP senators about investigating Joe Bidens son.

The Senate Homeland Security Committee intends to continue its investigation even though the Senate is not sitting. The committee is led by Republicans.

A spokesperson for committee Chair Senator Ron Johnson confirmed a Biden probe was still on the agenda.

While the chairman is primarily focused on the once-in-a-generation crisis were experiencing, our oversight staff is continuing to push ahead with their work, Austin Altenburg said.

Nothing has changed in our long-term plans for our investigations.

The probe will involve Hunter Bidens activities in Ukraine. President Donald Trumps impeachment was a result of allegations concerning his attempts to get dirt on former Vice President Biden and his son.

Democrats have slammed the investigation as unnecessary and partisan. They claim that accusations against the Bidens are groundless and that potential foreign witnesses are unreliable.

I frankly think that that is a line of inquiry that has already been pursued over and over and over. And not a single credible journalistic outlet has concluded that the former vice president did anything wrong, said Democratic Senator Chris Coons.

And so, they can keep pushing that narrative and keep trying to bring that up and try to make that work, he said.

Republican efforts to investigate Hunter Biden have reportedly increased since former Vice President Biden racked up a series of primary wins on Super Tuesday.

Joe Biden has repeatedly said that neither he nor his son did anything illegal. Critics of the Republican investigation have compared it to attempts to damage Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.

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Silverstone is still hopeful it will be able to host the British GP amid the global pandemic.

While the entire world of sport is essentially furloughed for now, circuit boss Stuart Pringle is open to becoming fully flexible in order to host a race - or even two.

"The majority of the teams are within a stone's throw of the circuit, so operationally it would be pretty straightforward," he said.

"We've got the fixed infrastructure, the staff could go home to their own beds of an evening in large parts, so if that's how we can help then I'd be delighted to do that."

It is being argued that one of the only ways F1 will be able to arrange a minimal amount of races to fulfil contracts is to host multiple races at each venue.

It has even been suggested that the circuit layouts could be reversed for subsequent races on the same weekend.

"It's not such a silly thought," said Pringle.

"We're not licensed to run the other way, but these are extraordinary times, and I guess that extraordinary decisions are being made.

"Nothing's off the table, but let's see what the next four weeks look like.

"It's difficult for Formula 1, they're not just looking at what's going on in Great Britain, they're looking at what's going on around the world, so it's perhaps not such a crazy question," he told the Sun.

2016 world champion Nico Rosberg agrees that F1 may need to "get creative" to survive the crisis, but one hurdle could be getting all the teams to unanimously agree.

"But that's definitely possible because everybody is open-minded and everybody wants to show the fans a great season," said the German.

"We could see some really nice coming together now and then agreeing on some unusual ideas to make it a great show nevertheless."

(GMM)
Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, says there is no hidden agenda behind some countries evacuating their citizens from Nig...





Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, says there is no hidden agenda behind some countries evacuating their citizens from Nigeria.





At least, 637 Europeans were evacuated from Nigeria and Benin Republic on Thursday.





The move had left many wondering if there is a cause for alarm.





During the press briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Friday, a journalist had asked Onyeama if leaving the country was an indictment on Nigerias health system, to which the minister responded that its not necessarily so.





Onyeama said those who had left did so did so to enable them make use of a system that they are familiar with, should the need arise.





He added that the diplomatic staff of most of the countries are still in Nigeria, and that hey have no plans of leaving.





It is basically a case where people are more familiar with the health system in their various countries and so prefer to go to the various countries so in the event that they might have to be confined, they would be in more familiar surroundings and they would also have access to medical practitioners and facilities that they are used to, Onyeama said.





So, that is really the reason. And you will find that a large number of those countries evacuating citizens, that their heads of mission and ambassadors and other staff are still here in Nigeria and there are no plans of leaving.




Over 40 people were arrested in Kashmir on Friday for allegedly violating prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus amid the nationwide lockdown, police said.

Police arrested 42 people for violating the orders and the arrests were made in the districts of Kupwara, Srinagar and Ganderbal, a police spokesman said.

In Kupwara district of north Kashmir, police arrested 24 people and seized two vehicles for defying the prohibitory orders, the spokesman said.

In Srinagar district, police arrested 15 persons, including five shopkeepers for violating government orders, he further said.

They were arrested from Rajbagh and Sadder area of the city, he added.

Similarly, in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, three persons were arrested for violation of lockdown orders, the spokesman said.

He said cases have been registered against all of them.

Police have appealed to the public to follow the restrictions imposed by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and warned of dealing strictly with those violating the restrictions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been released from prison four months early due to coronavirus concerns.

Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, will serve out the remainder of his sentence from home confinement.

US District Judge Paul A Engelmayer made the ruling on Thursday, citing the rappers asthma and the fact that Hernandez would be more susceptible to infection by the coronavirus outbreak behind bars.

In light of the heightened medical risk presented to Mr Hernandez by the Covid-19 pandemic, there are extraordinary and compelling reasons to reduce Mr Hernandezs sentence, the judge said.

Tekashi 6ix9ines lawyer said the rapper was diagnosed in October with bronchitis and sinusitis.

Those with underlying conditions are said to be more likely to be vulnerable to the more serious complications of the novel respiratory disease.

Tekashi 6ix9ine is serving a two-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to charges related to gang activity.

During confinement, he will be electronically monitored and will only be allowed to visit his doctor and his lawyer.

The rappers representation was pleased with the decision to allow his early release.

Considering todays challenging circumstances as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, inmates are especially vulnerable to contracting the virus, attorney Lance Lazzaro told CBS News. The Court showed great compassion today and my client is very grateful.

Prosecutors did not oppose the action.

The judge said that a raging and virulent pandemic that has entered federal prisons in New York City made the release necessary.

Experts and authorities have said that prisons could be breeding grounds for the disease, with inmates forced to remain in close proximity increasing chances of infection.

Advocates have put pressure on the government to release inmates who are serving minor sentences or who have underlying health conditions.

Across New York, 900 prisoners have been released to stem the spread of the pandemic, which has now infected more than 260,000 people in the US, according to statistics by John Hopkins University.

Elsewhere, California announced on Tuesday that prisons are granting early release to 3,500 inmates to reduce crowding and slow the spread of the virus across facilities, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Additional reporting by agencies.
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.

By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy on Thursday relieved the commander of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote a scathing letter that leaked to the public asking the Navy for stronger measures to control a coronavirus outbreak onboard the ship.

The removal of Captain Brett Crozier from the command of the 5,000-person vessel, which was first reported by Reuters, was announced by acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who said the commander exercised poor judgment.

Modly said the letter was sent through the chain of command but Crozier did not safeguard it from being released outside the chain.

"It raised alarm bells unnecessarily," Modly said.

Over 100 personnel on the ship have tested positive for the coronavirus so far.

In the four-page letter, Crozier described a bleak situation aboard the nuclear-powered carrier as more sailors tested positive for the highly contagious respiratory virus.

He called for "decisive action": removing over 4,000 sailors from the ship and isolating them. He said that unless the Navy acted immediately, it would be failing to properly safeguard "our most trusted asset - our sailors."

The letter put the Pentagon on the defensive about whether it was doing enough to keep the warship's crew members safe, and alarmed the families of those aboard the vessel, whose home port is in San Diego.

The carrier was in the Pacific when the Navy reported its first coronavirus case a week ago. It has since docked at U.S. Naval Base Guam on the southern end of the American island territory in the western Pacific.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Mary Milliken and Peter Cooney)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
In the future, treating a concussion could be as simple as cooling the brain.

That's according to research conducted by University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers, whose findings support the treatment approach at the cellular level.

There are currently no effective medical treatments for concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries. We're very excited about our findings because they could potentially pave the way for treatments we can offer patients." Christian Franck, UW-Madison associate professor of mechanical engineering who led the study

The process is a bit more finicky than just applying an ice pack to the head.

Conducting experiments on brain cells in a dish, Franck and his team discovered several key parameters that determined the effectiveness of therapeutic cooling for mitigating damage to the injured cells.

"We found that, for this treatment to be successful, there's a sweet spot," he says. "You can't cool too little; you can't cool too much; and you can't wait too long following an injury to start treatment."

And when the researchers identified that sweet spot, the results were striking.

"I was amazed at how well the cooling worked," Franck says. "We actually went back and repeated the experiments multiple times because I didn't believe it at first."

The researchers published their findings in the journal PLOS ONE.

The high occurrence of concussions underscores the pressing need for treatments. Every year in the United States, there are an estimated 1.7 million new cases of traumatic brain injury assessed in emergency rooms, and the incidence of sports-related concussions may approach 3.8 million annually.

A traumatic impact to the brain can turn on biochemical pathways that lead to neurodegeneration, the progressive deterioration and loss of function in brain cells. Neurodegeneration causes long-lasting and potentially devastating health issues for patients.

"These pathways are like flipping on a bad molecular switch in your brain," says Franck.

In their experiments, the researchers looked at two of those biochemical pathways.

First, they created a network of neurons in a dish and delivered a mechanical stimulus that simulates the kind of injury and cell damage that people experience with a concussion.

Then they cooled the injured cells separately to four different temperatures. They found that 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit) provided the most protective benefit for the cells after 24 and 48 hours post-injury. Notably, cooling to 31 degrees Celsius had a detrimental effect.

"So there's such a thing as cooling too much," Franck says.

Time also is a factor. For the best outcome, the team determined that cooling needed to begin within four hours of the injury and continue for at least six hours, although Franck says cooling for even 30 minutes still showed some benefits.

When they adhered to those parameters, the researchers discovered they could keep the cells' damaging biochemical pathways switched off. In other words, the cells remained healthy and functioning normally--even though they had just suffered a traumatic injury.

After six hours of cooling, the researchers brought the concussed brain cells back up to normal body temperature, curious about whether warming would cause the damaging biochemical pathways to turn on.

"The biggest surprise was that the molecular switches actually stayed off -- permanently -- through the duration of the lab experiment," Franck says. "That was huge."

He and his students compared their results with previous animal studies and randomized human trials that investigated cooling as a treatment for traumatic brain injuries.

"We found really good agreement between the studies when we dialed in to those specific parameters, so that's a very encouraging sign," Franck says. "But this isn't the end of the story. We think this warrants further investigation in animal studies."

Franck says there's more to learn before cooling the brain could be a practical treatment for patients at a clinic. For example, it's not as easy as simply lowering the temperature of a person's whole body, which taxes the heart and can have a strong negative effect on the immune system.

Rather, isolating cooling to the brain is crucial. "We hope our paper will spawn renewed motivation and interest in solving the technical challenges for getting this type of treatment to patients in the future," Franck says. "For a long time, the scientific literature was inconclusive on whether this would be a successful treatment. What we showed in our study was that, yes, as far as the cell biology is concerned, this is effective. And so now it's really worth thinking about how we might implement this in practice."

Researchers from Brown University collaborated on this research through the U.S. Office of Naval Research-sponsored PANTHER interdisciplinary research program at UW-Madison for studying traumatic brain injuries. Franck is the Grainger Institute for Engineering Associate Professor and PANTHER director.
Doctors in the emergency department at Brandon Regional Health Centre are preparing for escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Doctors in the emergency department at Brandon Regional Health Centre are preparing for escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As a group, were just kind of waiting for that surge to happen," said Dr. Stacey Kitz, co-chief of the Brandon ER medical staff and the COVID-19 lead in Prairie Mountain Health, "but the more we practise and prepare ... the more ready we are."

Dr. Stacey Kitz

Kitz said she meets with staff daily to communicate any changes in protocol, which can change daily if not hourly.

"Even today, I gave them an update and I walked out and suddenly Ill have to give them a brand-new update tomorrow," she said.

Health officials announced Thursday they are expanding the use of protective equipment by nurses and other health-care workers.

Instead of donning a surgical mask, gloves and gown when dealing with a suspected COVID-19 case, staff will use the equipment for all patients, Shared Health chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa said

Thursday during the daily news briefing.

A day earlier, Manitoba announced new screening protocols for health-care staff that requires them to have their temperature taken before reporting to work, a measure that has led to long lineups outside some hospitals.

Kitz said staff in the emergency department at BRHC are coping well as they deal with the changes.

"One of the nice things about the emergency room is its a team environment," Kitz said.

"Were kind of all approaching it that were in this together and were working together and were doing daily simulations just to get all the staff up to speed on the safest way to perform our procedures."

Kitz said PMH does have a plan in place in the event doctors become ill and arent able to continue working.

They have a list of outside physicians who can be called in temporarily, she said, and there are plans in place to contact others, if necessary.

Unlike the nursing situation, where retired nurses are being invited to return to the workforce during the pandemic, its not as easy with doctors, who may not be up to speed with the latest medical procedures, Kitz acknowledged.

"Certainly, if it comes to it, we might be asking doctors who have worked formerly in our department," she said. "We want to use, kind of, our most experienced staff in this situation, and thats why we have already built in our schedule just a bit of backup."

She added they wont use doctors who are not used to working in the emergency department for high-risk procedures.

Meanwhile, the emergency department at Brandon Regional Health Centre has seen an uptick in walk-in patients.

"At the beginning, especially when the stay-at-home order came out, we noticed there was quite a drop in visits," Kitz said. "But even within the last week, our numbers are picking up, and the patients coming in have tended to be a bit sicker."

She added there hasnt been much change in EMS arrivals at the emergency department.

Kitz said despite the arrival of COVID-19, people who need treatment still need to come in to the ER.

"Ultimately, were still an emergency department, and we are still prepared to deal with emergencies," she said, adding people can still call Health Links for advice as well as going to city walk-in clinics.

"The ultimate message is, if you feel you have an emergency, we dont want you to wait at home too scared to come to our department."

 brobertson@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press
Hyderabad: In a bid to confront the rising tide of fake news, the state government on Thursday launched a dedicated website (https://factcheck.telangana.gov.in), hoping that it will prove vital in the fight against fake news regarding the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The state government has already invoked the provisions of Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and notified Telangana Epidemic Diseases (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, framed under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

Disseminating information on social media platforms without ascertaining the facts and obtaining prior clearance from competent authorities is deemed a punishable offence under the said Act and Regulations.

The Supreme Court took serious note of the panic created by fake news, but it stopped short of government censorship of news as asked for by the centre.

Chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao in his recent briefing on the Coronavirus lockdown also warned that stern action would be taken against anyone disseminating fake news, misinformation, and rumours.

To this effect, ITE&C Dept. of Telangana Government in partnership with Factly Media & Research has developed a dedicated web portal https://factcheck.telangana.gov.in. It is aimed at dispelling fake news and misinformation campaigns on social media platforms and providing facts and context wherever applicable.

The website hosts articles on widely circulated posts on Coronavirus on social media platforms and verifies the claims made therein. Further, citizens can submit a post being circulated on social media for fact checking by the ITE&C Dept.

The ITE&C Dept. will release a bulletin at regular intervals with a listing of posts spreading fake news, misinformation and rumours and give the facts with respect to the information in question.
WASHINGTON  American military commanders are using the restrictions imposed by the spread of the coronavirus to reshape the deployment of Special Operations troops all over the world, according to military officials. The decisions mean the withdrawal of elite commandos from some conflict zones and shuttering longstanding missions.

The directives, the officials said, serve two purposes: to reduce the strain on a small but often-deployed portion of the U.S. military after more than 18 years of war, and to contend with the risk of operating alongside local forces in countries flooded with the coronavirus.

These initiatives, started by a handful of generals, provide a preview of what the entire American military might look like in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis. The actions also reflect the thinking of some commanders who see the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic as an opportunity to streamline their forces, cut missions they view as unnecessary and reorient commandos to higher priority operations.

The crisis is a good opportunity to review our priorities and the value and opportunity costs of all of our efforts, said Col. Mark E. Mitchell, a retired Green Beret commander who until November was the Pentagons top Special Operations policy official.
Donald Trump's top advisors have expressed doubts about the accuracy of the White House's apocalyptic forecast that 240,000 Americans will die from the coronavirus pandemic, sources have said.

As the US death reached 6,056 Thursday and the nation's healthcare system buckles under the crisis, administration officials said the stark forecasts could have been a tactic to warn the president he needs to act now.

The White House made the shock prediction Tuesday that there will be between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths in the US if the nation continues on its trajectory and current social distancing guidelines are maintained.

Trump said the estimates were based on data 'that has been, I think, brilliantly put together.'

Some of Donald Trump's top advisors have expressed doubts about the accuracy of the White House's apocalyptic forecast that 240,000 Americans will die from the coronavirus pandemic, sources have said. The US death reached 6,056 Thursday

The figures place the US on track for a historic disaster, with more Americans dying from the pandemic than the Vietnam War.

However, some of the president's top advisors are baffled by the figures which have led to fierce debates within the Trump administration, according to three anonymous White House officials.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US's top medical expert on the pandemic and a member of President Trump's coronavirus task force, cast doubt on the figures during a task force meeting this week, they told The Washington Post.

'I've looked at all the models. I've spent a lot of time on the models. They don't tell you anything,' Fauci said.

'You can't really rely upon models.'

Some administration officials said the stark forecasts could have been a tactic to warn the president he needs to act now after he has been accused of repeatedly not taking the pandemic seriously

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US's top medical expert on the pandemic and a member of President Trump's coronavirus task force, cast doubt on the figures during a task force meeting this week, sources told The Washington Post

The White House has kept quiet over the numbers, even as far as refusing to explain how they were calculated or providing the underlying data behind the shock statistics.

Deborah Birx, coordinator of the coronavirus task force, said Tuesday the figures were based on five or six modelers, including from Imperial College in Britain and Harvard, Columbia and Northeastern universities.

'It was their models that created the ability to see what these mitigations could do, how steeply they could depress the curve,' Birx said.

She previously said the task force was reviewing the work of 12 models.

'Then we went back to the drawing board over the last week or two, and worked from the ground up, utilizing actual reporting of cases,' Birx said.

Columbia University epidemiologist Jeffrey Shaman said his own work on coronavirus, which was used by the White House to reach its figures, could not be used to predict as far ahead as the total death toll

'It's the way we built the HIV model, the TB model, the malaria model. And when we finished, the other group that was working in parallel - which we didn't know about,' referring to the IHME group.

But medical experts whose models were used to arrive at the estimates have now spoken out, raising questions over where the figures have come from.

Columbia University epidemiologist Jeffrey Shaman said his own work on coronavirus cited by the White House could not be used to predict as far ahead as the total death toll.

'We don't have a sense of what's going on in the here and now, and we don't know what people will do in the future,' he told the Post.

'We don't know if the virus is seasonal.'

Shaman said he believes the death toll could be less than the forecast: 'I think we can come in under 100,000 deaths. I do. The jury is not yet in on this.'

Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiologist and the director of Harvard University's Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, who also contributed his model to the White house, said the numbers have been rushed.

'They contacted us, I think, on a Tuesday a week ago, and asked for answers and feedback by Thursday, basically 24 hours,' he said.

'My initial response was we can't do it that fast. But we ended up providing them some numbers responding to very specific scenarios.'

Imperial College and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at University of Washington (IHME) models predict the closest figures to those dished out by the White House.

Imperial College estimated there could be as many as 2.2 million US deaths if no action was taken to slow the spread, 1.1 million deaths if moderate mitigation was adopted, and an unspecified number of deaths if drastic measures were taken.

This tallies with the White House's worst-case scenario of 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths if Americans and the government does nothing to slow the spread.

IHME estimated US deaths will lie between 38,000 and 162,000 if every state issues a lockdown and stays on lockdown until the summer.

Christopher Murray, the head of the IHME group, told the Post that the two models are not comparable.

'The reason we created our model is to help hospitals plan. How many beds you'll need, how many ventilators, when the peak is likely coming,' Murray said.

The purpose of Imperial's model 'is to make people realize government intervention is crucial and what would happen without that,' he said.

The White House prediction also failed to specify a timescale for the death toll, other experts told the Post.

However administration officials said the shock numbers were plucked for the benefit of the president, after he has long dismissed the seriousness of the mounting crisis.

The dramatic Imperial figures of 2.2 million deaths were used to convince Trump to take the pandemic seriously, officials said.

And the official figures of 100,000 to 240,000 deaths swayed him to abandon his plans to reopen the US for Easter on April 12 and ensured he extended restrictions for another 30 days, they said.
$128 million dollars donated as part of Turkish campaign

On Monday, President Erdogan launched the National Solidarity Campaign to aid fight coronavirus pandemic.

Turkey has so far raised around 847 million Turkish liras (nearly $128 million) donation as part of the National Solidarity Campaign to aid fight the coronavirus pandemic, the countrys Communications Directorate said on Thursday.

CABINET MEMBER ARE AMONG THE DONATORS

The directorate made the announcement on Twitter.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday launched the campaign to aid fight the novel coronavirus, donating seven of his monthly salaries to the initiative.

Cabinet members and lawmakers donated 5.2 million Turkish liras ($791,000) to the campaign.
pic.twitter.com/iWb9aJ2x7r Downey fashion designer Johana Hernandez making safety masks for hospital workers - The Downey Patriot https://t.co/kgIo9WI2dS March 31, 2020

The pandemic and ongoing crisis that has now affected nearly everyone worldwide can not stop Latina Fashion Designer, Johana Hernandez, as she continues to create fashion, but this time she twisted fashion with protection for the people.

Tons of virtual campaigns and attempts from every corner of the globe are flooding the internet of people who are helping battling the coronavirus in their own ways like -- donating, cooking, fundraising and volunteering. But in the case of Johana Hernandez her way of giving back is through her passion which is using her threads and machines.

According to The Downey Patriot, Johana Hernandez, popular fashion designer, is most well-known for dressing Hollywood celebrities and is the founder of GLAUDI.

She became known in 2013 after she participated in NBC'S designer competition series Fashion Star. After winning the FIAT designer campaign she was mentored by Nicole Richie. The fashion hero also stated that Johana was also mentioned as one of the most influential women in the industry by PEOPLE Magazine, Latina Magazine, and Alegria Magazine.

She also has an avant-garde collection that specializes her work in Haute Couture and bridal dresses. Her idea of beauty is being at peace, being confident, being healthy and happy, and embracing your imperfections and simply loving who you are.

At age 19, her first collection was featured by The Wall Street Journal, after her exposure she started to design and work under Seven7 Jeans where she designed for all sizes including plus sizes, Isaac Mizrahi Jeans, Elie Tahari, the Hannah Montana, and the Disney licenses.

At age 24, she launched her own collection named GLAUDI by Johana Hernandez which has a theme "specializing in empowering women of all shapes and sizes with bold, elegant styles," Johana Hernandez also inspires women by standing out for their success and style.

GLAUDI - Johana's collection, is not just a collection but at the same time it is a fundraising charity platform to help children in poverty in El Salvador' also a collaboration with other organizations such as Latino Con Corazon, Johana Hernandez was able to build schools and donate computers to some schools and orphanage in Central America. She also donated her income to families having low income in Latin America.

As of now she recently launched Glaudi Beverly Hills and it also belonged to the Hall of Fame at her alma mater Downey High School, where she embodied the Likes of The Carpenters and Metallica's James Hetfield.

Johana Hernandez now makes face masks for the front liners in the PIH Hospital in Downey. Downey is her residence and the team from the hospital also saved her father's life when he had a heart attack. Johana was born in Compton, California where she grew up sewing with her parents who sewed for the most popular brands in the world which are - Guess, Calvin Klein and Gap.

Through her youtube channel the Glaudi - Johana teachers people on how to make safety masks from home through online videos. She shows her passion and at the same time she has a big heart for helping people, especially the front liners who are lacking personal protective equipment.
Investigators interviewed several people at the scene, but all were inside the home when the shooting occurred and did not see the incident, according to police.
Police opened fire in the air in Assam's Bongaigaon district on Saturday morning to disperse an unruly mob at a market that attacked the security personnel when asked to abide by the lockdown order, an officer said.

None was injured in the melee, he said. People had gathered in large numbers at meat and poultry shops of Bhawlaguri market in the district without maintaining social distancing norms.

As police intervened, most of them dispersed only to return with machetes and stones to attack the officers on duty.

The police personnel, when pelted with stones, resorted to lathicharge and opened fired in the air to quell the unrest.

Additional police forces rushed to the site and cordoned off the entire area, the officer said, adding that four persons have been arrested in this connection. On Friday, too, both vendors and customers at Folimari Budhbari market in Dhubri district had attacked police personnel, who were trying to enforce the lockdown order - imposed by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.
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Migrants and asylum-seekers being held in detention centers located in remote parts of the US where hospitals are few and far between are raising the alarm about overcrowded conditions and lack of access to cleaning products amid the coronavirus outbreak, warning that the situation could be a 'ticking time bomb.'

US immigration officials say they have a plan if detention centers get hit with the deadly disease that to date has claimed more than 6,000 lives: they will transfer detainees with serious symptoms to hospitals with 'expertise in high risk care.'

But many centers - each housing hundreds of people, often in close quarters with little to no opportunity for social distancing - are located in remote communities, far from hospitals able to handle a rush of patients with COVID-19.

Detention center outbreaks in such areas could quickly swamp local hospitals, threatening their ability to treat local residents along with detainees.

Migrants detained in an ICE detention facility in Basile, Louisiana, display signs that read 'Trump don't spend the budget in imigration [sic] centers use it for covid 19' (left), and 'somos immigrantes no criminales,' which means 'we are immigrants not criminals' (right)

A third of the 43,000 immigrants in detention are housed at ICE facilities that have only one hospital or none with intensive-care beds within 25 miles

About a third of the 43,000 immigrants in detention as of March 2 were housed at facilities that have only one hospital - or none - with intensive-care beds within 25 miles, according to a Reuters analysis of data from the American Hospital Directory and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The seven sites with no such hospitals nearby held a total of about 5,000 detainees, according to the analysis, which examined centers that averaged 100 or more detainees.

Reuters has released a series of striking images showing female detainees at one of the ICE facilities in Louisiana complaining about the conditions inside and begging to be freed amid the coronavirus outbreak.

'Help us we are afraid of COVID-19,' one sign reads, while another states, 'We are vulnerable.'

The shortage of available care is especially acute in Louisiana, according to interviews with local health workers, hospital administrators and current and former detention-center employees. The administration of President Donald Trump has quadrupled the number of detainees in the state - to nearly 7,000 - as part of a larger immigration crackdown.

And Louisiana hospitals are already straining to handle one of the worlds fastest-growing coronavirus outbreaks. As of Friday afternoon, the state had 5,237 confirmed cases and more than 300 deaths.

The closest hospital to four of the Louisiana sites - which together house an average of 3,700 detainees - is Winn Parish Medical Center, which has just 46 beds and five intensive-care beds. Such tiny rural facilities would be forced to send patients to a handful of larger regional hospitals.

Doctors and nurses at both the small and larger hospitals said that a severe outbreak at even one detention center could overwhelm their ability to respond.

Migrants held in Louisiana detention centers say the facilities are overcrowded, allowing for no social distancing, and they have little access to soap - a claim officials have denied

A sign is pictured in Basile, Louisiana, which is located near the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center

One of the four centers, for example, is LaSalle ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana - among the nations largest with a daily average of about 1,200 detainees. The nearest larger hospitals are about 40 miles away in Alexandria.

One nurse at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria said she worried about the threat of an outbreak at a prison or detention center when she recently saw a man flanked by two guards in the hospitals COVID-19 unit.

'We don't have enough staff or equipment to handle something like that,' the nurse said, noting that workers have been duct-taping the door frames of makeshift isolation rooms. 'It's already chaotic.'

Six ICE detainees - five in New Jersey and one in Arizona - have tested positive for the disease, along with five ICE staffers, working in detention centers in New Jersey, Texas and Colorado, and two employees of privately run detention centers, according to ICE and the private operators.

One of the employees worked at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, which housed more than 1,500 detainees as of early March.

ICE spokespeople said the agency has a detailed pandemic response plan and is following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control protocols for testing and monitoring the disease.

The agency said it would focus enforcement actions on the most serious criminals during the pandemic and seek alternatives to detention when appropriate. By the end of March, the number of immigrants in custody nationally had fallen to about 35,600, according to ICE, but the agency could not provide updated data by facility.

An ICE spokesperson said there are currently no confirmed COVID-19 cases at ICE facilities in Louisiana. Staff at hospitals in rural parts of the state say they are unprepared for an outbreak

ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said that examining hospital resources near Louisiana detention centers is 'speculative' because there are currently no confirmed COVID-19 cases at ICE facilities there.

Cox and ICE spokeswoman Danielle Bennett said they did not know how many coronavirus tests ICE has administered, in Louisiana or nationally, and could not say whether the agency tracks that information.

Public health experts say the risks to detention centers are serious. Carlos Franco-Paredes - an infectious disease doctor in Colorado who has worked in detention centers - said an outbreak in a population of 1,500 detainees could require between 150 and 175 intensive-care admissions.

The South Louisiana ICE Processing Center is near the town of Basile - population 1,700. About 40 minutes away is the Pine Prairie Processing Center, in another small community. Together, the centers house an average of 1,300 detainees. The two facilities, along with the Jena detention center, are run by Geo Group, a private company contracting with ICE.

About halfway between the two detention facilities is the Savoy Medical Center - with just 10 intensive-care beds and 6 ventilators, said chief executive Gene Burge.

An outbreak 'would be overwhelming for an area like this,' Burge said.

ICE facilities have in-house medical care, but available services and equipment vary widely, said Scott Allen, a doctor and Department of Homeland Security consultant who has inspected detention centers.

Some rural centers have one person providing medical services, a problem if that caregiver gets ill, Allen said in a March 19 letter he wrote with another doctor to the U.S. Congress.

Local hospitals would be unable to provide ventilators to both detainees and local residents, the letter warned, causing people from both groups to 'die unnecessarily.'

Five detainees inside the South Louisiana center, which houses more than 670 men and women, said in interviews that the conditions inside the center dont allow them to protect themselves by, for instance, frequently washing their hands or maintaining social distance.

They said they each only recently received a miniature bar of soap and have not been provided cleaning products.

Daimy Garcia, 28, an asylum seeker from Cuba, said more detainees have been recently transferred into her unit, making social distancing harder. She said her unit now holds more than 70 women from Cameroon, China, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Central America.

'This is a ticking time bomb,' Garcia said.

Pablo Paez, a spokesman for Geo Group said such allegations were 'unfounded' and 'being instigated by outside groups with political agendas.'

He said all the company's facilities provide access to regular handwashing and 24/7 access to healthcare. He referred questions about local hospital resources to ICE.

The Catahoula Correctional Center near Harrisonburg, Louisiana houses a daily average of 500 detainees - just outside a town of 330 residents.

Four detainees at the center told Reuters that some immigrants have hidden symptoms of illness to avoid being isolated in the same solitary confinement cells the center uses for punishment.

Alfonso Diaz, a 58-year-old asylum seeker from Cuba with heart problems, said he shares a dorm with 100 other men, all sleeping in three-tier bunk beds and sharing four toilets and six showers.

He said guards do not wear protective gear and told the detainees to ignore news about the virus.

Scott Sutterfield, a spokesman for the private company LaSalle Corrections that runs Catahoula said that it has implemented a pandemic contingency plan at its facilities, which includes screening, testing, treatment and infection-control measures. Sutterfield did not respond to the specific concerns of the detainees interviewed by Reuters or answer questions about limited hospital capacity nearby.

The Catahoula facility is about 40 minutes away from River Correctional Center, another new ICE site housing detainees in Ferriday, Louisiana. The two locations average about 900 detainees combined.

The nearest hospital to both centers is the tiny Riverland Medical Center in Ferriday. The center has five intensive care beds but is only staffed for two critically ill patients.

Patients could also be sent to Merit Health Natchez, in nearby Mississippi, which had 15 intensive care beds as of last year, according to federal records. Natchez is also home to a facility that recently started housing 1,000 ICE detainees.

Blane Mire, a doctor at Merit Health, said on a March 26 call with town officials that his hospital was low on medicine and protective gear and full of coronavirus patients - three of them on ventilators. With hospitals in major urban centers also in need of supplies, he said, rural areas could be left behind. As Mire put it: 'Natchez isn't going to be on the priority list.'
Since the start of the crisis, Mexican brewery that produces Corona beer has been the punchline of jokes and memes.

The Mexican brewer of Corona beer says it is suspending production because of the health emergency in the country over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grupo Modelo  whose brands also include Pacifico and Modelo  said the measure was in line with the Mexican governments order to suspend all non-essential activities until April 30 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

We are in the process of lowering production at our plants to the bare minimum, the company said in a statement on Thursday, adding it would complete the suspension in the coming days.

Since the start of the virus crisis, Corona beer has been the punchline of jokes and memes, and an online rumour said sales in the US dropped by about 40 percent after the outbreak.

However, in late February, Constellation Brands, which owns the Corona label, denied the rumour and said sales had stayed strong in the US even as the virus spread internationally.

Mexicos government has said only key sectors such as agribusiness will be able to continue to function.

Grupo Modelo said it was ready to operate with 75 percent of its staff working remotely to guarantee the supply of beer, if the government agreed.

Mexicos other major beer producer Heineken  which makes the Tecate and Dos Equis brands  could also stop activities on Friday, the Reforma newspaper said, although the company did not confirm the report.

On Wednesday, the northern state of Nuevo Leon, where Heinekens Mexican operations are based, said it would stop the production and distribution of beer, which led to panic buying.

Mexico has so far registered more than 1,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 50 deaths.
Coronavirus lockdowns around the world are making the Earth move less, scientists have discovered.

Since people in many countries were barred from leaving their homes and factories and traffic ground to a halt, seismic noise  the hum of vibrations in the planets crust  has dropped.

The researchers told The Independent the change will not only make it easier to detect earthquake signals, but also provide humanity with a lesson for the environment.

The vibrations from factories, cars, trains, buses and people going about their daily lives produce background noise that makes Earths crust move. This is picked up by the thousands of detectors worldwide that measure seismic waves.

Thomas Lecocq, a seismologist at the Royal Observatory in Belgium, discovered that ambient seismic noise has fallen by between 30 and 50 per cent in Brussels since the middle of last month, around the time the country closed schools and businesses.

Other seismologists have found similar noise reductions.

Paula Koelemeijer, a London seismologist, said stations in the UK capital had also found noise reductions last month immediately after the lockdown began.

The station that has registered the largest reduction is in the City financial district, she said.

Recommended Air pollution drops in cities as UK begins coronavirus lockdown

And a detector beside the M4 also recorded a dip in average daytime background seismic noise level, according to Stephen Hicks, an Imperial College London earthquakes expert.

Dr Lecocq, who plans now to test whether scientists can obtain better measurements from the Earths crust, said the noise level in Brussels was similar to that normally observed only on Christmas Day.

Many detector stations are located in quiet areas so that the sounds they pick up are not confused by human activity, but the one in Brussels is in a normally busy area.

Dr Lecocq told The Independent that the capacity of noisy stations  those affected by human-generated vibrations  to detect smaller earthquake signals was greater since the coronavirus lockdown.

But the findings are also sociological, he said: Every individual thinks he is alone at home, but all together, we are making something big for the seismic environment  and we can probably learn a lesson here for other parts of the environment.

The reason we are home is terrifying, but in the future, maybe, some critical number of individuals will change their ways, avoiding single-occupancy car-commuting.

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Dr Lecocq said there was no evidence that the drop in human activity would make earthquakes less likely.

But Andy Frassetto, a seismologist in Washington DC, told Nature that if lockdowns continue in the coming months, city-based detectors should be better at detecting the locations of earthquake aftershocks. He said: Youll get a signal with less noise on top, allowing you to squeeze a little more information out of those events.

Satellite images have shown that air pollution plummet as a result of the lack of human activity during the lockdown.
President Donald Trump on Friday formally announced federal health officials are urging all Americans to wear non-medical face masks or coverings in public during the coronavirus pandemic.

A few hours earlier, Gov. Phil Murphy said hes fine with that, as long as people in New Jersey  the state with the second-most coronavirus cases in the U.S.  stick to makeshift items and dont use medical-grade masks that are in short supply and direly needed by workers battling the outbreak.

Murphy also emphasized that wearing coverings should not lull residents into a sense of false security in which they abandon critical social distancing measures.

That includes the governors orders for New Jerseyans to stay at home as much as possible, refrain social gatherings, and keep a minimum of 6 feet away from others when you do have to go out for essential things, like food and medicine.

Yes, you can wear a bandana or scarf, Murphy said at the Trenton War Memorial during his daily coronavirus briefing. Theres nothing wrong with that. But that is not in any way a replacement for social distancing."

Dont assume that makes you Superman or Superwoman, he added.

RELATED: Where to buy makeshift face masks, bandanas and scarves

Murphy said residents should not use an N95 or medical mask until the state is confident it has enough medical supplies for our heroic health-care workers and first responders and essential workers.

The governor also reminded residents to regularly wash their hands for at least 20 seconds and to stay indoors if theyre feeling unwell, even if youre convinced its just allergies acting up.

I know I sound like a broken record on this, but I have to, Murphy said. Because we know that social distancing works.

Behave as though ... youve tested positive, the governor added.

Trump said Friday the federal Centers for Disease Controls guidance is a recommendation, not a requirement. He also said he does not plan to wear a mask himself.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

If people wanted to wear them, they can, the president said this week. If people wanted to use scarves ... they can. In many cases, the scarf is better. Its thicker.

The mayors of Americas two largest cities  New York and Los Angeles  have also made similar recommendations to residents.

New Jersey officials said Thursday they did not plan to issue a blanket call for covering your face, though they werent opposed to homemade masks.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli noted that makeshift masks are mostly designed to keep people who are sick from infecting others, not protecting yourself from getting sick.

But officials said masking your face could help asymptomatic people who have the coronavirus from spreading it and could also help prevent people from touching their face.

New Jersey, a state of 9 million people, now has at least 29,895 cases, including 646 deaths, from COVID-19, officials said Thursday. Only New York has more among U.S. states.

The United States has seen more than 266,000 cases, including more than 6,900 deaths, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. Thats the most cases of any country in the world.

Murphy has said he expects the state to be dealing with the fallout of the virus deep into May.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

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TDT | Manama

Claims that Bahraini employees were forced to take their annual leaves were refuted by a renowned national company. This came following rumours that were widely circulated online and after an MP alleged that Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) employees were obligated to take their leaves and sit at home. The rumours hinted that the move came within the aftermath of the losses caused by the ongoing crisis of the coronavirus (Covid19) pandemic and its negative economic impact.

In its response, BAS strongly denied the allegations, without naming the MP, and stated that the companys management asserts that the above is not true. BAS clarified in a press statement issued: BAS, whose commercial activity extends for about 42 years, has, for decades, taken an interest in the human factor, especially national cadres. During the current coronavirus crisis, the company provided all necessary precautions to its employees. In the statement, BAS affirmed that it has requested its employees to take their pending leaves but did not force them to take their annual leave. In accordance with the Labour Law and the companys internal regulations, employees were asked to settle their accumulated leave balance from previous years without prejudice to their future leaves, BAS mentioned in its statement, while at the same time calling upon the public to seek facts from official sources.

This came one day after MP Mohammed Buhammood made the claims in the weekly meeting of the Council of Representatives on Tuesday. His statements came during the discussion of an urgent draft-law to withdraw BD215million from the unemployment fund to pay for the salaries of Bahrainis in the private sector for three months (from April to June). Several MPs, including MP Buhammood, questioned some private establishments worthiness of the package, claiming that they are taking arbitrary measures against their Bahraini employees amidst the current extraordinary circumstances. MP Buhammoods statements came during the discussion and in the presence of Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel bin Ali Humaidan, along with Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. I recently received a call informing me that the company (BAS), through its managers and executives, requested some of the employees to sign blank papers that until now no one knows what they are for. Some employees signed some of these papers, the lawmaker said before adding that some of these companies have begun as if it is gnawing the bodies of citizens in such a tough situation
There is good news locally on the slow battle with coronavirus.

Two people have been discharged from local hospitals and three others have recovered.

In total, there are at least 22 hospitalized, five of which are at Glens Falls Hospital. That is a manageable number. However, Gov. Andrew Cuomo noted that numbers elsewhere in the state continue to rise and is predicted to surge in about two weeks.

And there are still very few tests to see whether sick people have the virus. On Friday, Washington County finally got more testing kits, but only enough to test 100 people.

Without tests, the number of sick people confirmed to have coronavirus in Warren County has not changed all week. It is still 19, with 14 recovered.

In Saratoga County, another nine people tested positive, for a total of 148. Hospitalizations dropped from 19 to 18.

In Essex County, six more people tested positive, for a total of 14, and two more people were diagnosed on symptoms alone, for a total of five.

In Washington County, there are now 16 people who have tested positive, up three from Thursday. Four have recovered. In an indication of how many more people might be sick, Public Health has issued a mandatory quarantine for 118 people  including the 16 who tested positive and everyone who had very close contact with those people. Thats the best they can do without tests to determine who simply has a cold and who has the virus.

Another 29 people in Washington County are in precautionary quarantine. That includes people whose doctors have diagnosed them with the virus, but based on symptoms, without a test to confirm it.

County Attorney Roger Wickes urged everyone to call Public Health if they are diagnosed.

If your doctor said to go home and stay home, dont forget to call us too, he said.

Those who are known to Public Health can get access to help.

Public Health officials also asked everyone to put an end to the virus by staying home.

Were reminding residents to continue to practice social distancing, and that symptoms of COVID-19 can take between 2 and 14 days to appear after exposure, said Cathi Duncan, director of Saratoga County Public Health Services. People who are asymptomatic can still spread the virus, and it can be easily dismissed by some who mistake if for a common cold with a cough, sore throat, headache and fever. Dont take the chance of spreading this virus to someone you love. Stay home!

The news is far more grim downstate.

Hospitals have effectively turned into ICU hospitals for COVID patients, Cuomo said in his daily press conference.

There were 3,731 patients in intensive care units Friday, up 335 from Thursday.

He added that hospitals are dealing with far fewer of the normal injuries and other emergencies.

So many things are shut down  you dont have the same number of people hit by cars. You dont have the same crime rate, he said.

In total, there were 102,863 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state Friday. Thats 10,482 new cases. There were 562 more deaths in the state from the virus, for a total of 2,935 deaths so far.

Hospitalizations continued to rise, for a total of 14,810, an increase of 1,427 from Thursday.

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.

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The coronavirus and state of alarm have placed many people in Spain in an existential crisis. Companies have been forced to close. Self-employed workers are seeing their income vanish from one day to the next.

The government has taken a series of steps to prevent the health crisis giving way to a social crisis which could be even more severe. In the past few days the Cabinet has approved several decrees to make sure nobody gets left behind.

In practice, however, the avalanche of information and figures has meant that many of those affected dont know where to apply or what steps they have to take to request the assistance to which they are entitled.

Dolores Calvillo of the CCOO union in Malaga says their phones never stop ringing. "There is a great deal of confusion and many people are desperate, she says.

How can I get this help, and where do I have to go? Those are the questions most frequently being asked at present. To shed some light on the variety of assistance and decrees, we are setting out below a practical guide drawn up from information provided by the unions, the ministers who were involved in creating the so-called social shield and the Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE).

Non-essential workers

As the government has now ordered the suspension of all non-essential activity in order to reinforce its social distancing measures, workers employed by those businesses have to stay at home.

They will continue to receive their salaries from their employers thanks to what is known as a Permiso Retribuido. Workers in this situation do not have to do anything. However, the hours they have missed during this lockdown will have to be made up before the end of this year.

How and when will depend on direct negotiation between the company and the workers representatives, and the latter will keep the staff informed.

ERTE

An ERTE is a system that allows companies to temporarily lay off workers under certain circumstances. f you are affected by an ERTE, the first thing to do is find out whether your company has applied for one on the grounds of force majeure associated with the coronavirus or whether it has given other causes, such as financial or productive reasons.

In the case of force majeure, the company will organise the lay-off procedure for the worker with SEPE (Servicio Publico de Empleo Estatal - the State Public Employment Service) and he or she will automatically begin to receive unemployment benefit. The company carries on paying your Social Security and you will have the right to receive 70 per cent of your basic salary. Any addition to that amount by the company is voluntary and will depend on collective negotiation. The ERTEs which are due to force majeure must end when the state of alarm is officially over.

If the company gives other reasons for the ERTE, this will be extended for the time decided in negotiations between the company and the workers legal representatives. In this case, it makes no difference when the state of alarm comes to an end. That is the main difference between the two types of ERTE.

Even though the company handles the process, those included in an ERTE must register as jobseekers with the SAE (Servicio Andaluz de Empleo - Andalusian Employment Service). At the moment, this procedure is done online and by prior appointment. The general secretary of the CCOO, Fernando Cubillo, stresses that it is essential to do this so that in the future they cant ask you to pay back the money you receive.

When this first avalanche is finished, which I imagine will be in May, they will start to check that the people affected by an ERTE are also registered with the SAE, he adds.

Self-employed

The government has already charged the Social Security payment for March but has set up a six-month moratorium for payments for May, June and July.

However, this must be applied for during the month of April and will come into force from May. If nothing changes between now and then, it means that self-employed people will also have to pay their Social Security in April.

The application can be made via a gestor or appointed mutua companies.

The payment of debts with Social Security has been deferred until 30 June.

Some self-employed workers can also apply, through their gestor, for a special benefit for the stoppage of activity, which is the equivalent of unemployment benefit for other workers. Depending on the sector, an autonomo may have to prove that income has dropped 75 per cent, and that Social Security payments were up to date at the start of the crisis.

Household utilities

While the state of alarm is in force, the water, electricity and gas cannot be cut off in households which are registered as vulnerable. In fact, the biggest companies have already said they are prepared to extend this to other households as well until the health crisis is over.

Families or people who are due to renew their bono social do not have to do anything. It will be renewed automatically until 15 September.

Mortgages

People who become unemployed or lose most of their income due to coronavirus can ask their bank for a period of grace with regard to their mortgage payments. This only applies to the habitual residence.

Those affected have to apply directly to their bank and the application can be made up to 15 days after the end of the state of alarm. The banks have to reply to such applications within 15 days.

In any case, you should be clear that this is only a moratorium for three months. In no case will payments be written-off. Initially, the beneficiaries had to prove that they met the conditions by providing a certificate from SEPE to confirm that they were receiving payments because they are not working. The government has made the process simpler now, however and, in principle, it should be enough to provide a declaration of responsibility.

It is up to the banks whether to approve the moratorium in each case and rules apply.

Rents

According to the information published in the BOE, the State is making a line of zero-interest microcredits available for people who pay rent for a house or apartment.

It can be obtained through the ICO (Instituto de Credito Oficial). These credits have to be repaid within six years, although in case of difficulty, the term may be extended to ten years. In that case, those affected should contact the ICO.

If after the crisis someone is still in a vulnerable situation, the State might pay their rent up to a maximum of 900 euros, depending on different criteria. However, this point is still to be clarified.

In no cases will the government allow rental payments not to be made. The argument is simple: there are many landlords whose financial stability depends on this income.

Domestic workers

Domestic workers, one of the most vulnerable groups, will have the right to a subsidy if their income has been affected by the coronavirus. The amount of the subsidy will be 70 per cent of their basic salary and it must be applied for online or, in the case of Malaga, by ringing one of these two numbers: 901 010 210 or 952 997 098.

Those affected will have to present a document in which their employer confirms that they have been laid off because of the state of alarm.

Different associations have warned that the decree will leave numerous people out, because it is a sector in which many people work on the black.

Contracted seasonal workers

In a province with such an important tourism sector as Malaga, many workers have a permanent contract but are only called in to work when needed. These trabajadores fijos discontinuos will receive temporary assistance if the companies with whom they have a contract for such seasonal work include them in the ERTEs they apply for.

Those who had been called in to work before the state of alarm came into force should be included in these ERTEs.

The problem is for those who had not been called in to work. Fernando Cubillo, the general secretary of the CCOO union in Andalucia, says they are all being left out. The government has not regulated this situation, at least not so far. People in this situation will continue to receive their employment benefit, but they will also see this running out.

Guaranteed credits for the self-employed and companies

The State will guarantee 80 per cent of new loans to the self-employed and small and medium businesses. For bigger companies, the figure reduces to 70 per cent for new credits and 60 per cent for new lines of finance.

In this case, the application has to be made via the bank. In some cases, banks are already ringing business owners to explain the different lines of assistance available. The guarantees will last for the same amount of time as the credit.
Theres a new edition of The FinTech Times that has just been released.

It was designed to coincide with the Spring events in Asia that would be kicking off round about now but, as most of you now know, all events have been postponed. Nevertheless, with contributions from 11:FS, WeBank, Ant Financials AI team and more, its a great magazine to read whilst stuck at home socially isolated (I call it antisocial isolation). Oh, and if you didnt notice, the guest editor is some guy called Chris Skinner.

Im pretty well connected globally, which makes right now a bit weird, but still have friends giving me news updates so, before I share my overview of The FinTech Times, it gives me a chance to update you on my favourite case study story: Alipay. I just got the stats in the other day for their latest processing figures and theyre pretty staggering:

These stats are from the latest report published by independent market research firm iResearch on Chinese mobile payments for Q4 2019. The report estimates that the Chinese mobile payment market grew 13.4% y-o-y to RMB 59.8 trillion ( USD$8.43 trillion ) for the one quarter, and Alipays market share strengthening to 55.1%, followed by Tencents Tenpay (WeChat Pay + QQ Wallet) which owned 38.9% in the quarter. For the whole year of 2019, Chinas mobile payment market reached RMB 226.2 trillion ( $31.88 trillion ), up 18.8% from 2018.

No wonder a free FinTech magazine covering all things Asia should be interesting. Heres the low-down:

Living in a leapfrog world

When the FinTech Power50 guys asked me to be guest editor of the spring edition of The FinTech Times, I felt quite honoured. Im not a journalist, editor or media guy, although many people view me that way. Im actually a commentator, as I call it. An opinion person. Writing a blog is not the same as running a magazine or newspaper, but this is the job that I was asked to do and so Ive done it.

At the time we set out to do this, the focus was on many of the Asian events coming up in the spring time. Then some big bug hit us all, and everything got cancelled, postponed or generally disrupted. In fact, the coronavirus is what a real disruption means. I find it funny how many people talk about banks being disrupted by technology, but technology has not been the coronavirus of banking. More like a summer cold. Its made the banks sneeze a bit, but theyre not laid flat on the doctors table as many predicted. In fact many banks are thriving, and thats something that Ive spent the last two years working on by studying banks that are going through digital transformation. Its not easy  in fact, its really hard  but they are doing it.

Anyway, as this was targeted at looking at Asian FinTech, we have a number of great contributions from friends in my network. Brandon Chung of 11:FS gives a great perspective of Asian FinTech developments and the way in which technology giants are taking over customer relationship while financial firms provide product. Zennon Kapron, founder of Kapronasia, questions the froth of FinTech in Asia as new virtual bank licenses are offered in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, whilst Henry Ma, the CIO of WeBank, discusses the rise of virtual bank licencing across Asia and the fact that virtual banks must show a path to sustainability that profits from higher-volume, smaller ticket-sized transactions. Dr. Jidong Chen, who leads all aspects of Ant Financials biometric identification technology business, talks about all things to do with customer authentication and onboarding, and how to overcome that awesome or awful challenge of KYC.

The FinTech Power50 also includes two heavyweights, alongside myself, namely Jim Marous and Brett King, who both recently travelled to China and saw the Chinese phenomenon of Big Tech Giants in banking in action. Jim reflects on this in his write-up of how tomorrows banking exists today. Meantime, Brett takes a wider perspective and looks at the paradox of whether FinTech unicorns are really worth their multibillion dollar valuations when theyre hardly making any money today.

Im sure you will find something in this issue that makes you think. Overall, to be truthful, I hope you find something in this issue that makes you go Aha! I like Aha! moments. We dont have enough of them. I had an Aha! moment years ago, when I first visited China. Since then, Ive been all over Asia, Africa, the world and truly believe we are seeing a world of change driven by leapfrog economies coming from the Southern hemisphere and Asia. Youll find that is the theme of my contribution to this issue, and the theme overall: we are living in a leapfrog world.

Thanks again to the FinTech Power50 for inviting me along, and trust you enjoy this special Asian edition.

Posted on: April 3, 2020
Prasad Nalluri is a healthy husband, doting father and global businessman, and hes been so busy planning for life that he hasn't put much thought into death.

Until now.

As the coronavirus began spreading across the country, then made its way to his hometown of Austin, Texas, the 49-year-old worried how his family would cope if he contracted the virus and died. Or worse, if both he and his wife fell victim to the pandemic.

What would happen to their 11-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter?

I see the gravity of this, says Nalluri, who works in health care product development and commercialization for a startup company. My wife and I are fearful, and we want to put something in place.

Attorneys and other experts specializing in end-of-life affairs say they have seen a surge in requests for help with wills and end-of-life legal documents in the past few weeks.

A lot of people dont want to address their mortality, and now that this pandemic has occurred, it actually accelerates their concerns for getting their affairs in order, said Jack Garniewski, president of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils and a CPA in Greenville, Delaware.

Some have had documents in place for years, but COVID-19 prompted a rush of updates because financial situations have changed or families have grown.

The situation is especially true among first responders and medical workers. These frontline workers fear on-the-job contact will kill them and leave grieving family members with no clear instruction about what should happen to their children and finances.

Colin Ross, a surgical ICU nurse at Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin, began tracking COVID-19 months ago when it struck China and especially after it spread to Italy.

A large part of me thought this might stay contained in Asia, the 36-year-old said. Once it reached Italy, I knew it was only a matter of time before it came here.

By the time the first cases arrived in the United States, Ross had seen reports of the high numbers of health care workers globally who contracted the virus. He decided to discuss the subject with his wife, Kate Bero, a 35-year-old physical therapist.

Story continues

They were walking their dog, Gri, and Ross explained his wishes if he were to get sick and be on a ventilator.

I said, This is what I would want the end of my life to look like, he said. She acknowledged it, and we came home.

The couple recently began drafting a will using a template provided by an attorney friend.

Since the virus first appeared in the U.S. in January, more than 5,400 have died and more than 239,000 have been infected, the CDC reported Friday.

Some researchers predict the daily death toll could more than double by mid-April, meaning that more people would die of the virus than heart disease, the nations No. 1 killer.

Legal experts say that while it may be unpleasant to contemplate ones mortality, it is crucial to have a will in place to determine what will happen with children, property and possessions.

Our clients are naturally concerned about their loved ones, and when they are faced with a situation like this, they want to make sure their families are cared for, said Austin, Texas, estate planning attorney Glenn Karisch. They dont necessarily think they are going to die, but they do want to make things easier on their family members.

Laws concerning last wills and testaments vary by state. Such documents generally detail which people or organizations will get a persons belongings, who will manage property left to minor children and who will make sure terms of a will are carried out.

Generally, if people die without a will, their property is distributed to their closest relatives, beginning with their spouse and children, then possibly more distant relatives  a procedure that attorneys warn can leave heirs confused or with lifelong bitterness.

Some states, including Texas, also recognize so-called holographic wills in the handwriting of the deceased, who must also have signed it for it to be legally valid. Experts say that such documents often contain ambiguous phrases that can then tie up an estate in court for months or years and cost thousands in legal fees.

Challenges plague the process

Getting a will drafted in the middle of a global pandemic brings challenges. For one thing, such attorneys are now in high demand, meaning it could take days or weeks to find one with an opening.

Nalluri said the first several lawyers he called were too overwhelmed to draft his will. He finally found one willing to handle court documents outlining his childrens care if both parents were to die.

Forget the stock market, forget all of that, he says. Im just nervous about the next few months.

Not only are many lawyers finding themselves busy with new clients, but navigating the necessary person-to-person interactions is difficult to do at 6-foot distance.

Travis County, Texas, Probate Judge Guy Herman said he began hearing from worried attorneys two weeks ago, days before local officials in Austin issued stay-at-home orders.

He said they first feared that orders would block them from performing the necessary business of drafting wills and other documents, including instructions if a person can no longer make decisions about his or her own care.

They were saying, Judge, what are we going to do? Herman said. In my opinion, it is an emergency situation to have a will.

Travis County, Texas, Probate Judge Guy Herman said he considers it an "emergency situation" to get a will.

Under current orders, Herman said, lawyers have continued drafting wills for clients, sometimes at a frantic pace, arranging via phone calls and teleconferences to collect necessary information about finances and heirs.

But unlike many legal records that can be signed electronically, wills require an in-person signature with two witnesses. Attorneys are finding new ways to complete the transaction, Herman said, including what he called a drive through service at a law firm in which an attorney and an assistant, both wearing latex gloves, watch clients sign wills in their cars while they stand in the parking lot to maintain social distance.

Two weeks ago, Austin attorney Carolyn Ostrom talked to a couple of elderly clients about the need to finalize their will. She had updated and mailed drafts to them a couple of months ago after an in-person meeting  before coronavirus became a threat  but had not overseen the final step.

By the time Ostrom called them to complete the work, health leaders had urged the elderly not to interact with anyone from outside their homes. Local authorities also had instructed residents to stay in their homes unless they must attend to essential business.

Ostrom asked her husband to go with her to the couples home, and the two handed the will back-and-forth through a window. The couples neighbor also came to witness the signing, practicing social distancing by standing 6 feet apart from Ostrom and her husband.

That was at the very beginning of this, Ostrom said, but recommended procedures to get things signed are changing daily.

Attorneys across the nation have wrestled with the same requirements, Garniewski said. He wants organizations like his to persuade lawmakers to modify rules to make completing documents easier.

In a pandemic like this, he said, I just think about all the logistics people have to go through, especially the age group that is most susceptible to the virus.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Americans scramble to file and update wills amid coronavirus spread
The Advertising Club Bangalore is set to host a webinar on April 7, 2020 focusing on COVID-19s impact on the advertising industry. According to the organizers, the webinar will help industry professionals equip themselves with the knowledge to tide through the economic downturn caused by the virus.

Vincent Dong, President (Ad-Vice Software & Consulting Inc and member of CPA)  widely acknowledged as one of the finest in the business  will conduct the webinar, sharing insights from his diverse experience ranging over three decades. He is expected to shed light on the immediate steps agencies should be taking to prepare for the recession, as well as tips on how to stay stable in these trying times.

Sharing his thoughts about the ongoing situation, Laeeq Ali, President of The Ad Club Bangalore and Co-founder of Origami Creative and Bloombox Brand Engineers said, There are times when you are thinking and wondering how to recalibrate or re-engineer your business. Uncertainty is all around us and many thoughts would be running through the minds of the leaders.

Arvind Kumar, Executive Director, The Advertising Club - Bangalore says, 'The media & advertising industry - across the spectrum - have been distressed due to the impact of the lockdown on account of Covid-19. Businesses are unsure about what lies in the immediate future, particularly In the next three months, as business is at a standstill, supplies flying off shelves and logistics being a concern. This is a beginning of a series of initiatives envisaged by The Ad Club - Bangalore to help find some answers to various problems of the industry. This is a joint fight as the current environment might lead to a recession and it might take months to recover from it. We hope various constituents of our industry will take part in this Webinar , in the process of coping with and handling this unfortunate situation. "



Tune in to the webinar on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 7pm for 'Ad-Vice' on agency operations, finance & consulting, and software consulting to ensure that your business stays prepared to face challenges and emerge a winner.



Register at: https://adclubbangalore.net/ad-vice-webinar/



Further, to assess the impact of the pandemic on ground, Ad Club has also decided to conduct a survey, calling on Agency heads, Brand Owners, CEOs, CMOs, Brand Managers to share their experience via the following links:

Link for Agency Heads: https://lnkd.in/ewXF6SZ

Link for CEOs, CMOs, Brand Managers: https://lnkd.in/edkAsrE
ALBANY  The state budget approved overnight Friday was crafted against the backdrop of a pandemic and economic crisis, but many Democratic lawmakers counted their wins from a $177 billion spending plan that includes a number of progressive policies.

The final budget legalizes paid gestational surrogacy; bans flavored and menthol e-cigarettes; expands paid sick leave requirements; creates a new domestic terrorism charge and implements several environmental policies, among other provisions. It also made changes to the states controversial criminal justice reforms and codified a new public campaign financing system that has faced backlash from minor parties.

Those policy items were largely the highlight of the budget bills, as federal funding and a flexible budget plan allowed legislators to approve a spending plan at levels nearly unchanged from last year, even as the state looks toward up to $15 billion in coronavirus-related revenue shortfall. Legislators have given Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo the authority to revisit the budget periodically and adjust spending as needed, depending on actual receipts.

It would have been very easy to say, Oh, this is an extraordinary year; lets just do the bare minimum and go home, Cuomo said in a release. We did the opposite.

Many of the provisions in the final budget had been championed by the governor in his January State of the State address. Notably absent from the final plan was marijuana legalization, which lawmakers had also failed to agree upon last year. Other items left on the cutting-room floor included the authorization of alcohol sales in movie theaters, the elimination of the rape intoxication loophole and policies that would bolster gig workers rights.

But most Democrats left Albany on Thursday claiming success for a package passed mostly along party lines, as Republicans decried the approval of policies unrelated to the states financial health.

The legalization of paid gestational surrogacy, for example, has been held up in Albany for years, said state Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, who has long championed the issue. Hoylman, the only openly gay member of the state Senate, has two daughters with his husband using an out-of-state surrogate.

What it means is that people like me will not have to travel thousands of miles to pursue parenthood, he said.

He was also a sponsor of the flavored vaping products ban, which Cuomo had attempted to implement through an executive order late last year. The directive never went into effect as it faced a court challenge from the vaping industry.

Hoylman said the pandemic offered an impetus to address the youth vaping crisis, as COVID-19 is a respiratory illness.

The budget also includes a domestic terrorism proposal that heightens penalties for certain hate crimes with multiple victims, prompted by an anti-Semitic attack at a rabbis Rockland County home during a Hanukkah celebration in late December.

Environmentalists also saw several priorities included in the final budget language, including a $3 billion bond vote to fund critical environmental restoration projects, a ban on single-use Styrofoam products and the authorization of electric bikes and scooters.

The package also included a paid sick leave mandate, providing employees with 40 hours of paid sick leave at workplaces with five to 99 employees and 56 hours of paid leave at places with more than 99 employees. Employers with fewer than four employees are expected to provide 40 hours of unpaid leave.

Cuomo convinced legislators to approve the addition of e pluribus unum  Latin for out of many, one  to the state seal.

But there were more controversial items tucked into the budget, angering both Republicans and progressive Democrats.

The criminal justice changes were one of the most hotly debated issues, as officials negotiated the fate of the sweeping reforms for months. The laws, which went into effect in January but were approved in last years budget, eliminated the use of pre-trial detention and cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies; and also sped up the timeline for prosecutors to disclose evidence to criminal defendants.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The enacted reforms faced backlash from Republicans, law enforcement officials and some moderate Democrats, including the governor. Both Cuomo and Senate Democrats had floated a plan eliminating cash bail entirely in favor of a remand system dependent upon judicial discretion to detain a person  but they faced a roadblock from Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, a champion of the initial reforms who said discretion would open the door to racial bias.

Ultimately, legislators agreed to expand the number of bail-eligible crimes to also include offenses such as sex trafficking, aggravated vehicular assault and criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds. They also slightly elongated the timeline for prosecutors to hand over evidence.

The agreement appeased Democrats in swing districts facing backlash from their constituents, but Republicans  the loudest voices in the calls for change  said the budget agreement was not enough to address public safety concerns.

Were not necessarily opposing those things  but overall, this is more cosmetic changes, not substantive changes, said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay of Pulaski, who favored judicial discretion and urged lawmakers to repeal the reforms entirely and go back to the drawing board.

Progressives, especially Assembly Democrats from downstate New York, had opposed any changes to bail reform, leading to heated debate late Thursday night as the chamber wrapped up voting. They had also spent hours considering a last-minute addition to a budget bill that codified a new, $100-million-a-year publicly funded elections system in New York. The system will match small private contributions with public funds in hopes of reducing the influence of mega-campaign donors in the state.

The legislation mirrors recommendations put forth late last year by the Public Campaign Financing Commission, a nine-person panel that had been appointed by Cuomo and legislative leaders to implement the reforms. In mid-March, a state Supreme Court judge tossed the panels recommendations, saying that such a law needed to be passed by the Legislature, not a commission.

After the legal loss, Cuomo pushed for the commission's recommendations to be included in the budget. Its most controversial provision, mirroring the commission recommendations, endangers the viability of most third parties in New York, including the liberal Working Families Party, a force in New York politics that angered Cuomo by backing his 2018 primary opponent for governor.

Instead of third parties having to gain 50,000 votes in the race for governor every four years to retain certain significant electoral powers, minor parties will now every two years have to gain 2 percent of the total votes cast for governor or president, or 130,000 votes total, whichever is greater, to retain their full ballot status.

The loss for the WFP is a conundrum for liberals, who have long sought the implementation of publicly funded elections that Cuomo tied to the provisions concerning third-party ballot access. The donation limits are much lower than the law currently allows  $18,000 for statewide candidates, $10,000 for state Senate and $6,000 for Assembly.

Amanda Fries contributed reporting.
The Syrian Observer has sat down with Samer Jabbour, professor of public health at the American University of Beirut and co-chair of The Lancet Commission on Syria, who claims that Syria is not ready for coronavirus.

Samer Jabbour, professor of public health at the American University of Beirut and co-chair of The Lancet Commission on Syria, provides a grim perspective on the spread of Covid-19 in Syria. He tells The Syrian Observer that the country is ill-prepared to face the crisis, which could have profound health consequences on the population.

What is the current status of the Covid-19 across all areas of Syria in terms of number of deaths, people tested positive and number of daily tests? How do you explain the low numbers currently reported?

The situation is changing daily, actually hourly, as reports come in to shed light on new developments in various parts of the country. Officially, Syria has ten confirmed cases and two deaths, all in regime-controlled areas. But no one believes either figure, primarily because of suspected under-reporting and known under-testing for the virus.

There are many indicators of under-reporting. Credible reports from health workers and journalists indicate direct pressure from Syrian authorities, including security personnel, to stay silent on the subject. Nationals from countries with a large burden of COVID-19, such as Iran, have been coming to Syria and travel restrictions only imposed recently. Iraq and Pakistan have reported cases imported from Syria. Credible media investigation, mainly through talking to health providers who have asked not to be named for fear of repercussion, indicate there are suspected cases in many localities. Syria couldnt have such a small number of cases when neighbouring countries report many more.

As for testing, unfortunately we dont have reliable figures for scale of testing, but we know the numbers are still small and testing started quite late. In regime-controlled areas, there was initially one testing centre in Damascus for the whole country which is unrealistic. Until recently, portable testing kits had not been available. By March 16, just over a hundred tests had been conducted. This is a very small number in such a dynamic situation. Health providers report that they have not regularly heard about tests sent to Damascus. In the non-regime-controlled areas in the northwest of Syria, testing started only a week ago or so. There is no systematic testing in the northeast of the country as there are no test kits.

Is Syria equipped to handle this crisis? Does it have sufficient ICU with beds? Enough masks, medical material, equipment and personnel?

The answer is categorically no. Syrias public health and health system have been weakened by years of war and conflict that have significantly reduced capacity. Over 40% of health facilities remain partially or totally damaged. In all of Syria today, a study from the London School of Economics estimates there are only 325 ICU beds with ventilators, meaning a maximum capacity to treat about 6500 patients with COVID-19. But the situation may actually be worse. For example, in the northwest of Syria ICU beds already operate at 95% occupancy, a high-efficiency rate, leaving very little room to increase utilization. Beyond beds and ventilators, Syria today doesnt have enough health professionals to tackle a large-scale epidemic. In some reports, half of such professionals have left the number or have been killed or forcibly disappeared. Personal protective equipment is available but not at the scale needed in this kind of situation.

Is Syria in a situation that makes it specifically vulnerable to the pandemic, or, on the contrary, based on the current low numbers, does it have some advantages? For instance, is Syrias rather warmer climate an advantage to limit the spread of Covid-19? Given the fact that the pandemic is reaching it after other countries could it benefit from potentially positive results in terms of medication?

Syria has many more factors of risk for an epidemic than factors of protection against such an epidemic. The role of the climate and other factors, such as part of the country which is the northwest being less exposed to international travel, is probably modest at most and far outweighed by the factors causing severe population vulnerability. This is particularly problematic for some groups including detainees in severely crowded detention centers housing tens of thousands of people, and the millions of internally displaced people suffering from poor nutrition, reduced access to water and sanitation, crowding, and difficulties in implementing measures of physical distancing.

From a public health perspective, we cannot pin our hopes on treatment; prevention is the key to addressing this pandemic everywhere. Should a combination of anti-viral agents prove effective in treating patients in other settings, and this is still hypothetical, Syria will not be able to afford such expensive medications on the scale needed. Only the well-off would have access to such medications, which would increase inequalities. In terms of vaccines for prevention, it will be many months before these are introduced globally and its not clear how countries such as Syria will have access to them as the waiting line will be long. Its now best to focus on WHO-supported prevention and surveillance measures.

How do you see the trajectory of the pandemic in Syria in the coming weeks and months?

Unfortunately, all indicators suggest that there will be many more cases, if not a full-blown epidemic. There will be profound health consequences should this happen in displacement camps, in detention centres and other settings with vulnerable populations. So much so that various humanitarian organizations have been warning of a catastrophic outcome of a major outbreak involving such high-risk situation. It is hard to dispute this. We can use predictive models to help us plan for such scenarios, but we first need credible data about cases, transmission and fatality which is now lacking.

What could or should other countries and organisations (EU, WHO, etc.) do to help the country?

Countries and organizations have already mobilized to help, for example through WHO providing support for testing and delivering testing kits, but much more needs to be done. First, we need an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to allow attention to COVID-19. Second, we need information transparency so credible data become available for use in predicting the course of infections and planning the response. Third, we need to increase testing considerably at the local level, especially through use of portable test kits, to allow detection of more cases. Fourth, detainees and those forcibly disappeared must be released as demanded by Syrian and international human rights organizations. Fifth, we need to address the limited health system capacity. A surge in capacity in a short period of time is a challenging endeavour in any health system, let alone Syria. Nevertheless, if there is a will, there is a way. Whatever steps are taken, local health providers and authorities must lead the way in deciding priorities and best measures to address needs.

Samer Jabbour is a doctor and professor of public health practice at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut. He previously worked as a director for the WHO Regional Office in Cairo. He now specializes in war/conflict and health with a focus on Syria, currently serving as co-chair of the Lancet-AUB Commission on Syria: Health in Conflict (https://website.aub.edu.lb/lcs).

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Syrian Observer.
The search for participants of a religious gathering in a Delhi's mosque which is linked to nearly 400 coronavirus cases has been going on across states in India.

While the search was on in Bihar, 70 foreign preachers were found who have been living in various parts of the state anonymously. While they are unrelated to the Markaz Nizamuddin gathering, these preachers are feared to be in the high COVID-19 risk category because of their extensive travel history.

Reuters

As per reports, the Bihar officials found these foreign preachers in their hunt for members of the Islamic missionary group Tablighi Jamaat, who attended the Markaz Nizamuddin event held in March and then spread out in various parts of the country.



Around 9,000 people, including 1,300 foreigners, have been identified with links to the Tablighi Jamaat.

Of these, 86 are believed to be from Bihar. Most of them have been quarantined in Delhi and one man has been isolated in Bihar, while search is on for the rest.

Reuters

Bihar is also looking for 57 Tablighi preachers, mostly foreigners. Thirty-five have been traced.



The state has so far reported 29 cases of coronavirus. Of the 29 people reported COVID-19 positive in Bihar till date, one has died, while three have recovered.





The deceased was a 38-year-old from Munger who returned from Qatar a month ago and breathed his last on March 21 at AIIMS, Patna, a day before test results confirmed he was COVID-19 positive.

He had been suffering from renal failure and ended up infecting several others, including neighbours, relatives and employees of private hospitals in Munger and Patna before he was referred to AIIMS.
Brussels: The president of the European Commission has broken her silence over a coronavirus emergency law in Hungary, admitting to concerns that it hands Viktor Orban, its authoritarian leader, sweeping new powers.

Until now, Ursula von der Leyen had avoided singling out Hungary for criticism, in favour of urging all EU member states to respect democracy and the rule of law during the pandemic.

Concerned: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Credit:AP

Thirteen EU nations, including heavyweights France and Germany, issued a joint statement on Wednesday that - without explicitly naming Hungary - said they were "deeply concerned about the risk of violations of the principles of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights arising from the adoption of certain emergency measures".

At a news conference on Thursday, Mrs von der Leyen said: "I am concerned that certain measures go too far and I'm particularly concerned with the situation in Hungary."
The Sale of the Consolidated Land Position to Blackrock Gold Has Also Been Completed

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2020) - Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQB: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold") or the ("Company") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc ("Nevada Select") are pleased to announce that they have completed the purchase (the "Cliff ZZ Agreement"), announced February 3, 2020, of seventy-three (73) patented mining claims from Cliff ZZ L.L.C., a Nevada limited liability company (the "Tonopah Extension Claims").

The Tonopah Extension Claims are located in Esmeralda and Nye Counties, Nevada and are contiguous to Nevada Select's current holdings at their Tonopah West Property that now includes 96 patented mining claims and 17 unpatented mining claims. The consolidated Tonopah West land package has been sold under a four-year option agreement to Blackrock Gold Corp, announced on February 25, 2020 (the "Blackrock Agreement"). The closing of the Blackrock Agreement was contingent on the closing of the Cliff ZZ Agreement. Both transactions closed on April 2, 2020.

The Cliff ZZ Agreement

Under the terms of the Cliff ZZ Agreement, Nevada Select acquired 100% of the Tonopah Extension Claims by paying Cliff ZZ $650,000 in cash and issuing 600,000 Ely Gold share purchase warrants. Each warrant will be exercisable into one common share at $0.78 for a period of two years from the date of the Cliff ZZ Agreement. Cliff ZZ will not retain any royalties on the Tonopah Extension Claims.

The Blackrock Agreement

Blackrock Gold Corp.'s wholly owned US subsidiary is acquiring the Tonopah West Project under an option to purchase agreement. The four year option has payments as follows:

US$325,000 on Closing (the " Initial Payment ");

US$325,000 on the 1st Anniversary of Closing;

US$650,000 on the 2nd Anniversary of Closing;

US$700,000 on the 3rd Anniversary of Closing; and

US$1,000,000 on the 4th Anniversary of Closing (the "Final Payment").

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After Blackrock makes the Final Payment, Nevada Select will retain a 3% net smelter returns royalty with no buydown and Blackrock will then pay Nevada Select an annual advance minimum royalty payment of US$50,000 commencing once the option is exercised. The Option Agreement also includes a one-mile area of interest. There are no work commitments associated with the Option Agreement or after the Final Payment.

Trey Wasser, President and CEO commented, "This transaction continues to support our business model of consolidating under-explored districts while generating royalty interests. We consider Tonopah to be one of the best districts in Nevada based on past production and exploration potential."

The Tonopah District

The Tonopah District is an epithermal precious metal deposit of the quartz-adularia type, which may be divided into gold-rich and silver-rich subtypes. The Tonopah West Property is a prominent example of the silver-rich subtype. Some silver-rich quartz-adularia type deposits have significant base metal content, but Tonopah is relatively base metal poor. The only larger deposit of this type known in the United States is the Comstock Lode, a relatively gold-rich deposit, which has greater total production of both gold and silver than Tonopah. The Tonopah District has a historical production of 174 million ounces of silver and 1.86 million ounces of gold.

Corporate Update

The Company also announces that, pursuant to its Stock Option Plan, a total of 1,500,000 stock options to purchase Ely Gold common shares have been granted to certain directors, officers, and consultants of the Company, subject to TSX-V approval. These stock options are exercisable at $0.68 per share and will expire on April 3, 2025.

Qualified Person

Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo, is a director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kenwood has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About Ely Gold Royalties Inc. Ely Gold 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/54115
Getting in touch with your body, spirit and mind is an important way to stay healthy during an unsettling time.

Like many other New Mexicans, yoga instructor Lena Armstrong-Strober is out of work. The studio where she teaches closed in compliance with the states COVID-19 regulations. She has taken to providing her classes online so people can stay mentally, physically and emotionally healthy while being stuck at home. She will be offering yoga classes and meditations on her website on a donation basis at LenaArmstrong.com. Her colleagues at Bhava Yoga Studio are also offering virtual classes through bhavayogastudio.com.

Its called intuitive kundalini yoga, Armstrong-Strober said. Thats what I did for my Facebook live post. Kundalini is really great to redistribute energy throughout the body, and it utilizes breath work, meditation, mantra, postures and rhythmic movements and rhythmic movements are really great for relaxation. Kundalini yoga works on the nervous system. It works throughout internally. It will give you a physical workout, but it will also give you an internal workout

Intuitive kundalini yoga is a well-rounded practice that offers specific sets for the heart, for peace of mind and for stress, as well as sets to eliminate anger and sadness, Armstrong-Strober said. Another practice Armstrong-Strober specializes in is traditional hatha yoga, with positions that many are familiar with, such as downward dog, warrior one, warrior two and triangle pose. Armstrong-Strober suggests people find a yoga practice that is gentle to de-stress and relax during this uncertain time.

Another approach to slowing the heart rate and calming the senses is meditation and breathing exercises.

The left side of the body is our feminine side of our body, and our right side is the masculine side of our body, and that doesnt have anything to do with gender; thats just an energetic balance that we have between the two, Armstrong-Strober said.  If you just came in to do left nostril breathing, you would take your left thumb and close off the right nostril and simply breathe in and out long, deep inhales through the left nostril. I would suggest sitting in a comfortable seated position with the spine straight so you get optimal breath. And then, also an important thing to think about is on the inhale, you want the body to expand the inhale so the belly blows up with the inhale, and with the exhale, the belly goes back into the spine. So if you were focusing on your belly button when you inhale, the belly button would come away from the spine, and on the exhale the belly button would come back to the spine. It will slow the heart rate down. The thing is the mind is always going and always moving, even the subconscious mind, so when you focus on your breath, it gives you the opportunity for the subconscious spots to run their course through the mind and then to be released, so its physically calming and also mentally calming.

Keep breathing exercises short when starting out, and keep track of the time, she said.

Do specific times so that way you can kind of keep track of where you are, Armstrong-Strober suggests. It would be easy to start off with 10 minutes right away, but in a beginning practice, especially with practicing alone, start at three minutes and set a timer so when you are done with the three minutes, mentally scan the body, mentally scan the mind to see if theres been any change.

Creating a schedule for yourself is another way to maintain sanity.

This doesnt have to be the time to drastically reinvent yourself or take up a new career, Armstrong-Stober said. But do create and keep a healthy routine for your days, such as get dressed, bathe, make your bed, keep your house in order, eat healthy, exercise, read and (do) any chores youve been wanting to tackle. Maintain some sort of consistency for yourself. This may sound trivial or obvious, but isolation can cause depression and a way to defeat depression is with routine.
Stephen Goldsmith is a professor of practice at the Harvard Kennedy School and director of the Innovations in American Government Program at the Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. The former deputy mayor for operations for New York City, he previously served two terms as mayor of Indianapolis.

Goldsmith served as the chief domestic policy advisor to the George W. Bush campaign in 2000, as chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and, from 1979 to 1990, as the district attorney for Marion County, Ind.

His most recent book is A New City O/S: The Power of Open, Collaborative, and Distributed Governance, which he co-authored with Neil Kleiman. He also is the author or co-author of The Responsive City: Engaging Communities Through Data-Smart Governance; The Power of Social Innovation; Governing by Network: the New Shape of the Public Sector; Putting Faith in Neighborhoods: Making Cities Work through Grassroots Citizenship; and The Twenty-First Century City: Resurrecting Urban America.
(Newser)  On March 26, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide hit 500,000. A week later, it reached 1 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. Almost a quarter of the casesand 6,000 of the more than 53,000 COVID-19 deathsare in the US. The true number of cases worldwide is believed to be higher, since some countries are suspected of concealing the extent of outbreaks and others lack testing capacity, the Guardian reports. Brendan Murphy, Australia's chief medical officer, said Thursday that he suspects the real figure is 5 million or 10 million worldwide. "The only numbers I have total faith in are the Australian numbers, frankly," he said.

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Some 56% of the confirmed COVID-19 deaths worldwide are in Italy, Spain, and France, the three hardest-hit countries in Europe, the AP reports. In Spain, which has recorded more than 10,000 deaths, there was a glimmer of hope that the outbreak may have peaked when 932 deaths were reported Fridaydown slightly from the record set the day before. Only Italy, with almost 14,000 deaths, has reported more COVID-19 fatalities. The BBC reports that out of the 193 United Nations members, only 18 countries have not reported coronavirus cases. Some of themincluding North Korea and Turkmenistan, which has banned the media from using the word "coronavirus"are suspected of covering up outbreaks. Others are small Pacific islands that have strictly controlled arrivals. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
StageZero Life Sciences Announces Publication of Abstract at American Society of Clinical Oncology

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd (TSX:SZLS) ("StageZero" or the "Company") today announced an abstract entitled "Aristotle: A Single Blood Test for Pan Cancer Screening" was selected for online publication at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology ("ASCO"). The annual meeting will be a virtual event, rather than the originally planned meeting in Chicago IL, over the time period of May 29 - June 2, 2020.

ASCO offers premier scientific events for oncology professionals, patient advocates, industry representatives, and major media outlets worldwide. This is the first step to presenting the Aristotle cancer data to the scientific community at large. StageZero welcomes the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious event.

The blood transcriptome can be used to generate highly discriminative multi-gene panels for disease detection. In a series of studies, we and others have demonstrated that RNA profiles generated from circulating blood can be used to identify patients with a number of conditions, including: lung cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, osteoarthritis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Aristotle has extended this approach and used single subject transcriptional signatures from a single blood sample to simultaneously assay for the detection of multiple diseases in a heterogenous human population.

"One of the major limitations to other multi-class cancer detection studies is the lack of controls with inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. This is of particular importance for an aging population in which many cancers, and other age-related diseases, will be more prevalent" commented James Howard-Tripp, Chairman and CEO of StageZero. "To help circumvent this limitation, our study included control patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, heart failure, irritable bowel disease, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. We believe this is an important consideration for the development of a robust blood-based cancer diagnostic test".

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 discrete 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

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- Captain Daudi Kibati's death was announced by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Thursday, April 2

- Kenya Airways' chief human resource officer Evelyne Munyoki said the entire company was in mourning after the untimely demise of the veteran pilot

- Kenyans also sent their messages of condolences to Kibati's family

- Four Kenyans have died of COVID-19 out of 122 cases as of Friday, April 3

Kenya Airways (KQ) has paid tribute to one of its senior pilots who was killed by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Captain Daudi Kimuyu Kibati died on Wednesday, April 1, after being taken ill on Sunday, March 29, following his heroic efforts in evacuating stranded Kenyans in New York city, USA.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Couple names twins born amid pandemic Corona and Covid

Captain Daudi Kibati died on Wednesday, April 1. Photo: Mwakilishi.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Brenda Cherotich: COVID-19 survivor's father says they will not unite soon despite recovery

The KQ's chief human resource officer Evelyne Munyoki said the entire company was in mourning following the untimely demise of the veteran pilot.

"On behalf of the Board of directors, the management and staff of Kenya Airways, we join the family of the late Captain Kibati in mourning their beloved one and pray that the almighty God will strengthen them during this time of sorrow, Munyoki said.

Kibati's death was announced by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Thursday, April 2.

Netizens also mourned the pilot and TUKO.co.ke sampled a few messages.

"Major Daudi Kibati Capt KQ B787 was a professional pilot who was unfortunate to suffer COVID-19 during cause of his his professional career. May the almighty rest his soul in eternal peace. He was my long term friend and colleague from Kenya Air Force," Charles Mwanzia wrote

"If only Kenya Airways and the government had listened to us they couldn't lose Captain Daudi Kibati. May he rest in peace," Johny Gachanja said.

"RIP Daudi Kibati. We shall overcome this," Fred Njihia penned.

"I have received with shock and sadness the news of the passing on of Captain Daudi Kimuyu Kibati, who rested on April 1," Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka said in a statement.

Four people have died from coronavirus in Kenya since the first case was confirmed on Friday, March 13.

Kenya had recorded 122 COVID-19 cases as of Friday, March 13, with four recoveries.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly

Kenyan nurse applauded by WHO | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
The World Bank has approved its first funds to help some of the globe's poorer countries combat the coronavirus outbreak.

It approved total aid of USD 1.9 billion for 25 countries on Thursday. The largest amount of assistance was USD 1 billion for India followed by USD 200 million for Pakistan, USD 129 million for Sri Lanka, USD 100 million for Afghanistan and USD 83 million for Ethiopia. World Bank President David Malpass predicted the bank could provide up to USD 160 billion in assistance over the next 15 months.

World Bank officials said the emergency resources would include money to purchase critical medical supplies such as masks and ventilators, with the World Bank lending its procurement expertise to help obtain these supplies on global markets. The approval of the first round of support for 25 countries will be followed quickly with aid to another 40 countries, officials said.

In addition to the support effort, Malpass said he and Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, are lobbying the Group of 20 major industrial countries to support instituting a 14-month pause in requiring the poorest countries to make debt repayments.

Malpass said that would free up about USD 14 billion over the next year that the countries would be able to use to fight the coronavirus.

He said the proposal was discussed at last week's conference call with President Donald Trump and other G-20 leaders. Malpass said he hoped it would receive approval when the World Bank's policy panel, the Development Committee, holds a virtual meeting on April 17.

Also read: World Bank grants $1 billion to help India fight coronavirus

Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: PM Modi to address the nation at 9 am on COVID-19 crisis
Nurses say many Oregon hospitals have less than a weeks supply of masks and other protective gear necessary to treat coronavirus patients.

State officials say they are is buying all the personal protective gear they can, but supply shortages mean they cant buy as much as they know Oregons frontline healthcare workers will need in coming weeks.

The number of healthcare workers at major hospitals in Oregon and Southwest Washington who have contracted COVID-19 now stands at 57. Thats up from 31 just three days ago.

Here are the latest developments to know Friday:

JOBS: Unemployment insurance claims spiked again last week, setting a new record for the second straight time. An extraordinary 92,700 Oregonians filed new unemployment claims last week. And a record-long streak of U.S. job growth ended suddenly in March after nearly a decade as employers cut 701,000 jobs. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% from a 50-year low of 3.5%.

CLAIMS: The pandemic has closed all manner of businesses and forced record-setting layoffs in each of the past two weeks. The resulting spike in jobless claims has completely overwhelmed the states system for processing new claims, leaving tens of thousands of people stymied when they try to check the status of their claims or update their information.

CONSUMER NEWS: Regulators are investigating reports that some Oregon retailers used the coronavirus crisis to jack up prices on masks and toilet paper. Facing public backlash, many fitness clubs agreed to suspend billing on memberships during the coronavirus crisis.

CLASSES: Portland Public Schools will resume classes Monday, albeit at a distance and using methods officials say will require continuous tweaks as the coronavirus pandemic upends life for nearly 50,000 students. The state education department told districts throughout Oregon to have their distance learning plans in place by April 13, and Portland goes online a full week before that.

CASES: Two more Oregonians have died from coronavirus, state officials said. They also reported 90 new coronavirus cases, one of the largest single-day jumps since the illness emerged in Oregon. Two Marion County jail deputies tested positive, and now the jail staff in Salem plan to test all 320 inmates. An inmate at a state prison in Salem has also contracted the virus.

RESPONSE: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown confirmed she will call a special session on coronavirus. But she said her advisers must thoroughly analyze what aid the state will receive through Congress $2 trillion recovery package.

HEALTHCARE WORKERS: The number of healthcare workers at major hospitals in Oregon and Southwest Washington who have contracted COVID-19 now stands at 57. Thats up from 31 just three days ago.

HELP: A Portland company is launching a virtual relay race to support Meals on Wheels. The race begins Sunday and will involve teams throughout the country. Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum said he will donate $170,000 to coronavirus relief efforts.

LIFE TODAY: Some Portlanders confined by the coronavirus are preparing to celebrate Passover. So much of Passover is about being in community and celebrating together, and we are not allowed to do that this year," said Rabbi Eve Posen of Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Kochi: Oman Air will operate a special passenger flight today to fly out stranded Omani citizens in Kerala.

A total of 53 Omani citizens who were undergoing treatments in various hospitals in Ernakulam and adjoining districts will be evacuated.

Most of these medical tourists landed in Cochin international airport on March 3 and completed the treatment and quarantine period.

The flight will arrive from Muscat at Cochin international airport and will take off at 14:50 for Bengaluru and then to Chennai to take Omani citizens stuck in those cities.

A meeting of all stakeholders was convened at Cochin International airport and instruction has been given to observe strict Covid-19 protocols while dealing with the passengers.

Oman Embassy in India will oversee the passenger transition. The passengers will be brought to the airport in separate cars and they will undergo mandatory check in process before boarding the flight.

The baggage of the passengers will be disinfected. They have to complete the health screening at the health desk. Seating arrangements at the check in area will be in compliance with the Covid-19 protocol.

The check in process will be for a small group of passengers, maximum five persons per group.
Jane Fonda claims she received preferential treatment when she was arrested during a climate change protest because she is white and famous.

The 82-year-old actress was detained four times last year during weekly demonstrations in Washington.

She revealed that on one occasion she spent a night in jail and used her 700 red wool coat to bed down.

Actress Jane Fonda is arrested by U.S. Capitol Police officers during a 'Fire Drill Fridays' climate change protest inside the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington DC

Before the coronavirus crisis, Miss Fonda and famous friends including Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, Ted Danson and Joaquin Phoenix staged 'Fire Drill Fridays' in front of the Capitol.

She would be arrested and put in a police van with her wrists bound. But she was treated well, even when detained overnight.

'I'm white and I'm famous and I think orders came down from the attorney general to handle me with kid gloves,' Miss Fonda told Elle USA.

Jane Fonda believes she was treated better by police because she was white

She managed to sleep through the sounds of fellow inmates sobbing, screaming and rattling the bars of their cells.

'There was a woman who was very cold and I loaned her my coat. But I did have to take it back  It was my mattress,' she said.

Miss Fonda bought the coat, thought to be from the Canadian luxury brand Mackage, in a sale.

But, in a bid to be eco-friendly, she now says she will never again shop for fashions. On being jailed, she told Elle: 'I have chosen to put myself in this position where I lose all power because of something I believe in.

'And it's incredible.'

The two-time Oscar winner has a long history of protesting, beginning with a campaign against the Vietnam War that in 1972 saw her nicknamed 'Hanoi Jane'.
gettyimagesbank



Hotel Lotte, SK Broadband may delay listings amid recession fears



By Anna J. Park



Due to looming concerns about a global recession led by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's initial public offering (IPO) market has been heavily disrupted. Many major companies scheduled to go public this year are reconsidering whether it is the right time to do so, given the ever-fluctuating stock market and negative economic outlook.



According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), no company has been newly listed on the benchmark KOSPI during the first three months of the year. Since the compilation of related statistics began in 1999, this is only the fourth time that no company has listed on the KOSPI during the first quarter of the year, following three previous cases in 2001, 2013 and 2014.



So far this year, eight companies went public on the secondary Kosdaq, but four of them have seen their stock prices already plunge by 30 percent to 40 percent. The IPO number itself is much lower than last year's 12 companies that went public during the same period. Against this backdrop, over six companies, including SCM Lifescience, NFC and LS EV Korea, have submitted withdrawals from their pre-scheduled IPOs.



"The main reasons why IPOs are canceled or delayed are that first, the stock market indices' range of fluctuations have increased a lot," Park Jong-sun, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities, wrote in a recent analysis on this year's IPO market outlook.



"Secondly, investors' understanding of IPO-scheduled companies remains very low, as various offline presentations have been canceled due to the spread of the pandemic. Lastly, valuations aren't reflected appropriately as (IPO) book building processes aren't proceeding accordingly, with much lower participation by institutional investors," he added.



Despite such concerns, SK Biopharmaceuticals, previously expected to complete all its IPO preparations by the first half of the year, is known to be going ahead as planned.



As the biopharmaceutical company is expected to easily raise more than one trillion won ($ 818 million) through its IPO, it has long been enjoying media attention as one of the major offering this year.



Officials at SK Biopharmaceuticals and NH Investment & Securities, the company's lead manager told local outlets that it plans to complete the IPO process by June this year as planned, although it said it is closely watching the market's moves.



The reason behind the unchanged plan is basically two-pronged.



First, the company has already completed a preliminary evaluation by the Korea Exchange (KRX) at the end of last year, which allows another six months to finish the whole IPO process, although this period can be extended upon request.



Second, the company's FDA-approved new drug Xcopri for treatment of epilepsy is expected to begin U.S. sales in the second half of the year, and the company probably hopes to proceed with the IPO with high hopes for the new drug's U.S. sales.



Kakao Bank is another major company that vowed to continue its IPO as planned amid the market uncertainty. The internet-based bank will list on the stock market as early as the end of this year or early next year. CEO Yoon Ho-young recently told reporters that the IPO schedule hasn't changed due to the pandemic.



The bank boasts a huge number of clients that stands at over 11 million, and the bank has successfully moved into the black in just two years since its launch. The bank official said that while the exact timing and schedule of the IPO had yet to be decided, it will proceed in a way that earns the best valuation of the firm.



Meanwhile, Hotel Lotte's much-anticipated listing doesn't look as if it will be realized this year, as the hotel and travel industry is being hit hard by the pandemic. The company has been pushing an IPO since 2015, but it has been delayed for several years.



The IPO of SK Broadband, an affiliate of SK Telecom, will also be delayed by about another year. SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho announced that the delay was due to COVID-19, when he spoke during the company's shareholders meeting at the end of February.



Korean game developer Krafton is also likely to delay its IPO due to an unsatisfying performance of its new game; and chemical company Taekwang Industrial has also put off its listing until sometime next year.



An unnamed market insider pointed out that the shrunken market situation could continue for the next few years, as evaluations normally consider companies' performance results over the previous two to three years.



He said that companies could delay the listing process further, as they try to avoid reflecting poor performances from this year due to the frozen economic condition.


MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- An 81-year-old man has been charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of his son-in-law.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said 81-year-old Guy Radar shot his son-in-law, George White, twice in the chest during an argument at the Big Point Road home where the two men both resided around 8 p.m. Thursday.

White, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Due his age and physical condition, Radar was booked and then released on his own recognizance from the Jackson County Adult Detention Center.
Nitin Vilecha, also known as Nitin Kumar, has gained success at a young age in Pollywood (Punjabi film industry) and now has his eyes set on Bollywood. Born on July 23rd, 1999, this young lad has already achieved great heights in the fields of music and fashion. However, Nitin is ambitious and thus, has set his eyes on Bollywood.

Armed with handsome looks, Nitin was able to break the stereotype about modelling being the womans world. He has worked with some of the top names in the modelling world like Jon, Opry and Lucky Blue. As a model, Nitin has worked with different brands and organizations, besides remaining a regular part of various fashion shows. He has carved a niche for himself in the modelling world and is now considered one of the top models. People recognize him as a popular face and his followers say that it wont be long before Nitin finds his way into global fashion events too. Here in India, he has been a showstopper for several top brands during some really high-profile fashion events. His association with some of the top brands is signal that he is going to be connected to the modelling world for a long time to come.

However, he was not satisfied with just working in the fashion world despite reaching the zenith. He turned to music industry and stepped into Punjabi film industry, popularly known as Pollywood, with his path-breaking songs.

In a short time, the audience has started recognizing him as a regular face in the Pollywood. Obviously grateful for all this love and adulation, Nitin makes sure that he leaves no stone unturned in giving his best to every project. It is this quality of his that has endeared him with the filmmakers in Pollywood.

So, Nitin may be a successful model with a great innings going on in Punjabi films, he is not one to go slow. This stable model, with good earnings in the fields of music and fashion, is ready to reach out to a new horizon beyond the Bollywood industry.

We hope to see him on the B-town silverscreen soon!

Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content.
THE Government has said any Irish citizen abroad who wants to come home should do so as soon as possible as entire regions are closing airspace and grounding airlines at short notice.

Department of the Taoiseach senior official Elizabeth Canavan said the situation is fast-moving and volatile at the Government's daily Covid-19 briefing.

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The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently assisting over a thousand Irish citizens in 86 countries who want to return home, including large numbers in Australia and around 200 in New Zealand.

What we have seen is not only countries, but entire regions, close off airspace, and ground airlines at short notice. This has led to people who are confirmed and booked flights having them canceled suddenly or refused at airports, Ms Canavan said on Friday morning.

DFA is in contact with airlines and aviation companies to explore possible options including chartering planes as happened for a number of Irish people who were stuck in Peru last month.

But Ms Canavan said it was not as simple as chartering planes. We need permission to enter airspace and regions on the way back to Ireland. We are therefore focused on getting every possible Irish citizen on the shrinking number of commercial flights, she said.

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She said the Department had already worked with the UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands and Spain in efforts to bring Irish citizens home. She advised Irish citizens abroad to contact their nearest embassy or consulate.

At the same briefing, Ms Canavan said there have been around 1,500 calls to local authority helplines which are being run in conjunction with the elderly charity ALONE to help old people and vulnerable to access essential services while they are cocooned at home.

She said that while some home-help hours have been stood down to free up carers to work in the frontline health service, this was for people who have a "lower level of service" or good family support in place. Those concerned about changes to service should contact their public health nurse, Ms Canavan said,

Ms Canavan also said the Garda National Vetting Bureau has expedited 5,5000 applications for Covid-19 workers since March 12, including 2,000 applications from people working for the HSE.

She also confirmed that all visits to the Oberstown youth detention facility have temporarily ceased except in exceptional circumstances.

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They will be much shorter than usual, just 45 minutes each. They will be available to take online at home, or at school if authorities permit. And they will be monitored through security measures to deter cheating.

The Advanced Placement exams will go on, through extraordinary procedures announced Friday, even though the coronavirus pandemic has produced education disruption and chaos nationwide.

More than 2.8 million students last year took the tests in subjects such as biology and world history. Typically the tests are two to three hours long. Those who earn scores of 3 or better on the 5-point AP scale are often able to secure college credit. But this year, it is anyone's guess how many will participate.

Skeptics wonder how students without access to reliable Internet, computers or quiet workspaces will be able to study for these tests and get a fair shot at the possibility of earning college credit. The College Board, which oversees the program, acknowledged the challenge.

"We recognize that the digital divide could prevent some low-income and rural students from participating," the nonprofit testing organization said in a statement. "Working with partners, we're investing so these students have the tools and connectivity they need to review AP content online and take the exam."

But some educators and counselors remain worried.

"I don't want our children, especially first-generation low-income students, to be intimidated about taking these tests," said Sanjay Mitchell, coordinator of college and alumni programs for Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School in the District of Columbia. "I don't want them to risk their health and sanity just to be able to take the tests, so they can ultimately, maybe get some college credit."

Mitchell, whose school serves a significant number of disadvantaged students in the nation's capital, said many of them live in situations where it is hard to carve out the time "to really sit and do this without getting interrupted, without falling into a lot of distractions."

He viewed a College Board online presentation on the testing plan Thursday evening. "It heightened my concerns," Mitchell said afterward in a text message. "And made me more skeptical."

This week, the large and influential University of California system gave a vote of confidence to the College Board's effort to rescue the AP exams. "UC recognizes the effort that students have already applied in these challenging courses and will award UC credit for 2020 AP exams completed with scores of 3, 4 or 5, consistent with previous years," the university said Wednesday.

In a message to high schools, the College Board spelled out Friday how exams will be structured and held.

They will be given from May 11 to 22, with each subject taken on the same day at the same time worldwide.

There will be makeup sessions for each test from June 1 to 5.

Most exams will have one or two free-response questions, and each question will be timed separately. Students must submit answers within the time allotted for each question.

Students will be able to take exams on computers, tablets or smartphones. They can either type and upload responses or write them by hand and submit a photo via cellphones.

There will be special arrangements for assessing students in art, foreign language and certain other subjects.

The College Board said the exams will be "open book/open note," but students will not be allowed to consult others during the test.

"We'll take the necessary steps to protect the integrity of each exam administration, as we do every year," the organization said. "We're confident that the vast majority of AP students will follow the rules for taking the exams. For the small number of students who may try to gain an unfair advantage, we have a comprehensive and strict set of protocols in place to prevent and detect cheating."
Boris Johnsons most senior aide is facing fresh allegations he flouted lockdown rules by taking a sightseeing trip on Easter Sunday.

The prime minister is facing mounting calls to sack Dominic Cummings amid claims he made several trips to see his family in County Durham, while the country was being told to stay at home.

Ministers vociferously defended Mr Cummings after it emerged he had made the 260-mile journey, insisting he had obeyed the rules by staying in one place while there.

However, an eyewitness told The Observer and the Sunday Mirror he had seen Mr Cummings on 12 April, 30 miles from Durham in Barnard Castle.

Another eyewitness said they saw the prime ministers most trusted aide in Durham on 19 April, days after he had been photographed returning to Downing Street.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 November 2021 Migrants are helped ashore from a RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lifeboat at a beach in Dungeness, on the south-east coast of England, on November 24, 2021, after being rescued while crossing the English Channel. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 23 November 2021 The coffin of Sir David Amess is carried past politicians, including former Prime Ministers Sir John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May, Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the requiem mass for the MP at Westminster Cathedral, central London PA UK news in pictures 22 November 2021 The scene in Dragon Rise, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset where police have launched a murder probe after two people were found dead Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 21 November 2021 London-based midwife Sarah Muggleton, 27, takes part in a 'March with Midwives' in central London to highlight the crisis in maternity services PA UK news in pictures 20 November 2021 Police officers monitor as climate change activists sit down and block traffic during a protest action in solidarity with activists from the Insulate Britain group who received prison terms for blocking roads, on Lambeth Bridge in central London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 19 November 2021 A giant installation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson made from recycled clothing goes on display at Manchester Central, as part of Manchester Art Fair, in a 'wake-up call for the Prime Minister to tackle textile waste' PA UK news in pictures 18 November 2021 The scene at a recycling centre in Stert, near Devizes in Wiltshire after a large blaze was brought under control. The fire broke out on Wednesday night the fire service has said and local residents were advised to keep windows and doors shut due to large amounts of smoke PA UK news in pictures 17 November 2021 The sun rises over South Shields Lighthouse, on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 16 November 2021 ancer Maithili Vijayakumar at the launch of 2021 Diwali celebrations at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 15 November 2021 Forensic officers work outside Liverpool Women's Hospital, following a car blast, in Liverpool Reuters UK news in pictures 14 November 2021 Wreaths by the Cenotaph after the Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall, London PA UK news in pictures 13 November 2021 Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is ending his hunger strike in central London after almost three weeks. Ratcliffe has spent 21 days camped outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London without food. He began his demonstration on 24 October after his wife lost her latest appeal in Iran, saying his family was caught in a dispute between two states PA

Earlier, Downing Street had described the first trip as essential, saying Mr Cummings needed his familys help to care for his young son because his wife was sick with coronavirus and he feared he was next.

Cabinet ministers lined up to defend Mr Cummings, saying he had put his family first and accused critics of trying to politicise the issue.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, used the daily Downing Street press conference to suggest that Mr Cummings had not broken lockdown rules because he had stayed put upon arrival in Durham.

But Robin Lees, 70, a retired chemistry teacher, told the papers he had seen Mr Cummings in Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday.

Mr Lees compared him to Catherine Calderwood, Scotlands former chief medical officer, who stood down after visiting her second home twice during lockdown.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have written to Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, calling for an inquiry into Mr Cummingss decision to travel from London to Durham.

They want the probe to include when the prime minister was made aware Mr Cummings had left the capital.

Senior Tories also expressed concern that Mr Cummings's behaviour could encourage others to flout the rules, jeopardising the governments plans to gradually lift the lockdown.

The Independent can reveal that senior MPs are set to question Mr Johnson over Mr Cummings later this week, as pressure grows on the prime minister to explain what he knew about the trip under lockdown.

Parliament is in recess until June, meaning Mr Johnson will not have to face MPs at Prime Ministers Questions.

But members of the Commons Liaison Committee, which is made up of the chairs of other select committees, said they expected Mr Johnson to be questioned about Mr Cummings when he makes his first appearance before them later this week.

Pete Wishart, an SNP MP who sits on the committee and is a member of the "quad" which organises its business, said: If nothing has changed and Dominic Cummings is still in post by Wednesday, it would be very surprising if this was an issue that was not raised.

Another member of the committee said: Im sure one of my colleagues will crowbar the Cummings question in.

In a statement defending Mr Cummings, Downing Street said his trip had been essential to ensure his young son was properly cared for. After an offer of help from his sister and nieces, he travelled to a house near to but separate from his extended family.

A spokesperson for No 10, said: "Yesterday [Friday] the Mirror and Guardian wrote inaccurate stories about Mr Cummings. Today [Saturday] they are writing more inaccurate stories including claims that Mr Cummings returned to Durham after returning to work in Downing Street on 14 April. We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers."

There was confusion about the involvement of police, however. No 10 also said that at no stage was Mr Cummings or his family spoken to by the police.

On Saturday night Durham Police took the unusual step of confirming they had spoken to Mr Cummingss father.

Steve White, the police and crime commissioner for Durham Police, a former head of the Police Federation in England and Wales, said it was "most unwise" for Mr Cummings to have travelled when "known to be infected".

The SNP accused No 10 of a "cover up" after reports some in Downing Street knew Mr Cummings had made the 260-mile journey during lockdown.

Former Tory cabinet minister David Lidington, Theresa Mays de facto deputy prime minister, told Newsnight: "There's clearly serious questions that No 10 are going to have to address, not least because the readiness of members of the public to follow government guidance more generally is going to be affected by this sort of story."

Professor Neil Ferguson, the epidemiologist whose modelling prompted the lockdown, quit as a government adviser for flouting the rules when he was visited at this home by his lover.

At the time Mr Hancock, the health secretary, said he was "speechless" and that he backed any police action against Mr Ferguson.

Sir Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for Mr Cummings to quit over the allegations, while a spokesperson for Labour said: "The British people do not expect there to be one rule for them and another rule for Dominic Cummings."

Asked by reporters on Saturday if he had considered his position, Mr Cummings said "obviously not".
I suppose youve heard that I was abducted. Plucked from pastures green and dragged to the ends of the Earth, across Styx, and past snarling Cerberus. There, it is said, my captor imprisoned me, torn from a life of purpose and beauty.

A crime of nature and a crime against the Gods.

In that version, I was powerless. But history is written by those who would see me as weak; vulnerable to the whims of man. Now it is forbidden to say my name, such power did those who twist my identity possess. My parents are to thank for that.

Have you ever known what its like to have an overbearing mother? My father might be the God of everything, but it was my mother that decided my fate, before I even took my first steps. She is hailed as divinity encapsulated: Goddess of the Earth, beacon of fertility, giver of the harvests, she of the grain. Bringer, bearer, pure. I, however, knew her beyond her illustrious titles as a selfish tyrant capable of puerile tantrums when she didnt get her own way. When I left, she threatened to destroy everything. Millions of mortals would have died were I not to return. Chosen as I was, as the first cry broke from my blue lips, to serve my kingdom for eternity. Is it any wonder that I did not want that predetermined life? Thatnot my descendance to the underworldwas the true imprisonment.

I was intended to stay in the lands above to deliver a plentiful bounty all year round for those that have since forgotten to be grateful; for those that no longer believe in the sanctity of anything. If my parents had known that these same mortals would waste their God-given gifts, I wonder if my mother would have forced me back.

While those above continue to lay ruin to the soildestroying that which used to exist in harmonythose below are judged. As I speak, the realms of Tartarus and Asphodel grow crowded beyond recognition. The Furies have become overworked and some are asking for transfers. Even Eurynomos has had its fill, and corpses have begun to pile up, making its rotting and dank place even more dank and rotten.

Had the Gods not been so generous in the early days, or had I been allowed to stay here for more than half the year, I wonder whether things would have been different. I often speak of this to my love, and while he is not much of a thinker, he listens to my musings, night and day. He nods when I tell him we should find a way to restore the balance and says, Persy, my love, my Goddess, my queen. I know you will guide us when the time comes.

Then we make love in Elysian fields, in the wildflower meadows, the scent of honey and dew-sprinkled grass under our bodies, under eternal daylight, until we cry to the skies in passionate embrace. It is a myth that Hades lives in darkness. A myth that he is stern and uncaring. To me he has only ever been loving and gentle. From the day we first met, I was enamoured and so, I believe, was he. There and then, I persuaded him to let me join him, to open a passage to his home so that I may flee the restraints of my mothers whims.

It is also a myth that my love tricked me when my mother found me. He did not come up with the plan to allow me to remain partly in his world. It was I that suggested it. A simple idea really: a single pomegranate. Its seeds were so sweet, so delicate, bursting with the taste of freedom and deceit. That I had consumed food from the underworld meant I would have to spend half of my life there. It was my little act of rebellion when I heard my fathers messengers were coming to rescue me. My love needed little convincing and we consummated our marriage that night, against cold marble floors amidst the twinkling light of his gem-encrusted palace. His fiery eyes enthralled me, while the sweet red fruit juices still lush and sticky on my lips, transfixed him. It was perfect.

My parents were, naturally, furious. Yet even they could not deny the laws of such things.

Although the laws decree I am to spend half of my life in the land of mortals, I have decided I no longer wish to serve them. The heavens have been too generous, and it is time for the world to be set back to right. People will not only fear to say my name, they will call to me to show mercy; but I dont plan on showing them any until they have atoned for their sins. Why should I keep rewarding a world that doesnt appreciate my presence? A world where mortals commit crimes so heinous that the underworld has run out of space for them.

The Gods have failed to keep order. Poseidons oceans are polluted so that creatures are drowning in filth and waste. Zeus skies and land are toxic, so that soon there will be little left to save. His outbursts and storms do little to quell the mortals greed, and so he has given up his right to exact judgement. Only the underworld has served its purpose and so we must rise. We can bring this world back to balance.

This is the only way. I will ask my love to make another opening in the Earth, like he did when he stole me away from the flower fields during the long Summer. Except this time we will bring our world out of hiding, to burst through the confines of the void below, to break free of our subjugation, and strike. Soon, I will get to spend time with my love forever, instead of for only half of the year. For a time, we will go where we want, wander where we must, and roam the three kingdoms freely.

Together, we will rule and smite the unworthy. When it is time, we may return the world to how it should have been, before mortal hands brought dereliction to it all. Once we are finished, Hades and I shall retire and spend eternity celebrating the spoils of our victory. That is how we will cleanse the world of their crimes. That is how we bring order back from the chaos. That is my Elysium.
It is unfortunate for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to expect that they can live their fairy tale-like dream outside the monarchy when, in fact, they are about to experience a different nightmare.

Following the bombshell reports about Harry and Meghan leaving Vancouver Island for Los Angeles, a famous local warned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that they are now up to face a nightmare.

According to TV personality and LA resident Sharon Osbourne, the royal couple's choice to set up their new home in Los Angeles after they spent months in Canada will not bring them the privacy that they always wanted.

"They actually moved to California...I don't know why, it's just so alien to me to think of the prince living here," Osbourne said during his appearance on the CBS show "The Talk."

She went on and sent another caution, saying that Meghan and Harry will be fed up with the press in Los Angeles as much as how they felt toward the tabloids in the U.K.

Despite leaving the royal family, Osbourne was sure that they will be followed by more press and paparazzi, causing them to live a busier and more public life.

In the end, the LA local expressed her disappointment over the fact that a royal prince ended up in a place like Los Angeles when they could have chosen to move somewhere like Santa Barbara. She also hoped for them to consider moving again to a calmer city to reach their goals.

What's Their Problem With The Press?

Last year, Meghan was named as 2019's Most Unfairly Treated Person in the United Kingdom.

It came after the Sussexes became the target of British tabloids following their marriage. They even filed lawsuits that immensely detailed the libelous acts of the U.K.-based publications harassing them.

Their previous document against those British tabloids tackled several derogatory statements by Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday, including the exploitation of Markle's father, Thomas Markle, the baby shower issue, her relationship with Doria Ragland, and more made-up issues about Meghan and Prince Harry.

These issues also caused them to take a six-week long break last year, a few months before they announced that they would like to step down as senior members of the royal family.

Sussexes' Base Already Prepared Before Megxit?

Even before they left the U.K. for Canada and jetted again for LA, the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes have been so open about establishing their bases away from the royal family.

Last year, TV Producer Nick Bullen said in the documentary "Meghan for President?" that the Duchess wants to give importance to her American heritage by making her son Archie know his ancestries.

Bullen then suggested that the family-of-three will be establishing three bases, including the one in Windsor, California, and Africa.

Rumors like this surfaced when the royal couple said in public that they were eyeing for a second base in the United States after completing their home renovation in Windsor.
Jennifer Aniston surprised a brave nurse during Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Thursday night. Kimball Fairbanks from St. George, Utah had been battling the coronavirus as a nurse, until she ended up contracting it herself. Fairbanks believes she most likely caught the disease while working at the hospital. We have lots of people come in right now and lots of people that are testing positive, said Faribanks. Since testing positive for the illness, Fairbanks has been in quarantine. That means she is unable to see her 4-year-old and 18-month-old daughters. Aniston popped in for a video chat with Fairbanks and to thank her for her bravery and sacrifice. I just have to say, God bless you and all of you that are out there doing what you're doing, said Aniston, I dont even know how to express my gratitude to you guys and everything you are doing. One small way and Aniston and Kimmel were able to express their gratitude was by giving Fairbanks a $10,000 gift card to Postmates. She was also told that Postmates would be donating gift cards to the other nurses on her floor. Fairbanks will be in quarantine until April 8th. She plans on returning to the hospital immediately, to aid in the fight against the deadly coronavirus.

Video Transcript

JENNIFER ANISTON: Hi, Kimball.

KIMBALL FAIRBANKS: Hi.

JENNIFER ANISTON: Hi, honey. It's so good to meet you.

KIMBALL FAIRBANKS: Wow, it's so good to meet you.

- Jennifer Aniston surprised nurse, Kimball Fairbanks, during Jimmy Kimmel Live, Thursday, to thank her for aiding in the fight against COVID-19.

JENNIFER ANISTON: I just have to say, God bless you, and all of you that are out there doing what you're doing. I just do-- I don't even know how to express my gratitude to everything that you guys are doing. And putting your health at risk and all of that, you're just phenomenal.

- Medical personnel, like Kimball, are on the frontlines of the battle against the coronavirus. And unfortunately, Kimball contracted it herself and is under quarantine.

Story continues

JIMMY KIMMEL: So Kimball, what are you-- like, are you cooking for yourself? How are you-- what are you doing?

KIMBALL FAIRBANKS: Oh, man. I wish that I could cook for myself, but mainly, I've just been having food delivered to me.

- Since Kimball sacrificed her well-being to help others, Jimmy and Jennifer thought they could help a little too.

JENNIFER ANISTON: What Jimmy cooked up is that we're going to-- you're going to be getting a $10,000 gift certificate from Postmates.

JIMMY KIMMEL: Yes, from Postmates. But you have--

KIMBALL FAIRBANKS: Oh, my gosh.

JIMMY KIMMEL: --to use it all in one shot.

- Kimball is looking forward to joining her fellow nurses on her floor when her quarantine is lifted. And luckily for them, Postmates we'll be giving them gift cards as well.

JIMMY KIMMEL: Thank you so much, Kimball, for this. And we really hope you feel better very soon.

KIMBALL FAIRBANKS: Gosh, thank you guys so much. Thank you, thank you, thank--
Mumbai, April 3 : The Maharashtra government nipped in the bud a potential catastrophe by refusing permission for Tablighi Jamaat convention in Palghar last month, official sources said here on Friday.

The Tablighi Jamaat is currently in the eye of a storm for the sudden spurt in the number of Covid-19 positive cases and deaths around the country as many have links with the Delhi event.

Last January, before Covid-19 knocked the doors in India, Tablighi Jamaat had sought permission to hold a mega-convention with over 50,000 participants from all over India and the world on March 14-15 near Vasai town in Palghar, around 30 kms on the outskirts of Mumbai.

The clearances were requested by Shamim Education & Welfare Society (SEWS) for the event which would include recitations from the Holy Quran, religious discourses, namaz prayers, discussions, etc., at the Diwanman village in Vasai west.

After discussions among the top district and state police brass, the programme was given a tentative green signal on Feb. 05, when Covid-19 had already entered the country.

However, as Maharashtra came into the grip of the Coronavirus in a big way and the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it as a global 'pandemic', alarm bells started ringing in the state government.

Taking a serious view, the Home Ministry swung into action and on March 6, cancelled all the permissions granted by the local police for the Tablighi Jamaat event.

"We have strictly warned the organisers against holding any such congregation in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemica Now, seeing the chaos all over after the Delhi convention, it appears our timely precaution has prevented a similar situation from developing in Maharashtra," Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said.

The state government's move proved to be a savior as on March 24 Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a Maharashtra alockdown', followed by a national lockdown from March 25 declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He added that the Delhi event's repercussions have shaken the whole country as many of the participants and their contacts have been infected by Covid-19 now.

"If the Delhi home ministry had displayed a similar presence of mind and reacted swiftly, it could have helped prevent the spread and its massive fallout we are now witnessing," Deshmukh said.

Incidentally, though the Palghar convention was cancelled, Maharashtra continues to bear the brunt of the Delhi meet which was attended by around 1,400 from the state.

While most participants have been identified and a few traced, a massive hunt is underway to track the others, while around 300 are in quarantine in different parts of the state including Mumbai.

The first Covid-19 case was reported in India on Jan. 30 which has today shot up to over 2,300, besides more than 55 deaths, and Maharashtra has 423 cases plus 20 deaths so far.
Alabama became the most recent state to enact a stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Gov. Kay Ivey announcing the new measure Friday.

Alabama's order will go into effect Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and is set to expire April 30 at 5:00 p.m.

"We've got to take this order dead serious; otherwise, the fact is more people will end up dying," Ivey said in a tweet Friday.

Residents will still be allowed to leave their homes for food and medicine, as well as for other essential reasons. They will also be able to attend religious services that are limited to fewer than 10 people and have worshipers stand at least six feet apart, according to the order.

Alabama currently has 1,454 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Alabama joins the majority of states  including New York, New Jersey, California and Washington  in mandating people to stay at home as a measure to keep the virus from spreading.

The U.S. has the most COVID-19 cases of any country in the world, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with more than 270,473 confirmed cases of the virus and at least 7,077 deaths.
Big guns fighting the coronavirus These Bay Area scientists and medical researchers are in a race to stop the coronavirus  their collaboration may be the secret weapon. We talk to 10 of them.

Big guns fighting the coronavirus These Bay Area scientists and medical researchers are in a race to stop the coronavirus  their collaboration may be the secret weapon. We talk to 10 of them.

Bay Area doctors, scientists, infectious disease specialists, software developers and molders of public opinion are using their skills to fight the COVID-19 pandemic  sequencing genomes, processing laboratory tests, conducting drug trials, mapping the spread and mutations of the mysterious pathogen.

The research, conducted by top minds in their fields, is moving as fast as has ever occurred during a medical crisis, but those involved say this dynamic collaboration among professionals is what will stop the spread of the virus.

Who are these specialists on the front lines of the pandemic and what are they working on? In a series of exclusive interviews, The Chronicle talked to 10 of the major Bay Area players in the battle against SARS-CoV-2  severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2  or COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, that is killing so many Americans.

Carolyn Calfee

Professor of medicine and anesthesia, UCSF

Dr. Calfee, 46, is a world-renowned researcher of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, a type of respiratory failure that causes fluid to leak into the lungs and is characteristic of severe cases of COVID-19. She is leading a group of experts studying how the immune system responds to the virus.

The Corte Madera resident, who works in the intensive care units of UCSFs Moffitt-Long Hospital, is investigating why some people with COVID-19 develop mild symptoms and others experience inflammation so severe they sometimes die even when a ventilator is breathing for them.

She said the problem appears to be that the virus is attacking the cells in the air sacs that keep fluid out of your lungs, known as alveolar epithelium, damaging them so severely that it takes an unusually long time for them to heal.

With coronavirus, the duration of ventilation is longer than we expect, she said. Its quite slow to resolve, which is why many hospitals are having issues with ventilator supplies.

She also said the intense immune system response by some people sometimes can damage the lungs further.

If we can understand what features of the immune response predict poor outcomes, then we can begin to understand what treatment approaches will work, Calfee said. We need to understand the biology of how this disease works in order to have our best shot of devising treatments.

Her team has been collecting blood and fluid samples from the lungs of COVID-19 patients in an attempt to figure out the exact combination of factors that cause so much damage in such a short period of time.

Every year, we take care of patients who have particularly severe cases of influenza, said Calfee, using as an example the 2009 H1N1 epidemic that killed 12,469 Americans. But the scale and severity of this epidemic is like nothing any of us have experienced.

Calfee grew up in Houston and went to medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. She moved to San Francisco in 1999 and got a masters degree in clinical research at UCSF. She joined the faculty in 2007 and has done extensive research on how smoking and vaping make people vulnerable to ARDS, which she likened to an inflamed, blistering burn scar in the lungs.

Melanie Ott

Virologist and senior investigator at the Gladstone Institutes of Virology and Immunology

Dr. Ott, 56, of Mill Valley, is studying how the virus interacts with its hosts, essentially, the immune systems of infected people. She is trying to determine exactly how the virus goes about hijacking the human cellular machinery and how that process compares with other viruses.

The idea is to find common characteristics in how coronaviruses reproduce  or replicate their parasitic RNA  in a host, determine where this particular coronavirus is vulnerable and develop drugs that can be used to interrupt the process.

The problem we have with these kinds of drugs is that you need to use two or three together to make sure the virus doesnt develop resistance, said Ott, who is also a professor at UCSF. What we want to do is develop one drug that will hit multiple viruses, including some emerging new viruses.

Ott is also working with UCSF researchers on diagnostic tests for COVID-19 that would show results within 30 minutes.

She grew up in Frankfurt, Germany, where she trained as a neurologist, but the AIDS epidemic changed her career path. From 1991 to 1994, she led the ICU unit at Goethe University Hospital, where 90% of her patients were HIV positive.

This was the time when there was basically no treatment, so all of them died, Ott said. It affected me deeply, emotionally.

In 2002, she moved to San Francisco and joined Gladstone, an independent, nonprofit HIV research center in Mission Bay. The institute has since branched out to study other viruses, including dengue and Zika. Ott has focused on COVID-19 since its discovery late last year in China.

One of Otts goals inside the institutes new bio-containment laboratory is to replicate the lung infection that has been blamed for most of the coronavirus deaths.

We are all aware that this is not going to be the last appearance of this coronavirus, Ott said. So, the more we learn about viruses like this one, the more we can fight them.

Yvonne Maldonado

Chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Pediatrics at the Stanford University School of Medicine

Dr. Maldonado, an epidemiologist who has dedicated her career to the treatment of pediatric infectious diseases, is involved in many of the 40 studies on SARS-CoV-2 under way or proposed at Stanford. She is just finishing a study of a nasal swab that would allow people to test themselves.

Its looking very promising, she said of the test, which involves a quick swipe around the nostrils instead of the deep push into the nasal cavity that most tests now require. It would really open up an easy way to do tests on a mass scale.

A member of the schools epidemic intelligence program  a kind of SWAT team for disease  Maldonado is trying to find out how long infected people continue to shed the virus while they have symptoms and after, and understand the different ways human immune cells respond to the infection. She and her colleagues are scaling up a study of an antiviral drug, called favipiravir, which has shown promising results in clinical trials in China.

Were trying to see whether it might be helpful for reducing symptoms and viral shedding for people with mild symptoms, she said of favipiravir, which has previously been used in Japan to treat influenza.

Maldonado is tracking down as many people infected with COVID-19 as she can who are still living at home, and is compiling that data. She is also working with a colleague developing a COVID-19 PCR  polymerase chain reaction  test, which copies genetic material for scientists to study.

Maldonado, of Palo Alto, is the daughter of immigrants from Mexico, grew up in the Los Angeles area and, when she enrolled at UCLA, was the first in her family to go to college. Maldonado, director of infection prevention and control at the Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital, has studied polio and measles vaccines in Mexican infants.

Annie Luetkemeyer

Infectious disease doctor at San Francisco General Hospital

Dr. Luetkemeyer, 48, is the principal investigator in the clinical trial, conducted jointly with UCSF, of remdesivir, an antiviral medication developed by the biotechnology company Gilead Sciences.

The drug was famously touted  prematurely  by President Trump as a promising treatment for COVID-19 after the World Health Organization labeled it as the most promising antiviral during the early days of the outbreak.

Luetkemeyer, who is also a UCSF faculty member, said remdesivir is supposed to disrupt the mechanism that viruses use to reproduce themselves, but it wasnt as effective during clinical trials on the Ebola virus as researchers had hoped. It appears, from in-vitro testing, to work better on this coronavirus, but that hasnt been proved, she said.

As many as five clinical trials are now being conducted, including a National Institutes of Health study of 440 hospitalized coronavirus patients that Luetkemeyer is heading up in San Francisco. She has put at least 10 San Francisco patients on the drug and intends to enroll more as the number of patients rises.

Right now its an IV medicine only, so we are only able to give it to people in the hospital, she said. The majority of people with this disease are not in the hospital, so they cant take this medicine.

A Baltimore native who lives in Hillsborough, Luetkemeyer got an undergraduate degree in American studies at Stanford before attending medical school at Harvard University. She became an expert on HIV and Hepatitis C when she came to San Francisco General for her residency in 1999.

She participated in clinical trials for the Hepatitis C cure that was finally approved in 2014 and studied many treatments that have turned HIV from a fatal disease to a chronic one. She hopes the same can happen with COVID-19.

We have all had to become coronavirus experts, Luetkemeyer said. Not only have we been asked to take care of this disease that nobody has ever seen before, but also figure out how do we treat it.

Art Reingold

Professor of epidemiology at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Dr. Reingold, 71, of Oakland, has been working with the state and Bay Area counties coordinating the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including data collection and tracking of positive cases. He is the head of the universitys epidemiology and biostatistics departments and is launching a study that will test hospital patients to determine what percentage of people diagnosed with pneumonia are also infected with the coronavirus.

His staff is also collecting information about COVID-positive individuals and recording the results for state and local health databases.

Raised in Chicago, Reingold got his bachelors and medical degrees at the University of Chicago. He has worked for more than 40 years researching infectious diseases around the world, including Zika, bacterial meningitis and Legionnaires disease.

He said he got hooked on medical detective work during his eight years at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, where he once tracked a series of unexplained Hepatitis C cases to an oral surgeon.

Reingold is now the director of the CDC-funded California Emerging Infections Program, which spends up to $3 million a year on disease surveillance, vaccines, outbreak detection and response.

He expects a vaccine to be developed, but doubts that COVID-19 will ever be eradicated.

I dont think anybody who knows about infectious diseases will be surprised if (COVID-19) became seasonal, he said.

George Rutherford

Professor of epidemiology and the head of the division of infectious disease and global epidemiology at UCSF

Dr. Rutherford, 67, of Piedmont, has been working with public health agencies in the Bay Area and around the state monitoring the spread of the coronavirus and attempting to determine how many intensive care beds, ventilators and protective equipment would be needed to handle the pandemic when it peaks in California.

He and his staff in the schools biostatistics department have done field studies and other research with the San Francisco Department of Public Health that played a pivotal role in decisions to close schools and businesses, and order people to shelter in place.

Rutherford, who has served as the states epidemiologist and its health officer, said the idea is to provide information that will empower health officials to flatten the curve of infection.

Were trying to take data from China to say, if we do this, what will be the effect on the curve? he said. We are trying to measure what the effect certain actions we take will have.

Rutherford grew up in San Diego, got degrees in classics and chemistry at Stanford University. He went to medical school at Duke and then worked for the Centers for Disease Control before transferring to San Francisco in 1985 to help the city set up an HIV/AIDS epidemiological research program.

He often baffles medical students by bringing up The Decameron, a book set during a devastating 1348 plague by the Italian Renaissance author Giovanni Boccaccio, whose advice during such epidemics was to flee town, go to an isolated place with pleasant people and tell amusing stories  the medieval version of sheltering in place.

Its too early to tell for sure, but by following Boccaccios advice, he said, It appears that we are flattening the curve.

John Swartzberg

Infectious disease expert and clinical professor emeritus at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Dr. Swartzberg, 75, of Lafayette, has largely been the voice for the scientific community about the coronavirus pandemic, using his 45 years of experience studying infectious diseases to get accurate information to the public through newspaper articles and television and radio appearances.

Its critical that we have a voice because were living in a very anti-science era, said Swartzberg, who spends as many as 14 hours a day learning everything he can about COVID-19 and disseminating that information through the media.

Although we dont know nearly what we need to know, we have learned an enormous amount in just two months, he said. I dont think the public realizes what an important role journalism plays.

Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, Swartzberg got a political science degree at UC Berkeley and went to medical school at UCLA and the University of Colorado. He began practicing medicine in Berkeley in 1975 and co-founded the East Bay AIDS Clinic.

Swartzberg claims the United States was unprepared and underequipped to handle the crisis, largely because of decades of underfunding of public health programs. The result, he said, was a shortage of ventilators, protective masks, face shields, gloves and other safety gear, a problem that his own son, an emergency room doctor at Kaiser, in Oakland, has had to endure.

Its really been a horrific thing to see, he said. Weve learned a lot about what happens to society when we fail to fund public health.

Levi Garraway

Chief medical officer at Genentech

Dr. Garraway is in charge of several clinical trials of drugs that could be used to treat COVID-19, including Actemra, which was approved in 2010 as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Some 330 patients at 55 sites worldwide, including 15 locations in the United States, will be enrolled in the trial early this month, he said. The goal is to determine whether Actemra is effective against the overactive immune responses that researchers believe are at least partially responsible for the severe lung inflammation that can kill coronavirus patients.

In some cases, there may be an excessive response, Garraway said. Actemra suppresses an important mechanism that is part of some autoimmune diseases, but we have to make sure it is safe.

He said he expects to see results by the summer and, if all goes well, anticipates the Food and Drug Administration to fast-track approval for public use this summer.

Garraway, 51, of Hillsborough, oversees many of the largest pharmaceutical research projects in the world and is thus a key link in the collaborative scientific battle against the virus.

He was born in Oakland and grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where his father was a plant biologist at Ohio State. He got a medical degree and doctorate at Harvard University, where he trained as an oncologist. He joined Genentech in October.

Genentech and its parent company, Roche, recently provided 10,000 vials of Actemra to the U.S. strategic national stockpile in case the virus gets even more out of control and widespread emergency measures have to be taken, he said. Company researchers are also conducting numerous trials of coronavirus diagnostic tests.

Our partnership with the government and the FDA is going at breakneck speed, Garraway said. Things are changing rapidly and we need to work quickly to fight this pandemic.

Robert Siegel

Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University

Dr. Siegel, 66, is a renowned teacher of virology and an expert on viruses who has followed the spread of COVID-19 since it first emerged in China late last year. He has written and been quoted in many newspaper articles and appeared on radio and television, including Fox News as a countervoice when some pundits were downplaying the virus as little more than the flu.

Siegel, who lives in Palo Alto, grew up in South Florida, came to the Bay Area in 1972 to attend Stanford, where he majored in psychology, got a masters degree in education and then a doctorate in molecular biology at the University of Colorado. He got his medical degree from Stanford in 1990.

Siegel, a teacher who does not do medical research, has wide knowledge of viruses, including all the known coronavirises, and feels it is his duty during this crisis to share that knowledge, not just with students but with the public.

He has attempted to correct misinformation, particularly the falsehood that young people are impervious to the disease. He is a proponent of aggressive, collaborative nationwide action to reduce human interaction, isolate infected people and ramp up testing.

The fact is, we are lacking in our knowledge, at least with this coronavirus, Siegel said. At this point we know it is very contagious, there are many asymptomatic carriers and that it is capable of causing life-threatening disease. Those things together make it reasonable to do everything we can to minimize the impact.

Mo Rahman

Founder of GeneDrop Inc., a San Francisco bioinformatics software company

Rahman, 32, of San Francisco, said scientists use bioinformatics algorithms to organize and interpret the massive amounts of densely complicated genomic and biological data about the coronavirus that is being spit out by supercomputers.

The tool, which combines biology, computer science, information engineering, mathematics and statistics, is used to quickly analyze and interpret biological information in large databases, including polymerase chain reaction, or PCR tests, which allow scientists to study genetic material. It can track gene mutations that would normally go unnoticed, said Rahman, who likened the process to reconstructing a shredded document and then spell-checking it.

The software is downloaded and run by people at research institutions, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCSF and the biotech firm Gilead.

Rahman, who was born in India and grew up in Las Vegas, said the speed with which human genomes can be sequenced and analyzed using these computing tools makes it easier to tailor medicines to a particular immune system, something that may be necessary given how COVID-19 causes respiratory distress in some people while barely impacting others.

The field of bioinformatics is doing a lot in this emergency, and I believe the field should have some spotlight on it, Rahman said. We really believe that bioinformatics tools and this kind of software will allow genetic medicine and personalized medicine tailored to you as a person to become more mainstream.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite
By PTI

PARIS: The new coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 40,000 people in Europe, more than three-quarters of them in Italy, Spain and France, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources on Friday.

With a total of 40,768 deaths (out of 574,525 cases), Europe is the continent hardest hit by COVID-19.

Italy and Spain are the worst affected countries in the world with 14,681 and 10,935 deaths respectively, while France has registered 5,387 fatalities.
Jane Fondas biography includes more stunning detours and radical reinventions than even the most prolific of stars. Its almost ludicrous. Early on, she was an assumed product of nepotism  the daughter of Henry Fonda, cast often for her looks and repeatedly hired for flimsy sex comedies. Yet she was far more interesting than that.

In the years that followed, she served as a restless muse to an oppressive European filmmaker, before transforming into a fully autonomous movie star of unparalleled beauty and screen presence. She evolved further still into a political activist, her feminism, anti-war stances and support for the Black Panthers resulting in her being blacklisted and monitored by the FBI. She has also comfortably held the title of coolest mugshot in the world since 1970.

Just when many had counted her out, shortly after it was revealed Richard Nixon had put her on his personal enemies list, she became a magnet for Oscars, and a Lycra-clad fitness guru teaching America how to stretch and gyrate. Since 2015, shes been a Netflix sitcom star (in the superb Grace and Frankie).

Now 82 years old, Fonda remains deeply devoted to activism  most recently being arrested five times over the course of several weeks in protest over the continued climate crisis. If you were to ask her what shes proudest of, Fonda will likely say her politics, which have always shone a light on the voiceless, even when it threatened her life and career in the process. But its also important to acknowledge her remarkable movie career, staggering range and irresistible hold over the camera.

To celebrate 60 years since her film debut, 1960s Tall Story, weve ranked Jane Fondas 10 greatest performances.

10. Barbarella (1968)

Is it possible for a role to be iconic and brilliant while simultaneously miserable and suffocating? Barbarella, which propelled Fonda to her heights as a Sixties sex icon, was at one point the kind of objectifying nonsense Fonda had to escape from. Its also vaguely icky  directed by a tedious husband, filmmaker Roger Vadim, who only liked Fonda when she was blonde, quiet and pretty, and objected when she found activism. Barbarella is admittedly also very clever, and fully alert to Fondas undeniable sex appeal and magnetism. She mirrors the films pop-art fantasia seamlessly. But she was always better than this, too.

9. Nine to Five (1980)

Curiously, Fonda took on the least showy role in Nine to Five  the seminal workplace comedy that she brought to fruition via her production company in 1980. Her equally revered co-stars, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, receive the lions share of the funny lines, and even Dabney Coleman as the tyrannical boss they hold hostage gets more to work with. But theres a fussy, hilariously prim energy to Fondas performance as Judy Bernly that makes it quietly compelling. It remains a mode she hasnt often played.

8. On Golden Pond (1981)

Giving a richly personal performance in a richly personal movie, Fonda bought the rights to On Golden Pond as a gift to her father Henry. It won him an Oscar, which she collected on his behalf as he was ill (he would die shortly after). It also means the film itself is almost unbearably intimate, tinged with regret and grief, the pair playing an estranged father/daughter whose relationship mirrored their own at the time.

Metatextual: Fonda in Youth (Studio Canal)

7. Youth (2015)

Fonda is barely in this Paolo Sorrentino drama, but its one of her most affecting roles, all the same. In a metatextual cameo, playing an ageing diva whos introduced in a seductive slow-pan and remarked upon as the very picture of radiance and sex appeal, Fonda is sensual, angry and haughtily vampiric. She catapults herself into the film towards its climax, destroying dreams as she goes, and exiting just as quickly. Its a short, movie-stealing encapsulation of her on-screen power.

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

6. The China Syndrome (1979)

One of Fondas many roles that feel symbiotic with her off-screen life, The China Syndrome cast her as a restless news reporter hungry for more substantial stories. She finds one in a conspiracy involving cover-ups within the nuclear power industry. Theres a forceful, righteous anger to Fondas work here, and capped a decade of terrific performances.

5. They Shoot Horses, Dont They? (1969)

The film that made Hollywood finally sit up and recognise Fondas acting talent, They Shoot Horses, Dont They? charts a slow-motion breakdown occurring alongside an increasingly manic dance competition. As one of its participants  each desperate for a jackpot prize that could alleviate the pain of the Depression  Fonda is brittle, headstrong and ultimately bereft of all feelings. The film scored her an Oscar nod  her first  and deservedly so.

What sorcery?: Fonda and Robert Redford in Barefoot in the Park (Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock)

4. Barefoot in the Park (1967)

Fondas character in this Sixties romcom is essentially the blueprint for the Manic Pixie Dreamgirl trope  exhaustingly eccentric young women desperate to fix the stick-in-the-mud men theyre infatuated with. Fonda, though, is so ebullient that it doesnt matter. Bursting with life, vitality and adventure, she is charisma personified. Barefoot in the Park is also a film that, truthfully, trades on the physical allure of its two leads. Has any on-screen pair ever been more jaw-droppingly beautiful than Fonda and Robert Redford?

3. The Morning After (1986)

A psycho-thriller that never really settles on a consistent mode, The Morning After is only really worth watching for Fondas performance. In a role that saw her nominated for an Oscar, she is a never-was actor once billed the next Vera Miles, but who now mainlines beer cans in between being framed for murder. Fonda is all frayed nerves and blackouts here, serving craven desperation, self-loathing and chronic pain.

2. Coming Home (1978)

Fondas Oscar-winning work here is transformative in the least showy way imaginable. She has the mousy brown hair and dowdy shirts of every actor de-glamming themselves to play ordinary, but theres also a tormented banality to her posture, gait and voice. Shes a disappointed wife to a soldier recently deployed to Vietnam, who volunteers at a veterans hospital and strikes up a deep, potentially romantic bond with Jon Voights jaded paraplegic. Fonda is wonderful: subtle, tortured and strikingly believable.

1. Klute (1971)

Klute is the perfect encapsulation of the often contradictory roles Fonda has played on and off screen. Cast as a struggling actor who earns a living from sex work, Fonda is elegant, seductive and fully aware of her own beauty. But she can also switch it on and off like a light, alternating between performance and reality. Then, after shes done with a client, she opens up to her therapist and cries herself to sleep. Theres a neurotic, broken quality to Fondas work here that is incredibly powerful. In what feels like her first real actor performance, Fonda is finally granted the material to show her talent while still maintaining her aesthetic appeal. With her shaggy haircut and long coats, she would become an icon of Seventies cool. In all honesty, though, shes radiated cool in every decade since.
Here is a roundup of articles from news publications in India on how the country is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic  from a proposal for future lockdowns, to mapping of coronavirus hotspots, and how the civil society could aid government response to Covid-19.

Expert Speak How Covid-19 will hit India: Why is India at such a grave risk from the coronavirus? What are the different ways in which the rural and urban India are likely to be affected? And what has the disease laid bare about the long-term consequences of insufficient health systems? Read this interview with ...
Joe Huppman didnt hesitate to answer the urgent plea last month for retired doctors and nurses to help New York fight the coronavirus pandemic in hospitals stretched thin by a surge in patients.

Huppman, 64, of Camillus, volunteered to return to the Syracuse VA Medical Center where he worked as a nurse for 17 years until retiring in 2017. Hes now on standby to help if needed.

If hes called to duty, Huppman and other retired medical personnel like him will be asked to make a financial sacrifice: The Social Security Administration will cut their benefits if they work too many hours, a penalty for exceeding annual earnings limits.

Huppman and others who started collecting Social Security before their full retirement age of 65 will have $1 deducted from their benefit payments for every $2 they earn above the earnings limit of $18,240 this year.

For those who reach full retirement age this year, Social Security will deduct $1 for every $3 they earn above a limit of $48,600.

Im not hurting, but this penalty hurts some of the other people whose income is a lot less, said Huppman, a disabled Navy and Air Force veteran who served on active duty for 21 years. You shouldnt be penalized for trying to do some good.

Huppman shared his concerns with U.S. Rep. John Katko, who wants to change the law as the coronavirus takes its toll on the U.S. and stretches hospitals and first responders to historic limits.

Katko, R-Camillus, plans to introduce a bill this week that would give retired medical personnel and first responders a one-time waiver from Social Security earnings limits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Katko and Rep. Harley Rouda, D-Calif., are hoping Democrats and Republicans will rally around their Health Care Worker and First Responder Social Security Beneficiaries Choice Act.

The legislation would suspend the Social Security retirement earnings limits for retired healthcare workers and first responders who choose to help in coronavirus response efforts.

Katko said the federal government should be incentivizing retired healthcare professionals and first responders to return to work, not penalizing them.

The new law would apply only to Social Security recipients who havent reached their full retirement age. There are no penalties or earnings limits for those over their full retirement age.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said that at least 30,000 former medical professionals in New York have responded to his call to return to work at hospitals and other medical service providers during the virus pandemic.

The state agreed to help expedite the re-certification of former doctors, nurses and other healthcare who might be needed in an emergency.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

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After 18 days in coronavirus quarantine, Syracuse couple wonders: When can we leave?

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Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Impulse Dynamics, based in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, has developed the Optimizer system, a device designed to improve myocardial contractility in patients with heart failure. The system is intended to improve the quality of life of heart failure patients by reducing the severity of their symptoms.

At present, many heart failure patients have few options in terms of effective treatments to reduce and control their symptoms. Medication can help certain patients, but some still experience unacceptable symptoms. Pacemakers, which correct the hearts rhythm, are beneficial for some, but not all patients, and they do not increase the effort the heart puts into pumping blood around the body.

The Optimizer is an implantable device that delivers electrical impulses to the heart specifically to improve myocardial contractility, using a technique known as Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM). The device connects to the heart through two leads that deliver electrical impulses at a specific time during the heart cycle, increasing the systolic contraction of the myocardium.

Increasing cardiac motility can enhance quality of life for heart failure patients and increase their ability to perform everyday activities, such as walking. Approved by the FDA in 2019, the device is now set to undergo a post-approval study to further substantiate safety and efficacy in heart failure patients.

See a video about the device and technique below.

Impulse Dynamics recently raised $80 million to commercialize the Optimizer, and has appointed Ishu Rao, M.D., as its new medical director. Medgadget had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Rao about the Optimizer and CCM.

Conn Hastings, Medgadget: Please give us an overview of heart failure and the unmet needs of such patients.

Ishu Rao, Impulse Dynamics: Heart failure is a condition in which the heart slowly weakens and is unable to pump with the force required to supply oxygen-rich blood to meet the bodys needs. Heart failure affects 6.5 million Americans, and that number is expected to increase to 8 million by 2030. The reason this number is so alarming is because the symptoms of heart failure are truly debilitating and reduce the overall quality of life for the patient. Breathlessness, fatigue, confusion and swelling in the legs are a few examples of symptoms that make everyday activities challenging for heart failure patients. CCMTM, or cardiac contractility modulation therapy, delivered by Impulse Dynamics Optimizer is the first and only treatment of its kind designed to improve contraction of the heart, allowing more oxygen-rich blood to reach the body. The therapy is a new and effective way to address the unmet needs of heart failure patients.

Medgadget: What types of treatments are currently available for heart failure patients?

Ishu Rao: Traditional heart failure treatment options primarily rely on medication to slow the progression of the disease and to manage symptoms, but as heart failure progresses these treatments lose their effectiveness and the quality of life for these patients continues to decline.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an option for a small proportion of heart failure patients to improve the hearts rhythm which may help to improve overall heart function. Even if a patient is indicated for CRT, the delivery and goal of the therapy fundamentally differs from CCM therapy.

Defibrillator implantation may also be appropriate for some patients, but these devices are intended to restart the heart if it stops beating and do not provide the type of symptomatic therapeutic effect that CCM therapy does. If a patient has a defibrillator, they may still be eligible for CCM therapy.

CCM therapy may be an appropriate treatment option for the approximately 70 percent of NYHA Class III heart failure patients who remain symptomatic despite guideline-directed medical therapy. There are millions of people in the world that fit this criterion, with about 1.25 million in the US alone.

Medgadget: How does the Optimizer work, and how does it differ from other electrophysiological treatments for heart failure?

Ishu Rao: The Optimizer delivers CCM therapy, the companys proprietary technology, to the heart. CCM therapy delivers precisely timed electrical pulses to the heart during the absolute refractory period of the beating cycle, just after the heart contracts. The approach was proven to be safe and effective in numerous clinical studies, including several randomized controlled trials, and the results have been published in over 80 articles appearing in leading medical journals.

From the outside in, the Optimizer looks like a pacemaker, but thats where the similarities end. A pacemaker is designed to make the muscle react and contract. Optimizer is delivering therapy designed to modulate the strength of the cardiac muscle contraction rather than its rhythm. There are fundamental differences between the two devices, a pacemaker will deliver less than one volt, the Optimizer delivers seven and a half volts. A pacemaker delivers therapy for half a millisecond, the Optimizer delivers therapy for 20 milliseconds at a time. Additionally, the Optimizer delivers therapy for one hour at a time for a total of five hours a day rather than continuously like a pacemaker does. The therapy is completely unique  there is no other therapy like it.

Pacemakers may be suitable for a small portion of heart failure patients, whereas CCM therapy through the Optimizer system is an effective treatment option for a much larger percentage of heart failure patients.

Medgadget: What types of heart failure patients is the Optimizer suitable for?

Ishu Rao: Optimizer is suitable for heart failure patients who remain symptomatic despite receiving guideline-directed medical therapy, who are in normal sinus rhythm and who do not qualify for a heart pump or cardiac resynchronization therapy. CCM therapy is suitable for patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ranging from 25% to 45% and is indicated to improve New York Heart Assn. (NYHA) functional status, 6-minute hall walk distance and quality of life of NYHA Class III heart failure patients.

Medgadget: Please give us an overview of the upcoming safety and efficacy trial of the system.

Ishu Rao: Impulse Dynamics recently announced the first enrollment in its post-approval study that will evaluate the real-world evidence of the therapys safety and efficacy, which was approved by the FDA in March 2019. The study will take place over three years and will enroll up to 620 patients from heart centers across the United States. Efficacy endpoints include improvements in quality of life (MLWHFQ), NYHA classification, left ventricular ejection fraction and end-systolic volume. Safety endpoints include device- or procedure-related complications, and an assessment of all-cause mortality. Much like a current registry underway in Germany that has already enrolled more than 1,500 patients, this study will continue to strengthen our global clinical portfolio of evidence validating the benefits of CCM therapy.

We are also preparing additional studies that will help further demonstrate the efficacy of this new therapeutic category for treating heart failure. CCM therapy has the potential to become a new standard of care for treating heart failure, and our goal is to continue building the clinical evidence to demonstrate that to the cardiology community.

Medgadget: What types of improvements in symptoms can patients expect once they are fitted with the Optimizer?

Ishu Rao: Patients and their caregivers often feel hopeless about their treatment options as heart failure progresses, and their physical condition deteriorates. This is why CCM therapy represents a tremendous advancement in how health care providers are able to care for these patients.

Patients who successfully respond to CCM therapy can expect to have more energy and simply feel better and less lethargic. For some patients, improvements may begin as soon as the first few days following the implantation procedure and most see improvements in a matter of weeks or months. When providers are treating heart failure patients there is a significant focus on improving quality of life, and that means improving the often-debilitating symptoms associated with the disease. CCM therapy is a breakthrough approach to treating heart failure that is proven to improve quality of life for suitable patients. With more oxygen-rich blood reaching the body, patients can see a reduction in symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, confusion and swelling in the legs. Ultimately, were giving patients hope that they can get back to living the life they love.

Link: Impulse Dynamics homepage

Flashbacks: Optimizer III: Cardiac Contractility Modulation Therapy for CHF; Impulse Dynamics Unveils CE-Marked OPTIMIZER IVs System for Treatment of CHF; First Cardiac Contractility Modulation Device Approved by FDA
The ex-husband of Duchess Camilla, Andrew Parker-Bowles, has tested positive for the coronavirus. He is the latest high-profile individual to come forward to admit his diagnosis amid the world health crisis.

Another Coronavirus Victim

According to the report released by The Telegraph, Andrew Parker-Bowles possibly contracted the virus in Gloucestershire, England while he was attending the Cheltenham Festival between March 10 and March 13.

Upon the confirmation of the former army officer's positive diagnosis, the authorities conducted contact tracing. It was found that Parker-Bowles came in close contact with Princess Anne, the sister of Prince Charles, as well as her daughter, Zara Phillips during the event.

The Palace is closely monitoring the health condition of the other members of the royal family who may have been exposed to people carrying the virus. Unless they show symptoms of the disease, they will not be submitted to testing.

The news of his positive diagnosis came while the 72-year old Duchess remains in isolation as she is considered at high risk for contracting the virus because of her age. Her current husband, Prince Charles is currently in recovery after suffering from minor symptoms of the coronavirus.

Parker-Bowles and the Duchess of Cornwall share two children Tom, 45, and Laura, 42. They have been together for 20 years before they decided to end their marriage in 1994.

In 2005, Camilla got married to Prince Charles.

The Prince Of Wales In Recovery

On March 25, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the heir to the throne has contracted the virus. The 71-year old prince was submitted to the coronavirus testing when he showed minor signs of the flu. After seven days in isolation, The Clarence House released a video of the prince sending an important message to all.

He announced that he was feeling so much better and that the symptoms that he felt were now subsiding. In the 4-minute video, the prince talked about the realizations he has had of the big changes in the world every day.

The Prince of Wales also sent out a message of solidarity amid the coronavirus pandemic. He encouraged everyone to stay in their homes and practice self-isolation. The heir to the throne also expressed his deepest gratitude to all the frontline workers, recognizing their effort to continue serving the public despite the threat to their own safety.

Camilla, on the other hand, tested negative for the coronavirus. However, "Reuters" reports that the Duchess of Cornwall will remain in isolation until the end of the week in case she shows minor symptoms of the disease.

As of Thursday morning, the number of people who have contracted the novel coronavirus has reached 951,901 people across 180 countries all over the world. It has also claimed 48,281 lives. To date, the United States of America is on top of the list of countries with the most victims of the coronavirus.

The fight against this deadly virus continues and everyone is asked to stay in their homes. Self-isolation and community quarantine will help prevent the spread of the virus. In the long run, it will help save lives.
T hese pictures show the inside of Britains first emergency field hospital in the fight against coronavirus.

Pictures from inside NHS Nightingale, based at the ExCel conference centre in Londons Docklands, show the scale of the crisis.

In only nine days, the 87,328 square metre venue - which usually hosts corporate and music events - has been transformed to house more than 80 wards, each with 42 beds, initially taking on 500 sick patients but has capacity for 4,000.

Others are being built in Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast, Bristol and Harrogate.

Prince Charles will officially open London's Nightingale on Friday morning while thanking those who worked "tirelessly" to build it.

Special look inside the NHS Nightingale Hospital - In pictures 1 /20 Special look inside the NHS Nightingale Hospital - In pictures The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle Portrait of Matthew Trainer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The map of the identical layout of each ICU station on the wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle Portrait of Dr Alan McGlennan, Medical Director of the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre, Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle

Around 200 soldiers a day were drafted in with NHS staff and more than 160 contractors to construct the giant medical hub, often working 15-hour shifts.

It will be managed by eight senior staff from hospitals and trusts across the capital, but if it swells to capacity 16,000 doctors, nurses and volunteers will be needed.

The nursing team will also be sourced from other local centres, while 750 St John Ambulance volunteers and Easyjet and Virgin cabin crew have been urged to join the effort.

Matt Writtle

The hospital will only take on the most critical Covid-19 patients, who are already on ventilators, and pharmacies and therapy treatment will also be available.

Temporary generators and oxygen tanks have been set up and the ExCel centres electrical system modified to ensure the infrastructure can cope with demand.

A mortuary has also been built, with additional morgues set up at Wanstead Flats, in the Manor Park area of Newham, to deal with a looming surge in deaths.

Matt Writtle

It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock vowed to increase Englands testing capacity to 100,000 a day by the end of April, following criticism for lagging behind other European nations.

Mr Hancock, who has just recovered from the pretty unpleasant disease, said cases will peak in the coming weeks.
Samsung Electronics said on April 3 that it has suspended its home appliance factory in the United States after two of its workers had tested positive for coronavirus.

The South Korean tech giant said its facility, located in Newberry County, South Carolina, is being "thoroughly cleaned and sanitized," and will resume operation on April 5.

Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: After doctor, 2 nurses test COVID-19 positive at Delhi Cancer Institute

Also read: Delhi Government launches COVID-19 helpline on WhatsApp to provide credible information to citizens
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has met with a group of ambassadors of the NordicBaltic countries to Ukraine to discuss cooperation in various sectors of the economy and address the challenges facing the world due to the spread of coronavirus.

Coronavirus is a major challenge for the whole world. But as the Government, we intend to continue reforms and do not plan to change our path. In particular, it concerns decentralization reform, public administration reform and health care reform, Shmyhal said, the Government portal informs.

He thanked the diplomats for the support to Ukraine and informed about the steps, which the Government of Ukraine took to counteract the spread of coronavirus. In particular, more stringent restrictive measures will be imposed in the country from April 6 for the quarantine period. The Prime Minister noted that the decision was based on the experience of European countries.

The Ukrainian side also raised the issue of prevention of easing of sanction pressure on the Russian Federation due to the coronavirus epidemic.

The parties also agreed to deepen energy cooperation.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to Ukraine Tobias Thyberg, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway to Ukraine Ole T. Horpestad, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland to Ukraine Paivi Maarit Laine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine Kaimo Kuusk, Minister Councellor of the Embassy of the Lithuanian Republic in Ukraine Tadas Valionis, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Ukraine Edvins Severs, and Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko attended the meeting.

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PORTLAND, Ore.  Today Governor Kate Brown today announced the launch of the Coronavirus Small Business Resource Navigator, which will help connect small businesses to financial support and information they need to stay in business through the COVID-19 crisis.

My goal is to connect thousands of Oregons small businesses with the federal, state, and local financial support available to small businesses dealing with the impacts of COVID-19, said Governor Brown. There are potentially billions of dollars available from the CARES Act, and I want Oregon businesses to get their fair share.

Business Oregon will lead the new Small Business Resource Navigator, with support from several state agencies including the Oregon Employment Department, the Oregon Secretary of State, and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.

The Resource Navigator will include a hotline and a website containing comprehensive information on key programs for small businesses, available at HERE, with access to:

Small Business Association programs established by the recently passed federal CARES Act, including: the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and Debt Relief programs

State of Oregon programs, including the Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund

Local government programs, such as the South Central Oregon Economic Development Development District Economic Relief Loan Fund for Small Businesses

More information on the Resource Navigator is available HERE.
A man wearing a protective face masks reads a newspaper in the Harlem neighborhood of New Yok on March 31, 2020. The coronavirus pandemic dominates nearly all news, and all conversation, in New York. (Stephen Speranza/The New York Times)

Michael Wilson

A New York City Housing Authority retiree ticked off his running tally: an ex-wife sick, a daughter sick and three old friends dead. In Queens, a young poet learned a friends parents are in the hospital, one on a ventilator.

And Qtina Parson of Parkchester, the Bronx, gave a grim reversal of the cheerful family updates one expects from the proud mother, sister and aunt that she used to sound like just a couple of weeks  a lifetime  ago.

My nephew  sick; hes 28, she said. Him and his girlfriend. My sister-in-law, shes 46; she had it.

Her son, Marcus Parson, 18, is with relatives in South Carolina, where he has developed a fever and a cough.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

But hes out there cutting grass, she added, as if saying this aloud would make it true: Im telling him its his allergies.

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

New Yorkers have watched in helpless fear as the coronavirus, with dizzying speed and ferocity, truly took hold of the city in recent days. With more than 1,500 dead, many have already lost someone in their circle  a co-worker, an old friend from high school, the parent of a childs classmate. The parish priest, the elderly neighbor upstairs. A mother, a father.

Almost everyone now knows someone who is sick.

The story is told in the numbers: There were nearly 52,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections in New York City as of Thursday. But the reality of its reach is far worse  one study of cases in China suggested that up to 10 times the people who have tested positive may be infected, which could make the true number in the city close to a half-million. And the apex is believed to still be weeks away.

The rising numbers have conversely shrunk the private worlds of some 8 million individual people. It is as if the microscopic enemy, once an abstract nuisance to many, something happening someplace else, seemed to be closing in, its arrival announced with the now-constant peal of the ambulance siren.

If the pandemic can be thought of as playing out in weeks  the week the restaurants closed, the week schools closed, stores closed  this has been the week its true grip was felt throughout the city.

It is the great equalizer, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday at a briefing. I dont care how smart, how rich, how powerful you think you are. I dont care how young, how old.

To many, the rules of engagement suddenly changed this week.

They were saying, just if youre immunocompromised, said M. Marbella, 27, a poet and writer who recently learned that a friends parents were both in the hospital. Now everyones dropping like flies.

The speed could make it feel unreal. A person who enjoyed dinner in Manhattan before attending a Broadway show exactly one month ago could today be sick, mourning a family member, out of a job or all of the above. There was next to nothing to compare it to; thousands lost a loved one on Sept. 11, 2001, but those losses arrived in a single terrible day, in an instant. Some reached further back to find a comparison, to World War II or the Spanish flu of 1918 or beyond.

Its like the plague from England from the 14th century, said Max Debarros, 67, in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

It is a plague playing out not only on the streets but also on the screens, racing through peoples Facebook accounts and Twitter feeds as old friends and friends of friends announced personal losses. The threat seems to be everywhere.

Every day on social media, we see someone new, said Audrey Cardwell, 30, of Sunnyside, Queens.

At first sceptical of the outbreaks potential  it felt like fear mongering  she now seeks ways to address the anxiety she feels, through meditation and walks with her dog.

I have to monitor how much Im reading and scrolling, she said.

Likewise, Leora Fuller, 33, of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, who said two of her students at Rutgers University-Newark had been hospitalized, is focusing more on friendships and her own well-being.

Real care, she said, like not, Oh, Im going to buy something for myself.

Other means of coping play out across the city. Aurelio Aguilar, 36, at work in a bodega on the Lower East Side, drinks a concoction of ginger, lemon and mashed garlic, his grandmothers recipe to boost the immune system. In Fort Greene, Aidan Sleeper, 36, carries a homemade mix of 30-to-1 water and bleach and sprays every doorknob hes about to touch.

In Long Island City, Queens, Glenn Harris, 54, celebrated a birthday last week with 20 friends on the videoconferencing platform Zoom  people from all over the country, he said. At the same time, Andy Arroyo, 35, planned for the worst and spoke of the gun hes owned since Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012.

It may seem like an overreaction, but you really cant predict how people will act during desperate times, said Arroyo, who lives in Port Chester, in Westchester County, and was on the way to a potential job in the Bronx. I need to make sure myself and my loved ones are safe.

Americans overall, not just in large cities, are feeling the arrival of the coronavirus in their own lives. A Civiqs/Daily Kos poll this past week asking 1,505 adults in the United States about the pandemic found that 13% had been infected or knew someone who had and that 60% worried they would become sick.

The coronavirus was an abstract concept to Cat Harper, 59, in the Bronx, until word arrived that members of her familys church in Long Island City were becoming ill. Then, her sister began coughing, and it wouldnt go away.

Her sister tested positive and was admitted to Montefiore Medical Centre several days ago.

I was starting to get scared that I might not get to see her ever again, Harper said.

She called, but many days later her sisters throat was so sore she could barely speak.

She was seeing all the other people around her, a lot of them way sicker than she was, Harper said. She was probably thinking that would happen to her.

Instead, she recovered and was released to quarantine at home. Other families have had much worse outcomes.

There are people that are close to me, that I know, who are sick, said Angelo Alston, 60, a retired employee of the New York City Housing Authority. My ex-wife. My daughter. A friend of mine in Georgia that I grew up with passed away. Two other friends that I grew up with also passed.

He moved to Pennsylvania years ago but was back in the city after the death of a stepson from a non-viral medical condition  a terrible loss at any time, but now also a threat, bringing family back to the city to claim his remains.

Im trying to get out of here, he said.

In Fort Greene, Blair Smith, 35, was already dealing with a sick relative when she ran into a neighbour with bad news about a handyman, Jorge, whom they both knew. He had just died.

Oh, my God, she said. Its like watching a storm, and youre just watching for that moment when it really hits.

Dion Faria, 44, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, was more annoyed than afraid when he was forced to keep his club on Pacific Street closed. Now, with Facebook friends of friends getting sick and a viral video of bodies being loaded into a refrigerated truck outside a city hospital, he finds himself imagining a time after this one.

Hopefully, the gates open, he said on his stoop, and we all go back to living.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
ILION, N.Y. -- Neighborhoods are showing support to healthcare workers in a special way -- by tying blue ribbons to telephone poles, street lamps and houses.

This first started in the town of Ilion, but the inspiration was spread to Utica. On Richardson Avenue, off of Genesee Street in South Utica, these blue ribbons line the street.

Pauline DiGiorgio has been a resident on Richardson Avenue for over three years, and is a brand ambassador for CoreLife Eatery.

"We started putting up blue ribbons on the telephone poles to acknowledge everybody that's working in the hospitals and the medical care. We really appreciate them," she said. "Just something little so when they're driving by or other people see it, they see that we care and we appreciate them. We know that they're risking a lot really trying to help the community."

DiGiorgio also has a friend in the medical field that also inspired her to display the ribbons.

"I have a friend, her name is Kara. She works at St. Luke's and she's working really hard. She's always on call. I really appreciate her and everyone out there that's working hard for us in the healthcare field," she said.

These ribbons honor first responders, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers.
The Australian Theatre for Young People has failed to secure crucial long-term federal funding from the Australia Council, potentially jeopardising the company's plans to call the new Walsh Bay arts precinct home.

The national youth theatre company, which is the alma mater of Rebel Wilson and Rose Byrne, plus The Song Company and the online literary journal, Sydney Review of Books, are among 49 arts companies and institutions told on Friday they will lose four-year funding from 2022.

Providing drama education for schools and creating original stage productions, the ATYP will instead receive 70 per cent of its operational funding in 2021 before losing funding in 2022, the same year it was to have moved into Piers 2 and 3 alongside Bell Shakespeare and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

ATYP alumnus Rebel Wilson.

The Song Company, the nation's only professional vocal ensemble, has also been defunded from 2022. It was rescued from administration last year by an anonymous donor.
Hong Kong Police Get to Decide When to Take Data From Arrestees' Phones

2020-04-02 -- Hong Kong's High Court ruled on Thursday that warrantless searches of arrestees' cell phones could go ahead, as long as a full account of the search was made.

The decision overturned an October 2017 ruling in a case involving pro-democracy activists, which said police could only scan arrestees' phones in "exigent circumstances," meaning emergencies involving an imminent threat to the public or to police officers.

But three High Court judges found on Thursday that no warrant should be required to search cell phones in any other situation, if obtaining a warrant wasn't "reasonably practicable."

Instead, officers only needed to show that they had "a reasonable basis for having to conduct the search immediately," which could include the need to investigate a suspect or to preserve evidence that could be of use elsewhere.

Police first started scanning data on people's cell phones in Hong Kong during the 2014 pro-democracy movement, after seizing them from five protesters arrested during a July 1 rally.

The first case involving phone data came to court after the five challenged the admissibility of phone data obtained without a warrant.

Thursday's judgment stated that, although the power would interfere with the arrested person in Article 30 of the Basic Law and Article 14 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, the power to authorize the police was still "proportional."

It also ruled that refusing to hand over your phone password didn't constitute obstruction of police in the course of their duties.

Vague ruling gives police wide leeway

Civic Party lawmaker Alvin Yeung said the ruling was vague enough to give police huge scope to interpret exactly in what circumstances it would be permissible to scan someone's phone.

"There have been a number of cases [involving phone data] in the past 10 months," Yeung said. "Some young people wearing black [the color of the protest movement] have been stopped on the streets by police, who threatened them with charges of obstructing a police officer if they didn't switch on their phones."

"Even if the police have the power to do this, will they use it in a reasonable manner?"

"There are plenty of real-life examples proving that the police don't respect the rules, or are abusing their power," he said. "The court has now handed the power to decide what constitutes reasonable circumstances to the police, which makes the situation far worse than it was."

Alan Wong of the Progressive Lawyers' Group agreed, saying the vagueness around the concept of a "reasonable" justification was worrying.

"I think the biggest concern is that the police will go through someone's phone if it's not locked," Wong said. "What exactly constitutes a reasonable basis? It's very vague, and open to debate."

"Such a thing can be very subjective," he said.

Police are bringing more than 600 protest-related prosecutions dating from the anti-extradition and pro-democracy protests that began in June 2019 on a range of charges including "unlawful assembly, assault, arson and rioting.

More than 7,700 people have been arrested since the movement began.

In March 2020, the U.S. State Department issued an annual report that cited political arrests of Hong Kong activists as part of a bid to discourage protesters and keep numbers down, as well as "multiple sources" saying that Chinese state security agents were monitoring political activists and academics critical of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

The report found that the authorities, whether in Hong Kong or Beijing, had "restricted or sought to restrict the right to express or report on dissenting political views, particularly support for Hong Kong independence."

It said the prosecutions of activists and refusals to grant approval for some assemblies had infringed on the rights of Hongkongers to peaceful assembly and protest.

Rights groups have also hit out at the Hong Kong police for using excessive force to disperse crowds or arrest individuals suspected of participating in violent protests on several occasions.

The U.N. Human Rights Office has said there is "credible evidence" the Hong Kong police had "employ[ed] less lethal weapons in ways that are prohibited by international norms and standards" when conducting crowd dispersal operations.

Reported by Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  The Quezon City government said Thursday night that the total number of COVID-19 cases in the city has spiked to 464, according to the Department of Health.

The total number of cases with complete addresses in Quezon City is 310, while the number of validated cases by the QC Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit is only 174.

The city health department said that they still need to validate the data given by the DOH.

There are now 33 fatalities in the city, after six additional deaths were recorded Thursday. On the other hand, there are now 14 recoveries.

The Quezon City government is implementing an extreme enhanced community quarantine in 18 barangays, namely Tandang Sora, Kalusugan, Ramon Magsaysay, Maharlika, Tatalon, Batasan Hills, Pasong Tamo, Central, San Roque, Paligsahan, Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, South Triangle, Culiat, Bahay Toro, E. Rodriguez, San Isidro Labrador, Matandang Balara, and Teachers Village West.

The Health Department has now recorded 2,633 cases Thursday, including 107 deaths, and 51 recoveries.

Eight in ten, or around 80 percent, of infected patients experience "mild illness" and eventually recover from COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization. Some 15 percent experience severe illness while 5 percent were critically ill, the WHO said.

To prevent the spread of the virus, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who exhibit virus symptoms.
Delhi health department authorities wrote to the city police commissioner on Thursday, seeking deployment of adequate security personnel at the hospitals designated for COVID-19 treatment and the quarantine facilities in the national capital.

In a letter to the police chief, Delhi Health Secretary Padmini Singla said the coronavirus patients brought from the Markaz in the Nizamuddin area and some other patients were triggering a "law-and-order problem" and "commotions" in hospitals.

It said those who had congregated inside the mosque were brought out in a "massive exercise" held from March 30 to April 1, 536 of them were sent to various hospitals after they showed symptoms and 1,810 were sent to quarantine facilities.

One person from the Markaz, who was admitted at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, "attempted suicide", but was saved by the hospital staff, the letter said. Two other inmates at a quarantine facility in Narela had escaped and were tracked in Patparganj, Singla said in the letter.

During an interaction over a video link with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday, a senior doctor had also said that the patients brought from the Nizamuddin Markaz were "not cooperating" with the medical staff.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the national capital nearly doubled to 293 on Thursday from the 152 on Wednesday, with 141 fresh cases reported in a day, according to Delhi government authorities. Two more deaths were reported on Thursday, taking the COVID-19 toll in Delhi to four.

These cases include 182 people who took part in a religious congregation in the Nizamuddin area last month, the Delhi health department said in a statement.

"In view of the above, I am directed to request you to deploy adequate police force at all the quarantine facilities and hospitals as per the list enclosed with the letter," Singla said.

The listed hospitals are LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital and the isolation facilities at AIIMS, Jhajjhar, besides seven quarantine facilities across Delhi.

Also read: Coronavirus: Centre asks states to ensure smooth disbursement of PM-GKY funds

Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Country's active COVID-19 cases rise to 2,088 ; death tally at 56
This is the unavoidable dilemma of the coronavirus for Australia: it is a health and economic crisis with the added complication of international relations. Nothing about the Chinese or American responses so far should inspire confidence in our dealings with either country in the future. Chinas culpability is established for all the world to see. So too is American incompetence. The coronavirus got its head start on humanity because of the inexcusable delays in Chinas response to the initial outbreak in Wuhan, the countrys ninth-largest city. The virus was already in Iran and Europe when Beijing admitted its deadly mistake. Trump arguably took longer than Beijing to accept reality. The virus, which he said was just one person coming in from China, which would magically disappear, is now, on the analysis he released this week, projected to kill more than 200,000 Americans. Beijing and Washington have been sniping since the crisis began in January. Great power rivalry and pettiness have mixed in equal measure.

Writing in Time magazine this week, foreign affairs editor Ian Bremmer said relations between the two superpowers had reached their lowest point since the immediate aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre in June 1989. Both countries have suffered large-scale loss of life and a sharp economic slowdown, but political officials in both countries are working to protect their own domestic standing by blaming the others government. Trump has taken to calling COVID-19 the 'Chinese virus', while senior Chinese officials and state media have pushed a ludicrous theory that the US created the virus and planted it in China last fall. Loading It is fast becoming the most shocking thing about this crisis. These two behemoths, commanding almost 40 per cent of the worlds economic output between them, passed up the opportunity to co-operate. Instead, they chose to continue a form of global politics as usual, placing countries like Australia in the pincers of their mutual insecurity. COVID-19 is reversing all the rules of domestic and international governance. At home the pro-market ideologies of the past 40 years have been buried in a matter of days. But nativism continues to drive relations between nations. The Coalition government has accepted the need for not just record levels of stimulus, but an historic investment in Australias social safety net. Morrison, reluctant at first, is now an unashamed interventionist. He is responsible for a doubling of the dole, a six-month wage guarantee for workers and sole traders, and free childcare. The word is overused in this crisis, but there is no precedent for either the scale or the speed of these decisions. The two-man government Gough Whitlam ran with Lance Barnard immediately after the 1972 election, once regarded as the benchmark for radical change, now looks like a box-ticking exercise because it implemented the easiest parts of Labors program which required no spending. Morrison had his socialist mandate rewritten for him by the pressing needs of the crisis. Other countries, even the US, have already gone down the same path.

But the urge for collective action at home is more than offset by the global blame game. Beijing no doubt senses an opportunity to reshape the world in its image while Washington is consumed by the pandemic. It is a brazen but understandable move. Trump had already ceded Americas global leadership role by choice before the crisis began. The Chinese are taking the opportunity to fill the soft power void. With the outbreak more or less contained in China, Beijing is sharing medical experience and equipment with the rest of the world. Even as the two sides bicker, planeloads of supplies from China are gratefully received by the US. President Xi Jinping visits the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in eastern China. Both the government and central bank are moving furiously to refloat the economy. Credit:AP But predictions of American demise and Chinese supremacy may be premature. The other dimension of this crisis is the question of trust. While leaders at a national level may be restoring it with the revival of big government, the pandemic has accelerated global distrust in the two men who are competing to rule the world.

Last years Lowy Institute Poll found trust in China and the US was already at very low levels. Only 30 per cent of Australians have confidence in Chinas President Xi Jinping to do the right thing in world affairs, a 13-point drop since 2018. One-quarter of Australians (25 per cent) have confidence in US President Donald Trump, a five-point drop from 2018, the poll found. Loading Pew Research found the same thing in their latest global poll, released in January this year, before the coronavirus struck. It asked the same question as Lowy, but across 32 countries. Attitudes to five leaders were tested: Trump, Xi, Germanys Angela Merkel, Frances Emmanuel Macron and Russia's Vladimir Putin. It will annoy the US and Chinese presidents that they both ranked behind Putin. Almost half of those surveyed (46 per cent) had confidence in Merkel, 41 per cent had confidence in Macron, 33 per cent in Putin, 29 per cent in Trump and 28 per cent in Xi. For Australia, the promise of a benign 21st century, in which healthy competition between China and the US guaranteed both our prosperity and security, probably ended before the pandemic. The line can be drawn at the global financial crisis in 2008-9. Before then, Washington was prepared to accommodate Beijings rise in the joint interest of commerce. After it, the Chinese began pressing more confidently for advantage. The turning point was the construction and then militarisation of islands in the South China Sea in 2013. As the Lowy Institutes Richard McGregor chronicled in his book Xi Jinping: The Backlash published last year, countries like the US, Australia, Germany and Singapore have all tried to push back [in] their own way. There is a delicate balance to be struck once the pandemic passes, between re-engagement and a new form of Australian aloofness. The world cant be the same as it was, because nations will practice a form of self-isolation for a number of years to come. They will want to avoid both reinfection and the loss of sovereignty through dependency on others for basic supplies. This will reduce both the flow of people and goods around the world.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-03 09:02:02

Access to online medical care eases some of the pressure currently facing UK healthcare providers

To ensure that as many patients as possible can get access to healthcare advice during the COVID-19 crisis, Top Doctors is offering its e-Consultation service free of charge to doctors across the country

In the last two weeks, almost six times more doctors have requested access to the e-Consultation platform

The platform is fully encrypted and GDPR-compliant, meaning patient data remains secure and private

Top Doctors offers free e-Consultation to Doctors During the COVID-19 Crisis

Contact for press

Top Doctors Content Team

content@topdoctors.co.uk

Telephone +44 203 900 4330



Ricky Broughton

Ricky.broughton@axicom.com

+44 7552 212026

Top Doctors, a leading provider of online services for the private medical sector, today announced that it will make its e-Consultation service available for free to all medical professionals throughout the UK for the next two months. The service connects leading doctors and healthcare specialists with patients, providing real time medical advice, and helping to reduce congestion at a time when hospitals and medical centres are postponing regular health check-ups and appointments.

Using the e-Consultation platform, patients will be able to make appointments and get advice from leading medical specialists at any time, via a private messaging or video conference service; all available 24/7, 365 days per year. e-Consultation is fully encrypted and GDPR-compliant, meaning doctors can guarantee their patients data will remain secure from fraudsters and cybercriminals, unlike mainstream chat platforms. Any medical professional can request access to the platform, and in recent weeks, user requests have dramatically increased due to the pressure healthcare providers are currently facing in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. In the UK alone, user requests on the service have increased 466% vs the beginning of March as more patients adhere to social distancing rules.

Alberto Porciani, CEO of Top Doctors, said Despite the pandemic, its crucial that doctors are still able to meet the needs of their regular patients, adhering to social distancing guidelines where possible. Less urgent appointments are being cancelled, but there are certain cases that cannot wait for diagnosis, follow-up or treatment. e-Consultancy has an important role to play in ensuring patient care standards remain high across the UK and in the last three days we have received the same number of requests from medical professionals to access the platform as we would normally in one month.

Doctors interested in availing of the free service can contact Top Doctors at econsultation@topdoctors.co.uk or by calling 07375559158 or 02071133495.

***

About TopDoctors.co.uk

TopDoctors is an online platform to find and contact the best private medical specialists, audited and certified by the most rigorous selection of doctors in the world.

With this objective, www.topdoctors.co.uk puts more than 70,000 of the worlds most prestigious physicians within reach of the patient. To do this, it selects its members for their medical excellence and professional achievements through an exhaustive audit, under the certification of Adecco Medical & Science, the evaluation of a Medical Steering Committee and the reviews of the patients. Thanks to this unique selection process, the company offers maximum reliability in the quality of the medical staff offered.

The platform has cutting-edge technology to improve patient-doctor communication, such as medical pre-diagnosis tools, private chat and video consultation with doctors. It also integrates a real-time online appointment system which revolutionises the relationship between doctors and patients: accessibility for 365 days a year, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.

TopDoctors has established itself in recent years as the most reliable online medical platform in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, the USA and Saudi Arabia. More than 20,000,000 visitors to our websites have already relied on the platform to select a doctor and more than 1,000,000 have made an appointment in real time with the best doctors.

Join the conversation at @TopDoctors_UK and www.facebook.com/TopDoctorsUK/ and find the most reliable medical information on our YouTube channel and on our blog: www.topdoctors.co.uk/blog

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005
Jack-of-all-trades Adam Sandler was the interviewee and the musical guest on Thursdays edition of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Adding to his repertoire (which includes classic like The Chanukah Song and The Thanksgiving Song), Sandler debuted an ode to medical professionals, a soon-to-be coronavirus carol that well all yell out of our windows. This is a song, he introduces it, adding that he has to wear blue reflective sunglasses so we cant see him reading his lyrics. Doctors and nurses will save us from this mess if we get them the supplies that they need, he strums on an electric guitar. And I hope they save us soon cause Im really, really sick of my family. Because clearly Adam Sandler wasnt showing up to get showed up by Jimmy Fallons other guest of the night, his dog Gary, you bet the song has two verses, a chorus, and a bridge. God bless Italian doctors in Italy / And all the Spanish doctors in Spain, Sandler gets passionate. And God bless Chinese doctors in China / And also Chinese doctors in America. Add this to the Coronavirus Best Hits playlist, right in between Dont Start Now by Dua Lipa and Cardi Bs Coronavirus remix. It will be studied for centuries to come.

Related
The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday said that 1,203 people who had attended Tableeghi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizamuddin area have been identified.

According to the government, out of total people, samples of 897 people have been sent for test and 47 people have tested positive.

"1203 people who had attended Tableeghi Jamaat event in Delhi, have been identified. Out of these, samples of 897 people have been sent for test and 47 of them have tested positive so far," the government said.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India on Friday rose to 2,301 including 156 cured/discharged and 56 deaths, 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.)
The dead bodies in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city, have been piling up everywhere. Abandoned in busy hospitals. Left decomposing inside homes. In some cases, even wrapped in plastic and cardboard and put out on the streets.

In one video that has gone viral, a teary-eyed woman who identified herself as Gabriela Orellana begged the government to recover her husband's corpse from her house. For days, she was quarantined as his limp, unmoving body lay upstairs, she said, while officials insisted they were coming to transport him.

"If you see this video, Mr. President, please, where are they? . . . They told me they were coming, and it was a lie," Orellana sobbed into a purple face mask. "I'm only asking for you to help him die with dignity. Please. Don't leave him here, thrown on the ground."

Grisly tales like hers this week underscore how the port city of more than 2 million people is struggling to handle the mounting devastation of the coronavirus pandemic.

As the pandemic spreads into Latin America, Guayaquil has emerged as a major flash point, with more cases in the surrounding province than in most countries in the region.

Authorities have officially reported more than 1,300 confirmed infections and 60 deaths in and around the city, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally, though a nationwide lag in testing means the death toll is likely far higher.

Up to 150 corpses are picked up daily, Jorge Wated, the leader of a government task force, told El Universo newspaper. With the municipal morgue full, an even greater number of bodies may be waiting on sidewalks and inside homes.

Diego Diaz Chamba told the Miami Herald it took him five days to bury his 79-year-old mother, Elsa Maria.

After suffering a series of small strokes, she was refused admission into all hospitals. Her sons tried to buy oxygen tanks to keep her alive, but the cost became unbearable, Chamba said, and their mother eventually died of cardiac arrest.

"Every day it's getting worse," Diaz said. "We see them burning bodies on the street. Nobody is picking them up at the houses. . . . The only option is to leave their loved ones on the street or at the hospital [if they died there]."

Helpless families have been left with few, if any options, as ambulances take days to arrive on scene and funeral homes won't even pick up the phone. To arrange burial services for loved ones who've died of the novel coronavirus, they must wait in long, snaking lines outside of cemeteries.

Cynthia Viteri, the mayor, said Tuesday in a video on social media that four large refrigerated trailers would be distributed around area hospitals this week to serve as temporary morgues. Plans for a new cemetery are in the works, and a $10 million dollar fund meant to celebrate Guayaquil's bicentennial is being used to buy 50,000 rapid test kits and 60 ventilators.

Yet the mayor, who has tested positive for coronavirus, also criticized the federal government for its failure to accelerate a response.

"What's happened with our health-care system?" Viteri, said in another Facebook video last week. "They're not taking the dead out of the houses. They're leaving them on the sidewalk. They fall in front of hospitals."

Guayaquil's overcrowded hospitals have locked their doors, she said, and people have died out front as health workers hand them oxygen tanks. The response to the virus led the country's health minister to resign last month.

Ecuador has reported more infections and deaths than almost anywhere else in Latin America. More than half of people tested in recent days have turned out to be positive, according to local media reports.

The country's first case, a 70-year-old woman who had returned from Italy to an area near Guayaquil, was confirmed on Feb. 29, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno moved swiftly, placing tight restrictions on both domestic and international travel two weeks later. But Guayaquil's residents were slow to follow government orders, and the city turned into a kind of breeding ground instead.

"Everybody was partying, schools and universities were out, and they were celebrating Carnival and were getting ready for Holy Week," Pedro Zavala, a paramedic in the nearby city of Machala, told the Herald. "People were on the beaches and on the streets, everywhere."

The grim scenes have served as a wake-up call for the rest of Latin America, where the virus has not yet caused the devastation it has created in the United States and Europe.

"Look at what's happening in Ecuador," Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele wrote to his followers this week on Twitter. "If you don't see yourself reflected in the mirror of Italy, Spain or New York, look at yourself in that one."
Manitoba announced 40 new cases of COVID-19 in the province on Thursday, the largest single-day increase so far during the pandemic.

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Manitoba announced 40 new cases of COVID-19 in the province on Thursday, the largest single-day increase so far during the pandemic.

Thursdays numbers bring the total number of cases up to 167, including 11 in the Prairie Mountain Health region, said the provinces chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin. The total number of deaths remains at one, and five people are in intensive care.

The news follows the announcement on Wednesday that community transmission had started in the province. Roussin said there are five cases that Manitoba Health cant trace back to travel or contact with another infected person. At this point, community transmission is only happening in Winnipeg, but he said everyone in the province should be taking the same social distancing measures.

"We want to ensure that people are aware that once we see this virus in the community at low levels, its possible to acquire that virus should you not practise social distancing," he said.

"Stay home if you can, it limits your risk to acquiring this virus, it limits the risk to others of spreading this virus, so stay home as much as you can. That will be your biggest contribution to decreasing the spread of this virus."

Now is not the time for any travel, even to cottages, Roussin said. While people may believe it allows them to more effectively isolate, it will put increased strain on rural health-care systems if they do get sick.

Several outbreaks of the virus have been identified in Manitoba health-care facilities, including at a personal care home in Gimli and the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. Approximately 40 nurses at the Health Sciences Centre are self-isolating after possible exposure to the virus, while one worker at Betel Home in Gimli tested positive, he said.

In response, Lanette Siragusa, Shared Healths chief nursing officer, announced health-care workers in hospitals, testing centres and other places will begin wearing surgical masks, gloves and gowns during all contact with patients. She said Manitoba Health has enough personal protective equipment to sustain the measure and more will be distributed according to need.

Shared Health is working on implementing the change at sites across the province and she said more information would be shared with people Thursday.

"We have plans for this eventuality and the escalation of cases in recent days at health-care facilities means it is time for us to implement this change," she said.

Hospital patients and personal care home residents who had close contact with people who tested positive for COVID-19 are also being tested, she said.

"These cases cause us all a great deal of concern, and we cannot emphasize enough the responsibility that all Manitobans have to do what we can to slow the spread of this virus," she said.

In response to a question about opening hospitals dedicated to the virus, Siragusa said Manitoba Health is planning COVID-19 wards in hospitals across the province. It isnt feasible to have all cases in one building, but hospitals  including the Brandon Regional Health Centre  could focus staff in one area to treat all patients with the virus.

"The concept is we cant have it all in one site, but we can have them all united in one unit so the staff are concentrated there," she said.

According to a spokesperson for Prairie Mountain Health, 342 people had been tested so far at the Brandon testing site as of the end of the day on April 1. At the Dauphin testing site, 23 people had been tested as of April 1.

Both testing sites are by referral only and are not walk-in clinics.

As of Thursday, the Cadham Provincial Laboratory had performed 11,327 tests in total.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania warns residents to be on guard against scam artists hoping to prey on the fear and anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh said AARP's national Fraud Watch Network expects to see a significant increase in Coronavirus-related scams in the coming days.

"Scammers always look to capitalize on the latest headlines as ways to steal money or sensitive personal information," said Johnston-Walsh. "Just as you can take steps to protect yourself from COVID-19, you can also keep these opportunistic scammers at bay."

Johnston-Walsh added that the latest trend is scams related to the new Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) that was signed into law just last week. Reports have surfaced of government imposters already calling consumers to suggest that they might qualify for a special COVID-19 government grant once they confirm their personal information. Other variations of the scam suggest that you can get more money from the government - or get your stimulus check faster - if you share personal details or even pay a small processing fee.

"Just remember that no one will call or text you to verify your personal information or bank account details so you can receive a stimulus check," he said. "The U.S. Treasury Department expects the distribution of stimulus payments to begin in the next three weeks."

In addition to scams related to Federal stimulus checks, Johnston-Walsh warned consumers about these COVID-19 related scams:

Online offers used to sell bogus Coronavirus products  from face masks to vaccines to cure-alls to get you to share payment or sensitive personal information.

Emails, texts and social media posts touting an alleged can't-miss investment opportunity like face masks or a cure. If a vaccine or treatment is developed, you will hear about it in the news, not on an online ad or sales pitch.

Donation requests claiming to raise money to help victims. Before giving, check out charity watchdogs, like give.org or charitynavigator.org.

He encouraged consumers to rely on entities they know and trust for information on COVID-19, including the AARP Fraud Watch Network. If fact, consumers can check to see if an offer is a scam by calling the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. The service is free and available to anyone-you don't have to be an AARP member.

"While scientists and medical professionals are working overtime to find ways to test for and stem the spread of the virus, bad actors are working hard to use this as an opportunity to deceive consumers and steal their money or sensitive information," said Johnston-Walsh. "The best advice is to stay safe, stay vigilant and rememberif you can spot a scam you can stop a scam."

CONTACT: Steve Gardner, AARP PA

(717) 319-5484 or [email protected]

Or

Jacklyn Isasi, AARP PA

(609) 902-6242 or [email protected]

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania

Related Links

http://www.aarp.org


Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:50:19|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. employers cut 701,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate soared to 4.4 percent, showing the first job decline in a decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

"The changes in these measures reflect the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and efforts to contain it," the bureau said.

Employment in leisure and hospitality fell by 459,000 in March, mainly in food services and drinking establishments, the report showed. Job losses also occurred in health care and social assistance, professional and business services, retail trade, and construction.

In the prior 12 months, nonfarm employment growth had averaged 196,000 per month, the bureau noted.

The unemployment rate in March surged by 0.9 percentage point to 4.4 percent, which is the largest over-the-month increase in the rate since January 1975.

Since September last year, the U.S. unemployment rate has been hovering near a historically low level, around 3.5 to 3.6 percent.

The bureau also noted that the March survey reference periods predated many coronavirus-related business and school closures that occurred in the second half of the month, indicating a further spike in numbers in the coming months.

The number of initial jobless claims in the United States soared to reach 6.65 million last week, doubling the record set a week earlier, the bureau reported on Thursday. In the previous week, the figure spiked by 3 million to reach a record 3.3 million.

"We are losing jobs faster" than previous analysis projected, "but much of that is attributed to much more aggressive shelter-in-place orders than we anticipated in early March," Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University in Indiana, told Xinhua.

Hicks said he predicted a roughly 15 percent unemployment rate by the end of May.

Average hourly earnings for all private-sector workers in March rose 11 cents to 28.62 U.S. dollars. Over the last 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.1 percent.
This has taken the joy out of my final weeks and replaced them with absolute terror, says Megan. The 28-year-old from Cambridge is 32 weeks pregnant with her first child and suffers from borderline personality disorder. Like many women, she is struggling to cope with pregnancy during a pandemic.

Now 19 weeks pregnant myself, Ive also found excitement has been replaced by other emotions. Shortly after my first scan in February, coronavirus became a real threat in the UK, spreading globally while my stomach slowly grew. By Mothers Day  when I should have been with my own mum, excited about her first grandchild  non-essential social contact was banned for pregnant women. That once exciting 20-week scan may now have to be attended alone, and who knows what the August birth will hold. Will I have to go it alone like some women in China?

There were 731,000 births recorded in the UK in 2018 (the most recent dataset available), which is an average of around 2,000 births every day. Before childbirth, women usually have around 10 face-to-face appointments with midwives and for scans. Right now, for the tens of thousands of women currently pregnant in the UK, most of these appointments are taking place over the phone. The maternity wards they might have planned to give birth in are subject to ever tighter visitor restrictions, and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has reported that a fifth of local midwife-led maternity units have closed, while more than a third of areas have restricted or entirely stopped homebirths. The proportion of vacant midwife posts has doubled in the last three weeks as midwives are redeployed to care for people with Covid-19, fall sick themselves or are forced to self-isolate because of illness within their households. The RCM is now urging NHS leaders to ringfence maternity services to prevent further vacancies.

Women with pre-existing mental health issues are being hit especially hard by these changes and uncertainties. Midwife appointments have been cancelled last minute, says Megan. And the now restrictive rules in hospital  my partner is only allowed in for labour, not allowed to visit or attend any appointments  are making me very fearful of being alone without any support. Ive even considered free birthing as Im afraid of being alone.

Consultant perinatal psychologist, Julianne Boutaleb, founder of therapist practice Parenthood In Mind, warns against letting scare stories cause anxiety. She notes that the RCM is still saying that absolutely people cannot go into labour alone, there has to be a partner. She recommends that pregnant women keep checking with their midwives regarding the changing situations, and also start building on the traditional birth plan, to soothe anxieties about whats ahead. Its about having a plan B, maybe a plan C and D as well, in case your partner becomes ill or if indeed you dont have a partner, she explains.

Boutaleb says that if your original birthing partner can no longer be with you, now is the time to begin to gather some sense of who is available, who is well, who could stand in for the birth partner if necessary. Starting to talk with people about those sorts of scenarios.

While the thought of being alone at appointments and even the birth is causing anxiety, some expectant mothers are experiencing loneliness and isolation throughout the entirety of their pregnancies. Fiona*, a 36-year-old from Fife, is five and a half months pregnant, and due to a relationship breakdown and all her family living abroad, she feels she is going through the experience alone. I dont have any friends up here. The closest lives a two-hour drive, she says. With no birthing partner arranged, unable to see friends and family, and appointments and extra anomaly scans being cancelled and changed, Fiona describes feeling completely left out and in a limbo.

Im convinced everything will turn out ok in the end, even if that means Ill have to keep my mother on the phone until the baby is here...

But Im convinced everything will turn out ok in the end, even if that means Ill have to keep my mother on the phone until the baby is here, she says.

Boutaleb says bringing your supporting matrix of people into pregnancy and childbirth has real psychosocial impacts, as well as real neurological impacts. Some women are using jewellery or other significant objects as a way of feeling like their loved ones are around, while one mother-to-be has had her mum prerecord affirmation messages as voice notes. The voice of your mum or whoever it is that does it for you can be really soothing, all on its own, Boutaleb explains. She also recommends accessing resources like The Birth Collective and The Real Birth Project for free or low-cost practical advice, such as learning grounding techniques.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

For some women, health and physical factors are causing the most concern, even though pregnant women do not appear to be more susceptible to Covid-19 and there is no evidence yet that the virus can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy. Natalie, 28, from Edinburgh, is 15 weeks pregnant after suffering a loss due to ectopic pregnancy last year. I was over the moon when I found out I was pregnant again, but now that happiness is dwindling, and the fear has kicked in, she says. Bleeds and concerns over the babys heartbeat  all things that once could be taken care of at an appointment  have now been made much more complicated. My biggest worry is this wont be over by September or that something could go wrong with the pregnancy along the way and I wont get the care needed, Natalie explains. I am trying to stay positive, but its hard.

This is turning a health crisis into a social and economic crisis for pregnant women

Midwife Lesley Gilchrist, clinical director of toiletries website My Expert Midwife, recommends taking care of physical health  which in turn will help with anxieties  using online tools. Staying active during pregnancy can help to manage stress and anxiety, and there is evidence that a more active lifestyle can help towards coping with pregnancy, as it prepares you well for your labour and birth and will assist you to recover quicker in your postnatal period, she says. If youre not used to exercising, start by exercising gently and gradually build up the length of time and intensity of your preferred form of activity.

Balancing financial worries with health concerns is another strain on pregnant women. Thirty-one-year-old Sophie, a support worker for hearing impaired children, is 26 weeks pregnant with her first child. Sophie, from Halifax, is married to a lorry driver who doesnt have the option to work from home. He is not in a good place, Sophie says. He has to put himself at risk because of his job. He is also divided to making sure financially we are ok but also keeping me safe and well. Many pregnant women will still be working themselves, and the advice differs depending on the stage of pregnancy.

Sian Elliott, womens equality policy officer at the Trades Union Congress, is pushing for employers to support women properly. She says: This is turning a health crisis into a social and economic crisis for pregnant women. Nobody should have to choose between their health and their livelihood. If risks are identified and they cannot be removed or prevented, employers should temporarily adjust working conditions, by offering homeworking for example. If that is not possible, they should offer alternative work, away from the risk, on the same pay. If there is no suitable alternative work, the law stipulates they should suspend the worker on full pay.

Julianne Boutaleb points to the Make Birth Better project as something all pregnant women can look to in these uncertain times. Theyre sharing positive stories of people birthing now and ways theyve coped. Sending positive messages, she explains. Yes this is unusual, yes this might be frightening, yes this isnt how you imagined it... but with some of these creative ways of supporting yourself, you should be able to get through it.

Anyone experiencing pre or post-natal mental health problems can get help from charity PANDAS, and those needing support due to traumatic experiences in past pregnancies should contact The Birth Trauma Association
/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic marks an unprecedented time in modern history and it will require the best of humanity to overcome the battle. As a socially responsible company, Dollar Industries Ltd strongly believes that they have a responsibility towards the society at large and hence has risen to the occasion in this hour of crisis during the pandemic. India is under a 21-day nationwide lockdown as the government is taking up various measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 that has led to a global health scare.

There is a definite dearth of essential items and basic medical equipments mainly due to transportation being brought to a standstill, which people require in order to maintain safety and hygiene - one of the most essential ways to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.

In a bid to help needy and the poor families, Dollar Industries Ltd stepped into the shoes of humanity and contributed a huge portion in kind which included 6,000 kgs of rice, 40,000 packets of biscuits, 40,000 masks and 10,000 soap bars. These mentioned products are very much essential for a basic survival/living.

This huge distribution was done in West Bengal under the proper guidance of Kolkata Police (Central and North) and social workers, who made sure that these items were distributed in more than 60 wards across Kolkata. The distribution process was carried out maintaining the protocols of social distancing.

With factories and businesses facing the brunt of 21-day lockdown, enormous count of migrant workers are stranded without basic essentials like food and shelter. Jobless and homeless, many migrant workers are walking back on foot to their hometowns, thus posing a risk to themselves and others around them. Many workers are losing their lives after walking miles on road without any food and water, thus leaving this world without even meeting their near and dear ones. In this hour of need, management at Dollar Industries Ltd from Tirupur,Tamil Nadu took the responsibility to take care of the migrant workers and hence have turned their factories to a shelter for them. It has ensured the safety of its workers and distributed masks, hand washes, essentials, maintaining social distancing.

Speaking on the initiatives undertaken, Mr. Vinod Kumar Gupta, MD, Dollar Industries Ltd said, "At times like this, when people are putting their best foot forward to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, there are many aspects which need to be taken care of, one of the most important of which is making sure that essential items reach the people in need. We are trying our best to take care of the ones in need, because the stronger we are together, stronger will be our resistance against COVID-19."



About Dollar Industries Ltd:



From a humble beginning as a hosiery brand to a leading name in the innerwear segment, Dollar Industries Limited ranks among the top hosiery and garment manufacturing giants in India, covering entire range of knitted garments, from basic wear to outer wear. Behind its success lay a saga of business transformation, dedication, courage and confidence to swim against the tide and go beyond the call of duty. The focus has always remained on the demanding needs of a globalized world and end customer satisfaction. Today through its advanced quality products, Dollar has focused on achieving global excellence in cost, quality and productivity. The styles introduced by Dollar have always stayed in tune with the latest fashion.

Identical with top quality and value for money products, brand Dollar enjoys the trust of millions satisfied consumers across globe leaving far reaching footprints in global market.The company has a substantial pan-India presence and has established its market abroad, in countries like UAE, Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Nepal, and Sudan in past few years. The Company has also got listed in NSE & BSE in recent past.

Dollar Industries holds 15% of the total market share in the organised segment and is the first Indian innerwear company to have a fully integrated manufacturing unit which is equipped with all the latest processing technology and the top-most finishing range to produce finished raw material dyed in any possible colour. Dollar has focused on excellence in cost, quality and productivity.

Please visit website: www.dollarglobal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has urged the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to send the donated salaries of its members to their various states, rather than into the national purse.

The leader of the caucus, Kingsley Chinda, made the call in a statement he issued on Thursday.

The House had resolved to donate two months salaries to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

The speaker, Mr Gbajabiamila, announced the gesture in a video he shared on Facebook, Tuesday afternoon.

But Mr Chinda in his statement said the lawmakers were dissatisfied with the distribution of palliatives by the federal government.

He added that the COVID-19 palliative measures outlined in the broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday were not far-reaching enough and some are completely inapplicable.

The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly taken our country on an emergency course, unexpected and unanticipated at the beginning of the year, Mr Chinda said.

It is our considered view that the palliative measures outlined in the presidential broadcast and regulation are not far-reaching enough, while some are completely inapplicable.

We must learn quickly from experience by ensuring that immediate measures on food security are ramped up.

One way of doing this is to open up our national food and grain reserves across the country and distribute food to the poorest of the poor in our country at the local government level.

READ ALSO:

The President should as a matter of utmost urgency, issue an Executive Order, pursuant to his powers preserved by Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution, directing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, National Food Reserve Agency and the National Emergency Management Authority to release and manage the distribution of food in our national reserves.

The House of Representatives should send directly to the various States the donations of their State Representatives, Mr. Chinda said.

He also urged the house to come up with additional emergency bills to address price regulation of essential comodities (Medicals and Food).

Mr. Chinda urged the federal government to maximise the period of the lockdown and open up free testing and treatment centres in the various zones in the country.

Other donations

The Senate had a few days before the House announced that senators were contributing half of their salaries beginning from March to help combat the coronavirus until the epidemic is declared over.

All federal ministers have also announced they would donate half of their March salaries to the cause.

Banks, private organisations and individuals have donated billions to fight the epidemic in Nigeria.

The United Bank for Africa on Thursday announced a N5 billion donation.

Femi Otedola, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Herbert Wigwe and Segun Agbaje also donated N1 billion each to support the cause.

In a long-awaited speech, President Buhari on Sunday said the presidential task-force will receive and coordinate all donations made to fight against the pandemic in the country.

Outbreak

Nigeria reported its first confirmed case on February 27 and the number of cases has since risen.

As of today, the country has reported 190 cases. The breakdown according to states shows that Lagos has recorded the highest, followed by the FCT.

Other states with recorded cases are Oyo, Ogun, Enugu, Edo, Bauchi, Osun, Ekiti, Rivers, Benue and Kaduna.

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Meanwhile, two deaths have so far been reported from the outbreak.

Mr Buhari has ordered a lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states for 14 days to curb the spread of the virus.
A four-year-old boy was found dead inside his family's home in suburban Chicago after police say he accidentally shot himself in the head while playing with a gun.

Officers from the Thornton Police Department responded to a home on Blackhawk Drive just after 8.40pm on Thursday and found Amir Jennings-Green dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

Amir was rushed to Ingalls Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

Police responded to this home on Blackhawk Drive in Thornton, Illinois, on Thursday to find Amir Jennings-Green dead from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound

Police said they are not looking for any suspects in connection to the toddler's shooting death, which is believed to be self-inflicted, reported Chicago Sun-Times.

According to detectives, someone inside the residence owned the gun used by the child to shoot himself.

Thornton police Chief Glenn Beckman told the newspaper investigators are 'leaning' toward concluding the shooting was accidental.

He added that Amir was playing in a basement with his cousins when the gun went off. There were no adults around.

It is unclear whether the firearm was legally purchased and registered. So far, no arrests have been made.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has launched a separate investigation into Amir's death.

The agency said it has no records indicating prior contact with the boy's family.
Tekashi. Photo: SMXRF/Star Max/GC Images

Tekashi 6ix9ine has been released from federal lockup early and will serve the remaining four months of his sentence on home confinement because of coronavirus concerns, Manhattan federal-court filings revealed on Thursday  the latest unexpected turn in the controversial Brooklyn rappers legal saga. Judge Paul Engelmayer decided to release him after his attorneys voiced concerns that his asthma made him particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, which is presently spreading through many U.S. jails and prisons. The FEFE rapper, real name Daniel Hernandez, was originally set to leave jail around early August.

Engelmayer had made his decision Wednesday, but it wasnt made public immediately. Prosecutors, who didnt oppose releasing Hernandez, had asked for Engelmayer to delay posting the decision to allow law-enforcement agents to ensure that Mr. Hernandez is transported safely and securely from the facility where he is currently housed to a residential address previously approved by the Probation Department 

Heres everything we know about what Hernandezs release means for the immediate future of his life and career.

Where will Tekashi be confined?

Dawn Florio, one of Hernandezs attorneys, told Vulture that she cant give details on where he will be staying. Court documents indicate, however, that he will live at an address approved by the defendants probation officer.

Can he use social media?

In addition to getting released from jail early, there is even more good news for Hernandez, given how Instagram propelled him to fame: He can probably go on social media again. I dont know of any restrictions that would prevent him from going on social media, Florio said. (As of publication, Hernandez has not posted anywhere.)

Can he leave the house?

Home confinement means that Hernandez cant leave the house except for legal visits and medical appointments, Florio said. If Hernandez wants to leave, his probation officer has to give him permission. He cant go to the grocery store or anything like that, Florio explained. Its like being in jail, except that its at home. Think house arrest: You cant leave home without authorization.

Can he have visitors?

Right now, because of coronavirus-related social distancing, nobody should be hanging out outside their homes. So, Hernandez shouldnt have visitors for the same reasons nobody else should. If social distancing werent an issue, however, family members could typically visit people on house arrest. Even after social distancing ends, Hernandez wont be able to associate with other felons, which is pretty standard in criminal matters.

Can Tekashi drop music right now?

Hernandez reportedly inked a $10 million two-album record deal with his former label, 10K Projects, while he was awaiting sentencing. Florio said he is permitted to release music.

Is he going to start making music right away?

Yes, Florio said. He may even be allowed to go to a studio to work; thats being worked out with his probation officer, she said. Whether or not hell be able to go to a studio to record  right now, everything is closed with the virus. She added, Hopefully, maybe he can build one where hes staying.

Does he have to wear an ankle monitor?

In the decision granting Hernandez compassionate release, Engelmayer said that his home incarceration will be enforced by GPS monitoring. (Generally speaking, GPS monitoring involves an ankle monitor.) If Hernandezs probation officers cant set up the GPS monitoring right away, Hernandez must have daily contact with the defendants probation officer through videoconferencing technology until GPS monitoring is implemented, Engelmayer said.

What happens when hes on supervised release?

After Hernandez serves his sentence, he is going to be on supervised release for five years  which basically means he needs to stay out of trouble and follow the law to remain free. Florio said that Hernandez hasnt received all of the rules of his supervised release yet.

Will Tekashi go into witness protection?

Federal prosecutors had previously said witness protection might be necessary because of Hernandezs extensive snitching, but hes still not interested. He never applied for witness protection, nor will he apply, said Lance Lazzaro, another attorney repping Hernandez. He plans on resuming his career.

Okay, but doesnt he need protection?

Yep, and he already has the team in place. He has hired security, Lazzaro said. Hes got a full security team monitoring him 24 hours a day. Lazzaro said he cant get into the specifics of how many members are working, but sufficient [enough] to say hes got a full security team. The Feds are not providing security while hes on home confinement. Lazzaro explained that federal authorities dont offer security unless you go into witness protection.

This post contains developing news and will be updated accordingly.
LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking (www.viking.com) today announced the official launch of Viking.TV (https://viking.tv/), a new digital platform designed to provide enriching cultural content and livestreaming video experiences from around the world. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President Karine Hagen in a video for current and past Viking guests, posted on the homepage of Viking.TV.

"Right now, we are all staying at home instead of traveling together, but that does not have to mean that the only thing we can do is watch the news," said Karine. "My father, Torstein Hagen, and I felt that if we cannot for the time being bring our guests to the world, let's bring the world to our guests. Viking.TV is a way for us to continue exploring the world in comfortfrom the comfort of our homes. And as soon as actual travel is less complicated again, we are ready to welcome you onboard."

Viking.TV was conceived as a way to build community, stay connected and share positive experiences at a time when people are staying home, rather than traveling. In addition to housing a library of enriching content that Viking guests would have enjoyed onboard their respective cruise itineraries, Viking.TV will also feature live content from a variety of experts, cultural partners and notable individuals. Each day at 11 a.m. PT in the "Conversations with Karine and Friends" section of Viking.TV, there will be a livestream conversation, demonstration or virtual tour where viewers can participate by submitting questions in real time. All content sessions will be archived for anyone who cannot view at the original time of broadcast. The schedule of daily participants will be announced every Sunday, and viewers can expect the following themes each day:

Museum Mondays  Viking is a longtime sponsor of Oslo's Munch Museum and hosts "Munch Moments" onboard its ocean ships every afternoon, showcasing a curated collection of Norway's most famous artist, Edvard Munch . On Viking.TV, Museum Mondays will take the place of the onboard event, and viewers can expect streamed sessions with the museum's director and various curators, providing virtual privileged access to exhibitions, experts and restoration facilities. Additional museums may also participate in the future.

 Viking is a longtime sponsor of Munch Museum and hosts "Munch Moments" onboard its ocean ships every afternoon, showcasing a curated collection of most famous artist, . On Viking.TV, Museum Mondays will take the place of the onboard event, and viewers can expect streamed sessions with the museum's director and various curators, providing virtual privileged access to exhibitions, experts and restoration facilities. Additional museums may also participate in the future. Resident Historian Tuesdays  As part of Viking's onboard cultural enrichment program and commitment to destination-focused learning, Viking's Resident Historian faculty provides guests with lectures and roundtable discussions on significant milestones in world history. Each Tuesday, a Resident Historian will host an iconic lecture followed by a livestreamed Q&A session.

 As part of Viking's onboard cultural enrichment program and commitment to destination-focused learning, Viking's Resident Historian faculty provides guests with lectures and roundtable discussions on significant milestones in world history. Each Tuesday, a Resident Historian will host an iconic lecture followed by a livestreamed Q&A session. Wednesdays with Music  One of the most important cultural aspects of any destination is its music. On Wednesdays, Viking.TV will bring some of the world's most interesting artists, composers and conductors of the musical world.

 One of the most important cultural aspects of any destination is its music. On Wednesdays, Viking.TV will bring some of the world's most interesting artists, composers and conductors of the musical world. Guest Speaker Thursdays  Viking is proud to welcome onboard as guest lecturers many experts in the fields of science, the arts and exploration. Every Thursday, Viking.TV viewers can enjoy meaningful conversations with a variety of academics and individuals who have led extraordinary lives. Upcoming hosts include veteran British broadcaster journalist Anne Diamond ; world-renowned Norwegian explorer Liv Arnesen ; and Xander Parish , principal dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg .

 Viking is proud to welcome onboard as guest lecturers many experts in the fields of science, the arts and exploration. Every Thursday, Viking.TV viewers can enjoy meaningful conversations with a variety of academics and individuals who have led extraordinary lives. Upcoming hosts include veteran British broadcaster journalist ; world-renowned Norwegian explorer ; and , principal dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet in . Fridays at Home at Highclere Castle  Together with her husband Geordie, the 8 th Earl of Carnarvon, the Countess of Carnarvon manages affairs at Highclere Castle, widely recognized as the filming location of Downton Abbey . Through her friendship with Karine, Viking has enjoyed a long relationship with Highclere Castle, to which many Viking guests each year enjoy Privileged Access. Every Friday, visitors to Viking.TV can get a glimpse of life "At Home at Highclere," as Lady Carnarvon broadcasts tours and conversations.

 Together with her husband Geordie, the 8 Earl of Carnarvon, the Countess of Carnarvon manages affairs at Highclere Castle, widely recognized as the filming location of . Through her friendship with Karine, Viking has enjoyed a long relationship with Highclere Castle, to which many Viking guests each year enjoy Privileged Access. Every Friday, visitors to Viking.TV can get a glimpse of life "At Home at Highclere," as broadcasts tours and conversations. Wellness Weekends  Saturdays and Sundays on Viking.TV are dedicated to wellbeing during uncertain times and will feature staff from the LivNordic spas onboard Viking's ocean ships, as well as other selected hosts, largely focusing on yoga and meditation.

The first "Fridays at Home at Highclere Castle" livestream officially launched today, April 3, and the next session will take place next Friday, April 10, at 11 a.m. PT. "Karine are I are as much sisters as we are friends, and our dogs are all related too!" said Lady Carnarvon. "The Viking and Highclere families are tightly linked through friendship and dogs, and I am delighted to open our castle doors and lives to the extended Viking family to give a little virtual insight into our history and lives, while we are all trying to deal with this temporary new normal. I hope you'll join me on Fridays as we go behind-the-scenes, with stories about royal visits, entertaining and heritage."

In addition to the daily content sessions, visitors to Viking.TV can access Viking-produced destination insights, which are hosted by Karine and showcase the history, art and culture from around the world. Viking.TV also features reading lists, filmography and music playlists by popular itinerary, so visitors can read, watch or listen their way around the world from right at home. Those who are looking to get creative in their home kitchen  and journey around the world through global cuisine  will enjoy "The Kitchen Table," a digital cookbook on Viking.TV that features recipes browsable by country and the ability for visitors to submit their own favorite recipes. And for guests who were especially looking forward to seeing their Viking family of onboard crew during their voyage, Viking.TV includes a forum where guests and crew can exchange greetings  reinforcing the tight community bonds that form as part of the travel experience.

On March 11, 2020, Viking became the first cruise line to announce a temporary suspension in operations in response to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Viking.TV stays true to the brand tagline of "Exploring the World in Comfort"  albeit for the time being, that exploration can now happen from the comfort of one's own home, rather than from the comfort of Viking ships.

About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 with the purchase of four ships in Russia. Designed for discerning travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests "the thinking person's cruise" in contrast to mainstream cruises. In its first four years of operation, Viking has been rated the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure's 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 "World's Best" Awards. Viking has a fleet of 79 vessels (in 2020), offering scenic cruising on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. In addition to the Travel + Leisure honors, Viking has also been honored multiple times on Conde Nast Traveler's "Gold List" as well as recognized by Cruise Critic as "Best Overall" Small-Mid size ship in the 2018 Cruisers' Choice Awards, "Best River Cruise Line" and "Best River Itineraries," with the entire Viking Longships fleet being named "Best New River Ships" in the website's Editors' Picks Awards. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com.

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Maharashtra: Fisherfolk to get separate landing point at Karanja jetty

by Shreya Sharma

April 03,2020 | Source: The Hindu

The State Fisheries Department is working to set up a separate landing point at the busy Karanja jetty in Uran for unloading the days catch of fish, keeping in mind the social distancing norms that are to be mandatorily followed as per State guidelines. The decision, officials said, was taken in the wake of crowding at the jetty a few days ago, giving rise to fears of infection. The Maharashtra Fisheries Department, through a public notice released on March 26, declared fish as an essential commodity to facilitate its supply and export, and ease the burden on fishermen. However, local fishermen have still been facing inconvenience due to the abruptness of the lockdown announced across the country. To save fishermen from facing extreme losses, the Vasai Fishermens Cooperative Society offered to purchase their stock and created an hourly token system in their office building so that social distancing could be practised and fish could be sold to local consumers.



The problem was of crowds. We had volunteers to ensure that a minimum distance was maintained and had given hourly time slots to facilitate the sale of the fish, said Sanjay Koli, chairman of the society. However, a bigger problem was observed at Karanja and Sassoon docks, where the fishermen complained of excess fish having to go to waste due to the lack of cold storage facilities, stoppage of auctioning in wholesale markets and absence of exporters willing to purchase stocks at the usual price.



Rajendra Jadhav, Joint Commissioner of Fisheries, Maharashtra said, four days ago, the massive crowds that gathered near the Karanja jetty for auctioning were deemed a hazard considering the spread of the coronavirus, because of which the gram panchayat and co-operative society together took a decision to shut down the wholesale market. At Karanja, there was such a large crowd four days ago that a decision had to be taken to close the jetty where the fish were auctioned after being caught. We are now working to develop a separate spot for landing in Karanja, as well as storage, but this is still in process, he said.



Amol Roge, chairman of the Martanda Prasanna Colaba Matsyodyog, a society working for welfare of fishermen in Colaba, said about 60% of his catch at Sassoon Dock will have to be disposed of, 10% was sold to local residents upon arrival of the boats while 25-30% was picked up by middlemen or suppliers. These middlemen who supply to the company did not inform us of the rates or weights of the stock. They said they will let us know as soon as they hear from the companies that they were buying for. It has been seven to eight days since they took our fish but I havent heard from them, said Mr. Roge. For every trip he makes, Mr. Roge has to spend around Rs.3 lakh on diesel and wages of 16 to 17 crew members on each boat.



He said distribution of fish to local residents is becoming difficult as it leads to crowding, which in turn invites a police crackdown. In Palghar district, trucks of exporter companies are being allowed to carry fish to Porbandar in Gujarat, where they can be preserved in cold storage for about two months. However, this facility is not accessible for local fishermen from villages spread across the vast coastline of India, said Ganesh Nakhawa, a fisherman from Karanja. Mr. Nakhawa said it is also easier for the ports in the North, which have better connectivity to Gujarat. Asked whether measures such as construction of landing sites or provision of cold storage would be available for docks such as Sassoon, Mr. Jadhav said, I don't have information from my staff, of crowds gathering or problems with sales there. Measures are only being taken at Karanja as of now.
HAVANA  For two years, the Trump administration has been trying to stamp out one of Cubas signature programs  state-employed medical workers treating patients around the world in a show of soft power that also earns billions in badly needed hard currency.

Labeling the doctors and nurses as both exploited workers and agents of communist indoctrination, the U.S. has notched a series of victories as Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia sent home thousands after leftist governments allied with Havana were replaced with ones friendlier to Washington.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought a reversal of fortune for Cuban medical diplomacy, as doctors have flown off on new missions to battle COVID-19 in at least 14 countries including Italy and the tiny principality of Andorra on the Spanish-French border, burnishing the islands international image in the middle of a global crisis.

I am aware of the position of the United States, but we are a sovereign country and we can choose the partners with which we are going to have cooperation, Andorran Foreign Minister Mara Ubach said.

In the city of Crema in the hard-hit Lombardy region of northern Italy, 52 Cuban doctors and nurses set up a field hospital with 32 beds equipped with oxygen and three ICU beds.

This is a strongly symbolic moment because the Crema hospital has been going through an extremely complicated situation from the start, Lombardys top social welfare official, Giulio Gallera, said at the inauguration last week. The number of patients who have filled and continue to fill the emergency room and departments has truly put the medical personnel to a hard test.

The Trump administration has sought to cut off income to Havana as part of a long-term tightening of sanctions. And it continues to discourage countries from contracting Cuban medical workers despite the pandemic, arguing that their pay and conditions fall short of industry standards.

Cuba currently has about 37,000 medical workers in 67 countries, most in longstanding missions. Some doctors have been sent as part of free aid missions, but many countries pay the government directly for their services. In some other cases international health bodies have paid.

The most recent deployments of at least 593 doctors from the Henry Reeve Brigade  founded by Fidel Castro in 2005 and named after a 19th century American volunteer who fought for Cuban independence from Spain  have also been to Suriname, Jamaica, Dominica, Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, some of them reinforcing existing medical missions.

Havana has said it receives about $6 billion a year from the export of public services, and medical services make up most of that. When Brazil expelled Cuban doctors in 2018, a few details emerged including that the country had been paying $3,100 per month for each doctor with 70% of that going into the pockets of the Cuban government.

Doctors typically make less than $100 per month working on the island, so doing an overseas mission means a significant pay hike even if those salaries remain low by international standards.

Andrea Rodriguez is an Associated Press writer.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:09:10|Editor: yhy

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by Duncan Murray, Yalin Hao

SYDNEY, April 3 (Xinhua) -- On top of the stress and anxiety of a global virus pandemic, millions of people around the world have been faced with the additional, and even more immediate concern of suddenly finding themselves without a job.

In Australia, sweeping regulations to stop the spread of the virus have seen hundreds of thousands of businesses forced to close their doors, both to customers and employees.

Last month, new restrictions forced all bars and restaurants to limit their services to takeaway, public gatherings were restricted to just two people, and residents were told to remain in their homes unless they had a valid reason for leaving, decimating foot traffic for any remaining operations.

Until last month, Jasmin was a bartender in Sydney, working for a company she had been with on and off for almost 10 years -- then she was given the news that she would not be receiving any shifts for the foreseeable future.

Living with her partner in a quiet suburb of the city, the rapid progression of the virus and increasingly strict containment measures caught Jasmin and others like her by surprise, leaving no time to prepare for the sudden changes.

"I actually got a shock. In my generation nothing like this has ever happened before, so we don't expect we will need to prepare for it," she said.

"If I knew before that the business was going to close soon maybe I could have prepared and saved some money. I know it's my fault but now I don't have enough money to survive this season."

The time is hard for employers as well. Business owner Frank He told Xinhua that already he had been forced to let go several of his full-time employees and did not know what his business would look like coming out the other side.

He owns a travel agent specializing in customers from China and Southeast Asia, which meant the impact on his business hit before many others in Australia -- as early as January.

By the end of February, He said that there was simply no work for any of his drivers.

"We actually propped up longer than many ones in this industry, I laid off the first employee just two weeks ago ... we do not belong to the essential industries and cannot operate, so I have to lay off the rest of them," He said.

To help, the federal government announced a 130-billion-Australian dollar (80.2-billion-U.S. dollar) economic package, called the "JobKeeper" program, to assist struggling businesses in covering their workers wages.

Rather than apply for existing unemployment benefits, JobKeeper allows workers to receive fortnightly payments of 1,500 Australian dollars (909.5 U.S. dollars) through grants given to their employer, allowing for a smoother transition back to normal once the crisis has passed.

However the reality of accessing that support has proved more difficult than expected for some.

He applied for the government's subsidies, but due to the huge amount of people and businesses waiting for the relief, had to wait a long time for his application to be processed.

The delay means that employers can't guarantee that their workers will be eligible for the JobKeeper payment, adding to the sense of uncertainty and helplessness felt by many.

If not they can also apply for traditional unemployment benefits which pay a little over 1,100 Australian dollars (666.9 U.S. dollars) every two weeks, including a temporary additional COVID-19 boost to the payment.

"I hope my boss will register their business for the JobKeeper payment, but the government said that payment will be in May, so more than one month we have to survive. I wish it was quicker," Jasmin said.

What's worse is that a key characteristic of the COVID-19 crisis is that nobody knows just how long it will last -- in the meantime Aussies are finding some novel ways to keep themselves busy.

Before COVID-19 struck, Max was working as a pharmaceutical representative, as well as doing part-time teaching, but then he found himself without a job and with much more time on his hands.

"I naively thought Australia would be insulated from the illness and didn't really expect to be out of work so quickly," he said.

Not content with sitting back and putting his feet up Max looked for ways he could get the most of his forced vacation, which he jokingly referred to as "funemployment."

"I'm lucky to live close to the beach and I enjoy spearfishing. I've been able to put food on the table, which I've caught, so that makes me still feel useful! I've also been cooking quite a lot, reading, and trying to keep fit," he said.

Others are also using the time to start a health routine, watch classic movies or make the most of being stuck at home by reconnecting with family members.

Despite temporarily having no staff, Frank He still engaged in work, improving the current travel routes, looking for new ones, and developing more online products.

"There is nothing that we cannot get through, but to recover will take time," he said.
(Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)

Registered voters in the City of Midland can sign up to cast their vote in upcoming elections without ever leaving their homes by joining the citys permanent absentee voter list.

Voters who join the citys permanent absentee voter list will automatically receive an application to vote by absentee ballot in the mail eight weeks before every election in the City of Midland. After completing and returning this application  which must be done before every election  the voter will receive his or her absentee ballot in the mail.
A man is facing prison in France for illegally reselling face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

He was handed a one-year jail term and fined 10,000 (8,800), French judicial authorities told The Independent. A later court hearing will determine whether to suspend the prison sentence.

The man was tried in Paris for deceptive business practices and refusing to hand in requisitioned goods, according to national newspaper Le Figaro.

This case was reportedly linked to the discovery of around 20,000 face masks the French capital last weekend.

The French government requisitioned all face masks in the country in early March in a bid to help the country fight its Covid-19 outbreak. The protective equipment  in short supply in France and other countries  is needed by health workers.

Since then, police have discovered tens of thousands of illegally hoarded masks in the French capital, according to Le Monde.

They found 20,000 at a tourist agency in southern Paris and 15,000 masks a natural foods shop in an eastern neighbourhood of the city, the national newspaper reported.

Another 23,000 masks were discovered stuffed in a small truck in a chic neighbourhood of western Paris.

France has been in lockdown since 17 March over its Covid-19 outbreak, with people only allowed to go outside for trips deemed essential, such as to buy food or medicine.

More than 350,000 people were fined for ignoring the restrictions in the first two weeks of the national quarantine, the interior minister said earlier this week.

Those breaking the rules risk a penalty of 135 (120), which can increase to 200 (180) if caught a second time, according to local media.

Our goal is not to hand out fines, Christophe Castaner said. It is to make sure the French stay at home.

More than 59,000 people have been infected with coronavirus in France as of Friday, while the countrys death toll stood at 5,387.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  When Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a public health emergency on March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic, she invoked a 2003 law that  until the current outbreak  had never been used since being enacted.

Its one of several state laws the governors administration has used as it tries to slow the spread of COVID-19 in New Mexico, which has infected 403 state residents as of Thursday and been attributed as the cause of seven deaths.

While some New Mexicans have questioned whether the governor is overstepping her authority by ordering nonessential businesses to close and limiting public gatherings, a Lujan Grisham spokesman said this week that the Governors Office is confident about the powers it has exercised.

And, in particular, the drafters of the 2003 Public Health Emergency Response Act say the law was crafted for just the type of situation the state now faces.

It was aimed at exactly this kind of event, said former state Rep. John Heaton, a Carlsbad Democrat who served in the Legislature for 14 years.

He said he believes the Public Health Emergency Response Act is being used responsibly the Lujan Grisham administration.

From what I can tell from afar, I think they are being used appropriately, Heaton told the Journal.

The 2003 law was used by Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel last week, when she barred health care providers and suppliers from selling or distributing medical gloves, masks and other equipment without the states approval.

The law also gives the governors administration the power to isolate or quarantine individuals  usually through a court order  to prevent or limit the spread of a communicable disease.

Lujan Grisham invoked that provision, at least in part, on Friday when she issued an order requiring air travelers to New Mexico to self-isolate for at least 14 days after landing in an attempt to slow coronavirus infection rates.

In addition, the 2nd Judicial District in Albuquerque has started trying to recruit volunteer attorneys who could represent those facing possible quarantine or isolation orders. Such orders can be contested in court, per the state law.

Meanwhile, the law also authorizes drastic steps that Lujan Grisham has not taken  but could consider in the coming days and weeks.

That includes the state taking control over health care facilities statewide, issuing vaccine orders and even exercising oversight over burials and cremations.

Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki told the Journal its too early to say whether the governors administration might invoke other parts of the law, saying the Governors Office is taking things one day at a time for now.

Former state Sen. Dede Feldman, an Albuquerque Democrat who co-sponsored the 2003 law, said it was enacted after events, including the 2001 anthrax attacks and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, prompted a review of the states public health laws.

It was intended to cover situations like this, Feldman told the Journal. Were lucky to have it.

Even former Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, who was the only senator to vote against the 2003 bill, credited Lujan Grisham for her response to the coronavirus outbreak.

However, while Sanchez said he didnt recall specifics of the 2003 debate, he said he was generally wary of bills giving exclusive powers to one branch of government.

It always has scared me if one person has all the authority, even though I understand why its needed in times of emergency, Sanchez said in an interview.

Feldman also said she supports the aggressive approach Lujan Grishams administration has taken to addressing the pandemic, which also includes closing public schools for the rest of the academic year.

Shes trying to bend the curve and hop on it early  Im really glad she has the power to do it, Feldman said.
We know the coronavirus is highly contagious. We know crowded spaces are the surest way to create a COVID-19 cluster that can soon balloon to engulf an entire region.

Such scenarios have happened in churches around the country. In Sacramento, California, at least five members of The Faith Presbyterian Church have tested positive and two have died. In Arkansas, about three dozen people who attended a childrens event at Assemblies of God Church in Greers Ferry contracted the virus, with more waiting for test results.

If this much is known, why in Gods name would three area pastors and a well-known conservative power broker encourage local churchgoers to defy Harris Countys stay-at-home order and attend services?

Because the petition filed by anti-LGBTQ Republican activist Steven Hotze and pastors Juan Bustamante, George Garcia and David Valdez is not in Gods name, but in the name of political pageantry. They are using a public health crisis to score points, not to look out for the faithful.

That is shameful  and dangerous.

Hotze, who is best known for leading the crusade against the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, and the three pastors understand the influence they wield. They surely know that by asking the Texas Supreme Court to strike down the county order, they will lead many of their followers to violate measures meant to protect them.

By asking the court to strike down the county order, Hotze and the others are putting those seeking solace at risk of illness and death.

In issuing the March 24 order, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo adhered to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and infectious disease experts, which call for people to maintain a distance of least six feet from others and avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.

The county order, which came a day after chief executives at the Texas Medical Center unanimously called for the county to implement a shelter-in-place order, requires most businesses to close and residents to stay home except for grocery shopping, crucial errands, exercising or going to work at a business categorized as essential.

Public health and science must drive our response, and the science is clear: If we fail to take adequate steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, people will die, Hidalgo said in a statement. We continue to urge folks to take this seriously.

The order allows faith leaders to minister and counsel in individual settings, so long as social distance protocols are followed and requires worship services to be provided by video and teleconference.

The directive doesnt bar anyone from practicing their chosen religion. Nor does it prohibit faith leaders from ministering to their congregants.

In other words, Hidalgos order seeks to save lives by slowing the spread of the new coronavirus  without infringing on religious liberty, as Hotze and the others contend.

In fact, many churches had recognized the risk of exposure and already stopped holding on-site services before the county order. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, for example, halted mass indefinitely as of March 18. In announcing the suspension, Cardinal Joseph DiNardo noted: Our faith has to be lived with reason, prudence and good judgment.

This week, Vice President Mike Pence urged Americans not to attend church services of more than 10 people and thanked places of worship that are heeding CDC guidelines.

The coronavirus doesnt discriminate between the faithful and the agnostic. Believer and non-believer alike risk exposure if they dont follow orders to observe social distancing and stay at home.

That is why the pastor of a megachurch in Tampa, Florida was arrested for holding services in a packed church in defiance of a local shelter-in-place order.

Its also why Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and his Florida counterpart, need to rethink their stay-home measures that allow exemptions for religious gatherings.

Abbott, at least, recommended crowd limitations for religious gatherings and encouraged faith communities to use social distancing, remote services or drive-up worship.

We understand that in times such as these, when uncertainty and unease swirl around us, many of us turn to our faith for comfort. The communal act of worship is a sacred ritual across the religious spectrum.

We understand that freedom of religion is one of the bedrocks of our nation  and nothing should be done to erode it.

The countys stay-home order does nothing of the kind. Indeed, many houses of worship, from Champion Forest Baptist Church to Christ the King Lutheran in the Rice area, to Congregation Beth Israel in southwest Houston, are adapting to the new normal, following stay-home orders by streaming services online. Some are offering ministry through video conferences.

Hotze and the pastors must put aside their political agendas and follow the lead of the faith leaders who are tending to the physical and spiritual needs of their flocks. Anything less is public endangerment.
Those who came from abroad and participated in the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi should go for their check-up in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, said Qazi Syed Mohammad Ahmad Qasmi in Dehradun on Friday.

Appealing to the participants of the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizamuddin, the Qazi said, "There is no shame in going for a check-up. A timely check-up and on-time treatment will prevent the spread of the virus."

He further said, "I appeal to my Muslim brothers to follow the rules set for the lockdown as the government and doctors are working very hard to tackle the coronavirus outbreak."

Till now 10 positive cases have been confirmed in Uttarkhand.

As per the latest data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of coronavirus cases is 2,088 and there have been 56 deaths in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday wrote to various religious institutions and organisations and pledged support and help of Congress workers in Uttar Pradesh in their efforts to combat the coronavirus threat.

According to a statement issued by the party, she wrote letters to prominent people associated with many mutts, temples, gurdwaras, ''idaras'', churches and other religious institutions and organisations.

In her letter, Priyanka Gandhi said that religious institutions can take help of Congress workers in serving the public in the fight against the the deadly virus.

"Our country is going through a terrible crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. People from every corner of the country are returning to their homes hungry and thirsty. People are losing jobs. Workers have lost work," she said.

"If you need volunteers for public service, you can contact our district team. They will be ready to cooperate with you in works related to relief and rescue operations in fighting against the corona disaster," Priyanka Gandhi said in the letter.

The Congress leader said that she has asked party workers in Uttar Pradesh to help the needy by building a volunteer team of ''Congress ke sipahi'' in every district.
People who survive the most dire cases of disease caused by the novel coronavirus are about to learn one of the cruelest lessons of the pandemic: After defeating the virus, the really hard part begins.

Those saved through extreme medical interventions, including being attached to mechanical ventilators for a week or two, often suffer long-term physical, mental and emotional issues, according to a staggering body of medical and scientific studies. Even a year after leaving the intensive care unit, many people experience post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's-like cognitive deficits, depression, lost jobs and problems with daily activities such as bathing and eating.

For weeks, state and local officials and hospitals have cried out for more ventilators to save the severely ill. But medical experts say that while the machines can make the difference between life or death, they are hardly a magic bullet.

"I think what we're going to see is a wave, about six weeks after the initial illness," said Samuel Brown, director of the Center for Humanizing Critical Care at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah. "One to three weeks to get off the ventilator, and a couple of weeks to get their sea legs back to get home - and then to finally realize: What happened? What did I just survive? And how desperately frightening that experience was for a wave of survivors who are going to have really difficult psychological symptoms."

While the vast majority of people with covid-19 experience mild cases of infection, about one in six known cases develop severe shortness of breath. About half of those become critically ill, as people's damaged lungs fill with fluid, staying alive only with the help of a mechanical ventilator, according to evolving data.

By the end of the pandemic, epidemiologists estimate, hundreds of thousands of Americans will have survived severe cases of covid-19, seeding the next health care crisis as many may struggle with the physical and psychological effects of long hospital stays.

Patients with covid-19 typically stay on ventilators for prolonged periods of one to two weeks or more, which increases the likelihood of long-term complications. The risk of infection means they are cut off from human contact, which also increases the risk of psychological issues: Health care workers can't easily interact with patients in the ways they usually would, and their families can't visit.

"We normally kneel at their bedside and hold their hand and ask them, 'How are you' and tell them, 'It is my privilege to help you.' Instead what they are getting is someone in space suit garb with very little time to spend with them," said Wesley Ely, a professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

He recounted how a medical resident recently came to him in tears.

"I don't feel like I'm a doctor," the resident told Ely. "The first time I really sat with that patient was to pronounce him dead."

The ranks of covid-19 survivors are just beginning to expand in the United States, but acute respiratory distress syndrome - the lung failure that kills patients - is also caused by other infections, giving doctors a deep reservoir of knowledge about what happens to such people after they leave the hospital. Each year, there are about 200,000 people with acute respiratory distress in the United States, and about 60 percent of them live. Many of these survivors have been watching the unfolding pandemic in the U.S. with an unsettling sense of foresight and empathy.

A common complication of prolonged stays in intensive care units is something called "ICU delirium," in which patients become severely confused and may have nightmarish hallucinations - which could be worse if people never see their caregivers' faces and don't have family there to help them understand what really happened.

Nic Brown, a 38-year-old information technology manager, spent 18 days at the hospital - seven on a ventilator. He was the Cleveland Clinic's first covid-19 patient and has "more memories of the ICU than he cares to remember."

"I had these horrible dreams and it was night after night of torment," he said in an interview. "There was a point I wanted to ask them to pull the plug. I couldn't do it."

Brown was lucky. His condition improved after doctors treated him with a variety of experimental medications, and he was discharged last week. His lungs are still struggling to recover, and when he does ordinary things like stand up to check his computer printer, he gets winded. He also said he's experienced some vision issues and, earlier on, confusion. He would write something down, but it wouldn't match the message he intended to convey.

"When you typically get out of the ICU at the hospital, you get all this support like physical therapy and speech therapy but when you are a covid-19 patient, you get none of that," he said.

With the risk of infection and social distancing orders in place, doctors say, many rehabilitation services have not been accepting patients recovering from the virus.

Michelle Bryden, a 49-year-old engineer from Ellicott City, MD, was able to take advantage of that kind of support after her hospitalization for bacterial meningitis and sepsis left her on a ventilator for four days. She has been thinking about people recovering from covid-19 as she approaches the first anniversary of her hospitalization, imagining what her path through the medical system would have been like if she had been alone.

Bryden's husband, Ken, was with her constantly in the hospital, and has helped her fill in the gaps in her memory from when she was sedated and had no idea what was happening. But when he left the hospital to shower or sleep, the isolation was difficult, even though she knew he would soon return.

"Having him there was important, and I think not having visitors in the hospital would be so hard," Bryden recalled. "I found the nights to be very scary."

Eileen Rubin, now 57, who spent eight weeks on a ventilator due to acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by sepsis when she was 33, said that she isn't sure she would have survived without her family's presence and support.

"I cry for them [covid-19 patients], really, because they don't have that support that is really so significant and meaningful, and there's no way to change that," said Rubin. "It's a feeling you have that you carry with you . . . You know somebody is fighting for you when you can't fight for yourself."

Health care teams are finding ways to alleviate patients' isolation, knowing that even small changes could mean the difference between a person who survives and one who is better-equipped to recover. Some health care workers have put their photos in patients' rooms so that when they come in covered in a mask and gown, they can point to the photo and say, "I'm that person."

Others are communicating with telehealth apps from inside the hospital, so that they can at least have some face-to-face interactions, albeit on screen. Still others have used their private cellphones covered in zip-top bags to bring family members to the bedside with video chat. The Mayo Clinic recently brought up videochat on iPads to make sure that patients can see their families as they fight the virus alone.

Even when people survive the illness, they will likely reenter a world where much of their support network simply can't give them a hug due to social distancing guidelines - and where fear of contagion could create stigma, too.

"I think that's a dynamic you can't overemphasize - that it is always bad to be in the ICU, but it's probably doubly bad to be in the ICU during a pandemic, because of the anxiety that is just fomenting," said James Jackson, a psychologist at Vanderbilt University. "It's in the air, if you will. And that all adds to the psychological burden."

Just as combat veterans may not want to ever return to the battlefield, people who recover from critical illness may not even want to drive by the hospital, Jackson said - and that means that post-traumatic stress disorder could compound other medical problems, impeding people's ability to seek the medical support they need.

Centers to support ICU survivors are not at every hospital, and delivering additional care for a person's physical, cognitive and mental health during a pandemic will be harder. Recovery may also be affected by the absence of family members in the hospital, as people trying to support their loved one may have little idea what they experienced.

"So now you have the family member who survived, and they've been through war. But no one really knows what that war experience was like," said Michael Wilson, a pulmonary intensive care unit physician at Mayo Clinic.

It's at home, after the first few weeks of convalescence, when people begin to try to bathe themselves or feed themselves that most people begin to grapple with limitations they may not have recognized in the hospital. They begin to reconstruct the lost time, piecing together fragments of memories. People may feel depressed as they realize that they have left the hospital - only to navigate a new set of problems that often last 6 months to a year.

"When someone is critically ill and so sick they require life support, such as a mechanical ventilator, most patients do not return to that former state when the life support is discontinued - particularly in the context of covid" where they may be on ventilators for long periods, said Dale Needham, professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Bryden, for example, knows that she's considered to be a "good" recovery case and is glad, because she's not sure she could have handled worse. She lost 20 pounds of muscle. She had to learn how to get out of bed and use a walker, although she had once exercised every morning. She was cleared to eat food, but she tried eating rice, and the simple act of coordinating the movement of her mouth to chew and push food into her throat was impossible at first.

Bryden was able to return to work in six weeks, walking with a cane, and by six months, she says, she began to feel like herself.

"I would just emphasize that it is hard, and the fact you've gotten out of the ICU or the hospital is really only half the battle," Bryden said, of the advice she would give people recovering from the worst cases of covid-19. "From the patient perspective, it was harder after I got out."
NUI Galway is to hold two virtual conferring ceremonies for more than 300 medical graduates and their families.

The university took the decision to bring the final year medical examinations and graduation forward to ensure that the medical graduates would be available to enter the healthcare workforce.

Due to the movement restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, the university will, for the first time in its 175 year history, not hold physical conferring ceremonies. It will instead mark the occasion online.

On Monday next, the university will confer 190 future doctors with an Honours Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor of Obstetrics (MB, BCh, BAO) degree.

Two days later, on Wednesday, it will hold the Research Conferring ceremony with over 110 students graduating.

Nearly 90 students will be conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), while a number of students will also be conferred with Masters and Doctor of Medicine degrees.

President of NUIG, Prof Ciaran O hOgartaigh said these are "extraordinary times and our graduates are extraordinary people" who will help fight the pandemic.

"While we are deeply disappointed that we cannot share this special day with our graduates in person, we are looking forward to marking the occasion and sharing good wishes online. We imagine together this day and, we hope, better days to come."

During the 175 year history of NUI Galway, our staff and students have shaped many world events and we are filled with pride by those who are bravely battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland and internationally. This community joins those who were involved in previous challenging times, by committing to the public good and the values we hold dear," he said.

The online ceremony will mark the achievements of students from across Ireland and Europe as well as Malaysia, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Brunei, Singapore, USA, China, South Korea, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Brazil, Ecuador and Vietnam.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly facing financial troubles amid their exit from the royal family. Megxit became official on March 31, and the couples plan to be financially independent has been hit with numerous challenges. From repaying renovations to buying a new home in LA, here are all of the ways the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might be facing a financial nightmare after Megxit.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson  WPA Pool/Getty Images

Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle strapped for cash?

As part of their plan to leave the monarchy, Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have agreed to stop using their royal titles and will be splitting their time between the UK and North America.

The couple recently flew to LA to reportedly buy a home in the area. But some inside sources claim that their financial situation is starting to worry Meghan.

For starters, the pair are going to pay back the money that the crown used to renovate their house in the UK, Frogmore Cottage. The renovations will cost the couple millions of dollars, money they could have used on their new house in LA.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to leave royal life behind may be a financially savvy move.



That's because the British royal familys illusion of wealth is much greater than its net worth. Here's how the British royals actually make their money: https://t.co/AWkLPw96BJ  Vox (@voxdotcom) February 20, 2020

They will also be forced to pay for security during their time in the US. President Donald Trump has made it very clear that the Sussexes will foot the bill for security, which could cost them thousands of dollars every month.

While Meghan Markle inked a deal with Disney to narrate the studios new documentary, Elephants, she donated her entire salary to a charity. Considering how the entire US is facing an economic crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic, Harry and Meghans options to make money are dwindling.

Are the Sussexes facing a financial nightmare?

An inside source claims that Meghan is very worried about the economic situation around the world and believes she and Harry must take action to secure their dreams. According to Express, the source says that Meghan Markle has urged Prince Harry to find a career to help resolve their financial issues.

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, the insider dished.

After a reported speaking engagement in Miami last week, rumors are swirling about what speaking opportunities and jobs Prince Harry may take on in his future role as a non-working member of Britain's royal family. https://t.co/vMqtvR1m1l  ABC News (@ABC) February 13, 2020

The only problem with that plan is that Harry does not have a lot of work experience to land a serious job. Apart from his ties to the royal family and military background, Harry does not have many skills that translate to the real world. But he is a wanted man, who already made an incredible amount of money with one speaking engagement. Harry also inherited $10 million from his mother Princess Diana.

The one thing Harry has going for himself is his experience in the world of charities. Harry has worked with numerous charities over the years and has been all around the world fighting for causes that are close to his heart.

We already know that Harry and Meghan will be launching a new initiative to replace Sussex Royal, and Harry will be instrumental in that regard. So, despite the claims, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should be just fine after leaving their royal life behind.

Meghan and Harry look to buy a new home

More proof that they are not facing a financial crisis is where they are planning to call home. Sources claim that Harry and Meghan are looking to buy an expensive home in LA area. One insider goes even further and claims that the Sussexes are eying a $15 million estate in Malibu that boasts 10 bedrooms.

Welcome to LA! Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their son Archie have moved permanently to the Los Angeles area. They have bought a private compound in Malibu, and are living there now. pic.twitter.com/2uTSkP10cN  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) March 27, 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not confirmed the reports surrounding their new house in Los Angeles. The couple flew to the area right before the US closed the border to Canada.

The house in question used to belong to David Charvet of Baywatch, who rebuilt it a few years ago. If Harry and Meghan are serious about purchasing a home on that level, they obviously are not worried about their financial future.

Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markles future

The coronavirus pandemic is a major wildcard in Prince Harry and Meghan Markles future plans. At the moment, the two have been forced to put everything on hold as they deal with the ongoing crisis.

Many members of the royal family have already adjusted their schedules in light of the lockdown. Prince Charles has also tested positive for the virus, while Harrys grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II is in self-isolation at Windsor Castle.

REVEALED: Prince Charles will make 2million contribution to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 4million-a-year security bill https://t.co/a1OV9dWT85  Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) March 30, 2020

There is no telling when the pandemic will end and how much it will affect the global economy. We can only hope that Harry and Meghan will figure things out on their end, but as previously mentioned, they are one of the most sought after couples in the world.

As we can all feel, the world at this moment seems extraordinarily fragile, Harry and Meghan recently shared on Instagram. 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.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not commented on the status of their finances.
At least 26 Nepalese Muslims, including 11 religious leaders, who returned home by secretly crossing the border after attending various religious congregations in India for over a month, have been detained and quarantined in Nepal, taking the total number of such cases to 44.

The religious leaders from southern Nepal's Saptari district, who spent over a month participating in various religious congregations across India, secretly crossed the Nepal-India border and arrived at Bishrampur Rural Municipality. Police detained them on Thursday and sent them to a quarantine facility at a school building in Birgunj.

After we learnt that a few Muslim religious leaders had arrived at the mosque in Bishrampur, we reached there with rural municipality Chairperson Amirilal Pal, Vice-chairperson Sumitradevi Sah and the local people, got their health checked up and then sent them to quarantine, DSP Gautam Mishra of Bara was quoted as saying by the Himalayan Times.

Similarly, 15 Nepali Muslims, who entered Nepal from India during the lockdown, have also been quarantined in Parsa district of southern Nepal.

Earlier, 18 Nepali Muslims, who returned from India after participating in a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin area in New Delhi, were identified and kept in a quarantine facility in Saptari district.

Famed for the shrine of the 14h century Sufi mystic Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, the Nizamuddin area of New Delhi has emerged as an epicentre for spread of the coronavirus in different parts of India after thousands of people took part in a Tablighi Jamaat congregation from March 1-15.

Indian authorities have launched a nationwide search for participants of the huge religious gathering amid fears that thousands present there could have carried the infection to the length and breadth of the country.

Various nationals, particularly from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan come for Tabligh activities in Delhi.

Meanwhile, 13 Indonesian Muslims, who were hiding in a Mosque in Nepal's Godavari area, 18 km east of Kathmandu, have been taken to a nearby resort for quarantine after the local people raised objections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ninety-one people in Ohio have died after contracting the novel coronavirus and 3,312 people have tested positive, according to Ohio Department of Health figures on Friday afternoon.

The numbers continue to rise from Thursday, when 2,902 people had tested positive and 81 people had died.

The health department said Friday 895 people have been hospitalized for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Of those, 288 had been admitted to the intensive-care unit.

The age range is less than a year to 101, with a median age of 54.

Its still almost 20% health care workers, 4% workers of long-term care facilities, Ohio Department of Health Dr. Amy Acton said.

Gov. Mike DeWine said at his Friday afternoon coronavirus briefing that 38 Ohio prison inmates were recommended for early release. However, the ultimate decision will be made by the judge who sentenced each of them.

The situation is rapidly changing in Ohio. On March 9, the state announced the first three positive tests - all in Cuyahoga County. State officials confirmed the first death March 20.

Prisons

DeWine said that the state has endeavored to protect inmates.

The employees are screened for illness every day when they come in, as well as contractors.

Prisoners arent allowed visitors.

No one with a symptom is admitted, DeWine said.

DeWine said there are 48,991 inmates today, and theyre looking at candidates to release. Theyre sending letters to judges across the state, asking them to consider releasing them.

First of all these are not violent offenders, he said. These are not people who are sex offenders. These are not domestic abusers. Theyre not murderers.

They are in one of two groups:

Twenty-three women are either pregnant or in prison with a child who was born behind bars. Letters have been sent to judges about these inmates too, he said.

Another group - 15 people -- are over the age of 60 and theyre within 60 days of being released. Letters have been sent to local courts where they were sentenced for judges to determine whether to release them.

Testing

Gov. Mike DeWine said the state doesnt have enough coronavirus testing capacity -- which he and other officials have long been saying, and which is a problem across the country.

After an order directing hospitals without coronavirus testing kits to send specimen to Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, University Hospitals and Ohio State University, DeWine said results are coming back faster.

There are private labs, such as LabCorp., but theyre taking five days or longer to return results.

Ohio State and the health department have gotten together and they are focused on filling a couple critical holes we have so testing can actually take place and expand.

That includes swabs, tubes to put the swabs in and liquids in the tubes.

Theyre going to start producing these and making these available. So for the hospitals around the state who are lacking these and unable to do tests, help is on the way, he said.

Theres a shortage of chemicals in machines and DeWine said the state is working on that as well.

Ohio National Guard

Ohio Adjutant General General John Harris Jr. is working with the Ohio Department of Health expanding capacity at hospitals before the surge.

We have a three- or four- week look at what we have coming, he said, based on other states experiences.

He said the dividing the state in hospital regions and zones is helping streamline treatment.

We are here to support the health care system, he said.

The National Guard is also working to support food pantries. Soldiers are helping in personal protective equipment warehouses, Harris said.

Workers wanted

There are thousands of jobs available, said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. People can search and apply for jobs at: https://jobsearch.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/jobsearch/.

Battelle is making its sterilization work for N95 masks for hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities free, Husted said.

This story will be updated.

Other coronavirus coverage:

Gov. Mike DeWine gives Fridays coronavirus update: Watch Live

2,902 people in Ohio have confirmed coronavirus, 81 dead: Gov. Mike DeWines April 2 briefing

Gov. Mike DeWine extends Ohios stay-at-home order until May 1

Whats the unemployment application rejection rate? Ohio doesnt yet know.

Heres how much it costs to get coronavirus treatment

BBC spotlights Gov. Mike DeWines coronavirus response

Ohioans are now in 1 of 3 hospital zones for coronavirus treatment, Gov. DeWine announces
New York mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday said the city administration had initially recommended that residents not wear masks during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic out of concern that residents would buy up masks needed for healthcare workers.

De Blasio was asked during a Friday radio interview why the city initially told the public that medical masks would be ineffective in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

The concern throughout was, we didnt want a situation where people were taking supplies, surgical masks, N95s away from the people who are doing the life-and-death work [and] who must be protected, de Blasio said on WNYCs The Brian Lehrer Show.

We did not want to create an artificial demand there, de Blasio continued, nor did we want to create a sense that if you had something over your face you didnt need to practice social distancing, [or that] you didnt need to shelter in place, which are much more important strategies.

The mayor said New Yorkers were now encouraged to wear homemade masks or scarves over their mouths when going outside, because the measure could prevent asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms from spreading the disease.

On Friday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, also voiced support for the use of cloth masks in public.

Because of some recent information that the virus can actually be spread even when people just speak, as opposed to coughing and sneezing, the better part of valor is that when youre out, and you cant maintain that six-foot distance [from another person], to wear some sort of facial covering, Fauci told Fox News.

Public health officials at the federal level, as well as those representing international groups like the World Health Organization, initially discouraged the use of masks when the coronavirus became a point of significant public concern in February. Health officials from various states have begun to reverse the initial directives and the White House is expected to announce during a Friday press conference that the CDC has changed its guidelines regarding the efficacy of masks.

More from National Review
A contagion on the scale of the coronavirus, however, may offer authoritarians a greater opportunity than any event short of war. It has no borders, and the sense of panic it creates is broader than that after a terrorist attack, which is designed to scare but usually targets one locale  and which has nowhere near the same economic impact. In a war or a natural disaster, average people can have some agency: They can volunteer to fight in a war or assist on the home front, or provide aid to an area slammed by a hurricane. But the virus leaves citizens powerless; to help others, all they can do is stay home, leaving them dependent on experts and officials to guide them  and unable to congregate publicly to protest a power grab. And while a war, a terrorist attack or a natural disaster may cause some areas to shutter, it does not usually close down an entire country, a shift that gives a leader the widest latitude. Finally, as autocrats like Cambodias Hun Sen have shown, a contagion provides an authoritarian a chance to stigmatize certain marginalized populations, scapegoating them for the disease.
Google Duo got better at masking audio issues on calls thanks to a new artificial intelligence technology. The solution, called WaveNetEQ, has been devised by one of the companys DeepMind teams.

Pixel 4 owners who use Google Duo have unknowingly been testing WaveNetEQ since December. As of Monday, the AI feature began rolling out to several other devices as well. Unfortunately, Google has yet to provide a list of those. What it did deliver this week is an in-depth explanation of how this tech fixes Google Duo audio issues.

Audio issues stemming from data packet loss affect 99% of Google Duo calls, according to Alphabets subsidiary. While that figure may seem shockingly high, its anything but. It is merely a reflection of how imperfect internet-based voice tech continues to be. DeepMind developed WaveNetEQ in response and claims the solution offers unprecedented packet loss mitigation.

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Addressing Google Duo audio issues by predicting the future

In laymans terms, the service analyzes call data and supplements it with predictive audio when necessary. The AI-created audio information replaces not just lost packets, but also wrongly ordered ones. DeepMinds platform stems from WaveRNN, an efficient neural audio synthesis solution first conceptualized in a science paper two years ago. WaveRNN itself was preceded by WaveNet, a deep neural network touted as a major breakthrough in AI-infused audio processing back in 2017.

Ultra-complex AI isnt the only way to combat audio issues on internet calls. However, DeepMind claims it delivers unparalleled results with gaps longer than 60 milliseconds. Encouraged by initial results, the companys adamant to continue pursuing this packet loss concealement technique moving forward.

Its unclear when WaveNetEQ might become more widely available. The features backend doesnt run entirely in the cloud, which rules out entry-level Android devices. Instead, it requires hosts with somewhat capable processors optimized for machine learning. That would be most modern flagship and mid-range chipsets.

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Perhaps the biggest obstacle to WaveNetEQs wider deployment is the solutions dependance on vast volumes of data. Like any other machine learning tech, DeepMinds service requires tons of information to learn from before becoming remotely useful in any particular language. In other words, its implied only English-speaking Pixel 4 owners were unknowingly using the enhanced version of Google Duo since the turn of the year.

Be that as it may, DeepMind hasnt been ignoring other languages since its WaveNet days. It should hence only be a matter of time before WaveNetEQ rolls out to more territories.
Odisha reported its sixth COVID-19 positive case, having recent travel history to Delhi, from Cuttack informed Department of Health Family Welfare, Government of Odisha on Friday.

"In view of the fact that one resident of Cuttack has been found positive for COVID-19, Cuttack city is also being included under the complete lockdown for 48 hours from 8 PM from today till 8 PM of Sunday, along with Bhubaneswar and Bhadrak," said Asit Tripathy, Odisha Chief Secretary.

"Grocery and other essential services will not be allowed for these 48 hours starting from 8pm tonight in these towns. currently issued passes will not be valid for these 48 hours," said DGP Abhay.

The lockdown period will be used for aggressive contact tracing of the patient, he added.

Informing about the decision in a press conference Tripathi said, "In the larger public interest and with a view to contain the community transmission of COVID-19 virus we have decided to impose complete lockdown in Bhubaneswar City and Bhadrak Town for next 48 hours from 8pm today to 8pm Sunday."

"Earlier MHA order on restrictions has been revoked and new shutdown regulations are implemented by OSDMA, so anyone found outside the houses and found violating curfew rules will be put in government quarantine facilities, so I appeal to the public to cooperate with the government, as it is in their interest," he added.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases on Friday rose to 2,301 in India, including 156 cured/discharged, 56 deaths and one migrated, 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.)
There is no historical comparison for what our country is going through.

Medically? Were rivaling the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic. Economically? Were seeing unemployment that could look like the Great Depression. Critical supplies? We need to produce more, faster, than any time since World War II.

Every domino is falling at once. And theyre falling hardest here in New York City.

On Friday we hit a painful milestone, surpassing 50,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Weve lost 1,562 New Yorkers. One of every four cases in the United States is a New York City resident.

There is only one way to get New York City and every city the medical personnel we need: The federal government should enlist every available private doctor, nurse and essential health care worker to fight in this war.

It would be a remarkable step. But these are remarkable times.

Were already trying unimaginable things. We started this crisis with a little under 20,000 hospital beds  and want to quadruple that by the end of April. Were gathering ventilators and equipment from every possible source, and Ive called on President Trump to use the Defense Production Act to its fullest extent.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Five people kidnapped alongside Malian opposition leader Soumaila Cisse have been freed, his party said on Friday, as officials reported that negotiations were also underway to secure his release

Bamako, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Apr, 2020 ) :Five people kidnapped alongside Malian opposition leader Soumaila Cisse have been freed, his party said on Friday, as officials reported that negotiations were also underway to secure his release.

A former finance minister and presidential contender, Cisse and members of his team were kidnapped in jihadist-ridden central Mali last week.

Despite a years-long jihadist conflict raging in the West Africa state, his kidnap marked a first for a politician of his rank in the war-torn country.

Mali has been struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency that erupted in the north in 2012, and which has claimed thousands of military and civilian lives.

On Friday, Cisse's Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD) party said in a statement that the party leader and three others remain in captivity.

Unidentified gunmen had attacked Cisse's convoy -- which was carrying over a dozen people -- when he was campaigning in his electoral district in central Mali on March 25.

Security officials have said that the kidnappers are likely followers of the radical preacher Amadou Koufa, whose group is linked to al-Qaeda.

The opposition leader's bodyguard was killed in the attack, and two others were wounded. The kidnappers released the wounded, along with three others, on March 26.

The URD said on Friday that five more hostages had been released on Thursday night and that they "are doing well".

Party officials also told AFP that negotiations are underway to secure the release of Cisse himself.

The opposition leader won his seat in Mali's parliamentary election on Sunday, provisional results released on Thursday indicate.
Motorola unveiled the Moto G8 Power back in February and now the company follows it up with the Moto G8 Power Lite.

The Moto G8 Power Lite is built around a 6.5" Max Vision IPS display of 20:9 aspect ratio. It has HD+ resolution and a notch up top for the 8MP selfie camera.

On the back you get a fingerprint reader along with a triple camera setup placed vertically in the top-left corner, which is a combination of a 16MP main, 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensor units.

The Moto G8 Power Lite is driven by a Helio P35 SoC paired with 4GB RAM. The smartphone runs the outdated Android 9 Pie and has 64GB of storage onboard along with a microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 256GB.

The Moto G8 Power Lite has a water-repellent coating and comes in two colors - Turquoise and Blue.

Its key selling point is arguably the huge 5,000mAh battery, but sadly that charges through a microUSB port at up to 10W.

The Moto G8 Power Lite is priced at 169 ($185) and will arrive in Germany and Mexico first. It will also be launched in the rest of Latin America and Europe, along with Asian and Australian markets in the coming weeks.

Source
US confirms 6,053 deaths in the outbreak

The US has become the country with the most confirmed coronavirus infections followed by Italy, Spain, and Germany after the virus emerged in China.

The number of people in the US who have died from the novel coronavirus has surpassed the 6,000 mark, according to data released early Friday by Johns Hopkins University.

The university's running tally counted 6,053 deaths and 245,540 cases as the US struggles to curb the outbreak.

"HARD DAYS AHEAD"

On Sunday, President Donald Trump warned that the next two weeks will be very painful" in the US in terms of deaths from the coronavirus and urged Americans to brace for "hard days ahead."





"This is going to be a very, very painful two weeks," he stressed at a White House press conference.

New York is the US state worst-hit by the pandemic with more than 2,300 deaths. It has more than 92,000 cases, followed by New Jersey and California, the states with the second and third-most infections, trailing far behind with nearly 26,000 and 11,100 cases respectively.
(Newser)  For nearly two decades, a man known as the Cascade Flasher has been exposing himself in Michigan's Cascade Township. But police say his creepy reign has finally come to an end, reports MLive. Officers say they arrested 54-year-old Steven Pastoor near a highway, naked from the waist down. Investigators with the Kent County Sheriff's Department say he confessed to being the town's serial flasher after his arrest. "We believe him to be responsible for several dozen indecent exposures over the last almost 20 years," says Lt. Joel Roon, per WOOD-TV.

story continues below

Authorities say the flasher would typically knock on the door or window of a home, or sometimes stand on the side of a road, then masturbate when he had someone's attention. He typically wore a hat and shirt, but no pants. Police say their break came when he began knocking on the same woman's door in 2018. Security cameras at her house helped police identify Pastoor as a suspect, and deputies began surveillance. On March 25, deputies say he was peeping in the windows of an apartment complex, then drove to a parking lot near an interstate. Authorities say they arrested him near the highway after he exited his vehicle. (Read more flasher stories.)
As Iran struggles with a devastating coronavirus outbreak, a broken economy and a severe shortage of medical equipment, it says that US trade sanctions are taking Iranian lives and has called for the United States to lift them on humanitarian grounds.

As Iran struggles with a devastating coronavirus outbreak, a broken economy and a severe shortage of medical equipment, it says that US trade sanctions are taking Iranian lives and has called for the United States to lift them on humanitarian grounds.

Irans plea is gaining traction around the globe, winning support from allies like Russia and China, but also the European Union, the United Nations secretary-general, rights groups and nearly three dozen members of Congress, who have appealed to the Trump administration to suspend the sanctions for as long as Iran is battling the coronavirus.

Iran, a global epicenter of the virus, has confirmed more than 47,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths, although public health experts estimate the real toll to be several times higher.

We had always said the sanctions are unjust, but coronavirus revealed this injustice to the world, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said in a recent video message, which he began by removing a surgical mask from his face with blue latex gloves. He referred to the sanctions as economic terrorism.

The issue has raised questions about the collision of punishing US sanctions with a deadly pandemic, including whether Iran is trying to exploit the crisis to achieve a long-held goal of lifting sanctions, whether the United States is using the virus to squeeze Iran beyond what sanctions alone could do, and what responsibility the United States has for a disaster caused at least partly by Irans own inept response.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been unequivocal, saying in a tweet Saturday that Irans concerted effort to lift US sanctions isnt about fighting the pandemic. Its about cash for the regime leaders.

He has accused Irans leaders of trying to avoid responsibility for their grossly incompetent and deadly governance.

When Zarif accused the United States of waging medical terror, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus tweeted Stop lying, adding, Its not the sanctions. Its the regime.

If anything, the United States has doubled down, imposing fresh sanctions as recently as two weeks ago, even as it offered Iran medical aid to help combat the pandemic; aid Iran has refused.

The United States frequently reiterates that the sanctions exempt the sale of medicine and medical devices, however US secondary sanctions on financial institutions and companies that do business with Iran have made it nearly impossible for Iran to buy items like ventilators to treat coronavirus patients.

The sanctions have largely deterred international banks and firms from participating in commercial or financial transactions with Iran, including for exempted humanitarian transactions, due to the fear of triggering U.S. secondary sanctions on themselves, Human Rights Watch found in a report last year, months before the coronavirus emerged.

Now the need for such equipment is urgent.

US sanctions are stopping medical equipment from being sent to Iran, Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in a tweet Tuesday. As a result, innocent people are dying.

Irans leadership also bears a share of the blame for its fumbling response to the crisis.

The virus was first detected in Iran in late February, but the government, ignoring the advice of its own health experts, took no action to enforce social distancing or lock down affected areas until this week, allowing the virus to spread unchecked and turning Iran into a regional hub for the outbreak.

The government came under fire for under reporting the number of cases and playing down the threat, while rivalries between the government and the military left the country wondering who was in charge of containing the pandemic.

On top of that, Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected the US. offer of humanitarian assistance, claiming that the virus was created by America. Analysts said that accepting US aid was also seen as politically untenable  it would not fix the economy or end sanctions but would have the undesirable effect of making the United States look benevolent.

Turning the focus to US sanctions diverts attention from Irans own failings and aligns with Irans policy objectives.

Iran sees an opportunity to leverage the coronavirus to pressure the US to ease its maximum pressure policy because they are at a deadlock with the economy, said Siamak Ghasemi, an Iran-based economist. Of course sanctions relief will give the government more financial resources to battle coronavirus, but they are also thinking long term.

But some analysts say that the Trump administration also sees the virus as an opportunity, an additional tool that in tandem with sanctions could force Iran to capitulate to US demands, including a renegotiated, tougher nuclear agreement and a curb on its regional activities.

The Trump administration believes that the outbreak has succeeded where sanctions failed to weaken the economy even further, said Ali Vaez, Iran director for International Crisis Group. They think that the timeline for bringing Iran to its knees has shortened because of the coronavirus.

Theres no question that the virus has slammed Irans already teetering economy.

Most small businesses, restaurants and hotels, and other service industries have been closed for over a month during what is usually their most lucrative season, around the Persian new year. Factories have scaled down production, and unemployment has spiked, with economists saying Iran is losing at least 1 million jobs per month.

Economists said the coronavirus would shrink Irans GDP by a third and create at least a $10 billion budget deficit this year. Before the virus, sanctions had already cost Iran about $200 billion in revenue, mainly from decimated oil sales, and devalued the currency by half in the past two years. And oil sales to the few countries that still flout US sanctions, like China, have plummeted as the price of crude oil has plunged.

When government has no access to its resources, it cant bail out businesses, it cant quarantine, and it cant provide economic support for people to not work, said Pooria Asteraky, a tech entrepreneur who occasionally consults for Irans M Telecommunications Ministry..

In a sign of desperation, Iran requested a $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, the first time it has applied for such a loan since the 1960s. The European Union has said it would support the loan, but the United States is expected to block it.

Economic distress brought Iranians to the streets in November, and the government is aware that it could do so again now that the economy is even worse. Blaming the United States could deflect some of that anger.

Whoever is to blame, the sight of overflowing hospitals, mass graves and doctors pleading for medical supplies has won some international sympathy, especially among countries already opposed to the Trump administrations unilateral withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear agreement and imposition of sanctions.

The European Union donated $22 million in humanitarian aid to Iran last week, and Japan sent $23.5 million. On Tuesday, the European Union exported medical goods to Iran in its first use of a financial mechanism set up last year to allow European companies to work around U.S. sanctions.

On Tuesday, 33 American senators and representatives sent a letter to the Trump administration, urging it to suspend sanctions as a humanitarian gesture to the Iranian people and to find a way to deliver direct aid.

US sanctions should not be contributing to this humanitarian disaster, Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the signatories, said in a statement Tuesday. He added: Every country on Earth is going to be affected by the coronavirus. We are all in this together. If there was ever a moment to show each other unprecedented cooperation and support internationally, this is that moment.

Farnaz Fassihi c.2020 The New York Times Company
By Laila Kearney

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has directed his cabinet to find ways to ease a cash crunch in the drilling industry after oil company executives told him in a Friday meeting it was among their top concerns, according to three sources briefed on the matter.

Trump hosted the White House meeting with executives from Exxon Mobil, Chevron Corp, Continental Resources and others as his government seeks to contain the fallout from an historic slump in oil prices that has threatened the industry with bankruptcies and layoffs.

Oil prices have dropped by about two-thirds this year as the coronavirus outbreak crushes fuel demand and major producers Saudi Arabia and Russia engage in a price war.

U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told a broad industry conference call following Trump's meeting with the oil executives that Trump had directed him to work with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to look for ways to immediately fix the energy industry's "liquidity shock", according to sources who listened in on the call.

The measures could include easing banking regulations to expand the oil industry's access to credit, which has shrunk rapidly alongside the decline in oil prices, Brouillette said, according to the sources.

Brouillette also pointed out that the administration was helping the industry cope with a rapidly worsening storage glut in the United States by leasing out space in the nation's emergency oil reserve, the sources said. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who was also on the call, said he was making federal lands available to drillers and considering a series of other options to help oil companies, but provided no details.

The briefing quashed rumors that the Trump administration was planning to announce measures to restrict U.S. crude oil production to help lift global prices, as it pushes Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major oil producers to do so.

Trump has highlighted his efforts to push Moscow and Riyadh to end their price war and tighten their taps, and Brouillette said on the call that the administration was not negotiating with those countries, only encouraging them to make a deal amongst themselves.

Story continues

The energy industry had also expected the administration to offer some additional ways to help the industry weather the crisis, including waiving royalty payments from drillers for oil produced on federal lands, imposing an import tariff on foreign crude oil or easing shipping regulations. One of the sources called the outcome "a waste of time".

After the meeting, Trump said his administration planned to make sure the U.S. oil industry stays in "good shape".

Asked if he is considering tariffs on Saudi oil, Trump said: "Tariffs are a way of evening the score ... Am I doing it now? No. Am I thinking about imposing it as of this moment? No. But if we're not treated fairly it's certainly a tool in the toolbox."

He added that he expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to "settle their dispute very quickly."

Trump had said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia and Russia had agreed to cut output by an unprecedented 10 million to 15 million barrels per day (bpd), representing 10% to 15% of global supply, after he discussed the issue with their leaders. The countries did not confirm the plan, but said they would discuss ways to stabilize the market with other major world oil producers.

The United States in recent years has become the world's biggest oil producer, at times putting its exports in competition with Russia and countries in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The American Petroleum Institute, which represents the U.S. oil and gas industry, had asked Trump for regulatory relief to ensure steady supplies during the pandemic. The administration has since announced a temporary easing of environmental enforcement.

The API, many of whose members operate globally, has opposed the idea of an oil import tariff, which could hurt domestic refiners and complicate projects and business relationships across borders.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Diane Bartz in Washington; Jessica Resnick-Ault, Stephanie Kelly, and Jarrett Renshaw in New York; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Richard Chang, Dan Grebler, Daniel Wallis and David Gregorio)
Japan further tightened its border entry restrictions on Friday in an effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The government is calling on all arrivals from any part of the world to self-quarantine at home, hotels or elsewhere for two weeks. Travelers are asked to avoid using public transportation to get to those places. The measures will be in place through the end of this month.

The government also greatly expanded its list of countries and territories subject to entry refusal to 73. It is now denying entry to foreign nationals who visited any of these places within two weeks of their arrival in Japan.

The newest additions to the list include the United States, Canada and Britain. This means that people from almost all areas of Europe will be denied entry. It also covers China and South Korea in their entirety.

Japanese returning from any of the 73 countries and territories will have to be tested for the virus whether or not they show symptoms.

The same arrangement also applies to foreign nationals who are allowed to enter Japan for special reasons, such as having Japanese spouses.

The government is considering securing airport areas, hotel rooms and other places for these arrivals to stay in while waiting for their test results. It is also weighing the possibility of financially helping with the accommodation fees.

The government plans to keep the entry ban list in effect for the time being. It will examine the situation in the future to decide when to end the measure.
NEW YORK, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Market Research Report: By Type (AC [Level 1, Level 2], DC [CHAdeMO, CCS, GB/T, Tesla SC]), Application (Public, Private) a" Industry Size, Share and Demand Forecast to 2025







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05879094/?utm_source=PRN







The electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) market is being positively impacted by the increasing sale of electric vehicles, investments being poured in by manufacturers, and government support for installing such charging stations. The market is predicted to witness a 10.7%CAGR during the forecast period (20202025) to see an increase in its revenue to $2.7 billion in 2025, from $1.5 billion in 2019. A charging point can have numerous connections, only one of which can be used at any particular time.



Based on type, the EVSE market is bifurcated into direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) chargers. Of these, AC chargers held the larger share during the historical period (20142019), as they are cost-effective in their operation, installation, and manufacturing. During the forecast period, DC chargers will witness swifter growth, owing to their faster charging ability, which is also why they are mostly installed along highways, rather than at homes.



The installation of DC fast chargers is itself a key trend being witnessed in the market. Apart from their quick charging ability, they eliminate the need for having an AC-to-DC convertor on-board the vehicle, as they are themselves capable of performing the electricity conversion. Due to the concerns regarding the longer time taken by AC chargers, the installation of DC variants is increasing. For instance, during 20172018, the share of DC chargers in the total number of chargers in China rose from 24% to 36%.



The two bifurcations under the application segment are private and public, of which private chargers dominated the EVSE market in 2019. This is because of the rapid adoption of EVSE at the homes of individual EV owners, primarily in China. As such vehicles require a long charging time, people prefer to energize their batteries comfortably in their homes. During the forecast period, faster progress would be witnessed by the public bifurcation, as governments in numerous countries are taking initiatives to develop the EV charging infrastructure for public use.



The major driving factor for the EVSE market growth is the rapid adoption of EVs, which is resulting in the increasing need for electricity supply infrastructure. With the air pollution levels increasing due to the burning of fossil fuels in conventional vehicles, electric variants are being promoted in numerous nations. The International Energy Agency reports a 2 million surge in EV sales, which crossed the 5 million mark in 2018. These sales are further expected to grow at a rate of 30% in the coming years, thereby boosting EVSE deployment.



The government of several countries are taking efforts to install EV charging stations. For instance, the South Korean government has targeted the deployment of 10,000 fast chargers by 2022. Similarly, India has plans to install 2,700 charging stations by 2023, in cities with more than 4 million residents. In the same vein, Canada sanctioned $4.6 million in 2019 for the installation of 92 DC chargers, while the Californian government has proposed a funding of $900 million for the deployment of250,000 charging points by 2025.



Geographically, Asia-Pacific (APAC) was the largest EVSE market in 2019, as it accounts for the highest sale of EVs and installation of supporting infrastructure, led by China.As per the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Agency (EVCIPA), China had 330,000 EV supply stations in 2019, in comparison to the 67,500 in the U.S, in 2018-end. Apart from the extreme air pollution levels and government efforts to reduce them, the decreasing cost of ownership is also responsible for this.



Hence, with the growing adoption of EVs, the demand for equipment to supply electricity will keep increasing.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05879094/?utm_source=PRN



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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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For nearly 60 years I have been actively engaged in Montana elections, always measuring candidates through the prism of which one is best for workers, family farmers and ranchers, and those less fortunate. In my humble opinion, the best of Montanas candidates for governor is Whitney Williams.

Like Whitney Williams, I started my political education at my parents kitchen table where I learned about the need for unions and the need to elect progressive leaders. While in college, I worked at the Laurel refinery, where I was privileged to serve as a representative for workers. I eventually moved to Helena to become active in our statewide labor movement. My late wife Arlene and I became close friends with Pat and Carol Williams  and so you see, Ive known Whitney all her life.

Whitney has always been whip-smart and determined to make a difference. She has the pulse of working people in her blood and bones. Her family history is peppered with legendary union stories  such as when her grandmother sheltered and fed those gathering to form the Teachers Union on the second floor of the American Candy Shop in Butte. Her dad, Congressman Pat Williams, famously used his considerable clout to protect workers  in unions or not  during his time in Congress. Her mom, Carol Williams, did the same in our state Senate. Whitneys first job out of college was to archive and preserve the history of Buttes powerful Womens Protective Union. Its quite an impressive working family pedigree.

And yet theres more: Twenty years ago, Whitney formed an international business that helps people in need all over the globe. She is a savvy businesswoman, working with leaders from all across the political spectrum to make positive change for those at the bottom end of the economy, as well as businesses and governments. Whitney has demonstrated her ability to improve the lives of working people by fostering stable, safe and productive workplaces.

Whitney is the best candidate to go on to victory in the general election. Today, more than ever, workers in all industries need an innovator to meet the challenges we face. Whitney can bring people together to solve problems and shell make sure working people have a seat at the table.

Whitney has the experience to go one-on-one with Greg Gianforte. Whitney has worked around the world to lift people up. Whitney has the chops and the profile to work with all Montanans to ensure working families have a fighting chance, whether that is through ensuring worker safety laws are preserved, improving access and affordability to healthcare, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, investing in good schools throughout the whole state, and protecting hunting and fishing rights in public spaces.

Working families and their unions will have no better governor than Whitney. My good friend, former Governor Brian Schweitzer, endorsed Whitney and is lending her his famous veto branding iron. He knows, like I do, that Whitney has the courage to veto bills that hurt workers, punish women and stifle our economy.

Now, in full disclosure, you should know Whitney Williams is my God-daughter. When Pat and Carol asked me to take on that task, they also wanted me to help guide Whitney along the lines of committing to our collective cause  helping workers, unions and those less fortunate, to fight for fair taxes and a balanced economy. It has been my honor and privilege to serve in this role.

I can promise you that Whitney Williams is good for working families all across our economy. She deserves our support and vote in June and in November.

Jim Murry was the local union president for the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union at the Laurel refinery. He became the political director and later executive secretary of the Montana State AFL-CIO, and before retirement, worked for the United Steelworkers of America all over the world.

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Police officers in Bungoma have placed a nun under mandatory quarantine after she allegedly refused to lock herself in isolation.

The nun is said to have interacted with a priest from Siaya who tested positive for coronavirus last week. Several appeals to have her self-quarantine for 14 days, however, fell on deaf ears, forcing police to arrest and place her under forced confinement.

Bungoma County Health CEC, Dr Anthony Walela said the nun came into contact with the priest on March 13, when he presided over a burial mass in Ugunja, Siaya, two days after arriving from Italy.

Upon returning to Bungoma, the nun was requested to self-isolate, but she allegedly refused and continued to interact with people.

When I was informed that the said-nurse had defied directives to self-quarantine for 14 days, I alerted police officers, who went to where she stayed and arrested her, Walela told K24 on Thursday.
By IANS

LUCKNOW: After the Dargah Ala Hazrat in Bareilly, it is now the Shia clerics who are demanding a ban on the Tablighi Jamaat in the country. The controversy over holding of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in Delhi, during the coronavirus outbreak has upped the ante against the Tablighi Jamaat.

Uttar Pradesh Muslim Waqf minister Mohsin Raza described Tablighi Jamaat as an extremist organization while the Shia Waqf Board chief Waseem Rizvi said that the organization produced suicide bombers. The two leaders have demanded a ban on such organizations for alleged involvement in anti-national activities.

ALSO READ| Tablighis wilfully ignored calls to vacate, says FIR

Mohsin Raza, the only Muslim face in UP government, said: "An extremist organization has displayed anti-India behaviour at a time when the country is unitedly fighting against coronavirus. They defied government order to hold the congregation. The organization's international funding should also be looked into and legal action must also be taken."

Earlier, in a video message, Rizvi alleged that Tablighi Jamaat had deliberately got its followers infected with coronavirus and sent them to India so that maximum people got infected. "Such mentality deserves death and nothing less. The organization should be banned," he stated.

Meanwhile, Sardar Parvinder Singh, member, UP Commission for Minorities, who has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that the statements made by Maulana Saeed, convener of Nizamuddin Markaz Tablighi Jamaat, could disturb communal harmony in the country.

ALSO READ| Delhi police sends 26-point query notice to Tablighi Jamaat chief over Nizamuddin event

"Tablighi Jamaat went against the directions of Delhi and central governments which barred gatherings of more than 50 people. They also violated prohibitory orders (Section 144 of CrPC) putting innocent people at risk. The organization should be banned nationally," he stated.

He further said, "The convener of Jamaat has said that convention is being targeted by non-Muslims and is asking the youths to stay with their brethren. All these statements can disturb communal harmony."
James C. McConnon, 93, formerly of Wynnewood, a Philadelphia patent lawyer who was chairman of SEPTA for a decade, died Monday, March 16, of cardiopulmonary failure at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Trained as both a lawyer and a mechanical engineer, Mr. McConnon rose to power through his position as chairman of the Republican Party in Lower Merion. He was appointed to the SEPTA board in the mid-1960s and was chairman of the regional mass-transit agency from 1968 to 1978.

During that time, he pushed to improve the rolling stock by ordering 100 new buses and settled a transit workers strike by giving small pay hikes to drivers. He was often quoted in local newspapers, vying in the early years with then-Philadelphia Mayor James H. Tate.

He dealt with unions, politicians, everybody from the officials to the people who operated the vehicles, said his son James Jr. A lot of people respected him for that.

Born in Pittsburgh to Myles and Myra Steel McConnon, he graduated from Pittsburghs Central Catholic High School at age 16.

During World War II, he enlisted in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, graduating from Cornell University at the wars end with a bachelors degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering. He then earned a degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

In 1959, he joined the Philadelphia law firm of Paul & Paul, where he practiced intellectual property law for 60 years. He liked nothing better than to spar with an opponent in a sharply worded legal brief, said Paul & Paul lawyer Alex R. Sluzas.

When I joined the firm 34 years ago, Mr. McConnon, as we all always referred to him, was already the senior partner in the firm, Sluzas said in an email. He was a tenacious, very thoughtful litigator, and a skilled and convincing speaker.

My first courtroom assignment with him was a conference in a federal judges chambers. After listening to his opponents argument, the judge asked him for a response. Mr. McConnon demurred. Afterwards, he explained that you never try to make your case when your opponent is making it for you.

For many years, Mr. McConnon chaired the Lower Merion Republican Party, and his influence in GOP politics encompassed Montgomery County.

His leadership style was to think through a problem as if it were a puzzle, and to release his solution for others to critique. At SEPTA, he pushed to help Philadelphia and the surrounding counties get their fair share of transit funds. He felt the public should be able to travel in an affordable, seamless way.

After his service with SEPTA, Mr. McConnon returned to his law practice. He tried his last case at age 90. He was sharp as a tack, his son said.

Mr. McConnon married Nancy Kern in 1953. They raised three children in Narberth, where he was choir director at St. Margaret Church. Later, the family moved to Wynnewood.

Despite being away on business a lot, Mr. McConnon was a good father, his son said. He brought the family together for gatherings in Cape May and holidays in the Philadelphia area.

In 1998, he fulfilled a promise to his mother, Myra, to locate and bring back the remains of his brother, Lt. John McConnon. A navigator on a B-24 bomber, John McConnon was shot down over Albania in 1944, while returning from an Allied bombing mission, and was listed as missing in action.

My dad promised his dying mother he would do his best to find Johnny, his son said. He never forgot. Mr. McConnon found a press account of the plane crash and hired an investigator who located a witness and a piece of the planes fuselage in an Albanian home.

Lt. McConnons bones, and a distinctive belt buckle he had been wearing, were disinterred and sent to Hawaii for identification. The remains were returned to Pittsburgh and buried beside the grave of his mother.

Afterward, Mr. McConnon gave speeches to the families of missing military personnel.  You may have lost a loved one, but dont give up, you can find them,  he said, according to his son.

Mr. McConnons wife, Nancy, died in 2011. Besides his son, he is survived by daughters Linda McConnon and Nancy Esposito; three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

A life celebration will be held later, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Burial is private.
Were at an unforgiving moment in the economic crisis.

The desperation of workers and businesses is mounting fast, but itll be weeks before they get the full benefit of the federal governments $2 trillion relief package. And its not clear yet how much assistance will flow directly to those most in need.

In the meantime, people continue to be thrown out of work in record-shattering numbers, many with little or no savings to fall back on.

About 275,000 Texans filed unemployment claims during the week ending March 28. That was more than twice the number from the week before  which itself set a record. Who knows how many others have yet to get through to the overwhelmed Texas Workforce Commission to file claims?

Businesses across San Antonio, the ones deemed nonessential, have had to close their doors because of stay-at-home orders. Some were just getting by before the coronavirus, and they wont be around when it finally clears out. Many others need capital now to keep going.

In recent weeks, two of San Antonios public companies, iHeartMedia and Clear Channel Outdoors, have drawn down a combined $500 million from their credit facilities as a buffer against the coming recession. Even at that, radio giant iHeartMedia has furloughed workers and cut the pay of its top executives.

Many businesses dont have credit lines to tap. If anything, they have reserves that theyve managed to skim from their cash flow.

The city and Bexar County are helping, but the need is too big.

Two weeks ago, county commissioners created a $5.25 million fund for loans and grants for small businesses. Within days, LiftFund, the programs administrator, was swamped with nearly 650 applications seeking a total of $42 million.

Before the outbreak, the city set aside $1 million in the 2019-20 budget to assist residents in danger of losing their homes. As Assistant City Manager Lori Houston told City Council on Thursday, the number of calls from residents seeking assistance from the fund has reached flood stage, surging from about 50 a week to 2,000.

The pot is down to $430,000. That wont last much longer.

My heart goes out to anyone who encounters hard times and desperately needs economic help, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. There are some available solutions that can provide relief. More needs to be done, and we are working across public- and private-sector groups to connect people the resources they need to get through this crisis and get back on their feet.

When they arrive, the federal dollars will be only a short-term fix. Calling it economic stimulus feels like describing the 1940 evacuation of 340,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk as a strategic reorientation. But well be grateful when the boats get here.

In addition to a slew of industry bailouts, the relief package includes an extra $600 per week in unemployment insurance. That will supplement, and eclipse, the meager amounts states pay out. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, its formal name, also extends the period in which people can collect unemployment benefits.

For employers, it provides $350 billion for loans through the Small Business Administration. These will be forgiven if employers agree to keep their workers on the job and use the funds for expenses such as utilities and rent.

Companies began applying for the loans Friday, though lenders still had a lot of questions about the program.

And, of course, people making less than $75,000 a year can expect their $1,200 checks to land sometime in the coming weeks.

So we have that to look forward to.

But at this moment the newly unemployed and many of the companies theyd worked for are sinking and looking for help wherever they can find it.

Out-of-work San Antonians are turning to one another. To family. To charity. To free meals and food banks, said state Rep. Diego Bernal, a San Antonio Democrat and former District 1 city councilman. And theyre depending on temporary regulations like eviction freezes.

The problem is, we stopped people from working but we didnt stop the bills, he said. Safety nets are supposed to stop a fall, not just slow it down.

Among the essential businesses the city and county have allowed to remain open are pawn shops and title- and payday loan companies, notorious for nudging low-income borrowers into ultra-high-interest debt traps. Like it or not, these companies are part of the citys financial system  most banks dont make small loans to individuals.

I left messages with several of these companies but didnt hear back. The managers might have been busy fulfilling their function as one of the safety-net providers were relying on at the moment.

greg.jefferson@express-news.net
India: Requisition support of fish workers' organisations to identify fish workers for providing relief

April 03,2020 | Source: NPSSFW(I)

The Department of Fisheries in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the Government of India under their D.O. Nos. 12035/1/2015-Fy(WU) dt. 26.03.2020 and No. 12035/1/2015-Fy(WU) dt. 30.03.2020 (copy attached) have positively acted upon the submissions made by the National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (Inland) regarding restoration and continuation of fisheries related activities and provisioning of livelihood relief for fish workers all over the country.



While welcoming the initiative taken by the Department of Fisheries in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the Government of India in transferring the relief money directly to the bank account of fish workers, NPSSFW(I) has observed that -



A. In the situation where many fishers, fish farmers, fish vendors and other fish workers, especially in the Inland Fisheries sector do not have Identity Cards due to miserable inaction of the authorities, and where large number of non-fish workers have procured the Biometric Identity Card meant for marine fish workers by unscrupulous means, the only way to best ascertain proper identification of fishers, fish farmers, fish vendors and other fish workers is to take active assistance of existing fish worker unions, associations, cooperatives, fish production groups and fish worker SHGs. NPSSFW(I) and organisations affiliated with it in different states are eager to cooperate with the Government their level best in this regard.



B. Considering that the minimum wage for semi-skilled workers in the country is Rs. 371 per day and also considering that generally each fish workers household has at least two fish workers constituting family labour, it is proposed that every fish worker household should be paid at least Rs. 15,000/- per month. This assistance should be for the lock down period together with the fish ban period as the fishing communities have been so affected by the Corona Virus related lock down that they could not earn enough to tide them over during the fishing ban period. It should also be considered that particularly the East Coast suffered multiple natural calamities including cyclone Bulbul in the current fishing season.



There are media reports that pre-poning of fishing ban period and including the lock down period in it has been under active consideration of the Government. NPSSFW(I) does not subscribe to this proposal and has communicated to the Government that -



NPSSFW(I) strongly holds that the fishing ban period is meant for the fish breeding season and replenishment of the natural fish stock. This period should not be changed. We cannot allow our resource base to be depleted.



NPSSFW(I) has demanded extension of the fishing ban period to three months for small scale motorised fishing and four months for mechanised fishing including trawl fishing.



It should also be considered that during monsoon it becomes too risky to venture into the sea. Fish drying, an activity associated with marine fishing, is also not possible during monsoon. As such, there will be little relief for common fishers and fish workers if the fishing ban is pre-poned.



In view of the above NPSSFW(I) requested the Government not to consider changing the ban period and continue to provide livelihood assistance to small scale fish workers through the fishing ban period.
It started out as a mild sore throat for Houston entrepreneur Marisa Vallbona. Then, only three days later, it escalated into something she didn't expect.

"I woke up with a slight respiratory distress. That afternoon, I got alarmed. It was so concerning," Vallbona said. "I used to get bronchitis. It was definitely not bronchitis."

MASK INNOVATION: UH professor develops water-proofing for N95 masks to combat spread of COVID-19

Between March 16th to March 20th, the symptoms grew more evident and frightening.

"I called my doctor's office for a virtual appointment," she said. "He heard my difficulty breathing on the phone and wanted to see me."

Vallbona said when she arrived to her doctor's office, the medical assistants greeted her in head-to-toe protective gear.

"They put me on a nebulizer, which did not help at all," she added. "They gave me Erthyomycin and Tamiflu, but I tested negative for the flu."

Two days later, her breathing became more labored.

"My lungs got quite worse," Vallbona said. "My lungs even showed damage. My doctor did X-rays and the test showed signs of Emphysema. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. That was so discouraging."

PANDEMIC IN HOUSTON: 'This is what we dread,' Disaster expert weighs in on COVID-19 and Houston economy

Since Vallbona was the picture of health before this visit, she didn't qualify for testing.

"By Tuesday, my respiratory distress got so much worse," she said. "Now they had to get me a test, because I was choking."

When she went in for the X-rays, her doctor gave her an invaluable prescription for an inhaler.

"If it were not for this inhaler, I would have died," Vallbona said. "One night, I was gasping for air. My boyfriend was about to take me to the emergency room. "

Finally, after using the inhaler, she quieted down and slept. She also credits healing prayers from a good friend who was suddenly awakened one night with urgent drive to pray for her. She believed that also helped her through this difficult moment.

"The power of prayer is real and it works," Vallbona added. "Dont ever doubt it or ignore the prompting to pray for someone."

While she waits for her test results to come back, Vallbona is on a mission to help inform others about the struggle she went through with COVID-19 symptoms.

"Some people who get sick are afraid to come forward," she said. "You need to know who has it so you can prevent the spread. I feel like I'm supposed to be the example, so I can bring some encouragement."

Perhaps the biggest, most upsetting hurdle has been the coronavirus testing.

"As for what I would change, COVID-19 testing," Vallbona said. "Im on Day 10 since I was tested and still no test results."

Vallbona said there are 11 things she credits for helping her get through this challenging time. Her goal is to share this information to others going through the same often life-or-death struggle. This is what helped her, in Vallbona's words:
The directors of Netflix's Tiger King series claim Joe Exotic is 'categorically racist' after a clip emerged of him ranting about not being allowed to use the n-word.

Joe, 57, was filmed mouthing off in a bizarre clip about a perceived injustice in not being able to use the racial slur while black rappers can use the racist insult in their music.

Joe - born Joseph Maldonado-Passage - is currently serving 22 years for 17 counts of animal abuse and a murder-for-hire plot of his arch-nemesis Carole Baskin, a big-cat campaigner from Tampa, Florida.

Directors of Tiger King, Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin, have claimed Joe is a 'categorical racist'.

Joe Exotic made the comments in a bizarre 13-minute video, where he questioned why white people in the US can't say the n-word

They decided to leave many examples of his bigotry out of the show because they deemed it irrelevant to the story, they claimed.

Chaiklin told The Hollywood Reporter : 'Joe is a racist, I would say categorically. He said things when we were filming that were very unsettling.'

When asked why the scenes were left out, she said: 'They didn't have a context in the story, but he has a lot to learn.

'I think most of it was ignorance and not having a lot of exposure, and I think he even evolved over the course of the time that we filmed.'

In the original video, which is titled 'Message to Donald Trump Day 29', he starts the rant: 'I can't say the n-word?'

'But you can get on Youtube and watch any black man's rap video and they're calling each other the n-word.

'What the hell? Is this discrimination? I'm white and I can't say the n-word and they can?'

'Tiger King' Joe Exotic is pictured in an undated photograph with one of the tigers at his park in Oklahoma. A primary focus of the seven-part documentary series was the vengeful grudge between Exotic and animal rights campaigner Carole Baskin

Pictured: A still from the Tiger King documentary showing Carole Baskin, the arch nemesis of Joe Exotic, animal rights campaigner and CEO of Big Cats Rescue

He then continues his tirade but refocusing on the Department of Agriculture. The video is 13 minutes long and includes Joe airing his grievances at various leaders and departments in American politics and society.

In an earlier interview, Goode noted that he, and viewers, have a certain degree of sympathy for Joe.

To the Hollywood Reporter, Goode sought to remind Joe's new fans of his previous actions, which he described as 'cruel'.

'We had empathy for Joe, but Joe did a lot of horrible things,' he said.

'Joe committed some really serious crimes and Joe was not only cruel and inhumane to his animals, he was cruel to the people around him.'

On Thursday, Joe was removed from precautionary coronavirus isolation and transferred to a prison medical center.

The 57-year-old former zookeeper is currently receiving care at the Federal Bureau of Prisons-operated Federal Medical Center Forth Worth in Texas, according to inmate records obtained by the New York Post.

This file photo provided by the Santa Rosa County Jail in Milton, Fla., shows Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as 'Joe Exotic.' Maldonado-Passage was convicted in an unsuccessful murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin, the founder of Big Cat Rescue, who he has repeatedly accused of killing her husband Jack 'Don' Lewis

According to Joe's fourth husband Dillon Passage, 24, Exotic was being held in isolation at the Grady County Jail in Chickasha, Oklahoma due to his previous jail having had COVID-19 cases.

A Grady County Jail staff member revealed via phone that Joe was 'no longer here at this facility' and that the facility itself has 'no comment' on the matter.

Passage, during an interview with Andy Cohen last Friday, revealed that Exotic was in a '14-day coronavirus quarantine in jail' and had not yet seen the seven-part series based on his dramatic downfall.

But, even without having watched a single scene of the Netflix docu-series, Passage said the attention alone had made Joe an instant fan.

'Joe's the type of person, he loves the attention obviously,' he explained to Cohen during his SiriusXM show.

Passage continued: 'Any kind of fame or spotlight that he has, it was greatly appreciated.'

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness entered Netflix's queue on March 20, was met with immediate popularity, and continues to sit at number one.

The day prior to the docu-series' premiere date, Exotic filed a lawsuit against the federal government and asked president Donald Trump for an official pardon, according to New York Post.

Specifically, the Oklahoma native wants Trump to pardon his murder-for-hire conviction, as well as his Endangered Species Act violations.

The lawsuit, announced on Joe's Facebook page, 'is demanding a combined $94 million from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.'

Joe wrote of his lawsuit: '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.'
An unknown "soapy substance" combined with warm weather and low water levels is believed to be behind the death of scores of fish in a creek in Melbourne's south-east.

Melbourne Water said it has removed about 40 dead carp from the duck pond in Gardiners Creek in Ashburton after community members alerted the Environment Protection Authority to the deaths.

One witness, Jennie Schopfer, said: It looks terrible. Ducks and herons amongst the stinking dead fish corpses.

"Did someone dump chemicals in the waterway while they think everyone is in lockdown?"
What do chocolate, migratory birds, flood control and pandas have in common? Many countries benefit from ecosystem services provided outside their nations. This can happen through economic relationships, biological and geographical conditions, but we hardly know how and where these ecosystem service flows occur. Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the German Centre for integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) show in a recent study, published in the journal Global Environmental Change, how interregional ecosystem service flows can be identified and quantified.

"Ecosystem services are not constrained by borders," says Prof. Aletta Bonn, who works on ecosystem services at the UFZ and iDiv. "For example, one country benefits from agricultural products originating from other continents or flood protection provided by floodplains in a neighbouring country." These close links between distant regions arising from ecosystem services are known as telecoupling. Understanding these flows can help to recognise the value of intact nature, identify global drivers of biodiversity loss or soil erosion in distant regions, and develop measures for more sustainable management. "It is important to understand the interlinkages and the environmental costs caused by domestic consumption of ecosystem services in other countries," says Aletta Bonn. "This information can then be used in political decisions, such as fair trade standards, environmentally and socially acceptable certification, and financial compensation measures." But how can ecosystem service flows be identified, quantified and ultimately balanced between countries? The researchers investigated these issues in their recent study. As part of this, they examined the extent to which Germany uses ecosystem services that are provided in other countries.

"In previous work, we had already developed a conceptual framework for quantifying interregional ecosystem service flows," says Aletta Bonn. "Here, we differentiated between four types of flows which were examined for Germany in more detail." The scientists assessed trade flows using cocoa imports as an example and their impact on biodiversity in the producing countries. "It turns out that approximately 85 percent of imported cocoa comes from only five mainly West African countries -- Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Togo. Significant impacts on biodiversity are considered for Cameroon and Ecuador due to cocoa trade with Germany," says Dr. Janina Kleemann, former UFZ researcher and now at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. In the "migratory species" category, the scientists investigated the importance of migratory birds for German agriculture. "Our results indicate that Africa's tropical and subtropical climate zones provide a habitat for the majority of migratory bird species that make an important contribution to pest control in German agricultural landscapes," explains Janina Kleemann. Ecosystem services associated with flood protection are assigned to the "passive biophysical flow" category. Here, the researchers concluded that Germany benefits by almost two-thirds from flood regulation provided in other countries' floodplains, and in return also exports around 40 percent flood regulation to downstream neighbouring countries such as the Netherlands. In the "information flows" category, the loan of a Chinese giant panda to Berlin Zoo served as a case study. The research team highlighted the political, economic, scientific and cultural aspects of this exchange for the relationship between Germany and China.

"To place our study on a sound basis, we collaborated in an interdisciplinary, international team of ecologists, economists, geographers and social scientists," explains Aletta Bonn. The UFZ study is one of the first studies to identify, systematically quantify and assess several interregional ecosystem service flows for a specific country using examples. Awareness and understanding of these flows is the first step towards fairly balancing ecosystem services use and sustainable resource management. "When we know how and to what extent we influence global biodiversity with our consumption patterns and international trade, we can make better decisions regarding individual and national consumption of resources and develop adequate measures for sustainable management," says Aletta Bonn. "Our study clearly demonstrates that countries such as Germany bear a global responsibility to protect and conserve biological diversity worldwide."
As the world continues to grapple with the fallout from the coronavirus crisis, some of the largest oil producers in the world are coming together with the potential of a joint global oil output cut.

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Oil prices surged by the most on record in percentage terms on Thursday, jumping by 25 percent. Prices were up again on Friday during early trading. The jolt came from a tweet from President Trump regarding a supposed 10-15 mb/d cut from Russia and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh did indeed call for an emergency OPEC meeting, but the tweet raised a ton of questions.

Russia denies, Saudi takes measured tone. Russia said that no conversations occurred and that it had not agreed to anything. Saudi Arabia called for a meeting but said that action on its part would depend on other countries participating. One OPEC official said the tweet was Trump talking before his brain engages, according to the FT.

Diplomacy picks up pace. While the numbers in Trumps tweet appeared unrealistic, there is some degree of interest from all sides to collective production cuts. Its not clear that the U.S. would offer anything  Reuters reported that the U.S. government would not ask domestic oil producers to cut output. In addition, Russia has shown a reluctance to cut output, eyeing a decline in U.S. shale. Indeed, oil prices at $25, or $20, or possibly even lower would impose production cuts even without any formal governmental arrangement. Still, a new round of negotiations could take place, possibly with U.S. involvement. Related: U.S. Shale Ready To Fire Back In The Oil Price War

A 10 mb/d cut after all? By early Friday, there seemed to be some momentum on negotiations. Bloomberg reported that Russia was open to a global pact. At the time of this writing, OPEC was rumored to be exploring a scenario in which Saudi cuts by 3 mb/d, Russia cuts by 1.5 mb/d, non-Saudi Gulf States cut by 1.5 mb/d, and the U.S., Canada and Brazil cut by nearly 2 mb/d.

Alberta open to cuts. If we see an effort at a global reduction in production, we would be open to further measures on our part, Albertas Premier Jason Kenney said. Alberta has been suffering from sub-$5 oil.

Brent physical trades at $10 discount. Physical Brent barrels are trading at a $10-per-barrel discount to Brent futures, a sign that the underlying physical market is deeply oversupplied even as traders demonstrate optimism about the potential for a production cut.

Whiting Petroleum goes bankrupt, dishes out executive pay. Whiting Petroleum (NYSE: WLL) became the first major victim of the unfolding collapse in oil prices, filing for bankruptcy this week. The board approved roughly $14.6 million in executive bonuses just days before the Chapter 11 filing.

Chevron cancels contract in Venezuela. Chevrons (NYSE: CVX) joint ventures with PDVSA cancelled service contracts in recent weeks, according to Reuters. A drop in maintenance could lead to production declines.

Chinas refiners increase processing. Chinas refineries have started to increase processing, with runs set to increase by 755,000 bpd in April, a 10 percent month-on-month increase.

Schlumberger to cut workforce. Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) said that it would implement widespread salary and job cuts.

BP slashes spending 20 percent. BP (NYSE: BP) said it would cut spending by 20 percent, including a 50 percent cut in U.S. shale spending. This may be the most brutal environment for oil and gas businesses in decades, CEO Bernard Looney said in a statement.

Gas inventories rise. Warmer-than-average temperatures along with demand destruction have led to a spike in natural gas inventories in Europe. Theres a chance we will see a collapse in prices in the U.S., Francisco Blanch, head of global commodities and derivatives research at Bank of America, told Bloomberg. We are going to be weak on the demand destruction related to the virus, but the real issue is that we had a very warm winter and we are coming out with extreme high inventories. Related: Oil Price Crash Opens A Window Of Opportunity For Renewables

U.S. DOE to allow SPR storage. After a plan to buy oil for the U.S. SPR fell through, the Department of Energy is going to open up the SPR for leased storage. There is roughly 77 million barrels of capacity available.

Extraction Oil cuts spending 42 percent. Extraction Oil & Gas, a Denver-based driller, cut spending by 42 percent.

Mnuchin says oil industry wont get direct loans. In response to pressure from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sec. of Treasury Steven Mnuchin said that the oil industry would be eligible for loans from the new program created by the stimulus package, just like every other business, but that they wouldnt receive direct loans from the government.

Trump considers import tariffs on oil. The White House is reportedly considering placing tariffs on imported oil as a way of throwing aid to U.S. oil producers. The plan has met strenuous opposition from refiners and even the API, an oil lobby group that some say reflects the interests of the oil majors. A group of oil executives are set to meet with President Trump on Friday.

Shale drillers hire Rick Perry. A group of shale drillers have tapped former DOE Secretary Rick Perry to pressure the Trump administration on protectionist measures, such as tariffs on imported oil.

European oil majors issue $12 billion bonds. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A), Total (NYSE: TOT) and Equinor (NYSE: EQNR) are selling a combined $12 billion in bonds to cover costs and maintain dividends.

By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
When it comes to investing billions of public dollars in private companies, Alberta politicians like to talk about former premier Peter Lougheed.

Nobody likes to talk about former premier Don Getty.

This week, when Premier Jason Kenney defended his government spending $1.5 billion of public cash and $6 billion in loan guarantees to prop up the Keystone XL pipeline project, he pointed to Lougheed successfully investing in private companies in the 1970s.

It's true that Lougheed invested in companies such as Syncrude. Heck, he even bought companies such as (the now defunct) Pacific Western Airlines. But he did it when his government was flush with money thanks to a healthy oil sector. It was all part of Lougheed's plan to use surplus cash to help diversify the province's economy  as well as funnel money into the newly created Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund.

Then came a recession, and Don Getty who tried to kick-start the economy and save jobs through loan guarantees and investments in private companies. But more than a few turned into money-losing disasters.

This is not to say Kenney's $7.5-billion gamble on the Keystone project will end in a fiasco for Alberta taxpayers.

But this is a gamble. The price of oil has been hammered thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic driving down demand, and a production war between Saudi Arabia and Russia driving up supply.

Uncharted territory

As Kenney said on Thursday, Western Canadian Select  the price Alberta gets for its heavy oil  is so low, and getting lower by the day, that it could be trading at negative prices later this month. That means our producers would have to pay someone to take the oil off their hands.

As Kenney keeps telling us, we are in uncharted territory.

That's certainly true for Kenney personally.

He's a staunch free-market, free-enterprise conservative who in his own words is "always skeptical of market intervention."

Yet, here he is diving into the market to a potential depth of $7.5 billion. At a time when oil prices might be about to go underwater.

Story continues

Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

Kenney realizes how this looks  and he addressed the issue head-on in the legislature on Thursday:

"A lot of people may be wondering right now: 'Well, why is the government taking, quote, a bet, on this when prices are at $5 a barrel for Alberta oil?' It's a reasonable question. The answer is that we have to plan for the long-term. It would be a terrible mistake for leaders, at a time such as this, to focus only on the hour-by-hour crisis management. A responsible government must plan for the mid- to long-term, and that's exactly what this investment does."

NDP Leader Rachel Notley, never one to back down from an opportunity to criticize Kenney, is not on the attack this time. That's because she had been in the same boat when she was premier in 2018 and declared she'd be willing to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline to keep its expansion project alive.

NDP supports project

On Thursday, after listening to Kenney speak about the Keystone investment, Notley said bluntly yet tamely, "We support this project."

Oh, she's still pressing Kenney for more details on his estimate that the Keystone investment will mean $30 billion in extra revenue for the province. But as someone who once considered investing $2 billion in a pipeline project, Notley is not in a position to press particularly hard.

She, like the rest of us, will just have to trust that the government has done its homework and calculated the risk.

As NDP MLA David Shepherd declared during debate on Thursday, "We are relying on the good faith of government." He was talking about the health crisis but it's a quote for all seasons. "We must be honest with each other," he added.

But I have to admit that when it comes to government honesty, I can get a little skeptical.

On Monday, for example, when Kenney was asked why his government cut $128 million from the education budget, triggering mass layoffs among educational assistants, he replied: "The layoffs are the result of the advice of our public health officer to close the schools."

Hmm. Well, while Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health, did recommend ending in-class education, I don't think she suggested laying anybody off.

This demonstrates that when it comes to being straight-forward with Alberta, Kenney can sometimes be as slippery as a government-funded oil pipeline.

Also on Monday, the Alberta government issued a misleading news release about its controversial and gaffe-prone "war room" with the headline: "The Canadian Energy Centre (CEC) is reducing its current operating budget by 90 per cent to reflect needs during the COVID-19 pandemic."

"If applied on an annual basis," said the release, the cut would reduce the centre's budget from $30 million down to $2.84 million. Critics of the war room cheered.

However, the cut is not designed to last a year. It is planned for just "three months or until regular operations can recommence." If funding returns to normal after three months, the war room's budget for the year will still be a hefty $23 million, not $3 million.

As Shepherd said, "we are relying on the good faith of government."

When it comes to the Keystone XL project, that faith comes with a price tag that could reach $7.5 billion.

This column is an opinion. For more information about our commentary section and how you can contribute to the conversation, please read this editor's blog and our FAQ.
PUNE, India and SANTA CLARA, California, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- COVID-19 is now a global humanitarian challenge that is impacting every facet of our lives - from our health, to the economy, to the ways we engage as a society at large. And it is only through the collaboration and ingenuity across both public and private sectors that this challenge will be addressed and its impact mitigated.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chairman of Board, Anand Deshpande and CEO, Chris O'Connor jointly announced that Persistent Systems is donating Rs. 25 Crores ($3.3M) to support various aspects of the global response.

Quote from Dr. Anand Deshpande, Chairman and Managing Director, Persistent Systems

"The effect of COVID-19 on our global and local communities is profound and it will have a lasting impact. In this unprecedented time of need, we at Persistent must step-up, alongside many leaders from across industries and governments, to address the challenge, search for treatments/vaccines as well as support victims, their families and local communities. We are truly in this together."

About Persistent Systems:

Persistent Systems (BSE: PERSISTENT) (NSE: PERSISTENT) is a global solutions company delivering digital business acceleration, enterprise modernization and digital product engineering for businesses across all industries and geographies.

Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements: For risks and uncertainties relating to forward-looking statements, please visit www.persistent.com/FLCS

Media Contacts:

Saviera Barretto

Archetype (India)

+91 84249 17719

saviera.barretto@archetype.co



Ken Montgomery

Persistent Systems (Global)

+1 213 500 8355

ken_montgomery@persistent.com

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that health care must be at the "top of the list" in the next coronavirus rescue package.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the Republican leader said Congress should focus on correcting any shortcomings in the just-passed $2.2 trillion aid bill and rely on health care experts for solutions to "wipe out" the virus.

"There will be a next measure," McConnell said about what would be the fourth coronavirus aid bill from Congress.

The Kentucky Republican said the next package "should be more a targeted response to what we got wrong and what we didn't do enough for  and at the top of the list there would have to be the health care part of it."

The GOP leader's remarks, alongside comments Friday from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, signal a potential thaw after days of political sniping and promise a new opportunity for Congress to work in a bipartisan way to fight the pandemic gripping the nation.

Pelosi said Friday that the next coronavirus aid bill should build on the bipartisan relief bills that Congress has passed so far rather than include broader Democratic agenda items, such as infrastructure and rural broadband access.

That's a noteworthy pivot for the California Democrat, who earlier has pressed goals such as a large public works measure and the restoration of a deduction for state and local tax payments.

"While I'm very much in favor of doing some things we need to do to meet the needs  clean water, more broadband, the rest of that  that may have to be for a bill beyond that right now," she said during an appearance on CNBC.

She told reporters at the Capitol that she spoke with McConnell Friday.

McConnell acknowledged that he and Pelosi have "a little different point of view" about the timing of the next package, as the congressional leaders have jousted in separate television and media appearances all week.

McConnell maintained he is "not in favor of rushing" into the next phase until they take stock of how the just-passed bill is working and what corrections are needed.

But the focus on health care has potential broad appeal as the crisis afflicts communities of all sizes and in all corners of the country, with sick patients seeking treatment at increasingly overrun hospitals and emergency rooms.

"We've got to wipe this out and we've got to wipe it out in warp speed," McConnell said. "And so I would put that at the top of the list of places we need to look and see what could we have done better in the previous bill, the $2.2 trillion."

He added: "We can't sustain economically this happening again. We've got to solve the health part of it, which means not only treatment but vaccines."

The leaders' remarks came as fresh evidence arrived of the gravity of the economic crisis caused by the outbreak. The latest batch of unemployment figures showed that a record, almost decade-long streak of U.S. job growth ended last month.

At the same time, the crisis is hitting closer to home. A 400-bed field hospital is being set up at the University of Kentucky's Lexington campus, officials said Friday. A day earlier the state's governor announced plans to set up a 2,000-bed field hospital at the state fairgrounds in Louisville.

"We need a fourth bipartisan bill," Pelosi said.

In a hallway conversation with a small group of reporters, Pelosi said a $350 billion program to help keep small businesses afloat should be extended, as well as unemployment insurance for the jobless and a direct payment to most Americans.

"Let's do the same bill we just did, make some changes to make it current and correct some of the things that we'd like to see," Pelosi said. She also would like more generous aid for state and local governments facing budget crises because of plummeting sales and income tax revenues and higher costs for coronavirus response and safety net programs.

Pelosi's shift followed criticism by Republicans that she was seeking to take advantage of the crisis to press ambitious Democratic agenda items that couldn't pass on their own. McConnell made it clear that Republicans wouldn't agree to such add-ons.

GOP leaders across the board have lambasted Pelosi for citing the crisis as a reason to restore the federal tax deduction for state and local taxes. Putting the deduction back in place would have chiefly helped higher income earners in high-tax, Democratic-run states such as California, New York and New Jersey. The idea was widely panned and was seen as unrealistic, given opposition from Republicans.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 18:23:14|Editor: yhy

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 53 people have died of the COVID-19 in Malaysia with 217 newly confirmed cases, bringing the total to 3,333, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

It is the first time that Malaysia recorded more than 200 cases two days in a row. Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a press briefing that the increase of daily new cases is "expected," partly due to the "active case detection" strategy, especially in the high-risk areas.

Among the infections, 827 have been cured and discharged from hospital, while 108 are currently being held in intensive care and 54 of those are in need of assisted breathing, he said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Adham Baba said a quarantine facility at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang near the capital city of Kuala Lumpur was almost ready as a quarantine and treatment center for mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.

Adham said existing hospitals so far have the capacity to accommodate the increasing number of patients, but the government has decided to be prepared for any eventuality.

"Setting up this facility here is part of the government's efforts to prepare for all sorts of possibilities that could arise if the COVID-19 outbreak becomes more widespread," said Adham at a press conference following his visit to the site.
Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has outlined the steps the city's government would take if the prime minister declares a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.

Koike said in a briefing on Friday that she will likely ask residents to stay at home, and request public facilities and event organizers to suspend the use of venues. She said specific requests would be decided after the central government issues relevant guidelines.

The governor said stores selling food, medicine and other daily necessities would remain open, along with banks, the stock exchange and other providers of essential social and economic services.

Koike said the Metropolitan Government will open a call center to respond to inquiries and address the anxieties of residents and business operators.

Koike once again asked people to avoid the "three Cs" -- closed and crowded places and conversations in close proximity -- and to refrain from non-essential outings at the weekend.

She said Tokyo remains at a critical juncture to prevent an explosive rise in infections, and the situation is becoming more serious.
BRUSSELS -- A group of European Union lawmakers are accusing Moscow of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to try to get sanctions imposed over Russia's actions in Ukraine lifted, according to a letter seen by RFE/RL.

The letter, dated April 3, says Russian aid provided in support for European countries to tackle the health emergency caused by coronavirus is part of "public relation campaigns" aimed at having the EU sanctions reviewed or lifted.

The letter was signed by 19 members of the European Parliament and addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, and EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell.

The lawmakers said they "seek to rebuff any possibility of reviewing or lifting the EU sanctions against the Russian Federation due to the pandemic."

"Russian authorities by pursuing such public relation campaigns as sending poorly applicable humanitarian aid to Italy, as well as misinterpreting the statements by the UN officials, might try to sway the position of the EU and its member states leadership regarding the sanctions," they added.

A source told RFE/RL the letter was referring to a proposal recently made by Russian President Vladimir Putin that a freeze be placed on economic sanctions to allow countries to better combat the coronavirus epidemic.

Putin told a Group of 20 (G20) video conference on March 26 that restrictive measures imposed on countries should be lifted on humanitarian grounds to "facilitate mutual deliveries of drugs, food, equipment, and technology."

The lawmakers' letter says that the EU sanctions, imposed over the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and its subsequent support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, "do not prevent Russia from duly protecting its citizens' health and contributing to the global fight against the coronavirus."

It adds that the restrictive measures don't target trade in medicines and medical equipment.

The document also notes that the sanctions "can only be reviewed if substantial progress" in implementation of the Minsk agreements that sought to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine is achieved.

"Russia remains hard to be trusted," the lawmakers insisted, citing "worrisome statements by Russian doctors accusing Russian government of covering up the coronavirus outbreak in the country" and "the absence of national efforts to flatten the coronavirus curve."

The document concludes by stating that "as long as Russia denies and hides data about the actual COVID-19 spread in the country, distorts the global tragedy for its political benefits, and continues aggressive actions against the neighboring states and their population, the EU sanctions are among the only available measures to keep Russia accountable and to deter from further violation of the international law and attempts to undermine our European values and democracy."
Andhra Pradesh: Operations banned at fishing harbour in Visakhapatnam

April 03,2020 | Source: Yo Vizag

Following the directives of Visakhapatnam District Collector V Vinay Chand (IAS), a ban on the harvesting, auction, and retail marketing of marine products has been imposed at the fishing harbour in the city, on Wednesday. The Visakhapatnam District Fisheries Department will enforce the ban until further notice. Reportedly, the officials from the District Fisheries Department held a review meeting with Visakhapatnam City Police, in wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The authorities concluded that it would be difficult to handle the crowd at the fishing harbour and accordingly reported the same to the Collector. Later on, the District Collector issued an indefinite ban on operations at Vizag fishing harbour.



The annual ban, on fishing on the east coast of the country, usually begins on 15 April midnight for sixty days. The District Fisheries Department has banned all the activities at the fishing harbour in Visakhapatnam, fifteen days prior to the conservation period, due to the coronavirus pandemic. It may be noted that the number of coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh has been witnessing a spike over the last few days. While Wednesday saw as many as 67 cases being reported, 21 more samples, collected from different parts of the state, tested positive for coronavirus overnight. The count in the state has now soared to 132. With Visakhapatnam registering 11 cases, the district authorities are making efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is carrying out disinfection drives in various locales of the city as a preventive measure. Furthermore, additional rythu bazaars have been set up to curtail crowd congestion and ensure social distancing.
The top brass of Mumbai Police has ordered 45,000 police personnel in the city to ensure maximum police presence on streets, a senior IPS officer said.

The officer said the directives have been given as a large number of personnel have to be deployed at more than 200 containment zones  sealed areas where Covid-19 positive patients are found  to ensure that social distancing and other orders are followed, as well as to increase police presence in the other areas of the city.We are using six drones and may use more if needed to monitor the crowds and containment zones. We are following the government guidelines while monitoring containment zones, said Pranaya Ashok, DCP (operation), and spokesperson for Mumbai Police.

When asked if volunteers and paramilitary forces will be required as the number of containment zones have been increasing each day, deputy commissioner of police Ashok said, We dont need their deployment now, but may in future.

Meanwhile, the police, intensifying its action against those violating the lockdown orders in the city, registered 82 offences on Thursday against offenders of which 66 first information reports (FIRs) were lodged against those who did not follow social distancing and gathered at on place in some of the densely-populated areas. The total number of FIRs filed for violating lockdown orders has risen to 791 since March 20.

Half a dozen shop owners, pan stalls and other hawkers were also booked for running their businesses despite the lockdown orders under section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), a police officer said. Section 144 authorises the executive magistrate of a state to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area.

One FIR was registered against a person who violated home quarantine orders.

The police are also verifying if the 1,200 people who came from abroad and were traced and home quarantined are following the self-isolation norms.

The police also appealed to citizens with the help of religious and community leaders to not step out of their homes to offer Fridays prayers. Mosques across the city also made announcements over speakers, appealing to citizens to offer the prayers from home and follow the government orders, said a DCP rank officer. However, some violations were witnessed despite the appeals. In Dharavi, the police arrested 10 people for defying the order and offering prayers on streets, an officer from Dharavi police station said.

Slums pose challenge

The police are facing problems in their operations owing to the lack of co-operation from slum dwellers.

The police said crowds gather near public toilets in the morning hours and similar scenes are also witnessed near ration shops and vegetable markets. In some areas, pan stalls and salons have also remained open. The police have been seeking the help of local community leaders, corporators and political activists in creating awareness at such areas. Along with filing cases against those flouting norms, the police have also been seizing the vehicles of those loitering around unnecessarily.

Attack on cops

Many dense population areas and slums also witnessed clash between police and public. Saveral videos also went viral where cops were attacked by the lockdown violators. In one incident a policeman was attacked in Dongri. Sandeep Bhagdikar, senior police inspector, Dongri police station said, We booked a miscreant from Dongri for assaulting an on-duty a policeman who had stopped him on coming out of his home. The man did not give satisfactory answers and instead abused the police and assaulted him.

Four people arrested from the Govandi and Shivaji Nagar areas have been held for attacking and abusing on-duty personnel.

66 FIRs in state

A total of 66 FIRs have been registered across the state for spreading misinformation and rumours related to Covid-19. Many cyber fraudsters are also trying to cash in on the lockdown by circulating phishing traps. We have made a list of such frauds and issued an advisory on our Twitter handle. Yesterday [Thursday], the Malegaon police arrested four people for circulating a religiously provocative video related to coronavirus, said Balsing Rajput, superintendent, Maharashtra Cyber department.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After reading a story on SILive.com about how Luke Adams -- a 35-year-old nurse from Bloomsburg, Pa. -- was sleeping in his car while caring for Staten Island coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, a Huguenot family opened their home to him.

My husband saw the story pop up on his phone [in a SILive push alert]. He came home and we discussed it, she said. I have a rare lung disease, so the apartment has its own entrance for him.

The family -- who wishes to remain anonymous except to say their children attend Monsignor Farrell and St. Joseph By-The-Sea high schools -- said they were touched by his story and immediately wanted to help.

We are so grateful for what he is doing for our city. We want to give back, and thats the least we can do," added the homeowner.

In addition to the Huguenot family, the Advance received a flood of emails from people who wanted to do everything from pay for a night in a hotel to give him a room in their home.

And Adams is more than touched by the outpouring of support.

This will be a place to rest my head after work, he said.

Its only through the kindness of others that were going to get through this, added Adams, who said he hopes other medical professionals who come from out-of-town will benefit from Staten Islanders generosity.

We are not looking for a free ride, but we just want to have a place to stay when we are here helping out, he said.

Once he heard about the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York, the critical care nurse left his wife and young children, rented a Nissan Rouge that would fit a small mattress in the back, and headed for Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), Ocean Breeze.

Luke Adams, his wife, Abbi, Son, Jack, 8, and his daughter, Remy, 9-months. (Courtesy of Luke Adams)

After arriving on Staten Island, he worked 12-hour shifts, eight days straight; all the time, sleeping in the back of his rented SUV.

An SIUH spokesperson confirmed Northwell Health is reaching out to staffing agencies for per diem nurses, like Adams, and other healthcare professionals. She also confirmed that the hospital can arrange for hotel accommodations for anyone who needs it.

BIG ON SERVICE

Adams is no stranger to offering his nursing skills in times of need.

Im big on service. ...I volunteer a lot. Ive worked in third world countries, he said. This was something that is brand new and something healthcare has never faced before. ... We are learning so much every day about what works and what doesnt work because its a brand new situation; theres no manual for it.

And while supplies and equipment, like ventilators, are greatly needed, so are healthcare professionals, he said.

Im planning to stay through June. No one really knows what the course of this is going to be, said Adams.

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Russia is ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and the United States to cut oil production, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

Putin said Russia was ready for agreements within the framework of the OPEC+ group and that "we are ready for cooperation with the United States of America on this issue," according to a statement published by the Kremlin.

"I believe that it is necessary to combine efforts in order to balance the market and reduce production.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kim Yong-ik, president of National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), speaks during an interview with the Korea Times at the NHIS office in Yeouido, Seoul, Feb.20. /Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Bahk Eun-ji, Kim Eil-chul



Kim Yong-ik, president of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), is known to be the Moon Jae-in administration's healthcare policymaker. Dubbed "Mooncare," the government's goal is to expand the coverage ratio of the national health insurance to 70 percent of all medical expenses within the President's five-year term.



The basic concept of Mooncare is expanding the coverage of the state-run health insurance. As Koreans have a strong desire for equality, and equal access to healthcare, Mooncare has been regarded as a policy supported by the majority. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last November, 63 percent responded in favor of the policy.



"Korea has been setting a successful example with its national health insurance system, which many countries such as Iran, Vietnam and Philippines are trying to follow. But the problem is the Korean system cannot cover all medical expenses," Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times at his office on Yeouido, Seoul.



However, concerns over the system remain after the coverage rate of Korea's national health insurance program inched up by 1.1 percentage points last year. According to data from the NHIS, the country's health insurance service covered 63.8 percent of all medical expenses last year, compared with 62.7 percent in 2017.



In response to the concerns over the relatively lower increase rate, Kim said it was too early to evaluate the policy as it was only introduced in August 2017, and implemented in 2018.



"This year's outcome can be checked only after the first half of 2020 through the process of organizing and analyzing all medical care expenses," he said. "In the early stages, Mooncare was more focused on expanding the treatments covered by the program."



There are many treatments that have not been covered by the national insurance program because of high costs, yet the government is aiming to provide insurance for all medical treatments. To reduce the burden of health spending by the public, the government has expanded the scope of insurance-covered diseases significantly, and has taken measures to improve the sustainability of the health insurance system.






At least 20,000 Filipinos suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus will be tested starting April 14, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer at the National Task Force on COVID-19 said in a briefing yesterday at Quezon Citys Camp Aguinaldo.

The measure was announced after the Research Institute on Tropical Medicinepreviously the only COVID-19 testing facility in the Philippinesauthorized several hospitals for testing.

Galvez said that the government will add more testing facilities and will fast-track the accreditation of substantial laboratories. He added that the Department of Health is capable of testing 1,000 people per day, and they plan to triple it due to the increasing number of patients under investigation and monitoring (PUIs and PUMs).

We are pushing for the DOH to have that kind of massive testing, at least the rate is, we have at least 2,000 to 3,000 [per day]. For now, I think their capability is only 1,000 and now we have more than 20,000 PUIs and PUMs that need to be tested, he said.

[T]hats why we conducted a lockdown, social distancing, and also segregation of those vulnerable. The next step is we have to have mass testing of the PUIs and PUMs so that we can isolate and treat those who are infected with the disease.Galvez added that they plan to convert several large Metro Manila buildings into mass quarantine centers. This includes the World Trade Center and Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, and the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. The government also wants to transform government and privately-owned ships into hospitals.

Read: Philippine Transport Department eyes use of ships as floating quarantine hospitals

Separately, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) also plans to begin mass testing of symptomatic Quezon City residents next week. The city currently has the most number of cases in the country, with 464 cases as of yesterday afternoon. The PRC urged the citys residents to call their hotline at 1158 for any COVID-19-related queries, and those who qualify for testing will receive a text message with directions on the process.

Senator Richard Gordon, the PRCs chairman, said that the non-profit has two machines that can run 3,000 tests a day.

This article, PH government to start mass testing suspected COVID-19 cases after Easter, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
ZANZIBAR House of Representatives ordinary session kicked off on Thursday with nine Bills lined up for deliberations before the legislature switches to the eagerly awaited 2020/21 budget session.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Raya Mselem said in a press release that during the two-week ordinary session, which precedes the budget meeting, all required precautions against the spread of the deadly novel virus would be taken.

She said the lawmakers and the House staff had been informed about the changes in running of sessions, including social distancing by reducing the number of hours and legislators/ministers, discouraging visitors and the emphasis on hands wash and use of sanitisers.

The government through Ministry of Health has issued guidelines and advice. We must keenly follow what has been directed to help curb the contagion which has already claimed thousands of lives globally, she said.

Ms Msellem urged legislators and members of the public to join forces in the fight against Covid-19, saying the current situation needed concerted effort from all Tanzanians, including members of the House and the media.

She mentioned the proposed Bills for tabling and debating during the session as the Presidents Act of 1993 (for amendment), the Diaspora Act, the Weights and Measures Act of 1983 (for repeal) and a Bill to establish a research institute.

Other Bills for tabling are the Registration and Supervision of Medical Lab Technicians Act, a Bill to establish a medical research institute and the Liquor Act (for repeal).
Coronavirus has become New Jerseys most common cause of death, according to the latest figures.

The death toll rose to 537 after 182 more deaths were reported by the state on Thursday. That surpasses the 154 deaths, on average, every day caused by heart disease, cancer, various accidents, and the seven other most common causes of death in 2018, the latest year for which annual Department of Health figures have been published.

The difference with COVID-19 is that New Jersey residents can take steps to reduce and prevent the spread, Eddy Bresnitz, a former state epidemiologist and deputy health commissioner who is now a member of the departments COVID-19 response team said in a statement.

Among the casualties of the pandemic is Israel Tolentino, a 33-year-old firefighter for the City of Passaic, who died Tuesday after battling the virus for nearly two weeks. The former U.S. Marine and a married father of two was laid to rest Thursday. Tolentino was remembered for his easy smile and his relentless push to help others.

The total number of people infected with the virus in the state rose by 3,489 to 25,590.

Gov. Phil Murphy stressed during his daily briefing that the new totals for deaths and those testing positive did not all come in during the past 24 hours.

Labs throughout the state are overwhelmed and theres a delay in getting test results that could be 10 to 14 days, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said.

Murphy also noted that its been only 12 days since he instituted his most stringent social-distancing move: his stay-at-home order.

Were still a week or so away from really knowing what those last set of actions we took, what impact those have on the positives, the governor said.

Heres a roundup of coronavirus news:

Heres how much N.J. counties and towns will get in coronavirus stimulus money: New Jersey received the first of its share of the $2 trillion stimulus package signed by President Trump last week. U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, D-N.J., announced during a press conference in Bergen County, the county hardest hit by the virus. It will receive the largest allocation, more than $8.3 million, followed by Essex County, which has the second most cases in the state, which will get nearly $4.8 million.

More dramatic than any event since WWII. Coronavirus impact will cost Rutgers and other N.J. schools millions. New Jerseys colleges and universities are looking at a sea of red ink, as the impact of the coronavirus hits the halls of higher education. Montclair State University is down $15 million in refunds for housing and dining fees and is losing another $15 million in revenue and endowments. Rutgers, meanwhile, stands to lose $150 million this quarter, University President Robert L. Barchi said.

Coronavirus forces two more commuter bus companies to stop service. Ridership declines have forced Lakeland Bus Lines to announce it would suspend all service by the end of the day Thursday and Suburban Transit plans to shut down by the end of the week.

First person incarcerated in state facility tests positive for coronavirus. The first person currently incarcerated within the states Department of Corrections has tested positive for coronavirus, according to an internal memo obtained by NJ Advance Media. The infected person is an inmate at Fletcher House, an 84-bed residential community that offers assistance and support for incarcerated men who are soon to be paroled.

Man kicked officers, coughed and spit at them, said now you all have the coronavirus, police say. Edison Police arrested the man after his parents called police and said he was acting out of control. He was charged with obstruction of law, terroristic threats, three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, and criminal mischief and was taken to Middlesex County Jail in North Brunswick.

N.J. wont tell everyone to wear masks, but these stores are telling workers they can. Gov. Phil Murphy advised that social distancing is what works best and cautioned that anyone wearing a homemade mask might have a false sense of security. But, he acknowledged that many retail workers, particularly those in grocery stores, have asked for them.

Mercer County coronavirus testing site swabs over 250 people in 3 days. The site, at the Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence, is keeping up with the demand and hasnt had to turn anyone away because of a lack of test kits, County Executive Brian Hughes said in a statement.

Steve Strunsky, Rodrigo Torrejon, Jonathan D. Salant, Ted Sherman, Larry Higgs, Joe Atmonavage, Chris Sheldon, Matt Gray and Joe Brandt contributed to this story.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
COVID-19 has completely changed the daily lives of people the world over.

Unprecedented measures to curb the spread of the virus are being taken all over the world. Countries have been put into lockdown, schools closed, events canceled, shops and workplaces shuttered, with millions being told to work from home, and emergency funds released.

In Turkey, the president launched a National Solidarity Campaign to provide additional support to low-income people suffering economically due to the measures taken against the spread of the disease.

Were all in this together

The world is coming together to fight this global crisis, and people are uniting in all sorts of different ways to help each other and make sure we get through this together.

There are 6,500 foreign nationals who live here and call Fethiye home, and, in normal circumstances, daily life bobs along quite happily. Who would have thought for one minute when they moved here, that in 2020 we would be living through a crisis on a global scale?

Throughout everything that is happening, the Fethiye District Governors office and Fethiye Municipality are doing the very best they can for everyone, both locals and foreigners.

As a result of the circular issued by the Ministry of the Interior, the Vefa Coordination Group was established by the Mugla Governorship and food, medicine and other needs of those restricted from leaving their homes are met by the officers of the group.

A member of the Vefa Coordination Group delivers shopping to a resident in Fethiye.

Fethiye Municipality is also now making important tannoy announcements in Turkish and English.

Mick Scarsbrook recording tannoy announcements in English

Fethiye Municipality are in daily contact with Fethiye Times and Corona Caring Fethiye and working hard to support us and deal with our many queries.

Thank you from the residents of Fethiye

Many residents have conveyed their thanks to the Governors office and Fethiye Municipality on social media.

Here are some of the messages:

Maggie Upton Todd: Thank you so much for your support in these difficult times.

Paula Karagoz: You do a great job of helping people who cant go out. I hope it continues like this. Bravo to all of you!

Linda Robson: Thank you very much. You are our lifeline and we are very grateful.

Denise Toraman: Thank you so much for being there. You are doing a great job.

Jacob Doyle: Thanks to Fethiye Municipality management and all staff for their diligent and respectful work.

Kay Stamps: Great job, many thanks.

Tony Wilkins: I was very honored and happy to be a part of this community. Thank you, Turkey and the Fethiye Municipality.

Susan Russell: I was very impressed by this wonderful countrys fight against this crisis. Special thanks to our municipality, the police, the Police and all the volunteers.

Wendy Slade: I just cannot thank the municipality, the police, the Police, all the healthcare professionals for their help, kindness and hard work. We already loved this country before, but now we love it more than ever.

Shirley Stuart: Its great to see that the Council did a great job with the police, the Police, the healthcare professionals and many volunteers during these difficult times!

Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca said, During the summer and winter, 6500 foreign nationals live in and around Fethiye. Some of these individuals are married to Turkish citizens, some have been residing in our country for many years. These people, most of whom are UK citizens, are now our neighbors, friends, friends and confidants.

To Fethiye Governor, Muzaffer Sahiner and Fethiye Mayor, Alim Karaca and his team  a massive thank you for all the help you have given Fethiye Times.

https://gercekfethiye.com/together-we-are-stronger-birlikte-daha-gucluyuz/26359/
DUBLIN, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Genetic Testing Market Outlook 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The advent of genetic tests has revolutionized the molecular diagnostics and cytogenetic industry. It is one of the most rapidly growing segments in the molecular diagnostics industry, which helps in delivering customized health services or personalized medicine.

The share of genetic testing is incessantly increasing in the market. Growing awareness about genetic testing, technological advances in genetic sequencing, and rising incidences of genetic diseases especially cancer are some of the major factors propelling the genetic testing market.



Global Genetic Testing Market Outlook 2022 provides a detailed analysis of the genetic testing market. The report also provides insight regarding the current and future perspectives of the market. This report covers the major trends and drivers, and their impact on the market. The report also discusses some of the restraints that can hinder the growth of the market, as well as rising opportunities which can provide new dimensions to the industry.



The segmentation of genetic testing markets has been done in the report on the basis of applications, diseases, and geographical regions.



1) Based on the application, the genetic testing market is divided into Diagnostic Testing, Newborn Screening, Prenatal Testing, Carrier Screening, and Others. Diagnostic testing and Newborn screening are the major application areas of genetic testing industry. The large shares of these applications can be attributed to the presence of huge players in the segment, and to the rising number of genetic tests performed for this purpose. The Carrier Testing market is expected to witness the highest growth during 2017-2022. This growth is likely to be driven by the huge population opting for carrier screening of cystic fibrosis, exhibiting an unprecedented rise in the US. The report provides a current and forecasted market for each of the application areas of Genetic Testing.



2) The major disease profiles/conditions for which Genetic Testing is used include Alzheimer's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Cancer, Down Syndrome, and Others. Cancer accounts for the largest share amongst the diseases for which genetic testing is done. This large share can be attributed to the rising prevalence of cancer, which is expected to increase as the global population ages. Approximately 75-80% of all cancers are diagnosed in people aged 55 or older, and this pattern is expected to increase by 2020. The report provides a current and forecasted market for each of the genetic conditions of Genetic Testing.



3) Moreover, the report also contains markets for the major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. North America contributes the largest share in the global genetic testing market, followed by Europe. The presence of major players increased awareness and higher disposable income, are some of the prominent factors that have led to North America being the market leader. The Asia-Pacific market is expected to witness the highest growth during 2017-2022. The major reasons for the high growth are the increasing per capita income and gradual development of the healthcare sector in countries, such as India and China. North America and Europe are expected to grow at a modest rate due to the launch of new and innovative products in these markets.

Competitive Landscape

The company profiles segment in this report is entirely devoted to profiling leading companies of the genetic testing industry including some major players like Abbott Laboratories, Roche Diagnostics, Myriad Genetics, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Hologic, Inc., Cepheid, Agilent Technologies and QIAGEN. This segment provides you access to the newly launched products, recent developments, and strengths and weaknesses of these companies to deliver a clear understanding/view of the competitive landscape.



Overall, the report will prove to be a complete source of knowledge and analysis for clients and potential investors.

Key Topics Covered



1. Analyst View



2. Research Methodology



3. Genetic Testing Overview

3.1 Applications and Advantages

3.2 Methods

3.3 Genetic Testing Laboratories - Unmet Need Analysis



4. Industry Overview

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Rising Incidence of Chronic Diseases

4.1.2 Growth in Ageing Population

4.1.3 Increasing Government Initiatives

4.1.4 Rising Investments in Genetic Testing Market

4.1.5 Incessant Launch of New Genetic Tests

4.2 Challenges

4.2.1 Low Awareness for Genetic Testing in Developing Countries

4.2.2 High Cost of Genetic Tests

4.2.3 Varying Reimbursement Policies

4.2.4 Ethical and Policy Issues

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)

4.3.2 Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

4.3.3 Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for Cancer

4.3.4 Personalized Medicine

4.4 Trends

4.4.1 Genetic Testing in Oncology: Gaining Momentum

4.4.2 Strong Demand for Pharmacogenomics

4.4.3 At-Home DNA Tests or Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Tests



5. Global Genetic Testing Market Outlook



6. Global Genetic Testing Market by Application

6.1 Carrier Testing

6.2 Diagnostic Testing

6.3 New Born Screening

6.4 Predictive & Pre-Symptomatic Testing

6.5 Prenatal Testing

6.6 Others



7. Global Genetic Testing Market by Disease

7.1 Alzheimer's Disease

7.2 Cystic Fibrosis

7.3 Cancer

7.4 Down Syndrome

7.5 Others



8. Global Genetic Testing Market by Geography

8.1 North America

8.2 Europe

8.3 Asia-Pacific

8.4 Rest of the World (RoW)



9. Genetic Testing Regulations



10. Mergers & Acquisitions



11. Company Profiles (Overview, Product Offering, Financials, Developments, Strength & Weakness)

11.1 Abbott Laboratories

11.2 Roche Diagnostics

11.3 Myriad Genetics, Inc.

11.4 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

11.5 Agilent Technologies, Inc.

11.6 Hologic, Inc.

11.7 Illumina, Inc.

11.8 QIAGEN N.V.

11.9 Cepheid

11.10 Quest Diagnostics



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/92pby3

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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A fitness entrepreneur with stage 4 cervical cancer revealed how she almost died from coronavirus after developing symptoms she initially thought were caused by chemotherapy.

Hilary Bentwood, 49, who runs spin studio CyClub, in north London, was admitted to hospital last month with fatigue, a high temperature and extreme shortness of breath.

As a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy, Hilary understood she was at in a high-risk category for COVID-19 but said she was 'too ill to worry'. It was only after she recovered that her oncologist revealed to her that she had been in a life-threatening condition.

However Hilary, a married mother of two, was determined to get back to work and within three weeks was back running the studio alongside her best friend and business partner Sharon Jaffe, 47.

Hilary Bentwood, 49, (pictured) from North-West London, who was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer last year, revealed how she almost died from coronavirus last month

The spin studio owner and mother-of-two told how she has lost her hair as a result of chemotherapy. She now wears wigs when she is teaching spin classes

'I am too young to die,' Hilary said, explaining how she remains upbeat. 'I still have so much I need to do, that's what keeps me positive. Stage 4 cancer aside - we have too much to do.'

Hilary was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer last year and underwent surgery to remove her ovaries and tumours in December.

She initially put her coronavirus symptoms down to exhaustion from a recent round of chemotherapy, but later decided her persistent cough and difficulty breathing combined with a very high fever must be caused by more than chemo.

She was taken to the hospital oncology unit where she was treated as if it could be neutropenic sepsis or coronavirus.

'I was absolutely terrified,' she said. 'Being a chemo patient, if we get a temperature over 37.5C we are supposed to call into hospital or go to A&E as our immunity is compromised and we can become neutropenic [when someone has a low level of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell], which is life-threatening.'

She continued: 'I was too ill to worry. Although I was reassured it wasn't nutropeanea, I was put on an IV drip and oxygen and two days later my results from the oncology unit revealed I had tested positive for coronavirus.

'My cough was terrible and uncontrollable - shallow breaths was all I could manage.

'My consultant was in touch with me regularly and I am truly grateful that he chose not to tell me of the risk to my life. He did not consider it appropriate to have that conversation with me whilst I was so unwell. For me, calmness is key, panic just causes more pain.

After being released from hospital, Hilary was determined to get back to work and within three weeks was back running the studio alongside her best friend and business partner Sharon Jaffe, 47. Pictured, Hilary and Sharon together

'It was only a few days ago that he confirmed to me the life-threatening situation I had been in, once we knew I was out the woods. He shared with me that the stats were not good for chemo corona patients and that my life had been at severe risk.'

Once she was released from hospital, Hilary spent time in self-isolation but kept in constant communication with Sharon so they could keep their business running.

Like many fitness business owners, the friends were forced to close CyClub as the coronavirus crisis worsened in the UK. However the partners quickly adapted to a remote model and launched 'On Demand' as an option for their 4,000 members.

Sharon said: 'When Hilary got the cancer diagnosis, it felt like the bottom fell out of my world. I was already dealing with a mother and mother-in-law with cancer, but with Hilary it was just too much. She was my rock and I had to become her rock and when she got the coronavirus and everything happened so quickly I knew it was a lifeline for us both to keep our club up and running.

'Running your own business is difficult at the best of times, never mind in this situation. Our spinning community is huge, we are like a family, so when the studio shut we discussed launching On Demand, worked through the logistics of renting out our bikes and how to deliver them  and boom 'On Demand' happened.

Hilary (pictured) revealed the belief that she's 'too young to die' and still has much to do, keeps her positive

'I created a mini studio in my children's playroom, purchased some equipment on Amazon and carried on recording, even with Instagram Live and IGTV, which I had never used before.

'There was so much encouragement as we had our own CyClub on Demand Whatsapp group with members enthusiastically embracing the classes. We have started off with members who are original CyClubbers but now we're proud to say we have subscribers from Boston to Athens.'

Hilary continued: 'Now I have my brain and body back, Cyclub on demand is key to my existence - Sharon and I working as one again - in a virtual capacity - is wonderful.

'As for my own health, always what pulls me through is my need to get up and move. I have a need to make myself stronger and to train. It's been that way for many many years now. It has saved me before all this cancer and coronavirus stuff, and it's still my guiding light now. I have things to do, classes to teach and a body to put on display.

Like many fitness business owners, the friends were forced to close CyClub as the coronavirus crisis worsened in the UK. However the partners quickly adapted to a remote model and launched 'On Demand' as an option for their 4,000 members. Pictured, one of the classes

'I am too young to die. I still have so much I need to do, that's what keeps me positive. Stage 4 cancer aside - we have too much to do. I am not leaving my family - Sharon included - friends or The CyClub.

'I am still coughing and have a bad cold but my immunity is a little knocked and am not allowed any vitamin pills throughout my chemo regime, so limited help with recovery.'

Hilary, who admitted her cancer diagnosis last year was a 'bombshell', is still on an intensive chemotherapy regime that has caused her to lose her hair.

She has been having treatment at LOC London oncology centre, during the government's enforced lockdown.

She continued: 'Seeing my blonde hair covering my black lycra as it fell out is more sickening than the nausea you get with chemo. The disgustingness of fallen hair on your coat as you remove it is truly devastating [sic]. And how could I have the masses look at me at CyClub without a head of hair?

'I have so many looking at me as I teach. Looking good is part of the role, and bald is not the way to roll. I absolutely had to hold onto the looking good element.

'One day quietly on my own (with my husband's clippers) I did the deed of shaving my head and honestly I have no words to describe how that feels. It's still tear-jerking, but I accept now that I will never have long locks again and I am at peace with it.

Hilary revealed helping others through CyClub motivates her, as it's not only about burning calories but guiding some to think more clearly. Pictured: CyClub spinning class

'I have fabulous real hair wigs but they will never feel like my own hair. And training and spinning now and sweating with a wig on is a little extra challenge - but it is what it is, and as long as the wig stays in place then I'm all good.'

Hilary told how her family, friends and spin community had been a pillar of support.

She added: 'My diagnosis of cancer was a bombshell but the love and friendship with my members has kept me going. It makes me emotional just thinking about the continued support I have received from them over these past few months.

'Plus the love and support I have had from Sharon - I couldn't have done it without her and my wonderful family and friends.'

http://www.the-cyclub.com/ And on Instagram @the_cyclub
Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, says there is nothing to cause worry over some countries evacuating their citizens from Nigeria.

Speculations had started to build up over the evacuation of foreign citizens from the country.

However, speaking at the press briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Friday, Onyeama who was responding to a journalist who had asked if the evacuation was a result of Nigerias health system said that was not really the case.

Read Also: COVID-19: Governor Udom Emmanuel Announces 14 Days Total Lockdown In Akwa Ibom

It is basically a case where people are more familiar with the health system in their various countries and so prefer to go to the various countries so in the event that they might have to be confined, they would be in more familiar surroundings and they would also have access to medical practitioners and facilities that they are used to, Onyeama said.

So, that is really the reason. And you will find that a large number of those countries evacuating citizens, that their heads of mission and ambassadors and other staff are still here in Nigeria and there are no plans of leaving.


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MIDLAND, MI  Amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, blood drives are set to take place in Flint and Midland in the coming days, and would-be donors throughout Mid-Michigan can donate any day by appointment.

The pandemic and related social distancing measures, including the cancellation of blood drives and other events throughout the state, led to a severe blood shortage last month, according to the American Red Cross.

American Red Cross Spokesman Todd Kulman said while there is no longer a shortage, the organization is still urging would-be donors to schedule appointments to donate to help prevent future shortages.

Over the past three weeks, our donors have stepped-up the call for donations, allowing us to meet immediate patient needs, Kulman said. Were now asking eligible donors to consider scheduling an appointment to donate in the weeks ahead to ensure blood products are available.

To be eligible to donate whole blood, according to RedCrossBlood.org, one must:

Be in good health and feeling well.

Be at least 16 years old in most states.

Weigh at least 110 pounds.

Learn more about donor eligibility requirements here.

In response to this public health crisis and to encourage more blood donations, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, April 2, announced it had updated and revised some of its policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria, according to an FDA news release. Changes include reducing the deferral period from 12 months to 3 months for male donors who would have been deferred for having sex with other men, for female donors who would have been deferred for having sex with men who had sex with other men, and for people with recent tattoos and piercings.

Upcoming blood drives

According to the American Red Crosss website, a blood drive is scheduled to take place from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 3, through Sunday, April 5, at the Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse.

Click here to find upcoming American Red Cross blood drives near you or to schedule an appointment.

And on Wednesday, April 8, the Midland Center for the Arts is partnering with Versiti Blood Center of Michigan and Midland Rotary Club to host a blood drive at the center. The event is scheduled to take place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Midland Center for the Arts, 1801 W. St. Andrews.

This partnership with Versiti Blood Center of Michigan will result in hundreds of lives being saved, thanks to the generosity of those able to donate, Terri Trotter, Midland Center for the Arts President and CEO, said in a statement. We have an empty facility right now and are thrilled to be able to use our space to help provide this vital service. And we are grateful for the partnership of Rotary in helping to encourage blood donations.

Versiti officials will take extra precautions to create a safe environment for donors and to ensure proper social distancing. All blood donors are encouraged to make an appointment before arriving Wednesday to reduce the number of people waiting at the center.

Dawn Kaiser, Versitis area vice president for Michigan, said volunteers have sewn more than 250 masks for Versiti staff. Staff also have their temperatures taken and health assessed before interacting with donors. Donation areas and all equipment are sanitized between each donor and 6-foot social distancing is strictly adhered to as well, she said.

The blood supply right now is very strong and thats because of the stay-at-home orders cutting down trauma needs, hospitals not allowed to schedule elective surgeries," Kaiser said. We reached out and asked the public to roll up their sleeves and they did. Weve seen the incredible generosity of our donors.

Now, Versiti is asking donors to schedule appointments to give blood in May and June, when an increased need for blood is anticipated.

Anyone interested in donating blood on April 8 should visit MidlandCenter.org/BloodDrive or call 1-866-642-5663 to schedule an appointment.

A Versiti mobile blood drive bus seen in the Covenant Visiting Nurse Association parking lot on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in Saginaw, Mich.Riley Yuan | MLive.com

A bright pink Versiti bus was parked at the Covenant Visiting Nurse Association, 502 S. Hamilton St. in Old Town Saginaw, on Thursday, April 2, offering a mobile blood drive of sorts. Kaiser said the bus can accommodate three appointments per hour. Visit versiti.org to see where the bus is heading next and to find more opportunities to donate.

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LANSING, Mich., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Community Bankers of Michigan, Michigan Bankers Association, Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates, and the Michigan Chamber issued the following statement today on the newly launched Paycheck Protection Program:

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), passed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, launches today, Friday, April 3. The PPP is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. The loans will be forgiven if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

There is high interest in this program. The PPP was passed under the CARES Act one week ago today. Financial Institutions received the guidance from Treasury less than 24-hours ago and have been working to establish channels for their customers.

Michigan's financial institutions entered this pandemic from a position of strength and are well-equipped to help their communities.

Things businesses can do right now:

Determine your eligibility.

Small businesses with 500 or fewer employeesincluding nonprofits, veterans' organizations, tribal concerns, self-employed individuals, sole proprietorships, and independent contractorsare eligible. Businesses with more than 500 employees are eligible in certain industries. Talk to your financial institution.

If you are experiencing or expect to experience cash flow problems, contacting your lender is the critical first step. Plan for the next 3-6 months.

Many businesses have sufficient funds or access to capital for the first 2-3 months. However, we don't know how long the pandemic will last, so look ahead, both in terms of a potential lengthening of the pandemic and also in how you will handle recovery and re-opening of the business if you are currently closed. Be ready to produce required information quickly to help your lender with your application.

All loan programs still require some information in order for the lender to underwrite the loan, including the ones created through the CARES Act. Be ready to produce required documentation quickly to help your lender with your application. Don't panic and draw on lines of credit unnecessarily.

There is plenty of liquidity in the system (unlike the financial crisis in 2008) so don't panic and draw on lines of credit unnecessarily. Just like we are encouraging consumers to keep excess cash in insured financial institutions, keep the lines of credit intact until you absolutely need to access them. There may be costs associated with accessing those funds and if you don't need to incur the added expense, don't. Have patience.

The financial sector wants to help you through these unprecedented times, but not all programs are in place yet, and even when they are, technology can cause hiccups or delays (e.g. systems crashing). We are proud to work with our partners in the business and financial services community to help guide Michigan's economy through this unique and challenging time.

"Bankers across the state of Michigan have worked long hours this week to prepare for the roll out of the SBA Paycheck Protection Program for Michigan businesses," stated Mike Tierney, president and CEO, Community Bankers of Michigan. "The Paycheck Protection Program is designed to help business owners retain their most important asset  their employees  through these troubled times. Michigan banks are the economic engine of the state. They have been there for their communities in every past crisis and they will be there for Michigan through this crisis."

"Working with small businesses is the backbone of what our industry does," explained T. Rann Paynter, President and CEO, Michigan Bankers Association. "Financial institutions of all sizes throughout Michigan were helping their small business customers with a range of assistance programs before the government approved this initiative. While, the PPP program is an added and critical tool, there are other options available to small businesses in need. Please communicate with your lender to learn more."

"Credit Unions join with banks in urging patience with the SBA PPP rollout," stated Dave Adams, President/CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates. "Congress moved swiftly, and the SBA has done it's best to be ready. Lenders continue to seek a refined process that expedites the flow of funds while protecting the interests of all parties. These steps may take longer than first expected but credit unions are ready to join with banks in making these emergency loans available as quickly as possible."

"We understand that many Michigan businesses, dealing with the economic fallout of COVID-19, are desperate for a piece of the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)," said Wendy Block, Vice President of Business Advocacy and Member Engagement for the Michigan Chamber. "The PPP is aimed at helping small and medium sized business retain workers and pay bills during the COVID-19 pandemic."

"We encourage businesses to be patient," continued Block. "If you are a business owner and you are interested in applying for a PPP loan, we'd encourage to direct your inquiries to the financial institution where you have your business. This will ensure the quickest turn-around time on your application."

Community Bankers of Michigan

The Community Bankers of Michigan is a 250-member trade association serving community banks, and their financial services partners, throughout Michigan. With headquarters in East Lansing, Michigan, the Community Bankers of Michigan is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, professional education programs, and high-quality products and services. For more information visit cbofm.org. One Mission. Community Banks.

Michigan Bankers Association

The Michigan Bankers Association (MBA), the voice of the banking industry since 1887, consists of Michigan financial institutions with more than 2,800 branches located throughout the state. The MBA promotes strong communities and economic activity in Michigan by advancing a positive business environment. MBA assists banks by offering products and services to reduce expenses and increase profitability through the strength of the association. For more information, visit www.mibankers.com.

Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates

Organized in 1934, the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates (MCUL) is a trade association representing Michigan's credit unions. Based in Lansing, Michigan, MCUL works to strengthen the credit union community and its image by providing advocacy on important issues, coordinating cooperative initiatives and by providing high-quality solutions that help credit unions succeed and enrich the lives of their members. For more information, visit www.mcul.org.

Michigan Chamber of Commerce

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing nearly 5,000 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce who employ over one million Michigan residents. It was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process.

SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Bill Gates has claimed that the US needs to have 10 more weeks of shutdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Writing in an op-ed for The Washington Post, Mr Gates said the country needs to unite around an approach in order to be successful.

Each state offers different advice and only five have stay-at-home orders in place, meaning residents can only leave the house for essential needs.

Mr Gates thinks this needs to change: First, we need a consistent nationwide approach to shutting down. Despite urging from public health experts, some states and counties havent shut down completely, he wrote.

In some states, beaches are still open; in others, restaurants still serve sit-down meals.

Mr Gates added that any confusion about this point will only extend the economic pain, raise the odds that the virus will return, and cause more deaths.

The co-founder of Microsoft also argued that the amount of testing should increase, and praised New Yorks responses to the virus, where they have increased their testing capacity to 20,000 people a day.

He praised Seattles self-swab testing, which means patients avoid the risk of infecting a medical professional, and wrote: I hope this and other innovations in testing are scaled up across the country soon.

Mr Gates also advocated for a vaccine to be developed within 18 months and praised the government for making deals with companies to prepare for manufacturing.

Its a great sign that the administration made deals this week with at least two companies to prepare for vaccine manufacturing. I hope more deals will follow, he wrote.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the chief infectious disease expert leading the US response, echoed Mr Gatess claims and said he doesnt understand why states arent working together to tackle the virus.

Dr Fauci told CNN: You know, the tension between federally mandated versus states rights to do what they want is something I dont want to get into ... But if you look at whats going on in this country, I just dont understand why were not doing that.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 270,473 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 6,889.
In a statement published on Twitter, the Editors Guild of India stated that it finds the advice of the Supreme Court 'gratuitous and unnecessary.'

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Thursday said it was deeply perturbed over the governments statement in Supreme Court earlier this week, and questioned the Centre's attempt in the apex court to blame the media for the mass exodus of migrants from cities amid the coronavirus crisis.

In the PIL before the apex court, the Centre sought a direction from the court which said: No electronic/print media /web portal or social media shall print/publish or telecast anything without first ascertaining the true factual position from the separate mechanism provided by the central government.

The coronavirus-enforced lockdown has triggered a mass exodus of migrant agriculture labourers, industrial workers, and unorganised sector employees from their workplaces to hometowns amid a 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus.

In its order, the Supreme Court told the media to publish the official version of developments, but clarified it didnt wish to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic.

However, the apex court noted that it did not want to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic, but directed the media to refer to and publish the official version about the developments. The court said it expected 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.

In a statement published on Twitter, the Editors Guild of India stated that it finds the advice of the apex court gratuitous and unnecessary.

The Editors Guild of India has issued a statement pic.twitter.com/eCYKoY73BO  Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) April 2, 2020

Blaming the media at the juncture can only undermine the current work being done by it under trying circumstances. Such changes can also obstruct the process of dissemination of news during an unprecedented crisis facing the country, the statement said.

The EGI's statement also highlighted the FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police against the news publishing website The Wire's Editor-in-Chief Siddharth Varadarajan and recognised the police action at this state an overreaction and act of intimidation.

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday had booked the senior journalist over comments on Twitter claiming that the day Tablighi Jamaat held its event in Delhi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had insisted that a Ram Navami fair will take place as usual.

PEN Delhi, also took note of the FIR and said that "the intimidation of Vidya Krishnan, Siddharth Varadarajan and others must stop." It further noted that "Fighting a pandemic requires a free media not just to inform the people likely to be affected by it but also to act as a watchdog for them."
Nothing was usual in the sudden death of Mohamad Pannu Mia, a 55-year-old Bangladeshi rickshaw puller.

After Md Parvez rushed his father to a hospital in Dhaka on the night of March 30, he could only stand in the background, helpless, as Mia left this world and was laid to rest.

Hospital authorities didnt hand over my fathers body to us, suspecting that he might have died due to the coronavirus, Parvez, a 21-year-old welder, told BenarNews by telephone from his home in the Nawabganj area of Dhaka, where he was in quarantine.

Medical workers offered funeral prayers for his father at the hospital, but only five or six people were inside the room, he said.

Those who participated in Namaz-e-Janaza wore personal protective equipment and masks. Water mixed with bleach was sprayed on his body before wrapping up the body with white cloth. Then the body was put in a box, Parvez said.

The next day, an ambulance took Mias body to a graveyard. Parvez was allowed to follow in a separate ambulance.

No one else in his family was permitted to go.

My father has two more daughters. But they couldnt see my fathers face for the last time. My mother even couldnt say her final words toward her husband. I couldnt even give the last respect that my father deserved. Its my failure too, Parvez said.

From Bangladesh to the Philippines, as COVID-19 deaths climb into the double and triple digits, Muslims find themselves having to forego the rituals that help them bid farewell to their departed ones, adding suffering to the shock, grief and stigma of falling prey to the deadly virus.

The outbreak has forced Muslims to change their religious rites, according to Bin Laden Aga Khan Sharief, a Muslim elder in Marawi, Philippines.

The dead can no longer be given a bath or a change of clothes, he told BenarNews. In Islam, it is obligatory to thoroughly wash or clean the cadaver. Only the Shaheed, or those who die in fighting, are exempted.

Double misery

In the Bangladeshi capital, officials from the hospital later called Parvez to say that his father had tested negative for coronavirus, but died of pneumonia.

Experts in infectious disease at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States list pneumonia as a complication of severe coronavirus.

The test results did not convince his neighbors, Parvez said.

Socially, we are facing a kind of discomfort, he said. Were mentally down due to the demise of my father, while we dont have adequate food at home  double misery.

Islamic Foundation Director-General Anis Mahmud said that Muslims who succumb to COVID-19 should receive a ritual dry washing, or Tayemmum, to comply with Muslim law, before being sprayed with bleach to satisfy health regulations.

Directives have been given to follow this system after consultation with learned Islamic scholars, he told BenarNews.

Compromise

In Malaysia, another Muslim-majority country, guidelines released in late March by the Ministry of Health call for bodies of all confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients to be wrapped in white linen and placed in two body bags by medical personnel wearing N95 masks, face shields, gloves and protective aprons.

The Islamic procedure of washing the body can be replaced by tayammum, a symbolic cleansing using purified sand or dust, over the outermost body bag, it said.

Relatives are strictly forbidden to handle the body at any circumstances, it said, adding that only one relative would be allowed to view the body for identification.

The normal ritual would need the body handler to cleanse the body using water before wrapping the body in white cloth. The handler would have to touch the body to make sure that it is clean enough before [continuing] to other stages and last preparation for the burial, Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, the Malaysian minister in charge of Islamic Affairs, said earlier in the month.

Aleem Saad Amate, president of the United Imams of the Philippines, said Muslims had learned to compromise with the new protocols.

The family of a patient who died of COVID-19 at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center on March 13 had agreed not to follow strict Islamic traditions during the burial, but they did not agree to recommendations from the World Health Organization that the remains be cremated. Instead, the family allowed health officials to place the body in a bag before it was buried.

Cremation is considered Haram by Muslims but placing the body in a body bag was a compromise, Amate said. He said the family was lucky that doctors at the hospital understood and respected their Islamic burial traditions.

Su-ngai Kolok Hospital officials bury a COVID-19 victim at the Sarayo cemetery in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, March 27, 2020. [Matahari Ismail/BenarNews]

Bathed but not undressed

In neighboring Indonesia, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the nations top religious authority, said the body of a COVID-19 victim must be bathed but need not be undressed.

It should then be wrapped in a shroud, put in a waterproof body bag, then an air-tight casket, and buried without being removed from the casket, the council said.

Meanwhile the MUI urged the public not to refuse burial of people who had died of coronavirus near their neighborhoods, following reports that some communities tried to block funerals of COVID-19 victims.

The public must not refuse the funeral of coronavirus victims or outbreaks of any disease because the funeral process is handled by highly professional medical officers, not by the general public, said Anton Tabah, chairman of the MUI Legal Commission.

On Sunday, some residents in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, protested against the burial of a COVID-19 patient and chased away an ambulance carrying the body. It was later buried at another location.

And in Thailand, the Sheikhul Islam office announced that Thai Muslims nationwide must follow temporary burial protocols until further notice.

In the case of COVID-19 death, relatives and friends are not allowed to touch or kiss the body to prevent germs from spreading. The body must be treated according to medical advice, applying powder instead of bathing, the Sheikhul Islam said in a statement.

Prayers and burial preparations must take place at the hospital, and the body should be buried in an air-tight pouch as soon as possible, it said.

At least five Muslims in Thailands Deep South have died from COVID-19, according to authorities. Hospital officials have buried the dead, barring relatives from mourning at graveyards.

Amin Taleh, a 52-year-old small businessman in Yala province, said his family feared that his uncle, who was severely ill with suspected COVID-19, might soon succumb to the highly contagious virus.

The family needs to accept the reality. Muslims must accept the destiny, he told BenarNews.

Noah Lee in Kuala Lumpur, Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta and Mariyam Ahmad in Pattani, Thailand, contributed to this report.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday warned of tightening the prohibitory orders in place in the state to implement the lockdown to battle coronavirus, saying people were yet to realise the seriousness of the contagion.

Tamil Nadu has so far reported 411 positive COVID19 cases, the second highest in the country after Maharashtra.

He also announced an assistance of Rs 3,000 for accredited journalists while acknowledging their role in the dissemination of information on COVID19.

Noting that section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure, which bars assembly of more than five persons, was only being enforced to protect the public from the virus, the chief minister said many were 'casual' about it.

The reason for clamping prohibitory orders was to ensure maintaining social distancing as COVID-19 was 'a dangerous contagion', he told reporters in Chennai.

Though people are aware that it has affected some countries very badly, they were still not realising the gravity of the situation and many 'are casually roaming around in two-wheelers and cars', Palaniswami said.

"What the government requests is, realise the impact of the disease. Doctors say there is no medicine available for the virus. It has rattled the world and people should fully cooperate with the government in preventing its spread," he said.

Despite adequate media awareness, some were not heeding this, he said, adding the Union Home Ministry has asked that 'severe action' be taken against violators.

"We were patient. All should follow it. Clamping of Section 144 CrPC is not to harass people. It is for the safety of all...people should give complete cooperation to the government," he said.

He advised people not to step out daily to buy essentials but purchase a week's stocks once when they are out.

"Some don't pay heed to the repeated requests. Henceforth law has to do its duty. The government is giving best cooperation to public. If people fail to utilise it properly, then the government has no other way other than to tighten the restrictions," the CM said.

The state police has booked over 45,000 cases relating to violations and arrested around 50,000 and let them off on bail.

The prohibitory orders won't be binding on transportation of essential commodities, although there was some difficulty in movement of certain grocery items from other states due to curbs there, besides dip in number of trucks being operated, he added.

However, the matter was being addressed.

To a query, he said there would be no pay cuts for the state government employees despite dwindling GST revenues due to the closure of many industries and firms due to the ongoing national lockdown.

Lauding the media for helping the government in its fight against the spread of coronavirus, Palaniswami announced an assistance of Rs 3,000 to accredited journalists to meet their incidental expenses.

The chief minister, who visited camps where migrant labourers are accommodated, assured all assistance to such persons in the state.

Around 1.34 lakh labourers from various other states were employed in factories, hotels and farms in Tamil Nadu, he said.

Similarly, the welfare of Tamil Nadu labourers in other states was also being ensured following the state taking up the matter with them, he added.
TYLER, Texas, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to give back to communities that have been adversely affected by the recent pandemic, John Soules Foods donated 168,000 pounds of product to charitable organizations in areas where the company has operations.

Digital Press Kit with Photos: https://pr.cirlot.com/john-soules-foods-donates-products-to-community-food-banks/

The company delivered 110,800 pounds of product to the East Texas Food Bank in its hometown of Tyler, Texas, and an additional 37,400 pounds to the Montgomery County Food Bank in Conroe, Texas.

"John Soules Foods has been an outstanding partner with the East Texas Food Bank in the fight against hunger," said East Texas Food Bank CEO, Dennis Cullinane. "We are so grateful for their amazing generosity in providing over 50 tons of quality chicken protein for our clients, just when we needed it the most."

"The Montgomery County Food Bank is overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous donation from John Soules Foods. This is a true example of how Texans are uniting to fight hunger during this unprecedented time of crisis," said Allison Hulett, President & CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank.

Additionally, John Soules Foods made a donation totaling 20,000 pounds to charities in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, where the company has operations in nearby Gainesville. In total, over 890,000 servings can be prepared by these three donations.

"We feel there is a real need right now and we want to lend a helping hand to our neighbors," said John Soules, Jr., president and Co-CEO of John Soules Foods. "Our hope is that providing protein-rich foods to local food banks will ease the burden many are facing at this time."

About John Soules Foods

John Soules Foods provides ready-to-cook and fully cooked beef and chicken through retail sales, food service distributors, restaurants, and school nutrition programs, and is the #1 producer of beef and chicken fajitas in the U.S. Other fully cooked products include rotisserie chicken breast strips, grilled chicken breast strips, pulled chicken, and Certified Angus Beef brand products. We also offer a full line of breaded chicken, ready-to-cook Angus beef and chicken, and fully cooked, antibiotic-free chicken and beef strips.

John Soules Foods was established in 1975 as a family-owned company in Tyler, Texas. Today, the Soules family still operates John Soules Foods from our state-of-the-art facilities on 67 acres just north of Tyler. In 2014, we acquired ProView Foods, a leader in breaded chicken products for school and institutional nutrition programs. Breaded chicken products are made and distributed from Gainesville, GA, which expands our variety of chicken products to all customers. More information about John Soules Foods and our products may be found at http://www.johnsoulesfoods.com.

SOURCE John Soules Foods

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http://www.johnsoulesfoods.com


John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, others to lead day of prayer, fasting amid COVID-19

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A cadre of renowned Christian leaders, including theologian John Piper and Joni Eareckson Tada, are leading a prayer and fasting call Saturday to intercede for the world in the throes of a pandemic.

The global evangelical group The Gospel Coalition is facilitating the day. In a video promoting the effort, TGC President Julius Kim explained that they envisioned the day having three parts: morning prayer where Christians pray with a guide based on Psalm 27; a mid-day prayer where participants pray with others in their communities, families, or small groups; and an evening prayer on TGC's Facebook page with Christians from around the world.

"We want to pray to the Lord in faith, trusting what it says in passages like Psalm 10:17. 'O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear,'" he said, quoting the passage.

Pastors and musicians such as Keith and Kristyn Getty will guide the evening hour. Among those involved are theologian and pastor Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie, pastor John Onwuchekwa, Bible teacher Jen Wilkin, scholar Ligon Duncan, and speaker and author Tada.

"Much has already been lost, and the uncertainty of what more can be lost  and when it will stop  leaves people deeply anxious," Kim wrote on the group's website, noting that fasting and praying can unify Christians around the world amid social distancing and growing scattering.

"But we worship a mighty and sovereign God who is not helpless. We cry out to him in our distress because he is steadfast and unchanging  a mighty refuge in a world of storms."

The pandemic besieged many nations in the height of Lent, the 40-day penitential season that precedes Easter. Holy Week begins April 5 with Palm Sunday.

As of Friday, the death toll from the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States reached 6,803 with 266,259 documented cases, according to Worldometers.

"It doesnt take living in this world very long to feel the weight of its brokenness," wrote Sammy Rhodes, a campus minister with Reformed University Fellowship at the University of South Carolina, on the TGC site Friday, commenting on the worldwide disease outbreak. "Whether its a stroke or a deadly virus, we know the world is not as it should be. Everything is not whole. Everything is not in its right place. We do our best to manage things with some semblance of controlonly to find out (often quite suddenly) that the control we thought we had was a laughable illusion."

"Wheres Jesus in all of this? Loving us in sickness, just as much as in health," he said.

Recent surveys show many Americans have been increasingly turning to prayer, interceding for an end to the pandemic. Similarly, many are streaming church services online due to stay-at-home orders to prevent further spread of the virus, and are gathering in parking lots of hospitals to pray for medical personnel and patients inside.
Farming consultants have created an emergency document to help Scottish farmers plan ahead in case they fall ill during the coronavirus pandemic.

With sheep enterprises in particular facing a challenging lambing season, farmers are being urged to make a plan B as soon as possible.

The Emergency Plan template, created by the Farm Advisory Service (FAS), allows farmers to record the names and numbers of key contacts such as vets, feed representatives, accountants and contractors.

They can also provide information about where stock is housed  including in isolated facilities such as outlying steadings and out-winterings, and when lambing or calving is due to start.

Chloe McCulloch, Principal Consultant at SAC Consulting, part of Scotlands Rural College which delivers the FAS programme, urged farmers to complete the document as soon as possible.

The key to success this year, regardless of the type of farm, is to have a robust plan and to take some time now to think through what you would do and who you would phone in the event you or members of the team become unwell, she said.

The template wont take long to complete and will ensure that if you become ill, your livestock can still be cared for.

Farmers can download the template from the FAS website and are advised to keep it somewhere that is accessible to all staff, such as the farm office.

More templates allowing farmers to record sector-specific information are also available on the website, together with additional guidance and information, including support for less experienced people who may find themselves helping on the farm.

There are also links to other sources of support during the crisis and information about how they are able to help with this specific challenge, including the farmers charity RSABI which can be contacted on 0300 111 4166.

RSABI can help prepare an emergency plan or put farmers in touch with a labour exchange or consultant.
Photograph: Elaine Thompson/AP

Americas decade-long record of continual job growth came to a shuddering halt on Friday as the US unemployment rate rose for the first time since 2010.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that unemployment rose to 4.4% in March, up from a 50-year low of 3.5% in February, as the US lost 701,000 jobs.

Related: What US unemployment benefits can I get during the coronavirus? Your payment options explained

The US has added jobs month after month since the end of the last recession, and until the coronavirus pandemic struck employers had struggled to fill open positions.

But in the just two weeks the coronavirus pandemic has battered the jobs market, leading close to 10 million people to file for unemployment benefits, breaking unemployment office websites and call centers with the volume of their applications.

The official monthly jobs report was compiled using data collected before 14 March, ahead of a wave of announcements from companies big and small that they were laying off workers as the US moved to restrict movement and contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

Employment in leisure and hospitality fell by 459,000 over the month, mainly in food services and drinking places. But there were also notable declines in healthcare (down 61,00), retail (down 46,000), professional and business services (down 52,000) and construction (down 29,000).

The number of unemployed persons who reported being on temporary layoff more than doubled in March to 1.8 million.

The treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, and others have speculated unemployment could rise to 30% in the coming months with economists worrying that the US now faces a recession of a depth unseen since the Great Depression of the 1930s unless a solution is found that will allow people to go back to work.

Forecasting firm Oxford Economics is predicting a 16% unemployment rate by May with the loss of 27.9m jobs, more than double the 8.7m jobs cut during the 2007-2009 recession and its aftermath. Those jobs were lost over more than two years.

Story continues

If the unemployment climbs above 15%, it would be the highest on record since 1940. Unemployment touched 10% in October 2009 during the last recession. The previous peak was in 1982, when it reached 10.8%. Unemployment during the Great Depression peaked at 24.9% in 1933.

Earlier this week ADP, the USs largest payroll processor, said private employers cut a total of 27,000 jobs last month. Small businesses have been particularly hard hit as the pandemic has shaken the US economy. They cut 90,000 jobs and the total number was buoyed up by gains in other sectors.

ADPs survey too was conducted in mid-March and the company said it did not fully reflect the most recent impact of Covid-19 on the employment situation.

The true impact of the coronavirus on the jobs market will probably start appearing in next months report. The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits has now broken records for two weeks in a row, with more people seeking assistance than at any point in the last recession.

In the last two weeks more people filed for unemployment than the combined number of people who filed in the first 10 months of the year.
Stephen Colbert spoke with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the Capitol on Thursday's Late Show, and he asked her why she isn't sheltering at home. "We are really working constantly on to prepare for our next bill but also to make sure that the legislation that was passed and signed by the president on Friday is fully implemented to meet the needs of America's working families," she said. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has objected to a new coronavirus package, she added, but "we hope Mitch McConnell will awaken" to the severity of America's economic black hole.

"Are there going to be strings attached" to "the corporate bailout" in the $2.2. trillion bill already signed? Colbert asked. The law, as written, has "very stringent conditions" on industries receiving the money, Pelosi said, but "at the signing ceremony, the president decided to take upon himself to say he wasn't going to acknowledge or obey any of that, and that was most disappointing." She described Trump's "sad and frightening" signing statement as him declaring "he would be the oversight over all of this," and "that's the fight we have."

Pelosi said she introduced legislation Thursday to set up a House committee, modeled on the World War II Truman Committee, to contemporaneously watch that there's no profiteering, waste, fraud, or other abuses in the implementation of the rescue package. When Colbert asked how democracy should work "while we're all staying at home, all quarantining," Pelosi pointed to the $400 million Democrats had already secured for vote-by-mail, said more is needed, and gently chided Trump for warning expanded voting would doom Republican politicians. "Well, I think he should have more confidence in the Republican Party," she said. "Republicans have always been very good about voting by mail, I can tell you that as a former state chair of the California Democratic Party."

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Pelosi's advice to America: "Wash your hands, hydrate, pray, and you can never dance too much." Colbert snuck in an off-color joke.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told Seth Meyers on Wednesday's Late Night she would have eliminated the law's $500 billion "slush fund," and while "they put a few strings on it," it isn't enough. "It's better to put some stings on it up front than it is to complain about it afterward, so that's what I'm pushing the secretary of the Treasury to do right now," Warren added.

More stories from theweek.com

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I advised him to stop smoking, Dr. Frankland told the medical journal The BMJ. Three and a half months later he was dramatically better, and because he was so grateful, I was invited back to Baghdad with my family to have lunch with him.

Dr. Franklands research included rare cases. One involved a patient who suspected that she was allergic to her partners semen. She reported, however, that she had no allergic reaction from sexual encounters with other men, in effect providing Dr. Frankland with data from a control group, as is often done in scientific experiments. But she advised him, Those controls were not done for your benefit, only mine.

Alfred William Frankland was born in Sussex, England, on March 19, 1912, one of twin boys of Henry and Alice Rose (West) Frankland. His mother was a musician. His father, a vicar in the Church of England, moved the family to Britains Lake District, where the boys grew up surrounded by farms. It was there that William discovered that he suffered from hay fever.

He attended St. Bees School in West Cumberland before studying medicine at Queens College, Oxford, and St. Marys Hospital Medical School, now part of Imperial College London. After finishing his studies, he enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps three days before the outbreak of World War II, anticipating that doctors would be needed. He was later sent to Singapore, where he arrived just days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

By chance Dr. Frankland was sent to work in Tanglin Military Hospital in Singapore rather than the newly opened Alexandra Military Hospital there  thus eluding almost certain death. The Alexandra hospital was soon overrun by Japanese troops, who massacred the doctors, nurses and patients there. It was one of several times that luck kept him alive.

Dr. Frankland was taken prisoner on Feb. 15, 1942, and spent the remainder of the war in Japanese prison camps, underfed and overworked, treating the other men.

On his return to Britain, he took a post at St. Marys, where he worked with Alexander Fleming, who won the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of penicillin.
It is planned to introduce the first gas in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) sections in Albania and then in Italy in coming weeks and months, Murad Heydarov Chairman of TAP Board of Directors, told local media.

TAPs project activities are in full compliance with the COVID 19 related sanitary provisions in Greece, Albania and Italy. We aim at enabling the project to progress towards delivering first gas within 2020. Despite the challenges related to lockdowns and quarantine measures, works are currently progressing with extreme care. In these unprecedented times, TAPs utmost priority is the health and safety of its staff, contractors and sub-contractors personnel. At the end of February 2020, the TAP project was almost 93.5 percent complete. In the upcoming weeks and months, we plan to introduce first gas in Albania and then in Italy. However, we continue to monitor the evolution of COVID-19 very closely, following the guidance of public health authorities at international and national levels. We keep high our readiness to adjust our planned project activities to further requirements of the host countries and react efficiently if the situation changes. As I said the health of all people assigned to the project is our utmost priority, he said.

TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.

Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.

The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.

Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).




Public health authorities in Sweden announced limited social distancing measures this week in response to a rapid spread of COVID-19 cases across the country. The measures, which remain much more relaxed than almost any country in Europe, were implemented after mounting criticism from medical experts of the Social Democrat-led governments approach, which has been characterised as herd immunity.

Workers are disinfected after cleaning a building for Covid-19. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

As of yesterday, there were at least 5,466 confirmed cases in the country and 282 fatalities. However, due to a lack of testing, with a mere 10,000-12,000 tests being performed every week, the authorities acknowledge that the real number of infections is much higher.

The Social Democrat/Green government has merely banned events of more than 50 people, while allowing all businesses to keep operating as normal. Schools remain open, apart from high school classes and universities, while employers have only been advised to take steps to reduce contact among workers. Unlike in other countries, no restrictions have been placed on groups meeting in public, although people have been advised to avoid parties, weddings, or funerals. Bars and restaurants remain open, while ski slopes will finally begin closing on 6 April. High-risk groups, including over-70s and individuals with pre-existing conditions, have been ordered to self-isolate.

Swedens chief epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, rejected claims that the authorities are pursuing a herd immunity policy. However, in an interview with the right-wing daily Svenska Dagbladet, Tegnell admitted that such a policy was not contradictory with the governments objective. Displaying a callous disregard for the thousands of people at risk of losing their lives, he stated on public broadcaster SVT that the coronavirus can either be stopped by herd immunity, or a combination of immunity and vaccination. Its basically the same thing.

Cases of COVID-19 have spread especially dramatically in Stockholm, where about half of all the countrys cases and fatalities have been recorded. Im deeply concerned, Umea University virology professor Fredrik Elgh told SVT. Id 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.

A petition signed by over 2,000 doctors, including the chairman of the Nobel Foundation, Prof. Carl-Henrik Heldin, appealed for more containment measures to be announced. Were not testing enough, were not tracking, were not isolating enough. We have let the virus loose, stated Prof. Cecilia Soderberg-Naucler, a virus epidemiology researcher at the Karolinska Institute. They are leading us to catastrophe.

Joacim Rocklov, a professor of epidemiology and public health at Umea University, added, Does this mean this is a calculated consequence that the government and public health authority think is okay? How many lives are they prepared to sacrifice so as not to  risk greater impact on the economy?

Like governments the world over, Swedens has made available a multi-billion kronor bailout to big business while offering a pittance to workers and health care. The government presented a package of measures on 16 March that included 300 billion kronor (about 27 billion) in tax deferrals for business. In addition, the Swedish central bank unveiled a 500 billion kronor programme of business loans. Meanwhile, 11 billion kronor was made available for a modest expansion of state-funded employment insurance and retraining programmes for unemployed workers.

Joblessness is expected to rise to its highest level in over 20 years, with 500,000 people projected to be out of work by the end of 2020. This would amount to a 9 percent unemployment rate. Underscoring that many of these jobs may never return, the government projects that unemployment will remain at 9 percent during 2021 and only drop slightly to 8.4 percent in 2022.

The governments refusal to implement strict quarantine measures is made even more criminal by the fact that after decades of austerity and privatisation overseen by all parties, Swedens health care system is in no condition to deal with a surge of COVID-19 patients. The Social Democrats began the privatisation drive in the 1990s and the right-wing Alliance government expanded it after 2006.

As the Guardian put it in a 2012 article, Despite its reputation as a left-wing utopia, Sweden is now a laboratory for right-wing radicalism. The article noted the six-storey St. Goran hospital in Stockholm, which is run as a corporation by the Swedish-based private healthcare provider Capio, pointed out that Sweden has the largest per capita private equity market in Europe. The key to this takeover was allowing private firms to enter the healthcare market, introducing competition into what had been one of the worlds most socialised medical systems, the article continued.

Sweden plunged from having one of the best healthcare systems in Europe to one that is chronically overstretched. In 2015, local authority statistics revealed that Swedish hospitals had one of the worst ratios of beds per head of population in Europe, with just 2.5 beds for every 1,000 people. This was less than Ireland and the United Kingdom with 2.6 beds.

In 2017, the Svenska Dagbladet reported that around 10,000 hospital beds had been cut from the healthcare system over the previous two decades. While Swedens population rose by 13 percent since the 1990s, the number of beds in the public healthcare system dropped by 30 percent by 2017. This is being talked about as if it were a natural disaster. It is not a natural disaster, but about the complete ignorance of those in power, Marit Halmin, an intensive care doctor in Stockholm, told the newspaper at the time.

The results of these policies, implemented by the entire political establishment from the right-wing Moderates to the ex-Stalinist Left Party, are now plain for all to see.

In the greater Stockholm area, where most coronavirus cases have been registered, health authorities have been forced to appeal for volunteers due to overstretched resources and the absence of uninfected staff. Some 6,500 trained doctors, nurses, and students signed up to assist. In a 24-hour period from Tuesday to Wednesday, 45 patients died in the Stockholm region.

A nurse at Karolinska University Hospital reported that staff work 12.5-hour shifts, caring for three times more patients than normal. A field hospital capable of caring for 140 patients has also been established.

Reflecting growing shortages of protective equipment, the Public Health Agency relaxed its recommendations for protective clothing for health care workers, allowing each regional health authority to pursue its own approach. A Facebook group criticising the reduced requirements got over 30,000 members in a matter of days. Were fighting for masks, visors and gloves. Its basic protective equipment, said ambulance nurse Ann-Jasmin Wikstrom, one of the pages organisers.
While scores of people are watching Tiger King on Netflix as they stay home amid the coronavirus outbreak, it appears that the subject of the docuseries is now himself in quarantine because of the pandemic. During an interview with Andy Cohen on Cohens SiriusXM radio show, the husband of Joseph Maldonado-Passage  better known by his adopted name, Joe Exotic  told the host that Maldonado-Passage had been put in isolation in prison in Texas, after some inmates at a jail where Maldonado-Passage had previously been tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dillon Passage told Cohen that Maldonado-Passage is not necessarily thought to be infected, but since he recently transferred from a prison with multiple cases, he was placed in isolation for safety.

According to a Dallas-Fort Worth NBC News report, inmate records show that Maldonado-Passage has been transferred to a prison medical center in Fort Worth.

Maldonado-Passage, who was born Joseph Allen Schreibvogel, is serving 22 years in prison after being convicted on charges relating to his role in a murder-for-hire plot that was intended to kill his rival, Carole Baskin, the head of a big cat rescue operation.

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness," is a seven-part docuseries that tells the story of Joe Exotic, his feud with Baskin, the mysterious disappearance of Baskins first husband, Exotics supposed country music career (his songs were, it turns out, performed not by him but by a Vancouver-based band), and so many other outlandish twists and turns that the series has become an avidly watched and discussed distraction during these uncertain social distancing times.

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Wittiness and creativity are often the ways which can aptly drive home a message, especially during these challenging times. A recent tweet by Nagpur Police proves the same and shows that a serious issue can be addressed with a little sense of humour too.

The department shared an image which shows a silhouette of a house with a caption written above it. The text on the image reads, Look inside the house to see who is safe.

The person you see inside is the Safest, the department tweeted. Then cheekily added a hint too - magnify and look deep inside.

The person you see inside is the Safest



HINT - Magnify and look deep inside.#StayHomeStaySafe#NagpurPolice pic.twitter.com/7nq8BfXZ1Y  Nagpur City Police (@NagpurPolice) April 2, 2020

Turns out, when you magnify the image, the black colour of the house covers the screen and you see a reflection of yourself. It imparts a strong message that the safest thing one can do now is to stay inside. Isnt that brilliant! The process, however, works better on mobile screens than on desktops.

Nonetheless, the creativity of the department amazed many and their comments express the same. People couldnt stop saying how much they loved the post, some even shared images of their reflection staring back.

Zoom in to see! Very creative, wrote a Twitter user. As usual Nagpur Police has the best creative team for people awareness in the country. Keep it up, commented another. Very creative city police, thank you, wrote a third.

Heres what others tweeted:

Look who is inside  pic.twitter.com/08BUXhaAQp  Anilsuryaprakash  (@anilinvincible) April 2, 2020

Very creative   Rahul Donge (@RahulDonge) April 2, 2020

Great!, Awesome Example.. Thanks for your all efforts!

We are safe because of you!

Respect..  Shrikant Solse (@Shrikant_Solse) April 2, 2020

A few days back, Mumbai Police too shared an image predicting the future for all 12 signs in the horoscope amid lockdown. Their witty post instantly won people over.
AFTER A Malibu beach house designed by noted moderist architect Jerrold Lomax gets a makeover from Lomax's onetime protege Zoltan E. Pali. (Matthew Momberger/Matthew Momberger)

If you were bobbing in a boat just off the Malibu coastline and looked landward, among a row of lower-profile wood or stucco beach houses you might spot a gleaming white two-story building resembling a giant sugar cube.

The home might bring to mind a modern sculpture, blending massive exposed structural columns with the airiness of abundant glass and light. You might think a master architect designed the house  and youd be right.

More than 40 years ago  while the homes current owners, Christina and Larry Taylor, were living just up the beach  prominent real estate attorney Marshall McDaniel commissioned modernist Los Angeles architect Jerrold Lomax to design the house. Lomax had worked for another famed modernist, Craig Ellwood, and at 28 was his lead designer on the Hunt House, another Malibu beachfront jewel box, which the state nominated last year for the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1976, both Lomax and Ellwood were among a dozen noted modernists included in a landmark exhibit at the then-new Pacific Design Center; LA12 also featured the works of architectural pillars such as Frank Gehry and John Lautner.

The 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom, five-bathroom house that Lomax designed for McDaniel featured a massive skylight running from front to back, channeling light through a central stairwell and into the bedroom level, even with the street. One floor down was the living room, closer to the sand and surf. Decks overlooking the ocean spanned both floors.

After McDaniel died in 2008, the house came on the market. The Taylors, property developers by trade, had worked with Lomax on projects over the decades and were impressed with his designs.

But Larry Taylor said he and his wife werent terribly interested in the McDaniel house, considering it overpriced. He recalled that, during a prolonged disagreement among the heirs about selling the home, it sat virtually vacant for several years, slowly deteriorating in the harsh marine environment.

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Eventually the Taylors saw an opportunity, and after negotiations that required a court settlement, they bought the house in 2012 intending to do a complete renovation.

Lomax, then in his 80s, had moved to the Monterey Peninsula and was still active in architecture. The couple sought him out and he agreed to work with them.

He wasnt married to his original layout, the Taylors noted, and understood that a master suite or kitchen for this house in the 1970s was not good enough a half-century later. While the top level originally contained the master and other bedrooms, the new concept called for a spacious master suite and gym taking up the entire top floor, with guest rooms moved to the lower level.

Partway into the couples work with Lomax, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; at age 87, he declined treatment. He called his close friend and onetime protege Zoltan E. Pali of SPF:architects in Culver City to ask if he could take over the redesign.

The two met when Pali applied for a job in 1992. He expected a polite refusal, but instead Lomax hired him and offered a salary higher than what Pali requested, saying it wasnt enough.

Gentleman is the word used often by Pali and the Taylors when describing Lomax. It was his passion for simple, modern, unadorned, precise design  as well as his work ethic and kindness  that served as a role model for how Pali wanted to both live his life and work as an architect.

Jerry and I had a close relationship, Pali said. As close as I could get with anyone.

A few months later, Lomax passed away.

Jerry died like he lived, Pali said, his voice cracking, as a gentleman.

Pali, as it turned out, designed the Orum Residence, a striking propeller-shaped house on a Bel-Air hilltop that Larry Taylor had admired for years. As Pali and the Taylors moved forward on their renovation plans, they felt Lomaxs presence. For every decision, they agreed, If Jerry wouldnt approve of it, we didnt do it, Christina Taylor said.

Their plan took the building down to its structural elements, with all electrical, plumbing and HVAC replaced and brought up to current code. All windows and sliding doors would have thinner frames, unavailable in the 1970s. The original wood and granite kitchen would be expanded by pushing out a side wall, and glow with white Thermofoil cabinets, marble countertops, and a seven-burner Lacanche range from France.

The major improvement was replacing the original solid stairwell with a luminescent architectural one, composed of aluminum grilles with glass decking, glass stair treads and clear risers. The goal was to expand the natural light flooding the house from skylight to lower level.

Pali explained that beachfront houses  backing to a street and tight to neighbors  typically have light entering from only one direction, the ocean side. When light enters from a second direction, in this case from the sky, theres less glare and the occupants feel better.

Construction began in 2016 and the couple moved in November 2019.

Both the architect and the owners believe they honored and improved upon Lomaxs original vision, with Christina Taylor saying, He would be thrilled.

After living in the house, the Taylors said they were struck by how happy they felt there, and how they didnt want to leave. As Lomax once explained successful architecture to his protege Pali: You dont know why it feels good; it just does.
Pakistan has identified nearly 2,500 cases of the novel coronavirus in the country and recorded 35 deaths. The government was initially slow to react to the coronavirus threat, allowing religious pilgrims to return from Iran with very little screening despite the high levels of infections there. The government has since canceled all international flights into and out of Pakistan, ordered nonessential businesses to close and asked residents to limit travel outside their homes.
Instead of going to that particular admirals cabin and sitting down and talking with him about his concerns and coming up with a strategy with him on how to address them, he decided to send an email and copy that email to a large list of other people who were not in the chain of command, and sent it up also through the chain of command skipping people in the chain of command, Modly said. And that, to me, just represented just extremely poor judgment, because once you do that in this digital era, you know that there is no way that you can control where that informations going to go.
Nsenduluka admitted she now "recognised I made a mistake" by accepting the dress. "I have returned the dress as a result. I've also been reprimanded for this error and I've learnt my lesson.'' English added: "The Daily Telegraph has strict guidelines on the acceptance of gifts. This line was clearly crossed, and we've reinforced to the reporter how important it is to observe these guidelines." The paper limits such gifts to the value of $100. Nsenduluka had been so excited about the high-end booty she posted a glowing thank you on her Instagram feed, complete with a shot of the trademark double-breasted black dress.

The gifted dress from French luxury fashion house Balmain. Credit:Instagram She also included Nissy Nassif's thank you note, which read: "I'd like to thank you dearly for your beautiful article you wrote about me in the Daily Telegraph. POSITIVE feedback and criticism mean a lot to me at this stage after all I've been through. "Your article was the very first positive article written about me in The Daily. For that I'd like to thank you by sending you this small present, a Balmain dress similar to the one I was wearing at Sophie's 30th (the one you liked)." An emotional Nassif burst into tears when PS asked if the frock was payment for favourable coverage. "It is not a bribe, it's a thank you gift. Oh my god! I'll tell you what a bribe is. A bribe is when someone is offered money in an envelope to write nasty, horrible things about someone, that's what a bribe is," she helpfully explained.

While she refused to reveal the cost of the dress - which still had its tags hanging off it - she informed PS: "I had two of the dresses in my wardrobe. She had been so sweet and nice to me I wanted to thank her. I really don't see the problem with that." So sweet and nice she forgot  or neglected  to mention her husband's recent cocaine arrest and being banned from The Star? "Why are you focusing on such nasty things? You know the truth is like a diamond, it will shine bright like a diamond," she added, quoting from that renowned oracle of wisdom, pop star Rihanna. Jean Nassif confessed to having "a bag" of cocaine when met by police and sniffer dogs at the entrance to The Star on September 7 last year.

When he saw a large gathering of officers after he had walked up a set of escalators, the 51-year-old said "oh shit", according to court agreed facts, which were reported by The Daily Telegraph. In October Nassif pleaded guilty at Downing Centre Local Court to the possession of a prohibited drug. No conviction was recorded due to his good character and the judge gave him an 18-month conditional release order. A year ago the Nassifs were in the news after reportedly "flaunting" a yellow Lamborghini he had bought his wife, posting a video on social media presenting the expensive car to his wife saying "Congratulations Mrs Nassif  you like?" The video inspired many memes featuring the "you like" line, but showcasing everything from yellow wheelie bins to toy trucks. She was so traumatised by the response, it reportedly took Nissy Nassif several months before she had the strength to get behind the wheel of the $480,000 vehicle.

The world all at sea Billionaire Gina Rinehart. It is unclear if Australia's richest human Gina Rinehart had been on board the floating gated community for the super rich that is The World, which has been anchored off Fremantle over the past week or so. PS was offered a firm "no comment" from the billionaire's offices this week when asked about her location and how she was responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her fellow Perth mining mogul Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has been doing the breakfast TV rounds trumpeting his efforts to secure surgical masks and ventilators from China.

Rinehart is one of several Australian silvertails with suites aboard The World, which also counts Ros Packer among its well-heeled cargo. Normally the ship chugs its way around the planet on an endless cruise, but its 165 apartments are empty and dormant as management attempts to navigate through the stormy waters of the coronavirus crisis which has put a serious tarnish on the cruising industry's image. Packer hides out in Aspen James Packer has been riding out the COVID-19 crisis in the luxury of his Aspen compound, where he has spent the past six weeks with his girlfriend Kylie Lim and his close pal Ben Tilley by his side. Friends rejected reports he had been bobbing about the South Pacific aboard his new $200 million tinnie, informing PS this week he was more preoccupied by the fate of his 18,000 casino staff who have been stood down in recent weeks.

Packer's three children remain in Los Angeles with his former wife Erica, and the billionaire is said to be in a much better place emotionally, with his appearance before a public hearing into probity and licensing issues involving his Crown Resorts and Hong Kong casino group Melco postponed indefinitely due to coronavirus concerns. James Packer staying put in Aspen. Credit:Sahlan Hayes Stone the crow's feet as botox banned Keep an ear out for a collective thud about three months from now as the impact of this week's botox ban kicks in. PS hears Sydney's "injecting rooms", or at least the ones devoted to the trout pout and tight-as-a-drum foreheads, were inundated in the days before Monday's midnight curfew. However some of the more astute operators had put down their needles well before then.

"I decided over a week ago that it was best for everyone to close until the situation had improved, I don't want to risk staff or clients in any way," Dr Joseph Hkeik from Double Bay's All Saints Clinic told PS. "Our work is not as drastic as what you might see on some people, we really try to keep aim for a natural look ... rather than the over-inflated lips and faces you often see. They are the ones who will notice a big difference in a few months' time." Sydney's "The Doll Maker", Dr Naomi McCullum. Dr Naomi McCullum, known around town as "The Doll Maker", said she had taken similar measures at her The Manse clinics. "In a few months the Sydney socialites are going to look very different. There will be frown lines, crow's feet, small lips and no cheeks everywhere ... I can't even picture everyone going back to natural. We're definitely going to need more Facetune than usual!" she declared to PS. On a more serious note, she said she had redeployed her clinic's doctors to work as a regular GP clinic during the health crisis.

"This is the biggest public health challenge we've seen in generations. Redeployment in medicine is going to become common, doctors are going to have to make use of their experience and expertise where it's needed most." Prized haul in Double Bay pharmacy What surgical mask shortage? It certainly didn't look like much of a shortage judging by the display at recently-opened Double Bay pharmacy Abundance X10 Longevity, which has drawn quite a bit of attention with the huge amount of stock for sale. Visionary: Double Bay pharmacist Ibrahim Azam. Credit:Instragram

When PS visited, the pharmacy was selling 50 masks for $200 a box, along with large vats of hand sanitiser. By the end of the week there was still plenty on offer. Turns out the new pharmacy is owned by Ibrahim Azam, who calls himself a visionary on his Facebook page and is a devotee of the walking-on-burning-coals self help guru Anthony Robbins. Azam was also in the bridal party for disgraced former Auburn councillor Salim Mehajer's self-proclaimed "wedding of the century". Sadly Azam did not return PS's calls so we are unable to discover exactly how he got hold of such a prized haul, or if he has any contacts in the toilet paper world. Who's stuck in captivity?

"Technical issues" forced a barefoot Tracy Grimshaw to quit her living room television studio. It wasn't the dogs or the decor that forced a barefoot Tracy Grimshaw to abandon her makeshift home TV studio this week, but rather a dodgy internet connection. PS hears "technical issues" were the main reason the Current Affair host had to return to a specially quarantined studio at Channel Nine where she remains in isolation from most of her colleagues rather than continue to broadcast from her semi-rural living room. Nine has divided its staff into red and blue teams, alternating between each during the health crisis to restrict the potential spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile down in the Southern Highlands one of PS's favourite faces Skye Leckie says she has been enjoying her time in isolation with her husband David and sons, because it has given her the chance to rediscover her culinary skills.
Press Release

April 3, 2020 Frontliners must not die because of government incompetence: De Lima Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima calls out the seemingly lack of urgency of the government in arming healthcare workers as they risk their lives daily in taking care of patients infected by the novel coronavirus. Reports as of March 31 have indicated that at least 17 physicians, most of whom are specialists, have succumbed to various complications caused by the COVID-19 disease. "17 doktor na ang nasasawi, at karamihan espesyalista, sa hanay ng mga frontliners. At ang isa sa lumalabas na sanhi ay kakulangan ng PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment), at patuloy tayong nalalagasan dahil dito," De Lima said. "Bakit napakabagal ng distributions ng mga PPEs? Wala na dapat mamatay pang mga doktor at iba pang health workers dahil sa kawalan o kakulangan ng PPEs. What [they] need now is a clear plan and a coordinated yet swift deployment of needed resources," she added. Healthcare workers and other frontliners have also expressed their frustration for the lack of PPEs to deal with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients that are requiring vital medical assistance. Some air their grievances online, indicating that they are using plastic garbage bags and other alternatives to enable themselves to continue serving COVID-19 positive and suspected patients. However, in a televised appearance last March 30, Mr. Duterte said that the fallen doctors should consider themselves "very lucky", for supposedly, offering their lives for the country. "Sinuong sila sa isang giyera na kulang-kulang sa armas. Buong puso silang sumabak hindi lang sa udyok ng tungkulin, maging sa tawag ng bayan. At ano ang kapalit ng kanilang sakrispisyo? Empty words, lip service, mula sa presidenteng puro ngawa, walang gawa," De Lima seethed. "As we grieve for our fallen heroes, we rage at the incompetence and neglect that led to their deaths. They were already heroes; they need not lay down their lives," she added. In April 1, the Department of Health announced that about 15,000 sets out of a million ordered PPEs have already reached the warehouse of the Office of Civil Defense. However, they claim that the equipment has to go through an inspection before they can be distributed to six prioritized government hospitals. As of this writing, at least one million people have been infected of the novel coronavirus worldwide, with a death toll of at least 51,400 persons. In the Philippines, latest numbers show a total of 2,633 positive cases of infections, with 107 deaths and 51 confirmed recoveries.
The CEO and founder of Zoom Video Communications has offloaded more than $38million worth of stock in the company now facing intense scrutiny over alleged privacy breaches, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Zoom's profile and stock skyrocketed as millions of users turned to it to keep in touch with colleagues, friends and family during the COVID-19 crisis lockdowns. But it has been hit by a string of privacy concerns and allegations that the company failed to live up to its claim that communications were 'end to end encrypted.'

Instead, code in the original App allowed users' personal data to be disclosed to third parties, including Facebook.

Zoom launched an updated app on March 27 which, they claim has fixed the problem but two lawsuits have already been filed by users alleging breaches in privacy and the company is currently being investigated by the New York Attorney General and the FBI.

CEO of Zoom Video Communication Eric Yuan, 50, along with several senior executives sold millions of dollars' worth of their shares

Zoom has been hit by privacy concerns and allegations that the company failed to live up to its claim that communications were 'end to end encrypted'

Now, Security Exchange Commission insider trading records seen by DailyMail.com show that, while the company was struggling to address these privacy issues, CEO Eric Yuan, 50, along with several senior executives sold millions of dollars' worth of their shares. All have declared their sales to the SEC as legally required.

Janine Pelosi, Chief Marketing Officer, has made close to $14 million in trades since February

Yuan, whose $6.8billion fortune was built on the video conferencing platform and app which went public last April, made $10.5million on January 14, $12.5million on February 12 and $15.5million on March 16.

Chief Marketing Officer Janine Pelosi, 35, who today publicly admitted that the 'platform was not designed for consumers' and that the huge uptake in users forced Zoom to re-evaluate a lot - specifically privacy settings  has made close to $14million in trades since February.

Records show that Pelosi has made 13 trades since 2019, for the most part steadily trading between 13 and 15,000 shares at a time.

But on February 18 she made by far her largest trade to date, selling 81,850 units of Zoom stock and pocketing $7.76million. She sold a further 31,850 units on March 9 and 15,623 units on March 16 in trades that brought $3.4million and $1.7million respectively.

Chief Financial Officer, Kelly Steckelberg has traded $5.3million of her shares and company Director Santiago Subotovksy has made $16.8million in two trades in March alone.

Reports of the platform's vulnerability to hacking were circulating as early as July 2019.

In recent weeks a string of reports including investigations posted on Vice's Motherboard exposed potential data breaches as Zoom's popularity surged with millions working from home and self-isolating through the coronavirus pandemic.

Among some of the issues faced by the platform is so-called 'Zoom bombing' in which hackers hijack video conferences to show pornography or hate messages. This is currently under investigation by the FBI.

Chief Financial Officer, Kelly Steckelberg (with Yuan at left) has traded $5.3million of her shares and company Director Santiago Subotovksy (right) has made $16.8million in two trades in March alone

Zoom's profile and stock skyrocketed as millions of users turned to it to keep in touch with colleagues, friends and family during the COVID-19 crisis lockdowns (stock photo)

The company's share price has dipped as Zoom has faced backlash. By close of day Wednesday stock had fallen 6 percent  making it the third day straight of declines.

As of today the stock is down 12 percent. Yuan owns 20.5 -22 percent of the stock, according to reports.

His peak sale was at $110.7, though stock went higher (Subotovsky managed to sell at $121) and the sales at the beginning of the year were running around $80-$90.

When the company went public in April 2019 shares were $36. By the end of that day theyd gone up 72 percent.

And the stock price, which had rocketed up over 115 percent in the first two months of the year, has now toppled by 10 percent since March 27 alone.

A spokesperson for Zoom Video Communications told DailyMail.com that, 'As is common among public companies, certain Zoom executives and Board members have pre-set trading plans that will automatically generate at predetermined times with no input from them.'

He added, 'Additionally, a portion of Eric's trades are not sales, but donations to humanitarian causes,' and pointed out that all of the executives named still own a significant amount of Zoom stock and remained, 'extremely optimistic,' about the company's future.
Australian Scientists have shown that an anti-parasitic drug already available around the world can kill the virus within 48 hours.

Scientists from Monash University in Melbourne showed that a single dose of the drug, Ivermectin, could stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus growing in cell culture - effectively eradicating all genetic material of the virus within 48 hours.

The next steps are to determine the correct human dosage - ensuring the doses shown to effectively treat the virus in the test tube are safe levels for humans.

The use of Ivermectin to combat COVID-19 depends on pre-clinical testing and clinical trials, with funding urgently required to progress the work.

Ivermectin is an FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug that has also been shown to be effective in vitro against a broad range of viruses including HIV, Dengue, Influenza and Zika virus.

The findings of the study were published today in Antiviral Research.

A collaborative study led by Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) in Melbourne, Australia, with the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), has shown that an anti-parasitic drug already available around the world kills the virus within 48 hours.

The Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute's Dr Kylie Wagstaff, who led the study, said the scientists showed that the drug, Ivermectin, stopped the SARS-CoV-2 virus growing in cell culture within 48 hours.

"We found that even a single dose could essentially remove all viral RNA by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it," Dr Wagstaff said.

Ivermectin is an FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug that has also been shown to be effective in vitro against a broad range of viruses including HIV, Dengue, Influenza and Zika virus.

Dr Wagstaff cautioned that the tests conducted in the study were in vitro and that trials needed to be carried out in people.

"Ivermectin is very widely used and seen as a safe drug. We need to figure out now whether the dosage you can use it at in humans will be effective - that's the next step," Dr Wagstaff said.

"In times when we're having a global pandemic and there isn't an approved treatment, if we had a compound that was already available around the world then that might help people sooner. Realistically it's going to be a while before a vaccine is broadly available.

Although the mechanism by which Ivermectin works on the virus is not known, it is likely, based on its action in other viruses, that it works to stop the virus 'dampening down' the host cells' ability to clear it, Dr Wagstaff said.

Royal Melbourne Hospital's Dr Leon Caly, a Senior Medical Scientist at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Doherty Institute where the experiments with live coronavirus were conducted, is the study's first author.

"As the virologist who was part of the team who were first to isolate and share SARS-COV2 outside of China in January 2020, I am excited about the prospect of Ivermectin being used as a potential drug against COVID-19," Dr Caly said.

Dr Wagstaff made a previous breakthrough finding on Ivermectin in 2012 when she identified the drug and its antiviral activity with Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute's Professor David Jans, also an author on this paper. Professor Jans and his team have been researching Ivermectin for more than 10 years with different viruses.

Dr Wagstaff and Professor Jans started investigating whether it worked on the SARS-CoV-2 virus as soon as the pandemic was known to have started.

The use of Ivermectin to combat COVID-19 would depend on the results of further pre-clinical testing and ultimately clinical trials, with funding urgently required to keep progressing the work, Dr Wagstaff said.

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Read the full paper in Antiviral Research titled: The FDA-approved Drug Ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166354220302011

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The best way to contain a new disease is to start early and identify, isolate and treat all the initial cases.

Today, the number of active cases of COVID-19 globally crossed 1 million. The USA has the maximum number of cases (over 245,000 affected), while more than 13,900 people have already succumbed to the disease in Italy, the highest death toll in the world right now. India has 2,543 confirmed cases and 58 deaths so far.

Amidst all this, the constant recommendations and pleas of the World Health Organisation on the importance of social distancing (now physical distancing).

And while Wuhan, the original epicentre of the disease is starting to go back to normal life, experts all over the world are still worried about the results. Would it cause a second wave of infections or is the city immune to the pandemic now? Were the stringent lockdowns (that most countries have applied) and social distancing enough? It remains to be known.

The right way to deal with the pandemic

Since the disease is new, every country in the world is dealing with it in its own way. While some of the methods are seemingly working, for example, the extensive testing in South Korea, others have resulted in severe consequences, as in the case of Italy and the USA. Here are 5 things we can learn from other countries about dealing with the pandemic:

Start early: Infectious diseases spread at various rates and the best way to contain a new disease is to start early  when the disease does not seem as dangerous or widespread  and identify, isolate and treat all the initial cases.

Social distancing: Respiratory diseases spread through droplet infection (coughing and sneezing), which makes it really important to maintain physical distance from the affected people. About 80% of cases of COVID-19 are mild or asymptomatic, which makes the disease silently spread through the masses before it shows up like a tsunami of severe cases.

Social distancing is undoubtedly one of the tested and efficient strategies for preventing the spread of respiratory infections like COVID-19.

And while we are at it, the importance of masks cant be neglected. If you have a mild infection and are wearing masks, there is a smaller chance that you would spread the infection.

Extensive testing: Social distancing only reduces the chances of spreading the infection. Extensive testing is important to identify asymptomatic and mild infections so they can be isolated and the infection spread can be stopped in its tracks. This was the method that South Korea used to keep their healthcare system from being overwhelmed. As soon as the disease showed up in the country, the government included the private sector and large scale testing for the disease began all over. This lead to quick and early identification of a lot of infected people and a significantly smaller number of cases compared to some of the other countries in the world.

Complete measures: Despite extensive testing being considered one of the most important things to contain the pandemic, experts suggest that no one method is enough. A combination of testing, contact tracing, isolation of the mild and asymptomatic cases and social distancing is needed to effectively control the number of cases in any area or country. Lockdowns should not be done in only the hotspots of the disease in a country but a systematic approach is needed so those with mild infections cannot take the disease to a new area. A gradual lockdown is being considered to be one of the possible causes of the huge number of cases in the USA and Italy.

And finally, it is best to quickly learn from mistakes and correct them as soon as possible. This can be done by following specific public health measures - since different areas even within the same country have different population density so what may work for one area may not be as efficient in another.

Impact of COVID-19 on international travel

One of the first things that most countries did with the spread of the COVID-19 is sealing their borders to stop or minimize international travel, especially to and from the countries that are majorly hit by the disease.

However, several weeks in, when a major part of the population in certain countries is affected by COVID-19, one of the obvious questions that pop up is how would international travel look like now.

Even before COVID-19 if you were travelling to certain countries with a particular infectious disease, you had to get vaccinated for the disease. For example, vaccines for yellow fever, tick-borne encephalitis, hepatitis A, rabies, and typhoid fever are recommended for people travelling to endemic countries. Also, precautions for travellers diarrhoea are needed.

So now the question is: Would there be necessary precautions and/or vaccinations (once they are developed) needed for those who are from a country with lesser cases and never had the infection  say those that contained the infection in stage one or two  travelling to a country that was much more affected, since they are likely to still be susceptible?

For more information, read our article on COVID-19: Symptoms, Causes, Transmission, Prevention and Treatment.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
A medical staff member carries a digital inverter generator into Cedar Mountain Post Acute nursing home after 51 residents and six staff members tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday in Yucaipa. Two of the residents have died. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County health officials Thursday confirmed 13 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the toll to 78.

Twelve of the victims were over the age of 65 and of those, 11 had underlying health conditions, according to Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The other person who died was between ages 41 and 65 and also had underlying health conditions, Ferrer said.

Los Angeles County officials also announced 534 new COVID-19 cases. Long Beach, which has its own health department, announced 14 new cases, bringing the citys total to 153. There were 49 confirmed cases in Pasadena, which also has its own health department.

There were more than 4,000 confirmed cases overall in L.A. County as of Thursday afternoon. The daily count has increased by more than 1,000 in the last 48 hours.

"We are all in this together, so it makes sense that we work together to get through this," Ferrer said. "Please dont lose hope, and please dont stop following all of the directives that you are following right now to slow the spread of COVID-19."

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its march across California, the number of cases in the state swelled to more than 11,000 Thursday  with the death toll topping 200. Of those cases, 40% have occurred in L.A. County.

Amid the surge, officials are continuing to urge the public to carry on with unprecedented social-distancing measures while also rushing to get more supplies to hospitals amid a rise in sick patients.

The rapid spread of the virus brought new concerns about whether the state's healthcare system can handle the inflow of patients. Many California hospitals and local medical centers are grappling with shortages of supplies amid a scramble to prepare for what is expected to be a deluge of patients in the coming weeks.

The case count comes from a continuous Los Angeles Times survey of the dozens of local health agencies across California.

Story continues

While the number of infections continues to swell statewide, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he believes the state's social-distancing efforts have made a difference.

"The ICU numbers and the hospital numbers, while they're growing, are not growing as significantly as youre seeing in other parts of the country," he said Thursday. "Were not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination."

In recent weeks, a fierce debate has erupted between hospitals and nursing homes over the fate of elderly patients.

Hospitals are desperately trying to discharge patients to clear space for an expected wave of people infected with COVID-19. But nursing homes are reluctant to accept any new patients  or even returning residents  until it is proved that they are virus-free.

On Monday, the California Department of Public Health sided squarely with the hospitals, ordering skilled nursing facilities to accept residents even if they have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. After an outcry from elder advocates, one of whom called the directive nothing less than a death sentence for nursing home residents, state officials issued new guidance late Wednesday.

The final determination lies with the local health department, the states Department of Public Health said in an email to The Times. Local public health officers have this authority in an emergency.

Elder advocates, who say most nursing homes lack the equipment and training to properly quarantine patients with the virus, are not satisfied. Many want the state to set up entirely separate living spaces for nursing home residents with the virus, like empty hotels, dormitories or cruise ships.

The state's constantly shifting positions are confusing and will lead to bad outcomes," said Michael Connors, a spokesman for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. "Which guidance are facilities expected to pay attention to?

The confusing signals come as the number of suspected coronavirus infections at communal living institutions, including nursing homes, is skyrocketing. On Thursday, Ferrer announced her department was investigating potential outbreaks at 54 institutions, dozens more than the day before.

Eleven of the 78 people who have died of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County have been nursing home residents, officials said.

Los Angeles County public health officials continue to reiterate pleas for Angelenos to stay at home in an effort to stem the virus' spread and give hospitals a chance to treat the ill without becoming overwhelmed.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti went as far as advising the Department of Water and Power to shut off utilities to nonessential businesses violating the citys order to close amid the pandemic.

Slowing the spread of this virus and flattening the curve on new infections demands that we all do our part, and thats the bottom line, Garcetti said. Yet still some nonessential businesses continue to operate, putting everybody at risk.

Garcetti said Thursday night that eight businesses had been referred for criminal prosecution, but that the process will take time because courts are closed.

"We had a smoke shop that just refused to close," Garcetti said. "And even when police officers were there, they said, 'Forget you'  probably not in as nice words  'we're not going to do it.'"

The city is moving to shut off the smoke shop's power, he said.

"We want to let people know that we are serious about this, that businesses that flagrantly violate this will be shut down short term and prosecuted in the medium term as well," Garcetti said.

Orange County saw its biggest single-day increase in coronavirus infections Wednesday, as officials announced 107 new cases and three additional deaths. On Thursday, officials added 56 new cases to the list and three deaths, bringing the county's death toll to 13.

Of the more than 7,790 people who have been tested countywide, 656 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed. More than 100 people are hospitalized, with 47 in intensive care units, according to county officials.

State officials announced Wednesday they will use the Fairview Developmental Center  a state-owned property in Costa Mesa  as an alternative care site to relieve stress on other regional hospitals. Repurposing the center, which long housed adults with developmental and behavioral disabilities, is part of an overall effort to boost the number of hospital beds available statewide.

The facility will provide up to 1,100 new hospital beds that should be available this month, according to Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach).

Around the world and in other states, we have seen the horrific images and heard the heartbreaking stories of COVID-19 patients dying in hospital corridors because there are not enough beds, she said in a statement. We are aggressively preparing for Californias surge to try to avoid that nightmare.

Santa Barbara County recorded its first death from the virus Wednesday. The person was in their 60s and had underlying health conditions, according to public health officials.

Twelve additional COVID-19 cases were confirmed throughout the county, bringing the number of confirmed infections to 111.

Meanwhile, Tehama County in Northern California announced its first case of the virus late Wednesday.

Riverside County Sheriffs Deputy Terrell Young died from complications of the coronavirus, the department said Thursday. He had served in the department for 15 years and was its first member to succumb to the virus. He is survived by his wife of 31 years and four children.

In a news briefing Thursday, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco described Young as a compassionate deputy who worked with the public and inmates.

"He was a fantastic role model for his kids, especially for his daughter," Bianco said. "Employees knew they could count on him for good advice. Terrell was always on time and very well liked by his peers and supervisors and always willing to lend a hand. According to many, he was known for his smile and he will be deeply missed."

Bianco said he believes Young contracted the virus after escorting an inmate to a Riverside University Health System hospital during the week of March 16. On March 22, Young went home from work after coming down with a fever. The next day, 10 employees, including Young, called in sick. The inmate Young had escorted also began experiencing symptoms that day. The inmate has tested positive for the virus, although it's unclear if he tested positive before or after contact with Young.

Bianco said all employees and inmates who have exhibited symptoms have been quarantined and tested. So far, 25 employees and 11 inmates have tested positive for the virus, some of whom did not show any symptoms. Several employees have been or are in the hospital. One is in critical condition.

"It should be an eye-opener for the general public," he said. "We are seeing the drastic and the viral aspects of this and it's not pretty."

The number of COVID-19 cases in Alameda County rose by 34 overnight, from 339 to 373. The number of deaths also rose from eight to nine, according to the Alameda County Public Health Department.

A person in neighboring San Joaquin County died from the virus Thursday, bringing the county's death total to nine. The county also saw an increase of 12 cases, rising to 173, according to its Public Health Services department.

Health officials warned it could get much worse if Californians dont adhere to the stay-at-home orders, which now could last well into May.

Some officials have begun recommending that people wear face coverings when going out in public. However, Ferrer cautioned against using N95 and surgical masks, which are already in short supply for healthcare providers.

She said people could use a bandanna or piece of fabric to cover their nose and mouth while out in public doing essential errands, but she warned: Wearing a mask is not a shield. It does not replace frequent hand washing and social distancing efforts.

Ferrer said the face coverings were intended for interactions with other people.

If a person goes on a run alone, she said, a face covering is not necessary. If a person runs with other people, which should only be done if they are spread out, or stops to chat with someone while exercising, a covering is advised.

Garcetti said he had been awaiting advice on masks from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but with the COVID-19 rate surging, he decided to wait no longer on weighing in on the mask debate.

He said everyone performing essential tasks outside the home such as food shopping should wear homemade, nonmedical face coverings, or even bandannas, as people in other countries have done.

"Data shows many folks who are infected are aysmptomatic and can become super-spreaders, infecting people that they come into contact with," Garcetti said Thursday evening.

"And together with physical distancing and staying at home, adding a protective face covering is another tool to slow the spread. We want you to keep your respiratory droplets to yourself."

Times staff writers Joseph Serna, Kailyn Brown, Priscella Vega and Nicole Santa Cruz contributed to this report.
A Maryland man who was in York County Prison on an old DUI charge was beaten to death by guards, and authorities are trying to cover up what amounts to an unlawful killing, his mother claims in a newly-filed federal lawsuit.

Rose Palmer contends in her U.S. Middle District Court complaint that county officials are stonewalling the familys efforts to get information on what happened to 41-year-old Everett Palmer Jr. on April 9, 2018.

Everett Palmer, a personal trainer, former Army paratrooper and father of two, died in custody that day, two days after turning himself in on the old DUI warrant. He was being held in the prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Palmers death has drawn national attention from media outlets including the New York Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

County Coroner Pam Gay ruled the cause of his death undetermined and said Palmer had toxic levels of methamphetamine in his blood.

Gays report said Palmer was housed in a cell at the prison, when he became agitated and started banging his head off of his cell door. Officers at the prison were able to restrain Palmer, who was transported to a prison medical clinic, the report states, adding that Palmer was unresponsive at that time. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

District Attorney David Sunday has indicated the death is the subject of a grand jury probe, according to John J. Coyle, the Philadelphia lawyer who filed the federal suit. When contacted about the suit on Friday morning, Kyle G. King, a spokesman for the DAs office, said, We have not concluded our investigation, the matter remains active.

The Palmer family is seeking more than $1 million in damages from the county, several of its top officials and 10 unnamed corrections officers. His mother claims Palmers death resulted from a widespread custom of excessive force and inmate abuse tolerated by York County.

In alleging a coverup of the death, his mother claims it would have been impossible for Palmer to have ingested a toxic dose of meth before entering the prison that would have killed him two days later.

Palmer was held in isolation at the prison, the suit states. The autopsy report states he had multiple abrasions and contusions on his head and limbs and two puncture defects on his right forearm, according to the suit.

The autopsy report further notes that York County correctional officers used physical force on Mr. Palmer, including at least two Taser deployments and a restraint chair, the suit states. Rose Palmer is claiming the guards injected her son with meth, beat, choked and tased him and then didnt promptly seek medical care that would have saved his life.

The suit states that when Palmers body was released to the family the brain, heart, throat and hyoid bone  a small bone in the throat that is often damaged by strangulation  were missing. The coroner sent those to a private laboratory, according to the suit.

Meanwhile, even though the state Office of Open Records and a county judge supported the familys Right to Know Law request for the release of documents in the case, county officials have refused to provide that information and instead are appealing the release orders to Commonwealth Court, the suit states.

Rose Palmer is accusing county officials of violating her sons and his familys civil rights, including their rights to free speech and equal protection of law.
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Linkedin Nina Loasana and Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 16:42 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8e566 1 National COVID-19-in-Indonesia,mudik,exodus,haram,MUI,Muslim Free

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has announced that mudik (mass exodus) from areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is haram  forbidden under Islamic law.

"Mudik from one COVID-19-free city to another is OK, but mudik from areas affected by COVID-19 could cause the mudik travelers to spread the disease to other people. Since [the virus] is very contagious and dangerous, it means people who insist on going on mudik will have done something haram," MUI secretary-general Anwar Abbas said in a statement on Friday.

"There's a hadith that says going to pandemic-affected areas or leaving them is forbidden. Breaking religious rules and medical protocols is clearly dangerous and could endanger ones own life as well as other people," he said.

Anwar Abbas said the declaration was not a fatwa (religious order by a Muslim leader), but instead his personal opinion after consulting the Quran, the hadith, and other fatwas issued by the MUI.

Annually, some 20 million people from Greater Jakarta travel to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri.

Despite the fact that Greater Jakarta is the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has decided not to impose a ban on mudik for economic reasons.

[The President] underlines that there is no official ban on people going mudik during the 2020 Idul Fitri holiday period. The travelers, however, must self-isolate for 14 days, will be treated as people under monitoring [ODP], as per the World Health Organization protocol and will be observed by their respective local administrations, presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rachman said in a statement on Thursday, shortly after a speech by the President on the matter.

Thousands of people from Greater Jakarta have already gone on mudik as they have been deprived of their livelihood due to large-scale physical distancing policies.

Several regional leaders have discouraged mudik from Greater Jakarta due to concerns about a possible explosion of coronavirus cases throughout the country in the wake of the exodus.

On Thursday, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil posted on Facebook a news story about a 72-year-old stroke patient from Ciamis who tested positive for COVID-19 after having contact with his child, who had come from virus-stricken Jakarta.

This story is one of many cases of parents in West Java who become COVID-19 positive after being visited by their children or relatives who are unaware that they are carrying the virus to their hometowns, he said. Restrain yourselves and love your parents. Dont go home now.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has urged residents working in Jakarta not to return home and has demanded residents of the province not to go to the capital city.

Stay at home unless it's very urgent. And please end the stigma against COVID-19 patients. They need our prayers and support, he said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed during a phone conversation with President of the European Council Charles Michel the situation in Ukraine and the EU in connection with the coronavirus pandemic and confirmed the need to maintain sanctions against the Russian Federation.

The conversation focused on the situation in Ukraine and the EU given the coronavirus pandemic. The Head of State expressed support for the steps taken by the EU institutions to combat the spread of the pandemic in Europe and overcome the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, the press service of the Head of State reports.

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine expressed its sincere support to you and the members of the European Union at this difficult time.

We share the pain of thousands of Europeans who lost their loved ones, and we wish a speedy recovery for those who are struggling with the disease, the President of Ukraine said.

He underscored the importance of coordinated efforts to overcome the pandemic, resolve the humanitarian issues facing Ukrainian and EU citizens, and preserve the unimpeded movement of goods across the borders.

I fully support your position on maintaining green corridors for goods. We must do everything possible to support our economies, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Head of State thanked the European Union for its support of Ukraine and stressed its importance for maintaining macroeconomic stability and promoting further reforms in our country.

The Head of State informed Charles Michel of the security situation in Donbas and the state of implementation of the agreements reached during the Paris summit in the Normandy format. The President of the European Council reiterated his continued support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The parties agreed on the inadmissibility of artificially using the coronavirus pandemic for political purposes, and reaffirmed the need to preserve sanctions against the Russian Federation until full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders, the statement reads.

The parties exchanged views on further steps in the context of the completion of the Fourth EU Macrofinancial Assistance Program to Ukraine and the prospects of continued cooperation with the European Union in view of the pandemic crisis.

The President of the European Council commended the recent adoption by the Ukrainian Parliament of the laws on the circulation of agricultural land and regulation of banking activities.

Our parliament, despite the coronavirus pandemic and the illness of several MPs, still worked till late at night to pass the necessary laws, including the land reform. Nothing changes, we continue our course, Zelensky said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Charles Michel also discussed top-level political dialogue to be held by the end of this year, including preparations for the next EU-Ukraine Summit and the Sixth Eastern Partnership Summit.

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Women across the world now have full and free access to Australia's popular health program, Kim Beach Life. This features real-time 24/7 support from certified trainers, home workouts, tailored eating plans, hundreds of easy recipes and access to the Kim Beach Life community, plus bonus access to her premium app.

SYDNEY, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Australian fitness leader, Kim Beach announced she will give away two free months of full access to her Kim Beach Life program and premium app to all new subscribers. Inspired by the generosity and kindness from her community, this initiative is vital to Kim's mission to empower women through their health and fitness journey.

"Last Sunday, my husband John and I were driving back to Sydney talking about how we could help people in these challenging circumstances," says Kim Beach. "I realised free access to our Kim Beach Life program could help so many women. I'm always so proud of how our crew is so genuine and empowering - that's what the world needs right now!"

Current Kim Beach Life UK members such as, Kate strongly support this. "This is an amazingly positive group. The Aussie/Great Britain support crew always answered any questions I had immediately," Kate says.

"I really enjoyed the variety of home exercises and the meals didn't upset the family routine. I got together with friends I hadn't seen in months and they couldn't get over how great I looked, not just the weight loss, but how healthy."

Kim Beach explains, "I want to help all women stay healthy during these uncertain times and feel supported by our community," she says. "I have dedicated my professional life to this and everything I learned along the way is packed into my program."

Learn more about the Kim Beach Life free two month offer here: https://kimbeach.com/kim-beach-life-app/

About Kim Beach: Kim Beach is a leading Australian fitness expert with more than 620,000 fans across the world. Known for her down-to-earth approach and sustainable solutions, Kim Beach has empowered others for more than 17 years. Her knowledge, expertise and team are all available at one's fingertips through the popular Kim Beach Life program and premium app. Discover more: www.kimbeach.com
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Eric Dickson, the CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, and Dr. Cathy Jones, Dicksons wife and a UMass Memorial physician, are donating all of their paychecks to the health care systems employee assistance fund, officials said Friday.

The husband and wife are both emergency physicians. Kathleen Driscoll, who starts Monday as the health care systems new chief philanthropy officer, announced the donations on Friday.

As I begin on Monday, Dr. Dickson and his wife, Dr. Cathy Jones, whos also known to many as Dr. Cathy Jones Dickson, notified me that they are making a mutual donation, very generously donating 100% of their paychecks during the length of this crisis to the UMass Memorial Health Care employee assistance fund, to support our most precious assets, our employees who are on the front lines," Driscoll said.

Jones works at HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, part of the UMass Memorial system.

Our employee assistance fund, and thats where Im making my donation and where my wife is making her donation, is what were supporting because it is those folks that are on the lower end of the pay scale that just dont have a reserve in place and are going to be most impacted by this, Dickson said. Frankly, thats true for almost every disaster that occurs.

UMass Memorial Health Care is the largest health care system in Central Massachusetts, as well as the regions largest employer.

Dicksons compensation was listed at $1,971,617 in the most recent 990 tax form for UMass Memorial Health Care.

In recent weeks, Dickson has been working in his role as an emergency physician, Driscoll said, helping to care for patients as the number of Massachusetts residents who test positive for COVID-19 rises.

Driscoll said the system has received support from the community in supplies and food and almost a million dollars in financial support.

Dickson on Friday thanked the Worcester community for donations. Those who want to give food can email Communitydonations@umassmemorial.org for information on donating individually wrapped, non-perishable food. To donate medical supplies, email supplychaindonations@umassmemorial.org. And for anyone who wants to give a monetary donation, email give@umassmemorial.org.

As of Thursday, 40 UMass Memorial Health Care employees had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

UMass Memorial has instituted universal masking," which requires all staff working on a campus or in a facility that provides direct patient care to wear a face mask during the pandemic.

The hospital system has taken other measures in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, including visitor restrictions and drive-up testing for certain patients.

In Massachusetts, 154 residents have died from illness related to COVID-19 and at least 8,966 residents have tested positive for the virus, the state Department of Public Health said Thursday afternoon.

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Aileen Wang and An Pham are planners. From the time they graduated dental school and got married, they knew theyd find a way to get their dream home.

They visited Sunday open houses, went on home tours and even knocked on doors of homes they admired, just to see if their owners would share the name of their architect or builder. Every now and then someone would answer  one even invited them in and showed them around.

Thats how they came to understand what a new home could cost, what they wanted and why theyd need to build to get exactly what they wanted.

We started knocking on doors. We were shameless about finding out who designed houses we liked, said Wang, 36, an orthodontist with her own practice, Wang Smiles Orthodontics in Meyerland. Pham, 36, is a dentist at Clear Lake Dental Care in Webster.

The more they looked, the more they were drawn to modern architecture and midcentury charm. They also realized that a new home was going to cost a lot more than they thought  teardown lots were routinely going for $500,000  so as a preliminary step they bought an affordable townhome and built equity they could use as a down payment.

The townhome was traditional in style, but each time they bought furniture, they made sure it was modern enough to work in their dream home. When it came time to move, they didnt also want to replace what theyd already bought.

Today, a series of family photos  taken in front of their home in the Ayrshire section of Braeswood Place  shows the progression of construction from its earliest stages to move-in date.

Many homes on their street flooded during Hurricane Harvey, so construction projects dot the area, including the lot behind them. StudioMET architects did the design/build work on their home, elevating it 5 feet because they started work when the area was in a 100-year flood plain before the hurricane.

The view out their back windows is of a new home under construction behind them, elevated so high that you can see straight into its first floor over the top of Wang and Phams 8-foot fence.

Architects Stephen Andrews and Hector Ochoa describe the front of Wang and Phams 4,055-square-foot home as an unconventional entrance for this modern home. First, a series of thick concrete pads serves as a staircase to a door in a 10-foot fence of Fortress composite decking in a steel frame.

From the street, the home is an attractive compilation of planes and geometrics, assembled in a variety of materials, steel, decking, manganese-oxide-coated brick and big panes of glass.

When you step behind this tall fence, youre in a courtyard set up to feel like part of the home. So when you get to the door of the actual structure, its one more giant pane of glass.

Both Wang and Pham love the house, but Pham is as happy as a kid at Christmas. The home was meant to be one of several on the Modern Architecture + Design Societys Modern Home Tour in late March. Postponed because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, it will be rescheduled to a date in June or later.

The couple hasnt bought much art just yet, still seeing the homes architecture as its most attractive feature.

High-contrast black and white stand out in the large kitchen: the same charcoal-gray exterior brick paired with bright white, high-gloss cabinets. The veiny gray quartz used on the counters repeats in all of the bathrooms. Theres also an 18-foot island with room for a few barstools, and this is Wangs favorite place in the home because its where they spend a good deal of time.

They filled their living room with the modern furniture theyd been collecting, including a pair of low-profile sofas and a pair of midcentury-inspired leather chairs. A cove in the wall has a slim built-in unit for storage, and what looks like a piece of art on the wall is really their TV.

We didnt want a big black box in the living room. People told me I should get a bigger TV, but I think this is the perfect size, Pham said of their Samsung Art TV as his wife joked that for a long time their boys didnt even know it was a TV.

Andrews described two features inside the home as tools he and his studioMET colleagues like to use because theyre updated interpretations of midcentury design: screens. At the homes front door and near a short hall to the master suite, theyve composed a series of tall metal rods spaced a few inches apart vertically.

At the front of the home, they help obscure the fact that you enter the wide kitchen. Near the back, it creates a type of wall that forms the back of the dining room and shields you from the master suite.

The couple wanted a first-floor guest suite, expecting that Wangs parents  immigrants who came to the U.S. from Shanghai when their daughter was just 7  would stay over often. Instead, they built their own home two doors down, so that suite is being used by Wang and Phams boys, 6-year-old Carlin and 4-year-old Reed.

Next to it is a small room with pocket doors. Someday it will be an in-home office, but while the boys are young it serves as their playroom, with shelves and bins for their books, trucks, dinosaurs and other toys.

A few simple conveniences were built in, satisfying Wangs love of organization. The master closet has a set of double doors among lower cabinets that serves as a pass-through to the laundry room on the other side of the wall.

Its the perfect fit for a laundry basket  or for two little boys who like to play hide-and-seek.

The kitchen pantry backs up to the garage, and a similar door allows them to put groceries or other packages in there directly instead of having to haul them up a set of stairs to the elevated home. Around the corner is the clever mudroom, where Wang had Andrews, Ochoa and their team devise a custom, over-sized peg board for kids hats, jackets and backpacks, allowing the items to move to higher-placed pegs as they grow.

Style and functionality are obvious aspects of this home, but Ochoa also notes some things you may not readily notice.

First, they used energy-efficient HVAC units and windows as well as spray-foam insulation that often allows people building bigger homes to end up paying lower utility bills. They also used Brazilian ipe, a dense hardwood that works well in Houstons climate because its mold- and pest resistant.

diane.cowen@chron.com

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BUTTE COUNTY, Calif.  Butte County Sheriffs Deputies announced the arrest of three people from the United Kingdom for an ongoing driveway repaving scam that had occurred in Butte County, the Redding area, and the Sacramento region.

The individuals were falsely claiming to be employees of "A-1 Asphalt Company" and scamming multiple in Chico, Magalia, and Oroville, according to the Butte County Sheriffs Office.

The crew would approach mainly senior citizens at their homes, telling the victims they had hot asphalt leftover from a previous job and could repave their driveways for free or at a discounted price. Deputies said the crew gave the victims one price, started the work, and then demanded additional money from the victims.

All the work performed was sub-par and will need to be redone, deputies said.

On the morning of Thursday, April 2, authorities determined the crew responsible for the scam was possibly staying in a motel in Oroville. Around 2 p.m., detectives said they saw three individuals enter the suspects motel room. The individuals appeared to be removing items from the motel room.

During a search warrant, detectives said they located over $100,000 in cash, two trailers with paving equipment in the motel parking lot, and evidence to support the three individuals were involved in the paving scam.

Deputies detained 18-year-old Patrick Connors, and two 17-year-old juveniles. All three individuals are from the United Kingdom.

Detectives said they learned Connors and the two juveniles had traveled to the Butte County area for the purpose of participating in the paving scam which was also learned to have been performed in the Redding area and Sacramento region.

All three individuals were arrested. Deputies said this investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated.

The Butte County Sheriffs Office is encouraging residents to check the validity of contractors on the Contractors State Licensing Board, prior to having any work performed by a contractor. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Global coronavirus cases surpassed 1 million on Thursday with more than 52,000 deaths as the pandemic further exploded in the United States and the death toll climbed in Spain and Italy, according to a Reuters tally of official data.



Italy had the most deaths, more than 13,900, followed by Spain. The United States had the most confirmed cases of any country, more than 240,000, the data showed.



Since the virus was first recorded in China late last year, the pandemic has spread around the world, prompting governments to close businesses, ground airlines and order hundreds of millions of people to stay at home to try to slow the contagion.



In Spain, the death toll rose to more than 10,000 on Thursday after a record 950 people died overnight, but health officials were encouraged by a slowdown in daily increases in infections and deaths.

The other countries with a high death toll are the United States (5,316), France (4,503), China (3,287), Iran (3,160), the UK (2,921), the Netherlands (1,339), Belgium (1,011) and Germany (1,001).

The number of coronavirus cases in Russia reached 3,548, of which 235 people died.
Children often look at responsibilities as a task for the grownups. It is, however, imperative to have children be responsible for their own duties. If need be, teach them how to carry out tasks by themselves. Supervising them while you delegate tasks and keeping control with humour and encouragement is a fun way to look at it. This develops a relationship replete with intimacy and trust. Bengaluru-based software engineer, Alankrita Shetty*, believes in keeping her children busy while she carries out her household chores or when she works from home. I make it a point to give them a specific task to work on every day. My younger daughter is obsessed with puzzles which is why I set her up with Sudoku or a jigsaw. I give her a time limit to finish it in, and she usually completes her assignment by then, which allows me uninterrupted time to work and look after the house.Mumbai-based homemaker Chitra Acharya suggests involving your children in household activities, as it grooms them in the long run. Getting your children, for instance, to help you in cleaning a wardrobe or organising your bookshelves is leading them by example. Ask them to place the utensils back in the rack after you have cleaned them, let them help you dry washed clothes, explain to them the procedures of cooking. This will build their knowledge and teach them life lessons such as independence, self-worth and being responsible for their selves, adds Acharya.
(CNN)  As we live through a developing pandemic, some of us can't help but compare it to the 2011 American thriller which some claim predicted Covid-19: "Contagion."

Directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Scott Z. Burns, the film follows the spread of a virus transmitted when sick humans touch surfaces and leave virus behind that others can catch. Next comes the frantic attempts by public health officials to identify and contain the disease, the anarchy that unfolds amid a pandemic, and the ultimate introduction of a vaccine to stop the spread. Sound like a plot we're in the middle of?

Its prescience was bolstered by Burns consulting with representatives of the World Health Organization on the ins and outs of infectious diseases, and by Kate Winslet working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to understand the lifestyle and character of an epidemiologist charged with leading the world through crisis.

The filmmakers also consulted medical experts including Dr. W. Ian Lipkin and Lawrence "Larry" Brilliant. Lipkin is the director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University Mailman School of Health. He recently contracted the novel coronavirus.

Laurie Garrett also served as a consultant on the film because she wrote the 1994 book "The Coming Plague" and reported on multiple pandemics. In a 2001 article she wrote for CNN, Garrett described "Contagion"as "part fantasy, part reality and totally possible."

Here is how the virus and drama of "Contagion" compares with the real life coronavirus pandemic as it currently stands.

Virus origins

The final scene in "Contagion" reveals that the fictional "MEV-1" virus originated from a pig that ate a piece of banana dropped by an infected bat escaping the destruction of its palm tree forest habitat in China.

That pig is then slaughtered and prepared by a chef who, without washing them first, shakes hands with Beth Emhoff (played by Gwyneth Paltrow), thus transmitting the virus to her. Emhoff becomes the "index case," meaning she was the first identified case.

The origin of the novel coronavirus terrorizing us today is still a mystery to scientists. It will only be solved if they're able to isolate the live virus in a suspected species (like in the movie), which can be difficult.

However, like "Contagion," bats are considered by some epidemiologists to be the possible source of the coronavirus.

Zoologists, ecologists and disease experts have told CNN that human behaviors  such as destroying natural habitats  might be to blame for the transfer of the disease.

When bats are stressed, which can occur from destruction of their habitats, their typically strong immune system is challenged, which makes it harder to cope with pathogens they could usually fight off. This allows an increase in infections and the shedding of them.

One theory on the origin of the current coronavirus is that the initial epicenter was likely a "wet market" in Wuhan, China. In "wet markets," wild animals that also may be infected and stressed are held together and sold as food or pets, leading to a mix of viruses and species.

Any "zoonotic spillover," or the transfer of disease from animals to humans, is exacerbated by population density and public transport, which make it easy for a virus to spread rapidly.

Scientists studying the spread of the coronavirus have provided another theory: It may have spread into humans from animals in a less deadly form and circulated at low levels in humans for years before adapting to us and becoming seriously infectious, according to recent research published in the journal Nature Medicine.

If the "Contagion" bats were under stress from the palm tree destruction, the origin of the "Contagion" virus could mirror the potential origin of the current coronavirus.

Similar symptoms

Sick people in the film experienced fevers and profuse sweating, pounding headaches, sore throat and cough but also had seizures, dizziness and frothed at the mouth when they passed.

The signs of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, Covid-19 are similar, but there haven't been any reports of seizures or frothing at the mouth. Covid-19 symptoms include primarily a fever of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius), cough or trouble breathing, according to the CDC.

Emergency warning signs of Covid-19 include "persistent pain or pressure in the chest," "bluish lips or face"  indicating a lack of oxygen  and sudden mental confusion, fatigue or inability to rouse.

Less common symptoms of Covid-19 include those typically experienced during flu and cold: headaches, digestive issues, body aches and fatigue, and a runny nose, sore throat and sneezing.

Anosmia, a lack of sense of smell, and dygeusia, a lack of taste, are symptoms that might flag Covid-19 in its early stages among patients with a mild case.

Transmission

Like Covid-19, the film's MEV-1 is a respiratory disease, carried in expelled droplets of saliva from a sneeze or cough or other secretions. It spreads directly between people when those droplets reach the eyes, nose or mouth of an uninfected person.

The film's virus is also transmitted by fomites, or surfaces that have been contaminated with infections after sick humans touch them.

The spreading of MEV-1 is exacerbated by the average person touching their face a few thousand times per day  while in between, they're touching door handles, elevator buttons, subway poles and each other.

Evidence shows that the novel coronavirus transmits through the same mechanisms, according to the World Health Organization.

Actors from "Contagion" recently urged people to "control the contagion" by washing their hands, practicing social distancing and following the advice of health experts In a series of PSAs from Columbia Public Health.

Can you be immune to the virus?

The fictional Mitch Emhoff (played by Matt Damon), husband of index case Beth, is found to be immune to the virus. He dodges the deliberately targeted coughs of strangers in grocery stores and survives through the film physically unscathed.

Today, there are no reports of people biologically immune to getting the novel coronavirus. But can one be immune to the novel coronavirus after recovering from it? Scientists aren't sure yet.

In the March 26 CNN Global Town Hall: Coronavirus Facts and Fears, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper asked physician Dr. Leana Wen whether a person can be immune to the virus via antibodies they developed after having and recovering from the disease.

"This is what we want to get to," she responded. "We don't have that test yet. It's being developed. But that would be great. It would be so helpful for people to know whether they have immunity."

And if someone could be immune, we don't yet know how long it could last for.

"There are some people who speculate that one might have immunity for a long time, even forever, but we just don't know yet," she added.

The R0

The number of people a sick person is likely to infect is called the R0, or R-naught, of a virus. The R0 of the fictional MEV-1 virus was 4, while the R0 of coronavirus is 2.2, according to a recent study of data from the first cases of Covid-19 in Wuhan and investigations conducted by Chinese and American health officials.

They found the epidemic doubled about every seven days. In other words, on average, each Covid-19 patient transmits the infection to an additional 2.2 people.

The mortality rate

The mortality rate of the "Contagion" virus, or the percentage of those that die among an infected population, was estimated to be about 25% to 30%.

As of March 26, the mortality rate among patients with Covid-19 is between 1.8% to 3.4%, according to the CDC.

An unproven remedy: Forsythia vs. chloroquine

In "Contagion," blogger Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law) pushes forsythia, a floral homeopathic tincture, as the cure for the virus, although studies hadn't proved it worked.

He appeared to have recovered from the virus shortly after taking forsythia, and anxious customers clamored for prescriptions of the remedy from their local pharmacies as well as on Krumwiede's blog. He attracted more 12 million followers and several million dollars from the false claim, according to the film.

Law, in the production notes for the film, described his character as the "'index patient' for what becomes a parallel epidemic of fear and panic" based on mistrust of news media, the government and health officials.

There are currently no cures or vaccines for Covid-19, yet the drugs chloroquine and its analog hydroxychloroquine have been called "game changers" by President Donald Trump. Both drugs are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat malaria and other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

A man living in Phoenix died and his wife was in critical care after the two took a non-pharmaceutical version of chloroquine in an attempt to prevent contracting the virus. His wife said he heard Trump tout the drug in a news conference.

On March 29, the FDA issued a limited emergency use authorization for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat patients hospitalized with Covid-19.

Despite limited evidence on the efficacy of the drugs for Covid-19, the US Department of Human Health Services said in a statement that anecdotal reports suggest they may be beneficial in the treatment of hospitalized patients. The FDA said the benefits outweigh the risks.

A path toward a vaccine

In "Contagion," CDC research scientist Dr. Ally Hextall (Jennifer Ehle) stresses that it can take months, maybe a year, to be able to distribute a vaccine after testing, clinical trials, manufacturing and distribution. However, Hextall speeds up the process by inoculating herself with the final experimental vaccine, then is able to provide doses for human use in just several months.

In reality, leading infectious disease experts say the typical vaccine takes between 8 and 10 years to develop. American health officials are trying to fast track that time frame, as are laboratories around the world.

Currently a year to 18 months is an optimistic time window for a possible coronavirus vaccine, Dr. Peter Hotez, a leading expert on infectious disease and vaccine development at Baylor College of Medicine, previously told CNN.

That said, a novel coronavirus vaccine Phase I trial in the US gave the first dose to test the safety of the vaccine to a participant in March. This trial is meant to establish that the vaccine is safe and that participants immune systems respond well, but proving the vaccine effectively prevents infection will take many more months.

Life as we haven't known it

In "Contagion," civil unrest rips at the fabric of society, leaving banks and grocery stores ransacked. Police seemed unable to respond to crime, as martial law prohibited travel between states to stop the spread of the virus.

That hasn't happened in real life. But, as in the film, a lot of us have spent weeks separated from friends, family and places we love, wondering when the pandemic will end so we can get back to life as we've known it. People are under variations of restrictions on movement, including social distancing guidelines, shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders. On March 29, Trump extended social distancing guidelines to April 30.

In one of the final scenes of the film, after successful distribution of vaccines, people wait in an airport to board their flight. Some still wear masks, but when a man in line drops something, the man behind him touches his shoulder to catch his attention, then leans down to pick the item up for him. The man seems grateful. Naivety? Or, maybe it's a sign that the worst is behind them.

Fictional CDC head Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) gives the son of a CDC custodian his own intranasal vaccine near the end of the film. The boy hesitantly shakes Cheever's hand, expressing his gratitude.

"You know where this comes from, shaking hands?" Cheever asked. "It was a way of showing a stranger that you weren't carrying a weapon in the old days. You offered your empty right hand to show that you meant no harm."

If there are any concrete takeaways "Contagion" offers us, it's a reminder to stop touching your face, and a beacon of hope that this too shall pass.

We can only hope we will one day be able to reach out and touch again, thankful that our pandemic is over.

This story was first published on CNN.com "'Contagion' vs. coronavirus: The film's connections to a real life pandemic"
Report: Iran 'Directly Involved' In Killing Of Iranian Dissident In Turkey, U.S. Believes

April 02, 2020

A senior U.S. official has told Reuters that Washington believes agents under the direction of Tehran were "directly involved" in the killing of an Iranian dissident in November in Turkey.

Masud Molavi Vardanjani, a former intelligence operative for Iran before he began exposing corruption involving Iranian officials, was shot and killed in Istanbul on November 14.

"Given Iran's history of targeted assassinations of Iranian dissidents and the methods used in Turkey, the United States government believes that Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) was directly involved in Vardanjani's killing," the senior U.S. administration official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Reuters last week quoted two Turkish officials as saying that two intelligence officers in Iran's consulate in Istanbul had instigated his killing.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted late on April 1 that he was disturbed by reports that Iranian diplomats were involved in the killing of a dissident. Pompeo, who did not name Vardanjani, said the reports are "fully consistent" with the diplomats' assignments.

Pompeo in November had previously described Vardanjani's killing as "another tragic example in a long string of suspected Iran-backed assassination attempts" of Iranian dissidents. He had not elaborated further.

Vardanjani fled Iran to Istanbul in June 2018 after being put under investigation by Iranian authorities.

A Turkish police report published last month said Vardanjani had an "unusual profile," and that he had worked in cybersecurity at Iran's Defense Ministry before becoming a vocal critic of the country's regime.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been running high in recent years after President Donald Trump pulled his country out of a 2015 nuclear deal with other global powers that aimed to curb Iran's nuclear program.

Based on reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/report- iran-directly-involved-in-killing- of-iranian-dissident-in-turkey -u-s-believes/30524891.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Thursday advised members of the public in the lockdown areas to respect the lawful directives relating to the restriction of movement to curtail the spread of COVID-19.



The Commission said in order not to occasion any misunderstanding with the lawfully constituted Operation COVID Safety Security Taskforce Force as it carries out its legal duties, people in the lockdown enclaves should adhere to the restrictive protocols.



In a statement signed by Mr Joseph Whittal, CHRAJ Commissioner and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, it lauded efforts by both the Government and the Operation COVID Safety team in protecting public safety during the lockdown.



The Commission, however, noted that, it was equally imperative that the efforts at enforcing the law to safeguard public health and public safety should not be oblivious of the limitations imposed by the Constitution and International Human Rights Instruments.



The Commission commended the initiative so far taken by government in combating the COVID -19 pandemic in the interest of public health and safety.



It recounted that the initiative has culminated in the enactment of the Imposition of Restrictions Act, Act 1020 of 2020, which is anchored on Article 21(4) (c) (d) and (e) of the 1992 Constitution.



CHRAJ said the Act gives legal effect to the restriction or curtailment of fundamental rights and freedoms in circumstances of national emergency or disaster to safeguard public health and public safety.



We will therefore be remiss of our duty if we fail to call on the Government and all who have the duty to enforce the lockdown to do so in a manner that would protect the dignity of the public, including those found to have breached the Executive Order, CHRAJ stated.



CHRAJ said it was mindful of the logistical and operational constraints being faced by security personnel generally, but they owe it a duty to all to act proportionately in the performance of their duties, particularly regarding arrests and assaults.



In this regard, CHRAJ, therefore, advised the High Command of the Security Services to take necessary steps to strengthen the professional standards and behaviour of the security personnel to ensure that they operate within the ambit of the Constitution as well as within International Human Rights Instruments.



The statement said while the excesses reported on may not be widespread, the nation risks sliding into the slippery ground if they are not held in check immediately and hold accountable those who may indulge in excesses.



In addition, it is imperative for the authorities to improve operational standards based on benchmarks set out, in the UN Basic Principles on the use of force and firearms which are aimed at guiding security personnel to act proportionately to avoid torture and abuse of power even in war and emergency situations.

Source: GNA









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WOOD RIVER  The Madison County Health Advisory Committee on Thursday was the first of several this week to meet via teleconference because of restrictions posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

During the meeting, Health Department Director Toni Corona said they have been releasing limited information about positive coronavirus cases because of the need for patient privacy.

She also outlined some of their other efforts, and there was a brief report from Dr. Mark McGranahan, a pediatrician and the departments medical consultant.

The meeting, which included about a dozen speaking participants, went relatively smoothly and lasted about an hour. The county has been working toward teleconferenced meetings for several weeks in order to keep the government operating.

One concern was that a county board meeting would be unwieldy because of the large numbers involved. But county officials said they hope the smaller committee meetings will let them work out any bugs.

We are aiming for a full county board meeting, no doubt about it, said County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler, who listened in on part of the meeting.

The Health Advisory Committee is made up of healthcare professionals who advise the County Boards Health Committee which is set to meet at 10 a.m. Friday, April 3.

Also planned that day is the Judiciary Committee meeting at 8:30 a.m., and a special Finance and Government Operations Committee meeting at 1 p.m.

Before the start of the Thursdays meeting, Corona discussed the ground rules of the meeting. Were kind of the guinea pigs, if you will, she said.

The public was able to listen through a muted call-in number. There were few technical problems, such as feedback (eliminated by having members mute their microphones unless speaking) and speakers identifying themselves before talking.

Because it was a public meeting, Corona said she could not share sensitive information.

We receive a lot of inquiries from the public, she said. Were hearing that folks would like to hear more information.

As of Thursday, the daily information released is basic numbers. Previously some information  such as sex, age and whether the patient had underlying conditions  had been released. That ended when the number of cases started to rise.

Corona said a common request is for information regarding a patients community, municipality or ZIP code.

At this point we are releasing data only at the county level, she said, based on guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health. She said the Metro East shares a media market with St. Louis and protocols in Missouri might differ from some counties in Illinois.

Because there are so few cases, Corona said if a single case is identified as coming from a specific area it could lead to a patients identification. As the number of patients rise over the next few weeks, she said the amount and type of information released may change.

The health departments core message, she said, is to dispel fear, dispel stigma.

We share what we feel the public needs to know, she said.

Corona said her department had been in full activation mode since March 4. The first Madison County COVID-19 case was announced March 17.

She noted the departments clinic is now closed and the department is dealing with normal activities on a case-by-case basis. Most of its efforts, she said, are focused on COVID-19. Corona also said they are processing medical supplies and sending them out to first responders and health-care professionals.

Were not holding on to things, she said, noting they have received 7 to 9 percent of supplies requested from the state. Were working on that process, but thats an incredibly important piece of what were doing.

She also said the core message has not changed.

We need people to stay home, she said. Even essential activities, such as grocery shopping, need to be thought out, she said.

You need to make a list and try to identify when the best time for you to go shopping is, she said. You should be out of your home only gathering essential items: grocery and prescriptions. Its the best thing to do; keep yourself away from others.

There were questions about testing and the effectiveness of masks, especially home-made ones. Corona said the department has received no IDPH guidance on home-made masks, adding they could probably never be used in a health-care setting.

McGranahans brief report noted what he called an amazing public-private partnership among all dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The amount of sharing and collaboration has been truly astounding, he said.
The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.  Ida B. Wells, civil rights activist

I was inspired by this quote and enveloped by its spirit to tell the truth no matter the price I will pay for it. Sometime, some things are hidden and if not exposed, treachery will work and hunt the unknown people. That is why I dare to make it clear before the eyes of the world and light the darkness to take away the fabricated misconception of others and cast the truth for others to see the true picture of a genius man of confidence, a truthful worker and a great servant of his people; Professor Kabir Bala.

To err is man and to forgive is divine. To make a synonymous of this adage I will make a good comparison of the candid words of  Lao-Tzu, an ancient philosopher and founder of Taoism that professed that A leader is best when people barely know he existswhen his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will all say: We did it ourselves" indeed making a generous and knowledgeable figure to the top management of the most prestigious institution of West Africa is never a wrong decision but a pride because "we did it ourselves" and that is why I agree that a single bracelet doesn't make jingle.

As the former Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kabir Bala worked efficiently with educational charisma, foresight and vision that gave him feathers to fly and settle immaculately to the position of the Vice Chancellor of the most prestigious University in Nigeria. His arduous and victory as the Vice Chancellor spelt a lot of commendation to his dignified personality just like the Hausa proverb says "a cap fits its owner" and good works pay with gold just like we all agree that excellence is a bed of roses. To win the position of the new Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Professor Kabir beat 10 candidates shortlisted for the job, who initially applied for the position and defeated 17 in the academic contest. The whole activity was formal and the interview was structured on merit, all candidates were tested and measured base on standardization and the constitutional guidance of Nigeria Universities principles and the genius Professor Kabir Bala with his quantum of experiences of the job and administrative leadership with over 80 publications in national and international academic journals became at the top of the screening base on merit as conducted amidst intellectual committee of emeritus and uncorruptible judges. Tested and proven Professor Kabir Bala emerged as the new Vice Chancellor of the university and dated to May 1, 2020 to assume office as slated in accordance of the A.B.U autonomy Council decree which is under the umbrella of all universities in Nigeria as provided by the NUC charter.

Professor Kabir Bala is an excellent academician that rose from the grace to the peak grace who was born in Kaduna state; Unguwar Kanawa, schooled in Kaduna State and Zaria, after his graduation from A.B.U he briefly worked with Amana Development Company before joining the service of lecturing with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as an Assistant Lecturer in 1985. Kabir Bala has his doctorate degree of Philosophy (PhD) in Construction Management in 2001 before excellently rose to professorship cadre of repute that impact in the educational circle of Nigeria and beyond as he was a visiting lecturer at the University of Abertay, Dundee, Scotland in 1995.

Professor Kabir is a versatile and vast tapping potential academician that has been an External Assessor for Professorial appointments of many academics for seven universities in Nigeria. He has attracted research grants from a variety of funding sources, and sourced the tune of fifty-five thousand Euros (55,000.00) on 23th January, 2020 for developing the most giant institution. Professor Kabir has worked all his life in the development of A.B.U and making sure of its efficiency and adorable landscape. Professor Kabir is amazing and extraordinary in his work that earned him perfection as he was a two-time unusual Head of Department while as a junior staff from 2001 to 2006 and then from 2010 to 2014. He was the pioneer ICT Coordinator of the university from 2005 to 2006 and Deputy Dean Faculty of Environmental Design from 2006 to 2008. He also served as Director of Academic Planning and Monitoring from 2010 to 2013. He rose to become the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies and to the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration. In February 2013, he was appointed chairman of the Board of Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the Building profession, and in October 2013, he was also appointed as a Member of the Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC), by the Nigerian president. However, Professor Kabir Bala is an External Assessor for Professorial appointments of many academics, for seven universities in Nigeria before winning the position of the Vice Chancellor of the school that was nurtured with his own blood, expertise, sacrifices, passion and dream.

Like the saying "what God has done no man should put asunder" and only antagonists dispose the perfect work of God and at most in leadership because leaders are made by God. It shocked Nigerians that on 31st of March, 2020 news bulleting came circulating that Zazzau Emirate Development Association (ZEMDA) rejected the victory of Professor Kabir Bala as the VC of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with unvalidated and justifiable facts to favour their lust of faction of "We versus Them." The announcement to many is share hatred and disgusting opinion that people perceived to it is because Professor Kabir Bala was not born in Zazzau. The Zazzau group opinioted that the strategy of the interview that made Professor Kabir Bala was base on three candidates when there were 17 candidates that applied for the position and many quit because of the rules and guidelines for the position. And another bound of contention is why this null coming from a specific group that call themselves 'Zazzau' not from other chamber.? I think we have past that age of do or die affairs?

At this era things are done base on merit and fairness and Nigerians are keen and very interested in this matter. To evert all anomalies that will jeopardized the good work that has been done and avoid fracas in the academic progress of Ahmadu Bello University all hands should be on deck to let water continue to pass under the bridge as what the Council Chairman of the University said " the allegation has no bases" and all the aggrieved members should forget their differences and work for the progress of the University. This turning of time will only make harm to the prospect of the institution than good in the face of the world and the best thing is to let a sleeping dog lie because bribery is the enemy of justice for a good leader that is made only fetch repute for his people.
While the masses hunt for toilet paper, Caroline Gregory and other people with diabetes are on a different mission: scouring stores for the rubbing alcohol or alcohol swabs needed to manage their disease.

Gregory stopped in Carlie C's, Dollar General and then Harris Teeter in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in pursuit of this vital component of her medical routine.

"We're all supposed to be staying at home, and I'm out going to 10 different stores," said Gregory, 33, whose diabetes could heighten her risk for COVID-19 complications. "That's also not safe."

Rubbing alcohol and alcohol swabs or wipes are the latest products swept up by the nation's demand for anything and everything seen as a disinfectant against the novel coronavirus  by hospitals and average consumers alike.

Andy Lerman, vice president of operations for Hydrox Laboratories, a manufacturer based outside Chicago, said the majority of the low-profit-margin medical product his company makes is headed to hospitals, which are going through it faster than they have in the past. He has seen distributors order more than five times the amount they typically do.

"Hospitals are wiping down everything all the time  with every type of virucide that they have at their disposal," he said. "I'm making it as fast as I can, but I have more orders than I have capacity to manufacture."

Isopropyl alcohol  a primary ingredient in some types of rubbing alcohol  has been touted as a cleaner that neutralizes the coronavirus on everything from kitchen countertops to phones. And with the depletion of supplies of hand sanitizer, also seen as a defense against COVID-19, demand has exploded to make homemade versions. The Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization list isopropyl alcohol as a critical ingredient in their recommended recipes.

So, for those with diabetes or other chronic medical conditions, the general public's resulting panic-buying spree has threatened their medical routines, such as when patients use an alcohol swab or a rubbing alcohol-soaked cotton ball to disinfect their skin before they inject insulin.

Alternatives like witch hazel may not have the same antiviral properties, and the proof of most brands of vodka isn't high enough to be effective. Other compounds, like hydrogen peroxide and liquid iodine, can be unwieldy for diabetes patients to manage while changing insulin pump sites on the go, Gregory said.

Despite the inability to obtain their usual products, people with diabetes still need to maintain their blood sugar levels, said Kelly Mueller, vice president of community impact at the American Diabetes Association. She encouraged patients to wash their hands and pump sites carefully and let them air-dry.

But in the midst of the coronavirus panic, the problem is compounded by a dearth of antibacterial soap or hand sanitizer to replace the disinfecting swabs or rubbing alcohol needed to keep prick sites clean, said Alison Dvorchik. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her 17-year-old son, Matthew, who has Type 1 diabetes.

"I'm worried for the entire Type 1 diabetic community," she said. "That's a cesspool of infection waiting to happen."

Any potential infection is a strain on an already overburdened health care system, Dvorchik said. For now, she's trying to ward off that fate for Matthew with a stash of 100 alcohol wipes from a friend  they use about three a day with Matthew's insulin pump.

The madness began about three weeks ago, according to New Jersey-based AvaCare Medical CEO Steven Zeldes, who runs one of the nation's larger online medical supply companies.

Overnight his site was swamped with "thousands and thousands" of orders around the country for rubbing alcohol and rubbing alcohol swabs  medical supply items that had not been a primary focus for the company.

At first, he suspected some sort of pricing mishap. Then, he realized rubbing alcohol was a primary ingredient in making homemade hand sanitizer.

The tsunami of orders cleared out the warehouses of AvaCare Medical's distributors in under two days. Zeldes said the company was out of stock so fast that it received thousands of orders before being able to take down the listings.

"Our company was always a medical supply company for seniors or nursing homes or hospitals," Zeldes said. "Now we're a company for every single citizen of America."

Cathi Carothers, an operations assistant at Lab Alley, a chemical supplier in Austin, Texas, said her company saw a similar explosion of interest in alcohol products from fire departments and post offices as well as Tesla, the Department of Homeland Security and Johns Hopkins University.

"No one could have anticipated this much demand in a month," Carothers said.

When Lab Alley called Dow and ExxonMobil  two of the largest raw-component manufacturers of isopropyl alcohol in the U.S.  to procure more, she said, the companies told Lab Alley they're prioritizing hospitals.

Dow confirmed to KHN it was working with the FDA and state officials to maximize production of all its high-demand products. ExxonMobil directed KHN to a news release stating it was actively working with hard-hit New York and Louisiana to send isopropyl alcohol from its Baton Rouge Chemical Plant, which it says is "home to the world's largest" isopropyl alcohol production site.

Both Medline, a major supplier in Chicago, and New Jersey-based Becton, Dickinson and Co., a health care product manufacturer and supplier, have felt the crush of demand. Medline spokesperson Stacy Rubenstein cited a 100% increase in March this year over last. Accordingly, both companies said they have ramped up production and enforced fair distribution measures.

Down the supply chain, Gregory, the Fayetteville woman with diabetes, said she lost it in line at Walgreens when she saw a sign saying the store was limiting customers to four bottles, which is more than she would go through in a year. (She uses it several times weekly to disinfect the sites of her insulin pump and every 10 days for her glucose monitor.)

"How much hand sanitizer are you making?" Gregory asked. "You certainly don't need to be cleaning your kitchen with it  it's not necessary. I think people are just panicking."

Many forms of rubbing alcohol were sold out on Walgreens online site as of Sunday. Both Target and Rite Aid had also sold out of some rubbing alcohol and rubbing alcohol-related products online.

Finally, Gregory was able to snag one of the last orders for 100 wipes available through Healthcare Supply Pros, an online medical supply company. It should last her for about five months. She fears for older, poorer people with diabetes who may not have internet access or the money to do the same.

Plus, similar listings show the product is now sold out.

"Don't hoard something that you don't really need," said Dvorchik, the mother of the teenager with diabetes. "Because the people who really need it can't get it."
Sixty-five Hong Kong residents will take a chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government out of Lima to London, then a regular connecting flight with secured bookings from London to Hong Kong.

The chartered flight taking Hong Kong residents out of Peru is scheduled to leave Lima for London at 4pm on April 3 local time (5am on April 4, Hong Kong time).

Up until this point, the Immigration Department has received 98 assistance requests from Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru, among whom 13 have left through other arrangements.

At present, 65 people have indicated they would take the chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong SAR Government from Lima to Hong Kong via London. The cost will be borne by the passengers.

Those remaining in Peru have chosen not to take the chartered flight as a matter of personal preference or because they are under quarantine.

Hong Kong residents in different locations in Peru, depending on the distance between their current location and Lima, will have to take a domestic flight or other long-haul land transport to go to Lima.

As Peru is in a state of national emergency, there are strict restrictions on all land and air traffic and all travel must be approved by the Peruvian authorities.

With the full assistance of the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Peru, the Hong Kong SAR Government has arranged for an international chartered flight out of Peru, a domestic chartered flight to take 29 Hong Kong residents in Cusco to Lima, and assisted those in other locations to get to Lima by land transport through local travel agencies.

The Hong Kong SAR Government has made available masks for each Hong Kong resident to use during their flights.

The Hong Kong residents returning from Peru, upon their arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, will proceed to the Centre for Health Protection's testing centre at the AsiaWorld-Expo for mandatory COVID-19 testing.

If the test result is negative, they may go home or to a designated place to continue completion of the 14-day compulsory quarantine.

The Chinese Embassy in Peru has been co-ordinating with the Peruvian authorities in issuing travel certificates and permits to the Hong Kong residents concerned to ensure they can reach Lima Airport smoothly.

The chartered flights are mainly arranged for Hong Kong residents. All the residents who have informed the Immigration Department of their wish to take the chartered flights have been allocated a seat.

To ensure sufficient use of resources and for mutual co-operation and benefit, the Hong Kong SAR Government has accepted requests for assistance from other governments to allow their residents to take the remaining seats on the chartered flights.

According to current estimates, four Malaysian residents will take the chartered flight from Cusco to Lima, while six Malaysian residents and five British residents will take the chartered flight from Lima to London.

They will arrange their own itinerary upon arrival in London. The cost of taking the chartered flights is also on a user-pays basis.

The cost of taking the Lima to London chartered flight followed by an ordinary connecting flight to Hong Kong is $30,000; while the Cusco to Lima flight costs $5,600.

Residents of other countries will pay the same amount for taking the chartered flights.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/03/2020 -- Healthy Dalia Market Research Study  The exploration report comprised with market data derived from primary as well as secondary research techniques. The points covered in this study are primarily factors which are considered to be market driving forces. The aim is to get premium insights, quality data figures and information in relation to aspects such as market scope, market size, share, and segments including Types of Products and Services, Application / end use industry, SWOT Analysis and by various emerging by geographies. Some of the profiled players in standard version of this study are Jagdish Rice Mill, Eezy Cook, Sreebhog, Green Bite, Sunrise Agriland & Tip Top Food Tech.



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Here, we specialize in large carnivores, we individualize our care to each animal. Everybodys been pretty happy, healthy, doing pretty well. They had 2-year mark recently, 2 years of being here, which is great," Miceli said. Some of the kiddos that came from the facility, it was a harder transition, some had some of the psychological stress that we can see a lot of times on rescues."
A USPS letter carrier crosses a quiet Boylston Street with greatly reduced foot and vehicle traffic in Boston on March 18, 2020.

Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Business Insider spoke with two US Postal Service mail carriers this week who said their employer was doing too little to protect them during the coronavirus outbreak.

They described unsanitary conditions in post offices and mail trucks and said they were not getting protective equipment like gloves and face masks.

One resorted to making her own sanitizer at home from bleach, while the other has bought gloves and masks at inflated prices online.

The USPS did not answer the workers' concerns directly but said in a statement that it was taking action to limit the risk of infection among its staff.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With many Americans under orders to stay at home, work has continued as usual for the United States Postal Service, deemed an "essential" business.

But mail carriers are concerned that their working conditions have made them sitting ducks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Business Insider spoke with two mail carriers this week who said social distancing was not being enforced in their workplace, heightening the risk of the infection spreading.

They also said that post offices and trucks were not being kept clean and that they had not received protective gear like face masks or gloves.

Both were spending their own money on makeshift protection that they argued should be provided universally by their employers.

USPS has said it's enforcing social distancing, enhancing its cleanliness, and giving workers protection  but the mail carriers we spoke with said they hadn't seen any evidence of this.

Both asked to remain anonymous, fearing the loss of their jobs if they spoke publicly.

No protective equipment and unsanitary conditions

One mail carrier in the Suncoast region of Florida said the Postal Service hadn't been supplying masks or gloves, or even keeping hand sanitizer in the office and trucks.

She said she was instead making a bleach solution at home to clean her truck.

Story continues

"Given the fact that we see customers every single day, I just feel like they could do a better job in making sure we have safe, sanitized working conditions," she said.

"That's just not happening, largely in part due to a lack of availability" of protective products, she said.

Another mail carrier at a post office outside Stockton, California, said the only protection he was aware of was a big container of hand sanitizer his supervisor keeps on their desk.

A postal worker in California sent us this picture of his dirty mail-carrier van. The two workers we spoke with expressed concern about the hygiene in their workplace.

Handout

"They aren't taking this very seriously in my opinion at all," he said. "We don't have masks. There isn't social distancing." He added that in the back of the post office, "you're nearly shoulder to shoulder with everyone all the time."

His position at USPS requires him to fill in where he's needed, which means sharing trucks with other carriers, something he worries about.

Because he hasn't gotten masks or gloves from USPS, he's resorted to buying them on the internet at high prices  $60 for a pack of reusable masks off Etsy, and $50 for rubber gloves, he said.

The public don't take social distancing seriously

The California carrier said the thing that worried him the most was how people kept flouting social-distancing measures to interact with him daily.

The Postal Service has discontinued the need for customer signatures and allowed workers to drop items off instead of passing them directly to a recipient. But that doesn't matter if people aren't keeping their distance.

"The public, to be honest, are even more clueless," he said. "I hate to put it that way. Everyone I encounter is nice and friendly.

"But we've been told not to go up to people, and the first thing 50% of the people do as soon as they hear me is walk out of their house  literally up to me  to grab the mail. Maybe because it's something to do. That's the scariest part of my day."

It's only a matter of time

The California carrier said this picture of a dirty bathroom at his post office was evidence that the agency is not cleaning seriously during the coronavirus outbreak.

Handout

Both mail carriers said they felt it was only a matter of time before they get the virus  or, worse, pass it to someone in their family.

The Florida carrier said the threat that she or one of her coworkers could get the virus was "very real" and "just waiting to happen."

"Who's to say someone in our office hasn't already had it?" she said.

"We're short-staffed, which means that those of us who are there are working for roughly 10 hours a day, six days on," she said, adding, "We're more fatigued and more susceptible to the virus."

The California carrier said he thought his chance of getting the virus was "bad."

He said that "as the days go by, I think until we get masks, it's probable" that he will get it.

Both said the USPS should make more of an effort to supply its workers with protective equipment and make hand sanitizer widely available.

More than 250 Postal Service workers have been infected

Both said they didn't know of any of their coworkers getting sick yet. But the same can't be said for the Postal Service as a whole. Dave Partenheimer, a USPS spokesman, told Business Insider on Thursday that 259 of the Postal Service's 630,000 employees had tested positive for COVID-19.

Partenheimer did not say how many workers had died of the disease, but unions have reported the deaths of two mail carriers in New York City and Detroit in recent days.

There was also a concerning ProPublica report in which two workers said they were pressured to keep delivering mail even after they started to develop symptoms of COVID-19.

Postal workers have raised similar concerns about the coronavirus with The New York Times, NPR, and Government Executive.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who's running for president, sent a letter to the USPS on Tuesday demanding answers about how it was protecting its workers.

As of Friday, more than 86,000 people had signed a petition calling for safety guarantees for postal workers, including "basic supplies like gloves, sanitizer spray, and face masks."

A USPS worker delivers mail in New York City on March 18.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Meanwhile, there have been concerns about how self-isolation and social-distancing measures could affect the USPS.

Two US representatives have said that the Postal Service could close as early as June because of a drop-off in mail volumes.

Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Gerry Connolly said they backed a bill that would give $25 billion in emergency funding to the USPS. The stimulus bill enacted last week allowed it to borrow $10 billion and create temporary delivery points to help prevent workers from being exposed to the virus.

What the USPS had to say

Business Insider sent a detailed request for comment to the Postal Service on Thursday. Partenheimer did not directly answer the questions but forwarded a recent USPS statement on the matter.

Partenheimer said he wanted to stress "that the safety of our employees and customers is our highest priority." The statement he included broke down the ways that the USPS was addressing the coronavirus outbreak.

Here are some actions the service said it was taking:

"Ensuring millions of masks, gloves and cleaning and sanitizing product are available and distributed to more than 30,000 locations every day."

Introducing policies in USPS locations "to ensure appropriate social distancing, including through signage, floor tape, and 'cough/sneeze' barriers."

Encouraging employees to "politely ask" customers to keep their distance so that they may drop off mail safely.

Updating cleaning policies "in a manner consistent with CDC guidance relating to this pandemic."

Giving information to employees to help them stay safe.

You can read the statement in full at the USPS's website.

Read the original article on Business Insider
YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. Its not the first time American-Armenian Reality TV superstar Kim Kardashian West reminds her millions of followers about her Armenian roots in her social accounts.

This time she posted a lot of notes, photos and the Armenian flag on her Twitter account about her last trip in Armenia, releasing details from the journey, sharing the posts of other users on the link between her and Armenia, calling the repetition of this trip a dream.

Armenpress presents some of these posts:

Most of the posts of the past 6 hours are about Armenia.

Our trip to Armenia was the best, Kim Kardashian said. She also posted her photo on Gradient app which guesses DNA Ancestry by photo, and the result showed that Kardashian is 47% Armenian by ethnicity, 29% - Irish, 20% - British and 4% - Spanish.

Some users also posted photos from Kardashians Armenia trip, especially the baptism of her kids in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. One of the users said: Kim always shows mad love to the Armenian fans. I respect that so much! She doesnt forget her roots. Kim shared this post and wrote: I love them so much!

Visiting the Armenian Genocide memorial and visit the museum was one of the most insightful experiences. A huge eye opener. I learned so much about the history of the Armenian people, Kim Kardashian told her followers on Twitter.

She also remembered her meeting with the Armenian President. What an honor to have dinner with the President of Armenia, President Sarkissian and the First Lady!

User Noemye West wrote: Kim cares so much about Armenia, the Armenian people and the Armenian Genocide! Shes always trying to let the world know shes a proud Armenian!

One of the users was interested whether the 3 girls (meaning the Kardashian sisters) plan on going back to Armenia together, with all kids, Kim Kardashian said in response: This would be a dream!

The American E! TV aired the Armenia episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
After three years within the royal fold following her engagement and subsequent marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has returned to Hollywood. Following Megxit, and her move back to her hometown, Los Angeles, California the duchess is already getting to work.

Last year, the Duchess of Sussex inked a voiceover role with Disney. She narrated the Disneynature film, Elephant for Disney+ in return for a donation to the organization Elephants Without Borders. Now, after much anticipation, the documentary has been released to the world, and were getting to see the duchess first post-royal project for ourselves.

In turns out that Prince Harry was also very much involved in Elephant, in fact, his guidance helped the duchess in one major area.

Meghan Markles work with Disney may give us some insight into how she will approach her post-royal life

The Duchess of Sussexs work with Disney may give us some indication about the types of projects shes looking to take on amid Megxit. We know that she and Prince Harry wont be taking on any projects that joke about the royal family in any way. Also, we know that elephants are greatly important to the duo, which is why this documentary was the perfect fit.

Meghan remains hugely ambitious and is very open-minded to a return to acting which is what she knows, loves and does best, an alleged insider told The Sun. Her preference is to explore the route of a documentary in which she is able to follow up some of the causes she is interested in. This wish has been the focus of some of her most recent meetings and will likely shape the kind of work the agent Meghan goes with seeks to get for her. She is very excited about what the future holds.

Two new movies, two unforgettable journeys. Start streaming Disneynatures Elephant, narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, and Disneynatures Dolphin Reef, narrated by Natalie Portman, on April 3, only on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/N0yW0e7Lv6  Disneynature (@Disneynature) March 26, 2020

Inside Disneynatures Elephant

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex narrates the entire 90-minute documentary which is now on Disney+. The official description for the film reads, Elephant follows African elephant Shani and her spirited son Jomo as their herd makes an epic journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their great matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources, and persistent predators, as they follow in their ancestors footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise.

In the film, you can hear Meghan saying lines like, Its time for an elephant feast! The mud has a dark side. Thats a crocodile! Probably best to stick with the herd. The death of a matriarch is a momentous event in his young life. A little extra protein never hurt anyone. She has her hands full trying to raise her 1-year-old son. And this kid is a handful.

At one point te duchess even narrates an elephant passing gas saying, Oh, dear. Ah, who did that?

Prince Harry advised on Meghan Markles Elephant

Though this is the duchess project, the Duke of Sussex is also passionate about elephants having visited Botswana to assist Dr. Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders many times.

It turns out that the duke was in the recording booth with his wife when she recorded the project in the fall of 2019. It was amazing having [Harry] there, filmmaker Vanessa Berlowitz told People. He had a connection to Botswana, of course. Meghan was absolutely intrigued by the elephants and transfixed, especially by the female empowerment side. How important the matriarchs are to the story; it really is all about female leadership. Its a different form of powerits about consensual leadership. Its also very inclusive, as wellvery contemporary. She was absolutely fascinated by that. Filmmaker Mark Linfield added, Harry was correcting her pronunciation!

Still, the duchess was so passionate about the project that she even improvised. She made it her own, said filmmaker Roy Conli. I always say, If you feel something, do it, make it organic. Shes such a diligent professional and she wanted to get it right. It was a delight all the way around.
In the thick of a global Coronavirus outbreak, authorities in war-torn Yemen imposed a curfew on major cities with the aim to step up its fight. The move came after parts of Yemen started releasing low-risk prisoners.

The government official of Yemen said that the country was forced to impose a curfew as people disregarded the appeals to isolate and maintain social distancing. Yemen has not recorded a single case of Coronavirus yet, however, the release to prisoners was a preventive measure.

Yemeni officials said that the release of inmates would ease prisons and curb the spread of the disease. As per Arab News, Yemen has shut down its borders, airports, schools and even mosques. Despite imposing an overnight curfew, reportedly markets and shops in some parts of Yemen remained bustling with crowds. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed no cases of Coronavirus in the war-torn country, the global health body noted that diseases like cholera, dengue, malaria, and poor sanitation are rife in Yemen.

READ| Prisoners in Iran break cameras during riot amid COVID-19 outbreak

Coronavirus in Syria

Another war-torn nation of the Arab world, Syria, reported its first Coronavirus-related death on March 29, The Syrian government notified that an infected person died in the hospital soon after her arrival. In addition to the first death, Damascus even apprised about four new cases in the country.

The Syrian Health Ministry declared that a woman who had contracted COVID-19 died after she was hospitalised, as per the reports of state news media SANA. Even as Syria's Health Ministry confirmed 10 positive cases of Coronavirus, including one death, experts and doctors believe that the statistics could be must higher than revealed.

Despite downplaying the issue, the Bashar-al Assad-led Syria government, following the suit of other Middle Eastern countries banned all movements between provinces until April 16 on Sunday. It further imposed a lockdown and harsh measures, including a night curfew on Wednesday. The curfew necessitates shops to be shut from 6 PM to 6 AM and bans trade activities.

READ| Coronavirus: Taliban advises people to pray; assures passage of health organisations

READ| Taliban's Health Commission holds Coronavirus session as Afghanistan cases soar to 110
Young Malian children peek into a classroom at a school in Goudoubo refugee camp in Burkina Faso, where rising insecurity has kept teachers at home since late 2019.  UNHCR/Sylvain Cherkaoui

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, remains extremely alarmed at growing insecurity in Burkina Faso, which is driving thousands of people out of their homes every day.

As violence has spread across the Sahel region, Burkina Faso has witnessed a massive displacement of more than 838,000 people since January 2019  a figure which keeps climbing with each passing day.

The arrival of COVID-19 has added a new element of insecurity into the mix.

Group attacks have also affected some 25,000 Malian refugees, who lived in remote camps near the border of Burkina Faso and Mali. Most of these refugees have now chosen to return home despite still facing insecurity there as well, judging it was the lesser of two evils.

Following attacks and ultimatums by armed groups, the Goudoubo refugee camp, recently home to 9,000 refugees, is now effectively empty as they have fled to seek safety elsewhere.

With the closing of school, health centre and even the camps security post, about half of the residents, who reached Gao, Mopti and Timbuktu regions in Mali, cited insecurity and armed attacks as the reason to leave and felt they had no other option but to return.

The remaining half have moved to locations inside Burkina Faso. Some 2,500 have joined many displaced Burkinabes in the town of Dori, where people face dire conditions, in desperate need of shelter, water and health services. Attacks around the camp also forced locals of the Goudoubo village to flee.

Insecurity has now engulfed all 13 regions of Burkina Faso. Last week, at least 32 people were killed in a string of attacks and scores of others injured.

The violence also forced UNHCR to relocate staff out of the Mentao refugee camp, near the town of Djibo, in November 2019. Access to more than 6,000 refugees since then has been sporadic, with living conditions worsening. Many refugees in the camp are also indicating their intentions to return back to Mali once restrictions ease with COVID-19.

However, the volatile security situation in Mali does not allow many to return to their places of origin. Insecurity persists and authorities have imposed a curfew as part of its COVID-19 response, which has further fuelled security and health concerns among vulnerable groups.

UNHCR, working with the Malian authorities, registered nearly 3,000 refugees in Gao, Mopti and Timbuktu regions. Panicked returnees, many with horror stories, are arriving on rented trucks or camel backs with their families.

UNHCR works with authorities and partners on the ground, providing returning refugees with shelter, relief items and cash to support their initial needs. UNHCR is also providing the authorities with the needed health and hygiene equipment as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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AGAWAM  Armed with homemade signs and messages scribbled on their windows, teachers drove through Agawam on Tuesday in a caravan of more than 40 cars to say hello to children stuck at home while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

It was amazing, said Susan Meunier, who works with first-graders at Granger School on Westfield Street. We thought we would be surprising them, but they were out on their lawns with signs for us and waving back.

Teachers Jocelyn Foti and Stephanie Gendron organized the caravan and were joined by the schools principal, fellow teachers and staff who all hopped in their cars. They drove past many houses along the school bus route to cheer up the students they have not seen in weeks  and will not see again until at least May 4, when schools across the state are scheduled to reopen.

This has been very hard on all of us, Meunier said. When we sent them home the Friday before schools were closed, we didnt know we were not going to see them for a while. Normally when there is a school vacation coming we prepare them for that.

Many schoolteachers and staff across the country have been doing drive-by visits as a way to show their students how much they are missed and loved.

I know they miss us too, and for some children, especially those with autism, this is a drastic shift in their daily routine, and that can be hard to deal with for the child and the parents, she said.

Tuesdays caravan had a police escort, and school staffers waved and held signs with encouraging messages from their cars.

It was a way to still practice social distancing but also make them happy, Meunier said. We even had older people, seniors who came out on their lawns and waved and cheered. I think we really needed that encouragement just as much as our students did.

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Trials of IS Fighters in Syria Suspended Indefinitely

By Heather Murdock April 02, 2020

"It's like we are holding a ticking bomb in our hands," a guard in a prison in northeastern Syria told us in February. The facility holds roughly 5,000 accused Islamic State militants from all over the world.

A month later, the metaphorical bomb went off. Prisoners rioted on Sunday, overrunning one floor of the prison and smashing interior doors.

Later that night, wearing a black mask and flanked by men carrying AK-47s, Rubar Hassan, the prison's director, appeared before news cameras, appealing for international help. More than a year after the territorial defeat of IS in Syria, officials here still feel baffled and betrayed by the international community.

Defeating IS was considered a worldwide problem, but securing the region and preventing a resurgence of the group has mostly been left in the hands of ill-equipped local authorities.

"These prisoners come from 50 different countries," said Hassan. "But now they are with us, and many of these countries have turned their backs on us."

After repeated unanswered calls for countries to take back their nationals or form an international court, the regional government here said they were planning to start holding trials locally. And while it was never fully certain that the trials would be able to go forward as promised, now the region, like much of the world, is locked down because of coronavirus. The trials were postponed indefinitely.

A few days before the riot, a guard told us over WhatsApp that tensions were rising in the prison.

Prisoners said a judgmentany judgmentwould be better than the endless wait.

"Give me a trial and sentence me to 100 years or shoot me in the head," said Abdellah Nouamane, a 24-year-old inmate from Belgium, when we interviewed him inside the prison in February. "But no more of this waiting."

Crisis after crisis

Most of the prisoners, like Nouamane, surrendered during the battle for Islamic State militants' last stronghold in Baghuz, Syria.

Since then, for accused foreign fighters, there have been no formal charges, no trials and no convictions.

As we crossed the compound from the offices to cells housing prisoners, soldiers told us not to photograph them without masks on their faces. "There are sleeper cells around. We cannot be known as the guys imprisoning IS," said one guard. "Our families could be killed."

The Kurdish military holding the men are the Syrian Democratic Forces, once backed by the U.S. in the fight against IS. But since the U.S. withdrew its support in October, the SDF has been struggling to secure its semi-autonomous region amid crises after crisis.

In the immediate aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal, many of the security forces across the region were moved to the northern border to fight with Turkey. In the al-Hol camp, where thousands of foreign militants' wives and children are detained, there was a near-revolution. Women burned tents, attacked guards and hundreds of them escaped.

Before we entered a makeshift cell block in the former schoolhouse, soldiers told us not to mention any of these crises or the death of IS leader Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi to prisoners. This information, they said, could trigger a riot.

SDF commanders have said repeatedly they alone cannot protect, guard and serve justice to the more than 10,000 suspected militants in their custody.

"The prisoners think we are protecting them because we are afraid of them," the prison director told us. "But if they have a chance, they will drink our blood."

Desperate for information

The "hospital room" was a large cell holding more than 100 men, crowded onto tight rows of cots or under military-issued blankets on the floor. Some had crutches, others had bandaged legs or heads.

A 26-year-old Syrian man named Bassel wandered up to the bars. He was soft spoken with a blue scarf covering his mouth and nose. He was an IS fighter, he told us, but he wasn't an extremist. Almost every accused militant we have spoken to in prisons over the past few years has said the same thing.

"But if we have trials, we will know who was just a cook or an ordinary member, and who has blood on their hands," he pointed out. "Then we will be judged."

In the building next door, guards flipped open the metal grating over a small square window of a thick metal door. Plastic bags with basic food items were taped to the walls, and every inch of floor was filled with men and grey military blankets.

One man from Egypt hurried to the opening. "Please give us information," he begged me in English. "Tell us something that gives us just a little hope."

Back in the hospital wing, Mohammed Demer, 26, from Germany, asked us if we had any information about European plans to repatriate accused fighters. We told him we did not.

"I know there is prison for me there," Demer said, hopefully. "I am not stupid."

Demer also said he never bought into Islamic State's extremist ideology. But then we asked him this: "If all the prisoners were all tried in what he perceives to be a truly Islamic Court, would they all be found innocent?"

He paused, and his eyes widened.

"Of course," he said.

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McDonalds locations in the Acadiana will soon require workers to have their temperatures taken before reporting for work in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

MacLaff president and CEO E.J. Krampe, whose company owns 45 McDonalds locations across south Louisiana, said the requirement will begin in about two weeks once scan thermometers arrive at each location.

Employees are currently being asked if anyone in their household is not feeling well or if a close acquaintance is being tested, he said.

We are being very diligent and will become more diligent when we receive the scan thermometers, Krampe said.

Corporate officials announced that workers at company-owned locations will be asked if they are showing COVID-19 symptoms, if theyve been diagnosed, if theyve been in close contact in the past two weeks with someone who has been diagnosed and if theyve been told to self-quarantine. A yes response to any questions means the employee cant report to work.

McDonalds has closed many of its dining areas and all of its play areas, adopted social distancing guidelines, increased sanitation and made hand sanitizer available at its stores.
(Home) Building our Way out of Crisis

Home building might be the answer to more than just the housing shortage according to some information provided by Paul Emrath, economist for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). He maintains that it can also be a significant factor in rebuilding the economy once the COVID-19 crisis ends. Emrath has updated NAHB's 2014 estimates of the economic impact that residential construction has on the U.S. economy, especially via the number of jobs it creates.

Nationally he estimates that building an average single-family home creates 2.90 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. Full-time equivalency is enough work to keep one person employed for a full year. This work generates $189,000 in wages and salaries and $110,957 in taxes.

Although the majority of these jobs (FTE of 1.71) are in construction, at the national level they also include jobs in the industries that produce lumber, concrete, lighting fixtures, heating equipment, and other products that go into building or remodeling. Other jobs are created in the process of transporting, storing and selling these products and for professionals such as architects, engineers, real estate agents, lawyers, and accountants.

Building an average rental unit is expected to create 1.25 FTE jobs, generate $80,300 in wages, and $55,909 in taxes. Every $100,000 spent on remodeling creates 0.75 FTE jobs, $48, 200 in wages and $29,797 in taxes. Emrath bases his projections on an average construction value of $421,000 for single-family houses and $169,000 for rental apartments.

In addition to wages, there is also an impact from profits of the proprietors and corporations. Since two-thirds of single-family home builders subcontract out 75 percent of the work of building a home, a large share of proprietors are subcontractors. These subs are often quite small, perhaps only one-person operations and they are not included in the number of jobs created, even though they are generating income and taxes. Self-employment is even more of an issue in the real estate industry where proprietor profits are several times larger than the wages and salaries generated because most agents are classified as contractors.

The wages and salaries of workers shown in the first two tables are subject to federal, state, and sometimes local taxes. So are the profits of businesses, whether organized as proprietorships or corporations. Beyond this, many states collect sales taxes on material sold to home builders, and local jurisdictions typically charge fees for approving building permits and extending utility services.

In summary, home building generates jobs in industries like construction and manufacturing, jobs for highly educated professionals like engineers and financiers, and revenue to support owners of small businesses like construction trade contractors. This is an attractive mix of entities to support in a healthy national economy, especially during a period of recovery.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org/) is a top auto insurance brokerage website, providing car insurance quotes online from trustworthy agencies all over the United States. This website offers car insurance info about different coverage types, available discounts, and money-saving tips.

Car insurance costs can be really problematic for families with a tight budget or for persons considered "high-risk" drivers. But even for Standard and Preferred drivers, premiums can become more and more expensive with each renewal, until reaching a critical point when the driver will have to decide whether to stay or not with the current carrier. Before switching, consider the following tips. Also, drivers should get car insurance quotes online and compare prices. Visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ to get quotes from the best car insurance companies in the area!

Drivers should realize that they can actually reduce the costs with auto insurance. Investing some money in safety equipment or enhancing the driving skills will be greatly rewarding. The recently published blog post provides more details.

Parking the car in a safe location will greatly reduce the insurance bill. Insurance companies ask for the usual parking spot of the car for several reasons. Each ZIP code is associated with a higher or lower chance of vandalism, riot or car theft.

Keep a good credit score or improve it. Numerous insurance companies correlate the credit score with the likelihood of missing payments. The blog also provides some tips about how to improve the credit score.

Graduating an approved defensive driving course will also help people get some discounts. The value of the discount, its benefits and availability period varies by the insurance provider.

Drivers should never neglect the importance of establishing a good professional relationship with an agent. The blog post presents what valuable advantages it may bring.

Using online quotes is one of the best ways to save money. It is recommended to get online quotes periodically, in order to avoid overpaying.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:13:06|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Order intake of German machine manufacturers declined by 4 percent in February year-on-year, the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) stated on Friday.

"The real extent of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic in the mechanical engineering sector will only become apparent in the order figures for March and the following months," said VDMA chief economist Ralph Wiechers, warning that "this is the calm before the storm."

While orders from domestic customers fell by 6 percent in February, international orders were only down 3 percent, according to VDMA.

Rising demand from Eurozone countries, which had gone up 5 percent, had been able to "partially compensate" the notable decline in orders from non-euro countries, which fell by 7 percent, VDMA data showed.

Liquidity would be "vital for survival" during the coronavirus crisis, VDMA said. "We appeal to all banks to pool their resources even more to provide the industry with liquidity in the crisis," said VDMA Executive Director Thilo Brodtmann.

"In the March figures, we will clearly see the consequences of the spread of the virus," said Wiechers. According to VDMA, 84 percent of its members had reported noticeable or even serious order losses at the end of March.
The Justice Department inspector general revealed Tuesday that his investigators found errors in every FBI application to a secret surveillance court examined as part of an ongoing review - suggesting that problems exposed in the bureau's probe of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign extend far beyond that case.

The memorandum issued by Inspector General Michael Horowitz stems from an audit launched last year after his office found 17 serious problems with the FBI's surveillance applications targeting former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. These interim results appear to indicate that other sensitive counterintelligence and counterterrorism cases are similarly plagued by mistakes.

Trump has long decried the FBI investigation of him and his campaign's contacts with Russians as a politically motivated "witch hunt" aimed at wrecking his candidacy and his presidency, and he and his supporters are likely to embrace the new revelations as further evidence of wrongdoing among former FBI leaders.

Tuesday's findings suggest, however, that the bureau may be suffering instead from broad, institutional weaknesses more than political bias - problems were found in an array of cases managed by FBI field offices across the county.

Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said the inspector general's audit shows "the entire process is prone to abuse" - a function of inadequate accountability and oversight.

"The irony here is that, in one sense, the memorandum suggests that the Carter Page episode was not a partisan political scandal," Vladeck said. "The irony is it suggests it was part of a far bigger and more problematic pattern - a nonpartisan, systemic problem."

Horowitz's early findings "should hopefully put to rest the assertion we hear across different administrations that we can trust the Justice Department to check itself."

Page served as a foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign in 2016, but after he left, the FBI sought and received authorization from a surveillance court to monitor his electronic communications for about a year. He was never charged with any crime and Horowitz issued a report last year highly critical of the FBI's assertions to the court about Page.

A key part of the inspector general's ongoing review has been to analyze documents - known as Woods files - assembled by the FBI to help ensure the accuracy of filings to the surveillance court, which was established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA.

The inspector general selected a sample of 29 FISA applications to review and found problems with all of them.

The comparison of FISA applications to corresponding Woods files "identified apparent errors or inadequately supported facts in all of the 25 applications we reviewed," the memo said, while in four cases, no Woods files could be found at all. In three of those cases missing supporting documentation, it was unclear whether a Woods file was ever created.

The inspector general's staff continues to review the surveillance applications, but the memo bluntly states, "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."

Each FISA application reviewed had an average of 20 "issues," the memorandum said. One had a handful; the worst had 65.

The inspector general audit also suggests that Justice Department lawyers tasked with overseeing the FBI's FISA work and rooting out problems frequently found troubling indicators but did not think they rose to the level of alerting the FISA court.

The memorandum said lawyers with the Justice Department's National Security Division regularly found such errors during "accuracy reviews" of FISA applications.

In one sample of 42 applications, the accuracy reviews found "a total of 390 issues, including unverified, inaccurate, or inadequately supported facts, as well as typographical errors," the memo said.

None of the 390 issues identified were deemed by Justice Department lawyers to be "material" errors, the memorandum said.

Horowitz has not reached any conclusion about whether the errors in the applications his investigators have reviewed are important or would have altered the decisions on whether to seek or approve FISA surveillance.

He did, however, make two immediate recommendations: that the FBI conduct a survey to determine whether any more Woods files are missing, and scrutinize the results of past accuracy reviews that should have surfaced these problems earlier and find ways to fix them.

In a response, FBI official Paul Abbate said the bureau has begun implementing dozens of changes to prevent such errors in the future. The FBI, Abbate wrote, "has been intensely focused on implementing these remedial measures with the goal of ensuring that our FISA authorities are exercised with objectivity and integrity."

James Baker, who served as the FBI's top lawyer from 2014 until early 2018, said the memorandum shows that fault lies with both the FBI and the Justice Department.

"I'm extremely disappointed, angry, and what they found is completely unacceptable," said Baker, who has worked on national security law and FISA cases for decades, and helped draft the Woods procedure rules nearly two decades ago.

"Of course, I feel a shared sense of responsibility for this," he said. "But I was relying on the people in the organization, and the policies and procedures that I was aware were in place."

Baker said the Justice Department and the FBI may need to scale back the number of FISA applications to get a better handle on what agents are doing.

A Justice Department spokeswoman said officials are "committed to putting the inspector general's recommendations into practice and to implementing reforms that will ensure that all FISA applications are complete and accurate."

Civil rights groups said the memorandum vindicates their long-held view that the FISA process is prone to abuse precisely because of the intense secrecy that surrounds it.

"The Carter Page issue isn't a one-off," said Neema Singh Guliani, senior legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. "It's becoming more and more clear that procedural surface changes are not going to address the fundamental flaws with the FISA process."

Civil liberties advocates and some lawmakers have pushed for reforms to FISA in legislation to renew a set of surveillance provisions. Those provisions lapsed earlier in March when Congress did not renew them in time, and it is unclear when the legislative body will reconvene. Though the Senate passed a 77-day extension through the end of May, the House has not voted on it.
By AFP

MANILA: The coronavirus pandemic could cost the global economy $4.1 trillion as it ravages United States, Europe and other major economies, the Asian Development Bank warned on Friday.

The estimated impact is equivalent to nearly five percent of worldwide output based on a range of scenarios, but the lender said losses from "the worst pandemic in a century" could be higher.

"The estimated impact could be an underestimate, as additional channels such as possible social and financial crises, and long-term effects on health care and education are excluded from the analysis," the ADB said.

ALSO READ | ADB approves USD 2 million grant to Pakistan as coronavirus cases cross 2,000

The Manila-based bank said a shorter containment period could pare the losses to $2 trillion.

The crisis has sent equity markets spinning as traders fret over the long-term impact on the world economy, though governments and central banks have stepped in to ease the pain, pledging more than $5 trillion in stimulus and easing monetary policy.

Officially reported COVID-19 cases worldwide topped the one million mark on Thursday, with tens of thousands dead, while there are warnings the numbers will continue to balloon as the disease rapidly spreads.

With billions of people in lockdown and economies at a standstill, the ADB said Asia is forecast to grow 2.2 percent this year, its slowest pace since a 1.7 percent expansion during the Asian financial crisis in 1998.

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"No one can say how widely the COVID-19 pandemic may spread, and containment may take longer than currently projected," ADB chief economist Yasuyuki Sawada said.

"The possibility of severe financial turmoil and financial crises cannot be discounted," he added.

the forecasts assume the coronavirus outbreak will be contained this year and a return to normality in 2021.

However, there is still the potential for additional outbreaks and the severity of the pandemic remains uncertain.

ALSO READ | Coronavirus impact: 11 million people may be pushed into poverty, says World Bank

"Outcomes can be worse than forecast and growth may not recover as quickly," the bank said.

Growth in China, the region's largest economy, could slow to 2.3 percent this year from 6.1 percent in 2019, before bouncing back in 2021.

"The outbreak became a demand shock as people stayed home. It became a supply shock as companies suffered shortages of labor and of materials as supply chains faltered," ADB said.

Close to five percent, or $628 billion, of China's GDP could be lost.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3

By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:

Azerbaijani goods worth $15.3 million were exported through a "single window" system in March 2020, which is 52.3 percent more compared to March 2019, Trend reports referring to the Export Review published by Azerbaijans Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication.

From January through March, the Single Window Export Support Center issued the appropriate export certificates to hundreds of entrepreneurs. As a result, non-oil products worth more than $37 million were exported.

In accordance with the report, non-oil products were exported by 43.5 percent more in March 2020 compared to March 2019.

The total amount of Azerbaijan's exports via the "single window" amounted to $140.4 million in 2019, which was 6.4 percent less compared to 2018, when this figure was $150 million.
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New York, April 3, 2020  Iraqi authorities should immediately reinstate the license of the Reuters news agency, and allow all media outlets to cover the COVID-19 pandemic freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Yesterday, the Communications and Media Commission, Iraqs media regulator, suspended Reuters license for three months and fined it 25 million Iraqi dinars ($21,000) for a news report published the same day, which alleged that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country are much higher than official statistics, according to a statement from the regulator and news reports.

In its statement, the regulator accused Reuters of relying on vague and untrue sources to fabricate news about pandemic in Iraq, and accused Reuters of endangering public safety and hindering the governments efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. It also urged Reuters to issue a public apology to the government and the Iraqi people.

If Iraqs media regulator continues to suspend media outlets critical of the authorities, soon there wont be any outlet left in Iraq at a time when the flow of news is vital to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease, said CPJs Middle East and North Africa Representative Ignacio Miguel Delgado. We call on Iraqs media regulator to restore Reuters license and allow its staff to do their jobs freely and without fear of reprisal.

The Reuters report cited three doctors involved in the COVID-19 testing process, a health ministry official, and a senior political official, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because medical staff have been instructed not to speak to the media. Those sources alleged that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was thousands higher than the official count of 772.

After the report was published, the Iraqi government on its official Twitter account criticized some news agencies for falsely claiming that the numbers disclosed by authorities were inaccurate.

In a statement sent to CPJ via messaging app, Reuters said it had not received any notification from Iraqi authorities regarding the license and was seeking clarification on the matter. The news agency said it stands by the story.

Iraq has also suspended the printing and distribution of newspapers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to news reports. Yemen, Oman, Jordan, Morocco, and Iran have similarly banned newspapers, as CPJ has documented.

On April 1, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission issued a series of new regulations restricting the movement and work of journalists and media outlets, forcing radio stations and broadcasters to reduce their staff to a minimum, requiring journalists and media workers to wear protective gear, and providing the Joint Operations Command and the Baghdad Operations Command with a list of licensed radio stations and broadcasters, according to news reports and the local press freedom group the Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq.

The Media and Communications Commission did not immediately reply to CPJs request for comment sent via email and social media.
New Delhi, April 3 : Amid the coronavirus crisis, various reports from Delhi's Hindu Rao Hospital (HRH) claimed that some contractual doctors of the hospital resigned citing lack of safety equipment while dealing with COVID-19 patients. However, the Commissioner of North Delhi Municipal Corporation Varsha Josh denied the reports and claimed that there were adequate arrangements in the hospital.

"The only remotely Covid-19 related activity presently going on in HRH is screening, for which more than enough PPE kits are available. More PPE kits are being procured directly from the manufacturers. We will evidently never undertake any activity which risks our staff," the Commissioner of the civic body Varsha Joshi said.

Though the commissioner added that two doctors working on contract basis had put in their papers. "Only a couple of contract doctors have expressed a desire to leave. Their applications will be processed tomorrow itself. Plainly, their contract will not be renewed in future," Joshi added.

Earlier, on Wednesday a notice by the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital warned the doctors and medical staff of disciplinary action and said none of these resignations will be accepted. Apart from these, the CMO had also warned other doctors that if they resign their names will be sent to the DMC office and Nursing council of India to take disciplinary action against them.

"In view of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak those doctors or nurses who are giving their resignation from the Hindu Rao hospital. Their resignation will not be accepted," the notice read. "Their names will be sent to the DMC office and Nursing Council of India to take disciplinary action against them," it added.

The commissioner of the civic body, however, claimed that the notice was issued against the directions of the District Hospital Authority and without the knowledge of Additional Commissioner or the Commissioner.

"This order was issued against directions of DHA and without the knowledge of Additional Commissioner and Commissioner. Disciplinary action will be taken for this disobedience," Joshi said." From my side, any unwilling worker is more than welcome to resign. Especially, in a pandemic," she added.
As approximately one-third of the global population remains under varying degrees of lockdown, the videoconferencing app Zoom has seen a massive increase in its popularity. In December, according to a report by The Verge, the app serviced about 10 million users per day.

As a result, Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal this week publicly called on Zoom to tighten its ship to prevent the increasing problem of what has come to be called Zoombombinghacking into Zoom chats, often to stream unwanted pornbut even more damaging, to attack users with racist, hate-messages.

In March, as much of the United States and the world came under stay-at-home orders to curb spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, Zoom now finds itself handling 20 times that many users200 million per day.

With the massive boost in use, however, has come exposure of Zooms security vulnerabilitiesissues that the companys CEO, Eric Yuan, said in a recent blog post are now being addressed.

Until Zoom makes those fixes, Zoombombing will likely continue to disrupt teleconferences, even at relatively high levels. A remote meeting of a state senate committee in Vermont was sent off the rails on Thursday when an unknown Zoombomber infiltrated the video conference with a stream from PornHub.

I am calling on Zoom to take urgent & aggressive action to stop the racists, trolls, & peddlers of hate that are silencing & bullying communities, Blumenthal wrote in a Twitter post on April 1. Blumenthal also demanded that Zoom answer questions on how it handles our private data.

Blumenthal also posed his questions in a letter to Yuan in which he asked for answers to how Zoom collects user data, and how it shares that data with third parties, such as the marketing partners described in its privacy policy.

The senator also asked Yuan to describe measures that Zoom has taken to detect and prevent Zoombombing. He asks Yuan to reveal how users can report Zoombombing incidents, and the steps the company takes to respond to those complaints.

Zoom on March 20 published its own guidelines for preventing Zoombombing attacks. The steps include making sure Zoom meetings are locked, and requiring participants to join with a password.

The full list of recommendations from Zoom on how to keep out Zoombombersor as Zoom calls them, uninvited guestsmay be read at this link.

Photo By Zoom Video Communications / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
Byron Bay locals were seen waiting patiently at the new pop-up clinic in their town to be tested for coronavirus as backpackers are urged to stay away.

The tourist town has ramped up its testing after residents and holidaymakers were seen heading to the beach, watching sunsets and going about life as normal last week, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Byron Bay Shire mayor Simon Richardson has also pushed for the NSW Government to stop allowing backpackers and tourists to travel to coastal town as they work to slow the spread of the killer coronavirus.

Two women are waiting to be tested at the free pop-up clinic in Byron Bay

A warning sign is seen outside the Byron Bay Hospital

Locals wait to be tested as they sit 1.5m apart and are wearing face masks to slow the spread of coronavirus

A number of locals were seen wearing masks and sitting 1.5metres apart - the safe distance ordered by the government - as they waited to be tested at the pop-up clinic.

The free clinic opened in Byron Bay this week, allowing locals to be tested if they have any coronavirus-like symptoms.

Warning signs were placed carefully around the clinic to ensure patients and workers remain safe.

A man was seen wiping down chairs throughout the day to maintain cleanliness and slow the spread of COVID-19.

Mayor Richardson wants long-haul buses to be halted to stop more tourists arriving to the town over fears their hospitals couldn't cope if there was an outbreak.

'Having 50-odd backpackers sitting on a bus for 11 hours to escape the big city and come to Byron is completely inappropriate,' Councillor Richardson told ABC.

'It is unhelpful for our community, and if we don't want people to congregate and we don't want people to visit, lets stop the opportunity for them to do so.'

The last bus of backpackers to arrived in Byron at midday on Wednesday with only six passengers on board.

Backpackers have been slammed for their constant disregard for the rules to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Bondi, the epicentre of the city's coronavirus outbreak, was bustling with not just joggers but women exercising in groups and locals and visitors sitting down to admire the ocean view.

Large crowds were also seen over the weekend at Brighton Beach in Victoria, as people continue to ignore the social distancing rules.

A man wearing gloves wipes down a chair at the free pop-up clinic in Byron Bay

Byron Bay Hospital has a free pop-up clinic open besides it for locals to be tested for coronavirus

Despite the town's mayor rallying for backpackers to stop travelling, they are still entitled to be tested at the free pop-up clinic.

Lles Shign and Lynn Maendartsma, both 18, arrived to Australia from Finland and said they are 'not frightened' of the killer virus.

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

'Our greatest fear is getting stuck in one place, giving all our money out and doing nothing,' Ms Maendartsma told The Guardian.

The pair were planning on heading up to Brisbane but knew that wasn't an option anymore so they have decided to 'chill' at Byron's beaches.

English backpacker Danny Wright said he doesn't want to go back to the UK in fear of infecting his elderly family members.

'From all the news I've been watching, Australia seems to be one of the safest places in the world.'

He said the hostels have been doing everything they can to ensure social distancing is adhered to.

German backpacker Julian Luss, 18, said he wants to head back home immediately rather than being in a crowded room with two or three other people.

The earliest flight he could find back to Germany was on April 10.

'We're staying calm and enjoying the rest of our time in Australia,' he said.

'There isn't as much partying as there used to be. Some people are still staying out and having a few drinks with their friends, but with social distancing.'
It seems to be striking a chord, with folks posting selfies of themselves drinking in their underwear on Instagram tagged with #pantsdrunk. Some participants say it is helping them unwind while self-quarantined.

To me its about relaxing and thinking about other things than work, responsibilities, or obligations, said Mark Nesbitt, 31, a bartender in Reno, Nev., who has been drinking at home a lot in his boxers, ever since the Rum Sugar Lime, the bar where he works, was ordered shut to encourage social distancing. Its about spending time with yourself or people you love and doing anything or nothing.

While pantsdrunk may seem like just another excuse to drink at home, there are key differences. The person does not intend to go out afterward, so it is not a pre-gaming session. And the dress code is beyond lax. If swilling in sweatpants seems cozy, quaffing in underwear is an entirely other level of comfort.

Ray Hudson, 24, a financial analyst in New York City, who recently posted a photo of himself in blue boxers (I also got several comments about the whiteness of my legs, he said) is convinced that the Finns are uniquely positioned to teach Americans how to survive social isolation. For nine and a half months of the year, the Finnish live in a dark and freezing environment, he said. Often the streets are deserted and human interaction requires a daunting trek.
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Lucknow, April 3 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath faces the toughest challenge of his political career in the prevailing scenario when members of the Tablighi Jamaat are proving to be major "Corona carriers".

Some of these corona carriers now face prolonged imprisonment under the National Security Act (NSA) after they reportedly misbehaved and assaulted female medical staff in a hospital in Ghaziabad.

Describing them as "enemies of humanity", Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered NSA that allows detention without charges for up to a year.

"They will not follow the law, nor will they accept order. They are the enemies of humanity, what they have done with women healthcare providers is a heinous crime. We are invoking the National Security Act against them, we will not spare them," Yogi Adityanath said on Friday.

He further said, "An incident like Indore where doctors were attacked should not be seen anywhere in the state. For this, we will take whatever action is required by law." The Tablighi members, quarantined at Ghaziabad's M.M.G. Hospital, have been accused of passing lewd comments, roaming about without clothes in the isolation ward, using expletives, refusing medicine and asking for beedis and cigarettes, according to a written complaint to the police by the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital.

In Ghaziabad, officials have tracked down 136 who attended the religious gathering last month at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat, which is now a major coronavirus hotspot linked to nearly 650 cases and 12 deaths.

Six of them had symptoms of corona virus and were admitted to M.M.G. hospital on March 31 and one of them tested positive.

Ravindra Singh, the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, said, "My staff complained many times, I spoke to the patients but they refused to listen. Finally, our staff said they cannot work under such circumstances, we were compelled to send a written complaint to the police." The FIR charges the Tablighi members with assault or criminal force on women, obscenity and "malignant behaviour likely to spread infection".

It now seems that majority of the Tablighi members fanned out in Uttar Pradesh after the meeting when the lockdown began.

Most of them found refuge in mosques before the borders were sealed.

In the past 48 hours, a series of raids on mosques across the state have revealed that hundreds of Tablighis were in hiding in the state -- hiding because they did not give themselves up for corona tests.

Several states are tracking down members of the group, who travelled across the country in the middle of the corona virus crisis, violating all social distancing guidelines and escalating worries of COVID-19.

There are over 2,300 coronavirus cases in India, including 56 deaths and the number is rising by the hour.
President Donald Trump speaks in the press briefing room with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in Washington on April 2, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump Issues 4-Point Clarification to Schumer in Blunt Letter

President Donald Trump late Thursday issued a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) responding to Schumers criticisms of the federal governments handling of the CCP virus pandemic.

Thank you for your Democrat public relations letter and incorrect sound bites, which are wrong in every way, Trump said in the letter.

In a letter earlier in the day, Schumer wrote to Trump saying that the national response is far behind where it should be. The letter raised the issue of shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies in New York state and other areas across the United States, and called for the Trump administration to designate a senior military officer to fix this urgent problem.

Schumer also accused Trump of having dismissed the Defense Production Act (DPA) as not being needed, and criticized Trumps appointment of White House aide Peter Navarro as the National DPA Policy Coordinator as woefully unqualified for solving the PPE and ventilator shortages.

On Wednesday, Schumer appeared on CNNs Out Front program with a similar message as his Thursday letter.

The letter from the president provided four points of clarification to Schumer.

1. As you are aware, Vice President Pence is in charge of the Task Force. By almost all accounts, he has done a spectacular job.

2. The Defense Production Act (DPA) has been consistently used by my team and me for the purchase of billions of dollars worth of equipment, medical supplies. ventilators, and other related items. It has been powerful leverage, so powerful that companies generally do whatever we are asking, without even a formal notice. They know something is coming, and thats all they need to know.

Trump on March 27 authorized the use of the DPA to compel General Motors to move faster on producing ventilators. On Thursday, he authorized the use of the DPA again to further ramp up ventilator production in the United States.

The third point in Trumps letter noted that Rear Admiral John Polowczyk is in charge of coordinating the United States COVID-19 supply chain task force at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

If you remember, my team gave you this information, but for public relations purposes, you choose to ignore it, Trump wrote.

Finally, Trump pointed out that the federal government has provided New York state many things, including hospitals, medical centers, medical supplies, record numbers of ventilators, and more.

You should have had New York much better prepared than you did, as Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx said yesterday, New York was very late in its fight against the virus, Trump wrote. As you are aware, the federal government is merely a back-up for state governments. Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others.

Trump wrote that New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virusalso known as the novel coronavirusif Schumer had focused more on helping the people of New York, and spent less time on impeachment proceedings against the president.

Fortunately, we have been working with your state and city governments, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill DeBlasio, to get the job done. You have been missing in action, except when it comes to the press,' Trump wrote, urging Schumer to start cooperating with Cuomo for the good of all New Yorkers.

Trump had earlier taken to Twitter on Thursday morning to announce that we do have a military man in charge of distributing goods, and that New York has gotten far more than any other state, including hospitals and a hospital ship.

It wouldnt matter if you got 10 times what was needed, it would never be good enough. Unlike other states, New York unfortunately got off to a late start. You should have pushed harder. Stop complaining and find out where all of these supplies are going. Cuomo working hard! Trump wrote.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) leaves after a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 17, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Schumer responded to Trumps letter by way of a Twitter post later on Thursday, in which he called Trumps letter petty and unserious while calling his own letter serious.

To the President: Americans are dying and losing jobs. Businesses are teetering. Stop the pettiness. Be a leader. Do your job, read Schumers message.

On MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes, Thursday evening, Schumer said that he was appalled upon receiving the letter.

You know, Id say to the president: just stop the pettinesspeople are dyingand so, President Trump, we need leadership. We need to get the job done. Stop the pettiness. Lets get it done. Lets roll up our sleeves, Schumer said.

The death toll from the CCP virus jumped to 2,370 in New York state on Thursday. There are more than 92,300 cases in the state, more than 13,000 patients with the virus are hospitalized, and about 3,000 are in intensive care units, Cuomo said on Thursday at a press briefing.

Polowczyk announced on Thursday at a press briefing that 27.1 million surgical masks, 19.5 million N95 respirators, 22.4 million pairs of protective gloves and 5.2 million face shields are being pushed out to state governments.

The federal government has also sent out some 7,640 ventilators, Polowczyk said, of which 4,400 are going to New York, 500 to Washington state, 850 to New Jersey, 400 to Michigan, and 150 to Louisiana.

He also said that six planes carrying medical supplies from overseas have landed in the United States so far, and 28 more are expected in the coming weeks.

Vice President Mike Pence also told reporters that pallets are being loaded right now to send 200,000 N95 [respirator] masks to New York City to the public health hospitals.

I have family in New York, Polowczyk said. My sisters a nurse practitioner in Westchester hospital and my niece is a nurse in a Long Island hospital, and I have other health care professionals in the family. So I have skin in this game, and the president asked me to get more [respirators] to health care workers and were going to get more to health care workers.

Read More Temporary Hospital in NYC To Care for COVID-19 Patients
Were just taking precautions, she said.

Should the number of coronavirus patients grow, Mitchell said, GPH first would make use of the floors other 16 rooms.

That 32-bed capacity could grow to 64, if needed, by doubling up COVID-19 patients in the rooms on that floor, Pate said.

If the numbers grow beyond 64, thats when GPH would look toward temporarily converting other spaces in its main complex.

The nearby North Platte Surgery Center, shut down this month due to COVID-19, also could provide a few more beds, Mitchell said.

The last resort would be renting space from hotels and motels, a step now being taken in some U.S. communities.

Wed look into every option, so weve had a talk or two with some people who have hotels or motels, Mitchell said. Weve done our work going down completely to worst-case scenarios.

Whether GPH would need to take in COVID-19 patients from outside Lincoln County, he said, would depend on the capacities and capabilities of the 26 critical access hospitals in GPHs service area in west central Nebraska and northwest Kansas.
By PTI

JERUSALEM/NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday explored possible collaboration between Israel and India in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, including by improving the availability of pharmaceutical supplies and innovative use of high technology.

The two also agreed to maintain a focused channel of communication to explore such synergies during their telephonic conversation, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi said.

Israeli prime minister's media adviser said in Jerusalem that the two leaders also discussed various steps to deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 50,000 lives globally.

The two leaders have been in touch ever since the coronavirus crisis started.

"The leaders explored possible collaboration between India and Israel in fighting the pandemic, including by improving availability of pharmaceutical supplies and by innovative use of high technology," the PMO statement said.

They agreed to maintain a focused channel of communication to explore such synergies, it said.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

Netanyahu agreed with Modi that the COVID-19 pandemic is an important turning point in modern history, and offers an opportunity to forge a new vision of globalisation focused on the shared interests of humanity as a whole.

Netanyahu had earlier reached out to Modi requesting him to approve and allow export of masks and pharmaceuticals to Israel.

The special request was made on March 13 after India decided to stop the export of these items to meet its own domestic requirements in view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

"I also spoke to the Prime Minister of India, my friend Narendra Modi. We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time," Netanyahu had then said addressing a press conference.

India has so far reported 2,547 coronavirus cases with 64 deaths.

Israel has reported at least 38 deaths and more than 7,030 infections.
Amaravati, April 4 : With just 3 samples testing positive between 10 a.m. and 10.30 p.m., the number of COVID-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh climbed marginally to 164, on Friday. According to the bulletin issued by the state's nodal officer, two cases were reported from East Godavari district while the third case came in from Visakhapatnam.

In the preceding 12 hours, upto 9 a.m. on Friday morning, 12 new cases had been reported taking the state's tally to 161 COVID-19 cases.

Friday also saw two COVID-19 patients being discharged after they were declared cured by the authorities. One of the recovered person is a 23-year old man who returned from Newscastle in the UK. On arrival in Ongole on March 15, he was admitted to hospital and treated following diagnosis with COVID-19.

The second patient who was discharged from hospital on Friday was a 22-year-old male who returned to the state from the UK on March 18. He was admitted to a hospital in Kakinada and given treatment.

Both the recovered patients wre discharged when they tested negative thrice, as specified in COVID-19 protocols.

With this, 4 persons have been cured and discharged in Andhra Pradesh.
Sometimes we mistake our living angels for Godot. But Godot is not Fauci, or Cuomo, or Birx, or any number of the doctors and nurses on the front lines. Godot is bigger than any one of them, bigger than all of them together. This pandemic has forced us to consider questions we ignore in the ease of normal times: What inspires us, what terrifies us, what awaits us  not only in the immediate future but as a species? Godot hovers over these contemplations. We put our hopes in what he will tell us  but that supposes he shows up at all.
[April 03, 2020] Jumia Takes More Actions to Support the Fight Against COVID-19

Africa's leading e-commerce platform, Jumia, has announced a number of actions to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "The last few weeks have been unprecedented, with the COVID-19 crisis affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. We have taken major actions for our team, consumers, partners and communities. These are also times of great solidarity at Jumia. We will come out of this strong both as a team and as a company," said Jeremy Hodara and Sacha Poignonnec, co-CEOs of Jumia. Jumia's actions to support the fight against COVID-19 include: Health and safety measures We have implemented in our daily operations and delivery services increased hygiene & sanitary standards to ensure the safest experience for our team, partners and consumers. These include, but are not limited to, checking employees' body temperatures, sanitizing facilities and surfaces, using masks and gloves while handling and delivering orders. All our warehouses and delivery partners have been trained on the best practices on personal hygiene and social distancing as per WHO guidelines. Contactless delivery & cashless option We have rolled out social distancing and contactless experience. By enabling customers to buy online and offering contactless delivery options, we help eliminate physical contact and potentially reduce person to person infection. To drive the initiative, the 'contactless safe delivery' option has been implemented on JumiaPay, our digital payment platform. This enables consumers to make prepaid payments for products online and have them delivered without a direct body contact or cash exchange with the delivery agent. Commitment to community Wehave increased access to affordable basic foods and sanitary essentials through partnerships with several brands, including Reckitt Benckiser, and are focused on fighting price gouging to maintain fair prices on our platform. Jumia has waived the commission on specific sanitary products to help consumers access them at the lowest price.

and through partnerships with several brands, including Reckitt Benckiser, and are focused on fighting price gouging to maintain fair prices on our platform. Jumia has waived the commission on specific sanitary products to help consumers access them at the lowest price. We have maintained our safe deliveries to consumers everywhere, including remote and rural areas, with Jumia's integrated logistics network.

including remote and rural areas, with Jumia's integrated logistics network. We are sending a donation of half a million of CE certified face masks to Health Ministries in many countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco others for use by health workers, leveraging the company's global logistics network from China. We have also delivered free meals to First responders & Health workers in Morocco and Tunisia through our Food platform.

leveraging the company's global logistics network from China. We have also delivered free meals to First responders & Health workers in Morocco and Tunisia through our Food platform. We have given visibility to key health instructions on our platforms. We collaborated with Ministries of Health in Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco and South Africa to use our online platform to share and amplify the reach of much needed important health messages.



Fund for #JumiaHeroes We have established a solidarity fund for the frontline staff carrying out essential duties every day in our warehouses and delivery hubs during the crisis. The donations are made up of voluntary and confidential contributions from our employees. 25 % cut off co-Founders' salaries

The two co-CEOs and co-Founders of the company, Jeremy Hodara and Sacha Poignonnec, will cut their respective salaries by 25% during the COVID-19 crisis to support the company. About Jumia Jumia is a leading e-commerce platform in Africa. It is built around a marketplace, Jumia Logistics, and JumiaPay. The marketplace helps millions of consumers and thousands of sellers to connect and transact. Jumia Logistics enables the delivery of millions of packages through our network of local partners. JumiaPay facilitates the payments of online transactions within the Jumia's ecosystem. With over 1 billion people and 500 million internet users in Africa, Jumia believes that e-commerce is making people's lives easier by helping them shop and pay for millions of products at the best prices wherever they live. E-commerce is also creating new opportunities for SMEs to grow, and job opportunities for a new generation to thrive. For more information about Jumia, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) Jumia_Group View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005258/en/

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The first person prosecuted for breaching Britain's coronavirus lockdown will have her conviction quashed after police used 'powers they don't have' to arrest her.

Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was fined 800 after allegedly failing to tell officers her name and why she was at Newcastle Central railway station.

British Transport Police, who carried out the arrest, said she was detained because she 'refused to speak' to officers after being seen 'loitering between platforms' last Saturday.

On Monday she was fined at North Tyneside magistrates' court after she was found guilty of 'failing to provide identity or reasons for travel to police, and failing to comply with requirements under the Coronavirus Act'.

But legal experts including QC Kirsty Brimelow quickly established the case had been bungled by the police, CPS and the courts because she was found guilty using the wrong legislation.

Ms Dinou's case will be listed again at court - but detectives will not seek a new trial, meaning the case will be dropped and her conviction dropped, in another blow for police whose enforcement of the lockdown has been branded 'over-zealous' and nudging the UK towards a 'police state'.

Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was prosecuted and fined 800 after allegedly failing to tell police her name and why she was at Newcastle Central station - but experts say her prosecution appears to have been unlawful

Ms Dinou's charge sheet shows she was prosecuted under new powers relating to potentially infectious persons in Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act - but police said she was prosecuted for failing to identify herself, BTP today admiotted their interpretation was wrong

Adrian Hanstock, deputy chief constable of the BTP, said: 'There will be understandable concern that our interpretation of this new legislation has resulted in an ineffective prosecution.

What is the Coronavirus Act - and how did police get the railway prosecution wrong? The Coronavirus Act 2020 was rushed through Parliament last month and received Royal Assent March 25. It gave emergency powers to enable the government to respond to the pandemic - and gave police emergency powers to enforce the Government. Police have handed out hundreds of 60 fines to those flouting the new law so far. Experts say that Marie Dinou should also have been treated in this way - or used existing legislation. But instead police pursued a prosecution using Schedule 21 of the act. Schedule 21 grants powers to public health officers, the police and immigration officers which relate to people who are, or may be, infected with coronavirus. People can then be forced into self-quarantine at home or be forced to take a coronavirus test. But in Ms Dinou's case police admitted they didn't believe she was infected. And they also claimed that she 'failed to give her identity' or 'reason for journey' - but the Coronavirus Act does not make that illegal. Advertisement

'This was in circumstances where officers were properly dealing with someone who was behaving suspiciously in the station, and who staff believed to be travelling without a valid ticket. Officers were rightfully challenging her unnecessary travel. Regardless, we fully accept that this shouldn't have happened and we apologise.'

According to the charge sheet presented in court, Dinou was prosecuted under Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act.

This clause is meant to force people to self-isolate or be tested for coronavirus, if they are suspected to have it and are endangering the public by being out of the house.

But British Transport Police confirmed earlier this week they didn't believe she was ill - nor did they ask her to self-isolate or be screened - and the prosecution began to unravel.

More damning is guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), which is clear that under the act officers have no power to 'stop and account', or force someone to explain themselves.

Kirsty Brimelow, QC, the first chairwoman of the Bar Human Rights Committee, highlighted the case and other senior lawyers agreed with her summary.

She told The Times: 'Powers under the Coronavirus Act [do not] relate to a direction to provide identity or reason for a journey. So it seems that she has been prosecuted and convicted for an offence which does not exist under this act'.

She added: 'The police seem to have applied powers they don't have. Whatever the investigation, the prosecution has to be right under the act'.

Leading QC Kirsty Brimelow says that Ms Dinou, who has a criminal record, has the right to appeal

Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was seen 'loitering between platforms' at Newcastle Central station (pictured last week) and charged with failing to comply with requirements imposed under the Coronavirus Act

Critics warned that Ms Dinou's case suggests police could try to treat anyone out during the lockdowm suspects as 'potentially infectious' to perform arrests.

Police powers to tackle people flouting the coronavirus lockdown Up to two years in prison if you cough deliberately on someone after spate of attacks on police and emergency service workers

People who continue to flout coronavirus lockdown rules will be breaking the law and can be arrested as part of new enforcement powers announced by the Home Office.

Officers can also tell them to go home, leave or disperse an area and ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking the law.

Those who refuse to comply could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of 60, which will be lowered to 30 if paid within 14 days.

Second-time offenders could be issued a fixed penalty notice of 120, doubling on each further repeat offence.

Those who do not pay the penalty can be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose fines up to 1,000 or more; Advertisement

This is only meant to be used when someone who should be in self-isolation refuse to go home or to be screened.

Big Brother Watch, who have accused UK forces of going to far, said today: ;Police need to be trusted with these extreme powers - but they've fallen at the first hurdle'.

Director Silkie Carlo said: 'The Coronavirus Act gives police huge powers to police to arbitrarily fine, detain and punish potentially anyone in this country.

'The new law defines 'potentially infectious persons' so loosely as to be meaningless and capture the entire British public.

'It seems here that someone who declined to give police their personal details has been classed as 'potentially infectious' and criminalised as a result.

'It's so important that people follow the government guidance to protect themselves and others. Extraordinary powers are needed in these circumstances to protect public health.

'However, these emergency powers are the most draconian ever seen in peacetime Britain.

'These breathtaking powers can even be used to detain and isolate our children. If the police are to maintain credibility and public trust in their handling of these extreme emergency powers, they will need to use them proportionately and in accordance with the law'.

Derbyshire Police sent up their drone and filmed people on 'not essential' trips to the Peak District including people posing for an 'Instagram snap'

The 'overzealous' enforcement of new coronavirus laws is under the microscope.

Yesterday it emerged that Police will be able to use force on children if they flout the coronavirus lockdown.

Guidance from the College of Policing says 'reasonable force' can be used if a youngster is believed to be 'outside of their premises without reasonable excuse'.

Officers also have the power to fine parents 60 for failing to stop a child from going out.

The guidance spells out that officers can remove a youngster from the streets and anyone with them if they refuse to go home. The briefing drawn up by the National Police Chiefs' Council urges officers to make sensible decisions and use enforcement as a last resort.

It also says checks on every vehicle are 'disproportionate' and the public should not be punished for travelling a reasonable distance to exercise. Forces including North Yorkshire and Devon and Cornwall have put road blocks into place or deployed high visibility patrols to quiz motorists about their plans.

Derbyshire Police also faced a backlash after using drones to film walkers who had driven to the Peak District. The guidance states: 'Use your judgment and common sense  the police will apply the law in a system that is flexible, discretionary and pragmatic. If you believe anyone is outside of their premises without reasonable excuse, including a child, you can use reasonable force in the exercise of the power.'
Ireland is on the verge of a sudden and strong surge of Covid-19 cases, the president of the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine has warned.

Dr Emily OConnor said it is expected that a large number of people will get seriously ill at the same time within the next two weeks.

But she warned that if hospitals have to take in too many patients needing critical care, we are very anxious we will run into trouble.

She said she is also worried about whether or not there are enough critical care beds to cope or staff to manage them.

If too many get the infection, we won't have enough critical care beds, she said.

And she added: We are worried that when a surge comes into an emergency department or into a region arriving into the country, that a large number of people will get seriously ill quickly at the same time.

That very much is when the hospital system will struggle to support all those patients with oxygen.

Her comments come as the figures for those in Intensive Care Units are increasing, as has the daily tally of those who have died.

Dr OConnor said that while the lack of the usual numbers of people attending emergency departments is significantly down and that is a cause of concern, this has given hospitals time to deal with patients presenting at the moment.

But she warned: I think further pressures are coming down the line for us. We aren't truly yet, we feel, in a surge. We are expecting it in the next week or two.

Our nursing home colleagues feel that it is in nursing homes now and that we are told to expect it within the next week or two.

She said hospitals are as ready as they can be, saying that a lot of preparatory work had been done in emergency departments.

But, in an interview with RTEs Morning Ireland, she said: We know that whatever number gets infected, about 5% will need critical care support.

The larger the number of people who get sick, the larger the number (of) who will need critical care. So keeping the number of infections overall down is our only way to control the number who will each critical care.

If we have too many patients needing critical care and run out of critical care beds and equipment and staff, then we are still very anxious we will run into trouble.

Dr OConnor said she is concerned about how rapidly the figures of those in ICU are rising.

And she said: What we have learned from our colleagues abroad is they are telling us that when this surge occurs, it happens quickly and strongly.

We are worried that when a surge comes into an emergency department or into a region arriving into the country, that a large number of people will get seriously ill quickly at the same time and that very much is when the hospital system will struggle to support all those patients with oxygen.
Cher in Moonstruck Photo: Courtesy of MGM

One of the reasons I love Moonstruck so much  beyond its general rom-com hall-of-fame excellence  is its dedication to making romance look decadent. Romance, in Moonstruck, is the emotional equivalent of digging into a chocolate cake for the sheer, gluttonous deliciousness of it, calories and future stomachaches be damned. Its unapologetic about its big passions, which, it allows, can look silly, and which can be destructive, and which are never less validly felt for any it. Romance is a force beyond reason in the movie, sweeping characters away with no regard for wisdom or propriety or collateral damage. The latter is important to stress because, from a strictly objective point of view, the primary love story involves what could be considered some real dick moves on the part of the major parties involved.

This is, after all, a movie about how winsome widow Loretta Castorini (Cher) finds herself falling into the asymmetrical arms of her fiances estranged brother, Ronny, while said fiance is off in Sicily attending to his mother on her (maybe) deathbed. And no, Loretta doesnt love the guy shes agreed to marry  Johnny Cammareri, played with wonderful schmuckiness by the late Danny Aiello. And yes, they have such an embalmed corpse of a relationship that she has to instruct him on how to properly propose to her when he decides to finally pop the question. Still, best practice would definitely involve breaking things off with Johnny first. The fact that Lorettas amorous reawakening is entirely unexpected doesnt make it any more polite of a development. But its romance, electric and irresistible. The opera is involved! How is she supposed to do anything other than give in?

Its Nicolas Cage as Ronny, a baker with a prosthetic hand and a lifelong grudge, who gets the grand speech in Moonstruck, standing out in the snow and telling Loretta the world could fall down around them and it wouldnt matter so long as she was in his bed. Cage was at a point in his career in which he was balanced right on the edge between allure and absurdity, which makes him perfect for the role, and for saying something like, We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and die! (John Patrick Shanley would win a Pulitzer in 2005 for his play Doubt, but he deserved one a couple decades earlier for that line alone.) Its a magnificent monologue, one of the ages, but its not the scene I find myself thinking back on again and again.

The one I always go back to is the one that follows, the one where Loretta is heading home alone in the morning along the Columbia Waterfront, kicking a beer can down the street. Its barely a scene, really, more of an interstitial between the clinching crescendo of the night out and the familial breakfast confrontation thats about to come. Yet somehow it feels like the most luxurious slice of the film, this walk of non-shame. Lorettas still in her Lincoln Centerready finery, having given in to Ronnys fervid plea the evening before and gone home with him once again. Shes left her lover listening to his favorite aria, one he turns up right before the movie cuts to her, as though knowing shed need adequately opulent accompaniment for the shot that follows. And there she comes around the corner, swanning down the sidewalk in no particular hurry, Manhattan laid out behind her as a backdrop.

Its an image thats so pleasurable it feels almost demented.

Its an image thats so pleasurable it feels almost demented, this interlude with a character whos just blown up her staid, orderly life in an uncharacteristically grandiose way. The camera takes a second to close in on her red glitter pumps as she steps down the empty street, idly punting a piece of trash along the pavement. The whimsical playfulness of what shes doing is a part of the scenes appeal, but theres also the expression on Chers face, one that wants and tries to be contemplative but that keeps slipping into something closer to satisfaction despite itself. Its the look of someone whos done something that she suspects might turn out to have been dumb, but that in the moment she cant stop privately smiling about. Lorettas walking down the same familiar blocks that have always been there, but its clear that everything looks bright and new to her. It looks new to us, too, maybe because the films cozy corner of Brooklyn Heights hasnt been shot from this particular angle yet. Suddenly it seems cracked open, the whole city, with all its million other stories unfolding behind it, always there but never shown this way before.

I rewatched the last act of Moonstruck the other night. In part, this was because I was thinking about writing about it, and in part because it makes for truly transporting comfort viewing in times of stress. But more than any of that, three weeks into self-isolation now, Id felt a sudden longing to see Cher striding loose and easy in front of that cityscape in last nights dress. Her characters indulging in an interim of freedom before having to deal with all the messy, vibrant, and ultimately joyous consequences of whats been happening  this is, after all, a romantic comedy. The longer you live in New York, the more quiet mornings like that you can accrue. Some of them might well be slap-happy, after having stayed out all night for reasons welcome and regrettable.

And some of them are just sampled briefly while up early hurrying on the way to some other obligation. And some of them you might select for yourself, for the simple fact that it can be so lovely out when most everyone else is still asleep. Being shut up inside leads you to start missing people, inevitably, and bustle and noise and contact. But what I hadnt expected to miss so much was the possibility of the city, delivered in such a concentrated dose in those images onscreen. Theres the possibility that you could wander your way back to your doorstep, or you could keep going, and see whats waiting around the next corner, and the next one. It may not be as decadent an experience as romance  but right now it feels like the biggest extravagance I can think of.

Every week for the foreseeable future, Vulture will be selecting one film to watch as part of our new Friday Night Movie Club. This weeks selection comes from our staff writer Rachel Handler, who will begin her screening of Moonstruck on April 3 at 7 p.m. ET. Head to Vultures Twitter to catch her live commentary, and look ahead at nexts week movie here.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending that Americans wear face coverings when in public to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The president immediately said he had no intention of following that advice himself, saying, Im choosing not to do it.

The new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people, especially in areas hit hard by the spread of the coronavirus, to use rudimentary coverings like T-shirts, bandannas and non-medical masks to cover their faces while outdoors.

The president exempted himself from his administrations own guidelines, saying he could not envision himself covering his face while sitting in the Oval Office greeting world leaders.

Its a recommendation, they recommend it, Trump said. I just dont want to wear one myself.

The new guidance, announced as states are bracing for critical shortfalls like those that other parts of the world have experienced, raises concern that it could cause a sudden run on masks.

Trump and other administration officials sought to minimize any burden by stressing the recommendations did not amount to requirements and that a variety of homemade coverings were acceptable. Federal officials said that surgical masks and N95 respirator masks should be left for those on the front lines of fighting the spread of the infection.

Fridays announcement capped an evolution in guidance from the White House that officials acknowledged has at times been inconsistent and confusing, with the administration insisting over the last month that masks were not necessary or even helpful.

I want to unpack the evolution of our guidance on masks because it has been confusing to the American people, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Friday.

Adams said that although and he other public health experts initially believed wearing a mask would not have a substantial impact on curbing the spread, the latest evidence makes clear that people who dont show any symptoms can nonetheless pass on the virus.

Were looking at the data, were evolving our recommendations, and new recommendations will come as the evidence dictates, Adams said.

First lady Melania Trump embodied the contradictory messaging with a tweet endorsing the new guidance even as her husband chooses to disregard it.

As the weekend approaches I ask that everyone take social distancing & wearing a mask/face covering seriously, she tweeted.

The administration has said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies, but its not clear if anyone is prepared for the potential rush that could ensue if people try to obtain medical masks for themselves from private industry.

In rural Florida, Okeechobee Discount Drugs has been sold out of face masks for almost two weeks, and we dont know where you can find any masks at this point, said Stacey Nelson, one of the pharmacys owners.

Its very hard to get these products, but people want them, Nelson said. Theyve been getting mixed messages and people arent sure if they should be wearing masks in our daily lives. Its very confusing. Wear them, or dont wear them?

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 older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

In fashioning the recommendations, the administration appeared to be striving to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

The White House has faced pushback against rigorous social distancing guidelines from states with lesser rates of infection. For the hardest-hit areas, where social distancing has already been in place for some time, the White House coronavirus task force thought there would be less risk of people ignoring the other guidance if they covered their faces.

The CDC is recommending that people wearing cloth face coverings in public places, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The guidance especially applies in areas of significant community-based transmission.

The White House task force was debating into Friday on the final language of the CDC guidance. CDC scientists wanted to make it national guidance, believing that would do more to slow the spread of the virus.

White House advisers, including Dr. Deborah Birx, wanted to limit the guidance to virus hot spots. Birx said Thursday that she feared wider guidance would lead to a false sense of security for Americans and cause them to back away from more critical social distancing.

In the end, they found a middle ground: a national advisory with special emphasis that those in hard-hit areas should wear masks. Two people familiar with the discussions outlined the internal debate, speaking on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to describe it publicly.

As with other public health guidance, the recommendation on face covering has been a moving target for the administration. Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks.

Adams wrote on Twitter at the end of February that people should STOP BUYING MASKS and said they were not effective in protecting the general public.

On Monday, he noted that the World Health Organization does not recommend masks for healthy members of the population. Three days later, he tweeted that though there remains scant evidence that wearing a mask, especially improperly, can protect the wearer, emerging data suggests facial coverings may prevent asymptomatic disease transmission to others.

Dr. Michael Ryan, the WHOs emergencies chief, on Friday acknowledged a very important and very healthy debate about how masks are used.

We still believe the main driver of this pandemic is symptomatic (transmission), he said, not people who may be infected but arent showing symptoms.

We can certainly see circumstances in which the use of masks  but homemade or cloth masks  at the community level may help in an overall comprehensive response to this disease, Ryan said.

____

Schneider reported from Orlando, Florida. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in Washington and Jamey Keaton in Geneva, Switzerland, contributed to this report.
The law used to keep them in detention is one that the government has often used to keep high-profile suspects, particularly militants, in custody after being unable to successfully prosecute them in court.
Ghaziabad: Female health staff and women police officials will no longer be engaged for medical service and security of the members of Islamic group Tablighi Jamaat, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath said on Friday (April 3), a day after staff nurses of Ghaziabad-based MMG District Hospital complaint of alleged misbehaviour by some of them, who were lodged in the isolation ward. As per the statement issued by the state government, only male health staff and policemen will be deployed in the service of the Jamaat members from now.

In addition, the Yogi Adityanath government has also decided to book members of the Tablighi Jamaat who misbehaved with the female nursing staff at the Ghaziabad hospital, under the National Security Act (NSA). Terming them 'enemies of humanity', CM Yogi said in a statement, "They (accused) will not obey the law. Neither they will accept the system as they are the enemies of humanity. What they have done to women health workers is a heinous crime, they are being slapped with the NSA. We will not spare them."

"An incident like Indore wherein the doctors were attacked should not be seen anywhere in the state, for this, we will take whatever action is required by law," he added.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and Ghaziabad MP Gen (Retd) VK Singh said every person shall cooperate with doctors and if someone misbehaved with the health staff then strict action will be taken against them.

On April 2, a case for obscene behaviour, non-cooperation and other charges was filed against six Tablighi Jamaat members of an isolation ward at the hospital for misbehaving with female health staff. The Chief Medical Officer of the MMG Hospital in Ghaziabad had written a letter to the Ghaziabad police informing about the 'criminal behavior of the Jamaatis'.

The CMO, in his letter, stated that the members of the Tablighi Jamaat who are kept at the isolation ward of the hospital, have been roaming in their wards naked. The letter stated that obscene comments and songs were being heard from the ward, and inmates were asking for beedi-cigarette from the staff of the hospital. The CMO also wrote that these people have also been making lewd gestures towards female employees of the hospital.
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IndusInd Bank is looking to raise as much as $500-750 million in 'confidence capital' from global firms, attempting to allay investor's fears after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, The Economic Times reported.

The private lender, backed by the Hinduja family, also saw an outgo of one-tenth of its deposits after Yes Bank went through a crisis.

Global private equity (PE) funds such as Blackstone, Apax Partners, General Atlantic (GA), Advent, TPG, Carlyle and others have been contacted, the report said.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

The bank is looking at three-to-four investor who have patient long-term money to invest, sources told the publication. The investors will most probably negotiate board seats and other affirmative rights, which the banks promoter family and management will take into consideration, the report added.



IndusInd Bank's market capitalisation is roughly Rs 21,800 crore.

IndusInd Bank has asked Morgan Stanley and Citi to approach PE players, the report said, adding that the promoters are considering diluting their stake by 5-10 percent, subject to approval by The Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Dawn Butler at a Labour Party deputy leadership hustings in Glasgow. (Getty Images)

Words by Mhari Aurora

For Dawn Butler, compromise has never been an option.

Whether its her willingness to make people feel uncomfortable in their unconscious bias to branding the sitting prime minister Boris Johnson a racist on live TV, the Labour MPs refusal to sweep things under the carpet has made her one of the more outspoken political figures in recent times.

Now, Butler is standing to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party - the results of which will be announced on Saturday. And if theres one thing she wants to prove by winning the nomination, its that the colour of a persons skin - and the nature of their hair - should never be an automatic barrier to progress.

I accept me and thats enough

Dawn Butlers relationship with her hair changed when she watched the film Malcolm X as a young woman in 1992.

Speaking to Yahoo News UK shortly before the results of the nomination contest, she recalls a character flushing their head down the toilet to stop chemical relaxer burning their scalp.

She says: I remember laughing in the cinema thinking it was really funny, and then I thought hang on, we do that to ourselves. Why would we do that to ourselves? And I stopped relaxing my hair after that.

For many black women, there comes a time when a switch is flicked and the decision is made to go natural. Butler admits its the most liberated Ive ever felt with my hair.

She describes her hair as a form of resistance and recalls the countless times she has been criticised for her natural hairdo.

Someone said I need to have straight hair otherwise Im never going to progress.

However, in response to such comments and assumptions about her natural hair and how it will affect her political career she insists: It is perfectly acceptable, professional, beautiful and natural. I accept me and that is enough.

As the natural hair movements gain traction and grow in size and popularity in the UK, Butler explains how much positive feedback she has had from black women and girls thanking her for being a role model to them.

Story continues

I have young girls and women commenting saying how inspired they are by seeing a black woman with locks on the front bench in Parliament every week, that it just makes them smile.

The moment that thrust Butler into the wider public consciousness came last month when she argued with Conservative MP Laura Trott on the BBC show Politics Live and branded Boris Johnson an example of racism in the Tory party. The clip went viral.

Sorry to break the news to you. Boris Johnson is racist. pic.twitter.com/UPE0Ixyhro  (((Dawn Butler))) (@DawnButlerBrent) March 5, 2020

Trott, who appears to be on the verge of tears in the exchange, called Butler outrageous and offensive. But Butler is unapologetic and says she stands by her comments about Johnson (who denies comments he has made are racist) and the party he leads.

Referring to black people as piccaninnies with watermelon smiles is a racist comment.

What other comment is it?

It is not an acceptable comment.

How else would you describe it?

Butler says she has become tired of being asked to explain the words and actions of others, saying instead we should start to focus on those who say and do them.

Sometimes, I will let them squirm

The deputy leadership contest feels like a culmination of a considerable struggle for Butler, after years of feeling ostracised as an MP.

A member of parliament for almost 15 years, Butler began her political career representing Brent South in 2005 until 2010 before losing to Liberal Democrat Sarah Teather. She returned to parliament in 2015 as MP for Brent Central, which remains a Labour stronghold despite the hammering the party took in the 2019 general election.

One of six children raised in east London, Butler was born to Jamaican parents who migrated to Britain at a time where Commonwealth citizens were invited to join the workforce.

She worked as an equality and race officer for the GMB union and as an adviser to the Mayor of London at the time, Ken Livingstone.

After being elected as an MP, she recalls her shock and surprise at peoples disbelief when she told them what she did. The accounts she relays of being marginalised are numerous.

She says she was once stopped entering a lift for MPs and was told that the lift was not for cleaners. On another occasion, she says she was escorted out of the members tearoom by the police because they did not believe she was an MP (she was later sent a note of apology).

And she describes how she is often ignored at functions by people who initially give eye contact to her office manager  a white man  until he explains that Butler is, in fact, the MP.

So how does she react to such behaviour?

It depends on my mood, sometimes I will walk out of the meeting because I dont have the time or the energy to put up with it. Sometimes I will let them squirm in their own bias so that they think again next time.

Were living in some kind of Alice in Wonderland world where it has become more offensive to talk about race than it is to be racist.

Calling out racism and discrimination is one thing, creating a space for learning and improvement in British politics is an altogether more challenging task.

Most visibly, this came to the fore in February, when Marsha de Cordova, also a black Labour MP, was wrongly labelled as being Dawn Butler by the BBC.

Butler, however, says the solution to such incidents is to make sure that there are people who can tell the difference between herself and Miss Cordova in the room in the first place.

The emotional and mental impact of the way she has been treated during her political career has evidently taken its toll.

As an African-Caribbean woman, to always have to justify my presence in a space either drains me or upsets me.

She describes feeling simultaneously visible and invisible.

As a black person you are visible when they want to see you as somebody who is doing something wrong, but you are invisible when youve done something right.

This kind of injustice needs to change.

Politics is certainly changing. The 2019 election brought about the most diverse Parliament in host and, as politicians become more representative of the people they speak for, Butler sees it as her responsibility to smooth the path for the women coming behind her and to dismantle the structural barriers that stop African-Caribbean women from entering political spheres.

Butlers advice to other Black women entering the world of politics is simple.

She said: Wear your armour because if you dont politics can ruin you.

Dont sell yourself short, dont compromise who you are.
An international NGO warns that 350,000 people are at risk. Overcrowding in camps and a poor health system are making matters worse. Only 80 ventilators are available in the country. Limited data make it difficult to understand the real extent of the epidemic. Fear mixed with resignation prevail in the population. Some fear violence.

Yangon (AsiaNews)  The "risk" of a "health catastrophe" from the novel coronavirus pandemic is a real possibility in Myanmar, which has only 80 ventilators, essential to treat the most serious effects of the disease, a source, anonymous for security reasons, told AsiaNews.

This confirms what humanitarian NGOs and activists operating on the ground have being saying for some time. According to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), at least 350,000 internally displaced people in Myanmar are "sitting in the path of a public health catastrophe".

Overcrowding, movement restrictions and poor sanitation have left certain groups, like minorities, especially vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak, HRW notes.

The situation for Myanmars 51 million people is critical. A large percentage of its population does not have access to basic healthcare.

For people in refugee camps, access to drinking water or other basic necessities is often an uphill battle.

Conditions in camps in Rakhine, Kachin, and northern Shan camps are already catastrophic; now the COVID-19 virus could decimate these vulnerable communities," an HRW official said.

Sectarian violence has already forced tens of thousands of people to flee, many of them Rohingya Muslims, who have often been the victims of persecution by Burmese Buddhists.

"Overcrowding in the camps is pervasive, making physical distancing nearly impossible and significantly increasing the risk of transmission," the HRW report explained.

For the World Health Organisation (WHO), Myanmar has one of the worst healthcare systems in the world; decades of military dictatorship contributed to its collapse, except in Yangon and Mandalay, which have better facilities.

For weeks, government authorities denied the presence of the coronavirus in a country that shares much of its northern border with China; hundreds of people cross the border every day, often illegally, for work.

Myanmars official COVID-19 toll is 20 confirmed cases and one death, but experts believe the real figure to be much higher.

So far, there is little data in Myanmar to understand the real extent of the epidemic, the source told AsiaNews. People are afraid and hardly go out anymore.

Daily labourers are an issue. Should the virus spread well see a carnage, which could trigger "a major increase in violence.

Among ordinary people, fear is combined with a "sense of resignation, explained the source. Most dont understand what is happening, and it is difficult now to evaluate the situation.

At this critical juncture, the Church is organising itself and a number of its facilities have been made available to the authorities to receive people in quarantine.

Yesterday, Card Charles Bo took a hard stance against Chinas Communist Party at fault for the pandemic.

For their part, the clergy and other religious are preparing to deal with urgent needs", the source said, especially the needs of those who have no work and will have nothing to feed their families with.
THE government is updating its education systems into a skills-driven format in attempts to respond to the unemployment rate and the countrys 2025 development vision, the National Assembly heard on Friday.

Education, Science and Technology Minister Prof Joyce Ndalichako said reforms of the education system started with the basic education as the state increased the training period of early education teachers from two to three years. In 2019, the unemployment rate in Tanzania was approximately 1.91 per cent.

We have been conducting regular reforms depending on professional evaluation that are conducted periodically, she said in response to a question from Special Seats MP Ms Zainabu Katimba (CCM).

The lawmaker had earlier asked what the governments strategy to reform the education system was.

The minister explained that other reforms include the popular free-education system covering early education to ordinary level secondary education.

In addition to these changes, the government is improving the quality of education to be more of competence-based education, she noted.

Prof Ndalichako says the reforms are being implemented parallel with the review of school curricular across all levels.

Citing the vocational training education, she explained that the State had formulated skilled-sectoral councils to link up stakeholders with vocational training institutions, employees and industries.

The councils are in charge of studying and updating all teaching curricular to correspond with specific needs in the industry, she added, adding that some programmes had been adopted for tertiary level education to fill the gap of needed skilled force at national, regional and international levels.

According to the minister, the government has further developed incubational centres to handle innovative ideas that have to be nurtured.

All these changes focus on strengthening the proficiency of all the graduates, for them to be selfemployed or secure employment within and outside the country, she said.
Sita Kumari, 26, visits the local ration shop daily to get her familys share of government-subsidised foodgrains under the public distribution system. Everyday she returns home empty-handed. Although the Jharkhand government has announced the distribution of subsidised rations for April and May together, her family hasnt received theirs even for March.

No distribution of rations is being done in my village, said Sita Kumari, whose husband is an out-of-work driver who has applied unsuccessfully for work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which has anyway been suspended for the duration of the March 25-April 14 nationwide lockdown to beat back the coronavirus disease pandemic.

We are at the mercy of our neighbours, who are providing us food, said Sita Kumari, a resident of Sukurhuttu village in Ranchis Kanke block. My husband is pleading with panchayat officers to give him work under the MGNREGA.

The MGNREGS, which promises at least 100 days of work a year to at least one member of every rural household, and the Food Security Act that is aimed at making sure no one goes hungry, are national entitlements covering 50% and 75% of rural households, respectively, intended to shield impoverished communities in difficult times such as the Covid-19 lockdown.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

They havent quite served their purpose this time. Jharkhand and other states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh announced that the needy would get two months of rations during the lockdown period, but the distribution hasnt even begun in many places yet.

CAUGHT IN A BIND

State officials cited supply constraints such as the non-availability of trucks to transport foodgrains from warehouses to public distribution system outlets in the villages. Until Friday, only 30-50% of the rations for March had been distributed, government officials said on condition of anonymity. In many places, distribution of rations for this month will start after April 14, when the lockdown is lifted.

The problem is more acute in the tribal belts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, where the rations are distributed to ration shops n smaller vehicles from district warehouses.

Babita Devi, 25, of the Chattarpur block in Jharkhands Palamu district, has lost her daily wage work at a local stone crusher, which had to close because of the lockdown. No PDS rations are available at the village shop and no public transport is available for her to visit the district headquarters and collect her quota of foodgrains.

Also Read: Lack of PPE, poor infection control put medical staff at risk of Covid-19

Her husband is physically challenged. I have four children at home. I have to take care of them. Going to Palamu would take four to five hours and there are no buses, she said.

A daily wager in Chhattisgarhs Raipur, Sumesh Singh, said he had to wait for about five hours to get rations for two months. There is a long queue and not enough rations, he said.

In Bhubaneswars biggest slum of Saliasahi, tribal resident Sal Marandi said only 100 people received their rations every day. The Odisha government is giving three months rations to all the poor, but in the rural areas, distribution hasnt even started yet. Soumya Ranjan Pradhan, head of the Laxmiprasad panchayat in Nayagarh district, said distribution will start after April 14.

Also Read: Centre releases Rs 17,287 crore to states

In West Bengal too, residents of various districts said they were not getting their rations, amid reports of protests by people outside PDS outlets in Murshidabad and Darjeeling districts.

It was announced that rice and flour would be given free but this was not displayed at the local ration shop. The ration dealer is using his own discretion, said Nimai Pal of Berhampore town. Another resident, Atanu Nag, said he had received just 2 kg of rice instead of 5 kg.

UNFAIR DISTRIBUTION?

A blame game is underway in some states, with PDS dealers blaming poor supply systems and the government alleging that the dealers werent fairly distributing rations.

The supply chain is affected due to shortage of labourers in godowns. Ration has reached to only 20% of shops by now while we had to begin distribution from April 1, said Sanjay Kundu, general secretary of the Fair Price Dealers Association (FPDA) in Jharkhand. He said a few shops had received rations, but only enough for a month.

Jharkhands food and public distribution director Sanjay Kumar said, The issue of labourer has been sorted out. We are receiving reports that some dealers are not distributing rations, despite availability.

Odishas additional secretary of food, Mohammed Haque, said the there was indeed a shortage of labour and drivers to transport provisions to individual gram panchayats, resulting in only about 30% of rations being distributed until April 3. Odisha distributes about 170,000 tonnes of rice/wheat to the 90.4 million beneficiary families.

Jharkhands government said it would take disciplinary action against officials and dealers obstructing the fair distribution of PDS rations. In Chhattisgarh, the police has been deployed at ration shops to ensure hassle-free distribution of the subsidised grains. We are doing everything to ensure that 90% of the states population covered under NFSA (National Food Security Act) gets their quota of rations for April to June 2020, said Taran Prakash Sinha, Chhattisgarhs director of public relations.

PLIGHT OF THE JOBLESS

As the states grapple with distribution of foodgrains, demand has increased for work under the MGNREGA, the flagship job guarantee scheme, judging from anecdotal evidence. In 2019-20, the programme received demand for work from by 50.2 million people because of an economic slowdown, a nine-year high.

There are queues outside panchayat offices in villages, said an official of Muzzafarpur district of Bihar. An official in Odisha said people were registering for work under the MGNREGA because they believe the lockdown will continue beyond April 14 and they will not get work in the cities.

The plight of MGNREGA workers was vocalized by Sukhmani Devi of Jharkhands Latehar district.

I have not got any job under MGNREGA this year. Now, all work under the scheme has come to a standstill due to the lockdown. I am a widow and the only bread earner for my three children. I have no money to even buy the subsidized rations, she said.

Some states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal have demanded payment of an unemployment allowance to MGNREGA workers for the duration of the lockdown. The Centre is yet to take a call on the demand.

(Ritesh Mishra in Raipur, Debabrata Mohanty in Bhuvaneshwar and Tanmay Chatterjee in Kolkata also contributed to this story)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanjoy Dey Sanjoy Dey is principal correspondent in Jharkhand and writes on government, urban development, forest and environment, tourism, rural development and agriculture. He likes to write human interest stories. ...view detail
Cheryl Cole's great-grandfather's heroic First World War exploits are amongst the millions of digital records by the National Archives that will be made free to access for Britons amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Alongside the diary of Joseph Wilson Ridley, who was part of Durham Light Infantry's 11th Battalion, archives also include the Earl of Stafford's 1699 will, which sheds light on his car-crash marriage.

The records will allow anyone looking to occupy themselves during self-isolation the opportunity to unlock their family history through wills (1384-1858), war diaries (1914-1922) and British Army medal index cards (1914-1920).

Archives will also include Cabinet papers (1915-1982) and Irish maps (c1558-c1610).

Joseph Wilson Ridley (left), Cheryl Cole's great-grandfather who was part of Durham Light Infantry's 11th Battalion, and Cheryl (right) on the documentary 'Who Do You Think You Are?'

The diary of Durham Light Infantry's 11th Battalion (Pioneers), which Mr Ridley was part of. The National Archives will make millions of records free to access for Britons online

According to The Times, Mr Ridley, a former grocer, wrote in his war diary: 'Draft of 52 men arrived, only three of these men were suitable for Pioneer Battalion.

'Grocers, agents, musicians etc are not fitted for the hard work of pioneering.'

The Pioneer Battalion was formed to provide the Royal Engineers, a military force unit, with skilled labour and to help take the pressure off the infantry.

The records also reveal that the Earl of Stafford back in 1699 wrote in his will: 'I give to the worst of women except being a whore who is guilty of all ills, the daughter of Mr Gramont, a Frenchman, who I have unfortunately married, five and forty brass halfpence which will buy her a pullet for her supper.'

Meanwhile the 1683 will of John Twisleton, an ancestor of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes, gives an insight into his relationship with daughter Cecil.

He reveals his reason behind disinheriting her, describing Cecil as 'very disobedient' for marrying without his approval.

National Archives said everyone will be able to access the digitised collections, which are available on their website and usually cost a fee, 'very soon'.

On Wednesday, the UK Government's official publisher tweeted: 'Were pleased to confirm that we will be giving everyone free access to our digitised collections very soon, but its taking our amazing digital team a bit of time to make it happen.'

They explained: 'Theyre facing similar challenges to the rest of the world with regard to connecting to our various technical systems while working from home, and many of them are also juggling childcare duties.

'Stay tuned for an update soon!'

The 1683 will of John Twisleton (pictured), an ancestor of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes, where he reveals the reason for disinheriting his only daughter, Cecil

Twitter users were thrilled by the announcement, with one writing: 'This is absolutely ace: you and the teams do brilliant, wonderful work in improving access to knowledge at this difficult time. Super.'

Another posted: 'Excellent news, more research sources.'

A third added: 'The best news! Was looking forward to visiting during Easter break, until the pandemic changed everything.'

The National Archives in Kew, Surrey, is currently closed to visitors until further notice, during the coronavirus pandemic.

On its website, the public records service states: 'We are looking at options to run some of our public programming activities online, including events and teacher-led sessions.

'Some of our online services will also be affected during this period, as they rely on staff having access to our building and collections.'

Over five percent of the National Archive's most popular records are available online, with digital archives typically costing 3.50 for a document.

You will find the new digital documents at the National Archive website.
Chinas official death toll from the coronavirus stood at 3,322 on Friday, but medical workers and others have suggested the count should be higher. The C.I.A. has warned the White House for weeks that China vastly understated its epidemic, current and former American intelligence officials say.

As China tries to control the narrative, the police in Wuhan, where the pandemic began, have been dispatched to break up groups on WeChat, a popular messaging app, set up by the relatives of coronavirus victims. Government censors have scrubbed images circulating on social media showing relatives in the city lining up at funeral homes to collect ashes. Officials have assigned minders to relatives like Mr. Liu, to follow them as they pick burial plots, claim their loved ones remains and bury them, grieving family members say.

Where is the dignity after death? Mr. Liu asked. Where is the humanity?

The ruling Communist Party says it is trying to prevent large gatherings from causing a new outbreak. But its tight controls appear to be part of a concerted attempt to avoid an outpouring of anguish and anger that could be a visceral reminder of its early missteps and efforts to conceal the outbreak. Those same public displays or discussions of loss could also feed skepticism over how China has counted the dead.

Wuhan accounted for nearly two-thirds of Chinas total infections and more than three-quarters of its deaths. But in the early weeks of the outbreak, medical workers said many deaths from the coronavirus werent counted because of a shortage of test kits.
The tougher legislation will come into force on Wednesday.

Internet giant Google has published a break down of people's movement for the past seven weeks showing a significant drop in activity due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The Google data has been produced to help the public and health officials understand responses to social distancing measures.

The reports show how visits and length of stay at different places changed compared to usual pre-outbreak activity in the early weeks of the year.

Around Northern Ireland some areas have seen a near total drop off in activity.

Data break down by Northern Ireland council areas:

Belfast

Retail and recreation: -85%

Grocery and pharmacy: -42%

Parks: -47%

Transit stations: -76%

Workplace: -59%

Residential: +17%

Antrim and Newtownabbey

Retail and recreation: -81%

Grocery and pharmacy: -46%

Parks: -61%

Transit stations: -89%

Workplace: -52%

Residential: +29%

Ards and North Down

Retail and recreation: -78%

Grocery and pharmacy: -39%

Parks: -57%

Transit stations: -57%

Workplace: -56%

Residential: +28%

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

Retail and recreation: -82%

Grocery and pharmacy: -45%

Parks: -66%

Transit stations: -65%

Workplace: -47%

Residential: +27%

Causeway Coast and Glens

Retail and recreation: -87%

Grocery and pharmacy: -41%

Parks: -66%

Transit stations: -64%

Workplace: -55%

Residential: +26%

Derry City and Strabane

Retail and recreation: -80%

Grocery and pharmacy: -39%

Parks: -63%

Transit stations: -60%

Workplace: -54%

Residential: +25%

Fermanagh and Omagh

Retail and recreation: -86%

Grocery and pharmacy: -47%

Parks: -55%

Transit stations: -54%

Workplace: -52%

Residential: +27%

Lisburn and Castlereagh

Retail and recreation: -87%

Grocery and pharmacy: -45%

Parks: -79%

Transit stations: -61%

Workplace: -56%

Residential: +30%

Mid and East Antrim

Retail and recreation: -81%

Grocery and pharmacy: -37%

Parks: -52%

Transit stations: -56%

Workplace: -56%

Residential: +27%

Mid Ulster

Retail and recreation: -81%

Grocery and pharmacy: -43%

Parks: N/A

Transit stations: -51%

Workplace: -42%

Residential: +28%

Newry, Mourne and Down

Retail and recreation: -87%

Grocery and pharmacy: -45%

Parks: -65%

Transit stations: -55%

Workplace: -52%

Residential: +29%





Latest retail figures show UK high street retailers suffered their worst month on record in March. In store sales plunged by 34% as many shops were order to close.

The Google report was calculated using the same kind of aggregated and anonymised data used to show popular times for places in Google Maps. It is based on information from mobile phones on which users have opted-in to allow location history to be shared - and which is off by default. It is also based on their connectivity and if they meet a privacy threshold.

"If the privacy threshold isnt met (when somewhere isnt busy enough to ensure anonymity) we dont show a change for the day," Google said.

"These reports were developed to be helpful while adhering to our stringent privacy protocols and protecting peoples privacy. No personally identifiable information, like an individuals location, contacts or movement, is made available at any point."

Google explained that as location accuracy and the understanding of categorized places varies from region to region, the information could not be used as a comparision tool for different areas.

"We calculate these insights based on data from users who have opted-in to location history for their Google account, so the data represents a sample of our users. As with all samples, this may or may not represent the exact behavior of a wider population," Google said on releasing the data.

"This report shouldnt be used for medical diagnostic, prognostic, or treatment purposes.

"It also isnt intended to be used for guidance on personal travel plans."

The data set shows across the UK there has been an 85% drop in retail and recreation movement. A 46% drop in grocery shopping, 52% drop in people going to parks, a 55% drop for people going to work and a 75% drop in people passing through public transport hubs.

In terms of residential activity, there has been a 15% increase in activity.

In some areas such as residential or parks, there was an inability to collect a full picture as the data was not available, likely people did not move enough to register or they did not turn on location settings. It could even be possible they just did not have a signal.
Blackrock charity worker Conor Hughes found himself caught up in the global Coronavirus crisis as he was returning home from working on a project in Ghana last week.

Conor had travelled a few weeks ago to deliver and distribute several container loads of donated goods in the West African nation.

The donations included thousands of school books, blackboards, a refurbished tractor, wheelchairs, sewing machines and lots more.

Crosscause are building new homes for vulnerable kids. The initial project is to build two houses to cater for up to 15 orphaned children many of whom have been banished from their village just because of a disability.

But just as the Louth man was finishing this stage of the aid project, as part of the Crosscause battle against poverty in some of the poorest parts of Africa, whole continents including Asia, Europe and the USA became entrenched in the battle against the COVID19 virus.

The crisis has grounded much international travel over the last two weeks, including flights from Africa.

Conor became stranded in Kotoka airport in Ghana for a number of days last week, unable to get a flight back to Europe - let alone Ireland.

He continued to checking availability on a daily basis and was liaising with the Irish consulate in Africa as he was 'keen to get back home as soon as possible.'

Conor told the Argus he was greatly relieved to have secured a place on a flight chartered by the German government to bring EU citizens home from Africa, joking 'It pays to be in, not out of the EU!'
DHARAMSHALA: Complete curfew has been imposed in Una district of Himachal Pradesh after three members of the Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic missionary movement, tested positive for Covid-19.

Total curfew under Section 144 of the CrPC has been enforced as an emergency measure in the wake of the imminent risk of the spread of Covid-19 in the district, said Una deputy commissioner Sandeep Kumar.

He said that the there will be no relaxation in the curfew till further orders and people are directed to stay at home.

Only emergency services and the industry exempted from the curfew will continue to function as per the guidelines.

Earlier, a three-hour relaxation in curfew was allowed.

Meanwhile, the district police have isolated Nakroh village of Gagret sub division where the three positive cases were staying in a mosque.

An area of 3km surrounding the village has been sealed, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Karthikeyan Gokulachandran said.

ALERT IN MANDI, GHUMARWIN

The authorities in Mandi are also on high alert as the three positive cases are natives of the district.

Two of them are residents of Mandi town, while one is from Sundernagar. Deputy commissioner Rugved Milind Thakur said that the three had not been to their homes after returning from Delhi but were staying in Una.

However, as a precautionary measure their families have been quarantined.

An alert has been sounded in Ghumarwin town of Bilaspur district where some members of the Tablighi Jamaat made a stopover while on their way to Gagret in Una.

Sub divisional magistrate (SDM) Sashi Pal Sharma said that three families have been quarantined in Ghumarwin and the primary contacts of the Jamaat members are being traced.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to get the samples of all Jamaat members, who have returned to the state since March 1, tested for Covid-19.

VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE

Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board chairman Mohmmed Rajbali and chief executive officer Asif Jalal have appealed to members of the Muslim community, who have attended the markaz (religious event at the headquarters in Nizamuddin in Delhi), to voluntarily inform the administration and police of the concerned district. No action will be taken against such people and they will be quarantined.

SIX POSITIVE CASES IN STATE SO FAR

Himachal Pradesh has reported a total of six Covid-19 cases, including one death. One patient has been discharged after being cured and four people are undergoing treatment.

A total of 2,088 people have been quarantined in the state.

So far, 270 samples have been tested of which 263 came out negative and one sample of a Jamaat member failed. The retest will be done today.

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Churches have gone virtual. Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus told a group of also-rans that he would use them to turn the world upside down. He did. And the early church did it without buildings. In some ways, this highlights the fact that it has never been about the building  at least, it was never supposed to be. Whether it was grass huts in a jungle, a basilica in Europe or a movie theater in a suburban center, the church was always supposed to be about gathering people together who want to be formed by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. For the first 300 years there were no buildings. People met in homes, often around a meal. We are back to where we started, although this time we are in front of TVs and computer screens, leveraging tech where it helps.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 15:36:35|Editor: huaxia

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by William M. Reilly

UNITED NATIONS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The spread of the novel coronavirus has fueled concerns in the United Nations over continuing conflicts in the Middle East.

"We are deeply concerned about the ongoing hostilities in and around Tripoli despite an agreed truce to allow national authorities and humanitarian organizations to focus on the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said on Thursday.

"Armed clashes and shelling have been reported in and around Tripoli and Abu Qurayn, reportedly damaging homes and causing civilian casualties," Dujarric said. "The fighting rages as the UN is working to support the Libyan authorities with its COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts."

In Yemen, UN special envoy Martin Griffiths and his team are trying to draw agreements on a nationwide ceasefire, as well as humanitarian and economic measures to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and the urgent resumption of the political process aimed at comprehensively ending the war, the spokesman said.

The envoy's office seeks the input of broader Yemeni groups on what could be done to support Yemen in averting and mitigating a COVID-19 outbreak.

In an International Syria Support Group Humanitarian Task Force video-conference held on Thursday, task force members were told that the virus could have a devastating impact given the protracted crisis and the extensive destruction and damage to the health system, according to Dujarric, who said Syria's public health system is fragile and will require considerable support to reinforce its capacity.

UN special envoy Geir Pederson joined the meeting and appealed for a complete immediate nationwide ceasefire to enable an all-out effort to counter COVID-19, the spokesman added.

Dujarric also said that the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is helping the country's fight against COVID-19 in the south. Troop-contributing countries have been aiding communities with medical equipment and other supplies.

The Italy-led UNIFIL Sector West Command has answered requests from local hospitals to be able to receive suspected COVID-19 cases, he said. The mission has donated pre-fabricated containers and medical equipment to several hospitals.
Wife Nicola, 66, also suffering from the virus but has been recuperating at home

Princess Eugenies father-in-law is in intensive care with coronavirus.

George Brooksbank, 71, whose son Jack married the Queens granddaughter in 2018, is understood to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

His wife Nicola, 66, is also suffering from the disease but has been recuperating at home.

Its a traumatic time for Jack and Eugenie, said one of their friends. George has been very sick but the whole family has been rallying round to help.

A family spokesman declined to comment but a friend said: They are hugely grateful for the excellent care that he has been receiving. They are thinking of all the other families who are being similarly affected at this time.

George Brooksbank, 71, whose son Jack married the Queens granddaughter in 2018, is understood to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being struck down by coronavirus

Eton-educated Mr Brooksbank is a retired chartered accountant and company director who lives with his wife in Wandsworth, south London. They also have a home in France.

The couple watched proudly as Jack, 33, married Eugenie at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, at a ceremony attended by the Queen and most senior members of the Royal Family.

Mr and Mrs Brooksbank rode in a carriage procession around Windsor after the wedding, which was broadcast live by ITV.

Eugenie and Jack have been joining the princesss mother Sarah, Duchess of York, to deliver supplies to frontline NHS staff at hospitals in London and Berkshire after being asked to help out by a friend who is a doctor.

Joining the family: George and Nicola Brooksbank in their son Jack and Princess Eugenies official wedding photo at Windsor Castle, along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte and Zara and Mike Tindalls daughter Mia

They wanted to do anything they could to help, a friend said.

The care packages they delivered included essentials such as toothpaste, soap, shower gel, hand wash, anti-bacterial wipes, pasta, sauces, rice, cereal bars and tinned fruit.

Jack, a wine merchant, and Eugenie live at Ivy Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace, home to royals including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew, has campaigned for the NHS since she underwent surgery in 2002 for scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London.

Eton-educated Mr Brooksbank is a retired chartered accountant and company director who lives with his wife in Wandsworth, south London. They also have a home in France

On her wedding day she wore a dress that showed a long scar down her back from her surgery  a move that won her praise for giving courage to other sufferers.

The coronavirus crisis has affected the wedding plans of Eugenies sister Princess Beatrice. She was due to exchange vows next month with property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Chapel Royal, St Jamess Palace.

The planned reception at Buckingham Palace has been called off and it is unclear whether the wedding ceremony will go ahead.

The Church of England recommends that the numbers attending wedding ceremonies should be limited to the legal minimum of five: the priest, the bride and groom and two witnesses.
Eli Pauley and Doireann Mac Mahon in rehearsal at Yale. Photo: Joan Marcus

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Some were working on scenes for the end-of-year showcase, picking out characters that would display their hard-won skills to agents and casting directors. Some were rehearsing plays, ready for the brightest spotlight of their three years in drama school. About-to-graduate playwrights had premieres on the brink of opening; directors had their staging plans in place. And then March happened, and one after the other, each opportunity went dark, like the hall lights going out in a horror movie  thunk, thunk, thunk.

The topsy-turvy economics of an MFA in theater all hinge on the final spring semester. Only the stage-besotted and the reckless and the rich get performance MFAs to begin with: No one sane would live for years on loans, paying law-school prices to train for a job that has, historically, leaned heavily on unemployment insurance. To learn your art, you get your head down for three (or two) years, focusing on radical vulnerability, your spinal alignment, your mask-and-clowning skills, your Shakespeare class. Or you do until March of your final year, when suddenly you look up to find you are about to enter an industry. In the best of times, theater is a career built out of rejection and slush piles and invisible toiling, and so arts programs produce new-work festivals and acting showcases to draw the worlds momentary attention to their graduates just as they launch. At least, they did.

One of Yales grad acting students, Eli Pauley, was sitting in her apartment quarantine this week in New Haven, simultaneously sheltering in place and completing her degree. There had been a little flurry of discussion in the first days of the crisis  she and playwright Noah Diaz had thought about driving cross-country to their midwestern homes  but most Yale School of Drama students I spoke to had decided to stay in town. Yale has quite a plum arrangement, in which second-semester third-years no longer have classes, just one-on-one tutorials in voice and the occasional session on Alexander Technique. All second-semester guns are supposed to be brought to bear on the showcase. Yale also had the resources to hit the coronavirus ground running. We got back from spring break, she says, and went straight into Zoom classes. That speed proved really overwhelming for a lot of classmates, says Pauley. For me, I felt suspended. In acting school, youre on this curated journey of growth, in which you split open and then reintegrate, a process that doesnt really finish until a year after you graduate. So were emotionally suspended wherever school left you.

Drama students know they are lucky. For the most part, they dont have kids. They dont feel unemployed because many didnt expect to have jobs this semester. Some of them, like Yalie Dario Ladani Sanchez, can still go home, where my mother, who is a bit of a mama bear, can provide shelter. (He did see the theatrical collapse close-up, though: On March 12, he was with members of the original British cast of Six, all dressed to the nines, when the text messages started rolling in telling them that the shows Broadway opening night was canceled.) For the next few months, at least, academic institutions, with their massive infrastructures, are ready to take care of the students  there are Zoom classes, Deans Forums so everyone can air concerns, compassionate faculty, financial aid offices. In fact, the more I talked to them, the more I wished that outside life were more like graduate school, with big administrative structures weaving their tender basketwork around me. I stared out the window for a while before I realized I was fantasizing about Sweden.

But the loss of the showcase is, within this world, titanic. At Yale, gears are moving to convert the event into a filmed version, and everyone I spoke to was busily finding scenes that would work onscreen. Doireann Mac Mahon, who is from Dublin, is still in New Haven because its safest to stay put. Shes a little rueful at the choice to live alone (it seemed like a good idea at the time), and she was relying on her rigorous early violin training to give herself a sense of structure and forward movement when all promise of performance is gone. Im just trying to do as much as I can, working on dialects and accents, practicing self-taping, trying to justify the decision to stay, Mac Mahon says. Her secret to combat loneliness is an app called Runkeeper, which you can listen to while you exercise six feet away from everyone. A lady called Erin talks to you in your headphones, saying Youre doing such a good job! she says. Mac Mahon thinks of Erin as a friend.

Director Danilo Gambini with Doireann Mac Mahon, rehearsing Fun Home. Photo: Joan Marcus

International students like Mac Mahon are in a particular bind, since the typical structure of a student visa includes a conversion that allows the graduate to get work experience (occupational practical training) in the States  for only one year after they graduate. Thats the crucial make-or-break window; either you find a way to convert that into another visa or you have to leave. Brazilian filmmaker and director Danilo Gambini is grieving the loss of the student-playwright Carlotta Festival at Yale, partly for the loss of collaboration. But hes also feeling the sharp edge of losing one of his only public-facing productions, since the clock is ticking. How will he get a job if no one has seen him direct? And can he get work experience if the industry is still closed? There are always, he says, talking about his immigrant experience in the U.S., the complications, the lawyers fees, the xenophobia, the microaggressions. I knew about those. I never thought it was going to be easy  I just didnt think it would be this hard.

Some are battling existential fears, even as Yale hustles to keep them in training. Says Sanchez, I personally have not always felt very interested in being an artist! I dont care about dropping my breath and releasing my spine, you know? And while his classmate Anula Navlekar is extremely busy by third-year standards  workshopping a Nikhil Mahapatra play for the Gingold Theatrical Group in New York, taping a poem for a friends Instagram, and auditioning for film and television back home in India  to be honest, its made me worry about life in general, she says. I dont care about acting at the moment! I want to take a pause, take into account where I am, things like family. Playwright Diaz is less diplomatic. Its bleak, bitch, its dark! Honestly, is the industry crumbled? Is it coming back? Were assuming that the 2021 season, should that happen, is kind of a wash for us, so we will have to spend the year reconfiguring our place in the industry. Will a launch out of Yale have impact by then?

Lets be real: A launch out of Yale is always going to matter. Catastrophes tend to increase competition for resources, and this may well further benefit those at the top programs, like Yale, NYU, and Juilliard. Agents and casting directors are already reaching out individually to people in these programs, and cruel as the divisions already are, they might now grow more extreme. Amaia Arana, a third-year at NYU, lives with her fiance, Mike Magliocca, who is finishing his own two-year graduate acting program at Brooklyn College, which is part of the CUNY system. The difference in their two experiences is stark. Arana is taking Zoom meetings with agents and working out, spending the rest of her time painting her apartment (a lovely smoky blue) and turning a closet into a reading nook. The experience has made her fall a little more in love with the theater: This incredible community of New Yorkers translates to our industry, she marvels. More doors are open because of the crisis; people feel for you. Were artists in an industry of workaholics who love what they do. So while its scary, now seeing people come out and say, Hey, would you like to put yourself on tape for us? feels heartening. Magliocca, on the other hand, is still teaching, still taking classes, and teaching an undergraduate scene study course himself. We dont have the institutional structure of having people whose job it is to hook us up, he says. That falls on the students. We fund our own showcase  and thats the underdog nature of city schools, but it is exhausting. On the individual level, many of his professors have stepped up; hes particularly grateful to the actress-teacher Welker White, who has put her whole contact list at their disposal. But the class is also reeling from actual, devastating loss: The beloved New York actor Mark Blum was their acting teacher, and he died from COVID-19 in March.

Real grief needed real joy to counter it, so Amana and Magliocca got engaged four days into social isolation. They are living on loans; theyre not sure what their lives will be. But we got into a conversation about: How do we keep life going during this? says Magliocca, and I realized: Life does not get less crazy, it just gets crazier until you die. So he sprung the ring on her. We had just watched Uncut Gems, he cries. It inspired me. Theyre now in bliss. But what do you do if your program isnt as plush as Yales or NYUs  or youre not planning a wedding?

If youre Lindsey Steinert, acting class of 2020 at Brown/Trinity in Providence, youre adrift. The last I heard, she says, was about two weeks ago. The head of our program emailed us to say wed shoot a multi-camera showcase to be distributed later. But while the goal is to bring everyone back to Providence, theres no guarantee that will be possible. The Yale students seemed to be mainly sticking around, but the Brown actors had dispersed (Steinert was in Boston). And the loss of the physical showcase was still hitting her, hard, day after day. That was a big part of the reason I came to grad school, she says. I had been auditioning in New York; I had been trying to make connections with agents and managers, but I hadnt been able to on my own. Now theres no work, and Im back to square one  being judged on my headshot. Anyone can look at a headshot. Ive worked in casting offices and watched them get the showcase booklet of photos and just  throw it out.

As much as I wish I could be angry at my institution, Steinert says, I think they are doing all that they can. That unfortunately isnt a lot  were not in New York. Her class is having industry information sessions on Zoom, though the outreach hasnt been as assiduous from agents as it is reportedly at Yale and NYU. But Brown is one of the first MFA acting programs in the country to be tuition-free, and its been forthcoming with financial aid and stipends. So at least she does have the freedom to spend her days on the online casting resource Actors Access, submitting for the few projects that are left and watching The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues. I would still choose to go to Brown/Trinity, she says, because when I look at myself as an artist coming into Brown and now  its such a different person.

And occasionally, when life strafes you with lemons, theres a tiny bit of lemonade on the bounce. The undergraduate musical theater program at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati had its New York showcase canceled, just like everybody else. That sounds bad; the CCM program wasnt on that list of high-profile schools thats likely to get proactive agent attention. But Chris Blem and Victoria Cook (founders of the creative-consultant firm The Network), and actor-slash-web-designer Joe Chisholm heard about the cancelation and thought they might be able to help. All three were 2012 graduates of the program, and they remembered how crucial showcase had been to their careers, so they built the class an online version. A far-thinking professor had asked a professional videographer to film the showcase scenes even before the shutdown, so in a week, theyve been able to mount a showcase minus the live element, Blem says. Since their launch, theyve already had responses for meetings and positive comments from agents, who say the online portal has let them get to know the students better. It has made it seem like it was planned all along, Clem says. We laughed together warmly. Plans! The concept seemed like an echo from a distant age.
NASA awarded a prestigious physics fellowship to a University of Cincinnati graduate who is hunting for planets new to science.

UC College of Arts and Sciences graduate Kevin Wagner was named a Sagan Fellow as part of NASAs Hubble Fellowship Program. The late Carl Sagan was a famed astronomer and astrophysicist known for his popular PBS series Cosmos.

Wagner is working on his doctoral degree at the University of Arizona, home to the Steward Observatory. He is studying how planets form. He also has been looking for solar systems with potentially habitable planets like ours.

Hes one of the best students I ever had, UC physics professor Michael Sitko said.

He is definitely an overachiever. He was lead author of a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal, one of the top astrophysics journals, before he even graduated from UC, Sitko said.

He also received a National Science Foundation research fellowship even before he left for Arizona, Sitko said. I knew he was going to be doing great things.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has soared past one million and fatalities have topped 50,000 as the United States reported the highest daily death toll of any country so far. Despite more than half the planet living in some form of lockdown, the virus is continuing to spread rapidly, and to claim lives at an alarming pace, with the US, Spain and Britain all seeing their worst days yet. The economic cost of the pandemic is getting starker by the day, with new figures showing that an extra 6.65 million Americans signed on for unemployment benefit last week, taking to 10 million the number of people in the US who lost their jobs in the last two weeks of March. And economists warned it was going to get worse. "No words for this," said Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics. "Total layoffs between the March and April payroll surveys look destined to reach perhaps 16 to 20 million, consistent with the unemployment rate leaping to 13 to 16 percent. In one month." Financial ratings agency Fitch on Thursday predicted that the US and eurozone economies would shrink this quarter by up to 30 percent as struggling businesses slash investment and unemployment dampens consumer spending. The Asian Development Bank warned Friday the global economy could take a $4.1 trillion hit from the virus -- equivalent to five percent of worldwide output. World leaders have announced huge financial aid packages to deal with the crisis and the World Bank on Thursday approved a plan to roll out $160 billion in emergency cash over 15 months. - Rocketing - The United States now accounts for around a quarter of all known infections around the globe, and its death toll is rocketing up. About 6,000 people have died in the US outbreak, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, more than 1,100 of them in the last day. White House experts say between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could ultimately die from the disease. Disaster response agency FEMA on Thursday asked the US military for 100,000 body bags. Around 85 percent of Americans are under some form of stay-at-home order. In New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to cover their faces when outside and Vice President Mike Pence said there would be a recommendation on the use of masks by the general public in the next few days. - Slowdown in Spain - Europe has been at the center of the crisis for weeks, but there have been signs that the epidemic could be approaching its peak there. Spain and Britain saw record numbers of new deaths in a 24-hour period -- 950 and 569 respectively. Italy and Spain together account for almost half of the global death toll, but experts say the number of new infections in both countries is continuing to slow. "The data show the curve has stabilized" and the epidemic has entered a "slowdown" phase, Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa said. The virus has chiefly affected the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, but recent cases of deaths among teenagers and even of a six-week-old baby have highlighted the dangers for people of all ages. "The very notion that 'COVID-19 only affects older people' is factually wrong," said Hans Kluge of the World Health Organization on Thursday. Severe cases have been reported among teens and young adults, with some requiring intensive care and several deaths, he said. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to "massively increase testing" as his health minister said the aim was 100,000 tests a day within weeks. Johnson, who has himself tested positive for COVID-19, has been criticised for his government's failure to provide widespread screening, particularly for frontline health workers. Britain was also rushing to build field hospitals, with the government saying Friday it would erect two new facilities to cope with 1,500 extra patients. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin extended paid non-working days until the end of April as the number of confirmed cases jumped by more than a quarter to 3,500. Most of the Russian population is on lockdown, while Thailand became the latest country to impose strict measures with the introduction of a curfew from Friday. The virus is beginning to get a grip on the developing world, where experts have warned of disasters among communities already ravaged by poverty. In northeast Nigeria, aid workers say it could rampage through sprawling camps for 1.8 million people displaced by a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency. "There is no health system to contain that virus... it will spread like wildfire and affect all involved," said one United Nations worker on condition of anonymity. "It is really scary."
Hong Kongs commerce minister has criticised public broadcaster RTHK for what he considers a breach of the one-China principle after one of its reporters pressed a World Health Organisation official last week on whether the body would accept Taiwan as a member.

In a statement released Thursday, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah also said final responsibility lay with RTHKs director of broadcasting and asked that the station abide by its governing charter.

RTHK, for its part, has denied breaching either the one country, two systems principle or its charter.

The row marks the second time in a month the broadcaster has found itself in the crosshairs of senior government officials.

RTHK just last month was publicly attacked by a top police official for comedy sketches on its satire programme Headliner he said undermined the forces work. Photo: Handout

In early March, they were publicly accused of undermining the work of the Hong Kong police after the satire programme Headliner aired sketches implying the force had stockpiled masks during the Covid-19 epidemic and were too quick in ruling deaths during the anti-government protests as suicides.

The latest incident involves the March 28 episode of English-language current affairs TV programme The Pulse. In one segment, a journalist asks WHOs assistant director general Dr Bruce Aylward via teleconference if the organisation would consider granting Taiwan membership.

In the clip, which circulated widely on Twitter, Dr Aylward said he could not hear the question, then asked the reporter to skip to the next question when the reporter offered to repeat it.

When the reporter continued to ask about Taiwan, the line was abruptly disconnected.

When Dr Aylward rejoined the programme later, he was asked to comment on Taiwans progress in containing the Covid-19 virus, to which he replied that all areas of China had done well and wished Hong Kong luck in its efforts.

In a statement on Thursday, a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, which oversees RTHK, said: The secretary holds the view that the presentation in that episode  has breached the one-China principle [which considers Taiwan and China part of a whole] and the purpose and mission of RTHK as a public broadcaster as specified in the charter.

Story continues

It is common knowledge that WHO membership is based on sovereign states. RTHK, as a government department and a public service broadcaster, should have a proper understanding of the above without any deviation.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau said responsibility for what he sees as RTHKs failings lies with its director of broadcasting. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

As the editor-in-chief of RTHK, the director of broadcasting [Leung Ka-wing] should be responsible for this.

Yau once again urged Leung and RTHK to fully abide by the charter and to handle all programmes in a professional and vigilant manner, the bureau spokesman said in the statement.

The public purposes and mission of RTHK have been clearly specified in the charter, which includes engendering a sense of citizenship and national identity through programmes that contribute to the understanding of our community and nation; and promoting understanding of the concept of one country, two systems, the statement read.

Reached by the Post, a spokesman said the bureau was not prepared to comment further.

In a reply released later in the day, an RTHK spokesman said: The episode was to explore the outbreak of Covid-19 in various places of the world. On the part about Taiwan, it was referred to as place. [The question] takes no stand. After reviewing the whole episode, we are of the view that it did not breach the one country, two systems principle nor did it breach the RTHK charter.

That view was echoed by the broadcasters employees union, which on Thursday evening issued its own statement defending the line of questioning.

Taiwans experience in combating the virus and how it can link up with the world are issues of wide interest to the media, the RTHK Programme Staff Union response read. How could raising the questions breach the one-China principle?

Opposition lawmaker Claudia Mo also came to the broadcasters defence, accusing the government of politically censoring it and questioning if the station could still report on Taiwan elections or news about the self-governing island at all.

But former lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen, who sits on the RTHK board of advisers, said he was convinced the question about Taiwans WHO standing had gone beyond the parameters of the Covid-19 outbreak.

RTHK is a government department and public broadcaster. It should understand the one-China principle, he said. [The question on Taiwan] is not an issue of free speech. RTHK head as the gatekeeper should be held responsible.

RTHK has in the past year repeatedly drawn the wrath of pro-police and pro-establishment groups, who believe it has been biased towards protesters since the eruption of anti-government social unrest in June.

This article Hong Kong broadcaster accused of breaching one-China principle after reporter presses WHO official on Taiwan membership first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Michigan Food Manufacturer Will Stop Production After Repeat Food Violations

Home Style Foods, Inc. has agreed to discontinue selling food products until the company complies with federal regulations and other standards.

As of January 13 of this year, Home Style Foods, Inc. and the companys owner, Michael J. Kowalski, and quality manager, Juan Valesquez, agreed to discontinue food sales for the time being. The company will not resume distributing and selling products until it complies with regulations and standards, as was settled in the injunction between the U.S. and the company.

After several inspections conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) in the companys food preparation area and violations of seafood safety regulations associated with the processing of fish and fishery products.

After repeated food safety violations, the FDA worked with the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain this injunction in order to prevent potentially contaminated food from reaching consumers. The company failed to take the appropriate corrective actions resulting in this action, said FDA Chief Counsel Stacy Cline Amin, J.D. When a company fails to follow the law, the government will take action to protect the food supply.

The consent decree by U.S. District Judge Sean F. Cox prohibits the defendants from receiving, preparing, processing, packing, holding, labeling and/or distributing foods at or from their facility, or any other facility, until certain requirements are met. It also requires the defendants to make corrective actions and notify the FDA before any operations resume.

According to the FDA press release, L. mono is a species of disease-causing bacteria. When ingested, people may develop listeriosisan infection that can have serious adverse effects for consumers, particularly women who are or may become pregnant, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
D owning Street has held its last daily Covid-19 briefing today as Boris Johnson announced that lockdown measures will be further eased on July 4.

Since March 16, Mr Johnson and other ministers have been addressing the nation with a televised statement to give the latest updates in the fight against coronavirus.

From Tuesday, the Government will no longer host daily press conferences, but will instead be holding them when an announcement will be made.

The final daily press conference came after the Prime Minister told the House of Commons on Tuesday that hairdressers and pubs will be able to open in less than two weeks.

Boris Johnson leading the conference / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty

The two-metre rule has also been switched to one-metre plus which means people can stand closer together as long as there are other measures in place to limit transmission.

As the daily press conferences come to an end, take a look at the timeline of Government updates below:

June 23 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson:

Boris Johnson praised the actions of the public during the lockdown but warned there would be local outbreaks and restrictions may have to be reimposed.

He said police would still have the powers to break up large gatherings despite the easing of lockdown measures from July 4.

The Governments chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the R number for the transmission of the coronavirus remains below one across the UK.

Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said there was a risk coronavirus could start to increase in its spread if restrictions involved with the one metre-plus rules were not followed.

Sir Patrick Vallance said the Oxford vaccine study was probably the most advanced in the world.

Prof Whitty predicted that the country could have to cope with Covid-19 into 2021.

June 22 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

Mr Hancock said that the daily number of people testing positive for coronavirus has fallen to below 1,000 for the first time since the peak of the epidemic. For the first time since the peak, there were now fewer than 5,000 people being treated in hospital for the virus. He said that it was now estimated that just one in 1,700 people had the disease compared to one in 400 a month ago, enabling Boris Johnson to set out a further easing of the lockdown on Tuesday. All these figures are coming down and pointing in the right direction. It shows that while there is still much to do, we are clearly making progress, he added.

Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer, said those shielding should take advantage of the expected good weather this week to become accustomed to reintegrating themselves back into society. "Now were out of the peak of the epidemic in the UK and estimated levels of community transmission and infection are back to those before shielding commenced, we are in a position to start relaxing the shielding advice over the next few weeks. We may well have some summer weather a little in our favour too and therefore our advice to those shielding is to take some steps now to start coming back to a more normal lifestyle"

Mr Hancock said that while the shielding programme was being paused it could be reinstated if the clinical guidance changed. He said: I use the word pause very deliberately because the (shielding) list will continue and should the clinical advice be that we need to bring it back in, then that is what we will do.

The Health Secretary confirmed that localised shielding advice could be given out in future as outbreaks emerge.We will have the ability to do that. We would consider that as part of a local lockdown if that is what was clinically advised.

Dr Harries said even as the rules were relaxed people still needed to follow social distancing, including regular handwashing and good respiratory hygiene. There is a critical point here that says just because life is feeling a bit more back to normal dont suddenly jump to where you were this time last year. We need to learn to go forward with restrictions in our lives.

June 19 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson:

Mr Williamson said the limits on class sizes, called "bubbles", could be expanded to the whole class to allow all pupils to return to school.

"We've been creating bubbles of children in the classroom, creating a protective environment for those children," he said. "Currently that is at 15, what we would be looking at doing is expanding those bubbles to include the whole class."

The Education Secretary said there would still be protective measures put in place to keep children and school staff safe.

He added: "We are going to be issuing further guidance in the next two weeks."

The new "bubbles" could contain up to 30 pupils.

Mr Williamson did not confirm whether or not the current 2 metre social distancing rule would be relaxed.

He also the virus's R number in the UK remained unchanged, between 0.7 and 0.9, as the alert level has been downgraded to level 3.

June 18 updates:

Here is summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Dido Harding, Head of Test and Trace:

Mr Hancock confirmed that the government was no longer using the contact tracing app it had been trialling on the Isle of Wight.

"We found that our app works well on Android devices but Apple software prevents iPhones being used effectively for contact tracing unless you are using Apples own technology," he said. "As it stands, our app wont work because Apple wont change their system, but it can measure distance."

Mr Hancock said the Google and Apple's rival app was also flawed, claiming it did not measure distance well enough to a standard that we are satisfied with.

He said the government was now developing an app which would merge the best features of both versions.

Dido Harding said: "Precisely because weve developed our own and developed some really sophisticated distance calculations we think that we can enhance the Google-Apple platform such that it will work."

She also said she wanted more people to be tested for Covid-19, because there were many asymptomatic cases which made the virus more difficult to detect.

June 17 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden:

Mr Dowden suggested that the government was planning to bail out theatres, because they were likely to remain shut for some time.

He added that indoor live entertainment venues were even more constrained by social distancing than outdoor venues, such as sports arenas.

"I know for theatres in particular as we open - and we've set the challenging target of July 4 - it is going to be exceptionally difficult to open, consistent with social distancing," he said. "And that is why I continue to have discussions across government to see what further support we can give theatres during this challenging time."

The Culture Secretary suggested that relaxing the two-metre rule to one-metre would help cinemas "because I think they are better able to operate at lower capacities" - but added that even a one-metre rule would not be enough to allow theatres to operate in a financially viable way.

Mr Dowden also said that the return of Premiere League football on Wednesday night was "an important step forward in our careful journey back towards normality".

June 16 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, accompanied by Oxford Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases Peer Horby.

Mr Johnson defended the government's plan to merge the Department for International Development with the Foreign Office, saying: "It means the sums we spend on aid are used not just to tackle poverty and deprivation around the world, but they're far better in line with UK government policy."

The Prime Minister said he had "congratulated" Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford after his successful campaign to stop the government scrapping free school meals in summer.

"I hope it will make a big difference to those kids and to those families," Mr Johnson said.

The Prime Minister also said that once levels of coronavirus in the UK fall sufficiently, there will be a "strong case" for changing the two-metre social distancing rule to one metre.

Prof Horby said the drug dexamethasone reduces the risk of death by around 30% in ventilated patients.

June 15 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, without any medical or scientific professionals alongside him.

He said that the reopening of non-essential shops was "very much a managed process" to avoid a second wave.

Mr Raab revealed that school children will receive more funding for after school clubs during the summer holidays - while kids of key workers will have more activities to avoid the need for grandparents and vulnerable carers to look after them.

He backed businesses struggling during the pandemic, refusing to call it a "national disgrace", and saying instead it was "incumbent" that employers protect their workers and their families.

He also reiterated that a "comprehensive" review will be completed in a few weeks surrounding the reopening of pubs and restaurants, as the Government continue to face calls to reduce the two-metre social distancing rule.

June 12 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. He was accompanied by National Medical Director of NHS England Professor Stephen Powis:

Mr Shapps said the R rate - rate of transmission - remained unchanged from a week before at between 0.7 and 0.9.

He added that transport operators would be able to refuse permission to travel to people who aren't wearing a face covering from Monday onwards.

Those refusing to comply with the face covering rule could face fines, Mr Shapps added.

Professor Powis said the NHS had been working hard to prepare for a possible second wave of coronavirus in the winter.

June 11 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He was accompanied by Baroness Dido Harding, who is overseeing the NHS Test and Trace coronavirus service:

Mr Hancock praised the Government's Test and Trace system, telling the press conference: I think that the system has worked well and to get two-thirds in the first week of operation, it beat my expectations."

Baroness Harding promised the system "will get better" after it was revealed a third of people who tested positive for coronavirus could not be contacted.

It was made clear that the system is a priority for the government in the coming weeks.

June 9 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Business Secretary Alok Sharma:

The business Secretary confirmed that non-essential shops can reopen if they can comply with social distancing rules. I can confirm today that retail outlets which have been required to be closed will be able to open their doors again from Monday June 15 so long as they comply with the Covid-secure guidelines we published on May 25," he said.

He added that pubs, bars, restaurants and hairdressers will not be able to reopen until July 4 at the earliest and added: Of course, there are businesses which still remain closed. As soon as we can we will publish further safer working guidance for restaurants, pubs and bars, as well as hairdressers, barbers, nail bars and related services."

On social distancing, Mr Sharma said the Government is keeping the two-metre social distancing rule under review.When it is safe to do so, we will see whether you can move to a shorter distance but ultimately we keep all of these things under review, he told the No 10 briefing.There are other countries in the world that have moved from two metres to closer distances. Of course, they are further along in terms of their road map, in terms of opening up businesses. We are taking a cautious view on this. I completely understand why for economic reasons businesses will want to have a look at this two-metre rule.

June 8 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He was accompanied by David Pearson, the new chair of the national Covid-19 social care support task force:

Mr Hancock said data was "pointing in the right direction" concerning the Covid-19 outbreak and showed "we are winning the battle with this disease but have further to go".

He added the Government was ready to take action in response to local outbreaks of the virus if the R number - rate of transmission - was seen to rise.

Mr Hancock announced the launch of a national Covid-19 social care support taskforce, led by Mr Pearson.

The Health Secretary also dismissed claims the Government was making a trade-off between the economy and health amid reports officials are considering further easing lockdown measures.

Mr Hancock announced an extension of the coronavirus testing regime in English care homes.

He said the Government had already sent more than a million test kits to almost 9,000 elderly care homes and added that from today, all remaining adult care homes in England - some 6,000 facilities - will be able to order the whole care home testing service for residents and staff.

June 5 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

Mr Hancock warned people against attending Black Lives Matter protests on the weekend, saying "we're still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat".

He said people "should not attend large gatherings, including demonstrations, of more than six people.

The Health Secretary said he was "appalled" by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer, but said it was "vital" that people continue to follow coronavirus lockdown rules.

Mr Hancock also announced that hospital visitors and outpatients in England will be required to wear face coverings from June 15 - and hospital staff will need to wear surgical masks from then.

"One of the things that we've learnt is that those in hospital [...] are more likely to catch coronavirus whether they work in a clinical setting or not," Mr Hancock said.

June 4 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Network Rail chairman Peter Hendy.

Mr Shapps said that face coverings would become mandatory on English public transport on June 15

He added that people who don't wear face coverings may not be allowed onto public transport

Mr Hendy said that he expects the majority of people to comply with the new rules, and said fines could follow for those who don't

Mr Shapps said that travel companies must provide refunds for people who have had to cancel their holidays

The Transport Secretary also urged people to stay away from crowded beaches

June 3 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing fronted by Boris Johnson, flanked by chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance:

Boris Johnson warned that no-one is safe from coronavirus as he urged the public not to gather in their homes as the weather worsens.

The Prime Minister said that meeting people indoors who do not live in your household "undermine and reverse all the progress we've made together".

Sir Patrick Vallance also revealed at the No 10 briefing there could be 8,000 new cases of coronavirus a day in the UK.

He said that while the latest figures showed more than 1,800 a day had tested positive, data from the Office for National Statistics suggested the true figure was significantly higher.

Sir Patrick also said the R  the rate of transmission  was still close to 1 which meant the numbers were not coming down quickly.

June 2 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

Professor John Newton, the national testing coordinator, defended Public Health Englands report into Covid-19s impact on BAME communities taking six weeks to deliver. Normally a report like this would take us a good six months, so we have actually produced this level of analysis in a relatively short time," he said. We need to get the report widely disseminated and widely discussed before deciding exactly what needs to be done. But clearly there are some fairly obvious conclusions that can be drawn, even from the data we have.

Prof Newton said Covid-19 had emphasised existing health inequalities across the country. Theres a lot more than just the ethnic differences in the report, there are differences to do with levels of deprivation and where people live and occupation and so on. And all these causes are the causes of health inequalities, anyway. What Covid-19 has done is to emphasise the existing health inequalities in the country. It shows us again that we need to address those inequalities, whether theyre to do with deprivation or to do with peoples background."

Mr Hancock said antibody tests would be rolled out across the country after the health and social care sector. He said: "We are delivering around 40,000 a day across the NHS and social care sector  just over 40,000 a day on the latest figures. And then well roll them out across the country. But he stressed that we havent yet been able to pin down the science on whether having an antibody means a person can catch coronavirus again or transmit the virus.

Mr Hancock said those from BAME communities worried about returning to work should consult the safety at work guidance published by the Government. The Health Secretary promised that the Government would act rather than wait for a further review of the impact of coronavirus on BAME communities. He said the link between ethnicity and the occupations that people do is an important part of this conundrum.

Prof Newton said contact tracing for travellers arriving in the UK could be used as an alternative to quarantine measures. However SAGE is still backing quarantine.

June 1 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

Mr Hancock said there is still work lots of work to be done and added: "We must all remember that in the war against this virus we are all on the same side. We have come so far together, we can take these steps together. But do not step too far, the disease is not done yet. We mustnt throw away the progress that has been made.

The latest figures showed testing capacity was 206,444 and the Health Secretary said this shows that there is extra capacity for more tests.

Lockdown measures could be reimposed nationally if necessary. Mr Hancock said: We are attempting to move the system from these national, blanket measures to a more targeted approach  this is why test and trace is such an important part of that. But we have always said that we are prepared to reintroduce measures  whether that is nationally or in response to a localised outbreak  if that is necessary.

He also said there was a range of measures available to combat local flare-ups of coronavirus. It could mean shutting to new admissions a hospital A&E if there was an outbreak in that hospital.

The health Secretary said the vast majority of new infections and their contacts had been traced since the Test and Trace system launched. Many of them are able to put their details in on a web-based portal rather than directly on the phone, he told the Downing Street press conference.Testing tsar John Newton added: The numbers of tests feeding through and contacts being identified are high, so we are very pleased with the level of completeness. Its operating pretty much as we had hoped.

May 31 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, accompanied by government adviser on rough sleeping Dame Louise Casey, and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries:

They confirmed that 38,489 people had died from coronavirus, and 274,762 people had now caught the disease.

They added that the Covid-19 threat is still at Level 4, but said the alert level "is changing".

Robert Jenrick said people staying indoors to stay safe can spend time with family members from Monday. He added that if they live alone, they can go outside with one other person from another household.

The Housing Secretary said 6,000 new supported homes - 3,300 of which will become available in the next few months - will be made available for rough sleepers beyond the pandemic.

He said the government will spend 433 million to fast track necessary safe accommodation.

Dr Harries said there is a "very very low risk" of virus transmission when outdoors, but reminded people to be "very careful".

May 30 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam:

Mr Dowden said live sport would return as further lockdown measures ease from June 1.

The Culture Secretary said the new sporting guidance was an example of the government working "hand in glove" with scientists.

Mr Dowden said it was for "individual sports" to apply new guidelines and determine how they do so.

Mr Van-Tam said playing elite sports with "carefully controlled measures" would not have a "meaningful impact" on the R number, but would help people psychologically.

Mr Dowden also said the government was looking into public toilets, and would reopen them as soon as they could safely do so, while acknowledging their importance for people with disabilities.

May 29 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak:

Mr Sunak said the coronavirus furlough scheme "cannot continue indefinitely".

The Chancellor said that from August, companies will be asked to pay National Insurance and employer pension contributions - which would on average amount to 5 per cent of employment costs.

He said that from October, the government will pay 60% of furloughed staff's wages, while employers will be expected to contribute 20%. He said after this, the scheme would close.

Mr Sunak also announced that the support scheme for the self-employed, which was due to expire on Sunday, would be extended.

The Chancellor admitted: "I can't and we can't protect every single job and every single business."

He said Friday's announcement marked the start of "a new national colllective effort... reopen our country and kick-start our economy".

May 28 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He was accompanied by Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty:

Mr Johnson said all five of the Government's tests for further relaxing lockdown have been passed.

He added that forthcoming changes would be limited and cautious, but reiterated that schools have the go-ahead to reopen to some pupils from the beginning of next week.

Mr Johnson said non-essential shops could begin reopening from Monday, with outdoor retail and car showrooms the first businesses permitted to welcome customers once again.

From Monday, up to six people will be able to meet outside, providing members of different households continue to stay two metres apart, he added.

Sir Patrick Vallance said the R rate - the measure of how many new people are infected by each case - is currently somewhere between 0.7 and 0.9.

It remains close to 1, and it could be much closer to 1 in some areas, he added, warning that while the numbers were coming down, they were not coming down quickly.

Professor Whitty emphasised it was essential that people meeting under slightly relaxed measures from next week onwards stay two metres apart.

May 27 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

The Health Secretary told the press briefing that the coronavirus testing system is being expanded to include anyone with symptoms.

He confirmed that people who are displaying symptoms of coronavirus can now get checked from tomorrow.

Mr Hancock also confirmed further details on the UK's test and trace approach, which is set to go live tomorrow.

May 26 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

Mr Hancock said he understood the anger that some people feel over Dominic Cummings' actions, but added that he believed the adviser acted "within the guidelines"

He added that local areas could be locked down in future if there are future flare-ups of the virus confined to a particular region

Mr Hancock described a new trial of the Remdesivir drug as the biggest step forward since the start of the coronavirus pandemic

May 25 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Professor Yvonne Doyle, Public Health Englands medical director:

Speaking after Mr Cummings' own press conference, Mr Johnson said that the adviser retained his backing and that "people will have to make their own minds up" about the case

Mr Johnson said that open-air markets and car showrooms could reopen from June 1, while non-essential shops would be allowed to reopen from June 15

Ms Doyle said the rate of infection of the virus was "fairly stable" in the UK

May 24 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NHS England medical director Stephen Powis.

Mr Johnson defended Mr Cummings, saying that he believed the adviser behaved "responsibly" and "with a view to defeating the virus and stopping the spread"

But he added that he "can totally get" why people are "confused and offended" by Mr Cummings' actions

Mr Johnson reiterated that schools will begin a phased reopening from June 1 for reception, year one and year six, with years 10-12 following on June 15

Mr Powis said there had been a fall in the number of critically ill coronavirus patients in the UK

May 23 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries.

Mr Shapps defended Dominic Cummings, telling reporters that he made a decision to protect his family by driving to his parents' estate in Durham

He added that Mr Cummings had Boris Johnson's "full support" despite the lockdown breaches

Dr Harries said that there are "safeguarding clause in all of the advice" but that the interpretation of that advice is probably for others

May 22 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Home Secretary Priti Patel, chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Border Force director general Paul Lincoln.

Ms Patel said that the UK would introduce a quarantine on international arrivals "at the time when it will be most effective"

In response to a question about why the UK was planning this now rather than earlier, Ms Patel said the move was "about managing the risk of transmission being reintroduced from elsewhere"

Mr Lincoln said that the UK would carry out spot checks on arrivals from abroad to make sure they had filled in forms correctly

Sir Patrick added that the spread of coronavirus is "flat or declining" in the UK

May 21 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Director of Health Improvement Professor John Newton.

Mr Hancock revealed estimates that suggest one in six people in London have had coronavirus, and one in 20 people in the UK more broadly have been infected

This estimate is based on a study that shows 17 per cent of Londoners have protective antibodies for coronavirus, with this figure at 5 per cent in the wider country

The Health Secretary said that UK had agreed contracts with pharmaceutical companies Roche and Abbott for ten million antibody tests, with health and care staff, patients and residents to have the first tests from next week. Antibody tests show if a person has already had the virus.

Mr Hancock also announced a trial of a new 20-minute coronavirus "prick test" that does not have to be sent off to a laboratory for processing

The new tests will be trialled on 4,000 people in Hampshire A&E departments, GP testing hubs and care homes

May 20 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden alongside National Medical Director for England in the NHS Stephen Powis:

Mr Dowden revealed that more than 70m has been raised and is being distributed by Children in Need, Comic Relief, and the National Emergencies Trust.

He also said 200m will be handed out to support smaller local charities helping in the coronavirus fight.

Mr Dowden announced that the Queen's Birthday Honour's List would be delayed until autumn, so those who have battled coronavirus could be recognised, including Captain Tom Moore, who is set to receive a knighthood.

The Culture Secretary also said that a renewal task force of notable people in the sport, tech and creative sectors who will advise how to get these areas back up and running is to be set up this week. Former Arsenal and England women's footballer Alex Scott is in the task force.

May 19 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Environment Secretary George Eustice and Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela Mclean.

Mr Eustice urged British people to apply for jobs as fruit pickers, in order to compensate for the fact that only a third of eastern Europeans who normally come to the UK to do this are expected to arrive, advising people interested to try a new Pick for Britain website.

The Environment Secretary said it was a "caricature" that the government did not protect people in care homes from Covid-19, but acknowledged that some patients with the virus had been discharged into care homes.

Prof McLean said scientists have told ministers they should only relax the lockdown restrictions once a "highly effective track, trace and isolate system" is in place.

Prof Mclean added that scientific advisers were due to be told on THursday whether the Government could roll out the contract tracing system.

Prof McLean said the government had to limit its testing in March because it did not have the capacity to test everyone who had suspected coronavirus.

She added that government advisers were examining whether lockdown measures should be lifted at staggered times in different places.

May 18 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab alongside Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam:

Mr Raab said Brits could not remain in lockdown indefinitely

The Foreign Secretary added that the government was watching the situation "very closely".

Mr Raab would not commit to the government having its new contract tracing app ready for 1 June, when some primary schools in England might reopen.

Prof Van-Tam said the app would be just "one part of the test and trace system".

He said he accepted that virus test results needed to be processed more quickly, saying: "We need to work as hard as we can to improve the timeliness of the testing system as we go along."

Prof Van-Tam warned that the UK must prepare to live with coronavirus for several years.

He said the country may only be rid of Covid-19 once a vaccine is created.

He also said the country must prepare for a second wave of the virus in autumn and winter.

He added that the government is currently considering whether to allow different households to meet up as part of a "bubble".

May 17 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Business Secretary Alok Sharma and NHS Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis:

Mr Sharma revealed a global licensing deal has been signed between AstraZeneca and Oxford University to get 30million doses of the coranavirus vaccine for the UK

This means that nearly half of the UK population could get the vaccine by September

The Business Secretary also announced a fresh 84million injection of cash for Oxford University and Imperial to scale up production of their ground-breaking potential vaccines

Death toll figures from the conference also revealed that today saw the lowest daily rise since lockdown began after 170 more people died from the disease.

May 16 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries:

Mr Williamson said both primary and secondary school pupils could return to school in just two weeks' time, with plans for students in Reception and Years 1, 6, 10 and 12 to return.

The Education Secretary revealed that pupils in Year 10 and Year 12 will be back "on a limited" basis to help them plan for exams next year.

He also sought to reassure parents concerned about pupils returning to school, insisting that the government's decision-making is based on the "best scientific advice with children at the very heart of everything we do".

He warned that there was a "consequence" to schools not opening, saying children would "miss out".

May 15 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

Matt Hancock said elderly care home residents and staff will finally be tested for coronavirus by the start of June.

The Health Secretary revealed a 600million fresh package of help for struggling care homes who aren't able to control the spread of the virus.

Matt Hancock said: "Well test every resident and every member of staff in our elderly care homes between now and early June.

"This 600 million Infection Control Fund will help as we continue to reduce infections in care homes and save lives."

The briefing came after the government published the latest R number - rate of transmission - saying it was between 0.7 and 1.

However, the figures do have a two to three week lag, officials admitted.

May 14 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England:

Mr Shapps said the Government will spend 2 billion on transport infrastructure, like repairing roads and railways

The UK has carried out over 1,000 railway upgrade projects over lockdown, he said

The Transport Secretary urged Brits to walk, cycle or use cars as much as possible, to reduce the burden on public transport and help keep to social distancing rules

Mr Shapps added that "bureaucratic bindweed" slows down British infrastructure building, but said the Government wants to overcome this

In a response to a question about the Premier League, Mr Van-Tam said elite football would be able to return slowly and gradually, like other sectors

May 13 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and Dr Jenny Harries, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England:

Mr Jenrick said the government was providing an extra 600m of funding to care homes in order to help them with infection control.

Asked about support for the cultural sector, the Communities Secretary said the Government was in conversation with institutions about how theatres and other similar outlets could reopen with social distancing in place.

He added that building sites in England will be allowed to operate until 9pm Monday to Saturday in residential areas and beyond that in non-residential areas as part of the Governments efforts to restart the economy.

Dr Harries meanwhile said the best comparison for international Covid-19 death rates would be when all-cause mortality figures are available in about a years time.

She also said there was no sustained community transmission of coronavirus before March 13, when the Governments advice that it was very unlikely care home residents would become infected with Covid-19 was withdrawn.

May 12 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Business Secretary Alok Sharma, National Medical Director of NHS England Professor Stephen Powis and Health and Safety Executive Sarah Albon.

Mr Sharma said 2 million, 7146 coronavirus tests have now been carried out, including 85,203 tests yesterday.

He detailed the next phase of the fight against the disease, including a new Covid alert level system with five levels, based on the R value and the number of coronavirus cases. This will determine social distancing measures in place.

Mr Sharma said from this week those who cannot work from home, should speak to their employer about going back to work.

"You can now spend time outdoors and exercise as often as you look. You can meet one person outside of your household, outside, providing you stay two metres apart."

The government aims to re-open primary schools on June 1, and non-essential retail will re-open when and where it's safe to do so.

Updated messaging means people should stay alert, control the virus and save lives. Mr Sharma stressed people should stay at home as much as possible.

Face coverings should be worn in enclosed places.

Regarding workplace safety, an extra 40million is now available for the Health and Safety executive

Mr Sharma also said the job retention scheme will be extended by four months, with 7.5million jobs currently furloughed.

He addressed workers, saying: "We want you to feel confident that you are financially supported, and returning to a safe workplace. We all need to work together safely as we rebuild our economy."

May 11 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson:

Mr Johnson went into further detail about the easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK.

He said the lower the rate of infection the more freedoms the nation will enjoy and added: " After each step we will closely monitor the impact of that step on the R and the number of infections. We'll only take the next step when we are satisfied it is safe to do so."

We'll only take the next step when we are satisfied it is safe to do so." The Prime Minister said only those who cannot work at home should do back to work. He said employees should discuss any safety concerns with their managers.

Mr Johnson said the nation is allowed to see people from one other household, but must still abide by social distancing rules. This can only be done outside of the home and in public.

From Wednesday Brits can enjoy unlimited exercise sessions and can travel to another location to partake in activities, although they are not allowed to go on holiday.

They can also play basketball, golf and outdoor sports with members of their household and up to one other as long as the two metre distance is observed.

Mr Johnson said scientists were no nearer to finding a vaccine, although there had been positive comments. He added: "Even after 18 years we still don't have a vaccine for SARS."

May 10 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson:

Boris Johnson told MPs the reopening of society and the British economy should go ahead with "utmost caution".

He said the R rate has dropped from between 2.6 and 2.8 in April to between 0.5 and 0.9 now.

The PM said making sure coronavirus doesn't spread and reopening the economy will be a "supremely difficult balance to strike".

He added some parts of the UK may need to stay in "full lockdown" longer than others.

Mr Johnson said social distancing requirements will limit capacity on public transport.

He said new advice to wear face coverings on public transport does not include the wearing of medical face masks.

These should be "reserved for people who need them", he confirmed.

The PM also said people will be allowed to drive as far as you like".

He confirmed the fine for breaking the lockdown rules will be increase from the 60 up to 100.

Mr Johnson said: "Every day we shall monitor our progress.

"If we stay on the downward slope, then and only then will it become safe to go further and move to the second step."

He said this will include schools reopening and holding sport events behind closed doors.

To wrap up his statement he said: "People should stay alert by working from home if you possibly can, by limiting contact with others, by keeping your distance and by washing your hands.

"If everyone stays alert we can keep the infections down.That is how we will be able to save lives and save livelihoods."

May 9 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps:

He announced a 2billion package to put walking and cycling at the heart of transport policy, and to encourage people to cycle and walk to work extra safety measures will be put in place.

Mr Shapps also said the public transport capacity will be severely restricted to just a tenth of what it was before the lockdown and emerging from lockdown will be a "gradual process".

May 8 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Environment Secretary George Eustice and National Medical Director of NHS England Professor Stephen Powis:

The Environment Secretary insisted the government would continue with Brexit, despite the ongoing pandemic.

Mr Eustice said: "We're still going ahead with it. Brexit is in fact something that happened in January."

When asked what Boris Johnson would be discussing in his speech on Sunday, May 10, 2020, Mr Eustice revealed the prime minister would unveil his plans for relaxing lockdown.

He said: "He's going to set out effectively a roadmap of how we can evolve our restrictions at the moment. There isn't going to be any dramatic overnight change.

Regarding fast food restaurants, he explained they're not essential but could operate "safely" in the current climate.

The Environment Secretary urged Brits to stay at home this weekend, despite the predicted warm weather.

He said it is "vitally important" the public continues to follow guidelines in spite of the "sunny bank holiday weekend".

May 7 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab:

Mr Raab confirmed that the UK death toll has hit 30,165 after an increase of 539 fatalities since yesterday

He also confirmed that 86,583 tests carried out yesterday, with 5,614 positive new cases

Mr Raab said the virus is not beaten yet despite a fall in the death rate

He said: The virus is not beaten yet. It remains deadly and infectious Because we held firm three weeks ago we are in a position where we can start to think about the next steps. To get this right we will have milestones. At each point when we take these decisions they will be based on the five steps and the scientific advice.

Mr Raab thanked the British public and the NHS for a monumental effort, as he confirmed the UK has "passed the peak" of the virus.

May 6 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab , accompanied by medical director of Public Health England Prof Yvonne Doyle, and medical director of NHS England Nikki Kanani:

Mr Jenrick said 69,493 tests were carried out yesterday, meaning the the government has missed the target of 100,000 tests a day for the fourth day in a row.

He said there have now been 30,076 total confirmed coronavirus deaths, after 649 people died yesterday.

He also said that 67 million PPE items were delivered in England in April.

The Housing Secretary said Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out on Sunday how the government plans to move ahead and level up despite coronavirus.

He added that his department will help local communities recover, looking at ways to make public transport safer.

Dr Kanani emphasised that NHS primary care services were still there for people to use, although more consultations will be over the phone or online.

Prof Doyle said it might take a year to get figures that fairly compare countries' coronavirus death rates.

Mr Jenrick said it was a difficult time for faith groups, but added that it is right to stick to medical advice.

He said it was "not right" that some families were not allowed to attend funerals, and added that his department has allowed people to hold small family funerals.

The Housing Secretary said he believed the 3.2bn given to councils so far is enough to meet their needs, and they should continue to do essential work.

He took questions from local media, adding that the "local press are under significant financial pressure" and urging people to buy newspapers.

May 5 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and deputy Chief Scientific Adviser Angela McLean:

Mr Raab announced that the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK in hospitals, care homes and the community has increased by 693 to reach a total of 29,427.. 

He added that the next phase of the coronavirus crisis won't be easy.

Mr Raab confirmed that the update on the lockdown measures will come later this week, but added the country will need to adapt to a new normal.

The Foreign Secretary warned that cyber criminals are exploiting the coronavirus crisis, and targeting organisations who are helping in the fight against the pandemic.

Mr Raab said the government are aware of the cyber threat and will take steps to mitigate the harm.

It comes as the UK's coronavirus death toll passes 29,000 after England recorded another 366 deaths in hospital.

May 4 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

Mr Hancock said the contract tracing app would go live in the Isle of Wight. It will alert people if they have been in contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus. 

The Health Secretary said each of the 80,000 households on the Isle of Wight will get a letter on Thursday from the chief nurse with information about the trial. Islanders will then be able to install the app.

Mr Hancock urged Isle of Wight residents: "By downloading the app you are protecting your own health, you are protecting the health of your loved ones and the health of your community."

He added that he would hire more than the 18,000 contact tracers already being recruited if needed.

He also said that while the contact tracing scheme would help the government to suppress the coronavirus, lockdown measure could be eased before the national system was put in place.

Mr Hancock said that 85,186 coronavirus tests were carried out in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday morning - meaning the government was again under its 100,000 tests a day target.

Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said scientists did not yet know whether people who have had coronavirus develop immunity - but the "overwhelming majority" of people who have had the disease have antibodies, a precursor to immunity.

Mr Hancock said that as he had formerly had the virus, he was participating in trials to check his antibody levels. But the Health Minister added that he would not feel confident going into a crowded room, because he could not know for certain that he was immune.

Prof Van-Tam also said the number of cases was still too high. "We have to get the cases lower, he added.

May 3 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove:

Mr Gove said more than 200,000 key workers and their families had been tested for coronavirus. He said criteria for testing had been extended beyond key workers to anyone over 65 displaying symptoms and anyone who has to travel to get to work.

The Government said it is increasing "spread of distribution and supply" of personal protective equipment (PPE). Mr Gove added: From February 25 to May 2 we had delivered over 1.08 billion items of PPE across the health and social care system within England. And tens of millions more have been distributed by our colleagues in the devolved administrations. This overall figure includes 149 million masks, 173 million aprons, two million gowns and 614 million gloves. On May 2 alone we delivered an additional 20 million items of PPE within England. He added there is much more to do.

The Cabinet Office minister said the Government had committed 100 million for remote learning for those who need it most and 180 video lessons per week were being supplied through the newly launched Oak National Academy.Were particularly keen to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children to carry on with their education during the pandemic, he said.

Mr Gove said that 90 per cent of rough sleepers known to councils have been given an offer of accommodation since the end of March,

Providing an update on work that was being done to help vulnerable people, he said the Government was nearing delivering its one-millionth parcel of essential food.

When asked if he agreed with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps that lives could have been saved if testing had been in place earlier, Mr Gove said the Government will reflect on what we did right and what we did wrong.This Government like all governments will have made mistakes, but it will be impossible to determine exactly which were the areas of gravest concern until some time in the future when we have all the information that we need, he said.

NHS Englands national medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, said the exact date of the peak of coronavirus in the UK "cant really be precisely answered.He explained: Theres been a series of peaks  theres been peaks in deaths, peaks in hospital admissions and peaks have occurred at different times around the country because different regions of the country have been in different stages. However, he added: I think broadly we saw that plateauing of a variety of measures around the middle of April.

Mr Gove said the easing of lockdown restrictions had to be done in a cautious fashion. He added: The transport secretary (Grant Shapps) was right to say that we can begin to see perhaps more people use public transport, but provided they are helped to stagger or to control the times when they use public transport, in the way that people have already adjusted to how they might use supermarkets and food shops and so on.

May 2 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick:

Mr Jenrick announced a package of more than 76 million in new funding to support the most vulnerable in society, including survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, vulnerable children, and victims of modern slavery.The Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary said: This additional support will ensure more safe spaces and accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse and their children, and the recruitment of additional counsellors for victims of sexual violence.

Announcing that victims of domestic violence will get priority access to local housing, Mr Jenrick said: For some in our society these measures involve sacrifices that none of us would wish anyone to bear.For victims of domestic abuse it means being trapped in a nightmare.

Mr Jenrick said the Governments Domestic Abuse Bill, which had its second reading in Parliament last week, would create the first ever legal definition of domestic abuse.

Mr Jenrick said more than 5,400 rough sleepers known to councils have been offered safe accommodation in the past month, ensuring that some of the most vulnerable people can stay safe during the pandemic.He said Dame Louise Casey, who is already spearheading the Governments response on rough sleeping, has been appointed to oversee the national effort on helping the homeless.Mr Jenrick added: She will work hand-in-hand with councils and with other groups across the country to plan how we can ensure that as many people as possible can move into the long-term sustainable and safe accommodation that they deserve once the pandemic is over.

Deputy chief medical officer for England Dr Jenny Harries answered a question from Ashley in Yorkshire on whether people can catch Covid-19 twice.Dr Harries said: The WHO (World Health Organisation) position is very similar to the one we would have, which basically says we actually dont have enough information yet to be very clear on the immune status.We know that some people will have different status. We would normally expect to see some sign of immunity about 10-12 days after an infection, and then a very consistent pattern about 28 days.

Mr Jenrick said the Government is considering long-term plans to support people who are shielding at home due to underlying medical conditions which could make them particularly vulnerable to the virus.At the start of lockdown, 1.8 million people in England were asked to stay indoors for 12 weeks for medical reasons.Mr Jenrick acknowledged the huge emotional impact of lockdown on shielded people, adding the Government has been providing 300,000 food box deliveries a week.

Mr Jenrick and Dr Harries were asked if mass gatherings would likely be allowed to resume before pubs are permitted to reopen when the lockdown is eased.Mr Jenrick said it is right to say that the rate of transmission of the virus is significantly less outdoors, and when lockdown measures are eased that will be a factor to be considered.Dr Harries agreed that generally, outdoor environments are safer, but said it depends how you go to your outdoor environment and what you do. She explained: If you go as a family unit and sit in one place and youve got the same exposure there that you would in your house at home, thats probably quite a safe environment.If you go with a whole load of friends that you havent seen from before the coronavirus lockdown, sit in a pub in a very small environment, lean well over each other on the table and stay there for some hours face-to-face, thats really not a good thing to do.

May 1 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock:

Mr Hancock confirmed the Government has reached its target of 100,000 tests per day. He said it was an "incredible achievement" and added the milestone will help "unlock the lockdown".

The Health Secretary said the Government was prepared to increase the number of staff needed for the track-and-trace operation that was being rolled out. He told the room: By mid-May, we will have an initial 18,000 contact tracers in place, he said. That work is underway as we speak and if it needs to be bigger, we will scale it as required. The combination of contact tracers and new technology, through our new Covid-19 NHS app, will help tell us where the virus is spreading and help everyone to control new infections.

NHS Englands national medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, said new coronavirus cases had increased a bit in recent days, but that the increase in testing was likely to be behind it. He said: Overall I think the number is relatively stable and that is a good sign and reflects that the level of infection is falling.

Prof Powis said officials will be studying whether stricter measures will or will not have to continue to apply to the elderly when the lockdown is eased. He said: The over-70s can be absolutely fit and healthy, its not the case that everybody over 70 has a chronic health condition or underlying disease."

Prof Newton said there was evidence of a small but important discrepancy when it came to the number of people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (BAME) that had died of coronavirus.The statistics do show increased rates in some people from ethnic backgrounds, he said. The effects are relatively small, although very important, and we do need to also look at other aspects of the virus" NHS staff from BAME backgrounds are being offered specialised assistance, he confirmed.

April 30 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led the briefing for the first time since his hospitalisation with coronavirus. He was accompanied by Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty: Mr Johnson said the UK was "past the peak" of the outbreak of coronavirus, although the number of confirmed cases rose sharply by more than 6,000 and there were an additional 674 Covid-19-related deaths reported in hospitals

The Prime Minister also promised a "comprehensive plan" next week on how the lockdown will be lifted, after a Number 10 spokesman said earlier on Thursday that restrictions will be in place for some time

He added that the use of face masks in public may be advised when the UK comes out of lockdown, bringing the UK more in line with other European countries like France and Germany, days after Health Secretary Matt Hancock and senior cabinet minister Michael Gove expressed skepticism about masks

Sir Patrick said the remdivisir drug, which is used to treat ebola and now being tipped in the US for use on coronavirus patients, is effective on "a particular part" of the virus

Mr Whitty acknowledged concerns about deaths from other causes increasing because of the coronavirus outbreak

He said: Its not just cancers, we are very concerned that there has been a fall away in people coming to accident and emergency with things like strokes and heart attacks"

April 29 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, accompanied by director of health protection for Public Health England Yvonne Doyle and deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam:

Mr Raab confirmed the total UK coronavirus death toll, which now includes care homes and non-hospital deaths, to be 26,097.

He added that deaths in hospitals have fallen.

Yvonne Doyle described the decreasing hospital death rate as "broadly good news".

Mr Raab said the government was now carrying out 73,000 virus tests per day.

He said the UK would continue to source PPE and ventilators at home and abroad.

The Foreign Secretary also congratulated the Prime Minister on the birth of his son.

Hancock announced testing would be expanded to all care home residents and staff and all over-65s with symptoms and their households.

April 28 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, flanked by Angela McLean, chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Hancock announced testing would be expanded to all care home residents and staff and all over-65s with symptoms and their households

Mr Hancock said the death toll for people who have died with coronavirus in care homes will now be announced daily.

He said that it was still too early to say when schools might reopen.

The Health Secretary added an existing drug was on Tuesday entering an early clinical trial phase to treat coronavirus.

He also said the Government was on track to meet the goal of 100,000 tests a day and now had the capacity to carry out more than 70,000 tests a day.

Professor Angela McLean, the deputy chief scientific adviser, said the latest data showed coronavirus hospital admissions and deaths in hospitals were falling.

April 27 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, alongside Prof Chris Whitty the governments chief medical adviser:

Mr Hancock said the NHS will restart some vital services, including cancer care, from tomorrow.

He also said there were 3,190 spare critical care beds.

He said that the government has a "lot of work" to do to hit its 100,000 a day testing target, but added that the government would be able to run a contract tracing system using the tests.

Mr Hancock said the government was "broadly where we expected to be" in terms of testing capacity. According to the latest figures , 29,068 tests were carried out in Britain over the 24-hour period between 9am on Friday and Saturday 9am.

Families of NHS and social care workers who die while working to combat coronavirus will receive payments worth 60,000, Mr Hancock announced. Mr Hancock yesterday confirmed that 82 NHS workers and 16 social workers have died during the pandemic.

Mr Hancock said he was "very worried" by reports that children have needed intensive care treatment for a condition linked to coronavirus.

He did not rule out the government introducing quarantine for travellers arriving in Britain in the next stage of the pandemic.

Prof Whitty said the pandemic had "a very long way to run", and implied that the death toll would have further peaks as social distancing measures begin to ease.

April 26 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Environment Secretary George Eustice, alongside Prof Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England:

Mr Eustice said Brits have stopped panic buying in supermarkets, explaining that "at the beginning of the outbreak of this virus we saw significant problems in panic buying", but food availability is now "back to normal levels".

He said that half a million food parcels have been delivered to the most vulnerable Brits, adding "so far, 500,000 parcels have been delivered to the shielded group, that is those who cannot leave home at all due to a clinical condition they have."

Mr Eustice said the number of food delivery slots has increased by 500,000 since the pandemic started, with supermarkets looking to increase capacity to 2.9 million in the coming weeks.

However, he cautioned that "it will still not be enough to meet all of the demand that is out there."

Mr Powis focused on the increase in car use.

He said: "There is maybe a hint of maybe a little bit of an increase in the use of motor vehicles, and, as I said yesterday, we need to ensure that this does not mean that we are not continuing to comply with the government instructions on social distancing."

April 25 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Home Secretary Priti Patel, Prof Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, and Lynne Owens, director general of the National Crime Agency:

Ms Patel said despite crime overall being down, "the most sophisticated" criminals are seeking to "exploit and capitalise" on the coronavirus pandemic

The Home Secretary said: "Our world class law enforcement is also adapting and they are on to you."

She referred to a Border Force raid which seized 1m of cocaine concealed in a shipment of face masks as well as websites carrying out phishing scams and selling bogus PPE and test kits.

She also said police have received 1,300 reports of child sexual exploitation.

Apparently, among the criminals trying to exploit others were two people allegedly trying to sell unregistered coronavirus testing kits.

Losses to coronavirus-related fraud currently stand at 2.4m

The Home Secretary criticised the "dangerous driving" of a minority of drivers, who are using quiet roads as their "own personal race track". She said drivers had been witnessed at 150mph on the M1 and 134mph in a 40mph zone within London.

Director general of the National Crime Agency Lynne Owens says serious and organised criminals are looking to take advantage of these unprecedented time.

Ms Patel also paid tribute to the selfless front-line workers who have been struck down" and says their sacrifice "will not be forgotten.

Stephen Powis said it is important people continue to adhere to social distancing. He said it would be "foolish" if the UK lost the benefits it has gained in recent weeks.

April 24 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Dr Jenny Harries, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England:

Mr Shapps urged people to stay at home over what is expected to be another warm and sunny weekend.

He confirmed the government would keep airport scanning and temperature checks under review, saying the amount of flights coming into the UK is only "about 4 per cent" from before lockdown.

He referred to the government's efforts to bring Britons back from overseas, confirming there are "no British holidaymakers stranded on cruise ships anywhere in the world".

As the roads have been busier across the country, the public was urged to only "travel if you need to".

The public was also urged to only "travel if you need to" as the Deputy chief medical officer for England said roads have been busier across the country.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Boris Johnson is "on the mend in a big way" and described the Prime Minister as being in an "ebullient" state while recovering at his Chequers country retreat

A decision is yet to be made regarding Mr Johnson's return to No. 10

Around 16,000 coronavirus tests were booked by essential workers via the new online system.

April 23 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England Professor John Newton and Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance:

Mr Hancock said that people whose work is critical to the Covid-19 response, and those they live with, will be able to register for a test if they have symptoms

This means that millions of people, including NHS and social care staff, police officers, teachers, social workers, undertakers, journalists and those who work in supermarkets and food production are among those now eligible for a test

The Health Secretary added that the Government will hire 18,000 people to carry out contact tracing, to help track the spread of the virus

Professor John Newton said that the Government was on track to meet its target of 100,000 tests performed each day by the end of April

Sir Patrick Vallance said that hospitalisations from coronavirus were flat or declining in most of the UK

Sir Patrick added that deaths would continue to be flat for around two weeks, before starting to drop

April 22 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, flanked by Chief of Defence Sir Nick Carter and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty:

Dominic Raab said the UK "is not out of the woods yet" in its battle against the virus

Mr Raab also paid tribute to the armed forces, who have helped build the NHS Nightingale field hospitals

Chris Whitty warned social distancing measures are likely to be in place for the "next calendar year", as Mr Raab admitted it will be weeks before ministers "think about" an exit strategy from lockdown

Sir Nick Carter said dozens of military personnel have been bolstering the national effort to deliver PPE to the NHS frontline, adding that their work, "the single greatest logistical challenge" in his career, have seen about 50,000 more locations receive supplies.

April 21 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Matt Hancock:

Mr Hancock said lockdown is working and the spread of coronavirus is slowing down. He reassured the nation that "if you or someone you love needs hospital care with COVID-19, then you will always get that care."

Human coronavirus vaccine trials will begin in the UK on Thursday. Mr Hancock said the country is throwing "everything we've got" at developing a vaccine". He added that tests at Oxford University and Imperial College London were making rapid progress. The government has also given more than 40 million to these projects.

The health secretary said there is a record high of 2,963 spare critical care beds available across the NHS. He added: "At no point in this crisis has anyone who could benefit from critical care been denied that care because there werent enough staff, or beds, or ventilators to treat them".

The health secretary said he looked forward to hearing from the Governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) after a meeting on whether the public should wear facemasks. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said Sage was keeping the evidence under review and would change the advice if they felt the evidence warranted that but added that enough PPE for health and social care workers was of prime importance.

Mr Hancock denied the UKs failure to take part in an EU scheme to procure equipment to tackle coronavirus was a political decision as claimed by the Foreign Offices top civil servant Sir Simon McDonald. He said: I havent seen that exchange but I have spoken to the Foreign Secretary and as far as Im aware there was no political decision not to participate in that scheme. We did receive an invitation in the Department of Health and it was put up to me to be asked and we joined so we are now members of that scheme. However, as far as I know that scheme hasnt a single item of PPE (personal protective equipment).

Mr Hancock said he was determined to ensure that all staff had the personal protective equipment that they need. He said the Government was working to expand its supply base in the UK and overseas and had entered direct talks with the factories that produce the PPE and the fabric that it is made of. He said 8,331 companies had come forward with offers of PPE  some of which had led to very large-scale purchases. He said: I am very grateful to all of those who have come forward and we are now actively engaged with hundreds of these companies. I can announce that we are working with 159 potential UK manufacturers which are starting to come on stream.

Mr Hancock defended the Governments approach to dealing with UK companies offering to supply PPE, saying checks were needed on companies offering their services.We are always trying to improve the processes we have in place to make purchases, he said before adding But we have had to make sure we sort out the creditable offers from those that are not."

April 20 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, scientist Angela McLean and public health specialist Yvonne Doyle:

The Chancellor said PPE shortage were an international challenge for all countries, and added the government is working hard to ensure NHS staff get the PPE they need.

He added that the government is "working to resolve the Turkish shipment following unexpected delays."

Mr Sunak said today the UK "unloaded 140,000 gowns from Myanmar", and the government are continuing to pursue "every possible option" for procurement

He added that medics "deserve to have the equipment they need to do their job safely".

Moving on to the furlough scheme, the Chancellor said more than 140,000 firms have applied for grants from the UK government's furlough scheme. These grants will help pay the wages of more than a million people, with the government aiming to keep as many people as possible in their existing jobs.

Dr Yvonne Doyle then confirmed 12 million pieces of PPE were delivered to 141 trusts over the weekend, but added "it is a concern, we want people to have what they need."

She said the situation is challenging due to the "very high burn rate" but authorities are working to secure more items

Mr Sunak said the UK has now carried out 501,379 tests for coronavirus, with 19,316 tests carried out yesterday.

April 19 updates:

Here is a summary of the April 19 briefing led by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, flanked by Dr Jenny Harries, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England:

The Education Secretary apologised directly to young people for the disruption to their learning, as he admitted "I can't give you a date" on when schools will reopen.

Ahead of the first day of summer term for many state schools, Mr Williamson said they would not reopen until the Government's five tests had been met.

However, Mr Williamson added: "There are currently no plans to have schools open over the summer period."

He also announced a raft of measures to support online learning for pupils, including free 4G routers in homes and IT equipment for disadvantaged children, as the Oak National Academy prepared to deliver its first day of virtual lessons.

Defending the PM against criticism over him missing five emergency Cobra meetings during the pandemic, Mr Williamson said "many Cobra meetings" are led by departmental ministers.

He added: The focus the Prime Minister was putting on this and has continued to put on this has meant that this is the whole Government effort.

Dr Jenny Harries declined to say whether or not Britain had passed the peak but insisted the country's containment plan had been "very successful".

April 18 updates:

Here is a summary of the conference from April 17:

April 17 updates:

Here is a summary of the conference from April 17:

A task force has been launched to develop a vaccine in the UK.

The importance of a vaccine was detailed by Sir Patrick Vallance.

Mr Sharma said: I can announce today that the Government has set up a vaccines taskforce to co-ordinate the efforts of Government, academia and industry towards a single goal  to accelerate the development of a coronavirus vaccine.

He added: This taskforce is up and running and aims to ensure that a vaccine is made available to the public as quickly as possible."

April 16 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Foreign Secretary, and First Secretary of State, Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson:

Mr Raab confirmed the lockdown extension.

He said: There are indications the measures put in place have been successful. We still don't have the infection rate as far down as we need to. Any change to our social distancing measures now, would risk a significant increase in the spread of the virus and could lead to a second peak. The government has decided the current measures must remain in place for the next three weeks.

He continued: "It would not be responsible to prejudge the evidence. I can reassure people we carefully follow what is happening in other countries.Ultimately we've got to do what is right for the British people. That's what we've done so far, and that's what we will continue to do. I appreciate the impact of these measures are considerable. We know it's rough going at this time. I know that together, united, we must keep up this national effort for a bit longer, especially when we see our efforts are beginning to pay off. We are now at a delicate and dangerous stage in this pandemic.

The lockdown has now been extended until Thursday May 7.

April 15 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Prof Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, and Prof Angela McLean, the UKs deputy chief scientific adviser:

Mr Hancock thanked everyone for staying at home, saying: Together we are slowing the spread of this virus.

He also paid tribute to Captain Tom Moore, 99, who ha raised more than 12m for the NHS by completing 100 laps of his garden.

Mr Hancock revealed a four-part plan to address a growing crisis in care homes - 2,000 of which have already seen an outbreak of the virus.

Focusing on social care he said: Our goal throughout has been to protect residents. We will do whatever it takes.

He announced that now all symptomatic care home residents will be tested, and there'll be testing for all workers and their households. He also said there will be more PPE for workers, supplied directly by the Royal Mail.

Mr Hancock said: We're today introducing a single brand for social workers to symbolise the entire care profession.

He then showed a 'badge of honour' which will allow social care staff to proudly and publicly identify themselves.

April 14 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, flanked by National Medical Director of NHS England Stephen Powis and Professor Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England medical director:

Mr Sunak warned of more "tough times" ahead with the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis.

He insisted the economy will "bounce back" from the unprecedented lockdown, but added: "As I have said before, we cannot protect every business and every household."

Reacting to an OBR report that warned GDP could fall 35 per cent, the Chancellor said: "We won't stand back and let this happen."

Mr Sunak and Prof Doyle said work was underway to fasten data-recording for deaths in care homes, which are currently collected by the Office for National Statistics but not included in the daily tolls.

The Chancellor added: "There's absolutely no desire not to respect what's happening in care homes and to provide that data."

April 13 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by First Secretary of State Dominic Raab, Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty:

Mr Raab thanked the public for staying at home, saying: We thank you, we pay tribute to you, and we are immensely proud of all you're doing.

He added: The overwhelming majority of people stayed at home and understood the importance of doing so.

Mr Raab continued to ask people to stick to the guidelines, in order to protect the NHS, saying otherwise the virus will spread faster and kill more people.

He stated that the government's plan is working, and urged the public to adhere to social distancing measures in place.

Regarding lockdown, he doesn't expect any changes this week.

Later, he added: Weve still got a long way to go  Weve still not passed the peak of this virus".

The government's chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance said measures will only be lifted "when we are firmly the other side" of the peak, with numbers coming down.

April 12 updates:

Here is the summary of the briefing held by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Public Health England Medical Director Yvonne Doyle:

Mr Hancock said: "Today marks a sombre day in the impact of this disease as we join the list of countries who have seen more than 10,000 deaths related to coronavirus."

He added: "The fact that over 10,000 people have now lost their lives to this invisible killer demonstrates just how serious coronavirus is and why the national effort that everyone is engaged in is so important."

He said that more had to be done to curb the spread of the virus - but said there had been a "record" number of PPE had been delivered to frontline workers.

Mr Hancock announced the launch of an app for NHS workers who have shown symptoms.

He confirmed the UK has 9,775 ventilators and Britain has 2,295 spare critical beds, adding: "There is more capacity now for critical care than before coronavirus".

Yvonne Doyle claimed Britain is "tracking" France and "close" to Italy in its coronavirus death toll - but said hospital admissions in London were "stabilising".

She added: "But on the other hand for Great Britain we start to see other areas increasing, particularly the North West and Yorkshire. Its very important that the message about staying home and social distancing is adhered to because we are certainly not past this crisis damage yet.

April 11 updates:

Here is the summary of the briefing held, for the first time, by Home Secretary Priti Patel, alongside Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council Martin Hewitt, and National Medical Director of Public Health England Stephen Powis:

Ms Patel said the government's priority was to slow the spread of the virus, "so that fewer people are sick at any one time and our brilliant NHS remains able to do cope".

She continued: "as this virus continues to devastate families across the nation my thoughts, prayers and heartfelt condolences are with their family, friends and loved ones."

The Home Secretary also said police would act if rules were broken, adding: "If you don't follow the guidance you will be endangering the lives of your own friends, family and loved ones. There is just one simple thing we ask you all to do: that is to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives."

Professor Powis said that patients with non-coronavirus related concerns should still attend hospital.

He added: "The NHS is open for business and capable of managing people with a wide range of illness."

He also revealed that a drug treatment could come before a vaccination.

April 10 updates:

Here is the summary of the briefing held by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Jonathan Van-Tam and Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May.

With the Easter bank holiday approaching, Mr Hancock urged the nation to maintain social-distancing after some Brits flouted the rules, and encouraged "everyone to stay at home".

Regarding NHS workers, he announced there is the capacity to test key social carers and NHS staff for Covid-19.

He also used the address to update the public on Mr Johnson's health and said the Prime Minister's "condition continues to improve."

He added: "Our amazing NHS staff have given our PM the very best care possible, in the same way they'd give anyone the best care possible. It doesn't matter who you are, the NHS is there to care for you."

April 9 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance:

Sir Vallance spoke of how social-distancing is minimising the spread of the virus, and relieving NHS workers.

He said: "Social distancing is breaking transmission. It's preventing more people going into intensive care and it will prevent deaths."

Assuring the nation hospitals can cope, he insisted there were "still room in intensive care" and emergency services across the UK.

Mr Raab said people adhering to social distancing rules has meant the UK is "avoiding an even worse situation".

He also praised carers ahead of the Clap for Carers, as well as police officers for their efforts.

Mr Raab said carers and front line workers are "doing an amazing job" and added that the police were "doing a great job".

April 8 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Chancellor Rishi Sunak:

Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed 232, 708 people in the UK have now been tested, with 7,097 deaths, an increase of 938.

He also promised to pump 750 million into the charity sector, with the government to provide 360 million for small, local charities, supporting vulnerable people and providing essential service.

Regarding Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr Sunak said: "The PM remains in intensive care where his condition is improving. He has been sitting up in bed and engaging positively with the clinical team."

Professor Angela McLean, the Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor, showed graphs she said showed "good" and "encouraging" signs about the battle to slow the spread of the virus.

She said: "The rate at which this is rising is definitely getting slower. It looks as though we're getting towards a flat curve there."

However, she added that the number of deaths is expected to keep rising even after "the curve has flattened" for other indicators about the outbreak.

April 7 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab:

In his second day standing in for the PM, Dominic Raab told the nation that his condition in critical care was stable and that he was receiving the very best care.

Mr Raab said: He is not just the Prime Minister. For all of us in Cabinet, he is not just our boss. He is also a colleague and he is also our friend. So all our thoughts and prayers are with the Prime Minister at this time, with Carrie (Symonds) and his whole family.

He added: "And I'm confident he will pull through because if there is one thing that I know about this Prime Minister is he is a fighter and he will be back leading us through this crisis in short order."

He dismissed questions from reporters that there is a gulf at the top of Government with decision making, insisting the Cabinet operates on collective responsibility.

He said he had "total confidence" in the arrangements the Prime Minister had put in place to allow the Foreign Secretary to deputise for him.

April 6 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Professor Chris Whitty, the Governments chief medical adviser, and Professor Dame Angela McLean, deputy chief scientific adviser:

Mr Raab said existing lockdown measures were "beginning to work" in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

He added any shifting of focus could mean "we wont get through the peak as fast as we need to".

Asked when the current social distancing measures could be lifted, Professor Whitty said the Government must first establish when the peak of the epidemic will come.

He warned that to start "having that discussion" before then would be a mistake.

Professor McLean said the growth in Covid-19 hospital admissions "is not as bad as it could have been" had the lockdown not been put in place.

But she added that authorities need to "know how well the current restrictions are working before we can say anything sensible about what the next stage might be".

April 5 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries:

Mr Hancock said that two people he "was fond of" have died as a result of the outbreak.

He said he "cannot rule out further steps" being introduced in terms of social distancing, but none are imminent.

The NHS has more than 9,000 ventilators, but this is being ramped up over the next week to reach a target of 18,000.

He said "key goal" was to keep the number of critical care beds above demand.

Mr Hancock said there are currently more than 2,336 spare critical care beds for the NHS in England.

Dr Harries emphasised the importance of testing in prisons and care homes.

She said PPE guidance has been adapted after seeing a "slightly different prevalence of disease".

Mr Hancock and Dr Harries said there is an adequate supply of oxygen in UK hospitals.

April 4 updates:

Here is a summary of the press conference held by Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove and NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis:

Mr Gove said there was no fixed point at which the Government could say the lockdown will end.

He said there were now more than 8,000 ventilators in the NHS - including 300 from China.

There were 10,984 tests of NHS staff carried out on Friday, Mr Gove said.

He said the Midlands was "a particular area of concern", after it has seen a 47 per cent increase in hospital admissions.

Mr Powis condemned the actions of people acting on a conspiracy theory linking 5G technology to the pandemic.

He said: "It is absolute and utter rubbish and I cant condemn it stronger terms than that."

He said a reduction in transmissions would be reflected in a reduction in infections, hospitalisations and then in deaths.

April 3 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Professor Jonathan Van Tam:

Mr Hancock urged the public to maintain social distancing ahead of a weekend of warm weather.

He said no G7 country has found a home antibody test for the virus that works yet, but sample tests have been ordered.

He said the UK had provisionally ordered 17.5m antigen tests, but he said they will only be used if they work.

He said there is a "clear goal" of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April and 7,000 NHS staff have been tested.

Professor Jonathan Van Tam said there will be further cases of the virus which have not been counted in the official statistics.

He said he has asked the Governments advisory committee to look at the symptom of lack of taste.

He said there are three treatment trials up and running the UK.

April 2 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Professor Stephen Power, NHS England medical director, and Professor John Newton, Public Health England director of health improvement:

Mr Hancock said more beds, staff and equipment are being made available and that 13.4bn of NHS trust debts have been written off.

He announced that he has made 300m available for funding community pharmacies.

He set a goal of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month, outlining a "five-point" plan.

This involves swab testing to check if people already have the virus, using commercial partners such as Amazon and Boots to carry out swab tests, introduce antibody blood tests to check whether people have had the virus, surveillance to determine rate of infection, and building a British diagnostics industry.

He said demand for materials had led to a shortage of both swabs and reagents, saying the swabs issue has been fixed but the reagents issue is still being worked on.

Mr Hancock also acknowledged that most of the NHS staff who had died from the virus had been migrants to the UK.

Mr Powis said there had been a big reduction in the use of public transport, but use of motor vehicles had increased, which he would like to see come down.

He said we are still seeing an increase in infections, but the curve is not getting steeper as time goes on and there is some indication that going forward, it might start to flatten - but this will take a week or two.

April 1 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Business Secretary Alok Sharma and Professor Yvonne Doyle, medical director of Public Health England:

Mr Sharma said Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority have written to the chief executives of UK banks, urging them to make sure the benefits of the Covid Business Interruption Loan Scheme are "passed through to businesses and consumers".

He added the Government had bailed the banks out in the wake of the financial crash of 2008 and it was time for them to "repay the favour" to taxpayers.

Ms Doyle said that 10,000 Covid-19 tests per day were now being carried out and the aim was to get to 25,000 tests by mid-April.

She added the intention was to "get from thousands to hundreds of thousands in the coming weeks".

Ms Doyle also described an uptick in recent motor vehicle traffic as very concerning and urged people to stay at home.

March 31 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove and deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries:

It was said that thousands of new ventilators will be distributed to hospitals across to UK next week.

To help the NHS deal with coronavirus, the Chancellor will waive some taxes on medical equipment.

Medics whose visas will expire before October 1 will have them automatically renewed.

Around 25,000 people have been tested for the Covid-19 strain by April.

The UK death toll had its biggest daily increase of 381 fatalities.

March 30 updates:

Here is a summary of the briefing held by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Professor Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, and Patrick Vallance, the Governments chief scientific adviser:

Mr Raab announced a 75 million package to help Brits stranded abroad get home if there are no commercial flights available.

Charter flights will bring back UK nationals from 'priority countries' and travellers in countries where commercial flights are still running will be provided with subsidies for tickets.

Partner airlines include British Airways, Virgin, easyJet, Jet2 and Titan and this list will be expanded.

He said around 150,000 British nationals had been helped back from Spain, while 8,500 were brought back from Morocco and 5,000 from Cyprus.

Mr Raab added he was feeling terrific after three fellow Cabinet members were forced to self-isolate, including the Prime Minister, following a positive test for coronavirus or showing symptoms.

Mr Vallance said there had been a dramatic reduction in social contact since lockdown measures were introduced, but number of people being admitted to hospital with coronavirus is going up in a constant amount.

Yvonne Doyle said 170 million items of personal protective equipment had been delivered to hospitals and clinics.

March 29 updates:

Here is a summary of the press conference held by housing secretary Robert Jenrick and deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries:

Mr Jenrick said that an emergency distribution team would be taking personal protective equipment to people who needed it across the country.

The equipment includes 170,000 face masks and ten million items of cleaning equipment, to be taken to "58,000 NHS trusts and healthcare settings".

Mr Jenrick said the team would be supported by the armed forces and emergency services.

The housing secretary added that the NHS would be providing home deliveries of medicines to the most vulnerable, who can sign up online.

Mr Jenrick said that the Government will also deliver food parcels to vulnerable people, with 50,000 to be delivered this week.

Meanwhile Dr Jenny Harries said that the country may not return to "normal" for six months.

She added that while a complete lockdown would not last for six months, social distancing measures should be phased out "gradually" to avoid a second major outbreak.

Dr Harries said that the quarantine measures would be reviewed after three weeks and then again after three months.

She warned that the Government expects virus-related deaths to increase possibly for the next two weeks.

March 28 updates:

Here is a summary of the press conference held by Business Secretary Alok Sharma and NHS England's medical director Professor Stephen Powis:

Mr Powis said that 20,000 deaths related to coronavirus would be a good result for the UK.

He added that "now is not the time to be complacent" about social distancing as the number of deaths continued to rise sharply.

Mr Sharma said that the Government was changing insolvency rules to give companies more flexibility amid the ongoing economic fallout from coronavirus.

He said that "red tape" would be cut to allow companies to produce hand sanitiser within a few days.

March 27 updates:

Here is a summary of the press conference held by held by Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove and NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens:

Senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove said that positive tests for Boris Johnson and health secretary Matt Hancock showed that "we are all at risk" from coronavirus.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster restated the need for social distancing to slow the spread of the virus.

Mr Gove added that people who were key to the Government's response to coronavirus who showed symptoms are tested.

He announced that the Government has brought together universities, businesses and research institutes to boost testing capacity for frontline workers.

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said that testing for frontline NHS workers would begin next week.

Mr Gove added that the Government believed that coronavirus infections has been doubling every three to four days.

March 26 updates:

Here is a summary of the press conference held by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries:

Rishi Sunak announced a "generous and comprehensive" package of support for up to 3.8m self-employed workers.

The scheme will pay a cash grant worth 80 per cent of average monthly trading profit over the past three years, capped at 2,500 a month.

Mr Sunak said the scheme would be available "no later than June".

The scheme is open to anyone with trading profits of up to 50,000 and will be only available to those who make the majority of their income from self-employment.

There is no help available for people who have recently become self-employed.

But Mr Sunak said those who are self-employed can now access Universal Credit in full to help them during the pandemic.

He hinted that he could ask the self-employed to pay more in national insurance once the outbreak is over.

Dr Jenny Harries defended not ordering coronavirus tests earlier, emphasising "every single country is ordering at the same time."

She said the Government may want to test a sample of the population, once an antibody test becomes available, to get a sense of how coronavirus has spread.

March 25 updates:

Here is a summary of the press conference held by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Professor Chris Whitty, the Governments chief medical adviser, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the Governments chief scientific adviser:

Mr Johnson revealed that 405,000 people have signed up to be volunteers for the NHS in less than 24 hours.

Professor Whitty said the coronavirus peak would probably be manageable for the NHS if people kept to the lockdown rules.

He also blamed global shortages for the fact that the Government was not carrying out more coronavirus tests.

Once the Government is confident antibody tests work, they will initially be used for NHS staff.

Mr Johnson said the Government might introduce wartime-style legislation to outlaw profiteering during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some of the social distancing measures might be in place for a reasonably long period of time.

March 24 updates:

Here is a summary of the press briefing held by Matt Hancock and the first where the PM did not make an address to the nation:

Matt Hancock announced that the Government is launching a new scheme to recruit 250,000 volunteers in good health who can help the NHS support the vulnerable.

The Health Secretary also confirmed that a new hospital called the Nightingale Hospital with capacity for 4,000 people will open next week at the Excel Centre in east London after being set up with help from the military.

He added that 35,000 extra NHS staff would be joining the fight against the virus and that 11,788 retired NHS staff responded to the call to return to the service.

The Health Secretary said that enforcement actions would be taken on businesses that remained open despite being ordered to close.

Mr Hancock then announced that a new testing facility would open in Milton Keynes that day and the UK has bought 3.5 million antibody testing kits.

He also said 7.5 million pieces of protective equipment, including facemasks, had been shipped out in the last 24 hours.

March 23 updates:

Here is a break down of what was covered during the Prime Minister's pre-recorded address to the nation on Monday, March 23:

Mr Johnson described the Covid-19 crisis as a "moment of national emergency" and announced sweeping restrictions on public life as part of a nationwide lockdown.

The Prime Minister said the extraordinary measures would become effective immediately.

He added the Government would review the effect of the restrictions in three weeks and relax them if possible.

Mr Johnson confirmed police will have the power to enforce the rules by imposing fines on people who do not abide by them and the right to disperse gatherings.

The Prime Minister also said the Government was "accelerating" search for treatments, "pioneering work on a vaccine" and purchasing millions of coronavirus testing kits.

He warned that "without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope".

March 22 updates:

Here is a break down of what was covered at the press conference on Sunday, March 22:

The public were urged to uphold social distancing measures.

Further information was given about the 1.5 million vulnerable Britons that will be asked to self-isolate for 12 weeks starting on March 23.

Social hubs will be set up to provide supplies for those asked to stay in their homes for the next 12 weeks.

March 21 updates:

Here is a break down of what was covered at the press conference on Saturday, March 21:

The public was urged to not panic buy amid the outbreak.

NHS England medical director said those who did should be ashamed.

The importance of social distancing was reiterated.

Later on:

Mr Johnson warned of the NHS being overwhelmed if the public does not heed social distancing advice.

He said the UK could be a few weeks away from the situation in Italy if people don't follow the guidance.

The Prime Minister encouraged people to not see their parents on Mother's Day , as he urged people to limit their activities.

He said the situation was "stark" and acknowledge the measures imposed had never been seen before.

March 20 updates:

Here is a break down of what was covered at the press conference on Friday, March 20:

Mr Johnson ordered the closure of pubs, bars, restaurants and theatres in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Prime Minist
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer

Gov. Greg Abbott this week issued his strongest order yet in the battle against COVID-19, but stopped short of telling Texans to stay at home. The very next day, however, Abbott said Texans are required to stay home except for essential services.

Plus Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen had strong words for college students who traveled during the pandemic and a Texas congressional candidate in a heavily Asian part of the state lashed out at China in a new TV ad.
Canadian travellers around the world were caught off guard when Canada closed its border last month in light of the escalating threats of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Many were left scrambling to get back to the country as airlines rapidly reduced international flights.

More than a million Canadian citizens and permanent residents heeded Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus call and returned home by air and land in the first week of the border closure.

Since then, a series of repatriation flights have been arranged with the help of the federal government, which has negotiated with airlines and foreign diplomats for exemptions to travel restrictions.

As of Wednesday, Global Affairs Canada said there were 391,451 travellers on its Canadians Abroad Registry.

For a glimpse of the spread of Canadian travellers worldwide, take a look at these numbers, showing the distribution across the continents  at least as of March 30. Not all of these Canadians have requested help to come home; and not all Canadians abroad are registered.

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Tiger King's Rick Kirkham has claimed that the show's star Joe Exotic was actually scared of tigers in real life, despite his image as being aligned with the big cats.

In the Netflix show, journalist and producer Kirkham was seen capturing footage of Exotic's every move over the span of five years, for an ill-fated reality show.

And he has now insisted to Extra's Billy Bush that larger-than-life Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was only around tigers if they were 'blind or sedated'.

Shock claim: Tiger King's Rick Kirkham has claimed that the show's star Joe Exotic was actually scared of tigers in real life, despite his image as being so closely aligned with the big cats

He said of the persona of Joe Exotic, who he brands 'evil': 'You were lured into this surreal world of Joe Exotic and he acted on camera like he ran the world, he wasnt scared of anything...

'He was very scared of the tigers, very afraid. The ones he would get into the cages with were blind or sedated. It was all just a facade.'

Going on to destroy the purported illusion even more so, Kirkham also said that the iconic image of Exotic on his throne surrounded by tigers took some coordinating.

Paws for thought: Tiger King star Joe Exotic is pictured in an undated photograph with one of the tigers at his former park in Oklahoma

Kirkham, who is no longer on speaking terms with Exotic, claimed: 'What people dont know is behind that chair was the actual trainer. Those werent [Joes] tigers.

'Those were someone elses tigers that they could control and he was behind there with a gun and had the tigers chained, because Joe was terrified to get in cages with tigers.'

Had Kirkham's reality TV footage not been destroyed in a suspicious fire on Exotic's Oklahoma property, he believes that audiences would have been watching a far more different series to the version currently on Netflix.

He said: 'It would have been more violent and probably expose a lot more things than what you saw in the documentary series Tiger King. We had footage and Joe knew it. Thats what the argument was about a few days before the fire.

Interview: Kirkham has insisted to Extra's Billy Bush that larger-than-life Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was only around tigers if they were 'blind or sedated'

Footage: In the Netflix show, journalist and producer Kirkham was seen capturing footage of Exotic's every move over the span of five years, for an ill-fated reality show

'I finally told him, "Look, I own you right now" and he got upset, and I said, "If I would let the video out that I have shot of you killing animals in this park, of you tricking people by taking in their animals, you probably would go to jail," and he just went berserk.'

Kirkham's interview comes after the directors of Tiger King claimed Exotic is 'categorically racist' after a clip emerged of him ranting about not being allowed to use the N-word.

Joe, 57, was filmed mouthing off in a bizarre clip about a perceived injustice in not being able to use the racial slur while black rappers can use the racist insult in their music.

Joe is currently serving 22 years for 17 counts of animal abuse and a murder-for-hire plot of his arch-nemesis Carole Baskin, a big-cat campaigner from Tampa, Florida.

Directors of Tiger King, Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin, have confirmed Joe is a 'categorical racist'.

Afraid: Kirkham said of Exotic, 'He was very scared of the tigers, very afraid. The ones he would get into the cages with were blind or sedated. It was all just a facade'

They decided to leave many examples of his bigotry out of the show because they deemed it irrelevant to the story.

Chaiklin told The Hollywood Reporter : 'Joe is a racist, I would say categorically. He said things when we were filming that were very unsettling.'

When asked why the scenes were left out, she said: 'They didn't have a context in the story, but he has a lot to learn.

'I think most of it was ignorance and not having a lot of exposure, and I think he even evolved over the course of the time that we filmed.'

In the original video, which is titled 'Message to Donald Trump Day 29', he starts the rant: 'I can't say the N-word?'

Lured: He said of the persona of Joe Exotic, 'You were lured into this surreal world of Joe Exotic and he acted on camera like he ran the world, he wasnt scared of anything'

'But you can get on Youtube and watch any black man's rap video and they're calling each other the n-word.

'What the hell? Is this discrimination? I'm white and I can't say the n-word and they can?'

He then continues his tirade but refocusing on the Department of Agriculture. The video is 13 minutes long and includes Joe airing his grievances at various leaders and departments in American politics and society.

In an earlier interview, Goode noted that he, and viewers, have a certain degree of sympathy for Joe.

To the Hollywood Reporter, Goode sought to remind Joe's new fans of his previous actions, which he described as 'cruel'.

Bizarre: Exotic made the comments in a bizarre 13-minute video, where he questioned why white people in the US can't say the N-word

'We had empathy for Joe, but Joe did a lot of horrible things,' he said.

'Joe committed some really serious crimes and Joe was not only cruel and inhumane to his animals, he was cruel to the people around him.'

On Thursday, Joe was removed from precautionary coronavirus isolation and transferred to a prison medical centre.

The 57-year-old former zookeeper is currently receiving care at the Federal Bureau of Prisons-operated Federal Medical Centre Forth Worth in Texas, according to inmate records obtained by the New York Post.

According to Joe's fourth husband Dillon Passage, 24, Exotic was being held in isolation at the Grady County Jail in Chickasha, Oklahoma due to his previous jail having had COVID-19 cases.

Pictured: A still from the Tiger King documentary showing Carole Baskin, the arch nemesis of Joe Exotic, animal rights campaigner and CEO of Big Cats Rescue

A Grady County Jail staff member revealed via phone that Joe was 'no longer here at this facility' and that the facility itself has 'no comment' on the matter.

Passage, during an interview with Andy Cohen last Friday, revealed that Exotic was in a '14-day coronavirus quarantine in jail' and had not yet seen the seven-part series based on his dramatic downfall.

But, even without having watched a single scene of the Netflix docu-series, Passage said the attention alone had made Joe an instant fan.

'Joe's the type of person, he loves the attention obviously,' he explained to Cohen during his SiriusXM show.

Passage continued: 'Any kind of fame or spotlight that he has, it was greatly appreciated.'

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness entered Netflix's queue on March 20, was met with immediate popularity, and continues to sit at number one.

The day prior to the docu-series' premiere date, Exotic filed a lawsuit against the federal government and asked president Donald Trump for an official pardon, according to New York Post.

Specifically, the Oklahoma native wants Trump to pardon his murder-for-hire conviction, as well as his Endangered Species Act violations.

The lawsuit, announced on Joe's Facebook page, 'is demanding a combined $94 million from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.'

Joe wrote of his lawsuit: '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.'
Good Morning America

The Biden administration's plan to send 500 million at-home tests to Americans for free is an historic undertaking, but one that will take weeks or months to fully execute, recently released contracts and interviews with seven test manufacturers suggest. Contracts for the first two batches of tests were announced on Friday, one for 13.3 million kits from a health technology company and another for an undisclosed amount from a distribution company in Virginia that had extras on hand -- all to be distributed in an effort to reduce the massive testing shortage in the U.S. Tests won't be available to be ordered through a government website until later this month, the official said, meaning it's unlikely the average American will get free tests delivered in time for the January peak of omicron cases predicted by most models.
With seven vaguely written words in the two trillion (U.S.) federal stimulus law, Congress carved out a special provision for Boeing, one of the nations largest manufacturers.

Boeing isnt mentioned by name in the 880-page bill. But the aerospace giant will qualify for as much as $17 billion in taxpayer relief through this language threaded into the fourth paragraph of page 513 of the CARES Act: businesses critical to maintaining the national security.

Does Boeing need or deserve taxpayer help?

To critics the answer is a sharp no. They note that the company is sitting on $24 billion in cash and has been the source of severe criticism for its actions in the 737 Max crisis, which was dragging down the company well before the novel coronavirus pandemic.

But supporters counter that the aid may be necessary to prevent Boeing from faltering and setting off crushing job cuts across the company and its vast supplier network  and to maintain its role in national defence as a major military contractor. Boeing had about 161,100 employees as of Dec. 31.

Critics of a bailout include former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who resigned from Boeings board in protest.

While I know cash is tight, that is equally true for numerous other industries and for millions of small businesses, Haley said in her resignation letter. I cannot support a move to lean on the federal government for a stimulus or bailout that prioritizes our company over others and relies on taxpayers to guarantee our financial position. I have long held strong convictions that this is not the role of government.

Haley declined to comment further for this story.

President Trump, however, has gone from criticizing Boeing in January as a disappointing company  and targeting the company even before he was inaugurated over the cost of Air Force One planes  to supporting the companys bailout, saying its critical to protect it.

Asked on March 26 whether it was appropriate to give Boeing billions of dollars from the recovery package, Trump said the airline business is a very tough business that must be kept alive.

Trump said, maybe well take a piece of the airlines for the country as part of their bailouts. It was not immediately clear whether he would endorse taking a similar approach with Boeing.

Skepticism of a Boeing bailout isnt without precedent. Bailouts of banks and automakers during the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 spawned a chorus of outrage among critics who said the government should not intervene to rescue companies that failed due to their own missteps.

If Boeing does get help from the government, taxpayers would be stepping in to provide the company with funds to ensure it can survive a double whammy of:

The 737 Max safety crisis, which began in October 2018 when the first of two Max crashes occurred and has cost Boeing at least $18.6 billion so far, including money set aside to deal with future issues and lost orders, the company said in January. The costs stem from the impact of grounding 737 Max planes whose flaws killed 346 people.

A global pandemic that has slowed travel to a trickle. Airlines, which make up a significant portion of Boeings customer base, are widely expected to delay plane deliveries due to the global spread of the virus.

There is a broad consensus that Boeing needs some kind of financial stabilization, said Peter McNally, global sector lead for industrials, materials and energy for Third Bridges Forum business, which provides stock research to investors. For Boeing, the crisis began with the 737 Max, but coronavirus has imperiled the financial health of its key customers, such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last week on Fox Business Networks Mornings with Maria that Boeing hadnt yet requested help.

I appreciate the fact that Boeing thinks they can operate on their own, he said. Thats what we want them to do. The government is only there in case they cant do that.

He left open the door for financial aid to Boeing but said taxpayers will be fully compensated if it happens.

Boeing declined to comment for this story on whether it would pursue a bailout.

The company released a statement thanking Trump, Mnuchin and Congress for taking swift bipartisan action to support the American economy, including Boeing and its suppliers. The bills access to public and private liquidity, including loans and loan guarantees, is critical for airlines, airports, suppliers, and manufacturers to bridge to recovery.

The Treasury Department did not respond to requests seeking comment on how a deal might be structured.

Is a Boeing bailout necessary?

The key question is whether Boeing can stabilize itself, or whether the company needs or should receive the governments helping hand.

In 2019, Boeing posted its first full-year loss since 1997  a total of $636 million  after the safety crisis kept the Max jets grounded while engineers pursued a fix.

The company is clearly facing financial distress, said Seth Crystall, a senior credit analyst at restructuring research firm Debtwire who has been studying Boeings finances. But he said it appears Boeing could take a series of steps to preserve cash without taking a bailout.

After recently drawing a $13.8 billion bank loan, Boeing has about $24 billion in cash on hand, according to Debtwire estimates.

Right away that begs the question  that sounds like a lot of money, why do they need to borrow money from the government if thats the case? Crystall said.

Boeing has access to plenty of money, said longtime aerospace industry analyst Richard Aboulafia, who advises financial institutions on aerospace market conditions for Teal Group. Its just a question of whether the country simply wants to see the economic damage associated with halting jetliner production for a year or two.

Without a bailout, Boeing would likely be forced to temporarily close entire factories to reduce its expenses, Aboulafia said.

In the case of previous companies that received bailouts, they were hemorrhaging cash and didnt have the option of staying afloat with a temporary halt to production, he said.

(Boeing) could lose the factories, fire the workers, have their suppliers close their factories and fire their workers for the duration of the financial crisis to ensure survival, he said. But that would deal another huge blow to the U.S. economy that may be unacceptable given the human and defence consequences.

Still, there are measures the company can take to minimize its need for help.

On Thursday, Boeing offered buyouts to employees in a bid to cut costs, saying it would provide details to workers within three to four weeks.

To preserve cash, the company has already suspended its dividend, which paid out $4.6 billion to shareholders in 2019. It also has suspended its share buybacks, which totalled nearly $21 billion from 2017 through 2019, including $2.7 billion before they were suspended in April 2019. Companies typically do share buybacks to return money to shareholders and boost the value of their stock.

The company is also still moving toward closing a $4.2 billion deal with Brazilian regional aircraft maker Embraer to form a joint venture that would be 80% owned by Boeing. The company views that deal as strategically important for its future, but the deal could be cancelled  and the purchase price pocketed  for a breakup fee of $100 million, Crystall said.

Boeing could also issue stock to shore up its finances, a move that could raise between five billion and $10 billion, Crystall estimated.

So the thought would be they have enough cash to ride this out without a bailout if the company takes aggressive steps to preserve its finances, he said.

But Boeing does not exist in a vacuum since it sells planes to customers like Southwest and Delta, whose daily operations have been limited by the pandemic.

McNally said that if Boeings customers had remained healthy, the urgency for additional funds probably would not exist, but the sudden economic crisis for airlines has plunged the company deeper into the red and necessitated action.

To be sure, the defence division of Boeings business is in better financial shape than its commercial aircraft unit. But defence, space and security represented just over a third of Boeings revenue in 2019, meaning its likely not enough to sustain the company without airline customers coming back.

Boeing was already experiencing a decline in orders from airline customers before the coronavirus crisis began. During 2019, Boeings backlog of orders for commercial planes fell by about eight per cent to about $377 billion. Delivery of finished planes outpaced new orders during the year. The company said in its annual report that orders of new 737 Max planes had declined and that it was at risk of losing significant orders if the planes remain grounded.

For Boeing, the pain could continue for years.

Aircraft purchases wont be significant for another two or three years, at least, Aboulafia said in an email. The only thing that matters is deliveries, which will fall too, but not nearly as drastically as orders.

But orders dont necessarily translate into significant revenue. When airlines order planes, they typically make a down payment of a few percentage points of the value of the purchase, then they make progress payments in the following years that rise up to about half the value of the jet, Aboulafia said. When the airline takes delivery of the plane, it makes the rest of the payment.

As of Dec. 31, Boeing expected to convert only about 17% of its backlog into revenue in 2020, according to a public filing. That has likely fallen since then.

In total, the industry has about 10,000 jets currently on back-order, Aboulafia estimated.

A lot of them are years out, which means theyve only put a couple per cent down, which means their ability to defer or cancel is pretty strong, he said.

Both Boeing and its rival, Airbus, have a large order book that stretches for years ahead, said John Grant, senior analyst for aviation data provider OAG. But he said the companies are likely hoping for airlines to make a reassuring purchase that would help restore confidence.

In previous events such as 9/11 some airlines placed orders at heavily discounted levels that allowed them to secure both places on the production line and really sharp prices, Grant said in an email. And we may see that in the next few months, possibly from Chinese airlines, he added.

Like Boeing, Airbus has taken aggressive steps to conserve cash in recent days. The company announced March 23 that it had suspended its dividend and secured access to a new 15 billion-euro revolving credit facility.

With that financial manoeuvre, the company said it had 30 billion euros in available liquidity.

By maintaining production, managing its resilient backlog, supporting its customers and securing financial flexibility for its operations, Airbus intends to secure business continuity for itself even in a protracted crisis, Airbus said in a statement.

While theres no indication that Airbus is manoeuvring for a bailout, the company said it highly welcomes governmental efforts around the globe to stabilize the aerospace industry, including by providing support to its suppliers.

While Airbus and Boeing are fierce competitors, Airbus hasnt necessarily capitalized on Boeings misfortunes. Since the 737 Max crisis started, some orders were shifted from Boeing to Airbus, McNally said. But nobody of any note shifted any significant orders, Aboulafia said.

Grant said the airlines simply cannot replace a whole fleet of Boeing with Airbus or pivot to a mixed fleet as that just increases operating costs.

Critics assail Boeing management

Critics say Boeings mishandling of the 737 Max crisis and its spending on stock buybacks, dividends and acquisitions increased the companys chances of needing a bailout from taxpayers.

They are also frustrated over comments from Boeings CEO, Dave Calhoun, who told Fox Business on March 24 that Boeing doesnt have a need for an equity stake for the U.S.

They are using it as a cover to address past issues, not only in terms of the 737 Max but just in terms of responsible corporate management, said progressive commentator and Boeing critic Richard Eskow, who writes for the Institute for Public Accuracy and hosts a radio show. As executives, they have a fiscal responsibility to plan for elements of risk. Risk management is part of the job. They failed to do that and instead went on an orgy of self-interest.

The 737 Max was grounded shortly after the March crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight. In October 2018, a Lion Air 737 Max crashed into the Java Sea. Combined, the accidents killed 346 passengers and crew.

In both cases, blame has focused on a new computerized system called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS.

A test pilot for Boeing reportedly knew about problems in the 737 Max development process and spoke of basically but unknowingly lying to regulators, according to records provided to Congress.

Staff are continuing to review these records, but similar to other records previously disclosed by Boeing, the records appear to point to a very disturbing picture of both concerns expressed by Boeing employees about the companys commitment to safety and efforts by some employees to ensure Boeings production plans were not diverted by regulators or others, the company said in a statement in December.

Anger over bailouts for companies that have made missteps is not new. And manufacturers that made considerable mistakes but were deemed crucial to the countrys economic or national security have been bailed out before.

In 2008 and 2009, the U.S. provided about $80 billion to the auto industry, including bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler for which the federal government received partial ownership. The bailouts were credited with saving hundreds of thousands of jobs, but critics said the companies should have been forced to go out of business. Of the total auto industry bailout, about $70.7 billion was repaid, while about $9.3 billion was lost, according to the Treasury Department.

In Boeings case, even the companys critics say Boeing must be preserved as a going concern because it plays a crucial role in Americas national security as a major defence contractor. It also serves as a lifeline for thousands of aerospace suppliers.

In addition to its employees  of whom nearly half work in the state of Washington, where the companys Puget Sound facilities are temporarily closed due to COVID-19  Boeing says it also relies on 17,000 suppliers, such as Honeywell, Spirit AeroSystems and Hexcel.

The aerospace product and parts manufacturing industry accounted for about 486,000 jobs with an average annual salary of $83,740 in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While agreeing that Boeing needs to be preserved to prevent massive fallout, critics argued that government funds, if any, should come with strings attached.

Steve Ellis, president of the advocacy group Taxpayers for Common Sense, said Boeing should not be dictating the terms, calling Calhouns comments the height of arrogance.

It also has to recognize that many of the problems that Boeing is facing are ones of their own making that have nothing to do with the pandemic, Ellis said. The 737 Max was a problem well before anybody even heard of COVID-19 or coronavirus, and they were ham-handed in how they handled that.

Whatever kind of assistance, it shouldnt be trying to make them whole or to fix past misdeeds, he said, adding that Boeing is better equipped to sustain the recession than many other companies.

A U.S. Senate aide familiar with the legislation said that if Boeing chooses to take direct loans, it will be required to provide equity to the federal government, subject itself to limitations on executive compensation and severance and abstain from stock buybacks and dividends. The aide requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Mandy Smithberger, director of the Center for Defense Information at the Project On Government Oversight, a non-partisan watchdog, said the funds for the company are not necessary and questioned whether there would be accountability.

Especially when were talking about a public health crisis, its important to look at whether companies have been responsible and thoughtful about public safety, she said. And I think what weve really learned through the 737 Max was that Boeing was not acting responsibly. They were not putting public safety first.

Boeing has apologized for the fatal crashes and has said it accepts responsibility for the situation.

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Sainsbury plc (JSAIY.PK, SBRY.L) said it will start to remove the customer purchasing limits from Sunday. Previously, the retailer imposed the limits as a response to increased demand during the coronavirus pandemic.



But, limits will remain in place on the most popular items which include UHT milk, pasta and tinned tomatoes.



The retailer has removed limits from Easter eggs immediately as the customers often want to buy more than three and it has plenty of these in all stores and online.



In a letter to customers, Chief Executive officer Mike Coupe is asking everyone to send only one adult per household to shops. This helps the retailer keeps people a safe distance apart and also helps to reduce queues to get into stores.



The store teams will be asking groups with more than one adult to choose one adult to shop and will ask other adults to wait. Children are of course welcome if they are not able to stay at home, Mike Coupe said in the letter.



The company said it now has screens at most manned checkouts. In the next few days it will has finished installing the screens across all manned checkouts in every supermarket, convenience store and Argos collection point.



The company noted that it is continuing to prioritise elderly and vulnerable customers for online delivery slots and customer Careline has helped 170,000 customers, who will now get priority access to online delivery. In total, it has offered priority booking to more than 450,000 elderly or vulnerable customers.



The company is expanding its groceries online service as much and as quickly as it can. Two weeks ago it had 370,000 online grocery slots available. By the end of next week it will have increased this to 600,000 across home delivery and click and collect and we will continue to add more capacity over the coming weeks.



The retailer said it will pay vulnerable employees in full for the recommended 12 weeks self-isolation, including employees who live with extremely vulnerable family members who the government has asked to shield for 12 weeks.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Michael Yeates, his 21-month-old daughter and his wife wait inside an urgent care clinic in Corona on March 10. Both adults battled presumptive cases of COVID-19. (Yeates family)

Michael Yeates came home from work one afternoon in early March to pick up his 21-month-old daughter, Zoe, for swim lessons. His wife was sick, and in the few hours he'd been gone, she'd gotten much worse.

Yeates was coming down with something, too  a cold, he thought  but at that moment he was focused on getting his wife help. From their home in Corona, they called their medical providers nurse help line.

Yeates' wife described her symptoms: shortness of breath, dry cough, fever, body aches, intense fatigue. She explained that she's a labor and delivery nurse at a major hospital in Los Angeles. She had already tested positive for the flu that season.

The nurse on the other end of the line was blunt: Testing wasn't available, but it was likely that Yeates' wife had contracted the coronavirus.

Yeates' wife did not want to be identified by name for fear of the stigma associated with continuing to work as a healthcare provider after recovering from COVID-19.

With that tentative diagnosis, the Yeates family faced a dilemma that haunts parents around the world in these uncertain days of the coronavirus outbreak: What will happen if we're too sick to take care of our child?

A single mother who has contracted the virus, and probably passed it to her child, cannot turn to family or friends during a pandemic without putting them in harm's way. She cannot drop her child off at day care. Two-parent families, many accustomed to the reliable support that a partnership provides, face the same grim possibility.

And even though there will be thousands, maybe millions, of other parents in the same dire position, there are no easy solutions.

New York Times correspondent Dana Goldstein, who battled COVID-19 along with her husband and young daughter, put it this way in a Twitter thread: "This virus turns every household into an island."

That was certainly true for the Yeateses.

They were young, both 36 and healthy, and leaned on the belief that things would stay that way. But within a few days, Michael Yeates fell increasingly ill. When he stood, his limbs seized with pain. He felt as if his skull was being clamped by a trash compactor. Each breath was like trying to draw water from a dry well.

Story continues

"It felt like there was nothing there in my chest," he said.

All the while, the couple avoided confronting the possibility that if both of them suddenly took a turn for the worse, it would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to look after Zoe.

"We talked about the fact that we had no plan," Yeates said, "and could not conceive of a plan."

Yeates went to an urgent care clinic when his breathing became dangerously labored. He was given a shot of prednisone to treat his inflamed lungs. Within the hour, a paper mask given to him by a nurse was damp and torn from the force of his constant coughing.

The day after, Yeates drifted in and out of consciousness. Meanwhile, his wife was still recovering  she would wrestle with a sore throat and fatigue for weeks  but she had to care for little Zoe. Over the next few days, Yeates and his wife, who usually went to bed around 11 p.m., would crash right after Zoe went to bed at 7 p.m. They napped while she napped.

Yeates' wife returned to work when her symptoms subsided, and Yeates was alone with Zoe. He could barely get off the couch. He counted the steps to the kitchen: 20. He gave Zoe food that didn't require preparation, snacks usually reserved for road trips.

Yeates put the toddler in the backyard with her toys and "let her go wild." He gave her paints and paper. "If it meant she wasnt crying, she was allowed to do it," Yeates said. She tore the house apart.

Zoe, accustomed to receiving lots of attention from her dad, whined and tugged on Yeates' beard.

"I was being distant, but I couldn't help it," Yeates recalled. "I cried a few times. I felt like I was failing."

The Yeateses usually depend on their parents, who live nearby, for child care. But his mom and his mother-in-law are in the high-risk category  older than 65 and with underlying health conditions. The Yeateses knew Zoe could be an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. And they couldn't pinpoint anyone else  healthy or not  whom they would be willing to potentially endanger.

"We chose not to think about it, Yeates said. "What the hell are you going to do?"

Cullin and Audrey Wible, parents to three young children in the small New Jersey town of Oceanport, faced this dilemma in late March. Both had presumptive cases of COVID-19 but, like the Yeateses, were unable to get tested.

Cullin, 41, got sick first. He had a 103-degree fever for three days.

"I had aches and pains in places where Ive never hurt before  the joints of my toes, my kidneys," said Cullin, a construction executive. He fluctuated between shivering and profuse sweating as he lay in bed under several layers of blankets.

Cullin's mind raced: "What would we do if both of us got really sick? What if we both developed respiratory symptoms?"

His parents in New Hampshire volunteered to drive down and watch the kids if worst came to worst. "No, that's crazy," he told them. His mom is a cancer survivor in her 60s. Audrey's parents in Ohio were also out of the question.

"We really never concluded what we would do," Cullin said.

Audrey, 37, had a relatively mild case and didn't feel truly sick until it was clear Cullin was turning a corner. She chalks this up to her body knowing that she needed to be there for her kids.

"I seem to hold on for as long as I possibly can, and then when its OK for me to fall apart, thats what I do," said Audrey, who is in remission from Crohn's disease.

Cullin felt like his family had dodged a bullet.

"Ill be honest, its hard to think about," Cullin said, choking up.

The Wibles know that inevitably, others in their community will find themselves in a similar bind but might not be as lucky. They told their church leaders that they're able to help those in need, assuming that they have gained immunity, even if it's temporary.

"We're open to watching other peoples kids," Cullin said. "This is how we need to operate now."

Peter Arcese, a father of three in Brooklyn, began to seriously ponder this issue when his wife, Angela, began experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Angela and Peter Arcese of Brooklyn pose for a photograph with their children. Angela recently experienced severe symptoms of COVID-19. (Arcese family)

Arcese, a trusts and estates lawyer, has helped many clients set up "standby guardianships," a legal tool developed during the AIDS crisis that ensures the care of minor children if parents become incapacitated. But that safeguard wasn't built with a pandemic of this sort in mind, he said. HIV, which causes AIDS, can be transmitted only through sex, blood or breast milk, so there was no danger to people taking in the child of someone with the disease.

As Angela's sore throat progressed to chest aches and ragged breathing, Arcese realized that their standby guardians were all in high-risk segments of the population.

"This goes beyond a problem that law can solve," Arcese said.

As he feared what would happen if he, too, got sick, the 55-year-old imagined communities building mutual aid networks  run by churches and nonprofits  that could help fill the child-care void. The network would be manned primarily by those who have already been sickened by the virus.

"I expect enough people will develop antibodies and volunteers will come forward," Arcese said.

He couldn't think of any other solution.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

The former Minister of State for Youth and Sports, and Agric during the erstwhile Mills Mahama government and the member Of Parliament for Anlo Constituency Hon Kofi Humado on Thursday 2nd April 2020 presented a number of items to the Anloga District Assembly as his quota to the fight against the spread of Coronavirus in the District.

Some of the items presented include infrared forehead thermometers, gallons of hand sanitizer, pieces of nose masks, pieces of hand gloves, Veronica Buckets with bowls.

In a brief statement, the MP assured those gathered that Ghana would surely overcome the deadly virus if we all take the precautionary measures seriously and also report suspected cases within the community to the appropriate authorities.

To handover the items, the MP demonstrated the use of the items and also thanked the people for honouring the invitation.

The District Chief Executive Hon Seth Yormewu who received the items on behalf of the Assembly thanked the MP for his support and also pleaded with other stakeholders to come to their aid since the government cannot do it alone.

The District Director of health who finally received the items on behalf of the health workers thanked the MP and Assembly for their support during this difficult period.

She noted that one of the most essential equipment needed for their work at this time is the infrared forehead thermometer which was presented among the items.

She assured the MP and the entire Assembly that the equipment will be put to good use as we fight the spread of the Coronavirus within the District.

The MP promised more items in the upcoming days when they arrived from Europe.

At the ceremony were some Constituency Executives, some District Assembly workers, members of the public and some health workers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 12:35:51|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Wiping the tombstone, reading out a letter of prayers and offering a bouquet and a cup of tea, a man is performing a ritual typical to a Chinese traditional festival - Tomb-sweeping Day in front of a tombstone in Fushouyuan cemetery park in Shanghai.

"Madam, I am here to pay respects to you on behalf of your children," the man chants while livestreaming the service to the family of the departed.

As this year's Tomb-sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, coincides with a critical stage of China's fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), more Chinese families choose to remember the departed in this way to avoid mass gatherings.

From March 12 to 19, Fushouyuan cemetery park carried out such memorial rituals on behalf of 1,542 families, a substantial increase from past years, said Zhao Yu, who spoke for the cemetery operator.

"While honoring the memory of my late husband, I also contributed to protecting the public," said Pu Zhizhen, a university professor in Shanghai. "I believe he would agree with me remembering him in this way."

In fact, tomb sweeping by proxy enabled by the prevalence of social media and short-video sharing platforms is not something new but has gained popularity among Chinese people in recent years.

"We have been offering the service for several years, helping those who couldn't go to the tombstone to pay respect to their ancestors in person," said Zhang Jingxue, a manager at a cemetery enterprise in Zhuozhou city, north China's Hebei Province.

"A rising number of people choose it this year due to COVID-19," Zhang added.

In an era when more Chinese people opt to migrate to big cities for better career prospects, many find it difficult to make it to their ancestors' graves in their hometowns and pay their respects on the day of Qingming, which falls on April 4 this year.

Also sparking public concerns are traffic jams and environmental costs caused by the surge of travelers for tomb sweeping as well as fire hazards brought by practices including burning incense and setting off firecrackers as part of a typical ritual.

These problems have sent people to explore more cost-effective and environmentally friendly manners to express love and reverence to their departed family members and ancestors.

Many cemetery parks across China like Fushouyuan launched online reservation platforms for the service of tomb sweeping by proxy. The platform allows users to text messages, upload photos and short videos featuring the departed and offer virtual sacrifices as new ways to express reverence, according to Zhao Yu.

"We saw nearly 100,000 users visit our platform in a week after it was launched," Zhao said.

Local authorities for civil affairs also gave support to such platforms. In Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, a reservation function for the service was embedded in the WeChat account of the local civil affairs department, and an operating guide was released on various platforms to encourage the public to choose the service.

In Zhao's eyes, the ongoing epidemic presents an opportunity for online tomb sweeping and green funerals to gain wider recognition. Zhao believes that the traditional funeral service will be transformed as new media technologies make interaction possible at every stage.

"In essence, wherever we are, what matters is our love and reverence for our ancestors and the departed," said Zhang Jingxue.
Gabon on Friday banned the sale and eating of bats and pangolins, which are suspected of sparking the novel coronavirus in China where they are highly prized in traditional medicine.

President Ali Bongo Ondimba also announced the government was planning to lock down the capital Libreville and unveiled an emergency package for those hard hit by the pandemic.

The novel coronavirus is believed to have come from bats, but researchers think it might have spread to humans via another mammal.

Pangolins are critically endangered and have long been protected, but they are sold in the markets of the capital Libreville, as are bats, and their meat is popular.

The central African nation is 88 percent covered in forest and hunting and bush meat have long been a way of life.

The water and forest ministry said the novel coronavirus was a "combination of two different viruses, one close to bats and the other closer to pangolins", and claimed to be quoting a scientific study published in Nature.

Gabon has declared 21 COVID-19 infections, but none from animals, the ministry said.

"A similar decision was taken by the authorities when our country was affected by the Ebola virus -- a ban on eating primates," Forestry Minister Lee White said.

The national parks agency ANPN announced in mid-March that tourists would no longer be allowed to interact with great apes to avoid any risk of contamination by the coronavirus.

The pangolin, the world's most heavily trafficked mammal, also called the scaly anteater, is believed to have possibly been a vector in the leap of the novel coronavirus from animal to human at a market in China's Wuhan city last year.

Its body parts fetch a high price on the black market as they are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, although scientists say they have no therapeutic value.

Gabon has also put in place a raft of measures such as grounding international flights, closing schools and ordering a night curfew to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

On Friday, Bongo said Libreville would be put under lockdown "in the coming days" but gave no precise date.

All but one of Gabon's reported 21 cases are in the city, where a large proportion of the country's two million residents live.

Bongo also announced an aid package of 250 billion CFA francs (380 million euros) to help both individuals and businesses whose livelihoods have suffered because of the crisis.
Although JFS Orlando is closed to the public and is currently not accepting food donations to maintain containment during COVID-19, its services are still operational, including the Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry. The staff is doing everything in their power to meet the needs of its neighbors in Central Florida during this critical time.

Thats why the 2020 Restock Challenge is STILL on! JFS still challenges you to make your donation stretch further. Are you up to the challenge?

During the Restock Challenge (March 1April 15, 2020), The Weiner Family and The Winter Park Wealth Group are generously matching $0.50 for every $1 you donate in name of the fundraiser, with a total match up to $10,000.

That means your $50 donation turns into $75!

Today more than ever, our community needs your support. Please consider participating and joining JFS Orlando in fighting hunger in Central Florida.

To participate, simply mail your donation to JFS OrlandoThe George & Madeline Wolly Center, Attn: Restock Challenge, 2100 Lee Road Winter Park, FL 32789 or go to http://www.JFSorlando.org/Restock-Challenge-2020. Thank you!
The 911 call made in the aftermath of Pop Smoke was shot dead has revealed the blind panic of the people at the scene.

Pop Smoke, 20, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed in a suspected home invasion at a Hollywood Hills home he had rented by a group of masked men at around 4.30am in mid-February.

Witnesses at the scene phoned the emergency services in the moments after the killing and can be heard in a state of pandemonium, wailing in the background as the dispatcher tries to extract information from them.

Pop Smoke is pictured on the day he was killed in an apparent home-invasion at a Hollywood Hills home he was renting in LA last month

The apparent home invasion unfolded at about 4.30am at 2033 Hercules Drive (pictured)

The dispatcher can be heard over and over trying to get the caller's attention.

'Hello? Hello? This is the fire department. Hello? Sir? Hello?', the responder said repeatedly.

A woman pipes up and said she 'heard some scuffle' before the shooting.

Towards the end of the recording, which was obtained by TMZ, a man answers the call but said: 'I don't know what to do! I can't talk to you anymore'.

The responder asks him if he knows what to do but the man shouted 'no!'

In this file photo taken on November 9, 2019 US rapper Pop Smoke performs during the Astroworld Festival at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. - US rapper Pop Smoke was shot and killed in his Hollywood home early on February 19, 2020, US media reported

The dispatcher tries to keep the caller on the line, saying: 'Listen to me. I'm gonna tell you how to help this person.'

The call ends with the caller saying he was unsure of his own safety at the Hollywood Hills home.

A week after the attack, TMZ reported that LA County coroner's office had found Smoke died from a gunshot wound to the torso.

He was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead soon after.

Police are still searching for at least four suspects over a month after the shooting. The band of attackers were seen on surveillance footage at the house moments before gunfire erupted.

Paramedics are seen carting Pop Smoke out of the home after he was shot in a home invasion involving at least four masked men at around 4.30am last Wednesday

Pop Smoke (pictured in January) cancelled a performance just three days before he was killed over alleged concerns there would be gang members present

Law enforcement sources have said investigators believe the suspects targeted the $2.5million home, which Pop Smoke was reportedly renting from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp.

Hours before the shooting, Pop Smoke shared a video on social media which featured the exact address of the home.

Police have not yet concluded whether the attack was a robbery-gone-wrong or a possible gang-related hit, based on the rapper's alleged ties to the infamous Crips street gang.
On a lighter note, members of both parties are using technology to keep in touch with loved ones at just about the same rate. More than three in five Republicans and Democrats said they had video chatted with a friend or family member in the past week.

Of course, there are signs that Democrats and Republicans still see this crisis differently. While most Democrats said the virus had had a negative impact on their mental health, two-thirds of Republicans said it hadnt, according to the Kaiser poll. And unsurprisingly, Republicans were far more likely to trust the president to handle the crisis.

Differences in geography could also be playing some role. Republicans are more likely to live in rural areas, many of which have not been as affected by the virus. And Republican governors have generally been slower to issue stay-at-home orders, meaning a possibly less drastic shake-up in the lives of their residents.

In another poll released Thursday, by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, most Democrats described the national economy as poor, but 65 percent of Republicans said it was still doing well. Independents tend to agree more with Democrats here, and over all, Americans are far more likely to say the economy is in bad shape. That is a huge change from January, when two-thirds of Americans said the economy was doing well in a different AP-NORC survey.

Since January there has been a seven-percentage-point jump in the share of Americans describing their financial situation as poor; 38 percent now do, the AP-NORC poll found.

More than six million people joined the unemployment rolls last week, but were not quite in a depression yet: In the Kaiser survey, 7 percent of respondents said they were unemployed and looking for work. That is far lower than the nearly 25-percent unemployment rate at the height of the Great Depression.

But among all respondents without jobs, 54 percent said they had lost work at the hands of the virus. With the crisiss impact expected to grow only deeper and more widespread over the coming weeks, those numbers will most likely rise.
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A former Andrews Middle School teacher was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison Thursday after pleading guilty in November to one count of attempted receipt of child pornography, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas.

U.S. District Judge David Counts ordered that Gary Lynn Ragland, 59, also pay a $20,000 fine, a $5,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act and, $35,000 in restitution.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 21:24:08|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance for Laos' battle against the COVID-19 epidemic in line with the neighboring country's practical needs.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Bounnhang Vorachith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos.

On behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government and people, Xi extended sincere sympathies and firm support to their Lao counterparts.

Noting that China and Laos are both socialist countries led by Communist parties, Xi said that at a critical moment in China's fight against the coronavirus disease, Bounnhang immediately sent a letter of sympathies to him.

That, along with the brotherly and sincere help from various sections of Lao society, has vividly demonstrated the spirit of the China-Laos community with a shared future, which is characterized by sticking together and helping each other through thick and thin, added Xi.

Stressing that the Chinese people will bear Laos' support in mind, he said he is deeply concerned about the difficulties Laos is facing in its epidemic prevention and control.

The Chinese side sent medical experts to Laos in the shortest time possible and has offered assistance in medical supplies, Xi said, adding that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance.

He said he believes that the Lao people will surely defeat the virus under the firm leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by Bounnhang.

The pandemic has once again proved the importance and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi pointed out, noting that the recent extraordinary leaders' summit of the Group of 20 has sent a positive signal on joining hands against COVID-19 and safeguarding the stability of the global economy.

China, he said, will continue to work with the international community, including Laos, to contribute to defeating the epidemic at an early date.

Meanwhile, China stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Laos and advance bilateral cooperation in line with the action plan on building the China-Laos community with a shared future, added Xi.

He called for concerted efforts to deepen exchanges on experience in party and state governance, steadily push forward such major projects as the China-Laos railway and economic corridor, promote people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs.

In doing so, he said, the two countries can continuously deliver more solid outcomes in the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future and create greater benefits for the people in both countries.

Xi also wished the 11th congress of the LPRP to be held early next year a great success.
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Billions of people are under lockdown orders to limit the spread of coronavirus, forcing them to find creative ways to stay in shape at home -and a group who spends months in isolation has come to their aid.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) posted a video on Twitter sharing their workout routine from 250 miles above the Earth.

NASAs Jessica Meir took the public on a tour of their makeshift equipment which includes a vacuum system that is similar to free-weights, a treadmill with bungee cords and a stationary bike without a seat or handlebars.

Studies have shown that exercise is vital only to your physical health but also to your mental well-being, Meir said in the clip.

You may need to get a little bit creative to get that heart rate elevated while at home without heading to the gym, but we are confident you can come up with something.

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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) posted a video on Twitter sharing their workout routine from 250 miles above the Earth. NASAs Jessica Meir (pictured) took the public on a tour of their makeshift equipment which includes a vacuum system that is similar to free-weights, a treadmill with bungee cords (pictured) and a stationary bike without a seat or handlebars

The coronavirus, which began in China December 2019, has forced around 20 percent of the worlds population into their homes either by way of stay-at-home or quarantines.

Nearly every country has been infected by the disease  there are more than one million cases in the world and the death toll has surpassed 55,700.

During this anxious time, many are looking for ways relieve stress and have turned to exercise.

However, being stuck at home can be difficult to get a great workout in, but Meir and her team have shared their routine while they are also spending time in isolation.

Aboard the ISS is the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (aRED), which, according to Meir, is the crews one-stop weight machine that uses two large vacuum tubes to generate the resistance

The system uses a piston and flywheel system to simulate free-weight exercises in normal gravity to work all the major muscle groups through squats, dead lifts and calf raises. Astronauts have reported see similar results to using free-weights

Exercising in space poses unique challenges, but without exercise, astronauts can lose up to 15 percent of their muscle mass, some of it permanently.

Aboard the ISS is the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (aRED), which, according to Meir, is the crews one-stop weight machine that uses two large vacuum tubes to generate the resistance.

The system uses a piston and flywheel system to simulate free-weight exercises in normal gravity to work all the major muscle groups through squats, dead lifts and calf raises.

Astronauts have reported see similar results to using free-weights.

While aRED's primary goal is to maintain muscle strength and mass, resistive exercise also helps astronauts increase endurance for physically demanding tasks such as space walks, NASA explained in a statement.

The crew also needs to do some cardiovascular exercises, which is done using a small treadmill or stationary bike but they are different than what you see at your own gym.

The crew also needs to do some cardiovascular exercises, which is done using a small treadmill or stationary bike but they are different than what you see at your own gym. NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan (pictured) is strapped in a harness that is connected to bungee cords

Another piece of equipment is the team's stationary bike (pictured), which does not have a seat or handlebars. Andrew Morgan holds on to handles on the wall in order to stay on the bike

The treadmill aboard the ship is designed to allow astronauts to run without vibrating the equipment.

It is also equip with a harness that is connected to bungee cords, which keep the runner in place while in the microgravity.

One of the interesting thing we like to point to people on the ground that it is a bicycle, but we dont have a seat and we dont have handle bars, Meir said as she strapped herself into the bike and grabbed onto handles attached to the wall.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly who spent nearly a year on the ISS has also shared his best advice for surviving isolation.

The retired astronaut spent a total of 520 days on the space station, with his longest mission lasting 340 days from March 27, 2015 to March 1, 2016.

NASA Flight Engineers Andrew Morgan and Jessica Meir flank Expedition 62 Commander Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos for a playful portrait in the weightless environment of the International Space Station. The team hopes their message will help those living on Earth through this hard time of isolation

The International Space Station (ISS) is a $100 billion (80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth

Kelly says the one thing he missed the most during his year on the ISS was being able to go outside, particularly the smell, sound and sights of nature.

He says people should also follow a schedule, have a hobby, keep a journal, binge-watch TV series and 'get plenty of sleep' when forced to stay indoors.

He said other astronauts on the ISS would play recordings of Earth sounds, like birds and resulting trees on a loop to bring themselves back to Earth.

'I actually started to crave nature - the color green, the smell of fresh dirt, and the feel of warm sun on my face,' he told the New York Times.

'You dont need to work out two and a half hours a day, as astronauts do, but getting moving once a day should be part of your quarantine schedule (just stay at least six feet away from others),' he added.
A. Menarini Diagnostics (Florence, Italy) and Credo Diagnostics Biomedical (Singapore) have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for the SARS-CoV-2 assay kit and other assays for the diagnosis of respiratory infections (RSV and group Strep A). The tests will be run on the VitaPCR (Credo Diagnostics Biomedical's Point-of-Care molecular testing platform) which allows the diagnosis of COVID-19 in just 20 minutes.A. Menarini develops high tech diagnostics instruments and reagents to improve the quality of life of patients, providing healthcare professionals the best possible solutions to diagnostics needs. The companys areas of expertise include self testing (self monitoring blood glucose, continuous glucose monitoring), clinical diagnostics (autoimmune testing, diabetes testing, hemoglobinopathies, urinalysis, urine sediment), infectious diseases (syndromic molecular testing) and tissue diagnostics (cellular pathology, forensics). Credo Diagnostics develops and manufactures innovative, easy-to-use and rapid molecular diagnostic solutions for Point-of-Care (POC) applications at affordable costs without compromising accuracy and speed in the areas of animal health, human health, and human wellness.The COVID-19 molecular test and instrument are fundamental to both first aid facilities and intensive care units. These diagnostics kits adopt a reaction technology of the utmost accuracy on Point-of-Care instruments which are both compact (the size of a dictionary) and easy to use, giving a rapid diagnosis in settings such as emergency rooms, triage units, airports, seaports and railway stations. Once a nasal or oropharyngeal sample has been taken by a healthcare professional, this is inserted into a vial containing a liquid and shaken. The contents are then transferred into a second reagent tube which, once closed, will be placed inside the VitaPCR system, thus starting the analysis process. Within 20 minutes the test results are displayed on the instrument's built-in screen, confirming whether the sample analyzed has proven negative or positive."We have always believed that Point-of-Care molecular testing is the future. We look forward to working with Menarini to bring these tests to the market, especially in a crisis like this, to save lives," said Winston Wong Jr., Chairman of Credo Diagnostics Biomedical."Menarini Diagnostics has been working relentlessly over the past few weeks to find a way to help healthcare workers in the fight against the virus," said Fabio Piazzalunga, General Manager of Menarini Diagnostics. "We believe it is essential to have solutions which will allow the detection of positive cases, minimize times and take screening where it is needed, running tests both rapidly and with the most accurate technology possible. Thanks to this collaboration with Credo Diagnostics Biomedical, the Menarini Group hopes to be able to provide substantial support to healthcare workers."
Canadians arent going to work, but they arent spending all their down time at home, suggests data released by Google that offers a glimpse of peoples movements during the time of COVID-19.

The mobility-trends data was harvested from those who use Googles location-history setting on their devices and, the company said, via anonymization technology to avoid identifying individual people.

It shows visits to select places, such as retail outlets, parks and grocery stores. It also shows figures on how many people are staying home. The data compares the increases or decreases to a baseline of what is considered normal.

All of Canadas provinces saw at least a 30 per cent drop in mobility to the workplace, but the increase in the number of people staying at home across the country was only more than 15 per cent in one provice. Prince Edward Island showed a 25 per cent increase in people being home.

Parks were a popular destination in some provinces  even as visits to Ontario and Ontario parks fell, the data suggest.

New Brunswick saw he biggest increase in park traffic at a 101 per cent spike. A close second for park visits was Nova Scotia with a 95 per cent increase between mid February and the end of March.

British Columbia, despite Vancouver being dubbed the Florida of Canada by social media users due to people still using the citys parks, only saw a 27 per cent increase in park traffic during most of that time, with a sudden steep drop at the end of March.

Quebec, meanwhile, saw visits to parks in the province drop 68 per cent, followed by Prince Edward Island at 51 per cent. Visits to Ontario parks dropped 14 per cent with the biggest decrease starting after the middle of March.

At the same time, the data shows Canadians are avoiding retail shops and recreation facilities.

The data also shows that visits to grocery stores and pharmacies spiked in the week leading up to the federal governments travel restrictions and the issuing of social distancing guidelines.

Nova Scotia saw a roughly 60 per cent increase in visits to grocery stores while most provinces hovered around a 40 per cent spike. These spikes happened the same week Canadian media reported incidents of hoarding, particularly of toilet paper and sanitary gel and wipes.

Those stores and pharmacies have since seen decreases in foot traffic nationwide.

Retail shops and recreation facilities in Ontario saw a 59 per cent decrease in visits, tied with the Northwest Territories and second only to Quebec at 70 per cent. The largest drop offs in visits started in middle of March.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigerian Army to join the police to flush out bandits from forests around the country, particularly in the areas that witnessed recent attacks.

The president gave the directive in response to the killing of 22 people in Sokoto State, whose community was attacked by armed bandits as well as the reported killing of 10 others in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

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According to a press statement signed by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu on Friday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai has already got in touch with the General Officers Commanding the army formations in the affected states, directing them to reinforce the police efforts to track the bandits and bring them to justice.

President Buhari also commiserated with the governments and people of the two states, assuring Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Simon Lalong of the federal governments support in bringing an end to the spate of attacks in the regions.

He prayed that Allah would comfort those who lost beloved family members and friends in the attacks, Mr Shehu said.
An Amazon center in San Bernardino. (Associated Press)

Workers at six Amazon facilities in Southern California have tested positive in the last week for the virus that causes COVID-19. Four of those cases were confirmed and disclosed to workers at the facilities involved on Wednesday and Thursday.

The newly affected facilities are fulfillment center ONT2 in San Bernardino, the LGB8 inbound cross-dock warehouse in Rialto, delivery center DLA8 in Hawthorne, and a smaller Amazon Prime Now warehouse in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Hawthorne and Glassell Park facilities both handle the final stage of deliveries to customers in Los Angeles, with the Hawthorne facility handling deliveries for much of L.A.'s West Side.

Two other facilities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties had reported cases in late March.

In a statement, Amazon said that all employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or directed to quarantine will receive up to two weeks of pay to ensure they can self-isolate without worrying about lost income. The company is also offering unlimited unpaid time off for all hourly employees through the end of April.

"We are supporting the individuals who are recovering," said Timothy Carter, an Amazon spokesman. "We are following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site."

The company said it had informed other employees at the affected sites about each case. At ONT2 in San Bernardino and LGB8 in Rialto, employees were informed via prerecorded voice messages from their managers.

The companys Eastvale warehouse in Riverside County, which was the first to report an employee testing positive for COVID-19, now has its third case as of Thursday, The Times confirmed.

Warehouse employees were notified about the most recent case on Wednesday, according to a worker who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal. Company communications The Times reviewed confirmed that while Amazon is not paying workers for the missed shifts, the company is allowing them to take time off without penalty if they feel uncomfortable coming in to work.

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When I look at the operations leadership team who are making $100,000 to $150,000 a year, and they get to go home without worrying about if they're going to get paid, that bugs me, the Eastvale warehouse worker said. Because we're still here and if we go home, we don't get paid.

Amazon said it is taking measures to reduce infection in its facilities, including increasing the frequency and intensity of cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces such as door handles and screens that multiple employees touch during a workday. It is also staggering shift times to promote social distancing, and suspending exit screenings, which the company typically performs to check if employees are stealing merchandise, to reduce traffic jams at exits and entrances.

But Amazon warehouse and delivery workers across the country have called for the company to do more to protect them from the spread of COVID-19 or compensate them for the health risks associated with working during the coronavirus outbreak.

As The Times reported, workers were told to stay only three feet apart  half of what the CDC recommends  as recently as March 24. On Monday, Amazon warehouse workers in New York staged a walkout over the lack of protective gear and other safeguards. After the walkout, Amazon said it would provide masks to all warehouse workers and perform daily temperature checks on all arriving employees.

At the Eastvale warehouse, one of Amazons largest on the West Coast, the company notified workers of the second case, via text message, on March 29. The affected individual was last on site on 26 March and consistent with our daily processes, the site has been undergoing multiple enhanced cleanings during this time, the message read.

Southern California Amazon workers have begun circulating petitions in response, demanding the company shut the affected warehouses down for two weeks because social distancing there is almost impossible."

Amazon is trying to take precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19, but the fact of the matter is we work with so many people every single day that we are in constant danger, the petition read.

In addition to paid sick leave, the petition demanded hazard pay of 150% of the usual rate, child care pay and subsidies, as well as free testing for the virus.
Hospital Team Lets come together, not only to avoid the worst but to achieve the best humanity can offer.

The emergence of the novel coronavirus, known to the world as COVID-19, currently affects everyone across the globe. Eisenhower Fellowships (EF), an organization that engages emerging leaders worldwide to develop leadership capacities, also encompasses a global family of scientists, civil servants, advocates, and entrepreneurs, many of whom are working directly on COVID-19 efforts.

The central vision of EF, founded as a gift to the namesake president in 1953, is to achieve peace and prosperity through international cooperation. This vision was always enormously important, and even more so today.

This is why we, Eisenhower Fellows and leaders of EF chapters across the country, call on world leaders to heed the hard-learned lessons of the current moment and commit to real collaboration. Uncoordinated efforts to rein in the coronavirus will only prolong the time it takes to stop the progress of the disease and increase the economic and humanitarian damage. We must recognize the need to reframe a discussion based on a crucial understanding: preventing or defeating a pandemic is a global challenge requiring a global solution.

We are seeing this cooperation right now in the battle against COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a large global trial, appropriately called SOLIDARITY, to find treatments for the dangerous respiratory disease. WHO also called for a global response in elevating health systems to a minimum standard in countries that cannot manage basic infection control. Such a task is expensive, but the price comes into perspective when calculating the cost of responding to an international health crisis. The United Nations trade and development agency says the slowdown in the global economy caused by the coronavirus outbreak is costing $1 trillion and counting.

Once the current pandemic is brought under control, nations must work together to avoid repeating the global systemic failures that allowed the virus to spread widely. This means renewed collaborative efforts using platforms like the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Pan American Health Organization. Countries need to create or reinstitute authorities, like the Office for Global Pandemics in the U.S. These institutions need to be globally connected and locally empowered to break the chains of transmission, provide early and transparent warnings, and lead efforts for logistical support and treatment units against potential outbreaks.

The coronavirus is the latest evidence that proves our fortunes are intertwined. That is why, before the onset of the pandemic, 21 American and 22 international Eisenhower Fellows were set to embark on travel across multiple continents to pursue myriad social and economic projects not only for the benefit of their countries of origin but for the world at large. They know, as we do, that it is impossible to look at any problem the world faces, be it hunger, migration, poverty, or  perhaps most emphatically  climate change, and believe that it can be solved by a single country.

We appeal to citizens of every nation to call on their governments to work together wherever possible. Eisenhower Fellows, use your positions of influence, your prestige, and lessons from your fellowship to embolden your respective nations toward global cooperation. Another pandemic will come. The question is, will we learn from our mistakes and be wise and humane enough to put aside differences and work together in common cause.

The only direction that leads away from catastrophe and towards a secure future for our children is global cooperation. Lets come together, not only to avoid the worst but to achieve the best humanity can offer.

Sonya Anderson, Chicago

Jarrett Barrios, Los Angeles

Jack Bienko, Washington, D.C.

Anita Brown-Graham, Los Angeles

Winston Chang, Washington, D.C.

Chelsea Collier, Austin

John Della Volpe, Boston

Dean Fealk, San Francisco

Cynthia Figueroa, Philadelphia

Loree Jones, Philadelphia

Diane Mulcahy, Boston

Jorge Riopedre, St. Louis

Cristal Thomas, Chicago

Authors Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Eisenhower Fellowships.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 16:46:46|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The total number of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Taiwan has increased by nine to 348, the island's epidemic monitoring agency said Friday.

Seven of the new patients, two men and five women, were believed to have contracted the virus during their trips overseas while the other two patients were believed to be infected locally, the agency said in a press release.

One of the local cases, a woman in her 60s, has not left Taiwan recently but she developed a cough and running nose three days after her husband returned from the United States on March 17, the statement said.

The other case, a woman in her 40s, had contact with a previously confirmed patient, the statement said.

Among the island's confirmed COVID-19 cases, 298 were imported. A total of 50 confirmed patients have recovered, and five died.

The agency also announced that passengers taking public transport must wear face masks and those who refuse to do so despite instruction from the staff will face a fine from 3,000 to 15,000 New Taiwan dollars (about 99 to 496 U.S. dollars).
Chairman of Lulu Group, Yusuffali MA on Thursday contributed Rs 25 crores to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) to combat coronavirus.

"I have humbly contributed INR 25 Crores to the PM Cares Fund to support all relief works in India's fight against the COVID-19," Yusuffali said in a tweet.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created PM CARES Fund and appealed to all the countrymen to show their support for the cause.

The prime minister is the chairman of the trust and its members include the defence minister, the home minister and the finance minister.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Project Assistant, Tunis, Tunisia

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Tunisia

City: Tunis, Tunisia

Office: UNDP Tunis

Closing date: Tuesday, 14 April 2020

Job ID: 29790

Practice Area - Job Family: Management

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 14/04/2020

Duty Station: Tunis, Tunisia

Education & Work Experience: C-HS Graduate or Equivalent - 6 year(s) experience

Languages: Arabic, English

Grade: SB3

Vacancy Type: Service Contract (SC)

Posting Type: External

Bureau: Arab States

Contract Duration: One Year

The post for Tunisian nationals only.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

The UNDP Libya CO response to the ongoing crises focuses on two main programme areas are concentrated in two main pillars: Transitional Governance in support of the ongoing UN action plan: political dialogue, reconciliation and transitional justice, elections.

Investment in building the institutional capacity of public institutions today to perform core functions of the state in Libya to deliver socio-economic recovery and cope during the ongoing crisis: Capacity building support in rule of law, policing, line ministries (ministry of planning), civil service reform.

Another pillar is the Stabilization and Resilience: this is focusing on quick reconstruction of cities affected by war as well as building resilience of communities: delivery of basic services, local economic recovery.

The project Capacity Strengthening Initiative (CSI) is intended to enhance the functional and technical capacities of the Ministry of Planning of Libya, to prepare a Public State Reform study for Libya and to prepare a Libyan National progress report. The main partner for this project is the Ministry of Planning.

The Project Assistant will report to the Project Manager and provide support to all aspects of the project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions:

Assist Project Administrative management, Financial management, delivery of project activities and project procurement.

Project Administrative management

Provide support to international advisors in the implementation of their tasks for the achievement of project results (communication, contracts, agenda, visas, hotel reservations, etc).

Maintain records on all project personnel and local consultants and their respective status (contracts, ToRs, sick leave, vacation, etc.) in accordance with accepted policies and procedures;

Make pertinent logistical arrangements for the prompt and effective implementation of the programme activities;

Draft minutes of Project Board meetings;

Assume overall responsibility for administrative matters of a more general nature, such as registry and maintenance of project files and records;

Arrange external and internal meetings (including the meetings of the Steering Committee, Technical Working Groups, among others);

Draft terms of reference, concept notes and other background papers as requested by the Stabilization Project Manager.

Financial management

Prepare requests for advance of funds and/or direct payments;

Monitor budget expenditures and maintain a proper record of approved project

budgets and their revisions;

Prepare proposals for budget revisions;

Prepare and submit expenditure and programme budget status reports;

Respond to queries from the Government and UNDP with respect to financial aspects of the programme, liaise with UNDP-appointed and external auditors wherever required;

Prepare recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for budget preparations and audit;

Advise and assist international advisors and national consultants on all aspects of allowances, travel claims and other financial matters and calculate payments due for claims and services;

Tags arabic language civil service reform elections financial aspects financial management knowledge management procurement project implementation project manager project personnel public institutions reconciliation reconstruction results based management rule of law transitional justice

Undertake other financial and administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis.

Procurement

In accordance with the work plan arrange for procurement of equipment, supplies

and services;

Arrange for equipment maintenance and insurance as required;

Ensure that contractual processes follow the stipulated UNDP procedures;

Physically clear and ensure delivery of equipment and supplies procured for the various programme sites;

Maintain an equipment and spare inventory including verification and transfer when required.

Competencies

Strong professional and organizational skills; good interpersonal skills essential

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;

Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure;

Experience with a UN agency/project is an asset.

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates commitment to UNDPs mission, vision and values.

Exerts strict adherence to corporate rules, regulations and procedures. Familiarity with the internal control framework and results-based management tools is a must.

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Shares knowledge and experience.

Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results-Based Management, including support to design, planning and project implementation and reporting.

Ability to establish and maintain contacts with operational-level officials of the host government required. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential part of the job.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary school certificate is required and first level University Degree in relevant fields is desirable in administration, management or other substantive area is an asset.

Experience:

Minimum six years of experience in General Administration or related field including financial management;

Excellent computer skills and ability to operate under pressure;

Experience of working in Development Sector, especially UN, would be an asset.

Language requirments:

Fluency in English required. Arabic language skills is an asset.
Two suspects tried to escape from armed gardai by jumping out a first-floor window when officers raided an apartment yesterday.

An estimated 200,000 of cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy was seized in the raid in Ballymahon, Co Longford, which was carried out by officers attached to the local drugs unit.

Two Polish men - one aged 30 and the other 31 - were arrested at the scene and were last night being quizzed at Longford Garda Station under drugs trafficking legislation.

Sources say that one of the arrested men is the subject of a European Arrest Warrant in his native country involving violent offences in Warsaw.

"The Armed Support Unit were involved in this raid and an Aladdin's cave of drugs was found in this seizure, a result of an intelligence operation by local gardai," a senior source told the Herald.

"The individuals, who have not been in the country that long, tried to escape by jumping out the window when gardai entered the property but they did not get too far and they are now in custody."

Gardai announced details of the drugs seizure, stating that "during the course of the search cannabis worth 100,000, cocaine to the value of 70,000 and MDMA worth 30,000 was seized".

Detectives will now attempt to establish which Irish gang the suspects are linked to, if any.

Significant

However, sources say that gardai are becoming increasing concerned about eastern European drug gangs operating in this country.

The seizure is the most significant crime in Co Longford since the virus pandemic hit Ireland last month.

The county had been gripped by a feud that had escalated since February but there have been no incidents in that bitter dispute in recent weeks.

Gardai say that Operation Stola, targeting the feuding criminals, is still "very much ongoing" but the gang thugs are mostly staying at home with the country in lockdown.

There have been dozens of violent incidents and gardai have managed to secure charges against many of the protagonists but armed officers continue to patrol the streets of the county.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States  Fri, April 3, 2020 09:55 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f6a3fa 2 World New-York-City,mayor,face-mask,coronavirus,COVID-19,novel-coronavirus,infection,pandemic,infectious-diseases,SARS-CoV-2 Free

New York mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday urged all of the city's residents to cover their faces when outside and near others to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

"Let's be clear. This is a face covering. It could be a scarf. It could be something you create yourself at home. It could be a bandana," de Blasio told reporters.

"It doesn't need to be a professional surgical mask. In fact, we don't want you to use the kind of masks that our first responders need, that our health care workers need. Don't use those," he added.

New York is the epicenter of America's deadly COVID-19 outbreak.

The city has recorded almost 50,000 confirmed cases, including 1,562 deaths, according to the mayor's office.

As of Thursday evening, the United States had a total of more than 243,000 declared cases and over 5,900 fatalities, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University.

President Donald Trump told reporters at his daily White House briefing on the coronavirus that he was not considering making it mandatory for all Americans to cover their faces.

"For example on the masks, if people wanted to wear them they can. If people wanted to use scarves, which many people have them, they can.

"In many cases, scarves are better. It's thicker. Depending on the material, it's thicker," he said.

Vice President Mike Pence added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would release official guidelines on masks in the coming days.

But Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator at the White House, said it is important people do not think masks replace social distancing or hand-washing.

"We don't want people to get an artificial sense of protection," she said. "They're an additive."

California Governor Gavin Newsom made similar recommendations as de Blasio on Thursday, but stressed that masks were "not a substitute" for social distancing.

"Individuals [who] want to have face coverings... that is a good thing and a preferable thing, in addition to the physical distancing and the stay-at-home order," he said.

More than three-quarters of Americans are currently living under various forms of lockdown, including New Yorkers who have been told not to leave their residences unless absolutely necessary.
On March 30, 2020, the OEAS called for a Pan African Ceasefire to facilitate the movement of humanitarian workers and aid needed to fight COVID-19 in Africas must vulnerable regions. The OEAS was inspired by the success of OEAS member The Southern Cameroons Defense Forces (SOCADEF) which had declared 14 day cease fire so that COVID-19 aid workers could set up in Ambazonia.

The OEAS has since confirmed that two of its front line members, Biafra and Cabinda, have joined the COVID-19 Pan African Ceasefire. In Biafra, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which seeks self-determination for the formerly independent southeast region of Nigeria has announced it is making the fight against COVID-19 its priority.

Another OEAS member state, Cabinda, which has been seeking independence since 1974 from Angola also joined the Pan Africa Ceasefire. The Movimento Independentista de Cabinda (MIC) announced the temporary suspension of all confrontational activities in order to combat and prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Both MIC and the Front for the Liberation of the State of Cabinda (FLEC) report the Angolan armed forces have been using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse for a crackdown in Cabinda activists.

The Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS) is a United States 501(c)(3) public charity registered with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs NGO Branch and The European Commission Authentication System (ECAS) with members throughout Africa and the European Union and a branch office in Accra, Ghana.

For more information contact:

[email protected]
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee Joins OneShare Health's Board of Directors

NEWS PROVIDED BYApril 3, 2020IRVING, Texas, April 3, 2020 / Standard Newswire / -- Former Arkansas Governor and Republican presidential nominee Mike Huckabee has joined the Board of Directors at OneShare Health, an ACA-exempt Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) based in Irving, Texas. Huckabee, who maintains strong ties to the Christian church, said he was initially drawn to OneShare Health's faithdriven vision.Huckabee's Christian faith plays a significant role in his private and public life. After graduating from high school, he attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR, where he majored in religion. Following his graduation, he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. After several years in radio, TV, and advertising he spent 12-years as a pastor of congregations in Arkansas. Huckabee served as president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention, which he said helped spark a pursuit into major politics.He came in second in the Republican presidential primaries in 2008 and ran again in 2016. He has written 13 books, most of them NY Times Bestsellers, and has hosted television shows on Fox News Channel and currently is the host of "Huckabee" on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). He is still a contributor at Fox News.Huckabee served as the 44th Governor of the State of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. In addition to educational reform, Huckabee continues to push for making wide-scale changes to American healthcare.After joining OneShare Health's Board of Directors, Huckabee said he appreciates the strides the company is making towards providing affordable healthcare options. "As a Baptist minister, I am inspired by the familiar verse in Galatians 6:2. That verse teaches that Christians are to 'Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.' At OneShare Health, we believe that bearing one another's burdens should extend into all areas of life, including healthcare."We have an incredible opportunity to shine a beacon of light and hope into a healthcare community that is fearful, stressed, and burdened with everything going on in America right now. We have a chance to practice 'Love they neighbor as thyself' on a daily basis. For those who share our common core of religious beliefs, OneShare Health is an excellent option for you to consider. Our desire is to set the gold standard as a health care sharing ministry which lives out the teachings of Jesus Christ."OneShare Health is an ACA-exempt, nonprofit, Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) based in Irving, Texas, that facilitates the sharing of medical expenses among individuals and families who are united by shared religious beliefs. Healthcare sharing ministries are not health insurance and do not accept risk or make guarantees regarding payment of bills submitted by members.SOURCE: OneShare HealthCONTACT: Buddy Combs, 888-940-8291, bcombs@onesharehealth.com Related Links
BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree to publish a decision on amending seven administrative regulations and abolishing 10.

The changes were made to promote the reform of streamlining administration and delegating power, improving regulation and upgrading services, said the decree.

The regulations include those required by the reform on abolishing and delegating government permits, as well as those that are no longer applicable in practice.

For example, the regulations on the development and management of urban real estate were amended to reduce the requirement of certificates, so as to improve the business environment.

Among the abolished regulations are the regulations on the implementation of the Administrative Supervision Law, which have been replaced by the National Supervision Law.

The custody and education measures for prostitution-related offences were also abolished, following the termination of the "custody and education" system by a decision of the National People's Congress Standing Committee in December 2019.
Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan today had a video call with Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation Tatiana Moskalkova.

During the conversation, the parties discussed issues related to human rights protection amid the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and specifically discussed protection of the rights of citizens of Armenia in Russia or people permanently residing in Armenia, but working in Russia.

Tatoyan informed that he has released a guide for human rights protection in the conditions of the novel coronavirus and state of emergency that has been printed in Braille script, translated into English and Russian, as well as the languages of national minorities living in Armenia, including Kurdish, Yezidi, Assyrian and Indian.

Tatoyan also emphasized the cooperation with the Embassy of Armenia in Russia and the existence of mechanisms for rapid and effective exchange of information between the Embassy and the Ombudsmen.

The parties discussed issues on supporting citizens more rapidly and effectively through the hotline service since there have been more calls to the hotline during the pandemic and state of emergency.
Officers responded to the Blackhawk Drive home at 8:41 p.m. and found the boy with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. He was taken to Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, where he was pronounced dead about a half hour later.
Realities Of Coronavirus Economic Impact Shift U.S., Russia's Attention To Low Oil Prices

By Todd Prince April 02, 2020

When Vladimir Putin was given a dire forecast of the economy under the cloud of a crippling coronavirus pandemic and a sharp fall in global demand for petroleum, the Russian president was much less bullish about his country's prospects in a price war with oil-producing rival Saudi Arabia.

"For our economy, yes definitely, this is a very serious challenge," Putin told Audit Chamber head Aleksei Kudrin on April 1, adding that the United States, which recently surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world's largest oil producer, would also suffer.

It was a big step back from the line being floated just two weeks ago when, despite Russia's economic dependence on natural resources, Moscow engaged in a bit of chest-thumping about its chances in a price war, arguing that Russia was in a stronger position than its main competitors to ride it out.

But that was before the true impact of the coronavirus on the global economy was understood, and before Kudrin -- a former finance minister and trusted ally -- told Putin in a government meeting held by video that the Russian economy could decline this year by between 3 and 5 percent.

And that was a moderate outlook, according to Kudrin, who went on to warn that the situation could could be as bad as the nearly 8 percent decline the country suffered in 2009 during the financial crisis.

When faced with slumping oil demand as the global economy suffered from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Riyadh's demands for output cuts were refused by fellow OPEC+ member Moscow. After walking away from the table, the Saudis instead took the surprising route of increasing oil output, causing the largest one-day drop in prices in nearly three decades.

Putin's comment is one sign that Russia, which always expressed openness to continue negotiations with Riyadh, may be keen on coming to an agreement. "Today's acknowledgement by Putin shows Russia is interested in the dialogue process and wants to go ahead with it," Rauf Mammadov, an energy analyst at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told RFE/RL on April 1.

High-Stakes Game

From the beginning, the price war has raised questions about who would cave first: Moscow, Riyadh, or U.S. production, which depends on shale-oil producers that have gained market share at the expense of Russia and Saudi Arabia but require higher oil prices to stay in business.

Russia is now preparing to ramp up spending to support millions of citizens and thousands of companies affected by quarantines and shutdowns. The Kremlin has thus far announced an increase of spending by $17.5 billion to counter the outbreak.

But according to Kudrin, the country may need to spend 5 percent of gross domestic product -- or about $70 billion -- to combat the impact of the coronavirus, which Russia has officially said has infected more than 3,500 people, but which skeptics suggest is a low-ball figure.

Those costs will be difficult to cover if oil prices are low -- but on April 2, the price of Russia's Urals crude blend fell below $11 a barrel, the lowest since Putin came to power two decades ago. The international benchmark Brent crude, meanwhile, was going for just over $26 a barrel on April 2, whereas Russia depends on a price of about $40 a barrel to balance its budget.

Russia as of March 20 had $551 billion in foreign-currency reserves at its disposal, although economists suggested that Putin would prefer not to tap into them. In just one week, however, those reserves had already fallen by $30 billion.

Even before Putin's government meeting, there were signs that Russia was having second thoughts about engaging in a price war with Riyadh, with Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak saying earlier on April 1 that Russia would not increase oil production in April, a reversal of earlier comments by officials.

Analysts have said that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman's surprise decision to increase oil production was intended to get Putin back to the negotiating table.

And there is reason to believe that the Saudis might not want to keep the price war going either. Like Russia, the sharp decline in the price and volume of oil threatens Saudi Arabia's aggressive spending programs aimed at lifting living standards and diversifying its economy.

But Riyadh needs a much higher Brent crude price to balance its budget, nearly $80 per barrel, analysts have said. And while Saudi Arabia has $480 billion in foreign-currency reserves to lean on, it has already announced $13 billion in spending to deal with the lower budget revenue.

"Despite the bravado that we have been hearing on both sides, this is not about who has the lowest cost of production and higher profitability. This is about funding budgets, and for both Russia and Saudi budget expansion has been significant in recent years," Chris Weafer, the co-founder of Macro Advisory in Moscow, told RFE/RL on March 28. "The reality is that both of them need a deal to put a better price support in place."

Trump Wants A Deal

The other oil-producing elephant in the room is the United States, which has seen its shale-oil producers suffer as a result of the price dispute.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called the price war "crazy," has been trying to accelerate talks between Russia and Saudi Arabia while members of Congress have been calling for sanctions and tariffs if they don't find an agreement.

Trump has said he recently spoke with the leaders of both countries and that Moscow and Riyadh were "going to get together" but he gave no further details. He expressed optimism on April 1 that an agreement was near.

"I think that Russia and Saudi Arabia, at some point, are going to make a deal in the not-too-distant future because it's very bad for Russia. It's very bad for Saudi Arabia," Trump said.

The U.S. president reiterated that hope on April 2, saying in a tweet that he expected Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut 10 million barrels a day, though it was unclear if he was referring just to the two countries or to OPEC+, the alliance of two dozen oil-producing states that Moscow and Riyadh lead. It was also unclear if U.S. companies would be involved in the output cut.

Just minutes after Trump's tweet, Saudi Arabia called for an emergency meeting of OPEC+ members.

Macro Advisory co-founder Weafer said he expected Moscow and Riyadh to find a short-term solution to their dispute that would get them through the crisis period.

The Middle East Institute's Mammadov suggested that Russia and Saudi Arabia could reach an agreement with other countries through the Group of 20 (G20) format, as it would offer both Putin and Prince Salman a way to claim victory. "It would eliminate the face-saving confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Russia because it's not about the old OPEC+ deal" that they fought over, he said.

Trump will meet with U.S. oil executives on April 3 to discuss measures to support the domestic market, including possible tariffs on oil imports from Russia and Saudi Arabia as well as American production cuts.

Analysts have said that Riyadh and Moscow will want to see U.S. producers share the burden of stabilizing the market by cutting supply.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/realities-of-coronavirus- economic-impact-shift-u-s-russia-s-attention -to-low-oil-prices/30525926.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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The city is considering giving homeowners until as late as September, and businesses until August, to pay their taxes without penalty.
Worlds richest man Jeff Bezos donates $100M to US food banks as coronavirus threatens food security

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Amazon founder and the worlds richest man, Jeff Bezos, who has a net worth of approximately $115 billion, announced a $100 million donation to food banks in America Thursday as a hunger crisis threatens the nation amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Even in ordinary times, food insecurity in American households is an important problem, and unfortunately COVID-19 is amplifying that stress significantly. Non-profit food banks and food pantries rely in large part on surplus food from a range of food businesses. For example, many restaurants donate excess food. But during this time of social distancing, restaurants are closed, and many other normal channels of excess food have also shut down. To make matters worse, as supply is dwindling, demand for food bank services is going up, Bezos began in a statement on Instagram.

He then announced his $100 million donation to Feeding America, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

Today, I want to support those on the front lines at our nations food banks and those who are relying on them for food with a $100 million gift to @FeedingAmerica. Feeding America will quickly distribute the funds to their national network of food banks and food pantries, getting food to those countless families who need it, Bezos said.

His announcement comes a day after Feeding America revealed in a press statement that an estimated $1.4 billion in additional resources will be needed over the next six months to provide enough food for those struggling with hunger nationwide.

Prior to the coronavirus crisis, the U.S. Department of Agricultures 2019 Household Food Insecurity in the United States report said more than 37 million people in the United States struggle with hunger. Feeding America said the impact of the coronavirus crisis could lead to an additional 17.1 million people experiencing food insecurity.

The people we serve and the charitable food system in the United States are facing a perfect storm, with surges in demand, declines in food donations and volunteers, and disruptions to normal operating procedures, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, said. It is all of our neighbors who now more than ever need help putting food on their tables.

Results of a preliminary impact analysis of the coronavirus crisis and CEO pulse surveys of the Feeding America food bank network conducted from March 19 to March 23 revealed the rising demand for food as the fallout from the crisis began.

The survey found that within a week of CDC guidelines on social distancing to reduce the spread of the virus, 41 percent of food banks were already reporting an immediate critical funding shortfall. Some 65 percent of food banks in the Feeding America network also reported an immediate need for disaster food boxes totaling 493 truckloads.

Responding to Bezos donation Thursday, Babineaux-Fontenot noted it as the largest single donation in the organizations history.

We are deeply grateful for Jeff Bezos generous $100 million contribution to Feeding Americas COVID-19 Response Fund. This donation, the largest single gift in our history, will enable us to provide more food to millions of our neighbors facing hardship during this crisis. Countless lives will be changed because of his generosity, she said.
If the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions conclusion that its safe to move spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants across the country to a proposed storage facility in Lea County sounds vanilla-coated, its because the draft environmental impact statement for a Consolidated Interim Storage Facility submitted by Holtec International did not address how the casks containing the spent fuel would be transported to New Mexico.

Its likely the casks would be transported primarily by rail using aging infrastructure in need of constant repair. But our rail systems were not built to support the great weight of these transport casks containing thin-wall fuel storage canisters.

Nor was the potential for cracked or corroded canisters to leak radiation studied because an earlier NRC Generic EIS for the Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel assumed damaged fuel storage canisters would be detected during an intermediary dry transfer system or a pool. But Holtecs proposal only addresses a new destination for the high-level nuclear waste  not the removal and transport of the fuel storage canisters from nuclear power plants to New Mexico.

Even transport casks with canisters that are not damaged will release radiation as they are transported from nuclear power plants to the storage facility, exposing populations along the transport routes in a majority of states and tribal communities in New Mexico to repeated doses of radiation.

Other issues not considered in the draft EIS were the design life of the thin-wall canisters encasing the nuclear fuel rods and faulty installation at reactor sites like San Onofre, or the self-interest of the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance in using the land it acquired for a consolidated interim storage site.

Thin-wall canisters cannot be inspected for cracks and the fuel rods inside are not retrievable for inspection or monitoring without destroying the canister. NRC does not require continuous monitoring of the storage canisters for pressure changes or radiation leaks. The fuel rods inside the canisters could go critical, or result in an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction, if water enters the canisters through cracks, admits both Holtec and the NRC. None of us are safe if any canister goes critical.

Yet a site-specific storage application like Holtecs should have addressed NRC license requirements for leak testing and monitoring, as well as the quantity and type of material that will be stored at the site, such as low burnup nuclear fuel and high burnup fuel.

With so many deficiencies in the draft EIS, a reasonable alternative is to leave this dangerous radioactive nuclear waste at the nuclear plants that produced it in dry cask storage rather than multiply the risk by transporting thousands of containers that could be damaged across many thousands of miles and decades to southeastern New Mexico, then again to a permanent repository.

Interim storage of spent nuclear fuel at existing nuclear plant sites is already happening  there are 65 sites with operating reactors in the United States and dry cask storage is licensed at 35 of these sites in 24 states. But since the thin-wall canisters storing the fuel rods are at risk for major radioactive releases, they should be replaced with thick-walled containers that can be monitored and maintained. The storage containers should be stored away from coastal waters and flood plains in hardened buildings.

Attempting to remove this stabilized nuclear waste from where it is securely stored across hundreds or thousands of miles through our homelands and backyards to a private storage facility also raises some thorny liability issues, since the United States will then be relieved of overseeing the spent nuclear fuel in perpetuity. The states and nuclear plants that want to send us their long-lived radioactive waste will also be off the hook, leaving New Mexico holding a dangerously toxic bag without any resources to address the gradual deterioration of man-made materials or worse, a catastrophic event. Its a win/win, however, for Holtec International and the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance.

Environmental justice footnote: When removal of uranium mine waste on the Navajo Nation was being discussed a few years ago, communities got this response from EPA: Digging up the waste and tr+ansporting it to a licensed repository in different states outside the Navajo Nation  which has always been the Nations preferred alternative  is the most expensive option. Off-site disposal, because of the amount of waste in and around these areas, means possibly multiple years of hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of trucks going in and out of the community and driving for miles.
The Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi during the month of March is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Out of the total number of coronavirus positive cases in the country, nearly one-fifth coronavirus positive cases have been linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation . Also, of all the 56 countrywide deaths, 15 were those who had attended the congregation held last month. This has led to widespread negative media coverage against the body which organised the meet and the sect leader Maulana Saad. The facts that have emerged so far point towards the fact that after the Delhi government notification regarding ban on meetings beyond a limit, the Jamat leadership failed to recognise the urgency of the directives related to the prevention of the coronavirus spread. That the infection spread among the participants is a fact. That 15-odd innocent people lost their lives due to the virus is a sad reality. In this situation, it is the governments utmost duty and responsibility to ensure that all people who attended the meet are tested for the deadly Sars-CoV-2 pathogen and quarantined. The action to sanitise the place of meeting and the campus was urgently required to save everyone from the effects of the deadly virus.

Today, we as a country are up against a deadly virus which has not only disrupted our daily lives but has also brought infinite misery to the most vulnerable sections of the population by depriving them of their means of livelihood. In these pressing times, it is the duty of every citizen to strictly follow the guidelines issued by governments to stop the spread of this deadly virus. Every instruction issued by the authorities has to be adhered to, whether we like it or not. But there are a few who choose to ignore the directives or do not take them seriously. Some temples located across the country had a few thousands devotees even on March 18-19, as per media reports. Fortunately, for them, there have been no reports of the virus spreading at these congregations. But the Tablighi congregation organisers were not that fortunate. They certainly owe the responsibility of not adhering to the guidelines issued. Like the mosque in Malaysia, which became the epicentre of coronavirus cases in that country and had to be closed immediately.

It is heartening to know that very swift action to control the situation due to the Delhi congregation was initiated by the government and all those who had attended the meet are being tracked and tested for the virus. Since the participants were from all across the country and foreign countries, the task is herculean. But it is hoped that soon it will be accomplished and the participants will be saved from the deadly virus. Let us be clear that the effort to track all the participants is to save them, their families and the people who come in contact with them. There is no other motive or intention. It is to be understood that it may be very natural for anyone to resist either the testing, or the quarantine.

While a country-wide impact of this episode is very difficult to ascertain at this moment, it is also unfortunate that a section of media and public has viewed the crisis through the prism of Hindu-Muslim divide. Instead of communalising the crisis, joint and concerted efforts are urgently required to control further transmission of the virus in the community and beyond. It is in this connection that Muslim leaders and the Ulema need to play a vital role. That a large number of attendees of Ijtima at Markaz have disappeared or have remained untraceable, further burdening the government machinery, is despicable. But at the same time, the effort by some TV channels to present the issue as Corona Jihad or bio-jihad, as it was called, is also shameful. This is undoubtedly a medical emergency, arising out of the irresponsible attitude of the Markaz authorities who, instead of cancelling the event, went ahead with the programme. The Markaz authorities have come out with an explanation that they had approached the Delhi Police and other officers for the evacuation of people from the centre but there was no positive response from them.

However, instead of holding each other responsible for the emergent situation that originated from the Markaz, it is urgently required to nip the crisis in the bud. This would not be possible without the active support of the Muslim community. The identification process of infected people needs to be completed urgently with the help of the community. These infected people should not be allowed to hide in the community as it could prove disastrous for the whole nation. Similarly, saner people on both sides of the divide should effectively launch an exercise to keep the issue within the realm of medical emergency and not turn it into a communal imbroglio.

(VS Pandey is a retired Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer and retired as secretary to the Government of India)
03.04.2020 LISTEN

A leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Dabie Appiah-Mensah, says President Akufo-Addo deserves thunderous applause for his show of maturity in the handling of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Mr. Appiah-Mensah, who is a former NPP Regional Organizer of the then Brong Ahafo Region, is therefore calling on the leadership of NPP and the partys communicators to make deliberate efforts at highlighting the Presidents yeomans role in containing the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country.

In an interview with Modernghana News in Sunyani, Mr. Appiah-Mensah said the President sounded philosophical when he stated that We know what to do to bring our economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life.

According to him, had he (the President) heeded to the call by opposition NDC elements to evacuate Ghanaians in China during the upsurge of the virus, the situation would have been out of control for the country by now, describing the Presidents decision as a wise one.

Mr. Appiah-Mensah expressed worry that the communication machinery of the NPP is not being proactive enough to effectively propagate the numerous achievements chalked under President Akufo-Addos first term in office and the need to give him the opportunity to rule for one more term.

The former Regional Organizer said party functionaries and communicators must not wait till elections are approaching before they begin to explain the various government interventions to the citizenry but ensure a much more robust communication strategy that feed people with the right information to enable them make informed decisions during the elections.

Pro-poor interventions

From the inception of our political tradition, our focus has always been to reach out to the poor and the marginalized in society and so you would recall that during the Dr. Busias time, a lot of attention was given to rural development, Mr. Appiah-Mensah said.

You would also remember the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Free Maternal Care, School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant, Metro Mass Transport and several other social interventions under the Kufuor-led NPP administration from 2001 to 2009.

Continuing, Mr. Appiah-Mensah stated that it is this same pro-poor blueprint which seeks to empower the under-privileged in society that is being followed through by President Akufo-Addo.

This, he explained, has culminated in the introduction of Free Senior High School policy, Planting for Food and Jobs programme, Planting for Export and Rural Development, One-Village, One-Dam policy, One-District, One-Factory initiative and the digitization of the economy are just a few of the numerous social interventions being implemented by the current administration to help the poor in society.

The former NPP Regional Organizer appealed to the partys incumbent Members of Parliament, Ministers of State and the various appointees to put aside their personal interest and rather highlight/project the Presidents unparallel achievements to secure another resounding electoral victory for the party in the next general elections.

Bold attempts

Mr. Appiah-Mensah further touted the President's bold attempt to pursue a Ghana Beyond Said agenda as well as putting his presidency on the line in the fight against illegal mining popularly called galamsey.

He explained that all these points to the fact that President Akufo-Addo is looking at the future of the country and not just the short-term development needs of the people.

"In all these, it's clear that Ghana has a brighter future under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and so Ghanaians should give him four more years to do more", Mr. Appiah-Mensah concluded.

([email protected])
Ford Motor employee Pat Tucker, 55, assembles face shields for healthcare workers on April 2, 2020 at a subsidiary facility of the automaker in Plymouth, Michigan. Ford

Within days, Pat Tucker went from producing car parts for Ford Motor to assembling transparent face shields to assist health-care workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The 55-year-old grandmother has been working 12-hour shifts every day for nearly two weeks to build the much-needed medical supplies at a Ford subsidiary facility in Plymouth, Michigan. "I want to help end this. I want to be here to watch my grandchildren grow up and graduate and get married, and I want them to be able to grow up," she told CNBC Thursday night. "I enjoy helping people." Tucker, a member of United Auto Workers union, leaves her home at about 4:30 a.m. to get to the facility by 5:30 a.m. to begin producing the shields. She typically works until 6:30 p.m. and then takes special precautions of washing herself and her clothing before interacting with her family, including one of her six grandchildren who lives with her, in suburban Detroit. "I think it's making a difference," she said. "I think it's really been going great. We're getting better and better at it." Ford's expectations were initially to produce 100,000 face shields a week. That has since grown to 750,000 a week. The work is being done by about 260 paid volunteer Ford workers on two shifts.

Workers produce transparent full-face shields for medical workers and first responders at a Ford Motor's Troy Design and Manufacturing subsidiary in Plymouth, Mich. Ford

'Arsenal of health'

Tucker is one of hundreds, potentially growing to thousands, of auto workers assisting the Detroit automakers in creating a new "arsenal of health" amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The efforts come nearly 80 years after the companies responded to President Franklin Roosevelt's call to arms in December 1940 to create an "Arsenal of Democracy" during World War II. Ford's COVID-19 efforts are codenamed "Project Apollo." General Motors is executing "Project V" and "Project M." Fiat Chrysler didn't codename its efforts but is assisting in feeding American children and making supplies during the outbreak. While the efforts differ from building tanks, planes and other wartime artillery, the automakers and employees such as Tucker are assisting where they can to produce life-saving respirators, ventilators and masks to assist those infected by the disease as well as health-care workers on the frontlines.

General Motors and other automakers produced military equipment during World War II, including tanks at a facility near Flint, Michigan called the Fisher Body Tank Plant. GM

"That's why the auto industry is kind of unique with its ability to rapidly respond to these kind of things," said Fred Hubacker, a managing partner of Conway MacKenzie. "They have the technical expertise and the ability to mobilize component production facilities very, very quickly." The consulting firm last month called on automakers and parts suppliers to assist in creating an "arsenal of health" to defend against the coronavirus. For the "Arsenal of Democracy" during World War II, the U.S. auto industry didn't produce a single civilian passenger car from Feb. 10, 1942 to Sept. 9, 1945. Instead, according to GM's historical unit, production included: 119 million artillery shells; 206,000 aircraft engines; 13,000 Navy fighter planes and torpedo bombers; and 38,000 tanks and tank destroyers, among other things.

Ford announced plans with GE Healthcare this week to produce 50,000 ventilators by early July at a facility in Michigan. That's in addition to a previous pledge to assist GE in expanding production of a different ventilator by 40% and partnering with 3M to manufacture air-purifying respirators. The automaker is even attempting to use off-the-shelf parts like fans from the Ford F-150's cooled seats for airflow, 3M HEPA air filters to filter airborne contaminants and portable tool battery packs to power respirators for up to eight hours.

A group of employees at a hospital in Michigan wearing face shields produced by Ford Motor hold up a "thank you" sign for the automaker. LinkedIn

Ford says it has already shipped hundreds of thousands of protective face shields to hospitals across the country. "Thank you, Ford," reads a whiteboard sign of employees at a hospital in Michigan wearing the face shields in a photo that was posted on social media by a Ford employee. Ford's COVID-19 efforts are internally being called "Project Apollo," a reference to the Apollo 13 launch in 1970 when astronauts on the fly had to improvise a fix after an oxygen tank failed during the mission.

GM mobilizes

GM this week started prototyping its production process of face masks at a facility in suburban Detroit. About two dozen paid, volunteer hourly union workers are expected to begin producing masks for distribution next week. The automaker expects to deliver the first 20,000 masks to frontline workers by the end of next week. It eventually expects to build up to 50,000 masks every day  or up to 1.5 million masks a month. The face masks, codenamed "Project M," are in addition to the Detroit automaker partnering with Ventec Life Systems to build critical-care ventilators at one of its components plants in Indiana.

Engineers and technicians set-up and test the machines that will be used to manufacture Level 1 face masks March 30, 2020 at the a General Motors facility in Warren, Michigan. GM

Production of the ventilators, known as "Project V," is expected to begin as soon as possible, with shipments starting as soon as next month, according to GM. The Ventec and GM global supply base developed sourcing plans for the more than 700 individual parts that are needed to build up to 200,000 of the ventilators, known as VOCSN, according to GM. "We are proud to stand with other American companies and our skilled employees to meet the needs of this global pandemic," GM CEO and Chairman Mary Barra said in a statement.

Feeding kids in need

In addition to announced plans to make face masks, Fiat Chrysler is assisting nonprofit organizations and foundations with providing food to children until schools return to session. Last week, it said it would help provide more than 1 million meals to school-age children in the communities around its principal manufacturing plants in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. "There has never been a more important moment to help children and their families with vital needs in our communities than during this time of great uncertainty," Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley said in a statement. The program will then be extended nationwide in the U.S. and to Canada and Mexico, supporting similar relief efforts for kids who would normally access school meal services, according to the company.

Others assist
To control the spread of the novel coronavirus, Singapore will close all schools, student care centres and market places for a month, the countrys Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday

To control the spread of the novel coronavirus, Singapore will close all schools, student care centres and market places for a month, the countrys Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday.

Singapore has registered over 1,000 cases and five deaths due to coronavirus, which has affected over 10 lakh people globally.

We will close most workplaces, except for essential services and key economic sectors. Food establishments, markets and supermarkets, clinics, hospitals, utilities, transport and key banking services will remain open, Lee said.

He assured that Singapore has enough food supplies to last the country through the period and beyond. You can still shop at supermarkets and wet market and you need not stock up for weeks at a time, he urged.

The closure will take effect from next Tuesday. The country will move to full home-based learning in schools and institutes of higher learning in the country.

Singapore has tightened restrictions on movement and gatherings of people too. Lee has asked people to stay at home as much as possible, avoid socialising with others beyond their own household and go out only to for essential purposes.

The number of cases of COVID-19 has seen a rise over the recent past in the country. In the last two weeks alone, Singapore has reported 50 new cases daily.

We have kept the outbreak under control but looking at the trend, I am worried that unless we take further steps things will gradually worsen or another big cluster may push the thing over the edge, the prime minister said during his address to the nation.

Lee added that they have decided to make a decisive move to preempt escalating infections and will, therefore, impose significantly stricter measures.

This is like a circuit breaker. It will help to reduce the risk of a big outbreak occurring and it should also help to bring our numbers down, he said.
A n MP has been criticised for endangering the lives of his constituents after breaching lockdown restrictions to attend a funeral.

Tahir Ali, who represents Birmingham Green, reportedly was among some 100 guests at a funeral on Wednesday, which his areas crime commissioner said undermined the work of police.

Mr Ali confirmed he was among a gathering of mourners to visit Sutton New Hall Cemetery in Sutton Coldfield on Wednesday, and later issued a public apology.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said on Friday that the Labour MP had been irresponsible and was not setting a proper example to his constituents.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

Mr Jamieson said in a statement: Mr Ali is not serving his constituents by endangering their lives.

Those in positions of civic leadership should be setting an example to all of the public. I would urge him to stop his intended funeral attendance in other boroughs too.

He said Mr Ali had been spoken to by police following his attendance at the funerals, and the MP had committed to avoiding further events.

On Wednesday, officers were called to reports of a large crowd of people at a funeral at Sutton New Hall Cemetery.

Police were called to the site after up to 100 people were reported to have attended, although only 15 mourners exercising social distancing were there when police arrived, "therefore no action was taken".

However, on Friday the force confirmed that theyd addressed the suspected breach of coronavirus restrictions with Mr Ali and warned him about his behaviour.

We reminded him of the clear need for everyone to follow the rules surrounding social distancing and the guidelines that have been issued around funerals, they wrote on Twitter.

Mr Ali issued his own statement following the incident, saying: I apologise unreservedly for the confusion caused by my presence as an observer at a funeral in Sutton Coldfield on Wednesday.

I will not be attending any other similar gatherings.

I wholeheartedly support the Governments measures on social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus and urge everyone to follow them, in all our interests.

I want to pay particular tribute to the outstanding work being done by our police, NHS and other statutory bodies in these most challenging of circumstances.

It is clear that the message is not getting through and that a unified approach is needed by local authorities in the West Midlands and across the UK, with explicit guidance on funeral attendance, to avoid a repeat of Wednesdays scenes.

The MP added that he wanted to play his part in establishing a set of clear rules that allow a safe number of mourners, while doing everything necessary to protect the NHS and save lives.

Sharon Thompson, Birmingham City Councils cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods, said: For anyone who suffers a bereavement, it is a difficult and painful time.

However in these circumstances, measures have been put in place for one reason and that is to keep people safe.

What we saw earlier this week with large numbers of mourners turning up at a cemetery simply cannot continue to happen. Not only does it place funeral staff in an extremely difficult position, but it puts lives at risk.

The council said social distancing is the most important consideration in deciding how many mourners can attend a funeral in the city.
Pedestrians wear face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Wednesday, April 1, in Pyongyang, North Korea. 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-Yonhap



WASHINGTON  The commander of U.S. Forces Korea said Thursday he does not believe North Korea's claim that it has no coronavirus cases, according to CNN and Voice of America.



"That is an impossible claim based on all of the intel we have seen," Gen. Robert Abrams said in a joint interview with the two U.S. outlets in Seoul. "We're not going to reveal our sources and methods. (But) that is untrue. How many, I couldn't tell you."



North Korea has said it has no cases of COVID-19 and boasted about the steps it has taken to prevent an outbreak, including cutting off cross-border travel and quarantining people.



Abrams said North Korea's military was on lockdown for about 30 days in February and early March.

"They took draconian measures at their border crossings and inside their formations to do exactly what everybody else is doing, which is to stop the spread," he said.



Among the 28,500-strong USFK, their dependents and affiliated staff, the general said 16 virus cases have been reported.



"We've seen the worst but now is not the time to get complacent. Our worst is frankly not that bad," he said.

Speaking about North Korea's recent series of short-range missile launches, Abrams said the regime is pursuing a four- or five-year plan to develop solid fuel missile capability with increased accuracy.



"If they perfect it, then bringing these types of systems online into a fully operational, capable status only serves to increase the threat to the Republic of Korea and other countries around the region," he said, referring to South Korea by its official name. (Yonhap)


A delivery of ventilators, transported from Moscow to New York this week to help deal with the coronavirus pandemic, were manufactured by a Russian company that is currently subject to US sanctions.

NBC News reports that as the boxes of desperately needed ventilators were unloaded at New Yorks John F Kennedy Airport, they were discovered to be a model of ventilator called the Aventa-M  manufactured by the subsidiary of a sanctioned Russian firm.

Russian media group RBC identified the manufacturer as Ural Instrument Engineering Plant (UPZ), based in Chelyabinsk, almost 1,000 miles east of Moscow. UPZ is part of Concern Radio-Electric Technologies (KRET), a unit of defence and technology conglomerate Rostec.

Both KRET and Rostec have been sanctioned by the US since 2014, forbidding US firms and citizens from doing business with them.

The delivery of ventilators came after a phone call between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

Characterised as a humanitarian mission by the Kremlin, it was initially assumed that the equipment on board was a donation by the Russian Federation. However, a statement by the State Department corrected that assumption.

As a follow-up to the March 30 phone call between President Trump and President Putin, the United States has agreed to purchase needed medical supplies, including ventilators and personal protection equipment, from Russia, which were handed over to FEMA on April 1 in New York City.

However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Russian media that the cost of the cargo was split 50/50 between the US and the sovereign wealth fund Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). RDIF has been under US sanctions since 2015.

However, a State Department official told NBC News: The Russian Direct Investment Fund is subject to certain debt and equity-related sectoral sanctions, which would not apply to transactions for the provision of medical equipment and supplies.

The move has caused a storm on both sides of the Atlantic, with Trump critics describing the deal as helping Putin with a prestige project that will be used for propaganda purposes, and critics of Putin questioning why equipment is being sent to the US when it is badly needed in Russia.

The Doctors Alliance, a group of Russian medical professionals, tweeted: Well, great. We have been collecting donations to buy our medical personnel protective gear, and our authorities sell [personal protective equipment] to the US. It is simply a farce.

Reuters reports that Ms Zakharova expressed surprise and disappointment that anyone was questioning what Moscow has cast as a sincere goodwill gesture meant to help the United States at a time of crisis.

Arent ventilators needed in the United States?, she said, adding that Russia could take them back if they were not wanted.
The White House Correspondents Association removed conservative network One America News from the daily White House briefing rotation, after the far-right news outlet's employee twice attended briefings out of turn. The WHCA did not name the network or the employee.

But the TV personality in question, Chanel Rion, said Thursday on OAN that she still plans to attend Thursday's briefing scheduled for 5 p.m., she says as a guest of White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.

The WHCA issued a policy in March restricting seating in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, where the president and vice president have been delivering near-daily briefings on the coronavirus crisis. The rules, issued to protect the health of journalists covering the White House, limit the number of reporters who can be in the room, rotating outlets, which means that news organizations don't necessarily have a seat each day. And that means some smaller news outlets are in the rotation less frequently. The WHCA says it removed the outlet from the briefing rotation this to comply with CDC guidelines on social distancing, and the association's decision doesn't bar the outlet from the White House grounds  only from the briefing rotation.

"We do not take this action lightly. This is a matter of public safety," said a statement from the WHCA Board issued Wednesday.

Rion was in the room on two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, when OAN wasn't in the rotation.

"The rule they said I violated was that I was violating social distancing guidelines by standing in the aisle, or standing in that room when I was not allowed to," Rion explained on OAN Thursday, noting that photographers were in the room, too.

And Rion said she plans to be back, she says as a guest of Grisham, who has stayed away from the briefing room podium during her tenure as press secretary.

"I spoke with Stephanie Grisham this morning. I met with her," Rion said on OAN. "We discussed the situation, and she invited me again to attend the briefing today as her guest, standing in the back. And I will be in the briefing room today if there's no physical complications with that. She has stated explicitly that she had invited me in both instances, both yesterday and the day before, when we were not on rotation, to stand in the back of the room."

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White House Coronavirus Task Force Holds Daily Briefing

President Trump participates in the daily coronavirus task force briefing in the Brady Briefing room at the White House on March 31, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Getty Images

The White House has not issued any statement on the situation, as Rion acknowledged on OAN.

Charles Herring, the president of OAN, said in an email that OAN was an invited guest to the president's briefings by Grisham, and that OAN's presence in the briefing room was "therefore appropriate." Herring noted the employee stood in the back of the room to observe social distancing, and claimed that the WHCA was aware of the invitation from Grisham "but took retaliatory action anyway."

It's not the first time OAN or Rion has been a focus of controversy at the White House. In March, Rion accused members of the media, including some in the briefing room, of teaming up with the Chinese communist party's mantra.

"On that note, major left-wing media, even in this room, have teamed up with Chinese communist party narratives, and they are claiming you are racist for making these claims about 'Chinese virus,'" Rion told President Trump during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing. "Is it alarming that major media players, just to oppose you, are siding with foreign state propaganda, Islamic radicals, and Latin gangs and cartels and they work right here out of the White House with direct access to you and your team?"

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The political-opinion factory has moved from downplaying the coronavirus outbreak to haranguing the president for his alleged dismissal of science. The New York Timess Paul Krugman charges not just Trump but the Republican Party as a whole with cultivating an attitude of disdain toward expertise. Never mind that the president and the media have taken a similar trajectory during this crisis  from dismissal to alertness to panic  while others on the right, such as Tom Cotton, sounded the alarm from the beginning. The underlying assumption that experts alone can resolve this crisis is wrong.

For one, a monolithic expert opinion on the present pandemic does not exist. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, emerged only three months ago; scientists havent had nearly enough time to conduct conclusive research into it. And constraints on testing, compounded by uncertainty as to the number of asymptomatic cases, make the current medical data largely unreliable.

While some epidemiologists have used previous flu pandemics to inform their thinking, that approach requires rough estimates of factors such as reproduction and fatality rates, leading to wide variance in projections. To take one example, Oxford University researchers found that as much as 40 percent of the U.K. might be immune to the novel coronavirus, while a team from Imperial College London projected more than 250,000 domestic deaths, even under strict social-distancing measures. For all their sophistication, computational tools rely on inputs that are difficult to observe in real time.

While scientists will ultimately have to address the underlying threat of the disease itself, they cannot solve the immediate problem of mobilizing the country against the virus. The expert fetishists should consider the lackluster response of French president Emmanuel Macron, Europes arch-technocrat, whose decision to hold elections during the outbreak doubtlessly increased the number of infections in his country. In contrast with Trump, Macron surrounds himself with a coterie of technicians providing the precise policy prescriptions for any given moment, yet he and Trump came to roughly the same conclusion.

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Delaying the elections would have had massive drawbacks too, of course, but thats the point: No amount of evidence-based policymaking can provide an easy path through predicaments in which the choices on offer all promise uncertain outcomes. While the nations of Southeast Asia have tempered the pandemic with test-and-trace strategies, their success is more a result of firsthand experience with the 2003 SARS outbreak than of superior scientific capabilities. Widespread use of face masks in South Korea, Japan, and Singapore prior to the pandemic also protected those populations. Thus, decidedly unscientific factors  lived experience, cultural mores  have trumped technical prowess in the fight against this pandemic.

In the West, overreliance on expertise accelerated the outbreak. The World Health Organization, which in a matter of weeks has brought itself permanent disgrace, assured the public in January that there was no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus. Later on, the WHO incorrectly advised against the use of face masks by the general public. Because weve been trained to see science as a monolith that delivers incontrovertible dictates, many of us believed these falsehoods, which drove public messaging for weeks and almost certainly affected ordinary citizens decision-making.

On the policy front, dependence on experts delayed the domestic response to COVID-19. While the coronavirus spread through China, policymakers in the U.S. could not possibly discern the likelihood of a domestic outbreak. Prior experiences with SARS, Ebola, and swine flu indicated that the U.S. was resilient in the face of pandemics. In retrospect, its easy to identify why that wasnt the case with the novel coronavirus, but it wasnt at all clear at the time. The hard sciences are empirical, requiring careful observation of phenomena over long periods of time. Unlike experts, political leaders must act preemptively in the face of uncertainty. If policy is data driven, without data, theres no one at the wheel.

Forceful preemptive measures to combat the coronavirus would have required an intuitive understanding of the strategic terrain  not only of the risks and rewards of various policies, but also of public sentiment. The German war scholar Carl von Clausewitz called it coup doeil: The ability to survey the landscape and render quick judgments, informed by both knowledge and intuition, to build a coherent whole out of fragments visible to the human eye. That the sciences reject intuition minimizes their utility when the moment calls for haste.

Along with coup doeil, Clausewitz identifies resolve as a key characteristic of effective wartime leadership. Closing borders and redirecting resources prior to a domestic outbreak would have invited charges of xenophobia and fearmongering, and many Americans would have considered the attendant economic harms unnecessary. Because the trajectory of the virus was uncertain, the torments of doubt overwhelmed leadership at home and abroad. But expertise does not provide resolve, for we often see the cleverest people devoid of resolution. While the academic must cultivate doubt in order to test his theories, the wartime leader must dispel doubt.

Trump himself is hardly an intellectual, but policy responses across the West  from the U.S. to the U.K. to France  have arguably been too academic. Waiting on precise data and expert judgment, the White House and state governors were caught flat-footed. Scientific researchers operate in the friendly environment of the lab, proving and disproving hypotheses definitively, and social scientists painstakingly superimpose scientific methods onto the humanities. The name political science implies that, like biology or physics, the question of human flourishing has fixed answers to be found by sifting through data. This empirical modality now dominates policymaking, leaving us defenseless against novel threats.

When a super-spreader is boarding a flight from Wuhan to New York, theres no time to run a regression. As Clausewitz said of war, in the course of action, circumstances press for immediate decision, and allow no time to look about for fresh data.

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Health workers take care of a COVID-19 patients in Rome, Italy (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

The associations representatives recently handed over the gift to the Embassy of Italy in Vietnam, said the associations Vice Chairman - former Ambassador to Italy Dang Khanh Thoai.

Thoai said the masks are donated by people who love the Italian country, adding that the relief is part of a campaign initiated by the association to support the European country which is struggling against the pandemic.

For his part, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Antonio Alessandro expressed his gratitude for the support of the Vietnamese people and the Vietnam-Italy Friendship Association, as Vietnam is also exerting efforts in the fight against the global pandemic.

He voiced his belief that the COVID-19 will soon be repelled in Vietnam and Italy as well as across the globe.

The bilateral relations will continue to thrive, benefitting people of the two nations and contributing to peace and friendship of the world, he added.

Italy is among the hardest hit nations in the COVID-19 pandemic, with total 110,570 cases as of April 2 and the worlds highest death toll of more than 13,150.
Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan on



Friday donated Rs 1.01 lakh to the Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF).

Chauhan made the contributions of Rs 1.01 lakh from his salary to CMRF, an official release said.

All officials and staff of the Governor's Secretariat also contributed to the CMRF with their one days salary, the release said, adding that a total of Rs 3,29,326 has given to the CMRF from Raj Bhavan.

The official release did not mention the purpose for which the contributions were made into the Chief Minister Relief Fund by the governor.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on March 31 had contributed Rs 3.18 crore from his MLALAD fund to the coronavirus eradication fund formed in the state to tackle with the virus.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on March 2 contributed Rs seven crore from his MLALAD fund to the coronavirus eradication fund.

Meanwhile, in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal for lighting candles or diyas or flashlights of mobile phones for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 (Sunday), the governor has appealed to the people of the state to show their commitment, unity, harmony and will power in their fight to protect against the coronavirus.

People should also maintain social distancing and provisions of lockdown while lighting their candles or diyas, the governor emphasised.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington: The Trump administration is preparing to issue an official recommendation for Americans to wear face coverings in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but is warning people not to develop a "false sense of security" if they do so.

President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday (Friday AEDT) that the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would soon issue new advice for Americans to wear a mask or other face covering when in public.

Performance artist Lynx Alexander walks through Times Square wearing a customised breathing mask in response to the spread of COVID-19. Credit:AP

Public health authorities in the US had previously resisted advising Americans to wear masks, and had even warned people that they could increase their risk of infection by wearing one.

Australian data scientist Jeremy Howard played an influential role in kickstarting the US mask debate with an article in The Washington Post calling for the government to put mask-wearing at the centre of its response to the pandemic.
Hours after he was dismissed from command of his nuclear aircraft carrier for sounding alarms about a coronavirus outbreak, Navy Capt. Brett Crozier received a heros send-off Friday from hundreds of sailors on his ship.

Captain Crozier! Captain Crozier! clapping crew members aboard the Theodore Roosevelt chanted as the Santa Rosa native walked down the gangplank and onto a dock in Guam.

Meanwhile, pressure increased in Washington for answers about his dismissal and the status of the thousands of sailors who remained onboard, fewer than half of whom have been tested for the virus.

Several sailors filmed the moment Crozier departed and posted it on social media. The carriers former commanding officer walked alone off the ship with a backpack, saluted a sailor onshore and gave a brief wave to his crew before being driven away.

And thats how you send off one of the greatest captains youve ever had, one sailor narrated as he filmed the send-off, the chants echoing on the Roosevelts massive hangar deck. A man for the people.

Crozier, 50, was relieved of his command Thursday by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, three days after the captain wrote a letter to his superiors in which he pleaded for more resources to remove most of his nearly 5,000 crew members from the warship. Without such measures, he said, some sailors could die.

Modly said Crozier hadnt let his superiors know the seriousness of the situation before sending the letter, and complained that he first learned of the situation when The Chronicle reported on the letter Tuesday. He said Crozier showed extremely poor judgment in copying the letter to more than 20 people, saying that allowed it to become public and undermine national security.

He put the spotlight on the Navy in a negative light when all the things he was asking for were surging for him, Modly told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in an interview Friday. This was the hardest thing Ive ever had to do, particularly in this job, because I know that in my heart and in the heart and mind of this particular officer, every single thing that he was doing was with the best interests of the crew in mind. ... I know that the crew loves and respects him. But thats not an excuse for exercising the judgment that he did.

The Navy said Friday that 41% of Roosevelt crew members had been tested for the virus, with 137 positive cases. Modly said roughly one-third of the cases were asymptomatic and that no sailor has been hospitalized. Nearly 600 crew members are quarantined in Guam hotels.

A little more than a week ago, the ship had only two cases. The captain told officials it was impossible to keep social distancing and isolation standards aboard the cramped carrier.

Sailors and relatives of Roosevelt crew members who have spoken to The Chronicle have showered Crozier with support for his actions. The Chronicle granted anonymity to sailors under its sourcing policy because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Ive never had a better CO, one sailor on the Roosevelt said of his former commanding officer. The guy was liked by the officers, enlisted and their families. You know how rare that is?

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Also on Friday, 17 Democratic senators including Kamala Harris of California wrote to the Defense Departments inspector general asking for an investigation into the Navys response to the coronavirus outbreak on the carrier and Croziers dismissal.

We are particularly alarmed by the stark reversal from the Navy regarding Capt. Croziers leadership during this crisis, the senators wrote. It is also difficult to understand how Capt. Croziers decision to copy 20 or 30 people on an email to his chain of command necessarily constitutes a breach warranting relief of command.

The senators added that given the remarkable show of support for Capt. Crozier by members of his crew, we are additionally worried about the impact of this decision on morale and readiness.

In a separate statement, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said she hoped Croziers dismissal would not deter other officers from speaking out.

Inside the newsroom Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. Presenting information from an anonymous source occurs extremely rarely, and only when that information is considered crucially important and all other on-the-record options have been exhausted. In such cases, The Chronicle has complete knowledge of the unnamed person's identity and of how that person is in position to know the information. The Chronicle's detailed policy governing the use of such sources, including the use of pseudonyms, is available on sfchronicle.com. See More Collapse

By all accounts, Captain Crozier wrote this letter because he cares deeply about the safety of his crew, Feinstein said. The fact that the letter went to individuals outside his chain of command and revealed potential readiness issues would not seem to warrant a disciplinary action that essentially ends his career.

Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer and Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com, tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @mgafni, @talkopan
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:10:01|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Japan's health ministry on Friday said that local governments will be advised to accommodate coronavirus patients with mild symptoms in hotels, as urban areas in particular are facing a shortage of healthcare facilities amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The request has been made owing to an escalation in cases in Tokyo as well as other urban areas, with the Tokyo metropolitan government along with healthcare specialists saying the number of hospital beds available for coronavirus patients will soon reach capacity.

A panel of government experts also warned this week the country's entire healthcare system could collapse if the cases continue to spike.

The healthcare system in Tokyo and four other prefectures is under increased strain and "drastic countermeasures need to be taken as quickly as possible," the experts concluded.

Moving patients with less severe symptoms to hotels or back to their homes would free up vital hospital beds for patients with more severe and potentially fatal symptoms, the health ministry said.

In an addition, the health ministry has relaxed its conditions for the discharge of COVID-19 patients.

Infected patients will be allowed to be discharged from hospital after two days provided they test negative twice for the pneumonia-causing virus.

The Tokyo metropolitan government has already begun talks with hotels, with the bill to be footed by the government's soon-to-be-announced extra budget.

"We are promptly securing places for recuperation at this moment. We want to create an environment for the people to feel safe," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told a press briefing on the matter.
Google is using data harvested directly from users' devices to reveal how different countries, regions and cities are responding to the coronavirus lockdown.

A constant stream of data from the tech firm is being published online and compared to the normal 'baseline' level from before coronavirus swept the globe.

It covers data from 131 different countries and breaks it down to show drops in visits to shops, parks, workplaces, transit stations, pharmacies and offices.

A notable location where there is no data available is China - ground-zero for the COVID-19 outbreak, which has now surpassed a million confirmed cases and killed more than 50,000 - due to a government ban on the search giant.

Hard hit regions outside China, such as Lombardy, Spain, New York and London, show significant decreases in public mobility.

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London's lockdown has seen a significant drop in mobility, according to data gathered and shared online by Google. It reveals a 80 per cent drop in trips to transit stations as well as a 19 per cent hike in time spent in residences (pictured)

London's busiest landmarks are deserted as the city becomes a ghost town amid the coronavirus lockdown. Pictured, a deserted Piccadilly Circus

London and New York, the epicentres of their respective countries, have also seen a significant drop in movement. It found New Yorkers are going to the grocery store 32 per cent less often (pictured)

New York City is one if the busiest places in the world, but COVID-19 and lockdown leaves the streets empty. Pictured, empty streets around Rockefeller Center in Manhattan

Retail and recreation in Lombardy, the coronavirus-ravaged region of northern Italy, has plummeted by 95 per cent while trips to parks in Madrid have decreased by 92 per cent.

These two regions have a combined 12,000 deaths  approximately 8,000 in Lombardy and 4,000 in Madrid  more than fifth of the global death toll.

London and New York, the epicentres of their respective countries, have also seen a significant drop in movement.

Google's data reveals an 80 per cent drop in London's transit trips. It also found New Yorkers are going to the grocery store 32 per cent less often.

Google's analysis of location data from billions of users' is the largest public dataset available to help health authorities assess the abidance of lockdown measures.

Facebook, which like Google has billions of users, has also shared location data but not publicly.

NEW YORK'S MOBILITY Google data indicates trips to: Retail and recreation sites were 62% down Grocery and pharmacies were 32% down Parks were 47% down Transit stations were 68% down Workplaces were 46% down Places of residence were 16% higher Advertisement

LOMBARDY'S MOBILITY Google data indicates trips to: Retail and recreation sites were 95% down Grocery and pharmacies were 81% down Parks were 59% down Transit stations were 89% down Workplaces were 65% down Places of residence were 24% higher Advertisement

It handed over the movement patterns to non-governmental researchers that are producing similar reports for authorities in several countries.

The coronavirus has infected more than 1 million people globally, and COVID-19, the respiratory illness it causes, has killed 52,000, according to Reuters tally.

Infectious disease specialists have said analysing travel across groups by age, income and other demographics could help shape public service announcements.

Google, which infers demographics from users' internet use as well as some data given when signing up to Google services, said it was not reporting demographic information.

LONDON'S MOBILITY Google data indicates trips to: Retail and recreation sites were 87% down Grocery and pharmacies were 48% down Parks were 59% down Transit stations were 80% down Workplaces were 62% down Places of residence were 19% higher Advertisement

MADRID'S MOBILITY Google data indicates trips to: Retail and recreation sites were 94% down Grocery and pharmacies were 72% down Parks were 92% down Transit stations were 89% down Workplaces were 65% down Places of residence were 22% higher Advertisement

Retail and recreation in Lombardy, the coronavirus-ravaged region of northern Italy, has plummeted by 95 per cent

Trips to parks in Madrid have decreased by 92 per cent as the city goes into lockdown. The Spanish capital city has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and has recorded more than 4,000 deaths

The company said, though, that it was open to including additional information and countries in follow-up reports.

'These reports have been developed to be helpful while adhering to our stringent privacy protocols and policies,' Dr Karen DeSalvo, chief health officer for Google Health and Jen Fitzpatrick, senior vice president for Google Geo, wrote in a blog post.

Google said it published the reports to avoid any confusion about what it was providing to authorities amid a global debate on digital privacy.

China, Singapore, South Korea and other countries have asked residents to use apps and other technology to track their compliance with quarantines, but privacy activists argue such measures can compromise individual liberties.

Data in Google's reports come from users who enabled Google's 'Location History' feature on their devices.

The company said it adopted technical measures to ensure that no individual could be identified through the new reports.

Consultations with US health officials, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization helped inform data shared, Google said.

The company declined to comment to Reuters on whether it has received any legal requests to share more detailed data to help with efforts to tackle the pandemic.
Elon Musks rocket company SpaceX has banned its employees from using video conferencing app Zoom, citing significant privacy and security concerns, according to a memo seen by Reuters, days after US law enforcement warned users about the security of the popular app.

Use of Zoom and other digital communications has soared as many Americans have been ordered to stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus.

SpaceXs ban on Zoom Video Communications Inc illustrates the mounting challenges facing aerospace manufacturers as they develop technology deemed vital to national security while also trying to keep employees safe from the fast-spreading respiratory illness.

In an email dated March 28, SpaceX told employees that all access to Zoom had been disabled with immediate effect.

We understand that many of us were using this tool for conferences and meeting support, SpaceX said in the message. Please use email, text or phone as alternate means of communication.

Two people familiar with the matter confirmed the contents of the mail.

A representative for SpaceX, which has more than 6,000 employees, did not respond to a request for comment. Chief Executive Musk also heads electric car maker Tesla Inc.

NASA, one of SpaceXs biggest customers, also prohibits its employees from using Zoom, said Stephanie Schierholz, a spokeswoman for the US space agency.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations Boston office on Monday issued a warning about Zoom, telling users not to make meetings on the site public or share links widely after it received two reports of unidentified individuals invading school sessions, a phenomenon known as zoombombing.

Investigative news site The Intercept on Tuesday reported that Zoom video is not end-to-end encrypted between meeting participants, and that the company could view sessions.

"We want to start by apologizing for the confusion we have caused by incorrectly suggesting that Zoom meetings were capable of using end-to-end encryption," the company said in a blog post. "Zoom has always strived to use encryption to protect content in as many scenarios as possible, and in that spirit, we used the term end-to-end encryption."

The company added that it encrypts all content from Zoom meetings where everyone is using the Zoom app and the sessions are not being recorded. It said it was unable to currently encrypt content when users log in using other devices.
French health officials have announced that at least 884 people have died in retirement homes since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. However, lockdown measures to limit the spread of the illness have raised concerns about residents' well being and mental health.

The tally came just hours after four care homes announced that their initial death toll for coronavirus victims had gone up and many health officials suspect the government's figures could climb also.

"I don't think these numbers reflect the reality," says Regis Aubry, a doctor and member of France's National Ethical Consultative Committee (CCNE).

It is the first time that official figures for non-hospital deaths have been recorded.

France's Director General of Health Jerome Salomon said Thursday that at least 884 people had died in the country's care homes for elderly, known as Ehpad (Etablissement d'hebergement pour personnes agees dependantes), all the while stressing this was an initial figure.

"The death toll is likely to increase because there is always a gap between the moment when the infection starts, the moment when it strikes a retirement home, and the moment when people die from their infection," Aubry told RFI.

France's previous daily coronavirus death tolls had included only those who had died in hospitals, but it was known that the nursing homes, particularly in the east of the country, had been hard hit by the outbreak of the virus.

However, critics point out that patients were dying even before Covid-19.

"An epidemiological study was never conducted beforehand, so it's hard to know precisely what killed patients," explains Aubry.

Prevention worse than disease

Following a wave of infections in mid-March, the government introduced measures to sequester residents to protect them from the fast-spreading disease, including a ban on visits.

Some families have criticized this move, worried about the impact of isolation on their loved ones.

"Many people in these retirement homes suffer from dementia and other forms of mental illness. They may not understand why they're being cut off from their loved ones," says Aubry.

Retirement homes have tried to limit the risk of infections by stopping people who appear healthy from coming into contact with elderly residents.

As the rate of infections and deaths in France have soared, with the death toll now totaling over 4,500, authorities have tightened lockdown measures in retirement homes, cordoning off coronavirus patients from other residents, and urging them to remain in their rooms.

"It makes sense from a public health point of view, but you have to be careful not to lock people up," warns Aubry, whose ethics committee issued a response to the health ministry to ensure coronavirus prevention does not become worse than the disease itself.

"Confinement leads to isolation, which in turn leads to imprisonment. This could be driving the rate of deaths," he suggests.

The coronavirus is a double-whammy, not just for vulnerable elderly residents, but already-stretched staff, putting heavy pressure on their operations, which could cause neglect.

Borderline

"What we see on the ground is that when you compound the impact of isolation with the fact that some retirement homes are plagued by staff shortages, because some care workers are sick themselves, the outcome is that patients lack the basic care they need," comments Aubry.

This basic care involves feeding residents, talking with them, stimulating their mental faculties. "At the moment, in some establishments, we are at the very limit."

If the situation deteriorates, Aubry reckons retirement homes will have to call upon retired staff to meet the personnel shortfall but also on volunteers.

Unions have called for adequate equipment, including masks, gowns and eye gear for health care professionals to fight the coronavirus.

But, safety is not the only issue.

"Any volunteer entering a nursing home needs not only decent equipment but decent training," insists Aubry.

"I think there is a real sense of urgency. We need to start anticipating now how to fill retirement homes with adequate staff numbers. Anything below standard will lead to neglect."

Right balance

Aubry's National Ethical Consultative Committee was contacted by Health Minister Olivier Veran last month for advice. The group recommends that any government measures taken be weighed up against the public's interest and the reality inside retirement homes.

"Not all of them are the same. Some are big with a lot of staff, and others are smaller," explains Aubry.

Getting the balance right will be crucial.

"I think that in a democratic society such as ours, the elderly, who are the most vulnerable members, must be accorded the respect they deserve," he said.
It doesn't seem as right, however, that Gabbie Stroud describes herself as a recovering teacher. It makes teaching sound more like problem drinking, which is far from the message Stroud wants to convey. Of course, Stroud is using the expression in a light-hearted fashion but it leaves the impression that she is glad she escaped the classroom.

I knew a person who described herself as a recovering librarian. She had a few hours of casual work and was assigned to fixing the covers on books that had been returned in a parlous state.

Her previous book, the memoir Teacher, poignantly charted the course of the unravelling both of personal and professional relationships in Stroud's life. It explained why she needed distance from a job she had loved. She felt besieged by a ravenous bureaucracy. The most humane of all professionals were increasingly expected to be robotic. She had to get out.

Credit:

In Dear Parents, Stroud returns to the ring and she has plenty of fight left in her. She wants teaching to be a life-affirming and life-giving experience and details with great gusto many of the obstacles that stop this happening. One of them is the behaviour of parents. Among the refrains of this book is that parents need to be responsible for their area of life and not foist it onto teachers. Conversely, they need to allow teachers to look after their area and not take it upon themselves to switch roles.

It is hard to argue with such common sense but harder to explain why it has become so uncommon. Stroud points to an education system that is struggling under the burden of impossible expectations, many of which land on the plate of a classroom teacher.

Say what she likes, Stroud is a teacher to her bones and that is surely the reason this book touches upon many of the same themes and challenges as Teacher. She knows the importance of revision and consolidation, especially when the lesson doesn't seem to have gotten through. Her opinions regarding NAPLAN have only intensified and she is a strident advocate for change in this area. She's pretty tough on politicians. Deep down, this is a portrait of an entire society that is barely coping with itself.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:20:27|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 38,168 as of Friday morning, an increase of 4,450 in 24 hours, according to the lastest figure from the Department of Health and Social Care.

As of Thursday afternoon, of those hospitalised in Britain who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 3,605 have died, marking a record daily rise of 684.

On Friday, London's new emergency field hospital, built with military help in just nine days, opened its doors to await its first COVID-19 patient as the crisis continues to escalate in the country.

The Nightingale Hospital, named after Britain's most famous nurse Florence Nightingale, accommodates up to 4,000 beds at London's Excel center. The National Health Service (NHS) announced a further two Nightingale hospitals will be built in Bristol and Harrogate, along with others in Manchester and Birmingham.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has remained in self-isolation after contracting the virus, said Friday on Twitter: "This country has made a huge effort, a huge sacrifice, done absolutely brilliantly well in delaying the spread of the virus."

The prime minister also gave an update on his own health. "Although I am feeling better and I have done my seven days of isolation, I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom. I still have a temperature," he said.

To boost morale, Queen Elizabeth II will address the nation about the pandemic in a televised broadcast on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said in a message.

During Thursday's Downing Street coronavirus daily briefing, NHS England Medical Director Stephen Powis said it may take "a few weeks" before the number of deaths in Britain begin to decrease.
A member of a protected tribe located in the Amazon rainforest was found dead on Tuesday.

Authorities in the Brazilian state said they found Zezico Guajajara shot dead by gunmen near the village where the Guajajara tribe lives.

The Guajajara tribe member was an avid supporter of Guardians of the Forest, a group that aims to prevent logging gangs from cutting down trees in the area.

Zezico was the fifth victim in a six-month period. His death caused concerns for the lives of Amazon forest protectors who often meet violence.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has faced multiple criticisms from domestic and international parties for failing to protect indigenous territories in the Amazon.

In 2019, Bolsonaro promised to reduce tribal rights and territory in the Amazon rainforest. He publicly encouraged loggers and miners to commercially exploit the protected lands. He also vowed to legalize mining and commercial farming on indigenous lands.

He received intense backlash after voicing his support for farmers and loggers working in the area---while also cutting the budget of Brazil's environmental agency.

It is unclear whether Zezico died on Tuesday. The Brazilian Indigenous Peoples' Association (APIB) urged the local authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

The latest murder brought to light the worsening violence against the tribes. The violence is especially evident in leaders who fight to keep their territories safe from invaders.

Amazonian tribes and campaign leaders have been fighting a long-standing battle against illegal networks destroying the forest with illegal logging, beef and soy farming, and deliberately lit fires.

The Amazon has been described by many to be a lawless land. Criminals have been known to set networks and illegal logging operations in the area. Cleared lands are then converted to a farm.

Last year, the world watched in horror as more than 9,000 square kilometers of the rainforest was destroyed in deliberately lit flames.

Authorities say the fire was purposely started as part of the deforestation process of illegal loggers who aim to fully clear the land for cattle ranching and soy farming.

The recent surge in agricultural and mining activities in the forest has alarmed many environmental experts. Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist with the University of Sao Paulo, predicted the Amazon would soon come to its tipping point and begin its road to self-destruction.

If the deforestation is left unaddressed, the forest could turn into a savanna. Scientists also believe the forest may start releasing greenhouse gases should the government not address the illegal operations ravaging the rainforest.

Bolsonaro created an Amazon Council early this year. The council is led by Brazil's vice president and staunch supporter of Amazon mining development Hamilton Mourao.

Environmentalists fear the existence of the council, whose mission is to "protect the rainforest and oversee economic development in the Amazon" will only hasten deforestation.

Brazilian indigenous leaders called the move a genocide, ethnocide, and ecocide.

MapBiomas, a group that monitors the rate of forest destruction, said deforestation, which starts in May, will be "worse than last year" unless something happens in the coming weeks.

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MADRID -- Spains death toll from the coronavirus rose above 10,000 on Thursday after a record 950 people died overnight, but health officials were encouraged by a slowdown in daily increases in infections and deaths.

Spain has the worlds second-highest death toll after Italy at 10,003 but Thursdays one-day toll was the highest for any country since the start of the epidemic.

The number of registered coronavirus cases rose about 8% from Wednesday to 110,238, the ministry said.

The total deaths rose by just over 10%, about the same rate as the previous day.

The daily rate of new infections has been slowing since March 25, when reported cases rose by just over 20%.

Theres light at the end of the tunnel, Health Minister Salvador Illa told parliament.

A glimpse of hope: the curve has stabilized. We have reached ... the peak of the curve and we have started the slowdown phase.

General view of a temporary hospital inside IFEMA conference centre, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Madrid, Spain, April 2, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Spain has been in lockdown since March 14, and as of this week only employees in essential sectors are permitted to travel to and from work.

Data showed on Thursday that Spain has shed an unprecedented 900,000 jobs since the restriction started, with temporary layoffs affecting at least 620,000 other jobs.

Around 80,000 workers are off sick with coronavirus, while 170,000 more are on sick leave, isolated after coming into contact with an infected person.

Nursing homes, whose elderly residents are highly vulnerable to the disease, have been particularly hard hit.

Patients walk through the hall of a temporary hospital inside IFEMA conference centre, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Madrid, Spain, April 2, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Clad in white protective gear, funeral service workers could be seen taking out coffins from a nursing home in Leganes on the outskirts of Madrid, where 50 residents had died since the start of the epidemic according to EFE news agency, and putting them in a van, Reuters footage showed.

Later, ambulances picked up various uninfected residents to take them to other homes.

Two-thirds of 150 residents tested in the Vitalia home on Wednesday had coronavirus, EFE said.

Vitalia administration was not immediately available for comment.

The head of government for the region around Madrid told Cadena Ser radio that a total of around 3,000 people had died in nursing homes in March, around three times the normal monthly toll.

The administration says it cannot be sure how many were caused by coronavirus as it lacks testing.

A worker checks coffins, most of them containing the bodies of COVID-19 victims, in the parking of a funeral parlour, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Barcelona, Spain April 2, 2020. Photo: Reuters

In Catalonia, the second worst-hit region after Madrid, the government reversed its initial reluctance and asked the national military to send medical teams to help tackle the coronavirus.

Senior health official Alba Verges said the regions intensive care capacity was at the limit.

Catalonias push for independence from Madrid has caused political turmoil.
The demand for ventilators, which can cost as much as $50,000, has created bidding wars for government buyers from Springfield to Spain. Pritzker and several of his fellow governors have complained that theyre left to fend for themselves without clear coordination from the federal government. At the same time, they said, they are routinely being outbid for the machines by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially ended their roles as senior members of the royal family, they fled out of the British monarchy to seek their independence.

As the couple chose to live their non-royal life in the United States, it seems that not everyone offered a warm welcome-- especially Meghan's half-sister Samantha Markle.

Samantha Markle Slammed the Sussexes For Being "Hypocrites" And "Disgusting"

The 55-year-old Markle has heavily criticized the Duchess of Sussex for allegedly abandoning the royal family and the United Kingdom in the middle of the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview with Dan Wootton on his talkRADIO Drivetime show, she called the Sussexes "disgusting" and "hypocrites" for residing in three countries in a matter of months.

"Harry and Meghan don't seem to care about families or people around them. Their self-preservation is quite disgusting," Samantha said. "They can throw stones all they want but they are the biggest hypocrites out there now."

Meghan's Half-Sister Branded The Couple "Cruel"

Markle also cleared that the 38-year-old Duchess has failed to reach out to her or his father, Thomas Markle, as she neglected her immediate family during the health crisis.

The mom-of-three even compared the couple from the dark age of "roman times," as she branded Meghan and Harry "cruel."

"And now to abandon the British people and the royal family at such a critical time it is almost, it takes me back to the colosseum in Roman times, It just seems so horribly cruel," the elder Markle said.

Meghan's half-sister also lambasted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex regarding the security cost issue and who will cover it.

U.S. President Trump Refuses To Cover Meghan And Harry's Security Bill

Just a few days ago, the 35-year-old duke and the "Suits" alum have chosen to settle in Los Angeles together with their almost one-year-old son Archie Harrison. They are said to be living in a secluded compound.

However, President Donald Trump declared that the government of the United States will not shoulder their security while in L.A.

"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!" Trump wrote on his official Twitter account.

Although the U.K and U.S.A have a long-standing agreement about employing security for diplomats and royals, the couple is no longer considered as an "international protected person" after they have officially stepped down as senior members of the royal family.

As for Meghan and Harry, they had no plans to ask the government for help regarding security protection since it was mentioned that privately funded security arrangements have been made.

Moreover, it was reported that Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles have agreed to shoulder $2.5 million for the couple's post-Megxit U.S. security bill.
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Linkedin Farida Susanty and Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara  Fri, April 3, 2020 15:35 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f883f9 1 Business informal-worker,small-business,COVID-19,coronavirus,safety-net,unemployment,recession,economy Free

Physical distancing, closed shops and empty roads have changed the daily activities of Tedy Abdullah, a 27-year-old motorcycle taxi driver who partners with ride-hailing apps Gojek and Grab. What used to be hectic days that start in the afternoon and go on until the morning after, are now filled with inactivity.

I can wait for hours with no orders, said Teddy, who used to earn between Rp 200,000 (US$12) and Rp 250,000 a day. Now I only earn around Rp 100,000 per day.

Teddy is only one out of the estimated 2 million app-based ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers in the country whose incomes have taken a hit with fewer orders, especially for ride-hailing and shopping services. The number of Gojek and Grab active users declined 17 percent throughout March, according to a Statqo Analytics report.

Motorcycle taxi drivers may only be the tip of the iceberg for Indonesias 70.49 million informal workers, more than half of those employed in the country who are considered the most vulnerable in the economic downturn driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. They are unregistered, unregulated and unprotected by a proper social safety net, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO).

If they dont work for a day, they dont get an income, said Hadi Subhan, a labor expert from Airlangga University, highlighting informal workers vulnerability that stem from the way they rely on daily earnings.

App-based ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers drop off customers in front of the Tanah Abang railway station's gate in Central Jakarta. (JP/Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman)

The situation, he added, was exacerbated by a lack of social and health protection for informal workers. The government has lagged in providing protection for formal workers, let alone informal workers, said Hadi.

India, with 80 percent of its workforce in the informal sector, has been warned by international NGO Human Rights Watch for its decision to enforce a three-week nationwide lockdown starting March 24 to contain the spread of the virus. The lockdown has disproportionately hurt marginalized communities due to loss of livelihood and lack of food, shelter, health, and other basic needs, the organization stated.

India then announced a relief package of 1.7 trillion rupees ($22.2 billion) to provide free food and cash transfers to vulnerable populations. Similarly, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has also announced plans to spend Rp 405 trillion on health care, social spending and business recovery programs.

Of the total spending, Rp 110 trillion has been allocated for social safety net programs, including Rp 20 trillion to cover 5.6 million laid-off workers and small business owners, and Rp 150 trillion for economic recovery programs for small and medium businesses (SMEs).

As part of the move to disburse the financial relief, the Social Affairs Ministry announced on Thursday that 3.7 million informal workers in Jakarta would be given staple food packages, in cooperation with the Jakarta administration. The ministry will disburse Rp 25 trillion for the aid.

Im very concerned about that, distributing relief through the bureaucratic process. Based on my experience, the bureaucratic process to disburse relief is very long and it doesnt always reach all those in need, said Tadjudin Noer Effendi, a labor expert from Gadjah Mada University.

Read also: Indonesia advances pre-employment card program to tackle pandemic impacts

Small business owner Marvin Mujito Tanoto, 35, is among those who have yet to hear directly from his bank about loan relaxations, although his monthly orders have plunged by 90 percent. The Surabaya-based batik producer said because of numerous event cancellations, his monthly orders had nearly diminished from what used to be around 50 pieces per month.

I took credit through the KUR with Bank Rakyat Indonesia. To this date, I still receive confirmation that I have to pay the fixed credit. There is no facility to delay the payment, he said, referring to the governments microcredit program (KUR).

For travel-related workers at Indonesias popular tourist destinations in East Nusa Tenggara, such as the Komodo National Park, which hosts the countrys iconic Komodo dragons, the closure of tourist sites until May 29 has forced them to take unpaid leave.

The West Manggarai branch of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) reported zero percent occupancy at 102 hotels in Labuan Bajo. Travel guides for the national park have also subsequently lost their incomes.

At the moment, Im just looking for work on the internet. It may be an alternative to provide for my family, said M. Buharto, a 32-year-old travel guide in West Manggarai, who is among 200 members of the local branch of the Indonesian Travel Guide Association (HPI) with no customers to serve.

SMERU Research Institute senior researcher Palmira Permata Bachtiar noted that current conditions served as an opportunity for the government and businesses to think about social protection for informal workers.

We are facing two pandemics, the medical pandemic and financial pandemic. The medical pandemic might be resolved when a vaccine and medicine for the coronavirus are discovered. But the more dangerous thing is the financial pandemic, when billions of people all over the world are impacted, said Palmira.

Since the announcement of the first COVID-19 case in Indonesia on March 2, the country has recorded 1,790 cases, with 170 deaths, as of Thursday. Jokowi has declared a public health emergency, imposing large-scale social restrictions as countries around the world struggle to flatten the curve and slow down the spread of the highly infectious disease.

The global economy is heading toward recession, experts say, with Indonesias GDP seen as contracting by 0.4 percent under the worst case scenario, according to Finance Ministry estimates. The baseline economic growth scenario is 2.3 percent this year, the lowest since 1999.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer advised President Donald Trump to appoint a military czar to handle the manufacturing and distribution of supplies to combat the coronavirus, arguing the current White House team isn't up for the challenge.

Schumer called out by name White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, who's in charge of manufacturing, and Rear Admiral John Polowczyk, who's in charge of distribution, as not being up for their jobs.

'There is one person right now  Mr Navarro  who is supposedly in charge of production and there's another person right now  an admiral who is nominally response for distribution,' Schumer said Friday on a call with reporters.

'I just want to reiterate my call for the president to appoint a new czar  a senior military expert who has the expertise to be in charge of both manufacturing and distribution,' he noted.

Chuck Schumer advised President Trump to appoint a military czar to handle the manufacturing and distribution of medical supplies

President Trump has tried to paint the lack of medical supplies as a state problem and not a federal issue

Schumer said he's spoken to President Trump about half a dozen in times in the past few weeks - including again on Thursday night - about the issue.

'He said he would look at it. He listened,' he said of his conversation with the president.

Schumer has been vocal in his concerns about the medical supply problem. Health officials and other workers on the front lines have complained about the lack of personal protective gear, ventilators, face masks and other equipment they need to fight the virus.

'There's a dramatic shortage of all the needed supplies or most of them, whether it's masks, whether it's PPE [personal protective equipment] ... whether it's ventilators. And we have no one really in charge,' he told CNN Wednesday night. 'We have this awful spectacle of governors bidding against one another.'

The Trump administration has pushed back against the criticism from governors, lawmakers and other officials about the lack of supplies, trying to present it as a state problem instead of a federal one while, at the same time, bragging about all the supplies they are purchasing.

Polowczyk said at Thursday's daily White House briefing that six cargo planes carrying supplies from overseas have landed another 28 will arrive in coming weeks.

Polowczyk, who is director of fleet ordnance and supply at the U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., said that bringing in supplies by air was much faster than by ship.

'It normally takes approximately 37 days to get from overseas the product, load it, get it to the United States, and distribute it,' he said. 'So to prime the pump so to speak, we have linked on an air bridge to get product here faster.'

In addition to Polowczyk's distribution work, Trump tapped Navarro to coordinate the administration's use of the Defense Production Act, which grants the president the ability to direct industries to produce essential supplies.

Schumer said Navarro, an economist, wasn't up for the job.

'I talked to him  he is not up to the job. He is a very nice man but he has no experience doing things like this,' the New York Democrat told CNN. 'And they have no one that I can best tell in charge of the distribution.'

In a letter to President Trump earlier this week, Schumer said Americans can't rely on the current 'patchwork' effort to get the supplies needed.

'America cannot rely on a patchwork of uncoordinated voluntary efforts to combat the awful magnitude of this pandemic,' he wrote. 'It is long past the time for your Administration to designate a senior military officer to fix this urgent problem.'

President Trump appointed trade adviser Peter Navarro to be in charge of manufacturing

President Trump appointed Rear Admiral John Polowczyk to lead the distribution

Trump originally snapped at Schumer's suggestion, tweeting to him on Thursday that there was a military man in charge: Polowczyk.

'Somebody please explain to Cryin' Chuck Schumer that we do have a military man in charge of distributing goods, a very talented, Admiral, in fact,' Trump tweeted Thursday morning. 'New York has gotten far more than any other State, including hospitals & a hospital chip, but no matter what always complaining.

'It wouldn't matter if you got ten times what was needed, it would never be good enough. Unlike other states, New York unfortunately got off to a late start. You should have pushed harder. Stop complaining & find out where all of these supplies are going. Cuomo working hard!'

The tweets continued Trump's attempt to shift responsibility for the handling of the crisis to states, and paint the federal government as a rescue service.

It also hinted at his repeated claim that vital medical equipment is 'going out the back door' of New York hospitals, which has been dismissed by state and city authorities.

In New York Andrew Cuomo, the governor, was asked to square Trump's attack on Schumer with praise for him. 'I don't know if you can square those two statements,' he said at his daily press briefing.

Then he added - apparently sarcastically: 'I think him for his good words that he thinks I am doing a good job.'

Schumer has been doing the media rounds arguing that Trump needs to put a military commander in charge of manufacturing and distributing much needed medical supplies under the Defense Production Act

Schumer also laid out his point in a Thursday evening tweet, noting that Trump's presidential appointees 'are not up to the job'

But Trump's tweets were also in response to Schumer doing the media rounds - and also making the point on Twitter - that Trump need to appoint a military man for the job.

'His presidential appointees are not up to the job,' Schumer argued in a Wednesday night tweet.

Schumer is not the only Democrat complaining about the work of Trump's team in responding to the virus.

Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York, a former federal prosecutor, called on White House senior adviser Jared Kushner to 'resign or be fired immediately,' arguing his inexperience poses 'a direct threat to American lives.'

Kushner has been running a 'shadow' coronavirus task force, which has brought in private sector officials to augment the government response.

'Since day 1 we've known that Jared Kushner was nothing more than a product of nepotism. Entirely inexperienced, unqualified and ill-informed for the position he held. But during this crisis, he poses a direct threat to American lives. He needs to resign or be fired immediately,' she wrote on Twitter.

Kushner, in a rare appearance in the White House briefing room on Thursday, talked about his work responding to the coronavirus, which has infected more than 245,000 Americans and killed more than 6,000.

He specifically talked about getting surgical masks to New York, saying he was made aware of the problem by the president, who got a call from a friend of his in the state to complain about the lack of protective gear.

'Got a call from the president, he told me he was hearing from friends of his in New York that the New York public hospital system was running low on critical supplies,' Kushner said.

He described making a series of calls to officials and said the result was the administration would 'send a month of supply.'

'We'll be doing similar things with all the different public hospitals that are in the hot spot zones,' he said.

Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York, a former federal prosecutor, called on White House senior adviser Jared Kushner to 'resign or be fired immediately,' arguing his inexperience poses 'a direct threat to American lives'

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner made a rare appearance in the briefing room amid reports about his expanded role in handling the coronavirus

He then proceeded to lecture governors - many of whom have been begging the federal government for medical equipment as they struggle to respond to the pandemic amid dwindling supplies - on how to be 'good managers.'

'You have to take inventory in your state, and you have to be able to prove that there's a real need,' he said of the requests for they were getting for ventilators, marks and other protective gear for workers on the front line, who are at high risk of contracting the contagious disease.

He said that governors should know 'the number of how many ventilators they have in their state because that's the first thing a good manager will do.'

'What a lot of the voters are seeing now is that when you would like somebody to be a mayor or governor or president, you're trying to think about who will be a competent manager during the time of crisis. This is a time of crisis, and you're seeing certain people are better managers than others,' he added.
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(Kitco News) - Gold prices remain fairly volatile following better than expected sentiment in the service sector, according to the latest data from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

Friday, the ISM said its nonmanufacturing index showed a reading of 52.6% for March, down from Februarys reading of 57.2%. However, the data was stronger than expected as economists were forecasting a drop into contraction territory to a reading of 43.5%.

The gold market continues to swing from gains to losses in reaction to the latest economic data, which many economists are now dismissing. June gold futures last traded at $1,637.70 an ounce, unchanged on the day.

Many analysts and economists continue to dismiss the latest economic data as it doesnt capture the massive downturn in the U.S. economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week 6.6 million people applies for unemployment insurance in the U.S. that followings 3.3 million applying for initial jobless claims from the previous week.

Katherine Judge, senior economist at CIBC said that investors should brace for more bad news in the next few months.

"With social distancing and other virus containment measures tightening significantly throughout the month, it is possible that earlier responses to the survey did not capture the full extent of virus containment measures in place by the end of the month," she said. "With those containment measures only likely to get stricter in the near term, activity in the services side of the economy is poised to fall sharply ahead, with our forecast for an unprecedented drop in real GDP of around 30% annualized in Q2 a reflection of that.

While the headline data was better than expected the comments in the survey demonstrate palpable fear in the economy.

Severe impact to operations as a result of COVID-19. Major challenges in obtaining needed supplies for first responders, including N95 masks, gowns, disinfecting products and medical supplies. As a local government, we are experiencing a significant increase in activity due to emergency-response efforts. Starting to experience inappropriate price increases for short-supply items, said a manager in public administration in the survey.

Significant demand disruption caused by the coronavirus, said a manager in the accommodation and food services sector.

The components of the report also highlight growing weakness in the service sector. The Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index decreased to 48% down from than the February reading of 57.8%, reflecting contraction for the first time since July 2009, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Employment Index decreased to a reading of 47% from the February reading of 55.6%. The service sector data comes just after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said that the U.S. economy lost 701,000 jobs in March.
ALBANY  On Jan. 1, New Yorks criminal justice system drastically changed with bail reform and far stricter timelines for prosecutors to share their evidence with the defense.

Three months later, the justice system has drastically changed again  this time because of the global coronavirus pandemic, which has ravaged New York City and communities across the state.

The new normal means the temporary stoppage of trials, grand juries, eviction proceedings and those new evidence-sharing timelines  known as discovery reform  that went into effect on Jan. 1. Bail reform remains, but some attorneys are concerned that the possible spread of COVID-19 in jails makes such lockups unsafe and want their clients to be released and placed under tight home supervision.

Court appearances are only for "essential matters," according to an executive order issued two weeks ago by Gov. Andrew M.Cuomo, and the judicial system is quickly expanding what it described as virtual court operations. Just Thursday, court officials announced that the Fourth Judicial District, which includes 11 counties including Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, Montgomery, Fulton, Washington, Essex, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Hamilton and Clinton counties, will begin videoconferencing on Monday.

And the Third Judicial District, which includes Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene, Schoharie, Ulster and Sullivan counties, will start video-conferencing early next week, officials said.

In short, the courts  as New Yorkers knew them  are gone, at least for now.

"This is an unprecedented situation, and we are all doing our best to cope with the disruption of being unable to report to work.  pursue our normal routines ... and operate our courts at full capacity," Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said last month.

Before the outbreak, bail reform was perhaps the most hotly debated issue in the state. New rules that went into effect Jan. 1 meant judges could no longer detain or set bail for defendants charged with most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, as well as second-degree (home) burglary and second-degree robbery. Unlike the discovery charges, bail reforms have not been delayed. But in the wake of the pandemic, defense attorneys have been asking judges to grant release to defendants who are charged with violent crimes and have been jailed post Jan. 1.

Defense attorney Shane Hug submitted applications to judges in Albany and Schenectady requesting the release of two clients being held in the Albany County jail in unrelated cases. Hug noted that a nurse who works at the jail tested positive for COVID-19, as did a sheriffs deputy.

One of Hugs clients, Darryl Smith, 33, is charged with second-degree weapon possession and first-degree reckless endangerment in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Irving Lamboy inside a residence on Clinton Avenue. Hug contends Smith  who is not charged with killing Lamboy but illegally possessing the gun  was defending himself. State Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch denied release of Smith, who had been held on $125,000 bond. Smith has a prior conviction in New Jersey for reckless manslaughter.

The other client, Clarence Stanford, is charged with first-degree burglary and robbery in Schenectady County Court. Hug told the Times Union he learned that Judge Matthew Sypniewski denied his effort to even consider a new bail request because the judge had already ruled twice on earlier bail applications.

Hug said if an inmate were to die from COVID-19, it will lead to pandemonium in jails. He suggested his clients be sent home under electronic monitoring.

No ones safe being there, Hug said. I think its a public health disaster waiting to happen.

Many players within the court system are already home.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The governor's executive order to limit court operations to "essential matters" froze the legal clock on any legal action, notice, motion or other process until April 19, a date which could be extended. That created a temporary stay for the new discovery reform. The changes were requiring prosecutors to disclose relevant evidence  such as witness statements, 911 calls, recordings and other materials favorable to the defense -- to defendants within 15 days of arraignment.

Prosecutors, who vehemently opposed the discovery reforms, have welcomed the delay. Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said the discovery reforms had already pushed prosecutors toward filing electronic discovery, which has aided the office under the crisis. She was preparing for virtual court operations.

"Crime has not stopped ... and we have been working every day through this crisis and we'll continue to work," Donnelly said. "The virtual arraignments will allow us a little more security to remain in our offices."

The staff at the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York cannot remain in their offices because of the governor's orders for non-essential employees to work from home. Executive Director Lillian Moy said in a letter on the society's website that it is continuing to maintain phone access for anyone who needs assistance.

"The community we serve is particularly vulnerable to the economic impact of this pandemic and Legal Aid must continue to play its important role during and after the crisis," Moy stated.

Montgomery County Judge Felix Catena, who as the administrative judge of the Fourth Judicial District runs its day-to-day operations, said in a statement that the district initially consolidated all court proceedings into central locations, reduced the maximum occupancy of courtrooms and had only essential staff and designated judges report to work at a courthouse.

But, he said there was a need to further lessen the density of courthouses with the pandemic intensifying, creating the need for video-conferencing for judges, court reporters, parties to the case, attorneys and any other interested party. He said a minimal core team of essential staff, including security, will remain at each courthouse.
Key benchmark indices were trading near day's low in morning trade. Barometers witnessed a bout of volatility as market opened after a day's holiday. Selling pressure was broad based with metal stocks declining the most.

At 10:27 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 313.28 points or 1.11% at 27,952.03. The Nifty 50 index was down 99.75 points or 1.21% at 8,154.05.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was down 0.62% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 0.77%. The decline in both these indices was lesser than the Sensex.

The market breadth was almost even. On the BSE, 808 shares rose and 814 shares fell. A total of 130 shares were unchanged.

PM Modi's Message To India:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (3 April 2020) appealed everyone to voluntarily adopt a blackout at 9 pm on Sunday (5 April 2020) and light a lamp, candle or shine a mobile flashlight for nine minutes. "Social distancing Lakshman Rekha should never be crossed and should not be broken in any case," Modi said in a national address on Friday, his third address since 19 March on covid-19.

Economy:

IHS Markit announced Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) numbers for India yesterday, 2 April 2020. The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit India Manufacturing PMI fell from 54.5 in February 2020 to 51.8 in March 2020. Weighing on the headline figure was slowdown in production growth during March.

Commenting on the latest survey results, Eliot Kerr, Economist at IHS Markit, said: "The Indian manufacturing sector remained relatively sheltered from the negative impact of the global coronavirus outbreak in March, however, there were pockets of disruption and a clear onset of fear amongst firms. New orders and output both grew at softer rates, but those readings were relatively tame compared to those seen at goods producers in Europe and other parts of Asia. The most prominent signs of trouble came from the new export orders and future activity indices, which respectively indicated tumbling global demand and softening domestic confidence.

Should the trajectory of injections continue in the same vein, the Indian manufacturing sector can expect a much sharper negative impact in the coming months, similar to the scale seen in other countries."

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index tumbled 2.78% to 1,510.40, falling for second consecutive trading session. The index was the worst performer on NSE. It lost 4.76% in two trading days.

JSW Steel (down 4.44%), Tata Steel (down 4.18%), Coal India (down 3.95%), Hindustan Zinc (down 3.18%), Hindalco Industries (down 2.51%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 1.85%), Steel Authority of India (down 1.58%) and National Aluminium Company Ltd (down 1.23%) were top losers in metal segment.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Shares of Eicher Motors fell 0.99%. Eicher Motors on Wednesday, 1 April 2020, said its total two-wheeler (Royal Enfield) sales declined 41% to 35,814 units in March 2020 as against 60,831 units in March 2019. On a month-on-month basis, total Royal Enfield sales declined 43.63% in March 2020 from 63,536 units in February 2020. Total two-wheeler exports jumped 33% to 3,184 units in March 2020 compared with 2,397 units in March 2019.

Shares of Bajaj Auto fell 2.72%. Bajaj Auto reported 38% slide in total sales (commercial vehicles+two-wheelers) to 2.42 lakh units in March 2020 as against 3.93 lakh units in March 2019. Bajaj Auto registered a 35% fall in the two-wheeler sales to 2.10 lakh units in March 2020 over 3.23 lakh units in March 2019. Sale of commercial vehicles slumped 55% to 31,599 units in March 2020 as compared to 69,813 units in March 2019.

Shares of PVR were down 7%. ICRA has placed the company's ratings on watch with developing implications due to lockdown. The company's non-convertible debenture programme worth Rs 360 crore and its fund based-term loan worth Rs 219 crore, both instruments continued to bear [ICRA]AA- rating while the firm's commercial paper worth Rs 200 crore retained its [ICRA]A1+ rating. Offering the ratings rationale, ICRA said that the ratings have been placed on watch with developing implications following the nation-wide lockdown and consequent extension in the period of shutdown till 14 April 2020.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three Brits have been arrested after police stormed a drug-fuelled party with half n.a.k.e.d women  held in defiance of a coronavirus lockdown.

The trio, named by police as Oliver Hoskins, 23, Alan Jones, 22, and Stuart McDonough, 29, were among nine foreigners and five Thai women allegedly partying in Phuket, Thailand this week.

A strict curfew has been put in place as Phuket is one of the worst hit Covid-19 areas of Thailand.

Pictures show how the women were wearing skimpy bikinis and the men were in swimming shorts in a small, hot room.



Officers allegedly found cocaine and cannabis at the roof-top party  which was in violation of an 8pm curfew on the island.

Police were called after furious locals complained that they were being disturbed by the noise.

Those arrested included the three Brits, an Australian man, an American man, a Ukranian man, three Ukrainian women and five Thai women.

The Australian national was Al-Mouzafar Mohamad, 22 and the American was Russell Robertson, 32.

The Ukrainians were Zakharov Andrii, 27, Petriv Tetiana, 22, Chala Anasiia, 22, and Semko Iana, 31.

Officers allegedly found 4.04grams of marijuana and 0.94 grams of cocaine.

Police Colonel Aekanit Danpitaksars said said the 14 revellers were remanded in custody while the case is processed and they can be sent to court.

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- The number of coronavirus positive cases around the word has reached more than 1 million

- It has doubled in just a week's time, considering that a week ago, there were more than half a million cases recorded

- As of this writing, the total deaths have reached more than 53,000 and the recoveries at more than 200,000

- In the Philippines, the total number of cases has breached the 2,000 mark

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Coronavirus continues to ravage different countries around the world, with the number of cases creeping every day.

As of this writing, the number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases has breached the 1 million mark, as per Johns Hopkins University.

The worldometer tallied 1,015,850 coronavirus cases, deaths at 53,216 while those who have recovered were at 212,991.

Coronavirus cases reach all-time high with more than 1 million confirmed positive worldwide (Photo: screenshot worldometer)

Source: Twitter

Data shows that Italy has the most deaths at 13,915 but the U.S. has the most number of cases at 245,184.

In the Philippines, the number of deaths has reached 107 while those who have recorded were at 51.

Governments around the world continue to fight the pandemic that has claimed a staggering number of lives.

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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.

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After 22 days in the hospital, fighting for his life, Mark Frilot is going home.

A 45-year-old Louisianian with no underlying health conditions, he tested positive for coronavirus on March 14, after a week of body aches, hallucination-inducing fevers, and a misdiagnosis of flu. For much of his time in the hospital, he relied entirely on a ventilator. On March 27, he was able to take his first breaths without it.

By Thursday, doctors informed Mr. Frilots wife, Heaven, that he was ready to be discharged. His final test for coronavirus had come back negative, they said  and he was free to finish his physical therapy at home with his family.

For the past three weeks, Ms. Frilot (pronounced FREE-low) has been quarantined at home with the couples 10-year-old son, Ethan. As her husband was in the hospital, Ms. Frilot found herself serving as something of an interpreter for her conservative community in Kenner, La., about the severity of the illness. Some, citing right-wing media figures like Rush Limbaugh, had waved the virus off as unserious. Friends and strangers alike who heard of her story, whether via Facebook or media reports, sent food, toys for Ethan, and messages saying that Mr. Frilots diagnosis had opened their eyes to the reality of the pandemic.

Mr. Frilot was East Jefferson General Hospitals first positive case of the coronavirus. Louisiana has rapidly become an epicenter of the virus, with the Louisiana Department of Health reporting 10,297 confirmed cases on Friday; Jefferson Parish, where the Frilots live, accounts for 2,495 of those cases. State officials have blamed the federal government for not directing them to shut down Mardi Gras festivities, which most likely fueled the outbreak in New Orleans and surrounding cities.
The new coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 40,000 people in Europe, more than three-quarters of them in Italy, Spain and France, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources on Friday.

With a total of 40,768 deaths (out of 574,525 cases), Europe is the continent hardest hit by COVID-19.

Italy and Spain are the worst affected countries in the world with 14,681 and 10,935 deaths respectively, while France has registered 5,387 fatalities.
By the end of the year, the UN plans to raise $ 165 million to help Ukraine

The UN and the World Health Organization will help Ukraine in the fight against coronavirus. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal announced this in Telegram.

"The support details were discussed today at a joint meeting with the UN system coordinator in Ukraine Osnat Lubrani, the Partnership Advisor for the Office of the UN system coordinator in Ukraine Olesya Ogryzko and the WHO representative in Ukraine, Jarno Habicht," Shmygal stated.

According to the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for the Covid-19 pandemic in Ukraine, the UN plans to mobilize $ 165 million by the end of the year. Of this amount, $ 84 million will be allocated to the primary needs of the healthcare system, and another $ 81 million will be used to overcome the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic.

The WHO, in turn, together with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, is working on the development of the Strategic Plan for Responding to the Covid-19 Pandemic in Ukraine.

As we reported before, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree on providing humanitarian assistance to Italy in order to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic.
A controversial memorial in Prague to a Soviet-era military commander has been removed from its pedestal, drawing a rebuke from Moscow and from Czech President Milos Zeman.

The bronze statue of Marshal Ivan Konev was dismantled on April 3 after a local assembly in the Prague 6 district voted in 2019 to remove it.

Konev is regarded as a hero in Russia for retaking much of Eastern Europe from Nazi German forces during World War II. But many Czechs view him an enforcer of Soviet rule after the war.

He led the Soviet troops that entered Prague after it had been liberated from the Nazis by resistance forces.

But he also commanded the troops that crushed the1956 anti-Soviet uprising in Hungary and helped build the Berlin Wall. Some historians say Konev also participated in planning the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.

The Russian Embassy in Prague protested the removal of the monument on April 3 in a note sent to the Czech Foreign Ministry.

"The dismantlement of a monument to Marshal Ivan Konev will not be left without the Russian side's appropriate response," the Russian Embassy said.

President Zeman said local authorities "abused" a public-health lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.



Local officials say a new monument will be erected at the site to honor the Prague uprising resistance fighters who liberated the city from the Nazis at the end of World War II, days before Konev's Soviet troops arrived.

Konev's statue, erected in 1980 by Czechoslovakia's communist regime, will be transferred to a planned history museum.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Interfax
Actor Mark Wahlberg is the latest celebrity to sing H-E-B's praises during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a video shared to Facebook, Wahlberg thanked the Texas grocery giant for helping customers through the difficult times brought on by the virus.

READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio

"Hey everybody at H-E-B, I want to say thank you for manning the frontlines for us and doing a great job at keeping us all stocked with all of the things we need to survive," he said in the video.

H-E-B was not immediately available to comment on the video and how it came about. Though Wahlberg is not a Texas resident or native, he has ties to the Lone Star State through the restaurant he shares with his brothers Donnie and Paul Wahlberg. The family opened Wahlburgers, a burger joint, in Frisco last October.

The actor recognized the hard work employees have been tasked with since news of the virus created a rush on supplies. Grocery stores have experienced a surge of customers while working to maintain social distancing and keeping shelves stocked.

RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger says H-E-B's coronavirus emergency readiness is a 'masterclass' in what to do

"You're so amazing," Wahlberg told H-E-B workers.

The Facebook video, posted by user Sara S Hernandez on Thursday, has generated responses by the thousands. More appreciation for the store flooded the comments section on the post.

The shout-out comes on the heels of praise from action film-star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who called H-E-B's readiness a "masterclass" in how to prepare after he learned from a Texas Monthly article that the company started planning in mid-January.

Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @MaddySkye

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
U.S. prosecutors resist calls to free inmates as coronavirus spreads FILE PHOTO: A guard drives past the entrance of the Federal Correctional Institution where former Ukraine Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko was released from custody in San Pedro

By Brad Heath and Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Five inmates at a federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana, have died since March 28 after contracting the coronavirus. Harold Lees family fears he could be next.

Lee, who was sentenced in 2018 for a bank fraud conviction, has asked a federal court for release on home confinement. The 59-year-old has hypertension and requires a breathing machine to sleep.

Oakdale was the countrys first federal prison to report fatalities from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. The head of the local guards union says dozens of inmates at the complex's low-security unit, where Lee is housed with nearly 1,000 other prisoners, are showing flu-like symptoms.

The U.S. Justice Department, which oversees the nations largest prison system, wants to keep Lee behind bars. Lee's concerns are based entirely on speculation and generalized fear," a federal prosecutor said in a filing this week. The case is still pending.

Prosecutors have been making similar arguments in federal courts across the United States, according to a Reuters review of documents from dozens of court cases, and interviews with attorneys, legal advocates and inmates relatives.

At a time when some prison authorities in states from New York to California are rushing to free non-violent offenders, elderly criminals and other medically high-risk prisoners, the DOJ so far has taken a more cautious line on coronavirus-related releases from federal facilities.

Court documents show federal prosecutors have contended that judges cannot force the government to put prisoners on home confinement. They have urged courts to deny bond to defendants who are in jail awaiting trial. They have suggested that some inmates with pre-existing medical conditions would be safer in prison than at home. And they have expressed skepticism about claims of virus-related illness among people facing incarceration.

In West Virginia, for example, prosecutors on March 27 asked a court not to postpone the date when a man convicted on a gun possession charge was supposed to report to jail, after the defendant's attorney asked for more time because his client, Ricky Nelson, was displaying COVID-19 symptoms. A judge has twice-delayed his surrender date anyway, based on a doctor's note.

Story continues

Theyre fighting the release of vulnerable people on technicalities. Its disgusting," said Kevin Ring, president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, a group that has pushed to reduce the number of people in prisons.

Criminal-justice advocates like Ring have warned for months that U.S. jails and prison are potential hothouses for infection. Inmates live in close quarters, share bathrooms and dining halls, and often have limited access to health care.

Nearly 2.3 million people were locked up in the United States in 2017, according to the latest count by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics; it's the highest incarceration figure in the world by far. The federal prison system alone houses approximately 175,000 inmates.

The Justice Department told Reuters it is working towards transferring more inmates to home confinement. And it has instructed prosecutors to utilize video-teleconferencing and to seek continuances in cases of non-violent offenders awaiting sentencing.

Since last week, the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has approved 500 inmates for release to home confinement, Justice Department spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said.

The Justice Department is "focusing on how to best protect the health of vulnerable inmates and the general public, Hornbuckle said.

In addition, the $2 trillion stimulus bill signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on March 27 included a provision designed to make it easier for federal prisons to release more people into home confinement to help control the coronavirus outbreak.

Still, states and municipalities are far outpacing the federal system, particularly in areas hard hit by the virus. Los Angeles County alone released more than 1,700 detainees before the end of March, while New Jerseys chief justice recently ordered the release of 1,000 jail inmates statewide.

Coronavirus case numbers are exploding in Louisiana. Emily Arseneau, Lees daughter, said she fears for his safety and wants to see him released.

Lee, who originally was sentenced to five years for lying to banks to obtain $2 million in loans, has served about 1 years. He is due to be re-sentenced because a court calculated his prison term incorrectly.

Im afraid that if he gets sick, thats it, she said. He doesnt deserve to lose his life over bank fraud.

Medical experts say people with underlying respiratory problems are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus, which has killed at least 54,000 people across the globe including more than 6,000 in the United States. There are about 10,000 people over the age of 60 in federal custody, and federal defenders say about a third of them have preexisting conditions.

Some legal scholars doubt that a spate of inmate releases will reduce the overall risk to society. Prisons must continue operating, so the best course is to take measures inside those facilities to deal with the virus, according to Jon Guze, director of legal studies at the John Locke Foundation, a conservative think tank in North Carolina.

"Jails and prisons are not like schools and universities," Guze wrote in a recent research brief. "Sending everyone home is not an option."

ARGUING AGAINST RELEASE

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the quality of federal prison healthcare was under strain. The Justice Department's inspector general last year cited prison healthcare as a major management challenge, saying the prison population's demographics "heighten the challenge of providing proper care for inmates, including aging inmates, inmates with chronic illnesses, and inmates with mental health issues."

Around 75 inmates and 39 staffers have contracted the coronavirus in U.S. federal lockups, according to the BOP. But public defenders, families of incarcerated loved ones, and union leaders at prisons suspect the numbers are higher. At Oakdale, the BOP has started to presume people showing symptoms are positive.

Fearful of the spread, inmates nationwide have started asking the courts to set them free, be it shortening their sentences, freeing them on bond or granting a compassionate release if they are elderly, sick or terminally ill.

Federal prosecutors have broadly opposed those requests.

In filings reviewed by Reuters, prosecutors echoed the argument they made in the case of Lee - that inmates anxieties are unwarranted, and that detainees are likely to be as safe in prison as they are on the outside.

Take North Carolina inmate Larry Winckler. A convicted embezzler, the 59-year-old has terminal cancer. He asked a judge for compassionate release as the coronavirus has spread through his prison in rural Butner.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Lenhardt wanted the court to deny that request. In a filing, Lenhardt said conditions in his neighborhood were similar to those in the prison in the respect that both he and Winckler were located close to medical treatment facilities and had neighbors who were quarantined.

On Friday, a judge ordered that Winckler should be released from prison immediately due to his terminal cancer. The judge did not directly address the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Elsewhere, federal prosecutors have said there is no need to free prisoners from facilities where authorities have not yet confirmed cases of the virus.

Prosecutors objected when 64-year-old Teresa Gonzalez, who has emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asked to be released a few months early from a jail in Spokane, Washington, where she had begun a short sentence for her role in a scheme to defraud insurance companies. They argued that no inmates had tested positive for COVID-19, thus her request was currently predicated on a hypothetical.

A federal judge disagreed and sent Gonzalez home this week. Her lawyer, Sandy Baggett, said the Justice Departments resistance was surprising. Gonzalez, Baggett said, ticked every box for the kind of prisoner who should be released - an older, sick, non-violent offender with no prior record. If youre going to oppose that one, I would assume youre not going to consent to any, she said.

In other cases, federal prosecutors have said old or ill prisoners would be worse off at home.

When a jailed 78-year-old awaiting trial on drug charges in Michigan recently asked a judge to be released on bond because his age puts him at risk from the virus, prosecutors objected.

An argument can be made that he potentially is safer where he is  sheltered in place in a facility that has the ability to control peoples interactions, screening of people coming in from the outside, they wrote in a filing.

Prosecutors have also asserted that judges lack the power to let prisoners serve out their sentences at home. That was one of the arguments prosecutors made in the case of Lee, the Oakdale inmate.

David Joseph, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, told Reuters his office would not oppose an expedited re-sentencing hearing by video conference, where Lees defense lawyer could bring up concerns about his clients health in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a filing Friday, Joseph's office contended that it fears that Lee now has more incentive to flee if released "due to the unique circumstances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic."

BIG NEW POWERS

Prior to the new economic stimulus law, the BOP could only release inmates to home confinement who had already served 90% of their sentence or had no more than six months left to go.

The new law allows the BOP director more discretion. But Attorney General William Barr must first declare a state of emergency for the federal prison system, something he has yet to do.

Hornbuckle, the department spokesman, said officials are considering that, and will take a reasonable, lawful and safe approach to deciding on home confinement for non-violent defenders.

A day before Trump signed the stimulus bill into law, Barr issued a memo ordering BOP to begin considering who can be released into home confinement. The memo requires BOP to weigh factors beyond age and health, including the inmates criminal history and behavior in prison. It also requires a determination as to whether a release could worsen community transmission of the virus.

We cannot take any risk of transferring inmates to home confinement that will contribute to the spread of COVID-19, Barr wrote.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Brad Heath in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Marla Dickerson)
On Sunday night, the Albert Hall was due to be buzzing with excited thespians hoping to crown their careers with an Olivier Award.

The awards are the Oscars of British theatre but, thanks to the coronavirus, the event has been rescheduled for the autumn.

Instead of a live broadcast of the annual jamboree, ITV will instead screen highlights of ceremonies from the past decade, with comedian Jason Manford hosting, at 10.15pm.

Nominations are drawn up by a panel of theatre professionals and members of the public, before being voted on by the Society of London Theatres (SOLT).

So while we await their verdict, I thought it might be fun to award my own gongs  lets call them the Marmions  to my favourites on the Oliviers shortlist.

Zizi Strallen, who smashed it as Mary Poppins,. takes home Patrick Marmion's award for best actress in a musical

BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES: Phoebe Waller-Bridge returned with the one-hour monologue that seeded the TV phenomenon of Fleabag but was, in all honesty, rather thin.

Juliet Stevenson meanwhile swept through The Doctor in her role as a medic in an ethical fix in Robert Ickes experimental adaptation of Arthur Schnitzlers drama.

And Sharon D. Clarke (who won best actress in a musical for Caroline, Or Change last year) gave a touchingly tender performance as the desperate mother in Death Of A Salesman.

MY WINNER: Hayley Atwell in Rosmersholm. I can still feel the aftershocks from her performance as the liberated young woman propelling Tom Burke through Ian Ricksons ferocious revival of Henrik Ibsens tough (and tougher to pronounce) drama, Rosmersholm.

BEST ACTOR NOMINEES: Toby Jones skipped through a jauntily gloomy turn in the title role of Chekhovs Uncle Vanya, Wendell Pierce certainly had gravitas as a big man in free fall in Death Of A Salesman, and James McAvoy gave his street-smart Cyrano De Bergerac a bravura swagger.

MY WINNER: Andrew Scott in Present Laughter at the Old Vic; Scott completed a hat-trick of performances across different media  including hot priest on TV in Fleabag and careworn and cynical officer in the film 1917  with his brilliant portrayal of a gloriously self-obsessed actor in Noel Cowards comedy.

Andrew Scott in Present Laughter at the Old Vic wins Patrick Marmion's award for best actor

Hayley Atwell in Rosmersholm wins Patrick Marmion's award for best actress

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL NOMINEES: Former Cirque du Soleil acrobat Audrey Brisson charmed in the musical version of French film Amelie. Judy Kuhn made Tevyes wife Golde a proudly feisty proposition in Fiddler On The Roof. And Miriam-Teak Lee bopped her socks off in the juke box musical & Juliet.

MY WINNER: Zizi Strallen, who smashed it as Mary Poppins. From the moment she struck first position, spun her brolly and put her best foot forward, I knew that super Strallen was going to be fantastic.

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL NOMINEES: Andy Nyman impressed as a loveably gutsy Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof, as did Charlie Stemp as magical chimney sweep Bert in Mary Poppins. And Jac Yarrow flashed some impressive gnashers as Joseph in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webbers Dreamcoat.

MY WINNER: Rookie Sam Tutty, in Dear Evan Hansen. It was a hugely demanding part, in a tricky story about a young man who befriends a family whose misfit son has killed himself. But Tutty brought joy, vivacity and enormous maturity to the title role.

Rookie Sam Tutty, in Dear Evan Hansen, wins Patrick Marmion's award for best actor in a musical

BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEES: Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell combined forcefully in their doom-laden production of Death Of A Salesman.

Trevor Nunn proved hes still got what it takes with his intimate yet epic production of Fiddler On The Roof. And Ian Rickson curated another fine set of performances in Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

MY WINNER: Jamie Lloyd, the winner by a nose for his hit production of Edmond Rostands tragi-romcom Cyrano De Bergerac, about the lyrical lover with the outsized conk. James McAvoy in the title role, transformed sentimental Cyrano into a thoroughly modern melancholic.

BEST NEW PLAY NOMINEES: A Very Expensive Poison, Lucy Prebbles adaptation of Luke Hardings book about the murder of Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko, was ambitious but felt, at times, facetious. Robert Ickes adaptation of Arthur Schnitzlers The Doctor was boldly experimental, but long and sometimes confusing.

Much better than either was Tom Stoppards Leopoldstadt, a highly personal historical epic about the Holocaust.

MY WINNER: Joel Horwoods adaptation of Neil Gaimans cult novel The Ocean At The End Of The Lane: an extraordinary piece of magical storytelling about a boy who discovers a parallel universe on a farm.
By Bahk Eun-ji



The Seoul Central District court denied a request for a warrant to arrest the eldest son of Chong Kun Dang Holdings, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, who is accused of filming and distributing sex videos through his social media accounts, Friday.



The court said arresting the eldest son, identified by his surname Lee, 33, would not be necessary at this stage of the investigation.



The Seoul Central District court dismissed a request for a warrant to arrest the eldest son of Chong Kun Dang Holdings, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, accused of filming and distributing sex videos through his social media accounts, Friday. /Korea Times file
Many state-owned corporations (SOEs) have asked to be put under the management of ministries as they were in the past. The proposal has been described by VCCI chair Vu Tien Loc as a "step back in the reform process".

At the recent working session with the Prime Ministers taskforce, the representatives of SOEs under the management of the State Capital Management Committee (SCMC) complained that they have met difficulties since they day they were transferred from ministries to SCMC.

VRC wanted to return to be put under the management of the Ministry of Transport





SCMC was established on the basis of Resolution No 09 dated February 3, 2018 signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.



With SCMC, ministries only focus on implementing state management tasks, and are free of the task of managing SOEs.



Vu Anh Minh, chair of the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VRC), said VRC wanted to return to be put under the management of the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

As VRC no longer belongs to MOT, the ministry no longer allocates budget to the corporation to implement maintenance activities because of the provisions in the State Budget Law.

Minh said as VRC no longer belongs to MOT, the ministry no longer allocates budget to the corporation to implement maintenance activities because of the provisions in the State Budget Law.



The proposals by SOEs have not been applauded. Economists affirmed that it is necessary to separate the task of state management and the task of SOEs management.



Zing quoted chair of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc as commenting that the proposals are a step back in the reform process.



The proposals are contrary to the efforts to separate the agencies implementing the state management tasks and the agencies in charge of managing states capital in enterprises, he said.



He said that the Communist Party at the 12th Congress decided to eliminate the governing regime and establish an independent agency in charge of managing the states capital in enterprises.



An economist warned that if the governing regime exists, ministries will not be able to treat enterprises equally, but will favor the SOEs put under their management.



He praised the establishment of SCMC, saying it is the biggest step forward in reforming the administrative apparatus of the Government in this tenure.



Pham Phu Quoc, former deputy head of the HCM City Institute for Development Studies, also said that ministries need to focus on building policies and reducing administrativeprocedures to create favorable conditions for enterprises.



According to Quoc, SCMCis meeting with some difficulties because of problems related to the institutions, policies and staff.



There must be a clear and strong institution and legal framework as well as a high-quality workforce for the committee to be able to operate effectively and fulfill the tasks assigned to it, he said.

Kim Chi

SOE managers can receive up to VND70 million in basic wages The policy under which enterprises managers are paid based on the enterprises scale and numbers of workers is unreasonable, according to experts.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 3

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

Sixteen more Uzbek citizens have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected people in the country to 221, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhle, 25 infected people have fully recovered in Uzbekistan. They have been discharged from the hospital and sent to a rehabilitation center.

Uzbekistan announced a self-isolation regime in Tashkent, Nukus and region centers since April 1. Citizens over 65 are prohibited from leaving their homes. It is possible to go out only to visit pharmacies and shops near the place of residence.

The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was an Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later announced that her son, daughter, husband and grandson also tested coronavirus-positive.

The outbreak of the coronavirus began in the Chinese city of Wuhan (an international transport hub), at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 53,000. Over a million people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 211,000 people have reportedly recovered.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
Togo has declared a state of emergency as a curfew has also been imposed as part of enhanced measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo who made the announcement said the state of emergency period will be for three months while the curfew will be in place for an indefinite period.

Faced with the severity of the situation and in accordance with the constitutional provisions, I declare the state of health emergency in Togo for a period of three months, the president said.

The 7pm to 6am curfew takes effect on Thursday, April 2, 2020, the same day he made the announcement.

In the televised broadcast to citizens, he said the move was proof of the gravity of the situation that we face.

Faure Gnassingbe said the period will be used by authorities to adopt exceptional measures of health response to tackle COVID-19.

Togo, a country of about 8 million people, has so far recorded 37 cases of COVID-19, out of which 17 have recovered and 2 have died.

Meanwhile, about 5,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure compliance and to help stop the spread in the country.

The security personnel are part of a specially created anti-pandemic force.

Due to the restrictions, the president announced an adjustment of working hours in the country.

Contrary to the usual hours from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., there is a continuous working day in the Togolese administration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free water, electricity

President Gnassingbe announced that an alleviation package of nearly 400 billion CFA francs ($650 million) will be made available to cushion citizens from the harsh impact of COVID-19. The amount forms part of an announced National Solidarity and Economic Recovery Fund which will be fed by contributions from the government, international partners, the national and international private sector and donors.

SMEs and small businesses who will be badly affected by the development will also benefit from the fund.

Other efforts to cushion the burden of citizens is the free supply of water and electricity for consumers in social brackets for the next three months.

Other measures

Faure Gnassingbe further announced that there may be additional measures put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, indicating that Togo will win the battle against the virus.

which will be fed by contributions from the government, international partners, the national and international private sector and donors.

---citinewsroom
A nursing home stricken by a coronavirus outbreak now is at the center of investigations by local and Texas officials, who are gauging compliance with state rules and whether the employees could have spread the virus to other facilities where they also worked.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which helps regulate the states nursing homes, is investigating potential violations at Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the outbreak has infected at least 75 people so far and killed one.

Danielle Pestrikoff, an HHSC spokeswoman, said a survey team was examining the nursing homes infection control practices, screening of staff and service providers, and the use of personal protective equipment.

Local officials are working to test and trace the movements of the facilitys 60 employees, some of whom also work at other nursing homes in the area.

They consider the potential for the virus to spread in such facilities to be so dangerous that Mayor Ron Nirenberg modified his public emergency declaration to prohibit nursing home employees from working at multiple locations.

Officials stressed the outbreak further highlights the urgency of orders compelling residents to stay at home as much as possible while the novel coronavirus continues to spread.

In case anyone in San Antonio needed a wake-up call about the seriousness of COVID-19 in our community, this is it, Nirenberg said. COVID-19 is alarmingly contagious and very insidious.

On ExpressNews.com: At San Antonio nursing home, 59 more residents test positive for coronavirus

At least two of the eight Southeast Nursing employees who are known to be infected might also have worked other jobs. Additional workers who have yet to be tested for the virus have been linked to at least five other facilities.

That number was expected to grow as more staffers from the facility are interviewed, officials said.

Dawn Emerick, director of the Metropolitan Health District, said her departments staff was still conducting contact tracing from the outbreak to determine all potential exposures.

Workers at other facilities will be tested if they were in close contact with the Southeast Nursing employees, she said. Any residents or staff with symptoms of COVID-19 also will be tested.

While the infections from the nursing home residents pushed San Antonio above 300 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Thursday, Emerick said they do not represent the peak of the citys outbreak.

Its going to feel that way, but thats not what this is. This is a localized outbreak, she said. Because of the rapid spread of the virus among the vulnerable populations, its going to feel like that spike.

On ExpressNews.com: Separation and solitude in nursing homes amid coronavirus outbreak

The other potentially affected facilities include: Advanced Rehabilitation and Healthcare of Live Oak, the Village at Incarnate Word, Buena Vida Nursing and Rehabilitation, the Rio at Mission Trails and Floresville Residence and Rehabilitation Center.

Initially, the nursing home had told Metro Health officials that some employees had worked at Baptist Emergency Hospital-Overlook and Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. But they determined after further investigation that no employee had ever worked at the Methodist hospital, and no workers had been employed at the Baptist hospital since early March.

The coronavirus quickly swept through Southeast Nursing, where 67 residents, or about 80 percent of those in the facilitys care, were found to have the virus. One resident who was infected died earlier this week.

Its not yet known how the virus was introduced there.

A few infected residents were transported to the hospital, and officials said the rest are being isolated from healthy residents in a separate area of the nursing home. Employees with the virus are self-isolating at home.

Readying for worst

Across the country, deadly coronavirus outbreaks have slammed nursing homes, which house sick and elderly people who are particularly vulnerable to the respiratory virus.

Patty Ducayet, the states independent ombudsman for long-term-care facilities, said she was not surprised to learn of such rapid spread of the virus at a Texas home. Ducayet, who acts as an advocate for residents, said she is readying her colleagues for the worst.

Ive been preparing staff ombudsmen around the state that we will learn of many cases and we must brace for significant loss of life, she said.

Operators of facilities in Texas have had a chance to learn from what has happened in other states, she said. The first major U.S. outbreak of coronavirus was at a Seattle-area nursing home, where dozens died.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio nursing home at center of coronavirus outbreak recently cited for infection control problems

Nursing homes already have been instructed to curtail visitation, equip health care workers with protective gear and observe physical distance within the building. Family members should be allowed access to a residents room only in end-of-life situations.

Even watchdogs like Ducayet are no longer making in-person visits, she said, which means fewer eyes and ears are in the building to identify abuse and other problems.

Because nursing home workers tend to have multiple jobs, she said it was critical for facilities to be aware of where else their staffers may be working.

Workers like certified nurse aides balance multiple jobs out of necessity, Ducayet said, because they often are underpaid and lack health insurance.

While the state investigation will yield more information about potential problems with how the facility responded to the outbreak, Ducayet said the high level of transmission could indicate deficiencies with surveillance and screening for disease, social distancing or infection control.

Federal regulators gave Southeast Nursing one of the lowest possible performance ratings and recently cited it for failing to observe proper infection control standards and medically neglecting a resident.

After learning of those problems, San Antonio officials launched assessments of environmental and infection control procedures at three dozen of the lowest-rated nursing homes in the area.

Trapped

Toni Viesca, whose 61-year-old sister has been a resident of Southeast Nursing since 2012, was well aware of problems that have been identified at the facility. She and her niece said they have made a litany of complaints about the buildings cleanliness and the quality of care for her sister, who has early onset Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis.

They said their family member, who they did not want to identify to protect her privacy, has developed sores after not being regularly bathed, lacks adequate dental care and has a large hernia that has gone unaddressed for years.

A representative with Southeast Nursing did not respond to requests for comment.

Viesca first learned of coronavirus at the facility March 27, when a staff member told her a resident had tested positive for the virus after being taken to a hospital for unrelated issues.

The resident hadnt returned, the employee said, and precautions were being taken.

On Tuesday evening, she got the call: her sister, who also is a smoker, had tested positive for the virus.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Her sister seemed fine when she called the next morning, Viesca said, but she also didnt seem to know she was infected.

Although she was already dissatisfied with her sisters care, Viesca said she does not know where to turn. She is unable to care for her sister, whose infection also would pose a risk to their 90-year-old mother. A transfer to another nursing home does not seem likely during a pandemic, and other facilities soon could be beset by the virus, too.

She hasnt been able to visit in person since early March.

I feel completely trapped and helpless, that I cant help my sister be in a better place, Viesca said.

Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Lauren, become a subscriber. lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba
HUNTER  Not even trail registers, those rustic wooden mini-kiosks where hikers sign in before tackling trails in the Adirondack or Catskill mountains, are untouched by the coronavirus pandemic.

A recent advisory from the state Department of Environmental Conservation tells people to bring their own pencils and hand sanitizers to sign the registers, which are usually nailed to trees in areas several yards from the entrances to trailheads.

The logbooks offer a record of how many people use a given trail each day and can aid search efforts if someone who has signed in doesnt return to sign out.

During the COVID-19 public health crisis, special precautions should be taken while using trailhead registers to minimize spread of the virus through commonly touched surfaces, such as pencils and the registers themselves, a recent Adirondack Outdoor Recreation Bulletin from the state Department of Environmental Conservation notes.

In addition to the call for pencils and sanitizer, the advisory encourages people to stand six feet apart and minimize the number of the times they touch the register.

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The advice also comes as DEC is urging people to avoid drive time by staying close to home for any hikes or outdoor activities. By making shorter trips, there are less opportunities to spread the virus during gas or food stops.

Some communities are warning people to stay away from the trails that lie within their municipal borders.

The town of Hunter in Greene County recently took that action, citing a need for social distancing and to lower the risk to rescuers sent to save hikers.

We ask that residents and visitors DO NOT access our trailheads, reads a notice on the town of Hunters web page.

The popular Kaaterskill Falls area in the town poses a particular concern. Starting right at the roadway, there is a very popular trail that leads to the site's photogenic waterfalls where several deaths have occurred over the years after people have slipped and fallen down the areas steep terrain.

In summer, the spot also poses a traffic hazard since its off a narrow road with a hairpin curve and minimal room for hikers.

In the Adirondacks, the town of Keene and Essex County, both of which encompass much of the popular High Peaks region, have urged out-of-town hikers to stay put for the time being.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Keene officials have put on hold plans to run a hikers shuttle which usually starts up later in the year, according to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Outdoor enthusiasts have noted sporadic reports of crowded trail parking lots in some spots, which suggests that people are still traveling distances to get to the mountains. Several Facebook pages and web forums about hiking and camping have included harsh critiques of people who are traveling for hikes and mountain trips.

A year ago, environmental and outdoor groups were raising worries about overuse of well-known Adirondack trails. Then, the concern focused on trail erosion and other degradations that throngs of hikers inflict on the fragile local ecosystems.

In addition to fighting contagion, officials note rescue services normally available for people who encounter difficulties in the woods, either from getting injured or lost, are not as available this year.

Hunters notification warned that their fire department might not respond to lower level calls.

John Sheehan, spokesman for the Adirondack Council, noted that many forest rangers have been diverted to the New York City area to help with coronavirus, testing.

Rangers are usually the first to respond calls from people who are injured or lost in either the Catskills or Adirondacks.

The safety net is very thin at the moment, said Sheehan. People should recognize that.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU






The number of people who had attended



the Tablighi Jamaat congregation and infected with novel Coronavirus continued to swell in south India, with Tamil Nadu reporting the bulk of it.

With a total of 411 confirmed cases, Tamil Nadu came behind Maharashtra, which has the maximum positive cases of 490.

As many as 100 people from Tamil Nadu who had attended the Delhi meet tested positive on Friday, showing an upward trend after a marginal dip on Thursday.

Three people in Karnataka who were part of the Islamic congregation in Nizamuddin West in Delhi also tested positive for COVID-19, adding to the total number of confirmed cases in the state which touched 128, the Health department said.

The Telangana government said it has identified all those who had returned to the state after attending the religious congregation in Delhi.

In Tamil Nadu, where the total number of cases have seen a sharp rise for the last three days following tests conducted on the Delhi returnees, a total of 364 people who had attended the meet in the national capital have tested positive so far.

On Wednesday, the state reported 110 positive cases while the number stood at 75 on Thursday with all but one being returnees from the recent Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin West, the country's biggest hotspot of the pandemic.

Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said that of the 102 who tested positive today, 100 were Jamat meet returnees, another man had come back from the US and the source for one more person was being ascertained.

In Telangana, as per Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's directives to shift those who returned from Delhi and their symptomatic family members to isolation centres and test them for coronavirus, the authorities were conducting the tests on a war footing, the government said.

The state has seen the most fatalities in south, with nine of the deceased having had a history of attending the religious meeting at Nizamuddin.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Srinagar, April 3 : Four Lashkar e Taiba militants and three of their associates were arrested on Friday in Handwara area of J&K's Kupwara district, police said.

Following specific information police carried out nocturnal raids at three places. "The operation led to the arrest of four LeT militants from whose possession three AK-47 rifles, eight AK magazines, 332 AK rounds, 12 hand grenades, three pistols and letter pads of LeT outfit were recovered.

"Interrogation of the arrested militants led to further raids jointly carried out by the SOG of J&K police and the army. Three associates of the arrested militants were nabbed during these raids," police said.
What should coronavirus school look like?

In the early days of the pandemic, many districts were scrambling to put any kind of learning material in front of their students.

But as the closures continuemany will now last for at least several more weeks, if not the rest of the academic yearschool systems are starting to settle into a routine.

But what they are expecting of children and families varies dramatically.

Maggie Hunter, an instructional designer and technical writer in Holmdel, N.J., has three sons: one in 1st grade, a second in preschool, and a toddler. Her district has provided daily assignments that closely mirror the different subjects that her 1st grader would get in a typical school dayincluding specials such as art, music, and physical education. The district had been posting work in the morning and asking parents to check off that it was done by 1 p.m.; that has now shifted to allowing a parent to check that the work is done by midnight of the day it was assigned.

In some ways, the prescriptive approach is helpful, said Hunter, who is single and working from home during the pandemic. Having set assignments gives her less to figure out on her own.

On the other hand, she was thrown by an art assignment where her son had to demonstrate six different shading techniques.

There was crosshatch, hatching, and scumbling, Hunter said. I have no idea what scumbling is. Fortunately, the art teacher sent a video explanation as well.

The setup does require her to make sure that her oldest son is completing all his work, because he is being graded and taking tests.

Honestly, I think theyre just trying to plow through the curriculum, Hunter said.

Sharing Frustrations, Weathering Mistakes

Misty Trevino, a digital learning consultant who supports schools and districts in north Texas, took to Twitter to share her frustration with her sons early experience with digital learning.

Her sons, in grades 10 and 8, are each enrolled in seven classes. Trevino had to read through more than 20 messages to find out teachers emails, office hours, and expectations.

Her sons needed help from her to translate unclear instructions, troubleshoot improperly linked assignments, submit classwork, and navigate through their digital spaces.

The assignments tended to come with pages of written instructions, which was a particular challenge for one son who has dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. And she said the assignments just took too longan hour or two on average, which was hard to supervise while trying to manage her own work.

See Also: Coronavirus and Schools

None of the pitfalls she described were intended by educators, she explained. But districts need to get feedback from teachers, students, and parents on how they can adjust as needed.

For example, it would help if schools offered fewer assignments, a single email that provides all the information for each teacher, an instructional video on how to use the learning platform, and text-to-speech options for written instructions, she said.

Like I said before, we will not figure this out in the next couple of months. We are all going to make lots of mistakes. Now is a great time to learn from them, Trevino posted.

Other districts have not taken nearly as prescriptive an approach with their online learning plans. The Philadelphia district, for example, has released sets of optional learning guides on its website and available in paper form at sites where it distributes meals. By late April, it plans to launch a digital learning plan that will offer more support from district teachers.

Montgomery County, Md., has made it clear in parent communications that digital learning will not look anything like a typical school day. Our remote plan provides a good mix of teacher instruction and support; independent, age-appropriate self-paced work; and submission of graded assignments. We need to provide both structure and flexibility for students, teachers, and families, said Superintendent Jack R. Smith, in a message to families.

Replicating a School Day Is Unrealistic

Many districts are trying to walk a fine line between keeping students engaged and learning, and recognizing that theres no reasonable way many families can replicate a school day in their own homes.

Henry County, Ga., already has a program that puts devices in the hands of students in grades 3 through 12. So the district was well-positioned to continue online learning for children in those grades. Those with younger children can pick up paper packets, crayons, and pencils at the feeding centers established around the district.

Weve provided guidance for teachers so that a balance can be provided, and as much support as we can provide those at-home caregivers, said Melissa Morse, the chief of learning and performance for the district, in the metropolitan Atlanta area. For students, that means there is enough of a touch from the teacher that they stay connected to whats happening.

Teachers are not required to reach out online every day, nor are students required to sign on at the same time each day. Teachers are often choosing to give one live presentation and record it so that students can watch at different times. And, while there is no official attendance being taken, teachers are asked to be mindful if there are students whom they have not been able to reach.

Students have been excited to have regular connection with their classmates, said Brian Blanton, the districts chief information officer. What that does for them socially and emotionally is really powerful.

For parents, that middle ground appears to work well.

Jennifer Martin, who has a 1st grader and a kindergarten student in the Riverview district near Seattle, said she liked that her childrens district sent out a calendar of activities, because that allows the family to create its own pacing, with guidance.

Im glad they dont have to sit two hours a day in front of computer all at once. Martin said. And Im glad were not in one of the districts where parents havent heard anything at all.

Superintendent: Shut Off the Valve, Take a Break

Jennifer Gallagher, the superintendent of the Long Beach, N.Y., district wrote a soothing message to parents, telling them to let go of any guilt they may feel that theyre not able to juggle every single task perfectly at such an extraordinary time. Her words have been picked up and shared by others outside her school system.

Dont worry if you are not the perfect homeschooling parent; dont worry if you are torn between working at home and helping your kids. Dont let your kids spend nine hours a day doing schoolwork onlinecut them off and tell the teacher it was too much. Dont let these days be joyless for your kids, she wrote.

In an interview, Gallagher said those views came from her own personal experience, as she is working and now trying to support her school-age daughters. One daughter, who is in middle school and legally blind, spent nine hours on remote learning in one day. (Her daughter attends school in a different district.)

For a child to struggle for nine hours, thats ridiculous, Gallagher said. Parents have the ability and the permission to shut off the valve, take a break, judge whether their kids need less or more.
Policemen stop vehicles during complete lockdown, in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Kochi on Wednesday. (PTI)

Twenty one new cases of coronavirus infection have been reported from Kerala on Thursday, taking the total number to 286. As many as 256 patients are undergoing treatment in various hospitals.

Indias oldest Covid19 survivor from Kerala discharged from hospital

93-year old Thomas and his 88-year old wife Mariyamma have been discharged from Kottayam government medical college hospital on Friday. The elderly couple, hailing from Ranni in Pathanamthitta district contracted the virus from their Italy-returned son and family. The couple, especially Thomas, was in critical condition with age related serious medical complications.

Kerala's age-old Covid-19 patients discharged from hospital

Sub collectors driver and gunman suspended for jumping Covid quarantine in Kerala

The driver and gunman of Kollam sub collector Anupam Mishra have been suspended from service for violating the Covid 19 quarantine guidelines. Earlier, the sub collector was suspended for violating the home quarantine and travelling to his native place in Uttar Pradesh.

IAS officer's driver and gunman suspended for jumping quarantine

Seven districts Covid hotspots

They are Kasargode, Kannur, Malappuram, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. Among these, the northernmost district of Kasargod is the worst affected.

Seven districts in Kerala have been declared as Covid-19 hotspots

Oman Air to operate special plane to evacuate their stranded citizens in Kerala

A total of 53 Omani citizens who were undergoing treatments in various hospitals in Ernakulam and adjoining districts will be evacuated. Most of these medical tourists landed in Cochin international airport on March 3 and completed the treatment and quarantine period.

Oman Air will operate a special passenger flight today to fly out stranded Omani citizens in Kerala

28 hospitals in Kerala converted to Covid care centres

The Kerala government has converted 28 selected hospitals in all 14 districts as Covid care centres. These include private medical colleges and non-operational private hospitals. Some of the locked down multi-specialty private hospitals like the PVS Hospital, Ernakulam have been revived for the purpose. The Thiruvananthapuram government medical college and General hospital have been converted as Covid care centres.

Allow movement of goods between states without curbs: Kerala to PM

The Kerala government on Thursday urged prime minister Narendra Modi to ensure unrestricted movement of essential goods through inter-state borders during the lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus.

Kerala requests unrestricted movement of essential goods through inter-state borders

Other requests:
If you are feeling anxious, angry, bemused, and/or bewildered, spare a thought for Muscovites. Last Wednesday, residents of the Russian capital were told by their president to prepare for a week of paid, non-working leave. On Friday, Vladimir Putins staff clarified things somewhat: non-working leave did not mean non-working, just not being at work. On Sunday evening, the advisory changed again: leave meant compulsory lockdown with no right to be on the streets without permission.

By Monday morning, details of Moscows dystopian lockdown plan had found their way into the local media. According to what appears to be a policy draft, bureaucrats are finalising a system that will divide citizens into four castes. Top dogs are the bureaucrats, MPs and law enforcement, for whom Moscow remains open. Next come key workers  they are free to move between home and place of work provided they have the paperwork. A third category of citizens needing to make regular and longer trips can do so, though only to a prior agreed address.

The fourth category are ordinary citizens  and journalists appear to be among them  who are limited to taking out the rubbish, walking dogs within 100m of their home, and essential supermarket or medicine runs.
Washington, April 3 : Washington state Governor Jay Inslee announced a month-long extension of his "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" emergency order till May 4 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The order bans all gatherings and temporarily shutters non-essential businesses, Xinhua news agency reported.

The state's Department of Commerce is providing guidance and assistance to businesses on whether they can be considered essential.

"Epidemiological modelling from the University of Washington predicts we will have at least 1,400 deaths this year," Inslee said on Thursday.

"We are yet to see the full toll of this virus in our state and the modelling we've seen could be much worse if we don't continue what we're doing to slow the spread.

"We have taken dozens of steps under my emergency powers to help people in this time - including moratoriums on evictions, mortgage forbearance, utility ratepayer assistance, unemployment extensions, flexibility on tax payments and cash assistance to families," Inslee said.

In addition to the extension of the order, Inslee signed a directive to secure personal protective equipment as expeditiously as possible.

On Thursday, the state confirmed a total of 6,585 cases and 262 fatalities.

Also on Thursday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced the extension of the stay-at-home order through the end of April.

According to the order, residents should stay at home unless going out for essential tasks, including trips to the grocery store and pharmacy.

"This order will close additional non-essential businesses but keep open gas stations and pharmacies that are providing critical services. Restaurants will still be allowed to have carry-out and drive-thru takeout meals," Edwards said.

"In the last two weeks, our growth rate (of confirmed COVID-19 cases) has been faster than any other state or country in the world. That is why it matters," he said, explaining the reason for the order extension.

According to the state's department of health, 9,150 cases and 310 deaths have been reported in Louisiana so far.

The US currently has the highest number of cases in the world at 245,213, with 5,983 fatalities.
[April 03, 2020] New Digital Citizens Alliance Research Finds YouTube Fails to Stop Shady Operators Capitalizing on Coronavirus Fears

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- YouTube, whether unwilling or unable, is enabling dubious sellers to push face masks and fraudulent "vaccines" to a public on edge with fear from the coronavirus pandemic, researchers from the Digital Citizens Alliance (DCA) and Coalition for a Safer Web (CSW) found over the past three weeks. Researchers found multiple examples of videos on YouTube offering medical masks and vaccines that sellers claim will protect buyers from the coronavirus. The "vaccines" are clearly false because there is no coronavirus vaccine. In follow-up conversations the research team initiated with sellers, there was ample reason to believe the offers for masks were dubious as well, as highlighted by interactions with representatives from some of the sellers. "At a time when most of us want to help our small businesses simply to survive, YouTube is enabling the worst elements of our society to keep their illegal and/or illicit businesses humming along," said DCA's Executive Director Tom Galvin. "Millions of Americans are dealing with massive disruptions  job loss, kids without school, worries about elderly relatives  and we're all making adjustments to our way of life, but YouTube refuses to change the way it does business even when society is in crisis." The research is published in a new report, "< rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2768691-1&h=2712017253&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalcitizensalliance.org%2Fclientuploads%2Fdirectory%2FReports%2FDCA_Corona_YouTube_Vaccines.pdf&a=YouTube+Enabling+(Maybe+Validating)+Shadowy+Sellers+of+Medical+Masks+and+Bogus+Vaccines" rel="nofollow">YouTube Enabling (Maybe Validating) Shadowy Sellers of Medical Masks and Bogus Vaccines."



Researchers found posts that were so obviously deceptive that it would be comical if this was not truly a life or death situation. Other sellers didn't even try and pretend to be legitimate. One seller who simply goes by "Real ID Card Fake Passport Producer" used YouTube to offer "Covid 19 Drugs." (To see images click link to report above) "How does a guy calling himself 'Real ID Card Fake Passport Producer' even get a page on YouTube?" asks Eric Feinberg, lead researcher for the Coalition for a Safer Web. "It's all too easy to get ahold of these guys. We called some of them. Once you contact them, they are relentless. They'll call you back at all hours and hound you until you buy something. They'll call you in the middle of the night. They are predators looking to capitalize on our fear."

Researchers were also concerned that YouTube is including a link to CDC information on these videos from shady operators. Official CDC banners are being placed under any coronavirus related material on YouTube  from news stories by trusted media outlets to the more troubling videos from operators making outlandish claims. "YouTube also mixes trusted resources with sites that shouldn't be trusted and that could confuse consumers  especially when they are scared and desperate," said Galvin. "It's hard enough to tell who's legitimate and who's not on YouTube." Digital Citizens did order some of the products offered by some of the mysterious sellers that researchers found. The researchers are still waiting for the products and will update the report if any do arrive. DCA also sent a letter to the Justice Department with the report to alert authorities about this dangerous activity. To see the DCA/CSW look at coronavirus-related items available on Facebook, go to: https://medium.com/@4SaferInternet_29893/facebook-enables-advertisers-to-exploit-coronavirus-fears-ac79df55917d?sk=3600ca84886195535c640e627e1700c5 About DCA The Digital Citizens Alliance is a nonprofit, 501(c)(6) organization that is a consumer-oriented coalition focused on educating the public and policymakers on the threats that consumers face on the Internet. Digital Citizens wants to create a dialogue on the importance for Internet stakeholders individuals, government and industryto make the Web a safer place. Based in Washington, DC, the Digital Citizens Alliance counts among its supporters: private citizens, the health, pharmaceutical and creative industries as well as online safety experts and other communities focused on Internet safety. Visit us at www.digitalcitizensalliance.org. About CSW The Coalition for a Safer Web is a non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization whose mission is to promote new public/private partnerships to facilitate the expeditious removal of extremist & terrorist incitement and instruction content from social media platforms. Visit us at coalitionsw.org. CSW uses technology from The Global Intellectual Property Enforcement Center (GIPEC). GIPEC Worldwide is a cyber intelligence company that uses patented tools to interrogate the deep web and social media. To learn more about GIPEC visit www.gipec.com. For more information, contact Adam Benson, [email protected], 202.999.9104 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-digital-citizens-alliance-research-finds-youtube-fails-to-stop-shady-operators-capitalizing-on-coronavirus-fears-301034974.html SOURCE Digital Citizens Alliance

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A premier hospital of Shillong



has decided that it will admit non-COVID19 cases from other states only if they are critically ill and certified so by the health authorities of the patients' states, an official said on Friday.

This is part of a precautionary protocol adopted by the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), an autonomous institute under the Union ministry of health and family welfare.

The protocol, drawn up following a direction from the state government on Thursday, will be in force until the COVID-19 pandemic is over, NEIGRIHMS Director D M Thappa said.

"Only critically ill non-COVID19 patient certified by the state health authorities concerned can seek treatment at the NEIGRIHMS and only one attendant will be allowed to accompany the patient. But such person will have to be quarantined for 14 days as per government directives," Thappa said.

Governments of all the states of the Northeastern region Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim - were informed of the protocol, Chief Secretary M S Rao said.

The NEIGRIHMS attracts a number of patients from other states of the Northeastern region.

Meghalaya has not reported any confirmed case of COVID-19 so far but the state government is taking safeguards against the deadly virus spread by implementing 21-day nationwide lockdown, Chief Minister Conrad K informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference on COVID-19 situation on Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Centre for Deaf studies breaks the silence on COVID-19

The Centre for Deaf Studies (CFDS) at Wits is contributing to society by keeping the Deaf community informed about the coronavirus pandemic.

Thee COVID-19 pandemic has spread at an alarming rate over the past few weeks in the country. To date, over 1400 cases of COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in South Africa.

Government, media houses and various institutions have been disseminating important information and updates with the public around COVID-19 through various platforms.

To ensure that the Deaf community gained access to crucial information on the global pandemic, the CFDS at Wits has been playing an active role through a number of initiatives that filtered information to the Deaf and hard of hearing communities in South Africa.

When the President addressed the nation on 15 March, the CFDS ensured there was a full live stream interpreting by a Deaf person through the use of relay interpreting  a practise of translating messages from one language to another through a third language for a targeted audience.

Deaf to Deaf communication is the best way of getting such crucial information across, says Professor Claudine Storbeck, Director for CFDS.

In an effort to raise awareness around COVID-19, the Centre also produced Corona Info for kids, an educational video for children teaching them about the deadly virus. The aim of the video was to make information accessible for deaf children in a deaf appropriate way that would make an impact, which also included a fun handwashing-alphabet clip.

In recent weeks, since the coronavirus outbreak in South Africa, CFDS has been offering and sharing information through these videos in South African Sign Language (SASL) to ensure the Deaf Community could access information in their first language.

In any form of crisis or trauma, people communicate best in their 'mother tongue' and therefore we are making sure that information is available in SASL. If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart. This quote from Madiba is so appropriate when it comes to including the Deaf community in our planning around this pandemic, says Storbeck.

While the focus is on the Deaf community, the Centre has added subtitles to the videos to create inclusivity and enable Deaf and hard of hearing people to watch and share these videos with their hearing family and friends. Here is a list of the videos produced by CFDS for the Deaf community:

With a week into the 21-day lockdown to reduce the spread of coronavirus, the Centre has cancelled their contact home-based support for families of deaf infants and young children (HI HOPES) and will be offering support via WhatsApp and videos. A five-week online SASL course will be released next week for hearing people wishing to learn about Deaf culture and how to communicate with the South African Deaf community without leaving their homes. A dedicated WhatsApp hotline (074 029 2764) has also been set up for Deaf children and adults to send their questions on the lockdown via either text or video. The hotline can be accessed via WhatsApp. Enquiries: claudine.storbeck@gmail.com
New Delhi, April 3 : One may not have heard of them so much, but one organisation is feeding 75,000 people of Delhi on a daily basis during this pan-India shutdown and preparing to feed twice as many people.

Sewa Bharti has emerged as the RSS offshoot that's leading the charge among the saffron fold in feeding the underprivileged and daily wage workers during the time of crisis. While RSS itself has also directly mobilised cadres for this purpose, but the bulk of it is executed through Sewa Bharti.

As of on Friday, the organisation has pressed at least 5,000 cadres for feeding 75,000 Delhiites on a daily basis. So far the food they are providing is made out of 45 kitchens spread across Delhi. Once the food packets are ready, their zonal teams distribute among the needy in their area. But given the Tabhleeghi Jamat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin that has proved to be a super spreader of COVID-19 and so far infected more than 400, Sewa Bharti is getting ready to feed double the number of Delhites - 1,50,000, if the need arises.

Founded in 1989, this RSS offshoot works in the area of health care and education under the aegis of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. It has traditionally worked among the impoverished sections of society - slums, JJ clusters, resettlement colonies etc. This NGO of sorts came to being after then RSS supremo Balasaheb Deoras addressed a Delhi gathering in 1979 to start a wing that will exclusively work among the poor and vulnerable.

As the shutdown has dried up grocery stores, Sewa Bharti earlier opened a helpline where anyone hungry can dial for food. Soon after it was thrown open, on Monday alone, it received 12,500 calls.

A Sewa Bharti cadre who is working in one such kitchen told IANS, "Here we have been making Puri sabji (vegetables) and Khichdi (porridge) alternately. They are served hot as far as practically possible. But then there are teams who hand over dry foods like poha too." How many people work in any kitchen at any given time? The person who refused to be named said, "In the kitchen I work, there are 20 activists at any given time only to pack food. It's crazy work in the morning." There are also targeted reach outs by the organisation in this shutdown period. One of the target segment is students from the north east region, who have been doubly cautious to step out due to discrimination. On Friday morning, one such team reached out to students with ration in Delhi's Vasant Kunj area. For such rations, many places in the NCR are chosen where there's a significant population of migrants. One such workstation is in NCR regions Faridabad. The Sewa Bharti cadres have been sticking ration packets in Agarwal Sewa Saran there for days now.

Their cadres are also collaborating with temple trusts like that of popular Jhhandewalan Temple in the national capital where hundreds and thousands of meals are served each day.

The shutdown may be a trying time for most of us. But for those who get payed on a daily basis, it's a question of survival. Sewa Bharti is trying to ensure no one goes hungry in the national capital, even if it means doubling its food packaging.
Britain's biotech scientists have today broken their silence on the coronavirus crisis for the first time by warning that they do not have enough equipment to fulfil Matt Hancock's pledge to test 100,000 people a day.

The 'frustrated' Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), which represents around 17,000 NHS lab scientists and staff, warned that Mr Hancock's plan would not work if things stay as they are.

The body said there is a lack of chemical reagents, test tubes and swabs, forcing its president Allan Wilson to warn that the Government's strategy is a 'bit of a muddle'.

It has forced Boris Johnson to compete with prime ministers and presidents around the world by personally calling major companies making test kits to try to secure more supply for the UK.

On Thursday, Mr Hancock made his bold promise to test 100,000 people for COVID-19 by the end of April.

But the IBMS said it could only increase testing capacity 'if we are given what we need' and that their current supply of materials was being 'tested to the limit'.

It came as the number of UK coronavirus infections reached more than 38,000, with 3,605 dead.

Matt Hancock's pledge to test 100,000 people a day for coronavirus by the end of the month is in tatters after NHS scientists warned that medics don't have enough equipment

The Health Secretary's plan, announced on Thursday, is in serious doubt because of a lack of vital testing equipment, including chemical reagents, test tubes and swabs

The IBMS said in a statement: 'On behalf of the biomedical scientists and laboratory staff of the NHS, the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) wants to express the frustration of our members and clarify that we are testing to the limit of our materials and that we are ready to increase capacity  but only if we are given what we need.'

Mr Wilson added that there was a 'very real risk' that 'hospitals and pathology networks will run out of reagents', meaning that patients will 'not be tested'.

He said that the NHS had had 'no strategy' for testing, meaning that the UK was 'on the back foot' compared to other countries.

The IBMS said testing 25,000 people a day would be 'dead easy' with the staff and labs available.

But the failure of health officials to put in early orders to foreign firms for reagents and plastic kit mean 100,000 cannot be done without a 'real push' to boost supplies.

His warning was echoed by Charlie Swanton, the chief clinician at Cancer Research UK, who is part of a drive to ramp up tests, who said that that his team were having trouble getting testing kits or even finding space on planes for them to be delivered.

Mr Hancock had said that 25,000 swab tests a day would be performed on those ill in hospital and on NHS staff with symptoms or those in a household with someone who is sick.

But Mr Wilson said labs were already unable to carry out testing, even at the current relatively low rate.

He added: 'When politicians come up with targets like this, it's hard not to sigh. I don't think 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month is achievable, given the supply problems. It would take a real push.

The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), which represents around 17,000 NHS lab scientists and staff, has issued its first major statement on the crisis due to 'frustration' with shortages

'There was initially no NHS strategy for testing, so we were on the back foot.

'Officials didn't seem to think testing was important at the beginning, so they did not do much.

'By the time they recognised the issue, the supply chains were already taken up by other countries and companies which could have helped us were committed elsewhere.'

Mr Wilson added that he did not understand the Government's strategy of not differentiating between antibody tests - which ascertain if someone has had the virus - and antigen tests, which determine if someone currently has COVID-19.

'Mixing antibody and antigen tests doesn't add up to me,' he said.

'We don't have an antibody test that is any use at this stage so how can you include that in the 100,000 and not say what the mix within that 100,000 is of antibody and antigen tests? It's just a bit of a muddle still.'

He said that the Government can only deliver on its pledge of delivering 100,000 tests for the virus each day if supplies which are currently only available in tiny amounts or non-existent are ramped up.

As well as there being shortages of test kits themselves, Mr Wilson added there was a 'lack of some very basic reagents, such as the virology transport medium that we need to put the swabs in.'

'The actual swabs are in short supply  effectively they are rationed in my patch in Scotland but I know there are problems in England as well.'

The lysis buffer, the chemical used to break down the cell membrane of the virus and extract genetic material (RNA), was 'in very, very short supply', he said.

Plastics which go into the 'little tubes and pipettes' are also in very short supply and will not be available in greater quantities until mid-May, Mr Wilson warned.

Yesterday, the Francis Crick Institute, led by Sir Paul Nurse, warned that shortages were affecting countries across the world.

'This is affecting countries across the world and there is nothing more the workforce can do to increase testing capacity any further,' they said.

'We would urge caution as testing is ramped up to ensure that the supply chain is secured.

Sir Paul Nurse, head of the Francis Crick Institute - which is leading the drive to test thousands of Brits for COVID-19 - said the government's move to drop its herd immunity approach should have been made sooner

'The very real risk is that hospitals and pathology networks will run out of reagents and patients will not be able to be tested and this will not only impact upon their care but can lead to hospitals unable to manage all patients safely as has been seen in other countries.'

And Sir Paul, whose institute is leading the drive to test thousands of Britons for COVID-19, said the Government's decision to drop it's 'herd immunity' approach should have been made sooner.

He told The Times: 'When they saw that the very vulnerable, the ill and the elderly would suffer significantly whilst herd immunity was being established, they reversed their policy and went to social distancing.

'It was a change of direction. It didn't take too long, but you could say it should have been done sooner.'

The expert added that it 'should have been obvious' to Government ministers that if a pandemic happened 'we would need testing, we would need field hospitals, 'we would need protective clothing, and we'd need backup intensive care facilities'.

Dr Swanton, who is part of a drive to turn the Francis Crick Institute into a testing lab, supports the scaling-up of testing but said his team were having difficulty getting kits.

He said the body had 'some tests' but not enough and added that the supply chain issues were a 'constant worry'.

Easter Sunday may be peak The coronavirus outbreak could peak on Easter Sunday  with deaths expected to hit 1,000 per day next week. Matt Hancock warned the virus continues its 'grim march' as yesterday's death toll soared by a record 684 to a total of 3,605. Asked if the crisis could peak around April 12, Mr Hancock said: 'I'm not going to steer you away from that. That is one perfectly possible outcome. We're prepared not only for that eventuality but also for if it's worse than that.' The number of deaths has more than trebled in a week. Yesterday NHS data revealed half of patients who have died with the virus were aged over 80. Of the 3,302 deaths in hospitals in England, 1,749 were 80 or above, 39 per cent were 60-70 and 7 per cent were 40-59. A total of 29 were under 40, with three children and teenagers among them. Advertisement

He said matters were made worse by airlines having grounded their planes, meaning that there is no cargo space.

Dr Swanton added that it was a 'big problem' that the Government is being forced to compete internationally for access to reagents.

When asked about the IBMS's warnings at a Downing Street press conference yesterday, Mr Hancock said: 'Yes, that will involve some challenges, there's no doubt, including making sure we get hold of all of the parts and all of the reagents.

'And everybody can see there are challenges around the world.'

It came as producers of the kits said they were blindsided by the Government's promise and warned that global supply shortages meant it is unlikely to be met.

The head of the diagnostics industry trade body said Mr Hancock had not mentioned the 100,000 target in a meeting on Wednesday.

Doris-Ann Williams, chief executive of the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association, told The Times: 'The target is his target that he set without any consultation with industry.'

'So while we'll do everything we can to help meet it because it's in our interest as part of the UK population, we can't make any promises.'

Ms Williams had taken part in a video conference with Mr Hancock and she said there was 'no commitment either side to numbers'.

Mr Hancock's pledge the next day therefore came as a surprise to manufacturers.

Mr Hancock pledged a tenfold rise in testing for coronavirus after admitting Britain had fallen behind on the 'critical' issue.

Germany is testing more than 70,000 people a day, while only 11,764 were carried out in England on Thursday.

Ministers have privately complained that Public Health England has resisted using private labs for testing, but the IBMS has now highlighted the supply crisis.

The major shortages identified by the IBMS are for reagents  chemicals that extract the genetic code of the virus from swabs so they can be tested  and the plastic tubes used to hold samples.

Mr Wilson said: 'My concern is that if we do not solve these supply chain issues, we could end up in a position where hospitals will not be able to test all patients and will have to try to judge who has Covid-19 and treat them accordingly.

'That could see patients with and without coronavirus being treated together, which would really raise the risk of infection.

'If all patients are tested wherever possible, as is currently the case and we hope will continue to be, that might mean not all healthcare workers get tested.'

The testing equipment is also supplied by UK firms, which cannot cope with surging demand. Lab workers say there is no issue in having enough staff for tests, as they have recruited extra skilled staff and are running a 24-hour service.

At the moment, Britain is carrying out antigen tests, which establish whether people currently have coronavirus.

But the Government admitted yesterday it did not have a successful antibody test  which shows whether someone has already had the disease and therefore has immunity  further jeopardising the 100,000-a-day target.

The Government has ordered 17.5million of the 'game-changing' tests.

But it has emerged that many fail to work. Mr Hancock said: 'We haven't got a reliable home test. I'm not assuming any come on stream to hit the 100,000 target.'

Responding to criticism from the IBMS, Mr Hancock acknowledged it will be 'challenging' to get hold of vital equipment in time.

He added: 'We're absolutely determined to hit the new goal of 100,000 tests a day. Yes, that will involve some challenges. Everyone can see there are challenges around the world, but we are determined we are going to get there.'

He said 7,000 NHS staff have now been tested, and around 35,000 are currently off work.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Fri, April 3, 2020 08:53 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f66f39 2 Business World-Bank,emergency-aid,COVID-19,coronavirus,India,Pakistan,Afghanistan Free

The World Bank on Thursday approved the first steps in a plan to roll out US$160 billion in emergency aid over 15 months to help countries deal with the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The board of the Washington-based development lender approved the first set of fast-track crisis projects, with an initial $1.9 billion going to 25 countries, and operations moving forward in another 40 nations, the bank said in a statement.

"The goal of the World Bank in this crisis has been to take broad, fast action, that makes it most effective if we can have a broad response that helps individual countries but that helps the group as a whole," World Bank President David Malpass told reporters.

Read also: Bank Indonesia in talks with US, China on currency swaps

"The poorest and most vulnerable countries will likely be hit the hardest, and our teams around the world remain focused on country-level and regional solutions to address the ongoing crisis."

India will be the largest beneficiary of the first wave of programs with a facility for $1 billion, followed by Pakistan with $200 million and Afghanistan with a little over $100 million, but funding is going to countries on nearly every continent, the bank said.

Included in that $160 billion total is approximately $14 billion in debt repayments from 76 poor countries to other governments that the bank, along with the International Monetary Fund, has asked rich nations to suspend.

Malpass told reporters the organizations are calling for "a standstill in their repayment expectations," to begin May 1 and extend through June 2021.

That "provides new financing to the poorest countries to meet healthcare needs and many of their other needs," he said, adding that there appeared to be a willingness among G20 nation but each country would have to negotiate individually.

Read also: Indonesia braces for recession, activates crisis protocol

The bank also is working to redeploy $1.7 billion of existing funding, including the use of "catastrophic deferred drawdowns," a type of emergency credit line.

In addition, the World Bank's private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, is providing $8 billion in financing "to help private companies affected by the pandemic and preserve jobs."

The bank is helping countries to purchase medical supplies, train personnel, establish labs and isolation and treatment centers, as well as to help support the most vulnerable households.
As The New York Times reports:

Invoking the Defense Production Act is hardly a rare occurrence. As recently as last summer, the Department of Defense used it to obtain rare earth metals needed to build lasers, jet engines and armored vehicles. The Defense Department estimates that it has used the law's powers 300,000 times a year. The Department of Homeland Security  including its subsidiary, FEMA  placed more than 1,000 so-called rated orders in 2018, often for hurricane and other disaster response and recovery efforts, according to a report submitted to Congress in 2019 by a committee of federal agencies formed to plan for the effective use of the law.

The Defense Production Act essentially empowers the government to enact a kind of centralized economic planning. While they can't take over private companies, they can direct those companies to prioritize certain manufacturing needs, or oversee distribution of products. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, with the country facing a shortage of personal protective equipment, it could be used to speed up production for things like N95 masks and ventilators. The government could essentially commandeer manufacturing lines to make sure that all the necessary individual parts are being produced and then moved in a timely manner to a place where they could then be assembled and distributed.

As Reuters described it in March:

A White House official confirmed that the administration was exploring the use of the law to spur manufacturing of protective gear. Both the DHS official and the White House requested anonymity to discuss the issue. "Let's say 'Company A' makes a multitude of respiratory masks but they spend 80% of their assembly lines on masks that painters wear and only 20% on the N95," the White House official said. "We will have the ability to tell corporations, 'No, you change your production line so it is now 80% of the N95 masks and 20% of the other.'" "It allows you to basically direct things happening that need to get done," the official added.

But that's apparently a privilege reserved for weapons of war, rather than tools for saving lives. The Times article also includes this quote from Larry Hall, the former director of the Defense Production Act program division at FEMA:

What's more important? Building an aircraft carrier or a frigate using priority ratings or saving a hundred thousand lives using priorities for ventilators? If we used the president's logic, most of our economy is already nationalized. But it isn't.

The White House did use the DPA this past Friday, March 27, to instruct General Motors to focus production on ventilators, although the announcement came several hours after General Motors had already announced their own plans to do so. I suppose the argument here is that the President didn't need to invoke the DPA if he could convince General Motors to follow his lead without any legal action. But considering how much money our country spends on defense contractors, I can't imagine that those other hundreds of thousands of instances of DPA-in-action could not have also been resolved without a direct federal order.

Wartime Production Law Has Been Used Routinely, but Not With Coronavirus [ Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Ana Swanson / The New York Times]

U.S. mulls using sweeping powers to ramp up production of coronavirus protective gear [Ted Hesson and Alexandra Alper / Reuters]

Image: Julphar.uae/Wikimedia Commons (CC 4.0)
It is awe inspiring to see the bravery and dedication of the healthcare professionals who are willing to put themselves on the front lines of this crisis. Our admiration for their work knows no bounds.

As COVID-19 continues to spread across the country, the burden on hospitals and healthcare workers has increased exponentially. Hospitals are dealing with patient populations that far exceed their usual capacity and permanent staff nurses urgently need support.

Travel nurses, so-named because they "travel" from location to location, fill short- and long-term staffing needs at hospitals across the U.S. Travel nursing agencies, like American Traveler, provide much-needed supplemental staffing when core staff levels need support. In this time of inundation of the healthcare system, hospitals have an advantage when they staff through a travel nursing agency. Nurse staffing agencies locate nurses around the country, verify their credentials, match them with facilities in need, and assist them with pre-employment requirements. This prescreening and credentialing support means nurses can hit the ground running in hospitals that desperately need nurses on the floor.

There is unprecedented demand for travel nurses all across the country during this crisis. At American Traveler, requests for travel nurse staffing in March have increased 50% over the previous month, and nearly 80% from the same time last year. Currently, California, Florida, New York, and Washington state have the highest need for travelers. Among the nursing specialties in highest demand are Critical Care, ER, and Med/Surg. Due to the pulmonary complications associated with the Novel Coronavirus, hospitals are also in pressing need of Respiratory Therapists.

While the demand for nursing staff is skyrocketing, so is the willingness of healthcare clinicians to participate in the relief efforts. The number of healthcare professionals who have expressed interest in travel nursing in March has risen 100% from the previous month, and 75% versus last March, and it shows no sign of slowing.

Says Mary Kay Hull, Vice President of Recruitment at American Traveler, "It is awe inspiring to see the bravery and dedication of the healthcare professionals who are willing to put themselves on the front lines of this crisis. Our admiration for their work knows no bounds."

Many positions are posting with crisis response rates - higher-than-normal hourly rates. Because of the staffing shortage and the highly risky nature of the work, weekly pay has increased 300% for many assignments.

Stability in a Time of Crisis

With a situation that is changing minute to minute, needs continue to flow into American Traveler and these critical areas continue to fluctuate. American Traveler is also navigating the evolving restrictions and requirements emerging as hospitals, counties, states, and the country as a whole grapple with their response to COVID-19. American Traveler is deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of nurses and other healthcare workers across the country, especially in the face of this global health crisis.

About American Traveler

American Traveler is a travel nursing agency that staffs healthcare professionals at more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide including over 80% of the largest hospital systems in the United States. American Traveler is a preferred staffing source for registered nurses, technologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists. The company has continuously demonstrated the quality of its healthcare staffing services by earning the Joint Commissions prestigious Gold Seal of Approval since 2005.
Three men (3rd, 4th and 5th from left) pose with doctors at Can Gio District Hospital in HCMC's Can Gio District as they are discharged after Covid-19 treatment, April 3, 2020. Photo courtesy of the hospital.

Three patients were released from the Covid-19 Treatment Hospital in HCMC's Can Gio District Friday, raising the national discharge total to 78.

Patients 99, 100 and 121, all Vietnamese residents of HCMC, had tested positive for the novel coronavirus after returning from abroad.

"Patient 99" is a 29-year-old man residing in Binh Thanh District. He flew back from Paris on Air France flight AF258, seat 33H, on March 18 and was transferred to a quarantine zone in District 12. His sample tested positive for Covid-19 on March 21.

"Patient 100" is a 55 year-old man living in District 8 with a history of diabetes and arthritis. He returned to Vietnam from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on AirAsia flight AK524 on March 3 and had quarantined himself at home. From March 4 to 17, he went to pray five times a day at the Jamiul Anwar Mosque in District 8.

On March 18, he was still asymptomatic, but his samples were taken by the District 8 medical center because he was among those who had participated in a Muslim ceremony in Malaysia that later had recorded hundreds of infections. His samples tested positive.

"Patient 121" is a 58-year-old man in Tan Binh District. On March 18, he and his wife flew from New York to Vietnam on ANA Airlines flight NH831 that transited at Japans Narita airport. The couple landed March 19 at the Tan Son Nhat airport and he was confirmed positive the next day.

All three discharged patients will be medically monitored at home for the next 14 days.

HCMC has so far recorded 18 patients who have recovered from their Covid-19 infections and been discharged from hospitals.

This is the second batch of discharges at the Covid-19 Treatment Hospital in Can Gio District. In the first, a 54-year-old Latvian man, "Patient 54," was released on March 31.

With 300 beds, the Can Gio hospital lies 50 km from downtown HCMC and has been used from March 16 to admit Covid-19 patients for treatment and quarantine those suspected to have the disease.

With the 78 people discharged so far, Vietnam now has 155 Covid-19 active patients.
The Delhi High Court was informed by a hospital here on Friday that there was potential short and long term risk to health of the girl who wanted to donate part of her liver to her father to save his life.

However, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva referred the issue back to the hospital to ascertain whether the panel which examined the girl's case included a specialist in liver transplant and biliary sciences and if not, then to include the opinion of such an expert.

With the direction, the court listed the matter for hearing on April 6.

The direction came after the girl's lawyers told the court that the expert panel which examined her did not include a specialist in liver transplant and biliary sciences as suggested by it in its order of April 1.

The girl, a minor, wants to donate part of her liver to her father as he is suffering from a severe case of liver cirrhosis and urgently requires a transplant to survive.

She moved the court after she received no response to her representation to the Delhi government's Health Secretary for prior approval to donate part of her liver to her father.

Under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act of 1994, hospitals/doctors can allow a transplant from a minor relative in exceptional medical grounds but only after prior approval of the appropriate authority, which in the instant case is the Health Secretary of Delhi government, the petition has said.

The girl, a suitable match to donate to her father, has claimed in her plea that she will turn 18 by the last week of May, but her father cannot wait till then as he urgently requires a transplant and due to the coronavirus outbreak it would be difficult to find compatible donors.

After she moved the petition, the Delhi government, represented by its additional standing counsel Naushad Ahmed Khan, told the court on Wednesday that her representation was rejected as she was minor.

The court, on Wednesday, had said the decision was not based on any medical opinion that there was potential risk to her life and was "not sustainable".

"Further, there is no complete prohibition in a minor donating an organ or tissue prior to attaining majority. Donation is permissible but in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with the rules," it had said.

It had directed the hospital, where the man is admitted since Monday (March 30), to set up a expert panel, including a liver transplant and biliary sciences specialist, to examine if there was any potential risk to the girl's life.

The court had said the panel's decision would be communicated to the government which shall then "forthwith" take a decision on the girl's representation for approval to donate part of her liver to her father.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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San Francisco, 3 April 2020: The Report Capnography Device Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Handheld, Standalone), By Technology (Microstream, Sidestream), By Component, By Application, By End Use, And Segment Forecasts, 2019  2026

The global capnography device market size is expected to reach USD 1.58 billion by 2026, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 17.8% during the forecast period. Introduction of regulatory guidelines for procedural sedation and growing adoption of capnography in patient monitoring due to higher reliability and efficiency are anticipated to propel the growth. In addition, advantages associated with these devices, such as ease of usage, minimally invasiveness, and medical efficiency, are the key growth drivers. Moreover, rising incidence of respiratory diseases necessitating continuous patient monitoring is expected to fuel the demand for capnography in the forthcoming years.

Furthermore, increasing focus of market leaders in R&D for the development of new generation capnography tools is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for the capnography device market. For instance, Oridions Micro stream technology which minimizes dispersion of gases in the sampling tube created a revolution in capnography market.

The market is highly competitive in nature and a limited number of players have a high level of dominance in terms of revenue share. The most notable market participants are Medtronic; Smiths Medical; Masimo Corporation; and Nonin Medical Inc. and account for a considerable market share owing to their product offerings.

Top players are involved in the establishment of extensive distribution systems as well as mergers &acquisitions to capture a larger market share. For instance, in March 2015, Nonin Medical, in collaboration with Welch Allyn, developed Wireless Vital Solutions, a patient monitor that helps improve the management of electronic health records and accuracy of the captured vital signs by capnographs and pulse oximeters.

Access Research Report of Capnography Device Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/capnography-device-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Hand-held capnography led the product segment in 2018, owing to benefits associated with the product such as portability, light weighted, ease of use, and treatment efficiency

Microstream capnography is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR, attributed to the fact that this technology is more effective and easier to incorporate as compared to side stream and main stream capnography

Capnography device find the largest application in sedation and emergency medicine, owing to its usage for optimization of pre hospital ventilation, correction of pediatric emergencies, and as a prognostic indicator to maintain pulmonary blood flow

Asia Pacific is anticipated to register rapid growth in the forthcoming years, owing to the presence of high unmet needs coupled with increasing patient awareness and improving healthcare infrastructure

Hospitals led the end use segment of capnography device market owing to shifting of preference of hospitals from conventional patient monitoring devices to capnography

Key players operating in this market include Smiths Medical, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Welch Allyn, Masimo, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic

Stringent norms for product approval and post-approval performance monitoring, regulated by authorities such as the U.S. FDA and American Academy of implant may act as a threat for new participants

Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/medical-devices

Grand View Research has segmented the global capnography device market on the basis of the component, product, technology, application, end use, and region:

Capnography Device Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

OEM Module Infrared sources Others

Other component

Capnography Device Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

Handheld

Standalone

Multiparameter

Capnography Device Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

Main stream

Sidestream

Microstream

Capnography Device Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

Emergency medicine

Pain management

Procedural sedation

Critical care

Other application

Capnography Device End User Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

Hospitals

Ambulatory care centers

Others

Capnography Device Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2026)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

MEA

Access Press Release of Capnography Device Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-capnography-device-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

For More Information:www.grandviewresearch.com
U.S. stocks posted a third week of losses in the past four, capping a volatile stretch after the government reported a big loss in jobs last month because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 360.91 points to close at 21,052.53. The Standard & Poors 500 fell 1.5% to end at 2,488.65, as energy shares gave back gains after crude prices eased. For the week, the Dow fell more than 2.5% while the S&P 500 shed 2%.

The U.S. lost 701,000 jobs in March, the Labor Department said Friday, the first decline in job creation in a decade. The unemployment rate last month rose to 4.4% from 3.5%.

The data comes after a separate report on Thursday showed a record 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week. That was double the previous weeks job losses of 3.3 million. It raised the total number of Americans who are out of work due to the coronavirus-driven downturn to almost 10 million.

Coronavirus: A record 6.6M Americans file for unemployment benefits as virus wreaks havoc on economy

Rent: What happens if you can't pay rent on April 1 because coronavirus forced you out of work?

Stocks had held steady at first Friday, but headed lower after energy stocks gave up gains as crude prices lost momentum. The fresh bout of volatility signaled that investors were selling riskier assets like stocks heading into the weekend, analysts say.

Of the 13 Friday's so far in 2020, the S&P 500 index has booked losses in ten of those days, averaging a decline of 0.4%, according to Bespoke Investment Group.

"The jobs report didn't really have a lot to do with Friday's declines," says Nick Giacoumakis, president and founder at New England Investment & Retirement Group. "The unemployment figures certainly didn't help things, but investor sentiment was also weighed down by a combination of more deaths due to the virus and the lack of earnings guidance from companies.

Traders expect more volatility in financial markets until numbers of new coronavirus cases begin to decline, which forecasters say might be weeks away. But the panic selling that dominated the first few weeks of the sell-off has calmed a bit since Washington lawmakers unleashed massive amounts of aid to help markets and the economy.

Story continues

"This could be a good sign for investors since it appears markets have already priced in dismal economic numbers," Peter Essele, head of portfolio management at Commonwealth Financial Network, said in a note. "Its likely that the next wave of gloomy economic reports could pass without any further erosion in stock prices in the next couple weeks."

To be sure, experts say the March unemployment report wont capture the full picture of how the pandemic has affected the economy since its based on a survey taken earlier in the month. The first post-shutdown jobs report for April will be released on May 8.

"Job losses spiked in March, led by almost half a million fewer jobs in restaurants and hospitality, clearly one of the hardest-hit sectors in the economy thus far," Mike Fratantoni, senior vice president and chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, said in a note. "As bad as this months employment numbers were, given the rapid jumps in claims, we fully expect that next month will show even larger job losses."

Trader Gregory Rowe works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, March 6, 2020. Stocks are opening sharply lower on Wall Street and bond yields are sinking to more record lows as investors fear that economic damage from the spreading coronavirus outbreak will be longer than previously thought.

Many respondents in the household survey indicated that they are on temporary furlough, Fratantoni said, which could provide a quicker path for an economic recovery since economists expect most that are unemployed to be called back to work once the crisis abates.

These jobs will come back. They didnt disappear because of some defect in the economy, Burt White, chief investment officer at LPL Financial, said in a note. Lots of us are looking forward to going back to our favorite restaurant or taking a trip as soon as the all-clear is sounded, and were all hoping sooner rather than later.

The U.S. surpassed 6,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic Friday. There were more than 245,600 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. early Friday, according to the Johns Hopkins University data dashboard. Worldwide, the death toll topped 55,000.

Markets got a bit of a lift Friday from another gain in oil prices. Benchmark U.S. crude climbed 11% to $28.10 per barrel, adding on to its nearly 25% surge the prior day on expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia may dial back their price war.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 in London sank 1.2% and Frankfurts DAX shed 0.5%. The CAC 40 in Paris lost 1.6%. In Asia, the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.6% and Tokyos Nikkei 225 was flat. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 0.2%.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dow: Stocks fall after US reports job losses in March
(Alliance News) - Bango PLC on Friday said South Korea's NHN Corp will be investing GBP6.5 million into the mobile commerce firm company.

The stock was up 11% at 122.75 pence at midday in London on Friday.

Seoul-based NHN operates in the financial, data, and advertising technology markets. Bango already has a strategic partnership with NHN which began in October last year.

The new investment is going into Bango's Audiens data platform, owned by Bango subsidiary Bango Deep Ltd. Following this, Bango will hold 40% of Bango Deep and NHN the rest.

The goal, Bango said, is for Audiens to become a world-leader in developing a platform allowing businesses to execute and analyse online marketing activity.

Audiens Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Brech has been promoted to chief executive, with founder Marko Maras moving to product strategy & innovation.

On top of the Bango Deep investment, NHN has also agreed to take 3.5 million new shares for GBP3.2 million, giving it a 4.7% stake.

Bango co-founder & Executive Chair Ray Anderson said: "This is one of the most exciting milestones in the history of Bango. NHN is a hugely successful data, marketing and payments business based in South Korea, one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world.

"NHN has a fantastic growth story and a history of first-mover innovation which, coupled with the existing data platform know-how at Audiens, will enable us to create a powerful force for technology leadership in online commerce."

By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 09:42:30|Editor: huaxia

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RIO DE JANEIRO, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva has reaffirmed a desire to return to his former club Fluminense as he mulls life beyond the French capital.

Silva's contract with the Ligue 1 side expires in June and the 35-year-old has yet to decide his next move.

"I want to return. Because during one of the most difficult times in my life, Fluminense opened their doors to me," the 35-year-old said of his arrival at the Rio de Janeiro club in 2006 after a frustrating period in Europe.

"I'm very grateful to Fluminense, above all else. I don't know when it would happen but I would like to wear that shirt again some day."

Silva has been linked with a move to Everton, who are managed by his former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti, a known admirer of the Brazilian. There have also been reports suggesting the central defender could join Barcelona.

Silva has stated that his preference is to remain at Paris Saint-Germain, whom he joined from Milan in 2012 for a reported fee of 42 million euros.
Experts warn that the more than one million cases of COVID-19 confirmed globally are probably just a small proportion of total infections, as testing is not widely available.

With more than 53,000 dead, the threat has never been more stark.

Deaths from the global coronavirus epidemic accelerated again on Friday as the US, Spain and Britain grappled with their highest tolls yet and the world economy took a massive hit.

Prosperous countries in Europe and North America are currently bearing the brunt of the disease but -- with infections also reported in war zones and refugee camps -- there are fears of a new explosion among the world's most vulnerable.

"The worst is yet to come," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, referring to countries beset with fighting like Syria, Libya and Yemen.

"The COVID-19 storm is now coming to all these theatres of conflict." For the moment, the United States accounts for around a quarter of confirmed cases, but Europe is far from being out of danger -- Spain reported more than 900 deaths in 24 hours on Friday, for the second day running.

While Italy still leads the world in fatalities, France, Belgium and Britain have also been hard hit. The UK government opened a 4,000-bed field hospital on Friday ahead announcing a its highest one-day toll of 684.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is himself entering a second week of isolation with a high temperature after testing positive for the virus, but Queen Elizabeth is to make an historic address to Britain and the Commonwealth nations on Sunday.

The public health battle being waged across the world ebbed and flowed, with Germany saying the rate of new infections is slowing but once confident Singapore closing schools and workplaces to fend off a possible renewed upsurge in cases.

The virus has now killed more than 10,000 people across Spain, but it spared 29-year-old Javier Lara, who has returned home after being treated in an overburdened intensive care unit and told AFP of his suffering.

"I was panicking that my daughter would get infected. When I started showing symptoms, I said I wouldn't hold her or go near her," he said, describing facing death with an eight-week-old as the "worst moment in his life".

The world economy has been pummelled by the virus and the associated lockdowns, with more than half the population of the planet under some kind of stay-at-home order.

The US economy shed 701,000 jobs last month, its worst since March 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, boosting the jobless rate to 4.4 percent for the first time in 45 years.

Things were no better in Europe, where analysts from IHS Markit warned that business activity in the 19-nation eurozone had suffered its worst crunch ever recorded, and the central bank of eurozone member Ireland said its output could be slashed by 8.3 percent this year.

Financial ratings agency Fitch predicted both the US and eurozone economies would shrink this quarter by up to 30 percent and the Asian Development Bank warned on Friday the global economy could take a $4.1 trillion hit -- equivalent to five percent of worldwide output.

China's central bank became the latest to announce special stimulus measures Friday when it cut reserve requirements for smaller banks in order to release around 400 billion yuan ($56 billion) in liquidity.

The outbreak began last year in China, which announced a day of national mourning on Saturday for those who died fighting against the disease. Fourteen deceased frontline workers will be celebrated as "martyrs" of the epidemic.

In India, where more than one billion people are under lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to hold candles and mobile phones aloft for nine minutes on Sunday to dispel the "darkness and uncertainty" of the pandemic.

In the megacity of Mumbai, police barricaded off parts of Dharavi, one of Asia's biggest slums, made world famous by the 2008 film "Slumdog Millionaire".

"We sprayed hydrochloric acid to disinfect these buildings and nearby areas as well," said Vijay Khabale-Patil of Mumbai's city authority.

Mobinuddin Shaikh, 51, who lives opposite a coronavirus patient, told AFP:



"We are a family of five. We use communal toilets or have to get water from public taps. Only God can save us." Australia took the extreme step of banning the 15,000-strong crews of virus-stricken cruise ships from coming ashore -- dealing the world's teetering tourism industry another blow.

Even in the world's richest country, the US, healthcare providers are under pressure. New Yorkers like COVID-19 survivor Diana Berrent are donating blood plasma in the hope their hard-won antibodies can be used to treat future victims.

"We can be superheroes," the 45-year-old photographer told AFP. "These are unprecedented, frightening times where everything is beyond our control -- except we as survivors can help." The virus has chiefly killed the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, but recent cases of deaths among teenagers and babies have highlighted the dangers for people of all ages.

In Kenya, the health ministry said a six-year-old boy had died and in Spain, mothers like 34-year-old Vanesa Muro who gave birth with COVID-19 are warned not to touch their newborns without wearing gloves and masks.

Meanwhile, in northeast Nigeria, aid workers say the virus could rampage through camps for 1.8 million people displaced by a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Early this year, the History Channel announced Julio Garay Barrios as the winner of its contest dubbed, "An Idea to Change History." A Peruvian agro-industrial engineer, Garay is a native of the Ayacucho region. And his winning entries are "The Nutri H Cookies."

With his conception, children aged, 3 to 6 years old who would eat the cookies every day for 30 consecutive days would have increased hemoglobin levels in their blood systems and this was proven during the pilot tests conducted in Peru.

The Nutri H cookies, according to the report, are distributed via the approved distribution centers across Peru. More so, they are included in both the municipal and regional campaigns of the government to fight child anemia. In relation to this, nearly 50 percent of the Peruvian children are found to be anemic. And he is undoubtedly considered a serious problem.

READ: Coronavirus Beer: Mexican Brewer Names Beer After Deadly Virus; Plus a Sweet Treat Also Named After the Virus

Anemia, a Serious Consequence for Children

Anemia is a health condition that frequently ascends from vitamin and iron deficiency. It also has severe consequences specifically for children. It leads to poor performance, academically since kids who have it tend to be exhausted and find it difficult to focus in class discussions and activities.

Relatively, psychomotor development is damaged, as well, and an immune system that's weakened means, children are at higher risk for contracting infections.

Essentially, the percentage of children with anemia in Peru dropped from "46.1 to 41.1 percent" in 2019 from the year 2018. This was based on the data from the National Institute of Statistics and Computer Science of Peru. Experts have attributed the slight decline to the prevention campaigns of the government.

And, as Garay noted, his Nutri H cookies comprise three basic ingredients which include cocoa, bovine hemoglobin, and quinoa. Bovine hemoglobin in particular, "brings the most iron to the body." Garay himself had childhood anemia and this concept of him inspired him to look for a solution.

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Highlighting Latin America's Innovators

The contest which proclaimed Garay as the winner highlighted Latin America's innovators with ideas that have the potential to change many people's everyday life. This Peruvian notion, Garay shared, will change not just Latin America but the whole world, as well.

Reminiscently, the engineer shared he had pneumonia for a short time when he was 5 years old. This particular condition was said to be far from a particular experience and his needs ultimately ignited the idea.

As earlier mentioned, 5 out of 10 Peruvian children have anemia. After he studied agroindustrial engineering at the University Nacional San Cristobal de Huamanga through a reputable scholarship also known as "Beca 18" which shoulders 100 percent of the costs, this humble engineer tirelessly worked to provide an edible result in a cookie form to combat anemia.

It took 3 years for the Nutri H Cookies to come to completion. Winning the first prize via public vote with 700,000 votes from 135 countries, Garay received a $50,000 cash award.

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Other concepts presented in the contest included a glove functioning to facilitate the life of people who have either total or partly hand disability, an app that can assist users with visual impairments, and complementary research for the early detection of breast cancer.
CANTON, MI -- A Canton man was charged with several felonies Thursday after he allegedly attacked his wife with a power saw and assaulted two of his children during a domestic dispute on March 30. Oswald John Tallent, 46, was arraigned in 35th District Court on charges of assault with intent to commit murder, torture, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation, third degree child abuse and habitual offender, police said.

If convicted, Tallent faces up to life in prison on the intent to murder charge. Bond was set at $500,000, no 10% allowed by Judge Ronald Lowe. Tallent will be back in court date on Monday, April 13, 2020.

Police said Tallent was arrested Monday after they received multiple calls about a man assaulting his wife at a residence on Stonebrook Drive in Canton. When they arrived, officers found a the woman with what appeared to be serious injuries. Officers began searching for the suspect who had left the area on foot. Tallent was eventually captured and arrested by police. The woman was transported to a nearby hospital with unknown injuries and her condition was not provided.
Beijing's chief medical advisor on the novel coronavirus has questioned the US governments' abilities to fight the pandemic amid a tit-for-tat row between the two nations over the global emergency.

Epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan claimed he worried about what would happen in America, adding 'the problem of the US will be the problem of the world', according to reports.

He warned of a looming global disaster if the killer bug continues to spread at the current rate. He urged the US authorities to enforce stricter lockdown measures.

Beijing's chief medical advisor Dr Zhong (pictured on February 27) said he worried about what would happen in America, adding 'the problem of the US will be the problem of the world'

More than a million people across the world have contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and over 53,000 have died of it.

The pandemic first emerged last December in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in central China.

Dr Zhong, the leader of a team of Chinese experts dealing with the crisis, made the comments while discussing the containment of COVID-19 with other experts at a meeting, reported Chinese media.

Medical staff move bodies from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center to a refrigerated truck on April 2 in Brooklyn, New York. The US now has the most coronavirus cases in the world

After being asked to comment on the containment efforts of South Korea and the US, he said America had advanced screening methods to identify infections, but it must carry out tougher isolation measures.

In particular, he urged the US officials to strengthen its control over carriers who don't show symptoms and called for immediately prevention efforts in the southern part of the United States.

He praised South Korea for its quick response in detecting and tracking patients.

When asked about his biggest fear, he said: 'What I am worried about is that in some foreign countries right now, [the virus] is spreading very fast.

'Like each day, [the number of daily cases] will increase by 10,000 or something like that. That is a big problem.'

He claimed that a soaring number of patients would create a burden on medical resources, leading to 'a vicious circle' in nations' attempts to control the crisis.

'In particular in some big country, once it cannot stop the spread, it will bring a disaster of the whole world,' he urged.

'None of the countries will be safe and exempted. This is what worries me the most.'

He stressed that draconian quarantine measures, social distancing rules and an order for the public to wear face masks were the best ways to fight the virus.

Dr Zhong's remarks come after China declared over the weekend that it had largely blocked the transmissions of the pathogen.

Beijing now views the virus as a 'foreign' problem and has increased its efforts to screen 'imported cases'.

Doubts have been raised over Beijing's honesty and transparency for its official figures about the coronavirus outbreak. A vendor wearing a face mask is pictured selling soup today on a street at a residential area blocked by barriers in Wuhan, where the pandemic first emerged

The Chinese health authority reported a total of 81,620 infections and 3,322 deaths as of today.

But doubts have been raised over Beijing's honesty and transparency for the figures.

A classified briefing from Washington revealed that China was covering up the full extent of its epidemic, an insider told Bloomberg News.

US Vice President Mike Pence (pictured on April 1) has blamed the United States' slow response on China and the US CDC. He told CNN on Wednesday: 'The reality is that we could have been better off if China had been more forthcoming'

While US Vice President Mike Pence blamed the United States' slow response partially on China.

He told CNN on Wednesday: 'The reality is that we could have been better off if China had been more forthcoming.

'I mean the reality is that China's been more transparent with regard to the coronavirus than certainly they were for other infectious diseases over the last 15 years.

'But what appears evident now is that long before the world learned in December that China was dealing with this, and maybe as much as a month earlier than that, that the outbreak was real in China.'

Hua Chunying (pictured), a spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has condemned 'those who are in charge of the US', labelling their action as 'shameless'

Beijing condemned Pence's statement, labelling Washington's leaders as 'shameless' and 'immoral'. A spokesperson yesterday accused the White House of controlling the reports on the coronavirus outbreak in America.

The two countries have accused each other of being the origin of the global outbreak.

The United States now has the most coronavirus cases in the world, followed by Spain, Italy, Germany and China.

Yesterday, it became the first country in the world to hit 1,000 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours after registering 1,047 fatalities.

Overall, America has registered more than 245,000 infections and over 6,000 deaths, with the state of New York being the epicentre.
Eight employees at a Billerica jail have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials announced Thursday.

Seven staff members working at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction were diagnosed with COVID-19. Another employee who works in a position located outside the facility also tested positive, according to a statement from the Middlesex Sheriffs Office

All those employees who have tested positive will remain off duty until cleared by medical professionals to return to work, the statement said.

The news comes less than a week after authorities announced two inmates at the jail had been diagnosed with the viral respiratory infection. There have been no new confirmed cases amongst the prison population since then, according to the sheriffs office.

Twenty-three inmates, three Department of Correction employees and one medical provider have also tested positive for the virus at the Massachusetts Treatment Center, according to the DOC.

A man in his 50s who was incarcerated at the Bridgewater facility died after being diagnosed with the disease, officials announced Thursday. The man reportedly had underlying health issues.

Several advocacy organizations and public officials have been seeking the release of certain prisoners who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract the coronavirus. The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts is expected to release a decision soon about an emergency petition that called for the release of inmates particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.

To stave off the spread of the outbreak, the Billerica jail is telling symptomatic staff members to stay home and contact their primary care physician. Employees must be cleared by their medical providers before returning to work, the sheriffs office said.

The jail will also have thermometers available to staff members to conduct self-temperature checks starting Friday, according to the sheriffs statement.

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In February, ASIC released its draft regulatory guidance outlining its proposed approach to how the best interest duty (BID) will apply to mortgage brokers, providing tangible examples and parameters to aid with compliance, as well as fleshing out the conflict priority rule.

ASIC is expected to publish its final guidance before the BID obligations commence on 1 July 2020. But speaking at the Australian Mortgage Innovation Summit 2020, Mortgage Choice CEO Susan Mitchell said that much of what ASICs guidance was about, with respect to the duty, was ensuring that brokers provided evidence of what they were already doing.

She said, Its going to be about documenting the conversations that you have with your customers to ensure you have acted in their best interest; to be more specific about certain circumstances surrounding specific issues like the features of a loan and whether you have challenged what your customer is asking you to do.

The intent of the new regulation, therefore, is simply to refine what brokers are already doing for the customer. But how exactly can brokers document and evidence that they truly are acting in their clients best interests? What might this look like in practice?

Jonathan Meadows, general manager of technology at Connective Broker Services, explained, One thing were looking at is making it easier for brokers to record the conversations that theyre having with their clients so that when they need to pull it all together it will be easy and efficient.

Meanwhile, Arun Maharaj, CEO at HashChing, said he had already taken steps to roll out automated fact-finders via SMS, with consumers and brokers updated automatically.

Its all about documentation from the start. It needs to be automated, he said.

Mitchell suggested that complying with BID would also mean brokers would have to listen more to their clients about their personal/subjective circumstances in order to find more bespoke solutions.

There are complex [client] scenariosthat are not so easy to researchonline. The role of the broker mightevolve to centre more around thosecomplex scenarios Arun Maharaj, CEO, HashChing

That way the broker can be very comfortable that the product theyve suggested will hit all of the clients goals, she said.

However, she added, Considering other regulatory changes, theres more than just BID. There are also changes to clawback reform, to broker remuneration structures, and investigations into brokers misconduct ... remuneration changes which happened 18 months ago before the royal commission as part of an ASIC review.

In such an environment, will brokers find it more difficult to earn customers trust, or to ensure that customers have products that are right for them, by really getting to know them throughout the different stages of their homebuying journey?

Maharaj believes that when open banking hits, there will be real implications for the mortgage industry, mainly in terms of customers being able to switch products more easily.

A lot of our brokers are working referrals, and they pay the referral fees, but they still have to pay from their own pockets, he says.

Jonathan Meadows, general manager of technology, Connective Broker Services

Collaboration with lenders

With all this in mind, is it the role of the broker or the lender, or both, to ensure customers are satisfied with the whole buying journey?

Meadows believes the responsibility falls on both the broker and lender, who must work together.

From a broker perspective, its not always necessarily solely about the product you are providing; its also about the services a lender can provide, he said. For example, I love my internet banking and my apps. So if my broker was with a bank that I had to walk into and make a phone call with, it would be a really poor service for me. So theres a consideration, from a brokers perspective, to ask, Am I putting the right customer with this bank that has these limited features?

However, Mitchell pointed out that the banks had a bit of a hard gig. She said, Brokers clients arent excited about the loan; theyre excited about the house, and its really important for the broker to remember that.

The bank might have a 10-year relationship with the client taking money out of their account. Its a hard gig, on top of all the regulatory pressure.

She added, Over the last 18 months the lenders are taking a lot of the pressure for the majority of delays to loans, with brokers passing the baton to the banks.

Dealing with digital clients

Increasingly, clients are coming to brokers having already done copious amounts of research by utilising online channels such as comparison websites.

According to Maharaj, the most searched-for term by homeowners is product calculators, and 90% of the time a consumer will go to a lenders website to work out the cost of products, then they go to property sites, and then they come to the broker sites.

Maharaj explained, It is said that 70% of all property customers know what they want before they get to a broker. They just want some sort of guidance, with 30% of that 70% researching on mobile.

Given how much these customers are getting their information online, brokers might want to consider growing their online presence, and they need to make sure theyre engaging customers.

Mitchell said that when it came to digital customer acquisitions, about 80% of customers were coming from online, but regulatory and compliance structures, documentation, etc., were actually preventing the process from becoming more digital.

Were still one step away from a straightforward digital processing solution that looks at a panel of 30 and puts them in a product, she said.

Pros and cons of open banking

While open banking is expected to provide real choice and be a great driver of change for the industry, Meadows said it was also going to make it easier for clients to switch between products and services, so there would be a real challenge in trying to keep those clients.

Agreeing, Mitchell added that there was no loyalty to products any more as house prices have kept on rising.

She said, People cant afford loyalty. They want to earn as much interest as they can, to get as cheap a loan as possible, and they want to be able to get the right price for their house. Theres no opportunity for loyalty; it is being pushed out by the level of expenses.

But products are also much easier to find and access now than ever before, and this is likely to proliferate with the start of open banking.

Maharaj added, So the faster you are, the better you are. Take UberEats for example. Nowadays, millennials will want to know where they are at every step of the process. So, going forward, lenders will have to step up or the customers will go somewhere else.

Maharaj said that, along with customers data, banks would also start sharing product data.

Platforms can now pick that up and do mini comparison sites for their brokers, which helps BID because the broker will be able to feed consumer comparatives in real time, and I think thats huge. It will drive more traffic, he says.

It will also be easier to switch products with all the data coming through. Though thatll be another headache for some of us. I actually think open banking is still two years away because theres still a lot of work that needs to be done. But it has the potential to change the demographics of broking in the country.

Value of face-to-face interaction

When it comes to things like lodging income and expense statements with lenders, simpler transactions would be likely to go through automated mechanisms, according to Maharaj.

Mitchell added that the more complicated ones would end up being handled face-to-face.

It wouldnt surprise me if broking became a little more integrated into financial advice. Reverse mortgages, etc., are the sort of thing you would want to come out of such a relationship, she explained.

For instance, you get a person who has a small business  its in a family trust; they have two investment properties; they just got divorced ... but thats not going to be programmed. It wouldnt be worth their time and effort. So that person has to go see somebody.

A machine can get you a long way down the line, but people still value person-to-person interactions, Mitchell said.

Technology would never replace trust, and trust was what was needed, Maharaj agreed.

Meadows concluded that the role of the broker was about guiding the customer; being more of a partner and sounding board for advice.

He said, Product data is easily more accessible; people can now do their research beforehand. But there are complex scenarios as well that are not so easy to research online. The role of the broker might then evolve to centre more around those complex scenarios.
(Newser)  Passengers aboard two cruise ships that have had coronavirus cases and deaths have been given the green light to disembark at a Florida port, an official said Thursday. An agreement was reached among local, state and federal officials and Carnival Corp., which owns the Zaandam and the Rotterdam, said Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine, the AP reports. Port Everglades traffic records listed the two ships arrival as "confirmed." The cruise line Holland America, which is operating the ships, said that 45 passengers who are mildly sick would stay on board until they recover, but that 10 people needed to be taken to a Fort Lauderdale hospital for immediate care. Broward Health medical center said it would accept the critically ill patients.

story continues below

For nearly three weeks, passengers have not been able to step onto dry land. Four elderly passengers have died on the Zaandam, at least two of COVID-19, Carnival said. Nine people have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the company said. There are 442 guests and 603 crew on the Zaandam, and 808 guests and 583 crew on the Rotterdam. The Rotterdam was sent last week to take in some of the passengers since the Zaandam was denied permission to dock at ports in South America. About 230 people have reported influenza-like symptoms since March 22, including 14 aboard the Rotterdam, while 45 currently are mildly ill, Holland America Line said. Originally opposed to the ships' arrival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told Fox News on Thursday that transferring critically ill patients to hospitals was "the humanitarian thing to do." A day earlier, President Trump suggested that he had persuaded the governor to allow the ships to dock in Florida.

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
A man was shot to death late Thursday afternoon in Oakland's Frank Ogawa Plaza near City Hall, police said.

Dispatchers at 4:29 p.m. got calls about a possible shooting in the 200 block of Frank Ogawa Plaza.

Officers went there and located a man suffering from a gunshot wound, according to police. Firefighters and paramedics also responded but the man died.

Police are investigating the shooting and are not providing any more details now, police said.

Bay Area health officials on Thursday recommended that residents use a cloth to cover their nose and mouth when leaving their homes to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The new recommendation comes from the California Department of Public Health, and should be combined with regular hand-washing and social distancing, health officials said.

The face coverings don't have to be hospital grade. Residents can use bandanas, fabric masks and neck gaiters, which can all be washed and reused. Residents can also make face coverings using T-shirts, sweatshirts or towels, health officials said.

Despite previous advice that face coverings for the public weren't needed to stop COVID-19's spread, San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Tomas Aragon said the circumstances have changed.

"Now that the virus is spreading in the community, it is more likely that people with no or mild symptoms may have coronavirus and not know it," he said. "Wearing face coverings helps to protect others, and is a great way to be a good neighbor and community member. They are an additional tool, along with physical distancing and hand washing, to reduce transmission of coronavirus," he said.

A lawyer for state prison inmates urged a federal court on Thursday to order the release or relocation of some prisoners to reduce overcrowding, arguing that "conditions in California prisons are a tinderbox" for the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

"The risk of harm and death to everyone who lives and works in prisons, and to the larger community, has increased exponentially, attorney Donald Specter told a three-judge panel in a one-and-one-half hour telephonic hearing.

The panel took the case under submission and will rule at a later date. The prisoners' attorneys have asked the court to issue an order as soon as Monday.

Paul Mello, a lawyer representing the state, said officials are already taking "bold and immediate steps" to prevent contagion and should be allowed to address "this dangerous moving target" without interference from the courts.

Correctional officials are planning the early release of about 3,500 nonviolent inmates who are within 60 days of release dates, suspending intake of new prisoners from county jails and moving about 500 inmates to other prisons with unoccupied spaces.

Police in San Francisco arrested a man suspected of setting several fires in the city, after an officer spotted him starting one in Alamo Square Park on Wednesday.

Just after midnight, officers followed the suspect into the park, near Pierce and Hayes streets, and witnessed him start a fire against a restroom building and flee. Police and firefighters put out the fire.

Officers then saw the suspect try to start a second fire, and after a brief struggle, officers were able to take him into custody.

Police identified the suspect as Mark Major, 54, of San Francisco, and booked him on suspicion of several arson-related offenses.

Police said Major has been linked to other arson fires, including a Feb. 15 vehicle fire in the 400 block of Hickory Street and a Feb. 21 vehicle fire near Linden and Laguna streets.

Two homicide suspects were arrested on Wednesday for the slaying of a Santa Cruz County resident, sheriff's officials said Thursday.

Caitlin Crenshaw, 23, and Cody Huynh, 23, both homeless, were arrested Wednesday and are thought to have been directly involved in the killing, according to the sheriff's office.

Kimberly Smith, 55, was found dead Tuesday at a home in the 800 block of Graham Hill Road in Santa Cruz County. The motive sheriff's officials believe was robbery.

Both suspects were located in San Bernardino County. Huynh was in jail for alleged unrelated offenses and Crenshaw was allegedly found in Smith's car.

Huynh and Crenshaw were brought back to Santa Cruz County and are being held without bail. The two were booked on suspicion of robbery and homicide.

Friday will be sunny. Highs will be in the mid 50s to the lower 60s. Northwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph, increasing to west winds of 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Friday night will be mostly clear and breezy. Lows will be around 50 degrees. Northwest winds will be 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to west winds of 10 to 20 mph after midnight.

Saturday will be cloudy with a chance of rain in the morning and rain in the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid 50s to lower 60s. Southwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson suffered through one of their worst interviews in two decades while chatting to Tiger King star John Finlay on Friday.

The radio hosts giggled through awkward silences as John struggled to understand basic questions on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

The pair asked John if he was 'still on meth' and repeatedly questioned him about his sexuality, despite the fact he is now engaged to a woman and identifies as straight.

Awkward: Kyle Sandilands (left) and Jackie 'O' Henderson (right) suffered through one of their worst interviews in two decades while chatting to Tiger King star John Finlay on Friday

'You're not on meth anymore, are you John?' asked Kyle. 'You've given up the meth?'

'I've given up the meth, I've become six years clean,' John responded.

Kyle also asked John if he'd had 'people from the gay community' reach out to him online to try and date him.

'I'm straight now,' John responded awkwardly, which took Kyle by surprise.

'Oh, I didn't realise!' said Kyle. 'My apologies, I didn't realise that.'

'You're not on meth anymore, are you John?' Kyle asked the toothless Tiger King star if he was still using drugs. John Finlay is the ex-husband of notorious former zookeeper Joe Exotic

The 48-year-old shock jock then asked John if his new fiancee, Stormey Sanders, 'was a lesbian'.

John later said that he'd like Channing Tatum to play him in a Tiger King movie, which prompted Kyle to fire off more questions about his sexuality.

'Do you find him attractive, even though you're not gay anymore?' he asked. 'If you're gonna go gay for anyone, you'd definitely be sticking it in Channing Tatum!'

'If you're gonna go gay for anyone you'd definitely be sticking it in Channing Tatum!' Kyle repeatedly asked John questions about his sexuality throughout the interview

Clearly unimpressed with the line of questioning, John awkwardly responded: 'Yeah.'

'Well, I'm not sure how straight you are,' Kyle shot back. 'Are you bi now, or straight?'

John replied that he was still 'straight', before Jackie jumped in with some more questions about his sexuality.

'What came first? Were you straight in the beginning and then turned gay and then went back to straight?' she asked.

'Were you straight and then turned gay?' Jackie also quizzed John about his sexuality

Later in the interview, the radio duo invited listeners to phone in with questions, which led to more uncomfortable moments.

One caller asked John what it was like 'being in a throuple' with Joe Exotic and Joe's other husband Travis Maldonado, who died in 2017 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

When John didn't understand the question, Kyle jumped in and asked John if the three of them 'had sex together' or if they hooked up separately.

After an uncomfortable pause, John responded: 'No comment on that one.'

Happy ending: John (right) currently lives with his fiancee, Stormey Sanders (left), in central Oklahoma, where he works as a welder

Once the interview was over, Kyle and Jackie both agreed it had been one of the toughest interviews they'd done in a long time.

'It's been a long time since I've done an interview where it's been a real struggle,' Jackie laughed.

John shot to fame earlier this month in the Netflix documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.

He currently lives with his fiancee, Stormey, in central Oklahoma, where he works as a welder.

'It's been a long time since I've done an interview where it's been a real struggle!' Kyle and Jackie both agreed it had been one of the toughest interviews they'd done in a long time

The seven-episode series follows the true story of Joe Exotic, a tiger breeder who ran an exotic animal park in Oklahoma.

The highlights of his colourful life include his three-way wedding to two different men and his years-long feud with fellow animal collector Carole Baskin.

Joe is serving a 22-year prison sentence after being guilty of hiring an undercover FBI agent to murder Carole.
WASHINGTON  A grim snapshot of the U.S. job markets sudden collapse emerged Friday with a report that employers shed hundreds of thousands of jobs last month because of the viral outbreak thats brought the economy to a near-standstill.

The loss of 701,000 jobs, reported by the Labor Department, ended nearly a decade of uninterrupted job growth, the longest such streak on record. The unemployment rate surged in March from a 50-year low of 3.5% to 4.4%  the sharpest one-month jump in the jobless rate since 1975.

And thats just a hint of whats to come.

For the April jobs report that will be released in early May, economists expect as many as a record 20 million losses and an unemployment rate of around 15%, which would be the highest since the 1930s.

The enormous magnitude of the job cuts is inflicting far-reaching damage on economies in the United States and abroad, which are widely believed to be sinking into severe recessions. As rising numbers of people lose jobs  or fear they will  consumer spending is shrinking. That pullback in spending, which is the primary driver of the economy, is intensifying pressure on those businesses that are still operating.

Economists are holding out hope that an extraordinary series of rescue actions from Congress and the Federal Reserve will help stabilize the U.S. economy in the months ahead. The key goals of Congress just-enacted $2.2 trillion relief package are to quickly put cash in peoples hands and incentivize companies to avoid job cuts or quickly recall laid-off employees.

The package includes an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits on top of the usual state payments and will ideally enable the millions of newly jobless to pay their rent and other bills. But it wont make up for the vast array of spending that Americans typically engage in that has now been lost  from eating out and paying for gym memberships to buying new furniture, autos and electronic gadgets. Indeed, Oxford Economics says that for the April-June quarter, that pullback will likely cause the sharpest quarterly drop in consumer spending on record.

Katharine Abraham, an economist at the University of Maryland, said that if the extra aid manages to help many of the unemployed avoid building up excessive debt, when businesses open back up  they should be able to spend money.

Still, even factoring in the governments intervention, Joel Prakken, chief US economist at IHS Markit, predicts that the economy will sharply contract in the April-June quarter  by a 26.5% annual rate, the worst on records dating to just after World War II.

Many economists say that additional government support will be needed, particularly if the virus persists into the late summer.

The job losses during March were likely even larger than what was reported Friday because the government surveyed employers before the heaviest layoffs hit in the past two weeks. Nearly 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in the final two weeks of March, far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record. Those layoffs will be reflected in the jobs report for April.

This was an ugly jobs report, showing that the pain in the economy started in early March, well before the spike in the weekly initial jobless claims data, said Joseph Song, an economist at Bank of America Securities. It is going to get much worse in coming reports.

Brad Hershbein, senior economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, said that last months job loss likely reflected nervousness among businesses that had cut back on hiring even before the flood of layoffs.

One sign of how painfully deep the job losses will likely prove to be: During its nearly decade-long hiring streak, the U.S. economy added 22.8 million jobs. Economists expect the April jobs report being released in early May to show that all those jobs could have been lost.

Lower-income service workers bore the brunt of the job cuts in March, with restaurants, hotels and casinos accounting for roughly two-thirds of them  a loss of 459,000 jobs. Retailers shed 46,000.

Yet the layoffs have also begun to creep into many other corners of the economy. Doctors offices sliced 12,000 jobs, the most on records dating to 1972. Law firms cut 1,700. Banks and real estate companies also shed jobs.

Many employers have cut hours for some staffers. The number of part-time employees who would prefer full-time work jumped by one-third in March to 5.8 million.

Bridget Hughes had had her work hours cut in half before she was forced to take two weeks off from her job at Burger King and self-isolate after her aunt tested positive for COVID 19. Shell be quarantined until next week. The restaurant where she worked in Kansas City, Missouri, has cut about two-thirds of its staff and is providing drive-thru service only. Hughes, 49, doesnt know when shell be able to return to work.

She applied for unemployment benefits, but state officials told her it might be up to 30 days before her claim is processed and her first check is issued.

We were already living paycheck to paycheck, she said. I dont know if were going to make rent this month. We are struggling to get food on the table.

A key determinant of the economys future will be whether businesses can survive the shutdown and quickly rehire those workers who consider themselves to be temporarily laid off. If so, that would help the economy snap back and avoid the type of weak recovery that followed the past three downturns.

But if the virus outbreak forces businesses to stay closed into the late summer, many may go bankrupt or wont have the money to rehire their old employees. That would mean that many workers who now consider themselves on temporary layoff could lose their jobs.

So far, some large and small businesses are still paying for health care benefits and keeping in touch with their newly laid-off workers, a slightly hopeful sign amid the flood of job cuts.

Still, many worry that their jobs are gone for good.

Megan-Claire Chase, 43, of Dunwoody, Georgia, was laid off a week ago from her job as a marketing manager at a staffing company. Chase, a four-year cancer survivor, was laid off back in 2008, and it took her two years to find a job. This time, shes even more fearful.

There is so much uncertainty, she said. How do you bounce back? There is no timeline because there is no history.

___

AP Retail Writer Anne DInnocenzio contributed to this report from New York.
One of my jobs as a chaplain, my most important job, is to connect families. This vocation begins as soon as the trauma pager goes off: 42 y.o. F GSW 3 min, for instance. Very shortly a shooting victim will arrive in the trauma bay, and my task is to identify her. If she is able to speak or she has a drivers license, the steps are easy. When Im lucky, her name shows up in hospital records along with a next of kin. I make the call.

When the family arrives, stricken, disheveled, I am paged again. My actions are in the interest of connecting the patients and their loved ones as soon as possible. (The presence and support of people the patient loves is as much a part of recovery as any treatment.) I settle them in a family room and get water. (Extreme stress shuts down salivary glands.) I find the attending or resident. They explain the injury and the procedures. Many times the patient is already in surgery. The family has been waiting  excruciatingly waiting  thinking God will save him or I know shes going to die, neither of which any of us knows. I have to point that out. Deciding on an outcome is a way to avoid the pain of uncertainty. Everyone reaches a pitch when the doctor comes in, they expect something definitive, but theres only more waiting.

I can usually take one or two people back to the trauma unit. Its down a long hallway past a set of locked doors. My badge swings the doors open. Family members look nervously into every doorway. They are reaching a pitch again that only the sight or touch of their loved one will calm. They are focused, and as I lead them around the curtain, their gaze solidifies, creating a field around the gurney. People cry. If the patient is banged up or in a neck brace, the first touches are tentative and gentle. This is fear and love, turning ever so slowly into just love. The patient, if conscious, is relieved. The family members are relieved. I am relieved. This intense connection ends their needing my constant presence. Im as irrelevant as a match after the candle is lit. We say goodbye and sometimes hug. Ill check on them periodically through the night.

But the new coronavirus situation results in much the opposite focus. Chaplains are required to deliver the news that there will be no reunion, no touch, no relief. I ache for my colleagues who are working in affected hospitals now. They have to, repeatedly, tell families they cant see their loved ones  even if the situation is end-of-life. From 6 feet away and wearing protective gear  distancing, impersonal  they have to explain the quarantine. They have to go into family rooms and sever hope. They have to leave the anxious there  waiting  with only an unknown outcome out there somewhere coming in like a sneaker wave.

My aunt was just such a patient. She was in a senior community in New Orleans. For two and a half weeks, her daughter was not allowed to see her. (My aunt had a slight fever that resolved, but she tested positive for the virus.) Finally, my cousin was allowed a 10-minute visit. She dressed like the Michelin Man, face shield and gloves, and went in. She wasnt sure her mother recognized her. Does she even know Im here? Can she tell its me? One of my colleagues would have said: She knows youre here. That may be true, but one wants a physical connection, the physical comfort that is still possible in this world. It was not a mild case of COVID-19 that shortened her life. I believe it was being deprived of her daughters daily company. Behind my cousins questions is a fear that her mother felt abandoned.

Last week the Pope offered a prayer and benediction on the occasion of COVID-19. He spoke about the story of Jesus calming the waves. The disciples means of asking for help was to accuse Jesus of not caring about their predicament, hence not caring about them. Do you not care about me? the Pope said, is a phrase that unleashes storms in our hearts. To feel unloved is terrible. To be deprived of the opportunity to offer love may be worse. Some victims die alone with a few doors between them and their families. The chaplains hold the key cards but have to stop themselves from using them.

The chaplains, the spiritual care connectors, are now circuit breakers. They are being asked to do their anti-jobs: on the job retraining that runs against all of their instincts and experience. They are keeping people who love each other apart. It pains them. It is a moral injury, that is an emotional and spiritual wound resulting from acting against a deeply held belief or value. First associated with soldiers, moral injury today is more and more affecting people on a different kind of front line.

Chaplains need chaplaining, too. The morning report allows the overnight and morning shifts to do more than hand off cases. Its a time to restore the community and reinforce the bonds of common purpose before an emotional day. After handling a rough case, one chaplain usually turns to another for support and processing. Now the chaplains must forego morning report and keep separated during the day. One of the directors of Tampa Generals Department of Pastoral Care and Education, where I did my training, wrote me to ask for poems she could post on the walls of offices, conference rooms and hallways. We need all the support we can get.

I sent funny poems, contemporary psalms and prayers. I sent Adam Zagajewskis poem Try to Praise the Mutilated World, which appeared on the back cover of The New Yorkers 9/11 issue: You watched the stylish yachts and ships;/one of them had a long trip ahead of it,/while salty oblivion awaited others.

I sent Anne Sextons funny and painful poem, The Rowing Endeth: I am mooring my rowboat/at the dock of the island called God.

I sent Prayer by Marie Howe: My days and nights pour through me like complaints/and become a story I forget to tell. I wanted to send myself to them, and I also feared I would not be able to bear the anguish if I could.

While most of us are sheltering in place and lightheartedly complaining about the too-nearness of our families, some are caregiving through a painful Plexiglass of the soul. The intent, of course, is not to isolate the sick and dying or to deprive families of one anothers touch. It is, perversely, to keep us safer and healthier, to keep more of us alive. Ironies like these are inevitable during a time of crisis. Chaplains are living the extremes of life that often go unacknowledged. They carry these paradoxes when they reunite (or not) with their own families at the end of their shifts. The strength to change radically as practiced in a trauma bay may be what we are all asked to find in ourselves through this pandemic. As Lucille Clifton writes in new bones, other people think they know/how long life is./how strong life is./we know.

Serpas teaches creative writing at the University of Houston and is the author, most recently, of The Diener, a poetry collection.
The US is at a "very critical" phase in its fight against COVID-19, President Donald Trump has said, advising Americans to stay indoors and practise social distancing for the next four weeks to win the war against the rapidly-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

More than 305 million out of the total 330 million Americans are staying indoors as the US battles to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus which has infected over 235,000 people and claimed 5,800 lives in the country, the White House has said.

Mounting a wartime-like operation by marshalling all its resources, members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force rued on Thursday that not every American was following the COVID-19 social mitigation measures.

The social mitigation measures including social distancing, which has now have been extended till April 30, is key to a successful fight against coronavirus, officials said.

"We are in a very critical phase of our war against the coronavirus; it is vital that every American follows our guidelines on the 30 days to slow the spread. The sacrifices we make over the next four weeks will have countless American lives saved," Trump told reporters during his daily White House conference on Thursday.

"We are going to save a lot of American lives, and we are in control of our own fate very much so. Maintaining social distancing, practising vigorous hygiene, and staying at home are your most effective ways to win the war, and to escape danger," he said.

The New York metropolitan areas comprising New Jersey and Connecticut alone has more than 120,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which in itself is much more than China from where it all started, according to latest data from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Tracker.

The fatalities crossed 3,000 in the tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Globally, the confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections on Thursday crossed one million and the fatalities crossing 50,000.

The United States is working with the best scientists, doctors, and researchers anywhere in the world, Trump said.

"We are racing to develop new ways to protect against the virus as well as therapies, treatments, and, ultimately a vaccine, and we are making a lot of progress. I think medically a lot of progress," he said, adding that the US is conducting well over 100,000 coronavirus tests per day.

"And these are accurate tests and they are moving rapidly which is more than any other country in the world both in terms of the number and also on a per capita basis," he said.

US Food and Drug Administration has authorised the first coronavirus antibody test. It is a key step that will help identify people who have recovered and to understand their immune response in their immune system, Trump added.

The president said he had directed his top Cabinet officials to use any and all available authority under the Defense Production Act to ensure that domestic manufacturers have the supplies they need to produce ventilators for patients with severe cases of COVID-19.

This action will help General Electric, Medtronic, ResMed, Royals Phillips and several other companies to overcome obstacles in the supply chain that threaten the rapid production of ventilators, he said, adding that the new ventilators would be ready for distribution soon.

Vice President Mike Pence said that millions of face masks and other essential supplies were being distributed to hospitals in need across the country.

"Let me just remind every American that you can make a difference in ensuring that every patient has the treatment that they deserve, every healthcare provider, every doctor and nurse and nurse's assistant has the protective gear to provide the care that you would want your family to have by putting into practice the president's 30 days to slow the spread," Pence said.

A total of 1,002,159 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with51,485 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

The US has reported 236,339 COVID-19 cases, the highest in the world, and over 5,000 people have died due to the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A West Sussex man has been accused by US officials of selling a fake cure for Covid-19 to customers in California and Utah.

Frank Richard Ludlow, 59, has been charged with one count of introducing misbranded drugs in to interstate commerce, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail.

Prosecutors allege Ludlow, who is not a doctor, has been selling a kit of products to contacts in Utah and California since May 2017, but in February this year he rebranded the 'Trinity Remedy' kits to 'Trinity Covid-19 SARS Antipathogenic Treatment'.

Frank Richard Ludlow, 59, is being held in custody in the UK for allegedly selling kits that claimed to be a treatment for Covid-19

It's alleged kit contained vitamin C, an enzyme mix, potassium thiocyanate, and hydrogen peroxide. Consumers were advised to say a prayer as they washed the mixture down with water

It's alleged kit contained vitamin C, an enzyme mix, potassium thiocyanate, and hydrogen peroxide.

Consumers were instructed to add 18 ounces of water to the product, say a prayer, drink half of the solution, take a probiotic along with bee pollen, and then ingest the remainder of the solution, according to an affidavit.

Authorities say Ludlow sold between 300 and 400 of the treatment kits, but in February or March of this year as the coronavirus pandemic worsened, he began selling the kits under a new name: "Trinity Covid-19 Sars Antipathogenic Treatment."

The treatments have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for any medical use.

'Every major health authority has warned that there is no specific antiviral treatment for Covid-19 and no vaccine to prevent coronavirus infection,' according to the US attorney's office.

Nick Hanna, US Attorney for the General District of California said: 'Hucksters who hawk 'treatments' for this deadly disease put consumers' lives at risk by peddling unapproved drugs.

'We are aggressively investigating all types of criminal activity associated with the current health emergency, and anyone attempting to cheat the public during this time will face severe penalties.'

The 59-year-old is in custody after being arrested on drug charges in the UK last week.

Between May 2017 and March 2020, Ludlow sold his Utah connection between 300 and 400 of these treatments for $50 per kit, many of which she gave away, but some of which she sold for as much as $200, the affidavit states.

Americcs's Food and Drug Association (FDA) warned it is 'actively and agressively monitoring for unproven Covid-19 products,' after Ludlow was charged last week

'The FDA is actively and aggressively monitoring for unproven COVID-19 products including those attempting to be imported into the country as part of our ongoing efforts to protect Americans during this pandemic,' warned Catherine Hermsen, assistant commissioner for Criminal Investigations at the FDA.

She added: 'Unproven health claims, tests, and medical products can pose serious health risks and may keep people from seeking care or delay necessary medical treatment.

'The FDA will continue to take appropriate action to protect consumers from bad actors who take advantage of a pandemic to increase their profits while jeopardising the public health.'

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Californias Environmental and Community Safety Crimes Section.
Strict COVID-19 lockdown has been implemented in entire Telangana particularly in Hyderabad City limits including Rachakonda commissionarate. Homeless and poor are the worst hit on the streets of Hyderabad. However some police , NGOs are trying their best to feed helpless people in this tough time. Telangana police also came up with a noval idea to help needy. The state police have dedicated a WhatsApp number +91 94906 17523 for help poor and needy during the lockdown. They have created WhatsApp Group to supply dry ration and food to those who needy with the contribution of NGOs and kindhearted people. the Rachakonda police are far ahead of all in this kind of initiative. they have created their own group and has a corona control room and has phone number 9490617234. Rachakonda police supply food granins and cooked food to 5000 people every day. If anyone wants to donate food for the poor, they can call or whats app those numbers and share details with them. police take the food to the poor, Migrant labor, construction workers, and stranded people.

TheCOVID Control Room in Rachakonda at number 9490617234 has been operational since the lockdown and has been effectively answering the queries and guiding the citizens regrading COVID related issues. For example On 2nd April, the control Room received 90 calls. Out of these 25 calls were directed to the police station for taking necessary action, 10 calls redirected to other departments and 55 queries have been resolved. While nearly 49 are pass related queries, 7 calls were also received offering volunteer service, 12 seeking help with regard to food, health or medical reasons, 6 were Corona related and 4 interstate travel and others. In continuation of the humanitarian efforts, Sri Mahesh Bhagwat, IPS, Rachakonda Police Commissionerr in coordination with Dr Sunitha Krishnan of Prajwala has provided one month food grains to 400 migrant labour families belongs to various states who resides in Indiranagar, Ramanthpur, Uppal.

Mahesh Bhagawat, CP Rachakonda told NewsX  Police are always with people. Ready to provide any kind of help whenever is required in legal frame work. please co operate with the police during the time of crisis. and Religious leaders are co operating well with us now. all The places of religious worship are closed on the request of police The commissioner of police Anjani Kumar, CP Hyderabad explained  If anybody violates law during the lock down, vehicles will be seized without any second thought. if anyone misuses passes, cases will be booked

So follow police guildelines the commissioners of Hyderabad range Mahesh Bhagawat and Anjani kumar ensure friendly policing. they said police are the friends of people and co operate with them.

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
Colombian deliveries up 5% in February

ICR Newsroom By 03 April 2020

Cement dispatches in Colombia increased 5.3 per cent YoY to 1.025Mt in February 2020, according to the Colombian statistics office, DANE. In February 2019 dispatches reached 0.973Mt. Growth was particularly strong in the builders and contractors segment, which saw a 10.8 YoY expansion. Dispatches to the retail sector were up 3.6 per cent YoY while demand from ready-mix concrete companies was stable.



Cement production advanced 5.3 per cent to 1.037Mt in February when compared with February 2019, when cement plants produced 0.985Mt.



January-February 2020

In the year to date dispatches totalled 2.02Mt, representing a YoY increase of 6.9 per cent. In the first two months of 2019, production was 1.913Mt. Dispatches to the construction companies and contractors advanced 7.9 per cent while those to the retail sector increased by 7.6 per cent. However, ready-mix concrete firms reduced their offtake by 0.8 per cent.



Output from the countrys cement plants in the 2M20 grew by 8.7 per cent to 2.078Mt when compared with an output of 1.89Mt in the 2M19.

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The top Republican in the Georgia state House says emergency efforts to send a mail-in ballot to every state voter could cost Republicans control of the state legislature.

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston issued the warning as he complained about plans by Secretar of State Brad Raffensperger 'to ensure all Georgians can vote without fear for their health.'

'So, here, you know, the process keeps going up and up and up and so a multitude of reasons why vote by mail in my view is not acceptable, Ralston said, referencing recent comments by Donald Trump. 'The president said it best, this will be extremely devastating to Republicans and conservatives in Georgia,' he said.

Trump complained last week on Fox News that Democrats were trying to force inclusion of voter access issues in a $2 trillion coronavirus bailout law.

Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston is complaining that sending mail-in ballots would be 'devastating' to Republicans in his state

'The things they had in there were crazy. They had things, levels of voting that if you ever agreed to, you would never have a Republican elected in this country again,' Trump said.

Both Ralston, the speaker, and Raffensperger, the secretary of state, are Republicans.

Raffensperger announced plans to send a ballot to each of the state's 6.9 million registered voters, after officials announced they would move the primary from March 24 to May 19. he called it part of 'an effort to allow as many Georgia voters as possible to exercise their right to vote without leaving their homes.'

That decision came as the coronavirus was ravaging nations and spreading in the U.S. beyond what was able to be detected through testing. Officials determined the need for social distancing was acute, in a state where 95 per cent of voters cast their votes in person  and where long lines were a feature of the fiercely contested governor's race in 2018.

Ralston referenced comments by Trump that Democrats were pushing for 'levels of voting that if you ever agreed to, you would never have a Republican elected in this country again'

Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at a polling station in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. There were complaints of voter suppression after then-Sec. State Brian Kemp purged more than 1 million voters from the rolls

Georgia has delayed its primary until May due to the coronavirus

Georgia voters are getting the chance to vote by mail as officials urge people to avoid large gatherings to avoid getting the deadly coronavirus

Ralston continued: 'Let me say that again, every registered voter is going to get one of these. Now, I ask you, because I know you keep up with this, what was the turnout in the primary back in to 2018 or 2016?' the Hill reported. He made the comments on the FetchYourNews program.

Ralston said the pandemic confronting the nation was 'unprecedented.'

'And to use that for political purposes in my view is just so incredibly wrong.'

Was it 100 percent? Ralston asked. No. Its way, way, way lower and so, you know, this is going to, this will certainly drive up turnout.

Interviewer BKP asked him: 'Could it jeopardize Republican control the House and Senate in the state? Could it jeopardize, you know, other races up and down the ballot in 2020?'

He bashed making 'fundamental change' in voting procedures without action by the legislative branch. To simply have this become an administrative decision made apparently on the fly during this crisis to me is very very unwise.'

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp says he doesn't have the power to move the state's May 19 primary. Democrats complained during Kemp's 2018 election about barriers to voting and claimed voter suppression after Kemp as secretary of state purged 1.4 million Georgians from rolls.

The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have been using the courts to try to stop Democratic efforts to liberalize voting laws amid the coronavirus epidemic, in the midst of stay-home orders across the country.

Likely Democratic presidential nominee former vice president Joe Biden is calling for such efforts. 'This is about making sure that we're able to conduct our democracy while we're dealing with a pandemic. We can do both,' he said.
Google Duo uses machine learning tech called WaveNetEQ to improve calls. It works by estimating the data lost during calls and tried to make up for it. The algorithm is also trained in 48 different languages

Google Duo has steadily been rising in popularity since its release. And, Google has not stopped updating and improving the app either. The company has been rolling out a steady flow of updates and features over the years. The newest and most interesting feature about the app is how Google uses machine learning algorithms to deal with the loss of packet data. Which is essentially when data is lost as it travels across the length and breadth of the internet. The technology is actually called WaveNetEQ. For example, every time you video call someone, the audio is sometimes garbled and even blanks out in some spots. It works by judging what the lost audio data could have been and replaces it.

The algorithm already exists in other software but Googles own algorithm works much better than most and can actually figure out and replicate a larger portion of the missing audio, as claimed by the company. The algorithm has been taught 48 different languages to try and cover the entirety of the globe. Google has also said that about 99 per cent of calls experience some kind of packet loss, with 10 per cent of all calls losing 8 per cent of audio data.

With this kind of technology in play, it looks like Google wants to help improve the call quality of Duo, specifically in developed countries. The processing of the information is also done on the device used which essentially means that you don't have to worry about privacy as it is protected using Duos end-to-end encryption.

In other Google news, the company is going to shut down its local community app, Neighbourly on May 12. You can read all about it, here.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Facebook on Thursday shared an update on its $100 million small-business grants program announced in March, saying that it will provide $40 million in grants to 10,000 U.S. small businesses that were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In March, the social media giant said it is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in more than 30 countries where it operates. Facebook said Thursday it working with Ureeka, a third-party partner, to distribute the $40 million grants to U.S. small businesses in 34 locations where Facebook employees live and work. Facebook also said that people can support their favorite local businesses with digital gift cards on Facebook, which started to roll out Thursday in the U.S. People will see the option to support local businesses with digital gift cards in their News Feed. From Thursday, business owners can create a personal fundraiser on Facebook for their business and ask customers for support during this critical time. Facebook also said it is making it possible for businesses to announce temporary service changes due to the COVID-19 outbreak on their Facebook Page and in searches on Facebook. Businesses will be able to inform their customers about changes such as different operating hours or delivery options during this time. On Monday, Facebook announced plans to invest $100 million in the news industry to help news companies amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company's move comes as advertisers cut back on spending during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Among other tech giants, Amazon has created a $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to provide cash grants to Seattle-area small businesses that need assistance to get through economic challenges related to COVID-19. Apple recently said its committed donations to the global COVID-19 response - both to help treat people who are sick and to help lessen the economic and community impacts of the pandemic - reached $15 million worldwide. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Saudi authorities have imposed a total lockdown on the holy cities. Residents will only be able to leave home to buy food and medicines. Non-residents will not be allowed to enter. The minor pilgrimage has been suspended; Hajj is in doubt. Hajj minister calls on the faithful around the world to postpone bookings.

Riyadh (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Saudi Arabia has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The cities had already been under 15-hour curfews, and the stay-at-home order has now been extended around the clock. Like other places in the world, residents are only allowed out to buy food and for medical necessity.

So far, the kingdom has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (1,885) with 21 deaths and 328 people healed.

No one but local residents can enter Makkah and Madinah; no pilgrims are allowed.

In three other areas, the city of Dammam, and the governorates of Taif and al-Qatif, the curfew was advanced to 3 pm, starting today until further notice.

The latest restrictions come as tensions and uncertainty rise in the wake of the spreading novel coronavirus, which has not spared Islams two holiest sites as well as stopped, since 20 March, Friday prayers.

Should the crisis continue, the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah that every Muslim should do at least once in their lifetime could also be cancelled.

Every year millions of people from around the world flock to the holy cities. This year it was set for July and August. With the pandemic ravaging the world, the event might be cancelled or subjected to severe restrictions.

Amid the uncertainty, Saudi Arabia is asking Muslims planning to take part in the Hajj to delay booking.

Hajj Minister Mohammed Banten said the kingdom was concerned about the safety of pilgrims and urged people to "wait before concluding contracts".

Saudi authorities have already suspended Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, as a precaution to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
The ringleader of a Christmas Day terror plot will remain behind bars for two decades after losing an appeal to reduce his sentence.

Ibrahim Abbas is serving a maximum 24-year jail term after admitting to conspiring to plan an attack at Federation Square in Melbourne's CBD in 2016.

However an appeal to cut his jail time short because he had 'helped police' and 'admitted his crimes' was knocked back on Friday, with judges ruling he was lucky he had gotten off 'so lightly.'

The judges described Abbas' attitude as one of 'unmitigated callousness and evil'.

The Victorian Supreme Court sentenced Ibrahim Abbas (pictured) to 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiring 'in preparation for a terrorist act'

The Victorian Supreme Court sentenced Ibrahim Abbas to 24 years in prison in November 2018 after he pleaded guilty to conspiring 'in preparation for a terrorist act'.

Abbas, alongside brother Hamza Abbas, cousin Abdullah Chaarani and friend Ahmed Mohamed planned to attack numerous landmarks in Melbourne in 2016.

During the appeal hearing on Friday, the appeal judges agreed there would be no change to his sentence.

'If anything, when one looks objectively at the horrifying nature of what was contemplated, and the sheer magnitude of the slaughter anticipated by the applicant in his fanatical zeal, the sentence imposed is to our mind quite moderate,' three appeal judges said in their ruling.

Abbas, alongside brother Hamza Abbas, cousin Abdullah Chaarani and friend Ahmed Mohamed planned to attack numerous landmarks in Melbourne in 2016

'He demonstrated no qualms, or pangs of conscience, about the tragedy and suffering he was about to unleash upon the community of which he was a member.'

Abbas and his co-offenders were captured on CCTV scouting out CBD locations for the attack.

Abbas initially claimed they had gone into the city for ice cream, but later admitted it was a reconnaissance.

The group also bought machetes and built practice bombs before their arrest, three days before Christmas.

'That murderous attack was thwarted only by the resolute and dedicated efforts of law enforcement authorities, rather than by any hesitation, reluctance or repentance on (Abbas') part,' the appeal judges said.

In sentencing Abbas in September 2018, Justice Andrew Tinney said the ringleader's crime would've shaken Australia 'to the core'.

'You went about preparing for a multi-faceted attack which would have been designed to cause maximum death and suffering and maximum trauma and distress to the community,' he said.

'It would have represented a shocking and entirely unjustified attack upon our democratic system, a system under which you were brought up and have always lived, but whose rules you so flagrantly chose to ignore.'

Hamza Abbas (left), Abdullah Chaarani and Ahmed Mohamed (right) had all applied to have their identities suppressed after being found guilty following a 10-week trial that would have already cost more than $1 million to run

The Campbellfield father and his accomplices bought explosive materials from chemists and researched how to make bombs online ahead of their planned attack on Christmas Day 2016.

The group planned to detonate the bombs and use weapons with the intention of violent jihad at places like Federation Square and St Paul's Cathedral.

Heavily-armed police arrested him at his home at 7.56pm on December 22, 2016, before the terror plot could be taken any further.

'Your timely arrest by the dedicated and expert investigators of the Joint Counter Terrorism Team was all that prevented a devastating and murderous terrorist attack in the heart of the City of Melbourne,' Justice Tinney said.
MIAMI  The door of Carlotas room is ajar, so I peek inside to see what shes doing. Shes sitting upright at her desk with her laptop in front of her. On the screen are a dozen of her schoolmates, all of them, like Carlota, participating in a virtual class. I can tell that their teacher is leading the lesson from her home  Im pretty sure theyre discussing fractions and decimals  but Carlota and her friends are following closely along as if she were talking to them in person.

Everything seems normal. And yet nothing is.

I live in the same house as Carlota, a wonderful, loving and brilliant 9-year-old girl, and the daughter of Chiquinquira Delgado, my partner. Carlota brought happiness into my life from the moment I met her, just a few months after her birth, and I couldnt imagine this house without her in it. Good morning everyone! she shouts from her bedroom when she wakes up. Her tireless energy  she loves to create dance moves  and curiosity has made the tedium of quarantine a bit easier to endure.

Carlota  like the roughly half of the worlds population living in coronavirus-induced lockdown  has been stuck at home for several weeks now, and there are times when her sadness and frustration rise to the surface. Like when she wonders, with tears in her eyes, if well still be able to throw her a birthday party in May. Or when she wants to get together with her friends and doesnt quite understand why they cant come over. One of our biggest achievements as parents during the crisis was taking Carlota on a short bike ride with one of her friends. The kids enjoyed it, but saying goodbye without touching was really hard for them.

The truth, however, is that Carlotas generation  there are an estimated 74 million children under 17 in the United States  is much better prepared than ours to face months of isolation. These young people have been unintentionally training for this moment all their lives. From a very young age, theyve been communicating with one another using devices that never existed in my time. So when we told them they couldnt leave the house, all they did was enter virtual mode.
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Friday arrested two Islamic clerics in Offa, Kwara State, for defying the coronavirus lockdown order.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Kwara government placed a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people.

Also, markets for non-essential commodities and places of worship were shut down in a bid to curb the spread of the disease.

However, on Friday, the clerics held a Jumat service in a mosque situated at Lamodi area, Adeleke Road, in Offa with scores of worshippers in attendance.

Our correspondent, who witnessed the arrest, observed that the law enforcement agents stormed the mosque vicinity at about 1 p.m. when they had concluded the prayers.

The presence of the operatives caused an uproar as many of the congregation members who were close to the vicinity took to their heels.

The two top clerics were arrested and whisked away in the NSCDCs vehicle afterward.

This paper gathered that the mosque also flouted the government rules by congregating for Jumat service last Friday.

It is not clear if the clerics would be prosecuted as the Kwara directive was not a law passed by the state assembly. Some lawyers have also argued that state governors lack the legal authority to order residents to stay at home without an enabling law.

However, many state governments in Nigeria placed a ban on public gatherings based on health expert advice to check the spread of COVID-19.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how a similar situation in Lagos led to the shutdown of a mosque in Agege after worshippers congregated for prayers and later allegedly attacked members of a government task force that arrived to enforce the lockdown order.

Experts and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have on several occasions advised that people should stay away from public gatherings.

READ ALSO:

Citing the reason for social distancing, WHO says When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Apart from banning large public gatherings in the state, Kwara State on Tuesday announced the immediate closure of its boundaries with neighbouring states.

The deputy governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, Kayode Alabi, also made known the decision to fumigate markets and other public places.

As at the time of filing this report, Nigeria has confirmed 190 cases of the pandemic across 12 states.

Lagos has 98 cases, followed by FCT  38, Osun  20, Oyo  8, Akwa Ibom  5, Ogun  4, Edo- 4, Kaduna  4, Bauchi  3, Enugu  2, and Ekiti  2. Rivers and Benue have one case each.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier ordered a total lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja for 14 days.

He made the announcement during his nationwide broadcast on Sunday.
L ed By Donkeys have restarted their billboard campaign to create a record of heroes and anti-heroes during the coronavirus crisis.

When coronavirus hit we felt that there had never been a time that required more accountability than now, a spokesman for the group told the Londoner this morning. The four-man outfit, which began as an anti-Brexit guerilla campaign, have put up posters in Hereford and Dorset in the last 24 hours and intend to add more.

Although they hung up their spurs after projecting a message on the Dover cliffs on January 31, they decided to restart after looking at pics of Cheltenham where there were tens of thousands packed together and at the same time Barack Obama was tweeting that public gatherings should stop.

It became obvious early on that the crisis was bringing out the very best in some people, Led By Donkeys said, but added that it also brought out not exactly the best. Some of the tycoons we feted with knighthoods are now coming to the public for bailouts.

The group say they observed lockdown rules as they used only one individual to put up the posters. Lets hope for more heroes than anti-heroes.

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WHEN Mark Ronson climbed a rickety scaffold to make his first appearance at Notting Hill Carnival in the early 2000s, a man at the top told him, if you hear someone let off a gunshot, just play something mellow. I was like oh ok. noted! Ronson tells Clara Amfos podcast. I had Lets Get It On by Marvin Gaye on standby. A certified crowd soother.

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Already theres a novel. Author Peter May, who has just released Lockdown, about London in the time of a pandemic, tells us he wrote it 15 years ago but never published, and when somebody on Twitter said why dont you write and research a book  I said Hang on a minute Ive already done that. If Blue Peter did novels...

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/ Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Roll up, artistic over-70s. New awards, The King Lear Prizes, have launched for over 70s with no professional experience in the arts, to create new works of writing, poetry, drama, music and art during the time they are quarantined. The Prizes are named after Shakespeares play which he wrote in 1605-1606 during outbreaks of the plague in London. Poetry judge Gyles Brandreth told possible entrants If you have a poem inside you, get it out. Get it on paper and get it to us. Pick up your pens.

SW1A

Laura Parker, former private secretary to Jeremy Corbyn and and ex national co-ordinator of influential far left-wing campaign group Momentum, tells us why she's backing Sir Keir Starmer for Labour leadership. The party will announce its new leader tomorrow and Parker says she believes hes intellectual, accomplished and would make a good Prime Minister. Parkers public backing of Starmer is notable as it goes against Jon Lansman, the founder of Momentum who is running Rebecca Long-Baileys campaign, dubbed the continuity Corbyn candidate. Parker says Starmer can bring the party together and win. What sealed the deal for me were his ten pledges which show he's radical and wont just bin the policy advances of the last few years. She also admires his pro-European, internationalism and his record on human rights. She concedes that Corbyn had a broad base at the start of his leadership but it narrowed over time and believes that even though Momentum is backing Long-Bailey, its members will get behind Starmer if he wins, which is predicted. Parkers endorsement is a signal that Starmer is unlikely to suddenly drag the party to the centre but hey, things can only get better.

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As colleagues praise Matt Hancock  We have missed his leadership, says Jeremy Hunt, Welcome Back, says Tobias Ellwood  spare a thought for stand-ins Alok Sharma, Robert Jenrick and Dominic Raab.

Lockdown Lotties hair advice to keep her fans in the pink
Australia has entered single-digit levels of COVID-19 infection growth and is preparing to begin a "new phase" of virus suppression.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the social-distancing measures taken by Australians had cut the projected growth rate in half.

"Had the virus kept growing at the same rate it was 12 days ago, we would now have more than 10,500 cases in this country," he said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Australia has recorded 5315 cases as of Friday afternoon. "That is a tribute to the work that has been done by Australians in getting around and supporting the very sensible measures that have been put in place all around the country," he said.
Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed he will be a father again at 89 - saying it would make no 'difference' if he was 29.

The former Formula 1 chief's fourth child will be his first with wife Fabiana Flosi.

The baby, his first boy, is due in the summer.

'I don't see there's any difference between being 89 and 29,' Ecclestone said. 'You've got the same problems I suppose. It's alright,' the tycoon, who turns 90 in October, added.

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has revealed his delight at becoming a father for the fourth time at the age of 89, with his 44-year-old wife Fabiana Flosi (couple pictured together)

Asked if the couple were excited, he said: 'Yes of course, obviously!'

The pair, who tied the knot in 2012, are at their farm in Brazil, where Flosi is from.

Ecclestone said: 'We're fine... We're in Brazil at the moment so we have to wait a little while and see whether this little one is going to happen in Brazil or in England.'

The billionaire has three grown-up daughters, Deborah, Tamara, and Petra, as well as grandchildren, from two previous marriages.

'Everybody is very pleased. They're all happy,' he said of the family's response.

Asked what kind of father he was going to be, he said: 'We don't know, probably better than before, probably a bit more relaxed!'

When asked about his fears of Fabiana being pregnant in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world, Bernie told MailOnline: You hope its not going to happen but these things do happen so you just have to cope, what else can you do?

You have to hope that the people who are looking after everything have not caught anything themselves.

Im not too sure were ever going to get rid of this bloody nonsense, anymore than the flu that happens every year

Its just that at the moment this is a little bit more dangerous than what weve been used to but when it settles down I think the world will have changed an awful lot.

People and businesses will have changed their ways. People in general will have different priorities, different values. Itll make people wake up a little bit.

We are hopefully going to see a better world.

Now he's no longer so busy with Formula 1 and the world of motorsport, he's had more time to get used to the idea of having a baby in his life one more time.

Last night he told the Daily Mail: 'There's nothing that unusual is there? I haven't had a job for a little while so I have had plenty of time to practise!'

'Yes, she (his wife) is thrilled,' he said. 'We're not sure what all the fuss is about!

'I'm very happy and happy really for my wife, she's been looking forward to this happening for quite a few years so I'm happy she'll have someone after I'm gone.

The billionaire businessman, who is currently at his farm near Sao Paul, Brazil amid the coronavirus crisis will welcome his first son in July

'It's fun, I don't see any dramas, I've got grandchildren and I'm looking forward to having another baby.' The tycoon celebrates his 90th birthday in October.

The businessman, who is currently at his farm near Sao Paul, Brazil, amid the coronavirus crisis, confirmed he and his 44-year-old wife are expecting a child to German TV channel Blick yesterday.

He said: 'Yes, it is due in the summer. Hopefully he'll learn to play backgammon soon!'

His eldest, Deborah, 65, was born to his first wife Ivy Bamford before he welcomed socialites Tamara, 35, and Petra, 31, with his second wife Slavica Radic.

The expectant parents met through the World Motor Sport Council, where she regularly attended meetings.

The new addition, who will be born not long before Mr Ecclestone's 90th birthday in October, will be his fourth child after his three daughters

They knew each other professionally for a few years before a mutual friend invited Ms Flosi on a cruise around Croatia with Mr Ecclestone in 2009.

Ms Flosi said: 'Like all parents, we have only one wish: the child must be born healthy.

'Hopefully he will never express the intention to do something with Formula 1.'

When the child is born Mr Ecclestone could be ranked among the 10 oldest known fathers of all time.

American James Smith is thought to be the oldest recorded father, with his 38-year-old wife Anna giving birth to twins in 1949 when he claimed to be 101 years old.

Pictured: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge with Bernie Ecclestone and guests as he attend the London's Air Ambulance Charity gala at Rosewood London in 2019

Fertility in men drops significantly with age so the chances of a man who is almost 90 being able to be a father are low.

Some household names have also had children well into old age - though not quite reaching 89.

Charlie Chaplin had a child aged 73 while Mick Jagger fathered his eighth child in 2016 with his 29-year-old girlfriend, when he was also 73.

He went on to speak about the current coronavirus pandemic, and said he 'just wants everything to be good with Fabiana' should the isolation go on longer.

'Fortunately the farm never runs out of work,' he added. 'Fabiana also looks after her own coffee plantation.'

Mr Ecclestone - dubbed 'F1 Supremo' - is a former chief executive of the Formula 1 Group, which manages Formula 1 and part-owns Delta Topco.

Mr Ecclestone - dubbed 'F1 Supremo' - is a former chief executive of the Formula 1 Group, which manages Formula 1 and part-owns Delta Topco

He amassed an estimated fortune of 2.5billion throughout his time working for Formula 1.

The eccentric mogul entered two Grand Prix races as a driver himself in 1958, but failed to qualify for either of them.

The former F1 boss later became the manager of drivers Stuart Lewis-Evans and Jochen Rindt before he purchased the Brabham team in 1972, which he went on to lead for 15 years.

Pictured: Mr Ecclestone with his second wife Slavica (left) and daughters Petra and Tamara (right)

He met Croatian model Slavica Radic in September 1982 in the pits at Italy's Monza race circuit

He married his first wife, Ivy Bamford, when he was 21 in 1952. The pair had one daughter, Deborah, before they divorced in the 1960s.

Mr Ecclestone then had a 17-year relationship with Singapore-born Tuana Tan, before he met Croatian model Slavica Radic in September 1982 in the pits at Italy's Monza race circuit.

The pair, who had a 28-year age gap upon meeting, married in 1985 and later welcomed daughters Tamara and Petra - both of whom have had careers in fashion.

The pair, who had a 28-year age gap upon meeting, married in 1985 and later welcomed daughters Tamara and Petra (pictured) - both of whom have had careers in fashion

Tamara, a mother-of-one, has also appeared on a series of reality television shows in the UK

Tamara, a mother-of-one, has also appeared on a series of reality television shows in the UK.

She starred in her own show, Tamara Ecclestone: Billion $$$ Girl, on Channel 5 in 2011 and on ITVBE's Tamara's World in 2017.

Mr Ecclestone and Ms Radic divorced in 2009 and he married his current wife, who is 45 years his junior, three years later.
Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant on New Media to President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the Presidents Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari was responding to treatment.

Ahmad took to Twitter to dismiss rumours that the Presidents Chief of Staff was dead.

Also Read: I Have No Idea Of Kyaris Whereabouts: Lagos Health Commissioner

Kyari, who had recently tested positive for Coronavirus, was flown to Lagos State for treatment

Ahmad called for an end to the clamor for Kyaris whereabouts, stressing that he was recuperating well in Lagos State.

He wrote:

Though I really dont know who this Lola is, but someone close to her should pls tell her to leave Abba Kyari to recuperate in peace, hes in Lagos & responding well to treatment. If its caring she should also use the same energy to ask the whereabouts of other #COVID19 patients
Rodney Howard-Browne shutters megachurch as Florida declares worship essential activity

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Days after he was arrested for leading two large worship services amid the coronavirus pandemic, Florida megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne said he's decided to shutter his church even though Gov. Ron DeSantis declared Wednesday that attending church is an essential activity.

Police arrested Howard-Browne at his home Monday for allegedly violating public health emergency rules amid the coronavirus pandemic. Following international media attention surrounding the church and the governor's decision to recognize religious services as essential activities, Hillsborough County Council voted Thursday to reverse its previous stay-at-home order to recognize churches as essential. The council also voted against imposing a 10 person limit and 6-foot social distancing restriction on churches.

Howard-Browne of The River at Tampa Bay Church in Tampa, Florida, was charged with unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules  both second degree misdemeanors  for hosting church services with hundreds of members in attendance following a stay-at-home order issued by DeSantis for South Florida, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office said.

Liberty Counsel, the religious liberty nonprofit law firm representing Howard-Browne, said that on March 20, Hillsborough County issued an administrative order restricting all 'public or private gatherings, including community, civic, public leisure, faith-based events, sporting events, concerts, and any similar events that bring together more than 10 people in a single room, single space, or any venue, at the same time'

However, Liberty Counsel added that "on March 27, Hillsborough County issued a 'Safer-at-Home' administrative order that contains 42 paragraphs of exceptions, including 'religious personnel.'" They added that it also exempted places that are able to maintain physical distancing of 6 feet, which the church abided by.

The law firm said that in addition to following the 6-foot distancing rule with designated floor makers, all staff wore gloves, everyone who entered the church received hand sanitizer, and the church also installed a $100,000 hospital grade purification system.

Liberty Counsel said in a statement released Thursday that: "Sheriff Chad Chronister made many false statements this week about The River at Tampa Bay Church and Pastor Howard-Browne. Those statements must be retracted. His statements also placed Pastor Howard-Browne and the church in physical harm. Pastor Howard-Browne has received abusive words and death threats since Sheriff Chronisters press conference on Monday and his media circuit. Liberty Counsel is calling upon the Hillsborough County Sheriffs office to provide protection to the church."

In a Facebook Live broadcast late Wednesday night to members of The River at Tampa Bay Church and the public, Howard-Browne said: No ones expecting me to make this announcement but I actually have no choice. What people dont know is from Monday I actually shut the whole church down. I shut the ministry down. And so we probably had no more than nine people there at any time, just with the essential services from the food ministry. ... So theres been nothing there the whole week."

The pastors announcement came the same day DeSantis issued a statewide stay at home order  that added church as an essential service  after a phone call with President Donald Trump.

For purposes of this Order and the conduct it limits, essential activities means and encompasses the following: attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship; participating in recreational activities (consistent with social distancing guidelines) such as walking, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running, or swimming; and taking care of pets; and caring for or otherwise assisting a loved one or friend, the order explains.

Howard-Browne, who launched a legal fight against his charges with help from the Liberty Counsel, said he's decided to keep his church closed to protect his congregants from a tyrannical government.

There will be no service at The River this Sunday. Now I know some people say hes caving. No. And let me tell you why I have to do this. I have to do this to protect the congregation, not from the virus but from a tyrannical government because all the charges against me are totally bogus. Now, Im not going to get into the case or whatever. Ive forgiven the sheriff and thats it, he said.

He further noted that he is keeping his church closed because the media has blown it out of proportion, leading to threats to his members and other staff.

The big thing is, I dont want to have a service and they come raid the church, he said. He also noted that he was wary of crazy infected people who may try to enter his church and expose his congregants to the virus.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement that The River at Tampa Bay Church "is essential to the community" in part because it "feeds 900 families each week and goes to certain places of the inner city where law enforcement does not go."

"The Hillsborough County order was unconstitutional. The county knew the lawsuit was coming this week and knew they would not win. We are also pleased that every church in Florida is now free to worship. Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne brought worldwide attention to an unconstitutional order and arrest," Staver said.

Not only did the church comply with the administrative order regarding 6-foot distancing, it went above and beyond any other business to ensure the health and safety of the people. Contrary to Sheriff Chronisters allegation that Pastor Howard-Browne was reckless,' the actions of Hillsborough County and the Hernando County Sheriff are discriminatory against religion and church gatherings, Staver added.

The decision by DeSantis to classify attending church an essential service came as an outspoken minority of pastors across the country, with Howard-Browne as the most high-profile face, began resisting calls from federal, state and local government authorities to close their churches despite facing fines and arrest.

State lawmakers in Texas also made a similar move as DeSantis in making church worship and ministry an essential service. But many churches say they will continue pursuing alternative forms of worship amid the pandemic.

Pastor Steve Wells of South Main Baptist Church in Houston told Click2Houston that his congregation is following the Harris County Stay Home, Work Safe order by continuing services online.

We plan to continue doing that so long as the county judge recommends doing so," Well said. "Our current plan is to do that through April 30.

Texas pastors Dwight McKissic, Robert Jeffress and Jared Wellman also told Baptist Press they planned to continue following recommended safety protocols.

Vice President Mike Pence who leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force also urged Americans to avoid church services of more than 10 people.

"We're so grateful to churches and synagogues and places of worship around America that have heeded the president's coronavirus guidelines for America," Pence told ABC News's "Nightline."

"We really believe this is a time when people should avoid gatherings of more than 10 people," he continued. "And so we continue to urge churches around America to heed to that."

An earlier version of this article did not include information about Hillsborough County Council's vote to reverse its order and recognize churches as essential. It also did not list the ways the church complied with 6-foot social distancing and other safety precautions the church implemented.
The Queen is to address the nation on Sunday delivering a message about the coronavirus outbreak, Buckingham Palace has said.

Expectation has been growing about when the head of state would make a public statement about the unprecedented events that have seen the country go into lockdown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: Her Majesty The Queen has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus outbreak. The televised address will be broadcast at 8pm on Sunday 5th April, 2020.

The address was recorded at Windsor Castle.

In the message the Queen is likely to praise the efforts of health workers and all those who have been helping in the fight against Covid-19 and offer reassurance to the nation during this unsettling period.

On Sunday 5th April at 8pm (BST)Her Majesty The Queen will address the UK and the Commonwealth in a televised broadcast. As well as on television and radio, The Queens address will be shown on The @RoyalFamilys social media channels. pic.twitter.com/EADh7WNU7b  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 3, 2020

The televised address will be a rare event, with the head of state only making three previous appearances during troubled times.

Speeches were broadcast after the Queen Mothers death in 2002, ahead of Diana, Princess of Waless funeral in 1997 and about the First Gulf War in 1991.

The Prince of Wales offered his own message of hope to the country earlier this week when he recorded a video after coming out of isolation following a positive test for Covid-19.

Charles said in his words of support: As a nation, we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation, which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens.

Story continues

None of us can say when this will end, but end it will. Until it does, let us all try and live with hope and, with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come.

The Queen has been staying at her Berkshire home of Windsor Castle after moving to the royal premises on March 19, earlier than normal for the Easter period, as a precaution.

Buckingham Palace announced in March that in consultation with the Medical Household and Government, a number of public events with large numbers of people due to have been attended by the Queen and other members of the royal family in the coming months would be cancelled or postponed.

The palace has declined to comment on the health of the monarch, who is staying at Windsor with the Duke of Edinburgh.

But its last update said the Queen remained in good health and was following all appropriate advice.

The monarch and her family have been conducting some of their royal duties by telephone or video-link, with Charles opening the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in East London remotely from his Scottish home.

The Queens address will be broadcast on TV, radio and shown on the royal familys social media channels, Buckingham Palace has said.
British Airways has temporarily laid off 28,000 staff due to ban on flights amidst Coronavirus Pandemic as per a report on AFP. Earlier a report suggested that British Airways is in talks with its union about a plan to suspend around 32,000 staff, a person familiar with the situation said, marking one of the industry's most dramatic moves yet to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Having already agreed a 50% pay cut for its pilots, the British flag carrier is now nearing agreement on a deal to suspend around 80% of its cabin and ground crew, engineers and office staff to see it through the worst crisis in its history.

Owned by IAG, one of the largest and most financially robust airline companies in the world, British Airways has already said it is in a fight for survival.

"The deal is not done yet," the source said.

It has joined the global industry push to ground flights and slash costs. In recent weeks Qantas Airways put two-thirds of its workforce - 20,000 workers - on leave while Lufthansa applied for short-time work for around 31,000 crew and ground staff at its core brand until the end of August.

British budget airline easyJet has said it will lay off its 4,000 UK-based cabin crew for two months.

U.S. airlines are set to receive $25 billion in grants to cover payrolls over the next six months, but are still encouraging workweek reductions, unpaid leaves and early retirements as they face more cancellations than bookings.

The companies are trying to avoid making staff redundant so they can respond quickly to any increase in capacity when a recovery comes.

British Airways has been in talks with the Unite union for a week. "Unite has been working around the clock to protect thousands of jobs and to ensure the UK comes out of this unprecedented crisis with a viable aviation sector," a spokesman for the union said.

IAG, which owns 598 aircraft across its network which includes Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, is cutting capacity by 75% in April and May. BA has already suspended flights from Britain's second busiest airport, Gatwick, and London's City Airport.

With planes unable to fly because of travel restrictions, compounded by a plunge in demand over fears of contagion, airlines worldwide have grounded most of their fleets, and many have said they need government support to survive.

In Europe more than 20,000 flights departed or landed on January 23. Two months later, after Italy emerged as an epicenter for the virus and travel restrictions went into force, flights dropped to fewer than 5,000 per day.

Britain has launched a job retention scheme which covers 80% of someone's salary capped at a maximum of 2,500 pounds a month. But some airlines including rival Virgin Atlantic have said they will collapse if they do not get more help.

With Inputs from Reuters
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The competition is fierce in this public-vote photography contest - because all the entries are out of this world.

Nasa's Earth Observatory has opened up an archive of pictures of Earth taken from space and is asking the public to vote for the winner in a knock-out-style competition.

The contest is called Tournament Earth and has been set up to mark the 20th anniversary of the Earth Observatory, as well as the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

An initial set of 32 incredible images were chosen for the contest and the first round of voting has already taken place. Voting in the second round is currently underway with the polls closing on April 6 (Monday).

The photos date back to 1968 and show volcanic eruptions, fierce hurricanes, the sparkling lights of Paris and the spell-binding Southern Lights.

Scroll down to see a selection of the photos that Nasa put up for a public reckoning.

A Nasa camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory captured this unique view of the moon as it passed between the spacecraft and Earth in August 2015

This awe-inspiring image was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station in December 2013. It shows the eruption of the Klyuchevskoy volcano - one of a chain of volcanoes on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula

This shot, captured in February 2012, shows the site of an underwater volcanic eruption near the fishing village of La Restinga on El Hierro in the Canary Islands. The scene was captured by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) aboard the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite

Captured in January 2001, this satellite image shows sand and seaweed beds in the Bahamas, which have been sculpted by tides and currents

This satellite image taken in July 2013 shows a remarkable series of ridges that dominate the landscape in the Tien Shan mountains in northwestern Xinjiang province, China. The highest mountain is 3,900ft

An astronaut on the International Space Station snapped this image showing flashes of lightning above Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in December 2013. Nasa says that across the atmosphere of Earth, lightning flashes about 50 times per second

The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the on Landsat 8 satellite captured this mesmerising image of what appears to be a swirl of marine bacteria in the Baltic Sea in August 2015

A jaw-dropping image of planet Earth's Western Hemisphere, which was created using a composite of several pictures captured by satellites between 1994 and 2004

In July 2012, an infra-red camera on the Suomi NPP satellite snapped this view of the Aurora Australis, or the Southern Lights, across Antarctica's Queen Maud Land and the Princess Ragnhild Coast

This image dates back to September 1977 and shows the Earth from directly above Mount Everest. It was taken by the Voyager 1 space probe, which was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida the same month

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station took this spectacular aerial image of Paris in April 2015, around midnight local time. Street lights mark out the road grid system and the River Seine can be seen snaking around the city

This incredible black-and-white photo taken by the crew of Apollo 8 shows a view of the Earth from the moon on Christmas Eve 1968

Taken by the Deep Space Climate Observatory in March 2016, this fascinating image was one of a series taken during a solar eclipse

This image, which was captured in 2016, has had all natural light removed from it so that Nasa scientists can chart the pattern of human settlement across the planet

Astronauts on the International Space Station shot this dramatic image of the Southern Lights while passing over the Indian Ocean in September 2011

A view above the Glen Canyon, which covers Utah and Arizona, in 2016. An astronaut onboard the International Space Station took a series of images of it to create this mosaic

This fascinating image shows the abrupt transition of sand dunes giving way to land in Africa's Namib Desert. It was taken in November 2019 by the Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8 satellite

In September 2014, the Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8 satellite captured this dramatic image of an eruption at the Holuhraun lava field in Iceland

This image, created in 2012 using sensors, shows vegetation growing across the arid Wadi As-Sirhan Basin in Saudi Arabia. The green dots indicate new vegetation while the dry fields are rust-coloured

This image, taken in June 2016, shows the New Siberian Islands, which are bisected by the Sannikov Strait in Siberia. The picture was captured by the Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8 satellite and shows the seawater melting as summer approaches

Taken in July 2014, this false colour image, which was taken by the Operational Land Imager on a satellite, shows the retreat of the Columbia Glacier in Alaska

The North Caspian Sea is pictured in this image from April 2016. Scientists believe that the crisscrossing lines may have been created by trawlers

Taken in February, this satellite image shows the view across the melting ice cap of Eagle Island in Antarctica, when the region was experiencing record-breaking temperatures of 18 degrees

Dissolved organic matter from the forest and wetlands can be seen flowing into Rupert Bay in Quebec, Canada, in this image taken by a satellite in July 2016

An astronaut on the International Space Station snapped this image of the Atafu Atoll in the South Pacific in January 2009

The so-called 'Meeting of the Waters' in Brazil can be seen in this aerial image captured by a satellite in June 2012. It shows the confluence of the Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes

This satellite image from November 2019 shows the Andaman Sea near Burma and its internal waves, which are caused by tides, currents, gravity, and Earths rotation

This incredible image taken by Nasa's Terra satellite shows Hurricane Florence 400 miles off the coast of North Carolina in September 2018. The hurricane brought with it winds of up to 125 miles per hour

This image, captured on the morning of June 22, 2019, shows a rare eruption of the Raikoke Volcano on the Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The picture was taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station

This model image, created using data from sensors, shows the tiny particles that were floating around the Earth's atmosphere on August 23, 2018. Causes of these particles included tropical cyclones, dust storms, and fires
On Monday Holland America Line (HAL) president Orlando Ashford, referring to the nearly ten thousand cruise ship passengers still currently stranded at sea worldwide, called the current situation facing the cruise industry a humanitarian crisis, on the company websites blog. His statement was directed specifically toward the case of MS Zaandam and the MS Rotterdam, which until Thursday afternoon had been stranded at sea with four reported deaths, eight individuals testing positive for COVID-19, and nearly 200 reporting flu-like symptoms.

Maasdam S-Class Cruise Ship Holland America Line (Wikipedia Commons)

According to a March 27 report by the Guardian, HAL ships the Zaandam and the Rotterdam were among at least 10 ships around the world still stuck at sea after having been turned away from their destination ports in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report stated that it had identified five ships in the Americas that were unable to unload nearly 6,000 passengers. At least three other ships were having trouble off the coast of Australia, including one which sought urgent medical attention for an outbreak of respiratory illness. Two more ships were trying to get passengers to ports in Italy.

Sailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 7, the Zaandam had originally been scheduled to disembark passengers in Santiago, Chile, on March 21. On Monday, March 16, Chile, as well as several other South American countries in which the ship had been scheduled to dock, announced the closing of their borders to international travel. While stranded off the coast of South America, the ship underwent an outbreak of flulike symptoms, beginning with 13 guests and 29 crew reporting feeling ill to the ships medical facilities.

HAL subsequently announced that it would reroute the course of the Zaandam to head to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for March 30, with the intention of disembarking its guests. As the onboard outbreak intensified, and concerns over the lack of COVID-19 tests available on board increased, the company arranged for the Zaandam to rendezvous with its sister ship, the MS Rotterdam, off the coast of Panama, where it would receive additional supplies and support, as well as coronavirus testing kits.

Since testing began on the Zaandam, nine passengers have been confirmed to have contracted the virus and two have died.

While HAL initially announced a plan to transfer groups of healthy Zaandam guests to the Rotterdam, Ashford later clarified that the intention is for these two ships to work in tandem to try to protect the health of those that are healthy, and so that we can create room and space [to] care for the ones that are sick.

After some deliberation, with some uncertainty as to whether both ships would be allowed to cross the Panama canal, the Panamanian government eventually announced that it would facilitate the Zaandam and Rotterdams passage and trans-ship operations, but forbade any passengers or crew to enter the country, in order to safeguard the health of Panamanians, a Reuters report said. After the successful rendezvous, the two ships proceeded to Fort Lauderdales Port Everglades.

On Sunday, the US Department of Homeland Security and the United States Coast Guard released a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) stating that medical facilities in the Port of Miami, for example, are no longer accepting MEDEVAC [medical evacuation] patients due to limited hospital capacity and it is expected that neighboring counties will follow suit.

The next day, Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis gave a callous and xenophobic televised statement to Fox News, in which he condemned the cruise ships seeking safe harbor in Florida. Itd be really bad if new infections were just being airdropped in from other hotspots, he said. A lot of these are foreigners [] We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into south Florida, using up [] those valuable resources. We view this as a big, big problem.

Although President Donald Trump asked the Florida governor to rescind his opposition to cruise ships docking in the state, stating, Im going to do whats right for, not only us but for humanity, no measures have been taken as of yet to reverse the Coast Guards decision.

In compliance with the MSIB, any of the ill passengers from the Zaandam will remain on the ship for an indefinite period of time. Following further directives as outlined by the bulletin, HAL made private hospital and transportation arrangements for the ill who have tested positive with COVID-19, and those who are in critical condition. Additionally, it was not until Thursday morning that it was announced that the ships would be allowed to dock, and healthy passengers and crew permitted to travel home via privately chartered travel arrangements organized by the company.

The response of the US Coast Guard and Governor DeSantis sparked an outpouring of popular condemnation, as evidenced by a Twitter users comment that was accompanied by the hashtags #letZaandamDock and #letRotterdamDock: The way these people are being treated is appalling. Please allow them to dock so they can return home to loved ones. Another commenter wrote, This is immoral. My 90 year old grandfather is on that cruise, a retired GP who dedicated his life to helping others when they were ill. Why will nobody help them? Another user stated, Shame on Florida Gov. Rick DeSantis for actively trying to get the Zaandam cruise ship diverted away from Florida. We are Americans. We dont turn our backs on people in need, regardless of the risks.

The humanitarian crisis facing the cruise ship industry is far greater in scope than that outlined by Ashford on Monday. In addition to the approximately ten thousand cruise ship customers still stranded worldwide, there are many more ships with just their crews on board being denied entry into ports of call.

As of this Thursday, at least eight cruise ships containing no passengers, but thousands of crew members have been stranded off the coast of Sydney, Australia. On March 15, the Australian government under Liberal Party Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that these crew-occupied ships would not be allowed to release their crew in Australia.

Among these vessels, which include the Ruby Princess (Princess Cruise Line/PCL), Ovation of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line/RCCL), Spirit and Splendor (Carnival Cruise Line/CCL) and the Solstice (Celebrity Cruises), there have been hundreds of reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 onboard.

While the Morrison government has made tremendously hypocritical gestures toward its intention to fulfill maritime obligations to protect the welfare of seafarers, it is singlehandedly responsible for the disaster faced by thousands of ship employees.

While the national Australian Border Force (ABF) has given minimal support to ships for crew members only in critical health conditions, the Australian federal government has denied the repatriation of thousands of workers, many of whom face rapidly deteriorating circumstances on board. After the ABF mistakenly allowed nearly 2,700 potentially infected passengers to disembark from the Ruby Princess in Sydney Harbor on March 19th, the federal government responded by shifting the responsibility for docking vessels onto local governments.

There are several other crew-only ships around the world that have reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 on board, including the Celebrity Eclipse and Infinity, Anthem, Navigator, Oasis, and Symphony of the Seas (RCCL), as well as the Coral Princess (PCL), to name a few. An Indonesian crew member aboard the Marella Dream died on March 27 with symptoms that were consistent with that of COVID-19 but was unable to be tested for the virus. It is highly likely that additional tens of thousands of stranded ship workers stand to be endangered by the shipboard spread of the coronavirus, as well as by the inability of national and local governments to adequately address the crisis.

Reporting to Cruise Law News, a crew advocacy group, an anonymous crew member on the Ruby Princess stated, Crew are terrified. No solid information, only pep talks broadcast by Hotel Director. [Senior Captain of Fleet] made an angry announcement as crew were not following isolation [protocol], saying no port would allow ship to dock in present condition and it would be months before crew would see their families. [] No idea how many actually have Covid but MANY have symptoms including lack of taste and smell.

Other cruise ship workers report horrifying conditions aboard stranded vessels, including quarantine in rooms with no sunlight or windows as well as inadequate air flow and internet access, minimal information from the officers, insufficient disease testing, isolation and containment measures, as well as gag orders and pressures not to speak to anyone about the conditions they face on board. There is little doubt that as governments worldwide, and particularly in the United States, fail to address the catastrophe facing the cruise ship industry, thousands more ship workers and passengers will become ill and potentially lose their lives.
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To promote the best possible care in these challenging circumstances, this Position Paper provides recommendations for clinicians treating patients with chronic liver diseases.Recommendations include: promoting telemedicine in the outpatient setting, prioritizing outpatient contacts, and avoiding nosocomial dissemination of the virus to patients and healthcare providers while maintaining standard care for patients who require immediate medical attention. Additionally, the paper includes a flowchart on prioritizing patient care in patients with chronic liver disease."While the threat COVID-19 poses to our populations is clear, it remains vital to maintain appropriate care for patients with chronic liver disease. Clinicians will need to identify ways to prioritize their care, even when healthcare resources are limited. EASL has therefore published this joint Position Paper to help support clinicians facing these difficult challenges," said Prof. Phil Newsome, Secretary-General of the European Association for the Study of Liver Disease (EASL) and Director of the Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research & Professor of Hepatology at the University of Birmingham, UK.The paper provides recommendations on the use of outpatient care, ways to reduce direct exposure to COVID-19, and advice on managing patients with compensated/decompensated liver disease, with hepatocellular carcinoma, and following liver transplantation. It also includes advice on liver-related diagnostic procedures (including endoscopy, ultrasound, and liver biopsy), on the collaboration with local healthcare providers and primary care physicians, and on inpatient care and treatments currently being suggested."These recommendations address the specific concerns of patients with liver disease and are meant to provide additional guidance for their care. It is important to stress that all general recommendations and guidelines with regards to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 from local authorities must be adhered to," said Prof. Thomas Berg, Vice-Secretary General of EASL and Head of the Section of Hepatology Acting Director of the Clinic of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Leipzig, Germany."This joint Position Paper is a major EASL-ESCMID collaborative effort on the management of liver disease during the COVID-19 pandemic strengthening links between our societies," said co-author and ESCMID Fellow Prof. Mario Mondelli, Professor of Infectious Diseases, University of Pavia, Clinical Lead, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Italy."Technical solutions are available to enable remote physician-patient interactions, which can be helpful during the pandemic. Health authorities should be urged to equip hospitals with such systems. This is not only to support COVID-19 patients in quarantine at home but also to care for and guide patients needing to be protected from a potentially harmful infection in the hospital setting," commented lead author Dr. Tobias Boettler, Department of Medicine II, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.Source: Eurekalert
Finance Minister Conor Murphy was facing criticism on Friday night after he admitted that a joint order for vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was not completed.

The Sinn Fein man was forced to backtrack days after pledging a "significant" consignment of PPE had been secured with the Irish Government.

However, Mr Murphy has promised health workers will get the protective equipment they need.

It comes as 12 more people died from coronavirus in Northern Ireland, bringing the total to 48.

Across the UK as a whole the death toll surged by 648, bringing the total to 3,605.

And in the Republic 22 more people died, bringing the total number of deaths to 120.

As concerns grow that front line workers will run out of supplies, it was confirmed on Friday that an order of five million pieces of PPE was placed with the UK Government.

Rest assured this Executive will do everything we possibly can to protect our front line workers and those in their care Conor Murphy

Mr Murphy said that a request had also been made to the Irish Government for a portion of their next PPE delivery from China.

TUV leader Jim Allister accused Mr Murphy of misleading the Assembly over the joint order, and said in normal circumstances he should be asked to step down.

At a press briefing on Friday Stormont leaders presented a united front, headed by Health Minister Robin Swann just hours after Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill accused him of being "too slow" over the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Murphy said his department's efforts to secure a joint PPE order had been "upended" by bigger economic players.

He said the Executive was now trying to place a new order with a different supplier in China as well as the new order with the UK Government.

Other measures included a memorandum of understanding with the Irish Government over PPE supplies, and working with local manufacturers to meet future demand.

"This is a fast moving and volatile market," he said.

"However, rest assured this Executive will do everything we possibly can to protect our front line workers and those in their care."

I think he diminished himself considerably by not even being willing to face up to the fact that he had misled everyone on this including the Assembly Jim Allister

Mr Swann said PPE was an "absolute priority" for the Executive and that it was aggressively pursuing international, national and local supply routes.

Asked if he would apologise to health workers for raising hopes over the PPE order, Mr Murphy said: "I speak every single day to people on the front line, they tell me keep doing what you're doing... I make absolutely no apology for acting as quickly as I could to establish those supply lines.

"Measures beyond all our controls were superseded by greater economic powers but we will not give up in trying to supply front line services with the PPE they require."

Mr Allister told the Belfast Telegraph: "I think he diminished himself considerably by not even being willing to face up to the fact that he had misled everyone on this including the Assembly.

"On Tuesday he told the Assembly that this order was under way and patently it was not."

He said Sinn Fein had attempted to play politics with a serious health issue.

"I think that's why (Conor Murphy) is really anxious to try and align us with Dublin. It didn't work but now tonight we know we're getting the supplies from where you'd expect to get them from," he said.

Asked if he felt Mr Murphy should step down, he said: "It is a serious matter to have misled the public and built false hope. In any other system that would be enough for someone to go. But of course in Stormont no-one ever pays the price."

Concerns were expressed with the first batch of PPE equipment which arrived in Dublin from China with images online showing gowns leaving arms exposed. Mr Swann warned he would not accept any inferior materials.
Swiggy and Zomato are doing their bits to help the needy during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Swiggy has introduced a new initiative to help provide food to underprivileged, daily wagers and stranded migrant labourers during the 21-day lockdown. Zomato has also launched a Gold Support Fund to help support the restaurants hit by the lockdown.

Swiggy's 'Hope, Not Hunger' initiative

The company has partnered with commercial kitchens, NGOs and state governments to feed the needy. Swiggy said it is providing over 75,000 meals daily as its initiative has extended to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Chennai and Kolkata. The company aims to provide 5,00,000 meals daily.

"Swiggy helped organize the preparation and distribution of nutritious meals twice a day across relief camps in Delhi with the support of partners such as Compass Kitchens, Lite Bite Foods and SmartQ. The relief effort was quickly scaled to Mumbai with the help of NGOs Pratham, HelpAge India and Yuva, and Elior India acting as the food supply partner," said the company in a release.

ALSO READ: Zomato, Swiggy ready to deliver but most restaurants are 'unserviceable'

Zomato Gold Support Fund

Zomato has set up a special fund to provide all proceeds from the purchase of Zomato Gold annual memberships in April to restaurant housekeepers, cooks and servers. Zomato is also is offering 2-year membership (instead of 1 year) at no additional cost who purchase the annual Gold membership this month. Zomato is also offering the subscription for 1,200 in the month of April.

"Restaurants workers who function day in and out in order to render a great food experience are one of the most significant factors behind the restaurant industry's success. It is disheartening to see the industry which has grown to drive tremendous employment opportunities in recent years, struggle to sustain," said Gaurav Gupta, Co-founder and COO, Zomato.

"Zomato has always worked towards connecting passionate restaurateurs with millions of potential customers. Today, we must use our scale to stand by our partners in need in these testing times. We are starting this initiative in India and UAE and hope to support as many restaurants as we can," he added.
Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Friday asked the Delhi government to take the help of retired doctors and medical students if the national capital witnesses a steep rise in COVID-19 cases in coming days, officials said.

The Lieutenant Governor held meetings with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Police Commissioner S N Srivastava and district magistrates and deputy commissioners of police via video conference.

"In the meeting, the LG asked officials to take help of retired doctors and medical students to deal with the situation if there is sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in Delhi," officials said.

A total of 91 new coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours in Delhi, taking the total number to 384.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian Aeroflot Airlines has offered the Ukrainian government its help in the evacuation of Ukrainian tourists from Nepal. This was stated by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during an online conference.

"There is an offer from the Russian company Aeroflot: for our citizens to board its plane. According to my information, the Russian consulate needs an official note from the Ukrainian consular office to take our citizens on board. We are exploring all the logistical possibilities in order to help them, the minister said.

Kuleba explained that the complexity of the situation with Nepal was related to its location and presence of problems with logistics.

"Nepal has the most resonant story of all the remotest countries. The alpinists have climbed Everest there, they have descended and now need our help. There is still a group of citizens in Latin America, but we are helping them there. Including 10 Ukrainian citizens who the Embassy in Argentina was able to place at the recreation center in order for them to live in decent conditions," he summed up.

As we reported earlier, according to Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, the further evacuation of Ukrainians from abroad will be inappropriate.
A Bellevue, Washington, dentist was accused of using lighter fluid and accelerant to set fires in his exam and X-ray rooms after being evicted from his office for failing to pay rent, King County prosecutors said.

Mohammad Matt Rafie, 53, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the March 23 fire at his Bellgrove Medical Park office, the Seattle Times reported Tuesday.

Bellevue Fire Department believes the fire was intentionally set after discovering three individual fires inside the office and the smell of accelerants.

The defendants actions in this case reflect a desperate man willing to put others at risk to get what he wants, Deputy Prosecutor Aubony Burns said, noting the 28 separate medical and dental offices located at the three-story park, some of which were occupied at the time of the fires.

During the investigation, a police dog detected accelerants on clothing in his home and in every room of his office.

Rafie posted $25,000 bail following his arrest and posted $100,000 bail Thursday after prosecutors requested a higher amount, authorities said. His arraignment is scheduled for May 7.

Rafie did not return a phone message left at his Kirkland residence.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Abuse Molestation Washington Arson
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: As state governments continue to step up efforts to contain the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak and treat the affected, the Centre has approved Rs 17,287 crore under Disaster Management Relief Fund and revenue deficit grant to financially empower them.

The finance ministry today released a total of Rs 17,287.08 crore to different states to enhance their financial resources during the Covid-19 crisis. This includes Rs 6,195.08 crore on account of revenue deficit grant under 15th Finance Commission recommendations to 14 states, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted on Friday.

The states that would be assigned the Rs 6,195.08 crore revenue deficit grant include Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Punjab.

The remaining Rs 11,092 crore is for all states as an advance payment of the Central share of the first installment of State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF), as sanctioned by the Union home ministry.

The fund can be utilised to set up quarantine facilities; collect and screen samples; set up additional testing laboratories; purchase personal protection equipment for healthcare, municipal, police and fire authorities; purchase thermal scanners, ventilators, air purifiers and consumables for government hospitals.

The release of grants came a day after the chief ministers, in their video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, sought additional grants to effectively contain the transmission of coronavirus.

The CMs of Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh appealed the Centre to relax their borrowing capacities to 5 per cent of the GDP, as they would need additional amount of loans to meet the expenditure in wake of the health crisis.They also appealed to the PM to ensure early release of their share of the GST.
The Eastern Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jeff Konadu Addo has descended heavily on the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah saying he tells a lot of lies.



He has therefore advised Ghanaians not to give him a listening ear whenever he speaks.



Mr. Asiedu Nketia without any evidence said on live radio programme In Accra yesterday that the President and his entourage that travelled to Norway about a month ago have since contracted the Covid-19 disease and said they should be tested.



We [NDC] will not stop politicizing the issues until Nana Addo and his appointees are tested and make public their result just as other leaders in the world are doing. They are all exposed to the virusthe government cannot say our first case was recorded on March 12th. It is a palpable falsehood if government claims sobecause evidence abounds that it was way back before that (in February)., he said.



Mr Konadu Addo who was on the same platform with Asiedu Nketia fought back and lambasted the NDC man for peddling falsehood about the President and his government.



Asiedu Nketiah doesnt have anything to say thats why he is still holding up to this dead issue. Its been over a month since the president returned from Norway and he hasnt shown any sign of contracting the disease, making what Asiedu Nketiah is saying baseless, he said.



Jeff Konadu went on and asserted that what Asiedu Nketiah needs to do is to pray so this deadly pandemic can be eradicated from the country as it has halted many activities and not to be throwing dust in peoples eye.



If you cant praise the government for its enormous effort towards the growth of the country, you dont have to cause fear and panic for it isnt healthy. Also, Ghanaians shouldnt pay attention to Asiedu Nketiah for he is a pathological liar.



The NPP secretary said he was part of the Presidents entourage that toured Norway because he lived there and his family is settled there.



The time we went to Norway, they hadnt recorded a single coronavirus case. It was a weeks after our visit that the disease started spreading in that country. We arrived in Ghana on February 27, 2020. It was on March 3 2020, that Norway started recording their first coronavirus case after a Norwegian doctor returned from Italy after a holiday trip.



Mr. Konadu Addo asked Ghanaians to disregard NDC propaganda and support the government to eliminate the coronavirus.



He also urged them to follow the directive given by the president and the health authorities to stay at home to prevent the spread of the disease.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Kathryn Prince, a scholar of Shakespeare and a teacher of English and literary studies at the University of Western Australia, says Mandels novel richly imagines life as it might be after such a cruel pandemic, but the story also finds solace in Shakespeare.

Much of Mandels story is set 20 years later, when 1 per cent of the population remains. The tale concerns a troupe of itinerant actors performing Shakespeares work for the remnants of cities and towns around North Americas Great Lakes.

In the opening pages, an actor drops dead on stage  not of the deadly influenza but of a heart attack. Within a few weeks, almost all the people on that stage, in that theatre and around the rest of the world are dead from the virus. All the worlds a stage  and then a graveyard.

In the novel Station Eleven (2014), Canadian author Emily St John Mandel begins with Act Four of Shakespeares King Lear being performed in a Toronto theatre on the night a devastating flu pandemic hits with force.

"During Shakespeares lifetime, the plague swept through England again and again," Prince says. "He was an infant when it came to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, when it killed one in four. As an adult, he saw the London playhouses closed and his livelihood destroyed as the plague returned in devastating waves year after year. He persevered. For Mandel, the idea that Shakespeares plays were not only forged in plague but survived it is a source of consolation."

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In both Shakespeares work and Mandels novel, Prince says, there is tremendous solace in the idea that "this too shall pass", with "beauty forged out of suffering". This is in stark contrast to Oxford professor Raymond Crawfurd, who wrote in his 1914 book, Plague and Pestilence in Literature and Art, of the humiliating lesson of his research: that "human nature has again and again reverted to the primitive instincts of savagery in face of the crushing calamity of epidemic pestilence".

Princes perspective is refreshing and encouraging, and she says her students have been finding solace in discussions (now online) resulting from an honours unit she is teaching called, coincidentally, "Apocalypse Now What?"

"That wasnt intended to be quite so timely and relevant, but events overtook us," she says. "Im really happy that I made an effort to pick more optimistic examples for my students, steering clear of The Road [Cormac McCarthy, 2006] and others in that depressing vein. I had no idea that wed be reading them during a pandemic, but I feel that our discussion is rich and strange because of this context."
After the novel coronavirus outbreak was linked to wildlife meat, the Chinese city of Shenzhen has passed a law that bans the consumption and sale of pet animals such as dog and cat meat.

To be implemented on May 1, the prohibition is part of a food safety legislation called the "Shenzhen Special Economic Region Regulation on a Comprehensive Ban on the Consumption of Wild Animals."

The historic new law is longed by activists to pave the path to finally put an end to the brutal trade.

Shenzhen, with a population of 13 million people, will mark an end to the trade on pet meat in the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been associated with so-called wet markets.

Scientists surmised that the coronavirus was transmitted to humans from animals. Some of the earliest infections were detected in people who were exposed to a wildlife market in the epicenter Wuhan where bats, civets, snakes, and other animals were sold.

The root of the illness has been detected in bat DNA, with researchers stating it possibly has been transmitted from there to an anteater called a pangolin, then jumped to people. The discovery initiated a declared ban on wildlife trade and consumption throughout China, as well as further restraint in the city of Shezhen.

The prohibition in Shezhen followed a move by Beijing to prohibit wildlife trade.

This action is ahead of an anticipated move later this year to bolster the national wildlife protection law.

Also read: School Teacher With Diabetes, Other Health Conditions Conquered Coronavirus

The city of Shenzhen in China is 1,100 kilometers away from the coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan. The coastal city is also located near the Hong Kong border.

According to Humane Society International (HSI), thirty million dogs yearly are killed across Asia for meat.

However, the practice of dog consumption in China is not that common as the majority of Chinese citizens have never done so and say they do not want to.

Last February, China passed a law to prohibit the consumption of wild animals.

Now, Shenzhen will ban the consumption of state-protected wild animals and other terrestrial wild animals that came from the wild, including captive-bred and farmed terrestrial wild species.

The legislation consists of an article that the consumption of "pet animals including dogs and cats is not allowed. Animals that are allowed to be consumed include pigs, sheep, cattle, donkeys, chickens, rabbits, ducks, pigeons, geese, quails, etc.

Wet markets are places where live animals are bought and butchered for meat. The understood idea is that these sites allow viruses to be transmitted between species in the cramped conditions before being transferred to humans.

The coronavirus disease has been contracted by over 935,000 people across the globe and has 47,000 fatalities.

According to the city government, "Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan."

They said this prohibition responds to the demand and spirit of human civilization.

The animal rights group AHS on Wednesday lauded the ban in Shezhen and implored the rest of the country to follow suit.

Related article: Dead Body of NYC Nurse Who Wears Trash Bags As PPE Cannot Be Found, Sister Says

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 3

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

Uzbekistan will receive $848,000 from the US government to support efforts to combat COVID-19, Trend reports citing the Uzbek Foreign Ministry.

Uzbek Ambassador to the U.S. Javlon Vahabov held a videoconference with representatives of the US State Department to discuss the prospects of expanding financial and technical assistance programs to Uzbekistan in the fight against coronavirus.

During the talks, the US side expressed gratitude for Uzbekistan's inclusion in the State Department's funding program to eliminate the threat of COVID-19, as well as the transfer of individual protection kits to the Agency for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare under the Ministry of Health to combat the spread of the virus.

Earlier, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced on March 26, 2020 that the United States has mobilized nearly $274 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance to support up 64 at-risk countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The American side is planning to allocate $848,000 to Uzbekistan to meet country's needs. These funds are another tranche within the U.S. Agency for International Development program, which will be transferred to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the World Health Organization to support efforts to combat COVID-19," the message said.

The funding will be used to equip laboratories to conduct large-scale testing, strengthen the capacity of health facilities to prevent and control the spread of infection, improve COVID-19 surveillance, rapid response systems, detect and treat cases and counteract misinformation about the virus.

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Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
Dhaka, April 2 (IANS) Bangladesh plans to release 3,000 prisoners, who are facing trials in different cases, amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak in the country's crowded jails, it was reported.

The jail authority has sent a proposal regarding the matter to the Home Ministry along with a list of the inmates.

"The proposal was sent as per the Home Ministry's order in light of the coronavirus outbreak. We are considering whether those who await trials for bailable offences can be released on bail," Additional Inspector General of Prisons Abrar Hossain told bdnews24 on Wednesday.

"There are about 3,000 people who are in jail for minor offences and we have sent their names to the ministry."

If approved by the Home Ministry, the proposal will then be forwarded to the Law Ministry.

Finally, it will be placed before the courts if the Law Ministry does not have any objection.

"The decision on bail will ultimately be taken by the judiciary as the matter falls within the remit of judges, not us," Abrar told bdnews24.

So far, Bangladesh has reported six coronavirus deaths with a total of 54 confirmed cases.

--IANS

ksk/
Kate Middleton recently shared a photo that had fans wondering about her engagement ring. The Duchess of Cambridge is working from home amid the coronavirus shutdown and just posted a photo of herself without her famous engagement ring. Why is Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, not wearing her engagement ring at home?

Kate Middleton | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Kate Middleton spotted without her engagement ring

The Duchess of Cambridge and her husband, Prince William, have increased their visibility now that other senior members of the royal family are out of the spotlight. Prince Charles recently tested positive for the coronavirus while Queen Elizabeth is in self-isolation at Windsor Castle.

Kate and William, meanwhile, have been working hard to support people who are suffering the most from the pandemic. Taking to Instagram, Kensington Palace just released photos of Prince William and Kate working from their home.

Self-isolation and social distancing can pose huge challenges to our mental health  in 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 palace wrote.

The image of Kate Middleton features her sitting at a desk inside Kensington Palace and talking on the phone. Kate is sporting the same suit she wore during an appearance at an NHS facility in London.

The photo is a great shot of the Duchess of Cambridge in action, but eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice that she is not wearing her engagement ring.

Why did the Duchess of Cambridge ditch the ring?

There is a good reason why Kate was not pictured with her engagement ring. According to Page Six, rings are havens for bacteria to live and grow and can actually facilitate the spread of germs.

Considering how the entire world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Kate Middleton is clearly aware of the dangers that rings pose. We do not know for sure that this is why Kate is not wearing her ring, but it is likely a factor.

Some studies have shown that skin underneath rings contains more germs than comparable areas of skin on fingers without rings, the CDC shared. Further studies are needed to determine if wearing rings results in an increased spread of potentially deadly germs.

Although the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were pictured in their home inside Kensington Palace, the couple has since moved to their estate in the country, Anmer Hall, with their three children.

Top ranking members of the royal family will likely remain out of the spotlight until the pandemic is under control. Unfortunately, this means we will probably see less of William and Kate in the near future.

Kate Middleton homeschools her children during the lockdown

Just like other moms and dads around the world, Kate has been homeschooling her children amid the coronavirus lockdown. Kates oldest two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are in their first and second years of school, while her youngest, Prince Louis, has not started lessons.

Schools throughout the UK are offering online assistance for parents, a resource that is undoubtedly helping Kate Middleton manage things at home. William is also doing his part to help out while the entire nation deals with the lockdown.

Kate is leading on most of the teaching. She spends time every day doing something with them, a source shared.

According to Daily Mail, the insider added that Kate and William are doing their best to give their children a daily routine, which is important in developing a good home environment.

When it comes to their youngest child, the Cambridges are making sure to set some time aside for play. The source also revealed that the couple is coping with the situation well and making the most of it.

Inside Kates recent fashion changes

After Prince William and Kates latest post on Instagram, fans noticed how the Duchess of Cambridge has been adopting a much simpler style as of late. According to The Sun, a source revealed that Kate no longer feels the need to compete now that Meghan Markle is out of the picture.

Someone who knows Kate well said the atmosphere since the Sussexes left has noticeably improved. Kate does not feel she has to compete now. She has gone back to a much simpler style,' the insider dished.

The source added that Kate Middleton is way more relaxed and has instructed her makeup artist to take a lighter approach to her look. This includes decreasing eye make up and using paler lip colors.

The last time Kate and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, shared the public stage was during the Commonwealth Day service in March. The event marked Meghans last appearance as an active member of the royal family.

Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, are officially out of the monarchy and recently moved to Los Angeles, where they will be setting up a new home.

Kate Middleton, of course, has not commented on the reports surrounding her engagement ring or fashion choices.
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More younger people are falling severely ill with coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said, as the number of deaths surpasses 50,000 globally.

The international health body said individuals in their 30s, 40s and 50s were being admitted to intensive care with the disease and dying, despite having no underlying health issues.

However, experts said that the majority of people who experience severe illness still tend to be older and with other health problems.

Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies programme, said at a press conference in Geneva on Friday that one in six COVID-19 deaths in Korea had been people under the age of 60.

Dr Mike Ryan (pictured in February), executive director of WHO's emergencies programme, said at a press conference in Geneva on Friday that one in six COVID-19 deaths in Korea had been people under the age of 60

And over the past six weeks in Italy, 'at least' 10% to 15% of people in intensive care units (ICU) with the disease were aged under 50, he said.

'It's not that anything has changed,' Dr Ryan said. 'It's that we collectively have been living in a world where we have tried to convince ourselves that this disease is mild and more severe in older people.

'But I think the evidence has been there all along,' he said, adding: 'There is a spectrum of severity.'

A member of the public is transported to an ambulance in Euston, London, by ambulance workers wearing personal protective clothing and medical face masks. The WHO said individuals in their 30s, 40s and 50s were being admitted to intensive care with the disease and dying, despite having no underlying health issues

WHO's Covid-19 technical lead, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, said there were still many 'unknowns' about why young people were dying.

She said: 'We are seeing more and more younger individuals who are experiencing severe disease.

'I should say, overall, most of the people who are experiencing severe disease and ending up in ICU are people of older age, and are people who have underlying conditions.

'But what we are seeing in some countries, individuals who are in their 30s, 40s and 50s who are in ICUs and have died.'

People shop for their groceries at a supermarket in Bari, Italy on April 3. Over the past six weeks in Italy, 'at least' 10% to 15% of people in intensive care units (ICU) with the disease were aged under 50, he said

International Monetary Fund Managing (IMF) Director Kristalina Georgieva described the situation as 'humanity's darkest hour' and that the world was in a recession more severe than the 2008 financial crisis

She said the WHO needs to 'better understand' why young people are dying from the infection, adding 'there are still many unknowns at this present time'.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) managing director told the press conference that the world's economy had come to a standstill due to the pandemic.

Kristalina Georgieva described the situation as 'humanity's darkest hour' and that the world was in a recession more severe than the 2008 financial crisis.

She said: 'This is a crisis like no other, never in the history of the IMF have we witnessed the world economy coming to a standstill.

'We are now in recession. It is way worse than the global financial crisis. It is a crisis that requires all of us to come together.'

There have now been more than one million confirmed cases of coronavirus across the world, WHO said.
President Trump has responded in a public letter to criticism from Sen. Chuck Schumer of his handling of the Wuhan coronavirus. The text is here.

Trump begins by thanking Schumer for his Democrat public relations letter and incorrect soundbites which are wrong in every way. He then corrects Schumers claim that the president hasnt adequately utilized the Defense Production Act.

The president reminds Schumer that the Act has been consistently used by my team and me for the purchase of billions of dollars worth of equipment, medical supplies, ventilators, and other related items. He also explains the obvious  that the threat of invoking the Act spurs companies to produce needed items without being ordered to.

Next, Trump responds to Schumers call for the president to establish a czar with a military background to oversee the production of medical equipment. He tells Schumer that he has a senior military officer, Rear Admiral Polowczyk, in charge of purchasing and distributing equipment and working 24 hours a day. Trump adds that the White House so informed Schumer, but for public relations purposes, you chose to ignore it.

Schumer should have had New York much better prepared than you did, Trump chides. He adds that New York was very late in its fight against the virus.

Trump is just getting started. If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax. . .and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the invisible enemy.'

Theres no merit in this claim. Impeachment had nothing to do with the New Yorks level of preparedness for the Wuhan coronavirus.

Trump taunts Schumer, saying its no wonder AOC and others are thinking about running against you in the primary. Trump opines that if they did, they would probably win.

They probably wouldnt.

Trump then contrasts Schumer to Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio, with whom the president has been working. Unlike these officials, Schumer has been missing in action, except when it comes to the press.

Noting that Schumer doesnt like Cuomo, Trump admonishes the Minority Leader nonetheless to start working alongside [the governor] for the good of all New Yorkers.

Trump concludes the letter with a parting shot:

Ive known you for many years, but I never knew how bad a senator you are for the state of New York, until I became president. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. Or, in the alternative, call Rear Admiral Polowczyk.

Trump has Schumers number. I dont doubt that most of Trumps barbs have a strong basis in reality. Schumer is, first and foremost, a world class grandstander.

Even so, it would be nice if the president could refrain from this sort of childish letter, especially at a time like this. But at a time like this, when the president and his team are working around the clock to cope with a crisis not of their making and especially to help New York, it must be difficult  and not just for Trump  to refrain from lashing out against the odious Chuck Schumer.
The login page for unemployment and food assistance claims is going offline temporarily, starting Friday, April 3, per a Michigan State Police news release.

The MILogin application is going down from 11 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 4 so officials can upgrade the site. Its been flooded with an unprecedented volume of people since the coronavirus pandemic started, per the release.

Before March, the site had an average of 5,000 transactions per hour. Last week, it processed 38,000 transactions per hour.

"A critical upgrade is needed in order to meet current and future expected demand," the news release said.

The login allows residents to access a variety of state resources, in addition to unemployment and food assistance. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/MILogin.

The states Unemployment Insurance Agency system went down earlier in the week, with residents reporting jammed phone lines and frozen webpages.

Weve adding server capacity, were adding staff to the call centers, Jason Moon, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, told MLive earlier this week. I can assure every eligible worker who applies that they will receive their benefits.

Last week alone, 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment  including more than 311,000 in Michigan. The previous week, Michigan had 128,000 claims. Michigans first COVID-19 patient was confirmed positive March 10, and that week had 5,300 unemployment claims.

The state record for claims in a week, pre-coronavirus, was 77,000.

The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in March. The 0.9 percent jump from February was the largest monthly increase since 1975.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here

Friday, April 3: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

U.S. unemployment rate hits 4.4% in March as coronavirus recession looms

Violating Michigans coronavirus stay-at-home order could cost you $1,000, health department rules

Volunteer pilots fly to Indiana to get face shields for Michigan hospitals fighting coronavirus

Younger coronavirus patients make up 40% of Michigan cases, have potential to spread the illness

Michigan workers with coronavirus ties cant be disciplined for staying home, Gov. Whitmer orders
The Tablighi Jamaat members who have been quarantined at a hospital in Ghaziabad, have been allegedly making vulgar signs and roaming nude inside the hospital.



The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), in his letter, stated that the members of the Tablighi Jamaat who are kept at the isolation ward of the MMG Hospital, have been roaming in their wards naked.

The letter stated that obscene comments and songs were being heard from the ward, and inmates were asking for beedi-cigarettes from the staff of the hospital. The CMO also wrote that these people have also been making lewd gestures towards female employees of the hospital.

He had written a letter to the Ghaziabad police informing about the 'criminal behavior of the Jamaatis'.

The state government has also decided that no women health worker and female police officer will be deployed in service of quarantined Tablighi after the shameful incident.

Booked under NSA

The Yogi Adityanath government has booked members of the Tablighi Jamaat who misbehaved with the female nursing staff in a hospital in Ghaziabad, under the National Security Act (NSA).

NSA against Tablighi Jamaat members who misbehaved with medical staff, Yogi calls them 'enemies of humanity'



Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/9vGPqLnhN7 pic.twitter.com/sLqkkWzQNo  ANI Digital (@ani_digital) April 3, 2020

An FIR has been registered against six persons from Tablighi Jamaat who were in quarantine at MMG District Hospital for misbehaving with the hospital staff.

"The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the MMG Hospital in Ghaziabad had complained that six of the admitted patients in the isolation ward were misbehaving with the nurses and not cooperating with the hospital staff," Manish Mishra, SP City, Ghaziabad told ANI.

FIR has been registered against persons from Tablighi Jamaat who are in quarantine at MMG District Hospital for 'walking around the ward without their trousers on and making lewd gestures towards the nurses'.

The patients have been shifted to Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology & kept under quarantine.

"The accusations have been found relevant and a case has been registered under IPC Section 294, 354, 269 and 270 against the six accused persons," he added.
In his daily coronavirus briefing yesterday, Gov. Phil Murphy made a startling admission.

Hes binge-watching Bond.

Amidst managing the ever-growing coronavirus crisis, the governor said that hed watched four James Bond movies in his admittedly meager spare time.

"I was asked late at night what wed been up to,'' he said. "Weve burned through in the past several weeks four Sean Connery Bond movies. Three Matt Damon (Jason) Bourne movies. We havent gotten through Jeremy Renner yet.''

Well get to Bourne later. First Bond. We love that the guv went old-school Bond first. Hes watched Dr. No,'' From Russia with Love,'' Goldfinger,'' and You Only Live Twice,'' according to Alyana Alfaro, a spokesperson for the governors office. The first three Bond movies, plus #5 (Thunderball was #4). all with devilishly dapper Sean Connery and that Scottish drawl of his. Daniel Craig  whos he?

"Those are the classics,'' Alfaro said of the choice of Bond movies. "They plan to watch more.''

The four Bond movies theyve watched just might be the four best. This ranking from The Guardian thinks so, anyway, with "You Only Live Twice'' (who could forget cat-stroking Ernst Blofeld, played by Donald Pleasance?) coming in at number one.

First Lady Tammy Murphy started the movie night idea "so that the family could have an activity to do together while home,'' according to Alfaro. The Murphys have four children.

Sean Connery in "Diamonds are Forever.''

Were guessing Gov. Murphy may not have time to watch all 26 Bond movies, so were going to suggest some must-watch Bonds: "The Spy Who Loved Me'' (Barbara Bach, Jaws!); Skyfall (the first Bond movie to win an Oscar for best song, and featuring the great Javier Bardem); and Casino Royale (Craigs debut as Bond), which Thrillist considers the best of all Bonds. Oh, and Craigs best role is in ''Layer Cake.'' The British gangster movie got Craig the role in "Casino Royale'' two years later.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Avoid if you can, governor, the original Casino Royale (1967, with David Niven and Orson Welles; some dont consider it a true Bond movie but the rights were bought from Ian Fleming); "The Living Daylights'' (1987, with the instantly-forgettable Timothy Dalton) and "The World Is Not Enough (1999, with a theme song by the band Garbage, which pretty much describes this movie).

On to Bourne. Matt Damon will forever be Bourne, no matter if Renner or any other fresh-faced Hollywood stud plays him. Damon appeared in 'The Bourne Identity'' (2002); "The Bourne Supremacy'' (2004); The Bourne Ultimatum' (2007) and Jason Bourne'' (2016). Renner appeared in "The Bourne Legacy'' (2012). Variety magazine, for one, didnt think much of Renners Bourne.

Headline from Variety's review of "The Bourne Legacy,'' with Jeremy Renner.

Renner, of course, was sensational in "The Hurt Locker'' (director Kathryn Bigelow cast him on the basis of his lead role in the 2002 movie "Dahmer,'' based on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer). Renner also appeared in "Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol'' and the terrific zombie movie "28 Weeks Later,'' among other movies.

Alfaro, the governors spokeswoman, said the Murphy family is watching the Bourne movies in order,'' so "The Bourne Legacy should be next, followed by "Jason Bourne.'' Best Bourne movie? Many rankings put "The Bourne Ultimatum'' at the top of the list, but well go with "The Bourne Supremacy,'' for its exotic locales and relentless action.

It sounds like the governor and First Lady love their secret agent/spy thrillers, so wed recommend, first and foremost, the seven-part BBC series "Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy'' (1979), merely one of the ten best TV series ever and not to be confused with the awful 2011 movie of the same name.

Cary Grant plays a man on the run from spies in director Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1959 thriller "North By Northwest."BPN

Old-school thrillers? How about "The Third Man'' (The British Film Institute called it the best British film of the 20th century); Hitchcocks Notorious'' (Cary Grant! Ingrid Bergman!); North by Northwest'' (that Grant guy again) and that ultimate primer in paranoia, Three Days of the Condor (1973, Robert Redford). More recently, "Munich'' (2005, with Daniel Craig); The Lives of Others'' (2006) and "A Most Wanted Man'' (2014, with Philip Seymour Hoffman).

We know the governor is busy with way-more-important issues than movies, so were willing to offer suggestions. Oh, and "Goldfinger'' is the best Bond ever with the greatest Bond theme song ever, by Dame Shirley Bassey.

Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteGenovese or via The Munchmobile @NJ_Munchmobile.
The medical experts spearheading Britain's fight against coronavirus have issued a plea for more infected patients to take part in three major clinical drug trials.

NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis and the UK's chief medical officers penned an open letter to doctors urging them to enroll more volunteers.

There are three main trials being conducted in the UK to find an effective treatment for the incurable virus, which has killed 3,605 people in the UK.

They include the Principle trial, for high-risk patients in primary care, Recovery, for COVID-19 patients already in hospital, and REMAP-CAP, for critically ill patients.

Researchers behind the trials are testing the effect of a number of treatment options, including a drug used to treat HIV and the malaria medication hydroxychloroquine.

'The faster that patients are recruited, the sooner we will get reliable results,' the letter says.

Hydroxychloroquine was today voted the best coronavirus drug currently available in an international poll of thousands of doctors.

Britain's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam at Number 10's press conference tonight

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty and NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis said in the letter: 'The faster that patients are recruited, the sooner we will get reliable results'

Hydroxychloroquine - one of the drugs being trialled - was today voted the best coronavirus drug currently available in an international poll of thousands of doctors

WHAT ARE THE THREE MAIN CORONAVIRUS TRIALS IN THE UK? Principle The Principle trial is studying people aged 50 to 64 who have COVID-19 symptoms and a chronic health condition such as heart disease, asthma or cancer. It is unclear how many patients are taking part. It is also open to those aged 65 or over, with or without other illnesses. The first drug that will be trialled is hydroxychloroquine, sold as Plaquenil. Other potential treatments will be used if they show promise in pre-clinical studies. The study is being run at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) in Surrey. It will last until March next year. Recovery The Randomised Evaluation of COV-id19 thERapY (RECOVERY) trial is being run by the University of Oxford. It will test the HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia, hydroxychloroquine, a malaria medication sold as Plaquenil, and dexamethasone, a type of steroid use in a range of conditions to reduce inflammation. Almost 1,000 patients from 132 different hospitals have been already recruited in just 15 days. Thousands more are expected to join the trial in the coming weeks, making it the largest randomised controlled trial of potential COVID-19 treatments in the world. Definitive results on whether the treatments are safe and effective are expected within months and, if positive, they could potentially benefit hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. REMAP-CAP The REMAP-CAP trial is an international effort, with more than 50 research teams around the world taking part. It is looking specifically at patients who develop community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) as a result of viral infections. The study will test 16 drugs, including hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon beta, which have all shown promise in pre-clinical trials. Between 2,000 and 4,000 patients will be enrolled. Advertisement

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and his deputy Professor Jonathan Van-Tam continue: 'As yet, there are no proven treatments for COVID-19. We need to gather reliable evidence through clinical trials.

'Using international evidence and UK expertise the most promising potential treatments, at this stage, have been identified and the UK is running national clinical trials to gather evidence across the whole disease spectrum.'

The letter adds that using treatments without taking part in a trial would be a 'wasted opportunity'.

The Randomised Evaluation of COV-id19 thERapY (RECOVERY) trial is being run by the University of Oxford.

It will test the HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia, hydroxychloroquine, a malaria medication sold as Plaquenil, and dexamethasone, a type of steroid use in a range of conditions to reduce inflammation.

Almost 1,000 patients from 132 different hospitals have been already recruited in just 15 days.

Thousands more are expected to join the trial in the coming weeks, making it the largest randomised controlled trial of potential COVID-19 treatments in the world.

Definitive results on whether the treatments are safe and effective are expected within months and, if positive, they could potentially benefit hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

The REMAP-CAP trial is an international effort, with more than 50 research teams around the world taking part.

It is looking specifically at patients who develop community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) as a result of viral infections.

The study will test 16 drugs, including hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon beta, which have all shown promise in pre-clinical trials.

New potential treatments specific to COVID-19 will be tested at these sites.

The Principle trial is studying people aged 50 to 64 who have COVID-19 symptoms and a chronic health condition such as heart disease, asthma or cancer. It is also open to those aged 65 or over, with or without other illnesses.

The first drug that will be trialled is hydroxychloroquine, sold as Plaquenil. Other potential treatments will be used if they show promise in pre-clinical studies.

The study is being run at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) in Surrey. It will last until March next year.

It comes after the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus in the worst-hit part of the UK fell for the first time.

London, which has been at the heart of the pandemic in the UK, saw new admissions fall below 4,000 again on Wednesday, according to Government data released tonight.

There were also falls in the Midlands, East Midlands and North West as the death toll rose sharply by 684 today to take the total number of tragic fatalities so far to 3,605.

WHICH DRUGS ARE BEING TESTED IN THE THREE MAJOR TRIALS? Hydroxychloroquine The malaria drug chloroquine is the best coronavirus treatment currently available, according to an international poll of thousands of doctors. Pictured: hydroxychloroquine, a version of it, is prescribed in the US under the brand name Plaquenil What are the brand versions of the drug? Plaquenil. What does it treat? Malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It is a less powerful and, by some experts' accounts, less toxic, version of chloroquine phosphate. Who makes it and where has it already been tested? Drug giant Sanofi carried out a study on 24 patients, which the French government described as 'promising'. French health officials are now planning on a larger trial of the drug, which is used on the NHS. What have studies shown? Results from the French study showed three quarters of patients treated with the drug were cleared of the virus within six days. None of the placebo group were treated. How does it work? It interferes with viral molecules replicating in red blood cells. Is it being tested in the UK? It is thought to be among 1,000 drugs being tested at Queens University Belfast. What are its side effects? Skin rashes, nausea, diarrhoea and headaches. What do the experts think? Chinese scientists investigating the other form of chloroquine penned a letter to a prestigious journal saying its 'less toxic' derivative may also help. In the comment to Cell Discovery  owned by publisher Nature, they said it shares similar chemical structures and mechanisms. The team of experts added: 'It is easy to conjure up the idea that hydroxychloroquine may be a potent candidate to treat infection by SARS-CoV-2.' Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed under the brand names Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine Lopinavir/ritonavir What are the brand versions of the drug? Kaletra and Aluvia. What does it treat? It is an anti-HIV medicine given to people living with the virus to prevent it developing into AIDS. Who makes it? Illinois-based manufacturer AbbVie donated free supplies of the drug to authorities in China, the US and Europe for tests. What have studies shown? Chinese media reported that the drug was successfully used to cure patients with the coronavirus, but the reports have not been scientifically proven. A separate Chinese study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the lopinavir-ritonavir combination did not improve survival or speed recovery of COVID-19 patients. However, the authors noted they had enrolled a 'severely ill population' of patients. In a clinical trial submission, scientists in South Korea said lab studies have: 'In vitro [laboratory] studies revealed that lopinavir/ritonavir [has] antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).' How does it work? It is a class of drug called a protease inhibitor, which essentially stick to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. Other drugs Shock-dependent hydrocortisone (sold under brand names Hydrocort, Alphosyl, Aquacort, Cortef, Cortenema, and SoluCortef) Ceftriaxone (brand name Rocephin) Moxifloxacin Piperacillin-tazobactam (brand name Tazocin) Ceftaroline Amoxicillin-clavulanate Macrolide (brand names Zithromax, Klacid, Erymax, Erythrocin, Erythroped and Erythroped A) Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu) Interferon-1a Anakinra Advertisement

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, cautioned against reading too much into the data.

The 24-hour total has risen by a record amount almost every day this week, with a five-fold increase in deaths in a week.

However at tonight's news conference Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, cautioned against reading too much into the data.

He said that overall the number of admissions was still rising. Asked about seeing any 'green shoots' in the battle against the virus he added: 'If you're asking me about the healthcare hospital admission data then I think it's too early to make any kind of interpretation such as that.

'There will be day-to-day variations in the number of hospital admissions that occur as a feature of near-random chance.

'So one mustn't interpret the data, one needs to be patient and look for a long-term trend.'

However, Prof Van-Tam said he 'absolutely sees green shoots' of hope over containing the spread of Covid-19, given the response to the social distancing measures.

He said: 'I absolutely see green shoots, I really do in terms of the massive change in public behaviour that has already taken place.

'If that continues for as long as the Government asks for it to continue then they really will be quite big green shoots in the end.'

Asked when the peak of the epidemic is expected to be, he said: 'We don't know the answer to that yet.

'We've always said that we will know if our social distancing measures are working a few weeks after we've put them in place.'

He reiterated it was 'too soon to say', adding: 'It'll partly depend upon how well those social distancing measures are adhered to by every one of us.

'I hope it will be soon. We're going to watch very carefully to see when we've hit the peak and when we're starting to turn it but we will not take any premature actions.'

Addressing whether the NHS will have enough ventilators during the peak, given some fear they will not receive the critical care they need, Professor Van-Tam expressed confidence in equipment supplies.

He said: 'I can tell you I don't think we're anywhere close to that kind of scenario at the moment. We will watch it extremely closely and we will make decisions as we need to on a day-by-day basis.'

Malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is the most effective coronavirus treatment currently available, finds international poll of 6,000 doctors

The malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is the best coronavirus drug currently available, according to an international poll of thousands of doctors.

Of 6,200 physicians surveyed from 30 countries, the majority (37 per cent) said it was the 'most effective therapy' for the virus.

But the World Health Organization (WHO) claims that 'there is no evidence' that any medicine 'can prevent or cure the disease'.

With a spiralling crisis and no cure in sight, doctors in Europe, the US and China have been given licence to prescribe the promising drug to COVID-19 patients.

But the UK has prevented clinicians from dishing out hydroxychloroquine - a form of chloroquine - until clinical trials are completed.

The malaria drug chloroquine is the best coronavirus treatment currently available, according to an international poll of thousands of doctors. Pictured: hydroxychloroquine, a version of it, is prescribed in the US under the brand name Plaquenil

Of 6,200 physicians surveyed from 30 countries, the majority (37 per cent) said hydroxychloroquine was the 'most effective therapy' for the virus

Chloroquine (CQ), branded as Aralen, and counterpart hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), known as Plaquenil, are well-established medicines.

They are also prescribed on the NHS to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and have been used since the 1940s.

The latest poll, conducted by Sermo - a 'virtual lounge' for doctors, found the tablets were most widely used for COVID-19 in Spain, where 72 per cent of physicians said they had prescribed them.

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE ALREADY APPROVED CHLOROQUINE TO TREAT PATIENTS? Medicine regulators in the US have approved the use of antimalarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Doctors across the States can now prescribe the medicines to patients who are critically ill with the virus. They were granted emergency approval by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on March 30. Doctors in Spain and Italy - the two worst-affected European countries -have already been told they can prescribe the drugs as a last resort. In the UK, meanwhile, doctors have been instructed not to use the drugs, which can also treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, except in clinical trials. The British Government has banned wholesalers from exporting the drugs to different countries, showing it is protecting the UK supply, but has not yet approved its widespread use because of a lack of evidence. The drug has been used in China throughout the outbreak and doctors have reported good results, but they have not been published in robust scientific trials. South Korea was also among one of the first countries to start using it, and there have been reports of doctors in the Netherlands giving it to COVID-19 patients. In France, a team led by Professor Didier Raoult at a hospital in Marseille reported last week that they had carried out a study of chloroquine on 36 COVID-19 patients. The World Health Organization has launched a worldwide trial called SOLIDARITY, involving scientists in countries all over the globe, to test which drugs work well on COVID-19 patients - chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are included in this. Advertisement

Fifty-three per cent of doctors in Italy said they had used the drugs to treat the killer virus, while in China it was 44 per cent.

Just 13 per cent of UK clinicians surveyed said they had prescribed chloroquine to coronavirus patients, presumably through private clinics.

The poll did not state which other drugs were voted most effective in treating COVID-19.

But it did note that the three most commonly prescribed treatments by doctors were analgesics (56 per cent), a type of painkiller, azithromycin (41 per cent), an antibiotic used for bacterial infections, and hydroxychloroquine (33 per cent).

Sermo chief executive Peter Kirk described the polling results as a 'treasure trove of global insights for policymakers'.

He added: 'Physicians should have more of a voice in how we deal with this pandemic and be able to quickly share information with one another and the world.'

Around the world, countries are expanding access to chloroquine, a synthetic form of quinine, which comes from cinchona trees and has been used for centuries to treat malaria.

They work against those conditions by dampening the body's immune response when it overreacts and could be beneficial for coronavirus patients in the same way.

Early trials in China have shown they can reduce the severe effects of coronavirus, and doctors are even considering mass use of drugs as a prophylactic to give to people who test positive for the virus but have yet to show symptoms.

Doctors across America can now prescribe CQ and HCQ as a last resort for critically ill COVID-19 sufferers.

But it has not been licensed in the UK.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Clinical trials are already underway in the UK to assess whether existing medicines such as hydroxychloroquine are suitable for treating COVID-19.

'Until we have clear, definitive evidence these treatments are safe and effective, they should only be used within a clinical trial.

'People should continue to follow NHS advice and stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.'

Hydroxychloroquine appears to be safe, but its effectiveness for COVID-19 is still unknown.

Both forms of the drug are thought to be among 1,000 medicines being tested against coronavirus in a lab as part of a Queens University Belfast study.

Larger trials have been put in motion, including in the US, where one began in New York this week.

Italy is carrying out a trial on 2,000 people, while scientists are also awaiting the results from bigger trials in China.

A European trial called Discovery will study four experimental therapies, including chloroquine, using 3,200 patients who have been hospitalised from the killer virus in the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden and Luxembourg.



But Dr Ellie Cannon, an NHS GP and Mail on Sunday health columnist, said the drug was not a miracle cure.

She said: 'Please stop thinking anti malarial tablets are the magic bullet until they're proven to be the magic bullet.'

Speaking on LBC radio this week, Dr Cannon added: 'All the evidence is being weighed up about the treatments, we must always remember that these medications come with side effects and risks.

NHS GP Dr Ellie Cannon said she had 'a lot of requests' for antimalarials but that it was not safe for people to take it

ARTHRITIS PATIENTS FACE MISSING OUT ON VITAL DRUGS IF THEY ARE DIVERTED TO FIGHT THE VIRUS Patients with arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases could face missing out on vital drugs if they are diverted to the coronavirus cause, doctors warned yesterday. Experts writing in the BMJ journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases say there are only limited supplies of these drugs. The scientists, from Sapienza University in Rome, warn there are not enough supplies of antimalarials for them to be used on a mass scale without taking them away from existing autoimmune patients. The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) said use of these drugs to tackle Covid-19 could have serious implications for people with rheumatic diseases across Europe. EULAR president Professor Iain McInnes, of the University of Glasgow, said: EULAR is concerned that the diversion of drug supplies away from people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases may compromise the health of this important and sizeable group of patients in Europe and beyond. A balanced approach that meets the imperatives of the ongoing pandemic, but which also takes account of the needs of patients already taking these drugs is essential. Advertisement

'For example, these antimalarial medications are known to cause heart rhythm problems. We know they are very dangerous for people with liver and kidney problems.'

Dr Cannon said she and pharmacists had been getting 'a lot of requests' for antimalarial prescriptions because people have heard of its potential to help treat COVID-19.

She added: 'I think we are all looking for a cure, we're all looking for an answer for ourselves, for our vulnerable relatives.

'But we have to be so careful about these hidden dangers in what seems to be a magic bullet.

'There a lot of private people unfortunately profiteering and I think we are all vulnerable to these things at the moment.'

Last week, a man from Arizona died after drinking fish tank cleaner which contained a form of chloroquine intended to fight aquatic parasites - it was not safe for human consumption.

Professor Stephen Evans, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), previously told MailOnline: 'Using non-approved substances, even if the active ingredient in a medicine is in another non-medical product, it is dangerous to use it as if it were a medicine.

'From this tragic occurrence in the US it is clear that people will do foolish things in the belief that they are helping themselves.'

Patients with arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases could face missing out on vital drugs if they are diverted to the coronavirus cause, doctors warned yesterday.

Experts writing in the BMJ journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases say there are only limited supplies of these drugs.

The scientists, from Sapienza University in Rome, warn there are not enough supplies of antimalarials for them to be used on a mass scale without taking them away from existing autoimmune patients.

The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) said use of these drugs to tackle Covid-19 could have serious implications for people with rheumatic diseases across Europe.

EULAR president Professor Iain McInnes, of the University of Glasgow, said: EULAR is concerned that the diversion of drug supplies away from people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases may compromise the health of this important and sizeable group of patients in Europe and beyond.

A balanced approach that meets the imperatives of the ongoing pandemic, but which also takes account of the needs of patients already taking these drugs is essential.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier

The US Navy has fired the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Navy leaders announced Thursday afternoon.

Capt. Brett Crozier, the carrier's commanding officer, wrote a letter pleading with the Navy to take action to evacuate the ship amid a coronavirus outbreak on board, and that letter leaked to the media.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said Thursday that the captain's actions and letter "caused a little bit of panic on the ship."

The carrier deployed in mid-January and headed to Guam in late March amid a coronavirus outbreak. More than half the crew is now being moved ashore in Guam as COVID-19 testing continues.

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The US Navy fired the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier stuck in port and dealing with a severe coronavirus outbreak, Navy leaders said Thursday afternoon.

"Today, at my direction, the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Capt. Brett Crozier, was relieved of command," Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday. "I did not come to this decision lightly."

Modly said he lost confidence in the commanding officer.

The Navy's decision to relieve Crozier came after he wrote a letter to Navy leadership begging the military branch to take decisive action to counter the spread of the virus on the carrier by getting sailors off the ship as soon as possible.

The letter was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle, the captain's hometown newspaper, which published it on Tuesday.

"The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating," Crozier wrote in the letter. "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."

As of Thursday, about 114 sailors aboard the ship had tested positive for the coronavirus. Navy leadership acknowledged there would be more cases, probably in the hundreds.

Story continues

After the letter leaked to the press, the Navy said it was already taking steps to evacuate the ship. About 1,000 sailors have already gone ashore. That number is expected to increase to 2,700 within the next few days.

'A little bit of panic'

Capt. Brett Crozier.

US Navy

Modly expressed disappointment on Wednesday with some of the things the commanding officer wrote, characterizing some of them as inaccurate, but said the fact that Crozier "wrote the letter up to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any type of retaliation."

He did, however, say that leaking a letter to the media "would be something that would violate good order and discipline."

Modly said Thursday, without directly accusing the captain of leaking the letter, that Crozier allowed the letter to be distributed outside the chain of command by sending it out widely in a way that may have made it susceptible to a leak. Specifically, the acting secretary said that he had 20-30 other people copied when the letter went out using non-secure email.

Saying that such actions were "not acceptable," he told reporters the captain "demonstrated extremely poor judgement in the middle of a crisis."

Modly said he "could reach no other conclusion that Capt. Crozier had allowed the complexity of his challenge with the COVID outbreak on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally, when acting professionally was what was needed most."

"I have no doubt in my mind that Capt. Crozier did what he thought was in the best interest and well-being of his crew," Modly said. "Unfortunately, it did the opposite."

The acting secretary accused the captain of raising alarm bells unnecessarily, adding that the Crozier's actions "caused a little bit of panic on the ship" and among the families of sailors.

Rep. Adam Smith, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is questioning the timing of the skipper's removal.

While he acknowledged that Crozier "clearly went outside the chain of command," Smith wrote in a joint statement with three of the committee's Democrats who chair subcommittees that "his dismissal at a critical moment  as the sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt are confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic  is a destabilizing move that will likely put our service members at greater risk and jeopardize our fleet's readiness."

Crozier is a 1992 US Naval Academy graduate and naval aviator who later in his career attended the Nuclear Power School, a prerequisite to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the Navy announced his removal.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Oakland: Google has published reports for 131 countries showing whether visits to shops, parks and workplaces dropped in March, when many governments issued stay-at-home orders to rein the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Google's analysis of location data from billions of users' phones is the largest public dataset available to help health authorities assess if people are abiding with shelter-in-place and similar orders issued across the world.

Data from Google users' phones is being collected to help authorities understand if people are obeying stay-at-home orders. Credit: E+

Its reports show charts that compare visits in recent weeks to subway, train and bus stations, grocery stores and other broad categories of places with a five-week period earlier this year. For some countries, Google charts regional data, such as at the county-level within the United States.

Facebook, which like Google has billions of users, has shared location data with non-governmental researchers that are producing similar reports for authorities in several countries.
On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of voters in Wisconsin will be forced to choose between exercising their constitutional right to vote and safeguarding their own lives, not to mention the lives of their loved ones, their neighbors and poll workers across the state.

Thats the predicament in which Republican state lawmakers have placed Wisconsinites  who have been under a stay-at-home order since March 25  by refusing to agree to postpone the states April 7 presidential primary or to give all voters the option to cast a ballot by mail. Republicans control both chambers of Wisconsins Legislature.

The stay-at-home order, issued by Gov. Tony Evers, bars people from leaving their homes except for food or medical needs, or to care for a family member or other vulnerable person. When they do go out, they must stay six feet away from other people  a near-impossible task at the polls. There is no way for us to abide by those guidelines and at the same time administer an in-person election, said the mayor of Green Bay, Eric Genrich.

As of Friday, 1,730 Wisconsinites had tested positive for Covid-19, and 37 had died.

Governor Evers, a Democrat, initially supported holding the election as scheduled. In late March, after the states coronavirus cases soared above 700, he called for absentee ballots to be mailed to all state residents. On Friday afternoon, he made a last-ditch effort, calling the Legislature to meet in a special session on Saturday to consider legislation that would switch the state to all-mail voting, with a May 26 deadline for returning ballots.
Lockdown mein, main almost Dilruba ban chuka hun, khali main bol normal raha hun, laughs Rakesh Bedi, as he shares his happiness over Shrimaan Shrimatis return to television during coronavirus lockdown.

During lockdown, a normal day for Bedi involves helping around the house. My wife does the jhaadu, and I do the pocha and once in a while I make the bed, too. My two daughters also do a little bit of cooking, under my wifes supervision, shares the actor about his routine now.

He believes that the timing couldnt be better for Shrimaan and Shrimatis rerun to telecast on TV. It will add a lot of favour and humour in everybodys life, as everyone is so sombre right now. Humein aaj 15-20 din ho gaye hai, paper main, news main, humare ghar main, apas main, hum ek hi topic pe baat kiye ja rahe hain aur woh bhi darr ke, says Bedi referring to the fearful environment of the pandemic.

But between all this, he says the show has brought laughter to his house, too. Jab yeh serial shuru hua TV par, meri wife baith ke dekh rahi thi aur main dusre kamre main tha. I immediately ran to my bedroom when I heard my wife laughing aloud. I asked her Why are you laughing so much? She said: Maine dekha hi nahi tha yeh wala episode aapka.

Mention to him that the countrywide lockdown has ensured that husband and wives are together 24X7, and Bedi laughs adding, Chat karne ka mauka nahi mil raha husbands ko, kyunki wife bilkul samne hoti hai! Phone haath mein pakadte hain toh darr jaate hain ki biwi phone le legi.

He is, however, glad that the comedy show is proving to be a stress buster in such times, and adds, I feel yeh international cult serial hai, and I am proud to be part of it.
Every cropping year presents new challenges. The 2019/20 season has already presented more challenges than most, even though we have just started sowing spring crops.

Looking forward, if climate change is going to bring us wetter winters and drier summers, we have to pay more attention to soil management to ensure that we can get water off the topsoil and subsoil quicker in autumn and retain it in the summer.

This requires improved infiltration of water into soil, improved soil structure, soil biology, earthworm activity, while retention requires adequate levels of organic matter and good soil porosity.

To avoid damage to surface waters we need to get optimal drainage down through the soil and avoid surface run-off.

Heavy land that was too wet to sow last autumn is still too wet.

Drying winds last week gave a dry surface crust on wet soil underneath. The crust is now cracking and weed seeds are germinating. Ploughing and even min till cultivations must wait until soil moisture underneath wheeling depth does not cause compaction.

Working heavy land before it is fit will give problems for the future.

Ponds of water in low-lying areas of fields may indicate that there is poor drainage in those areas or, more likely, that there was surface run-off or sub-surface run-off. Surface run-off occurs following intense rainfall on to bare soil - hence the need for green cover is not alone to mop up residual nitrogen, but to also minimise damage to soil structure.

Farmers who, despite all the odds, managed to get good establishment of cover crops last autumn will testify to the ease of ploughing of that land this spring.

Sub-surface run-off occurs when soil under the cultivated layer is compacted.

Water infiltrates through the looser soil, reaches the compacted layer, through which it cannot travel, and then runs on it, under the soil surface, to the lower points in the field where it causes ponding.

In order to put a soil improvement programme in place, you must first determine what the problem is.

When you consider land is fit to be worked, take a spade before doing any work, go to the best part of the field and dig to a depth slightly greater than ploughing/cultivation depth.

In doing so you may well notice greater and lesser resistance to digging - this immediately indicates that there is a problem.

Dig the hole with a straight vertical face, note rooting depth, and then take a knife with a flexible blade and pick at the face of the hole. Note earthworm numbers and sizes and the presence or absence of red/bluish colours within the soil.

Soils where all the soil picks away freely does not have a sub-surface problem.

Soils with firmer layer within the face of the hole has a problem which must be addressed to avoid further deterioration.

Before backfilling the hole, hammer a short length of solid pipe into the base of the hole, partially fill with water and record the depth of the water in the pipe. Leave for one hour and measure the depth of water again. The difference will give you the infiltration rate/hr.

Having completed the first hole, do a second hole where wheelings, not tramline, from activities last autumn, are evident.

A further trial hole should be dug in the poorer part of the field and the assessment repeated.

Remedial action may be by either mechanical means, cropping with a plant which has a tap root (rape, beans, beet), the addition of organic material or reseeding with grass.

Land which is damaged is more likely to incur further damage when mechanical intervention such as subsoiling, deeper ploughing or ripping is attempted and will be in a more fragile state for several years afterwards.

Compaction

Whatever you do it is critical that you do not end up moving the compaction layer to a greater depth.

The best option for damaged land may well be to leave it fallow this year. If you decide to sow, use wide wheels and tyre pressures as low as recommended by the manufacturer.

Use the lightest tractors, equipment available to you and half loads in the hopper.

Finally the challenge of climate change is likely to put new pressures on our soils and we will not be able to get away with things we did in the past.

PJ Phelan is a tillage advisor based in Tipperary and is a member of the ACA and ITCA.
Residents are asked to blink a light in their home, or one outside that is visible, for one minute this Saturday night at 8 p.m., April 4, in honor of all health care workers on the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus.

The campaign Blink Your Light will run every night at 8 p.m. until the state of emergency that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker enacted is uplifted.

The director of The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts told WWLP 22News they chose light as the gesture, "Because we dont have a lot of density, except in our cities, and because light has always been a symbol of hope, we felt that the medium of light was better than the medium of noise.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is expected to claim the lives of more than 2,000 Mass. residents by summer, according to a new analysis from The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Related Content:
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference, detailing EU efforts to limit the economic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, at EU headquarters in Brussels. Photo: AP

The European Commission proposed a package of measures yesterday to soften the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the EU economy, including a short-time work scheme and easier access to funds for farmers and fishermen.

The Commission expects the EU to go into a deep recession this year because of the Covid-19 outbreak, which has slowed economic activity to a crawl across the 27 member states.

"The depth and the breadth of this crisis requires a response unprecedented in scale, speed and solidarity," the EU executive said in a document outlining the measures.

To prevent firms laying off workers when there is not enough work, the Commission proposed that all EU countries adopt a German scheme under which employers cut working hours, not jobs, and the government pays for the difference in salaries, so that workers retain their spending power.

In Dublin, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said he'll study the proposal which involves Government borrowing funds from the Commission.

To finance the plan, the Commission would borrow 100bn on the markets against 25bn in EU governments' guarantees using its triple-A rating. It would then lend the money cheaply to member states, many of which have lower credit ratings.

"(It) can benefit all the member states who want to use it," Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told a news briefing.

Once a government asks for help with wage subsidies, the Commission would verify how much extra that country was spending on the scheme and decide the terms of the loan, including the amount, the maximum average maturity and pricing.

A Commission proposal for a loan would then have to be approved by EU governments.

Reuters
Guwahati/Agartala, April 3 : With more fresh positive coronavirus cases getting reported from the region, the total number of cases in the northeast went up to 24 on Friday, including 20 in Assam, ministers and officials said.

Of the 24 positive cases, 22 took part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi while a Manipuri girl and a Mizoram man had tested positive last month after they returned from the UK and the Netherlands, respectively.

Besides the 24 positive cases in the northeastern region, four persons from Assam and two people from Tripura, who attended the congregation but remained in northern India, have tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, four attendees of the Tablighi event held last month from the state's Nalbari and South Salmara district have tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, taking the state's tally to 20.

The Health Minister said that four persons from Assam, who attended the religious meet but remained in Delhi, after their swab samples tested positive for nCoV.

Sarma had earlier said that the Centre has communicated to the state that over 550 to 600 people from Assam had attended the Tablighi meet.

"Out of these attendees, swab samples of around 500 have been collected and the test reports are awaited," Sarma said.

"I am very angry and frustrated as despite our repeated appeals, none of the participants reported to the authority. Why are you hiding your cases?" Sarma told a national television channel.

In Agartala, Tripura Health Secretary Debashish Basu on Friday night said that two people from Tripura, who had participated the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, have tested positive for novel coronavirus and now they are in a quarantine center at Bikaner in Rajasthan.

"Eleven people from Tripura's Boxanagar areas (western Tripura) attended the Tablighi Jamaat event. After attending the meet all the eleven people went to Rajasthan. The officials of Rajasthan government verbally informed us that two of the eleven people have tested positive for novel coronavirus," Basu told the media.

Of the 24 positive cases from northeastern region, 22 took part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation while a Manipuri girl and a Mizoram man had tested positive last month after they returned from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, respectively.

Health officials in Imphal and Aizawl said that their conditions are states now. Of the 24 positive cases from four northeastern states, 20 are from Assam, two from Manipur and one each from Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

Assam had reported its first Covid-19 case on Tuesday when a 52-year-old man's swab sample tested positive. According to the health officials, all the patients in Assam are aged between 19 and 70 years and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in in the state.

According to the ministers and officials of northeastern states, at least 600 people from several northeastern states, mostly from Assam, had either attended or were in vicinity of the Tablighi congregation, forcing all seven states to launch an all-out search to identify and test these persons.

The attendees' family members and the people they came in close contact with are also being examined or sent to quarantine.

Tripura Health Secretary also said that that swab samples of 36 people who attended the Tablighi meet or went to the Nizamuddin area, have tested negative.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The double whammy of handling perishable farm produce during a lockdown and finding takers for the same has hurt traders at the Koyambedu wholesale market hard. The COVID-19 lockdown has sucked the commerce out of such wholesale markets, and traders keep their shops open with the hope of customers walking in sooner than later. If not, their only option is to throw the produce out.

Ayyanar, a trader from MRM wholesale shop, which deals primarily with capsicum, gooseberry, fritter chilly and large sized brinjals, told Express that 25 per cent of the products being shipped from the farm gets wasted, as they rot and are strewn in and around the market. Business is tough these days. Although we are not able to sell anything, we are keeping the shops open only because otherwise farmers will lose out, as their crops will go waste, he said while showing a series of videos which his fellow salespersons who procure vegetables from the farmers have posted.

Now, we are ready to sell a box full of capsicum for `300 (`10 per kg), he said. The market wore a desolate look as some of the trucks are yet to be unloaded and there were persons picking the good vegetables from the rotten ones that could be sold in retail.

Government should step in

Another trader told Express that the government should buy out the vegetables from traders and store it in warehouses, which, it can directly sell to the people. We dont require these many cops and our safety from coronavirus will also be guaranteed, he said. Vasudevan Chinnathambi, co-founder, Ninjacart, said that many states are now considering the model where they are working with the Maharastra government by supplying them with fresh vegetables, which are then sold at the doorstep with the help of people hired by multiple firms.

Despite the scare and labour shortage to unload the vegetables from trucks, the market is likely to function. We dont have any option but to keep the market functioning, as vegetables are essential commodities and it has to be supplied daily, said S Chandran, Market Management Committee Licensed Merchants Association president and Anaithu Sangankalin Kootamaipu general secretary.
Details added (first version posted on 14:22)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr.2

Trend:

The number of tests carried out in Azerbaijan for the detection of coronavirus (35,000) does not correspond to the number of the tested people as every person in quarantine is checked twice, while the recovered people - at least three, four times, Yagut Garayeva, head of the department of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units in Azerbaijan (TABIB), said.

Garayeva made the remarks in Baku during a briefing held by the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers on April 2, Trend reports.

The head of the department said that the epidemic peak period, as well as a decrease in the number of virus infections in the country are being studied.

There are scholars at the Operations Headquarters who keep statistics on the pandemic from the first days, Garayeva added. These individuals carry out scientific simulations in connection with the development of the virus. The research results will be disclosed soon. Currently, specialists are studying the epidemic peak period and its further decline."

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 homes, apartments, permanent or temporary places of residence.

To this end, all kinds of operations, except for the vital work and services, have been suspended from 00:00 on March 31, 2020 through 00:00 on April 20, 2020.

People are allowed to leave the houses only if there is a need for emergency medical care and if there is a threat to life and health.

The individuals are allowed to do shopping in the markets the activity of which is permitted. People may leave the houses to take the rubbish out. People are also allowed to fulfill official duties in the organizations operating within the special regime.

To minimize peoples communication with each other and thereby reduce the rate of infection, the activity related to a number of economic spheres and services has been prohibited during the announced period.
The Central government on Friday informed the Delhi High Court that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has established a 24/7 helpline to address the queries by Indian students and community abroad.

The High Court was hearing a petition filed by Ramesh Chander Goyal, seeking a direction to the respondent -- Government of India -- to evacuate the son of the petitioner from Edinburgh, Scotland, to India and ensure that he is provided with all medical facilities if required. The son of the petitioner is pursuing some academic course in Edinburgh.

Advocate Amit Mahajan, the Central Government Standing Counsel, filed the status report of the Ministry of External Affairs through email. It is stated by the Ministry of External Affairs that a 24x7 helpline has been set up to address the queries by Indian students and the Indian community abroad. It is stated that the Government of India along with the Government of United Kingdom have actively disseminated, through website and social media platforms, necessary information to all citizens of India.

The government told the court that an officer of the Consulate General of India, Edinburgh, had personally contacted the son of the petitioner through telephone and he has been provided with the necessary information regarding helpline numbers, emergency telephone numbers, website, e-mail and social media links of the High Commission of India at London and Consulate General of India, Edinburgh.

The status report of the Ministry of External Affairs also stated that the son of the petitioner had informed that presently he was not facing any health issues and was primarily concerned about coming back to India. He had informed that he was presently sharing the accommodation with one more student.

The MEA in its report also said the son of the petitioner has been advised to register with the High Commission of India at London so that necessary updates and travel advisories could be shared with him. Emergency number of an officer of the Consulate General of Edinburgh has been shared with him and he has been advised to contact him in case of any emergency.

The petitioner told the court that his son has informed that there is a shortage of masks and sanitizers there and he has not been able to acquire the same from the market.

The Central Government Standing Counsel submitted that there is a shortage of masks and sanitizers in Scotland and the UK, and even the Consulate has not been able to procure the same from the market. However, efforts are being made by the Consulate General of India to procure and provide the same as soon as possible.

The government also informed the court that there are few volunteers in Edinburgh who have offered help in case of any necessity. The status report assures that the Consulate General of India at Edinburgh is working to help the stranded Indians through student's associations, community groups and individuals by providing all possible assistance in the form of accommodation, food, etc., to all Indian citizens in Scotland.

The Indian Students Association (UK) and the High Commission of India are working closely to address the specific issues of Indian students across the UK during the COVID-19 crisis.

With regard to evacuating the son of the petitioner, the government said that in the present lockdown situation it is not possible for the Ministry to organise any evacuation of Indian nationals from any country at this stage and the Indian government has taken pro-active steps to ensure that all citizens of India, particularly students who are residing abroad do not face any problem and all possible necessary steps are being taken.

A Division Bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Navin Chawla disposed of the plea of Goyal, saying that in view of the status report and the assurance is given that all possible necessary help shall be provided to all Indian students who are stranded abroad, the court feels that no further orders are called for in this petition.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bengaluru, April 3 : Digital payments major PhonePe on Friday announced the launch of a national movement called #i4India after its #100CrorePledge to help India fight the extraordinary challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic went viral last week.

The #i4India movement is an appeal to every Indian to support the government agencies, doctors, health workers, policemen and emergency workers who are all working 24/7 through the lockdown period to keep the people of the country safe and healthy.

India is under a 21-day lockdown till April 14.

To join the #i4India movement, PhonePe is asking at least 10 crore Indians to donate generously to the PM-CARES Fund.

PhonePe said it will contribute Rs 10 to the PM-CARES Fund for every Indian who donates to the fund via the PhonePe app using UPI by April 30, 2020.

In all, PhonePe has pledged to contribute a maximum of up to Rs 100 crore for this cause.

PhonePe launched its donation drive five days ago, and already more than 10 lakh Indians have donated to the PM-CARES Fund via the PhonePe App.

Accordingly, the company donated Rs 1 crore to the PM-CARES Fund on Thursday.

"The new #i4India movement is a reflection of the spectacular response that our original #100CrorePledge donation drive received last week," Sameer Nigam, Founder &CEO, PhonePe, said in a statement.

"Over 10 lakh people have already donated to the PMCARES Fund through our app in less than five days. So now we are asking every Indian to unite behind the cause and donate even more generously with their time and money. Rs 1 or Rs 100,000 does not matter. Every rupee counts, and every Indian's support matters," Nigam said.

To join the #i4India movement, users can visit the PhonePe app and follow two simple steps -- support the cause by donating to the PM-CARES Fund and spread the word.

They can set the #i4India logo as a display pic (DP) on WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, etc. for a month.

All donations made via UPI will be transferred directly from the donors bank account to the PM-CARES Funds bank account, PhonePe said.

These donations are eligible for a 100 per cent tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.
A total of 338 prisoners were



released on parole by the Mizoram government on Friday, an official statement said.

The statement issued by the information and public relations department said that the prisoners were released according to the decision of a high power committee headed by Gauhati High Court judge Michael Zothankhuma, which was formed on the Supreme Court's directive.

The government released 48 convicts and 290 undertrial prisoners, altogether 338, from various jails across the state by granting them remission, the statement said.

All deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of the districts were instructed to drop the prisoners at their homes.

The Supreme Court on March 23 directed all states and Union Territories to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing on parole or interim bail prisoners and undertrials for offences entailing up to 7-year jail term to decongest prisons in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on the rise, its no surprise prisons are a haven for potential cases. Star of the Netflix docuseries, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, Joseph Maldonado-Passage (aka Joe Exotic), has been in isolation following contact with inmates who may have been infected with the virus. Reports surfaced soon after that Maldonado-Passage caught COVID-19. His fourth husband, Dillon Passage, is setting the record straight.

Joseph Maldonado-Passage was put in isolation

Tiger King | Netflix

Tiger King has captivated the nation during this strange time known as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With so many of us holed up in our homes, its that of the Tiger King himself  Joseph Maldonado-Passage  thats gotten us through.

Earlier this week, prison officials at the Federal Medical Center Forth Worth in Texas put Maldonado-Passage in isolation for individual quarantine. This followed potential contact with those who tested positive for the virus in the prison Maldonado-Passage is being held. He was previously isolated at the Grady County Jail in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

[Dillon] Passage previously told Andy Cohen on Radio Andy that the two typically speak three to five times a day. It hasnt been this way after Maldonado-Passage was moved to isolation. He added that he has yet to speak to him since.

After the interview, reports spread that Maldonado-Passage could have caught the virus and had been moved to a medical center.

Does Maldonado-Passage have coronavirus?

Many took to Facebook to question whether Maldonado-Passage was, in fact, infected with COVID-19, or not. Passage posted a message on his husbands page to clear things up after that Cohen interview.

Joe DOES NOT have the COVID-19 virus, hes in a 14-day quarantine because he was transferred from another facility, he said.

A Grady County staff member simply told The Post, He is no longer here at this facility.

Joe Exotic is serving a 22-year sentence but still loves his fans

Joe DOES NOT have the COVID-19 virus, hes in a 14-day quarantine because he was transferred from another Posted by Joseph A Maldonado-Passage on Thursday, April 2, 2020

Despite serving a 22-year sentence for falsifying wildlife records, violating the Endangered Species Act, and federal charges for a murder-for-hire scheme targeting Big Cat Rescue founder and longtime rival, Carole Baskin, Maldonado-Passage is living his best life post-Tiger Kings release

Joe Exotic filed a lawsuit seeking $94 million in damages from multiple sources, including ex-partner, Jeff Lowe. He called for a presidential pardon, but that remains to be seen.

That said, [Dillon] Passage included Maldonado-Passages Fort Worth, Texas prison address with screenshots, regarding sending him money either through the mail or online. Its unclear what the money will be used for, aside from legal fees (for which he is representing himself).

Just add that to the already thick stack of Tiger King asides to sort through. For now, Maldonado-Passage is COVID-19-free and in 22 years, hell be physically freeunless that pardon comes through.

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness is available on Netflix now.
HGE Health can help keep highly vulnerable and clinically fragile lung, heart, kidney, and liver transplant patients stable and act as a bridge between patients and their physicians during a time when COVID-19 pandemic has severely limited the availability of existing resources, said Dr. Markus

To avoid compromising the immune system of transplant recipients or patients waiting for a transplant during the COVID-19 pandemic, Temple Health has begun enrolling lung, heart, kidney, and liver transplant patients using HGE Healths COVID Care(TM) platform. Over 350 transplant patients were enrolled within days of the pandemic to monitor pre- and post-transplant patients for COVID-19 symptoms and immediately care for those patients who exhibit symptoms.

Underlying health conditions warranting a transplant can compromise the immune system, making pre-transplant patients susceptible to severe COVID infection. Similarly, transplant recipients are commonly prescribed immunosuppressants that lower the bodys ability to reject a transplanted organ. However, suppressing the bodys ability to reject a transplanted organ also inhibits the bodys immune system from warding off infections such as a COVID-19 infection. Thus, both pre- and post-transplant patients are at high risk for severe COVID-19 infection and morbidity.

Patients enrolled in HGE Healths COVID Care(TM) remote symptom monitoring platform report their symptoms daily, from home. Questions prepared in accordance with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) seek information about any symptoms or other conditions experienced by enrolled patients that suggest possible exposure to, or contraction of the COVID-19 virus. Our platform presents the reported symptom data for our enrolled patients in a format that allows those with the highest risk of infection to be prioritized for medical care explained Michael J. Markus, Ph.D., CEO of HGE Health. Transplant patients who are awaiting a transplant or have received a transplant are among the group of patients who are the most susceptible to severe COVID-19 infections and require immediate attention if they contract the virus. The symptom data we collect allows for rapid treatment, often the same day the symptom data is received, so their caregivers can intervene and provide treatment to mitigate the effect of the virus on those patients. Thanks to their daily symptom reports, patients have the peace of mind knowing that they stand a better chance of remaining healthy while awaiting a transplant and that they have someone watching over them in their convalescence, regardless of where they are, following a transplant.

Temple University Hospital (TUH), its Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, and the Temple Lung Center -- the most active lung disease and lung transplantation complex in the United States  are leveraging the scalable nature of the COVID Care(TM) platform to monitor their vulnerable transplant population. The resources of TUH are already strained due to inpatient visits seeking care for COVID-19 infections, in addition to TUHs patient demands that existed before the current pandemic. Despite the surge in demand, TUH maintains the ability to monitor the symptoms of its transplant patients in real-time and prioritize those requiring medical intervention as part of its comprehensive care program. Any transplant patients suspected of having contracted COVID-19 can be treated quickly, often at the patients homes.

Transplant patients, pre- and post-procedure, who are enrolled in the COVID Care(TM) platform use their smartphone, computer or other terminal to securely submit any symptoms of COVID-19 on a daily basis. The reported symptoms are used to categorize the transplant patients into risk categories, taking their potentially compromised immune system into consideration, enabling TUH to rapidly respond to those with the highest risk of a severe COVID-19 infection.

We recognize that transplant patients, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic, are highly vulnerable and clinically fragile, said Dr. Markus. However, if we can help keep lung, heart, kidney, liver and other organ transplant patients stable during a time when the pandemic has severely limited the availability of existing resources, HGE Health can be the critical bridge between patients and their physicians.

Coronavirus has spread to countries around the world, infecting more than one million people, killing more than 50,000. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that the severity of Coronavirus is linked to the age and health condition of patients and has recently declared it a pandemic. Patients of advanced age (at least 60 years old) and diagnosed with a co-morbid disease are the most likely to experience a severe infection of Coronavirus. HGE Healths digital platform and technology-enabled services, called HGE Care, allows physicians to remotely care for patients from anywhere in the nation, and help patients better understand and manage changes in their symptoms.

Editors Note: HGE Health Care Solutions is the exclusive licensee to certain Temple University intellectual property.

Dr. Gerard Criner, Director of the Temple Lung Center, is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of HGE Health.

Temple University and Dr. Criner hold minority equity positions in the company.

About HGE Health

Headquartered in Fort Washington, PA, HGE Health harnesses its deep experience in chronic disease management and digital health in pulmonary disease, telemedicine, and mobile health to develop a clinical services platform that delivers better care faster at a much lower cost for patients, physicians and payors. Built on clinical protocols developed and supported by 16 years of research, the companys technology has compiled the longest-running and worlds largest longitudinal data set of COPD symptoms, interventions, and clinical management to help physicians provide care for a geographically and socio-economically diverse COPD and pulmonary patient population.

About Temple Health

Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $2.2 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH); TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Affiliates, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., TUHSs physician practice plan comprised of more than 500 full-time and part-time academic physicians in 20 clinical departments. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents.

It is the policy of Temple University Health System that there shall be no exclusion from or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.
Rights groups call on government to release Ciham Ali Ahmed and other detainees amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak.

Prominent human rights groups have urged the government of Eritrea to immediately and unconditionally release political detainees held in the countrys jails amid the threat of the new coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement released on Friday, Amnesty International said the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in Eritrean prisons increase chances of transmission of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Calling Eritrea a country notorious for arbitrarily arresting or forcibly disappearing people, the United Kingdom-based group highlighted the case of Ciham Ali Ahmed, who turned 23 on Thursday.

She has been held in a prison for eight years incommunicado after attempting to leave the country when she was 15.

According to Amnesty, Ciham Ali tried to exercise her human rights and flee shortly after her father, then a minister in President Isaias Aferwerkis government, defected and went into exile.

She has not been charged with a crime nor allowed access to her lawyers or family since her arrest, Amnesty said, adding that her family does not even know where she is being held or her state of health.

We join Eritrean families and activists who are extremely worried about their loved ones in calling on the Eritrean authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ciham Ali and all others jailed simply for exercising their rights, said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty Internationals director for East and Southern Africa.

Today is Ciham's 23 birthday, the 8th one she has spent behind bars. We are still going #Purple4Ciham (her fav colour) to raise awareness and put pressure on her Senator, @KamalaHarris. Scroll to see the beautiful people who have already participated! [THREAD]





  One Day Seyoum (@onedayseyoum) April 3, 2020

In a separate statement on Friday, Human Rights Watch also called for the release of Ciham Ali and other political detainees.

Given the current health crisis, adequate food, water, and medical care must be provided to detainees. But ultimately, the Eritrean government should grant Ciham and other prisoners  who shouldnt have been imprisoned in the first place  unconditional release, and return them to the safety of their homes, where they can celebrate birthdays with loved ones.

There was no immediate comment by Eritrean authorities.

Eritrea has so far recorded 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Thousands of people have been jailed in Eritrea for their political views, their work as journalists or for practising their religions, many of whom are held in poor, unsanitary conditions, according to Amnesty International.

Across Africa, more than 280 people have died from COVID-19. Experts warn fragile healthcare systems in many countries in the worlds second-most populous continent could be overwhelmed in the face of a severe outbreak.

Globally, more than one million people have tested positive for the highly infectious disease, according to data collected by the Johns Hopkins University in the United States. More than 53,000 people have died, and some 217,000 have recovered.
Northern Ireland is set to receive five million items of personal protective equipment from London ahead of the expected coronavirus surge.

The announcement from UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock that he has agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive to "immediately" provide five million items of PPE to meet their needs came amid rows in the region over the issue.

Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy faced questions over a deal with the Dublin government for PPE which he announced had been placed.

The Irish Department of Health said that no joint order has been placed for PPE from China in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Executive.

A spokeswoman said: "We are ready to discuss any area where we can co-operate effectively, North and South, including on procurement of PPE and critical supplies.

"In relation to procurement, while it has not so far proved possible to place a joint order in the context of what is an increasingly challenging international environment, discussions between procurement teams are ongoing and active, and it remains our intention to continue to co-operate in this area."

Mr Murphy insisted he had agreed with Dublin to place the order, but that had fallen through when supply lines have been bought over by others.

"We sent them our requirements on Friday night," he said.

"We have struggled all week to keep that order in place until yesterday afternoon when we learned that those supply lines have been bought over by others."

Arrangements had been made for payment before the order fell through, he said.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill criticised health minister Robin Swann, claiming he had been "too slow" to act over the Covid-19 threat.

And the Royal College of Nursing asked for reassurances over PPE supplies, adding the body is awaiting legal advice on what steps to take if guarantees cannot be met.

Mr Swann has repeatedly insisted that there are "significant" supplies of PPE.

However concerns have been voiced about the availability of specialist respiratory masks, with the chief executive of the Belfast health trust Dr Cathy Jack telling the health committee spoke of challenges securing FFP3 masks.

"Of course staff deserve to have the right type of PPE and get it when they need it," Mr Swann said.

"We do have significant stores of PPE in place, we've over 22.5million gloves, nearly seven million aprons and over a million items of eye protection but couldn't we do with more, of course we could.

"There is not a country in the world that has enough PPE in stock.

"We are aggressively pursuing all feasible routes, nationally, internationally and local.

"This is an absolute priority for both me as well as my executive colleagues."

The rifts came on a day when the largest number of deaths of Covid-19 patients was confirmed.

Twelve deaths were announced by the Public Heath Agency on Friday, bringing the region's total to 48 with 904 confirmed cases in the region.

Earlier concerns were expressed with the first batch of PPE equipment which arrived in Dublin from China with images posted online showing gowns with three-quarter length sleeves, leaving arms exposed.

Mr Swann warned he would not accept any inferior materials.
The risk of mass infection in Syria's detention facilities is alarming, and it was extremely high even before the spread of COVID-19, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a press release on Friday, urging Damascus to announce amnesty like in other countries

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd April, 2020) The risk of mass infection in Syria's detention facilities is alarming, and it was extremely high even before the spread of COVID-19, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a press release on Friday, urging Damascus to announce amnesty like in other countries.

"One of the countries where the risk of mass infections in prisons is extremely high and which has yet to take any such action is Syria, where the situation in all official prisons and makeshift detention facilities is alarming ... Even before the onset of COVID-19, we have received a significant number of reports of deaths in the facilities run by the four security branches and in Sednaya [military prison], including as a result of torture and denial of medical care," the office said in a press release.

According to the OHCHR, there are vulnerable groups of citizens in prisons, including elderly people, women and children, and those with underlying health conditions.

The organization also pointed to the the Syrian government's recent decree, which grants amnesty for some criminals and military deserters

"We urge the Syrian Government and the armed groups to take urgent action -- following the example of other countries -- to release sufficient numbers of [detainees] to prevent COVID-19 leading to yet more loss of life and misery after nine years of unrelenting death, destruction of the health system and displacement. We also call on all parties to allow humanitarian actors and medical teams unhindered access to prisons and other places of detention to check the conditions under which the detainees live and asses their needs," the press release added.

So far, Syria has confirmed 16 cases of the disease and two deaths on its soil.
Known coronavirus cases in Louisiana continue to spike, but uneven and unpredictable delays in reporting test results and a lack of granular data on when Louisianans are first coming down with symptoms are clouding the states view of just how widespread the epidemic truly is  and how quickly its growing.

Exhibit A was the giant tranche of new test results from commercial labs that landed Thursday. The results were alarming on the one hand, showing a 42% increase in known cases, an apparent sign that the coronaviruss spread is accelerating.

But Gov. John Bel Edwards said many of them were dated  more likely reflecting the partial clearing of a massive backlog in old tests than a rapid spike in new cases  and didn't reflect officials' understanding of conditions on the ground.

Edwards said Thursday that state officials, while paying close attention to the number of known cases, are focused on two much more tangible and reliable metrics: The number of seriously ill patients currently being treated in hospitals and the daily death toll from the virus.

Those two data points actually can tell you what trajectory youre on, said Edwards. Thats whats informing our model and, quite frankly, it suggests were still headed to a place where were going to overwhelm the states hospitals.

Predicting when hospitals in Louisiana could be inundated with critically ill patients  and deciding where to send desperately needed health care workers and resources  is currently the states top concern amid the worsening crisis, said Susan Hassig, an epidemiologist at Tulane University who studies infectious diseases and public health.

But still-limited testing for coronavirus  along with a slew of variables in how test results are being reported to the state  makes it difficult to get a fix on how many Louisianans the coronavirus has infected. That in turn complicates efforts to determine whether stay-at-home measures are indeed flattening the curve.

The testing capability  not just in Louisiana  has been focused on keeping the healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed, said Rebecca Christofferson, an expert in infectious diseases at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Community testing really early on across the U.S. would have helped us have more directed responses that may have affected the curve. But right now, we're all in the same boat, which is testing who we can with the resources we have.

Ochsner Health secures 5-minute coronavirus test that could go to ERs, labor units With known coronavirus cases in Louisiana surging and officials criticizing long test turnaround times from commercial labs, one statewide hos

The confusion over what the state's daily total of positive tests results actually means has become especially troublesome with the rapid expansion of commercial testing in Louisiana, an otherwise welcome development which has helped propel the state into the national leaders in testing on a per-capita basis.

More than 90% of Louisianas test results now come from commercial labs, whereas in the early days of the outbreak, nearly all tests came from the state lab. But while state lab tests are almost all returned within three days, the private tests often take a week or longer.

In a perfect world, if 100 people got tested on Day One and the test took three days, in three days, youd have 100 test results. But thats not the reality, said Jennifer Avegno, health director for the city of New Orleans.

In the beginning it was more like that. The criteria [for testing] were very restrictive, and the state was the only one processing it. Now were relying on these commercial labs, and they are not sending information in a consistent manner.

In fact, Avegno said Thursday that she is still waiting on hundreds of results from commercial tests taken at the citys two drive-thru sites on March 22. That was 11 days ago, the first day the sites were opened to the general public.

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Most of the laggard tests are being processed by LabCorp, said Avegno, who held a news conference Wednesday to grouse about delays and take the firm to task.

Given the uncertainties around testing, the number of people in hospitals or dying from the coronavirus is a far more straightforward measure of the epidemics course, Hassig said, because those criteria dont shift in the way tests have. But people who end up in such dire straits were likely infected weeks ago, meaning those measures also provide a much more delayed picture.

The challenge is that the tools we have are very blunt in terms of really understanding whats going on, Hassig said. I look at positive tests as an estimate of the lower bound. The number of real infections is somewhere well above that -- but we have no ability at this point in time in predicting how far above it.

Hassig said focusing on things like hospital beds and available ventilators is key to making it through the immediate crisis. But both Hassig and Christofferson said a clear view of just how many Louisianans were infected by the virus  and how rapidly it spread  will be crucial in the coming months as state leaders begin weighing whether to lift restrictions and preparing to respond to potential future outbreaks.

Thatd give us at least a place to start in thinking about possibly easing up on social distancing, thinking about what our response will be if or when it does come back, Hassig said.

Health officials said theyre trying to gather as much data as possible but are also dealing with limited resources in the midst of a major emergency and dont always have the manpower to chase down new metrics.

+5 Help on the way: Out-of-state nurses, docs join coronavirus fight in Louisiana hospitals As hospitals in Louisiana bear the brunt of one of the nations swiftest and most deadly coronavirus outbreaks, health care workers from aroun

Avegno said she has some additional data about when tests were taken, which is how she know she is still missing a batch of tests from March 22. But she said she hasnt had time to try to improve modeling by, for instance, tracking the spread of the virus by counting cases based on the date the test was taken rather than when the result was reported.

Were so busy with boots on the ground that there hasnt been a lot of time for sophisticated analysis, she said.

While positive tests have proved a vexing barometer of the diseases progression, she said she sees other hopeful signs that the spread of coronavirus is waning. Among them: a slowing demand for the drive-thru tests in the city; a modest slowdown in deaths over the past couple of days; and a nationwide analysis by the New York Times that suggested that New Orleanians, among others, had dramatically pared back their travel behavior.

In the end, death is the metric that really matters, Avegno said.

If the number of deaths continues to track upwards more slowly than the cases  to me thats the best marker of how were doing, she said. My hope and prayer is that deaths do not rise in the way that case numbers have.
Tekashi 6ix9ine has been released from prison early amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.A judge granted his motion for compassionate release on Thursday. TMZ reports that 6ix9ine will serve the remainder of his two year sentence at home.He is under supervision and for the first four months of his home incarceration, he has to wear a GPS monitor. He cannot leave his residence. He can only leave if he needs to seek medical treatment or talk with his attorney and he has to get approval from his parole officer first.The New York Daily News reached out to the Queens Detention Facility and employee told them that 6ix9ine has already been released earlier today.
An Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing. Michael Cooper/PA Wire

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that five millions PPE items will be sent to Northern Ireland from UK stocks.

It comes after Finance Minister Conor Murphy confirmed an order for PPE from China he announced last week as part of a cross-border initiative between Stormont and the Republic of Ireland was "not fulfilled". Mr Murphy said plans were scuppered when global powers entered the race for PPE last weekend.

Meanwhile First Minister Arlene Foster said the Executive is doing everything possible to protect NHS staff. "We might not always agree in our approach but I don't doubt for one minute the sincerity of Michelle, Robin or Conor," she said.

"We need to focus on the things that really matter," she said, adding it was key that advice on social distancing was not drowned out ahead of the weekend.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said progress had been made after a lengthy Executive meeting.

"You need from us more PPE and testing and we are working around the clock to provide those," she said.

Read More

On Thursday night, Mrs O'Neill told BBC Northern Ireland's The View that Health Minister Robin Swann acted "too slowly" in keys areas such as sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE) and ramping up testing.

"Now is not the time for us to lose our nerve," said Mr Swann on Friday. "Now is the time to step up and put our faith in the men and women of the health service."

He confirmed the Westminster government had agreed to provide more PPE to Northern Ireland immediately and said a Randox health staff testing site will go live in the car park of the SSE Arena in Belfast at the weekend.

Twelve more people have died from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency (PHA) announced earlier.

It is the first time the number of people to die in a single day in Northern Ireland has reached double figures since the outbreak of the pandemic, with the death toll now standing at 48.

In the biggest daily increase to date there were 130 new cases of Covid-19 from Thursday as of 11.10am on Friday morning. The total number of confirmed cases in Northern Ireland stands at 904.

A total of 626 tests were carried out, bringing the number of people tested to 7,525.

Read More

Check out our live blog below to see how Friday's coronavirus developments unfolded:
New Jersey residents appear to be taking orders to stay home seriously.

Since March 12, the travel patterns for those in New Jersey have dropped from 3.83 miles per day to 1.45, a 62% decline as residents across the state reckon with the unprecedented threat created by the coronavirus.

Residents in Bergen and Somerset counties are the champions of self-isolation, according to the numbers from data intelligence firm Cuebiq. The median distance traveled by devices in both counties is 0.93 miles, the lowest in the state.

Is the chart not displaying? Click here.

The information comes as a result of an analysis of anonymous cell phone data from 15 million people across the U.S. and was first reported by the New York Times. The numbers are intended to give an idea of how closely each area is following stay-at-home orders while understanding that much of the current travel is occurring for necessary errands, which do not violate orders to stay at home.

Daily travel appears to be dropping, even within the course of the pandemic. Every county in New Jersey saw a drop of at least 12% in the week from March 24 to March 30. The counties with the smaller declines also tend to be those in the southern part of the state, where necessary services such as grocery stores might require more travel to reach.

The decline in New Jersey is more stark than the U.S. as a whole. The average U.S. device was traveling 3.92 miles per day on March 12 and 2.33 miles per day on April 1, a 41% drop.

Eighteen of 21 counties in N.J. are below the current U.S. average.

Among states, New Jersey has 25,590 cases of COVID-19, the second most in the country and more than all but eight countries in the world.

On March 21, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the executive order closing non-essential retail businesses and ordering residents to stay home.

Nick Devlin is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at ndevlin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nickdevlin.
Certain ideas about business leadership are held to be timeless, and certain characteristics of leaders--often including a square jaw, a deep voice, and extroversion--are said to be universal.

In "Leading in the Digital World: How to Foster Creativity, Collaboration, and Inclusivity" (on sale April 7th, 2020, The MIT PRESS), Amit Mukherjee argues that since digital technologies are changing everything else, how could they not change leadership ideologies and styles? As more people worldwide participate equally in business, those assumptions of a leader's ideal profile have become irrelevant. Offering a radical rethinking of leadership, Mukherjee shows why digital technologies call for a new kind of leader--one who emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and inclusivity.

Drawing on a global survey of 700 mid-tier to senior executives and interviews with C-level executives from around the world, Mukherjee explains how digital technologies are already reshaping organizations and work and what this means for leaders. For example, globally dispersed businesses can't reserve key leadership roles for people from exclusive groups; leadership must become inclusive, or fail. Leaders must learn to collaborate in a multipolar world of networked organizations, working with co-located and non-co-located colleagues. Leaders must lead for creativity rather than productivity. Focusing on practice, Mukherjee outlines goals and strategies, warns against unthinking assumptions, and explains how leaders can identify the mindsets, behaviors, and actions they need to pursue. With Leading in the Digital World, Mukherjee offers the definitive book on leadership for the digital era.

###

Amit S. Mukherjee is Professor of Leadership and Strategy at Hult International Business School at its Cambridge, Massachusetts, campus. He formerly held the same title at IMD. His book The Spider's Strategy was named "one of the thirty best business books of 2009" by Soundview Executive Book Summaries.

Advance Praise:

"Curiosity, collaboration, and creativity fuel the engines of transformation in the world today. Digital technologies can give us answers, but we need creative minds to ask the questions, explore new possibilities, and break barriers. Amit Mukherjee has beautifully outlined the techniques that leaders of the future can use and raises important questions on the values they need to instill."

--C. P. Gurnani, CEO and Managing Director, Tech Mahindra
Over nearly two decades, together weve helped protect millions of animals from the horrors of live export.

Progress for Australian animals

In 2002, just before supporters like you enabled us to start in-depth investigative and campaigning work on live export, Australia exported more than 6 million sheep. A shocking figure, and a horrible one. But last year, that number was reduced to 760,918. An 87% drop. Collectively, that means millions and millions of animals have been spared from live export over nearly two decades.

Without our supporters taking action and funding our investigations and initiatives, live export companies could still be sending 6 million sheep  and potentially many more  to endure stressful shipboard journeys and terrifying deaths every single year.

Of course, 760,918 is still too many. One is too many. So: the effort continues. With your ongoing support, well continue doing everything we can to protect animals from this terrible trade.
The statue of a Soviet World War II commander was removed from a district in Prague on Friday.

The decision to remove the statue has drawn angry protests from Russia and pro-Russian Czech President Milos Zeman.

Marshall Ivan Stepanovic Konev led the Red Army forces that liberated Prague and large parts of Czechoslovakia from the Nazi occupation in 1945.

His monument, unveiled in the Prague 6 district in 1980 when the country was occupied by Soviet troops, has been a source of controversy.

Russia vehemently protested when an explanatory text about Konev's role in history crushing the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising in Hungary and preparing the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia was attached to his monument two years ago.

After the site was targeted by vandals, last year, Prague 6 representatives agreed to remove the statue and move it inside where it could not be vandalized.

Russia's Foreign Ministry and Russian embassy in Prague condemned the removal of the statute from its place.

Prague 6 officials said the Konev site will get a new monument to honor the liberators at the end of WWII and his statue will be transferred to a museum.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 15:25:28|Editor: Yurou

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NEW YORK, April 2 (Xinhua)-- The United States tallied over 240,000 COVID-19 cases as the global total surpassed 1 million as of Thursday night local time, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Nearly 6,000 deaths were reported across the country, with over 20 percent occurred in New York City, the data showed.

Twelve individuals on board U.S. cruise ship Coral Princess, including seven guests and five crew members, have tested positive for COVID-19, the company said a statement.

There are 1,898 people including 1,020 passengers and 878 crew members on board the ship, which is en route to Fort Lauderdale, Florida with an estimated arrival date of April 4.

While passengers are asked to self-isolate in their staterooms, the crew will remain in their staterooms when not working. Face masks are being distributed on the ship, the statement said.

Princess Cruises ships have been the scene of the most high-profile coronavirus crises on cruise ships. The Diamond Princess became a hotbed for coronavirus infections in Japan in February, and Grand Princess was plagued by the virus in the U.S. state of California in March.

Sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, which has been docked at a Guam port since last week, were allowed to leave the military base and be quarantined in hotel rooms, said Guan Governor Leon Guerrero on Thursday.

Guerrero said the U.S. Pacific Fleet assured that only sailors who tested negative for COVID-19 would be quarantined in hotel rooms for 14 days where they would have no interaction with local community and be strictly monitored.

The Navy would deal with any sailor in quarantine who tests positive individually, Guerrero added.

Carrying roughly 5,000 sailors, the ship left its San Diego homeport in California in mid-January for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific. It had 93 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday.

Captain Brett Crozier, who commands the Roosevelt, was relieved of his command Thursday. Crozier didn't act professionally "when acting professionally was what was needed the most at the time," acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said at a briefing.

"What I will say, he sent it out pretty broadly and in sending it out broadly he did not take care to ensure that it couldn't be leaked and that's part of his responsibility in my opinion," Modly said.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that the state's request to treat COVID-19 patients at Jacob K. Javits Center, a 2,500-bed facility, has been approved.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Cuomo said that the original plan for Javits was that it be used to take non-COVID patients, but the number of COVID-positive patients has increased so dramatically that it would be beneficial to the state if Javits could accept them.

New York state reported over 92,000 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday night local time, more than the total number in Germany, which topped 84,000.
Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers.

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In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days.

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Bhopal, April 3 : Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has demanded a judicial probe into the alleged starvation death of a 55-year-old man in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district. He has also sought the post-mortem report to be made public, and a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh to the victim's family.

Kamal Nath wrote a letter to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Thursday mentioning about the death of Sundar Lal in Dhamnod of the Dhar district.

The letter said, "You must have read the heart-breaking news of the death of a 55-year-old man from hunger in the Gram Panchayat Dudhi. Despite the right to food law in the country, the death of starvation in the state is condemnable but it is also an indication that the arrangements that the government is claiming are not reaching the citizens. It is a blot on the forehead of the state." Kamal Nath has demanded that the post-mortem report of the deceased be made public and that the family be traced and given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh, so that they too do not suffer from hunger.

He also demanded that a judicial inquiry should be conducted in this case.
Rich Australians could be slugged with higher taxes to fund coronavirus stimulus packages.

In just three weeks, the federal government has spent $320billion on programs to support workers and small businesses hit by COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled three stimulus packages as Australia faces the worst global pandemic in 100 years and the sharpest economic downturn since the 1930s Great Depression.

Griffith University politics lecturer Paul Williams said even a Coalition government would have to consider raising taxes on the highest income earners to fund future employment creation programs for the young unemployed.

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Rich Australians (Sydney Harbour yacht, pictured) could be slugged with higher taxes to fund coronavirus stimulus packages. Griffith University politics lecturer Paul Williams said even a Coalition government would have to consider raising taxes on the highest income earners to fund future employment creation programs for the young unemployed

This could see those earning more than $180,000 pay a top marginal tax rate of 60 per cent, reviving punitive tax rates on the rich that a Labor government scrapped in the mid-1980s.

'The audience would be much more receptive,' Dr Williams told Daily Mail Australia on Friday.

In a shrinking economy teetering on the brink of a severe recession, he said the government would need 'emergency taxation powers on the rich and perhaps even the super rich'.

Dr Williams said taxes could also be raised on those earning more than $1million a year, as companies making super profits paid higher corporate taxes.

Until 1986, Australia still had a top marginal income tax rate of 60 per cent.

Labor prime minister Bob Hawke's government reduced that down to 47 per cent in 1990.

John Howard's Coalition government trimmed that to 45 per cent in 2006.

Nonetheless, Dr Williams said no side of politics would raise taxes on slightly above-average income earners on six-figure salaries.

In just three weeks, the federal government has spent $320billion on programs to support workers and small businesses hit by COVID-19. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled three stimulus packages as Australia faces the worst global pandemic in 100 years and the sharpest economic downturn since the 1930s Great Depression. Pictured is a Centrelink queue at Prahan in Melbourne's east

'If both sides of politics were smart, they won't raise taxes for people on $100,000,' he said.

'They may raise taxes but not exorbitantly.'

During the last election, former Labor leader Bill Shorten vowed to raise the top marginal tax rate to 49.5 per cent for those earning more than $180,000 a year.

Dr Williams said the Mr Morrison would now have more political difficulty attacking Labor over taxes, considering the size of his stimulus packages.

'How is a Morrison Government going to attack a Labor Party as big taxing, big spending socialists? It deletes that criticism from the electoral equation,' he said.

Earlier this week, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg unveiled a $130billion stimulus package to fund $1,500 Jobkeeper wage subsidies for six million Australian workers, as economists forecast unemployment doubling in just weeks as the number of coronavirus cases climbed

Earlier this week, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg unveiled a $130billion stimulus package to fund $1,500 Jobkeeper wage subsidies for six million Australian workers, as economists forecast unemployment doubling in just weeks to the highest level since 1932.

That was on top of a $17.6billion stimulus, which funded $750 payments to 6.5million Australians, from aged and disability pensioners to students, apprentices and the unemployed.

A second stimulus package, worth $66.1 billion, included a $550 a fortnight Coronavirus supplement from April 27, which for six months will effectively double the JobSeeker unemployment benefit.

The Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Office of Financial Management are also providing $105billion in financing for banks to provide cheap small business loans.

Up all, the $320billion in government spending to tackle coronavirus makes up 16.4 per cent of gross domestic product.


Sikkim has not reported any



COVID-19 case so far, a senior health official said on Friday.

The authorities have collected samples of 35 people, but their reports have come out negative, Director General (Health Services) P T Bhutia said.

"There has been no case of COVID-19 in Sikkim till date," he said.

However, eight patients with coronavirus-like symptoms are admitted in various hospitals, Bhutia said.

A total of 1,122 persons have been placed under home quarantine, while another 107 are being quarantined at government facilities in Sikkim.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Google has launched a new website that uses anonymous location data from users of Google products and services to show the level of social distancing in various places, CNBC reported.

The COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports website will show population data for six categories: Retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential. The data will track changes over the course of several weeks, and as recent as over the last 48-to-72 hours, and will initially cover 131 countries as well as individual counties within certain states.

The data will be collected in aggregate, rather than at an individual level, and will not show the absolute number of people appearing in parks or grocery stores. The idea instead is to outline percentages, which highlight potential surges in attendance.

For public health departments, such data may be useful in warning of the next potential COVID-19 access point. This is especially true in combination with other forms of data that are already regularly collected at the local, state, regional and federal levels.

Such information can be especially important as people in different countries begin to return to school and work.

However, these efforts may also raise confidentiality concerns regarding how Google collects user location information.

The new site says that it uses aggregated and anonymized information from the Location History setting in Google Maps and other services, which is turned off by default. By the way, Googles location tracking settings have been a source of confusion over the years - in April 2019, CNBCs Todd Haselton found that Google had been tracking his location for years without him realizing it, and explained how to turn tracking off. In October 2019, Australian officials accused Google of misleading consumers in 2018 and earlier about the settings necessary to turn off location tracking.

Recent efforts have been made because Google and its parent company Alphabet are increasingly collaborating with government officials in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For days, hundreds of teams of police, health and bureaucrats have been out in the field across the country to track down the thousands of Tablighi Jamaat workers who may have come in contact with Covid-19 patients. By last evening, the Union home ministry counted 9,000 Tablighi Jamaat workers and their contacts who had been located and quarantined.

Top government officials who are closely associated with the mammoth exercise told Hindustan Times that they may just be looking at the tip of the iceberg.

It is a nightmare a logistical nightmare and one that stares India right in the face, one official said.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

It started from a seven-storeyed building in central Delhis Nizamuddin, the Markaz. This has been the first stop for the Jamaats foreign workers who arrive in India before they set out into the hinterland for their preaching tours. Some of them from countries that had been exposed to Covid-19 and had picked up the infection.

And then it spread. In the Markaz and later, across the country.

The Markaz at Nizamuddin in central Delhi

Officials said the first priority for the establishment had been to trace nearly 960 foreign workers.

The Tablighi Jamaat did maintain a register of all the foreigners who arrived, just as they had been told. But there were far too many cases where the names and passport numbers were wrong, or misspelt, a senior home ministry official said.

Also read: In 4 years, India put 4,200 foreigners on visa blacklist for Tablighi activities

In the absence of proper documentation, officials had to touch base with the Jamaat coordinators in the countrys 700-plus districts to try to track down the foreigners.

But the bigger challenge, the official said, lies in tracking down the Jamaats Indian followers.

The Jamaat, which has grown into a religious movement across continents, has no proper records.

We are still in the process of reaching out to as many people as possible, as we can, said a top official in the security establishment.

But there were lakhs of people who attended the Jamaats congregations that have been held in parts of the country.

Also read: Markaz leadership resisted, then NSA Ajit Doval dropped by at 2 am

How do you trace them, figure out who came in contact with the suspected or confirmed cases, the official said, hoping that the nationwide lockdown would have helped minimise any further spread of infection from the Jamaats followers.

India isnt the only country that is seeing a surge of cases linked to the Tablighi Jamaat. In neighbouring Pakistan, a gathering of 250,000 people at the Tablighi Jamaats meeting in early March has been linked to infections as far afield as Palestine and Kyrgyzstan.

The Jamaats gatherings in Malaysia in February have been directly linked to over 600 of the countrys 3,000 odd cases.

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A crisis on a scale that defies imagination is sweeping Britains care homes. Unseen, unreported and too often alone, our elderly are dying from the coronavirus epidemic  killed by the system that is meant to keep them safe.

And as they die, they are denied the basic comfort of seeing their loved ones for the last time.

Its the bitter truth that it is our dedicated care workers who are the very people spreading this virus into care homes.

Meanwhile, a far greater risk is created by sending agency workers from one home to the next, unwittingly carrying the virus with them. Once Covid-19 gets into a care home, it is almost inevitable that all the residents and probably all the staff will get it

I want to say this in the starkest possible terms. The public are rightly insistent that doctors, nurses and hospital staff need urgent protection, but a catastrophe of equal proportions is unobserved.

For while we are focused on a few hundred hospitals, there are tens of thousands of care homes across the British Isles where carers are barely coping  despite their heroic and selfless efforts.

They are utterly unprepared for this contagion. They do not have the training to deal with it, and in many cases they are lucky to have even the most basic equipment. One care home manager told me that all the protective gear she had received was a box of 250 flimsy facemasks.

But her staff continue to provide close personal care daily. They are at high risk both of contracting the virus and of spreading it. Crucially, many care workers are employed by agencies that send them to several homes in the course of a week.

This week I was shocked to speechlessness when a lady named Gisela told me that her father Giuseppe had died in isolation, in a care home in my constituency. For seven years, members of Giuseppes family had visited him every single day. That ended several weeks ago

Since the coronavirus crisis began, these institutions have closed their doors to family members. These visits are a highlight of the week for most residents, but its a necessary precaution.

Meanwhile, a far greater risk is created by sending agency workers from one home to the next, unwittingly carrying the virus with them. Once Covid-19 gets into a care home, it is almost inevitable that all the residents and probably all the staff will get it.

Indeed, one manager in my constituency of Hove told me that her home to 75 people was provided with just five testing kits. Four came back positive. At another with only 13 residents, seven staff are off sick with viral symptoms. One is in intensive care.

I was an aid worker in the Balkans for a decade and Im having conversations with care staff and managers now that remind me vividly of that war zone. They are in extreme crisis, being stretched in ways they could never have anticipated.

Yet the Government seems oblivious to all this. Deaths in care homes from coronavirus are not even included in the official statistics, which are based on hospital fatalities only.

Residents are being asked to sign do not resuscitate (DNR) forms and told attending hospital wont be an option for most of them.

Meanwhile, care homes are being told to prepare for inevitable outbreaks of fatal disease, in effect becoming hospices with no announcement and no public debate.

In his 90-minute press conference this week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock didnt refer to care homes once.

At the last Prime Ministers Questions before sittings of the Commons were suspended, the PM told me all the protective gear Britain needed would be delivered within a week. Nothing remotely like this has happened

To solve this crisis, four things need urgently to be done. First, everyone who works in a care home has to be tested for Covid-19. If they have the infection, they must not go to work.

Secondly, the agency system that sends carers into several homes each week must stop. The Government needs to work with employers to ensure staff are assigned to just one home each, which will mean urgent funding to increase staff capacity.

Thirdly, we need much more protective equipment. Staff dont have even the basics to deal with Covid-19. This is an outright failure by the Government.

At the last Prime Ministers Questions before sittings of the Commons were suspended, the PM told me all the protective gear Britain needed would be delivered within a week. Nothing remotely like this has happened.

Lastly, we need antibody tests for relatives whose loved ones are dying. People who have already had the virus need to be able to show they are no longer at risk of catching or transmitting the disease.

Without these tests, they are not allowed to be with beloved parents and grandparents in their last hours.

This week I was shocked to speechlessness when a lady named Gisela told me that her father Giuseppe had died in isolation, in a care home in my constituency.

For seven years, members of Giuseppes family had visited him every single day. That ended several weeks ago.

Giuseppe, who had his 95th birthday two days before he died, was completely alone at the end. Giselas heart is breaking at the thought of it. That story is happening up and down the country.

Its barbaric and we have to act now.

Peter Kyle is the Labour MP for Hove
Australians living off low income due to the coronavirus pandemic are sharing pictures of their isolation meals using anything they can find in their kitchen.

As tens of thousands of newly unemployed workers turn to Centrelink after losing their jobs, many are scraping together basic ingredients after raiding the fridge and pantry cupboards to whip up comforting dishes.

The budget meals range from chicken schnitzel with chips and gravy, tinned spaghetti with sausages, fried rice, omelette, rissoles and leftovers.

Australians living off low income due to the coronavirus pandemic are sharing pictures of their isolation meals using anything they can find in their kitchen

After raiding her fridge, the woman reheated her homemade rissoles from the freezer, and served it with mash potato and carrots, cooked frozen peas and a dollop of tomato sauce

One woman shared a picture of her meal which included sliced up Devon ham, grated carrots and chopped up tomatoes after raiding her fridge.

'I am using up what's left in my fridge. I had one tomato left and a carrot I grated to serve with Fritz, (Devon to non SA folk) and a dollop of mustard pickle. Simple and tasty... and budget friendly,' she said in a Facebook group.

On another night, she reheated her homemade rissoles from the freezer, and served it with mash potato and carrots, peas and a dollop of tomato sauce.

'I had a couple of homemade rissoles in my freezer to cook when needed. I mashed a spud and carrot to serve with cooked frozen peas. Not so shabby meal,' she said.

For an 'easy meal you can rustle up in a hurry', she created an omelette.

'I beat two eggs, added some grated cheese, frozen corn, sliced tomatoes and a shake of chives on top,' she said.

Another woman made tinned spaghetti with leftover sausages to create her meal - as she admitted it's 'not the best looking meal but cheap using leftovers'.

Another woman made tinned spaghetti with leftover sausages to create her meal (left), while one mother said she has been using ingredients to 'stretch' her rice meals (right) out to feed her family of five in light of recent events

Another woman put together her dish using Mi Goreng noodles, frozen vegetables and eggs

Many shared their creations on social media, including one woman who created chicken schnitzel with caramelised onion, chips and gravy

Many mothers said it was their favourite go-to meal when they just want a quick and easy option for dinner, with one saying: 'Tinned spaghetti and sausages is a staple in my house. So yummy and such a cheap meal'.

In light of the recent events, one mother said she has been using ingredients to 'stretch' her rice meals out to feed her family of five.

'Hubby and I have decided to have a stretchy meal and basically a rice meal on a loop to try and save what little we do have for as long as we can,' she explained.

'Tonight we have tuna, rice, Aldi jar sauce and some corn kernels. Quite tasty actually. I know it doesn't look the best but the kids are enjoying it so that's also a bonus.'

Another woman put together her dish using multiple ingredients, including the popular Mi Goreng noodles.

'Tonight's dinner Mi Goreng noodles with some veggies and a poached egg. Super cheap. Everyone loved it,' she said.

'It's not the healthiest meal but meat at the moment is so restrictive and expensive.'
April 3 (Reuters) - Constellation Brands Inc, the U.S. distributor of Corona beer, said on Friday its Mexican breweries were still operational and supply to the United States was intact even as rivals suspended production due to the coronavirus pandemic.

AB InBev-owned Grupo Modelo and Dutch brewer Heineken recently suspended their Mexican operations after the country declared a health emergency and ordered the suspension of non-essential activities.

Constellation Chief Executive Officer Bill Newlands said the company was not going against government recommendations.

"I have no comment regarding a competitor and what they are choosing to do or not choosing to do... What I would say is, today... we are operating," Newlands said on a conference call with analysts.

The brewer's Corona and Modelo beers have been a huge hit with consumers, especially among the Hispanic population, helping it gain market share in the United States.

Constellation bought U.S. distribution rights for Corona beer from AB InBev's Grupo Modelo in 2013.

The company operates two breweries at Nava and Obregon in Mexico, where it produces about 34 million hectoliters of beer, according to a 2019 filing.

Newlands said staff were being screened for temperatures at the company's facilities and have been maintaining social distancing protocols.

"We have changed how we run shifts in our plant to make sure there are no overlaps in case any issues occur with people's health," he said.

The company added its production facilities and distributors in the United States, Italy and New Zealand were also operational.

Constellation reported a fourth-quarter profit of $2.18 per share, 41 cents above expectations, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Net sales rose 5.9% to $1.9 bln, also beating Wall Street estimates, driven by demand for Corona Refresca, Premier and Modelo Especial beers.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Ramakrishnan M.)
People social distancing in circles at Domino Park in Brooklyn during the current coronavirus outbreak, Sunday, May 17, 2020, in New York.

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

We're no longer updating this page, but our graphics are automatically updating with the latest case and death counts. Below is a roundup of our previous coronavirus pandemic coverage.

Data Ticker - Covid 19 Global and US

A global map shows the distribution of cases worldwide.

See how cases and deaths worldwide have risen over time since the outbreak began.

See our live tracker of coronavirus cases worldwide.

THE JOB HUNTER'S TOOL KIT: The ultimate tips, tricks, and resources for finding your dream job during the pandemic and beyond.

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Finding work often involves sending out countless resumes in hopes that someone takes a look. But there are better ways to catch a company's eye, especially while hiring is slow amid a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic.

Top tips for finding your dream job and landing an ace position include far more than impressive cover letters, say hiring managers and career experts.

Story continues

Business Insider regularly interviews managers who reveal what they look for in candidates, along with employees who've landed lucrative roles in companies like Netflix and Facebook. You can read them all by subscribing to BI Prime.

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Read the original article on Business Insider
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: While the Ghaziabad district administration has been asked to invoke

the National Security Act (NSA) against six Tablighi Jamaat members on Friday after they were booked for misbehaviour and acts of obscenity towards the nursing

staff of MMG district hospital, the culprits have been shifted to Raj Kumar

Goel Institute of Technology and quarantined.

Taking strong note of the incident, UP CM Yogi Adityanath condemned it as an

unpardonable crime and also issued directives to the authorities concerned

not to depute any female nursing or police staff in the isolation wards where

Tablighi Jamaat members were quarantined across the state hospitals.

Moreover, the stringent NSA would also be slapped on people who attack

policeman enforcing the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Uttar Pradesh government said on Friday. The state government's move to invoke the NSA comes in view of reports of several incidents of attacks on policemen

enforcing the lockdown.



CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES

Notably, an FIR was lodged against the six Jamaatis quarantined at MMG district

hospital of Ghaziabad late on Thursday night following a written complaint lodged by hospital Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) Dr Ravindra Singh accusing

the Jamaatis of indulging in obscenity and making lewd gestures at nurses and

female para-medical staff of the hospital.

After the hospital's complaint to the police, CM Yogi ordered the authorities to

book them under the tough law -- NSA-- that allowed detention without charges

for up to a year if the accused were seen to threaten public order. They would be

sent to jail after completing the quarantine period.

"They will not follow the law, nor will they accept orders. They are enemies of

humanity. What they have done with women healthcare providers is a heinous

crime. We are invoking the National Security Act against them. We will not spare

them," Yogi Adityanath said.

All the six Jamaatis had attended the meeting at Nizamuddin and were brought to MMG hospital on March 31 and quarantined. One of them has already tested positive for the deadly virus.

The six Jamaatis were booked under Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 294 (Any obscene act in any public place, or sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 269 (Intent to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life), 270 & 271 (Any malignant act to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).

CMS Dr Ravindra Singh, in his complaint, had accused the group of harassing the

women staff by roaming without trousers, humming filthy songs and refusing

to follow the isolation rules. When confronted, they used expletives and laughed off instructions for social distancing, said Dr Singh.

Meanwhile, similar reports of harassment of medical staff by Jamaatis have been

trickling in from different districts of UP.

While 10 jamatis were booked in Lakhimpur Kheri for offering prayers in a mosque

despite the lockdown, in Kannauj, a mob of 30 attacked police personnel who

had gone to disperse them from a house where they had herded to offer namaz on

Friday. Two cops sustained serious injuries in the scuffle.

Similarly, in Kanpur, while being in quarantine at Halet and Ursala hospitals, 31

Jamaatis littered their isolation wards with garbage and violated the norms

of social distancing to offer namaz together in one ward. Consequently, they all

were shifted to Naraina Medical College where their number has gone up to

56.

A curious case of violation of restrictions surfaced in Agra, where Jamatis

quarantined at Madhu resort created a ruckus seeking beef biryani. They claimed

that food being served to them was tasteless and that they were being

quarantined under a conspiracy.

Similar reports emerged in Balrampur and Aligarh where they refused to cooperate

with the medical staff while being in isolation. In Aligarh, they attacked the police party and resorted to stone pelting while being taken for isolation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 11:48:56|Editor: Xiaoxia

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VIENTIANE, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Lao people have widely praised the team of Chinese medical experts who arrived in Laos over the weekend along with medical materials to help the country fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

Soukkhaphone Sisamoud, an official from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Xinhua that Laos and China have pledged to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries, and China has done well to help the Lao people fight the COVID-19 pandemic by sending medical specialists and medical equipment to Laos.

"The Chinese assistance is an humanitarian action," he said.

Chanphouphet Sengthavong, a staff in Mahosot hospital, said China is assisting Laos in many ways such as material and financial aid, and China has sent medical experts who have specific experiences in fighting the COVID-19.

"This is very helpful," she said.

"I am grateful to have experienced Chinese medical staff in our country. We can learn directly from them to control the spread of the virus. The assistance makes me feel hopeful."

Director of the Chinese Studies Center in National University of Laos Sithixay Xayavong said just a few days after the Lao government requested assistance from China to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, the financial and material aid was immediately provided to Laos. In addition, there are many Chinese associations that have donated money and equipment to Laos.

"I think this would be a strong boost to bilateral cooperation. It will help Laos step up its prevention measures against the virus. It's a mutual support for each other to overcome difficulties," said Sithixay.

Thatsany Mixay, a year four student in Lao University of Health, said that China provided protective clothing sets, N95 face masks and standard face masks for medical personnel of Laos to protect them from the virus. "I think the assistance will significantly help protect the lives of the Lao people and boost the capacity of the health sector in Laos to fight the disease."

"I m very thankful to China."

"We will continue our hard work on COVID-19 prevention and control to contain the spread of the virus with the material and financial aid from China," said Thatsany.

The total number of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Laos stood at 10 as of Thursday. All of them are not in serious condition.

Laos reported the first two cases on March 24.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday said nonfarm payrolls contracted by 701,000 in March amid coronavirus pandemic.

The bureau said that as the coronavirus forced a widespread U.S. economic shutdown, many Americans lost their jobs.

The development marked a sharp decline from the revised job gains for February and was far deeper than the 100,000 job losses forecast by economists.

Reports said the latest report includes only data through March 14, meaning it does not count the last two weeks of the month, a period that saw 10 million Americans file for unemployment insurance.

The development makes it the first time the monthly report has shown jobs lost since 2010  even as the world continues to battle the effect of the virus on global economy.

In addition, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.4 per cent from 3.5 per cent in February.

The situation in the U.S. rapidly deteriorated in March as cases of COVID-19 spiked and the virus was officially declared a pandemic.

On Thursday, confirmed cases of COVID-19 passed 1 million globally, with more than 50,000 deaths.

While the contraction remains worrisome, the report still does not show the full extent of coronavirus damage on U.S. jobs. Details showed that the report includes the week and pay period that ended March 14, so anyone who worked during that week is counted as employed, even if they were laid off midweek.

On March 16, President Donald Trump recommended strict guidelines to slow the coronavirus spread. The guideline included closing schools, avoiding large groups, avoiding nonessential travel, and staying away from bars and restaurants.

Media reports said that the strict guidelines dramatically slowed parts of the economy by encouraging people to stay at home and practice social distancing. That led to massive spikes in unemployment-insurance filings as workers were laid off by businesses considered to be nonessential.

Over the two weeks that ended March 28, a record 10 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance.

Global Impact

Many economists forecast further pain and an inevitable recession ahead as the world continues to battle the spread of the virus. In the United States, analysts are forecasting negative gross domestic product in the second quarter, showing a contracting economy.

Bank of America is forecasting as many as 20 million job losses and a 15.6% unemployment rate in the deepest recession on record.

As layoffs continue, the percent without jobs could spike.

Nigeria

In Nigeria, although the general impact of the pandemic on the economy is already being felt, its effect on jobs still remain unknown in the absence of data.

The last time the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the unemployment report was December 2018.

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In the report, Nigerias unemployment rate increased from 18.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2017 to 23.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2018.

The statistics bureau added that the economically active or working age population (15  64 years of age) increased from 111.1 million in Q3 2017 to 115.5 million in Q3 2018.

Last month, as parts of efforts to contain the effects of the coronavirus on the nations economy, the Nigerian government announced plans to halt recruitment exercises in the public service.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said that government resolved to stop recruitment, except for essential services such as security and health services. It has also resolved to strictly restore and comply with the Civil Service Retirement Regulations, she added.

The other policy matters that have been discussed for implementation is for the administration to stop recruitment, except for essential services such as security and health services and to also restore and comply by the Civil Service Retirement Regulations, she explained.

Similarly, the economic advisory council said in March that Nigeria would have to work hard to keep its head above the waters of economic troubles due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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The Doyin Salami-led council said the crisis could trigger slower growth, uncertainty, oil glut, trade imbalance, drop in foreign reserves and rise in unemployment.

The last major recruitment exercise done by the Nigerian government was carried out in February when the NNPC recruited 1,050 graduate trainees.

The coronavirus outbreak has forced industries to halt production amid lockdown in major cities of the world as governments strengthen efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, shown in this file photo, are urging British Columbians not to travel to small or remote communities, and to stay away from vacation properties and second homes outside urban areas, in a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Pune-based businessman and philanthropist Shantilal Muttha, founder, Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana has a history of undertaking relief work in every major disaster that has struck India in the last 30 years- be it the 1993 Latur and Bhuj (2001) earthquakes or the 2004 tsunami in southern India.

This time round, the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana founded by him has launched 11 mobile clinics in Pune city and a Maharashtra-wide blood donation drive. This is besides creating quarantine facilities for 2,000 patients at the Wagholi Educational and Rehabilitation Centre. Muttha spoke to Abhay Vaidya on the challenges of undertaking relief work during the current Covid-19 crisis.

How do you compare the Covid-19 disaster to the other major disasters such as the Latur and Bhuj earthquakes and the 2004 tsunami in which you had led the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana in the relief work?

I have undertaken disaster management work on a number of occasions in the last 30 years and in all those disasters, we never faced any restriction on the movement of our relief workers.

In this disaster the situation is that most of our volunteers are unable to step out of their homes. Our challenge is to do the work from home. Some amount of work has to be done on the field; there is no alternative to that. Our relief workers have shown that they have the capacity to take this life-threatening risk.

I have been appealing to doctors that I can provide them with relief assistants, but I need them too.

We have launched 11 mobile clinics in Pune city; we have the entire support staff but are having great difficulty in getting doctors to go with these mobile clinics. What should the common man do if even doctors are unwilling to step out for relief work? This is the biggest difference that I have seen in this disaster and the previous ones.

In any case, we are expanding this mobile clinic service and in the next three days you will see another 30 mobile clinics in other parts of Maharashtra.

You have introduced 11 mobile clinics in Pune and a blood collection drive across Maharashtra. What were the trigger points for zeroing on these initiatives?

I have always tried to anticipate and focus on what would be needed most- especially in the coming days and weeks, after a disaster strikes. What is it that is likely to be neglected?

The government is pre-occupied in dealing with the immediate crisis at hand. The first thing I did was to offer our entire educational complex at Wagholi for creating quarantine/isolation facilities. We have 250 rooms there with attached toilets and a capacity to house 2,000 patients. Each of these rooms have been equipped with beds, mattresses, hot water for bathing, drinking water and basic infrastructure. Government can use this facility as quarantine centre.

I focused on the blood donation drive because a massive need for blood will arise after April 14. We wont realise this now. All the surgeries which have been put on hold will begin. With the resumption of traffic, there will be road accidents and overall, there will be a high demand for blood. We have prepared for that situation.

How are you ensuring the safety of your relief workers who are on the field?

We are maintaining social distance, and all have been provided with masks, sanitisers; our vehicles are being sanitised daily. All precautions are being taken.

As we are aware, the relief work is happening on a massive scale. Where do you see the gaps in this relief work?

Covid-19 is a health related crisis. The food and nutrition of the people have to be taken care of. One of the biggest gaps I see is the unavailability of private doctors in this crisis. This is the time when they need to step forward and participate in the relief work.
The number of people infected with coronavirus disease Covid-19 in the country inched towards 2,500 on Friday. The latest figures posted by the Union health ministry today morning said the number of Covid-19 cases stand at 2301.

Highlights Health ministry says total number of Covid-19 cases in the country are 2301 20 existing, 22 potential coronavirus hotspots identified by government PM Modi said lockdown working, urged people to keep the momentum going

The country is in the middle of a three-week long nationwide shutdown to ensure the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak does not assume the proportions it has in countries such as Italy and the United States.

Several states including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala reported significant rise in the number of Covid-19 positive cases. In Maharashtra, at least 81 more tested positive on Thursday, taking its tally to 416, while two more patients succumbed to the infection, increasing the toll to 19.

More on Covid-19:

 Covid-19: Your guide to staying safe

 Covid-19: What you need to know today

 Can Covid-19 spread after symptoms end?

 How coronavirus is different from seasonal flu and common cold

In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said there are 208 Covid-19 patients in the national capital, of which 108 were evacuated from the Nizamuddin Markaz of the Tablighi Jamaat. He said two people who had attended the congregation died due to the disease on Thursday and cautioned that the number of positive cases may shoot up in the national capital in coming days.

With the Jamaat congregation in Delhis Nizamuddin area last month emerging as one of the biggest hotspots of the coronavirus outbreak, authorities said nearly 9,000 people - members of the Jamaat and their primary contacts - have been identified and quarantined across the country. This includes, 1,306 foreigners associated with the group.

A majority of the new cases identified on Thursday are linked to the congregation, officials said. The health ministry, however, asserted there was no evidence of community transmission and 20 existing and 22 potential hotspots have been identified across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday issued a video message in which he asked countrymen to stay united in the fight against Covid-19. He also urged people to challenge the darkness of the coronavirus by lighting a lamp, torch or mobile flashlight on Sunday.

PM Modi had interacted with chief ministers through a video conference on Thursday and told them to focus on Covid-19 containment measures - testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine - and said it was imperative to work on a war footing, identify hotspots and ensure that the infection does not spread.

Hopes of the 21-day lockdown getting removed, at least partially, rose after Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said airlines are free to allow ticket booking for flights after April 14. He also said resumption of international flights will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on which countries they are coming from, after the lockdown ends.

In less than 100 days in the year 2020 - Thursday was the 93rd day to be precise - the virus has infected one million people globally and killed 50,000, ripping through 203 countries in a rampage that will likely exact as severe an economic, social and psychological toll as the number of casualties by the time humanity can beat it. Till now, a little over 200,000 have recovered from the disease.
The Puducherry district administration has ordered the dismissal of 54 workers at a government medical college hospital here, designated as an exclusive institution for COVID-19 patients, for 'dereliction of duty and negligence' by abstaining from work on 2 April.

Puducherry: The Puducherry district administration has ordered the dismissal of 54 workers at a government medical college hospital here, designated as an exclusive institution for COVID-19 patients, for "dereliction of duty and negligence" by abstaining from work on 2 April.

In the order issued by District Collector T Arun on Thursday, it was stated that a report was submitted by the Dean of Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital referring to the absence of the workers, who were engaged on a contract basis.

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The order said the absence of workers on 2 April had disrupted emergency services at the hospital, a COVID 19 institution and interrupted in the discharge of duty by other officials in the hospital.

It observed that this act on the part of the workers showed "dereliction of duty and negligence" in controlling the pandemic.

As the workers were engaged on a contract basis, the institute had the right to terminate their services without any notice as per the terms and conditions of the agreement.

The termination came into immediate effect to ensure the smooth functioning of the COVID-19 hospital, it pointed out.

The workers had resorted to demonstration recently to bring to focus their charter of demands.
Representative image

- The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is likely a global effect of natural habitat destruction combined with the effects of globalisation, experts say.

- The pandemic has brought zoonotic diseases into focus. India is among the top geographical hotspots for zoonotic diseases, and in recent past, India has seen emergence and re-emergence of high priority and neglected zoonoses.

- Researchers say that usually in undisturbed habitats, viruses keep circulating in mild forms in animals. It is when this equilibrium is disturbed and they come in contact with humans, some cross the species barrier due to a mutation, and human infections start taking place.

- When extractive industries, such as logging, oil exploration, and mining, are implemented in largely uninhabited wilderness areas, they provide the opportunity for human exposure to novel pathogens.

The novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, pandemic, believed to have been triggered by the transmission of the virus from animals to humans, has brought into sharp focus zoonotic diseases that are spread by animals forced to move out of their natural habitats that are increasingly being destroyed, say experts.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Destruction of forests for growing crops, urban expansion and building road networks and a parallel intensification of wildlife trade has resulted in ecological conditions and movement of wild animals, which are reservoirs of some viruses or bacteria, towards human settlements. This, in turn, results in the emergence of new pathogens, they say.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely a global effect of natural habitat destruction combined with the effects of globalisation, says Maria Cristina Rulli, professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, who has worked extensively on the links between Ebola virus disease outbreaks and forest destruction in Africa.

The pandemic shows how vulnerable humanity is to major environmental and human health emergencies and how a local event may soon turn into a global crisis, she told Mongabay-India.

This is something scientists have been predicting could have happened, Rulli says, adding that one of the key lessons pandemics teach us is the existence of a nexus between human health and the environment.

While scientists have not yet identified the index case or where exactly the spillover to humans took place, the province of Hubei and the surrounding provinces in China have indeed been affected by land use change and habitat destruction, says Rulli. But it might (also) be that the virus arrived from another region through illegal importation of bushmeat.

Ramesh Dhiman, former scientist with the National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, agrees that there are strong links between destruction of natural habitats of animals, and a rise in man-vector contact, leading to an upsurge in zoonotic diseases. India is among the top geographical hotspots for zoonotic diseases, and in recent past, India has seen emergence and re-emergence of high priority and neglected zoonoses, Dhiman had earlier cautioned in a report in Medical Reports and Case Studies in 2018.

In recent years, the intrusion of human beings into habitats of rodents and mites, particularly for cutting grass, has resulted in a wider distribution of scrub typhus disease in India, he says. A similar link between increased risk of scrub typhus and deforestation was recently reported in South Korea too, he pointed out.

Similarly, local deforestation has been linked to the emergence of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in and around Shimoga in Karnataka state, while the emergence of Nipah Virus is being linked to changes in ecological conditions that have led to fruit bats coming out of their natural habitat and feeding on agricultural produce.

This is in addition to insect-borne infections such as dengue, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis, which have re-emerged in the Indian sub-continent, Dhiman says.

Rajan Patil, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at SRM University, Chennai, says growing proximity between human settlements and wildlife is increasing the rate of disease transmission between domestic animals and wildlife. Irrespective of whether humans are going into forest areas or animals are coming to human settlements due to deforestation, viruses are being exchanged, he says.

Usually in undisturbed habitats, viruses keep circulating in mild forms in animals. It is when this equilibrium is disturbed and they come in contact with humans, some cross the species barrier due to a mutation, and human infections start taking place, Patil explains. He cites the example of swine flu (H1N1) virus that remains a very mild infection in pigs, but becomes deadly when it mutates and crosses over to humans.

Patils team had previously attributed Nipah and Hendra virus outbreaks to destruction of forests that have adversely affected the roosting site for fruit bat species which is the reservoir for these pathogens. As a result, fruit bats have shifted to the fruit trees in human settlements, increasing contact between human and bats.

Other examples cited by Patil are Lyme disease transmitted by ticks through white-footed mice; West Nile Disease, a mosquito-borne disease whose primary reservoir is wild birds; and an outbreak of anthrax in Chhattisgarh state which he attributes to loss of biodiversity.

Globally too, experts are linking deforestation with recent outbreaks. Tropical deforestation in southeast Asia, and in South America, has been increasing at alarming rates, points out Rulli.

Rullis work on Ebola has shown how the index cases of about 10 Ebola epidemics in Africa over the last two decades occurred in regions affected by deforestation and forest fragmentation. According to her, the spillover from wildlife or reservoir species into humans is favoured by land use change such as deforestation and forest fragmentation for a variety of reasons. One is that as humans encroach wildlife habitats, there are increased chances of human contact with infected species. A second is that natural habitat destruction alters animal community dynamics, and sometimes increases the numbers of some generalist pathogens that can reside in a range of hosts, and reduces the numbers of specialist species that thrive in limited hosts in the previous undisturbed conditions.

Thomas Gillespie, Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University, US says that when extractive industries, such as logging, oil exploration and mining, are implemented in largely uninhabited wilderness areas, they provide the opportunity for human exposure to novel pathogens.

Everyone is talking about the problem of the wet (illegal black market) market in Wuhan, but what about the effects of the nearby Three Gorges Dam project? asks Gillespie. It is the worlds largest hydroelectric power station, built on the Yangtze river in an area that was previously a mix of secondary forest and agricultural land. Many of the animals that used to live in that area likely died when their habitat was destroyed, but bats can fly.

While scientists do not have the necessary data yet on where exactly the dislodged bats went or how did they adapt, but there are plausible linkages, he says.

Whenever you have novel interactions with a diverse range of species in one place  whether thats in a natural environment like a tropical forest or in an artificially created environment like a wet market  you can have spillover events, says Gillespie.

The wet markets really represent the minority of opportunities for spillover to occur, he says. Close to a third of diseases that emerge are linked to large-scale land-use change like deforestation and well over half of diseases that emerge are coming from wildlife in forests  including such well-known examples as HIV and Ebola.

Gillespie says there are many examples of pathogen spillover related to deforestation for agricultural monocultures including palm oil, for example Nipah and Lassa viruses; sugarcane and soybean in the case of hantavirus.

He traces the emergence of Nipah virus, for example, to deforestation for palm oil production and an El Nino-driven drought that led to large-scale burning of rainforests in Indonesia. Forced to find food elsewhere, fruit bats, which are long-distance flyers made their way to Malaysia, where industrial-scale pig farming was expanding rapidly  to the scale of about 500-1000-hectare farms with 25,000-50,000 pigs.

The fruit bats found food from the fruit trees on these pig farms, but the pigs became sick after eating partially eaten fruit that fell from these trees into their enclosures. Pig farmers then became infected by the pigs, and led to the first of a series of recurrent outbreaks of Nipah in people throughout southeast Asia including India, explains Gillespie.

Like the Nipah virus, the global demand for palm oil was the driver for the large-scale land-use change that led to the spillover of Lassa virus, which causes a haemorrhagic fever like Ebola in humans and can kill 30 percent of the infected, in West Africa, says Gillespie. From Sierra Leone to Nigeria, native forest-living rodents were forced to seek out food when forests were cleared to establish palm oil plantations.

In 2013 Gillespies team reported the probable emergence of Saint Louis encephalitis in association with the Conquistadors hauling plundered gold from Peru across the isthmus of Panama to ship back to Spain.

The AIDS pandemic traces its roots back to the butchering of chimpanzees in forested areas of central Africa, he points out.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:58:17|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- More "rational, calm and positive" voices are needed at the current stage in the face of COVID-19, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Friday.

Hua made the remarks when asked to comment on an open letter from 100 Chinese scholars to the people of the United States, calling for global solidarity and cooperation.

The open letter, published on The Diplomat magazine, said that the effort to overcome both the pandemic and its impact would be "nothing short of a long-term and arduous global war," and countries should work together, instead of "complaining, finger-pointing, and blaming one another."

Citing that the pandemic is a global public health crisis "with a horrific scale not seen in generations," Hua said China, like other countries with outbreaks, was a victim of the virus.

"Only through solidarity and cooperation among people of the world can we finally achieve the ultimate victory in fighting the epidemic," Hua said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 14:54:46|Editor: Wang Yamei

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Governor Jay Inslee of the U.S. state of Washington on Thursday announced a month-long extension of his "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" emergency order till May 4 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The order bans all gatherings and temporarily shutters non-essential businesses.

The state Department of Commerce is providing guidance and assistance to businesses on whether they can be considered essential, according to the announcement.

"Epidemiological modeling from the University of Washington predicts we will have at least 1,400 deaths this year," Inslee said. "We are yet to see the full toll of this virus in our state and the modeling we've seen could be much worse if we don't continue what we're doing to slow the spread."

"We have taken dozens of steps under my emergency powers to help people in this time - including moratoriums on evictions, mortgage forbearance, utility ratepayer assistance, unemployment extensions, flexibility on tax payments and cash assistance to families," Inslee said.

In addition to the extension of "Stay Home, Stay Healthy," Inslee signed a directive to secure personal protective equipment as expeditiously as possible.

The state Department of Health on Thursday confirmed a total of 6,585 cases and 262 fatalities in the state.
Over the past week, state and federal governments have demanded that nine cruise ships in Australian waters near major ports depart immediately, despite the risk of mass coronavirus outbreaks on board. As many as twelve other cruise liners are in or near Australian waters.

The dictates have placed at risk the safety and lives of the 11,000 people on board the nine vessels, the majority of whom are low-paid workers. The operators have, for several weeks, insisted that their ships be allowed to dock.

Ruby Princess

This morning, officials in New South Wales, where eight of the ships are located, claimed to have achieved a breakthrough. After weeks of public hectoring and denunciations from politicians and state bureaucrats, some of the companies involved appear to be preparing to remove their boats from Australian waters, with the Pacific Explorer and the Carnival heading north.

The situation facing the other vessels, including those at the greatest risk of a viral outbreak, is uncertain.

Many of the ships are registered in the Caribbean where the multinational companies that own them can take advantage of low tax rates. If the boats leave Australian waters, they face the prospect of weeks, or even months at sea, with the likelihood that other countries en route will also prevent the ships from docking at their ports.

The callous government decrees have been issued in the face of warnings from charity and international shipping workers organisations of a potential humanitarian disaster on board the ships. Already, coronavirus cases have been reported on at least three of the vessels.

The dangers of rapid mass transmission of COVID-19 in the confined quarters of cruise ships are well known. On the Diamond Princess, which was stranded off the coast of Japan last month, 712 of the ships 3,700 passengers and crew were infected. Ten of them died. Hundreds of passengers on the Ruby Princess who disembarked in Sydney later tested positive, with at least seven fatalities so far.

The Ruby Princess is among six vessels still stranded off the New South Wales (NSW) coast. In an act of gross negligence, state and federal authorities allowed 2,700 passengers to leave the vessel last month without any temperature checks, coronavirus tests or medical examinations.

The decision, for which no explanation has been provided, has contributed to the spread of the virus in NSW, Queensland and South Australia. In each state, infected passengers from the ship, or those who contracted the virus from them, account for a substantial proportion of the total number of confirmed cases.

Having facilitated the rapid spread of the virus in this way, the NSW Liberal government is now refusing to safely evacuate the estimated 1,100 crew members who remain on board. Earlier this week, six staff suffering respiratory symptoms were taken from the ship to hospital. This clearly indicates that the virus is continuing to spread on the vessel.

Only on Thursday did state authorities arrange for doctors to board the vessel for discussions with the ships master and medic. The visit was conducted in an aggressive military-style operation involving Australian Border Force officers and NSW police. Doctors later stated that the purpose had not been to examine all crew members, and that further cases were anticipated.

Staff, however, have pleaded to be allowed to leave the ship immediately. In comments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday, one worker said: Its all a nice political chess game, but I strongly believe now is not the time for this. I am concerned, as we are in a closed environment.

Its a mental challenge thinking about the future and what it holds for us [while] reading everywhere that Australia wants us out, the crew member said. They added that it would be doable on a technical aspect for the ship to return to the US, where it is registered, but asked, What if a crew member suddenly needs heavy medical care and were in the middle of nowhere?

Under the direction of the federal Liberal-National government, the Border Force commissioner has issued official notices for all of the ships to leave Australian waters, punishable by substantial fines or criminal prosecution.

Government representatives have begrudgingly acknowledged this week that they are obligated under international law to provide medical treatment to those within their waters. It is clear, however, that only the absolute minimum assistance will be provided.

The callousness of the official response was summed up by federal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who publicly mused yesterday that: Weve also got to be cautious about the fact that if you force these boats to set sail, and they end up having people die or people who are seriously sick by the time they get a couple of hundred nautical miles off the coast, theyd turn around and come back.

The attacks on the cruise ship workers are bipartisan. Western Australian (WA) Labor Premier Mark McGowan held a press conference on Wednesday where he demanded that the Artania leave the states waters and go home. Some 41 passengers and crew from the ship are already being treated in WA hospitals, while some of those trapped on board have reported feeling unwell, an indication that the virus is rampant.

McGowan nevertheless called on the federal government to force the ship to depart, even flagging the possibility of a military takeover of the vessel.

Governments are attempting to whip-up nationalism to divert attention from their criminally-negligent response to the pandemic, which has already provoked widespread anger. Their denunciations of the cruise ships echo their attacks on asylum-seekers, who have been subjected to decades of bipartisan persecution.

As with the brutal treatment of refugees, the decision to jeopardise the safety of thousands of cruise ship workers is a warning to the entire working class. In effect, the ships are being used as a test case for the denial of adequate medical care to broader sections of the population. Underfunded hospitals are already struggling to cope with demand and medical experts are warning that a lack of intensive care beds and ventilators will mean that some critically-ill patients will be unable to receive treatment over the coming months.

Yesterday, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller declared that bringing 9,000 people off the cruise ships could overload the states hospitals. His comment was an admission that the majority of those trapped on board are likely either already infected or at imminent risk of being so, and that nothing will be done about it.

The plight of the cruise ship workers is only the sharpest expression of a broader assault on the safety and conditions of workers within Australia, being enforced by Labor and Liberal-National governments and the corporatised trade unions.

Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sally McManus is collaborating with the government on a daily basis as it hands billions of dollars to the major corporations that are sacking tens of thousands of workers, and does nothing to improve the healthcare system.

The unions have forced their members to continue working, even when they are in immediate danger of contracting COVID-19. This morning, the Age published excerpts of the transcript of a meeting of workers and a Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) representative after it emerged that a worker on the project had been infected.

The workers at Multiplexs $2.8 billion Melbourne Square development, one of Victorias largest development projects, voiced fears that they were at risk of infection. The union official declared that he had received no information from the health department, before instructing workers that they could go home if they wished, but would not be paid if they did so.

In comments to the Age, Dave Noonan, the CFMMEUs national construction secretary declared that the industry was essential and had to continue operations. COVID-19 is a risk that the industry needs to manage if it is to remain in operation through this period, he said.

The sole concern of Noonan and his fellow bureaucrats is that the construction boom continues at all costs. For their role as an industrial police force of the companies, the union officials are handsomely rewarded.

Noonans claim that all construction is essential is exposed by the nature of the Melbourne Square development. The workers forced to stay on the job are not building a hospital or health facilities, but luxury apartments and a high-end retail complex.

Other workers are also being needlessly exposed to the virus.

Earlier this week, six Qantas baggage handlers tested positive at Adelaide airport. The Transport Workers Union has claimed that after the initial infection not enough protections were put in place to stop the spread. The union itself apparently did nothing to intervene. On Wednesday, five more handlers and two of their relatives also tested positive, while up to one hundred other employees may have been exposed.

Several retail workers at Kmart and Coles have also contracted COVID-19, after employees in the sector complained of inadequate precautions.

On Wednesday, St Marys Senior High School in western Sydney, which has 900 pupils, closed after a student tested positive. At least two schools in South Australia shut this week after students or staff contracted the virus.

The cases are an indictment of the state governments, which have insisted on keeping schools open in line with federal directives. For their part, the unions have sought to prevent any unified struggle by teachers for the immediate closure of all schools.
Getting the coronavirus outbreak under control should be the top priority for the Indonesian government, the country's former finance minister said on Friday.

Indonesia has recorded 170 deaths related to COVID-19, the highest toll in Southeast Asia, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Confirmed cases in the country stand at 1,790  fewer than Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, the data showed.

"It's quite clear that getting outbreak under control should be the first priority of the government because containment of the virus will be the key of the recovery," Muhamad Chatib Basri, chairman of think tank Mandiri Institute, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia."

"That's the reason why the government needs to act urgently, immediately," said Basri, who was Indonesia's finance minister from 2013 to 2014 under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Some experts said a lack of testing could have masked the scale of the outbreak in Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world. Others said the government should impose stricter movement controls or even a full lockdown to manage to the situation.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has announced "large-scale" social distancing measures to stem the spread of the virus, while capital city Jakarta  where most infections were found  has declared a state of emergency, reported Reuters.

The country's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati warned that the coronavirus outbreak could bring the Indonesian economy  Southeast Asia's largest  to a halt. She said annual growth could fall to between 0% and 2.5%, much slower than last year's 5.02%, according to a Reuters report.

The Indonesian government has allocated 405 trillion rupiah ($24.5 billion) in additional spending to support the economy  a move that would expand the fiscal deficit in 2020 to 5.07% of gross domestic product, reported Reuters.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 18:34:31|Editor: huaxia

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VIENNA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) daily basket price increased to 18.93 U.S. dollars a barrel on Thursday, up from 16.87 dollars on Wednesday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations released Friday.

Also known as the OPEC reference basket of crude oil, the OPEC basket is a weighted average of oil prices from different OPEC members around the world, and is used as an important benchmark for crude oil prices.

It currently averages the oil prices of 13 countries, namely Algeria, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.
A New York City mother who survived coronavirus has become one of the first Americans to donate her blood plasma in the hope it contains antibodies that will help others still seriously ill with the infection fight it off.

Tiffany Pinckney says she remembers the feeling of her breathe being taken away when she fell ill with COVID-19 and is now both eager to help others, and amazed that her blood may have that ability.

'It is definitely overwhelming to know that in my blood, there may be answers,' Pinckney told The Associated Press.

Doctors around the world are dusting off a century-old treatment for infections: Infusions of blood plasma teeming with immune molecules that helped survivors beat the new coronavirus.

There's no proof it will work. But former patients in Houston and New York were early donors, and now hospitals and blood centers are getting ready for potentially hundreds of survivors to follow.

Tiffany Pinckney poses for a portrait in the Harlem neighborhood of New York on April 1, 2020. After a period of quarantine at home separated from her children, she has recovered from COVID-19. Pinckney became one of the nations first donors of 'convalescent plasma.' Doctors around the world are dusting off a century-old treatment for infections: Infusions of blood plasma teeming with immune molecules that helped survivors beat the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Marshall Ritzell)

In this March 26, 2020 photo provided by Tiffany Pinckney, she donates blood for a study at a hospital in New York after recovering from COVID-19. 'It is definitely overwhelming to know that in my blood, there may be answers,' said Pinckney, 39, (Courtesy Tiffany Pinckney via AP)

'Theres a tremendous call to action,' said Dr David Reich, president of New Yorks Mount Sinai Hospital, which declared Pinckney recovered and raced to collect her blood.

'People feel very helpless in the face of this disease. And this is one thing that people can do to help their fellow human beings.'

As treatments get underway, 'we just hope it works,' he said.

What the history books call 'convalescent serum' was most famously used during the 1918 flu pandemic, and also against measles, bacterial pneumonia and numerous other infections before modern medicine came along.

When infection strikes, the body starts making proteins called antibodies specially designed to target that germ. Those antibodies float in survivors blood - specifically plasma, the yellowish liquid part of blood - for months, even years.

When new diseases erupt and scientists are scrambling for vaccines or drugs, it's 'a stopgap measure that we can put into place quickly,' said Dr Jeffrey Henderson of Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, who is helping to develop a nationwide study.

This 'is not a cure per se, but rather it is a way to reduce the severity of illness,' Henderson said.

Doctors dont know how long survivors' antibodies against COVID-19 will persist.

But for now, 'they're the safest ones on the street,' said Dr Rebecca Haley of Bloodworks Northwest in Seattle, which is working to identify donors. 'We would not be making a dent in their antibody supply for themselves.'

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration told hospitals how to seek case-by-case emergency permission to use convalescent plasma, and Houston Methodist Hospital and Mount Sinai jumped at the chance.

And a desperate public responded, with families taking to social media to plead on behalf of sick loved ones and people recovering asking how they could donate.

According to Michigan State University, more than 1,000 people signed up with the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project alone. Dozens of hospitals formed that group to spur plasma donation and research.

Would-be donors cant just show up at a blood center. Those with a proven infection who've been symptom-free for several weeks must get tested to ensure the virus is gone.

Tiffany lives in New York City, the hardest hit city in the US, and didn't hesitate to say 'yes' when Mt Sinai asked if she'd be willing to donate her plasma. Pictured: in her neighborhood in Harlem

While quarantined for coronavirus, Tiffany was separate from and worried about her children, ages nine and 16. Now that she's beaten the illness, Tiffany says it's 'humbling' to have an opportunity to help others by donating her blood plasma (AP Photo/Marshall Ritzell)

They also must be healthy enough to meet the other requirements for blood donation - plus get an additional test to see if their antibody level is high enough.

'You don't want to take plasma from someone who had a mediocre immune response. That wouldn't be helpful,' said Dr Julie Ledgerwood of the National Institutes of Health.

Chinese doctors last week reported that five patients given convalescent plasma all showed some improvement about a week later. But they also received other therapies, and without a rigorous study, theres no way to know if the plasma made the difference.

Studies are being planned to test convalescent plasma against regular care in sick patients, and to prevent infections among people at high risk of exposure such as health care workers.

Another approach: Spain-based plasma manufacturer Grifols aims to concentrate donor plasma in a North Carolina factory, creating a high-dose version that also would need testing.

Separately, NIH researchers are measuring survivors' antibody levels to learn how strong the vaccines under development must be to protect. Other teams, including at Beijing's Tsinghua University, are hunting which antibodies are most potent, to copy in a lab and turn into drugs.

But donations from people like Pinckney could be used as fast as blood centers can process it.

She got sick the first week of March. First came the fever and chills. She couldn't catch her breath, and deep breathing caused chest pains. The single mother worried about her sons, ages nine and 16.

'I remember being on my bathroom floor crying and praying,' the 39-year-old said.

So when Mount Sinai, which diagnosed her, called Pinckney to check on her recovery and ask if shed consider donating, she didn't hesitate.

'It's humbling. And for me, its also a beacon of hope for someone else,' she said.
'The remark, an ill-judged attempt at humour, was quickly removed from the obituary once it was spotted by someone' (stock photo)

A Glentoran FC spokesman last night admitted that an article describing coronavirus as the "Linfield Virus" had briefly appeared on the club's website this week.

The description appeared as part of a tribute to Albert Kirk, a long-standing supporter of the east Belfast club.

Written by Robert Keenan, chairman of the Castlereagh Glentoran Supporters Club, the obituary included the line: "Unfortunately, due to social restrictions imposed because of the Linfield Virus (sorry force of habit!) the Corona Virus, only immediate family members will be allowed to attend his funeral."

The remark, an ill-judged attempt at humour, was quickly removed from the obituary once it was spotted by someone.

Last night the Glentoran spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph: "It appeared on our website briefly.

"As soon as it was drawn to our attention it was taken down."

He said the derogatory reference to Linfield was missed in the proofreading.

"It's certainly not something we would normally put up on our website," he said.

"It was submitted to us. We are all as busy as hell at the minute, and when it was put through it wasn't proof-read.

"It got through the mix, but as soon as we were alerted to it we took it straight down."

In his tribute to Mr Kirk, Mr Keenan said the supporters club would "make sure our friend will get a suitable commemoration when circumstances allow it".

He added: "Albert, you will be sorely missed, you have left a void in the club that will be hard to fill; but you have left us with many happy memories and stories that will be told time and time again... by grieving friends now, but later, with those recollections... beaming smiles."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, left, speaks as U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, right, and U.S. President Donald Trump listen before the H.R. 748, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is signed in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, March 27, 2020.

Conservative dark money groups are preparing for one of their biggest battles of the year over President Donald Trump's new pick to fill the a seat on a court that once included Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Trump on Friday announced that he will nominate Justin Walker to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court in October 2018 after a bitter fight in the U.S. Senate that included accusations of sexual assault which Kavanaugh vehemently denied.

The fight over Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation included millions of dollars of outside money spent either for or against the controversial judge.

Walker was confirmed in 2019 to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, after the American Bar Association deemed him "not qualified" for the position.

That rating, on top of the fact that most Democrats have opposed many of the president's nominations, has conservative outside groups, such as the Judicial Crisis Network and the Article III Project, preparing for an all-out war in defense of Walker, according to people with direct knowledge of matter.

"The D.C. Circuit is considered the second highest court in the land, and barring a Supreme Court vacancy, this will be the biggest judicial fight this year," Mike Davis, the founder of Article III, told CNBC in an interview on Friday.

Though it's unclear how some of the liberal organizations are planning to take on the Walker nomination, Demand Justice, a group who vehemently opposed Kavanaugh's nomination has already gone on offense.

"The nomination of a Mitch McConnell crony, who has been rated unqualified by his peers, to the second highest court in the country is beyond suspicious," Demand Justice Chief Counsel Christopher Kang said Friday. "We need to know if McConnell contacted Griffith directly, as reports suggest he may have, and if so, what he offered in exchange for his retirement."

Since Democrats are the minority in the Senate, it's unlikely they will be able to block Walker's nomination. Trump and Republicans have repeatedly touted their record of confirming judges across the country.

Tweet:

Still, the groups want to boost Walker's credibility and defend him against liberal attacks.

During the Kavanaugh hearings, the JCN pledged to spend up to $10 million in support of his confirmation.

Their efforts for Walker will include organizing pro-Walker TV and radio appearances, op-eds, and, in some cases, advising Republican lawmakers on how best to drive the message as to why Walker should be confirmed, the people with direct knowledge added. They noted one of the goals will be to galvanize a conservative coalition around the judge.

Article III, along with close to 20 other conservative groups, sent a letter on Friday to Sen. Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committee's ranking Democratic member, to insist on Walker's immediate confirmation.

Read the full letter here

"We strongly support President Trump's nomination of Judge Justin Walker to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and we urge you to confirm him at the earliest opportunity," the letter says. "Every member of this Committee and every American of goodwill should support Judge Walker's nomination to the D.C. Circuit."

The others who signed the letter include the founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk and Erick Erickson, a conservative blogger. The letter was organized by the Article III group.

This group of 501(c)(4) organizations, who do not disclose their donors, will highlight Walker's resume, which includes a job as a former clerk for Kavanaugh and for retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. He also has ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who knows Walker's grandfather.

Davis was previously the chief counsel for nominations under Sen. Chuck Grassley, who was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, before Graham got the position. Davis helped Grassley and Republicans on the committee push Kavanaugh's nomination to the Senate floor where he was confirmed with a razor-thin majority.

The Judicial Crisis Network wouldn't confirm how they're planning to fight back against opposition to Walker, but Carrie Severino, who leads the group, pointed to how they've handled past nominations when asked about their strategy.

"We set up websites, we rally the forces of the conservative coalition, we have run ads, we often do fact checking and the reading of peoples records," Severino said. "We are going to be tailoring our position based on the kind of response we get."
As the nation hunkers down and people shelter in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, several Mississippi businesses have stayed open, switching gears to make much-needed products.

A jeans company is making face guards, a coffeehouse is making loaves of bread and distilleries are making hand sanitizer. Theyre hoping to keep their employees working as they help fellow Mississippians battle the outbreak.

Americans roll up their sleeves. Mississippians roll up their sleeves, Josh West, CEO of Blue Delta Jeans, said at the companys manufacturing plant in Shannon, where the production of custom jeans has been retooled for mask-making. Weve dealt with disasters before, nothing like this, but its just kind of ingrained, especially in the manufacturing community.

Ten seamstresses, wearing gloves and masks, sat behind sewing machines stitching together sheets of fabric and elastic bands to create a face guard. Three layers of white fabric provide enough protection to keep elements from leaving or entering a persons mouth and nose.

The first batch will be going to Memphis, Tennessee, for distribution by the local government. Masks will then be sent to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

We dont want to be the distribution point. The government agencies know where they need to go, West said. We just want to ship our bulk to them and let them distribute the face guards to people.

West estimates a single seamstress can produce about 42 face guards in an hour. With many of his employees ready for the challenge, he has set a goal to make up to 10,000 masks daily.

(Being able to work) means a lot to me, said Sarah Richey, an aide at Blue Delta Jeans who is a widow and has her son and granddaughter living under her roof. Im just glad that we work for a company that has found us something else to do. It makes you feel proud.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported that 3.28 million unemployment claims were filed in the week that ended March 21.

Im so grateful to be considered an essential employee, said Laura Hallmark, the head baker at Strange Brew Coffeehouse in Tupelo. Im grateful to be working at an essential establishment that is providing food for our community. Im grateful because my husband is out of work right now, so Im the breadwinner.

Strange Brew Coffeehouse has 75 employees at three locations in northern Mississippi and is adding up to six more workers. Each location is making up to 50 loaves of fresh homemade bread per day.

I know its exciting that we are hiring this week, which is a word that you dont hear too much around the city right now, Strange Brew Coffeehouse owner Katelyn Reed said moments before interviewing potential employees. Even in times like this, being able to bring on extra hands to to be able to meet the demand is really important, and Im really proud of that.

At the Tupelo location, customers dont have to leave their car because theyre able to pick up on the drive-thru window at the building that was once a gas station.

Customer Maggie Reeder, an occupational therapist in Tupelo, rolled by the drive-thru and bought a loaf of fresh bread while picking up coffee with her friend Kylie Waldrop.

In the store its been really hard to find like toilet paper, bread, milk, eggs, Reeder said.

Lazy Magnolia Brewery in Kiln and Cathead Distillery in Jackson are now producing alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Cathead, which usually makes vodka, announced Monday that it is setting up 55-gallons (208-liter) barrels of hand sanitizer outside four stores in Jackson where people could fill up their own containers for free. Officials were asking people to take no more than 12 ounces (340 grams) each.

Thats pretty much the heart of small business, Reed said. Its doing whatever you can to keep as many people employed as long as you can. We were lucky to find a way that also serves the community.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Mississippi
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Keep the mask on: Australia is going to be in the grips of coronavirus lockdown for the 'long haul', experts say

Australia's strict lockdowns, social distancing measures and border closure are 'reversing the curve' of coronavirus infections in an incredibly hopeful development.

Doctors have spoken for weeks about reducing the rate of infection, or 'flattening the curve'. But two leading public health experts said the nation appears to be doing better than that.

The country's rate of new daily COVID-19 infections has slowed, with the national total hitting 5,315 on Friday. New South Wales, the worst affected state, reported its lowest number of new cases in almost two weeks, 91.

Australian National University infectious diseases Professor Peter Collignon said: 'We have more than just flattened the curve. We are reversing it.'

But Prof Collignon warned 'we will continue to be at risk' until the country gets broad immunity from either mass vaccination or a majority of Australians catch the illness.

Another expert, University of Melbourne epidemiology Professor Tony Blakely said the country is in a 'fantastic position' given the circumstances.

He answered Daily Mail Australia's questions about how Australia got to this point - and the tough choices the nation must make in the days to come.

Is what we're doing working?

Australia closing the border and social distancing measures such as virtually telling the whole country to stay at home appear to have slowed the spread of COVID-19, Prof Blakely said.

'There's two issues. The border controls have slowed the imported cases.

'It's so important to look at the New South Wales data - the most advanced state in the epidemic - and look at the locally acquired cases (as well).

'They look like they're flat, and that is because of the social controls we put in place'.

It could be much worse. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday afternoon that Australia could have 10,000 more cases today without social distancing.

The number of new cases (in light blue) has dropped significantly in the past week, official statistics show

Tough new rules: French nationals line up in breath masks as they prepare to fly out of Australia, having narrowly avoided time spent in quarantine. On right, a man works out in his home officer after the country closed all gyms

Not quite social distancing: Swimmers congregated at Manly Beach on Friday morning to make the most of the mild weather

The nation's chief medical officer, Dr Brendan Murphy, said the growth rate of COVID-19 was falling by about five per cent each day and said the government is 'quietly pleased'.

Prof Blakely said if social distancing works, and continues to work, then states such as Victoria may not run out of intensive care beds. The state is boosting its ICU capacity of 4,000 beds.

Mr Morrison said the government's focus is on keeping pressure on the virus - but has urged Australians to 'be patient' in the months ahead.

But will it get worse?

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 emergency room doctors have described the feeling right now as the calm before the storm - or the moment when the ocean is sucked out to sea before a tsunami hits.

Prof Blakely predicted the country will see an increasing number of intensive care admissions and deaths over the next couple of weeks, even despite infection rates being 'squashed'.

'We will still see a little peak coming up of ICU admissions and deaths because the ICU admissions happen three weeks after you're infected.

'So that means there's still a bit more water to come through the pipe there.'

When Daily Mail Australia spoke to Prof Blakely a fortnight ago, he said his modelling showed as many as 30,000 Australians could die in a 'good' COVID-19 scenario.

That was if the country was 'flattening the curve' - suppressing the virus until 60 per cent of the community gets 'herd immunity'.

But whether the death rate is anywhere near that high depends on what Prime Minister Scott Morrison chooses to do next. 'It all depends on what we do as a society going forward,' he said.

Tough new restrictions at the border: Face mask-wearing French nationals queue to enter Sydney International Airport to fly home on Thursday

Police officers check on returned passengers self-isolating as mandatory quarantine of all arrivals came into effect this week

What happens next? And when will this end?

The prime minister has three choices for how the country should approach coronavirus in the coming months, Prof Blakely said.

But whatever he chooses, the country will be in it for the long haul.

The first way he could fight the virus is with the eradication method. That's an even stronger, New Zealand style lock-down aimed at wiping out the disease in Australia.

Under that scenario, Prof Blakely said everyone would have to 'act like they have COVID-19' while the virus was stamped out by an army of contact-tracers. But it may be too late for this option.

Epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely, from the University of Melbourne

Alternatively, the government could try the 'mitigation method'.

That involves limiting the illness infection rate until it can be managed by hospital intensive care wards. Up to 60 per cent of the population would have to catch the disease for Australia to get 'herd immunity'.

But what the government appears to be doing right now is the third, different option - totally suppressing the virus until a vaccine becomes available.

While that mean fewer people will die from the virus - perhaps just 1,000 - the resulting economic damage could be enormous.

'But we will probably get increased suicide and other causes of mortality and major social disruption that will affect peoples' livelihoods... there are a lot of costs of doing that'.

The country needs to have a debate about how it will proceed, the professor said.

He warned: 'Whichever way we go, whichever choice we make - any of them is going to be a long haul.

'But the one that's going to the longest haul is what we're doing now'.

If the government relaxed its current lockdowns, the disease will probably pop up elsewhere, he said. What the country really needs is a vaccine. 'Your get out of jail card is a vaccine.

'You're basically betting on a vaccine and hoping like hell it comes as soon as possible.'

Prof Blakely said if Australia gets in control of the disease in the next few days, Mr Morrison needs to level with the public about which approach the nation will take, and share with the country what the least worst option is.

'We need to move into decision-making mode,' Prof Blakely said.

It is a huge decision to make.

'We have the biggest choice in front of us since World War II,' he said.
Many older rock stars who managed to survive the excesses of the 1960s and 1970s became Born Again Christians. Ringo Starr, Gloria Gaynor, Little Richard, MC Hammer, and Dion (Dion DeMucci of Dion and the Belmonts) are just a few. Had he lived long enough, John Lennon might have joined that roster.

The Beatles' journey through fame taught them some conservative lessons. George Harrison wrote 1966's "Taxman" because, as he later said, "'Taxman' was when I first realized that, even though we had started earning money, we were actually giving most of it away in taxes. It was and still is typical."

By 1968, having watched the 1960s from a front-row seat, John Lennon was penning "Revolution," an attack on the violent, Marxist drift of the soft leftism that all the 1960s rockers had embraced. The song was especially hard on the leftists' passion for Chairman Mao. Lennon later said his lines about Mao  "But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, You ain't gonna make with anyone anyhow"  were the most important part of the song's lyrics.

Despite an almost innate conservatism, Lennon's song "God," written in 1970, claimed he no longer believed in Jesus. One year later, he wrote "Imagine," one of the more stupid "one world/no religion" songs that came out of the West's 1960s cultural revolution.

After that, though, Lennon went underground. Worn out by celebrity, Lennon hunkered down and became a house husband. Always a searcher, he abandoned George Harrison's Eastern mysticism and worked his way through various occult practices. What fascinated him most, though, was Christianity.

Already in 1972, he'd written to Oral Roberts to confess his drug addiction and to ask for help through Christianity. Through subsequent correspondence with Roberts, and watching televangelists Billy Graham and Pat Robertson, Lennon concluded that the answer to his search had been there all along. In 1977, he even told friends he was a born-again Christian.

While at home going through this spiritual journey, Lennon was the stay-at-home dad to his and Yoko's son Sean. Sean had the benefit of John raising him for five years. When Sean was a little over five, Mark Chapman murdered his father.

Why this whole riff about John Lennon, a man who's been dead forty years? First, Lennon still looms large in popular culture. Second, his son Sean seems to have inherited his father's unexpectedly conservative tilt and his undoubted intelligence.

Those who have been following Sean Ono Lennon's Twitter feed (and I was not one) were already aware that Sean, who seems to hover between disaffected Democrat and hardcore libertarian, has no patience with woke culture or the media:

I think the Left has reached a hard fork. Those that want to explore extreme wokeness, open borders, anti-whiteness, apologizing to homophobic/misogynist theocracies, worlds w/o men, reparations for slavery, cancel culture, etc need to branch off. And good luck: Youll need it. https://t.co/Qm5SV9hVEr  Eric Weinstein (@EricRWeinstein) January 5, 2020

Which of these is most likely a sign of the coming Wokepocalypse? #wokepocalypse  Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) January 14, 2020

Historian of the Future: No no no the Dems did have a chance in 2020, but then they went all in on the impeachment thing and, well, you know the rest.  Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) February 1, 2020

Longtime followers would also have known that Sean Lennon was closely observing the coronavirus and China's role in it. More than that, very early on, he became disgusted by the way in which the media were trying to protect China from its responsibility for releasing what amounts to a modern plague on the world:

Crazy to think its a leaked bio weapon + We have no idea where its from. You cant have no idea and also know one possible idea is crazy. Just sayingpeople downplaying severity of 20X higher mortality than flu, nCov, are not thinking clearly: https://t.co/EI3fdy0U5q  Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) February 11, 2020

Sadly this is not a surprise. The news media are complicit in pretending they believed the CPCs official numbers at any point. Insanity: https://t.co/ix75MPmUnc  Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) February 27, 2020

They know a crisis is an opportunity. They used 9/11 to take civil liberties. I wonder what they will use this pandemic for. I doubt theyll let an opportunity go to waste.  Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) March 15, 2020

We live in a time that calling a virus that came from China, Chinese, is racist, (and arguably dangerous for Asians because: morons). Oh, and calling a virus that probably didnt come from Spain, Spanish, well that makes total sense.  Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) March 20, 2020

The above are Sean Lennon's subtle tweets. By Wednesday, he'd absolutely had it with the media providing cover for the Chinese Communist Party and called them out:

Excuse me how the fudge is this breaking news? And why do we need U.S. Intelligence to tell us what we all already know? https://t.co/3wu05HnMYO  Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) April 1, 2020

Been listening to respectable journalists quoting CCP official numbers for months without doubt or hesitation. Calling it the Wuhan Virus but only days later telling ppl who say its from China theyre racist. The official media have lost their legitimacy.  Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) April 1, 2020

John Lennon would have been proud of his son, who's proving to be as original a thinker as his father was.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Friday said that strict action under Disaster Management Act 2005 will be taken against those who oppose government's efforts of fighting coronavirus.

"Those who oppose the government's move of combating coronavirus, strict action will be taken against such person under the Disaster Management Act 2005. Action will also be taken against those violating quarantine and also against those who assist them in that," Rawat told ANI.

He said that some people under quarantine are not coordinating with the administration and also attempted to damage government property.

"I would like to inform such people that they will be penalised four times along with a police case against them," Rawat stated.

He said that people should not pay heed to rumours and believe in the information provided by the government. "The health department gives information from time to time which is conveyed to people through media," the Chief Minister stressed.

"Everyone is united in the fight against coronavirus. Some people should not let their hard work fail," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
OELWEIN  A Fayette man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into a home and a vehicle on Wednesday.

According to Fayette County sheriffs deputies, a resident found Andrew James Nagel, 21, standing in the kitchen of his home at 15698 40th St. When the resident confronted Nagel, Nagel left the home and took a blanket from a vehicle on the property, court records state.

The resident again approached Nagel, who then dropped the blanket and left, records state.

Authorities allege Nagel then went to Oelwein where he entered other homes.

Nagel was detained and arrested for second-degree burglary and third-degree burglary for the Fayette incident and second-degree burglary and attempted burglary an incident in the 1300 block of Sixth Street NE in Oelwein.

Nagel was also charged on Wednesday in connection with the October 2018 break-in at the Fareway grocery store in Oelwein. About $530 worth of cigarettes were taken from the store during the burglary.

Photos: Missing children in Iowa

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Negotiations with kidnappers of leading opposition leader continue normally, his party says.

Leading Malian opposition leader Soumaila Cisse is doing well more than a week since his abduction, his political party has said, as negotiations with his captors continue for his release.

On March 25, the 70-year-old and members of his team were kidnapped while campaigning in volatile central Mali days before the countrys long-delayed parliamentary election.

Five people kidnapped along with Cisse by unidentified gunmen were freed on Thursday and are doing well, his Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD) party said.

Cisse and three other members of his delegation still detained are also doing well, Demba Traore, URD spokesman, told reporters on Friday.

I can assure you that no ransom was paid, Traore said. Negotiations are continuing normally.

The talks are being led by a local mayor and some community figures.





Fighters with links to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) launch frequent attacks on civilian and military targets in that part of the country.

The Malian government welcomed the liberation of the five, saying it was a good signal for the eventual release of Cisse, a former minister of finance who has run for president three times.

The opposition leader won his seat in the parliamentary election on Sunday, provisional results released on Thursday indicated.

Despite a years-long conflict raging in the country, Cisses abduction was the first of a politician of his rank.

Mali has been struggling to contain an armed rebellion that erupted in the north in 2012, and which has claimed thousands of military and civilian lives.

The country has been plagued by conflict since 2012, when rebels captured much of the countrys arid north.

Armed groups overtook the rebels in the north and swept into the countrys centre, accelerating a conflict which has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians.

More than six years after French forces intervened in 2013 to halt the fighters advance from Malis desert north, the violence has spread across the Sahel, an arid region between the Sahara desert and Africas savannas, to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

According to the United Nations, attacks have increased fivefold in the three countries since 2016 with more than 4,000 deaths reported in 2019 compared with an estimated 770 deaths three years before.
To the Editor:

The March 25 Post-Standard included an op-ed piece by Claudia Tenney, titled "Pandemic shows we must break Chinas grip. Tenney lists some of the nefarious behaviors has exhibited toward the U.S. (as well as other developed nations, not mentioned).

Nothing new has been revealed here. Leaders in government, industry and labor have been talking about this for more than 15 years. All the while theyve been complaining about it, industries in the Western world (plus Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) have been contributing to the problem by outsourcing production, and allowing Chinese firms access to their intellectual property.

Why has Western industry done this? The combination of lower production costs (questionable) and the lure of a billion-consumer market. Its in the nature of capitalism to maximize profit.

Tenney says, we must quickly restore our industrial base, bring supply chains back to America , but she doesnt offer any suggestions as to how to do that.

How could American business be encouraged to bring production back home? Following are some of the methods that have been tried in the past.

Jawboning  that is, verbally trying to convince corporations to act against their own interests. Presidents Truman, Kennedy and Trump all tried and completely failed.

Giving manufacturers substantial subsidies to cover the added costs of manufacturing at home. This is derided by both Republicans and Democrats as corporate welfare, picking winners and losers, and a few other unsavory names.

Giving government the power to order industry to repatriate supply chains and production. In this model, ownership is private, but controlled by government. The name for this is fascism. The president who tried it  Mussolini. Sure worked out well for him, didnt it?

Always good advice: Dont diagnose the illness unless you can prescribe the cure.

Bill Fiske

Cortland

How to submit letters and commentary to Syracuse.com
Students across the country are calling on Irish universities to implement a no detriment policy ahead of upcoming examinations to ensure grades do not suffer as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The policy acts as a safety net to ensure students obtain at least their average grade so far in the year, provided they pass the semester.

The system has been implemented by a number of universities in the UK and means students with a passing grade will finish with a final grade thats either the same or higher than their grade prior to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Petitions calling for a no-detriment policy have gained traction in recent days with thousands of students signing petitions across UL, UCC, UCD, DCU, TCD, NUIG and Maynooth University.

Many students feel the closure of universities has been disruptive to students' study habits, in particular those that are dependent on university facilities such as libraries and laboratories.

Petitioners are urging the university to consider those who have poor internet connection, unsuitable home environments for study, and those who may be sick or caring for sick family members during the current crisis.

A number of Student Unions across the country are supporting non-detriment policies including at University of Limerick.

However, while UL students Academic Officer Colin Lynch supports the policy he says steps would need to be made to ensure it covers all students, including those doing link-in modules or repeating the semester.

Every student should be given the opportunity to improve and every student should be accommodated during this time he said.

Despite the support of students and student representatives on the campus, ULs Critical Operations Team and Executive Committee sent out an email today saying non-detriment was already inherently built into assessment systems at UL.

The results that you will receive are of equivalent value as any year ahead of, or behind you, despite these extraordinary circumstances the email stated.

Commit to your work, distill out the noise of distraction, sustain your energy over the next two months and let your tutors, lecturers and academic leaders take responsibility for the integrity of your assessment and results, and be assured you will not have to question or defend their validity or value.

UL Student Life President Jack Scanlan responded to the statement on Twitter by clarifying that this was not the no-detriment policy the Union brought forward on behalf of students.

We want a policy aligned to what exists in the University of Exeter, he said, where assessments taking place after March 15th fall under a policy wherein students' average grade for the year can only remain the same or higher provided they pass all coursework and summer exams.

UL students reacted with anger to the university's email on social media, with a number of students calling the email condescending.

Online classes and assessments are not an adequate substitute for actual classes, said fourth year student Kate Glasson.

Non-detrimental assessment would ensure that everyone, especially fourth-year students such as myself, would not suffer a decrease in their overall QCA due to extreme and unfortunate circumstances that are beyond their control.

Sinead Murphy, another final year student, said she and other students are facing difficulties studying from home.

I have limited internet access, no desk to work from, no access to the library or books, amongst a range of other limitations. Such limitations impact heavily upon my ability to study from home as I would in college.

At a time where our future is so uncertain, it would be comforting to feel like UL is on their students side, she said.

A number of politicians are also calling for the implementation of a 'no detriment' policy for student grades including Limerick TD Maurice Quinlivan.

"While universities have to their credit, gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure continuity of learning, the reality is that the situation that students find themselves has no comparison with any other academic year" he said.

The Sinn Fein TD said the party has written to the IUA and to the Minister for Education to ask that they engage with the various universities to encourage this model.

Fianna Fail TD Norma Foley has also called for no detriment policies to be implemented.

The Kerry TD said one student contacted her to explain he paid 54 to access one journal.

"He explained that he needed at least 20 more to prepare for his upcoming exams but the cost was just too expensive," she said.

Universities in Edinburgh, Manchester, Southampton and Exeter are among those who have already adopted varying safety net policies which ensure students are not disadvantaged in upcoming assessments.
OPEC sources later confirmed that an OPEC+ meeting had been called for Monday, and that 10 million bpd was the figure that is being considered. OPEC sources also said that the US regulator would be invited to the

The backdrop to Thursdays oil bump was a series of tweets from Trump following a phone call with MBS in which the Crown Prince allegedly said Saudi Arabia and Russia would cut by 10 million barrels. He also said he expected a deal between Saudi Arabia and Russia within a few days. President Trump later confirmed at the daily press briefing on the coronavirus that the 10-million-barrel figure was actually mentioned in the call.

There is a lot of talk about Trump pressuring Saudi Arabia and Russia on this, but the only real pressure on both is their own economics and the global COVID-19 disaster, which makes this oil price war and market share game untenable at best.

Oil may have gained 20% on Trumps tweets Thursday, but heed this: Even if OPEC+ agrees to a purported 10-million-bpd cut and even considering that China has ordered all of its oil companies to buy up oil on the cheap to fill strategic reserves, its not going to get demand anywhere close to where the market needs it.

Oil may have gained 20% on Trumps tweets Thursday, but heed this: Even if OPEC+ agrees to a purported 10-million-bpd cut and even considering that China has ordered all of its oil companies to buy up oil on the cheap to fill strategic reserves, its not going to get demand anywhere close to where the market needs it.

It will, however, alleviate the immediate critical issue of running out of oil storage space.

There is a lot of talk about Trump pressuring Saudi Arabia and Russia on this, but the only real pressure on both is their own economics and the global COVID-19 disaster, which makes this oil price war and market share game untenable at best.

Also beware that Iraq is planning to increase production by 200,000 bpd this month, despite all.

The backdrop to Thursdays oil bump was a series of tweets from Trump following a phone call with MBS in which the Crown Prince allegedly said Saudi Arabia and Russia would cut by 10 million barrels. He also said he expected a deal between Saudi Arabia and Russia within a few days. President Trump later confirmed at the daily press briefing on the coronavirus that the 10-million-barrel figure was actually mentioned in the call.

OPEC sources later confirmed that an OPEC+ meeting had been called for Monday, and that 10 million bpd was the figure that is being considered. OPEC sources also said that the US regulator would be invited to the meeting as the worlds largest oil producer.

The reason for the urgent meeting, the Saudi Press Agency said, was at the request of the United States President. The Saudis have previously intimated that Russia is still being uncooperative. Previously, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that it doesnt plan to boost output further. But today, reports trickled in that Russia would agree to a cut if Saudi Arabia and the U.S. agreed to cuts, too.

So, are Trumps tweets realistic? Yes, they are. Are they the result of pressure from the United States? Not likely. Russias game - which was a surprise response to the Saudis request of another OPEC+ production cut - comes at a serious cost for Moscow. Driving prices down so low decimates Iran and Venezuela. In other words, the geopolitical cost (one of them) was betraying Russias key allies in the global game of chess that is statesmanship. Thats how much Moscow has decided it is worth trying to undermine the U.S. shale patch. The game was to see how far Moscow could go considering that American shale producers have a much higher breakeven than their Russian counterparts.

Moscow will bend because it has to, and it hadnt planned on a pandemic to skew the results. But even once they knock off this game, and even with China scooping up oil at rock-bottom prices for its reserves, there will be the COVID demand culling to deal with, and its a force of nature with which there is no negotiating.
At the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan-China and the declaration of same as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, many political and conspiracy theorists have identified it as nothing but a biological weapon orchestrated by China against the world economic order. Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States of America, has on all occasions whilst addressing his citizens and the world at large described the novel disease as the "Chinese Virus".

The debate seeking to justify Coronavirus as a global biological weapon machinated by the Chinese Government, if true, would equally mean that, not only the US, Italy or other European countries are targets but that, Ghana, a rising industrial country in Africa is equally a high target. The argument is simple.

Before he became president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had promised in his 2016 manifesto a One District One Factory (1D1F) Initiative. He stated, "in collaboration with the private sector, the NPP will implement the One District, One Factory Initiative. He explained, "this District Industrialization Programme will ensure an even, spatial spread of industries" (see pg. 22 of NPP Manifesto Highlights).

Flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo further elaborated that, on Strategic Anchor Initiatives, "Government will partner private local and foreign investors to develop large scale strategic anchor industries to serve as growth poles for the economy, especially in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, cement, aluminium, salt, vehicle assembly, manufacture of heavy machinery, equipment and machine parts, agro-processing, garments and textiles, assembly of electronics and light machinery" (also see pg. 22 of 2016 NPP Manifesto Highlights, Trade & Industry).

Fast forward after the winning and swearing into office, President Akufo-Addo and his highly productive Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Economic Team and Cabinet have made relentless efforts in bringing into reality the aforementioned promises. The 1D1F initiative kick-started with steady progress. Currently, more than 80 factories have begun their operations.

Though not fully sufficient in meeting demand, these local factories operating under the 1D1F initiative have shown signs of greater industrial and economic viability prospects for Ghana. This is an undebatable truth. In the near decade when all districts have been fully built, functional and productively able to supply about 70% of the demand needs of the country, there shall arise a war.

1. A success of Ghana's industrial ambition will have a more than intriguing effect on Ghana's trade relation with China concerning export and import of particular industrial commodities.

2. Ghana's industrial import from China and China's industrial export to Ghana will drastically reduce.

3. A reduction in both import and export of industrial commodities (see paragraph 4 of this article) would lead to a direct and massive reduction in export income gained by China.

4. A reduction in export income/revenue gained by China due to the reduction in Ghana's import of industrial commodities from China will lead to a corresponding diminishing of income generated by the Chinese government.

5. A diminishing Chinese revenue generated by export of industrial commodities to Ghana due to the industrialization of Ghana would mean a decline in the Chinese economy.

6. A decline in the Chinese economy due to their loss of total industrial export power to Ghana due to Ghana's industrialization success would have a massive drawback on the Chinese agenda to become the leading world economic power over the United States of America.

The above analysis is definitely not an interest China would want to share with Ghana. Therefore, whilst making efforts to destabilize the economy of the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Japan and most targeted the United States of America, China would also take a swipe on other African countries which hold an agenda to live 'beyond aid' and/or seemingly align their interest with the United States of America.

The Chinese government equally sees this time as a fine opportunity to pay evil to the Government of Ghana for repatriating its nationals who were engaged in the ugly illegal mining (Galamsey), illegal rosewood logging menace and other illegal activities in Ghana. The Chinese government has a well-orchestrated attempt to devastate the economy of Ghana as payback. Ghana, just as the US is in a war with China. The only differentiating factor of this war is that; the US knows it has an unending trade war with China whereas Ghana does not have any knowledge of such a war.

The Chinese government has preplanned the agenda to cause havoc to Ghana's already bleeding economy using their Coronavirus biological weapon. It is an indirect attack strategy. Jack Ma and his Alibaba Company are the frontiers of this indirect attack. The items donated to Ghana by Jack Ma for the fight against COVID-19 are the weapons for destruction. Some aides are more deadly than the Coronavirus pandemic itself and Ghana must be on guard.

Ghana's economy has already been tampered with but the last puzzle on chess to break Ghana is the biological weapon branded as safety equipment. Other African countries may have received same aides from Jack Ma but the equipment donated to Ghana had a different package. Ghana's government must be vigilant because if COVID-19 is a Chinese biological weapon set against the world economic order, then, Ghana, a country on the West African coast of Sub-Saharan Africa is equally on the list of high target countries. China is wicked.

Reindolf Amankwa

Member, CTI-Middle Belt
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio holds a face shield as he speaks to the media during a visit to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where local industrial firms have begun manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in New York CIty on March 26, 2020. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

New York Mayor Says City Can Only Get to Monday or Tuesday With Current Ventilator Supply

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday the city only has enough ventilators until early next week.

I dont know after Sunday if were going to have what we need, and thats just the ventilators de Blasio told CNN, adding that New York City can only get to Monday or Tuesday at this point. We dont know after that.

The mayor added that the city is in desperate need of medical personnel as well to combat the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus.

We predict by something like Monday or Tuesday 5,000 people in our ICUs, intubated, fighting for their lives with COVID cases, de Blasio also said the program.

Five thousandand that number will then grow. Thats a staggering number. Every one of those people will need a ventilator, every one of those people will need doctors and nurses constantly checking on them and adjusting their treatment, de Blasio added.

The mayor again pleaded with the federal government to send 1,000 nurses, 150 doctors, and 300 respiratory therapists by Sunday, reported the New York Post. Ventilators arent useful if personnel cannot operate them, he said.

Ambulances in front of the emergency room entrance of the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York City, on April 2, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

If that is not done in the coming days you are going to see people die who didnt need to die, de Blasio warned. First it will be hundreds then it will be thousands, who well lose, Americans well lose who did not need to die, he added.

So far, according to tallies from the New York Times and Johns Hopkins University, New York state has been the hardest-hit in the United States, with more than 90,000 confirmed cases. The majority of those cases have occurred around New York City and its suburbs.

On Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo also warned the state will run out of its supply of ventilators within the next six days if further assistance isnt delivered.

The warnings came as President Donald Trump on Thursday invoked the Defense Production Act to aid companies building ventilators for coronavirus patients to receive the supply of materials they need. In a memo released by the White House, Trump directed the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary to use his authority to help facilitate the supply of ventilator materials for six companies  General Electric, Hill-Rom Holdings, Medtronic, Resmed, Royal Philips N.V., and Vyaire Medical.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Navys Comfort hospital ship arrived in New York to deal with the citys overflow of patients.

The vessels captain, Patrick Amersbach, told the New York Times that only three of the ships 1,000 beds are being put to use. The process continues and we are honestly looking forward to seeing a significant increase in patients being transferred to the Comfort, Amersbach said.

But a spokesperson for the Navy said that 20 patients are being treated on the ship, reported the Post.

Reuters contributed to this report.
B urberry has joined the UKs fight against coronavirus by using its expertise to help the NHS.

The luxury fashion house has begun producing protective gowns for healthcare workers tackling the outbreak, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.

Mr Hancock was addressing Fridays Downing Street press briefing when he offered a shout out to the brand.

Quizzed on supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), he revealed that Burberry had turned over its production to create much-needed items.

Matt Hancock praised Burberry for contributing to PPE production efforts / via REUTERS

Burberry deserves credit for what they have done so far for the nation and hopefully there will be lots more Burberry gowns to come, he said.

Twitter users responded to his praise of the brand by envisaging designer hospital wards.

Journalist Tom Peck tweeted: Matt Hancock says Burberry is now producing protective clothing for nurses. Cannot wait to see that ward. Like Daniela Westbrook at an England away game.

While others imagined healthcare workers clad in its iconic print.

On Wednesday, Burberry revealed it was turning its West Yorkshire coat factory into a production line for manufacturing protective clothing.

The company announced it would be using the factory in Castleford to make surgical masks, non-surgical masks and gowns for use by medical staff and patients.

The British designer also shared plans to dedicate its global supply chain to delivering more than 100,000 surgical masks to the NHS for use by medical staff.

Marco Gobbetti, CEO, Burberry said: In challenging times, we must pull together.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:38:45|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (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 disease.

- - - -

GENEVA -- A total of 50,325 people had died of COVID-19 around the world as of 10:00 CET (0800 GMT) Friday, according to the situation dashboard by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The number of confirmed cases has surged to 972,640 globally as of Friday morning.

- - - -

LONDON -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 38,168 as of Friday morning, an increase of 4,450 in 24 hours, according to the lastest figure from the Department of Health and Social Care.

As of Thursday afternoon, of those hospitalised in Britain who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 3,605 have died, marking a record daily rise of 684.

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japan's Health Ministry on Friday said that local governments will be advised to accommodate coronavirus patients with mild symptoms in hotels, as urban areas in particular are facing a shortage of healthcare facilities amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The request has been made owing to an escalation in cases in Tokyo as well as other urban areas, with the Tokyo metropolitan government along with healthcare specialists saying the number of hospital beds available for coronavirus patients will soon reach capacity.

- - - -

JAKARTA -- Over 35,000 migrant workers have arrived in Indonesia's province of Riau Islands from overseas, ready to continue their journey to home towns across the country, acting provincial governor Isdianto said Friday.

They returned due to concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak overseas. Warships have been sent to help transport them to their home towns, the official said in a statement.

- - - -

KABUL -- The World Bank has offered a grant of 100.4 million U.S. dollars to the Afghan government to support its efforts for containing the COVID-19 pandemic, World Bank Afghanistan announced on Friday.

The grant will help the Afghanistan COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project take effective action to respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen its public health preparedness, the agency said in a statement.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- U.S. employers cut 701,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate soared to 4.4 percent, showing the first job decline in a decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

"The changes in these measures reflect the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and efforts to contain it," the bureau said.
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will hold a video-conference from Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday (Aprile 3, 2020) with Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of all states and union territories to bolster the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The agenda of the conference will be the status of COVID-19 in the states, the role of the Red Cross with a focus on vulnerable sections. In addition, the role of civil society, voluntary organisations, private sector in complementing the efforts of the union and state governments to contain the spread of the coronavirus will also be discussed.

An official release said it will be second such videoconference.

In the first videoconference held on March 27, 2020, 14 Governors and Delhi Lt. Governor shared experiences in their territories.

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi will also share a brief video message for the country outlining what needs to be done in order to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The PM might also explain how the government plans to end the ongoing 21-day lockdown in the country over the pandemic.

The PM will share the video message around 9 AM on Friday.
TRENTON  The top official at the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital is not practicing the social distancing that Gov. Phil Murphy preaches at daily news briefings is New Jerseys singlemost effective weapon in the fight against the novel coronavirus, according to fearful hospital employees.

The employees described at great length the alleged dangerous conduct of CEO Robyn Wramage-Caporoso, who reportedly exploded and abruptly ended a conference call when a union official brought up repeated issues inside the hospital, the employees said.

The employees said administration has failed to ensure conditions at the 450-bed state-run institution, which houses many vulnerable and criminally insane patients, are safe for everyone amid the global pandemic.

While the facility is essential, many non-essential staff have been openly discouraged from working remotely, the employees said. To top it off, they lack protective gear to keep themselves safe and reduce the risk of passing along the virus to loved ones when they go home.

Desperate for help, someone anonymously started a Change.org petition to get the governor and health commissioner Judy Persichilli to address the crisis. The petition had 409 signatures as of Thursday.

At least three patients and three staffers already tested positive for the virus at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, state health officials acknowledged Wednesday.

Unless something more is done to protect workers and patients, employees fear its a matter of time before theres an outbreak inside the hospital.

Shes really going to spread this, one employee said. Its already gotten bad with the way shes handled things. We really do need somebody to help us. We need somebody to intervene.

Another added: Were not practicing social distancing. Not because we dont want to. Because of administration.

The employees spoke on condition of anonymity because theyve been threatened with termination for speaking publicly about the hazardous conditions inside the facility.

The most damning allegation was that Wramage-Caporoso has blatantly disregarded social distancing mandates.

That would be viewed as a big no-no to Murphy given how much hes implored the public to keep at least six feet of space between each other when it must interact.

Employees said the hospital CEO held meetings where as many as 30 staffers were forced to sit a couple of feet apart from each other. At that close of range, there was alarm among the staff that patients and staff will continue to get infected with how easily the virus is transmitted.

Further, the hospital CEO allegedly did not give people personal space, let alone PPE, hovering over their shoulders like an apparent micro-manger, the employees said.

Wramage-Caporoso allegedly instructed staff they needed to have two weeks of clothes in their vehicles in case they get exposed and quarantined at the facility, the employees said.

When people attempted to call her out on it, the CEO wasnt too receptive.

She said, her deputies have her back and theyre loyal to her,' the employee said, interpreting the remark as intimidating. What does that mean?  The doctors are besides themselves. They know this is out of hand. She is incompetent.

Wramage-Caporoso did not respond to a message left with her seeking comment on the workers allegations against her.

And a Department of Health spokeswoman did not address The Trentonians detailed list of questions outlining the employees claims about the horrid conditions inside the hospital.

Instead, spokeswoman Donna Leusner provided only a bullet-point list of safety measures she said are being employed at the state-run hospitals, where visitations have been banned since March 12.

Ron McMullen, president of AFSCME New Jersey Council 63, which represents direct care staff at the hospital, said union leaders were assured the DOH would meet employee demands.

McMullen works at Ann Klein Forensic Center and said employees are being provided masks and have temperatures checked by a laser thermometer before shifts.

Our position is that whatever standards you provide at one facility, you need to provide that for all the institutions that you govern, he said.

McMullen said he wasnt on the conference call when the Trenton Psych CEO went ballistic. But another union official, Bob Little, was on that call.

Bob is extremely stern.  If that CEO wasnt able to withstand Bobs passion, it may have ended abruptly, McMullen said.

McMullen said he couldnt speak specifically about Wramage-Caporosos competency. But he felt administration needs to be more compassionate to employees amid the outbreak.

This is not a snowstorm. This is a pandemic. Youre dealing with peoples lives and livelihoods. Its a lot of anxiety, a lot of fear because people dont want to take this stuff home.

The DOH spokeswoman said steps have already been taken to make employees feel safer.

She said PPE was being provided to those who worked on units impacted by COVID-19. Surgical mask were distributed to all staff Thursday.

The facilities increased cleaning and sanitizing frequency, advised employees on hygiene and cough etiquette, provided educational materials, increased monitoring of at-risk patients and restricted off-grounds visits, Leusner said.

Theyre screening those who have necessary business at the hospital. Staff who are sick are encouraged to stay home and sent home if they become sick at work, the department spokeswoman added.

Meetings are held by teleconference, and telehealth is being piloted in order to maintain care and social distancing, according to Leusner. Employees are also being rotated off site to minimize exposure.

There are still some uneasy employees.

Were all gonna get infected with the way [Wramage-Caporoso] runs the hospital, the worker said. Were terrorized by her. She sits like right over them while theyre working.
The coronavirus recession is shaping up to be the biggest blow to the U.S. economy since the Great Recession, and fears are rising that it could take years to reverse the damage, especially for millions of Americans who are losing their jobs and businesses.

The past two weeks have wiped out all the economy's job gains since President Donald Trump's November 2016 election, a sign of how rapid, deep and painful the economic shutdown has been on American families struggling to pay rent, prescriptions, food and health insurance in the middle of a pandemic.

More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment insurance benefits last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday, on top of the 3.3 million claims from the week before. These numbers have never been seen before in U.S. history and reflect the widening closures and shelter-in-place orders that have put the economy in a deep freeze to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

What is becoming clear is the job losses are happening in nearly every corner of the economy, and people are likely to be out of work for months. If past recessions are any guide, it normally takes years to get all those people back to work again. And there are lingering effects as people lose homes and cars, take on debt and suffer from mental health issues.

The Economic Policy Institute predicts nearly 20 million Americans will be out of work by July, which would be the worst unemployment situation the United States has faced since the Great Depression. Even the normally cautious Congressional Budget Office predicts the unemployment rate will exceed 10 percent.

"Job layoffs broke the ceiling again this week, shattering records in a sign this economy has skipped recession mode and moved deep into the depression zone," said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Bank.

The massive aid packages Congress passed in March will help, many say, but Goldman Sachs still predicts a 9 percent contraction in the first quarter and a 34 percent contraction in the second quarter. About half of those losses could be recovered by the end of the year, as Americans eagerly start eating out and getting hair cuts again. But, there will still be a lot of pain left in the economy.

Hotels, restaurants, malls, hair salons and theaters have been among the hardest hit. On Thursday, JC Penney began furloughing the majority of its 90,000 employees. Also, industries often considered recession-proof, like white-collar education, health care and transportation are also seeing furloughs and layoffs. Aerospace giant Boeing on Thursday began offering buyouts to its nearly 100,000 U.S. workers, and radio broadcaster Entercom Communications said it would lay off or furlough a "significant" portion of its 2,800 employees.

The U.S. unemployment rate has likely jumped to 10 percent already, economists say, putting it on par with the worst month of the Great Recession and the painful 1982-83 recession. It's a massive and abrupt spike from February, when the rate was at half-century low of 3.5 percent.

"Without further assistance from the federal government, there are going to be huge negative effects," said economist Ben Zipperer of the Economic Policy Institute. "When workers lose their jobs or businesses are forced to shut down, the losses add up. It's harder for someone to get a job in the future. Debt piles up. And that leads to horrible health and psychological effects."

The Labor Department is slated to release the March unemployment rate on Friday, but economists say it won't reflect the true picture since that data comes from March 12 - before President Trump's national emergency declaration and most of the statewide shutdowns, including the first epicenter of Washington.

Unemployment really started spiraling downward these past few weeks. And the stunning weekly jobless data out Thursday doesn't even capture the most recent furloughs from Macy's, Gap and Gannett. Some furloughed workers are beginning to find that those temporary furloughs are turning into permanent job losses.

Steaven Sanchez, 26, was furloughed from his job as a wheelchair assistant at Orlando International Airport two weeks ago, shortly after Trump announced restrictions on international travel. Managers took his badge but said they would be in touch, when business picked up. Earlier this week, he got an email saying he'd been laid off permanently.

"Everything happened so quickly," said Sanchez, who is planning to apply at local grocery stores to make ends meet. "I'm just taking this day by day. Everything is so unsure right now."

Sanchez lives with his parents and said money has been tight for them as well.He has tried to apply for unemployment benefits for days but has yet to get through.

Economists think the true number of laid off workers is likely higher than the nearly 10 million who filed jobless claims in March, since so many people have not been able to complete their application as state unemployment office websites crash and phone lines are swamped.

Congress allocated nearly $1 billion in additional funding to states to help them beef up their unemployment insurance offices, plus $260 billion to hike the weekly unemployment check amount by $600. But the Labor Department is struggling to get that money to out as the federal government struggles to move at the speed necessary to address the pandemic.

For many Americans, the latest round of economic distress comes just as they were beginning to rebuild from the last recession. Emily Ray, 54, and her husband, Steven Ray, 61, both lost jobs in the last recession.

"We were finally starting to save. Debt was finally getting paid off," said Emily Ray, who runs a small pain management massage business in Mystic, Connecticut. "And now we're watching everything go to crap again."

Now, she and her husband, who is nearing retirement, are out of work again.

Steven Ray was furloughed in mid-March from his job as a lighting director at a Mohegan Sun casino. He applied for unemployment benefits two weeks ago but is still waiting for his application to get processed. Emily Ray has had to lay off her three employees. In addition, her two sons, ages 23 and 21, are back at home, too. One was laid off, the other is home from college and neither will get the $1,200 relief checks.

"There are huge gaps in the stimulus package," Emily Ray said. "I could take out a small-business loan, but right now I don't even know if my business is going to survive."

Half of small businesses only have enough cash to cover about 15 days worth of expenses, according to the JPMorgan Chase Institute. As the pandemic has spread to so many sectors, nearly one out of five small and medium-sized businesses are at risk of bankruptcy, said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at audit firm RSM that specializes in the midsized market. As businesses close, they won't rehire workers.

"Firms with less than 100 people are the ones that really need the help," he said.

Another factor that could stymie the recovery is that some of the U.S. counties hardest hit by the coronavirus are large cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and Detroit that have powered the national economy. The 50 counties with the most cases support 60 million jobs and over a third of the U.S. economy, according to a new report by the Brookings Institution.

"The density of these cities makes it harder to push start again on the economy until it's clearly safe," said Mark Muro, policy director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings.

The economic pain is spreading across the country to cities that aren't seeing a big outbreak, a reminder of how interconnected supply chains are.

Mercedes Addington lost her job on March 23 at a company that sells trucking parts and supplies in Kansas City, Kansas. Even though the business was considered "essential" during the crisis and orders were still coming in, the company laid off most of its employees.

"I am very frustrated and scared," she said. "I have bills to pay soon and I was counting on this money to get by."

Addington, 21, lives in a modest apartment with her boyfriend. They pay $800 in monthly rent. The landlord was willing to give them a break in April, but only if they could prove Addington had applied for Kansas unemployment benefits.

She applied right away and received a notice saying she was approved. But when she checked the website again this week, it said her benefits had been "temporarily suspended," leaving her in limbo for rent and other bills.

Repeated calls to the Kansas unemployment office went unanswered. She is now unsure what to do.

"If I don't risk it and go back to work somewhere, I'm not sure that I'll still have a home to come back to," she said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Andrew Van Dam contributed to this report.
Nearly 10 million Americans lost their jobs in just the latter half of March, according to initial unemployment benefits claims, and many of those workers are struggling to pay their bills. Children are stuck home from school, which means parents who had relied on free or reduced-price school lunches are scrambling to assemble or pick up additional meals during the week. Grocery stores cannot stock products as quickly as people want to purchase them, and many households with vulnerable family members fear cramming into crowded supermarkets.
Tempeh market research report provides detailed analysis on emerging market trends, regional outlook, competitive landscape, and a comprehensive analysis on different market segments. The tempeh market is poised to grow by USD 782.49 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 4% during the forecast period. Request Latest Free Sample Report of Tempeh Market

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005305/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Tempeh Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The tempeh market report provides detailed analysis of market overview, market drivers, opportunities, potential application.

Top Key Players of Tempeh Market Covered as:

FZ Organic Food

Hain Celestial

Maple Leaf Foods

Nutrisoy

Tofurky

The increasing easy availability of tempeh products is driving the growth of the global tempeh market. Other growth drivers include growing awareness about health benefits and rising consumption of plant-based meat alternatives.

The tempeh market research report gives an overview of tempeh industries by analyzing various key segments of this market based on the product and geographic landscape.

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Tempeh Market Split by Product Fresh tempeh Frozen tempeh

Tempeh Market Split by Geographic Landscape The Americas APAC EMEA



The regional distribution of tempeh market industries are considered for this market analysis, the result of which is utilized to estimate the performance of the international market over the period from 2019-2023.

The tempeh market research report shed light on foremost regions: Indonesia, the US, the Netherlands, and Canada.

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What was the size of the tempeh industry by value in 2019?

What will be the size of the tempeh industry in 2023?

What factors are affecting the strength of competition in the tempeh industry?

How has the industry performed over the last five years?

What are the main segments that make up the tempeh market?

Tempeh market research report presents critical information and factual data about tempeh industry, with an overall statistical study of this market based on market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread trends and opportunities are also taken into consideration in tempeh market study.

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The tempeh market research report gives an overview of tempeh industry by analyzing various key segments of this tempeh market based on the product and geographic. The regional distribution of the tempeh market across the globe is considered for this tempeh industry analysis, the result of which is utilized to estimate the performance of the tempeh market over the period from 2019 to forecasted year.

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Table of Content:

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

Fresh tempeh Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Frozen tempeh Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by product

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: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

PART 10: MARKET TRENDS

Rising urbanization and demand of convenience products

Growing number of food service chains and online stores

Increasing lactose intolerance in world population

PART 11: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 12: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

FZ Organic Food

Hain Celestial

Maple Leaf Foods

Nutrisoy

Tofurky

PART 13: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

Browse tempeh market related details https://www.technavio.com/report/global-tempeh-market-industry-analysis

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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.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr.3

Trend:

The Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) CJSC, the national air carrier of the country, performed a charter flight from Istanbul to Baku on April 3 bringing back 106 Azerbaijani citizens, Trend reports referring to AZALs press service.

"This morning, Azerbaijani Airlines plane from London also arrived in the capital of Azerbaijan, with 69 passengers. In addition, last night an AZAL plane landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, arriving from Moscow (Vnukovo Airport), carrying 123 people. All the arrived passengers have been compulsorily quarantined, the company reported.

Due to temporary suspension of traffic between many countries in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Azerbaijans national air carrier - AZAL - carries out regular charter flights to ensure the evacuation and return of citizens to their homeland.

According to the Azerbaijani governments order, all appropriate measures have been undertaken to return Azerbaijani citizens back home. All AZAL personnel, including crew members, ticket office employees, continue to work in heavy duty.

AZAL once again asks the citizens not to leave home and not to make flights.

Compliance with instructions of the Operational Headquarters of Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers is duty for each of us, the press service reported.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:29:37|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

HANOI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Friday evening confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total confirmed cases in the country to 237.

The four new cases are a Vietnamese recently returning from France and three foreigners, including a Swedish arriving in Vietnam in December last year and two British people having been to a bar in the southern Ho Chi Minh City which is connected with a number of infections.

Its health ministry on Friday announced that 10 more patients had recovered, bringing the total cured cases in the country to 85. No death from the disease has been reported so far.

Vietnam has 4,557 suspected cases with nearly 73,000 being monitored and quarantined as of Friday night, according to the ministry.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Pennsylvania wants everyone to wear a mask in public to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Michigan is asking residents to strongly consider wearing homemade fabric masks.

So when will Ohioans join the mask brigade?

At a Friday news conference, Gov. Tom Wolf asked all of the states citizens to wear masks. Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine stressed that staying home is best, "but if you have to go out, wearing a mask or even a bandana could be an extra layer of protection, reports cleveland.coms sister site, pennlive.com

Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun on Thursday said residents should strongly consider wearing homemade masks.

Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday said employers should allow their employees to wear masks at work and showed examples of home-sewn masks. But he stopped short of encouraging everyone to have their own.

I would encourage anyone in retail, if your employees want to wear one of these, I think that is a good thing, and I think many people are making those.

Check out cleveland.coms videos on how to make your own mask, from fabric on a sewing machine, or using a bed sheet without a needle.

This week, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said she looks forward to new guidance that could come from the CDC, which is preparing to recommend that everyone wear masks in public settings. Many people could be carrying the virus and not know it because theyre asymptomatic, Acton has said.

More mask news

12 simple steps to make a fabric mask to protect from the coronavirus: See the video

Frequently asked questions for mask wearing

Volunteers make hundreds of masks for Mercy Hospital in Canton.
After being stranded at sea for three weeks, passengers on a Carnival Corp. cruise ship that was refused entry by multiple countries started disembarking in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  but not all will be allowed to end a nightmare trip that left four dead and nine infected with coronavirus.

Holland America Lines Zaandam arrived at the port Thursday as emergency medical personnel waited to carry away the most seriously ill for treatment. The Rotterdam, a sister ship that came to the aid of the Zaandam and took on some of its healthy passengers, was also allowed to disembark.

By the evening, some of the 1,200 passengers from the two ships posted on social media that they were making their journeys home. A couple dozen other passengers with milder symptoms, along with hundreds of crew members, must remain on board.

Fort Lauderdale was the Zaandams final port, and its plight has spurred fierce debate in Florida, with officials weighing help for the sick on board against the possibility of adding to strains on the local health-care resources. Its just the latest cruise ship to see an outbreak and strife at sea, with the boats close living quarters facilitating the spread of virus cases. Countries around the world have been refusing port to cruise liners on concern passengers will pass on the coronavirus once on land. Thats left thousands of cruisers and crew stranded and cruise companies facing one of their biggest ever crises.

As part of the negotiations with local officials, Holland America came up with a plan to treat and quarantine passengers with mild symptoms on board the Zaandam, while sending about a dozen of the sickest passengers to Florida hospitals. The news saw joy and relief at coming into port give way to disappointment for some of those on board, with some couples and families being faced with separation.

Zaandam passenger Gloria Weed was initially given the news that both she and her husband, Bill Weed, would be moved to a hospital. Hours later, the Sarasota, Fla., couple found out they would be separated: He would be headed to a local hospital, while she must remain on the ship.

I thought Florida residents might be left off even if they were sick, said Gloria, who has had a low-grade fever, in a text message to her daughter, Amy Weed-Jones. I hope its just a mistake.

Weed called her daughter in the middle of the night recently and told her she didnt think her husband, 75, was going to make it until the morning. Bill Weed has been diagnosed with pneumonia and suffers from fever and debilitating coughing fits.

I dont know how much time my dad has, honestly, Weed-Jones said, before receiving the news her father would be hospitalized. Every second counts.

Weed-Jones, along with other relatives of passengers, has been pleading with Florida government officials to allow the Zaandam to dock on humanitarian grounds and because there are Americans on board. But they faced opposition from local officials and the state Gov. Ron DeSantis. U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, pushing for Florida to allow the ships to dock.

The Zaandam had departed Buenos Aires and was a day into its voyage when the U.S. State Department advised Americans on March 8 not to embark on cruises. On March 13, Trump said he asked cruise lines to suspend sailings, though some had already announced they were doing so voluntarily.

Holland America said the Zaandams voyage was the victim of an unprecedented crisis that struck without warning, in a statement. But parent company Carnival saw its first virus situation two months ago off Yokohama, Japan, when the Diamond Princess was infected with coronavirus and made to enforce a mass quarantine on board. More than 700 people were eventually infected, and for a time it was the largest virus outbreak outside of mainland China.

Under Holland Americas plan, most passengers will be allowed to disembark and then put on charter flights home. About 45 guests with mild illness will quarantine on board, and some with urgent medical needs will be taken to hospitals.

These travellers could have been any one of us or our families, unexpectedly caught in the middle of this unprecedented closure of global borders that happened in a matter of days and without warning, Holland America Line president Orlando Ashford said.

When passengers and crew started getting sick on the Zaandam, Holland America sent the Rotterdam to rendezvous off Panama and take on many healthy but vulnerable passengers. One anxious passenger, Yadira Garza, pleaded with Mexican consulate officials to help her and her newlywed husband get off the Zaandam, which she described as the death ship.

Among the four people who died earlier in the voyage, two had COVID-19, according to Holland America. Since March 22, 107 guests and 143 crew between both ships have shown flu-like symptoms.

The Zaandams voyage was supposed to end in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21. A second leg of the ships voyage was supposed to end in Ft. Lauderdale on April 7. The company said it attempted to dock at other ports but was denied entry.

The virus crisis isnt over for Carnival.

One of the ships in its Princess Cruises line, the Coral Princess, is poised to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. On Thursday, the company said that seven Coral Princess passengers and five crew had tested positive for COVID-19.

Cruise operators have been hit financially by coronavirus, with many shuttering operations until at least mid-May. Some Carnival sailings on its flagship line have been cancelled through the end of the year.

The suspensions have upended earnings. Carnival is in talks to raise as much as $7 billion (U.S.) to shore up its finances, Bloomberg reported.
Worry and anger over the lack of safety measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 on building sites has prompted a growing number of construction worker protests across Canada. This is part of a mounting international wave of walkouts, as workers challenge the corporate bosses insistence that workers health and safety should be jeopardized to ensure investor profit.

Building workers in Ontariowho comprise one-third of Canadas construction industry workforceare demanding an industry-wide shutdown after Doug Ford, the provinces right-wing populist premier, exempted construction from the shutdown of all non-essential workplaces and industries he ordered as of midnight March 24.

An online petition was subsequently circulated by Christopher Morgan, a construction worker from Caledon, Ontario, that states, There is no need to hurry along these projects while risking our own families and ourselves. The petition, which has gained almost 50,000 signatures, demands that Ford shut down all construction sites in the province.

Comments from other Ontario construction workers indicate that they would be willing to conduct essential work, provided they are given the necessary protection. If its a hospital, you know, and medical facilities that we desperately need, fine. Im all for it, Antonio Cruz told CBC. But residential (construction), especially residential, it makes no sense.

Widespread objections to unsafe working conditions on job sites compelled the Ontario Construction Consortium (OCC), a union-backed corporatist lobby group, to issue a public statement urging the provincial government to suspend work on construction sites across Ontario for 14 days. The statement said the minimum standards laid out by the provinces new sanitation rules simply do not exist on most of our job sites.

The Carpenters District Council of Ontario and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America similarly announced that construction workers in the province should not be expected to work on job sites where the basic safety requirements for COVID-19 are not being met.

In the face of this mounting criticism, Ford was forced to announce Wednesday that his government is adjusting the list of businesses that are deemed essential services and thereby exempt from his lockdown order. The initial list of so-called essential services named 74 types of businesses, including construction and large swathes of manufacturing.

Ford has also made the absurd claim that there are now dozens of labour inspectors on the ground who will not hesitate to shut down construction work sites that are not following the new emergency guidelines. This is rich coming from a government that for the past two years has driven down wages and gutted worker rights and protections.

On March 24 work was halted on a new light-rail network (REM) being built in Montreal after more than a hundred construction workers refused to work because of the lack of measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The principal contractor, CDPQ Infra, was forced to shut down operations until April 14.

That same day, Quebecs largest construction unions, FTQ-Construction and the Conseil provincial du Quebec des metiers de la construction (International), wrote a panicked letter to Premier Francois Legault requesting that he intervene immediately to protect the workforce. It is currently impossible to meet basic health standards on the vast majority of construction sites in Quebec, FTQ-Construction Executive-Director Eric Boisjoly said in a statement. In this context, it is irresponsible to continue the work.

Legault initially denied that building workers were at risk of exposure to COVID-19, peddling the lie that workers are not together in confined spaces on a large scale, and insisting that construction, one of the provinces major industries, could continue to function despite the crisis. But increased worker protests and demands for sanitation measures to be taken have compelled his government to suspend all construction activity except for emergency or security services until April 13.

In British Columbia, despite emergency rules around social distancing and sanitation and a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people, construction sites continue to operate at full tilt. The BC Building Trades Councilwhich represents 25 unionshas declared that workers are pleading for help and that this is urgent. The warning came after rank and file workers raised a slew of concerns, including inadequate access to washroom facilities, running water, soap and hand sanitizer, and after several workers showed up for work visibly sick.

A worker who emailed local news website BIV reported that there were at least 50 people using four washrooms on his job site located near the city of Vancouver, and he has yet to see them cleaned on a daily basis. Another wrote, well over 200 people sharing this one water hose. ... No hot water. No hand sanitizer, and five to six bathrooms for the whole site. The fact no one is shutting these sites down right now is unreal

British Columbias industrial construction projects are also exempt from the provinces new emergency rules. The Site C dam is not considered a high-risk environment by provincial officials and is continuing operations with 1,000 workers housed in a work camp. LNG Canada has apparently scaled back operations on its mammoth $40 billion project to build a natural gas export facility in Kitimat, but has retained two-thirds of its workforce, some 1,500 workers. They are also housed in a work camp.

The determination of the construction industry to stay operational at all costs and the governments refusal to enforce even basic protections against the spread of COVID-19 underscores the ruling class criminal indifference to the lives of workers and their families. Any decision on the part of the construction companies to slow or suspend operations is due to contractual obligations and logistical concerns such as supply-chain interruptions, or because workers have taken matters into their own hands by staging protests or calling in sick.

In Alberta, despite well over 900 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Alberta Construction Association (ACA) is vowing to keep the economic engine going. Recently, Albertas United Conservative Party premier, Jason Kenney, announced that thousands of workers will continue working on the $12.6 billion Trans Mountain pipeline project, despite evidence of a lack of social distancing protocols being enforced.

For their part, the construction trade unions masquerade as guardians of workers health and safety, but in reality function as cheap labour contractors for big business, and have facilitated the decades-long decline in real wages and erosion of workers rights and safety protections. Their empty appeals to government to enforce even modest safeguards against the spread of COVID-19 are a cynical and panicked response to the independent initiative taken by workers.

The union bureaucracys cozy relationship with big business and their political representatives is exemplified by Kenneys recent appointment of the former COO of Canadas Building Trades Union (CBTU), Bob Blakely, to his advisory panel on the provinces economic recovery plan. Included on the panel, along with various corporate executives, is former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose hard-right government imposed years of brutal austerity, dramatically expanded the power of the state to spy on its citizens, and, through a spate of back-to-work laws, all but abolished the legal right to strike.

As it is, the construction industry represents almost 20 percent of all precarious work. Poverty wages, lack of benefits, and virtually no regulation or worker training explains why the industry suffers from acute shortages and relies on an expanding base of recent immigrants and undocumented workers, who are more vulnerable to employer exploitation. A further decline in working conditions is expected, as indicated by Benjamin Tal, chief deputy economist at corporate banking giant, CIBC, who told Daily Commercial News, The labour shortage will be with us for a while. We have to build smarter, be more creative and find a way to limit construction costs.

The militant walkouts and protests by Canadian construction workers are part of an international upsurge of working class opposition to the criminal indifference of the ruling elites to workers health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers anger has erupted in strikes organized outside of the unions, which have taken place throughout the world, including autoworkers in North America, Amazon workers in France, metal workers in Italy, and postal workers in the UK.
Photo: Unsplash/Christin Hume

Shoppers Drug Mart is now offering a free online stress management program to help Canadians as they struggle with stress and anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the pandemic was declared, two in three Canadians admit to having higher levels of anxiety and stress, according to a study from Shoppers Drug Mart. One-in-10 Canadians also say they have been so stressed that they have experienced difficulties functioning over the last week.

In partnership with SilverCloud Health, Shoppers Drug Mart will be offering the program, which is accessible through phones, tablets and computers. All associated costs will be covered by SilverCloud.

Our purpose is helping Canadians live life well, and these days that means more than ever, says president of Shoppers Drug Mart Jeff Leger. With health and financial concerns, isolation and anxiety rising, this program is designed to treat stress with modern approaches. Hopefully, it brings people peace of mind, and possibly gives them and the healthcare system some relief at a time when both are burdened.

The program consists of eight modules with a blend of cognitive behavioural therapy, positive psychology and mindfulness. The modules will help users recognize and change their negative thinking and behaviours through focusing on resilience and cognitive restructuring.

The program is adaptive for each individual. It will identify strengths and skills while also building new ones for the users. Each module is built with the help of experts containing video, text and audio clips as well as interactive activities.

The stress program will be free for Canadians until June 15.
MOORESVILLE, N.C., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) announces that Marvin R. Ellison, president and chief executive officer, and David M. Denton, chief financial officer, will participate in a conference call hosted by Credit Suisse Securities.

What: Marvin Ellison and David Denton to participate in conference call hosted by Seth Sigman from Credit Suisse Securities



When: 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday April 8, 2020



Where: http://www.Lowes.com/investor Click on Webcasts and then Lowe's Companies, Inc. - Credit Suisse Conference Call



How: The replay will be available approximately one hour after the conclusion of the event

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 18 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2019 sales of $72.1 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ approximately 300,000 associates. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Some 50,000 companies have signed up for Ireland's coronavirus wage subsidy scheme in its first week in operation, acting Employment Affairs Minister Regina Doherty said on Friday.

The state has pledged to pay 70% of wages for workers in struggling firms for the next 12 weeks, up to a weekly maximum of 410 euros per week. Data showed on Thursday that 25,000 workers claimed the subsidy by the end of March.

"We're so grateful for the amount of companies who have signed up. We're now at 50,000 companies in Ireland but we know there are 250,000 companies in Ireland so maybe there's a long way to go," Doherty told national broadcaster RTE. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has seen a spike in coronavirus cases recently with the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases rising to 70. Two people have died from the infection while three were cured. Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu, however, says this is because of an aggressive testing and tracing strategy. In an interview to Hindustan Times, he outlined the steps taken by the government to contain the pandemic:

Q: Coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir have risen in the past few days. Is contract tracing emerging as a big challenge for you, especially as many people have come from outside the country?

A: Screening of all individuals coming from outside was initiated on March 4. Till now, nearly 18,000 travellers and persons in contact with the suspected and positive cases with travel history abroad have been put under surveillance. Out of these, 10,694 are in home quarantine, 65 in hospital isolation, 622 in hospital quarantine, 4109 in home surveillance and 2187 with travel history abroad have completed their 28 days surveillance period. Till date, 1084 samples have been sent for testing of which 1010 tested negative, 70 positive (17 from Jammu division and 53 from Kashmir division) with the number of deaths at 2.

The government has undertaken an aggressive contact tracing and testing campaign  that is why there is surge in the number of confirmed positive cases.

Q: Have you sought the assistance of army and paramilitary forces in controlling the situation?

A: No direct assistance of army and paramilitary forces has been currently sought to control the situation, though the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is deployed with the local police to assist in maintaining the restrictions during the lockdown. We have isolation and quarantine facilities in army hospitals across the UT. We have requested the army to provide additional isolation facilities of 500 beds each in J&K.

Q: You have also started declaring Red zones in some parts of the UT? How alarming is the situation in those areas?

A: To take precautions and contain the spread of Covid-19, 38 villages across J&K have been declared as Red Zones, where complete restrictions have been enforced for movement of people. All essential commodities are being provided to the residents of these zones. The situation in these areas is not alarming but extra precaution is being taken.

Around 900 people of the UT are suspected to have participated in the Tablighi Jamaat conference in New Delhi from March 14 to March 21. Of these, 550 have been identified and quarantined and the survey and verifications for the remaining is on. We have intensified contact tracing campaign of the people who had this congregation at Delhi and are conducting 100% testing of such people and their contacts.

Q: Videos are in circulation in social media showing police using force on residents, doctors, and even government officials to enforce a strict lockdown. Have you advised the police to refrain from such acts?

A: J&K police is directly assisting the administration. People are exhibiting restraint and discipline during the current situation. Police is strictly controlling the situation as well as providing all necessary help and co-ordination, including distribution of ration to the needy.

Q: Given the pandemic, is there any plan to restore 4G internet services for better connectivity and information dissemination?

A: Currently, 3G facility by certain identified telecom providers with adequate precautions is available. The administration ensured that people did not suffer due to the internet blockade by making available internet facilities in the office of district magistrates.

Q: There have also been demands to release prisoners on humanitarian grounds. Have you arrived at any decision in this regard?

A: A committee has been constituted headed by chairman, state legal authority, to consider the release of prisoners on parole or interim bail depending upon the nature of the offence. Jammu and Kashmir Temporary Suspension of Sentence, Rules, 2020, have been notified, and the Director General of Police, Prisons, has been empowered to grant parole or furlough to specific category of prisoners on the recommendations of jail superintendents.

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Houston pipeline operator Kinder Morgan has suspended construction on one segment of a controversial pipeline being built through the Texas Hill Country after a drilling accident allegedly sent a mixture of clay and water into nearby wells.

The accident happened along the Permian Highway Pipeline route in Blanco County where construction crews experienced an underground drilling fluid loss on Saturday, the company reported.

Further investigation revealed that the drilling fluid, a mixture of water and non-toxic bentonite clay, seeped into freshwater drinking wells used by nearby landowners.

"At this time, drilling operations have been suspended while the team evaluates the cause of the loss and determines the best path forward," Company officials said. "We are working with affected landowners to address their needs. We are also consulting with our Karst expert and the local water district manager to determine the best way to mitigate any current and future impacts. All of the appropriate regulatory agencies have been notified."

Midstream: Federal judge sides with Kinder Morgan in Hill Country pipeline fight

Landowners claim they were not notified about the accident by Kinder Morgan and only learned about the contamination when muddy water came out of their faucets Sunday.

Blanco County officials are inspecting water drinking wells to determine how widespread the contamination from the spill has been and how many residents have been affected, the Sierra Club reported.

Worth an estimated $2 billion, the 430-mile pipeline was designed to move 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Permian Basin of West Texas to a facility owned by Kinder Morgan at the Katy natural gas hub near Houston. The project faced stiff opposition from Hill Country landowners on environmental and safety concerns.

This spill has validated those concerns," Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative said. "The fact that this spill was not made public until residents spoke out about contamination in their drinking water makes it clear that Kinder Morgan cant be trusted to build this pipeline safely."

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The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) voiced deep concern on Wednesday about "the rapid escalation and global spread" of COVID-19 cases from the new coronavirus, which has now reached 205 countries and territories.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that his agency, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) backed debt relief to help developing countries cope with the pandemic's social and economic consequences.

"In the past five weeks there has been a near-exponential growth in the number of new cases and the number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week," Tedros told a virtual news conference in Geneva where the U.N. health organization is based.

"In the next few days we will reach 1 million confirmed cases and 50,000 deaths worldwide," he said.

China, where the coronavirus outbreak first emerged in December, reported dwindling new infections on Wednesday and for the first time disclosed the number of asymptomatic cases, which could complicate how trends in the outbreak are read. Its latest figures excluded 130 new sufferers of the highly contagious disease who do not show symptoms, its statistics showed.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Asked about the distinction, Dr. Maria ver Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist who was part of an international team who went to China in February, said WHO's definition included laboratory-confirmed cases "regardless of the development of symptoms".

"From data that we have seen from China in particular, we know that individuals who are identified, who are listed as asymptomatic, about 75 percent of those actually go on to develop symptoms," she said, describing them as having been in a "pre-symptomatic phase". The new coronavirus causes the respiratory disease COVID-19.

The outbreak continues to be driven by people who show signs of disease including fever and cough, but it is important for the WHO to capture that "full spectrum of illness", she added.

Tedros, referring to proposed debt relief, said: "Many countries, developing countries cannot really support their societies especially during lockdowns, especially those community members who work for their daily bread. That is why we call on the international community to have debt relief to support those countries.

"We are proposing an expedited process to support countries so their economies are not getting into crisis, (and) their communities are not getting into crisis," he said.
A heartbroken widower who lost his wife of 50 years to coronavirus has penned an impassioned letter to neighbours, warning them to stay at home because the disease is 'indiscriminate'.

Allen Pattrick, 75, from Reading, Berkshire, was left devastated when Jennifer, 79, passed away on Tuesday, days after being taken to hospital by ambulance.

His granddaughter Ameerah Ali, 24, took to Facebook to share a picture of the typed-out letter he sent to his neighbours to raise awareness of the dangers of the illness.

Allen Pattrick, 75, from Reading, Berkshire, was left devastated when his wife Jennifer, 79, passed away from coronavirus. Pictured together

Jennifer suffered from multiple health conditions and had been going to hospital for dialysis three times a week for a decade.

She didn't have a fever when she was taken to hospital, but passed away on Tuesday, Mr Pattrick told his neighbours.

He wrote: 'My wife was one in a million, but coronavirus recognised her as one of the 253 which coronavirus killed last Tuesday.

Jennifer suffered from multiple health conditions and had been going to hospital for dialysis three times a week for a decade. The couple are pictured together on their wedding day on September 20, 1969

'Death from coronavirus is not a peaceful transition for the dying. It is a prolonged painful process until the very end and peace only after the last painful breath.'

He described COVID-19 as 'indiscriminate' as well as 'an unwelcome and callous visitor'.

Allen asked his neighbours to keep themselves safe by staying indoors.

His granddaughter Ameerah Ali, 24, took to Facebook to share a picture of the typed-out letter (pictured) he sent to his neighbours to raise awareness of the dangers of the illness

'Please keep yourself inside your houses. This will not guarantee your safety but gives you and your household a better chance.'

It comes as the UK announced 684 more coronavirus deaths today, taking the total number of fatalities to 3,605.

Yet again, the number is a record one-day high - with each day since Tuesday announcing more victims than the last.

Ameerah (pictured left with her grandad Allen) posted her grandad's message online to try to raise awareness of the importance of staying home

Jennifer (pictured with Ameera) suffered from multiple health conditions and had been going to hospital for dialysis three times a week for a decade

Yesterday there were a record 569 new fatalities announced by the Department of Health and today's statistics show a a 20 per cent increase.

It means the number of people dead from COVID-19 in the UK has risen five-fold in a week, from just 759 last Friday, March 27.

The numbers behind the UK's crisis have escalated rapidly over the past seven days and Health Secretary Matt Hancock today admitted that next week is likely to be worse still, potentially topping out at more than 1,000 deaths per day by Easter Sunday.

Jennifer (pictured with Allen) didn't have a fever when she was taken to hospital but passed away on Tuesday, Mr Pattrick told his neighbours

Allen described his wife as 'one-in-a-million' and urged others to stay indoors to stop the spread of coronavirus further

Britain is still being hammered by the consequences of huge numbers of people catching the coronavirus before the country went into total lockdown last week. The increases being seen each day are 'expected', scientists say.

Experts say it could take another couple of weeks before the benefits of social distancing start to show in NHS statistics - but they insist that the outbreak will taper off and the daily numbers will start to fall.

And insiders maintain that the NHS, by and large, is coping well with the strain so far and there are still intensive care beds and ventilators available for patients who need them.
Farmers have urged retailers to back British farming amid reports of a processor supplying 400 tonnes of Polish beef to Sainsbury and Asda.

UK beef processor ABP has reportedly supplied hundreds of tonnes of imported beef - approximately 20 containers worth - to both supermarket chains.

Responding to the news, the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) accused ABP and the retailers of 'underhand tactics'.

It said beef producers were 'rightly angry' at the report, coming at a time when processors are telling farmers that market conditions are 'extremely difficult and are likely to see reduced prices'.

This is a selfish decision," said the UFU presidential team, "There is no reason for doing this other than to make a quick profit.

"Farmers across the UK and Ireland are working hard to keep supplies flowing under the most difficult of circumstances.

"They are succeeding and there is plenty of beef available to processors and retailers. What they are doing is simply kicking farmers at these most difficult of times as part of a tactic to drive down prices."

The union said moves to import beef is 'unfair and underhand', and those doing it deserve to be 'named and shamed'.

"It has seriously undermined the commitment given by the processors to a collective approach across the supply chain, said the UFU office bearers.

The union said that in the battle against coronavirus 'everyone is trying to play their part', adding that the message from politicians is that 'we are all in this together to beat the virus'.

It said farmers are fulfilling their role by making sure that there are sufficient supplies of beef for UK processors.

The whole issue leaves a very bad and bitter taste in our mouths. In a recent meeting with processors we specifically asked was non-UK beef being imported and it was categorically denied," the UFU said.
About that surge in cross-border alcohol shopping since the coronavirus-related closure of the state-owned liquor stores in Pennsylvania on March 16: It is still illegal to for Pennsylvania residents to buy wine or liquor out of state and bring it home for consumption.

According to the letter of the law at present, violators - i.e. anyone who is not a licensed hauler - caught bringing alcohol in from out-of-state and specifically, not purchased from a Pennsylvania liquor store or licensee are subject to fines of $10 per bottle or can of beer, and $25 per bottle of liquor. Police will also confiscate the alcohol.

Its not enforced a ton.

A 2016 PennLive story on legislative efforts to decriminalize cross-border buying - which did not make the final cut in a series of liquor law reforms passed that year - noted that in the years from 2007 through 2015, Pennsylvania State Police only issued 16 total citations under the state liquor code provision.

There are no task forces believed to be focused on primary enforcement of the issue right now. PSP has never ceased enforcement of these violations, however we have to some degree curtailed dedicated enforcement details focusing on them as we shifted resources to other priorities, department spokesman Ryan Tarkowski, said Thursday.

And PSP Liquor Control Enforcement officials have also stated their main enforcement priority when it comes to bootlegging now is bulk buyers and business people who should be buying wholesale from the state.

But its worth noting that the old law stands. And even if officers arent currently stopping every car coming over the border, if someone was making a such a shopping run and they were stopped for speeding or some other reason, having product in view could bring you added trouble.

The safest play? Buy beer or wine at the licensees that are still selling it in state, including nearly 1,000 licensed breweries, wineries, and distilleries that make and sell their own product; restaurant licensees that can sell food and beer to go, up to two six packs per transaction; the nearly 1,000 groceries and convenience stores that have permits to sell wine and beer; and beer distributors.

Or, try your luck at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Boards freshly-reopened online sales portal.

Dont say we didnt warn you.
She addresses Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno. If you see this video, Mr. President, please, where are they? she asks. They told me they were coming, and it was a lie. She sobs into a purple face mask. Im only asking for you to help him die with dignity. Please. Dont leave him here, thrown on the ground.
As of this writing, more than 800 Oregonians have tested positive for exposure to the novel coronavirus; 21 have died. The global pandemic and its widening fallout here in Oregon  jobs lost, schooling interrupted, hospitals burdened  is one of the most important news stories weve covered since we began publishing in 1850.

For more than a month, the reporters and editors of OregonLive have been working around the clock to keep you informed about the progression of the virus in our community. Just as important, theyre bringing you stories of how we, as Oregonians, are stepping up to the challenge. The garment factory thats making masks. The food pantry that has organized twice weekly free pickups for hungry families. The Portland distiller thats donating a portion of online sales to bartenders and waitstaff who are out of work. The health care workers caring for ill veterans. Plus, the innovative ways in which our friends and neighbors are using technology to preserve the milestones of life that matter  birthday parties, weddings, even funerals.

Were proud of Oregon and the work were doing. And were grateful to you for relying on our reporting to keep you informed and safe.

Over the past few weeks, visits to our website have more than doubled. More than 10,000 of you have signed up to receive the latest coronavirus updates by text. Nearly 60,000 of you are getting our daily coronavirus newsletter. In addition to bringing you the news about the spread of the virus, were continually publishing stories about what to do if youve lost your job, how to donate (or make) desperately needed medical supplies, how grocery stores are adapting, and how to help your kids keep up from home.

We successfully pressed the governor and state officials to release more information and data so that Oregonians could better track the progress of COVID-19 through the state. And weve built a comprehensive data page.

This reporting takes time and expertise. Were committed to telling this story deeply and thoroughly. Many of you have reached out to thank us for getting vital information out to the public.

And youve asked how you can support us, just as we are supporting the community with timely news and information about this emerging crisis.

Heres how: Beginning today, OregonLive will offer digital subscriptions for $10 a month. The coronavirus news on OregonLive is free, of course, so subscribing is simply an act of support for our work. Go here to sign up.

Subscribers have always borne part of the cost of newsgathering. To our print subscribers, thank you.

A subscription to OregonLive directly powers the work of our newsroom: the stories we publish on our website, the many email newsletters we deliver to your inbox, our text-messaging services, our podcasts, our mobile apps.

If you appreciate the work of Oregons largest newsroom, if you rely on us for insights and expertise, we hope you will support professionally reported, independent, local journalism that reflects and celebrates the strength, resilience and diversity of our community and our state.

As traditional forms of advertising shrink  and this crisis has hurt local advertising  we may eventually require a digital subscription for unlimited access to OregonLive. For now, though, if you value our coronavirus coverage  and all the other local news and information we provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year  please support us at this critical time.

Local news you can trust is more important now than ever. Thank you again for trusting us to deliver the news Oregon depends on. Thank you for supporting The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Therese Bottomly is editor and vice president of content for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at tbottomly@oregonian.com or 503-221-8434.
Photo: The Canadian Press White House adviser Gayle Smith attends a meeting with Vice President Joe Biden, on President Barack Obama administration's response to Ebola in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House compound in Washington on Nov. 13, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Manuel Balce Ceneta

A former top Obama adviser says Canada's disciplined, science-based approach to the COVID-19 crisis should spur it to pursue greater international leadership on global health issues in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

"When I look at Canada, it looks to me there is a disciplined response up there with clear information coming through. I hope you all do very well because I like Canada, and we live next door to each other, and it matters to both of us that we succeed," Gayle Smith told The Canadian Press in an interview Friday.

"Canada has a lot of advantages here. It's good, strong reputation on global health, on the fight against AIDS, for vaccines. So, it's been a real player in that. Canada has got a great reputation and that kind of credibility helps in terms of global leadership."

Smith lamented the Trump administration's decision in 2018 to disband a special office in the National Security Council to monitor global health threats.

"The idea was to leave a directorate behind that could serve as that mechanism to ensure prevention, ensure preparedness and if it was necessary to quickly respond," said Smith, who previously served as head of the U.S. Agency for International Development and as special assistant to former president Barack Obama on his security council.

"I'm deeply sorry. I'm frustrated that that capability no longer exists. It was something we wanted to leave behind," said Smith, now the president of the advocacy group the ONE Campaign.

"It can be rebuilt, and I certainly hope it will be."

Smith said she thinks disbanding the office has led to an "ad hoc" response to the COVID-19 outbreak by the U.S. government.

Smith's comments echoed the view of the directorate's first head, Beth Cameron, in an opinion column in The Washington Post last month. Cameron wrote that the directorate's demise has led to the Trump administration's "sluggish" response to the pandemic.

When Trump was asked about the decision last month, he told a reporter it was a "nasty" question and said he didn't know "anything about it."

Smith was speaking Friday, when the Minnesota-based 3M said the Trump administration is trying to prevent it from exporting its N95 respirator masks as governments around the world struggle to buy important medical equipment.

Canada and the U.S. must ensure their supply chains are not interrupted as they fight the pandemic together, Smith said.

"We have an interest in Canada succeeding; you've got an interest in our succeeding," she said.

Smith said lessons must be learned from the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa.

"Leaders have to act like leaders. Leadership really matters in how these crises are managed," she said.

"With Ebola, we saw the world really come together with Africa to fight that. I'm afraid we've not quite seen that yet."

In dealing with the Trump administration, she urged Canada to lead "with its dialogue, with the facts and the science."

Smith said she was encouraged to see how Canada and the U.S. co-operated to close their shared border to non-essential travel in order to control the spread of the pandemic.

"I don't know what went on behind the scenes. It seemed to me that the discussions on our common border were very grown up and matter of fact. I hope we can see more of that," she said.

Both countries have to deal with the fact that their fates are intertwined, and they have to reach out to the broader international community to fight the pandemic, she said.

"Crises like these lay bare some of our vulnerabilities," Smith said.

"It probably makes sense to work with other countries and multilateral institutions because we actually need them for our own national interest and national security."
Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)

Accordingly, Vietnamese guest workers to be working in the RoK under the Employment Permit System (EPS) programme will be required to make a pre-departure deposit worth 100 million VND (4,239 USD) to guarantee their return to Vietnam after their job contracts expire.

The new policy forms part of measures to prevent Vietnamese migrant workers from overstaying their contracts in the RoK.

The workers must pay the deposit at the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) within 35 days after they sign the contract for employment in the RoK.

Prospective workers can take out a loan of up to 100 million VND from the VPSP to make the deposit without loan security.

The deposit will be refunded to the workers upon the liquidation of the contract.

The policy will be effective from May 15 this year until the revised law on Vietnamese guest workers working abroad under contracts takes effect.
The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited (TCCBCGL) has donated 3,000 packs of assorted beverages to frontline workers in support of governments efforts to control the spread of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19).



The products, according to the company, are to provide refreshment to frontline staff who in their course of duty, put their lives on the line to offer medical care, security and other forms of intervention in managing the spread of the contagion.



We applaud governments efforts in the fight against the spread of the pandemic, and further render our sincere appreciation to frontline officers who are providing support in various ways. We assure government that, as far as we are able, we will lend our support especially in times like this where partnership is critical if we are to overcome this pandemic, said Bethel Yeboah, Public Affairs and Communications Manager of the company.



Receiving the items on behalf of government, Deputy Minister of Information, Hon. Pius Enam Hadzide, expressed governments appreciation to The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited for its generosity and further assured the company of the items being used for the intended purpose.



The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited is currently embarking on an awareness campaign on Citi FM, an Accra-based radio station, to sensitize the people of Ghana about COVID-19 and the need to stay safe. This is in support of governments efforts to keep Ghanaians informed with the right information during these challenging times.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Irish aircraft leasing company Avolon said Friday it was canceling an order for 75 737 MAX planes due to the massive deterioration in travel because of COVID-19.

The planes being canceled had been scheduled for delivery in the 2020-2023 timeframe. Avolon also pushed back delivery of 16 other 737 MAX planes to 2024 or later and also annulled a plan to buy four Airbus A330neo aircraft.

"We are currently facing the most challenging period in the history of commercial aviation," said Avolon Chief Executive Domhnal Slattery.

"The global fleet has been effectively grounded as countries work hard to slow the spread of COVID-19." The International Air Transport Association has estimated that global airlines would see a drop of $252 billion in revenues in 2020 under a scenario in which severe travel restrictions last for three months.

Avolon's announcement is the latest bit of bad for Boeing, which prior to the coronavirus shutdowns was already dealing with the crisis over the grounding of the 737 MAX due to two deadly crashes.

On Thursday, the Chicago-based firm unveiled a voluntary worker layoff program that a company official said will result in the departure of several thousand employees.

A Boeing spokesman said Avolon's announcement reflected a "mutual agreement" in light of the MAX grounding and the deterioration in the outlook for commercial flying.

"As we have produced fewer MAX airplanes than planned, we have implemented these adjustments to regain flexibility in managing the more than 4,300 unfilled 737 MAX orders," the Boeing spokesman said.

"This is also the right step to align to the realities of the marketplace as we balance supply and demand and protect the 737 MAX's underlying value, especially in the leasing sector.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The state government will have the control to override council planning laws thanks to powerful new regulations that came into effect today.

Rita Saffioti. Credit:David Broadway

Amendments to the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 give the Minister for Planning the authority to temporarily override local planning schemes and existing conditions in planning approvals.

The changes mean the minister can make changes without council input to noise or amenity restrictions including supermarket deliveries, waste and recycling services and construction activities.

The powers only come into effect during a state of emergency and to use them the minister must issue a notice to suppress local schemes for a single council, across a region or across the state.

The regulations also provide for streamlined advertising and decision-making processes.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said in a state of emergency the changes would provide the government with a mechanism to safeguard the supply of essential goods and services, help maintain civil order and lessen the administrative requirement for local councils in favour of direct frontline support in their communities.

We have seen in recent weeks the community response to this health crisis and its impact on our key services - and we have mobilised quickly to accommodate the increase in demand, she said.

We need to keep the trucks rolling and the shutters open, and while there might be some short-term inconvenience, we need greater flexibility, speed and a higher degree of co-ordination around our planning regulations to prioritise these services, at this time.

These powers would provide for a higher order of community service in the face of an emergency and are not about circumventing public input in our planning processes.

Master Builders WA director John Gelavis welcomed the amendments and said it would assist greatly in having urgent decision making made where necessary, allowing businesses to operate in challenging conditions easier.
Ryanair aircrafts are parked on the tarmac before the closure of Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Belgium. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters)

Ryanair (RYA.L) expects to report up to 1bn in profits over the past year, despite a 48% collapse in passenger numbers in March over the coronavirus.

The budget airline group, which includes Austrian airline Lauda, said widespread flight bans and travel restrictions mean its flight numbers are now just 1% of normal levels. It is running around 20 flights a day, compared with around 2,500 before the COVID-19 crisis.

The wider airline industry faces one of the biggest crises in its history, sparking calls for government bailouts in Britain and around the world.

But the company announced on Friday it still expected its profits to fall within previous guidance for its 2020 financial year, which ran to 31 March. It now expects pre-tax profits of between 950m ($1.03bn, 832m) and 1bn ($1.08bn, 875m), at the lower end of expected levels.

Read more: BA expected to furlough tens of thousands of staff

It said: This is due to the response of EU governments to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which have since mid-March included widespread flight bans and travel restrictions which have closed Europe's skies to all but a tiny number of rescue and medical flights.

The Ryanair group saw traffic in March fall by 48% from 10.9 million passengers in 2019 to 5.7 million passengers last month. It meant Ryanairs full-year traffic came in at 149 million passengers.

The airline expects its fleet to remain largely grounded for at least April and May, it added.

Ryanair Group Airlines continue to work with EU governments to maintain minimum flight links for emergency reasons, and to operate rescue and medical flights when requested to do so.

The company has already slashed all pay including senior managers by 50% for April and May in a bid to cut costs as its income has collapsed.

It said it was working with workforces and unions to look at whether EU governments payroll support mechanisms could help save jobs and cut costs further. It has also suspended share buybacks and frozen recruitment.
A veteran Houston police officer shot a suspect who "popped" out from behind attic insulation Friday inside his southwest Houston home.

The man, identified as 27-year-old Kevin Johnson, was wanted on three felony warrants when officers arrived at his home in the 12300 block of Braesridge Drive shortly before noon. The officers were in full uniform and announced themselves over a patrol car PA system, telling anyone inside the home to come outside, according to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo.

MORE FROM JAY R. JORDAN: Three shot in robbery in southeast Houston

Officers cleared the house and spoke with four family members, including Johnson's mother, all of whom told police he was not inside the house.

The veteran officer in question was searching the attic when he heard a noise coming from behind a sheet of insulation, Acevedo said. That's when Johnson "popped" out toward the officer, which is when the officer opened fire, striking Johnson in the arm.

"The officer discharged one round," Acevedo said. "The officer has indicated that from his perspective he believes it was sympathetic reflex from the suspect jumping out at him unexpectedly like that."

Johnson was unarmed when the officer shot him. The officer, who was not immediately identified, was placed on administrative leave as the Houston Police Department Internal Affairs Division investigates the shooting.

Acevedo said the officer has been with the department for some time.

"This guy had 10 years in SWAT," Acevedo said. "You can imagine, he's beating himself up much more than we'll ever beat him up."

Detectives are trying to figure out whether the four family members knew Johnson was inside and intentionally misled officers. Acevedo spoke to Johnson's mother, who told him she had no idea he was inside, the chief said.

Johnson was wanted on felony charges of burglary of a habitation, theft and auto theft. He also had a misdemeanor warrant for evading arrest.

He was walking and talking as officers and paramedics ushered him to an ambulance and is in good condition, Acevedo said.

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
The government has said the remains of coronavirus victims in Kenya will be disinfected before being handed over to families for burial.

Acting Director-General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth on Thursday, April 2 said the body of the first Kenyan to succumb to COVID-19, Engineer Maurice Barasa Namiinda, 64, has already been disinfected.

Dr Amoth said his family members have been asked to clear pending medical bills at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi before they are allowed to collect his remains. Namiinda passed on March 26.

The official added that health officers will evaluate the deceaseds chosen burial place in Naisambu Village in Cherangany Constituency in Trans-Nzoia County before the State gives Namiindas family the green light to bury their kin.

Dr Patrick Amoth said funerals are limited to a maximum of 15 family members, and that the interment should be done as quickly as possible.

During the press conference Thursday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed two more COVID-19 fatalities, bringing the total to three.

Dr Patrick Amoth said one of the victims, who died in the wee hours of Thursday in Mombasa, was buried later that day.

While Kenya allows families to bury COVID-19 victims, foreign countries such as Italy, Spain, China, and the US cremate victims.
- New help desks in Spain and Italy offering psychological support during COVID-19 set up

- The social initiative "Quarantine together" will provide psychological support to families to help them in dealing with the COVID-19 situation in both countries

- Families will receive free help and guidance in their homes from professional psychologists via telephone or email during times of social distancing

MILAN, BARCELONA, Spain and ASCOLI PICENO, Italy, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuraxpharm Group, a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and present in 12 countries across Europe, today announces the launch of the social initiative "Quarantine Together", a psychological support platform for families in Spain and Italy, a help desk to support families in dealing with the COVID-19 situation in these two countries.

In some European countries, we are currently not allowed to leave our homes. People in Italy and Spain are most affected, because they have been the first to have to face this new reality as a preventative measure against the rapid spread of the coronavirus. This has changed the dynamics in households. The challenge to stayathome to stop the spread of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 is even greater for families with elderly, with children with autism or ADHD syndrome or with members with a mental or any other disease.

As a result of the confinement and the sudden change in the daily routine of more vulnerable family members, it is common for them to feel their symptoms getting worse or to suffer changes in their emotions such as sadness, irritability or anxiety.

As a specialist in CNS, Neuraxpharm is particularly aware of the needs of these more vulnerable individuals who need special attention. Reflecting about Corporate Social Responsibility, Neuraxpharm has therefore decided to launch an initiative called "Quarantine Together". The programme consists of a free help desk providing psychological assistance to families, and in Spain it will be offered specifically for those families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

As a socially responsible pharmaceutical company and part of the global community, focused on improving the quality of life of people living with CNS disorders, Neuraxpharm aims to help the communities in two of the European countries where the company is present. The aim of the initiative is to provide psychological assistance to people in need and to help them to manage their mental health and wellbeing during the uncertain times caused by the impact of coronavirus.

The initiative in Spain, called "Cuarentena con TEA", runs in collaboration with the Fundacion Querer, a multidisciplinary bureau made up of experts in children and teenage psychology that will provide medical, therapeutic and educational guidance in Spanish. It is being launched on April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day. The initiative will be promoted through Neuraxpharm Spain's website and social media (Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn).

In Italy, the initiative is called "Quarantena insieme". It will consist of a team of professional psychologists that will provide psychological support in Italian to families with mentally vulnerable members through a help desk. The campaign will be launched on April 8th. The initiative will be promoted through Neuraxpharm Italy's website and via social media (Facebook)

Commenting on the campaign, Dr. Jorg-Thomas Dierks, CEO of Neuraxpharm, said: "At Neuraxpharm we are working every day to improve the quality of life and mental wellbeing of patients affected by disorders related to the central nervous system. Our mission as a pharmaceutical company has more meaning than ever during these exceptional times that we are witnessing as a result of the spread of COVID-19. The collaborative project that we have launched in two of the most affected countries in Europe aims to provide support to families having vulnerable members or children with autism disorder and to discuss solutions that will adapt to the specific needs of each case".

Dr. Marta Fernandez Gracia-Andrade, a psychologist from the Fundacion Querer added: "At the moment there are thousands of families that are going through some very difficult times because, besides the confinement due to COVID-19 with all the problems that it involves, they have stopped receiving their therapeutic and educational support and they are facing the reality of not being able to continue with all the support from psychologists, speech therapists or occupational and educational therapists that they so desperately need. That is why we are glad to join forces with Neuraxpharm on this project and help from the expert bureau that will deal with queries from the families."

About Neuraxpharm - the European CNS specialist

Neuraxpharm is a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system disorders (CNS) with a direct presence in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Hungary and Portugal. Backed by funds advised by Apax Partners, Neuraxpharm has a unique understanding of the CNS market built over 35 years.

With its focus on CNS, Neuraxpharm develops and commercializes value added medicines, standard generics and Consumer Healthcare products, e.g. probiotics and other nutraceuticals, and is continuously striving to offer a wide range of effective, high quality and affordable CNS treatment options in Europe.

Present with its products in more than 50 countries, Neuraxpharm also manufactures pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients in its own manufacturing sites in Spain, Lesvi and Inke.

To learn more about Neuraxpharm, please visit: https://www.neuraxpharm.com
Expansion Results from New Partnership with the Montana Healthcare Foundation and the Headwaters Foundation

San Francisco, CA, April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KFFs Kaiser Health News (KHN) will hire a full-time Montana-based correspondent and recruit a team of freelance reporters to expand its coverage of health care policy and politics in the region, including the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.

The expansion is made possible by a new long-term partnership among KFF, the Montana Healthcare Foundation, and the Headwaters Foundation, and follows the opening last year of KHNs Mountain States Bureau in Denver and its Midwest Bureau in St. Louis.

Media outlets from Montana and elsewhere can publish KHN stories from the region at no charge. KHN also will publish the stories on khn.org and promote them through its social media platforms. KHN is an award-winning nonprofit news service that is an editorially independent program of KFF, formally The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization engaged in policy analysis, polling, journalism, and communications to produce trusted information on national health issues.

"At a time when many local news organizations are scrambling to cover the coronavirus crisis, KHNs model of partnering with local outlets and producing high quality health journalism should quickly translate into better informed communities," said Drew Altman, KFFs CEO and KHNs founding publisher. "Thanks to the support of the Montana Healthcare Foundation and the Headwaters Foundation, we will be bringing the Mountain West more in-depth coverage not only of COVID-19, but also issues such as the Medicaid expansion, health care costs, rural health care and health care in the 2020 elections."

"Montana Healthcare Foundation is committed to ensuring that Montanans have solid information on key health care and health policy issues in our state," said Aaron Wernham, MHCF CEO. "Were excited to partner with the nations preeminent health journalism outlet to give all Montanans access to high-quality coverage of health issues that affect us."

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"The people of Montana deserve the caliber of journalism that Kaiser Health News can provide so they can make informed decisions about their lives," said Headwaters Foundation CEO Brenda Solorzano. "Headwaters Foundation is excited to partner in supporting this effort dedicated to high-quality journalism covering health issues that affect Montanans."

KHN employs more than 60 journalists, with most based in the KHN newsroom in KFFs Washington D.C. offices and others working in California, Colorado, and Missouri. The 11-year-old news service has won numerous awards, including a prestigious Barlett & Steele Award for Investigative Journalism and five "Best in Business" awards from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW). KHN also is a finalist for the 2020 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government.

Journalists interested in the Montana correspondents job can find details about the position and information about how to apply on kff.org.

News organizations interested in working with KHN should contact the news service at KHNPartnerships@kff.org, and those interested in helping to expand and improve health journalism around the country should contact KFF at healthjournalism@kff.org.

For more on our partners in Montana, visit the Montana Healthcare Foundation and the Headwaters Foundation online.

About The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Kaiser Health News:

Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, KFF (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF and is the nations leading and largest health and health policy newsroom, producing stories that run on khn.org and are published by hundreds of news organizations across the country.

Chris Lee

Kaiser Family Foundation

(202) 347-5270

chrisl@kff.org


As people across the world continued to remain under a strict lockdown due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the total number of positive cases reached 1,066,706 and the death toll stood at 56,767 at 11.45 pm (IST) on Friday (April 3, 2020). The US remained at the top with the maximum number of positive cases at 258,214, followed by Italy with 119,827 infected cases, Spain with 117,710 cases, Germany with 89,838 cases and China at the fifth spot with 82,509 cases.

The highest death toll so far has been recorded in Italy with 14,681 deaths, followed by Spain with 10,935 deaths, the US with 6,605 deaths, France with 5,398 deaths and the UK with 3,611 deaths. All these countries have surpassed China, the epicentre of the virus, in terms of the death toll.

In Italy, the number of new cases was slightly lower on Friday, growing by 4,585 from a previous 4,668. April 3 was the fifth consecutive day in which the number of new cases remained within a range of 4,050-4,782, confirming government hopes that the epidemic has hit a plateau, ahead of an expected decline in the near future. Italy hit a daily peak of 6,557 new cases on March 21.

The daily death toll has been between 727 and 766 for the last three days, down from 837 on March 31 and a peak of 919 on March 27. Of those originally infected nationwide, some 19,758 had fully recovered on Friday, compared to 18,278 the day before. There were 4,068 people in intensive care, up from a previous 4,053. Italy has registered more deaths than anywhere else in the world and accounts for more than a quarter of all global fatalities from the virus. In Lombardy, the epicentre of the outbreak, the daily death toll was slightly lower than the day before, coming in at 351 against 367 on Thursday, but new infections rose to 1,455 versus 1,292.

In the US, the New York state recorded more than 500 coronavirus-related deaths in a single day, bringing its total to nearly 3,000, or about the same number killed in the United States on September 11, 2001, attacks, said Governor Andrew Cuomo said. New York City has mere days to prepare for the worst of the novel coronavirus onslaught, said Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose city has suffered more than a quarter of US deaths in the outbreak. He pleaded for federal government help to end a shortage of medical staff and ventilators.

The 24-hour death toll was 562, raising the New York state total to 2,935 fatalities, Cuomo said. He called it the "highest single increase in the number of deaths since we started." De Blasio has asked for 1,000 nurses, 150 doctors and 300 respiratory therapists as the number of COVID-19 cases in the city is expected to rise sharply next week. New York City has yet to receive a resupply for the up to 3,000 ventilators needed by next week, de Blasio said, urging President Donald Trump to mobilize medical personnel from the US military.

In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy ordered that all flags be lowered to half-staff for as long as the emergency remains in effect to honour those lost to the coronavirus. He said New Jersey, which has more than 29,000 cases, was the first state to take such a measure. New York City and state have both complained that federal resources have not reached them quickly enough, but Cuomo said Trump responded swiftly to a request he made on Thursday that a makeshift hospital at a Manhattan convention centre is allowed to take in patients with the COVID-19 disease. Initially, it was set up to treat all other patients.

A grim picture can be seen in Spain as it struggles desperately to cope with almost 120,000 coronavirus infections. It barely has the strength to help its overwhelmed care homes and their elderly residents, singularly vulnerable to the respiratory disease. With hospitals stretched to breaking point, the elderly are being turned away, and the care homes, lacking staff and appropriate equipment, must do what they can for the sick and dying.

"When they are very sick - not only here, in more than one place - ... when they see there is no solution ... they sedate them and see how long they last because they`re leaving intensive care wards for younger people," said Maria Jose Alvarez, whose 85-year-old mother is in a home near Barcelona.

Of a total of 3,000 deaths recorded at Madrid nursing homes in the past month, regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso said around 2,000 were likely to have been the result of coronavirus, though it was unclear how many of those appear in official figures due to a lack of testing. At one care home in the Madrid suburb of Leganes, 46 people have died since March 15.

Latest figures which show the spread of the coronavirus is slowing in Germany are a cause for "hope", Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday but warned that it was too early to relax restrictions on public life. Germany has shut schools, banned public gatherings of more than two and imposed requirements for people to keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres (five feet).

The measures have helped to slow the spread of the virus, experts said. "It's true that the latest figures, as high as they are, give us a little bit of hope, as the growth in new infections is slower than it was a few days ago," said Merkel in an official podcast. "But it is definitely much too early to see a clear trend in that, and it is certainly too early to think in any way about relaxing the strict rules we have given ourselves," she added. The curbs aimed at keeping Germans home are officially in place until April 19 and Merkel said it would be "irresponsible" to commit to a fixed end date.
Somehow it was typical of Boris Johnson to drag himself from his sick bed to the steps of Downing Street and to defy the cold by declining to wear an overcoat.

His eyes had the tired and shot look of a man struggling with illness, his unshaven face was pallid and he seemed to have lost weight.

But he remained stoically upright as he joined in the mass applause for the NHS and if the usual ebullience was missing there was at least a flicker of determination.

This was the first sighting of the Prime Minister on his feet for seven days after succumbing to the coronavirus and his appearance was in stark contrast to that of Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has made a far swifter recovery from the symptoms.

Somehow it was typical of Boris Johnson to drag himself from his sick bed to the steps of Downing Street and to defy the cold by declining to wear an overcoat. But he remained stoically upright as he joined in the mass applause for the NHS (pictured)

At 41 Mr Hancock is 14 years the PM's junior and it is impossible to know if he contracted a milder version of the illness.

All the same, Mr Johnson's washed-out look triggered alarm on social media about just how unwell he has been.

It may also explain why some 12 hours later the Prime Minister felt it necessary to give an update on his condition in a video message.

In it he said he was still suffering from a high temperature  which he took himself  and so was remaining in self-isolation.

Mr Johnson's washed-out look triggered alarm on social media about just how unwell he has been. It may also explain why some 12 hours later the Prime Minister felt it necessary to give an update on his condition in a video message (pictured)

But he also insisted that he was feeling better. For eight days Boris has been quarantined from other ministers and officials as he has fought the virus.

According to sources, he has spent a lot of time sleeping as extreme exhaustion is one of the key features of the illness. One says: 'It has hit him hard, really slammed him but it's in his nature to put the bravest face on it.'

In the videos posted by No 10 he has looked worse as the week has gone on. However, he has manfully appeared to chair every single Covid Cabinet meeting  at 9.15am each day using the Zoom video conferencing app  since the diagnosis.

On Wednesday, by all accounts, he even read ministers and officials the riot act over the testing fiasco. This is both admirable and characteristic as he has promised the nation he will personally lead the fight against the pandemic. But is it wise?

Might he have made a fuller recovery had he concentrated on his own health? This is not the Johnson way, of course. So how has the prisoner of Downing Street been getting on?

At 41 Mr Hancock (pictured) is 14 years the PM's junior and it is impossible to know if he contracted a milder version of the illness

In fact he has adapted quickly to the restrictions the illness has imposed on him. Food is brought on a tray from No 10 and left outside the ground floor office in No 11 which he is using.

The internal doors between No 10 and No 11 are closed and officials have moved tables against them to block them completely.

His office, normally used by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, is out of bounds to any visitor, as is his bedroom. No housekeepers are permitted to tidy the room. For a man used to the company of others, solitary confinement has been hard to adjust to.

Perhaps his greatest challenge has been coping without the reassuring presence of Carrie Symonds, his pregnant partner, who has been self-isolating away from Downing Street.

Since posting a picture of herself with the couple's dog Dilyn on her Instagram account, Carrie, 32, has not been active on social media.

At one stage she was thought to have been at Chequers and she has been seen at her flat in south London.

Downing Street declines to say where she is or how she is. At the same time no one is putting a timescale on Boris's recovery. A friend says: 'He is fit and strong and he will get over this.' When, he will re-emerge in harness is, however, a matter of conjecture.
The MS Zaandam has docked in Florida's Port Everglades.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Florida authorities have officially confirmed that Holland America's two stranded cruise ships, the MS Zaandam and Rotterdam, can dock at Port Everglades.

A total of 14 passengers will be medically evacuated from the ships and taken to local hospitals due to "severe illness and critical care needs."

"Fit-for-travel" passengers will be shuttled in buses to charter flights at the airport, while Florida residents on the ship will be driven home in cars sent by Holland America.

Holland America said in a statement that it expected disembarkation would wrap up Friday night.

Four passengers have died on the Zaandam after an outbreak of respiratory illness sickened at least 250 people.

Nine passengers have tested positive for COVID-19 so far.

Florida officials have officially permitted the MS Zaandam and the MS Rotterdam, Holland America cruise ships with hundreds of sick on board, to dock at Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades and begin disembarking guests.

"Exceeding safety procedures laid out by U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health, healthy passengers will return to their homes on Friday and Saturday on chartered flights to domestic and international destinations," the Port Everglades Unified Command said in a statement sent to Business Insider.

The arrival at Port Everglades marks the beginning of the end of a grueling journey for both ships. According to a statement from Holland America, 250 guests and crew members  90 guests on the Zaandam and 17 guests on the Rotterdam, as well as 143 crew members on the Zaandam  have fallen ill with influenza-like symptoms since March 22. Four passengers have died, and nine people have tested positive for COVID-19.

In the document outlining the repatriation plan for the Zaandam and the Rotterdam, it was noted that 10 Zaandam passengers and three Rotterdam passengers have been "hospitalized onboard with need for shoreside care."

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According to the approved plan, Florida's Broward Health Medical Center "has agreed to accept 10 patients," while Larkin Community Hospital accepted four patients. Those 14 critical patients "with severe illness and critical care needs" will be transported to those hospitals via One Call Medical Transport.

In a statement sent to Business Insider, Holland America said priority was given today "to those who need immediate care at local health system partners who have approved their arrival."

Ostensibly, healthy guests onboard the ships will undergo health tests and processing by US Customs and Border Protection, as outlined in a letter sent to Rotterdam passengers.

"Disembarkation is expected to be completed by tomorrow evening," Holland America said in its statement. According to the cruise line, buses will transport "fit-to-travel guests" from Port Everglades to the airport.

"The majority will leave on charter flights," the statement said. "Local Florida residents will return home immediately via private car."

Of the 1250 passengers on board both ships, 311 are United States citizens, and 52 reside in Florida. The guests onboard the Zaandam and Rotterdam have not been on land since March 14. Passengers have been self-isolating in their staterooms since March 22.

For most of those that are sick, the journey is not over yet, however. Holland America said that symptomatic passengers will stay on the ship with medical staffers. They will be allowed to "disembark at a later date to be finalized after they have fully recovered and meet the CDC guidelines for being fit to travel."

"No crew from either ship will disembark in Fort Lauderdale," Holland America said in its statement.

Holland America thanked United States President Donald Trump, who advocated for the ships to dock in Florida, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, Port Everglades Unified Command, Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry and "all governmental and embassy authorities who helped to resolve this situation and get our nearly 1,200 guests home."

"And a special thank you to Broward County Mayor Dale Holness for his leadership, help and understanding," the statement said.

The Port Everglades Unified Command  the body that approved of Carnival's repatriation plan  is made up of representatives of the United States Coast Guard, the Broward County Sheriff's Office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Florida Department of Health, US Customs and Border Patrol, port pilots, and other officials. The task force was responsible for working with Holland America's parent company, Carnival Corp., to finalize a plan regarding the disembarkation of Zaandam and Rotterdam passengers.

The Zaandam was caught up in the international coronavirus pandemic during a cruise around South America that started in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. The cruise would end in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21. Some passengers, however, had booked back-to-back cruises and were due to sail from San Antonio to Fort Lauderdale, for an April 7 arrival.

"We are so happy to be able to get our guests home and assist those few who need additional medical services," Holland America President Orlando Ashford said in the statement. "The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our shared humanity, and we must do everything we can to ensure we continue to act in ways consistent with our common human dignity.

Read the Port Everglades Unified Command's full statement here:

The Port Everglades Unified Command, comprised of federal, state and local partners, worked with Carnival Corporation, parent company of Holland America Line, to develop a comprehensive plan for the safe disembarkation of nearly 1,200 passengers from two cruise ships. Exceeding safety procedures laid out by U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health, healthy passengers will return to their homes on Friday and Saturday on chartered flights to domestic and international destinations.

Read Holland America's full statement here:

Holland America Line is pleased to confirm that Broward County and the Unified Command cleared both Zaandam and Rotterdam for arrival to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to disembark guests who are fit to travel per guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We extend our sincere gratitude to President Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, Port Everglades Unified Command, Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry and all governmental and embassy authorities who helped to resolve this situation and get our nearly 1,200 guests home. And a special thank you to Broward County Mayor Dale Holness for his leadership, help and understanding.

"These travelers could have been any one of us or our families, unexpectedly caught in the middle of this unprecedented closure of global borders that happened in a matter of days and without warning," said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. "We are so happy to be able to get our guests home and assist those few who need additional medical services. The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our shared humanity, and we must do everything we can to ensure we continue to act in ways consistent with our common human dignity.

"Our guests on board both ships have been truly incredible, and we extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to all of them," continued Ashford. "Their cooperation, support and understanding throughout this entire experience helped us best protect the health of all on board and ensured our shipboard teams could focus on caring for everyone and getting them home.

"I would also like to extend my sincerest thanks to the amazing officers and crews of Zaandam and Rotterdam," continued Ashford. "They are heroes who rose to the challenge of taking care of our guests and each other under extraordinary circumstances. All of us at Holland America Line are so very proud of our colleagues for their exemplary leadership and service."

Following arrival in Port Everglades, guests will be health screened and also cleared for entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Disembarkation is expected to be completed by tomorrow evening, with priority given today to those who need immediate care at local health system partners who have approved their arrival.

Fit-to-travel guests will transfer straight from ship onto buses for transfer directly to the airport for their flights home. The majority will leave on charter flights. Local Florida residents will return home immediately via private car. Guests have not left the ship since March 14 and have self-isolated in their staterooms since March 22.

Guests who still have symptoms will remain on board and disembark at a later date to be finalized after they have fully recovered and meet the CDC guidelines for being fit to travel. They will continue to be well cared for on board by the ships' medical staffs.

No crew from either ship will disembark in Fort Lauderdale.

Since March 22, 107 guests (90 on Zaandam/17 on Rotterdam) and 143 crew on Zaandam (0 on Rotterdam) have presented with influenza-like symptoms.

There are 808 guests and 583 crew on Rotterdam. On Zaandam there are 442 guests and 603 crew. Among the guests, 311 guests are American citizens and 52 are residents of Florida.

Due to global health concerns, Holland America Line made the decision to suspend its global cruise operations for 30 days and end its current cruises in progress as quickly as possible. At the time, Zaandam was sailing a South America cruise that began in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 that was originally scheduled to end in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21. Attempts were made and denied to disembark guests in Chile on March 15 and at other ports along its route to the United States.

On March 21, Zaandam was originally scheduled to begin a 20-day South America and Panama Canal cruise from San Antonio, Chile, and end in Fort Lauderdale on April 7. On March 30 an additional 30-day extension of cruise cancellations was announced, including departures through May 14.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Kansas City, St. Louis and more than three dozen Missouri cities and counties already had issued stay-at-home orders, allowing residents to leave their homes only for essential reasons.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is leading the federal government response to the pandemic, has said all states should have shelter-in-place orders.

But Parson, while asking Missourians to remain home, had refrained from issuing an order to that effect. His previous order, set to expire Monday, had limited gatherings statewide to no more than 10 people, leaving Missouri with a patchwork quilt of regulations.

Parsons administration has closed the Capitol, shuttered some state parks, banned camping and has assigned more than 15,000 state employees to work from home.

There comes a time when we have to make major sacrifices in our lives. Many of us make sacrifices each and every day, but now more than ever, we must all make sacrifices, Parson said. This is not about any one individual person. This is about our families, friends, neighbors, and the entire state of Missouri. For the sake of all Missourians, be smart, be responsible, and stay home, Missourians.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Even after they moved into a retirement community, Alberdeen and Marvin TeSlaa liked to be out in the community and stay active.

They lived life to the fullest, daughter Valerie Gorter said.

Whether it was attending their grandchildrens sporting events, church events or family gatherings, the couple married for 61 years made the most of life.

Now, the couples large family is mourning the loss of its matriarch after she became the second person in Kent County to die from coronavirus COVID-19.

Faith, family and friends were her motivating factors, said son-in-law Jeff Gorter.

Alberdeen TeSlaa, who went by Dee, died Wednesday, April 1 from respiratory failure related to COVID-19. She was 80.

She had an underlying medical condition that hampered her breathing in recent years.

Family members said they dont know how she got the virus, but wonder whether it might have been during a March 14 family gathering at a restaurant. The gathering was a couple days before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered restaurants to close their dining areas.

No family members exhibited symptoms of being sick at the time. But four days after the restaurant gathering, some began to show coronavirus symptoms such as cough, body aches and temperatures. One of them then got tested and it came back positive for COVID-19.

They then isolated themselves, family members said.

Coronavirus continues rampage through Michigan as case total reaches 10,791, death toll hits 417

Dee TeSlaa seemed fine through Thursday, March 26, then fell ill the following day. The couples children had been checking on them daily using FaceTime and, on Friday, they noticed a change.

She sounded horrible, Valerie Gorter said.

TeSlaa was taken by ambulance to a hospital and she tested positive for COVID-19.

Her condition began to deteriorate rapidly and, on Tuesday, her children were allowed to bring her home to a family members house. It was only allowed by medical officials because COVID-19 already had been in the household.

We didnt want her to die by herself in a hospital, said Valerie Gorter, who was able to be at her mothers side in her final moments.

Other family members with no exposure were able to come and say their goodbyes at a window. Dee TeSlaa died on Wednesday.

TeSlaa was a member of Cutlerville East Christian Reformed Church and was a church organist for some 50 years. She gave piano lessons to many students over the years.

She worked as a medical coder at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services for many years, only retiring from the part-time position about 18 months ago.

She had a servants heart where she provided many Sunday dinners of roast beef and mashed potatoes for family and supported her grandchildren in their extracurricular activities, according to her obituary.

Valerie Gorter said her mother had a dry sense of humor and loved to laugh and play games.

She loved her family. In fact, Gorter and her siblings asked their mother before the March 14 gathering whether they should call it off because the coronavirus crisis was starting to ramp up.

TeSlaa was insistent on going ahead, according to family members, pointing out she didnt want to live in fear.

TeSlaa made a big impact on her family. Some of the grandchildren posted tributes to her on Instagram.

You hear about all of the lives COVID-19 is claiming across the globe but you never think it is going to hit so close to home, wrote Isaac TeSlaa. But it did. The virus took away the life of the sweetest, most gentle person I have ever known.

Grandma, thank you for being such a loving, selfless, warm-hearted, supportive, humble woman, he wrote. Thank you for showing me how to put your faith in the Lord, whatever the circumstance, and supporting me my whole life.

Dee TeSlaa is survived by her husband, five children, 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and three siblings.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

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Latvian participants attend a video conference with Chinese health officials, experts and their counterparts from Central and Eastern European countries in Riga, Latvia, March 13, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

By He Zhigao

Some European politicians have recently politicized the COVID-19 pandemic, smearing China's goodwill in helping Europe with the fight against the virus. This narrow-minded, ideological and politicized mentality is not helpful to combat the coronavirus or conducive to promoting the comprehensive development of China-Europe relations.

During a time when globalization has been impacted, politicization of any issue - which has become a strategy of protectionists and populists to mobilize people and create confrontation - will harm the relations between countries. Some European politicians have maliciously politicized China's goodwill, conjecturing that the country aims to split Europe. This is nit-picking.

European countries didn't recognize the severity of the novel coronavirus outbreak and failed to take appropriate measures to some extent due to cultural differences. When Chinese doctors and scientists called on people to wear face masks for protection, Europeans still believed only sick people needed to wear face masks. Despite these differences, China and Europe must jointly combat the pandemic, not only to protect people's health but also to ensure the economic stability of the two sides.

China has attached great importance to the cooperation with Europe to combat COVID-19. It has timely shared information and experience with Europe, provided Europe with medical supplies and sent medical teams to countries severely hit by the novel coronavirus. In contrast, Europe didn't show solidarity in the face of the pandemic while the European Union failed to respond in time or show strong leadership.

This has impacted the strategic autonomy the EU is seeking and thus led to complicated sentiment toward China's aid. Europe needs China but it doesn't really trust China. There has been some discord in the two sides' joint battle against the virus. For instance, some have claimed that face masks and test kits from China had quality issues. This was a misunderstanding caused by different criteria, but it has reminded us that China must strictly supervise the quality of its exports while China and Europe need to strengthen communications concerning standards and needs.

Nonetheless, some Western media outlets and politicians have taken advantage of this misunderstanding and politicized the issue. They have slandered China, saying the country's intention is to erode the EU's values and coherence and thus split the bloc.

Over the past few years, the EU has been in urgent need of internal solidarity as it became more sensitive to external changes. This being the case, Europe has been vigilant concerning China, whose moves have been portrayed negatively: "China aims to split the bloc," "China is exporting its values," and so on.

In this context, politicizing the supply of personal protective equipment from China could be a move to steer public opinion toward support of the EU's plan to reallocate the industry chain. However, in the globalization era, decoupling from China will harm Europe and China as well. Take the friction between China and the US. The decoupling between the world's two largest economies will eventually harm the peoples of both countries and global stability.

China has done what any responsible large country should do to help tackle this crisis. All countries are a community with a shared future and China's cooperation with Europe to combat the coronavirus is a move that will help protect not only Europeans but all mankind.

However, the fight against the pandemic has turned into a war of words due to some Western politicians' malicious intention to pass the buck. This will hinder solidarity within the EU and negatively influence European countries' cooperation with countries in other regions.

Cooperation is the backbone of China-Europe relations, which should not be affected by some occasional discord. Cooperation is based on mutual trust, with which China and Europe will become a stronger driving force for world governance and multilateralism.
The samples of a 55-year-old man, who died four days ago at the government hospital in Vijayawada, tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Friday, making him the first fatality of the infection in the state.

The deceased was the father of a person who attended the Tablighi Jamaats international congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi held between March 13 and 15 and returned home two days later, according to an official bulletin released by the state medical and health department on Friday afternoon.

The deceased was brought to the hospital in Vijayawada at around 11.30 am on March 30. He was suffering from hypertension, diabetes and a heart condition. He died within an hour after being admitted to the hospital, the bulletin said. The delay in identifying the reason for the death due to Covid-19 was because of the deceaseds multiple health complications, it added.

The state government authorities said that it was revealed after the mans death that his son had attended the Jamaat event. We took his swab samples after we came to know of his sons travel history. On Friday, it was confirmed that he had died of Covid-19, the bulletin said.

The son, who was also undergoing treatment at the hospital, tested Covid-19 positive on Tuesday. Altogether, 29 people who got in touch with the son, have been quarantined. All of them have been tested, it added.

The flight details of the son have also been shared with the Central government, while further details about his travel history are being ascertained, the bulletin said.

In a separate bulletin, the department said 12 new Covid-19 positive cases were reported in Andhra since Thursday night, taking the total tally to 161, of which three have been discharged after they fully recovered.

Nellore district has recorded the highest number of cases at 32, followed by Krishna (23), Guntur (20), West Godavari (15) and Visakhapatnam (14).

Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with officials on Friday afternoon. At least 140 fresh Covid-19 positive cases have come to light that are all linked to the Jamaat meet, the officials said.

Altogether 1,085 people from Andhra Pradesh had attended the event, but officials have identified 946 to date. Tests had been conducted on 881 people so far. While 108 of them tested Covid-19 positive, the results of 65 were still awaited and the remaining had tested negative.

Besides the 946 people, who attended the Jamaat meet, another 616 were found to have got in touch with them. Among them, 32 people tested Covid-19 positive and results of another 335 were still awaited, they added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail
South Africa: COVID-19 claims 2 lives

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that as of Friday there are now 1 505 positive cases of COVID-19, an increase of 43 new cases from Thursday.

We also want to report that there are 2 more deaths from KwaZulu-Natal. An 80-year-old male and 81-year-old female, said Minister Mkhize, adding that the total number of deaths now stand at 7 with 2 yet to be confirmed.

Speaking at Khayelitsha Hospital on Friday, he said he would like to convey Government's condolences to the families and friends of these individuals. We would also like to thank the health workers who are working tirelessly every day.

Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo briefed the Minister on the number of cases.

They have shown me the geo-mapping. The importance of this tracking is beyond one patient is the contacts by association which allows you to look into the social dynamics of the infected person. This is significant in the spread, Mkhize said.

He said they have been discussing the roll out of the testing. We have identified areas of priority. We are ready to give additional support and re-enforcement to the areas that need assistance.

Earlier the Minister said he had a very interesting and informative discussion with experts from WHO and in Shanghai. They took us through the case definition, how they dealt with the testing and manifestation of the virus in patients. They also went into detail on in patient treatment.

They indicated that 20% of their patients become serious and of that 5% are admitted to ICU. They also indicated the importance of testing and screening at an early stage.

We had an opportunity to ask fairly pertinent questions, for example, there are differences between us and them (we have a number of citizens with TB and HIV).

We have approached the President to request reinforcement from a number of countries such as Cuba and China.

He said they have seen the enthusiasm and preparedness by their colleagues. We are in a good course. The key however is how we make sure the lockdown works. We need to flatten the curve and ensure that when flu season starts we need to be ready before that time comes, the Minister warned.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Paul Bowler helped his wife Paula Dennan and their dog move out of their home in Lixnaw, Co Kerry, last weekend. The couple have taken the decision to stay apart in an effort to minimise Dennan's chances of catching coronavirus. She is immunocompromised as a result of the medication she takes to treat her arthritis. However, Bowler (45) is a social care worker and runs the risk of being exposed to the virus at work.

As a result, Dennan will stay with her parents-in-law for the foreseeable future while Bowler remains at their home three kilometres away. The only time they will see each other in person is when Bowler drops off the shopping and can wave at her through the window.

It was a move they had been bracing themselves for. In the weeks leading up to it, they hadn't so much as exchanged a hug. But while Bowler is relieved that his wife is safe, the prospect of not being able to see her weighs heavily.

"We all have vulnerable people who belong to us," he says. "But when you have to keep the vulnerable people away from the non-vulnerable people the stress is not there, but the sadness increases. We haven't even contemplated how long this could be for. It could be for a lot longer than they're saying. She's never not going to be immunocompromised and I'm never not going to be in a job that's high risk.

"The fact that it might stretch out into the future, that's another bridge I haven't crossed yet emotionally."

Bowler and Dennan are one of countless couples around Ireland who have been forced apart due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. At a time when our instinct is to surround ourselves with loved ones, many are unable to be with their partners or spouses.

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The reasons for these enforced separations are myriad. Some couples are in long-distance relationships and are now unable to make the trek to see one another. Some do not live together and cannot see each other lest they put family members or housemates at risk. Some couples have taken the decision to spend time apart due to one, the other or both having a frontline job, an underlying health condition or family obligations. So what is it like being apart from your other half at the moment?

Like many young couples their age, Aoife O'Sullivan (25) and Colm Spillane (26)have been unable to see each other since the government implemented strict social distancing measures.

The couple have been together for three years and both work as teachers. Additionally, O'Sullivan is a former Miss Ireland, while Spillane plays hurling with Cork. The couple live 70km apart, with O'Sullivan living with her family in Ballinadee near Kinsale and Spillane living in Fermoy. On a typical week, they usually see each other once during the week and again at the weekend. "Now we don't know when we're going to see each other next and we don't have anything to look forward to," says O'Sullivan.

Last weekend, O'Sullivan celebrated her 25th birthday at home. The couple had originally planned to mark it with a weekend away, but the current circumstances meant the celebrations ended up being much more low-key.

Video of the Day

"I downloaded the Houseparty app and we logged on to that," she says. "We had a drink and a little virtual cheers up to the camera for an hour and just chatted.

"We're lucky because we have social media. With Snapchat and video calling, it's not that bad. When you're not busy, it's harder. We're both independent and used to working a lot. It is hard."

That there is no end in sight makes the situation that much harder.

"It's quite likely that [the restrictions] could get extended, so I don't want to get my hopes up and think, 'Oh well, I'll get to see you on this date'," she says.

Still, she is quick to count her blessings.

"Nobody could have predicted this," says O'Sullivan. "Obviously, it would have been nicer if we were living together or had a place. But we're both lucky that we're with our families and they're all healthy."

Catherine Nee (51) has been in a long-distance relationship with her partner Arthur for three years. Originally from the UK, the mother-of-three owns and manages Marty's Mussels in Connemara. Nee was widowed in 2016 when her husband died in a tragic accident. The following year, she was introduced to Arthur (50) through her sister. Like Nee, he had also been widowed the previous year.

When they first spoke, Nee was recovering from back surgery in South Africa. A medical professional, Arthur had been enlisted to offer his advice.

"When I was lying on my back with tubes coming out of me and probably quite a lot of morphine involved, he was put on the phone to me," says Nee. "I say it wasn't love at first sight, it was love at first sound."

With Nee based in Connemara and Arthur based in London, the two have been in a long-distance relationship for the duration of their time together.

"We see each other as much as we possibly can," says Nee. "Usually about every two to three weeks, and then longer periods when he gets leave. It's all been going very well."

Recently, however, their situation has been further complicated. Five weeks ago, Nee was diagnosed with breast cancer. After having surgery, she is due to start treatment soon. Meanwhile, Arthur will be working on the frontline with the NHS as the UK grapples with the crisis.

"He is exposed and at-risk, so he can't come here," says Nee. "If I'm starting chemotherapy, obviously it would be too risky for me to travel. So I don't know when we're going to see each other again.

"There is so much uncertainty about what's going to happen in terms of the restrictions and then there's the uncertainty of what will my full treatment involve. When do I start? What do I expect? When will he feel that he's not putting me at risk? I mean, if he could come on a plane tomorrow, he would come. But because he knows it would put me at risk until he knows his status, he can't do it."

It is undeniably hard, but Nee is taking the situation one day at a time and living in the moment. Thanks to WhatsApp, the couple can communicate all day long. What does she miss the most?

"You miss the touch the most, without a doubt. I would just love to be held and to be able to hold each other, but it's not going to be possible for the moment. I just hope that as soon as he can, he can come over."
Every dog may have its day, but in 2019, nearly every major asset classin stocks and in bondshad a bang-up year. Until the coronavirus hit. Markets plunged as the contagion spread, erasing gains and ending the bull market. For the 12-month period ending March 13, Standard & Poors 500-stock index logged a 1.6% lossnowhere near the double-digit gain of weeks earlier. Foreign markets suffered the same fate. Through mid March, the MSCI EAFE index was down 18.5%, a far cry from its 12.4% one-year gain weeks before.

Despite the terrible timing for our annual look back at the Kiplinger 25 funds, we had several standouts. Four U.S. stock funds beat the S&P 500. DF Dent Midcap Growth was the best performer, with a 6.1% gain. Last years superstars, T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth and T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth, came through again this year. And Vanguard Wellington, which holds stocks and bonds, beat the S&P 500, too. Two small-company funds, T. Rowe Price QM U.S. Small-Cap Growth and T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Value, beat the Russell 2000 small-cap index, albeit with losses.

Our foreign funds beat their respective indexes, with one exception. Over the past year, Oakmark International lagged the MSCI EAFE by more than five percentage points. The coronavirus hit some of our industrial and consumer names quite hard, says lead manager David Herro.

Coronavirus fears drove investors into safe-haven bonds. Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond index gained 9.5% over the past 12 months. MetWest Total Return Bond came close to that. Three sector bond funds, Fidelity Intermediate Municipal Income, Vanguard High-Yield Corporate and Vanguard Short-Term Investment-Grade, kept pace with or beat their benchmark indexes over the past 12 months.
It will be another few days, perhaps a week, before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shares his governments best- and worst-case projections for the COVID-19 pandemic with Canadians.

But it is not always necessary to assemble all the pieces of a puzzle to get a sense of the big picture.

On that score, the projections made public Friday by Ontario provide insights as to the challenges that still lie ahead.

They are significant.

The province estimates the pandemic could cause anywhere from 3,000 to 15,000 deaths in Ontario before it has run its full course in 18 to 24 months, with as many as 1,600 potential fatalities projected over the course of this month.

Under any scenario, the peak is very much yet to come.

That matters because Canada will not reach or even see the light at the end of the tunnel without Ontario and the other larger provinces leading the way.

Think of the projections coming to light  in B.C., Ontario and soon in a host of other provinces  as you would the provincial breakdown of poll numbers in a federal election.

Last October, the federal vote demonstrated that it is hard to win an election war unless one also wins the big battles in central Canada.

The same is as true when it comes to beating back the pandemic.

When all is said and done, the federal timeline for a return to some degree of normalcy is totally dependent on the yet uncertain outcome of crucial provincial battles.

Based on Ontarios model, the one being fought in Canadas most populous province remains a steeply uphill one. It is some significant way to turning the corner on the crisis.

The projections the provinces and Ottawa operate under are no more cast in stone than midcampaign election polling numbers.

By the admission of the Ontario officials who presented them on Friday, the assumptions underlying them remain fairly crude. They will be refined over time.

But they do help highlight where serious progress is needed for the national outlook to take a turn for the better.

They also provide the public with essential context for the government-ordered restrictions that have grounded most Canadians at or close to home for the past three weeks.

There is nothing in Fridays projections that suggests those restrictions could be lifted anytime soon.

All of that being said, any projection or model is only as good as the data that has been fed into it.

That is particularly true when it comes to the production of a reliable federal model. On that score, Trudeaus government is dependent on what comes its way from the provinces.

As one provincial news conference follows another, Canadians are now being reminded daily that this country does not have a national health-care system, in the central command sense of the word.

What it has is independent systems operated by provincial and territorial governments.

But before lamenting a state of affairs that stands to invite a patchwork of responses along with some uneven reporting, consider the following: A top-down approach might produce more uniformly reliable data in real time, but it does not necessarily follow that it would lead to more efficient outcomes on the ground.

Under the current system, each province has a health team totally devoted to managing the pandemic in a jurisdiction it knows inside out.

Making the health system battle-ready has been job one for the premiers over the past month. They have often led each other by example.

At the same time, the current structure frees the federal government to attend to the myriad of related challenges this crisis has thrown its way as well as to direct its resources to potential hot spots.

As long as Canadas first ministers continue to sing from the same hymn book, as they have over the past few weeks, having a multiplicity of hands on deck and a wide range of expertise at work should be an asset, not a liability. It could also act as a deterrent to tunnel vision.

A final word on the politics of the provinces moving ahead of the federal government in sharing their models with the public.

At this juncture, each of the provincial parts of the Canadian pandemic equation matters more than their federal sum.

Chantal Hebert is an Ottawa-based freelance contributing columnist covering politics for the Star. Reach her via email: chantalh28@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert

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Six Nepalese nationals who are Tablighi Jamaat members were on Friday booked for allegedly staying at a mosque for religious purposes in violation of the lockdown orders, police said.

The imam (cleric) and the manager of the mosque too were booked, they said.

An FIR was registered against them under Section 144 of the CrPC, Section 3 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and under the IPC for staying at the mosque as a gathering of more than four people at a place is prohibited in the wake of the lockdown, Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said.

The Nepalese citizens had arrived for Tablighi activities in the mosque in Pasonda village located under the Teela mode police station area, he said.

They were sent to a temporary isolation ward created in an engineering college in Masuri town on Wednesday after medical check up by a health department team, Naithani said.

Every year, over a hundred Muslims arrive at the mosque for Tablighi purposes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thomas Edison State University nursing students. Most of the school's graduates are adult learners studying online. The school scored well for high salaries and low federal loan levels. Read more

What can you study at college that lands you a well-paying job after graduation with little debt?

The Inquirers new tool can help find those degrees.

Heres a list of some of those majors in the tri-state area, dubbed poverty buster degrees, using new Department of Education and IRS data.

Its not surprising that community colleges such as Delaware County Community College and Delaware Technical scored high on the list, as did Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster and Thomas Edison State University in Trenton.

Prison and other correctional institute program graduates can earn north of $42,000 a year out of Delaware County Community College, and leave school with less than $6,000 in loans. Graduates from Lackawanna Colleges undergraduate certificate program in criminal justice earn $45,400 median incomes and must pay off just more than $6,400 of school loan debt.

Thomas Edison has at least three programs that pushed graduates out of poverty and into the middle class.

The Inquirer tool helps break down the data on those degrees earning more than $40,000 and with debt of less than $10,000.

This is really a list that shows which degrees help boost people into the middle class, said Temple professor Douglas Webber, who teaches about the economics of education. In general, Im a big fan of this type of data. It is long overdue.

To have this kind of information available at the school-by-degree level is helpful. Just because a given major is high-earning doesnt mean it will be at every school. Having this broken down is so important.

Webber would like to see the same data for all graduates, including those with private loans. That would greatly increase the sample size, but its a massive improvement over what we had before, he said.

Thomas Edison, for example, attracts mostly adult learners who sign up for classes online, according to university president Merodie Hancock.

Roughly 98% of our students are adults based on the average of the last three years. she said, defining adults as over age 21 years.

Many Edison students are already firmly in the workforce and require a degree for a promotion.

The vast majority come to us employed, but underemployed. Theyre very serious students. Theyre older and their time is valuable, Hancock said.

As for keeping student debt low, a lot of adult students come to us having already accumulated debt. So were a unique business. Most institutions work on trying to increase tuition. We work with students on taking fewer classes. Its a tough business model. But, I tell our legislators, this is our mission. Were driving away sales in the best interest of our students.'"
WARSAW, Poland - Uncertainty deepened in Poland on Friday over how and when the country can move forward with a presidential election scheduled for May amid the coronavirus pandemic.

President Andrzej Duda has been leading polls as he vies for a second five-year term in the vote, which was initially set for May 10. The governing conservative Law and Justice party  which supports Duda  has been insisting on going ahead with the voting, and proposed mail-in voting for the entire nation as a way of sticking to schedule.

Parliament had been set to vote Friday on the idea for postal voting. However, those plans were thrown into disarray when Jaroslaw Gowin, a deputy prime minister who leads a faction in the conservative governing coalition, said his group refused to accept any kind of May election.

Gowin, instead, put forward a proposal to hold the election in two years, a solution that would give Duda a single seven-year term which would have to be his last.

The Polish constitution foresees a maximum of two five-year terms for a president and it would have to be changed for Gowins proposal to take effect.

Changing the constitution would require the support of some opposition politicians, but they opposed that solution, increasing uncertainty over an election that was supposed to happen in only five weeks.

Borys Budka, head of the centrist opposition Civic Platform, called on the government to declare a state of emergency, which would automatically delay the election until 90 days after the state of emergency ends.

Even before the pandemic, the vote was considered by some government opponents as a last chance to salvage Polands democracy. Duda has approved a series of laws that have given the government unprecedented powers over judges, something the European Union has denounced as undemocratic

The problem of how to hold an election during a pandemic, when voting in person would put peoples lives in danger, is not unique to Poland.

France held local elections in March as the virus was spreading  and authorities suspect voting that day contributed to a rise in infections. President Emmanuel Macron was under pressure from health authorities to cancel the elections, but his political opponents pushed for them to go ahead, considering a postponement to be undemocratic.

In Poland, however, it is opposition candidates who say holding a May election as scheduled is undemocratic and that it should be postponed. They argue that opposition presidential candidates stand no chance against Duda because they cannot campaign due to a strict ban on gatherings. Duda, meanwhile, still profits from heavy coverage on state media and his association with the government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, which has earned the trust of many for imposing strict measures to slow the spread of the virus.

Surveys show that a large majority of voters in this European Union nation of 38 million want the election to be postponed.

If Duda were to face a vote in a few months, when the economic pain of the countrys lockdown is more painfully felt, he might be less likely to win reelection.

Law and Justice officials have been insisting that the current election timeline  voting on May 10 with a runoff on May 24 if no candidate wins 50% in the first round  is dictated by the constitution and should not be changed.

The leader of the ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, insisted early Friday that to postpone the election would be completely illegal and that mail-in voting would be the answer. He said there is no reason to postpone it at the moment if it is conducted in a safe way from a health point of view.

Poland has had far fewer coronavirus infections and deaths than fellow EU countries like Italy and Spain, but the numbers have been accelerating in recent days, reaching over 3,200 infections and at least 65 deaths by late Friday.

The debate over the vote shares similarities with efforts in the United States by Democrats seeking widespread voting by mail in the November presidential and congressional elections. So far, the Democrats have not gotten the billions of dollars in federal funding required to move to widespread postal voting but say they will keep pressing the issue.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
While some critics fear measures aimed at stemming panic are overzealous, others praise government for managing crisis.

As the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on restricting movement, Uzbekistan is stepping up measures to stem panic.

According to new legislative amendments, managing or storing materials with the aim of creating panic among the population is now punishable with a fine of up to 89,200,000 UZS (more than $9,200) or three years imprisonment.

Those who share hoarded materials face a prison sentence of up to five years.

Disseminating false information about the coronavirus carries a possible punishment of two years of correctional labour, while publishing fake news in the media risks up to three years in jail.

The financial repercussions are high, given that the minimum wage in Uzbekistan is $60 per month.

A person who violates the quarantine rules may be sentenced to a prison term of up to 10 years and people appearing in public without masks face fines of up to 1.1 million UZS, almost double the minimum wage.

According to Khudoyor Meliyev, the deputy justice minister, people diagnosed with COVID-19 who have been placed in quarantine wards will have to temporarily give away their mobile phones and other equipment as well as bank cards, as such items could carry the virus.

Since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power in December 2016, the formerly authoritarian country has been on the path to liberal reform.

Freedom of speech has been one of the areas in which the country has made significant progress.

Formerly banned news sites and social media platforms were unblocked and citizens have been enjoying a long-awaited space to criticise the government and voice their concerns.

But with the new anti-panic rules, critics fear Uzbekistan is seeking to curtail civil liberties.

Regarding the rule on handing over phones and bank cards, some worry the aim is to prevent information and photographs of conditions in quarantine facilities from being leaked.

One of the very first people who returned from China filmed the conditions in the quarantine wards [in Uzbekistan] and it was a disaster. So the authorities dont want the truth to be leaked to the media, said Timur Karpov, a local photographer and activist.

They dont know how to react to the crisis so they are using the methods they are familiar with, and these are authoritarian.

It seems that the authorities are afraid of losing control, so theyre doing their best to gain it back. Thats why theyre implementing all the restrictions. What is important for me is how long these restrictions will last for when the pandemic is over. Because you can easily introduce such measures, but it is not so easy to take them back.

Tashkent has been in lockdown since March 24.

Gatherings of more than three people are banned, most businesses have been ordered to work from home, including the ministries, and only vehicles with special permission are allowed to move around the city. Construction sites across the capital, which is undergoing a full-scale upgrade, are still operating.

All of Uzbekistans other provinces are under coronavirus-related lockdowns involving restrictions on movement and gathering.

The ombudsman for human rights did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment.

As some critics feared the loss of civil liberties, other activists and journalists told Al Jazeera that the governments measures were indispensable.

Implementing strict control over the situation is the best scenario in our realities because the majority of the population, even in Tashkent, do not take the pandemic seriously and ignore all recommendations, said a local lawyer, under condition of anonymity.

If the government ends the harsh measures after the pandemic is over, I would praise it for a smart crisis response.

A local journalist who did not want to be named said: The state is explaining what the epidemic is in a civilised way to people who are experiencing it for the first time, the deployed police forces are not violating civil rights and remind people of the importance of quarantine. Officials are responding openly to ordinary peoples questions during live TV briefings every day and official sources are bringing news about the coronavirus to people literally every minute.

The coronavirus epidemic has been a challenge to the government, testing its openness, and I would give the Mirziyoyevs government eight points out of ten. It is almost impossible to imagine such openness in Uzbekistan four years ago.
Shes the mayor of a large city reeling from a virus for which there is no cure, a city facing a budget deficit for the next two years of as much as $1.7 billion.

But when London Breed on Thursday was asked about her biggest frustration right now as mayor of San Francisco, the answer was simple  the sight of people outside enjoying themselves, social distancing be damned.

All I want to do is go out there and tell everyone Stop! Stop! Stay away from each other!, Breed confessed during a casual online interview by the owner of a Mission District cafe. Back up! Back up!

Breed was talking with Manny Yekutiel, who hosted a procession of chats with public figures at Mannys on Valencia Street until last months shelter-in-place order. Thursday afternoons guest was Breed, seated in her apartment in front of a small framed mirror.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle 2019

If the first question signaled that the tone would be light  how is she dealing with the current restrictions?  the answer allowed Breed to strike a more relaxed tone than mayors tend to do.

It is challenging. I mean, Im working every day but its still difficult not to hang out with my friends, Breed said. Im trying to do a good job  but also trying to keep my sanity and get myself to follow the rules.

The closest thing to news came when Breed talked about current efforts to ease financial pressures on small businesses now struggling to survive, such as extending the deadline to pay first-quarter permit and licensing fees.

We delayed that for three months and Im going to push it off even more, because I think those fees are ridiculous, Breed told a beaming Yekutiel. The city has too much bureaucracy for small businesses in the first place ... we want to nickel and dime you every step of the way (and) that makes me crazy.

But there were no obvious talking points beyond an assurance to San Franciscans that if everyone sticks together, albeit from a distance, well get through. Nor did she make any mention of President Trump, unless one chooses to read between the lines of Yekutiels question of what it was like to agree to the citys first aggressive step at containment  a ban on large gatherings at city-owned facilities including the Opera House and Symphony Hall, at a time when Trump was still downplaying the dangers posed by COVID-19.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

We have public health experts who I respect, Breed recalled. I wanted to do everything I could based on their advice that could limit the spread of this virus in our city.

The shelter in place order, originally set to end on April 7, has now been extended to May 3. Yekutiel volunteered how much he is looking forward to that date of liberation.

Dont get excited, please, Breed said. She emphasized that the decision will depend on whether the regions public health departments are confident that the worst has passed.

Theyre not going to want to let up, even if the numbers seem to be declining... because we dont want to go backwards, Breed explained. Im not getting excited about May 3. I think you need to prepare for a longer haul.

John King is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron
- The old man walked the distance just to see his granddaughter not minding he would not be able to hold her

- The grandpa was able to see the newborn through a glass door while smiling from ear to ear

- Prior to the lockdown, he was able to hold Elliana Rae twice and also used to count down the days when she was born

I am not here to tell you what the good thing is about the coronavirus situation because there is nothing good about a pandemic, not ever.

That does not mean there will not be acts of heroism, because there will be, and heartwarming stories because we will have them and  if we are lucky  moments of scientific brilliance.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Chinese scientists find 'effective antibodies' against disease

Josh Gillett shared a photo on Instagram of his father happily gazing at his precious grandbaby Elliana Rae. Photo: Josh Gillet.

Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: Kindness amid coronavirus: Manufacturing firm replaces nurse's stolen car part for free

But we still have to get through the bad stuff. And getting through it with kids may be one's act of heroism, heartwarming story, and even a moment of scientific brilliance.

And coronavirus not stopping a Michigan grandfather from seeing his newborn granddaughter was one such heartwarming story.

The grandfather did not mind walking over six kilometres to see the newborn through a glass door.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Inspiring moment teacher helps 12-year-old student through her window

Josh Gillett shared a photo on Instagram of his father happily gazing at his precious grandbaby Elliana Rae.

The only problem was that a glass door stood in the way of the two.

According to the new dad, the situation which has now become the new normal, was the worst feeling ever.

READ ALSO: Kisumu: 19-year-old man arrested for raiding police post, stealing KSh 230k

This was because he hated having a window between them although he understood that it was temporary.

It breaks my heart that my dad can not hold my daughter, Gillett said.

However, as you can clearly see on my dads face, he is overflowing with joy just to see her," he added

READ ALSO: Worldwide coronavirus cases hit 1 million as death toll tops 50,000

Prior to the lockdown, Gilletts father was able to hold Elliana Rae twice and counted down the days when she was born.

I dont think an hour went by where my dad did not brag about becoming a grandpa soon, he said.

He further urged people to stay home for the sake of their loved ones, businesses, teachers, and families alike.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Gabrielle Canon here, filling in for Arlene Martinez. Here's what's happening outside your house today.

But first, Thursday's COVID-19 numbers showed a continued surge, both in the United States and around the world. The pandemic passed a bleak milestone, officially registering more than 1 million confirmed cases of the deadly disease that spread across borders and to every continent in only 5 months.

Health officials know the numbers reported are conservative  vastly inadequate numbers of tests have been done so the real number is likely much higher.

Healthcare worker Ludnie Emile prepares to test people for COVID-19 at their drive-thru coronavirus testing station in Palm Springs, Fla. on March 19, 2020.

"The million (cases) is clearly way under what the actual number will be because of all the issues of testing and all the people with mild symptoms that havent been tested," Dr. Steven Corwin, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital told USA Today.

In California brings you stories and information from newsrooms across the USA TODAY Network and beyond to keep you safe and informed. Subscribe today for free delivery right to your inbox.

Newsom offers more $$ help as unemployment surges

California has seen a sharp but expected uptick in unemployment since Gov. Gavin Newsom issued shelter-in-place orders three weeks ago  and nearly 2 million people are now missing work.

Nearly half of all private sector employees in the state work for small businesses or themselves, adding a new precarious dimension to the disaster. Acknowledging the profound economic consequences of the policies needed to slow the spread of COVID-19, the governor announced that for small businesses, $50,000 in owed sales taxes can now be deferred for up to a year while they wait for federal funds.

We need to be able to get the federal dollars into the state of California, which means we need to get people to apply for these federal supports that were recently announced," he said, pointing the business community to several opportunities, including the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act, the federal stimulus package.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom stands near a chart showing the impact of the mandatory stay-at-home orders, as he gives an update on the state's response to the new coronavirus, at the Governor's Office of Emergency Services in Rancho Cordova, Calif., Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Newsom announced that California schools will likely remain closed for the rest of the school year, but provide off-site education due to coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, Pool)

Newsom also signed an executive order Thursday that aims to keep the water on in homes and small businesses during the crisis. The order builds on the voluntary moves more than 100 public and private water systems across the state made to suspend shutoffs for those facing financial hardship caused by COVID-19.

Water is critical to our very lives, and in this time, it is critically important that it is available for everyone, Newsom said in a statement.

ICYMI, we published a story on the coming recession and how ready California will be to weather the rough road ahead.

Read more about what the state is doing to support small businesses here, and all the actions taken by the governor to combat the coronavirus here.

New 'Health Corps' brings hope to California

This week, the governor announced a new plan to increase capacity in the state's health system and prepare for the coming surge of critical coronavirus patients. The newly unveiled healthcorps.ca.gov website, intended to boost hospital bed space by 40% by recruiting retired workers and students to step up, has already had more than 70,000 applicants.

The editorial board at The Desert Sun weighed in on the novel idea championing the governor for coming up with a creative and badly needed solution.

"Were elated to see that innovative thinking like this  as common sense as it might seem  is still possible in a time when the inertia of bureaucratic morass, frequently driven by self-interest, too often bogs down good ideas," they write, calling for innovative approaches to continue as the crisis unfolds.

Should you wear a mask when you venture out?It's complicated

We've heard for weeks now that surgical masks (still in short supply) or other face coverings aren't necessary when you leave your home to buy groceries or perform other essential errands, and that they should be saved for those who are sick or who are caring for people who are.

Now some agencies are saying they could play an important role in curtailing coronavirus spread.

The California Department of Public Health released a statement Wednesday night condoning cloth face coverings. Emphasizing that social distancing and hand washing are still the biggest game-changers when it comes to self-protection, the health officials write that covering your face in public "could reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by individuals who do not have symptoms and may reinforce physical distancing."

That doesn't mean you stockpile masks or rush out to buy them. Protective equipment is still in short supply and it's much more crucial to health care workers and others on the front line fighting this pandemic, so some health officials are now recommending civilians make their own.

Here's more on these recommendations and others, from Shasta County Health Officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom.

Tips to keep your spirits up while you #stayhome

Stuck trying to homeschool your kids? Here's how some teachers are going virtual.

A robot named Boris is here to help you cope and curb coronavirus anxiety.

Boris the Robot teaches children about emotional education to cope with the struggles of the coronavirus pandemic.

For those lamenting baseball season's Opening Day delays, try these 10 great baseball movies to get you through.

If baseball isn't your jam, at least we've also got a list of screwball comedies to turn to.

At the very least, spend a moment cheering for perhaps the world's greatest basketball star (not to mention social distancing star)

Stay safe and informed with news from one of the country's most dynamic places. Subscribe to the In California newsletter today.

Family really is everything. Listen on

The Storytellers Project started in 2011, when Arizona Republic's Megan Finnerty decided to put on a night of live stories in Phoenix. The evening was so popular that nearly a decade later, some two dozen properties across the USA TODAY Network  including the Ventura County Star and The Desert Sun  host events of their own.

The coronavirus canceled several live shows but the Storytellers Project team has put together playlists to listen while you're home. Each Thursday, In California is featuring one here.

Week 3 is about family. Enjoy.

Veda Morgan, Director of Community Impact for The Courier Journal, took the stage at the Muhammad Ali Center on Wednesday night for another installment of the Storytellers Project. 1/15/20

The best-laid plans

At 34, Veda Morgan realizes that she wants to have a child of her own, after marrying a man with a daughter and becoming a stepmom. Her husband's not so sure because his daughter is nearly ready to leave the nest. But he knows it's important to Veda.

A journalist, Veda researches everything about pregnancy and childbirth and plans on the perfect birth. As you might imagine, that's not what happened. Now years later and her son a teenager, Veda has learned to stop worrying so much and have a little faith.

VIDEO: Watch Veda Morgan share her story.

Coleen Kelly Powell speaks during the Des Moines Storytellers project at Forte Banquet & Conference Center Sept. 20, 2018.

The family next door

Growing up without a father, Colleen Kelly Powell thought the older couple living next door was just that. But then she discovers they are actually her grandparents. Years later, a DNA test reveals a biological brother is living miles away.

VIDEO: Colleen Kelly Powell shares her story.

Amy Carney tells her story during Arizona Storytellers Project presents Searching at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix on Thursday, Sep. 13, 2018.

Sharing blessings through family

Amy Carney has a full life and a strong faith and she feels moved to foster a child. But the child she is given has severe behavioral issues that are traumatizing to her other children, so the boy is turned over to a mental hospital.

Amy feels like a failure, but is moved by faith to try again.

AUDIO: Listen to Amy Carney's story.

Love can get us through anything

Ashton Skinner grew up as half a set of twin girls, and in her teens came out as a lesbian. But a few years later, Ashton shares he is transgender. His dad, Dennis, relates how he and his wife, and their other children navigate this, talking about their fears, consequences and ultimately acceptance and happiness.

AUDIO: Listen as Ashton Skinner shares his story.

Everyone is welcomed at the table

Dennis Cornell announces that he's gay, divorcing his wife and about to be a dad for the second time, all at dinner. His family rejects his new boyfriend and his new vlease on life.

Soon, he gets a job as a psychotherapist at a VA Hospital, where he created the first LGBTQ health-care program for the VA in the region and helps soldiers manage their emotions after "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed.

As the veterans begin to come around and heal, so do the relationships in his family.

VIDEO: Watch as Dennis Cornell tells his story.

Anita Rufus shares an emotional story about family and "searching" at the Coachella Valley Storytellers Project, La Quinta, Calif., March 21, 2019.

Reunited and it feels so good

Anita Rufus recounts the story of becoming pregnant more than 60 years ago at age 17 and being thrown out of her house. She put her son up for adoption and later went on to marry and start a family. She had decided she'd never look for her son, but she did tell the agency how to find her, should he look.

After 46 years, Anita's son looks for her, meets her and his two siblings. After Anita gives him photos of her family, he scans himself into them to see what they would've looked like as a family. They stay in touch today.

VIDEO: Watch Anita Rufus share her story.

In California is a roundup of news from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus, Newsom, economic plan, health corps, California
Im a lawyer, and my client, James Davis, is in a New Jersey federal prison. He was convicted of fraud and related federal crimes for giving campaign contributions and other benefits to the former Philadelphia sheriff in exchange for contracts for his advertising business. His crime was nonviolent, and this was the first conviction of his life.

Davis is 69 years old, and, like many older Americans, he struggles with medical problems. He has a bad knee that he wasnt able to get replaced before he was locked up, and he suffers from cystitis that blocks his bladder. He also suffers from three other conditions  asthma, high blood pressure, and heart disease  that, until recently, seemed less scary.

The coronavirus pandemic has only just begun to scythe through Americas jails and prisons. More than 4,800 people now in federal prison are over age 65. If the courts dont act now, a lot of Americans like my client are going to die.

Prisons are fiendishly effective for spreading contagion. This morning, Davis woke up on a bunk bed he shares with a cellmate, then used the single bathroom he shares with over a hundred inmates. Until a few days ago, inmates ate meals in a room with those same hundred people, packed shoulder to shoulder. Twice every day, the prison does a procedure called count, where Davis and all the inmates lined the sides of a corridor while two guards walked past, close enough to touch. Only a few days ago did the prison start providing soap in the bathrooms. Guards and inmates still arent wearing protective masks. When the coronavirus hits the prison, it will spread like the shockwave from a detonating bomb.

Judges have the power to save the lives of inmates and guards now; they must start using it.

Last month, I filed an emergency motion asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia to release Davis on bail. Release on bail wouldnt wipe out his prison sentence, or even shorten it. All we asked was to pause his prison time until the court had ruled on his appeal from his conviction.

A federal statute requires judges to grant release pending appeal when they find that the appeal is substantial and the inmate is unlikely to flee or pose a danger to others.

Davis had an unusually strong case for release pending appeal. His old age and heart and lung diseases put him at clear risk of dying if infected. And besides his nonviolent crime and his spotless prior history, he even had a proven track record of good behavior on release. For over three years before his trial, hed been released on bail, without a single issue. I figured if Davis couldnt win release pending appeal during a global pandemic, no one could.

 READ MORE: What its like to be locked in prison during the coronavirus pandemic

The court denied him release. Its order read, Appellants Emergency Motion for Bail Pending Appeal Due to Coronavirus Risk is denied. Appellant may renew the Emergency Motion if he is diagnosed with COVID-19.

Releasing only inmates whove already been diagnosed with the coronavirus would be a grave mistake. Coronavirus tests remain difficult to get, especially for inmates. In practice, requiring a diagnosis may be requiring the impossible.

Worse, releasing inmates only after they have the coronavirus makes no sense. The urgent reason to release inmates who face the greatest risk from infection is to get them out of these contagion factories before theyre infected. Otherwise, theyre more likely to get infected, more likely to infect others, more likely to need scarce medical resources, and more likely to die.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Philadelphia ordered another inmate released early due to his coronavirus risk. We are in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, the judge wrote. The next day, we renewed our motion.

The coronavirus is a tsunami barreling toward the shore. We can still save people. We need the courts to do their part.

Matthew Stiegler is a federal appeals lawyer in Philadelphia.
Before the shutdown: A young patron enjoys a quiet moment at Chevalier's Books in 2019. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

On Tuesday, Darryl Holter was feeling frantic.

The co-owner of two very different small businesses  the Larchmont neighborhood's Chevalier's Books and Felix Chevrolet in downtown Los Angeles  Holter was trying to complete applications for government small business loans for both so they could be sent to his bank before Friday.

"I'm afraid that on Friday the fund will empty out," he told me. "I think everyone's lining up for this."

I'd like people to actually learn something from this. It's unfair for employees and employers.

Darryl Holter, Chevalier's Books and Felix Chevrolet

Holter has reason for concern. The coronavirus fiscal rescue passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on March 27 set aside up to $350 billion for low-interest government-guaranteed loans for small businesses to help them survive the economic shutdown brought on by the virus and to prompt them to maintain their workforce or rehire those they've laid off because of the crisis.

The loans are to be doled out through commercial banks that were to begin processing applications Friday.

There are some indications from the Small Business Administration that the loans will be made available on a first-come-first-served basis. Since there are more than 30 million small businesses in the United States, a large proportion of which may qualify for the loans of up to $10 million each, the chances that demand will outstrip supply are significant. Even if the average loan turns out to be $100,000, the fund would cover barely 10% of America's small businesses.

With one smaller small business (the community bookstore) and one larger small business (the Chevy dealership), Holter has been grappling with a wide range of imponderables.

Holter, who has taught history at USC and UCLA, written about Woody Guthrie, and spearheaded the revitalization of the Figueroa Street corridor in downtown L.A., acquired the businesses by different routes. Felix Chevrolet, which was founded in 1921, was acquired by his wife's family in 1957 and is under his and his wife's management.

Story continues

Chevalier's, which was founded in 1940 and today is the city's oldest bookstore, was more of a "labor of love," Holter says. He and Bert H. Deixler, a veteran Los Angeles commercial litigator, bought the shop in 2014 "to keep it going."

They stabilized its declining finances, refurbished the premises, and launched author events and children's readings.

"We took it from a store that was really struggling and turned it around," Holter says. "We turned it into part of the intellectual infrastructure of the city in order to compete with Amazon and survive."

Although Chevalier's can't continue the community events, for the moment, the store is offering free shop-to-front-door deliveries within a couple of miles of its Larchmont Boulevard location, and mail deliveries outside that zone. This has allowed Chevalier's to keep four of its eight full- and part-time staff employed and to ready it for reopening after the coronavirus shutdown passes, Holter says.

Felix Chevrolet is permitted to keep its service department open, as an automotive repair and maintenance facility qualifying as an "essential" business according to state rules. But its sales department doesn't qualify. About 25 employees are on the job in the service bays, but another 73 have been furloughed.

For business owners like Holter, the features of the government coronavirus rescue programs can be divided into two categories: good and confusing.

Start with the mandated paid sick leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act, signed by President Trump on March 18. The measure mandated 80 hours  that is, 10 average working days  of paid sick leave. "We looked at it and we told the employees we furloughed at Felix that they would be getting this," Holter says.

But the Department of Labor subsequently issued rules stating that the leave would only be available to employees who lose work because they've been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, showed symptoms, were quarantined or isolated by government order or a doctor's advice, or cared for a family member in those situations  and that documentation of the government order or doctor's advice would be required.

Those are more stringent requirements than they seemed at first. Among other things, they say that sick leave isn't due to those who lose their jobs because their employers have been shut down.

To comply with the rules, Felix won't pay their sick leave. The dealership says it will, however, cover their 10% share of healthcare premiums through the month. And the workers will be eligible for the enhanced unemployment benefits  $600 a week in addition to California's maximum benefit of $450  funded in the most recent rescue legislation.

As for the SBA loan program, designated the Paycheck Protection Program, the application is gratifyingly stripped down. It's a two-page form asking for a business' average monthly payroll and number of employees (pre-virus). Banks aren't required to verify the information upfront, and they can lend up to 2.5 times the average monthly payroll to cover wages, utilities and mortgage interest or rent.

The program's key feature is that borrowers won't have to repay the principal to the extent they maintain their payroll or promptly rehire employees they've let go. That's an incentive to keep paying workers even while a business has shut down. But it's also a source of confusion.

Holter understands that the loan program is designed so that if a business maintains 100% of its workforce through June 30, the entire loan principal is forgiven; if it retains half its workforce, 50% is forgiven and so on. "What I don't know, and nobody seems to have an answer: At what point is this determined? Do I have to start hiring people as of the other day, or between now and June 30, or can I hire them all on June 28?"

The government hasn't provided detailed guidance on these rules. But Holter says he hopes to put his workers back on the payroll as soon as possible.

As important as the goal is of maintaining payroll, the loan program is unnecessarily complicated. Compare it to Denmark's program, in which the government is simply making grants to businesses covering 75% of workers' pay, up to about $52,000 a year, during an expected three-month economic deep freeze, provided those workers stay home.

That's plainly simpler than the American program, which anticipates workers being furloughed and rehired, and leaves the chance that businesses may discover later that they don't qualify for loan forgiveness. The rollout of the SBA loan program, moreover, has been a mess. The Treasury Department didn't provide participating banks with the program's rules until Thursday, when it issued a 31-page directive. Even large commercial banks were saying Friday that they were so swamped with applications that they might not be able to process them all until the coming week.

There's no question that the government has thrown businesses like Holter's a lifeline. But he points out that they need a lifeline because the U.S. government has forsaken its responsibilities to Americans and placed them on the private sector's shoulders.

"All this stuff is supposed to be done by the private sector  healthcare, pensions, getting face masks and ventilators  I'm dealing with life and death issues for my employees, and that's what's going on all over the country, rather than having a system that's more rational and more cost-effective. I'd like people to actually learn something from this. It's unfair for employees and employers."
People living and working in Missoula County can request up to $500 in rental assistance from a new emergency fund created to help landlords and renters affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Missoula County Board of Commissioners approved the use of $50,000 for the emergency fund in a Thursday meeting, where they also approved an all-mail ballot primary election this year in an effort to alleviate some of the economic and health concerns posed by the spread of the coronavirus.

"There are members of our community who are out of work and struggling right now to pay their rent and facing unemployment, and this is one thing we can do as the county to help lessen the sting," Commissioner Dave Strohmaier told the Missoulian.

The District XI Human Resource Council is managing the emergency rental assistance fund. Renters can apply on behalf of their household by completing the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Request Form on Human Resource Council website at humanresourcecouncil.org/.

The rental assistance payment will go directly to the landlord. Landlords cannot apply on behalf of their renters, and landlords must submit an agreement to HRC staff within five business days of the renter's application. Funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and will only support one rental payment per household.

Additionally, requests must include proof of current or previous employment affected by COVID-19.

Strohmaier said the county chose HRC to manage the assistance fund because the county does not have the in-house capacity to manage the program. He said the county's community assistance fund is normally used for basic needs such as food and shelter. Of the $50,000 total, $47,500 will go to direct rental assistance and $2,500 will go to HRC for administration.

In another effort to ensure the well-being of residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic, commissioners also approved conducting the June 2 primary election by mail. The decision came after Montana Gov. Steve Bullock gave counties the option of collecting all ballots by mail due to health and safety concerns posed by the COVID-19 virus.

"Both for the safety of our staff and election judges and general public, it makes a lot of sense to do this my mail," Strohmaier told the Missoulian. "It's the definition of a bad idea to bring together lots of people at a polling place in a congregated fashion, and voting by mail is one clear way to help address that problem."

All of the county's polling places will be closed on June 2, primary election day, with the exception of limited drop boxes and services at the county elections office.

Voters will get a ballot in the mail with prepaid postage at the beginning of May. In accordance with Bullock's directive, residents will have until April 27 to register. After that date, voters will need to appear in person.

"The big reason for that change is to allow people to sign up to vote or change their address through the mail," Missoula County Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman told the Missoulian. "That way we don't need to risk their health or the health of our election workers."

Seaman noted that many election judges the county usually relies on are senior citizens who fall in the demographic at higher risk of developing serious complications as the result of COVID-19.

"Doing it by mail allows it to be a little bit easier for people to check their vote and they don't have to wait in line at their polling place or at elections center on election day," Seaman told the Missoulian.

Seaman said voters can visit app.mt.gov/voterinfo/ to check the address where they're registered, in addition to being able to check whether their ballot has been mailed to them and if it has been accepted after they return it.

The county will be able to apply for reimbursement for postage from the state. Strohmaier said it's important for people to be aware that postage is provided because "even though it might seem like a small inconvenience to put a stamp on the envelope, it might be a discouragement for some people to vote, in particular with the current crisis."

Seaman said the county is implementing several ways to practice social distancing for those who do need to vote in person. Although important, Seaman said those measures will result in a lengthier process than mailing the ballot because staff will be sanitizing desks between voters, in addition to ensuring voters maintain a 6-foot distance while in line.

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Toronto police are requesting the publics help in locating a suspect after two people were hurt in a drive-by shooting in North York.

On Tuesday, at around 6 p.m., police received reports of gunfire in the Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue East area.

Police allege a suspect in an SUV drove past a car with people inside and shot at them.

Investigators have identified Usman Kassim, 38, of Toronto, as a suspect. He is wanted for two counts of attempted murder.

He is described as six foot four, 180 pounds with a shaved head.

He was last seen driving a 2020 Grey Dodge Durango with the licence plate CMCM 315.

Police said he is believed to be violent, armed and dangerous. The public is warned not to approach him.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to ensure the continued safety of drivers and riders, the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association (TMA) has introduced several temporary service changes to the Fort Lauderdale Sun Trolley as of Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

"Public transportation serves a vital role in connecting neighbors to grocery stores, pharmacies, and medical treatment facilities," said the Executive Director of the TMA, Robyn Chiarelli. "Following guidance and directives from the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Broward County, and the City of Fort Lauderdale, these modifications are intended to mitigate community spread of COVID-19 while still allowing us to provide essential transportation services."

As of April 1, the TMA has instituted alternate seating on all vehicles by blocking off every other seat to facilitate social distancing. Additionally, riders are encouraged to board through the rear door, vehicle capacity is limited to nine passengers, and all Sun Trolley drivers are having their temperatures checked daily.

The following route-specific updates are also in effect as of April 1:

The Beach Link is operating using two vehicles rather than the usual three. Fares on the Beach Link are temporarily suspended.

The Las Olas Link is operating using one vehicle rather than the usual two. Fares on the Las Olas Link are temporarily suspended.

The Seabreeze Tram remains suspended until further notice.

"The TMA remains committed to serving the Fort Lauderdale community through public transit options," said Chiarelli. "We intend to make these service updates minimally disruptive and are eager to resume normal operation as soon as it is safe."

For more information about these changes, visit bit.ly/COVID-19TransitUpdate. Any additional updates will be communicated through the Sun Trolley website, social media channels, and app.

ABOUT TMA (Transportation Management Association)

Founded in 1992, the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association (TMA), a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, manages the Sun Trolley and the Riverwalk Water Trolley. Approximately 30,000 passengers per month utilize the TMA's seven routes connecting residents, tourists and working professionals from Fort Lauderdale's neighborhoods to Broward County Transit, Tri-Rail and Brightline, as well as destinations such as Fort Lauderdale Beach, the Broward County Courthouse and the Galleria at Fort Lauderdale. TMA services are provided without regard to race, color, or national origin.

Conceptual Communications, (954) 732-0754, [email protected]

SOURCE Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association
Confirmed coronavirus infections topped 10,000 in Korea on Friday morning, 74 days after the first case was reported here.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the country reported 86 more cases, bring the total to 10,062 with 174 linked deaths. An average of 135 new infections have been found every day.

The government had hoped to drastically reduce new infections with a stringent social distancing campaign, but new cases still fluctuated around 100 for the last two weeks, as small-scale group infections at churches, hospitals and other facilities continue.

There was a sudden spike in coronavirus cases among members of the dubious Shincheonji sect in mid-February in Daegu and surrounding North Gyeongsang Province, and Korea briefly ranked second after China in terms of confirmed cases. But now Korea has slid to 15th as much larger numbers of infections were detected in other countries, including the U.S. (244,877), Italy (115,242), and Spain (112,065).

Korea has been praised for its success in slowing the spread thanks to its world-class testing capacity, highly qualified medical professionals, and compliance with social distancing guidelines.


Chennai, April 3 : Now technology proves the connection between food and medicine. From serving food at upmarket restaurants, robots are now being deployed to serve medicine to COVID-19 patients in Tamil Nadu in an attempt to reduce the infection risk for nurses.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar on Friday visited the Stanley Hospital here and checked the functions of 'robotic nurses' deployed in corona wards.

He said the robotic nurses can serve food and medicine to COVID-19 patients. This will limit the direct contact of doctors/nurses have with the patients and reduce the risk of infection.

Similarly, some hospitals in the state had used drones to disinfect their buildings on a pilot basis.

Meanwhile, Chennai police also used drones to make announcements to the public on the measures to be followed to safeguard against coronavirus infection.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The meeting of the OPEC+ group of oil producers is planned for April 6, Azerbaijans energy ministry said.

"Azerbaijan has been invited to take part in the meeting that will be dedicated to finding the ways of stabilizing the oil market," the ministry said, adding that the meeting will be held as a video conference.

The ministry said that all OPEC+ countries are expected to take part and that stabilising prices on oil markets would be discussed.



The meeting participants are expected to discuss the Declaration of Cooperation.



Saudi Arabia yesterday called for an emergency meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC producers, saying it aimed to reach a fair agreement to stabilise oil markets that have crashed on the demand impact from the coronavirus pandemic.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak earlier said that he does not see conditions for a new agreement at the moment due to the actions of OPEC partners.
President Akufo-Addo has directed the Minister for Finance and the Minister of Transport to work together to ensure the urgent resumption of the Aayalolo bus service which has been halted due to losses over social distancing.

The Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE) on Thursday said it had temporarily grounded its Aayalolo buses due to losses it has been incurring following the social distancing protocols announced by the President and subsequent partial lockdown of Accra.

Public Relations Officer of GAPTE, Fred Tsidi, told Citi News that Because of social distancing, we have decided not to take full capacity. Now you know that for 25 passengers, the revenue stream would be lessWhat we did was to make a proposal to the Ministry of transport. They requested to see revenue projections to see how much money will be generated from 25 passengers.

The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at a press briefing on Friday said the President wants the service to be immediately resumed in order to support the movement of persons offering essential services as the Greater Accra Region observes the partial lockdown declared last week.

The Minister said Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta as well as the Transport Minister, Kweku Ofori Asiamah are to collaborate to solve the financial issues and allow the buses to resume work.

Yesterday we were informed that Aayalolo has halted service for some financial reasons. There was a cabinet meeting in which the President instructed the Minister responsible for transport and the minister responsible for finance to quickly get together to resolve whatever bottleneck there may be there for which reasons Aayalolo suspended services yesterday [Thursday]At this critical time when you are asking people to socially distance on transport, you must ensure that the state transports like Aayalolo are functioning, the Minister noted.

Following the coming into force of the lockdown in Accra, some essential service providers such as nurses and bank staff have complained of the difficulty in reaching their places of work due to the conduct of some security personnel, blocking commercial vehicles from moving to the Central Business District because the drivers fail to observe social distancing on the bus.

The Aayalolo buses, which is more spacious and can allow for effective social distancing to be observed is being promoted to be used as the main mode of transport within the region.

---citinewsroom
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Indian Armed Forces have stepped up their preparations against COVID-19 to meet any future requirements arising within the country and in the neighbourhood. Fifty aircraft are on standby only for internal requirements. All the services -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- are part of the preparations.

The Ministry of Defence said it is ready to assist countries sharing land or maritime borders with India under the Neighbourhood First Policy. Six Naval ships loaded with HADR bricks are kept on standby for assistance at Vishakhapatam, Kochi and Mumbai to respond any requests from littoral neighbouring countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, it said. Also, five medical teams are on standby for deployment in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan & Afghanistan, added the MoD.

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On Thursday, a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft ferried around 6.2 tonnes of medicines and hospital consumables to Maldives. An Army Medical Corps team consisting of five doctors, two nursing officers and seven paramedics was deployed in Maldives to assist in setting up their own testing, treatment and quarantine facilities from March 13-21.

Major additional resources have been dedicated and capability is being added for requirements within the country. The Ministry said the Indian Air Force has kept 28 transport aircraft and 21 helicopters on standby at various locations across the country. The transport fleet of the Air Force is functioning as a bulwark, assisting in transportation of essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment. So far, approximately 60 tonnes of stores have been airlifted to various parts of the country.

The Armed Forces are running six quarantine facilities at Mumbai, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai which till now have handled 1737 persons, of which 403 have been discharged so far. In addition, 15 other facilities are being kept ready as standby for use, if required.

51 hospitals of the Armed Forces across the country are getting prepared for dedicated COVID-19 facilities including High Dependency Units and Intensive Care Unit beds. Five viral testing labs at Armed Forces hospitals which can carry out COVID-19 tests have been made part of the national grid. These are at Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Lucknow and Udhampur. Six more hospitals are being equipped shortly with the resources to begin COVID-19 testing.

Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has deployed its resources to aid the civilian authorities at this crucial time.


As the number of novel coronavirus COVID-19 cases continue to rise in India, the Tata Group on Friday started providing accommodation for the medical fraternity at its luxury hotels in Mumbai. The rooms have been made available across five hotels in Mumbai namely Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End, Taj Santacruz, The President and Ginger MIDC Andheri, according to a statement by the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), a subsidiary of the Tata Group conglomerate.

During these trying times, we at IHCL are keenly aware of our responsibility towards our community. As a reflection of our commitment, beginning today, we are offering rooms for the medical fraternity to stay while they combat the spread of the virus. These rooms will be available across 5 of our hotels in Mumbai namely Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End, Taj Santacruz, The President and Ginger MIDC Andheri. We deeply value the contribution from the medical community and will continue to work with them as well as the local authorities as we navigate through this crisis," said an IHCL spokesperson.

Ratan Tata, the Chairman of Tata Trusts and Chairman Emeritus Tata Sons, has already committed Rs 500 crore towards the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory systems, testing kits and other things needed to fight the coronavirus. Following that, the Tata Sons, the holding firm of the Tata group companies, announced an additional Rs 1,000 crore support towards COVID-19 and related activities.

Taking to Twitter, NCP MP Supriya Sule said, "The Tata Group is providing accommodation at the Taj Hotel, Colaba and Taj Lands End, Bandra for Doctors and Nurses working in BMC Hospitals amidst Corona Virus Crisis. Thank you so much, Hon. Ratan Tata Ji, Tata Group for your generous contributions."

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Maharashtra has so far recorded a total of 335 positive cases and 16 deaths.
Austin-based Titos Handmade Vodka donated some of its first specially made hand sanitizer to Texas game wardens.

Game wardens, who are tasked with enforcing wildlife and conservation laws in the state, received the hand sanitizer Wednesday. Police officers who patrol state parks will also be able to use the sanitizer.

SAVE MONEY: Tips to keep your electricity bill down amid coronavirus quarantine

Titos announced it would convert operations from making vodka to manufacturing hand sanitizer on March 22 after the state Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau relaxed rules to let distilleries shift gears.

The company pledged to making 24 tons of hand sanitizer, and more if needed.

Do you see any companies doing good in your neighborhood? Send it in to newstips@chron.com.

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
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 13:11 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f7a8ba 4 Health UNS,COVID-19,anxiety,health,mental-health,coronavirus,counselor,Sebelas-Maret-University Free

Sebelas Maret University (UNS) in Surakarta, Central Java, has opened a free online psychological consultation service for its students.

The service is provided to help students experiencing anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We [the consultants] come from the School of Psychology at UNS, where we work as psychology lecturers, said Berliana Widi Scarvanovi, coordinator of UNS' online psychology service as quoted by kompas.com.

We want to help students who may feel agitated and anxious due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so they can improve their health, get on with their activities and think more clearly, Berliana said.

She said students who wished to use the service could contact the unit to arrange an appointment.

Berliana said anxiety could have a negative impact on a persons health and affect the immune system.

Read also: Coronavirus anxiety is a thing: Heres how to handle it

However, anxiety is a normal response from a person under a lot of stress, she added.

Anxiety is not always bad. It is an alarm from our body that a danger is approaching. Being worried on a normal level is healthy, meaning that we are reminded [of being cautious], she said.

Berliana said excessive worrying could prevent a person from thinking rationally, while during a crisis people were expected to think clearly and rationally.

With the service, students are expected to be able to manage their stress on their own.

This is not the type of consultation that will make the clients depend on us, we give them tips to manage their stress level. Being anxious is OK, but you have to stay healthy, Berliana said. (gis/wng)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday laid down Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the transit of COVID-19 negative foreigners stranded in India and release of quarantined persons after being tested COVID-19 negative.

"It has been decided that requests received from a foreign government, for the evacuation of their nationals from India, would be examined by the Ministry of External Affairs on a case to case basis," the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a release.

"Prior to departure, the foreign nationals would be screened for COVID-19 symptoms as per the standard health protocol. Only those foreign nationals would be allowed to leave, who are asymptomatic for COVID-19. In the case of symptomatic persons, the future course of treatment would be followed, as per the standard health protocol," it added.

The Home Ministry also released SOPs for release of quarantined persons, after the expiry of the quarantine period and tested COVID-19 negative.

"Persons testing negative for COVID-19 would be released from the quarantine facilities. However, this will not apply to a group, where even one person tests positive for COVID-19," the Home Ministry said.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday said that there are 2,069 coronavirus positive cases in India, including 1,860 active cases, 156 cured/discharged/migrated people and 53 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 30,000 doctors, including retired government and Armed Forces Medical Services, and private physicians have volunteered to help the government fight against COVID-19 pandemic, a senior government official said on Friday.

The government on March 25 had appealed to retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors to come forward and join the efforts to fight the pandemic caused by the deadly novel coronavirus.

"30,100 volunteer doctors,including retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors have signed up to the government to battle COVID-19 pandemic," the official told PTI.

The number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,301 in the country on Friday while the death toll rose to 56, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In a statement posted on Niti Aayog's website on March 25, the government had said those who wish to contribute to this and be a part of this noble mission to serve the country may register themselves on a link provided on the official website of the Niti Aayog.

"The Government of India requests for volunteer doctors who are fit and willing to be available for providing their services in the public health facilities and the training hospitals in the near future.

"We appeal to such doctors to come forward at this hour of need. You could also be a retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or a private doctor," the statement said.

It had noted that in case the outbreak leads to a high number of infected individuals, India's public health facilities will face tremendous load to take care of a large number of patients.

Many countries, including the US, Italy, the UK and Vietnam, have urged retired health workers to come back to work amid the pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The besieged Ruby Princess will be the lone cruise ship left in Sydney after Sunday, as health authorities, police and Border Force grapple with what to do with the ship and its crew and NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller launches an investigation into the disastrous decision to allow its passengers to disembark.

The "hours leading up to the ship coming in" will be key to the police investigation, Commissioner Fuller said.

"There will be documentation, triple 0 calls, there will be evidence, hard evidence, that will help me work out which direction to take it," he said on Friday morning, saying it was too early to know whether criminal charges could be laid.

The ship continues to languish off Port Botany because of an outbreak of respiratory disease among the 1200 crew, and there are no immediate plans for it to leave.
Iran to give strongest response to US if its security at stake: Top general

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 2:00 PM

The chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces says the country will show the most severe reaction to the United States if it does anything to undermine the security of the Islamic Republic.

"If [Americans] take the smallest step against the security of our country, they will be faced with the most severe reaction," Major General Mohammad Baqeri said on Thursday in allusion to recent steps taken by the US military in neighboring Iraq, which have been seen by many experts as a prelude to a possible US attack on Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in the Arab country.

"The recent days have witnessed an increase, to some extent, in the US' military activities across Iraq and the Persian Gulf," he said.

"On the psychological and media fronts too, they (Americans) are engaged in massive dissemination of news denoting that they have plans against resistance groups in Iraq and Hashd al-Sha'abi," the Iranian general said in reference to the PMU anti-terror fighting force by its Arabic name, adding, "We are completely monitoring such activities".

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was about to launch an attack on US troops or American "assets" in Iraq, waring, "If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed."

Meanwhile, an Iraqi security source said a group of US troops had withdrawn from al-Taqaddum Air base in al-Anbar, and moved to Ain al-Assad Air base in the western Iraqi province. There have been other reports that US forces are handing over more military bases to Iraqi forces and taking their troops to more secure facilities elsewhere in Iraq.

Trump's remarks were the latest in the torrent of US claims accusing the Islamic Republic of trying to target the terrorist US forces in the Arab country. Previously, Washington had repeatedly tried to pin sporadic rocket attacks on installations housing the forces on, what it calls, "Iran-backed" Iraqi fighters, and threatening Tehran with "retaliation."

Iran has, on every occasion, denounced the US claims as baseless, and an attempt at stirring up regional and international tension against the Islamic Republic.

US' sinister acts warrant 'natural reaction'

Elsewhere in his remarks, General Baqeri referred to the actions taken against American bases across Iraq over the past recent weeks as "the Iraqi people's and resistance forces' natural reaction to the sinister assassinations carried out by Americans" in the Arab country in early January.

On January 3, a US drone strike assassinated Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the PMU's second-in-command, and a number of others, targeting their vehicle in Baghdad. At the time of the attack, General Soleimani was on an official trip in the Iraqi capital at Baghdad's request.

The IRGC retaliated against the assassination by launching volleys of ballistic missiles against Ain al-Assad military base.

Clarifying Iraq's "natural reaction" to the US' atrocities, Baqeri said, "The Americans are, themselves, well aware that the peoples of the region, including that of Iraq, are against the US' military presence in these countries."

Soon after the assassinations, the Iraqi parliament overwhelmingly ratified a bill demanding complete withdrawal of all American-led forces from the Arab country's soil.

The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 on the second leg of its so-called war on terror, which had had it first stage a no-holds-barred attack against Afghanistan.

Unremitting violence continues to plague both countries since then, with anti-American sentiment and US-led foreign presence being blamed for much of the unrest.

Washington staged a renewed wholesale operation in Iraq in 2014 at the head of a number of its Western and regional allies, presumably seeking to uproot the Takfiri terror group of Daesh. The outfit had risen amid the chaos and volatility resulting from the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

The US-led coalition retains its presence in Iraq, although, Baghdad and its allies defeated Daesh in late 2017.

"Such reactions have nothing to do with our country. Americans happen to attribute this issue to us in some cases, which is [their way of] playing the blame game," Baqeri said, adding, "The Islamic Republic does not play any role in such developments, and bears no intention to target any foreign forces [in Iraq]."



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Former Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio has joined the powerful Denver-based law and lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, the firm said Thursday.

Palacio plans to offer advice on a consulting basis with Brownstein's State & Local Legislation & Policy Group, part of its Government Relations practice, while continuing with his political and consulting work.

As we continue to expand our focus on a national state and local policy practice we are always looking to add the best talent to our team, said Doug Friednash, chair of the policy group and a former Denver city attorney.

Ricks proven experience helping candidates, committees and corporate industries create winning strategies for improving their work in government and political affairs complements our established government relations talent and enables us to further our reach here in Colorado and across the country.

Palacio told Colorado Politics he's looking forward to "working with what I consider one of the best teams in Colorado."

"Issues now are heightened and magnified given the crisis that we're in," he said. "State and local governments are looking for guidance from the federal government, and the business community is looking to government for answers to questions they might have about how to navigate the system. These are unprecedented times; it really makes the challenges all that much greater."

Palacio, 45, is a founding partner of polling and political research firm Majority Institute and owns PS Group, a consulting firm that works with progressive clients. Last year, he played key roles in John Hickenlooper's presidential campaign and the Giddy Up leadership PAC formed by the former governor in advance of his run.

The sixth-generation Pueblo native won election to the first of three two-year terms as state party chairman in 2011. He was the first Latino and first openly gay Democrat to chair the Colorado party. Following an unsuccessful run for a vice chair position on the Democratic National Committee in 2017, he was named to a transition advisory committee created by the newly elected DNC chair, Thomas Perez.

Prior to heading the party, Palacio worked as a legislative aide in the Colorado House of Representatives and in Congress for former U.S. Rep. John Salazar and as deputy director of member services for then-Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. House.

Founded in 1968, Brownstein boasts "the strongest bipartisan team of public policy advocates in the country, according to the chair of its government relations department, and has lobbying practices in Denver, Washington, D.C., California, Nevada and New Mexico. Last year, it eclipsed rivals to become the top earner nationally among federal government lobbyists.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 13:26 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f7ae57 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-joblessness,coronavirus,doni-monardo Free

The government is currently mulling over a plan to help migrant workers working in big cities across Indonesia who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, including the possibility of facilitating their return to their hometowns.

Indonesia's COVID-19 rapid response task force chief Doni Monardo acknowledged that those workers would face difficulties if they stayed in the country during the health crisis, as they could barely make ends meet with no income.

"We're now reviewing options to help them, as many of them have lost their jobs and they have low purchasing power," Doni said in a video-conference meeting with House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing health care and manpower on Thursday.

"This would be a problem in the future, so we're considering whether or not we will help them return to their hometowns."

Read also: Indonesias COVID-19 stimulus playbook explained

He said the government had also tried to come up with a plan to give the affected workers opportunities to engage in new activities once they returned to their hometowns, including farming and fishing, which would contribute to help securing nationwide food supplies.

"When the big cities lack food supplies, villages will therefore have a surplus. If the [migrant] workers return to their villages and switch jobs to become farmers and cattlemen, for instance, they can help us prepare to overcome a food crisis, which the WHO has previously warned about," he said.

Although it was still unclear when the plan would be finalized, Doni asserted that migrant workers returning to their hometowns should practice a 14-day self-quarantine upon their arrival so as to reduce the risk of further COVID-19 transmission.

Indonesia has launched social safety net programs aimed at helping low-income families and informal workers who depend on their daily income to make ends meet, as the coronavirus has taken its toll on their jobs.

Read also: Explainer: BI to throw lifeline to Indonesias economy to fight COVID-19

The government has allocated Rp 110 trillion (US$6.6 billion) as a safety net budget for people hardest-hit by the pandemic. The amount will be disbursed to around 10 million families in the family hope program as well as the 15.2 million families in the staple food program.



The budget for the pre-employment card program will be raised to Rp 20 trillion from the initial Rp 10 trillion, which the government expected would be sufficient to cover 5.6 million laid-off workers, informal workers as well as micro and small business owners.

Social protection funds will also include free electricity for 24 million customers using 450 KVa and 7 million customers using 900 KVa.



As of Thursday, there were 1,790 confirmed COVID-19 cases across the nation, with 170 deaths and 112 recovered cases, according to the official count of the government.

Jakarta, the national epicenter of the outbreak, recorded 897 confirmed cases, more than half of the national figure. (nal)
(Photo : Pixabay)

COVID-19 has put almost everyone on pause. While humans are staying home, either working or studying, many must rely on their mobile phones for a good net connection. A few days ago, Speedtest shared details as to how the Internet is keeping up under coronavirus strain.

ALSO READ: Internet Is Getting Slower Worldwide; Will Coronavirus Break The Internet Connection?

Google, of course, is privy to that as carefully from its own facts, and now it's making sure its Google Fi customers can get something more done while at home. Starting this month, customers on both the Unlimited and Flexible plans will get 30GB of high-speed net without having to pay more on top with current changes.

Customers to get the most out of more data

Usually, customers on the Flexible plan get 15GB of information at top speeds before it's reduced to 256kbps. Phone Arena explained speed cap will get activated only after the 30GB mark, which basically doubles their allowance.

The reward is smaller for Unlimited users, according to The Verge, since they're on a 22GB soft cap, so they're getting the most out of 8GB of free fast-speed data. Still approximately 30 percent more, no longer too shabby.

"After you reach 30GB, you can choose to return to full-speed data for an additional $10/GB for the rest of your billing cycle," 9to5Google reported.

Last month, Google announced an additional grace period on payments since no one knows how long this pandemic will last. Hence, Fi customers who are presently facing economic hardship will still have access to the tech giant's telephone carrier for an additional 60 days after lacking a bill.

ALSO READ: This Map Explains How Intensive Use of the Internet and Gaming During Coronavirus Lockdowns Affect Broadband Infrastructure

Meanwhile, the company said support channels are operating with a limited team as part of precautionary health measures, while shipping partners are experiencing delays. Fi is now available for all Android and iOS gadgets within the US.

Google is "tracking the evolving developments," but in any other case, it does no longer specify when Fi will go back to its normal speed restriction and policies.

United States Carriers also bolster benefits amid coronavirus fallout

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai recently released a letter encouraging carriers of broadband and phone services to join the Pledge. Companies were asked to keep service active, waive fees for overdue payments, and open up Wi-Fi access to anyone that might need it. Carriers are also encouraged to make their online portals and apps active for customer support needs.

US Cellular also appears on the list of pledges published by the FCC; however, no legitimate announcements had been made. The COVID-19 page doesn't presently point out making any changes.

Most of the principal smartphone carriers have introduced similar initiatives. Verizon announced last March that it gave mobile clients with 15GB of extra data.

AT&T and Verizon (not the Wireless arm) said it would waive penalties for those payments beyond the due date. It also made matching commitments for home and small business broadband services.

T-Mobile removed mobile data caps for all customers in addition to providing its clients with 20GB of more hotspot data.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University on Thursday said that strict action will be taken against the violators of the coronavirus lockdown guidelines issued by the government and administration.

Those who have been indulging in activities endangering health and safety of JNU campus residents are cautioned not to repeat such acts. Strict action will be taken against violators of the 21-day lockdown, the JNU registrar said.

The registrar added that a few students, who have been violating the lockdown guidelines, are being supported by some faculty members.

A handful of Jawaharlal Nehru University students have been repeatedly seen violating the guidelines issued by the government and administration. These students have been directly and indirectly encouraged or supported by a few faculty members, the registrar said.

Earlier on Wednesday, JNU extended the application deadline for the varsity entrance examination in view of the coronavirus lockdown.
More than 2000 renewable energy facilities are built in areas of environmental significance and threaten the natural habitats of plant and animal species across the globe.

A University of Queensland research team mapped the location of solar, wind and hydropower facilities in wilderness, protected areas and key biodiversity areas.

UQ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences lead author Mr Jose Rehbein said he was alarmed by the findings.

"Aside from the more than 2200 renewable energy facilities already operating inside important biodiversity areas, another 900 are currently being built," Mr Rehbein said.

"Energy facilities and the infrastructure around them, such as roads and increased human activity, can be incredibly damaging to the natural environment.

"These developments are not compatible with biodiversity conservation efforts."

The majority of renewable energy facilities in western Europe and developed nations are located in biodiverse areas.

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Mr Rehbein said there is still time for developers to reconsider facilities under construction in Asia and Africa.

University of Amsterdam senior author Dr James Allan said effective conservation efforts and a rapid transition to renewable energy was essential to prevent species extinctions and avoid catastrophic climate change.

"The entire team agree that this work should not be interpreted as anti-renewables because renewable energy is crucial for reducing carbon emissions," Dr Allan said.

"The key is ensuring that renewable energy facilities are built in places where they do not damage biodiversity.

"Renewable energy developments must consider biodiversity as well as carbon, and avoid any negative impacts on biodiversity to be truly sustainable."

The team urge governments, industry and development organisations to avoid expanding renewable energy facilities into conservation areas and plan for alternative locations.
LOS ANGELESThe reigning AVN Best New Starlet Gianna Dior on Thursday announced she would be auctioning off one signed copy of the April 2020 issue of AVN magazinewhere she graces the coveron her AVN Stars account every week this month.

To be eligible to win, fans must be subscribed to Dior's AVN Stars account at @giannadior.

Dior said the auction starts every Sunday in April and goes until Saturday night.

"I will announce the previous winner on Sunday night," Dior said. "First auction starts now."

Visit stars.avn.com, which is AVN's new platform created with adult content creators in mind, to participate.

To read the April cover story about the 22-year-old award-winner, click here.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 13:44:45|Editor: Yurou

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Indian firefighters spray disinfectant as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus on fancy bazaar street at Guwahati, India on April 2, 2020. India's federal health ministry on Friday morning said the death toll due to the COVID-19 in India rose to 56 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 2,301. (Str/Xinhua)

NEW DELHI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- India's federal health ministry on Friday morning said the death toll due to the COVID-19 in India rose to 56 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 2,301.

"As on 9:00 a.m. (local time) today 56 deaths related to novel coronavirus have been recorded in the country," read the information released by the ministry.

This is a jump of three deaths and an increase of 232 cases since Thursday evening.

On Thursday evening the number of COVID-19 cases was 2,069 and the death toll was 53.

According to ministry officials, so far 157 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement.

"The number of active cases in the country right now is 2,088," read the information.

Friday marks the tenth straight day of ongoing 21-day lockdown across the country announced by the 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 which are exempted.

The federal government has asked states to strictly enforce the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of the COVID-19 and break the chain of its transmission in the country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to show a joint resolve in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic by switching off their lights at homes on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. (local time) and light up candles, torch or mobile flashlights for nine minutes.
Zarif Says Iran 'Only Acts In Self-Defense' After Trump's Warning

April 02, 2020

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country "only acts in self-defense" after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran of a "heavy price" if it or its allies attack U.S. troops or assets in Iraq.

The war of words comes amid renewed tensions between the two arch-foes despite the coronavirus pandemic.

"Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq," Trump tweeted on April 1.

"If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!" he added.

In response, Zarif wrote in a tweet on April 2 that "Iran has FRIENDS: No one can have MILLIONS of 'proxies.'"

"Unlike the U.S. -- which surreptitiously lies, cheats & assassinates -- Iran only acts in self-defense," he added.

Iran and the United States are in a tense battle for influence in Iraq, where Tehran has powerful allies and Washington has close ties to the government.

Over the past year, Washington has accused Iranian-backed militias of attacks on Iraqi military bases hosting coalition forces and on foreign embassies, particularly the U.S. mission.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen sharply since Trump in 2018 withdrew the United States from a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers and reimposed sweeping sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Tehran has repeatedly called on Washington to lift the sanctions, particularly since the start of the coronavirus epidemic.

Medicines and medical equipment are technically exempt from the U.S. sanctions but purchases are frequently blocked by the unwillingness of banks to process transactions for fear of incurring large penalties in the United States.

Iran is one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus, which has infected 50,468 people in the country, according to the Health Ministry.

Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur on April 2 announced 124 more fatalities, raising the death toll to 3,136.

Meanwhile, parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani tested positive for coronavirus and is receiving treatment in quarantine. Larijani is the latest high-ranking Iranian official to test positive for the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus.

Experts have been skeptical about the veracity of official figures released by the Iranian authorities, who keep a tight lid on local and foreign media.

The pandemic has also hit the United States hard, with almost 217,000 infections and more than 5,100 deaths.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zarif-says- iran-only-acts-in-self-defense-after- trump-s-warning/30525658.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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New Delhi, April 3 : While several industries reel under the COVID-19 lockdown impact in India, PC and laptop majors like HP and Lenovo have seen a massive surge in bulk buying from corporates and enterprises to keep their workforce stay home, safe and connected.

Chromebooks and business laptops started disappearing from the shelves even before the 21-day lockdown was announced from March 24 midnight, as millions of Indians across the spectrum began working from home as corona-positive cases began emerging from various offices from early March.

A Lenovo spokesperson told IANS that there has been an uptick in demand for laptops and other accessories in the social distancing times.

"Inevitably, given the rise in the need for remote and flexible working from businesses around the world, we have seen an increase in demand for laptops and supporting accessories," said the spokesperson.

Industry insiders informed that HP Inc has also seen a huge demand and its work-from-home products have been sold out in the country.

"Chromebooks have seen the most demand as the data is stored on the Cloud and is safe for the companies from the cybersecurity point of view. HP Chromebooks/business laptops were bought in bulk across industries, majorly by the IT giants," the industry sources told IANS.

Even during the lockdown, PC and print majors have been given special permission by the government to supply supporting accessories like cartridges, toners and hard disks etc, to hospitals (to record and maintain COVID-19 data), banks and other essential services to keep their operations going on seamlessly.

According to Thomas George, President, CyberMedia Research (CMR), there has been a significant increase in the sale and renting of laptop PCs due to the work-from-home situation.

"This trend is witnessed across the sectors. However, large organisations are placing fresh orders as they provision and enable an entire process or team to work remotely. For example, an IT services major was rolling out 4,000-5,000 laptops daily to the employees in order to work from home," George told IANS.

On the back of its strength in managing complex supply chains, Lenovo India is aiming to double its PC shipment volume in the financial year 2020-21 and log 15 per cent year-over-year revenue growth during that period despite the challenges brought about by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to Rahul Agarwal, CEO and MD, Lenovo India.

"Lenovo is leveraging its geographical balance, operational excellence and strength in managing complex supply chains across a global manufacturing footprint, and solid strategy execution in order to weather the challenges," Agarwal told IANS late last month.

The PC, print and laptop majors are now facing the supply issue as demand is still coming from all quarters, and hope to address this as soon as the lockdown is cleared.

"There will be supply and demand gap occurring due to the restrictions around component import under current circumstance and it will push the prices further up,' said George.

India's traditional PC market saw a six-year high with 11 million shipments of desktops, notebooks and workstations in 2019 -- an impressive 18.1 per cent year-over-year (YoY) growth, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

"In absence of any fresh mega-deal, lingering concerns around component shortage, and supply uncertainties due to recent novel coronavirus outbreak, it would be difficult for vendors to maintain this level of growth in 2020," said Jaipal Singh, Associate Research Manager, Client Devices, IDC India.
The testing volume is very low, and nobody knows the real picture, Moscow mayor admitted, slipping beyond propaganda narratives.

For weeks now, official Russian government news outlets have been proudly trumpeting the news of an astronomically low rate of coronavirus cases and fatalities in Russia compared with the rest of the world, emphasizing stats in the U.S. and EU.

Amid such a "low" rate, Russia now boasts of even being able to dispatch experts and medical supplies to the West amid the ongoing fight against the pandemic, IGDTS think tank reports.

The move is obviously aimed to claim that Russia must have both a superior culture and health care system designed to cope with a crisis like this international pandemic.

Or maybe not.

In reality, the Russian health care system is a disaster. Hospitals are decaying, staff salaries are dismal and modern, while functional medical equipment is in desperately short supply.

Read alsoKremlin not planning to postpone Victory Parade in Moscow despite COVID-19 spread (Video)

Besides, no average Russian usually goes to a doctor unless they are either in unbearable pain or seriously ill to the point of almost dying. Otherwise, they opt to deal with health issues themselves, IGDTS notes.

So, if the average Russian rarely, if ever, goes to a doctor, especially for something as relatively minor as a low-grade fever, sore throat or runny nose (classic viral symptoms), how are they being tested for the coronavirus? Chances are they aren't. Even if someone wanted to get tested for the coronavirus or anything else, there aren't nearly enough healthcare facilities to serve them.

According to a report by the Russian State Statistical Service published by Borgen Magazine in 2018 on the declining public healthcare system, "In rural areas, 17,500 towns and villages have no medical infrastructure whatsoever. According to the State Statistics Service, the number of health facilities in rural areas fell 75 percent between 2005 and 2013. This number includes a 95 percent drop in the number of district hospitals, and a 65 percent drop in the number of local health clinics."

Although this number has improved somewhat recently, the number of doctors leaving the medical profession over low wages has actually increased, leaving Russians with even less options for treatment.

Read alsoPsy-ops and disinformation campaign in Italy amid crisis

"This brings us to the question of the dramatically low numbers of Russian people who have been infected by the COVID-19 virus," IGTDS wrote. "As of late on April 1, 2020, the official Russian government numbers stood at 2,237 confirmed cases of the disease and 23 deaths."

That same day Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying, "the situation in our country looks a lot better" than Europe and was "under control." However, just prior to Putin's statement, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated the obvious fact that Putin could apparently not bring himself to admit publicly: "The testing volume is very low, and nobody knows the real picture."

"The fact is that no one, especially the Russian government, knows the true extent of COVID-19 infections or deaths within Russia because the overwhelming majority of Russian citizens rarely, if ever, visit a doctor," the think tank wrote.

Therefore, the overwhelming majority of Russian citizens have not been tested for the coronavirus. Also, Russians do not exactly believe in obeying rules, especially when they might pose an inconvenience to their lifestyle, so social distancing and other suggested safety measures are probably being ignored by a large percentage of the population.

With the dormant phase of COVID-19 now known to be up to 2-3 weeks, and with millions of Russians returning home from work, school and vacations abroad, it is only a matter of time before the number of Russian citizens infected with COVID-19 increases exponentially.

Read alsoU.S. debunks Russia's "humanitarian aid" claims, says medical supplies fully paid for

Unfortunately for Russia and the rest of the world, because of the culture within Russia of both noncompliance to rules and their avoidance of doctors, it may be a very long time, if ever, before the world learns the true extent of the unfolding healthcare crisis in Russia caused by COVID-19.

"Certainly, it is not in the best interest of Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin to tell us the truth anytime soon. By that time, Russia and the rest of the world may be a very different place," the report concludes.
87 new trees in Bratislava.

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Sakuras will decorate a blossoming Petrzalka. The Japanese trees with pink flowers will stand on Republic Square (Namestie Republiky) and Nobels Square (Nobelovo Namestie).

The city borough is among the municipal areas that have received these trees as a gift on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of bilateral relations between Slovakia and Japan.

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It is the species Prunus serrulate Kanzan that is known for pink flowers, the borough wrote on Facebook. Small bronze-colored leaves will appear shortly after the flowers.

Similarly, as in the case of other ornamental sakura, the Kanzan species has pistils and stamens replaced by petals. Thus the flowers are sterile and do not bear any fruits.
A man with international travel



history has tested positive for COVID-19 in Goa, taking the number of infections in the state to six, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Friday.

The man, a resident of Mandrem in North Goa who had travelled to Mozambique recently, tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday night, he said.

The person came back to Goa on March 19 and contacted the Goa Medical College and Hospital after he developed symptoms related to COVID-19, he said.

Rane said the patient has been shifted to a special hospital set up for COVID-19 patients in south Goa.

As per the protocol, people who had come in contact with him will be quarantined and tested for the infection, the minister said.

With the latest case, the number of COVID-19 patients in Goa has gone up to six.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With every threat comes opportunity, Hansen said.

[COVID-19 is] giving many of our clients the chance to have a bit of a reset and this reset is giving us an opportunity to add value to their businesses in a different way as well as do some different things.

Hansen, whose business is located in Queenslands Burleigh Heads, says that communicating to clients in a clear and concise manner as often as possible is one of his top priorities during this period.

We are deciphering all the information that is available and delivering that to our clients in a clear and concise manner, in a format thats useful. Theres so much information flying around and a lot of it is not helpful  a lot of its not accurate, he said.

Clients are going to want to know about whats available in relation to packages, the systems programs and changes to policies including long-term policies. At the moment there is so much information flying around from various sources. Just like with accountants, we take care of a lot of clients must trusted resources and they have an expectation for us to have that information, and we should. So, its up to us to be able to deliver that clearly and concisely.

Delivering credible and well-researched information to his clients on a daily basis has enabled Hansen and his brokers to understand clients needs, wants and concerns during this time, ensuring that theyre able to address them adequately.

Were communicating with our clients at least every second day and our brokers are talking to their clients daily just to see what their needs are, whats changing for them and what theyre looking for from us during this process, Hansen added.

But were also asking clients to think about what life, and what their business, is going to be like coming out of this because were not going to be in it forever.

Understanding the future of the industry after the pandemic eases is also on Hansens agenda. While he admits that insurers and brokers need to remain grounded in the now, he says its also a great opportunity to set his business up for the next period of growth.

Now is a good time opportunity to start doing some forward thinking, some forward planning, futureproofing and the like and were offering our systems to our clients in that space, he said.

I understand were in the here and now but we wont be in this forever and in a couple of years time this will be a blip on the map. But its a good opportunity now to set the business up for the next period of growth coming - and it is coming.

While Hansen offered assurances his business is on top of communicating with clients, he gives full credit to the industry and its core stakeholders for also doing whats right for consumers.

I have to give this industry a huge pat on the back  its getting the information out really, really well to customers and clients. And they do have a very good understanding of whats going on, Hansen continued.

I know my business absolutely is deciphering that information, but I know a whole range of others that are as well, were really rising to the challenge here. And were proving to our clients that in many cases, weve got a lot of skills and resources for people to be aware of.

So, theyre starting to see us in a different light as a true risk manager.

Among these key stakeholders supporting the industry and its clients are support bodies, including NIBA and ANZIIF.

I think the way our industry is rising to the challenge of the deciphering of information during this pandemic, the way that were communicating with our clients, the way the industry is being represented by key stakeholders  NIBA, ANZIIF and ICA in that space have been excellent, he said.

Keeping his staff informed and educated to support his clientele is also a big priority for Hansen, who centres his business on a true advice not price model. While he admits its a big job, he also believes its yet another opportunity.

So, first of all, I need to keep [my staff] clear and calm and I need to keep them educated, he said.

Secondly, I need to make sure that that is the message that is going out from my business to our clients  that we are still open for business For a lot of us, its another opportunity to get to know our clients businesses a lot better and for them to get to know us a lot better

We have service parameters, expectations on our staff in the way that they deliver service and decipher information to their client seeking a business partner to not just be a source for retaining quotes for insurance. We like to take our clients to a risk management journey.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has also brought to the surface new, unexpected challenges for Hansen when it comes to his staff working from home.

Certainly, weve had issues with computers at home  the software updates hadnt been done quite the way we thought they would have been so it meant when we went to load the programs, the programs werent able to load, he admitted.

Weve also had to face the isolation issue. Not everybody likes to work from home  some people can, some people will flourish but some people have found it very lonely and very challenging It is really difficult for some people to go through their day without the level of social interaction that theyre used to.

He has challenged his staff to maintain regular communication with their clients, either through email or picking up the phone to provide updates on what is happening in the industry.

Ive challenged all my staff to be ringing, to be going through their contact lists daily whenever possible so that over a period of a week theyve touched base with clients, he said.

We send our general communication email to our clients around three times a week to also give them updates on whats happening in the insurance industry, whats happening in changes to policies, changes to landlord policies, and in the industry in relation to disruption claims and the like.

In issuing advice to other industry businesses during this unprecedented time, Hansen says its a time to be engaged with their clients and to reach out to them, instead of vice versa.

Be proactive, not reactive, he said. So, try to think what your clients are going to ask and try to think about what your clients are worrying about and reaching out to them before they need to reach out to you.
By Padraic Halpin

DUBLIN (Reuters) - The number of people claiming jobless benefits or wage subsidy in Ireland tripled in March, tax revenue fell sharply and the country's finance minister estimated the economic cost of the coronavirus outbreak will likely top 16 billion euros.

Ireland ordered citizens to stay home for at least two weeks last Friday to slow the spread of the virus after a gradual ramping up of restrictions from mid-March. The economic wreckage of the shutdown was laid bare on Thursday.

Acting Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said it meant the country was headed into recession.

The surge in those seeking welfare income support left the state supporting 513,350 people, or a fifth of the labour force. That is higher than the peak seen during the global financial crisis a decade ago.

While that did not impact lagging income tax receipts for March published on Thursday, a near halving of VAT returns after tax authorities said they would not punish any deferred payments, meant tax revenue fell 21% year-on-year last month.

"We are heading into a recession, not just in Ireland. As an island that is very much connected to the world, a world recession will impact on us as well," Varadkar told a news conference.

"The objective is absolutely, certainly if I have anything to do with it, to avoid another era of austerity in Ireland. The period of austerity that happened after 2008 was never a policy choice, the country lost the capacity to borrow... We think this time is going to be, but we can't know for sure at this stage."

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has set aside 6.7 billion euros to support the economy and said on Thursday that would "definitely" rise to at least 8 billion euros, with the level of tax revenue foregone as a result of lower economic activity set to be higher still.

That will turn an estimated budget surplus of 0.7% of gross domestic product forecast for 2020 as recently as January into a "considerable" deficit, Donohoe said.

Story continues

Ireland has reported 3,849 coronavirus cases and 98 deaths, but the rate of increase in infections is slowing.

RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT

Ireland's live register, which measures demand for regular jobless benefits, rose to 207,200 from 182,800 on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, a further 283,037 sought the higher 350 euro ($382.69) weekly unemployment emergency payment for those who have lost jobs or had hours cut due to the disruption.

Another 25,104 workers claimed the temporary COVID-19 wage subsidy in the first three working days of the scheme that allows struggling employers to ask the state to pay 70% of workers' wages. Almost 36,000 firms, which can top up the payment, had registered by the end of Wednesday, Donohoe said.

During the financial crisis a decade ago, which hit Ireland hard, it took three years for jobless claims to reach a peak of around 450,000. Just three weeks were needed this time to top that.

Analysts say the April numbers will be even worse.

Ireland's Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), an independent think tank partly funded by the state, predicted last week that unemployment could soar to around 18% on the back of a 7% economic contraction this year.

Ireland's economy grew by 5.5% last year and Moody's ratings agency said this week the country's credit profile is set to remain relatively resilient if the crisis is relatively short-lived.

"Once the virus is under control, it is expected that the economy can and will recover quite rapidly," Donohoe said.

(Additional reporting by Graham Fahy; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Ed Osmond)
The virus has now sickened more than a million people worldwide. Four billion people  roughly half of humanity  have been told to stay at home.

The C.D.C. recommended all Americans wear cloth masks in public.

New York has recorded more than 100,000 cases and nearly 3,000 deaths. State officials are pleading for more ventilators and health care workers.

Get the latest updates here, plus maps and full coverage

C.D.C. says: Cover your face

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised all Americans  even people who appear to be healthy  to cover their face with a mask or a scarf when they leave home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in the United States.

But President Trump, speaking at an afternoon news conference, stressed that the recommendation was voluntary and said he was choosing not to do it.

So far, the increased demand for masks far outstrips the supply. That has left desperate people, and hospitals, navigating a marketplace rife with profiteers and scammers.

U.S. states and hospitals, whose normal suppliers are overwhelmed, have been left to negotiate directly with Chinese suppliers, which make most of the worlds masks. To fill the void, middlemen have rushed in. N95 masks, usually 50 cents apiece, were offered to one hospital for nearly $5 each by a company in Massachusetts, which itself had bought them from a Chinese manufacturer for $4.75.
[April 02, 2020] Geneva Supply Co-Founders Selected as Small Business Persons of the Year for Wisconsin

DELAVAN, Wis., April 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Geneva Supply Co-Founders, Jeff Peterson and Mark Becker, have been selected as Wisconsin Small Business Persons of the Year for 2020 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. More than 50 winners make up this year's group, including small business owners and entrepreneurs from across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. For more than a decade, Jeff and Mark have made it their mission to help manufacturers sell through an ever-changing online marketplace. This has earned the Delavan-based Geneva Supply executives a spot on Entrepreneur magazine's 2019 Entrepreneur 360 list and ranked them first among the Council of Small Business Executives 2019 class of Future 50 companies by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. "Helping build Geneva Supply I have found myself launched into endless opportunities to share our winning strategies and the risks necessary to start and run a successful business," said Jeff Peterson, CEO of Geneva Supply. "And, alongside Mark's committed leadership and smarts, I know we are serving a major role in attracting Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, a variety of manufacturers, and other profitable companies to join us in building stronger e-commerce strategies. I am so thankful for the recognition as a Wisconsin Small Business Person of the Year for 2020 and will use it to keep Wisconsin's entrepreneurial momentum moving." Jeff and Mark co-founded the company in 2009 in a small airplane hangar in Burlington, Wisconsin. Today, Geneva Supply is based in south-central Wisconsin and employs more than 125 workers with teams operating from three U.S. locations; Corporate Headquarters in Delavan, Wisconsin, Charleston, South Carolina, and Phoenix, Arizona. The group also plans to open additional sites in the future, a step that both Jeff and Mark note as a milestone in their success. Revenues are anticipated to pass $150 million in 2020.



"This is an incredible honor. And it would have been tough to achieve without the support of a charismatic business partner and thought-leader like Jeff, as well as our talented and hard-working employees," said Mark Becker, COO of Geneva Supply. "Because of them, 2019 was our most profitable year yet. It came with additional hires, the opening of a new warehouse, and a large increase in capital expenditures. All credit goes to the employees for taking on the challenge. I am thankful for the recognition by the SBA, and see it as the type of gracious fuel we all need to aim higher and achieve our goals." Peterson and Becker will receive their awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. but they are also candidates for the 2020 National Small Business Persons of the Year award.

Media Contact: Catrina Carne

Phone: 262.435.4365, ext. 143

Email: [email protected] Related Files Geneva Supply Horizontal Logo.png Related Images geneva-supply-founders-named-sbas.jpg

Geneva Supply founders named SBA's Wisconsin Small Businesspersons of the Year Mark Becker (L) and Jeff Peterson (R) co-founded Delavan-based Geneva Supply in 2009. The team provides Amazon strategy and fulfillment for businesses through a network of warehouses, digital marketing experts and data-driven brand management services. Related Links Learn more about Geneva Supply. Subscribe to Geneva Supply on YouTube. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/geneva-supply-co-founders-selected-as-small-business-persons-of-the-year-for-wisconsin-301034515.html SOURCE Geneva Supply

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The Civil Defense agency have visited school, places or worship, hospitals, markets and displacement camps to sterilize the area, in light of the spread of the coronavirus reports Zaman Al-Wasl.

The Civil Defense agency said Wednesday it has sterilized more than 1,500 facilities in northern Idleb province, a move that seeks to halt the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

At least 1,520 public facilities have been sterilized, including 26 colleges and institutes, 315 schools, 510 mosques, 162 hospitals and medical points, 68 popular markets, 193 camps and shelters, 13 furnaces, and 240 other facilities, according to the leading rescue group.

Medical staff on the ground have warned that at least 100,000 could die from the COVID-19 pandemic in the opposition-held Syria as overcrowded camps and the crippled healthcare system make the country particularly vulnerable, according to Euronews.

In one year, we lost around 76 health facilities in northwest Syria, Dr. Munzer al-Khalil, from the Idleb Health Directorate, said in a statement released by the Syria Free campaign.

The fate of the displaced Syrian has been a key concern of aid groups amid an outbreak in the country of the novel coronavirus, which has killed two and infected eight others.

The United Nations has appealed for a nation-wide ceasefire to tackle the novel coronavirus threat, while aid groups have warned of a health catastrophe if the pandemic hits overcrowded displacement camps or crammed regime prisons.

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.
MedFund gives 1.8 mln for Tunisian, Albanian marine areas For effective 5-year management

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, APRIL 3 - The Board of Directors of MedFund approved the funding of 1.8 million for the Marine Protected Areas in Tunisia and Albania for the next 5 years. This financial support, granted to local civil society organisations and national agencies in charge of protected areas, contributes to the sustainable financing of effective management of these natural areas, the institution announced in a press release Wednesday.



Thus, the marine protected areas of Kuriat, Galite, Kneiss, Zembra and Zembretta islands in Tunisia and the Karaburun Sazan Marine Protected Area in Albania will benefit from the MedFund support until 2024 in order to preserve the marine ecosystems and the populations that depend on them.



The MedFund benefits from the financial support of the Government of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) and Agence francaise de developpement (AFD).



The initiative is a Mediterranean cooperation platform which currently has 15 members including 6 Mediterranean countries as well as regional civil society organizations. The MedFund is composed, on the one hand, of States with an ambitious policy in favour of the creation of MPAs and having explicitly expressed their support for the initiative.



To date, member countries are France, Tunisia, Monaco, Morocco, Albania and Spain.



The MedFund is also composed of several organizations such as the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Oceanographic Institute - Prince Albert 1st of Monaco Foundation, as well as regional organisations involved in the conservation of the marine and coastal ecosystems of the Mediterranean such as the Specially Protected Area Regional Activity Centre - UN Environment -MAP, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, MedPAN network of Mediterranean MPA Managers, WWF Mediterranean, IUCN Mediterranean, the French coastal protection agency Conservatoire du Littoral and the Mediterranean Small Islands Initiative.(ANSAmed).




CHICAGO, April 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies are working closely with state and local governments, as well as partners within the health care system, to address local needs from the COVID-19 outbreak. Today, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) announced that independent and locally-operated BCBS companies across the country and the BCBS Federal Employee Program (FEP) have decided to waive cost-sharing for treatment of COVID-19 through May 31. This includes coverage for testing and treatment administered, including for inpatient hospital stays. Participating BCBS companies will reimburse health care providers at in-network or Medicare rates as applicable and consistent with relevant state regulations.

"It is important that our members feel safe and secure during these unprecedented times, which is why we are committed to ensuring our members who are dealing with a diagnosis of COVID-19 can easily access the care they need," said Scott Serota, BCBSA president and CEO.

Local BCBS companies' decisions to waive cost-sharing for treatment is in addition to steps all BCBS companies committed to on March 6 in order to support the essential needs of both their members and the medical communities that serve them:

Waiving prior authorizations for diagnostic tests and related covered services that are medically necessary and consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for members if diagnosed with COVID-19.

Covering, with no cost to members, the appropriate medically necessary diagnostic tests for COVID-19, where it is not covered as a part of the Public Health Services response, and covering any subsequently needed care once COVID-19 diagnosis occurs, consistent with the standard provisions of the member's health benefits.

Increasing access to prescription medications by waiving early medication refill limits on 30-day prescription maintenance medications (consistent with members' benefit plans) and/or encouraging members to use their 90-day mail order benefit.

Expanding access to telehealth and nurse/provider hotlines.

This announcement also builds on broader, more comprehensive efforts that independent BCBS companies already have underway, and which are based on working closely with public officials to meet the greatest needs in their local communities. Examples include sharing data and expertise with local public health departments; working directly with communities to donate funds and resources to relief efforts; and partnering with local nonprofit organizations, providers, businesses and government agencies to meet the broader, social needs of local communities through in-kind donations, including Personal Protective Equipment to support local frontline providers, funding local food banks to address growing food insecurity and maintaining support for community nonprofits who are also serving on the frontlines.

These actions will apply to fully-insured, individual, and Medicare members. BCBS companies are committed to working with state Medicaid and CHIP agencies to ensure that beneficiaries have access to needed testing and services.

Members should check with their local BCBS company for a full understanding of benefits, services and network coverage, which may vary.

Learn More:

For more information, visit BCBS.com or the CDC coronavirus homepage.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Index. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out our thought leadership blog.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

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https://www.bcbs.com


(JNS)-A rabbi who survived World War II and the Holocaust and in January delivered the opening prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives died on Tuesday-14 days after his 91st birthday-after being hospitalized with COVID-19.

Yeshiva World News first reported the death of Rabbi Avraham Hakohen "Romi" Cohn as a result of complications due to the coronavirus.

Cohn was born in 1929 in Pressburg in what was then Czechoslovakia. In 1942, when the Nazis invaded, his parents managed to smuggle him over the border to Hungary. Cohn attended the Pupa Yeshiva, the elite Torah university at the time.

After the Nazis invaded Hungary two years later, he returned to Czechoslovakia to join the underground. He was just 16 and became instrumental in saving 56 families during the Holocaust. He was later awarded the Silver Star Medal of Honor in recognition of his valor.

Cohn wrote a book about his experiences, "The Youngest Partisan."

His mother, two sisters and two brothers perished in a concentration camp during the Holocaust.

In 1950, he left Eastern Europe for North America-first to Canada and eventually to Brooklyn, N.Y., where he met his wife, Malvine.

He became a rabbi and a mohel who trained young mohels as well. Cohn was the author of "Bris Avraham Hakohen," an internationally recognized text on ritual circumcision, and served as chairman of the American Board of Ritual Circumcision.

He published "The Ribnitzer Rebbe," which tells the story of his mentor, Rabbi Chaim Zanvil Abramovitz.

Cohn was also a real estate developer, beginning work in the construction industry when he got to New York. He headed a company that went on to build 3,500 homes in Staten Island.

In recognition of his service to the community, Wagner College on the island awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

"As a young boy of 13 years, I was condemned to be dead, to be murdered, along with my entire family, and including my 3-year-old little sister, by one evil man, may his name be erased forever," said Cohn as part of his Jan. 29 opening prayer before the House of Representatives, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp.

"But my life was spared; I was saved by my Father. By you, oh Lord, the Father of the Universe, who brought me to the shores of this beautiful country, the United States of America, the land of the free, where I found a safe and new home."

He then acknowledged the country, president, vice president, Congress and his representative, Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.), who was the one who invited him as guest chaplain.
The smartphone industry is dominated by Chinese brands like Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, Huawei and Xiaomi amongst others. Collectively these companies account for more than 50 per cent of all phones sold globally.

The world has come to a standstill thanks to the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. At the time of writing this article already more than a million people have tested positive for the virus and more than 50,000 people have died. While some technology companies like Zoom and Microsoft are thriving because of the uptake of Internet services, the smartphone space is seeing the greatest slowdown of all time. Chinese companies, in particular, will be hurt by the pandemic as globally there is an anti-China sentiment.

The virus originated in Wuhan, in Chinas Hubei province, in November and there is plenty of evidence which suggests that initially, China hid the existence of the virus which left both the world and the WHO unprepared for the impact of the virus. If the world is in the middle of the greatest slowdown since World War, many believe China has played a big role in it which is causing a big anti-China sentiment across the industries.

The coronavirus which is called COVID19 originated in a wet market in Wuhan was triggered by a zoonotic jump from bats to the pangolin. Pangolins are consumed by the Chinese rich as a delicacy which is also known to have aphrodisiac like characteristics. The bigger issue is that this isnt the first time a zoonotic jump from animals in a wet market as caused an epidemic originating in China  back in the early 2000s in was SARs and then later it was HIN1, also known as Swine Flu. Thats why there has been an outrage worldwide against China as these wet markets havent been shut despite numerous outbreaks in the past.

While many of these Chinese companies are cash-rich and they are doing their bit to help society  a case in point Xiaomi in India which has donated Rs 25 crore to the PM relief fund, the anti-China sentiment is likely to cause a backlash for its tech majors.

However, these days the smartphone industry is dominated by Chinese brands like Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, Huawei and Xiaomi amongst others. Collectively these companies account for more than 50 per cent of all phones sold globally. Despite the anti-China sentiment, most of these brands will be fine, except one  Huawei.

Huawei will be massively hurt by this virus and the anti-China sentiment it brings along with it. Huawei which recently launched its flagship smartphone  the P40 Pro is already smarting from a trade-ban imposed by the US which restricts transfer or sale of technology thats created in the US to it.

Huawei is one of Chinas biggest tech companies is said to have close ties to the government in China with its founder Ren Zengfei being an ex Chinese army personnel, has faced issues with European and North American regulators and governments in the last 3 years.

On the smartphone side of the spectrum, the Chinese leviathan is the second-largest seller of smartphones in the world, despite being banned in the United States for the last two years. Even in telecommunications technologies, it is one of the pioneers behind the 5G standards and his the largest vendor of infrastructure across the world with telecom operators depending on it across the world.

But the trade-ban which is also being viewed as a part of the US-China trade-war has throttled the rise of Huawei across the world. For instance, Huaweis smartphones which have been highly popular in mainland China and Europe can now only use an open-source version of the Android operating system which doesnt get access to the Google Play Store for downloading applications. The deployment of Huaweis 5G network infrastructure equipment has also been stalled as many countries in the European Union review its technology based on security concerns.

The new P40 Pro which is also expected to be launched in India later this year has been rated as the best smartphone camera by the rating agency DXOMark, thanks to its collaboration with iconic German camera maker Leica. It is a phone which has all the hardware elements to take on the latest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphones  yet these phones will come hobbled out of the box because of the lack of the Google Play store.

Yet for many enthusiasts, these could be great phones just because of the cutting edge technology in them  especially the cameras. However, once one adds the problems caused by the COVID19 pandemic then things become highly complicated for all Chinese smartphone makers, doubly so for Huawei.

Because of the US-trade embargo, Huawei has had to completely re-do its supply chain to ensure their products dont have any kind of US-based technology. This was a herculean task that perhaps was only achievable for a company that had the depth and wealth that Huawei has. However, this came with a huge longterm gamble of investing in things that werent being used by most smartphone vendors which meant that Huawei wasnt leveraging the economies of scale that benefit the smartphone industry as a whole.

On top of this, to make its smartphone business sustainable, it also stockpiled a lot of components from vendors like Qualcomm and Intel before the trade embargo kicked in, and a lot of that stuff might go outdated as one rides the pandemic. The financial damage will be massive  more so for Huawei than any other company.

The last, perhaps, the most unfortunate side effect of the pandemic is the racism that comes hand-in-hand with the pandemic as it originated in its home turf. Unlike brands like OnePlus and older companies like Lenovo which arent perceived as Chinese brands, Huawei has had a long-standing problem with its Chinese origins and the pronunciation of its name. This was one of the reasons Huawei created the Honor sub-brand for millennials.

Its struggles have been well documented thats why it hasnt taken off like the way some of its peers from China have in growth markets like India. Huawei has also had itself to blame as it hasnt fully localised management and product development to Indias needs the way Xiaomi and to a lesser degree, Vivo has done so.

Xiaomis localisation is a classic example of how assimilated it has become in the Indian culture that it is being applauded for its moves around the COVID19 pandemic in India. BBK Group-owned Realme is also taken cues from the same playbook.

On the flip side, Lenovo and OnePlus are pantheons for globalisation  something which also Huawei never managed as it built its consumer business on the backbone of its unsexy telecom business. Back in the early 2000s, Lenovo acquired IBMs iconic ThinkPad laptop business and then a decade later it acquired iconic smartphone maker Motorola from Google. Most people dont view Lenovo as a Chinese company  leave alone the brands it owns.

Similarly, OnePlus was a hip smartphone start-up spun out of Oppo with a product and design philosophy more American than Chinese  by 2019, it was the biggest premium smartphone brand in India and its phones get rave reviews the world over. In two weeks, it is launching the OnePlus 8 right in the middle of the pandemic but reviewers are already complaining that they will not get review units because of the pandemic  thats how popular this brand has become.

Huawei is bigger than Lenovo, Xiaomi and OnePlus  but it is not loved the way some of these brands are. It even has market share and lucrative business units the world over. However, reports of its employees spying on competitors havent lent well to its image  and the damage done by the US ban over spying concerns have caused more problems.

This situation also led to FBI directing Canadian authorities to put Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis CFO and daughter of its founder to be put under house arrest in December 2018, pending a court trial for extradition to the US. The last couple of years havent been a good look at the Chinese giant.

But now that there is a huge anti-China sentiment, the backlash will hit its biggest smartphone maker front on as it becomes the poster-child for many of Chinese capitalism which also was purveyor for a disease thats caused millions of people to be unemployed and killed more than 50,000.

It is unfortunate as despite being hobbled by the trade-war, Huawei showed its resilience and excellence as one of the boldest technology companies of our times, but now this pandemic doesnt only hurt it in ways everyone is being hurt, but potentially make it a ripe target for racism.

For all the latest Gadgets News, download NewsX App
Seems like President Trump can get away with saying and doing just about anything he wants. The extent to which he has achieved that end is demonstrated by the credit he is getting for his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Trump, in truth, has contributed more to the confusion and disruption plaguing the countrys response to the pandemic than any other public official in the land. Yet he was able to call in to Fox & Friends last Monday morning and brag, Ive gotten great marks on what weve done with respect to this. Ive gotten great marks. He happens to be on to something. How did it come to this?
Actor Hrithik Roshan has shared a Covid-19 patients first person account of their ordeal, in order to bust myths and rumours surrounding the illness, and those whove been diagnosed with it. Hrithik wrote, It is imperative to bust myths & stay away from rumors.

There have been multiple reports of violence against health service providers who are testing suspected coronavirus patients, and the suspected patients themselves. Hrithik wrote in his tweet, Covid-19 patient Hrishi Giridhar shares a first person account of his health post contracting Coronavirus & welfare provided by Mumbais Kasturba Hospital, and added, Godspeed Hrishi. My prayers & pride with the health care community.

Covid-19 patient Hrishi Giridhar shares a first person account of his health post contracting Coronavirus & welfare provided by Mumbai's Kasturba Hospital.

It is imperative to bust myths & stay away from rumors.



Godspeed Hrishi

My prayers & pride with the health care community pic.twitter.com/d3WkgubWjH  Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) April 3, 2020

Heres Hrishis full post:

I have contracted Covid-19. The following is my experience so far. My main aim of writing this post is to talk about the amazing care I have received so far from Kasturba Hospital, Mumbai. I also want to spread awareness about my symptoms.

SYMPTOMS: I am a student who was studying in London, and I had decided to fly back home due to the coronavirus outbreak. When I landed in Mumbai, and I had no symptoms whatsoever for the first two days. It was on day 3 that I began to feel very fatigued. Lots of sleeping and lethargy, and a mild fever (99F). Next day, my fever increased to 100, and then up to a max of 101.6. I personally had NO respiratory symptoms. No sore or irritable throat, no coughing, no sneezing, nothing. There was vomiting one night, and otherwise generally persistent fever and fatigue.

I also had severe dizziness, and on one day, I fainted while walking around at home. I fell on my face and broke a few teeth, and sustained some injuries to my chin and jaw. This seemed to be a signal that something was wrong, and despite physical injuries, the priority was to get tested for Covid 19.

KASTURBA HOSPITAL: I went to Kasturba hospital the same night that I fainted. The test is a simple throat swab, and it took approximately 24 hours to get the results. The nurses and doctors on hand are friendly and helpful. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served, which is usually roti, rice, two dahis and a sabji, and food and warm water is available 24x7. Nurses hand out some tablets (such as multivitamins) to all patients, and they monitor if anyone has a fever or is feeling unwell in any way. They also go around giving people cough syrup, in case anyone requires it.

After 24 hours of wait, I was told that I tested positive and needed to be transferred to another ward. In the morning, we were given breakfast, and nurses and doctors were in to do all sorts of tests. (BP, blood test, X ray etc). I must say I feel like I am in very good hands. The rooms and wards are CLEAN, the bathrooms are clean and there are multiple sanitiser bottles kept in every single room. Every day, there is someone who cleans the floor and changes the bedsheets. The doctors and nurses seem to know every patient and all their symptoms. I can only implore that everyone trusts that the doctors know what they are doing and are doing it to the best of their capacity. I have immense gratitude to everyone in the hospital who is taking care of me.

Today, a doctor took rounds to every room and talked to every patient, just to make sure peoples mental health was okay. He asked how we were doing, if there was anything bothering us, and told us to stay positive and strong. This was one of the nicest and most reassuring things to happen to me since I came to the hospital. I am extremely grateful to all the doctors, nurses and cleaners who are helping me right now and making sure I am comfortable. I think it is easy to criticise the government and government facilities but when you are actually here, you can see that everyone on the ground is doing the best they can with the resources that are available. I urge you all to follow the states orders to stay indoors and stay isolated, and to not unnecessarily take actions that may put more pressure on the healthcare system. This is DAY 12 for me at Kasturba hospital, but time has passed quickly and I have seen many patients recover and get discharged.

The govt has also been persistently following up with everyone I was in contact with. Thankfully, my family and all other persons in contact with me tested negative and are safe. I hope you all stay indoors and safe as well. Take care.

Also read: Hrithik Roshan watches sons play amid coronavirus lockdown, says Couldnt ask for a better view. See pic

Hrithik has been spending time at home with his two sons and ex-wife Sussanne, who has moved back in his house to be with their children. The actor has also posted social media updates of himself, learning to play the piano and working out.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
UN Seeks $21 Million for Food Security in Zimbabwe amid Lockdown

By Columbus Mavhunga April 02, 2020

The United Nations says it needs $21 million to ease food insecurity in Zimbabwe as the country deals with measures imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The government says it is going to release funds to help people most affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, such as the old and the unemployed.

In a recent analysis, United Nations experts said 45 percent of Zimbabwe's rural population is either in "crisis" or "emergency" mode in terms of food security.

The analysis said the situation is likely to worsen with the coronavirus pandemic.

The World Food Program is stepping in to try to ease the impact.

Via Whatsapp, Claire Nevill, the WFP spokeswoman in Zimbabwe, said the U.N. agency has increased the number of food distribution points to limit overcrowding and distributed protective clothing, among other hygienic measures, to curb the spread of the disease.

But Nevill said the WFP needs more funding.

"In order to provide food assistance to almost four million vulnerable Zimbabweans, in the context of these new health and safety measures, WPF requires an additional $21 million for the next six months. This funding shortfall is on top of an existing gap of $130 million faced by WFP Zimbabwe for the next six months. Our assessments show that the harvest will be much later this year. Until then this food assistance is critical to save millions across the country," she said.

On Wednesday, Zimbabwe Minister for Social Welfare Paul Mavima said, while the WFP will mainly feed the rural population, the government will give cash to vulnerable people in urban areas affected by the 21-day lockdown, which started Monday.

"We have new vulnerables as a result of loss of income. The new cash transfers are for urban areas. We are estimating that initially we may be getting a million in these urban areas. But we will review as we go along," he said.

Since the start of the lockdown, vendors have been asking for the Zimbabwean government to compensate for lost revenue.

Thirty-eight-year-old Patience Rugare, who usually runs a stall selling second-hand clothes in Harare, said she needs immediate assistance.

Rugare said that when this lockdown started, she had no food in stock as she lives hand to mouth. We are going to die of hunger as we are just seated at home. I wish they would assist us with cash so that we can survive.

The United Nations says Zimbabwe's food insecurity is caused by a combination of recurring droughts and a moribund economy. Fortunately, the country has seen only one death from coronavirus so far, and only eight confirmed cases of the virus overall.

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Deaths from the global coronavirus epidemic accelerated again on Friday as the US, Spain and Britain grappled with their highest tolls yet and the world economy took a massive hit.

With more than 53,000 dead, the threat has never been more stark. Experts warn that the more than one million cases of COVID-19 confirmed globally are probably just a small proportion of total infections, as testing is not widely available.

Prosperous countries in Europe and North America are currently bearing the brunt of the disease but -- with infections also reported in war zones and refugee camps -- there are fears of a new explosion among the world's most vulnerable.

"The worst is yet to come," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, referring to countries beset with fighting like Syria, Libya and Yemen. "The COVID-19 storm is now coming to all these theatres of conflict."

COVID-19: world toll. By Valentine GRAVELEAU (AFP)

For the moment, the United States accounts for around a quarter of confirmed cases, but Europe is far from being out of danger -- Spain reported more than 900 deaths in 24 hours on Friday, for the second day running.

While Italy still leads the world in fatalities, France, Belgium and Britain have also been hard hit. The UK government opened a 4,000-bed field hospital on Friday ahead announcing a its highest one-day toll of 684.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is himself entering a second week of isolation with a high temperature after testing positive for the virus, but Queen Elizabeth is to make an historic address to Britain and the Commonwealth nations on Sunday.

The public health battle being waged across the world ebbed and flowed, with Germany saying the rate of new infections is slowing but once confident Singapore closing schools and workplaces to fend off a possible renewed upsurge in cases.

'Worst moment of my life'

The virus has now killed more than 10,000 people across Spain, but it spared 29-year-old Javier Lara, who has returned home after being treated in an overburdened intensive care unit and told AFP of his suffering.

"I was panicking that my daughter would get infected. When I started showing symptoms, I said I wouldn't hold her or go near her," he said, describing facing death with an eight-week-old as the "worst moment in his life".

The world economy has been pummelled by the virus and the associated lockdowns, with more than half the population of the planet under some kind of stay-at-home order.

Medical staff move bodies from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center to a refrigerated truck in Brooklyn, New York. By Angela Weiss (AFP)

The US economy shed 701,000 jobs last month, its worst since March 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, boosting the jobless rate to 4.4 percent for the first time in 45 years.

Things were no better in Europe, where analysts from IHS Markit warned that business activity in the 19-nation eurozone had suffered its worst crunch ever recorded, and the central bank of eurozone member Ireland said its output could be slashed by 8.3 percent this year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on everyone to hold candles and mobile phones aloft for nine minutes to dispel 'darkness and uncertainty'. By Tauseef MUSTAFA (AFP)

Financial ratings agency Fitch predicted both the US and eurozone economies would shrink this quarter by up to 30 percent and the Asian Development Bank warned on Friday the global economy could take a $4.1 trillion hit -- equivalent to five percent of worldwide output.

China's 14 'martyrs'

China's central bank became the latest to announce special stimulus measures Friday when it cut reserve requirements for smaller banks in order to release around 400 billion yuan ($56 billion) in liquidity.

The outbreak began last year in China, which announced a day of national mourning on Saturday for those who died fighting against the disease. Fourteen deceased frontline workers will be celebrated as "martyrs" of the epidemic.

British premier Boris Johnson was still working in isolation after testing positive. By Pippa FOWLES (10 Downing Street/AFP)

In India, where more than one billion people are under lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to hold candles and mobile phones aloft for nine minutes on Sunday to dispel the "darkness and uncertainty" of the pandemic.

In the megacity of Mumbai, police barricaded off parts of Dharavi, one of Asia's biggest slums, made world famous by the 2008 film "Slumdog Millionaire".

"We sprayed hydrochloric acid to disinfect these buildings and nearby areas as well," said Vijay Khabale-Patil of Mumbai's city authority.

Crowds visit a night market in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. By STR (AFP)

Mobinuddin Shaikh, 51, who lives opposite a coronavirus patient, told AFP: "We are a family of five. We use communal toilets or have to get water from public taps. Only God can save us."

Australia took the extreme step of banning the 15,000-strong crews of virus-stricken cruise ships from coming ashore -- dealing the world's teetering tourism industry another blow.

'Really scary'

Even in the world's richest country, the US, healthcare providers are under pressure. New Yorkers like COVID-19 survivor Diana Berrent are donating blood plasma in the hope their hard-won antibodies can be used to treat future victims.

"We can be superheroes," the 45-year-old photographer told AFP. "These are unprecedented, frightening times where everything is beyond our control -- except we as survivors can help."

The virus has chiefly killed the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, but recent cases of deaths among teenagers and babies have highlighted the dangers for people of all ages.

In Kenya, the health ministry said a six-year-old boy had died and in Spain, mothers like 34-year-old Vanesa Muro who gave birth with COVID-19 are warned not to touch their newborns without wearing gloves and masks.

"It's hard," she told AFP at her home in Madrid. "He grabs your finger, the poor little thing and holds on to the plastic, not on to you."

Meanwhile, in northeast Nigeria, aid workers say the virus could rampage through camps for 1.8 million people displaced by a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency.

"It will spread like wildfire and affect all involved," said one UN worker. "It is really scary."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-04 04:13:01|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on April 3, 2020 shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaking at a virtual press briefing at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Antonio Guterres said Friday that the international community should focus only on the battle against its common enemy of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is sweeping the entire world and bringing tremendous socio-economic impacts. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, April 3 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that the international community should focus only on the battle against its common enemy of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is sweeping the entire world and bringing tremendous socio-economic impacts.

"The global ceasefire appeal is resonating across the world," Guterres said at a virtual press briefing.

Ten days ago, the UN chief had called for an immediate ceasefire "in all corners of the globe" to reinforce diplomatic action, help create conditions for the delivery of lifesaving aid, and bring hope to places that are among the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The pandemic is having profound social, economic and political consequences, including relating to international peace and security," he said at the briefing. "There should be only one fight in our world today: our shared battle against COVID-19."

According to the UN chief, his global ceasefire appeal has been endorsed by "an ever-growing number of member states, some 70 so far, regional partners, non-state actors, civil society networks and organizations, and all UN messengers of peace and advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals."

"Religious leaders... have added their moral voice in support of a global ceasefire, as have citizens through grassroots mobilization online," the UN chief added.

"A substantial number of parties to conflict have expressed their acceptance for the call," he noted.

In the meantime, the UN chief pointed out that "there is a huge distance between declarations and deeds -- between translating words into peace on the ground and in the lives of people."

"There are enormous difficulties to implementation as conflicts have festered for years, distrust is deep, with many spoilers and many suspicions," he said. "In many of the most critical situations, we have seen no let-up in fighting -- and some conflicts have even intensified."

The secretary-general, therefore, called for "robust diplomatic efforts to meet these challenges."

"To silence the guns, we must raise the voices for peace," said Guterres.

Talking about the "intense diplomatic push," he cited a number of examples to illustrate his point.

"In Yemen, despite expressed support for a ceasefire by the government, Ansar Allah and many other parties -- including the Joint Forces Command -- the conflict has spiked," he said, adding that his special envoy for Yemen "is working on preparations to convene the parties to discuss COVID-19 crisis management and a nationwide ceasefire mechanism."

In Syria, where the first COVID-19 related deaths have now been reported, Guterres said his special envoy appealed for a "complete and immediate" nationwide ceasefire in the country to allow for an all-out-effort against COVID-19.

"The Idlib ceasefire previously negotiated by Turkey and the Russian Federation is holding," he said. "But it is essential that a permanent nationwide ceasefire take effect to allow for expansions in humanitarian access to all those suffering for the last decade."

Guterres also talked about the development regarding his ceasefire appeal in Libya and Afghanistan.

"I call on all those that can make a difference to make that difference: to urge and pressure combatants around the world to put down their arms," he said.

Talking about the urgency of ceasefire and fighting the pandemic, the secretary-general said "there is a chance for peace, but we are far from there. And the need is urgent. The COVID-19 storm is now coming to all these theatres of conflict."

"The virus has shown how swiftly it can move across borders, devastate countries and upend lives," said the UN chief. "The worst is yet to come."

"We need to do everything possible to find the peace and unity our world so desperately needs to battle COVID-19... We must mobilize every ounce of energy to defeat it," said Guterres.

The UN chief also told reporters at the virtual press briefing that a ceasefire is an opportunity for diplomacy for peace, for political negotiations, and for next steps to lead to permanent peace.

"The ceasefire has a value in itself to avoid people dying and to allow for the disease to be more effectively fought, but the ceasefire must be seen as a first step to permanent peace," Guterres noted.
The Navy captain fired by the Trump administration for issuing a stark warning about the risk to his crew from the coronavirus outbreak has been given a standing ovation as he left his post.

Captain Brett Crozier, was relieved of his command of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday after his superiors lost confidence in his ability to lead.

As Capt Crozier left on Thursday night he was given a standing ovation and cheered on by members of the 5,000-strong crew, who chanted Captain Crozier, Captain Crozier as he departed.

Earlier in the week, Capt Crozier sent a letter to the Navy, obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, asking for the crew to be isolated completely in order to try and stop the spread of a coronavirus outbreak onboard the ship.

Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed US nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure...This is a necessary risk, he wrote.

Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care.

During his press conference on Thursday evening, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the decision to sack Capt Crozier was his alone and explained that the captains actions forced his hand.

I have no doubt in my mind that Captain Crozier did what he thought was in the best interest of the safety and well-being of his crew, he said. Unfortunately, it did the opposite. It unnecessarily raised the alarm of the families of our sailors and Marines with no plans to address those concerns.

Mr Modly added his admiration for the captain: I expect no congratulations for it. Captain Crozier is an incredible man.

Earlier in the day, at his daily press conference, President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if he thought the decision was the correct one, replying: No, I dont think that at all.

The decision to relieve the captain of his duties was criticised by the Democratic frontrunner for the presidential nomination, Joe Biden, who released a statement on Thursday evening saying that Capt Crozier should not have been fired.

Donald Trumps Acting Navy Secretary shot the messenger  a commanding officer who was faithful to both his national security mission and his duty to care for his sailors, and who rightly focused attention on a broader concern about how to maintain military readiness during this pandemic, said Mr Biden.

The Navy sent a chilling message to the rest of the fleet about speaking truth to power. The poor judgment here belongs to the Trump Administration, not a courageous officer trying to protect his sailors.

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 245,601 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 6,058.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 50 people as part of the battle to contain the spread of the contagion.
SAN DIEGO, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgeport Financial Technology is working with various counterparties to provide hedge fund investors with immediate liquidity through loan facilities collateralized by their fund investments. The company is poised to leverage key features of its private fund transaction and marketplace lending platform, BridgePort, in the wake of an anticipated surge in hedge fund redemption suspensions.

Through a unique investor-to-investor ("i2i") marketplace lending feature, the BridgePort Liquidity Exchange ("BLX") matches liquidity seekers with liquidity note investors. BLX allows private fund managers to offer alternative liquidity optionality to investors, while avoiding portfolio disruption, asset valuation challenges and "fire sales", or interference with existing fund liquidity terms. Yield-seeking accredited investors can capture attractive risk-adjusted returns through the purchase of i2i notes with terms up to one year, and loan-to-value ("LTV") ratios up to 25%.

BLX utilizes unique algorithms to assign proprietary collateral ratings based on key fund terms, underlying asset quality and liquidity, historical drawdowns, and additional portfolio metrics to calculate note LTVs and base rate spreads. BridgePort's encrypted SaaS platform streamlines the private fund lending process, while providing private fund constituents with a highly efficient and secure transactional environment. The single-sign-on, fully digitized, agnostic platform accommodates online investor capital transactions, multi-fund reporting, and custom liquidity optionality utilizing algorithmic-based portfolio analytics, digital dashboards and a related documentation vault.

"The private fund industry is facing challenges similar in nature to those we saw in 2008, where there will be a wave of redemption suspensions, gates, valuation challenges and liquidity struggles between funds and their investors," said Christopher Nero, founder and CEO of Bridgeport Financial Technology. "BridgePort provides an ideal solution where private fund managers can avoid unnecessary portfolio disruption, fund investors can expedite access to a portion of their capital, and participating note investors can earn attractive risk-adjusted returns. The BridgePort platform allows us to accomplish this in a matter of days, where under even normal market conditions, investors wait multiple months or quarters to gain access to liquidity."

About Bridgeport Financial Technology

Bridgeport Financial Technology is a San Diego-based fintech company created by investors, for investors, to modernize the private fund investment experience through centralization, fluidity and liquidity. For more information, email inquiries to [email protected], or visit www.bridgeportft.com.

SOURCE Bridgeport Financial Technology

Related Links

https://www.bridgeportft.com/


South Africa: Fisheries allowed to catch snoek

Fishers in the Northern Cape and Western Cape have been allowed to travel within and across the province to catch snoek, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy announced on Friday.

At all times, fishing teams must adhere to the prescribed hygiene provisions such as sanitising of hands, sanitising the inside of vehicles and equipment and restrictions on the number of passengers in vehicles must be observed at all times, Creecy said during an Economic Cluster media briefing on the revised 21-day lockdown regulations.

However, in compliance with the existing regulations, Creecy said that accommodation will not be opened in fishing villages, meaning fisherman must only concentrate on fishing in areas where they can move in and out within a single day.

We understand that this may not be convenient but we are trying to ensure that the snoek run, which is very important for household security in the Western and Northern Cape, people are able to benefit from it, while at the same time observing the regulations.

Fishers must at all time carry their exemption notices and permits, issued to small scale and interim fishers, and fishers may not interact with local communities and may only operate within the harbours which are close to all members of the public, Creecy explained.

Forestry sector continues to play significant role

On the forestry sector, the Minister said the departments work in the sector continues to play a significant role in addressing basic needs during the lockdown period. This includes the production of essential goods like pulp for toilet paper and personal hygiene products, as well as the production of pallets for material linked to packaging in the fruit and pharmaceutical industries.

To ensure that fires do not destroy forest and vegetation, and dont threaten livelihoods, especially in rural areas, the departments working on fire ground and aerial teams remain active for the rest of the summer season in the Western and Eastern Cape.

The teams that operate in the Northern Region where we have winter fire season, are stationed at home and they remain on standby for the beginning of the fire season in the Northern Provinces Creecy said.

Marion 2020 Relief Voyage

On the arrangements pertaining to the forthcoming Marion alert 2020 relief voyage, which will now depart in the last week of April 2020, Creecy said that as a result of the lockdown, the department with key partners and special advisors, have decided that the voyage will proceed, but with significant reduced vessel crew and expedition component.

The expedition will include an essential support team for logistics and maintenance. There will also be no field science activities during the relief.

The department is facilitating quarantine and testing of all voyage participants, and this will include personnel from the Departments of Public Works, Infrastructure, The South African Weather Services and the South African National Space Agency, as well as our helicopter crews.

This decision was not taken likely and should not be construed as a lack of priority assigned to scientific activities. However, we do believe that it is essential to return the existing expedition form Mariel Ireland as soon as possible and put in place a team that will look after the base, until such time as we are able to return to full science activity on the Ireland, Creecy said.

She added that parties who will be participating in the voyage will be contacted directly, or through their respective focal point.

Relief for waste pickers

Regarding the collection of recyclables, which was excluded in the essential service list, Creecy said that waste pickers cannot continue to work during lockdown.

She said that following consultations with two main waste picker associations, the department has submitted a proposal for relief to the national Solidarity Fund.

To alleviate hunger, the department has approached Consumer Goods Council and its members who are in a process of discussing an intervention that will see the provision of food parcels with immediate effect to waste pickers.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr.3

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Georgia plans to purchase a mobile application for monitoring coronavirus, Minister of Health Ekaterina Tikaradze said at a briefing, Trend reports citing Georgian media.

The Georgian government is negotiating with Austria to introduce a mobile application that will track possible contact with an infected person, she said.

"Using the application will be voluntary, but the fight against the virus depends and is based on our social responsibility," Tikaradze added.

She expressed hope that a large part of the population would be willing to join the application for their own safety and the safety of family members.

With this application, we can increase social distance and the level of infection prevention by 40 percent. This will give us a very good result in defeating the coronavirus, Tikaradze emphasized.

The application will allow to synchronize the user's route with the data of the Ministry of Health on places that infected individuals could visit. If the contact is identified, information about the place and time of the intersection with the infected one will appear on the phone screen. The database with information about infected patients will be constantly updated by the Ministry of Health.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Georgia has reached 130.

On March 21, Georgia declared a state of emergency until April 21 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths accelerated past 50,000 on Friday as the United States, Spain and Britain grappled with their highest tolls yet and the world economy took a massive hit.

The human scale of the pandemic has never been more stark -- experts warning that more than one million cases of COVID-19 disease confirmed globally is probably only a small proportion of total infections as testing is still not widely available.

The United States accounts for around a quarter of confirmed cases but Europe is far from being out of danger -- Spain reported more than 900 deaths in 24 hours on Friday, for the second day running.

Number of officially announced deaths linked to the coronavirus, as of April 3 at 1100 GMT. By Simon MALFATTO (AFP)

The virus has now killed more 10,000 people across Spain, but not 29-year-old Javier Lara, who has just returned home after being treated in an overburdened intensive care unit.

"I was panicking that my daughter would get infected. When I started showing symptoms, I said I wouldn't hold her or go near her, or change her nappies," he told AFP, describing his fear for his eight-week-old after facing death at the "worst moment in his life".

While Italy still leads the world in fatalities, France, Belgium and Britain have also been hard hit. The UK government is rushing to build field hospitals after a one-day toll of 569.

The battle waged by public health experts across the world ebbed and flowed on Friday, with German experts saying the rate of new infections is slowing thanks to lockdown measures, but Asian city-state Singapore confirming it would close schools and workplaces to fend off a possible upsurge in cases.

China's 14 'martyrs'

The world economy has been pummelled by the virus and associated lockdowns, with more than half the population of the planet under some kind of stay-at-home order.

Medical staff move bodies from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center to a refrigerated truck in Brooklyn, New York. By Angela Weiss (AFP)

Some 10 million people in the United States lost their jobs in the last two weeks of March, and economists warn it will get worse.

"No words for this," said Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics. "Total layoffs between the March and April payroll surveys look destined to reach perhaps 16 to 20 million, consistent with the unemployment rate leaping to 13 to 16 percent. In one month."

Things were no better in Europe, where analysts from IHS Markit warned that business activity in the 19-nation eurozone had suffered its worst crunch ever recorded, and the central bank of eurozone member Ireland saying its output could be slashed by 8.3 percent this year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on everyone to hold candles and mobile phones aloft for nine minutes to dispel 'darkness and uncertainty'. By Tauseef MUSTAFA (AFP)

Financial ratings agency Fitch predicted both the US and eurozone economies would shrink this quarter by up to 30 percent and the Asian Development Bank warned on Friday the global economy could take a $4.1 trillion hit -- equivalent to five percent of worldwide output.

World leaders have announced huge financial aid packages to deal with the crisis and the World Bank has approved a plan to roll out $160 billion over 15 months.

The outbreak began last year in China, which announced a day of national mourning on Saturday for those who died fighting against the disease. Fourteen deceased frontline workers will be celebrated as "martyrs" of the epidemic.

British premier Boris Johnson was still working in isolation after testing positive. By Pippa FOWLES (10 Downing Street/AFP)

In India, where more than a billion people are under lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to hold candles and mobile phones aloft for nine minutes on Sunday to dispel the "darkness and uncertainty" of the pandemic.

Australia took the extreme step of declaring it would not allow the 15,000-strong crews of multiple virus-stricken cruise ships to disembark and ordering them out out of its waters -- dealing the world's teetering tourism industry another blow.

'Really scary'

Even in the world's richest country, health authorities are under pressure. New Yorkers like COVID-19 survivor Diana Berrent are donating blood plasma in the hope their hard-won antibodies can be used to help treat future victims.

"We can be superheroes," the 45-year-old photographer told AFP. "These are unprecedented, frightening times where everything is beyond our control -- except we as survivors can help."

Indonesian police officers spread the message with special helmets while disinfecting vehicles. By Juni Kriswanto (AFP)

The virus has chiefly killed the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, but recent cases of deaths among teenagers and of a six-week-old baby have highlighted dangers for people of all ages.

And in Spain, mothers like 34-year-old Vanesa Muro who gave birth while suffering from COVID-19 are warned not to touch their newborn without wearing gloves and masks.

"It's hard," she told AFP at her home in Madrid.

"He grabs your finger, the poor little thing and holds on to the plastic, not on to you. But at least that's another day over, you have to think of it like that otherwise you get depressed."

The personal strains of the virus have also not spared world leaders.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel left her Berlin home for the first time in almost two weeks on Friday after she was quarantined following contact with an infected doctor, but British premier Boris Johnson was still working in isolation after testing positive.

Politically, the virus deepened fault lines in the EU, with Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte writing to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to demand more ambition and courage from his partners, accusing her of peddling ideas "not worthy of Europe".

Crowds visit a night market in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. By STR (AFP)

Meanwhile, in northeast Nigeria, aid workers say the virus could rampage through sprawling camps for 1.8 million people displaced by a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency.

"There is no health system to contain that virus... it will spread like wildfire and affect all involved," said one United Nations worker on condition of anonymity. "It is really scary."
Its busier than Joe Wicks on our WhatsApp group, Douglas Road Stunners Whose Profile Photos Are At Least Five Years Old. FiFi_GuessMyAgeGoOnGuessIt is deva because her top end vaginoplasty was cancelled, and it seems certain that her husband Mark will move into the attic with the au pair. As for me, I havent had a botox injection in four weeks and Im starting to look my age. This is a problem because Im a senior exec with an American multinational and Im worried about looking old on our video calls. Do you think I should tell them Ive become a Muslim so I can wear a veil?  Dee, Douglas Road.

My Posh Cousin addresses this in her new podcast, Oh Jesus Look At My Face. She said, a lot of people are defying the lockdown to get their injections. I said, that will raise a few eyebrows. She said, zero chance of that with all the botox. #Hilaire.

Cmere, whats the story with forcing my old doll to break it off with me during the lockdown? Weve been living together for six years and Id a be lying to you if I said the sex was any good. We do be like brother and sister at this stage and I dont mean like that brother and sister pair on the English Gogglebox who do be always acting like theyre gagging for it with each other. (Disgustin). Im thinking ofgetting her to break it off with me but she wont be able to move out because of the lockdown, so well be end up having ex-sex bangy bangy morning, noon and night. The thing is, she didnt break it off with me even after she saw the photos of Budgies stag, so Ill need something good to tip her over the edge lah. Any ideas?  Dowcha Donie, Blackpool.

I tried this last year with My Conor. I said, lets take a break and enjoy some ex-sex. He said, done. I said, see you in a month, if you need me Ill be under this guy I went out with in Cape Cod.

Bonjour old stock. I had seven pints with Hoggy last night over WhatsApp, it was enjoyable enough until pint five, when the old instincts kicked in and I shouted get your coat, youve scored at an imaginary blonde in our bar. Unfortunately, the wife Marjorie heard me from next door, got the wrong idea completely and didnt I end up having sex with her rather than getting into an awkward explanation. Anyway, thats by the by - Hoggy and I have decided to make use of our time in lockdown to learn French, by video link. Do you know a French person that would like to teach us the old language of love?  Reggie, Blackrock, wed be looking for a lasher.

They wouldnt be looking for you. Still, well done for trying something new. Im sexting one of the top three solicitors in Cork at the moment, he was on to me last night to say hes going to use this time to do something hes been putting off for years. I said fair play, its about time you paid income tax!

Ill have you know that Im from the third wealthiest family in Mallow. The problem now is if I dont get my hair cut this week Ill end up looking like a woman from Kanturk. (Wait another seven days, and you could be talking Kilmallock.) My hairdresser is closed, but said shed call to my house if I want for no extra charge. The problem is this woman is from the semi-detached side of town (she has a mobile home in Owenahincha) and probably has a dead-beat younger brother who shell tell about my collection of limited edition John Rocha Waterford Glass flutes, and hell break in and give me the coronavirus. What steps should I take to protect my property? Kathleen, Mallow, (big house on your left driving in from Killarney, cant miss it.)

This hair thing is a big problem in Posh Cork. My friend is has a security firm in Ballintemple called Norry Blockers  I Facetimed her there and said, is it possible to fully trust my stylist? She said, not if she gave you that haircut, Audrey. #Bitchy

So the ban on gatherings of two or more people didnt stop me from launching my new exhibition, Sketches by Rich Kid, in Ballinlough Park. (Cheers Bryan with a Y for making it along, totes blown away by how you ate all the finger food dude. ) Ive decided to give back to the less well off by hosting free online art courses  theres loads of arty types in that space space right now, so I was thinking of giving my course in the nip. Do you think Ill get famous?  Ed, Ballintemple, Ive included a photo.

Guy writes a few sentences about himself and then sends a dick pic  this is just like Tinder! I sent it on to my friend Single Siobhan and said do you like the look of him? She said, its been three weeks since I went on a date, Im starting to like the look of Piers Morgan. #HowLowCanYouGo
The long hallway inside Naveed Abidi's Bikram Yoga West is empty, of members after being closed by the city last week, tipped off by several residents who disagreed with it being an essential health and wellness center in Chicago. "It was not like an act of rebellion or anything," said Abidi, who faces a fine of up to $10,000. "If we were naughty with the government's order, then we're very, very sorry. We're not here to cause problems, we're here to practice our poses." (Charles Rex Arbogast / AP)
PHILADELPHIA - An increased proportion of Indigenous American (IA) ancestry was associated with a greater incidence of HER2-positive breast cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

"The risk of breast cancer-related mortality varies between different populations, with Latina women having a greater risk of breast cancer-specific mortality than non-Hispanic white women," said Laura Fejerman, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco. "Latina women tend to be diagnosed with more aggressive breast cancer subtypes, which may contribute to their greater risk of mortality, among other factors," Fejerman added.

Breast cancers are classified into subtypes based on the status of hormone receptors and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These receptors respond to factors outside the cell and promote cellular proliferation. Breast cancers that have higher than normal levels of HER2 are referred to as HER2-positive breast cancers and tend to grow more aggressively than some other subtypes. HER2-positive breast cancers are more common in Latina women than in non-Hispanic white women, but the underlying reasons for this remain unclear.

Previous work from Fejerman and colleagues demonstrated that IA ancestry was associated with a lower incidence of breast cancer. However, the influence of IA ancestry on different breast cancer subtypes remained unclear. A prior study that examined a small cohort of Colombian patients with breast cancer suggested that a higher proportion of IA ancestry was associated with increased expression of the ERBB2 gene, which encodes HER2. This led Fejerman and colleagues to examine whether IA ancestry may be associated with risk of HER2-positive breast cancer.

The Peruvian Genetics and Genomics of Breast Cancer study (PEGEN-BC), led by Fejerman and developed in collaboration with Tatiana Vidaurre, MD, PhD, at the Instituto de Enfermedades Neoplasicas (INEN) in Lima, Peru, recruited 1,842 patients. Participants at INEN were invited to participate in the study if they had received a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer during or after the year 2010 and were between the ages of 21 and 79 years. "Peru is one of the countries in Latin America with extremely high proportions of IA ancestry, which is an understudied genetic component in medical research. The collaboration with Dr. Vidaurre from INEN was fundamental for the realization of this study," Fejerman noted.

The publication reports results from 1,312 patients who had available genome-wide genotype data. HER2-positive breast cancers accounted for 30 percent of cases (18 percent were positive for hormone receptors). On average, participants had approximately 76 percent IA ancestry, with 9.8 percent of patients having greater than 95 percent IA ancestry.

Analyses revealed statistically significant differences in the distribution of different breast cancer subtypes among women with different proportions of IA ancestry. The odds of having a HER2-positive tumor were 1.19 times higher for every 10 percent increase in IA ancestry. Conversely, the odds of developing HER2-positive disease decreased with increasing European ancestry. The observed associations were independent of the participant's age at diagnosis, level of African ancestry, height, tumor stage at diagnosis, and region of residence. The findings were replicated with smaller cohorts from Mexico and Colombia. The odds of having a HER2-positive tumor in these cohorts was approximately 1.28 times greater for every 10 percent increase in IA ancestry.

"The association between IA ancestry and HER2 status suggests that population-specific variants of IA origin could be partly contributing to the higher incidence of HER2-positive breast cancer in Latinas," said Fejerman. "Our ongoing research aims to identify the specific germline variants that may lead to this association." This information could eventually be incorporated into a risk prediction model for Latina women to identify those at high risk for certain subtypes, explained Fejerman. Understanding the genetic basis of the observed association could also help researchers understand the biology of the disease, which could eventually lead to new treatments, Fejerman added.

"Even though humans are mostly the same, there are differences between populations that affect disease risk and outcome," said Fejerman. "This study highlights the importance of studying diverse populations and collaborating with other countries. We need to understand diverse populations so that we may someday be able to provide precision cancer prevention and care to everyone, and not just a subset of the population."

A limitation of the study is that it did not include healthy controls. Additionally, the lack of certain epidemiological data and information about environmental exposures or lifestyle behaviors precluded the analysis of all possible factors.

###

The PEGEN-BC study was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute and the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas. Fejerman declares no conflicts of interest.

About the American Association for Cancer Research

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes 46,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in 127 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 22,500 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes nine prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit http://www.AACR.org.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-04 00:09:43|Editor: huaxia

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BELGRADE, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A Russian medical expert team landed here on Friday with medical aid to help Serbia fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

An airplane of the Russian Federation landed at the military airport in Belgrade, bringing ventilators and masks to Serbia, along with eight specialist doctors, virologists and epidemiologists.

The Russian plane was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin, Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Milan Mojsilovic, and Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko.

"This is the first out of 11 airplanes that Russia sends to Serbia. A total of 87 Russian specialists will come to help colleagues in Serbia," the Serbian government stated in a press release.

Four more Russian planes will land during the day, while another six are scheduled for Saturday, the release read.

Russia also provided 16 units of military equipment, as well as disinfectants and equipment for facilities and hospitals housing COVID-19 patients.

Brnabic thanked the Russian Federation and the experts who came to help Serbia.

"Thank you for having responded so quickly to our call and sent doctors of all profiles" as Serbia enters on Friday its fifth week of the epidemic, she said.

Vulin said the shipment is a result of the agreement between the presidents of the two countries.

Serbia confirmed on Friday 305 new cases of COVID-19 and 8 new deaths. Out of the total of 5,756 tested, 1,476 were diagnosed with the disease. Currently 874 people are hospitalized, while 81 are on life support. So far 39 people have died.

China was the first to send experts and medical aid to Serbia, followed by the European Union (EU) and some of its member countries with financial and other assistance.

Since mid-March, Serbia is in a state of emergency, with border crossings closed, and international passenger transport suspended along with inter-city transport.
New Delhi: The number of coronavirus cases climbed to 2,547 in the country on Friday while the death toll rose to 62, registering a jump of 478 cases in 24 hours, according to data from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 2,322, while 162 people were either cured or discharged and one had migrated, it added.

In the updated data, six fresh deaths were reported  four were from Telengana and one each from Gujarat and Punjab.

Maharashtra has reported the most number of deaths (16) so far, followed by Gujarat (eight), Telangana (seven), Madhya Pradesh (six), Punjab (five), Delhi (four), Karnataka and West Bengal (three each), and Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala (two each).

Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have reported a death each.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said a total of 69,245 samples have been tested as of 9pm on April 3 and 2,653 individuals have confirmed positive among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases in India. As per the ministry data, the 2,547 figure includes 55 foreign nationals.

The ministry said the highest number of confirmed cases of the infection was reported from Maharashtra (335) followed by Tamil Nadu (309) and Kerela (286). The number of cases in Delhi has gone up to 219, in UP to 172, in Rajasthan to 167, in Telangana 158, and Andhra Pradesh to 132.

The cases in Karnataka have risen to 124, MP has reported 104 cases so far, Gujarat 95 while Jammu and Kashmir has 75 positive patients.

The number of cases have risen to 63 in West Bengal. Haryana has reported 49 cases of COVID-19 so far followed by Punjab with 48 cases.

Bihar has 29 cases, Chandigarh 18, Assam 16 and Ladakh has reported 14 cases so far. Ten cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Uttarakhand has reported 10 cases while Chhattisgarh has nine positive patients. Goa and Himachal Pradesh have reported six coronavirus cases each. Odisha and Puducherry have five cases each.

Jhakhand and Manipur have reported two cases each while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradeh have reported a case each.

"The remaining 77 cases are being reassigned to states for contact tracing," the ministry said on its website.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Within the span of three hours Thursday, Onondaga County announced two deaths due to the coronavirus.

County Executive Ryan McMahon announced the death of a woman in her 60s at 3 p.m.; the county announced the death of a man in his 80s shortly before 6 p.m.

That brings Onondaga Countys total number of COVID-19 deaths to 3. An elderly woman was the first casualty more than a week ago.

Related: Dr. Guptas plea; free hotel rooms for health workers, quarantined citizens; hands off our ventilators

Limited information was released about the countys third death.

This individual was a male, in their eighties and with significant underlying health conditions and was hospitalized," the health department said in a statement.

McMahon has warned that there will be more people hospitalized and more people fighting for their lives. The number of people who were in critical condition due to the virus has more than doubled since Monday, from 7 to 15. Now, two of those people have died.

Of the 17 people who have reached critical condition since the pandemic began, only one has improved enough to leave intensive care so far. Three others have died and 13 remain in battles for their lives.

There are now 28 total people in the hospital due to COVID-19, as of 3 p.m. Thursday.

In terms of overall cases, there have now been 301 confirmed coronavirus infections in the county, including 24 new cases reported Thursday. Of those, there have been 75 reported recoveries and three deaths. The remaining 223 cases are still active infections.

From earlier: Onondaga County suffers 2nd coronavirus death; 14 critical; 301 total cases

Reported from McMahons 3 p.m. news conference:

This is the reality of this disease, McMahon said of the deaths. Anyone can catch it, and our immune systems battle it in different ways, but our communitys most vulnerable  folks with underlying medical conditions  this is a fight.

There have now been 4,054 tests with results: 301 positive and 3,753 negative. The 24 new cases were reported from among 275 test results in the past 24 hours. There remain 484 pending tests.

The number of people tested has seen an uptick this week, McMahon said. He suggested that some people are starting to be too complacent in social distancing, leading to infections that could be avoided by following the rules.

There are roughly 150 to 175 tests being administered a day now, compared to 125 to 150 a week ago. The first week of testing, there were up to 300 people a day getting tested.

McMahon and the county health commissioner, Dr. Indu Gupta, have repeatedly urged the public to take social distancing seriously. The margin for error with this highly contagious virus remains extremely low.

The percentage of positive tests from among the total has also increased in recent days. Now, 7.4 percent of people tested are positive.

From the total cases:

166 are female and 135 are male

9 are under 19,

67 in their 20s,

47 in their 30s,

46 in their 40s,

51 in their 50s,

44 in their 60s,

24 in their 70s

11 in their 80s.

2 in their 90s

Breakdown by municipality:

City of Syracuse - 99

Clay - 31

Camillus - 21

DeWitt - 21

Salina - 21

Cicero - 19

Onondaga - 17

Manlius - 15

Pompey - 13

Geddes - 11

Lysander - 9

Skaneateles - 7

Van Buren - 4

LaFayette - 3

Marcellus - 3

Otisco - 3

Tully - 2

Fabius - 1

Spafford - 1

Potential supermarket exposure:

An employee at the Tops supermarket in Manlius who tested positive for the coronavirus may have had contact with customers, the county health department announced Thursday.

The public announcement means that theres a gap in the countys investigation into the case, with worry that members of the public could have been exposed. (On the other hand, an employee at the DeWitt Wegmans who tested positive for the virus was not considered a public threat by county officials.)

People who visited the 119 W. Seneca St. store between these hours may have been exposed:

Thursday, March 26, 6 a.m. and 1:10 p.m.

Friday, March 27, 6:00 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Some of those hours included times set aside for elderly and vulnerable populations. The store has since been deep-cleaned, the health department said.

Anyone who visited the market during the identified time periods should monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing for 14 days after they visited the store, health commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta said. "If symptoms do develop, stay home and call your doctor for further guidance about testing. If you are elderly, have underlying medical conditions, or are immunocompromised, call your doctor early even if your illness is mild. In an emergency, call 911.

Previous concerns of public exposure:

Bethany Baptist Church: Infected person attended on Sunday, March 15.

Asciotis Market, located at 3249 Milton Ave. in Solvay: Infected employee worked from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17.

Americas Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, located at 3401 Erie Blvd East, DeWitt: Infected employee worked:

Monday 3/9 8:30 am-5:30 pm

Tuesday 3/10 9:30 am-6:30 pm

Wednesday 3/11 10:30 am-7:30 pm

Thursday 3/12 9:30 am-3:30 pm

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

New York City hospitals begin transferring patients to Upstate NY (report)

Medical exams in a parking lot: Family doctors fight on coronaviruss frontlines and worry about the homefront

Syracuse hospital to furlough workers amid coronavirus surge

Onondaga Co. coronavirus: Worst cases double in 2 days, total hospitalized down; 277 total cases
Instacart will start distributing free health and safety kit to its full-service shoppers next week. The move likely comes as a response to the walkout workers staged a few days ago to protest the company's inadequate safety measures against the coronavirus pandemic. One of their demands was the distribution of items like hand sanitizers.

The grocery delivery service's kits will contain washable and reusable cloth face masks, which will not have an impact on supplies for the healthcare and medical community. They will also contain ethyl alcohol-based hand sanitizers and forehead thermometers that can check temperatures in 15 seconds.

Instacart explained that up until now, the CDC has only recommended social distancing and frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, it understands "that the situation continues to evolve quickly," so it took "proactive steps to secure face masks and thermometers" and manufactured hand sanitizers for shoppers. It's worth noting that the White House is soon expected to urge Americans to wear cloth masks or any material they can use to cover their face.

It's unclear if the company is meeting all the demands made by the workers who walked out. But shortly after the strike was announced, it updated its policy to provide up to 14 days of paid sick leave to workers diagnosed with or are quarantined due to COVID-19. It also promised bonus pay for in-store shoppers based on the number of hours worked.
Michael Ball will be boasting a scene-stealing, 54EEE treasure chest in the hit musical Hairspray when it moves to a brand new date in the autumn.

Ball won awards and accolades during the original run 13 years ago for his turn as larger-than-life laundress Edna Turnblad.

In addition to that awe-inspiring bust, Edna is also an agoraphobic whose liberated daughter Tracy coaxes her out of their Baltimore home to help shake up the civil rights movement, and the town, with joyous songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Hairspray, based on John Waters' 1988 movie comedy of the same name, was to have begun previewing at the London Coliseum, home of English National Opera, on April 23.

Michael Ball will be boasting a scene-stealing, 54EEE treasure chest in the hit musical Hairspray when it moves to a brand new date in the autumn (pictured with co-star Paul Merton)

Producer Adam Spiegel has revealed to me that it will now begin performances at the Coliseum on September 1, running through to November 8.

Spiegel said that he'd spoken to Ball 'and he's absolutely thrilled at the prospect of Hairspray actually starting'.

Director Jack O'Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, as well as Ball and his co-star Paul Merton, principals including Lizzie Bea, Marisha Wallace and indeed the full company, had begun rehearsals on March 16, but shut down soon after as theatres across the UK were forced to bring down their curtains.

'You Can't Stop The Beat,' said Spiegel, referring to one of the show's signature numbers, 'but it turns out you can pause it'.

Those who purchased seats will have a month from today to exchange their tickets for the new booking period: September 1 to November 8. From May 5 the remaining seats will go on general public sale.

It's a gargantuan task. Nearly 100,000 people have bought tickets. 'It's a big job, like re-booking Wembley Stadium,' Spiegel agreed. Should circumstances allow theatres to reopen earlier, say in August, Spiegel said he would consider shifting Hairspray to an earlier date.

When I pointed out the logistical nightmare that would entail, he replied sharply: 'In the new world we're operating in, I don't mind logistical nightmares.'

But we're not there yet. 'As of now,' Spiegel said, 'Hairspray will begin at the London Coliseum on September 1.'

Meanwhile, he and the creative team are at an embryonic stage in exploring methods to engage actors during the lockdown. For instance, he said, 'it may be that some of the music is taught in the early stages on internet platforms. We will have to come up with innovative new methods to cope with this extraordinary paralysis.'

And then there are discussions to be had about theatres being fully safe for audiences to return to. 'Somehow the industry has got to find ways to adapt,' Spiegel said.

Visit hairspraythemusical.co.uk for more information. Site goes live with new details from 9.30am BST today.

Sky's the limit for Edgy winner

The people of Sheffield clearly have a great love for Standing At The Sky's Edge, the superb musical featuring music and songs by Richard Hawley.

The show, which returns to the city's Crucible Theatre in November for a six-week season, has been selling advance seats like gangbusters.

Sky's Edge, set in Sheffield's iconic but brutalist 'streets in the sky' Park Hill estate, will run from November 30 through to January 9.

The people of Sheffield clearly have a great love for Standing At The Sky's Edge, the superb musical featuring music and songs by Richard Hawley

Hawley and book writer Chris Bush, both Sheffield natives, are working with director Rob Hastie (who is also the artistic chief of the Sheffield Theatres) and choreographer Lynne Page on slight revisions  including the addition of another of Hawley's songs  for the forthcoming production.

The original storyline followed the disparate residents who lived in one of the flats from the 1960s to 2016. The plan now, however, is for it to continue on to the December 2019 election, in which Boris Johnson won a landslide.

The show, which is all about a sense of community, is perfectly suited to our times. So it's fitting that its producer, Rupert Lord, has done a deal with the National Theatre, which will transfer it to its structure on the South Bank later in January  though dates could change because of the upheaval caused by the coronavirus lockdown.

Even so, it's vital that Sky's Edge, with Hawley's haunting songs, should be seen by a larger audience. It won several awards  most recently honours at The Stage newspaper's The Stage Awards (for which I was a juror).

New star Teddie's pet just loves to hog the limelight!

Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen has plenty to keep her occupied during the lockdown. There are her Spanish, French and Italian lessons; books to read; a trampoline to bounce on; Joe Wicks exercises on You Tube every morning 'with yoga mats on the floor'; and feeding the pet pig.

'Feed the pig!' I exclaimed when I asked the 13-year-old (14 next week) star of Sky Cinema's Four Kids And It whether she had any pets.

'I have a pig called Harrison. He's massive,' she said. 'If I'm 5ft 3in, he'd probably be three quarters the size of me.'

The eight-year-old Kunekune domestic pig has a taste for banana peel and pig nuts, though Harrison (named after a young friend) is not very particular about what he eats.

Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen has plenty to keep her occupied during the lockdown, including E. Nesbit's Five Children and It (pictured)

Once, when Teddie-Rose was out with her parents  the actors Tamzin Malleson (pathologist Kate Wilding in Midsomer Murders and Dr Kate Brady on Always And Everyone) and Keith Allen (Trainspotting and many other movies)  Harrison got into the family's South Cotswolds farmhouse, which was being painted.

'He's very destructive, so he can't come in,' Teddie-Rose prefaced before explaining further: 'We came back and he had a half-eaten bar of soap in his mouth.'

She joked that he might have been trying to wash his hands.

'He was covered in acrylic paint, so he was white for a few days,' she said.

Harrison, besides being very large, has tusks that need to be removed every now and then.

Teddie-Rose also has two cats, Toffee and Ninja  but she herself prefers to be called just Teddie. 'No one ever calls me Teddie-Rose,' she said, 'unless Mum's mad at me.'

Teddie, who also appeared in the BBC TV film Cider With Rosie and the movie of Swallows And Amazons, filmed Four Kids And It, Sky Cinema's splendid film adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's best-selling book, on location in Ireland, which was standing in for Cornwall.

'I have a pig called Harrison. He's massive,' she said. 'If I'm 5ft 3in, he'd probably be three quarters the size of me'

The story, based on an original 1902 book by E. Nesbit, is about four children, played by Teddie, Billy Jenkins, Ashley Aufderheide and Ellie-Mae Siame, who discover a magical 'sand-sprite' (voiced by Michael Caine) that can grant wishes. Matthew Goode and Paula Patton play the parents of the disparate offspring, and Russell Brand is the greedy local landowner.

'We were all very close on set,' Teddie said of her young co-stars. They enjoyed spending time together when they weren't filming, though it was disconcerting for them to be hanging out as a group one minute and the next be told: 'OK, you need to be in a fight now  pretend to hate each other.'

The film, available on Sky Cinema from today, is an enjoyable family romp with special effects including flying children. 'It was terrifying but really fun flying,' Teddie told me.

One highlight during the shoot was a surprise, courtesy of the film's baddie, Brand.

'He brought an ice-cream truck on set,' Teddie exclaimed. 'He actually drove the truck himself, with jingles going very loudly. It was a hot day, so it was needed,' she said.

What did Brand serve her? 'A 99 cone with a flake.'

In recent days, her mother has been home-schooling her and she is wired into apps that her school has set up. 'I pretty much end up speaking Spanish to myself,' she said.

She loves reading and admits she was 'obsessed' with the Harry Potter books, which she read when she was seven: 'My mum had to lock them away so I could read other stuff.'

Next week Teddie will have her 14th birthday, celebrating remotely with her friends. 'We can have multiple people Face-Timing so I'll probably speak to my friends for a few hours.'

Teddie asks her mother if there will be a cake and candles in the background.

'Of course!' Tamzin Malleson cried out gleefully.

And there's not much clearing up after a virtual party. Unless Harrison invites himself in, that is.

Actors Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis joined forces with Leon and several other restaurant chains to launch the #FeedNHS push, and by Monday 250 hot meals had been delivered to hospital staff in London.

On Wednesday that had risen to 1,000 meals; today it's 6,000. The couple, self-isolating in Suffolk with their two children, have been on the phone 24/7. 'A lot of it is just connecting people,' McCrory told me.

Now they have set up a website  www.feednhs  'as a forum for the NHS and restaurants to get in touch with each other. We want it to inspire people to do the same in their areas'.

Actors Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis joined forces with Leon and several other restaurant chains to launch the #FeedNHS push

Watch out for

Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson star in the sublimely droll new HBO American TV comedy Run, written by Vicky Jones, who was a force behind Fleabag and Killing Eve and directed the stage version of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's comic creation.

Those credentials may give you an inkling of the dark wit baked into this tale of two ex-lovers who made a pact, back in their university days, to run away together if either of them sent a text with the code word Run.

Trouble is, Gleeson's character sent the emergency message to Wever by mistake. The antics that follow are outrageously wicked.

Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson star in the sublimely droll new HBO American TV comedy Run, written by Vicky Jones

Wever has the comical grace notes of Judy Holliday and Judi Dench (circa As Time Goes By) combined with an adrenaline-laced injection of Waller-Bridge's irreverent humour (she, by the way, makes an appearance in two episodes).

Eagle-eyed film-watchers will remember Wever's great turn as Cassie, Scarlett Johansson's sister, in Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story , which can be found on Netflix. She also made her mark, with Toni Collette and Kaitlyn Dever, as a detective in the drama Unbelievable.

Run broadcasts on Sky Comedy from April 15.
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Friday urged the government to take immediate steps to control hoarding of food and other essential items during the lockdown.

The country is under a three-week lockdown till April 14 to contain the spread of Covid-19.

"AITUC demands of immediate steps to control hoarding, ensure foods to destitutes, vulnerable and poor sections of the society," AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said in a statement.

There are continuous complaints from people that the prices of essential commodities are suddenly showing a spike, while retailers say they are getting these at high rates, the union noted.

This indicates that hoarders and black marketers are out to make exorbitant profits from the miseries of the people, it said.

There has been no announcement from the Prime Minister for putting checks on hoarding of essential commodities, it added.

"AITUC terms address of Prime Minister without any substance. No healing touch to suffering medical professionals or millions of migrant workers and the other poor masses," the statement said.

Kaur said the people were expecting some kind of concrete steps to be announced by the Prime Minister to mitigate the problems being faced by them.

Doctors, nurses, paramedical and allied staff as well as ASHA workers were attacked on Thursday at four places while discharging their duties, but nothing was said to condemn such behaviour, the union said.

The doctors and nurses had stated earlier that they do not need clanging of thaalis, but safety equipment, hospital infrastructure and cooperation from the people, it added.

The stranded migrant workers in various places or still on the highways needed to know how and when they will be taken care of. It is painful to know that a few of them have died in road accidents, hunger and exhaustion, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A journalist and consultant, Alex Marshall is the author of The Surprising Design of Market Economies; Beneath the Metropolis: The Secret Lives of Cities; and How Cities Work: Suburbs, Sprawl and the Roads Not Taken. He writes a regular urban affairs/infrastructure column for Governing and has contributed to Bloomberg Voice, Metropolis, The New York Times, Architecture, The Boston Globe, The New York Daily News, The Washington Post and many other publications.

Marshall has taught about infrastructure at the New Jersey School of Architecture at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. From 2002 to 2018 Marshall was a Senior Fellow at the Regional Plan Association in New York City. In 1999-2000, he was a Loeb Fellow at Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Design. He has consulted with Arup, Sidewalk Labs and other organizations. He holds a master's degree from Columbia Universitys journalism school and a bachelor's in Political Economy and Spanish from Carnegie Mellon University. A native of Norfolk, Va., he was a staff writer and columnist for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk from 1989 to 1999.

He can be reached at amcities@gmail.com or on Twitter at @Amcities.
By Kristina Cooke, Mica Rosenberg and Ryan McNeill

BASILE, Louisiana (Reuters) - U.S. immigration officials say they have a plan if detention centers get hit with coronavirus outbreaks: They will transfer detainees with serious symptoms to hospitals with "expertise in high risk care."

But many centers - each housing hundreds of people, often in close quarters - are located in remote communities, far from hospitals able to handle a rush of patients with COVID-19. Detention center outbreaks in such areas could quickly swamp local hospitals, threatening their ability to treat local residents along with detainees.

About a third of the 43,000 immigrants in detention as of March 2 were housed at facilities that have only one hospital - or none - with intensive-care beds within 25 miles, according to a Reuters analysis of data from the American Hospital Directory and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The seven sites with no such hospitals nearby held a total of about 5,000 detainees, according to the analysis, which examined centers that averaged 100 or more detainees.

The shortage of available care is especially acute in Louisiana, according to interviews with local health workers, hospital administrators and current and former detention-center employees. The administration of President Donald Trump has quadrupled the number of detainees in the state - to nearly 7,000 - as part of a larger immigration crackdown. And Louisiana hospitals are already straining to handle one of the worlds fastest-growing coronavirus outbreaks.

The closest hospital to four of the Louisiana sites - which together house an average of 3,700 detainees - is Winn Parish Medical Center, which has just 46 beds and five intensive-care beds. Such tiny rural facilities would be forced to send patients to a handful of larger regional hospitals.

Doctors and nurses at both the small and larger hospitals said that a severe outbreak at even one detention center could overwhelm their ability to respond. One of the four centers, for example, is LaSalle ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana - among the nations largest with a daily average of about 1,200 detainees. The nearest larger hospitals are about 40 miles away in Alexandria.

Story continues

One nurse at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria said she worried about the threat of an outbreak at a prison or detention center when she recently saw a man flanked by two guards in the hospitals COVID-19 unit.

"We don't have enough staff or equipment to handle something like that," the nurse said, noting that workers have been duct-taping the door frames of makeshift isolation rooms. "It's already chaotic.

Six ICE detainees - five in New Jersey and one in Arizona - have tested positive for the disease, along with five ICE staffers, working in detention centers in New Jersey, Texas and Colorado, and two employees of privately run detention centers, according to ICE and the private operators. One of the employees worked at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, which housed more than 1,500 detainees as of early March.

ICE spokespeople said the agency has a detailed pandemic response plan and is following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control protocols for testing and monitoring the disease. The agency said it would focus enforcement actions on the most serious criminals during the pandemic and seek alternatives to detention when appropriate. By the end of March, the number of immigrants in custody nationally had fallen to about 35,600, according to ICE, but the agency could not provide updated data by facility.

ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said that examining hospital resources near Louisiana detention centers is "speculative" because there are currently no confirmed COVID-19 cases at ICE facilities there. Cox and ICE spokeswoman Danielle Bennett said they did not know how many coronavirus tests ICE has administered, in Louisiana or nationally, and could not say whether the agency tracks that information.

OUTBREAK 'WOULD BE OVERWHELMING'

Public health experts say the risks to detention centers are serious. Carlos Franco-Paredes - an infectious disease doctor in Colorado who has worked in detention centers - said an outbreak in a population of 1,500 detainees could require between 150 and 175 intensive-care admissions.

The South Louisiana ICE Processing Center is near the town of Basile - population 1,700. About 40 minutes away is the Pine Prairie Processing Center, in another small community. Together, the centers house an average of 1,300 detainees. The two facilities, along with the Jena detention center, are run by Geo Group, a private company contracting with ICE.

About halfway between the two detention facilities is the Savoy Medical Center - with just 10 intensive-care beds and 6 ventilators, said chief executive Gene Burge.

An outbreak "would be overwhelming for an area like this, Burge said.

TICKING TIME BOMB

ICE facilities have in-house medical care, but available services and equipment vary widely, said Scott Allen, a doctor and Department of Homeland Security consultant who has inspected detention centers.

Some rural centers have one person providing medical services, a problem if that caregiver gets ill, Allen said in a March 19 letter he wrote with another doctor to the U.S. Congress. Local hospitals would be unable to provide ventilators to both detainees and local residents, the letter warned, causing people from both groups to "die unnecessarily."

Five detainees inside the South Louisiana center, which houses more than 670 men and women, said in interviews that the conditions inside the center dont allow them to protect themselves by, for instance, frequently washing their hands or maintaining social distance. They said they each only recently received a miniature bar of soap and have not been provided cleaning products.

Daimy Garcia, 28, an asylum seeker from Cuba, said more detainees have been recently transferred into her unit, making social distancing harder. She said her unit now holds more than 70 women from Cameroon, China, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Central America.

"This is a ticking time bomb," Garcia said.

Pablo Paez, a spokesman for Geo Group said such allegations were "unfounded" and "being instigated by outside groups with political agendas." He said all the company's facilities provide access to regular handwashing and 24/7 access to healthcare. He referred questions about local hospital resources to ICE.

HIDING SYMPTOMS, SHARING BATHROOMS

The Catahoula Correctional Center near Harrisonburg, Louisiana houses a daily average of 500 detainees - just outside a town of 330 residents.

Four detainees at the center told Reuters that some immigrants have hidden symptoms of illness to avoid being isolated in the same solitary confinement cells the center uses for punishment.

Alfonso Diaz, a 58-year-old asylum seeker from Cuba with heart problems, said he shares a dorm with 100 other men, all sleeping in three-tier bunk beds and sharing four toilets and six showers. He said guards do not wear protective gear and told the detainees to ignore news about the virus.

Scott Sutterfield, a spokesman for the private company LaSalle Corrections that runs Catahoula said that it has implemented a pandemic contingency plan at its facilities, which includes screening, testing, treatment and infection-control measures. Sutterfield did not respond to the specific concerns of the detainees interviewed by Reuters or answer questions about limited hospital capacity nearby.

The Catahoula facility is about 40 minutes away from River Correctional Center, another new ICE site housing detainees in Ferriday, Louisiana. The two locations average about 900 detainees combined.

The nearest hospital to both centers is the tiny Riverland Medical Center in Ferriday. The center has five intensive care beds but is only staffed for two critically ill patients.

Patients could also be sent to Merit Health Natchez, in nearby Mississippi, which had 15 intensive care beds as of last year, according to federal records. Natchez is also home to a facility that recently started housing 1,000 ICE detainees.

Blane Mire, a doctor at Merit Health, said on a March 26 call with town officials that his hospital was low on medicine and protective gear and full of coronavirus patients - three of them on ventilators. With hospitals in major urban centers also in need of supplies, he said, rural areas could be left behind. As Mire put it: "Natchez isn't going to be on the priority list."

(Reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York, Kristina Cooke in Los Angeles, Ryan McNeil in London; Additional reporting by Jonathan Bachman in Basile, Louisiana; Editing by Ross Colvin and Brian Thevenot)
Pritzker said Friday that he signed the order because the state has had to grant licensing waivers to people who are returning to the health care profession or who are in the final months of nursing or medical schools. Hospitals may be reluctant to hire these workers because they fear being sued if something goes wrong, a concern the governor said he wanted to eliminate because the state is going to need the extra help.
Four men were on Friday detained under the National Security Act(NSA) for the alleged attack on health workers in Indore even as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said this stringent act will be invoked against quarantined Tablighi Jamaat members accused of misbehaving with the nursing staff at a Ghaziabad hospital.

As sporadic attacks on doctors, social workers and police personnel come to light in the country's battle against the coronavirus outbreak, the UP authorities also said the NSA will be slapped on people who assault policemen enforcing the 21-day national lockdown which entered the 10th day on Friday.

Under the NSA, people can be detained without a charge for up to 12 months if the authorities are satisfied that the person is a threat to the national security or law and order.

President Ram Nath Kovind also voiced concern over the attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel.

The president was participating in a video-conference with Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of states/union territories.

"In the conference there was unanimity that there is no scope for laxity or complacency in fighting the invisible enemy. In this context, the president noted with concern the incidents of attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel in some parts of the country," according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Union Home Ministry asked the states and union territories to take strict action against those involved in the attacks.

The Bollywood fraternity also expressed its solidarity with the healthcare workers who were risking their lives on the front lines of the pandemic, and said the attacks on them were 'shameful and condemnable'.

The Indore district Administration invoked the NSA against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in the city.

A five-member team from the state health department had gone to Taatpatti Bakhal area on Wednesday to quarantine relatives and acquaintances of a COVID-19 patient, when an unruly mob attacked them with stones, injuring two women doctors.

The police arrested seven persons for the alleged attack on Thursday and the district administration has slapped the NSA on four of them, the official said.

The police on Friday detained six more men in connection with the incident.

Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined at the MMG district hospital in Ghaziabad allegedly misbehaved with nurses, making lewd remarks and dropping their pants, officials said.

Chief Minister Adityanath took a serious note of the incident, calling those involved 'enemies of humanity'.

'They will neither accept the law nor follow arrangements. Whatever they did with women health workers is a heinous crime. The NSA is being invoked against them. We will not let them go scot-free,' he said in a statement in Lucknow.

The six Jamaat members were later shifted to a temporary isolation ward set up at a private educational institute following complaints against them.

The Jamaat members were among the thousands who attended a religious congregation at the organisation's New Delhi headquarter, now emerging as a coronavirus hotspot.

Police said the Jamaat members were booked for allegedly indulging in ugly acts and passing lewd remarks against the women staff members at the hospital.

A case was registered against them at the GT Road Kotwali on receiving a complaint from the chief medical officer.

SSP Kalanidhi Naithani said stringent action will be initiated. In the complaint, a nurse alleged that the coronavirus suspects were roaming in the hospital without trousers.

The Jamaat members sang vulgar songs and made ugly gestures, the nurse alleged, adding that they were not taking their medicines.

They were also not following social distancing norms, she said in the complaint.

Police have registered the case under Sections 269, 270, 271, 294 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code, the SSP said. The sections relate to sexual harassment and acts relating to the spread of disease.

A senior UP Home Department official said NSA will be slapped on people who attack policeman enforcing the lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"The police is doing its duty by preventing people to come out during lockdown. There have been incidents in the state in which policemen were attacked by people. To deter such persons, it has been decided to invoke NSA against such persons," the official told PTI in Lucknow.

Five persons were arrested and a case registered against them and 10 others for allegedly attacking a police team that was trying to enforce lockdown restrictions at Morna village in Bhopa police station area in Muzaffarnagar, police said.

Two policemen, including the in-charge of the police outpost sub-inspector Lekhraj Singh were seriously injured in the attack that took place on Wednesday, it added.

In another incident in UP, two policemen were injured on Friday when they came under attack by some people, who were stopped from gathering for Namaz in a mosque in Kannauj district, an official said.

In Chattisgarh, a policeman was attacked by a group of villagers after he intercepted a man for violating the COVID-19 lockdown in Raigarh district, an official said.

Veteran actors Shabana Azmi, Hema Malini and Rishi Kapoor condemned the attack on medical professionals in Indore.

'Respect. Dr Trupti and Dr Raziya are true role models. And the behaviour of those who pelted them with stones is shameful and condemnable,' Azmi said on Twitter, referring to the two women doctors who were injured.

Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini said, 'In the midst of the entire country's appreciation of the sacrifices of doctors, health workers and paramedics comes the news of unwarranted attacks on them in Indore by ungrateful miscreants. How could a mob attack people who are risking their own lives to save ours? Sad! Shameful.'

Kapoor appealed to everyone to not resort to any kind of violence on the medical staff and police.

'An appeal to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please don't resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please,' Kapoor said.

Actor Shilpa Shetty said instead of attacking the medical professionals one must come together to help them in the fight against the pandemic.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh warned of 'very strict' action if police and health personnel are attacked during the lockdown.

Deshmukh said it is in the interest of the people to co-operate with the police and those from the healthcare system in tackling the COVID-19 crisis.

7 arrested for manhandling, threatening health workers

Seven people have been arrested in two different incidents for allegedly manhandling health workers conducting a coronavirus survey at a layout near Bangaluru and threatening one of them over phone at Mangaluru, police said.

While five people were arrested for allegedly manhandling health workers conducting the COVID-19 survey at a layout near Hegde Nagar here, two were arrested in Mangaluru for threatening a health worker over phone after she called up to enquire about the health of people from the Gulf who came here on vacation, police said.

Referring to the incident in Bengaluru, police said an FIR was registered against the attackers on a complaint by health inspector Muniraju and they were arrested late on Thursday night.

The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers along with health officials, were conducting a door-to-door survey in Sadiq Layout as part of an exercise to identify if any of those who returned to the state after attending the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Delhi had COVID-19 symptoms.

Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao warned miscreants attacking health workers.

'Instances of health workers being assaulted and also creating obstruction have been noted. A very stringent warning is issued that anyone who does or supports such acts, non bailable criminal cases will be registered against them and they will be sent to Jail.

'Doctors n Medical team have our full protection,' Rao tweeted.

A woman ASHA worker had alleged that announcement was made from the mosque after which people came out of their homes, abused and attacked them and snatched their bags, kits and mobile phones.

In Mangaluru, the woman health worker rang up a man on his mobile phone on Wednesday to enquire about the health of people from the Gulf who came there on vacation as part of a routine COVID-19 enquiry, police said.

The same evening, she got a call from two relatives of the man who hurled abuses at her and also reportedly issued death threat to her.

Based on the complaint from the ASHA worker, the two were arrested on Thursday night, police said.

The incidents prompted the Karnataka government to issue a stern warning on Thursday to the offenders, saying strong action would be taken against them.
A prominent body of journalists in Nepal has sought an independent investigation into the removal of a story published on a private portal about the alleged involvement of high profile persons in importing coronavirus related medical equipment from China at exorbitantly high price.

On Tuesday, the website kathmandupress.com, published the story alleging that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli's IT expert Asgar Ali and sons of Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokharel and the Prime Minister's chief political advisor Bishnu Rimal influenced the health ministry officials to purchase various medical equipment required to control the coronavirus crisis at a rate higher than the market price.

The story was deleted from the website the next day, and the site has claimed that Oli's aides influenced the editorial team to remove the content. After the team refused, they forced the site's developer and designer Shiran Technologies to remove the content. Shiran Technologies is a subsidiary of F1 Soft owned by Asgar Ali.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) said the incident is an attack on press freedom. "Such an act by any individual or authority is illegal," the FNJ said, adding "the government should be ready to punish any individual if they are involved in such an illegal act."



The government later cancelled the deal signed with Omni International to purchase medical supplies including protective mask and PPE dress required for the treatment of coronavirus infected patients.

Nepal Airlines on Sunday brought the first consignment of medical supplies from China and the remaining items were due to arrive in the first week of April.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  Over one million families in seven regions received billions worth of cash aid from the government on Friday, the Land Bank of the Philippines said.

The government-owned financial institution said 1.19 million families in Metro Manila, the Cordillera, Bangsamoro, Calabarzon, Ilocos, Cagayan, and Central Luzon received 6.05 billion worth of credits in their bank cash cards. This is part of the COVID-19 response.

Another 1.29 million beneficiaries in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula will get their share worth 5.26 billion on Saturday, while 1.23 million families in the rest of the regions will get 5.01 million on Sunday. The beneficiaries are part of the existing conditional cash transfer program.

The national government has allotted 200 billion in cash aid to about 18 million low-income households.

Families covered include the homeless, those with at least one member who is on a no-work-no pay situation, a senior citizen, a solo parent, a person with disability or a pregnant and lactating woman. They could avail of between 5,000 to 8,000 worth of cash aid a month for two months, according to a joint memorandum signed by seven Cabinet secretaries.

The joint memorandum, dated March 28, provides guidelines on the social amelioration measures including including basing the amount each household will get on the prevailing minimum wage per region. The subsidy program is in line with Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which gives President Rodrigo Duterte new powers to handle the current health crisis.

Cashless transfer of aid

Meanwhile, the Anti Red Tape Authority or ARTA earlier recommended that the transactions to and from beneficiaries be done through cashless means as this would reduce the risk of cash carrying the virus itself.

ARTA Director General Jeremiah B. Belgica, in an April 2 letter to Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista, said when possible its a good idea to use contactless payments.

Belgica acknowledged that not every Filipino has a bank account.

To address this, the DSWD could assist the beneficiaries in applying for bank accounts online, he said.

He added the online bank registration "removes many opportunities of abuse, fraud and politicizing" and gives them a database of target beneficiaries.

ARTA is the latest member of the IATF, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.

Duterte had earlier approved the recommendations of the IATF to restrict the movement of people, ordering most except for those rendering vital services to stay at home, in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19. The quarantine is scheduled to last until midnight of April 13.
Vice president Yemi Osinbajo has conceded that the country is currently ladened with economic woes that have never been recorded by any past government in the history of the country.

He made this known at the inaugural meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee set up by President Muhammdu Buhari on Monday to look into and foster solutions to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and crashing oil prices.

He said:

We must communicate to our people where we are now, and that we can no longer assume we are still where we used to be.

Read Also: BREAKING: Osun Records Six Fresh Cases Of Coronavirus

We are faced with a challenge that no government in the history of Nigeria has ever faced. So, we have to redesign our economic planning and change our thinking.
As we approach Easter, many people may start to wonder about some of the lesser considered facts of the life of Jesus. We wonder what he looked like, what clothes he wore, how tall he was, what food he ate. These are natural questions that we can have as we consider the humanity of Jesus, especially as we approach the day of his death.

One question arises very often because we want to know its value compared to our own life. How old was Jesus when he died? Was he young? Was he old? Was he in the prime of his life? Was he weakened by age and the cares of long life? It helps us to be able to identify in some way with Jesus at this moment. His humanity cries out to us from deaths door as we consider our own mortality.

Never forget the resurrection in these moments. It belongs to you as well. Scholars have long supposed that Jesus was approximately 33 years old when he was crucified.

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How Do We Determine Jesus Age?

There are no specific verses that tell us Jesus age when he died. What we do have are verses that tell us how old he was when he accomplished certain things, as well as the cultural expectations of his faith community regarding milestones in a persons life.

The ones to look out for that relate to his death are when he started his ministry and how long he was in ministry for up until he died. Prior to that we need to know when he was born. That has been estimated at the years four to zero BC. Luke 3:23 shows us that Jesus was about thirty when he started ministry (26-30 AD) and was in ministry for three years  placing Jesus death at 29-33 AD. Other important milestones in Jesus life would have been circumcision, Temple redemption, Bar-Mitzvah, and reaching majority age (20 years old).

What Were Some Milestones in Jesus Childhood?

Hebrews 4:15 describes something about Jesus that we must consider when attempting to determine his age. He was without sin. In the connotation of his Jewish upbringing, he was considered perfect according to the Law of Moses.

If he was perfect according to the Law of Moses, it means that the expectations of the community life governed by the Law were met satisfactorily. This means that we can track some of his life milestones if we look carefully and then build a loose timeline for his life. Here are the ones we have in the Scriptures:

Circumcision at 8 days old (Luke 2:21). This was required of all males in the Mosaic Law. Circumcision is the mark of Gods covenant with Abraham, it is a sign of the promise as well as the initiation of a male child into the life of the Jewish faith. Without ritual circumcision, a boy cannot be a part of this community of faith.

Temple presentation (Luke 2:22). This was done forty days after birth for the purification ritual. This had a number of purposes. First, it was the ritual that declared the child (Jesus) to be clean after coming into contact with his mothers blood in childbirth. This was also the ritual that declared the mother (Mary) to be ritually clean after the uncleanness created during childbirth. Because Jesus was the firstborn male, this was also the redemption ceremony. In this, his family purchased via sacrifice (redemption) the firstborn male because all firstborn male offspring (human or otherwise) are owed to the Temple.

Twelve years old, teaching in the Temple (Luke 2:41-51). This was one year prior to the Jewish age of Bar-Mitzvah (Son of the Commandment). When Jesus was still considered a child and while his father was still responsible for his moral actions, Jesus stands with the teachers in the Temple and instructs them. This is important because it shows that even before the society considered him responsible for himself or before he could be a part of the practices of faith, Jesus already possessed wisdom beyond the most learned of the Jewish faith.

Two years old when the Magi visited (Matthew 2:16). Another moment in Jesus life was not related to his religious/moral upbringing. The Gospel of Matthew gives us the information we need to determine other specific age facts on Jesus timeline. Because Herod figured out from his conversation when the Magi left on their journey, he sent his soldiers to kill any child under the age of two in Bethlehem. So, we know that when the Magi worshipped Jesus, he was two years old.

We can also deduce that Jesus family stayed in Bethlehem for the two years following his birth. While Jesus was born in a stable, it would be probable that the family had moved into other lodging.

Do We Know What Jesus Was Doing as a Young Adult?

While there are no scriptures that describe Jesus from the age of twelve until full adulthood, the Bible does give us a few hints as to what he was doing during that time. The verse found in Mark 6:3 is from people who are not describing Jesus in a positive light, but they did describe something that they knew about him.

These people are the ones that watched him grow up and they call him the carpenter. We also know from other verses that his father Joseph was a carpenter by trade, and it would have been the cultural expectation that Jesus would have learned his fathers vocation and carried on the family business.

Another thing to consider was that Jesus lived in proximity to where the Herods (Kings of Israel/Judea/Palestine) were conducting large building projects at that time. It would not be improbable that Jesus could have worked on some of these projects as a young man as they required a large amount of manpower to complete.

For a long time, many scholars have proposed that Jesus could have been a part of the Essene movement when he was a young man. Dr. Simon J. Joseph explains this more here. There have been many arguments about the validity of this idea and what it means for the Christian faith. The Bible does not specifically mention the Essenes by name anywhere.

That being said, there is a reason that some scholars have proposed this. Namely, the teachings of Jesus share some of the same concerns that the Essene community were tightly focused on in regard to the end of days and community life. They also had common enemies in the Pharisees, Sadducees, High Priest, Sanhedrin, and Roman occupiers. The fact that Jesus did not marry also adds force to the argument.

Along with this, Luke 22:7-13 leaves open great opportunity for speculation. In Jesus day, carrying water was considered a womans job. Jesus told the disciples to follow a man carrying water. If a household had slaves, the slaves could be tasked with this duty, but it normally fell to women. Only if there were no women in a household would men carry the water. Essenes were known to be present in Jerusalem at the time, according to this article from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they lived in houses segregated by gender. In the male houses, the men would have been getting their own water.

There is also the issue of what Jesus tells his disciples to say in this passage. He tells them to tell the owner of the house that The Teacher needs a space to celebrate the Passover in. In Essene life, the head of the community went by the title Teacher of Righteousness.

While we cannot say for sure that Jesus was part of the Essene community, it does appear that he was at least aware of the Jerusalem branch of the Essene sect, its practices, and its teachings.

How Old Was Jesus When He Began His Ministry?

Jesus would have entered into ministry when he reached the age of thirty. Luke 3:23 says that he was about age thirty when he began his ministry. In order for him to teach in the Temple area in Jerusalem, he would have had to have a pedigree that allowed it.

His mother, Mary was a cousin to Elizabeth, who was revealed to be a daughter of Aaron in Luke 1:5. This gives Jesus his ancestral credentials to perform in the teaching role that he occupied when he visited the Temple. Age wise, Numbers 4:3 provides the guidelines to the Jewish priesthood for when a man begins his full ministry: thirty years old.

The Gospel of Luke marks this entry into ministry with a series of events. He was baptized (Luke 3:21), tempted (Luke 4:1-12), practicing (Luke 4:14), and teaching in the synagogue (Luke 4:16-22). The significance of this series of milestones and events arises on a couple of levels.

First, it reveals to us that Jesus not only has lineage through King David to claim royal authority, he has lineage through Aaron to claim the High Priestly office. It gives us the spiritual reasons for the conflicts between Jesus and the temporal and spiritual authorities of his day. The second, and more germane for our topic, is that we have an age for Jesus when he started his ministry and from that point we know that he was in ministry for around three years. This places him at thirty-three years old when he died on the cross.

Now we can relate Jesus age to our own and we can compare him to his society and see if he was representative of the norm. Many sources relate that the average lifespan in Jesus day was thirty-five years old, which would make Jesus seem like an older man when he died. However, when you remove the huge statistical weighting of infant mortality, we can see that among people that reached the age of five, they had an average life-expectancy of 56 years (+/- 15.5 years), according to JP Griffin for the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

I would have to say that Jesus actually died young compared to his peers. He truly gave his life without considering how much of it he had left on the Earth. When he counted the cost, he thought that we were worth it.

What Does This Mean for Believers?

God calls many people into ministry. Some start from an early age and this has been the expected norm for a while, but things are changing. Over the last number of years, many people entering ministry are doing so as second, or third careers (including the author of this article). Jesus himself had been in a different career as a carpenter prior to entering ministry.

Dont let your age discourage you. Even if you are younger, remember that Jesus instructed the teachers in the Temple when he was twelve years old. If you feel the call of God to enter ministry, contact your pastor or another ministry leader to share your feelings with them. Spend a little time discerning and then follow Gods call. There is nothing more satisfying than living in what God has called you to do.

The primary thing that we should be considering when we examine Jesus age when he died, is the fact that he died. The main message shouted across the heavens is that God loved his creation so much, that he did not discard them as rubbish, but came and died in their place to pay their sin debt.

His age is relevant in that he was not a child and could make his own choices while here on Earth, he was not coerced. His death came as a result of his choice to do so. He also did not die a natural death. It was gruesome, violent, and terrible to behold. Such was the price he was willing to pay.

Jesus certainly could have lived longer, but chose to die as soon as all of Gods goals for his life with us were achieved. He was here long enough to show us how to live, how to die, and how to live again eternally.

Photo credit: Getty Images/mumemories

Larry White is the pastor of Ephesus Baptist Church near Sanford, NC
The balconies of an average street in Spain are currently providing an excellent cross-section of our society.

There are balconies that applaud every day, without fail, enthusiastic, starting even before the clock strikes eight.

There are balconies displaying children's crayon drawings of rainbows and recently learned handwriting, telling us that everything will be all right.

There are balconies that rarely open because their occupants are too busy working, just as they were before, but now from home.

Others don't open either - they've got enough problems inside that they don't want to share with the world.

And there are others who appear unaware of reality, happy in their own cloud cuckoo lands.

But there are also dark balconies, which show the worst of society. Balconies overflowing with envy (this nation's great vice), disrespectful and rude, judges with no law, who keep watch and convict on hearsay, who shout and hurl insults at anyone they believe is not complying with confinement regulations to the letter.

It breaks your heart to hear stories like that of a mother, who is scared to go out for a walk with her autistic children, even though this is permitted by law, for fear of being insulted. The same might happen to a doctor or a nurse out of uniform on their way to or from the hospital... or to a journalist colleague who is doing her job with no uniform to prove it. The balcony Stasi, ever vigilant like the classic curtain-twitching neighbour, shows no remorse and makes true the saying about the speck and the log, always looking out for others' wrongdoing, rather than doing right themselves.

If you're frustrated, which is only normal and logical under the current circumstances, take it out on the politicians when they appear on the television - that's what they're there for. But do us a favour - keep inside your own balconies and leave the other people's virus in peace.








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U.S. President Donald Trump is considering an " enforceable quarantine ". Such a sought quarantine could be a step toward U.S. military enforcement through American National Guards and a potential step toward martial law according to previous representations which have been made by former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura who had uncovered an alleged FEMA plot about ten years ago.





"Some people would like to see New York quarantined because its a hot spot  New York, New Jersey, maybe one or two other places, certain parts of Connecticut quarantined. Im thinking about that right now," Trump told reporters before leaving the White House for Joint Base Andrews.





"We might not have to do it but, theres a possibility that sometime today well do a quarantine  short term  two weeks for New York, probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut," he added.







New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., with more than 52,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to numbers released Saturday. New Jersey has more than 8,000 cases, and Connecticut has more than 1,200.







Trump suggested the quarantine would be travel based, meaning people inside the quarantine area couldn't travel to other places in the country.









"Under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S. Code  264), the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States and between states," CDC elaborates on its site.

In the U.S., The authority for carrying such functions has been delegated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).





"Under 42 Code of Federal Regulations parts 70 and 71, CDC is authorized to detain, medically examine, and release persons arriving into the United States and travelling between states who are suspected of carrying these communicable diseases," the CDC elaborates.
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An 86-year-old retired British doctor has fallen ill aboard one of the coronavirus-stricken cruise ships which were finally allowed to berth in Florida after being denied harbour from 14 countries.

Dr Partha Basu, and his wife Marian, 69, a former nurse, from Manchester, were travelling around South America on the MS Zandaam liner when passengers started getting sick.

The couple were transferred to its sister ship, the MS Rotterdam, but it too began reporting infections believed to be coronavirus.

Both ships were carrying more than 200 British tourists, and a repatriation mission has been launched to bring the stranded UK nationals home.

But Dr Basu's family is 'no longer hopeful' the octogenarian can make the trip across the Atlantic after he became sick.

Although the ex-GP is not believed to have been tested, it is feared he is infected with coronavirus after displaying symptoms.

His anxious daughter Tanya Basu revealed that her father had been carted off the Rotterdam in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, and taken to hospital, where he was in a stable condition but struggling to eat because of his diabetes.

Posting a picture of her parents on Facebook, she yesterday wrote: 'Today is my dad's 86th birthday. This is him, Dr Partha Basu, retired GP from Manchester and my mum, Marian, a retired nurse & health visitor for homeless families; currently on the Rotterdam.

'Unfortunately my dad has taken ill yesterday so we are no longer hopeful that they can come home soon but we are staying positive, one challenge at a time.

'They continue to tell us how amazing the crew are to keep going, how helpful the captain's updates are and now how kind the medical professionals are on board.'

Dr Partha Basu, from Manchester, was on the MS Rotterdam with his wife Marian, 69, a former nurse, when the deadly disease spread on the liner and its sister ship, the MS Zaandam

A critically-ill passenger is rushed off the MS Zaandam by hazmat-clad medical workers and placed in an ambulance at Port Everglades, Port Lauderdale, yesterday. The ship was allowed to dock after being turned away by 14 countries

The couple's other daughter, Sally Worthington, described her father's symptoms as similar to those suffered by Covid-19 victims.

She yesterday told the BBC: 'I spoke to mum today and she said dad is better but it could be flu, a chest infection or the virus - it looks as if they will take him straight to hospital from the boat.'

Dr Basu, who worked as a GP in the Newton Heath district of Manchester, and Mrs Basu were only scheduled to spend a week aboard the Zaandam in South America.

But when people aboard started falling ill with flu-like symptoms, alarm bells started ringing and the health passengers were transferred to the sister ship Rotterdam off Panama.

The ships were turned away by 14 countries, before reluctantly being allowed to dock off Florida, where the ill passengers were hurried off to hospital.

They were placed on stretchers and taken to ambulances waiting on the quayside by hazmat-clad medical staff.

Four passengers on the Zaandam died during the cruise, including 75-year-old British passenger John Carter.

His widow, 74, who is struggling to eat, has been quarantined on the ship in isolation. Two of those who died had tested positive for Covid-19.

As many as 13 tourists and one crew member have been taken to Broward Health Medical Centre with flu-like symptoms, reports Local10, while 45 passengers on the ship have been told to quarantine on board.

The ship was at first denied harbour but later allowed to dock alongside the Rotterdam on Thursday after President Donald Trump intervened.

There have been nine confirmed cases of coronavirus on the MS Zaandam and 250 passengers and crew have presented with flu-like symptoms. Those that are healthy were disembarked to the MS Rotterdam.

The 1,211 people on the ships who are healthy will be disembarked and driven to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport before they are flown home to San Francisco, London, Paris and other destinations.

Remaining 1,211 passengers on board that feel well will be disembarked over the next two to three days and taken to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport for flights to their home countries. As many as 311 are American citizens

MS Zaandam and its sister ship MS Rotterdam were allowed to dock at the port after 27 days at sea

A black SUV with Covid-19 Essential Service was also spotted on the quayside at Port Everglades

An unwell passenger is moved from the MS Zaandam to a waiting ambulance in Port Everglades yesterday

As many as 45 people have been asked to quarantine on board. An unwell passenger is shown above after being offloaded

A second unwell passenger is taken by ambulance for treatment. Four passengers have died on board - two tested positive for coronavirus, which has caused a global shutdown

An unwell passenger is taken off the MS Zaandam yesterday evening before being transported to a hospital

Luggage taken off the ship will also be disinfected before it is returned to travelers for their journey home

The hazmat-clad group were pictured preparing the suitcases for disinfection before their journey back to home countries

Deaths from coronavirus in the US have continued to escalate since the outbreak began

Mr Carter's family desperately pleaded with President Trump to allow his widow to disembark on Thursday.

'She is struggling to eat the limited meals and is feeling unwell,' they said. 'She is obviously distressed and extremely frightened.

'They were both in good health and did not foresee the terrible situation that has arisen. John became unwell aboard the ship on March 22.'

Florida authorities have said that British nationals, and those from other countries, can fly back home. The British embassy in Florida said on Twitter it is 'celebrating the fact that British nationals on board will soon be going home'.

Disembarkation of international passengers begins today with 1,164 scheduled to depart for flights to Toronto, Atlanta, San Francisco, Paris, Frankfurt and London, reports Business Insider.

The first American passengers, who are Florida residents and are healthy, were allowed to disembark and drive home yesterday.

The remaining passengers on board will be disembarked on Saturday, the cruise liner said. They will be health screened by port authorities and cleared for entry by US Customs and Border Protection.

No crew from either ship will disembark.

The MS Zaadam began its voyage in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 and was due to disembark in San Antonio, Chile on March 21. However, the coronavirus outbreak forced the ship to veer more than 4,000 miles off course.

The MS Rotterdam had set off for a 15-day cruise from San Diego, California, to the Panama Canal on March 11. It was forced to veer more than 1,000 miles off course to reach Florida.

An ambulance pictured next to the MS Rotterdam cruise ship at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, yesterday before disembarkation

A passenger is moved by stretcher into an ambulance. They are being taken to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment

An unwell passenger is pictured being loaded into an ambulance by health workers before transport to a nearby hospital

A passenger gives a thumbs up to others on board as they are moved to an ambulance. Nine passengers on the MS Zaandam had tested positive for coronavirus

British passenger John Carter, 75, died on board the MS Zaandam after falling ill on March 22. His widow, who has not been allowed to disembark, is said to not be eating properly. Her family have pleaded for her to be allowed to return to the UK

The decks of the MS Zaandam this morning. Healthy passengers have been moved to the MS Rotterdam, with 45 people asked to quarantine themselves on board

Two people on the MS Zaandam wearing facemasks look out from its decks yesterday morning

Crew members on board the MS Zaandam as it docked at Port Everglades yesterday morning

In a statement yesterday, Holland America extended their 'sincere gratitude' to President Trump, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for helping to resolve the situation.

'These travelers could have been any one of us or our families, unexpectedly caught in the middle of this unprecedented closure of global borders that happened in a matter of days and without warning,' said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America.

'We are so happy to be able to get our guests home and assist those few who need additional medical services. The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our shared humanity, and we must do everything we can to ensure we continue to act in ways consistent with our common human dignity.

Thursday's deal comes after Trump urged DeSantis to drop his opposition to accepting the ships. The Governor has expressed concern that ill passengers will take hospital beds away from Florida's inhabitants who catch COVID-19.

The state is thought to be one of the country's next coronavirus hot spots, with confirmed cases of the virus surging there in recent days. Florida now has reported over 8,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and on Wednesday the state's death toll surged 16 per cent.

The MS Zaandam was turned away from docking at all South American ports.

The Zaandam is pictured arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Thursday. The coronavirus-stricken ship is carrying 1,045 passengers and crew

Land at last! The Zaandam is pictured making its way to port shortly before 5pm Eastern Time Thursday

The cruise liner made its way into the Port of Everglades just before 5pm, much to the relief of those on board

The MS Rotterdam is pictured pulling in to port after sister ship Zaandam. The boat is pictured off the coast of Florida ahead of its arrival in the city. 1,381 people are on board the ship

Passengers from the Rotterdam cheer as they head to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale

Rotterdam's staff members look on as they head to dock at Port Everglades Thursday afternoon

Rescue workers stand by the Zaandam ready to help sick passengers and crew off the ship

Canadian passengers Chris and Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the Zaandam on March 27

Holland America has now suspended all cruise operations for the next thirty days, extending a previous suspension begun on March 13. It is also aiming to end all cruises currently in progress as quickly as possible.

There were 808 guests and 583 crew on the MS Rotterdam and 442 guests and 603 crew a board the MS Zaandam.

Guests booked on cruises affected by cancellations have been offered a full refund.

PRESIDENT TRUMP INTERVENES: 'THEY'RE DYING, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING'

During Wednesday's White House press conference, Trump said of the cruise ships' passengers: 'They're dying, so we have to do something'.

'It's a tough situation, it's a tough situation. You can understand there are people who are sick on those ships and states don't wanna take them - they have enough problems right now they don't want to take them.

One 80-year-old passenger from San Francisco says he is disheartened by the fact that the U.S. has not been more helpful in their rescue attempts. 'Jesus Christ, people, this is not the Black Death. What kind of fragile people have we [America] become that we can't rise up to the challenge?' he stated via text message.

'But from a humane standpoint we don't have a choice. We have to... people are dying. We're going to do something.'

More than 236,000 Americans have contracted COVID-19, and more than 5,100 have died due to the virus.

Governor DeSantis said Wednesday that he was only interested accepting the 49 Floridians on board.

'My concern is simply that we have worked so hard to make sure we have adequate hospital space in the event of a COVID-19 surge that we wouldn't want those valuable beds to be taken because of the cruise ship,' he stated.

'Just to drop people off at the place where we're having the highest number of cases right now just doesn't make a whole lot of sense,' the Governor added.

On Wednesday, DeSantis issued a 'stay-at-home' order for residents of his state amid the exploding case numbers. He has been criticized for implementing the order too late - with critics

However, his reversal comes amid increasing pressure - not just from the President, but from other Florida politicians as well.

'It is immoral not to let them come. We need a plan, a healthcare plan, obviously to protect the citizens on the ground and make sure that we test everyone, put them in isolation if necessary,' Florida Representative Donna Shalala told CNN Thursday.

'We have to admit them, the sickest ones need to go to our hospitals, and, of course, the hospitals are crowded but we Americans don't turn people away.'

On Saturday evening, the Rotterdam took on nearly 1,400 people who appear to be healthy from the Zaandam.

The passengers were seen boarding lifeboats at the side of the Zaandam, before making their way across to the Rotterdam which was anchored close by.

After the exercise, 450 guests and 602 crew members remained on the Zaandam.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that that he was only interested accepting the 49 Floridians on board the cruise ships

During Wednesday's White House press conference, Trump said of the cruise ships' passengers: 'They're dying, so we have to do something'

Florida is one of the nation's coronavirus hot spots with deaths surging 16% Wednesday. DeSantis says he wants to keep hospital beds for locals

On Saturday, passengers were seen boarding lifeboats at the side of the Zaandam, before making their way across to the Rotterdam which was anchored close by

PASSENGERS BEG THE GOVERNMENT FOR HELP: 'GET US THE HELL OFF THIS SHIP!'

Passengers have been complaining about deteriorating conditions on board the vessels - with some say they feel imprisoned.

One 80-year-old passenger from San Francisco told The New York Times that he was disheartened by the fact that the U.S. has not been more helpful in the rescue attempts.

'Jesus Christ, people, this is not the Black Death. What kind of fragile people have we become that we can't rise up to the challenge?' he stated via text message.

Passenger Chris Joiner told Canadian broadcaster CBC he had asked the Canadian embassy in Chile for help, saying: 'Get us the hell off this ship.'

Toronto resident Michael Kasprow said he's worried about his elderly mother and her friend, both in their 80s, who are stuck onboard. 'We've seen what it can do on a cruise ship, and I just feel like they're sitting ducks,' he said.

Another couple spoke of their fears that, even once they dock, they may be stranded away from home due to escalating travel restrictions and flight bans.

'How will we get home from a port with flights diminishing by the day?' said Norma Kirkham, 63, from Victoria, Canada. 'Where will we stay?'

Canadian passenger Anna Joiner is pictured in her cabin onboard the MS Zaandam last week. Many passengers have complained they are 'imprisoned' on the vessels, and their chances of contracting coronavirus are growing by the day

CRUISE SHIP CHAOS: THOUSANDS STILL STUCK AT SEA Last Thursday, more than a dozen crew members from two Costa cruise ships were brought to shore in Miami, before being rushed to the hospital to be tested for coronavirus. Startling footage saw more than a dozen crew from the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica jump into lifeboats in order to reach mainland United States. The crew members wore hazmat suits and were inspected by medics once they arrived on dry land, and several ambulances were on standby to escort them to hospital. A company spokesperson said the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica are carrying a combined total of 1,939 crew, and there are at least 30 who have come down with a flu-like illness. The remaining crew from the two boats are still trapped on the vessels, which are anchored outside of Miami, a week on. The decision to bring in sick crew members divided the Miami community - with many claiming that resources should instead be going to locals, and not to overseas nationals from cruise ship companies. The decision to bring in sick crew members divided the Miami community - with many claiming that resources should instead be going to locals, and not to overseas nationals from cruise ship companies More than a dozen crew members from two Costa cruise ships were brought to shore in Miami, before being rushed onward to hospital to be tested for coronavirus Still stuck: There are 1,926 crew members who remain on board the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica, which are both anchored off the coast of Miami for more than a week. They have not been allowed to dock in the city Advertisement

CRUISE SHIPS AND CORONAVIRUS: OUTBREAKS ON BOARD THE VESSELS

The Zaandam set sail on a two-week voyage from Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 - 10 days before the company canceled all voyages over fears of an outbreak - and was due to arrive in Chile on March 21.

The ship had been granted permission to dock in Punta Arenas in Chile but when it arrived on March 14, permission was refused and passengers were prevented from leaving.

It stopped in Valparaiso, Chile, to take on more provisions and fuel but people were ordered to stay on board.

Carnival Cruises, the world's largest cruise operator which also jointly owns the Zaandam and Rotterdam ships, has said more than 6,000 passengers are still stuck at sea on board its ships.

Including the 2,000-plus on board the Zaandam and Rotterdam, Carnival's Costa Magica and Costa Favolosa are also stranded at sea near Miami amid negotiations with the US Coast Guard to evacuate passengers.

States and nations have been turning away ships after cases of coronavirus were confirmed on board.

Cruise ships have become particular hotbeds for the virus, with a number of liners being doomed by fatal outbreaks.

In the worst cruise ship crisis so far, 706 people tested positive on the Diamond Princess after Japanese authorities imposed a two-week lockdown in Yokohama.

At least seven people have died after they were taken to hospital from the doomed vessel.

Passengers were confined to their cabins during the lockdown but several countries eventually lost patience with Japan and airlifted their citizens home.

Japan was widely criticised for its handling of the ship, with one disease expert saying the quarantine was 'completely inadequate' after viewing the conditions on board.

Japan had initially impounded the ship after a passenger who left the ship in Hong Kong in January subsequently tested positive.

Weeks later another Caribbean Princess ship was struck by an outbreak, when two passengers and 19 crew members on the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus in early March.

The ship docked in Oakland, California, on March 9 with 3,500 on board and people were repatriated and sent to army bases for quarantine.
I was coming home from the club on Wednesday, in the state in which one usually comes home from the club, taking my night tram home and appreciating how two months in, Prague still felt and looked like Disneyland. It was nearing 3 a.m.. As I turned off my light, I noticed my phone blowing up with texts asking me about the travel ban and telling me that I needed to go home. Someone from our program posted on Facebook telling us to book flights home, citing Trumps travel ban on Europe.

My roommate and I started panicking, called our moms, and eventually were calmed down enough to go to bed and deal with this in the morning. Just as we closed our eyes, someone knocked on our door. I cannot tell you how troubling it is to hear the sound of someone knocking on your door at 3 a.m.. At that moment, we knew it was serious. Our program had sent people to every student apartment in the dead of night to tell us we needed to go home.

The next day, my friends disappeared one by one; I counted myself lucky whenever I was able to actually hug them goodbye. Most memorably, my favorite kebab guy chased me down the street when he saw me pass by, asking me if I was going home like the rest of the Americans who regularly saw him. We shook hands and I thanked him. The next day, I woke up to my last morning in Prague: finally and all at once, it was time for me to leave.

Day One (3/13/20)

9 a.m. I stand in front of my apartment building, under the sign advertising erotic massages (if you read between the lines) and watch the taxi I ordered drive up and down my street before finally parking in front of me. I try to fit my massive suitcase in the trunk and the driver yells at me in Czech for mushing his interior. He unzips my panic-packed suitcase and empties half of its contents, mostly underwear and wet laundry, into the boot of his car so that the door can close. I get in the backseat and he takes off in what Ive learned is the fashion of Czech taxi drivers: pedal fully to the floor, hugging every corner like a long-lost relative.

10 a.m. We arrive at the Prague airport. I slap 400 crowns into the hand of the driver and he throws the contents of his trunk, and my suitcase, onto the ground. He drives away while I cra.m.my belongings back into my bag and blow a kiss goodbye to Prague. I pull up to the check-in desk and speak to a woman wearing her airline uniform over most of a hazmat suit. She tells me shes only spoken to American study abroad students suddenly returning home, and we crack a few jokes about my orange President. Despite our camaraderie, she still asks me to pay $80 for my heavy bag. I should have left my underwear in the taxi.

11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. I wander through the terminal, trying to find somewhere to spend the last of my Czech money. I eventually buy a latte so large the mug comes with two handles. I assume that approx. 50 percent of the people on my flight are other American students being forced out. About a third of the passengers never show up. I have the row to myself.

1:55 p.m. We land at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris and I embark on the tightest layover I have ever faced: 55 minutes to transfer terminals and make my flight to Dublin. I sprint to the shuttle and ignore shameful looks from the French. I feel my American self-righteousness bubbling up in an ugly way. The shuttle driver parks between terminals to scroll through Twitter. I am about to jump off and run to the terminal myself when the bus finally starts moving again. I am the last to board my flight, but I make it.

4 p.m. I have made it to Dublin, but as soon as I land I receive a text that my bags have not  they are stranded in Paris. I go to the airline desk and the agent says, Your bags arent lost, my love, theyre simply running late. His accent and gentle tone provide my first comfort of the day, and I leave the airport to try to find my friend (Avery Lewis 21) with whom I am staying for the night.

~ 4:30 p.m. A man masturbates at me while wearing overalls outside the airport.

4:45 p.m. I finally find my friend, and we board the bus to his apartment.

6 p.m. Avery packs his bags (hes also coming back to the U.S.) and we get dinner at an Irish pub and overhear only the American-accented voices of panicked students trying to go home, like us.

10 p.m. Bags packed, we go to bed. We foolishly say to ourselves, Tomorrow, well be home.

Day 2 (3/14/20)

8 a.m. The alarm wakes us up. We get ready and I rip the leg of the only pants I currently possess.

9 a.m. We roll down to the bus stop and make fun of ourselves for being 5 hours early to the airport.

9:30 a.m. We get to the airport. I go through customs backwards, which is apparently a thing that happens when your bags get delayed. My bags and I are reunited.

10 a.m. I try to get in the line to check in for my 2:30 p.m. flight to Minneapolis and an airline worker stops me  he asks where Im coming from and where Ive been recently, and then he says, Im sorry, but I cant let you go.

10:01 a.m. I think, CANT go?

10:02 a.m. I cant go? In my head, I think, He doesnt understand. I am AMERICAN. I HAVE to go.

10:03 a.m. He says, You cant go into Minneapolis. You have a choice, you can fly into New York or San Francisco. I ask if I can call my mom. He says yes.

10:04 a.m. I call my mom. She doesnt pick up, it is 3 a.m. for her. I weigh my options: On the one hand, I could go to San Francisco, which is far from home. On the other hand, I could go to New York, which is far from home. I ask the very kind man who is barring me from going home if hes SURE I cant fly into Minneapolis. He says that yes, hes sure, and no pressure but please hurry up because seats are filling fast.

10:06 a.m. My mother, bless her, calls me back. I tell her I think I am going to San Francisco and that I will see her when I see her.

10:07 a.m. An intervention! Avery Lewis, bound for Chicago, asks if I can go on the Chicago flight as well. The airline worker says the flight is full, but they can put me on standby. If I dont get off standby, theyll fly me to New York, where they assure me I will get stuck for maybe two weeks. At this point I have kind of stopped paying attention because the woman behind the desk takes my passport and starts typing on her keyboard.

10:10 a.m. Somehow, she has guaranteed me a seat on the flight to Chicago. I want to ask how, but I dont want to try my luck. Avery and I set off for security.

11 a.m. We get through Security Checkpoint #1, for all travelers, and try to find Security Checkpoint #2, for US-bound travelers. We stop for breakfast.

12 p.m. We arrive to Security Checkpoint #2. I say, Woah. Avery says, Shhh. The line snakes back and forth across the entire room. We investigate a little bit and understand that we are in the first of three overcrowded rooms that we have to get through before we can get to our gate. Our flight is scheduled for 4 p.m.

12:30 p.m. We have not moved. At all.

1 p.m. Weve taken four, maybe five steps.

1:15 p.m. They open more than one lane, so we start really moving. Everyone in line cheers.

2 p.m. We stand in line in Room #2.

3 p.m. We sit in line in Room #2.

3:30 p.m. Someone comes out and explains to us what is happening: because of Trumps travel ban, each traveler has to be individually reviewed and approved by the Center for Disease Control to return to the U.S. Thats what happens in Room #3, but that room can only hold around 10 people at once, so thats why were stuck. He assures us that our airlines know about the situation, and that all flights are probably delayed. I feel a little more comfortable.

4 p.m. We stand in line in Room #2.

5 p.m. We stand at the front of the line of Room #2. The customs officer finally calls me forward and ushers me into Room #3.

5:30 p.m. We stand in line in Room #3.

5:40 p.m. My case is called. A woman from the CDC asks me if I have been around anyone with a cough recently. I think, Really? and say no. She tells me to sit back down.

6 p.m. I am given my passport back and told I am free to go. I look at Avery, still waiting, and promise him that I will see him on the other side. We shake hands and part ways. I exit Room #3 and immediately hear, This is the last call for flight blahblahblah to Chicago. Thats my flight!

6:10 p.m. I am sprinting, sprinting to my gate, conveniently located all the way at the end of the terminal. It comes into my eyeline and I scream at the gate agent, I AM ON THE FLIGHT TO CHICAGO!! DO NOT LEAVE, I AM GOING TO CHICAGO!! I pant up to her and scan my boarding pass. I tell her that she MUST wait for Avery Lewis. She says nothing.

6:15 p.m. I board the plane, still panting, telling every Aer Lingus worker I see that they have to wait for Avery. They give me pitiful looks and ask me why I am freaking out, the plane will not leave for at least another hour. I wonder why the hell they are announcing final call but say nothing. I sit down.

6:40 p.m. Avery makes it onto the flight.

7:45 p.m. The pilot announces that although we are still missing 45 people, we must take off by 8 p.m. in order to keep the airline staff on their schedule. The airplane feels tense.

8 p.m. We take off. Im not sure how many people got left behind. I see Dublin, and Europe, shrink as the airplane rises. It feels complicated.

2 a.m. (Central Daylight Time)I land in Chicago. Avery and I part ways for good. I take the shuttle to a hotel and change my clothes for the first time since I left Prague. It is 9 a.m. in Prague, and I am starving and not sleepy but can do nothing, so I shower instead.

Day Three (3/15/20)

7:30 a.m. I wake up, laying on the bed horizontally instead of vertically, dumbfounded to how I got there. I remember everything thats happened and try to rally for the day.

9 a.m. I have a 1 p.m. flight to Minneapolis but based on my previous two days of travel I do not want to take any chances, so I head back to OHare.

10 a.m. In line ahead of me at security, six frat boys who have apparently never flown before attempt to split a bottle of vodka they tried to bring on the plane.

10:30 a.m. I am through security. Usually, I would think that I have made it to the home stretch, but every time I had thought that previously on this journey something has proven me wrong. I stay on my toes and obliterate a burrito bowl.

12 p.m. I make it to my gate and calculate how long I have been traveling: just under 60 hours.

1 p.m. I leave Chicago. The flight is too short to offer snacks.

3 p.m. I land in Minneapolis. My mom tries to hug me without touching me, because I almost definitely have been exposed to the virus. I sit in the front seat of the car, and we head home.
Making sacrifices during the Lenten season has taken on new meaning in recent weeks for Christians anxious to observe upcoming Holy Week and Easter celebrations, which for many are the most important faith events of the year.

Meanwhile, faith institutions everywhere are quickly establishing new routines and practices, many of them involving online services and virtual gatherings, all prompted by social distancing restrictions and other rules put in place to slow the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Christian church and the Jewish synagogue, the restrictions and disruptions come at one of the most meaningful times on the faith calendar, when traditions and rituals run deep. At Sun Prairie United Methodist Church in Sun Prairie, Holy Week typically includes a gathering on Maundy Thursday for worship, Communion and the draping of the altar in black, the Rev. Jenny Arneson said.

Then on Good Friday the congregation gathers for a service of darkness called Tenebrae, which is Latin for darkness, featuring scriptures and readings of the last words of Christ on the cross as candles are extinguished. After the Good Friday service, the Paschal candle, also called the Christ candle, is the last one to be removed from the sanctuary.

On Easter, the Paschal candle is lighted from the first fire at the churchs sunrise service and ushered back into the sanctuary as the first light of Easter.

This year, however, all of that has become a video affair.

Due to restrictions on large gatherings to tamp down the spread of COVID-19, worshipers this Easter season are not allowed to come together at the church but will be limited to viewing the services online through the church website.

Local faith community forges ahead into livestream world Madison-area religious centers and their leaders have been following social distancing recommendations since Gov. Tony Evers declared a public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12.

On Ash Wednesday and during Lent, we talk a lot about fasting as one of the spiritual disciplines or practices of Lent, Arneson said. We have talked about fasting being more than just abstaining from food or giving up certain foods for a period of time. We talk about fasting from other everyday things that can draw us closer to God.

Now as the situation with the spread of COVID-19 becomes more restrictive, we are even more aware of the amount of fasting or giving up we are being asked to do, Arneson said. Most of us had not planned on giving up this much for Lent.

For now, Sun Prairie United Methodist has closed its building to the public. A small group will record the worship services for online viewing, while following the 6-foot physical distance protocol. Arneson said the church is holding staff meetings, small groups and Sunday school classes through Zoom, Facebook, and other social media. For those without computer access, they keep in touch through phone calls, cards and letters, with many of the children and youth matched up as pen pals with seniors.

A digital Seder

For the Jewish community, Passover begins the evening of April 8 and ends the evening of April 16. Passover Seder at Temple Beth El on Arbor Drive in Madison normally includes a gathering and a full meal, but this year the Seder will be entirely online on April 9. Rabbi Jonathan Biatch is taking social distancing seriously but is also adding a bit of humor to the situation.

We have a short series of live cooking demonstrations, as Passover cooking is a favorite pastime of ours, which we call Jewish Quarantine Kitchen, Passover Edition where we will feature special dishes leading up to Passover, Biatch said.

For Biatch and other faith leaders, the lack of in-person contact with those in need is among the biggest challenges.

We clergy are not permitted to visit our ailing congregants in the hospital; this is a reality that was transmitted pretty early to us, Biatch said. Further, we would be ill-advised to visit the sick in their homes: theyd likely be immune-compromised, and we might be bringing unwanted germs into their homes at a time when they are most vulnerable. So much of my work with congregants is by phone or online.

And this is good advice for us all, Biatch said. Since we cant be physically present, let us be emotionally and spiritually present for all who need us.

Dispensation from Mass

On March 13, Madison Catholic Bishop Donald J. Hying said Catholics in the Madison Diocese have dispensation from attending Mass during the COVID-19 crisis.

Shortly afterward, in an open letter published on the dioceses website, Hying said the public celebration of Masses in the diocese, including both Sunday and weekday Masses at all parish churches, oratories, and chapels, would be suspended. Churches may be open for private prayer and confession, Hying said.

The Rev. Brian Wilk said St. Bernard Catholic Church in Middleton is available for private prayers on all the days that it is not celebrating Mass. With seating for 600, there is ample room to spread out to keep within social distancing guidelines, he said.

At Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie, Rev. Tim Hansen pointed out that an Easter celebration delayed does not mean Easter denied, pointing toward a later marking of the holiday when it is safe again to gather together.

Easter can be celebrated any Sunday, but to be sure, we will certainly want to gather together when this is done to be reminded of a God who breaks boundaries and brings love, Hansen said.

Photos: A look at how COVID-19 is affecting Wisconsin

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Bank of Ghana has changed its mind about allowing only staff and VIPs who get infected with coronavirus to be treated at its hospital.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

The Central Bank says as part of measures put in place to help fight the deadly coronavirus, the Bank of Ghana Hospital will be available for the benefit of all Ghanaians during this period.

BoG hospital, Source: UGC

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: COVID-19: 49 people discharged for home treatment

In a release sighted by YEN.com.gh, Bank of Ghana said they will make the facility available for everyone who contracts the coronavirus.

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu at a press briefing earlier in the day indicated that the bank had made available two floors of its hospital to host 20 beds for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Video of social distance fufu pounding hits the internet

Kwaku Agyeman Manu said because the Ministry of Health did not have jurisdiction over the facility, it agreed with the Bank of Ghana to treat only the Central Banks staff and some VIPs.

READ ALSO: 10 beautiful photos of lady who survived coronavirus drop; shares experience

The development sparked public debate with many bashing the Central Bank for opening up the facility for only a select group of people in the Ghanaian society.

But the Bank of Ghana in a statement said the facility will be opened for use by any COVID-19 patient.

The Bank further assured the public of its support as the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Jackie Appiah donates Veronica buckets, wipes, rice, others to market women

YEN..com.gh earlier reported that the Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu had stated that 49 patients out of 195 in Ghana had been discharged.

They are said to be responding to treatment and will continue the next stage of treatment from home as they are on their way to fully recover.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Information, the Health Minister said these 49 people will be closely monitored to ensure that they recover fully.

Currently, the total number of confirmed cases in Ghana stands at a total number of 195.

This brave man is risking his life to educate Ghanaians about the spread of Coronavirus | #Yencomgh

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Source: YEN.com.gh
Local News, Business & Finance, Health & Wellness, Press Releases

By Chris Boyle Published: April 03 2020

This article will attempt to explain recent changes to the law and what your rights are as an employee in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

With the coronavirus outbreak currently sweeping the nation, many workers and businesses have been dealing with uncertainty and fears in a landscape that is already been made frightening enough by the ongoing pandemic nipping at our collective heels, and this can be made all the worse if they do not have an understanding of the new laws currently in place that pertain to paid leave and COVID-19. This article will attempt to explain recent changes to the law and what your rights are as an employee in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

In March of 2020, President Donald Trump signed the First Coronavirus Response Act, a Congressional bill aimed at small businesses with 500 or less employees that provides emergency leave and sick leave. As per the U.S. Congress website, the bill provides for the following:

Emergency family medical leave time for any worker who has worked for the employer for at least 30 days. Included is up to 12 weeks of emergency family medical leave. This leave can also be used if the employee must take off to care for a child whose school or day care has been closed, or if their caregiver is unavailable. The first 10 days of leave are unpaid, but beyond that an employee must be paid at least two-thirds their normal pay rate  no greater than $200 a day or $10,000 in total  for the remainder of the time, up to 12 weeks. Employees can utilize already accrued paid time off to cover the first 10 days if they wish.

Emergency paid sick leave for all workers regardless of when they began working for the employer. Full-time workers receive 80 hours  the equivalent of two work weeks  of paid time off by their employer. Part-time workers must receive pay in the amount that approximates the normal amount of money they would have been paid in an average two-week span of time. Exceptions to this rule include workers who have been quarantined by an official source (federal, state, or local official or medical professionals) due to coronavirus symptoms, seeking a medical diagnosis regarding Coronavirus symptoms, caring for a child whose school or day care has been closed (or if their caregiver is unavailable), or if they are caring for a friend or relative suffering from a potential case of coronavirus.

Companies with less than 50 employees may be able to avoid compliance with this law if they submit a waiver explaining how adherence would have a detrimental impact upon their viability as a business.

In addition to the federal bill signed by President Trump, New York State has also passed a series of laws addressing numerous aspects of employment that stand to be impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. These new laws provide the following protections to workers in the state:

Immediate paid sick leave for New Yorkers impacted by the coronavirus. There are several tiers governing this law. Employers with 10 or less workers and less than $1 million in annual revenue must provide five days of paid sick leave as well as temporary disability benefits and paid family leave to workers. Employers with 11 to 99 employees, workers are eligible for five days of paid leave, after which they may qualify for either paid family leave or temporary disability benefits. For employers with 100 or more workers, workers are eligible for 14 days of paid sick leave, which may be used even in the case of quarantine ordered by law. Workers that are showing coronavirus symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed do not qualify.

State paid sick leave. Employers with less than four workers and $1 million in net income must offer at least 40 hours of unpaid sick leave. For employers with five to 99 workers, workers are eligible for at least 40 hours of paid sick leave. For employers with 100 or more workers, workers are eligible for at least 56 hours of paid sick leave.
In December of 1943 Anthony Tony Procassini was a few credit hours short of graduating from the University of Michigan when he walked into a recruiting station and volunteered to serve.

Initially hoping to join the Coast Guard to stay close to Michigan, Procassini was told that his options were either the Navy or the Marine Corps  Procassini chose the Marines.

As a mortar crewman assigned to the 1st Marine Division, Procassini was shipped to the rest area island of Pavuvu in the lead up to the invasion of Peleliu. Pavuvu wasnt paradise found, according to Procassini.

I thought, what a hell hole, he told HistoryNet.

Procassini was among the first to land at Peleliu on September 15, 1944, under the overall command of legendary Col. Lewis Chesty Puller.

We thought it would be over in five or six days, Procassini said. We were there for several weeks before being relievedIt was a tough invasion. Tough fight. They fought us from the time we were on the beach until we crossed the island.

On Peleliu, the 1st Marine Division suffered a 56 percent casualty rate, but miraculously Procassini emerged unscathed.

When we got back to Pavuvu I thought, oh, what a beautiful island,  Procassini quipped.

Reoutfitted, the 1st Marine Division prepared for their next battle  Okinawa. The island was deemed crucial by American planners in order to sever the last southwest supply line to mainland Japan. The island would also be a key base for American medium bombers in the event of an invasion.

On April 1, 1945, Procassini was part of the first wave of 60,000 Marines and soldiers of the U.S. Tenth Army to land on the island.

The Marines and infantrymen faced little to no resistance upon landing, a fact that was eerie for the veterans of Peleliu.

An entrenched enemy  155,000 strong  operating out of a labyrinthian network of caves and tunnels, awaited them.

When we got in, we faced very sporadic resistance  the first day, the second day. And then after that we began hearing that the Army units were having trouble, said Procassini.

The initial job of the 1st Marine Division was to secure the central region of the island, while the 6th Marine Division secured the north and the Army secured the south.

We were assigned to go and relieve the units down there. Thats what we did, he recalled. When we got down there, the situation was hot. We stayed there until they said it was secure, although it probably wasnt very secure.

Despite the grisly conditions, Procassini and his fellow Marines still found humor in the misery  we would sleep in the caves and in the morning you would come out and, pardon the expression, youd dropped your drawers. Fleas would just jump out by the thousands. You had to laugh, he recalled.

The brutal campaign would last 82 days, but for Procassini, his fight would end on May 14.

We were on a ridge  I dont remember the exact ridge  and the enemy opened up with a bombardment of artillery fire, Procassini told Michigan Today. A shell landed close by and exploded, resulting in a blast concussion. I had no idea how long I was out.

Sent to a field hospital, Procassini would return to the front lines on June 1, but by the time he fully recovered, the battle at large was over.

Following the Japanese surrender, Procassini was promoted to corporal and stationed in China for six months  despite having enough points to go home.

Returning stateside on January 1, 1946, Procassini was honorably discharged a month and a half later.

He would go on to finish his bachelors degree in psychology at the U of M and raise ten children with his wife, Marguerite Dawn Trombley.

For Procassini, his service was not about medals or awards. It wasnt until 2018, after being questioned by his granddaughter as to whether he received a Purple Heart, something every wounded combat veteran is entitled to, that he and his family began to look into it.

[The Purple Heart] is one of those things I never thought about very much, Procassini told Michigan Today.

But it meant something to his family, and after getting the run around by the National Records Center, Procassini took his case directly to General Robert Neller, then-Commandant of the Marine Corps, in April 2019.

Neller expedited the process and, 74 years after Okinawa, on July 12, 2019, Lt. Col. John Gianopoulos, of the 24th Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion, awarded 98-year-old Procassini with the Purple Heart.

There are not a lot of Americans who have smelled the taint of blood, whether it is their own or the enemies, and have smelled the Cordite, the sweat and the fear of battle, U.S. Marine Sgt. Major Adam Ruiz said during the medal presentation. Id like to say thank you to those veterans who know that.
By Dustin Gardiner San Francisco Chronicle

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will reduce the time gay and bisexual men must be celibate in order to donate blood or plasma, a change that comes amid a national blood shortage brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

FDA officials said Thursday that gay and bisexual men will be eligible to donate if they have not had sex with another man for three months. The change takes effect immediately.

Under the agencys previous rules, male donors had to defer giving blood or plasma for a year after having sex with another man. In 2015, the agency lifted on outright ban on donations from gay and bisexual men.

Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data, the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply, the agency said in a statement.

Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups had already been pushing the agency to lift what they call a homophobic vestige of the AIDS crisis. Those calls have amplified amid the coronavirus outbreak.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said that while the FDAs new three-month celibacy requirement is an improvement from the one-year ban, the policy is still irrational and discriminatory.

My blood could save someones life, Wiener told The Chronicle. The FDA is stuck in 1985. The FDA is not looking at the actual science and knowledge we have about HIV.

Wiener will host a #GiveForAGay blood drive on Tuesday, asking eligible donors to make an appointment to give on behalf of their gay friends. San Francisco Mayor London Breed has volunteered to donate on Wieners behalf.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said the change would add tens of thousands of eligible donors.

Marks said the new policy will remain in effect after the pandemic, and that the FDA will evaluate whether to eliminate the ban entirely. He said the agency is studying whether it could replace the ban with an HIV risk assessment based on a questionnaire for potential donors.

This is not the final resting place, Marks said. But we do need a little bit more science to get there.

The FDA said its policy change comes as the coronavirus poses unprecedented challenges to the U.S. blood supply because social distancing measures and canceled blood drives have reduced donations needed to treat a host of conditions unrelated to the virus. Eligible donors can still give blood and plasma through the Red Cross by scheduling an appointment. Blood banks have imposed extra sanitation and staff-screening measures.

Wiener said the FDAs revised policy for gay and bisexual donors still reinforces fact-free discrimination, noting that sexually active heterosexuals are not subject to celibacy requirements. He pointed out that all blood donations are screened for HIV, and fragments of the virus can be detected in blood within 10 to 14 days of infection.

Why treat gay and bi men differently than straight people? Wiener asked.

Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California, the LGBTQ advocacy group, said the FDAs change is a step forward but does not go far enough. Zbur said the policy has prevented many gay and bisexual men from helping family members in need of blood. About three years ago, his sister needed a transfusion for surgery, but Zbur said he wasnt allowed to donate even though they share a rare blood type.

Theres no real reason why I couldnt give blood, he said, adding that the celibacy rule is based purely on fear and discrimination.

The FDAs new policy also reduces the waiting period from one year to three months for two other groups: women who have had sex with a man who has had sex with another man, and people who have gotten a tattoo or body piercing.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 06:54:02|Editor: ZD

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WASHINGTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Navy on Thursday relieved Captain Brett Crozier of his duty on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, after the captain pleaded help with containing a coronavirus outbreak on board the ship.

"Today at my direction the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Captain Brett Crozier, was relieved of command by carrier strike group commander Rear Admiral Stewart Baker," Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said during a press briefing at the Department of Defense.

Crozier sent an internal letter to the Navy's Pacific Fleet earlier this week reporting to officials about an outbreak of COVID-19 on board the Roosevelt, and requested the Pentagon to provide additional resources for sailors under his command who he believed needed to be quarantined - particularly those infected.

"This will require a political solution but it is the right thing to do," Crozier wrote in the letter first obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. "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."

Modly told reporters that Crozier's removal was not related to whether he leaked the internal memo, but because he allowed "the complexity of his challenge with the COVID breakout on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally when acting professionally was what was needed the most at the time."

"I have no information nor am I trying to suggest that he leaked the information. It was published in the San Francisco Chronicle. It all came as a big surprise to all of us that it was in the paper and that's the first time I had seen it," Modly said.

"What I will say, he sent it out pretty broadly and in sending it out broadly he did not take care to ensure that it couldn't be leaked and that's part of his responsibility in my opinion," he added.

Carrying roughly 5,000 sailors and now docking in Guam, the Roosevelt had 93 positive test results for COVID-19 as of Wednesday, more than 1,000 people had left the ship, and a total of 2,700 people are expected to disembark the ship. The remainder of the crew will stay on board to maintain the ship's operation.

Nearly 1,300 people aboard the ship have been tested, Modly said Wednesday at a news briefing, adding some results are still pending.

Navy officials initially believed a port call in Da Nang, Vietnam, between late February and early March might be related to the spread of the coronavirus among the crew members, but Navy Admiral Michael Gilday downplayed that hypothesis Wednesday at the briefing.

"We don't have any forensics to indicate" that the stop in Da Nang caused the virus' spread on the ship, Gilday said. All of the crew were tested for symptoms before returning to the ship, he added.

"Understanding who patient zero is is probably going to be an impossible task," the admiral said, citing the reason that sailors leave and board the ship frequently during its deployments.
There was no social distancing inside the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which briefly pulsated with a throng of admirers for their commander, relieved of duty by the Navy on Thursday for his outspoken plea for help with the coronavirus outbreak onboard.

Thundering chants of "Captain Crozier!" from hundreds of sailors filled the aircraft carrier's hangar deck, according to multiple videos on social media, showing the last moments with their commanding officer, Navy Capt. Brett Crozier.

Crozier showed "poor judgment" by sending the letter by email to 20 or 30 people, acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly said, and he implied that Crozier leaked it to the San Francisco Chronicle, although he later backed away from that suggestion.

The view from his crew was considerably different, according to the videos that captured the moment he departed the ship, which is now docked in Guam.

"Now that's how you send off one of the greatest captains you ever had . . . the GOAT," a person says in one video, using the acronym for greatest of all time. "Man for the people."

The bond between ship commanders and crew is distinct from every other military command, fused at the "elemental level" in an understanding of the unique power and responsibility a skipper wields, said Bryan McGrath, a former commander of a Navy destroyer.

So the emotional outpouring was not unprecedented, McGrath said Friday, and Crozier is not the first commander who has received such a send-off. But the feelings were obvious, he said.

"It speaks volumes," McGrath said of the videos. "They're grateful to him for looking out for them, which is one of the jobs of the commanding officer of a Navy ship. It's clear they have great affection for him."

McGrath, now a defense consultant, counts the Navy as one of his clients.

The Roosevelt's climbing infection rate, which rose past 100 as of Thursday, became the military's biggest outbreak and a flash point in the Pentagon's uneven coronavirus response.

As infections mounted, Crozier wrote a letter to senior leaders, asking that most of his crew of 4,800 sailors be removed for testing, quarantining and disinfecting the ship.

U.S. aircraft carriers, floating cities powered by nuclear reactors, are symbols of the nation's global projection. The Navy has 11 active carriers in its inventory.

The consequences of taking one offline -- especially a ship assigned to patrol the Pacific as a check China's military power -- is enormous, but Crozier described it necessary to protect the health of his crew.

"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 in his letter first obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The ship docked in Guam, but Crozier's letter rattled senior leaders.

"I could reach no other conclusion than that Capt. Crozier had allowed the complexity of his challenge with the covid breakout on his ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally, when acting professionally was what was needed most at the time," Modly said at a news conference Thursday.

It is not yet clear what steps Crozier took to raise concerns with senior leaders before sending the letter. Rear Adm. Stuart Baker, his immediate boss and commander of the carrier's strike group, was embarked on the ship with Crozier and was not aware of the letter until he received it, Modly said.

McGrath said it was apparent both Crozier and Navy leaders believed they were doing the right thing by their respective actions.

Crozier "believed he needed to raise the alarm on the conditions on his ship, and no one was in a better position to assess those conditions than he was," he said.

The Navy wants commanders to advocate for the health and safety of their sailors, "but they want people to understand there's a way of going about that," he said, and Crozier's message straying outside the chain of command appeared to be a bridge too far.

That adherence to the chain of command, and confidence in the decisions of commanders, is what the Navy ultimately relies on to run.

"I think both sides have a piece of right here," McGrath said. "Crozier made his stand. When he wrote that letter, he almost certainly knew it may end up like this."

About 1,000 sailors must remain on the ship at all times to operate weapons, the nuclear reactors and other sensitive equipment. Some 2,700 will leave to be tested and quarantined within days, the Navy said.

In one of the videos, Crozier stands a few feet away from his crew, awash in applause as a vehicle waits to take him away. He waves and salutes, then turns to walk up the gangway alone.

- - -

The Washington Post's Missy Ryan, Dan Lamothe and Paul Sonne contributed to this report.
Google shared an amazing doodle earlier today which had safety tips to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak with an animated illustration.

Over 10 Lakh people have come in contact with novel coronavirus all around the world and over 52,000 of them have died of this deadly illness.

Google

In order to limit the spread of the disease, various countries have imposed lockdown which includes India too. PM Narendra Modi announced a 21 day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease.

Most of the people are now known to the fact that social distancing and staying at home are advised by the government to curb the spread.

Todays Google Doodle features animated letters as characters and shows every alphabet doing some activities at home specifically. For example, one enjoyed reading and the other playing guitar. Workout and catching up with friends and family through telephonic conversation are listed on the quarantine activity list.

Representative Image: Google

If you click on the Google Doodle it will redirect you to a page that has coronavirus tips and states, stay home.



Help stop coronavirus, the google doodle said and the listed tips to stop the spreading of COVID-19.

The points by Google Doodle are:

Stay home

Keep a safe distance

Wash hands often

Cover your cough

Sick? Call the helpline

Google Doodle explained further the tips:

Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water, alcohol based hand rub.

Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze.

Avoid close contact and maintain the distance of at least (1 meter or 3 feet).

Stay home and self-isolate from others at home if you feel unwell.

Dont touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not washed properly.

Apart from the safety tips, Google Doodle also posted statistics of the number of confirmed cases in countries across the world, number of recovered patients and death toll.




April 3 (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Friday recommended Gilead Sciences Inc's investigational antiviral drug remdesivir should be used for treating COVID-19 in compassionate use programmes.

Compassionate use is the use of an unauthorised medicine outside a clinical study in individual patients under strictly-controlled conditions.

The EMA said https://bit.ly/2xPfFww remdesivir has been shown to be active against the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in laboratory studies, but added there were limited data on its effectiveness.

Remdesivir, which previously failed as an Ebola treatment, has been described by U.S. President Donald Trump and other health officials as one of the more promising candidates to fight the coronavirus.

"The CHMP (EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use) encourages the company to make remdesivir available in a fair and transparent way to those member States wishing to take part in international clinical trials or treat patients in compassionate use programmes," EMA said.

In late March, Gilead asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to rescind a controversial orphan drug designation the agency had granted for remdesivir. (Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Ramakrishnan M.)
Bhopal, April 3 : Harassed by unsolicited calls on his mobile phone for the past four-five days, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said on Friday that he had complained to police and also switched off his cell phone.

"These phone calls were disturbing me for the last four-five days. I also complained to the state DGP and to the service provider, but with no results. So, I switched it off. However, I am available on my landline number in Bhopal due to the lockdown," the senior Congress leader tweeted.

Sources said that the callers had used unparliamentary language for the senior Congress leader.

Efforts to contact Singh for comments on the issue were not successful.
Growing up, I struggled to call myself a feminist. In theory, feminism was supposed to be for all women, but in practice, it seemed to be only for white, upper-middle-class women seeking to break the glass ceiling and integrate into the capitalism of their male counterparts.

As a Pakistani girl growing up in the US after 9/11, I confronted the misogyny of both the wider white world, as well as the gendered norms enforced by my culture.

Feminism became a battle cry, not just to end the racialised sexism that I, and so many other women of colour faced, but also against jingoistic policy that expanded US military influence in Muslim countries. The idea that veiled and oppressed Muslim women  a symbol propagated by the US media at the time  could be saved only by the increased deployment of troops in the region  even when women are among the most numerous victims of war.

Much has changed since the white-dominated feminist activism of the early 2000s.

The impact of movements like #BlackLivesMatter and Standing Rock, followed by Trumps Muslim entry ban, crackdown on immigrants, and anti-LBGTQ policy, have all helped to establish the need for a movement led by women of colour and other groups which have historically been pushed out of the traditional fold of womanhood, such as transgender women, lesbians, sex workers and Muslim and/or black women.

The coronavirus health crisis and the everyday precariousness that young people face, whether the looming threat of climate change, gun violence or unemployment, has spurred the urgency of a movement that does not just break glass ceilings, but collectivises empowerment and agency for all women.

Today, two movements exist for women who choose to organise against sexism in the world.

One is the more bourgeois womens movement, which opposes the sexism of conservatives, such as Donald Trumps misogynistic statements or anti-abortion legislation, and calls for liberal reforms such as equal pay or proper electoral representation for women, rather than a systemic restructuring of society and an end to capitalism, racism and imperialism.

The other is the movement for women who constitute what grassroots movements term the 99 percent, which mobilises workers, recognises the relationship between gendered labour and capitalism, and confronts war and racism as twin evils responsible for violence against women.

Sometimes, these two threads converge, often manifesting as bonds of solidarity or more pragmatic alliances. Ever since Trump was elected US president, white women have been more conscientious in including women of colour in feminist advocacy. Their protest movement  Womens March  has principles which acknowledge that women of colour and indigenous women carry the heaviest burden in the global economic landscape.

Middle-class, suburban women, many of whom are mothers, are getting involved in politics for the first time, with demands for paid leave and compensation for unpaid domestic labour  a recognition of how capitalism exploits them.

But this politicisation has its blind spots. Womens March has failed to link up with organisers who have been doing work on the ground for some time. Its stated progressive aims also did not prevent Zahra Billoo, an American-Muslim civil rights lawyer, from being voted off the board of the organisation for opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Veteran Black Lives Matter activists in different US cities have criticised Womens March for erasing their labour.

As such, there were two dates for the Womens March each year. The first is the anniversary of Trumps inauguration  January 21  and the second is International Working Womens Day, a legacy of the female garment workers strike in New York in the early 1900s, which is celebrated worldwide every year on March 8. Indeed, in 1917, working women in Imperial Russia led protests on March 8 that triggered a series of uprisings, leading to Tsar Nicholas abdicating from his throne two weeks later.

In Mexico, women went on strike the day after the protest on March 8 this year, in a bid to demonstrate to the men in their country the cost of their absence from schools, offices, shops and government workplaces. A day without women meant a day without the female workers who held up the economy, and who make up 40 percent of the workforce in Mexico. The strike used womens labour as a bargaining chip to protest against patriarchal violence, which has caused women in Mexico to literally disappear in gender-motivated killings.

More than 10 women are killed each day in Mexico; victims of gang violence, sexual harassment and laws that fail to punish murderers and deliver justice to the victims. In 2018, only 136 perpetrators were convicted for femicide in Mexico, according to Inegi, the Mexican statistics authority. In 2019, more than 1,000 women were killed there.

Mexican women certainly are not alone when it comes to lethal attacks on their bodies. According to the UN, 87,000 women were murdered in the world in 2017 alone, a staggering and horrific number.

Latin America has experienced an awakening of womens mobilisation for safety and respect. The #NiUnaMenos (Not One Less) movement first started in Argentina in 2015, protesting against the murders of women that gripped the region. The grassroots movement sparked fires of resistance across Brazil, Chile, Peru, and other countries, fires that still blaze today.

In Chile, feminist collectives rallied on March 8 and then organised a second day of protests in a nationwide movement against sexism and social inequality. Protesters marched in Santiago to the presidential palace, charging the state with violence and neglect of women.

In December, the Chilean feminist protest song A Rapist in Your Path went viral and inspired performances from women around the world. The song crucially did not just hold individual perpetrators of rape to account, but lay the blame at the feet of the cops, the judges, the state.

In South Africa, women organised self-defence training and handed out pepper spray on stalls in the streets of Johannesburg, a practical and unapologetic measure against sexual violence and harassment. Karabo Moshodi, a 25-year-old activist from Soweto, raised funds to buy 1,000 pepper sprays and employed the assistance of self-defence professionals. Participants were trained in basic self-defence before receiving a spray.

South Africa has also seen a growing movement led by students, young people and women, after Uyinene Mrwetyana, a 19-year-old student, was raped and murdered in a post office. Luyanda Botha, a 42-year-old post office worker, confessed to the crime and was sentenced to life in prison. The murder triggered nationwide protests galvanising thousands of people in outrage.

In India, Muslim women-led a sit-in at Shaheen Bagh, a working-class neighbourhood in New Delhi, for 101 days. The movement for a more just India has drawn women to the frontlines. Women, after all, are the first to suffer in religious, caste and ethnic violence.

In Pakistan, attendees at the Aurat March (Womens March) braved right-wing suppression of their protest. Their slogan, Mera Jism, Meri Marzi (My Body, My Choice) was construed as vulgar by men in power, but hundreds of middle-class women still chanted it in defiance of the threats against them.

Lesser known, but equally important was a demonstration in Karachi by poor, working women, who do stitching and other forms of labour from home, and who won recognition as legal workers by the government.

The global south is rife with political and militant movements for the liberation of women, which also confront the role of capitalism and state violence in enforcing patriarchy.

In the US, the womens movement has transcended white feminism and pink pussy hats. Contingents of marginalised women continue to attend the Womens Day March and to organise their own marches and protests. Take, for example, Gizelle Marie, organiser of the New York City strippers strike. When black, dark-skinned strippers found their jobs threatened by lighter-skinned Instagram influencers, strippers in New York City went on strike to protest against the loss of their wages. The strike was a breakthrough in sex worker organising centring black women and addressing the ways in which darker skin was considered less worthy of capital, and Marie led contingents of strippers in different feminist actions to promote the strike.

In the south of the US, black and/or immigrant women and nonbinary people (those who identify as across the gender spectrum, rather than as just as a man or woman) fight on the front lines against Trumps war on Roe v Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that ruled a woman had the right to choose an abortion and that government interference violated her constitutional right to privacy.

Abortion care centres in the South not only stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community, womens shelters, and immigrant advocacy groups, they also provide health care, gynaecological services, education and, if needed, the right to choose abortion. The movement for abortion rights in the South is a coalition of the most marginalised in society.

The participation of teachers unions in Womens March throughout the years challenges Trumps privatisation of education and empowers an underpaid profession associated with care and nurture (thus a gendered one, as 75 percent of teachers in the US are women) with a platform and a voice. In 2018, 30,000 West Virginia teachers went on strike, and won a 5 percent raise in pay on March 7.

Middle-class, white women still seem to gain the most visibility because of their privilege. Yet, the reality is changing. Activism is no longer just the domain of the privileged, but has become the duty of the oppressed.

While the 99 percent has always organised for collective freedom and liberation, for the first time they are being celebrated, recognised and supported on the world stage, bringing more people to their ranks and radicalising the womens movement as a whole.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
With the world locked down due to COVID-19, everyones lives have somehow come to a sudden halt -- people have started to work from home, even kids are studying from home using e-learning platforms.

Reuters

However, not every family or kid has access to a computer or can afford to have data connectivity, especially with many at home trying to survive on tight budgets amidst unemployment.

To bridge this gap and to help underprivileged kids study seamlessly from the comforts of their homes, Google has pledged to donate 4,000 Chromebooks as well as 100,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to homes in the state of California.

Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai revealed this in a tweet on Wednesday, stating Proud to work with @GavinNewsom & partners to help bridge the digital divide in our home state. Were providing 4,000 Chromebooks to California students in greatest need & free wifi to 100,000 rural households during the #COVID19 crisis to make distance learning more accessible.

Chromebooks are already popular among students and teachers as unlike a PC, it isnt as distracting, helping the kids stay productive.

Governor Newsom estimated that California needs more 162,013 hotspots over the 100,000 pledged by Google. Google has promised to meet the desired needs. The kids will have access to high-speed internet for a minimum of three months.

Getty Images

Looking at the response Newsom called other tech conglomerates in the Silicon Valley stating We need more Googles, in a conversation with SFGate.



Last week. Alphabet revealed its pledge of $800 million worth of support for health organisations, small businesses as well as researchers whore trying to crack the COVID-19 code. The 800 million is in the form of cash, ad credits as well as access to cloud services from Google.

Pichai said in a statement, Together, we'll continue to help our communities -- including our businesses, educators, researchers, and nonprofits -- to navigate the challenges ahead.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-03 17:27:03

Signals Future Growth and Expansion for the Established Vertical Transportation Company

NEW YORK, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transel Elevator & Electric, Inc., d/b/a TEI Group, the largest independently owned and operated vertical transportation company serving the New York tristate area, is pleased to announce that Analogue Holdings Limited (HKG:1977), a leading electrical and mechanical engineering service provider in Hong Kong with substantial operations in Macau and mainland China, has acquired 51% of equity interests in the company. This represents Analogue Holdings Limiteds first foothold in North America with TEI now operating as an indirect non-wholly owned subsidiary of Analogue Holdings Limited.



TEIs principal management team will retain their roles as long-term equity partners supported by the companys highly experienced team of over 300 vertical transportation employees. This will further ensure the continued success of TEI as it journeys into a new growth phase with its new equity partner Analogue Holdings Limited.

The entire TEI team is extremely excited to partner with Analogue Holdings Limited and we collectively look forward to capitalizing on the myriad new business development and expansion opportunities that lie ahead, said Mark Gregorio, Managing Partner and President, TEI Group. Together with the support and added resources of our new partners at Analogue Holdings Limited, we will further expand our presence in the New York metropolitan area and implement new growth strategies to take our services nationwide.

"We are pleased to announce that Analogue Holdings Limited has acquired a 51% equity position in TEI which will allow us to better execute our New Technology, New Market and New Business Mode strategy, said Dr. Poon Lok To Otto, Chairman of Analogue Holdings Limited. Our core operating philosophies align very well with TEI, and this acquisition provides a steppingstone to expand our business in the U.S.A., and ultimately on a global basis.

Mark and I will remain intimately involved in every aspect of TEIs current and future business with the intent of preserving the unique culture weve created at the company over the years, said Michael Staub, Partner and Executive Vice President, Operations, TEI Group. Our partnership with Analogue Holdings Limited significantly accelerates our evolving business model and expansion plans, providing our dedicated team with new and exciting opportunities.

Since Analogue Holdings Limited's successful listing on the main board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited last year, it has been seeking new opportunities to further strengthen all aspects of its business segments. According to the Elevator Report 2017 issued by the New York City Department of Buildings, New York has approximately 84,000 elevators, claiming to be the largest stock in North America, as well as the oldest stock in the world. In view of this potential for significant revenue growth, Analogue Holdings Limited considers the acquisition of TEI as a significant strategic business decision that will further accelerate Analogue Holdings Limiteds global growth.

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When it comes to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, it turns out not much is simple. Not even fever.

Yes, it's clear that a fever, along with fatigue and a dry cough, is a hallmark of the infection. But how high, exactly, is too high? What should you do if your temperature spikes? How do you know when you need medical help?

As someone who has reported on healthcare for years, I thought the answers to these questions would be relatively straightforward. But after speaking to experts, I came to learn that in the context of COVID-19, how to respond to fever varies based on the person and the circumstance.

Heres what you need to know.

Why We Develop Fevers

We tend to think of normal body temperature as a static number, but in fact a persons body temperature can vary throughout the day, says Georgine Nanos, M.D., a family physician and CEO of the Kind Health Group, a telemedicine service. Nor is there a single number that constitutes normal for everyone. Recent research has even found that the average body temperature has changed over the years. Scientists say it is now around 97.5 F, not 98.6 F.

A fever is technically defined as a body temperature of 100.4 F or higher, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is true for both babies and adults.

And a fever isnt necessarily a bad thing. It indicates that your body is doing what it should do in response to an infection, Nanos says. Indeed, its a sign that your immune system is doing its job, fighting off an invader, like a virus or bacteria, in an attempt to prevent it from overtaking your body.

But a fever can be concerning. Aside from how miserable it may make you feelwith sweating, chills, headaches, and fatigueit could indicate that a serious illness is developing. And an uncontrolled fever could cause seizures or brain damage. So it's important to pay attention to fevers and respond appropriately.

Story continues

What the Thermometer Number Means

There are different types of thermometers and ways to use them. Most used today are digital and can be used orally, rectally, or under the arm. But there are also some designed to be used in ears, called tympanic thermometers, or on your forehead, called temporal artery thermometers.

More important than which kind you use is using it according to the directions that come with it, experts say.

They also caution that you shouldnt get too focused on the exact number on your thermometer. "A temperature in the low 99s could be a cause for concern in some people, while someone with a fever of 102 may be feeling and doing okay," says Mary E. Schmidt, M.D., an associate professor of clinical medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and president of Schmidt & Libby Health Advisory Group.

Whats more, how healthcare professionals treat fever depends on age, accompanying symptoms, and any individuals underlying conditions.

For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you call your doctor right away if your infant 3 months and younger develops a fever of 100.4 F. (Rectal readings are the most accurate for babies and tend to be a degree higher than oral readings.)

For babies older than that and for adults, there is no exact reading that dictates that you need to call the doctor. Instead, you should consider your overall health along with your temperature reading.

So, for instance, an otherwise healthy adult with a fever of 101 F and only mild discomfort may be just fine at home with rest and fluids. But an adult with a fever of 101 F who also has heart disease and diabetesparticularly if the fever is accompanied by severe aches and chillsshould call a doctor for guidance.

Fevers and COVID-19

At this point in the COVID-19 outbreak, scientists have not identified a specific fever pattern tied to this disease.

The same is true of the illnesss other main symptoms. People are reporting an array of symptoms with varying degrees of severity, so there is no one set of signs that can tell us for sure, yes or no, this is COVID-19, says Elissa Perkins, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine at Boston Medical Center who is treating the influx of patients there. It would make everybody's lives much easier if that were possible, but its not.

To decide who may need to be seen by a healthcare professional or tested for COVID-19, Perkins says doctors evaluate a fever along with other symptoms, a persons age, health history, and any underlying conditions. Then, based on the capacity of local hospitals and the limited availability of tests and other supplies, public health professionals may advise people with symptoms of COVID-19 to stay in touch with a doctor on the phone rather than go directly to the emergency department.

We are giving our best advice based on what we know, and how somebody is doing right now, Perkins says.

What to Do If You Don't Have a Thermometer

One of the issues confronting people during this outbreak is that many physical and online stores are sold out of thermometers.

If you dont have one, the CDC says that a fever may be considered to be present if a person . . . feels warm to the touch or gives a history of feeling feverish. In other words, Moms method of placing the back of her hand on your forehead may be a decent fallback. But given the contagiousness of this coronavirus, remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

And dont worry if you dont have someone at home who can do a touch check of your forehead. Schmidt notes most adults are fairly good at gauging when theyre feeling hot and unwell.

You could also look in the mirror. The CDC states that the appearance of a flushed face, glassy eyes, or chills could indicate a fever.

As a last resort, if you have a meat thermometer (preferably a digital one, which shows decimal points), you could experiment by placing it under your tongue to get a general sense of your temperature, and whether its going up or down. Though the method is certainly unorthodox, and not specifically recommended, I asked two doctors to test it out and they kindly obliged.

Schmidt says that her meat thermometer read about the same as an oral thermometer over three takes, but was 1 to 1.5 degrees lower than a temporal artery reading via her forehead. Nanos also humored my request and says that her meat thermometer is too variable, and the temperature drops as soon as you start pulling it out of your mouth.

I gave my meat thermometer a try, too. I found that it gave a comparable reading to my oral thermometer. It took a couple of minutes for the meat thermometer to show a significant rise, but it indicated that I was in the 98 range, just like my oral thermometer reading.

Granted, the meat thermometer reading was not exact and it did drop down as soon as I took it out of my mouth, but if youre trying to track trends in your temperature and you have no other option, that meat thermometer could be better than nothing.

If you do call a doctor to report your temperature, be sure to note which type of thermometer you used. Healthcare professionals know that different types of thermometers tend to yield slightly different numbers, so they will want to consider that information in assessing how youre doing.

How to Treat a Fever If You Suspect COVID-19

There is no rule that says you need to lower a fever with over-the-counter medication if youre feeling only mild symptoms and are not uncomfortable. You may be able to manage with rest (for fatigue), a cold compress (for sweating), blankets (for chills), and lots of liquids (for dehydration).

There is even evidence behind the adage that you should let a fever run its course. Animal studies have found that a fever may help the immune system do its job, and lowering a fever with medication may suppress your bodys ability to fend off the illness, says Matthew J. Kluger, Ph.D., a scientist and retired professor of physiology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Kluger's groundbreaking research in the 1970s suggests that fever is an adaptive biological response to infection and it may boost the effectiveness of disease-fighting cells. "Treating a fever with medication may make you feel better, but my contention is that it's not because it lowers your temperature; it's because the medication is an analgesic, a pain reducer," Kluger says.

For the most part, healthcare providers say that if youd like to take a fever-reducer (and it does not interact with any medications youre taking or worsen any underlying conditions you may have), by all means do so, because it could make you feel more comfortable.

But if your fever is running at or above 103 F, you should call a doctor. A high fever could lead to a seizure or brain damage.

Tylenol vs. Advil

There are two main categories of over-the-counter drugs available to reduce fevers: acetaminophen, most well-known by the brand name Tylenol; and a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or NSAIDs, which includes ibuprofen (Advil and others) and naproxen (Aleve and others).

In the past weeks, there were reports out of China and Europe suggesting that NSAIDs could make a COVID-19 infection worse. As a result, some healthcare providers had suggested avoiding NSAIDs for fevers during this time.

But experts say that theory is based on anecdotal data, and that for now, there is no reason to avoid ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. The Food and Drug Administration, for example, says it is not aware of scientific evidence connecting the use of NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, with worsening COVID-19 symptoms. And the World Health Organization notes that based on currently available information, WHO does not recommend against the use of ibuprofen. We are also consulting with physicians treating COVID-19 patients and are not aware of reports of any negative effects of ibuprofen, beyond the usual known side effects that limit its use in certain populations.

Perkins, at Boston Medical Center, says that concerns about ibuprofen and NSAIDs could reflect the lack of solid medical research available on the quickly developing health problem. "Theres just a paucity of good, reliable data to inform the medical decisions that we make now, so that is a challenge were all facing when we try to decide how to manage these patients, Perkins says. Still, she has not yet seen any compelling reason to avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen if you suspect COVID-19.

When to Get Medical Help

If you think you have a temperature that is worrisome, the first step in most cases is to call a healthcare provider. That's because a high temperature on its own might not warrant an in-person evaluation right now, depending on your overall condition and risk factors.

Were telling patients that if you have mild symptoms and no underlying medical conditions, stay home and self-isolate, for 14 days, Nanos says. If you can, have one person care for you so that you will minimize exposure to others in the house." After 14 days, the CDC says you can discontinue home isolation if you've been fever-free for 72 hours and it's been at least seven days since your first symptoms appeared.

Go to the hospital or urgent care clinic if you develop any of these emergency warning signs for COVID-19, per the CDC: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, bluish lips or face, or new confusion or fainting.

Perkins reiterates the importance of seeking medical help if you experience emergency warning signs, and says that if you can, call the emergency department to tell them you are on your way, so they can prepare for you.





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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
For 40-plus years, my friend, Mary Pat Finn-Hoag of Norfolk has sent to me cards for special occasions (or just because) stuffed with newspaper and magazine clippings, poems, postcards and photos. Many reflect our common interests as Nebraska farm girls who grew up to be longtime ag-focused journalists.

Tucked into my March 9 birthday card were lyrics to When Im 64, the Beatles song released in 1967, but written by Paul McCartney in his teens. Some lyric changes were made before it was recorded in late 1966, the year his dad turned 64.

Will you still need me, will you still feed me when Im sixty-four plays in my head and Ive sung it a few times to my kitty, Tas, soon to be age 14. Thats 72-98 in human years, depending on the kitty age calculator used.

The insecure part of me wonders if Im still needed at work after 42-plus years or in general. So I reviewed some things I expected to do by 64.

I have met a goal to be economically self-sufficient since January 1978 when, at age 21, I started my first full-time journalism job in Alliance. It certainly helped that my parents paid for my higher education and first car  my twin sister got a wedding at the same time.
Australia still has a chance to use existing technologies to tackle climate change and maintain living standards while creating new jobs, an exhaustive new study has found, but only if individuals, businesses and government act quickly to reduce emissions from every sector of the economy.

The report by ClimateWorks, called Decarbonisation Futures, maps out in detail how Australia could go about achieving emissions reductions required across industry sectors to limit global warming to below 2 degrees, or to the more ambitious 1.5 degree target under the Paris climate agreement.

Australia can meet its international climate change commitments and create jobs during the recovery phase from the coronavirus recessions, according to a new report from ClimateWorks. Credit:Lukas Schulze/Getty Images

"If we get this right, we can meet Australia's international climate change commitments, create jobs in sustainable industries, and set ourselves up for a smoother and speedier shift to a zero emissions economy," said Anna Skarbek, the chief executive of ClimateWorks, a policy advisory body housed in Monash University.

She said the coronavirus pandemic has made the need for immediate "all-in" action even more urgent as governments spend the coming weeks and months planning how they will stimulate their economies as the crisis passes.
Kentucky Puts Ankle Monitors on CCP Virus Patients Who Defy Self-Isolation Orders

At least three people have been ordered by Kentucky judges to wear ankle monitors after allegedly ignoring orders to self-isolate.

The state residents were diagnosed with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

They were instructed to isolate; they have refused to do so, Steve Conrad, chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department, said during a virtual town hall this week. That has created a problem, an obvious danger of them potentially spreading the virus.

In the first case, police officials worked with the county attorneys office and the health department to get a court order mandating the person to stay at home and stationed police officers outside the mans home.

Using police officers to guard one person was not a particularly good use of police officers or deputies from the sheriffs office, Conrad said. Officials turned to using ankle bracelets that are normally used by corrections officers to track people on home incarceration.

The playground at Central Park in downtown Louisville is closed due to the CCP virus in Louisville, Kentucky on March 29, 2020. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The legal process in getting the ankle bracelets onto people refusing to comply with isolation orders has become more streamlined after the first case, according to the police chief.

Weve been in a position to react if they leave home without having to station personnel there full-time, he said.

Amy Hess, Louisvilles chief of public services, also praised the measures.

We can now back out and we are not further exposing our first responders but we can also monitor that persons activities, to make sure theyre not further affecting their community, she said.

While I think that has been very successful, clearly we would prefer not having to do that at all. We would prefer people to comply with the order to begin with, to comply with the social distancing.

Jurisdictions can ask judges for an order of isolation under Kentucky law. Judges should consider whether sufficient scientific evidence has been introduced to support such an order, according to a public health law judicial reference guide for state courts.

An isolation or quarantine order should only be issued when an individual appears to be suffering from a serious disease capable of being easily transmitted from person-to-person. The government entity seeking the order must show, by clear and convincing evidence, that the individual poses a risk to the publics health sufficient to necessitate deprivation of that individuals liberty, the authors, including Mark Rothstein, director of the Institute of Bioethics at the University of Louisville, wrote.

Cyclist rides at Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville, Kentucky on March 29, 2020. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

While Louisville officials indicated that all three people with bracelets tested positive for the CCP virus, Judge Charles Cunningham, who issued the two most recent orders, told the Louisville Courier-Journal that only one person tested positive, while the other lived with that person.

A request for the order from the citys health department indicated that one person was walking around while the other was believed to have left their home.

A Metro Corrections officer who was sent to attach the ankle monitors had a fever and was being tested for COVID-19, Tracy Dotson, spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 77, which represents the workers, told the Courier-Journal. That officer is still waiting for the test results to come back, Dotson told The Epoch Times in an email.

Members arent being given proper equipment to carry out some operations, Dotson added, while questioning the effectiveness of the monitors.

We do question the value of the level of protection the public is receiving from those citizens who are ordered to be quarantined in their homes without on site, 24/7 surveillance by a Peace Officer, which is currently not the case, Dotson said.

The monitoring system we are utilizing will only alert us if the citizen leaves their home, it does not prevent them from leaving. A monitoring anklet is little consolation to someone who was infected by a potentially deadly virus because the quarantined citizen made it to a public venue before an Officer could catch up to them.

The first order was signed by Jefferson Circuit Chief Judge Angela McCormick Bisig. Dean Watts, the county judge-executive, said the order was allowed because he declared a county emergency.
BRIDGEPORT  City firefighters put out a structure fire late Thursday night, according to the department.

Deputy Chief Lance Edwards said in a release that a fire was reported at 196 Harborview Ave. at 11:30 p.m. The first unit arriving on scene found flames in the back of the one-and-a-half story residential home, he said.

The fire was extinguished and contained to the rear exterior, with minor extension inside. Everyone was out of the home on arrival, Edwards said. No injuries occurred and no additional assistance was required.

The city Fire Marshals Office is now investigating the matter, Edwards said.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
A mob pelted police vehicles with stones and attacked officers as they attempted to enforce a complete curfew to prevent people congregating during Friday Prayers in Pakistans largest city, Karachi.

Videos circulating on social media from the southern port city show a mob chasing police patrol vehicles in Karachis teeming Liaqatabad neighborhood on April 3.

Today when police reportedly tried to stop a Friday prayer congregation at a mosque forcibly in Karachis Liaquatabad residents reacted violently, Zia ur-Rehman, a Karachi-based journalist wrote on Twitter.

In a bid to stop people from congregating for Friday Prayers, authorities in the southern province of Sindh, where Karachi is the capital, had imposed a three-hour curfew. While most mosques and religious leaders followed the noon to 3 p.m. curfew, one Islamic cleric in Liaqatabad allegedly opposed it and called on his congregates to defy the ban.

The ban came after last week when many mosques defied government requests to postpone Friday congregations to help in stop the spread of coronavirus infections. Last week, a government order calling on clerics to keep their congregations limited to five people was widely ignored.

Friday Prayers are seen as a key religious obligation in most Muslim countries, but many nations have stopped such gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000 people globally among more the 1 million confirmed cases.

Authorities in Sindh were the first to announce a lockdown more than a week ago. But unlike the previous Friday, they ordered all businesses to close for three hours in an effort to prevent people from leaving their houses during the hours when Friday Prayers are typically offered.

Sindh, Pakistans second-largest province, had nearly 800 cases out of more 2,500 cases in Pakistan, which is the second-highest tally after neighboring India. But compared with Pakistans 210 million population, India has 1.3 billion people. At least 37 people in Pakistan have died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus infection.
By Andrew Hammond



G20 leaders promised recently to do "whatever it takes" to tackle the coronavirus crisis. With the pandemic spreading, 2020 has the potential to be the most important year for the club of world powers since the U.K.-chaired events in 2009 during the storm of the international financial crisis.



The significant amount of attention on the G20 highlights, yet again, that the body is widely perceived since 2008-09 to have seized the mantle from the G7 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation and global governance. It is now more than a decade since the G20 was upgraded from a finance minister body to one where heads of state now meet too  a move which was greeted with considerable fanfare, including from then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy when he claimed that "the G20 foreshadows the planetary governance of the 21st century."



This was reflected in a video conference which saw presidents and prime ministers logging in from the United States, China, Germany, India, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Russia, Brazil, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Argentina, Mexico, and the EU. Collectively, these powers account for some 90 percent of global GDP, 80 percent of world trade, and around 66 percent of global population.



World leaders were warned very bluntly by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, to unite to find joint solutions to the coronavirus and "ignite a new global movement" to ensure it never happens again. In a context of criticisms that world leaders have failed to produce a quicker response to the pandemic, he asserted that "you have to come together to confront the defining health crisis of our time; we are at war with a virus that threatens to tear us apart  if we let it" stressing that the pandemic is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and vulnerabilities, respecting no borders.



In response, the G20 committed to do "whatever it takes" to minimize the social and economic damage. The two-hour-long meeting agreed to assess gaps in pandemic preparedness and increase funding for research and development in funding for vaccines and medicines, an area in which the G20 has shown an active interest in the past.



However, an IMF call for a doubling of its funding to $2 trillion was not addressed. The joint statement instead asserted G20 members had already undertaken a $5 trillion stimulus, through fiscal policy and insurance schemes.



The leaders also agreed to look to increase funding to multilateral bodies as required, and urged central bank governors in conjunction with finance ministers to draw up an action plan. They insisted they were united in their response saying they will use all available policy tools to minimize the economic and social damage from the pandemic.



Yet, despite this unity, there were tensions on display. Chinese President Xi Jinping, for instance is currently in a battle for international public opinion with US President Donald Trump over the cause of the outbreak of the pandemic with the latter calling it the "Chinese virus" and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the "Wuhan Virus." Xi focused his remarks on U.S. trade barriers rather than a domestic Chinese fiscal stimulus as the best route to growth urging leaders to enable international trade.



There are also concerns about how easy it will be to implement the agenda. The communique set no specific commitments such as deferring debt repayment to the world's poorest countries, as sought by the World Bank and the IMF. This underlines a key point that the G20 has failed so far to realize the full scale of the ambition some thrust upon it, at the height of the international financial crisis, in part because it has no formal mechanisms to ensure enforcement of agreements by world leaders.



There also remains concerns by states outside the G20 about the club's composition which was originally selected in the late 1990s by the United States along with G7 colleagues. While states were nominally selected according to criteria such as population, GDP etc, criticism has been made of omissions such as Nigeria, sometimes called the "giant of Africa," which has three times South Africa's population.



Former Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Store has gone so far to call the G20 "one of the greatest setbacks since World War II" inasmuch as it undermines the U.N.'s universal sense of multilateralism. Reflecting this, the U.N. General Assembly convened a rival U.N. Conference on the Global Economic Crisis in 2009 as an alternative forum.



This issue was also picked up by former U.K. PM Gordon Brown recently around the coronavirus. He has urged the G20 and the U.N. to work much more closely together to tackle the pandemic.



Taken overall, while the G20 has not yet lived up to some of the expectations of it, it continues to be a forum prized by its members as the latest session showed. This year's G20 could be especially important given the rapid spread of coronavirus which requires key countries, especially the United States and China, to work much more in concert if an optimal global response is to be deployed.





Andrew Hammond (andrewkorea@outlook.com) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.


NEW YORK, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has announced emergency grants totaling $11 million to hospitals all across Israel to help the country fight COVID-19.

The money will go to hospitals throughout Israel facing the COVID-19 pandemic, in the center and the periphery, to pay for creating new isolation wards and intensive care units (ICU), medical equipment, and personal protective gear for medical personnel.

The Helmsley grants include $5 million for eight Clalit Health Services hospitals, with $2.1 million of that amount to help pay for turning HaSharon Hospital into a dedicated COVID-19 facility, and $2.9 million to create two new COVID-19 isolation wards at each of Soroka, Kaplan, Emek, Meir, Carmel, Schneider, and Yoseftal hospitals. The grants will also help Clalit purchase ICU beds, ECMO life-support machines, remote monitoring systems, and personalized protective gear for Clalit's medical staff in those hospitals.

In addition, Helmsley has made emergency grants for COVID-19 facilities at each of the following hospitals:

Poriya - $1,006,717 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 emergency ward;



Hadassah - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 isolation ward;



Rambam - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for two COVID-19 isolation wards;



Shaare Zedek - $1,000,000 for COVID-19 testing equipment and construction of a COVID-19 isolation ward and ICU;



Sheba - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 ICU; and



Sourasky - $1,000,000 for personal protective gear for medical personnel, and medical equipment for a COVID-19 ICU.

These emergency grants are part of Helmsley's ongoing efforts to help Israel strengthen its healthcare system across the country. Over the past decade, Helmsley has awarded more than $340 million to Israeli institutions to improve access to healthcare, support scientific and medical research, and strengthen the understanding and appreciation of Israel throughout the world.

"Helping the Israeli people in times of crisis is core to the mission of the Israel Program at the Helmsley Charitable Trust," said Sandor Frankel, a Helmsley Trustee. "Israel is a nation that excels at rapid response in emergencies, but they shouldn't have to do it alone. Helmsley's support will help Israel's outstanding medical personnel and frontline workers have the equipment and facilities necessary to protect their patients and themselves as they face the COVID-19 crisis. We continue to be involved in responding to the country's emergency needs, and hope our support will galvanize others to help in this critical moment."

"In these unpredictable and unsettling times, we must come together to support each other and those working on the frontlines," said Professor Ehud Davidson, CEO of Clalit Health Services. "Helmsley has been a stalwart supporter of the Israeli people over the past decade, and their support now will undoubtedly save lives in the coming weeks and months."

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $2.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. For more information on Helmsley and its programs, visit helmsleytrust.org.

Related Links

https://helmsleytrust.org



SOURCE The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
AR Rahman also thanked the healthcare workers on the frontlines, battling the coronavirus pandemic in order to save several lives in the country

Chennai: Stressing that congregating in religious places will cause "chaos" in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, music maestro AR Rahman has urged people to adhere to the advice of the government and self-isolate.

(Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak)

The Oscar winner's appeal comes after Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin West emerged as an epicentre for the spread of COVID-19 in different parts of the country after thousands of people took part in a congregation from 1 to 15 March.

In a lengthy statement on Twitter, Rahman on Wednesday asked people to be "kind and thoughtful".

"God is inside your heart (the most sacred shrine), so this is not the time to cause chaos by congregating in religious places. Listen to the government''s advice. Self-isolation for a few weeks may give you many more years.

"Do not spread the virus and cause harm to fellow humans. This disease does not even warn you that you are a carrier, so don't assume you are not infected. This is not the time to spread false rumours and cause more anxiety and panic," he wrote.

Check out the post

This message is to thank the doctors, nurses and all the staff working in hospitals and clinics all around India, for their bravery and selflessness... pic.twitter.com/fjBOzKfqjy  A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) April 1, 2020

Rahman also thanked the healthcare workers on the frontlines, battling the pandemic in order to save several lives in the country. "This message is to thank the doctors, nurses, and all the staff working, in hospitals and clinics all across India, for their bravery and selflessness. It fills one's heart to see how ready they are to deal with this most dreadful pandemic. They risk their lives to save ours," the 53-year-old composer said.

He said one must help their neighbours, senior citizens, the underprivileged and migrant workers during this health crisis. "It's time to forget our differences and unite against this invisible enemy that has turned the world upside down. It's time to bring the beauty of humanity and spirituality into action," he added.

Oscar-winning sound engineer Resul Pookutty and Rahman's collaborator on the award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire shared the same sentiments. "... God is in your hearts not in shrines, you dont have to congregate now, follow Govt rules, few days of isolation might give you many years of life!" Pookutty tweeted on Thursday.

Check out the post
Author James Patterson is spearheading a group that includes actress Reese Witherspoon, Reeses Book Club, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc), and the American Booksellers Association in an effort to raise millions of dollars to help save independent bookstores from closing permanently due to the pandemic.

The author, who has given booksellers annual holiday bonuses for the past five years and returned more than $1 million dollars to bookstores as charity, is seeding this new campaign with a personal donation of $500,000. Money is being collected at the website www.saveindiebookstores.com and the campaign is expected to run at least through April 30, at which point Binc will distribute the total funds raised to eligible independent bookstores.

"The government has a $2.2 trillion dollar bailout that will cover all sorts of industries, from the airlines to cruise ships, and all sorts of other retailers, from liquor stores to pizza delivery place, are still open for business because they are deemed essentialbut nobody is thinking about the bookstores," said Patterson. "I think, and a lot of people agree with me, that bookstores are no less essential to society. Books help comfort people in in stressful times, and have a wonderful ability to make people more empathetic."

Patterson added that this is the most important moment to get money into the hands of booksellers. "If we don't get it done now, we may wake up one day to find there's a new degree of normalcy returning to our daily lives and then find a lot of bookstores are gone. If we act now, we can literally save them," Patterson said.

The author is reaching out to fellow writers and encouraging all book lovers to donate any sum they can, from $1 to $10,000. "This will be an easy place for anyone who loves books to donate," Patterson said. He wants publishers to donate as well. "It is in the publishers' own self interest: if too many bookstores disappear, publishers will suffer too."

Patterson said he's also taking it upon himself to pursue donations from people of genuine means: billionaires. "I've already called out Mike Bloomberg by name and asked him for $1 million  which I don't think he'd miss." Asked about other billionaires he might ask for money, the name Bezos came up. But it was not Jeff but rather his ex-wife and author MacKenzie who was mentioned.

Questioned how much money he might request from the fellow novelistand the world's third richest womanPatterson replied, that any donation would be welcome. "But I hope she would consider donating at least $10 million dollars," he said. "That would help so many people."
H ealth Secretary Matt Hancock has revealed he lost he half a stone while fighting a coronavirus infection, describing the illness as "like having glass in my throat".

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Friday, Mr Hancock said he had a "pretty unpleasant experience" battling the symptoms brought on by Covid-19 .

"For me it was short-lived and I was able to come back to work yesterday and Im in full health," he added.

"But it is worrying. Ive lost half a stone, its quite a serious impact directly. But thankfully for me I could get through it."

Mr Hancock came out of self-isolation on Thursday, a week after he revealed he had contracted coronavirus.

Asked if he thought he was now immune to Covid-19, Mr Hancock told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "not certain" and he was therefore continuing to observe "social distancing" measures.

"I took advice on that and the advice is its highly likely that I am now immune, or have a very high level of immunity," he said.

"But its not certain. And, so, like everybody else who has been through it, I am social distancing, just like everybody else.

"We have a stream of work under way  on immunity, with, potentially, having immunity certificates, so that if people have been through it, and when the science is clear about the point at which they are then immune, that people can then start getting back to normal even more because they have been through it.

"One of the big challenges in this is to know how long immunity lasts for."

Clap for Carers returns - In pictures 1 /29 Clap for Carers returns - In pictures NHS workers applaud on the streets outside Royal Liverpool University Hospital REUTERS Firefighters are seen applauding at Cadogan Fire Station REUTERS NHS workers applaud on the streets outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital REUTERS Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" in London AFP via Getty Images People are seen applauding from flats in Riverlight Quay during the Clap for our Carers REUTERS Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" AFP via Getty Images Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" AFP via Getty Images Fireworks are seen during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS REUTERS Firefighters are seen applauding at Cadogan Fire Station REUTERS NHS workers applaud on the streets outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital REUTERS People stand on their balcony and clap near West Middlesex University Hospita AP NHS workers in the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital PA Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" AFP via Getty Images Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" AFP via Getty Images Finlay MacDonald plays the pipes at his home in Glasgow alongside sons Elliott, ten, and Fionn, eight PA NHS workers applaud on the streets outside Royal Liverpool University Hospita REUTERS Members of the public clap outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital PA Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" AFP via Getty Images Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" AFP via Getty Images Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" PA Members of the public take part in a national "clap for carers" AFP via Getty Images A member of the public bangs a pot outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital PA

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to self-isolate after also testing positive for Covid-19 last week.

Downing Street confirmed on Thursday that Mr Johnson is still showing symptoms of the virus.

The confirmation came as the number of people to die in care in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus spiralled to 2,921.

The new figures released by the Department of Health also revealed 163,194 people had been tested nationwide as of 5pm on Wednesday, 33,718 of which have returned positive results.

The Government has set a target of carrying out 100,000 tests for coronavirus every day by the end of this month.

The goal, announced on Thursday by Mr Hancock, came amid a growing outcry over the lack of testing of NHS staff for Covid-19.

On Wednesday, there was capacity for 12,799 daily tests in England, but only 10,650 people were tested. The government's target by mid-April had been to carry out 25,000 tests per day.

Asked on Friday if he can guarantee 100,000 tests a day will happen by the end of April, Mr Hancock told the BBC: "Yes, its got to happen."

"Ive got a plan to get us there. Ive set it as a goal. It absolutely is what the nation needs," he added.

The Health Secretary cautioned there was still a "huge amount of work to do" to ensure the UK hits the target set, but said "money is no object" in the UKs coronavirus fight.

"What matters is getting the country out of this situation as quickly as possible," he said.

"The historians can crawl over what weve done. All I can say is hand on heart at each stage Ive done everything I possibly could, but then new ideas come in and new thoughts come forward."

London's Nightingale Hospital: What you need to know

Coronavirus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The Centre urged the West Bengal



government on Friday to direct jute mills in the state, which are shut due to the nationwide lockdown, to resume operations in order to prevent any shortage in supply of packaging materials.

In a letter, the Union Ministry of Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution told the state government that manufacturing units of packaging materials are exempted from the purview of the lockdown.

"Procurement operations of foodgrain, for which availability of packaging material like jute bales are immensely required by major procuring states like Punjab, Harayana, Uttar Pradesh and Madya Pradesh where procurement operations will begin from April and peak season is for only two-three weeks only," the letter said.

"Therefore, it is of utmost importance that jute mills immediately resume operation to meet the requirements of the states and FCI (Food Corporation of India)," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
He flew into Australia from the Turks and Caicos Islands last month and, like other international arrivals, went straight into self-isolation for two weeks.

And Joel Edgerton emerged from quarantine on Friday looking rather worse for wear after spending 17 days inside his home in Sydney.

The Zero Dark Thirty star, 45, puffed on an e-cigarette while taking a stroll in a white singlet and black shorts.

Freedom! Joel Edgerton smoked an e-cigarette outside his Sydney home on Friday after flying back to Australia from the Turks and Caicos Islands 17 days ago and going into self-isolation

He sported a beard and clutched his car keys while staring intently at his iPhone.

Joel's girlfriend, Vogue fashion editor Christine Centenera, had been spotted out in Bondi on Wednesday with P.E Nation founder Pip Edwards.

The couple had jetted into Sydney Airport from the Turks and Caicos Islands on March 17. Their mandatory self-isolation period ended on April 1.

Feels good to be home? Joel had jetted into Sydney Airport from the Turks and Caicos Islands on March 17. His mandatory self-isolation period ended on April 1

They had arrived before the government ruled that Australians returning from overseas must spend their two-week quarantine period under supervision in hotels.

As a result, they were allowed to self-isolate at home.

The first case of coronavirus in the Turks and Caicos Islands was confirmed on March 23, six days after Joel and Christine had returned to Australia.

No worries! Joel had arrived before the Australian government ruled that citizens returning from overseas must spend their two-week quarantine period under supervision in hotels

The couple had spent time at the Amanyara beach resort, which sits by the Caribbean island of Providenciales.

Joel and Christine debuted their romance at GQ Australia's Man of the Year Awards in Sydney on November 14, 2018.

As of Friday afternoon, there are 5,315 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 28 deaths.
Special power of attorney allows you to assign a third party to make decisions on your behalf. A person can easily create and sign the form if one is knowledgeable on its format, requirements and its legality.

Image: instagram.com, @mz_notarybiz_gal

Source: UGC

If you want the SPA document, start by learning the special power of attorney format and the different terms used. The commonly used terms are agent and principal, which represents the person given the responsibilities and the individual administering the power, respectively. Keep reading to familiarize yourself with the types, requirements, and sources of a SPA document.

What is special power of attorney

People barely know the special power of attorney meaning. It is a legal paper that authorizes a third-party to handle your affairs when you have health issues or other commitments. However, the agents power is limited to specific tasks; collecting debt, selling property, among other duties.

READ ALSO: What is divorce? Causes, definition and effects

How to get special power of attorney

A person can access a special power of attorney template online and fill in their details. The following rules apply when getting a SPA form:

Have the document ready

An internet search for a special power of attorney sample yields a lot of different formats. Settle for a style that fits what you want and is presentable. Decide what powers one should grant the agent during the preparation.

Since it is a legal document, ensure the details are correct. Find out the special power of attorney requirements Philippines below:

The name and address of the principal. The ID, physical address, and agent's details. A reason to get the SPA. Date and the place where one will sign that form. The principal's signature. The principals name, identification number, and the ID expiry date. Print the copies and once the form is filled, for the principal, representative, and notary public.

Notarized documents

You should have the SPA form notarized to make it legal and official. Once the documents are notarized, record them formally since it is a requirement in most offices.

Sample special power of attorney for authorized representative Philippines

If you are wondering how a SPA looks, see the sample below:

Special power of attorney

I, (principal's name), do hereby name, constitute, and appoint (name of agent), of legal age, married, Filipino and a resident of (address of AIF,) to be my true and lawful attorney. The said person shall perform the following tasks:

(a) To administer, manage, oversee, sell, convey, mortgage and/or encumber my house and lot located at ___________________________________;

(b) To sign, seal, execute and deliver any document or instrument necessary in carrying out into effect the power and authority granted;

I hereby giving the authority to my attorney to perform any and all the tasks in case I am unable to perform those tasks. I, therefore, ratify and confirm all that my said attorney shall lawfully perform the tasks.

The power of the attorney is effective upon execution and can be revoked anytime by me and automatically revoked upon my death.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature this _____ day of March, 2020, at _________________, Philippines.

__________________________________

(Principal)

SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF:

____________________________ _____________________________

(1st witness) (2nd witness)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

City of (put your city) ) S.S.

BEFORE ME, on, personally appeared (name of principal), with Identification No. ___________ issued on ________________ at _____________________________, and acknowledged under oath to me under penalty of law, that the whole contents therein are true and that the same is their free and voluntary act and deed.

WITNESS MY HAND AND NOTARIAL SEAL.

Notary Public

Doc. No: ___________

Page No. ___________

Book No. ___________

Series of _________

Uses of SPA document

A power of attorney is required when:

Special power of attorney for bir transactions. Manage cash, bank accounts, and deposit boxes. Get into contracts. Handle claims. Receive a birth or marriage certificate from PSA.

READ ALSO: BIR vows to reduce requirements for transactions

Methods of executing a SPA when abroad

If you are not within the country, an individual can still assign someone in their country to carry out some tasks. That is made possible using consularized SPA document.

A consularized SPA is used when appointing an agent in the Philippines when one is not in the country. The duties of this agent are limited, with this type of SPA since the person cannot sell the assets.

Consularized SPA requirements

If you want to execute consularized SPA, have the following documents:

A copy of the front and back page of the Philippine passport. A valid Philippine ID if you do not have a valid Philippines passport. Two witnesses and their IDs.

How to get consularized SPA

Speak to your relatives in the Philippines, have them sign the SPA. After the document is notarized, your family members should send it to you. Go to the embassy with your two witnesses. Present the form, sign, then pay the fee.

Image: instagram.com, @mz_notarybiz_gal

Source: UGC

Special power of attorney business matters

People should have a SPA form when running a business. The document is important because the business owner or manager can appoint an agent to manage the firm's affairs in their absentia.

Deed of absolute sale with special power of attorney

It is a legal document necessary when transferring real estate properties from one owner to the next. If people want to claim the property left behind after the death of the legal owner, they need an extrajudicial settlement of estate with special power of attorney. This document shows how property will be divided among the inheritors.

Queries to ask about deed of absolute sale with special power of attorney

Before one gets a deed of absolute sale, be sure to ask these questions:

When should you have it?

The document is prepared once a person makes the full payment. One should also have paid all the taxes. That includes; tax transfers and also the registration money.

What is in the document?

The deed of absolute sale is valid if there are dates and location of the property on the form. The buyers and sellers contact information must also be included.

Who needs a special power of attorney?

Anyone above 18 years might need a SPA document. Get a special power of attorney form from the internet to see how it looks and know what is expected from you once a person downloads the template.

Where to get special power of attorney

If you want to draft a special power of attorney Philippines, you can start by looking for templates online. However, if you live abroad, the form is provided in the Philippine embassy of your resident country.

One can easily execute a special power of attorney if they are familiar with what is required in the drafting of the document. We have summarized the requirements, structure and how to legalize the document. Hopefully, you can now create the document with ease.

READ ALSO: How to get TIN ID: step-be-step guide

Source: KAMI.com.gh
As Italy grapples with the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a new study has shed light on the countrys fight against the deadly disease. Italy is one of the hardest-hit countries of the global health crisis, infecting more than 115,000 people and killing nearly 14,000.

This new study by researchers at the Societa Italiana di Anesthesia Analgesia Rianimazione e Terapia Intensiva (SIAARTI) Airway Research Group, and The European Airway Management Society has provided data on recommendations from clinical practice from the countrys own experience being one of the most shaken countries affected by COVID-19.

Covid-19. Italian paramedics with protective masks assist a man with Coronavirus Image Credit: faboi / Shutterstock

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in a seafood market in Wuhan City, Hubei Province in China, has led to a global pandemic, affecting 180 countries and territories and infecting nearly a million people worldwide. In Italy, the number of cases skyrocketed over the past month, and its healthcare system is buckling under the pressure from a massive influx of patients.

In the clinical data gathered from Italian hospitals in the peak of the pandemic, the experiences and recommendations from clinical practice are essential areas to tackle. The new study reported the impact of COVID-19 on regional and national healthcare infrastructure. Included in the study are recommendations based on the experiences of doctors, nurses, and healthcare personnel in managing patients in the country.

The team highlighted the key elements needed in the clinical management of the viral infection, including safe oxygen therapy, airway management, personal protective equipment, and non-technical aspects of patient care.

Available evidence

While it is true that the implementation of measures to protect the health of the citizens and the therapies applied in the healthcare setting should be guided by evidence-based recommendations approved by the scientific community, there is limited evidence currently available amid the COVID-19 health crisis. Gathering all available data on therapies and clinical practices is crucial to develop what is needed now, an effective way to help people survive.

The researchers noted that through planning, training, and teamwork, health workers and health care systems might be able to deal with the new pandemic. In most cases, clinicians rely on previous therapies and treatments that were performed on similar cases, like that of the SARS and MERS outbreaks.

What Italy is doing

The Italian government imposed an unprecedented lockdown three weeks ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus. During that time, the country has reported about 6,000 confirmed cases. Though many health experts deemed the action as too late, the country is now reporting fewer infections.

ROME, ITALY - 12 March 2020: A Police stands alone in front of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy. Confinement measures are enforced following the coronavirus pandemic emergency. Image Credit: Em Campos / Shutterstock

Today, the country has reported more 115,242 cases and 13,915 deaths. The government has decided to extend the lockdown until mid-April, and some stores and restaurants may be able to open by late May.

The country would not return to its normal activities for a while, at least not until they are sure the outbreak has been eradicated to prevent a second wave of cases. The goal of the government is to reduce the burden on the healthcare system by flattening the curve and prevent further infections.

Italys daily death toll from COVID-19 was the lowest for six days, health officials said. However, the overall number of new infections increased. About 727 people died from coronavirus over the last 24 hours, down from 837 the previous day. Italy accounts for approximately 30 percent of all global deaths, and authorities fear the number could be higher.

The country has now reported more than 18,000 recoveries. The global number of confirmed cases nears a million, with more than 47,000 deaths and nearly 200,000 recoveries.

Across the globe, the numbers are continuously increasing. The total number of confirmed cases has surpassed one million, and the death toll has reached 52,973. The number of recoveries has also increased to 210,335, the majority of whom were from China.
Rather Than Lockdown, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Says Some Communities in Myanmar May Face Quarantine
UPDATE: At 4 p.m. Friday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a stay-at-home order for the state.

Governors in every state surrounding Alabama, and now Alabama itself, have issued executive orders requiring people in that state to shelter in place, leaving their homes only when needed or to provide essential services for others.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, leading medical advisor for the White House, said every state should issue an order. As of Friday morning, 38 states had done so, and Alabama followed suit later that day.

Gov. Kay Ivey had asked Alabamians to stay home as much as possible, but resisted calls to make that an order until Friday. Iveys order places additional limits on retail stores, religious services, and personal activities.

Those shelter-in-place orders, while sounding similar, work differently in each state, setting different limits and exceptions. AL.com examined the orders in the states surrounding Alabama to see how those orders are being applied in the region.

Whats essential anyway?

The five states  Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida -- all order residents to shelter in place or stay at home, unless performing essential services or working on critical infrastructure. This would cover things like grocery shopping and buying food or other supplies. It also allows store workers, delivery drivers and other personnel to keep food on the shelves.

The orders allow for businesses that are closed to perform the minimum scope of work required to prevent damage to their properties, facilities or inventory.

Many of the lists of essential services and critical infrastructure are taken from guidance issued in March by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Florida and Georgia cite that list directly, while Mississippi and Tennessees lists are similar.

You cant visit anyone in Georgia, but you can sell them a gun

Nearly all states shelter-in-place orders prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people, or where they cannot maintain a six-foot social distance, but Georgias order signed Thursday by Gov. Brian Kemp, goes a step further, explicitly stating that its residents shall not receive visitors.

There are a handful of exceptions to this provision, including people providing health care or emergency services, people delivering food or other essential supplies or services, or during end of life circumstances. The order further states that visitors for those allowed purposes should maintain a six-foot social distance wherever possible and people delivering supplies should not have in-person contact, or enter the home unless needed.

The next section of the order specifies that the visitation rules shall be strictly enforced in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Though it does not specifically declare firearms or ammunition to be essential supplies, the order does state that nothing in this Order shall be construed to suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of firearms or ammunition, or any component thereof.

So if you want to visit your next door neighbor in Alpharetta, it might be safer to hand them a box of bullets on your way out.

Alabamas order allows people to visit the homes of people they are related to.

Tennessee changed one word from its previous order

Tennessee on Thursday joined the list of states issuing shelter in place orders by changing one word from its previous recommendation aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus.

Gov. Bill Lee signed a new order Thursday that was a single paragraph in length, replacing the first paragraph of the states existing order, changing all persons in Tennessee are urged to stay at home, to all persons in Tennessee are required to stay at home.

The rest of the previous Tennessee order remains in place, ordering non-essential businesses to be closed and defining essential activities, essential travel, and critical infrastructure which will continue to operate while incorporating social distancing as much as possible. Alabama has issued a similar order limiting non-essential businesses.

Lee told local media in Tennessee that he had issued the new order in response to cell phone and traffic data that showed Tennesseeans were still traveling a lot, but had been facing pressure from former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist and others to move to shelter in pace.

Exceptions for religious gatherings

The shelter in place orders for Alabama, Florida and Tennessee explicitly allow for religious gatherings under some circumstances.

Alabamas order allows religious services, but only if they are limited to 10 people or less and can maintain a six-foot social distance, or are conducted as drive-in services where people attending do not leave their vehicles or come within six feet of other attendees.

The Tennessee order lists under the allowed essential activities Visiting a place of worship or attending a wedding or funeral; provided, that the Health Guidelines are followed to the greatest extent practicable.

Florida also defines religious services as essential activities, without mentioning health guidelines or social distancing at all. The order lists Attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship, under its allowed activities with no further caveats.

No parks or evictions in Mississippi

The Mississippi order closes all parks, lakes and beaches, but not walking trails. Outdoor exercise and recreation is usually allowed under shelter in place in Mississippi and elsewhere, but parks and beaches can become overcrowded making social distancing difficult.

Mississippi also suspended all eviction proceedings in the state, but noted that the postponement of evictions did not remove the obligation to pay rent or mortgages.

Florida issued a separate executive order suspending evictions on Thursday, and Alabama did the same on Friday.

Who enforces the orders?

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said violations of the order would be Class C misdemeanors that could be enforced by local law enforcement.

In Georgia, violating the order is a misdemeanor, though it does not specify penalties or which law enforcement can enforce the order. The order also states that officials enforcing this order should take reasonable steps to provide notice prior to issuing a citation or making an arrest.

The Mississippi order says state, county and local law enforcement can enforce the shelter in place order, as well as other governmental entities like the state and local health departments.

The Tennessee and Florida orders do not include details on enforcement.

Can cities be more restrictive?

Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said Alabamas state order superceded restrictions enacted by local health departments in the state, but municipalities did have the authority to implement more restrictive measures if needed.

Tennessee and Mississippi explicitly allow local governments from cities or counties to enact orders that are more restrictive than the statewide policies, if necessary, to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Not so in Georgia, where the states order suspends enforcement of previous local ordinances and states no county or municipality shall adopt any similar ordinance or order while this Order is in effect.

Floridas initial order did not specifically address local measures, but later issued a clarification, saying that the state order superceded any local actions.

Local orders in Alabama

Some cities or counties in Alabama, including Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery, have tacked on curfews to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said that Mobile and other cities are still working through exactly what these provisions would do and how they are different from orders already in place closing non-essential businesses and limiting gatherings.

"One of the things very apparent is there are a lot of definitions of shelter in place, Stimpson said. Thats something we're (not only) trying to define for our city, but the state of Alabama.

Some of the other states announcing shelter in place were catching up with Alabama. Hopefully there will be some clarification. In some places, shelter in place is misleading. In your mind, youre thinking that everyone is staying home. Thats not the case. There is nowhere that everyone is staying at home."
Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the World Health Organization's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, speaks during a press conference following an emergency committee meeting over the new coronavirus in Geneva on Jan. 22, 2020.

World Health Organization officials cautioned Friday that more young people are becoming critically ill and dying from the coronavirus that's now spread to almost every country across the world.

"We are seeing more and more younger individuals who are experiencing severe disease," Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said at a news briefing from the organization's Geneva headquarters. "We've seen some data from a number of countries across Europe where people of younger age have died. Some of those individuals have had underlying conditions, but some have not."

Much remains unknown about the virus, including why the disease develops into a severe illness in some individuals but not others, Van Kerkhove said. She added that as the virus spreads to more countries and more clinical data is collected, researchers are learning about the behavior of the virus.

Most of the people with severe illnesses in intensive care tend to be older or have underlying conditions, she said. "But what we are seeing in some countries is that there are individuals who are in their 30s, who are in their 40s, who are in their 50s, who are in ICU and who have died."

It is a mistake to believe that the virus only severely impacts older people and those with underlying conditions, added Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies program. In Italy, one of the largest outbreaks in the world, 10% to 15% of all people in intensive care are under 50. In Korea, he added, one in six deaths have been people below the age of 60.

"There was a tendency for the last several months, almost a dismissive attitude, to say, 'Well, this disease is severe in older people, and it's fine in younger people,'" Ryan said. "We collectively have been living in a world where we've tried to convince ourselves that this disease is mild in young people and more severe in older people, and that's where the problem is."

Ryan reiterated how important it is for young people to take measures to prevent the spread of the virus, not only to protect themselves but also to contain the spread and protect others who are more vulnerable.

The WHO has previously warned that the virus can infect young people and, while it may be less common, it can also develop into a severe and life-threatening illness. Last month, world health officials referenced a study in China that looked at 2,143 cases of children with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 that were reported to the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between Jan. 16 and Feb. 8.

That study showed that more than 90% of the cases were asymptomatic, mild or moderate cases. However, nearly 6% of the children's cases were severe or critical, compared with 18.5% for adults.

"I think the evidence has been there all along, that there's a spectrum of severity, and it's definitely more severe in older age groups, but there's a spectrum of severity in younger people as well," Ryan said.
Exclusive: Indian rice exports suspended on supply chain disruption - industry A farmer winnows rice in a field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad

By Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian rice traders have stopped signing new export contracts amid the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, as labour shortages and logistics disruptions have hampered the delivery of even existing contracts, industry officials said.

The halt in exports from the world's biggest exporter is allowing rival countries such as Thailand to raise shipments in the short term and lift global prices, forcing millions of poor consumers in Africa to pay higher prices.

"Shipments have stalled as transport has become very difficult because of the lockdown. Drivers are not coming and labour is not available at mills and ports," said B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association (REA).

Indian traders have stopped offering quotes to overseas buyers as they are not sure when they would be able to ship their cargoes, four top exporters told Reuters.

India's export volumes have fallen by four to five times, said Prem Garg, chairman of the Lal Mahal Group, which exports rice to more than 44 countries.

India will gradually pull out of a three-week lockdown in phases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.

About 400,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice and 100,000 tonnes of basmati rice, meant for March-April delivery, are either stuck at ports or in the pipeline due to the lockdown, exporters said.

New Delhi mainly exports non-basmati rice to Bangladesh, Nepal, Benin and Senegal, and premium basmati rice to Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

As Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar curbed their rice exports, demand for Indian rice surged, but traders are not signing new contracts, said Nitin Gupta, vice president of trader Olam India's rice business.

Thailand, the only key exporter to offer rice currently, has seen its export prices soared to their highest in seven years this week.

Before the lockdown, India was offering 5% broken parboiled variety at around $365 per tonne free-on-board basis. Thailand is now been offering the same grade at around $540 per tonne.

Story continues

"After the lockdown, there will be a huge demand for Indian rice, as India is in a sweet spot in terms of offering competitive prices," said Olam's Gupta.

Since India has vast surplus stocks, it could start cashing in on demand once labour shortages ease, said REA's Rao.

India's rice exports in 2019 fell 18.1% from a year earlier to 9.87 million tonnes, the lowest in eight years, as demand moderated from key Asian and African buyers.

India is likely to produce 117.47 million tonnes of rice in 2019/20 against an annual consumption of about 100 million tonnes, with state inventories at 31 million tonnes.

If the lockdown is extended, or the pandemic spreads among key buying nations, denting demand, India's rice industry could suffer major losses, said large exporter Vijay Sethia.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Euan Rocha and David Evans)
Just over three months after the outbreak of coronavirus in China, the south-eastern city of Shenzhen has become the first city to ban the consumption of animals raised as pets that include dogs and cats.

Shenzen will also prohibit the consumption of all state-protected wild animals and other wild animals, as well as captive-bred and farmed wild animals, as reported by CNN

The new rules also ban the consumption of dogs and cats, which are raised as pets. The law would come into effect on May 1.

However, China has an extensive list of the animals that can be consumed, these include pig, cattle, sheep, donkey, rabbit, chicken, duck, goose, pigeon, quail, as well as aquatic animals who are not banned by other laws or regulations.

Authorities in the city have announced a fine of 30 times more than the wild animal's value if convicted.

"If convicted, they will be subjected to a fine of 30 times of the wild animal's value, if the animal is above the value of 10,000CNY [$1400 USD]," announced authorities.

It is believed that the coronavirus outbreak started at a wildlife market in the city of Wuhan, and authorities have agreed that they need to bring the country's lavish wildlife industry under control to prevent another such disease outbreak.

Following the coronavirus outbreak, China in February banned the consumption of wild animals.

Worldwide there are over 1,000,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, which include more than 51,000 deaths and 208,600 recoveries, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Alliance News) - Heathrow will close one of its runways next week as air traffic continues to fall globally amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The London hub will operate its landings and takeoffs from one strip from Monday April 6 to "increase resilience and safety for staff, passengers and cargo" throughout the Covid-19 outbreak.

The airport has two runways and will alternate which one they keep open on a weekly basis, a spokesperson said, adding: "Although we are seeing significantly fewer flights at the moment, Heathrow will remain open so that we can continue to play a crucial role in helping to secure vital medical goods and food for the nation during this unprecedented epidemic."

In 2018, Heathrow served 80.1 million passengers, according to its website.

A total of 475,624 flights took off from the west London site in the same year.

The news comes after British Airways said it was putting more than 30,000 staff on furlough.

The airline, part of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, has introduced its own job retention scheme similar to the government's, which will still give staff 80% of their pay plus 80% of their allowances.

A BA spokesman said on Thursday: "Our colleagues have done a brilliant job keeping vital routes open to reunite customers with their families, and bring back supplies to our hospitals, factories and shops.

"But with the challenges of coronavirus, like many airlines, we have been in touch with colleagues to advise that we are implementing the furlough scheme to minimise the financial impact on them."

Gatwick Airport has also significantly scaled back its operations.

From Wednesday, the West Sussex airport closed one of its two terminals, and its runway will only be open for scheduled flights between 2pm and 10pm.

The measures will be in place for a minimum of one month.

Gatwick recorded 47 million passengers last year.

By Caitlin Doherty, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Global cases of the new coronavirus have shot past 1 million with more than 53,000 fatalities, a Reuters tally showed on Friday, as death tolls soared in the United States and western Europe while the world economy nosedived. In the space of just 24 hours, 6,095 infected people died - nearly twice the total number of deaths in China, where the virus and COVID-19, the disease it causes, originated. Atop the grim tally of officially reported data are Italy, with 13,915 deaths, and Spain, with 10,935. But the United States is becoming the new epicentre, with 243,635 cases - by far the ...
Kolkata, April 3 : The West Bengal government has quarantined 11 people from West Midnapore district who attended the religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi, official sources said on Friday.

Those quarantined included four persons from Midnapore town. Two each had participated in the congregation from Daspur, Ghatal and Chandrakone, while one hails from Keshpur in the district.

They have been sent to the quarantine centre in north east Kolkata's Rajarhat New Town.

They were identified and picked up from different mosques and other places of the district.

Earlier, the state government had quarantined 54 persons including 40 foreigners who attended the congregation.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier said 71 people from the state attended the religious meet.

The foreigners had come from a number of countries - Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
F rom cleaner air to liberated wildlife, coronavirus lockdowns across the world appear to have had a number of positive effects on the environment.

Modern life as we know it has largely been put on pause with millions of us cooped up indoors as governments try to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But outside, the natural world has continued to rumble on, and even shown signs of benefiting from our absence

Below, we take a look at some of the notable impacts of coronavirus lockdowns our surroundings.

Lockdown in London and other cities across the world has seen streets deserted and air pollution levels fall / PA

Cleaner air and increased visibility

Cleaner air has perhaps been the single greatest positive effect of the lockdowns on the environment.

Citizens in Northern India are seeing the view of the Himalayan mountain range for the first time in their lives, due to the drop in air pollution caused by the country's coronavirus lockdown.

Those living in Jalandhar in northern Punjab have shared pictures of the mountains from rooftops and empty streets, amazed by the view which has been hidden by pollution for 30 years.

The Himalayas are visible in Northern India (@parasrishi / Twitter) / @parasrishi

In fact cities across the world have seen pollution levels plummet as people have spent less time in vehicles, offices and factories and more time at home.

Reductions in particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide have been registered in localities throughout the UK, with London and several other major cities all recording a dip in the presence of the harmful substances.

Elsewhere in Europe, cities including Paris, Madrid and Milan have all seen a reduction in average levels of nitrogen dioxide from March 14-25, compared with the same period last year, according to new satellite images.

The images, released by the European Space Agency, show the changing density of the harmful gas - which is emitted when fossil fuels are burnt.

While in China, where the Covid-19 pandemic originated, carbon emissions fell by around 25 per cent over a four-week period at the beginning of this year as authorities shuttered factories and people were instructed to stay home, according to an analysis carried out for the climate website Carbon Brief.

Meanwhile, with aviation grinding to a halt and millions of commutes no longer taking place across the world, emissions patterns in many countries would appear likely to follow the same downward trend.

WHO press conference 01/04

Clearer water

In Venice, famous for its winding canals, water quality appears to have improved amid Italy's stringent coronavirus lockdown.

Residents in the city have said the waterways are benefiting from the lack of usual boat traffic brought on by the hoards of tourists who visit each year.

Emptied of the usual array of motorboat taxis, transport and tourist boats which clog the canals, there has reportedly been a sharp uptick in the clarity of the water.

The improvement is thought to be linked to a reduced amount of sediment clouding the waterways, with the decline in water traffic meaning the muddy canal floors are no longer being churned up.

The change has meanwhile reportedly offered locals clear views of shoals of small fish, crabs and multicoloured plant-life - sights often obscured by busy boating movement in the Lagoon.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

Gloria Beggiato, a local hotel owner, recently told the Guardian Venetians feel "nature has returned and is taking back possession of the city".

"Yes, we would all like Venice to stay like this for a while," Beggiato said.

"But we need, and look forward to, the return of tourists, though maybe not the 20 million a year that we have had to cope with.

I honestly believe we should take the opportunity of this lockdown to reflect and see how we can be more organised in the future to find a balance between the city and tourism."

Emptied of the motorboat taxis, transport and tourist boats which usually clog Venice's canals, there has reportedly been a sharp uptick in the clarity of the city's waterways / Planet Labs via AFP

Liberated wildlife

As in Venice, wildlife elsewhere has also taken the opportunity presented by our widespread absence from suburban streets and city centres to venture out and explore.

While there have been a host of now debunked fake stories about animals' activities during Covid-19 lockdowns, there have also been plenty of instances of creatures across the world appearing to emboldened, and perhaps a bit bemused, by our ongoing lack of activity.

From a herd of marauding goats taking over a Welsh seaside town to deer in a Japanese city roaming the roads in search of food, the shift in behaviours has ranged between the beautiful and the downright bizarre.

Goats take over the deserted streets of Llandudno - In pictures 1 /21 Goats take over the deserted streets of Llandudno - In pictures A herd of goats take advantage of quiet streets in Llandudno, north Wales @AndrewStuart via PA PA PA PA @AndrewStuart via PA @AndrewStuart via PA PA @AndrewStuart via PA @AndrewStuart via PA @AndrewStuart via PA @AndrewStuart via PA @AndrewStuart via PA PA PA PA PA

In Barcelona, Spain, boars have been spotted along the city's normally bustling avenues, snuffling and trotting around where vehicles once jostled for position.

Meanwhile in Chile's capital, Santiago, a wild puma was captured after being found wandering around the city's deserted centre during a night-time curfew. It is thought that the animal may have ventured down into the capital from nearby surrounding hills.

"This is the habitat they once had and that we've taken away from them," said Marcelo Giagnoni, the director of the agricultural and livestock service that took part in an operation to capture the puma alongside police and the national zoo.

In Northern America, Orcas have also seemingly been encouraged to explore by humans' momentary lack of presence, with locals reporting spotting the majestic whales in parts of a Vancouver fjord for the first time in decades.

The deer in Nara, Japan, have meanwhile been on the move because the park they inhabit has become devoid of tourists - and as a result, the food they are given by visitors and have become accustomed to relying on.

Small herds venturing into the city have been spotted nibbling at flowers and plants.

In the UK, a host of animals also appear to have been liberated by lockdown restrictions imposed on us.

Reports of increased sightings of moles clambering above ground near well-walked footpaths and predictions from conservationists that many of Britains rare birds will enjoy a respite from visitors to the countryside point to wildlife benefiting from our absenteeism.

It's also thought wild flowers could bloom in their greatest number for years throughout the UK this summer because of councils cutting back on mowing services, according to research released by conservation charity Plantlife.

Trevor Dines, Plantlife's Botanical Specialist said: "An unintended but understandable consequence of lockdown may be reduced mowing that has the potential to benefit wild plants and the bees, butterflies, birds, bats and bugs that depend on them for survival."

Across the world, the lockdowns may just be showing us how quickly the natural world around us can adapt and thrive in our absence when given some space.
Two persons were killed and three others injured when gunshots were fired during a fight between two groups in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district on Friday, police said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken serious note of the incident, as it took place during the ongoing lockdown, and warned the administration officials.

The incident happened when some officials had gone to Paraspatti Majhwar village in Umri Begamganj area to probe into the complaints of irregularities in MGNREGA payments, Tarabganj Circle Officer Mahaveer Singh said.

During the probe, the complainants and a group of supporters of village head exchanged heated arguments, following which shots were fired by one of the groups, police said.

Devendra Pratap Singh (52) and Kanhaiyalal Pathak (30) were hit by bullets and the two men died while being taken to the district hospital, they said.

Chandra Mohan Yadav (35), Vijay Kumar Singh (32) and Atul Singh (19) were seriously injured, police said.

Vijay Kumar sustained injuries in the neck and has been referred to a medical facility in Lucknow, they said.

Senior officials have rushed to the the village and additional force has been deployed in the area, police said.

A government spokesperson in Lucknow said the chief minister has directed Gonda's district magistrate and superintendent of police to take stern action against the guilty and to invoke National Security Act against them.

The CM has warned the DM and SP for the incident which took place during the lockdown and ordered immediate confiscation of the weapons used in the crime, the spokesperson said.

The chief minister also asked officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured an extended his condolences to the bereaved families, the spokesperson added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:09:33|Editor: Yurou

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HANOI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Grab Bike, a ride-hailing motorbike service in Vietnam, has been suspended in the country's capital city of Hanoi until April 15 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam News Agency reported on Friday.

The decision is to ensure safety for customers and drivers during the pandemic, Vietnam News Agency cited the ride-hailing firm as saying, adding that other services including GrabExpress and GrabFood are still available in many other parts of the country.

Earlier in April, Grab has announced to suspend its car services such as GrabCar, GrabCar Plus, GrabCar Business, GrabTaxi, GrabRent, and JustGrab nationwide until April 15.
The victims of a gruesome double murder have been named.

Sonia Calvi, 56, and 59-year-old Edgar Daza were found with multiple stab wounds at a flat in Stockwell, south London, on Wednesday afternoon.

On Friday, 44-year-old Daniel Briceno-Garcia was charged with two counts of murder.

Sonia Calvi, 56, and Edgar Daza, 59, have been named the victims of a gruesome double murder after two people were found dead in a Stockwell flat on Wednesday

Police and paramedics rushed to the shared flat in Dorset Road at around 4pm on Wednesday.

Despite attempts to save their lives, the pair died at the scene.

Briceno-Garcia, who also lives on Dorset Road, was due to appear in custody on Friday at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

Five other people arrested on suspicion of murder, four men and one woman all in their 40s and 50s, have been released on bail, pending further investigations.
Swab samples of family members



of a 31-year-old man, the first coronavirus case in Arunachal Pradesh, have been found to be negative, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Friday.

After the man tested positive for COVID-19 in Medo area of Lohit district on Thursday, the swab samples of four of his immediate family members were sent for testing to the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) at Dibrugarh in Assam.

"The man who tested positive for COVID-19 has been kept in an isolation ward in the Tezu Zonal Hospital. His condition is stable," Khandu said in a video message.

The person had attended a congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin West on March 13, officials said.

Six more persons who attended the congregation have tested negative for COVID-19, the chief minister said.

A total of 80 samples were sent from the state for testing at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) at Dibrugarh and 61 were found negative till Thursday.

The results of 18 samples are awaited, health department officials said.

The chief minister requested the people to strictly maintain social distancing and follow all safety guidelines.

For unhindered supply of essential commodities, Khandu said, he held talks with his Assam counterpart for facilitating unhindered movement of all vehicles carrying essential supplies to Arunachal Pradesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Up until the pandemic punched the global economy in the throat, the airline industry had been doing quite well for itself. Consolidation of carriers and a globalized economy led to record profits, profits they put to work on stock buybacks.

Stock buybacks are when a corporation buys outstanding shares of its own stock in order to make the remaining shares more valuable. Buybacks are a favored method to reward ones investors and executives, who are often compensated mostly in stock. Buying back all that stock means the corporation wont have the money for other priorities, like say, saving for a rainy day/zombie apocalypse.

Over the past few years, the top six airlines have devoted 96% of their profits to stock buybacks and now that it has hit the fan, they are in need of a bailout. Airline manufacturer Boeing, which has been having other issues related to keeping their airplanes in the sky, did likewise to a lesser extent and is also in need of a handout.

Im not suggesting we dont bail out the airlines. When this is all over air travel will be critical to jumpstart the economy. The importance of air travel to the global economy perhaps means the airline industry should be held to a different standard.

After the Great Recession of 2008, the big banks were forced to maintain a certain level of capital, maybe the same should be true of airlines. If they come to the taxpayers looking for a bailout, there must be strings attached. The Democrats fought and won some significant oversight regulations in the last stimulus bill and they need to fight for more in the bills that are sure to come.

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Jaipur, April 3 : The coronavirus positive count continued to maintain an upward curve in Rajasthan on Friday with 30 new cases, taking the total tally to 166 which includes 29 members of the Tablighi Jamaat who were at the congregation in Delhis Nizamuddin Markaz in March, said Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh.

While 12 new cases have been reported each from Jaipur and Tonk, Udaipur witnessed 3 such cases, Bikaner had two and Dausa had one corona positive case reported on Friday.

Dausa, in fact, reported the first positive case of corona.

Udaipur, which also reported its first case on Thursday, reported three new cases on Friday who are the relatives of the first patient.

In Jaipur, 7 fresh cases were reported on Friday morning who are all members of Tablighi Jamaat while five more cases were reported in the afternoon.

"All five are admitted at Rajasthan University Health Services out of which 4 are from Tamil Nadu," said Singh.

Besides these, three evacuees from Iran who landed at Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, also tested positive on Friday.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- In the past week, four U.K. doctors have died from Covid-19; the youngest was 55. There will be more to come if the government doesnt quickly resolve the shortages of personal protective equipment, or PPE, in hospitals and medical centers.

The British Medical Association wasnt being dramatic when it said this week that health workers treating Covid-19 patients face life-threatening shortages of PPE, and asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for enhanced death-in-service insurance cover. A failure to protect medical personnel will not only threaten Britains ability to help those worst affected by Covid-19  it could also undermine the bonds of trust that have kept the country's under-resourced health service punching above its weight.

Doctors around the country are still reporting a lack of PPE, despite government assurances that the shortages were due only to temporary distribution hiccups and that millions of items have been delivered. As the hashtag #GetMePPE was trending and young doctor couples were reportedly drawing up wills, there have been reports of doctors being punished or prevented from speaking out, as if out of some 1970s communist playbook. (And this was not just in the U.K.: Bloomberg reported earlier this week that doctors and medical staff in the U.S. have also been told by hospitals theyll be fired if they speak out about shortages).

But doctors are right to advocate for better protection. In examining the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the World Health Organization found that healthcare workers were up to 32 times more likely to become infected than the general population; the degree of health-care worker infection  which ranged from 2% to more than 50%  depended largely on the preparedness of the facility receiving patients. Its been clear for some time that medical workers are at heightened risk from Covid-19 and that shortages of PPE were going to be a big problem.

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There was the tragic death of 34-year-old Chinese doctor Li Wenliang, who was initially detained by police for spreading rumors after warning colleagues of the new virus. In February, Chinese and U.S. media were reporting that Chinese medical professionals often had to source their own PPE, using tape to hold together items meant for single use and, inevitably, becoming ill. In mid-February, China reported that 1,716 medical workers had contracted the virus and six had died. Few doubt that this vastly understated the problem.

Italy began publishing statistics on doctor deaths on March 11. When I first wrote about the issue last week, 24 Italian doctors had been named as fatalities from Covid-19. Just 10 days later, the list had grown to 69.

Most fatalities have been older doctors, but that should be no comfort to younger physicians. An older persons weaker immune system increases vulnerability; but doctors with prolonged and repeated contact with Covid-19 patients, and especially surgeons performing invasive aerosol-generating procedures, are likely to experience a higher viral load. This seems to increase the risk of contracting a more severe form of the disease, where the virus overwhelms even a younger persons defenses.

The news from Italy isnt all grim. Experience at the Cotugno Hospital in Naples, in which no medical staff have been infected so far, supports the view that correct PPE and procedures can save lives. The PPE there is more like Full Metal Jacket for the coronavirus era. A Sky News report from the hospital this week showed guards in the corridors and disinfectant machines that hose down all visitors. Staff protection at Cotugno Hospital goes beyond the standard WHO recommendations. Their thick suits are waterproof. Those inside the treatment rooms with patients communicate through a window to those outside. Medicine is passed through a compartment.

Todays PPE shortage in the U.K. and U.S. is one consequence of years of underinvestment in pandemic preparedness, despite many warnings. It will take time to fix. The typical supply chain, where U.S. healthcare providers purchase from known manufacturers, has broken down. Connecting supply to demand has become the Wild West, explains Nadav Ullman, one of the founders of ProjectN95, a non-profit set up to act as a national clearinghouse for Covid-19 equipment in the U.S. They have logged more than 335 million requests for PPE for the next 30 days.

Big Chinese factories like 3Ms are focused on supplying Asian countries, so any masks coming arriving in the West from them are leakage, says Devika Daga, supply director of ProjectN95. Meanwhile, theres a cottage industry of home-made and repurposed kit to meet the need (as my colleague Frank Wilkinson recently described in the U.S.). There is plenty of poor-quality PPE being produced in China too, making vetting essential. The Netherlands recently had to recall a large shipment of faulty Chinese masks.

In Britain, where health care is socialized and procurement largely centralized, the shortages have turned doctors into dealers, where they have to learn about getting VAT numbers and customs codes. Dr. Ricardo Petraco, a cardiologist at Imperial College NHS Trust, has resigned himself to this reality to ensure his team is protected and can keep working. Im just on Alibaba.com ordering 500 pieces of kit as a trial, he said when I checked in with him recently. If it works well, well order much more as a department.

Petraco said his department had run out of visors and other PPE: I have read that millions of PPE have been delivered. I haven't seen that. We had to buy our own. That seems to be a problem around the country. Even U.K. schools have been asked to donate science goggles to be used as face shields.

I asked Petraco how the gatekeepers at his hospital and NHS Trust have responded to the new supply chains. Normally we wouldnt be able to buy kit independently. You have to go via procurement and they have to check and do quality control, he says. But the surgeons just want to keep working and the hospitals know theres a supply breakdown. They will fundamentally have to accept it as its for our protection. They cant go inside wards and start removing peoples face masks and goggles, he says.

For prestigious institutions, securing funding for more PPE isnt a problem. For less well-connected hospitals and medical centers, it may be another matter. And its unclear whether these ad hoc supply chains will work smoothly or hold up over time. Petraco later learned that the items he ordered were being held in China and Hong Kong. Another doctor who ordered supply directly from contacts in China also hadnt received delivery.

In the U.K., the problem hasnt been supply alone. Guidance was confusing and inadequate. On Thursday, after an outcry from doctors and surgeons, Public Health England belatedly announced new guidance for PPE. The improved guidance is more specific and tailored to different medical settings. The standards have also been raised for anyone using devices in an aerosol-generating procedure. They still dont meet the Cotugno Hospital gold standard.

For orthopaedic surgeons and their teams, often engaged in long procedures using heavy tools, having powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR)  stipulated in guidance from the American College of Surgeons but not in the NHSs  would offer better protection and prevent the inflammation, pain and bruising that close-fitting masks and goggles often cause. The bigger problem may be that the new guidance doesnt take seriously enough the infectiousness of Covid-19.

Because Covid-19 hasnt been established as airborne, the guidance for general practitioners and many other front-line staff is much lighter. While new research hasnt yet been peer-reviewed, theres enough to suggest high levels of viral shedding  that is, viral RNA finds its way onto surfaces and lingers in rooms where Covid-19 patients have been and in the air. This suggests that the practice in many Asian countries of widespread PPE makes a lot of sense. There is a focus on aerosol generating procedures, but not on what you might call aerosol-rich environments, says Petraco. Accepting this level of threat, however, would require a much greater distribution of PPE in all medical settings.

The shortages have underscored the extent to which the taxpayer-funded NHS relies on the goodwill of medical staff and their families. The 223 or so devolved NHS bodies that run health-care facilities around the country are known, specifically, as trusts. But what if the professionals treating Covid-19 patients or performing emergency operations lose confidence in the system thats meant to have their backs? The consequences, at a time when so many doctors have already been leaving the NHS for private practice, would extend beyond this particular crisis.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Therese Raphael writes editorials on European politics and economics for Bloomberg Opinion. She was editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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The states first coronavirus case had yet to be reported when the Right Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, mandated changes to limit contagion. It was Feb. 28 when he asked his more than 44,000 members to wish one another Peace without shaking hands and to refrain from dipping bread into wine during Holy Communion, as some Anglicans do.
Panaji, April 4 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said, that only eight out of the 46 members of the Tablighi Jamaat who are currently quarantined in Goa, have attended religious events in Nizamuddin -- a COVID-19 hotspot -- in the national capital, where the virus was reportedly transmitted to dozens of other participants.

Sawant also said, that there are around 2,500 families in Goa who are associated with the Jamaat, which is currently under media spotlight.

"There is no one (in Goa) who was in Nizamuddin after March 15. The Tablighi(s) have continuous programmes there and those in Goa, have attended programmes in February. Eight have also attended the Tablighi, but came back before March 15," Sawant said, adding that out of the 46, four were native to Goa.

On Thursday Sawant had claimed that al 46 members of the Tablighi Jamaat had turned Goa into an "unsafe zone" and stated that none of the 46 were Goans and their purpose for travelling to Goa would be probed.

Meanwhile, Sawant also said that one more person with a travel history of Mozambique in Africa to Mumbai and then onwards on to Goa had been detected COVIVD-19 positive. "He is a sailor, but he was in a government quarantine ever since he arrived back to Goa last month," Sawant said.

As of now, Goa has six COVID-19 positive cases. Two out of the six had tested negative earlier this week, but the state Health Ministry is awaiting the results of a second test to completely clear the duo as COVID-19 negative cases.
Early Friday morning, with the wind chill at 1 degree above zero, Scooters Coffee delivered 1,700 cans of cold brew to Great Plains Health.

The donation came from Omaha and was one of many the company gave to encourage workers in the medical field across the state.

Megan Moore, cardiology nurse coordinator, said she had gotten a call from her dad, a real estate agent in Omaha.

So my dad called me last week and asked me how many employees are coming to the hospital every day, Moore said. He said, Im going to ask Scooters to bring everybody coffee.

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Moore said Scooters delivered to 24 hospitals and three nursing homes in Nebraska over the last three days.

I think its important do thank front line staff for being here and doing this work, Moore said. Its like unknown, murky waters where we dont really know because no ones ever been (in this situation) before.

The tensions high and everyones just a little bit scared, including those of us who are doing this. So its just a small gesture to say thank you.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Baghdad, Iraq  Fri, April 3, 2020 07:32 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f5c6e1 2 World Iraq,coronavirus,infection,infectious-diseases,COVID-19,pandemic,health,SARS-CoV-2,novel-coronavirus Free

Iraq has thousands of confirmed COVID-19 cases, many times more than the 772 it is has publicly reported, according to three doctors closely involved in the testing process, a health ministry official and a senior political official.

The sources all spoke on condition of anonymity. Iraqi authorities have instructed medical staff not to speak to media.

Iraq's health ministry, the only official outlet for information on the COVID-19 disease, could not immediately be reached for comment. Reuters sent voice and written messages asking its spokesman if the actual number of confirmed cases was higher than the ministry had reported and if so why.

The ministry said in its latest daily statement on Thursday that the total recorded confirmed cases for Iraq were 772, with 54 deaths.

But the three doctors, who work in pharmaceutical teams helping test suspected COVID-19 cases in Baghdad, each said that confirmed cases of the disease, based on discussions among fellow medics who see daily results, were between about 3,000 and 9,000 although they each gave different estimates.

The health ministry official, who also works in testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, said that there were more than 2,000 confirmed cases from eastern Baghdad alone, not counting the number in other areas or provinces.

The political official, who has attended meetings with the health ministry, also said thousands of cases were confirmed.

The new coronavirus has hit Iraq's neighbor Iran worse than any country in the region. Iraq has close trade and religious ties with Iran and a large border, which Iraq shut in February over fears of the spread of the infection.

Iraq's healthcare system, among other infrastructure, has been stretched by decades of sanctions, war and neglect, one among several problems that spurred mass anti-government protests in recent months.

Pilgrims

Governments across the world have struggled to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States, Italy and Spain are the countries worst hit by the disease, which has infected nearly a million people worldwide and killed nearly 47,000.

The three Iraqi doctors and the political official said national security officials have attended health ministry meetings and urged authorities not to reveal the high figures because it could create public disorder with a rush on medical supplies, and make it harder to control the disease's spread.

The health ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on any such discussions.

One of the doctors said the death toll was also likely higher than the official toll, but not by much. "On Saturday last week alone, about 50 people were buried who died from the disease," he said. At that time the official death toll was 42.

Testing facilities are limited and Iraq has publicly acknowledged that the actual number of cases must be higher than the number of confirmed cases.

Many doctors blame the accelerating spread of the disease on people refusing to be tested or isolated and on the flouting of a nationwide curfew, including by thousands of pilgrims who flocked to a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in Baghdad last month.

The three doctors and the health official said many new cases were from eastern Baghdad where those pilgrims live.

Separately, some Shi'ite pilgrims returning to Iraq from Syria have tested positive for coronavirus, a senior Iraqi official and health officials said on Sunday.
Ramping up their efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, authorities on Friday announced exclusive isolation wards and initiated rapid tests in areas identified as hotspots of the deadly virus infection while a record of more than 8,000 samples were tested in 24 hours.

While more than 380 new confirmed cases were announced by various states during the day, taking the nationwide tally to close to 2,900 with at least 82 deaths, the Union Home Ministry officials said the rise in the numbers in last few days have mostly been due to one event -- referring to the Tablighi Jamaat's religious gathering in the national capital attended by thousands of people last month.

Home Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said the tally has not risen sharply otherwise due to the lockdown and the government's efforts to promote social distancing. According to the ministry, at least 647 cases reported in last two days are linked to the Jamaat congregation.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also said there is no need to panic as the situation is under control and that the community spread of the virus is not taking place in the national capital.

Delhi's tally of confirmed cases has risen to 384, after 91 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while five have died in the city. Only Mahrashtra and Tamil Nadu have higher tallies at 429 and 411, respectively. These three states were also among those reporting new cases, while fresh deaths were reported from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh among others.

At least 207 people have recovered across the country so far, as per updates from various states.

In its evening update, the Union Home Ministry put the nationwide tally of confirmed cases at 2,547 and 62 deaths.

After nine days of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also released a video message, in which he asked people to continuing following social distancing and stay indoors, as he urged everyone to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus.

There have been indications that the lockdown would be eased in a phased manner after the 21-day period ends on April 14.

The main opposition party Congress, however, said Modi failed to address critical questions on India's fight against COVID-19 in his message, dubbing it as "just a feel-good moment curated by India's photo-op Prime Minister".

The BJP asked its workers to spread Modi's appeal among the masses.

The opposition leaders also referred to hardships being faced by the people during the lockdown and the economic cost of it.

Fitch Ratings said India may post a GDP growth of 2 per cent in the current fiscal, the slowest since the economy was liberalised 30 years back, while the stock market suffered another day of meltdown and the rupee slumped 53 paise to slip below the 76-mark against the US dollar.

Leading industry chamber the Confederation of Indian Industry said the pandemic would have a debilitating impact on India's tourism sector with an estimated overall loss of Rs 5 lakh crore and job cuts for 4-5 crore people.

The World Bank, in the meantime, announced an emergency funding of USD 1 billion for India to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Support appeared pouring in from several other quarters as well, with more than 31,000 doctors, including retired government and Armed Forces Medical Services, and private physicians volunteering to help the government fight against COVID-19 pandemic, a senior government official said.

An ICMR official separately said 182 labs across country are functional now for COVID-19 diagnosis, out of which 130 are government labs.

Around 8,000 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, he added.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in an advisory, has also recommended use of a rapid antibody test in the country's coronavirus hotspots.

In Maharashtra, the state government said more than nine lakh people have been surveyed for coronavirus symptoms under the state government's 'cluster containment action plan', which started areas where three or more patients were found.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announced that the trauma centre at Dr RML Hospital will function as a dedicated COVID-19 isolation ward while the Safdarjung Hospital's super specialty block has been converted into a state-of-the-art isolation management centre in Delhi.

The government also asserted there is no shortage of medical supplies in the country. It has also placed orders to procure over 10 crore hydroxychloroquine tablets, which the ICMR has recommended to be used as a preventive medication for those involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Amid reports of attacks and misbehaviour with doctors and medical staff from some parts of the country, officials said the Home Ministry has asked states to take strict action against people allegedly abusing health workers.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Indore district administration invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in the city. In Uttar Pradesh also, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said this stringent act will be invoked against quarantined Tablighi Jamaat members accused of misbehaving with the nursing staff at a Ghaziabad hospital.

In the national capital also, doctors from some hospitals, where the Tablighi Jamaat members are admitted, have complained to the Delhi government about their non-cooperation with the medical staff.

Five people have been arrested in Bengaluru also for allegedly manhandling health workers conducting a coronavirus survey.

A Group of Ministers, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also reviewed the entire situation arising out of the lockdown. They deliberated on various arrangements being made to deal with increasing number of coronavirus cases as well as to ensure adequate supplies of medicine and essential commodities during the lockdown, sources said.

President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed concern over the gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar and the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin, saying these two incidents caused a setback to the efforts to combat coronavirus, according to a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In a video-conference with the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of states/union territories, the president emphasized the need to ensure that no one remains hungry during the nationwide lockdown, enforced to check the spread of the virus.

Several states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh announced more people linked to the Jamaat gathering have been quarantined.

Prime Minister Modi also spoke to a number of sportspersons through a video-call and sought their support in the COVID-19 fight with many of them vowing to raise awareness and spirits amid a national lockdown.

Officials also referred to the cases remaining largely under control in India as compared to various other countries.

Since its outbreak in China last December, more than 1 million people have been infected globally with this deadly virus and more than 51,000 have died including more than 6,000 deaths in the US alone.

The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted its first resolution on the coronavirus pandemic, co-sponsored by India and 187 other nations, calling for intensified global cooperation to defeat the deadly disease that is causing "severe disruption" to societies and economies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US is keeping a watch on the states that can turn into potential hotspots for COVID-19 outbreak as it ramps up testing in South and Midwest cities particularly at risk of widescale infection, as per US media reports. White House coronavirus task-force coordinator Deborah Birx said in a press conference that the next hot spots could well be Michigan, Connecticut, Indiana, Georgia, and Illinois.

Birx said at the press briefing that at least 35 per cent of tests administered in states of New York and New Jersey came back positive, and then the states later went on to convert to hot zones. So, therefore, on those lines, the US is keeping a watch on which states strike the similarity with figures recorded in New York, where 38 per cent of the total 245,380 cases are concentrated. She was quoted as saying that Louisiana, where 26% of all tests returned positive, worried U.S. health officials, while Michigan, Connecticut, Indiana, Georgia and Illinois, all stood at 15 per cent positive of the total tests conducted.

So, Brinx added, that explains what the new hot spots were. Earlier, President Trump warned the other states in a White House media briefing saying that coronavirus cases start slowly, and slowly, before flying away. He said that Louisiana was an example where Mardis Gras and Detroit were doing well, but then, cases suddenly jumped over the past few days. He further added saying that those will be the "real hot spots".

Read: NFL Medical Officer Casts Frest Doubts Over League's Start Date Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Read: War-battered Yemen Imposes Curfew Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Releases Low-risk Prisoners

They start at different times, peak at different times

Maia Majumder, a computational epidemiologist at Boston Hospital told the US media that It was very feasible that the US must brace for multiple cities or even state-level outbreaks in a matter of the next few weeks. They will start at different times and they will peak at different times, he was quoted as saying. Samuel Scarpino, an assistant professor at Northeastern Universitys Network Science Institute said speaking to a US media outlet that it has probably spread in other parts of the US, just not tested yet. Because those places havent recorded early fatalities. Co-ordinator Deborah Birx was also quoted saying that when the US looked at all the states collectively, theyre all moving at exactly the same curves, at different times. An emergency federal guidance was needed to make states understand that it looks like 2 cases, then bulged to 20, 200, then eventually 2,000, she added.

Read: Crowded In Camps, Rohingya Refugees Vulnerable To Coronavirus Spread

Read: Patriots Plane Transports 1.2 Million Masks From China To Fight Coronavirus In USA
PORT WASHINGTON, NYAs the new coronavirus continues negatively impacting Long Island communities, one Port Washington business hopes to counteract that with some positivity. Throughout town, the owners of Chief Graphix have been putting up large signs which contain inspirational messages. According to the owners, JB and Abby Meyer, the signs are meant to offer hope to anyone who may be having a hard time coping with the impacts of the virus.

Courtesy: Chief Graphix, used with permission

"We cant be on the front lines with the healthcare workers, but this is something we could do within our own wheelhouse," Abbey Meyer, who owns Chief Graphix with her husband, told Patch. "We wanted to make sure that people would feel supported and inspired during this difficult and isolating time."



Courtesy: Chief Graphix, used with permission

In the last few days, the couple has placed about 50 signs around Port Washington. Some of the messages read, "Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise." Other signs read, "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep our balance, you must keep moving."



"The community has responded with overwhelming positivity," Meyer said. "We honestly did not know how it would be received by people but it has been only positive."

Courtesy: Chief Graphix, used with permission

Although, Chief Graphix is closed for now to the public, and business has slowed, the husband and wife duo continue to work from the shop. For them, pumping out signs that lift people's spirits during difficult times offers a different type of reward, the satisfaction of making a difference in their community. The couple's "sign movement" has also inspired others to follow suit.



Courtesy: Chief Graphix, used with permission

"We have been getting many requests for custom yard signs for individuals like the ones we put up around our community. So far we have printed about 20," she said.



To further help their community, the couple recently turned their positive sign campaign into a fundraiser, charging $15 per sign. All of the sales generated from the sign purchases will benefit the Port Washington Fire Department in their quest to provide their first responders with gloves, masks and other personal protection equipment.

Story continues

Courtesy: Chief Graphix, used with permission

"My husband is a volunteer fireman for the PWFD so he wanted to do something to make a direct impact," she said.



For Port Washington residents interested in making a difference in their community by purchasing a sign for curbside pickup, they can email Chief Graphix at jb@chiefgraphix.com.





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 Port Washington Patch
Leaders of political parties in the country have commended President Akufo-Addo, for the measures he has put in place to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

At a meeting on Friday, 3rd April, 2020, at the Jubilee House, at the invitation of President Akufo-Addo, leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Conventions People's Party (CPP), the National Democratic Party (NDP), the People's National Convention (PNC), the Progressive People's Party (PPP), and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) were unanimous in their praise for the President's handling of the crisis.

The Chairman of the governing NPP, Mr. Freddie Blay, thanked President Akufo-Addo for the gesture of inviting the parties to dialogue with Government on the pandemic and described the President's fight against the disease as exemplary. Ghana is lucky to have you at the helm of affairs at this time. Whatever you have been doing is being appreciated.

The 2016 presidential candidate of the PNC, Dr. Edward Mahama, in his remarks, stated that without unity (amongst Ghanaians), this virus will devastate us. I applaud your decisiveness, and the formation of the COVID-19 management team is a very brilliant one.

Representing the Progressive People's Party, Bridgette Dzobgenuku Dzobgenuku, the 2016 vice presidential

candidate of the party, commended Government and President Akufo-Addo on efforts to combat the disease, stressing that we are quite happy. Nobody in the world has been here before, and no one here can claim to know how to do it better than anybody else. We are all learning as we go along

Let's make an effort at taking off our competitive blinders, and put on our compassionate lenses, because, at this point, it is compassion we need, she said to the political party leaders represented at the meeting

Applauding the closure of Ghana's borders, the subsequent quarantining of some 1.30 passenger, and the partial lockdown implemented in some parts of the country, she added that the PPP's 2016 presidential candidate, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, was making available to government seven (7) ambulances to help fight against COVID-19.

On his part, Ivor Greenstreet Ivor, the 2016 flagbearer of the CPP, noted that the world has been witnesses to how some governments prevaricated in the wake of the pandemic, and are now paying a heavy price for their actions and inactions.

Fortunately, this is not a charge your Government can be accused of. Your decisions, thus far, have been decisive, resolute and very important, he added.

Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the 2016 flagbearer of the NDP, thanked President Akufo-Addo for the actions taken so far, stressing that the actions have been timely and purposeful to the covid-19 pandemic that we have to fight, with the National Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, urging for unity in the fight against the pandemic.

The NDC Chairman, thus, urged all to come together, put our shoulder to the wheel, and assist government fight and defeat the pandemic.

Rationale for meeting

Explaining the rationale for calling the meeting, President Akufo-Addo explained that the consultations he has so far held with stakeholders on combating the disease will not be complete without also meeting and talking with the political leaders of the nation.

According to President Akufo-Addo, It is essentially for us to have an opportunity to exchange information with each other, and, more than anything else, to agree on the measures that we can take as political leaders to ensure the unity of our nation at this critical time, and to stress the need for solidarity amongst ourselves.

He continued, The example of our own country and countries around the world, which we are all familiar with, is that the disease doesn't have a political colour. It doesn't know Democrats or Republicans, or Tories or Labour, or NDC or NPP. It is attacking human beings. That recognition is what should drive our collective response as a people to this pandemic.

The President, thus, urged the political party leaders gathered to recognize that this virus is a threat to our communities, society and nation. And we should be able, collectively, to find an input as to the measures that, on a societal basis, can be taken to arrest the spread, and, ultimately, lead to the defeat of this pandemic.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine Anka Feldhusen has handed over the equipment worth EUR 175 thousand to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, which will help fight the coronavirus spread in the country.

"Also, Germany has sent to Ukraine the vehicles that are being used throughout the country today to inform - with the help of loudspeakers - Ukrainian citizens about the threats of the virus spread, the State Emergency Service wrote on Facebook.

Head of the State Emergency Service Mykola Chechotkin thanked the German Embassy and the German Government for the assistance and noted that Germany always helps in times of difficulty for Ukraine.

iy
"Taking our ventilators by force leaves our people without protection and our hospitals unable to save lives today or respond to a coming surge," he said. The economic damage from the lockdowns and closings mounted. The US snapped its record-breaking hiring streak of nearly 10 years when the government reported that employers slashed over 700,000 jobs last month. But the true picture is far worse, because the figures do not include the last two weeks, when 10 million thrown-out-of-work Americans applied for unemployment benefits. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Credit:AP Worldwide, confirmed infections rose past 1 million and deaths topped 58,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say both numbers are seriously undercounted because of the lack of testing, mild cases that were missed and governments that are underplaying the crisis. Europe's three worst-hit countries - Italy, Spain and France - accounted for more than 32,000 dead, or over half of the global toll. The crisis there was seen as a frightening portent for places like New York, where bodies already are being loaded by forklift into refrigerated trucks outside overwhelmed hospitals.

Shortages of such things as masks, gowns and ventilators have led to fierce competition among buyers from Europe, the US and elsewhere. Loading A regional leader in Paris described the scramble to find masks a "worldwide treasure hunt," and the French prime minister said he is "fighting hour by hour" to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep COVID-19 patients alive. Cuomo, who has complained in recent days that states are being forced to compete against each other for vital equipment in eBay-like bidding wars, called for a coordinated national approach that would send supplies and people to different areas as their needs peak. Almost 2000 kilometres south, the situation grew more dire by the day in Louisiana, where over 10,000 people have tested positive and deaths reached at least 370, up nearly 20 per cent from the day before. Governor John Bel Edwards warned that the hard-hit New Orleans area is projected to run out of hospital beds in a little more than a week.

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Centre in Baton Rouge has gone from one unit dedicated to coronavirus patients to seven. Nurse Christen Hyde said nurses call family members twice a day to update them on how their family members are doing, in some cases delivering bleak news. "To have to call a family member and tell them that their family member is not doing well and they are probably going to be passing soon is just devastating," said Hyde, who has had four patients die. As for the patients, "the last thing that they see is us telling them that they are going to have a tube placed down their throat to help them breathe," she said. "It's awful. It's horrible. It's really affected me." In Florida, hundreds of passengers on a cruise ship where four people died were finally being allowed to disembark after a days-long standoff. More than a dozen critically ill patients were taken to hospitals, while people healthy enough to travel were taken to the airport for chartered flights home.

Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe, with about 14,700 dead, continued to see signs that infections and deaths might be levelling off. France reported a surge of more than 1000 deaths on Friday, bringing its overall toll to more than 6500. It cancelled its high school exit exam known as the Baccalaureat, a first in the 212-year history of the test. "The work is extremely tough and heavy," said Philippe Montravers, an anaesthesiologist in Paris. Sign up to our Coronavirus Update newsletter Get our Coronavirus Update newsletter for the day's crucial developments at a glance, the numbers you need to know and what our readers are saying. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Herald's newsletter here and The Age's here. "We've had doctors, nurses, caregivers who got sick, infected ... but who have come back after recovering. It's a bit like those World War I soldiers who were injured and came back to fight."

Spain recorded over 900 new deaths, down slightly from the record it hit a day earlier. The carnage almost certainly included large numbers of elderly who authorities admit are not getting access to the country's limited breathing machines, which are being used first on healthier, younger patients. Loading In a vast exhibition centre in Madrid that was hastily converted into a 1300-bed field hospital, bed No. 01.30 held patient Esteban Pinaredo, age 87. "I'm good, I love you," Pinaredo told his family via Skype. "I will run away as soon as I can." The facility's organiser, Antonio Zapatero, said Spain's nationwide lockdown must be maintained.
Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Mauritanian Army units were deployed on Thursday in the Zouerate region, bordering Algeria and Mali, to stop irregular infiltration from the area, as part of the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the local press reported on Friday
Anyone traveling to Nashville who is a Civil War enthusiast should consider visiting Fort Negley for a couple of reasons.



The first is to have the opportunity to view from a high elevation the immense construction that is taking place in what is now Tennessees largest city (Shelby is the largest county). From a viewpoint on the knoll at Fort Negley observers can see a multitude of high level cranes engaged in elevating the Music Citys skyline.

From a historical perspective Fort Negley is an important part of the Civil War involvement of our state's capital in 1862-1867. Although the wooden structure that comprised the fortifications of the area are gone, much history pertaining to the area remains.

After its occupation on February 25, 1862, by Union forces, Nashville was the second most fortified city in America after Washington, D.C. The original fort was named after James S. Negley, provost marshal and commander of Federal forces in the city.

In 1865 the location was renamed Fort Hacker in honor of the death of General Charles G. Hacker, who was killed at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia.

The changing of the name of the fort was based on General Negleys alleged poor performance at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863. However, he was later exonerated of the charges and the fort was known locally as Fort Negley. Negley would later serve as a Congressman and railroad president.

After the defeat of the Confederate Army at Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862, the citizenry and government officials realized that the occupation of Nashville was imminent and an era known as The Great Panic took place. Governor Isham Harris and the Tennessee General Assembly members left for Memphis by rail with the state's Archives. When the Confederate Army under the command of General Albert S. Johnston fled the city on February 25, Union troops arrived headed by General Don Carlos Buell. Terms of surrender were negotiated by Major Richard B. Cheatham and Nashville remained under federal occupation throughout the war.

The erection of Fort Negley was originally designed to protect any attack on Nashville. It was located atop St. Cloud Hill, south of the city.

Local male and female slaves were the primary labor force that erected a star-shaped structure of limestone block.

An agreement was made that the runaway slaves who worked on the construction of the fort would have their status of slaves revoked. Free blacks were also forcibly conscripted for the work. Of the 2,768 blacks on the project, only 310 were ever paid and 600-800 men were killed while working.

Although Fort Negley was erected for the defense of Nashville when Confederate forces attacked the capital in the Battle of Nashville on December 15-16, 1864, most of the fighting was on the south end of the city.

Although units at the impressive Fort Negley fired an occasional volley toward the invading southern troops of General John Bell Hood, its role was of minor involvement. The fort remained under federal control and martial law until 1867.

After the end of the Civil War, the fort fell into a state of deterioration and was abandoned. The site became a meeting place for secret rallies of the Ku Klux Klan until 1869. In 1937 the Federal Works Progress Association (WPA) reconstructed the fort as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal.

However, the site has had a checkered history. After the 1937 reconstruction the fort was allowed to fall into ruins until attention was once again brought to its existence in the 1964 Civil War Centennial Celebration. In 1975, Fort Negley was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

In 1980 the Metro Historical Commission marked the site with a historical marker.

Rehabilitation of the fort began in 2002 with stabilization of the fort and installation of interpretive panels outlining the history of the fort. Accessible walkways were erected. Fort Negley reopened on the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Nashville in December 2004.

The modernistic Fort Negley Visitors Center opened in 2007 and includes many Civil War historical features about Nashville and other areas.

Admission to the fort is free and information as to hours and dates of operation can be obtained at (615) 862-8470 or www.nashville.gov/parks-and-recreation-historic-sites-fort-negley.aspx.

Although an administrative blunder in 2017 resulted in the removal of all of the trees from the site, both reasons stated above justify a visit to Fort Negley as an opportunity to learn the past and see the proposed future of Nashville.
WASHINGTON  Thirty-two U.S. Coast Guard personnel have tested positive for coronavirus, including two in the New York City region, according to numbers shared with the Times Union Thursday.

Thats in addition to four U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets who had confirmed cases after traveling to Spain in March.

Meanwhile, Coast Guard members are being tapped to screen ships entering U.S. ports for the virus, to evacuate cruise ships and participate in enhanced counter-narcotics efforts.

Across all sectors of the military, more coronavirus cases are being reported, as branches assist in the domestic response to COVID-19.

The news comes one day after a U.S. Navy captain was removed from his post four days after he pleaded for help as coronavirus infected the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and 17 other Democratic senators, asked a government inspector general to launch a formal investigation into the situation on Friday.

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Over 1,752 people affiliated with the Department of Defense have contracted the virus, including nearly 1,000 troops, according to numbers released by the Pentagon Friday. The Department of Defense oversees the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and National Guard. Six people have died.

The U.S. Coast Guard cases are not included in these figures because it is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard has nearly 42,000 members.

The 32 Coast Guard personnel with confirmed coronavirus cases have been isolated, said Petty Officer John Hightower of the U.S. Coast Guard. Their condition is not known at this time.

The four cadets with coronavirus never returned to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy campus in New London, Conn., which now sits largely empty as cadets complete online classes from home.

Of these four, two exhibited no symptoms, said Commander Dave Milne, an external affairs affairs officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Two had mild symptoms.

Earlier this week, U.S. Coast Guard vessels escorted the USNS Comfort into New Yorks harbor, where the massive hospital ship will now care for coronavirus patients.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

At the port of New York  one of the busiest in the nation  and other U.S. ports, the Coast Guard is also screening vessels for coronavirus by questioning commercial and passenger ship operators about what countries they have traveled to and the symptoms of all people aboard. Ships that traveling from countries with severe coronavirus outbreaks or with passengers with symptoms may be turned away or referred to the Centers of Disease Control and Protection, Hightower said.

Foreign-flagged cruise ships, for example, must be prepared to care for COVID-19 patients on their vessels for an indefinite period of time at sea or seek help outside the U.S., due to overwhelmed health care systems, a Coast Guard bulletin said Sunday. The Coast Guard had been facilitating many medical evacuations of coronavirus patients off cruise ships.

But it now appears such aid will be limited, even as dozens of cruise ships are at sea, with many near ports in Florida. On one ship seeking a landing, the Zandaam, owned by Holland America, four people have died and over 200 are ill from coronavirus.

The cruise ship industry is now under a 30-day suspension of trips from the U.S.

Concerned that drug cartels may be exploiting the coronavirus epidemic as a time of U.S. distraction, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that U.S. Coast Guard ships will now participate in an enhanced counter-narcotics effort in U.S. waters, along with the Navy and other military forces.

U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr said that American officials often were aware of drug traffic arriving on U.S. shores, but only had the capacity to stop a fraction of the traffic. He said Wednesday their new effort would double their capacity for interdiction.

Were at war with COVID-19, were at war with terrorists and were at war with drug cartels as well, said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley.
Maharashtra reported 67 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 490, and the total deaths reported in the state touched 26,

Maharashtra health Minister Rajesh Tope said 43 of these new cases are from Mumbai, 10 from Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), 9 from Pune, 6 from Ahmednagar, and 1 each from Ratnagiri and Washim. He also said Maharashtra is likely to extend the lockdown beyond April 14, especially in Mumbai and other urban areas by two more weeks.

Maharashtra traced seven persons  two each in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Ahmednagar and one in Hingoli district  who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event have tested positive. The state government could contact 1033 people of the 1,225 who went to New Delhi and has put 738 in government quarantine facilities, a state official said.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged everyone to switch off their lights, and light candles, oil lamps, or flash torch or mobile lights for 9 minutes at 9pm on Sunda, Maharashtra Energy Minister Nitin Raut released a video appealing to citizens not to switch their lights off, and light candles or oil lamps with a tube light on. He said sudden decrease in demand could lead to a grid failure, owing to high frequency at power stations. It would then take between 12 and 16 hours to restore power supply.

As of the last update of April 3, a total of 10873 persons were tested in government and private labs in Maharashtra, approximately 97% of which tested negative, and 3% tested positive for Covid-19.

Maharashtra has 2455 flying squads to screen persons living in containment zones, and has screened 9,25,828 persons, as of April 3. Of these 292 flying squads are active in Mumbai, 140 in Thane district, 161 in Navi Mumbai, 413 in Pune, 38 in Pimpri Chinchwad, 210 in Nagpur, among others.
THE government has expressed its commitment to double enrolment of children with special needs into public primary schools.

Deputy Permanent Secretary, Office of the President, Regional Administration and Local Governments, Mr Gerald Mweli said this year they have registered 54,000 pupils with special needs.

Moreover, he said the government had further selected secondary schools to accommodate children with special needs.

He said the new development comes at a time when children with special needs had either limited or schools without necessary infrastructures since independence.

We have registered 54,000 children, this is twice the number of children registered in 2015, he said.

The deputy was briefing reporters on the progress of government investment on infrastructure for children with special needs.

He said an increase in the number of schoolchildren with special needs is part of the governments bold decision to execute a free-education initiative, the plan that has enabled many parents to take their children to school.

Most of the kids were hidden. I can tell you the registration has doubled since the government moved to implement free education policy, he said, insisting that it is the government priority to ensure every child access their education rights.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:27:35|Editor: yhy

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JOHANNESBURG, April 3 (Xinhua) -- More than two thousand people have been nabbed in South Africa for failing to comply with the regulations of the 21-day lockdown, said Police Minister Bheki Cele.

"Since the 27th, 2,289 people have been arrested for breaking these regulations," he said in a press briefing on Thursday night.

Cele said that over 24,000 police officers working with defense force were deployed to enforce the rules of the lockdown.

He warned that the regulations were implemented at national levels, noting that every citizen across the country was required to follow them.

"These are national regulations, what is done in Limpopo should be done in the Western Cape. I understand that there are provinces that are beginning to come with their own regulations. The police will stick with the national regulations, don't complain when the police pounce," he said.

During the lockdown, citizens are allowed to go out and buy essential products such as medicine and food. Jogging and gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited.

During the same briefing it emerged that the state would use mobile interception to trace people who came in contact with COVID-19 patients.

"This is not spying on anyone. It's in our interest to minimize the spread of the virus, we will not take anybody's number. We want access to geolocation. We respect the fact that everyone has a right to privacy," said Telecomm and Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. She said THE government would not listen to people's conversations.
Ehsanullah Ehsan speaks out for the first time after escaping from Pakistani military custody in January.

Islamabad, Pakistan  The Pakistani Taliban has suffered major losses from American and Pakistani security operations in recent years, but its cells remain active in Pakistans cities and are still capable of carrying out attacks, a former spokesman has told Al Jazeera in his first interview since escaping from Pakistani military custody in January.

The group and its allies remain active in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan, said Ehsanullah Ehsan, once one of the most high-profile leaders of the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban or the acronym TTP, who later co-founded the armed groups breakaway faction Jamaat-ur-Ahrar (JuA) .

We cannot say that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaat-ur-Ahrar or other anti-Pakistan [armed] groups are completely finished, he said. They definitely have a set-up and perhaps they have gone silent as part of a plan. They are present in Pakistani cities and they have the ability to carry out attacks.

Ehsan  whose real name is Liaqat Ali but is better known by his nom de guerre  spoke exclusively to Al Jazeera this week, breaking his silence on how he surrendered to Pakistani security forces in 2017, and how he escaped from a military-run safe house in an affluent neighbourhood of the northwestern city of Peshawar. He also offered insights into the operations of the Pakistani Taliban and the JuA.

The interview was conducted from an undisclosed location through voice notes exchanged over an internet-based messaging service.

The former spokesman was one of the most notorious Pakistani Taliban leaders during the height of the groups bloody war against the Pakistani state, which saw more than 20,000 civilians killed in suicide bombings, IED blasts and other attacks, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). The group also killed more than 6,000 members of Pakistans security forces, according to SATP data.

Ehsan said the killing of Pakistani Taliban leaders such as then-chief Maulana Fazlullah in a 2018 US drone attack, and senior leaders Khalid Haqqani and Shahryar Mehsud two months ago have affected the organisation, but not decimated it.

Their ability to launch attacks has definitely decreased, but they are not yet finished, Ehsan said. They will continue to try to prove their presence.

Ehsan had been held for almost three years, after surrendering to Pakistani security forces in February 2017 under what he claims was an agreement that granted him full legal immunity, a personal monetary stipend and a guarantee that he would be allowed to live as a peaceful citizen.

Pakistans military was provided with a detailed list of the allegations made by Ehsan in this interview, but offered no comment. The Pakistani interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The civilian government also offered no comment on Ehsans imprisonment or escape since it occurred, although Interior Minister Ijaz Shah did confirm in February that he was no longer in Pakistani custody.

The first thing is that Ehsanullah Ehsan is claiming this, this is one side of the equation, said Rahimullah Yousufzai, a veteran journalist who has covered the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban for decades. The other side of the agreement, the other party, is not making any comment. We can so far only take it as a claim by one party.

Ehsan said the successful US-Afghan peace talks, which were facilitated by Pakistan, had served to further curtail Pakistani Taliban activity.

In Afghanistan, organisations [that target Pakistan] like the TTP and Jamaat-ur-Ahrar have to face increased difficulties when the relationship between the US and Pakistan is better, he said. The US, in order to get its objectives [vis a vis the Afghan peace process] from Pakistan, is targeting organisations that are against Pakistan.

A bloody career

Ehsan, 31, joined the Pakistani Taliban in his native Mohmand district in northwestern Pakistan, when he was a university student in 2008. Serving first as the spokesman for his districts Pakistani Taliban chapter, he gradually moved up the ranks to become the groups central spokesman and a high-profile leader in 2011.

Ehsan regularly called journalists to claim responsibility for some of the deadliest attacks ever carried out on Pakistani soil, including many suicide attacks that killed hundreds of children and other civilians, Shia Muslims, Christians and others, as well as thousands of members of Pakistans security forces.

In 2012, he claimed responsibility on behalf of the Pakistani Taliban for the assassination attempt on then 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai in her native Swat Valley, threatening reporters after the attack for taking the victims side and publishing propaganda against Islam and the Taliban. Later, he claimed responsibility on behalf of the Pakistani Taliban for killing journalists who were deemed to be anti-Taliban.

Asked why the Pakistani Taliban and its allies attacked civilians or how it justified large-scale bombings and violence, Ehsan refused to comment.

In 2014, Ehsan left the Pakistani Taliban to found Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a breakaway faction [Al Jazeera]

The spokesperson for these groups is not just a spokesman [], said Yousufzai. He had his own guards [and] was part of the decisions and was very close to the leadership council. It was not that he was just a spokesman, and wasnt involved in the [violence].

After his escape, parents of the more than 132 children killed in a 2014 massacre at an army-run public school in Peshawar, which was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, filed a petition at the Peshawar High Court demanding that he be brought to justice and that details of the agreement under which he surrendered be made public.

In 2014, Ehsan left the Pakistani Taliban to co-found JuA, the armed group formed over ideological differences with the Pakistan Talibans leadership following the appointment of Maulana Fazlullah, a powerful commander in the Swat Valley, as the groups central leader.

There was a lack of leadership, and people were very disappointed [with the Pakistani Taliban], he said. There were also [military] operations ongoing against the organisation. So at that time, in order to end that disappointment, we decided to make Jamaat-ur-Ahrar.

The JuA subsequently carried out a series of large-scale bombings, including a suicide attack that killed at least 55 people at Pakistans Wagah border crossing with India, a park bombing targeting Christians celebrating Easter that killed more than 70 people, and a bombing at a hospital that killed at least 75 civilians.

At the time, the influence of the ISIL (ISIS) group was rising in Syria and Iraq and Ehsan says Pakistani armed groups were eager to impress it to gain leadership of its chapter in South Asia.

The way that Daesh [the Arabic-language acronym for ISIL] was handling the media and its propaganda, there was definitely a race within groups to join them [at that time], said Ehsan. It seemed a solid and attractive organisation.

Ehsans JuA claimed at least one high-profile attack that was jointly claimed by the ISIL in 2016.

In 2016, Ehsan says, he developed ideological differences with JuAs leadership, and plotted to escape from their base in eastern Afghanistan and surrender himself to Pakistani security forces under a negotiated agreement.

[I had issues with] some of the organisations actions, some of the attitudes, some of the methods and the dictatorship within the organisation, he said. That is why I got sidelined and later I made an agreement with Pakistani forces.

In April 2017, then Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor announced that Ehsan had turned himself in to our security agencies. Ghafoor did not reveal any details of how Ehsan was captured at the time, but the military did release a video confession by him.

As a spokesperson, he was giving statements and defending policies, as is required of the position, [] and he was the face and the voice of the group, said Yousufzai. He was defending it very forcefully and vocally, he believed that [the violence] was the right thing to do. You cannot now claim that you were being told to say these things.

Broken agreements, easy escapes

Ehsan claims the agreement with Pakistani security forces granted him full legal immunity from any prosecution related to Pakistani Taliban or JuA attacks in addition to other privileges.

Yes, I had an agreement with Pakistans Military Intelligence [MI], he said. In the agreement, I was assured that I would be welcomed; that there would be no [court or police] cases against me; the cases that have already been filed will be finished; my home, which was destroyed during the [military] operation, it will be rebuilt; I will be helped financially so that I can once again start a new and peaceful life.

Ehsan alleges Pakistans military reneged on the deal, placing him, his wife and two children under house arrest in a safe house in a residential area of the northwestern city of Peshawar.

It was a safe house in a residential area, where all the needs of life were available, he said. But we were not allowed to leave the house and we had security upon us.

He did not, however, face formal charges of court proceedings in either civilian anti-terrorism courts or in military courts formed in 2015 to try civilian terrorism suspects, he said.

He denies persistent media reports that he aided Pakistans intelligence services by providing information that led to the capture or killing of several high-profile Pakistani Taliban leaders in recent years, including its chief Fazlullah.

Analysts, however, say it is unlikely he could have been held as long as he was without offering assistance to the Pakistani military.

Why wouldnt he share intelligence, the whole point of getting him to surrender was to get him to [share intelligence], said Yousufzai. And to show the divisions in the militant groups [and] that the policy of military operations is working very well, [] that people are being forced to surrender and are fleeing.

Almost three years into his imprisonment, Ehsan says he decided to escape along with his family, hatching a plan and sneaking out of a back gate of the house on the night of January 11.

I was under house arrest, I was not in a jail, that is why all of this was possible, he said. We left through the back gate of the house, which was located in a normal residential area. It was not in a military cantonment or any other military area.

Ehsan says his family spent several days of hard work to break the lock on the back gate, which he says was unguarded.

From a little way outside [the house] we got into a taxi that I had booked online and we sat in that and left for our destination.

Pakistans military offered no comment on Ehsans mode of escape. Previously published media reports have cited security sources as saying he escaped during an intelligence operation in which he was taking part.

Not ready to face trial

In an interview with Pakistani television station Geo News in 2017, shortly after his capture was announced by Pakistans military, Ehsan expressed his desire to live as a peaceful citizen, saying he chose the path of surrendering himself because he wanted to face the truth.

In his interview with Al Jazeera, Ehsan reiterated this desire, saying he had no plans to rejoin the Pakistani Taliban or the JuA.

After my escape, I have not abandoned my desire and efforts for a peaceful life, he said. Along with my family, I want to live a peaceful and normal life. I do not want to go back towards the life that I have worked very hard to leave.

Asked if facing the truth would mean facing a court to be tried for his actions while a member of the Pakistani Taliban, and to face any possible legal punishment for those actions, Ehsan hesitates before answering.

Let us set this question aside for now, he said by text message, after a long pause during which he recorded and re-recorded several audio messages, but never pushed send.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim.
Hubble Space Telescope has actually spotted an elusive black hole that nearly 50,000 times the mass of our Sun. The large beast was hidden previously, however astronomers have actually done a commendable job in discovering the earth awesome.

Astronomers have actually located the very best proof for the criminal of a global homicide: a great void of an evasive class known as intermediate-mass, which betrayed its existence by tearing apart a wayward star that passed too close.

Weighing in at worrying 50,000 times the mass of our Sunlight, the black hole is smaller sized than the supermassive great voids (at millions or billions of solar masses) that exist at the cores of big galaxies, yet larger than stellar-mass great voids established by the collapse of a massive star.

These meant intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) are a long-sought missing out on internet link in black hole advancement. Though there have been a couple of other IMBH potential customers, researchers think about these brand-new surveillances the best proof yet for mid-sized great voids in the universe.

Black Holes are formed after death of a gigantic star, at this stage everything starts to collapse inside the star and tonnes of mass gets concentrated in a very small area leading to very high gravitational pull such that not even light can escape its gravity.

Since, all the light passing near the Black Holes gets trapped we are unable to see it by naked eyes and it can only be seen through special telescopes. Black Holes are important as without them our galaxies would not exist and it plays a very crucial role in formation of galaxies.

It took the mixed power of two X-ray observatories as well as the keen vision of NASAs Hubble Area Telescope to nail down the planetary monster.

Astronomers have in fact uncovered the very best proof for a great void of an evasive program described as intermediate-mass, which betrayed its presence by abusing a reckless star that passed likewise close. This fascinating discovery opens the door to the opportunity of a whole lot extra lurking undiscovered in the dark, waiting to be given out by a star passing too close.

 Intermediate-mass great voids are incredibly elusive things, and so it is important to completely consider and eliminate various descriptions for each and every prospect. That is what Hubble has allowed us to do for our candidate, said Dacheng Lin of the College of New Hampshire, principal investigator of the study. The outcomes are released on March 31, 2020, in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The tale of the discovery checks out like a Sherlock Holmes story, involving the detailed step-by-step case-building necessary to catch the wrongdoer.

Lin as well as additionally his team made use of Hubble to follow up on leads from NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESAs (the European Area Firm) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton). In 2006 these satellites identified a reliable flare of X-rays, yet they may not develop whether it came from inside or outside of our galaxy. Researchers associated it to a celeb being abused after coming also near a gravitationally reliable compact points, like a black hole.

Remarkably, the X-ray resource, called 3XMM J215022.4  055108, was not located in a galaxys center, where substantial great voids typically would reside. This raised hopes that an IMBH was the wrongdoer, yet at first an additional practical resource of the X-ray flare had to be disregarded: a neutron star in our own Galaxy galaxy, cooling off after being warmed to a really heat. Neutron celebrities are the smashed deposits of a took off celebrity.

Hubble was targeted at the X-ray source to solve its details place. Deep, high-resolution imaging materials strong evidence that the X-rays came from not from a separated source in our galaxy, but rather in a remote, dense galaxy on the boundaries of another galaxy just the type of area astronomers expected to discover an IMBH. Previous Hubble research study has actually revealed that the mass of a great void in the center of a galaxy is balanced to that host galaxys main bulge. Simply put, the a great deal much more massive the galaxy, the additional considerable its black hole. The celeb collection that is house to 3XMM J215022.4  055108 may be the stripped-down core of a lower-mass dwarf galaxy that has in fact been gravitationally in addition to tidally interrupted by its close interactions with its present larger galaxy host.

IMBHs have actually been especially testing to discover considering that they are smaller sized and less energetic than supermassive great voids; they do not have comfortably available sources of gas, neither as solid a gravitational pull to attract stars as well as various other cosmic item which would create apparent X-ray brilliances. Astronomers basically need to catch an IMBH red-handed in the act of demolishing a celebrity. Lin as well as his partners cleaned using the XMM-Newton information archive, searching countless numerous observations to situate one IMBH possibility.

The X-ray gleam from the shredded celeb allowed astronomers to approximate the great voids mass of 50,000 solar masses. The mass of the IMBH was approximated based upon both X-ray brightness and the spooky shape. This is a great deal extra trusted than utilizing X-ray luminance alone as typically done before for previous IMBH potential customers, mentioned Lin. The reason we can utilize the scary fits to approximate the IMBH mass for our product is that its spectral improvement exposed that it has continued to be in the thermal creepy state, a state often seen and also well identified in accreting stellar-mass black holes.

This product isnt the very first to be thought about a most likely prospect for an intermediate-mass great void. In 2009 Hubble partnered with NASAs Swift observatory and likewise ESAs XMM-Newton to identify what is taken an IMBH, called HLX-1, situated towards the edge of the galaxy ESO 243-49. It too is in the center of a young, large collection of blue stars that may be a stripped-down dwarf galaxy core. The X-rays stem from a hot boost disk around the great void. The major distinction is that our thing is tearing a celebrity apart, offering solid evidence that it is a huge great void, rather than a stellar-mass great void as individuals normally bother with for previous prospects consisting of HLX-1, Lin specified.

Locating this IMBH unlocks to the possibility of a lot more prowling undetected in the dark, waiting to be handed out by a celebrity passing as well close. Lin prepares to continue his thorough detective task, utilizing the methods his group has really verified effective. Lots of concerns stay to be addressed. Does a supermassive great void expand from an IMBH? Exactly exactly how do IMBHs themselves produce? Are thick galaxy their chosen house?

The Hubble Area Telescope is a job of international participation between NASA as well as additionally ESA (European Room Firm). NASAs Goddard Room Journey Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Room Telescope Scientific Research Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, executes Hubble scientific research operations. STScI is competed NASA by the Association of Colleges for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C.
A woman from Baddi in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district has died due to COVID-19 at the PGIMER in Chandigarh, a senior official said on Friday.

The woman's case was earlier unreported, Solan Deputy Commissioner KC Chaman told PTI.

With this, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the hill state has risen to seven.

This is the second death in Himachal Pradesh due to COVID-19.

Earlier, a 69-year-old man who recently returned from the USA died of COVID-19 at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in Kangra district on March 23.

On March 20, two persons -- a 32-year-old man from Harchakkian tehsil and a 64-year-old woman from Dohabe village in Shahpur subdivision -- were tested positive for the disease.

The 32-year-old man was discharged from hospital after recovery whereas the 64-year-old woman is being treated at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in the district.

On April 2, three persons who attended the Tablighi Jamaat's congregation in New Delhi last month and came to Himachal Pradesh tested positive for coronavirus.

All the four active COVID-19 cases are being treated at the RPGMC.

The persons who came in contact with the three Tablighi Jamaat returnees and the woman who died at the PGIMER, Chandigarh are being traced, a state health official said.

Their contacts will be quarantined after they are traced to check the spread of COVID-19, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, imposed a curfew on Ife for spiritual cleansing against the coronavirus pandemic.

The curfew and cleansing took place between 8 a.m and 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Mr Ogunwusi made the announcement of the curfew through his town crier, Oyelami Awoyode, Wednesday evening.

He disclosed that there will be Oro (a Yoruba traditional cult) for spiritual cleansing of the ancient city.

This is coming two days after the monarch claimed to have a traditional cure for COVID-19. He said some African herbs will cure the disease.

This generated missed reaction among Nigerians on social media.

While some commended the monarch for coming out to speak on cure, many Nigerians who did not believe him knocked Mr Ogunwusi.

On Wednesday, Mr Ogunwusis town crier warned residents against working and walking in Ife on Thursday. Hence, residents were advised to stay home to avoid being used as sacrifice.

The town crier noted that the oro deity is no respecter of any individual irrespective of social status and whoever flouts the order would bear a grave consequence.

Areas in Ife where the cleansing took place include Sabo, Ilare, Iremo, Oja-ife, Ita-Osun, Ita-agbon, Iloro, Ilode, Iwara, Isale-agbara, Arubidi, and Ondo-road among others.

As at the time of filing this report, Nigeria has 184 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Twenty persons have been discharged and two persons died of the disease.
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ALBANY  The National Rifle Association of America on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the state of New York and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, claiming the closure of the state's gun shops amid the coronavirus pandemic amounts to "a pointless and arbitrary attack on the constitutional rights of New York citizens and residents."

In the complaint, which was first reported by the New York Times, the NRA claims the state's decision to not include gun shops, weapons distributors and shooting ranges in its list of essential businesses is a violation of the Second, Fifth and Fourteenth amendments.
Four years ago, when the government unveiled the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the crop insurance scheme, general insurance companies saw it as a big opportunity. Bulk of the premium was to come directly from the Centre as well as states. Customer acquisition costs were almost nil as states along with banks were sharing data of farmers. The farmers loved the scheme as their contribution was just 1.5-5 per cent of the sum assured. The Centre received kudos for using the insurance model to compensate farmers in distress. But today, all three stakeholders are dejected.

At present, the five state-owned insurers together account for over half the premium mobilised under PMFBY - close to Rs 30,000 crore. One of the five, National Insurance Company underwrote a premium of Rs 234 crore in the very first year, 2016, as against claims of Rs 70 crore at the end of the year. The first year's profits encouraged the Kolkata-based company to take bigger bets next year. In FY18, the company underwrote a massive premium of Rs 1,542 crore, but unlike the previous year, claims surged to Rs 1,741 crore. The claim ratio was a staggering 112 per cent. The story was no different in subsequent years.

The entire industry has been suffering from very high claim ratios in the last three years. For FY19, total claims have already touched Rs 20,000 crore, and the kharif claims haven't even been reported yet. Insurers' gains are not just the difference between the premium collected and claims paid, but include additional costs like reinsurance and administrative, which are over 12 per cent of gross premiums.

Blame Game

Initially, it was being said that insurance companies are making windfall gains. But those accusations have stopped. Four private insurers - ICICI Lombard, Tata AIG, Cholamandalam MS and Shriram General Insurance - have bid goodbye to the scheme. "Crop performance revolves. There will be, say, three good years and one bad year. But you cannot make money every year and you just cannot afford to lose money every year," says Anurag Rastogi, Chief Actuary and Chief Underwriting Officer, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company. At an aggregate level, the industry is losing money in crop insurance due to intense pricing pressures, he adds.

The private players that have exited may join back later, but not till the scheme remains in its current form.

While the aggressive pricing that insurers adopted is partly responsible for their losses, there are other reasons too. West Bengal recently decided to withdraw from the scheme. Punjab never participated. The onus of the implementation lies entirely with state governments. Experts say the operational guidelines set by the Centre are not being followed. Recently, the Central government admitted in Parliament that settlement of claims in some states is getting delayed due to reasons such as late transmission of yield data, delay in release of the state's share in premium subsidy, yield-related disputes, non-availability of account details of some farmers, etc.

The farming community, too, is to be blamed. There have been instances of fraud or collusion between state representatives and farmers. Many farmers look at the scheme as a dole and show lower yield so that they can file a claim for a higher amount.

The government has now revamped the flagship sch- eme for the second time since inception. The changes have made the scheme voluntary, there is a larger mandate of three years for insurance companies, reduction of Central government subsidy from 50 per cent to 30 per cent and penal action on states delaying their premium contribution. But the scheme needs a much bigger overhaul.

State, Cluster, Crop

The first step would be for insurance companies to set up infrastructure to get premium on time from states, get closer to the area to see crop-cutting experiments and build relationships with people.

"You have to manage the entire ecosystem," says Mahesh Balasubramanian, MD and CEO, Kotak Mahindra General Insurance. The new general insurance arm of Kotak Mahindra Bank will get into crop insurance only after it has attained a critical size by being in at least half a dozen states and not just one or two, he adds.

Insurers also need to build a knowledge base of the covered crops, which include food crops (cereals, millets and pulses), oilseeds and horticulture. "You need expert skill sets within the company which are mobile geographically. Crop insurance is like a caravan which keeps moving depending upon the success of the company's bids in different states," says Balasubramanian. The allocation of crop fields for three years will encourage companies to set up base in a state or a district, but the decision to make the scheme voluntary for farmers will reduce volumes for the business to be sustainable at the current premium rates.

Apart from region-specific crop know-how, insurers also need expertise in covering risk such as drought, flood, pestilence and diseases. For instance, Maharashtra has seen a perennial drought-like situation in many districts, while Kerala and Odisha often face floods.

Since the entire responsibility of implementing the operational guidelines of crop insurance lies with respective states, insurers must assess the situation of the state before bidding. "The cluster selection (a state is divided into clusters for insurance) is done by statistically proven methods," says Bisheshwari Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, Universal Sompo General Insurance. Many states, however, pick high-risk areas for coverage and keep low-risk areas out. There are also issues with state government data on yield. This data, say insurers, though comprehensive, needs a lot of tweaking to arrive at the yield because different crops are grown in the same field over a period of time.

Globally, agricultural plots are scientifically marked for insurance and not by covering district, cluster or village. One can cover plots of various sizes. Apart from this, in India, many of the land holdings are small and fragmented. "We could have a farm-level approach for insurance if land records are digitised," says Singh of Universal Sompo. Digitisation of land records is also something that states need to start at the earliest.

PMFBY is yet to develop scale. As per the available figures, insurance coverage has increased from 23 per cent to 30 per cent of the gross cropped area in four years. "Currently, only about 30 per cent of the sowing area is getting insured," says Rastogi of HDFC Ergo. A large part of the crops that are insured is that with high loss potential, while crops that are less prone to loss are left uninsured.

Crop-cutting Experiments

The scheme operates on a sample approach to discover the yield of the entire insured area. The sample yield results are extrapolated to see whether the actual yield is higher or lower than the agreed threshold yield. So a sample data decides the entire insurance claim. Experts argue that the sample yield exercise doesn't provide the real picture. In fact, a sample approach increases the risk as against other general insurance products like motor or health insurance where the actual event (accident or hospitalisation) is insured for claims. One way to go about this is to include parameters like weather, rainfall, etc., to measure farm yield.

Apart from that, the sample yield exercise is undertaken by state government officials and the local farming community; the insurers come in only for crop-cutting experiments. It is also in the interest of the local farmers or state to show lower yield to get insurance money. "It is important for insurers to have ears to the ground and be present to make sure that the process to calculate yield is done correctly and transparently, since payment of claims is dependent upon correct estimation of crop yield, based on the output of the crop-cutting experiments," says Rastogi.

Companies, too, need to strengthen their systems. At present, many outsource this activity or hire both own and outside employees as they don't want to increase their fixed costs. If companies are present on the ground and participate in crop-cutting experiments, they can raise issues and ensure that correct yield data is reported. "You also have to remain in contact with state governments to ensure that crop-cutting experiments are done timely and in accordance with PMFBY's guidelines," says Rastogi.

Focus on using new technological tools like satellite images to cover entire fields will also help. "The yield data should be correlated with mandi arrivals. There can be a mixture of parametric variables and sample yield data," says an industry insider.

The Fear Factor

The farming sector sees high political interference. In November last year, an office of IFFCO Tokio General Insurance in Pune was ransacked by activists of Shiv Sena, because farmers were unhappy with the delay in insurance claims. What's surprising is that the insurer was not covering any cluster or village of Maharashtra for kharif 2019. Similarly, an FIR has been filed against an insurance executive of a Pune-based general insurance company for not paying farmers' claims under PMFBY.

"We, as insurance companies, are scared. We cannot fight against the government or local politicians," says an executive. In fact, insurance companies are now keeping away from some states after their own bad experience or those of others. This is probably the reason why insurers didn't show any interest in covering eight districts of Maharashtra during the rabi season in the current fiscal. There was no interest last year in Manipur, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Daman and Diu. Insurers also stayed away from some districts of Chhattisgarh.

Reinsurance Trouble

Given the nature and volatility in losses, crop insurance requires a high level of reinsurance. Currently, insurers are ceding more than 80 per cent of the business to reinsurance companies like GIC Re, Hannover Re and others. In fact, domestic reinsurer GIC Re came in a big way to support government-backed initiatives. But after three years of losses, they, too, are finding it difficult to continue. For instance, GIC Re hasn't made any profit in crop insurance in four years. The combined ratio, which includes claims, expenses and reinsurance cost, has been over 100 per cent.

The losses are forcing reinsurers to separate the good players from the bad ones. "They are now charging higher premiums from the bad players," says a general insurer senior executive. They are taking yield data from mandis to put a check on underreporting.

It is in the interest of states and farmers to report correct yield data. Showing lower yield only increases the premium for the next year and ultimately farmers and the state suffer if they are not covered by insurance or have to pay higher premium.

Recently, many states drew a blank when they opened bids for crop insurance. Such a situation will not do any good to the flagship crop insurance scheme. This practically means it is now the baby of state governments.

@anandadhikari
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 09:25:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday released another 20,000 tonnes of pork from its central reserves to increase market supply, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

More frozen pork reserves will be put onto the market in the future in due course to better cater for the demand, the ministry said.

Official data has shown that prices of the staple meat in China continued to retreat as the government has been taking multi-pronged measures to boost supply, including increasing subsidies to restore hog production, releasing frozen pork reserves and expanding imports.

From March 23 to 27, the average pork price index in 16 provincial-level regions came in at 45.86 yuan (about 6.5 U.S. dollars) per kg, down 3.5 percent week on week.
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Linkedin Anton Aliabbas and Shiskha Prabawaningtyas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 09:18 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f68815 3 Opinion COVID-19,quarantine,lockdown,security,military,police,infectious-diseases,pandemic Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo finally issued Presidential Decree No. 11/2020 regarding a COVID-19 public health emergency due to the worsening state of the pandemic. Relating to the decree, he decided to impose a large-scale social restrictions policy through Government Regulation No. 21/2020, underlining the threat of 19.5 million people traveling for mudik (homebound journey) this year.



To mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic, he signed Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1/2020 that will provide an economic stimulus and social safety net totaling Rp 405.1 trillion (US$24.6 billion).



Clearly, the government is bracing for the worst-case scenario from the pandemic. In particular, to curb the outbreak, the government needs more strategies to restrict people mobility. Jokowi said the new policies would be implemented through law enforcement.



The 2018 Health Quarantine Law stipulates prison terms and fines for residents disobeying the restrictions. In this regard, Jokowi has ordered the National Police to enforce the restrictions. His earlier pleas for physical distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 seemed ineffective.



The new policies are clearly a response to the mounting pressures on the government, particularly from those who demanded tough measures to contain the virus transmission. And one possible consequence is deployment of security apparatus to control peoples movements and disperse crowds.



Our security institutions, both military and police, possess great resources, including personnel, logistics system and equipment, to enforce the policy. They also have a high-level of readiness to respond to this kind of danger. To control public spaces, security actors may form static and mobile teams in many places.



However, the deployment of a large number of security actors in public areas is problematic. Both police and military are professional in upholding their traditional missions such as combat, area security and law enforcement. But in general, they have inadequate training to handle a pandemic. Thus, without proper skills and protective equipment, which also eludes many of our health workers handling COVID-19 patients, security personnel are vulnerable to coronavirus infection. They may even become super spreaders.



To boost the effectiveness of the policies, Jokowi needs to solve several remaining problems. First, the government should issue a subsequent government regulation and health ministerial regulation on health quarantine as the law mandates them. Those regulations serve as guidance, both for local governments and the public at large during the public health emergency. The guidelines must explain in detail, clearly and transparently, the procedures and mechanisms for large-scale social restrictions.



Second, Jokowi should improve the command and control (C2) system in handling the pandemic. Presidential Decree No. 9/2020 on formation of the COVID-19 rapid response task force lacks a clear C2 system, whereas it is essential for all measures to fight the disease.



In this sense, improvement of the C2 system is strongly required. This will set a clear chain of command in the nationwide efforts to end the pandemic. Jokowi should lead the fight himself.



Finally, Jokowi should prepare another economic stimulus package to dampen the COVID-19 impact and the rise in unemployment resulting from a prolonged coronavirus crisis. Unlike regional quarantine, large-scale social restrictions do not oblige the central government and local governments to provide compensation to those affected. In this regard, a social safety net may be a good approach to minimizing social unrest or conflict.



Nevertheless, containing COVID-19 needs multiple approaches to flatten the curve of virus transmission, unless a vaccine to cure the disease is available and globally distributed.



Domestically, the government must communicate well with the public to prevent a panicked reaction and to ensure that coordination between the central and local governments work. Local and community-based initiatives to restrict human mobility must be supported by providing a guarantee of a fiscal regime to revise regional budget allocation.



The COVID-19 health protocols can only be implemented if there is transparently shared information about people infected, just to avoid unnecessary stigmatization and discrimination.



Through public health diplomacy, Indonesia should take the lead in the formation of an accountable and transparent regime of information sharing on both the people infected and health infrastructure in ASEAN. The return of more than 34,600 Indonesians from Malaysia following the lockdown there, for example, requires stricter border control.



On the international stage, Indonesia should actively promote public health diplomacy aimed at upholding equal distribution of health and medical needs for COVID-19 while minimizing economic destruction in the aftermath of the pandemic. Indonesia can liaise with developing and developed countries and negotiate overhaul of the global economic architecture post-COVID-19 pandemic.



Jokowi has to avoid any unnecessary actions, such as securitizing the pandemic by, for example, declaring a state of civil emergency. Jokowis statement about such a possibility indicates the early stage of securitization of COVID-19.



Applying a stronger security approach to contain the outbreak may lead to complications. Bear in mind that COVID-19 is a non-military threat, which is why we need more noncoercive measures against the virus and to maintain security institutions as supporting players.

______

Anton Aliabbas is a senior fellow for security sector reform at Imparsial human rights watch. Shiskha Prabawaningtyas is director of Paramadina Graduate School of Diplomacy, Universitas Paramadina. The views

expressed are their own.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
SPRINGFIELD  Mary Ellen and Daniel Petruccelli have finally found a port amid a pandemic and a political storm after two weeks at sea.

The retired Springfield schools principal and her husband set sail on the MS Zaandam at the beginning of March for a megacruise through South America just before the coronavirus pandemic put a stranglehold on travel, commerce, education, recreation and most aspects of daily life.

The couple was last ashore on March 14 in Chile. They were denied at subsequent South American ports, and more than 100 passengers and crew fell ill by March 22, Mary Ellen Petruccelli said. All were confined to their state rooms thereafter. Four passengers died; two tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Many have remained ill on the Zaandam, a Holland America cruise ship.

The Petruccellis were among approximately 100 passengers transferred to the MS Rotterdam on March 28. But the ordeal persisted as many nations closed their borders and rebuffed entry, and Florida Gov. Ronald DeSantis put up mighty resistance to receiving passengers in the Sunshine State.

Both ships floated at sea awaiting a resolution amid high-level diplomatic negotiations at the federal, state and local levels, officials reported. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, intervened early on behalf of the Petruccellis and other Americans who were essentially hostages in the nautical standoff.

Based on ongoing conversations with the State Department, it is my understanding asymptomatic passengers on the Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise ships will be allowed to disembark later today in Port Everglades, Florida, Neal said. Charter planes are in the process of being booked so healthy travelers, including Daniel and Mary Ellen Petruccelli, can return home to their loved ones. After more than two weeks at sea, I am pleased that a humanitarian agreement has been reached between Holland America and officials in Florida that finally allows these passengers to safely return to the United States.

In the most recent in a series of interviews with The Republican, Mary Ellen Petruccelli said she believed the couple would be home by Friday.

We havent had any fresh air since Friday. ... Ill be happy to breathe air other than whats in this room, she said on Thursday afternoon. Im truly grateful for the intervention on our behalf. ... Congressman Neal, and others. ... Without that, I dont know where wed be.

She said she was also grateful for technology and social media that allowed the couple to remain in contact with friends and family.

The ships docked at around 5 p.m. Thursday. Workers in white protective suits zipped along the dock in yellow forklifts, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Some people are going home on charter planes. I truly dont know what our flight plans are yet. This whole process has been all about patience. Theres really nothing else you can do, said Mary Ellen Petruccelli.
Philip Ziter, a lawyer in the Ho Chi Minh City office of US-backed consulting firm Russin & Vecchi

Most legal cross-border payments are made via a network of correspondent and intermediary banks or money transfer operators (MTO). There is no central clearing system and these transactions can only occur during regular banking hours. Transactions are subject to processing fees from multiple intermediary banks. MTOs such as Western Union are a faster but more expensive alternative, often used by the unbanked.

Blockchain technology changes all of this. Based on distributed ledger technology (DLT), each transaction that occurs on a given network is recorded. A perfect, identical record of each transfer is maintained on each networks computers or nodes. Transactions are grouped in blocks and chronologically recorded in a chain. All parties on a network can review prior entries.

Blockchain provides irrevocable, real-time, cross-border transmission. With low banking penetration, strong demand for financial services, extremely high mobile penetration, and a developing financial infrastructure, the case for remittances using blockchain in Vietnam is strong.

Traditional expense

Safe cross-border money transfers rely on banks and MTOs. Unregulated, alternative remittance channels (meaning the Hawala system) have long existed but these are based strictly on trust.

According to the World Bank, the average cost to send a remittance worldwide by any method was 6.94 per cent in the first quarter of 2019. Remittance fees are specific to each remittance corridor (meaning a source country and destination country pair, for instance the United States-Vietnam). Using banks affords a high level of trust, but the costs are high. Exchange rate losses and processing fees total on average 9 per cent of the transfer value. Using banks to remit is not always an option for largely unbanked populations in developing nations like Vietnam.

A transaction a few weeks ago underlines blockchains major advantage over banks or MTOs. A transfer of more than $1.1 billion was sent with an indelible footprint in 10 minutes. The fee was $84.

MTOs do not require access to a bank account, but are both inconvenient and expensive to use. Workers who send their salary home often queue up for hours.

Blockchain powered transactions using DLT reduce costs by removing multiple intermediaries. Blockchain-based remittance providers, like Coins.ph, have been successful in the Philippines. Homegrown Vietnamese companies have started to make headway but have yet to enter the mainstream.

How it works

A blockchain remittance can take many forms. For example, a sender with a bank account begins by loading a crypto wallet (essentially an app) provided by the remittance company. Fiat currency is used to purchase cryptocurrency from the remittance company or a third-party exchange. An amount of cryptocurrency is then transferred to the recipients wallet in another country. Funds are then changed back to fiat and transferred to a bank account.

If either party does not have a bank account, the flow changes. In some circumstances, an unbanked sender or receiver can interface with a cash point (for example convenience store chain, telco top-up card), bitcoin ATM, and even traditional ATMs. Recipients use codes which allow them to withdraw cash without a card and even without a bank account.

No matter the flow, issues which involve knowing your customer and anti-money laundering rules are real and must be addressed. Regulators take different approaches and, of course, the legal framework varies by jurisdiction. Vietnams legal framework is not yet complete.

With blockchain, users can easily and very safely remit money to family members or business partners in a matter of minutes, at a fraction of the cost. The remitter, in an instant, can confirm his transaction, without any third-party intervention, assured that it cannot be changed. When compared to traditional bank transfers, with slow processing times, working hours, and transfer fees, the value proposition is stark.

Market players are already moving into the space. Most notably, MTO market leader Western Union has connected with blockchain startup and crypto wallet Coins.ph, enabling residents of the Philippines more easily to receive remittances. Japans SBI Ripple Asia Co. and Vietnams TPBank are co-operating to launch a money transfer service on the VietnamJapan corridor using blockchain technology. Broad opportunities exist for co-operation between nimble fintechs and traditional financial institutions.

The value to Vietnam

Vietnam is among the top 10 countries by volume of receipt of remittances ($16.7 billion in 2019), amounting to 6 per cent of Vietnams annual GDP. As a point of reference, in 2019 Vietnam exported a total of 3.6 million tonnes of crude oil and received payment worth $1.9 billion.

The key remittance corridors are topped by the US, which is home to around 2.2 million overseas Vietnamese. Cambodia hosts 600,000, Japan 371,000, France 350,000, Australia 300,000, Canada 250,000, Taiwan 200,000, Germany 170,000, and South Korea is home to 170,000. This group is the main source of remittances to Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Japan hosts the most Vietnamese overseas workers with around 200,000 employees. Taiwan and South Korea hold the second and third spots with around 60,000 and 50,000 workers, respectively. The average monthly income of Vietnamese workers in Japan and South Korea is roughly $1,000-1,200, with monthly salaries in Taiwan of $700-800. When multiplied by the number of workers, this amounts to approximately $3.6 billion per year  a significant portion of which is remitted to Vietnam. But workers are faced with inconvenience, and expensive or risky options. Alternatives with lower costs and less friction can increase net remittances.

If blockchain remittance solutions can save overseas Vietnamese, overseas workers between 6 and 9 per cent in fees, then in 2019 the net additional remittance received in Vietnam would have been $1-1.5 billion based on the same amount remitted.

The regulatory landscape

Vietnams regulatory framework is incomplete. In November the State Bank of Vietnam issued an updated draft decree amending Decree No.101/2012/ND-CP on non-cash payments.

An international payment is defined as one made between an offshore payment service provider and a payment service provider in Vietnam for the purpose of money transfer/payment between a money remitter/payor and a beneficiary/payee. Unlike the current decree, the draft decree expressly regulates international payments by remittance companies.

Under the draft decree, parties to an international payment transaction are subject to Vietnamese laws on cyber security, tax, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing, consumer data protection, laws on foreign exchange control, and treaties signed by Vietnam on payment. Tightening requirements should make it easier for the government to support blockchain for remittances.

The path forward

Crypto-fiat conversion (the exchange from crypto to state issued money and vice-versa): The worldwide economy is still based on fiat currencies. By including a third currency (meaning crypto) in a foreign exchange transaction there is a conversion expense. But peer-to-peer transactions by blockchain removes the need for a bank transfer, so bank fees are saved, greatly reducing the overall transfer costs. Private solutions with seamless onramps and offramps (meaning converting from fiat to cryptocurrency and back to fiat) will be critical to mass adoption  this is an opportunity for investors.

Complexity: Understanding and using cryptocurrencies and DLT is complicated. But experience will teach consumers to navigate using cryptocurrencies. With time and experience, frankly, the need for users to understand how it works will diminish  an ideal solution just works without necessarily knowing how (think email or your mobile phone  most people do not know how they work; they just work). This too presents an opportunity for investors.

Policy recommendations: There appear to be no major roadblocks for blockchain-based remittance providers to provide a route for inward remittances. However, the legal framework is not stable and not complete. Existing law does not prohibit DLT powered remittances in Vietnam, assuming funds transferred as cryptocurrency are not spent as cryptocurrency. Even so, regulation of cryptocurrencies is incomplete. We are optimistic that additional government guidance and a legal framework will be provided in the medium term. In the interim, the government should implement a fintech sandbox for innovative technologies including crypto/blockchain.
A baby boy and girl born in India amid the current lockdown have been named Corona and Covid by their parents, local reports claim.

The newborn twins were born at the Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in the early hours of March 27, according to well-respected Indian news outlet NDTV.

Parents Preeti and Vinay Verma, from Chhattisgarh, told the Press Trust of India the names Corona and Covid were chosen to symbolise triumph over hardship.

Preeti Verma gave birth to son Corona and daughter Covid on March 27 amid India's 21-day lockdown, according to reports from Indian News Outlet NDTV. She is pictured above with her newborn children and two year old daughter

Mother Preeti Verma, a resident of Puranti Basi, said: 'The delivery happened after facing several difficulties and therefore my husband and I wanted to make the day memorable.

She added: 'Indeed the virus is dangerous and life-threatening but its outbreak made people focus on sanitation, hygiene and inculcate other good habits. Thus, we thought about these names.'

Verma said that hospital staff started calling her son Corona and daughter Covid so they decided to name them after the pandemic.

The couple already has a two year old daughter and struggled to reach the hospital in time for the birth amid the lockdown.

Indian people covering their faces with protective masks on a deserted road in India. The country is under a 21-day lockdown to fight the spread of the virus, and the closing of borders has caused major disruption in the supply of essential goods

Verma said: 'I suddenly experienced severe labour pain and somehow my husband arranged an ambulance operated under 102 Mahtari Express service.

'As no vehicular movement was allowed on roads due to the lockdown, we were stopped by police at various places but they let us go after noticing my condition.'

She added: 'I was wondering what would happen in the hospital as it was midnight, but fortunately doctors and other staff were very cooperative. Our relatives who wanted to reach the hospital, could not make it as bus and train services were stopped due to the lockdown.'

Workers prepare protective clothing and gear at a facility in India as a preventative measure against the virus

The twins were born via caesarean section following complications, and both mother and babies have since been discharged.

Public relations officer Shubhra Singh from the government-run hospital confirmed the news to NDTV.

People keep personal items and bags inside marked areas as women queue to receive free rice distributed at a government civil supply store during the lockdown

However, the Corona and Covid'a parents did say they may later change their decision and rename them.

India is currently in the grips of a 21-day lockdown in a bid to tackle rising coronavirus cases.

The latest figures reveal that more than 2,300 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 across India with 56 people having died.

The Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital was contacted for comment.
A brave 14-year-old girl told police a 31-year-old man sexually assaulted her repeatedly over a 4-year period, beginning when she was just 8 years old.

In doing so, the girl helped put Edward Boyd, 31, of DuBois, Pa., in state prison in 2019.

But all along, Boyd was allegedly raping another girl, police tell WJAC-TV in Johnstown.

As a result, Boyd, who is already serving a state prison sentence in the original case, now faces an additional 200 felony counts of various child rape and assault charges, WJAC reports.

The first girl to come forward told authorities Boyd had raped both her and another girl from the time she was 8 years old and continued to do so until she was 12.

When police asked Boyd how many times he assaulted the latest victim, he replied, "I'd say 40 times," according to the criminal compliant cited by WJAC.

Police say that admission came when they interviewed Boyd in March, after the latest girl came forward.

Police say Boyd admitted assaulting the girls at his apartment in Sandy Township, Clearfield County.

According to the complaint, Boyd blamed it all on his addiction to crystal meth.

WJAC-TV cites court documents showing Boyd has been jailed at SCI Laurel Highlands since his original 2019 conviction involving one of the two girls.

He now faces an additional 200 felony counts of various child rape and assault charges stemming from the allegations made by the second girl.

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All dressed up and looking gorgeous in stunning ensembles, Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan and Sara Ali Khan among many others celebrated the festival of lights with their near and dear ones. Image Source: PK

Mumbai, April 3 : Bollywood stars have taken up the responsibility to spread the word about the Maharashtra government's free distress helpline to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.

Amitabh Bachchan tweeted: "Individuals who are distressed during this Pandemic ..the government of Maharashtra, BMC and Mpower 1on1 have created a free helpline to support you at this difficult time. Call 1800-120-820050 to speak to a mental health professional. #LetsTalk1on1".

In a video he shared with fans, Hrithik Roshan said: "Let's talk about COVID 19, about anxiety, about isolation, about fear, about uncertainty, what's real, what's not, about coping. What's on your mind? Let's talk one on one. We are here to listen." The helpline information has also been shared by other Bollywood stars such as Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan among others.

Meanwhile, Bollywood celebs have also used social media to condemn the gruesome incidents of physical assault and stone pelting at doctors and cops in different parts of the country including Indore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad among other places.
Governor Bill Lee and members of the Unified Command group traveled to Knoxville and Chattanooga on Friday to meet with local leaders and discuss surge planning efforts in these areas.

One issue that was addressed is how Hamilton County can ramp up its testing.

Governor Lee said, "We talked specifically about that today with the leadership from this community about how we can better coordinate the capacity. Because we do have the capacity for testing here, we just need to make sure that all the medical providers, all the hospitals, all the health departments, are coordinating our efforts to ramp up that testing."

It began testing Friday morning by appointment and carried out 24 tests. Officials said the site at the vehicle emissions station on Bonnyshire Drive would be open three days next week. The tests are taken to the lab at Baylor School.

A mechanic said he has been ill, but needs to get back to work. He said his doctor was willing to send him for the test. However, he said the doctor's office would not call the Health Department and the Health Department would not call the doctor.



Governor. Lee signed Executive Order 24 which includes the following provisions:

-Gives Commissioner of Health authority to allow post-degree, pre-licensed mental or behavioral health professionals to treat patients through telemedicine under the supervision of a licensed professional.

-Extends payment due date for the professional privilege tax from June 1 to July 1.

-Suspends until July 1 the April 6 deadline for filing applications for property tax relief and tax freezes, so that elderly and other vulnerable populations will not have to visit public buildings to apply.

-Gives the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development the discretion to require a terminating employers information faster (within 4 days, rather than 7 days) in the unemployment benefits claims process, in order to speed up processing of benefits.

-Extends price gouging law for another 15-day period (it can only be invoked for 15 days at a time)

-Suspends expiration of marriage licenses, which normally happens within 30 days of obtaining the license if no ceremony is held, between March 12 and May 31 is until June 30, so that those delaying their weddings because of COVID-19 dont have to pay for a new license.

-Suspends due dates for filing statements of interest with Tennessee Ethics Commission and Governors Office to July 15, so that it is consistent with the federal tax return filing deadline.

-Extends deadline for previously certified law enforcement officers in Tennessee or another state that are beginning work as full-time law enforcement officers to complete certain introductory POST Commission courses.

-Allows motor vehicle dealers to record their interest in financed vehicles with the Secretary of State while county offices are closed.

-Extends due dates for driver license reinstatement installment payments for those on payment plans until June 17.

-Provides flexibility for Tennessee Corrections Institute county jail plans in light of COVID-19 conditions .

- Suspending the requirement that funds provided to the state at walk-in state service locations be deposited within 24 hours if needed to safeguard the health, welfare, and safety of state employees.
F rance's prime minister today said he was fighting hour by hour to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep Covid-19 patients alive in intensive care amid soaring global demand.

Edouard Philippe said worldwide usage of the drugs and disposable equipment such as ventilator mouthpieces was exploding in unimaginable proportions.

He reported a nearly 2,000 per cent increase in demand because it is happening everywhere in the world and at the same time.

Mr Philippe said France had sufficient stocks of some of the key ICU drugs but more limited quantities of others, causing real worry for medics, adding that he and President Emmanuel Macron had been calling producers to identify supply bottlenecks and source more of the drugs.

AFP via Getty Images

France has recorded nearly 60,000 cases of coronavirus and has one of the worlds highest death tolls, currently more than 5,300.

To deal with the alarming numbers of dead, part of Europes largest wholesale food market was being converted into a mortuary and funeral home.

Police in Paris decided to open a hall at Rungis market for the storage of bodies and coffins, starting today. Families will be able to pay respects to their loved ones beginning next week.

The hall is located in an isolated area of the massive food depot, which supplies stores and other food outlets.

In Spain, which today reported 932 more deaths, bringing its overall toll to nearly 11,000, a hospital library outside Barcelona has been converted into a makeshift intensive care unit. The bookshelves of the Germans Trias i Pujol library at Badalona have been removed to make room for up to 20 beds, ventilators and other medical equipment after the rest of the hospital became flooded with coronavirus patients.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /60 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

Germanys death toll today climbed above 1,000 as Chancellor Angela Merkel ended her self-quarantine after coming into contact with someone who had the virus. Officials announced 145 more deaths, with positive cases rising by 6,174 to a total of 79,696.

In Moscow, police detained activists trying to deliver protective equipment to a hospital amid widespread reports of shortages of masks and suits.

Members of the Alliance of Doctors union, supported by opposition politician Alexei Navalny, started a fundraising campaign this week to buy protective gear for hospitals in need.




The recently shelter-in-place orders have forced many people to hunker down indoors. Without many places to go to, a lot of Americans turned to in-person activities online. Zoom, one of the most popular video-conferencing platform in the market, saw a rise in users, enabling millions to keep in touch with family and friends.

In the last month alone, the app's download page saw a 535% rise in daily traffic. It also became the most downloaded app in the Apple Store. Politicians and high-profile figures also utilize Zoom for business purposes.

With the rise of users come many concerns about the app's security, how safe is it?

A recent inquiry brought to attention Zoom's data-mining feature where it secretly displayed data from people's LinkedIn profiles---a feature that could be used to snoop on participants during meetings without their knowledge.

The issue was brought to light on Thursday after an analysis conducted by The New York Times found that when a person enters a meeting, their information, including their name and email address, is immediately sent to a company system that matches the procured information to LinkedIn profiles.

The analysis also discovered that some participants were given access to sensitive information without the knowledge of the other parties, effectively allowing them to snoop on the participants.

The undisclosed data mining led to growing concerns about the company's business practices. The security concerns have become more urgent as more users, including health providers, teachers, and government officials, are embracing the video-conferencing platform.

The feature was made available to users who subscribed to LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Once the feature is enabled, Zoom users could easily view all data in a participant's LinkedIn profile which may include location, employers, and job titles.

The Times also found that users who signed in to a Zoom meeting under a different name or complete anonymity will still have their LinkedIn profile displayed---a process that overrides the person's efforts to keep his identity private.

The app was also revealed to send personal information to its data-mining tool even when no one turned the tool on.



The app faced numerous security and safety issues in recent weeks. On March 30, the FBI announced the launch of an investigation following an increase in the number of video hijacking cases.

Authorities discovered short number-based URLs generated by the hackers gave them access to video meetings where they often hurled racial slurs or threats at participants.

In 2019, Zoom had installed a hidden web server that allowed others to add unknowing users to a call. A user also found a bug that lets hackers tap into a Mac user's webcam and microphone.

The app also features an "attention tracker" where hosts will be notified should a participant stay away from the Zoom window for 30 seconds or more.

An associate computer science professor, Arvind Narayanan, said the number of security issues Zoom had in the past makes it dangerous.

"Let's make this simple," he said. "Zoom is malware."

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In the wake of the financial crisis, Congress passed regulations limiting the types of investments that banks could make into private equity and venture capital funds. As cash strapped investors pull back on commitments to venture funds given the precipitous drop of public market stocks, loosening restrictions on the how banks invest cash could be a lifeline for venture funds.

That's the position that the National Venture Capital Association is taking on the issue in comments sent to the chairs of the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and the Commodities Future Trading Commission.

The proposed revisions of the Volcker Rule would exclude qualifying venture capital funds from the covered fund definition.

"The loss of banking entities as limited partners in venture capital funds has had a disproportionate impact on cities and regions with emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems -- areas outside of Silicon Valley and other traditional technology centers," NVCA president and chief executive Bobby Franklin wrote. "The more challenging reality of venture fundraising in these areas of the country tends to require investment from a more diverse set of limited partners."

Franklin cited the case of Renaissance Venture Capital, a Michigan-based regionally focused fund that estimated the Volcker Rule cost them $50 million in potential capital commitments resulting in the loss of a potential $800 million in capital invested in the state of Michigan.

"This narrative unfortunately repeats itself, as we have heard firsthand from investors about how the Volcker Rule has affected venture capital investment and entrepreneurial activity across the country," wrote Franklin. "The majority of these concerns about the Volcker Rule have come from members located in regions with emerging ecosystems, including states like Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Virginia, to name a few."

Story continues

It's not only small states that could be impacted by the decision to reverse course on banking investments into venture firms in these uncertain times.

There's a growing concern among venture investors that -- just like in 2008 -- their limited partners might find that they're over-allocated into venture investments given the decline in markets, which would force them to pull back on making commitments to new funds.

"Institutional LPs will run into the same issues they had in 2008. If you used to manage $10B and the market declines and you now manage $6B, the percentage allocated to private equity has now increased relative to the whole portfolio," Hyde Park Ventures partner, Ira Weiss told a Forbes columnist in a March interview. "Theyre really not going to look at new managers. If youve done really well as a manager, they will probably re-up but may reduce commitment amounts. This will bleed backwards into the venture market. This is happening at a time when Softbank has already had a lot of trouble and people had not really modulated for that yet, but now they will."

Some of the largest investment funds have already closed on capital, insulating them from the worst hits. These include funds like New Enterprise Associates and General Catalyst . But newer funds are going to have a harder time raising. For them, giving banks the ability to invest in venture firms could be a big boon -- and a confidence boost that the industry needs at a time when investors across the board are getting skittish.

"Fundraising for new funds in 2020 and 2021 might prove to be more difficult as asset managers think about rebalancing their portfolio and/or protecting their assets from the current volatility in the market," Aaron Holiday told Forbes . "This means that VC investing could slow down in 12  24 months after the most recent wave of funds (i.e. 2018 and 2019 vintages) are fully deployed.
Fears about the devastating toll the virus is taking on nursing homes have escalated after it was revealed four elderly residents in one facility died from the infection which also struck 89 others there, mostly staff.

Several residents of the HSE-run Peamount Hospital long-term care centre in Dublin are currently being treated for the virus and another public home has had to be closed to new admissions.

It comes as another 13 people have died from the virus here, increasing the numbers of people who have succumbed to the infection to 98.

Yesterday also saw a record 402 new cases, driving the total so far to up to 3,489.

Emptiness

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the daily growth in new cases fell to around 10pc - compared to 33pc before emergency measures - but it is still not enough to avoid hospitals buckling under the strain if there is a huge surge.

Dr Holohan, who attended St James's Hospital for tests for non-Covid-19 symptoms after he felt unwell on Tuesday, revealed he is now fine and on new medication.

But he said he was struck by the emptiness of the hospital's emergency department and he appealed to people not to be afraid to seek medical help if they need urgent care for any illness, "lumps, chest pain or other concerns".

"I would also like to highlight a worrying scene I witnessed during my visit to hospital on Tuesday evening - empty waiting rooms and empty beds," he said.

"While protecting yourself from Covid-19 is a priority, no one should ignore signs that they may need medical attention.

"Please do not ignore any symptom outside of Covid-19. The hospitals are there for all ailments, not just Covid-19."

Earlier, Fianna Fail TD Stephen Donnelly told the Dail of one nursing home where four residents died and 89 staff and residents also contracted the infection.

Mr Donnelly said it has 200 staff and 70 of them have tested positive for coronavirus.

Of the 100 residents, 19 have tested positive and four have died. Some kitchen and cleaning staff have left.

The number of clusters of the virus in nursing homes has risen to 29 and there are also worrying outbreaks in public long-stay facilities as well as residential homes.

Dr Holohan said that some residents have died in the facility where they were cared for.

Catherine Cox, of Family Carers Ireland, expressed her concern following an agreement to ask hundreds of HSE carers who look after people in their own homes to transfer to nursing homes to relieve staff shortages.

Some carers have been freed up because their clients are self-isolating but Ms Cox warned it is important that people who need home care do not fall through the cracks of the care system.

Dr Holohan revealed 932 people with the virus have been hospitalised so far and 134 patients admitted to intensive care.

Among those who were admitted to intensive care, 14 lost their lives but he said that 25 recovered enough to be discharged. He added that 109 remain in intensive care with a median age of 62.
Trump Invokes Defense Production Act for More Companies, Including 3M

The Trump administration said it has invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) with respect to multiple companies to step up production of equipment amid the COVID-19 supply crunch.

The separate DPA actions relate to ventilators and masks.

Today, I have issued an order under the Defense Production Act to more fully ensure that domestic manufacturers can produce ventilators needed to save American lives, Trump wrote in a statement issued by the White House on April 2.

The president said the order would save lives by removing obstacles in the supply chain that threaten the rapid production of ventilators, key devices in the fight against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus as they help keep seriously ill patients alive by delivering oxygen to the lungs.

Trump specified a number of domestic manufacturers, including General Electric, Hill-Rom, Medtronic, ResMed, Royal Philips, and Vyaire Medical, adding that the order would help companies obtain the supplies they need to build ventilators.

I am grateful to these and other domestic manufacturers for ramping up their production of ventilators during this difficult time, the president said in the statement, adding the devices were needed to defeat the virus.

Separately, the president singled out 3M in an April 2 memorandum ordering the Secretary of Homeland Security to use any and all authority available under the Act to acquire, from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company, the number of N95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate.

American companies, including 3M, have stepped up production to around 50 million masks per month in the United States, far short of the estimated 300 million per month needed to fight the outbreak, according to The Wall Street Journal.

At a White House briefing on the CCP virus pandemic earlier on Thursday, Trump announced he had signed a DPA order for 3M to produce face masks. Hopefully theyll be able to do what they are supposed to do, he said.

Later in the day, Trump wrote a tweet saying, We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their masks, in an apparent reference to reports that 3M had been exporting many of its masks to other countries instead of reserving them for domestic use.

P Act. all the way, Trump continued, with P apparently referring to the Defense Production Act. Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doingwill have a big price to pay!

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said at the briefing, Weve had some issues making sure that all of the production that 3M does around the world, enough of it is coming back here to the right places.

In a segment of his show on Fox News, Tucker Carlson spoke to Jared Moskowitz from the Florida Division of Emergency Management about efforts to obtain 3M masks.

Since when do we have a U.S. company that sells masks, and I try to offer them money, and they wont sell them to me? That I have to go through their authorized distributors, and their only excuse is that they dont have a perfect system, Moskowitz complained on the show.

Moskowitz said 3M distributors told him procurers from abroad were buying up masks ahead of U.S. states.

Following the announcement of the DPA order, 3M said in a statement on Friday it would work closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to increase the production of respirators.

We appreciate the authorities in the DPA that provide a framework for us to expand even further the work we are doing in response to the global pandemic crisis, the company stated.

In the course of our collaboration with the administration this past weekend, the administration requested that 3M increase the amount of respirators we currently import from our overseas operations into the United States. We appreciate the assistance of the administration to do exactly that. For example, earlier this week, we secured approval from China to export to the United States 10 million N95 respirators manufactured by 3M in China, 3M said.

The administration also requested that 3M cease exporting respirators that we currently manufacture in the United States to the Canadian and Latin American markets, the company continued.

There are, however, significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to healthcare workers in Canada and Latin America, where we are a critical supplier of respirators. In addition, ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done. If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease, the company said.

That is the opposite of what we and the administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek, 3M stated.
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(Kitco News) - Great Panther Mining Ltd. (TSX: GPR; NYSE American: GPL) has begun ramping down mining and processing at the Guanajuato Mine Complex and Topia Mine until April 30, making it another of the many producers curtailing mining in response to a directive from the Mexican government to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said late Thursday.

Monthly production from Great Panther's Mexican operations accounts for approximately 2% of annual consolidated production on a gold-equivalent ounce basis, and the company's Tucano Mine in Brazil accounts for the remainder of production, Great Panther said in a prepared statement.

Mining and processing at Tucano have not been interrupted so far.

The company has been in dialogue with the relevant government authorities, including communication regarding the enhanced safety protocols that have been implemented to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection at Tucano and surrounding communities, Great Panther said. The company has prepared contingency plans in the event that there is a full or partial shutdown and is prepared to act quickly to implement them.

Great Panther said there are no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 at any of its mining operations or corporate offices.

When releasing financial results at the start of the week, Great Panther reported 2019 output of 146,853 gold-equivalent ounces.
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Photo by Brian Miller [enlarge] The bank was constructed in 1967. No new plans have been filed for the property.





The iconic, flying-saucer-like US Bank branch at 303 S. Michigan St. sold last month for $2.4 million, according to King County records. The seller was the bank.





. . .
WASHINGTON  The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the office leading the federal governments coronavirus response nationwide, is running short of employees who are trained in some of its most important front-line jobs, according to interviews with current and former officials.

At the same time, the agency has been forced to halt a major hiring initiative, and has closed training facilities to avoid spreading the infection.

The number of available personnel who are qualified to lead field operations has fallen to 19 from 44 in less than six weeks, and staff members have been pulled from responding to other disasters, but training centers in Maryland and Alabama have been shuttered until mid-May. In addition, an effort to recruit new employees called Harness is on hold, according to a senior administration official with direct knowledge of FEMAs operations.

With wildfire season looming and hurricane season starting in less than two months, the shortfalls could complicate federal response to disasters nationwide.
(Newser)  The captain of a Navy aircraft carrier fired Thursday after asking superiors to let him evacuate crew members sick from the coronavirus received a heartfelt goodbye from the sailors in his charge. Per USA Today, videos on social media showed rousing shows of support Friday aboard the USS Roosevelt, now docked in Guam, in a send-off for Capt. Brett Crozier. "Now that's how you send out one of the greatest captains you ever had!" one man in a clip shown on Facebook proclaimed. The man in the video added, "The GOAT [Greatest Of All Time], the man for the people." In another video, along with the caption "So long to our hero Captain Crozier," a man (apparently Crozier) strolls down the ship's gangway and to a waiting car, to cheers, applause, and chants of "Captain Crozier! Captain Crozier!"

story continues below

Crozier was relieved of his command after sending an urgent memo on Sunday to the Navy, asking to get sick crew members off the ship and into isolation. The letter ended up getting leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle, which published it. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly says Crozier was let go because he sent the letter via "non-secure unclassified email" to a "broad array of people." Modly added that Crozier showed "extremely poor judgment" and incited "panic" on the ship. In a statement to NBC News, sailors from the ship said, "Modly has broken faith with the crew" and that "there was nothing alarming or sensationalist in Capt. Crozier's letter. It was simply a recitation of the bleak facts facing this warship. Capt. Crozier has the full faith and confidence of this crew, who would sail with him again at a moment's notice." (Read more coronavirus stories.)
Mark Webber realises that Formula 1 is facing an enormous challenge and that eight Grands Prix have already been cancelled. The king's class of motor racing would like to start again as soon as possible, so that as many weekends as possible can be scheduled, but for the time being the coronavirus doesn't allow this. The former Formula 1 driver strongly doubts whether it is possible to drive before August.

"It's a ginormous headache," Webber talks to Precision Hydration. The Australian explains why. "Because Formula 1 is an extraordinary, fast-moving business. It's a global sport, freight is an issue and logistically it's one of the most challenging sports."

Where is F1 going to start?

When and where Formula 1 can start again is as yet unclear. For the time being the first Grand Prix is planned for mid-June in Canada, but its continuation is very uncertain. After that, weekends are planned in France, Austria and Great Britain, but there the coronavirus has also hit the ground running. The first weekend of August is still planned for the Hungarian GP.

Therefore Webber thinks that July is not realistic to start again. "I think that's very, very optimistic", he says. The former driver of Red Bull Racing, among others, says in the interview that shortening a Grand Prix weekend to two days is a 'great idea'.
The police found and fined every person who escaped from the observation at Kozatsky hotel as 112 Ukraine TV channel reported citing Deputy Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko.

Each person who escaped from observation at Kozatsky hotel was found, each of them received a protocol on the violation of the quarantine and they will pay fine in the sum of 17,000 hryvnia ($620). They should continue to stay home, he stated.

Herashchenko promised to report about all facts of response to the violation.

Those, who came from abroad might be the carriers of the virus or not. 14 days at home is not a big price to keep health and lives of other people, he explained.

As we reported, over 50 people escaped from observation at Kozatsky hotel in Kyiv. They recently returned from abroad.

On March 30, the Ukrainians who returned from Bali and Qatar were transferred to Kozatsky hotel for observation. Three buses accompanied by police proceeded to the observation place from the airport. Later, the Ukrainians started to leave the place of observation.

Due to this fact, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov believes that the further evacuation of Ukrainians from abroad would be inappropriate.
A 92-year-old womans home has been ransacked by burglars who claimed one of her neighbours had died of coronavirus.

The men knocked on the door of the victims home in Oldham on Thursday evening, and offered to clean her house for her, police said.

While she was fetching them products to use, they stole belongings including her purse, money and jewellery.

The appalling crime came after police warnings over a range of scams targeting elderly and vulnerable people.

They include people posing as coronavirus testers to gain entry to homes, online fraudsters and people offering to do shopping and then keeping peoples money.

Greater Manchester Police said the victim of the Oldham burglary was not injured but had been left distraught.

Two offenders knocked on the victims door and falsely explained that the womans neighbour had died of coronavirus, a spokesperson added.

In light of this, they offered to clean her house for her and presented themselves as a friendly, helping hand.

However, whilst the woman was fetching the men some cleaning products, the two offenders stole a number of items from the victims house. These belongings included a purse, money and jewellery.

The suspects were wearing all black. One had an olive complexion and the other was wearing a bobble hat.

Chief Inspector Trevor Harrison said: This is an absolutely appalling crime, which has taken advantage of a vulnerable and elderly woman at a time where we, as a society, should be looking out for her. This is the lowest of the low.

I would make a direct appeal to anyone who was in the local area around the time of the incident to please get in touch with us at the earliest opportunity. Sometimes, even the smallest detail can progress our investigation and help us bring those responsible to justice.

At a press briefing last Friday, the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council said coronavirus was changing crime in Britain.

Some opportunists are exploiting the pandemic, Martin Hewitt added.

We are monitoring demand changing and the changes in type of crimes were seeing."

Police forces have drawn up contingency plans for having up to a fifth of officers and staff at any one time, which will see them priotise how they respond to calls.

At least one officer and one member of police staff have so far died in Britain.

Anyone with information on the Oldham burglary is asked to contact police on 0161 856 8922, quoting incident number 2104.
The announcement of a 21-day lockdown was meant to control the spread of coronavirus, but it had some unforeseen results too. The migrant labour force in major cities was left with no other alternative but to head home to their villages because the factories and businesses that employed them shut down. A massive exodus is now underway across the nation, and though the various authorities have taken measures, there are lakhs without a roof over their heads or any food to eat. This is how they are coping.


A teenager has been charged after a pig's head was left on a female police officer's car in south-west London.

Tye Farrar, 19, was charged with a public order offence over the incident in Hackbridge accused of intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress.

The pigs head was found on the car of a British Transport Police (BTP) officer on Thursday morning.

A BTP spokesman said: We are aware of a Metropolitan Police investigation into an incident in Hackbridge yesterday morning (2 April).

A 19-year-old man has now been charged with a public order offence.

We will be supporting the victim, a serving BTP officer, throughout, and offering any assistance as would be usual in such a case.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the scene just after 6.10am on Thursday.
Could a common vaccine used for decades to protect against tuberculosis help shield health workers from COVID-19? While developing a specific immunisation against the coronavirus sweeping the planet will likely take many months, researchers are studying the potential benefits of the BCG shot, which many people around the world receive as children. Laboratories and pharmaceutical firms are racing to find medicines to tackle COVID-19, which has infected more than a million people, killed at least 50,000 and for which there is currently no known treatment, vaccine or cure. They are also looking at repurposing existing drugs. - Experts remain cautious - "We have known for decades that BCG has non-specific beneficial effects", in that it protects against diseases other than the one for which it was created, Camille Locht, of the French public health research institute Inserm, told AFP. Children vaccinated with BCG suffer less from other respiratory illnesses, it is used to treat certain bladder cancers and it could protect against asthma and autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Researchers want to test whether the tuberculosis vaccine could have a similar effect against the new coronavirus, either by reducing the risk of being infected, or by limiting the severity of the symptoms. In France, where the BCG vaccine was compulsory until 2007, "most of the study participants will have already had a first vaccination", but the protective effect of this decreases over time, said Locht. Because healthcare workers are on the front lines of the efforts to tackle COVID-19, they should be the "first target" if there is any benefit found with the BCG vaccine, said Locht, who is finalising details for a clinical trial in France. But experts remain cautious on the potential of the BCG to provide protection. - 'Military exercise in peacetime' - "That is exactly the reason for this research," says Mihai Netea, professor of experimental internal medicine at Radboud University in the Netherlands, which recently announced a clinical trial, with the University of Utrecht involving hundreds of healthcare workers. This will see 500 medical professionals receive the BCG jab and 500 get a placebo. "If during this epidemic fewer people in the BCG-vaccinated group would drop out due to illness, this would be an encouraging result," added Netea, a specialist in "trained immunity". This is a relatively new concept based on the discovery that our innate immune response -- the body's generalised defences -- also has a memory, alongside the acquired immunity, which develops antibodies after coming into contact with a specific pathogen. The BCG vaccine does not directly protect against the coronavirus, but provides a boost to the immune system which may lead to improved protection and a milder infection, Radboud university said of the study. The idea is that the innate immune system can be prepared, or "trained" to better combat attacks, thanks in particular to live attenuated vaccines, such as BCG or measles, which contained a weakened sliver of the original pathogen. In the case of COVID-19, in addition to infection by the virus itself, some patients have also suffered excessive immune responses, with the uncontrolled production of pro-inflammatory proteins, cytokines. "Vaccination, in particular against BCG, might help to better orchestrate this inflammatory immune response," said Laurent Lagrost, Inserm research director who works on links between inflammation and the immune system. The vaccine acts as a "military exercise in peacetime" so that the body can "fight the enemy effectively in wartime," he said in an interview this week with French broadcaster BFMTV. - International effort - A separate trial of the BCG vaccine has also been launched in Australia, with some 4,000 health workers, by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Microbiologist Locht wants to harmonise the criteria of the French study with that planned in four Spanish hospitals, in order to better compare their results. However, researchers in Spain, instead of using the BCG, would like to try a new tuberculosis vaccine developed by the biotech firm Biofabri. This vaccine candidate, whose safety has already been demonstrated, should offer "better protection", said Carlos Martin, professor of microbiology at the University of Zaragoza, because it is "developed from a strain isolated in humans". In contrast, he said the BCG is prepared from a strain of the bacteria that infects cattle, and two genes very important to the virulence of tuberculosis have been deactivated in the vaccine candidate. Another advantage of the new vaccine is that it is made in Europe and could be quickly made available, while the BCG suffers from strong supply tensions and using it for adults against COVID-19 could deprive children of it in countries where tuberculosis remains endemic. In Germany, the Max Planck Institute for Infectious Biology is also preparing a trial with a genetically-modified vaccine candidate, developed by the Serum Institute of India. In coordination with these countries, Inserm announced on Thursday that clinical trials could also be launched in Africa, where health systems are expected to come under acute pressure from the coronavirus pandemic. Researchers are testing whether the tuberculosis vaccine could either reduce the risk of being infected by the coronavirus, or limit the severity of the symptoms Laboratories and pharmaceutical firms are racing to find medicines to tackle COVID-19
With the epidemic situation largely contained in China, many overseas Chinese students and citizens are looking to make the journey back home. However, they should pay attention to the following points when looking for shelter back in their home country.

A staff member checks the information of a passenger entering China at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, east China, March 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

Whether to make the journey back

According to Zhang Wenhong, head of the center of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, overseas Chinese students and citizens should make their decision based on the epidemic trend and medical conditions of their respective countries.

After deciding to return to China, they should know in advance that the domestic quarantine process for people entering China has been significantly tightened and be prepared to undergo measures such as concentrated quarantine for 14 days at their own expense and diversion of flights. At the same time, they should consider the risk of exposure to the virus in public places such as airports and enclosed spaces on the way back to China.

How to choose a return flight

As part of measures to prevent imported cases of the coronavirus, domestic and foreign airlines are currently only allowed to operate one route to China from each country, and each route can operate no more than one flight per week.

Furthermore, flights to and from China must not be more than 75 percent full, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, so overseas Chinese students and citizens should choose their flight based on the current situation.

Additionally, Chinese students studying abroad have to contact the Chinese embassy in their respective foreign countries to confirm their visas before returning home, and also need to obtain the latest visa information from the embassy of their respective countries when going abroad again after returning home.

Returning home by plane

As aircraft cabins are confined spaces, the risk of infection is relatively high. If conditions allow, they should take Chinese medicines on a daily basis or before boarding to strengthen their immunity.

After boarding, passengers should try to reduce their activities in the cabin, and observe the passengers around them. If there is a suspected infection case, it should be promptly reported to the flight crew, or the crew should be asked to take physical tests of passengers on board in order to eliminate all possible risks.

Making a health declaration on entry

The General Administration of Customs of China has decided to bring back health declaration measures by requesting that all inbound and outbound travellers fill in the Health Declaration Form on Entry/Exit.

Travellers can also declare the information through online customs services in different regions in order to minimize customs clearance times.

Moreover, inbound and outbound travellers must present the declaration cards or information of electronic declaration bar codes to customs for verification, and cooperate with health officials on measures such as temperature monitoring, medical inspection and medical screening.

Local quarantine policies

Under local quarantine measures, both Chinese and foreign citizens are required to be quarantined for medical observation for 14 days after arrival. In many provinces, there are special collection and distribution centers and special vehicles for transport to ensure closed-loop management of passengers.

Arrangements will be made for inbound travellers who require concentrated quarantine to be sent to specially designated medical observation points, most of which are well-ventilated hotels staffed by professional medical workers. Health monitoring will also be conducted every day.

As for the management cost of concentrated quarantine, many regions have made it clear that the costs will be borne by the inbound passengers themselves.
Regulatory News:

The Vicat Group (Paris:VCT) (Euronext Paris: FR0000031775 VCT) announces today that the Group's Combined Annual General Meeting was held today.

All the resolutions presented to the Annual General Meeting were adopted, including the resolution to maintain the dividend at 1.50 per share, in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.

During this Combined Shareholders' Meeting, an update was made in light of the exceptional context and the main topics are outlined below.

It is important to note that these items should not be considered as forecasts, even in the very short term, given the very high volatility of the environment.

Business is conducted within the strict framework of procedures adapted to the health situation prevailing in the countries where the Group operates. Visibility is therefore particularly limited due to the rapid evolution of the epidemic. In this context, it is important to note that

The twelve countries in which the Group operates are affected by the COVID19 epidemic with delayed levels of impact in time;

There is very high volatility in activity;

Sharing of experience between countries enable implementation of the right processes and operating methods in order to meet the requirements of the situation in each country and to continue the activity when authorized.

The Group's business therefore continues to operate at a level that varies according to local constraints imposed by public authorities. At this stage, all the Group's Cement plants are operating, excluding the two plants in India. Therefore:

In France, after a very significant slowdown in business at the beginning of the confinement period, business is slowly recovering, with the reopening of trading and the slower reopening of construction sites;

In Switzerland, activity is close to normal, thanks to strict compliance with protective measures on all construction sites;

In West Africa and the United States, activity is also close to normal, but the situation is likely to change rapidly;

In Brazil, activity remains strong;

In Turkey and Egypt, in an already degraded macro-economic environment, the epidemic has not had any visible impact at this stage;

In Kazakhstan, activity was particularly dynamic at the beginning of the year. The recent containment decisions should be felt in the coming days;

Finally, the activity in Italy and India has been totally interrupted following the strict containment decisions taken by the authorities. Thus, the two Indian plants and the grinder in Italy have been shut down.

The detailed report of the 2020 Annual General Meeting, with the voting results, will soon be posted on www.vicat.fr

Next report:

First-quarter 2020 sales on 5 May 2020 after market closing.

About Vicat

The Vicat Group has over 9,000 employees working in three core divisions, Cement, Concrete Aggregates and Other Products Services, which generated consolidated sales of 2.740 billion in 2019. The Group operates in twelve countries: France, Switzerland, Italy, the United States, Turkey, Egypt, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Kazakhstan, India and Brazil. Some 64% of its sales are generated outside France.

The Vicat Group is the heir to an industrial tradition dating back to 1817, when Louis Vicat invented artificial cement. Founded in 1853, the Vicat Group now operates three core lines of business: Cement, Ready-Mixed Concrete and Aggregates, as well as related activities.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005100/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations contact:

Stephane Bisseuil

Tel. 33 1 58 86 86 05

stephane.bisseuil@vicat.fr

Press relations contact:

Marie-Raphaelle Robinne

Tel. +33 (0)4 74 27 58 04

marie-raphaelle.robinne@vicat.fr
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar was moved by a message from a young boy offering his help during the Covid-19 crisis.

Mr Varadkar shared the special message he received, via postcard, from Jack Ryan (6) in Rochestown in Cork.

The primary school student wrote to the Dublin TD to pay tribute to the leadership he has shown the nation during the virus pandemic.

"You are doing a great job - let me know if you need help," the schoolboy wrote.

Expand Close The Taoiseach shared the postcard on social media / Facebook

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To emphasise the importance of the effort to contain Covid-19, Jack even included a drawing of a Tricolour on the special contact postcard which had been issued nationwide by An Post.

The Taoiseach was so moved by the kind gesture that he shared the postcard via his Instagram account - with Jack's address carefully deleted.

"Thanks for the offer, Jack," Mr Varadkar said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called on international travellers without job prospects in Australia to return to their home countries, as authorities grapple with the public health risk of backpackers crammed into share houses and underground hostels.

Mr Morrison said there were still "quite a number of people" who remained in the country on visitor visas and that it was time for them to "make your way home".

Scott Morrison says international visitors without means to support themselves should return home. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"At this time, Australia must focus on its citizens and its residents to ensure we can maximise the economic supports that we have," the Prime Minister told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

There are up to 1.6 million temporary visa holders in Australia who are not eligible for social security benefits and face a narrowing window of opportunity to secure a flight home.
New Delhi: Depositors gather outside a Yes Bank ATM to withdraw their money after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) superseded the board of Yes Bank and imposed a moratorium on the private lender till April 3, 2020 owing to serious deterioration in the Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, April 3 : People can withdraw money from their post office saving accounts as well as public/private banks through all automatic teller machines (ATM) of India Post in Tamil Nadu Postal Circle.

In a statement issued here, B. Selvakumar, Chief Postmaster General, Tamil Nadu Circle, said the India Post ATMs housed in post office premises are functioning during the lockdown.

Apart from India Post ATMs, public can also withdraw cash from their bank accounts by using Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) in post offices/at their doorstep through postal staff, he said.

He said the postal staff are paying money orders, including old-age pension money orders, at the doorstep of the addressees during the lockdown period as a health precautionary measure.

Essential and lifesaving items like medicines, medical equipment and other pharmaceutical items can be booked in post offices by the public, pharma and e-commerce companies for delivery in the entire Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and important cities and towns in other parts of the country.
ROADRUNNERS YOU

SHOULD KNOW



APRIL 3, 2020  During her freshman year at UTSA, Sarah Luna 03 dove into studying the dead and later cofounded the group Ladies Incensed by Patriarchal Society. She also joined the anthropology club, volunteered at the Center for Archaeological Research and connected with Professor Laura Levi, who later led a study that took Luna to Belize.

Now Luna has taken that same drive and determination to Tufts University as an assistant professor of anthropology and is publishing her first book, Love in the Drug War: Selling Sex and Finding Jesus on the Mexico-U.S. Border, slated to release on April 14.

Her journey from the Southeast Side of San Antonio to the classrooms of her Massachusetts university was driven by her curiosity about other people, her questions about faith and religion and later her desire to teach. She credits anthropology for changing her worldview in profound ways.

I had been exposed to one version of the truth, then I learned about all these places and cultures, and I learned other truths.

A first-generation student, Luna earned a scholarship to attend college and live on campus, but she still drove to her parents house each weekend.

She found a support system at UTSA, though, in her professors while visiting them during office hours and getting to know them outside the classroom. She also met another student in the dorms who became her best friend.

I came from a very conservative and religious family, she said. A lot of the ideas I was being exposed to were really different. I had been exposed to one version of the truth, then I learned about all these places and cultures, and I learned other truths.

Later, field work took her to Mexico, where she learned of a prostitution zone. She decided to find a way to gain access so she could interview and study the women there.

In the end it was her familys connection to the church that helped her connect to a group of missionaries who traveled to Mexico to work in the prostitution zone, convincing women to leave sex work and all that came with it behind.

Explore the study of anthropology at UTSA.

The ethnographic research Luna later conducted over 20082009 in Mexico became the basis of her book. Her study took her into the prostitution zone with sex workers and missionaries where she uncovered what she calls revelatory relationships of love and obligation, and she explores the intersection of love, intimacy and reciprocity.

She was excited to see the books cover, which uses a photo she took in La Zona and incorporates the color rosa Mexicano, or Mexican pink.

Before she died, my grandmother crocheted a baby blanket for my future child, and I told her that if I didnt end up having children, Id wrap my first book in it, Luna says. I didnt end up having children, so Ive got to keep my end of the bargain and wrap my book in the blanket once it arrives. This bundle of joy has taken more than a decade of intense labor to be birthed.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters about border security in the briefing room of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in Washington.

Evan Vucci/AP

President Donald Trump has decided not to reopen the Obamacare marketplace to allow uninsured Americans to purchase health insurance during the coronavirus pandemic.

A host of health insurance companies and Democratic lawmakers have pushed the White House to temporarily open up the exchanges, and Trump said last month that he was considering the move.

The exchanges will still be open to those who recently lost their jobs, including the hundreds of thousands of Americans who've recently become unemployed as a result of the pandemic.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump has decided not to reopen the Obamacare marketplace to millions of uninsured Americans as the coronavirus spreads across the country, Politico and NBC News reported this week.

A host of health insurance companies and Democratic lawmakers have called on the White House to open up the exchanges for a special enrollment period during the pandemic. Notably, the exchanges will still be open to those who recently lost their jobs, including the hundreds of thousands of Americans who've recently become unemployed as a result of the pandemic.

About a third of US states' healthcare exchanges aren't controlled by the federal government, and several Democratic-led states have already reopened their exchanges.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services referred Insider's request for comment to the White House, which didn't immediately respond.

Every year, healthcare.gov opens for enrollment from November 1 to December 15 in states whose enrollment is managed by the federal government.

NBC News reported that Trump had considered a special enrollment period and last month told reporters that "it's something we're talking to a lot of people about."

Republicans in 2017 tried and failed to repeal Obamacare  their top legislative goal. More than a dozen Republican-led states are suing to overturn the legislation, which would strip insurance from millions of Americans.

Read the original article on Business Insider
by Nirmala Carvalho

About 170 families received food and other aid in the Diocese Vasai. After the government imposed a quarantine, people are out of work and money. Many are not entitled to food rations provided by the state. The risk of contagion is high.

Vasai (AsiaNews)  Yesterday, Goretti Xalxo, a social worker who helps Adivasi migrants, and a team from Pahunch, a programme set by the Redemptorist Fathers in the Diocese of Vasai, delivered food rations to families living in Vasai originally from Chotanagpur, a plateau area in the Indian State of Odisha (Orissa).

For 170 tribal families in the Diocese of Vasai (Maharashtra), the lack of food, not the pandemic, is a source of concern, said Goretti Xalxo. Seeing their tears was heart-wrenching and touching, she explained. Some of them didn't have enough food for the next day.

The governments decision to lock down the entire country in order to contain the coronavirus outbreak has left millions of people unemployed, mostly economic migrants who had left rural areas in search of better conditions in the cities.

Without work, many are trying to go home on foot, in some cases walking hundreds of kilometres, because regular transportation has been disrupted.

Due to the quarantine, tribal migrants from Chotanagpur are locked down in the eastern part of the Diocese of Vasai, north of Mumbai. They are poor, and now out of work. They are daily labourers, doing domestic work or taking menial jobs.

Over the past few days, we have provided aid in various parts of the diocese. So far, we have managed to help 162 families. We gave them rice, dhal, oil, sugar and lentils, Goretti Xalxo explained.

A tribal woman from Odisha, she is grateful to Archbishop Felix Machado of Vasai for the logistical support and for helping get through the red tape and obtain police permits.

For his part, Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar (Odisha) is very much concerned by the fate of tribal migrants from the Chotanagpur area.

"Without jobs, he said, they have nothing to feed themselves with. They dont have ration cards and so are not entitled to the food provided by the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Goretti Xalxo noted that these people live in slums. They don't have the means to protect themselves from the COVID-19, not even masks. What is more, they are not respecting the social distance required by the situation.

We try to make them understand that they must take precautions to avoid contracting the virus, but with few results. Food is all they think about.

According to some observers, given the countrys great poverty, huge population, and vast territory, up to 300 million people could be infected in India.
Jayanta Roy Chowdhury By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The nationwide lockdown to combat coronavirus outbreak, which has already impacted the industry, may now hit Indias farming sector, which is likely to face losses due to disruptions in logistics and scarce labour in North Indian states.

The upcoming Rabi crop is estimated to be a bumper one despite untimely rains, with the cereal crop (wheat and rice) pegged to be 134 million tonnes. Disruptions in logistics and delays in bringing in the harvest due to labour shortage could mean part of this bumper crop would wither in the fields.

Even more at risk is our horticulture crops  we grow 300 MT of horticultural produce. Andhra alone has 1 lakh hectares of bananas, with 70 per cent of the crop going to other states. However, transport problems at some places and refusal by wholesalers in places like Mumbai have meant huge losses, said P Chengal Reddy of the Consortium of Indian Farmers Association. If the lockdown has created supply chain disruptions, it has also scared labour away.

Though 90 per cent of Indian farmers are small and medium farmers who use mostly family or local labour, larger farms whose crop mostly feeds cities require labour and hired machinery.

Labour has become a major problem in North Indian states with many having gone back home because of the lockdown. Many mandis are not working and despite permissions, movement of trucks and combine harvesters is a big issue. These are challenging times. A late harvest will mean losses, said Rakesh Tikait of the Bharaitya Kisan Union.

Farmers organisation have been asking states and the Centre to agree to use labour force from MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme in farms as an exceptional case, to solve the problems in the food supply chain, so that the crop comes in on time.

Late harvests mean a lower yield, exposing the crop to sun and rain, besides leaving a smaller time frame for preparing the field for the kharif crop. Supply chain problems also mean prices will shoot up. According to agricultural economist Dr T Haque, Reports indicate that potato and onion prices have already shot up because of scarce supplies due to the logistics breakdown.


Sean Dunne's bankruptcy trustee has asked a US court to make orders allowing him to accept 11.6m from a Cypriot company as part settlement of a fraudulent transfer judgment against the property developer's ex-wife.

The sum is thought to be the most substantial cash recovery made by trustee Richard Coan since the one time 'Baron of Ballsbridge' went bankrupt with debts of 700m in 2013.

If the orders sought are granted, the money will go towards satisfying a judgment against Mr Dunne's ex-wife Gayle Killilea.

Last June a US jury found her liable, as the recipient of certain fraudulent transfers from her ex-husband, to pay more than 18m to the trustee.

This sum included 14m from the sale of Walford, a property on Shrewsbury Road in Dublin. The Edwardian-era mansion was sold by Cypriot firm Yesreb Holdings to Celtic Trustees Ltd, a company linked to billionaire financier Dermot Desmond in 2016.

But amid investigations and litigation being conducted by the trustee and Ireland's official assignee in bankruptcy, cash from the sale ended up being held in an escrow account in Switzerland.

According to a court filing by Mr Coan's lawyers in Connecticut this week, the money in the account, some $12.6m (11.6m) was transferred to the trustee on February 11.

Mr Dunne had tried to block the transfer, initiating proceedings in New York claiming the cash was owed to a trust for the four children he had with Ms Killilea.

This was disputed by lawyers for Ms Killilea and John Dunne, Mr Dunne's son from a previous marriage.

The beneficial ownership of Walford has been a major issue in the bankruptcy. The property became Ireland's most expensive home when Mr Dunne bought it for Ms Killilea for 57.9m in 2005.

It was sold to Yesreb for 14m in 2013.

According to the Coan filing, both Ms Killilea and John Dunne have testified that Yesreb was an offshore "shelf" entity she caused to be formed.

It said they testified that the sale to Yesreb was orchestrated in order for Ms Killilea to "avail" of a tax loss.

Both testified John Dunne was selected as the principal of Yesreb because a non-blood family member was necessary in order for Ms Killilea to "avail" of the tax loss.

John Dunne testified Yesreb paid no purchase money to Ms Killilea at the time of the transfer. Rather, she loaned the purchase money to Yesreb on condition it be repaid upon a subsequent sale of the property.
The move by the 144-year-old establishment is a show of respect and gratitude to Egypts "white army"

Al-Ahram, Egypt's largest news establishment, lit up its main building in Downtown Cairo on Thursday night in a show of solidarity with Egypts medical staff, armed forces and police amid the coronavirus crisis.

The event was attended by the chairman of Al-Ahram organisation, Abdel-Mohsen Salama, and the head of the National Press Authority, Karam Gabr, as well as several editors-in-chief.

Al-Ahram is to light up its historic building as a sign of respect and gratitude to Egypts doctors and nurses, its white army," Al-Ahram said in a statement.

The move by the 144-year-old establishment is meant to express solidarity with the Egyptian health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) in their efforts to combat the coronavirus, it added.

The buildings were lit up to reveal messages like thanks to the armed forces chemical warfare division, the angels of mercy...thank you, doctors of Egypt, and thank you, police officers.

Speaking at the event, Gabr praised the efforts exerted by the Egyptian state to combat the coronavirus epidemic.

The head of the state news authority called on Egyptians to commit themselves to protecting society, especially given what is happening in major countries, where the situation is deteriorating.

Social media users have called for encouraging the Egyptian public to salute medical staff nationwide by clapping from windows and balconies at 10:30pm, following similar shows of support in the UK, Turkey and Lebanon.

On Monday, Egyptian authorities lit up the Great Pyramid of Giza to send a global message encouraging citizens to stay at home and saluting medical staff around the globe.

On Monday, the health ministry announced the death of a 57-year-old laboratory physician at Al-Azhar University, Ahmed El-Lawah, from Port Said, who died after contracting the virus but he is not believed to have contracted the virus through his formal medical practice.

Egypt has so far recorded 865 positive cases of the coronavirus nationwide, including 58 deaths.

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An army of volunteers has joined forces across Northern Ireland to sew for victory in the battle against coronavirus.

Thousands of stitchers are working night and day at their sewing machines, making vital scrubs and masks to protect our health workers who are putting their lives on the line to save ours.

They are using lockdown to help lighten the load on our vital frontline health service staff.

Among them is Christine Henderson (65), a mum-of-four and grandmother-of-two from Newtownabbey, who lost her cousin Linda Wilson (64) to coronavirus.

Linda was the fifth person to die from the virus here on March 25.

Christine runs her own alterations business and is on lockdown with her vulnerable 90-year-old mum, Reta Lyons, who she cares for full time.

She started sewing scrubs last Monday and has put in 14-hour days at her sewing machine, working as late as 2am to fulfil orders from desperate nurses.

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She said: "In the last week we have had three deaths in the family.

"My cousin Linda was the fifth person to die from coronavirus.

When I saw the appeal for scrubs on Facebook, the first thing I did was look under my bed, where I had a pile of new sheets still in the plastic wrapping Christine Henderson

"Her brother Graham who is 60 was found dead in his delivery van on Sunday and then Linda died on Monday and her uncle Joe Beattie (85), who had Alzheimer's, passed way on Thursday, so it has been a horrendous week.

"When I saw the appeal for scrubs on Facebook, the first thing I did was look under my bed, where I had a pile of new sheets still in the plastic wrapping.

"Nurses working with Covid-19 patients have been private messaging me asking for scrubs and I've been sewing night and day to get them made.

"The nurses are coming to pick them up and they are all so grateful."

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Whatsapp Christine Henderson with some of the hospital scrubs she has made

Christine said it helps to take her mind off things.

She added: "I am on lockdown with my mum, who can't speak or hear, and it has been hard, especially not being able to see my family and friends.

"People have been great to bring me fabric so that I can keep sewing and you do feel you are doing something worthwhile."

Emer McAleavey is a research fellow at the school of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Queen's University.

She is married to journalist Newton Emerson and the couple, who live in Belfast, have three children, Kate (10), Conor (8) and Ben (6).

I was working with Mary to see how we could help with the shortage of PPE and we decided that sewing face masks for frontline workers would have the biggest impact Emer McAleavey

Emer is working from home, trying to school her children and sewing masks in her spare time for a group set up by her best friend and fellow engineer Mary Murphy, called Covid-19 Cloth Facemasks for All Ireland.

She explained: "I was working with Mary to see how we could help with the shortage of PPE and we decided that sewing face masks for frontline workers would have the biggest impact.

"Mary is doing most of the admin work trying to link sewers with people in their area who need masks.

"I have sewed masks for friends and family and hope to spend this weekend sewing for frontline workers.

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"I plan to spend four or five hours each day this weekend sewing and will try and do it in whatever spare time I have next week.

"I think a lot of people feel like they are putting themselves at risk in their frontline roles and I think it only seems fair that while we are sitting at home we can give them some reassurance by supporting them."

Joanne Chambers (41) runs Dolly Bird Interiors in Omagh and is married to Ryan McHugh, a psychiatrist and they have one teenage son.

Joanne said: "I know Clara Maybin who set up the NI Scrubs group and was happy to help although I am not a sewer and at the start I was very much winging it.

It is absolutely heart warming the amount of people who have volunteered; who knew that Northern Ireland has so many seamstresses and sewers? Joanne Chambers

"I did sew about 15 sets of scrubs and was working on them from 8.30 in the morning until 11.30 at night but now I am leaving it to the professional sewers and I'm helping out by coordinating groups in the Omagh and Fermanagh areas.

"It is absolutely heart warming the amount of people who have volunteered; who knew that Northern Ireland has so many seamstresses and sewers? It's wonderful to be part of it and it gives me some sense of normality to have a purpose and something positive to do at this time."

Chloe Dougan (28), who runs Call Me Sophia, a company making drag outfits, lives in Belfast with her partner Alan Alexander (28) a barman.

Chloe has been sewing scrubs from 7am until midnight most days this week.

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Whatsapp Chloe Dougan with material being used to make scrubs for hospital staff and carers

She has also got involved in fundraising for fabrics and is cutting out patterns for others to sew.

She said: "It has been a mad busy week and my hall is covered in material and I've been cutting out patterns and packing them up in bags sprayed with disinfectant for other sewers to pick up.

"I also got involved in helping set up a fundraising page and the response has been phenomenal, with 8,000 donated in just a couple of days.

"I am the sort of person who likes to see community helping each other so this is my sort of thing and if I can fund-raise, cut out patterns or sew I will do whatever I can to help. A lot of people are very scared and anxious at the moment and it is good to be able to play a part in helping."

Clara Maybin had no idea what she was unleashing in terms of community spirit when she put a post on social media asking for spare scrubs for a relative who works in the healthcare system.

The Omagh mum-of-two was inundated to the point that she set up NI Scrubs on Facebook which now has thousands of members in several branches across Northern Ireland.

It has taken on a life of its own and just gone crazy, with thousands of people now helping Clara Maybin

Clara (28), who runs her own social media marketing company So Social Marketing, has been running the group while working from home and caring for her two children Bella (4) and Maisie (2). Her husband Ryan works in food supply.

"I have cried a couple of times because of the sheer scale of the response and the messages I have received," she said.

Expand Close Clara Maybin / Facebook

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Whatsapp Clara Maybin

"It has taken on a life of its own and just gone crazy, with thousands of people now helping.

"I've had messages from people saying how much it has lifted their spirits to get involved and others saying it has really helped their mental health at this time. And all because I put out a call asking if anyone had spare scrubs just over a week ago and it's been flat out ever since.

"I've even had messages from England asking how to set a similar group up there and offers of support from people in Australia.

Expand Close Clara Maybin's uniform sets / Facebook

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"It is great that we can all do something rather than sit in our homes worrying."

To support the groups, find an NI Scrubs group in your area on Facebook as well as the facemask sewing group Covid-19 Cloth Masks for All Ireland.
False: Pope is not killing feet of black people asking for forgiveness due to coronavirus

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: A video showing the Pope kissing the feet of black people has gone viral. The video posted on the social media platforms says that the Pope is asking for forgiveness due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The caption read, "the pope is kissing the feet of black people asking for forgiveness for all the wickedness they have done to black people since the beginning of times. The Coronavirus is changing the world and their attitude to black people. The world will never be the same again as we know it. Black people are the original people of the world and now we all see the truth.:

This video is one year old. It took place in April 2019 when Pope Francis knelt down and kissed the feet of South Sudan leaders at a Vatican retreat. He urged them to stay in peace. A report published in cnn.com had said that the Pope has broken protocol by kneeling to kiss the feet of South Sudan leaders at the Vatican.

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Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 16:10 [IST]
Properly modified for habitation, shipping containers can transform into all sorts of things, including homes, offices, pop-up stores, cafes, and mechanic shops. Egyptian startup Qubix is well known for its creative work in this area, creating shipping crate architecture thats actually livable, usable, and pleasant to look at. Now, theyre producing something the world needs more than ever: portable medical units.

Qubix' portable medical clinics are made from used shipping containers.

Fully equipped with all the things health professionals might need in an underserved area, these shipping container clinics are constructed off-site and shipped wherever theyre needed, whether thats a rural area lacking the kind of medical infrastructure needed to address a crisis like COVID-19 or an overloaded urban hospital. And since its so compact and already the standard size shipped by trucking companies, its easy to move and locate just about anywhere, requiring no foundation or other prep work. It just has to be hooked up to electricity and running water.

The Startup Scene reports that within urban centers, it also provides a solution for sporting clubs, residential compounds, and doctors for whom the process of finding, renting, and setting up a space for a clinic is not accessible or affordable. Fully portable and made with all antibacterial materials, the product is also fully customizable.

The first pilot will be delivered within a month, along with a team that will be managing the operations of the unit, says Youssef Farag, Qubix co-founder and COO. And then were hoping to become a go-to option for all health providers, as well as providers of medical supplies.

Other examples of shipping container transformations by Qubix.

Other examples of shipping container transformations by Qubix.

Other examples of shipping container transformations by Qubix.

Other examples of shipping container transformations by Qubix.

Founded in 2016 by two young entrepreneurs, Qubix has created and delivered over 50 unique shipping container buildings to clients in all sorts of industries. They say their prefabricated shipping container architecture saves up to 30 percent compared to conventional building methods, and they offer fully customizable projects based on each clients needs and ideas.

Story continues

Shipping containers have taken off over the last decade as a fast, cheap basis for buildings. They can have a lot of benefits, but only when theyre properly decontaminated, insulated, ventilated, and finished. Unfortunately, used shipping containers are often made with potentially toxic materials and used to transport toxic goods, and their interiors can get very hot and build up condensation. After all, they were originally made for goods, not humans.

While many shipping container building concepts are pure fantasy, with renderings depicting the crates stacked in ways that arent structurally sound, Qubix appears to take a more realistic approach. Most of their projects feature single-height shipping containers placed adjacent to each other, sometimes within a steel framework that adds on additional terraces, balconies, and usable rooftop space with stairs. The interiors are finished like a conventional building, and much of the exterior walls are replaced with large expanses of glass to make sure they feel bright and spacious.

Qubix' portable medical clinics are made from used shipping containers.

The Qubix team explains that their members share a dream that cannot be contained, we are fueled by believing we can do things better and faster than our competitors as well as attempt exciting and daring projects that others wouldnt. Quality is synonymous with our brand and we will always strive to add value to our clients through our services and products which we constantly develop in order to stay fresh, unique, and innovative.
A traffic signal that has been discussed for years near Badger High School could be moving ahead, after Lake Geneva agreed to pay the entire cost of installation.

Part of the intersection at Bloomfield Road and state Highway 120 is in the town of Bloomfield, and town officials have agreed to handle traffic enforcement if Lake Geneva will pay for the stoplights.

Cost estimates for the installation have ranged from $250,000 to $750,000.

Lake Geneva Mayor Tom Hartz said the city might seek other outside help with funding, but he said the agreement does not require the town of Bloomfield to pay anything.

They dont have funds available right now, Hartz said. We expect to pay for at least part of it.

The Lake Geneva City Council on March 23 approved the agreement, which requires the city to pay for installation, maintenance, snow removal and liability, while the town will handle traffic enforcement at the corner.

Bloomfield Town Chairman Dan Schoonover said he was pleased to have an agreement in place to complete the traffic signal project, which has been under discussion the past two years and had been considered even longer as a safety measure.

It will make cross traffic much safer, Schoonover said.

The busy intersection is near Badger High School and Lake Geneva Middle School, and school officials have expressed support for installing traffic signals.

Lake Geneva Police Chief Michael Rasmussen raised the issue anew in 2018, urging efforts to install stoplights as better traffic controls.

Rasmussen said he is happy with the new agreement with the town of Bloomfield, including the towns agreement to handle enforcement.

Its outstanding, Rasmussen said of the deal. I have faith the town of Bloomfield will have adequate enforcement out there.

No timetable has been announced for completing the installation.

The city council voted 7-1 to approve the agreement with the town of Bloomfield, with Alderwoman Cindy Flower voting no after saying she thought the deal should instead be referred to a committee first.

Others applauded the deal for improved safety at the busy traffic intersection.

Alderman Richard Hedlund said he was in the favor of the agreement, because residents and local officials have been wanting better traffic control at that intersection for years.

This is something weve been working on for a long time, Hedlund said. So, I think we should proceed.

Alderwoman Selena Proksa said she, too, was excited that an agreement had been reached.

Im happy that were finally moving forward, Proksa said.

School district officials added their support for the agreement with the town of Bloomfield.

A group of Badger students in 2018 did their own study and presented their findings showing that traffic signals were warranted.

School Superintendent Jim Gottinger said stoplights will improve safety for students and other residents who travel near that intersection.

This is a move in the right direction, Gottinger said.

School Board President Marcie Hollmann agreed, saying, We have great concerns for our students and any anyone trying to cross Highway 120.

State officials have estimated that stoplights could cost about $750,000; however, city officials have estimated that the project would cost about $250,000.

Hartz said there are no updated cost estimates.

After an engineering study expected to take about one month, Hartz said, officials will consider financing options.

The mayor said there is no set timeline for the project, but he hopes to have the stoplights installed soon.

The school district has been patient, he said, as they have been wanting us to get it done.

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Nursing homes in the Lake Geneva region serve a population that is among the most vulnerable in the coronavirus outbreak.

As a result, the public health crisis is creating upheaval for those living in nursing homes perhaps more than any other group.

Even family visits are not the same anymore, as facility lockdowns that are designed to prevent spreading the virus have reduced loved ones to waving through windows from the outside.

It is a big adjustment, said Lori Schlais, administrator of Geneva Lake Manor in Lake Geneva.

In addition to being cut off from family and other visitors, nursing home residents are having meals alone in their rooms, are being subjected to health screenings several times a day, and are missing out on group activities.

No more bus trips to the grocery store, no more sing-a-longs around the piano, no more appointments with a visiting hairdresser.

Still, despite the lifestyle changes, the senior citizens who inhabit nursing homes are generally accepting of the inconveniences that are designed to protect their health and safety, administrators say.

At the Golden Years retirement center in Walworth, some residents have compared the coronavirus pandemic to World War II, when a nation rallied together to vanquish a common enemy. In that same spirit, Golden Years residents have volunteered to roll up their sleeves and take turns swabbing down the buildings interior with disinfectant.

Theyre a resilient population that has lived through so much, Golden Years executive director Rich Austin said. They keep saying, Well get through it, well get through it.

The upper respiratory virus, also known as COVID-19, poses a particularly serious threat to senior citizens. Their advanced age and fragile health make it especially perilous for them to contract the virus.

So, when the virus reached pandemic levels and began spreading in the United States, nursing homes in the Lake Geneva region quickly implemented sweeping new safety precautions.

In accordance with directives from state health officials, facilities imposed no-visitor policies that even apply to doctors and family members, except in end-of-life situations.

Common areas were shut down, activities were cancelled, dining halls were replaced with in-room meal service or other alternatives, and employees were required to have health screenings each day they report for work.

Burr Oak Manor in Genoa City designated a quarantine area within the facility, if needed, and a staffing agency was contracted to guard against potential staffing shortages during the crisis.

So far, none of Burr Oak Manors residents or employees have gotten sick.

Were hoping for the best, owner Pamela Predick said. But were absolutely preparing for the worst.

The need to keep residents isolated from one another has forced nursing homes to cancel group activities, leaving residents alone in their rooms more than usual. Some facilities have improvised with such activities as bingo games called out to residents stationed safely in the doorways of their own rooms.

Elizabeth Aldred, health and human services director for Walworth County, said employees at county-owned Lakeland Health Care Center have tried to keep the residents entertained with doorway bingo.

Its different, Aldred said, but you dont want to take away the things that they enjoy.

Geneva Lake Manor is planning a Spirit Week celebration in which residents will be encouraged to wear funny hats and enjoy themselves. Like other nursing home administrators in the region, Schlais said her residents and employees are doing well in adapting to the coronavirus crisis.

Just because were under these restrictions, she said, doesnt mean we cant still have fun.

For many nursing home residents, the biggest adjustment has been the ban on visitors.

Family members who are accustomed to visiting their loved ones every day  sometimes for hours at a time  are not even allowed inside the nursing homes right now.

At Golden Years, a campus that includes independent living apartments along with skilled nursing and assisted living, a man lives independently in an apartment while his wife is in skilled nursing. No longer able to visit each other during the coronavirus lockdown, the couple can only wave through a window in the womans room.

I feel for these people so much, Austin said.

Geneva Lake Manor is teaching residents to use FaceTime or other apps for video-conferencing with loved ones. Families also can send emails, and employees will read residents their emails.

At Burr Oak Manor, officials have set up computer devices near some windows so that family members waving to loved ones through the windows also can make audio connections and talk.

Predick said residents and staff seem to be coping well with the new reality of coronavirus.

It seems to be okay, she said. The stress is down, for the most part.

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President Donald Trump late Thursday issued a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) responding to Schumers criticisms of the federal governments handling of the CCP virus pandemic.

Thank you for your Democrat public relations letter and incorrect sound bites, which are wrong in every way, Trump said in the letter.

In a letter earlier in the day, Schumer wrote to Trump saying that the national response is far behind where it should be. The letter raised the issue of shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies in New York state and other areas across the United States, and called for the Trump administration to designate a senior military officer to fix this urgent problem.

Schumer also accused Trump of having dismissed the Defense Production Act (DPA) as not being needed, and criticized Trumps appointment of White House aide Peter Navarro as the National DPA Policy Coordinator as woefully unqualified for solving the PPE and ventilator shortages.

On Wednesday, Schumer appeared on CNNs Out Front program with a similar message as his Thursday letter.

The letter from the president provided four points of clarification to Schumer.

1. As you are aware, Vice President Pence is in charge of the Task Force. By almost all accounts, he has done a spectacular job.

2. The Defense Production Act (DPA) has been consistently used by my team and me for the purchase of billions of dollars worth of equipment, medical supplies. ventilators, and other related items. It has been powerful leverage, so powerful that companies generally do whatever we are asking, without even a formal notice. They know something is coming, and thats all they need to know.

Trump on March 27 authorized the use of the DPA to compel General Motors to move faster on producing ventilators. On Thursday, he authorized the use of the DPA again to further ramp up ventilator production in the United States.

The third point in Trumps letter noted that Rear Admiral John Polowczyk is in charge of coordinating the United States COVID-19 supply chain task force at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

If you remember, my team gave you this information, but for public relations purposes, you choose to ignore it, Trump wrote.

Finally, Trump pointed out that the federal government has provided New York state many things, including hospitals, medical centers, medical supplies, record numbers of ventilators, and more.

You should have had New York much better prepared than you did, as Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx said yesterday, New York was very late in its fight against the virus, Trump wrote. As you are aware, the federal government is merely a back-up for state governments. Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others.

Trump wrote that New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virusalso known as the novel coronavirusif Schumer had focused more on helping the people of New York, and spent less time on impeachment proceedings against the president.

Fortunately, we have been working with your state and city governments, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill DeBlasio, to get the job done. You have been missing in action, except when it comes to the press,' Trump wrote, urging Schumer to start cooperating with Cuomo for the good of all New Yorkers.

Trump had earlier taken to Twitter on Thursday morning to announce that we do have a military man in charge of distributing goods, and that New York has gotten far more than any other state, including hospitals and a hospital ship.

It wouldnt matter if you got 10 times what was needed, it would never be good enough. Unlike other states, New York unfortunately got off to a late start. You should have pushed harder. Stop complaining and find out where all of these supplies are going. Cuomo working hard! Trump wrote.

Schumer responded to Trumps letter by way of a Twitter post later on Thursday, in which he called Trumps letter petty and unserious while calling his own letter serious.

To the President: Americans are dying and losing jobs. Businesses are teetering. Stop the pettiness. Be a leader. Do your job, read Schumers message.

On MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes, Thursday evening, Schumer said that he was appalled upon receiving the letter.

You know, Id say to the president: just stop the pettinesspeople are dyingand so, President Trump, we need leadership. We need to get the job done. Stop the pettiness. Lets get it done. Lets roll up our sleeves, Schumer said.

The death toll from the CCP virus jumped to 2,370 in New York state on Thursday. There are more than 92,300 cases in the state, more than 13,000 patients with the virus are hospitalized, and about 3,000 are in intensive care units, Cuomo said on Thursday at a press briefing.

Polowczyk announced on Thursday at a press briefing that 27.1 million surgical masks, 19.5 million N95 respirators, 22.4 million pairs of protective gloves and 5.2 million face shields are being pushed out to state governments.

The federal government has also sent out some 7,640 ventilators, Polowczyk said, of which 4,400 are going to New York, 500 to Washington state, 850 to New Jersey, 400 to Michigan, and 150 to Louisiana.

He also said that six planes carrying medical supplies from overseas have landed in the United States so far, and 28 more are expected in the coming weeks.

Vice President Mike Pence also told reporters that pallets are being loaded right now to send 200,000 N95 [respirator] masks to New York City to the public health hospitals.

I have family in New York, Polowczyk said. My sisters a nurse practitioner in Westchester hospital and my niece is a nurse in a Long Island hospital, and I have other health care professionals in the family. So I have skin in this game, and the president asked me to get more [respirators] to health care workers and were going to get more to health care workers.

From The Epoch Times
Stimulus checks from the government could be sent out soon.

According to a report from the Washington Post, plans from the IRS will have stimulus checks sent out electronically to Americans no later than next week. However, the report also said about $30 million worth of paper checks wont be sent out until April 24.

The paper checks will be sent out only if the government does not have banking information for the given person. If a paper check is being sent out, theres a chance it wont arrive until September.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said most Americans should have their checks by April 17, according to the Post.

--Check out all of PennLives coronavirus coverage by clicking here--

The Posts report found that there will be a gradual release based on income for the stimulus checks for those who will be receiving theirs in the mail. Checks will be sent out on May 1 for incomes of $20,000 or below and May 8 for those earning up to $30,000, with the checks being mailed out each week by increases of $10,000.

Consideration had been given to spacing out the gaps by $25,000 increments, but the Post said it was decided there wasnt enough bandwidth to send out that many checks in a week.

Anyone earning fewer than $75,000 per year will receive a stimulus check for the full $1,200 with each child adding another $500. The payments will steadily be reduced past the $75,000 mark, with adults making more than $99,000 or $198,000 jointly not receiving any stimulus payment. The salary is determined by your 2019 tax returns or, if you have not filed them, your 2018 tax returns.

--IRS releases qualifying incomes for payments, timeline for coronavirus relief to go out--

Electronic payments will be sent out only to people who have previously opted for electronically delivered payments of their tax returns. Otherwise, the checks will be mailed out to the addresses listed on the returns.

Text PennLive to 717-745-7532 to sign up to have breaking news and essential updates about the coronavirus delivered right to your mobile device. Data and messaging rates may apply.

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Three people from Thane tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, taking the total number of infected people from the city to 16.

A 45-year-old man from Majiwada contracted the infection from his sister-in-law, who had come visiting from Dubai. He has been admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.

Sandeep Malvi, deputy municipal commissioner of TMC, said, The mans sister in law had come to visit him from March 12 to March 22. Few days after she left, he developed symptoms and tested positive for the virus on Thursday.

The TMC evacuated the building and disinfected it.

The Thane Municipal Corporation said the 59-year-old Kalwa resident, who tested positive on Thursday works in a well-known chain of hotels and his children had come to meet him from Dubai last week.

A private hospital in Kalwa was sealed as the man had visited the outpatient department (OPD) for a few days before undergoing test for coronavirus.

The hospital staff was also quarantined. A TMC official said, The 59-year-old man had visited OPD on March 30 and 31. We are also trying to contact the patients who had come to the OPD on these dates and are keeping a check on the doctors.

Two more persons have tested positive for COVID 19 in Thane, out of which one of the case is from Amrut Nagar, Kausa. The 47 year old man, who tested positive is first case from Mumbra and the corporation is establishing if he has any connection to those people who went to Delhi to attend a religious function. In the second case, Malvi informed that a 57 year old man has tested positive from Dhobi Ali.

Meanwhile, a 65-year-old has been tested positive in Kalyan, while a 44-year-old and a 28-year-old from Dombivli also have been found positive for the virus, taking the total cases in the twin cities to 22.

Two of them are being treated at Kasturba Hospital, while the third patient is being treated at Thane civil hospital, said a KDMC official.

The civic body sealed a housing complex in Kalyan (West) after these cases.

Meanwhile, KDMC chief Vijay Suryavanshi has urged private doctors, medical staff, ward boys and nurses to join the civic body to up the fight against Covid-19.

We want more medical staff, nurses and doctors to join us voluntarily. We will ensure their safety, said Suryavanshi.

KDMC will open eight community clinics across Kalyan and Dombivli to examine people having symptoms such as cough, cold and fever. The clinics will be open from 9.30am to 1pm.

Ten ambulances have been hired to transport patients, said Shrikant Shinde, Kalyan MP.
Winter Session: Opposition to take out march protest against suspension of 12 MPs today

Opposition MPs in both Houses march in protest from Gandhi statue to Vijay Chowk

Coronavirus outbreak: Opposition party leaders slam PM Modi for his call to light candles on April 5

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Apr 03: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday faced several criticisms from the Opposition party leaders after his brief video address to the nation and asked him to focus on helping the poor amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Reacting to PM Modi's speech, Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said PM Modi's speech had no vision for the future on how to ease people's pain and "their burdens.

Taking to Twitter, Shashi Tharoor said, Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease people's pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties."

Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease peoples pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by Indias Photo-Op PrimeMinister!  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 3, 2020

No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by India's Photo-Op Prime Minister!" teh Congress leader's tweet read.

Turn off lights on Sunday at 9 pm, light candles, PM Modi tells nation in video message

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also shared a similar comments as she voiced up against the Prime Minister's speech on Twitter.

"Turn out lights and come on balconies?" She asked, and urged PM Modi to get real.

Turn out lights & come on balconies?



GET REAL MR. MODI!



Give India fiscal pkg worth 8-10pc of GDP



Ensure immediate wages to construction & other labour during lockdown- laws exist permitting this



Stop gagging real press in name of curbing fake news  Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 3, 2020

"Give India fiscal package worth 8-10pc of GDP. Ensure immediate wages to construction & other labour during lockdown, laws exist permitting this. Stop gagging real press in name of curbing fake news," she further said in a tweet.

Let us fight and kill fake news says PM Narendra Modi

Also, Congress leader P Chidambaram urged PM Modi to listen to experts like economists and epidemiologists for suggestions.

Dear @narendramodi,

We will listen to you and light diyas on April 5. But, in return, please listen to us and to the wise counsel of epidemiologists and economists.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 3, 2020

"Dear Narendra Modi, we will listen to you and light diyas on April 5. But, in return, please listen to us and to the wise counsel of epidemiologists and economists," the Congress leader said in a tweet.

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Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 12:37 [IST]
The Finance Ministry on Friday appealed to the women Jan Dhan (PMJDY) account holders to follow the schedule announced by IBA for withdrawal of ex-gratia amount, and avoid rush at bank branches, in a bid to prevent spread of deadly coronavirus.

All banks from Friday have started remitting Rs 500 to beneficiary accounts in line with the announcement made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week.

"Appealing PMJDY women a/c holders to check last digit of their a/c no. & follow schedule shared below to visit banks, CSP & Bank Mitras. Withdrawal can also be done via any bank's ATM. No charges for using ATM. Let's follow social distancing & fight #corona," Financial Services Secretary Debasish Panda said in a tweet.

As per the schedule by Indian Banks' Association (IBA), women Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account holders having account number with last digit as 0 and 1 will get the money in their account on April 3, while account ending with 2 or 3 can approach the bank on April 4.

On April 7, beneficiaries with account number ending with 4 or 5 can collect their money, while account ending with 6 or 7 may withdraw on the following day.

The last tranche would be remitted on April 9 for account number ending with 8 or 9, it said.

While in case of an urgency, you can withdraw the money immediately, for orderly disbursal, you may follow banks' payment plan, the ministry requested the beneficiaries.

This is the first of the 3 monthly instalments under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana announced last week.

Beneficiaries are encouraged to use the neighbourhood ATMs with RuPay cards, Bank Mitras, CSPs as much as possible to avoid crowding at the branches, it said.

"Please note that there will be no charges for withdrawing money from other bank ATMs, at present, as per the government directives," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Update: This story has been updated to reflect new figures released this afternoon by Onondaga County.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- After nine days with one recorded death from the novel coronavirus, Onondaga County saw two more patients die Thursday. It was a grim reminder that the death toll is likely to mount in Central New York, and were not at the peak of the pandemic yet.

The number of patients in critical condition also grew rapidly this week, and studies show that the picture is bleak for patients who get that sick. In addition, the percentage of people testing positive has continued to increase, and the number of new positives this week has been double the number of people who recovered.

That all suggests that the spread of the virus here is not slowing down, and that the peak is yet to come.

We have more cases than we would like in Syracuse, but its still the early days of the epidemic, said Dr. Kathryn Anderson, a professor of medicine and immunology at Upstate Medical University. Unfortunately, were probably going to see more cases. Time will tell what the rate will be in our community.

In one bright spot, the rate of new cases of COVID-19 has slowed this week, which experts say could be a good sign if that trend continues.

Since the first positive test was announced in Onondaga County on March 16, 322 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed. The three deaths put the county in line with the national fatality rate, which scientists believe is about 1%.

The number of critically ill patients tripled in a week, from six last Friday to 19 today. Of those 19, three have died, one has improved and 15 remain in the intensive care.

Virtually all of the critically ill patients need ventilators, the county said, and the prognosis is worrisome for people sick enough to need that critical care breathing machine. Only 20% of COVID-19 patients survive after being hooked up to a ventilator, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. A large study in the United Kingdom was only slightly less pessimistic, finding that 35% survived.

It is unfortunate and concerning to see the number increase for critical care in the hospitals, Anderson said. To some degree its not unexpected because we know a small fraction of people will end up on ventilators in severe condition.

Cuomo has said repeatedly that New York could run out of ventilators when the biggest wave of patients crashed into hospitals, which could be anywhere from next week to the end of April. Syracuses three hospitals last month said they had about 250 ventilators and were scrambling to find more.

Cuomo today ordered hospitals to give ventilators to the state to deploy where theyre needed most, although he didnt specify exact locations. The machines will be returned, or hospitals will be reimbursed, he said, as cases peak first in New York City and then in Upstate.

We know numbers in Upstate New York are lighter than they are in Downstate, Cuomo said. That is going to change. It is in New York City and now you start to see Long Island light up. We had Westchester light up. Numbers are growing in Erie. You are going to see that wave move through the state.

No one knows for sure when that wave will hit, or how many Central New Yorkers will get sick and how many will die.

The latest model projections show 16,000 people across New York state could die from the virus, Cuomo said. That is likely to be heavily weighted toward New York City and its suburbs, where 96% of all confirmed cases are now. More than 2,900 New Yorkers have died so far -- over 2,200 people this week alone.

Social distancing measures are likely to work better in less-crowded Upstate New York, where were already farther apart and have still more room to spread out. Even Syracuse, which has more people per square mile than Albany or Buffalo, is only a quarter as dense as New York City.

That doesnt mean people in Central New York wont get COVID-19 over the next few months, but it does suggest that it will be easier to flatten the curve here to give local hospitals more space to accommodate the sick, said Brian Leydet, who teaches infectious disease and epidemiology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

A lot of deaths will probably come in major metropolitan areas where hospitals are going to exceed critical care capacity quicker, whereas in areas of smaller population size you might not exceed capacity, Leydet said.

While newly confirmed cases in Onondaga County are outstripping recoveries by a two-to-one margin, there is a glimmer of hope. The number of positive cases doubled in just three days last week, from 60 to 120. The next doubling, to 249 on Tuesday, took four days. Since Tuesday, 73 new cases have emerged; if that rate continued, it would take nine days for the next doubling, which could indicate transmission of the virus is slowing.

Brittany Kmush, a public health professor at Syracuse University, said that trend is encouraging, but its difficult to make solid predictions from relatively small numbers.

At least in Onondaga County, it seems the last few days (new cases) seem to be growing a little slower, so it could indicate were reaching the peak, Kmush said. But most experts think the peak is still a few weeks away.

READ MORE

New Cuomo order forces hospitals to give up ventilators, protective equipment to state

Coronavirus: More CNY patients recover, but deadly disease is spreading faster

When will the peak of the coronavirus pandemic hit CNY? What to watch for
Learn how to deep breathe properly to help you relax. (damircudic / Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends taking deep breaths to improve your emotional health during the coronavirus outbreak. But how? There's a technique to making the most of your deep, cleansing breaths  and it's pretty easy to learn.

Here are four steps to shed stress and anxiety, and find that oh-so soothing comfort in every breath.

1. Get ready

I looked around online and downloaded the free XPT wellness and fitness app designed by Malibu surfer Laird Hamilton and his former pro-athlete wife Gabrielle Reece. The Breathwork Introduction program takes four minutes to learn the basics of breathing.

Here are my takeaways:

Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.

Breathe from the belly, not the upper chest. "Keeping one hand on your chest and one hand on your bellybutton" is an easy way to make sure you are doing it right, the app says.

Open your nasal passages by placing two fingers on the bridge of your nose, and pushing up and back.

Best positions are lying down on your back with knees bent and lying on the floor, or sitting up with legs straight or crossed, making sure your spine is straight.

2. Start breathing

I used the same app's Belly Breathing lesson (still free) that takes about seven minutes. Lying on your back, you place a weighted item on your stomach. As you breathe, you can watch the object rise and fall  an easy way to keep breathing on track. I found this lesson totally doable, and relaxing in a focused way.

3. Travel somewhere

After a bit, I added visuals. Fortunately, travel companies and destinations that have been sidelined by the pandemic are keeping travelers engaged by posting soothing scenics and virtual tours online.

The Mauna Lani resort on the Island of Hawaii reminds us that "aloha" means the presence of breath or the breath of life. ("It comes from Alo, meaning presence, front and face, and ha, meaning breath," a hotel statement says.)

Story continues

I practiced my newfound skills while watching one of its activity videos, listening to the whoosh of the ocean and breath cadences. Info: Mauna Lani

4. Go farther

Now you'll be ready to take on the world, and it's (virtually) waiting for you.

Lindblad Expeditions has a number of compelling "Ahhhh Moments" with which you can take a quick trip to Costa Rica, Alaska and Antarctica. I found even just listening to the sound of the water during my Alaska "visit" helped me breathe and relax.

It's pretty easy to integrate a place into your breathing soundtrack. I selected a trip to Katherine's Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park in Northern Australia. Find your own dream destination, and breathe.
Washington

The Italian and Spanish ambassadors to the United States reported signs of improvement in the coronavirus situation in their countries Thursday, where numbers of confirmed infections, hospitalizations and deaths remain high but are beginning to stabilize.

"These are just the first positive signs, and they have to be taken cautiously," Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio said. "But they show that measures taken both nationally and at the local level have started to pay off."

Spain and Italy account for the majority of more than 30,000 deaths in Europe, with more than 10,000 in Spain and 13,000 in Italy, although figures in Britain and France are climbing. All have imposed national stay-at-home orders and closures.

The Spanish government this week issued orders prohibiting home evictions or the cutoff of utilities for failure to pay.

Both Varricchio and Spanish Ambassador Santiago Cabanas, speaking from their Washington homes in an online forum convened by the Meridian International Center, stressed the need for international solidarity and cooperation. But they cited the risk of growing authoritarianism, such as measures imposed in Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing party, with a legislative majority, has closed Parliament, indefinitely postponed elections and given him sweeping new powers.

The virus, Cabanas said, "is putting pressure not just on the health of our citizens, but also on the health of our democracies. Sometimes the decision-making process in our democracies might be perceived as slow and inefficient," he said, "but it is a small price to pay to make sure that citizens can be fully involved."

The diplomats expressed gratitude for aid shipments and advice from China, which has sent a team of doctors to Italy, but said their governments are fully aware that the Chinese government sees its assistance as part of a global competition.

"We should not try to buy into a [Chinese] narrative that might fall under the umbrella of public diplomacy," Varricchio said. "We're not naive, and we understand it very well."

"There is a need to cooperate to make sure that goods and equipment are shipped," he said.
An international team of paleontologists and geologists has uncovered well-preserved fossilized roots, pollen and spores of 90-million-year-old (mid-Cretaceous period) rainforest trees in West Antarctica.

The mid-Cretaceous period (115 million to 80 million years ago) was the heyday of the dinosaurs but was also the warmest period in the past 140 million years, with temperatures in the tropics as high as 35 degrees Celsius and sea level 170 m higher than today.

However, little was known about the environment south of the Antarctic Circle at this time.

The preservation of this 90-million-year-old forest is exceptional, but even more surprising is the world it reveals, said Professor Tina van de Flierdt, a researcher in the Department of Earth Science & Engineering at Imperial College London.

Even during months of darkness, swampy temperate rainforests were able to grow close to the South Pole, revealing an even warmer climate than we expected.

The evidence for the Antarctic forest comes from a core of sediment drilled at the site of PS104_20-2 (73.57S, 107.09W; 946 m water depth) near the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers in West Antarctica.

One section of the core, that would have originally been deposited on land, caught the scientists attention with its strange color.

During the initial shipboard assessments, the unusual coloration of the sediment layer quickly caught our attention; it clearly differed from the layers above it, said Dr. Johann Klages, a geologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research.

The team CT-scanned the section of the core and discovered an intact 3-m-long network of fossil roots, which was so well preserved that they could make out individual cell structures.

The 90-million-year-old sample also contained countless traces of pollen and spores from plants, including the first remnants of flowering plants ever found at these high Antarctic latitudes.

The numerous plant remains indicate that 93 to 83 million years ago the coast of West Antarctica was a swampy landscape in which temperate rainforests grew  similar to the forests that can still be found, say, on New Zealands South Island, said Professor Ulrich Salzmann, a paleoecologist at Northumbria University.

To reconstruct the environment of this preserved forest, the researchers assessed the climatic conditions under which the plants modern descendants live, as well as analyzing temperature and precipitation indicators within the sample.

They found that the annual mean air temperature was around 12 degrees Celsius. Average summer temperatures were around 19 degrees Celsius; water temperatures in the rivers and swamps reached up to 20 degrees.

They conclude that 90 million years ago the Antarctic continent was covered with dense vegetation, there were no land-ice masses on the scale of an ice sheet in the South Pole region, and the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere was far higher than previously assumed for the mid-Cretaceous period.

Before our study, the general assumption was that the global carbon dioxide concentration in the Cretaceous was roughly 1,000 ppm, Dr. Klages said.

But in our model-based experiments, it took concentration levels of 1,120 to 1,680 ppm to reach the average temperatures back then in the Antarctic.

The discovery is described in a paper published in the journal Nature.

_____

J.P. Klages et al. 2020. Temperate rainforests near the South Pole during peak Cretaceous warmth. Nature 580, 81-86; doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2148-5
03 April 2020

Type Media Article



12 different ways the Teagasc Forestry Development Department continues to support you during these difficult times



This update highlights the various ways how Teagascs Forestry Development Department continues to support you during the current COVID-19 crisis.

Although we are currently not in a position to offer office consultations, site visits, forest walks or classes in line with government advice, we are fully operational and contactable.

This video highlights the various ways how Teagascs Forestry Development Department continues to support you during the current COVID-19 crisis.



Even during these challenging times, we continue to provide you with the best possible independent and objective forestry advice and information. Maybe you are considering establishing a forest on the farm thereby improving your family income or you are one of the 20,000 farmers in Ireland with a forest on the farm and you have a question how to better manage your forest. We are here to support you.

On behalf of everyone at the Teagasc Forestry Development Department, we wish you, your family and loved ones good health.

Please find below an overview how we can be of assistance:

Contact us by phone, text, email or post

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if we can assist you with any forestry-related query you may have. Maybe you are considering establishing a forest or you may have a technical question how to better manage your forest?

If you are concerned about your trees, you are very welcome to email or text us some images. Hopefully we will be able to assist you by phone or email.

You can find our contact details here. (https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/staff/ )

Website

The forestry section of the Teagasc website is jam-packed with useful information such as technical advice, up-to-date detailed information on forestry grants, research project updates, scientific publications, staff contact details and much, much more.

Discover our website. (www.teagasc.ie/forestry )

Teagasc Forestry eNews

More than three thousand people receive Teagascs forestry e-newsletter directly by email.

Teagasc Forestry eNews is free of charge and is a great way to keep on top of the latest Irish forestry news, forestry grants, valuable forest management tips and much more.

Subscribe to Teagasc Forestry eNews here. (https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/forestry-e-news/ )

YouTube

The Teagasc Forestry YouTube channel has loads of useful videos.

Technical how-to videos show how to cut inspection paths or calculate when to consider thinning for the first time in a conifer plantation.

Other videos explain the new Forestry Act, how to apply for a forest establishment grant, discuss various forms of taxation that may be of relevance to forest owners and much, much more.

Visit our YouTube Channel. (www.youtube.com/teagascforestryvideos )

Social media

Our various social media platforms are a great way to keep in touch and to find out the latest forestry news. Follow us on:

Twitter (https://twitter.com/teagascforestry )

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/forestry.teagasc )

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/teagasc_forestry/)

Printed newsletters and Todays Farm magazine

40,000 Teagasc clients receive a quarterly forestry newsletter and a bimonthly magazine Todays Farm in their letterbox.

These are valuable sources of forestry information providing a mixture of technical advice, relevant news and research project updates.

Have a look at our forestry newsletters and Todays Farm magazine (https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/ ).

It is also a great way to keep on top of what's happening in other farm enterprises such as dairy, beef, sheep and tillage. Or find out about the latest upcoming Teagasc events.

We welcome your suggestions!

We would love to hear from you for any suggestions how we can better support you during these strange times.

Email your ideas to forestry@teagasc.ie.
YEREVAN.  Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: Yesterday we were receiving news from Artsakh that candidate [and current FM] Masis Mayilian, who has passed to the second round [of the presidential elections], was hesitant to continue the fight.

The thing is that [ex-defense minister] Samvel Babayan, who backed him and secured 80 percent of the vote, may not support Mayilian in the second round because he has achieved his goal, and his party is the second power in the parliament. Moreover, it is not excluded that he will form a coalition with [the other presidential candidate and ex-PM] Arayik Harutyunyan.

Yesterday Mayilian did not answer our calls. Although the team was assuring that there was no such decision, Samvel Babayan confirmed that he, too, had such information that Mayilian did not want to go on; he even made no announcement about it.

If Mayilian does not run [in the second round], a risk of a constitutional crisis is being created.
If you're still thinking about Tiger King and its motley crew of characters, there's one more to add to your list immediately.

Mahamayavi Bhagavan "Doc" Antle's son, Kody Antle, has a Tarzan aesthetic and almost two million followers and counting on Instagram, where he shares photos of himself with his menagerie of wild animal pals, much like a Disney cartoon.

If you want more animals in your life, watch Kody frolic with a tiger or spend time with his monkey brothers via TikTok videos.

While he's no Joe Exotic, it's certainly worth a scroll, especially to see some of the folks in Doc's life.

Kody's dad, Doc Antle, is a controversial figure in the Netflix show. He owns the Myrtle Beach Safari Wild Encounters Tour, where his son works.

Kody, 30, told AOL Growing up, I realized my life is unique, really because what I wanted and other kids wanted was so different. I always just had a deeper connection to animals and I just wanted to be naked running around with tigers!

And his life is definitely unique, as he considers a tiger named Amba his sister (he also has an actual sister, Tawny, who calls herself the Queen of the Jungle). He's also close pals with YouTube star Logan Paul.

It makes sense that he has Hollywood pals as his father does too - he was famously featured in a Britney Spears performance and provided animals for movies including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Jungle Book.

In Tiger King, Doc is accused of having a "harem" of wives. He recently spoke to Oxygen and said, "I am absolutely not married nor have I been since my wife died over 20 years ago now. I'm not married and I certainly don't have wives. I certainly am a single guy and I live in a house by myself." He also told Oxygen that many of the women seen on the show are actually his son's girlfriends.
ROSEMONT, Ill.

April 2, 2020

Illinois

Indiana

Illinois

Stan Blaylock

Illinois

Indiana

/PRNewswire/ -- Physicians Immediate Care is the largest urgent care company in, with a significant presence also in, that is leading the way for patient safety and innovative care during the COVID-19 crisis. To prevent exposure to the virus for patients, providers, and clinic teams, the company rapidly rolled out Curbside Care chainwide. Curbside Care allows patients to receive enhanced screening for potential COVID-19 symptoms at the front entrance before they enter the clinic. A patient that passes screening is examined in the clinic, and a patient that fails screening is seen in their vehicle. Now, in conjunction with their safe treatment protocols across all types of visits, (urgent care, occupational health, and physical therapy), Physicians Immediate Care is the first urgent care into deploy Abbott's breakthrough rapid COVID-19 test. Abbott's rapid COVID-19 molecular point-of-care test runs on the company's ID NOW platform and can deliver positive results in as little as five minutes. This breakthrough test enables Physicians Immediate Care to perform accurate testing in its convenient urgent care clinics, outside of hospitals and their over-burdened emergency rooms.Physicians Immediate Care will begin testing patients within the week, starting with symptomatic healthcare workers and first responders with exposure. The next priority will be patients that are at the highest risk, including those over 65 years of age with COVID-19 symptoms. Physicians Immediate Care has been a partner with Abbott for several years, using the company's ID NOW platform to test for influenza, strep, and RSV. During the most recent flu season, Physicians Immediate Care performed over 40,000 rapid flu tests using the ID NOW technology. That experience enables Physicians Immediate Care to start testing immediately for COVID-19 in its clinics."At Physicians Immediate Care, our purpose is remarkable care you can count on, when and where you need it. This breakthrough technology from Abbott fits perfectly with our mission to provide safe, high-quality care and almost immediate test results directly to the community through our convenient locations and outstanding clinical staff," said, CEO of Physicians Immediate Care. "Working with Abbott and our other strategic partners, our team is ready and well-equipped to take the battle against COVID-19 to the next level."Physicians Immediate Care, also known as Physicians Urgent Care, is the Midwest leader in urgent care and occupational health services with over 40 locations inand. For more than 30 years, the company has provided affordable, convenient medical care to millions of patients. Physicians Immediate Care is dedicated to building healthy communities and reducing emergency room utilization by providing remarkable care you can count on, when and where you need it. Through its network of urgent care clinics (over half of which are partnered with health systems), the company is fully equipped to provide x-rays, lab testing, medical exams, minor procedures and treatments for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Its clinics offer convenient hours and accept patients who either walk-in or self-schedule same-day appointments through its Urgent Care Pass application. For locations and services, go to visitphysicians.com.CONTACT: Physicians Immediate Care, Todd Vang, 847.232.6718, tvang@visitphysicians.comPhysicians Immediate Care

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/physicians-immediate-care-to-implement-covid-19-molecular-point-of-care-testing-using-abbotts-id-now-instrument-301034406.html



SOURCE Physicians Immediate Care




Choosing the right e-signature provider can be difficult, especially when timelines are tight and resources for testing different vendors are limited. Many firms claim that their software can meet customer needs and satisfy all the necessary requirements. At the same time, choosing the right e-signature vendor is a critical decision for most businesses with many vendors requiring multi-year contracts and complex implementations. These factors drive up the cost of switching services, whereby the smallest mistakes can be costly.

Often, the best way to make an informed decision quickly involves basing it on past customer experience and success. But where can you find the information you need to make the right decision for your business? Independent, third-party platforms like Trustpilot, the worlds most powerful review platform, are built to serve this purpose. The platform provides consumers an invaluable tool to assess the transparency and reliability of brands. By partnering with Trustpilot, potential signNow customers can properly familiarize themselves with the customer experience based on reviews from previous or existing customers.

When we first entered the e-signature solution provider space, we were surprised to learn how much misinformation was out there. With a fairly complicated product and nuanced implementation, finding the right solution for your business can be hard. That is why we proactively partnered with an independent, trusted, third party solution like Trustpilot. Doing so ensures that every prospective customer has access to the information they need to make an informed decision. This way every customer is able to choose the ideal provider that best meets their needs in order to make their implementation successful. We encourage every customer to do their own research before making their final buying decision, says Borya Shakhnovich, CEO of airSlate -- parent company of signNow.

Companies that choose Trustpilot are showing the world they believe in trusted, transparent, and authentic customer feedback, said Zach Pardes, Director of Communications, North America at Trustpilot. Furthermore, they are dedicated to participating in open dialogue with their customers to consistently deliver and improve all areas of their business, from customer support to product implementation and delivery.

About signNow

signNow is an easy-to-use e-signature solution that allows users to set up complex e-signature workflows and get documents approved and e-signed faster. For its 6 million daily users, signNow offers a desktop version and apps for both iOS and Android. signNow also integrates with a number of different platforms including Salesforce, Netsuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Office 365, Google Suite and others.

About Trustpilot

Trustpilot is the worlds most powerful review platform - free and open to all. With more than 85 million reviews of over 360,000 websites, Trustpilot gives people a place to share and discover reviews of businesses, and we give every company the tools to turn consumer feedback into business results. Our mission is to be a universal symbol of trust helping bring people and companies closer together. Trustpilot reviews are seen more than 2.5 billion times each month by consumers worldwide. With offices in Copenhagen, London, Edinburgh, New York, Denver, Berlin, Melbourne, Vilnius, Trustpilot's 800 employees represent more than 40 different nationalities. For more information, visit https://www.trustpilot.com.
The coronavirus pandemic has touched almost every corner of our nation and world, as researchers at John Hopkins University now say that, as of Friday morning, there are more than a million confirmed cases worldwide and over 54,000 deaths.

Its obvious that the rapidly-spreading virus can infect humans, but what about our pets?

Fortunately, it appears that the risk for our fury friends appears to be low, if not nonexistent. Experts do have some tips and suggestions, however, when it comes to any contact your pets have with others for the time being.

As for the main question of whether your pet can get and transmit the coronavirus, the current answer is no.

At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19, the American Veterinary Medical Association writes.

Pets have not been associated with spread to humans anywhere in the world, although there have been some rare reports of virus detection in companion animals. In the United States, there is no evidence at this time to suggest that any animals, including pets, livestock, or wildlife, might be a source of COVID-19 infection to humans.

Here are the answers to some other frequently asked questions:

Is it safe to walk my dog, and is it allowed?

Orders vary from state to state. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf has issued a statewide stay at home order but has said that outdoor exercise, including the kind with your pet, is OK as long as you practice social distancing and stay six feet from others.

The AMVA does recommend, however, that: Dogs should be walked outside for elimination and exercise but direct contact with other companion animals should be avoided as a best practice to protect animal health.

If I have COVID-19, can I still be around my pet?

Heres what the College of Veterinary Medicine as Illinois University says:

To protect other people and yourself, the CDC recommends that you restrict contact with pets if you are sick with COVID-19, just as you would restrict your contact with other people. Avoid snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you must interact with your pet, wash your hands before and after, and wear a face mask.

Is it OK for others to pet my dog?

The short answer is yes, its probably OK, but its perfectly reasonable to ask someone not to, especially if they have to break federal social distancing guidelines and get within six feet of you to do so.

Were not overly concerned about people contracting covid-19 through contact with dogs and cats, said Gail Golab, the AVMAs chief veterinary officer, told The Washington Post.

"Environmental contamination via surfaces appears to be a secondary route of transmission, and the virus survives best on smooth surfaces, such as countertops and doorknobs, Golab said. Porous materials, such as pet fur, tend to absorb and trap pathogens, making it harder to contract them through touch.

Do I need a facemask to walk my dog? Does my dog need one?

Guidance currently differs from various local and state governments, and even the federal government. If you feel better by wearing one, go ahead, but there is no Centre for Disease Control recommendation yet that everyone wears one while out in public.

As for your pet?

No. Face masks may not protect your pet from disease transmission and may cause other breathing difficulties, the College of Veterinary Medicine as Illinois University says.

More coronavirus coverage:
KYODO NEWS - Apr 3, 2020 - 19:41 | All, World, Coronavirus

The Japanese government is considering offering the anti-influenza drug Avigan for free to countries looking to use it to treat new coronavirus patients, its top government spokesman said Friday.

"Some 30 countries have made requests through diplomatic channels to Japan for the procurement of Avigan," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference. The drug developed by a group firm of Fujifilm Holdings Corp. is seen as effective in treating the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus.

(Avigan)[Courtesy of Doctors Without Borders]

"We intend to expand clinical research on Avigan with countries wishing to cooperate," Suga said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a press conference last Saturday that the government will push the development of drugs and vaccines, including Avigan, to fight the pneumonia-causing coronavirus.

Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co. said Tuesday it has started clinical tests to evaluate the efficacy of the drug, also known as Favipiravir, to COVID-19 patients.

On Thursday, the German health ministry said it will seek to purchase Avigan tablets as a treatment drug for the new coronavirus. Local media said the ministry will buy several million tablets to treat patients with severe symptoms.

A study by researchers at Wuhan University and other institutions in China has shown cases in which Avigan was effective against the coronavirus, especially for the treatment of those with mild symptoms.

Avigan has been manufactured and stocked in Japan as an anti-influenza drug. There is hope it can also help treat other diseases, including Ebola, as well as a tick-borne illness.
: Robotic nurses will now



deliver food and medicine to coronavirus patients in Tamil Nadu's government-run Stanley Medical College Hospital here in a bid to curtail direct contact with the infected people and help avoid spread of the contagion.

Health Minister C Vijayabaskar inspected the functioning of the robots at the hospital on Friday and he said the initiative would help reduce the risk of infection.

In a tweet, he said: #update: Visited #Stanley Hospital morning. Checked the functions of #roboticnurses to be used in #corona wards, that can deliver food & medicine. This will limit the amount of direct contact doctors and nurses have with patients, thus reducing the risk of infection."



The robot's arms hold a fixed tray in which food and medicine could be delivered to the designated spot and the equipment is remotely controlled.

A demonstration involving the robot (which has an insignia that "I can talk,") was done and the machine carried a jar of water, a tumbler and a sanitiser to a predetermined spot when the Minister visited the hospital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CORVALLIS, Ore.-- Oregon State University is helping a local hospital with COVID-19 testing by making a crucial fluid to preserve samples to be transported to testing facilities.

Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis approached The Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine and requested if the school's lab could make Virus Transmission Medium or VTM. This liquid sits in a test tube that helps preserve COVID-19 samples after being taken from deep inside a patient's nasal cavity. The college said they were able to make enough of this fluid for 1,000 tests. Justin Sanders is an Assistant Professor of Senior Research at the veterinary school said they did not hesitate to help.

"Were helpers, its what we do," Sanders said. "Anything we can do to give to our community, our state, the country, were in it for the long haul."

Sanders said it was an easy decision for him and his colleagues to help fight the pandemic. Even though he researches animal health care, Sanders said there is a lot of similarities between animal and human diseases. Trying to figure out how to stop the spread for the avian influenza, for example, is parallel to stopping a pandemic among humans.

"We as a veterinary college are part of this one health program that encompasses all human, agriculture, pet companion animals," Sanders said. "So its a natural thing to help out in a human pandemic situation like this."

Sanders said his college has also donated most of their personal protective gear to Good Samaritan Hospital. He said his college and the whole university community is standing by to whoever may need help fighting COVID-19.
By Azernews

By Akbar Mammadov

Australia supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and does not recognize the elections that took place in Nagorno-Karabakh on 31 March, Australian Ambassador to Turkey Marc Innes-Brown said in a Twitter post on April 3.

"It is more important than ever that the OSCE Minsk Group continues its role in the peace process to achieve a negotiated settlement," the ambassador tweeted.

Earlier, a number of countries, including, Germany, UK, Turkey, Italy, Georgia, Ukraine, Estonia, as well as international organizations, including the European Union, NATO, OIC expressed their concerns over the holding of illegal elections by separatists in Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region. OSCE Minsk Group that mediates the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan described the elections as illegal saying that no country has recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent entity.

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.
Conservative activist Candace Owens has revealed she is 'considering' running for a seat in either the US Senate or governor's mansion because it's 'not enough just to comment on politics'.

The pro-Trump commentator, 30, made the decision on Wednesday evening after a conversation with her husband, and said she will only run against a Democrat.

She has spearheaded the #Blexit movement, calling on black voters to leave the Democratic party, and has criticized the response of Democratic states to the coronavirus crisis.

In New York, where Ms Owens lives, state governor Andrew Cuomo has given daily updates on the situation in the city, which has recorded 2,468 deaths and more than 92,000 cases.

The Pro-Trump commentator said she will only run against a Democrat as 'they are weak'. She has not revealed when she will run or which state she will run in

Announcing her decision to run on Twitter, Ms Owens said: 'I'm now honestly considering running for office.

'Never had any desire to previously, but something changed in me last night. Had a conversation with my husband and I think it's a plan.'

She is yet to specify where and when she will run, The Tweet has been liked more than 194,000 times and retweeted 32,700 times.

Speaking to Fox News, the activist said she is 'keeping things under wraps' but wants to run against a Democrat as 'they're vulnerable and right now is a perfect storm to see how people are leading.'

She has also accused democratic state leaders of being 'crooked' and alleged that they have used the current crisis to 'get themselves out of their own crises'.

Ms Owens has faced criticism for her comments in 2019, when she posted a laughing emoji in response to the mosque shooting in New Zealand. She is pictured above with Donald Trump and her husband

The US is battling against the coronavirus outbreak which has seen more than 6,000 citizens lose their lives to the disease

She tweeted her announcement moments before going on radio at The Blaze.

'You know, I was talking to my husband about this, and my frustration about all these governor's and how dishonest they've been... I'm just getting sick of it,' she said during her interview.

'So, I said to my husband, you know, I think I should get into politics. I think I should run. I should surprise run, and take somebody for everything they have, and expose people.'

She told the presenter she is eyeing a seat, but wouldn't reveal further details.

A swing of five per cent in the black American vote could see Donald Trump back in the White House, analysts have warned.

Ms Owens announced her decision in a tweet, saying she was looking at the US Senate and governor's mansion

US Presidential candidates have remained on the campaign trail ahead of the November 2020 election despite the current crisis.

Ms Owens career has been embroiled in controversy. In 2018 she said that Hitler 'just wanted to make Germany great and have things run well'.

She has also faced heavy criticism for putting a laughing emoji on a post about the New Zealand mosque massacre.

She was also named in the gunman's manifesto, which named her as his 'biggest influencer'.
BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE, by Trent Dalton. (HarperPerennial, 464 pp., $16.99.) A mysterious voice on the red phone in his familys secret escape room adds a dose of magical realism to the Australian journalist Daltons debut novel  a mix of romance, suspense, organized crime and humor that our reviewer, Amelia Lester, called thrilling.

BRINGING DOWN THE COLONEL: A Sex Scandal of the Gilded Age, and the Powerless Woman Who Took on Washington, by Patricia Miller. (Picador, 400 pp., $20.) Miller began working on this book about the young Madeline Pollard, who won a landmark breach of promise to marry suit against a much older congressman, years before the reckonings of #MeToo, our critic Jennifer Szalai observed. But what she found is a story from the 19th century that rumbles and resonates in our own.

THE OTHER AMERICANS, by Laila Lalami. (Vintage, 320 pp., $16.) The nine narrators of this National Book Award-nominated novel about the hit-and-run death of an immigrant restaurant owner in a post-9/11, post-Iraq-war America of declining productivity all see themselves as outsiders to mainstream American identity, our reviewer, Madeleine Thien, wrote.

A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II, by Sonia Purnell. (Penguin, 368 pp., $18.) After making a daring escape from the Nazis across the Pyrenees, despite having lost a leg, Virginia Hall returned to France to direct D-Day resistance operations. Our reviewer, Mick Herron, found Purnells biography of the first Allied woman deployed behind enemy lines as riveting as any thriller, and as hard to put down.
The wood industry was facing a disaster with many businesses left without orders from now until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VTFPA).

Workers make timber products for export at Vu Thinh Company Ltd, in the northern province of Bac Giang.

VTFPA said that the US, EU, Japan, South Korea and China accounted for over 90 per cent of the countrys wood export market, and had all been strongly affected by COVID-19.

Many Vietnamese wood processing enterprises have had orders cancelled of suspended, said the association.

Since March, 80 per cent of exporters to the US and EU markets had received cancellations or delays until the situation improves. Orders from Japan, South Korea and China similarly dropped by 60-80 per cent.

For the remaining orders and small orders, businesses are having difficulties as input prices have gone up by US$10-20 per cu.m, and freight costs have increased $500-1,000 per container, the statement said.

General Director of Lam Viet Joint Stock Company Nguyen Liem said the basic principle of the economy was that supply was always equal to demand. However, the current demand was only for medicine and food, forcing many furniture stores to close in the EU and US  leading to the cancellation and suspension of orders.

Its predicted these difficulties will last for the next three-six months or even longer. Many businesses are focusing on minimising costs, including imports of raw materials and other factory expenses, Liem said.

He said his company had to stop production on March 27.

Currently, we have 150 containers of finished goods that we cannot ship. We will have to store them in warehouses. The damage is countless, Liem said.

"Lam Viet's own losses in this coronavirus outbreak amounted to VND200 billion ($8.5 million), not to mention laying off 1,400 workers," he added.

According to Nguyen Phuong, director of Minh Thanh Co., Ltd, cancellations had been poring in over the last two weeks.

To date, the number of cancelled orders is valued at about $3 million and the number of suspended orders would have been worth $2 million, Phuong said.

He said his companys export value to the US market was about $2.5 million prior the COVID-19 outbreak. After receiving cancellations or delays, the company had suspended production. "This means that about 800 workers are now unemployed."

VTFPA said Lam Viet and Minh Thanh were among the many wood processing and exporting firms suffering the damage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Do Xuan Lap, chairman of VTFPA, said the wood processing industry, one of the country's three main export industries, was facing the reality that most enterprises would have to stop production this month and lay off workers without strong support from the Government.

In order to minimise these losses, VTFPA have asked the Government to include the wood processing industry on the list of products the Government says can extend tax payments and land rents.

VTFPA also said the Government should consider value added tax refunds for eligible exporters, and the exemption of export taxes.  VNS

Supply chain interrupted, VN woodwork processors go online E-commerce is one of the best solutions for woodwork enterprises to cope with the Covid-19 epidemic, which has led to a sharp fall in demand.
When Hector Poch, 60, started dating Graciela Szwarcberg, 58, friends said it would never last. Fast forward 43 years and The Entity  as their kids call them  live together 24/7, travelling the world in their motorhome.

Hector Poch and Graciela Szwarcberg: "Graciela has the ideas and I make them happen. Shes strategy, Im operations." Credit:Wolter Peeters

GRACIELA: Hector and I went to the same youth group as teenagers in Buenos Aires. I thought he was geeky. We started spending more time together as friends, and a week before he left for Israel to work on a kibbutz for two months, I wrote him a note that said, Have a good trip. I love you.

In Spanish there are two ways to say, I love you: one for friends and family, and one for your partner. He said, I love you, too. I said, I think Ive given you the wrong message! After his farewell party, he walked me home and kissed me. One look into his blue eyes and that was it.

There was nothing romantic about our marriage plans. After he came home, we knew it was time to get married because we didnt want to keep saying goodbye at the end of each night. I was 20 and Hector was 22.
On Monday, March 30, General Motors announced layoffs starting on April 13 at all of its plants in Brazil, affecting more than 15,000 workers. Under a deal worked out with the unions, the workers will see their net wages cut by between 10 and 25 percent, along with the suspension of benefits.

Union president Cidao do Sindicato (center) with the governor of Sao Paulo and GM executives at inauguration of a new complex in Sao Caetano do Sul

For GM, the agreement could slash payroll expenses by more than 60 percent. Besides promoting a direct cut in salaries, the company will use the layoffs regime provided under Brazilian law, which gives it the opportunity to stop making half of jobless payments. The other half is deducted from the Workers Support Fund (FAT), as an advance on unemployment benefits, i.e., it is paid for by the workers themselves.

The measure will also have a decisive impact on the thousands of workers at GMs suppliers. At the Gravatai Assembly Plant, in Rio Grande do Sul, where GM directly hires 3,000 workers, there are another 3,000 working for third-party auto parts suppliers.

The unions have celebrated this deal as a way to save jobs. However, it provides no guarantee of job stability for the workers. On the contrary. In recent years, these layoff agreements at GM, as at other companies, have always been followed by mass permanent job cuts.

Before making its public announcement, GM had already been meeting with the unions to draw up the strategy for approving this attack. As attested to by the president of the Metalworkers Union of Sao Caetano, Aparecido Inacio da Silva, in an interview published last Thursday: I am talkingand it hasnt started todaywith the company to reach the best path from April 13 on.

The union, led by the reactionary Forca Sindical, which officially represents around 7,800 GM workers in Sao Caetano do Sul, in the state of Sao Paulo, by the next day announced that it had just concluded the layoff agreement with the management of General Motors.

After announcing that it had reached the agreement, the union said that it would consult the workers through an application that would be made available on its website. This application was never posted on the site, but Cidao do Sindicato (as Aparecido Inacio da Silva is known) declared to Estado de Sao Paulo on Monday that the online voting was already coming to an end, with majority acceptance.

The Metalworkers Union of Gravatai (Sinmgra), directed by Forca Sindical, announced the result of the vote even before it was held! In an interview with Jornal do Comercio, the president of Sinmgra, Valcir Ascari, had already taken for granted that the 3,000 workers at Montadora de Gravatai would agree with the union.

The online vote, held on Wednesday, was a complete scam. The workers had only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to vote, and during that period the site was offline. The union instructed the workers to update the page until they get a connection and deleted comments protesting the holding of the vote under these conditions.

Production line of the Chevrolet Onix

The unions make little effort to hide their role as another layer of GM management, working to guarantee the companys profits. As Cidao do Sindicato said: We respect and defend the rights of the workers, worried about their health, but we have to see the issue of production, no one can afford compromises if there is no income.

The Metalworkers Union of Joinville, in Santa Catarina, where GM has an engine plant, had not made a statement about the layoffs. However, the positions taken by the union, which is affiliated to the CUT, the union federation led by the Workers Party, leaves no room for doubt about the interests it represents.

The president of the union and director of the National Metalworkers Confederation, Rodolfo de Ramos, has repeatedly defended the attempts of the states extreme right-wing governor, Carlos Moises, to make workers return to their jobs. Ramos regretted that the largest company in which his union operates restarted production on Monday with only 30 percent of the workforce, when 50 percent could already have returned. According to him, the union is at the disposal of the companies ... to guarantee income, employment and the continuity of the productive process and the effective resumption of the economy.

With the support of the CUT union, the government of Santa Catarina advances the same line as Brazils fascist President Jair Bolsonaro, who was elected to the Brazilian presidency as the candidate of the Christian Social Party, of which Moises is also a member. This policy of promoting mass infection of the workers by COVID-19 was confronted by a wildcat strike of meat-processing workers in the south of the state, on February 19.

Workers on the night shift at the Forquilhinha plant of JBS, the Brazilian-based meat processing conglomerate, left work in the middle of the shift, and those who arrived for the morning shift refused to enter and protested outside the company. The workers denounced the extremely unsafe conditions, with some 600 workers crammed in on top of each other in a closed shed. The demonstration was repressed by the state Military Police, who attacked the workers with pepper spray and arrested the press secretary of the SINTIACR union, who had arrived on the scene.

Aerial view of GM plant in Sao Caetano

The Brazilian working class needs to confront the demand by the capitalists that they choose between returning to work and infecting themselves and their families with the deadly new coronavirus, or that they sink into poverty, including starvation, as Bolsonaro has threatened.

Companies in different sectors, from services to industry, are promoting mass layoffs and pay cuts for workers in the midst of the pandemic. Bus companies will leave some 70,000 workers without wages in April, and layoffs are spreading in the garages. In several cities across the country, bus drivers and ticket collectors have staged protests. The last one took place on March 31 in the state of Pernambuco, where more than 100 workers received a notice of dismissal and suspension of wages as soon as they arrived at work.

The workers cannot face this wave of attacks by seeking support from the pro-corporate unions like the CUT and Forca Sindical. But the so-called opposition unions are no alternative. Workers at the General Motors plant in Sao Jose dos Campos have a long experience of defeats presided over by the Metalworkers Union affiliated to the CSP-Conlutas federation, led by the Morenoites of PSTU.

Since 2010, two thirds of the 12,000 GM workers in Sao Jose dos Campos have been fired. In 2012 and 2015, the union defended the layoff programs proposed by the company as workers victories, protecting their jobs. These same protected workers were subsequently fired. In the name of a policy of competition for investments against other units of the company in Brazil and around the world, the union in 2019 defended the reduction of wages and benefits of the Sao Jose dos Campos workers.

The PSTU-led union, postured as an opponent of GMs new proposal for layoffs with reductions in wages and criticized the other unions for having accepted it. It stated that this weakens the struggle, because it is better that everyone sticks together. Union officials then met with the company on Wednesday to present alternative proposals.

In a live transmission on Facebook, the unions vice president Renato Almeid told the workers that the union made a counterproposal that layoffs be carried out based on the model that we have previously agreed to with the company. He admitted that in this agreement, which we have already reached with GM and which we are reaching [right now] with other companies in the region, the worker already has some kind of loss. And we are making this concession to get through this moment.

This new lowering of workers conditions, which is the inevitable result of these negotiations, will be justified by the union because of its isolation, i.e., although they tried to get a better deal, they were forced to make concessions after the other unions had already capitulated.

In fact, it is impossible for GM workers in Sao Jose dos Campos to achieve conquests isolated from their colleagues in the other plants. But this isolation is not a natural order of things; it is a product of the very structure of the unions, which divides the workers and incites competition among them.

Even at a time when assemblies and voting are taking place online, no unionincluding that of Sao Jose dos Camposwill propose that they take place in a unified fashion.

Hundreds of workers from Sao Jose dos Campos wrote on Facebook that they are against any form of layoff: Weve already given up many rights to GM, lowered our salaries, accepted the layoffs ... lowered our profit sharing, and so on. And it [GM] only promised investment and a lot of things and in the end it didnt give us anything; we cant lose more than we are losing, said one of them.

To take forward their demands, workers must definitively break with the reactionary structure of the unions and appeal directly to their co-workers in the other plants, forming rank-and-file committees in each workplace. Social media and the internet can be used as powerful tools in this struggle.

In the locations where the concessions agreements have been approved, through rigged or non-existent votes presided over by the trade unions, workers should reject these decisions and demand new ballots under their direct control.

These rank-and-file committees will permit the Brazilian workers to unify their struggles internationally, drawing up a global strategy of opposition to the globally coordinated attacks by the transnational corporations. This must include the demands that the massive wealth of the corporations and the ruling oligarchy be expropriated and placed at the disposal of society to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and that industries be retooled to produce desperately needed medical equipment and vital necessities.

The appeal by General Motors workers in Silao, Mexico for unity with their colleagues striking in the US and Canada, should be joined by GM workers in Brazil.
Sonam Kapoor has been collaborating on projects with sister Rhea Kapoor since 2010 release Aisha, either as an actress or a producer. However, the actress now seems to be planning to work with her husband as a co-producer.

Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja, since their return from London, are staying in isolation at their home in Delhi. The actress is keeping busy by cooking new recipes, which she is learning from her mom over video-conferencing. Meanwhile, the husband and wife are also working on what to do once the lockdown is lifted.

Last seen in The Zoya Factor in 2018, Sonam has not announced any projects yet but the actress now plans on becoming business partners with Anand Ahuja in film production in 2021.

A report in Bollywood Hungama quoted a source saying, "Sonam has so far been partnering in her sister Rhea Kapoor's Production house. That partnership will continue. But Sonam also wants to collaborate with her husband Anand over movie productions."

According to the report, Anand, who is an entrepreneur has been wondering about producing films with father-in-law, Anil Kapoor or sister-in-law Rhea Kapoor for quite some time. But so far, has not invested in movie production. However, it seems Sonam has convinced him to branch out as an independent producer.

Sonam has been sharing her cooking results on social media and recently shared pictures of poached eggs, stir-fried vegetables and sliced avocados and called it breakfast of champions. She also revealed she cooked classic pancakes with banana slices for Anand.

As for lunch, for Friday, Sonam has planned out an assortment of exotic healthy dishes: Pasta in marinara sauce, spaghetti aglio olo, bruschetta and garlic bread, Swiss chard with pine nuts, and baked tofu with mixed spices. She shared on her Instagram story.

Fans Are Convinced Sonam Kapoor Has A Baby Bump In This Viral Video

Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Tiger Shroff And More To Join Virtual Red Carpet For Disney+Hotstar
NNIT wins tender and extends twelve-year collaboration with another up to seven years.



Copenhagen, April 2, 2020  NNIT, a leading provider of IT services and consultancy, announces that it has signed a new agreement with HK. Denmarks largest union for salaried employees with 230,000 members brings together the responsibility for the operation of the entire IT infrastructure in the hands of NNIT.

Since 2008, NNIT has overseen operations for the basic infrastructure, and HK has, after a recently completed tender, assigned NNIT responsibility for the complete operations of the organization's entire IT infrastructure. The cooperation is extended as takes over responsibility for the operation of HK's core applications and the skeleton under them.

At NNIT, who is already in charge of application operations for several of Denmark's largest companies, employees welcome the new agreement, says Jacob Hahn Michelsen, Senior Vice President, NNIT A/S:

Our employees are very pleased with this sign of confidence as the cooperation with HK is both extended and expanded in scope, - you simply do not get any better proof of customer satisfaction.



He adds that the contract was signed digitally on March 31, 2020 where the majority of employees in both organizations worked at home as a result of the COVID-19 situation:

We must wait with the handshakes, high-fives and shoulder pats until it becomes safe. For now, we're doing things over phone, email and digital platforms."

The expanded cooperation provides new tasks, which is entirely in line with NNITs new strategy. These include cybersecurity deliveries, Microsoft standard solutions such as Teams, and ongoing infrastructure modernization. All server infrastructure is lifted into NNIT's private cloud and becomes software-controlled, allowing HK to adjust it much faster in the future. All solutions which are in line with the "Winning Solutions" portfolio that NNIT focuses on.

Story continues

The agreement between HK and NNIT has been extended with additional five years with the possibility of up to two years' extension and represents a high double-digit million DKK turnover in total.

********

More information

Helga Heyn, NNIT Communications, +45 30 77 81 41, hhey@nnit.com

About NNIT

NNIT is an international consultancy in the development, implementation, validation and operation of IT for the life sciences industry. We create value for our clients by treating their IT as if it was our own, and of course, we meet the industrys strictest regulatory requirements. We apply the latest advances in technology to make our clients software, business processes and communication more effective. NNIT A/S has more than 3,200 employees. For more information please visit www.nnit.com.

About HK https://www.hk.dk/omhk/about-hk

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A once influential figure, Abdel Halim Khaddam died in France forgotten by his country and with few achievements to his name writes Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Abdel Halim Khaddam died alone in France. He didnt die like a statesman, nor like an opposition politician who escaped the persecution and oppression of his countrys regime. Rather, he withered gradually until he waned into oblivion. Even the COVID-19 pandemic collaborated to wither the image and memory of Khaddam, as very few will attend his funeral.

He served as a foreign minister for 14 years before he assumed the position of Syrias vice president. Khaddam and prominent Syrian security officer Ghazi Kanaan were both considered the de facto rulers of Lebanon when it was under the Syrian occupation. He would later play a major role in bringing Bashar al-Assad to power, after the passing of former dictator Hafez al-Assad. In 2005, Khaddam suddenly fled Syria and defected from Assads regime.

Khaddams real tragedy is that he lost everything. He lost his power and role in the Syrian regime without winning the sympathy of the Syrians and the Syrian opposition because he treated everyone as though he was still in power. He didnt treat them as individuals, as citizens, but saw them as a herd of supporters.

As a result, he was cast by the regime, as a kernel from a date, and was not embraced by the people as a hero or a savior, not even as someone who holds some of their aspirations.

Khaddam made another mistake when he believed the promises of regional parties who convinced him that after defection he will return in a matter of months or a few years to take over Damascus and topple the president. Khaddam proved that despite his political history and foreign affairs wit, he lacked the skills and cunning nature of a politician.

Despite his history, Khaddam made a third mistake when he underestimated the securocratic regime in Damascus. Doesnt he remember how he played a major role in gaming the system to bring Bashar al-Assad into power? At the time, he called on the Peoples Council of Syria to instantly amend the constitution. Again, it only took the regime minutes to denounce Khaddam and all the deeds he and his family made in the previous four decades.

Khaddam later blew his chance when he refused to ally himself with the opposition figures who politically united their ranks under The Damascus Declaration right before his defection. Instead, known for his arrogance, Khaddam teamed up with the Muslim Brotherhood to establish the National Salvation Front, which he announced from Brussels in 2006. It must have slipped Khaddams mind that the Brotherhood, which he fiercely fought in the 1980s, lacks both popular support and the needed reputation to pave the way for his political leadership.

For its part, the opposition also did not take a step closer toward Khaddam who declared war on it just a few years back. In 2001, Khaddam delivered a speech at the University of Damascus during which he strongly denounced calls for political reforms. He also attacked the Committees for the Revival of Civil Society, describing their members as the spies and agents of foreign embassies.

Khaddams major mistake, which could be also called a sin, is that he only defected from Assad and not from the regime. He made his defection a personal dispute with Assad rather than a political one. Khaddam did not let go of his Baathist mentality which sees politics as a tool to make conspiracies and plots and grants the party supremacy over people, let alone maintaining an absolute loyalty to the late Syrian dictator Hafez al-Assad. When the Syrian revolution broke out, calling for freedom and dignity, Khaddam did not take the initiative to admit to his failings, nor the failings of his party, or his regime. He did not extend a helping hand for the revolutionists, on the contrary he tried to incite sectarian tension which provoked the youth against him.

Because of his history, Khaddam died alone, isolated and gloomy. No one mourned him, not the regime nor the opposition. Syrians also did not grieve his death while they were locked down in their homes in fear of the pandemic and the bombing. No one prayed for him to rest in peace. The Muslim Brotherhood, his supposed allies, did not issue an official statement to mourn Khaddam. Although one of their leaders, Zuhair Salem, posted a shy tweet during which he wished mercy for Khaddam, without highlighting any of the latters achievements in politics, except for his defection from the Syrian regime in 2006.

Some people have a charisma or an interesting personality that leaves an impact on you, while others are easily forgotten once theyve left the scene. For instance, former Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass represents those who are hard to forget, famous for his charisma, sharp tongue and passion for women. Meanwhile, Abdel Halim Khaddam must be the best example of what a dull person is. Not many people cared for him back when he was in power, fewer did when he defected and almost none today when he passed away.

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.
Nafisa Ali is stranded in the coastal state of Goa since lockdown was announced to contain coronavirus

Panaji: The Goa government today sent its officials to help actor Nafisa Ali who is stranded in the coastal state since lockdown was announced to contain coronavirus.

(Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak)

Ali, a cancer survivor who is staying at Morjim village in North Goa district, had told Press Trust of India earlier in the day that she was running out of her medicines.

After learning about her plight, the Goa Chief Minister's Office sent officials to help her.

"Local incident Commandar has established contact with her and necessary help has been extended," the CMO tweeted.

It also posted a picture of the actor speaking with the officials while maintaining a safe social distance.

Check out the post

Local Incident Commander has established contact with her and necessary help has been extended. pic.twitter.com/r2YUMtgpSm  Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) April 2, 2020

Earlier during the day, Ali told Press Trust of India that she was staying with her daughter in Goa and finding it hard to get her medicines due to the nationwide lockdown.

"The first week was very hard here in Goa (after the lockdown was announced) but now vegetable shops are open. Goa was in a bad situation. Everything was locked down so there was nothing available, no water, vegetables, ration," she said.

"One could not go out to buy anything because the cops would stop you...whoever was trying to go anywhere would get hit," Ali told Press Trust of India.

The actor, who lives in Delhi, had come to meet her daughter in Goa for a week.

"Now, my medicines are running out. I have to take some medicines for cancer treatment which are not available anywhere in Goa. They are all lying in Delhi and courier services are closed so they cannot be sent," she said.

"As and when my medicines run out I will stop taking them because they are not available. What to do? I understand the situation is such one can not help," Ali added.
What happened

Shares of General Motors (NYSE:GM) were falling on Thursday, after the company reported a decline in first-quarter U.S. sales, and investors grappled with the growing possibility that GM will suspend its dividend.

As of 3 p.m. EDT today, shares were down about 6.5% from Wednesday's closing price.

So what

GM released its U.S. sales results on Wednesday, and they were about as expected. It said that sales fell 7% in the first quarter, after a solid start to the year was disrupted by COVID-19 in March.

Sales of full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups rose a combined 32% despite the disruption caused by the virus, but nearly all of the company's bread-and-butter crossover SUVs posted double-digit sales declines for the quarter.

While GM didn't release month-by-month figures, auto industry research firm Ward's said that overall U.S. light-vehicle sales fell almost 27% in March from a year ago.

GM's report wasn't surprising, but it hammered home the reality for auto investors: Sales are going to be down drastically for at least the next several weeks.

That in turn has some investors worried about GM's dividend. While the company almost certainly has ample cash to ride out the pandemic and the recession that will likely follow, it's (sensibly) hoarding that cash because of the obvious uncertainties around that timeline.

Rival Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) suspended its quarterly dividend when it drew down its lines of credit on March 19. GM drew down its own credit lines on March 24, but it pointedly didn't cut its dividend at that time.

Some auto investors took that as a sign of relative strength, which was probably GM's intent. But it may not be long before it has to cut its payouts as well.

Now what

Investors will have to wait a few weeks to hear more details about GM's situation and outlook from CEO Mary Barra and her team. The company is currently scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings before the market opens on May 6.
Another 27 fatalities occurred in state hospitals into Thursday, bringing Connecticuts total deaths in the pandemic to 112.

During his daily briefing Thursday afternoon in the State Capitol, Gov. Ned Lamont said there have been another 267 people who tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the state total to 3,824, while 827 people are now hospitalized with the virus. He said that while there are more than 1,000 ventilators in the state, another 1,500 are needed.

While the gender breakdown for those infected is about even between men and women, the governor said that more men have died, possibly because of pre-existing conditions. It just reminds you that social distancing and taking all those precautions can make a difference, he said. Maybe in a week or so well know whether its making a difference in Connecticut.

At 7:45 p.m., the latest executive order was released, limiting statewide hotel rooms and short-term rentals to essential workers. Not leisure travel, not vacationers, Lamont said. Trying to make sure thats not just prioritized, but exclusively for essential workers and that takes effect tomorrow.

In an attempt to maximize social distancing while keeping alive the states liquor stores and restaurants, home delivery of alcoholic beverages will now be allowed.

He said that the next week will be crucial in finding out whether the state has succeeded in slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

State Police have visited dozens and dozens of retail establishments, checking to see if they are obeying new orders to cut down on crowds, by cutting in half the previous attendance limits set by local fire departments, Lamont said. While most businesses are observing the social distancing policies, other businesses did not and got a friendly talking to from the state troopers. It wont be a friendly talking to next time, Lamont said. Penalties could include Class D felonies punishable with $5,000 fines and five years in prison.

Renee Coleman-Mitchell, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said that COVID-19 infections have been found in 57 of the states 215 nursing homes.

Lamont said that the state has about 1,033 ventilators, but needs another 1,500 because of the anticipated peak need calculated two months ago. Its a source of endless frustration for me, Lamont admitted.

The governor and Melissa McCaw, his budget chief, estimated that the pandemic is likely to create a cascade of red ink in the state budget deficit, which a month ago was about $60 million in deficit. The shortfall is now likely to top $500 million in the current fiscal year that runs through June 30, plus another $1 billion in the next budget year, even with an expected $1.45 billion in federal relief. Lamont said he was glad that the state has generated a budget reserve fund  the so-called rainy day fund  of about $2.5 billion.

In other pandemic developments, Chief Medical Examiner James Gill on Thursday confirmed that the six-week baby, who was found to have COVID-19 in an autopsy, was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital in Hartfords North End. After an initial report from Hearst Connecticut Media, the hospital confirmed the fatality Thursday afternoon.

The infant did test positive for the COVID-19 virus and an autopsy was done at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Gill said in an email Thursday morning. At the current time, we have not issued a final cause of death. There are numerous tests that we must do on infant deaths before issuing a final cause of death. It will be a few weeks before the investigation is done.

He declined to give other details, including whether the baby was a boy or a girl. A source familiar with the case said it was a girl whose mother said the baby was having trouble breathing when she brought her to the hospital.

The hospital confirmed the fatality.

We are deeply saddened by this loss and we offer our sincere condolences and prayers to the family, a hospital spokesperson said in a statement, citing federal privacy protections that limit further details. Although children have made up a small fraction of COVID-19 cases, it can impact anyone. As a community, we must do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus.

Dan Haar contributed to this report.
A 27-year-old Yemeni national was



booked for allegedly spitting at police enforcing the coronavirus outbreak related lockdown in Dongri area of south Mumbai, an official said on Friday.

The incident happened near Rehman Shah Baba dargah on Thursday evening, he said.

"He was loitering in the area and when a police team quizzed him. This man spat at, abused and manhandled one of the personnel. We booked him under IPC, Disaster Management Act and Maharashtra COVID-19 Precautionary Measures Order and handed him over to his father," the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The NSW Transport Minister has been accused of backflipping on whether toll prices should be increased as tensions mount between the government and the nation's biggest tollway operator.

Andrew Constance on Friday criticised tolling giant Transurban for going ahead with quarterly price increases on its roads, describing it as a "terrible" look.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance says Transurban must put a freeze on toll increases. Credit:AAP

"They need to just factor in the incredible pain and suffering and pressure that everybody is under at this period in time and reconsider their decision," he said.

"To be honest, I would have thought that a degree of understanding where the community is at right now should have factored into their decision [in] making this slight increase."
Indigenous American ancestry may be associated with HER2-positive breast cancer

PHILADELPHIA - An increased proportion of Indigenous American (IA) ancestry was associated with a greater incidence of HER2-positive breast cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

"The risk of breast cancer-related mortality varies between different populations, with Latina women having a greater risk of breast cancer-specific mortality than non-Hispanic white women," said Laura Fejerman, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco. "Latina women tend to be diagnosed with more aggressive breast cancer subtypes, which may contribute to their greater risk of mortality, among other factors," Fejerman added.

Breast cancers are classified into subtypes based on the status of hormone receptors and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These receptors respond to factors outside the cell and promote cellular proliferation. Breast cancers that have higher than normal levels of HER2 are referred to as HER2-positive breast cancers and tend to grow more aggressively than some other subtypes. HER2-positive breast cancers are more common in Latina women than in non-Hispanic white women, but the underlying reasons for this remain unclear.

Previous work from Fejerman and colleagues demonstrated that IA ancestry was associated with a lower incidence of breast cancer. However, the influence of IA ancestry on different breast cancer subtypes remained unclear. A prior study that examined a small cohort of Colombian patients with breast cancer suggested that a higher proportion of IA ancestry was associated with increased expression of the ERBB2 gene, which encodes HER2. This led Fejerman and colleagues to examine whether IA ancestry may be associated with risk of HER2-positive breast cancer.

The Peruvian Genetics and Genomics of Breast Cancer study (PEGEN-BC), led by Fejerman and developed in collaboration with Tatiana Vidaurre, MD, PhD, at the Instituto de Enfermedades Neoplasicas (INEN) in Lima, Peru, recruited 1,842 patients. Participants at INEN were invited to participate in the study if they had received a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer during or after the year 2010 and were between the ages of 21 and 79 years. "Peru is one of the countries in Latin America with extremely high proportions of IA ancestry, which is an understudied genetic component in medical research. The collaboration with Dr. Vidaurre from INEN was fundamental for the realization of this study," Fejerman noted.

The publication reports results from 1,312 patients who had available genome-wide genotype data. HER2-positive breast cancers accounted for 30 percent of cases (18 percent were positive for hormone receptors). On average, participants had approximately 76 percent IA ancestry, with 9.8 percent of patients having greater than 95 percent IA ancestry.

Analyses revealed statistically significant differences in the distribution of different breast cancer subtypes among women with different proportions of IA ancestry. The odds of having a HER2-positive tumor were 1.19 times higher for every 10 percent increase in IA ancestry. Conversely, the odds of developing HER2-positive disease decreased with increasing European ancestry. The observed associations were independent of the participant's age at diagnosis, level of African ancestry, height, tumor stage at diagnosis, and region of residence. The findings were replicated with smaller cohorts from Mexico and Colombia. The odds of having a HER2-positive tumor in these cohorts was approximately 1.28 times greater for every 10 percent increase in IA ancestry.

"The association between IA ancestry and HER2 status suggests that population-specific variants of IA origin could be partly contributing to the higher incidence of HER2-positive breast cancer in Latinas," said Fejerman. "Our ongoing research aims to identify the specific germline variants that may lead to this association." This information could eventually be incorporated into a risk prediction model for Latina women to identify those at high risk for certain subtypes, explained Fejerman. Understanding the genetic basis of the observed association could also help researchers understand the biology of the disease, which could eventually lead to new treatments, Fejerman added.

"Even though humans are mostly the same, there are differences between populations that affect disease risk and outcome," said Fejerman. "This study highlights the importance of studying diverse populations and collaborating with other countries. We need to understand diverse populations so that we may someday be able to provide precision cancer prevention and care to everyone, and not just a subset of the population."

A limitation of the study is that it did not include healthy controls. Additionally, the lack of certain epidemiological data and information about environmental exposures or lifestyle behaviors precluded the analysis of all possible factors.

###

The PEGEN-BC study was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute and the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas. Fejerman declares no conflicts of interest.

About the American Association for Cancer Research

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes 46,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in 127 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 22,500 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes nine prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit http://www. AACR. org .

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Sagar: Corona cases are increasing day by day, in this case, the strictness of the police is also increasing. Recently, information is being collected about the deposits of mosques across the country after the Nizamuddin Markaz of Delhi were found to be corona positive and some of them died. In this sequence, 47 deposits of 4 mosques in Sagar district have been quarantined in the respective mosques.

Over10 thousand peoples died in Spain due to coronavirus

These include Jamati of Assam, Nepal, Delhi, Aligarh, and Bhopal. Maximum 15 congregations were found in the Medina Mosque of Deori. The deposits came from 1 March to 15 March. It was Muslim religious leaders who provided information about these deposits to the police. After this, he has been quarantined. Their exit has been banned. The mosque committee will make arrangements for their accommodation. The outer 18 people are staying in Katra Kyamgah mosque. On Thursday, the police and administration team reached there on the information. People staying here include people from Bihar, Damoh, Bulandshahr, Sanodha, Akola Maharashtra as well as people from around Sagar district. There are some Hindus among them. All those trapped in the lockdown are being told. A team arrived here for medical checkup. All these have been quarantined.

Police arrested man wiping nose with currency note, says "Corona is not a disease, but is Allah's curse"

Administration team investigate 10 Jamaatians who have quarantined themselves in the mosque while examining at the Badhi Pillow Mosque in Shaniachary. All these people have come to Sagar from Delhi 3 days ago. These include 5 women and 5 men. While giving information, Tehsildar Narendra Babu Yadav said that after getting the information of the depositions, everyone has been screened by the Rapid Response Team in the mosque. In which no symptoms of the corona were found in any person. It was revealed that all have been investigated before. As a precaution, currently, all 10 people have been quarantined in the mosque itself.

Indian engineers develop 60 times cheaper ventilators
Chinas Foreign Ministry denied a report that the country has resumed imports of canola from Canadas two largest exporters.

China, meanwhile, will be strict in implementing rules about foreign materials in canola cargoes, and it will not extend a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed earlier, which allowed shipments with foreign materials exceeding one per cent, said foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying at a press conference on Friday

The MOU expired at the end of March, and to prevent imports of harmful materials, Chinese authorities decided not to extend it, said Hua.

A Canadian government official said this week that Canada and China were having positive discussions after the Asian nation blocked canola shipments from Viterra and Richardson International last year, and they were trying to find a path to normalize trade.

Hua said China has not reinstated export qualification for the two Canadian exporters because it had not received any investigative reports from the Canadian side or any rectification measures.

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STEPANAKERT. On Friday, at about 12:35am, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic Defense Army serviceman Garegin Babakekhyan (born in 2000) sustained a fatal gunshot wound at a military unit, and under yet unknown circumstances.

An investigation is underway to find out the details of the incident, the Artsakh Defense Ministry informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.
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Linkedin Vidhyandika D. Perkasa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 4 2020

As of April 2, nearly 1,800 confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been recorded in Indonesia with 170 deaths. Among them, nine cases were recorded in Papua. Given the region's sensitivities and vulnerabilities, efforts to deal with COVID-19 in Papua require special attention and may differ from other regions in Indonesia.



If COVID-19 spreads rapidly in Papua, efforts to handle it will become very difficult as it is the countrys poorest province with the lowest human development index score. The regions isolation and the uneven population distribution are major challenges in the provision of public facilities and basic needs amid inadequate health facilities and infrastructure.



Before President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced the national policies on the pandemic on March 31, Papuan leaders had raised suggestions on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including blocking access to Papua for people from outside Papua. There is a demographic aspect here that forms the basis of why a lockdown is considered so urgent.



Indigenous Papuans are struggling to maintain their existence as a distinct racial, ethnic and subethnic group amid the swift flow of migration.



Because COVID-19 has the potential to bring death to vulnerable age groups, indigenous Papuans are likely to see higher casualties because their socio-economic circumstances are far below those migrant communities.



The sensitive relationship between indigenous Papuans and migrants means potential for conflict if the spread of COVID-19 in Papua is not promptly addressed. Migrant communities and security forces could be regarded as the source of the virus as they move in and out of Papua. The first case of COVID-19 in Papua was recorded in Merauke, with the patient having traveled from Bogor, West Java.



The suggested lockdowns could be interpreted as an effort to stop migration to Papua to protect indigenous Papuans  an expression of strengthening Papuan nationalism.



Regional heads must now adjust policies to the new large scale social restrictions based on the health quarantine law.



Beyond the legal aspects, several other aspects need attention. First, as the proposed social restrictions only cover sea and air transportation, there are no clear limitations on land-based or inter-district mobility. Even if restrictions on land-based travel are put in place, they will be difficult to implement given Papuas geography.



The idea of a lockdown in the Papuans proposal does not takes into account customary rights and customary land, and so would be met with resistance. Many Papuans earn a living by farming or hunting across unclear boundaries. This restriction will threaten the ability for Papuans to make ends meet.



Second, there are indications the lockdown was motivated by anti-immigrant sentiment, even though the more rational reason to enforce the lockdown is because of the limited resources and health facilities.



Third, there is an assumption the lockdown is aimed at preventing security forces from entering Papua, even though they support health workers and help provide stability. Among the security forces main roles is to maintain order in the event of a shortage of basic needs.



However, because of the disharmony between indigenous Papuans and security forces owing to alleged human rights violations, there is likely to be resistance to the authorities handling of COVID-19.



Fourth, the nationwide policy for physical distancing is hampered by limited internet access in Papua, meaning dire challenges for e-learning and online religious services.



Fifth, Jokowis massive infrastructure development program has been hampered because the supply of materials and construction have stopped. Sixth, it is necessary to anticipate the impact of a lockdown and physical distancing on people displaced by conflict in Nduga, who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.



To help realize the policies to curb the pandemic in Papua, free and subsidized electricity is needed particularly for indigenous Papuans apart from credit relief in purchase of vehicles. A huge number of Papuans especially in the highlands lack access to electricity.



Implementing physical distancing in Papua will be an arduous task beyond the problem of internet access. First, physical distancing sounds foreign to many indigenous Papuans who lack knowledge on public health.



Calls for physical distancing could be interpreted as a systematic effort to split apart clan or tribal ties, which are very strong in Papua. Clan ties help guarantee collective economic survival. Without adequate explanation, the implementation of physical distancing will ignite suspicion.



Second, the nature of Papuan society poses another challenge. Papuans commonly live in groups in one big house called a honai, living a life of communalism. This communalism also relates to the search for collective security. Indigenous Papuans live under the threat of friction with other clans, migrants and security forces.



The big man system of Papuan society also requires that a tribal leader maintain a close relationship with their community members and exhibit leadership characteristics such generosity, good communication and bravery.



Philosophically, Papuans also recognize the importance of maintaining balance, health and peace between fellow humans and the spiritual realm. For this reason, they engage in many activities that involve the masses, such as stone-burning ceremonies and tribal warfare.



To handle COVID-19 in Papua, several measures are vital. Coordination between the central, provincial and district governments must be strengthened, mapping of the most vulnerable groups must be carried out to ensure they are given assistance and education must be provided to prevent the spread of disinformation regarding COVID-19 with the help of local leaders.



Done right, the handling of COVID-19 can be used as an opportunity to help peace-building efforts among all elements of society in Papua.

______

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A Huntsville defense technology company is racing the clock to turn the mechanical heart of its satellite communications system into 100 emergency ventilators a week for Alabamians facing the advance of coronavirus.

Were trying to meet a need we see in front of us in the next 14- to 21 days, Cubic Corporation Vice President Roark McDonald said Wednesday, so thats the speed were trying move to make sure we have a product that could be available if needed.

Cubic builds its big GATR communications balloons in Huntsville. They are used in the field by the military and disaster response to form links between the ground and communications and Internet satellites. Theyve been used to re-establish communications after the hurricanes in Puerto Rico and on the Gulf Coast, and responding to natural disasters is routine for the company. Weve helped with virtually every hurricane since Katrina, McDonald said.

The GATR system precisely and repeatedly measures the air pressure inside the balloon and inflates or deflates it to stay at the right altitude. You know, these are not very far from a ventilator design, two GATR employees told their bosses. They could be repurposed for that use.

The managers challenged their team to try, McDonald said. They had to do it fast enough to matter and well enough to meet medical standards.

Ventilators help patients weakened by the virus breathe by pumping in oxygen and removing carbon dioxide through a tube, and there is a desperate shortage of them across the country. Inserting the tube into the esophagus is called intubation, and that is one of the biggest risks medical professionals take caring of patients with the disease.

Cubics team thought it could handle the technology and the necessary certifications, and McDonald said they were right. There are a few things were learning and have to make sure were accounting for because of the medical nature of a ventilator, but the technology and the complexity are something were already used to, McDonald said.

Technically, were close, McDonald said. We still have a number of tests we have to complete, and we have a few features we must add. Then the company will move from prototype machines to test models in a couple of weeks, hopefully.

On the certification side, McDonald said the company is in the early stages now of working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to gain what is called emergency use authorization. That would waive their lengthy process and provide an expedited process to use new equipment for the pandemic.

Cubic is working with the University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing and Huntsville physicians to develop the ventilator. This is community innovation and teamwork coming together, McDonald said. Were doing this for and with the community.
Christians surround hospitals nationwide to pray for medical staff caring for patients

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Christians across the United States gathered outside hospitals this week to pray for medical staff and their patients during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Many gathered outside hospitals in Albany, Georgia; Kissimmee, Florida; and Alexander City, Alabama, among other cities. Video footage from some of those events can be seen here, here and here.

In Louisiana, the faithful gathered in the front parking lot at Terrebonne General Medical Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday when local residents were invited to cover the medical facility and all inside in prayer, the Houma Times reported.

The concept is that sometimes we feel helpless in the community. We know whats going on and want to help, but theres only so much you can do. This is an opportunity for us. We can all do this, said Jaime Gaudet, who is one of the events organizers.

The people that are patients or providers in the hospital, they get tired and theyre missing their family.

The town of Houma is located approximately 60 miles southwest of New Orleans and has a population of approximately 33,000.

Those who attended the prayer gathering were instructed to practice social distancing so as not to risk spreading infection.

"When you get into crisis situations, thats when anxiety and fear, those things take over, she said. When you just immerse yourself in prayer, a lot of those feelings go away and theyre replaced with a peace; they are replaced with a hope.

On Thursday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported 2,726 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the states total to 9,150 cases and the death toll to 310.

While extremely upsetting, this increase in COVID-19 cases appears to be less a sign of new exponential growth and more a sign of a logjam from commercial labs, said Gov. John Bel Edwards. I am pleased to see a ramp up in testing across the state.

I have said time and again  COVID-19 is a statewide problem and testing is a vital step toward understanding the scale of this problem. We believe COVID-19 is spreading in every parish in Louisiana, the governor added.

The situation remains concerning, but every Louisianan has the power to change the path we are on. Think of your neighbors, and please stay at home, he stressed.

The public health crisis has led more Americans to turn to prayer.

The Pew Research Center surveyed 11,537 U.S. adults from March 19-24 and in which 55 percent said they prayed for an end to the spread of coronavirus.

Jeanet Sinding Bentzen, a professor at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark found in a separate study that during the month of 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.

The professor analyzed internet searches for prayer in 75 different countries and reported that search intensity for prayer doubled for every 80,000 new registered cases of COVID-19.

Like other large cities in the U.S., New Orleans has been labeled as a "hotspot" for its high rate of infection even after the self-quarantine order, which means many residents are not staying indoors as officials have advised.
Two massive cruise ships carrying hundreds of passengers displaying flu-like symptoms after a coronavirus outbreak was detected on board will disembark in Florida after reaching an agreement with local authorities.Fox News reported that the cruise ships, the Zaandam and the Rotterdam of Holland America Line, is currently anchored off the coast of Florida waiting to allow some 233 passengers and crew to enter the U.S. The outlet reported thatthe passengers started showingand at least eight passengers had tested positive for COVID-19. Four "older" guests aboard the ship also reportedly died on the Zaandam last week.On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Broward County officials had not decided yet whether to let the two cruise ships dock and let the passengers disembark. Earlier in the week, he said it would be a " mistake " to let the ship dock.DeSantis said during the press briefing on Wednesday.Fox also reported theBy Wednesday evening, DeSantis told Fox Business host Neil Cavuto that Florida officials were "working on a plan" to get Florida residents off the ship and to expatriate foreign nationals, adding that local hospitals believe they can manage any sick individuals who disembark the ships.As of Thursday morning, Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine said there was a conditional plan in place to let passengers off the ship.Udine said on Twitter.Holland America released a statement saying they are waiting for final clearance to disembark and are anchored outside U.S. waters near Fort Lauderdale.Holland America said in its statement.
During the past 24 hours, 7,200 Ukrainians entered the country, while 4,700 people left it, including 2,200 foreigners as the State Border Guard Service reported.

The border guards held the temperature screening and asked people about the health state. People infected with coronavirus were not determined; people who entered the country signed the agreement for self-isolation and were provided with proper booklet.

As we reported earlier, the State Border Guard Service expects that nearly 200,000 citizens may return to Ukraine by Easter.

"According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, at the moment about 17 thousand Ukrainians have declared their intention to return to the territory of Ukraine. Of course, not all of them are citizens. We expect that about 200 thousand of our compatriots may return before Easter," the statement said.

On March 13, the government closed the border for foreigners. Starting from midnight on March 17, Ukraine closed all types of movement through the state border within the measures on the fight against coronavirus pandemic. The ban was introduced for international railway, air and bus traffic. However, the evacuation of the Ukrainians continued. On March 25, the Cabinet of Ministers extended quarantine for 30 days, up to April 24. Besides, the state border was completely closed on March 28.
Sergio Rossi, one of the most famous Italian shoe designers, has died from coronavirus at the age of 84.



Rossi was admitted to hospital a few days ago in Cesena, a city in Emilia-Romagna, one of the regions hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. He died on Thursday, April 2, in the hospital.



Announcing news of the designers death on Friday morning, Riccardo Sciutto, the Chief Executive of the Sergio Rossi Company told the fashion website Womens Wear Daily: "He was a master, it was a great pleasure to have met him. He was our spiritual guide and he is today more than ever."



Luciana Garbuglia, the Mayor of San Mauro Pascoli, where Rossi was born in 1935 and where he founded his brand, confirmed the death of Rossi and its link to the novel COVID-19 to dpa.



The Sergio Rossi Company was founded in 1951 and gained fame in the 1960s. His shoes were used by designers such as Azzedine Alaia, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana in their collections, and worn by celebrities from Lupita Nyongo to Rihanna, and Paris Hilton to Laura Dern. Ariana Grande has often worn the late designers Matrix thigh-high boots.



Just Last month Rossi donated 100,000 to the Sacco hospital in Milan to help in the fight against coronavirus.













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San Francisco, April 3 : Google has announced that it is shutting down its Q&A social app Neighbourly on May 12, as the project did not take off as expected.

The search engine giant unveiled the app in May 2018 as a test in Mumbai to let users explore their neighborhood with help from local experts.

Later in November, it expanded its base to a few more cities in the country including Delhi and Bengaluru.

"We launched Neighbourly as a Beta app to connect you with your neighbours and make sharing local information more human and helpful," said the company.

"As a community, you've come together to celebrate local festivals, shared crucial information during floods, and answered over a million questions. But the app hasn't grown like we had hoped," it added.

Google said that it plans to learn the lessons from Neighbourly and utilise it to improve their other products.

"In these difficult times, we believe that we can help more people by focusing on other Google apps that are already serving millions of people everyday," it said.

Meanwhile, users can download content and data from Neighbourly till October 12 this year.
[April 02, 2020] HUAWEI CLOUD and ULearning offer free online learning and training solutions to education sector and businesses during COVID-19 outbreak

SINGAPORE, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HUAWEI CLOUD and Singapore-based learning technology company, ULearning, jointly offer free online learning and training solutions to the education sector and businesses to enable continuity of learning and developing skills during the COVID-19 outbreak. In Singapore, the Ministry of Education (MOE) recently announced that institutes will have one day of home-based learning per week, as part of its social distancing measures to contain the local spread of the virus. The Ministry also expressed its awareness that it will have an impact on many parents and families, especially those without good home support. HUAWEI CLOUD and ULearning are on a mission to drive the continuity and ubiquity of learning with the use of private teaching cloud systems. Their joint offering comprises free access to the ULearning Learning Management System (LMS) portal, functions and features such as campus virtualisation and multi-terminal access, and free user accounts for institute administrators, educators, and learners to access the tools across PCs and mobile devices, enabled by Huawei's all-in-one cloud solutions. Christina Ng, Co-founder and General Manager of ULearning International, said that millions of students and educators have benefited from the free online learning solutions provided by ULearning and HUAWEI CLOUD since 2019, and ULearning LMS could allow teachers maintain the quality of interactions with sudents. "As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now ready to extend our experiences to help students worldwide mitigate learning disruption," remarked Christina.



"In Asia Pacific, HUAWEI CLOUD has been working with ULearning to provide stable online education services for educational institutions during the pandemic. In the healthcare sector, HUAWEI CLOUD AI Services helped a large number of hospitals quickly get virus test results. Free HUAWEI CLOUD services are available to help enterprises maintain business continuity. Enterprise will attach importance to and think more about business digitalization and intelligent upgrade, and HUAWEI CLOUD will provide support for them," said Roben Wang, President, HUAWEI CLOUD APAC. In addition, ULearning LMS has been recognised by local academics for its latest technologies for enhanced and advanced learning experiences.

Dr. Teo Tee Hui, senior lecturer at Singapore University of Technology & Design's (SUTD) Science, Mathematics, Technology Cluster, pointed out, "ULearning is already equipped with AI technology such as facial recognition for auto-attendance and online examination. It is timely that we let learners experience the latest technologies to facilitate their learning and understanding, especially in the areas of AI and Cyberethics." ULearning LMS is currently offered as part of a suite of infocomm technology (ICT) solutions available to address business continuity challenges arising from COVID-19, jointly curated by the Infocomm Media Development Authority ("IMDA") and SGTech. The offering is in support of the government's call for the Republic to upskill to stay on track with its long-term goal of transforming its economy. Both offerings, to the education sector and businesses, are available as free license subscriptions for the first three months of usage. Interested users, institutes, and businesses can visit https://www.ulearning.asia/covid19-supportpackage/ for more information. For more information of Huawei Cloud's solutions of fighting COVID-19, please visit at: https://activity.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/fight-covid-19.html -End- About HUAWEI CLOUD HUAWEI CLOUD is Huawei's signature cloud service brand. It. HUAWEI CLOUD is committed to providing stable, secure, reliable, and sustainable cloud services to help organizations of all sizes grow in the intelligent world. For more information, please visit Huawei Cloud online at www.huaweicloud.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. SOURCE HUAWEI CLOUD

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In its second weekly survey of residential homebuilders, conducted from March 24 to March 31, the National Association of Home Builders found 64% of respondents cited problems with the willingness of workers and subs to report to a construction site up from 42% a week earlier.

It remains to be seen how long that will last.

Construction has been deemed essential by the federal government, but a growing number of residential construction workers are pulling back, worried about catching the coronavirus.

At a multifamily development in Chevy Chase, Maryland, by Bozzuto Group, some workers are wearing masks, and the company's CEO says they are taking every precaution against coronavirus.

"One of the benefits of construction is a lot of it is outside, and the men and women are very far apart," said Toby Bozzuto. "These are people that are accustomed to being in a risky workplace. They have followed safety standards and updated protocol perhaps better than any of us because in a sense that it's part of their DNA."

Bozzuto Group has $500 million worth of construction underway and $1 billion in its 12-month pipeline. It has had to halt some operations in Pennsylvania, one of four states that has shut down construction, but is operating on schedule on most of its projects. Bozzuto is passionate about the need to keep building housing, even during the pandemic.

"Keeping construction going is essential to our economy in so many ways. Shelter is as critical as food and water. So we need to continue building so that there's not a shortage of housing downstream, particularly affordable housing," he said.

He also points to the economic benefits of when sites are being built, such as payment of permit fees and inspection fees that create revenue for counties that are going to desperately need money.

"You have lower income taxes coming in most likely because of this crisis, and you have higher expenses for the counties, so it's wonderful that we can contribute to the economy in that way," he said.

The construction industry has been up against a severe labor shortage for several years, which has slowed the production of much-needed housing. Housing starts had been climbing slowly but were still not at even historical levels from before the last recession.

The housing shortage was worsening at the start of this year due to high demand. Adding to the strain, would-be sellers are now pulling their listings from the market. New construction is short about 350,000 units when compared with household formation, according to the Urban Institute's Laurie Goodman.

Construction of single and multifamily housing units is expected to decline now, as the economy stalls in the face of the coronavirus epidemic. Single-family homebuilders don't want to be stuck with supply they can't sell, and some multifamily projects are now facing trouble with funding. Sites that were already underway, however, seem to be going forward.

Said Mackie Jenkins, a concrete superintendent at the Bozzuto site in Chevy Chase: "We've got gloves and goggles. We're technically covered more than the average person on a construction site. ... I've got bills to pay like everybody else. I want to work!"
BBC hit series Life On Mars will return for a final series after the show's creator Matthew confirmed the news during an online session with fans.

Matthew revealed that many of the main characters are set to come back for the new series, which he said will be set across several decades.

Much-loved characters who are thought to be reprising their roles include John Simm as Sam Tyler and Philip Glenister as cop Gene Hunt.

It's back! BBC hit series Life On Mars will return for a final series after the show's creator Matthew confirmed the news during an online session with fans

Matthew said: 'We would never make another Mars unless we really had something to say and could push the envelope all over again. Finally we have something.

He teased: 'We intend to get as many back (across both decades) as we can. When you wonder who will be coming back for The Final Chapter  think Avengers Assemble!'

He added that the new series would be set across Manchester and London and is likely to include four or five parts, reports the Mirror.

Matthew cast fans minds back to when Jim Keats [Daniel Mays] sang Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again as he wandered away from Gene at the end of the last episode, suggesting he may be back to cause the cop more grief.

Up for it? Matthew revealed that many of the main characters are set to come back for the new series, which he said will be set across several decades

LIFE ON MARS - HOW DID THE FINAL SERIES END?

In the final episode of Life On Mars, which aired in April 2007, it is revealed Sam Tylers coma has lasted so longer because he has a brain tumour, which he believes is embodied by Gene Hunt. He thinks that he if can topple Hunt his body can recover so he collaborates with Frank Morgan to bring Hunt down. During a gunfight with armed robbers, Sam returns to 2008 where he never felt valued, and realises he misses 1978 and the real world. Desperate to return to the 1970s, he flings himself off the roof of the police station, arriving back in 1973 and saving the police squad. He vows never to leave their side again. The final scene shows the team driving off with Sam and Gene having their usual row. Children, including the girl from Test Card F, run past. She looks directly into the camera before reaching out and switching off the television, symbolising the death of Sam. The finale of spin-off Ashes To Ashes reveals the world the cops inhabit is a form of Purgatory for restless dead officers, which include Drake, Sam and the main characters Gene, Ray, Chris, and Shaz, who suffered violent deaths. Gene knew they were dead but had forgotten how he himself died due to the amount of time that had passed. All of the officers except Hunt move on (with his help) to the Railway Arms (Heaven). He then returns to his office where he meets a newly dead policeman and exchanges words with him which are identical to his first exchange with Sam. Advertisement

Phillip was quizzed about the return of the show last month by the Mail On Sunday, and he said: 'I would be interested in returning to the show. I think the question is, would the powers that be be too nervous to bring that character back on to mainstream television?'

The actor, who stars in new ITV drama Belgravia which begins next Sunday, said he felt that political correctness had become suffocating. 'Anything anybody says now  if someone disagrees or has a difference of opinion  then people are up in arms and it's like you have committed some sort of crime.

'And you think, 'Wow this is a very dangerous route to go down.' I think if we lose freedom of speech, we are in real trouble.'

The boys are back: Much-loved characters who are thought to be reprising their roles include John Simm as Sam Tyler and Philip Glenister as cop Gene Hun

Phillip, 57, turned DCI Hunt into a cult figure with un-PC comments such as 'He's got fingers in more pies than a leper on a cookery course', and 'She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot'.

The British series is the story of modern day policeman Sam Tyler.

But after Tyler is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973 he finds himself working for the now defunct Manchester and Salford Police where he meets Hunt.

Matthew said: 'We would never make another Mars unless we really had something to say and could push the envelope all over again. Finally we have something

Throughout the show, audience members are left wondering whether he has died, is in a coma or has actually traveled back in time.

Life On Mars was a huge success and the BBC series spawned a sequel, Ashes To Ashes, set in the 1980s.

A Mandarin adaptation of the BBC hit series Life On Mars with a hero police officer who time-travels back to 1990s Beijing was commissioned early last year.
MADRID (AP)  Setting up makeshift ICU wards in libraries and conference centers, embattled European medical workers strained Friday to save thousands of desperately ill coronavirus patients as stocks of medicine, protective equipment and breathing machines grew shorter by the hour.

A maelstrom of coronavirus deaths and job losses slammed the United States and Europe. Some 10 million Americans have been thrown out of work in just two weeks, the most stunning collapse the U.S. job market has ever witnessed. Global confirmed infections surged past 1 million and deaths hit 53,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

MASK INNOVATION: UH professor invents water-proofing for COVID-19 masks

Experts say both numbers are seriously under-counted, due to the lack of testing, mild cases that were missed and governments that are deliberately underplaying the impact of the pandemic.

Europe's three worst-hit countries  Italy, Spain and France  surpassed 30,000 dead, over 56% of the global toll. From those countries, the view remained almost unrelentingly grim, a frightening portent even for places like New York, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, where trucks have been fork-lifting bodies outside overflowing morgues.

One Spanish hospital turned its library into a makeshift intensive care unit. In France, space was set aside for bodies in a vast food market. The French prime minister said he is fighting hour by hour to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep COVID-19 patients alive.

HOMESCHOOL HEADACHES: Homeschooling memes let parents vent about quarantines

Philippe Montravers, an anesthesiologist in Paris, said medics are preparing to fall back on older drugs, such as the opiates fetanyl and morphine, that had fallen out of favor, because newer painkillers are in short supply.

The work is extremely tough and heavy, he said. Weve had doctors, nurses, caregivers who got sick, infected ... but who have come back after recovering. It's a bit like those World War I soldiers who were injured and came back to fight.

Some glimmers of hope emerged that Italy, with nearly 14,000 dead, as well as Spain and France might be flattening their infection curves and nearing or even passing their peaks in daily deaths.

HOUSTON CASES: Houston eclipses 500 cases and Harris County nears 1,000 as coronavirus spread continues

Spain on Friday reported 932 new daily deaths, slightly down from the record it hit a day earlier. The carnage most certainly included large numbers of elderly who authorities admit are not getting access to the country's limited breathing machines, which are being used first on healthier, younger patients. More than half of Spain's 10,935 deaths have come in the last seven days alone.

In a vast exhibition center in Madrid that was hastily converted into a 1,300-bed field hospital, bed No. 01.30 held patient Esteban Pinaredo, aged 87.

Im good, I love you, Pinaredo told his family via Skype. I will run away as soon as I can."

The makeshift facility's organizer, Antonio Zapatero, said Spain's nationwide lockdown must be maintained.

"Otherwise, this is what you are facing, he said, pointing at the rows of beds.

Elsewhere in Europe, officials began talking tentatively about how to lift lockdowns that have staved off the total collapse of strained health systems but also battered economies and, on Friday, prompted France to cancel its high-school leaving exam known as the Baccalaureat, a first in the 212-year history of the test.

BEFORE AND AFTER: Photos show the stark changes in Houston life following stay-at-home order

Austria said it will set out a timetable next week for what could be a slow startup of closed parts of the economy. The head of Germanys national disease control center said he expects that any easing of the country's lockdown, which this week was extended to April 19, will be "staggered."

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said European neighbors must coordinate when the time comes to ease lockdowns and that restrictions must be lifted progressively to prevent waves of fresh infections.

With forecast glorious spring weather likely to tempt stir-crazy families out of lockdown this weekend, the firm message across the continent remained: Stay home.

Paris police set up roadblocks out of the city to nab those trying to escape for Easter vacation.

In Britain, which locked down later than its European neighbors, the infection peak is still ahead, threatening the National Health Service with the biggest test in its 72-year history after austerity cuts that have strained the revered institution and its promise of quality care for all.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Beyond Europe, coronavirus deaths mounted with alarming speed in New York, the most lethal hot spot in the United States, which has seen at least 1,500 deaths. One New York funeral home had 185 bodies stacked up  more than triple its normal capacity.

Its surreal, owner Pat Marmo said, adding that hes been begging families to insist hospitals hold their dead loved ones as long as possible. We need help.

Roughly 90% of the U.S. population is under stay-at-home orders, and many factories, restaurants, stores and other businesses are closed or have seen sales shrivel. Economists warned that U.S. unemployment would almost certainly top that of the Great Recession a decade ago and could reach levels not seen since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

The pandemic will cost the world economy as much as $4.1 trillion, or nearly 5% of all economic activity, the Asian Development Bank said Friday.

With more than 245,000 people infected in the U.S. and the death toll topping 6,000, sobering preparations were underway. The Federal Emergency Management Agency asked the Pentagon for 100,000 more body bags.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause pneumonia and lead to death. The World Health Organization said this week that 95% of the deaths in Europe were of people over 60.

Shortages of critical equipment led to fierce competition between buyers from Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere. A regional leader in Paris described the scramble to find masks a worldwide treasure hunt. Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that New York could run out of breathing machines in six days.

Worldwide usage of essential drugs and disposable equipment, such as ventilator mouthpieces, used by ICUs is exploding in unimaginable proportions, with a nearly 2,000 percent increase in demand, said Philippe, the French prime minister.

"Because it is happening everywhere in the world and at the same time.

___

Leicester reported from Le Pecq, France. Associated Press writers around the world contributed.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
Google is preparing to dig into its trove of data to help Canadas politicians and public health officials judge the success of measures aimed at ending the spread of COVID-19.

The California-based tech giant said early Friday morning in a blog post that it will start releasing movement tracking reports detailing traffic numbers for specifics places in Canada.

The company will compile aggregated and anonymized data to chart movement trends at retail and recreation spaces, groceries, pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces and residential areas.

The frequent reports wont identify individual mobile devices, but will track fluctuations in the number of visits to each kind of space so politicians and public health leaders can assess whether work-from-home and physical distancing orders are working.

This information could help officials understand changes in essential trips that can shape recommendations on business hours or inform delivery service offerings, said Googles senior vice-president of Geo Jen Fitzpatrick and Google Healths chief health officer Karen DeSalvo in their joint blog.

Similarly, persistent visits to transportation hubs might indicate the need to add additional buses or trains in order to allow people who need to travel room to spread out for social distancing.

Google will make the reports available in 131 countries and in Canada will offer both provincial and national breakdowns.

Where possible, Google we will also provide insights at the regional level and will try to expand the number of markets it offers the data for.

The company did not say how often the reports will be shared, but said they will show trends over several weeks and include numbers based on data compiled between 48 and 72 hours before their release.

To protect peoples privacy, Google is vowing that no personally identifiable information, like an individuals location, contacts or movement, will be made available at any point.

Google will only base the reports on users who have opted in to sharing their location history and these users will have the option to stop that sharing at any time.

These are unprecedented times and we will continue to evaluate these reports as we get feedback from public health officials, civil society groups, local governments and the community at large, said the blog. We hope these insights will add to other public health information that will help people and communities stay healthy and safe.
"In this case, flight can look like ignoring the situation, being in denial about its seriousness or joking about it," Wolper said. "Well-meaning people who are approaching those defying social distancing are creating a paradox, because they're raising the anxiety of those refusing to comply, causing them to dig their feet in further."

Engaging someone in a conversation about why their behavior might be hurtful to others is not easy, but is necessary, Bhanot said. But instead of approaching someone in a critical, emotional way, conveying empathy will likely get better results.

"Maybe your neighbors have a job and they're working from home, and because they have to get their work done, they tell their kids to go play outside," he said. "You could tell them that you understand why they have to do this, but that your community is worried, and keeping their kids inside could be better for the neighborhood. And you could also help them come up with some ideas for the problem, instead of saying, 'How dare you!'"

Wolper said he tries to take a gentle approach that lessens someone's anxiety level. For example, he models the desired behavior, like running onto a lawn during his jogs when he encounters someone who's not adhering to social distancing.
[April 03, 2020] Government of Canada partners with Amazon to help get personal protective equipment to front-line healthcare workers

GATINEAU, QC, April 3, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is working closely with businesses and manufacturers nationwide to provide healthcare workers with the equipment they need to protect themselves and care for Canadians across the country. Today, the Government of Canada announced it has entered into an agreement with Amazon Canada to help manage the distribution of personal protective equipment and supplies, purchased by the government, to support the COVID-19 response. Amazon is providing these services to Canadians at cost, without profit. Amazon will work collaboratively with the Government of Canada to process and manage orders through its online Amazon Business store. Amazon will use its Canadian distribution network, including delivery partners Canada Post and Purolator, to deliver these supplies to provincial health authorities, hospitals and other government agencies across the country. This agreement will ensure the vast quantities of masks, gloves and other equipment purchased by the government are provided to front-line healthcare workers and others in need as quickly as possible. This contract award is part of the Government of Canada's whole-of-government response to COVID-19, which includes major investments in personal protective equipment for the health sector, as well as research, science and innovation.

Quotes "The government is taking an aggressive, proactive procurement approach to ensure our front-line healthcare workers have the equipment they need. To date, we have already made a number of bulk purchases to secure key items like masks and ventilators, which are in high global demand. This partnership with mazon, with support from Canada Post and Purolator, will help to ensure that these life-saving products make it into the hands of healthcare workers across the country as quickly as possible."



The Honourable Anita Anand

Minister of Public Services and Procurement "As we continue to work hard to increase our production and procure essential personal protective equipment and medical supplies, this collaboration with Amazon will help get them as quickly as possible to the hospitals and healthcare professionals who need them."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Health Quick facts

Amazon will use its Canadian distribution network, including Canada Post and Purolator, to deliver supplies to provincial health authorities, hospitals and other government agencies across the country.

On March 31 , the Government of Canada announced it is investing $2 billion to support diagnostic testing and to purchase ventilators and protective personal equipment, including bulk purchases with provinces and territories.

, the Government of announced it is investing to support diagnostic testing and to purchase ventilators and protective personal equipment, including bulk purchases with provinces and territories. The Government of Canada is collaborating with provinces and territories on an ongoing basis to identify their needs and to purchase the required equipment, supplies and services to combat COVID-19.

is collaborating with provinces and territories on an ongoing basis to identify their needs and to purchase the required equipment, supplies and services to combat COVID-19. We are taking an aggressive, proactive approach to buying, especially when it comes to personal protective equipment for front-line healthcare workers. This includes:

placing orders for everything that is immediately available



ordering ahead in bulk, with intermittent deliveries spread out over the coming weeks and months



ramping up domestic manufacturing capacity, through the Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight COVID-19

These initiatives are over and above the efforts provinces and territories are taking to secure their own supply. Associated links

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Canada's response Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Facebook SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Objections typically fall into a handful of categories.

Logistics. How would a remote system of debate and voting work? How would members register their votes? How could you make sure lawmakers were not under duress during voting? Advocates of remote voting acknowledge that many details would need to be hammered out but stress that such challenges arent insurmountable.

Technology and security. Citing both hacking and the potential for glitches, skeptics warn of the unreliability of a remote system. Robust protections would of course need to be adopted. The necessary pieces of the technology already exist, industry experts say, even if it would take time (and money) to build and battle-test a robust system.

Constitutionality. While there is some discussion about whether constitutional references to meeting and attendance could be interpreted to require lawmakers to conduct business in person, many constitutional scholars have noted that the founding fathers explicitly left it up to each chamber to determine the rules of its proceedings.

The slippery slope. Traditionalists fear that once you make it possible for lawmakers to conduct vital business remotely, it will be hard to herd them back to the Capitol, eroding the deliberative nature of legislating.

In the regular course of affairs, face-to-face negotiations and floor debates are indeed valuable. What is under discussion now is how to keep Congress functioning in extremely irregular conditions, when close interaction could prove dangerous for members and the public. The resolution from Mr. Portman and Mr. Durbin requires lawmakers to reauthorize any emergency voting system every 30 days.

Already, state legislatures have begun grappling with the issue. Pennsylvania lawmakers were early adopters. In late March, both chambers held sessions in which a majority of members voted remotely.

The shortcomings of some of the less dramatic alternatives that the Rules Committee cited, such as passing legislation by unanimous consent or a voice vote  neither of which requires members to gather on the House floor  were on display during the passage of the phase-three relief package. A lone Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, blew up the process by demanding a roll-call vote. This forced scores of his colleagues to put their lives at risk to return to Washington and pile into the House chamber to override his petty stunt. Three days later, one of those members, Nydia Velazquez, Democrat of New York, announced that she had received a diagnosis of a presumed coronavirus infection.
An NHS hospital has erected two-bed emergency en-suite cabins for tired workers on the coronavirus frontline.

The Royal Berkshire Hospital installed the 40 cabins on the grounds of nearby Reading Boy's School to allow staff to 'rest and recharge' or avoid a 'long, tiring journey home' after work.

It comes as selfless medics up and down the country reveal they are isolating themselves from friends and family to protect them - and their patients - from coronavirus as the crisis rages on.

An NHS hospital in Reading has erected two-bed emergency en-suite cabins for tired workers on the coronavirus frontline

Criticism has been rallied at the Government for not doing enough to protect NHS staff, namely not enough personal protective equipment (PPE) and a lack of testing.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock vowed to ramp up the number of tests to 100,000 by the end of the month.

The new accommodation in Reading - built by Caboose & Co who provide temporary luxury accommodations for festivals and events - can be used by staff who are battling the deadly bug outbreak.

The accommodation, with a bunk bed and an en-suite, is available to any staff member at The Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading

Royal Berkshire Hospital spokesperson said: 'As part of a comprehensive package of care we're providing for our staff, the 40 en suite rooms are available to any RBH employee in need of a convenient place to rest and recharge after their shifts and who would otherwise face a long, tiring journey home when they've finished work.

'We're very grateful to our neighbours at Reading Boy's School for allowing us to erect these facilities on their site.

'They complement other accommodation being made available to our staff by local hotels and they're all examples of the amazing support we've had from organisations across the community.'

The Royal Berkshire Hospital installed the 40 cabins on the grounds of nearby Reading Boy's School to allow staff to 'rest and recharge' or avoid a 'long, tiring journey home' after work

The new accommodation in Reading can be used by staff who are battling the deadly bug outbreak, which has killed more than 3,600 people in the UK alone

Royal Berkshire Hospital spokesperson said: 'As part of a comprehensive package of care we're providing for our staff, the 40 en suite rooms are available to any RBH employee'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, pictured at the opening of the Nightingale Hospital in London today, suggested the UK's lockdown will be in place until the end of April at the earliest

With NHS medics working long, hard hours caring for the sick and the elderly, many have decided to isolate themselves from loved ones.

In a heartbreaking video, tearful Chanice Cushion, who works at Southend Hospital in Essex, urged Brits to do all they can to minimise the spread of the virus as she shared her sadness at having to move away from her two-year-old daughter.

She said that she had made the decision with her partner to protect their daughter and her vulnerable mother-in-law, who has chronic asthma.

The cabins were described as a 'convenient place to rest and recharge' for staff members

Describing how her daughter was 'going about her day as normal' as she packed to leave, Chanice welled up and explained how she told her 'mummy's going away for a little while'.

She said: 'She's a two-year-old, she doesn't understand. I left home earlier, and I said "mummy's going away for a little while. Mummy's got work."'

Nick Dennison, who works at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, made the 'difficult choice' to treat the country's sickest patients, exposing himself to being infected - and has explained the personal sacrifices he and other NHS heroes have to make to battle the deadly Covid-19.

Mr Dennison says that 'the public health message is not getting through', adding that 'a lot of people are going to die.' He is now urging Britons to follow their Government's advice and socially isolate.

In a moving Facebook post, Mr Dennison wrote: 'My son turned three years old last week and is six weeks into a three year chemotherapy program for lymphoma. This virus is a big threat to his life and as I am going to be exposed this week doing my job, I can no longer live at home.'

Anaesthetist Jenny Hawkins, from Surrey, wrote on Facebook that she is moving out of the home she shares with her husband, who has cystic fibrosis, in order to protect him and to continue working on the frontline at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust.

She asked people to listen to government advice so that she could return home to her husband soon, saying 'I dont think Im asking you to sacrifice anywhere near what Im having to.'

In a heartbreaking video, tearful Chanice Cushion, who works at Southend Hospital in Essex, urged Brits to do all they can to minimise the spread of the virus as she shared her heartbreak at having to move away from her two-year-old daughter

Earlier this week, more than 10,000 frontline NHS staff wrote 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 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.

Chanice said: 'She's a two-year-old, she doesn't understand. I left home earlier, and I said "mummy's going away for a little while. Mummy's got work."'

Import taxes on such clothing, ventilators and virus testing kits have also been waived to ease supply, the Chancellor said.

But, despite this, unions representing healthcare workers say their members are complaining in droves about shortages of safety equipment.

Furthermore, the UK's testing capacity lags far behind that of Germany where 500,000 people are being tested every week.

It today it emerged that NHS staff swabs are being sent to the UK's European neighbour because the results come back quicker than they do from British labs.
BAKU -- A member of the opposition Popular Front Of Azerbaijan (AXCP) has been detained by police a day after he was released from a psychiatric clinic where he was held against his will for almost three days.

Aqil Humbatov's wife, Aygun Humbatova, told RFE/RL that her husband's co-workers told her that two men in civilian clothing apprehended the activist in Baku's Xazar district at around 5 p.m. on April 2.

According to Humbatova, she has not been able to locate her husband, nor have Baku city police given a reason for his detention.

Humbatov told RFE/RL earlier that he was detained on March 30, a day after he placed a post on Facebook that criticized the government and President Ilham Aliyev for ignoring the rights of poor children, many of whom need medical treatment.

The same day, a court ruled that Humbatov must be placed in a psychiatric clinic, citing some witnesses who claimed that they saw Humbatov taking off his trousers outdoors.

On April 1, Humbatov was abruptly released, after which he placed new posts on Facebook describing the conditions in the psychiatric clinic as "inhuman" and "horrible."

Critics of longtime President Aliyev's government say the authorities in the oil-rich South Caucasus country frequently seek to silence dissent by jailing opposition activists, reporters, human rights defenders, and civil society advocates without grounds.

Dozens of AXCP members have been arrested, and some imprisoned, in recent years on what their supporters call trumped-up charges.

Aliyev denies any rights abuses. He took power in 2003 shortly before the death of his father, Heydar Aliyev, a former KGB officer and communist-era leader who had ruled Azerbaijan since 1993.
South Africa: Mines investigated for COVID-19 regulations non-compliance

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has launched an investigation into allegations of some mining houses not adhering to the COVID-19 National State of Disaster regulations.

This comes after the department received complaints from employees of the said mining houses, said Minister Gwede Mantashe during a ministerial press briefing on Friday.

Our inspectors have been tasked to ensure compliance during this period and will intensify our visits  both scheduled and unannounced  to those mines still operating, he said.

The Minister said the department was not doing this to be punitive but to safeguard the lives of employees, suppliers, contractors and all those they will come into contact with during this period.

While we understand the negative impact that the virus will have on the mining and energy sectors, we must appreciate that this is not the time to put profits at the expense of the health and safety of the people, he said.

Three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in mines

The Minister said there are currently three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the mining and energy sectors  one each in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Western Cape.

We encourage employers and unions in these industries to continue engaging on issues directly affecting employees and proactively manage them. This should be done in the interests of ensuring employee health and safety, as well as ensuring that companies are able to meet their obligations during this time.

We will be having follow-up meetings with employers and unions next week, in order to proactively manage this space.

I want to thank the mining and energy sectors for heeding the call by Government to assist in managing the spread of the Coronavirus. We welcome the offers of support from the sectors, including medical supplies, equipment, as well as availing health and other facilities.

To date, about 770 beds have been made available for quarantine and self-isolation by a number of mining companies.

We commend these efforts, and encourage all companies to provide support to this cause in whatever way they can.

Our ongoing collaboration will ensure that we can manage the spread of the virus, and beyond this, to support efforts to get the economy up and running again.

Mining operations scaled down

Last week, the Minister announced that mining operations will be scaled down significantly, particularly deep-level mining, during the lockdown.

Essential services supporting the sector  including security and related infrastructure, maintenance, water pumping and ventilation, continue.

Mines supplying Eskom continue operating while mines producing gold, chrome, manganese, iron ore and other sectors will operate at scaled down levels.

On Tuesday, the department embarked on unannounced visits to three collieries in Mpumalanga - Exxaros Matla Coal operation, Glencores Impunzi Colliery and Seritis Kriel Colliery.

These operations are among those supplying coal to Eskom. The purpose of our visits was to assess compliance with the directives and guiding principles issued to mines on how to manage and prevent the spread of COVID-19, he said.

During the inspections, he said, the department found that the mines are not at the same level in terms of their state of readiness to respond to COVID-19.

There are some pockets of excellence, while others are lagging behind. We have encouraged mines to work together, in sharing information and best practice.

Energy

On energy, Mantshe said the country has sufficient fuel to meet demand, despite two refineries that have been shut down in Durban and in Cape Town.

We also appreciate that there has not been loadshedding during this period, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Writing Thursday on Twitter, Mr. Trump said he had spoken that morning to Prince Mohammed, who told him he had been in touch with Mr. Putin, adding: I expect & hope that they will be cutting back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more which, if it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry! In a subsequent tweet, Mr. Trump said the production cut could be five million barrels per day larger.

American oil executives immediately reacted positively to the tweet. Im totally surprised and Im glad the president took charge, said Scott Sheffield, the chief executive of Pioneer Natural Resources, a major Texas oil company, who has urged the Trump administration to put pressure on Saudi Arabia and Russia.

But the Kremlin quickly played down Mr. Trumps statement. Dmitri S. Peskov, a spokesman for Mr. Putin, told the Interfax news agency that the Russian president had not spoken with the Saudi crown prince. No, there was no conversation, he said.

Tass, a Russian state news agency, carried a more pointed exchange in which the Kremlin spokesman declined to say whether Mr. Trump might be manipulating markets. Asked if Mr. Trump had intentionally mistaken news about a phone call, Mr. Peskov said, Its difficult for me to answer.

Oil prices have been hammered in recent weeks as the coronavirus pandemic has all but eliminated travel and dampened demand for energy. The price war that broke out between Saudi Arabia and Russia last month intensified the decline.

After failing to reach a deal on production cuts in March, Saudi Arabia and Russia began pumping huge amounts of oil, adding to a world glut. One aim has been to gain market share from American producers that have been increasing output and exports in recent years. But as Saudi Arabia has been shipping new production, it has been having trouble finding buyers.

The combination of slumping demand and the contest between two of the worlds largest oil producers had pushed crude oil prices down by 55 percent in March alone, wreaking havoc on the energy industry, with oil companies slashing budgets and refineries cutting production of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
China is hurting. The entire global economy has taken a huge hit from the spread of the coronavirus, but so far none have been hit as hard as China, where the COVID-19 pandemic originated. The worlds second-largest economy came to a grinding halt back in January, leading to a historic economic slump for the nation that has seen nothing but growth in recent years.

Last month Business Day reported that China suffered an even deeper slump than analysts feared at the start of the year as industrial output plunged 13.5% in January and February from a year earlier, retail sales fell 20.5%, and fixed-asset investment dropped 24.5%. The unemployment rate jumped to a record 6.2% in February, when the outbreak worsened and much of the economy was shut down.

That has major implications for all of us. China Stopped Its Economy to Tackle Coronavirus. Now the World Suffers, proclaimed a New York Times headline early last month. If the coronavirus plunges the world into recession, China will be the biggest reason, the article reads. To make matters worse, for many economists, the looming recession seems to be a matter of when, not if. Economists caution that [Chinas] shutdown threatens the economies of Japan, South Korea, Europe and even the United States. Huge corporations like Apple, Microsoft, AB InBev and Pfizer have already seen an impact, and even those warnings understate Chinas reach.

The oil industry is no exception. As Chinas economy halted and the coronavirus continued to spread, oil demand plummeted. This led to a disagreement between the OPEC+ members of Saudi Arabia and Russia, which resulted in a broken alliance and then an all-out oil price war. Now. were suffering from one of the biggest oil price crashes in history, the Permian Basin is being rocked by tens of thousands of layoffs, and the first major United States shale company has already succumbed to the crisis and declared bankruptcy this week. And that company, Whiting Petroleum, is just the first domino to fall in US shale wipeout, according to CNBC.

Related: Trump Tweet Sends Oil Soaring 25%

And now, with crude oil prices through the floor, the Chinese economy has emerged from its slumber to buy it all up. China is moving forward with plans to buy up oil for its emergency reserves after an epic price crash, Bloomberg reported this week. The worlds biggest importer is taking advantage of a 60 percent plunge this year to snatch up cheaper barrels for its stockpiles, a source of considerable speculation in the oil market because of the governments reluctance to release information about their formation, size or use.

The country intends to buy up so much crude oil in the coming weeks that they wont have enough state-owned storage to hold it all. According to interviews with industry insiders who asked Bloomberg to maintain their anonymity, Beijing has plans to use commercial storage space as well, while also reaching out to the private sector to encourage them to fill their own tanks with cheap gas as part of a nationwide contingency plan.

The initial target is to hold government stockpiles equivalent to 90 days of net imports, which could eventually be expanded to as much as 180 days when including commercial reserves, the Bloomberg report continues. Ninety days of net crude imports is about 900 million barrels [...]. While the current size of Chinas state reserves is unknown, and Beijing could use a different method for calculating net imports, oil traders and analysts estimated it could amount to China buying an additional 80 million to 100 million barrels over the course of the year.

This could be great news for the global oil market, which desperately needs to sell off some of the glut that brought oil prices so low in the first place, but likely will not make enough of a dent to correct the problem any time soon.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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Researchers have tested a potential vaccine for COVID-19 in mice, which when delivered through a fingertip-sized patch, produced an immune response specific to the novel coronavirus at quantities thought to be sufficient for neutralising the virus.

The study, published in the journal EBioMedicine, noted that when tested in mice, the PittCoVacc -- short for Pittsburgh Coronavirus Vaccine -- generated a surge of antibodies against the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, within two weeks of delivering it.

"We had previous experience on SARS-CoV in 2003 and MERS-CoV in 2014. These two viruses, which are closely related to SARS-CoV-2, teach us that a particular protein, called a spike protein, is important for inducing immunity against the virus," said co-senior author Andrea Gambotto from the University of Pittsburgh in the US.

"We knew exactly where to fight this new virus," Gambotto added.

The scientists said, the vaccine described in the current study follows a more established approach, using lab-made pieces of viral protein to build immunity.

They said it works the same way as current flu shots.

In the study, the researchers also used a novel approach to deliver the drug, called a microneedle array, to increase potency.

They said this array is a fingertip-sized patch of 400 tiny needles that delivers the spike protein pieces into the skin, where the immune reaction is strongest.

According to the scientists, the patch goes on like a Band-Aid and then the needles, made entirely of sugar and the protein pieces, simply dissolve into the skin.

"We developed this to build on the original scratch method used to deliver the smallpox vaccine to the skin, but as a high-tech version that is more efficient and reproducible patient to patient," said co-senior author Louis Falo from the University of Pittsburgh.

"And it's actually pretty painless -- it feels kind of like Velcro," Falo said.

The scientists explained that the protein pieces are manufactured by a "cell factory" with layers upon layers of cultured cells engineered to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein which can be stacked further to multiply yield.

They explained that the spike protein is the portion of the virus on its exterior which it uses to enter host cells.

Purifying the protein also can be done at industrial scale, the study noted.

According to the scientists, mass-producing the microneedle array involves spinning down the protein-sugar mixture into a mold using a centrifuge.

Once manufactured, they believe the vaccine can sit at room temperature until it's needed, eliminating the need for refrigeration during transport or storage.

"For most vaccines, you don't need to address scalability to begin with," Gambotto said.

"But when you try to develop a vaccine quickly against a pandemic that's the first requirement," he added.

While the tested animals haven't been tracked long term yet, they pointed out that mice who got their vaccine for the closely related MERS coronavirus produced a sufficient level of antibodies to neutralize the virus for at least a year.

So far, the scientists said, the antibody levels of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated animals seem to be following the same trend.

The SARS-CoV-2 microneedle also vaccine maintains its potency even after being thoroughly sterilised with gamma radiation, which the researchers added is a key step toward making a product that's suitable for use in humans.

"Testing in patients would typically require at least a year and probably longer," Falo said.

"This particular situation is different from anything we've ever seen, so we don't know how long the clinical development process will take," he added.

The scientists believe based on recently announced revisions to the normal processes that they may be able to advance this faster.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tommy Walker III, 42, of the 23000 block of Long Grove Road, Deer Park, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death. He turned himself in to the Barrington Hills Police Department Wednesday after learning of the charges against him, authorities said.
Thursday night will most likely be the coldest night since mid-February for much of south-central and southeastern Montana, with warmer weekend temperatures in the forecast.

Much of south-central and southeastern Montana will see lows in the single digits late Thursday into early Friday morning, with possible record-breaking lows for Billings, Livingston, Miles City and Sheridan, Wyoming, according to the Billings National Weather Service.

Around midnight Friday morning, Billings will reach a low of 9 degrees, with a chance at breaking the record of 6 degrees set in 2018. Livingston may break its record of 2 degrees with a low of 10 and Miles City may break its record of 6 degrees with a low of 5.

Sheridan, Wyoming, will see a low of zero degrees, and could break its record of minus 7 set in 1936. Towns like Ekalaka and Broadus may see temperatures below zero.

Fog is expected overnight and icy roads may be possible, according to meteorologist Aaron Gilstad.

Billings has seen about 2 inches of snow over the past few days, but Gilstad said a snow system isn't expected throughout the weekend.
A Haryana Roadways bus driver on his way to drop migrant workers home amid the lockdown was allegedly thrashed by Uttar Pradesh police personnel, prompting the staff union to demand strong action against them.

Khurshid Ahmed, a driver with the Palwal depot of the state government bus service, said he was beaten up by policemen in Barabanki on March 29 when he asked them for directions to Gorakhpur.

Instead of guiding him, they pulled him down from the bus and thrashed him with lathis, the driver told PTI over the phone.

"I was severely beaten by police. Despite telling them that I have been send by the authorities to drop the migrants at Gorakhpur, the police personnel kept beating me, claiming that I had violated the lockdown," he said.

Ahmed said he received serious injuries on his back and legs.

He said he had to ask for directions for Gorakhpur as it was not his regular route.

"I somehow managed to take the passengers to Gorakhpur and bring the bus back to Palwal depot on March 30, as there was pain in my back and the lower part of the body due the thrashing by police," he said.

All Haryana Roadways Workers Union general secretary Balwan Singh has condemned the incident and demanded strong action against the policemen.

"It is shameful that while our drivers and conductors were helping migrants to reach their destinations in Uttar Pradesh from the Delhi border in the time of crisis, the Uttar Pradesh government took no measures to ensure their safety," he told PTI.

The Haryana government had pressed into service over 1,000 buses at the Delhi border to transport migrant workers on March 29, as asked by the Uttar Pradesh government, he said.

The union leader claimed the UP government had promised to give Rs 1,000 to each driver, make arrangements free of cost for their stay and food, and provide 95 litres for each bus.

However, the promise was not honoured in many cases, he alleged.

Many drivers brought back the buses after refuelling them with their own money, he said.

He also demanded action against state transport director Virender Dahiya, alleging that he did not take proper steps for the safety of the drivers and conductors.

"The drivers and conductors were not provided masks and money, and there were no security arrangements," he said.

During the continuing lockdown to contain coronavirus, the Uttar Pradesh government had for some time allowed buses bringing back migrant workers who hailed from the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Singapore will close schools and most workplaces except for essential services like supermarkets and banks for one month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says, as part of stricter measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

While the city has won international praise for its efforts to stem the spread of the virus, its infections have been rising sharply in recent weeks, to 1114 on Friday, and five people have died.

Singapore has adopted some social distancing measures to curb the spread of the virus, but had let schools, offices and restaurants remain open. Credit:Getty Images

"We have decided that instead of tightening incrementally over the next few weeks, we should make a decisive move now, to pre-empt escalating infections," Lee said in a speech, and promised more support for households and businesses.

Food establishments, markets and supermarkets, clinics, hospitals, utilities, transport and key banking services will remain open.
Brussels, April 02, 2020 (SPS) the representation of Frente POLISARIO to European Union EU has sent a letter of condolence to the Sahrawi people following the demise of long-time diplomat and international strategist, Emhamed Khadad.

Ambassador Khadad was an icon within the Sahrawi community and an accomplished diplomat who dedicated his life to the freedom and self-determination of the Sahrawi people, he served in various capacities as our Chair of its external action committee and coordinator of our relationship with the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). FPs representation to EU says in his condolence letter

The letter went on saying that Ambassador Khadads service to his people began during his years as a University student in the mid-1970s, when he joined the Saharawi national movement for liberation. As a result of his expertise in international strategy and foreign affairs, he quickly rose the ranks of the Frente POLISARIOs leadership and emerged as our most esteemed diplomat, serving as a member of the Frente POLISARIOs negotiating team during successive rounds of UN-led peace talks.

Ambassador Khadad  added the same letter - was charged with overseeing the Frente POLSIARIOs relationship with the UN, since the ceasefire brokered with Morocco under UN auspices in 1991, among his responsibilities was that of supervising the identification of an electoral body for the referendum. When Moroccan intransigence halted the implementation of the referendum, he was a key member within the Sahrawi negotiations team in Houston just six years later, and went on to represent the Frente POLISARIO in successive rounds of UN-led peace talks in Europe  including the most recent negotiations held in Geneva in December 2018 and March 2019.

Ambassador Khadad was an unwavering defender of international law and the rights and dignity of the Saharwi people. From 2011 onwards, he spearheaded the Frente POLISARIOs legal challenge against Moroccos illegal plundering of Sahrawis natural resources. His efforts were enormously successful, resulting most recently in the European Court of Justice rulings against illegal trade deals agreed between the EU and Morocco, which applied to the territory of Western Sahara, despite having lacked the consent of the Sahrawi people. POLISARIOs representation to EU concludes its condolence letter SPS

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Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and the City Council extended its shelter in place order to April 30.

The ordinance, approved on March 24, ordered residents to stay home unless they had to leave to get essential items or services like going to the grocery store, going to the doctor, exercising or buying groceries.

Hunker down in month of April. Be intentional and enforce social distancing guidelines," Woodfin said during the Friday morning council meeting. "If we tiptoe around this and try to skirt around what the ordinance is attempting to do, the longer were going to be in this. I hope our residents choose the first choice.

The extension of the order is effective immediately.

Nothing changes today beyond the ordinance that has been in place for more than a week. But the spread of COVID-19 in Alabama and in our city demands that we all take this very seriously. People vulnerable to the most serious effects of the COVID-19 disease must remain at home, unless seeking medical treatment. Each of us has a responsibility and a duty to our families, our neighbors and our communities to do what we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Woodfin said.

Woodfin said city parks would be closed if residents dont comply with shelter-in-place orders. The ordinance allows residents to go to city parks to exercise, but anything else is forbidden. Those exercising must stay 6 feet away from one another, even if they are family or live in the same household.

If people cant police themselves, well have to move to totally shut down our parks. If residents cannot comply with the shelter in place order, that will be the next step," he said.

Big box stores are considered essential businesses, he said. However, police have authority to enforce social distancing orders at these stores. Woodfin told people who see large gatherings happening in small places or at stores to call the Jefferson County Department of Health or the Birmingham Police.

Council voted unanimously approved extending shelter in place. Read the ordinance amendment here:

There are now more than 1,300 coronavirus cases in Alabama with more than 300 cases in Jefferson County.

Follow our coronavirus live updates.
Bengaluru, April 3 : City police has arrested five men for restraining an Asha worker from discharging Covid-19 duty and falsely accused her of collecting data for the National Register of Citizens (NRC), an official said on Friday.

"We have arrested five men for restraining Asha worker Krishnaveni from discharging Covid-19 duty and falsely accusing her of collecting data for the NRC," Bengaluru East Deputy Commissioner of Police S. D. Sharanappa told IANS.

The five men are Mustafa Bin Muhammad Sadique, 25, Suhel Basha Bin Basha, 30, Anwar Jabbar, 35, Sarfaraj Hadap Jabbbar 38 and Sagir Sharif Bin Iqbal, 40.

According to police, Sadique objected to Krishnaveni's work saying that she was collecting information for NRC though the Accredited Social Health Activists (Asha) were collecting the names and phone numbers of people for Covid-19.

"They were collecting details irrespective of community, whether Hindu, Muslim or Christian. They were collecting from everybody in their household survey," said Sharanappa.

But Sadique misinterpreted and linked their work to NRC which suddenly created a commotion and attracted a few more people raising the same clamour.

The accused said they will only share the names and numbers of the people with coronavirus symptoms and not everybody's details.

"There was no physical assault or manhandling. It is still under investigation and we are verifying," added Sharanappa.

He said the Asha workers have been provided protection to execute their work.

Krishnaveni made a video of her ordeal which went viral.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao tweeted, "Instances of health workers being assaulted and also creating obstruction are noted." Rao warned stringent action and non-bailable criminal cases against people disrupting health workers.

He promised doctors and medical teams full protection.
Police in Amritsar distributed food items among the needy amid lockdown on Thursday, in wake of coronavirus outbreak.

While distributing the food items, police personnel here were seen maintaining and ensuring social distancing.

Meanwhile, in the light of the Nizamuddin Markaz incident, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has prohibited all gatherings including religious in the state and said the state government will impose a ban on all congregations, irrespective of the religion.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday said that there are 2,069 coronavirus positive cases in India, including 1,860 active cases, 156 cured/discharged/migrated people and 53 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson pushed back on criticism that he hasnt done enough to curb unnecessary arrests during the coronavirus crisis on Thursday, pointing to a nosedive in arrest numbers in the second half of March.

Faced with calls to limit the number of people who are going into a parish jail where dozens of staffers have already contracted COVID-19, Ferguson said he wont make wholesale policy changes but will continue telling officers to weigh the need for arrests.

When and if we can issue summonses, we plan to do just that, he said in a telephone press conference. We are just as concerned as everyone else is about the spread of COVID, but we are also trying to assess each case on a case-by-case basis.

For weeks, inmate advocates have urged the NOPD and Mayor LaToya Cantrell to alter department policies in response to the coronavirus outbreak in Louisiana, which was first detected on March 9.

They say the New Orleans jail, which is operating under federal court oversight in part because of a history of poor medical care, has no space to practice social distancing.

Two arrested in man's beating death in Gentilly; pair had been issued summons earlier that day Wanting to keep the population of the citys jail as low as possible due to coronavirus, New Orleans police issued a court summons to Jason Ho

In response, Ferguson has said he wont change the departments written policies -- but he will urge officers to issue a written summons whenever appropriate.

On March 16, Cantrell instituted a broad proclamation closing many public spaces and limiting public gatherings. Ferguson said that in the last 15 days of March the NOPD made 273 arrests compared to 664 over the same period last year.

That is a dramatic decrease comparing year to year. Its a 59 percent reduction. I dont want everyone to think that were just out there making arrests unnecessarily, Ferguson said.

The drop in arrests hasnt led to a detectable crime spike, according to Ferguson. There were no homicides from March 16 until an unusual spate of three overnight on Thursday, and auto burglaries have declined.

Meanwhile, despite fears that domestic violence calls would rise with people stuck inside together, that fear hasn't yet been realized.

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But advocates say that while arrests may be down, some people are still being dragged into jail on minor and non-violent charges.

Pushing NOPD officers to arrest residents for these petty offenses when theres no sign of danger, its unethical, said Sade Dumas, executive director of the Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition. It puts the officers at risk, prison staffers and the people detained in the facility.

Coronavirus could spark outbreak in 'Petri dish' immigration facilities in Louisiana, advocates warn Two weeks ago, immigration detainees at a private prison in LaSalle Parish protested their incarceration as the novel coronavirus spread acros

During the last couple weeks of March, there were arrests on non-violent charges like heroin and crack cocaine possession, illegal possession of stolen things and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to records obtained by the group CourtWatch NOLA.

Ferguson said that while some offenses might appear minor on their face, it remained important to enforce the laws. He said advocates should set aside their "personal agendas" and pointed to the example of businesses repeatedly victimized by the same shoplifter.

He also noted that some offenses are ineligible for a summons under the law, such as domestic violence crimes.

I would like to see the conversation kind of change a little bit, and start holding these individuals who are being selfish with their criminal intent, and show some personal responsibility, he said.

New Orleans man accused of illegal second-line makes $1,000 bail, is released A second-line organizer arrested over the weekend for allegedly refusing to disband a large funeral repast despite the state ban on public gat

While the debate over arrest policies shows no sign of abating, the New Orleans jails inmate population has continued a downward slide. Public defenders have made a concerted effort to free their clients, and Sheriff Marlin Gusman has also asked judges to free some defendants to give him more space inside the lock-up.

There were 838 people in Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office custody on Thursday compared to 1,045 at the start of the coronavirus outbreak in Louisiana.

The Sheriffs Office said Thursday that 19 of its staffers have tested positive for COVID-19 along with seven staffers of its private health care provider, Wellpath. One inmate in custody has tested positive, and another positive inmate was released from custody on Wednesday night.
"Hairline cracks" have emerged in the otherwise seamless F1 operation at Mercedes.

That is the view of former F1 driver Christijan Albers, who according to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf retains links to Mercedes after his time in DTM.

"I have heard from my network that hairline cracks are developing at Mercedes," said the Dutchman.

Mercedes has utterly dominated Formula 1 since 2014, but recent rumours suggest boss Toto Wolff may be teaming up with billionaire Lawrence Stroll at Aston Martin.

Albers said: "Despite the great performance of the Mercedes team, there are rumours of tension between Wolff and the leadership of Mercedes and the parent company Daimler."

The former Minardi and Spyker driver also disagrees with Bernie Ecclestone that the correct response to the coronavirus pandemic would be for F1 to call off the entire 2020 season.

"It's very easy to say that but just look how much money is involved in this sport," said Albers.

"I for one sincerely hope that the race at Zandvoort can happen this year because it would be an amazing spectacle. The people there have worked so hard to make it happen."

He is therefore optimistic that racing can take place later this year - even without an actual audience at the track.

"Most of the Formula 1 income comes from television rights and viewing figures," he said.

"Any event that can be held, whether it has an audience or not, means the loss will be a lot smaller. Especially if people are sitting at home and they can still see racing, the viewing figures will be even higher."

(GMM)
Conor McGregor has accused bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov of "chickening out" of his UFC lightweight title defence against Tony Ferguson later this month.

Nurmagomedov announced on Wednesday evening that he was back in his native Dagestan and ruled out the prospect of breaking the coronavirus quarantine to compete at UFC 249 on April 18 at a venue still to be decided.

UFC president Dana White has been at pains to insist the show will go ahead despite the global pandemic which has forced the event to be moved away from Brooklyn because of the partial US crackdown on the spread of the virus.

Dubliner McGregor referenced the bizarre history of Nurmagomedov-Ferguson, with the two yet to meet in the octagon despite being booked to fight on five separate occasions since December 2015.

The previous four cancellations have been because of health or fitness concerns but McGregor, who had been linked with a fight against the winner, had no doubt who was to blame for the latest postponement.

"The fact of this matter is, both Tony and Khabib where engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell," McGregor wrote on Twitter.

"With Khabib chickening out first. Making it 3-2 in pullouts in Tony's favour. Khab scurried out of the US to home, and amid the crisis. Very high risk. Congrats Tony."

The Crumlin-born fighter returned to the UFC in January by impressively stopping American veteran Donald Cerrone in his first bout since losing to Nurmagomedov in October 2018.

McGregor had planned to be more active in 2020 but admitted his relief he did not have a fight scheduled before the Covid-19 outbreak, as he believes he would have ignored the seriousness of the situation.

He added: "I am in shape to fight right now! At the beginning of all this, I said to myself - I'm happy I don't have an official fight booked.

"If I did, I would have consumed all the incorrect data to support me taking part in the bout, and I would have followed through, competed. And won."
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Foreigners from at least 41 countries among those blacklisted for Nizamuddin Markaz

Foreign nationals from at least 41 countries including the US participated in the controversial Tablighi Jamaat gathering at the communitys headquarters in the Nizamuddin area of the capital in violation of their visa conditions, as per an initial official estimate seen by the Hindustan Times. Read more

Coronavirus update: Tripura CM seeks ideas from people to recover loss after Covid-19 lockdown

Tripuras chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb has tapped the people of his state for suggestions to help his government tackle the economic after effects of the 21-day national lockdown, which is in place to beat the spread of coronavirus disease. Read more

Coronavirus: US embassy employee tests positive for Covid-19

An employee of the US embassy in New Delhi has tested positive for Covid-19 and is being provided medical treatment, a spokesperson for the mission said on Friday. Read more

More than 900 coronavirus deaths in Spain for second day

More than 900 people died in Spain over the past 24 hours for the second day running, government figures showed on Friday, although the rate of new infections and deaths continued to slow. Read more

PM Narendra Modi asks sportspersons to spread message of positivity in fight against coronavirus pandemic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to some of the countrys top sportspersons, past and present, via video conference. During the interaction PM Modi asked the sportspersons to reach out to the masses and spread the message of positivity during these tough times of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

Google report uses location data to gauge how traffic movement has changed over lockdown

Google on Friday published the COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports for 131 countries to show how the lockdown owing to the coronavirus outbreak has affected the movement of traffic in public places. Read more

Mountain range in Himachal Pradesh visible from Jalandhar in Punjab. See pics

In a hard-to-believe moment, residents of Jalandhar, Punjab woke up to an incredible sight  a mountain range peeking from behind the clouds. The only thing is that this magnificent creation of nature is not located in the land of five rivers but is over 200 kms away from the state. Read more

Ready, aim, click: Up your Insta profile, heres how

Instagram has become a very different place, with no eating-out and no travel. Most views are now of drawing rooms and kitchens, as the world remains in lockdown for another week. Read more
She went through the ordeal of running out of toilet paper last month as people began to hoard the precious substance as the coronavirus spread.

Tori Spelling had transformed herself into a self-quarantining pro by Thursday, when she covered up in a mask to take out the trash from her home in Los Angeles.

The 46-year-old Tori & Dean star kept her look casual in all-black while repping her first major series.

On top of it: Tori Spelling, 46, showed she was a coronavirus self-quarantine pro on Thursday as she took the trash out at her Los Angeles home while wearing a black mask

Tori had her black Beverly Hills, 90210 T-shirt tied off by her hip, and she paired it with simple black leggings and sporty white Fila trainers.

Her long blonde hair was styled straight and parted down he middle to rest over her chest, and she covered her face with a black surgical-style mask featuring a cartoon animal mouth.

Her brief masked outing came as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is considering new guidance that Americans should wear masks when going out for essential tasks like buying groceries or food, according to the New York Times.

The advice previously wasn't given because masks can give people an unrealistic sense of security, and recommending them might cause a run on masks as hospitals around the country are having difficulty finding enough.

Back in black: Tori had her black Beverly Hills, 90210 T-shirt tied off by her hip, and she paired it with simple black leggings and sporty white Fila trainers

Leading the way: Her outing came shortly after the New York Times reported that the CDC was considering urging all Americans to wear masks when going out for essential tasks

Tori has been in potential legal trouble in recent weeks after American Express Bank asked the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office to help it recover more than $89,000 in credit card debit owed by her and her husband Dean McDermott.

AMEX had previously asked the Sheriff's Office for assistance twice in 2019.

She also owes a debt-buying company more than $5,000 on credit card bills which she was ordered to pay in September 2018.

Pay up! Tori has been in legal trouble in recent weeks after American Express Bank asked the LA Sheriff's Office to help it recover more than $89k in credit card debt; shown in 2019

Insensitive: In March, Tori came under fire after posting a photo of her daughter Hattie, eight, wearing a bandana over her head and with Cheetos strapped to her fingers

Offensive statement: 'Days kept inside we have to get creative... Hattie has become McQuisha in her Cheeto extension nails,' she wrote

In March, Tori came under fire after posting a photo of her daughter Hattie, eight, wearing a bandana over her head and with Cheetos strapped to her fingers.

'Days kept inside we have to get creative... Hattie has become McQuisha in her Cheeto extension nails,' she wrote.

The actress was lambasted by social media users for the racist post, and some even suggested her daughter might have been bullied because of similar behavior.

Tori removed the offending post and replaced it with an apology note.

In addition to Hattie, Tori shares Liam, 13, Stella, 11, Finn, seven, and Beau, three, with her husband Dean McDermott, 53, whom she married in 2006.

Tough response: The actress was lambasted by social media users for the racist post, and some even suggested her daughter might have been bullied because of similar behavior
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a major surge in online piracy, new figures have revealed, as billions of people around the world are forced to stay at home as part of containment measures.

Piracy tracking firm Muso registered more than 11 billion visits globally to illegal piracy sites in February, fuelled by a strict lockdown in China aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly virus.

Muso said its latest data "may well foreshadow a coming trend for global piracy" in March and April, since billions more people have been forced into lockdown. The firm told The Independent that figures for March will be available in mid-April.

"We are starting to see some interesting trends emerging that point to a rise in piracy activity in China during this period. Our data shows that film piracy visits increased by 89 per cent from 18 January to 26 January, the day after Chinese New Year and when the news of the pandemic was starting to spread globally," Muso wrote in a blog post.

"Muso tracked 11.2 billion visits globally to piracy sites in February 2020, but with so many cinemas now closed globally and demand for content high, if Muso's Chinese data is a barometer of piracy consumption to come then we would expect to see a continued rise in piracy activity for the rest of the world as more countries enforce covid-19 lockdowns."

Recommended Dark web site bans drug dealers selling fake coronavirus vaccines

Globally, average daily torrent downloads from January to February increased significantly by 36 per cent. Since then, more than a third of the world's population has been placed in lockdown as more countries follow China's lead in fighting the outbreak.

Certain trends have already begun to emerge from the early data, notably in the choice of films people are choosing to watch. Contagion and Pandemic have both proven popular titles, experiencing more than double the usual streaming numbers.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

Figures from other online platforms have shown that viewership has also increased across legitimate streaming sites in the first quarter of 2020.

Viewership on live-streaming website Twitch spiked by around 17 per cent compared to the previous quarter, surpassing 3 billion hours watched for the first time.

Statistics compiled by streaming service Streamlabs revealed that hours-watched on YouTube Gaming Live, Facebook Gaming and Mixer also increased by between 4 to 15 per cent.

Separate research by analytics firm AppAnnie this week showed that the amount of time people spend on Android smartphones has shot up by almost a fifth in 2020.
By Express News Service

HUBBALLI: Women police gave bath to a distressed woman who was staying on roadside near Hubballi Railway Station on Friday.

The woman in distress had not taken bath for almost two weeks. After coronavirus outbreak in the state, railways stopped operating trains and as a result there are no people are visiting the station and no one is helping her to get food.

The woman has been staying near the railway station for many days and begged to get food. After train services halted and hotels closed, she had not eaten food properly. Noting this, town police constables informed the same to station and a few women constables visited the spot.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Elizabeth Potagoli said that she along with a Home Guard constable SH Kalli visited the spot and spoke to the shelterless woman. "She was mentally stable but couldn't walk due to pain in legs. We gave her bath and offered clothes, medicine, food and face mask. We have informed the same to concerned department and the officials will shift the woman to shelter less people's rehabilitation centre in the city," she said.

The act of police at the time coronavirus fear in the city, has been appreciated by the people.
Four days after he received his coronavirus test which indicated he was positive, the Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital, Jesse Otegbayo, has tested negative after undergoing another test, an official has said.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported how Mr Otegbayo on Sunday announced that his result was positive.

Mr Otegbayo made the declaration in a statement he personally signed.

However, four days later, the hospital announced that a new test carried out on him (CMD), came out negative.

The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Toye Akinrinlola, in a statement on Thursday, noted that the sample taken on Tuesday came out negative.

I have the pleasure to announce that the repeat test of the UCH CMD, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo has returned negative. He had earlier tested it positive to the COVID- 19 Virus last Friday.

Otegbayo had on Sunday personally said in a statement that he tested positive for COVID- 19 and admonished all those who had contact with him to go on self-quarantine.

However, his samples were taken again on Tuesday, 31st March, 2020. Today, at about 3 p.m., the result came out negative.

Mr Akinrinlola also disclosed that the results of the provost and deputy provost of the college of medicine, University of Ibadan, Ezekiel Olapade-Olaopa and Obafunke Denloye, were negative for COVID-19 after second tests.

Under medical ethics, health professionals and facilities cannot make public the names of patients and their medical conditions but such persons can go public with their health status.

Many personalities across the world, including Nigeria, have revealed their coronavirus test results to the public in recent weeks.
BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical experts are highly valued and welcomed abroad for helping foreign countries fighting against the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, the National Health Commission (NHC) said Thursday.

Li Mingzhu, an official with the NHC, said at a press conference in Beijing that China had dispatched medical experts to multiple countries, including Italy, Serbia, Pakistan and Venezuela.

Selected from different provincial regions and assembled by the NHC, Chinese medical expert teams dispatched to other countries are tasked to carry out exchange and coordination with local health authorities, medical institutions and experts, share experience on COVID-19 prevention response, provide a variety of professional training and consultations, as well as offer help to oversea Chinese people, Li said.

Chinese medical teams consist of medical workers who specialize in public health, clinical diagnosis and treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine, he added.

In Serbia, Chinese medical experts were greeted by the Serbian President and were invited twice to participate in the high-level conference discussing COVID-19 prevention response, according to Li.

He also noted that in Italy, suggestions on epidemic prevention and control proposed by Chinese medical experts were taken very seriously by the Italian side.

Chinese medics will be led and taken care of by Chinese embassies and consulates while working abroad, Li said, adding that the inter-governmental corporation agreements signed between China and related countries before their departures, as well as sufficient protective supplies will also help ensure the safety and health of Chinese experts.
Jair Bolsonaro President of Brazil takes off his protective mask to speak to journalists during a press conference about outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID - 19) at the Planalto Palace on March 20, 2020 in Brasilia, Brazil.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has sparked public outcry over his handling of the coronavirus crisis, with a movement to impeach the right-wing nationalist leader gaining popular support.

The president of Latin America's largest economy has repeatedly played down the threat of the pandemic, dismissing it as a "little flu" and condemning state governors for imposing lockdowns that are causing job losses.

He has also contradicted his own health minister's advice over self-isolation and social distancing, encouraging people to end their time in quarantine and return to work.

All but three of Brazil's 27 states have refused to relax lockdown measures, and citizens in many urban centers can be heard banging pots and pans from their homes each evening as an act of protest to the president's demands.

"It won't be controversial to say that he is now probably the last man standing in the denial camp," said Jimena Blanco, head of Latin America at Verisk Maplecroft.

By rejecting international recommendations, Bolsonaro is in the company of very few global leaders, with Belarus' authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also maintaining relaxed policies.

When asked about the prospect of Bolsonaro facing impeachment proceedings this year, Blanco replied: "I think it is one of the risks that can no longer be called a black swan."
New Delhi, April 3 : Delhi Police Crime Branch conducted raids at several places in the national capital and surrounding areas till late Thursday in search of those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi last month as they are suspected to be infected with the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19).

The police were also questioning several people whom they have taken into custody. According to sources, Maulana Saad Khandhlawi, the controversial head of Markaz Tablighi Jamaat, who is absconding since an FIR was registered against him, has been served a notice of inquiry.

A Delhi Police source said: "On Thursday, the wanted men have been searched in several areas, including outside Delhi. A lot of clues have been found in the FIR about Maulana Saad. Hopefully, they will be in front of Delhi Police Crime Branch soon." Meanwhile, the police in Greater Noida have nabbed two coronavirus suspects who were present at the Tabligi Jamaat meet.

DCP Greater Noida (zone-three) Rajesh Kumar Singh told IANS on late Thursday that the corona suspects -- Md. Azam and Danish Khan, have also confessed that they, along with 11 other companions, had disappeared from the Tabligi headquarters.

"All of them reached Alwar in Rajasthan. Police arrested eight people there. Azam and Danish escaped from there. Three other persons who fled with them are suspected to be hiding in Ghaziabad," the police officer said.

Delhi Police Crime Branch sources said that through the notice, Mualana Saad has been asked to join the police investigation as soon as possible.

IANS spoke to some close associates of Maulana Saad on this on till Wednesday.

On the condition of not disclosing his name, one of the associates said: "Maulana Saad has not escaped. He will come forward soon and tell you all the things. " According to Jamaat and Delhi Police sources, "One of the wanted accused, who has been given a police notice to be sent to Maulana Saad, is presently kept in a quarantine home at a Tughlakabad school." Most of the six-seven accused are absconding since the FIR was filed. The FIR includes most of the activists of the Jamaat, who were seen in a meeting with SHO Mukesh Walia, which was made at the Nizamuddin police station on March 23-24 and went viral.

Delhi Police said that some of the persons who had attended the meet were also questioned on Thursday.

"The problem is that most of them have been quarantined. Therefore, it will take more time to interrogate them. Until the Health Department gives permission, it is almost impossible to inquire even the 160 foreign-bound passengers in Delhi," a police officer said.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be reached at sanjeev.c@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
ESSEX  State Sen. Norm Needleman (D-Essex) released a collected list of food resources available in the 33rd Senate District amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Connecticut. With the viral outbreak causing business closures and disrupting finances for many families, the need for local individuals to know where they can receive food if necessary has never been higher. Additionally, members of the public who can give back to their communities should consider donating to local food banks, Sen. Needleman said. Community support during difficult times can help support those in need.

"We need to support those in our communities who may have been recently laid off or had interruptions in their businesses," said Sen. Needleman. "If you are in trouble in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, please utilize these services. If you can give back, please make donations and help those less fortunate in your community. This will pass, but while we are dealing with it, we need to support each other."

This list is not conclusive and may not include every resource available.

The Chester Food Pantry - pre-bagged food available for residents, Chester Town Hall, Mon, Wed, Thu - 9 a.m. to noon. Call ahead: 860-526-0013 x213

The Deep River Food Pantry - pre-bagged food available for residents, 56 High Street, Tuesday, 9 a.m.-noon; Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Call ahead: 860-526-6033

The Colchester Food Bank - Offering pre-packaged food bags - call 860-537-7255 to arrange a pickup time through drive-ups. Currently not able to accept donations as Town Hall is closed to the public - encouraging donations of gift cards to local stores and general donations through a drop box outside Town Hall's front doors at 127 Norwich Avenue, Colchester.

The East Haddam Food Bank will be open regular hours beginning March 24. It is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:25 p.m. Donations can be made at the food bank at 488 Town Street in East Haddam from 8 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Donations can also be made at donation bins at Liberty Bank in Moodus and the East Haddam and Moodus post offices. More information is available at 860-891-8100.

The East Hampton Food Bank operates Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at 43 West High Street in East Hampton. Please call 860-365-5978 for more information.

The Haddam Emergency Food Bank supplies support to families for up to three weeks in a row, then monthly if a family is still struggling. Normal hours are Mondays by appointment only, Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Please call 860-345-4621 for more information. Haddam Social Services is located at 11 Jail Hill Road in Haddam.

The Portland Food Bank operates Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon in the basement of 7 Waverly Avenue in Portland. It provides non-perishable foods, toiletries and other items for families in need. Please call 860-342-6795 for more information.

Grab and Go options in the 33rd District include:

Grab and Go lunches available at Chester, Deep River and Essex Elementary Schools weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Estuary Grab & Go Service: Estuary is offering grab and go lunches with pickup sites in Clinton, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook for anyone 60 or older. Reservations are required and volunteers will assist with paperwork for first-time attendees. Call 860-388-1611 by 11 a.m. the day before pickup, dialing zero to speak to staff members or leaving full name, phone number, pickup location and dates to pick up.

Drive-through service is available at the following locations:

Clinton's Town Hall Annex, 48 East Main Street, Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11 a.m.; clients will receive two meals per reservation

Old Lyme's Lymes' Senior Center, 26 Town Woods Road, Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; clients will pick up five meals per reservation

Old Saybrook's Estuary Senior Center, 220 Main Street behind the 210 Plaza, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. Clients will pick up two meals on Mondays and Wednesdays and one meal on Fridays. Donations are accepted, with a suggested donation of $3 per meal.

Essex Social Services - grocery giftcards available for residents, 29 West Avenue, Essex. By appointment only, call 860-767-4340 x201

Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries: Remaining Open, pre-bagged food available:

St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church, 222 McVeagh Road, Westbrook, Tuesdays 1-2:45 p.m.

First Church of Christ in Saybrook, 366 Main Street, Old Saybrook, Tuesdays, 3-5 p.m.

First Church of Christ Congregational, 55 Church Road, Clinton, Wednesdays 5:45-7:45 p.m.

St. John's Episcopal Church, 400 Main Street, Niantic, Thursdays 5-6 p.m.

First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, Saturdays 9-11 a.m.

Faith Lutheran marks Palm Sunday

MIDDLETOWN  Faith Lutheran Church, Middletown, will celebrate Palm Sunday at 9 a.m. in a virtual format. Visit www.faithelcamiddletown.org

The churchs Welcome Table Wednesday, a free community meal at 6 p.m., is take-out only until further notice. Go to the open door in the back of the church and volunteers will bring your meals to you. All are welcome.

Flag sponsors sought

Downtown Middletown is once again planning its annual display of patriotism and support for military families. American flags are available to downtown businesses for a minimum donation of $25 per flag.

These flags are a way to show support and to prepare for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day. We have ordered brand new American Flags for the 2020 Season.

For many years and again this year, Middletown Fire Department will attach new flags and the Alarm Division of the City of Middletown will install the flagpoles on Main Street, creating a show of patriotism with cooperation between the City, Central Business Bureau / Middlesex Chamber and the Downtown business community. For information, contact Daniellelee Smith in the Chamber office at 860-347-6924 or email dsmith@middlesexchamber.com.
KUNMING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A severe drought has affected over 1 million people in southwest China's Yunnan Province, the provincial water conservancy department said Friday.

As of Wednesday, a total of 1.14 million people had difficulties accessing drinking water, while 258,400 domestic animals were also short of water.

A total of 181,333 hectares of crops were damaged, according to the department.

The province has seen an uneven and less amount of precipitation. The drought is estimated to continue until the rainy season in early summer, according to the department.

At present, 78 rivers in Yunnan have been cut off, 115 reservoirs have dried up, and 99 irrigation wells have an insufficient water supply.

The water conservancy department of Yunnan Province is closely monitoring the drought situation, guiding the local governments to take drought-resistant measures.

So far, 436 drought-resistant emergency projects have been implemented across the province. At the same time, the meteorological department has carried out more than 600 artificial precipitation operations.

Besides ensuring the safety of water supply for people in urban and rural areas, Yunnan's water conservancy department is also working to guarantee water supply for industrial and agricultural production.
By AFP

MADRID: The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths accelerated past 50,000 on Friday as the United States, Spain and Britain grappled with their highest tolls yet and the world economy took a massive hit.

The human scale of the pandemic has never been more stark -- experts warning that more than one million cases of COVID-19 disease confirmed globally is probably only a small proportion of total infections as testing is still not widely available.

The United States accounts for around a quarter of confirmed cases but Europe is far from being out of danger -- Spain reported more than 900 deaths in 24 hours on Friday, for the second day running.

ALSO READ | Poor nations need COVID-19 research to avoid system 'breakdown'

The virus has now killed more 10,000 people across Spain, but not 29-year-old Javier Lara, who has just returned home after being treated in an overburdened intensive care unit.

"I was panicking that my daughter would get infected. When I started showing symptoms, I said I wouldn't hold her or go near her, or change her nappies," he told AFP, describing his fear for his eight-week-old after facing death at the "worst moment in his life".

While Italy still leads the world in fatalities, France, Belgium and Britain have also been hard hit. The UK government is rushing to build field hospitals after a one-day toll of 569.

The battle waged by public health experts across the world ebbed and flowed on Friday, with German experts saying the rate of new infections is slowing thanks to lockdown measures, but Asian city-state Singapore confirming it would close schools and workplaces to fend off a possible upsurge in cases.

ALSO READ | Iran death toll nears 3,500, total positive cases reach 53,183

The outbreak began last year in China, which announced a day of national mourning on Saturday for those who died fighting against the disease. Fourteen deceased frontline workers will be celebrated as "martyrs" of the epidemic.

Australia took the extreme step of declaring it would not allow the 15,000-strong crews of multiple virus-stricken cruise ships to disembark and ordering them out out of its waters -- dealing the world's teetering tourism industry another blow.

'Really scary'

Even in the world's richest country, health authorities are under pressure. New Yorkers like COVID-19 survivor Diana Berrent are donating blood plasma in the hope their hard-won antibodies can be used to help treat future victims.

"We can be superheroes," the 45-year-old photographer told AFP. "These are unprecedented, frightening times where everything is beyond our control -- except we as survivors can help."

The virus has chiefly killed the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions, but recent cases of deaths among teenagers and of a six-week-old baby have highlighted dangers for people of all ages.

A cleaner mops next to a homeless man at the Schuman metro station during a partial lockdown ordered by Belgium government in Brussels. (Photo | AP)

And in Spain, mothers like 34-year-old Vanesa Muro who gave birth while suffering from COVID-19 are warned not to touch their newborn without wearing gloves and masks.

"It's hard," she told AFP at her home in Madrid.

"He grabs your finger, the poor little thing and holds on to the plastic, not on to you. But at least that's another day over, you have to think of it like that otherwise you get depressed."

The personal strains of the virus have also not spared world leaders.

ALSO READ | Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases increase in Wuhan, residents asked to stay home

German Chancellor Angela Merkel left her Berlin home for the first time in almost two weeks on Friday after she was quarantined following contact with an infected doctor, but British premier Boris Johnson was still working in isolation after testing positive.

Politically, the virus deepened fault lines in the EU, with Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte writing to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to demand more ambition and courage from his partners, accusing her of peddling ideas "not worthy of Europe".

Meanwhile, in northeast Nigeria, aid workers say the virus could rampage through sprawling camps for 1.8 million people displaced by a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency.

"There is no health system to contain that virus... it will spread like wildfire and affect all involved," said one United Nations worker on condition of anonymity. "It is really scary."
As healthcare workers and hospital staff continue to work tirelessly in the fight against coronavirus in the US, the New York Fire Department has taken an opportunity to applaud them for their efforts.

This week, FDNY firefighters showed up at hospitals around New York City to give staff getting off shift changes a standing ovation.

In heartwarming videos taken of the tribute, which took place outside of Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, Mount Sinai Morningside, and New York Presbyterian Hospital, the firefighters can be seen standing on fire trucks and in the streets as they clap for the healthcare workers.

This is incredibly touching. @FDNY firefighters gather outside a New York hospital to applaud doctors and nurses who are fighting on the front lines of Covid-19, one person tweeted alongside a video of the tribute, which has since been viewed more than 133,000 times.

The gesture of appreciation also resonated with many other New Yorkers as the states cases of coronavirus, which reached more than 92,000 on Thursday, continue to rise.

An incredible moment in a time of pure disarray, another person captioned a video of the cheering firefighters, while someone else called the moment heroes saluting heroes.

The salute also prompted Governor Andrew Cuomo to reflect on the nature of New Yorkers.

You have to remember, in the darkest of days, New Yorkers shine the brightest, he said.

Following the emotional acknowledgement, Mount Sinai Morningside tweeted its appreciation for the city's firefighters and their support, writing: In an incredibly overwhelming gesture, our local FDNY firehouse gathered outside our Emergency Room tonight to salute our #HealthcareHeroes. We are so deeply honoured. Thank you.

The FDNY tribute comes as New York City residents continue to cheer for healthcare workers nightly at 7pm from their homes as the city remains under lock down.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  A mayor apologized to the public for slamming critics of her city government's initiatives during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

"I sincerely apologize for losing my composure on social media. You are correct that all the projects implemented by the QC government belong to you," Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.

Belmonte also expressed regret for giving out health kits branded with "Joy Para Sa Bayan" to the city residents.

"While it is true that my team used leftover donated bags from the previous campaign, and that they were the most readily available bags on the first day of ECQ, it is clear that this was highly insensitive given the circumstances," she explained.

"I do not recognize the public servant that I aspire to be. The citizens of Quezon City deserve better. I will do better," the mayor assured the public.

Belmonte blasted critics of her administration on social media on March 19. She stated in a Facebook post that those who hate her were under no obligation to accept any of her projects  including housing, education, healthcare, and social benefits.

Belmonte cautions public vs. fake news

The city mayor also made clarifications on fake reports "viciously directed against the Quezon City local government" on social media.

Belmonte said their analysis showed that the misinformation campaign was fueled by thousands of paid trolls.

"We appeal to everyone to please be very critical of what you read, like, or share. Huwag po tayong magpadala sa 'fake news' at trolls," Belmonte said.

[Translation: We appeal to everyone to please be very critical of what you read, like, or share. Let us not fall for "fake news" and trolls.]

"Sa halip na tumulong at makiisa sa lungsod para malampasan ang COVID-19, may mga taong sinasamantala ang krisis para sa kanilang pansariling interes," she added.

[Translation: Instead of helping the city fight the spread of COVID-19, some people are taking advantage of the crisis for their own interests.]

Belmonte clarified that the local government never sent home three COVID-19 infected patients. She said it was the hospitals that made such a decision.

The Quezon City mayor also cleared up that the food packs distributed to families within the city were not overpriced. She said the perception that the kits were worth 2,500 only came from an error in a report, which they have since corrected.

"Mahaba pa po ang laban kontra sa COVID-19. Ito po ang panahon na kailangan nating protektahan ang isa't isa. Kasama ng buong team Quezon City, kayo po ang aming inspirasyon sa patuloy na paglilingkod," Belmonte said.

[Translation: We are only at the beginning of a long fight against COVID-19. What we need this time is to protect each other. You are what keeps us in team Quezon City going.]

Quezon City has more than 400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease.
Diamond Creek Vineyards has been sold to the French Champagne producer Maison Louis Roederer, the two confirmed in a press release in March.

Diamond Creek, founded in 1968 by Al and Boots Brounstein, is perhaps best known for its pioneering work with terroir-driven wines.

The estate winery was the first in California to produce exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon, Boots Brounsteins son Philip Ross told the Register following the death of his mother in July of last year.

The winery produces labels from its distinct vineyards, Lake, Red Rock Terrace, Gravelly Meadow, and Volanic Hill, which it bottles separately.

The sale includes the winery, the 79-acre property on Calistogas Diamond Mountain (which includes about 20 acres of vineyards) and existing inventory, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. No purchase price was listed.

The legacy that my mom and my late step-father built with Diamond Creek is legendary, Ross said after Boots passing. Al passed away in 2006.

Its that legacy Ross, who ran the winery along with his mother before her death, hopes to conserve with the sale of Diamond Creek, he said in an interview.

The two families have worked very hard to make this happen, he said, speaking of Diamond Creek and the Rouzaud family, which owns Louis Roederer. Frederic Rouzaud, president and CEO of Maison Louis Roederer, is a member of the familys seventh generation to have owned Roederer.

We wanted to have the right partner to make this happen, and Frederic and his family are absolutely the right partners.

The Brounsteins and Rouzauds became acquainted in 1997, when Al and Boots joined the Jean-Claude Rouzaud, Frederics father, in celebrating the 30 greatest wines in the world on Jean-Claudes 30th anniversary leading Louis Roederer, according to the press release.

The friendship continued through the years, the release said, noting that Boots and Frederic were exploring ways to partner when she passed at age 92 in the summer of 2019.

Winemaker Phil Steinschriber, who has been with the winery since 1991, has agreed to stay on, according to the release, as have the majority of the existing staff, many of whom the release notes have worked at Diamond Creek for decades. Ross will also remain for a period of time, the release said.

Roederer owns other California properties; it purchased Merry Edwards, a winery known for its Pinot Noir in Sonoma County, in 2019, and Scharffenberger Cellars, a sparkling wine producer, in 2004.

The Champagne house also owns Roederer Estate and Domaine Anderson in the Anderson Valley.Since 1990, Maison Louis Roederer has strategically acquired esteemed family-owned wineries with an approach centered around identical core values, long-term vision and continuity, the release said.

They dont make acquisitions unless they feel that the properties are iconic, and they have a long history of continuing legacies, Ross said, of Roederer. They want to keep Diamond Creek the gem it is today.

You can reach Sarah Klearman at (707) 256-2213 or sklearman@napanews.com.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 14:27:16|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- "Serenade of Peaceful Joy," a Chinese TV drama about Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), is set for release on Monday, April 6.

Starring popular young actor Wang Kai as Emperor Renzong, whose reign (1022-1063) marked the high point of Song influences and powers, the show will be available on Hunan TV and online streaming platform Tencent Video simultaneously, according to its official Weibo account.

The story follows Emperor Renzong as he struggles between maintaining his ideologies of governing the country and his love for his daughter Princess Huirou.

Previously promoted with the title "Held in the Lonely Castle," the show is adapted from a hit historical romance novel of the same name by Milan Lady. The book's various editions since 2008 are all highly-rated on review platform Douban, with scores ranging from 8.4 to 9.0 out of 10.

The cast also includes actresses Jiang Shuying, who plays Empress Cao, and Ren Min as Princess Huirou.
Purell and toilet paper aren't the only items flying off store shelves as coronavirus spreads. Masks have also become a hot commodity, so much so that hospitals across the country have begun sending out desperate pleas for additional personal protective equipment as their supplies rapidly dwindle.

Previously, the CDC only recommended masks for front-line health care workers, those who are sick or those who are caring for someone sick. But on Friday, President Donald Trump said Americans should wear non-surgical masks when they're out of their homes to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

"The CDC is advising the use of nonmedical cloth face covering as a voluntary health measure," Trump, referring to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during his daily briefing on the pandemic. "It is voluntary."

"The CDC is not recommending the use of medical-grade or surgical-grade masks," he added.

N95 masks should still be reserved for health professionals who need them most since supplies are limited.

The change indicates a shift in policy for the federal government, and means many of us now need to shift our behavior.

Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.

"There is increasing evidence that people could be spreading COVID-19 while asymptomatic," Dr. Nate Favini, medical lead of Forward, a primary care practice, told TODAY Style. "In an ideal world, we would have enough medical-grade masks for everyone to wear, but we were underprepared for the epidemic and even health care providers are running short on masks. Given that, homemade masks are likely better than nothing."

Whether you were born to craft or don't know the first thing about sewing, there are several ways to make a DIY protective face mask. To help take the guesswork out of the process, TODAY reached out to health and fashion experts, and a few at-home crafters. With their tips, you'll learn how to make a face mask with fabric in no time.

Story continues

How effective is a face mask?

Masks are generally used to protect yourself and others from respiratory droplets, and with a rising number of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, Favini said there's no harm in wearing one while you're out and about as long as it is homemade and not a medical mask, which should be reserved for health care professionals.

In order for a homemade mask to be effective, Favini said it must cover the nose and mouth since this is where respiratory droplets enter and exit. As for fabric recommendations, the thicker the better.

"In general, the thicker and more tightly woven the material is, the more protective it likely will be. We also have some reason to think that vacuum filters may be more effective in filtering the particles and might be a good middle layer between an inner and outer layer of fabric," he said.

If you're wearing a DIY protective face mask in public, there aren't defined recommendations for cleansing it, but you should wash it occasionally.

"It would be reasonable to make a few masks so that you can easily switch them out and wash them in between uses. Since the mask is mostly to protect other people from your respiratory droplets, in case you are an asymptomatic carrier, its likely OK to rewear the mask (a second time). If you are in the presence of someone who is symptomatic, I would recommend washing your mask (immediately)," Favini said.

Dr. John Torres, medical correspondent for NBC News, adds that wearing a mask is not an excuse to get complacent. You should try not to touch or adjust the mask when outside your home and always take it off back to front when you get home so the outside doesn't touch your face, he recommends.

DIY protective face masks: What you need to know

Fashion companies around the world and everyday crafters are lending their services to the COVID-19 fight by making protective face masks. But you don't have to be a fashion designer or seamstress to pull together something practical in a pinch.

"I have been much more empowered by having a makeshift face mask to wear so I can do basic tasks in my apartment building, like taking the trash out or going for a short walk while still maintaining my distance from others. I think having a mask  whatever the type  will allow a release of some anxiety and will also help you feel productive in a time where many of us feel aimless," costume designer and stylist Whitney Anne Adams said.

You can make a DIY protective face mask using items you likely already have at home. Aline Smith, a tutor based in Massachusetts, has been sewing these fashion face masks at home using 100% cotton fabric and her sewing machine. It took her an hour and a half on her first try, but once she got into a groove, she said it now takes her less than a half hour for each mask.

Aline Smith has been making these colorful protective face masks from home. (Aline Smith)

Ava Nguyen, a professor of communication studies at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California, has been sewing masks with her mom and recently sent a batch to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix.

Kevin Pham, Ava Nguyen's boyfriend, wears a mask she made with her mother. (Ava Nguyen)

Need a face mask pattern to get you started? Check out FreeSewing.org.

How to make a face mask with fabric three ways:

Ready to make your own face mask? You can use the traditional needle and thread method, try a sewing machine (if you have one) or try an easy, no-sew mask. If you want to keep it simple, tie something like a scarf around your face.

Here are a few DIY mask tips from Smith, Nguyen and Adams:

DIY face mask supplies

Depending on your method, you might need some or all of the following:

Fabric

Scissors

Needle and thread

Sewing machine (if you have one)

Rubber band or elastics

Ruler

Fabric

The ideal fabric is tightly woven 100% cotton

Try to avoid anything with too much stretch

In a pinch, if you don't have cotton, you can use pillowcases, tea towels, thick T-shirts or vacuum bags

Scarves and bandannas also work

How to make a mask with fabric without sewing:

How to make a face mask out of fabric (Jenny Chang-Rodriguez / TODAY)

Use a square scarf or a cut a large square out of a T-shirt (at least 20 inches by 20 inches). Fold two sides of the square in to meet each other in the middle then fold this in half lengthwise. You should be left with a long rectangle with the edges sandwiched inside. Grab two hair ties (or rubber bands) and pull one around each end of the long rectangle, roughly breaking the rectangle into thirds. (It should almost look like a candy wrapper.) Fold each outside third of fabric into the center. Pull the mask on by fitting the hair elastic around ears and making sure the end tails of fabric are against your face so the mask stays put.

How to make a face mask with fabric using needle and thread:

How to make a face mask out of fabric (Jenny Chang-Rodriguez / TODAY)

Cut two pieces of fabric that are equally sized (measure your face to see how wide/long you need them to be). Take the two layers of your 100% cotton fabric or substitute. If you're working with patterns, face the two sides together (like you're making a sandwich). Place the elastic or ties (*see instructions below) in between the layers and sew them into the corner. For elastics, sew one at each end so it creates a loop on each side. For ties, use one piece at each corner so there are four total. Make three staggered pleats lengthwise on the mask, as if folding a paper fan. Then sew all the way around. This will make a rectangular mask.

How to make a face mask with fabric using a sewing machine:

How to make a face mask out of fabric (Jenny Chang-Rodriguez / TODAY)

Cut four pieces of fabric that are equally sized (measure your face to see how wide/long you need them to be). Pair up two of the four pieces together so they are symmetrical. Sew the center seams (curved part that covers your nose) together. Repeat with the remaining two pieces. Get your ties ready (*see instructions below). Take one tie from the 11-inch piece and one from the 9.5-inch piece. The longer piece will go on the top of the mask (where it would touch your nose) and the shorter will go on the bottom. Place the two sewn pieces of fabric on top of each other (like a sandwich) so they're symmetrical. Place ties on the corners of one side of the mask. They should meet the edge of the mask and then go inside of the mask. On the edge of the mask, you should see the following: one layer of mask, the ribbon/tie and another layer of mask. Sew the edges so they are all sewn together. Next, repeat this step for the other side with your remaining ties, making sure to pair ties up so they're the same length and are symmetrical on both sides. Sew around the mask but keep one side open so you can turn the mask inside out. Turn it inside out and sew the gap closed.

*How to make elastics for your mask:
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  Calls to probe leaders like Vice President Leni Robredo and Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto for their alleged missteps in the COVID-19 response are not what the country needs right now, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said Friday.

Diokno said the proposal of Presidential Anti-Corruption Commissioner Manuelito Luna for the National Bureau of Investigation to go after Robredo was "very divisive," at a time when any help is needed to address the coronavirus outbreak.

"Ang bayanihan hindi divisive, hindi exclusive 'yon. Inclusive 'yun dapat, at iyon ang inaasahan ng taumbayan na tatalagang unified ang ating galaw [Translation: Cooperative undertaking isn't divisive and exclusive. It should be inclusive, and the people expect a unified response]," the former senatorial candidate and legal expert told CNN Philippines' The Source.

Luna said Robredo may have violated certain laws when she received donations to help those most affected by the crisis through "illegal solicitations" meant to undermine and even "compete" with the national government's efforts to mitigate the impact of the health crisis. Luna's fellow PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica had to come up with his own statement disowning Luna's stance, saying it was not the agency's official recommendation.

Belgica's clarification was followed hours later by a formal statement from PACC Chairman Dante Jimenez. Jimenez blamed media for supposedly "misconstruing" Luna's statement, which was sent by the commissioner to reporters Thursday afternoon.

Diokno said Luna should have clarified from the start that his statement was a personal take, as all public officials are presumed to speak on behalf of their agencies or government positions. If anything, Diokno said Robredo should be commended and emulated for pooling donations of protective gear, offering shuttle rides, and finding dormitories to house healthcare workers amid the outbreak.

Diokno also blasted the NBI's complaint against Sotto, saying it was yet another unnecessary distraction.

"I wish the government would act as one. In fact, the whole theme has been 'we heal as one,' then I think it's incumbent upon the government to act as one," he said. "The problems are just too great to be sidetracked by these statements, to find out only later na binabawi naman pala."

Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya on Thursday thumbed down the NBI's move against the Pasig City mayor, saying the agency has long considered the issue regarding the deployment of tricycles in the first few days of the Luzon quarantine resolved. Even Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Sotto cannot be charged of violating the days-old Bayanihan to Heal As One Act as the law was not retroactive.

Meanwhile, Diokno also disclosed that the NBI has sent summons to at least 17 private citizens for supposedly violating a law against the publication of false news. But he said authorities did not tell those being charged what exactly they did wrong.

READ: What to do when you receive an NBI subpoena

Diokno said the NBI should instead refocus and go after actual fraudsters and scammers looking to dupe people to make profits during the pandemic.
The country's largest crop protection company UPL on Friday pledged Rs 75 crore to the PM-CARES Fund to help fight the deadly COVID-19 disease in India.

The company said it is also supplying personal protective equipments to health workers and has also kept two educational institutions at Vapi in south Gujarat as standby facilities to help keep quarantined patients, according to an official statement.

These are very challenging times for the entire mankind, and we find ourselves dutybound to serve the nation an-d assist with our resources and expertise in this critical fight, UPL Chief Executive Officer Jai Shroff said.

The statement said the company is also engaging 200 modern mechanical spraying machines (falcons) and 225 staff members to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

The teams are providing services of disinfectant spraying at various public and private spaces such as hospitals, streets, police stations, railway stations, municipal corporations.

They have sprayed 11.5 lakh litre of disinfectant solution in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, the statement said.

Apart from this, the company has also mobilised operational capabilities to manufacture hand sanitizers as per WHO guidelines for distribution to police and municipal corporations, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Oil producers from the OPEC+ coalition are discussing the possibility of slashing global crude oil production by 10 million bpd in cooperation with producers from outside the group, a source with OPEC told Reuters on Friday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected a massive cut from Saudi Arabia and Russia.

A final figure up for discussion would depend on the outcome of the meeting of President Trump with U.S. oil firms later on Friday and over the weekend, Reuters source said.

After days of speculation about President Trump getting involved in the Saudi-Russian oil price war that began claiming its first U.S. shale victims, President Trump said on Thursday that he had spoken with the Saudi Crown Prince and Russia, and hoped and expected that Saudi Arabia and Russia would cut back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more, sending oil prices soaring by 20 percent.

President Trump later on Thursday in a coronavirus press briefing added that the 10 million bpd figure had actually been discussed in the conversations and that it could be as much as 15 million bpd.

Saudi Arabia called on Thursday for an urgent meeting of the OPEC+ coalition and another group of countries to try to find a fair solution to the current market imbalance.

The emergency meeting will be held via video conference on Monday, April 6, non-OPEC producer Azerbaijan said on Friday, adding it had been invited to take part in the meeting initiated by Saudi Arabia after talks mediated by President Trump.

However, analysts see many obstacles to a global production cut deal of the magnitude President Trump has touted because of the tall order to get a group of many diverse producers together for a collective cut.

Saudi Arabia is signaling it will discuss cuts if more countries join, including the United States.

The other issue with such a cut is that the current loss of demand is probably more than twice the 10-million-bpd production cut.

After news of the OPEC+ meeting on Monday emerged, oil prices reversed earlier losses that were created by the media's skepticism about a deal, jumping at 7:15 a.m. EDT on Friday, with Brent Crude soaring 8.18 percent at $32.39, and WTI Crude up 4.66 percent at $26.50.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The federal relief package, which includes an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits on top of the usual state benefits, will ideally enable the millions of newly jobless to pay their rent and other bills. But it wont make up for the vast array of spending that Americans typically engage in that has now been lost  from eating out and paying for gym memberships to buying new furniture, autos and electronic gadgets. Indeed, Oxford Economics says that for the April-June quarter, that pullback will likely cause the sharpest quarterly drop in consumer spending on record.
R yanair expects to carry minimal if any traffic for the next two months as the airlines fleet of planes remains grounded due to travel restrictions and depressed demand.

The company operated more than 33,000 scheduled flights in March, but passenger numbers fell by 48 per cent to 5.7 million, it revealed on Friday.

Ryanair said it was unable to give guidance for the 2021 financial year, but added that its 2020 profit will stay within the lower end of the range it had previously announced.

Ryanair said it expects pre-exceptional profit after tax will fall between 950 million and one billion euros (830 million to 875 million).

The company told shareholders: This is due to the response of EU governments to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, which have since mid-March included widespread flight bans and travel restrictions which have closed Europes skies to all but a tiny number of rescue and medical flights.
Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah on Friday approved the release of Rs 11,092 crores under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) to all states to combat the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given assurance on April 2 during his video conference meeting with the chief ministers of all states.

The fund will be utilised for setting up quarantine facilities, sample collection and screening; setting up additional testing laboratories, cost of consumables; purchase of personal protection equipments for healthcare, municipal, police and fire authorities; purchase of thermal scanners, ventilators, air purifiers, and consumables for Government hospitals.

India till 9 pm (IST) on Friday recorded a total of 2,547 cases and a death toll of 62.

The central government has released in advance its share of the first installment of State Disaster Risk Management Fund for 2020-21 with a view to augment funds available with the state governments.

With a view to making available additional funds to the state Governments for taking preventive and mitigation measures for containment of COVID-19, the Centre on March 14 had already made a special dispensation for utilization of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

On March 28, the central government allowed the states government to use SDRF for providing food and shelter to homeless people including migrant labourers, who are stranded due to lockdown measures.

The Centre has been extending all necessary support to the states in a timely manner to deal with an unprecedented global crisis which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 2 had outlined that the common goal for the country is to ensure minimum loss of life from the deadly coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Interacting with the chief ministers of all the states via video conferencing to discuss measures to combat COVID-19, PM Modi had asserted that in the next few weeks, testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine should remain the areas of focus.

He had highlighted the necessity of maintaining the supply of essential medical products, availability of raw material for the manufacture of medicines and medical equipment. The PM had said it is necessary to ensure the availability of separate, dedicated hospital facilities for COVID-19 patients. To increase the availability of doctors, he had asked the states to tap into the resource pool of AYUSH doctors, organize online training and utilize para-medical staff, NCC and NSS volunteers.

The PM had thanked the CMs for their suggestions and also for apprising about the situation on the ground, adding that it is imperative to work on a war footing, identify hotspots of the virus, encircle them and ensure that the virus doesn't spread out. He had also appealed to the leaders to reach out to community leaders and social welfare organizations at the state, district, town and block levels to build up a united front based on community-approach in the battle against the pandemic.
Life is on a standstill with people being forced into self-isolation during the COVID-19 lockdown. Even the Bollywood industry is on halt after the authorities declared nationwide lockdown to curb the further surge of the virus. Amidst this pandemic, people are staying in with family spending time indoors. Jacqueline Fernandez as well wants to spend her time with her parents during the isolation phase. She believes that people who are with their loved ones at this point are really lucky.

Also Read | Jacqueline Fernandez's 'Master Yoda' Has A Suggestion For All Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Jacqueline Fernandez wants to be with parents

Jacqueline Fernandez native roots can be traced back to Sri Lanka. However, her parents are based out of Bahrain in the middle east. Jacqueline Fernandez raised concerns over her parents' well being. With the whole world struck due to the coronavirus pandemic, Jacqueline worries about her parents health. However, in an interview with a news publication, he revealed that her parents are more concerned about her as she is alone in India. She further revealed that she wished her parents were with her at this moment. Jacqueline Fernandez does not want her father Elroy and mother Kim to be alone.

Also Read | Katrina Kaif To Jacquelin Fernandez: This Is How Stars Spent Their Weekend Amid Coronavirus Scare

Jacqueline Fernandez Sri Lankan roots are calling to her, as the actor wants to spend every minute with her parents. She adds that her parents have always been there for her at vulnerable moments and it was her time to do so. However, she cannot help them because of the restrictions. She also added in the interview that it is her time to care and tend to her parents.

Also Read | Jacqueline Fernandez Encourages Her Fans To Stretch For A Happy Spine; Watch Videos

Further, she revealed in the interview that her sisters, who are in North Carolina are struggling to find supplies and stores arent re-stocked in her area. She added that her sister is having a tough time in the US. On the other hand, her brothers in Australia are safe as they are based in a remote area in the country amidst the COVID-19 lockdown.

Also Read | Jacqueline Fernandez To Launch Her Own Production House And Chat Show? Read Details

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
A senior US official on Thursday rejected allegations from French politicians that Americans have been snapping up Chinese masks previously ordered by France during the coronavirus crisis, calling the stories "completely false." The leader of the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, accused unidentified Americans of swooping in with cash at the last minute to secure shipments already promised to French buyers. "We lost an order to the Americans who outbid us on a shipment that we had lined up," said Valerie Pecresse, the chief of France's most populous region. Pecresse claimed that while France pays on delivery for such supplies -- crucial in the global fight against the pandemic -- "Americans pay cash" without bothering to see the goods. They "are just looking to do business on the back of the whole world's distress," she told LCI television. A similar accusation was made by Jean Rottner, the leader of the Grand Est region in northeastern France on Wednesday, although he did not explain where he got his information from or identify the people supposedly involved. "There on the runway, the Americans take out cash and they pay three or four times more for the orders that we had made," Rottner told RTL radio. In Washington, a senior administration official told AFP "the United States government has not purchased any masks intended for delivery from China to France." "Reports to the contrary are completely false," said the official, asking not to be named. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday asked officials to look into similar claims that masks were being diverted from his country, calling such reports "concerning." "We need to make sure that equipment that is destined for Canada gets to and stays in Canada, and I've asked ministers to follow up on these particular reports," he told a press conference. Ottawa has recognized that its stockpiles of protective medical equipment are not enough to meet demand, as it looks to care for a surge of infected patients and slow the spread of the virus. Canada has earmarked Can$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) to buy medical equipment while asking local companies to pivot assembly lines to make masks, medical scrubs and ventilators. Health Minister Patty Hajdu said more than 12 million masks were received from abroad, donated locally or released from government stockpiles this week. "We understand that the needs in the US are very extensive, but it's the same in Canada, so we have to work together to ensure that we can control the spread of this virus," Trudeau concluded. Good quality medical masks are a key element in fighting coronavirus -- but not always easy to get
A decomposing body found wrapped and concealed under a mattress in Bessemer, Alabama on Wednesday has been identified as missing 30-year-old mother Tiffany Smitherman Osborne, authorities said.

On Thursday, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office officially identified the remains as Midfield, Alabama resident Tiffany Osborne, who disappeared on February 17, 2020. The death is being investigated as a homicide.

Sergeant Michael Jeffries with the Midfield Police Department told Dateline that a worker cutting grass in the 4200 block of Turin Drive made the discovery around 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday and called police.

Sergeant Jeffries added that the body was found wrapped up and concealed under an old mattress. The industrial area where the body was found is at the end of an unfinished road that is frequently used for dumping trash, according to NBC affiliate WVTM.

Tiffany was featured in Datelines Missing in America series on March 9. Sergeant Jeffries told Dateline at the time that Tiffanys boyfriend told investigators that she left that Monday evening around 11 p.m. to walk about a block away to Carson's Convenience Store for cigarettes. Jeffries said the store was closed by that time and the people who worked there said they never saw her that night.

Tiffany and her boyfriend have been together for two years and have a 3-month-old baby boy, Tiffanys mother told Dateline in March. The baby was at their home with his father when Tiffany disappeared, she said. Her boyfriend told investigators both he and the baby had fallen asleep and when they woke up, Tiffany still hadnt returned. He reported her missing on Wednesday, according to Jeffries.

In addition to the baby, Tiffany is also the mother of 12 and 7-year-old girls, who were with Tiffanys mother, Cathy, when Tiffany went missing. Cathy lives in Hueytown, Alabama, about a 15-minute drive away from Midfield. All three children, including the baby, are now being taken care of by Cathy.

According to WVTM, this is the second body discovered by workers in Bessemer in 2020. In February, the body of Karen Scott was found in a manhole in Bessemer. She was last seen alive in December 2018. No arrests have been announced in her case, which police also ruled as a homicide.

Anyone with information on Tiffany's case is asked to call Midfield Police Department at 205-923-7575, Bessemer police at 205-425-2411 or the Investigations Division at 205-481-4366.
THUMB AREA  Michigan Sugar is doing its part in making sure health care professionals have the materials to combat COVID-19.

The Bay City-based beet sugar processor has been donating excess personal protective equipment its employees use to hospitals across Eastern Michigan to make sure health care providers have the necessary resources.

This past Friday, Michigan Sugar donated 80 N95 masks, 370 pairs of safety glasses, and 550 pairs of gloves to Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon.

Other places Michigan Sugar has donated include:

 280 masks and 10 dozen safety glasses to McLaren Port Huron Hospital

 36 masks and 96 pairs of safety glasses to McLaren Caro Region

 300 masks and a case of safety glasses to Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw

 160 masks and 7 dozen safety glasses to Hill & Dales in Cass City

Rob Clark, the director of communications and community relations for Michigan Sugar, said they started rounding up masks, gloves, and glasses in the past week as workers rallied to go through their storage areas to find extras.

Ive heard hospitals described as war zones, Clark said. They need to have it (these supplies) on the front lines.

Clark also said that this would be the only such donation Michigan Sugar would make, as the companys workers still need supplies to do their work.

This type of equipment is very hard to acquire, Clark said. Its important for companies that have extras to donate.

Clark said that Michigan Sugar, like all other food manufacturers, is listed by the Department of Homeland Security as a critical industry during this COVID-19 pandemic, so its employees are still slicing sugarbeets to make their food products.

The workers would normally be finished slicing sugarbeets by now, but due to a late harvest caused by heavy rainfall in 2019, they plan on continuing to work until April 9.

Sugar is in high demand, so we have a responsibility to keep going, Clark said. We are rising to the challenge. Our employees have been unbelievable.

None of the workers for Michigan Sugar have been let go due to COVID-19, but Clark said the company has instituted safety precautions based on the Centers for Disease Control recommendations and are in constant contact with their employees about them.

These include encouraging employees to wash hands, providing hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, implementing social distancing, amping up efforts to disinfect equipment used, and bringing in portable hand-washing stations.

Clark said that two weeks ago, the first sugarbeet seeds for 2020 were planted and the growing season will go on as usual.

The cycle continues, Clark said.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

The Vice-Chairman of the LPG Marketers Association of Ghana, Gabriel Kumi, has described as unfortunate the introduction of the Cylinder Recirculation Recovery Margin introduced by the National Petroleum Authority on liquified petroleum gas.

LPG operators have been asked by the NPA to start charging 13.5 pesewas on each kilogram of LPG.

According to the Petroleum Authority, the introduction of the Cylinder Recirculation Recovery Margin is to support stakeholders in the supply chain ahead of the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model.

But Gabriel Kumi, lamenting the decision on Eyewitness News, said the price of LPG should have seen a reduction rather since the price of crude oil on the international market is on a decline.

We see the move to introduce new levies on the product as very unfortunate and more unfortunate is the timing is the introduction of this levy. We are under lockdown. We believe this is the time we need to consume more LPG to cook in homes. This is the time charcoal and wood fuel which is the alternative to LPG are not able to come into Accra and Kumasi so we expect that the LPG will be made more affordable for the ordinary consumer to use in their daily chores but unfortunately, a tax has been introduced, he argued.

Consumers were expecting a very sharp decline. We have very discerning consumers who are monitoring the events on the international crude oil market. And our consumers are very much aware that crude oil is on the decline for some time now and they are expecting that when they come to the pump, they are expecting a very significant decrease in the price of LPG but unfortunately the introduction of this levy is not going to make it possible, he added.

Cylinder Recirculation Model

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, shortly after the Atomic Junction Gas explosion in 2017, directed the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model.

This meant that gas cylinders will no longer be filled up at gas retail outlets, but cylinders will be bought from distributors already filled when they go empty.

But over the years, LPG operators and marketers have heightened calls for the government not to implement the model.

Apart from concerns over the loss of jobs, the LPG Operators Association has constantly complained that proper stakeholder consultations were not carried out as they were not engaged on the policy.

It is for this reason that they threatened to sue the government if it failed to reach a consensus with all stakeholders on the model in 2018.

They had also embarked on a strike as part of protests against the government's decision to implement the policy.

Calls to scrap high taxes on LPG

The LPG Marketers Association of Ghana has on several occasions lamented the high cost of LPG and the negative impacts consumers have had to bear over the past years.

According to them, the only way the government will be able to achieve its target of doubling the consumption of LPG by 2030 is to scrap taxes on the product  an appeal they want the government to consider without delay.

The Association is convinced that such action will encourage more people to patronize the product and bring respite to the masses.

The government, however, has rejected the calls for a downward review in the taxes on Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, last year, said calls for a reduction or complete scrapping of the LPG taxes if heeded to, has the tendency to destabilize the economy.

---citinewsroom
Bloomberg photo by Patrick T. Fallon.

Southwest Airlines said it would apply for federal aid, becoming the second U.S. carrier to confirm it will seek assistance as the new coronavirus batters travel demand.

The discounter will file an application "to discuss the specific details regarding possible grants" to boost liquidity and provide job security for employees, according to a U.S. regulatory filing Thursday. The carrier joins American Airlines Group Inc., which has said it would apply for as much as $12 billion in aid. Southwest didn't say how much it would seek.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 13:24:47|Editor: ZD

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PHNOM PENH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had exported 101,345 metric tons of milled rice to China in the first quarter of 2020, a 35 percent rise over the same period last year, according to an official report released on Friday.

China remained the biggest buyer of Cambodian rice during the January-March period this year, said the report of the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export, adding that export to China accounted for 44 percent of the kingdom's total rice export.

It also showed that the Southeast Asian country exported 70,040 tons of milled rice to the European markets during the period, up 36 percent.

According to the report, the kingdom exported a total of 230,948 tons of milled rice in the first three months of this year, up 35 percent over the same period last year.

It is estimated that the kingdom earned 161 million U.S. dollars from the export of milled rice during the first quarter of this year.
When hospitals in the South Korean city of Daegu were overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, officials appealed for doctors to help, and among the volunteers was multi-millionaire and former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo. The South was one of the first countries hit by the virus outside China, where it initially emerged, and for a time had the largest number of confirmed cases outside the Middle Kingdom. But an extensive "trace, test and treat" programme -- facilitated by rapidly approved kits and a widely adhered-to social distancing campaign -- has seen it apparently brought under control, with fewer than 10,000 cases as of Wednesday and one of the lowest death rates anywhere. As part of that drive authorities sought to test every member of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious group often condemned as a cult, which is still linked to more than half the South's cases. As a result, a deluge of positive cases emerged in Daegu, the epicentre of the outbreak, where a Shincheonji member attended four crowded services before being diagnosed. With the city's hospitals overflowing, a doctors' association issued a call for help and Ahn, 58, and his medical professor wife were among hundreds who have stepped forward. He was soon treating up to 90 intensive care patients daily, with pictures showing him looking drained but determined in sweat-soaked medical scrubs. "One patient in her 60s told me her husband died from coronavirus just a day before at another hospital," he recalled. "But she couldn't see his body one last time because it had to be cremated right away. She couldn't even attend his funeral because she herself was infected." "I could not find any words to console her," he told AFP in his first international media interview after two weeks' quarantine following his 15 days in Daegu. - Computer virus - Ahn credited Seoul's "full-fledged testing efforts" and rapid response for reducing the impact of the virus, saying it was a model for others to follow. "Without tests, you are like a blind person," said. "You have no idea how far and deep it has spread." Ahn is sometimes considered a South Korean equivalent of Bill Gates. As a medical student in the 1980s he wrote a programme to clean a virus from his computer, and then pursued parallel careers as both a software developer and a doctor and professor. In 1995 he founded AhnLab, now the largest antivirus software firm in the highly wired country, with a near-$500 million market capitalisation. He later went into politics, founding the centrist People's Party, and came third in the 2017 presidential election with 21 percent support. He is currently chairman of the party and did not deny he would run for the Blue House again at the next poll in 2022. Ahn believes the coronavirus could reverse the global trend towards populism in politics. "From now on populist politicians without substance will have no place in mainstream politics," he said. "In a statement addressing a pandemic, you must tell the truth, not what the public wants to hear." - 'Duty to disclose' - He holds China responsible for the pandemic after authorities there punished and silenced the doctors who first tried to raise the alarm. Beijing later locked down the city of Wuhan for around two months, where it says more than 2,500 died, but Ahn said the world was paying a heavy price for its initial cover-up. "It is their duty to disclose everything related to the coronavirus outbreak because it is a global crisis now." Unlike China or European countries, the South has not ordered lockdowns to contain the virus. But government calls to minimise human contacts -- working from home and avoiding unnecessary journeys -- and practise personal hygiene have been widely adhered to, while mask-wearing was near-universal for several weeks. "The biggest difference between China and South Korea in handling the outbreak is that Beijing has executed its authority for lockdowns whereas people in the South have done it on their own in a democratic manner," Ahn said. "High civic consciousness is basically saving the country at the moment." Former South Korean presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo spent 15 days on the coronavirus frontline treating intensive care patients in Daegu Ahn was treating up to 90 intensive care patients daily in Daegu, with pictures showing him looking drained in sweat-soaked medical scrubs Ahn said he holds China responsible for the pandemic after authorities punished and silenced the doctors who first tried to raise the alarm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday held a telephonic conversation and discussed technological cooperation between the two countries to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The two leaders explored "possible collaboration in fighting the pandemic, including by improving availability of pharmaceutical supplies and by innovative use of high technology," said a statement from Prime Minister Modi's Office.

Both Modi and Netanyahu "agreed to maintain a focused channel of communication to explore such synergies," read the statement further.

Israel has reported 34 deaths and more than 6,200 infections. Meanwhile, India has so far registered 2547 cases of Covid-19 positive and 62 fatalities.

Benjamin Netanyahu also tweeted about his telephonic interaction with Prime Minister Modi.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today by telephone with Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi. The two discussed technological cooperation as well as the various steps to deal with the spread of the coronavirus," PM of Israel wrote on the micro-blogging site.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Born in Hastings, Nebraska, in 1888, Berry was the son of a building contractor. He spent a couple of years at the architecture school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but left because he was dissatisfied with the curriculum.
Courtesy Photo | Bedrock Detroit

One Woodward Building in Detroit

DETROIT  Several of Detroits most prominent buildings will illuminate with red, white and blue in honor of essential workers working tirelessly through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bedrock, a commercial real estate firm with several properties in Detroit, is partnering with the TCF Center and Ford Field to illuminate Michigans biggest city in the nations colors from Friday, April 3 until Governor Gretchen Whitmers Stay Home, Stay Safe order has been lifted.

Other participating buildings include The Ally Detroit Center, One Woodward Building, One Campus Martius, The Z Lot, David Stott, the Federal Reserve Building, One Kennedy Square, 150 West Jefferson, Ernst & Young and the CN Tower at the Penobscot Building.

Giant heart shines over downtown Grand Rapids to signal love and hope amid coronavirus pandemic

By lighting the city in our nations colors, we put forth a united front to thank our police officers, firemen, grocery workers, delivery people, and the many, many doctors and nurses working tirelessly to keep us all safe, a news release reads.

Bedrock and its partners is also inviting other homes and businesses to join in by turning a light outside their home to red or blue. Or alternatively, by lighting their homes in any way they can - through candles, Christmas lights, or shinning flashlights.

The lighting will take place each night at nightfall. Here is a look at some of the participating buildings.

Don't Edit

Courtesy Photo | Bedrock Detroit

The Ally Detroit Center

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Courtesy Photo | Bedrock Detroit

The Stott in Detroit

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Courtesy Photo | Bedrock Detroit

One Campus Martius in Detroit

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Courtesy Photo | Bedrock Detroit

One Campus Martius in Detroit

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03.04.2020 LISTEN

There are many misconceptions about the business terrain in Ghana. The most evident one has to do with company formation.

It is not without doubt that most corporate institutions prefer contracts with corporate entities than individuals. Corporate entities give the contracting party the comfort of dealing with an institution which is a going concern and not an individual whose demise is likely to affect the operation of the terms of the contract.

This article highlights the basic requirements and knowledge for individuals who desire to form companies with ease need.

Name and Nature of Business

The first step in registering a company is to get a name for the company, the name must be unique, not misleading or undesirable (in the opinion of the Registrar) nor have been used by any other person before the registration. A search can be conducted at the Registrar Generals Department (RGD) to confirm whether the said name has already been taken.

Upon confirming the name, the applicant must be clear on the nature of the business. The nature of business simply means the purpose for which the company is created whether the business is created for services, manufacturing, transport among other things. There should be certainty and precision on the principal activities. The nature of the business can always be amended to include more so just be brief on the reasons why you intend to create the business.

Tax Identification Number (TIN) for Directors, Shareholders, and Company Secretary

All officers of the proposed company must have a Tax Identification Number(TIN). If an officer does not have a TIN, the TIN application takes between 3 to 5 working days to obtain at the Ghana Revenue Authority ("GRA"). The applicant must provide his/her name, occupation, Photo ID, mother's maiden name, residential and postal address (digital/postal address) and contact details of the applicant

Appointment of Directors

Legally, you can include as many directors as you want upon incorporation. The only proviso is that it should not be less than two individuals.

Each of the directors must provide their residential address, business occupation, postal, electronic mail address as well as contact details of the directors must be provided. as well as indicate whether they are Ghanaian nationals or foreign entities (proof of which will be required).

Appointment of Company Secretary

Currently, a person must either be a chartered accountant, or a lawyer licensed to practice as a lawyer before they can serve as secretaries to countries. Among other things, the duties of the secretary will include compliance with the companys constitution, filing of statutory forms as well as register.

A corporate entity can also be a company secretary by the requirements of the company law

Registered and or Principal Place of Business

An applicant must indicate the address of the house or building he intends to carry out business. The street, district, city, and region preferably the digital address must be provided. If the applicant has other places of business, it must be included as well. The postal address must be included as well as the telephone details of all the proposed contacts of the company.

Shareholders or Members of the Company

This is a critical issue all applicants must consider in the process of registering a company, the shareholders are the owners of the company. They make the decisions for and on behalf of the company. There can be one shareholder or several shareholders. The company as a whole must be specific on the total number of shares the company intends to subscribe (Authorised Shares) to and how many shares each applicant wants to subscribe it intends to subscribe to (Issued Shares).

Share Capital

The Applicant must also take into consideration the share capital it intends to invest in the company. It usually includes total consideration (cash) the applicant intends to obtain from the sale of shares as well as the total consideration received for every issue of shares otherwise than for cash. It, however, depends whether the applicant intends to go into the service industry or trading industry

Service Industry: For Ghanaian companies, the applicant is required to pay a stamp duty fee of 0.5% of the share capital to the RGD. However, if the entity is wholly owned by a foreign entity minimum $500,000.00 If the entity is jointly owned between a Ghanaian and foreigner, the stated capital shall be $ 200,00.00 but the Ghanaian applicant must have 10% equity participation

For Ghanaian companies, the applicant is required to pay a stamp duty fee of 0.5% of the share capital to the RGD. However, if the entity is wholly owned by a foreign entity minimum $500,000.00 If the entity is jointly owned between a Ghanaian and foreigner, the stated capital shall be $ 200,00.00 but the Ghanaian applicant must have 10% equity participation Trading Industry: importers, dealers in general goods and retail trading, manufactures will require a minimum of $ 1,000,000.00 (Cedi Equivalent) in equity. Where there is Ghanaian participation the person must have 10% in equity participation. The applicants will be required to pay 0.5% as stamp duty on the stated capital at the time of incorporation

Registration with Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)

Where the company is wholly or partially owned by a foreign entity, it will be required to produce evidence of registration with the GIPC. This is necessary to regulate the capital investments made by the entity in the country.

Business Registration Certificates

Upon successful incorporation, the applicant will be presented with the under listed information

Certificate of Incorporation and Certificate of Commencement of Business

Company Regulations

Form 3 and 4

Company formation has become relevant in our evolving world and it is incumbent on any person who intends to enter into long term businesses to incorporate one.
Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong is held at a police station in An Giang Province for carrying out anti-government activities, April 2, 2020. Photo courtesy of An Giang Police.

Police in the southern province of An Giang on Thursday arrested a woman for activities aimed against the authority of the state.

Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong, 53, is being investigated for "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration."

Sedition is punishable by death in Vietnam.

Searching her home in Long Xuyen Town, police officers seized documents and other evidence related to activities seeking to overthrow the government.

Investigators said she joined the "Provisional National Government of Vietnam" in 2018, an organization classified as terrorist by the Ministry of Public Security.

She and her accomplices held a "referendum" in which the 159 participants voted for Dao Minh Quan as "the third president of the Republic of Vietnam," the latter name referring to the U.S.s proxy state of South Vietnam before the country reunification.

The so-called provisional national government of Vietnam was established in 1990 in the U.S. with aim of overthrowing the Vietnamese government through violence and acts of terrorism, according to the ministry.

Vietnamese authorities have already issued international arrest warrants against Quan and six others, all living in the U.S. or Canada.

In August 2018 two of its members, both Vietnamese-Americans, were jailed in Vietnam for making plans to sabotage the celebration of Vietnams Reunification Day, April 30, in 2017.

The organization was also accused of being behind a petrol bomb attack that burnt 320 motorbikes at a police warehouse in the southern Dong Nai Province in April 2017, and a failed terror attack at HCMC's Tan Son Nhat International Airport later that month.

In December 2017 a HCMC court sentenced 15 Vietnamese to between five and 16 years in prison for the two attacks.

Since late 2013 its members have been accused of carrying out false propaganda against the policies of the Vietnamese government and Communist Party, instigating people to carry out acts of terrorism and calling for protests against and sabotage of national holidays.
U.S. Reps Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, and Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, have announced that Madison County will receive $1.7 million in Community Development Block Grants to help fight the spread of COVID-19.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the federal $2 trillion COVID-19 economic stimulus bill.
The University of Oxford and Kings College London have teamed up to develop and are now testing a new emergency ventilator that consists of devices that commonly exist in clinical spaces and scientific laboratories, and a few simple parts that can be created through 3D printing. Bringing together these devices allows the team to create so-called OxVent ventilators that dont look like conventional ventilators, but which are sufficient to help with the current COVID-19 emergency.

The UK government has given the team quick authorization to proceed with safety testing and Smith & Nephew has been put in the lead to begin the manufacturing process for the necessary parts and distributing the complete ventilators to the UKs National Health Service.

In less than two weeks the students, researchers and academics driving this project have brainstormed a prototype, developed into a highly-structured efficient and effective team and won Government backing, said University of Oxfords Mark Thompson. Collaboration is in our DNA and I am so proud of the team and the amazing support from our universities.

Heres a video that the University of Oxford released about the OxVent:

Heres a demonstration of the ventilator in action:

Project info page: OxVent

Via: University of Oxford
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Beachgoers on Sydney's northern beaches have turned out in their hundreds to exercise and soak up the sun and the sand, seemingly ignoring Australia's strict new social distancing rules.

From Manly, to Freshwater and Curl Curl, they turned out in force on Friday morning to take advantage of another mild Autumn morning for a swim, and catch-up with friends - ignoring the government's ban on public gatherings of more than two people.

In NSW, police have issued dozens of on-the-spot $1,000 fines for these breaches. But on the northern beaches residents were seemingly unconcerned they flouted the strict rules, sitting on surfboards in groups and walking together in large groups.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in NSW reached 2,389 on Friday, with 91 new cases in the past 24 hours. The state's death toll is 11, which is 40 per cent of Australia's 26 deaths from COVID-19.

The northern beaches, often referred to as 'The Insular Peninsular' by other Sydneysiders, has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in NSW. There are 124 COVID-19 cases there, second only to Waverley, which has 151.

A worrying 18 cases on the northern beaches have an unknown source of infection. The figures were shared by NSW Health as of 8pm on April 1.

Hundreds of people flocked to Manly Beach, in Sydney's Northern Beaches, on Friday morning despite social distancing rules

Beachgoers and residents seeking their daily dose of exercise were packed together on the boardwalk

Walkers stand outside a cafe - which is only allowed to serve takeaway food and drinks - on the Northern Beaches on Friday

Groups failed to follow social distancing guidelines, including staying 1.5 metres away from others, as they walked in the Northern Beaches on Friday

A NSW Police spokesperson said they were aware of the photos.

'Northern Beaches Police Area Command has been conducting proactive patrols of the area and responding to reports of Public Health Order breaches when they are received,' the spokesperson said.

'Police would like to remind the community of the importance of adhering to all Public Health Orders for the safety of themselves and each other.'

Australians have been told to stay at home unless they're going to work or school, shopping for essential supplies, exercising and attending medical appointments or compassionate visits.

Gatherings of more than two people, apart from immediate family, are banned in NSW, as are all non-essential activities. Anyone flouting the rules can be slapped with a $1,000 on-the-spot fine.

Commissioner Mick Fuller said the rules are in place for 90 days until the end of June.

But residents in the northern beaches appeared unfazed by the rules as they congregated together in groups and failed to maintain a 1.5 metre distance from other beachgoers.

A witness said Manly Beach was 'out of control' on Friday morning.

'The photos don't do it justice,' he said.

'It's so bizarre, people are bumping shoulders.'

The man said he thought people were treating the health crisis like a school holiday.

'I think northern beaches needs to be in cahoots with the eastern beaches and shut it all down,' he said.

It came after Manly Beach was flooded with joggers, cyclists, surfers and sunbathers enjoying the sunny 24C weather on Saturday.

Surfers flouted the rules by sitting on their boards for a morning catch-up on Friday

A pack walk along the sand and leave Freshwater Beach after a morning dip on Friday

Cyclists, walkers, surfers and runners all gathered at Manly Beach, in Sydney's north, on Friday morning

A group practice social distancing as they pause for a chat on Manly Beach in Sydney on Friday morning. Rules state you must be 1.5m of another person (above)

The northern beaches, often referred to as 'The Insular Peninsular' by other Sydneysiders, has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in NSW. There are 124 COVID-19 cases there, second only to Waverley, which has 151. Pictured: Young people on the grass at Bondi Beach, Sydney's coronavirus hotspot, on Tuesday

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

Chicken shop owner Dave Dunbar said on Thursday he had noticed a big drop in crowds since last weekend when the stricter social distancing laws were introduced, but said mornings were still busy.

'I think people get out and do their exercise in the mornings in Manly, or go out for a takeaway coffee,' Mr Dunbar said.

In Sydney's Bondi Beach, which is another of Australia's coronavirus hotspots, backpackers have been caught brazenly defying social distancing rules by hosting parties and social gatherings at their hostels.

There are 26 COVID-19 cases in Waverley with an unknown source of infection.

There are only 16 acceptable reasons for leaving your home in NSW during the next month, which includes getting food, exercise, going to work or dropping kids off at school.

Police have started fining those who break the rules, which came into effect on Tuesday.

Anyone who breaches the social distancing or lockdown laws in NSW face a maximum fine of $11,000, six months in jail or a $1,000 on-the-spot fine or $5,000 for businesses.

There were 12 fines issued across the state on Wednesday. These including a couple were seen sitting in a car in the Hunter Valley, two men drinking in a park on the state's South Coast, and a man eating a kebab on a park bench in Newcastle.

The situation is so bad at Bondi the state government and St Vincent's Hospital were forced to set up a pop-up COVID-19 clinic at the beachside Pavilion. Pictured: People flouting social distancing measures at Bondi on March 31

A young woman is seen running along a track at Freshwater Beach on Friday morning

The residents ignored the government's requests to stay at home unless necessary by hanging out along the boardwalk

A woman is seen walking along a crowded promenade on the Northern Beaches on Friday

Coronavirus restrictions are tightening by the day across the country with states imposing their own draconian measures to fight the pandemic.

The most drastic of Thursday's state-imposed restrictions came in Western Australia, which said it would 'effectively become its own country'.

The state will completely isolate itself from midnight on Sunday as Premier Mark McGowan urged locals currently interstate to return home immediately.

'In effect, we will be turning Western Australia into an island within an island. Our own country,' Mr McGowan said.

'These are drastic steps, but also sensible and workable. It will give us the best chance of combating the virus and minimising the spread throughout our community.

'We're finalising the arrangements but I want the message to be absolutely clear to any West Australian who is thinking of coming back to WA: you need to come home to Western Australia and come home now.

Pictured: 'Pop up' COVID-19 clinic set up by St Vincents at Bondi Pavilion on Wednesday

Dozens were seen walking and running on an exercise track on Friday morning

A group gather together while drying off after their swim on Friday morning at Manly Beach

Pictured: Dozens of people flout social distancing rules as they linger outside a coffee shop, which can only sell takeaway items

SOCIAL DISTANCING LAWS EXPLAINED STATE-BY-STATE: HOW TO AVOID GETTING CAUGHT OUT Queensland Gatherings are restricted to two people, with residents only allowed out of their homes for a few essential reasons. This includes buying food or essential goods, getting a medical treatment or engaging in physical exercise. You can also visit a terminally ill relative or attend a funeral. Students are also allowed to attend childcare, school, college or university. From April 3, the state's borders will be closed to everyone except residents and essential workers. New South Wales NSW officials are also enforcing the two-person limit, with residents legally obliged to stay at home unless they have a 'reasonable excuse'. This includes travelling to work or school, buying food or other essentials, exercise and medical reasons. It is left up to police officers to decide who will get the fines, with the maximum being an $11,000 fine or six months in prison. Victoria The state has also brought in the two-person limit inside and outside the home - not counting pre-exisitng members of the household. Its chief medical officer Dr Brett Sutton confirmed an exception would made for people visiting their boyfriend or girlfriend if they lived separately. Otherwise, people are allowed to leave the house for one of five reasons - shopping for food, work and education, care reasons, exercise or other extenuating circumstances. Australian Capital Territory The ACT is also enforcing the two-person limit, but people are allowed up to two guests inside their homes - only if there is at least four square metres per person. It also only allows people to leave home for essential reasons, including shopping for essentials, medical reasons, exercise, work or study. Offenders are being issue with warnings, but may get a fine if they are found to be breaking the rules again. Western Australia As well as closing its borders to non-residents, WA has also introduced fines for people who cross out of their region. Nine regions have been carved up, and people cannot move between them for anything but an essential reason. This includes going to work, medical appointments, school or other types of education. Drivers are also allowed to transport freight, and people can go to a shop outside of their area if the essentials are not available closer to home. Northern Territory In NT, police are still enforcing a 10-person limit rather than just two people. But chief minister Michael Gunner warned it may take further action if people don't stick to the rules. All non-essential arrivals in the state must self-quarantine for 14 days, and people are not allowed to visit remote communities. Tasmania Tasmania also has brought into law the two-person limit, with residents only allowed to leave home for essential reasons. This includes shopping, exercising, and going to healthcare apppointments. Going to a vet is also allowed, as is going to school or caring for another person. Arrivals must self-isolate for 14 days. South Australia SA has also stuck to the 10-person limit, with $1,000 on-the-spot fines for people who have a larger group. Again, all arrivals into the state must self-isolate for 14 days. Advertisement

A group stand together as they dry off following their morning swim on Friday

'I cannot stress that enough. If you are an eastern stater and thinking about visiting Western Australia, forget about it.'

Tasmania on Thursday became the first state in the country to ban horse and greyhound racing, effective immediately.

Sex work, garage sales and food vans are also banned in Tasmania while the state's recreational scallop season has been cancelled for the year.

'I want to say to Tasmanians that I take no pleasure at all in forcing businesses to close or industries not to operate or telling Tasmanians what they can or cannot do,' Premier Peter Gutwein said.

'These announcements today will impact thousands of more Tasmanians and our economy, unfortunately, will take another blow.'

Victoria was the first state on Monday to enforce stage three restrictions.

Recreational activities became the latest casualties on Thursday when 'basic exercise' was declared as the only outdoor activity exempt from the statewide outdoor ban.

'This means no fishing, no hunting, no boating, no camping, and no golf,' Victorian Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said.

'Hang up your rods, leave the tinnie in the driveway, and clean your clubs at home.'

'Protect yourself and others,' a coronavirus sign standing among crowds of people reads

Three friends are deep in conversation after a morning swim on Friday

Surfers sit on their boards on Friday morning and seemingly ignore government advice to stay at home

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is ramping up the state's coronavirus crackdown as people continue to ignore the ban on non-essential travel.

Anyone who does not have a state government permit proving they have a legitimate reason for cross-border travel will be denied entry.

Freight trucks are exempt, along with travel for work and medical reasons.

All national parks are now closed to the public, along with hiking tracks, picnic areas, camping areas, swimming holes and lookouts.

The number of coronavirus cases across Australia soared to 5,315 on Friday, with 25 deaths.
(JNS)Iranian officials have stolen more than $1 billion in European assistance to combat the coronavirus pandemic, instead pocketing the funds for themselves, alleges U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Iran has the sixth-most confirmed coronavirus cases with 23,049, and the highest number of cases in the Middle East. At least 1,812 people have died from the virus.

On Monday, Pompeo released a new list of five allegations of how the regime has handled the outbreak.

In February, Irans chief terror airline, Mahan Air, ran at least 55 flights between Tehran and China, further infecting the Iranian people, said Pompeo. At least five foreign countries first cases of coronavirus were directly imported from Iran, putting millions more lives at risk.

Mahan Air, which is sanctioned by the United States and Germany, has operated flights between Iran and China, despite both countries being two of the most infected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a Voice of America report on Thursday.

The Iranian regime ignored repeated warnings from its own health officials, and denied its first death from the coronavirus for at least nine days, said Pompeo. The regime continues to lie to the Iranian people and the world about the number of cases and deaths, which are unfortunately far higher than the regime admits.

Pompeo also alleged that as Iranian regime officials ask for more funds, it is important to note that since 2012, Iran has spent over $16 billion on terror abroad, and used sanctions relief from the JCPOA to fill up its proxies coffers. Regime officials stole over a billion euros intended for medical supplies, and continue to hoard desperately needed masks, gloves and other medical equipment for sale on the black market.

Pompeo asserted that U.S. sanctions do not target imports of food, medicine and medical equipment, or other humanitarian goods. Iranian documents show their health companies have been able to import testing kits without obstacle from U.S. sanctions since January.

Finally, Pompeo stated that the United States has offered over $100 million in medical assistance to foreign countries, including to the Iranian people, and our scientists are working tirelessly to develop a vaccine. [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei rejected this offer because he works tirelessly to concoct conspiracy theories and prioritizes ideology over the Iranian people.
YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ended her self-quarantine and returned to the chancellery on Friday after testing negative for coronavirus several times, her spokesman said as reported by Reuters.

Merkel had been self-quarantining and working from home after receiving a vaccination on March 20 from a doctor who was later found to have coronavirus.
A blob of soap, a splash of warm water and two rounds of Happy Birthday later, youre done. Handwashing has become a crucial, but admittedly bothersome, part of our new routines as we try and prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Were self-isolating, clapping for frontline workers and trying our best to not fall out with those around us as we work from home. But what if your cosy house was swapped for a tent on an olive grove and you were sharing a single tap with hundreds of other people?

This week, the first cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed in refugee camps. Ritsona camp near Athens, Greece has already recorded more than 20 positive cases. Its starting to surface, Josie Naughton, CEO of Help Refugees tells the Standard. Known for its Choose Love campaign, the humanitarian aid movement provides funds and support for refugees and organisations helping them.

Moria, a camp on Lesbos, Greece was built for 3,000 people. There are currently 20,000 refugees residing there. Spilling over from the old prison, which is used as the official camp, families are living in tents in cramped, close proximity to each other with limited access to hygiene materials. Theres just one tap for every 1,300 people but the water is only on for a certain amount of time a day. With these conditions, Naughton says. Should the virus break out, it will spread like wildfire.

Theres nowhere to isolate the most vulnerable, theres nowhere to isolate those who then become sick. This is a global pandemic and people are aware of whats happening, but they cant follow any of the guidelines.

Most of us have the official NHS coronavirus advice memorised: Wash your hands, maintain social distancing and stay home. While these steps have disrupted our everyday lives, theyre simple and generally easy to follow. For most refugees however, theyre impossible.

Working with 125 different grassroots organisations in 14 countries around the world, Help Refugees is currently supporting around 100,000 people. But in the face of a viral pandemic, the charity has been forced to launch an emergency appeal calling for more support than ever during these desperate times.

Were already seeing such tragic stories in the UK, in the US and in France where we have such a developed infrastructure and health service. For people in these communities without any support and already compromised immune systems, it feels incredibly worrying, Naughton explains.

Much like in the UK, refugee community hubs have been forced to close and while the charitys partners attempt to continue providing education and support remotely, theres an even bigger battle just continuing to get basic supplies of food and medical aid to those who need it.

There are a lot more challenges because of lockdown, she says. Our partners are trying to do remote support but for people who have already been through so much, its a huge amount to be facing.

The lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers has been widely reported. The charitys partners have been working alongside communities to make masks that dont meet medical grade requirements but are better than nothing. Field hospital clinics are being built but access to water and hygiene items are the priority for these vulnerable communities.

We are funding a lot of medical support so funding salaries for doctors, funding the purchase of medical equipment and so forth, Naughton says. Should the virus break out, the lack of access to medical care is just going to be horrific.

Theres no way that they can prepare for it.

"Should the virus break out, it will spread like wildfire" / Alice Aedy supplied by Help Refugees / Choose Love

Help Refugees is one of more than 70 organisations which has signed a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling on him to provide support and policy change for vulnerable individuals such as the homeless and elderly who are in drastic, dire need of government assistance.

Right now there are a lot of people who are falling outside of the system and that includes refugees and asylum seekers who arent able to get food or hygiene items, and are completely reliant on services that arent even working, explains Naughton.

As some of the very most vulnerable, Help Refugees is concerned the current situation will see many asylum seekers and refugees falling through the gaps.

This is a time when we need to come together, we need to support everyone, and we need to not see our differences, she says. If people are able to help us with donations and particularly for the work we are doing abroad with people who are living in camps and arent able to do the basic things were doing here like self-isolating at home, then were so grateful.

But the charity understands that not everyone is in a position to help and encourages people to research the problems refugees face, write to their local representative and talk about the help these communities need.

Whats happening in the world right now is really scary but what we can see is how strong we are when we all work together, she explains. Coronavirus sees no borders, it sees no race, religion, ethnicities; its affecting us all and unless we are all safe, then no one is safe.
Heathrow Airport has sparked fury after announcing it will keep one of its runways open amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Furious passengers returning to the UK bemoaned the lack of checks and advice upon landing as the spread of the killer bug - that has infected more than one million and killed 53,000 - intensifies.

The London hub will operate its landings and takeoffs from one strip from Monday April 6 to 'increase resilience and safety for staff, passengers and cargo'.

The airport has two runways and will alternate which one they keep open on a weekly basis.

Home Secretary Priti Patel last month called for the UK borders to be closed to stop people arriving from coronavirus hotspots to prevent its spread.

Heathrow Airport has sparked fury after announcing it will remain open with just one runway amid the coronavirus crisis. Pictured: Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 today

Travellers were quick to point out the lack of tests on landing, and questioned why the airport remains open at all

But travellers were quick to point out the lack of tests on landing, and questioned why the airport remains open at all.

Dani Wright wrote: 'Why haven't they closed airports by now this is ridiculous. You can't stem a flow if the flood gates are still open!'

Jo Hop added: 'Plane loads arriving at Heathrow from heavily affected areas before 6pm today. We are not fighting this virus. We're importing it.'

Bryony Williams wrote on Twitter: 'Still can't fathom that in Asia if you enter a shop or the airport etc you get your temperature checked everywhere.

And then I arrive back in the UK and you literally waltz through Heathrow.'

Responding to a Tweet by Heathrow's official Twitter page, Gill Hunt wrote: 'Are you allowing people into the UK from places such as Italy and New York, any places abroad and not doing any Covid-19 testing.

'Thus allowing people carrying the virus to just walk into the UK onto buses and trains and possibly passing the virus on.'

The airport's account replied stating that Government advice suggests that temperature checks are ineffective to prevent the spread.

Ms Hunt replied asking: 'People are being allowed in this country who could have the virus and what are the airports doing about it?'

In a statement about the airport closures, the airline wrote: 'Although we are seeing significantly fewer flights at the moment, Heathrow will remain open so that we can continue to play a crucial role in helping to secure vital medical goods and food for the nation during this unprecedented epidemic.'

Britons arriving to London's Heathrow Airport said they were left 'shocked' by the very few health checks being carried out and the lack of medical advice available which left them unsure about whether to go into quarantine.

One passenger Mete Coban, a 27-year-old charity pioneer and Hackney councillor, who returned to Heathrow Airport from the U.S. on March 16, said: 'Considering just how seriously authorities were treating Covid-19 in the US, I was shocked at just how little the UK authorities seemed to care when arriving at Heathrow.

One passenger Mete Coban (left), 27, who returned to Heathrow Airport from the U.S. on March 16, said it was 'completely irresponsible that we're not at least providing guidance to people about social distancing'

'I think it's completely irresponsible that we're not at least providing guidance to people about social distancing and giving medical advice.'

While Chloe Sloggett, a 24-year-old aesthetics practitioner from north London, who arrived at Heathrow on Saturday with her fiance Toby Hastie, said there were far more medical checks in place in Cambodia and Malaysia than upon her arrival in the UK.

Ms Sloggett, who has been self-isolating since returning home, said: 'As we walked through Heathrow there were posters to explain dos/don'ts and signs to keep two metres' distance, but no-one there was enforcing it.

'We had our temperature checked in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) twice and then again in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), but nothing when we landed in the UK.'

Meanwhile Marc Wilson, a 33-year-old postman from Southampton, said he was similarly confused by a lack of advice on what to do upon his arrival from Guatemala via Mexico and the US.

Mr Wilson, who landed at Heathrow on Sunday morning, said: 'In the Americas, I was checked at every land border, every flight, I had doctors asking me questions.

'I landed at Heathrow and there was no advice or anything. I couldn't see any answers online whether I had to go in quarantine or not.'

Gatwick Airport - which recorded 47 million passengers last year - has also significantly scaled back its operations.

From Wednesday the West Sussex airport closed one of its two terminals, and its runway will only be open for scheduled flights between 2pm and 10pm.

The measures will be in place for a minimum of one month.

The Department of Health said the advice for all Britons, whether returning to the UK or not, was the same - to stay at home and only leave if essential.

However, other countries have introduced strict quarantine measures for those entering the country.

Meanwhile Marc Wilson, 33, from Southampton, said he was not issued with any advice about whether he needed to go into quarantine when he arrived at Heathrow

This includes in the US and New Zealand, where travellers must isolate themselves for 14 days upon arrival.

Nick Russell, who is due to return to the UK from Auckland in the coming days, said confusion reigned over whether he and his wife would be subject to quarantine.

Mr Russell, from Berkshire, said: 'We have very little idea what happens when we arrive at Heathrow.

'Will we be escorted to some compulsory 14-days quarantine facility? Can we be met by a friend to take us home? What can we do when we arrive home?

'There are simply no written answers we can find on the Government website.'

It comes as British Airways struck a deal with its unions to suspend more than 30,000 cabin crew and ground staff in one of the airline industry's most dramatic moves yet to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

British Airways struck a deal with its unions to suspend more than 30,000 cabin crew and ground staff in one of the airline industry's most dramatic moves yet to survive the coronavirus pandemic (stock image)

With global travel in turmoil as the virus takes hold around the world, BA's owner, IAG, said it would also cut capacity by 90 per cent in April and May, and scrap its dividend, in a desperate bid to survive the worst crisis in its history.

With BA having already agreed a 50 per cent pay cut for its pilots, the deal focuses on cabin and ground crew, engineers and office staff.

Union chiefs had already announced that BA will furlough a large majority of its workforce on 80 per cent pay.

A Public Health England spokesperson said: 'The advice for travellers is the same as for the rest of the population  those who return to the UK are advised to reduce their social contacts by staying at home and following the same social distancing measures as the rest of the country.

'If they begin to show symptoms, they should self-isolate.

'The government stay at home posters are on display at all UK airports and many of them have the messaging on digital screens as well.

'All aircraft arriving in the UK are delivering an updated announcement to passengers advising them on the UKs COVID-19 health measures and advice.

'This includes advice on the common symptoms, hygiene messaging and the advice to stay at home.'

A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'We continue to work closely with government experts, health professionals and airlines to safely handle flights, many of which are helping with the repatriation of British citizens and cargo operations carrying vital supplies for frontline teams battling against this pandemic.

'This is a fast moving situation and we continue to follow the advice of the UK Government on measures and restrictions required.'

Remarkable flight-tracking images show how the skies above Europe, America and Australia have emptied in the past month

Ted Thornhill MailOnline Travel Editor

Amazing flight-tracking images illustrate the dramatic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on air traffic.

A data analyst from Florida-based Stratos Jet Charters used his Flightradar24 account to take snapshots of air traffic above Britain, Europe, America and Australia on March 1/2 at 9am local time and April 1/2 at 9am local time  and the difference is marked.

The maps show a dramatic emptying of the skies.

Amazing flight-tracking images illustrate the dramatic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on air traffic

British Airways announced it would suspend around 80 per cent of its cabin and ground crew, engineers and office staff to see it through the worst crisis in its history

They emerged as British Airways announced it would suspend around 80 per cent of its cabin and ground crew, engineers and office staff to see it through the worst crisis in its history.

Owned by IAG, one of the largest and most financially robust airline companies in the world, British Airways has already said it is in a fight for survival.

IAG, which owns 598 aircraft across its network, which also includes Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, is cutting capacity by 75 per cent in April and May. BA has already suspended flights from Britain's second busiest airport, Gatwick, and London's City Airport.

Separately, on Thursday, IAG cancelled its final dividend, saving 337 million euros ($366million). The stock had risen on the jobs plan, but was down 0.5 per cent after the dividend decision.

U.S airlines are set to receive $25billion in grants to cover payrolls over the next six months

Airlines worldwide have grounded most of their fleets, and many have said they need government support to survive

Hundreds of companies across a range of sectors have scrapped dividends to conserve cash, but the move by IAG marks a particular blow for investors because it was the third-highest yielding stock by dividend on the UK's benchmark FTSE 100.

With planes unable to fly because of travel restrictions, compounded by a plunge in demand over fears of contagion, airlines worldwide have grounded most of their fleets, and many have said they need government support to survive.

BA has joined the global industry race to conserve cash. In recent weeks Qantas Airways put two-thirds of its workforce - 20,000 workers - on leave, while Lufthansa applied for short-time work for around 31,000 crew and ground staff at its core brand until the end of August.

In recent weeks Qantas Airways put two-thirds of its workforce - 20,000 workers - on leave

British budget airline easyJet has said it will lay off its 4,000 UK-based cabin crew for two months.

U.S airlines are set to receive $25billion in grants to cover payrolls over the next six months, but are still encouraging workweek reductions, unpaid leave and early retirement as they face more cancellations than bookings.

The companies are trying to avoid making staff redundant so they can respond quickly to any increase in capacity when a recovery comes.

In Europe, more than 20,000 flights departed or landed on January 23.Two months later, after Italy emerged as an epicentre for the virus and travel restrictions went into force, flights dropped to fewer than 5,000 per day.
Former President John Dramani Mahama has asked the government to tap into the Stabilization Fund to support the economy and cushion many who are suffering as a result of the two-weeks lockdown.



His position is in line with the Minority in Parliament and the opposition National Democratic Congress who are averse to government touching the Heritage Fund to fight the disease that has caused the death of five persons in Ghana as of March 30.



Even though parliament has approved $35-million financing agreement for the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project as well as many institutions contributing to the Covid-19 National Trust Fund, more funds are needed to overcome the virus that about 204 have tested positive in Ghana.



The global infection has exceeded one million with over 50,000 dying of the disease.



In a statement which touched on a wide range of issues, former President Mahama indirectly advised his successor not to use the Heritage Fund to revitalize the economy in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic.



The well-intentioned lockdown has obviously led to some unintended consequences and I believe it is time to utilize the Stabilization Fund to build some additional buffers for the economy.



The use of the fund should be directed at cushioning the general population through this period of economic slowdown. These measures may include short term temporary tariff relief in respect of utilities.



Mr. Mahama among others called for the suspension of the Communication Service Tax, waiver of petroleum taxes to support commercial drivers in particular as well as taking a critical look at the needs of health workers with regards to personal protective equipment.



See his full statement below



Today is day 5 of the two week partial lockdown declared by the President last week. We must all continue to cooperate with these directives and STAY HOME. We need to stay home to prevent a faster spread of the COVID-19 virus and slow the rate of infection.



While we observe the period of lockdown, it is incumbent on Government to also take urgent action to resolve some of the obvious shortcomings in our response to the pandemic. The unpleasant news of an eminent strike by health workers at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital because of the poor response to COVID-19 is most disturbing.



The situation in Korle Bu is not an isolated case. Complaints of lack of PPEs and isolation facilities are coming from many health facilities across the country and it is important that steps are taken to identify areas of urgent need and supply the resources and logistics needed to build the confidence of our frontline health workers to battle this disease.



The well-intentioned lockdown has obviously led to some unintended consequences and I believe it is time to utilize the Stabilization Fund to build some additional buffers for the economy. The use of the fund should be directed at cushioning the general population through this period of economic slowdown. These measures may include short term temporary tariff relief in respect of utilities.



While petroleum prices have dropped in recent times, the directive to commercial drivers to reduce the number of passengers means their incomes have also reduced. Additional relief in the form of a temporary waiver of some petroleum taxes to further reduce fuel prices will be helpful to the motoring public, especially commercial drivers.



Additionally, since a significant number of people are in WFH (working from home) mode, the use of data and ICT mediums have become imperative. Government should consider also a temporary relief from the Communication Service Tax (CST) in order to grant some relief to data users. Possible discussions between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the telecommunications companies could yield positive results in providing some relief to their customers during this difficult period.



We can also consider applying some revenue to procure the appropriate materials to facilitate local production of face masks by our tailors and dressmakers. This will make available millions of reusable masks by the general public. This will allow for medical masks to be reserved for health personnel only. This project will help provide income for thousands in the textile and garment sector.



And finally, I thought in these times, the National Security Coordinators attention should be engaged with weightier matters of national security than who is presenting what branded item to our health facilities.



These are not normal times and we should elevate our activities above the petty partisan, parochial mode that we have been used to in the recent period.



John Dramani



Cantonment, Accra

Source: 3news









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Testing sewage water could give authorities clues about the circulation of Covid-19 in cities, new research has found. Scientists in the Netherlands found the virus circulating in sewage water even when cases of Covid-19 were very low and the outbreak was still in its early stages in Dutch cities.

In another analysis, Chinese scientists have suggested the use of paper-based devices (analytical devices for rapid diagnostics of pathogens. For instance, paper-based testing kits for malaria) to trace these pathogens early on.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

In the Dutch study, tests were conducted from sewage water samples three weeks before the first case of Covid-19 tested positive in the Netherlands but no markers were found in wastewater. When the test was conducted again on March 4 and 5, one week after the outbreak began in the country, markers were found in wastewater.

Wastewater treatment plants were selected from two large and three medium sized Dutch cities and an airport to draw samples from which ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) was conducted. RT PCR enables identification of pathogens by detecting their genetic material.

Also Read: Lockdown in India was early, far-sighted and courageous: WHO envoy

Scientists, however, clarified that there is no evidence yet that sewage is a transmission mode for SARS-CoV-2. Although SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in a significant proportion of stool samples in earlier studies, just two studies reported finding infectious virus from these samples. This indicates virus doesnt sustain in sewage water for long possibly due to treatment. Surveillance of sewage water, however, offers the opportunity to check for community prevalence of the disease.

It is important to collect information about the occurrence and fate of this new virus in sewage to understand if there is no risk to sewage work ers, but also to determine if sewage surveillance could be used to monitor the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in our communities sewage surveillance could also serve as early warning of the re-emergence of Covid-19 in cities, much like the sewage surveillance for poliovirus that has been used for this purpose, authors from the KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands said in the study published in medRxiv.

Another analysis published in the Environment Science and Technology journal by scientists from the School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, and Chinese Academy of Sciences said paper-based devices to pick up bio-markers in sewage samples similar to those being used for HIV, Malaria, Zika virus, human papillomavirus, among others, can be useful for tracking Covid-19.

Dr Zhugen Yang, lecturer at Cranfield Water Science Institute, said: In the case of asymptomatic infections in the community or when people are not sure whether they are infected or not, real time community sewage detection through paper analytical devices could determine whether there are Covid-19 carriers in an area to enable rapid screening, quarantine and prevention.

Sewage surveillance has been done for polio and non-polio viruses in the past. But testing sewage samples is not easy. We need RT-PCR now on a large scale for people. Swabs from sewage in cities can be extracted from the common duct in an area to test it. But I think that would be a post -pandemic response in India. We need testing kits to be available right now. Thats a priority, said Dr Shobha Broor, former head of microbiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. India is testing at only about 36% of its capacity currently, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research.
TORONTO - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing criticism after he announced Friday that the country is teaming up with U.S. tech giant Amazon.com Inc. to distribute personal protective equipment like masks and gloves across the country.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 pandemic from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Friday, April 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

TORONTO - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing criticism after he announced Friday that the country is teaming up with U.S. tech giant Amazon.com Inc. to distribute personal protective equipment like masks and gloves across the country.

Public Services and Procurement Canada says Amazon will provide the services at cost and without making a profit, while ensuring "vast quantities" of masks, gloves and other equipment purchased by the government are provided to frontline health-care workers and others in need as quickly as possible.

Amazon Canada said in an email to The Canadian Press that it is working with Canada Post, Purolator and other local delivery partners to distribute the medical supplies throughout Canada.

Critics of the partnership say the arrangement favours the Seattle-based company, which is facing complaints over an alleged lack of precautions to protect workers against COVID-19.

"(Amazon) workers are happy that they have work, but what that (announcement) means in turn is that they will be physically pushed to do more under unsafe working conditions," said Gagandeep Kaur, a postal worker and organizer with Warehouse Workers Centre, a Brampton, Ont.-based organization helping those in the warehouse and logistics sector.

Kaur and the centre recently started a petition, signed by more than 450 people, claiming that "Amazon is failing to protect our health."

The petition alleges that Amazon, which employs tens of thousands of people in Canada and has fulfilment centres in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, is refusing to give workers paid leave.

"(The government) made a deal with the Amazon, and they never commented on the compensation of the workers," she said. "I am not happy about that...They actually are keeping a blind eye on it."

The petition also says Amazon is not telling staff what their plans are if facilities are contaminated or suspected of being contaminated.

It notes that physical distancing is "nearly impossible" across Amazon facilities stuffed with hundreds to thousands of employees," especially because the number of orders has "drastically increased" as people stay home.

Some warehouse workers are now putting in 50 hours a week or more, which the petition called "unsustainable" and said needs to stop.

When asked about the petition, Amazon Canada referred The Canadian Press to a number of press releases it has put out about COVID-19.

The releases said Amazon has increased the frequency and intensity of cleaning at its facilities, required employees and delivery service partners to clean and disinfect their work stations and adjusted its practices so fulfilment centre employees can maintain a safer distance from co-workers.

The company staggered shift start times and break times, spread out tables in break rooms and suspended exit screening to ensure ease of movement near main entrances.

Workers, the releases said, are also getting reminders to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds and delivery workers were being asked to clean all frequently touched surfaces in their vehicles and other work equipment, including things like keys, steering wheel, buttons, and delivery devices, at the start and end of their routes.

"The Amazon Canada team is proud to partner with the Government of Canada by leveraging our fulfilment network and delivery service partners to ship critical supplies to front-line medical professionals across the country," Amazon's country manager Mike Strauch added in a statement.

Complaints like those from Kaur's group had Matthew Green, the NDP critic for national revenue, public services and procurement, calling the federal governments choice of Amazon "disappointing."

"Recent reports of Amazon avoiding COVID-19 safety measures like physical distancing put workers' lives at risk and threatens the public's health amid a pandemic. Cutting corners to increase profits during a health crisis is wrong and should not be rewarded," he said, in a statement.

"We have an incredibly hard working team at Canada Post that handles national logistics every day  privatization can't be the answer."

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The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said in a statement while it is happy the personal protective equipment will reach workers, it "has serious concerns that the federal government is choosing to make a deal with a private-sector giant that has a track record of neglecting its workers' health and safety."

The decision "will put further strain on workers who are already not properly protected," the union said, noting worker protection should be a federal government priority.

"The transfer of essential services to the private sector can and will contribute to the erosion of health and safety, and worker rights."

Canada Post said in an email that it is "pleased to support this important initiative to help ensure our vital health-care workers across the country get the safety supplies they need."

Purolator added, "we're proud to play a role in delivering millions of face masks and other critical PPE to Canadian hospitals across the country."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020.
Ten COVID-19 patients were given the all-clear on April 3, bringing the total number of cured cases in Vietnam to 85.

The patients present flower to doctors of the Binh Thuan general hospital

Among the ten, seven were treated at the provincial hospital of the south central province of Binh Thuan.

The other three patients were hospitalized at the Can Gio acute respiratory disease hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

The 10 patients will continue to be quarantined and have their health monitored over the next 14 days.

As of April 3 morning, Vietnam had 233 cases confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Islands non-profit organizations are working together to overcome their own challenges as they serve some the neediest members of the community through the coronavirus pandemic.

Executive Director of Staten Island Not For Profit Association (NFPA) Sharmila Rao Thakkar said she has heard from multiple members about financial concerns, and the need to layoff employees as major funding sources are cutoff due to the outbreak.

Its heartbreaking," she said. I dont know how were going to recover.

Normal fundraising events have had to be cancelled or indefinitely postponed in adherence to social distancing mandates put in place by all levels of government. All this is occurring while organizations that can are trying to continue their services to some of the most vulnerable in the community.

Groups like Project Hospitality, which provides homeless services, and Meals on Wheels, which provides meals for older people, have become even more essential during the crisis.

Meals on Wheels of Staten Islands President and CEO Joseph Tornello said the organization has gotten nearly 10-times as many requests for service in the past two weeks when compared to normal times.

The organization provides meals to people over 60 who cannot either shop for themselves or cook for themselves. Tornello said most of the spike in calls have been related to the pandemic.

Were being inundated with the number of calls coming in for people -- older adults -- who need food, because of some limitation related to the coronavirus, he said. Our nurse have handled over 200 calls in the last two weeks.

WORKING TO HELP NON-PROFITS

Thankfully, work is being done at different levels of the Staten Island community to try to help these organizations weather the financial storm resulting from the pandemic.

Borough President James Oddo and staff at Borough Hall have been working with NFPA to assess the needs of Staten Islands non-profit organizations, including its hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

After Superstorm Sandy, the NFPA established Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) -- a coalition that acts as a centralized system for non-profits to facilitate collaboration between the organizations and with responses on the federal state and local levels.

Thakkar, a Todt Hill native, said part of the reason NFPA decided to form COAD after Sandy was because the organization felt that they were often left out of discussions about what was needed in the communities they serve.

At the end of the day it is our non-profits that are serving communities on the ground, she said. The COAD was instrumental in recognizing the importance of partnering with our public officials.

COAD and its Medical Ecosystem subcommittee has been activated since the severity of the outbreak became apparent. Thakkar said she believes the level of collaboration between non-profits and public officials is unique among the five boroughs.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

COORDINATING EFFORT

Elected officials on Staten Island are coordinating with the non-profits to ensure they are getting what they need ahead of the crisis apex.

The Staten Island delegation continues to work collaboratively to find supplies our community organizations on the front line desperately need during this crisis, Oddo said. We know the surge is coming; weve got to have the supplies and staffing when it does, which is why we are grateful for the compassion and expertise the Staten Island COAD has provided in our efforts to support our communitys first responders and frontline healthcare workers.

According to a media release from Borough Hall, the collaborative effort had received more than 50 responses as of Monday to an online survey on how local organizations had shifted services and what they needed.

Hospitals and other medical facilities like nursing homes on the Island, and their need for supplies, particularly personal protective equipment (PPE) has taken priority. Since March 21, officials have called on local businesses to donate PPE they will not be using throughout the crisis at www.statenislandusa.com/PPE.

Thakkar said other organizations have also requested things like cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer through the online survey.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

COAD and public officials have started a fund for supplies with a $5,000 grant from the Staten Island Foundation and funds from elected officials, including Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) and State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn).

The fund is open to anyone who like to help support Staten Islands non-profit organizations response to the coronavirus. Those interested in donating should go to NFPAs donation page, which is also accessible at their website, or email the organization at admin@sinfpa.org.

Organizations have also been looking for funding solutions at governmental levels. COAD has worked to breakdown the federal relief bill passed last week so that organizations know what they need to do to secure assistance.

I think the relief is there, but there are a lot of questions, Thakkar said.

To help non-profits and small businesses navigate, the office of Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) held a webinar Friday with local experts, including John Mallano, the deputy director of the New York District Office for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

A number of opportunities for individuals are also available through the city, and local organizations, including Meals on Wheels.

We are heavily volunteer dependent, and that becomes another challenge of us, because the majority of our volunteers are retired seniors, Tornello said. Weve been lucky a lot of volunteers have come forward, and offered their services.

*** TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP CLICK HERE ***

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When the three amigos Gordon Ramsay, Gino DAcampo and Fred Sirieix appear on our screens, you just know theres going to be mischief!

And with the release of their much-anticipated new series, its clear these cheeky chappies have no intention of letting us down as they set off on their biggest adventure to date.

Gordon, Gino and Fred return to our screens for another comedy-filled culinary adventure

Kicking off in Mexico, this food-loving trio are on their coolest road trip yet, winding their way through America via the bright lights and arcades of Las Vegas, sunny LA, culturally vibrant San Francisco on the west coast and, finally, finishing up in rootin tootin Texas  with lots of tomfoolery on the way, of course.

As the series unfolds, expect incredible views of some of America's most famous destinations plus irresistible recipes, along with the usual comedy antics as the boys take part in a whole load of hilarious activities, from goat yoga to cowboy capers.

To get them around the land of the free, the culinary threesome have commandeered a brand-new RV named Betty the Beast  and its easy to see why.

To help them on their journey through America, the boys have upgraded their caravan

Worlds removed from their usual frugal caravan, this luxury mammoth of a vehicle comes complete with plush leather seating, off-road capability and, most importantly, a state-of-the-art grill for cooking up a storm wherever their adventure takes them.

However, it remains to be seen whether all this flash tech can protect it from Ginos infamously questionable driving style.

Whether they're spear fishing or chilli tasting, these three amigos are always entertaining

Wherever these lads go, from the Scottish Highlands to the beautiful landscapes of southern France, its hard not to feel a wave of wanderlust. And, while the current climate doesnt allow us to follow in their footsteps, we can at least live out our globetrotting dreams through their international shenanigans.

So, where do we find the boys on the first leg of their latest adventure? Under the hot, hot sun in Mexico. Behind the wheel of Betty the Beast, the boys' first order of the day is breakfast  and episode one of this new series has them searching for the best one in the world.

However, from blindfolded chilli-tasting in a local food market with seriously eye-watering consequences, to spear fishing, visiting a tequila distillery and even desert rally driving in the world famous Baja 400 race, its safe to say that the boys get a little distracted on their hunt for breakfast, and let their usual competitive streak get the better of them.

And perhaps the most ridiculous activity they take part in on their long-winded way to breakfast is Mexican wrestling  complete with some fetching spandex costumes.

The Lucha Libre style is certainly a new look for Gordon, Gino and Fred...

Almost unrecognisable in their patriotic get-up, the boys cut quite the entertaining figures as they meet some professional wrestlers and join them in the ring for Mexico's second most popular spectator sport. Gordon in particular is very fetching in his Union Jack pants!

But do these three men have what it takes to embrace the full Lucha Libre spirit? Watch as they enter the ring in front of a screaming crowd for fight night on ITV Hub to find out how it panned out...

Eventually, after many japes and distractions, the three foodie musketeers arrive at the site of The Best Breakfast in the World, a restaurant in Valle de Guadalupe, a part of Mexico renowned for its vineyards and breathtaking vistas.

Compiled with perfectly spiced and tender shredded beef, and served with a mouthwatering side of classic refried beans, buttery scrambled eggs, and fresh and fluffy tortillas, this breakfast spread ticks all the boxes for our adventurous chefs, and inspires them to create a Mexican-inspired feast of their own  an English fry-up with a fiesta twist.

But now that breakfast has been served, whats next in store for the three amigos? Episode two finds the boys in the wilds of Nevada, soaring above the iconic Grand Canyon in a helicopter.

However, it's not long before they come back down to earth. With the prospect of relaxing trout fishing on offer, the trio make their way to the beautiful Colorado River, where Gordon and Fred grab some canoes and set off.

Gino, however, has a slightly easier option in mind. And while his friends are out looking for fish, he makes a few shortcuts so he can enjoy some cooking and relaxation in the sunshine.

Tune in to the next episode on ITV on Thursday, April 9 at 9pm to find out what else Gordon, Gino & Fred get up to in the next stage of their grand tour.
Oil tanks at one of the world's largest storage hubs on Africa's southern tip are already almost full, limiting traders' options as a historic flood of crude hits the market.

The 45-million-barrel Saldanha Bay crude oil storage terminal, which is the largest in the southern hemisphere, has been a vital outlet for surplus crude in past market slumps, such as the great recession of 2008 to 2009.

This time around, as the combination of the coronavirus pandemic and Saudi Arabia's price war with Russia creates a record-breaking oversupply of crude, its role may be more short-lived.

The site in South Africa is nearly at capacity, said three people who are familiar with its operations.

There might be room in a couple of tanks holding specific crude grades, but it is full otherwise, said one person.

A spokesman for South Africa's Central Energy Fund, which manages the country's energy assets, could not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Saudi Arabia is only a couple of days into a record supply surge above 12 million barrels a day, but the oil market has been contending with a vast surplus for weeks.

International lockdowns aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus outbreak are emptying roads, shutting businesses and factories, and keeping billions of people at home.

Oil has now slumped by 60pc this year as about a quarter of global demand was wiped out.

The market structure is deep into contango - when future prices are higher than near-term contracts - making it profitable to store the commodity for any trader with access to tanks.

The availability of storage capacity elsewhere in the world mirrors the picture at Saldanha, said one of the people.

Multiple analysts have predicted that, based on current supply, demand and inventory levels, the world is just weeks away from running out of places to store the glut of crude.

Saldanha's six tanks - which were completed in the 1980s during the apartheid era to ensure oil supplies for the then politically isolated country - are generally leased out to trading companies.

A joint venture of Hamburg-based Oiltanking GmbH and local company MOGS Oil & Gas Services has been building up more than 13 million barrels of additional storage with smaller tanks that allow more flexible blending options.

Bloomberg
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed people to come together to defeat coronavirus menace and make India win.

"Let's come together to defeat the coronavirus menace and make India win," said the Prime Minister in a video message to the nation.

Reciting a Sanskrit shloka, Prime Minister said: "Social distancing is the only 'Ram baan' to fight this disease. There is no force larger than our spirit, there is no battle we cannot win using this spirit."

"On this Sunday, April 5, we will challenge the darkness of coronavirus threat together. On April 5, at 9 pm, I need your 9 minutes. At 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your houses and light a Diya, candle, torch or flashlight for 9 minutes at your doors, or balcony," Modi said.

The Prime Minister further said that this will send out a message that nobody among the 130 crore Indians is alone in this fight against the deadly infection.

In his address to the nation on March 24, the Prime Minister had announced a 21-day lockdown in the country to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, which has infected over 2,000 people in the country.During the last "Mann Ki Baat" on COVID-19 related issue, the Prime Minister had apologised to the countrymen for taking the tough decision of complete lockdown. "My conscience says you will forgive me," he had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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SEATTLE  A Rainier Valley nursing home at 2821 S. Walden St. sold for a little over $6.4 million, according to King County records.

The seller, out of court-ordered receivership, was the nonprofit SouthEast Care Center Facilities, which acquired the property in 2004 for almost $6.1 million.





. . .
What are some of your biggest focuses now?

My biggest concern is that we now have a 30-day extension of the guideline mitigation. And weve got to get the American people to really appreciate that.

We should be prepared to adequately address the inevitable rebound that you will see once you start pulling back on the restrictions and the mitigations.

I had a very interesting conversation just this morning with colleagues from literally all over the world on the weekly telephone conference call that the W.H.O. sponsors. And it was interesting to me that some of the most cogent concerns of people from different countries, I mean all over  European, African, Australian, Canadian  was that we need to make sure we keep our eye on the balance of, if youre too stringent in things like lockdowns and keeping people under wraps for a long period of time, you may have the unintended consequence of triggering, from an economic and societal standpoint, such a disruption that you get things like poverty and health issues unrelated to the coronavirus.

Thats it for this briefing. See you next time.  Chris

Thank you

Melissa Clark provided the recipe, and Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh provided the rest of the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S.

 Were listening to The Daily. Todays episode is about the role of state governors in the coronavirus outbreak.

 Heres todays Mini Crossword, and a clue: Season-long plot (three letters). You can find all our puzzles here.

 Jenna Wortham, a writer for The Times Magazine and a co-host of our Still Processing podcast, spoke to Vanity Fair about her working-from-home routine.
The US House Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs expressed its "deep concerns" over Pakistan court's decision to overturn the conviction of Omar Saeed Sheikh for the abduction and killing of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.

Chairman of House Committee of Foreign Affairs, Eliot Engle expressed his concerns after a court overturned Omar Saeed murder and terrorism convictions and called upon Pakistan to demonstrate real commitment in addressing its terrorism problem.

Engle said, "Deeply concerned by Pakistan court's overturning of convictions for abduction and killing of Daniel Pearl."

He added, "Its critical Pakistan demonstrates a real commitment to addressing its longstanding terrorism problem by holding those involved accountable."

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) of US State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells also commented on the overturning of the conviction, "The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl's murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere. We welcome Pakistan's decision to appeal the verdict. Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice."

British born Sheikh and three others have been convicted in connection with Pearl's murder. Sheikh was sentenced to death in 2002 for being the mastermind of the murder.

According to Al Jazeera, three other convicts who were serving life sentences in connection with the murder have been acquitted by the Sindh High Court and released.

Pearl was investigating armed groups in Karachi after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States when he was kidnapped in January 2002. Video of his murder emerged a few weeks later.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday ordered slapping of the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on some Tablighi Jamaat members for their alleged indecent behaviour at a Ghaziabad hospital, where they were quarantined for attending a gathering at the groups headquarters in Delhi that this week emerged as a Covid-19 hotspot. The NSA allows detention of people considered security risks without charges or trial for up to one year.

They will not obey the law. Neither will they accept the system as they are the enemies of humanity. Whatever they have done to women health workers in Ghaziabad is a heinous crime. They are being slapped with the NSA. We will not spare them, said Adityanath in a statement.

The Jamaat members, who have been accused of moving without their pants, singing indecent songs and demanding bidi and cigarettes, were shifted from the hospital to a temporary isolation ward at an educational institute for the alleged misbehaviour with nurses.

The men were identified and quarantined as part of a nationwide manhunt launched this week for thousands of people who had attended the gathering at the Jamaats headquarters in New Delhi.

Officials said the government will not deploy women health workers and policewomen at hospitals where patients linked to Jamaat are admitted to across Uttar Pradesh. As many as 897 Jamaat members have been quarantined at different facilities across the state.

Ghaziabad district hospitals chief medical superintendent on Thursday wrote a letter to police complaining about the Jamaat members behaviour. Staff nurses of this hospital have informed vide their letter dated April 1 that coronavirus infected patients linked to the Jamaat were moving without their pants and singing indecent songs. They are demanding bidi and cigarettes from the hospital employees and staff nurses, said the letter, (a copy of which HT has seen?). Under such a situation, their treatment is not possible in this hospital. You are requested to take effective action at your level to restrain them to ensure their medical treatment.

Ghaziabads senior police superintendent Kalanidhi Naithani said stringent action will be initiated against the Jamaat members and a case has been registered against them. He said an investigation is in progress.

Officials said the NSA will also be slapped on people who attack police enforcing the 21-day lockdown imposed last week to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Adityanath cited an attack on doctors involved in Covid-19 contact tracing in Indore and directed authorities that such incidents should not happen in Uttar Pradesh.

There have been reports of several attacks on police enforcing the lockdown in Uttar Pradesh. The police are doing their duty by preventing people from coming out during the lockdown. There have been incidents in the state in which policemen were attacked by people. To deter such persons, it has been decided to invoke the NSA against such persons, an Uttar Pradesh home department official told news agency Press Trust of India.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi, April 3 : Google Maps is offering user location data to help public health officials spot increase or decrease of movement across high-level categories of places - such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces and residential areas.

Health officials will be able to go to the 'COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports' website, pick their country and download a PDF that charts the community movements.

The community mobility reports are now available for 131 countries, including India.

"Just like how people can use Google Maps to identify when a local business tends to be the most crowded, we're using the same aggregated, anonymized data to provide high-level insights into what has changed," the company said in a statement late Thursday.

"We have heard from public health officials that this same type of aggregated, anonymized data could be helpful as they make critical decisions to combat COVID-19," Jen Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President, Google Maps, said in a blog post.

"We're publishing an early release of our COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports to provide insights into what has changed in response to work from home, shelter in place, and other policies aimed at flattening the curve of this pandemic," he added.

The report will show trends over several weeks, with the most recent information representing 48-to-72 hours prior.

"While we display a percentage point increase or decrease in visits, we do not share the absolute number of visits," the company said.

In the coming weeks, the company will work to add additional countries and regions to ensure these reports remain helpful to public health officials across the globe looking to protect people from the spread of COVID-19.

This information could help officials understand changes in essential trips that can shape recommendations on business hours or inform delivery service offerings.

Similarly, persistent visits to transportation hubs might indicate the need to add additional buses or trains in order to allow people who need to travel room to spread out for social distancing.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Naftali Bennett to the lofty position of defense minister last November, and on Feb. 10, in a moment of candor at a campaign event in the Jordan Valley, he revealed the reason for the appointment: to prevent Bennett from joining a government led by Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz. The Blue and White party almost had a government, Netanyahu said. I made the move at the very last minute and appointed him defense minister. Thats the truth.

In the last few rounds of Israeli elections, Bennett had committed almost every mistake possible, making the Defense Ministry portfolio the springboard he needed to resuscitate his political standing. On more than one occasion, he has made surprising, populist decisions aimed at appeasing his right-wing base that have ultimately caused problems for Israels security if not put it at risk altogether. Examples include his decision to build a new Jewish neighborhood in Hebron, to collect the bodies of Palestinians killed launching attacks along the Gaza-Israel border for use as bargaining chips and to release from administrative detention a member of the Hilltop Youth who threw rocks at a car and injured the Palestinian driving it. Bennett gives back to extremist right-wing activists and weakens security system in the field, complained an unnamed senior member of the Shin Bet according to a Feb.12 news report.

Since the novel coronavirus outbreak, however, Bennett has proved that when he puts his political agenda aside and stops trying to accumulate likes on social media, he can be creative, determined and effective in using the militarys human and technological capabilities to achieve important national objectives. As defense minister, Bennett is in charge of the largest organizational machine in all of Israel. As an organization, the Israel Defense Forces rarely suffers from budget shortages. Within this context, Bennett has been shrewd enough to take advantage of the fact that over the years, successive government have disgracefully abandoned the Ministry of Health.

A report by the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel released last July revealed the number of hospital beds in Israel to be extremely low compared to that in other OECD member states. Israel has 2.2 general care hospital beds per 1,000 residents while other members have 3.6. The nations of Europe have 4.1 beds per thousand. This is just one example of how the Israeli health care system has been neglected. It also suffers from a constant shortage of medical equipment and staff. When it emerged that Israel was unprepared to conduct sufficient numbers of coronavirus tests, and it looked like the right hand had no idea what the left hand was doing, the minister of defense climbed to the top of the hill and yelled as loud as he could that the number of tests should be increased dramatically to stem the spread of the virus.

On April 1, Bennett demanded unequivocally that he be given extensive powers to deal with the crisis. He knows that the defense establishment has the best organizational apparatus in Israel and that full advantage should be taken of it in times of emergency. The Ministry of Health has no real expertise in crisis management, he said. Managing tens of thousands of tests per day is not something they could do. If management of the coronavirus crisis is not transferred to the defense establishment immediately, we will not be able to return to normal! Ive been soft-spoken about it until now, but its a matter of life and death!

The enormous energy that Bennett has invested over the past few days to warn about blunders, deficiencies, and complacency within the emergency response system was met with scorn from Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has never hidden his animosity toward Bennett. When it comes to the rifts between Netanyahu, who wants to be seen as Israels National Defender of Health, and the unappreciated defense minister, Bennett has an important if not vital advantage: Once Bennett puts aside his settler-oriented political agenda, he is a person who gets things done. He thinks outside the box and is familiar with the rigid system. So, for example, he knows how to take advantage of the Research Department of Israeli Military Intelligence.

The Research Department is charged with analyzing information collected by the intelligence agencies operating on different fronts. Some of the best minds in Israeli intelligence head the department. They are the ones who provide the most up-to-date status reports to the defense establishment in general and decision-makers in particular. These include warnings and threats against Israel now and in the future. Bennett has put this system at the disposal of the health care system to help it collect and analyze data from other countries also dealing with the coronavirus. The working assumption is that people in intelligence have the ability and means to sift through data and respond to the queries of senior staff in the health care system.

This inter-ministerial cooperation was revealed by an army spokesperson not only to win the military admiration, but also to signal to the political leadership that the well-greased defense system has a lot to offer. The military can and does contribute well beyond deploying soldiers to patrol the streets to help the police enforce closure orders in towns and cities.

An unidentified senior officer in the Research Department who spoke to Ynet explained the advantages of using the Research Department. The leaders of the health system came and told us that they were used to waiting a month, a month and a half even, for an answer to their queries, but when they asked us, we gave them an answer in ten minutes. He went on to say that a joint center for the Ministry of Health and Military Intelligence had been set up in Sheba Hospital and is now operating as a war room in the battle against the coronavirus.

Last month frequent criticism was voiced about Israels readiness to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions about preparedness and neglect of the health care system are asked all the time, but overall, Israel appears to have prepared itself better than many other developed countries. Some of this can be attributed to Netanyahus rapid response to the crisis, regardless of whether he took advantage of the pandemic for his narrow political needs or acted because he was quick to grasp the pandemics full scope and intensity. Just as Netanyahu was able to transform himself from Mr. Security to Mr. Health, so did the man he scorns, Defense Minister Bennett.

Now that Health Minister Yaakov Litzman has been diagnosed with the coronavirus and is under quarantine in his home, Bennett has another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove that he is a serious, efficient and creative minister and not just a lackey of his settler voter base.
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What happens when 130 crore Indians switch off lights in their homes, together?

That's the question that engineers in India's power sector are now grappling with, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the nation to do so, in solidarity amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

"It's like suddenly putting a brake of a car in motion, or suddenly pushing the accelerator to the floor...it is difficult to predict how the car will exactly behave. It is the same predicament, but much more complicated, that we all are facing," said a senior executive from the power sector.

According to industry executives, they have two days time to plan for those nine minutes. "It is a challenge, and something unprecedented. But it is possible," said another executive from the industry.

To clearly understand the challenge, one needs to know how the power sector functions.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

How you get electricity?

Three important stakeholders come to play to ensure electricity reaches our homes - power generators like Tata Power and NTPC; the distribution companies that each state has; and finally the state load dispatch centres, or SLDCs, who play a critical role in matching the supply, with demand of power.

"It's like you have the aircraft, airport and the ATC. The SLDC functions like the ATC, which ensures aircraft take off and land smoothly and without any delay," explained Gopal Jain, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, and advises on regulatory and policy matters

Like the ATC, the SLDC coordinates between generators and distributors to decide how much power is supplied into the grid. A day is divided into 96 time blocks of 15 minutes each, and the SLDC in each state prepares a schedule of demand and supply for every block.

"It is a highly automated and scientific process," added Sitesh Mukherjee, a lawyer specialising in infrastructure regulatory disputes.

SLDC has a very critical role. It has to ensure that the frequency of power that runs in the power grid lines should be between 48.5 and 51.5 hertz.

"If it goes too high (when the supply is too high) or too low (when the demand goes haywire), then lines can trip, leading to outages," he said.

Something similar to what happened in the 2012 blackout - the biggest in the world - when a sudden surge in demand led to tripping and almost 600 million Indians went without electricity.

Controlling supply

On April 5, instead of demand, the danger is of supply surging and disrupting the frequency when Indians switch off lights all at once at 9 pm. This could trip the line, and lead to a blackout.

But, assure senior engineers in the sector, it can be handled as they have the time to plan.

The critical part is to manage the supply.

Track this blog for latest updates on coronavirus outbreak

India gets power from different sources - thermal, hydel, gas, wind and solar. Which of these sources can be adjusted to reduce the supply?

"Solar doesn't generate in the night. Wind is continuous and can't be stopped. But it is possible to completely shut down a hydel and gas plant," said an engineer. And it is not a herculean task to restart a hydel or gas plant.

Not so with a thermal plant. "It can take hours to restart a thermal plant," said an executive.

Fortunately, because of the coronavirus impact, thermal plants are already running on low capacity. At the same time, they can't be shut completely to reduce the supply on April 5. What they can do is to keep capacity utilisation at the lowest for those nine minutes on Sunday.

"From the moment the Prime Minister made the announcement, the stakeholders - power generators, DISCOMs and SLDCs - have started planning for Sunday," said one of the senior executives quoted above.

Nine minutes

The nine minutes are a challenge because it doesn't constitute a time block of 15 minutes, and the sophisticated systems can't be re-configured at a short notice.

What will help the industry is that on April 5, it will be only the lights that will go off. "People won't switch off fans or air conditioners. Also, street lights and those in other public places will be on. Moreover, there will be some percentage of people who will forget to switch off!" says an engineer.

Executives in the industry expect the fluctuation to be of about 9-10 percent of the total power requirement. "It is not very high. At the same time, adjusting the electricity supply won't be easy. It is a challenge, says an executive.

Particularly challenging could be the 10th minute, when everyone probably will put on the lights again. Will the supply meet the sudden spurt in demand?

"It will be interesting to know," is how one executive put it.

With inputs from Jitendra Gupa
Utilties stocks were trading in the positive zone, with the S&P BSE Utilities index rising 10.21 points or 0.79% at 1302 at 09:52 IST.

Among the components of the S&P BSE Utilities index, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (up 5%), Rattanindia Power Ltd (up 5%),Reliance Power Ltd (up 4.69%),Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd (up 4.41%),GAIL (India) Ltd (up 3.43%), were the top gainers. Among the other gainers were A2Z Infra Engineering Ltd (up 3.22%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (up 2.66%), GE T&D India Ltd (up 1.13%), Indian Energy Exchange Ltd (up 1.08%), and GVK Power & Infrastructure Ltd (up 0.45%).

On the other hand, Gujarat Industries Power Co Ltd (down 2.63%), BF Utilities Ltd (down 2.34%), and Nava Bharat Ventures Ltd (down 2.17%) moved lower.

At 09:52 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 181.77 or 0.64% at 28083.54.

The Nifty 50 index was down 55.65 points or 0.67% at 8198.15.

The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 72.24 points or 0.76% at 9434.67.

The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was down 22.81 points or 0.68% at 3343.72.

On BSE,607 shares were trading in green, 734 were trading in red and 93 were unchanged.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two months before the novel coronavirus is thought to have begun its deadly advance in Wuhan, China, the Trump administration ended a $200-million pandemic early-warning program aimed at training scientists in China and other countries to detect and respond to such a threat.

The project, launched by the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2009, identified 1,200 different viruses that had the potential to erupt into pandemics, including more than 160 novel coronaviruses. The initiative, called PREDICT, also trained and supported staff in 60 foreign laboratories  including the Wuhan lab that identified SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Field work ceased when the funding ran out in September, and organizations that worked on the PREDICT program laid off dozens of scientists and analysts, said Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, a key player in the program.

On Wednesday, USAID granted an emergency extension to the program, issuing $2.26 million over the next six months to send experts who will help foreign labs squelch the pandemic. But program leaders say the funding will do little to further the initiative's original mission.

Look at the name: Our efforts were to predict this before it happens. Thats the part of the program that was exciting  and thats the part Im worried about, Daszak said.

It's absolutely critical that we dont drop the idea of a large-scale, proactive, predictive program that tries to catch pandemics before they happen. Cutting a program that could in any way reduce the risk of things like COVID-19 happening again is, by any measure, shortsighted," he added.

It is unclear whether another five-year grant would have dulled the impact of the current pandemic. But the Trump administration has come under increased criticism for its past moves to downgrade global health security, including proposals to slash funding to science agencies and the elimination of the National Security Council's key global health post.

Story continues

A spokesman for USAID said PREDICT was just one component of USAIDs global health security efforts and accounted for less than 20% of our global health security funding. He also said a new initiative to stop the spillover of viruses from animals to humans is scheduled to be awarded in August.

The PREDICT project, which operated on two five-year funding cycles that formally concluded last September, enrolled both epidemiologists and wildlife veterinarians to examine the types of interactions between animals and humans that researchers suspect led to the current outbreak of COVID-19.

The pandemic "didnt surprise us, unfortunately, said Jonna Mazet, executive director of the One Health Institute in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, who served as the global director of PREDICT for a decade. The work had been ongoing for some time. And when the crisis hits, everybody stands up and takes notice and says, OK, we believe you.

The PREDICT project, launched in response to the 2005 H5N1 "bird flu" scare, gathered specimens from more than 10,000 bats and 2,000 other mammals in search of dangerous viruses. They detected about 1,200 viruses that could spread from wild animals to humans, signaling pandemic potential. More than 160 of them were novel coronaviruses, much like SARS-CoV-2.

They also took blood samples from people in rural China, and learned that, in living among wildlife, they had been exposed to coronaviruses  a clear sign that, if those viruses spread easily among humans, they could take off. That raised the red flag, said Mazet.

Coronaviruses were jumping easily across species lines and were ones to watch for epidemics and pandemics, she said.

The program also trained nearly 7,000 people across medical and agricultural sectors in 30 countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East to help them detect deadly new viruses on their own. One of those labs was the Wuhan Institute of Virology  the Chinese lab that quickly identified SARS-CoV-2, Mazet said.

The Wuhan lab received USAID funding for equipment, and PREDICT coordinators connected the scientists there with researchers in other countries in order to synchronize tracking of novel viruses before SARS-CoV-2.

The project's second funding cycle concluded on Sept. 30, 2019, less than two months before the new coronavirus probably began spreading. It was granted a zero-dollar six-month extension  through March 2020  to write up final reports.

Dennis Carroll, a widely respected scientist who headed USAIDs emerging threats division, oversaw the initiative for its duration, but retired around the time it was shut down. Carroll did not respond to an inquiry from The Times, but told the New York Times last year that by January 2019, the program had "essentially collapsed into hibernation," and that its conclusion was due to "the ascension of risk-averse bureaucrats."

Other members of the consortium included Columbia Universitys Center for Infection and Immunity and several institutes that manage major U.S. zoos.

Earlier this year, as COVID-19 took off, U.S. lawmakers expressed frustration over the program's end.

Addressing and preventing the spread of coronavirus and potential pandemic disease outbreaks is a serious matter that requires adequate resources for and cooperation between experts throughout the federal government, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Angus King wrote in a letter to USAID's administrator earlier this year, asking for details on the decision.

On Wednesday, the PREDICT program was extended through September to offer emergency technical assistance to foreign labs battling the coronavirus pandemic. To date, PREDICT-supported labs in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are actively testing for coronavirus cases, Daszak said, and he has been sending reagents and other supplies to assist them.

Meanwhile, in Rwanda, scientists who had been trained in the PREDICT program triggered early social distancing measures, Mazet said. I do think that what we were doing has changed the outcomes for a lot of countries, she said.

But unfortunately, not our own," she added.

Daszak said hes eager to further examine the hundreds of wildlife samples collected during the PREDICT initiative over the years, looking to identify whether any of them could have been intermediate hosts for the virus currently sweeping the globe.

But with the limited budget and timeline, efforts to continue in-depth field work under PREDICT will be minimal. Most of the extension funding will be focused on squelching the current outbreak, not preventing the next.

Its common sense to know your enemy, Daszak said. "Instead, were all hiding inside our houses as we wait around for a vaccine  thats not a good global strategy to battling a dangerous virus."
Despite the potential for the coronavirus to ravage prison populations, President Donald Trump said he disagreed with allowing prisoners to go free and said hed look into options to prevent state and local authorities from making those decisions.

During a press conference on Thursday, Mr Trump said he and his staff were examining whether he has the powers to stop state and local officials from releasing prisoners in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus through prison populations.

Across the country, officials have made the decision to release non-violent offenders and prisoners whose release dates are in the near future.

California is preparing to release 3,500 inmates early. The Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has already freed 1,700 inmates - all of whom had been imprisoned for nonviolent misdemeanours.

Last week, New Jersey released 1,000 inmates, and more than 600 were released from Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh.

But some states are letting people out of prison, some people are getting out that are very serious criminals in some states, and I dont like that, I dont like it, Mr Trump said. We dont like it, the people dont like it and were looking to see if I have the right to stop it in some cases.

Mr Trump did not clarify what he meant by serious criminals nor did he cite exactly who he was referring to who dont like it.

Thus far, all prisoner releases have been nonviolent offenders.

Mr Trump also seemed to take exception to the idea that inmates are a vulnerable population, and suggested they would fare better against the virus due to their age.

Well theres vulnerable and then theres close together, really, Mr Trump said. I cant tell you about age, but a lot of young people in prison.

Nearly 40 percent of coronavirus patients who become hospitalised are aged 20 to 54, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In New York City, one in four hospitalised patients were between the ages of 18 and 49.

The rationale behind releasing inmates is to prevent catastrophic spread of the virus through the prison population, which would add to the strain on medical resources and personnel already facing hospitals as the number of infected individuals climbs across the country.

Speaking with The New York Times, Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, said our jails are petri dishes.

He speaks from personal experience; last week, the Cook County jail in Chicago had two inmates who tested positive for coronavirus. On Sunday, that number had grown to 101 inmates and a dozen employees.

The cramped cells and prohibition of hand sanitiser means that even the most basic protective actions are unavailable to prisoners, making the potential for a mass viral spread enormous.

Health experts, lawyers and some prosecutors are concerned that the drive to release inmates to help slow the spread is moving too slowly.
Teachers have been told to submit 'fair and carefully considered' GCSE and A-Level grades after coronavirus cancelled all exams - but the regulator has warned it will clamp down on over generous marking

Schools have been shut since March 20 and the exam season has been cancelled, leaving teachers to decide their pupils' grades based on classwork and previous results.

But any grades deemed too severe or generous will be changed, Ofqual warned, setting out early criteria for a model it will use to judge schools' decisions.

A statement from England's exams regulator said: 'If grading judgements in some schools and colleges appear to be more severe or generous than others, exam boards will adjust the grades of some or all of those students upwards or downwards accordingly.'

Exams were called off last month after the coronavirus pandemic put Britain into lockdown. Teachers will now decide their pupils' grades, but marks could be changed if schools are judged to be too harsh or lenient

Most schools have been shut since March 20, three days before the country went into lockdown to try and slow the spread of coronavirus.

How will Ofqual assess each school's grades? Schools are being asked to grade their pupils based on key areas such as classwork, previous exam results, attainment and performance for lessons such as PE or dance. Once those exam results are sent off, Ofqual is going to use a standardisation model to test the results' validity and make sure schools are not being too harsh or generous. The model is not complete, but factors expected to be included are: Expected national outcomes for this year's students at A-Level and GCSE

Prior attainment of students at each school. This would be year-wide rather than individual

The results of the school or college in recent years Ofqual says it will not change the order schools rank each student, 'nor will it assume that the distribution of grades in each subject or centre should be the same.' Advertisement

With exam season now looming, many teenagers are concerned about what will happen to their GCSE, AS and A Level results.

Exam boards will be contacting schools and colleges after Easter to ask them to submit their judgments by a deadline no earlier than May 29.

To decide their grades, teachers must look through previous exam results, classwork and attainment of each pupil. Schools then have to rank each pupils likelihood of achieving their assigned grade.

Ofqual is working on a standardisation model to assess each school's grades, which it expects will look at evidence such as expected national outcomes, the prior attainment of students at each school and college, and the results of the school or college in recent years.

Schools must not share these grades with students and parents until final results are issued. It is hoped pupils will receive their grades before the pre-planned results days in August.

Ofqual chief regulator Sally Collier said: 'School or college-based assessment already has an important role in many GCSEs, AS and A-levels, and in extraordinary circumstances such as these schools and colleges are best-placed to judge the likely performance of their students at the end of the course.

Sally Collier, Ofqual's chief regulator, says students have been reassured that their grades will be fair and that cancelled exams will not put them at a disadvantage while head to sixth form or university

'We have worked closely with the teaching profession to ensure that what we are asking is both appropriate and manageable, so that everyone can have confidence in the approach.'

Pupils previously took to Twitter under the hashtag #SchoolclosuresUK to share their frustrations, with some afraid that poor relationships with teachers could affect their final mark.

She added: "We have published a message to students to reassure them that we, and exam boards, will do everything we can to make sure that, as far as possible, grades are fair and that they are not disadvantaged in their progress to sixth form, college, university, apprenticeships, training or work because of these unprecedented conditions."

On Friday, Ofqual said teachers' judgments on grades should take into account a full range of evidence - including classwork, non-exam assessment, mock exams or previous results.

Students will also have the opportunity to sit exams at the earliest opportunity in the new academic year.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: 'Cancelling this summer's exams was a necessary step to help fight the spread of coronavirus by asking people to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, pictured in the House of Commons on March 18, assured students that 'grades award this summer will be as valid this year as any other'

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), says grades will be 'determined by the professionals who know them best'

'Despite the difficult circumstances we are facing, this guidance provides assurance to students, parents and schools that grades awarded this summer will accurately reflect students' abilities, and will be as valid this year as any other."

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said: 'Many schools, colleges and their students will have been anxiously awaiting this information and whilst there is not a perfect solution, this is pragmatic and the fairest approach to take in these exceptional circumstances.

'Of course, this is not a seamless solution. Students will have been expecting to go through a very different process.

'However, their grades will now be determined by the professionals who know them best; professionals who are well-equipped to make these judgements, and we hope that gives students confidence that they are in safe hands.

'Where pupils are not content, appeals are possible and autumn exams are being discussed.'
Although more than 10 million U.S. workers have applied for unemployment over the last two weeks, the situation is likely going to get a lot worse.

Bank of America's research team recently released a report that suggests as many as 20 million jobs could be lost because of the coronavirus pandemic, sending the unemployment rate past 15%. In addition, the research team now thinks U.S. GDP could contract for three straight quarters, resulting in a total decline of 10.4%.

Just a few months ago, unemployment in the U.S. was below 4% and the Bank of America research team was projecting U.S. GDP growth of about 2% for the year.

"This will be the deepest recession on record, nearly five times more severe than the post-war average," Bank of America economist Michelle Meyer wrote in a research note, adding that while consumer spending should improve in the third quarter, "we expect further contraction in business and residential investment."

Bank of America said it expects to see that first-quarter GDP shrank by 7%, and forecasts that second-quarter GDP will decline by 30%, followed by a relatively gentler 1% decline in the third quarter.

"The pain is unlikely to subside quickly as many states have reported major backlogs of [unemployment] applications," Meyer wrote.

The $2 trillion stimulus bill recently passed by Congress to help cushion the economic blow of shelter-in-place orders and business shutdowns was the third major piece of legislation enacted in response to this crisis, and it may not be the last.

Meyer speculated that future federal aid efforts could include additional tax rebates, the expansion of unemployment benefits, and more funding for small businesses.

"Beyond that, other stimulative measures such as a payroll tax cut or a major infrastructure bill could be needed to resuscitate the economy," she added.
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A quantity surveyor who has raked in a fortune over 30 years by swindling home builders has been jailed for 18 months for his latest scam.

Paul Parmar, 52, charmed his way into a succession of jobs at building firms, offering fake references and hiding his criminal past before siphoning off cash.

Isleworth crown court heard Parmar has an appalling criminal record stretching back to the late Eighties of almost identical scams on different companies and victims. He was jailed for six years in 2004 for a 1.5 million fraud on a collection of London building firms and given another six-year term in 2018 for a 100,000 scam.

Appearing at court this week from prison, Parmar was jailed for swindling a home builder of 40,000 and cheating a friends parents-in-law out of 5,000.

Prosecutor Aimee Emby said Parmar landed his latest job with W11 Construction as a senior quantity surveyor in July 2017, adding: He submitted a CV with a number of falsified references.

Parmars past caught up with him in November 2017 when firm owner Andrew Jackson learned of his convictions and an internal probe revealed he had paid 41,289 into his own bank account instead of to subcontractors.
Maharashtra did not record any fresh coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive case on Friday morning, as the overall tally of the infected people stood at 423, including 20 deaths.

On Thursday, 88 new Covid-19 positive cases were recorded of which 54 were in Mumbai and 11 in Pune.

The state health department authorities said that the latest tally included cases that were diagnosed by private laboratories over the past few days.

The spike in cases, which has been largely attributed to the Tablighi Jamaats international congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi between March 13 and 15, has forced the state government to ramp up its preventive measures. The government has urged all districts and civic authorities to identify hotspots and containment areas across the state and proactively search for the Jamaat attendees.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said that up to 1,400 people have been traced, who had links to the Jamaat meet. We have traced the Jamaat attendees in their respective districts after we received a comprehensive list from the central government. Weve all their details, and also all those people who came in contact with them, the minister said.

In Mumbai, the civic administration has traced 105 of the 127 people, who attended the Nizamuddin event, and quarantined them.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities have circulated a ward-wise list to all its ward officers to track the 127 people. A search operation is on trace the remaining 22 missing people, said a senior BMC official. The civic body has sealed 212 containment zones and put them under closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance, as Mumbai has emerged as the epicentre of Covid-19 outbreak in Maharashtra.

In a video-conference meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi held on Thursday, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray apprised him about the decisions being taken by the state government. Modi has hinted at not extending the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown, which started on March 25.

The PM also suggested that the lockdown can be lifted in a phased manner.

Maharashtra has set up 30 new hospitals dedicated to Covid-19 patients that have a total bed capacity of 2,305 to prevent the viral outbreak.

The state government also plans to start random antibody tests to ascertain the number of Covid-19 positive cases. Tope said the Centre has approved the proposal to entrust both state government and private agencies to carry out random antibody tests under the watch of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Each antibody test could cost up to Rs 400.

On Friday morning, there was a surge of consumers at vegetable markets and grocery shops. Tope hinted that the government is planning to keep the markets and shops open on alternate days in a bid to reduce crowds at these places.
By Online Desk

Pitching for efforts on a war footing to identify and isolate COVID-19 hotspots, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hinted at a "staggered" exit from the ongoing lockdown after the 21-day period ends on April 14 while the nationwide tally of confirmed cases of the deadly virus infection rose by more than 500 to cross 2,500 with at least 76 deaths.

Meanwhile, many new cases of coronavirus infections have been reported across the country, which witnessed a spike in the confirmed cases tally. The death toll now stands at 53 according to the health ministry. Exactly 2069 positive cases have been reported so far.

Over 150 people have recovered from the pandemic and been sent home from hospitals.

On the other hand, the World Bank on Thursday approved USD 1-billion emergency financing for India to tackle the outbreak.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 3, 2020 - 15:08 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japanese local governments have been advised to help people with mild coronavirus symptoms recover at home or hotels, the health ministry said Friday.

The request is aimed at saving hospital beds for more severe cases amid a recent surge in the number of new infections, especially in Tokyo and other urban areas.

The ministry asked prefectural governments across the country on Thursday to consider securing hotels or preparing facilities to accept patients infected with the virus but who show only mild symptoms.

Each local government can determine what measures to take, according to the ministry.

Under the infectious diseases law, patients in Japan should in principle be hospitalized, regardless of the severity of their symptoms. But the government wishes to avoid putting too much strain on hospitals as the epidemic gathers pace.

The ministry has also relaxed conditions for COVID-19 patients to be discharged from hospitals, allowing them to leave two days after their symptoms are gone if they test negative twice. The period was shortened from two and a half days.

Patients with higher risks of developing severe symptoms such as the elderly, pregnant women and people with underlying medical problems are excluded from those subject to treatment at home or hotels, the ministry said.

Local municipalities will rent the hotels, with costs to be incorporated in the central government's emergency economic package to be funded by a fiscal 2020 supplementary budget.

Among patients with mild symptoms, people who have elderly family members as well as hospital or nursing staff in their families will have the priority to use the hotels.

Medical staff will be deployed at the hotels to take quarantine measures, disinfect toilets, provide food and other livelihood support.

The Tokyo metropolitan government is already negotiating with several hotels to accommodate patients with mild symptoms, sources close to the matter said.

"We are promptly securing places for recuperation at this moment. We want to create an environment for the people to feel safe," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said to reporters.
Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 26F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 26F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Cloudy. High 38F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Twitter said on Thursday it has removed thousands of accounts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Honduras, Indonesia and Serbia that allegedly took direction from governments or pushed pro-government content. "We removed 2,541 accounts in an Egypt-based network, known as the El Fagr network," the San Francisco-based tech firm posted in a series of tweets.

"The media group created inauthentic accounts to amplify messaging critical of Iran, Qatar and Turkey. Information we gained externally indicates it was taking direction from the Egyptian government." El Fagr's online managing editor Mina Salah vehemently pushed back.

'We're merely defending our country'

"Yes we are loyal to the state but we don't receive instructions from anyone. We're merely defending our country and its position is clear vis-a-vis Iran, Qatar and Turkey," he told news agency AFP. He said Twitter was effectively censoring the newspaper's content and that journalists were banned from even creating new personal accounts.

The platform also deleted 5,350 accounts from regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia for "amplifying content praising Saudi leadership, and critical of Qatar and Turkish activity in Yemen". Rights groups have accused the conservative kingdom of spying on dissidents and critical online users on Twitter.

READ | Nizamuddin Markaz: Delhi Police sends fresh notice to Maulana Saad, six others

The Saudi-linked accounts were run out of the kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, where Twitter's Middle East headquarters is based, as well as Egypt.

READ | PM Modi urges spiritual leaders to mobilise people of all faiths to fight COVID-19

After an internal investigation, Twitter also removed clusters of accounts in Honduras allegedly propagating pro-government content, in Serbia promoting the "ruling party and its leader" and Indonesian accounts pushing information targeting the West Papuan independence movement.

READ | COVID-19: Maharashtra registers 88 new cases propelling tally to 423, amid 21 casualties

Earlier this week, it removed two of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's tweets questioning quarantine measures aimed at containing the novel coronavirus on the grounds that they violated the social network's rules.

READ | Saudi Arabia imposes 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina to restrict COVID-19 transmission
The grandson and adult daughter of former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend went missing after the pair's canoe apparently capsized in the Chesapeake Bay, authorities said Friday.

Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and her 8-year-old son Gideon were canoeing in Anne Arundel, Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan told reporters on Friday, adding that the search was ongoing.

Gideon, the son of Maeve Kennedy McKean, as he watched Stephen Curry and Dr. Fauci on March 26, 2020. (Maeve Kennedy McKean / via Twitter)

The potential tragedy unfolded late Thursday afternoon in waters near the pair's Shady Side, Maryland home, about 25 miles south of Annapolis, officials said.

"I have some other sad news to share," Gov. Larry Hogan told reporters. "Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's daughter, Maeve, and her 8-year-old grandson Gideon went missing after canoeing yesterday afternoon on the south river here in Anne Arundel. An intensive search has been underway since late yesterday."

Hogan added: "I reached out to and spoke with Lt. Gov. Townsend this morning and on behalf of the people of Maryland I expressed our most heartfelt sympathies and prayers to her and to her entire family during this difficult time."

A Maryland Department of Natural Resources statement said a preliminary investigation "revealed that the pair may have been paddling the canoe from a residence in Shady Side, MD out into the bay to retrieve a ball and were unable to paddle back to shore."

An overturned canoe, approximately matching the description the pair were in, was later found, the department said.

Arlington National Cemetery Hosts Remembrance Honoring the Life & Legacy of Robert F. Kennedy (Leigh Vogel / Getty Images for RFK Human Rights)

Rescuers from the Natural Resources Police, Maryland State Police, U.S. Coast Guard and local police and fire departments continued their search on Friday, officials said.

Kennedy Townsend comes from one of the most famous political clans in U.S. history. Sheas the oldest daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and niece of former President John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy.

She served two terms of lieutenant governor of Maryland.

Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean is executive director of Georgetown University's Global Health Initiative.

The missing woman got into a very public spat last year with her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., over his son's skepticism of vaccines. She, her mother and former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II penned a tough editorial taking Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to task.

"He helped to spread dangerous misinformation and is complicit in sowing distrust of the science behind vaccines," they wrote. "We love Bobby. However, on vaccines he is wrong."
Philippines holds training on preparation of unified fisheries ordinance

April 03,2020 | Source: PIA

With an aim to formulate a unified fisheries ordinance in each municipality in Dinagat Islands and to strengthen partnership and coordination with local governments to address the occurrence of illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing (IUUF), a training was conducted recently by the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Natural Resources (DA-BFAR) Caraga led by regional director Visa Tan- Dimerin and its Regional Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division (FMRED), in coordination with the Provincial Government Office of Dinagat Islands held on March 4 to 6 at the Provincial Governor's Conference Hall in San Jose, Province of Dinagat Islands.



It was attended by the local chief executives, vice mayors, Sangguniang Bayan chairperson on agriculture, municipal agriculturists, agricultural technologists for fisheries, municipal environment and natural resource officers together with representatives from the Provincial Agriculture Office and BFAR Provincial Fisheries Office.



Provincial Agriculturist Oswaldo T. Borja, in his message, reminded the participants of the local government units' (LGUs') responsibility as cited in the Section 16 of the Philippine Fisheries Code as amended by RA 10654, which states that the municipal government shall have the jurisdiction over municipal waters. LGUs shall be responsible for the protection, for the conservation, for the management and utilization of all fishery and aquatic resources within municipal waters.



"Let us be united, let us continue working together, let us continue our battlecry - which is to deter and totally eliminate the illegal fishing activities in our province," Borja said.



As one of the resource speakers, Atty. Asis G. Perez, former BFAR national director and currently the Senior Adviser of Tanggol Kalikasan, facilitated the identification of the activities in the respective municipal waters that the community wants to allow but has to be regulated as initial step in the formulation of their respective unified fisheries ordinances.



Perez emphasized that municipal fisheries ordinances, to be unified, should be consistent and complementary with each other.



"It is very important that you have this level of coordination so that the ordinances that you have are consistent with the others," said Perez.



The status of the fisheries resource in Dinagat Islands with notes from Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 8 was also reported by Joyce Baclayo, DA-BFAR National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP) project leader, in order for the local government units to have an overview of their resource.



Meanwhile, chief aquaculturist Sandra Victoria R. Arcamo of DA-BFAR Central Office discussed the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management wherein she emphasized that "conservation is finding a balance between ecological well-being and human well-being through good governance for future generations."



Arcamo also said that at least 15 percent of the total municipal waters should be set aside for marine protected areas (MPAs).



The legal framework for the delineation and delimitation of municipal waters and the importance of delineation and its methods and activities were also presented.



"As of February 29, 2020, we have delineated some 928 coastal cities and municipalities in the Philippines but only 311 are certified," said Engr. Mario A. Princer of the Maritime Affairs Division of the Department of Natural Resource and Environment - National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (DENR-NAMRIA), adding that part of the FOs should be the delineation of municipal waters as mandated by law.



Citing the crucial role of management plan in the establishment of MPAs, Rene Zaldy Porlaje BFAR's Fisheries Resource Management Division said that MPA management plan provides a direction, reduces the risk of uncertainties, and reduces overlapping and wasteful action. "It also promotes innovative ideas, facilitates decision-making, and establishes standards for controlling," Porlaje added.



The activities would be instrumental in the implementation of all fishery laws and regulations.



"Our efforts should not end in the enforcement alone. We need to look forward to the future of our aquatic resources, and that our direction should be to develop the fisheries industry in the province as our source of economic activities that will augment income and alleviate the quality of lives of our fisherfolk and communities," said Gov. Arlene "Kaka" J. Bag-ao.



Gov. Bag-ao clarified that the unified FOs does not mean a single fisheries ordinance for the entire province. It means that they have seven ordinances with similar provisions, in terms of enforcement and regulation, and definition of illegal fishing. It should also reflect the unique features of their respective municipalities, as these will be the bases for the development ofthe Provincial Coastal Resource Management Plans and Programs.



"After this, the next challenge is how we are going to design our capital investments. We just want to lay down the foundation of what type of capital and business we are going to embark on depending on the nature of your fishery ordinances and to that of your partnership with the fisherfolk. You protect, you earn - that will be our theoretical framework in the province," Gov. Bag-ao underscored.



Moreover, according to Deprtment of the iInterior and Local Government (DILG) provincial Director Domingo E. Bulabog the MC 2018-59 reiterates the existing national policy to ensure that LGUs must play an active role in coastal resource management (CRM), to hold them accountable to their action and inaction towards the monitoring and regulation of fisheries activities and serve as a reminder and ensure that the law is strictly enforced, followed and implemented.



It may be recalled that last year, the Regional Bureau held the Fisheries Law Enforcement Training for Local Chief Executives and Other Official in the same province.

 1999-2020 Malaysia Sun. All rights reserved.

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.
Toronto: Canadian public health officials are now reporting at least 10,132 cases of Covid-19 across the country and 127 deaths.

Officials stressed that the next two weeks will be crucial in determining the shape of the pandemic curve in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced questions Thursday about why modeling data had not yet been released in Canada, as the Trump administration has done in the US.
New Delhi, April 3 : Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, on Friday visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital in Delhi to take stock of the preparedness against the coronavirus pandemic in India.

"Our public health experts, including advisors in the Health Ministry and ICMR collectively worked as a team since the very first case was reported in China. That's why we are in a position to control this COVID-19 disease in India which has taken many countries in the world by storm," said Harsh Vardhan.

"The country will always be proud of your sacrifices. We will always remember your contribution in fighting against this pandemic," Harsh Vardhan told the healthcare workers there.

He said that it was a great opportunity to prove one's mettle. "Only in circumstances like these can we prove our calibre and worth. You have got an opportunity to be corona warriors. Take it as a blessing in disguise," said the Health Minister.

"It was 7 January when China had confirmed to WHO that a new strain of coronavirus had affected people there. On January 8, the Health Ministry had its first meeting of the group of technical experts in India. We started planning. On 17 January we had provided a detailed health advisory to all states. Later the travel advisories were expanded," the minister said.

He stressed on social distancing once again and said that the people of the country are cooperating in following it. "We will be successful in defeating coronavirus," he said.
"Without urgent action by the Governor and the Illinois Department of Corrections to drastically reduce Illinoiss prison population, the novel coronavirus is likely to spread not just inside the walls of Illinoiss 28 prisons, but throughout prison communities as well," it says.

The kind of social distancing that helps slow transmission of the virus is impossible in prison, with prisoners crowded into small cells, as well as sharing showers and toilets, the suit says. It says a lack of masks, gloves and other protective equipment for guards adds to the hazards.

According to the filing, more than 50 Illinois prisoners have tested positive for the coronavirus, with the actual number of infected likely far higher. Twenty-seven staff members, including 17 at Stateville prison in Joliet, have as well, according to the Department of Corrections.

Lawyers for civil-rights groups filed the 48-page lawsuit. It names Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, Rob Jeffreys, as defendants.
Life With Derek is a Disney Channel show that isnt on Disney+ because it is really a Canadian show that the network picked up. So when the series was trending on Twitter earlier this year, it wasnt because the show was now streaming, it was because fans were deeming a relationship on the show as incestuous and they were here for it. But was the relationship really considered incest?

Life With Derek actors Ashley Leggat, Michael Seater, Ariel Waller and Daniel Madger in 2009 | George Pimentel/WireImage

Life With Derek was a Canadian series that aired on Disney in the U.S.

Many people have mistakenly thought that Life With Derek was a show that was originally produced by Disney Channel. However, the network only had the American rights to the show.

The show was originally ordered by Family Channel in Canada. Disney Channel landed the rights to both Life With Derek and another Family Channel series, Naturally, Sadie.

The series, which followed a blended Canadian family ran for four seasons on the Family Channel and Disney Channel from 2005-2009. The series also had a television movie, Vacation with Derek, which debuted in 2010 on the Family Channel. The movie did not air on Disney and did not premiere in the U.S. until Starz debuted it in 2011.

Life With Derek starred Michael Seater, Ashley Leggat, Jordan Todosey Daniel Magder, Ariel Waller, Joy Tanner, and John Ralston as the blended McDonald-Venturi family. Seater (who was the titular Derek), Madger and Waller were the kids of George Venturi, played by Ralston. Leggat and Todosey were the kids of Nora McDonald Venturi, played by Tanner.

The Dasey relationship

Throughout the show, it was heavily hinted at the fact that there were romantic feelings between Derek and his step-sister Casey, portrayed by Leggat. Though they never became a couple, the bickering they did, which bordered on flirting, was a reoccurring theme on the show.

Leggat and Seater supported the relationship and said there wouldnt have been anything wrong if the two had gotten together on the show. In a 2016 interview, Leggat said, People cant get enough of Dasey and that it would be a natural progression for them to be together.

The show began trending on social media in January 2020 when tweets about the show having an incestuous relationship between siblings went viral. Someone tweeted, I saw life with derek trending and I thought it was either going on disney+ or getting rebooted only to find out that people are just now noticing the incest.

I saw life with derek trending and I thought it was either going on disney+ or getting rebooted only to find out that people are just now noticing the incest pic.twitter.com/fIySnq7uvH  stephanie (@imissdnpg) January 21, 2020

And while Derek and Casey being together wouldnt be technically incestuous because they arent blood-related, it still doesnt take away from the fact that they are siblings, biological or not.

When the show began trending a few months ago because of fans shipping Dasey, Leggat and Seater once again cosigned the pairing. Seater quote tweeted a remark about Dasey and said trailblazers.

I love the yearly nostalgic Life with Derek trend that happens. BTW I still go down with this ship. #LifeWithDerek #Dasey pic.twitter.com/mczL6TLUeC  Ashley Leggat (@AshleyLeggat) January 21, 2020

Leggat tweeted a photo of the two together in recent years, saying I love the yearly nostalgic Life with Derek trend that happens. BTW I still go down with this ship. #LifeWithDerek #Dasey.
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Critically-ill passengers have been rushed off a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship carrying hundreds of Britons and Americans as it finally docked in Florida after being turned away by 14 other countries.

Travelers were placed on stretchers and hurried to ambulances waiting on the quayside at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, by hazmat-clad medical staff before they were driven to hospitals nearby.

Four passengers on the MS Zaandam died during the cruise, including 75-year-old British passenger John Carter. His widow, 74, who is struggling to eat, has been quarantined on the ship in isolation. Two of those who died had tested positive for Covid-19.

As many as 13 tourists and one crew member have been taken to Broward Health Medical Centre with flu-like symptoms, reports Local10, while 45 passengers on the ship have been told to quarantine on board.

The ship was allowed to dock along with its sister, the MS Rotterdam, on Thursday after President Donald Trump intervened. They are carrying more than 200 Britons and 311 Americans.

There have been nine confirmed cases of coronavirus on the MS Zaandam and 250 passengers and crew have presented with flu-like symptoms. Those that are healthy were disembarked to the MS Rotterdam.

The 1,211 people on the ships who are healthy will be disembarked and driven to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport before they are flown home to San Francisco, London, Paris and other destinations.

A critically-ill passenger is rushed off the MS Zaandam by hazmat-clad medical workers and placed in an ambulance at Port Everglades, Port Lauderdale, yesterday. The ship was allowed to dock after being turned away by 14 countries

Remaining 1,211 passengers on board that feel well will be disembarked over the next two to three days and taken to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport for flights to their home countries. As many as 311 are American citizens

MS Zaandam and its sister ship MS Rotterdam were allowed to dock at the port after 27 days at sea

A black SUV with Covid-19 Essential Service was also spotted on the quayside at Port Everglades

An unwell passenger is moved from the MS Zaandam to a waiting ambulance in Port Everglades yesterday

As many as 45 people have been asked to quarantine on board. An unwell passenger is shown above after being offloaded

A second unwell passenger is taken by ambulance for treatment. Four passengers have died on board - two tested positive for coronavirus, which has caused a global shutdown

An unwell passenger is taken off the MS Zaandam yesterday evening before being transported to a hospital

Luggage taken off the ship will also be disinfected before it is returned to travelers for their journey home

The hazmat-clad group were pictured preparing the suitcases for disinfection before their journey back to home countries

Deaths from coronavirus in the US have continued to escalate since the outbreak began

Mr Carter's family desperately pleaded with President Trump to allow his widow to disembark on Thursday.

'She is struggling to eat the limited meals and is feeling unwell,' they said. 'She is obviously distressed and extremely frightened.

'They were both in good health and did not foresee the terrible situation that has arisen. John became unwell aboard the ship on March 22.'

Florida authorities have said that British nationals, and those from other countries, can fly back home. The British embassy in Florida said on Twitter it is 'celebrating the fact that British nationals on board will soon be going home'.

Disembarkation of international passengers begins today with 1,164 scheduled to depart for flights to Toronto, Atlanta, San Francisco, Paris, Frankfurt and London, reports Business Insider.

The first American passengers, who are Florida residents and are healthy, were allowed to disembark and drive home yesterday.

The remaining passengers on board will be disembarked on Saturday, the cruise liner said. They will be health screened by port authorities and cleared for entry by US Customs and Border Protection.

No crew from either ship will disembark.

The MS Zaadam began its voyage in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 and was due to disembark in San Antonio, Chile on March 21. However, the coronavirus outbreak forced the ship to veer more than 4,000 miles off course.

The MS Rotterdam had set off for a 15-day cruise from San Diego, California, to the Panama Canal on March 11. It was forced to veer more than 1,000 miles off course to reach Florida.

An ambulance pictured next to the MS Rotterdam cruise ship at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, yesterday before disembarkation

A passenger is moved by stretcher into an ambulance. They are being taken to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment

An unwell passenger is pictured being loaded into an ambulance by health workers before transport to a nearby hospital

A passenger gives a thumbs up to others on board as they are moved to an ambulance. Nine passengers on the MS Zaandam had tested positive for coronavirus

British passenger John Carter, 75, died on board the MS Zaandam after falling ill on March 22. His widow, who has not been allowed to disembark, is said to not be eating properly. Her family have pleaded for her to be allowed to return to the UK

The decks of the MS Zaandam this morning. Healthy passengers have been moved to the MS Rotterdam, with 45 people asked to quarantine themselves on board

Two people on the MS Zaandam wearing facemasks look out from its decks yesterday morning

Crew members on board the MS Zaandam as it docked at Port Everglades yesterday morning

In a statement yesterday, Holland America extended their 'sincere gratitude' to President Trump, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for helping to resolve the situation.

'These travelers could have been any one of us or our families, unexpectedly caught in the middle of this unprecedented closure of global borders that happened in a matter of days and without warning,' said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America.

'We are so happy to be able to get our guests home and assist those few who need additional medical services. The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our shared humanity, and we must do everything we can to ensure we continue to act in ways consistent with our common human dignity.

Thursday's deal comes after Trump urged DeSantis to drop his opposition to accepting the ships. The Governor has expressed concern that ill passengers will take hospital beds away from Florida's inhabitants who catch COVID-19.

The state is thought to be one of the country's next coronavirus hot spots, with confirmed cases of the virus surging there in recent days. Florida now has reported over 8,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and on Wednesday the state's death toll surged 16 per cent.

The MS Zaandam was turned away from docking at all South American ports.

The Zaandam is pictured arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Thursday. The coronavirus-stricken ship is carrying 1,045 passengers and crew

Land at last! The Zaandam is pictured making its way to port shortly before 5pm Eastern Time Thursday

The cruise liner made its way into the Port of Everglades just before 5pm, much to the relief of those on board

The MS Rotterdam is pictured pulling in to port after sister ship Zaandam. The boat is pictured off the coast of Florida ahead of its arrival in the city. 1,381 people are on board the ship

Passengers from the Rotterdam cheer as they head to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale

Rotterdam's staff members look on as they head to dock at Port Everglades Thursday afternoon

Rescue workers stand by the Zaandam ready to help sick passengers and crew off the ship

Canadian passengers Chris and Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the Zaandam on March 27

Holland America has now suspended all cruise operations for the next thirty days, extending a previous suspension begun on March 13. It is also aiming to end all cruises currently in progress as quickly as possible.

There were 808 guests and 583 crew on the MS Rotterdam and 442 guests and 603 crew a board the MS Zaandam.

Guests booked on cruises affected by cancellations have been offered a full refund.

PRESIDENT TRUMP INTERVENES: 'THEY'RE DYING, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING'

During Wednesday's White House press conference, Trump said of the cruise ships' passengers: 'They're dying, so we have to do something'.

'It's a tough situation, it's a tough situation. You can understand there are people who are sick on those ships and states don't wanna take them - they have enough problems right now they don't want to take them.

One 80-year-old passenger from San Francisco says he is disheartened by the fact that the U.S. has not been more helpful in their rescue attempts. 'Jesus Christ, people, this is not the Black Death. What kind of fragile people have we [America] become that we can't rise up to the challenge?' he stated via text message.

'But from a humane standpoint we don't have a choice. We have to... people are dying. We're going to do something.'

More than 236,000 Americans have contracted COVID-19, and more than 5,100 have died due to the virus.

Governor DeSantis said Wednesday that he was only interested accepting the 49 Floridians on board.

'My concern is simply that we have worked so hard to make sure we have adequate hospital space in the event of a COVID-19 surge that we wouldn't want those valuable beds to be taken because of the cruise ship,' he stated.

'Just to drop people off at the place where we're having the highest number of cases right now just doesn't make a whole lot of sense,' the Governor added.

On Wednesday, DeSantis issued a 'stay-at-home' order for residents of his state amid the exploding case numbers. He has been criticized for implementing the order too late - with critics

However, his reversal comes amid increasing pressure - not just from the President, but from other Florida politicians as well.

'It is immoral not to let them come. We need a plan, a healthcare plan, obviously to protect the citizens on the ground and make sure that we test everyone, put them in isolation if necessary,' Florida Representative Donna Shalala told CNN Thursday.

'We have to admit them, the sickest ones need to go to our hospitals, and, of course, the hospitals are crowded but we Americans don't turn people away.'

On Saturday evening, the Rotterdam took on nearly 1,400 people who appear to be healthy from the Zaandam.

The passengers were seen boarding lifeboats at the side of the Zaandam, before making their way across to the Rotterdam which was anchored close by.

After the exercise, 450 guests and 602 crew members remained on the Zaandam.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that that he was only interested accepting the 49 Floridians on board the cruise ships

During Wednesday's White House press conference, Trump said of the cruise ships' passengers: 'They're dying, so we have to do something'

Florida is one of the nation's coronavirus hot spots with deaths surging 16% Wednesday. DeSantis says he wants to keep hospital beds for locals

On Saturday, passengers were seen boarding lifeboats at the side of the Zaandam, before making their way across to the Rotterdam which was anchored close by

PASSENGERS BEG THE GOVERNMENT FOR HELP: 'GET US THE HELL OFF THIS SHIP!'

Passengers have been complaining about deteriorating conditions on board the vessels - with some say they feel imprisoned.

One 80-year-old passenger from San Francisco told The New York Times that he was disheartened by the fact that the U.S. has not been more helpful in the rescue attempts.

'Jesus Christ, people, this is not the Black Death. What kind of fragile people have we become that we can't rise up to the challenge?' he stated via text message.

Passenger Chris Joiner told Canadian broadcaster CBC he had asked the Canadian embassy in Chile for help, saying: 'Get us the hell off this ship.'

Toronto resident Michael Kasprow said he's worried about his elderly mother and her friend, both in their 80s, who are stuck onboard. 'We've seen what it can do on a cruise ship, and I just feel like they're sitting ducks,' he said.

Another couple spoke of their fears that, even once they dock, they may be stranded away from home due to escalating travel restrictions and flight bans.

'How will we get home from a port with flights diminishing by the day?' said Norma Kirkham, 63, from Victoria, Canada. 'Where will we stay?'

Canadian passenger Anna Joiner is pictured in her cabin onboard the MS Zaandam last week. Many passengers have complained they are 'imprisoned' on the vessels, and their chances of contracting coronavirus are growing by the day

CRUISE SHIP CHAOS: THOUSANDS STILL STUCK AT SEA Last Thursday, more than a dozen crew members from two Costa cruise ships were brought to shore in Miami, before being rushed to the hospital to be tested for coronavirus. Startling footage saw more than a dozen crew from the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica jump into lifeboats in order to reach mainland United States. The crew members wore hazmat suits and were inspected by medics once they arrived on dry land, and several ambulances were on standby to escort them to hospital. A company spokesperson said the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica are carrying a combined total of 1,939 crew, and there are at least 30 who have come down with a flu-like illness. The remaining crew from the two boats are still trapped on the vessels, which are anchored outside of Miami, a week on. The decision to bring in sick crew members divided the Miami community - with many claiming that resources should instead be going to locals, and not to overseas nationals from cruise ship companies. The decision to bring in sick crew members divided the Miami community - with many claiming that resources should instead be going to locals, and not to overseas nationals from cruise ship companies More than a dozen crew members from two Costa cruise ships were brought to shore in Miami, before being rushed onward to hospital to be tested for coronavirus Still stuck: There are 1,926 crew members who remain on board the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica, which are both anchored off the coast of Miami for more than a week. They have not been allowed to dock in the city Advertisement

CRUISE SHIPS AND CORONAVIRUS: OUTBREAKS ON BOARD THE VESSELS

The Zaandam set sail on a two-week voyage from Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 - 10 days before the company canceled all voyages over fears of an outbreak - and was due to arrive in Chile on March 21.

The ship had been granted permission to dock in Punta Arenas in Chile but when it arrived on March 14, permission was refused and passengers were prevented from leaving.

It stopped in Valparaiso, Chile, to take on more provisions and fuel but people were ordered to stay on board.

Carnival Cruises, the world's largest cruise operator which also jointly owns the Zaandam and Rotterdam ships, has said more than 6,000 passengers are still stuck at sea on board its ships.

Including the 2,000-plus on board the Zaandam and Rotterdam, Carnival's Costa Magica and Costa Favolosa are also stranded at sea near Miami amid negotiations with the US Coast Guard to evacuate passengers.

States and nations have been turning away ships after cases of coronavirus were confirmed on board.

Cruise ships have become particular hotbeds for the virus, with a number of liners being doomed by fatal outbreaks.

In the worst cruise ship crisis so far, 706 people tested positive on the Diamond Princess after Japanese authorities imposed a two-week lockdown in Yokohama.

At least seven people have died after they were taken to hospital from the doomed vessel.

Passengers were confined to their cabins during the lockdown but several countries eventually lost patience with Japan and airlifted their citizens home.

Japan was widely criticised for its handling of the ship, with one disease expert saying the quarantine was 'completely inadequate' after viewing the conditions on board.

Japan had initially impounded the ship after a passenger who left the ship in Hong Kong in January subsequently tested positive.

Weeks later another Caribbean Princess ship was struck by an outbreak, when two passengers and 19 crew members on the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus in early March.

The ship docked in Oakland, California, on March 9 with 3,500 on board and people were repatriated and sent to army bases for quarantine.
LONDON, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Market and Volume Forecasts by Design Type (Plate Bar, Tube Fin and Others), by Applications (Radiators, Inter-Coolers, Oil Coolers, Air Conditioning and Others), by Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles and Heavy commercial Vehicles) with Regional and National Market Analysis and Financial Analysis of Leading Companies

The global market for automotive heat exchanger is expected to grow with the healthy CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period from 2020-2030. The global market is valued at $19.3 billion in 2019 and has the potential to reach $64.4 billion by the end of forecast period of 2030. Increasing vehicle demand globally, increasing aftermarket for automotive components, and technological advancement by OEMs; are the major factors contributing in the growth of automotive heat exchanger market.

A heat exchanger is a mechanism used between two or more fluids to transfer heat. In both cooling and heating processes, heat exchangers are used. In order to avoid mixing, the liquids can be segregated by a strong wall or they may be in direct contact. The primary challenge in this industry is to improve the design complexity of automotive heat exchangers, which affects the OEM's profit margin, causing them to generate heat exchangers at low competitive rates. Despite the presence of the difficulties, the industry is experiencing several dynamics in the making of automotive heat exchangers, such as enhanced acceptance of lightweight products. Furthermore, the enforcement of stringent emission standards in European and North American countries has led in OEMs pushing for techniques that help meet the standards.

By vehicle type, passenger cars segment is the major market for heat exchanger and acquired largest share in 2019. It is anticipated that the increasing demand for passenger cars and technological advancements in vehicles will expected to drive market growth in this segment. Also, healthy growth in production and consumption of passenger cars especially in APAC region is further expected to fuel the demand of heat exchanger.

Download samples here:

https://www.visiongain.com/report/automotive-heat-exchanger-market-report-2020-2030/download_sampe_div

Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing market for automotive heat exchanger owing to the largest producer and consumer of vehicles. Presence of major developing economies such as China and India which offers exponential growth for automotive production as well as demand is the prime factor contributing in being major market for automotive heat exchanger. Over the years, the volumes of vehicle manufacturing have risen, with OEMs in this region responding not only to national demand, but also to demand from abroad.

Leading companies featured in the Automotive Heat Exchanger Market Report 2020-2030 report include AKG, Alfa Laval AB, API, Danfoss A/S, Denso Corporation, GEA GROUP, Gunter GmbH & Co. KG, SGL Carbon Technic LLC, Robert Bosch GmbH, SPX Corporation among others. Mergers & acquisitions and joint ventures constitute some of the industry players' common strategies for reducing product price overall and maintaining extremely competitive conditions. In order to guarantee continued raw material supplies and ease of installation services, many actors in the sector create alliances with raw material providers and third-party installers.

The comprehensive report provides market estimates and forecasts for leading domestic markets across the world for the period from 2020 to 2030. In addition, the report includes dedicated leading companies covering 10 leading automotive Heat Exchanger industry producers.

The report on the Automotive Heat Exchanger Market Report 2020-2030 will appreciate anyone who wants to better understand the market in various vehicle types. It will be useful for companies that want to better understand the part of the market in which they are already involved or those that want to enter or expand into another regional or technical part of the Automotive Heat Exchanger industry.

Visiongain's timely report reveals how best to compete in this profitable market space and maximize your company's potential.

To find out more about this report please contact Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongain.com or refer to our website: https://www.visiongain.com/report/automotive-heat-exchanger-market-report-2020-2030/

This report addresses the pertinent issues:

- Where are the most lucrative market prospects?

- Who are the leadings companies and what does the competitive landscape look like?

- What are the regional, technical and regulatory barriers to market entry?

- What are the technological issues and roadmap driving the market?

- Why is the market prospering and how can you fully exploit this?

- When will the market fully mature and why?

Research and Analysis Highlights

280 Tables, Charts and Graphs Illustrating the Global Automotive Heat Exchanger Market Prospects

Market Segmentation 2020-2030:

The global automotive heat exchanger market is segmented on the basis of design type, applications, vehicle type, and geography.

Automotive Heat Exchanger Submarket Forecasts by Design Type Covering the Period 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Plate Bar Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Tube Fin Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Others Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

Automotive Heat Exchanger Submarket Forecasts by Applications from 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Radiators Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Inter-Coolers Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Oil Coolers Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Air Conditioning Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Other Applications Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

Automotive Heat Exchanger Submarket Forecasts by Vehicle Type from 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Passenger Cars Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Light Commercial Vehicles Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Heavy Commercial Vehicles Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

Regional Automotive Heat Exchanger Market Forecasts 2020-2030

North America Automotive Heat Exchanger Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- US Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Canada Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Mexico Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

South America Automotive Heat Exchanger Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Brazil Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Argentina Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Colombia Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Rest of South America Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

Europe Automotive Heat Exchanger Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Germany Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- France Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- UK Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Czech Republic Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Spain Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Turkey Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Russia Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Slovakia Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Italy Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Poland Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Rest of Europe Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

Asia Pacific Automotive Heat Exchanger Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- China Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Japan Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- India Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- South Korea Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Thailand Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Malaysia Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Indonesia Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Taiwan Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Rest of Asia Pacific Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

Rest of the World Automotive Heat Exchanger Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Middle East Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)

- Africa Market Forecast 2020-2030 ($B & Volume)





Profiles of 10 Leading Companies, Involved in Automotive Heat Exchanger Market

- AKG

- Alfa Laval AB

- API

- Danfoss A/S

- Denso Corporation

- GEA GROUP

- Gunter GmbH & Co. KG

- SGL Carbon Technic LLC

- Robert Bosch GmbH

- SPX Corporation

SWOT And Porter's Five Forces Analysis

Did you know that we also offer a report add-on service? Email sara.peerun@visiongain.com to discuss any customized research needs you may have.

Companies covered in the report include:

AKG

Alfa Laval AB

API

Calsonic Kansei

Clizen

Dana

Danfoss A/S

Denso Corporation

GEA Group

Gunter GmbH & Co. KG

Hanon

Mahle GmbH

Nippon Light Metal

Robert Bosch GmbH

Sanden

SGL Carbon Technic LLC

SPX Corporation

T.Rad

Tranter Inc.

Valeo SA

To discuss this report please e-mail Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongain.com

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(Photo : Pixabay)

Smokers face a more significant threat of coronavirus and place their loved ones at risk, according to a stark warning from health officials worldwide.

Health chiefs said there has 'never been a more crucial time' to end smoking dependency than now because of the ever-worsening outbreak worldwide.

Health officials also claimed family, which includes children, can also be at a better threat of serious COVID-19 complications, because of inhaling secondhand smoke.

The new stance from health officials comes as global coronavirus cases reached one million, with more than 50,000 deaths.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Fake Facts Are Flying Around; Experts Plan To Debunk Them

Non-smokers not prone on getting coronavirus

They primarily based their recommendation on a 'small but impactful' research in China, which suggests smokers are much more likely to look at their disease progress.

One crew of specialists from Wuhan - where the pandemic began - have been mystified after finding smokers were less probably to capture the lethal virus in the first place.

US News said researchers in China found that patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were 14 times as likely to develop pneumonia as a result of their infection than their non-smoking counterparts.

Recent research by the New England Journal of Medicine explained smokers are more susceptible to severe symptoms if they catch COVID-19. The study claims people who smoke have been 2.4 times more likely to have severe signs and symptoms from COVID-19 compared to folks that did not smoke.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Are Wearing Face Masks Pointless? Here's What Scientists Can Say

Scientists have called for similar trials to make clear if smoking poses an actual threat, but admit, in general, smokers are greater prone to contamination.

But, it's already mounted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that smoking harms the immune system and may preclude your body's capability to fight off infections. Smoking also will increase inflammation in the body, studies have shown.

"All these [cases] make me believe that we are going to have more severe cases-especially [in] people who are [long-term] smokers or vapers," Melodi Pirzada, chief of pediatric pulmonology at NYU Hospital, told Scientific American.

Public health professionals, according to ABC News, consider that regular cigarette smokers are likely to have extra serious illness if they end up infected with COVID-19. Experts say it makes sense that the habit should worsen the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, although they will want longer-term studies to realize for sure.

The plea to stop now

But because smoking and vaping do well-established harm to the immune system, it seems prudent to assume these might make coronavirus infections worse.

"I think that a sensible thing to do for people is to stop smoking and stop vaping-and avoid secondhand exposure," says Stanton Glantz, director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research at the University of California, San Francisco.

Specialists underscore that unlike risk factors for which there is no cure -- like diabetes, heart disease, and older age -- cigarette use is behavior that can be changed.

"We should be doing the best we can to manage our health," Columbia University pediatrician Dr. Alok Patel told ABC News.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Donald Trump is "so severely mentally troubled that he is a great danger to our nation" and must be removed from office, according to a group of international mental health professionals calling for the president to resign or for the "complete removal" of his decision-making powers leading the White House response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The World Mental Health Coalition has issued a "prescription for survival" that urges several calls to action, including the invocation of the 25th amendment of the US Constitution, which would relinquish the president from office once the chief executive is determined unfit.

It also calls for the president's "urgent impeachment" in Congress and conviction in the US Senate, which must realise its decision "involves the very fate of the nation."

The president also must undergo a court-ordered mental health evaluation and establish a Coronavirus Crisis Department within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which would lead the US response to Covid-19, the group says.

White House briefings, which have devolved into platforms for misinformation and false claims about the US response to combat the outbreak, should also be suspended, and briefings must only be delivered through the CDC, according to the group.

In a petition, the group said that if Mr Trump "were president of any major institutions, it is likely the Board of Directors would have required him to undergo a comprehensive mental health assessment. If he were any law enforcement or military officer, he would have taken a fitness-for-duty test before even assuming his job. All of our country's military personnel who handle nuclear weapons are required to submit to rigorous psychological testing yearly  except the commander in chief."

The president "is incapable of protecting lives but is making a global pandemic worse  not just through incompetence and ignorance, but through a dangerous detachment from reality" and "a need to convey false information," the letter reads.

Yale School of Medicine forensic psychiatrist Bandy X Lee, the group's president, had recently convened a panel on coronavirus to discuss the administration's response and efforts to downplay the severity of the impending crisis.

She said that the president's "germophobia" is merely "about people, not germs," and is not dissimilar to his inability to take seriously pandemic surveillance and containment while focusing on immigration and travel bans, she told Salon.

"Someone who causes this kind of crisis is also incapable of containing it but will make it worse," she said. "He is setting the atmosphere for the nation and the world where every state will have to scramble for itself, and every country fend for itself, which means terrible inefficiency and a recipe for global conflicts, when we could have been uniting around fighting a common enemy."

His "insatiable drive" allows him to "seduce and hypnotise the masses" while simultaneously endangering them with his policy decisions, she said.

"They will cling to him more, defensively idealizing him, since the psychological cost of admitting his errors would be even greater."
Ending many hours of suspense, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation through a video message at 9 am on Friday, urging the public to switch off the lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm on April 5 and light candles instead. If not candles, torches and mobile flashlights too can be used across balconies and gates to show solidarity in the fight against coronavirus.

Ever since the announcement Thursday evening about the PMs video message, speculation has been building up on whether he was going to talk about lifting the lockdown in phases or extending it. He did ...
A MONTH ago, the World Health Organization provided updated recommendations regarding restrictions on international travel in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic. Amazingly, it recommended against imposing travel restrictions whatsoever on countries with COVID-19 outbreaks, notably China.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

A MONTH ago, the World Health Organization provided updated recommendations regarding restrictions on international travel in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic. Amazingly, it recommended against imposing travel restrictions whatsoever on countries with COVID-19 outbreaks, notably China.

The WHO even discouraged the use of screening for COVID-19 symptoms among travellers arriving from international destinations. Instead, it recommended they be provided with "prevention recommendation messages"  essentially, pamphlets telling them to wash their hands.

The arguments against both travel restrictions and screening at the border are weak. Travel restrictions, the WHO argues, will slow down but not stop the virus. Screening for symptoms through the simple use of thermal scanners, for example, may not catch all COVID-19 cases.

Now, Im not a doctor, but isnt the whole point of staying at home in order to "flatten the curve" to slow down the spread of the disease long enough to prevent overwhelming the health-care system and allow drugs and vaccines to be developed? Screening and travel restrictions are not perfect measures, but neither is anything else being done to slow down the coronavirus.

The problem with the WHOs recommendations is that, while COVID-19 success cases such as Taiwan wisely ignored this advice, others enthusiastically heeded it. There is likely a great deal of confirmation bias (the tendency to favour information that confirms your previous beliefs) at work among those who did so. People who are queasy about strong border-control measures for ideological reasons were likely grateful for the WHOs recommendations.

This group apparently includes Canadas Liberal government. Indeed, Canada may be the paradigmatic case. For a frustratingly long time, the government declined to impose much of anything in the way of travel restrictions or screening for people flying to Canada. While Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan imposed travel bans, Canadas government appeared to take pride in refusing to do so.

Instead, on Jan. 22, the government instructed officers to recommend to any incoming passengers who showed COVID-19 symptoms that they should voluntarily self-isolate for 14 days. That was the extent of screening for several weeks into the current epidemic. In one instance, passengers deplaned from a flight from Rome as COVID-19 was ravaging Italy, essentially destroying its medical system.

The passengers reported that, besides receiving a pamphlet encouraging them to self-isolate, nothing out of the ordinary happened upon entering Canada. This has been the pattern: the government has been astonishingly slow to impose screening or border controls and then, when it finally does so, travellers report that these measures have not been effectively implemented.

More recently, the government came to life and began to impose tough travel restrictions when faced with a growing epidemic here at home. Foreign nationals were prohibited from entering the country, and the government ordered police to begin turning irregular migrants crossing into Canada at Roxham Road, Que., back to the U.S.

Recently, the government decreed that any Canadians with flu-like symptoms would be prohibited from travelling domestically by plane or rail.

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It is quite something that the government is now imposing screening on Canadians wishing to board a passenger train to Kingston, when it refused to screen foreign nationals flying to Canadian airports from coronavirus-stricken states as recently as a few weeks ago. Why was screening considered ineffective and unacceptable a month ago, but is "essential" now?

These new measures raise an even more troubling question: would tougher screening and border restrictions have slowed the spread of the virus considerably if introduced earlier?

Back to confirmation bias: last week, the same day it was revealed that Ontario nurses and doctors were rationing protective personal equipment, including masks and gowns designed to protect them from COVID-19, we learned the federal government had shipped 16 tonnes of that equipment to China in January.

Epidemiology Prof. Amir Attaran described the move as nothing short of "high negligence and incompetence," since the government must have known we would eventually need that equipment here. But a spokesperson for the foreign affairs minister defended the generous donation, saying, "Global pandemics require global co-operation. After all, pandemics know no borders."

The idea that pandemics "know no borders"  in other words, nothing a government does at the border can slow down the virus, so therefore why bother doing anything?  is ideological nonsense. My sense, however, is that its a view widely subscribed to in the upper echelons of the federal government and Liberal party. This led directly to intolerable delays in the governments willingness to impose travel restrictions and screening at the border. The epidemic in Canada now is in part a result of that.

Royce Koop is head of the political studies department at the University of Manitoba.
Colbie Caillat has split with her bandmate and fiance Justin Young after 10 years together.

The Gone West bandmates announced the amicable ending of their relationship on Instagram Thursday, telling fans that they're still 'best friends' and will continue to make music together.

'This is difficult for us to share, but we want to be honest with you all,' Colbie wrote 'After 10 wonderful years, Justin and I have ended our relationship.

End of the road: Colbie Caillat has split with her bandmate and fiance Justin Young after 10 years together. The pair are seen Marc 3 2020 together

She went on saying: We started out as best friends and we will continue to be best friends. And we will continue to work and make music together, as we always have.'

'It will be hard, but often times the hard choice is the right choice and the path that will allow each of us to move forward and to grow.

She thanked fans for their support during these difficult times, writing: 'We continue to be overwhelmed with gratitude for our love and time together.'

On good terms: The Gone West bandmates announced the amicable ending of their relationship on Instagram Thursday, telling fans that they're still 'best friends' and will continue to make music together

Announcement: The pair announced their engagement back in 2015 with an Instagram

Caillat and Young seem to be set on continuing their creative collaboration as they're still slated to play a virtual show for Sunday's UnCancelled Music Festival with their bandmates Jason Reeves and Nelly Joy.

The pair announced their engagement back in 2015.

At the time they shared an Instagram of the duo on a boat together, with Colbie captioning the shot: 'This sweet man asked me to be his lobster.and I said yes.'

And the songstress seemed full of emotion as she paid tribute to their 10 year anniversary last September.

Memories: The songstress seemed full of emotion as she paid tribute to their 10 year anniversary last September, recounting how he asked her to be his girlfriend along with a throwback pic

'10 years ago today (hot damn) on an afternoon in Paris [Justin] wrote me a cute n cheesy little note asking me to be his girlfriend, I circled yes,' she captioned a vintage photo of the pair, adding '*check out those dreads*' about the hair peeping from Young's hat.

Colbie talked about her low-key plans for getting married during an interview with People last year, telling the magazine she wasn't planning on having a wedding ceremony.

'We just are going to spontaneously elope in the future. We've been together for almost 10 years. We're just happy with the way things are and we're just cruisey about it,' she said.
For most of March, confirmed coronavirus cases in New Jersey were doubling every two to three days. Just two weeks ago, that rate suggested we already would have more than 200,000 cases today.

But for the past week those eye-popping spikes in new cases reported daily by Gov. Phil Murphy  once 50, 60 and 74%  have given way to rates under 20%.

In the battle against this unrelenting enemy, the numbers feel like a glimmer of hope. Even Murphy said so himself Wednesday.

The rate of increase on positive tests is diminishing. But in fairness, thats a little bit of an imperfect assessment," Murphy told Bloomberg News. Because as much as I want to test everybody, and that was our hope from Day 1, we just dont have the materials from the feds to be able to do that.  But the rate has been flattening, percentage-wise.

Hes right that its an imperfect assessment.

New Jersey has not significantly increased the number of test results its reporting each day, averaging about 5,500 over the past week, according to NJ Advance Media analysis of the states daily numbers. So while it may feel like the number of cases is evening out, thats only because its capped by the number of tests that can be given, reviewed and then reported.

In truth, it is impossible to know how fast and how far the disease is spreading because of that limit and the states rightfully high bar for those who can be tested in the first place.

We really have no idea of just how many people are infected, said Henry F. Raymond, associate professor of epidemiology at the Rutgers University School of Public Health. Yes, we know that we are trying our best to identify those who are in need of care. But we dont know about the overall prevalence or distribution ... i.e. geographically, by race, by age, by gender.

Worse yet, most test results are delayed by seven to 10 days, and sometimes even 14 days, as the governor and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli suggested Thursday. So by the time Murphy is announcing numbers at his daily news briefing, the disease is already a week or two ahead.

Whats the impact of that?

Well, on Thursday the state reported 25,590 known cases. If getting test results is seven days behind, New Jersey could actually have more than 90,000 infected individuals, based on a modest 20% daily increase. The states daily increase of confirmed cases has been 21% over the past week.

And those numbers dont account for a much-needed increase in the number of people being tested.

Put another way: If the state had access to more testing and faster results, its likely there would be hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases today. That, in turn, likely would lead to more acceptance of social distancing guidelines the governor enacted two weeks ago.

In places where theres widespread testing ... youre going to see higher incidence of the disease, said Stephanie Silvera, a professor of public health at Montclair State University.

Faster turnaround on test results also would help overrun hospitals deal with the patient load and treatment requirements. For example, knowing a symptomatic person was not infected would allow a hospital to use different treatment protocols, or even send that patient home.

Public health experts say wider testing is needed to get a grasp of when the spread of coronavirus might start slowing, both in New Jersey and the country.

Across the state every day, people with symptoms of the coronavirus have been told to stay home rather than get tested or have been unable to get tested at one of the large-scale testing sites that have been established in multiple regions of the state, multiple people said in interviews.

Only testing those with obvious symptoms means that health officials arent able to get a full picture of the epidemic, according to World Health Organization officials.

We would certainly like to see countries testing at the level of 10 negative tests to one positive, as a general benchmark of a system thats doing enough testing to pick up all cases, Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization Health Emergencies Program, said in a news conference earlier this week.

Recently, New Jersey is running 1:1 in positive to negative tests, and the overall state rate of positive tests is 43%.

It is also still lagging other states in per-capita testing, with about 593 tests per 100,000 residents as of Wednesday, according to an analysis of data compiled by the Covid Tracking Project. New Jersey ranks 11th in the nation, behind New York, Washington and other hard-hit states.

Murphy said Thursday he would love to test everyone, but widespread testing isnt possible here, like it has been in some other countries.

In a perfect world, Id love to be South Korea. Id love to have unlimited supplies of that which we need to collect these specimens, he said at his daily news conference. "We dont live in that world. We live in a world of limited resources, particularly coming out of the federal side.

Were grateful for what weve got, but its a fraction of what we need.

Some 500 tests a day can be done at the FEMA testing sites at Bergen County Community College and the PNC Bank Arts Center, and thousands more are done daily at the county level or through private labs.

Murphy did say on Wednesday that Bergen County would soon get a test that returns results in about five minutes, drastically shorter than the seven to 10 days it is currently taking for results.

Lab capacity is a factor, said Murphy spokeswoman Alexandra Altman on Thursday about why testing hasnt noticeably increased. This will be addressed as more laboratories develop rapid turnaround tests.

Altman added that testing people who are asymptomatic or those who are well, but worried, would be an inappropriate use of our testing supplies and would not provide us with the critical data we need to get out front.

With limited resources, the state may not be able to currently test the asymptomatic, but epidemiologists say that testing people without symptoms is important in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

Were only seeing the tip of the iceberg. Were not seeing the bottom of the iceberg, Silvera said. She added it would take a continued decrease in the number of daily cases for her to think the New Jersey epidemic was slowing.

It tells me were still in this acceleration phase. Unless theres a consistent decrease in the number of cases day-to-day, I wouldnt get too excited about these types of numbers.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion.

NJ Advance Media developer Arjun Kakkar can be reached at akakkar@njadvancemedia.com.
Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The Public Utility Commission announced that the former director of wholesale operations for the state grid manager will become the new independent market monitor director charged with detecting and preventing market manipulation strategies in the Texas electricity market.

The commission said the appointment of Carrie Bivens, who until recently was overseeing the day-ahead market, congestion revenue rights auctions, load resources, distributed generation resources and emergency response services for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
Chanel Rion, a correspondent for One America News Network, attends the daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the White House in Washington on April 2, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

OAN Reporter Attends Press Conference After Networks Removal by Correspondents Association

A reporter with One America News Network (OAN) attended the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Thursday night, one day after the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) removed her network from its rotation of reporters covering the briefing.

Jonathan Karl, an ABC News reporter and president of the WHCA, said in a statement to news outlets that he asked Grisham to make Rion sit in a section of seating reserved for White House guests, Charles Herring, CEO of OAN, said in an statement emailed to The Epoch Times on Friday.

Chanel Rion, the reporter, stood in the back of the briefing room and was called on by President Donald Trump. She asked Trump about his potentially using the Defense Production Act for things other than masks and ventilators.

Jared Kusher, Trumps son-in-law and a top White House adviser, answered the question, explaining how officials are spending time trying to pin down what quantity of supplies state officials actually need, versus what theyre asking for out of concern for the future.

The WHCA said this week that OAN was being removed from its rotation because Rion twice violated social distancing policies enacted based on guidance from federal health officials. She also attended briefings despite not being assigned a seat in the briefing room.

Senior adviser to the president Jared Kushner speaks, flanked by (L-R) response coordinator for White House Coronavirus Task Force Dr. Deborah Birx, Rear Adm. John Polowczyk, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Peter Navarro, during the daily briefing on the CCP virus in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on April 2, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Rion noted that video footage showed other reporters and photographers were violating the guidelines and that she was an invited guest of White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.

The White House didnt immediately return requests for comment.

Herring told Epoch Times that members of the association were aware that Ms. Rion was extended an invitation by Stephanie Grisham, but took retaliatory action anyway.

Grisham invited Rion again on Thursday, according to the reporter and Herring.

Every seat in the briefing room is typically taken but the number of correspondents allowed in the room has been cut amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 14 seats are available now for the daily briefing, prompting a rotation among print, radio, and television news outlets.

OAN is a television broadcaster based in California.

President Donald Trump speaks about the CCP virus in the James Brady Briefing Room in Washington on March 23, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Jonathan Karl, an ABC News reporter and president of the WHCA, said in a statement to news outlets that he asked Grisham to make Rion sit in a section of seating reserved for White House guests.

In order to comply with the social distancing guidelines, and to take steps to ensure the health and safety of the press corps and White House staff, there is no room for reporters who do not have an assigned seat today, or on any given day, to be standing in the briefing room, he said in a statement.

If somebody is to be a guest of the White House, they should be sitting in the seats to the side, which are set aside for White House staff.
Ukraine will keep hindering the Kremlin's efforts to destroy the sanctions regime.

Ukraine has broken silent procedure regarding Russian-initiated draft resolution of the UN General Assembly titled "Declaration of solidarity of the United Nations in the face of the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)."

"The text behind this noble name has many right things and one manipulation that could entail strategic destructive consequences for the international security system  the launch of the process of lifting international sanctions. Nothing prevents cooperation of states in their fight against coronavirus and overcoming its consequences. Against this background, attempts to abuse humanitarian goals to plant a mine under international sanctions applied in response to gross violations of international law, including sanctions over Russian aggression against Ukraine, is an obvious manipulation by Russia," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Facebook.

Read alsoWar amid virus spread: Russia attempting to exploit global quarantine issue to have sanctions lifted

He said Ukraine supports every international effort aimed at combating coronavirus. In particular, Ukraine will support another resolution of the UN General Assembly on the subject, which does not contain manipulations, while enjoying support of the vast majority of UN member states.

"So, silent procedure has been interrupted. The Russian resolution shall not be adopted. We will continue blocking Russia's efforts to destroy the sanctions regime," Kuleba added.

As UNIAN reported, on March 30, Kuleba said Kyiv was working to prevent the lifting  under the pretext of combating coronavirus and supposedly for humanitarian reasons  of sanctions imposed on Russia in connection with the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Agencies across New York City are facing the challenge of confronting the coronavirus (COVID-19) with a diminished workforce as the percentage of workers calling out sick continues to rise across the city.

The Advance/SiLive.com reported that 105 borough residents had succumbed to the disease by Thursday morning, as Staten Island again reached its high mark of 14 fatalities over a 24-hour period, according to the boroughs two hospital systems.

As of Thursday morning, 308 patients were receiving treatment in the Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) system  241 in the Ocean Breeze campus and 67 in the Princes Bay facility, said Christian Preston, a spokesman. A total of 319 patients have been treated and released from the SIUH system.

Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) now has 103 coronavirus patients, an increase of 13 from Wednesday, Alex Lutz, a spokesman, said. Twenty-five of the patients are in the Intensive Care Unit; however, 60 total patients have been released from the hospital.

NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

The NYPD reported on Wednesday that 1,368 employees, including both civilian and uniformed members, have tested positive for the virus, up 226 since a day before.

As of Wednesday, 6,172 uniformed members of the NYPD are on sick leave  a 9% increase since Tuesday, when there were 5,647 uniformed members listed sick, the department said.

During a live Q&A on Tuesday, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said the department is not yet shifting to 12-hour tours of duty over concerns of a diminished workforce, saying, Are we going to 12-hour tours? Not yet. We have the reserves, we have the contingency plans," adding, If we have to, well do it.

If the sick rate within the department reaches a point that endangers the safety of residents, state police and officers from upstate communities could serve as reinforcements, city and state officials said Wednesday.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg told the Advance/SiLive.com on Wednesday that upwards of 35% of the Staten Island Ferrys staff is calling out on any given day.

Six Staten Island Ferry workers have tested positive, Trottenberg said, citing the dwindling staff as a cause for the department to reduce service.

On Tuesday, Borough President James Oddo, joined by other members of the Staten Island delegation, participated in a conference call with Trottenberg to address a number of issues that have arisen since hourly service was enacted earlier this week.

Youre looking at 90% drop in ridership, but youre also getting upward of 50 people out sick a day,'' said Oddo. "The service (reduction] is as much about what theyre able to put on line [as it is about ridership). They were concerned at some point that they werent going to be able to do hourly service.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK

The FDNY did not respond to an email requesting the percentage of its work force currently out sick; however, a senior FDNY official told Fox News that almost 16.5% of the department was out sick as of Tuesday.

Fox reported that confirmed cases within the FDNY reached 282 on Tuesday, and that approximately 2,800 of 17,000 FDNY members called out sick. According to the report, 23% are EMS workers and 16% are firefighters.

CON EDISON

There have been 132 Con Edison employees whove tested positive for coronavirus as of Tuesday night, according to a spokesman for the utility company. Of those, 125 employees remain out of work and seven have returned.

Overall, 405 out of 14,500 Con Edison employees are currently quarantined and an additional 265 previously-quarantined workers have returned to work, the spokesman said.

Normal absenteeism is approximately 300 out of 14,500, the spokesman added.

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In addition to hospital beds, the USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is equipped with a dozen operating rooms and laboratory facilities.
Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said restrictions on public movement due to the Covid-19 pandemic may need to be extended beyond the current April 12 deadline.

Mr Coveney said people must realise current restrictions, which advise people to stay at home except in limited circumstances, may not end in just over a week's time.

"I think people do need to realise that these restrictions may go on for some time and it's wrong to put a timeline on it," he said.

"We've set an initial period, but I think it may well be that we will need to go beyond that initial deadline. But again that will be a decision taken with the best public health advice that we can get."

The current effective lockdown on the Irish public was introduced last Friday and is due to expire on April 12.

Mr Coveney was speaking ahead of a Cabinet sub-committee meeting on Covid-19 yesterday.

He said the Government would continue to take advice from the chief medical officer and the National Public Health Emergency Team.

The Fine Gael minister also said that while the HSE is doubling bed capacity and would be able to add an extra 10,000 beds to the health system, it is not certain that this will be enough to deal with a surge in Covid-19 cases.

He said that while the spread of the virus was below what the expectation was two weeks ago, it would be wrong to be complacent.

"What the HSE is doing is doubling bed capacity in the space of a couple of weeks to add, if we need it, an extra 10,000 beds to the system.

"They're not obviously all equivalent to hospital beds, but they are beds that can take huge pressure off the conventional hospital system to actually create space in our hospitals for patients if we see a dramatic increase in the number of people that need hospital care, as we expect we will.

"We don't know yet whether it's going to be enough. But what we can say is, the more discipline the public shows, in terms of complying with the restrictions and the guidelines that we have asked them to comply with, then the higher the likelihood that our health system is going to be able to deal with the peak of this crisis when it happens."

Mr Coveney said that there are now 1,400 people trained to work in contact tracing and this is being applied to people who are awaiting a test. He said that social distancing, washing your hands and complying with guidelines matter, as they are going to save lives.

Mr Coveney was speaking at the launch of 'Community Call' - a major local and national initiative to provide support to those in need in the coming weeks, including with practical matters like deliveries of groceries, medicines and other items. The cross-body initiative involves the HSE, local authorities, An Garda Siochana, the Red Cross, the Civil Defence, GAA, IFA, LocalLink, the Migrant Forum, church organisations and others who will co-ordinate through community forums in each local authority area. Every local authority has established a community forum to co-ordinate and connect a wide-range of community supports in what is "an unprecedented mobilisation of State and voluntary resources", Mr Coveney said.

The initiative was launched by Mr Coveney, Rural Affairs Minister Michael Ring and Local Government Minister John Paul Phelan. Mr Ring said people would now see what the voluntary and community sector do for the country. "They're at this 52 weeks of the year," he said.

AnnMarie Farrelly, the chief executive of Fingal County Council, said there has been a complete integration of the elderly charity Alone's telephone helpline with those of local authorities. "We'll make sure help reaches the right place," she said.
Making sense of the coronavirus pandemic requires getting up to speed on semantics as much as epidemiology.

Government officials and health care professionals toss off mentions of mortality rates, flattening the curve and lockdowns, assuming that we know what they mean. But the terms mean different things from country to country, state to state, even city to city and person to person.

Officials use the same phrases about mass testing, caseloads and deaths to describe very different situations. That makes it hard to give clear answers to vital questions: How bad are things? Where are they headed?

People search for insight by comparing their countries to those that are further along in the epidemic. But if the terms are misleading or used in differing ways, the comparisons are flawed. Also, the statistics and vocabulary offer a false sense of precision while in reality, the information we have shows only a fraction of whats going on.
LAKE Victoria water level is increasing at an alarming rate in some parts of Musoma District, with authorities urging people living near the lakeshores to be vigilant.

Already authorities in Musoma have directed Musoma Municipal Council to relocate patients from Iringo Dispensary after learning that they were at risk.

Part of Iringo Dispensary is flooded out by water from the Lake and already patients have been shifted from the dispensary, said Mr Ahmed Kitumbo, one of Musoma municipal councillors (CCM) told Daily News on Thursday.

Mr Kitumbo added: Toilets of the dispensary and some roads have been affected, resulting in a loss of millions of shillings.

Mr Kitumbo, who is Mwigobero councillor, mentioned other areas of the municipal council that were at risk due to an increase in Lake Victoria water level as Kitaji and Mkendo.

Some residents in some areas like Kitaji and Mkendo have started relocating and they need to do so, he said.

The chairman of Victoria Farming and Fishing Organisation (Vifafio) Majura Maingu said the increasing level of lake water was alarming.

The lake is full of water and this has made a history since 1961 when the lake was also full, Mr Maingu said in a separate interview.

This follows after Musoma District Commissioner visited houses located near the lake in Musoma. Mara Region is one of the Lake Zone regions.

There is fear that even communities living near Mara River, one of the rivers flowing to Lake Victoria, may be affected by ongoing rain.

People living in Mara River Basin as well as livestock are also at risk, Mr Maiungu warned.

He said education through media could be help at this time when public gatherings had been prohibited to curb the spread of novel coronavirus.
Grupo Modelo Suspends Production of Corona Beer Amid CCP Virus Outbreak in Mexico

Grupo Modelo, which produces and exports Corona beer, will be suspending production after breweries were deemed non-essential by the Mexican government.

The company confirmed the move in a news release on Twitter this week and said it will be fully committed to stopping the spread of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, a type of novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Grupo Modelo announces that this Sunday it will complete the process of suspending its production and marketing operations for beer, wrote Grupo Modelo in a news release, according to a translation. The company said it entered an agreement with the Mexican government to execute extraordinary actions to attend to the health emergency generated.

In the event that the federal government considers it opportune to issue a guarantee confirming beer as an [essential] agro-industrial product, at Grupo Modelo we are ready to execute a plan with more than 75 percent of our staff working from home and at the same time guaranteeing the supply of beer, the statement continued.

The Mexican government declared a health emergency and ordered the suspension of all nonessential activities. The number of CCP virus cases increased to 1,500 as of Friday. Fifty deaths have been reported.

Food production and agriculture in Mexico are considered essential activities.

Grupo Modelos parent company is brewing giant Anheuser Busch InBev.

Since the start of the CCP virus crisis, Corona beer has become the punchline of memes and jokes. Rumors have said that sales of the beer dropped by a significant amount since the start of the outbreak.

But the firm denied the reports and said sales have been strong amid the pandemic.
A man paddle boarding near the Malibu Pier was arrested Thursday after authorities said he disobeyed lifeguards and violated a statewide stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department )

A paddle boarder was arrested Thursday after ignoring lifeguards' orders to get out of the ocean near the Malibu Pier despite beach closures amid the coronavirus pandemic, authorities said.

County lifeguards patrolling the shore by boat tried to get the man to come ashore. Despite repeated orders to exit the water, the man continued paddle boarding for at least 30 minutes. Lifeguards eventually flagged down Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies who responded by boat to help, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Video of the incident taken by bystanders along the shore and later posted to social media shows the man paddling toward the pier while being pursued by lifeguard and sheriff's boats.

The man, who was not identified by authorities, eventually made his way to the beach, where he was arrested on suspicion of disobeying a lifeguard and violating Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order, a misdemeanor. Photographs from the scene show the man in handcuffs being led down the beach by two deputies.

He was booked at a sheriff's station in Calabasas and released on a promise to appear in court, sheriff's officials said. The man faces a fine of $1,000 or six months in jail, or both, if convicted of violating the state order.

While many police agencies have taken an educational approach to keeping people off the state's coastline, this isn't the first time someone has faced consequences for being in the ocean.

A surfer in Manhattan Beach was fined $1,000 last weekend after he was accused of similarly ignoring warnings by police and lifeguards cautioning him not to go in the water. It's not clear how many people in the region have been arrested for violating the governor's order.

Staying at home was somewhat slow to catch on, with people packing beaches, parks and hiking trails in the early days, a move that eventually forced officials to order closures. Public health officials say beaches pose a threat by drawing large crowds of people who congregate too closely and could easily spread the virus.

Story continues

The California Coastal Commission, the gatekeeper of the state's landmark law that deems access to the beach a fundamental right, has allowed local officials to put up temporary signs and barricades citing the need to protect public health and safety.

Kim Prather, a leading atmospheric chemist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, told The Times this week that she fears SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could enter coastal waters and transfer back into the air along the coast.

I wouldnt go in the water if you paid me $1 million right now, she said.

Times staff writer Rosanna Xia contributed to this report.
American Airlines says it is slashing international flights this summer as travel demand has drastically shrunk amid the coronavirus pandemic -- but the airline vowed not to eliminate domestic service.

For April and May the airline is cutting nearly 90% of its international flights, and reducing overall flights by about 70 percent this month and 80 percent next month, according to Vasu Raja, American Airlines' senior vice president of Network Strategy.

Domestic demand will remain weak into May said Raja, citing of the lack of bookings.

Still, the largest U.S. airline has no plans to halt U.S. flights entirely, noting medical workers and others who must travel, sometimes for urgent medical reasons.

An American Airlines jetliner waits to be cleared to taxi for take off at Denver International Airport on Wednesday. The airline vows to maintain some domestic service in the crisis

The American Airlines ticket counter sits empty at San Francisco International Airport on Thursday. Due to a reduction of flights and people traveling, San Francisco International Airport has consolidated all of its terminals into one concourse in the international terminal

'We are making no plans for the cessation of flying,' Raja said. 'The important thing is to provide a minimum level of essential service to customers ... but we do it in such a way where we don't burn an excessive amount of cash.'

Across the industry, at some major airports overall U.S. flights are down 50 percent to 70 percent, officials say.

The number of people who went through U.S. airport checkpoints hit another new low on Wednesday at just 136,023, down from 2.2 million a year ago.

American also disclosed on Thursday that it will cancel more than 60 percent of its total international flights this summer, including an 80 percent reduction in Pacific capacity, a 65 percent reduction in Atlantic and 48 percent reduction in Latin America.

American is also delaying the launch of new international routes until 2021, delaying the launch of new winter seasonal service and suspending 25 summer seasonal flights.

Some of the 88 American Airlines planes stored at Pittsburgh International Airport sit idle on a closed runway on Tuesday. As airlines cut more service, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pittsburgh International Airport has closed one of its four runways

The cuts in May are striking. American Airlines will go from the pre-crisis typical 250 weekday flights from Washington Reagan National Airport to about 28 in May.

It will shrink from close to 100 flights a day at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to just 11 flights a day.

At its Dallas-Fort Worth hub, American will decline from nearly 1,000 planned flights a day this summer to around 350.

The cuts are prompted by the sharp demand reduction. 'Literally we have flights that are 5 percent full,' Raja said. Washington flights are often 10-12 percent full and been hurt by a big decline in government travel, he added.

Still, American has no idea when things will turn around. 'If we are the bottom it is only because gross bookings have fallen to zero and they can't go any lower than that,' Raja said. 'Pretty soon we'll even run out of people to cancel on U.S. airlines.'

American will not fly its A330 fleet through the end of the summer to conserve costs.

American has said it is eligible for $12 billion out of $50 billion in U.S. government loans and grants for the airline industry.
The photo Fred Dowling says is of his grandmother, Annie Lewis. Credit:Justin McManus The Bangerang campaign is in part underpinned by Dowlings claim to be a descendant of Mary Jane Milawa, an Aboriginal woman of historical significance who lived in Wangaratta at the time of white settlement. By claiming Milawa as an apical ancestor on behalf of the Bangerang, Dowling strengthens his peoples claim to be recognised as the traditional owners of Wangaratta. The ancestral links which connect todays Indigenous population to traditional culture, language groups and country are the map by which Victoria will be divided into a series of treaties with its First Nations people. Nowhere is this process more fractious than across the states bitterly divided north-east, where the failed Yorta Yorta native title claim has left a generation of unresolved territorial and tribal feuds. The case against Fred Dowling, contained in a 115-page dossier, is detailed and deeply political. He is accused of falsely claiming to be Aboriginal, of fabricating his links to the Bangerang and stealing the identity of Mary Jane Milawa, a woman who died in Wangaratta in 1888. His accusers, Dhudhuroa Waywurru Aboriginal Corporation chair Garry Murray and representatives from the Waywurru, Dhudhuroa and Ngurai Illum Wurrung groups, are in conflict with Bangerang over claims to ancestors and country.

The case is also personal. Megan Carter first came across Fred Dowling when she was researching her own family history and Aboriginal heritage. She is a descendant of Big Queen Mary, a sister of Mary Jane Milawa who was married to the chieftain of the Waywurru people, King Brangy. The Waywurru say Wangaratta falls within their traditional lands. Megan Carter, a relative of Mary Jane Milawa. Credit:Rhett Wyman Dowling says Milawa was the sister of his maternal great-grandmother, a woman he calls Luana. This history is set in stone in Wangaratta, where Dowling and his family paid for a plaque and headstone commemorating Milawa as a Bangerang woman. Carter has examined Dowlings connection to Milawa and believes it is fake. She says Dowling has stolen her ancestor.

The crux of the dispute is Freddie Dowling was married to an Aboriginal woman and he decided that he would claim to be Aboriginal, she says. He found Mary Jane Milawa, seemingly the last woman of her tribe, and adopted her as his own under fraudulent pretences. "A coveted ancestor": Mary Jane Milawa, who died in 1888. Fred Dowling says he is the great-grandson of Milawa's sister. Others say there is no evidence such a sister existed. Mary Jane Milawa is a coveted ancestor to have. Yorta Yorta failed with that native title claim, Bangerang want a second crack and shes the key to Wangaratta and those territories. With this advent of 'woke' culture, where people want to support Indigenous people and Indigenous communities and know about what country they are living on, he has been able to tap into that at Wangaratta." It is a dispute that has nothing to do with skin colour. Dowling is fair-skinned, as are Carter and some of his other accusers. Professor Wendy Brabham, an Aboriginal educator who traces her heritage to the Wamba Wamba, Wergaia, Nyeri Nyeri and Dhudhoroa, says the problem is the lack of rigour attached to researching the genealogies that make up the clans or family groups of traditional owners. You cant play around with the politics of identity and confirmation of identity. It is not fair to our ancestors or future generations. It is up to Freddie Dowling now to prove it, Brabham says.

Loading This is where it becomes difficult. Dowlings parents and ancestors are dead. So too are the elders who vouched for him as a Bangerang man when, in the shadow of the contentious Yorta Yorta claim, he emerged as an influential and popular cultural figure and storyteller in the campaign for Bangerang recognition. Dowling says he has never profited from his Aboriginal heritage and The Age has seen no evidence he has. He moved to Wangaratta in the 1970s with his then wife, an Aboriginal woman. His five sons are unquestionably Aboriginal through their mother. His cultural influence can be found in Wangarattas schools, where Dowling was for many years a regular guest speaker, and in his self-published books about Bangerang history and stories. He is a director of the Bangerang Aboriginal Corporation. Support for him runs deep within Wangarattas civic institutions and historical societies. I know what I know, he says. I know who my ancestors were." On the day The Age visits Fred Dowling, friends and family come to support him. Ian Davidson, the vice-president of Wangaratta Land Care and Sustainability Inc, says he cant think of anyone who has done more than Uncle Freddie to promote Indigenous culture and understanding in the Wangaratta district.

Davidson despairs that the push towards reconciliation is fracturing along ancestral lines. This sort of stuff is so destructive and hurtful, he says. Instead of being an inclusive process where all of us can be part of supporting what goes on, it is about picking winners. At the end of the day he is a leader, certainly in a Wangaratta sense. To me, this is really a witch hunt; its an effort to discredit him and the standing of Bangerang. Rodney Dowling, one of Freds sons, is angry that his fathers cultural heritage - and by extension his own - is being challenged. Darren Atkinson, a Bangerang man who serves with Dowling on the board of the Bangerang Aboriginal Corporation, says Fred Dowling has been at the forefront of his peoples struggle to be recognised on country which, under an agreement with the Victorian government struck after the failed native title claim, has already been allocated to the Yorta Yorta. It would be a shame to see him go out after all the years of fighting hard, Atkinson says. Itd be a shame to have it happen to a beautiful old man who has got a lot of dear knowledge and a lot of dear stories of connection. Rodney Dowling (left) with his father Fred and portraits of Fred's grandmother Annie Lewis and Mary Jane Milawa. Credit:Justin McManus

The relationship between the Bangerang and the Yorta Yorta typifies the First Nations tensions that plague northern Victoria. Bangerang, also written as Pangerang and more recently as Bpangerang, is a term synonymous with Yorta Yorta when referring to traditional country, culture and language. It is, principally, a 28-year fight over a name. Loading The feud between those who identify with Yorta Yorta and those who prefer the term Bangerang began when the architects of the native title claim opted to call it the Yorta Yorta claim without reference to the Bangerang. The Yorta Yorta claim, one of the first to be lodged after the Mabo decision, was rejected by Federal Court Justice Howard Olney in 1998. Since then, the Yorta Yorta have been formally recognised by the Victorian government as the traditional owners of 50,000 hectares of Crown land which the Bangerang claim as their own. The Yorta Yorta have also been accepted by the government as a Registered Aboriginal Party, a status which gives them control over issues relating to cultural heritage on their traditional lands. The Bangerang have twice had RAP applications rejected. It was during the failed Yorta Yorta claim that serious doubts about Fred Dowlings connections to the Bangerang and Mary Jane Milawa were first raised.

In 1996, Dowling provided a statement to Wayne Atkinson, a Yorta Yorta elder, for the purposes of the native title claim. Dowling claimed he grew up in Wangaratta with his mother and learned about country from his fathers mother, Annie Milawa (Lewis). He further claimed that his great-grandmother was Luana, a word meaning "water lily", and that Luana was the sister of Mary Jane Milawa. Dowling told Atkinson that Annie Milawa was buried at the Cummeragunja mission and that his father Francis showed him how to hunt and taught him Pangerang language. Dowlings purported ancestry was reviewed by Helen Harris, a professional genealogist and historian called as an expert witness by the Victorian government during the Yorta Yorta claim. She told the Federal Court: I have been unable to find any documentary proof of the existence of anyone named Luana. I believe that whether Luana existed or not is irrelevant at this stage, because the claimant Fred Dowling has shown no possible connection to either her or Mary Jane Milawa. Dowling tells The Age that Luanas English name was Rose Anna. He says Luana grew up at Wahgunyah, on the banks of the Murray, and travelled as a young woman by paddle steamer to Adelaide. It was there she met and married an Englishman, Edmund Lewis, Dowling says. Annie Lewis was their daughter. The public records included in the complaint against Dowling before the First Peoples Assembly suggest a very different family history. The marriage certificate of Edmund Lewis and Rosannah Large shows they were wed in Greenwich District in the English county of Kent in 1853. The South Australian Government Gazette records that the following year, Edmund and "Rosamond" Lewis arrived in Port Adelaide aboard the sailing ship Pestonjee Bomanjee to start a new life in the colonies.

The 1853 marriage certificate of Edmund Lewis and Rosannah Large from the English county of Kent. A South Australian birth certificate transcript shows that Annie Lewis, the daughter of Edmund Lewis and "Rose Anna" Large, was born in Adelaide in 1861. Public records show she first married in Adelaide, moved to Melbourne and then broke up with her husband, a white man named Thomas Overton Haywood. At the time, they were living in a house in Collingwood, three doors up from a local musician named James Dowling. James Dowling moved in with Annie Lewis. They had a son named Francis - Fred Dowling's father. The public records do not indicate Annie Lewis and James Dowling ever lived in Wangaratta or on the traditional lands of the Bangerang, including the Warby Ranges. They lived in Abbotsford until James died. After Annie remarried a second time, she remained in inner-city Melbourne, at a Collingwood address. Annie Lewis is buried in Cheltenham, not Cummeragunja, as Dowling previously claimed. I dont know why I said that, Dowling tells The Age. I must have got mixed up between Cummeragunja and Cheltenham. The picture of the woman Fred Dowling says is Annie Lewis is a cropped version of an original photograph held by the Corowa Federation Museum in southern NSW. The original is a picture of six Indigenous people. The museum has no information about the identity of anyone in the photograph or how it came into their possession. In a 1973 book about the history of Corowa published by the local shire council, the image was reproduced with the caption "Aborigines of Lake Moodemere". Lake Moodemere is near Wahgunyah, just across the border. When all this is put to Fred Dowling, he is more confused than angry. He accepts the records show his great-grandparents were white but insists his grandmother was Aboriginal. He cant see how Luana, his link to Mary Jane Milawa, now fits into his family tree, but insists that she must. Those two that came on the boat, I accept that. But somehow she came into it. I dont know how. Maybe somebody jumped the fence.
John F. Kennedy Boulevard is more empty than usual, as seen looking toward 30th Street Station from Center City Philadelphia on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The city is under a stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

Its been frustrating: As details of the $349 billion forgivable loan program for small businesses have spread among U.S. employers wracked by coronavirus shutdowns, 200 bank CEOs and loan officers held a conference call Wednesday night with the officials overseeing the program.

Their goal was to nail down how to apply and when the money would start flowing.

Its not going to be pretty, according to folks who were on the call. And there wont likely be enough to serve everybody.

Our clients are confused and upset, Havertown accountant Steven L. Granoff said. His client, a New Jersey business owner, spent five hours filling out Paycheck Protection Program forms on the Small Business Administration (SBA) website Wednesday afternoon, only to get kicked out of the system with nothing to show for his effort.

With any program of this magnitude, it takes time to iron out the details, said Rodger Levenson, chief executive of WSFS Financial Corp., an SBA lender, who has been on a string of other calls with SBA trying to learn more. There is strong interest in the program.

 HELP US REPORT: Are you a health-care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker, or other expert? We want to hear from you.

Another Philadelphia-area bank president, who asked that his name not be used, wrote a pungent summary of the Wednesday night meeting, which has circulated among borrowers and advisers seeking cash to tide them over until America reopens.

Everyone on the call did not feel confident that the SBA will have the ability to take on the flood of applications which would happen on the 3rd, when the federal agencies had hoped that mid-sized employers with up to 500 workers would begin applying, the banker wrote.

 READ MORE: Philly banker Vernon Hill: Trumps employer aid program, backed by a bipartisan Congress, is saving America from a coronavirus depression

Imagine if 1,000 banks all submitted 300 applications to the same website at the same time, he added, suggesting the system would likely crash.

Still unresolved as of Wednesday night: Whether applications should be sent on paper or electronically, and whether a bank can give its regular customers precedence over others whose appeals it collects.

They shot first, and now they are aiming, the banker wrote. Sorry, but ... there is a limited amount of money for this program.

Even if just 10% of the nearly six million businesses with up to 500 employees apply Friday, for loans at a maximum $10 million each, if there is only $349 billion to go around ... that will QUICKLY disappear, he noted.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus cash: Heres what small businesses need to know about money from CARES stimulus

After being on the call, the writer urged would-be borrowers to call their banker  even the place where they have a checking account if they dont borrow or buy other bank services  to try to get ahead of the curve. Banks with account histories and client financial records should be able to provide the SBA with needed records faster.

And some people will miss out, he added. Independent contractors and self-employed people, who have been encouraged to wait until next week to apply, may not see any of this money and could slip through the cracks entirely.

He noted that, according to Congress, the point of this program is to get people off of unemployment. Workers first.

Bottom line: Get your financial paperwork in order, and be ready for when the applications start getting through. If you are prepared and ready to go, then you will be light years ahead of the general public.
Self-drive mobility start-up Revv on Friday said it will offer cars at zero fee to assist healthcare workers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The service is now functional in five cities - Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune, and overall, Revv expects to mobilise over 1,000 cars to help healthcare workers commute to hospitals, a statement said.

Companies across the country -- right from startups to the giants-- have come forward to contribute in the fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Similarly, tech firm ValueLabs and its employees has donated USD 730,000 (about Rs 5.25 crore) to help address relief measures in the current COVID-19 situation.

Springfit mattress said it is producing and donating two lakh face masks to support healthcare and other essential service workers.

"In the present circumstances, we will be making around two lakh surgical masks in a month that will be donated across the country. We are also planning to have our two other factories follow the Coimbatore factory's lead for the next several days," Springfit Director Nitin Gupta said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Concurs repetat pentru selectarea unei companii sociologice, care sa efectueze un studiu tematic "Barometrul opiniei publice in domeniul schimbarilor climatice"
SPRINGFIELD  The total number of cases of coronavirus confirmed by Baystate Health on Friday has risen to 387  an increase of 32 from the previous day.

Baystate Health also reported more than 200 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 or are suspected of having the disease at its facilities.

Currently within BH, we are caring for 139 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection, 41 of whom are in our critical care units; we are also caring for 65 hospitalized patients who are under investigation for COVID-19 infection, Baystate Health said in a statement on Friday. "We are not reporting hospital-specific data to ensure patient privacy is maintained, especially in our smaller facilities.

To date, Baystate Health facilities in Western Massachusetts have tested a total of 1,889 people for COVID-19 and determined 387 individuals have the virus. Another 1,386 people tested negative.

The Springfield-based health provider in still awaiting test results for 116 others.

Baystate Health is not providing additional details on patients, such age, gender or residence.

Trinity Health Systems, the parent company of Mercy Medical Center, reported on Friday that the number of cases of people testing positive for COVID-19 at its facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut is nearing 800.

As of Thursday night, Massachusetts had recorded 8,966 confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in 154 deaths, according to the state DPH.

The total number of cases in the U.S. by Friday morning had increased to more than 245,000, with more than 6,000 deaths. Worldwide, there have been more than 1 million cases, resulting in more than 55,000 deaths.

Related content:
Mumbai, April 3 : IndusInd Bank on Friday said that its promoters have sought Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) approval for increasing their permissible holding to 26 per cent.

In a regulatory filing, the Hinduja family-backed lender said that its promoters have a holding of 14.68 per cent. The current regulatory cap for promoters of a bank is at 15 per cent.

"The promoters of the bank have applied to the Reserve Bank of India for increasing their permissible holdings to 26 per cent. On a fully diluted basis the promoters of the bank have a holding of 14.68 per cent which is very close to the current regulatory cap of 15 per cent," it said.

"If there are any updates around the same, we will keep the stakeholders informed," the bank said in its filing.

However, the development comes amid the security market regulator Sebi's reported prohibition of promoters and insiders from buying company shares till June 30, as companies have been given extra time to report earnings with the stock exchanges.

Regarding reports that the IndusInd Bank is in talks with private equity firms to raise capital, the bank said that it would not comment on market speculation.

It also said that the bank is well-capitalised with Tier-1 ratio of 15 per cent and Capital Adequacy Ratio of 15.43 per cent.

"There is no specific transaction under consideration by the Board of the Bank at this stage. We stay committed to evaluate alternatives from time to time that may benefit our stakeholders," it said.

Off late, concerns have been raised over the bank's financial health, more so against the backdrop of instances like those of the PMC Bank and Yes Bank.

However, the bank has denied the concerns and through regulatory filings has said that it is financially strong and well capitalised.

Stock prices of the bank have declined around 75 per cent in the past two months, over the concerns On Friday, its shares on the BSE settled at Rs 313.25, lower by Rs 29.05 or 8.49 per cent from its previous close.
Australia must increase testing and the tracing of coronavirus cases before winter to avoid a repeat of the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak which killed about 12,000 Australians, an Australian data scientist has claimed.

Jeremy Howard, who is based in San Francisco and is watching the pandemic ravage the U.S, where there are 5,758 dead and 238,820 cases, said a growing body of research suggested the virus may be a seasonal like the flu, meaning infection rates will increase and decrease depending on the time of the year.

Mr Howard claimed the country's case count to date of more than 5,100 cases, with 24 deaths, may only be the 'tip of the iceberg'.

'The data suggests it is a seasonal illness and as winter comes, transmission rates will go up a lot,' Mr Howard told the Today show.

He warned Australians did not have time to be 'apathetic' about the disease's spread and the government could not be complacent about decreasing infection rates this week.

Pictured: French nationals queuing at Sydney Airport to be repatriated on charter flights to France on Thursday. Data scientist Jeremy Howard has warned Australia to be prepared for the onset of winter and not to get complacent about a drop in the infection growth rate

'If you don't have testing and tracing in place before winter, it will be the 1918 pandemic all over again,' Mr Howard said.

Mr Howard compared the approaching Australian winter to the northern hemisphere winter of 1918 - when a 'third wave' of the Spanish flu led to a surge in deaths from the virus.

'Once June comes along there will be that bit of virus in the community - it will kick out and people won't be ready,' Mr Howard said.

'Australia has to use the time they have got to prepare. America had months to, because we knew what happened in China.'

The pandemic has exploded in the U.S - with its 238,820 cases now almost three times higher than the 82,432 in China where the coronavirus outbreak began.

Mr Howard is behind a campaign encouraging people to wear masks during the outbreak called Masks4All.

Mr Howard compared the coming winter to the northern hemisphere winter during the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak - when a 'third wave' of cases brought a surge in deaths

A policeman speaks with sunbathers on Surfers Paradise Beach on the Gold Coast on Thursday. Mr Howard said Australians should be using the time between now and winter to make sure the correct coronavirus testing and tracking measures were in place

Australia's Department of Health has already warned winter could see an increase in transmissions - as more Australians congregate in enclosed spaces.

UNSW Virology Professor Bill Rawlinson has said the same things that help colds and flu spread in winter would provide the perfect conditions for coronavirus.

'Nasal stuffiness is caused by cold,' he said.

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 thermal cold makes your nose swollen and red. This also promotes the growth of viruses.'

Professor Rawlinson said people in close contact would rapidly spread the virus to each other by droplet infection.

It is still to early to know whether the coronavirus would be seasonal, Professor Rawlinson said.

But he said COVID-19 was related to other coronaviruses that are, so he expects it would likely follow the same pattern.

Researchers at the University of Maryland have also found, using an analysis of the first three months of cases, that cold, dry conditions provide the best conditions for the spread of the coronavirus.
Google is adding fact-check labels to images as part of its efforts to stem visually misleading information

Google on Thursday said it is pumping $6.5 million into fact-checkers and nonprofits as it ramps up its the battle against coronavirus misinformation.

Fact-checking organizations, which often operate on relatively small budgets, are seeing a surge in demand for their work as mistaken or maliciously false information about the pandemic spreads, according to Alexios Mantzarlis of the Google News Lab.

"Uncertainty and fear make us all more susceptible to inaccurate information, so we're supporting fact-checkers as they address heightened demand for their work," Mantzarlis said.

A Poynter Institute report last year on the state of fact-checking indicated that more than a fifth of fact-checking organizations operated with annual budgets of less than $20,000.

"We are supporting fact checking projects around the world with a concentration on parts hardest hit by the pandemic," Mantzarlis told AFP.

"This can be a noticeable infusion of additional support at a time of stress."

Google is also looking to use its products and "ecosystem" to bolster the battle against COVID-19 misinformation.

The Google News Initiative is increasing its support for nonprofit First Draft, which provides a resource hub, training and crisis simulations for journalists covering news during times of crisis, according to Mantzarlis.

Google is also supporting the creation of a public health resource database for reporters.

"We also want to do more to surface fact-checks that address potentially harmful health misinformation more prominently to our users," Mantzarlis said.

"We're experimenting with how to best include a dedicated fact-check section in the COVID-19 Google News experience."

Google is conducting a test in India and Africa to explore how to use trends in what people are asking or searching for online to let fact-checkers know where a lack of reliable answers may invite misinformation.

"Unanswered user questions -- such as 'what temperature kills coronavirus?' -- can provide useful insights to fact-checkers and health authorities about content they may want to produce," Mantzarlis said.

Story continues

That test compliments an effort to train 1,000 journalists across India and Nigeria to spot health misinformation, according to the California-based internet titan.

"There is definitely an appetite for this stuff," Mantzarlis said.

"We grasp for certainty, a glimmer of something we can do to protect ourselves and those we care about. It makes us more vulnerable to this kind of misinformation."

Facebook has also supported fact-checking operations with AFP and other media companies, including Reuters and the Associated Press, under which content rated false is downgraded in news feeds so that fewer people see it.
HIGHLIGHTS

TRAI has already delayed telecom subscribers' data for January by a week

COAI expects March subscriber growth to be less than 1 million against 3 million previously

Analysts see a drop in subscriber numbers for April and May

Telecom data of over a billion subscribers is critical for government and policymakers

Telecom operators have been given permission to submit March subscribers' data after a delay of six weeks

Telcos submit a variety of data to TRAI on weekly, monthly and quarterly basis

Last week, reports said Chinese mobile operators lost about 21 million subscribers in just two months - January and February. For a 1.6-billion subs-market, the drop was not huge but it was a rare event for an otherwise-thriving telecom market in China, which is controlled by just three operators - China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

It also highlighted the damage the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has done to the Chinese telecom sector. Analysts say the drop was largely driven by the migrant workers who went for SIM consolidation - industry jargon for multi-SIM card customers moving towards single or two-SIM ownership.

Back home, the situation is likely to be similar, but it will take a while before people actually know the amount of drop, especially in March and April when the entire country had to undergo a 21-day lockdown.

Why? The telecom watchdog TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), which releases the monthly subscriber data, has delayed the issuance of fresh data for January by (at least) more than a week. While the TRAI doesn't have a fixed release date, the fresh data usually is out by now. What could have led to the delay?

"It could be due to the shortage of manpower. The data is collated and then analysed, which requires a large number of people. If some people are not available due to lockdown, the whole chain gets broken," says a sector analyst. The counter-argument to this is that telecom has been declared an essential service, and as a sector regulator, TRAI has to function under the current circumstances. "It's likely that the regulator's priorities have changed. Unless the regulator would have planned for such eventualities, some of the critical areas do get affected," says a senior executive of a large equipment maker.

Interestingly, the Cellular Operators Association of India says the telcos submit monthly subscriber figures to TRAI by the 7th of the subsequent month. It essentially means that the January data would have reached TRAI on February 7, and yet it couldn't publish the January data before the lockdown (March 25), which, by TRAI's past records, is late.

In fact, even after the lockdown, TRAI did respond to the telecom operators' demand for an extension of date for submitting subscribers' data for March. "Considering the present circumstances and your request, the authority has decided to grant a relaxation of six weeks from the respective due dates in respect of all monthly and quarterly reports in the larger public interest for the period ending March 31, 2020. This may be brought to the notice of all telecom service providers," TRAI Secretary SK Gupta had written in a letter to industry body COAI on March 29.

The subscriber data is crucial due to a variety of reasons, and more so in times like these when telecom data can give insights into the movements and behaviours of over a billion subscribers, which can be used by the different arms of the government and policymakers. "It would be interesting to know if the government is analysing telecom data, which is available real-time to mitigate the troubles created by the pandemic. For instance, the large-scale migration of workers can be tracked through telecom networks," says the analyst quoted above.

If the regulator has not published the data for January yet - the month when the impact of coronavirus was relatively far lower - it's quite likely the data for subsequent months would be pushed much further. Meanwhile, the COAI is expecting subs addition to slow down to less than 1 million in March against (average) 3 million in the past. Analysts say subscriber growth is going to be negative in April and May due to big disruption in the manner telecom services are used.

A source in Vodafone Idea says that reporting of data to TRAI has been delayed because many people are not available. Though the data is captured on an ongoing basis, it requires manual intervention before the submission. Telcos have to report a variety of data to TRAI -mobile and internet subscriber numbers, MNP (mobile number portability), QoS (quality of service), tariffs, data services, VLR (visitor location register), and others - on weekly, monthly and quarterly basis in specified formats.

"It is extremely difficult for the TSPs (telecom service providers) to submit various monthly and quarterly reports on the due date or on a real-time basis, as per the requirements of TRAI as most of these reports require circle-wise compilation and their compilation in the current environment will not be possible," Rajan Mathews, Director General of COAI says in an email response.

The delay on part of telcos will happen due to issues at retailers' end in reporting numbers to operators as the lockdown was implemented at a short notice. Business Today has sent email queries to TRAI, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, and the story will be updated in due course.

Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: India Inc.'s post 21-day lockdown plan

Also Read: Coronavirus impact: Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, UP stare at big fiscal hole
Due to the increased need for veterinary support for pets in Pennsylvania, whiskerDocs has increased staffing and expanded our veterinary telemedicine services to support pet owners as their regular clinics are forced to reduce hours and in many cases, close completely.

Because of limited access to veterinary care, new guidance from the State of Pennsylvania temporarily allows licensed veterinarians to provide telemedicine support to their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. whiskerDocs, the national leader in telehealth services for domestic pets (currently dogs and cats), is making 24 hour a day clinical support available to pet owners across the state that need access to veterinary care during the Stay at Home order. Pet owners can reach a licensed veterinarian or credentialed veterinary technician by phone or online 24 hours a day to get immediate help with medical issues and care questions about their dog or cat.

Deb Leon, Founder and CEO, said, "Our veterinary team is standing by to provide virtual clinical guidance to Pennsylvania pet owners during this pandemic. This is an unprecedented period for our country; the State of Pennsylvania is leading the way for others to follow, helping to deliver much needed care to pet owners and veterinary clinics 24 hours a day. We are so honored to be able to help pet families that need support; it is a passion for all of us here at whiskerDocs."

whiskerDocs provides real-time support through phone, video, live chat and email for pet owners so that they can get help with problems or symptoms their pets are experiencing. With Pennsylvania opening up the law, whiskerDocs has revised their patented protocols to be able to stabilize mildly ill or uncomfortable pets based upon the presenting conditions and previous medical history.

Nicole Rogers, Vice President of Operations, said, "Pet owners are just as concerned about the welfare of their pets as they are about their other family members. We have been providing on-demand support to millions of pets since 2013, and our number one priority is safety for the pet and the family. Due to the increased need for veterinary support, we have doubled our staff and expanded our services to support Pennsylvania families as their regular veterinary clinics are forced to reduce hours and in many cases, close completely. It is our mission to provide support to pet owners as well as their primary veterinarians by filling in the gaps during this most challenging time."

Accessing whiskerDocs services is easy; a pet owner can call, email, mobile message, or chat with our expert veterinary team 24 hours a day. If a video consult with a veterinarian is indicated, we will connect the pet owner with one of our licensed veterinarians for a more in-depth virtual exam. Care, Compassion, and Competence are the essential qualities of every whiskerDocs telehealth specialist. And real-time, convenient, access in seconds is how we deliver support to families with pets.

ABOUT

whiskerDocs, the leader in telehealth services for pets, has been trailblazing telehealth with innovative on-demand solutions since 2013. Serving pet parents in U.S. and Canada, with nearly 4 million pets covered by client partners, whiskerDocs delivers access within seconds to its 24/7 services via the telephone, video, email, mobile messaging, and live chat. whiskerDocs team of veterinary telehealth specialists is comprised of veterinarians and veterinary technicians, who are enabled to deliver a seamless experience with the primary care provider through whiskerDocs patented processes and proprietary technology. whiskerDocs is a member of the American Telehealth Association, and has satisfied the accreditation requirements for telehealth call centers for both the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)* and the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC)*. For more information, visit http://www.whiskerDocs.com.

*Standards for both organizations have not yet been applied to the pet sector; standards met are for human telehealth.
Tamara and Petra Ecclestone have revealed they are 'delighted' Bernie will be a father again at the age of 89.

The former Formula 1 chief's fourth child will be his first with wife Fabiana Flosi and is due in the summer.

The sisters, 35 and 31, have not said anything publicly but their representatives confirmed they were happy for the couple.

Tamara, 35 and Petra, 31, have not said anything on social media but their representatives confirmed they were happy for the couple

The former Formula 1 chief's fourth child will be his first with wife Fabiana Flosi (right) and is due in the summer

A spokesman for Tamara told Metro.co.uk: 'Tamara is absolutely thrilled for them both'. They added she had know for some months.

Petra's representative said the sisters were 'delighted by the news and very happy for them'.

Bernie said he did not 'see any difference between being 89 and 29'. The tycoon, who turns 90 in October added: 'You've got the same problems I suppose. It's alright.'

The couple, who tied the knot in 2012, are staying at their farm in Brazil, where Flosi is from, and confirmed they were 'obviously' excited.

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has revealed his delight at becoming a father for the fourth time at the age of 89, with his 44-year-old wife Fabiana Flosi (couple pictured together)

The billionaire businessman, who is currently at his farm near Sao Paul, Brazil amid the coronavirus crisis will welcome his first son in July

Bernie said: 'We're fine... We're in Brazil at the moment so we have to wait a little while and see whether this little one is going to happen in Brazil or in England.'

The billionaire has three grown-up daughters, Deborah, Tamara, and Petra, as well as grandchildren, from two previous marriages.

'Everybody is very pleased. They're all happy,' he said of the family's response.

Asked what kind of father he was going to be, he said: 'We don't know, probably better than before, probably a bit more relaxed!'

On the threat of the deadly coronavirus to his pregnant wife, he told MailOnline: 'You hope it's not going to happen but these things do happen so you just have to cope, what else can you do?

'You have to hope that the people who are looking after everything have not caught anything themselves.

The new addition, who will be born not long before Mr Ecclestone's 90th birthday in October, will be his fourth child after his three daughters

Pictured: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge with Bernie Ecclestone and guests as he attend the London's Air Ambulance Charity gala at Rosewood London in 2019

Mr Ecclestone - dubbed 'F1 Supremo' - is a former chief executive of the Formula 1 Group, which manages Formula 1 and part-owns Delta Topco

'I'm not too sure we're ever going to get rid of this bloody nonsense, anymore than the flu that happens every year.

'It's just that at the moment this is a little bit more dangerous than what we've been used to but when it settles down I think the world will have changed an awful lot.

'People and businesses will have changed their ways. People in general will have different priorities, different values. It'll make people wake up a little bit.

'We are hopefully going to see a better world.'

Now he's not tied up with Formula 1 work, he has had more time to get used to the idea of having a baby in his life again.

He said: 'There's nothing that unusual is there? I haven't had a job for a little while so I have had plenty of time to practise!' Yes, she (his wife) is thrilled. We're not sure what all the fuss is about!

Pictured: Mr Ecclestone with his second wife Slavica (left) and daughters Petra and Tamara (right)

'I'm very happy and happy really for my wife, she's been looking forward to this happening for quite a few years so I'm happy she'll have someone after I'm gone.

'It's fun, I don't see any dramas, I've got grandchildren and I'm looking forward to having another baby.'

The businessman, who is currently at his farm near Sao Paulo, confirmed to German TV channel Blick yesterday that he and his 44-year-old wife are expecting a child.

He said: 'Yes, it is due in the summer. Hopefully he'll learn to play backgammon soon!'

Bernie's eldest child, Deborah, 65, was born to his first wife Ivy Bamford before he had socialites Tamara and Petra with his second wife Slavica Radic.

The expectant parents met through the World Motor Sport Council - where she regularly attended meetings.

They knew each other professionally for a few years before a mutual friend invited Flosi on a cruise around Croatia with Bernie in 2009.

He met Croatian model Slavica Radic in September 1982 in the pits at Italy's Monza race circuit

Flosi said: 'Like all parents, we have only one wish: the child must be born healthy. Hopefully he will never express the intention to do something with Formula 1.'

When the child is born Bernie could be ranked among the 10 oldest known fathers of all time.

American James Smith is thought to be the oldest recorded father, with his 38-year-old wife Anna giving birth to twins in 1949 when he claimed to be 101 years old.

Fertility in men drops significantly with age so the chances of a man who is almost 90 being able to be a father are low.

Some household names have also had children well into old age - though not quite reaching 89.

Charlie Chaplin had a child aged 73, while Mick Jagger fathered his eighth child in 2016 with his 29-year-old girlfriend, when he was also 73.

Bernie went on to speak about the current coronavirus pandemic and said he 'just wants everything to be good with Fabiana' should the isolation go on longer.

He said: 'Fortunately the farm never runs out of work. Fabiana also looks after her own coffee plantation.'

Bernie, dubbed 'F1 Supremo', is a former chief executive of the Formula 1 Group, which manages Formula 1 and part-owns Delta Topco.

He amassed an estimated fortune of 2.5billion throughout his time working for Formula 1.

Tamara, a mother-of-one, has also appeared on a series of reality television shows in the UK

The eccentric mogul entered two Grand Prix races as a driver himself in 1958, but failed to qualify for either of them.

He later became the manager of drivers Stuart Lewis-Evans and Jochen Rindt before he purchased the Brabham team in 1972, which he went on to lead for 15 years.

He married his first wife, Ivy Bamford, when he was 21 in 1952. The pair had one daughter, Deborah, before they divorced in the 1960s.

Bernie then had a 17-year relationship with Singapore-born Tuana Tan, before he met Croatian model Slavica Radic in September 1982 in the pits at Italy's Monza race circuit.

The pair, who have a 28-year age gap, married in 1985 and later had daughters Tamara and Petra - both of whom have had careers in fashion.

Tamara, a mother-of-one, has also appeared on a series of reality television shows in the UK.

She starred in her own show, Tamara Ecclestone: Billion $$$ Girl, on Channel 5 in 2011 and on ITVBE's Tamara's World in 2017.

Bernie and Ms Radic divorced in 2009 and he married his wife, who is 45 years his junior, three years later.
The Deputy Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mame Yaa Aboagye has expressed disappointment in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over their statement on the request by Special Prosecutor to invite four UK/Ghanaians citizens to aid the probe of the Airbus scandal.



National Democratic Congress (NDC) called the bluff of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, who has invited some individuals to assist in his investigations into the scandal which seems to have implicated former President John Mahama.



Mr. Amidu has invited four persons for interrogation regarding their roles in an alleged bribery and other offences relating to the Mills/Mahama governments acquisition of three aircrafts from Airbus.



Among the four individuals is a UK-Ghanaian citizen, Samuel Adam Foster alias Samuel Adam Mahama, who is believed to be former President Mahamas relative.



The rest included three other British citizens named Philip Sean Middlemiss, Sarah Davis and Sarah Furneaux.



Mr. Amidu wants these individuals to avail themselves after concluding preliminary investigations into the scandal which was referred to him in February 2020.



It would be recalled that on January 31, 2020, Ghana was named as one of five countries which Airbus allegedly paid millions of dollars in exchange for contracts.



A court in Britain slapped a fine of 3 billion on the company, citing bribery and other offenses.



The NDC, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah could not fathom why the Special Prosecutor was inviting the above-mentioned individuals for a probe.



Mame Yaa Aboagye has asked the NDC to allow Martin Amidu to do his work.



She wondered why the NDC is making the invite an issue adding the constitution of Ghana mandates Mr. Amidu to invite any person he chooses to aid in his investigation.



I dont see anything wrong with it because it is for their own good for truth to prevail in the airbus saga once and for all. Whether the NDC likes it or not, the probe will continue stop the propaganda. Lets allow Martin Amidu to do his work. It seems the airbus scandal has turned to coronavirus and its scaring the NDC, she stressed.



She also indicated that the corrupt politicians involved in Airbus saga causing huge financial loss to the nation should not go unpunished.



She believed Mr. Amidu is acting in the interest of transparency and accountability.



you cannot use diversionary tactics and ride on the wave of covid-19 emotions to stop Mr. Amidu from operating in his mandate. We are interested in following the airbus saga to its logical conclusion and bring the culprits to book, she stated.











Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Those items still require approval from the Legislature's Budget Section before the state agencies can accept the money because the amounts are more than $50,000. A meeting for the group of 43 state lawmakers is being set for Tuesday via telecommunications.

The Emergency Commission also voted unanimously for the state's Department of Emergency Services to accept $5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and to use $30 million in borrowing authority from the Bank of North Dakota.

That money is to prepare hospitals' response to the pandemic and to establish capacity for as many as eight rudimentary care facilities -- or field hospitals -- in North Dakota. Federal money is expected to reimburse the loan. The Department of Emergency Services' item doesn't require the legislative approval due to the nature of the pandemic as an imminent threat to residents' safety.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday approved Burgum's request for a presidential disaster declaration in North Dakota. The designation makes federal funds available to help the state's response to the unfolding pandemic.
As coronavirus cases continue to climb in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday morning that a few of the ventilators New Jersey has received from the federal government to treat the most critical patients are not working.

Murphy said the state has so far received 850 machines from President Donald Trumps administration. The Federal Emergency Management Agency delivered 650 of the ventilators this week, he said.

But the governor said during a radio interview that he got news overnight some ventilators are not working."

I dont have any other color on that, Murphy said on NPR Morning Edition.

State officials clarified Friday afternoon that 14 of the ventilators the state has received from the federal government had missing parts or were malfunctioning. Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the State Police, said eight were repaired by staff on hand.

Murphy said the state is still seeking 1,650 more from the federal government, as hospitals in the northern New Jersey begin to see a surge in patients, with some being forced to divert patients to other facilities.

Were using them as fast as were getting them, Murphy said.

Meanwhile, FEMA is helping to construct three pop-up field hospitals in the state to help handle patients. The first, in Secaucus, is set to open next week.

Earlier this week, The New York Times that said more than 2,000 ventilators in the federal governments emergency stockpile cant be deployed because they were not maintained while they were stored.

Also, federal officials this week told a U.S. House committee that the nation has only 9,500 ventilators left in the stockpile.

As of Thursday afternoon, New Jersey, a state of 9 million people, has at least 25,590 cases of COVID-19, including at least 537 deaths. Thats the second-most cases of COVID-19 in the country, after New York.

The virus is now the most common form of death in the state.

Murphy has said the state is in desperate need of supplies  not just ventilators, but testing materials and protective gear for health-care workers and first responders. The state is seeking equipment from the federal government, buying its own, and receiving donations from private companies.

The governor signed an executive order to allow the head of the State Police to commandeer equipment from private companies if needed.

We cant take any chances," the governor told NPR. "We cant afford to not turn over every stone.

Trump tweeted Thursday that some states and hospitals seeking equipment from the federal government have insatiable appetites and are never satisfied.

Remember, we are a backup for them, the president added. The complainers should have been stocked up and ready long before this crisis hit.

Then, during a White House press briefing Thursday, Jared Kushner, the Livingston native who is Trumps son-in-law and close adviser, criticized some states for relying on the national stockpile.

The notion of the federal stockpile was: Its supposed to be our stockpile, Kushner said. Its not supposed to be state stockpiles that they then use.

So were encouraging the states to make sure that theyre assessing the needs, theyre getting the data from their local situations, and then trying to fill it with the supplies that weve given them," he added.

According to the federal Health and Human Services Department: When state, local, tribal, and territorial responders request federal assistance to support their response efforts, the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency."

Murphy declined to criticize Kushners comments Friday morning.

It does, however, feel like we entered this war  and it is a war  with less ammunition than we needed. A lot less, the governor said. "Thats gonna be a challenge."

Were grateful for what we got, he added. But were gonna need a lot more.

Murphy has ordered New Jerseyans to stay at home, banned social gatherings, closed schools, and mandated non-essential businesses close in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. He has said he expects the state to be dealing with the fallout of the virus deep into May.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 18:30:46|Editor: Yurou

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BERLIN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- German stocks were off to a shaky start on Friday, with the benchmark DAX index losing 35.55 points, or 0.37 percent, opening at 9,535.27 points.

German DAX shares temporary hit a new seven-day low and were more than 30 percent below the all-time-high. Over the last seven days, the DAX index fell by 4.3 percent.

The biggest winner among Germany's largest 30 companies at the start of trading was aircraft engine specialist MTU Aero, increasing 0.93 percent, followed by Germany's biggest airline Lufthansa with 0.68 percent and car manufacturer Daimler with 0.64 percent.

Shares of Munich Re fell by 1.87 percent. The leading global provider of reinsurance was the biggest loser at the start of trading on Friday.

On Friday, the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) announced that order intake of German machine manufactures declined by 4 percent in February year-on-year. While orders from domestic customers fell by 6 percent, international orders were down 3 percent.

"The real extent of the consequences of the corona pandemic in the mechanical engineering sector will only become apparent in the order figures for March and the following months", commented VDMA chief economist Ralph Wiechers and warned that "this is the calm before the storm."

The yield on German ten-year bonds went down by 0.012 percentage points to minus 0.448 percent and the euro was trading almost unchanged at 1.0857 U.S. dollars, increasing slightly by 0.01 percent on Friday morning.
Dirac matter is an intriguing class of materials with rather peculiar properties: electrons in these materials behave as if they had no mass. The most prominent Dirac material is graphene, but further members have been discovered during the past 15 years or so. Each one of them serves as a rich playground for exploring 'exotic' electronic behaviours, some of which hold the promise to enable novel components for electronics. However, even if Dirac matter and other so-called topological materials --- in which electrons behave in similarly unexpected ways --- are among the currently most intensively studied condensed-matter systems, there are only very few examples where the topology of the electronic bands is connected in a well-defined manner to the magnetic properties of the materials. One material in which such interplay between topological electronic states and magnetism has been observed is CaMnBi2, but the mechanism connecting the two remained unclear. Writing in Physical Review Letters [1], postdoc Run Yang and PhD student Matteo Corasaniti from the Optical Spectroscopy group of Prof. Leonardo Degiorgi at the Laboratory for Solid State Physics of ETH Zurich, working with colleagues at Brookhaven National Laboratory (US) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, now report a comprehensive study in which they provide clear evidence that it is a slight nudge on the magnetic moments, known as spin canting, that provokes substantial changes in the electronic band structure.

Compass points to the right direction on a bumpy road

CaMnBi2 and the related compound SrMnBi2 have recently attracted attention as they display quantum magnetism -- the manganese ions are antiferromagnetically ordered at around room temperature and below -- and at the same time they host Dirac electrons. That there is interplay between the two properties has been suspected for some while, not least as at ~50 K there appears an unexpected 'bump' in the conduction properties at these materials. But the precise nature of this anomaly was still poorly understood until now.

In earlier work studying optical properties [2], Corasaniti, Yang and co-workers had established already a link to the electronic properties of the material. They used in particular the fact that the bump-like anomaly in the transport properties can be shifted in temperature by replacing some of the calcium atoms with sodium. To get now to the microscopic origins of the observed behaviour, they studied samples with different sodium dopings by torque magnetometry. In this technique, the torque on a magnetic sample is measured when it is exposed to a suitably strong field, similarly as a compass needle aligns with the Earth magnetic field. And this approach proved to point the team to the origins of the anomaly.

A firm link between magnetic and electronic properties

In their magnetic-torque experiments, the researchers found that at temperatures where no anomaly is observed in the electronic transport measurements, the magnetic behaviour is such as one would expect for an antiferromagnet. This was not the case anymore at temperatures at which the anomaly is present. There, a ferromagnetic component appeared, which can be explained by a projection of magnetic moments onto the plane orthogonal to the easy spin c-axis of the original antiferromagnetic order (see the figure). This phenomenon is known as spin-canting, induced by a so-called super-exchange mechanism.

These two sets of experiments -- optical and torque measurements -- were supported by dedicated first-principles calculations. In particular, for the case where spin canting was included in the calculations, a peculiar hybridization between the manganese and bismuth atoms was found to mediate the interlayer magnetic coupling and to govern the electronic properties in the material. Taken together, the study therefore establishes that sought-after direct link between the magnetic properties and changes to the electronic band structure, reflected in the bump anomaly of the transport properties.

With such detailed understanding on board, the door is now open to exploring not only the electronic properties of CaMnBi2 and related compounds, but also the possibilities arising from the connection between magnetic properties and topological states in these intriguing forms of matter.

###
One of the companies on Ottawas list for $192 million vaccine development funding still does not know how much it will receive from the federal government, but says the money will help push its vaccine development from early testing to full clinical trials. Medicago, a private Quebec-based biotech company, says it has already received $7 million from the government of Quebec.

In an e-mail to Yahoo Finance Canada, Medicagos chief financial officer Mike Warner explained the funding would be used for pre-clinical and human trials and to expand laboratory space ... so that substantial quantities of the vaccine can be produced and delivered for the population.

A press release from last week explained that the government funding would help push their team from pre-clinical testing to full clinical trials.

Medicago successfully produced the virus-like particle in COVID-19, an essential first step in creating a vaccine. This isnt the companys first shot at curbing pandemics. They developed a vaccine for H1N1 in 2009.

The company works with plant-based treatments to target virus contamination and limit its mutation. Human trials for the COVID-19 vaccine are expected to roll out by July or August, and Medicago is aiming to have a development program submitted to authorities by November 2021.

Other funding recipients include the Vancouver-based company, AbCellera. Its team uses advanced computers, lab technology and artificial intelligence to scan blood samples of patients who have recently recovered from COVID-19, to identify and isolate antibodies to treat and prevent the virus.

The University of Saskatchewan also received $23 million in federal funding for its Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization - International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac). The team behind that vaccine stated human testing could begin as early as this fall.

In the past, Canadian investments in biotech have largely focused on the public sector through universities and hospitals. There has been less project financing in the private sector in recent years. A report by Deloitte highlighted that 66 per cent of Canadian firms received less than $1 million in venture capital.

Story continues

Natasha Crowcoft, a professor in epidemiology at the University of Toronto, explained why investors can have an aversion to the market.

Its a really expensive business of preparing a vaccine from the stage theyre at to the candidate virus-like particle. Its a very high risk investment.

Crowcoft added that government funding for vaccines was largely focused in universities and public institutions as an investment in the sciences in general. She says the governments investment could take some of the risk off of companies like Medicago.

While cases of the coronavirus were ramping up, a handful of North American biotech companies like Moderna (MRNA), Gilead Sciences (GILD), Inovio Pharmaceuticals (INO) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) saw a short-term stock market boost as they announced plans to develop vaccines. Whether they are the first to develop a successful vaccine or not, the other coronavirus-fighting clinical products that these companies produce meet some increased demand for medical supplies.

Crowcroft believes its far too soon to put a timeline on a successful COVID-19 vaccine, though she wants people to be optimistic. This pandemic is happening at a time where science has never been before, Crowcoft explained, For Medicago to say that it took 20 days for it to have its candidate vaccine produced, thats incredible.
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 12:11 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f749fd 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,Luhut-Binsar-Pandjaitan,Indonesia Free

A senior Cabinet minister has justified the governments decision to not officially ban people from traveling home for the Idul Fitri holiday, saying that it could be the best decision to keep the economy afloat.

The decision was reached on Thursday following a Cabinet meeting led by President Joko Jokowi Widodo.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said economic concerns were among the primary reasons for allowing people to leave Jakarta, arguing that a travel ban would likely be ineffective considering that an exodus from the capital city had begun earlier than expected.

Our main consideration [for this policy] is so that the economy wont die completely. After we calculate everything, this could be the best option of many options that are perhaps unsuitable [for us], said the minister.

Luhut, who is also acting transportation minister after Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi was hospitalized for the coronavirus, however, stressed that the government would make it harder for people to go back to their hometowns, a local tradition known as mudik.

He said the government would strictly enforce physical distancing measures, meaning that the capacity on public transportation would be limited and prices would go up.

The minister said he was hoping people would be more disciplined in practicing physical distancing to address the outbreak. He believed the outbreak would soon subside in Indonesia because of increasing temperatures in April but that would not happen if people failed to practice physical distancing.

President Jokowi said during Thursdays meeting that homebound travelers, who could potentially carry the COVID-19 virus, must self-isolate as soon as they arrived in their hometowns as a preventative measure and ordered communities to increase the monitoring of recently-returned travelers, who will be considered people under observation (ODP).

I would like to encourage participation at the community level, be it through neighborhood units [RT] or community units [RW] so that travelers who come back from Greater Jakarta can be given ODP status, said Jokowi from Bogor Palace, West Java, adding that village funds could be used as social safety nets for the villagers.

In a separate meeting on Thursday, Jokowi also instructed Home Minister Tito Karnavian to reprimand regional administrations that, because of their own mobility-restriction measures, had set up road blocks that prevent the smooth distribution of goods during Ramadan and Idul Fitri.

I received a report yesterday that there are two regions that had hampered the distribution of rice because they blocked their roads. Please notify the administrations about this, said Jokowi.

Jokowi has resisted calls to impose territorial quarantines to contain the coronavirus outbreak and is instead opting for large-scale social restrictions as the main government strategy after declaring a public health emergency status over COVID-19 on Tuesday.
In September 2018, the Trump administration received detailed plans for a new machine designed to churn out millions of protective respirator masks at high speed during a pandemic.

The plans, submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by the medical manufacturer O&M Halyard, were the culmination of a venture unveiled almost three years earlier by the Obama administration.

But HHS did not proceed with making the machine.

The project was one of two N95 mask ventures - totaling $9.8 million - that the federal government embarked on over the past five years to better prepare for pandemics.

The other involves the development of reusable masks to replace the single-use variety currently so scarce that medical professionals are using theirs over and over. Expert panels have advised the government for at least 14 years that reusable masks were vital.

That effort, like the quick mask machine, has not led to a single new mask for the government's response.

"The Halyard contract was part of an explicit strategy to ensure we could surge mask production in the next crisis," said Nicole Lurie, who was the HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response under Obama. "Now we're dealing with the consequences of not having that capability."

Halyard said Thursday in a statement that its work on the government contract was completed in September 2018. A spokeswoman declined to give additional details.

An HHS spokesperson, who declined to speak for attribution, told The Washington Post that although Halyard's plans were feasible, no funding was available to build the machine.

HHS's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, the department that solicited the Halyard design, had a budget of nearly $1.5 billion for 2020, according to an HHS report.

Amid the current crisis, the design remains under consideration, according to the spokesperson who said "implementing this design, along with use of more proven mask manufacturing techniques are being considered by a supply chain task force to reduce N95 shortages."

In an interview with CNBC last week, Edward A. Pesicka, chief executive of Halyard's parent company, Owens & Minor, said his company had already stepped up production of masks and other protective gear to its maximum.

"We are in the process of actually expanding capacity, but that's going to take probably five to six months to make sure that you have the capability to expand that capacity," Pesicka said.

He did not mention the firm's work for the government on a high-speed machine.

Pesicka did not respond to an email requesting comment.

---

The Obama administration and the medical firm Halyard Health of Alpharetta, Georgia, announced the project to develop a rapid pandemic mask production line in December 2015.

In May 2018, another firm, Owens & Minor of Mechanicsville, Virginia, bought Halyard's surgical clothing business to operate as a division named O&M Halyard.

On the government side, the fast-mask project was an initiative of BARDA, a part of HHS that is responsible for creating countermeasures against pandemics, biochemical attacks and other threats.

Halyard promised in its 2015 statement to design a "one-of-a-kind, high-speed machine" to help federal health planners solve a production problem that had bedeviled them for years.

Officials had long assumed that a public health emergency would one day create a huge demand for the respirator masks known as N95s. But the difficulty of predicting when a pandemic or other crisis would strike meant stockpiled masks could pass their expiration dates while sitting on shelves.

Halyard said its new machine would provide a just-in-time inventory alternative and avoid waste by enabling rapid and plentiful production when a crisis hit.

"Pandemic preparedness in the United States is imperative to protecting health and saving lives, and respirator manufacturing capacity remains a critical gap in that preparedness," Robin Robinson, then the director of BARDA, said in a statement at the time.

HHS officials said in a strategy document that they hoped the machine would produce at least 1.5 million masks per day - 10 times the output manufacturers were each then telling the government they could do.

Asked whether the machine in its design could have accomplished the 1.5 million daily rate, Halyard said in a statement that it submitted a plan "to meet the requested specifications." The HHS spokesperson said, "The project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the approach and developed an initial design of a high speed mask manufacturing line."

No details of progress in the Halyard mask project appear to have been publicly reported by the government. However, in May 2017, HHS signed off on a $3.3 million payment to Halyard as part of the machine project, according to federal contracting records.

A Halyard employee involved in the project told The Post that the firm delivered the design to the government on time in 2018 and within the government's $5 million budget. Outside contractors and engineering firms were brought in, according to the manager, who said he was not authorized to speak publicly about the work.

Brief mentions in HHS budget requests to Congress for 2020 and 2021 noted the department was "supporting efforts at Halyard Health to develop high-speed manufacturing for surge production" of N95 masks.

But in an emailed statement from O&M Halyard, the company said: "Owens & Minor Halyard's obligations under that contract were completed with delivery of a final design package to BARDA in September 2018."

The HHS spokesperson said references to the Halyard collaboration appeared in recent budgets because BARDA "requested funding to build the prototype" but did not get enough money for it.

As of Friday morning, the spokesperson had not answered a question about whether the shortfall reflected a congressional decision or was a consequence of shifting priorities within HHS.

When the pandemic mask project launched in 2015, Halyard was facing legal action over some of its protective medical gear.

A group of hospitals and clinics roughly a year earlier had sued the firm and its former parent company, paper and medical giant Kimberly-Clark, alleging fraud in the marketing of surgical gowns.

Among other disclosures during the class-action lawsuit in Los Angeles, one Kimberly-Clark employee was found to have said in an email that the process used to seal the seams on the gowns was "crap," court filings show.

Company executives rejected that characterization of the production process in their testimony and maintained that the gowns were of high quality.

The lawsuit was filed by a then relatively unknown attorney: Michael Avenatti.

Avenatti would go on to find fame representing Stormy Daniels, the adult-film actress, in high-profile legal fights against President Trump. Avenatti now is in a New York jail, awaiting sentencing after his February conviction for trying to extort the sportswear firm Nike.

At the surgical gown trial in the spring of 2017, a jury found that Kimberly-Clark and Halyard had misrepresented the safety of its MicroCool-branded surgical gowns. The verdict is on appeal at the 9th Circuit.

In its appeal, Halyard says among other arguments that none of the clinics that sued had suffered any injuries from its gowns. The firm says that tens of millions of gowns have been sold without any reported infections.

Stephen Devereaux, an attorney for Halyard in the case, said in an email, "The company does not comment on pending litigation."

The jury awarded $454 million in total damages, which Judge Dolly M. Gee reduced to about $25 million. Kimberly-Clark and Halyard are in an ongoing legal dispute about who should pay the damages, court records show.

The HHS spokesperson said Halyard made the department aware of the case before the mask machine contract was signed.

Soon after Owens & Minor bought Halyard's surgical clothing business in 2018, the surviving firm renamed itself Avanos Medical. Avanos remains based in Alpharetta but now focuses on technical medical devices.

Avanos, not O&M Halyard, has responsibility for the surgical gown litigation, according to representatives of both companies.

Raul Damas, an Avanos spokesman, said of the mask-making project that "that program and capability went to Owens & Minor when Halyard sold its surgical business to them" and that Avanos had "no visibility" on the project after that.

Lee Burnes, who was a Halyard vice president for research and development in 2015, when the mask project was announced, said the company had pursued it for the chance to "demonstrate our expertise and help make a difference."

This week, Burnes, now a senior vice president at Avanos, declined to comment on the design venture. "I am no longer part of Halyard and it has been a couple of years," he said in an email.

---

While funding Halyard's mask effort, HHS's BARDA also backed development of an N95 mask that could be used by medical personnel more than once without risk of contamination or infection.

In September 2017, the Trump administration contracted with Applied Research Associates of Albuquerque to create a prototype of a "next-generation respirator," as the masks are called, that could be sanitized and reused during public health emergencies.

Medical personnel tackling the coronavirus outbreak have said that because of shortages, they have had no choice but to reuse their conventional N95 masks, a practice that manufacturers warn could diminish the masks' effectiveness.

Applied Research Associates has been awarded $4.8 million for the project so far, according to public contract records, and received an extension in May to work beyond its 15-month prototype development phase.

But that 2019 deal came too late for the coronavirus outbreak.

"Unfortunately, if the pandemic would have happened next year, we'd have been in much better shape," said Brian Heimbuch, principal investigator on the project for Applied Research Associates. "It's still in progress. It looks promising."

It's been 14 years since experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine warned of the need for a reusable mask. The Committee on the Development of Reusable Facemasks for Use During an Influenza Pandemic took up the issue in January 2006 as part of a federally funded study, delivering its recommendations in a few months.

Health officials and manufacturers, the panel said, should collaborate closely to create materials for an N95 mask that could be used again and again.

"Given the potential duration of a pandemic, even stepped-up production and stockpiling of disposable medical masks and N95 respirators may not be sufficient to meet demand," the committee warned.

It noted a government estimate that medical personnel would need 90 million N95s during a six-week pandemic. The same estimate would be cited nine years later by Halyard Health as evidence that its high-speed mask machine was needed.

In 2009, another panel, this time inside the government, also urged development of masks that could be used more than once to meet demand in a crisis.

Working under the name Project B.R.E.A.T.H.E. - Better Respiratory Equipment using Advanced Technologies for Healthcare Employees - the group assigned the highest priority rating to its recommendation on reusability.

Lewis J. Radonovich Jr., who was then a senior health official at the Department of Veterans Affairs, led the panel. Now a senior researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he did not respond to a request for comment.

Howard Cohen, a professor of occupational safety at the University of New Haven, who also was a member of the committee, said its work unfortunately had proved prescient.

"It is sad, because we really did see this coming," Cohen said. "We saw the shortfall. And there were a bunch of things that potentially could have been done and weren't."
GENEVA (Reuters) - A first planeload of medical supplies for COVID-19 patients and other relief goods has arrived in Ukraine to help people enduring a six-year conflict in the country's east, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday.

Eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists emerged in 2014, reported its first coronavirus infection on Tuesday and the ICRC said several more cases had been confirmed there since.

Tension between the rebels and Ukrainian forces remains high and fighting flared in February despite peace talks in December.

"Neutrality helps us build relationships with all parties to the conflict, which in turn trust us, or do not see us as being partial. We can then access all those in need, wherever they are. In Ukraine, that is what weve being doing for years on both sides of the frontline, ICRC spokesman Didier Revol said.

The ICRC expected to deliver gloves, masks and other protective devices at the end of April or early May, he added.

The initial 14 metric tonnes of supplies will go to hospitals and detention centres and serve both sides of the front line in the region, known as the Donbass, where the situation could become "disastrous" given the state of the health system, the ICRC said.

"This material will help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Donbass, a region where people are struggling with the threat of the COVID-19 while already suffering from 6 years of conflict," the humanitarian agency said.

The aircraft, sent to Geneva by Ukrainian authorities, was loaded with the supplies on Wednesday night, following what Revol said was an agreement between Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and ICRC President Peter Maurer.

It was a rare plane to take off from Geneva's Cointrin airport where flights have been grounded during the pandemic.

"It is very important that this kind of medical goods, humanitarian relief goods can still travel across borders, because it is urgently needed in these places," Karl Reisacher, deputy head of ICRC air operations, said in Geneva.

Story continues

The medical cargo, including 1 tonne of goods from the World Health Organization (WHO), arrived in Kiev's Boryspil airport, Revol said.

Items such as disinfectant fluids, syringes or IV fluids can be used in the fight against COVID as well as supporting other procedures such as war surgery, he said.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed more than 13,000 people since 2014, and another Ukrainian solder was killed and four others were injured in the flareup on Feb. 18, the country's military said. Both sides blamed the other for the fighting.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, Cecile Mantovani and Denis Balibouse; Writing by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Alison Williams)
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday expressed concern over the gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar and the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin, saying these two incidents caused a setback to the efforts to combat coronavirus, according to a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In a video-conference with the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of states/union territories, the president emphasized the need to ensure that no one remains hungry during the nationwide lockdown, enforced to check the spread of the virus.

"In the conference there was unanimity that there is no scope for laxity or complacency in fighting the invisible enemy. In this context, the president noted with concern the incidents of attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel in some parts of the country," it said.

Affirming that people of the country have set an example by showing exemplary courage, discipline and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, Kovind has expressed concern over two incidents, the gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar and the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin, both in Delhi, that caused a setback to the efforts, the statement said.

Moreover, while ensuring that food and other essential items are made available to the needy, care has to be taken that no compromise is made on the question of social distancing, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde says his grandmother has died from the coronavirus just a few days after his father's death as a result of the pandemic.

The 28-year-old fighter appealed to people to 'just stay home' as he announced that his grandmother had died yesterday.

'It's serious!' Yarde wrote on social media. 'People are still going out when they don't need to. I know there's a lot of opinions about Covid-19 and I have mine but I just know opinions ain't worth risking your life and others. Just stay home.'

Yarde's father, who the boxer said had been 'fit with no health issues', died last week.

Yarde's promoter Frank Warren wrote on Twitter: 'We are extremely sad to learn that Anthony Yarde has now lost his Nan to the Coronavirus.

British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde (pictured) says his grandmother has died from the coronavirus just a few days after his father's death as a result of the pandemic

'It's serious!' Yarde wrote on social media. 'I know there's a lot of opinions about Covid-19 and I have mine but I just know opinions ain't worth risking your life and others. Just stay home'

Yarde's next fight was set to be against Britain's Lyndon Arthur on April 11, but the event has been delayed until 11 July because of the pandemic

'We can't begin to imagine what Anthony and his family are going through and our sincere condolences go out to them.

'Please listen to his heartfelt personal plea, stay at home to save lives.'

Yarde's next fight was set to be against Britain's Lyndon Arthur on April 11, but the event has been delayed until 11 July because of the pandemic.

Today's 684 death toll is another record one-day high. Yesterday there were a record 569 new fatalities announced by the Department of Health.

The new numbers mean the number of people dead from COVID-19 in the UK has risen five-fold in a week, from just 759 last Friday, March 27.

The numbers behind the UK's crisis have escalated rapidly over the past seven days and Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said the virus 'continues its grim march'. He admitted that next week is likely to be worse still, potentially topping out at more than 1,000 deaths per day by Easter Sunday.

Britain is still being hammered by the consequences of huge numbers of people catching the coronavirus before the country went into total lockdown last week. The increases being seen each day are 'expected', scientists say.

Experts say it could take another couple of weeks before the benefits of social distancing start to show in NHS statistics - but they insist that the outbreak will taper off and the daily numbers will start to fall.

In other developments in the worldwide coronavirus crisis:

Two NHS nurses - Areema Nasreen and Aimee O'Rourke - died after catching the coronavirus, taking the death toll of frontline health workers to seven;

The Government is enrolling COVID-19 patients in three major clinical trials in NHS hospitals to test what types of treatments can be used;

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway's husband, Derek Draper, 52, is in intensive care with a severe case of COVID-19;

The Queen will address the nation in a televised speech on Sunday;

Teachers will submit 'carefully considered' GCSE and A-Level grades for their students after coronavirus cancelled exams;

Premier League clubs will ask their players to take wage cuts of up to 30 per cent and will donate 20million to the NHS;

Beijing's chief medical adviser on coronavirus, Zhong Nanshan, said the world is heading for disaster if the US can't get a grip on its outbreak;

The funeral of Britain's youngest coronavirus victim was held today without his family present because they are in isolation after developing symptoms;

The Prince of Wales opened the new NHS Nightingale Hospital for intensive care coronavirus patients, saying it was a message of hope;

Health chiefs urged Britons to stay at home to help fight the coronavirus pandemic this weekend as a mini-heatwave is due to sweep the country.
B ritain's high streets have suffered their worst month on record as they were hit by the coronavirus lockdown, according to new figures.

The latest monthly sales tracker BDO saw a total dive of 17.9 per cent in March as shoppers began to stay at home.

In-store sales were particularly badly hit, plunging 34.1 per cent after all non-essential stores were told to shut their doors amid the pandemic.

Footfall also reduced sharply due to social distancing measures and shoppers turning their attention to essential items such as groceries.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

Fashion stores saw sales dive 40.4 per cent over the month, while lifestyle shops reported a 24.6 per cent decline.

Elsewhere, homeware store sales declined by 26.1 per cent after customers vanished at the end of the month.

Shoppers turned their attentions online, with non-store like-for-like sales increasing by 13.7 per cent.

London during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /66 London during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures A woman jogging near City Hall, London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA An image of Queen Elizabeth II and quotes from her broadcast on Sunday to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA A pedestrian walks past a billboard reading "Please believe these days will pass" on Broadway Market in east London AFP via Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge Getty Images Boris Johnson Jeremy Selwyn Sun-seekers cool off in the water and sunbathe on the riverbank at Hackney Marshes in east London AFP via Getty Images Ed Davey is shown on screens as he speaks via videolink during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London PA A herd of fallow deer graze on the lawns in front of a housing estate in Harold Hill in east London AFP via Getty Images A woman wearing a mask crosses a bridge over Camden Lock, London PA An empty Millenium Bridge PA A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images People push to enter the Niketown shop in Londo AP Jo Proudlove and daughter Eve, 9, follow the daily online "PE with Joe" Joe Wickes' exercise class on "Fancy dress Friday Reuters Waterloo station looking empty PA Police in Westminster Jeremy Selwyn Getty Images A quiet Parliament Square Getty Images PABest A man walks along a passageway at London's Oxford Street Underground station the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus PA Social distancing markers around the camel enclosure at ZSL London Zoo PA A police car patrols Greenwich Park in London PA The Premier League in action in front of empty stands AP Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed. A deserted Piccadilly Circus PA A general view is seen of a deserted Trafalgar Square AFP via Getty Images Getty Images The iconic Abbey Road crossing is seen after a re-paint by a Highways Maintenance team as they take advantage of the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown and quiet streets to refresh the markings Getty Images A view of 20 Fenchurch Street (the 'Walkie Talkie' building) in the City of London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus PA A deserted Chinatown PA A person looks at graffiti on a JD Wetherspoon pub in Crystal Palace, south London. Wetherspoons workers have described founder Tim Martin's lack of support for his chain's 40,000 employees as "absolutely outrageous" PA The London ExCel centre that has been turned into a makeshift NHS Hospital and critical care unit to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic PA The Palace Theatre, which usually shows the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, sits in a deserted Shaftesbury Avenue PA The Sondheim Theatre, which usually shows the Les Miserables musical, sits in a deserted Shaftesbury Avenue PA Two members of a British Army mounted regiment exercise their horses in Parliament Square AP Westminster Bridge is deserted PA A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA An empty street and bus stop at St James's Park AFP via Getty Images Whitehall Jeremy Selwyn A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA A single pedestrian walks past The national Gallery AFP via Getty Images London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn Kings Cross and St Pancras Jeremy Selwyn Buckingham Palace looking empty in London, PA London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn Kings Cross and St Pancras Jeremy Selwyn London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn London's Carnaby Street empty as shops closed after a lockdown was announced in the latest bid to stop the spread of coronavirus through the UK AP A single pedestrian walks past The national Gallery AFP via Getty Images A quiet Jubilee line westbound train carriage PA A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA Empty Embankment Jeremy Selwyn

However, this online growth was not consistent for all retailers, with fashion shops also reporting lower online demand.

Sophie Michael, head of retail and wholesale at BDO, said: "It's no surprise that March was the worst month on record for the high street, as the Covid-19 outbreak had an immediate impact on consumer demand for discretionary items.

"Understandably, shoppers are being very cautious with their pounds, as concerns about job security grip the nation.

"For most retailers, in-store sales make up the largest portion of their revenue, so they are having to rely solely on non-store channels and adapt aggressively to survive.

"It is likely that the pandemic has only sped up the shift away from in-store shopping as consumers become even more accustomed to buying online."

A Government spokesman said: "We know this is an extremely tough time for Britain's retailers which is why we have announced a package of measures to support them.
Veteran actor Julie Bennett, best known as the voice of Cindy Bear in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series The Yogi Bear Show, has died at the age of 88 from coronavirus complications.

Bennett passed away on March 31, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, her talent agent Mark Scroggs told Fox

Born in Manhattan, Bennett started her theatre, radio and television career soon after her graduation.

She found her footing as a voice artiste with her stint as Cindy Bear, the character she played for over two decades on The Yogi Bear Show and the series' feature films, Hey There, It's Yogi Bear and Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears.

Her other live-action projects included Dragnet, Leave It to Beaver, Get Smart, Love, American Style and Superman.

Recently, Bennett lent her voice to "Garfield and Friends," "Spider-Man: The Animated Series and a Spider-Man-themed video game released in 2000.

She is survived by her mutually adopted family, Carol, Nick and Mark Scroggs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hello there,

You may or may not have heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning, but by now, we are sure you know what he has asked Indians to do at 9 pm on April 5.

A video messsage to my fellow Indians. https://t.co/rcS97tTFrH  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 3, 2020

Yes, he wants us to come out in our balconies or doors with candles, diyas or torches, even your mobile flashlights will do, and keep them alight for nine minutes. But before you step out into your balconies and rush to your doors, please switch off all lights inside your house. Thats Diwali six months early? You can treat it whichever way you like, just dont start bursting crackers.

He didnt specify that. But we are specifying that because with some people, you never know. Like you do not know with Imran Khan. We have no clue how the Pakistani Prime Minister is dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in his country. We hope he has a clue. Though we doubt that strongly. Khan has said he will not impose a total countrywide lockdown to fight the disease because total lockdown would create unrest like the one being witnessed in a neighbouring country. The neighbouring country Khan referred to is India. A comparison of numbers will prove how wrong Khan is.

More than 2,400 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Pakistan. (Photo: Reuters)

Pakistan currently has more than 2,400 confirmed cases and over 34 people have died due to the virus. Now, Pakistan has a population of 19.7 crore while, India has 133.92 crore people. India has 2,183 cases and about 52 deaths. No, we are not in some competition with Pakistan on this. This is just to draw home the point that Imran Khan is acting stupid by taking a dig at India at a time like this instead of focusing on saving people in his own country, Pakistan. After all, he is the Prime Minister of the country. He sure makes the cut to qualify as our Covidiot Of The Day.

Imran Khan, the Covidiot. (Photo: Reuters)

He sent a delegation of ministers to China when the world was imposing restrictions on travel to and from China. Why did he send them? For aid. Why couldnt he just do it over phone is a question that we cant answer. So, the delegation, which included Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, came back and went into a phase of self-quarantine. Thankfully, no one from the delegation is reported to have the disease so far. We wish them well.

But the people of Pakistan are angry. Now, people do remain angry with their governments in general but people in Pakistan are very angry  and rightly so. The country took no steps to halt the spread of coronavirus till it had already spread far and wide.

Early in March, some 250,000 men from Pakistan and foreign countries gathered at Raiwind near Lahore for a five-day meeting of the Tablighi Jamaat. Yes, the same organisation that is being blamed for the sudden spike in cases in India. Some figures suggest in India, Tablighi Jamaat members constitute for about 45 per cent positive cases.

Six of these Tablighi Jamaat members who were admitted in Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad hospital were reported to be roaming around partially nude and spitting around.

Horrible. CMO Ghaziabad has written to @Uppolice complaining that the #TabligiJamaat men in the hospital are roaming around partially nude (without trousers), making vulgar signs, listening to inappropriate music & demanding cigarettes which is making work for nurses difficult.???? pic.twitter.com/8Odr7PXyX5  Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) April 2, 2020

A case has been registered against them. We hope the authorities take the strictest possible action against all people putting public health and life at risk. India is tracking down all people who attended the congregation in Nizamuddin and people who might have come in contact with these men.

India is not the only country trying to track down Tablighi Jamaat members. Pakistan is also busy tracing them.

Pakistani authorities are trying to track down 41,000 Tableeghi Jamaat members who gathered in Raiwind last month.8000 Tableeghis are quarantined in Punjab only. Govt didn't have the foresight to shut this down, now they've spread across the country. https://t.co/k3sPJ5XAL8  Naila Inayat   (@nailainayat) April 2, 2020

It is beyond understating why these men are not coming out on their own.

As the authorities deal with these miscreants, lets move to some other coronavirus-related developments.

The World Bank has okayed giving US$ 1 billion (about Rs 760,00,00,00,000) aid to India to fight the new virus. The money will address the needs of infected people, at-risk populations, health personnel and other service providers. It will also help enhance medical and testing facilities.

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF)? We often hear that so and so country approached IMF for aid or so and so was helped by the World Bank. So, if both are doing the same job, why have two?

Lets answer that.

Both organisations are Bretton Woods institutions. Bretton Woods is basically the place in the US where the two institutions were conceptualised after World War II as the world tried to put the world back in order after the war. Both organisations are owned and directed by the governments of the member nations. Virtually every country on earth is a member of both institutions. Both institutions work to strengthen the economies of their member nations.

You may be wondering why we are talking about the similarities when we spoke about telling you the differences. Thats only because it will help you understand the differences better. So, now we will tell you about the difference.

The fundamental difference is that the World Bank is primarily a development institution while, the IMF is a cooperative institution and seeks to maintain an orderly system of payments and receipts between nations.

The World Bank primarily gives money to countries for development activities. The Bank's first loans were given out to fund the reconstruction of the war-ravaged economies of western Europe.

The IMF, on the other hand, was formed to resolve the problems that brought in the Great Depression of 1930s. Any country that is a member of the IMF must be ready to give up some amount of sovereignty by giving up economic practices that maybe harming other nations.

The IMF lends financial help but that is not its primary function. Giving financial help is the primary job of the World Bank.

IMFs primary job is to oversee the monetary and exchange rate policies of its member states and act as a guardian of the code of conduct.

So, how do these organisations make money? Every member state makes a contribution depending upon what its economy allows it to contribute. Also, they make money like other banks make money. Interest on loans and sale of bonds kind of activities. Both are also accused of being biased towards nations that contribute more. World Bank, in particular, is often targeted for giving money for building dams that displace thousands of people in developing countries. You see, every problem has a solution and every solution its own problems.

Now, we began by talking about Pakistans handling of coronavirus. Lets go back to Pakistan to talk about its handling of terrorism.

Pakistan has commuted the death sentence given to terrorist Omar Sheikh to seven years. Since Sheikh has already been in jail for about 18 years, he is now set to walk free in Pakistan. Oh, but we didnt tell you what Sheikh did.

Terrorist Omar Sheikh is now a free man in Pakistan. (Photo: Reuters)

Omar Sheikh kidnapped and killed The Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. Pearl was then the South Asia bureau chief for the organisation.

Of course, Sheikh wasnt alone in executing the plan. The kidnappers demanded that all Pakistani terrorists who were lodged in Guantanamo Bay prison be released in exchange for Daniel Pearl.

The video of Pearls beheading was sent to the US consulate in Karachi. His severed body was recovered later.

Daniel Pearl was killed by Omar Sheikh and his associates. (Photo: Twitter)

Sheikh is the same man India arrested in 1994 in connection with kidnapping of four foreigners - three British and an American from Delhi. He was lodged in the Tihar Jail till 1999, when he was released in exchange of those onboard the hijacked Air India flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi. Three other terrorists were released as part of the exchange.

Sheikh was born and brought up in London for most part of his life.

He is the same man who made hoax calls to former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, impersonating India's former external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee in a bid to increase the tension between India and Pakistan.

He first tried to make a call to Pranab Mukherjee pretending to be Asif Ali Zardari but the Indian side grew suspicious because he did not follow the normal procedure that is followed when calls are made between high-ranking people across countries. But the Pakistani side wasnt smart enough. Pakistanis went claiming Pranab Mukherjee has threatened Pakistan.

Now, we know you would be laughing at that; we laughed as well, but what Pakistan has done by releasing the man is not funny.

Both India and the US need to talk very tough with Pakistan on this. India and Pakistan are not talking (at the heads of state level) but some back channel talks are always on.

Pakistan must cooperate with the world on ending terror. Like we must all cooperate with authorities on tackling the coronavirus.

Lets now dwell for a bit on the word cooperate because cooperate is Our Word Of The Day.

The word is a combination of the Latin prefix co, which means together, and operari, which means to work.

According to the Oxford dictionary, to cooperate is to work together with somebody else in order to achieve something.

So, lets work together to defeat the coronavirus. How do you that? Stay home. Practice social distancing. At home, if you are staying with others, help with everything that needs to be done to keep life going.

Listen to these birds chirp the message of cooperation to all of us.

With that, we will take your leave for the day. Have a good work-from-home-free weekend.

We will be back on Monday.

Also read: DailyOh! Should you wear (or not wear) masks?
Jazz guitarist John Bucky Pizzarelli, who was inducted to the New Jersey Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 94.

The virtuoso who had played for presidents at the White House during his long and esteemed career died on Wednesday, April 1 at his home in Saddle River, New Jersey.

His family tells The New York Times they believe the cause of death was the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. And the Bergen Record reports that Pizzarelli tested positive for the virus on Sunday.

There will be some kind of tribute as soon as we can all get within 6 feet of each other, his son John Pizzarelli, also a renowned jazz artist, told the Bergen Record on Thursday.

Pizzarelli was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and had a career that spanned eight decades. He showed off his musical chops for former presidents like Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton and played alongside musical icons like Frank Sinatra.

Jazz guitar wouldnt be what it is today without Bucky Pizzarelli, said jazz guitarist Frank Vignola.

He and Freddie Green were responsible for a style of rhythm guitar playing that has lasted until 2020.

Pizzarelli died with his wife, Ruth, his son Martin, and his caregiver at his side.

Jazz Great Ellis Marsalis Jr. Died After Battling COVID-19

Pizzarelli died the same day as jazz great Ellis Marsalis Junior, the jazz pianist, teacher, and patriarch. Marsalis was 85.

Pneumonia was the actual thing that caused his demise. But it was pneumonia brought on by COVID-19, one of his six sons, Ellis Marsalis III confirmed in an Associated Press phone interview.

He said he drove Sunday from Baltimore to be with his father as he was hospitalized in Louisiana, which has been hit hard by the outbreak. Others in the family spent time with him, too.

Four of the jazz patriarchs six sons are musicians: Wynton, trumpeter, is Americas most prominent jazz spokesman as artistic director of jazz at New Yorks Lincoln Center. Branford, saxophonist, led The Tonight Show band and toured with Sting. Delfeayo, a trombonist, is a prominent recording producer and performer. And Jason, a percussionist, has made a name for himself with his own band and as an accompanist. Ellis III, who decided music wasnt his gig, is a photographer-poet in Baltimore.

He went out the way he lived: embracing reality, Wynton Marsalis tweeted, alongside pictures of his father.

Marsalis wife, Dolores, died in 2017. He is survived by his sons Branford, Wynton, Ellis III, Delfeayo, Mboya and Jason.

NTD staff contributed to this report.
Social Security recipients will not have to file a tax return to receive a stimulus check, the Treasury Department announced Wednesday.

The Washington Post reports that the Internal Revenue Service originally said to qualify for a payment, you would need to file some sort of tax return.

FURLOUGHS: These companies have furloughed or laid off Houston and Texas workers due to virus

"The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to generate $1,200 Economic Impact Payments to Social Security recipients who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019," the Treasury Department said in a press release.

The reversal comes after lawmakers urged the Treasury Department to send Social Security recipients their payments automatically, according to CNN.

"Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return need to take no action, and will receive their payment directly to their bank account," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?: A timeline of the coronavirus pandemic

President Trump signed the historic $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package last month in hopes of curbing the economic impact of COVID-19.

Individuals who do not receive their Social Security beneficiaries through direct deposit, will receive a check, the Treasury Department said in its press release.
A Red Cross employee packages blood at the American Red Cross Blood Donation Center at 700 Spring Garden St. in Phila., Pa. on April 3, 2020. Blood is in short supply now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic which is expected to kill 100,000-240,000 people in the US. Read more

Enabling greater numbers of gay men to donate blood is a victory for science and a defeat for stigma. Its good news not only for those of us blocked from donating since 1983, but for anyone involved in the battle against the coronavirus  in other words, for every one of us.

Thats the good news we should glean from Thursdays announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that significantly relaxes its recommendations for blood donations from gay and bisexual men, reducing the amount of time men who have had sex with men should wait before they give blood from one year to three months.

The bad news is that even the loosened restrictions continue to disqualify gay men simply for being sexually active, including married, monogamous male couples.

The FDA imposed its original ban during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, when the cause of the disease was unclear and hysteria was at its height. Blood products contaminated with what later would be identified as HIV led to the deaths of thousands of hemophilia patients. The restrictions were imposed on any man who had ever had sex with another man and remained in place for 32 years.

During that time, the world advanced scientifically and technologically. Testing to screen blood for HIV has become standard worldwide, and dramatic advances have been made in medical data collection and analysis. The FDA loosened the restriction in 2015, opening the way for gay and bisexual men who had refrained from sex with another male for at least a year to donate.

On Thursday, the FDA said the change "will not be associated with any adverse effect on the safety of the blood supply, and may help to address significant blood shortages arising from the pandemic. In a statement on its website, the American Red Cross called the move an important first step toward our greater goal of an inclusive and equitable blood donation process that ... ensures a safe, sufficient blood supply.

Its about time.

The slaughter of 49 people at Pulse, a gay Orlando nightclub, in 2016 laid bare the inherent cruelty of the no-sex-for-a-year requirement, as gay men sought to donate blood in the wake of the massacre and were turned away. Ever since, advocates have focused on lifting these arbitrary, antiquated restrictions. After all, how did turning away willing, healthy, and otherwise eligible blood donors serve to protect, much less, improve, public health?

Generational change is one of the powerful forces that have made this weeks changes possible. Another is science, and the replacement of faith-based disdain for LGBTQ people with fact-based data.

For me as a gay man who witnessed the exhilaration of the liberated 70s give way to the tragic decades of AIDS, the coronavirus pandemic evokes painful memories.

This isnt our first plague, my BFF, also named Kevin, recently observed, and theres a painful irony in the latest awful affliction serving to loosen rules the earlier epidemic inspired. Eliminating celibacy as a requirement to donate blood should be the next step, though it can wait until after we defeat the coronavirus. My gay brothers and I are ready to roll up our sleeves.
Daily labourers and migrant workers living in and around Nizamuddin in the national capital complained of overpriced essentials and vegetables as the police beefed up security in the area after it emerged the biggest hotspot for the spread of coronavirus in India.

Onion is retailing at Rs 60/kg, tomato at Rs 50/kg, potato at Rs 40/kg, while other seasonal vegetables are selling at not less than Rs 100-120/kg in the Sarai Kale Khan area, less than 5 km from Nizamuddin West.

Even dry ration supplies are being sold at higher price. For instance, rice is being retailed at Rs 850 per 25kg pack now as against Rs 770 a week back.

Similarly, wheat flour rate has increased to Rs 350 per 5 kg pack now from Rs 270, while masoor dal rate has gone up to Rs 80/kg from Rs 60/kg. There is Rs 1-6 per pack increase in biscuits in this locality.

Sarai Kale Khan houses a large number of migrant workers who work in Ashram, Nizamuddin, Bhogal, Jangpura, Lajpat Nagar and Okhla Mandi. Many work as labourers in local kirana shops, which are exempted from the ongoing lockdown enforced to combat coronavirus.

"Everything has become expensive in Sarai Kale Khan after the Nizamuddin incident. There is more police security now. With no job and less money, survival has become difficult. On top of it, kirana shops in the area are selling essentials at prices higher than MRP," Sabeen, a migrant worker from Bihar, told PTI.

Amid tightened security, small kirana shops in the locality are not able to replenish their stock from nearly Bhogal market, one of the oldest wholesale markets in Delhi, and therefore selling whatever stock left at a higher rate, she added.

Even hawkers are seeing the trend in the locality and selling vegetables at a much higher rate than other places.

Sharing that life under the lockdown has become more stressful, Saleem, who is a private garbage collector in Jangpura but resides in Sarai Kale Khan, said: "I don't have any more money to survive for next few weeks. I borrowed some from friends, but everything has become costlier."



Not only migrant workers, even kirana shop owners in Bhogal and Lajpat Nagar areas are facing labour shortage after their labourers were stopped from stepping out of the locality by the police.

A wholesaler of rice, wheat flour and edible oils in the Bhogal market said on condition of anonymity, "Four of our labourers who live in Sarai Kale Khan are not able to come for work after the Nizamuddin incident. They are locked up in the locality with others. There is huge demand for essentials from consumers but no labourers to handle."



Many of the kirana shops in Bhogal are delivering essential items directly to consumers living in nearby localities, but the shortage of labourers has added to their problem.

The Delhi Police has tightened the security in Sarai Kale Khan as some of the labourers from here work in shops located around Tablighi Jamaat's headquarters at Nizamuddin West from where over 2,000 were evacuated this week following a religious congregation that took place last month with thousands of attendees in the middle of a global pandemic.

Many of the attendees have tested positive for coronavirus.

The event became a key source for the spread of COVID-19 in India as many of the participants travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday. In the phone conversation that excluded Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, Ghani and Bajwa discussed the extant health crisis, yet again bringing to focus the military's role in Pakistan's governance.

In the conversation reported by TOLO news, the Afghan President and Pakistan's Army chief decided to form a peace negotiation team against Coronavirus, trade, and transit. Both countries agreed to take the necessary steps to aid transfer of goods in Afghanistan.

Imran Khan's absence in crucial foreign policy decision-making during a health crisis revived the theory that it is, in fact, Qamar Bajwa's Army pulling the strings within Pakistan and puppeteering the Pakistani premier. Pakistan has currently blocked its border crossings with neighbouring Iran and Afghanistan on March 16 and is now extended until April 9. Imran Khan on Monday announced the formation of 'Corona Relief Tiger Force' to battle the Coronavirus along with the Pakistani government and Qamar Bajwa-led Army. The Force will be responsible for delivering essential goods, food, engage in the awareness campaign, quarantine management and so on.

READ| Ex-Pak PM Abbasi shames Imran Khan over Covid & says 'shut up', contrasts him with PM Modi

Pak Army wades into COVID-19 war

Pakistan's Army on March 29 announced the completion of deployment of troops across the country, for assisting the civil authorities to contain the spread of Coronavirus. The deployment was approved by Bajwa on March 23, on request of the Interior Ministry of Pakistan. The Pakistani Army has urged its citizens to be indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

This comes as Pakistan confirmed 2,419 positive Coronavirus cases on Friday morning with--761 cases in Sindh province, 311 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 920 in Punjab, 169 in Balochistan, 9 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 187 in Gilgit. Out of which, 34 have died while 107 have recovered. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 22 ruled out complete lockdown in the country, saying it will create chaos and urged people to self-quarantine to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

READ| Pakistan PM Imran Khan tests positive for Coronavirus?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-02 23:42:26|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Xi stressed that in face of the severe pandemic, China and Indonesia have been supporting each other, which has demonstrated the profound friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between the two countries.

BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China stands ready to support and assist Indonesia in overcoming the current challenge of the COVID-19 epidemic.

In a phone conversation with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, Xi noted that the coronavirus disease is breaking out in multiple countries and regions, including Indonesia. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he extended sincere sympathies to their Indonesian counterparts.

After a strenuous struggle, the Chinese people have walked out of the most difficult period, Xi said, adding that China identifies with Indonesia's difficulties and is willing to offer help.

China, said the president, is confident that under the leadership of Widodo, Indonesia will prevail over the epidemic.

Xi stressed that in face of the severe pandemic, China and Indonesia have been supporting each other, which has demonstrated the profound friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between the two countries.

People attend an event to show their support to the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the once epicenter of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, Xi said China is willing to work with Indonesia to continuously deepen cooperation in building the Belt and Road and push forward the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The epidemic is a common challenge for all mankind, and only by fostering strong synergy can the international community defeat the enemy, stressed the president.

China and Indonesia, he suggested, should cooperate closely to push the Group of 20 major economies and the international community to play their roles in crisis response and global economic governance.

China will uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, share its experience and provide as much support as it can for the global battle against COVID-19, and work with other countries to promote the development of global public health and build a community of common health for mankind, he added.

Officers of Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) and Indonesian customs receive medical supplies provided by China at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

For his part, Widodo said that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese people have scored important achievements in fighting the epidemic, from which the world can learn.

He expressed gratitude to China for its material assistance and valuable support for Indonesia's fight against the outbreak, saying that China's help is very important to Indonesia.

Viruses know no borders and stand as a common enemy of mankind, Widodo said, stressing that Indonesia is firmly opposed to any act of stigmatization and is ready to work with China to strengthen international solidarity and cooperation.

Indonesia, he added, looks forward to working with China to deepen cooperation and push forward the development of bilateral relations. 
India Test vice captain Ajinkya Rahane on Friday said an individual needs to take care of his or her mental health during the country-wide 21-day lockdown, enforced by the Centre because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rahane, who had already donated Rs 10 lakh to the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund, appreciated the efforts of Maharashtra government, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and Mpower, who have launched an initiative to help people in this difficult time.

"Mental health is also important during this lockdown. Highly appreciate the efforts of Maharashtra Government, BMC & Mpower for creating a free helpline to support people for their mental wellbeing. @AUThackeray @mybmc @NeerjaBirla ," the stylish right handed batsman from Mumbai tweeted.

Rahane asked fellow Mumbai citizens to call on the helpline number



1800 120 820050 created for people who are in distress.

Even star batsman Rohit Sharma took to Twitter and informed people about the same initiative.

"The government of Maharashtra, BMC and Mpower 1on1 have created a free helpline to support you at this difficult time. Call 1800-120-820050 to speak to a mental health professional. #LetsTalk1on1," tweeted Sharma.

Till now the country has witnessed over 2000 positive cases and 50 deaths due to COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Though lacking physical learning spaces following statewide closures, education continues at Flagstaff schools, with teachers and administrators confronting new instruction and access challenges.

FUSD

Flagstaff Unified School District will make a transition to objective-based learning Monday, after launching a Digital Learning Hub this week that lists external educational resources. In addition to ongoing updates to the digital hub, teachers will be releasing complete lesson plans each Monday through the end of the school year. These lessons will be fairly consistent across district elementary schools, but will vary by teacher and grade level for middle and high schools, said FUSD spokesperson Zachery Fountain.

These activities can be used to improve students third quarter grade, which were posted in gradebooks by March 13, but there are no penalties for not completing them. Grades can only improve through the activities. Students can also resubmit past assignments from the third quarter.

We always encourage students to learn more, Fountain said. Learning is a skill that does not stop with a grade and we really want our students to maintain their engagement and further their education.

In a special meeting of the FUSD Governing Board Monday, Superintendent Michael Penca said the closure is a good time for students to explore other educational interests and hobbies, such as taking online courses from other providers.

Families that have limited or no access to the technology needed to view and submit assignments online can opt for paper activity packets, which will be mailed to students  but wont be accepted if returned to the district when completed.

In a letter to FUSD families Thursday, Penca explained this is a precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Teachers and school administrators will individually determine how these assignments can be remotely graded, such as by photo or phone conference.

Teachers will be available during normal school hours to speak with students and parents regarding coursework and grading.

FALA

Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy is scaling up its remote learning until it reaches fully online classes in a few weeks. Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment classes have already transitioned to online format. Performance-based classes such as music, dance and theater will also be included in the online format, using live video sessions to hold class.

This week, students worked through an independent study led by Dean Jed Hayes and next week will begin an expeditionary learning project that asks students to develop practical solutions to questions with a worldview. Every day, students will virtually meet in small groups, with a teacher facilitator, to work on creating products such as hands-on service projects or proposed models to improve public services such as education.

Hayes said this weeks independent project has given school staff a chance to not only convert their classes to an online format, but also to see who has access to the material, in preparation of the upcoming online classes. The school sent out a survey to families more than two weeks ago to similarly determine needs for alternative access.

We got a huge response and overwhelmingly most of our community does have internet access, but we did find some pockets where they didnt have it at all or where they had bad, spotty internet service, Hayes said.

The school is reaching out to these families to determine needs for paper materials prior to the start of official classes, which will be required, though Hayes said how upcoming activities will directly affect grades is still to be determined. For families with limited devices, FALA is coordinating a curbside pickup of school-owned Chromebooks for use at home. With a student technology ratio of about one device per three students, Hayes said there should be plenty of devices for those who need them.

A week into the new learning model, he said FALA students have already embraced new delivery methods, especially office hours being hosted by all school staff via phone call or videoconferencing.

That interaction with your colleagues and your peers, thats as important as any content we can give them, Hayes said. I dont think theres enough we can do in terms of making sure emotionally and mentally they are supported right now as much as they are supported academically.

SFdA

At San Francisco de Asis Catholic School, teachers have already released both paper and digital content, which were widely received by families. Monday morning, all but about five of the 175 students and their families picked up paper activity packets. A handful of iPads purchased by the school earlier this year  complete with data needed to access internet content  were also loaned to students in need of them.

Although students are being asked to complete all their online assignments as they would in class, Principal Bill Carroll said specific grading procedures remain somewhat flexible.

A lot of our families are small business owners, so I know this is hitting them really hard, Carroll said. I dont want to call them up and ask why they didnt complete a lesson when they may be struggling to put food on the table. Its about first making sure theyre doing alright as a family.

Alongside the teachers who are holding daily videoconferencing lessons at every grade level  even kindergarten  Carroll continues to lead announcements and prayer from the school gymnasium twice a day, like he would normally, but now he records himself and shares the videos on the schools Instagram page.

I was in all the live lessons with the teachers, and although there were some troubleshooting issues, it was a very smooth first day and its only going to get better and a little more fluid now that we have nine weeks to perfect this, Carroll said.

NPA and Basis

Northland Preparatory and Basis Flagstaff are both hosting required remote learning during the closures.

On an announcement posted to its website, NPA administrators instructed students to routinely check existing platforms used by teachers, such as Google Classroom and AP Classroom.

"Students are expected to complete all assignments and adhere to all deadlines. This is real school and your work will be assessed by your teacher," the announcement stated.

Basis began distance learning Tuesday, March 24, after a day of preparation following spring break, according to a letter from Basis Educational Ventures CEO Peter Bezanson and Aaron Kindel, CEO of BASIS.ed.

Since closure, Basis has remained active on social media, sharing submitted photos of teachers and students working from home.

I'm so proud of what we have accomplished, said Lisa Foreman, head of school, in an email. Our teachers are all working so hard.

Kaitlin Olson can be reached at the office at kolson@azdailysun.com or by phone at (928) 556-2253.

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Ron Lieber, the Your Money columnist for The Times, spoke to us about the impact of the sweeping job losses. Here are excerpts from the conversation.

Whats the first thing someone who is laid off should do?

Apply for unemployment  and you should keep trying. The new legislation allows for an extra $600 per week of assistance, and that extra money can be enough to make a difference between financial disaster and near financial calamity. And thats why Congress offered it.

What do you tell people who are struggling to process all this?

It doesnt look quite like anything weve seen before in our lifetime. Trying to plan or make predictions is really hard  and to tell people to embrace that uncertainty is not really helpful. I think the best thing is to talk to as many people as possible who have the same uncertainty that you do.

Will the U.S. economy just bounce back to where it was before, or do you expect lasting changes?

If we continue to believe that capitalism and market economics are the right way to structure our country, then there probably ought to be at least some way our economic activity will revert to some level of normalcy. I would not believe anybody who is trying to predict when that will be.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project , a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

For weeks now, Chinese officials have been tweeting allegations that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is hiding information about COVID-19 patient zero. At the same time, U.S. politicians have been speculating that the Chinese Communist Party purposely did not disclose the true numbers of those affected with COVID-19. In response to this, in late March, GOP lawmakers Sen. Ben Sasse and Rep. Mike Gallagher published a letter calling on Twitter to ban the Chinese Communist Party from its platform.

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Since then, such calls have continued, including from Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas, who in a press release earlier this week asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to step in and investigate the Chinese Communist Partys coronavirus coverup. He also sent a letter to the CEOs of Google, Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook urging them to remove CCP accounts because they are trafficking in disinformation. Similarly, in an interview with Voice of America, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Spalding said, Every single day, [the Peoples Liberation Army] and other folks that are being paid specifically by the Chinese Communist Party to do propaganda and influence are in our midst. He continued, If we wont allow them physically to be on our soil to coerce our citizens, then why would we ever allow them in our networks and in our data?

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Already overwhelmed with the sheer volume of false information, conspiracies, and other harmful content surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, social media platforms have once again found themselves in the difficult situation of moderating political content. Only this time theyre stuck between two superpowers vying for narrative spin over the novel coronavirus. There are no easy answers. But by urging platforms to boot CCP accounts, lawmakers are engaging in something that is not only a potential infringement on the First Amendment but also risks reducing information flows between countries, further balkanizing the internet. Enforcing such digital borders would be incredibly difficult, requiring changes that contravene the values of a free and open internet.

This comes at a time when there are sweeping changes across platform companies to tamp down misinformation about COVID-19. In a joint statement in mid-March, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube stated that they will combine efforts on COVID-19 to remove fraud and misinformation, elevate authoritative content, and share updates from government health agencies. Over the past week, we have seen these policies implemented. Twitter removed tweets from Fox News Laura Ingraham, Rudy Giuliani, and Charlie Kirk, president of Turning Point USA, for claiming that hydroxychloroquine could treat COVID-19. Twitter also removed contentagain promoting unproven treatments for COVID-19from President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro, in a reversal of a prior policy to preserve the tweets of world leaders.

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False statements that could lead to harm should be taken down, as should content that violates a platforms terms of service or content policies. Twitter and Facebook have previously removed networks of coordinated accounts that they attribute to China, Iran, and Russia for violating their policies on coordinated inauthentic behavior. Should an individual account continually violate the platforms policies, removal is certainly warranted. But a blanket ban on politicians and diplomats from countries whose politics or ideology we disagree with, however, is not. Ultimately, if Twitter and other social media companies are not willing to hold U.S. politicians to the same standardsthat is, choosing to moderate content based on political preference insteadthe digital border wars we are already facing will expand.

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First, banning the CCP from Twitter or Facebook would likely add to the intensifying tit-for-tat media war that has resulted in both China and the United States removing journalists from their nations. An expulsion of Chinese diplomats and state media from Twitter may very well end up as the catalyst needed to expel more Western journalists.

Second, it sets a precedent for other states to do the same, demanding that platforms remove what they deem to be harmful foreign propaganda. Already, around the world, governments are mulling over legislation that would criminalize and censor fake news, which risks being selectively used against political opponents.

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Third, by forcing platforms to ban foreign governments, a double standard quickly emerges. In their letter to Twitter, Sasse and Gallagher claim that some of the CCP-affiliated accounts have used the platform to spread lies and conspiracy theories, confusing the public about COVID-19. If that is the standard with which Twitter should remove entire accounts, then how should Twitter deal with President Donald Trump? In 2019, for example, Trump retweeted a conspiracy alleging the Clintons were involved in a number of deaths. This behavior is not an isolated event. Becca Lewis, a researcher who studies far-right online subcultures, said Trumps Twitter account is a powerful propaganda tool. If Twitter were to start moderating content based on perceptions of propaganda, then how should it deal with our own leaders, not to mention other nations diplomats?

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Lastly, allowing the CCP to engage on Twitter or other social media platforms may also have its benefits. Indeed, some of the partys content is propaganda. After all, its members are their nations spokespeople and as diplomats are expected to promote Chinese interests. One would expect the same with an American diplomat. But these accounts can be useful by revealing elite splits. When the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian tweeted conspiracy theories that COVID-19 originated in the United States, Chinas ambassador to the U.S., Cui Tiankai, broke with his fellow diplomat by calling the spread of such theories crazy. He also said, Such speculation will help nobody. Its very harmful. This rebuke signals a disagreement among top leadership. If platforms were to wholesale ban the CCP, such differences would be difficult to surface. In addition, netizens are able to contradict and criticize diplomats like never before, indicating that counterspeech might be an important resource for activists with limited direct engagement with Chinese diplomats.

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We need to hear from world leaders, but it must be tempered with a fair amount of skepticism and fact-checking.

Certainly, the CCP and some of its more fervent supporters have engaged in disinformation, influence operations, and other subversive means to try to shift public opinion. Most recently, ProPublica released a report chronicling 10,000 suspected covert accounts on Twitter amplifying Chinese propaganda using hacked accounts. Taiwans election in January was also another target of Chinese influence operations. Recently too, the Hong Kong protests were hit with Chinese-linked disinformation campaigns with the apparent goal of undermining sympathy for the Hong Kong protesters. Such operations, whether operated by the CCP or its supporters, are antithetical to democracy and lead to self-censorship, harassment, and a misinformed public.

Yet removing accounts simply for being affiliated with the CCP from social media platforms does little to prevent those harms. Instead, forcing private companies to pick sides would threaten the democratic values that we claim to cherish, such as free and open communication, as nation-states take their geopolitical fights to social media. The digital rights organization Article 19 has warned that any attempts to police the truth would create a powerful instrument to control journalistic activities. And in a 2017 Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Fake News, Disinformation, and Propaganda, the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression along with other representatives from international organizations stated that intermediaries should adopt policies based on objectively justifiable criteria rather than ideological or political goals. Inconsistent application of terms of service may otherwise lead to false positives and undue censorship. In 2019, for example, a routine sweep of CCP bots on Twitter accidentally removed more than 1,000 anti-CCP accounts.

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Yielding to the GOP lawmakers to remove the CCP would be extraordinary and would push forward the agenda of those seeking to replicate national borders online. The effect will not be a public sphere free of authoritarian propaganda but a splinternet that may not only make communicating more difficult but give illiberal regimes an excuse to push for a sovereign internet as they selectively censor unwanted content and individuals. The collateral damage from this information war may be the very things were trying to protect: freedom of expression, open communications, and the promotion of civil rights. Already around the world, the pandemic is being used as a pretext to crack down on freedom of expression.

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Twitter and other social media platforms did not design their products knowing that presidents and other high-level government officials would use it to dunk on one another. And yet, here we are in an unprecedented paradox: We need to hear from world leaders, but it must be tempered with a fair amount of skepticism and fact-checking. Perhaps, it is time to supplement politicians blue checks and give them their own special icons that denote their status, such as the classical building emoji matched with the flag of their nation. Or better yet, find ways for users to circumvent censorship in China where it is banned (instead of training Chinese officials on how best to use the platform); respond to and consult with users, activists, and other civil society in China (many of whom have been targeted for their use of the platform); and work toward objective and transparent enforcement of platforms content policies. And in cases where false or misleading content is being shared, Twitter should absolutely enforce its terms of service, flagging the content as false or removing if necessary. In addition, Twitter should remove the ability for users, especially political elites, to hide replies they dislike.

Over the past decade, social media has become a default global communications system. At the very least, social media companies must enforce their terms of service, including removing misinformation, across all strata of the social hierarchy, especially the rich and powerful. Instead of imposing digital borders, social media companies need to focus their moderation efforts on elite speech. But, if it is the case that social media companies do start banning politicians for falsehoods and propaganda, then they should begin with the U.S. Anything less would be .

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
For two years the Trump administration has been trying to stamp out one of Cuba's signature programs __ state-employed medical workers treating patients around the globe in a show of soft power that also earns billions in badly needed hard currency.

Labeling the doctors and nurses as both exploited workers and agents of communist indoctrination, the U.S. has notched a series of victories as Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia sent home thousands after leftist governments allied with



Havana were replaced with ones friendlier to Washington.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought a reversal of fortune for Cuban medical diplomacy, as doctors have flown off on new missions to battle COVID-19 in at least 14 countries including Italy and the tiny principality of Andorra on the Spanish-French border, burnishing the island's international image in the middle of a global crisis.

I am aware of the position of the United States, but we are a sovereign country and we can choose the partners with which we are going to have cooperation, Andorran Foreign Minister Mara Ubach said.

In the city of Crema in the hard-hit Lombardy region of northern Italy, 52 Cuban doctors and nurses set up a field hospital with 32 beds equipped with oxygen and three ICU beds.

This is a strongly symbolic moment because the Crema hospital has been going through an extremely complicated situation from the start, Lombardy's top social welfare official, Giulio Gallera, said at the inauguration last week.

The number of patients who have filled and continue to fill the emergency room and departments has truly put the medical personnel to a hard test. The Trump administration has sought to cut off income to Havana as part of a long-term tightening of sanctions. And it continues to discourage countries from contracting Cuban medical workers despite the pandemic, arguing that their pay and conditions fall short of industry standards.

The government of #Cuba keeps most of the salary its doctors and nurses earn while serving in its international medical missions while exposing them to egregious labor conditions, the State Department said on Twitter last week.

Host countries seeking Cuba's help for #COVID-19 should scrutinize agreements and end labor abuses. Cuba currently has about 37,000 medical workers in 67 countries, most in longstanding missions. Some doctors have been sent as part of free aid missions, but many countries pay the government directly for their services. In some other cases international health bodies have paid.

The most recent deployments of at least 593 doctors from the Henry Reeve Brigade founded by Fidel Castro in 2005 and named after a 19th-century American volunteer who fought for Cuban independence from Spain have also been to Suriname, Jamaica, Dominica, Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Venezuela and Nicaragua, some of them reinforcing existing medical missions.

All have been billed as tied to the coronavirus epidemic, even though some of the countries have few confirmed cases so far. None of the agreements or financial terms have been made public.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CLAYMONT, Del.  Delaware state troopers are cracking down on out-of-state drivers

State police were active Friday outside the Total Wine & More in Claymont, which is located along the Delaware-Pennsylvania border. Troopers were given full authority to pull over any vehicle with out-of-state tags.

Its all part of heightened measures by the state to limit the number travelers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. John Carney issued a travel ban earlier this week, imploring drivers that now is not the time to visit Delaware. The travel ban applies to persons making trips to stores such as the Total Wine & More, which was buzzing earlier in the week with many Pennsylvania residents stocking up on their favorite bottles of alcoholic beverages since Pennsylvanias state stores are closed.

Friday was a different story as there werent nearly as many vehicles with Pennsylvania plates in the stores parking lot.

When asked to comment on Delaware State Polices increased safety measures, one trooper declined comment to the Daily Times. The officer referred to the statement issued by Master Corporal Michael Austin, spokesman for Delaware State Police, on Thursday evening.

The statement, which can be read in its entirety on Delaware.gov, includes the following language:

The primary intent and goal of the Delaware State Police is to uphold their sworn duties by providing information to the public that we serve, in order to gain voluntary compliance with the mandates, and to promote, and further ensure public safety and health.

The seventh modification of the Governors State of Emergency Declaration specifically addresses the requirement for out-of-state persons traveling in to the State of Delaware to self-quarantine for 14 days.

This order authorizes any Delaware law enforcement officer to stop a vehicle driving within the state simply because it is displaying out-of-state tags. During the stop the officer may ask limited questions related to the drivers recent travel. The driver then must be informed of the Governors declarations and will be explicitly advised that if they are coming into Delaware from out-of-state, they are required by law, to self-quarantine for 14 days while in Delaware, or immediately return to their home state.

Troopers are conducting searches on non-interstate roadways identified as having a large volume of out-of-state travelers. This includes Naamans Road which extends from Upper Chichester in Delco through Wilmington.

Again, the intent of this order and the purpose of the stop is to achieve voluntary compliance. These stops are intended to serve the public welfare, Austin said in the statement. Now is not the time to visit Delaware. As a state and a nation, we are facing a serious situation that is getting worse each day. Our goal is to limit a surge in COVID-19 cases that would overwhelm our hospital system. Per the order, we must control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our Delaware communities coming in from other states.

The enforcement should further dissuade Pennsylvania residents from breaking the law.

Pennsylvania prohibits its residents from purchasing alcohol from another state and returning home with it. While the law is not always enforced, violators could face fines of $10 per can of beer or $25 per bottle of liquor.

Gov. Tom Wolf has since modified his announcement to close all liquor stores in Pennsylvania, which went into effect March 17 in order to slow the spread of coronavirus.

This week the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board re-opened its online shopping store, although its website is struggling to keep up with traffic.

Due to overwhelming demand, the online store is not available at this time, a message on the Fine Wine & Good Spirits website reads. Please try again tomorrow or in the coming days. We apologize for the inconvenience.

While Fine Wine & Spirit in-store operations are closed, beer distributors remain open in Pennsylvania.

Delawares travel order does not apply to out-of-state drivers on I-95, I-295, or I-495. Drivers are allowed to pass through to another state.

Further exceptions apply to motorists who leave their home state to go to work for essential businesses as designated by the state of Delaware, to care for a family member, or visits to a pharmacy, veterinarian or primary care physician.
School is out for the year as COVID-19 coronavirus continues to ravage Michigan, but that doesnt mean students cant learn.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has compiled resources for parents and students to engage with nature and history, including DNR nature videos, virtual field trips, indoor and outdoor nature exploration activities, lessons and reading materials for various grade levels, free apps and much more.

Weve put together an extensive list of links and materials to provide kids and their caregivers with plenty to do. We hope these activities are helpful, the DNR website says. Find the resources at michigan.gov/NatureAtHome.

On Thursday, April 2, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that children will not return to classrooms to finish the school year. Schools had been expected to reopen on April 6.

RELATED: Coronavirus shutdown of Michigan schools creates unprecedented challenge for educators, families

As of Thursday, Michigan has 10,791 coronavirus cases and 417 deaths from the virus. This week, Whitmer asked for a 70-day extension to the state of emergency that was declared on March 10 and is due to expire on April 7. Whitmers statewide stay-at-home order remains in effect through April 13.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

READ MORE:

Friday, April 3: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

MHSAA reacts after Michigan schools closed for academic year

Younger coronavirus patients make up 40% of Michigan cases, have potential to spread the illness
Oprah Winfrey has reunited with Stedman Graham.

The 66-year-old media mogul's partner had been staying in their guesthouse for two weeks since returning from a work trip as a precautionary measure because she is still not fully recovered from pneumonia and didn't want to risk catching coronavirus, but now the incubation period for the virus is over, her long-term companion has been welcomed back into their home.

In a video posted on the O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine Instagram account, Stedman was greeted by Oprah with a hug while two former students from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls sang for them.

Back on: Oprah Winfrey has reunited with Stedman Graham. The 66-year-old media mogul's partner had been staying in their guesthouse for two weeks since returning from a work trip as a precautionary measure because she is still not fully recovered from pneumonia

Oprah joked: 'I bet you appreciate us more now.'

Stedman replied: 'I appreciated you before, honey.'

The post was captioned: 'After 14 days of quarantining separately, @oprah & @stedmangraham have finally reunited--with a welcome song from former OWLAG students @thando_d and Sade! We wonder what Lady O made for dinner for her man's return. Remember to keep staying safer at home y'all! (sic)'

Oprah revealed last month that she and her partner were living separately as a precautionary measure.

They are back in each other's arms: They were apart for weeks but now are happy again

He is out! Here the star is seen leaving the pretty yellow and white guest house

All glammed up for fun: Here the couple are seen in 2015 at the Oscars

Happy again: In a video posted on the O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine Instagram account, Stedman was greeted by Oprah with a hug while two former students from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls sang for them. Seen in October

She said on Instagram: 'Stedman is at the guest house. You all know I had pneumonia late last year and you can still hear the raspiness in my throat sometimes.

'And I just got off antibiotics last week and so Stedman was late to the party. Stedman didn't arrive from Chicago until Thursday and he was speaking in St. Louis on Saturday and he's been on planes.'

Oprah had insisted it was important to take action before Stedman returned home from his trip.

She said: '[He] was like, 'What's the procedure for coming home?' And I was like, 'You ain't coming in here and sleeping in my bed. It doesn't work that way... Social distancing doesn't mean you can go sleep in a bed with someone after you got off American Airlines.' We can not play those games.'

Cheering: She was thrilled to have her longtime beau back in her company

Loving! Oprah joked: 'I bet you appreciate us more now.' Stedman replied: 'I appreciated you before, honey.' Seen in 2018

He was stuck in here: She didn't want to risk catching coronavirus, but now the incubation period for the virus is over, her long-term companion has been welcomed back into their home

The couple have worked out a system which sees Oprah leave meals for Stedman and he's happy to comply if he means the 'Wrinkle in Time' star stays 'safe'.

She explained: 'I leave food on the doorstep...He's happy to have me safe. We just take him dinner and we take him breakfast.'

She is also giving back to America as the pandemic continues to adversely impact life across the country. The TV host announced she will be donating $10 million to support people and cities across the country.

'I am donating $10 million overall to help Americans during this pandemic in cities across the country and in areas where I grew up,' Oprah tweeted on Thursday.
(Newser)  The University of Wisconsin, Madison's police force has opened what it says is its first murder case in "a very long time." Police say Dr. Beth Potter and her husband, Robin Carre, were found in a ditch at the university's arboretum by a jogger early Tuesday morning, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. Carre, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene and Potter, 52, died shortly after she was taken to a hospital, according to the medical examiner's office, which says they both died from "homicidal-related trauma." Police spokesman Marc Lovicott says they have no information on potential suspects or motives in the double murder, but police do not believe it was a random act.

story continues below

"We think this was a targeted act of violence against these two individuals," Lovicott says. "Its still unnerving that we have an individual or individuals responsible for this, but we hope people are at ease a little bit in knowing this is not something random, that these individuals were picked out after walking in that area." Potter was a family physician and a highly respected associate professor at the university, the Daily Cardinal reports. Her husband was an educational consultant. The couple had three children. Lovicott says this is the department's first murder investigation since 1982 and the first double homicide it has ever dealt with. (Read more University of Wisconsin stories.)
Briefing With Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback On COVID-19 Impact on Religious Minorities

Special Briefing

Samuel D. Brownback, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

Office of International Religious Freedom

April 2, 2020



MS ORTAGUS: Thank you very much. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us on another briefing call. We have someone that is not a stranger to our State Department bullpen, Ambassador Sam Brownback, who is going to talk to all of us today, give us a brief on what is happening with religious minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This call will be on the record and it also is going to be embargoed until the end of the call, please. We will, as you heard, have our normal Q&A session. You press 1 and then 0.

So I'm going to turn it over to the ambassador now, who's going to give some brief opening remarks, and then we'll jump right into Q&A. Sam.

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: Yes. Thanks, Morgan. I appreciate that, and thanks, all of you, for being on the line and interest. I want to stay focused on one particular topic if at all possible, and that's the position right now and what's happening to religious prisoners around the world.

In this time of pandemic, religious prisoners should be released. We call on all governments around the world to do so. It's a good public health move for their nations and it's morally obviously the right thing to do. We unfortunately have a number of religious prisoners around the world in various countries that are being held, and I just wanted to cite a few of those that are taking place right now.

Iran, the Iranian regime: Now, recently  and I was pleased to see this  it furloughed some 100,000 prisoners of conscience to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to this high-risk group. Any group that's being held in a prison, this is inherently a very tight space of an easy-to-spread situation there. But they need to  they have not released a number of high-profile religious prisoners in Iran and we call on them to release all of them.

China continues to have a number of people imprisoned for their faith. We know that as far as the situation in Xinjiang, but we also know it happens and it continues to take place with Protestant and Catholic churches, house church and even officially recognized church, and then the Falun Gong members and Tibetan Buddhists have  a number of them are in prison. And again, those should all be released in this time of pandemic.

Vietnam has 128 prisoners of conscience that are in prison right now, and we call on them to release those prisoners.

Russia has nearly around 240 prisoners of conscience, including 34 Jehovah Witnesses.

Eritrea has 40 prisoners of conscience, including Jehovah's Witnesses, and Indonesia has over 150 prisoners of conscience  well, excuse me, let me back up on that. Indonesia has over 150 that are in jail now for blasphemy law violations. And we believe that all of these should be released by any country that's holding religious prisoners at this point in time.

We have been pushing this with our alliance members. We have 29 countries and the  our International Religious Freedom Alliance had a telephonic call yesterday with that group, brought this topic up, and I believe we will see a number of other nations join the call for the release of religious prisoners at this point in time.

This is a  something that we have worked on, I have worked on personally, and we as an office have worked on for years to get religious prisoners released. These are people that should not be in jail in the first place. They are simply in jail for peacefully practicing their faith, and yet various regimes put these peaceful prisoners in jail. This is an important time to pursue this objective of getting them completely released from prisons that they're in for obvious reasons.

I thank you all. I do believe that the religious community  you're going to continue to see a strong response from it in the COVID virus environment to try to be as helpful as possible through this pandemic, but I particularly wanted to focus on this issue of religious prisoners being released and calling on governments to do so now.

Morgan, I'd be happy to stand for questions later on this.

MS ORTAGUS: Okay, great. I think all of you have the instructions for how to do it, and Ruben, hold on one second. I don't think I have the list yet. I'm being slow. Ruben, why don't you go ahead and start the Q&A if you have the list.

MR HARUTUNIAN: The first question is from Kim Dozier.

OPERATOR: One moment, please.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) this call. We had noticed that there's been a hashtag trending in India, #CoronaJihad, hinting or intimating that somehow (inaudible) coronavirus has been spread by the Muslim community. Are you tracking how the coronavirus has exacerbated any anti-Muslim activity like this? And also, is Kashmir getting the aid it needs at this time?

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: We are tracking the blaming of religious minorities for COVID virus, and unfortunately, it is  it's happening in various places. This is wrong by governments to do this. It is  the governments really should put this down and state very clearly that this is not the source of the coronavirus. It's not the religious minority communities. And they should go out there in open messaging and say no, this is not what happened. We know where this virus originated. We know it's a pandemic the whole world is being subjected to and it's not a  it's not something from religious minorities. But unfortunately, we are seeing that sort of blame game getting started up in different places around the world, and we hope it gets pushed back aggressively by those host governments.

I don't have specific knowledge on Kashmir, whether or not it's getting the type of aid it needs. We do call on governments to work with their religious minorities in this time of pandemic and make sure they are getting the needed resources and aid. We've seen a situation in several countries where oftentimes a religious minority is excluded from the public health need and distribution in nations, and we're calling on all nations to distribute this at this time of pandemic to all communities regardless of religious affiliation or otherwise.

QUESTION: And sir, have you had any specific conversations with Indian officials about this yet?

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: I have not with Indian officials yet.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MS ORTAGUS: Okay. Just a reminder to everybody that you have to dial 1 and 0 to get in the queue for questions. Ruben, do we have anybody else lined up yet?

MR HARUTUNIAN: Matt Lee has the next question.

MS ORTAGUS: Great.

QUESTION: Hey. Thanks a lot, ambassador. Appreciate it. Hey, Morgan, I had sent some other questions not on this topic to PA press duty earlier, but  basically on the amount of money that was paid for the aid from Russia yesterday, whether or not our aid to foreign countries has actually been suspended, and also asking for reaction on the Pakistan  the overturning of the murder charge in the Danny Pearl case. Can someone get back to all of us, maybe, on those three questions?

And for the ambassador, do you have  thank you for your  for the highlighting of those specific countries, but do you have an estimate or a good handle on the number of people worldwide who are imprisoned for religious reasons that you would like to see  that should be released?

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: We track it country by country, and so we could come up with that number. What I cited to you were some of the countries that have some of the most religious prisoners in it, but they're  they exist in unfortunately too many countries. We could take a run at that, and we'll do that. We'll see if we can come up with a rough estimate of what we have in our reporting to put forward. The ones I put forward in front of you were the  some of the bigger total numbers.

QUESTION: Right, okay, but I mean, it's obviously in the tens of thousands? I mean, you say Iran has  that Iran furloughed a hundred thousand, but I mean, are we talking tens of thousands, thousands, hundreds of thousands? Do you have any idea?

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: Yeah. Unfortunately, we're talking millions, and that's just China, honestly. I mean, you've got  in the Uighur situation, you've got a million Muslims being held in those detention facilities.

Now, I don't want to exclusively focus on that. Iran, as I mentioned, furloughed a hundred thousand, and in some of these places we really don't have a good grasp of the total number and the amount. Those two nations, though, just in and of themselves  North Korea has a very high number, and we don't know how many are in their gulag system that they have, and they would be under exceeding exposure to COVID. And unfortunately in some of these prison situations too they allow their prisoners to be kept in very crowded, unsanitary conditions and they die there, and that's just allowed by the government rather than being concerned at all for the health and safety of these  of their citizens, even though they may not agree with their religious practices.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR HARUTUNIAN: Next question is from Michele Kelemen.

QUESTION: Request to have PA respond to things like how much we paid for the aid to Russia. But I do have some questions for 

MS ORTAGUS: Yeah, we're not going to. We're not going to respond to that. We have nothing to say beyond the statement that went out last night.

QUESTION: Okay. Are you  Ambassador Brownback, are you offering any help to Afghan Sikhs following last week's ISIS attack? There are some groups that are calling for resettlement, for instance.

And I also have a question about aid delivery to religious minorities in Iraq. Is that continuing, or has that been affected either by the outbreak or the scaling back of the U.S. consulate in Erbil for security reasons?

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: We've been meeting  our office has been meeting with representatives of the Sikh community about that horrific attack that took place in Kabul and discussing this issue. That would be in other areas and obviously would involve multiple agencies with that, and I'll be meeting directly with Sikh representatives  I'll be meeting telephonically with Sikh representatives soon. I don't know about the aid delivery system in northern Iraq, whether that's been disrupted. I would think it probably has just because everything's been disrupted, but I don't have individual information on that.

MR HARUTUNIAN: Can we go to the line of Rich Edson for the next question, please?

QUESTION: Question on what we're seeing from governments that are cracking down on their populations citing COVID. Are you seeing much of that, or to what extent are you seeing it when it comes to cracking down on religious minorities, in other words, using the COVID crisis to single out and target religious minorities?

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: I would say fortunately the reporting that we are seeing is that governments are, by and large, not doing that and in some cases being more lenient towards religious minorities, treating them like people instead of like something to desperately oppose and put down. But that's just anecdotal information. A lot of our posts are limited on what they can get out and see and hear themselves, so this is sort of the reporting that I get back through informal networks of people.

This is  one of the good things going on now, if you can find good things, is that it has really brought a much more united humanity together in recognizing we are all in this together. This is all of us. It doesn't matter what you believe. Everybody is subjected to this attack on humanity. And we're actually starting to see more relaxing and opening up, and we're calling for more of it. It needs to take place. You need these governments to work with these religious communities  majority or minority or otherwise  to help distribute aid and get information out.

A lot of times in developing countries the religious community is the most organized in the place to be able to distribute information and assistance, and we need to work through these communities, whether you agree with them or not. And we're starting to see some openness in various countries. It varies from place to place, but we're  I'm seeing a more encouraging trend. And I am particularly hopeful we can get a number of these religious prisoners out of jail that I've been advocating for years, and usually it's one at a time. But none of them should be in jail, and they all should be allowed to be free to practice their faith peacefully, and I think this is a key time for governments to exercise that.

MR HARUTUNIAN: The next questioner is Nick Wadhams.

QUESTION: Thank you very much for the call. Ambassador Brownback, I had a question about the fact that religious groups all around the world  in many cases  have been resisting social distancing guidelines and resisting the call to shut down large gatherings of people. Do you have a take on whether religious groups should be holding services in these times? Thank you.

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: Well, my take of it is that religious groups should practice social distancing. That's what we need to do. I haven't been to mass myself in several weeks, and it's the longest period I've gone without going to mass, and I think people should be doing this to stop the spread of the virus. And I think most religious communities are adhering to the global guidance on what needs to be done to stop this. There are some that are not, but I think by and large most religious communities are being very responsible, and I think you're going to see a number of them act to be helping people as this hits more in the developing world and you're going to have more of a reliance on the religious community for distributing the aid and information. There are some that I think are doing questionable things, but I think most are being quite responsible.

MR HARUTUNIAN: Next question is from Joel Gehrke.

QUESTION: Hi. Thank you for doing this. I have two questions. The first I think is probably related to Matt Lee's question earlier, but do you have a sense of how many people are  how many religious prisoners are in particularly acute danger of catching the coronavirus, perhaps severely? You alluded to North Korea, but are there any places, perhaps in Xinjiang or elsewhere, where you know there might be a particularly high risk of the virus reaching some of these detention centers or cases?

And then more  a little more broadly, with all the discussion about China's candor about the coronavirus, for instance, I wonder, have you found that this is changing any minds in terms of the diplomatic conversation with third-party countries about whether  about what's happening in Xinjiang? I know there have been some  some countries work more closely with the U.S. than others in lobbying against that.

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: Good question. The acute danger ones that immediately come to my mind are  is Iran, simply because it's got hit big early and you've got a number of notorious prisons that are there that are quite overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, and we have that from eyewitnesses that have been held as religious prisoners and get out of those places. North Korea is one just because, again, of individual reporting, the eyewitnesses of people that have gotten out and escaped North Korea of the horrific conditions in those areas. But then just any of these, honestly, where you've got a tight crowded situation, we know how quickly and easily this virus spreads and how much you have to get on top of it if you're a person that gets hit by very difficult symptoms with it.

For as far as the changing views on China and Xinjiang, I haven't noticed anything different right now because everybody is just so focused on the pandemic, as well we should be, and that's the cause at hand. I do think people are recognizing the need for transparency and open reporting and a free press and the value of those things to have accurate information being put out to the entire world, and the world needs accurate information.

MR HARUTUNIAN: The next question is from Jennifer Hansler.

QUESTION: Hi, thanks. I was wondering if you'd talk a little bit about the situation of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, as well as reports that the Burmese armed forces have resumed attacks, perhaps under the cover of COVID. Have you had any discussions with Burmese officials about this, any warnings? Thanks.

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: We have not had  I have not had; now, there may be other places that have had  warnings from the Burmese officials about this. The Rohingya situation is horrific. I've been there. When we talk about a crowded place, that if this  that if COVID got going there it would just spread like wildfire.

My heart is really  I mean, it's been terrible what's going on in the Western world. We really, too, want to go out and our AID efforts into the developing world, that if these sorts of viruses start spreading there, just the ability to be able to react is so difficult and limited in many of these places. There was a comment by a cardinal in Nigeria watching what was taking place in Europe and saying, gosh, if this hits Nigeria, we just don't have the resource and capacity that exists in the Western world and asking for help.

But I don't have anything further, new information on what  if the Burmese are picking these attacks back up at this point in time. We do need a concerted global effort on the Rohingya to allow them to go back to their homeland and in safety, to be able to do that.

MS ORTAGUS: Ruben, do we have  oh, do we have time for one more? Okay. We might have lost Ruben. I think Said was next in the queue. Said Arikat.

QUESTION: Thank you. Yes. Thank you, Morgan. Thank you, ambassador, for doing this. Sir, I know you mentioned many countries. You also mentioned prisoners of conscience. I have two questions. I didn't hear whether you mentioned Egypt and those who are in prison, being accused of being members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

I also wanted to ask you whether the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons fall under that category, especially there are some juveniles. There are thousands, literally, that were slated to be released many years ago. So I wonder if you have a comment on that. Thank you.

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: Yeah. In Egypt  I want to scroll down to my information. We do have  there are activists that are in jail in Egypt and that we would call on the government there to release them. In a number of these situations, we get pushback from people saying, look, you call them religious prisoners, we call them political activists, and in some cases they call them terrorists. And so we are often debating those issues with governments, and I don't have portfolio outside of religious freedom. I am looking at the side of this that when these are individuals that are peacefully practicing their faith  now, if the person is practicing their faith and they're doing it by being a jihadist and attacking and trying to blow up buildings, I think governments have every right to lock them up. And we do that ourselves in the U.S., and I have had that happen in my state when I was governor of Kansas.

So that  I'm not going to get in a dispute with people there. I'm talking about individuals that are peacefully practicing their faith and are arrested because they are advocates for their faith that are peaceful about it. Now, I'm not going to get in a debate about whether somebody is in another category. If they have committed actual crimes in doing things, I think governments have a response that's certainly legitimate to protect the broader community. We're asking for once your peaceful practitioners to be released.

MR HARUTUNIAN: And the last question is from Lalit Jha. Lalit? I don't think he's on the line anymore.

MS ORTAGUS: Yeah. Is there anyone else in the queue, Ruben?

MR HARUTUNIAN: There is no one else.

MS ORTAGUS: Okay. Thank you so much, everybody. I appreciate it. Thank you so much, ambassador, for doing this today.

AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK: Thank you, Morgan. Thank you, everybody. Goodbye.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:56:16|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Chen Chen

BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The global COVID-19 caseload breached the one million mark on Friday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

It serves as a stern warning that the fight against this previously unknown pathogen is exceptionally arduous. Countries worldwide should join their hands even more tightly to secure their shared future.

While the epic fight is going on, it is equally essential for all to start taking stock of some lessons humanity should draw from the outbreak.

The first one is that humans have been constantly exposed to unknown threats.

Despite the fact that the humankind's immune system has evolved ever since the birth of the race, viruses and germs, which have also been evolving, can still find their ways to stage attacks.

The humankind needs to stay humble and never drop guard, bearing in mind that there is a fine line between themselves and the nature.

Another lesson is that a deadly virus does not identify its targets by race or religion. Also, wealth or power does not guarantee a health amulet.

The fact that more than 200 countries and regions are hit by the novel coronavirus has clearly illustrated that.

The third lesson is, on a bit of an upbeat note, the human race is not powerless in the face of an outbreak. China has spent months' time in arresting the further spread of the epidemic, manifesting that measures including social distancing can effectively cut off the chain of transmission, and turn the tables.

Also, humans have over the past centuries accumulated rich experience in developing medications and vaccines. At the moment, scientists and researchers around the globe are racing against time to develop vaccines, offering a ray of hope for ultimate victory over COVID-19.

The fourth is that the raging global pandemic has exposed the deep deficiencies in the current global structure to protect public health in an emergency.

In addition, the shortage of medics and insufficiency of medical supplies -- from face masks and gowns to life-support machines -- are also baffling the anti-virus efforts of most of the countries.

Therefore, the global health governance needs to be improved so that governments and international bodies like the World Health Organization can more efficiently coordinate their joint endeavors to issue early warnings, share information and experience, as well as mobilize resources, and more importantly, boost their surge capacity in face of a sudden outbreak.

The final lesson, or more of an enlightenment, is that the pandemic has revealed a crystal clear fact: the fate of all human beings are closely connected.

That is why China proposed to work with all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind years ago.

"The year 2020 will be remembered as a turnaround point in human history," Marcelo Gleiser, theoretical physicist who wins 2019 Templeton Prize laureate, wrote in a recent opinion piece.

"Not just because many will die, but because the COVID-19 pandemic is offering us a chance to reinvent ourselves," he said.

That reinvention may be hard, but the humans should start thinking and acting as one so that they can emerge out of this unprecedented health crisis much stronger and more united.
As the COVID-19 cases have soared in recent days, three of the US intelligence officials said China misinformed the world by allegedly intentionally underreporting the number of its affected patients and fatalities. In a classified report which the White House received, the officials alleged that the public record of the pandemic of China was purposefully incomplete, not to mention, deceptive.

Bloomberg, the first media firm to report the news, referred to three US intelligence agents who, they say, last week, forewarned the White House about the misleading numbers of Beijing. Also according to the officials, 2 out of 3 sources "called the figures flat-out fake."

READ: Companies Urged by Mexico's President to Pay Workers and Avoid Usury During COVID-19 Crisis

New York Now Ahead of China's Official COVID-19 Count

While there have been disbelievers all along, the decision of China to downplay its figures could have a fatal impact on the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, the immunologist of the State Department, Deborah Birx's advised to White House on its initiative regarding COVID-19 said early this week that the number of China influenced assumptions in other nations about the nature of the said infection.

Based on the interpretation of the data from China Birx said, this was serious, although smaller than any individual expected as she thought they were missing a considerable amount of data, now that what's seen which happened to Italy and also seen happening in Spain.

And, since the onset of this pandemic, the Chinese nation has been accused of having so many coverups. It has changed its "timeline on what it knew," and when it did, it has gone after doctors, whistleblowers and critics attempting to "sound the alarm."

READ NEXT: INACCURATE DATA: Recovered Patients in China Test Positive Again

China Rebranding Itself

Recently, China launched a synchronized campaign to strengthen its global image. Specifically, the country has rebranded itself, sold supplies to strongly-affected nations struggling to combat COVID-19 within their territories, and attempted to start its economy.

Meanwhile, according to a counterintelligence expert, Greg Barbaccia, "The thing better than portraying the role of a victim" is exhibiting that they can appear as a strong and irrepressible hero.

Barbaccia, who has been spending 5 years "on active duty as the US Army's intelligence sergeant." He claimed that China has taken advantage of the present economic landscape, utilizing it for their benefit as nations like Iran and Italy struggle.

More so, China is said to have clogged up its frequencies touting the success of the country in refining COVID-19. Besides, the country pledged millions of dollars to the World Health Organization (WHO), and in return, has received compliments from the public.

READ MORE: Venezuelan Refugees in Colombia Face Eviction Amid the COVID-19 Quarantine

Meanwhile, a report from the United Nations (UN) praised China because, according to the said report released middle of this week, China shared the "genetic sequence of" the infectious illness.

However, it did not highlight that the Chinese officials did not report their first confirmed COVID-19 case until they are forced to and that the written report later disclosed that it was aware of the danger of COVID-19 two months before they reported it.

Had China been upfront from the very beginning, officials say this pandemic "could have been contained."
South Africa: 81 000 SMMEs submit funding applications

Over 81 000 COVID-19-hit small, medium and macro enterprises (SMMEs) have already registered to be on the SMME SA database.

Applications on the SMME SA database were opened on Thursday at 9am, said Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during a ministerial press briefing on Friday.

Similarly, the department on 2 April opened applications for the Debt Relief Fund and Business Growth Facility in the area of debt relief and business growth facility.

Since the opening of the applications we have received over 2000 applications and we are receiving messages from people who are saying they have applied

We want to clarify to SMMEs out there that registering on the database does not translate to you applying. We want to ascertain that you are indeed an operating business and not a shelf company, she said.

She said this was to eliminate the possibilities of system abuse.

Youll recall that we said for you to qualify you need to have been in business by 29 February 2020, the minister said.

On Tuesday, the department announced that a date will be set for spaza shop's support programme application.

Because we are picking up lessons from the two schemes, we have decided to delay and clean-up our mistakes from the first batch of applications that have come through so that we dont open applications for spaza shops, said Ntshavheni.

The Minister said the department was awaiting the package to relieve informal traders of the burden of no income during the lockdown period.

Government is aware of their plight and we are urging them to stay in their homes, stay safe so that we dont complicate our challenge in the country, she said.

The Minister also clarified that foreigners were allowed to apply for permits to operate their shops.

But there are certain conditions that need to be met. The conditions are that you must be lawfully admitted into the Republic of South Africa and therefore carry a valid passport or you must have a special permit for either Zimbabwe or Lesotho or you must be a refugee or asylum seeker with an asylum seeker certificate, she said.

To register your business go to https://smmesa.gov.za/.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A worker at NIPSCO has tested positive for coronavirus.

"We learned that one of our employees was notified (Wednesday) that they tested positive for COVID-19, while having been at home since Saturday, March 21," Communications Director Nick Meyer said Thursday. "It is the companys first confirmed case, and we are providing our employee as much support as possible. This employee is not in a role that directly interfaces with customers."

The Merrillville-based utility said it has been taking steps to protect both employees and customers during the outbreak that's now infected more than 1 million people worldwide. NIPSCO is advising employees to work from home when possible, to practice social distancing and to try to keep at least 6 feet away as a precaution if they have any contact with customers.

"Temperature checks are in effect for critical work facilities where employees must report in person," Meyer said.

NIPSCO also is advising employees and contractors about the best practices for personal and workspace hygiene and taking "advanced cleaning measures."
| 2020-04-03 08:39:37|Editor: Xiaoxia

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A fighter of UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) fires during clashes with Libyan National Army (LNA) at Ain-Zara front line in Tripoli, Libya, on April 2, 2020. For almost a year, the eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli, trying to take the city from the rival UN-backed government. (Photo by Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua)
EDITORS NOTE: On April 7, NJ Cannabis Insider will host a free live webinar with some of the states leading hemp experts to answer pressing questions about the industry. Register here.

As the specter of COVID-19 creeps through our lives like a fog, physicians appear to be on the cusp of having a new tool in the toolbox for medical cannabis patients  telemedicine. When they can use that tool, however, remains unclear as state regulators grapple with a flurry of waivers and changes due to the pandemic.

Background

Last month, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation authorizing any health care practitioner to provide telemedicine and telehealth services for the duration of the current public health emergency, and the waiver of any requirements in law or regulation necessary to facilitate the provision of healthcare services using telemedicine and telehealth during the emergency.

Telehealth is crucial in order to allow as many New Jerseyans as possible to get the medical services they need during this crisis, Murphy said. Through the expansion of telehealth services as well as the waiving of licensure requirements for out-of-state professionals, we will be able to accept assistance from both in-state and from out-of-state more easily and allow residents to get the help they require.

The rollout

Days after the passage of the law, Murphy ordered the states Department of Treasury, Department of Health, Department of Children and Family Services and the Division of Consumer Affairs to identify opportunities to support broader access. As it applies to cannabis space, physicians are governed by the Board of Medical Examiners in the Division of Consumer Affairs, which is part of the Attorney Generals Office.

The DCAs recommendations for the duration of the declared state of emergency include:

The waiver of certain statutory and regulatory provisions eliminating restrictions that prevented practitioners from establishing a doctor/patient relationship using telemedicine or telehealth.

Provide greater flexibility in the types of technologies that may be used, including the telephone.

Remove requirements that patients be physically present at a specific address in order to engage in telehealth or telemedicine.

And encourage licensees to utilize alternative technologies for telehealth such as audio-only telephone or video technology commonly available on smartphones and other devices.

Is anyone applying it yet?

The DCA hasnt yet cleared that up but it did indicate in government-ese its doing something.

The Division of Consumer Affairs (Division) is working with partners across state agencies to enhance strategies for assessing, and addressing an increased demand for health care services during the COVID-19 health crisis, the division said in a statement. The Division will continue to keep the public updated on the efforts to ensure New Jersey residents, including those in the Medical Marijuana Program, continue to have access to world-class treatment.

The DCA declined to clarify whether a physician could use telemedicine today for evaluating and recommending medical cannabis to patients but its apparent that clarity is sorely needed.

So the general message that weve been getting at the federal level is that anything that can be done via telehealth will be considered the same as if it were being done in person, said Dr. David Nathan, founder of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation. So that seemed like a blanket message.

Capehard Scatchard attorney Sheila Mints said shed have concerns for any physician using telemedicine to recommend medical cannabis right now.

The federal guidance makes it clear that telemedicine should not be used for services that are illegal, Mints said. Since cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, I think that using telemedicine for purposes of registering patients for the medical marijuana program is questionable. I see that there are a number of practices using telemedicine for these purposes but, if I were representing them, I would be concerned.

A version of this story first appeared in NJ Cannabis Insider.

https://www.nj.com/shopping-deals/2020/03/how-to-avoid-or-repair-cracked-skin-from-washing-your-hands-constantly.html https://www.nj.com/shopping-deals/2020/03/how-to-avoid-or-repair-cracked-skin-from-washing-your-hands-constantly.html

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Justin Zaremba is content lead and an assistant editor for NJ Cannabis Insider. Find him on Twitter at @JustinZarembaNJ.

NJ Cannabis Insider is a weekly subscriber-based newsletter produced by NJ Advance Media, which also publishes NJ.com, The Star-Ledger and other affiliated papers.
Vietnam Airlines will lose some VND50trn (USD2.1bn) in revenues while 10,000 staff are without work due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Duong Tri Thanh, general director of Vietnam Airlines, said in a letter that had been sent to all employees. Thanh said they had never had to halt nearly all operations as 100 planes are grounded. Many other firms in the world are also struggling to survive.



"As the outbreak is still developing, in 2020, Vietnam Airlines will lose some VND50trn in revenue or 65% of its target," he said.



Vietnam Airlines will apply strong measures like cutting staff, cutting salaries and unnecessary expenses. Such decisions will affect all employees as over 50% of the current employees will be laid off and everyone will have their salary cut, Thanh said.



Vietnam Airlines Group has over 20,000 employees including 1,200 pilots, 2,500 engineers and 3,000 flight attendants. It is estimated that 90% of the pilots and flight attendants will be laid off. There are 15 Boeing 787 and 14 Airbus 350 planes. Each month, Vietnam Airlines has to pay USD30m a month for their fleet's rending and bank interests. The parking fee is VND6bn (USD253,000) a month.



Starting from April 1, Vietnam Airlines can only make six flights between Hanoi, HCM City and Danang.



Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, the aviation industry has never been in such difficulty. "Since the cash flow stopped, the airlines don't have anything to pay expenses," he said. "The cash flow is like the bloodstream in our bodies."



He went on to say that preventing and controlling the outbreak is the top priority. Dtinews

Vietnam Airlines increases cargo transport to ensure trade The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has committed to intensifying the operation of freight flights, both domestically and internationally, amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ninety-seven days ago Mikayla Bullock asked Amazon Alexa how long it was until her birthday  and she has asked the same question every day until her birthday. She turned 5 years old on April 2, but was still having difficulty understanding why she could not have a birthday party like she was expecting.

Although the novel coronavirus has brought a new normal to life events, Mikayla was surprised on her birthday by the Houston Police Department, the Atascocita Fire Department and her friends who all drove by her Atascocita home in the Eagle Springs neighborhood to wish her a happy birthday from their vehicles. She had no idea that law enforcement would come to celebrate with her, but she had been told a few of her friends would be driving by. Dressed up in her brand new rainbow sneakers and an outfit to match, she still had a happy birthday despite the coronavirus.

SOME GOOD NEWS: Positive signs, posters pop up in Spring neighborhood during coronavirus pandemic

Battalion Chief Vince Rodriguez with Atascocita Fire Departments 19 C shift said it was an opportunity to do something fun in a time when the coronavirus has limited so many common social gatherings.

I think it was a good opportunity for us to actually give some happiness back to the community, Rodriguez said. I think a lot of times when we get called out, unfortunately, were getting called out because someones having a bad day. Theyre having probably one of the worst days of their life. So anytime we have an opportunity to go out and spread happiness, spread cheer, positiveness, we try to just take advantage of it.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: From the front lines: Lake Houston area first responders implement new strategies to limit coronavirus exposure

Mikaylas dad, Jason, is a sergeant with the Harris County Sheriffs Department and is continuing to work through the coronavirus. Rodriguez found out shortly before showing up through a text from Mikaylas mother, Heather, who works in the registrar office at Maplebrook Elementary. The firefighter said it was special for him to give back to a law enforcement family.

That made it even sweeter to know that we can give back to our law enforcement family, Rodriguez said. Because we are like one big family, and most of the time we do work side-by-side at each and every scene that we work together.

Her grandmother Alisa Bullock reached out to the Atascocita Fire Department after seeing a Facebook post of a fire department holding up happy birthday signs. She sent the post to their local fire department who said they would be happy to participate. Heather, her daughter-in-law, had arranged for Mikaylas friends to drive by and they were able to put the two events together. Heather was going to send out a message during Spring Break to Mikaylas friends about a party, but then closures and stay-at-home precautions were put in place.

Just to have her have this extra fun. You know, shes 5  she wont remember it next week or next year or anything, but just to have that extra support and just for them to be, just to even see the smiles on their faces and stuff coming by was just awesome, Heather said. Its uplifting, and it just means so much.

Despite the joy that today brought, Alisa found out that her sister, Donna Sopchak, passed away. The mix of emotions was difficult for her today, but she was happy to see her granddaughters happiness.

It was just wonderful, Alisa said. I know this is not anything for it, but I got word today that my sister died out of town and so its just been really, really hard for me because, you know, a part of my heart is ripped out. But to see her jumping up and down on the sidewalk and clapping and excited about the fire trucks and the parades coming, it was just really, really cool.

TOP HITS: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox

Alisa and Heather were talking just the other day about how lucky they are during this pandemic, as concerns about finances, mortgages and rent payments, job security and other issues have become common concerns. Despite fears circulating right now, it was still important for them to make this day special for Mikayla. Alisa said this drive-by birthday celebration style might be a good idea after quarantine, too.

I understand a party is the least of our worries, but just to make her happy and to make her smile during this time, because she just doesnt understand why we cant go to Walmart and buy presents for her birthday or have a party and all of that, Heather said. Just to be able to have this extra comfort for her is fun with them. It meant a lot.

Jason Bullock is a is a sergeant with the Harris County Sheriffs Department, not the Houston Police Department.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
As of today, Friday, April Question Mark 2020, more than 300 million Americansindeed, more than 3 billion people worldwideare living in a state of pandemic lockdown, in an effort to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 virus. Lives are at stake, and millions are out of work, especially those in the hospitality industry: restaurant workers, cafe owners, and baristas are among the hardest hit.

In times like these, we humans lean on sources of comfort to make sense of it all. And for us at Sprudge, that means coffee.

Weve put together two polls for you to check out todayone for baristas, the other for home coffee drinkers. This is the home coffee drinker poll, and were rolling it out because we want to know if home coffee consumption has gone up (and by how much) in the middle of all this mess. We want to know what youre drinking, how youre drinking it, and if youre using this time to get more out of your home coffee experience, and how the roasters that are #StillRoasting around the world can support your love of coffee.

Fill out the form below, please and thank you, but then we need your help. We want as much data as we can get here so that next we can present it to a wide bank of sources, so pleaseshare this post with everyone you know. Share it with grandma, with your cousin, the whole dang family, with your kids little league group of Facebook, or the literal angels you used to work with at a coffee shop. Please share it with everyone.

We want to know if coffee consumption is going up so we can tell the world, alongside our ongoing work to develop and maintain a #StillRoasting map of local roasters that are still in business around the world. Thank you for reading, thank you for filling out this poll, and thanks especially for sharing this post.
RAASM USA is very pleased to announce that Jim Norton has joined the RAASM USA team as our new Director of Sales  North America. Jim has spent the past 26 years in the lubrication equipment business and through his employment with multi-national companies has gained a wide range of knowledge and expertise in the lube industry. Jim has served as a field rep salesman all the way to upper management positions and has a strong history of growing the business wherever he has served.

The relationships that Jim has built over the years, from the oil jobber salesmen, to the OEM, to the owners and managers of large National Account businesses and distributors, throughout North America, will add a new level to the professional sales and support offered by RAASM USA. Jim will remain based in Western North Carolina and can be reached at 828-702-3645.

"We are very happy to have Jim Norton rejoin the RAASM USA team. This is a very exciting time as we are experiencing growth in North America with our rugged and reliable fluid handling equipment. We understand that distributors have many options when it comes to equipment suppliers. Thats why RAASM is continuously building world class products and a team that you can count on," says Steve Green, CEO of RAASM USA.

We wish you the best and we look forward to seeing you soon.

RAASM was founded in 1975 in Bassano, Italy, and specializes in the manufacture of the most rugged and reliable equipment for fluid transfer in the automotive, agriculture, mining, construction, rail, marine, industrial and aeronautical industries. RAASMs fluid handling equipment is designed to handle a wide variety of fluids such as oil, grease, air, water, diesel fuel, antifreeze, transmission fluids, paint, dye, and many industrial chemicals.

https://www.raasmusa.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/raasm-usa-inc./
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IntelinAir is hiring to fill a number of full- and part-time positions in western Indiana in a ten-county region surrounding Lafayette. These positions will be filled over the next several weeks, despite the disruptions caused throughout the economy by the COVID-19 pandemic.

IntelinAir

"Americans are counting on growers to keep the country fed in this time of crisis," IntelinAir co-founder and CEO Al Eisaian said. "We're looking for top talent to help farmers get the most from each harvest. We're extremely fortunate to be able to offer these opportunities at a time when so many have been devastated by layoffs or rescinded job offers."



IntelinAir delivers crop intelligence to farmers through aerial imagery, computer vision, machine learning, agronomic science, and intelligent user interfaces. IntelinAir's goal is to organize and digitize the world's crop information and performance  making it universally accessible and useful to deliver high yields, greater efficiencies, and sustainable farming to feed the human race.



IntelinAir seeks to fill three types of position:

Paid intern , leading to consideration for a full-time role. This position seeks an eager student currently completing bachelor's coursework. The candidate should have an interest in agriculture and would be paid on an hourly basis through graduation.

, leading to consideration for a full-time role. This position seeks an eager student currently completing bachelor's coursework. The candidate should have an interest in agriculture and would be paid on an hourly basis through graduation. Account manager . This position works directly with growers to ensure customer success and contributes to the growth of the company by generating and nurturing leads. The successful candidate will have a bachelor's degree with a background in agriculture. The position, which requires travel within the region as allowed, comes with a full-time salary, plus commission.

. This position works directly with growers to ensure customer success and contributes to the growth of the company by generating and nurturing leads. The successful candidate will have a bachelor's degree with a background in agriculture. The position, which requires travel within the region as allowed, comes with a full-time salary, plus commission. Agronomist. This position works with customers to gather feedback and ground-truths alerts, serving as a liaison between the field and the engineering team. This full-time, salaried position requires a background in agronomy, including a bachelor's degree and preferably five years' work experience.

To be considered, exceptional individuals should send a resume and cover letter explaining the value they would add by joining our team to [email protected] .

IntelinAir has a long history of partnering with universities and colleges in the communities we serve to bring in top talent from ag, business, engineering and computer science backgrounds.

Media Contact:



IntelinAir

Erin Myers

[email protected]

+1 217 412 7486

SOURCE IntelinAir
As coronavirus cases continue to rise across the state and in the Thumb, and another week comes to a close, here are five things you need to know as you begin your Friday.

1. Governor closes Michigan schools

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Thursday closing Michigan schools for the remainder of the school year. Schools had already been closed for a couple of weeks and were scheduled to be closed through the end of the month, but the decision Thursday means students won't go back until fall.

2. Schools were already preparing for closings

Local school districts had already been working on plans assuming the governor closed schools for the rest of the year. Huron ISD Superintendent Joe Murphy said Thursday that local superintendents had been meeting at least once a week to discuss future plans.

3. Numbers still on the rise

Numbers of confirmed cases again rose across the state and in the Thumb Thursday. The Thumb saw an increase of five confirmed cases, whereas the state recorded an additional 1,457 confirmed cases.

4. Drive-thru testing available in the Thumb

Great Lakes Bay Health in Bad Axe began offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing Wednesday in the the Thumb. Officials said they would continue offering the service, which is available for those with an order from their doctor, until there is no longer a need.

5. Have a question? We'll get the answer.

The Huron Daily Tribune continues to answer your coronavirus questions. If you have a question, ask it below and we'll do our best to get the answer.
AKRON, Ohio  A teen convicted of wounding four people in a 2019 shooting was sentenced Thursday to more than 20 years in prison by a Summit County judge.

Jaylin Preston, 19, of Akron, was found guilty by a jury in early February of four counts of felonious assault with gun specifications. On Thursday, Judge Tammy OBrien sentenced Preston to an indefinite term of 22 to 26 years in prison.

Summit County prosecutors say Preston and a friend were walking on Sylvan Avenue on May 8, 2019, when an SUV stopped nearby because it was having mechanical problems. Preston reportedly opened fire on the SUV, wounding three people inside. Prosecutors say one person was shot in the head, suffering severe, life-altering injuries. Prestons friend also was wounded.

This was a serious incident," Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said in a statement. "Jaylin Preston deserves to be held accountable for what he did. The community is safer with him behind bars.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

One dead after car crashes into former Ohio City Galley building in Cleveland

Hit-and-run seriously injures pedestrian in Bay Village

Cuyahoga County Jail warden resigns amid investigations, while self-isolating from coronavirus concerns

Officials looking into use-of-force accusation against Cuyahoga County Jail warden

Coronavirus got 900 inmates out of Cuyahoga Countys troubled jail when inmate deaths didnt. Some say the changes should stick
Flight attendants working for US airlines have been told to continue flying even after being exposed to passengers who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Some fear the policy may be helping spread the virus across the country as they become unwitting carriers, as well as putting them at risk of falling dangerously ill.

Were being exposed and were probably spreading it, said a flight attendant for a major US airline, who asked to remain anonymous. I don't know what the answer is, apart from to stop flying regular passengers around.

Health officials have advised against all but essential travel to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but not everyone is following that advice. Airline staff say people are still taking vacations in some parts of the country, encouraged by a dramatic drop in ticket prices  and a smaller number are flying to bump up their air miles.

The coronavirus is known to be transmittable in patients long before they show symptoms. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said as early as January that there was "no doubt" that asymptomatic transmission was occurring. Some infected people don't show any symptoms at all, and could be silent carriers.

I think universally we feel we should not be flying around regular passengers, the attendant said. We dont mind flying cargo, we don't mind flying emergency workers  doctors and nurses  that's worth the risk. But its not worth the risk to fly people around on a cheap ticket to see a city they have never seen before.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) usually informs airlines when an infected passenger has travelled on one of their flights. But even when they have flown with infected passengers, attendants are told by supervisors to continue to fly.

One attendant with SouthWest Airlines said they had come into contact with passengers who tested positive for Covid-19, but were told by supervisors to carry on working unless they show symptoms. In another case, an entire flight crew was told they had flown with a coronavirus patient, and were told to continue working while self-monitoring. American Airlines and Delta employees are reportedly being told they are subject to the same policy.

One airline employee found out on the news that an infected passenger had been on their flight. Many have reported their colleagues contracting the coronavirus and calling in sick.

US airlines appear to be following guidance from the CDC, which has classified flight attendants and crew as essential infrastructure workers. The advice given to essential workers differs from that given to the general public.

The CDC recommends that anyone who has had close contact (less than 6 feet) for a prolonged period of time to stay at home for 14 days and maintain social distance. The advice for airline staff, meanwhile, says that as long as they remain asymptomatic, crew members may continue to work on flights into, within, or departing from the United States.

The CDC website also states that "crowded travel settings, like airports, may increase chances of getting Covid-19, if there are other travellers with coronavirus infection.

In response to a request for comment from The Independent, a spokesperson for the CDC said its guidance "also states that regardless of residence or travel history, crewmembers who have known exposure to people with Covid-19 should be assessed and managed on a case-by-case basis."

"Crewmembers with high-risk exposures may need to be excluded from work. These decisions should be made by the individual airlines occupational health programmes in coordination with their state or local health departments," the spokesperson added.

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the largest flight attendant union in the US, said her organisation was working to change the CDC's guidance.

Its absurd for many reasons. Its absurd because it risks flight attendants health, but also because were the ones who have most contact with passengers. We pick up their trash, hand them their food," she told The Independent. "Having different guidance for the people whose job it is to interface with thousands of people a day  it seems the CDC would want to fix that."

Ms Nelson said that some airlines had gone beyond the CDC's guidance to allow their staff to quarantine after exposure, with pay, but that the message had not got through to frontline supervisors.

"You have supervisors not even following their own company guidance. In general, the airlines have been more responsive to our recommendations than we have ever seen in the past with an epidemic or pandemic, but it really requires federal coordination."

Recommended Air passengers using cheap coronavirus flights to earn miles

When contacted by The Independent, SouthWest Airlines and American Airlines said they had taken a number of actions to protect their staff during the coronavirus outbreak.

A spokesperson for SouthWest Airlines said the safety of our employees and customers remains our uncompromising priority during this pandemic. The airline said it had introduced a company-wide emergency time off programme, which offers voluntary time off with partial pay and full medical benefits.

We are evaluating each Flight Attendants situation during this dynamic time on a case-by-case basis to offer full support, and there are no penalties being assessed, the statement added.

A spokesperson for American Airlines said the company was coordinating with the CDC on any required health and safety measures.

American has told our team members to stay home from work and seek medical advice if they are sick, the spokesperson said. They added that the company has also introduced voluntary leave options for flight attendants, which gives them partial compensation.

Bottom line: if our crews are concerned about flying, we have options available for them, that have been agreed upon with the unions that represent them, the spokesperson said.

Both airlines have also introduced more comprehensive cleaning on their flights. But that has not been enough to alleviate attendants concerns.

We are worried, said the attendant. Were grateful that we can wear gloves and we don't have to pass out drinks. But we still have to collect trash and were still around people.

Donald Trump on Wednesday raised the prospect of halting domestic flights in order to slow the spread of the virus.

Were certainly looking at it, but once you do that you really are clamping down on an industry that is desperately needed, Mr Trump said in response to a question about restricting domestic air travel.

As part of the US Senates $2trn coronavirus stimulus package, the airline industry will receive some $50bn in bailout funds. Half of that money will be given in direct grants in return for airlines agreeing to not put employees on involuntary furloughs, the rest will be available for loan guarantees.

More than 250,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus across the US, as of Friday, and more than 6,600 people have died.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the union health secretary to have a meeting with the chief secretaries of Karnataka and Kerala to facilitate the movement of people for medical treatments in wake of coronavirus spread.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta favoured an amicable resolution of the dispute and asked the union health secretary to also hold a meeting with health secretaries of both the states.

No state should precipitate the matter at this juncture, the apex court said while issuing notices in the matter and posting it to April 7 for further hearing.

The top court was hearing an appeal filed by the Karnataka government against the Kerala High Court order directing removal of border blockade to allow passage for patients from Kasargod district in Kerala seeking medical services in Mangaluru.

Karnataka government had challenged the order of opening the border saying that it would hamper the state's effort to contain the COVID-19 since Kasargod is a hotspot for coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A locality with 26,000 people



in 3,000 homes in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district has been sealed and people ordered home quarantine after a couple there tested positive for novel coronavirus a day ago, followed on Friday by 10 more who had been in contact with them, an official said.

People in the locality, comprising Ward number 47 in Prem Nagar and auurounding areas, had attended a function organised by the couple on March 20, Sub Divisional Magistrate RS Bakna said.

"A man had returned from Dubai on March 17. He and his wife, both of whom later tested postive, organised a function on March 20. As a precautionary measure, around 26000 people living in 3000 houses have been ordered home quarantine for 14 days," the SDM said.

He said samples of 22 people living close to the couple's residence have been sent for coronavirus testing.

"Morena Resident Medical Officer (BMO) Dr Padmesh Upadhyay has been tasked to keep a watch over the cordoned off area," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A criminal justice reform group backed by celebrities and top business executives is giving 100,000 masks to prisons across the country as those incarcerated are impacted by the coronavirus.

New York's Rikers Island jail will be seeing 50,000 masks from the Reform Alliance, an organization that has advocated for changes to the criminal justice system since 2019, the group announced Friday. Rikers houses 5,000 to 6,000 inmates on a daily basis and has been hit with nearly 200 cases of the coronavirus.

Shaka Senghor, an author who wrote a memoir about his life that included 19 years in prison, partnered with Reform to help acquire the masks.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons announced on Tuesday that inmates in all institutions will be kept in their assigned cells for two weeks in an effort to fight the virus.

Reform Alliance was founded by a group of celebrities and business leaders, including rapper Meek Mill, who was once arrested on gun and drug charges, and musician Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. Van Jones, a former advisor to President Barack Obama and an advocate for the recently passed First Step Act, is the group's CEO. Founding partners include New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Third Point CEO Dan Loeb and Robert Smith, CEO of Vista Equity Partners.

The group advocates for reforming probation and penal codes and for granting clemency.

Forty-thousand masks are being delivered to the Tennessee Department of Corrections and 5,000 are being sent to the Mississippi State Penitentiary.

Jessica Jackson, the alliance's chief advocacy officer, said Senghor assisted in acquiring the masks after receiving an anonymous $100,000 donation that was used to invest into the personal protective equipment.

"We partnered with Shaka Senghor, who was able to find us an anonymous donor who donated $100,000 to buy the masks," Jackson said.
For some time now, songstress/entrepreneur Mzbel has been very clear about her stance against the whole indoctrination of people, especially Ghanaians.



On numerous occasions, she has gone toe to toe against the whole idea that a supreme being exists somewhere who is also available to save people from all the troubles they are going through.



She has also openly done something that is considered a sin, thus fighting people who are acclaimed as men of God (Prophet Nigel Gaisie & Prophet Prince Osei Kofi) just because she claims they tried to use her wrongly.



Well, she is back again throwing a lot of shade at men of God, who she claims have gone into hiding at a time the world needs them to be all out praying to get people who have been infected with the deadly coronavirus disease healed.



She boldly stated that all the self-acclaimed men of God are fake and also told Christians to wake up because none of their pastors can heal them as they always claim



Read her full post below



Good Morning Mzbelievers, I will like to ask the questions everyone is afraid to ask, Hate me or Love me, thats you business but LETS ENGAGE AND SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER Im not here to Baby Seat Your Feelings.



If Churches are being shut down for the purpose of saving lives. Was there a need to have them in the first place?



Even church pastors are waiting for #CORONAVIRUS to clear so that they can continue healing the Sick!



We need to wake up Nobody can heal the sick, my opinion and I stand to be corrected if need be. If theres someone you know why is he not going to Hospital and heal the sick as they claim to heal them in churches, #IBelieveInGodWithin not in the Sky and not Fake! So far no one came out to save Lives, thats because they are all Fake.











Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ecuador's government said on Thursday it was building a 'special camp' for coronavirus victims in the country's largest city of Guayaquil, where an outbreak has killed over 80 people, with many bodies left at home for days.

President Lenin Moreno said the official total of 120 deaths across the Andean nation, among the highest tallies in Latin America, was 'short' as authorities had been unable to keep up with the virus' spread.

'The reality always exceeds the number of tests and the speed with which we can act,' Moreno said in televised comments. Medical professionals believe the true number of coronavirus cases in Ecuador could be five times the official count or higher.

Moreno said the government expected the total number of deaths in Guayaquil's surrounding province of Guayas, home to 3.8 million Ecuadoreans, to reach between 2,500 and 3,500. 'We're building a special camp for the fallen,' he said.

Ecuador's government said on Thursday it was building a 'special camp for the fallen' coronavirus victims. President Lenin Moreno said the official total of 120 deaths was 'short' as authorities had been unable to keep up with the virus' spread

A unit of police officers and soldiers, tasked with burying coronavirus victims, was now collecting as many as 150 bodies a day, up from 30 several days ago

People wait inside a vehicle carrying a coffin lined up to enter a cemetery on Thursday

Morgues, funeral homes and all related services for the dead are over capacity.

A unit of police officers and soldiers, tasked with burying coronavirus victims, was now collecting as many as 150 bodies a day from homes in Guayaquil, up from 30 several days ago, Moreno said.

Residents in Guayaquil have complained they have no way to dispose of relatives' remains due to strict quarantine and curfew measures designed to prevent spread of the virus.

Last week, authorities said they had removed 100 corpses from homes in the port city.

Several locals have taken to social media to appeal for help, posting videos of dead relatives lying in their residences.

Macabre images and pleas from families have appeared, showing dead loved ones wrapped in plastic or cloth, waiting for them to be taken away. Television crews have captured images of bodies and coffins left on sidewalks.

'It's a desperate smell,' said Merwin Teran, 61, the owner of a Guayaquil funeral home, who said he saw 50 dead in one morgue alone.

Teran said he went to a cemetery on Tuesday and 149 bodies were awaiting burial or cremation.

A couple ties an empty coffin to their car to collect the body of a relative on Thursday

People wait next to a coffin in a pick-up truck lined up outside of a cemetery

He said many funeral homes are not operating, while those that are have to send workers to pick up bodies without adequate protection. By law, he said, funeral homes can't pick up bodies until a doctor has signed off on a cause of death, but because so many physicians are treating patients, bodies are accumulating in morgues, creating a backlog.

Daniel Larrea died Monday after a week of high fever, struggling to breathe and steadily turning blue.

Until he came down with a 102-degree fever a week ago, Larrea had no known health problems other than being overweight, his family said.

The family called doctors, who advised him to stay home and take an over-the-counter fever reducer.

As he grew worse and the family called for an ambulance, only to be told none were available to go to their poor neighborhood.

The family was dependent on the 42-year-old Uber driver and father of four for their economic livelihood and together with other relatives - eight people in total - live in a small home.

After he died, they wrapped the body in thick black plastic, called 911 and waited.

No one in their city on Ecuador's Pacific coast would pick up his body.

'We wrapped him up in black plastic,' Larrea's wife, Karina, said Wednesday. 'He's here in the living room.'

Other families left bodies in the street for authorities to collect.

Aside from the emotional toll of seeing their loved one die, the family now fears that they have all been exposed to coronavirus.

'We're afraid,' said Larrea's wife, Karina, 'that we're all infected.'

Hospitals are turning away patients and bodies are being left on streets and in homes for days in Guayaquil, a normally bustling city of 2.6 million that has become a hot spot in Latin America as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

Carmen Suarez, 71, died at her home over the weekend in Guayaquil from what the family believes was kidney failure. Relatives tried to find a hospital that would accept her as her legs grew increasingly swollen, but were told no beds were available and that taking her to a hospital would be risky anyway because of the coronavirus spread.

Residents in Guayaquil have complained they have no way to dispose of relatives' remains due to strict quarantine and curfew measures

By Tuesday, the family had spent three days waiting for her body to be taken away. They eventually called a funeral home worker who brought a coffin and embalmed her body, which was still waiting on the familys patio.

'Its catastrophic what is happening in Guayaquil,' said Byron Moreira, 36, her son-in-law. 'I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy.'

Esteban Ortiz, a public health specialist, said that in the province of Guayas, which includes Guayaquil and where 70% of the country's virus cases are located, only around 175 ventilators are likely available. On Thursday, 225 people were hospitalized, including 122 in serious condition nationwide, indicating a likely critical shortage of the live-saving equipment.

'We're not giving them a chance to come and get medical attention,' he said.

The Ministry of Public Health did not respond to requests for comment. But at a news conference Wednesday, health authorities defended Ecuador's response, saying that new technology would soon allow testing to increase to 1,400 a day.

Officials say there could be dozens more who died without ever being officially diagnosed - people like Larrea, who had all the symptoms, but never got tested. Nationwide, there were 3,160 cases confirmed on Thursday, likely a vast underestimate.

Meanwhile, untold numbers of Ecuadorians are dying of unrelated diseases that can't be treated because hospitals are overwhelmed.

Doctors say there aren't enough tests in the country, making it harder to identify and isolate the sick to try to stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes - as well as too few hospital beds and ventilators.

'We are seeing a situation quite similar to that of Italy,' said Dr. Mireya Rodas, a lung specialist at a Guayaquil hospital who has herself tested positive.

Soldiers walk down a street as they distribute food during a lockdown enacted to help contain the spread of the new coronavirus in Zambiza near Quito, Ecuador, Thursday

Ecuador identified its first case of COVID-19 on Feb. 29 - a 71-year-old woman who had traveled from Spain - making it one of the first Latin American countries to confirm the arrival of the disease.

Medical experts fear the disaster brewing in Guayaquil may offer a frightening glimpse of what awaits the region in coming weeks and months.

'More contagion, more mortality,' said Enrique Acosta, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic research in Germany. 'They are closely intertwined.'

Acosta is among a group of policy experts urging Latin American governments to quickly ramp up testing. They note that in countries like Singapore and South Korea, where the virus has been more quickly contained, testing was widespread. But that is not the case in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Guayaquil's hospitals are overloaded with patients struggling to breathe and a growing number of health workers were also getting infected, said Liliana Triana, head of Guayas' nursing school.

The government is urgently recruiting 700 new doctors and nurses, chiefly in the city.

'We're sending out an S.O.S. because our nurses are dying,' Triana told Reuters, adding they had five deaths and 70 infections among the school's ranks.

Jorge Wated, the official tasked by the government with handling the death toll crisis, said authorities were preparing for many more fatalities and working to ensure all are buried appropriately. He said authorities usually pick up about 30 people who have died in their homes each day, but have been picking up around 150, not all of whom died of COVID-19.

'We ask for forgiveness for those who had to wait days for their loved ones to be picked up,' he said.

Gina Watson, representative for the Pan American Health Organization in Ecuador, said experts expect to see a similar uptick in cases elsewhere in the region.

'Guayaquil is experiencing what we expect to see in all countries,' she said. 'A rising curve of cases along with the associated mortality.'

Men carry a sick man into a hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador on Wednesday. Residents of Guayaquil, in Ecuador's southwest, express outrage over the way the government has responded to the numerous deaths
[April 03, 2020] Moody's Analytics Enhances Bank Lending Solutions to Expedite Small Business Access to PPP Funds

Moody's Analytics announced today that it has enhanced its credit decisioning solutions to help streamline borrowing by small businesses under the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) administered by the Small Business Association (SBA). "We understand the financial stress small businesses are facing, and have enhanced our lending solutions to help banks extend credit more quickly in response to the coronavirus challenge," said Steve Tulenko, President of Moody's Analytics. Under the CARES Act, small business owners can apply for government-backed loans through their banks. Moody's Analytics has updated its solutions that streamline and automate online loan applications and credit decisions to help banks provide small businesses with more timely access to funding. The new capabilities can help banks conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, manage lending workflow, capture information consistently, and assess the credit position of their business borrowers. After a PPP loan is underwritten, lenders, guarantors, and other stakeholders can monitor loan performance and analyze aggregate trends. Starting today, these enhancements will be made available to banks across the United States, including the hundreds of financial institutions already using Moody's Analytics solutions. As more information about the SBA and PPP requirements i released, we will continue to adapt our solutions accordingly. Over the next few days, we will be hosting training sessions; dates and times will be posted here.



About Moody's Analytics Moody's Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs. For more information about Moody's Analytics, visit our website or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Moody's Analytics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO). Moody's Corporation reported revenue of $4.8 billion in 2019, employs approximately 11,100 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 40 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005450/en/

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The Jewish Healthcare Center in Worcester, which experienced three deaths due to coronavirus this week, reported one new positive case of the virus on Friday.

The healthcare center located on Salisbury Street, now has 17 positive cases of COVID-19. One test remains pending. Of the 19 patients tested for the virus, one came back negative.

"The Jewish Healthcare Center extends its deepest sympathy to those who have lost loved ones to this virus, the facility said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those residents and employees who have been diagnosed.

On Thursday, Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus announced that the Jewish Healthcare Center had 16 cases of COVID-19 along with three deaths.

The 17 residents who tested positively are in an isolated wing of the facility and are being treated, the Jewish Healthcare Center said.

Under the direction of Kate Columbus, Jewish Healthcare Centers Director of Nursing, our healthcare team is providing the finest care possible to all our residents and we are working with local and state officials to mitigate the situation, the long term care center said.

The Jewish Healthcare Center said since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has followed protocol set by the Centers Disease Control and Prevention as well as guidelines by federal, state and city agencies.

During a news conference on Thursday, Augustus said prior to the positive tests patients at the facility were asymptomatic.

Everything that we know, its an unfortunate situation where people that dont know they have it, because they are asymptomatic, expose other folks, Augustus said. When the first evidence that someone may have the disease, you do the testing, but youre playing catchup at that point.

Augustus also said six staff members were tested for the coronavirus. The results have not come back yet.

The Jewish Healthcare Center remains in contact with the Massachusetts Department of Health and said it will continue to provide updates on the outbreak.

The Jewish Healthcare Center has deep roots in the Worcester community. Our residents are like our family, the center said. While this virus knows no age limits, we do know it is a dangerous threat to our oldest generation.

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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Quito, Ecuador  Fri, April 3, 2020 16:43 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8e704 2 World ecuador,death-toll,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,coronavirus,infection,infectious-diseases,pandemic,health Free

Troops and police in Ecuador have collected at least 150 bodies from streets and homes in the country's most populous city Guayaquil amid warnings that as many as 3,500 people could die of the coronavirus in the city and surrounding province in the coming months.

A joint military and police task force sent out to gather corpses in the horror-struck port city had collected 150 in just three days, government spokesman Jorge Wated said late Wednesday.

Residents had published videos on social media showing abandoned bodies in the streets in the Latin American city worst hit by the pandemic.

Some left desperate messages for authorities to take away the corpses of people who had died in their homes.

Authorities have not confirmed how many of the dead were victims of the coronavirus.

Rosa Romero, 51, lost her husband Bolivar Reyes and had to wait a day for his body to be removed from their home.

A week later, amid the chaos of the city's mortuary system, she does not know where it is.

"In the forensic bureau they told us that they had taken him to the Guasmo Hospital. We went there to find him but he was not registered anywhere," Romero told AFP.

A 15-hour curfew imposed in the city makes further searching difficult.

Government apology

The government's spokesman apologized in a message broadcast on state television late Wednesday.

He said mortuary workers had been unable to keep up with the removal of bodies because of the curfew.

"We acknowledge any errors and apologize to those who had to wait days for their loved ones to be taken away," Wated said.

Mortuary workers in masks and protective clothing were seen carrying plastic-wrapped coffins in the city on Wednesday as authorities tried to cope with the backlog of dead.

Work at cemeteries and funeral homes has stalled, with staffers reluctant to handle the dead over contagion fears.

Ecuador is the Latin American country worst hit by the virus after Brazil, with more than 3,160 infections and 120 deaths by Thursday morning.

Guayaquil has Latin America's highest mortality rate from COVID-19 with 1.35 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants -- higher than the 0.92 per 100,000 registered in Brazil's epicenter Sao Paulo -- according to Esteban Ortiz from Ecuador's University of the Americas.

Guayaquil's surrounding province of Guayas has 70 percent of the country's COVID-19 infections.

Ecuador's first reported case of COVID-19 was a 71-year-old Ecuadoran woman who arrived in Guayaquil from Spain on Feb. 14.

'Difficult days ahead'

Wated said the government is preparing for even more difficult days ahead.

"The medical experts unfortunately estimate that deaths from COVID in these months will reach between 2,500 and 3,500 -- in the province of Guayas alone, and we are preparing for that," he said.

Autopsies have been restricted and the government, which has banned usually crowded funeral services, initially insisted that COVID-19 victims be cremated but was forced to relent after a public backlash.

"We are working so that each person can be buried with dignity in one-person spaces," Wated said, referring to a government-run cemetery being made available with capacity for around 2,000 bodies.

Last month, the city's mayor Cynthia Viteri sent municipal vehicles to block an Iberia plane sent to repatriate stranded foreigners from landing at the city's international airport.

But Viteri was unapologetic as the number of cases spiraled in her city.

"I take responsibility for protecting my city," she said.
Sheldon Adelson, CEO of Las Vegas Sands, listens to President Donald Trump address the Israeli American Council National Summit 2019 at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, on Dec. 7, 2019. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Businessman Sheldon Adelson Announces Plan to Pay Workers for 2 Months, Urges Others to Follow Lead

Business mogul Sheldon Adelson will pay workers for two months despite his businesses being closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he announced this week.

Adelsons Las Vegas Sands resort-hotels are shut down but he said hes still paying every one of his nearly 10,000 workers as though they were still working.

I hope to do that right up until the time that we can reopen our businesses. Its not only the right thing to doits good business, he wrote in an op-ed in the New York Post.

The 86-year-old has a net worth of 27.9 billion.

Adelson recounted growing up poor and said he didnt want his workers wondering where their familys next meal would come from. He praised President Donald Trump, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom for taking decisive actions during the pandemic before urging fellow corporate executives to step up and follow his lead.

The coming weeks will be tough, and the months that follow will be unsteady. To my fellow business leaders, let us lead by example. I will gladly participate in an ongoing discussion with each of you on ways we can work together to protect this nations workforce. Let us prove the greatness, compassion and resiliency of this country, once again, he wrote.

Adelson, who donates to the Republican party and candidates, also had two million masks produced in China, along with 20,000 protective suits, and said he would donate them to hospitals in New York and Nevada.

An exterior view shows guest rooms at Wynn Las Vegas in Nevada on March 31, 2020. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Hopefully our donations will help protect people on the front lines so they can continue their invaluable work, and we can start to see the numbers of people affected begin to diminish, Adelson said in a statement.

Wynn Resorts, owned by Steve Wynn, announced on Wednesday it would pay all employees through May 15 for a total of 60 days of payroll continuance.

It is our shared responsibility to follow the direction of health and safety professionals to stay home, and limit social contact, said Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox in a statement. We owe it to each other, our families and to our community.

Other moguls have helped contribute to the CCP virus response effort. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the richest men in the world, said on Thursday hed donate $100 million to food banks across the United States.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Even in ordinary times, food insecurity in American households is an important problem, and unfortunately COVID-19 is amplifying that stress significantly, Bezos said a statement. Millions of Americans are turning to food banks during this time.
A doctor at a primary clinic on the outskirts of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras offered an interview to the World Socialist Web Site to speak out about the disastrous state of the countrys health care system amid the coronavirus pandemic. As the interview ended, news broke that the eleventh fatal victim of the virus in the country was fellow Dr. Denisse Roxana Murillo Martinez in San Pedro Sula. The city and its surroundings are quickly becoming the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Honduras, where 172 cases have been confirmed.

If you are a medical worker and want to speak out about your own experience with the COVID-19 crisis, please contact us today.

WSWS: Can you describe the situation that doctors and other hospital workers face in Honduras during the coronavirus outbreak?

Dr.: The situation we are living is a real crisis. And, as health care personnel, we recognize that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

We face the tough reality that the disease keeps spreading; the number of gravely ill patients is increasing, and we dont have the means to attend to them. And in these tough times, the government is indifferent to our needs, not providing adequate personal protective equipment for all health care workers. We are beginning to see the consequences with four doctors infected with COVID-19 and a couple of nurses.

For years, weve demanded that the [President] Juan Orlando Hernandez administration, characterized by innumerable acts of corruption, invest our tax money in health care and education. Instead, he has built up the Armed Forces and created his own Military Police. We made our demands in an orderly way for a long time, beginning with marches with torches. The Honduran people were outraged to see how he re-installed himself illegally, which he achieved with US backing.

Meanwhile, we have observed a collapsed health care system, with cancer patients forced to wait six months for an appointment, eliminating their hope for survival. Moreover, the state National Anti-corruption Council declared in 2018 that 49 percent of the health care budget had been re-routed due to corruption.

As health care workers, we have fought against this incessantly through attempts at dialogue, marches, strikes, formal lawsuits, all in vain. Now, we face this COVID-19 pandemic which demonstrates, tragically, that the armored tanks of the police and warships of the Navy are incapable of saving lives, and that our fight was always well directed.

WSWS: There were protests in early March by hospital workers due to the shortages, and authorities claim to have provided enough protective equipment and respirators. What do you think about this?

Dr.: The protective equipment that is effective for COVID-19 was reserved for hospitals where patients with this disease are being treated. They use the equipment recommended by the WHO [World Health Organization]. But, before arriving at these hospitals, patients pass through our clinics, where the clinical diagnosis is carried out and they are referred to these hospitals for tests.

We are not provided with the necessary equipment. We barely have conventional masksnot the N95s that would be more adequateor non-sterile gloves. Disposable gowns, eyewear or additional gloves are not in our stock. We often have to try to buy our own gloves for our biosecurity since those provided by the government are not enough.

We have two doctors, one professional nurse and five assistant nurses in our clinic. If there was a positive case, we would honestly be very exposed, and its public knowledge that many carriers are asymptomatic.

On a national level, we barely have 88 respirators in the public sector and 70 in private hospitals. The rest of the ventilators that the government said it just bought are not adequate for these patients and dont meet quality requirements for hospital use. These numbers become insignificant when one sees the diseases impact in other countries. We are simply left to wait with our arms crossed to see what happens here, as spectators in [the Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel] Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

WSWS: How do the budget cuts and privatization drive, particularly after the 2009 US-backed coup, affect the response to the pandemic?

Dr.: As I said before, the health care crisis is not new. The medical workers have fought for years to defend the right to public health care for the Honduran peoplethe opposite of the governments privatization efforts. To achieve this privatization, it has deliberately reduced the budget and diverted the focus away from public health care. This has come at the expense of the lives of thousands of Hondurans who struggle enormously to reach some hospital, only to be welcomed with a notice that there are no medicines, and having to return home sick and with less money.

I want to deeply thank all doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians and other health care personnel for, despite the difficulties, not hesitating to go to work each morning out of love for others and for our profession. I hope to God that this pandemic gets resolved soon.
Additional reporting: Paul Hosford

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are set to love-bomb the Green Party in the coming days in a bid to convince them to enter government with them.

Sources in both parties have said that the Green Party, with its 12 TDs, is a more attractive and viable option than trying to rely on a large group of Independents.

The two larger parties are due to meet again on Monday and several more times next week to finalise a joint policy document which they would seek to present to the Greens as a basis for a programme for government.

While the talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have been confidential, the Irish Examiner has confirmed that agreement has been reached that emergency Covid-19 payments must be temporary.

Fine Gael is insisting that capital spending will have to be prioritised even if the country ends up in deep recession, sources have said.

The talks, which are said not yet to be at a very advanced stage, have explored how both parties would enjoy parity of esteem in any government arrangement.

This concept was agreed upon by Taoiseach Leo Varakdar and Micheal Martin and the two negotiating teams have sought to put it into practice, sources have said.

The joint policy paper will not be a comprehensive document like a normal programme for government, but rather a highly condensed broad-based document which will allude to issues in health, housing, education, and taxation.

This weekend, the two parties will seek to marry their respective policy papers into one combined document and will develop it further during the week.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said a number of parties will be needed to form a strong majority government which can last several years.

My very strong view is that the next government will have to have a number of political parties in it, said Mr Donohoe.

If Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are successful in agreeing the elements of a partnership amongst ourselves, a government will only be formed if it includes other political parties apart from my own party and Fianna Fail.

If I look at the scale of change needed in our country in a post-Covid world, if I look at the number of parties that campaigned on the need for change, and if I look at the need for a stable majority inside this Dail, I believe it will be indispensable that this government has a broad range of political parties in it, he added.

Echoing the Taoiseachs view, Mr Donohoe hinted strongly too that the Labour Party could come in to play now that its leadership contest is at its conclusion.

Im conscious that another party is in the final moments of electing a new leader, which I respect, he said. But as a member of a party that is involved in formation discussions, that government must have a stable majority.

Its fair to say that many of the issues Im engaging on relate to the economy post Covid-19 and the many challenges that were there beforehand and how were going to respond to them.
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio predicts 5,000 coronavirus patients in New York City will need to be in intensive care unit beds by early next week, as the city waits for supplies and military personnel he said have still not arrived.

We predict by something like Monday or Tuesday, 5,000 people in our ICUs, intubated, fighting for their lives with COVID cases, de Blasio said Friday morning on CNNs New Day. 5,000 and that number will then grow.

That's a staggering number. Every one of those people will need a ventilator. Every one of those people would need doctors, nurses constantly checking on them and adjusting their treatment, he continued. We can only get to Monday or Tuesday at this point. We don't know after that.

The mayor also said the city is still waiting for supplies and military personnel he asked the federal government for to respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

De Blasio said he asked for 1,000 nurses, 150 doctors, 300 respiratory therapists by Sunday and 2,500 to 3,000 ventilators by next week, but has still not received any commitment from the federal government on his requests to date.

We are not ready for next week in terms of supplies from the federal government when it comes to ventilators, when it comes to medical personnel, I have a specific request in the to White House to the Pentagon, he said Friday morning on The Brian Lehrer Show.

I think we are days away from missing the window for the military to mobilize, first of all their own medical personnel, ten and thousands of doctors, nurses, highly trained medical personnel in the US military, he continued. Obviously, the military right now is at their bases, they are not mobilized for action, they should be, the president, the commander and chief, the president, has to give that order right now.

Earlier this week, the city formally rolled out a plan for its Health + Hospitals system to prepare for a surge in coronavirus cases by adding 3,000 more ICU beds by May 1 and equipping them with more than 2,500 doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians and free Covid-19 testing for its staff at their request.

However, because Staten Island is not part of the citys Health + Hospitals system it was left out of the citys latest plan.

The delivery of additional resources to the citys public hospitals comes as the Islands two private hospitals could be at about half of their capacity.

On Thursday, Staten Islands two private hospitals said they were treating 411 coronavirus patients alone.

Last week, the heads of the Islands two private hospitals told the Advance they are able to expand to 829 ICU and general hospital beds combined under its surge capacity.

That means the hospitals could currently be at half of their capacity treating coronavirus patients alone based on the number of coronavirus patients they were treating Thursday.

The Island is set to receive a 260-bed field hospital at South Beach Psychiatric Center sometime next week to treat coronavirus patients only.

Another field hospital at the College of Staten Island, will add 1,000 beds

However, details on when the colleges field hospital will open, who will staff it, and whether the site will treat coronavirus patients or non-coronavirus patients have yet to be answered.

Under the citys current approach, the mayor said that hospitals would be converted to ICU beds and then additional facilities like field hospitals, hotels and other venues would be built out for additional capacity

The mayor has vowed in recent days to look for every additional opportunity to build more hospital capacity on Staten Island during the coronavirus outbreak.

He has also said the city has given supplies to the Islands two private hospitals.

But the Department of Health does not provide a breakdown of the supplies the city distributes to local hospitals and the Islands two private hospitals have not detailed how many of those supplies it has received from the city to date.

On Thursday, White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner said the Trump administration secured a month of N95 masks for New York City hospitals.

The mayor said he appreciated the efforts.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to climb across the state, many New York patients are left wondering if contracting the virus is a one-time deal. Unfortunately, the answer is a bit complicated.

Given the novel nature of the virus, theres currently limited research available on the possibility of being reinfected once youve already contracted it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it does not yet know if patients can be reinfected with COVID-19, but patients of a similar coronavirus strain were unlikely to be reinfected, at least in the short-term.

The immune response, including duration of immunity, to SARS-CoV-2 infection is not yet understood. Patients with MERS-CoV are unlikely to be re-infected shortly after they recover, but it is not yet known whether similar immune protection will be observed for patients with COVID-19, according to the CDC.

Although a concrete answer is not yet available, some of the nations leading experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, believe patients are likely to develop some level of immunity to the virus.

We dont know that for 100% certain because we havent done the study, but I feel really confident that if this virus acts like every other virus that we know, once you get infected, get better, clear the virus, then you will have immunity that will protect you against reinfection, Fauci said on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Others tend to agree with Fauci, though some caution that there could be exceptions given the novel nature of the virus.

Based on all that we know so far, once you have the COVID-19 infection, you cant get it again, but there are always exceptions," Dr. Mahmoud Loghman-Adham, a principal at California-based life sciences consulting firm Innopiphany, told Health.com.

Although we need more evidence to be sure of this, people who have recovered are unlikely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 again," Martin Hibberd, a professor of emerging and infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told Al Jazeera.

In China, a recent study conducted on monkeys found that once exposed to the virus an initial time, the subjects developed immunity and were unable to contract the virus a second time.

Combined with the follow-up virologic, radiological and pathological findings, the monkeys with re-exposure showed no recurrence of COVID-19, similarly to the infected monkey without rechallenge, according to the study.

Some scientists say that while it is likely patients develop some level of immunity, its unclear how long that immunity would last.

It is reasonable to predict we will have some immunity. To say you will have lifelong immunity? We just dont know yet. But I think its a reasonable conclusion that you will have immunity for the rest of this season, Frances Lund, professor and chair of the department of microbiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told NBCNews.

Because this is so new, its hard to predict whats going to happen, said Joel Baines, a virologist at Louisiana State University. Theres going to be a period of immunity, and it could be as little as eight months to a year, and as long as several years.

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Guwahati/Agartala, April 3 : After Assam reported 16 positive COVID-19 cases, all the attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, six Northeastern states sealed the interstate borders and barred the general entry from Assam, ministers and officials said on Friday.

Assam shares 2,743 km inter-state boundaries with Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and West Bengal. Of the 20 positive coronavirus cases in four of the seven Northeastern states, 18 took part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi while a Manipuri girl and a Mizoram man had tested positive last month after they returned from the UK and the Netherlands, respectively.

According to Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, swab samples of 16 people, residents of Assam and all attendees of the Tablighi event held last month have tested positive for coronavirus.

"Test reports of several hundred Tablighi Jamaat attendees are awaited," Sarma said in Guwahati.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who holds both the Health and Home Departments, while holding a meeting to review the preparedness to deal with the COVID-19 issues, strongly asked the officials to maintain a highest vigil along the inter-state borders with Assam and Mizoram "Except the goods laden trucks and freight trains, nothing should be allowed to enter Tripura from the neighbouring states and across the Bangladesh borders," Deb told the media.

"We must be extra careful against the spread of the novel coronavirus as positive cases were found in Assam, Mizoram and Bangladesh. Tripura is so far free from the positive cases," Deb stated.

In Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that the inter-district movements have been stopped by the union Home Ministry, there was no question of allowing any movement within the state and from other states.

"The state government has asked district officials in the border areas to ensure that all the norms to fight against COVID-19 are strictly followed. Only in case of extreme medical emergency, the authorities are not allowing inter-state movement to take place," Sangma said.

However, except travelling by train, people from Guwahati and other parts of Assam have to pass through Meghalaya's Shillong, Jowai and Khliehriat to go to southern Assam, comprising five districts.

In Kohima, the Nagaland government has sealed the state's borders with Assam along Wokha district (western Nagaland) with immediate effect, in the wake of increasing positive COVID-19 cases in Assam.

Deputy commissioner of Wokha district said that in the interest of public health and in consideration with the reports of positive cases in Assam and to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the border district, the order was made under the Epidemic diseases Act, 1897.

"The DC's notification directed the sealing of all inter-state entry points of Assam except for movement of security forces and emergency medical services. It also ordered the supply of all essential commodities to be routed through Dimapur district. Any violators would be booked under under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," an official said in Kohima referring the DC's order.

In Mizoram, the state government has further tightened the security along its inter-state borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura following the spike in coronavirus positive cases in neighbouring states. Mizoram Deputy Inspector General (Northern Range) Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said that security has been further tightened along the state borders with neighbouring states to check movement of people across the border.

"All the check posts along the inter-state borders, especially, in Vairengte and Bairabi on the Mizoram-Assam border and Mamit district along the state border with Tripura have been further alerted," the police official said. He also said that additional security forces have also been deployed along the inter-state borders.

In Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu during a review meeting on Thursday asked the police department to keep vigil of the porous border with Assam besides strict monitoring of all 22 official entry gates to prevent any suspicious access.

From other parts of the country, Assam is the gateway for the six other Northeastern states sharing 2,616 km borders with Nagaland (512.1 km), Arunachal Pradesh (804.1 km), Manipur (204.1 km), Mizoram (164.6 km), Tripura (46.3 km) and Meghalaya (884.9 km). Three northeastern states -- Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura -- are yet to report any positive coronavirus case.
Amid the novel Coronavirus pandemic, many people are unable to meet their families stuck in different countries because of the lockdown. One amongst them is Jacqueline Fernandez, whose parents are in Bahrain.

Recently, while speaking with a leading tabloid, the Race 3 actress said that she is in a bit of misery since she can't be with her parents because of the restrictions.

Jacqueline was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, "I wanted my parents to really be with me right now; I'm concerned about their health and how they are doing. The funny thing is that they're concerned about me and are like 'you're all alone there'. But I'm worried about my parents being on their own."

The Sri Lankan beauty further added that she feels people, who have their parents by their side at present, rather "lucky". Talking about the same, she continued, "Right now they do need all the love, care and attention. They are vulnerable at this point, we need to be there for them."

The actress also shared an update on her other family members and revealed that her sister, who stays in North Carolina in the US, is having a very tough time.

"The supermarkets there are completely out of stock there are no products and medicines. My brothers, who are in Australia, are pretty sorted because they are in a very remote part in the country," shared Jacqueline.

Meanwhile, Jacqueline admitted that she found it difficult to process the lockdown situation because she felt a bit "disoriented". However, the actress has been keeping busy by sharing workout tips videos and serenading her fans with her piano skills on social media.

Recently, Jacqueline reunited with rapper Baadshah for a music video titled Genda Phool. The actress is all set to make her digital debut with Mrs Serial Killer. Also, reports suggest that she has signed a Telugu film opposite superstar Pawan Kalyan.

Jacqueline Fernandez Inspires Fans To Take On Yoga As Gyms Shutdown Due To Coronavirus

Jacqueline Fernandez Reveals She Was Teased for Her Hindi By Co-actors; 'I Used To Get Really Angry'
Gov. Kay Ivey, the Republican governor of Alabama, put down a marker last week in affirming that it was "not the time to order people to shelter in place."

"Y'all, we are not Louisiana, we are not New York state, we are not California," she said, suggesting that the fate of hard-hit parts of the country would not be shared by Alabama.

In Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Parson said he was not inclined to "make a blanket policy," adding, "It's going to come down to individual responsibilities."

And in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide stay-at-home order this week under growing pressure as his state's death toll mounted, a Tampa-area megachurch pastor who was arrested for holding services in violation of a local order announced Thursday he was considering reopening the church in time for Easter and is "praying and seeking the Lord for wisdom."

"I will say, however, that the church cannot be closed indefinitely," the Rev. Rodney Howard-Browne wrote on his website. "We believe that there are less restrictive means available to balance all the various interests."

A growing number of states and cities are restricting Americans' movements in response to a fast-spreading pandemic likely to claim hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. But government and private-sector leaders across a large swath of the country remain defiant that the devastation unfolding in New York and other seemingly faraway cities should not curtail life in their own communities.

In some cases, skeptics have been slow to acknowledge the science behind the spread of the novel virus. In others, such as Florida, politicians took heed of demands from the business community, which lobbied DeSantis as recently as a Monday webinar to balance medical imperatives with economic needs. Elsewhere, adamance about local autonomy was pronounced. Some, meanwhile, maintained that it was religious authority that mattered.

"While we do not know for certain what the future holds, or how long this disruption will last, we can all rest in knowing that God is in control," the conservative Christian founder and chief executive of the craft store Hobby Lobby, which opened stores in a handful of places against state orders, wrote in a letter to his employees.

Experts are now warning that a group of governors in the South and the Great Plains - largely Republican-led states - risk acting too late.

Alabama, for example, has more than 1,100 cases, with just five counties untouched by the virus. New infections have risen as sharply as in California.

In some cases, the resistance has led to rising political tensions, with often Democratic mayors imposing orders of their own that they acknowledge can only be so effective when surrounding jurisdictions do not act.

"As a city, we need to operate as if we could be anyone else," said Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Randall Woodfin. "I think we're in the middle of a storm."

Lyda Krewson, the mayor of St. Louis, said her city's stay-at-home order was undermined by the absence of a blanket policy, warning, "We have a fluid society, frankly."

"I feel like the entire country ought to be under a stay-at-home order," Krewson said in an interview.

The pleas have not been from politicians alone. Joining Krewson and others in appealing to the Missouri governor was the state's medical association, which sent a letter to Parson saying a statewide order was the "only way to curb the exponential spread of covid-19 in Missouri." In Texas, the state's hospital and nurses associations sent a joint letter to the Republican governor, Greg Abbott, telling him, "The time has come for Texas to issue a statewide stay-at-home order." Abbott announced a new statewide directive on Tuesday but refused to call it a stay-at-home order.

Current and former emergency management officials said the delay would cost lives.

"Part of the problem is just reluctance to wrap your head around the fact that the numbers could get that bad that fast," said Craig Fugate, a former FEMA administrator.

He singled out the South, saying, "It's almost a different approach, waiting to know it's bad. I'm afraid that by the time they have reports of cases, it's already too late."

A federal official involved in emergency management in a group of states across the Southeast echoed that assessment.

"We needed to be where we are now three weeks ago," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the response effort. "It's like Hurricane Katrina is hitting all 50 states at the same time."

Effective planning has been thwarted by the multiple models available to state officials, who choose to rely on certain numbers and not others, the official said, based on a "political decision that is out of the hands of the responders."

The series of new orders announced this week leave about a dozen states without sweeping restrictions limiting travel to essential needs.

Interviews with mayors, business leaders and health officials in states where stay-at-home orders were recently imposed illustrated how decisive Tuesday's White House briefing was to their thinking, as Trump struck a newly solemn tone and his advisers unveiled grim projections even with best-case mitigation efforts.

DeSantis acknowledged as much in remarks on Wednesday, saying of his statewide order, "I did speak with the president about it."

The industries exempted from his order, including landscaping and boating in addition to food service and others, resembled the catalogue of essential services requested by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which sent a letter to DeSantis outlining its view of an appropriate government response on March 22. While slowing the outbreak was the "foremost priority," wrote the Chamber's president and chief executive, Mark Wilson, "we must be mindful that the policies intended to protect human health and curb the pandemic do not also cause an even worse effect on the economy and jobs."

Florida's neighbor to the north also changed course on Wednesday.

"At this point, I think it's the right thing to do," said Brian Kemp, Georgia's Republican governor, who had resisted a statewide order, and whose top aide had taken to Facebook over the weekend to accuse local officials of "overreach" for directing residents to stay at home.

Kemp said he learned Tuesday that the virus was "transmitting before people see signs."

For weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others have been warning about the disease's spread in the absence of symptoms.

Meanwhile, Gracia Szczech, the regional FEMA administrator based in Atlanta, alerted staff in an email Monday of an employee's positive test - the third in the Atlanta office, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details. FEMA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cody Hall, a spokesman for Kemp, said updated CDC guidance, in addition to new modeling and projections about hospital capacity, shifted the governor's thinking.

Tom Wolf, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, also issued a statewide order on Wednesday, calling it the "most prudent option" as the number of cases in his state surpassed 5,000.

After initially barring local jurisdictions from ordering residents to stay at home, Arizona's governor, Republican Doug Ducey, this week reversed himself and issued a statewide order.

But Will Humble, a former director of the state's health department, said it was unenforceable.

"It says it's a stay-at-home order, but try to find something that's not exempted that wasn't already closed," he said.

Aides to the governor and state's health director didn't respond to requests for comment. Governor's offices in Missouri and Oklahoma also didn't respond to requests for comment.

A spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Public Health, Arrol Sheehan, said the state "continues to review situations in other states, follow our plans, update our plans, coordinate with health-care and community partners and advise our citizens regarding the measures we can take to reduce the spread of this virus."

Within states that have issued sweeping directives, there has also been defiance from businesses, as well as religious leaders and vacationers.

The decision by Hobby Lobby to reopen stores in multiple states that had ordered nonessential businesses closed prompted state law-enforcement officials to send cease-and-desist letters to the company, which is based in Oklahoma City. Hobby Lobby is known for its successful challenge to a component of the Affordable Care Act requiring family-owned corporations to pay for insurance coverage for contraception.

Two employees of the chain, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are still employed by a store, provided images of signs in Hobby Lobby store windows in Ohio and Massachusetts claiming that the business was "operating as essential" because it was offering "PPE mask supplies" and "various components for at-home small businesses."

Hobby Lobby's corporate office didn't respond to a request for comment.

There were other, more recreational reasons for rule-breaking, including spring-break excursions.

Dan Gelber, the mayor of Miami Beach, said macabre scenes out of New York helped his constituents understand the need for strict measures, including the stay-at-home order issued for his city more than a week ago.

"It would have made sense to start substantial social distancing in early March," the mayor said. "But there was no messaging for that. And no one saw the threat it became literally days later."
Sentry Investigators Now Add Gold To Official Corruption In South Sudan

"Update sanctions designation criteria to include family members. The current order should be amended to permit the designation of individuals who are the spouses or dependent children of (i) any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to EO 13664 or..."

New Investigative Report by The Sentry:

Presidents Daughter, Defense Ministry, and Governor Linked to Mining Sector Corruption in South Sudan President Kiirs Associates Tied to 32 Mining Companies; High-Level Corruption in Minerals Sector Risks Fueling Armed Conflict, Report Warns

April 2, 2020 (Washington, DC) - At a time when South Sudan's government most needs to generate resources for urgent public health-related challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic, one of its promising revenue streams is beset by mismanagement and corruption. The Sentrys latest investigative report reveals how South Sudans promising gold-dominated minerals sector is riddled with corruption involving President Salva Kiirs relatives and inner circle, military leaders, and other high-level officials. Published today, the report further exposes illegal mining now underway in Eastern Equatoria state, where the governor has ties to numerous mining businesses, as well as the Ministry of Defenses involvement in problematic mining licensing deals.

Untapped and Unprepared: Dirty Deals Threaten South Sudans Mining Sector warns that, without strong reforms, abuse in the minerals sector could spur the same kind of resource-driven violence that plagued the petroleum industry throughout civil wars fought on South Sudanese soil dating back to the 1980s.

John Prendergast, Co-Founder of The Sentry, said: Through close relatives and allied government officials, President Salva Kiir is linked to dozens of mining companies in South Sudan. The presidents core network has used its control of the minerals sector to consolidate its grip on South Sudans state revenues and natural resources. If South Sudans people are to benefit from the countrys mineral wealth, including lifesaving healthcare urgently needed in the face of a global pandemic, financial institutions should take immediate steps to identify and monitor the bank accounts of those in power, their business networks, families, and inner circles.

The Sentry further established that Kiirs close associates and lower-level ministers have held shares in no fewer than 32 South Sudanese companies established to extract minerals. The government has yet to disclose crucial information about their ownership structures, activities, or open applications for licenses, undermining public scrutiny of a sector already at heightened risk for corruption and raising questions about who benefits from South Sudans mineral wealth.

Sophie Lombardo, Investigator for The Sentry, said: Without swift action, South Sudans mining sector may fall into the same traps as the oil sector, which has helped drive war in South Sudan for decades. Military interests abound, either through joint ventures with private investors or companies controlled by the Ministry of Defense. The Sentrys investigative findings reveal opaque and questionable deals that raise significant concerns about secret off-budget revenues within an institution marred by a history of abuse.



J.R. Mailey, Investigations Director at The Sentry, said: Today, widespread corruption, mismanagement, and poor oversight in the mining sector are intertwined in a vicious cycle. Individuals linked to criminal activities have received numerous mining licenses, as have companies with little technical or financial capacity, raising serious questions about how licenses are granted. The mineral sector in South Sudan is still in its early development stage, however, so the implementation of critical reforms can deliver enormous benefits for the future of the country. Policy action is needed now, such as the creation of a regularly updated public online register disclosing the beneficial ownership of mining sector businesses.

Report highlights:

 Although South Sudan took welcome steps to reform the mining sector in 2012, some government officials, their relatives, and their close associates have fostered a weak regulatory environment susceptible to exploitation.

 Memoranda and articles of incorporation reviewed by The Sentry reveal that politically exposed personsboth President Salva Kiirs close associates and lower-level ministershave held shares in no fewer than 32 South Sudanese companies established to extract minerals.

 Kiirs daughter partly owns a company with three active mining licenses.

 A company with three mining licenses lists former Vice President James Wani Iggas son as a shareholder.

 Ashraf Seed Ahmed Hussein Ali, a businessman commonly known as Al-Cardinal who was placed under Global Magnitsky sanctions in October 2019, reportedly owns the company currently holding the most mining licenses.

 In the gold-rich region of Kapoeta, state government officials have issued licenses independently of the central government, a probable violation of South Sudans Mining Act that has allowed illegal mining to take place on land previously allocated by Juba to other companies.

 South Sudans military has developed problematic mining interests in an effort to address budgetary shortfalls.

Key recommendations from the report:



South Sudan government:

 Create a public register disclosing beneficial ownership. Key company ownership information remains inaccessible to the public. A regularly updated public online register would promote good governance and serve as a vital accountability tool for anti-corruption advocates, civil society, and political parties. Moreover, such a move would encourage legitimate investment and demonstrate the governments commitment to building a more transparent system.

 Conduct a retroactive audit of the mining sector. Numerous red flags in South Sudans mining sector highlight the countrys susceptibility to state capture. In order to assess the effectiveness of the process of awarding licenses to technically competent, legitimate enterprises, the Ministry of Mining should hire an independent external party to retroactively audit all mining companies currently operating in South Sudan. The ministry should further investigate the beneficial owners of mining companies and determine whether politically exposed persons have unfairly profited. As an example, independent audits have been required prior to resuming certified exports following the moratorium implemented as part of the government-led Kimberley Process initiative to clean up the diamond trade.

United States government:

 Issue responsible investment reporting requirements. The US Department of State should encourage responsible engagement in South Sudans mining sector by implementing investment reporting requirements for US persons. Much as it did in Myanmar, the agency should require companies to file publicly available reports detailing their due diligence, community engagement, human rights, anti-corruption, and environmental efforts within their operations and policies.

 Issue a public advisory listing typologies and enhanced due diligence measures. Building upon the US Department of the Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)s two anti-money laundering (AML) advisories referencing political corruption in South Sudan, the United States should consider issuing an update or a separate advisory sharing with financial institutions the latest methods and trends used to launder the proceeds of illegal mining and the extractives industry.

 Expand US sanctions authorities. South Sudans conflict dynamics have evolved significantly since then-US President Barack Obama issued EO 13664 in 2014. The US president should issue a new executive order, or amend EO 13664, to provide additional authorities for targeting illicit financial activity.

o Update sanctions designation criteria to include family members. The current order should be amended to permit the designation of individuals who are the spouses or dependent children of (i) any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to EO 13664 or (ii) any South Sudanese person blocked pursuant to EO 13818.

o Target captured business sectors. A new executive order should limit or prohibit US persons from conducting business with foreign persons who are active in key sectors of South Sudans economy that are captured by regime elites, including the mining and oil industries. Business prohibitions or requirements to report publicly on due diligence measures could emanate from this effort.

United Kingdom and European governments:

 Issue a public anti-money laundering advisory to financial institutions warning about the extractives industrys corruption risks. The UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) and relevant national authorities across continental Europe should issue public AML alerts or advisories on corruption in the extractives sector, citing the risks of laundering the proceeds of corruption in oil, gold, and other natural resource sectors requiring licenses. In order to assist financial institutions in updating their customer due diligence and ongoing monitoring frameworks, an advisory should include typologies and red flags identifying methods that bad actors could use to siphon illicit funds out of South Sudan. These advisories would complement the alert issued by the NCA in February 2020 on illicit money flows related to South Sudanese political corruption.

Read the full report: https://thesentry.org/reports/untapped-unprepared/


This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
Expo 2020 Dubais official commercial partners have voiced their strong support following the agreement to explore postponing the event because of the current global health crisis.



The significant impact of COVID-19 on global public, social and economic health led many international participants to suggest delaying the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai, while they focus on navigating the escalating situation.



The Expo 2020 Dubai Steering Committee  comprising members of the senior leadership of Expo 2020 and World Expo governing body the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), as well as some international participants  collectively agreed to explore with the BIE the possibility of delaying the opening.



Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group chairman and chief executive officer of DP World, Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Global Trade Partner, said: DP World is working resolutely to keep trade flowing around the world through the crisis, so the countries in which we operate continue to be supplied with food, medicine and other vital goods.



We are doing so by putting the highest priority on the health and safety of our people and communities. We support the proposal to postpone Expo 2020 and DP World looks forward to opening our pavilion, where we will show how keeping trade flowing will help the world continue to recover from the crisis.



Sergio Maccotta, senior vice president, Middle East South for SAP, Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Innovative Enterprise Software Partner, said: SAP expresses support for Expo 2020 Dubai and its Steering Committee exploring options with the Bureau International des Expositions to postpone the event by a year and ensure the health and wellbeing of the millions of expected visitors and participants. SAP remains firmly committed as Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Innovative Enterprise Software Partner and we will continue to co-innovate to deliver personalised experiences for the event.



Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, vice chairman and managing director of Emirates NBD, Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Banking Partner, said: Exceptional times call for exceptional leadership. Emirates NBD honours the Expo 2020 Steering Committees decision to explore a postponement of the Expo. Our commitment stays strong as we stand in solidarity and unity with the UAE leadership and the Expo team. As the world comes together to collaborate, innovate and cooperate to create sustainable solutions to tackle this global challenge, Emirates NBD pledges to continue to support and protect the UAE community as we navigate these times together.



Sanjive Khosla, chief commercial officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: In these extraordinary times, the irreplaceable work and support of our Official Premier Partners, Official Partners and Official Providers has never been more important to us. Their vital contributions to Expo 2020 cannot be understated. We are grateful for their ongoing support as we continue our journey.



The BIE will now work with its member states and Expo 2020 to determine new dates. A final decision on postponement can only be made by the BIEs General Assembly, requiring a two-thirds majority vote from the member states.- TradeArabia News Service




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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has mobilized the states National Guard. Hes made the decision because of a lack of ventilators amid the Coronavirus outbreak.

We do not have enough ventilators. Period, Cuomo said on Twitter.

I am signing an Executive Order allowing the state to take ventilators and redistribute to hospitals in need.

We do not have enough ventilators. Period. I am signing an Executive Order allowing the state to take ventilators and redistribute to hospitals in need. The National Guard will be mobilized to move ventilators to where they are urgently required to save lives.  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 3, 2020

The National Guard will be mobilized to move ventilators to where they are urgently required to save lives, he said.

Cuomo has repeatedly warned about the lack of ventilators in New York. The Governor said the state would need 30 to 40 thousand ventilators but President Donald Trump dismissed this.

This virus is not an issue of states rights, he said.

This is a national disaster. The states need federal assistance. No state can get all the ventilators they need. We need a national deployment of resources that follows need.

Helping one another is in the American DNA, he went on.

At this time when were dealing with our worst lets deploy America at its best.

Cuomos decision comes as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called for the U.S. Army to mobilize.

I think they want to be at the front, de Blasio said.

Jared Kushner has also dismissed Cuomos ventilator numbers. The Presidents son-in-law said New York needed fewer of the lifesaving machines.

New York doesnt need all the ventilators, Kushner said in a meeting.

Governor Cuomo has taken matters into his own hands.

Follow Darragh Roche on Twitter
What you need to know today:

Society

-- Vietnam announced six more cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Friday morning, bringing the country's total to 233, with 75 having recovered.

-- The administration of Ha Tinh Province, located in north-central Vietnam, on Thursday demanded that local healthcare authorities suspend a local hospital's vice-director after Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported on a line of cars running on a street on the way to his son's wedding, despite the prime minister's directive on nationwide social distancing in place from April 1 to 15.

-- Two traffic police officers lost their lives chasing illegal street racers and robbers on Thursday in Da Nang, according to local authorities.

-- Authorities in Thai Binh Province, located in northern Vietnam, now ban people from traveling to the province from Vietnamese localities hammered by COVID-19, the provincial chairman said in an urgent fiat on Thursday.

-- Ho Chi Minh City will gather beggars and homeless people into social support centers in a bid to limit COVID-19 transmission.

Business

-- Relevant ministries in Vietnam have agreed to a proposal by the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment on expanding the T2 terminal at Noi Bai International Airport to handle 15 million passengers a year, instead of 10 million presently.

Business

-- National carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced a drop of VND50 trillion (US$2.1 billion) in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to 10,000 jobs lost.

-- Samsung Vietnam is expected to cut its export target for 2020 by $5.8 billion to $45.5 billion against 2019, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Education

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed a decision on the establishment of a medical school under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi.

World News

-- Over one million people have caught the novel coronavirus, with almost 53,000 killed globally, statistics showed on Friday. About 212,000 patients have recovered.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
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Bench Events is a family business with the most dedicated team members I am privileged to know. Our industry is on its knees and we are struggling, as I know you are. Our hearts are with those who have lost their jobs and are concerned about their future. Our goal for the last 25 years has been focused on bringing the hospitality industry together around the world to network and to showcase best practice and thought leadership. We now continue this journey with the launch of Hospitality Tomorrow - our digital conference: HospitalityTomorrow.com



While the world works through stages of virus contact, contagion, containment and control, nothing is certain. Nothing, aside from that our world will never be the same again. Even before recovery can be ventured into, we must come together to identify:

Changes in our world and people - operationally, financially, and psychologically

Where, when and how signs of recovery can be anticipated

The role of Travel & Tourism in accelerating momentum for recovery

Hospitality Tomorrow, powered by Bench Digital, is an industry initiative where we will mobilise our international network and unite industry leaders to discuss how we deal with the economic turbulence caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Our aim is to support our community through this period by creating a platform that provides knowledge, allows for sharing of information and connects our industry.



It is crucial that we rebuild confidence in the global community. Now is the time to start the conversation - make those critical connections to build relationships, unity and actionable ways to support one another for a stronger response - as one industry, one community, one tomorrow.



Our programme, which is complimentary to attend, features more than 50 industry leaders coming together from around the world virtually, including:

It is crucial that we rebuild confidence in the global community. Now is the time to start the conversation - make those critical connections to build relationships, unity and actionable ways to support one another for a stronger response - as one industry, one community, one tomorrow. Our programme, which is complimentary to attend, features more than coming together from around the world virtually, including: Speakers confirmed so far include: Hon. Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, Kenya Roger Bootle, Chairman, Capital Economics Puneet Chhatwal, CEO & MD, Indian Hotels Company Limited Roger Dow, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association Anita Mendiratta, Special Advisor to Secretary General, UNWTO Stephen Sackur, Presenter, HARDtalk Paul Stoltz, Lecturer, Stamford University Gavin Tollman, CEO & President, Trafalgar Zoran Bacic, Managing Director - Italy, Horwath HTL Philip Bacon , Managing Director - Spain & Portugal, Horwath HTL Dirk Bakker, CEO, Netherlands & Head of Hotels EMEA, Colliers International Rene Beil, Managing Director, Beaufort Global Partners LLC Alan Benjamin, President, Benjamin West LLLP James Chappel, Global Business Director, Horwath HTL Osvaldo Chudnobsky , Managing Director - Brazil and Argentina, Horwath HTL Philippe Doizelet, Managing Director - France & West Africa, Horwath HTL John Fareed, Managing Director - USA, Horwath HTL Paul Gardiner, CEO, Mantis Collection Alistair Gosling, Founder & CEO, Extreme Group & Extreme Hotels David Harper, Head of Property Services, Hotel Partners Africa Robert Hecker, Managing Director - Asia Pacific, Horwath HTL Peter Joehnk, Partner, JOI-Design Ben Martin, Associate Principle, Consulting, HKS Haitham Mattar, CEO, BeyondTourism Gert Noordzy , Managing Director, Northside Consulting Company Limited Madhu Rajesh, Director, International Tourism Partnership Robin Rossman, Managing Director, STR Andrew Sangster, Owner, Hotel Analyst Shannon Stowell, CEO, Adventure Travel Association Sinisa Topalovic, Managing Director - Croatia, Horwath HTL Nick van Marken, Managing Director, van Marken Limited



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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 18:25:58|Editor: yhy

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GHAZNI, Afghanistan, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Seven militants have been confirmed dead as security forces in a counter-attack targeted a Taliban gathering in Waghaz district of the eastern Ghazni province on Thursday, said a statement of provincial government released here Friday.

A number of militants were also injured in the operation backed by fighting planes, the statement added.

No civilian or security personnel had been hurt during the operations, the statement further said.

Taliban militants haven't commented on the report yet. Enditem
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World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has now infected over 1 million people globally.

On Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized how much scientists still don't know about the virus, saying this is the world's first pandemic caused by a coronavirus "and whose behavior is not really known."

"Over the past five weeks, we have witnessed a near exponential growth in the number of new cases, reaching almost every country, territory and area," Tedros said at a news briefing at the organization's Geneva headquarters Wednesday.

Reported COVID-19 cases around the world surpassed 1 million on Thursday. The virus has now spread across Europe and North America and taken a toehold in Africa, where WHO officials have repeatedly emphasized many health systems are ill-equipped to care for what could be an overwhelming number of critical patients.

Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 1,041,126 people and has killed at least 55,132, according to Johns Hopkins University data. In the U.S., the coronavirus has infected at least 245,500 people and has killed at least 6,058.

 CNBC's William Feuer contributed to this report.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Bengaluru, April 3 : Karnataka's Muslim leaders on Friday urged all Tablighi Jamaat returnees from New Delhi's Nizamuddin to take a COVID-19 test for quarantine if they turn positive.

Alarmed over reports from across the country that many Tablighis who visited the Nizamuddin mosque in March turned positive, chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa sought the help of the state's Muslim leaders in persuading all the returnees to take the test.

"The Muslim leaders, including legislators and former ministers agreed to give the state health department details of Tablighis who returned to the state but did not report to the department for the test," Yediyurappa said in a statement later.

According to the health department, of the 391 Tablighi returnees traced and identified so far, about 150 were tested and 13 of them turned positive, while the remaining reported negative.

"The Muslim leaders, including former Union minister C.M. Ibrahim, former state minister Zameer Ahmed, Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad and Congress MLC Saleem Ahmed told the chief minister that they sought the community's religious leaders' help in locating the remaining Tablighis and their contacts as they fanned out across the southern state on return from Delhi.

"The minority leaders have also agreed to ensure no mass prayers are held at mosques in the state during the lockdown and social distance is maintained in the community, as prevention was the only way to contain the virus," said the statement.

Later, Zameer Ahmed made an appeal on social media to the community in the state to trace and identify all Tablighi returnees who are yet to report for the Covid test.
COVID-19 relief package checks will start to arrive in many Americans bank accounts within two weeks, but paper checks may not come until later this summer.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking at a White House news briefing Thursday evening, said the IRS within two weeks would directly deposit the $1,200-plus checks to Americans whove filed tax returns in 2018 or 2019 and opted for electronic refunds.

But CNN, citing a Democratic House memo, reported Thursday that it could take up to 20 weeks for the IRS to issue all the paper checks for Americans whose banking information the IRS does not already have on file.

Mnuchin pushed back against that timeline and said ideally, the IRS wont have to issue as many paper checks as it may have in the past.

When Obama sent out these checks it took months and months and months," Mnuchin said. I am assuring the American public, if we have your information, youll get it in two weeks."

For those on Social Security, the IRS will use Social Security information on file and checks will come very quickly after that, he said.

The Treasury Department will soon set up a web portal," Mnuchin added, allowing people to provide their banking information to allow for direct electronic payments.

We want to put money directly into their accounts, he said.

CNN reported that the IRS will initially make about 60 million payments starting the week of April 13. The week of May 4, the IRS will begin issuing paper checks.

All single taxpayers earning up to $75,000 will receive $1,200. For each qualifying child, a single taxpayer will receive $500.

Employed, unemployed and self-employed taxpayers can qualify, so long as you filed your taxes in 2018 or 2019. Those who typically do not file tax returns based on their income are also eligible, but should file their 2019 returns. The IRS provides a host of options for filing tax returns for free.

Married taxpayers filing jointly and earning up to $150,000 will receive $2,400, with qualifying children adding $500 each to the total.

The checks decrease incrementally, at 5%, or $5 for every additional $100 in income, above the thresholds. The decreases begin at $75,000 for single filers; $112,500 for heads of household and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.

The checks phase out entirely for single taxpayers who earn $99,000 and have no children, $146,000 for head of household filers with one child, and $198,000 for married couples with no children. For a typical family of four, the stimulus check is phased out entirely for those with incomes exceeding $218,000.

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Among the reveals during the live event will be Interviews with show creators, comedic skits, and performances, as well as an interactive game for the audience at home to participate in, McKinnon said. More content will be released through the spring and summer following this first screening on April 7th, Chrstian said. The remaining screenings will take place virtually in May via livestream as well, on May 1, 15, and 30. Christian said OTV really wants to put out programming that breaks the molds of what traditional TV is and in summer OTV will launch its app, which will provide exclusive content that adds to that mission.
Larry Summers (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Larry Summers, former Chief Economist at World Bank, is optimistic about post-pandemic recovery prospects. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Summers said that even though the current economic scenario may be grim, the recovery may be faster than what most people expect.

Talking about how bad the current healthcare crisis looks in terms of its economic implications, Summers says, "I think the peak to trough decline is overwhelmingly likely to be worse than anything Ive seen by a significant margin. Something like a third of the workforce is not going to be able to work during the current period of social lockdown."

This he goes on to say is a huge loss in terms of "labour input and of output".

The coronavirus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan has breached the international border of as many as 206 countries, with nearly a million people infected worldwide. The pandemic has also claimed about 48,000 lives across the globe, leaving governments scrambling to find ways to contain the spread. Amid all this, several countries have implemented partial or complete lockdowns in a bid to control the transmission of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Track this blog for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak

Summers, in his interview with the magazine, said that the process of easing restrictions currently in place could begin around two to three weeks after a decline in the number of cases has been firmly established.

He added that this needs to be done gradually and in the order of priority of activities that need to be allowed to resume.

A key point that he makes towards the ends of his interview is that when the current crisis ends, people will no longer reject the idea of a community. This will mark the end of the "Reagan-Thatcher libertarian wave".

He also envisions a change in public philosophy by the time the pandemic is over.
The United States has angered Germany and France after allegedly seizing millions of masks set to be shipped to the European nations amid the coronavirus crisis.

On Friday, German officials hit out at America for 'intercepting' 200,000 masks they had ordered from a 3M factory in China.

As 3M is an American-owned company, the US was able to 'confiscate' the shipment of special FFP2 and FFP3 masks which were on their way to healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 outbreak in Berlin.

The masks had been delivered from 3M's factory in Shanghai and were due to be reloaded in Bangkok and flown to Germany.

But instead, the masks were intercepted at Bangkok Airport and instead went to the US.

'We consider that an act of modern piracy,' Berlin's interior minister Andreas Geisel blasted.

'You don't treat your transatlantic partners like that,' he is further quoted as saying in The Financial Times.

Geisel called on Germany's government to 'press the US to stick to international rules', while Berlin's mayor accused President Trump of 'lacking solidarity' following the seizure of the shipment.

President Trump is desperately trying to secure masks and other personal protective equipment for Americans as the nation's emergency stockpile depletes.

The United States has angered Germany and France b allegedly seizing millions of masks which were set to be shipped to the European nations amid the coronavirus crisis. erman officials hit out at America for 'intercepting' 200,000 masks they had ordered from a 3M factory in China. Stock image

Berlin officials called on Germany's government to 'press the US to stick to international rules', and accused President Trump of 'lacking solidarity' following seizure of the shipment

On Thursday, the Commander-in-chief ordered 3M to manufacture more masks for Americans as the coronavirus infection rate in the US soared above 258,000. More than 6,600 have died.

Meanwhile, Germany has clocked 90,964 cases and 1,234 deaths as of Friday afternoon.

The United States has also earned the ire of France, where 64,338 people have tested positive to COVID-19, and 6,507 have died.

On Thursday, US buyers paid three times the going rate to secure a shipment of face masks from China that were due to be dispatched to France, two French officials claim. The US has denied the allegation.

Paying cash to divert the air cargo to the US, the buyers are said to have commandeered the shipment of masks as they sat on a plane at Shanghai airport ready for take off.

The order of several million masks had been due to arrive in part to the Grand Est region in north west France, an area where intensive care facilities are already struggling to cope with the volume of coronavirus patients.

Jean Rottner, a doctor and president of the GrandEst regional council, told RTL radio that the US buyers had turned up on the tarmac offering cash.

More than one million people across the world have tested positive to COVID-19, with more than a quarter of cases occurring in the United States

Boxes being unloaded from an Antonov 124 aircraft transporting 10 million face masks ordered by France from China at the Paris-Vatry Airport in Bussy-Lettree, eastern France, 30 March

He said: 'On the tarmac, they arrive, get the cash out  so we really have to fight.'

The leader of the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, also accused unidentified Americans of swooping in with cash at the last minute to secure shipments already promised to French buyers.

Valerie Pecresse, the chief of France's most populous region, said: 'We lost an order to the Americans who outbid us on a shipment that we had lined up.'

Pecresse claimed that while France pays on delivery for such supplies - crucial in the global fight against the pandemic - 'Americans pay cash' without bothering to see the goods.

A worker next to cargo unloaded from a different plane carrying 10 million face masks ordered by France from China, at the Paris-Vatry Airport in Bussy-Lettree, eastern France, 30 March

They 'are just looking to do business on the back of the whole world's distress,' she told LCI television.

France has ordered 1 billion face masks due to be delivered within the next 14 weeks and has deployed an air-bridge flight with China to deliver them amid the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.

Shipping company Geodis is responsible for the organisation of 16 flights by two chartered cargo planes, reports World Cargo News.

A senior US official on Thursday rejected allegations from French politicians that Americans had accroached the French shipment during the coronavirus crisis, calling the stories 'completely false.'

In Washington, a senior administration official told AFP 'the United States government has not purchased any masks intended for delivery from China to France.'

'Reports to the contrary are completely false,' said the official, asking not to be named.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday asked officials to look into similar claims that masks were being diverted from his country, calling such reports 'concerning.'

France has ordered 1 billion face masks and has deployed an air-bridge flight with China to deliver them amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

'We need to make sure that equipment that is destined for Canada gets to and stays in Canada, and I've asked ministers to follow up on these particular reports,' he told a press conference.

Ottawa has recognized that its stockpiles of protective medical equipment are not enough to meet demand, as it looks to care for a surge of infected patients and slow the spread of the virus.

Canada has earmarked US$1.4 billion to buy medical equipment while asking local companies to pivot assembly lines to make masks, medical scrubs and ventilators.
Whites company, Tonys Family Farms, also grows its own micro-greens year-round and sources exotic, wild mushrooms from faraway places like Italy and Oregon.

White entered the farming and produce business as a side gig six years ago, while working in a corporate sales job. When he was laid off two years later, he decided to launch full time into being a farmer. Hes a bit of a serial entrepreneur, having started businesses over the years ranging from big game hunting and fishing adventures to verification service reports for homeowners. He was also a long-time business development professional, opening and expanding territories in the Yellow Pages publishing industry.

Decades as a businessman in various industries, however, couldnt fully prepare him for the situation he now faces.

This is going to be bad

When Chicago shut down its restaurants, I knew we would follow, White said about the pandemics impact in St. Louis.

White may have been a bit more prepared than the typical business owner thanks to a friend who is originally from Italy. Shes a doctor and she told me in February, This is going to be bad. So, I started getting prepared, White said.
A pair of musicians played Stand By Me while walking down a street in the US to cheer up residents during the coronavirus lockdown.

In a short clip posted online, two men can be strolling down a street in St. Louis, Detroit belting out the tune to the Ben King classic on a trumpet and trombone.

Residents cheered the men on from outside their homes as they played the 1961 hit, which featured as the soundtrack of the 1986 film of the same name.

A woman wearing a blue jumper can be seen singing and clapping as the men play the brass instruments in a bid to provide some relief to those in self-islation.

The video was first shared on Twitter on 1 April and has since been viewed over 1 million times.

Michigan has been hit particularly hard by coronavirus in recent days. Over 10,000 people in the state had tested positive for the virus on Thursday, according to official figures.

More than 400 people have died as a result of contracting the novel virus after the state reported its first two cases on 10 March.

There are fears that the healthcare system in Michigan could become overwhelmed by the pandemic.

One doctor said that hospitals in Detroit, one of Americas poorest cities, was struggling to cope with the surging number of Covid-19 cases.

I think its fair to say that Detroit is getting crushed right now, Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director for infection prevention at Beaumont Health, told ABC News.

We were watching China and trying to anticipate how this would play out. But under the circumstances, this has been so fast and heavy.

Overall, there have been over 245,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, with 6,053 deaths, according to John Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, health officials confirmed that there are now over 33,000 cases confirmed in the UK, with just under 3,000 deaths.
According to child-focused aid charity, World Vision Ireland, the Covid-19 pandemic requires immediate global action. Niall McLoughlin, CEO of World Vision Ireland, said, if we dont treat the Covid-19 pandemic at a Global level, it will be far more difficult to treat at a national level.

World Vision aims to reach 11 million people with their Covid-19 response across 17 priority countries, including 5.5 million children and 5.5 million women and girls. The charity said that children in extreme poverty are living where health facilities are poorly equipped, lack isolation facilities and intensive care and respiratory equipment. Millions of refugees and displaced communities living in refugee camps often live in large, overcrowded, unhygienic areas, with minimal access to medical care.

Our worst nightmare is the Covid-19 virus taking hold in these conditions, Niall McLoughlin said, Because it will spread rapidly and there wont be sufficient resources or supplied to flatten the curve.

Niall emphasised that children in extreme poverty are always the most vulnerable in a crisis. The charity said that when children living in extreme poverty lose loved ones, they risk ending up in unsafe situations. Oftentimes, they must engage in child labour to survive; see their families sink into poverty; or suffer isolation and psychological harm.

World Vision has launched a global response to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. The charitys three programming priorities are: promoting preventative measures in the developing world; supporting health systems and workers; supporting children made vulnerable by Covid-19.

We are deeply concerned about the impact the crisis could have on the most vulnerable children around the world, Niall said. This includes children whose families have serious underlying health conditions  some of whom are already battling tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria, HIV and AIDS, in communities with high rates of malnutrition.

Globally, World Vision has experience and expertise helping communities prepare and respond to virus outbreaks. The charity has previously worked to combat the spread of Ebola in Africa and Zika in Latin American; and has educated thousands of communities in the developing world about the importance of hand hygiene, basic health care, and disease control.

We have responded immediately in the past to this kind of outbreak, and were responding again to this one, Niall said. Responding to the coronavirus is going to take the same type of experience, expertise and international reach.

The countries World Vision is issuing programme responses to Covid-19 include Syria, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, DR Congo, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Mainland China, Mongolia, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, and Thailand.

World Vision is calling on the Irish public to donate whatever they can to help the worlds most vulnerable children by going to www.worldvision.ie.
The government announced the biggest monthly rise ever recorded in the number out of work on Thursday.

In March's social security data, based on people signing on, there was an increase nationally of 302,365 people, bringing the total up to 3,548,312 jobseekers. The number of people in work paying social security fell by 833,979.

There was initial confusion between ministers and the media as to whether the data included people temporarily laid off by the so-called ERTEs. The government stressed that ERTEs weren't counted as unemployed, and added that it had separately received 620,000 ERTEs and many more were expected. The government explained the fall in those in work as mostly temporary workers not having contracts renewed.

Costa del Sol

In Malaga and on the Costa del Sol, the figures out of work rose by 30,234 in March. The number of people paying into the Social Security system was down by almost eight per cent locally, compared to the middle of March. There was still confusion on locally as to whether local data included the ERTEs or not.

Faced with a continued barrage of calls for help from all parts of the economy, last Friday, the government banned companies making staff permanently redundant because of economic circumstances, a cheaper route than a normal redundancy. Instead firms were urged to only lay off staff temporarily until the crisis is over.

Help for renters and consumers

New decrees to help people renting their homes or premises and the self-employed have also been issued in the past week

Ministers have bolstered moves to protect consumers as well. It was announced that travel agents can give credits instead of a refund for cancelled trips but refunds must be given if the credits are not used within a year.

EU plea

Meanwhile, to help fund the emergency measures, Spain has joined Italy in asking for EU support. The Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said on Saturday that Brussels, "should not fail citizens again", referring to the 2008 financial crisis.

Some countries, including Germany, Netherlands and Austria, have been resisting selling European-wide debt bonds to help fund crisis measures.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on April 2 that Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic violated EU law by refusing to accept asylum seekers under a 2015 migrant redistribution scheme.

The European Unions top court found all three countries failed to implement a decision by the bloc to share the burden of relocating 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy at the height of the 2015-16 migrant crisis.

The migrant redistribution scheme ended in September 2017 with fewer than 40,000 migrants being relocated.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on April 2 that the ruling is "important."

"It is referring to the past, but it will give us guidance to the future," she said.

Warsaw, Budapest, and Prague opposed the quota system from the beginning, arguing that accepting the predominantly Syrian and Iraqi refugees would have posed a security threat. The ECJ rejected those arguments.

"Those member states can rely neither on their responsibilities concerning the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security, nor on the alleged malfunctioning of the relocation mechanism to avoid implementing that mechanism," the Luxembourg-based court ruled.

Instead of a blanket refusal to accept any asylum seekers, the court said the three states should have followed a case-by-case investigation for each applicant to prove they posed a security threat.

The court noted that Poland failed to take in 100 migrants it had promised to accept, while the Czech Republic accepted just 12 of 50 migrants, and Hungary didnt offer to take in any asylum seekers.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis downplayed the April 2 court ruling, which could result in fines being imposed against all three countries.

"We lost, but that's not important," Babis said. "The important thing is we don't have to pay anything," he told state news agency CTK.

Babis said the "fundamental" point is that the Czech Republic "will not take in any migrants and that the quotas have since disappeared, and that is largely thanks to us."

Hungarian Justice Minister Judith Vargas called the courts ruling "discriminatory.

Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said the verdict "won't have any practical importance.

Europe's crisis eased after the EU struck a deal with Turkey in 2016 aimed at preventing migrants from crossing from Turkey into Bulgaria and Greece.

However, nearly four years later, the EU is struggling to develop a coordinated mechanism to process and redistribute migrants from countries like Greece and Italy.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, CTK, and dpa
London/Washington: Carbon dioxide emissions could fall by the largest amount since World War Two this year as the coronavirus outbreak brings economies to a virtual standstill, according to the chair of a network of scientists providing benchmark emissions data.

Rob Jackson, who chairs the Global Carbon Project, which produces widely-watched annual emissions estimates, said carbon output could fall by more than 5% year-on-year -- the first dip since a 1.4% reduction after the 2008 financial crisis.

"I wouldn't be shocked to see a 5% or more drop in carbon dioxide emissions this year, something not seen since the end of World War Two," Jackson, a professor of Earth system science at Stanford University in California, told Reuters in an email.

"Neither the fall of the Soviet Union nor the various oil or savings and loan crises of the past 50 years are likely to have affected emissions the way this crisis is," he said.

The prediction  among a range of new forecasts being produced by climate researchers - represents a tiny sliver of good news in the midst of crisis: Climate scientists had warned world governments that global emissions must start dropping by 2020 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

But the improvements are for all the wrong reasons, tied to a world-shaking global health emergency that has infected more than 950,000 people - while shuttering factories, grounding airlines and forcing hundreds of millions of people to stay at home to slow the contagion.

Experts warn that without structural change, the emissions declines caused by coronavirus could be short-lived and have little impact on the concentrations of carbon dioxide that have accumulated in the atmosphere over decades.

"This drop is not due to structural changes so as soon as confinement ends, I expect the emissions will go back close to where they were," said Corinne Le Quere, a climate scientist at the University of East Anglia in eastern England.

After world greenhouse gas emissions dipped in the aftermath of the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, they shot back up a whopping 5.1% in the recovery, according to Jackson.

The pattern of a swift rebound has already begun to play out in China, where emissions fell by an estimated 25% as the country closed factories and put in place strict measures on people's movement to contain the coronavirus earlier this year, but have since returned to a normal range.

That kind of resilience underscores the magnitude of the economic transformation that would be needed to meet the goals of an international deal brokered in Paris in 2015 to try to avert the most catastrophic climate change scenarios.

A U.N. report published in November found that emissions would have to start falling by an average of 7.6% per year to give the world a viable chance of limiting the rise in average global temperatures to 1.5C, the most ambitious Paris goal.

"I don't see any way that this is good news except for proving that humans drive greenhouse gas emissions," said Kristopher Karnauskas, associate professor at the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

VANISHINGLY THIN

With the world dependent for fossil fuels for 80% of its energy, emissions forecasts are often based on projections for global economic growth.

Last month, Glen Peters, research director of the Center for International Climate Research in Oslo, predicted carbon emissions would fall between 0.3% and 1.2% this year, using higher and lower forecasts for global GDP growth from the OECD.

A few days later, the Breakthrough Institute, a research centre in California, predicted emissions will decline 0.5-2.2%, basing its calculations on growth forecasts from JP Morgan, and assuming the global economy recovers in the second half.

"Our estimates indicate that the pandemic's climate silver lining is vanishingly thin," said Seaver Wang, a climate and energy analyst at the institute.

"It's as if we went back in time and emitted the same amount we were a few years ago -- which was already too much. In the grand scheme of things, it really makes no difference."

Some foresee a bigger hit to the economy. The London-based Centre for Economics and Business Research estimates that world GDP will fall by at least 4% this year -- albeit with a "huge margin of error."

That drop would be more than twice as large as the contraction during the financial crisis, and the largest annual fall in GDP since 1931, barring wartime, the centre said.

With governments launching gigantic stimulus packages to stop their economies collapsing, investors are now watching to see how far the United States, and China, the European Union, Japan and others embrace lower-emission energy sources.

"Even if there is a decline in emissions in 2020, let's say 10% or 20%, it's not negligible, it's important, but from a climate point of view, it would be a small dent if emissions go back to pre-COVID-19 crisis levels in 2021," said Pierre Friedlingstein, chair in mathematical modelling of the climate system at the University of Exeter in southwest England.

"This is why it is important to think about the nature of the economic stimulus packages around the world as countries come out of the most immediate health crisis," said Dan Lashof, U.S. director at the World Resources Institute.
Lou and Linda Van de Vorst will never get over the shock and grief of their son and his family being killed in a drunk driving crash.

"Never, never in a million years  and especially in the crash that happened  you never lose that," said Linda Van de Vorst.

In early 2016, Jordan Van de Vorst and his wife Chanda died on scene while their kids Kamryn and Miguire died in hospital after Catherine McKay, who had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into their vehicle just north of Saskatoon.

McKay received a 10-year sentence after pleading guilty to impaired driving causing death and was serving her time at a healing lodge.

The Parole Board of Canada recently granted McKay six months of day parole to a community correctional centre or community residential facility when bed space is available.

You don't have the laughter and the giggles like you used to have. And that's sad. And that was stolen from us four years ago. - Linda Van de Vorst

"They're always in the back of your mind," Linda said. "Even when you do come together for a meal, you look at one quarter of the table and you know that those four faces were sitting there and you just know you miss them. It's never ending. That is the part of life that just doesn't go away.

"The pain you see on your kids when a birthday comes up or an anniversary or any special occasion. Who wants to celebrate because it's just not the same anymore.

"You don't have the laughter and the giggles like you used to have. And that's sad. And that was stolen from us four years ago."

Guy Quenneville/CBC

The Van de Vorsts say they were opposed to McKay receiving full parole, which was denied.

"As far as we're concerned, parole itself  we would not be in favour of that," Lou said. "But at the same time we know that there are steps for her rehabilitation and reintegration into society and we would sooner have it step by step rather than right away throw her into the whole full thing of having full parole."

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The parole board says the 53-year-old McKay has not made excuses for her crimes and has consistently worked on dealing with her personal trauma and substance abuse issues.

The board said in its decision that McKay had a good upbringing, but was sexually abused by an acquaintance of her family for several years.

As a teen, she began using drugs and alcohol. In 2015, she suffered a concussion and lived with chronic pain.

In the months leading up to the crash, the board said, McKay admitted to drinking to cope with pain, anxiety and panic attacks.

"You recognize your behaviours were becoming more impulsive and trips at the local bar were becoming more frequent," the board said.

The day of the crash, McKay recalled meeting up with a man and intending to only have one drink.

"You said if you could go back to that day to change one thing, you would not have been drinking at all," the board said.

Victoria Dinh/CBC

While at the healing lodge, McKay has looked to elders for help, the board noted. She participated in an Indigenous sundance ceremony, in which she fasted and earned the spirit name "Sky Woman."

"You said you had an 'incredible spiritual awakening' and then described the four days where you stood and prayed into a tree and danced to the tree and could feel a power greater than yourself."

McKay plans to rely on Alcoholics Anonymous for help and said she feels repulsed by the thought of drinking, said the board.

Linda Van de Vorst said she will always hold McKay responsible for taking the lives of her four family members.

"And I know that she will live with that for the rest of her life, and unfortunately her children will also live with that memory as well for the rest of their lives," she said.

"But she made a promise in court four years ago and that promise was that she would do everything possible (to) carry on the message to not drink and drive and I'm going to hold her to that.

"It doesn't matter if she's in jail, in a halfway house or full parole... I'm holding her to her promise to change things."

The Van de Vorsts have been strong voices against drinking and driving and said they will continue their work with organizations like Madd Canada.

"For those people that (continue to drink and drive) I would wish and I pray that they would really think before they go out to not drink and drive," Linda said.

"Because if they kill someone you can't repair that. They will never repair that. They will never live that down for the rest of their life. And everyone gets affected by that."
Planes of various airlines were seen parked at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport after all international and domestic commercial flights remained suspended in the country amid lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis.

India is under 21-day lockdown as a precautionary measure to maintain social distancing and to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown effective from March 24 midnight to combat COVID-19.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases on Friday rose to 2,301 in India, including 156 cured/discharged and 56 deaths, 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.)
New York couple Genny and Kyle had a lot riding on the month of April. Not only were they gearing up for their destination wedding in Arizona, but Gennys ceremonial mikveh was scheduled for the week of April 1thats right, Genny, who grew up a non-practicing Catholic, spent the last year studying to convert to Judaism in the lead up to her wedding. Now, her wedding is postponed a full year thanks to the pandemic. Yeah, we had so many questions for her, too. Heres what Genny told us about postponing her wedding and religious conversion.

Lets start from the beginning. Why are you converting?

Kyles family practices reform Judaism, and Ive always been amazed by their family historyhis grandmother lived in Germany at the beginning of World War II and escaped with her parents at the age of 5 in July of 1938. But it was when I attended Yom Kippur services with Kyle and his grandmother in Baltimore two years ago that really set off my journey. I loved the communal aspect of it all. Everyone is brought together on one day without distractionsbesides their rumbling stomachsto reflect on the past year. The community and the mindfulness was transformative for me.

How did each of your families respond to your decision?

My parents, like me, are lapsed Catholicsmore spiritual than tethered to a certain doctrine. So, theyre actually really excited for me. As for Kyles family, they would love and welcome me into their family no matter what. But I think the entire family appreciates my commitment to Kyle and the traditions well now carry into our own family.

Theres the famous Sex and the City storyline where Charlotte tries again and again to convert to Judaism but is turned away by the rabbi. What has your experience been like?

It's funny to think about Charlotte's experience after looking back at my own. I think the most significant difference in my experience compared to Charlotte's was the initial process of finding a rabbi. In my mind, I thought the process of finding a rabbi to work with would be complicated, probably subconsciously from growing up watching Sex and the City. I was so fortunate to find a wonderful rabbiRabbi Lisa Rubin, from Central Synagoguewho made me feel comfortable and welcomed me with such a warm heart.

Story continues

How intense have your studies been? What does converting entail?

For six months, I took a weekly class at Central Synagogue, and in addition to that, I met with my rabbi once a month to go over how I was feeling about the course and ask her lingering questions. Kyle joined me for the classes, actually, except for the two weeks of courses focused on learning Hebrew. It was nice because the other students were in similar situations to Kyle and me. For my final study, I had to present an autobiography on my spiritual journey. Because I'm a designer and love typography, I decided to present mine in the format of the Talmud. Following that, I was supposed to have my mikvehthe symbolic culmination of my conversion where I would immerse myself in the bathbut that was postponed.

What does your delayed mikveh mean for youemotionally and practically?

As my rabbi tells me, I've done all the work, and my mikveh is to celebrate the work I've put in. Its a ritual thats the exclamation point between two sentencesthe beginning of my journey, and the start of my future. I will reschedule it, but Im not heartbroken. Compared to my wedding, a one-time event, being postponed, I am bringing Judaism into my lifestyle every day. So in that regard, the cancellation doesn't hit me as hard as our wedding being canceled.

How has converting been for your relationship?

In our busy lives, especially in the year we were planning a wedding, scheduling the time each week to take a break without distractions to focus on religious values we want to carry with us throughout our life was a great change of pace. It taught us to take time away from our devices and think and communicate on a deeper level about what matters most.

How has the pandemic changed your perspective on marriage?

Its brought me back to how I wanted to feel during my wedding year in the first place: enjoying every moment. As we got closer and closer to our date, things got stressful. This has reminded us of whats truly in important in the grand scheme of thingsour relationship, our family and our friends. Now, I have a year to truly take time to enjoy the small steps in planning that I felt like I rushed through just to get through as the date got closer.

RELATED: How This Chicago Couple Took Control of Their Wedding Plans in the Midst of a Pandemic
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Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun.

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The human evolutionary path is complicated. It's almost impossible to say exactly when we modern humans became us. This quandary is best articulated by the famous naturalist Charles Darwin in his book The Descent of Man :

In a series of forms graduating insensibly from some apelike creature to man as he now exists, it would be impossible to fix on any definite point where the term 'man' ought to be used.

The understanding of modern humans' own genus, Homo, has taken many turns over the last century. Homo erectus, one of our purported ancestors, was first discovered in Indonesia in 1891 by geologist and anatomist Eugene Dubois . Since then, representatives of both this species, and other Homo, have been found across the world; for instance, in 2015, a new species of Homo, Homo naledi, was discovered in South Africa. Another new Homo species, Homo luzonensis, was found more recently in the Philippines in 2019.

These discoveries, combined, have led scientists to set Homo erectus' emergence at about 1.8 million years ago  with the oldest known record coming from Dmanisi, Georgia and an important slightly later record from the East African Rift valley .

But our new discovery in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind, which has just been published in Science , suggests that Homo erectus actually emerged 200 000 years earlier than we thought. We were part of a team from South Africa, Australia, Italy and the US that discovered a Homo erectus cranium which has since been dated to almost 2 million years ago.

This is a hugely important find. It reasserts that Homo erectus' origins are in Africa, not Asia. Our discovery suggests, though, that Homo erectus likely did not evolve in eastern Africa as so often thought but perhaps somewhere else in Africa, or potentially in South Africa itself.

More evidence is needed before firm conclusions can be reached, of course. But the South African find means that the Drimolen fossil site  where we made the discovery  could represent an important shift in the simple narrative that all early species of human ancestry are East African.

A critical discovery

The Drimolen Fossil Hominin site in the Cradle of Humankind, northwest of Johannesburg, has been excavated since its' discovery in 1992. The site is best known for its Paranthropus robustus , another ancient hominin species with massive teeth, as well as some early Homo fossils. The most famous specimen from Drimolen is the most complete skull of Paranthropus robustus ever discovered, DNH 7 .

It was here that members of our team found the fossil cranium that has been named DNH 134. Its nickname is Simon, named for the site technician whose contribution to the team was immeasurable. Simon Mokobane sadly passed away in 2018, but his expertise, unwavering support and fossil knowledge will forever be remembered.

In 2015, during the Drimolen Field School, a student named Richard Curtis began excavating an intriguing, but highly fragmented specimen. At first, no one was sure what it was from but in-field reconstructions quickly revealed that it was a hominin cranium.

We used a battery of dating methods, including Uranium-lead dating on the flowstones, Uranium-Series Electron Spin Resonance on fossil teeth and Palaeomagnetism on sediments. Each of these complimentary techniques helped to establish a very narrow age of 2.04-1.95 million years for the whole Drimolen Main Quarry and the fossils found in it, including DNH 134.

DNH 134 is extremely significant. Its discovery and dating means that the story of Homo erectus and its journey out of Africa is more complicated than previously thought. Also, we know too that South Africa played a seminal role in this key species that ultimately led to us.

Next steps

Work will continue at the Drimolen site. We aim to continue excavating using a new method where our efforts are focused along the breccia (fossilised rock with fossils in it). This has proved fruitful with not only the discovery of DNH 134, but also a male Paranthropus robustus skull (DNH 152; also discussed in the Science article) as well as a number of other hominin remains we are still studying.

The site also has a wide variety of animal fossils from both extinct and living species, all of whom add to the overall story that we aim to build about how our ancient ancestors lived.

We will also continue to encourage young palaeoanthropologists from across the African continent to get involved in excavations. The site hosts an annual field school with international partner institutes and offers full scholarships exclusively to students from African countries (South Africans have first preference).

The idea behind this is to ensure that researchers from the continent and country are at the forefront of future discoveries that add to the human story.

Prof. Andy I.R. Herries receives funding from The Australian Research Council

Renaud Joannes-Boyau receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Angeline Leece, Jesse Martin, Matthew Caruana, and Stephanie Baker do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Stephanie Baker, Researcher in Palaeoanthropology, University of Johannesburg And

Angeline Leece, Palaeoanthropologist And

Jesse Martin, PhD Researcher, La Trobe University And

Matthew Caruana, Lecturer in Archaeology, University of Johannesburg And

Prof. Andy I.R. Herries, Head of Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University And

Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Senior research fellow, Southern Cross University
Panaji: Amid continuing complaints over irregular food supply in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said, that the living condition of the local population was more 'susegado', compared to those in other states.

Sawant also chided Goans for preferring to eat chicken during the ongoing lockdown, even when transportation of chicken into and within the state was banned on account of bird-flu.

"If one looks at the condition in Goa, people here are more susegado (vis a vis availability of essential goods), compared to other states. Grocery stores are open. Vegetables are in excess, so much so 256 trucks have entered the state today," Sawant said.

Susegado also spelled as susegado, an Indo-Portuguese word, qualifies for a range of sentiments in Goa, which range from contentedness to relaxed to being laid-back.

The state administration has been slammed by the opposition as well as civil society for a prolonged food shortage in Goa ever since March 22 and Sawant decision to shut down grocery stores during the early few days of the curfew.

Sawant in a press conference on Thursday also urged Goans not to eat chicken, whose transportation in the state had been banned on account of bird flu cases in Karnataka and Kerala, from where a large quantity of broilers sold in Goa are sourced from.

"Bird flu is on and yet people are eating chicken on the sly. People should voluntarily avoid eating chicken," Sawant told reporters. State administration had banned transportation and sale of chicken on March 22.
Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine tablets are shown in at the IHU Mediterranee Infection Institute in Marseille, France, on Feb. 26, 2020. (Gerard Julien/AFP via Getty Images)

Hydroxychloroquine Rated Most Effective Therapy for CCP Virus by Doctors in Global Survey

A drug used around the world to treat malaria has been rated the most effective therapy in treating CCP virus patients, according to a new survey.

Sermo, a healthcare polling company, asked 6,227 physicians across 30 countries which therapy theyd list as the most effective. More than one out of three, or 37 percent, chose hydroxychloroquine.

The most commonly prescribed treatment given to patients with COVID-19, the disease the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus causes, was analgesics, followed by azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine.

This survey of frontline doctors shows the value of critical information sharing between countries. That is the only way that a new insight from one country can rapidly save lives around the world, Dr. Murali Doraiswamy, professor of psychiatry and medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and a scientific adviser to Sermo, said in a statement.

Two preprint French studies have shown hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, an antibiotic, are effective in treating COVID-19 patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says both hydroxychloroquine and the closely-related chloroquine can be used to treat COVID-19 patients under an emergency use authorization.

Doctors from France meet in front of room where a COVID-19 patient from France is being treated at the University Hospital in Essen, Germany, on April 1, 2020. (Marcel Kusch/dpa via AP)

India, Hungary, and the United Kingdom have banned export of hydroxychloroquine while doctors in a number of countries, including France and Bahrain, were known to be prescribing the drug.

Hydroxychloroquine usage was most prominent in Spain, followed by Italy, Brazil, Mexico, France, the United States, Germany, and Canada, according to the global survey.

American doctors mostly prescribed hydroxychloroquine to high-risk patients, while outside the United States the drug was used equally for patients with mild to severe symptoms.

The most common treatment regimens both included 400 milligrams twice daily on day one, but some doctors then went to 400 milligrams daily for five days while others prescribed 200 milligrams twice daily for four days.

The survey contained a treasure trove of global insights for policy makers, Sermo CEO Peter Kirk said.

Physicians should have more of a voice in how we deal with this pandemic and be able to quickly share information with one another and the world, he added. With censorship of the media and the medical community in some countries, along with biased and poorly designed studies, solutions to the pandemic are being delayed. We invite global physicians to contribute to help inform policy makers, their colleagues, and the public.
Steve Centrella's video conference calls from his Washington D.C. home are now held to the sound of shuffling Legos and his 4-year-old son singing "cheetahs speed and lizards glide!" Prithvi Raj, a father of three in Manhattan, leads meetings while bouncing a 2-month-old infant on his lap. Levi Coldiron, in North Carolina, has become used to talking to his boss while his 4-year-old daughter swings from the fireplace mantle and shrieks, "The floor is lava!"

As millions of Americans work from home with their children nearby because of the coronavirus pandemic, parents everywhere have become "the BBC Dad," the father whose live broadcast interview went viral three years ago when his daughter strutted into the room. Zoom calls now begin with disclaimers about the kids crying in the background. Meetings are scheduled around nap time. The wall between work life and family life has crumbled.

And as a result, fatherhood is more visible than ever before.

"The fact that men are now plopping their babies in their laps while taking conference calls, showing that men, too, do this work, is really important," said Caitlyn Collins, a Washington University sociologist focused on gender and families.

The heaviest burden of the pandemic is undoubtedly falling on women, who studies show still spend more of their day than men caring for children, doing the laundry, cleaning the house and preparing meals. But some sociologists have begun to wonder whether men will use this extra time at home to step up and take on more of the child-care and household chores. With fatherhood quite literally on display in the virtual workplace, will dads invest more time in taking care of their children? And will they be applauded by their colleagues for doing the same work that women have been doing forever?

"Maybe this pandemic can help normalize the fact that, yes indeed, men are caregivers," Collins said. "There's nothing extraordinary about it."

5 1 of 5 Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey. Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey. Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey. Show More Show Less 5 of 5









Fathers today are far more involved in their children's lives than the generations before them, said Scott Coltrane, professor emeritus in sociology at the University of Oregon, where he focused on the role of fathers. But women still carry out more of the responsibilities at home. On an average day in 2018, full-time working and married mothers spent 1.2 hours caring for their children, compared to 49 minutes per day for full-time working and married fathers, according to the American Time Use Survey. In households where both spouses were working full time, mothers spent an average of 2.1 hours per day doing household activities such as cleaning, cooking or lawn care, while fathers spent about 1.4 hours.

Studies have shown that women do more of the housework even when they make more money than their husbands, and even when their husbands are unemployed.

"This might be an opportunity for men to own up to how much they're doing," Coltrane said. "But they have to actually do the work."

Before the pandemic, Scott Lathrop's employer gave him the option of working from home once a week. But the 37-year-old father of two, a customer service manager for Union Pacific railroad in Omaha, almost never did. It's just too difficult to work remotely, he said, especially with his two young daughters around.

Now, he has no choice but to answer client phone calls while watching 2-year-old Ella and 5-year-old Samantha playing on the driveway. The other day, Ella ran into his office and spoke right into the microphone of his headphones, asking him to come help her get on her tricycle. He has become used to apologizing to his colleagues for the sound of the nearby garage door opening and closing. "This is the life I live now, sorry guys," he tells them.

But this is what his colleagues don't see or hear:

His wife, Jessica Lathrop, gave up the home office where she usually works as a Democratic political consultant. She offered to set up her work station in the kitchen instead, where she could help keep an eye on the girls during the day. Her job is more flexible, she said, and her colleagues are used to seeing her taking care of her kids while working - it's what she does anytime the girls are home sick.

"Most of them already know I'm a working mom," she said. "People are used to seeing more moms juggling it."

Her husband takes shifts watching the girls in the afternoons and evenings, and tries to keep them distracted while she's on important calls. To entertain them on a recent afternoon, he staged an Easter egg hunt around the house - four times in a row. He also has offered to trade work stations with her, but they agreed the girls would end up going to her for help, even if she tried escaping to the office.

"I try to help as much as I can, but at the end of the day, the girls want their mom," Scott Lathrop said.

"I don't know how to make that switch," Jessica Lathrop said.

Instead, Jessica Lathrop ends up doing most of her work in the middle of the night. These times remind her of the sleepless nights she spent pre-scheduling emails when the girls were newborns. "I had been looking forward to not doing that anymore," she said. "I just need time to stop."

But she feels lucky that her husband makes an effort to help, and that they're both getting more time with the girls. She thinks it's a positive step to see so many parents, especially fathers in leadership roles, allowing their children to interrupt work conference calls.

"Even in the best, equal sharing of parenting relationships; most of this stress for parenting while working from home falls onto the moms," she recently tweeted. "So dads - do this for your colleagues, your partner and to be an example for your kids."

She knows she's carrying a demanding load at home right now. But she has friends whose husbands are far less involved. "They shut the office door and just let their wife handle it," she said.

Beth Coldiron's husband generally does a lot more of the cleaning and housework than she does. Levi Coldiron, who works for the City of Salisbury, North Carolina, is the parent that stays home with their 4-year-old daughter, Addison, if she gets sick. But ever since they've both been working from home, Beth has been in charge of setting up activities to keep her busy, such as the paper plates she taped to the walls to teach the 4-year-old phone numbers.

It makes sense that the mother is in charge of the home schooling - she is a middle school chorus teacher, after all. But Beth also is simply better at multitasking, a skill she learned as a mother pumping breast milk while doing lesson plans, she said. She's able to focus on work even while Addison is jumping all over the living room, where the Play-Doh has started sticking to the carpet.

Levi Coldiron was reminded of a parody of the viral BBC dad video, imagining if a mother had been in the professor's place. When a toddler walks into the room, the mother calmly starts giving her daughter a bottle while she continues to talk about politics in South Korea. As the interview continues, the mom takes out a pan of roast chicken, steams her husband's shirt and defuses a ticking bomb.

"I would get flustered and stop the call," Levi Coldiron said. "My wife would just keep rolling. That's what she does. I think moms are used to that."

Prithvi Raj, the father of three in Manhattan, has made a point of letting his daughters enter his video conference meetings when they need him. Raj, the chief operative officer at the commercial real estate company SquareFoot, was recently leading a company meeting with 70 people when his daughter came up to him and complained that her younger sister wasn't letting her watch a video about how to paint unicorns.

"Why don't you sit on my lap?" Raj said. He introduced his colleagues to his 4-year-old daughter, Leela, as she waved at the camera.

Raj hopes that moments like these set an example for other fathers and mothers at the company, showing them it's okay to let your home life into your work life, and that it's possible to be productive while working from home and helping take care of the kids.

Since Steve Centrella started working out of his home in Columbia Heights, some of his colleagues have complimented him for spending so much time with his son. "That's just great that you're so involved," one woman on his team said. "My husband wasn't really like that."

But Centrella, who manages a team of real estate agents, doesn't think he's doing anything extraordinary.

"If the choice is between work and family, that's almost an impossible choice right now," he said.

Before the pandemic, Centrella said he was "one of those people that needed a little reminder" to do certain chores around the house. But with him and his wife working from home, he's tried to be more proactive, using down time between calls to empty the dishwasher or do a load of laundry.

Before, 4-year-old Oliver was more likely to go up to his mother, Lauren Centrella, to ask for help. But the parents have noticed that Oliver has started calling on his dad more - even at the most inconvenient times.

During a recent work conference call, Oliver shouted out for his father. "I'm in the bathroom!" Oliver said, drawing laughs from Steve Centrella's colleagues.

With the quick-draw reflexes of all parents now working from home, the father pressed the mute button and rushed to the bathroom to assess the crisis.

Oliver had dropped his book while sitting on the toilet. Could Daddy pick it up for him?
Taiwan has become an example in the fight against the COVID-19 virus, with 348 registered cases and only five deaths. The government has enacted strict measures to prevent the virus from spreading amongst the population, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all travellers to Taiwan, to be completed under the watchful eye of the authorities.



Starting on March 18, everyone arriving on Taiwanese soil from abroad is required to remain quarantined at home for 14 days. Travellers must provide their quarantine address to the authorities, take their temperature twice a day, and leave their phones on 24 hours a day.





The Taiwanese government provides people in quarantine with masks, food and other essential items. (Video posted on Twitter on March 28, 2020).





This post published on Facebook on March 29 reads in French: "Wow, this is a different world here! Here's a package sent by the the director of the local tourism office in Pingtung after we were put in quarantine. It's an apology! ... Thank you go the government and Taiwanese hosptitality."



The Taiwanese government keeps an eye on those under quarantine order by tracking their phones. People under quarantine are required to have their phones turned on at all times. On March 22, a man was fined nearly 31,000 euros for leaving quarantine to go out to a nightclub.







"They can track me using my phone. It doesnt bother meYiting Wang is a 37-year-old woman from Taiwan. She returned to Taiwan from Frankfurt, Germany on March 27. Before leaving, she filled out an online form and reported that she had mild allergy symptoms, symptoms similiar to the coronavirus.





Before landing in Taiwan, all travellers are required to fill out an online form with questions about their health.

Everyone on the plane was Taiwanese. Everyone was wearing a mask and some were wearing gloves or even protective suits. When we landed at 6am, we had to answer questions about our journey and our health and fill out a form with the address of where wed be quarantining. Then, a doctor tested us.



We were forbidden from taking public transport and, instead, each of us was assigned a taxi. For about 30 euros, the driver took me home to Taichung (a town south of the capital, Taipei). The driver disinfected my clothes and my bags.

Story continues





















Travellers wait for their temperature to be taken at the airport in Taiwan. All of them must complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.



Wang has been isolating in her friends house, where she has a floor to herself. She didnt want to go back to her elderly parents home for fear of infecting them.





Within 12 hours, I got a package from the local government containing, among other things, a mask and a thermometer. City Hall also called me. They asked me if I needed any help and also provided me with a number to call in case of symptoms. They offered help with groceries, medicine, even taking the trash out. They also offered psychological support.



I get two calls a day. One from the Taichung City Hall and another from the central government. They can track me using my phone. If I leave the house, theyll call the police. That doesnt bother me. I dont plan to leave my floor.





On the first day of her quarantine, Wang received a package from the local government in Taichung. It contained 14 masks, a thermometer, a code for access to e-books and a month of free online magazines, a trash bag, disinfectant for her belongings and a thermometer.



Some people also get food. I havent received any yet, but I have my own stock. I put a table outside my room and my friend puts food on it. I stay away from everyone. Today, March 30, is my fourth day of quarantine. I am so thankful for the help from the government and my friends. Im even eligible for a 400 euro payment from the government.



Wang has food stocked up so that she doesnt have to leave the floor in her friends house where she is quarantined.



"Look what my girlfriend got from her country (Taiwan) during her 14-day quarantine, posted one Reddit user on March 25.



People in quarantine like Wang have to fill out a detailed form every day, reporting their temperature and general health. They must report if theyve had symptoms such as a fever, a cough, a runny nose, difficulty breathing, aches or if they generally feel unwell.







Wang suffered from a lung infection last year after contracting the flu, so she is taking extra precautions. She plans to extend her 14-day quarantine by ten additional days.







Article written by Marie Genries
FanMilk Ghana Limited, a member of Danone, has presented its contribution to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.



The companys support is targeted at the frontline medical staff at the Ridge Hospital and Noguchi Medical Research Institute who are at the fore front leading the case management of the pandemic in Accra.



15,600 bottles of drinking Yoghurt (FanMaxx) were given to the Director General of the Ridge Hospital and the Director General at Noguchi Medical Research Institute on Thursday 2nd April 2020.



Presenting the items, the CEO of FanMilk West Africa & Managing Director FanMilk Ghana Limited, Ziobeieton Yeo said; We know how busy the day gets for most of you, with long hours exerting a lot of energy on the job. We want to be help re-energize you when your fuel is low, supporting you as we fight against COVID-19 in Ghana together.



We at FanMilk are dedicated to providing nutritious food to as many people as possible to improve our impact on the communities we serve. We are regularly reminded of the dedication and resilience of the frontline medical staff and truly appreciate all their efforts. Our thoughts and support also go out to all other frontline staff that are in one way or other keeping the country going, especially those striving to feed the nation.



FanMilk Ghana Limited also made donations to Food for All Ghana & Free Lunch Ghana to feed over 10,000 people with their fortified yoghurt SuperYogo. Ziobeieton Yeo stated that the company is conscious of the fact that there are many who have been left without a means of livelihood due to the lockdown and thus we are contributing to ensure these older, homeless and unemployed people are fed through Food For All Ghana & Free Lunch Ghanas initiatives.



He thanked these organizations further for being sensitive to the plight of the less privileged during these times and encouraged them to forge on.



In His closing remarks, he urged all Ghanaians to heed to all the COVID-19 preventive measures and to stay safe.













Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The CIA has warned the White House since early February that China has vastly understated its coronavirus numbers and those figures should not be relied upon.

American officials were looking at the Chinese figures as they worked on predictive models to fight the coronavirus in the United States.

As the intelligence agency was issuing its warnings, President Donald Trump was praising Chinese President Xi Jinping's handling of the outbreak.

'Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China,' the president wrote on Twitter on February 7th. 'He is strong, sharp and powerfully focused on leading the counterattack on the Coronavirus.'

The CIA has warned the White House since early February that China has vastly understated its coronavirus numbers

The warnings came as President Donald Trump was praising Chinese President Xi Jinping's handling of the outbreak

But the tone between Washington and Beijing grew more tense as American officials became frustrated with the lack of information out of China.

President Trump began referring to the disease as the 'Chinese virus' and both he and Vice President Mike Pence complained the United States could have done more and responded faster had Beijing been more transparent about what was occurring in China.

But those CIA warnings would prove of value.

President Trump used them in his negotiation of a detente with Xi, The New York Times reported, when the two leaders spoke last week - a call that resulted in the ratcheting down of criticism between the countries.

The president, at his daily White House press briefing, acknowledged the Chinese figures on the virus are 'on the light side.'

'The numbers seem to be a little bit on the light side, and I'm being nice when I say that, relative to what we witnessed and what was reported, but we discussed that with him,' Trump said Wednesday of his phone call with Xi.

'As to whether or not their numbers are accurate,' he noted, 'I'm not an accountant from China.'

The lack of accurate figures from China has frustrated American health officials who would like the information to try and predict how the virus might spread throughout the United States.

It would also help them measure the effectiveness of policies such as social distancing.

American intelligence officials have concluded, however, that accurate numbers may never be possible as not even Chinese government is aware of how the disease devastated its country due to the fact midlevel bureaucrats in Wuhan, where the virus originated, and elsewhere in China have been lying about infection rates and death counts out of fear they will be punished if they report too high numbers, The Times reported, citing current and former intelligence officials.

American intelligence officials have concluded that accurate numbers on the coronavirus may never be possible out of China; above medical workers in Wuhan disinfect a stretcher

Specifically, the intelligence community handed over a classified report to the White House last week, an official told Bloomberg News, which concluded that China's numbers on the virus are fake.

The coronavirus outbreak originated from Wuhan in the Hubei province of China at the end of 2019  but China has only publicly reported 82,361 cases and 3,293 deaths as of Wednesday.

This would mean China is less impacted by coronavirus than the U.S., Italy and Spain.

So far, according to a Johns Hopkins University of Medicine world tracker of the virus' impact, there are more than 190,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and more than 4,000 people have died.

The U.S. has the largest publicly reported outbreak of coronavirus in the world  skyrocketing this week starting over the weekend when deaths doubled from 1,000 to 2,000 in just one day.

'The reality is that we could have been better off if China had been more forthcoming,' Vice President Mike Pence said during an interview with CNN Wednesday afternoon, conceding that the nation has been more honest regarding coronavirus than other diseases over the years.

'I mean the reality is that China's been more transparent with regard to the coronavirus than certainly they were for other infectious diseases over the last 15 years,' Pence, who is heading the White House coronavirus task force, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. 'But what appears evident now is that long before the world learned in December that China was dealing with this, and maybe as much as a month earlier than that, that the outbreak was real in China.'

Intelligence officials conclude China's reporting is intentionally incomplete  as skepticism already swirled that they were under-cutting death tolls and confirmed cases in not reporting asymptomatic cases

Mike Pence brought up China's transparency issue in an interview with CNN Wednesday. 'The reality is that we could have been better off if China had been more forthcoming,' Pence asserted

Ambassador Deborah Birx, the State Department immunologist advising the White House on its response to the outbreak as part of the task force, said that China's public reporting influenced how other countries responded to the outbreak.

'The medical community made -- interpreted the Chinese data as: This was serious, but smaller than anyone expected,' she said at the daily coronavirus press briefing Tuesday evening. 'Because I think probably we were missing a significant amount of the data, now that what we see happened to Italy and see what happened to Spain.'

Speculation arose over China's reporting after its government said earlier this month that there were no new cases in Wuhan, where the pandemic stemmed from, and images of stacks of thousands of urns outside funeral homes in Hubei province showed up.

There have also been questions surrounding China's ever-changing methodology for counting and reporting its coronavirus cases and deaths.

For weeks, the Chinese government did not count asymptomatic individuals, even if they tested positive  and only on Tuesday added more than 1,5000 asymptomatic cases to its total.

While skepticism continues to swirl over China's reporting methods, there are concerns from western officials that Iran, Russia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and North Korea, which has not reported any cases, are also under-counting their cases and death tolls.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged during a press conference Tuesday that China and other nations to be honest and transparent about coronavirus outbreaks in their respective countries.

'This data set matters,' he said, 'so that we can save lives depends on the ability to have confidence and information about what has actually transpired.'

'I would urge every nation: Do your best to collect the data. Do your best to share that information. We're doing that,' Pompeo asserted.
The state Supreme Judicial Court has ruled on Friday that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some pretrial detainees can be released from incarceration.

Detainees who have not been charged with violent crimes, including homicide or manslaughter by motor vehicle, sexual offenses for which a convicted individual would have to register as a sex offender and other crimes, are entitled to a rebuttable presumption of release on personal recognizance, the SJC ruled.

Those detainees are entitled to a hearing within two business days of filing a motion for reconsideration of bail and release, according to the ruling.

The ruling comes after the ACLU of Massachusetts, the Committee for Public Counsel Services and the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed a petition last month. The SJC heard arguments for hours on Tuesday.

The petition asked the SJC to

Reduce the volume of people entering Massachusetts jails and prisons by, among other steps, requiring trial courts to account for the threat of COVID-19 in jails and prisons when they analyze the need for pretrial detention;

Order the release of those held prior to the disposition of their case who are not detained because they pose a danger to public safety; and

Deem served the sentences of incarcerated individuals who are vulnerable to COVID-19, near the end of their sentence, or who do not pose a threat to the public, and release on parole those eligible for parole (including medical parole).

The groups argued that downsizing the footprint of the criminal legal system was a matter of life and death.

All parties agree that, for several reasons, correctional institutions face unique difficulties in keeping their populations safe during this pandemic, read the decision, written by Justice Frank Gaziano. First, confined, enclosed environments increase transmissibility. Maintaining adequate physical distance, i.e., maintaining six feet of distance between oneself and others, may be nearly impossible in prisons and jails. Second, proper sanitation is also a challenge; the petitioners have submitted affidavits from Department of Public Health (DPH) officials stating that, during recent routine inspections of Massachusetts correctional institutions (prior to the declaration of emergency), DPH inspectors discovered a concerning number of repeat environmental health violations.

COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus, has been spreading across the world. People ages 60 and older, and those with chronic health conditions, are at a higher risk of complications of the illness.

"While it is somewhat helpful that the SJC has recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a changed circumstance for pretrial detainees held in Massachusetts, and that a handful of such detainees are entitled to a presumption of release, MACDL is gravely concerned that the Court rejected our request to provide a path to safety for every one of these human beings who have been found not dangerous and are presumed innocent of the charges they face, said Victoria Kelleher, the president of MACDL.

There have been coronavirus cases among Massachusetts Department of Correction inmates and staff.

We are glad that this decision affords some relief for pretrial detainees, as well as important reporting requirements, said Matthew Segal, the legal director at the ACLU of Massachusetts. But we believe it falls short of what is necessary to prevent more illness and death among people in custody, correctional staff members, and the broader community. We urge every branch of Massachusetts government to do what it can to save the lives of people inside Massachusetts detention facilities, and in so doing to keep all of us safer.

Anthony Benedetti, the chief counsel for CPCS, said the committee is pleased the court has taken some steps to release defendants before trial.

The SJC clearly recognizes the urgency of the pandemics rapid spread and has directed the sheriffs and the Department of Correction to provide daily reports on how COVID-19 is affecting their institutions," Benedetti said. "The Court has made clear that the Executive Branch has the authority to address the danger facing all those currently serving sentences, and we urge the Governor to utilize that power to help prevent a potentially deadly outbreak. Meanwhile, public defenders and defense attorneys across the state will continue do everything in our power to get people out from behind the wall and save lives.

On Thursday, a man in his 50s who was incarcerated at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater died after testing positive for coronavirus, according to the DOC.

At least 23 inmates, three DOC employees and one medical provider have tested positive for the coronavirus at the Bridgewater facility.

While we are pleased that the Courts decision today at least effectuates a process to release a number of pre-trial individuals, the Court interpreted its powers as limited with respect to release for a more significant number of incarcerated individuals, particularly those most vulnerable to succumbing to COVID-19, said Elizabeth Matos, Executive Director of Prisoners Legal Services. The Court made clear that it views the Executive Branch as holding that responsibility. But as the decision demonstrates, the Executive Branch has failed to take action, and we now have two COVID-related prisoner deaths with more inevitably to come.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said her office, with the sheriff and defense counsel, have so far identified and released 81 pre-trial individuals from a comprehensive list of detainees who fit the criteria set forth by the SJC.

Todays decision, which embraces what we have been doing in Middlesex County since this crisis began, calls for a collaborative and individualized approach that utilizes law enforcement expertise and the medical information surrounding this pandemic to strike a balance between public safety and the risk to the individual being held, Ryan said. As the rate of infection continues to grow, time is of the essence. In order to combat this virus we must work together ... We will continue to act expeditiously on this list and consider the serious health risks posed by COVID-19 when making bail recommendations.

The SJC decided that with regard to sentenced inmates, the Separation of Powers limits its authority. The decision maintains the executive branchs authority over those individuals, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni noted.

We are very appreciative of todays decision by the Supreme Judicial Court," Gulluni wrote in a statement. "The Courts decision contemplates the seriousness of this crisis for all involved, including victims of crime, our communities, and the health of inmates across the Commonwealth. This decision will allow us to continue thoughtful and careful individual reviews of detainees that has and will continue to reduce inmate populations, without jeopardizing victims of crime or our citizens across the Commonwealth.

Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn III said in a statement that he was appreciative of the ruling.

During the past three weeks, our office has been handling many motions to release defendants on a case by case basis. We will continue to strongly oppose the release of dangerous defendants to protect the public and victims, Quinn said. "During the past three weeks the population at the Bristol County jail has decreased by 20% due to the decrease in new arrests and the release of defendants that the court does not consider a public safety risk.

Under the court ruling, we will be required to review cases of certain defendants that the court does not consider a threat to public safety. However, we still have the right to request that defendants already in custody, who pose a clear threat to public safety or are a clear flight risk, continue to be held, the statement continued.

As of Friday afternoon, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced 38 more deaths from illness related to COVID-19 and 1,436 new cases among residents. A total of 192 residents have died and at least 10,402 residents have tested positive.

Related Content:
The West Bengal government on



Friday announced a slew of austerity measures to meet the unforeseen expenditure in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

The state government, in a memorandum, said the ongoing 21-day lockdown has severely affected the economy of the country and West Bengal.

No new schemes will be taken up and urgent public interest programmes will require prior approval of the finance department, the memorandum said.

The government said that no purchase of vehicles, computers, IT related accessories, furniture, ACs and TVs will be undertaken.

The memorandum also said there shall be no recruitment/engagement of manpower unless approved by the finance ministry, and all journeys by officials should be as per the entitled class.

There will be no payment of house building advance in respect of all India officers like IAS, IPS and withdrawal from GPF will be allowed only in case of education, treatment and marriage, it said.

The West Bengal government, however, made certain exemptions for payment of salary, wages and pension, and funding of social welfare schemes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When a theater goes dark, its not just the staff who lose their jobs; freelance actors, designers, and technical crew also lose work. When music venues, bookstores, and galleries close, artists lose out on the opportunities to connect with new audiences. When schools close, arts educators find their contracts cut short.

The question of when, and even if, these organizations and venues will reopen hangs heavily over independent artists. While the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has temporarily expanded unemployment benefits to freelancers and self-employed workers, independent artists wonder when that money will arrive and if it will be enough. In Oregon, several organizations are working to provide additional and immediate funding.

When the novel coronavirus pandemic began to grind public life in Oregon to a halt, Subashini Ganesan, Portlands creative laureate, reached out to Oregons poet laureate, Kim Stafford. Together, they worked to leverage their public positions to create the Portland Area Artist Emergency Relief Fund. After a race to find donors, they announced the fund publicly March 18.

Ganesan and Stafford reviewed 555 applications that first week. Applicants provided confirmation of canceled work, how much of their own money theyd already put toward that work, and their anticipated income. Of those applicants, 245 were immediately identified as recipients. The first batch of checks for $100 to $1,000 each were being sent to artists this week, Ganesan said.

Freelance and independent artists often have the least amount of resources available to help them out, Ganesan said. And many dont have health insurance. Thats why we want to be diligent about getting money out ASAP.

The fund has raised $100,100 to date but the collective need of those applicants was estimated by Ganesan at $680,047. Ganesan sees their measures as a stopgap until larger, more established organizations can step in, like the Oregon Cultural Trust, which is awaiting legislative approval of a $10 million relief fund.

Regional Arts and Culture Council is also looking to step in. The organization is working with the Oregon Community Foundation and The Miller Foundation, two statewide groups, to help direct future money to artists and arts organizations. What that pool ends up being we dont know, said RACC Executive Director Madison Cario, But definitely in the millions. And hopefully more foundations come to the table. Even if its with connections and their networks.

Until thats established, RACC is also looking to provide immediate funding to individual artists. Cario, a little over a year into the director position, had already been looking to reorganize RACC but the pandemic has moved the timeline up dramatically.

I sat down with the grants team because we knew we needed to figure out what folks need and how much they need, Cario said. We needed to know, who is our community and how large is it? To answer those questions, RACC put out a survey to the arts community statewide and received more than 1,500 responses.

Among the responses:

A visual artist wrote that their galleries are closed. Their solo show as well as all the classes they teach are canceled.

Vendors at the Saturday Market who rely on tourism have seen all their revenue dry up.

Film crews have seen projects on hiatus indefinitely.

A musician who composes and produces music has closed their recording studio.

Among individual artists and organizations, the RACC survey projected a loss of over $56 million. That number is expected to increase every month the longer public spaces are closed and as more artists reach out for help.

To create RACCs Emergency Fund for Artists and Creative Workers, the organization had to end its personal development funding and artist fellowships for the foreseeable future. This pool of immediate funds totals around $120,000 and is now open to anyone who works in the arts.

We really want to keep equity in mind, Cario said. Marginalized folks need access to funds and we want to make sure they have the opportunity to apply. RACC is also looking at expanding payments into services like PayPal to facilitate distributing funds as easily and quickly as possible.

Similar work is also happening in Eugene, where Lane County Arts Council announced an Artists Relief Fund last week.

As communities rally around their artists, hoping to keep them afloat through turbulent times, so much remains unknown about what the arts landscape will look like when public spaces open up again.

In the meantime, here are places supporters can make donations and artists can seek help.

PDX Artists Relief: The fund is not taking applications at the moment, but its not closed officially. People can still donate at pdxartistrelief.com.

Regional Arts and Culture Council: You can apply for funds and donate at artsimpactfund.racc.org.

RACC also has a page for COVID resources: racc.org/relief-options-resource-listings.

Lane County: http://lanearts.org/lane-county-artist-relief-fund/

Portland Area Theatre Alliance has a long-standing emergency fund for actors: portlandtheatre.com/Valentine-Fund

 TJ Acena, for The Oregonian/OregonLive

READ MORE

6 ways to help Oregon artists out of work because of the coronavirus

Oregon arts community expects $56 million loss from coronavirus crisis, survey finds

Laid-off workers are confounded by Oregons overwhelmed jobless claims system

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Australian legal experts have urged universities and businesses to be cautious about privacy concerns when using Zoom for virtual meetings after a UK investigation found personal information of users had been shared with Facebook.

Zoom has attracted millions of new users of its video conferencing technology as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan tweeted that people shouldn't have privacy concerns using the group communication app. Credit:AP

But according to a British media report, the app has notified Facebook of users' details including the model number of their devices, their location and a unique identifier of British users to help companies target them with advertisements.

The Daily Telegraph in London recently reported that workers in the UK using the $US40 billion ($65.9 billion) app to attend virtual meetings from home could sue their employers if they object to how the software uses their personal information.
North Dakota Ag Commisioner Doug Goehring said on the Joel Heitkamp Show that Americans dont really care where their food comes from.

I beg to differ. I care and you should too for many reasons. Take beef, for example. We have freedom to eat from whatever source we choose. The small town grocer or butcher that hand-formed your burgers, your rancher who brings free-range, pastured beef to your door, or the big box stores cheap frozen beef. Choice is a beautiful thing. Because of choice, I do care where my meat comes from. I care because I appreciate the strict standards that protects my food from poison. Do I want a hamburger made from 100 cows that come from another country whose rules are far less stringent. I care because our regulation give me peace of mind. Its about trust.

The next time you bite into a steak, ask yourself where it came from. Do you realize it may have come from Mexico and be labeled USA? You read that correctly. There are no laws against it, as long as it was processed and packaged in USA. That is deceit if you ask me. Current practices flooding the market with cheap foreign beef are pushing North Dakota ranchers to near bankruptcy with record low prices.

If you want true freedom of choice, demand John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer support the U.S. Beef Integrity Act. This bill in the Senate will change USDA requirements to properly label U.S. beef as Product of the USA. We can all be confident again that were truly eating real beef from the USA. This is everyones fight; get with it, make a call or two.

Support our American meat-producers. Show them we care.

Cheryl Planert, Beach

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By Akbar Mammadov

Armenia's national Russian-owned natural gas distributing company Gazprom-Armenia announced on April 1 that it would ask the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) to allow it to revise the prices of natural gas supplied to various categories of consumers, Armenian local media reported.

Gazprom Armenia said it wanted the changes to take effect on July 1, 2020 for all consumers, with the exception of thermal power plants, for which the proposed tariffs are to enter into force on August 1, 2020.

It was revealed that the distributor wants to raise the price for consumers who are entitled to family or social allowances (consuming up to 600 cubic meters of gas per year) from the current 100,000 drams (198,3 USD) up to 135,900 drams (269.5 USD) per one thousand cubic meters. The company wants also to lower the gas price for consumers who use up to 10 thousand cubic meters of gas per month, from the current 139,000 drams (275.6 USD) to 135,909 drams (269.5 USD) per one thousand cubic meters.

The company wants also to revise tariffs for the services of the natural gas distributing operator from the current 25.07 drams (0.049 USD) to 23.124 drams (0.045 USD) per one thousand cubic meters. The tariff for the distribution of natural gas is proposed to reduce from 26,947.089 drams (53.44 USD) to 21,724.785 drams (43.08 USD) per one thousand cubic meters, while the tariffs for natural gas transportation services are proposed to increase from 11,347.532 drams (22.5 USD) to 13,282.688 drams (26.34 USD) per one thousand cubic meters.

The spokeswoman for the Public Services Regulatory Commission Liana Azizyan told Novosti-Armenia news agency that the regulator has not yet received the company's application.

Although Russian natural gas is delivered to Armenia by Gazprom at a $165 per one thousand cubic meters, Gazproms Armenian subsidiary  Gazprom Armenia  sells it to the bulk of Armenian households at almost $300.

Gazprom Armenia also deals with the storage, distribution and sale of gas. ($1 - 504.22 drams).

Earlier, Caucasus Watch reported that the Armenian authorities are seeking to lower the gas imports from Russia.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
There has been a steep rise in COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh with at least 46 fresh cases being reported in the last 24 hours, taking to 172 the total number of coronavirus patients in the state as on Friday, a senior health official said.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in UP was reported to be 126 on Thursday night.

"Till Friday afternoon the total number of positive COVID-19 cases across the state are 172," a senior health official told PTI.

The sharp increase in the number of cases, officials said, was due to confirmation of coronavirus in the samples of over three dozen people across the state who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi.

"The exact breakup of the districts will be made available later," they said.

Earlier,the total number of positive cases in the state was 134 as on Friday morning with a total of eight fresh cases reported in Agra and Jaunpur.

While six cases were found to be positive in Agra, two positive cases were reported in Jaunpur, they said.

"Six more COVID-19 positive cases have found here. The total number of cases in the district are 18 now," Agra District Magistrate Prabhu Narain Singh said.

"Two more case have been found to be coronavirus positive in Jaunpur. Now the total positive cases in the district are three," Jaunpur District Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Singh said. The two fresh cases are of those who attended the Tablighi Jamat congregation in New Delhi, he said.

According to officials, the district-wise tally of 134 coronavirus cases as on Friday morning included - Gautambudh Nagar (48), Meerut (24), Agra (18), Lucknow (10), Ghaziabad (9), Bareilly (6), Bulandshahr and Jaunpur (3 each), Basti, Varanasi, and Pilibhit (2 each), Ghazipur, Hapur, Baghpat, Shamli, Moradabad, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri (1 each).

Of these 134 cases, 17 have been fully cured and discharged while two have died -- one each in Meerut and Basti.

Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said, "The good thing is that there has been a decrease in the average rate of infection in the state". He said the Health Department has been maintaining an aggressive containment exercise in and around various districts from where positive cases have been reported and this has helped to some extent in containing the spread of the virus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Because of a short-lived rule at some hospitals in New York City, Emily Scheer gave birth to her second daughter without her partner present.

Emily Scheer

In March, a number of major hospitals in New York City banned partners from delivery rooms due to coronavirus risks. At the end of the month, Governor Andrew Cuomo reversed that decision.

Emily Scheer gave birth in New York without her spouse present, a day before Cuomo's executive order was issued.

Scheer and her husband said they had made peace with the situation and understood that they were doing their part to protect hospital staff, mothers, and newborns.

A number of OB-GYNs disagree with Cuomo's decision and say allowing partners in delivery rooms is far too risky.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

When Emily Scheer and her husband, Billy, got to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Scheer was 5 centimeters dilated and her contractions were coming hard  and fast. The couple had made peace with the fact that they wouldn't be together during the delivery due to the hospital's coronavirus-related restrictions. But Billy wanted to at least help his wife settle in.

As the Scheers made their way through the sliding glass doors, a hulking security guard stopped the couple. He told them that the rules had "changed" and that Billy had to leave the hospital immediately.

The security guard took Scheer's bags, and reassured Billy that he would personally help Emily to her room.

"You take good care of her," Billy said to the guard while fighting back tears. The guard responded with a fist bump.

The couple had a moment to hug before separating.

While Emily made her way upstairs, where she was tested for the coronavirus, her husband grabbed a bite to eat and climbed back in the car. He parked right outside the hospital. That's where he remained for the next four hours, watching on his iPhone as his second daughter came into the world.

"I made the best of what I was given," Billy told Insider, "a small window into what was going on."

Story continues

If the Scheers' daughter, Sarah, had been born even one day later, the New York City couple wouldn't have been prohibited from being together in the hospital.

The Scheers.

Emily Scheer

A number of hospitals in New York briefly banned partners from delivery rooms due coronavirus risks

On March 22, New York-Presbyterian Hospitals, a network of 10 hospitals in New York City, announced that it would ban all companions from the labor and delivery rooms in order to protect healthcare workers, hospital staff, and other patients from additional exposure to the coronavirus. A number of other New York hospitals followed suit.

The decision was made even though the World Health Organization said that a woman should have a companion with her while delivering during the pandemic.

At that point, Emily was 38 weeks pregnant and terrified of giving birth without her husband there. She wrote an op-ed for Insider, beseeching the state to extend coronavirus testing to a pregnant person's support person, so that they could be in the delivery room, too.

About 24 hours after the Scheers' daughter was born, Governor Andrew Cuomo's office effectively reversed the hospital network's decision, issuing an executive order requiring hospitals to allow birthing women to have a companion by their side.

pregnant woman pregnancy expectant expecting first second third trimester fertile fertility mom mother parent maternity baby birth labor cox 4

Crystal Cox/Business Insider

When Scheer got up to the labor and delivery ward, she said she was struck by how clean and empty the floor was. She was grateful that she stuck with her doctor and original birth plan, and felt that the hospital staff extended "extra sensitivity" to her. The Scheers had come to terms with the fact that being apart was important for the wellness of the staff and their newborn.

Emily happened to have been treated by an all-female medical team. "There was definitely a woman power vibe in the room," she said.

Billy said the doctors and nurses also put him at ease.

"The nurses were saying and doing everything I would've done," Billy said. "I was happy to take a backseat."

At the same time, Emily acknowledged she was fortunate that her delivery was uncomplicated. Her labor progressed quickly and she ended up pushing for just 18 minutes. The baby was born healthy and neither of them tested positive for the coronavirus, which meant they were never separated.

Emily was able to go home after spending just a day at the hospital. Her husband met the baby in the hospital lobby on Sunday at 1 a.m. when he came to pick up his wife and newborn.

Emily admitted that she likely would've felt differently if this had been her first child or if a difficult medical issue had come up.

Emily Scheer

Emily Scheer

Some OB-GYNs disagree with the decision and say any extra person in the hospital raises risks of infection

Research shows that a woman and her baby could have improved outcomes during and after childbirth, if they have the continuous presence of a support person. That means a woman is more likely to give birth vaginally, have a shorter labor, and is less likely to use pain medication.

A companion can play a critical role in advocating for a patient, especially at a time when maternal deaths are on the rise in the US and when healthcare workers are stretched thin due to the pandemic.

But many OB-GYNs say that while prohibiting partners from the delivery room could take an emotional toll on patients, it's critical considering the increased risks for infection.

"The decision to prohibit all visitors from hospitals must extend to obstetric patients as well, as difficult as that is," Dr. Theresa Linsner, an OB-GYN in New York City, told Insider. "The presence of a support person for laboring patients is a luxury we cannot afford in the midst of the epicenter of this crisis."

Scheer said the loss of not having her husband in the room will likely stay with her. But she realized during the delivery just how strong she was.

"She's a warrior," Billy said. "She went into something alone, that is scary on its best day."

Read the original article on Insider
China Water Affairs Group Limited (HKG:855), which is in the water utilities business, and is based in Hong Kong, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the SEHK over the last few months, increasing to HK$6.73 at one point, and dropping to the lows of HK$5.29. 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 China Water Affairs Group's current trading price of HK$5.68 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at China Water Affairs Groups outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

Check out our latest analysis for China Water Affairs Group

What is China Water Affairs Group worth?

The share price seems sensible at the moment according to my price multiple model, where I compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 5.69x is currently trading slightly above its industry peers ratio of 5.63x, which means if you buy China Water Affairs Group today, youd be paying a relatively sensible price for it. And if you believe China Water Affairs Group 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. In addition to this, it seems like China Water Affairs Groups share price is quite stable, which could mean there may be less chances to buy low in the future now that its trading around the price multiples of other industry peers. This is because the stock is less volatile than the wider market given its low beta.

What does the future of China Water Affairs Group look like?

Story continues

SEHK:855 Past and Future Earnings April 3rd 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. China Water Affairs Groups earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 37%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? 855s 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 track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at 855? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuate below the industry PE ratio?

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on 855, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around industry price multiples. However, the optimistic forecast is encouraging for 855, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters  the fundamentals  before you make a decision on China Water Affairs Group. You can find everything you need to know about China Water Affairs Group in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in China Water Affairs Group, 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.
Back to simpler time

What will be the long-term implications of COVID-19 on our lives? We are now advised to stay home and, for the most part, people appear to be complying.

We have no professional sports, no going to the movies, no political rallies.

Could it be we are returning to a simpler life where family is first? Who needs multimillion-dollar athletes? Who needs movie stars who tell us how we should feel and act?

Maybe we are finding the most important values and relationships are right under our noses  family!

David Saenz

Preached, practiced

In 1950, a young man named Howard E. Butt Jr. came to First Baptist Church in Refugio to preach. I seriously doubt as he preached that night that he envisioned one of his future employees  70 years later  would be delivering groceries to one of those listening teens to help protect him from COVID-19.

This employee would not only deliver the online grocery order on time but provide email notifications every step along the way.

H-E-B is a perfect example of good corporate citizenship. Congratulations to all H-E-B employees.

Leonard Denney, New Braunfels

Serving her patients

Re: Im a physician, and I am afraid, Another View, Monday:

It is with sincere gratitude that I thank the Express-News for publishing the column by Dr. Ellen Lin on her fears as a medical professional regarding the devastation of the COVID-19 epidemic. She was honest, but most importantly, protective of her patients and staff. She put her concerns about these very important people above the ongoing success of her practice.

Given the challenges in persuading people to stay in their homes, her personal and professional sacrifices are commendable. In addition to her concern for our community, I applaud her for finding ways to serve her patients in their time of need.

I am grateful to all members of the medical community for serving during this pandemic given the risk to themselves and their families.

Susan Blackwood

On ExpressNews.com: Commentary: Im a physician. And I am afraid.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has been challenged to explain why travellers from coronavirus hotspots like New York are not being made to self-isolate after arriving in the UK.

Self-isolation guidance for people arriving from the Chinese city of Wuhan and Hubei province, Italy, Iran or hard-hit parts of South Korea was withdrawn by the government on 13 March and has not been replaced.

Now the chair of the influential House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, Labour MP Yvette Cooper, has written to Ms Patel warning that the approach could help spread Covid-19 and demanding an explanation.

Countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland and New Zealand are now recommending or requiring quarantine or self-isolation for new arrivals.

But the UK has not activated powers contained in emergency coronavirus laws which would allow police and immigration officers to require those arriving from affected areas to self-isolate.

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Speaking in the Commons on 23 March, shortly before parliament broke up early to cut down the risk of spreading coronavirus, Ms Cooper said it was hard to understand why there is no guidance on self-isolation on a precautionary basis for travellers coming from high-risk countries

Home Office minister Chris Philp told her then that he and Ms Patel were monitoring the latest scientific advice on the issue on an almost daily basis.

And he said: If the scientific advice says that the safety of our country requires a further change in policy, we will certainly do that in response

In todays letter, Ms Cooper said that there had been no further public advice from the Home Office since Mr Philp spoke. She asked for a copy of the scientific analysis referred to by the minister in parliament.

What is the rationale behind the governments decision not to require quarantining or self-isolation on arrival? asked Ms Cooper.

For example, given that people are continuing to arrive from New York, where the number of cases in the state reached 75,000 this week and continues to rise, why were none of them asked to self-isolate for seven to 14 days?

What assessment has the Government made of the number of people arriving in the UK each week who are likely to be carrying Covid-19 on arrival?

She warned: Even if everyone arriving in the UK follows Government guidance on social distancing, many may still be returning to families, households with other residents, jobs as key workers or in other ongoing businesses, travel by public transport, volunteering or shopping for essentials all within the rules. Is the Governments decision not to ask people arriving in the UK to self-isolate consistent with a precautionary approach?

Despite a massive reduction in international air travel, flights from coronavirus hotspots like New York City, Madrid and Rome are still arriving daily at UK airports.

A Home Office spokesperson said: Public Health England have set out clear advice. Anyone in the UK, whether or not they have been abroad recently, should be following the latest guidance to stay at home, avoid unnecessary contact with others and self-isolate should they or anyone they live with show symptoms.

We are providing passengers at UK airports with information on symptoms and the social distancing processes.

Border Force is strictly following Public Health England advice and has robust contingency plans in place to respond to coronavirus.
With schools closed during the pandemic, teens across the US are missing out on a right of passage: their senior proms.

But the Chapman family from Sweetwater, Texas wanted to make it up to their own high school senior, Grayson, this month, and threw an at-home 'prom on the porch' for her last Saturday.

'It wasn't the prom with her friends she thought she'd have, but she had so much fun! We all did!' Grayson's mom Jaci told Fox News.

*

Big dance: Grayson Chapman's senior prom at Highland High School was supposed to be held March 28, but had been canceled due to school closings

Still gonna party! Her family threw her an impromptu party in their yard instead

So sweet: They had 'Prom on the Porch' the same night her real prom would have been

Grayson attends Highland High School, which had to call of its March 28 prom due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

But Jaci wanted to make sure the teen still got a special night, even if it wasn't how she'd imagined it.

'[She] thought it sounded a little cheesy at first. But she was so excited to get to be able to dress up after all and go to her last "prom,"' Jaci said. 'Once we started getting the porch decorated and cranked up the music, she really started getting into the spirit of it!'

The family decorated with a sign made out of gold lettering, Christmas lights, paper stars, and a letterboard sign reading 'Prom on the Porch.'

Dance the night away! They played music for two or three hours while the whole family partied

Yum! They also got food from Whataburger and chowed down outside

Formal: Grayson donned a pretty floral prom dress; her younger brother Crae, a sophomore, wore a suit; and her older sister Maura, who is home from college, wore a glitzy blue number

They also got food from Whataburger, which the teen probably liked better than any fancy food that would have been served at the real prom.

Grayson herself donned a pretty floral prom dress; her younger brother Crae, a sophomore, wore a suit; and her older sister Maura, who is home from college, wore a glitzy blue number.

They were also joined by their parents, an uncle, and a young cousin.

Jaci also played music for two or three hours while the whole family partied, and eventually, they named Grayson prom queen  and her little cousin prom king.

Say cheese! They named Grayson prom queen  and her little cousin prom king

What a setup! The porch was decorated with lights, stars, and streamers

'This spring may not be going according to plan, but we try to adapt and celebrate our seniors the best we can,' Grayson's mom said

Maura, who was prom queen herself, even lent her own crown for occasion.

'We used my crown to make it an even more real experience to have that element of prom queen and king in there,' she told KTAB/KRBC.

'This spring may not be going according to plan, but we try to adapt and celebrate our seniors the best we can,' Jaci said.

'Grayson has had so many events canceled, and she's taken in all in stride. We wanted to do something special for her. It wasn't at all the prom she had envisioned going to, but we've tried to teach our children life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent how you react to it.'
A woman living in fear of her abusive boyfriend was forced to sleep in her car for two days after she fled their home following a savage beating.

Natasha Adair, 36, of Bury, Manchester, was dragged from a sofa by Michael Smith and repeatedly kicked to the head during a row at a friend's house.

She managed to get home but found Smith was already there and she moved into the back of her tiny Chevrolet Spark vehicle because she was too frightened to stay with friends. She was rescued after neighbours alerted police and arrested the 38-year-old.

Nowe she is terrified that he her ex-partner may come after her after being released from prison, having been jailed for 12 months for her violent assault in 2019.

Natasha Adair, 36, of Bury, Manchester, has revealed she hid out in her car for two days because she was too scared to go back to her flat after being violently attacked by Michael Smith

Michael Smith, 38 (pictured) was sentenced to 12 months in prison for Adair's assault, which took place after drinking seven cans of strong lager

Smith violently beat Adair at a friend's house at the end of their eight-months relationship, before she managed tor run away.

It emerged he had drunk seven cans of strong lager in the run up to the attack and had a history of violence towards her.

In a statement Miss Adair, of Bury, Greater Manchester, who suffered severe bruising to her face in the attack, said: 'When I first provided a victim personal impact statement I was still in a relationship with Michael and I didn't want him to be sent to prison, I just wanted him to get help.

'Now I believe prison is the only place he will get the help he needs. I don't think he would attend any appointments outside prison. I am very scared that the next time I see Michael in the street he will beat me up.

'I have discussed a restraining order with the police and I would like one to be put in place. I want a restraining order to stop him going near me.

Adair (pictured) said she initially did not want Smith to be jailed, but has since then said he could only get the help he needed in prison

'My anxiety has increased and I do not want Michael to come anywhere near me or contact me or any of my friends. He knows where they live.'

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Smith, also of Bury, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 12 months. He was also barred from contacting her for five years under the terms of a restraining order.

Prosecutor Miss Chloe Fordham said: 'The defendant had been in a relationship with his girlfriend, Natasha Adair, for about eight months. During that time she had moved in with him in Bury.

'Mr Smith was an alcoholic and his behaviour was paranoid and aggressive when he had been drinking. He had been suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Prosecution explained during the trial that Smith as an alcoholic who exhibited violent, aggressive and paranoid behaviour when he drank (pictured: Adair)

'On 20 July 2019 Mr Smith was arrested for assaulting her. He appeared before the lower court and pleaded not guilty on 27 July.

'Magistrates granted him bail but he was told not to contact Miss Adair, but they did get back into contact and she moved back into his flat around four or five days later. She did not appear before magistrates to give evidence in relation to that charge.

'On 12 August Miss Adair had had enough of Mr Smith's aggressive behaviour and went to stay with friends. She had been there for a couple of hours before Mr Smith turned up.

'He had been drinking and carried on drinking around six or seven cans of strong lager. He became argumentative and begun an argument with them. He dragged her from the sofa by her knee and pulled her around the floor.

During a violent row in July 2019,, Smith started to kick Adait (pictured) in the head repeatedly. He punched her in the ribs and head, and she was unable to fight him off or calm him down

'He started to kick her in the head repeatedly. He punched her in the ribs and head, and she was unable to fight him off or calm him down. Her friends could not calm him down either.

'She managed to get out of the flat, but she was so scared that rather than return to the flat where the two of them had been living she slept in her car. Two days later, believing Mr Smith had gone to stay with a friend, she returned to the flat where she had been living prior to the assault.

'Police were called to the flat by neighbours. Police attended and saw injuries to her, and that was when she told them about the assault."

'She had a large bruise to her head and also to her scalp from where she had been dragged around. There were other bruises on the left hand side of her body and arm. There are aggravating features as the victim was forced to leave her home and slept in the car for several days.

The prosecution explained Smith had had previous convictions for violence, but not domestic violence (pictured, Adair)

'She had actually found him back at the house they had been sharing after she thought he had gone elsewhere.

'Alcohol is also an aggravating feature, and the defendant has previous convictions for violence but not domestic violence.'

The court heard Smith had previous convictions for Actual Bodiy Harm, Grievous bodily harm, criminal damage, common assault, assaulting a police officer, racial harassment matters and possession of a knife.

Defence barrister Hunter Gray said: 'They were in a short relationship and it is accepted that it is now over.'

Passing sentence, Judge Bernard Lever told Smith: 'Please do not go anywhere near Miss Adair or let her come anywhere near you. This was an unpleasant attack because you did push her to the ground and applied your foot to her face.

'This was a significant and quite serious assault. Ring the police if she comes near you, but your first reaction should be to run in the opposite direction.'
If you are waiting to watch a movie, the day this shutdown ends, think again. Government sources indicate that the shutdown may not just end on April 14 itself, as initially planned. PM Narendra Modi is believed to have told Chief Ministers that it is a long drawn battle.

In what can be seen as a confirmation of the same, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray from his Twitter account as Chief Minister, declared: "The Prime Minister said that the State Government should not lift the lockdown immediately from April 15 but it should happen in phases. Precautions should be taken that there is no crowding."





However, Thackeray didn't hint at a prolonged shutdown but suggested that there may be a phased, rather than an abrupt withdrawal.



Government sources told IANS that an abrupt withdrawal was never on the table. The efforts of social distancing for 21 days will go in vain, if trains and flights are allowed to function normally from the 22nd day after the pan-India shutdown was announced by PM Modi, insisted the source.



However, there is no clear assertion from the government, as of Thursday evening, to suggest that the full shutdown will be extended.



Government sources indicate that the situation was complicated ever since the Tabhlighi Jamaat congregation led to India seeing a steep rise in its coronavirus infections as well as fatality tally. The coming week will prove crucial on how successfully the contact tracing takes place across India and how well the ascending graph is arrested, the source said.



Meanwhile, Arunachal CM Pema Khandu said that lockdown will end on April 15, before deleting his tweet. After the Chief Ministers' teleconference, Khandu had tweeted: "Completion of lockdown will end on April 15 next. But it doesn't mean free will to move out on streets. We all must be responsible in slowing down. Lockdown and social distancing in(is) the only way to fight COVID19. PM @NarendraModi."



However, he soon deleted his tweet.



Prime Minister Modi said he will release a short video on Friday morning where through he will address fellow Indians. However, informed sources indicate the Prime Minister is unlikely to talk about what happens after the lockdown ends on the night of April 14.



PM Modi asked for suggestion from Chief Ministers in his video conference, on how to slowly rather than abruptly end this shutdown. This was the second such conference with CMs ever since the shutdown was announced. Chief Ministers will come back with their suggestions in the third such conference with the Prime Ministers, whose date is yet not fixed.



A government statement read: "Prime Minister said that it is important to formulate a common exit strategy to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once Lockdown ends. He asked the States to brainstorm and send suggestions for the exit strategy."



Either way, don't expect to drive your car to the nearest movie theatre or go for a dinner at a pizza joint on April 15.
The COVID-19 has led to shortage of hand sanitisers across the country. Shelves of all supermarkets with any product distinctly related to the word 'disinfectant' are wiped clean. The shortage has put health and safety personnel at a much greater risk who are still going out and about in times of lockdown.

To overcome the scarcity of hand sanitisers in the market, a Hyderabad-based International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous R&D Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, produced hand sanitisers for police in six hours.

A team of scientists, students, and staff voluntarily came forward to help produce 40 liters of sanitiser as per the WHO standards. Upon the direction of ARCI director G Padmanabham, sanitiser was prepared and handed over to Shri Sunpreet Singh, DCP, Rachakonda Commissionerate by ARCI's Senior Scientist R Vijay.

In addition to the police, the sanitiser was also shared with students of the institute who were to travel back to their hometowns.

It was also distributed among all the security staff, people working in the canteen, scientists, and also placed at common areas and entry gates.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police said that they are still short of sanitisers and would need more in the time to come. He thus requested for more quantity to provide for as many personnel as possible. The sanitiser was provided in 100 ml bottles, which the police personnel can easily carry with them in their pockets. Each bottle is likely to last for more than a week.

Several companies across different sectors over the last few weeks have started producing and selling hand sanitisers. Consumer goods firm Dabur and Cavincare launched their own brand of hand sanitisers. Liquor firm Jagatjit Industries supplied hand sanitisers to Punjab government as part of their CSR. DCM Shriram re-purposed its manufacturing facilities to make it conducive to produce sanitisers to supply to the government. Pharma company Jubiliant Life Sciences too realigned its facility to launch the formulation it got approved for hand sanitisers.

Last month, the government has listed hand sanitiser as an essential commodity to prevent people from hoarding the products, increasing their prices and ensuring their steady supply.

Also Read: Coronavirus: Maruti, Noida firm get nod to supply 10,000 ventilators

Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: India Inc.'s post 21-day lockdown plan

Also Read: Coronavirus impact: Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, UP stare at big fiscal hole
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday urged the WHO and the UN to act against China's wet markets, like the one where the deadly coronavirus is thought to have originated, as they pose "great risks" to the health and wellbeing of the rest of the world.

A wet market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan is believed to be the source of the coronavirus pandemic that began in December last year, crossing from animals to humans.

The number of cases from the virus has reached one million worldwide and more than 51,000 deaths have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.

Stating that China based "Wet markets were a very real and significant problem wherever they exist," Morrison in an interview to a channel on Thursday, said "this virus started in China and went round the world. And that's that's how it started."



"We all know that. And these wet markets can be a real problem when it comes to what can occur in those markets. And I think from a world health point of view, this is something the World Health Organisation should do something about. I mean, all this money that comes out of the UN and the World Health Organisation," Morrison said.

A wet market sells fresh meat, fish, produce, and other perishable goods as distinguished from "dry markets". It gets its name from the floors being constantly wet from the spraying of fresh produce and cleaning of meat and seafood stalls.

On Friday, during a media briefing on the health crisis, Morrison again reiterated his stance on global organisations to focus on such places and facilities stating that there was a "great risks to the health and wellbeing of the rest of world."



"I think this is a big challenge for the world..., the World Health Organisation and other international organisations I think it is an area they can spend a bit of time and attention on because we can clearly see the great risks to the health and wellbeing of the rest of the world as a result of these types of places and facilities," the Prime Minister said.

The US, the worst hit country from the virus, has reported more than 245,500 cases, with over 6,000 deaths followed by Italy, Spain and China.

As of Thursday, a total of 81,620 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,322 people had died of the disease.

Hubei's capital Wuhan, which bore the brunt of the vicious virus for over two months, would begin its air services from April 8.

China began to ease its lockdown of Hubei province, home for over 56 million people, from March 25 by resuming local transport services followed by relaxation of travel for people tested negative for coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
* Thailand imposes nationwide curfew to slow coronavirus spread * Indonesia up for second session By Arundhati Dutta April 3 (Reuters) - Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese stocks on Friday tracked Wall Street's gains as oil prices posted their biggest one-day surge, while the Singapore market fell on grim economic data from China. U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday on hopes for a truce in the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia and a cut in oil output, despite a surge in the number of Americans filing jobless claims due to coronavirus related shutdowns. However, no definitive agreement has been agreed upon by either side. "Any sense of optimism may be fragile at this point, particularly given increasing strains in the physical oil market (lack of oil storage capacity)," analysts at Maybank wrote in a note. The Thai index rose as much as 1.6%, with its prominent energy sector leading the gains. PTT Pcl and PTT Exploration and Production Pcl rose 8.9% and 7%, respectively. Thailand will impose a nationwide night curfew from Friday to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the prime minister said on Thursday. Shares in Vietnam climbed as much as 2%, with gains underpinned by financial and real estate stocks. Indonesian equities rose up to 1.3%, with materials sector as the top gainer. Petroleum company PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk climbed over 14%. On the downside, services activity in China - the region's biggest trading partner - shrank further in March after a month of public lockdowns and business closures while companies cut jobs at the fastest pace on record, a private survey showed on Friday. Singapore stocks shed over 1%, with large-caps Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd and Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd losing more than 2% each. Markets in Malaysia and the Philippines were also trading lower. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 03333 GMT STOCK MARKETS Change on the day Market Current Previous Pct Move close Singapore 2,434.59 2,453.03 -0.75 Bangkok 1,145.07 1,138.27 0.60 Manila 5,325.22 5,342.31 -0.32 Jakarta 4,577.555 4,531.685 1.01 Kuala Lumpur 1,328.37 1,330.9 -0.19 Ho Chi Minh 692.08 680.23 1.74 Change so far in 2020 Market Current End 2019 Pct Move Singapore 2,434.59 3,222.83 -24.46 Bangkok 1,145.07 1,579.84 -27.52 Manila 5,325.22 7,815.26 -31.86 Jakarta 4.577.555 6,299.54 -27.34 Kuala Lumpur 1,328.37 1,588.76 -16.39 Ho Chi Minh 692.08 960.99 -27.98 (Reporting by Arundhati Dutta; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)
What started as a catastrophe for China is shaping up to be a moment of strategic opportunity, a rare turning point in the flow of history. Suddenly, the protests in Hong Kong, carrying a mortal threat to political stability in the mainland, became a physical impossibility. More important, the pandemic set in motion a global competition, to contain the virus, for which China and the Chinese Communist Party seem uniquely prepared.

As the virus spread to the whole world, it became apparent that Western societies  Beijings true rivals  did not have the ability to quickly organize every citizen around a single goal. As opposed to China, which remains to a large extent a revolutionary society, their political systems were built for normal times. Chinese society is a mobilized army, which can quickly drop everything else and march in one direction.

Mao once said, Everything under heaven is in utter chaos, the situation is excellent. And so it seems at present, as seen from Beijing. Chinese diplomats stationed all over the world spend their time raising the stakes to a dangerous level. Following instructions from the very top, they have taken to the media to issue a challenge to America, to point out its failure, and to compare the chaos in American cities and hospitals with what they see as a singular success in stopping the epidemic in China.

Several commentators have suggested that China may be winning the coronavirus battle by stepping forward in providing medical help to affected countries, mostly in Europe, at a time when the United States is consumed with its own difficulties. This misses the point.

The cases have been multiplying where the medical equipment provided by Chinese companies and even the Chinese state turned out to be faulty, provoking justified ire in, for example, Spain, the Netherlands, and Turkey. Moreover, medical help is a normal occurrence in a crisis. China has done nothing different, except perhaps in the clumsy way it publicizes those efforts.

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Forget about mask diplomacy. It is no more than a distraction. There are other ways for China to use the coronavirus pandemic to upturn the existing global order. I see three main levers.

The first one is the direct comparison between the situation in China and elsewhere. The numbers of cases and fatalities provided by Chinese authorities almost certainly misrepresent the real figures by more than an order of magnitude, but the fact remains that a semblance of normalcy was achieved in a small period of time. If the United States fails to do the same, its prestige will suffer a severe blow. People all over the world will quickly change their perceptions about relative power and capacity.

The second lever resides with industrial value chains. Last month General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler closed all their automotive production plants across the United States and Canada. Other sectors have followed. In the meantime, China contained the worst of the pandemic to one province, allowing economic activity to quickly resume elsewhere. The most recent data show renewed activity in the flow of goods across the country, as well as at ports worldwide that do business with China. If the freeze in Europe and America continues for much longer, Chinese companies will be able to dramatically expand market share and replace Western-led value chains. Just yesterday Chinese authorities announced that manufacturing activity expanded in March, defying expectations of a contraction. In February the official Purchasing Managers Index hit a record low of 35.7. It bounced back to 52.0 in March. Prepare for a worldwide wave of Chinese acquisitions at knockdown prices.

Finally, in a more extreme scenario, important countries could experience the kind of economic shock that leads to widespread social and political collapse. At that point, China would have a unique opportunity to step in, provide aid, and refashion these countries in its image. It would look like a repeat of the Marshall Plan and the beginning of the American world order after the ravages of World War II. Indonesia, South Asia, and even Russia might be of special interest in such a scenario.

We knew that a generalized race or competition between alternative geopolitical models had started, but it was never clear what the background for such a competition would be. If the clash took place within the existing global trade and financial system, which was of course built according to Western rules and principles, the United States was confident the battle could be decisively won. But what if it took place on neutral ground? What if it took place in a kind of neutral landscape, a state of nature with few or no rules, against a chaotic and quickly evolving background? The outcome would become considerably more uncertain.

To put it more bluntly: There was always an argument that the existing world order cannot change because only a momentous war has done that in the past and world wars have become impossible. But in pandemics  and soon in climate change  we may have found two functional equivalents of war.

More from National Review
Stephanie Jacques was on Martin Luther King Drive, walking home from her aunts home with food Wednesday night when shots rang out. Moments later, she was on the ground, bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound to the thigh, said Sandra Alexandre, her mother,

The 17-year-old was rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center, treated and released, even though she felt light-headed, her mother told The Jersey Journal through tears Thursday evening.

Thursday morning she collapsed at home and was again rushed to the JCMC, where she was pronounced dead 15 hours after being shot in a drive-by shooting.

The doctor told her (Wednesday night) that people survive being shot and they sent her home," Alexandre said, adding that believes Stephanie lost a lot of blood in the shooting.

Stephanies mom and her aunt, Rose Alexandre said Stephanie woke up Thursday morning and went to the bathroom, again feeling light-headed.

She collapsed in he moms arms and died," Rose Alexandre said. The two women believe the 17-year-old died right there. They questioned why she was sent home from the JCMC the previous night.

A spokeswoman for the Jersey City Medical Center declined to comment, citing the hospitals policy not discussing patients treatments.

Stephanie was one of two people shot on MLK Drive between Oak and Forrest streets just before 8 p.m. Wednesday night, and the Alexandre sisters say she could not have been the intended target.

An 18-year-old man was also shot in the lower body, police said. Sandra Alexandre said they were not together and it was merely coincidence that the two were walking on the same side the street, almost a block apart.

The Hudson County Prosecutors Office has provided limited details on the shootings, nor a possible motive. According to police radio transmissions, the shooter or shooters fled and ditched the guns on Linden Avenue.

Stephanies mother called her a beautiful person, always laughing.

The two broke into tears when reminded that today, April 3, would have been Stephanies 18th birthday.

Her aunt called Stephanie a happy little girl. She loved her family. No matter who was having a bad day, she would put a smile on their face."

The 17-year-old was attending school at night to earn her GED, family members said.
The Yankees have set up a $1.4-million fund to help stadium workers deal with problems arising from the coronavirus pandemic, the team said in a statement on Thursday.

The fund, which the Yankees called needs-based, was created to help workers who cant come up with the money for personal, family, living or funeral expenses that were are result of the COVID-19 disaster.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Yankee Stadium was supposed to host the Yankees home opener Thursday. The major-league season was set to begin March 26. For the Yankees, that would have been in Baltimore. But MLB has pushed Opening Day back at least eight weeks from its scheduled March 26 start, following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cancel gatherings of 50 or more people.

That means no work for stadium employees.

Our hope is that these grants will provide a degree of assistance for those game day staff members impacted by the crisis, the statement said, even though we recognize that the vast array of personal needs during this unprecedented time cannot be completely satisfied by these measures.

On March 17, MLB said all 30 teams would donate at least $1 million to out-of-work stadium employees. A Yankees spokesman said the $1.4 million is comprised of that million, plus another $400,000.

Two Yankees minor leaguers tested positive for the coronavirus, but both players have recovered, manager Aaron Boone has said. The Yankees also asked all their minor leaguers to self-quarantine for 14 days following the first players positive test.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.
By Stanley White

TOKYO, April 3 (Reuters) - Japanese shares ended flat on Friday helped by health care and energy firms, but investors refrained from aggressive bets ahead of U.S. unemployment data later in the day.

The Nikkei index ended up 0.01% at 17,820.19 in a subdued session that saw shares bounce between gains and losses. For the week, the index was down 8.1% as fear about the economic costs of the coronavirus hurt global equity markets.

Investors sought shares of health care companies that are expected to make a profit as researchers race to find medicines to treat the global coronavirus epidemic.

Some oil producers and industrial firms also got a boost on hopes a truce among major oil producers will relieve some of the massive oversupply in the energy market.

Despite the gains on Friday, the Nikkei fell 8% this week as fear about the economic costs of the coronavirus hurt global equity markets.

Investors are now looking to Friday's U.S. non-farm payrolls report for March, which is expected to show the world's largest economy lost 100,000 jobs as companies quickly jettisoned workers in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are waiting for non-farm payrolls, but a lot of bad news has already been priced in so it's hard to say how much markets will react," said Ayako Sera, market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank in Tokyo.

"Japan also has its own problem with the virus. If the government declares a state of emergency, that would be bad for Japanese stocks."

Draconian restrictions on personal movement aimed at curbing the spread of the flu-like virus are widely expected to throw the global economy into recession.

Infections in Japan have been rising recently, and some investors worry the government will declare a state of emergency, which would weigh on an already stuttering economy.

There were 80 advancers on the Nikkei index against 142 decliners on Friday.

The largest percentage gainers in the index were chemicals maker Denka Co Ltd up 24.03%, followed by medical products and devices maker Fujifilm Holdings Corp gaining 6.25%, and parcel delivery firm Yamato Holdings Co Ltd up by 4.44%.

Fujifilm said on Friday a subsidiary of the company will release a new coronavirus testing kit on April 15 that can shorten the time to deliver results to around two hours.

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Fujifilm has also begun clinical trials of its antiviral drug Avigan as a potential treatment of coronavirus symptoms. Denka Co will supply the raw chemicals used to make Avigan.

The largest percentage losses in the index were auto maker Subaru Corp down 8.22%, followed by department store operators J.Front Retailing Co Ltd losing 7.75% and Marui Group Co Ltd down by 5.83%.

The broader TOPIX index fell 0.36% to 1,325.13 on Friday. For the week the TOPIX was down 9.2%.

The volume of shares traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's main board was 1.5 billion, compared to the average of 2.09 billion in the past 30 days.

U.S. data on Thursday showed initial claims for unemployment benefits rose to a record 6.65 million in the latest week from an unrevised 3.3 million the previous week.

Dismal manufacturing data from around the globe has dented sentiment this week.

With global coronavirus infections now crossing the 1 million mark, a return to business as usual in the near term seems unlikely, with economic activity likely to contract further. (Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
There is a popular phrase among people with disabilities across the United States: nothing about us without us. As the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act approaches in July, a spate of new and forthcoming titles suggests that this idea may be taking hold in the publishing industry.

In Being Heumann (Beacon, out now), disability civil rights leader Judith Heumann vividly describes how disability rights activists fought for changes that were resisted by many but are common sense today, including curb cuts, elevator regulations, and universal special education. Born in Brooklyn in 1949, Heumann contracted polio as a child and has used a wheelchair since. In the 70s, she led a major sit-inthe subject of the newly released Netflix documentary Crip Campthat paved the way for the ADA, and she later rose to positions of prominence, serving as a U.S. assistant secretary for education and later in the State Department as the first special advisor for international disability rights.

What she hadnt done was write a book. People for years have been telling me to write a book, Heumann said. I never thought that would happen. Im a good storyteller, but Im not a confident writer.

In 2018, Heumann was connected with writer Kristen Joiner and the two came up with a process. Joiner interviewed Heumann every weekend for two months while conducting extensive primary source research that she brought back and used to interview Heumann further, but first Joiner had to confront her own ableist views.

I dismissed the project, said Joiner, who initially found Heumanns story uncompelling. But then Joiner reflected on how her dismissal was akin to the excuses people use to defend casual racism and sexism. Because we dont hear or see stories in the media about disabled people as agents of change, and love, and deepening our understanding of society, but instead as pity stories, we unconsciously absorb this message that the universal themes of a disabled persons story would not apply to all of us, she said. I think thats ableism.

Joiner recognized that the existing material on Heumanns work had downplayed her achievements, which was a reflection of the wider ableism that writing the book could help address. She recognized that, we read Martin Luther King Jr. because we know were going to read about universal themes, societal change, and what it means to be human, and that was Judys story, too. It just had to be told differently. This realization led Joiner to revisit the book idea, and then to her co-authorship of the book.

The result is a work that is being considered for film deals, and major acclaim for Heumann, who made an appearance in early March on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Heumann said more is needed. There are more books that are coming out [about people with disabilities], there is more attention being paid, but I think in reality we should be much further than we are today. She also wants to see greater representation of a diverse spectrum of people with disabilities working in the publishing industry.

That diversity is the underpinning of the 37 personal accounts in Alice Wongs anthology Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the 21st Century (Vintage, June). Wong, the founder of the Disability Visibility Project and a cofounder of the voting rights movement #CripTheVote, was born with a neuromuscular disability and has made it a mission to connect the diverse voices of disabled people who appear in the anthology and project them into public conversation.

At the heart of it, I am a fan of disabled writers and culture, said Wong, who had to learn the process of working with a major publishing house while working with each of the contributors to meet deadlines. As a newbie, I learned a lot of terms in the publishing world, the process of creating a book, and the different roles and responsibilities of all people involved in this project.

Wong said the finished work is a glimpse into the complexity and diversity of the disability experience. Each piece I selected is powerful, personal, and political. Im very careful to describe this book as a small sample of the current disability experience thats not meant to represent all disabilities or give a basic 101 about what its like to live with a disability.

While Heumann and Wong are reaching out to people where they are, students come to study with Jaipreet Virdi, an assistant professor at the University of Delaware. Virdi, who is deaf, is a historian of medicine, technology, and disability. Part memoir, part historical monograph, Virdis Hearing Happiness: Deafness Cures in History (Univ. of Chicago, Sept.) breaks the mold for academic press publications.

I had this moment when I returned after spending weeks at the archives sorting through materials to find stories of deaf people, Virdi said, where I came across a folder containing my childhood medical records and results from the hearing tests. That moment was quite emotional, because it was the first time that I saw myselfand my storyas part of this intertwined history of deafness. It occurred to me that I couldnt write this history without putting myself in it as well. There was no way to tell this story about deafness without revealing my own.

The process of writing the book was difficult for the academically trained author, but Virdi settled on a story in which her own experience guides readers through generations of attempts to cure deafness, from ear trumpets to CRISPR genetic editing technologyan idea whose premise of normal and defective she dismantles. About 20% of Americans, roughly some 48 million people, have some degree of hearing loss, she said. This persistent need to fix and cure is part of the long history of stigma against deafness that oppresses individual freedom.

In More Alike Than Different: My Life and Lessons for Everyone (Prometheus, July), activist, writer, and athlete David Egan describes a life forged in making the most of personal freedom that people with the authors disability did not previously have. The book, the publisher claims, is the first major published work by an author with Down syndrome, and Egan, age 42, begins by describing the outlook for people like him when he was born compared with the outlook today. The differences in life expectancy and autonomy are stark, and poring over years of speeches he has given as a disability rights advocate to write the book with his mother, Kathleen Egan, Egan could see his own role in those advances, whether as a competitive swimmer or a Joseph P. Kennedy Fellow walking the halls of Congress.

I belong to the first generation of people with Down syndrome to break free from the institutions that robbed us of our potential for productive lives, Egan told a gathering of Prometheus sales reps at a recent conference. He can now look back on a lifetime of making the most of his own potentiala fact that he reminded his publishers sales reps of. People with disabilities do not want or need pity. What we need, most of all, is to be accepted for who we are and given an opportunity to succeed like anyone else.

The authors say that until publishers acquire more books like theirs, the opportunity to succeed will be denied to too many, at the expense of writers and readers alike. Soliciting more books by disabled writers wont address the way disabled writers are perceived from the industrys nondisabled lens on whats compelling or marketable,  Wong said. Publishers need to create professional opportunities for disabled people who want to break into the industryespecially editors. When we have more people willing and open to identifying as disabled in publishing, we will see a lot more fantastic work by disabled writers. This is long overdue.

This article has been updated.
A Venezuelan warship sank after a disastrous attempt to ram a German-owned cruise ship in the Caribbean Sea, it is alleged.

The crew of the cruise liner RGCS Resolute say the Venezuelan patrol boat fired gunshots and 'purposely collided' with the vessel after ordering it to sail towards Venezuela.

However, the Resolute is equipped with a strengthened hull for ice expeditions and the collision caused far greater damage to the navy boat Naiguata.

Venezuela's defence ministry - which blames the cruise ship for the collision - did not say that the Naiguata sank, but widespread reports say that it did.

The Venezuelan military patrol boat Naiguata (pictured) allegedly sank after a disastrous attempt to ram a cruise ship in international waters

The RCGS Resolute, which is equipped with a strengthened hull for ice expeditions, suffered only minor damage in the collision (pictured)

This map shows where the collision between cruise liner and military patrol boat took place off the coast of Venezuela

Venezuela's autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro has already raged about 'piracy and terrorism' after the disputed collision on Monday, Spanish-speaking media says.

'It is as if a 100-kilo boxer grabbed a boy apprentice boxer and beat him,' Maduro said, claiming that the cruise ship had been the aggressor.

The Resolute sails under the Portuguese flag but is managed by the German-based company Columbia Cruise Services. Some reports have linked the collision to a recent diplomatic row between Venezuela and Portugal.

A statement from Columbia said the cruise ship was 'subject to an act of aggression by the Venezuelan navy in international waters'.

The cruise ship, which was carrying 32 crew and no passengers, was idling during maintenance on its way to the Dutch-owned island of Curacao, Columbia says.

Shortly after midnight, the ship was approached by the patrol boat Naiguata which allegedly ordered it to sail for a Venezuelan island, Isla de Margarita.

Then, 'gun shots were fired and, shortly thereafter, the navy vessel approached the starboard side at speed and purposely collided with the RCGS Resolute', Columbia says.

'The navy vessel continued to ram the starboard bow in an apparent attempt to turn the ship's head towards Venezuelan territorial waters,' it is alleged.

The crew of the Resolute (pictured) say the ship was idling in the Caribbean Sea on its way to the Dutch-owned island of Curacao

The crew of the RCGS Resolute (file photo) say they were shot at and rammed by the Venezuelan patrol boat in the Caribbean Sea

'While the Resolute sustained minor damages, not affecting vessel's seaworthiness, it occurs that the navy vessel suffered severe damages while making contact with the ice-strengthened bulbous bow of the ice-class expedition cruise vessel Resolute and started to take water,' Columbia says.

'Ready to support anytime, the Resolute remained for over one hour in vicinity of the scene and reached out to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre [in] Curacao.

'This is an international body which oversees any maritime emergencies. All attempts to contact those on board the navy ship have been left unanswered.

'Only after receiving the order to resume passage full ahead by the MRCC and that further assistance is not required, the Resolute, currently safely moored in the port of Willemstad, continued sailing towards her destination at Curacao.

'A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident will now be carried out.'

Venezuela's defence ministry disputes this account, alleging that the cruise ship had caused the collision.

Officials in Caracas say the crew of the patrol boat were rescued, acknowledging that the Naiguata suffered 'damage of great magnitude' without saying that it sank.

Venezuela's autocratic president Nicolas Maduro (pictured at the microphone) has raged about 'terrorism and piracy' after the disputed collision

The Venezuelan statement says the Naiguata 'was undergoing a maritime traffic control procedure' at the time.

'The action of the ship Resolute is considered cowardly and criminal, since it did not attend the rescue of the crew, in breach of international regulations that regulate the rescue of life at sea, the defence ministry claims.

'Our immediate search and rescue work, together with the professional and courageous performance of our personnel, allowed the full rescue of the crew.'

Venezuela promised it would 'undertake the corresponding legal actions' after the collision.

Some reports have linked the clash to a recent dispute between Venezuela and Portugal which led to Portuguese airline TAP being banned from the country.

Venezuela accused the carrier of allowing opposition leader Juan Guaido's uncle to bring explosives on a flight to Caracas.

Guadio claimed the title of interim president last year and was backed by many Western countries, but Maduro remains in effective charge.

Portugal's foreign minister said it was 'not an incident between states' but has offered to help investigate, Portuguese media says.
For the past nine days, the number one show on Netflix Australia has been Tiger King, a seven-part documentary series about private zoos, the illegal trade in wildcats, drugs, polygamy, suspected murder and assassination plots.

Last weekend, it was the most searched-for topic on Google in Australia. Right now, it's also top of the Netflix charts in New Zealand, the US, the UK, Canada and the Scandinavian territories. Clearly, a show about caged tigers is exactly what a world in captivity wants to watch right now.

The Netflix series Tiger King, starring Joe Exotic, has become a global sensation. Credit:Netflix

But not everyone is enamoured of Tiger King, with one reviewer likening it to a freak show, and others pointing to the fact that for all its revelations, the series from co-directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin leaves much unsaid.

The star attraction of the show is Oklahoma private zoo owner Joe Exotic. And no, that's not his real name. It's Joe Schreibvogel. Or it was until he changed it to Joe Maldonado, in tribute to a deceased former husband. After which he changed it again, to Joe Maldonado-Passage, in honour of the young man who next came to occupy a central place in his affections.
Lake Charles, Louisiana--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2020) - Halberd Corporation (OTC Pink: HALB) announces that James Christopher LeDoux is the new CEO.

Mr. LeDoux explains that "Halberd is now current in its filings with the Colorado Secretary of State. The Colorado state filings include, as a prophylactic measure to assure a smooth transition to its new endeavor, a holding company reorganization. As such, Halberd Corporation as it is currently constituted, is the successor issuer, has a clean slate, is debt-free, with a subsidiary, Alaric Corporation, which is the former public company issuer, often called the predecessor issuer."

He went on to assure that the Company has commenced the process to become current in its reporting obligations to OTCMarkets.

Mr. LeDoux further stated, "These initial measures will enable Halberd to proceed with its pending transactions which we intend to announce within the next several days."

Safe Harbor Statement: This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include any that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "estimate", "project", "intend", "forecast", "anticipate", "plan", "planning", "expect", "believe", "likely", "should", "could", "would", "may" or similar words or expressions. Such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results and financial position to differ materially from those in such statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Company's ability to grow. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted and any reported should not be considered an indication of future performance. Potential risks and uncertainties include the Company's operating history and resources, economic, competitive, and equity market conditions.

James Christopher LeDoux, CEO

Halberd Corporation

Email Contact: support@halberdcorporation.com

https://www.halberdcorporation.com

Twitter: @HalberdC

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54110
The U.S. State Department said the United States had agreed to purchase medical supplies from Russia, but it made no mention of any company nor regarding sanctions.

Ventilators delivered by Russia to the United States to help treat patients of the new coronavirus were manufactured by a Russian company that is under U.S. sanctions, Russia's RBC business daily reported on Friday.

A Russian military plane carrying the ventilators landed in New York on Wednesday after U.S. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone, Reuters said.

Russian state television footage of the plane's unloading showed boxes of "Aventa-M" ventilators, which are produced by the Ural Instrument Engineering Plant (UPZ) in the city of Chelyabinsk, 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Moscow, RBC reported.

Read alsoU.S. imposes sanctions on another two Russian companies

UPZ is part of a holding company called Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET), which itself is a unit of Russian state conglomerate Rostec.

KRET has been under U.S. sanctions since July 2014, with U.S. firms and nationals barred from doing business with it.

In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said the United States had agreed to purchase medical supplies from Russia, but it made no mention of any company nor regarding sanctions.

"Both countries have provided humanitarian assistance to each other in times of crisis in the past and will no doubt do so again in the future. This is a time to work together to overcome a common enemy that threatens the lives of all of us," said the statement, issued by State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus.

U.S. officials in Washington could not immediately be reached for further comment on Friday. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said it had nothing to add beyond what Ortagus had already said.

The United States initially began imposing economic sanctions on Russia in 2014 to punish it for its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its support for Russian-controlled forces in eastern Ukraine.

Additional rounds of sanctions have since been imposed on Moscow in response to its alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections and alleged involvement in the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal in Britain in 2018. Moscow denies both allegations.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed surprise and disappointment that anyone was questioning what Moscow has cast as a sincere goodwill gesture meant to help the United States at a time of crisis.

"Aren't ventilators needed in the United States?," she said, saying Russia could take them back if they were not wanted.

Trump on Thursday described the Russian shipment as containing "a lot of medical, high-quality stuff" which could save a lot of lives and said he'd "take it every day" if he had the opportunity.

Russia's sovereign wealth fund, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which said it had paid for half the shipment of medical equipment to the United States, was also added to U.S. sectoral sanctions in 2015.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow had paid half the cost with the other half picked up by Washington, though a Trump administration official later said the United States had picked up the whole tab.

RDIF declined to comment.

Rostec, the state conglomerate which ultimately owns the Russian ventilator plant, told Reuters that its units were producing ventilators for the domestic market as part of the Russian government's measures to fight the virus.

The decision to ship its products internationally was the prerogative of the Russian president and government, it said.
UPDATE: Expecting in Pa. from out of state? Expect different visitor policies at different hospitals.

On top of the coronavirus fears gripping the nation, this week was particularly rough for Kelly and Mike MacDonough.

Tuesday, the Blairstown Township couple had to put down their dog of 14 years, Chester. The next day, an appointment at Kelly's obstetrician/gynecologist led to a hospital visit because of a high blood pressure reading.

That's where the couple was handed the updated visitor policy for St. Luke's University Health Network.

As a resident of New Jersey, part of a tri-state area under a federal travel advisory due to COVID-19, Mike wont be able to be present for the birth of the couples first child. Shes due April 20 and lined up for delivery at the St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township.

Obviously she wants me to be there, Mike told lehighvalleylive.com on Friday. "I want to be there. Im the father, Im her husband.

"Ultimately she's going to end up being alone unless this can be changed somehow," he said.

St. Lukes on its website says the policy took effect Monday, March 30. Expectant mothers are permitted one visitor for their entire stay, and until further notice visitors from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will not be allowed into the Labor and Delivery units.

Lehigh Valley Health Network last Sunday updated its visitor policy with similar, temporary regulations. Both policies are based on a Domestic Travel Advisory issued last Saturday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the three states. Combined, New York (90,279 cases), New Jersey (25,590) and Connecticut (3,824) have half of the nations 239,279 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the CDC as of Friday.

Warren County Freeholder James Kern III argues an exception should be made for residents like the MacDonoughs. The county-by-county caseload released Friday by Gov. Phil Murphy shows 149 cases of the coronavirus illness in Warren, well below the hardest hit counties like Bergen (4,866 cases).

Hospitals in Phillipsburg and Hackettstown don't offer labor and delivery, Kern noted. Neighboring Sussex and Hunterdon counties, on the other hand, do have hospitals with maternity centers.

Then there is the argument that Warren County is already part of the Lehigh Valley, since it's included with Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Metropolitan Statistical Area, Kern said.

"I understand that they've made this guidance based off of the CDC ruling that came down earlier in the week, but I'm kind of hoping that they can look at this a little more broadly and see that not all parts of New Jersey are experiencing the same kind of outbreak," Kern said Friday. "If a hospital were to say, 'We don't want anyone in the delivery room,' that's a different conversation, but if it's making decisions based on state boundaries, that's where I have a problem. I think that's discrimination."

Lehigh Valley Health Network spokesman Brian Downs on Friday said the policy is designed "to help protect the health and safety of our patients and health care providers.

We implemented the overall visitation policy with St. Lukes earlier this month and the Family Birth and Newborn policy with them earlier this week," he continued.

This is Kelly MacDoughs first child -- shes expecting a boy -- while Mike MacDonough has two children in their 20s from a previous marriage. The couple chose St. Lukes for its childbirth reputation, noting Lehigh Valley Health Network did not accept their insurance. The Anderson Campus is about 40-45 minutes from home, and theyve already toured the Women & Babies Pavilion that opened in January on the campus off Route 33.

At nearly 38 weeks, Kelly can't switch doctors, who won't take on a new patient after 32 weeks, Mike said. His options are to drop Kelly off and head home, hoping all goes smoothly, or to wait until she goes into labor and take her to a New Jersey emergency room.

"We really don't want to go that route," Mike said. "We feel like St. Luke's is an excellent hospital."

Both the MacDonoughs and Kern said they appreciate the difficult decisions hospitals like St. Luke's and Lehigh Valley are having to make amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic crisis. And they are thankful for the dedication of the medical professionals continuing to do their jobs as cases of those infected strain the health care system and pose a threat to their own safety and that of their families.

For expectant parents, bringing a child into this situation is frightening enough.

Its definitely been tough on top of that, Mike said.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Sunny Isles, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/03/2020 -- An important part of today's ecosystem, organic coffee farms provide a safe and secure habitat for many species of insects and birds and have proven to have a vital socioeconomic impact on local economies and communities. But with the mass production of coffee and technological advancements in growing methods, organic coffee farms in Colombia continue to be threatened every day.



Through this Kickstarter, backers will support the purchase of a small Colombian coffee plantation, with an estimated 12,500 coffee trees from Castillo, and a lifelong investment in a local Colombian community. A purchase of the coffee farm, farm machinery, and coffee products, backers will play a vital role in employing dozens of Colombians and promoting sustainable farming practices.



With plans to build a make-shift school on the plantation, local teachers will provide education to the children of plantation workers. In all, the combined project will improve access to education, increase incomes, and improve working conditions using centuries of coffee growing knowledge to develop and utilize eco-friendly methods of growing and harvesting.



In addition to farming coffee, beans onsite will be roasted and exported to the United States, with unroasted beans being exported to the coffee roasters in North America and Europe. Upon the success of this local model works, similar operating processes will be employed in different locations across Colombia and the world.



With harvesting season approaching in June 2020, do not miss your chance to support this important cause. The Kickstarter campaign is located on the web at:



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ast25/drink-the-sustainable-organic-coffee-handmade-for-you



Supporters around the world can support this local coffee farm model by making generous pledges and contributions via Kickstarter. Pledges start at as little as $10. But for a pledge of $25 or more, unlock other rewards as a token of your support, including hand-roasted coffee from the plantation. Some rewards are limited, so do act fast. More information is available on the Kickstarter campaign page.



About sustainable coffee farming

Organized by Ana Sofia Tabares from Miami, Florida, this 20-year-old Columbian/Italian social entrepreneur is pursuing two dreams: farming coffee and improving people's lives. Destined to support local communities, economies, and sustainable coffee farming practices, Ana Sofia Tabares' project is the perfect combination of two childhood dreams.



Contact:



Contact Person: Ana Sofia Tabares

Company: AST

City: Sunny Isles

State: Florida

Country: United States

Email: tero.taskila@gmail.com

Website: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ast25/drink-the-sustainable-organic-coffee-handmade-for-you
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, has condemned the killing of innocent lives in Warri, Delta State by sol...

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, has condemned the killing of innocent lives in Warri, Delta State by soldiers.





The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa had ordered people of the state to stay at home in a bid to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in the state.





Following the order, a task Force team was deployed across the state to enforce the stay-at-home order.





But a video had emerged online of soldiers deployed to enforce the lockdown order in the state of killing a young man identified as Joseph Pessu in Warri.

Pessu was shot dead around Ada-Val Areyenka junction in Ugbuwangue community in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.





However, Keyamo in a statement he personally signed vowed to forward a petition to relevant authorities to investigate the killing of Pessu and ensure that the officer or officers involved are made to face the wrath of the law.





In the statement titled: I condemn the killing of innocent live(s) in Warri by soldiers enforcing COVID-19 lockdown, the Minister described the killing as barbaric.





It reads: I have received disturbing reports and images of the high-handedness and shooting of innocent citizens by men of the armed forces deployed to enforce the COVID-19 lockdown in my State, Delta State.





Specifically, I have received reports of the killing of an innocent young man, Mr. Joseph Pessu in Warri. I unreservedly condemn this barbaric act by men of the armed forces who should exercise restraint when dealing with the civilian populace.





I will be forwarding a petition to the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this murder and bring the officer(s) to book. In the interim, let us not take the laws into our hands, please.





The Minister urged people of the state to be law-abiding and respect the restrictions imposed by the state government.





I will also use this medium to sincerely appeal to my brothers and sisters in Delta State to be law-abiding and obey the orders of restrictions imposed by both the Delta State Government and the Federal Government. They are lawful orders, and they are for our own good.





Images and reports of attack on law-enforcement agents by the civilian populace do not help our cause.





I call on all and sundry in the entire country too to exercise the utmost restraint at this point, he added.




YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. Within the frames of consultations with international partners on issues relating to fighting the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian this time had a video talk with James Zhan, Director of Investment and Enterprise at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

President Sarkissian highlighted the role of UNCTAD on assessing the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on global economic processes and highly valued the structures analysis on the impact of the pandemic on the global economy.

The Armenian President remembered their meeting in August 2019 when he proposed the structure to conduct the analysis in the report on Armenias investment policy in the context of global challenges and opportunities. Mr. Sarkissian said today his proposal is more than relevant as the COVID-19 pandemic is perhaps the main challenge facing the global economy.

Sarkissian also said it would be very important and valuable for Armenia if the structure updates the report on the country, also including the impact of the pandemic on the economy, its possible consequences and proposals for overcoming them.

James Zhan agreed with the Armenian President in terms of expanding the international cooperation for overcoming the economic consequences of the novel coronavirus. He asked President Sarkissian, as also Chair of the UNCTAD Panel of Eminent Persons, to organize consultations with the members of the group to exchange experience and information on the matter.

Mr. Zhan expressed readiness to update the report about Armenia as soon as possible. An agreement was reached that consultations with the Armenian President will continue also in the next weeks.

Back in October 2018 President Armen Sarkissian met with UNCTAD Secretary General Mukhisa Kituyi in Geneva during which they agreed that the structure will prepare a report about Armenias investment policy. The report was prepared and submitted for the Armenian governments discussion in September 2019.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. UNCTAD is the part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
It's not only factories that can't retool overnight to meet the COVID-19 pandemic. Our brains can't, either. The way we think and the things we think about follow patterns that are capable of evolution and change - just not that fast.

You can see this phenomenon all around you right now: whatever we cared about before, we're now using as our lens to think about the novel coronavirus. And subject matter experts, the people we need most in a crisis, are also the most likely to keep thinking as they have, because their thinking is so strongly shaped (or deformed) by professional training and strong collective values.

I could give you lots of examples. If you usually think about workplace diversity, now you're likely to be focused on the disparate impacts of the virus on workers based on sex, race and class. If you're focused on reforming incarceration, you're probably among those warning of the pandemic's impact on the prison population.

But perhaps the most important two examples of experts following their training and beliefs are the two disciplines whose knowledge is most central to the current crisis: epidemiologists and economists.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below."

Everything about this story is so L.A. For starters, at this very moment, Sarah Hyland is working on her gratitudes. Were even having dinner at Cafe Gratitude, a plant-based restaurant with unironically named menu items like Thriving (broccoli soup) and Pure (Asian kale and seaweed salad).

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Sarah orders both, then finishes a story about her energy healer, who, technically, is Lucy Hales energy healer, who Sarah started seeing last summer to rebalance her vibrational levels. At this experts direction, Sarah now wakes up each morning and says things like I put myself first and Im grateful to have two legs to walk on to any vibes listening.

She knows that what she says next (and also that thing she literally just said) (and also what she just ordered) might make you think shes crazy-hippie-dippie, buuut the energy healer told her that her sacral chakra is broken, so she sort of has to put her focus here.

Your heart chakra, Ive never seen so many barriers and chains around it, quotes Sarah. Your self-love is so depleted. Your energy could be so much higher than it is right now.



Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Theres also this: As of April 8, Sarah Hyland is officially An Out-of-Work Actor. For more than a decade, she played Haley Dunphy, the wry, spacey elder daughter of Phil and Claire, on one of TVs biggest sitcoms. It was the rare network show that became part of the zeitgeisteveryone you know has watched Modern Family at some pointmaking the fact that its over kind of a huge fucking deal.



Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Sarahs not freaking out about it. Maybe because shes kind of in denial. (I dont think Im processing, she says. I havent really felt the sadness yet.) Or maybe because complex feels tend not to bubble to the surface in this industry literally built on first impressions. Maybe theres too much judgy-ness in the air to make it safe to open up to a stranger with a voice recorder. Maybe its just too sunny.



Story continues





Or maybe its because Sarahs character didnt get the ending she deserved. Watch the final season, youll see: Haley suddenly has less screen time. It all came as a surprise and disappointment, tbh. Sarah wishes audiences couldve seen Haley own her badassery in the fashion worldbecoming a badass stylist or brand mogul or anything like that.

Instead, they got a new mom of twins. No offense to moms, of course: There are so many amazing mothers who are also hard workers and excel at their jobs and kill it every day in both aspects, Sarah explains. That would have been a really cool thing to see, especially from someone like Haley.



Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Listen, behind-the-scenes tension between cast and crew is as Hollywood as Lucy Hales energy healer, but Sarahs not one to dwell on what might have been. She wasnt a writer or producer on the show, she tells me about three times with a matter-of-fact tone, a shrug, and a bite of salad.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Shes also not really prone to the between-gigs anxiety that plagues her peers. This is just the way it is, you know? The thing as an actor, she says, is its like, Will I have a job tomorrow? With Modern Family ending, its like, Oh, great. Im never going to work again. Im going to have to sell everything and live out of a shoebox.

Sarahs chill might come from the fact that shes been there before: She and her family used to live together in a 300-square-foot New York City apartment with a bathtub in the kitchen.

Her dad had to travel the country to do any type of regional theater to put food on the table, she says. Today, hes playing Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. The Gringotts vault is full.



Staying grounded is all relative when you earned six figures per episode on your sitcoms final season. (For the record: Its reported that Sarah got more than $100,000 per episode. There were 18 episodes, so yeah.) Still, she likes to shop at Urban Outfitters, where she bought the red snakeskin-print button-up shes wearing to dinner. She says she actually finds Urbans prices too expensive sometimeswhich, relatable. Shes also carrying a Dior saddle bag, which is less relatable, but buying it was a whole event. She was in Paris to film an episode of Modern Family: I was like, I cant go to Paris and not buy something. I never buy myself anything expensive.



To wit, she doesnt really think about crafting a Sarah Hyland brand, not even on social media, because she cant help but be herself. What you see is what you get, she says, but literally, and what you see is most likely a really annoying, loud, opinionated, brash, most-of-the-time-disgusting human creature.



Then again, this is L.A., and this is an L.A. story, and so the heroine does glam herself up from time to time, and the heroine does have plans to beef up her IMDb and solidify her status as an industry fixture. Shes got her eye on producing. She wants to act in dramatic roles, movie musicals, period pieces. I want to wear a corset, she says. I want to not be able to breathe.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

There was a time when Sarahs health issueskidney dysplasia, endometriosis, and a herniamight have held her back from this booked-solid future. Or at least made her feel like she had to cover up what shes been through. I think a lot of people hide their struggles because they dont want to be seen as weak.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

They want to seem like everythings perfect, she says. But as you know by now, shes not interested in the highlight reel on the internet life. She cares about the real one, even when it hurts. Or when its weird and completely unrealistic, like that time she found her fiance on The Bachelorette. No, Sarah was not a contestant on the showshe was home with her dog on the couch in her sweats like the rest of us.

And like the rest of us, she thought Wells Adams, he of season 12 fame, was cute. So she tweeted about him.



This is when the freeze-frame drops and a voice-over says: And thats how our love story began.

Wells slid into her DMs, which turned into text messages, which turned into voice memos, which eventually turned into actual calls, which turned into FaceTimes and, finally, an IRL date. Its the most millennial thing in the entire world, Sarah says. I kind of want to gag at it.

The rest of their rom-comyou know, the one where the protagonist makes eyebrow-raising moves that in real life would scare someone awaygoes like this: They went on all of two dates before she had to undergo her second kidney transplant, but Wells flew from Nashville to L.A. to see her on weekends while she was in recovery, even though all her family was there. (Imagine meeting your S.O.s parents on your third date. Imagine meeting your S.O.s parents before theyre officially your S.O.) A month into dating, they were literally telling each other they were falling in love. (Which, yes, is exactly what happens on The Bachelorette.) (Bachelorette but make it Greys Anatomy.)

If you think Sarah was waiting for a rose though, lol: I asked him when he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend, she says. Im impatient.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Things only ramped up from there. We were talking about what kinds of weddings we wanted four days after we made things official, she says. (Cue wedding-planning montage.) I hate that typical cliche of when you know, you know, but its so fucking true. At least it was for me.



Photo credit: Hearst Owned

No couple is perfect, even the ones in a real-life rom-com. Except maybe this one? Sarah and Wells have never had a fight fight, she says on reflection, which sounds like the sort of thing some, um, womens magazine would call a red flag. They still havent had a major blowout in their nearly three years together.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Wells is a communicator, Sarah explains, a role shes used to playing. This is the first time Ive been in a relationship where Im like, How am I the child in the relationship? Ive always been the adult, she says. So its mostly me having to work on my shit. That includes her temper. But to be fair, shes on a prescription that causes mood swings. I have to take a step back and be like, Is this actually upsetting you? Or is this, like, the medication?



Photo credit: Hearst Owned

And that, it turns out, is the most L.A. thing about all this: the plot twist. Forget what you think you know about her, about young women, about young women in HollywoodSarah is ruthlessly self-aware. At a level that would make anyone, let alone image-obsessed La-La Land, bow down.



There have been days when Im either like, Im gonna wear my tightest jeans and a fucking braI dont care if I get papped because I look fucking good, or, Is there anything I own thats looser? Because even these sweatpants are making me look fat right now. But that last part is BS. She knows it. Im aware of everything I need to work on, and I know the steps to get there, she says with pretty legit conviction. First step: Look in the mirror and say, Bitch, you got this.

Fashion by Cassie Anderson. Supervising producer: Abbey Adkison. Cinematographer: Janet Upadhye. Hair: Ryan Richman at Starworks Artists using Suave Professionals. Makeup: Allan Avendano at Starworks Artists using Chanel Les Beiges. Manicure: Thuy Nguyen at Starworks Artists using Essie. Props styled by Bette Adams at Mary Howard Studio. Production: Crawford Productions.

On Sarah: Chips look: Markarian dress; Roger Vivier heels; Vhernier earrings. Polaroid look: Christian Siriano dress; Jimmy Choo heels. Hat look: Galvan dress; Philip Treacy London hat. Fringe look: Markarian dress; Jimmy Choo heels; Sachin & Babi earrings. Cake look: Monique Lhuillier gown; Rene Caovilla heels; Vhernier earrings. Black dress look: Haney dress; Forevermark earrings. Oversize hat look: Forevermark earrings; Eric Javits hat. Headphones look: Vera Wang Bride gown; Yvan Tufenkjian earrings; Victoria Grant hat; BeatsSolo3 Wireless headphones.

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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said coronavirus has not spread in Delhi and that there is no need to panic, even as the national capital reported 91 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 384.

According to an official update later in the evening, 93 new cases and two deaths were recorded in the past twenty four hours.

The chief minister said that out of the 384 cases, 259 are linked to Nizammuddin Markaz, a major hotspot of COVID-19, and one more person evacuated from it died due to coronavirus.

Seventy-seven persons who were among those evacuated from Markaz tested positive for coronavirus on Friday.

Of the 384 cases in Delhi so far, 58 had recent foreign travel history and 38 contracted the virus after coming in contact with them, he added.

Kejriwal said community spread of the virus is not taking place in Delhi yet and there is no need to panic as the situation is under control.

"The figure for cases that have arisen through local contact and transmission is constant and stable, which gives us hope that there is no spreading of coronavirus in Delhi."



He said the efforts of the Delhi and central governments, and the people have been able to stop the spread of the virus in Delhi, as a result of which the cases of local transmission have been just 38.

The government has made preparations if the virus starts spreading among people in the city," he said.

"I am holding regular meetings with the health department of Delhi and the doctors. God forbid, if there is an outbreak of corona, we are fully prepared to handle the situation," he said.

The chief minister also launched a WhatsApp helpline - 8800007722 for people to enquire about COVID-19, food banks, shelters among others.

Introducing a COVID-19 helpline chatbot to provide all information pertaining to it, Kejriwal said, "The Delhi government is issuing the WhatsApp number today which will provide all information related to coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and experts will interact with students and answer their queries related to the virus at 3 pm on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 3

Trend:

Within the framework of strengthening the special quarantine regime in Azerbaijan, the activities of persons who provide taxi services via their private cars, will be suspended from April 5, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Main State Traffic Police Department of Azerbaijani Interior Ministry, Police Colonel Kamran Aliyev told Trend on April 3.

The police colonel added that people working in Baku and Sumgayit cities and Absheron district will be fined for using a private car to transport passengers who do not have permission.

Persons with special permission can use their own car to go to work if there is no other passenger in the car. That is, if a drivers family member or a person who does not have a special exit permit is found in the car, this person will be fined in accordance with the law," Aliyev 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 homes, apartments, permanent or temporary places of residence.

To this end, all kinds of operations, except for the vital work and services, have been suspended in a special procedure from 00:00 on March 31, 2020 through 00:00 on April 20, 2020.
This Wednesday, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) issued a press release detailing its much-desired meeting with Royal Mail to discuss working conditions during the coronavirus crisis. It makes abundantly clear that precisely nothing has or will come from the CWUs policy of talks with management. The time has come for postal workers to organise their own action, independent of the union bureaucracy, to protect the health and lives of themselves and their families, as well as all those to whom they deliver mail.

A Royal Mail Postbox drop-off (Flickr.com, Monica Arellano-Ongpin)

When the CWU called off a strike after an overwhelming vote in favor of strike action on March 17, they did so with the claim that a gentlemens agreement could be reached with Royal Mail and Boris Johnsons Conservative government. The union offered to set aside our differences with Royal Mail and gain the governments support for turning Royal Mail into an additional emergency service, in return for the fond hope that the company would step back from attacks in the workplace and implement safe working practices.

Two weeks later, on Monday, against a background of wildcat strikes by postal workers, the CWU was forced to admit that no goodwill was forthcoming from Royal Mail. The union had cancelled a strike to send its members into potentially life-threatening working conditions. Once again, the CWU refused to organise any industrial action, hoping to demobilise postal workers with yet another appeal to the company and the Government to immediately adopt a series of safety principles.

Just three days after this statement was released, the CWU have got their answer from the company, and been sent packing. According to General Secretary Dave Ward and Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger, Royal Mail CEO Rico Back refused to attend the meeting pleaded for by the CWU. His representatives were sent with a clear message for the union and for postal workers: Get stuffed!

Quoting from the CWUs own press release:

The following will summarise what the company stated at the meeting and the content of their subsequent letter:

Despite the increasing pressure on our members through growing sick absence/self-isolation, the company do not believe we need to alter national service standards to move to an emergency network.





Royal Mail will not cease the delivery of D2D [door to door] advertising mail.





Royal Mail will not change their sick absence process, which is punishing innocent CWU members, many of whom who have suffered major illness recently.





Royal Mail said during the meeting it is safe for you to work in your offices without the full provision of Personal Protective Equipment. Royal Mail believe washing hands is the gold standard for safety and enough protection for employees.





Royal Mail could not provide any information on how many offices have the necessary PPE in place.





Royal Mail stated the safety concerns of CWU members are not widespread. They said their feedback from managers is much more balanced.





Royal Mail have declined an offer to jointly approach Government on our proposal.





The CEO confirmed that he does not wish to meet the union anymore during this pandemic.

Royal Mail and its shareholders are determined to extract every last drop of profit from postal workers, whatever the costs to their health. And they cant even be bothered to maintain a pretence of discussion with the CWU.

Faced with this slap in the face and sitting on a huge mandate for strike action delivered less than a month ago, the CWUs only response is to turn to Boris Johnson with an appeal for more talks! Under a section titled Next Steps, Ward and Pullinger announced that they will be writing to the governmentwhich has put the whole country at risk with its response to the pandemicand also to the Trades Union Congress, which, given their slavish alliance with Johnson, amounts to the same thing. The union will also be issuing appropriate press statements.

The CWUs press release includes two short paragraphs saying:

If Personal Protective Equipment is not in place for all employees, or in any workplace, then that office should cease its operations until the equipment has been provided to all employees. This includes gloves and hand sanitisers.

If social distancing measures are not in place, in line with the Government advice (2 metres apart), then the office should be closed until this is rectified. Additional measures in this statement are designed to support the introduction of strict social distancing in every Royal Mail Group workplace.

The CWU is taking Royal Mails declaration that washing your hands is the gold standard to heartwashing its hands of the responsibility to defend its own members. It makes individual workers and workplaces responsible for closing down depots, while providing themselves with a get out clause for refusing to organise any action themselves.

Postal workers have already taken to social media to denounce this latest CWU betrayal:

Why are the CWU not telling us to down tools? Youve had your yes vote, RMG [Royal Mail Group] have made it clear they dont want to work with the union, even in this crisis we need to strike! Its the only way RMG will listen and the only way to keep frontline staff safe! What are you not getting?

Tell them dont ask them. Walk out of offices that are putting your members in danger. Get off your **** Dave Ward and protect your members!!

Can you not send the head union rep into each office and shut them down if they are not doing social distancing or giving out sanitiser? Or just strike till every office gets the equipment, Royal Mail arent an emergency service like union like to think.

Important political conclusions must now be drawn. The last few weeks of union activityduring which many workers undoubtedly became infectedwere a pantomime. The CWUs sole intention has been to maintain a well-paid seat at the negotiating table with Royal Mail and the government, under the guise of establishing an emergency service.

If the CWU will not act even when its members lives are imperilled, then of what possible use is the union? Royal Mail workers have reached the end of the road with the CWU. Like workers everywhere, they have been brought face to face with the transformation of the trade unions into appendages of corporate management and the state.

Royal Mail workers must take matters into their own hands. Rank-and-file committees independent of the CWU bureaucracy must be established in every workplace to co-ordinate the action the union has sought to block, while reaching out to workers in other industries facing similar dangerous conditions.

Those who want to organise a genuine fightback of this kind should contact the Socialist Equality Party and build the new socialist leadership that is required.
Fifteen persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Odisha on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 20, officials said.

While 10 new cases were reported from Bhubaneswar, two persons tested positive in Bhadrak district, and one each in Cuttack, Puri and Jajpur, they said.

Among the new patients are seven persons who came in contact with the 60-year-old man from Suryanagar in the state capital infected with the deadly virus and undergoing treatment at the AIIMS, the officials said.

His wife, daughter and five tenants have tested positive, the Health and Family Welfare Department said.

Three persons from Bomikhal in Bhubaneswar also tested positive, prompting the police to seal the area.

All entry and exit points of the area have been closed and the residents will be provided essential items by the Bhubaneswar Municpal Corporation, officials said.

Police said a massive contact-tracing exercise has been launched in the wake of the new cases.

The seven new patients from the Suryanagar area have no travel history, while police said they were yet to ascertain the travel details of the other new patients.

Two COVID-19 patients have so far recovered and discharged from hospitals, officials said.

The government has imposed a 48-hour total shutdown, akin to curfew, in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrak town, which started at 8 pm.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The mall is closed, so is the largest flagship store in Springfield, Bass Pro Shop. Non-essential businesses are also closed..

When these places arent opened they are making little money, which means our city is collecting a few sales tax.

 of the citys budget is made up of sales tax and that helps makes up the $86 million of Springfields general fund. 60% of this pays for Springfields emergency services, which includes our police department and the fire department.

With stores closing and lack of sales tax, these departments are going to feel it most.

KY3 asked the city, will we see job cuts? They say its the last resort and right now while we wait to see the exact numbers come in from March and April, they are working on alternatives.

This includes putting a halt on hiring non-essential employees, developing spending plans, and using a fund Springfield strategically built-in for situations like this.

We have a stabilization fund we have built-up over the years, said David Holtmann, the director of finance for Springfield. We have over 20 percent of our operating revenue saved in the general fund to help plug those gaps when we see significant declines in our sales tax revenue.

For now, Springfield waits for the final numbers to see what damage is done. We hope to have a full picture, by this summer.
A study by researchers Indian Institutes of Technology in Bombay (IIT-B) and Hyderabad (IIT-H) that looked into the impact of Covid-19 outbreak on daily commute, especially the transition phase till the national lockdown period, found that more people shifted to private transport.

Also residents of tier 1 cities were more aware of the disease than inhabitants of smaller cities.

The study, said researchers, was based on the responses of over 1,900 participants from tier-1, tier-2 and tier-3 cities. A majority of the responses were received from tier-1 cities (63.6 percent) followed by tier-2 (20.6 percent) and tier-3 cities (15.8 per cent).

Given the uncertainties in the minds of the commuters regarding their travel behaviour due to social distancing, it is important for policymakers and local transport authorities in general to understand the change in travel pattern, said Dr Digvijay S Pawar, from IIT Hyderabad.

In Tier-1 cities, it was found that about 12% of the respondents switched from public to private mode during the third week of COVID-19. This modal shift was around 9% in Tier-2 cities and about 7% in Tier-3 cities.

Moreover, nearly 48% of people said that they did not travel to work during the third week of March, whereas 28% continued the old frequency of travel to work. When enquired about cancellation of trips between the cities using major mode of transportation, around 18 % said they cancelled their flights whereas, 20% of respondents cancelled train journeys.

This indicates that the awareness about Covid-19 is higher in Tier-1 cities, followed by Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, added Dr Pawar.

The research team comprised Prof. Nagendra Velaga, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay, and Ankit Kumar Yadav, a research student with IIT Bombay and Dr Pawar and Dr Pritha Chatterjee, assistant professors, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Hyderabad.

The respondents were also enquired about their safety perception towards the use of public and private modes of transport, where 93% said that private mode of transport is safer compared to the public mode.

The researchers have recommended spreading more awareness about the ill-effects and spread of Covid-19, especially among the weaker sections of the society. The rapidly changing diaspora of this pandemic is a threat to public health and is making human life more challenging, added Dr Pawar.

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How the C-Factor Could Decimate 2020 Global Gold and Silver Production

Item: March 16, 2020. A huge poly-metallic (gold, silver, copper) mining operation in Mongolia "has suspended operations" after authorities "restricted the movement of goods and people within the country."

Item: March 17. In Peru, one of the world's largest primary silver-gold producers has its 4 mines "temporarily suspended" following the Government's Declared State of Emergency.

Item: March 18. A Canadian mining major suspends construction of a $4.7b copper mine upgrade in Chile affecting 15,000 workers.

Item: March 20. Argentina declares a state of emergency and imposes "a nationwide mandatory quarantine starting today." Silver and gold mines across the country move to halt operations, except for "a reduced workforce to ensure appropriate safety, security and environmental systems are maintained."

Item: March 30. Peruvian authorities extend their halt of transportation until at least April 13.

This list could be much longer, but you get the idea. Miners and explorers around the world are being told to stop production, move to "care and maintenance" or "disperse the workforce"  all due to the C-Factor. Which of course refers to the rapidly  spreading global pandemic known as novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Being a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans, earns this virus the moniker of "novel." Enough is still unknown about how it spreads and what it takes to halt the contagion, that even the experts still search for answers.

These unknowns  along with the government and public response to it  means this is slated to become the most costly financial crisis in modern history. Asset classes crater across the board, with mining shares diving alongside S&P 500 stalwarts.

What's surprising to those who do not remember 2008 is initially both silver and gold tanked. In part it's because when funds  some of whom are leveraged 30:1  get a margin call, they sell what they can. That includes precious metals, further depressing the price.

The Paper Price Is Not the Physical Price

Beneath the surface, recent massive demand by the public for physical silver and gold makes it apparent that the quoted "paper metals" price bears little reality to what a person pays  if they can find the "hold in your hand" product at all.

An example: Although the COMEX shows roughly a $14/ounce paper silver price, physical metal  other than 1000 oz bars  is going for 30-80% over spot. In other words, this supposed $14 silver could cost you upwards of $20 the ounce. And, at some dealers, you should expect to pay as much as $2,000 or more for that $1,650 1-oz gold piece.

The U.S. Mint has nearly run out of American Silver Eagles (ASEs) and extended back orders are the norm. Premiums have risen from about $3 to $8 or even $10 over spot.

This Situation Is Novel in More Ways Than One

At this writing, most mines remain open. But the suspension-of-production list steadily grows.

It's safe to say that operations in every country on the globe have been, or soon will be affected. Projected downtimes assume 2-3 weeks, but some places are expecting a 6-week-plus hiatus.

The reality is that no one really knows how long this state of affairs will last, let alone return to normal. Even when a mill temporarily shuts down, it's not just a matter of flipping a switch and returning to full-scale production.

The metals, especially silver, may have seen their best production levels for some time. Yields have steadily declined for the last decade.

Fewer large discoveries, increased regulations, costly infrastructure and longer lead times, have conspired to just about double the number of years it takes from discovery to production.

Being an industrial metal, silver consumption will probably decline this year, but... as David Morgan has long noted, "Important price changes occur on the margin." He means that investment demand is the big driver for silver prices. And lately, has that demand ever been robust!

Metals' dealers report the strongest buying they've witnessed in recent years  some for as long as they've been in business. Selection is down, premiums are way up and delivery dates pushed out from days to somewhere on the horizon.

Silver Is Finding Important New Uses

Readers in this space are aware of the almost daily new uses for which silver is being employed in industry and commerce. Now there are two new ones  difficult to quantify initially, but unwise to ignore on the demand side.

An evolving silver-backed digital coin. First, is the build out of a new monetary vehicle called AGX Pay designed around a vaulted silver-backed digital coin, enabled by the blockchain.

Its ultimate level of acceptance is yet to be determined, but the coin's numerous uses, including spending it for merchandise and services, or simply holding as an investment bet on rising silver, make this an intriguing consideration.

Silver is a COVID-19 Killer. Second, it appears that more locales are using decontaminants to disinfect city streets, public buildings, and airport terminals.

One effective and non-toxic solution of which I'm aware is made up of potassium iodide, water... and silver. How much silver? Hard to say right now, but as it becomes more widely used?

The Tectonic Plate Collision of High Demand and Declining Production Means That "Houston, We Have a Problem"

Few investors have considered that, as the ripple effect of mines shutting down spreads (if only for a few weeks but possibly much longer), 2020 gold, copper, and silver production are set to fall off a cliff.

Let's say there is only a 4-week period between when most mines "go offline" and return to normal output. It's possible that 10% or more annual silver production may not take place at all!

2020 was already set to become the fourth straight year of declining silver production. Last year, the total was about 1 billion ounces.

Ask yourself what's going to happen if the demand spike runs up against say, 100 million ounces less silver than was available the year before?

I would suggest the result will include skyrocketing premiums, and an even greater disconnect between the paper quote and the actual physical sales price.

The Removal or Destruction of One-Tenth of Silver Production

My use of the word "decimate" in this articles title was intentional. Derived from the Latin word "decimates," it meant "the removal or destruction of one-tenth."

Depending on how much the C-Factor impacts mining in 2020, the premise assuming "the destruction of one-tenth" of this year's silver production could turn out to be conservative by half.

If for some inexplicable reason you're still waiting to acquire the silver (or gold) you hope to purchase, the question right now is, "How lucky to you feel?"

David Smith is Senior Analyst for TheMorganReport.com and a regular contributor to MoneyMetals.com as well as the LODE Cryptographic Silver Monetary System Project. He has investigated precious metals mines and exploration sites in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, China, Canada and the U.S. He shares resource sector observations withr eaders, the media and North American investment conference attendees.

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.




Fix 'the 800-number'

The system's big problem

Michiganders have specific questions

To file for unemployment

(TNS)  State officials have asked Michiganders to be patient as they try to make adjustments to an unemployment system that is overwhelmed, but, as Michigan's public health crisis turns into an economic one, patience is running out.Kathy Mooradian said Wednesday, she had enough.After days of trying to file for unemployment online, then all day trying to call in her claim, she concluded in a fit of frustration, "our governor doesn't give a hoot about any of us."Labor officials respond that it's not a matter of indifference, it's the situation. Michigan's unemployment claims ending March 28 topped 311,000, more than doubling from 128,000 the week before.Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cares deeply and help is on the way, state officials said. Unfortunately, the system is overwhelmed and everyone is in a position that they never anticipated.Whitmer briefly talked Thursday morning about the challenges with the unemployment claims, saying, that her stay-at-home order has "weighed heavily" on her and acknowledged that the system is overwhelmed."My encouragement for folks is, keep attempting to get that application in," she said. "But, know that we understand the incredible strain on the system, the incredible number of people that have been impacted and we are going to work to make sure people get the unemployment that they need to get through this crisis."The state labor department said it plans to offer more detail soon about who is eligible for extended benefits and its efforts to hire 100 more employees to help process claims.But in the meantime, Jason Moon, a spokesman for the state Labor Department, said Michiganders shouldn't panic. If nothing else works, they can document their efforts by emailing their concerns directly to leo-coronavirus@michigan.gov.Since the middle of last month, state labor officials have been besieged with claims and questions from wary Michiganders, and they are trying to sort out, not just the website, but new eligibility requirements.For the week ending March 21, there were more than 123,000 new claims, more than they've ever had before in one week  even during the recession in 2009. Back then, the highest one-week total was about 77,000 jobless claims.Nationally, for the week ending March 28, seasonally adjusted jobless claims were more than 6.6 million, doubling from the week before. It was the highest level of initial claims in American history.Last week, Google searches for File for unemployment, an informal measure of interest in the topic, were on the rise nationally, up 62% from the week before, with searches in Michigan up 160%.On Tuesday, the state's site, which had slowed to a crawl, crashed for nearly two hours before it was restored.Another issue that the state said was causing problems was the MILogin, the way into the system for a range of services, couldn't process the 25,000 transactions per hour that were coming in. Officials said it seemed to be corrected.To the state's credit, it has been trying to adjust to a rapidly changing public health crisis in which the number of sick and dead are rising exponentially, and to stop the spread of the virus, businesses have been shut down and folks are out of work.But, right now, Mooradian  and many other frustrated Michiganders  don't want explanations. She said she wants "the damn 800-number" fixed, a twist on the governor's campaign catchphrase: "Fix the damn roads."It's not that the unemployment system is entirely broken.Many states are handling an unprecedented number of claims, and, in Michigan, many claims are going through without any problems, filers acknowledged. It helps that Michiganders can file online at any time  day or night.The problem, however, comes in when a caller encounters a glitch or has a question.Mooradian, for instance, said she was able to log on, but as she was filing, something went wrong with the automated system. As a result, it told her to call in her claim, but that's when things started to go wrong.Then the unemployment line, she said, "cannot complete my call, is too busy sometimes it answers and I get to press 1, then it just hangs up," she said. "This has happened over 100 times."For Mooradian, a 65-year-old Livonia resident, this just added to her frustration about the pandemic and not being able to work. It also didn't help that she never filed an unemployment claim  nor, she said, had she ever been jobless.Normally, unemployment officials said, glitches and questions can be handled by a call center that has been shut down because of the efforts to keep people from gathering in groups and at home so they don't catch the virus.In other words: In the pandemic, the fail-safes failed.Labor lawyer Michael Pitt , the managing partner of Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers in Royal Oak, said now that Congress has passed relief legislation, many Michiganders, and small companies should be able to exhale  for now.The state, with federal money, has expanded coverage to include people who otherwise would be left out, self-employed workers, independent contractors, freelancers, and people who get paid by the job.But, state officials are still figuring out all the details.And for Michiganders that's another problem: There's no one to answer questions.Sheryl Wentworth, for example, wants to know whether she'd be eligible for partial unemployment loss. The 62-year-old Lapeer resident is a school district aide, who helps children get on and off the bus.She's getting a paycheck, but no longer getting any incentive pay.Paul Bedich, 55, of South Lyon said he feels like public officials keep saying that help is on the way, but his frustration is the system to get that help doesn't seem to be working.When he goes online, it tells him to call. When he calls, it tells him to go online."Everybody's telling you there's money out there, and you're already heightened with frustration and worry," Bedich said. "They tell you there's a path, you go down the path and you find the path is a loop."Go online at Michigan.gov/UIA. Names that begin with A-L file claims on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. Names beginning with M-Z on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Saturdays are for any who could not file the rest of the week.Or call 866-500-0017. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. Names that that begin with A-L file claims Monday and Wednesday. Names beginning with M-Z on Tuesday and Thursday. Fridays and Saturdays are for any who could not call on designated days.
As the world braces for what appears to be a major health crisis, shouldnt we be considering the postponement of Carnival 2020?

What if one Carnival visitor is a carrier? How will we respond?
Key highlights:

- IHS Markit India March Manufacturing PMI at 51.8 Vs 54.5 (MoM).

- Moody's has revised Indian banking system outlook to 'Negative' from 'Stable'

- Acuite Ratings said that the nationwide lockdown to cost Indian economy USD 4.64 billion every day and the entire 21-day lockdown will result in a GDP loss of almost USD 98 billion:

- India has reported a total of 1,965 coronavirus cases, of which 150 have recovered.

- On Wednesday, BSE Sensex ended 1,203 points lower at 28,265 and NSE Nifty50 closed 334 points lower at 8,263.

- On a net basis, FIIs sold Rs 1,116.79 crore & DIIs too offloaded Rs 450.36 crore in equities yesterday.

- On March 31, the Indian rupee ended flat at 75.62 per dollar against Monday's closing of 75.61

Stocks in the news today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Friday's trading session based on latest developments.

Kilpest India: Balck Bio, subsidiary of the company has received ICMR approval for COVID-19 real-time PCR detection kit, to be used on patient samples.

Cipla: The pharma major said it has successfully completed the Phase-3 clinical study for generic version of GSK's Advair Disku.

Cadila: Company's subsidiary, Zydus Cadila on Thursday said it has received final approval from the USFDA to market generic Lamotrigine extended-release tablets, used to treat certain types of seizures.

TVS Motor: Company's motorcycle sales slip 52.7% to 66,673 units and 3-wheeler sales 25.5% to 10,751 units (YoY)

Aurobindo Pharma: The company has announced termination of agreement to acquire the operations and three manufacturing facilities in the USA from Sandoz Inc, USA, a Novartis Division by its wholly owned subsidiary, Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc. The filing added that the decision is taken as approval from US Federal Trade Commission for the transaction was not obtained within anticipated timelines

JB Chemicals: The company said it has ensured that Ranitidine supplied by them meets the international guidelines related to the presence of NDMA and is well within the prescribed limits. The filing added that the company continues to market Rantac, formulation of Ranitidine, in India and has taken steps to ensure that NDMA in the product is within acceptable limits. The company has not yet launched this product in the US market

AIMCO Pesticides: The company said it has received the written permission for exemption from temporary suspensions in manufacturing operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and added that it has resumed partial manufacturing operations with 10% workforce.

Equity, forex, commodity markets shut on account of Ram Navami

Coronavirus impact: Sensex sinks 1,203 points in first session of FY 21, Nifty below 8,300

Coronavirus: Oil prices rise as Trump talks of Saudi-Russia truce


BURBANK (dpa-AFX) - The Walt Disney Co., which temporarily closed Disney parks and resorts and halted media operations, plans to furlough some of its employees in the United States starting April 19. Multiple reports said the furlough will affect employees whose jobs aren't necessary at this time amid the surge in coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic.



However, all affected workers will remain Disney employees through the furlough period. They will receive full healthcare benefits, while Disney will pay the cost of employee healthcare premiums.



The company has already halted its TV and film production, closed movie theaters and delayed film releases. Despite halting its operations, Disney had committed to full pay and benefits for all employees through April 18.



The company reportedly said, 'However, with no clear indication of when we can restart our businesses, we're forced to make the difficult decision to take the next step and furlough employees whose jobs aren't necessary at this time.'



Following the temporary halt in its park and media business, Walt Disney has announced various measures to conserve its cash. The company recently said its Chairman and former Chief Executive Robert Iger has agreed to forgo his salary for the year while his successor, CEO Bob Chapek, will take a 50 percent pay cut. Iger will also waive his right to a car allowance, while the company will continue to pay him for health-care benefits.



Further, Disney is reducing base salary among a broad group of its executive level employees, with vice presidents taking a 20 percent salary reduction, senior vice presidents 25 percent, and executive vice presidents and above, 30 percent.



In its efforts to help in the fight against coronavirus, Disney parks and resorts donated more than 270 tons of excess food inventory to area food banks following the closures. The company also donated 150,000 rain ponchos, which are used by nurses across the U.S. to protect their clothing and prolong the use of personal protective equipment.



The company also donated more than 100,000 N95 masks to the states of New York, California and Florida.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Albany, N.Y.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo again called on New York businesses for help making medical supplies needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

New York continues to search for more equipment, including the ventilators needed to treat many coronavirus patients. And while the breathing machines are complex and difficult to manufacture, items like masks, gowns and face shields are not, Cuomo said today during a press briefing in Albany.

He pleaded with New York companies for aid.

Coronavirus in NY: Deaths spike to 2,900; over 2,200 die this week alone

Coronavirus: Liverpool lacrosse helmet maker calls workers back to make medical shields

How Central NY companies are producing face shields during coronavirus crisis

"It is unbelievable to me that in New York state, in the United States of America, we can't make these materials," Cuomo said. "These are not complex materials. We will work with New York manufacturers. We'll finance the transition necessary to make these materials."

Worldwide demand has driven prices for protective gear much higher, Cuomo added.

Highly protective N95 masks, for example, cost about 70 cents each before the virus hit. They now go for as high as $7, Cuomo said.

But they're really just some material, fabric and two pieces of elastic cord, he said. Same with gowns.

"It can't be that we can't make these," Cuomo said. "It can't be that companies in this country and in this state can't transition to make those supplies quickly."

Any businesses interested in producing needed medical gear can contact the state at 212-803-3100 or covid19supplies@esd.ny.gov.

Javits Center

Cuomo also said today that the temporary hospital established at the Javits Center in New York City is being converted to accept only coronavirus patients. The facility was built by the Army Corps of Engineers and is being federally run.

The 2,500-bed site was originally intended to accept other patients to give city hospitals more space to confront the pandemic. But at this point, hospitals have few noncoronavirus patients at all, Cuomo said.

With life in the state largely shut down, there are fewer traffic accidents and less crime, he said. And hospitals across the state have been ordered to cancel elective surgeries.

Cuomo credited President Donald Trump for pushing the switch at Javits through quickly. Some agencies were resistant, he said.

The governor has criticized Trump harshly over the federal response to the virus, but has also been complimentary at times.

New York will pay it forward

Cuomo again thanked volunteers from across the country and around the state for their help responding to the pandemic. And he said New York will return the favor.

Its in the American DNA to say, were here to help one another, Cuomo said. "Were Americans. Were a family. Were brothers and sisters.

When our curve is over, thats what were going to do. New Yorkers are going to take what weve amassed, were going to take our equipment, were going to take our personnel, were going to take our knowledge and we will go to any community that needs help. Because that outpouring has been there for us."

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

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Target, Costco, Home Depot limit customers, take other measures to slow coronavirus spread

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Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday said a $349 billion coronavirus rescue loan program for small businesses will be "up and running" on Friday, even as lenders express confusion over how they will issue the loans.

The program aims to keep small businesses like salons and restaurants afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. Business owners can get loans of up to $10 million to make payroll for eight weeks or cover rent, utilities, and other expenses. Mnuchin admitted not all lenders will be able to issue loans on Friday, but still encouraged business owners to apply. "You get the money, you'll get it the same day, you use it to pay your workers," he said. "Please bring your workers back to work if you've let them go."

Tony Wilkinson, president of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, told Reuters "we anticipate more demand than supply. We've got to get our lenders comfortable with the rules so that we know that when we originate a loan, counting on a government guarantee, that we're doing the things necessary so we can actually have the government guarantee."

Applications will be accepted on Friday, Wilkinson said, but it's anyone's guess how many will be approved. "They will process and close them after they know what the rules are," he said. JP Morgan Chase informed clients on Thursday night that they were "still awaiting guidance" from the Small Business Administration and Treasury, and "as a result, Chase will most likely not be able to start accepting applications on Friday, April 3rd, as we had hoped."

More stories from theweek.com

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General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. This means that investors who purchase shares on or after the 8th of April will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 1st of May.

General Mills's next dividend payment will be US$0.49 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of US$1.96 per share. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, General Mills has a trailing yield of approximately 3.6% on its current stock price of $54.88. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether General Mills's dividend is reliable and sustainable. We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing.

View our latest analysis for General Mills

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. General Mills paid out more than half (56%) of its earnings last year, which is a regular payout ratio for most companies. Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend. Fortunately, it paid out only 48% of its free cash flow in the past year.

It's positive to see that General Mills's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

NYSE:GIS Historical Dividend Yield April 3rd 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. This is why it's a relief to see General Mills earnings per share are up 3.9% per annum over the last five years. Earnings growth has been slim and the company is paying out more than half of its earnings. While there is some room to both increase the payout ratio and reinvest in the business, generally the higher a payout ratio goes, the lower a company's prospects for future growth.

Story continues

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. In the last ten years, General Mills has lifted its dividend by approximately 7.6% a year on average. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders.

To Sum It Up

Has General Mills got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? Earnings per share growth has been modest and General Mills paid out over half of its profits and less than half of its free cash flow, although both payout ratios are within normal limits. In summary, it's hard to get excited about General Mills from a dividend perspective.

In light of that, while General Mills has an appealing dividend, it's worth knowing the risks involved with this stock. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for General Mills you should know about.

If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Mumbai, April 3 : Popular producer Ekta Kapoor is giving up her one-year salary of Rs 2.5 crore at Balaji Telefilms to ensure her employees dont suffer during the lockdown, which was announced last month owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ekta took to her social media on Friday to make the announcement.

"The impact of CORONA crisis is huge, unprecedented and multi-pronged. We all need to do things that will ease the hardship of people around us and of our country at large," her note read.

"It is my first & foremost responsibility to take care of the various freelancers & daily wage workers who work at Balaji & who are going to suffer immense loss due to no shootings in the current scenario and uncertainty over the indefinite period to follow.

"I would thus forsake my one years salary that is Rs 2.5 crore at Balaji Telefilms so that my co-workers don't have to take a hit during this period of crisis and complete lockdown. The only way ahead, is Together. Stay safe, stay healthy," concluded the producer, who has given several hit daily soaps such as "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi", "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii", "Kasautii Zindagii Kay" and "Naagin".

Apart from this, the producer has already made donations to various relief funds to fight the effects of the pandemic.
P op stars Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden have today announced they are releasing a new single to raise money for Age UK to support the elderly in the Coronavirus pandemic.

Duffy, who was part of 90s band Boyzone, and McFadden, who was part of Westlife, has been touring as supergroup Boyzlife for the past four years. Today, the pair announced they would be releasing a track- You Needed Me - from their upcoming album early in order to raise money for the vulnerable.

All proceeds from the track will be donated to Age UK, which has been supporting isolated elderly members of the community since the UK went on lockdown last week.

The single, a new version of the number one Boyzone track released in 1999, has been recorded with the 84-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

It is part of their upcoming Strings Attached album, which is due for release May 29 and features nine UK number 1 songs from the Boyzone and Westlife catalogue recorded with the orchestra.

Speaking about the release, Duffy, 45, told Insider: It was a number one hit for Boyzone in the late 90s. You Needed Me ended up being such a beautiful, beautiful song [when re-recorded]. It made our hair stand up on the backs of our necks.

On why they chose to support Age UK, McFadden, 39, added: The people who had been most effected by this have been the elderly - it is our way of giving back to them. We cant leave our houses, but we wanted to do something. We were getting frustrated but it is hard to do something when mainly what you do is sing on stage. We were planning on bringing out this single now anyway. So it seemed like the right thing to do.

Duffy and McFadden said they were currently both isolation with their families in Ireland and were trying to keep positive during the horrendous pandemic.

Westlife: In pictures 1 /36 Westlife: In pictures Westlife Strictly Come Dancing 2021 BBC Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images PA Westlife 'My Blood' video PA Westlife Wembley concert PA PA Graham Norton Show PA Graham Norton Show PA Graham Norton Show PA Westlife final concert PA PA PA Strictly Come Dancing 2021

Duffy, who is isolating with his wife Lisa and two children Jay and Mia, said: The four of us are making ht best of a bad situation. I am loving the quality time.

McFadden, who is at home with his fiancee Danielle Parkinson, added: In a time like this, you should try and take the opportunity to spend time with family. Life will go back to normal and it wont be until then that you will realise that you missed an opportunity to spend time with your family.

Duffy had six UK number 1 singles during his music career with Boyzone - with 16 out of 17 single releases making the top 5. The band, which also included Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and the late Stephen Gately, had five number 1 albums with worldwide sales of over 25 million.

With Westlife, McFadden had four number one albums and sold 30 million records.
Hiral Tipirneni, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Arizona, hosting a virtual town hall on April 1, 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has forced candidates to rethink traditional campaign events. Source: Hiral Tipirneni

Alyse Galvin used to host her town halls in coffee shops. Sometimes she hosted them in her garage. Other times, she says, she would bring out her RV, park it in front of senior centers and libraries, and hold town halls there. But Galvin, an independent candidate for Congress in Alaska, never reached as many voters as she is now. Forced by COVID-19 off the physical campaign trail and onto Facebook, she now co-hosts her town halls with doctors and union leaders. "I'm finding more and more people are learning how to use these tools," Galvin said. "We are connecting people to experts and to each other more than ever." The coronavirus pandemic has changed almost everything about American life. Businesses are closed, people are home, and, for millions, the economic devastation has been life-altering. For those running for the House of Representatives, the health crisis posed unique problems. Campaigning is a handshake, kiss-the-baby business, and so is its lifeblood  fundraising. You can't get out the vote if you can't get out. But interviews with candidates, strategists and fundraisers in recent days suggest that contenders in both parties are adjusting to the downturn with early signs of success. There are worries that the money will dry up, but it hasn't yet. Voters, cooped up at home and worried about the future, are tuning in. "What we are learning is that people are looking forward to distraction right now," said Mike Garcia, a California Republican who is running in a special election for the House seat vacated by former Rep. Katie Hill. "People are paying attention." In lieu of in-person fundraisers that used to attract up to 100 people, Garcia said he's now doing "flash fundraisers" by teleconference two to three times per day, with 10 to 30 people. The phone calls last less than an hour and bring in $10,000 to $40,000 each. "It has proven efficient," he said.

Mike Garcia hosts a virtual town hall on April 1, 2020. Garcia, a Republican, is running in a special election for the California congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Katie Hill. Source: Mike Garcia

Candidates are reporting increased engagement across the board, with attendance at virtual events anywhere from double to 10 times as high as their physical analogs. While candidates have hosted online gatherings since long before the coronavirus made it a necessity, the digital events have never occupied such a central position. "It's a chance to engage not just with people who are already with our campaign but also those who may not know what we are fighting for," said Democratic Hiral Tipirneni, a House contender in Arizona. Tipirneni is well-positioned to engage voters concerned about coronavirus. She is a former emergency room physician with a stethoscope included her campaign logo. At her virtual town halls and in individual phone calls with voters, she talks about her position on health care  but she also answers medical questions people have about staying safe amid the crisis. "They have questions about vulnerable family members. They want to know how long is this going to last," Tipirneni said. One voter asked about a pregnant daughter-in-law. Could they see the baby? It's a similar approach to the one that Galvin has taken in Alaska, though she's a former teacher and small business owner, not a physician. In two days last week, she co-hosted a town hall with a doctor to answer medical questions and another with the president of a union local to provide advice for the recently unemployed. The first thing to do: File for unemployment.

Some might be left out

Despite some of the initial successes of digital campaigning, there are elements of the process that can not be carried out virtually. And there are fears that many are being left out. In counties throughout the United States, and particularly in Alaska and in the South, more than half of households don't have access to the internet. Swati Mylavarapu, who led fundraising efforts for former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign, said the virus's financial impact could also disproportionately harm minority candidates. "It is certainly the case that coronavirus is making fundraising for all candidates more difficult than before," Mylavarapu said. "But we know based on data that it is especially difficult for first-time candidates, for women candidates, and candidates of color." One senior Democratic strategist who works on House races was also less sanguine about the fundraising picture than were the candidates. "The people who gave small dollars are no longer going to be able to," said the strategist, who asked not to be named in order to speak candidly. She said she would be shocked if second-quarter figures were not lower than the first quarter but predicted that Democrats were "in a much better fundraising position." House Democrats, she said, started campaigning early to establish "local brands" that could withstand the uncertainty of a historically crowded national Democratic presidential primary field. "They were not expecting a global pandemic but they were expecting uncertainty," she said. Democrats are favored to keep a hold on the lower chamber of Congress in November's elections, but if competitive races swing to the GOP, power could switch hands. Democrats seized control of the House in 2018.

There's something missing

Rep. Harley Rouda, one of the Democrats swept into power during those midterms, said despite the big new audiences his California reelection campaign is seeing, something is missing. "I think we are social by nature and we want social interaction in person," he said. "It's a big shift. I think we are all getting adjusted to it." California Republican Garcia said his preference was live events, but that the coronavirus-inspired digital push is likely to leave its mark. "I personally like doing things in person," he said. "I think that's where people get to see the spirit of the campaign, and they hear the message from the candidate." Some candidates also have more personal reasons they hope the new normal ends as soon as possible. Like all Americans  and everyone around the world  they have not been able to escape the now-familiar psychological and emotional consequences that social distancing and mitigation steps can inflict.

I personally like doing things in person. I think that's where people get to see the spirit of the campaign, and they hear the message from the candidate. Mike Garcia GOP House candidate in California
SnapTravels Mr. Fazal said call volume has been five times higher than usual and its chat volume has been three times higher than usual; its average call wait time before Covid-19 was 45 seconds and now it is 7.5 minutes, he said (though travelers have complained of spending hours on hold with various agencies).

They were prepared for the wrong thing

The spike in refund requests occurred while companies were simultaneously trying to equip their own teams to work remotely, said Olivier Pailhes, co-founder and chief executive of Aircall, a cloud-based phone system that provides its technology to companies. In mid-to-late March, Aircall had a spike in calls from its customers in the travel industry.

We had a 100 to 400 percent increase in call volume from our clients who were trying to figure out how to help people changing plans or canceling trips, Mr. Pailhes said, adding that his company had its best week of business in March. A lot of companies in travel have to go remote and our company is perfect for that.

Expedia said it had to act quickly to get employees prepared to work from home to respect social distancing and shelter in place policies that were enacted around the world. The company has backup plans, but as with many industries, they were based on the idea that any emergency would be localized.

We have a resiliency plan, so if theres an earthquake somewhere or a coup somewhere else, we roll the calls from that call center over to another call center elsewhere in the world, Ms. Waffle Gavin said. But this isnt an earthquake or a coup. This wasnt an isolated incident. This was happening to everybody all at once.

Some employees lacked Wi-Fi or laptops at home, which meant the company had to figure out if people could still come into offices and how to ensure they could socially distance in that space.

The VRBO customer service team pulled off a herculean task  adding 250 agents to take calls by shifting people from other parts of the business and accelerating new hire training, wrote Melanie Fish, a spokeswoman for VRBO, in an email.
Honda Civic Winner in IHS Markit Automotive Loyalty Awards

April 2, 2020  TORRANCE, Calif.; The Honda Civic has been recognized by IHS Markit for having the highest Model Loyalty in the Car segment in calendar year 2019, with the greatest percentage of car owners who returned to market and purchased or leased another Civic.

The Automotive Loyalty Award is granted to ten different vehicle segments, and five overall loyalty categories as well, with a single winner selected for each category. IHS Markit determines loyalty when a household that owns a new vehicle returns to market and purchases or leases another new vehicle of the same make, model or manufacturer. This years awards are based on an analysis of nearly 17.5 million new vehicle registrations during the 2019 calendar year.

About Honda

Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Hondas electrified vehicle lineup includes the Insight hybrid-electric sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, and the Clarity series.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2019, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
A team of health workers, including Dr Zakiya Sayed, was back on its job to screen people for the coronavirus disease in Madhya Pradesh Indore city after being attacked by residents.

We had been working on the screening of contacts for the last four days. But what we saw yesterday, we had not seen it earlier. We sustained injuries but we have to do our job and will not be scared, Dr Zakiya Sayed said, according to news agency ANI.

Dr Zakiya Sayed was a part of the team of healthcare workers who were pelted with stones by local residents on Wednesday. She was one of the woman doctors who reportedly sustained injuries in the incident.

We have been visiting the locality for the past three days for the screening of residents. We had information about a person coming in contact with a Covid-19 patientWe were talking to the person (the elderly woman) when, all of a sudden, residents got agitated and attacked us, one of the doctors had said after the attack on Wednesday.

Seven people were arrested on Thursday for the attack on the team as several such incidents were reported from different parts of the country. The Centre has asked the state police to ensure the security of health workers after these attacks.

Violent attacks being committed against doctors and paramedical staff providing healthcare by risking their lives is condemned and anyone resorting to violence against them will be liable to strict legal action, Union minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy said.

Reddy also directed all DGPs to take immediate action against culprits.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has assured healthcare workers their safety is his governments responsibility.

Chouhan said those involved in pelting stones at medical staff in Indore will be given strict punishment and that the accused will be booked under the National Security Act (NSA).

Fourteen new Covid-19 cases were reported in Indore on Thursday, taking the number of cases to 89 in the city.

(With agency inputs)
The Finance Ministry on Friday appealed to women Jan Dhan account holders to follow the schedule announced by banks for withdrawal of ex-gratia amount, and avoid rush at bank branches to prevent the spread of deadly coronavirus.

All banks from Friday have started remitting Rs 500 to beneficiary accounts in line with the announcement made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week.

"Appealing PMJDY women a/c holders to check last digit of their a/c no. & follow schedule shared below to visit banks, CSP & Bank Mitras. Withdrawal can also be done via any bank's ATM. No charges for using ATM. Let's follow social distancing & fight #corona," Financial Services Secretary Debasish Panda said in a tweet.

Panda also thanked beneficiaries to follow social distancing and other norms while visiting banks.

"Kudos to our #PMJDY women customers for following #socialdistancing and other norms while visiting banks for DBT payments. Helps bankers & Sets example for others to follow. Few glimpses from PSBs across India," he said while posting pictures from branches of hinterland across the country.

Public sector banks including SBI, PNB, BoB, Union Bank of India and Indian Bank were on the forefront of providing services to PMJDY women account holders and other customers for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments.

According to the schedule by Indian Banks' Association (IBA), women Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account holders having account number with last digit as 0 and 1 will get the money in their account on April 3, while account ending with 2 or 3 can approach the bank on April 4.

On April 7, beneficiaries with account number ending with 4 or 5 can collect their money, while account ending with 6 or 7 may withdraw on the following day.

The last tranche would be remitted on April 9 for account number ending with 8 or 9, it said.

Meanwhile, the government has credited the first installment of Rs 500 to 4.07 crore Jan Dhan accounts of poor women on Friday as part of a relief package.

While in case of an urgency, you can withdraw the money immediately, for orderly disbursal, you may follow banks'' payment plan, the ministry requested the beneficiaries.

This is the first of the three monthly instalments under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana announced last week.

Beneficiaries are encouraged to use the neighbourhood ATMs with RuPay cards, Bank Mitras, CSPs as much as possible to avoid crowding at the branches, it said.

"Please note that there will be no charges for withdrawing money from other bank ATMs, at present, as per the government directives," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Veteran actors Shabana Azmi, Hema Malini and Rishi Kapoor have condemned the attack on medical professionals in Indore.

A five-member team from the health department had gone to Taatpatti Bakhal on Wednesday to quarantine relatives and acquaintances of a COVID-19 patient, when an unruly mob attacked them with stones, injuring two women doctors.

The video of the attack went viral on social media.

"Respect. Dr Trupti and Dr Raziya are true role models. And the behaviour of those who pelted them with stones is shameful and condemnable," Azmi said on Twitter.

Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini said, "In the midst of the entire country's appreciation of the sacrifices of doctors, health workers and paramedics comes the of unwarranted attacks on them in Indore by ungrateful miscreants. How could a mob attack people who are risking their own lives to save ours? Sad! Shameful."



Kapoor appealed to everyone to not resort to any kind of violence on the medical staff and police.

"An appeal to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please don't resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please," Kapoor said.

"Shameful attack on health workers who are risking their lives for us . These people should be punished," Onir tweeted.

Actor Divyendu Sharma said, "The most disturbing thing I saw this morning.. is this how we treat our doctors? Health care workers? What are we????



#COVIDIOTS #shameful."Actor Shilpa Shetty said instead of attacking the medical professionals one must come together to help them in the fight against the pandemic.

"Our medical professionals are out there on the field, risking their lives while protecting ours. The least we can do is come together as a community and help them prepare for the battle they're fighting," she wrote on Twitter.

Actor Dipannita Sharma suggested that the health care professionals should be given protection.

"Health care professionals are our guiding angels. Let's please never forget that .We should be indebted to them, for putting their lives on the line to save others. Nothing can justify attacks on them. It's a disgrace. They must be given protection at this time #coronawarriors," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Irish flight school that trains pilots for Ryanair and for Aer Lingus Regional operator, Stobart Air, has said the Covid-19 crisis will be overcome and that there is light at the end of the tunnel for the aviation industry.

Cork-based Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) is Irelands largest flight school, operating 22 aircraft, as well as a flight simulator. It is continuing to train up to 80 pilots, in preparation for a return of global air travel, when stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.

AFTA-trained pilots fly for airlines across the globe and the company has partnerships with Ryanair, Stobart Air, Air Astana, in Kazakhstan, and Pegasus Airlines, in Turkey.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, AFTAs managing director, Mark Casey, said the aviation industry is dealing with an unprecedented crisis, but one from which it will recover.

We are in daily contact with our partner airlines and the message we are getting is to keep moving forward with the training, Mr Casey said.

The aviation industry is very concerned, at the moment, but we do see light at the end of the tunnel and are prepared for a staged re-engagement at the right time.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has estimated that airlines worldwide could lose 231bn in revenue this year from the coronavirus pandemic.

Industry-wide traffic is expected to decline almost 40% in 2020, IATA said, while a revival will take time, because the coronavirus outbreak is global.

The company also have two DA-42 Diamond twin-engine planes ready and available for use by the HSE. The offer was made to facilitate the use of the aircraft for MEDIVAC purposes, urgent PPE delivery, or urgent HSE worker/staff deployment. Pic; Larry Cummins

Mr Casey said it was fortuitous that many of AFTAs trainees were in a theoretical phase of learning when the crisis hit.

We have a very good IT section, that is constantly looking at ways to improve the way we deliver our training.

It means we have been able to continue with pilot training remotely, Mr Casey said.

AFTAs 22 aircraft are grounded and stored in hangars at Cork and Waterford airports.

The company is keeping two aircraft operational and ready to be used at short notice, Mr Casey said.

These have been offered to the HSE, in case they are needed to move supplies or personnel, as part of the national response to the Covid-19 crisis.

He praised the response of the Government to the crisis, particularly through the phasing-in of restrictions towards the current lockdown.

Simon Coveney and Simon Harris are doing a great job, Mr Casey said.

The Irish Aviation Authority has also been to the fore in coming up with solutions, such as extending the ratings of pilots, taking into consideration the current crisis.

Established in 1995, AFTA operates a modern training fleet of aircraft and simulators, including the state-of-the-art, B737 NG simulator.

The company has 63 staff, the majority of whom are engaged in pilot instruction and training.

The huge negative for us, at the moment, is that we are not flying and that is worldwide, Mr Casey said.

Obviously, the panacea for this crisis is a vaccine, but that will take time. Hopefully, the rapid tests they are developing will allow us all to get back to work on a phased basis, he said.

In our industry, it is not going to be a case where airlines that had hundreds of planes in the air and then dropped to zero can switch back to hundreds in the air again. It will take time, Mr Casey said.

Will the airlines recover? The strong ones will and I think all our partners are in that space.

Stobart is the largest and most successful regional player in Europe and is very well-run and managed. Ryanair is the same. It is in a very strong cash position, with a very good management team.

They have said to us to keep training and they will see us on the other side of this, because there is hope and optimism and its the same with Pegasus and Air Astana, Mr Casey said.
Measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Germany have today started to show effect, say experts - despite the country's death toll breaking through 1,000.

While the number of infections reached nearly 80,000 today, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control reassured the country that the spread was slowing.

RKI president Lothar Wieler said: 'We are seeing that the spread of the virus is getting slower... it's working.'

Adding that restrictions on public life 'need to be maintained' and it was too early to claim victory.

Wieler explained that each person who had caught the virus was now infecting only one person on average, where previously that number had been as high as seven.

This graph shows the daily number of new coronavirus cases in Germany. Today's figure of 6,174 was marginally higher than yesterday's 6,156

This chart shows the daily number of deaths which has been similar for the last three days, with 149 announced on Wednesday, 140 yesterday and 145 today

'If the number is below one, then it means the epidemic is slowly easing up. That is our aim,' he said.

'We know that we have pushed the number down to one with the measures, and we hope to push it down further.'

Wieler nonetheless urged the public to keep observing government restrictions, which include a ban on public gatherings of more than two people and a requirement to stay at least five feet (1.5 metres) from others at all times.

He added: 'I need to say very clearly: the measures need to be maintained. Keeping your distance and staying at home is imperative, otherwise we will not push the number under one.'

The Robert Koch Institute announced another 145 deaths in its latest figures this morning, a similar jump to yesterday's 140 and Wednesday's 149.

German medics wearing masks and protective suits take care of a French patient who was flown to a small airport near Nordhausen in eastern Germany yesterday

It brings Germany's death toll from 872 to 1,017, with a mortality rate of 1.3 per cent of cases.

The total infection count rose by 6,174, marginally higher than yesterday, taking the tally from 73,522 to 79,696.

Federal states across the country have introduced penalties to crack down on those flouting the rules.

In the capital city Berlin, people risk being fined up to 500 euros (440) for standing too close to each other.

Meanwhile, the RKI altered its recommendations today to encourage citizens to wear self-made masks in public.

It was 'important to understand' that such masks would not protect the wearer, but they could help to protect others, said Wieler.

He added that there was 'not yet any scientific proof' that the masks would limit the spread of the virus, but it 'seemed plausible'.

According to RKI figures today, Germany has recorded more than 79,000 cases of the novel coronavirus.

A total of 1,017 deaths have been recorded, though RKI president Wieler warned Friday that the actual number could be much higher.

'We won't manage to test every single person... I assume we will have more deaths than are officially recorded,' he said.

Wieler also said that the mortality rate would 'continue to rise' in Germany.

Latest figures showed that the death rate in Europe's largest economy had jumped to 1.2 percent, still considerably lower than that of neighbouring countries.

Medical workers wearing masks pull a trolley outside a hospital in Bonn, where the discovery of a wartime bomb yesterday did not help matters

The latest figures show that 592 of the 1,017 deaths have come in the two southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg which are closest to Italy.

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, has recorded more than 3,000 virus cases by itself, although only five deaths.

There are also 3,200 cases in Berlin and nearly 2,600 in Hamburg, official figures show.

The fatality rate of 1.3 per cent, or one death per 77 cases, is lower than that in Italy (12.1 per cent), Britain (8.7 per cent), France (7.6 per cent) or Spain (9.1 per cent).

The low rate is thought to be linked to mass testing, meaning that many people with mild symptoms are added to Germany's tally but missed elsewhere.

However, the German rate has been ticking up daily for more than two weeks, and is up from 0.6 per cent just a week ago.

The head of the German hospital federation said yesterday that medical centres had increased their number of intensive care beds to 40,000.

Gerald Gass told the Rheinische Post that 30,000 of the beds are equipped with ventilators.

Berlin has urged hospitals to double their capacity to as much as 56,000 to deal with a potential surge.

Germany has also taken in more than 100 seriously ill patients from other EU nations, gaining experience in handling virus cases.

Authorities have ordered most shops shut, schools closed and imposed a ban on public gatherings of more than two people up to April 19 at the earliest.

Airline giant Lufthansa has placed 87,000 workers - more than half its workforce - on a government-backed shorter hours scheme.

Among the group's 135,000 employees, cabin crew, ground crew and for the first time ever pilots are all affected by the measure, a spokesman said.

Some 62,000 of the employees affected are in Germany, doubling the number given on Friday of those who would work shorter hours until September.

As well as the Lufthansa brand and its low-cost sibling Eurowings, the group includes smaller carriers such as Austrian, Brussels Airlines and Swiss.

Around 700 of Lufthansa's 763 aircraft are parked following huge reductions in its flight operations, and its seat capacity is just five per cent of its usual schedule.

The group said yesterday that the unprecedented reductions in its flight plan would be extended from April 19 to at least May 3.

Nurses take care of a coronavirus patient on an isolation ward at Essen's university hospital in western Germany earlier this week

Chief executive Carsten Spohr last month warned that 'the longer this crisis lasts, the more likely it is that the future of aviation cannot be guaranteed without state aid.'

The group's flight plan has been slashed to levels not seen since the 1950s, Spohr said.

German state-owned investment bank KfW says it has received requests for more than 10billion (8.7billion) in loans.

The bank says it could issue at least 50billion (44billion) to ease the impact of the economic standstill.

'A huge wave' of requests is likely to follow next week now the bank's IT systems are fully set up to deal with the lending scheme, KfW president Guenther Braeunig said.

Some 2,500 requests have already arrived, and 'at least 50 billion euros, maybe 100 billion' in loans are likely in the coming weeks, Braeunig said.

The bank issued 77billion (67billion) of guaranteed credit over the whole of 2019, a comparatively normal economic year.
The man who laid the foundation Maratha empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is celebrated throughout Maharashtra and the rest of India for his conquests and valour

The man who laid the foundation Maratha empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is celebrated throughout Maharashtra and the rest of India for his conquests and valour. Formally crowned as the Chhatrapati of Raigad in 1674, the warrior-king breathed his last on 3 April, 1680.

Shivaji was able to expand the sphere of the Maratha empire, and was instrumental in building the Maratha navy. He was known both for alliances and wars with the Mughal empire, Sultanate of Golkonda, Sultanate of Bijapur as well as the Europeans.

On the warrior-kings 340th death anniversary, heres looking at a few interesting facts about him.
Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou on Friday appealed for a "Marshall Plan" to help African economies hit by the coronavirus pandemic as more states warned of a devastating impact on the continent's growth.

"Even before the pandemic, Africa needed a Marshall Plan for its development, to fight poverty. This pandemic is a further argument to justify the need for a plan," Issoufou said in an interview on the French news channel France 24.

"Even more-developed countries are overwhelmed," said Issoufou, whose landlocked Sahel state is one of the poorest in the world.

"Our means are weaker, our health systems are more fragile. So we need a very strong show of solidarity to confront this crisis."

The Marshall Plan, named after the then US secretary of state, George Marshall, who conceived it, was a programme of aid to rebuild the economies of western Europe after World War II.

Issouffou spoke after his country, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso gave early notice that the pandemic has devastated their prospects for growth.

Burkina Faso on Thursday slashed its expectations of GDP growth for 2020 from 6.3 percent to two percent.

On Tuesday, Ivory Coast estimated its growth rate would be halved to 3.6 percent, while Niger Finance Minister Mamadou Diop predicted growth this year would be 4.1 percent, compared with an earlier forecast of 6.9 percent.

The country's budget deficit would widen from an expected 2.6 percent of GDP to 3.7 percent, Diop said.

Like neighbouring Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are in the grip of bloody jihadist revolt that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Niger alone is hosting nearly 450,000 people.

On Thursday, the UN's Word Food Programme (WFP) said more than five million people in those three countries are facing hunger.

"Our message to the world is clear -- look away now and the consequences will be no less than catastrophic," its West Africa director, Chris Nikoi, said.

Other parts of Africa could be hit by a shock to food supplies.

Sub-Saharan Africa imported more than 40 million tonnes of cereals last year -- a lifeline that could be crimped by the shock to world trade.

Somalia and South Sudan are the most exposed to any disruption in grain supplies, while others such as Angola, Nigeria and Chad depend on exports to pay for food imports, the WFP warned.

Aid and debt relief

As the pandemic starts to bite, much of the focus on aid for Africa is on debt alleviation.

On March 25, the IMF and World Bank urged a freeze on debt repayments "to provide a global sense of relief for developing countries as well as a strong signal to financial markets."

That came two days after African ministers called for $100 billion in "immediate emergency economic stimulus" including the waiver of debt interest payments.

France and the European Union have responded positively to the call for help, but European budgets are already badly under strain because of the crisis.

The pandemic has delivered a powerful shock to the world's supply lines -- many Africa countries are highly dependent on imported food. By Benson IBEABUCHI (AFP)

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Thursday said he supported a debt moratorium for "the poorest countries" and a $500-billion increase in special drawing rights (SDRs), the currency of the IMF.

He also suggested "a swift new credit line to complement swap lines between central banks" to support countries are most in need.

Swap lines are temporary reciprocal currency arrangements between central banks primarily aimed to keep liquidity in the currency available, especially for countries which have debt in US dollars.

"Even if you solve the problem in Europe it will not be solved if it is not solved everywhere," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell observed on Friday, after talks with the 27 member countries.

"Africa is of particular concern to us because the pandemic there could get out of control very rapidly."

EU development ministers will hold talks next Wednesday on putting together a financial package, based on contributions from EU institutions as well as member state governments.
Dubai-based master developer Nakheel has announced a Dh230 million ($62.6 million) economic relief package for customers in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.



The initiative is in line with the economic stimulus launched under the direction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.



The Nakheel economic relief package aims to help reduce the financial burdens faced by businesses and individuals during the current global challenges.



Nakheels customers include property owners, retail and hospitality tenants and small business operators. The package includes free rental periods for retail and hospitality partners who operate within the Nakheel Malls portfolio.



This will take effect when the malls, which are currently closed under government directives, reopen. Small retail business owners who lease space at Nakheels master communities will also receive a rental holiday.



Nakheel is also waiving administration charges across various services for three months, and, as per government directives, reducing district cooling charges by 10 per cent for three months for commercial and residential customers.



Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Shaibani, Chairman of Nakheel, said: Every business and individual in Dubai  and across the globe  is affected in some way by Covid-19. As a leading, responsible developer, we must support and work with our loyal customers and business partners who are facing economic challenges during these unprecedented times.



Nakheel is contacting eligible business partners with details of how the stimulus package will specifically apply to them, a statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
The death toll in the US from the coronavirus pandemic has topped 5,300, while the country witnessed a stunning single-day record of 884 people killed in just 24 hours.

The US death toll is lower than those of Italy and Spain but above the 3,318 recorded in China, where the pandemic first emerged in December. The US leads the world in the number of cases, with at least 227,000.

And in a sign of the devastating economic impact of the epidemic, a record 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as businesses were forced to shut down as part of the mitigation efforts and layoffs in manufacturing, transportation and other sectors, according to numbers released on Thursday.

More people had applied for jobless benefits in the last two week - 3.3 million had filed the week before - than in the six months of the Great Recession, The Washington Post reported.

Also, in line with White House experts earlier warning that 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die in the epidemic even if mitigation efforts were implemented fully, the Pentagon is reported to be preparing to provide 100,000 body bags for civilian use.

US President Donald Trump, who earlier had downplayed the pandemics impact on the US, said on Wednesday that were going to have a couple of weeks, starting pretty much now, but especially a few days from now, that are going to be horrific.

As the number of coronavirus cases and fatalities continued to climb, health services across America, especially in areas with high incidence of the illness, have complained of crippling shortages of protective gear for health care workers such as masks, gloves, gowns and face shields.

There is an additional urgency to the crisis as the health services brace themselves for a peak in cases and deaths, which is feared in two weeks.

The number of confirmed cases in the country increased by about 29,000. New York state remained the worst impacted, with at least 84,000 cases and over 2,220 deaths. New York City accounted for a large number of them with 1,374 at one stage, almost a fourth of all deaths in the country.

With NYCs hospitals under severe pressure, Samaritan Purse, a charity from North Carolina, set up a 68-bed field hospital in Central Park, the citys hub of major concerts, rallies and other public events. It took in its first patient on Wednesday. We are here to stand with New Yorkers and meet the needs of people stricken with the coronavirus, the charity said in a statement.

A six-week-old baby girl has died from Covid-19 in the state of Connecticut, governor Ned Lamont said on Thursday, stressing that the death is a reminder that nobody is safe with this virus.
Siemens Ltd on Friday said it has committed Rs 20 crore towards providing critical medical care equipment across the country for the treatment of coronavirus-infected patients.

The company will spent this amount towards providing providing medical care equipment such as ventilators and analysers to several healthcare facilities across India, it said in a statement.

Along with these equipment, the company will also deliver 40,000 PCR test kits to Indian Council of Medical Research.

It will set up a test lab at the National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, Haryana, which is converting an 800-bed hospital into a COVID-19 critical care centre.

The efforts also include creation of isolation units at select Siemens' facilities.

Besides, the company will support migrant and temporary workers.

Siemens Project and Service's engineers across all group companies are working towards ensuring essential equipment in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, power plants, transmission & distribution systems, critical metro & rail equipment systems, and manufacturing facilities of essential goods.

"In these tough and uncertain times, we pledge a total contribution of Rs 20 crore towards fighting COVID-19. In addition to the various measures announced, we are ensuring that we continue to support our extended supply chain and the temporary workforce at this time of need," the company's Managing Director and CEO Sunil Mathur said.

He further said the company was also supporting migrant and temporary workers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If you want to minimise the amount of noise in an urban environment it's better to plant conifers than broadleaved trees, scientists claim.

Researchers from University College London studied the bark of 13 different tree species to find out which would be best at dealing with noise pollution.

The larch was found to be the most effective type of tree when it comes to absorbing noise due to its bark - which acts as a natural silencer of urban noise.

Lead author Jian Kang said the age of the tree, roughness of the bark and its thickness were the most important factors in how good it was at sound reduction.

Researchers from University College London studied the bark of 13 different tree species to find out which would be best at dealing with noise pollution

The research, published in the Applied Acoustics journal, could help urban planners use trees in cities to help control noise reaching houses.

'Beside emphasising the effects of vision and shade, urban greening should be considered as well to achieve noise reduction,' Kang told the BBC.

The team planted 76 samples from 14 different species of trees in a laboratory-based test to see how well they absorb different types of urban sound.

They used the type of trees usually found in urban areas including cherry, pine, beech, willow, poplar and alder trees.

Larch gave the best results in terms of keeping sound at bay but conifers as a whole - of which Larch is a variety - performed the best at absorbing sound.

'The main goal was to have a sufficient variety of species, including broadleaved and coniferous,' Kang explained.

He told BBC News: 'Using plants as a potential 'silencer' of urban noise could combine environmental protection and landscape business.'

The study involved collecting disks of trunks from a range of fallen trees to see which species, but also which factors had the biggest impact on noise reduction.

'Tree age and bark roughness seemed [to be] the parameters with the most predictive powers,' said Kang.

Larch gave the best results in terms of keeping sound at bay but conifers as a whole - of which Larch is a variety - performed the best at absorbing sound

Small changes in the way sound is absorbed heavily influence how effective a belt of trees could be in an urban environment at reducing sound pollution.

WHICH TREE SPECIES DID THEY STUDY? Black locust - Robinia pseudoacacia

English walnut - Juglans regia

Sweet Cherry - Prunus avium

Silver birch - Betula pendula

Black poplar - Populus nigra

White willow - Salix alba

Norway spruce - Picea abies

Japanese larch - Larix kaempferi

Goat willow - Salix caprea

European aspen - Populus tremula

Scots pine - Pinus sylvestris

European beech - Fagus sylvatica

Black alder - Alnus glutinosa Advertisement

They found that selecting species with more absorbing bark could more effectively reduce noise pollution and mitigate the effects of traffic noise.

'As a result of the fact that the barks of conifers absorb sound slightly better than those of broadleaved trees, conifers could be used more in urban green spaces,' he told the BBC.

'Moreover, tree density is important for noise reduction of a tree belt, and species will also influence the densities that can be obtained in a tree belt.'

Overall the tree bark didn't really cut that much noise individually, but as a group of trees together it can help to reduce the overall noise levels.

The biggest surprise was the difference between species - there was a statically significant difference found from one type of tree to another.

Kang wrote in the research paper that a future experiment could involve a wider selection of tree species with different thicknesses of bark.
Four men were on Friday detained under the National Security Act(NSA) for the alleged attack on health workers in Indore even as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said this stringent act will be invoked against quarantined Tablighi Jamaat members accused of misbehaving with the nursing staff at a Ghaziabad hospital.

As sporadic attacks on doctors, social workers and police personnel come to light in the country's battle against the coronavirus outbreak, the UP authorities also said the NSA will be slapped on people who assault policemen enforcing the 21-day national lockdown which entered the 10th day on Friday.

Under the NSA, people can be detained without a charge for up to 12 months if the authorities are satisfied that the person is a threat to the national security or law and order.

President Ram Nath Kovind also voiced concern over the attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel.

The president was participating in a video-conference with Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of states/union territories.

"In the conference there was unanimity that there is no scope for laxity or complacency in fighting the invisible enemy. In this context, the president noted with concern the incidents of attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel in some parts of the country," according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Union Home Ministry asked the states and union territories to take strict action against those involved in the attacks.

The Bollywood fraternity also expressed its solidarity with the healthcare workers who were risking their lives on the front lines of the pandemic, and said the attacks on them were shameful and condemnable.

The Indore district Administration invoked the NSA against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in the city.

A five-member team from the state health department had gone to Taatpatti Bakhal area on Wednesday to quarantine relatives and acquaintances of a COVID-19 patient, when an unruly mob attacked them with stones, injuring two women doctors.

The police arrested seven persons for the alleged attack on Thursday and the district administration has slapped the NSA on four of them, the official said.

The police on Friday detained six more men in connection with the incident.

Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined at the MMG district hospital in Ghaziabad allegedly misbehaved with nurses, making lewd remarks and dropping their pants, officials said.

Chief Minister Adityanath took a serious note of the incident, calling those involved enemies of humanity.

They will neither accept the law nor follow arrangements. Whatever they did with women health workers is a heinous crime. The NSA is being invoked against them. We will not let them go scot-free," he said in a statement in Lucknow.

The six Jamaat members were later shifted to a temporary isolation ward set up at a private educational institute following complaints against them.

The Jamaat members were among the thousands who attended a religious congregation at the organisation's New Delhi headquarter, now emerging as a coronavirus hotspot.

Police said the Jamaat members were booked for allegedly indulging in ugly acts and passing lewd remarks against the women staff members at the hospital.

A case was registered against them at the GT Road Kotwali on receiving a complaint from the chief medical officer.

SSP Kalanidhi Naithani said stringent action will be initiated. In the complaint, a nurse alleged that the coronavirus suspects were roaming in the hospital without trousers.

The Jamaat members sang vulgar songs and made ugly gestures, the nurse alleged, adding that they were not taking their medicines.

They were also not following social distancing norms, she said in the complaint.

Police have registered the case under Sections 269, 270, 271, 294 and 354 of the IPC, the SSP said. The sections relate to sexual harassment and acts relating to the spread of disease.

A senior UP Home Department official said NSA will be slapped on people who attack policeman enforcing the lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"The police is doing its duty by preventing people to come out during lockdown. There have been incidents in the state in which policemen were attacked by people. To deter such persons, it has been decided to invoke NSA against such persons," the official told PTI in Lucknow.

Five persons were arrested and a case registered against them and 10 others for allegedly attacking a police team that was trying to enforce lockdown restrictions at Morna village in Bhopa police station area in Muzaffarnagar, police said.

Two policemen, including the in-charge of the police outpost sub-inspector Lekhraj Singh were seriously injured in the attack that took place on Wednesday, it added.

In another incident in UP, two policemen were injured on Friday when they came under attack by some people, who were stopped from gathering for Namaz in a mosque in Kannauj district, an official said.

In Chattisgarh, a policeman was attacked by a group of villagers after he intercepted a man for violating the COVID-19 lockdown in Raigarh district, an official said.

Veteran actors Shabana Azmi, Hema Malini and Rishi Kapoor condemned the attack on medical professionals in Indore.

"Respect. Dr Trupti and Dr Raziya are true role models. And the behaviour of those who pelted them with stones is shameful and condemnable," Azmi said on Twitter, referring to the two women doctors who were injured.

Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini said, "In the midst of the entire country's appreciation of the sacrifices of doctors, health workers and paramedics comes the of unwarranted attacks on them in Indore by ungrateful miscreants. How could a mob attack people who are risking their own lives to save ours? Sad! Shameful."



Kapoor appealed to everyone to not resort to any kind of violence on the medical staff and police.

"An appeal to all brothers and sisters from all social status and faiths. Please don't resort to violence,stone throwing or lynching. Doctors,Nurses,Medics, Policemen etc..are endangering their lives to save you. We have to win this Coronavirus war together. Please," Kapoor said.

Actor Shilpa Shetty said instead of attacking the medical professionals one must come together to help them in the fight against the pandemic.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh warned of "very strict" action if police and health personnel are attacked during the lockdown.

Deshmukh said it is in the interest of the people to co-operate with the police and those from the healthcare system in tackling the COVID-19 crisis.PTI HWP ADU LAL MAS ABN KKP SHD ENM EDM ASH AKV ABS TKP GSN .

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump said Thursday that he took a second coronavirus test to try out a new variety in which results come more quickly.

The president tested negative.

'I've done them both and the second one is much more pleasant,' Trump told reporters in the press briefing room.

President Trump announced from the podium Thursday that he had taken a second coronavirus test and tested negative for the virus

The White House also passed around Trump's doctor's note in which Dr. Sean Conley described that the test took one minute to take and just 15 minutes to get the results

President Trump showed off one of the quicker coronavirus tests at the White House on Monday

President Trump showed off a new coronavirus test kit Monday in the White House Rose Garden

When journalists arrived Thursday they were given a doctor's note from the White House physician that said the president had taken the test.

'He is healthy and without symptoms,' said White House physician Sean Conley.

Conley said taking the sample took under a minute.

'I did take a test It just came out,' Trump said from the podium. 'This is from the White House physician. You may have it. It just came out I took it this morning,' he said.

He held the doctor's note up for all to see.

'And I took it, it took me literally a minute to take it. It took me 14 or 15 minutes. I went to work, I didn't wait for it. But it said it took 14 minutes or something to come up with a conclusion,' Trump said.

The president suggested he took the second one to be a guinea pig, rather then there being any concern that he was exposed to a person with the coronavirus.

'I think I took it really out of curiousity to see how quickly it worked and how fast it worked,' he said.

Dr. Deborah Brix, one of the medical experts on the White House's coronavirus taskforce, explained where those particular tests would be utilized in the nation.

'We've prioritized the presidential 15 minute test to the Indian Health Serivces and pubilc health labs so they can support nursing home testing and other areas where we think surveillance is absolutely key,' she explained. 'So at this moment they're prioritized in that way.'
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have agreed there is "no going back to the old way of doing things" in a document they are preparing to sign off on in the coming days.

The two parties are close to agreeing on a series of policy objectives in the coming days which will be presented to other parties and Independent TDs interested in entering government

The main focus of the document is a commitment to taking radical decisions in Government over the course of the next Dail terms.

The soon-to-be published document agreed between the two parties acknowledges that new approaches have to be taken by the next government after the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The document is expected to note that the national health emergency showed certain policy objectives can be achieved in a time of crisis.

The parties will commit to building on the measures taken during the pandemic and use them to plan for the future.

The document is not an official programme for government but rather an agreement on policy objectives.

Fianna Fail has insisted the next government should ramp up the process of introducing a one-tier health service which will see private consults removed from public hospitals. Yesterday, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said the coronavirus crisis "presented the opportunity to look at the single-tier health system more quickly than we would otherwise have".

Asked if he will be the next Taoiseach, Mr Martin said the next government should "reflect the election" result which saw Fianna Fail win more seats than Fine Gael.

The Irish Independent yesterday revealed Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar is willing to allow Mr Martin take the first term in office if Fianna Fail agrees to equal partnership.

Speaking on RTE Radio One, Mr Martin said: "Myself and the Taoiseach did discuss this some weeks ago in terms of the agreement we reached to allow the talks to commence and proceed.

"Whereby the key principle agreed was that there would be an equal partnership, that there would be parity of esteem."

On Wednesday, Mr Varadkar also noted that Fianna Fail won more seats than Fine Gael when asked if he would be the next Taoiseach.

However, the Taoiseach does want to remain in place for the first phase of the coronavirus emergency.

Yesterday, Mr Varadkar said he was spending "very little time" on government formation and is dedicating his time to dealing with the Covid-19 emergency.

However, he said Fine Gael and Fianna Fail negotiating teams will meet on Monday to agree a position paper and then seek the support of a third party.

He named the Greens, Social Democrats or Labour as possible partners.

Mr Varadkar said he was open to working with Independent TDs, especially the Regional Technical Group.

However, he said the next administration will need a third party to ensure it is a stable government.

"We're totally up for working with Independents, including Independents from the Regional Independent Group - there's some very good people there," he said.

"But I'm firmly of the view that if Fine Gael is to participate in the next government we will have to have a third party in there to make sure that we have the numbers and also I think the broad base that's needed to guide the country through the next couple of years," he added.
SAN DIEGO, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (LJPC), which is dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative therapies that improve outcomes in patients suffering from life-threatening diseases, today announced that it is providing GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) for named patient emergency use in patients with septic shock due to COVID-19 at University Hospital Frankfurt in Germany. GIAPREZA is being made available for compassionate use based on a request from Professor Kai Zacharowski, M.D., Ph.D., ML, FRCA, Director of the Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Frankfurt. According to German law, authorized medicines can be made available prior to commercial availability in order to fulfill special patient needs. GIAPREZA has been recently approved by the European Commission but is not yet commercially available in Europe.



In a report on 44,672 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Wu et al, JAMA 2020; doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.2648 ), approximately 14% of patients required hospitalization, and, among those, one-third became critically ill. Patients who became critically ill developed respiratory failure, septic shock and/or multiple organ failure. Approximately one-half of the critically ill patients died.

La Jolla is committed to helping patients suffering from life-threatening diseases, and we hope that GIAPREZA will positively impact these patients, said Lakhmir Chawla, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company.

About GIAPREZA

In December 2017, GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a vasoconstrictor indicated to increase blood pressure in adults with septic or other distributive shock. In August 2019, GIAPREZA was approved by the European Commission (EC) for the treatment of refractory hypotension in adults with septic or other distributive shock who remain hypotensive despite adequate volume restitution and application of catecholamines and other available vasopressor therapies. GIAPREZA mimics the bodys endogenous angiotensin II peptide, which is central to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which in turn regulates blood pressure. Prescribing information for GIAPREZA is available at www.giapreza.com . The European Summary of Product Characteristics is available on the EMA website: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/giapreza . GIAPREZA is marketed in the U.S. by La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company on behalf of La Jolla Pharma, LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications

None.

Warnings and Precautions

There is a potential for venous and arterial thrombotic and thromboembolic events in patients who receive GIAPREZA. Use concurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions that were reported in greater than 10% of GIAPREZA-treated patients were thromboembolic events.

Drug Interactions

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may increase response to GIAPREZA. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may reduce response to GIAPREZA.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For additional information, please see Full Prescribing Information for the United States and the Summary of Product Characteristics for the European Union.

About La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company is dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative therapies that improve outcomes in patients suffering from life-threatening diseases. In December 2017, GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a vasoconstrictor indicated to increase blood pressure in adults with septic or other distributive shock. In August 2019, GIAPREZA was approved by the European Commission (EC) for the treatment of refractory hypotension in adults with septic or other distributive shock who remain hypotensive despite adequate volume restitution and application of catecholamines and other available vasopressor therapies. LJPC-0118 (artesunate) is La Jollas investigational product for the treatment of severe malaria. For more information, please visit www.ljpc.com .

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that forward-looking statements are based on managements expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from what we currently expect. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those associated with: GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) sales; regulatory actions relating to La Jollas products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Commission and/or other regulatory authorities; cash used in operating activities and our capital requirements; and other risks and uncertainties identified in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this press release apply only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Company Contacts

Sandra Vedrick

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company

Phone: (858) 207-4264 Ext: 1135

Email: svedrick@ljpc.com

and
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Spectrum Health leaders say they will accept a limited number of coronavirus COVID-19 patients from Southeast Michigan hospitals if needed.

Spectrum Health issued a statement Friday, April 3 on the issue.

State Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun on March 26 said the state was implementing a plan that sought help from hospitals outside Southeast Michigan to act as relief hospitals for those at or nearing capacity.

In Spectrums statement, hospital administrators said they support the plan for expanded hospital capacity statewide.

Which West Michigan hospitals are accepting patient transfers amid coronavirus pandemic

We anticipate the surge in southeast Michigan will be declining as we increase our patient load and may need hospitals there to help us in a similar way, the statement continued.

Spectrum Health is the regions largest hospital system, with 14 hospitals in a 13-county footprint.

Michigan sees largest spike with 1,953 new confirmed coronavirus cases

A Spectrum spokesperson on Friday said that only two hospitals -- Spectrum Health Butterworth near downtown Grand Rapids and Spectrum Health Blodgett in East Grand Rapids -- would accept the Southeast Michigan patients.

Read Spectrums full statement here"

We are doing our best to plan for the anticipated surge of COVID-19 cases that we believe are imminent in the coming days in our region. Spectrum Healths mission is to improve health, inspire hope and save lives. We support the State of Michigans efforts to plan for expanded hospital capacity. At this time, we have capacity and have developed a compassionate patient acceptance plan where we will accept a limited number of medically-appropriate COVID-19 patients from southeast Michigan. We anticipate the surge in southeast Michigan will be declining as we increase our patient load and may need hospitals there to help us in a similar way. This will be carefully coordinated and highly collaborative with other health systems in the state. We are all in this together.

For more statewide data, visit MLives coronavirus data page, here.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Younger coronavirus patients make up 40% of Michigan cases, have potential to spread the illness

Five takeaways from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers coronavirus town hall

Friday, April 3: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan
All I care about is surviving

Im a single parent of 3-year-old twins. No, I am not doing crafts (not my skill set and not my job), I have no schedules (who has the time and brain power to come up with that? I have a hard enough time ordering groceries a week in advance), Im not worried about their brains atrophying. All I care about is surviving, getting my work done, and keeping them alive.

 Kelly Ann Sharman, Sweden

Everything I constructed to help us move forward has just stopped

During Hurricane Sandy, the last major crisis Meghan Getting-Straesser remembers going through in her house on Long Island, she and her husband tried to make the time they spent stuck at home as fun as possible for their two kids. When the power went out, they played board games by the fire. At 5 p.m. on the dot every day, they left the house for a walk. Getting-Straesser and her husband could watch the children in shifts, or take a five-minute breather when they needed to calm down. Now widowed, caring for her 8- and 11-year-old girls on her own while working full-time from home, Getting-Straesser thinks often about the hurricane, how at least she and her husband could be a team.

In February 2019, her husband died from a pulmonary embolism. When she reads about the coronavirus  studies of some people experiencing symptoms similar to the ones her husband had, or stories about the stun of sudden loss  she feels triggered, she said, like pockets of grief she thought she had closed were opening back up. After her husband died, she said she experienced her own kind of social distancing. People dont know how to react when you lose a spouse so young, she said. They dont know what to say to you.

Under quarantine, everything I constructed to help us move forward has just stopped, she said. She and her daughters can no longer go to a family grief support group; the kids dance classes, music lessons and Taekwondo have moved to Zoom. Shes started to attend a weekly video call with other widows under the age of 50. The slowed-down schedule has given them time to process. Weve done some more grieving that we maybe put off, she said.

A global pandemic was not even on my worst case scenarios list

When I made the decision to become a mom on my own, I weighed every scenario. What would happen if I lost my job? What would it look like to go on vacations? What would happen if I got really sick? These last couple of weeks, Ive woken up nightly worrying how I will parent my 3.5-year-old boy if I get the virus, knowing no one is coming to help. A global pandemic was not even on my worst case scenarios list. Our community of help and support is on lockdown. A million FaceTime playdates wont change how isolating it is to do this alone and how much more work it is to keep my toddler entertained with just the two of us.

 Patty Kupfer, Denver
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-05 02:18:48|Editor: huaxia

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VIENNA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Five more people tested positive for the coronavirus in Austria Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Alpine country to 29, according to the Ministry of Health.

The count consists of 15 cases in Vienna, 5 in Lower Austria, 4 in Styria, 3 in Salzburg and 2 in Tyrol.

According to the ministry, 3,138 tests had been carried out across the country by Wednesday afternoon.

Rudolf Anschober, Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, was satisfied with the government's information offensive against the coronavirus.

"Nobody comes to an outpatient clinic saying I have symptoms," said Anschober at a press briefing. "People wait at home, just like we have planned."

According to the minister, two hotlines are well received by the citizens.

The Agency for Health and Food Security (AGES) hotline, which deals with questions about the coronavirus, has around 5,000 calls a day, while the general health hotline 1450 is contacted 3,000 times a day.

In the meantime, the government has put together a short-term package of measures for particularly hard-hit companies, which includes loan guarantees amounting to ten million euros (11 million U.S dollars). Enditem
It was no April Fool's joke when Home Depot announced, on April 1, that it had directed all 2,300 stores in North America to stop sales of N95 masks so that any remaining stock could be donated to health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was no April Fool's joke when Home Depot announced, on April 1, that it had directed all 2,300 stores in North America to stop sales of N95 masks so that any remaining stock could be donated to health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Home Depot's gesture was not unappreciated. There is a global shortage of these masks, which provide the highest degree of protection for nurses and doctors. One of the contributing reasons is that retailers continue to control huge stockpiles of these essential personal protective equipment (PPE) devices. However, it was also rather hilariously late to be making such an important decision.

Lamentably, Home Depot is hardly alone in its sluggish response.

Lowe's, another home improvement chain, announced on March 20 it was donating 30,000 N95 masks and other items, such as gloves, cleaning products and bottled water. Target announced it was donating its entire supply of N95 masks to hospitals across the United States, but only after someone tweeted a photo on March 21 of shelves in a Seattle-area Target store jammed with boxes of masks.

The rapacious lunacy of the retail sector has even reached Winnipeg.

Customers line up to buy hand sanitizer and facemasks at Showcase at Polo Park on Wednesday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Showcase, a Polo Park mall retailer that normally sells "as advertised on TV" gizmos and gadgets, created a small stir on Wednesday when the store let it be known it had a stockpile of N95 masks and hand sanitizer and was willing to sell on a first-come, first-served basis.

Showcase said its decision to sell these products at retail was "a public service," and said it would limit purchase of the masks to first-responders, health-care workers and seniors. Selling these masks is hardly a public service  particularly when the store was doing nothing to ensure the masks were getting to the people who need them the most.

Shared Health Manitoba prescribes N95 masks for "aerosol-generating" medical procedures. That list does not include the treatment or testing of COVID-19 patients, although nursing and health care support worker unions across Canada believe they should have access to them as a matter of course. Either way, N95s are in great demand and shouldn't have been sold from a Polo Park storefront like cut-rate Easter hams.

Showcase's action, along with the late-to-the-dance donations of big-box and online retailers, suggests governments around the world should have stepped in and conscripted these items. For some reason, governments have been unwilling or unable to do that, and one contributing factor may be the sheer number of retailers that have their hands on these PPE items.

Not all retailers succumbed to the siren song of profiteering; brands like Eddie Bauer, The Gap, Ralph Lauren, Hanes and even Winnipegbased Canada Goose have already announced they were retooling their manufacturing lines to produce masks, gowns and medical scrubs.

In doing research for this article, I found a story on Vox explaining why the United States was so short of N95s. (Spoiler alert: governments did not invest enough money in stockpiling PPEs before the pandemic.) As I read the story on my computer, a Google Ad popped up for a website operated by something called Airygal that was selling  you guessed it  N95 masks and other medical-grade PPE such as gloves and face shields. The same situation exists at Amazon; dozens of listings for badly needed PPEs.

Not all retailers succumbed to the siren song of profiteering; brands such as Eddie Bauer, the Gap, Ralph Lauren, Hanes and even Winnipeg-based Canada Goose have announced they would retool their manufacturing lines to produce masks, gowns and medical scrubs. Then there's the story of Thawrih SportsMask, an Ottawa company that makes breathable, flexible headgear for Muslim and Sikh athletes. Thawrih announced last week it would use its production capacity to make medical-grade masks.

These good-news stories do not clear the stench of greed and opportunism that have driven parts of the retail industry. Even before the global shortage of PPE became one of the biggest narratives in the pandemic, we had widespread price-gouging and hoarding of necessities at big-box retailers.

For weeks, news organizations reported that panicky citizens were buying huge quantities of sanitizing supplies, thermometers, toilet paper and some food items. Lost in that trend was the fact that retailers can and regularly do limit the purchase of products during promotions and sales. But in this instance, retailers didn't take action until it was too late and the supply chain was compromised. Apparently, the need to moderate the sale of staples to prevent hoarding was considered less important than limiting the sale of specially priced K-cup coffee pods.

Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

When the pandemic starts to wind down, a day of reckoning will come for many people, both in government and the private sector, who used this crisis as an economic opportunity.

Retailers deflected attention by saying supply chains would eventually catch up and they would start limiting the amounts people could by. Have you tried to buy toilet paper lately? The supply chain for some items will not recover for some time.

When the pandemic starts to wind down, a day of reckoning will come for many people, both in government and the private sector, who used this crisis as an economic opportunity. When we reach judgment day, you can bet some of the world's biggest retailers will have some explaining to do.

Until then, we as individuals can take action. If you have some N95 masks or know where to buy them, package them up and donate them to the province. Shared Health has already posted information on what is needed and where you can drop it off.

Do what the retailers were unable to do. Put the lives of people on the razor's edge of the pandemic battle before our own selfish interests.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
Mumbai, April 3 : The Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), which runs the Taj group of hotels, has thrown open its doors for the medical staff combating the Covid-19 pandemic, an official spokesperson said here on Friday.

From Friday, the rooms will be available at seven of its properties, including the flagship Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba, Taj Lands End in Bandra, Taj Santacruz, The President, Ginger in MIDC Andheri, Ginger in Madgaon (Goa) and Ginger Noida.

"During these trying times, we at IHCL are keenly aware of our responsibilities towards our community. As a reflection of our commitment, beginning today, we are offering rooms for the medical fraternity to stay," the spokesperson told IANS.

The company said that it "deeply values the contributions from the medical community and will continue to work with them and the local authorities" as the country navigates through the ongoing health crisis.

Taking note of the developments, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule lauded the move and thanked the group for its generosity.

"The Tata group is providing accommodation at its hotels for doctors and nurses working in civic hospitals amid the coronavirus crisis. Thank you so much Ratan Tata for your generous contributions," Sule said.

Meanwhile, several excited medics and para-medics posted pictures on social media of their comfortable stay at some of these hotels after working hard with the Covid-19 patients at various hospitals.

The company declined to reveal how many rooms are on offer at its various properties, and whether these are complimentary and with any additional service etc., or if it would extend the compliments to other cities or countries grappling with the pandemic.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said Friday that he would choose not to wear a coronavirus mask because it would interfere with his ability to meet with foreign presidents, prime ministers and "dictators."

"Somehow sitting in the Oval Office, behind that beautiful Resolute Desk," Trump said, indicating he thought it would be uncomfortable wearing a mask as he met with "presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens  I dont know, somehow I dont see it for myself."

Trump made the remark Friday during a White House news conference in which he announced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would revise recommendations to advise people to start wearing masks in public to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Trump stressed that the CDC is not calling for Americans to wear medical-grade masks. Medical protective gear must be preserved for health care officials on the front lines treating coronavirus patients, he said.

The president repeatedly said the guidelines are voluntary and said that he would not wear one.

Trump regularly uses the "dictator" line to convey that he meets with all sorts of foreign leaders, from long-standing allies to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Cover up: Trump recommends wide use of face masks to stem spread of coronavirus

"Leaders come in from other countries  prime ministers, presidents, kings, queens, dictators, in some cases  they just dont know theyre dictators," Trump said during an official event in Florida in December.

You know when I meet dictators and presidents and kings and queens and prime ministers, they all come into the beautiful Oval Office, he said weeks earlier at a rally in Pennsylvania.

But most of Trumps meetings with foreign leaders have been canceled because of the coronavirus. The White House postponed a meeting with the king of Spain that had been scheduled for mid-March. The administration also canceled the in-person G-7 meeting of the worlds largest industrialized economies that had been set for June.

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Contributing: Nicholas Wu and David Jackson

Fact check: What's true and what's false about coronavirus?

President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the White House on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Trump won't wear mask because of foreign leader meetings
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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) completed a second report on its business-wide survey, including the input of 635 respondent companies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The number of survey respondents continued to climb, from 531 earlier this week for which our first report was based on 635 in our now final compilation. As all indicators by participants were toward significant decline without tourism arrivals. Our report was circulated to the Council of Ministers, Parliament and other governmental stakeholders. The survey now up to 635 companies, includes sole proprietors like taxi drivers to the largest employers on the island, represent a total labor force of 9293 employees as of March 14th, when the effects of the global Covid19 pandemic set in.

This data is representative of approximately 50% of the workforce not employed by Government, Semi-government and government-owned companies. Of that, it is anticipated that almost 50% will be laid-off. The association stresses for immediate actions and acute incentives to protect jobs and livelihoods.

Based on the joint figures of the respondents, it is assessed 6.3% of the private sector labor as of March 14th has already been laid off. 74.3% of the companies and non-governmental organizations stated that without outside help, extra layoffs will be inevitable and many SMEs are already considering closing their doors forever. According to the survey result, the reduction of the labor force would add up to 33.1 percent after 3 months, and 47.8 % after 6 months.

Based on data from the 2018 TEATT Business Survey this suggests that a total reduction to the national employed labor force employed by approximately 11,950 leaving over 7000 households without income. In this scenario, the government would experience a decrease in revenues of ANG 229 million from budgeted Employment Taxes and Business Taxes to their coffers, and much more that Government will have to pay out in social support for the unemployed.

The association considers these numbers alarming and asks for direct action and robust long term strategies. SHTA repeats its urgent call for a 90% payroll subsidy to be implemented immediately. This request has been a consistent stance of all business associations over the past month. This would allow the labor force to keep jobs, livelihood and the ability to pay for food, rent, water, and SZV coverage. By using employers, a proven channel remains in place without the need to reinvent the wheel; but more importantly, retains the economic backbone of the country and protects existing investment. Arguably a much better place from which to rebuild then with enormous unemployment with few companies left standing. In addition, it will continue to provide cash flows to the government.

For the Decision makers of Government, SHTA expects the numbers to speak for themselves. As the number of companies submitting entries is about a quarter of the Sint Maarten companies employing 50% of the non-Government and semi-Government employees; as described in the TEATT business survey of 2018, the association underlines the comprehensive representation of the sample  especially when taking into account the large employers and household count implicitly represented in the research.

Numbers were carefully reviewed and suggest that they can be of use for decision-makers in order to save peoples income and livelihoods. The 635 companies compiled their confidential information in less than one week. SHTA thanks fellow business associations Sint Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA), Indian Merchants Association (IMA) and Sint Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) for swift assistance in spreading the request, as well as the many non-members sending in data. SHTA thanks its own membership for unprecedented compliance of 91% to its request, as well as the various policymakers requesting the information.
San Jose, April 3 : Video meeting app Zooms Founder and CEO Eric Yuan has apologized for the privacy and security issues or "Zoom-bombing" being reported in his app that has seen a surge in usage globally as people work from home during lockdowns.

Slammed for the lack of users privacy and security by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and cybersecurity experts, reports claimed this week that the video conferencing app Zoom is also prone to hacking.

"We recognize that we have fallen short of the community's - and our own - privacy and security expectations. For that, I am deeply sorry, and I want to share what we are doing about it," said Yuan in a blog post.

The CEO said that over the next 90 days, the company is committed to dedicating the resources needed to better identify, address, and fix issues proactively to "maintain your trust".

This includes enacting a feature freeze, effectively immediately, "and shifting all our engineering resources to focus on our biggest trust, safety, and privacy issues".

"We will conduct a comprehensive review with third-party experts and representative users to understand and ensure the security of all of our new consumer use cases and prepare a transparency report that details information related to requests for data, records, or content," said Yuan.

His plans come after a California man filed a lawsuit against Zoom, alleging the company illegally sold user data to Facebook.

"We took action to remove the Facebook SDK in our iOS client and have reconfigured it to prevent it from collecting unnecessary device information from our users," informed Yuaon, adding that the company would enhance its current bug bounty programme.

"Starting next week, I will host a weekly webinar on Wednesdays at 10am PT to provide privacy and security updates to our community," said the Zoom CEO.

As of December last year, the maximum number of daily meeting participants, both free and paid, conducted on Zoom was approximately 10 million.

In March this year, it reached more than 200 million daily meeting participants, both free and paid.

"We have been working around the clock to ensure that all of our users - new and old, large and small - can stay in touch and operational," said Yuan.

As businesses, schools and colleges and millions of SMBs use video conferencing tool Zoom during the work-from-home scenario, the FBI warned people about porn material being popped up during the video meetings.

The Boston branch of the law enforcement agency said it has received multiple reports of Zoom conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

It is planned to introduce the first gas in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) sections in Albania and then in Italy in coming weeks and months, Murad Heydarov Chairman of TAP Board of Directors, told Trend.

TAPs project activities are in full compliance with the COVID 19 related sanitary provisions in Greece, Albania and Italy. We aim at enabling the project to progress towards delivering first gas within 2020. Despite the challenges related to lockdowns and quarantine measures, works are currently progressing with extreme care. In these unprecedented times, TAPs utmost priority is the health and safety of its staff, contractors and sub-contractors personnel. At the end of February 2020, the TAP project was almost 93.5 percent complete. In the upcoming weeks and months, we plan to introduce first gas in Albania and then in Italy. However, we continue to monitor the evolution of COVID-19 very closely, following the guidance of public health authorities at international and national levels. We keep high our readiness to adjust our planned project activities to further requirements of the host countries and react efficiently if the situation changes. As I said the health of all people assigned to the project is our utmost priority, he said.

TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.

Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.

The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.

Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Why it matters: With an unprecedented number of people working, schooling, and socializing from home, there are a lot more victims for cybercriminals to target. However, even playing a seemingly harmless prank on unsuspecting victims can result in fines and prison time under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Federal prosecutors have put pranksters and hackers on notice: If you are thinking about "Zoom bombing"  don't. Zoom bombing is where someone barges in on a video conference and displays porn or some other disruptive content. According to the Department of Justice, such acts are a federal offense and subject to harsh fines and imprisonment.

"You think Zoom bombing is funny? Let's see how funny it is after you get arrested," Matthew Schneider, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said in a DoJ press release. "If you interfere with a teleconference or public meeting in Michigan, you could have federal, state, or local law enforcement knocking at your door."

The warning comes as the Zoom video conferencing app has exploded in popularity. The tool's user base has grown 20-fold to over 200 million in just over three months, causing the company to freeze feature development to fix security issues brought on by the increased numbers and use cases that extended beyond the scope the company intended.

However, Zoom is not the only telecommuting application, and the law applies to them all. Regardless of whether a person interrupts a Zoom meeting or a Microsoft Teams conference, it is still a violation of USC 18 section 1030 of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Sentences can range from one to 10 years in federal prison, depending on the specifics of the violation. Fines can be up to $100,000 for misdemeanor acts and $250,000 for felonies as well as the seizure of property.

"We were alerted to this problem by a Michigan reporter who participated in a Zoom conference that was hijacked," said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. "Since then, we have learned of other incidents around the country."

The FBI urges people to exercise "good cyber hygiene" when using teleconferencing apps and has outlined some tips and steps to reduce risks on the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website. Victims of conference hijacking can also report it on the IC3's reporting page.

Masthead credit: Zoom Lock by Ink Drop, Video Conferencing by Girts Ragelis
Azerbaijans energy ministry says that a meeting of the OPEC group of oil producers is planned for April 6.

The worlds top oil-exporting countries are debating cutting global supply by 10 million barrels per day, a source from the grouping told the Reuters news agency on Friday, adding that any further cuts must include producers from outside the alliance.

United States President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had brokered a deal with top crude producers Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut output and arrest an oil price rout amid the global coronavirus pandemic, though details of how cuts would work were unclear.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers including Russia, saying it aimed to reach a fair agreement to stabilise oil markets that have crashed on the demand impact from the coronavirus pandemic.

Prices have also been crushed after Saudi Arabia and Russia failed last month to agree on output curbs.

Azerbaijans energy ministry said on Friday that a meeting of the OPEC group of oil producers is planned for April 6 and will be held as a video conference, the RIA news agency reported.

The ministry said that all OPEC countries were expected to take part and that stabilising prices on oil markets would be discussed.

Oil prices fell early on Friday, following their biggest-ever one day gains on Thursday as analysts doubted the output deal would go far enough after Trump said he had made no offer to cut US output.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation has strongly advised those who visited the Lifestyle store between March 10 to 17 to isolate themselves. They have also been asked to contact helpline numbers 044 25384520 or 044 46122300 if they develop any symptoms. At least two of the stores staff have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Health Department. A notification issued by the city Corporation, however, says three of the staff have COVID-19.

Anyone, who visited the Phoenix Mall, especially the Lifestyle outlet, between March 10 and March 17, and all the employees who work in the mall are advised to stay cautious and seek immediate medical care by calling us on the below number, if you develop any symptoms, read a notification by the city corporation.

On March 27, a woman from Ariyalur, who was working at this Lifestyle unit, tested positive. Later on March 31, her colleague, a native of Tiruvannamalai, also tested positive. It has been found that the woman staff interacted with a man in the store. He later travelled to Sri Lanka where he tested positive, said Health Secretary Beela Rajesh.

Corporation officials told Express that a total of 330 people have been traced as contacts of the woman so far, out of which less than 30 are from Chennai. Sources in Cuddalore told Express that 11 persons connected with the Phoenix Mall staff members have been placed in isolation after developing symptoms.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

While the spread of the new coronavirus has wrought havoc all over the world, one area that hasnt been directly affected too much is Albuquerques booming residential housing market.

At least so far.

I know theres a lot of gloom and doom, said Albuquerque real estate agent John Lopez. But Ive been watching the market really closely, and weve been rocking.

But Lopez and other industry watchers agreed the virus spread has brought much long-term uncertainty to the housing market in Albuquerque and beyond as potential home-buyers grapple with unemployment and other changes.

I think theres a little bit of hesitation from buyers, said Jessica Beecher, owner of RE/MAX Select in Albuquerque.

Unlike some hard-hit sectors, like food service and air travel, Beecher said real estate tends to run in longer cycles, which means full impacts wont be visible until later this spring.

After months of rapid home price growth, fueled by limited inventory and high demand, March  when the virus began to directly impact New Mexico  was a mixed bag for Albuquerque home-sellers. Garcia said the number of home sales that closed in the last week of March actually increased, to 185 from 143 during the same week last year. The city also issued more permits for new home construction in March than in any month since the start of its fiscal year.

But Beecher said the number of pending sales dropped by about 30% last month  still a strong showing for Albuquerque overall, but possibly a sign rapid home price growth may be slowing.

According to website ShowingTime, the number of home showings in New Mexico began plummeting in mid-March. By Thursday, they were down more than 37% from the weekly average so far this year.

Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors CEO Kent Cravens said the fundamentals of the local housing market are still strong, but New Mexicos fast-growing unemployment rate remains a question mark going forward.

It all comes back to how quickly the overall economy will come back, he said.

Scott Henry, president and CEO of the Albuquerque-based home building company Stillbrooke Homes, said the virus has also disrupted supply chains and slowed down permitting, which could delay the availability of new homes on the market, including three new subdivisions Henry is working on in Northeast Heights.

Even if a longer-term recession effects home prices nationwide, however, Beecher said she expects the impact to be smaller in Albuquerque than in other Western cities, noting the city tends to be more insulated from the ebbs and flows of the market, due in part to its reliance on government jobs.

We dont always get the extreme highs and lows of other states, Beecher said.

In the meantime, real estate agents are starting to adapt to the new realities of social distancing. Beecher said her office has started using Matterport, a program that lets users get three-dimensional views of homes in lieu of in-person home tours.
European markets closed lower on Friday, bringing an end to another rocky week of trading amid the deepening coronavirus crisis.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 ended down almost 1%, with oil and gas stocks sliding 4.6% to lead losses, while healthcare stocks bucked the trend to climb 0.8%.

Friday saw a slew of harrowing March PMI (purchasing managers' index) data out of the euro zone, as the economic impact of shutdowns necessitated by the pandemic continues to deepen.

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide surpassed 1 million on Thursday night, resulting in more than 53,000 deaths so far. Spain surpassed the total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Italy on Friday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, putting it second only to the U.S. for worldwide coronavirus cases.

Spain typically reports daily new cases several hours ahead of Italy, and the numbers will likely change throughout the day.

Global stock markets have experienced a shaky start to the second quarter this week as investors continue to assess the potential economic ramifications of widespread lockdowns and the persistent spread of the virus, along with the fiscal and monetary measures being deployed by governments and central banks to mitigate the crisis.
At the beginning of January, a group of remote employees for the online design platform Modsy were invited to a videoconference. It was a fairly typical request, but as it turned out, this was not a typical meeting. The host, a Modsy supervisor, seemingly reading from a prepared document, launched quickly into some bad news: Unfortunately, if you are on this call, your position has been eliminated. She continued to read the terms of the firing, then left the floor open for questions.

There was a pause. Then a voice popped up: Is this a joke?

In a time of mass layoffs and furloughs, a dozen or so employees being let go might not register as a surprisebut this was January, and Modsy had had a good 2019. In May, the company had raised $37 million in a Series C round of funding, bringing its total capitalization to just over $70 million. Modsy also launched a line of furniture, originally called Minna Home, then renamed to Ravine, that would enable the site to command a greater margin on purchases made through its platform. According to a former employee, the site earned over $1 million on Black Friday (Modsy declined to discuss sales numbers). The ranks of the companys style networkits team of contracted interior designershad swelled to over 800 by October.

However, throughout the first quarter of 2020, Modsy has been aggressively cutting back. According to interviews with several former employees, the site initiated a round of layoffs in January, reducing both salaried employees and its network of designers. In February and early March, Modsy continued to cut. Following the latest set of layoffs this week reported on by TechCrunch, the company has now trimmed its network of designers down to under 100, eliminated a layer of management, and made cuts at the executive level.

In an email exchange with Business of Home, CEO and founder Shanna Tellerman said that as part of the efforts to make the company leaner, she and a number of other members of the executive team have taken a 25 percent pay cut.

While such measures are being taken by companies around the globe seeking to weather the economic fallout from the spread of the coronavirus, the reasons behind Modsys downsizing are more complicated. In a recent video call that was recorded by an employee and posted on social media, Tellerman can be seen acknowledging that as of yet, sales have not significantly dropped.

Nevertheless, Tellerman says that the coming impact of the coronavirus has caused Modsy to radically change its projections for the year ahead. COVID-19 has already and will continue to have a major impact on our business, just as its impacting every other business globally, she wrote. We believe that ensuring Modsy survives this pandemic and the upcoming recession is the most important thing we can do as a business for the industry, designers and customers alike.

However, Tellerman acknowledges that Modsy had already been scaling back prior to the coronaviruss arrival in the U.S.; the January, February and early March cuts caught many employees off guard. Several described to BOH a culture of cheery optimism, in which the companys successes were celebrated and sales were flowing in. As a result, the layoffs seemed to arrive out of the blue, and many employees took to the job review site Glassdoor to vent their frustrations.

At the time, the cutbacks were ascribed to a change in corporate strategy, inefficient customer acquisition costs, and the shifting winds of venture capital culture. In a recording of a January video call obtained by BOH, a Modsy supervisor says: How we grew in the fall is not sustainable.  The climate of startups existing has really shifted over the past couple months. Companies like WeWork that have exponentially grown have not been successful.  Were moving from a 3X planned growth rate to a 2X planned growth rate. That means we need significantly less designers because were going to have significantly less customers than we planned to have.

Coming into 2020, market indicators prompted us to scale back our growth plan and reduce costs accordingly, wrote Tellerman. This called for some very difficult decisions that included layoffs in Q1 and adjusting compensation plans in Q2. I am deeply sorry to everyone who has been personally impacted by these decisions. We have provided severance to employees laid off and are also offering references and support to designers throughout this transition.

CUTS TO DESIGN FEES

Over the past five months, Modsy has also slashed the fees it pays designers. According to several former designers for the company, last fall, Modsy was paying $30 for a standard room design and $40 for a premium offering (stylists must complete two designs for each room). The rate was reduced in December to $26 for a standard room, $30 for a premium. In documents obtained by BOH, the companys current rate represents another round of cuts: Modsy is now paying designers $18.75 to create a standard living room, and $22.50 for a premium level of servicewhich means that over the course of six months, the company has almost halved what it pays for some design work.

Modsy encourages stylists to complete the two designs for each room in under two hours90 minutes is a frequently suggested turnaround time. Several former Modsy designers said that while it was possible to complete two designs that quickly, it was difficult to maintain good customer reviews working at that speed. According to these designers, two initial room designs frequently took them from two to four hours, meaning that pay would sometimes fall far below minimum wage.

Isabela Lins, a senior lead who has worked at Modsy for three years, tells BOH that the companys internal metrics back up the suggested 90-minute turnaround time, and that the cuts to fees reflected improvements to Modsys internal tools that would allow designers to complete the work more efficiently.

The change in rates also affects what Modsy will pay for redesignsaccommodating the changes that customers make after receiving their initial plan. After the third redesign, the payment to designers is reduced to $1 per change for most rooms. According to several former Modsy designers, customers frequently request five or more redesigns. Lins says that requests for extensive redesigns are rare.

OUTSOURCING

Earlier this year, many Modsy stylists were upset by the revelation that the company had explored outsourcing design work overseas. Piecing together clues from the companys Slack system and digging around on Twitter, some discovered that Modsy had been testing out a team of stylists based out of the Philippines late last year.

Modsy acknowledged the program in internal meetings with designers, and said that it had been a pilot that had not panned outand that stylists in the Philippines had not worked on any client projects. The company did continue to explore offshoring, with another program in Bulgaria launched in February that led to the hiring of five stylists, a growth program Modsy says it has since suspended. Two weeks ago, a Bulgarian Modsy employee posted a notice on LinkedIn, advertising openings for designers. The ad included a room design rate of $12, roughly $7 less than what an American stylist would be paid for the same work.

Lins says that currently the Bulgarian design team is paid at the same rate as American designers, that the $12 rate had been floated to test the market in Bulgaria, and that the ad had been left online in error, as the program is now frozen.

In a videoconference with remaining Modsy employees conducted yesterday obtained by BOH, COO Meredith Dunn discussed the origins of the program and explained why the five Bulgarian designers had not been fired in the same round of layoffs that had seen hundreds of U.S.-based designers cut from the ranks: We do feel like we want to understand if an offshore model could work for us, so thats why we kept the five people we have, to learn from that in a small way. And we ended any future hiring there.

By email, Tellerman reiterated that the company is not actively hiring any designersU.S.-based or otherwise.

GOING FORWARD

On the call with employees yesterday, both Dunn and Tellerman expressed regret for the layoffs and acknowledged the pain caused by the cuts. I realize that this is a really hard time, many of you love Modsy, love your jobs. Some of you are very upset and angry and I get it all and Im sorry, said Dunn. I wish we could recontract a larger group of folks. You guys are very talented.

Tellerman apologized to the assembled audience, and addressed a rocky path ahead. There is probably nothing that has been harder than this past week at the companythis is not the event or the year that I had expected, she said. Theres nothing that can make you feel worse as a founder than watching what youve built have to take so many steps backwards. The main thing I am focused on is not shutting the company down and the hard, hard, hard decisions we had to make over the last week were to take what we have in terms of cash flow and money and extend it to a point that we can weather through what is probably going to be the biggest economic recession of our lifetime.

Tellerman volunteered to write employees a letter of recommendation, and she and Dunn discussed a program to allow laid-off stylists to continue using the companys rendering software to build out their portfolios. On the call, the two discuss the challenges facing the company going forwarda difficult path to profitability, the likelihood that Modsy would require fundraising again in the future, the need to cut back on marketing spend in the days ahead.

As we build Modsy back up, there are going to be lessons learned in that round of scaling, said Tellerman. I truly hope and believe that we are going to be growing Modsy again in the future.

Homepage photo: A Modsy rendering featuring pieces from the company's furniture line
Riyadh, April 3 : Saudi Arabia has called for an urgent meeting of the OPEC+ group and other countries in an effort to reach a fair agreement to restore the desired balance of oil markets, state media reported.

The state media report said on Thursday that that Saudi Arabia made efforts during the past period to reach an agreement within OPEC+ group to restore equilibrium in the oil market, as it has garnered the support of as many as 22 countries within OPEC+ group, but it was not possible to reach an agreement due to lack of consensus, reports Xinhua news agency.

In a phone call between the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and US President Donald Trump also on Thursday, the two leaders reviewed the situations of energy markets in the world.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the surprising decision to step down from their roles as senior royals after less than two years of working as a team. The two explained that they wanted to achieve financial independence and start a life of their own in North America. However, the couples dreams might have been a bit more ambitious than they realized.

Rumors suggest that Harry and Meghan actually wont be financially independent, as Prince Charles will reportedly shell out $2.5 million annually for the couples security team.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Andrew Milligan/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were hoping to be financially independent

When Harry and Meghan initially made the announcement that they would be leaving the royal family, a big reason for that was because they wanted to achieve complete financial independence. They were hoping to continue doing work for the queen, but once they realized they couldnt do that without having some kind of monetary ties, they stepped back from the role altogether.

However, there is still a lot that needs to be worked out in the couples new life, and it looks like financial independence wont come as quickly as theyd hoped.

Countries refused to provide for the couples security

When Harry and Meghan first arrived in Canada, people instantly became concerned that taxpayer money was going to have to pay for the couples security. For a while, it did, but then the country announced that once Harry and Meghan were no longer royals (as of March 31), Canada would not be paying the couples security bill.

When news broke that Meghan and Harry were moving to Los Angeles, President Donald Trump was quick to announce that the United States would not pay for the couples security team, either.

Prince Charles will reportedly split Harry and Meghans security costs with them

The Daily Mail recently reported that Harry and Meghan wont actually be achieving financial independence any time soon. Rather, Prince Charles is reportedly giving Harry and Meghan $2.5 million of his own money to help with their security costs. Charles has agreed to pay a private contribution to the Sussexes, a source told the news outlet. Though the actual amount was not revealed, it is believed to be about half the total cost of $5 million.

The reason for the couples high security cost has to do with their team being able to carry weapons. Its important for Harry and Meghans protection that their guards carry guns, which means that they need to hire more expensive guards.

The two are settling into the Los Angeles area

In recent weeks, it was revealed that Harry and Meghan have recently moved to Los Angeles, California, and they seem to be settling in nicely. Though Harry doesnt have many ties to L.A., it is Meghans home city and also where her mother lives.

It makes sense that the two made the move, since Meghan has plenty of friends in L.A. as well, and the two didnt know very many people on Vancouver Island, where they were previously staying in Canada. Its unclear if this is just another stepping stone for them or their new permanent residence, but either way, its nice to see them living the life theyve always wanted.
Oil prices surged again on Friday on the hope that a production cut deal will soon be reached after OPEC and its allies announced they will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, and after Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said that the county wanted to see global action on cuts of around 10 million barrels per day. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 11.93%, or $3.02, to settle at $28.34 per barrel. At the session high, WTI gained more than 12% to trade at $28.56. For the week WTI rose 31.7% in its best week on record back to the contract's inception in 1983. International benchmark Brent crude rose 13.9% to settle at $34.11 per barrel. Russia initially rejected additional cuts proposed by OPEC in early March, but Reuters reported on Friday that Putin said production needs to be cut by around 10 million barrels per day, but that the U.S. must also take action. "In our view there is no OPEC+ choice involved, the rhetoric is window-dressing, the market will deliver cuts, and they will be deeper than any OPEC+ agreements," Mizuho managing director Paul Sankey said in a note to clients Friday. On Thursday WTI and Brent posted their best day on record after President Donald Trump told CNBC that he expected Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to announce a deal to cut oil production by 10 million to 15 million barrels, although the exact details of the cut remained unclear. WTI gained 24.67% to settle at $25.32, while Brent rose 21% to settle at $29.94.

But some have questioned whether a cut of the magnitude Trump is suggesting is possible, especially if the U.S. doesn't participate. According to a report from Reuters, the administration does not intend to ask U.S. companies to scale back production. "President Trump might have been shooting from the hip when he Tweeted about oil yesterday, promoting the idea of a deal too early on negotiations of high complexity that need more time to blossom," Rystad Energy's head of oil markets Bjornar Tonhaugen said in an email. Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton said that the state would potentially agree to curb production in an effort to prop up prices. "This will be part of a singular deal. We're following the President's lead on this  If this is part of that international agreement, in light of the fact that we are in arguably the worst economic pandemic in mankind's history, then we will participate in extraordinary measures due to those extraordinary circumstances," Sitton said Friday on CNBC's "The Exchange." Outlining what could possibly come next, Eurasia Group's Ayham Kamel said the most likely path forward is a "large OPEC+ supply cut that is complimented by a U.S. cut." Alternatively, he noted that talks could conclude with no deal. The least likely outcome of all is OPEC+ cuts without some form of U.S. participation. "Even if OPEC+ producers reach such an agreement [without participation from the U.S.], the volume of cuts would be much more limited and below 10 million barrels per day," Kamel wrote in a note to clients. Despite Thursday's jump, WTI is still down more than 40% during the last month. Demand has evaporated as the coronavirus outbreak has halted travel worldwide and slowed business activity, just as a price war broke out between powerhouse producers Saudi Arabia and Russia. In March OPEC de facto leader Saudi Arabia recommended cutting production by 1.5 million barrels per day as the pandemic slowed demand. But OPEC ally Russia rejected the proposal, sparking the price war.
LYNCHBURG  When the Georgian Revival house with its asymmetrical windows and crowned dormer peaking through the roof first caught Karen and Paul Dudleys attention, it had sat empty for years.

The couple drove down Rivermont Avenue one day and noticed a cash for houses sign out front. Paul asked about purchasing it but the price was too high for the amount of work necessary to restore it.

Graffiti marred the dining room wall. Random junk cluttered the corners. The stately heart pine floors were coated in white oil paint and little strips of wallpaper clung to old plaster.

It had just been basically abandoned, more or less, Karen said. So, the guy gave us a price and it was more than what we thought we could handle. ...

We have ran into so many people who said, We looked at that house. Everybody went in and said it was too much work, or they didnt know how to do all the work.

Months passed, and the owner reached out to Paul and said Make an offer.

They did, closing on the house in May 2016. It took about five months before the family of five could move into their circa 1906 home.

Rehabilitating a more than 100-year-old home, though, isnt without challenges.

I think living in a historic home, what I love about it is everything is unique, Paul said. Its not like going to Lowes and picking out some supplies. ... Nothing is at a general hardware store so everything was uniquely made for these homes. Everything, all the trim, all the woodwork, the pillars, everything. So as exciting as it is to restore, its also difficult to replace.

The house features a large front porch and entryway flanked by a double set of columns. Paul recalled to restore those columns, he had to call a craftsman to match the original shape.

And the ornate, green slate roof: If that breaks  no luck in finding that. As awesome as it is to restore it back to original, it is also very, very difficult, Paul said.

Inside, the wide hallways are arched and lined with the original wainscoting. The heart pine floors were cut from the center of a mature pine so the planks the family walks on each day are decades older than their historic home.

The paint a prior owner coated on that old heart pine ended up providing a layer of protection. Of course, to remove it took a lot of sanding.

If you look closely, youll still see some of the white paint in the very deep cracks but we love that because it still reminds us of the journey and the history of this house, Paul said.

Karen added, The floor might not look perfect ... but it tells the story. Theres a story behind every imperfection, so that is pretty cool.

One of those imperfections is the hole in the former dining room floor. Now the Dudleys living room, the hole once held a button for the head of the household to step on to call for a servant to deliver the next course of the meal.

The Dudleys reconfigured the foyer as they determined how to use the first floor space. A door near the main staircase that led to the enclosed sun porch and another that led to the former library were closed off.

The Dudleys turned the library into a master suite and the sun porch became the ensuite bathroom and closet space.

A first-floor master was something we always wanted and that was the perfect spot for it, Karen said.

The master suite features an ornately carved fireplace mantel flanked by two built-in bookcases, paying homage to the rooms original purpose. The new bathroom space features a soaking tub, a shower and a large closet covered by a barn door.

Im totally a Chip and Joanna Gaines fan, so all my friends are like, Oh my God, Fixer-Upper threw up all over your house, Karen chuckled.

The couple kept the original sunroom windows but frosted the glass panes to ensure the neighbors couldnt see into the bright, sunny bathroom.

Pocket doors separate the foyer from the parlor where Karen has displayed some of the treasures she found amid the junk former owners left behind. For example, a book of music published the same year as the house was constructed ranked among the finds. Karen framed two pieces of music from it.

Down the hall, the couple decided to turn the full bathroom that once sat between the dining room and kitchen into a half bath, leaving in place the original pedestal sink.

I realized how little they probably were back then, how short, because I feel like I have to bend down, Karen said, demonstrating washing her hands in the sink. My kids love it because its their height but Im like wow people mustve been very small.

The tile floor, though, was too damaged to salvage so the Dudleys replaced it with the same pattern and matched the grout color.

The houses original kitchen was a narrow galley-style space so the couple expanded its footprint to engulf part of the covered back porch for an eat-in kitchen.

When it comes to doing a historic house we like to bring in the modern and kind of meld it with the historic, Karen said. Of course, we kept so many historical features that are here. We added our modern twist to it because we like to meld the generations. Thats why the kitchen is definitely more of a modern look.

The Dudleys employed a structural engineer to expand the space, since the process required removing an exterior, load-bearing wall and installing a massive beam to take the weight of the upper floor.

Two historic elements emerged in the modern kitchen  the original wood shiplap that had been hiding under old exterior siding and a brick chimney that seemingly leads nowhere.

It was covered in plaster and we could tell there was something behind it so we uncovered it, and thats when we found the brick chimney underneath, Karen said. So we thought that was a really great addition to bring out the old in the middle of our new room.

The second floor gave the family enough space for each child to have their own bedroom, as well as for Paul to have an office and the children to have their own arts and crafts room.

Karen said the man who had the house built slept in what now is the office and the wife slept in the room at the top of the stairs to keep an eye on the comings and goings of their children.

The couple installed a laundry on the second floor, as the craft room space featured a plumbed closet space. That cute, oval window on the facade is situated in that laundry closet.

The house originally had old knob-and-tube-style wiring, but all that has been replaced with modern electrical systems, though non-functional elements still reflect that history in the attic and in the fancy, old electrical box in the upstairs hallway.

The couple finished the basement into an Airbnb rental, with a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. An Airbnb guest who grew up in their home in the 1960s marveled at the basement transformation. The house, he told them, was heated by a coal-fired furnace and it was his chore to sweep out the coal dust, recalling how hed return from the task with nostrils full of black dust.

The unfinished attic space may one day become a bonus room with tall, cathedral ceilings and exposed brick but for now, it remains storage. The dormer window provides a unique view of the steeple of Centenary United Methodist Church across the street. An old electric candle still sits in that window.

The man who came in to visit who lived here in the 60s, he said, Oh my word, that candle. That was from my family.  My stepdad always put candles in every window for Christmas and he mustve left it here, she said. So that candle couldve been here since 1968.

As the couple worked to restore the property, social media connected them with pieces of its past, including a woman who reached out on Facebook to say it was her great grandparents former home and she was thankful to see it alive once again.

The house, the Dudleys learned, was built by the Acree family, Leighton Cheatwood Acree and his wife Florence Royall Acree, in 1906. It was designed by prolific turn of the century architects Edward Frye and Aubrey Chesterman.

The Acrees, who worked in real estate, kept the home until 1968.

Its so neat to hear the history and it makes it kind of come alive, Karen said. I can picture what it wouldve been like.  They were throwing dinner parties here where they dressed to the hilt and everybody in Lynchburg came to the Acree house for a party.

One of the Acree children, John White Acree, died serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II while leading a damage control party during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands; he was buried at sea. A destroyer later was commissioned in his honor.

As the couple ripped into walls, they found little hidden pieces of the Acree family, including a photograph taped behind a piece of trim of a man stooped down on a porch talking to a child.

I can never forget the first day, Karen said. We were ripping into the walls pretending like we were on Fixer-Upper during the demo day.  We went into the wall and we found all this hair and we were like, They bury dead bodies in the wall, and then someone who knew what they were doing said, No, they used horse hair to insulate the house is back in the day.

The second owners of the house, the Roberts, owned Roberts Piano Company on Main Street. The Roberts son, who stayed in the Dudleys basement Airbnb, told them of playing ping-pong in the attic and all the lost balls that might still be stuck in the rafters.

The family enjoyed jazz music and would host big house parties, complete with concerts, using the radiator covers as bar tops for the guests.

Clark Terry, a famous jazz trumpeter, once put on a concert there, and afterward had grown so tired he went upstairs to nap in what now is Karens daughters bedroom.

In the houses 114-year history, the Dudleys mark just the fifth family to have lived there.

Thats pretty amazing, Paul said. Its a keeper. The high ceilings are amazing. Just the carpentry thats done  you just dont find it anywhere.

PHOTOS: Lynchburg family uncovered history in restoring 100-year-old home

When the Georgian Revival house with its asymmetrical windows and crowned dormer peaking through the roof first caught Karen and Paul Dudleys attention, it had sat empty for years.

Sidener is the special publications editor for The News & Advance. Reach her at (434) 385-5539.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

Until recently, all Coronavirus cases in Ghana were described as vertical infections. This means the infected persons were all having travel history traced to countries with recorded cases of Coronavirus. It thus means that all these vertical cases were imported into the country.

As Ghana's positive cases of Coronavirus keep increasing minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day like in other countries, the number of horizontal cases also keeps shooting up. Surprisingly, all recorded horizontal cases have two interesting features which have become worrying about discussion.

First, that, none of these patients have had travel history of any kind to and/or from any country affected by the pandemic.

Second, that, none of these patients have had contact history with any known infected persons according to results of investigation and contact tracing.

Without trying to disprove the experts investigative/tests report, I dare say that all these horizontal cases which fall within the two categories identified above are cases traceable to unknown contacts with illegal immigrants who have sneaked their way into the country as they try to flee their countries for the fear of either contracting the disease or dying due to poor medical systems in their countries.

For those fleeing for fear of contracting the virus, they may have ended up contracting it anyway, along their journey to where they probably deem "a country of hope and better health systems against COVID-19" and thus their illegal entry into Ghana.

Before the apprehension of the 11 Guinean illegal immigrants in Tamale and the others apprehended in Babile in the upper west region, I believe they would have come into contact with so many unidentifiable persons.

The phenomenon of coming into contact with people we may never be able to identify even if we met them again elsewhere and whose health status we do not know because they're strangers to us just as we're strangers to them is part of nature, nothing new.

My point is simple. For all the horizontal cases recorded so far which we hear are cases where these persons tested positive are but without travel history and/or no contact with known infected persons could never be the case and cannot be true. We can only agree that they do not have any travel history but cannot agree that they do not have any contact history with infected persons.

All the horizontal patients have had contact with infected persons who are yet to be seen, tested and quarantined. The most unfortunate aspect of this is that, the infected persons they came across are illegal immigrants who they do not know they ever met in life. Pathetically, they shall never be able to recognize them even if they were brought before them for same to be recognized as part of contact tracing investigations.

The only way to curb the further horizontal spread is to strengthen the monitoring of our borders especially unapproved routes into the country. If we're able to stop illegal immigrants from entering the country, the curve of horizontal cases will flatten all at once.

Reindolf Amankwa

Member, CTI-Middle Belt
The P.E.I. government announced new financial measures at its afternoon briefing Friday and gave an economic update for the province.

At the end of 2019, P.E.I.'s economy was outperforming the national average leading the country in GDP growth and that momentum was projected into 2020, according to the province.

Minister of Finance Darlene Compton said because of that, P.E.I. is in a good position to "bounce back" following the pandemic.

However, COVID-19 has had an impact. Compton said three weeks ago the province was projecting a $2.5 million surplus for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Now, a $3.7 million deficit is being projected.

Compton announced a $15 million increase to the emergency contingency fund, bringing the total funding to $40 million in anticipation of the increasing needs of Islanders affected by COVID-19.

Shane Hennessey/CBC

P.E.I. Premier Dennis King noted nearly 10,000 Islanders have filed for employment insurance.

Compton also outlined additional financial measures to help Islanders with property tax relief, including the option to defer property tax payment until Dec. 31, 2020.

Other measures include:

Extending property assessment appeal deadlines for assessment year 2020 to December 31, 2020.

Providing interest relief for tax year 2020, including all past due amounts.

Suspending tax sale processes for the remainder of 2020.

Delaying mailing of provincial tax bills for 2020 until June.

Compton also said to ensure continuity of local services the province will continue to pay municipalities, fire stations and Island Waste Management Corporation their usual tax and fee amounts.

"Our objective is to work collaboratively with the federal government to make sure our programs align and fill the gaps to ensure no Islanders are left behind."

Programs aren't perfect

King acknowledged the programs being offered by the provincial government won't make everyone "whole."

Compton agreed that the financial support being offered hasn't been "perfect."

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"But I can assure you our team is working around the clock to ensure that our province's response is as immediate and responsive as possible."

Government also announced in a release that at the request of the Retail Council of Canada, it is allowing retailers to distribute single-use paper bags free of charge to customers if they so choose citing health concerns as the reason.

At Friday's 1:30 p.m. briefing, P.E.I.'s chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison said there were no new cases of COVID-19 and the total of cases on the Island remain at 22.

Four cases on the Island are now considered to be recovered.

COVID-19: What you need to know

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Common symptoms include:

Fever.

Cough.

Tiredness.

But more serious symptoms can develop, including difficulty breathing and pneumonia, which can lead to death.

Health Canada has built a self-assessment tool.

What should I do if I feel sick?

Isolate yourself and call 811. Do not visit an emergency room or urgent care centre to get tested. A health professional at 811 will give you advice and instructions.

How can I protect myself?

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Clean regularly touched surfaces regularly.

More detailed information on the outbreak is available on the federal government's website.

More COVID-19 stories from CBC P.E.I.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned the United States Friday that restricting medical supplies from being sent to Canada during the ongoing COVID-19 virus outbreak would be a mistake. According to the Associated Press, Trudeaus comments came after U.S.-based manufacturing company 3M confirmed President Donald Trumps administration requested the company cease exporting respirators to Canada and Latin America.

3M responded by saying there would be significant humanitarian implications if the company stopped shipping supplies to those countries as 3M manufactures a critical amount of respirators for those nations. According to Politico, the company has also said it went above and beyond with its production in recent months having doubled production in January, ahead of the outbreak in the U.S.

As part of his warning, Trudeau said the U.S. is also receiving very important medical supplies from Canada that assist U.S. healthcare workers.

These are things that Americans rely on and it would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back-and-forth trade of essential goods and services, including medical goods, across our border, Trudeau said.

However, he did say he thought the message was getting through to the U.S. and expects there wont be any disruptions in the supply chain between the two countries. Last month, the countries agreed to allow for travel between the two nations for essential supplies which allows for various goods to be imported and exported while shutting down the rest of the border to non-essential travel.
Amid such gloom, LGBT Americans have a mantra: It gets better. If the country can learn to work and go to school from home, said Roque, it can learn to help from home, too. He borrowed some advice from the late Fred Rogers, star of the long-running childrens television program Mister Rogers Neighborhood: Look for the helpers. Kelly, the dancer, called AIDS a huge ruptured and profound moment, adding that for those living through the covid-19 pandemic, there are possibilities for insight and wisdom, hopefully, in the wake of that. Nottingham agreed: When this is over, everybody better wake up and realize it could happen again. Or something worse. So just be kinder to people.
Arielle Charnas

Jared Siskin/Getty Images

Something Navy's Arielle Charnas apologized to her followers in a tearful Instagram Story and post, after facing backlash for leaving New York City amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Charnas told her followers that she had tested positive for COVID-19, but headed to the Hamptons with her family two weeks later.

Charnas said that she followed the Centers for Disease Control guidelines in making her decision and that she and her family had waited 14 days before leaving New York City to quarantine elsewhere.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Arielle Charnas, the fashion influencer behind the brand Something Navy, responded to criticism she faced for fleeing New York City during the coronavirus outbreak.

After she told her followers on March 18 that she had contracted COVID-19, commenters and Twitter users began to criticize the influencer for having access to one of the few tests available in New York City at the time.

Related: What Its Like to Travel During the COVID-19 Outbreak

But she soon faced even more backlash when she posted later in the month that she'd left the city to quarantine at a home in the Hamptons with her family. Followers criticized the decision, fearing that she could have brought her germs with her and infected others outside of the city.

"I apologize to anyone that I unintentionally harmed in the course of my decision making," she wrote in her Instagram post on Thursday. She also said that she and her family, including her young children, had been receiving death threats.

Charnas explained that while many online thought she had broken quarantine guidelines or put others at risk, she followed the CDC guidelines in making her decision, and that she and her family had waited 14 days after the onset of symptoms before leaving New York City to quarantine at a rental home in a suburban area.

"We are and have always been committed to taking proper precautions, again through our ongoing conversations with medical professionals, to leave Manhattan without coming into contact with any individual from point A to point B," she said.

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Because of the dense and ever-growing cases of COVID-19 in New York City, Charnas said this seemed like the safest option, once her family was symptom-free and had been quarantining for two weeks. "I'm confident this was the right move to reduce potential spread," she said.

Despite this, commenters and medical professionals have spoken out against influencers like Charnas continuing to travel, suggesting that they are broadcasting dangerous information to their millions of followers.

One commenter wrote, "You left your primary home to go to your holiday home. You've risked making others sick by doing that." Doctor turned influencer Darien Sutton told The New York Times: "When I see these influencers travel around, I think they're setting a really poor example of how to appropriately act during a pandemic. You have to hold yourself accountable for the possibility of transmitting this virus to people who are more vulnerable, and there's no way to be 100 percent sure you don't have the virus."

In an Instagram Story, Charnas cried while apologizing to her followers. "I'm sorry for anyone that I've offended or hurt over the last couple of weeks. We're just trying to navigate through this difficult time, as I'm sure so many people are," she said. "I'm just sorry if I let down my community in any way."

Insider
THIS week has seen a number of seriously ill patients admitted to University Hospital Limerick, some of whom have required intensive care according to the CEO of the UL Hospitals Group who says they are at the beginning of what we expect will be a surge in Covid-19-related admissions.

The comments by Colette Cowan come in a week in which it emerged that a toddler is among dozens of Limerick patients being treated for the Covid-19 coronavirus, and a man in his 40s with no apparent underlying health conditions died unexpectedly, although it has not been confirmed if he had the coronavirus.

Two-year-old Jayce Lyons, had been experiencing symptoms of the deadly bug when his parents brought him to a doctor.

Jayce's father Dylan Williams told of his shock at his little boy becoming one of Ireland's youngest Covid-19 patients, see story right.

At the time of going to press there were 87 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Limerick with 85 Covid-19 related deaths across the country.

It is understood that the UL Hospitals Group is in discussions with University of Limerick and Bon Secours Barringtons Hospital in relation to extra support and step-down clinical support in order to alleviate the pressure at UHL.

With testing and contact tracing proving vital in the prevention of possible transmission chains Fianna Fail TD for County Limerick Niall Collins has written to the Health Minister Simon Harris and the HSE calling for Covid-19 drive-through testing centres to be set up in west and south east Limerick. The only test centres in Limerick are in the city.

Deputy Collins says new centres need to be rolled out as a matter of priority so that people can be tested without any major inconvenience, and so that they can adhere to the new travel restrictions.

It would make sense for one centre to be established to serve the west of the county and another to serve the south and east of the county, said Deputy Collins.

At the moment the only testing centres in Limerick are located in the city, which can mean people undertaking a sizable journey to get there. Its also placing a huge burden on the ambulance service if it has to carry out a home visit test.

I would envisage that a testing centre could be established in either Rathkeale or Newcastle West to serve west Limerick and another established near Kilmallock to serve south east Limerick.

As the public celebration of Mass has been suspended and funerals are only being attended by immediate relatives or very close friends in attempts to minimise the spread of Covid-19, the Limerick Leader has learned of funeral services being live-streamed online. Desperately sad footage is being streamed showing less than a handful of mourners at the funeral Mass of loved ones.

There have also been concerns raised among the public that there will be a difficulty in securing priests to say funeral Masses as the crisis continues, with many of the clergy population who are over 70 years of age now cocooning in accordance with the government's directions.

According to a spokesperson for Limerick Diocese there are 75 priests in the diocese and up to 30 of priests across the diocese are cocooning.

As of this Tuesday, a total of 135 calls were logged by volunteers of the Limerick Covid-19 Community Response group established to coordinate the volunteer effort to support the elderly and those with underlying conditions during the coronavirus crisis. The service is up and running, with the trend showing that collection and drop off of shopping and prescriptions are set to be the most common tasks performed.

Established on Friday and based at the Munster GAA headquarters contact has been growing incrementally by the day across both the volunteer email address, volunteer@limerick.ie, and the 1800 832 005 freephone helpline. An additional email address is also now available for people needing support covidsupport@limerick.ie

Meanwhile, it emerged this Wednesday that Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has undergone tests in hospital that are unrelated to Covid-19.

Dr Holohan who has strong connections to Limerick - he is a nephew of Paddy Ryan Luke from Cappamore - said he expects to be discharged this Thursday morning and to be back at work shortly afterwards. Mr Holohan said that he went to St James's Hospital in Dublin on Tuesday night where he underwent some tests not related to Covid-19 infection.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 15:18:04|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday urged Canada to make a decisive decision and take actions as early as possible to remove the obstacles that impede the development of the two countries' relations.

In a phone conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Wang noted the Canadian side said many times that it values the two countries' relations and hopes to push bilateral ties to get back on the right track, and China attaches importance to the stance.

Noting this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Canada diplomatic ties, Wang said it is supposed to be an important moment for the two countries to strengthen cooperation.

At the time when Canada also faces difficulties caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, China is ready to express sympathy for the Canadian people, provide Canada with support and help it badly needs and share anti-virus experience with Canada without reservation, Wang said.
Following the apex court's direction, the Calcutta High Court had formed a three-member committee to examine the situation in correctional homes in the state and the number of inmates who can be granted bail or parole to decongest the jails

Kolkata: At least 1,000 undertrial prisoners have been released from various correctional homes in West Bengal on interim bail in keeping with the Supreme Court's directions to consider decongesting the jails in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said here on Friday.

The process of granting bail to the undertrials commenced on 23 March, State Legal Services Authority secretary Durga Khaitan said.

Following the apex court's direction, the Calcutta High Court had formed a three-member committee to examine the situation in correctional homes in the state and the number of inmates who can be granted bail or parole to decongest the jails.

Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak

The committee is headed by Calcutta High Court judge Justice Dipankar Datta, who is also the chairman of State Legal Services Authority, while the Director General (Prisons) and Principal Secretary of the Home Department are the members.
A bus driver in Detroit who posted an emotional video calling out a woman who coughed on his bus has died of Covid-19 a fortnight later.

The union for Detroits Department of Transportation announced that Jason Hargrove died on 1 April. In the video, which Mr Hargrove posted to Facebook on 21 March, he describes seeing a woman board his bus and cough several times without covering her mouth.

This coronavirus shit is for real. And were out here as public workers, doing our job, trying to make an honest living, to take care of our families.

But for you to get on a bus and stand on a bus and cough several times without covering up your mouth, and you know that were in the middle of a pandemic  that lets me know that some folks dont care, utterly dont give a fuck, excuse my language 

For a grown-ass person in her late fifties, early sixties, to stand on a fucking bus and cough four or five times without covering up your mouth, and you know were in the midst of a motherfucking crisis with this coronavirus  I am pissed the fuck off.

Mr Hargroves union says that nearly 20 per cent of the citys drivers are now in quarantine, seven of them having tested positive for coronavirus. Buses are still operating, albeit on a reduced schedule; passengers are boarding through read doors only in order to protect drivers.

Detroit is preparing for what could be a dramatic surge in cases of Covid-19. If the virus spreads rapidly among the citys particularly vulnerable population, many of whom are poor and have comorbidities making them susceptible to serious illness, it could overwhelm the local health care system to an extent so far seen only in New York.

In his video, Mr Hargrove implores viewers to take personal responsibility for keeping everybody safe, demanding that they accept the risks of the virus are real and that the pandemic is already underway.

Im out here, were out here, were moving the city around back and forth, trying to do our jobs and be professional about what we do. Again, I aint blaming nobody, nobody. Not the city, not the mayor, not the department, not the state of Michigan, not the government, nobody, not the president  I blame that woman, who stood on this fucking bus and coughed.

Its her fault. Its people like her, who dont take shit for real, why this shit is still existing and still spreading.

At a press conference, Detroit mayor Mike Duggan echoed Mr Hargroves words about personal responsibility. He called for the driver to be remembered, and said all Americans should watch the video he posted.

Some of his language is graphic, but I dont know how you can watch it and not tear up. He knew his life was being put in jeopardy  even though he was going to work for the citizens of Detroit every day  by somebody who just didnt care. Somebody who didnt take this seriously. And now hes gone.
With many Australians facing a potentially prolonged period of distance learning due to COVID-19 shutdowns, health vulnerabilities and social distancing requirements, schools, tertiary education providers, individuals and families are quickly transitioning to online learning.

Yet while evidence shows access to the internet and technology has improved, inequality remains. It is most common among students who already face additional barriers to learning.

Australia must provide access and additional support for disadvantaged students, and reduce the risk of disengagement. Credit:iStock

About 86 per cent of Australian households have access to the internet at home, but while this headline figure appears to indicate a highly connected country, it doesn't provide an accurate picture of who's missing out.

While only 3 per cent of high-income households don't have access to the internet, this increases to 33 per cent among the lowest income households and presents a major barrier and risk for children who are learning remotely.
Lone Star College-Tomball will be reopening the doors of its Health Science Building in partnership with TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries to help provide care in a safe environment to certain clients.

The building, located near TOMAGWA at 700 Graham Drive, will be an alternate location for TOMAGWA patients to limit their possibility of exposure to COVID-19, a Lone Star College news release stated.

Mental health during COVID-19: Northwest Houston area counseling, mental health providers reach clients through telehealth

TOMAGWA offers health care services to low-income patients in the Tomball, Magnolia and Waller areas.

Lone Star College has kept the building closed since Spring Break in March due to the ongoing pandemic, but it will now be used to examine patients needing to be seen in person for issues such as diabetes or impaired lung function, the release detailed, as they cannot be adequately treated remotely through telecommunication.

Lone Star College is a community college, which means we see ourselves as an integral part of the community and look for ways to contribute to the communitys well-being and success any way we can, LSC Vice Chancellor of Strategic Priorities Kyle Scott said.

Out of work?: These companies are hiring in Houston and Texas during the coronavirus pandemic

Scott said the building wouldnt be used for coronavirus testing, nor would coronavirus patients be admitted at the LSC-Tomball Health Science Building.

Two health care professionals from TOMAGWA will staff the building beginning Wednesday, LSC-Tomball President Lee Ann Nutt said. Up to four patients will be examined one at a time each day, and each patient will receive a level 2 mask before entering the building.

Cleaning of the room in which care is provided will occur between patient visits, Nutt said. The caregivers will be in full personal protective equipment.

The release detailed that the building will be sanitized before the building is scheduled to open again for students and faculty on May 4, as of Friday.

Lone Star College has built strong partnerships with local organizations to promote both student and community success, LSC Chancellor Stephen Head said. We are honored to be in the position to assist this very important community resource.

TOMAGWA CEO Timika Simmons said her organization was grateful for LSC-Tomballs aid.

Many LSC-Tomball health science students have trained at TOMAGWA clinics with several becoming long-time staff members and volunteers, Simmons said. Its a beautiful thing to have the college and students open their homes to the families of our community who are most in need, families weve jointly cared for over the years.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
Mumbai-based Hiranandani group has donated Rs 5 crore to Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

"@hiranandani_com commits Rs5crs to Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund #CMRF to battle out #COVID 19 Pandemic," Hiranandani group MD Niranjan Hiranandani tweeted.

Real estate associations and many developers have come forward to support the central governments and state governments. Many developers are providing cooked meals, dry rations, masks and sanitisers to construction workers on their projects sites.

Earlier, CREDAI-Gujarat chapter has donated Rs 5 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

DLF group CSR arm DLF Foundation has donated Rs 5 crore to Haryana CM Relief Fund, besides pledging to provide 27 lakh meals.

"Till date, cooked meals have been served to 2,80,750 persons and dry rations equivalent to 24,24,800 meals are in the process of being supplied," DLF Foundation said in a statement.

It has also donated ICU ventilator, multiple diagnostic machines and hospital beds to South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

FDI-funded realty firm Experion Developers on Wednesday said it has donated Rs 1.85 crore to the PM-CARES Fund. The firm has also contributed Rs 20 lakh to the Haryana Corona Relief Fund.

Bengaluru-based developers including Embassy Group, Prestige group, Shriram Properties and Puravankara, are providing meals and other essential items to workers.

On behalf of the association, Naredco-Uttar Pradesh President R K Arora has handed over cheque of 10 lakh to district magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar for Covid-19 pandemic relief fund.

NAREDCO-UP has offered 500 beds to the state government, if required for isolation.

Delhi-based Signature Global has contributed Rs 2 lakh to the PM-CARES Fund, Rs 1 lakh to CII Foundation, and Rs 7 lakh to the labourers.

Gurugram-based M3M group and Central Park are providing relief materials to daily-wage workers.

Noida-based ABA Corp is providing meals to over 1450 on-site labourers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  Mayor Bill de Blasio has urged all New York City residents to wear face masks when they go out in publiceven if they have to make the masks themselves. "It doesnt have to be fancy to work. It can be real homegrown," the mayor said Thursday, stressing that New Yorkers can use a scarf or bandanna instead of seeking out the medical-grade masks that health workers need. The mayor said the city didn't issue the advice until now because the Health Department only recently concluded that they would help stop the spread of the coronavirus, Politico reports. "For the first time in just the last days there have been studies that actually started to show some meaningful evidence about asymptomatic transmission," the mayor said.

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"When you put on that face covering, youre protecting everyone else," de Blasio said. "A lot of people out there, right this minute, dont even know they have it." Los Angeles issued similar guidance on Monday, with Mayor Eric Garcetti advising people to wear masks for necessary trips outside, but warning that "face coverings are only effective together with safe physical distancing, so this is not an excuse to get close to each other," the Los Angeles Daily News reports. The Washington Post reports that the White House is also expected to recommend that Americans wear masks in public, though the guidance may be limited to areas with high rates of community transmission. "I don't think it will be mandatory," President Trump said Thursday. "If people want to wear them, they can." (Read more New York City stories.)
Investment Community Teleconference Set for May 8, 2020 at 8 a.m. ET

TORONTO, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Hydro One Limited (TSX: H), the largest electric transmission and distribution utility in Ontario, plans to release its first quarter financial results the morning of May 8, 2020 before North American financial markets open. A summary of the results will be distributed by newswire and the complete MD&A and financial statements will be posted at hydroone.com/investors and www.sedar.com.

Hydro One's management will host a teleconference with the investment community at 8 a.m. ET that same morning to discuss the results and outlook. Those wishing to listen to the teleconference should access the live webcast on the Investor Relations Events and Presentations section of Hydro One's website at www.hydroone.com/investors. A rebroadcast of the teleconference will be available following the call at the same link.

Those members of the North American financial community wanting to ask questions during the call should dial 1.866.221.1674 at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time and request Hydro One's first quarter results teleconference, conference ID 1579538 (international callers should dial 1.270.215.9604). Other interested parties and media are welcome to participate on a listen-only basis.

Hydro One Limited (TSX: H):

Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.4 million valued customers, approximately $27.1 billion in assets as at December 31, 2019, and annual revenues in 2019 of approximately $6.5 billion.

Our team of approximately 8,800 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2019, Hydro One invested approximately $1.7 billion in its transmission and distribution networks and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.5 billion of goods and services.

We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association.

Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com; www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Hydro One Limited
Inside Hook

Grupo Modelo, the Mexican brewer responsible for Corona beer as well as other brands like Pacifico and Modelo, is reportedly suspending production after the Mexican government deemed beer production non-essential during its coronavirus-related shutdown.

Corona  which, again, to be crystal clear, has absolutely nothing to do with coronavirus  is exported to over 180 countries. The company said in a statement that it is currently in the process of lowering production at our plants to the bare minimum, and the suspension will take effect on Sunday. They also made a plea to the Mexican government to reconsider deeming beer production non-essential.
Albany, N.Y.  More than 2,900 people have now died from coronavirus in New York as the single-day death toll shot past 500 for the first time.

Deaths due to the virus have been rapidly increasing in recent days. Over 2,200 people have died this week alone. Early last week, the statewide death toll was 157.

New York has been setting new high points for single-day deaths all week.

A total of 2,935 people have now died as a result of the virus in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today during a press briefing in Albany. Thats up from 2,373 the day before.

A total of 14,810 people, about 14 percent of all cases, are now hospitalized due to the virus. About 3.6 percent of all cases, or 3,731 people, are in intensive care units.

The percentages are consistent with recent days.

Net new hospitalizations on Thursday rose to 1,427 from 1,157 on Wednesday. New hospitalizations had fallen both of the previous two days.

Net ICU admissions totaled 335, down from 374 the day before. New ICU admissions have hovered between 300 and 375 much of the last week.

The state now has 102,863 confirmed cases of coronavirus, an increase of 10,482 overnight. Its the first day confirmed new cases were over 10,000.

New York continues to test large numbers of people for the virus, which naturally leads to more positive results. The state has now tested 260,520 people, including 21,555 on Thursday, a new daily record, Cuomo said.

The peak of the virus is expected in the next seven to 30 days, depending on how effective social distancing measures are.

The state has taken extraordinary steps to prepare for the worst of the virus and to try to slow its spread. Hospitals are being asked to coordinate supplies, patients and staff statewide. Officials have been ramping up bed counts and searching for more equipment.

Cuomo said today he plans to issue an executive order requiring hospitals across the state to turn over ventilators and protective medical equipment theyre not using. The state will redeploy the spare gear to facilities that need it to fight the virus.

Cuomo has closed schools and told workers at nonessential businesses to stay home. All New Yorkers should only go out for exercise or needed errands like grocery shopping and medical care.

One model used by the state projects 16,000 New Yorkers could die as a result of the virus.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

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After 18 days in coronavirus quarantine, Syracuse couple wonders: When can we leave?

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Mars seems to be on everybody's mind in the space industry. There are already several robotic missions to the Red Planet underway, and companies and space agencies are already working to one day send humans there.

But a crewed mission would present many more challenges. One of these obstacles is radiation, and so researchers are working to find a way to protect a crew against the dangerous radiation of deep space.

Humans evolved underneath the protective blanket that is the Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere . Our bodies are not like the robots we shoot into the far reaches of the solar system. We are made of organic matter that needs to be shielded from harmful radiation.

Related: Mars Explorers Will Tackle Radiation, Depression  and Space Bread

The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter will take the first-ever direct images of the sun's poles. (Image credit: Spacecraft: ESA/ATG medialab; Sun: NASA/SDO/P. Testa (CfA))

Radiation comes from waves of energy. There is radiation around us all the time  even bananas, which are rich in potassium , emit radiation  but the amount of radiation we're exposed to on a regular basis is so low that our body copes fine with it. However, some waves of energy can damage our cells and our DNA faster than our body can repair the damage. These harmful waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes gamma rays, x-rays and some ultraviolet radiation. That's why health officials advise that people use sunscreen and why medical staff use protective blankets when patients receive X-ray exams.

Tory Bruno, CEO of the spaceflight company United Launch Alliance, spoke about radiation and the challenges it poses to a U.S. Mars-shot during a Feb. 28 presentation held at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland. The chat was part of an all-day event called the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium, where NASA officials, APL representatives and space industry leaders spoke about how NASA's Artemis program could unfold over the course of the decade.

Artemis' primary goal is to send a crewed mission back to the moon, with the first woman and the next man to land on the lunar surface on board. In its following chapter, Artemis would help engineers learn more about the deep space environment to safely send humans on long-duration missions to Mars.

Bruno said that NASA is already getting a head start on these missions by studying the sun more intently. Missions like NASA's Parker Solar Probe , which launched in 2018, and a collaboration with the European Space Agency on the Solar Orbiter, which launched earlier this year , could inform the design and the timing of Mars missions based on the sun's cycles of activity by gauging when the sun is emitting levels of radiation higher than average.

In the presentation, Bruno outlined the traditional materials  water, concrete, lead  that are used as a containment barrier against radiation. But rockets aren't made of this stuff.

"We're going to need some new materials that are a lot more efficient at shielding out this radiation but nothing that we could use today to safely send people to the Red Planet and back," Bruno said.

Although crew capsules have been sending people into space for over half a century, spacefarers haven't had to endure missions as long as what a mission to Mars would require.

Astronauts on the International Space Station don't have to worry a tremendous amount about radiation because most individual missions last six months to under a year. A roundtrip mission to Mars would require about 180 days, according to Bruno, and sending people to the Red Planet would only be worthwhile if they could spend weeks, months or even a full year there to explore Mars' environment.

It's hard to study this radiation environment from Earth  sending experiments to the moon and to Mars and making rigorous observations will be essential to sending the first humans to Mars.

Follow Doris Elin Urrutia on Twitter @salazar_elin . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
When the sun came up Wednesday morning, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was already awake. But as Cuomo tells it, his early rising wasn't by choice.

"I was up all night," he said during Wednesday's edition of "Cuomo Prime Time," broadcast live from his basement where he is now self-quarantining after announcing one day earlier that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS CELEBS: Celebrities whove tested positive for COVID-19

The cause of Cuomo's insomnia?

"This virus came at me, I've never seen anything like it," Cuomo said, telling viewers that he was racked with a fever of around 103 degrees "that wouldn't quit."

"It was like somebody was beating me like a pinata," he continued. "I was shivering so much . . . I chipped my tooth."

Then, there were the fever-induced hallucinations.

"My dad was talking to me," a wide-eyed Cuomo said, referring to his late father, former New York governor and revered Democratic Party figure Mario Cuomo, who died in January 2015. "I was seeing people from college, people I haven't seen in forever. It was freaky what I lived through last night, and it may happen again tonight."

For the second night in a row, Cuomo, 49, who has repeatedly said that he refuses to be sidelined by the virus, merged his personal experience with news coverage of the global pandemic in an effort to drive home the seriousness of the outbreak. During Wednesday's show, the anchor provided viewers with a firsthand account of what coronavirus symptoms may feel like, while also interviewing guests such as CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and the loved ones of a New Jersey emergency room doctor who recently died after treating covid-19 patients.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?: A timeline of the coronavirus pandemic

Cuomo isn't the first TV personality to soldier on through a serious diagnosis nor is he alone in allowing the public to be privy to details of his sensitive situation. But his decision to chronicle the misery of being afflicted with a potentially deadly disease, describing his symptoms live and in real time, appears to be an unprecedented move among network anchors.

Sitting in his basement dressed casually in a dark-colored pullover and T-shirt, Cuomo kicked off his broadcast with an update on his condition.

"Anybody who's ever seen me spar will tell you my first round is never my best and this has proven no different with coronavirus," he said. "I've never experienced any kind of fever like what I have going on all the time and the body aches and the tremors and the concern about not being able to do anything about it. I totally get why so many are so scared all over this country."

Though he reported feeling "way worse" Wednesday, Cuomo had a spot of good news to share with his audience.

"My biggest fear was passing this on to Cristina and the kids," he said, referring to his wife of 19 years. "They're negative and that is the best thing I ever could've heard."

Cuomo, who previously acknowledged that his battle with covid-19 pales in comparison to what many others may be facing, then attempted to shift the show's focus to the national conversation surrounding the virus by bringing on Gupta. But before launching into a discussion about "stay at home" orders, Gupta made sure to check in with his colleague and friend.

"I'm happy to see you," Gupta said. "We spoke last night after the show. You had these rigors, I'm just going to say it, so bad that I think you chipped a tooth. This was significant for you.

"I know you're a warrior, but you're allowed to take a day off," the doctor added.

FURLOUGHS: These companies have furloughed or laid off Houston and Texas workers due to virus

Gupta wasn't the only person worried about Cuomo on Wednesday. At a news conference earlier in the day, the anchor's older brother, New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, told reporters that he was "frightened" by the situation.

"We're talking about my little brother," the governor said. "This is my best friend. I talk to him several times a day. . . . It's frightening because there's nothing I can do and I'm out of control."

The elder Cuomo pointed to his brother as an example of how "anyone can get this disease," praising the anchor's "gutsy, courageous" decision to stay on air.

"Show the country what it means to have coronavirus and that information, that experience, can be helpful to people, that's why he did the show last night," the governor said. "Kudos to him. My pop would be proud. I love you little brother."

On Wednesday, Chris Cuomo detailed his experience with coronavirus so far, giving people a glimpse into what he called "a spooky time."

In-person interactions, Cuomo said, have been limited to tray exchanges at the top of the basement stairs with his wife, who is outfitted in a mask and gloves. When fellow CNN anchor Don Lemon came by for a visit, Cuomo recalled his colleague "looking at me like I'm in a zoo from behind a glass door."

But none of that compared to what he went through Tuesday night, Cuomo said.

STAY POSITIVE: 15 pieces of good news to come out coronavirus pandemic

"I've had a lot of weird experiences in my life with health and everything else," he said. "I've never had anything like what haunted me last night with this virus."

Gesturing emphatically, Cuomo recounted his sleepless night, noting that doctors anticipate he may experience similarly harrowing episodes anywhere between five to eight more times as he continues to fight off the virus.

"I get it now," he said. "If you match that with chest constriction and people can't breathe, I totally get why we're losing so many people and why our hospitals are so crowded."

As he signed off for the night, Cuomo delivered a pointed message.

"Care enough not just to stay home, but to stay on our leaders to make sure that they're doing everything they can to limit this," he said. "I'm telling you, this is the part of our lives we will live through and remember the most. How do you want to be remembered during this time?"
You probably know by now that Meghan Markle has already landed (and completed) her first Hollywood gig since marrying into the British royal family: a voice-over for Disneynatures Elephant, which is available to stream today, April 3, on Disney+.

The film follows a specific herd of elephants as they cross 1,000 miles of the Kalahari Desert in search of water, beginning in Botswana. This detail is important. Remember Botswana.

Now, in an interview with People, filmmakers Vanessa Berlowitz and Mark Linfield have revealed new details of (Prince) Harry's involvement in the process. Apparently, Markle recorded the voice-over in London last October with her husband in the room. That's when he committed my biggest relationship pet peeve.

Before you grab those pitchforks, it's not that deep. Plus, I'm sure he meant welljust like your college boyfriend who just returned from his semester abroad did when he corrected your pronunciation of coq au vin at that fancy French restaurant you went to for your anniversary.

Harry was correcting her pronunciation, Linfield said, with a laugh. Groan. Not while she's working, man!

It was amazing having [Harry] there, Berlowitz said. He had a connection to Botswana, of course. (See, I told you to remember Botswana. That's also why the pet peeve isn't so badHarry knows quite a bit about Botswanabut a pet peeve nonetheless. )

(Prince) Harry is not the only one with a connection to the African country, of course. Markle took a trip there with him in 2017 to assist Elephants Without Borders. (So I'm sure her pronunciation was just fine, thank you very much! I tease.)

Still, it seems like Markle wasn't thrown by the apparent pronunciation corrections. She made it her own, says filmmaker Roy Conli, a producer on Elephant. I always say, If you feel something, do it, make it organic. Shes such a diligent professional and she wanted to get it right. It was a delight all the way around.

Story continues

Berlowitz and Linfield listed another reason Markle was so into the project. She was absolutely intrigued by the elephants and transfixed, especially by the female empowerment side, Berlowitz told People. It really is all about female leadership. Its a different form of powerits about consensual leadership. Its also very inclusive, as wellvery contemporary.

I'm sure Markle can relate.

Originally Appeared on Glamour
The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has called on Christians to continuously engage in the act of prayer since it has the potency to change situations and circumstances.



He said this in a live televised sermon on Pent TV, the official television station of the church, during a Special Evening Service held on Sunday, March 29, 2020.



Speaking on the topic, "The Relevance Of Prayer," he underscored that prayer is relevant in all situations.



According to the Chairman, prayer is one of the most central activities of religious life and central to religious activities. He, however, expressed concern about the fact that prayer is under attack because the world today does not appreciate prayer.



"People think that prayer is an irrational activity. This is because philosophy deals with mind trying to uncover the truth through reasoning. However, religion receives truth from the deity so people who reason with the mind cannot understand why we are receiving God from without questioning," he deplored.



Reading from Luke 11:1, 5:15-16, 6:12, Mark 1:35, Luke 21:34-36, among other texts, Chairman Nyamekye emphasized that Jesus Christ lived prayerful life whilst on earth, saying, "Jesus was and is still a prayer warrior because He is at the right hand of God interceding for believers."



As a prayer warrior, Apostle Nyamekye explained that Jesus did not just teach His disciples how to pray but how to engage in the act of prayer as well.



He stated: "If Jesus, who is God, could pray like this, then men ought to pray as well because there is something in prayer." He, therefore, called on Christians to pray without ceasing.



The Chairman defined prayer as communication of a worshipper or supplicant with his or her deity.



Making reference to a quote by Origen, an Egyptian theologian, who once said: "If everything happens in accordance with the will of God and His decrees stand fast and nothing of what He wills can be reversed, then prayer is absurd," the Chairman explained that, "It is true that the decree of God stands, however, it is also true that the prayer of the saint can cause God to review what He had decreed."



To buttress his assertion, Apostle Nyamekye cited an instance in Isaiah 38:1-8, when King Hezekiah, on his sickbed, prayed fervently to God and had his life prolonged by fifteen years after God Himself, through Prophet Isaiah had told him to put his house in order because he was going to die and would not recover.



Chairman Nyamekye expounded that, though God decreed and someone also prayed and God changed His mind, averring that, "prayer is that kind of weapon that changes God's mind and it can always make the difference."



He further stated that prayer changes the immutable laws, seasons and time and it can also do the impossible and unthinkable (Joshua 10:12-14, 1 Kings 17:1, 18:1, James 5:17-18, Acts 12:1ff). He added that when Christians pray something happens.



Touching on contemporary and scientific worldviews that refute the existence of God and His relationship with mankind, the Chairman read Daniel 4:20-26 and refuted those claims and theories, emphasizing that, "God, the Most High, still rules the kingdom of mankind and mankind cannot live independent of Him."



Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye concluded by urging Christians to pray because prayer is very relevant in the life of the believer.



"The value of prayer none can measure. Prayer was relevant then and now it is relevant. I want to call the Church to prayer and to pray fervently in these times as never before. Where now are the Elijahs of God? May men of prayer arise, may women of prayer arise. We have to pray as individuals; we have to pray as family, we have to pray as Ghanaians, we have to pray as Christians, we have to pray as Church because prayer works and prayer is relevant."









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Great British Bake Off star Candice Brown has revealed that someone broke into her father's van as the nation remains in COVID-19 lockdown.

Taking to Twitter on Friday the TV star, 35, lambasted the 'really really desperate' person who committed the crime, reminding fans 'we're all struggling at the moment.'

Candice grew in North London at a pub run by her parents, and has since followed in their footsteps by opening her own tavern in Bedfordshire.

Upsetting: The Great British Bake Off star Candice Brown has revealed that someone broke into her father's van as the nation remains in COVID-19 lockdown (pictured in 2017)

In the furious tweet Candice wrote: 'To those who broke into my dads van last night, I hope you were really really desperate to do that.

'If its so bad you felt the need to steal then maybe just ask next time, I pretty sure someone would help you with what you need.

'We are all struggling at the moment you a***hole.'

Angry: The star took to Twitter to share the news with fans on Twitter, reminding the culprit that 'we're all struggling at the moment'

Candice's post was quickly flooded with supportive responses from fans, sharing their well wishes and hopes that her father was unharmed.

One wrote: 'So sorry this happened to you guys!' while another wrote: 'Sad times indeed.'

A third added: 'Oh dear... same about the person who stole my mum's purse in sainsburys at the weekend, no words.'

'Shocking, hope your dad is OK sending lots of love this way,' while another fan wrote: 'Some people are just... words I'm not going to post on your timelines. Hope your dad is OK. Stay safe xxx.'

Upsetting: Many fans rushed to Twitter to share their support and well wishes, with many hoping that her dad was unharmed

Candice grew up in a pub run by her parents in North London, and last year opened her own tavern, The Green Man in the scenic village of Eversholt, Bedfordshire.

The star previously admitted she will be taking a leaf out of Dame Barbara Windsor's EastEnders landlady of the Queen Vic Peggy Mitchell book when it comes to pub management.

The baker claimed she is 'dying' to use Peggy's famous words 'Get out of my pub' when tossing out any rowdy customers.

Business Mogul: Candice grew up in a pub run by her parents in North London, and last year opened her own tavern, The Green Man in the scenic village of Eversholt, Bedfordshire

She told BANG Showbiz: 'I've just bought a pub, I want to do the best Sunday lunches, and comforting, warming and hearty food. I'm an ambassador for Love British Food, so I work with the farmers to promote that seasonal and local produce is when food is at its best.

'It's called The Green Man in Eversholt, I'm hoping it will be open in mid-February, it's so exciting. I was brought up in pubs with my brother and I want this to be a real family affair.'

Candice's husband Liam Macaulay threw his support behind his wife's business venture, and her brother Ben and his girlfriend Sophie also got on board.

It comes as much of the nation remains in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordering all non-essential shops and business, including pubs, theatres and cinemas, to close until further notice.

Members of the public have also been restricted in their movements, and may only leave the house to purchase basic necessities, or for one form of daily exercise.
Streets in the port City of Guayaquil Ecuador have been filled with rotting corpses of COVID-19 victims, as other dead bodies remain unclaimed in the clinics and hospitals after morgues have reached their maximum capacity amid the coronavirus crisis.

According to Los Angeles Times, in the past few days, municipal officials of the city reported that there have been at least 400 bodies that have been recovered in the city with a population of 2.8million people.

Ecuador is currently considered as the virus' epicenter in South America after reporting 3,163 confrimed cases.

While people believe that the majority of the deaths is caused by the coronavirus disease, health authorities in the country are unable to confirm the exact number of death caused by COVID-19 due to the reports of scarcity in testing.

The city's mayor, Cynthia Viteri, who was also reported to have contracted the disease, has firmly stated that it should be the federal government who needs to take the responsibility of collecting the corpses which are already rotting in the streets.

On the other hand, the city's former mayor, Juan Carlos Freire said that a "crisis committee" which is comprised of academic, business and government leaders would be formed in order to tackle the problem regarding the transport and burial of the cadavers that have been accumulating in hospitals and clinics.

Meanwhile, city health officials said that there are at least 1,000 people who come to Guayaquil's largest hospital, Los Ciebos, every day fearing they may have contracted the virus. However, most of the time these are false alarms, the sudden upsurge in the number of people going to the hospital is pushing their resources to the limit.

Read also: Prison Inmates Work 7 Days a Week Making PPE for COVID-19 Frontliners

National Nurses Association of Ecuador has also reported five fatalities across the nation, also adding that there are also 370 nurses who have been infected with the virus amid the efforts to stop its spread.

On Tuesday, Viteri promised that the unclaimed bodies will be stored in three refrigerated cargo containers as they are still working on the plans on building a new cemetery. She also denied reports that the cemetery will be a mass grave and noted that all of those who fell in the mids of the crisis will be given Christian burials.

State of Emergency

The country of Ecuador has already declared a state of emergency as they grapple against the COVID-19 pandemic.

On February 29, the country reported its first COVID-19 case, who is a 70-year-old woman who traveled from Italy. The woman has died two weeks after being diagnosed. The number of cases in the country has escalated since then.

Travel restrictions and closure of the country's borders have been placed by the country's President Lenin Moreno. However, the city of Guayaquil was slow to respond to the advice since it mainly relied on its open markets and trading.

The country's health and labor minister Catalina Andramuno has also announced her resignation from her post last week after the cases in the country shot up.

Related article: Doctors, Nurses to Get Pay Cuts While Fighting Coronavirus Outbreak

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
U.S. carrier Roosevelt sailors to be quarantined on Guam

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:46, April 02, 2020

LOS ANGELES, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Guam Governor Leon Guerrero said Thursday that she decided to allow sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt to leave the military base and be quarantined in hotels on the island after the Navy asked for help to deal with the spread of COVID-19 on the aircraft carrier.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet assured that only sailors who tested negative for COVID-19 would be arranged to be quarantined in the hotels and the Navy would deal with any sailor in quarantine who tests positive individually, Guerrero said.

"They cannot go out of their rooms. They cannot go out to the lobby areas. They can't go to the beaches. The Navy is going to place security guards on the floors. They're going to have roving security and have leadership stay with them," she said at the daily online briefing.

The Navy asked local authorities to help them "get over this god-awful virus," she said, noting that her decision was made based on plenty of discussions and information and she had the "morale obligation, as an ethical action" to do so.

On Wednesday, the governor and Joint Region Marianas announced that they had reached an agreement to house sailors who tested negative off the base and would be sent to a designated hotel for a 14-day quarantine where they would have no interaction with the local community and be strictly monitored.

The aircraft carrier pulled into port in Guam on Friday, after several of its sailors had tested positive for COVID-19 and had been airlifted to the Naval Hospital on Guam.

The nuclear-powered Roosevelt has a crew of some 5,500 service members, among whom about 20 are originally from Guam. The ship left its San Diego homeport in California in mid-January for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

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The Sale of the Consolidated Land Position to Blackrock Gold Has Also Been Completed

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2020) - Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQB: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold") or the ("Company") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc ("Nevada Select") are pleased to announce that they have completed the purchase (the "Cliff ZZ Agreement"), announced February 3, 2020, of seventy-three (73) patented mining claims from Cliff ZZ L.L.C., a Nevada limited liability company (the "Tonopah Extension Claims").

The Tonopah Extension Claims are located in Esmeralda and Nye Counties, Nevada and are contiguous to Nevada Select's current holdings at their Tonopah West Property that now includes 96 patented mining claims and 17 unpatented mining claims. The consolidated Tonopah West land package has been sold under a four-year option agreement to Blackrock Gold Corp, announced on February 25, 2020 (the "Blackrock Agreement"). The closing of the Blackrock Agreement was contingent on the closing of the Cliff ZZ Agreement. Both transactions closed on April 2, 2020.

The Cliff ZZ Agreement

Under the terms of the Cliff ZZ Agreement, Nevada Select acquired 100% of the Tonopah Extension Claims by paying Cliff ZZ $650,000 in cash and issuing 600,000 Ely Gold share purchase warrants. Each warrant will be exercisable into one common share at $0.78 for a period of two years from the date of the Cliff ZZ Agreement. Cliff ZZ will not retain any royalties on the Tonopah Extension Claims.

The Blackrock Agreement

Blackrock Gold Corp.'s wholly owned US subsidiary is acquiring the Tonopah West Project under an option to purchase agreement. The four year option has payments as follows:

US$325,000 on Closing (the " Initial Payment ");

"); US$325,000 on the 1st Anniversary of Closing;

US$650,000 on the 2nd Anniversary of Closing;

US$700,000 on the 3rd Anniversary of Closing; and

US$1,000,000 on the 4th Anniversary of Closing (the "Final Payment").

After Blackrock makes the Final Payment, Nevada Select will retain a 3% net smelter returns royalty with no buydown and Blackrock will then pay Nevada Select an annual advance minimum royalty payment of US$50,000 commencing once the option is exercised. The Option Agreement also includes a one-mile area of interest. There are no work commitments associated with the Option Agreement or after the Final Payment.

Trey Wasser, President and CEO commented, "This transaction continues to support our business model of consolidating under-explored districts while generating royalty interests. We consider Tonopah to be one of the best districts in Nevada based on past production and exploration potential."

The Tonopah District

The Tonopah District is an epithermal precious metal deposit of the quartz-adularia type, which may be divided into gold-rich and silver-rich subtypes. The Tonopah West Property is a prominent example of the silver-rich subtype. Some silver-rich quartz-adularia type deposits have significant base metal content, but Tonopah is relatively base metal poor. The only larger deposit of this type known in the United States is the Comstock Lode, a relatively gold-rich deposit, which has greater total production of both gold and silver than Tonopah. The Tonopah District has a historical production of 174 million ounces of silver and 1.86 million ounces of gold.

Corporate Update

The Company also announces that, pursuant to its Stock Option Plan, a total of 1,500,000 stock options to purchase Ely Gold common shares have been granted to certain directors, officers, and consultants of the Company, subject to TSX-V approval. These stock options are exercisable at $0.68 per share and will expire on April 3, 2025.

Qualified Person

Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo, is a director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kenwood has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About Ely Gold Royalties Inc. Ely Gold 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/54115
An Indian-origin doctor campaigning for better access to the personal protection equipment (PPE) for medics across hospitals, dealing with the rapidly rising cases of the novel coronavirus, on Friday welcomed the UK government's updated guidance to make surgical masks essential.

Dr Nishant Joshi, 31, has been using social media channels over the past few weeks to speak out against the shortage of PPE for the National Health Service (NHS) workers across Britain and had called for greater efforts to be made for frontline medical staff to have clearer usage guidelines and better access to the protective equipment.

In a sweeping victory, you may have noticed that we have won the PPE battle. The government has updated guidelines to essentially do a U-turn on all points raised i.e. wear a surgical mask everywhere in hospital, and use at least FFP2 (higher grade masks) for patient contacts, said the doctor from Bedfordshire in south-east England.

However, Joshi who works in the emergency department of an NHS hospital in Bedfordshire questioned why the "totally obvious" regulations were not put in place at the very start and why it took national shaming to give the medics what was needed.

And, while the guidelines may have changed, we still haven't been given a clear picture about how much stock of the PPE there is, said Joshi, whose wife is also a doctor and is expecting their first child.

I take no joy or happiness in seeing the government learn the error of their ways six weeks into a bloody pandemic, he said, as he revealed that shortage of the protective equipment has forced many medics to source masks and goggles from nail salons, local schools and other outlandish places.

The UK government has come under increasing pressure over the lack of sufficient supplies and proper guidance around the access and use of the PPEs by medics dealing with patients during the coronavirus pandemic.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who remains in self-isolation after his own COVID-19 diagnosis, said in his latest video update on Thursday that he was committed to ramping up the PPE supplies for the NHS workers.

We've shipped just in the last couple of weeks 397 million separate pieces of the PPE to look after the amazing NHS staff and the Army reservists and others are doing quite an amazing job of shipping that stuff around the country, he said.

An online crowdfunding campaign titled Masks for NHS Heroes, backed by celebrities such as Scottish actor James McAvoy, has raised over 1.3 million pounds since last month.

Healthcare workers on the frontline without the PPE is equivalent of going to war without armour and protection, notes the petition, floated by a group of doctors and other professionals including Indian-origin neurosurgeon Ravi Visagan and architect Nav Kumar.

The UK's Department of Health has said the updated guidance issued on Thursday reflects the fact that coronavirus is now widespread in the community, meaning clinicians are more likely to see patients with the virus, some of whom may have minimal or no symptoms.

The advice calls on any clinician working in a hospital, primary care or community care setting within 2 metres of a suspected or confirmed coronavirus patient should wear an apron, gloves, surgical mask and eye protection, based on the risk.

In some circumstances PPE, particularly masks and eye protection which is there to protect the health and care worker can be worn for an entire session and does not need to be changed between patients, as long as it is safe to do so.

It is absolutely right that frontline staff have the appropriate PPE so they are safe and can have the confidence they need to do their jobs, said Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England.

Public Health England has updated their advice to provide additional clarity for staff. This was done with the support of a wide range of professional groups and it has my full support. The NHS England and the government are working hard to secure the supply lines in this challenging period so staff have the appropriate equipment, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
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Linkedin Eloi Rouyer and Robin Millard (Agence France-Presse) Zermatt/Geneva, Switzerland  Fri, April 3, 2020 08:01 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f623ec 2 World switzerland,coronavirus,global-crisis,health,pandemic,infection,SARS-CoV-2,novel-coronavirus Free

As the world reels from the coronavirus crisis, a beam of light is illuminating Switzerland's Matterhorn mountain with a message of hope for a time of darkness.

Every night from sunset, the 4,478-meter high national symbol is splashed with words and images to inspire solidarity as people face up to the alarming spread of the deadly pandemic.

The light projections, nearly 800 meters high, have been beamed for more than a week from four kilometers away onto the north and east faces of the mountain, which straddles Switzerland's southeastern border with Italy.

"We started with a Swiss flag, because it speaks to the mountain and our nation," said light artist Gerry Hofstetter, known for transforming buildings around the world with his displays.

The words "hope", "solidarity" and "stay home" have since been projected onto the peak, along with a giant red heart on a white background -- in the Swiss national colors.

The flags of Switzerland, Italy and the Swiss region of Ticino were also beamed onto the mountain on Wednesday night.

The southern Ticino canton, which borders stricken northern Italy, has been the hardest-hit in Switzerland.

The flags of other badly-affected nations will be projected onto the mountain in the coming days and weeks.

The projections can be seen on live high-definition webcams.

'Light is hope'

Dominating the skyline, Hofstetter said the Matterhorn stands out like a lighthouse, which triggered the idea of beaming out messages.

"Light is hope. So if you do a message with light in such a situation as we are in now, you give that hope -- especially with this iconic, standalone, pyramid-shaped, incredibly strong mountain," he said.

"The Matterhorn was here before mankind was.

"You can go back in history, two, three or four thousand years; when they had disease, it was art that brought people together for hope and looking for a brighter future once again. Only art can do this."

The Matterhorn overlooks the ski resort of Zermatt deep down in the valley below. The normally-bustling town is devoid of tourists, hotels and holiday homes largely empty. The starry night is eerily quiet.

Switzerland, which has registered more than 18,000 cases and 430 deaths from COVID-19, has shut schools, bars, restaurants and non-food shops in a bid to halt the spread of the virus.

Around the world, nearly a million people are known to have been infected, while nearly 50,000 lives have been lost in the pandemic.

"We want to show solidarity," said Daniel Luggen, director of the Zermatt tourist office.

"We are fortunate here to live in a very beautiful area and we also want to share it with the world, to give people courage to help them to overcome this difficult period," he told AFP.

'Honest' toil

Hofstetter, 58, refuses to reveal where he is projecting from, but says he and an assistant are hunkered down at a camp high in the mountains above Zermatt, having set out with enough food to last for a month.

Speaking to AFP by telephone, he said the messages would be meaningless if he was not making sacrifices of his own to project them.

Every other day, he walks three hours through the snow to haul up 45 liters of water for drinking, washing and cleaning, with temperatures at times plunging to minus 22 degrees Celsius (minus eight Fahrenheit).

"We are really making an effort," he said, "through living here and trying to survive -- this message is honest."

The light projections are due to last until April 19, when Switzerland's emergency measures are set to expire.

However, if they are extended, there is no going home for Hofstetter.

"Imagine we give out such a strong sign of hope, and its prolonged, and on the 19th we switch off. That will give a sign that even the Matterhorn doesn't believe in hope anymore," he said

"We will stay."
In the worst affected region of the country, the makeshift hospital at Madrid's huge Ifema congress centre has been receiving patients this week. 1,500 beds have been set up, of which 100 are for intensive care patients.

On a visit to the temporary site this week, Bruce Aylward, head of the World Health Organization's Covid-19 committee, said that the medical facility was "extraordinary" and that the people of Madrid should feel " very proud" of its work.

So far, authorities in Madrid have created spaces across the capital region at short notice for some 5,000 extra beds.
The head of 3M Co is calling Trump administration accusations it is engaged in price gouging 'absurd' after President Trump publicly targeted the manufacturer online.

'Nothing is further from the truth,' company CEO Mike Roman said on CNBC Friday.

The company also warned there are 'significant humanitarian implications' to its implication to halt delivery of respirators and other vital products to Canada  and that blowback could ultimately harm the United States.

The company hit back after White House claims it was involved in price gouging  something President Trump personally suggested on Twitter.

Mike Roman, chairman and chief executive officer of 3M Co blasted Trump administration claims of price gouging as 'absurd'

'We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks. 'P Act' all the way. Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing - will have a big price to pay!' The president warned.

Trump uses 'P Act' to refer to the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era law that allows the government to claim priority for essential manufacturing needs.

He invoked the law and ordered the Health Department to 'use any and all authority available under the Act to acquire, from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company, the number of N-95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate.'

The N-95 masks are being desperately sought by hospital staff to provide a higher level of protection from the coronavirus.

Ronan told the network: 'The idea that 3M is not doing all it can to fight price gouging and unauthorized reselling is absurd. The idea that we're not doing everything we can to maximize deliveries of respirators in our home country  nothing is further from the truth.'

The company wants to continue shipping to Canada and says the U.S. does better when goods can go both directions

President Trump attacked the company, writing: 'We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks'

The back-and-forth comes amid global demand for masks and other gear

The company earlier Friday denied being involved in price gouging, as nations around the world compete to get equipment to supply hospitals amid the coronavirus epidemic.

'We also continue to act on reports of price gouging and unauthorized reselling related to 3M respirators. This activity is unethical and illegal. We are working with the U.S. Attorney General and attorneys general of every state, making it clear that 3M has not and will not raise prices for respirators and offering our assistance in the fight,' the company said.

President Trump said in a coronavirus Task Force briefing Thursday that he hopes 3M 'will do what they're supposed to do' after 'it was a 'big surprise to many in government' that they were selling masks to higher bidding countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Dr. Nicole McCullough, a global health and safety expert at 3M, demonstrates the correct way to put on a N95 respiratory mask at a laboratory of 3M on March 4

'We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks. "P Act" all the way,' Trump tweeted Thursday night. He added the firm 'will have a big price to pay!'

As Ronan put it, 'We are net importing [respirators] into the U.S., and weve been telling the administration for days and days.'

The company said Friday it would increase the production of respirators and import more masks into the United States, after President Donald Trump invoked a law to help ease a shortage in the items needed to protect health staff against the coronavirus.

The company said it will work closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to prioritize orders for the masks.

Trump slammed 3M in a tweet late on Thursday after earlier announcing he was invoking the Defense Production Act to get the company to produce face masks.

The Defense Production Act, which was passed in 1950, grants the president the power to expand industrial production of key materials or products for national security and other reasons.

U.S. trade adviser Peter Navarro said that the government had some issues making sure that enough of the masks produced by 3M around the world were coming back to the United States.

'The narrative that we aren't doing everything we can as a company is just not true,' 3M Chief Executive Officer Mike Roman told CNBC television in an interview on Friday.

3M said on Friday it has secured China's approval to export to the U.S. 10 million N-95 respirators manufactured by the company in China. (Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
Washington

U.S. business regulators are suing to break up the multibillion-dollar deal between tobacco giant Altria and e-cigarette startup Juul Labs, saying their partnership amounted to an agreement not to compete in the U.S. vaping market.

The action announced late Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission is the latest legal headwind against Altria's investment in the embattled vaping company. Juul sales have been sliding for months amid state and federal investigations, lawsuits and flavor restrictions aimed at curbing the recent explosion in teen vaping.

For years, Altria competed in the burgeoning e-cigarette space. But the Richmond, Va.-based company was quickly overtaken by San Francisco-based Juul, which became the top U.S. vaping brand on the popularity of its small, high-nicotine and fruity-flavored e-cigarettes. The company has since pulled all of its flavors except tobacco and menthol.

In late 2018, Altria discontinued its own e-cigarettes and took a 35 percent stake in Juul.

The complaint announced by the FTC alleges that Altria agreed not to compete against Juul in return for the $13 billion stake in the company.

"Altria and Juul turned from competitors to collaborators by eliminating competition and sharing in Juul's profits," said Ian Conner, of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. It was not clear from the agency's initial statement whether Altria would be required to sell its stake in Juul. If the case goes to trial, it would be heard by an administrative law judge in January 2021, the agency said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Altria said in a statement that the FTC "misunderstood the facts" of its investment in Juul.

"We are disappointed with the FTC's decision, believe we have a strong defense and will vigorously defend our investment," said Altria General Counsel Murray Garnick.

Juul did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Altria has slashed the value of its investment in Juul to roughly a third of what it initially paid, taking more than $8.5 billion in write-downs since October.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-04 00:50:37|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance for Laos' battle against the COVID-19 epidemic in line with the neighboring country's practical needs.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Bounnhang Vorachith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos.

On behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government and people, Xi extended sincere sympathies and firm support to their Lao counterparts.

Noting that China and Laos are both socialist countries led by Communist parties, Xi said that at a critical moment in China's fight against the coronavirus disease, Bounnhang immediately sent a letter of sympathies to him.

That, along with the brotherly and sincere help from various sections of Lao society, has vividly demonstrated the spirit of the China-Laos community with a shared future, which is characterized by sticking together and helping each other through thick and thin, added Xi.

Stressing that the Chinese people will bear Laos' support in mind, he said he is deeply concerned about the difficulties Laos is facing in its epidemic prevention and control.

The Chinese side sent medical experts to Laos in the shortest time possible and has offered assistance in medical supplies, Xi said, adding that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance.

He said he believes that the Lao people will surely defeat the virus under the firm leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by Bounnhang.

The pandemic has once again proved the importance and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi pointed out, noting that the recent extraordinary leaders' summit of the Group of 20 has sent a positive signal on joining hands against COVID-19 and safeguarding the stability of the global economy.

China, he said, will continue to work with the international community, including Laos, to contribute to defeating the epidemic at an early date.

Meanwhile, China stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Laos and advance bilateral cooperation in line with the action plan on building the China-Laos community with a shared future, added Xi.

He called for concerted efforts to deepen exchanges on experience in party and state governance, steadily push forward such major projects as the China-Laos railway and economic corridor, promote people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs.

In doing so, he said, the two countries can continuously deliver more solid outcomes in the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future and create greater benefits for the people in both countries.

Xi also wished the 11th congress of the LPRP to be held early next year a great success.

For his part, Bounnhang said that under Xi's personal guidance and arrangement, the CPC has exerted strong political leadership in leading the Chinese people to quickly and effectively contain the epidemic, which the Lao side admires.

He noted that the CPC upholds the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and has made joint calls with more than 200 political parties around the globe for closer international cooperation to beat COVID-19.

The Chinese side has also actively provided valuable support and assistance to countries in need, fully demonstrating its sense of responsibility as a big party and a major country, he said.

Bounnhang said the Lao side is sincerely grateful for Xi's personal attention to the epidemic in Laos, adding that China's timely sharing of its anti-virus experience and dispatching of medical experts and supplies to the Southeast Asian country has once again demonstrated the profound friendship of sharing weal and woe between the two countries.

The Lao side, Bounnhang said, stands ready to strengthen political mutual trust with the Chinese side, speed up the implementation of the action plan for the Laos-China community with a shared future, and promote practical cooperation in various fields so as to push for new and greater achievements in the socialist causes of both countries.
President Trump sent Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) a letter on Thursday so harsh that Schumer's office said he apologized for it before the missive was even delivered.

Earlier in the day, Schumer wrote his own letter to Trump regarding shortages of ventilators and personal protection equipment at hospitals treating coronavirus patients. Schumer asked Trump to choose someone with a military background to oversee production of medical equipment under the Defense Production Act, adding: "America cannot rely on a patchwork of uncoordinated voluntary efforts to combat the awful magnitude of this pandemic. The existing federal leadership void has left America with an ugly spectacle in which states and cities are literally fending for themselves, often in conflict and competition with each other."

Schumer's office told Politico the senator and Trump spoke twice on Thursday afternoon, and at one point, Trump said he was in the process of sending a "very nasty letter" to Schumer. Trump promised to try to stop it from going out, and said he would apologize if he wasn't successful.

The letter wasn't intercepted. In it, Trump wrote that Schumer was to blame for the high number of coronavirus patients in his state, with New York City "unprepared" because of "the impeachment hoax." He told Schumer he "never knew how bad a senator you are for the state of New York," and pushed back at criticism that the federal government has responded too slowly to the pandemic, despite having months to prepare. "As you are aware, the federal government is merely a backup for state governments," he said. "Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a backup than others."

Schumer told MSNBC's Chris Hayes that he was "appalled" by the letter, and said it was time for Trump to "stop the pettiness  people are dying." As of Thursday night, at least 5,850 people have died in the United States from coronavirus.

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The Aditya Birla Group on Friday committed Rs 500 crore towards Covid-19 relief measures, of which Rs 400 crore will go to the PM-CARES Fund.

This is one of the highest contributions from a corporate till date.

The Kumar Mangalam Birla-led USD 48.3 billion conglomerate will be contributing Rs 400 crore to the PM-CARES Fund, Rs 50 crore to FICCI-AdityaBirla CSR Centre for Excellence for Covid-19 relief measures and Rs 50 crore to supply ventilators, masks and protective equipment, a statement said.

A host of leaders from India Inc have been pooling-in resources to fight the pandemic, which has affected over 2,400 people in India and also taken 60 lives already.

"Given the severity of the disruption, there is a compelling need for a multi-pronged response that includes financial and material support, healthcare assistance and community responsibility," Rajashree Birla, the chairperson of AdityaBirla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, said.

Apart from this, the group will be activating a 100-bed Covid-19 facility at Seven Hills Hospital in suburban Mumbai, in partnership with the city's civic body, to be spearheaded by Neerja Birla, the statement said.

It has also earmarked more than 200 beds for Covid-19 patients across locations including Ujjain, Pune, Hazaribagh, Rayagada, Solapur and Kharach.

The Rs 50 crore allocation for equipment will include supply of 1 million N95 masks, 2.80 lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as ventilators, it said.

The statement said the group, which also has interests in textiles, has already commenced production of 1 million triple layer surgical masks and 1 lakh coverall garments with the support of the Textiles Ministry.

It has also involved community and self-help groups in home production of lakhs of masks across several locations and is undertaking awareness activities in 200 locations.

"TheAdityaBirla Group recognizes that no contribution can be too large or small, given the enormity of the pandemic. Every effort counts. The Group will continue to extend whatever support is feasible to help fight the pandemic and restore normalcy," it said.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Neerja Birla-headed initiative for mental health, MPower, announced a round-the-clock helpline in partnership with the Maharashtra government and the financial capital's civic body to help people.

Anybody going through difficulties can call on the toll-free helpline 1800-120-820050 and speak with experienced and trained mental health counsellors from MPower to deal with the challenging times, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The U.S. Department of Labor has authorized an additional 13 weeks of unemployment compensation for those who have exhausted their existing 26-week allotment of benefits during an unsuccessful search for work, or are otherwise on the cusp of doing so.

On Friday morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent as of March 12, a 0.9 percentage point spike that was the largest for any month since 1975, amid mass business closures sparked by rapid spread of the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus.

In a Friday note to investment clients, an economist in the New York City office of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group termed the Friday jobs report just a down payment ahead of larger declines expected next month.

April will have the first depression-magnitude job losses the country has seen since the 1930s, stated MUFG economist Chris Rupkey. Wed say brace yourselves, but you already are. ... The stock market knows it and has already discounted the bad news.

On Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont indicated the Connecticut Department of Labor has received more than 220,000 initial applications for unemployment assistance in the three weeks since he declared a public health emergency in Connecticut.

In the weeks leading up to the emergency order, Connecticut had about 42,000 residents who were already receiving unemployment compensation. The U.S. Department of Labor lists information on unemployment benefits at wdr.doleta.gov, with the Connecticut labor department doing so at www.ctdol.state.ct.us.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act tacks on an extra $600 to weekly benefits through the end of July, with benefits typically amounting to half of a workers average pay with caps.

Under a Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program that authorizes the 13-week extension, states must suspend the requirement that individuals be actively seeking work as a condition to getting unemployment pay, though applicants must state they are willing to work as opportunities arise.

More for you New coronavirus-related unemployment claims in CT top 220K

A decade ago, during mass layoffs triggered by the Great Recession, some Connecticut residents ended up receiving nearly two years of unemployment benefits under extensions granted by the federal government. As of March, 17 percent of all people classified as unemployed nationally had been out of work beyond the 26-week window of traditional benefits, with about one in 10 having been searching for work for a year or more.

This week, the Connecticut Department of Labor attempted to clarify one big question for some employers: how to handle situations in which workers refuse to return to workplaces on fears of contracting coronavirus, including scenarios in which workers might demand to be laid off should their employers remain adamant they return.

DOL has the right to weigh the health risk of any workplace in deciding on any continuation of benefits. The Connecticut department stated that if an employee does not have sufficient cause in refusing to work, the department could deny unemployment benefits until the employee has returned to the job and earned at least six times the individuals benefit rate.

The ruling is consistent with existing policies governing employees who refuse to return to work, according to Gary Phelan, a partner with the employment law firm Mitchell & Sheahan which has offices in Stratford and Westport. But given the extraordinary warnings from public health authorities, the policy could evolve further.

If its just (general) fear for their own safety, that is not a valid reason  theres not good cause not to return, Phelan said. If the person has an underlying autoimmune disease or is over age 65, for example, thats where the employer may have to look at possible accommodations. ... I think theres going to be a good number of hearings because of that.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Even though Pennsylvania law has provisions to make riding ATVs and snow mobiles on public roads legal during certain emergency situations, they have not been enacted during the COVID-19 health emergency, state police report.

An ATV rider was confronted on Thursday in the Lehigh Valley by a state trooper, who told the rider it wasnt legal, state police said. A media report indicated it was, but state police on Friday morning said in a news release that was incorrect.

The operation of a snow mobile or ATV on a public road or highway is still currently illegal under Title 75, Section 7721 and 7722 of the vehicular code, state police said.

An emergency exception must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation or local authorities with jurisdiction, which hasnt happened, police said. The current state disaster declaration during the coronavirus pandemic does not allow ATVs and snow mobiles to be driven on public streets, police said.

ATVs can only be ridden on designated trails in Pennsylvania state parks, police said. It is not allowed on state forest road, and in state parks and state game lands, police said.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Ruchi Ghanashyam, issued another warning on Friday for Indians stranded in the UK amid the coronavirus travel lockdown to not be misled by mischievous information being circulated around possible evacuation flights to India.

Ghanashyam praised the laudable contribution of these Indian nationals in strengthening India's fight against Covid-19 by staying put in the UK and reiterated that there was no change to India's temporary ban on inbound international passenger flights, in place until April 14.

All of you who are in the UK have made a laudable contribution to strengthen India's hands in the fight against Covid19 by staying put wherever you are despite facing hardships. I understand the pain of being far from loved ones during these difficult times, said Ghanashyam in a statement issued on Friday.

On concerns regarding travel to India, the High Commission is in touch with the Indian authorities concerned and will keep Indian citizens in the UK updated as and when new travel advisories are issued by the government of India. In the meanwhile, I request all of you not to believe in the misleading and mischievous information circulated by some elements, she said.

The statement, which also flagged yoga and breathing exercises as a means to boost overall health, came amid calls for passenger swaps as the UK government began putting arrangements in place to evacuate thousands of British nationals stranded in different parts of India as part of a 75-million pound worldwide effort involving charter flights. There have been calls for these special flights to be used to ferry back stranded Indians from the UK as well.

We need a swap, for the British foreign secretary [Dominic Raab] to speak to the Indian foreign minister [S Jaishankar] as quickly as possible. People have all registered with the High Commission but have had no further information, said Keith Vaz, Goan-origin former Labour Party MP and now chair of the Integration Foundation.

Hundreds of Indian students, professionals and tourists are stranded in different parts of the UK after India updated its travel advisory to impose a ban on international flights until April 14 as part of its lockdown to control the spread of Covid-19.

Among them is a group of nearly 400 students from India who started a data chain with their passport details to create a collective voice to lobby the Indian government for evacuation.

The UK Home Office confirmed that any foreign students or professionals on visas that had expired or expiring would be given an extension at least until May 31.

There is some relief over the grace period but the Indian High Commission's social media channels continue to be inundated by Indians desperate to return home, some of whom are sole breadwinners of their families back in India and others concerned about the limited resources at their disposal in the face of mounting costs.

We are working with individuals, self-help groups, associations and organisations to put in place mechanisms to help and guide stranded Indians on their concerns regarding accommodation, food and other matters. I am touched that a large number of individuals, help groups, associations and organisations have come forward to render help to Indians living in the UK, said Ghanashyam.

Meanwhile, the British High Commission in New Delhi also warned against false rumours as it finalises its plans to facilitate the return of UK residents spread around India who had been petitioning to be airlifted.

We are aware of false rumours of flights circulating. Don't get taken in by scams. We are working 24/7 to help and get British nationals home, details will be published on our social media channels and our Travel Advice page, said the UK mission in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Central PSUs under the power ministry and the new and renewable energy ministry would contribute Rs 925 crore to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, an official release said on Friday.

The Central Public Sector Enterprises ( CPSEs) under the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy have decided to contribute Rs. 925 Crore to Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund' (PM CARES Fund)', a power ministry statement said.

We feel honoured to share that the Public Sector Undertakings of the Ministry of Power & MNRE have decided to contribute INR 925 Cr to the PM- CARES fund with INR 445Cr being deposited on 31st March and remaining in the first week of April, Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh tweeted.

The amount of Rs 925 crore includes a contribution of Rs 905 crore from PSUs under the Ministry of Power and contribution of Rs 20 crore from PSUs under MNRE.

"Covid-19, a highly contagious disease has spread to almost the entire world. In India too the pandemic is posing a severe health hazard, which requires the entire nation to stand together," Singh said.

He complimented all those who are contributing wholeheartedly to the PM Cares Fund responding to the appeal of the Prime MinisterNarendra Modi.

Among the PSUs, NTPC will contribute Rs 250 crore followed by Power Finance Corporation and Power Grid at Rs 200 crore each.

The REC will contribute Rs 150 crore while NHPC will provide Rs 50 crore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration has abruptly changed its description of the Strategic National Stockpile and put forward a narrower vision of the role the federal governments repository of life-saving medicines and equipment should play in supplying states needs.

The change comes as the White House already is facing growing anger and worry from governors over federal assistance to fight the coronavirus outbreak. But it conforms with President Donald Trumps insistence that the stockpile is only a short-term backup for states, not a commitment to ensure supplies get quickly to those who need them most during an emergency, the latest front in a concerted White House effort to try to put the onus for battling the crisis on the states, with Washington meant to play more of a supporting role.

Trump angrily defended the approach in his Friday news conference, his early sunny demeanour darkening as he was pressed on expected death rates and his son-in-law Jared Kushners comments suggesting the national stockpile is not intended for states. He sparred with reporters and insisted his administration was doing our best for New York, the pandemics epicenter, even as Governor Andrew Cuomo warns the state is in danger of not having enough ventilators to help patients stricken with coronavirus in a matter of days.

The alteration of the language describing the stockpile was reflected on government websites on Friday, a day after Kushner, a White House senior adviser who has taken a larger role in the coronavirus response, offered a new argument about the supplies.

After saying that states should use their own stockpiles first, Kushner on Thursday said, And the notion of the federal stockpile was its supposed to be our stockpile. Its not supposed to be states stockpiles that they then use.

And asked what Kushner meant by our stockpile, Trump snapped at a reporter, You know what our means: United States of America...our. Our. It means the United States of America.

Trump on Friday touted the number of supplies it was sending to the states, including 8.1 million masks to New York. The president also directed FEMA to prevent export of the N95 masks under the Defence Production Act. In new guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans to wear masks in crowded areas, particularly in hot spots, but Trump immediately said that he would not personally follow the recommendation.

Until Friday, the federal Health and Human Services website had described the stockpile as the nations largest supply of life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.

When state, local, tribal, and territorial responders request federal assistance to support their response efforts, the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency.

But the changed version available Friday morning said the stockpiles role is to supplement state and local supplies during public health emergencies. Many states have products stockpiled, as well. The supplies, medicines, and devices for life-saving care contained in the stockpile can be used as a short-term stopgap buffer when the immediate supply of adequate amounts of these materials may not be immediately available.

Democratic senators, including Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, demanded an immediate investigation into the stockpile. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., called the website alteration despicable and said the administration should be spending every waking moment getting life-saving supplies to our health care providers on the frontlines. Instead, theyre spending valuable time editing the Strategic National Stockpile website.

Officials at the agency said the change had been in the works for weeks, downplaying any connection to Kushners comments. Kushner made his claim during his first appearance at the daily White House briefing, a moment meant to highlight his growing role in managing the federal response to the pandemic, particularly in delivering vital supplies.

Trump has long insisted that the primary responsibility lies with the states in managing the pandemic. He has resisted calls to issue a national stay-at-home order and said that he didnt want to overly use his authority to mobilize private companies for the effort, because he believed the states should take the lead in obtaining supplies.

I leave it up to the governors, Trump said Friday about whether every state should have a stay-at-home order. I like that from the standpoint of governing.

But in statehouses across the nation, there has been increasing frustration at the lack of assistance from Washington.

Trump scoffed at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos request for 30,000 ventilators for the state, a virus hotbed. In neighbouring Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont told CNN on Tuesday that the state couldnt get personal protective equipment from the national stockpile and was only able to get 50 ventilators from the federal supply. He said he was told that hell have to secure the rest on his own.

States have also reported multiple issues with the equipment the federal government has managed to send.

Illinois was supposed to receive a federal shipment of 300,000 N95 masks in March, but instead received less-effective surgical masks, Gov. J.B. Pritzker revealed during a Tuesday briefing. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Twitter last week that he had received 170 broken ventilators from the national stockpile, far less than the 10,000 breathing machines hes seeking.

Trump said the mask export ban was necessary to assure that the supplies are available for domestic medical use. The move came a day after the White House announced Trump invoked the DPA to compel Minnesota-based 3M to make as many N95 masks as FEMA determines are needed.

Meanwhile, the White House on Friday stepped up precautions to protect Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence from contracting the new coronavirus. Anyone who is expected to be in close proximity to Trump or Pence will be given a new, quick COVID-19 test, White House spokesman Judd Deere said.

All visitors to the White House complex already have their temperatures taken when entering the building and if they will be near either Trump or Pence. Trump took the new test on Thursday and the White House doctor said results were back in 15 minutes. He tested negative.

___

Lemire reported from New York. Seitz reported from Chicago. Associated Press writer Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed from Washington.
Washington

The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus on his ship was fired Thursday by Navy leaders who said he created a panic by sending his memo pleading for help to too many people.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the ship's commander, Capt. Brett Crozier, "demonstrated extremely poor judgment" in the middle of a crisis. He said the captain copied too many people on the memo, which was leaked to a California newspaper and quickly spread to many news outlets.

Modly's decision was immediately condemned by members of the House Armed Services Committee, who called it a "destabilizing move" that will "likely put our service members at greater risk and jeopardize our fleet's readiness."

Modly told Pentagon reporters during an abruptly called press conference Thursday that Crozier should have gone directly to his immediate commanders, who were already moving to help the ship. And he said Crozier created a panic by suggesting 50 sailors could die.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, with a crew of nearly 5,000, is docked in Guam, and the Navy has said as many as 3,000 will be taken off the ship and quarantined by Friday. More than 100 sailors on the ship have tested positive for the virus, but none are hospitalized at this point.

"What it does, it undermines our efforts and the chain of command's efforts to address this problem and creates a panic and creates the perception that the Navy is not on the job, the government is not on the job, and it's just not true," Modly said.

He complained that Crozier sent the memo to people outside his chain of command and in a non-secure, unclassified email. And, he said he concluded that the captain's ability to react professionally was overwhelmed by the virus challenge, "when acting professionally was what was needed most. We do, and we should, expect more from the commanding officers of our aircraft carriers."

Modly said he has no information to suggest that Crozier leaked the memo to the press. But he said that if Crozier had communicated only with his leadership and not widely distributed the memo, he would likely still have a job. He took sole responsibility for the decision to fire Crozier, and said he got no pressure from the White House to do so.

Democrats on the House committee issued a joint statement in support of Crozier. They said that while the captain went outside his chain of command, the pandemic presents a new set of challenges.

"Captain Crozier was justifiably concerned about the health and safety of his crew, but he did not handle the immense pressure appropriately," the lawmakers said. "However, relieving him of his command is an overreaction."

Crozier, in his memo, raised warnings the ship was facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus and asked permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore, an extraordinary move to take a carrier out of duty in an effort to save lives.

He said that removing all but 10 percent of the crew would be a "necessary risk" in order to stop the spread of the virus.

"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 said.

As of Thursday, the Navy said 31 percent of the USS Theodore Roosevelt crew have been tested for the virus, and 114 tested positive. The 180 Sailors that tested negative so far will move into Guam hotels for quarantine. As testing continues, the ship will keep enough sailors on board to sustain essential services and sanitize the ship in port.
The remarks imposed an urgent timeline on the guidance the governor has been giving for weeks  that if New York did not get a major infusion of the potentially lifesaving machines, and quickly, the number of virus-related deaths in the state would increase drastically.

If a person comes in and needs a ventilator and you dont have a ventilator, the person dies, Mr. Cuomo said at his daily briefing on Thursday in Albany. Thats the blunt equation here. And right now we have a burn rate that would suggest we have about six days in the stockpile.

The comments came as doctors in New York City, where hospitals supplies are dwindling amid a flood of virus patients, cautioned that medical workers might soon need to make difficult choices about rationing care.

On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that New York City alone would need 2,500 to 3,000 additional ventilators next week to cope with an expected surge in patients.
Ukrainian climbers who have been stranded in Nepal after climbing Everest due to the coronavirus pandemic can be evacuated from that country by a Russian plane, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

He said this at an online briefing on Friday, April 3, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"From the remotest countries, our most high-profile story is Nepal where our climbers climbed Mount Everest, descended, and need our assistance. [...] The difficulty with Nepal is that it is a very remote country and it is difficult to build a logistic route," Kuleba said.

At the same time, he said there had been a proposal from Russia's Aeroflot to evacuate Ukrainian citizens from there.

"As far as I know, the Russian consulate needs a formal note from the Ukrainian consulate to take our citizens on board. We are considering all the logistical possibilities to help them," Kuleba said.

He also recalled that on his instructions, embassies and consulates around the world had launched a program to support Ukrainians who were temporarily stranded in various countries around the world due to the rapid spread of the pandemic and the introduction of internal restrictions by countries and the significant complication of international logistics.

Earlier reports said that 13,787 Ukrainian citizens had appealed to foreign diplomatic agencies for assistance in returning to Ukraine, and 8,538 of them insist on the speedy return to their homeland.

op
Businessman and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban revived talk of an improbable 2020 presidential bid during an Axios virtual event on Friday.

"Everything's a reset right now," Cuban told Axios CEO Jim VandeHei from Dallas. "If this would would've been a month ago, I would have said absolutely not. But obviously things are crazy, things are changing. So I'll keep an open mind. But I seriously doubt it."

Asked if its too late to be a viable candidate with ballot access, Cuban replied: Oh, its plausible."
When the senior U.S. Army officer in Italy ordered the gyms on Army installations in Vicenza closed starting Feb. 24, it wasnt a popular decision.

One particularly upset fitness fanatic went to the trouble of writing OPEN THE GYM several hundred times in the comments section of an anonymous customer feedback site, two days in a row.

At the time, there were no reported coronavirus cases in Vicenza, a town of about 112,000 roughly 255 miles north of Rome, and only about 200 in the whole of Italy. None of the cases were from the U.S. Army community, which includes about 4,000 soldiers, 2,750 Army civilians and 8,750 dependents, split between Vicenza and Camp Darby, about 140 miles away to the southwest near Pisa. And that was how Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier wanted to keep it when he shut down the gyms, as well as on-post schools, child development centers and churches that served both locations.

A 55-year-old infantry officer, Cloutier is formally the commander of U.S. Army Africa, but his headquarters location in Vicenza makes him what the Defense Department calls the senior responsible officer for U.S. Army forces in Italy, meaning he has administrative control over all U.S. soldiers in the country, even though most of them belong to U.S. Army Europe, which is headquartered in Germany, for operational purposes.

Cloutier is one of two generals that Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville have highlighted repeatedly in recent press conferences as examples of military leaders who have excelled in keeping their forces largely safe from the coronavirus. The other is Gen. Robert Abe Abrams, who commands all U.S. forces in South Korea.

Their success is a bright spot for a Pentagon now facing a torrent of criticism over the firing of a captain of a U.S. aircraft carrier stricken by the coronavirus. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Thursday he was removing Capt. Brett Crozier for extremely poor judgment in ccing too many people when he sent a letter up his chain of command detailing his concerns about how the Navy was handling his crews health crisis.

Story continues

Army Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier, left, and Gen. Robert Abrams. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP, Li Jin-man/AP)

After originating in late 2019 in China, the virus was first reported in South Korea on Jan. 20. The country appeared to have the outbreak under control until a 61-year-old woman became a so-called superspreader, infecting hundreds of people, largely via her church in Daegu, a city that is home to 2.5 million people and four U.S. Army installations about 147 miles southeast of Seoul.

By Feb. 20, more than half of South Koreas 104 confirmed cases were in Daegu. The virus was literally at our doorsteps, Abrams told Pentagon reporters March 13. The four-star general took immediate action to protect the roughly 28,500 U.S. military personnel under his command and their dependents. Among other measures, he canceled all meetings, formations and training events for U.S. forces across the peninsula that involved more than 20 people. He also shut down school for military dependents in Daegu, allowed only mission-essential travel to the city for U.S. service members and requested more medical supplies.

Abrams had already taken several steps to get ahead of the outbreak: issuing the advice now familiar to most Americans about social distancing, washing hands and avoiding sick people; beefing up his headquarters so the staff could monitor the outbreak 24 hours a day; and imposing a 14-day quarantine on any member of the military community whod been to China recently. At our peak, we had 77 service members, family members and civilians in self-quarantine who had visited China, he said.

As Abrams took these steps, he had a key advantage: his top medical officer, Army Col. Clinton Murray, who last summer began a one-year tour as U.S. Forces Korea surgeon. A command surgeon in the military can be any sort of doctor, Abrams noted, but this year, by sheer luck, I happen to have one of the Armys leading infectious disease doctors.

Army Col. Clinton Murray. (APG News)

Working closely with the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Murray and his medical team came up with a set of metrics that allowed Abrams to be ready with a series of preprogrammed moves when certain conditions were met. Thus, when on Feb. 24 a 61-year-old widow in Daegu became the first U.S. military dependent to test positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, Abrams was prepared.

He immediately raised the risk level to high for all U.S. forces in the country, limited base access to only those whose presence was mission-essential, instituted telework procedures and insisted that all those entering the bases be medically screened, which required filling out a questionnaire and having their temperatures taken. The number of people trying to come onto base dropped 60 percent, which further reduced the potential spread of the coronavirus to U.S. Forces Korea troops, Abrams said.

The general also shut down all Defense Department schooling for U.S. children on the peninsula and placed all bars, restaurants and movie theaters off-limits to U.S. Forces Korea personnel and their families. The new rules, which remain in place, mean U.S. Forces Korea personnel and their family members are allowed off base only to visit medical providers, grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as to travel to and from work. For those working on base, there are strict social distancing requirements, while all commonly used items and surfaces are repeatedly wiped down throughout the workday.

From the start, Murray noted in an email to Yahoo News, Abrams treated the spread of the coronavirus like a combat operation and adopted the social media-friendly mantra #KILLthevirus (which even made it into at least one of President Donald Trumps tweets).

The aim, Abrams said, was to create protective bubbles around our installations, just to keep the virus out of our formations, out of our workforce, out of our homes and out of our schools. Abramss troops were also ready if any person associated with U.S. Forces Korea tested positive, with teams poised to immediately trace that individuals contacts, place any potentially infected person in quarantine and thoroughly clean all locations the individual had visited in the previous 48 hours.

Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of the United Nations Command, speaks during a commemorative ceremony for the 66th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas, July 27. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool via AP)

So far the steps appear to be working. On Feb. 25, a soldier stationed at Camp Carroll, just outside Daegu, became the first U.S. service member in South Korea to test positive (although as it can take up to two weeks for an infected individual to exhibit symptoms, that soldier almost certainly contracted the disease before the new measures went into effect). But in the five weeks since then, as the total number of cases in South Korea surged to almost 10,000, only one other U.S. service member in the country has tested positive, a testament to the effectiveness of Abramss measures when applied early and with rigor.

(About a dozen other individuals associated with the command  dependents, U.S. contractors, Defense Department civilians and local hires  have also tested positive. In almost all cases those people lived off base.)

No single measure has proved more important than any other in controlling the outbreak, according to Murray. The entire package is required, he wrote.

From his Vicenza headquarters 5,500 miles away, Cloutier was able to draw on Abramss lessons learned as he prepared to face the coronavirus onslaught.

On the day he closed down almost all public activities for U.S. soldiers in Italy, he put out a Facebook video message to his community in which he did not mince words. The situation is not going to cure itself overnight, he said in a Feb. 24 Facebook video message to the Army community in Italy. In fact, it could get worse before it gets better.

Cloutier said one factor behind his decision to shut so much down was that he was trying to stay in step with the local Italian authorities, who had also closed schools that day. But he also wanted to get ahead of the virus, and he had a plan for how to do that.

Cloutiers spokesman, Col. Ryan Dillon, said his boss likes to say that combating the virus is like fighting a wildfire: Dig the fire break, dig it early and dig it wide to stop the spread.

Army Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier, chief of staff, U.S. Africa Command, at a Pentagon briefing in 2018. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Cloutiers decision to close the gyms, theaters, churches and schools before there were any confirmed cases in Vicenza and relatively few in Italy was grounded in his belief that it is better to act radically early, Dillon said. Although many in the community initially questioned the need to shut activities down, those decisions then put us in a strong position to plan and prepare how to further protect the force, he said.

In the meantime, Italy, with a population of about 60 million, now leads the world in deaths from COVID-19, with almost 14,000 fatalities out of more than 115,000 cases as of Thursday, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. News stories of Italian doctors having to make wrenching decisions about which patients to try to save first have filled American readers with foreboding as the virus spreads across the United States.

Five and a half weeks after Cloutier acted to protect his community of 15,500 Americans, fewer than five of them have tested positive. None have died. By comparison, by March 27, the U.S. military community in Stuttgart, Germany, had at least 69 confirmed cases, including troops, Defense Department civilians, contractors and dependents, according to Stars and Stripes. (The Defense Department has since banned individual military organizations or headquarters from releasing numbers of confirmed cases.)

In neither Korea nor Italy are U.S. military officials ready to declare victory just yet. While South Korea appears to be past the worst of its coronavirus outbreak, the death toll in Italy continues to rise precipitously. Cloutiers aim remains the same: to protect the force using clear policy that is ruthlessly enforced  so that each subordinate command is not doing its own thing, Dillon said.

And as for the gyms, which remain closed? Nobodys complaining about that now, he said.

This story has augmented reality! Tap the video above to see how it looks and download the Yahoo News app to launch the full experience. Augmented reality is currently available to iPhone users (iPhone 8 and later) with the latest version of iOS.

_____

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:
Gov. Greg Abbott this week issued his strongest order yet in the battle against COVID-19, but stopped short of telling Texans to stay at home. The very next day, however, Abbott said Texans are required to stay home except for essential services.

Plus Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen had strong words for college students who traveled during the pandemic and a Texas congressional candidate in a heavily Asian part of the state lashed out at China in a new TV ad.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-03 21:07:27

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Norway Automotive Industry Market Outlook 2017-2030 By Goldstein Market IntelligenceAccording to the Goldstein Market Intelligence report, zero-emission, by and large all-electric and not many hydrogen-controlled vehicles enrolled 20.9% of all out deals in 2017. This means an upsurge more than 2016, when electric and cross breed autos represented 15.7% and 24.5% individually of all out deals, making Norway a worldwide pioneer in charging street transport.Zero-emission, by and large all-electric and not many hydrogen-controlled vehicles enrolled 20.9% of all out deals in 2017. This means an upsurge more than 2016, when electric and cross breed autos represented 15.7% and 24.5% individually of all out deals, making Norway a worldwide pioneer in charging street transport.Report is available at:- https://bit.ly/2UFujzv Covered in this Norway Automotive Industry Market Report areNorway Automotive Industry Market Outlook 2030 by Goldstein Market Intelligence contains detailed overview of Norway Automotive Industry Market in terms of market segmentation by analysis basis, therapy type and geography. The Report highlights the competitive outlook of major global players that includes the business strategies, product portfolio, revenue distribution, financial analysis, R&D activities, and investments. The in-depth analysis of Norway Automotive Industry Market report will help the clients to assess their business strategies as per the competitive environment in the market space.Major players covered in this Norway Automotive Industry Market report are: Daimler AG Porsche AG Volkswagen Audi AG BMW Ford Motor Company Opel Automobile GmbH Skoda Auto Groupe Renault Hyundai Motor Company Robert Bosch GmbH Continental AG Denso Corp Johnson Controls Inc. Magna International Inc. BASF SE Mahle GmbH Behr GmbH Bridgestone Michelin Goodyear Sumitomo RubberRequest for sample report :- https://bit.ly/2JCmgxm Further, Norway Automotive Industry Market Report encompasses the major trends & opportunities, market dynamics and other growth factors of the market. Norway Automotive Industry Market outlook also comprises of key challenges, risk analysis, BPS analysis, SWOT Analysis and Market Attractiveness. The report also highlights the expert analysis to provide a complete overview of the market including the PESTLE analysis of each region and country.About Goldstein Market IntelligenceBased in the US, Goldstein Market Intelligence currently has a strong presence in the American and Asian countries. In the next five years, we strive to expand our reach to 50+ nations spanning across Europe, Asia and parts of the Middle East and Africa.Goldstein Market Intelligence helping businesses to be successful at strategy and take informed decisions to grow the business in future. Goldstein Market Intelligence is one of the leading professional services firms, providing Intelligence Services, Consulting & Advisory and research related services to clients. We, at Goldstein Intelligence Group (GIG) practice works side by side with chief executives and their teams to create effective strategies and secure alignment across the organisation. Goldstein Intelligence Group (GIG), a network of worldwide professional services firms, as a leading group with a strong commitment to establishing itself as a truly global-minded professional firm that can provide professional services across the world.Contact for more Info:Dennis Abraham(Global Sales Head)UK: +44 7520 644482Email Us :- dennis.abraham@goldsteinresearch.com
You can Google just about anything now, he explains. But no matter the question,youre going to find a myriad of opposing views on the same topic  insurance is no different, and people are understandably confused about the information they find online. As brokers, we need to make sure were ready to help them when they pick up the phone to make enquiries.

Advice-driven business is the key to longevity for insurance brokers, Standfield notes. From a consumer perspective, price isnt necessarily the prime driver when a claimable event occurs  having the right support in place is far more crucial. Technology enables this advice-driven model, but real people are still very much part of the process.

We believe a combination of great people and great systems will result in great advice,Standfield says.

When used correctly, technology actively enhances a brokers role, he explains. Itsan enabler that can provide additional and better information, reduce frictional costs, and enhance a brokers relationships with existing and future clients alike. Technology brings data feeds and workflow management to relieve many of the administrative and technical burdens brokers face. Compliance is embedded throughout the process rather than a complex minefield bolted into the advice process, Standfield says.

It can also enable better connections between brokers and their local communities. Tools like social media, SEO and other web-based services have helped raise the profile of brokers while also enabling them to learn about their clients more easily.

Nothing beats discussing clients needs on a one-on-one basis, Standfield says. With the tools available to you, you can ask more pertinent questions, helping ensure youve got an effective grasp on what they need to protect their business and their families.

Standfield points to the recent bushfires and hail events in NSW as an example of the power of technology and effective customer service in action.

We were able to send out early warning messages to our clients and then follow up using our power mapping system, Standfield says. We could identify clients who had potentially been impacted, then send them a personalised electronic mailer, check on their welfare and let them know how to commence preparing a claim. We also sent useful links so clients could have all of the relevant contact details for government and agency support services in one place.

We believe a combination of great people and great systems will result in great advice Shaun Standfield, Insurance Advisernet

That said, Standfield is conscious that making the shift to a higher-tech world can be challenging. There are still plenty of brokers who are lagging behind on this front, and Standfield believes that some dont yet appreciate how to use the tools that are emerging. Theres often a misconception that these tools are solely for admin tasks, but Standfield sees their real value in being able to increase the level of personalised client contact.

Our own client research shows that price is important, but its not the overarching factor in clients purchasing insurance from a broker, he says. Comparative pricing tools may not necessarily result in long-term client relationships  if you win clients on price, youll ultimately lose them on price. They want good advice which ultimately allows them to put their head on their pillow each night with the confidence that their personal assets and livelihood are protected  and that they have advocates working for them.

Instead, Standfield believes there is far more value to be had in maintaining a strong tripartite relationship between insurer, client and broker. Ultimately, this will bring better long-term outcomes for all parties involved  and it also fills Standfield with confidence about the important role brokers can play in their communities. With the right mix of tech and customer service, the future of the industry looks bright.

Businesses that offer personalised services will prosper into the future, Standfield says. We dont sell homogeneous products  we sell professional advice, peace of mind and an ability to act as advocates for our clients if a claim occurs.
ONE of the countrys most established fashion bloggers, Limerick woman Louise Cooney, has raised over 50,000 for Pieta House in just 24 hours.

I kickstarted the donations with 1,000 and within a day we have raised 54,000 and counting, Louise told the Limerick Leader this Friday.

The charity which helps people in suicidal distress and those who are engaging in self-harm reached out to Louise this week as they have been receiving an unprecedented amount of calls with people seeking help during the Covid-19 crisis.

Mental health is something thats very close to my heart, explained Louise who put out an appeal on Instagram where she has almost 200k followers.

Less than a year ago my family went through the heartbreak of suicide so I understand first hand the devastation it brings and the importance of having access to services like Pieta House. My aunt who lost her beautiful son, my cousin Nicky, has very bravely recorded a video to help share this message and raise much needed funds and awareness.

With the Darkness into Light walks being postponed this year due to the pandemic, Pieta House, Louise pointed out are missing vital funds they need to keep their services going during a very busy time.

The fashion blogger from Dooradoyle who is regarded as one of the top influencers in Ireland packed her belongings last weekend and flew home from New York on Sunday. She had moved to New York last September but with Covid-19 sweeping through the city that never sleeps Louise knew it was better to be safe than sorry and returned to Ireland. She is currently staying in a lodge in Doolin, County Clare, self isolating as a precaution.

I know Ive been so lucky to be able to isolate in such beautiful surroundings but it isnt lost on me that while some people are enjoying this rare downtime, for others this is an exceptionally difficult time. Being isolated from family and friends, unemployment and uncertainty have a huge impact on mental health, she said.

I understand during this time people have lost their jobs and are out of work but I asked people to donate 5 (or whatever they could afford) to this very worthy cause. The support has been incredible. It really shows how generous people can be and how the Irish pull together and support each other no matter the circumstances.

Louise says the donation link is still open and will be for another week or so.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/pieta-house-covid-19?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
An age-breakdown of coronavirus cases in New South Wales has revealed its not just older people who are at risk of the deadly disease.

Over a third of all seriously ill patients who require hospitalisation in the state are under 60, according to New South Wales Health data.

The figures also show that people in their 20s have more confirmed cases than any other age group.

New South Wales Health begins free coronavirus testing pop-up in Bondi after cluster of backpapers contracted the disease

Young people at Sydney's Northern Beaches (above) appear to disregard social distancing rules

Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently said those in their 20s and 30s have the view that because they are healthier that they are not transmitters of the virus.

They are transmitters of the virus, Mr Morrison said.

While they themselves may only have a mild case but that is no guarantee, what they are doing by having that view, is that they are putting other peoples peoples lives at risk.

In fact, the data shows younger people often do not get a mild case.

Across Australia the total number of infections has soared past 5,200 with New South Wales accounting for almost half of all cases.

Of the 2,297 confirmed cases in the state when the data was recorded, 502 were aged between 20 and 29.

The figures from New South Wales Health show people in their 20s have more confirmed cases than any other age group.

While not everyone will need hospital treatment, around 10 to 20 percent will.

There are 231 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health, including 43 cases in our Intensive Care Units and, of those, 20 require ventilators at this stage, New South Wales Health said on Thursday.

More than 50 percent of the remainder of cases being treated by NSW Health are through Hospital in the Home services.

With a cluster of coronavirus cases among backpackers in Sydney's Bondi area, NSW Health have now set up a free pop-up testing site.

'If you are living or working in Bondi Beach or Bondi Junction and have a fever or history of fever or symptoms like a cough, shortness of breath or sore throat you can visit the clinic and be tested,' New South Wales Health said.

'This pop-up clinic is a particularly important testing centre for young backpackers staying around Bondi as we are seeing a number of cases in this community.'

The clinic is open 9am to 4pm 7 days a week.
The debate over how to respond to President Donald Trumps sanctions regime against Iran in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is creating a fissure between the hawkish and the left wings of the Democratic Party.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Affairs panel, Bob Menendez, D-N.J., came out in favor today of broadly maintaining the current US Iran sanctions regime while urging the Trump administration to do more to facilitate humanitarian sanctions exemptions in the fight against COVID-19.

Simply lifting sanctions that have been imposed for ongoing malign behavior will not provide immediate or meaningful relief for the Iranian people, Menendez said in a statement. Congress has made clear through legislation that our sanctions regime should never hinder humanitarian and medical relief, he added.

Why it matters: Their announcement today mirrors the position former Vice President Joe Biden  Trumps likely Democratic opponent in November  came out in favor of on April 2. It also follows a push from Bidens primary opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and a group of progressive lawmakers to lift broader financial sanctions on Iran as it struggles to cope with the pandemic.

Sanders, Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., led 31 other Democratic lawmakers in a letter to the Trump administration earlier this week urging relief for major sectors of the Iranian economy, which the president has aggressively sanctioned since withdrawing from the nuclear deal in 2018. The letter said that should include sanctions impacting civilian industries, Irans banking sector and exports of oil, adding that the relief "should last for at least as long as health experts believe the crisis will continue.

Whats next: The Treasury Department did issue a general license exemption for humanitarian trade with Irans Central Bank in February. But Engel, Menendez and Biden argue that the Trump administration needs to do more to publicly reassure the banking sector  which is hesitant to conduct any Iran-related transactions  that medical and agricultural trade with Tehran will not run afoul of US sanctions. Engel and Menendez also want the Treasury Department to temporarily raise the $500,000 annual cap on humanitarian transactions for Iran  or exempt coronavirus-related payments entirely.

Know more: Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris also took a look at Bidens specific proposals for Iran humanitarian relief on April 2. Its not just about sanctions relief either. Be sure to read his story on how the American Israel Public Affairs Committee is lining up Democrats to help Trump undo one of the last vestiges of the unraveling nuclear deal.
04.04.2020 LISTEN

A number of cargo trucks loaded with foodstuff have been locked up in the Techiman Market in the Bono Rast Region.

They include maize, groundnut, cassava, yam, beans among others.

This is due to the partial lockdown being experienced in Accra and Kumasi as part of measures to control the coronavirus spread.

At the market yesterday, hundreds of cargo trucks parked at the market waiting for the ban to be lifted.

Traders were busily going about their business activities without due regard to protocols laid down by the government and Ghana Health Service to control the disease.

There was absence of social distancing. Veronica buckets with water and soaps for washing hands were not available.

Though traders said they have heard of the COVID- 19, and measures to control it, they blamed the Techiman Municipal Assembly for not making efforts to provide them with enough buckets and water to wash their hands frequently.

Former President of Techiman Maize Sellers Association, Mohammed Abdulai said though there is no lockdown in Bono East Region, the lockdown in Accra and Kumasi has affected them because most cargoes go there to offload their goods.

He said all the cargo from the northern parts of the country that are in transit at Techiman were all stuck and could not move down south due to the lockdown.

He pleaded with government to grant the cargoes access to the lockdown areas to avert food crisis.

---Daily Guide
New Delhi: Startup funding in India shows a decline in the quantum of funds in the month of March due to the coronavirus crisis.



Venture Capital investors are now holding back their plan of startup fundings due to the fallout of economies in coping with the crisis. Startup activity started on a weak note in Q1 2020, with Angel/Seed witnessing 136 deals worth 131.22 million dollars and Venture Capital with 93 deals worth 1.85 billion dollars (a five year low in Venture Capital funding).





The quantum of deals across Angel, Seed, and Venture Capital has dropped by 8.4 per cent, whereas in terms of value, it has decreased by 6.91 per cent in comparison with Q1 2019.



"India is not likely to remain decoupled from the global economic slowdown, and uncertainty is evident among VCs and startups on what the future holds post coronavirus. International travelling restrictions has also put a halt on fundraising activities as China is one of the biggest sources of funds for the Indian startup ecosystem. The uncertainty of the situation is a big challenge at the moment" said Sahaj Kumar, Head Research, VCCEdge.



In March 2020, the first half recorded 32 Angel/Seed deals, which has fallen to 15 deals in the second half. Investors are wary of making investments due to COVID-19 spread and economic uncertainty, thereby reducing the appetite for risk resulting in further slowing down of funding activity in April. According to VCCEdge, the largest early-stage deal witnessed in Q1 2020 is by InterviewBit. The startup raised 20 million dollars from a group of investors, including Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, and GFC Global Founders Capital GmbH.



The largest early-stage deal in March 2020 is by Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered sales assistance platform Salesken, operated by IStar Skill Development Pvt. Ltd, which has raised $8 million from Sequoia Capital in its VC (Series A) round.



"General reluctance to engage in in-person discussion is going to limit the networking opportunities and poses a big risk to the funding activities as networking/events provide entrepreneurs access to investors," said Shalil Gupta, Chief Research Officer, VCCEdge.



"It is still early days to predict the economic and the funding consequences of the outbreak, but it is going to drop in the next two quarters as investors at the moment prefer waiting and observing the situation. Lack of face-to-face meetings between founders and investors would also affect the funding pace," he added.



This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.


New Brunswick has four new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the province's total to 95, chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell announced Friday, but case projections for the province won't be announced until next week.

Demands on the health-care system will be significant, whether the modelling is accurate or not, she told reporters during the daily update in Fredericton.

Russell said she shares Premier Blaine Higgs's concerns about test supplies and protective equipment, but the province is working with federal partners to ensure there will be enough when they are needed.

She remains confident there will be, "as long as we are prudent in our use," she said.

These are our neighbours, our friends, our fellow New Brunswickers. - Jennifer Russell, chief medical health officer

The federal government has said a shipment is slated to arrive on April 6, she added.

As of Thursday, the province had about 3,700 testing kits and 4,900 swabs left, Russell said.

The lab in Moncton is analyzing about 500 tests a day but has the capacity to do about 1,000 and will be ramping up in the coming days.

The new cases include:

Zone 3, Fredericton region:

Three individuals, aged 30 to 69.

Zone 5, Campbellton region:

One individual in their 30s.

Four patients remain in hospital, with one in intensive care.

Russell stressed it's important to think of these as not just cases, but people.

"These are our neighbours, our friends, our fellow New Brunswickers," whose lives have been "dramatically altered by this disease."

She urged everyone to show kindness and compassion.

Photo: CBC New Brunswick

Of the 95 cases, 54 are travel-related, 28 are close contacts of confirmed cases, three cases are from community transmission and 10 cases remain under investigation.

Twenty-five people have recovered, to date.

Russell said she remains "hopeful," but "we cannot afford to take chances with this virus."

It's crucial people who have been directed to self-isolate continue to do so and that others stay at home as much as possible to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 and protect health-care providers.

Story continues

"This is in your hands, so keep your hands clean," she said.

Here is a roundup of other developments:

Government provides funding to university students

Premier Blaine Higgs also announced an emergency bridging fund for vulnerable post-secondary students in New Brunswick. Up to $500,000 is available in this fund for students directly impacted by COVID-19.

The funds will be distributed by post-secondary institutions in New Brunswick based on eligibility criteria, including international students who demonstrate a financial gap in meeting their basic needs between now and the end of the term.

The province will provide a one time amount of up to $750 per student.

To qualify, students need to be directly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and must not qualify for the $900 emergency relief fund distributed by the province as of March 30.

They also cannot have access to funds through student loans, employment insurance, personal savings or other COVID-19 related financial assistance programs.

"Students must contact their institution directly to be considered and will be assessed on a casebycase basis," he said. "All post-secondary institutions are encouraged to provide additional funding where possible."

Localized flooding in some parts of New Brunswick

The province is starting to see some minor localized flooding in the northwest.

Premier Blaine Higgs said New Brunswick's Emergency Measures Organization is monitoring water levels across the province and "are ready to help."

"It's much too early to say what the freshet will look like."

Although there is no major flooding in the forecast, Higgs said now is the right time to start getting ready for flooding season.

"If you've experienced flooding before, it's important to take steps now to protect your property and your family. And be ready in case you need to evacuate."

Office of the Premier

The province has seen severe flooding over the past two years.

Higgs hopes the province won't need to call in the military to help with flooding, but "it's nice to know they're there when we need them."

State of emergency and evictions

Premier Blaine Higgs said there has been some confusion around New Brunswick's state of emergency declaration and tenants.

The right of landlords to evict tenants for not paying rent has been suspended until May 31.

"People can still be evicted, just not because they can't pay rent due to COVID-19," Higgs said. "All other tenant obligations remain."

If a tenant can't pay rent, he said it's important they discuss the issue with their landlord.

"This is no time to abuse either your landlord or the situation we're in," he said. "This is the time to protect those that need protection."

Saint John men's shelter moves to new location, open 24/7

Outflow Men's Shelter has extended its hours and moved to a new location to wait out the pandemic.

The shelter is now open 24/7 and has relocated to the Boys and Girls Club, located at 1 Paul Harris St.

Outflow Men's Shelter was located at 162 Waterloo St., an old baptist church built in 1842. The shelter moved to a new location earlier this week so that its staff and residents could practice physical distancing.

"As we move forward, I think there'll be some some different ideas of how we can approach this and, you know, keep guys busy, but apart from one another," said Jayme Hall, executive director of Outflow Ministry.

Outflow Ministry operates the men's shelter and several social enterprises in the city, including Catapult Coffee.

The new shelter space also has a TV lounge area, although staff have to limit the number of people allowed in the room at once.

Plexiglass barriers have been erected between beds and at the intake area, to protect staff when a new person enters the shelter.

There are 30 men staying there.

Hall expects the shelter will stay at the Boys and Girls Club for at least three months.

Northside Market closes in Fredericton

The Northside Market in Fredericton has permanently closed, leaving dozens of vendors without a place to sell their products.

The market made the announcement in a Facebook post Thursday night, blaming the closure on the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We are all unsure how long it will take to be back to normal or what normal will be," said owner Peter Perry in the Facebook post.

"We are all experiencing hardship and uncertainty."

Many vendors are struggling to find a new home for their businesses and have been left wondering why they weren't told about the closure sooner.

A number of businesses have been posting their concerns over Facebook and have been looking for new locations to set up, including Ginger Beef Company and Buttercream Dreams Fredericton.

The Facebook post has since been taken down.

Maple syrup industry hit by COVID-19

New Brunswick's maple syrup industry is expecting to lose more than $1 million this year because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Louise Poitras, executive director of the New Brunswick Maple Syrup Producers Association, said that money doesn't even include a drop in maple syrup sales.

"Everybody was so ready to have a great success around the maple season and unfortunately everything was cancelled," Poitras said.

Poitras is working with producers to ensure they have a plan in place, in case sales hit an all-time-low this upcoming season.

Photo: James Fraser/Submitted

David Briggs, owner of Briggs Maples near Fundy Park, produces syrup at his operation in Riverview. He's keeping busy, but sales are "in the toilet."

In the spring, Briggs typically sees a "huge" increase in sales. This year, sales have dropped off significantly, he said.

He has also had to lay off employees.

"It's really hitting us quite hard with the season hitting us at the same time as the virus," Briggs said.

Codiac Soccer gives out free balls

Codiac Soccer is working to keep their players engaged while the season is on hold.

The club posts a challenge for its players daily online, said Kyle Reade, Codiac Soccer's technical director.

The club has also been placing soccer balls on people's lawns to encourage new people to partake in the sport.

Anyone who reaches out to the club and doesn't have a soccer ball is eligible for a free one, Reade said.

So far the club has given out more than 150 free soccer balls in the Moncton area.

Moncton-area man asks government to contact people exposed on flights

A Moncton area man says Public Health officials should be notifying airplane passengers if they were on a flight with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

Tony Austen says his wife had no idea she may have been exposed to the coronavirus until they saw it on the news. Austen's wife, Tish, did not want to do an interview with CBC.

Tish Austen had travelled to Montreal to visit her twin sister and returned home on Air Canada flight 8900, one of the flights where a passenger later tested positive for COVID-19.

"I do think that Public Health, once they have the knowledge that somebody on the plane was ill, then they should be contacting the airline, retrieving the passenger list  and then informing them to selfisolate," Austen said.

Austen and his wife have not experienced any symptoms of COVID-19.

There are six flights where passengers are currently suspected for being at risk of COVID-19, including:

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.

Air Canada flight 8900 from Montreal to Moncton on March 16.

WestJet flight 3456 arriving to Moncton March 16 from Toronto.

WestJet flight 3440 arriving to Moncton on March 8 from Toronto.

What to do if you have symptoms?

Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough or breathlessness. In this case, residents should:
The devil, goes the old saying about any complicated deal, is always in the details. In the ultra-complicated deal between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the bankrupt Pacific Gas & Electric Co., the potentially perilous devil may lie in one key detail that could cost electric customers around the state many billions of dollars over decades to come.

Newsom bragged that the agreement designed to bring the huge utility out of bankruptcy marks The end of business as usual for PG&E. He said this while preoccupied with imposing more and more rules to fight the coronavirus pandemic, but said nothing about one tax provision that immediately duns PG&Es customers for $1.4 billion.

This deal certainly could cause big changes for the felonious, twice-convicted PG&E. There would be no dividend paid to stockholders for at least three years, depriving share owners of $4 billion. Thats a major blow to the many small investors who bought PG&E shares for the steady income they once produced.

The company will also pay about $7.6 billion at no charge to its customers to repay or refinance utility debts. A state observer will monitor PG&Es safety performance. And the state can buy or break up the company if it doesnt leave bankruptcy by July 1, selling off the pieces if Newsom and the state Public Utilities Commission he greatly influences should so choose.

Thomas D. Elias: PG&Es victims will face choice: fairness or faster money PG&E's fire victims face an agonizing choice: accept a bad deal or risk everything by holding out for something better, columnist Tom Elias says.

All this has to be approved by the PUC before the company can escape bankruptcy. Also, victims of the wildfires started at least in part by PG&E equipment will have to vote to accept an alleged $13.5 billion settlement or federal Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali says he wont okay the deal.

The July 1 date is vital because PG&E must be on its own by then to be covered by the states new Wildfire Fund, paid for by all electric consumers in the state. Created by a 2019 law known as Assembly Bill 1054, the fund will reimburse privately-owned utilities like PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric up to $20 billion for fire damage they cause starting this year.

Its an unprecedented bailout for corporate wrongdoing and negligence.

But the tax provision in the out-of-bankruptcy deal sets an equally dangerous precedent. Under the plan, all $1.4 billion in tax benefits PG&E will get from losses during the fires of the last few years will become part of the funding for the victim settlement.

This would set a pattern the always utility-friendly PUC could follow whenever PG&E or the other utilities propose new settlements with their fire victims, past, present and future.

Thomas D. Elias: What proper utility maintenance could have prevented A damning new report shows just how incompetent PG&E was when it came to maintenance, columnist Tom Elias says.

For the past 109 years since the PUC began under the Progressive Republican Gov. Hiram Johnson, all outside financial benefits gained by any utility have gone toward keeping electric rates down. The huge PG&E tax write-off is just such an outside benefit, not resulting directly from gas or electric operations.

Giving that money to the settlement fund will raise rates for all PG&E customers, piling atop the $2.50 per month they and other electric consumers will pay for the next 15 years for the Wildfire Fund. Customers would pay both for that fund and some of the settlement with victims.

Newsom has not publicly mentioned this new cost to PG&Es customers. If anyone could be sure this is a one-time thing, it might not be such a big deal, costing each customer about a buck a month for years to come. Not much if you have money; a problem if you dont.

But no so-called consumer advocate except former PUC President Loretta Lynch has complained about the provision. She rightly notes that it marks the first time a(n outside) revenue stream goes anywhere but to the ratepayers.

This provision alone ought to be reason for the PUC to reject the deal. But since current PUC President Marybel Batjer has a history of aiding PG&E, including helping design both the Wildfire Fund and the latest deal, that wont happen. This arrangement appears greased.

That leaves electricity users all over California at far more future financial risk than ever before.

Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. He is author of the book, The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It.
A U.S. senator has accused China of "garbage propaganda" about the coronavirus. The European Union says claims that it is "disintegrating in the face of COVID-19 are trending on social media." China and Russia are targeting global audiences with state media reporting that plays up their aid to other countries while also spreading disinformation.
Below is the transcript of a CNBC Exclusive interview with Dr Loo Choon Yong, Executive Chairman, Raffles Medical Group. The interview played out in CNBC's latest episode of Managing Asia on 03 April 2020, 5.30PM SG/HK (in APAC). If you choose to use anything, please attribute to CNBC and Christine Tan.

Christine Tan (CT): The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. Have you seen anything like this in all your years as a healthcare provider?

Dr Loo Choon Yong (DR LCY): Definitely not. I mean, the last time H1N1 was more confined to the West. MERS  the Middle East. And then we had the SARS, that was more Asia. Nothing global. So, it is very serious. The last time was probably the Spanish flu in 1917. Killed a lot of people. It was a different world there. I think this time it's going to be prolonged, more prolonged than SARS, more widespread. You can see supply chain, world financial markets all affected.

CT: The pandemic obviously has greatly disrupted the travel and business. Many countries are in lockdown. How did we get to this stage? How did things become so bad?

DR LCY: It's a virus. The virus transmits very quickly. Secondly, people travel. 50 years or 30 years ago, people didn't travel as much. That's how it spreads. It is the way we behave and the way we live.

Christine: Do you think governments reacted too late?

DR LCY: Well, different governments reacted at different speeds. Singapore has been held up as a fine example because the Government took it seriously and put all the measures in place to really suppress the transmission. You can't just go with the flow, and that has helped us to delay and to spread out the cases. You can see, there is control. But if you don't control this in the beginning, you miss the boat, it is a lot more difficult.

CT: Do you think people around the world are taking this seriously enough?

DR LCY: I think in the west, they are now taking it more seriously, after the Imperial College publication by epidemiologist Neil Ferguson. Because he projected that there will be a few hundred thousand deaths in U.K. and half a million deaths in the U.S., I think no leaders can afford not to take this seriously.

CT: You are one of the leading private healthcare providers in Singapore and in Asia. You have two hospitals - one in Singapore and one in China. What was your first response to the coronavirus outbreak?

DR LCY: At the beginning, we did not know all the facts. Let's prepare for it. Think about SARS. Be responsible, get ready. That as how we went about it. We have a group of medical directors looking, assessing and putting all this together. Every morning, we have our internal assessment and our bulletin of the status of the COVID.

CT: So, what was the protocol like dealing with a patient you suspected might be infected?

DR LCY: Of course, the history is very important. Travel history, contact with people known to already been affected. Then, really the symptoms: if you are having sore throat, cough, fever, and you have come across somebody who've been in contact with somebody who has returned from one of these countries, then really your index of suspicion has to be very, very high, and we'll get them tested. This was what happened. Some of our branches in Singapore detected some of the earliest cases because we knew that something was going to happen, because there were so many cases in China. Sooner or later, the virus will come here. We picked up some of the early cases from our GP clinics, because our doctors had already been primed to look out. Then, one of our other responses was at the airport. The Government put in place temperature screening. Overnight, we got to recruit about a thousand people. Even our back of house, our finance people and support staff went to start the temperature screening to buy some time.

CT: So, it was really crisis management?

DR LCY: Yes, indeed, indeed. Yes.

CT: Are there enough test kits readily available at Raffles Medical to test patients you suspect might be infected?

DR LCY: More are being produced, so there will be enough. In the whole world and China, there must be 16 companies producing (test kits). It's a matter of whether they are allowed by the FDAs of these countries. But there will be enough. But more important than test kits is all these other ways to stop the transmission. Social distancing and reduced mixing. People must take these seriously. Even around the world, people are still going to pubs and partying on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, believing that they are not going to get into trouble. But how would you know? So, I think people will need to take this seriously.

CT: More importantly, what are you doing to make sure your frontline healthcare workers are fully protected against any exposure to this virus?

DR LCY: Accurate and timely information translated by a medical director into protocols, guidelines, the Dos and Don'ts and of course, the PPEs, you know the mask, the goggles if necessary, depending on the context, the gowns. All these things are important to protect our staff. So, for instance, temperature screening -- we just short list those who have elevated temperature or a history of traveling to some of these countries, they will then be examined in the clinic. In that clinic, all the staff wear full PPEs and then they are screened - is it normal or likely to be COVID, then we have to send them for tests.

CT: Your main healthcare and hospital business is still here in Singapore. So far, most of the infected patients are being treated at the public hospitals. Do you see a point where the healthcare system in Singapore comes under pressure like other countries? What is Raffles prepared to do to help out?

DR LCY: Oh, we have been helping. We see ourselves as part of the healthcare provisioning even though we are in a private space. So, as of today, we stepped up uh our intake of emergency cases you know when SCDF ambulances pick up the sick, some of them come to us. We now extend this arrangement. So, that as we unload some of these cases that need to be treated, we free up space in the public hospitals so that they can better deal with COVID cases.

CT: Do you think you might have to eventually help treat COVID cases as well?

DR LCY: We are ready. We are ready to do that, but there are stages. Because we also in Singapore healthcare system, we need to keep some hospitals without COVID because even in this period there are people with heart attacks, people with fractures, people with head injuries that need to be treated. Why subject them to another risk of having COVID as you are dealing with their other problems?

CT: One strategy a lot of governments are taking is to really flatten the curve, so that they can control the rate of infections so as not to stress out the healthcare system. The idea is to really treat the critically ill. In your years of experience as a health care provider, do you think that's a good idea?

DR LCY: It is a good idea, but you've got to do it early. You cannot do it after your whole community has already been infected. So, you do it early. You really suppress transmission. Inevitably, some of the viruses will get through. So, some people still get sick. But instead of a peak like that, you want to smooth it out because of your facilities. So, you can cope because for most of these cases, who are not so serious, their own body will produce immunity. Sick cases, you have to support them through this period. Facilities are finite. So, you don't bunch it together, spread it, you have a better chance of overcoming this problem.

CT: When you look at developments around the world and things are happening so fast and so quickly, are you bracing for things to get worse?

DR LCY: I think it will get worse before it gets better because it's spreading after China you know, Singapore. You see, we slowly recover. It takes time. So, U.K., Europe, U.S. got to go through this, but they will recover. You look at Italy, it has spread so fast, so many deaths. Spain too. So, if they get over the peak period, then they will begin to recover.

CT: In all your years as a health care provider, do you have a projection of when you think recovery could take place at the earliest and when things could actually return back to normal?

DR LCY: I wish I can, but I think it will continue to spread until just about every country will have a significant number of cases and the whole global herd immunity goes up, then the virus will retreat. It will take maybe another six months or so. But the impact of this, even when COVID retreats, sentiments will improve, but fundamentals will take a longer time to repair. Supply chain disruption will take a bit of time. Businesses that have gone into financial trouble will take a bit of time, too. So, these are very difficult times.

CT: You yourself are running a health care business, when you expect a meaningful recovery to take place?

DR LCY: Because our exposure is mostly in Singapore and I would say, China. I think two quarters more, we should see improvement. In fact, things in China in different cities, they are beginning to return to normal, not perfectly normal, but more normal than, say, Chinese New Year period.

CT: So, two quarters means another six months

DR LCY: Yes.

CT: Medical tourism, which is something that is been a key important growth driver for you, has seen a significant decline. Many treatments have been deferred as a result. What impact will COVID-19 have on the Group's overall business?

DR LCY: Definitely, it will be significant. In our last announcement, we kind of warned about it that it will affect all healthcare providers. But our heart goes out to others in the hospitality industry which are even more affected. But Singapore has not been growing the medical tourism because we are more expensive compared to other centres providing care. So, I think it will have impact on the whole health care industry, and we are no exception. We will be impacted too.

CT: So, two quarters of negative growth for you?

DR LCY: I would think so, yes.

CT: But you think Raffles can remain profitable for the rest of the year?

DR LCY: That's what we think, yes.

CT: You are hopeful?

DR LCY: Yes.

CT: Dr. Loo, early last year, you opened a 700-bed hospital in Chongqing, China, with various departments like cardiology, oncology, paediatrics. What's demand like for these specialized medical services in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak?

DR LCY: Well, we had the honour of being designated as a hospital for foreigners. But there aren't many foreigners in Chongqing - about 5,000 but people do come to us. We are beginning to have traction with the locals with who surely must be the main group of patients we're looking for. And this year we got the Yibao. Yibao is a local insurance to supplement the costs. Since then, we have been getting more traction. People are coming to our hospital to deliver babies, get fractures treated. Already we are better, much better known now in Chongqing and surrounding areas than a year ago.

CT: Before the outbreak, you had plans to open your Shanghai Hospital later this year, has that been delayed?

DR LCY: Well, we are watching. As normalcy returns to Shanghai, we will open. So, the building is almost ready, equipment is being ordered, staff being recruited. So, we are watching to finesse the timing, but we will open this year.

CT: How? What sort of timeframe? When do you hope to open the hospital?

DR LCY: We would see that somewhere we are looking to maybe third quarter we can open - sometime in third quarter.

CT: Both your Shanghai and Chongqing Hospitals are expected to break even within three years, has that timeframe now been pushed back given the current outbreak of the coronavirus?

DR LCY: I suppose with COVID, we need to give ourselves a little bit more time.

CT: How much more time?

DR LCY: Maybe one to two quarters more.

CT: Raffles is among the first foreign businesses to actually build and open a hospital in China. Is it true it took you more than 30 years to venture into China?

DR LCY: It's true. I've been observing the Chinese healthcare market for 30 years. We're not interested to just open a clinic or two clinics because in the scheme of things, these little, little businesses are a distraction. And it's difficult, it's not easy, the regulatory environment is different. People's needs are different. And clinics essentially serve expats. So, why go to China to serve only expats? A limited number, maybe a million at most. So, for all the trouble, we resisted. We just watched and studied the market.

CT: How did you study the market?

DR LCY: Well, by walking through hospitals.

CT: Physically walking through the hospitals?

DR LCY: Yes, I must have walked over 100 hospitals - north, south, east and west to assess the standard and the quality of care. Then, of course, you talk to people. I have many friends who are "yuan zhang" (Chair of Boards) over the years and they shared their insights, their challenges and we learn. We collected a lot of data and we just watched and then sat tight. We didn't want to be too adventurous. About eight years ago, 10 years ago, we said, okay, it's about time.

CT: What are some of the lessons learnt in China?

DR LCY: Many too many. We need three hours. (Laugh)

CT: What's the biggest lesson learnt?

DR LCY: We need to be part of Yibao so that the people who have been paying like from CPF right? When it comes to sickness, they can afford to pay your whole bill but they feel much happier if they can claim 30 percent from the social system. Then, they will feel that it's worth it. So, this is the biggest lesson.

CT: Let's look past this pandemic. When you look at your operations in China, could your earnings and revenue there eventually overtake your Singapore operations?

DR LCY: We certainly hope so.

CT: What sort of timeframe are you looking at?

DR LCY: Maybe I would say five to 10 years. Our China operations will be a very significant part of our overall business.

CT: When you say significant, it will overtake your Singapore operations?

DR LCY: No, maybe 50 percent or so 50 percent. Singapore is still growing, and we are confident we can continue to grow, but not at 20, 30 percent, maybe single-digit, high single-digit - eight to 10 percent, we are happy. We keep growing, but elsewhere, like China provides further faster growth.

CT: You founded Raffles Medical way back in 1976 with your good friend Alfred Loh. Today, the Group is now one of the leading private healthcare providers here in Singapore. You are in 14 cities in the region. You have two hospitals in China. When you look back at your journey in the last 40 years, are you surprised you've managed to come this far and achieved so much.

DR LCY: Well, we've been fortunate. We didn't plan all that. We didn't know much about management, but we said we had better go and learn a bit about management, than let businessmen manage our practice. Step by step, we worked together. We learnt together and we slowly expanded together.

Dr LCY: We'd rather be doctors understanding business and being able to run this business, than having to live in an environment where businessmen try to tell us how to practice medicine.

CT: You're 71 years old. You're a Singaporean. Your first love you tell people was math, but you actually became a doctor to support your siblings through school. Then, you eventually started your own private group practice. Today, it's become Raffles Medical Group. Have you successfully evolved from a doctor to a businessman?

DR LCY: (Laugh) Not too successful. Now, doctor to healthcare manager. Managing - to make sure the doctors, the nurses, the healthcare managers work together to look after patients. We use our experience, our talents if we have, our skills for the benefit of all our patients. That's what we are supposed to do. That's what we strive to do.

CT: So, you're a healthcare manager?

DR LCY: Yes, indeed.

CT: Not a business man?

DR LCY: No. (Laugh)

CT: Raffles Medical is listed here in the Singapore Exchange. How do you balance the need to look after your patients and look after the interests of your shareholders at the same time?

DR LCY: Yes, we have a bit of practice over the last 23 years that we have been listed. I always tell the shareholders that it is in our interests to look after patients first. If we don't look after patients properly, then what are we selling? What are we offering? Then the business will get into trouble. To me, this is a business fundamental. There is no contradiction. It is not A or B. It's A and B. Shareholders' interests will be well served if we look after patients properly.

CT: Do you miss practicing as a doctor?

DR LCY: Yes. (Laughs)

CT: Your patients still call you?

DR LCY: Uh, sometimes. (Laugh) I have got many colleagues whom I have handed over my patients.

CT: When you look at where Raffles Medical Group is now, what are you doing about succession planning?

DR LCY: Well, the people who helped me build this, many of them are getting old. They retire. Some get sick, unfortunately. Some get tired and so on. So, we consciously have to groom younger people, not just for the executive office, but in many parts of Raffles. So, it's not a person, it's a team. We are building teams all over Raffles here and abroad and they will provide the leadership for the next 30 to 50 years.

CT: What about you yourself? You've just started your expansion in China, any plans to retire? Or you want to see that through first?

DR LCY: Of course, I will retire as soon as the board finds a successor but there are people whom we are looking at, both in the organization and outside. As long as I'm still able to contribute, I think the guidance should be helpful. When it is more established - the team is more sure of themselves, I will recede. I will gradually be less and less executive. (Laugh)

CT: And finally, with so much disruption happening in the healthcare space, where do you see Raffles Medical in the next 10, 20 years? What sort of animal would it look like?

DR LCY: After this period of COVID and all that, in 10 years, you will see us in more cities in Asia.

You will see a constant brand in these places providing healthcare that you need, preventing you getting sick, giving you telemedicine, advising you even in your own sitting room, we can help you do exercise and so on. You do not even need to come to our hospital or clinics for care. All these are going to happen. It is happening, COVID or no COVID, we carry on and we will grow into Asia.

CT: It's been 40 years, are you enjoying your journey so far building up Raffles Medical?

DR LCY: Certainly. It is very exhilarating. There are challenges. But when you and your people get together, you overcome these challenges.

CT: Dr. Loo, thank you so much for talking to me.

DR LCY: Thank you.

CT: I have been speaking to Dr Loo Choon Yong, Founder and Executive Chairman of Raffles Medical Group. Hope you've enjoyed the program. Do check us online at managingasia.cnbc.com for more exclusive leadership insights. Until next time, I'm Christine Tan, thanks for watching.

END

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South Africa: Queen Mary 2 leaves Port of Durban

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has confirmed that the Queen Mary 2 passenger vessel has departed the Port of Durban after refuelling and the disembarkation of six South African crew members.

The ship had been positioned outside the port since 27 March 202, after requesting clearance to berth to receive bunkers and stores.

Approval was granted on 31 March 2020 by the Department of Transport and the Port Health unit of the Department of Health, for the vessel to dock, refuel and allow the six crew members to come ashore.

The six South African crew were among 27 individuals on-board including passengers and crew members who were tested for COVID-19 due to flu-like symptoms and/or contact with symptomatic individuals on-board.

Although all 27 individuals tested negative, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said the six South Africans will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days as a precautionary measure.

TNPA said the ship, which arrived in Durban with 1 215 crew and 264 passengers departed the Port of Durban on Thursday and is now sailing to Southampton in the United Kingdom with the remaining 1 209 crew and 264 passengers.

The ships line, Cunard, announced earlier this month that it had ended its three international voyages early in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Most passengers were flown home by Cunard earlier during the voyage prior to arrival in Durban, TNPA said in a statement.

TNPA said it has been working closely with the Department of Transport, South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and the Department of Health to manage requests from cruise liners after new Regulations were promulgated by the Minister of Transport on 18 March 2020.

These Regulations essentially prohibit cruise liner calls, any crew changes, any disembarkations apart from returning South African citizens or permanent residents, and any embarkations unless they are for departing foreign nationals.

The Port of Durban has a final call from the Holland America cruise ship Amsterdam scheduled for Sunday, 5 April 2020. Officials are in communication with the vessel agent and master to determine how this ship will be managed and any measures that need to be put in place, TNPA said.

COVID-19 tests related to cruise liners in SA to date included:

AIDAmira  docked in Cape Town on 16 March following a COVID-19 scare involving six AIDAmira passengers and two MV Corona bulk carrier crew, all of whom tested negative.

Arcadia  docked in Durban on 26 March after results were negative for 13 symptomatic individuals on-board. The vessel docked to refuel and restock provisions, as well as allow six South African crew members to disembark and return home.

MSC Orchestra  currently working with the Department of Health to trace passengers following confirmation of positive test results for two individuals who cruised on 28 February and 13 March, respectively.

The port authority noted that it is standard procedure for the Department of Healths Port Health unit to be required to grant free pratique including checking and confirming a clean bill of health for all on board, before any vessel is allowed to dock.

Pratique is the license given to a ship to enter port on assurance from the captain to convince the authorities that she is free from contagious disease.

Flu-like symptoms reported by vessel masters are being investigated and tested accordingly to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

There is a plateau that lies uninhabited in the North-Eastern part of Niger.

On this plateau are the ruins of several Ancient settlements, believed to be around 1,000 years old.

There is also a cave art that depicts hundreds of large animals that are no longer living in the region.

Modern historians are clueless about the abandoned ruins of civilizations lost to history in the Sahara Desert.

This is the Djado Plateau and this is where our Ancestors once lived, about one thousand years ago.

The Akan named the plateau GYEADOM, meaning a state that welcomed all groups of people into its abode. This was typical of matrilineal societies.

The Djado plateau was an oasis in the middle of the Sahara. It was perfect for raising livestock, herding goats and building settlements.

The state of Djado (Gyeadom) was a mixture of several ethnicities.

The three major ones were:

The Tebu (Tubou), They were the original settlers. They were from, the Southern Libya, Western Sudan and Chad. They became the Ancestors of Gonjas

(Tubou), They were the original settlers. They were from, the Southern Libya, Western Sudan and Chad. They became the Ancestors of Gonjas The Libyan Berber/Saharans ( Guans /Garamantes). They were Artisans who specialized in metallurgy and texture production.

/Garamantes). They were Artisans who specialized in metallurgy and texture production. The Gya group. The Oyoko-Clan Royals from this group, were the Rulers of the Gyeadom state. Their Totem was the Falcon. They used fire to smelter iron, copper.

The Djado plateau people, carved wood and stones. They did pottery and raised livestock Their buildings were made from mud and stones.

The plateau held vast amount of rock salt.

Djado was an oasis that served as an important trading center on the trans-Sahara routes.

It was a prosperous kingdom, but it could not survive attacks from the Arabs who invaded Northern Africa during the 8th-10th centuries.

The people of Djado, were forced to abandon their community.

The majority of them headed south and came to settle along the Niger Bend, in an area between Djenne and Timbuktu.

Some of the Tebu population took a different direction and headed for Northern Chad and Western Sudan. Only a few of the Tebu population remained on the plateau.

The Djado plateau was declared, a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, due to her cultural significance, in 2006 Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

Criterion (i): The rock stations are representative of the creative genius of the ancient populations of the Sahara as in Tassili n'Ajjer, in Adrar and in Air.

Criterion (iii): The Fortins represent the first architectural elements in dry stone and clay that are found from Tichitt Walata in Mauritania to Tibesti (Niger-Chad borders). They symbolize the first organized civilizations of the drying up period of the Sahara: Garamante, Libyco-Berber, Toubou, and other groups of black population.

The WAGADU EMPIRE (GHANA EMPIRE).

Mande-speaking Soninke people founded the Wagadu Empire in 300-1100 CE.

Their state capital was Kumbi-Saleh, currently located in Southern Mauritania.

They became rich through Gold production, Farming and Taxes earned from salt-traders who used the routes that linked West and Central Africa states with the Mediterranean Sea.

The Arabs called the Soninke leaders as Ghana (War-Lords) a title the Soninke leaders proudly accepted.

The Empire of Warlords became known as the Ghana Empire.

The Ghana Empire was at her peak-height around 1050 C.E.

From 1062-1076, the Soninke-nation engaged in a 14-year-war with the Almoravids. The war ended with the burning of Koumbi-Saleh.

The Wagadu Empire was able to retake her capital city, but it was greatly weakened by the war. It was eventually absorbed into the Mali Empire around 1240 C.E.

AKANS ON THE NIGER BENT

The Akan refugees arrived at their new settlement when Ghana Empire was less powerful.

The area was inhabited by indigenous groups but the Akan Ancestors came to dominate the indigenes, and subsequently absorbed then into their matrilineal system.

They were engaged in pottery, livestock, trading



JOURNEYS TO THE SOUTH

The Tebus did not stay long on the Niger Bend.

They came further South to settle in Gbon-Dja (Gonja) area. They left the Guans and Gya-groups behind.

Around 1076 CE,the Almoravids overrun the Gya-settlements, the Akan Ancestors were forced to flee further South.

They did not want anything to do with Islam; they wanted their independence.

The GUAN/GARAMANTES

The Guans headed directly South. Their first stop was an area occupied by Grushie-Speaking Mo people. They were able to establish a federation with the Mo people.

In the 13th Century, the Mossi people of Yatenga came to drive the Guans and the Mo people away from the area.

They were given refuge by their old allies the Tebus, in Gonja.

The Guans, now known as Gbon/Brons were inspired by the Gonja success story. (The Tebus had left the Niger Bend earlier to establish their own state of Gonja.)

They wanted to establish their own states too.

The first to do so was Ohenebabaa Ameyaa. Ameyaa, her 3rd Son Asaman, and their followers crossed the Black Volta to establish their own Bono State/kingdom in1295. They soon built other settlement areas and made Bono-Mansu their State Capital.

Bono state was the first, to be established permanently in the past millennium in the Gold Coast.

Other Guans followed the direction of the Black Volta. They established numerous settlement areas in the Volta basin, and the Akwapim mountain range.

Others headed in the Coastal direction to reach the Efutu areas around 1390 C.E.

The Bono State accommodated many of the Ancestors of the future Akan states.

They include:

The Fantis who left Bono-Manso, by way of Techiman to march southward to Mankesim areas.

The Denkyiras, who left Kyiraa and settled, initially, at the lake Bosumtwi in the Adansi area.

The Gyaman state.

The Akwamu State,

The Nzema State,

Osu-Alata.

The GYA-GROUP

The Gya group together with the remnants of Guans and Tebus took a South Western direction.

They finally came to settle in the Ivory Coast territory, where they established the Kingdoms of Bouna and Kumbu (Akwamu)

With the collapse of the Ghana kingdom in 1275 a group of displaced Soninke, known as the Mandes, headed South.

The Mandes were said to be ferocious fighters who hacked into pieces the bodies of their Enemies. They came to conquer the Buona and Akwamu states in a war during the 16 th century.

The war refugees left Northern Cote Dvoire and headed south into Gold Coast territory, to establish their Wew Settlement Areas

Refugees from the Akuamu state passed through the Bono kingdom, prior to establishing their own New States:

Akwamu (1575)

Domaa (1600)

Nzimaa (who were led by Annor Asaman)

Refugees from the Buona state in the Ivory Coast entered Ghana Territory on two fronts:

Those who settled in the Adansi District (Akrokyere), and those who joined the Bono kingdom (Bono-Manso)

Akrokyere (Adansi) was established around1500 C.E.; their daughter states included: Akim (the Three Akim States), Assin.and Denkyira.

Those from the Buona kingdom who passed through the Bono kingdom, prior to establishing their own states included: Juaben, Bekwae, Kumasi, and Kokofu.

The Bono State that nurtured most of the early Akan states; was eventually defeated in 1740 by the Asante (Ashanti) State.

Myths.

Esa-Nti, Ntim Gyakari's remark (when he heard that 5 states had formed a united front against him) was adapted as the name of that Union.

Where did the Akan-speakers originally, come from?

Could it be that they originated from the Middle East, and gradually undertook the South-Western journey to the kingdom of Djado?

Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah says, Yes.

Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah (1895-1965) was a lawyer, a philosopher and a social anthropologist.

An anthropologist is someone who studies the culture and social developments of societies.

Dr. J. B. Danquah believed that the Akan Ancestors were the Ancient Sumerian Akkad (because of their cultural and linguistic similarities. From the Middle East, the Akans made their way through Egypt, Abyssinia, and Sudan before reaching the Sahara.

British Anthropologists Henry, and his brother George, Rawlinson believed the Kushites (Tebus) were the first to inhabit the Tigris and Euphrates. (The descendants of the Tebus in modern Ghana are the Gonja people)

George Rawlinson wrote in his book, The Origin of Nations, pp 212-213, the following,

Sir Henry Rawlinson, the earliest decipherer of the ancient Babylonian monuments, came to a completely different conclusion in 1858. A laborious study of the primitive language of Chaldsea led him to the conviction that the dominant race in Babylonia at the earliest time to which the monuments. reached back was Cushite. He found the vocabulary of the primitive race to be decidedly Cushite or Ethiopian, and he was able to interpret the inscriptions chiefly by the aid which was furnished to him from published works on the Galla (Abyssinian) and the Mahra (South Arabian) dialects. He noted, moreover, a considerable resemblance in the system of writing which the primitive race employed, and that which was established from a very remote date in Egypt. Both were pictorial; both to a certain extent symbolic; both in some instances used identically the same symbols. Again, he found words in use among the primitive Babylonians and their neighbours and kinsmen, the Susiauians, which seemed to be identical with ancient Egyptian, or Ethiopic, roots.

Dr. Danquah could be right on his assertion that our Ancestors came from the Middle East. The Akkadians used symbols and drawings to communicate; so, do the Akans.

Here are samples of the Akkadian texts borrowed from OMNIGLOT, the online Encyclopedia of writing systems and languages. https://www.omniglot.com/writing/akkadian.htm

Sample texts

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

ni-su-ka-lu-si-na-e-la-tum-wa-al-da-ma-i-na-a-wi-lu-tim-u-ma-si-a-li-ba-u-mil-ka-am-i-sa-ma-mit-ha-ri-is-i-na-a-hu-tim-i-pe-sa

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act toAwards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Major Source:

EVA. L. R. MEYEROWITZ, 1958.

AKAN OF GHANA, ANCIENT BELIEFS,

pg 17-21: Ancestry of the Akans
The senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday reiterated the Pentagon's stance that one of its top priorities is to communicate with troops and their families as often as possible on travel guidance, deployment schedules and other decisions during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

SEAC Ramon "CZ" Colon-Lopez said he will hold an "unscripted" Facebook Live chat with service members and their families next week to hear their concerns; he will then forward their feedback to Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.

"We're going to continue to make sure that we have the forums for not only the members but their families, for them to highlight their concerns," Colon-Lopez told reporters during a phone call Thursday.

"One thing that I can do from this position is just to make sure that they know they have a voice, and they know that they have support. The best thing that I can do for them right now is arm [them] with the facts" on day-to-day changes, he said.

Related: SecDef to Troops: Speak Up If You See Unsafe Procedures During Outbreak

Colon-Lopez joins leaders such as Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper, as well as top brass in each branch, who have said rank-and-file troops may speak up if their units are doing something potentially unsafe during the COVID-19 outbreak, such as disregarding increased social distancing and teleworking options.

"The accountability clearly falls on the chain of command," he said. "We expect people to go ahead and execute the orders or the guidance provided by the Pentagon to make sure that they keep their people safe."

Colon-Lopez's comments came just a few hours before Reuters reported that the U.S. Navy had relieved Capt. Brett Crozier, commander of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, after a letter leaked in which he raised concerns about the health of his sailors.

Crozier made an urgent plea to evacuate his crew after cases of COVID-19 rapidly spread onboard the ship. The letter, obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, was posted on its website earlier this week.

Responding to the letter, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday reassured service members Wednesday that the Navy needs commanding officers to speak out about challenges during the unprecedented pandemic.

But on Thursday, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly fired Crozier, calling the leak of the letter -- not the letter itself -- an "uncharacteristic lack of judgment."

A spokesman for the SEAC's office did not return a request for comment about Crozier by press time.

Like other service leaders planning for mission trade-offs to try to keep their troops healthy during the pandemic, Colon-Lopez said the military must balance acceptable risks.

"We're going to keep looking for ways to make sure that we isolate cases [where we can]," he said.

When asked how this could impact morale among the ranks, Colon-Lopez said some troops inherently answer the call to put the mission before themselves.

"Morale is definitely very important because morale actually affects the effectiveness of the warrior out in the field," he said. But "my messaging has also been pretty clear that we do have a defense necessity -- that is the purpose of why we exist [for] this nation."

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: The Marine Corps' 1st New Littoral Regiment Will Be Based in Japan
State government puts three cities under lockdown after community transmission detected

Twitter image posted by the Odisha chief minister's office of a quarantine facility set up near KIMS in Bhubaneswar. (Twitter)

Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Friday announced a 48-hour total lockdown  from Friday 9 pm to Sunday 9 pm  in the state capital Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrak after a case of community transmission of the coronavirus Covid-19 was reported late Wednesday evening.

Today the state reported its sixth Covid-19 positive case, taking the total number to six. The latest positive case was reported from Cuttack. Although his name was not revealed, sources said he had attended the Tablighi Jamaat's international congregation in Old Delhi last month.

Yesterday, the authorities named a Covid-19 patient detected in Suryanagar, Bhubaneswar after he ignored 49 calls by health personnel to come forward to be quarantined.

We are revealing the name of the name of the fifth Covid-19 positive person. We had to decide between privacy of the patient and public interest, and finally we decided that revealing his name would make his neighbours aware of him, said Prem Chandra Choudhury, commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).

At least 21 contacts, including family members, of Dalabehera, were identified by Thursday evening. There are likely to be several more, said Choudhury.

State Covid-19 chief spokesperson Subrato Bagchi said that despite repeated appeals to people to inform the designated healthcare authorities if they have Covid-19 symptoms, many were keeping mum apprehending social stigma.

In some cases, the government surveillance teams and agencies, after identifying such persons, are asking them to get admitted in Covid-19 healthcare facilities. In the fifth Covid-19 positive case, the patient ignored 49 calls made by the state health department, said Bagchi.

Announcing the lockdown, the states chief secretary Asit Tripathy said the decision was taken after it was found that the fifth Covid-19 patient hailing from Suryanagar, Bhubaneswar, did not have any travel history and therefore could be an indication of community transmission of the disease.

Director general of police (DGP) Abhaya said all establishments, barring a few medicine stores, will remain closed during the total lockdown. Only ambulance services will be allowed.

Even groceries and vegetable counters will remain completely shut.

Of the six positive cases detected so far, two have been fully cured and discharged from hospitals.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has appealed to landlords to be compassionate to the poor and waive or at least defer house rent by three months. Through such a gesture it can be demonstrated that the

people of Odisha care for each other at a time when the entire country is under a lockdown, the chief minister said.

It is time for everyone to be there for each other as the entire country is under lockdown and fighting an unprecedented pandemic of #COVID-19. Appeal house owners to be compassionate to poor & waive off or at least defer the rent by 3 months. Lets show the world that OdishaCares," Patnaik tweeted.
The NYPD was forced to beg the government to send more masks for officers, only for the White House to turn it into a publicity stunt with the catchy name 'Operation Blue Bloods' and boast about its own response.

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan sent a desperate email to the White House Monday pleading for more protective gear, after 1,400 officers have already been struck down with the deadly virus.

Shortages of masks have left officers at increased risk of contracting the infection, as they are left with no choice but to make house calls across the city without any protective equipment.

The city's cops have been sacrificing their own health during the pandemic in order to protect New York residents.

A police officer stands outside Mount Sinai Hospital on April 1. The NYPD was forced to beg the government to send more masks for officers, after cops were risking their lives responding to house calls without protective gear

The White House grasped the opportunity to up its ratings, dubbing its rapid response with the catchy name 'Operation Blue Bloods' and then boasting about its long overdue achievement in a press conference.

President Donald Trump's newly-appointed equipment czar Peter Navarro led the response and was happy to show off his work one week into the job.

'At the White House we love to move in Trump time, which is 'as soon as possible,'' he said.

Navarro then insisted that he didn't need any 'thanks' for stepping in.

'We're not interested in thanks. We just want the people of New York to know the White House is thinking about them and getting it done,' he said.

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan sent a desperate email to the White House Monday pleading for more protective gear, after 1,400 officers have already been struck down with the deadly virus

NYPD officers (like those pictured above on March 31) have been sacrificing their own health during the pandemic in order to protect New York residents

Frontline workers have warned that they don't have enough masks and some doctors and nurses have told how they have resorted to measures including cleaning old masks to try to keep themselves protected as much as possible.

But the supply shortage was nowhere to be seen in this scenario with the White House managing to locate and deliver gear to the NYPD within just 16 hours of Monahan's cry for help.

According to the New York Post, in 16 hours 'Operation Blue Bloods' was able to bring together a rapid-response team and fly in masses of supplies the next day.

Navarro sought the help of defense companies Raytheon and General Dynamics, and alcohol Pernod Richard to send supplies of protective suits, gloves and masks.

The operation flew in more than 1,750 crime scene Tyvek suits on private Raytheon plane on Tuesday afternoon, and another 2,125 on Wednesday.

The White House turned the cry for help with into a publicity stunt with President Donald Trump's newly-appointed equipment czar Peter Navarro (pictured) dubbing it 'Operation Blue Bloods'

General Dynamics sent 120,000 gloves and Pernod Ricard sent 111 barrels of hand sanitizer from Arizona.

NYPD officers will now be able to better protect themselves with a kit including a Tyvek suit, gloves, a face shield, N95 mask, shoe covers and disinfectant wipes.

Navarro boasted about his success in gathering the equipment citing it an example of private companies and government tackling the crisis together.

'What we've been trying to do under President Trump's leadership is to wed the full force of federal government with the full power of private enterprise,' he said.

'We got an SOS from the NYPD and a huge Trump thanks to General Dynamic's Phebe Novakovic, Raytheon's Tom Kennedy, Tara Engel of Pernod Ricard, and Laura Lane of UPS for answering the call.'

While the NYPD said the supply was a 'game changer', it is not known how many of the 1,400 officers infected with coronavirus could have been saved from getting the deadly virus if they had the protective equipment sooner.

This also raises questions over how the supply could be ramped up and sent to the city so quickly on this occasion, when New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have both repeatedly urged the federal government to send more medical and protective equipment to the nation's coronavirus epicenter.

Navarro boasted about the response and insisted he didn't need thanks. An NYPD police officer is pictured wearing a protective face mask in Murray Hill on March 29

NYPD police officers are seen - some with masks some without - in Park Avenue during NYC's 'Open Streets,' which closed some streets to vehicle traffic to allow more space for pedestrians to social distance

New York remains the epicenter for the US crisis, with the state recording 92,743 infections and 2,468 deaths as of Thursday night.

The worst is yet to come with the peak of the state's crisis expected to come in between seven and 30 days.

Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed on Thursday that the state only has enough ventilators in its stockpile to last another six days before it has to start using improvised machines to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients.

He again begged for more equipment and ventilators, but says it is unclear where they will come from.

The crisis is also mounting across the country, after the US became the first country to report 1,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day on Wednesday.

The nation's death toll soared past 6,000 Thursday and it continues to rise, while there are now more than 245,000 infections.

America is now worse affected by COVID-19 than any other country in the world has been.
The has warned its employees against posting content on that is critical of the country's largest lender over its functioning in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

In a recent letter to chief general managers of all circles, SBI also said action will be taken against employees who take to platforms to write messages disparaging the bank, its management and policies, sources said on Friday.

"We have seen a spurt in posts pertaining to functioning of the bank's branches and offices... There have been many such posts critical of the bank not closing down operations in context of the COVID-19 outbreak, little appreciating the role of the bank at such a critical time," the sources said, quoting a circular.

The lender has already initiated action against two of its employees based in West Bengal for "offensive" posts against the bank and a senior management official, they said.

The move has met with criticism by a large section of SBI employees, who called it an attempt to muzzle free speech and expression.

"Being a citizen of a democratic country, we have a broader right to express our views on social media about the situations that affect our day lives, without divulging details of our organisation or using derogatory language... this circular is an attempt to curb our rights enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution," said an SBI employee, who preferred not to be named.

A senior United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) official told PTI that SBI is the only bank to have come out with such a circular amid the coronavirus crisis.

An official of the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) said the state-run lender's circular on social media posts of its employees is "definitely" a breach of their democratic rights.

"Indecent language in social media against is not encouraged, but employees are well within rights to flag concerns through their posts," he said.

When contacted, SBI Chief General Manager, Kolkata Circle, Ranjan Kumar Mishra, said the bank has a social media policy in place which every employee is expected to adhere to, failing which action could be initiated.

"Everybody is free to express themselves on social media regarding COVID-19 or any other subject, but if such posts tarnish the image of the bank and is violative of the set code of conduct, then disciplinary action might be taken after investigation," Mishra told PTI.

On reports that some of its employees are placed under suspension over recent social media posts, he said such steps are "regular internal matters of the bank".

Mishra also said SBI has been largely successful in managing customer flow at its branches across the country amid the ongoing lockdown, and help of local authorities is being sought wherever required.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel returned to her office on Friday, ending a 12-day, self-enforced quarantine after at least three tests showed that she was free of the coronavirus.

The 65-year-old German leader -- who remains Germany's most popular politician after almost 15 years in power -- took to her apartment in Berlin on March 22 after being informed that a doctor who had administered a precautionary immunization two days earlier had later tested positive for the virus.

Speaking to the public Friday from the chancellery in Berlin for the first time since the quarantine, Merkel made a plea to citizens to stay home and avoid social contact through the Easter holiday.

Even though a slight slowing of the spread of the disease offers "some hope," she said it was far too early to set a target date for easing restrictions.

"I would be acting absolutely irresponsibly if I gave you a concrete day for lifting, or at least loosening measures, but then was unable to stand by this promise," Merkel said in a video podcast. "The number of infections won't allow it."

Merkel said her government is working "day and night" to both protect citizens' health and plan how public life could begin moving again, "step by step."

Merkel will continue to observe social distancing standards, government spokesman Steffen Seibert earlier told reporters in Berlin. The chancellor is conducting talks with global and German state leaders by video conference.

She took center stage in Germany's fight against the virus with a rare televised address to the nation on March 18, in which she called the crisis the country's gravest since World War II. Her quarantine threw her ability to manage the response to the outbreak into question.

The German leader's brush with the virus parallels that of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been working from self-isolation at home since March 12 after his wife contracted the illness.

Merkel isn't the only top European official directly impacted by the virus. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde isolated herself temporarily last month following exposure to an infected person. And U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been quarantined for over a week after testing positive.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had consulted with states before imposing the lockdown, then it would have been in the interest.

"Congress has raised issues of interest only, @AmitShah Ji. If the Prime Minister had consulted with the states before imposing the lockdown, then it would have been in the interest. In the federal structure, suggestions and questions both are important," Baghel tweeted.

"Whatever BJP says and does is in the national interest and whatever Congress says, that is Whatever Congress President Sonia Gandhi Ji has said, has been said after consultations with party leaders and chief ministers. Whatever is in the interest of the nation, will be stated," he added.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had in her address to the Congress Working Committee on Thursday termed the 21-day nationwide lockdown "unplanned" and said it has caused chaos and panic in the lives of migrant workers.

Earlier on Thursday, BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of playing petty over the way in which the government is handling the coronavirus crisis and said it is "high time they think of national interest and stop misleading people".

Shah said in a press release that the combined efforts in the country in the fight against coronavirus under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was appreciated not only in the country but also globally.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Photograph: Sergio Maldonado/Reuters

Mexicos homicide rate raced to a new record in March, as violence raged even as Covid-19 spread across the country and authorities urged the population to stay home and practise social distancing.

Mexico registered 2,585 homicides in March  the highest monthly figure since records began in 1997  putting 2020 on track to break last years record total for murders.

The surge in killings comes as federal and state officials put resources into containing the Covid-19 crisis and confront the prospect of an already sluggish economy falling even further  potentially deepening the misery for the more than 40% of the population living in poverty.

Related: Parts of Mexico City Blocked Off Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Related: Cowed and outgunned: why Mexicos police 'don't stand a chance' against drug cartels

Its business as usual [for drug cartels] with a risk of further escalation, especially if at some point the armed forces are called away for pandemic control, said Falko Ernst, senior Mexico analyst at the International Crisis Group.

Violence has flared throughout the country, but it has been especially intense in the central state of Guanajuato, where criminal groups have battled over lucrative territories rife with theft from pipelines.

The bloodshed has hit shocking levels in the city of Ceyala  home to a major automotive manufacturing plant  with gunmen engaging security forces in shootouts, blockading streets and torching businesses.

Francisco Rivas, director of the National Citizen Observatory, which monitors security issues, attributed the increasing violence in Guanajuato to the fallout of the federal government trying to stamp out petrol theft.

The crackdown weakened the local Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, Rivas said, prompting the rival Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG) to move in and attempt to take its territory.

Other causes for rising violence, Rivas said, include growing pains with a new militarised police known as the national guard, the lack of a federal strategy and cutting the security budget to its lowest level in 20 years.

Story continues

Were seeing iolence hitting its peak and were left asking, whos going to stop it? Rivas said.

Calderon sends in the army

Mexicos war on drugs began in late 2006 when the president at the time, Felipe Calderon, ordered thousands of troops onto the streets in response to an explosion of horrific violence in his native state of Michoacan.

Calderon hoped to smash the drug cartels with his heavily militarized onslaught but the approach was counter-productive and exacted a catastrophic human toll. As Mexicos military went on the offensive, the body count sky-rocketed to new heights and tens of thousands were forced from their homes, disappeared or killed.

Kingpin strategy

Simultaneously Calderon also began pursuing the so-called kingpin strategy by which authorities sought to decapitate the cartels by targeting their leaders.

That policy resulted in some high-profile scalps  notably Arturo Beltran Leyva who was gunned down by Mexican marines in 2009  but also did little to bring peace. In fact, many believe such tactics served only to pulverize the world of organized crime, creating even more violence as new, less predictable factions squabbled for their piece of the pie.

Under Calderons successor, Enrique Pena Nieto, the governments rhetoric on crime softened as Mexico sought to shed its reputation as the headquarters of some the worlds most murderous mafia groups.

But Calderons policies largely survived, with authorities targeting prominent cartel leaders such as Sinaloas Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

When El Chapo was arrested in early 2016, Mexicos president bragged: Mission accomplished. But the violence went on. By the time Pena Nieto left office in 2018, Mexico had suffered another record year of murders, with nearly 36,000 people slain.

"Hugs not bullets"

The leftwing populist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took power in December, promising a dramatic change in tactics. Lopez Obrador, or Amlo as most call him, vowed to attack the social roots of crime, offering vocational training to more than 2.3 million disadvantaged young people at risk of being ensnared by the cartels.





It will be virtually impossible to achieve peace without justice and [social] welfare, Amlo said, promising to slash the murder rate from an average of 89 killings per day with his hugs not bullets doctrine.

Amlo also pledged to chair daily 6am security meetings and create a 60,000 strong "National Guard". But those measures have yet to pay off, with the new security force used mostly to hunt Central American migrants.

Mexico now suffers an average of about 96 murders per day, with nearly 29,000 people killed since Amlo took office.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday that a drop in violence had been expected towards the end of March when coronavirus cases had started increasing in Mexico, but it didnt turn out like that.

Lopez Obrador came to power promising to solve Mexicos security woes by tacking what he considered the root causes of crime: poverty and corruption. But the strategy has so far failed to rein in the violence.

The [anti-crime] strategy isnt a strategy, said Rivas. The national guard isnt pulling its weight because building an institution is difficult and expensive. Budget cuts to public security have been brutal. These all have serious effects.

Related: Mexican president ignores coronavirus restrictions to greet El Chapo's mother

The president stirred further outrage during a visit to Sinaloa state on Sunday, when he stopped to greet the mother of convicted cartel kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman  breaking with social-distancing protocols to shake her hand.

Lopez Obrador downplayed the greeting as little more than a courtesy to a mother who hadnt seen her son in five years, but his comments prompted outrage from families of victims of violence, who say he has failed to extend the same courtesy to them.

For society and victims, who have been having a hard time meeting or being listened to by the president, Ernst said, its a heavy slap in the face.
New Delhi, April 3 : US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster has said that the mission was "tracking security issues around the country, including concerns about possible civil unrest", amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As per media reports, Juster said in an internal email dates April 1 that however, for the time being, we do not see signs of this" against the backdrop of the virus outbreak.

In the email to all employees of the mission, Juster confirmed that one embassy official in Delhi, an American, had tested positive for COVID-19.

Media reports quoted the US Ambassador in the email: "For the time being we remain confident of our ability to support our community should health emergencies arise. There is no doubt, however, that this may become more challenging if the Indian healthcare system begins to be overwhelmed." Juster emphasised that the mission's first priority was the personal safety of its employees.

"We are also tracking security issues around the country, including concerns about possible civil unrest. For the time being, we do not see signs of this, or signs that an incident will impact our community, but we will, of course continue to monitor the situation closely and keep you informed of any changes." He sought to allay the apprehensions of the employees, saying the mission was in the process of "contact tracing" and providing medical support to those who may have been exposed to the virus, according to media reports.

"I am extremely grateful to our medical professionals for their commitment to being at the mission during this challenging period (one member of the medical team has had to depart for personal medical reasons). More broadly, we are continuing to monitor developments in India very closely, ranging from the number of COVID-19 cases to the state of the healthcare system." Regarding the infected embassy official, Juster said: "At the outset, we must inform you that a member of our community has now tested positive for COVID-19. This individual, an American who works in New Delhi, is doing well under treatment by our health unit physicians." The doctors are doing a preliminary analysis of the situation, he said, adding that it appears the individual has been in quarantine since the symptoms of COVID-19 set in and that he had even largely recovered.
A FOURTEEN-year-old boy is one of a number of people who have been charged in relation to so called Covid-19 assaults in Limerick over the past week.

The juvenile, who cant be named because of his age, appeared before Limerick District Court on Tuesday after he was charged with assault causing harm.

It is alleged that he aggressively approached a retailer in the town where he lives and coughed at him before claiming he had tested positive for Covid-19.

The incident, which traumatised the complainant, is alleged to have happened at around 12.30pm last Friday at the retail premises where he works.

The defendant, who was accompanied by his mother in court, was granted bail subject to his compliance with a number of conditions  including that he obey a nightly curfew.

Separately, a 28-year-old man appeared in court this Wednesday after he was charged in relation to a similar offence in Limerick city centre on Tuesday evening.

Jeffrey Kelly, of no fixed abode, is accused of assaulting a member of staff at Gleesons Spar, Henry Street.

He was remanded in custody and is expected to apply for bail when he appears in court again on Friday.

In another unrelated case, a man was granted bail after he was charged with assaulting a garda.

The defendant, who is aged in his late 20s, is alleged to have spat at the gardai after he was arrested and brought to Henry Street garda station on the evening March 24, last.

Again, it is alleged that he claimed he had contracted Covid-19.

He appeared before Limerick District Court the following day and was released on bail.

He is due to appear in court again in October.
Attorneys Edwin Schklar and Maggie Heim (We) are comfortable taking cases as far as necessary to obtain a just result for our client.

Edwin Schklar and Maggie Heim of the law firm of Schklar & Heim, LLC were recently honored by Super Lawyers Magazine, a Thomson Reuters publication. Recognition by Super Lawyers is reserved for the top 5% of attorneys in the state and based on a patented selection process comprised of attorney voting, independent research conducted by the Thomson Reuters editorial team, and evaluation by a specially selected panel of lawyers.

Schklar, a ten-time Super Lawyers honoree, believes the firms willingness to take on the most complex cases is an important factor in its lawyers Super Lawyers selection each year. Our reputation for successfully litigating high-value cases with very sophisticated issues is well known in the legal community, said Schklar. Opposing parties also recognize that our team is wholly committed to our clients goals and, more importantly, to doing the significant work that is required for a successful result.

Heim agrees with her partners assessment of what makes the firm unique and able to compete (and win) against much larger litigation teams. Edwin and I are comfortable taking cases as far as necessary to obtain a just result for our client, said Heim. When the other side knows that, it opens the door to a wider array of options, which benefit our client, and is exactly what they hire us to do.

The attorneys at Schklar & Heim, LLC are no strangers to recognition for excellence in the practice of law. Both are AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, have been named to the list of the states Legal Elite by Georgia Trend Magazine numerous times, and hold 10/10 ratings from AVVO. The firm is also routinely recognized in U.S. News & World Reports Best Law Firms list.

About Schklar & Heim, LLC: Schklar & Heim, LLC is an AV Rated law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm is nationally recognized for obtaining superior results in the most complex litigation matters, while providing unmatched attention to detail and client service. The firm routinely handles cases involving business litigation, legal malpractice, securities litigation, trust and estate litigation, and family law disputes.
The historic Amrutanjan Bridge,



near Lonavala, which links Mumbai and Pune, will be demolished with the controlled blast on Saturday, an official said on Friday.

The Raigad district collector has given permission to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to carry out the demolition work between April 4 to 14, he said.

As traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has reduced significantly since the COVID-19 lockdown, the authorities gave permission to raze the 187-year-old structure, the official said.

Traffic diversions will be put in place on both the lanes of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on the 10-km stretch, he said.

The Amrutanjan Bridge has been shut for vehicular traffic for the last several years, as it is in a dilapidated condition.

The MSRDC had earlier written to the Railways, who are custodians of the bridge, seeking consent for its demolition and had also approached the district collector and state highway police to provide security and regulate traffic, he said.

The bridge, which was built by the British in 1830, had caused traffic snarls and several accidents on the route, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Drug maker Sanofi says will be able to provide millions of doses of hydroxychloroquine for patients with the illness caused by the novel coronavirus if the old malaria drug proves successful in clinical trials.

Paul Hudson, who became CEO of the French drugmaker in September, said in a Thursday interview that the company is currently manufacturing at over 93% capacity during the pandemic.

He said the company had made a choice to 'overproduce' its drugs to ensure supplies for hospitals in Europe and the United States facing an unprecedented crush of patients suffering from respiratory complications that is threatening to overwhelm healthcare systems.

Hydroxychloroquine has shown promise for treating coronavirus in patients in China, Italy and South Korea and is now being tested in US states including New York, Washington and Minnesota, but there remain no proven treatments for the virus.

Sanofi, which makes hydroxychloroquine under the brand name Plaquenil, has promised to 'overproduce' the drug by 94% if it proves effective against coronavirus

Paul Hudson, Sanofi's CEO, said Thursday his company was willing to make 93% more of the malaria drug

Hospital executives and doctors from nine European countries, in an open letter on Wednesday, said they only had up to two weeks worth of some medicines used in intensive care units and urged greater European collaboration.

European Union countries will have access to the medicines they need, the bloc's industry chief Thierry Breton said on Thursday in an attempt to reassure the public.

Hudson said Sanofi was not at full manufacturing capacity because workers with coronavirus symptoms such as fever, and any employee who had been in close contact with them, are sent home for two weeks.

'We are overly cautious. One person getting a temperature means we lose maybe a half dozen people,' he said.

Sanofi operates 73 industrial locations in 32 countries.

'More than 80% of the medicines we make are considered essential. So, you know, everywhere we are working, we are pretty much working every hour,' Hudson said.

The company began manufacturing as much hydroxychloroquine as it could in February, after Chinese data suggested the malaria drug could help some patients with COVID-19. Sanofi sells the drug, which has been in use since the 1950s, under the brand name Plaquenil in some countries.

The new coronavirus emerged in China in December and has since spread around the world. It has infected over 1 million people globally and killed more than 51,400.

DEMAND FOR THE 50-YEAR-OLD DRUG SURGES AFTER TRUMP HAILS IT A 'GAME-CHANGER' IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

Sanofi is also developing two potential vaccines against the coronavirus, and is testing the rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara it sells in partnership with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc as a potential COVID-19 treatment.

Demand for hydroxychloroquine surged after U.S. President Donald Trump touted it as a potential 'game changer' for the pandemic and U.S. regulators have since authorized its emergency use for coronavirus patients.

But the small Chinese trial had many limitations and the European Commission has said there is no evidence yet that the drug is effective for coronavirus patients.

Sanofi has fielded requests for the drug, which is also used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, from countries all over the world, Hudson said.

Since Trump hailed hydroxychloroquine a 'game-changer,' supplies have quickly dwindled, leaving lupus patients like Laura Ng short-handed of her prescription

He added that Sanofi is working with other companies to make sure the supply of hydroxychloroquine is as broad as possible.

'We just tried to coordinate a little bit to say to companies, 'Let's all not end up supplying the same market. Let's make sure that everybody has a chance that needs it,'' Hudson said. If one area is well supplied, he added, 'then we're happy to help somewhere else.'

There is still much to learn about who is most likely to be helped by the drug and at what dose before companies can accurately estimate supply demand if the treatment proves effective.

'It's important to know whether you would give it to mild patients or severe patients,' Hudson explained. 'The sheer volume difference in those patients is significant.' (Reporting by Michael Erman in Maplewood, New Jersey, and Matthias Blamont in Paris; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
The White House will give a coronavirus test to anyone who is expected to come into contact with Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence, an administration official confirmed Friday.

The move comes a day after the president revealed he had taken his third Covid-19 test, and again tested negative. He took the first after coming into contact with a Brazilian official who later tested positive and the second after an aide to Mr Pence came down with the deadly bug. But the third?

"I think I took it, really, out of curiosity to see how quickly it worked and fast it worked, and it's a lot easier," he told reporters of a new "rapid" version of the test. "I've done them both. And the second one is much more pleasant ... I can tell you that. Much more pleasant."

A source with knowledge of the testing mandate told The Independent "this is being done out of an abundance of caution to protect their safety."

Mr Trump, during his Thursday coronavirus press briefing, lauded the speed of the new test.

"It took me literally a minute to take it. And it took me, I guess it was 14 or 15 minutes," he said. "I went to work. I didn't wait for it, but [a doctor] said it took 14 minutes, or something, to come up with a conclusion. And it said, 'The president tested negative for COVID-19.'"

Judd Deere, a White House spokesman, said the White House medical team confirmed the requirement for people "expected to be in close proximity to either of them" to receive a test.

The idea, Mr Deere said, is "to evaluate for pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic carriers status to limit inadvertent transmission."

Mr Pence on Thursday evening said, as of that time, 1.3m tests "have been performed" on US soil.

Deborah Birx, a top White House coronavirus task force member, said "we're seeing, finally, testing is improving."

"More testing being done. Still a high level of negatives in states without hotspots, allowing them to do more of the surveillance and containment," she said, referring to efforts to isolate the virus.

But, she made clear, those hotspots are areas of high infection rates.

"We do have two states that do have 35 per cent positives, and that's New York and New Jersey. So that confirms very clearly that that's a very clear and important hot zone," Ms Birx said. "Louisiana, though, has 26 per cent of their tests are positive. Michigan, Connecticut, Indiana, Georgia, Illinois - so that should tell you where the next hotspots are coming - are at 15 per cent test positive. And then Colorado, [Washington] DC, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are at 13 per cent.

"There's a significant number of states still under 10 per cent: Everyone that I didn't discuss," she said. "California and Washington remain steady at an 8 per cent rate. So what we're seeing finally is testing improving."

But Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have panned the administration for what they call a slow response, including on getting ample testing kits to the areas that need them most.

Governor Steve Bullock of Montana, a Democrat, told the president on a teleconference earlier this week that "we don't have adequate tests," according to an audio recording obtained by The New York Times.

"Literally we are one day away, if we don't get test kits from the CDC," he said of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that we wouldn't be able to do testing in Montana,"
'Mask diplomacy' hype unhelpful

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/2 22:53:41

China's foreign aid in epidemic has no ulterior motives

Chinese officials, companies and analysts on Thursday called on the West to stop politicizing China's goodwill gestures in offering aid to countries devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic as some Western media and officials continue to hype China practicing so-called mask diplomacy and question China's intentions behind its humanitarian assistance to other countries like Italy and the US.

As the largest manufacturer of masks, China has the ability to extend help to more countries while accusations against such a move based on distorted facts and political motives would not be helpful, analysts said.

Some media have recently published articles such as "Beijing's mask diplomacy draws backlash," while some critics claimed China is seeking to boost its image as a responsible global leader, and even criticized the Chinese government for using such tactics of providing medical supplies to divide the world. Meanwhile, somecountries like the Netherlands reported faulty mask imports from China, leading critics to say that the lack of quality control might upend such "mask diplomacy" and further damage China's global image.

The doubts on China's motives, some stemming from their political bias and ideological antagonism, are also part of a public opinion war against China as the pandemic continues to worsen worldwide. But there are also a significant number of people who see no ulterior motive behind donations of face masks from Chinese government and companies, and believe some issues arising from China's medical supply are all about supply and demand problems, and interpret it through China's role as the world's largest manufacturing hub and its tradition of helping other countries in need.

Those moves to smear China's efforts to help other countries amid this global fight against the pandemic won't stop China from continuing to provide necessary supplies, as the country would rather "render good for evil" than retaliate in this public opinion war and is committed to helping others combat this common invisible enemy, Chinese experts and officials said.

Despite rising doubts, China continues to send medical supplies to other countries, and Chinese embassies in European countries such as France and Italy have been allocating resources and distributing them to local people in need.

'Ulterior motive'

The West attaches a sense of moral legitimacy and authenticity to its own actions, as liberalism represents a "political truth," and in turn they associate China's actions and rhetoric with illegitimacy and always seek to look for an ulterior motivate or dismiss it as deception, for nothing that China can do can be "authentic" or true, Tom Fowdy, a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"This extends to interpretations of China in everything through aggressive geopolitical motivations and the aspiration of power, because it is assumed China's political system can project no authentic qualities or morality," he said.

Those voices which deliberately distort China's good intention are unfair, attempting to politicize China's goodwill gestures and prevent other countries from getting "too close" to Beijing, analysts said.

Some critics on social media said the country's humanitarian gestures are meant to cover up its complicity in the spread of the virus, and the US magazine The Diplomat even described the mass donation of masks and other supplies pivotal to restoring China's image in particular areas, especially for the purpose of pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative.

Even when Chinese companies and business representatives are making donations to other countries, such gestures of goodwill have been mistakenly interpreted, which has become part of "evidence" in smearing China's efforts to fight the coronavirus battle. "Some have distorted the facts and misled the public, and such hostility has become a major challenge in this global fight," Li Haidong, a professor at Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Companies such as Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and tech firm Huawei have drawn criticism after donating to some European countries, which see rapid increases in infection cases.

After Huawei donated millions of protective masks and gloves to virus-stricken countries such as Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Greece and Switzerland, some critics said this move could be a ploy to win lucrative 5G contracts, Reuters said on Thursday. However, such a claim has been rebutted by EU industry chief Thierry Breton, who said there is no "quid pro quo" from these donations.

A Europe-based source close to the matter told the Global Times that Chinese companies like Huawei, which have been operating in local markets, have been actively taking part in fighting the pandemic, as the solidarity is needed now in combating this invisible enemy,, which is not a question about winner or loser.

Europe now records hundreds and thousands of infections while more countries adjusted their policies in pushing local residents to wear masks. For instance, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia recently imposed mask-wearing while CNN said on Wednesday the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviewing its guidelines and may recommend general mask use.

Adjusting policies in urging the public to wear masks is expected to further drive the demand for face masks while the continuous resumption of work in China, as a large number of factories work around the clock to meet overseas demand for medical supplies, is playing vital role in protecting both ordinary people and frontline medics.

Smear campaign

As a giant mask manufacturing hub with the most comprehensive supply chain for mask production, China makes over 50 percent of masks worldwide. Since the outbreak, more Chinese companies such as automaker BYD and household appliance maker Gree Electric transferred part of their production lines to increase output, and overall domestic production has surpassed 100 million a day, media reported.

The recovery of China's manufacturing capacity also ensures the continuous shipment of medical supplies to countries in need. However, questions have been raised on product quality, which are based on distorted facts and a disinformation campaign.

For instance, some media in the Netherlands reported the Dutch government had asked its hospitals to return 600,000 face masks it imported from China, claiming that the masks are faulty as they failed to meet safety requirements for frontline physicians and nurses. Chinese officials said on Thursday that an initial investigation revealed the masks were purchased by a Dutch procurement agent, and Chinese mask-makers had made it clear to their Dutch client prior to shipment, that the masks were intended for non-surgical use.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that some media outlets hyped the quality issues involving Chinese medical product exports without verifying the facts, which is irresponsible and not conducive to international cooperation on coronavirus prevention.

Some online users even spread fake images about workers at a mask production line who used fabrics to polish their shoes, which is also seen as a malicious move to smear Chinese products.

"We don't mark up the price for foreign clients and sell them at cost. The masks we made are in line with the highest standards. We don't make a fortune on other people's suffering," Jin Xiaobo, CEO of Zhejiang Kaierhai Textile Garments Co, told the Global Times.

The company's production line can make about 400,000 disposable medical masks a day, and about 90 percent of the capacity is sold to Australia and Europe.

When the US needs more masks and has to increase imports from China, it is also an opportunity for Washington to call on American firms to bring back the massive manufacturing while defying made-in-China products, which, however, would unlikely be easily achieved, industry insiders said.

With more than 90 percent of raw materials sourcing domestically in China, even US mask makers such as 3M manufactures most of their masks in plants in China, industry representatives said.

"China only sources raw materials for melt-blown fabric, which is extracted and refined from petroleum, from the Middle East," Li Lin, general manager of Anhui Fumei Medical Company, told the Global Times.

He added that it would be extremely difficult for foreign companies to establish a local supply chain in a short time, and they still need to rely on raw materials from China.

"Unlike the US, China's humanitarian assistance has no political motives, which also has nothing to do with superiority of different political systems," Li said, noting that it's a complete mistake to interpret in through politics.

Chinese companies are working around the clock to make more medical supplies for those suffering from coronavirus and the responsibility as well as contributions of the Chinese people deserve respect instead of smears, Hua recently noted.

While the smear campaign continues, Chinese companies and individuals involved in donations and humanitarian assistance are also urged to protect themselves in cooperating with foreign partners, analysts said.

The Chinese commerce ministry also noted on Thursday that purchasing and usage problems of medical supplies should be settled through commercial negotiations.

Chinese companies won't take the blow without cause. "If these are problems identified by medical experts, companies need to take them seriously, but if those are hyped by politicians, they are not fair judgments," Li noted.

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Last month Hannah Clarke and her three children were buried together inside a single white coffin as the country vowed to do more to protect domestic violence victims. The Brisbane mother and her young children - Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey - were doused in petrol and set alight by Ms Clarke's estranged husband, Rowan Baxter, on February 19. The nation wept for the young family, taken in such a horrific act of violence. It wept, just as it had done for the Hinder children in 2015. Nyobi and River Hinder were murdered by their father, who rigged his caravan with explosives stolen from a Mount Isa mine. In the coroner's report released this week, it became clear the killer-dad had tried to murder his estranged wife too. Nyobi and River Hinder were killed by their father at Mount Isa in 2015.

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Just like Hannah Clarke, the Hinder children's mother Kath had taken out a domestic violence order against her estranged husband. The two women had done everything right and the system failed them. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Prime Minister Scott Morrison stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the Clarke family funeral, heads bowed. Both promised to do more to stamp out abuse inside living rooms across Queensland. And then the pandemic hit. People were told to stay home, and for some, home is the most dangerous place they can be. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Ppposition Leader Deb Frecklington are seen during the funeral for Hannah Clarke and her three children Credit:Dan Peled

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At the weekend, Mr Morrison pledged $150 million to support the national domestic violence hotline and provide counselling for victims. The Palaszczuk Government is yet to commit any extra funding for domestic violence services during the pandemic and won't pass emergency laws to ramp up protection measurers. Queensland Women's Legal Service CEO Angela Lynch says her organisation is in desperate need of funding to help victims seeking court orders to escape their abusers. "Before [coronavirus outbreak] we already could not meet demand  40 per cent of our calls go unanswered," she said. Hannah Clarke and her young children - Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey - were doused in petrol and set alight by Ms Clarke's estranged husband. Credit:Dan Peled/AAP "We are calling on the government to take a preemptive response, increase funding and not wait for the wave to hit because we all know the conditions are there for a crisis in the domestic violence sector." Domestic abusers often isolate their victims from their friends, family and community so strict gathering rules combined with financial anxiety is fostering a prime breeding ground for rampant violence.

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Ms Lynch said domestic abuse in France, China and some states in the United States had increased three-fold during the pandemic. "It is a very dangerous time for women," she said. "Women are going into survival mode as they try to live out the next few months in conditions of constant surveillance and abuse." Breaches of domestic violence orders increased 8.3 per cent last year, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said, and those numbers are set to go up as more people are isolated at home. But many victims are not able to report violence when they are locked up with their abuser. In the past three weeks since restrictions have ramped up, domestic violence order breaches have dropped by 5.6 per cent and the number of victims seeking protection orders has plummeted by 20 percent. "We are watching this and monitoring this very, very closely," Commissioner Carroll said.

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"What concerns me is there has been a slight decrease; is that because people are at home, because they can't take out orders or report breaches? She said police would be rolling out a new online reporting system soon for those concerned about making phone calls from within their homes and hoped that would give police a clearer picture on rates of violence. "Please, if you have concerns, get a friend to call, get anyone to call  just let us know, if you can get an email out to a friend - do that. "Try any way to get into contact with us. I am concerned it is trending downwards because more people are at home and I worry that there may be more impacts." Brisbane Times understands internal QPS scenario planning in recent weeks has included modelling of a likely increase in reports of domestic violence and sex crime over the next few months. Premier Palaszczuk had planned to hold a bipartisan Queensland family violence summit at the end of March to map out a new wave of reform. Hannah Clarke's nephew Tyler reaches to the coffin during the funeral for Hannah and her three children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey. Credit:AAP/Dan Peled

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Amazon Stops Sale of N95 Masks to Public

Amazon has stopped the sale of N95 masks to the public and said that it will only sell the items to government agencies and hospitals amid the CCP virus pandemic.

The Seattle-based retailer said it rolled out a new website section that is dedicated to supplies used in the fight against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, a coronavirus that causes COVID-19. A U.S.-accredited hospital, state agency, or federal agency can order masks, facial shields, gowns, gloves, and sanitizers.

An Amazon spokesperson said that it is not accepting requests from individuals or non-qualified organizations at this time and wont make a profit from the orders, CNBC reported.

An Amazon spokesperson told the news outlet that the move is designed to ensure that the scarce number of medical supplies is reserved for hospitals and government agencies.

The general public will also not be able to buy COVID-19 diagnostic kits, according to a spokesman for the firm.

Wipes and relatively small-volume sanitizers will be still sold to the public, the chain also said.

In a notice to seller posted on its website, Amazon said it looking for sellers to supply medical products.

You may have offers on one or more products (ASINs) that will now be available exclusively to hospitals and government organizations, which are in urgent need of high-demand medical products like N95 masks, surgical masks, facial shields, surgical gowns, surgical gloves, and large-volume sanitizers. Select ASINs of these product types will no longer be available to the broader public on Amazon.com and AmazonBusiness.com, the website said.

It added: For ASINs subject to this change, we have eliminated our standard referral fees through June 30, 2020, to encourage our selling partners to make additional inventory of these products available at competitive prices to these customers with the greatest need.
Lucky Abby Weed Grey  she got to meet them all in person. That experience points to both the strengths and the limitations of Modernisms. Because it is drawn from the collection of one individual, it can never be divorced from her tastes, her times, her relationships, her beliefs, her desires, her travels. It can never be a survey, has no claims to being dispassionate or scholarly, has nothing retroactive about it. It can feel random and idiosyncratic. Modernisms is also refreshingly sincere, altruistic and non-canonical, offering a deep picture of an era through its art, and perhaps even more importantly, a view of a life guided by a profound love of art and the people who make it.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) has call on head of courts to ensure speedy dispensation of time-bound cases, Sun News reports.

In a letter addressed to all heads of court dated April , 2020, Malami clarified that Courts are expected to attend to the matters that are urgent, essential or time bound even during the lockdown.

The Minister noted that speedy dispensation of justice is a cardinal principle of Justice Sector Reform of the present administration, hence urged that time-bound cases are treated with dispatch and accorded the required attention.

The letter with the titled Re: Preventive Measures on the Spread of Corona Virus but(COVID-19) and the Protection of Justices, Judges and Staff of Courts, acknowledged the circular issued by the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mohammed on the subject matter.

It stated that further to the letter Ref. No. NJC/CIR/HOC/11/631 dated 23rd March, 2020 by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice I. T. Mohammad, CFR directing suspension of Court sittings for an initial period of two weeks at the first instance, except in matters that are urgent, essential or time bound according to extant laws.

Malami said the directive issued by the Chief of Justice of Nigeria is in tandem with the COVID-19 Regulations 2020 made pursuant to Quarantine Act 2004 by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari.
The popular stars of Keeping Up With The Kardashians baptized their children in August 2019 in Armenia. Before the trip, Kim announced that she had plans to visit the country with her sister and was having a really hard time getting out of the airport without being overrun by fans on her way out. The two sisters visited Armenia with their children Saint, Psalm, North, Penelope and Reign. The children were baptized in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

READ: Kim Kardashian Rules Out The Idea Of Another Baby After Quarantine With Her Kids

This was their second trip as Kim and her sister Khloe paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. That year marked the 100th anniversary of the tragedy. The episode of the duo baptizing the kids has only just aired and so taking to social media, Kim Kardashian West exclaimed how she absolutely loved the trip and in a series of tweets went on to pinpoint the details of their stay there. However, the updates were not well received by netizens who felt it was quite 'insensitive', that the celebrity was discussing about her trip amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Read her tweets below-

READ: Kim Kardashian And Kourtney Kardashian's Fight Ends Up Making Kris Jenner Cry

Kim K tweets about her Armenia trip amid COVID-19

Our trip to Armenia was the best!!!   Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) April 3, 2020

I love the photo shoot we did in Armenia with Jackie Nickerson. Those images will last forever and we have the best memories   Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) April 3, 2020

READ: Times When Kim Kardashian Has Given Good-sister Advice On KUWTK fight

Several social media users were left unhappy with Kim Kardashian tweeted about her trip. "People are dying Kim", "Can we please be a little sensitive?", "This is absolutely not done", were some of the comments that were left on her post. Read below-

No one cares Kim  BreketeKingdomAdvocate (@ib_eeee) April 3, 2020
Highlights Kolkata Police took an initiative to spread some important messages about the ongoing lockdown using the tune of a popular Bengali song The clip shows the policemen singing the popular song Bela Bose by Anjan Dutta with a twist The police also sang We shall overcome

After Prime Minister Modi announced nationwide lockdown, police from many states have taken the initiative to spread awareness about the pandemic. And now, let us show you this initiative taken by Kolkata Police to spread some important messages about the ongoing lockdown using the tune of a popular Bengali song that might make you hum to its catchy tune.

Several clips have been posted on Facebook showing cops singing the song in different areas of the city. One such video was shared by MP Derek OBrien and it shows the policemen singing the popular song Bela Bose by Anjan Dutta with a twist.

The song is originally about a young man trying to voice his love for a woman named Bela Bose. Kolkata Police gave it a twist to sing about the virus affecting the whole world. As the song goes on, the policemen urge people to consult doctor if they show any symptoms.

Whats interesting is that the original song has a phone number mentioned, and quite skillfully the police replaced it with COVID-19 helpline number.

Kolkata, you still manage to surprise us. Kolkata Police replaces telephone number used in lyric of pop Bengali song with its helpline number. Communication becomes stronger when integrated with popular culture, writes OBrien in the caption.

Check out the video:

Another clip is also doing the rounds on social media which shows policemen singing the song We shall overcome in an almost deserted road. The video also shows the residents from nearby flats coming out to clap and encourage this initiative by Kolkata Police.

Netizens poured in several messages of praise and applause. They thanked Kolkata Police for keeping a cheerful and positive vibe in the times of fear and stress.

Great way to a positive motivation, inspiring effort and entertaining performance of Kolkata police which boosted up the demoralized psychology of lock down, writes a Facebook user. Excellent initiative by Kolkata Police. Hats off to all your efforts. Take care, writes another.

What do you think of the video?
As many as 67 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Maharashtra on Friday, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 490 while six people have died of the virus.

The state's Health Department said: "67 new coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Maharashtra today. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 490. The toll in the state rises to 26 after 6 deaths occurred today. 50 people have been discharged," the department said.

The Health Department also said that 1,225 people, who returned from Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, were identified and 1,033 have been located.

Out of 738 quarantined people, seven have tested positive for the virus. Out of these positive cases, two each have been reported from Pune, Ahmednagar and Pimpri Chinchwad and one from Sangli.

On Wednesday, the Delhi government, in a joint operation with the police, evacuated over 2,300 people from the Markaz and sanitised the area. Evacuees were sent to hospitals or put under quarantine at different facilities.

An FIR was earlier registered against Tablighi Jamaat head Maulana Saad and others under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 in the capital.

Coronavirus cases continued to rise on Friday with India's tally climbing to 2,322, including 162 cured and discharged and 62 deaths 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.)
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 07:03:55|Editor: ZD

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BRUSSELS/BERLIN, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic, which is sweeping the world, has left in its wake some 900,000 infected and over 45,000 dead by Thursday, according to the lastest World Health Organization (WHO) figures, triggering fears that the world economy could be driven into recession.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) published on March 27 a report predicting that the crisis will cause international tourist arrivals to fall by between 20 percent and 30 percent in 2020 from last year's total of 1.5 billion tourist arrivals, leading to a loss of 300-450 billion U.S. dollars in international tourist receipts and hit the small and medium-sized companies that make up 80 percent of all businesses in the sector.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a recent report that the COVID-19 pandemic may bring a 30-40 percent drop in global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows during 2020 and 2021.

The International Labour Organization published on March 18 a preliminary assessment of the outbreak's effects, indicating that it could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million, and push millions of people into underemployment and working poverty.

The situation does not bode well for Europe where over 500,000 people have been infected and more than 33,000 died from COVID-19, especially as Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain, the five major economies in terms of their GDP share of the world's total in 2018, also happen to be among the hardest hit by the coronavirus on the continent.

GERMANY

The German Council of Economic Experts (GCEE), the advisory council of the German government, predicted that the country's GDP would shrink to minus 2.8 percent in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

GCEE considered a normalization of the economic situation over the summer to be the most likely development. It also predicted that in 2021, catch-up effects and a large carry-over effect could drive GDP growth back to 3.7 percent.

The ifo Institute and the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) both announced on March 19 that the German economy is set to experience a severe economic downturn as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Lowering its economic forecast by almost three percentage points in a "highly positive" scenario, ifo is expecting the German economy to be pushed into recession and shrink by 1.5 percent in 2020.

While Germany's GDP would still increase slightly during the first quarter of 2020, ifo believed that the crisis would take full effect in the second quarter and lead to a 4.5-percentage-point fall in GDP.

Production of goods and services would only "gradually return to a normal level" by the first half of 2021. Excluding long-term effects like company bankruptcies, ifo is expecting the overall damage of the pandemic to German economy to be at a total of around 115 billion euros (123.7 billion U.S. dollars) by 2021.

Ifo warned that the pandemic, given its magnitude, would also have "substantial effects" on the labor market. The number of people in employment would fall for the first time in 15 years, it warned.

Experts warned that the country's automobile industry would be significantly damaged by the coronavirus crisis in 2020 and beyond. And more than 100,000 jobs or 12 percent of the current 830,000 jobs at car manufacturers and suppliers could be at risk.

FRANCE

In France, four million employees, or one in five, are currently under the partial unemployment scheme put in place by the government in response to the coronavirus crisis, Minister of Labor Muriel Penicaud announced on Thursday.

Under the scheme, employers pay their employees on temporary leave most of their salary. The state will then reimburse businesses in full for salaries up to 4.5 times the minimum wage.

The French government has enabled expedited procedures for employers to facilitate partial unemployment. Local media estimated that the mechanism to avoid dismissals might cost the French state coffer billions of euros.

Business leaders were more pessimistic about business climate in March with the monthly sentiment indicator tumbling by 10 points, the biggest decline since records began in 1980, official data released last Thursday.

In March, employment climate composite indicator has lost nine points to 96, its biggest fall since the records started in 1991, according to national statistics institute Insee, which expected that each month of confinement would cut economic growth by 12 percentage points on a quarterly basis and 3 percentage points on an annual basis.

In its updated budget bill, the government said it expects GDP to contract one percent this year, abandoning the 1.3 percent growth target.

ITALY

The Italian economy, which the Bank of Italy originally expected to grow by around 0.5 percent this year, is now expected to contract by 3 percent or more, depending on how long the Italian outbreak of the virus lasts and how severe it becomes.

The General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) said on Thursday that industrial production "in the first quarter of 2020 is expected to contract by 5.4 percent, the largest drop in the past 11 years."

Confindustria analysts said that "the impact of COVID-19 and the measures to contain the infection have been devastating in March, when (industrial) activities decreased by 16.6 percent compared to February, rolling the production index back to the levels of 42 years ago."

Confindustria said this was due to the "closure of about 60 percent of (Italy's) manufacturing industries" in order to contain the pandemic.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Confindustria noted that if "the acute phase of the health emergency ends in May 2020 and production resumes gradually between the end of April and the end of June, (we) estimate that gross domestic product (GDP) in Italy will fall by 10 percent in the first two quarters compared to the end of 2019. On average for 2020, GDP will drop 6 percent."

However, if the emergency continues beyond May, "our forecast will have to be revised downwards," Confindustria analysts wrote, adding that national GDP will likely drop by "a further 0.75 percent" for every additional week that production is at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SPAIN

The monthly unemployment figures published on Thursday showed that the harm the coronavirus crisis is doing to the Spanish economy. In March, of Spain's population of 46.8 million, 303,365 people lost their jobs, with 3.55 million people now registered as unemployed.

Meanwhile, the number of people contributing to Spain's social security system fell by 833,979, as the lockdown imposed in the country from March 14 has been affecting small businesses and self-employed workers.

The slowdown in the economy was confirmed by data published by the Madrid Public Transport System, which indicated that the use of public transport fell by 93 percent compared with the same period in 2019.

The government said it would inject 200 billion euros into the national economy in a series of measures to offset the effects of the coronavirus epidemic.

UK

Standard & Poor's Global Ratings noted in a recent statement that "the eurozone and the UK are facing recessions" and that "we now expect gross domestic product (GDP -- in the eurozone and the UK) to fall around two percent this year due to economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic," representing a loss of 420 billion euros in real GDP in 2020 "compared with our forecast from November 2019."

However, the "risks are still to the downside, as the pandemic might last longer and be more widespread than we currently envisage. For example, we estimate a lockdown of four months could lower eurozone GDP by up to 10 percent this year," S&P analysts wrote.

The British government has announced that it will provide 330 billion pounds (about 399 billion U.S. dollars) of loans to businesses to support firms to get through the difficult moments as the coronavirus outbreak escalates in the country.

Earlier, it pledged a 30-billion-pound stimulus plan to shore up the country's economy amid the COVID-19 outbreak in its first post-Brexit budget, as well as funding grants of up to 25,000 pounds for small businesses.

The government is offering self-employed people 80 percent of wages for at least three months, up to 2,500 pounds (3,034 U.S. dollars) a month, a move to help them get through the challenging time amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"We must do whatever it takes to support the economy," said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollars)
(Natural News) While its known that the coronavirus is spread through coughing and sneezing, it may also be able to spread through aerosolized droplets from talking or breathing, health experts told the White House Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Dr. Harvey Fineberg, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, sent a letter to the White House in response to an inquiry concerning whether the coronavirus could possibly spread by talking alone.

While the current [coronavirus] specific research is limited, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing, wrote Dr. Fineberg.

This letter responds to your question concerning the possibility that [coronavirus] could be spread by conversation, in addition to sneeze/cough  induced droplets, continued Dr. Fineberg in the letter. Currently available research supports the possibility that [coronavirus] could be spread via bioaerosols generated directly by patient exhalation.

Existing research shows that that virus can be suspended in the air

In his letter, Dr. Fineberg explained that existing research on the virus from China has shown that the virus can remain suspended in the air when health care workers remove their personal protective gear, when staff moves around or when floors are cleaned. These aerosolized coronavirus droplets can remain in the air and possibly infect someone who walks by at a later time, said Dr. Fineberg. However, how long the virus stays in the air is dependent on several factors.

If you generate an aerosol of the virus with no circulation in a room, its conceivable that if you walk through later, you could inhale the virus, Dr. Fineberg explained. But if youre outside, the breeze will likely disperse it.

The social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommends people to stay at least six feet apart from others if you are concerned about being exposed to a contagious person or if you think you are contagious yourself.

The virus primarily spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can be inhaled by nearby people or even land directly on their mouths and noses.

Health officials are considering the broad use of masks

The letter from Dr. Fineberg comes just as top health officials are considering recommending the broad use of masks in the United States. Current guidance from the CDC and WHO encourages the general public not to wear masks, saying that only health care workers and those who are infected do so. Now, the Surgeon Generals office is asking the CDC to reconsider this.

Initially the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) and my office recommended against the general public wearing masks based on the best available science at the time in terms of whether they prevent wearers from catching coronavirus, stated Surgeon General Jerome Adams during an interview Wednesday on Good Morning America.

Adams statement is an about-face from his previous statements back in late February. Back then, he stated that Americans should stop buying medical masks, saying they were needed by medical professionals. However, his previous statement does highlight one problem that U.S. healthcare workers are facing, even if the public at large still hasnt started using masks. Healthcare workers in the frontlines of the outbreak are currently suffering from a shortage of protective gear.

The shortage has caused some health care workers to start reusing masks that are meant to be used only once. Others are going to hardware stores to buy masks not normally meant for medical use. Meanwhile, the CDC has advised health care workers to use homemade masks as a last resort.

Even Dr. Fineberg, who states that hell be wearing masks now when he goes for groceries, has come up with his own personal solution to avoid having to use medical masks needed by health care workers.

Im not going to wear a surgical mask, because clinicians need those, Dr. Fineberg explained. But I have a nice western-style bandana I might wear. Or I have a balaclava. I have some pretty nice options.

Sources include:

TheHill.com 1

TheHill.com 2

CDC.gov
When the first patients with symptoms of covid-19 appeared last month in a regional Romanian hospital, it took one doctor more than 50 calls to reach a local epidemiologist. Even then, despite fears the coronavirus was sweeping across Europe, no one at the public health office seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation.

The problem is now all too clear as infections surge -- in many cases among the staff. The facility is the epicenter of the country's outbreak, which has recorded more fatalities than nearby Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic combined.

"None of the safety measures were respected," said Dr. Mircea Dinu Bordiniuc, a plastic surgeon at the Suceava hospital who has a mild case of the virus himself. "We were given one face mask a day and some of my colleagues didn't even get that. Some patients were released without being tested. Some were only found to be positive after they died. There was a chain of bad decisions."

Romania isn't alone in struggling since covid-19 fanned out across the continent from Italy. But it has a disproportionate share of infections occurring inside medical facilities. As the virus threatens to overload the system, some doctors are even quitting.

There's arguably nowhere worse in the European Union for the pandemic to strike. Romania spends less on health care than any other member-state, has the highest mortality rate from treatable diseases and one of the bloc's lowest life expectancies. The government has built one new hospital in three decades.

Horror stories are plentiful.

In a shocking recent case, a 66-year-old cancer sufferer with internal bleeding was accidentally set on fire by an electric scalpel during an operation. Staff threw a bucket of water over her to extinguish the flames. She died a week later.

Elsewhere, a hospital supplier was found to have endangered millions of lives by selling diluted and counterfeit disinfectants that allowed the spread of bacteria.

To make matters worse, the coronavirus is unfolding with a minority government in charge. The EU's widest budget deficit means cash is scarce.

"We have to consider that the virus's evolution is far from reaching its peak," said Vlad Mixich, a health-care analyst and doctor who's also a board member at the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. "The system will reach the maximum level of endurance much faster that in other countries."

Romania, which quickly enacted social-distancing measures as the coronavirus emerged, has 3,183 confirmed cases and 116 deaths among its 19 million population. More than 850 cases have been recorded in Suceava county alone, including 200 medical staff.

The first case in the town, located near the northern border with Ukraine and boasting a UNESCO religious site, was a 71-year-old man who returned from Lombardy, Italy. All 100,000 residents were placed under a full quarantine this week.

Almost 500,000 Romanians live and work in northern Italy, while the Mediterranean nation has been the top destination in recent years for local doctors and nurses seeking higher pay in Europe's richer west, according to the European Commission.

Health-care staff make up 16% of covid-19 cases in Romania -- more than the 10% or less in China and Italy and even surpassed Spain's 15%. While those currently seeking to resign face hostility from many Romanians, President Klaus Iohannis said Thursday that they need support. He's asked the government to tap EU funds to pay a 500-euro-a-month ($540) bonus to medical employees dealing with coronavirus patients.

"Our health-care workers and doctors are the first line of defense against epidemics," he said. "We need more than pretty words."

Health Minister Nelu Tataru agrees.

"We had zero reserves of equipment -- that was the reality we all knew and now we see the shortcomings," he said Friday. "We're all in a race against the clock and all in the same boat, even if all bewildered and frail."

Romania is trying to boost local production of face masks and protective suits, with companies redirecting production lines to help. Staff at the Suceava hospital will be tested and fully equipped, according to Iohannis. The army is assuming control of it.

Bordiniuc, the doctor, frets about the same issues dogging virus-fighting efforts across Europe -- insufficient testing and a lack of ventilators. It has just 1,600.

He worries that what's happening where he works may not be a one-off.

"The situation will probably be replicated at other hospitals if they don't start testing every medical worker -- we had cases long before we knew," Bordiniuc said."It seems many people didn't take the risk seriously."
A spotted deer brought from a



civic-run zoo in Mumbai to Siddharth zoo in Aurangabad died after falling ill due to the unseasonal rains in the area on March 25, an official said on Friday.

The enclosure of the deer was incomplete due to which it got wet in the rain, he added.

"The post mortem report of the male deer, age around nine years, is yet to arrive but primary cause seems to be pneumonia. It was brought from Byculla zoo in Mumbai," Siddharth zoo director BS Naikwade told PTI.

"We have written to Aurangabad Municipal Corporation to complete work on the shed quickly," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One of the many many bizarre aspects of Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness is the arc of animal rights activist, Carole Baskin. The subject of Oklahoma zookeeper Joseph Maldonado-Passages (aka Joe Exotic) obsession has a wild history of her own. Baskin is currently on her third marriage. Her second husband went missing in 1997. What happened to her first husband, Michale Murdock?

Tiger King star Carole Baskin has been married three times

Carole Baskin | Netflix

Carole Baskin, known to many as the villain in Tiger King, has just as wild of a backstory as the Tiger King himself, Joseph Maldonado-Passage. Baskin may be happily married to her third husband, Howard Baskin, now, but what became of her other two husbands?

Since 2004, Baskin and her current husband, Howard, have made a life for themselves, as shown in the Tiger King docuseries. Before Howard, [Carole] Baskin was married to Don Lewis  the subject of a missing person case that goes back to 1997.

When Baskin met Lewis, she was married to a man named Michael Murdock. As described in Tiger King, their relationship was allegedly abusive and toxic. Where is he now?

Who is Michael Murdock and where is he now?

Baskin described her marriage to Michael Murdock as abusive, claiming he was controlling and wanted to know everything she was doing at any given time. She goes into further detail in the series stating the two had one daughter together, Jamie Murdock.

He was Jamies father and he was extremely abusive. But the idea of leaving and having to raise a child on my own was terrifying, she said.

Details on Murdocks whereabouts or opinions on the docuseries are unknown at this time. Baskin detailed how she eventually left Murdock, which only came when she met an already married father, Jack Donald Don Lewis, when he picked her up on the side of the road. They married in 1991.

I was 20 when I met Don and 24 before I left my husband, she said. Don had a fascination with animals, so we made a great team.

Joseph Maldonado-Passage (aka Joe Exotic) spread the idea that Baskin killed Don and fed him to the tigers. He even made a country music video, Here Kitty Kitty, that portrays the alleged events.

Fans of the hit seven-part docuseries know that Maldonado-Passage is serving a 22-year prison sentence for, in part, an alleged murder-for-hire plot against Baskin. However, the remains of Lewis have yet to be found.

Police are asking for new leads in Lewis case

Now that Tiger King is out in the world, many side with Maldonado-Passages idea that Baskin killed Lewis. He was last seen on Aug. 18, 1997. Investigators found his van at a private airport and looked into the possibility hed gone to Costa Rica, as Baskin suggested.

Don was not easy to live with and like most couples, we had our moments. But I never threatened him and I certainly had nothing to do with his disappearance, Basking said in response to Tiger King.

Lewis was declared legally dead in 2002 but the case is still open. Hillsborough County Sheriff, Chad Chronister, tweeted that theyre looking for new leads in Lewiss disappearance. Fans of Tiger King weighed in with their unfiltered opinions.

As for whether Baskin is guilty or not, Howard has a different perspective than the public.

Relative to most animal people, I would characterize her as reasonably rational, Howard [Baskin] said of his wife on Tiger King. My number one goal in life is going to be to make this woman happy.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 21:46:21|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A six-year-old child has died of COVID-19 in Kenya, bringing the total number of those who have succumbed to the virus to four, the health ministry announced on Friday.

Mercy Mwangangi, the chief administrative secretary, also confirmed 12 more cases, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 122.

"I am saddened to inform you that we have lost another patient to the Coronavirus disease. The person, a 6-year-old male child was also ailing from other medical conditions and had been admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital," Mwangangi told journalists in Nairobi.

Out of this number, she said, 11 are Kenyans and one is Somali national.

She said nine of the confirmed cases were detected in four of the designated quarantine facilities, while three are from suspected cases admitted in isolation units in various health facilities.

Mwangangi said medics have so far monitored 1,721 contacts and out of this number, 1073 have been discharged, noting that there are 648 contacts that they are actively tracing currently.

She also revealed that 362 tests had been conducted over the past 24 hours and it is from this exercise that 12 more cases were found to be positive.

Mwangangi also urged those hoarding oxygen cylinders to release them for use at the hospitals and said Kenyans should increase their use of paperless money to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the police in the coastal city of Mombasa on Friday arrested Kilifi deputy Governor Gideon Saburi for violating the 14-day mandatory quarantine for suspected cases of COVID-19 pandemic.

Saburi's arrest comes barely a day after the ministry of health announced that he had fully recovered from COVID-19 and thus would be prosecuted for failing to self-quarantine under the public health laws.

He is being held in police custody awaiting to be produced in court on Monday to face charges of placing the lives of other citizens at risk.

He had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 22 weeks after he had jetted back into the country from Germany.
PAGE India is proud to announce the publication of The Perfect Pill: 10 Steps to Build a Strong Healthcare Brand by Gauri Chaudhari.

The book elaborates on brand building concepts and suggests necessary steps before application of such concepts. It focuses on three aspects of marketing  Understanding brand, market, customer, and competition, Developing the brand value proposition and brand articulation, and Strategy for media, metrics, and evaluation.

Announcing its release in March 2020, author Gauri Chaudhari said, Different patients need different solutions depending on their physical, rational, and emotional needs & the generic approach rarely takes patients day to day challenges into account while creating and marketing brands. So strong is the influence of these generics marketing practices in the industry, that even the patented brands echo the same strategies. So, that was one of the key motivations for me to write the book and address these challenges. My book offers a combination of theory & practical guidelines with a rare blend of case studies from Consumer, International pharmaceutical and Indian healthcare industry.

Ambi Parameswaran, Brand Strategist and best-selling author, writes in his foreword to the book: By referring to multitude of examples from the non-pharma space, Gauri has made the book so much more approachable. At the same time, the book is replete with examples from the pharma space, of both medicines and devices marketed in India and abroad. Whether your brand is under patent protection or is the 50th in the market with the same molecule, this book can help you rethink your brand strategy and ensure that you drastically improve your chance of success.
The COVID-19 lockdown has thrown



the daily routines of Mumbaikars out of gear, with many housing colonies and residential complexes restricting entry to maids and domestic helps.

A 65-year-old house help testing positive for COVID-19 last week could have triggered the move to bar entry to maids in housing complexes.

The domestic help had reportedly worked at the home of a man, who tested positive for the infection 10 days after his return from the United States.

"After the outbreak and lockdown, housing societies, bungalows and even chawls have restricted entry to maids," said Manisha Khot, a domestic help from Santacruz.

While some employers have paid their house staff salaries in advance, others like Khot don't have money to buy essentials to survive the lockdown.

For Rushina Mansuri, a house help from Kalina area of suburban Kurla, the fear of contracting the infection is what forced her to remain home.

"I decided to stay at home after one of the residents in the locality I was working in tested positive for the virus. I didn't want to endanger my family's life and mine as well," Mansuri said, adding that she has to depend on ration shops for her essentials.

House helps are an indelible part of Mumbai households, and the pandemic has caused several to leave their jobs with homes they had been working in for decades.

"I had to quit my job with a family I had been working with for more than 10 years. Who will give me work if I test positive for coronavirus," a maid on the condition of anonymity said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A new social media platform which hosts short videos of people in a creative way that gets content viewed fast around the world called TikTok recently appeared out of nowhere. This app has been used by almost everyone from music artists to celebrities especially since most people are advised to stay at home with not much to do.

Today, the major consumer-facing social media efforts of Google are being hosted within YouTube and it has been reported that YouTube has decided to bring a new app to life called "Shorts" which is said to be the direct competition of TikTok! Will TikTok survive should YouTube's "Shorts" come?

YouTube's decision to go against TikTok

In a report given by the Information, YouTube has been planning to put serious effort in order to counter the viral social media platform with a new product which they call "Shorts". This app will be able to exist inside YouTube for both Android and iOS clients rather than having to be an individual app in itself!

Shorts will be a collection of brief videos which are made available in a new feed on YouTube's very own application. The advantage of Shorts is that these videos can utilize YouTube's existing collection of licensed music to be the background soundtrack of the videos.

The target launch for YouTube's Shorts is approximately around the end of the year when the app has been properly developed, tested, and is made available for instant use.

Read Also: RIP Dame Jean Macnamara: Google Doodle Honors the Polio Doctor in a Creative Way Despite April Fools' Day

The battle of content

In an article by 9TO5Google, YouTube Shorts efforts is described as the "most serious effort yet by a Silicon Valley tech company to combat the rise of TikTok." Which speculates that YouTube is trying to create leverage the already existing content creators in order to create new types of content.

With Shorts being made available inside the YouTube app itself, Google has been able to secure a wide range of built-in audience. This whole situation is quite similar to how YouTube decided to add a Stories format in order to compete with the already existing and viral Snapchat and Instagram.

Read Also: Zoom is Compromised! Could Google Hangouts Meets Be Better?

What YouTube aims to achieve

This whole edition aims to make even shorter-update like content for the channel as it lives right beside the full videos included in the Subscriptions tab. The difference between the regular videos and these stories are that Stories are only limited to a specific subscriber count.

Way back in October 2019, Google has expressed their interest in acquiring the company/app TikTok as part of their renewed social push. Google has been trying to get even more involved with social media and if their acquisition of TikTok becomes final, Google may have an even wider platform all to itself.

The successful app has suddenly came out of nowhere with celebrities and even music artists alike singing along and making fun and short cover videos of the existing background music already inside the application itself.
Gardai have arrested a man after a supermarket in Dublin was robbed by a man yielding a knife.

Yesterday at around 8.30pm, Gardai responded to reports of a robbery at the Old Bawn Shopping Centre, in Dublin 24.

It is believed that the man who robbed the shop was armed with knife and threatened staff before taking a sum of cash and fleeing the scene.

During a follow-up operation on the Kiltipper Road, a man in his late 30s was arrested and is currently being detained at Rathfarnham Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

All of the cash taken during the robbery was recovered by Gardai.

Investigations are ongoing.
Kourtney Kardashian announced she was stepping back from filming Keeping Up With The Kardashians on Thursday's episode after a mediated post-fight talk.

After a nasty physical fight with her sister Kim Kardashian, 39, made her realize how unhappy she was being part of KUWTK, Kourtney, 40, announced she would move into a reduced role.

'I have decided to take a big step back from filming and really just pick and choose what I will allow cameras to follow,' she said in a confessional after a tearful discussion with her sisters Kim and Khloe Kardashian, 35.

After fight: Kourtney Kardashian after a physical fight with sister Kim Kardashian tearfully spoke to her sisters on Thursday's episode before announcing a step back from filming

'I think just now when I have something that is interesting to film or would feel excited to film, then I do that,' she went on.

At a 'clean beauty event' hosted by the Environmental Working Group, Kourtney told pals Sarah Howard and Stephanie Shepherd that she'd realized it was time.

'I am taking a break from the show,' said Kourtney, who has three children with Scott Disick, 36: Mason, 10, Penelope, 7, and Reign, 5. 'Now I can focus and plan my time of being a mom.'

'Well, I'm proud of you for choosing yourself,' Stephanie said. 'Your family should respect that.'

Break time: The 40-year-old reality star told her friends that she was stepping back from the family show

Support system: Kourtney told pals Sarah Howard and Stephanie Shepherd that she'd realized it was time to pull back and they supported her decision

'For now, I am just going to take control of my schedule back,' Kourtney shared. 'I just want to feel fulfilled and happy. Life is too short.'

The decision was a long time coming for the Poosh founder, who'd been miserable on camera recently.

She and Kim ended up in a serious physical fight in last week's episode after Kim asserted that Kourtney didn't care about the show or anyone else, which Kourtney denied.

Her choice: 'I have decided to take a big step back from filming and really just pick and choose what I will allow cameras to follow,' she said in a confessional

Physical fight: The one-hour episode opened with Kourtney and Kim fighting as Khloe begged them to stop

'Don't ever f***ing dig your nails in me!,' Kim yelled at her sister, pulling her in by her T-shirt and slapping her, as Kourtney smacked her palm against Kim's face, hard.

'You guys, stop it!' Khloe yelled, trying to separate them. 'Don't do that to each other!'

Kim noticed the deep scratches on her shoulder and back, exclaiming, 'F***ing whore!'

Winding up: Kim raised her hand and struck Kourtney after being scratched by her

Getting physical: Khloe tried to step in as Kim yanked at Kourtney's T-shirt

Khloe asked Kourtney why she'd gotten so violent, and Kourtney told her to 'Shut the f*** up. Don't take someone else's side. That's my issue with you.'

Khloe told Kourtney to stop pointing her finger at her, as her sister said she wouldn't stop.

'Kourtney, if I hit you, you would be knocked the f*** out,' Khloe said.

Taking sides: Kourtney told Khloe to 'Shut the f*** up. Don't take someone else's side. That's my issue with you'

'Good,' Kourtney replied. 'F***ing do it.'

'I don't resort to violence,' Khloe noted. 'You're crazy.'

'Well, she f***ing f***ed with me for too f***ing long,' Kourtney insisted, referring to Kim. 'I'm not gonna f***ing hear it anymore.'

Fed up: Khloe stood next to Kourtney as she and Kim yelled at each other

Leave now: Kim told Kourtney that she should leave

In a confessional, Kim said she fought back because she didn't want to let Kourtney get away with attacking her.

'I'm so confused at what just happened,' she shared. 'I just don't understand who Kourtney's become.'

As a camera crew trailed them, Kim told her sister that everyone thought she was a problem, to which Kourtney responded, 'When have I had any f***ing interaction with you guys? 'I will never be around you guys.'

So confused: 'I'm so confused at what just happened. I just don't understand who Kourtney's become,' Kim said in a confessional

'Then bye,' Kim said. 'Get out.'

In private, Kourtney reflected, 'Kim and Khloe really gang up on me together It just set me off. And I just lost it and couldn't take it anymore.'

She described filming with her sisters as 'torture.'

Get out: Kourtney said she couldn't stand being around her sisters and Kim told her to get out

'You should go,' Kim told her, and Kourtney rejoined, 'I don't want to be near your fat a**.'

'Then go! Then go!' Kim yelled, adding, 'You're actually the fat one.'

Seeking reassurance, Kourtney invited pals Malika Haqq, and her twin sister, Khadijah Haqq-McCray, both 37, to her home for a chat.

Body shaming: 'I don't want to be near your fat a**', Kourtney told Kim

'I was anxious about filming this season,' she confessed, crying and acknowledging her own role in the fight. 'It doesn't make me happy. I don't want to miss out on time with my kids.'

'Take a break if you need a break,' Khadijah urged, aware that Kourtney was working overtime to make her siblings and her children happy.

Kim later told Khloe and Scott that Kourtney had apologized for the fight, saying she'd had 'a mental breakdown' and 'just lost it.'

Tough time: Seeking reassurance, Kourtney invited pals Malika Haqq, and her twin sister, Khadijah Haqq-McCray, both 37, to her home for a chat

She'd called Kris Jenner, 64, in Paris, to tell her about the fight, but her mom was busy partying with partner Corey Gamble, 39.

'She's a wack-a-doodle,' the momager said, looking at photos of Kim's scratches on her phone.

Kris had gone to Paris to represent daughter Kylie Jenner, 22, who was supposed to model in Balmain's spring 2020 fashion show and direct the makeup, but fell horribly ill with a strep throat infection.

Shoulder marks: Kim had deep scratches on her shoulder from her fight with Kourtney

Bloody mess: The reality star was bleeding from the deep scratches

Calling mom: Kris Jenner was having fun in Paris and didn't take their fight too seriously

'Kylie absolutely can't come, and they're gonna take her to the hospital,' Kylie's assistant texted Kris.

'The stress and the anxiety that I feel because Kylie's too sick to get on a plane, it's wild,' Kris admitted. 'We have a job to do, we have commitments, we've made promises, everybody's spent a lot of money on this. Just get on the plane. Like, get it together.'

'Nobody else is able to come,' she worried to Corey. 'I asked Kendall, I asked Kim, I asked Khloe, I don't know what I'm going to say to Olivier.'

Strep throat: Kris had gone to Paris to represent daughter Kylie Jenner, 22, who was supposed to model in Balmain's spring 2020 fashion show and direct the makeup, but fell horribly ill with a strep throat infection

'Just breathe,' Corey offered, reminding her that Kris needed to act like a mother first.

The day before the show, they looked at bottles of Don Julio 1942 engraved, 'Kylie x Paris' and 'Paris Fashion Week 2019,' but as Kris observed, 'There's no Kylie. There's just Paris.'

She bemoaned all the work that had been put into the event, to which Corey replied, 'You sound like a business lady, but this is different. You gotta kick into that mommy mode.'

Just breathe: Corey Gamble told girlfriend Kris to just breathe and be a mother to sick Kylie

At the Balmain show, Kris told actress Eva Longoria, 45, that Kylie had just gotten out of the hospital and was 'so upset.'

'I was crying,' Kris shared. 'Can you imagine? Your child's biggest moment and they can't even be here.'

She said that she'd been nervous to tell Olivier, but he was nice about it, and it all went well.

Big moment: Eva Longoria talked to Kris who was feeling for Kylie missing the big moment

Good times: Kris and Eva enjoyed the fashion show together despite Kylie's absence

Spring colors: Balmain's spring 2020 fashion show finished with creative director Olivier Rousteing leading the models for a final look

Kris called Kylie from the car en route to the after-party, and her sick daughter said raspily, 'I wish I was there so bad. Thanks for holding it down Mommy. I love you.'

Kim and Kourtney then went on a preplanned trip to Armenia and tried to make up.

They had a busy schedule for the trip, doing press interviews, meeting with the country's president, supporting women-owned businesses and Kim speaking at a tech conference.

Sick daughter: Kris called Kylie from the car en route to the after-party, and her sick daughter said raspily, 'I wish I was there so bad. Thanks for holding it down Mommy. I love you'

Kim said she'd heard her Armenian great-great-grandparents had a string cheese factory in Gyumri, and once owned two horse-and-carriage rides, the 'equivalent to two private jets.'

'So back in the day, the Kardashians were the celebs of Gyumri,' she considered.

She and Kourtney took the kids to the Armenian Genocide Memorial, but were beset by people with cameras, making Kourtney miserable.

Local celebrities: Kim said she'd heard her Armenian great-great-grandparents had a string cheese factory in Gyumri, and once owned two horse-and-carriage rides, the 'equivalent to two private jets'

Memorial trip: Kourtney and Kim took the kids to the Armenian Genocide Memorial, but were beset by people with cameras, making Kourtney miserable

'I think this is all just starting to wear on me and contribute to my overall unhappiness,' Kourtney conceded, as Kim wished she'd be more 'present.'

The sisters spoke with President Armen Sarkissian about drawing attention to the Armenian genocide, a moment that was finally meaningful to Kourtney.

They then went to have their seven children baptized at 'the oldest church' in Armenia, and decided to get baptized as well.

Drawing attention: The sisters spoke with President Armen Sarkissian about drawing attention to the Armenian genocide, a moment that was finally meaningful to Kourtney

President meeting: President Armen Sarkissian met with the sisters who were supportive of raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide

Oldest church: The sisters then went to have their seven children baptized at 'the oldest church' in Armenia, and decided to get baptized as well

Back in Calabasas, California, Khloe read her sister Kendall Jenner, 24, a text she sent to Kourtney, suggesting they talk.

'Nine hours later, she sent me a video of the private plane she was on,' Khloe added, leading Kendall to offer, 'I don't think she's extremely self-aware.'

After they returned from Armenia, Kourtney sat down with Kim, Khloe and the Haqq sisters.

Text message: Back in Calabasas, California, Khloe read her sister Kendall Jenner, 24, a text she sent to Kourtney, suggesting they talk

Khloe told Kourtney she felt like she couldn't be herself around her, worried that her sister would blow up at her and call her 'disloyal' and 'stupid.'

'When did I ever say you're stupid?' Kourtney asked, cutting her off and calling the conversation 'unproductive.'

'It's not fair that you get what you want and other people can't get a sincere f***ing apology out of you,' Khloe said.

Wiping tears: Kourtney wiped away tears during an emotional talk with Kim and Khloe

The mediators: Malika and Khadijah mediated the conversation between the sisters

'You're just such a b**** though, the way that you talk,' Kourtney said, tearfully.

'You don't think that you're a b**** by shutting me down the whole time just 'cause you cry?' Khloe rejoined. 'Just because you can sit here and cry doesn't mean I'm not hurting too'

Kourtney walked off set for a moment, and privately shared that she was angrier at Khloe than Kim because she expected more of Khloe.

Good question: 'You don't think that you're a b**** by shutting me down the whole time just 'cause you cry?' Khloe asked weepy Kourtney

The Haqq sisters pointed out that the Kardashians needed to bring love back into their talk.

'I just feel like I'm on a hamster wheel, and it's just not something I can continue to do,' Kourtney revealed. 'I think some big changes need to happen.'

Keeping up with the Kardashians will return next week on the E! network.
BAY VILLAGE, Ohio  A 52-year-old man was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle while walking his dog, police say.

The man was taken to University Hospitals St. Johns Medical Center in Westlake and his injuries were not life-threatening. The dog was not seriously injured and made it back to his home, police say.

Police say the man was walking his dog on the sidewalk in the area of Aberdeen Avenue and Cahood Road at about 9:14 p.m. Tuesday when he was hit by vehicle. Police say they searched the area but could not find the vehicle.

The victim was unable to give police a good description of the vehicle. Anyone with information can contact police at 440-871-1234.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

One dead after car crashes into former Ohio City Galley building in Cleveland

Cuyahoga County Jail warden resigns amid investigations, while self-isolating from coronavirus concerns

Officials looking into use-of-force accusation against Cuyahoga County Jail warden

Coronavirus got 900 inmates out of Cuyahoga Countys troubled jail when inmate deaths didnt. Some say the changes should stick

Ex-Cuyahoga County Jail inmate strapped to chair, pummeled by now-convicted officers files lawsuit

Cuyahoga County activates at-home video visitation for jail inmates, gives one free visit per week amid coronavirus pandemic
I support the Journals (March 20) editorial, NRC is right to put science before politics. That editorial endorsed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission decision that the proposed interim used fuel storage site near Carlsbad and Hobbs presents minimal impacts on land, industry and public health. I learned first-hand how the NRC reaches decisions  based on sound science. From both my service at the NRC and as an assistant secretary at the DOE, with responsibility for all the nations nuclear energy programs, I agree that the NRC decision is correct.

New Mexico has a corner on the nations nuclear expertise and, therefore, Im concerned when a decision is made at the Governors Office to argue against science and bow to politics. That political illogic has embroiled and endangered the nation during the coronavirus pandemic. We ignored science and followed the political path for too long in arguing the pandemic was a hoax or worse.

Good science stands on its own merits and I applaud the N.M. response to COVID-19. The decision of the state on the virus was correct and, on interim storage, it was wrong.

We have four great nuclear facilities in New Mexico: Los Alamos, Sandia, WIPP and the Urenco USA enrichment facility. Those four unquestionably share the expertise to handle a simple interim storage site  and an interim storage site is a very simple, safe nuclear installation. With the superb transportation record at WIPP, we clearly know that the risks of shipment of used fuel can be readily managed.

Attempts to move to interim storage during the Obama administration, which I helped lead, were consistently blocked in Congress. Yet the nation needs a solution for the used fuel that is now stored at many sites across America. New Mexico will benefit from providing good jobs at the interim storage site, while making a vital contribution to nuclear energy in the nation.

Nuclear energy provides safe, clean, dispatchable power for the nation. It currently accounts for about 20% of our total electricity and over half of our clean electricity. Countless studies are showing that a reliance solely on intermittent renewables will not suffice to reliably power a modern grid and support our high technology industrial society with clean energy. New Mexico should be building on its nuclear expertise and encouraging introduction of the new generation of reactors  ones that cannot melt down and that represent a new gold standard for safety. These new reactors, coupled with expanded renewables to provide 100% clean energy for the state, would be a real step forward for New Mexico and its leadership in the nations quest for clean energy.

In addition, an argument for 100% renewables ignores the fact that this technology does not exist today or in the foreseeable future. It requires storage technology that doesnt exist and will have to be underpinned by dirty fossil energy. And estimates of the cost to seek 100% renewables, such as recent work at MIT, show the expenses of seeking that solution now are prohibitive.

True respect for science-based solutions in New Mexico would lead to support for interim storage, would validate the states path on containment of COVID-19 and would also abandon pipe dreams or political wishes for 100% renewable solutions for the states grid.

Lets embrace good science through decisions at the state level that move New Mexico further into scientific leadership for the nation and the world.

Peter Lyons served as a commissioner of the U.S. NRC from 2005-2009 and as Science Advisor to U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., from 1997-2005. He also served for over 30 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory and is now retired in Golden, Colo.
Turkmenistan Bans Foreign Currency Cash Withdrawals In Sign Of Cash Crunch

By RFE/RL's Turkmen Service April 02, 2020

ASHGABAT -- Turkmenistan has banned the withdrawal of cash in foreign currencies in banks as of April 1, a sign the Central Asian energy-rich nation may be cash-strapped.

Several bank officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL that all banks in the country received a verbal order from the Central Bank of Turkmenistan that holders of bank accounts in foreign currencies can withdraw money only in Turkmen manats, and at the official exchange rate.

Turkmen.news, an independent online news source, quoted employees of international energy companies operating in Turkmenistan -- Petronas, Dragon Oil, and Bouygues -- as saying that starting April 1, employees of foreign organizations and companies who receive their salary in foreign currencies such as U.S. dollars and euros will be able to withdraw money from their bank accounts in manats only.

Turkmenistan's Central Bank established an official rate of 3.5 manats per dollar in 2015, and has not changed it since. Meanwhile, the rate on the black market is more than five times higher. Since January 2016, all currency exchange in cash has been banned.

Last month, Turkmenistan tightened controls over foreign currency in the country after China, the main buyer of its natural gas, slashed imports and global energy prices plunged.

The central bank reduced the amount of foreign currency that citizens are allowed to purchase and have deposited onto their bank cards to $300 per month from $500, while the limit on outgoing wire transfers was cut to $200 per month from $300.

Turkmenistan's tightly controlled economy has been struggling for months, with government revenues depleted in part to unsuccessful energy deals and low global prices for natural gas, the Central Asian country's main export.

Government critics and human rights groups say Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has suppressed dissent and made few changes in the restrictive country since he came to power after the death of autocrat Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006.

Like Niyazov, Berdymukhammedov long relied on energy revenues to subsidize prices for basic goods and utilities to help maintain his grip on power.

With reporting by Turkmen.news and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-bans- foreign-currency-cash-withdrawals-in- sign-of-cash-crunch/30525461.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors live in fear, Holmes said. Staying at home now means they have nowhere to go and no one to watch out for them. I cant imagine how scared some of these people are in an already worrisome time.
86-Year-Old Grandmother Shows Fighting Spirit by Beating CCP Virus

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CARACAS, Venezuela - With gas lines across Venezuela growing, a controversial shipping magnate has stepped in to prevent the country from running out of fuel amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Associated Press has learned.

The fuel shortage, in the nation that sits atop the world largest crude reserves, is the latest threat to Nicolas Maduros rule at a time he is under intense U.S. pressure to resign.

Wilmer Rupertis Maroil Trading Inc. billed state-owned oil monopoly PDVSA 12 million euros last month for the purchase of up to 250,000 barrels of 95-octane gasoline, according to a copy of the invoice obtained by AP. The gasoline was purchased from an undisclosed Middle Eastern country, said two people familiar with the transaction. They agreed to discuss the sensitive dealings only on condition of anonymity.

The single gas shipment isnt going to resolve Venezuelas supply problems. But with the economy paralyzed, any amount of fuel is welcome relief, analysts said.

Ruperti, a former oil tanker captain, has a history coming to the rescue of Venezuelas socialist government at critical junctures, something that endeared him to the late President Hugo Chavez.

But his latest gambit, which could help stave off a deepening humanitarian crisis, is bound to irritate the Trump administration, which this week doubled down on its campaign of support for opposition leader Juan Guaido by sending Navy ships to the Caribbean on a counternarcotics mission following Maduros indictment in the U.S, on narcoterrorist charges.

Venezuelas oil fields and refineries have crumbled from years of mismanagement. More recently, fuel imports have dried up as the Trump administration tightened sanctions, targeting two trading houses owned by Russias Rosneft for providing a lifeline to Maduro. Then came the coronavirus, which sent crude prices crashing and paralyzed what little was left of domestic production.

In Venezuela, the only thing spreading faster than the coronavirus are the gasoline shortages, said Russ Dallen, head of Caracas Capital Markets.

In recent days, gas lines have popped up across Caracas, which is typically immune from days long waits common in the rest of the country. Most stations had closed as supplies ran out.

At one of the few gas stations still open in the capital Thursday, hundreds of cars, taxis and trucks hugged the shoulder of a highway as heavily armed soldiers stared down motorists, some of whom had been waiting three days to fill up.

Among those in the 3-kilometre long line was Javier Serrano, who relies on a beat-up blue 1968 Ford Falcon to eke out a meagre living as a taxi driver.

Theres a curfew at night and no public transportation, he said. One of my relatives could die at home because they dont have a vehicle.

The government blames the gas shortages on U.S. aggression. On Friday, it said it was formulating a special fuel supply plan to restore stockpiles in the shortest possible time, allowing the nation to combat the coronavirus.

We deplore the position of extremist sectors of the Venezuelan opposition that collude with foreign governments to plan and execute these actions against the Venezuelan people, said Industry Minister Tareck El Aissami. History will mercilessly judge these traitors.

Enter Ruperti to help again. In 2002, he chartered a fleet of Russian tankers to import gasoline amid a months long strike at PDVSA seeking to remove Chavez. More recently, he funded the defence of first lady Cilia Flores two nephews in a politically charged U.S. narcotics trial as well as that of American Joshua Holt, who was held for two years in a Caracas jail on what were seen as trumped-up weapons charges.

Ruperti was decorated by Chavez with military honours for breaking the strike and saw his business as a prized PDVSA contractor boom. Ruperti showed his gratitude by giving the leftist leader two pistols used by independence hero Simon Bolivar, which reportedly cost him $1.6 million. Later, however, he was sued by a unit of the Russian shipping company for allegedly paying millions in bribes.

Ruperti declined to comment.

While U.S. sanctions have driven away from Venezuela many established shipping companies and commodity traders, Ruperti appears to be little fazed.

One of the documents obtained by AP shows his Swiss-based Maroil Trading AG opened accounts in dollars, euros and rubles at Moscow-based Derzhava Bank in November. One person said the gas that Maroil billed to PDVSA should arrive to Venezuela in the coming days.Dallen estimates its enough to supply current demand for about a week.

There have been only five deaths in Venezuela so far due to the coronavirus and most Venezuelans are closely observing a government-mandated lock-down, but concerns are rising that the already collapsed health care system will be overwhelmed if more people are infected. Protests have started to emerge among farmers who complain that their produce is rotting because they cant transport it to urban centres.

An acute gasoline shortage at this juncture would bring about a serious worsening of the countrys humanitarian crisis, putting Venezuelans lives at even greater risk, said Francisco Rodriguez, a Venezuelan economist who launched Oil For Venezuela, a U.S.-based group lobbying for sanctions relief.

___

Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APjoshgoodman

Scott Smith on Twitter: @ScottSmithAP

Goodman reported from Miami.
A California mother died from the coronavirus a day after she was diagnosed with the infection while the illness also claimed an FDNY chief who lost a son on Sept. 11 and an upstate New York man who had symptoms, but was told not to get tested.

These are just some of the latest victims of the outbreak as it spreads across the U.S., which has had more than 272,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 7,000 dead.

Among the latest deaths reported was 32-year-old Jessica Beatriz Cortez, of Huntington Beach, California, who was lost to the virus on Saturday, a day after she was diagnosed.

Also gone is FDNY Battalion Chief Al Petrocelli, who died Wednesday from the virus after one of his sons, Mark, perished in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

And in upstate New York, Vinnie Coon, 27, also died after showing symptoms and self-isolating on orders from a doctor who told him not to get tested. He was confirmed to have been infected by the deadly virus two days after his death on Saturday.

Jessica Beatriz Cortez, of Huntington Beach, California, died from COVID-19 Saturday - a day after she was diagnosed; FDNY Battalion Chief Al Petrocelli, who lost one of his sons, Mark, in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks died, Wednesday from the virus

And in upstate New York, Vinnie Coon, 27, died after showing symptoms and self-isolating on orders from a doctor who told him not to get tested. He was confirmed to have been infected by the deadly virus two days after his death on Saturday

Reports of those who have died come as Michigan, Louisiana and Georgia are expected to become the next coronavirus hot spots in the US.

Those states could be the next hot spots based on the current rate of deaths and positive coronavirus tests across the country, according to the White House COVID-19 task force coordinator Dr Deborah Birx.

Meanwhile, the proportion of tests coming back positive in states like Indiana, Illinois and Connecticut are now also ringing alarm bells for health officials.

In terms of current hot spots, New York continues to bear the brunt as the epicenter of the outbreak in the US with more than 100,000 infections and 2,935 deaths.

The brutal nature of how the virus can sometimes swiftly claim its victims has taken many without giving them a chance even to say goodbye to their loved ones.

That's what happened to Cortez, who died just one day after she was diagnosed with the virus, Telemundo affiliate KVEA reports.

'She began by complaining about body aches, that she felt a heaviness and fatigue,' her brother Cesar says.

Jessica, an El Salvador national who came to the U.S. about three years ago, had gone to work March 23, but began complaining of pain and chills.

She was hospitalized on Friday and died the next day.

'This all happened in less than a week,' her brother says. 'I got a call that she was in very grave condition  I left what I was doing and went to the hospital and when I got there, she had already passed away.'

The brother expressed anguish knowing no one was with her when she died.

'That's the hardest part,' he said. 'That she died alone.'

The outbreak has come for some who already have suffered unimaginable suffering, including Petrocelli.

Before he was claimed by the virus on Wednesday, the FDNY chief had lost his son, Mark, in the September 11th terrorist attacks, reports the Staten Island Advance.

Mark, one of two sons who was a commodities broker, perished while attending a meeting on the 92nd floor of World Trade Center 1 during the attacks.

Mark, one of two sons who was a commodities broker, perished while attending a meeting on the 92nd floor of World Trade Center 1 during the attacks

'Grief is the price we pay for love,' says Petrocelli's widow and Mark's mom, Ginger.

'And today I grieve because I loved so deeply,' she adds about the double loss.

Petrocelli passed following a visit to his doctor on March 17 when he felt fatigued. He was diagnosed with the illness on March 24.

His widow says her husband had trouble breathing on Sunday and had to be taken to the hospital, after several days of feeling weak and sleeping around the clock.

The fire chief had been a devout Catholic who attended daily morning mass and said the Rosary each day.

The widow and her now deceased husband were married in 1967, before Al went off to serve in Vietnam. When he returned, the couple settled on New York's Staten Island, having Mark and another boy, Al Jr.

FDNY Fire Battalion Chief Al Petrocelli who passed away from the coroanvirus is pictured with his wife Ginger from an image posted on Facebook

Petrocelli joined the FDNY, with his GI Bill got a degree from John Jay College, and rose through the ranks and retired as a battalion chief. Al Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and is also a firefighter.

Amid the grief, questions have been raised over whether more could have been done to treat some of those who died.

Coons, while obese, was reportedly healthy when he developed coronavirus symptoms, Spectrum News reports.

'I'm just broken,' said his brother Pat Coons.

'I'm a little angry in a way too,' the brother added.

'I think that some people have failed in stepping in to save my brother's life. I think some steps should have been taken.'

Coons died after showing symptoms and being told by a doctor not to get tested and to self-isolate.

His mother Marjorie told WHAM her son started to 'feel funny' a few days after St. Patrick's day on March 17.

'He woke up with a slight cough.'

The mother said his condition worsened fast.

'His appetite started to slow down on Wednesday,' Coons said. 'On Friday, he developed more of a fever and wasn't feeling well.'

By Saturday morning, the mom said her son started having trouble breathing.

'He was like on fire. His body was so hot,' she said.

She said she called for help.

'The ambulance came in and did everything they possibly could,' Coons said. 'They did CPR, and my son passed away.'

The mom said she tested negative for COVID-19, will remain in quarantine just to be safe, and while she is in mourning.

'My heart is broken and it will never be repaired.'
Kaitlyn Dever as Amy and Beanie Feldstein as Molly in Booksmart

I, TONYA (15, 119 mins) Comedy/Drama/Romance. Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson. Director: Craig Gillespie.

Streaming and available to download on Netflix from March 30

Supposedly based on "irony-free, wildly contradictory, totally true interviews" with US figure skating champion Tonya Harding and ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, I, Tonya is a barbed satire, which illuminates the 1994 attack on skater Nancy Kerrigan with aplomb.

Margot Robbie inhabits the title role with fearlessness and ferocity, tossing out expletives as if her life depended upon it.

Allison Janney deservedly won an Oscar as Tonya's monstrous chain-smoking mother, who preaches cruelty as kindness to jaw-dropping excess.

Sebastian Stan oozes slippery charm as the man who walks Tonya down the aisle and exerts his marital "right" to lay his hands on her in anger.

Scenes of domestic abuse are extremely upsetting and director Craig Gillespie pulls no punches in his depiction of the couple's volatile, self-destructive relationship.

Sequences on the ice are breathlessly staged, employing slick digital effects to blend Robbie's face with the bodies of skating doubles so we truly believe the Australian actress is recreating the intricate routines.

BOOKSMART (15, 102 mins) Comedy/Drama/Romance. Kaitlyn Dever. Beanie Feldstein, Mason Gooding, Jason Sudeikis. Director: Olivia Wilde.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Olivia Wilde's raucous rites-of-passage comedy takes a leaf out of the school books of Clueless and Mean Girls to deliver life lessons about sisterly solidarity punctuated by a dizzying array of pithy one-liners.

Heartfelt hilarity is delivered with genuine warmth and grin-inducing sincerity by the dream team double-act of Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein.

They possess fizzing on-screen chemistry as best friends Amy and Molly, who have studiously forsaken fornication and partying in order to achieve their academic dreams.

Potentially thorny issues of fat-shaming, sexual experimentation and peer pressure are cheerfully navigated by a sorority of four female scriptwriters.

Belly laughs are abundant between some deeply touching moments of self-reflection and realisation, trading in pop culture references and near-the-knuckle humour that never threatens to become crude or mean-spirited.

These girls are sugar and spice and all things naughty but nice.

I WISH (PG, 128 mins) Drama. Koki Maeda, Ohshiro Maeda, Nene Ohtsuka, Jo Odagiri. Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda.

Streaming free on All 4 On Demand until April 16

Celebrated Japanese film-maker Hirokazu Kore-eda explores familiar themes of childhood innocence and abandonment in this poetic slice of life featuring real-life siblings.

Twelve-year-old Koichi (Koki Maeda) lives with his mother (Nene Ohtsuka) in the southern town of Kagoshima, which nestles in the shadow of an active volcano.

Far to the north in Fukuoka, Koichi's younger brother Ryunosuke (Ohshiro Maeda) lives with their musician father (Jo Odagiri).

The cherubs secretly embark on a cross-country odyssey to test out Koichi's theory about the electrical field generated by passing trains.

Every frame of I Wish is beautifully observed, galvanised by the irresistible natural chemistry of the pint-sized protagonists.

Kore-eda's gentle touch with his young, inexperienced leads is richly rewarded with naturalistic performances that pluck our heartstrings without resorting to unabashed emotional manipulation.

At an unsettling time when we are all reflecting on the importance of family, I Wish is a perfect tonic.

LATE NIGHT (15, 102 mins) Comedy/Drama/Romance. Dame Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, Denis O'Hare, John Lithgow. Director: Nisha Ganatra.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Dame Emma Thompson relishes a plum role as a veteran talk show host, who has grown complacent and lost touch with her viewers, in director Nisha Ganatra's spiky comedy of modern manners.

It's a lip-smacking delight to see the two-time Oscar winner in full comic flow.

Scripted with a deft touch by co-star Mindy Kaling, Late Night takes aim at gender equality and diversity in the workplace and occasionally draws blood from well-placed barbs at the expense of the mainstream media's obsession with youth and beauty.

Some aspects of the writing are a tad undernourished - one romantic subplot blossoms with almost no on-screen propagation and the emotional fallout of marital betrayal is too neatly contained.

However, chemistry between the lead actors fizzes.

Laughter and heartwarming sentiment are keenly balanced, tipping slightly in favour of the latter as the film talks its way to a crowd-pleasing resolution.

All's fair in love and the war for TV ratings.
Cole Sprouse is taking a break from playing his broody misfit character Jughead Jones, as Riverdale goes on hiatus.

But the Italian actor is still serving bad boy vibes while he isolates amid the growing coronavirus pandemic.

He showed off his guns Friday in a black tank top as he took his motorcycle out for a ride on a secluded neighborhood street in Los Angeles during a break from self-quarantine.

Gun show: Cole Sprouse showed off his guns Friday in a black tank top as he took his motorcycle out for a ride on a secluded neighborhood street in Los Angeles

The 27-year-old channeled James Dean, tucking the tank top into a pair of pinstripe trousers, paired with a black leather belt.

He finished the look with a pair of black and white motorcycle gloves and some white Converse sneakers.

Sprouse wore a white helmet as he rode off on a black Ducati Scrambler, accompanied by a friend on a dirt bike.

Riverdale paused production last month on season four after a crew member came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Biker boy: Sprouse wore a white helmet as he rode off on a black Ducati Scrambler, accompanied by a friend on a dirt bike

James Dean vibes: The 27-year-old channeled James Dean, tucking the tank top into a pair of pinstripe trousers, paired with a black leather belt

A spokesperson for Warner Bros TV said in a statement: 'We have been made aware that a team member from Riverdale, which is produced in Vancouver, was recently in contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.

'The team member is currently receiving medical evaluation. We are working closely with the appropriate authorities and health agencies in Vancouver to identify and contact all individuals who may have come into direct contact with our team member.'

The CW show was renewed for a fifth season in January, but it's unclear if the current hiatus will affect work on the new season.

Sprouse has starred as Jughead on the show, which is based on the Archie Comics, since it premiered in 2017.

He will next star in Riverdale producer Greg Berlanti's new film Moonshot, which is set to premiere on HBO Max.
As COVID-19 takes hold, supporting local business and jobs is now more important than ever.

Government, both through the Dept. of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Dept. of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, along with Local Authorities, Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices are all rallying to provide support to business.

Head of Enterprise in Louth, Thomas McEvoy explains Theres a lot going on at the moment. For many business owners, they are struggling to manage day-to-day changes and plan for the immediate and short term. To help business owners understand the supports available, weve collated a summary of what is on offer and these are the top actions.

EXPERT ADVICE: Local Enterprise Office Louths Business Advisory Clinics and Mentoring support will continue to be available to small businesses throughout the county, by telephone, Skype, Zoom or FaceTime. To book an appointment call us on 1890 202 303 or email info@leo.louthcoco.ie.

BUSINESS LOANS: MicroFinance Ireland (the Government backed loan facility available) has introduced a new COVID-19 loan scheme. This COVID-19 loan offers a full moratorium on repayments for the first 6 months (with no interest applied during the 6 months) with a loan limit of 50K. This is open to companies employing up to 10 people who need funding for cash-flow or working capital. Apply through the Local Enterprise Office.

DEFERAL OF COMMERCIAL RATES: Government agreed with local authorities last Friday that they should agree to defer rates payments due from the most immediately impacted businesses. These will be primarily retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare and will apply for 3 months, until the end of May.

EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENT: The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has introduced a Covid-19 Emergency Unemployment Payment. This can be done online and applicants do not need a Public Services Card. Details are available on the Local Enterprise Offices website.

The Local Enterprise Office website (www.localenterprise.ie/response) will remain a central hub for all of this information and new updates over the coming days and weeks. Check-in regularly for the latest information.



Thomas continues, decisive action is crucial in managing your business through difficult times. This is a checklist of actions that you might find useful in developing an action plan for your business.



TALK TO YOUR BANK: All the banks have announced that they will offer flexibility to their customers, and they may be able to provide payment holidays or emergency working capital facilities.

TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO MANAGE YOUR CASHFLOWS: Look for scope to lower variable costs, delay discretionary spend, extend your payables, accelerate receipt of payments and explore supply chain financing options.

USE AVAILABLE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS FOR WORKING CAPITAL: There are a range of options available including the Credit Guarantee Scheme (loans up to 1m), MicroFinance Ireland (loans for MicroEnterprise up to 50K), SBCI COVID-19 Loan Scheme (loans up to 1.5m) and the Rescue and Restructuring Scheme through Enterprise Ireland. Links to each of these schemes are available on www.localenterprise.ie/response

GET ADVICE: Get advice from your accountant or use the advisory support available from LEO Louth www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Louth

CHECK YOUR INSURANCE COVER: Check if your insurance policy covers you for an interruption in your business, or a temporary business closure, caused by COVID-19.

TALK TO THE REVENUE COMMISSIONERS: Early engagement with Revenue is key to a successful outcome for companies experiencing difficulty paying taxes. Revenue will engage with any viable business that experiences temporary cashflow difficulties arising from exceptional circumstances such as the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. See www.revenue.ie for advice for businesses experiencing trading difficulties as a result of COVID-19. This includes information on tax returns, the application of late payment interest, debt enforcement, tax clearance and customs.

REVIEW THE RANGE OF AVAILABLE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS: For a list of the supports available visit www.localenterprise.ie/response. From short-time work support to unemployment payments and business continuity vouchers to a business response plan and everything in between theres a very wide range of supports.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING: COVID-19 CHECKLIST: The Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation has published a COVID-19checklist for Business Continuity Planning which can be accessed on www.dbei.ie

Thomas concludes This is a daunting time for business owners. But you are not on your own. Your Local Enterprise Office is the first port of call for all business owners and managers. If you need advice or support at this time, please dont hesitate to contact us on 1890 202 303 or visit www.localenterprise.ie/louth . We are here to help!
Were all wondering how the Duggars are doing the coronavirus (COVID-19) scare. The family is family-oriented, and Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have plenty of younger children running in and out of their home at all times. We know many of their 19 kids also visit the huge family home every Monday as well, so social distancing most likely isnt in their nature.

Even so, the Duggars issued a statement about the virus. But theres evidence that many of Jim Bob and Michelles adult children arent following safety guidelines. And it seems Joy-Anna Duggar deleted an Instagram post after being called out for not following protocol.

The Duggar family issued a statement about coronavirus

Coronavirus will likely affect the production of TLCs Counting On, but were still keeping up with many of the adult Duggars via social media. So far, weve seen Jill Duggars saga about attempting to find toilet paper. And weve seen Josiah Duggars wife, Lauren, talking about her favorite recipes shes making while quarantined. And the Duggars as a whole issued a statement about trusting in God and prayer to pull us through.

We know that this Coronavirus situation is unprecedented. Beyond the health threat, there are so many unknown economic and societal impacts this virus is making worldwide, the Facebook post says. The one thing we do know is that even in the darkest days and in the most challenging times, we can put our trust and hope in God. Lets all pray for one another, for our leaders, for our healthcare workers, and especially for our elderly. .

Not every Duggar is practicing social distancing

Were hoping the Duggars are taking coronavirus precautions seriously. But it seems theres already evidence that many of Jim Bob and Michelles kids arent doing what they should be.

Jed Duggar, the future politician of the family, is assisting with disaster relief in Arkansas. At the end of March, he posted photos and videos of the tornado that struck his home state  and it looked like he was helping many others in the community to deal with the loss and get back on track.

It was amazing to see the community and fellow Arkansans come together to help one another, he captioned his post. I am grateful for the opportunity to volunteer in the cleanup efforts today!

Unfortunately, it seemed the many community members coming together to help didnt abide by the social distancing guidelines given by the government. Yeah I really dont think coming together is what you guys should be doing right now, one follower commented.

Jed wasnt the only Duggar there, either. Jana also posted photos to her Instagram showing how she helped with the relief efforts, and she was slammed for the same reason.

Pls know you still need to physical distance by 6, one follower mentioned. Youre all way too close together. The last thing this community is going to need is to be hit with a surge of Covid cases.

Joy-Anna Duggar seemed to delete an Instagram post after backlash

It looks like Joy-Anna is the next Duggar to endure ridicule for a lack of social distancing. A Reddit user posted a screenshot of a post added by the pregnant mom, and the post showed Joy-Anna was allowing her family to hang out with outsiders. Picnic at the river with the cousins, she captioned the post.

They probably think they are only quarantined from the rest of the world, one Reddit user noted. One of them couldnt possibly have it and pass it on to the rest of the family.

Its bad enough theyre going about their lives like were not in the midst of a deadly pandemic, but the utter lack of self awareness to post this to social media is whats really getting me, another noted.

Other users pointed out that Joy-Anna should be extra careful considering her current pregnancy. And, since the backlash, Joy-Anna has deleted the post. Will she be taking the guidelines more seriously now? Were not sure  but we doubt shell be posting about any group hangouts.

Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook!
File photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meeting with Belgian King Philippe in Davos, Switzerland, Jan 17, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

President says China will provide more materials to aid global contagion battle

The international community should make joint efforts to fight against the novel coronavirus, which is the common enemy of all mankind, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi made the remarks in telephone conversations with Belgian King Philippe and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

In his phone conversation with the Belgian king, Xi said that the virus recognizes no borders or races and only through making collective efforts will the international community prevail over the outbreak.

Noting that he raised proposals on enhancing international cooperation and stabilizing the global economy during the recent Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit on COVID-19, Xi said that China will speed up the resumption of work and production on the basis of consolidating disease prevention and control.

China will overcome difficulties to give priority to restoring and raising the output of medicine and disease prevention materials, strengthen supervision over product quality and provide more materials for the global fight against the disease, Xi said.

Noting that Belgium and Europe are facing stern challenges as the disease spreads around the world, Xi expressed sincere sympathy and firm support to Belgium's royal family, government and people.

When China was at the critical stage of fighting the disease, the Belgian people expressed sympathy and support for China, demonstrating the deep friendship between the peoples of the two nations, Xi said.

China would like to make efforts to help Belgium resolve its current medical materials shortage, share disease prevention and treatment experience with Belgium and jointly promote cooperation in the research of vaccines and medicine, Xi said.

China hopes that Belgium pays great attention to the safety of Chinese citizens, and especially students, in the country, Xi added.

China would like to make joint efforts with Belgium to overcome the impact of the disease, promote cooperation in all areas and promote the development of China-Belgium and China-Europe relations, he said.

King Philippe said that China has taken the lead in controlling the disease, and China's experience can be useful for other countries.

China has offered support for other countries' fight against the disease and made contributions, he said, adding that Belgium appreciates China's supply of medical materials.

Belgium would like to launch cooperation with China in medicine research and development, and he said China is a true friend of Belgium.
Delhi Police personnel shifted 18 pregnant women to different hospitals in the national capital amid the ongoing lockdown enforced to combat the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Friday.

PCR vans of the Delhi Police have shifted as many as 18 women in labour pain to various hospitals on Thursday and Friday, they said.

"Calls about women in labour pain were received from almost all districts, including four from Outer North, eight from Dwarka, three from South, one from Rohini, one from Northeast and one from East," Deputy Commissioner of Police (PCR) Sharat Kumar Sinha said.

Police said they received four calls between 11 pm on Thursday and 5 am on Friday, Sinha said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Chang-Ran Kim (Reuters) Tokyo, Japan  Fri, April 3, 2020 17:10 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f90799 2 World Shinzo-Abe,Japan,Prime-Minister,Tokyo,governor,Yuriko-Koike,emergency,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health,infection Free

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Friday that Japan declaring a national state of coronavirus emergency would send a "strong message" that could help dodge an explosive outbreak, her most explicit nudge so far for the government to make the call.

Amid growing clamor for tighter curbs on people's movements to stem a rising tide of infections, the government has so far been reluctant to pull the trigger, warning of the heavy damage that could ensue in the world's third-biggest economy, already close to recession.

Instead, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has urged school closures and called on citizens to avoid unnecessary and non-urgent gatherings and outings while preparing to roll out an economic stimulus plan next week - even as he acknowledged the country was barely avoiding a major jump in infections.

"If the country makes a move, it would send a strong message to people," Tokyo Governor Koike said at a news conference. "If that is coupled with the economic stimulus package being prepared, it would give Tokyo a big boost" in dealing with the epidemic, she said.

Japan has so far been spared the kind of explosive surge seen in parts of Europe, the United States and elsewhere, with about 2,800 cases and 73 deaths so far. Globally, coronavirus cases surpassed 1 million on Thursday, while deaths have topped 50,000.

Declaring a state of emergency would give regional governors legal authority to ask people to stay home and businesses to close, but not to impose the kind of lockdowns seen in other countries. In most cases, there are no penalties for ignoring requests, and governors' pleas would be dependent on voluntary public compliance - pressure for which would increase with an emergency declaration.

Nobuhiko Okabe, director general of the Kawasaki City Institute for Public Health, said judging the timing for declaring a state of emergency was tough.

If issued too soon, it would have a big economic impact and have a serious effect on society, but if too late, the number of infected patients would rise, he said.

"This is not merely a question of numbers," he told Reuters in an interview. "A balance of merits and demerits must be considered."

Untraceable cases, clusters

Tokyo has reported the highest number of infections in the country with nearly 800 infections - a tiny count compared with a core city population of nearly 14 million.

But experts are worried about the rise in the percentage of cases that can't be traced. As of end-March, the health ministry had counted 26 clusters of infections around the country.

Asked what further steps would be taken in the capital if central government declared a state of emergency, Governor Koike said a Tokyo-style "lockdown" would entail the same kinds of pleas she was already making to residents.

These include working from home where possible and avoiding outings to bars and nightclubs - advice that many residents have yet to heed, though coffee chain Starbucks and clothing retailer Uniqlo joined a string of other businesses in saying they would shutter dozens of stores this weekend.

To help spread a sense of urgency, Koike said Tokyo would begin using social media such as YouTube and TikTok to announce daily infection numbers, with celebrities dispensing public-service messages.

In the latest sign of concern about the growing strain the virus was putting on Japan's healthcare system, the government on Friday told the hardest-hit regions to save hospital beds for severely ill patients, while keeping others with milder or no symptoms at home or in hotels.

Until now Japan has been hospitalizing all coronavirus patients, regardless of whether they are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. But beds are already filling up in Tokyo and threaten to elsewhere, experts said this week.

Koike said Tokyo, for its part, would send people with light or no symptoms - the majority of the 628 hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Thursday - home or to hotels.

The capital was working with the government to secure accommodations, she said, while Prime Minister Abe has said utilizing facilities that had been set up for the Summer Olympic Games - now postponed by a year - was under consideration.
EUGENE, Ore.-- Local clinics are embracing telemedicine as a way to help patients with everyday medical concerns during the coronavirus pandemic.

Springfield OB-GYN clinic Women's Care is one of the many clinics that quickly put a telemedicine plan in place in the weeks following Gov. Kate Brown's social distancing guidelines and mandate eliminating non-emergency medical visits.

Dr. Brooke Kyle believes patients with non-urgent appointments will find telemedicine to be much like a regular check-up. In the system they have implemented, patients will receive a text message with a link to a video chat and are connected to medical assistants who will update their medical history before moving to a video chat with doctors for an exam.

"I've been practicing for almost 20 years now and I felt like it was my new first day," said Kyle. "I was able to see patients in a new way that I haven't been able to see patients before. So it was really great, and you really feel that you have that one-on-one care."

She said that gynecologic and mental health appointments are easily transitioned online, while obstetric appointments can prove more complicated.

"We can assess any skin lesion or incision or things like that, but abdominal pain is something we see people for all the time, and that's been a bit trickier," said Kyle. "One of the things I've done to see if I need to bring the patient in to see in the office is just have them touch."

South Hilyard Clinic in Eugene implemented a similar telemedicine system two days after Brown's mandate.

Primary care physician Brittany Alloway agrees that most symptoms can be examined over the camera.

"I worried about that part of it, but surprisingly it has been easier than I thought. Patients are very in tune with their bodies and their health and really have a good idea of what's going on before they ever see us," she said.

Alloway said the largest challenge so far has been educating patients about the technology and making sure they are comfortable with the change.

Telemedicine is a welcome innovation at Gastroenterology Consultants, where leaders say nearly 65% of their business came from elective procedures.

"We decided we needed to move to telemedicine at that point, for one, to help with that piece of our business being gone, but also our patients because we noticed patients getting a little nervous to come into our office," said CEO Angela Wilson.

According to the Oregon Department of Financial Regulation, under state law, most comprehensive health insurance plans are required to cover in-network telehealth service.
Israel targeted a meeting between Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Lebanese Hezbollah commanders at the Shayrat airbase reports Asharq Al-Awsat.

Israel fired missiles at the Shayrat airbase in Homs, central Syria, targeting a high-level meeting held between Syrian and Iranian military officials, according to Syrian opposition sources.

Israeli warplanes used Lebanons airspace to target Iranian military transport aircraft and a meeting of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Lebanese Hezbollah commanders, as well as the chief of al-Quds Force Esmail Ghaani, the sources told the German News Agency (DPA).

Residents in Homs governorate reported that the Syrian army launched anti-aircraft missiles and explosions could be seen in the sky of the area.

State-owned Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) announced that 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.

For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported Israeli shelling from the airspace of Lebanon, targeting Shayrat airbase in Homs with more than eight missiles.

An explosion was heard believed to be caused by anti-aircraft defenses while intercepting these strikes.

Early reports discussed that Ghaani and head of the Center for Strategic Studies in the Iranian Army, Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan were killed in the attack, which was denied by al-Quds Forces media office.

Earlier in March, Israeli aircraft launched raids on two locations of the Syrian forces in Homs and Quneitra, killing one soldier and wounding the other.

DPA quoted, at the time, sources close to the government forces as saying that a soldier was killed and three others were wounded in an Israeli bombing on Shayrat, adding that the Syrian air defenses fired five missiles, while three reached the airbase.

Israeli official authorities did not deny or confirm the bombing of the airbase, however, security sources considered the bombing a warning message to Tehran, stating that the spread of the coronavirus does not mean Israel will turn a blind eye to Iranian activity in Syria.

The sources said that Tehran constantly tries to reinforce its presence in Syria and implement its plan to establish a direct land corridor from Iran to the Mediterranean Sea through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) published two studies conducted by researchers at the Institute with the participation of a number of generals in the Israeli army, warning about Iranian activity.

One of these studies indicated that the Iranian leadership plans to take advantage of the Israeli and international preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to carry out an escalation in its military activity, especially after the leadership failed to address the issue at home.

Israeli army predicts Iran would reduce its aid to Hezbollah and change plans in Syria after a number of Iranian commanders died from coronavirus there, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

However, the Israeli army is monitoring Iranian activity with great vigilance and sending messages to Tehran that it will not be allowed to implement its projects.

INSS noted that Hezbollah and Iran may come to the conclusion that heightened strain on Israels security establishment and the dilution of manpower provide an opportunity to advance protected production lines in Syria and Lebanon for an inventory of precision missiles.

Iran may succeed in positioning firepower in Syria and/or Iraq, and in firing toward Israel. In this way, Iran may try to illustrate to Israel the price of the campaign between wars, similar to the escalation of pro-Iranian militia activity against US forces in Iraq, according to the institute.

The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) The Delhi government on Friday approved for food grains to the non PDS beneficiaries during the coronavirus lockdown. (File Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, April 3 : The Delhi government on Friday approved for food grains to the non PDS beneficiaries during the coronavirus lockdown.

In an order dated April 3, the government said the food grains can be distributed from next week to the non public distribution system (PDS) beneficiaries.

"The Delhi government has approved the proposal to provide food grain to non PDS beneficiaries in accordance with laid down procedures to cater to their food needs during the lockdown...," the order said.

It says the distribution of food grain to the non PDS beneficiaries will be done from distribution centres or schools by the authorised officials.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday had said the government will be giving ration to about 10 lakh poor in the city who were not having ration cards.

Kejriwal said to avoid any duplication, the families will have to apply for the ration card but they will not have to wait to get the card.

"About 10 lakh poor people do not have ration cards in Delhi. I request them to apply for the ration card on the government e-district website. I am not saying they will get the card but they will start getting the ration till the coronavirus crisis continues," he said.

A lot of daily wage workers have lost work due to the lockdown.
United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback has called upon countries to release religious prisoners during the coronavirus crisis.

Brownback in a briefing said that countries like Iran, Russia, China, and Vietnam continue to hold religious prisoners as jails and detention camps can be a hotspot of the disease.

Brownback said, "In this time of the pandemic, religious prisoners should be released. We call on all governments around the to do so. It's a good public health move for their nations and it's morally obviously the right thing to do,"

He added that certain countries continue to hold religious prisoners in a very tight space leading to an easy-to-spread situation.

He added, "Iranian regime: Now, recently - and I was pleased to see this - it furloughed some 100,000 prisoners of conscience to mitigate the spread of COVID-19..... they have not released a number of high-profile religious prisoners in Iran and we call on them to release all of them,"

He added, "China continues to have a number of people imprisoned for their faith. We know that as far as the situation in Xinjiang, but we also know it happens and it continues to take place with Protestant and Catholic churches."

He also mentioned that Vietnam has 128 prisoners of conscience that are in prison right now, and we call on them to release those prisoners. He even said that Russia has nearly 240 prisoners of conscience, including 34 Jehovah Witnesses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 15:50:16|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday adopted a resolution on COVID-19, calling for "intensified" international cooperation to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resolution 74/270 states that the 193-member UNGA notes "with great concern" the threat to human health, safety and well-being caused by COVID-19, which continues to spread globally.

It says the UNGA recognizes the "unprecedented" effects of the pandemic, including the severe disruption to societies and economies, as well as to global travel and commerce, and the devastating impact on the livelihood of people.

The UNGA also recognizes that the pandemic requires a "global response" based on unity, solidarity and renewed multilateral cooperation, it said.

The resolution therefore calls for "intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat the pandemic, including by exchanging information, scientific knowledge and best practices and by applying the relevant guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization."

It calls upon the UN system, under the leadership of the secretary-general, to work with all relevant actors to mobilize a coordinated global response to the pandemic and its adverse social, economic and financial impact on all societies.

The resolution is the first to be adopted by the UNGA on the pandemic that is sweeping the world and causing great global concern. It was adopted under a silence procedure, as the UNGA is not holding meetings due to the pandemic.
Photographer Audrey Breheney was supposed to fly out to Florida to work two weddings this month. She also had a photoshoot scheduled for a jeweler in Palm Beach.

But when the coronavirus outbreak hit, every job she had was canceled.

It was so depressing, she says. Honestly, all my income was gone in one fell swoop.

Breheney, 39, of Essex Fells, also had to nix a spring break trip with her family.

For the first few days of social distancing and homeschooling her three daughters, she was in a fog. She found herself tearing up, but didnt want to cry in front of her children.

So she started taking their picture. Whether they were playing around, doing chores or stressing over something in front of a computer screen, she was there to chronicle the long days at home. After all, seeing her daughters, ages 3, 7, and 11, sanitizing household surfaces didnt exactly have a precedent.

On March 20, the lovely Friday weather prompted her to extend this mission to a few neighbors  I only shoot on sunny days," she explains, sunny days make people happy. As a lifestyle family photographer, Breheney, who uses Audrey Blake as her professional name, says her first instinct usually isnt to ask people to pose. But somehow it felt right. She asked her neighbors to gather at a safe social distance from her and took a picture.

I put it on Facebook and it exploded, Breheney tells NJ Advance Media.

The photographer says local families have been responding positively to her request for subjects, despite fears about the virus. Audrey Blake

The photos became a project, one she calls All Stooped Up (#AllStoopedUp), since her mission began just outside a neighborhood stoop. Less than two weeks later, the effort includes 47 families from her town and nearby communities like West Orange, Glen Ridge, Maplewood and Montclair.

Breheneys series is a look at socially distanced suburban family life during the spread of the coronavirus. But isolation isnt a concept that comes to mind when looking at the photos.

While pictures of smiling families and children playing on spring lawns arent exactly the images one associates with the pandemic, Breheney, who has been working as a photographer for 15 years, is trying to show a different side of the health crisis.

As fear of the virus and the big unknown takes over, "the necessity to hone in on the joy, she says, becomes all the more crucial. Thats the aim of the project: to lift people up with buoyant scenes of families and children living (and savoring!) their lives together, at a distance from their neighbors.

Normally, her photo sessions start at $1,200. But shes hosting the All Stooped Up shoots for free, provided families make a donation to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

I am really excited about the feedback I have received from this photo project. Thank you for the kind words and for.... Posted by Audrey Blake Photography on Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Breheney says she stays about 40 feet away from subjects when taking photos. When she arrives at each home, she send the family a text telling them to come outside.

I felt really called to do this and I dont necessarily know why, she says. Maybe someday Ill have enough photos that I could create some kind of book."

As Breheney takes the photos free of charge, her family is staying financially afloat as her husband, who who works in finance, makes their home his office.

Ive never really loved my house more than I love it now," Breheney says, marking her progression from the funk of those first few homebound days.

Audrey Breheney (Blake's full name) takes the photos free of charge and asks families to make a donation to a food bank. Audrey Blake

Along the way, the stoop photos have progressed from smiling portraits to scenes that riff on the current state of affairs.

Kathy Monroe, Breheneys neighbor in Essex Fells, booked a session with the photographer for the project. Her family grabbed a series of fanciful masks adorned with designs like a zipper and a tongue, and wore them for the photos. Kathy, her husband, Ken Monroe II, her 10-year-old son, Jamie, and daughter Josie, 12, held Clorox wipes, Lysol spray and toilet paper as they assumed their positions on the stoop.

It was so fun and organic, Breheney says. I knew that picture was going to be so great.

Kathy, 43, was initially worried that the photos might come off as insensitive, as if the family was making light of a serious health crisis.

The response that Ive gotten has been nothing but positive," Breheney says, even though some people have backed out of the photoshoots after having second thoughts.

Joyful scenes of children at play are a hallmark of Breheney's photo series. Audrey Blake

I get that, she says. Its not really a joyful time.

You wouldnt exactly know that from looking at Breheneys project.

Some of the photos show kids lounging in child-size beach chairs. Others are snapshots of absolutely carefree family scenes on the front lawn  dogs included.

Everybodys been so happy, Breheney says, pausing to consider why. Maybe the very act of seeing someone they dont see 24/7 (her) does the trick, she says.

Whatever people may glean from her stoop photos, she prefers the sunshine.

The entire world is on pause," Breheney says. "Theres nothing we can do so you have to enjoy your home and be grateful for whatever it is you have."Audrey Blake

I have children and I really want them to know were not all going to walk around with our heads drooped," she says.

The entire world is on pause ... Theres nothing we can do so you have to enjoy your home and be grateful for whatever it is you have.

Since demand has been high following the launch of the project  Breheney is inundated with texts and other messages  she has typically been photographing at least six or seven families in a row. By 4 p.m. on Wednesday, she had completed 14 sessions.

Kathy Monroe says she jumped at the opportunity to book a session with the photographer.

Its strange and scary times, says Monroe, 43. This prospect of having something to get out of my pajamas and put on some lipstick and make myself look presentable (for) and have the family get outside the house, it just appealed to me.

Whether in trees or lawn chairs or on stoops, family togetherness in the time of quarantine is the thread linking Breheny's subjects. Audrey Blake

Monroe realizes she and her family are living through a major event in history, one worthy of being photographed from all angles  breezy jaunts around the house included.

Never did I imagine in my lifetime, given the advancements of technology and modern medicine, that this could happen," she says of the pandemic. "Its mind-boggling.

Breheney encouraged the Monroe family  Ken is a corporate pilot and flight instructor at Teterboro, and Kathy and the kids have been involved in community theater  to show off their fun side in the photos.

Shes a bright light in our community, a beacon of joy," Monroe says of the photographer.

Humor and lifting each other up, thats the only way were going to get through this.

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

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MHA issues new guidelines for foreigners to fly out of India and Indians to fly in

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued new Standard Operating Procedures to allow foreigners to leave the country in a chartered flight arranged by their respective nations.

The SOP was issued after several countries approached the Centre for evacuation of their citizens who are quarantined in different parts of the country. Further the ministry also issued guidelines for the release of Indian citizens quarantined after foreign travel. The MHA said they would be given transit passes to reach their homes. However they will have to bear their own expenses, the MHA further said.

The MHA addendum read, "it has been brought to the notice of this Ministry that a number of foreign nationals are stranded in different parts of the country due to lockdown measures. Some foreign countries have approached the Government of India for evacuation of their nationals to their countries. In view of the above, it has now been decided that requests received from foreign governments, for evacuation of their nationals from India, would be examined by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on a case-to-case basis."

You are not alone in this fight against coronavirus, says Modi

The addendum also added that prior to departure, the foreign nationals will be screened for infection symptoms. Only those foreign nationals would be allowed to leave, who are asymptomatic for COVID-19. In case of symptomatic persons, the future course of treatment would be followed as per the standard health protocol.

For foreign returned quarantined Indians who have tested negative for coronavirus, the MHA said that they would be released as per the standard health protocol. However this will not apply to a group where even one person tests positive for COVID-19.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 11:01 [IST]
Amidst a lockdown of their country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an Indian couple has named their newborn twins Corona, a boy and Covid, a girl.

The couple based in Raipur, capital of Chhattisgarh, a state in central India, said, to them, the names connote the triumph they had over the hardships they experienced in the build up to the successful delivery which spanned March 26-27. The twins were born in Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, a government hospital in Raipur.

However, they may reverse their decision in the future and rename their children, the couple told local media.

I was blessed with the twins  a boy and a girl  in the early hours (of) March 27. We have named them Covid (boy) and Corona (girl) for now, Mother Preeti Verma, 27, told news agency PTI.

The delivery happened after facing several difficulties and therefore, my husband and (I) wanted to make the day memorable. Indeed, the virus is dangerous and life-threatening but its outbreak made people focus on sanitation, hygiene and inculcate other good habits. Thus, we thought about these names, Mrs Verma added.

When the hospital staff also started calling the babies as Corona and Covid, we finally decided to name them after the pandemic, she explained further.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on March 24 announced a 21-day lockdown of Indias 1.3 billion population in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Angst has since spiked, forcing Mr Modi to seek the forgiveness of the million of poor people in India. So far, the country has had a reported 2,032 cases and 58 deaths.

The Verma couple had to breach the restriction when Mrs Verma  who also has a two-year-old daughter  began to feel labour pain in the late night of March 26.

I suddenly experienced severe labour pain and somehow my husband arranged an ambulance operated under 102 Mahtari Express service, Mrs Verma further told PTI.

As no vehicular movement was allowed on roads due to the lockdown, we were stopped by police at various places but they let us go after noticing my condition.

I was wondering what would happen in the hospital as it was midnight, but fortunately doctors and other staff were very cooperative.

READ ALSO:

Our relatives, who wanted to reach the hospital, could not make it as bus and train services were stopped due to the lockdown, she said.

The babies were delivered in the early hours of March 27, within 45 minutes of the couples arrival, Indian Times also quoted Shubhra Singh, a spokesperson of the hospital, to have said.

As soon as Verma reached the hospital with her husband, arrangements were made to perform a caesarean section on her as it was a complicated case, Mr Singh was quoted as saying.
Worsening the problem, most state agencies that handle unemployment claims are operating at historically low funding levels and staffing that are intended to handle a trickle of claims. Just weeks ago, the job market was in the strongest shape it had been in decades.

Kim Boldrini-Sen, 41, has also struggled to even file her claim. She has tried in two states: In Connecticut, where she works as an acupuncturist in a private practice, and in New York, where she lives and has her own acupuncture business.

In Connecticut, she thought her application had been submitted. But when she returned last week to re-file as applicants are required to do each week, she found there was no record of her initial filing. After taking an hour to re-file, she received a pop-up notice that she was ineligible to do so online.

In New York, the state's website repeatedly crashed when she was halfway through filling out her request. When she finally managed to press submit, she received a pop-up saying she had to file over the phone. That hasn't worked well, either.

"I've called at all hours of the day, she said. "That's been my life for a week, and I still can't get through to anyone."
The coronavirus outbreak finally snapped the United States' record-breaking hiring streak of nearly 10 years, while US and European medical workers struggling to save ailing patients Friday watched supplies of medicine, protective equipment and breathing machines dwindle by the hour.

Jobs numbers released in the US showed the virus dealt a swift end to the nation's 50-year-low unemployment rate, with employers reporting hundreds of thousands of job cuts in March. The true picture, though, is far worse, because the government figures do not include the last two weeks, when nearly 10 million thrown-out-of-work Americans applied for unemployment benefits.

Worldwide, confirmed infections surged past 1 million and deaths topped 54,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Experts say both numbers are seriously undercounted because of the lack of testing, mild cases that were missed and governments that are underplaying the extent of the crisis.

Europe's three worst-hit countries Italy, Spain and France surpassed 30,000 dead, or over half of the global toll. From those countries, the view remained almost unrelentingly grim, a frightening portent for places like New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, where bodies are being loaded by forklift into refrigerated trucks outside overwhelmed hospitals.

Shortages of critical equipment led to fierce competition among buyers from Europe, the US and elsewhere. A regional leader in Paris described the scramble to find masks a worldwide treasure hunt. Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that New York could run out of ventilators in six days.

With more than 245,000 people infected in the US and the death toll topping 6,000, sobering preparations were underway. The Federal Emergency Management Agency asked the Pentagon for 100,000 more body bags.

One Spanish hospital turned its library into an intensive care unit. In France, space was set aside for bodies in a vast food market. The French prime minister said he is fighting hour by hour to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep COVID-19 patients alive.

Philippe Montravers, an anesthesiologist in Paris, said medics are preparing to fall back on older drugs such as the opiates fetanyl and morphine that had fallen out of favor, because newer painkillers are in short supply.

The work is extremely tough and heavy, he said. We've had doctors, nurses, caregivers who got sick, infected ... but who have come back after recovering. It's a bit like those World War I soldiers who were injured and came back to fight. Some glimmers of hope emerged that Italy, with nearly 14,000 dead, as well as Spain and France might be flattening their infection curves and nearing or even passing their peaks in daily deaths.

Spain on Friday reported 932 new daily deaths, slightly down from the record it hit a day earlier. The carnage most certainly included large numbers of elderly who authorities admit are not getting access to the country's limited breathing machines, which are being used first on healthier, younger patients. More than half of Spain's nearly 11,000 deaths have come in the last seven days alone.

In a vast exhibition center in Madrid that was hastily converted into a 1,300-bed field hospital, bed No. 01.30 held patient Esteban Pinaredo, age 87.

I'm good, I love you, Pinaredo told his family via Skype. I will run away as soon as I can." The facility's organizer, Antonio Zapatero, said Spain's nationwide lockdown must be maintained. "Otherwise, this is what you are facing, he said, pointing at the rows of beds.

Elsewhere in Europe, officials began talking tentatively about how to lift lockdowns that have staved off the total collapse of strained health systems but also battered economies.

France canceled its high-school exit exam known as the Baccalaureat, a first in the 212-year history of the test.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By IANS

TEHRAN: Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Larijani was currently quarantined and being treated, Xinhua news agency quoted a state media report as saying on Thursday.

ALSO READ | Iran, US heat up war of words despite coronavirus pandemic

Iran is the worst-hit country in the Middle East.

It has so far reported 50,468 confirmed cases, with 3,160 deaths.

ALSO READ | President Rouhani warns Iran's coronavirus battle may last another year as death toll crosses 3,100

Larijani has joined a list of Iranian lawmakers who have tested positive for the virus, including senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Akbar Velayati, and Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri.

At least seven officials and lawmakers, including an adviser to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, have died from the virus.
WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump ripped Sen. Charles Schumer in a notably nasty letter on Thursday, blaming his support of impeachment in part for New Yorks lack of readiness regarding the spread of the coronavirus.

If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax, which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere (except increasing my poll numbers), and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the invisible enemy, Trump wrote in a reply to a letter Schumer had sent him earlier in the day.

A former New York resident, Trump also told the states senior senator: Ive known you for many years, but I never knew how bad a Senator you are for the state of New York, until I became President.

Schumer had sent a more tempered letter to Trump, saying it was the federal government that was not ready for the coronavirus pandemic.

As the Coronavirus spreads rapidly into every corner of our nation and its terrible, grim toll grows more severe with each passing day, the tardiness and inadequacy of this Administrations response to the crisis becomes more painfully evident, Schumer told Trump.

Trumps letter was the latest volley in a new war of words with the Senates top Democrat. Schumer, D-N.Y., has been an outspoken critic of what he called the Trump administrations confused and unco-ordinated response to the coronavirus pandemic.

During an appearance Thursday on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Schumer said Trump needs new leadership for the counter-coronavirus effort. He also urged Trump to make use of a federal law designed to compel private industries to make more equipment.

President Trump needs to harness industry to quickly produce more medical supplies and equipment under the Defense Production Act NOW, Schumer tweeted. He needs to appoint a czar like a military or logistics expert to lead the effort to make and get the supplies where theyre needed.

In a tweet responding to Schumer, Trump claimed that New York has gotten far more than any other State, adding that, It wouldnt matter if you got ten times what was needed, it would never be good enough.

In his follow-up letter, made public as Trump conducted a coronavirus news conference at the White House, the president accused Schumer of incorrect sound bites, which are wrong in every way.

Schumers letter repeated the same criticisms of the administrations response that he has made before.

This is a matter of the utmost urgency for the health of every American, Schumer concluded. Regrettably, our national response is far behind where it should be. But by acting now, there is still time to help protect our medical professionals, reduce suffering and save lives.

Trump sent a similarly nasty letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in December during the height of the impeachment crisis.

In his harangue to Pelosi, Trump wrote: Your Speakership and your party are held hostage by your most deranged and radical representatives of the far left. Look at yourself and others. Do not take our country down with your party.

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03.04.2020 LISTEN

A recent post on the Facebook group of the Due Process Advocate - DPA reminded me of the fact that the founder of DPA, Chukwuemeka Ephraim Ugwuonye is still languishing in Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja, where he is remanded, following his alleged involvement in the murder of an Abuja business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon, also known as Chacha.

Ugwuonye was remanded on the 26th of November, 2018. By my calculation, 31st of March 2020 made it exactly Four Hundred and Ninety One (491) days that he has been in the Prison, and still counting.

The same Facebook post, by DPA Administrator, with the username DPA Rambo reads in part: we have been in constant touch with the prisons. The DPA Founder is ok.

I became even more emotional, when my attention was drawn to a Letter authored by Mr. Ugwuonye, addressed to the presiding Judge in his murder case, wherein he used Kuje Prisons as his address. But, why is the Harvard-trained lawyer of over thirty (30) years still in detention?

On the 23rd of March, 2020, Ugwuonyes matter came up at a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja. At the resumed hearing, Mr. Ugwuonye filed another Application for bail.

In the bail application, being the third in the series, since his arraignment in 2018, Ugwuonye submitted that he has been in prison for over a year, blaming what he described as extraordinary delay in prosecution for the third bail application.

He further argued that the first Prosecution Witness (PW1), in the course of cross examination never mentioned his name as one of those that murdered the deceased, but however admitted that he was mentioned as an eye witness in the commission of the crime.

While we await the arguments on the Application on the 7th and 12th of May, 2020, as well as the decision of the Judge on the matter, one wonders how someone, who, through his posts and narratives on Facebook gave a vivid account of how the deceased was murdered, even before the eventual arrest and confession of the other accused persons, who corroborated his account would make such a claim. By the way, what really does an eye witness account mean?

Independent investigations revealed that since the commencement of the trial, Mr. Ugwuonye has filed four different applications. Three were for bail, while one was for the Court to allow him sack his lawyers and defend himself in his trial. The four applications may have taken no fewer than seven months of the over one year that the matter has lasted in Court. More so, where, in the history of Nigeria has a case of culpable homicide been determined in one year?

As at today, Ugwuonye has not filed any defense whatsoever in his ongoing murder trial. Not even a page of defense has been filed before the Court.

Recall that an Abuja High Court had on Wednesday, 30th January, 2019, denied Ugwuonye bail in the case of his alleged involvement in the murder of late Charity Aiyedogbon.

Opposing his bail application earlier, Head of Legal Department at the FCT Police Command, James Idachaba described Mr. Ugwuonye as an unrepentant offender and a contemnor, capable of jumping bail and interfering with the trial, if granted bail.

Idachaba tendered Certified True Copies of Facebook posts made by Mr. Ugwuonye, describing them as prejudicial, arguing that If he could do this while in custody, he will do more if released on bail.

FCT High Court 33, Gudu, Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi therefore refused to grant the application for bail filed by Ugwuonye, ordering that he remains in Prison custody. Ugwuonye is yet to appeal the ruling of the trial Court, but chose to file fresh applications before the same court for bail.

Prior to his present ordeal, Ugwuonye was a regular visitor and detainee at the Force Headquarters, Abuja and even the Federal Capital Territory command of the Police. Describing him as a customer to the Police would not have been out of place.

Emeka Ugwuonye was charged before a High Court in Abuja, alongside four others over their alleged involvement in the dastard killing of an Abuja business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.

The charge, with number CR/20/2018, between the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command (complainant) and Ephraim Chukwemeka Ugwuonye and four others (defendant) centers on Criminal Conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

Other accused persons charged along side Ugwuonye are: Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu and Adogah Emmanuel. Ikechukwu James Ezeugwu, earlier granted bail, allegedly jumped bail and is still at large.

The Charge Sheet reads in part:

That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Chukwuemeka Ugwuonye all M, on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Criminal Conspiracy when you agreed with amongst yourself and robbed one Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon (now late) of her property and killed her. You therefore committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 6 (b) of Robbery and Fire Arms (special provisions) Act Cap. RII LFN 2004.

That you, Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye all M on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Armed Robbery when you armed yourselves with cutlasses and other offensive weapons, attacked and robbed Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon F (now late) of her Acura ZDX Jeep with registration number RSH 225 AH Abuja gray colour, one Samsung Galaxy phone, one Itel 1408 phone, one Iphone and Ipad and other valuables.

That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye all M on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to wit: Culpable Homicide, when you intentionally attacked one Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon F (now late) with cutlasses and other offensive weapon and killed her, when you both knew that death is the probable consequence of your action. You thereby committed offence contrary to and punishable under section 221 of the penal code law.

Similarly, Mr. Ugwuonye is facing a different 10-count charge of extortion, impersonation, injurious falsehood and false information.

The Charge, with number CR/19/2018, between the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command (complainant) and Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye (defendant) is also before a High Court in Abuja.

The Charge Sheet reads in part:

Extortion by threat of accusation of an offense punishable by death, Injurious falsehood against the Nigerian Police, Injurious falsehood against David Aiyedogbon, Giving false information with the intent to mislead public servants, Obstruction Public Servant in the discharge of his functions, abusive language against the Nigerian Police Force, Influencing cause of Justice and Inciting Public disturbance.

Others are: Failing to assist Public Servants, when bound by law to assist, when you were aware about the investigation into the killing of late Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon to arrest the killers whom you knew and had prior knowledge of how one of the suspects Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu escaped from Nigeria immediately after committing the offence without arresting or giving the Police useful information as to who is to be investigated for the sad killing; Impersonation, when you have reasons to know that your name has been struck off of Legal Practitioners roll by the Supreme Court of Nigeria even when you knew that you have been disbarred and your name struck off the roll of Legal practitioners in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ugwuonye is already facing two other criminal charges and two civil suits bothering on defamation and false evidence.

It all started in 2016, following the mysterious disappearance of an Abuja-based business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.

Ugwuonye had claimed in the exhibits tendered before the courts, to have overwhelming evidence that the missing woman, Charity Aiyedogbon was dead, and that she was killed by her estranged husband, David Aiyedogbon. He is yet to tender any evidence in support of his claims.

His trouble started when, in different posts on his Facebook group, Due Process Advocates- DPA, he said:

I now have overwhelming evidence that Mr. David Aiyedogbon killed his wife, Chacha. David has an idea of the kind of evidence at my disposal.

In another post, he said: this is the headless and dismembered body of Charity Aiyedogbon (posting a corpse on his DPA Facebook group). DPA has been able to identify this as her body within the limits of resources at our disposal.

I will describe David as a low-life and cold-blooded murderer of his own wife.

the issue is not whether Emekas account is accurate or not, but, rather, the issue is whether Emeka has evidence that would send David to the hangman. Yes, I do

When invited by the Police to produce the evidence, after several meetings, Ugwuonye was unable to produce any, to substantiate his claims.

Ugwuonye is already facing N10b defamation suit filed by Mr. David Aiyedogbon. The Suit, with number CV/2750/16, before Justice Peter Kekemeke of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 14, Apo Abuja, also prays that the defendant be ordered to pay the cost of the suit.

In all of these, Ugwuonye has not tendered any evidence whatsoever, both to the Police and the Court. He has also not filed any defense in the cases preferred against him in the different courts.

In my previous articles on this subject, I raised critical questions, still yearning for answers. First, he (Ugwuonye) claimed to have been in the United States as at the time of Chachas disappearance and only came into Nigeria in June, 2016, after being briefed to handle the matter, but his call log betrayed him, showing that he was in Abuja on the 10th, 11th and 12th of May, 2016- same time Chacha is said to have gone missing.

Again, his relationship with the principal accused- Chukwujekwu Ezeugo, popularly known Jekwu remains suspicious. He is suspected to have aided his initial escape, as, according to Police sources, the day he (Jekwu) was to be arrested, Ugwuonye personally called the Police, promising to produce him, only to revert 24hours later, telling the Police that he had escaped. Police investigations may have established the link.

More so, Ugwuonye had displayed a dismembered body earlier, saying, with absolute confidence that it was that of the late Chacha (prior to Police investigations). Has Police investigation unraveled this? Certainly, they did not charge him to court for nothing.

Meanwhile, till date, Emeka Ugwuonye has not substantiated any of his claims; not even a bit of his overwhelming evidence has been tendered. This is certainly, how not to be a Lawyer!

The law is clear: he that asserts must prove. Provide the overwhelming evidence now!

Destiny Ugorji
By Julia Cheever

Bay City News Service

A lawyer for state prison inmates urged a federal court on Thursday to order the release or relocation of some prisoners to reduce overcrowding, arguing that "conditions in California prisons are a tinderbox" for the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

"The risk of harm and death to everyone who lives and works in prisons, and to the larger community, has increased exponentially, attorney Donald Specter told a three-judge panel in a one-and-one-half hour telephonic hearing.

The panel took the case under submission and will rule at a later date. The prisoners' attorneys have asked the court to issue an order as soon as Monday.

Paul Mello, a lawyer representing the state, said officials are already taking "bold and immediate steps" to prevent contagion and should be allowed to address "this dangerous moving target" without interference from the courts.

Correctional officials are planning the early release of about 3,500 nonviolent inmates who are within 60 days of release dates, suspending intake of new prisoners from county jails and moving about 500 inmates to other prisons with unoccupied spaces.

"The (state) defendants care deeply about the people living and working in prisons and in the community," Mello said.

He argued the state's actions don't meet the standard of "deliberate indifference" set by the U.S. Supreme Court as a requirement for a finding of violation of prisoners' constitutional rights.

Lawyers for the prisoners claim the steps planned thus far aren't nearly enough to achieve the six-foot social distance recommended by health experts to prevent an epidemic.

About 46,000 of the state's 114,000 prisoners live in dormitories with bunks or with beds as close as 30 inches apart, prisoners' attorney Sara Norman told the court.

As of April 1, seven inmates at three institutions and 27 staff members at 12 of the state's 35 adult prisons have tested positive for the virus, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website.

"Prisons are hotbeds and particularly dangerous places" for spread of disease, Norman argued.

"Minimally adequate care cannot be provided under the current circumstances without social distancing," she said.

The prisoners' lawyers have asked for release of the 5,600 prisoners over 65 and of medically vulnerable prisoners, increasing early releases of nonviolent inmates, and relocating other inmates to other facilities than can be used as prisons.

The panel considering the case is made up of 9th U.S. Circuit Judge Kim Wardlaw of Pasadena, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of Oakland and U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller of Sacramento.

A federal law, the Prison Litigation Reform Act, requires that a court order for a reduction of prison population can be made only by a three-judge panel.

Mueller and Tigar both asked Mello whether the measures now planned by the state would be adequate to achieve six-foot social distancing among prisoners.

Mello said he didn't know, but said, "We're trying to increase social distances and we should be granted an opportunity do those things without interference of the court."

The motion for releasing or relocating prisoners was made in two long-running prison overcrowding cases filed in federal court in San Francisco in 2001 and federal court in Sacramento in 1990.

In 2009, a different three-judge panel ruled that the California prison population must be reduced to 137.5 percent of the prisons' designed capacity to correct "woefully and constitutionally inadequate" health care for prisoners. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld that decision by a 5-4 vote in 2011.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Northern Ireland is set to receive five million items of personal protective equipment from London. (Michael Cooper/PA)

Northern Ireland is set to receive five million items of personal protective equipment from London ahead of the expected coronavirus surge.

The announcement from Health Secretary Matt Hancock that he has agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive to immediately provide five million items of PPE to meet their needs came amid rows in the region over the issue.

Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy faced questions over a deal with the Dublin government for PPE which he announced had been placed.

Expand Close Finance Minister Conor Murphys announcement of a joint PPE order with Dublin has been queried (Rebecca Black/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Finance Minister Conor Murphys announcement of a joint PPE order with Dublin has been queried (Rebecca Black/PA)

Irelands Department of Health said that no joint order has been placed for PPE from China in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Executive.

A spokeswoman said: We are ready to discuss any area where we can co-operate effectively, North and South, including on procurement of PPE and critical supplies.

In relation to procurement, while it has not so far proved possible to place a joint order in the context of what is an increasingly challenging international environment, discussions between procurement teams are ongoing and active, and it remains our intention to continue to co-operate in this area.

Mr Murphy insisted he had agreed with Dublin to place the order, but that had fallen through when supply lines have been bought over by others.

We sent them our requirements on Friday night, he said.

We have struggled all week to keep that order in place until yesterday afternoon when we learned that those supply lines have been bought over by others.

Arrangements had been made for payment before the order fell through, he said.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill criticised health minister Robin Swann, claiming he had been too slow to act over the Covid-19 threat.

And the Royal College of Nursing asked for reassurances over PPE supplies, adding the body is awaiting legal advice on what steps to take if guarantees cannot be met.

Mr Swann has repeatedly insisted that there are significant supplies of PPE.

However concerns have been voiced about the availability of specialist respiratory masks, with the chief executive of the Belfast health trust Dr Cathy Jack telling the health committee spoke of challenges securing FFP3 masks.

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Of course staff deserve to have the right type of PPE and get it when they need it, Mr Swann said.

We do have significant stores of PPE in place, weve over 22.5million gloves, nearly seven million aprons and over a million items of eye protection but couldnt we do with more, of course we could.

There is not a country in the world that has enough PPE in stock.

We are aggressively pursuing all feasible routes, nationally, internationally and local.

This is an absolute priority for both me as well as my executive colleagues.

The rifts came on a day when the largest number of deaths of Covid-19 patients was confirmed.

Twelve deaths were announced by the Public Heath Agency on Friday, bringing the regions total to 48 with 904 confirmed cases in the region.

Earlier concerns were expressed with the first batch of PPE equipment which arrived in Dublin from China with images posted online showing gowns with three-quarter length sleeves, leaving arms exposed.

Mr Swann warned he would not accept any inferior materials.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  Kingsley Field has had someone at the base test positive for COVID-19, a spokesperson for the 173rd Fighter Wing confirmed on Thursday.

The base near Klamath Falls is home to a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard. The 173rd Fighter Wing trains pilots on the F-15 Eagle, employing more than 1,000 people on the base.

"The continued safety and well-being of the installation is our top priority," said public affairs superintendent SMSgt. Jennifer Shirar. "We are working with our base medical staff and off-base health care agencies to ensure we mitigate the effects of COVID-19 using established Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Defense Department guidelines."

SMSgt. Shirar said that public health officials for the 173rd Medical Group were actively tracing the member's recent activity and contacts in cooperation with Klamath County health authorities.

"Anyone considered to have been exposed to increased risk will be contacted directly," SMSgt. Shirar said.

On Thursday, Klamath County announced seven new positive cases of COVID-19 in the region, bringing the total up to 12. Public health officials said that two Alaska Airlines flights were being investigated as possible sources of exposure to the virus.
YEREVAN.  Conscript, Private Garegin Babakekhyan, who died at an Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Defense Army military unit on Friday at around 12:35am, had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to his chin.

A criminal case has been filed on the charges of negligently causing a serviceman to commit suicide, the Investigative Committee of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

An investigation is underway.
KYIV. April 3 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers are asking the Ukrainian government to help unblock the supply of imported substances for production of medicines at domestic pharmaceutical plants.

President of the Manufacturers of Medications of Ukraine Association Petro Bahriy said this at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

"We are working as normal. All practical health care needs are being satisfied, but we are worried that the world is closing. Therefore, we want a government-level appeal to unblock the supply of substances. When there is a government appeal, this is perceived differently than if each company independently negotiates," he said.

He noted that, in particular, the matter concerns the supply of substances for production of medicines from India.
As the new reality of the coronavirus pandemic has set in, people around the world are experiencing the trials of isolation and exclusion of quarantine and social distancing for the first time. We are entering a new norm where a video call is the new meeting, virtual travel is the new weekend activity, and self-isolation is a common phrase.

Yet for so many people with disabilities, this same experience of seclusion has long been familiar.

The impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak have been astounding for nearly everyone, and devastating for many. In the midst of all this upheaval, these changes could also be promising for a more inclusive future.

Weve seen adjustments being made on a widespread scale. Businesses and communities have made significant adjustments to adapt their working conditions and culture to new norms. As more measures are made to control the spread of infection, working remotely and flexibly has become standard across almost all sectors as workers across the globe are being asked to work from home to reduce the spread of outbreak. Employers are working closely with their employees to navigate the associated challenges in communication, productivity, and wellbeing.

In other industries, supermarkets are dedicating separate shopping times for the most vulnerable customers. In the fashion industry, where there were more clothing lines for dogs than there are for people with disabilities, we have seen a huge shift in creating products for specific needs, such as face masks that dont look unpleasant or medical. A fashion show in Nigeria even celebrated face masks as a high-fashion accent.

Buried within this crisis is a lesson that must be taken forward to the future of workplace behavior: Businesses have clearly demonstrated that when it becomes an absolute necessity to drastically adapt working culture and introduce flexible models, the shift for many corporations is possibleand can be implemented within an incredibly short timeframe.

Story continues

It hasnt been without its challenges, and understandably, not every corporations infrastructure can support such widespread measures. But companies are putting in genuine efforts, actively seeking solutions, and seeing rapid results.

What stands in the way of accommodating people with different abilities?

Many of these accommodations and adaptations are the same ones that disabled employees have sought for so long to have approved for their working lives in order to enable them to fully engage with and contribute to their careers meaningfully.

A UK survey showed 67% of disabled workers who had asked employers to make reasonable adjustments in their workplace had all or some requests rejected. Measures like remote and flexible working can be a critically important factor in enabling employees with disabilities to fully engage with their jobs. Yet up until now, there hasnt been enough support or understanding from the business landscape. A November 2019 report by UK union organization UNISON surveyed nearly 2,900 respondents and found that 67% of disabled workers across the UK who had asked their employer to make reasonable adjustments for them in the workplace had had all or some of their requests rejected. Meanwhile in the US, according to marketing research firm The Standard, only 40% of human resources managers surveyed are confident in the way their company handles disability accommodations.

By neglecting to reasonably accommodate employees with disabilities, businesses are missing out on valuable opportunities and resources.

A 2018 study by Accenture, in partnership with organizations Disability: IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities, found that companies that improved internal practices for disability inclusion were four times more likely to witness higher total shareholder returns.

Working with employees with disabilities to implement the reasonable adjustments they need in order to thrive in the workplace would help to ensure companies remain economically active in times of great stress and change, like the present, while simultaneously bringing more talent and diversity of thought into the workplace. These are proven key drivers of innovation and progress across industries.

After the storm

It is truly promising and reassuring to see how in the face of a crisis, we are witnessing businesses coming together to work with their employees to ensure working life can continue while protecting their wellbeing.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc. Yet its also been a catalyst for resilience, as companies prove that they can successfully adjust and adapt to dramatic change. We cannot revert back to business as usual once the storm dies down.

So, what happens when the perception that accommodations such as working from home, live streaming events, paying for sick leave, or online instructions would be completely counterproductive has now been disproved?

Hopefully the answer is that businesses and society can become rooted in accessibility and inclusion, well beyond this pandemic.

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Born in New York City, Dr. Levitan, 58, trained at Bellevue under Lewis R. Goldfrank, a towering, pioneering figure in emergency medicine. Dr. Levitan later practiced in Philadelphia and became a teaching guru on managing the human airway  including performing the tricky but vital task of intubation, threading a breathing tube into people who are not getting enough oxygen.

The coronavirus assaults the lungs.

This is the airway challenge of the century, Dr. Levitan said. Im an airway guy. Im not going to sit this one out.

On Saturday, he emailed the Four Seasons Hotel, which had recently announced that it would provide rooms for visiting medical workers. But the hotel replied that it was not yet ready for bookings and that when it was, they would be managed by local medical associations.

(The governors office said on Thursday that it was working with a tourism organization in the city to set up a portal for visiting medical workers to make hotel reservations, but details were not available.)

So, Dr. Levitan turned to his older brother and his family, who were out of town and have an apartment in the West 60s near Central Park. They arranged with the building to have a key waiting for him.

When Dr. Levitan arrived on Saturday, he said he was handed a sheet listing the co-ops rules for the pandemic  one family at a time in the elevator, dog walkers must be met in the lobby and so on. Near the top, it said: No one except building residents; family members; nannies and home health care aides will be allowed into the building.

Though it has nearly 300 apartments, the building was quiet. The place is a ghost town, Dr. Levitan said. Anybody with money has left.
London, United Kingdom  A British Pakistani woman who worked as a hospital cleaner for 15 years before realising her dream and graduating in nursing has become one of the first nurses in the United Kingdom to die of COVID-19.

Areema Nasreen, a 36-year-old mother to three children, was described by friends as positive, spiritual, funny and open-hearted.

Despite having no underlying health conditions, Nasreen lost the battle with COVID-19 early on Friday in an intensive care unit at Walsall Manor Hospital, where she had worked for more than 15 years and where she contracted the coronavirus two weeks ago while supporting patients who had tested positive.

Areema was such an amazing person, Shabeena Kousar, Nasreens friend of 16 years, told Al Jazeera. She always used to greet everyone with a smile. She was the type of person who would do anything for anyone.

She had so much left to do, but Allah has called her. Our prayers are with her family, her husband, her children, and her parents, added Kousar, who said she felt completely lost.

Describing Nasreen as a giving person who was always the first to get involved, the two friends organised several charity and public events together with the local Muslim community.

Nadia Shabir, who went to school with Nasreen, said: If you were upset, youd ring her and shed put so much courage in you. Shed always say, Read your prayers, turn to God.

Everything about her was so positive, nothing negative. She was the kind of person, if you sat in the room with her, she would make you laugh. Anything she had, she would give that to you. She was so giving and open-hearted. She was definitely an angel.

Nasreen fulfilled her lifetime dream and graduated in nursing in 2019.

All she wanted to do was to make something of herself, and she did it, said Shabir. She graduated and became a staff nurse in the same ward where she was a cleaner for over 15 years.

Nasreen used her own story as a motivational speaker to encourage others to pursue their ambitions.

In a tweet she posted celebrating her graduation at the University of Wolverhampton, she wrote: Never thought I could see this amazing day. Thank u to Walsall Manor Hospital for believing in me  dreams do come true.

Never thought I could see this amazing day. Thank u to Walsall Manor Hospital for believing in me. Countles's people one who was me struggle to believe that they have the right to dream. But please follow through, and yes with commitment compassion support dreams do come true. pic.twitter.com/gR2P101B5P  Areema Nasreen (@AreemaNasreen) April 24, 2019

Areema was perfectly fine. She had no health issues. She was always out and about. She was like a rollercoaster she was. It can happen to anybody, said Shabir.

At least 3,605 people have died from coronavirus in the UK, including dozens with no underlying health conditions such as 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab  believed to be the youngest victim in the UK, a country where 173,784 have tested positive.

Dr Salman Waqar, the general secretary of the British Islamic Medical Association, said: Areema Nasreens death serves as a stark reminder that COVID-19 can affect anyone, and we must all do our part and take the pandemic seriously. Social distancing is critical to controlling the outbreak. Individuals with families who show symptoms must isolate and take precautions. Stay at home, save lives, and protect the NHS.

Her death came hours after Mohamed Sami Shousha, a prominent British-Egyptian consultant, became the fifth doctor to succumb to the disease. He was 79.

Although he did not treat COVID-19 patients, Shousha was admitted to hospital after contracting the virus on March 23.

He died in London on Thursday, leaving behind his wife and two daughters.

His nephew, Abdulrehman Shousha, said: My uncle was an honest, kind and hardworking person; he was humble and loved to serve his family and friends.

Shousha was an expert in histopathology who trained at the Royal Free Hospital and the School of Medicine, London.

He had worked at Charing Cross Hospital in west London since 1978, where he oversaw the breast histopathology service.

Omar Qassid, a consultant breast pathologist who trained under Shousha in 2012, described him as a superman.

He was the most polite man, a gentleman. He was always very kind to the junior doctors. He left a treasure of knowledge in each junior doctors pocket. For me personally, he trained me because of my interest in breast cancer, and thats what I do now. I do exactly what he used to do.

He was the kind of person who would break the wall between a senior doctor and a junior doctor. He was very approachable. He was also that kind of person who wouldnt withhold any knowledge from you.

Whatever I have done and achieved now, is because he had that positive impact on me when I was a junior doctor.

Mohamed Sami Shousha was described as a kind and polite gentleman who gave his time generously to teach junior doctors [Courtesy: Abdelrahman Shousha]

Charles Coombes, a professor of medical oncology at Imperial College who worked with Shousha for 30 years, said: He was the kindest, nicest academic Ive ever worked with. His personality was such that even though the NHS has been under tremendous strain, he was always well mannered, kind, considerate, and just an outstanding colleague.

His humanity and lightness of spirit, kindness always seemed to have time for one. He was always interested and willing to help, and at the same time incredibly modest.

An honorary professor at Imperial College, Shousha published more than 290 papers on diagnostic breast pathology.

He was a wonderful, caring and inspiring man, deeply loved by all, and even as a consultant taught me so much about not just the pathology of cancer, but cancer and people in general, said Justin Stebbing, a professor of cancer medicine and oncology who worked with Shousha for 14 years.

Dr Neha Tabassum, a mentee of Shousha, posted a tribute on Twitter: Its so sad to hear this news, I am in tears!! Professor Sami Shousha was one of my mentor. Without his support, my PhD would not have been possible. He was such an amazing human being. May his soul RIP.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (April 03, 2020)The Coast Guard is searching for two canoers last sighted ten miles south of Annapolis near Herring Bay, Maryland, Thursday evening.



The missing canoers have been identified as a 41 year-old woman and her 8 year-old son.



Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Maryland National Capitol Region command center received a report from Maryland State Police members that two individuals were seen struggling to return to shore in a canoe near Herring Bay and not seen again by the reporting individual.



An Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew and a Coast Guard Station Annapolis 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew were launched to assist in the search.



An Air Station Elizabeth City C-130 Hercules aircrew and a Coast Guard Station Inigoes boat crew are continuing the search Friday morning along with the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Angela McShan.



Also assisting in the search are members of the Queen Anne Police Department, Arundel Police Department, Maryland Natural Resource Police, and Maryland State Police.



Anyone with additional information regarding this case should contact the Sector Maryland command center at 410-576-2525.
Australia owes a debt of gratitude to its pandemic modellers, public health officials and politicians  we have avoided the explosive beginning of a COVID-19 epidemic that most other countries are now cursed with.

The nation must decide its best path forward: People lining up at a Centrelink office amid he COVID-19 shock. Credit:Nick Moir

Globally, it looks like  with our ANZAC mates across the ditch  we are advantaged by being at the bottom of the world with a slightly longer time to respond. Without wanting to cheer too early, the daily case notifications out of the state furthest down the path  NSW  are encouraging. The number of locally acquired cases are not increasing (much) in the past week.

If those cases start to track up, and double quicker than every eight days or so, the rest of this opinion article should be dispatched to wrap fish 'n' chips or deleted from your digital files. While I do not have a crystal ball, I do believe that the physical distancing measures are working  we have suffocated the early stage of the epidemic, "squashing the curve" rather than allowing it to increase then flatten.

But what next?
2020 Election Landscape Being Altered by the Pandemic

The pandemic has, as of April, altered the U.S. election landscape with many states delaying primary elections and forcing the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to change its convention from July to mid-August to protect public health and ensure that everyone can engage in the voting process.

The CCP virus pandemic has altered over two dozen states democrat presidential primary elections and is requiring state policymakers to think ahead to ensure fair and safe elections in November. In many states, laws are being introduced to guarantee that voting is efficient and effective despite social distancing measures being in place for an uncertain length of time.

Many states, to work around the social distancing requirements, have moved to mail-in ballots for their presidential primaries, and other states have postponed their primaries with polling places open for those who choose to vote in person. Delaying elections give states time to educate the public and put an alternative voting measure in place.

Our election processes and infrastructure will continue to be tested by the coronavirus. Policymakers and election officials must ensure that every eligible American has access to the ballot box because the essence of democracy is that every eligible voter must have the opportunity to participate. Elections have endured in other times of crisis, and they will in 2020, said Trevor Potter, President of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and a former Republican Chairman of the Federal Election Commission.

State officials are making complicated decisions to juggle public health with voting rights. States will have to put measures in place to ensure safe access to voting, both for primary and general election voting dates. Some of these measures include access to on-line and same-day voter registration, expanded early voting, expanded vote-by-mail and absentee ballot programs, and the recruitment of poll-workers from less at-risk populations.

In a 2017 Task Force on Emergency Preparedness for Elections report by the National Association of Secretaries of State assessed States emergency voting procedures.

The task force found 12 states had a law that specifically authorized the suspension, delay or postponement of an election in an emergency, which would be made by the governor or chief election officer or a combination of the two. In many cases, the emergency voting is implemented following a declaration of a state of emergency made by the governor.

New York State has a series of bills that will allow voters to vote via absentee ballots and by mail to address concerns of a pandemic.

In a March 28 tweet, Governor Cuomo wrote, NEW: We will move our presidential primary to June 23rd. Public health is our number one priority, and we will carry out this vital democratic process at a safer date.

New York City has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. New York reported that the state had tested 220,880 individuals, with 15,694 new people tested on March 31.

Like New York State, over a dozen states have made decisions to postpone or change their voting to mail-in to help mitigate the spread of the CCP virus.

The other states that have yet to hold their presidential primary include Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota (June 2 primary), Puerto Rico (April 16), Alaska (April 4), Georgia (May 19), Hawaii (April 4), Wyoming (April 17), Kansas (May 2), Kentucky and Oregon (May 19), Wisconsin (April 7), Louisiana (June 20), West Virginia and Nebraska on (May 12).

Chairman J.R. Romano of Connecticuts Republican party told the Epoch Times that Connecticut has complicated absentee ballot rules and no efficient mail-in ballot system to ensure voters can cast their vote in the upcoming elections.

Its a difficult process, with many steps for a voter to get an absentee ballot and as far as on-line ballot that can be downloadednot everyone has access to printers.

He continued, Without a doubt, there will be a massive drop in numbers of voters because our state does not have a no-excuse ballot option.

According to National Convention of State Legislature (NCSL), Thirty-three states allow no-excuse absentee voting, but voters may not know they have that option.

Like Connecticut, some other states also require voters to request absentee ballots in person or by mail, which because of stay-at-home orders, is making more states offer an on-line printable ballot option. according to NCSL, Idaho just became the 11th state to open an online absentee ballot request website.

As more states issue stay-at-home orders and the length of time for social-distancing is highly uncertain, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Alaska, New York, and Massachusetts have legislation pending to have all or specific elections be by mail-in ballot.

Professor Emeritus and former chief of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. Buck Greenbough told Epoch Times that he believes the social distancing measures in place throughout the United States will need to be extended at least one additional month.

I dont think the end of April will see us through this pandemic, the end of May is more likely but still not certain.

Although more states have added mail-in ballot options, in-person polling places are still on the menu but might be hard to staff and keep clean. In the past senior citizens often manned the polling venues, and there seems to be a nation-wide shortage of hand-sanitizer and disinfectants.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led a group of Democratic senators to introduce legislation on March 18 to promote mail-in and early voting to decrease the spread of the CCP virus.

The Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act (NDEBA) would allow voters 20 days of early voting in all states and stipulates that all mail-in ballots received during the 21 days be valid, and ensure that all voters have the option to request absentee ballots.

These emergency plans would allow voters to vote by mail without a specific excuse and to vote early in person for a full day before an election.

The ideas are to make voting as easy as possible for all voters.

The bill would guarantee that all states automatically mail ballots to registered voters; voters can mail back those ballots for free, and voters should also be able to drop off ballots at predesignated locations. The ballots should be accepted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day and received within 10 days of the election.

Democratic party leadership stated in a recent op-ed that it will help states pay for these reforms, with the democratic leaders writing, Thats why any state that voluntarily complies with such reforms will receive payments equal to the costs theyve incurred.

The Federal government has also earmarked $400 million to states responding to the pandemics disruption of the 2020 election cycleincluding promoting mail-in voting.

The CLCs National Task Force on Election Crises released The COVID-19 Election Guide, available here. The task force had four key recommendation to ensure the integrity of the upcoming elections:

Expanding no-excuse absentee vote-by-mail

Maximizing early voting days and hours

Increasing the number of polling places and other voting options

Proactive, transparent communication with voters

Vanita Gupta, president, and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Task Force member, added, In 2020, further unexpected events are bound to take place, but the right to vote must be protected and preserved. Already, we are seeing the impact of COVID-19 on primary electionsand officials are obligated right now to take steps, like the ones outlined in our guide, to ensure the general election proceeds on schedule as required under federal law.

On April 2, the DNC announced they would move the convention to August 17. The new August date for the event, still set to be held in Wisconsin, is right before the Republican National Convention, which will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Aug. 24 to 27.

In our current climate of uncertainty, we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention. During this critical time, when the scope and scale of the pandemic and its impact remain unknown, we will continue to monitor the situation and follow the advice of health care professionals and emergency responders, said Joe Solmonese, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee.

Hans A. Von Spakovsky, the Manager of Election Law Reform Initiative and Senior Legal Fellow of the Heritage Foundation, told Epoch Times that primary or local elections for federal office had been postponed several times since 1860. However, there is no example of a general election being postponed or delayed during a federal election cycle.

If Novembers election date had to be changed, Spakovsky said, Only Congress has the authority to change the date of the general election through the regular legislation process, passing in both the House and Senate, amending the constitution.
Officials in the Texas city of Laredo on the US-Mexico border are imposing stiff penalties on people going out without covering their faces in a desperate bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Residents will now be required to wear something that covers their nose and mouth when theyre out in public. If they dont, they face a fine of up to $1,000.

Effective Thursday, everyone over age of five in Laredo will have to wear a homemade mask, scarf or bandanna when entering a building open to the public, when pumping gas, or when using public transportation, taxis or rideshares.

Under newly adopted rules, every resident of Loredo, Texas, over age 5 will have to wear a homemade mask, scarf or bandanna when entering a building, pumping gas, or using public transportation. Pictured: a woman in a mask rides a bus in Loredo on March 21

People who are caught outside in Loredo without a face covering will be fined $1,000

Men wait outside of a restaurant for their order since a new rule states that no one can eat inside restaurants in Laredo

The new rule adopted by the Laredo City Council does not apply to people riding in their own vehicles or if they are outside for exercise.

Residents are being encouraged to use homemade masks and leave scarce medical masks for health professionals fighting on the frontline of the pandemic.

As of Friday afternoon, there were 73 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city of 260,600 and five fatalities.

Beside imposing fines, city officials this week put into place a daily curfew, which requires residents to stay indoors between 10pm and 5am, except for essential trips and necessities.

People who have to work during those hours will be exempt but will have to show proof.

Those ought breaking the curfew will be arrested on a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to $1,000 fine.

Some critics have expressed concern that amid the economic downturn and soaring unemployment numbers caused by the coronavirus outbreak, some residents will be unable to afford paying the fines imposed by the city.

'I'd rather bury them in debt than bury them in a coffin,' Councilman George Altgelt pithily remarked to Laredo Morning Times.

The directive ordering people to cover their mouths and noses runs counter to the World Health Organization's official position on the matter.

On Wednesday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said they are not advising the general public to wear surgical masks, saying they should be reserved only for healthcare workers, sick patients and those caring for them.

'We're continuing to study the evidence about the use of masks. WHO's priority is that frontline health workers are able to access essential personal protective equipment, including medical masks and respirators,' Tedros said.

It's been reported in recent days that President Donald Trump could soon issue new recommendations on wearing face coverings, although when addressing the issue on Thursday he stopped short of suggesting that his administration would require everyone to cover their mouths and noses in public.

'I don't think they'll be mandatory because some people don't want to do that,' he said during his daily coronavirus briefing.

It is unclear how effective surgical masks are at stopping the spread of the virus, and in addition there is a concern among health experts that having Americans wear face coverings could lull them into a false sense of security and lead them to become more lax about social distancing.
With US President Donald Trump describing hydroxychloroquine as a "game changer" in the fight against COVID-19 and several countries, including India, approving it for emergencies, pharmacies are reporting a surge in demand for the drug yet to be proven as a cure against the disease.

Though there have been no large-scale clinical trials of the drug's efficacy in treating coronavirus, chemists all over say they are facing a shortage of the medicine, not so long ago known mainly to those who had malaria or were prescribed it for arthritis pain.

Hydroxychloroquine entered the layperson's lexicon with Trump's tweet on March 21. A few days later, several countries approved it for restricted use in coronavirus emergencies and for certain categories of people only.

And while the White House's own infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci countered theclaims, adding that the drug's effectiveness was only "anecdotal" and needed controlled clinical trials to prove its effectiveness, Trump's tweets had already had a ripple effect across the globe.

"The drug has been out of stock ever since Trump tweeted about it," a pharmacist from New Delhi's Kailash Colony told PTI on the condition of anonymity. He added that efforts are being made to restock the medicines.

Asked about the current availability of the drug in the country, a pharmacist in the city's Govindpuri area said the drug has been out of stock in his store for days. He also expressed concern that patients with joint aches and other bone related conditions are being deprived of the drug, prescribed to them by their doctors.

"We do not have a supply for more than a week and we have asked the distributors to resupply the medicine," added another chemist nearby.

According to Dr Rohini Handa,senior consultant rheumatologist at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, arthritis patients have been finding it difficult to get hydroxychloroquine for the last 10 days.

"Ever since came out in the media that it may help fight coronavirus infection, there has been indiscriminatebuying by people. So it seems to have disappeared from the market," Handa told PTI.

"Everyday I am getting phones, and emails from my patients who are not able to get it In rheumatology, this is an anchored drug for many conditions. And we are apprehensive that the non availabilitymay lead to a flare-up of arthritis in these patients, he explained.

People need to realise that not every person in this country needs hydroxychloroquine, Handa said.

Two days after the US president's tweet, the Indian Council of Medical Research on March 23 recommended that the drug be reserved in India only for healthcare workers, and persons caring for COVID-19 patients in households.

The protocol was then approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) for restricted use in emergency situations



"Hydroxychloroquine is found to be effective against coronavirus in laboratory studies and in-vivo studies. Its use in prophylaxis is derived from the available evidence of benefit as treatment and supported by preclinical data," the DGCI's advisory said.

Estimating a surge in global demand for the drug, the Indian government banned the export ofhydroxychloroquine with immediate effect to ensure sufficient availability of the medicine in the domestic market.

An exception of sales to other countries on humanitarian grounds was made on a case-to-case basis.

On March 28, Raman R Gangakhedkar, head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at ICMR,said a reduction in the viral load was observed in patients treated with hydroxychloroquine. He later added that the drug be given only to doctors and contacts of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases.

While the demand for hydrochloroqine has seen a rapid uptick, the safety and effectiveness of the drug in treating COVID-19 still remains a concern.

Recent research, published in the preprint platfromMedrXiv, said the anti-malarial drug could have a protective function against COVID-19, but cautioned that the number of people involved in the study was very few.

The study also said the drug's side potential effects in people must be taken seriously.

"Despite our small number of cases, the potential of HCQ in the treatment of COVID-19 has been partially confirmed. Considering that there is no better option at present, it is a promising practice to apply HCQ to COVID-19 under reasonable management," the scientists from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University in China wrote in the study.

"Large-scale clinical and basic research is still needed to clarify its specific mechanism and to continuously optimize the treatment plan," they concluded.

The study, initially cited by Trump, also had a very small sample size of26 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and 16 control patients.

Other studies have cautioned that the drug must be administered with care sinceitslong-term use is reported to have side-effects, includingimpairment or loss of vision,gastrointestinal reactions, cramps, liver dysfunction, itching, and headaches.

Hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin, which are being considered by some for treating COVID-19, may increase the risk for dangerous abnormal heart rhythms, US cardiologists have warned.

The researchers from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Indiana University recommend that clinicians treating COVID-19 patients with the malaria-antibiotic drug combination should consider monitoring those patients for ventricular arrhythmia.

The condition leads to the lower heart chambers beating quickly and irregularly, and can lead to cardiac arrest, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 5,500 km-long international borders in the Northeastern region has been effectively closed during the 21-daylockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus,Union Minister Jitendra was told on Friday.

During a video conference with officials of the Ministry of the Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), North Eastern Council and others, Singh was informed that the lockdown is being effectively enforced in the entire Northeastern region.

The minister was informed that thelockdown in the Northeastern states is being effectively enforced and the region's long international border (approx 5500 km) has been effectively closed, an official statement said.

The region shares borders with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.

The lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat the coronavirus endemic.

Singh,who is the Minister for DoNER held a detailed review meeting while adhering to all the guidelines of social distancing, with the officers of Ministry of DoNER, NECand North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi)in view of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and measures being taken to fight the same in the region.

The minister was informed that 100 per cent work of the ministry was being done on e-Office, making it easier to comply with the directions of government to work from home, the statement said.

All officers and staff of Ministry of DoNER and its organisations and PSUs viz NEC, NEDFi, North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC), North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), CBTC and The North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCOMP) have contributed one day's salary to PM-CARES fund.

The NEDFi is contributing Rs two crore to PM-CARES fund out of their CSR funds.

As decided earlier, the NEC has already sanctioned Rs 25 crore to Northeastern states for gap funding to fight the COVID-19 outbreak effectively.This fund would be in the nature of untied fund, which can be utilised on any activity relating to COVID-19 pandemic and not covered under existing central packages.

The flexibility of untied funds would enable the states to respond quickly.

This fund would be in addition to the funds otherwise allocated by the Ministry of DoNER/NEC to the Northeastern states under the existing schemes, the statement said.

The DoNER ministry has also sought projects for strengthening of health infrastructure in NE states under its flagship programme The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS).

The states have been asked to submit their proposals by April 6. The projects in health sector would be sanctioned on top priority, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran said Thursday it "only acts in self-defence" after President Donald Trump warned it against attacks on US troops in Iraq, as a new war of words heated up despite the coronavirus pandemic. Tensions between the arch-foes flared in Iraq where the United States deployed Patriot air defence missiles prompting neighbouring Iran to warn of consequences and demand a US withdrawal. Both countries have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 5,000 lives in the United States and more than 3,000 in Iran. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that "unlike the US -- which surreptitiously lies, cheats & assassinates -- Iran only acts in self-defence". "Don't be misled by usual warmongers, AGAIN," he said, addressing US President Donald Trump. "Iran starts no wars but teaches lessons to those who do," he added. Trump warned Iran on Wednesday that it would pay a "heavy price" in the event of further attacks on US troops. He tweeted that "upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq". In response, Zarif tweeted that "Iran has FRIENDS: No one can have MILLIONS of 'proxies'" Iran responded angrily to the US Patriot deployment warning that Washington risked leading the Middle East to disaster in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Its armed forces chief of staff said the recent attacks against US bases in Iraq are the "natural reaction" of Iraqi people towards Washington's continuing military presence. The attacks "have nothing to do with our country. The Americans sometimes attribute such things to us, which is projecting the blame," Iran's ISNA news agency quoted Major General Mohammad Bagheri as saying. "Iran has no involvement in these actions and no intention to attack foreign forces," he said, underlining that Iran would still respond strongly to any aggression. - Battle for influence - Iran and the US are in a tense battle for influence in Iraq, where Tehran has powerful allies and Washington has close ties to the government. Bases in Iraq housing US troops and foreign embassies, particularly the American mission, have been targeted in more than two dozen rocket attacks since October that Washington has blamed on Iran-backed armed groups. Tensions have risen sharply since Trump withdrew from a landmark nuclear agreement in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions. They escalated in January when the US killed Iran's Major General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike near Baghdad airport. Iran retaliated by firing at bases in Iraq housing US troops. While on high alert for a response, Iranian air defences accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner minutes after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. Iran has repeatedly called on the Trump administration to reverse its sanctions policy, which has been opposed even by US allies, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. "This was the best, historic opportunity for the Americans to reverse their wrong path and for once, tell their nation they are not against the Iranian people," President Hassan Rouhani told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Medicines and medical equipment are technically exempt from the US sanctions but purchases are frequently blocked by the unwillingness of banks to process purchases for fear of incurring large penalties in the United States. European nations have delivered medical goods to Iran in the first transaction under the Instex financing mechanism set up to get round US sanctions, Germany said on Tuesday. But it is more than a year since Britain, France and Germany announced the creation of Instex and Iran has questioned European governments' commitment to seeing it through in defiance of the Trump administration.
Even as Unemployment Soars, These Companies Are Still Hiring

In March, the U.S. economy lost jobs for the first time in 10 years: 701,000 disappeared as businesses shut down and laid off workers amid the fight against the coronavirus. The unemployment rate soared to 4.4%, from February's 50-year low of 3.5%.

And economists warn that the next report could look much worse.

But as ugly as things seem, it's not completely hopeless if you're out of work and want to find a new job.

Lots of companies have announced that they currently have tens of thousands of openings, and demand for some types of workers has grown by as much as 1,000% over the last month.

"Some newly unemployed Americans will find new jobs easily," says Julia Pollak, labor economist with the jobs website ZipRecruiter.

Here are some leads on where to look.

What jobs are available?

welcomia / Shutterstock

Job postings for truck drivers have increased by nearly 1,000% in the last four weeks.

Though online job postings have been declining, opportunities are still available  if you know where to find them. Some employers are struggling to fill positions.

"Warehousing and delivery companies are urgently ramping up hiring to deal with the surge in demand for their services," says Pollak. "Similarly, e-commerce, telemedicine and remote work technology companies are expanding their staffs."

Here are the jobs that have seen the largest percentage increases in listings over the last four weeks, with national average pay, according to ZipRecruiter:

Flatbed truck driver with a commercial driver's license: up 999%. Average pay: $50,954 per year.

Warehouse handler: up 699%. Average pay: $26,755 per year.

Insurance claims adjuster: up 431%. (These are jobs investigating claims filed with insurance companies.) Average pay: $51,007 per year.

Online merchandising: up 354%. (These are jobs helping companies market products and make sales online.) Average pay: $60,690 per year.

Warehouse attendant: up 324%. Average pay: $13 per hour.

These other jobs have seen triple-digit percentage gains in postings:

Truck driver trainer: up 314%. Average pay: $69,766 per year.

Warehouse laborer: up 291%. Average pay: $26,033 per year.

Financial sales associate: up 243%. (These are jobs selling financial products, such as insurance policies.) Average pay: $47,928 per year.

Warehouse team member: up 237%. Average pay: $27,769 per year.

Personal shopper: up 229%. (These are jobs doing shopping for others, including those who don't want to venture out to stores during the current pandemic.) Average pay: $29,531.

Geriatric nursing assistant: up 189%. (These workers help provide care for elderly patients in hospitals and other facilities.) Average pay: $14 per hour.

Grocery shopper: up 186%. (These jobs are similar to personal shopper, but specialized, obviously.) Average pay: $34,460 per year.

Surgical nurse: up 130%. (These are nurses who assist during surgical procedures.) Average pay: $71,205 per year.

Registered respiratory therapist: up 129%. (These are medical professionals who help patients with breathing problems, such as those sick with the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus.) Average pay: $69,148 per year.

Intensive care nurse: up 121%. Average pay: $95,599 per year.

Story continues

Which companies are hiring?

Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock

Lowe's is one of many chains hiring during the current crisis.

As the government was releasing its gloomy jobs news Friday morning, Ace Hardware announced plans to hire more than 30,000 people for its stores nationwide. Lowe's also just said that it has 30,000 positions to fill at its hardware and home improvement stores throughout the U.S.

Both chains say they're taking proper precautions to protect employees and shoppers.

"We are continually working on ways to protect and support our associates and our customers during this time when we are all adjusting how we work and live," said Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison.

Here are other major employers that are searching for workers, with the numbers of jobs they're trying to fill:

Instacart: 300,000 to shop for and deliver groceries in more than 5,500 cities across the U.S.

Walmart: 150,000 at its discount department stores, distribution and fulfillment centers.

Amazon: 100,000 , including warehouse workers and delivery drivers.

CVS Health: 50,000 , including store associates, delivery drivers, distribution center workers and customer service people.

Dollar General: 50,000 to help staff its dollar stores in 45 states.

Albertsons: 30,000 store associates for its supermarkets, which include the Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaws and Acme chains, among others.

Dollar Tree/Family Dollar: 25,000 at its dollar stores and distribution centers.

7-Eleven: 20,000 at its convenience stores.

Kroger: 20,000 at its supermarkets across the U.S.

Walgreens: 9,500 at its pharmacies nationwide.

Target: 9,000 at its stores and distribution centers.

The available jobs are a mix of full and part time, permanent and temporary. Some of the companies also have announced pay hikes: For example, Amazon is paying an extra $2 an hour ($17 instead of $15) through April, and Lowe's also is temporarily increasing pay by $2 per hour.

Plus, some employers are paying bonuses to their existing workers. For example, CVS employees can receive up to $500, and Walmart is giving its full-time store associates $300.

How do you land a job during the pandemic?

fizkes / Shutterstock

Work on your resume while you're stuck at home.

Even in the best of times, landing a job takes some effort  and right now people who want jobs face a great deal of competition, because so many Americans are out of work.

Here are some tips for finding an opportunity and standing out among the other applicants during the coronavirus pandemic:

Sign up with a job listings site like ZipRecruiter, so you'll be notified whenever jobs matching your skills are posted.

Use your downtime to make sure your resume is polished and up to date, and straighten up your LinkedIn profile.

Never stop networking. Use email, texts and social media to stay in touch with friends and former co-workers, so you can be sure they know that you're looking for work and will alert you to any openings they hear about.

Look for online resources to boost your abilities. Free online classes and YouTube videos can help you learn new skills that will make you more marketable in the long run.

Good luck!
Prince Charles opened a new 4,000-bed temporary hospital in a conference centre in east London on Friday, the first of several being built in Britain to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son and heir, who has recovered from mild symptoms of the disease, said via videolink that he hoped that "in these dark times", the National Health Service (NHS) Nightingale Hospital would be a "shining light".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump on Friday exploded at a CBS News reporter who asked him about Jared Kushners comment that the national medical stockpile was not meant for the states.

It is a gotcha, the president told CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang. It means United States of America and then we take that "our" and distribute it to the states.'

She asked him what Kushner meant by the word 'our' and said she was not asking a 'gotcha' question but trying to clarify policy on the use of the Strategic National Stockpile.

When he says our, he is talking about our country, Trump said of Kushner, who is a senior adviser in the White House. 'He is talking about the federal government. It is such a basic, simple question. And you try to make it sound so bad.'

'It's not bad. I'm just trying to understand,' Weijia said.

President Trump exploded at a CBS News reporter who asked him about Jared Kushners comment that the national medical stockpile was not meant for states

CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang told the president he did not give her an answer to her question about the policy regarding the Strategic National Stockpile

President Trump accused Weijia of asking a 'nasty' and 'gotcha' question

Trump went on to lecture her about her question.

'You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You know it, you ought to be ashamed. It's such a simple question. He said our. That means for the country. Our means for the states because they are part of the country. Don't make it sound bad,' the president said.

And he kept on: You just asked your question in a very nasty tone.'

'It's not nasty and you didn't give me an answer,' Weijia said.

But Trump moved on to call on another reporter.

'Let's go. I gave you a perfect answer, you know it,' he said.

Trump said his son-in-law did not make a mistake when describing the purpose of the stockpile. Kushner is leading a 'shadow' coronavirus task force that is bringing in the private sector to help the government with its response to the pandemic. He appeared in the briefing room on Thursday to talk about his work when he was asked about sending medical supplies to the states.

He used the word our. Our is referring to our country, Trump said of Kushner's words.

He argued the federal government needs to keep some supplies in order to meet future needs.

We have to be able to have the flexibility to take those ventilators and bring them to Louisiana, New York, Detroit, different places. Of course, we are not using them anywhere else. We are not going to use them, anywhere else. But we want the flexibility, because we do not even know when the surge is coming. But it is coming soon, and it is going to be big, Trump said.

Amid states bidding against each other for medical supplies and officials begging the federal government for help in procuring much-needed items, Kushner said on Thursday they should not look to the reserve for help.

'The notion of the federal stockpile was it's supposed to be our stockpile. It's not supposed to be states stockpiles that they then use,' he said at the daily White House press briefing.

Governors, officials, health care professionals and workers on the front line of the pandemic have begged for more medical equipment and productive gear as they combat the coronavirus.

President Trump blamed the states.

'We have a federal stockpile and they have state stockpiles, many of the states were unprepared for this. So we had to go into the federal stockpile,' he said on Friday.

'We are not an ordering clerk,' the president added. 'They have to have for themselves. Some of the states were in good shape. Some of the states were not in good shape. That is probably something you could expect. We have been helping states.'

He defended his administration's work in the states.

'We have been spending a tremendous amount of time, effort, and billions and billions of dollars when making sure that they have what they have. Take New York. We built them hospitals, I built them four hospitals. Built a medical centers and sent a ship with 1,000 rooms, and 12 operating rooms, and then on top of that gave the vast numbers of ventilators and vast numbers of surgical gowns, equipment, masks,' he said.

The description of the Strategic National Stockpile was changed on Friday to align with the way White House senior adviser Jared Kushner described it

The language from earlier this week describing the Strategic National Stockpile

The new language describing the Strategic National Stockpile

On Friday, the description of the Strategic National Stockpile was changed to align with the way Kushner described it.

The description on the website for the Strategic National Stockpile actually said state and local governments could count on it for help.

'Strategic National Stockpile is the nation's largest supply of life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out,' it read, 'When state, local, tribal, and territorial responders request federal assistance to support their response efforts, the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency.'

But, on Friday, there was a new description of the stockpile, one that reflected Kushner's description.

'The Strategic National Stockpile's role is to supplement state and local supplies during public health emergencies,' it now says. 'Many states have products stockpiled, as well. The supplies, medicines, and devices for life-saving care contained in the stockpile can be used as a short-term stopgap buffer when the immediate supply of adequate amounts of these materials may not be immediately available.'

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services told DailyMail.com the language change had been in the works for 'a week' to 'more clearly explain to state and local agencies and members of the public the role of the' the stockpile.

'This is language we have been using in responding to inquiries for weeks now. ASPR [The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response] first began working to update the website text a week ago to more clearly explain to state and local agencies and members of the public the role of the SNS,' the spokesperson said.

The stockpile is a repository of antibiotics, vaccines, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, and other critical medical supplies.

It was formed in 1998 when then-President Bill Clinton read a fiction book about mad scientists spreading a virus throughout New York City. He inquired of his staff about medical supplies on reserve. While there was a stockpile for the military, there was not one for civilians, so his administration created one.

President Donald Trump and his administration has been pushing blame for the lack of medical supplies to respond to the coronavirus to the states. The White House has sought to portray itself as the rescuer of states' incompetence

Kushner pushed that idea on Thursday.

He lectured governors - many of whom have been begging the federal government for medical equipment as they struggle to respond to the pandemic amid dwindling supplies - on how to be 'good managers.'

'You have to take inventory in your state, and you have to be able to prove that theres a real need,' he said of the requests for they were getting for ventilators, marks and other protective gear for workers on the front line, who are at high risk of contracting the contagious disease.

He said that governors should know 'the number of how many ventilators they have in their state because that's the first thing a good manager will do.'

'What a lot of the voters are seeing now is that when you would like somebody to be a mayor or governor or president, you're trying to think about who will be a competent manager during the time of crisis. This is a time of crisis, and you're seeing certain people are better managers than others,' he added.

Kushner's extraordinary behind-the-scenes role as a key figure in the administration's coronavirus task force is drawing bewilderment from some officials who see a non-health expert exercising authority.

The president's son-in-law has brought in former associates and friends as he tries to short-circuit procedures to get medical supplies to states and localities.

And he has taken a role in one of the central questions of life-saving medical equipment: who should get priority access to precious ventilators.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner lectured governors pushing for medical equipment during a White House briefing room appearance. An unnamed official described his team as a 'frat party' descended from a UFO

An official compared Kushner's team to a 'frat party.' Its members include Brad Smith, a fellow Harvard grad, and Jared's former college roommate Adam Noehner

A senior administration official involved in meetings about the coronavirus outbreak told the New York Times Kushner's team was like a 'frat party' that 'descended from a U.F.O. and invaded the federal government.'

But Kushner has defended his work, saying he can make things happen quickly from his West Wing office just down the hall from the Oval Office.

From the White House, 'you can move a lot faster,' he said. Ive put members of my team into a lot of components. What weve been able to do is get people very quick answers.

The figures Kushner has involved in order to expedite requests for equipment include friends and associates from his time as a senior White House aide and as a player in New York real estate.

They include Kushner's former roommate Adam Boehler, the head of an international finance agency, and Brad Smith, who leads an innovation center at the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services.

According to his CMS bio, Harvard grad Smith 'was the Co-Founder and CEO of Aspire Health, which he grew from an idea into the nation's largest home-based palliative care provider operating in 25 states and over 70 cities.'

The paper also identified software entrepreneur Nat Turner as part of Kushner's improvised team.

The Kushner effort comes as governors around the country have been publicly and privately begging for medical equipment as some hospitals begin to be overrun with patients.

He has stepped in as the coronavirus outbreak hits close to home, with New York and New Jersey seeing a spike in cases, even as his father in law has offered conflicting information about whether the situation is contained or dire, sunny pronouncements about having enough equipment available, and threats to use government powers to force manufacturers to make more of it.

White House adviser Jared Kushner attends a teleconference with governors at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters From left, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health and Kushner on March 19, 2020 in Washington, DC

Kushner has taken leading roles in numerous areas, including a Mideast peace proposal

Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York, a former federal prosecutor, called on White House senior adviser Jared Kushner to 'resign or be fired immediately,' arguing his inexperience poses 'a direct threat to American lives'

Kushner gave a window into the type of assignments he is carrying out at the White House Thursday.

'Got a call from the president, he told me he was hearing from friends of his in New York that the New York public hospital system was running low on critical supplies,' Kushner told reporters while the president looked on.

He said he made a series of calls to officials and said the result was the administration would 'send a month of supply.'

'We'll be doing similar things with all the different public hospitals that are in the hot spot zones,' he said.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Benny Thompson  who is calling for a special commission to probe the coronavirus response  publicly criticized Kushner's role.

'FEMA was brought into the response to provide logistics support and the White House should let them do their work. There is no reason for Jared or any other inexperienced person to be getting in the way of that,' he told The Times.

And Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York, a former federal prosecutor, called on Kushner to 'resign or be fired immediately,' arguing his inexperience poses 'a direct threat to American lives.'

Kushner has been running a 'shadow' coronavirus task force, which has brought in private sector officials to augment the government response.

'Since day 1 we've known that Jared Kushner was nothing more than a product of nepotism. Entirely inexperienced, unqualified and ill-informed for the position he held. But during this crisis, he poses a direct threat to American lives. He needs to resign or be fired immediately,' she wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile the blame game from the administration has played out as the backdrop of the pandemic, which has seen more than 245,000 Americans infected and more than 6,000 dead from the disease.

President Trump also has pushed the blame to the states and engaged in a verbal war of words with various governors.

President Donald Trump has engaged in a verbal war of words with various governors

President Trump and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo exchanged barbs last week on the number of ventilators sent to help the state

He and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo exchanged barbs last week on the number of ventilators sent help the state - which has the highest infection rate in the nation - combat the coronavirus. They later made amends.

Additionally last week, he attacked the governors of Washington and Michigan for not being appreciative enough to him during the coronavirus crisis.

'I think they should be appreciative,' he said during his daily White House briefing. 'When they're not appreciative to me. They are not appreciative to the army corps. They are not appreciative to FEMA. It's not right.'

He added that: 'If they don't treat you right, I don't call.'

Both Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has complained they're not getting enough supplies and support from the federal government as their states battle the coronavirus.

Whitmore refused to engage the president on the matter, saying officials should be fighting the coronavirus, not each other.

'Right now, we all need to be focused on fighting the virus, not each other. I'm willing to work with anyone as long as we get the personal protective equipment we need for the people of Michigan,' she tweeted after the president's remarks.

In an interview with CNN earlier this month, Whitmore said her state's shipments of personal protective equipment are being 'canceled' or 'delayed.'

'Well, we've entered into a number of contracts, and as we get closer to the date when shipments are supposed to come in, they are getting canceled -- getting delayed,' Whitmer told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

She said Michigan was notified that shipments of protective equipment such as face masks are going 'first to the federal government' ahead of the states.

Whitmer endorsed Joe Biden for president earlier this month and has made the short list of those he is considering running with should he earn the Democratic nomination.

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee was criticized by President Trump after he complained about a lack of medical supplies

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was referred to by Trump as 'the woman in Michigan'

But the president defended the work of his coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, as working '24 hours a day' to help ease the pandemic.

'Mike Pence, I don't think he sleeps anymore. These are people that should be appreciated,' the president complained last week.

He admitted his vice president will call the governors even when he won't.

'He calls all the governors. I tell him, I mean, I'm a different type of person. I say Mike, don't call the governor of Washington. You are wasting your time with him. Don't call the woman in Michigan, it doesn't make any difference what happens,' he said.

He trashed Inslee as a 'failed presidential candidate' and Whitmer as not having any 'idea what's going on.'

Inslee ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to bring attention to global warming but his campaign failed to gain traction.

'I think we have done a great job in the state of Washington. I think the governor is a failed presidential candidate as you know. He leveled out at zero in the polls. He is constantly tripping and I guess complaining would be a nice way of saying it. We are building hospitals. We have done a great job for the state of Washington,' Trump said.

And he went on to complain of Whitmer that 'she has no idea what's going on and all she does is say oh, it's the federal government's fault. And we have taken such great care of Michigan.'
It would be nice if he passed a piece of legislation that actually helped the State of New York, Mr. Cuomo said on Sunday.

The governors soft touch with the president would seem to be a departure from his style in Albany, where he has been in office for nearly a decade, and is known as the consummate political animal who thrives on conflict.

But Mr. Cuomo is also a proudly pragmatic deal-maker who has readily and regularly worked with Republicans when that party controlled the State Senate, infuriating some fellow Democrats, especially progressives. And in dealing with the president, the governor has seemed to refine that strategy, recognizing that Mr. Trumps political antennae are fine-tuned to detect both praise and put-downs.

The trick to Trump is not to embarrass him in public, said Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic political consultant who has known both men for decades. Being a Trump whisperer means he can criticize him obliquely, by talking about the national governments failure to respond.

But he cant attack him personally, Mr. Sheinkopf continued, because then he loses any opportunity to talk to him behind the scenes to get anything done.

Mr. Cuomos tactics have seemingly paid off in tangible ways. In the month since the virus was first discovered in New York, the governor has finagled or finessed the creation of thousands of federally financed hospital beds; the federal authorization of labs in the state to run coronavirus tests; and the arrival on Monday of a federal hospital ship, U.S.N.S. Comfort, which the state hopes will help relieve pressure on local hospitals, though it has been largely underused thus far.
The Trump administration may advise Americans to help prevent spreading COVID-19 by wearing masks whenever leaving their homes amid the ongoing pandemic.

The White House coronavirus task force has considered advising Americans in hotspots wear non-medical masks, T-shirts and bandanas to cover their noses and mouths when not at home, The Associated Press reported. Medical-grade masks, especially N95 respirator masks that block at least 95% of very small test particles, would be reserved for health care professionals, AP reported.

In a White House news briefing Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence said that the Trump administration may suggest as early as Friday or this weekend that more Americans start to wear masks.

President Donald Trump said he thought the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was going to be coming out with regulations on that. I dont think theyll be mandatory, because some people dont want to do that. But, if people wanted, as an example on the masks, if people wanted to wear them, they can.

Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDC director, said in a radio interview earlier this week that the agency was reviewing guidelines on masks, to see if theres potential additional value for individuals that are infected or individuals that may be asymptomatically infected, The New York Times reported. Redfield noted that data shows a high rate of transmission from people whove contracted the disease but show no symptoms.

Previously, the CDC and World Health Organization advised that people need not wear masks unless they are sick and coughing, especially with hospitals and other health care facilities facing shortages of medical-grade masks.

The U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams, urged Americans to STOP BUYING MASKS on Twitter 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! he said.

Related Content:
The second phase of the Belo Monte ultrahigh voltage power project in Brazil has brought real benefits to people in Brazil, such as sufficient and clean power supply as well as thousands of job opportunities.

Chinese workers exchange views with their Brazilian counterparts at the construction site of the 9th section of the second phase of the Belo Monte ultrahigh voltage power project in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

The project spans more than 2,500 kilometers and was contracted by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC). It has been in operation for nearly half a year and generated 7.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The companys subsidiary, State Grid Brazil Holding (SGBH), won the bid for the project in July 2015.

The electricity transmission line crosses 81 cities of five states in Brazil, bringing clean energy from the Amazon rainforest in the north to major energy consumption areas in the southeast of the country, including Rio de Janeiro, benefiting about 20 million people.

At the same time, the project was also designed to leave a smaller carbon footprint. We started construction of the project in September 2017, two years after winning the bid, during which we assessed the projects environmental impact, said Zhang Zhe, a staff member with State Grid International Development Co., Ltd., another of SGCCs subsidiaries.

Environmental protection efforts include planting about 6,678 hectares of trees, carrying out surveys on 936 species of animals, and saving 60 types of plants in danger of extinction. To safeguard local forests, high transmission towers were used so that the power line would hover over tree canopies.

The project not only provides long-distance and high-efficiency power transmission, a lack of which has plagued Brazil for a long time, but also boosted local economic development by creating 16,000 job opportunities.

SGBH has also undertaken a number of social projects along the power line, for example digging wells for drinking water and establishing a fruit juice plant in a poor community. The company has also helped to build a poultry farm and a milk factory, and donated medical equipment to local hospitals along the line.

Furthermore, it announced it would invest in efforts to preserve the Valongo Wharf, an archeological site of great historical importance in Brazil, which was also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

SGBH president Cai Hongxian said the company has always taken its social responsibilities seriously and made sure to bring benefits to local people while improving its own corporate performance.
Ontario now has an early warning system for surges in COVID-19 hospital admissions, an online pandemic tracker that uses machine learning and real-time data to try to flag where and when the provinces health-care system is becoming overwhelmed.

Using natural language processing, a type of machine learning, the tool scans province-wide hospital admission data for words and phrases likely to be used when physicians admit a patient with COVID-19: not just COVID but also language related to pneumonia, sepsis and asthma, syndromes the disease either creates or worsens.

The pandemic tracker does not show confirmed diagnoses. Thats actually why its useful: rather than relying on positive laboratory tests  which currently lag by several days, and take 24 hours in ideal circumstances  the tool offers an immediate look at whether a COVID-19 surge is starting, one Premier Doug Ford warned would come soon.

In fact, the pandemic tracker already shows that hospital admissions for COVID-19-related syndromes are above historical averages in Ontario.

Today its slightly higher than what weve expected, and to be honest, I am concerned, says Dr. Kieran Moore, the medical officer of health for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, the local health unit that developed the tool.

We are going to be watching now to see if this number continues to take off.

Erie-St. Clair, the region that includes Windsor and Chatham-Kent, is lit up, Moore notes. That region is seeing an even more significant spike than the province as a whole, across all seven hospitals that report data to the tracker.

While its not clear why Erie-St. Clair might be seeing a COVID-19 surge  and its important to remember the tool only suggests surges  it could be the impact of the border with Michigan, Moore says, which is still open for crossings for thousands of health-care workers who travel back and forth to the United States.

Moore and others in public health will be monitoring the pandemic tool, but the public can access it too.

Ive heard complaints that public health or the health system is not being transparent with their data. So we decided with our partners to make this accessible, he says.

We think it will be a signal that will help everyone understand the impact of COVID-19.

The pandemic tracker relies on a system called Acute Care Enhanced Surveillance (ACES), which was developed after the 2003 SARS crisis to provide an early warning system for a pandemic. During SARS, breakdowns in communication between hospital emergency departments and public health units were one of the many information silos that fuelled the spread of the disease, Moore says.

ACES was created to send up a signal for an unusual cluster of hospital admissions, whether that was from another infectious disease outbreak, a bioterrorism event, or another public health crisis. Since then, ACES has been pressed into service for influenza surveillance, and is used every year to monitor flu flare-ups across the province.

In mid-February, the ACES flu mapping tool started to show a surge of patients going to emergency departments with influenza-like symptoms: a possible COVID-19 surge, since the illnesses share symptoms. But then the provinces dedicated COVID-19 assessment centres began opening, and the visits to emergency for flu-like symptoms dropped.

Neither was a reliable signal, Moore says: emergency departments were awash with people worried they had COVID-19 and wanted a lab test, making it hard to spot a true regional spike, since hospitals everywhere were seeing the same influx. When assessment centres opened, it siphoned away the non-COVID patients as well as the true ones.

So Kingston public health unit team rebuilt the new pandemic tracker, which monitors all admissions  not just emergency department visits  and scans for a group of syndromes Moore believes is most predictive of actual COVID-19 patients, based on what hospitals in other countries hit by the pandemic have seen.

We think it will correlate well with the surge and requirement of people needing to be admitted for COVID-19, says Moore.

It should give everyone in the community, not just health system partners but directly to the public, an idea if theres increased activity in their community and the impacts of that increased disease activity on the health system.

Read more about:
Over a normal two-week period wed expect around half a million U.S. workers to file claims for unemployment insurance. Over the past two weeks weve seen almost 10 million filings. Were facing an incredible economic catastrophe.

The question is whether were ready to deal with this catastrophe. Alas, early indications are that we may be handling fast-moving economic disaster as badly as we handled the fast-moving pandemic thats causing it.

The key thing to realize is that we arent facing a conventional recession, at least so far. For now, most job losses are inevitable, indeed necessary: Theyre a result of social distancing to limit the spread of the coronavirus. That is, were going into the economic equivalent of a medically induced coma, in which some brain functions are temporarily shut down to give the patient a chance to heal.

This means that the principal job of economic policy right now isnt to provide stimulus, that is, to sustain employment and GDP. It is, instead, to provide life support  to limit the hardship of Americans who have temporarily lost their incomes.

FROM HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston unemployment insurance claims have more than tripled in March

There is, to be sure, a strong risk that well have a conventional recession on top of the induced coma; more on that in subsequent columns. But for now, the focus should be on helping those in need.

The good news is that the $2 trillion CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) Congress passed last week does, on paper, provide a lot of economic life support. The bad news is that it looks as if it could be weeks, maybe even months, before serious amounts of money flow to those who need aid right now.

Journalists keep referring to the CARES Act as a stimulus package, but mainly its disaster relief. The best piece of the legislation  which, by the way, Democrats forced unwilling Republicans to include  is a major enhancement of unemployment benefits. Not only will laid-off workers get much more than they normally would, but many workers who werent previously covered by unemployment insurance, such as freelancers and independent contractors, are supposed to receive full benefits.

The legislation also provides loans to small businesses  loans that will be forgiven, that is, turned into straight subsidies, if businesses use the money to maintain their payrolls.

Both of these programs are very good ideas. The trouble is that both are having a hard time getting started  and time is one thing millions of distressed Americans, many of whom were already living on the edge, dont have.

On unemployment benefits: State unemployment offices, already overwhelmed by the surge in applications, arent ready to disburse these extra benefits, and may not be ready for quite a while  a disastrous delay for families already in dire financial straits.

Small-business loans are also facing a crippling lag in processing, with potential borrowers either unable to complete the forms or being told that they will have to wait three weeks. Furthermore, for some reason the federal government, instead of lending money directly, is channeling small-business lending through private banks  and the banks are complaining that they have yet to receive crucial guidelines and that the administration is setting unworkable requirements.

In other words, it may be a long time before the economy starts getting the life support it needs right away.

And even when workers and businesses finally get the promised aid, the CARES Act doesnt provide remotely enough money to state and local governments, which are seeing revenues plunge and expenses soar. This is likely to force big cuts in government services precisely when theyre needed most.

So what do we need right now? First, we need an all-hands-on-deck effort to resolve the bottlenecks that are holding up unemployment benefits and small-business loans.

The obvious parallel here is to the crash of healthcare.gov when the Affordable Care Act was first going into effect; things looked terrible at first, but an Obama administration expert task force, working around the clock, resolved the problems more quickly than anyone imagined possible, and new enrollments ended up exceeding expectations.

I dont see any reason, in principle, a similar effort couldnt rescue the CARES Act. But heres the thing: Were talking about the Trump administration, which disdains expertise of every kind, and in which every effort somehow ends up being directed by Jared Kushner.

Second, we need another relief bill to fill the holes in the CARES Act, especially inadequate aid to state and local governments.

But will Republicans be willing to provide that aid? Donald Trump is talking, as he has many times before, about a giant infrastructure bill. But Senate Republicans are notably unenthusiastic. And although going big on infrastructure is a good idea, right now its less pressing than providing aid to states facing huge budget gaps.

And going back to the bill that Congress already passed: Im fairly sure that well eventually get the kinks worked out. But when youre losing 6 million jobs a week, eventually isnt good enough.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Radio hams in Saudi Arabia gets access to 50 MHz band The Saudi Amateur Radio Society (SARS) has announced that the communications regulator CITC has agreed radio amateurs can use 50-54 MHz



The first contacts on the band took place on Thursday, April 2. See the SARS Twitter feed at

https://twitter.com/hz1sar/status/1245664446413975553



The Saudi Amateur Radio Association announced a prize would be awarded for the first 50 MHz band voice contact starting Thursday, April 2 at 1:00 pm, Mecca time. Those claiming the prize had to send in a video recording, see

https://twitter.com/hz1sar/status/1245636287542865920



Amateurs in Saudi Arabia are limited to 50 watts on frequencies above 30 MHz. You can download the license documents in English from the following page, there is no need to login. At yet the Technical Conditions PDF has not been updated to show the new band

https://aot.citc.gov.sa/reg/english/login_en.aspx



Saudi Amateur Radio Society

https://sars.sa/

https://twitter.com/hz1sar
When they asked where she was, administrators replied that she had been hospitalized with bronchitis, according to unions for the colleges faculty and staff. Even before City Colleges employees were required to work remotely to slow the spread of COVID-19, the co-worker, a longtime bursar at the campus in Dunning, had come down with a cough and was asked to go home, they said.
The $44 billion superannuation fund representing the hospitality and tourism industries has slashed the valuations of unlisted investments on its books and raised billions of dollars in cash this week ahead of a potential rush of withdrawals.

In a letter sent to members on Thursday night obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, industry fund Hostplus said its property and infrastructure investments would be devalued by between 7.5 to 10 per cent and its private equity and venture capital investments had also been cut by an average of 15 per cent. These asset classes make up over 30 per cent of the fund's flagship balanced investment option.

Hostplus' chief executive David Elia has repeatedly defended the fund's liquidity. Credit:Erin Jonasson

Contacted for comment on the writedowns, Hostplus chief executive David Elias revealed the fund had bolstered its cash reserves to $6 billion, up from $2.1 billion on Monday. He said the fund "takes its responsibility very seriously to keep its members informed" and pointed to devaluations in unlisted assets across the sector.

The asset write-downs and dash for cash come as the superannuation sector braces for a rush of withdrawals under an emergency government scheme allowing people who have lost their jobs or significant income to access up to $20,000 in super before retirement.
A Northern Ireland businessman has donated 80,000 to two charities hit by the coronavirus crisis.

James Hagan stepped in after discovering many charities were operating on deficits of tens of thousands of pounds following the cancellation of dozens of planned fundraising activities.

Mr Hagan, from Ballyclare, has called on other business owners to support charities affected by the pandemic.

Hagan Homes, which has built over 4,000 homes across Northern Ireland over its 30-year history, has been working with two local charities - Age NI and Cash for Kids - to help them through the current period of uncertainty. Both charities are working directly with vulnerable people affected by the virus.

Age NI will be helping older people's networks across Northern Ireland to provide emotional and practical support, food supplies, activity ideas and more during the pandemic.

Mr Hagan said: "There are countless charities out there who have been serving vulnerable people in the community for many years, even decades but today they too face a crisis in sourcing funds to continue that support. This has come about through the cancellation of many scheduled fundraising events on which they heavily rely, so I am urging my business peers to help them continue their exemplary work which is needed now more than ever."

Welcoming the announcement Linda Robinson, the chief executive of Age NI, said: "Age NI is very grateful to Mr Hagan for his profound generosity at this worrying time for our community.

"Older people are particularly at risk during these challenging times, given that many, around 80,000, are living alone.

"Charities like ourselves need to work differently, working from our homes, supporting older people in new ways, maintaining vital care services and linking in with community groups and volunteers, many who are older themselves. "

Mr Hagan has donated 40,000 to Age NI and a further 40,000 to CoolFM/Downtown/Downtown Country's Cash for Kids charity, which has set up a new appeal to help children who are vulnerable because of the crisis.

Mr Hagan added: "40,000 given to this charity will support 1,142 children - children who are considered most vulnerable during this epidemic, but we need more.

"We need a continuous flow of funds to enable Cash for Kids NI to support all of the young people here who need support and speed is of the essence.

"The organisation has set up an emergency appeal to fund basic family essentials, which amounts to 35 per child and will help families affected by poverty due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Further funds are needed to continue this initiative and to help as many children as possible.

"I know there are businesses out there who want to help and I am calling on my peers to give what they can now to ensure our most vulnerable are protected and our most valuable charities are supported during what is one of the most anxious times during our lifetime."

Sally Aitchison of Cash for Kids adds: "We have all been affected by the Covid-19 situation in some way.

"However right now those on low incomes or who are living in or on the brink of poverty will be really feeling the pressure.

"With one in four children living in poverty in Northern Ireland, the impact of the current situation is sure to see that number increase.

"I would like to extend a huge thank you to Hagan Homes for the generosity shown in such challenging times. This kind donation will enable us to help more than 1,100 of the most vulnerable children in our community."
A British father-of-four is trapped in Texas due to the coronavirus and fears he will become homeless as he struggles for money and a way home.

Daniel Lawrence, from Hertfordshire, is running out of money and says he will no longer be able to afford anywhere to stay. He fears he may be marooned away from his children for at least a month.

Lawrence, 40, flew to Houston to visit friends on March 13, the day after President Donald Trump banned flights from certain European countries. Flights from the UK were still permitted then, so Daniel enjoyed his stay with friends.

But when he asked British Airways for help getting him home, he was told the first flight available out of Houston is on May 1.

Lawrence, wearing a protective face mask and gloves, is paying 150 dollars a night to stay at a Texan's house in Atascocita, outside of Houston

British Daniel Lawrence, 40, pictured with his four children - Morgan, 18, Riley, 17, Tyler, 11, and little Daisy, seven - is stuck in Texas and fears he could become homeless while abroad during the coronavirus pandemic

Daniel Lawrence, pictured here with his 7-year-old daughter Daisy, had been trying to contact airline British Airways to find a way back to the UK

He says he has had hardly any communication from the airline - who even tried to joke with him on Twitter when he asked for help. The art seller is worried he will soon be about of cash and won't have anywhere to stay in the southern state.

Daniel is desperate to get home to Stevenage, Hertfordshire (28 miles North of London), and see his children Morgan, 18, Riley, 17, Tyler, 11, and little Daisy, seven.

Daniel said: 'I'm terrified. I'm terrified for my children in England. All I'm reading everyday on the news is all the people who have died.

'I just want to get home so I can look after my kids in this awful time,' he said. 'Everyone has been telling me about all the poisonous snakes around here. I'm really scared.'

Lawrence says that he is desperate to get home to Stevenage, UK to see his four children and look after them during 'this awful time'

Lawrence's children, Tyler and Daisy, pictured in a restaurant in the UK together our for a meal with their Dad

After arriving in Texas on the 13 March, he enjoyed having a go at the firing range - but increasingly became concerned about how he would get home.

When the President announced flights from the UK were also banned, he contacted British Airways but has had minimal response.

Daniel has sent the airline dozens of messages with almost no reply.

'They've just ignored me and left me here,' Daniel blasted. 'I'm running out of money and they're not helping at all. What do they want me to do, break into a house? They've completely ignored me.'

British Airways have suspended 30,000 staff until the end of pay and will pay them 80% of their wages during this time as flights around the globe are grounded

Lawrence says he was told by British Airways to go to the airport, but when he got there it was deserted, taking this photo

Lawrence did get a response from British Airways, but he and a friend James who helped get his case noticed by the airline were critical of the joke that was sent back: 'seems you owe James a pint when the pubs reopen' - Pubs in the UK have all shut during the country-wide lockdown

British Airways advised him to go to the airport to talk to staff, but it was completely deserted. He was also told to use the BA app to rebook, but the only flight he could get is on May 1.

He says his travel insurance company is asking him to pay and claim expenses, but he is running low on cash.

Texas has also been put into lockdown - to try and half the spread of coronavirus - which means Daniel has struggled to find somewhere to stay.

He says people - including his friends - are scared of him due to his smoker's cough, and he is now paying 150 dollars a night to stay at a Texan's house in Atascocita, outside of Houston.

'I'm worried I'm going to run out of money, I have to pay for food and accommodation,' worried Daniel said.

While in Texas, Lawrence had been enjoying the gun ranges with his friends he was visiting, assuming he would be able to get a flight home at the end of his trip. At the time, flights were still permitted from the UK

Currently airlines cannot fly from Houston to Europe, due to President Trump's travel ban.

Daniel would be able to get a flight from Miami or Chicago sooner - as several airports are still in use for repatriation - but he cannot drive and says buses are no longer running.

On Monday, the Government announced it was creating a special travel company to provide flights for Brits stranded in places where commercial airlines have been banned. It has pledged 75 million to help pay for these repatriation flights.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: 'This is a worrying time for many British citizens travelling abroad.

'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.'

British Airways declined to comment.

So far, Texas has seen 5,253 confirmed cases on the coronavirus and 652 deaths as of 2 April. In total, the U.S. has seen 245,356 total cases, and is quickly outpacing the number of cases seen in other countries.

The U.S has seen its number of cases rapidly increase over the last week. A week ago, the US had just over 100,000 cases
JACKSON, Miss., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP) announced today that it will hold its First Quarter Earnings Conference Call and Webcast on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. Eastern Time. On the call, Marshall Loeb, CEO, and Brent Wood, CFO, will review the first quarter results and discuss EastGroup's current operations.

EastGroup plans to release financial results for the quarter after the market closes on April 30, 2020. The earnings release and supplemental information package will be posted on the Company's website, www.eastgroup.net, at that time.

A live broadcast of the conference call is available by dialing 1-877-876-9174 (conference ID EastGroup) or by webcast through a link on the Company's website at www.eastgroup.net. If you are unable to listen to the live conference call, a telephone and webcast replay will be available on Friday, May 1, 2020. The telephone replay will be available until Friday, May 8, 2020, and can be accessed by dialing 1-800-723-2156. The replay of the webcast can be accessed through a link on the Company's website at www.eastgroup.net and will be available until Friday, May 8, 2020.

EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE: EGP), an S&P MidCap 400 company, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 15,000 to 70,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. EastGroup's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 46 million square feet.

EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net .

SOURCE EastGroup Properties

Related Links

http://www.eastgroup.net


(Bloomberg) -- Airlines grappling with their biggest peacetime crisis face a European Union legal headache after offering customers vouchers instead of immediate refunds for flights canceled amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Consumer groups say the offers -- intended to preserve dwindling cash balances -- flout the blocs rules, which insist passengers should get to choose a voucher or a full repayment. It isnt clear if airlines breach those rules by offering a voucher today with a promise of a refund in a years time if unused.

Airlines must refund canceled flight tickets, EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean said in an emailed statement on Wednesday in Brussels. They can of course also offer a voucher but -- and this is very important -- only if the customer agrees to accept this. If the customer does not want a voucher or other proposed solution, the company must reimburse. She didnt address the issue of delayed refunds.

EU law requires reimbursements to be made within seven days. The legislation, which dates to 2004, sets no time limit for the validity of travel vouchers.

The Dutch arm of Air France-KLM is among several carriers handing out credits for flights it canceled, in line with Dutch rules that insist passengers can get their money back if the vouchers arent used within 12 months, said KLM spokeswoman Marjan Rozemeijer. The company wouldnt give the value of vouchers its issued.

Under the EU legislation, a money-back option arises only when a flight is grounded by an airline. Passengers who cancel their own flights might be offered vouchers by the carriers but arent legally entitled to a refund even if the vouchers go unused.

Thousands of flights have been canceled in Europe since governments imposed travel bans to halt the spread of the virus, hitting business travel, spring ski trips and Easter school holidays. While many airlines are paying customers back, some arent, bolstered by consumer rules in the Netherlands and Belgium that allow them to hand over a voucher for a future flight. Airlines will burn through as much as $61 billion worldwide in the second quarter, the International Air Transport Association says, with revenue set to plummet by 68%.

Story continues

European air passengers already benefit from some of the worlds toughest compensation rights, receiving meal vouchers for short flight delays and able to claim compensation even for onboard coffee spills. Airlines have fought dozens of legal battles at the EUs top court to clarify when exactly they need to pay out for flight delays, cancellations or boarding issues.

Air France-KLM and its Transavia arm along with others including Portugals TAP arent giving their customers a choice and the passenger risks accepting a voucher from a company that could go bankrupt, Belgian consumer association Test-Achats said in a statement on Wednesday. It said its sent these companies a warning to make changes within eight days.

Special Guarantee

EasyJet Plc, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and its Brussels Airlines unit dont mention the possibility of a refund on their website, Test-Achats said, asking them to clarify their position. Its also asking the Belgian government to create a special guarantee for vouchers that would encourage passengers to accept them.

EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Didier Reynders last week said regulators are working with EU nations for guarantees to encourage consumers to accept the vouchers. Passengers should have the right to choose between a full refund or a voucher to reschedule their trip if they have a package holiday canceled, he said in a March 24 tweet.

Even March 18 EU guidelines on passenger rights dont make clear whether a delayed refund would flout the European rules. The EU cited vouchers as an option when urging travelers to consider accepting that their package tour is postponed to a later point in time.

Complaint forms are hidden on airline websites, phone numbers are unavailable or very difficult to reach, said European consumer organization BEUC in a letter to the EUs Valean.

Passengers are also complaining that airlines are offering new re-bookings with unrealistic deadlines that would push them to travel this summer, which may not be wise if the virus hasnt abated by then, BEUC said.

The EU should ensure vouchers are valid for at least two years, it said. People are also being told to pay the difference for new flights or not given a refund for flights at a later date that cost less.

$4.4 billion

Lufthansa is allowing passengers to rebook and issuing vouchers that can be used once air transport is moving again. The company wouldnt disclose its current potential liability from tickets, but the firms annual report put the number at more than 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) at the end of last year.

Basically, we are trying to push as many vouchers as possible and not allow for cancellations just to be refunded immediately, Lufthansa Chief Financial Officer Ulrik Svensson said on the companys earnings call on March 19.

A spokesman for TAP said the Portuguese airline is reimbursing the cost of the canceled flights through vouchers. It also offers the possibility of rescheduling the flight. Passengers with a voucher have one year to make the reservation, and then another year to use the trip.

EasyJet said customers can claim a refund through its call center, acknowledging that there are currently higher than average wait times.

The company said these entitlements will be available long after their canceled flight has flown. Customers can change flights to a later date -- even if the flight wasnt canceled -- and the airline is taking bookings until Feb. 28 next year.

Transavia said it was issuing vouchers to passengers. A direct refund isnt possible because its an extraordinary situation that has hugely affected the travel industry, spokeswoman Claudia Metz said.

The Dutch government supports the use of vouchers because the passenger retains the right to a refund of the ticket, and it avoids airlines come into even greater financial distress, Dutch Infrastructure Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen said in a note on Monday.

The German government said on Thursday that airlines and tour operators should be allowed to offer vouchers valid until Dec. 31, 2021 and that, if they arent redeemed by this date, tickets should be refunded in full.

The EUs Valean said the European Commission, which has loosened state-aid rules for companies amid the virus crisis, is now assessing the liquidity needs of airlines to see if its necessary to take other action to help them.

France wont leave Air France-KLM alone in the face of the violent crisis airplane companies are facing now, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said at a Thursday press conference. He didnt specify what potential support the nation would give the airline.

(Updates with French finance minister comments on Air France-KLM in final paragraph.)

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New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain, holds a video conference with all AAP MLAs, in New Delhi on Apr 3, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: PK

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain, holds a video conference with all AAP MLAs, in New Delhi on Apr 3, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: PK

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain, holds a video conference with all AAP MLAs, in New Delhi on Apr 3, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: PK

New Delhi, April 3 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday held a meeting with all MLAs from the city through videoconference to discuss the relief work carried out in their respective Assembly segments amid the lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak.

Kejriwal instructed all the MLAs to ensure that people in their respective area get all the benefits of government schemes during the lockdown.

The Chief Minister asked the MLAs to ensure that everyone got free ration from shops as per the Delhi government announcement.

"The quantity of food should be sufficient and its quality good at all night shelters and Delhi government schools," Kejriwal said.

He also said that no person should stay hungry in their areas.

"If someone needs food, the MLA concerned should take such people to the food distribution centre or arrange ration immediately," he said.

Kejriwal said that the MLAs must also regularly oversee ration and food distribution and inform the government in case of irregularity or problem.

"Based on such situation, the Delhi government can take prompt action," he said.

Kejriwal said the MLAs should also mobilise people to help the poor and ensure such help reaches the needy, adding that help should be given to those without ration cards to apply online.

Kejriwal had announced that people without ration cards will receive free ration on the basis of online applications.

Nationwide three-week lockdown has been imposed from March 24 midnight and all non-essential work and travel has been barred by the Centre.

Kejriwal interacted with the MLAs in two shifts -- first he had a videoconference meeting with AAP MLAs and then with opposition BJP MLAs.

Kejriwal, who is national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, told MLAs that he is happy that they are helping in feeding the people and providing ration to the people in their respective areas.

From the 70 Assembly seats in Delhi, 62 were bagged by the AAP. The BJP got eight.

"In this terrible calamity, all (political) parties are working as a team," Kejriwal said.

Later, speaking to the media, he said that of the 71 lakh people getting ration in the city, 60 per cent have received the grains.

"We have prepared 328 relief centres to accommodate 57,000 people. Anyone can come to these relief centres and stay there. We will take care of them," Kejriwal said.

He said food is being distributed at 1,780 locations in Delhi. On Thursday, as many as 6,42,850 people had lunch and 6.30 lakh people had dinner in these locations.

"We are prepared to feed up to 10 lakh people daily." He also said that the government is providing shelter at 328 places. "While the arrangements have been made for 57,270 people, only 11,500 people are staying in the shelters." So far, 384 people have been tested coronavirus positive in the city.
The jump in infections  from 2,520 on Thursday to 3,066 on Friday  is largely driven by the diagnosis of hundreds of patients who attended the congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat, a Muslim missionary group, in New Delhis Nizamuddin last month in a violation of several restrictions.

According to the Union health ministry, at least 647 people among the thousands who gathered at the Jamaats headquarters, Nizamuddin Markaz, have tested positive in 14 states in the last two days. If we see the rise in cases in the last few days, it has primarily been due to an increase at a particular level, joint secretary in the ministry Lav Agarwal said, referring to the congregation.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

He said because of the lockdown and our efforts to promote social distancing, cases were being reported but there was no sharp rise.

The Delhi government said 93 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the national capital on Friday, taking the total count in the city-state to 386  out of which 259, or 67%, were evacuated from Markaz. Around 1,800 others from the south Delhi area have been quarantined at hospitals across the city, in what has become the countrys largest virus hot spot for the highly contagious infection.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said there was no need to panic as the situation was under control and that community transmission of the virus was not taking place in the national capital.

The total number of deaths in the Capital stood at six on Friday.

Experts have pointed out that the impact of the lockdown  scientists say it is among the most effective means to break the chain of the contagion  could be undermined if the positive cases originating out of such clusters are not contained in time. It could be particularly challenging for a country of over 1.3 billion people, where the health care infrastructure would not be able to handle a larger outbreak despite the governments recent efforts to prepare for such a situation.

Since authorities traced a number of infections to the Tablighi gathering, state governments have scrambled to locate and identify those who attended the congregation, with at least 9,000 Jamaat workers and their contacts counted and quarantined till Thursday evening.

Ramping up their efforts to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, authorities on Friday announced exclusive isolation wards and initiated rapid tests in areas identified as hot spots of the infection, with more than 8,000 samples being tested in 24 hours, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

ICMR, in an advisory, has recommended the use of a rapid antibody test in the countrys Covid-19 hot spots.

Among the states, Maharashtra has the most number of coronavirus patients, at 490 cases, and 26 deaths.

The 20-22 clusters identified or considered to be potential hot spots include Asias largest slum, Dharavi, in Mumbai where three positive Covid-19 cases have been detected till Friday. Although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said a containment plan is in place, there are concerns over the implementation of social distancing measures in the 240-hectare slum pocket of 850,000 residents.

On Friday, Tamil Nadu reported a 102-count spike in the number of Covid-19 patients, making it second only to Maharashtra. Out of these, at least 100 were linked to the Jamaat congregation.

Today 102 new positive cases reported in Tamil Nadu, out of them 100 people had participated in Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi. The total number of positive cases in the state stands at 411, out of which 364 had participated in Delhis Jamaat event, state health secretary Beela Rajesh said.

Telangana and Uttar Pradesh, with 229 and 174 patients respectively, were among the other states to report sizeable jumps in the number of Covid-19 cases on Friday.

Kerala, which until earlier this week had the second highest number of cases in the country, is now on the fourth spot after Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. It reported a single-digit increase on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and appealed to people to display collective resolve of the country in fighting the pandemic by lighting a candle or a lamp at 9pm on Sunday.

Public health experts have mostly welcomed the Prime Ministers suggestion of a staggered lifting of the lockdown  but only if it is accompanied with a set of safety measures.

Movement should be in select groups after they have been approved by the authorities. Let clusters move, like army convoys move, especially agriculture workers. It will also help contain the risk of infection. Prioritise [those] who should be allowed to move, and those should be screened before movement, even if it requires aggressive testing to know the extent of infection, said CS Pandav, former president of the India Public Health Association.

According to Union health ministry data, laboratories across the country have so far tested just 66,000 suspected Covid-19 patients for the disease, which has infected more than one million worldwide in just over three months.

Scientists believe that mass testing, along with strict movement restrictions, could be key to breaking the chain of infection and avoid reaching the community transmission stage  a measure India is still falling short of.

Now that we have the kits, we should be more liberal with testing. I think, by natures design community transmission must have started -- I would be very surprised if it hasnt -- The number of cases are likely to surge by next week, said Dr SK Sarin, director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences said on Thursday.
Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 pandemic from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Friday, April 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The federal government is speeding up financial help to low-income earners hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with payments through the GST credit a month sooner than planned as it prepares to deliver billions more on benefits beginning next week.

The government initially announced the money through the GST credit would be available in May, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that the money will be delivered this month.

Every qualifying adult will receive up to $300, plus $150 for each child. The parliamentary budget officer estimated in a report this week that the special GST credit payment will go to 13.2 million people and cost $5.67 billion.

More help is expected to arrive this month in the form of a new emergency benefit valued at $500 a week for up to 16 weeks.

An association representing Canada's banks said they will help clients enrol for direct deposit from the Canada Revenue Agency, or update their account information with the federal agency, to speed up payments of federal financial aid.

Similar requests have gone out to businesses to sign up for direct deposit for prompt payments of a promised 75-per-cent wage subsidy, saving the time it takes to issue and process cheques.

Speed has been a thread through the economic shock from COVID-19  how fast economic activity slowed down, the race to set up federal assistance programs, and now a drive to get money into people's pockets quickly.

More than 2.1 million people have filed EI claims in the last two weeks, marking a dramatic shift in the labour force as economic activity is put on hold so people can avoid being in close contact to curb the spread of COVID-19.

A report Friday from RBC suggested the emergency benefit should fully replace or even exceed lost wages for hundreds of thousands low-income workers in the hard-hit retail, accommodation and food-services sectors.

Online applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) open April 6, and anyone already approved for employment insurance benefits is supposed to be automatically moved over to the new benefit with no need to reapply.

MPs on the House of Commons finance committee were told Thursday that many of those who are receiving EI will get a bump in benefit when they are moved to the emergency benefit, on average about $200 more per week.

Receiving the emergency benefit won't affect EI eligibility, meaning the 16 weeks won't count against the time an eligible worker can receive EI benefits.

But exactly who gets moved over formed part of a critical letter the Opposition Conservatives sent Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough on Friday. Party critic Dan Albas cited contradictory statements between Liberal cabinet ministers and the government's website on automatic enrolment, as well the effect on students and seasonal workers, and on EI premiums in the future.

"During a crisis, government communications must be clear, consistent and transparent," Albas said in a release. "This has not been the case over the past few weeks."

The RBC report, written by senior economist Andrew Agopsowicz, said many students won't meet the requirement of having made at least $5,000 in the previous year needed to qualify for the CERB: "Given the costs already faced by new graduates during bad economic times, the lack of guidance from the federal government is concerning."
The tales of Indian soldiers and the brave souls who have served the country echo throughout the pages of our history. One of the most valiant, celebrated and decorated army officers this country saw was Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw aka Sam Manekshaw, who had a spectacular four-decade-long career in the Indian Army and his tales of valour and bravery gave him the name Sam Bahadur. He was born into a Parsi family and served as Indias first Field Marshal. Known for his exceptional courage and wit, he fought five major wars.

In fact, he is especially known for his heroics during the 1971 Indo-Pak War when he was the Chief of Army Staff.

Here are some lesser-known facts about the most badass Army General ever:

1. He was one of the Pioneers

In October 1932, Sam became a part of the first batch of cadets for a military academy in India which was then recommended by Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwood in a bid to train Indians for officer commissions in the army. Since it was the first batch, it was called the Pioneers.

 Instagram/ Reclaiming Bharat

2. His role in winning the 1971 War

In an exceptional career spanning across four decades, Manekshaw fought five major wars including World War II in 1942, the Indo-Pak partition war in 1947, Sino-Indian War in 1962, Indo-Pak War in 1965 and the 1971 war of Bangladesh Liberation. After becoming the Chief of Staff, Manekshaw motivated the Indian forces and devised a war strategy that forced Pakistan to surrender in 1971 to give birth to Bangladesh.

 Instagram/Indian Defence Club

3. His role in making Of 90000 Pakistani Soldiers surrender

The Indo-Pak 1971 war lasted less than a fortnight and saw more than 90000 Pakistani soldiers surrendering and becoming prisoners. It ended with the unconditional surrender of Pakistan's eastern half and resulted in the birth of Bangladesh as a new nation. After the war, Sam came to be known for his compassion towards the POWs and would have private conversations with them over a cup of tea. He also ensured that they were treated well and would arrange for their parcels from their families and a copy of the Quran.

 facebook/indian army

4. He was known for his exceptional wit and sense of humour

During World War II, while fighting around the Pagoda Hill, Manekshaw was hit by a burst of light machine gun fire and he was severely wounded in the stomach. He was rescued and taken to an Australian surgeon who operated upon him and took out a total of seven bullets from his lungs, liver and kidneys. Along with that, a big part of his intestines also had to be removed.

However, initially the surgeon was not ready to treat him as the chances of survival were really low. When the surgeon asked him how he got injured, he said he was kicked by a mule. The surgeon was really impressed by his wit and thereby agreed to operate upon him.

Nothing happened, I was kicked by a donkey, Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw said after being shot 9 times in the stomach during WW-2.He was brain behind Indias victory over Pak in the 71 War.We remember one of Indias greatest soldier on his birth anniversary. Tribute pic.twitter.com/dMRRG7DZYM  Soldierathon (@Soldierathon) April 3, 2020

5. He outsmarted Indira Gandhi

When he was questioned by Indira Gandhi about rumours of a planned coup by the army chief, Manekshaw replied in his sassy style, You mind your own business, Ill mind mine. You kiss your own sweetheart, Ill kiss mine. I dont interfere politically, as long as nobody interferes with me in the Army.

 rediff

6. He was Indias first Field Marshal

He was Indias first army officer who was promoted to being first Field marshal, which is the highest attainable rank in the Indian army. Even though he was set to retire in June 1972, his term was extended by six months to facilitate him with a promotion to the rank of a Field Marshal. Therefore, in recognition of his outstanding services to the Armed Forces and the nation, on January 1, 1973, he was promoted to a Field Marshal.

 Facebook/AGDP

7. He humiliated Pakistani General Yahya Khan

During Indias independence in 1947, Sam Manekshaw and Yahya Khan, the future president of Pakistan served together in the British Army. At that time Manekshaw owned a red James motorcycle which Yahya Khan fancied. Yahya bought the motorcycle from Sam for Rs 1,000 and promised to send the amount from Pakistan. But the money was never returned. After 24 years in 1971, when India won the war against Pakistan, Manekshaw was heard saying, Yahya never paid me the Rs. 1000 for my motorbike, but now he has paid with half his country.

The legends that surround him and the stories from his life continue to leave people in awe of his bravery and valour.

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Actor Vicky Kaushal is going to play the titular role in a movie with Meghna Gulzar which is being made on Sam Manekshaw.
JACKSON, Mississippi  A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit that says Mississippi allows grave disparities in funding between predominantly black and predominantly white schools.

The Thursday ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses the 2019 decision by U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour to dismiss a lawsuit filed against state officials by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The suit was filed in 2017 on behalf of low-income African American women who said their children and other black children attended schools that were in worse condition and had lower academic performance than some wealthier, predominantly white schools.

Barbour said state officials were immune from being sued. The appeals court said sovereign immunity "is not limitless" and people may sue a state as long as the suit seeks changes going forward and not compensation for past practices.

The lawsuit said Mississippi was violating a federal law that allowed the state to rejoin the union after the Civil War. The 1870 law said Mississippi could not change its 1868 state constitution in a way to deprive any citizen of "school rights and privileges." The state now has a constitution that was adopted in 1890 and has been amended several times.

"From 1890 until the present day, Mississippi repeatedly has amended its education clause and has used those amendments to systematically and deliberately deprive African Americans of the education rights guaranteed to all Mississippi schoolchildren by the 1868 Constitution," the lawsuit says.

Will Bardwell, an attorney for Southern Poverty Law Center, said Friday that the case will go forward.

"We get what we always wanted, which is a chance to prove our case  that Mississippi is violating this federal law," Bardwell told The Associated Press.

The Mississippi attorney general's office argued in court papers in 2018 that the plaintiffs were seeking to "refashion" the 1870 federal law "into a contorted federal mandate that would place the State of Mississippi in a straitjacket so far as the educational provisions of the State's Constitution are concerned."

The plaintiffs' children in 2017 were attending elementary schools that were 95% black and where 95% of students were receiving free or reduced price lunches  an indicator of poverty.

The suit said that fewer than 11% of students at their children's schools were proficient in reading and math, and the schools had a D rating from the state. They contrasted that to three higher-income, mostly white schools in Madison County, DeSoto County and Gulfport, where more than 65% of students were proficient in reading and math and the schools had an A rating.

The lawsuit also said that schools attended by the plaintiffs children had wet ceilings, chipping paint and inexperienced teachers, compared to the other schools with extensive resources and extracurricular activities and experienced teachers.
Meghan Markle's best friend Misha Nonoo has opened up about welcoming her first child amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying becoming a new mom during a global health crisis 'has been a lot to say the least.'

The New York-based designer, who is married to oil heir Mikey Hess, confirmed the birth of their son to The Daily Mail in late March. Less than a week later, the 34-year-old took to her Instagram Stories to share how she has been coping as a first-time mother.

'Last time you heard from me, I was very pregnant, and I am excited to share that I am now the lucky mother to an adorable, healthy little boy,' she said, admitting nothing could prepare her for the role of motherhood.

New mom: Misha Nonoo, took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday to open up about becoming a first-time mother amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying it 'has been a lot'

Happy family: Misha, 34, and her oil heir husband Mikey Hess, 33, welcomed their son Leo in March, though she hasn't specified the exact date their baby boy was born

'I thought that I had read every book and I was fully prepared for what it was going to look like to be a mom and to handle a newborn,' she said. 'It turns out that I don't think you're ever fully prepared for that.

'But handling that on top of the coronavirus has been a lot to say the least,' she added. 'Still, I feel extremely fortunate that my family and my friends are all safe and healthy.'

Misha said her heart goes out to those who are on the frontlines, struggling with their health, or fearing for the health of their loved ones.

The new mom went on to share the things she has been doing to stay sane while practicing social distancing with a new baby.

'I think it's really important to maintain a routine,' she said. 'We've just got the baby on a schedule, very early, but never too early to be on a schedule I've realized.

Sharing: Misha, pictured during her pregnancy, revealed she already has Leo on a schedule. She also shared that she's been coping with the global crisis by meditating and going on walks

'For me, it's been about maintaining my meditation,' she added. 'It's about going for a walk getting some sunshine and, you know, having FaceTime moments with friends. All of those things have been really, really helpful.'

In late March, Misha told The Daily Mail about her immense love for her baby boy following his birth.

'Our lives have been forever changed,' she said. 'We love [him] more than we ever thought possible and cannot wait to share every adventure with [him].'

Misha announced in January that they were expecting a baby boy after declaring her pregnancy 'pure magic.'

The couple revealed their baby's gender for the first time in an interview with People, saying: 'Im so excited to meet our little baby when he comes!'

Best friends: Misha hinted earlier this year that her close pal Meghan Markle, 38, had shared 'lots of tips' about motherhood with her. They're pictured together in 2015

Future friends? Misha gave birth to baby Leo less than a year after Meghan and Prince Harry welcomed baby Archie in May

Misha, who is rumored to have introduced Meghan, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, also said that, like any friend, the Duchess has shared 'lots of tips' about motherhood with her.

Discussing her pregnancy, she explained: 'We are so thrilled, its just really exciting. Its a very grateful time of life. Its pure magic.'

Her announcement came less than a year after close friend Meghan gave birth to baby Archie in May.

Misha hinted Meghan had already been sharing her advice about becoming a first-time mother.

The designer revealed: 'As with all friendships, you share lots of tips and everything.'

Teamwork: The two women collaborated on Meghan's Smart Works charity line in September last year. They're pictured together at the launch

Misha married her husband Mikey in a ceremony in Rome in September that was attended by Prince Harry, Meghan, Princess Eugenie, 29, and Princess Beatrice, 31.

She has been close to Meghan for many years, with the Duchess continuing to support her by publicly wearing her designs.

Meghan donned the famous 'Boyfriend shirt' for her first appearance alongside Prince Harry, and she wore another of Misha's designs for her final day of meetings in the UK before she jetted off to Canada earlier this year.

Misha, who worked with the Duchess on her Smart Works charity line, opened up to FEMAIL earlier this year about her friendship with the royal.

Reflecting on the experience of working together, Misha described Meghan as 'the ultimate professional' and very 'considerate' of the women the collection was helping.

'It was such an ideal, incredibly easy collaboration,' she said. 'It was, from start to finish, wonderful, thoughtful, considerate, as is she.'
Storyful

Birds swarmed over a Texas parking lot on January 8, perching on the cars in a scene worthy of Alfred Hitchcock.The unnerving sight was captured by Kenna Mitchell outside the Stonebriar Mall in Frisco.The footage shows birds perched atop parked cars, while others circle above in the foggy evening sky.We went to Stonebriar Mall just after dusk and the entrance by the Cheesecake Factory was overrun with thousands of birds, she told Storyful.These grackles were perched on cars, in the trees, and swarms were everywhere you looked. Other people in the lot were just amazed at the sheer number of birds, Mitchell said.Very loud and very gross, but still quite a site to see! Definitely in need of a car wash now! she added. Credit: Kenna Mitchell via Storyful
Local Coronavirus cases

Here is where local numbers stand Friday morning: Butte County has 10 cases, Shasta County is up to 11 cases - with one death, Tehama County remains at one case, Glenn County is reporting two cases, Yuba County has eight, in Sutter County, there are 14 cases including one death, Plumas has two cases, Siskiyou County has three cases. Colusa has one case and Lassen and Modoc have zero.

Worldwide Coronavirus cases

Over one million cases of the coronavirus worldwide. The death toll is also climbing to nearly 54,000. Nearly a quarter of those confirmed cases, Right here in the U.S. with over 6,000 deaths and 9,000 recovered. In California, over 1,000 new cases rolled in on Thursday, bringing the total to over 11,000 - with over 200 deaths.

Butte County Health Officer recommends residents cover face to slow COVID-19 spread

Butte County Health Officer Andy Miller now recommends that people should cover their faces outside the home to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Miller says the masks will help protect other people if you are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic. Dr. Miller says N95 masks and surgical masks should be saved for health care workers. He recommends some other face cover - even bandanas. For a tutorial on how to make one with at-home supplies, Click Here

Location for temporary hospital in Redding has been chosen

California emergency representatives have announced the Redding Civic Auditorium will be the location of a field hospital. The hospital would serve 13 northern California counties. The announcement says this field hospital will be equipped with more than 200 beds and medical equipment for treating both coronavirus and non-coronavirus patients.

Rebuilding on the ridge delays

For some people on the ridge still in the middle of rebuilding their lives the stay at home guideline is creating yet another obstacle. The owner of integrity builders, which is currently working some 30 sites in Paradise, says work has stopped as the local property owner association, which is required to approve changes is closed.

US unemployment report is much worse than economists predicted

The Bureau of Labor's March job report is out and it shows employers cut over 700,000 jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.4% from a 50-year low of 3.5%. Labor experts say the actual job loss could be even worse. As the survey took place before the heaviest layoffs hit in the past two weeks.

Small business loans are on the way, President Trump says

Washington begins to distribute $350 billion in small business loans today. President Trump said the loans would be forgivable as long as employers continued to pay their workers. Workers filed a record 6.6 million jobless claims last week. Experts expect total job losses to pass 10 million.

These companies are hiring thousands during the COVID-19 pandemic

With so many people now out of work, with non-essential business shuttered. Many may be asking, What is next? Staffing firm "People-Ready," says folks should look towards grocery stores and pharmacies, as those industries continue to hire temp workers. Research indicates skilled trade workers - Like H-Vac repair and plumbers are also in high demand. Warehouse workers are highly sought after as more retail goes online.
Caring for driver-partners' health is always a top priority at Grab

The safety of drivers is the safety of customers and the community

One of the main targets of Grab Vietnams recent VND70 billion ($3 million) support programme is helping the companys driver-partners to have stable incomes and mitigate risks in dealing with the implications of COVID-19.

Along with this, the company willingly provides wide-ranging support to its partner restaurants, helping them to stay steadfast and overcome this challenging time. This includes support in marketing and sales, as well as in space leasing and continuing operation during the epidemic.

Grab also directs support to volunteers fighting COVID-19, helping them in getting around and supporting them with meals, while helping the community by offering free shipping on the GrabFood app. In addition, the company has recently donated VND2 billion ($86,950) to the Vietnam Fatherland Front to support the Vietnamese government in bolstering the efficiency of the fight against COVID-19.

As the most sought-after bike- and car-hailing app in the market currently, Grab always puts the safety of their drivers as their top priority to ensure the safety of customers and the community alike.

As GrabCar taxi drivers serve a large number of customers each day, Grab has offered free car disinfection to ensure hygiene and eliminate the danger of infection, helping to provide safe drives to customers and the drivers alike.

After the Ministry of Health (MoH) officially announced the first COVID-19 infection in Vietnam, the company has taken a raft of measures to combat the outbreak under the MoH's instructions. Grab has come up with diverse activities helping to improve drivers consciousness about COVID-19 in the community of GrabCar, GrabBikie, and GrabFood driver-partners.

This includes instructions on proper hand-washing and the use of face mask as well as on cleaning vehicles and other auxiliaries in the right way. The driver partners have also been updated on the latest instructions from the MoH and the World Health Organization. The company has also co-ordinated with GrabFood partners to ensure hygiene and safety for customers.

As its GrabCar taxi driver-partners serve a large number of customers each day, Grab has offered free car disinfection to ensure hygiene and eliminate the danger of infection, helping to provide safe drives to customers and drivers alike.

Free face masks and financial support scheme

Caring for the health of both drivers and customers during the epidemic, Grab has donated more than 50,000 medical face masks to GrabCar and GrabBike driver-partners, along with instructions on their proper use to best mitigate infection risks.

More than that, the company has donated over 100,000 medical masks to the MoH, and provided assistance in face mask transportation to seven provinces along the northern border.

Well aware of the difficulties and worries of its drivers in the current challenging time, Grab provides VND1 million ($43.48) cash support to driver-partners in case they are tested positive for COVID-19 by related health agencies and have to undergo treatment.

Promoting contactless delivery

Amidst the intensifying COVID-19 situation, since March 19, Grab Vietnam has deployed a fresh mode of delivery  Contactless Delivery  applicable to the GrabFood service, helping to drive down the infection danger between drivers and buyers.

The new method was first applied in Hanoi, before extending to other cities and provinces having GrabFood service from March 20. GrabFood is also the first and a unique food delivery platform in Vietnam going avant-garde in deploying the service.

Accordingly, the customers (buyers) can choose where their order is to be placed upon delivery, before their doors, at the buildings reception, or at any other place most convenient. Then they can make free calls to drivers or message them through the GrabChat app.

The driver partners will place the food at the appointed place, inform buyers through a phone call or message, and wait for them from a distance of 2-3m. In case there is no convenient place to place the food, the drivers will place the food in the GrabFood bag and wait for the customer at a distance of 2-3m.

These activities aim to help driver-partners and customers minimise the danger of infection. According to Grab Vietnam CEO Nguyen Thai Hai Van, the above activities reflect the companys efforts to realise the mission Grab for the Community, once again attesting to the companys long-term commitment to improving the living quality of Vietnamese people.
Last week it was announced that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex would be the voice of new Disneynature documentary, Elephant .

Now the documentary's directors Mark Linfield and Vanessa Berlowitz have opened up to People about meeting Meghan and Harry in Botswana in 2017, when the Duchess first became interested in the "matriarchal structure" of an elephant herd.

Linfield and Berlowitz said Meghan was absolutely intrigued by the elephants and transfixed, especially by the female empowerment side.

Getty Images

Berlowitz explained Meghan was especially interested in how important the matriarchs are to the story; it really is all about female leadership. Its a different form of power  its about consensual leadership. Its also very inclusive, as well  very contemporary. She was absolutely fascinated by that.

It was after this meeting that Linfield and Berlowitz say they decided Meghan would be the perfect fit for the voice of their documentary.

/ Getty Images

We actually tried her voice against the picture, right then, Linfield said.

The filmmakers even searched for audio by Meghan on Google to see if her voice would match up with their vision. She had done United Nations womens speeches, and they just worked great, said Linfield.

They added that Prince Harry had joined Meghan when they did the recording and even corrected her pronunciation.

It was amazing having [Harry] there, said Berlowitz. He had a connection to Botswana, of course.

Getty Images

The Duke of Sussex reportedly provided a little direction, from, as he put it, the cheap seats.

Harry was correcting her pronunciation! Linfield added.

The documentary is Meghans first job since stepping down as a senior Royal Family member and will air on Disney+ today.

Elephants follows one elephant family, led by a matriarch named Gaia, 1,000 miles back and forth across the Kalahari Desert as they search for water.

Gaias journey in the documentary begins in Botswana, a country Meghan and Harry know well from their time helping out assist Dr. Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders during their 2017 African tour.
The global death toll has surpassed 54,000 with over 1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.

Here's a roundup of developments in RFE/RL's broadcast countries.

Iran

President Hassan Rohani says U.S. sanctions have not hampered Iran's ability to fight the Middle East's worst outbreak of the coronavirus.

"We did not face a problem due to cohesion, good management, skilled and professional medical staff, and all of these came together," Rohani was quoted as saying during a cabinet meeting on April 2.

He also said that according to the country's Central Bank governor, "Iran has no problem in providing foreign currency until the end of the [Iranian] year," in March.

U.S. sanctions have cut off oil revenue and devastated the Iranian economy, causing the national currency, the rial, to fall in value.

"We have a good reserve of essential commodities for the next months and agriculture and trade ministers have given very promising reports for the situation during the coming months," Rohani said.

His comments come amid increased calls by Iranian officials, as well as a number of countries, the United Nations, and several U.S. lawmakers for the United States to ease sanctions, which some say have made it difficult for Tehran to contain the outbreak that has officially killed nearly 3,300 Iranians, including some 50 health-care workers and several politicians.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Twitter that Rohani's comments were a confirmation of Washington's stand that U.S.-led economic sanctions do not hamper Iran as it battles the coronavirus pandemic.

"We have repeatedly said that U.S. sanctions do not impede the Iranian regime's response to the COVID-19 crisis," Ortagus tweeted.

Meanwhile, former U.S. Vice President and Democratic Party presidential contender Joe Biden on April 2 joined those calling for an easing of U.S. sanctions reimposed in 2018 after U.S. Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program.

"In times of global crisis, America should lead," Biden said in a statement released on April 2.

"We should be the first to offer help to people who are hurting or in danger. That's who we are. That's who we've always been," he added.

While noting that Tehran "failed to respond effectively to this crisis," Biden said that "it makes no sense, in a global health crisis, to compound that failure with cruelty by inhibiting access to needed humanitarian assistance."

Iranian authorities have been criticized for a slow initial response to the pandemic and a failure to quarantine the city of Qom, where the coronavirus outbreak erupted in February.

Recently, Tehran has enforced tougher measures, including a ban on intercity travel and strict social-distancing rules, to try to contain the pandemic.

Biden said the United States should take a number of steps, including issuing licenses to pharmaceutical and medical-device companies and creating a dedicated channel for international banks to support Iran in its fight against COVID-19.

Trump has previously offered Iran humanitarian assistance.

Asked on April 2 whether he would consider easing sanctions on Iran amid the coronavirus outbreak, Trump told reporters that Tehran had not made a formal request.

"They haven't asked us to do that," he said, adding that "If they want to meet, we'd love to do that."

In his statement, Biden said the Trump administration's offer of aid to Iran was "insufficient" if not backed by concrete steps to ensure that Washington is not exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.

"Whatever our many, many disagreements with the Iranian government, it's the right and humane thing to do," Biden said, adding that Tehran should also make a humanitarian gesture and allow the U.S. citizens it has imprisoned to return home.

According to Iran's official figures released on April 3, the death toll from the coronavirus crisis is 3,294 people while 53,183 cases of infection have been confirmed. Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said recently that 3,956 of the patients were in intensive care.

The real numbers of infected and dead are believed to be significantly higher.

An exclusive report by Radio Farda based on statements made by local officials and medical experts puts the number of those infected with the virus in Iran at more than 70,000 and the death toll at 4,762 as of April 2.

Iranian leaders have called for the removal of the "unjust" and "illegal" sanctions while rejecting Washington's offer of help. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also suggested that Washington could be behind the pandemic, which has killed more than 6,000 Americans and infected nearly 250,000.

Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund for $5 billion in emergency funds to battle the coronavirus outbreak.

Russia

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has embarked on a tour around Moscow with one of Russia's most revered icons in an effort to free the Russian capital from coronavirus.

The motorcade carrying Patriarch Kirill and the Tenderness icon of the Mother of God on April 3 drove along the Moscow ring highway, which is more than 100 kilometers long.

Kirill, 73, called on believers to stay at home and join him in prayer to get rid of the coronavirus pandemic as the capital is under strict lockdown.

He is set to serve the morning service at Moscow's Yelokhovo Epiphany Cathedral on April 4.

A total of 4,149 coronavirus cases have been registered across Russia as of April 3, with 34 deaths, according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University in the United States.

Critics say they believe the real number is higher and have accused Russian authorities of underreporting the extent of the outbreak in the country.

To slow the spread of the virus, most of Russia's regions have implemented self-isolation measures and closed nonessential businesses.

The Russian Orthodox Church was against the closure of churches at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but Kirill has recently instructed believers to pray at home.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States accepted medical equipment from Russia and he had no concerns about the gesture being used as propaganda.

Trump said on April 2 that the equipment was offered by Vladimir Putin during his phone call with the Russian president earlier this week to discuss the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and that he considered it a very nice gesture.

I could have said 'no thank you' or I could have said 'thank you' and...I said I'll take it," Trump said at a White House briefing.

Get Tested: Can You Pass Our Simple Coronavirus Quiz? Test your knowledge! Begin

The United States confirmed that a Russian plane carrying the supplies, including ventilators and personal protection equipment, arrived on April 1 in New York City.

State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the items had been purchased but did not say how much the United States paid for the equipment.

Trump said he was "not even a little bit" concerned about Russia using the gesture for propaganda.

Putin "offered a lot of medical, high-quality stuff that I accepted and that may save a lot of lives," Trump said. "I'll take it every day."

Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, was quoted by Interfax as saying that while nothing has been agreed, it "is not ruled out" that further shipments may follow.

Trump also said there could be more shipments. Putin "would send more aid if we asked for it," he said.

Kremlin critics questioned why Moscow would send equipment abroad at a time when there are questions about it meeting its own needs.

"I thought this was a stupid April Fool's joke but turns out it's true. Russia really did SELL the U.S. masks and medical equipment at a time when doctors and nurses all over the country are working without masks and infecting one another. It's monstrous. Putin's mad," opposition leader and vocal Putin critic Aleksei Navalny said on Twitter.

In Russia, where the accuracy of official data has been questioned, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has jumped in recent days, but still appears low compared with other European countries.

Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan has recorded its first official fatality from COVID-19 after a man in the southern region of Osh who had tested positive for the coronavirus died.

Health officials said on April 3 that the 61-year-old, who had "serious co-existing diseases," came back to the country from a trip abroad and had been placed under observation after becoming ill. He later tested positive for the virus and was admitted to a hospital.

To be honest, when he was buried, none of his relatives was with him, district commander Malik Nurdinov said, referring to the limited ability of people to move after the government declared a state of emergency in a number of cities, including the capital, Bishkek.

RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.

Kyrgyz officials said that the number of coronavirus cases in the Central Asian nation had reached 130.

In neighboring Kazakhstan, Defense Minister Nurlan Ermekbaev said on April 3 that thousands of reservists will be called for up to three months to help combat the coronavirus outbreak and to also provide temporary employment to those who have lost jobs in lockdowns and business closures.

Health authorities in the oil-rich country said that as of April 3, the number of coronavirus cases was 453, including three deaths.

In another Central Asian nation, Uzbekistan, the number of coronavirus cases reached 221. Two persons have succumbed to the virus there.

In two other countries in the region, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, officials have not officially registered any coronavirus cases so far.

Turkmenistan

During a televised cabinet meeting, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov for the first time publicly used the word "coronavirus."



"Coronavirus is raging in the world" and is having a negative effect on the gas-rich country's economy, Berdymukhammedov said on April 3.



The Turkmen leader also "ordered to take measures to counter the spread of coronavirus," according to state TV.



He did not specifically admit that the country was facing an outbreak of the respiratory illness, however.



The autocratic former Soviet republic has been largely silent about the pandemic and has not yet reported any coronavirus cases, raising international suspicions.



The authorities "are avoiding use of the word 'coronavirus' as much as possible in order to deter the spread of information about the pandemic," according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).







"By banning use of the word 'coronavirus' on the streets and never mentioning it in official documents and in the media...Turkmenistan's government is putting its citizens in danger, the Paris-based media-freedom watchdog said.



Turkmenistan's tightly controlled economy has been struggling for months, with government revenues depleted in part to unsuccessful energy deals and low global prices for natural gas, the country's main export.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijanis will be able to venture into the streets only after sending a text message with their identification number and the reason for their trip under additional requirements announced on April 2 to help control the spread of the coronavirus.



Beginning on April 5, Azerbaijanis will have to text their ID number along with a number corresponding to the reason for their trip to 8103, officials said. The text message is free of charge.

The number 1 is for medical services; 2 is for food, pharmacy, bank, and postal services; and 3 is for trips to attend the funeral of a close relative.



Azerbaijan last week tightened its quarantine rules to slow the spread of the coronavirus, barring the movement of vehicles between regions and cities across the country, with some exceptions, including ambulances, social services, and agricultural vehicles.



Baku's subway system is operating only five hours a day, and, as in much of the world, restaurants, cafes, teahouses, and shops -- except supermarkets, grocery stores, and pharmacies  are closed.



The South Caucasus country has reported 400 coronavirus cases, with five deaths.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, and Uzbek services, Rossia-24, Interfax, Reuters, AFP, and TASS
The top infectious disease expert in the United States called for a nationwide shutdown amid the coronavirus outbreak.

I dont understand why thats not happening, Dr. Anthony Fauci said during CNNs town hall focused on coronavirus Thursday evening.

The majority of Americans - about 80% - are under lockdown orders, with governors closing schools, banning social gatherings and ordering residents to stay home. But a handful of states have enacted only partial stay-at-home orders.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases urged governors who have resisted calls to issue stay-at-home orders to reconsider.

You know, the tension between federally mandated versus states rights to do what they want is something I dont want to get into, he said. But if you look at whats going on in this country, I just dont understand why were not doing that.

Fauci is not alone in calling for a nationwide shutdown.

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and billionaire philanthropist behind the Gates Foundation, called for strong action Tuesday to combat the spread of coronavirus: a nationwide shutdown.

Theres no question the United States missed the opportunity to get ahead of the novel coronavirus. But the window for making important decisions hasnt closed, Gates wrote in an opinion piece published in the Washington Post. The choices we and our leaders make now will have an enormous impact on how soon case numbers start to go down, how long the economy remains shut down and how many Americans will have to bury a loved one because of COVID-19.

Gates argues now is the time for a consistent nationwide approach to shutting down, citing disparity between states.

Gates called the inconsistency a recipe for disaster.

He wrote, Because people can travel freely across state lines, so can the virus. The countrys leaders need to be clear: Shutdown anywhere means shutdown everywhere. Until the case numbers start to go down across America  which could take 10 weeks or more  no one can continue business as usual or relax the shutdown. Any confusion about this point will only extend the economic pain, raise the odds that the virus will return, and cause more deaths.

Comments by Fauci and Gates are in contrast to the message shared by President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly pushed against a national shutdown.

You have to look -- you have to give a little flexibility, Trump said Wednesday during the daily White House press briefing. If you have a state in the Midwest, or if Alaska, for example, doesnt have a problem, its awfully tough to say, close it down. We have to have a little bit of flexibility.

COVID-19, the novel coronavirus causing the pandemic, is expected to peak nationwide in mid-April. Just under 94,000 fatalities are expected across the United States by August.

The impact on a state-by-state level will vary widely.

New York is expected to be the hardest hit state, with 16,000 deaths projected. Single-day death tolls are expected to rise to more than 2,500 in the next two-and-a-half weeks.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached more than 83,000 in New York - including more than 8,000 overnight. Of the confirmed 83,712 cases, 47,439 are in New York Citys five boroughs.

Statewide death totals from the virus in New York rose to 1,941, up 391 from Tuesday.

That number will continue to go up, Cuomo said. We are still looking for a curve; we are still looking to see where we hit the plateau."

He emphasized that its Not just New York, adding, If you believe these numbers  16,000 deaths in New York  that means youre going to get tens of thousands of deaths outside of New York.

So, to the extent people watch their nightly news in Kansas and say, well, this is a New York problem, thats not what these numbers say. It says its a New York problem today. Tomorrow, its a Kansas problem and a Texas problem and a New Mexico problem," Cuomo said.

In Massachusetts, coronavirus is expected to claim the lives of more than 2,000 Massachusetts residents by summer.

The number of deaths per day is expected to peak in Massachusetts to just under 100 deaths daily in the next two-and-a-half weeks. A total of 2,357 deaths are projected for Massachusetts by August.

Gov. Charlie Baker shared projections from state health officials on Thursday, said that up to 172,000 Massachusetts residents could potentially be infected.

The impact in Massachusetts was mitigated by shutdown efforts enacted by the governors office last month.

Now, Fauci said, the key is for people to continue social distancing methods to slow the curve.

If you back off, and you dont mitigate, there is a possibility that number (of deaths) will go up, Fauci said on CNN.

And that is the worst possible thing in the world you want to see, he said. And thats the reason why I am so adamant about when we say we have got to follow those guidelines, you really got to take it seriously.

Related Content:
Shenyang Institute of Technology, a university in Shenyang, northeast Chinas Liaoning province, has invested 5 million yuan to set up an automated mask production line at a workshop on its campus.

(Photo/Shenyang Daily)

Covering an area of 700 square meters, the workshop is equipped with a clean room, a sterilization room and a testing room to guarantee the quality of the masks. It is estimated that 60,000 masks will roll off the new production line each day.

The first batch of masks came off the line on March 30, about 20 days after the university decided to start production, according to the universitys president Li Kangju.

As a technology college, we have an advantage in setting up automated production lines, said Li, adding that thorough services from the relevant government departments also contributed to the institutes success in producing masks.

The university will give out two masks to its faculty and students every day for free, and will donate surplus masks to other colleges and schools in the province after they reopen.

We will fulfil our social responsibility and provide supplies for the whole province in its fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, said the president.
The Navy on Thursday removed the captain of an aircraft carrier crippled by the coronavirus, two days after a blunt letter the officer wrote warning the service of the need to get more sailors off the vessel created a furor.

Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, was relieved of command at the direction of acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly.

The Navy had become increasingly convinced that Crozier was involved in leaking the letter to the news media to force the service to address his concerns over the outbreak on his ship, a defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Modly said that Crozier showed "poor judgment" by sending the letter by email to 20 or 30 people. He did not directly accuse Crozier of leaking the letter but noted that it appeared in Crozier's hometown newspaper.

"I could reach no other conclusion than that Capt. Crozier had allowed the complexity of his challenge with the covid breakout on his ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally, when acting professionally was what was needed most at the time," Modly said at the Pentagon. "We do and we should expect more from the commanding officers of our aircraft carriers."

Modly added a few minutes later that he did not mean to insinuate that he knew Crozier leaked the letter and believed the captain "did what he thought was in the best interest of the safety and the well-being of his crew."

But Modly said the letter, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday, undermined more senior Navy leaders and could have emboldened adversaries of the United States in the Pacific region. Modly said that Crozier had been told that he could communicate directly with Modly's office.

"It creates a panic, and it creates the perception that the Navy is not on the job, the government's not on the job, and it's just not true," Modly said.

Modly said the decision to remove Crozier was his, and that he received no pressure from the White House on the issue. He said that he notified Defense Secretary Mark Esper of his plan on Wednesday afternoon and that Esper indicated he would support him.

The Navy's top officer, Adm. Michael Gilday, stood alongside the acting secretary as he made the announcement. Gilday said he has called for an investigation across all naval forces in the Pacific to examine the issue.

Crozier, who has not responded to requests for comment, sent the letter Sunday decrying the pace at which the service was removing sailors from the ship in Guama amid a coronavirus outbreak. Crozier asked that 90 percent of the crew, comprising more than 4,800 sailors, be removed to allow for testing, quarantining and disinfecting of the ship.

"Decisive action is required. Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure," he wrote. "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 added that 50 sailors could die, which Modly said Thursday did not appear possible. All of the sailors who have tested positive so far have had either moderate or mild flu symptoms, or no symptoms at all, Modly said.

Some 113 members of the crew had tested positive as of Thursday, Modly said, predicting that "hundreds" ultimately could. By far, it is the U.S. military's largest coronavirus outbreak to date in the pandemic.

The captain will soon be replaced by the ship's former commanding officer, Capt. Carlos Sardiello, who already has been selected for promotion to rear admiral.

Family members of sailors aboard the Theodore Roosevelt had expressed growing concern before the letter's publication that the Navy was moving too slowly in getting sailors off the ship.

The mother of a sailor who tested positive for the virus and was evacuated from the ship said she and most commenters in closed Facebook groups for family members of the crew backed Crozier.

"My husband and I are still grateful that he asked for help, and said that what was going on wasn't adequate. In our eyes, he saved I don't know how many people on his ship," the mother said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid identifying her child.

Modly's decision, first reported by Reuters, comes one day after Modly said that there was nothing wrong with Crozier's writing the letter but that leaking it to the media "would be something that would violate the principles of good order and discipline."

"How it got out into the media I don't know," Modly said. "I don't think anyone would ever know."

Gilday and Modly both said Wednesday that they encouraged commanders to continue raising their concerns. About 1,000 sailors must remain on the ship at all times to man weapons, nuclear reactors and other sensitive equipment, and some 2,700 would be off the ship for testing and quarantining within days, the Navy said.

"We're not looking to shoot the messenger here," Gilday had said of Crozier on Wednesday.

- - -

The Washington Post's Paul Sonne and Julie Tate contributed to this report.
Wichit Police launch checks on construction sites, workers camps

PHUKET: Wichit Police officers today (Apr 3) began checks on construction workers camps in their area to ensure that health guidelines were being followed.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthpolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Friday 3 April 2020, 03:55PM

Wichit Police are conducting checks on construction camps in their area. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Wichit Police are conducting checks on construction camps in their area. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Wichit Police are conducting checks on construction camps in their area. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Wichit Police are conducting checks on construction camps in their area. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Wichit Police are conducting checks on construction camps in their area. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Wichit Police Chief Col Sujin Nilabodi explained that there are about 10 construction workers camps in the Wichit area.

This morning a team of 10 officers inspected four camps, which he named as: Sansiri construction camp, Phanason workers camp, Space Condominium camp and Head Start Intersection Camp.

The officers began their inspections at 9am today, and are completing more inspections this afternoon.

We will continue to inspect other camps and keep doing it until it is complete everywhere, Col Sujin said.

The officers are to ensure that the camps are following the guidelines set out for labourers and workers camps, Col Sujin explained.

Foremen must screen and check body temperatures or workers every day, and immediately report any workers found experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms.

When workers finish work and return to the camp each day, they are not permitted to play sport or conduct any activities that form a group of people.

Every construction company must strictly follow the regulations set ou under the Emergency Decree, Col Sujin said.

After we have completed an initial check of each camp in our area, police officers will randomly check the various camps again, Col Sujin assured.
A young man rides a bicycle on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 17, 2018. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Former USC Admissions Official to Plead Guilty for Faking Transcripts for Students From China

A former admissions official accused of helping students from China cheat their way into the University of Southern Californias graduate school has agreed to plead guilty to a federal wire fraud charge, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Wednesday.

Hiu Kit David Chong, an assistant director at the UCSs Office of Graduate Admissions from 2008 to 2016, admitted in his plea agreement that in exchange for money, he placed college transcripts with inflated grades, phony letters of recommendation and fraudulent personal statements into the admissions packets of those otherwise unqualified Chinese students.

Chong, even after he left the USC, continued to promise to students from China that he could help them get admitted into the graduate degree program at the university. He bought forged college transcripts purporting to be from Chinese universities with falsely inflated GPAs, and submitted those phony documents along with fabricated letters of recommendation and personal statements to the USC.

In an undercover operation in July 2017, an FBI agent disguised as a friend of a Chinese national sent Chong an e-mail with the subject line Help to get in university, reported USC Anneberg Media, citing court documents. The agent asked Chong to help get his fictitious friends son Lin Guoqiang into an American college with a mediocre GPA of 2.1. Chong informed the agent the following year that he had submitted an application on behalf of Guoqiang with a 3.47 GPA.

Chong charged the FBI agent $8,500 for helping non-existent Guoqiang get admitted to USC. In all, Chong admitted to helping three unqualified international students gain admission to USC and collecting approximately $40,000, including from the undercover FBI agent.

The university has cooperated with the governments investigation, the USC wrote in a statement to Annenberg Media. Chong concealed these actions from the university and continued engaging in them for two-and-a-half years after he left USC. Based on what we know, these actions were isolated to one rogue former employee.

Chongs attorney Stanley L. Friedman told Annenberg Media during an interview that his client was living in China until recently.

He hopes that the court will find mitigation in the fact that he is very remorseful for what he did and voluntarily came back from China to handle the charges of the case, Friedman said.

According to the terms of the deal, Chong will plead guilty to one count of wire fraud, which is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
Disney+ was launched in India on April 3, making it the one-stop shop for diverse content from Marvel Studios, Pixar, Disney animation, and others.The service has been released as a package with Hotstar, and will also stream recently released Bollywood blockbusters, Hotstar Specials shows, live sporting action, and more, such as Toy Story 4, Avengers: Endgame and the recent The Lion King and Aladdin remakes.

Heres a list of eight brand new Disney+ original titles you can watch immediately after subscribing:

The Mandalorian

After the fall of the Galactic Empire, lawlessness has spread throughout the galaxy. A lone gunfighter makes his way through the outer reaches, earning his keep as bounty hunter. The Mandalorian is the first live-action Star Wars series.

Also read | The Mandalorian review: Spectacular Star Wars show deserves better than Hotstar as Disney+ has inauspicious launch in India

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

Thirteen years after High School Musical was filmed at East High, the drama department is putting together a bold new production: High School Musical: The Musical and this time the lyrics are on screen, so you can sing along in every episode.

The World According to Jeff Goldblum

Jeff Goldblum pulls the thread of a deceptively familiar object to unravel a world of astonishing connections with fascinating sciences and history. Through the prism of his witty mind, nothing is as it seems.

Lady and the Tramp

A timeless re-telling of the 1955 animated classic, Lady  a pampered American Cocker Spanier and Tramp  a tough but lovable stray; embark on an unexpected adventure and despite their differences, come to understand the value of home.

Togo

In the winter of 1925, a champion dogsled trainer and his lead sled dog, Togo, embark on an exhilarating journey across the treacherous terrain of the Alaskan tundra to help transport an antitoxin serum to a small town.

Encore

Executive producer Kristen Bell reunites former high school classmates from around the US to re-stage the musicals of their youth, years after they originally performed them.

Diary of a Future President

Elena is on the path to become the President of the United States, but for now, she has to navigate through middle school with the help of her family and friend while documenting the pivotal highs and lows of her journey in her trusty diary.

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

Timmy Failure follows the hilarious exploits of our quirky, deadpan hero, Timmy Failure, who along with his 1500-pound polar bear partner Total operates Total Failure Inc. a Portland detective agency.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
CHICAGO, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), one of the world's largest exchange holding companies, today reported March monthly trading volume.

The data sheet "Cboe Global Markets Monthly Volume & RPC/Net Revenue Capture Report" contains an overview of March and year-to-date trading statistics and market share by business segment, volume in select index products, and RPC, which is reported on a one-month lag, across business lines.

MONTHLY TRADING VOLUME Year-To-Date

March March % February % March March % 2020 2019 Chg 2020 Chg 2020 2019 Chg OPTIONS (contracts, thousands) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

19

62 61

Total Volume 263,373 148,748 77.1% 209,552 25.7% 665,343 430,838 54.4% Total ADV 11,971 7,083 69.0% 11,029 8.5% 10,731 7,063 51.9% FUTURES (contracts, thousands) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

19

62 61

Total Volume 7,545 5,338 41.3% 7,182 5.1% 20,514 14,112 45.4% Total ADV 343 254 34.9% 378 -9.3% 331 231 43.0% U.S. EQUITIES (shares, millions) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

19

62 61

Total Volume 59,421 24,781 139.8% 28,464 108.8% 113,805 73,516 54.8% Total ADV 2,701 1,180 128.9% 1,498 80.3% 1,836 1,205 52.3% EUROPEAN EQUITIES ( millions) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

20

64 63

Total Notional Value  259,065  191,498 35.3%  173,999 48.9%  581,890  580,817 0.2% Total ADNV  11,776  9,119 29.1%  8,700 35.4%  9,092  9,219 -1.4% GLOBAL FX ($ millions) Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 21

20

64 63

Total Notional Value $1,209,632 $809,512 49.4% $825,067 46.6% $2,773,720 $2,299,044 20.6% Total ADNV $54,983 $38,548 42.6% $41,253 33.3% $43,339 $36,493 18.8%

ADV= average daily volume

ADNV= average daily notional value

March 2020 Volume Highlights

Options

Cboe Global Markets' four options exchanges (C1, C2, BZX and EDGX) combined set a new all-time monthly average daily volume (ADV) record with nearly 12 million contracts traded per day.

The four options exchanges had the highest combined single-day volume of all-time on Thursday, March 12 , with more than 16.7 million contracts traded.

, with more than 16.7 million contracts traded. C1 Options Exchange set a new monthly total volume record with more than 148 million contracts traded.

BZX Options Exchange set a new all-time monthly ADV record with more than 3.5 million contracts traded. The exchange also saw its highest single-day volume of all-time on Thursday, March 12 , with more than 5.3 million contracts traded.

, with more than 5.3 million contracts traded. EDGX Options Exchange set a new all-time monthly ADV record with more than 1 million contracts traded.

S&P 500 Index (SPX) options set a new all-time monthly total volume record with more than 43.4 million contracts traded. ADV was up 62 percent over March 2019 .

. ADV in options on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) during March was 1.18 million contracts, up 112 percent over the 556,214 contracts traded per day in March 2019 .

Futures

ADV in futures on the VIX at Cboe Futures Exchange (CFE) during March was 342,162 contracts, up 36 percent over the 252,129 contracts traded per day in March 2019 .

U.S. Equities

Cboe Global Markets' four U.S. equities exchanges (BZX, BYX, EDGX and EDGA) saw nearly 2.7 billion shares traded per day in March, up 129 percent over the 1.18 billion shares in March 2019 .

European Equities

Cboe LIS, Cboe Europe's block trading platform, reported record average daily notional value (ADNV) traded of 571 million in March, up 112 percent over the 269 million ADNV traded in March 2019 .

. Cboe Periodic Auctions reported record ADNV traded of 1.7 billion in March, up 131 percent over the 726 million ADNV traded in March 2019 .

Global FX

Global FX set a new all-time monthly record with nearly $55 billion in notional value (ADNV).

in notional value (ADNV). Full Amount ADNV reached a new all-time monthly high with $12 billion in notional value.

First-Quarter 2020 RPC/Net Revenue Capture Guidance

Options

The company currently expects RPC for total options for the first quarter of 2020 to be 6.0 to 7.0 percent higher than the amounts noted below for the two months ended February 29, 2020, primarily reflecting a higher percentage of volume from index options in March compared to the two-month average. The RPC for multi-listed options for the first quarter is expected to be 1.5 to 2.5 percent above the two-month average, due in part to a mix shift, with ETFs accounting for a higher percentage of total volume. The RPC for index options is expected to be 1.5 to 2.5 percent above the two-month average noted below, reflecting a mix shift by order execution and type, as well as the impact of a fee increase for SPX options implemented on February 2.

Futures

The RPC for futures in the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be 0.5 to 1.5 percent above the two-month average noted below, reflecting lower volume-related rebates in March.

U.S. Equities

The revenue capture for U.S. Equities for the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be 7.0 to 8.0 percent above the two-month average noted below, reflecting a mix shift in volume.

European Equities

The revenue capture for European Equities for the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be 5.5 to 6.5 percent below the two-month average noted below, reflecting the net impact of volume-based tiers on March's higher volume.

Global FX

The revenue capture for Global FX for the first quarter of 2020 is expected to be 1.0 to 2.0 percent below the two-month average noted below, reflecting the impact of higher volumes in March.

These expectations are estimated, preliminary and may change. There can be no assurance that our final RPC for the three months ended March 31, 2020, will not differ materially from these expectations.

The following represents average RPC and met revenue capture based on a two-month and a three-month rolling average, reported on a one-month lag. The average RPC represents total transaction fees for C1, C2, BZX and EDGX Options Exchanges and CFE recognized for the period divided by total contracts traded during the period. For U.S. Equities, "net capture per 100 touched shares" refers to annual transaction fees less liquidity payments and routing and clearing costs divided by the product of one-hundredth ADV of touched shares on BZX, BYX, EDGX and EDGA and the number of trading days. For European Equities, "net capture per matched notional value" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments in British pounds divided by the product of ADNV in British pounds of shares matched on Cboe Europe Equities and the number of trading days. For Global FX, "net capture per one million dollars traded" refers to transaction fees less liquidity payments, if any, divided by the product of one-thousandth of ADNV traded on the Cboe FX Markets and the number of trading days, divided by two, which represents the buyer and seller that are both charged on the transaction. Average transaction fees per contract can be affected by various factors, including exchange fee rates, volume-based discounts and transaction mix by contract type and product type.

(In Dollars unless stated otherwise) Two-

Months

Ended 1Q20 Guidance vs. Two-month Avg Three-Months Ended Product: Feb-20

Feb-20 Jan-20 Dec-19 Nov-19 Multi-Listed Options (per contract) $0.053 1.5 to 2.5% above $0.053 $0.051 $0.055 $0.055 Index Options (per contract) $0.764 1.5 to 2.5% above $0.764 $0.758 $0.766 $0.765 Total Options (per contract) $0.219 6.0 to 7.0% above $0.221 $0.215 $0.225 $0.224 Futures (per contract) $1.731 0.5 to 1.5% above $1.747 $1.779 $1.794 $1.788 U.S. Equities (per 100 touched notional value) $0.024 7.0 to 8.0% above $0.026 $0.025 $0.023 $0.020 European Equities (per matched notional value, bps) 0.255 5.5 to 6.5% below 0.255 0.256 0.248 0.243 Global FX (per one million dollars traded) $2.72 1.0 to 2.0% below $2.741 $2.787 $2.803 $2.818

About Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE) is one of the world's largest exchange holding companies, offering cutting-edge trading and investment solutions to investors around the world. The company is committed to defining markets to benefit its participants and drive the global marketplace forward through product innovation, leading edge technology and seamless trading solutions.

The company offers trading across a diverse range of products in multiple asset classes and geographies, including options, futures, U.S. and European equities, exchange-traded products (ETPs), global foreign exchange (FX) and volatility products based on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX Index), recognized as the world's premier gauge of U.S. equity market volatility.

Cboe's subsidiaries include the largest options exchange and the third largest stock exchange operator in the U.S. In addition, the company operates one of the largest stock exchanges by value traded in Europe and is a leading market globally for ETP listings and trading.

The company is headquartered in Chicago with a network of domestic and global offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia, including main hubs in New York, London, Kansas City and Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.cboe.com.

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As the number of coronavirus infections rise across the globe, children seem to be showing more resilience than others.



While children can be infected with the coronavirus, relatively few cases have been reported among children in general, and fatalities among those under nine years of age are virtually nonexistent.



Valona Tela, a correspondent with the Kosovo Desk of RFE/RL's Balkan Service, spoke with Dr. Barun Mathema, an infectious disease researcher at Columbia University in New York, to get his thoughts on why children are avoiding the worst amid a growing pandemic.

RFE/RL: Doctor Mathema, what do we know so far about the coronavirus and children?



Barun Mathema: From what we've seen, certainly initially out of China, the bulk of the infections that have led to more severe disease have been among the elderly. And roughly about 6 percent or so of infections that have led to more serious disease have been in children.

So, for the most part, children do not seem to have a terrible disease or, you know, more severe disease. Although the picture has been changing as this epidemic has been growing. We've been learning, in fact, about a fair number ofyounger individuals getting coronavirus infection, certainly from the United States and as well as from Europe.

So, our information is changing and changing very fast, but I would say that clearly the risk mostly lies among the elderly. When I say risk, I mean risk of a sort of bad disease or bad outcome. But children can certainly be infected and also have certainly milder disease.



RFE/RL: Why does the virus seem to be sparing children somehow?

Mathema: I should stress that some children, for sure, can get disease and symptoms. They tend not to be very serious, but some can be so. There could be mild pneumonias for example, which are not trivial. So, the theories: There are multiple, sort of competing, theories on why children don't seem to be getting disease. The virus currently called SARS-CoV-2 virus needs a particular receptor, called the ACE2 receptor, that's really found within the lungs. And that's what the virus uses toget in, if you will.

And one [line of] thinking is that in children that particular receptor is not well-developed. So the virus does not efficiently enter into the system deep in the lungs, therefore likely not giving rise to serious disease.

That's one theory. Another theory is that children generally have healthy lungs, right? And so that's a very big factor. And certainly we know from some of the early data in China thatpeople who have histories of smoking or other lung disease tended to have bad outcomes

RFE/RL: Are there any groups of children that may have greater risk of complications?



Mathema: I think children who have other immunosuppressive chronic conditions certainly may be at risk. We haven't seen such strong evidence. The numbers are big globally, of all individuals -- but we don't have such granular data to know what groups of children may be at higher risk. One can probably imagine that children with lung diseases, diseases prone to pneumonias, maybe asthma may have more serious or severe outcomes.



RFE/RL: Despite the fact that the mortality rate is highest among, as you said, older people, most countries report a high rate of infections among the younger population, children included. How can this disparity be explained?



Mathema: I think this really has to do with, you know, older individuals in general have a lot of other conditions -- competing conditions, including lung conditions, hypertension, diabetes, you know, various conditions that sort of complicate the recovery.

And younger individuals -- and certainly children as well -- are likely to have better outcomes. Again, they may still have disease and may still be quite sick, as we know from a number of individuals. You know, 30-year-olds, 20-year olds will get very, very, very sick [with] some requiring ventilators. But they tend to have better outcomes in comparison [to the elderly].

I think there are some conflicting reports, early reports suggesting that maybe very young children -- very, very young children -- may be at risk should they develop symptoms versus children who may be a little older. Again, this is a very fast-moving field and the information seems to be changing quite often.



RFE/RL: When should a child get tested?



Mathema: Again, it depends on where you live, but I believe the idea is [that the] child should be tested if they have symptoms. Andif somebody in your household has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, then you may be at heightened alert to make sure that the child does not have or does not exhibit any symptoms. But, again, [it depends] on where you are in the world and what the testing policies are.

RFE/RL: Should parents do something special to protect their children?



Mathema: I think we should do what we should do for ourselves in terms of our families. Their social distancing is very important. Needless to say, a lot of hand washing, you know, it's not the most sophisticated way of dealing with things but it is in fact, very, very effective.

Social distancing is very important andkeeping sort of sanitary conditions, if you will. Mostly hands. Children put their hands, you know, everywhere, and then it goes in their mouth often, right? Certainly. I know, I have two small children. So, this is what I look out for.



RFE/RL: Data shows that pregnant woman may also be infected with the coronavirus. Would the infection also affect the fetus?



Mathema: This is, needless to say, a really big concern. The initial data suggested that there was no evidence of the coronavirus in the amniotic fluids of pregnant women, suggesting that perhaps there could not be transmission to the fetus. Although there was another smaller study that came out of China that suggested that there could be transmission. But it was a very small sample size.

And, you know, it's plausible -- both scenarios are plausible. But I think what this tells us is this is something we really need to look into. Because...pregnancy is a very -- for the mother as well as the unborn child -- sort of a vulnerable period. So, this is something that we absolutely need to look into. But the data is not completely clear.

RFE/RL: How would you compare the numbers with the traditional flu, for example?



Mathema: This is new. And so, when we when we see something new come about, the outcomes and the additional burden on a system can be very devastating.

So, if you compare this, for example, to seasonal flu, at least in the United States, this potentially has the possibility of being severalfold higher in terms of the number of -- when I say bad outcomes, I would saydeath but certainly also the stress to the system. Not only the economic system, but really the health-care system can be devastating to people who don't have the coronavirus but have other reasons to be in the hospital.



RFE/RL: Anything you would add?



Mathema: I think the last thing I would add is [that] I think people should stay strong, and most importantly, try to think of the community. We're all in this together. So, our individual actions really matter to those around us. And we may not know how it impacts them. But you know, [for] our neighbors and people in our neighborhood who may be more vulnerable to disease and bad outcomes, we really need to protect ourselves. Not only for ourselves, but really for the community. So this is perhaps a chance for humanity to take a sort of a second look at each other.




The beginning of the year is always quiet in the restaurant industry. After the rush of the holidays, things slow down and money is tight. In 2020 it was no different.

Then came COVID-19.

Restaurants implemented social distancing protocols, then shut down altogether, one by one, under provincial mandate.

Some pivoted to takeout, buoyed by the governments incoming 75 per cent wage subsidy, but barely making rent.

Long-time workers in the industry say when this is all over, the food service industry will have drastically changed in ways both good and bad. Many restaurants, especially small ones owned by chefs or families, will have closed, impacting their suppliers as well. But workers hope some of the vulnerabilities of their industry will be remedied.

According to new survey statistics from Restaurants Canada, around 800,000 jobs in the food service industry have been lost so far, out of 1.2 million.

This is expected to get worse, said vice-president David Lefebvre. The survey found that 10 per cent of restaurants in Canada have permanently closed because of the pandemic. This number could more than double, Lefebvre said.

And while he said the new 75 per cent wage subsidy will help some businesses stay open, offering delivery or takeout, theres no way the subsidy will offset these losses.

Zhara Mian, executive chef at Purpose Snack Bar, like many workers in the food industry, has multiple gigs  she owns and runs a business and does contract work, and was working on opening her own place in April. All of that is now on hold.

A lot of people are going to be suffering, she said, explaining that shes watching her peers, people who gave their all to do what they love in an industry with slim margins, lose it all.

Rod Castro, who owns two businesses in Ottawa including the long-standing 10Fourteen, said larger companies, such as chain restaurants, are much more likely to survive while small restaurants like his may close from the loss of income, creating a massive shift in the industry.

What happens if people like me dont make it? he said, adding that its not just restaurants but their suppliers, often small businesses as well, that are suffering.

Small businesses, such as family restaurants or chef-owned passion projects, are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, Lefebvre said. These businesses usually dont have a franchise to back them up, or a large landlord that can afford to cut them a break.

This is where the blood on the street is, Lefebvre said, adding that it will take a long time for that portion of the market  the variety and diversity  to return.

A passion game

Many in the food service industry say its not for the faint of heart, nor for those who want to make money.

Mian knows this better than most. She has wanted to work in the industry since she was a teenager, but she has a heart condition that made her cautious of the often stressful kitchen environment. After trying to work a desk job, she threw caution to the wind and learned to work around her condition.

Its a passion game, she said, adding that many chefs choose work over sleep, money or a regular schedule.

Kyle Burch, who works in the Toronto restaurant industry as a server and manager, couldnt agree more. Despite the physical and mental stress of the job, he cant see himself anywhere else.

I love how chaotic it can be. I thrive in that environment, said Burch, who was planning on opening a bar in the near future.

But Burch said the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of the food service industry, such as workers reliance on tips and the lack of support for employees who fall ill. Despite the losses caused by the pandemic, he hopes the industry will evolve for the better because of it.

Hes already seeing industry leaders talking about what the new normal will look like, especially when it comes to the industrys culture and how it treats its workers.

I think its definitely gonna evolve, he said. Ive seen so many changes in my industry in the last five years, that theres no way that I dont think that this will ultimately have a positive impact.

A major hole in the system

The food service industry represents four per cent of Canadas GDP, and is the number one employer for people aged 15 to 24, Lefebvre said. The food service industry serves 22 million customers in Canada every day.

Restaurants are part of every community in every corner of the country, he said.

As thousands of food service workers applied for employment insurance in March, many were exposed to one of the vulnerabilities Burch speaks of: the difference between their hourly wages and their tips.

Controlled tips, paid out through the restaurant on the paycheque, are EI insurable. So are a portion of tips in Quebec. But the most common way for tips to be paid out is directly to the server. And direct tips are not EI insurable. That means many food service workers will receive very little money through EI.

Emily Quaile, a bartender and server for Ottawa restaurant Union Local 613, sees this as a major hole in the system.

She said she wants more government oversight of tip income, similar to what is done in Quebec.

Ivan Gedz, the co-owner of Union Local 613 who is well-known for speaking out publicly about food service workers rights, thinks this is only possible from the top down.

If the government did eventually crack down on (controlling) tips, that change would happen industry wide, he said.

Lack of sick days and the shame around calling in sick is another pervasive problem in the industry, Burch said. Theres a machismo around coming to work despite injury or illness, he said  and of course, if you dont show up to a shift, you dont get paid.

Toronto pastry chef Heather Mordue sees this as a major vulnerability, too.

Theres always been this mentality in the culinary industry that if youre sick, you just have to suck it up and come to work, she said. I think after (the pandemic), thats gonna have to change.

Breathing room

In the meantime, restaurant workers and owners are asking for bailouts from the government to prevent further business closures.

The restaurant industry already operates on such slim margins that a few weeks of closure can mean a permanent shutdown, Burch said.

Thats why Restaurants Canada is asking for more capital for the industry: loans, subsidies, anything, Lefebvre said.

Anything that gives breathing room in terms of cash flow, he said, adding that the $40,000 government-backed loan for small businesses is a first step in the right direction.

Castro is also concerned that small businesses and landlords arent getting enough of a break. Instead, he sees a mountain of deferrals and debt that will benefit banks while just keeping businesses open for a little while longer.

He will be applying for the $40,000 loan for small businesses, interest-free until 2022, but said most of the money will go to other small businesses, such as the suppliers he owes.

The biggest challenge going forward will be rent and mortgages, and he wants more than a deferral.

Theres gonna have to be some level of conversation about forgiveness, Castro said.

It comes down to respect

Mian said the $2,000-a-month emergency response benefit is barely enough, at least in Toronto  but EI is even less. She, too, is hoping for rent and mortgage relief.

In the future, she hopes more attention will be paid to the wellness of food service workers, in the form of health benefits and sick days.

I think it comes down to respect, she said. We just wanna know that were valued.

Meanwhile, Burch sees a potential silver lining coming out of the pandemic  more caution when it comes to opening restaurants.

In the past couple of years, he thinks its become too easy to open a restaurant. As long as you have a good reputation, there are investors willing to provide the financial help to do so, he said, jumping on trends and crowding the market, at least in Toronto.

He thinks those once-eager investors will now be wary.

The precariousness of restaurants has really been brought to the forefront, and people are going to be much less willing  to invest.

He hopes this means more restaurants will stay open for longer, becoming established instead of being replaced with whats hot and new.

When the pandemic ends, he still plans to open his own bar.

This industry is beautiful, and it will survive in some way, shape or form, he said. Though I have no idea what shape thats going to take.
The OPD services at the LNJP Hospital and the GB Pant Hospital will be closed from April 4 onwards, Delhi government authorities said on Friday.

Both these hospitals are among the five facilities in Delhi designated for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The decision was taken during a meeting held on Thursday by the Delhi health minister.

It was decided that OPD services at the LNJP and GB Pant hospitals will be closed, the order issued on Friday said.

The order will come into effect from April 4, it said.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi nearly doubled to 293 on Thursday with 141 fresh cases and two deaths being reported in a day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Many companies are introducing special measures to help people combat the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Recently, Uber launched its UberMedic Service to help healthcare officials and the Government of India launched the AarogyaSetu mobile app earlier today. On similar lines, Google Maps now has released the COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports to help healthcare officials as they make critical decisions during this time.

Google Maps Community Mobility Reports for COVID-19 will provide insights about the places prior to the lockdown and what has changed now as people are working from home, shelter, and other policies. All these are aimed at flattening the curve of COVID-19 and Google says that stringent privacy policies and protocols are followed while developing these reports.

The reports include the most recent information, trends over several weeks across places like residential, groceries, pharmacies, parks, retail, parks, recreation, workplaces, and transit stations. These are aggregated, anonymized data and will show a percentage point increase or decrease in visits and not the absolute number of visits.

Keeping the users privacy in mind, Google will not be sharing contacts, an individuals location or movement. Google hopes these reports will aid public healthcare officials decisions about how to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The Community Mobility Reports will cover 131 countries and regions initially more countries and regions will be added in the coming weeks.

Source
A Pakistani provincial government has ordered a British-born militant whose conviction in the kidnapping and killing of a U.S. journalist was overturned to remain in custody for at least three months.

Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three others connected to American journalist Daniel Pearl's killing will remain in custody for at least 90 days on the grounds of public safety, according to an April 3 ruling issued by the Home Department of Sindh Province.

The government ordered the men detained as it appeals to the Pakistan Supreme Court to have the sentences reinstated.

The ruling came a day after the High Court of Sindh Province overturned a death sentence and murder conviction imposed on Sheikh over Pearl's 2002 killing.

Defense lawyer Khawja Naveed said that, in handing down the decision, the court reduced Sheikh's sentence to seven years in prison for kidnapping, in what international media-freedom watchdogs called a "denial of justice."

The United States said the decision was an "affront to victims of terrorism."

Since Sheikh has been in prison since 2002, he was expected to be released quickly.

Pearl, 38, was The Wall Street Journal's South Asia bureau chief when he was abducted and beheaded in Karachi in 2002, while researching a story about Islamist militants.

A video showing Pearl's decapitation was delivered to the U.S. Consulate in Karachi nearly a month later

Sheikh, a former student at the London School of Economics, was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court, while three other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Naveed said those three had been acquitted by the court in its April 2 ruling.

Faiz Shah, the provincial prosecutor-general, said he intended to appeal the ruling.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
In less than 100 days in 2020, the Sars-Cov-2 virus has infected a million people and killed 50,000, ripping through 203 countries in a rampage that will have a deep economic, social and psychological impact. India, where infections have crossed 2,000, is battling an immediate fallout of a virus-induced lockdown. Amid a supply crunch of consumer items across states, businesses blame lean inventories on panic buying and transportation curbs.

One million and counting

The government may borrow about Rs 40,000 crore to compensate cash-strapped states for their revenue shortfall under the GST regime, and push its departments and public sector firms to clear their vendors dues , to rescue them from an acute liquidity crunch caused by the 21-day coronavirus lockdown, three officials aware of the developments said. Read more

Plan staggered exit from lockdown, PM tells CMs

Underlining Indias goal of ensuring minimum loss of life and detailing the next steps in Indias strategy to deal with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday indicated that once the lockdown ends, the Centre and the states will together ensure a staggered re-emergence of the citizenry. Read more

A peek inside the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz

Most nights, the main avenue of Delhis tony Nizamuddin East is as silent as a grave. There is no traffic except for an occasional car, a Niz East dweller probably returning to his or her elegant apartment. The 17th-century tomb of Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana remains shrouded in darkness. Read more

17 companies asked to help meet 38mn unit PPE shortfall

How do you produce millions of coveralls (a key part of personal protective equipment or PPE) that health care workers need when dealing with something as infectious as the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), when, till last month, they were mostly imported ? Read more

Covid-19: What you need to know today

Is Delhi prepared?

That isnt a question designed to be alarmist. On Thursday, the number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi rose to293, driven upward by more people who attended the gathering of the Tablighi Jamaat at its HQ testing positive. Read more

Tracking to testing: Control rooms at forefront of efforts to contain Covid-19 spread

With more than 100 positive Covid-19 cases detected in at least nine states around the country -- apart from Delhi -- Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, among others, have set up control rooms to act as nodal centres to track the spread of the virus by processing real-time data from the districts, coordinating door-to-door surveillance, and testing people. Here is a look at what how these control rooms function. Read more

Covid-19 update: Hoarding, transport snags choke supply of essentials

A supply crunch of consumer items has cascaded across states, as buyers, rich and poor, scour markets for everyday needs amidst a sweeping lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Read more

ICMR advises antibody testing in hot spots for faster diagnosis

India has allowed faster and cheaper antibody tests to check for the coronavirus disease in so-called hot spots -- these show clusters of infections -- of which there are 20 in the country, the health ministry said on Thursday. Read more

Covid-19: Health workers attacked in cities, 7 held in Indore for pelting stones

The Madhya Pradesh police arrested seven people on Thursday for allegedly attacking health workers in Indores Tatt Patti Bakhal area on Wednesday, as several such incidents of attacks on health workers were reported from different parts of the country. Read more

Prepare or suffer: CDS Gen Rawat delivers blunt message on Covid-19 battle

Indias Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat believes that India must break the Covid-19 virus chain by April 14, through the lockdown and social distancing, or be prepared to weather the long-term consequences of the pandemic. Read more

In Dharavi, cramped quarters and squalor make Covid-19 fight difficult

Mumbais overworked public health workers have a new, daunting challenge on their hands--Dharavi. After a 56-year-old garment shop owner died of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Indias largest slum on April 1, two teams of 50 officers and volunteers arrived in Dharavi to spread awareness of Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes the disease, and to quarantine 70 high-risk residents of the eight-building Slum Rehabilitation Authority complex in which the man stayed. Read more

Isolation, social distancing will do wonders, not testing: BS Yediyurappa

Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa has credited his governments proactive strategy for the relatively fewer number of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases and deaths in the state after it reported the first fatality in the pandemic in the country on March 13. Yediyurappa spoke to Sunetra Choudhury about how his government was responding to the crisis. Read more

A July without Roger Federer

Over the last fortnight, have you found yourself feeling deeply apologetic about missing live sports? Watching millionaires smack a ball with their foot, racquet or bat has always been a great way to rise above the drudgery of everyday life; but where we are now, is very far from ordinary. Read more
Hospital bed booths are set up at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center which is being turned into a hospital to help fight COVID-19 cases in New York City on March 27, 2020. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

Temporary Hospital in NYC To Care for COVID-19 Patients

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the temporary hospital facility in New York City at the Javits Center will be used to care for COVID-19 patients.

The Javits Center temporary hospital in New York Citys Manhattan borough will now be converted into a 2,500-bed emergency medical facility for COVID-19 cases to be staffed by the U.S. Army and the federal government, Trump said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement on Thursday that he had made a request to the president that the Javits Center to be used to treat COVID-19 cases.

As we all know, the growing coronavirus cases are threatening the capacity of our hospital system, Cuomo said, adding that the number of cases has increased so dramatically.

He noted that the original plan for Javits was to take non-COVID patients from hospitals to free up hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.

I thank the President for his cooperation in this pressing matter and his expeditious decision making, Cuomo said in the statement.

Patients currently held in the Javits Center are set to be moved to the USNS Comfort ship, which has 1,000 hospital beds, The Washington Post reported. The ship arrived in Manhattan on March 30 and is currently in New York Harbor. It will remain only to be used to care for non-COVID-19 patients.

I understand on the Comfort they dont want to bring in COVID patients because thats an entire ship, Cuomo said at a press conference on Thursday. How do you disinfect the ship afterwards? And thats a complicated situation.

The death toll from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, jumped to 2,370 in the state on Thursday morning. There are more than 92,300 cases in the state; more than 13,000 patients with the virus are hospitalized, with about 3,000 in intensive care units, Cuomo said on Thursday.

New York City remains the nations worst hot spot for CCP virus cases, and has recorded so far a total of 1,397 deaths.

Cuomo said on March 24 that New York state has about 53,000 hospital beds. Projections estimate that more than 76,000 beds are needed on the projected peak date of April 9.

The Javits Center and USNS Comfort are among several temporary facilities that have been constructed in New York City to cope with the increasing cases of the CCP virus. Other temporary sites include a field hospital in Central Park, and buildings in other boroughs including in Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, and the City University of New Yorks Staten Island campus.
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, refers to the day of feasting and celebrating before the start of Lent, the Christian season of abstinence and sacrifice leading up to Easter.

While modern-day Mardi Gras celebrations often evoke images of parades and festivities in New Orleans, Louisiana, the holiday actually has roots in medieval Europe. Early revelries featured the fatted calf (boeuf gras) festivities that first came through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries and then on to the House of Bourbon in France.

A Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. Editorial credit: GTS Productions / Shutterstock.com

In 1699, a French-Canadian explorer by the name of Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville and his men landed about 60 miles south of New Orleans. As it was approaching Fat Tuesday, they named it Points de Mardi Gras. By the time Bienville established New Orleans and 1718, Fat Tuesday celebrations were an annual tradition.

Mardi Gras Celebrations in the 1700s and 1800s

Mardi Gras was already an annual fete in New Orleans by the 1730s. It wasn't until the 1830s, however, that Mardi Gras saw anything like a street parade. During the later part of the decade, processions of masked people rode on horseback and then carriages down New Orleans streets, and a tradition was born. These processions of people, who carried torches to light the way, were known as krewes.

New Orleans decorated for Mardi Gras.

One of the most famous early masked krewes, The Mistick Krewe of Comus, named for John Miltons literary hero, were responsible for bringing floats to the parade, then known as tableaux cars. The first Mardi Gras floats were originally built in Paris by an artist named George Soulie who use papier-mache not only to create the floats but to design some of the lavish costumes worn in the parades.

By 1875, Mardi Gras was declared a legal holiday in Louisiana, and it still is today.

Mardi Gras traditions

Throws

Photo by Mathieu Cheze on Unsplash

Throws refer to the items that are tossed from floats to parade spectators. Colorful beads are among the more famous throws that are still used today, but early parades saw cups, doubloons, toys, medallions, and other trinkets thrown from floats to the gathered crowds.

Masks

Photo by Sung Jin Cho on Unsplash

There has always been an aura of festive mystery surrounding Mardi Gras. In the early days of Mardi Gras, masks allowed revelers to break out of their class and society restrictions. Today, masks are used more for fun than anything else. Mardi Gras is known as the largest masquerade in North America.

Colors

Photo by Livia Chauar on Unsplash

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. There is a confusing and somewhat complicated story behind the choice of colors. One version states that purple stands for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. Another says that gold is for royalty, while purple and green come from the colors commonly used in coats of arms. Regardless of the actual story, purple, gold, and green have always been associated with Mardi Gras.

King Cake

The dessert of choice for any Mardi Gras celebration is king cake. King refers to the three wise men who arrived on the Epiphany (Twelfth Night) to visit the baby Jesus. King cakes are made with a tiny plastic baby inside. To find the baby in your slice means good luck  and it also means you have to buy the next king cake to share

Carnival Season

Mardi Gras is the single day before Lent, the Christian season of abstinence and sacrifice. Carnival, on the other hand, refers to the entire festive season of eating, drinking, and merrymaking that starts on Twelfth Night (January 6, the Epiphany) and ends with Mardi Gras.
[April 03, 2020] Carvana to Webcast 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Carvana Co. (NYSE: CVNA) (the "Company"), a leading e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, today announced it will hold its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The Annual Meeting, which will be held in a virtual format only, will be webcast, including closed captioning, and can be accessed at: http://www.proxydocs.com/CVNA. Only stockholders as of the close of business on February 25, 2020 (the "Record Date"), will be permitted to access the Annual Meeting. All stockholders that wish to access the Annual Meeting webcast must pre-register by 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, April 17, 2020 by going to http://www.proxydocs.com/CVNA and following the instructions. The pre-registration instructions will require stockholders to enter the control number found on their proxy card, voting instruction form, or notice they previously received.



As described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, you are entitled to vote in the Annual Meeting if you were a stockholder as of the close of business on the Record Date, or hold a legal proxy for the meeting provided by your bank, broker, or nominee. Stockholders can cast votes prior to the Annual Meeting webcast without pre-registering or accessing the webcast via the methods explained on page 2 of the Company's proxy materials under "Q: How do I cast my vote?". Only stockholders that have pre-registered for the webcast will be permitted to attend and vote during the Annual Meeting. To vote in the Annual Meeting webcast, you must enter the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form, or notice you previously received. About Carvana (NYSE: CVNA)

Founded in 2012 and based in Phoenix, Carvana's (NYSE: CVNA) mission is to change the way people buy cars. By removing the traditional dealership infrastructure and replacing it with technology and exceptional customer service, Carvana offers consumers an intuitive and convenient online car buying and financing platform. Carvana.com enables consumers to quickly and easily shop more than 25,000 vehicles, finance, trade-in or sell their current vehicle to Carvana, sign contracts, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day delivery or pickup at one of Carvana's patented, automated Car Vending Machines. For further information on Carvana, please visit www.carvana.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005076/en/

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The combined companies will bring unparalleled levels of compliance and security while supporting the increasing regulatory challenges faced by hospitals, clinics, patients and related consumers of health information

ScanSTAT Technologies and DataFile Technologies, leading providers of Health Information Management solutions, announce the merger of the two companies - creating the largest founder-owned Release of Information company in the nation. The merger is effective today. The two companies will combine business operations in the coming year, employing over 800 team members nationwide.

DataFile offers an exciting opportunity for ScanSTAT to strengthen and expand its service offerings further into Document Filing, Prior Authorization and more, explains Matt Rohs, President of ScanSTAT. The combined companies will bring unparalleled levels of compliance and security while supporting the increasing regulatory challenges faced by hospitals, clinics, patients and related consumers of health information.

Janine Akers, CEO and DataFile founder, also commented, With this merger, we will be able to draw on decades of experience and expertise, while providing a platform of cutting-edge technology. Im excited by the opportunities this creates and the position it puts us in, to best support healthcare providers nationwide.

The expanded company will be the largest ROI/disclosure company in the nation that is majority owned by employees. Matt Rohs, ScanSTATs current President, will assume the additional role of CEO of the combined company. Janine Akers, DataFiles founder, will become Chief Revenue Officer. ScanSTAT founder, Chairman and CEO Glenn Andrews, will remain as Chairman of the Board of the combined entity. ScanSTAT and DataFile, combined, will now consist of more than 800 employees serving 50,000+ providers in over 3,000 provider locations across the United States.

About ScanSTAT:

ScanSTAT is a medical records release and disclosure management company based in Georgia. It has been primarily focused on providing Release of Information (ROI) solutions through its innovative and technology-driven platform since being founded by Glenn Andrews in 2006. Since its inception, ScanSTAT has experienced double-digit growth and profitability every year while maintaining the industrys highest customer retention rate. It has accomplished these goals by continuously developing its solutions to meet the evolving digital and security demands of the healthcare industry.

To be a leading medical information service provider, ScanSTAT has made customer and patient satisfaction the aligning motivation to everything that it does.

More information about the company and its services can be found at the company website: http://www.scanstat.com

About DataFile:

DataFile Technologies provides hospitals, healthcare systems, and medical practices across the country with health information management solutions to centralize and optimize workflows. Since its inception in 2005, DataFile has weathered industry regulation changes with agility and ease by leveraging technology and subject matter expertise. The company partners with clients to create customized and efficient HIM solutions by increasing accuracy rates and improving the overall patient experience. DataFile offers innovative solutions tailored to the needs of its clientele and in alignment with the constantly changing compliance landscape. More information about the Kansas-based company and its services can be found at http://www.datafiletechnologies.com.
Indias coronavirus positive cases climbed to 2,547 on Friday, with the death toll across states rising to 62, the Union health ministry said.

The number of active coronavirus cases stands at 2,322, while 162 people have either been cured or discharged and one had migrated, according to health ministry data.

On Friday evening, six deaths were reported. Four deaths were from Telangana and one each from Gujarat and Punjab.

Maharashtra, which has reported the highest number of cases so far in the country, has also reported the most number of deaths (26) till date, followed by Gujarat (8), Telangana (7), Madhya Pradesh (6), Punjab (5), Delhi (4), Karnataka (3), West Bengal (3), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Uttar Pradesh (2) and Kerala (2).

Also Read | Not religion, the Markaz crisis is about health, and irresponsibility | Opinion

Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have reported one death each. The total of 2,547 cases in the country also includes 55 foreign nationals.

The highest number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection has been reported from Maharashtra followed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

In Delhi, out of the total 386 coronavirus cases, 259 are from the Nizamuddin Markaz, the Delhi Health Department has said. The national capital reported 91 new coronavirus positive cases in the last 24 hrs taking the total number to 386.

Maharashtras state health department data revealed that 67 new coronavirus positive cases have been reported on Friday. The total number of Covid-19 cases in the state stands at 490. The death toll in Maharashtra has jumped to 26, according to news agency ANI.

Also Read | Bookings closed for domestic, international travel till Apr 30: Air India

To help states in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday approved the release of Rs 11,092 crore to all states under the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF). The money will be used for setting up quarantine facilities and arranging other necessities for containing the spread of coronavirus. The Home Ministry said the fund has been approved following an assurance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chief ministers during his video conference on Thursday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs too contributed Rs 205 crore, drawn from one days salary of staff under its command, to the PM-CARES Fund to combat the health crisis in the country. The ministry has also written to state governments to take strict action against those who have been found attacking healthcare and frontline workers. Reports of healthcare workers as well as security personnel being attacked have come in from several parts of the country amid the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A number of Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined at a Ghaziabad hospital allegedly misbehaved with nurses on Friday, making lewd remarks and other obscene gestures, provoking the Uttar Pradesh government to invoke the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against them.

The six Jamaat members at the district hospital were shifted to an isolation ward set up at a private educational institute after complaints received against them.

They are among the thousands who attended a religious congregation at the organisations New Delhi headquarters in Nizamuddin, now identified as a coronavirus hotspot.
Assembly and installation of 121 fuel-efficient stoves and 128 water filters in rural Guatemala -- that's one-week's work for local HELPS Stove Team 2310, comprised mostly of Midlanders but also of members from Florida and Boston who all have a connection to local leader Tom Tolton.

The team just returned from a trip to areas of the country inhabited by indigenous Mayans, most of whom live in extreme poverty. The majority have dirt floors and no electricity, and use indoor wood fires for cooking and heating -- leading to respiratory illness, burns, and secondary issues like deforestation and poor education rates for children who must gather wood for the family.

Schools, too, are also very basic, with few supplies but no shortage of eager, curious students; the team also installed a stove and eight water filters at one of these during the trip. Six other Midland-based teams have made a journey like this one, beginning in 2014.

Those who have been served in Guatemala have given up a month and a half's wages to pay for their stove, and they understand the improvements in family health that the stoves represent. Most speak Ixil (one of Guatemala's 28 dialects), but their appreciation is conveyed in smiles, tears, and their eagerness to begin cooking on their new appliance as soon as it is installed. The team is grateful for the opportunity to meet these lovely family-centric people in their beautiful homeland, and be some small part of their transition to a better life. The group is also thankful for the many local donations given to help pay the actual costs for the stoves and water filters, which are produced in a Guatemalan factory using local labor.

The Midland teams are composed of interpreters and community facilitators, in addition to the "hands" provided by the US volunteers, most of whom are over age 50. Many of the families visited in rural Guatemala live on subsistence farming, although some spend long hours on buses traveling into the more urban regions for paid jobs. The installation of a HELPS stove reduces the use of wood by 70% for families who often spend 40% of their wages just on cooking their meals. As Jon Siddall, a member of all seven Midland-based teams has put it: "Being close to the poor in their own homes is an irreplaceable opportunity to see inside and outside of ourselves with a whole new perspective."

HELPS International, based in Texas, was established in 1984 during the long Guatemalan civil war (1966-1996), when founder Steve Miller became acutely aware of and profoundly affected by the resilience and courage of the indigenous peoples who were literally decimated during the conflict. With Don O'Neal, who helped design the stoves, he began programs which today include medical missions, agronomy assistance, and education efforts.

Team 2310 (US) members were: Tom Tolton, Charlie and Susan Goff, Kap and Jon Siddall, Don Buchalski, Mike Eash, Greg Janoch, Steve Kin, Gina Malczewski, Al Mulder, Brian Pankow, Murilo Seabra, Joe Shurell, Maureen Snyder, Joann Toms, Jeff Wagner, and Stephanie Williams. Guatemalan members were: Josefa Alvarado, Gady Chavaque, Isaias Raymundo Escobar, Sandy Flores, Dina Los Rios, Tomas Laynez, Billy Monzon (Regional HELPS coordinator), Bryan Reyes, Cesar Salazar, Marcos Sic, and Juan Toma.

Those who are interested in learning more about this service/donation opportunity are encouraged to email Tom Tolton at tjtolton@charter.net.
The donation will aid Berkshire Medical Center in providing personal protective gear to its employees; the bank is also covering costs for child care Berkshire Health System employees.

Adams Community Bank Donates $100,000 to BHS COVID-19 Relief Fund

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Adams Community Bank has donated $100,000 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund that was recently established to help Berkshire Health Systems battle the coronavirus pandemic.

The major gift be used to help defray the costs of providing personal protective equipment for hospital caregivers and staff on the front lines of the health crisis. In addition to this gift, Adams Community Bank has also committed to funding one month of emergency child care for BHS employees, totaling up to $25,000, through an arrangement with the Berkshire Family YMCA.

The coronavirus is placing unprecedented financial pressures on health-care systems nationwide, including Berkshire Health Systems. Like all hospitals in the state, Berkshire Medical Center has been directed by the governor to halt all elective procedures.

"This measure has effectively paused all outpatient care, which typically provides at least 50 percent of BMC's annual revenue," explained David Phelps, president and CEO of Berkshire Heath Systems. "At the same time, expenses related to patient care and emergency operations during the pandemic have risen dramatically. Support from donors in any amount is critically important to helping us support our caregivers and all our staff in responding to the needs of our community."

Adams Community Bank is an independent, community savings bank headquartered in Adams. Incorporated in 1869, it has branch locations in Cheshire, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, North Adams and Williamstown.

On March 18, the bank dedicated an initial pool of $500,000 to assist those in the Berkshires affected by COVID-19, including another $100,000 for the COVID-19 fund administered by the Berkshire United Way/Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and their relief efforts throughout the county.

"The foundation of our bank is community," said Charles P. O'Brien, president and CEO of Adams Community Bank. "When we saw that the coronavirus had quickly taken hold here in the Berkshires, we knew we had to act. By supporting Berkshire Medical Center and Berkshire Health Systems, we will be helping to provide critical support for our health care providers, nurses, and support staff."

Berkshire Medical Center, an affiliate of Berkshire Health Systems, is a 298-bed community teaching hospital serving the residents of Berkshire County and the neighboring areas. As the region's leading health-care provider, it also is the sole medical facility in the Berkshires treating COVID-19 patients who require hospitalization.

To support Berkshire Health Systems in its fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the donation page here

"We are so grateful for our friends at Adams Community Bank. As BHS confronts the rising costs of battling the wide-scale spread of COVID-19, this support from ACB provides a much-needed boost to our efforts," Phelps said. "The generosity of Adams Community Bank clearly demonstrates that compassion and kindness are alive and well in the Berkshires."

O'Brien said the bank's support is a "multi-layered approach" to assisting the communities its serves, its customers and its employees. "Over the years we have successfully navigated through many local and national events and business cycles and again stand ready to do our part."

Smaller but no less important relief efforts include buying lunch at local restaurants for employees to the tune of $7,877

at 30 local restaurants between March 19 and 31, began buying gifts cards from local restaurants for 20 groups of our first-responders spread across each town where branch is located. As of March 31, $3,500 in gift cards at 11 local restaurants have been sent to first-responders including Northern Berkshire EMS and local police departments.

The bank also has created an ACB Consumer Assistance Loan Fund of $250,000 to lend to individuals and families who are existing customers with a hardship because of COVID-19 with low interest and flexible repayment terms for loans up to $5,000 ( applications here or call 413-743-0001

Other customer help includes refunds on certain fees, increased withdrawal limits, waiving of penalties on CD withdrawal, temporary deferral of mortgage payments, and the suspension of all foreclosures and evictions.

Adams Community Bank has created the ACB Small Business Assistance Loan Fund of $500,000 to lend to small businesses who are existing customers in need of working capital to help fund their operations. Call 413-743-0001 to get started.

Staff are also receiving full pay during this time regardless of hours or where they are working from.

"This is an amazing community, and we hope that our gifts will inspire many others to reach out with support for our hospital during this difficult time," O'Brien said.
Australian officials closed internal borders on Friday and warned people to stay home over the upcoming Easter holiday as the country seeks to capitalise on a further fall in the rate of new coronavirus cases.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was shifting to a "suppression" phase in its fight against the highly contagious illness, but stressed that people had to continue to follow orders restricting socialising in public.

"We must continue to do this. Doesn't matter what the temperature is," Morrison said in a televised media conference. "If it's a warm day, don't go on masses down to the beach. A simple instruction that all Australians expect other Australians to abide by."

Chief Health Officer Brendan Murphy said the daily increase in new infections had fallen to about 5% from between 25% and 30% two weeks ago. Australia has now reported around 5,200 cases and 28 deaths.

However, Murphy and state leaders cautioned that while imported cases, via returning overseas travellers, still accounted for the majority of the infections in Australia, there were a rising number of "local transmission" cases where a source could not be determined.

"If we can't identify the source it means we can't deal with the spread - that is something we're worried about," said Gladys Berejiklian, the premier of New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state.

Several states in Australia were placing checkpoints at their borders to prevent all but essential travel from neighbouring territories, the first time such drastic measures have been taken since the Spanish flu epidemic 100 years ago.

Queensland state erected water barriers and road checkpoints along its border with NSW on Friday. The island state of Tasmania has already isolated itself, while the iron ore-rich state of Western Australia is enforcing a "hard border close" from Sunday night.

Western Australian authorities were also restricting access to the northern Kimberley region, a remote area with a large indigenous population that has been deemed at high risk because existing health standards fall below the rest of the country.

Several states have given police the power to impose hefty fines and potential prison terms on anybody found breaching strict social distancing rules, including restrictions on leaving home and reducing public gatherings to just two people.

While Morrison told people not to travel over the Easter break, he loosened restrictions that had previously forced places of worship to shut down. Under the new rules, churches and other religious centres will be allowed to open to enable leaders and support staff to officiate online services for the wider congregation.

CRUISE SHIPS

As a popular Pacific port destination, Australia is among numerous countries around the world negotiating arrangements with cruise ships unable to find somewhere to dock.

The issue has been a source of public angst in Australia after hundreds of infections were traced to cruise ship passengers and returning travellers.

NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller said on Friday that five Royal Caribbean ships off the country's east coast will depart for their port of origin after refuelling and restocking on the weekend.

On Australia's western coast, state authorities are in a stand-off with a German cruise ship docked in Fremantle which is refusing to leave.

Two cruise ships in Florida with coronavirus patients aboard will dock at a port near Fort Lauderdale, resolving a days-long impasse that drew the attention of President Donald Trump.

There are about 130 Australians on the two Holland America vessels who will fly home promptly, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Friday.

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nTIDE Mar 2020: COVID-19 effects not yet seen in jobs data for Americans with disabilities

East Hanover, NJ - April 3, 2020 - Based on data from early March, today's indicators showed gains for people with disabilities and slight declines for people without disabilities, according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment - Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). This positive news is tempered by the substantial declines for all workers that will be reflected in next month's Jobs Report.

In the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report released Friday, the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 31.1 percent in March 2019 to 31.7 percent in March 2020 (up 1.9 percent or 0.6 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio decreased from 74.2 percent in March 2019 to 73.5 percent in March 2020 (down 0.9 percent or 0.7 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, reflects the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).

"We actually have positive news this month for people with disability, but today's job numbers don't reflect the devastating losses of the last three weeks of March. We have yet to see the impact of COVID-19 on the employment situation of people with or without disabilities," said John O'Neill, PhD, director of employment and disability research at Kessler Foundation. "Next month's nTIDE will almost certainly reveal the expected downturn."

The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities increased from 34.2 percent in March 2019 to 34.9 percent in March 2020 (up 2 percent or 0.7 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate decreased slightly from 77.2 percent in March 2019 to 76.9 percent in March 2020 (down 0.4 percent or 0.3 percentage points). The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the population that is working or actively looking for work.

"For our release on May 8, to provide the complete picture, we will add the unemployment rate to this report," added Andrew Houtenville, PhD, interim director of the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability. "This will include the large numbers of people furloughed or laid off who are considered to be unemployed, even if they intend to go back to work for the same employer."

To provide additional information during this upheaval in the labor market, the nTIDE team plans to distribute a special report in mid-May. "We will look at the numbers for people furloughed and laid off as well the proportion of people absent from work due to illness," explained Dr. Houtenville. "This will provide greater insight into the sectors being affected."

In March 2020, among workers ages 16-64, the 4,772,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.3 percent of the total 144,907,000 workers in the U.S.

Beyond the Numbers

Even in a strong economy, finding and maintaining employment is difficult for those living with disability, and making that transition is complicated further by poverty, mental illness, and incarceration. Women dealing with these issues need comprehensive and consistent services in order to achieve personal freedom, meaningful work, and financial independence while meeting their personal goals and family responsibilities.

The Women's Project provides an alternative to pretrial detention for women who cannot afford monetary bail. Part of a partnership of Wildcat Services Corporation, an agency of The FEDCAP Group (FEDCAP), defenders and district attorneys, The Women's Project aims to reduce the number of women being held pretrial, supporting them as they return to court and participate in their own defense. The Women's Project focuses on high-needs women detained on Rikers Island in New York City, helping them manage the complexities of the justice system, re-enter their communities and join or rejoin the workplace. Women with special needs are referred to The Women's Project by their defense attorneys. Care coordination begins during their detention and continues after their release.

The Women's Project is directed by founder Valentina Morales, FEDCAP's senior director of Justice Initiatives. "Having strong relationships with stakeholders in the criminal legal system and the support of many community organizations enables The Women's Project to provide the culturally competent and person-centered services these women need," explained Morales. "Our integrated care team is small and mobile, with service provision led by well-trained licensed social workers who provide a continuous and consistent connection to women from detention through stability in the community - a model that is fundamental to the successes achieved by The Women's Project," she said.

The Women's Project connects participants to employment services provided through FEDCAP's specialized programs, which include job training and placement. These services are part of The Women's Project's holistic program that includes benefits assistance, advocacy, support in entering transitional housing, access to medical care, training in self-advocacy and financial literacy, and clinical support for every court appearance.

"For women with pending court cases, progress toward economic stability can be especially challenging," Morales said. "The collateral consequences of arrest and detention often include loss of housing, disconnection from care and resources, family separation, job loss, or prolonged absence from employment or training opportunities. Additionally, more than half of the women in our community have significant mental health needs and nearly 98% report a past history of physical, sexual or emotional abuse." she relates. "Holistic support services and advocacy can make a significant difference in overcoming these barriers to employment and successful reintegration."

The spread of COVID-19 brings new challenges to supporting women released from local jails and upstate prisons. Despite the disruptions, The Women's Project continues to provide ongoing support to its community members leaving Rikers Island. "New York City is practically under siege and changing rapidly," she observed. "Maintaining a strong connection to women who have been released, those detained pre-trial and those in upstate correctional facilities through The Women's Project is now more important than ever."

###

Ask Questions about Disability and Employment

Each nTIDE release is followed by an nTIDE Lunch & Learn webinar at noon ET. This live broadcast, hosted via Zoom Webinar, offers attendees Q&A on the latest nTIDE findings, provides news and updates. On April 3, Valentina Morales, director/founder of The Women's Project, and senior director of Justice Initiatives at FEDCAP, joins Drs. Houtenville and O'Neill and Denise Rozell, Policy Strategist at AUCD. Join live or watch the recordings at: ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE.

NOTE: The statistics in the nTIDE are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers but are not identical. They are customized by UNH to combine the statistics for men and women of working age (16 to 64). nTIDE is funded, in part, by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (90RT5037) and Kessler Foundation.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes -- including employment -- for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.

About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was established in 1987 to provide a coherent university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. For information on the NIDILRR-funded Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, visit ResearchonDisability.org.

For more information, or to interview an expert, contact: Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Concerns about the quality of some protective equipment imported into Ireland from China amid the coronavirus pandemic have emerged across the country.

Images posted online show gowns with three-quarter length sleeves, leaving arms exposed.

Health chiefs have acknowledged supplies in some cases are different to what medics here are used to.

They are attempting to source additional equipment.

(PA Graphics)

It is intended to protect doctors and nurses who are braced for a surge in the number of Covid-19 patients in the countrys hospitals over coming weeks.

However, the Department of Health has confirmed that no joint order has been placed for personal protective equipment (PPE) from China in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Executive

A spokeswoman said: We are ready to discuss any area where we can co-operate effectively, North and South, including on procurement of PPE and critical supplies.

In relation to procurement, while it has not so far proved possible to place a joint order in the context of what is an increasingly challenging international environment, discussions between procurement teams are ongoing and active, and it remains our intention to continue to co-operate in this area.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said: The equipment that is available in some circumstances is different to that which our healthcare professionals are used to.

It is being tested and assessed by the Health Service Executive.

Good use will be found for it. We will continue to look for additional equipment.

It has become such a competitive environment for this equipment and we are looking at this all the time.

Paul Reid, HSE chief executive, said supplies had been arriving on Aer Lingus flights since Sunday.

He added: We are engaged worldwide to secure alternative stocks should these supplies not materialise to the extent that we expect.

It is a very competitive worldwide market but our procurement teams have done really well to secure what we have to date.

A national initiative #ShineYourLight is announced for Easter Saturday, where everyone is invited to shine a light for frontline staff, healthcare workers & people affected everywhere. Public buildings, Embassies & Peacekeeping posts around the world will be lit up in solidarity.  MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) April 3, 2020

Meanwhile, official data has revealed that almost 90% of those dying with coronavirus in Ireland are aged 65 and above.

Two deaths have been recorded amongst patients aged between 25 and 34.

A total of 160 clusters of infection have been identified, and Dublin has recorded more than half the total of cases.

Nursing homes are undergoing a particular problem and Mr Donohoe said that is being considered by the Government.

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

Elsewhere, the Central Bank has warned the crisis is likely to make a 22bn hole in the countrys finances and the number of unemployed is soaring.

Mr Donohoe said:

Change that in the darkest of years would have taken a year to happen has happened over the space of a number of days

Ministers have announced a national initiative dubbed Shine Your Light for front-line staff and healthcare workers at 9pm on Easter Saturday.

Everyone is invited to take part in a gesture intended to express hope and remembrance for those who have died and their loved ones.

Public buildings, embassies and peacekeeping posts around the world will be lit up in solidarity.

New measures to support wellness, creativity and culture during the #Covid19 emergency, include:



 A new 1m fund to support artists through @artscouncil_ie



 A new grant scheme from @culture_ireland and @Facebook #Ireland to support live performances#ConnectwithCULTURE pic.twitter.com/p88CVF7mVq  Tourism-Culture-Arts-Gaeltacht-Sport-Media (@DeptCulturelRL) April 3, 2020

Culture Minister Josepha Madigan said: We have taken extraordinary and unprecedented measures, closing our places of learning, our cafes, pubs, theatres, galleries and venues, and our cultural institutions and curtailing access to our national parks and nature reserves.

These actions are slowing the spread of Covid-19, flattening the curve. They are reducing the pressure on our hospitals, saving countless lives.

In the midst of this, there has been an outpouring of creative and artistic responses to our new circumstances.

She launched a 1m fund to encourage artistic creativity during the lockdown.

A total of 334 awards worth 3,000 each will be made.

The minister said: We are trying to ignite that creative fire in the people out there.

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Facebook has had a rough run in the recent past. The social media platform was embroiled in the Cambridge Analytica scandal and also took flak for other security issues. A new report by Motherboard reveals that Facebook attempted to buy a tool in order to spy on iPhone and iPad.

Facebook is currently fighting a legal battle with NSO. It has accused the hacking firm of using a vulnerability in WhatsApp to help government agencies. For the uninitiated, NSO is the company behind Pegasus, spyware that extracts data from phones and is employed by law enforcement agencies.

According to a declaration from NSO CEO Shalev Hulio, two Facebook representatives approached NSO in 2017. They wanted to buy parts of Pegasus technology. As per the court filings, Facebook wanted NSOs technology in order to implement it on Onavo Protect VPN. In other words, Facebook apparently wanted to offer spyware disguised as a VPN.

Thats not all, Facebook representatives showed a keen interest in buying technology that would help them monitor user traffic. The company allegedly didnt show any interest in tools that could remotely break into phones.

The Facebook representatives stated that Facebook was concerned that its method for gathering user data through Onavo Protect was less effective on Apple devices than on Android devices. The Facebook representatives also stated that Facebook wanted to use purported capabilities of Pegasus to monitor users on Apple devices and was willing to pay for the ability to monitor Onavo Protect users.

Facebook representatives also went ahead and suggested a monthly fee for every Onavo Protect user. NSO claims that it only sells the solution to law enforcement agencies. The company told Facebook that it is a private entity and thus it declined the sale. Interestingly, Apple asked Facebook to remove the Onavo VPN from the App Store in 2018 and accused the app of collecting user data.

[via Motherboard
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Pat Marmo walked among 20 or so deceased in the basement of his Brooklyn funeral home, his protective mask pulled down so his pleas could be heard.

'Every person there, they're not a body,' he said. 'They're a father, they're a mother, they're a grandmother. They;re not bodies. They're people.'

Like many funeral homes in New York and around the globe, Marmo's business is in crisis as he tries to meet surging demand amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed around 1,400 people in New York City alone - and almost 3,000 in the state.

His two cellphones and the office line are ringing constantly. He's apologizing to families at the start of every conversation for being unusually terse, and begging them to insist hospitals hold their dead loved ones as long as possible.

His company is equipped to handle 40 to 60 cases at a time, no problem. On Thursday morning, it was taking care of 185.

'This is a state of emergency. We need help,' Marmo said.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS

Funeral homes say they are being asked to take in three times as many bodies as normal. Pictured: Pat Marmo, owner of Daniel J Schaefer Funeral Home in Brooklyn, is hoping for assistance in handling the overflow of clients stemming from COVID-19 deaths, April 2

The Daniel J Schaefer Funeral Home is equipped to handle 40 to 60 cases at a time but it is currently taking care of 185. Pictured: Employees deliver a body to the home on April 2

Undertakers are asking families to beg hospitals to keep the bodies in morgues. Pictured: Bodies are wrapped in protective plastic in a holding facility at the Daniel J Schaefer Funeral Home, April 2

Employee Gina Hansen (right) enters her office to retrieve documentation for a client outside Daniel J Schaefer Funeral Home, April 2

Funeral directors are being squeezed on one side by inundated hospitals trying to offload bodies, and on the other by the fact that cemeteries and crematoriums are booked for a week at least, sometimes two.

Marmo let The Associated Press into his Daniel J Schaefer funeral home in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn on Thursday to show how dire the situation has become.

He has about 20 embalmed bodies stored on gurneys and stacked on shelves in the basement and another dozen in his secondary chapel room, both chilled by air conditioners.

He estimated that more than 60 percent had died of the novel coronavirus.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and lead to death.

'It's surreal,' he said.

Hospitals in New York have been using refrigerated trucks to store the dead, and Marmo is trying to find his own.

One company quoted him a price of $6,000 per month, and others are refusing outright because they don't want their equipment used for bodies.

Marmo, owner of the funeral home, said one company quoted him a price of $6,000 per month for a refrigerated truck to store the dead. Pictured: Marmo walks through his body holding facility that is struggling to handle overflow, April 2

Employee Gina Hansen (right) hands documentation to a client outside Daniel J Schaefer Funeral Home, April 2

Marmo's two cellphones and the office line are ringing constantly. Pictured: Marmo speaks on two phones at once in his office while handling the overflow of clients stemming from COVID-19 deaths,

The owner is hoping the Environmental Protection Agency will lift regulations that limit the hours crematoriums can operate. Pictured: Marmo walks through his body holding facility on April 2

Even if he gets a truck, he has nowhere obvious to put it. He's wondering if the police station across the street might let him use its driveway.

He's also hoping the Environmental Protection Agency will lift regulations that limit the hours crematoriums can operate. That would ease some of the backlog.

'I need somebody to help me,' he said.

'Maybe if they send me refrigeration, or guide me in a way that I could set up a refrigerated trailer that I could keep, and I could supervise.'

Patrick Kearns, a fourth-generation funeral director in Queens, said the industry has never experienced anything like this.

His family was prepared on 9/11 for their business to be overrun, but with so many bodies lost amid the rubble, the rush never came.

He's seeing it now. The Kearns' business in Rego Park is just minutes from Elmhurst Hospital, a hot spot in the city, which itself has emerged as the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.

Through the first 15 days of March, the family;s four funeral homes held 15 services. In the second half of the month, they had 40.

Like Marmo, Kearns has converted a small chapel into a makeshift refrigerator with an air conditioner. Other funeral directors told The Associated Press this week they were prepared to take similar measures.

Marmo has converted a small chapel into a makeshift refrigerator with an air conditioner. Pictured: Marmo in the body holding facility of his funeral home, April 2

Employees deliver a body at Daniel J. Schaefer Funeral Home, Thursday, April 2, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. The company is equipped to handle 40-60 cases at a time. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, it was taking care of 185 Thursday morning. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Marmo's funeral home has set up a viewing 10 chairs, lined in two rows with 6 feet between eac to respect social distancing' guidelines (pictured)

Employee Elysia Smith works through a stack of papers each denoting a body requiring retrieval from a hospital at Daniel J Schaefer Funeral Home, April 2

Marmo said he's hardly sleeping from the stress, worried he'll forget a small but critical task. Pictured: Marmo in the body holding facility of the funeral home he owns

The surge in deaths is coming at a time when there are tight restrictions on gatherings, making saying goodbye a lonely process.

A family at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn this week leaned over a yellow chain serving as a cordon and tossed roses at the casket of a loved one.

Another in Queens offered final goodbyes through the windows of their cars. At one cemetery in the Bronx, where visitors were barred entirely, a funeral director stood over the grave and took photos to send to mourners.

'The whole process, including the experience for the family during the funeral, is one of sort of isolation rather than the support,' said Bonnie Dixon, president of Maple Grove Cemetery in Queens.

Jackie McQuade, a funeral director at Schuyler Hill funeral home in the Bronx, has struggled to tell families: 'No.'

But she has no choice, given rules limiting services to immediate family only, if that.

One cemetery she worked with has locked its gates to family and friends.

Only she and a priest were allowed at the site of a burial. She photographed the casket being lowered, hoping it could bring some closure to the family.

'We would be going crazy if it were one of our loved ones,' she said. 'We're bearers of bad news on top of a sad situation.'

Marmo said he's hardly sleeping from the stress, worried he'll forget a small but critical task, like removing someones ring before they;re sent for cremation.

He's set to host a funeral Friday for a 36-year-old New York City subway driver who died last week helping riders evacuate a burning train.

There will be a limited service in his main chapel, where he has 10 chairs, lined in two rows with six feet between each - the best he can do while respecting 'social distancing' guidelines.

'The guy deserves a funeral down the Canyon of Heroes,' Marmo said, referring to a stretch of Broadway in lower Manhattan where ticker tape parades are traditionally held.

'Is he going to get that? Hes not going to get that. And it's horrible.'
As the global pandemic continues to escalate, industries are now facing unprecedented challenges. Today, Wuxi International Life Science Innovation Campus (ICampus), UK Bioindustry Association (BIA) and AstraZeneca co-hosted a webinar, inviting British and Chinese experts in the fields of life sciences, healthcare, financial investment and government together to discuss challenges and opportunities caused by the pandemic. Participants of the webinar all agreed that addressing the epidemic urgently requires international cooperation in the field of life sciences, which provides new projects and development opportunities for business growth in this field.

Local government officials including Gao Yaguang, deputy mayor of Wuxi, Jiangsu, Zhu Xiaohong, deputy director of Wuxi Hi-tech Zone Management Community and deputy director of Xinwu District of Wuxi, as well as industry experts including Steve Bates, CEO of the UK Bioindustry Association, Dr. Ye Xiaoping, founder and chairman of Tigermed, Christian Hogg, CEO of Hutchison MediPharma, Dr. Hong Zhi, co-founder and CEO of Brii Biosciences, and Guo Rongrong, executive general manager of the Investment Banking Department at CICC, joined the webinar. They were joined by Leon Wang, executive vice president, international and China president of AstraZeneca, and Tina Xu, vice president of AstraZeneca China and head of Digital and Commercial Innovation. Over 350 representatives from companies all over the world joined online.

During thewebinar, guests from China and overseas all agreed that with the pandemic has come even greater demands on the life sciences industry. Addressing the industrial impact of COVID-19 and seizing new opportunities indigital healthcare, industrial integration and internationalization following the pandemic have now become pressing challenges. Guests actively participated in the online discussion, together concluding that given the current situation, the world should work together to address the crisis. They also expressed their confidence in the Chinese market's post-pandemic rebound. In addition, attendees asserted their belief that the high-level of innovation currently taking place in China will further inject vitality into the life sciences industry worldwide.

Gao Yaguang, deputy mayor of Wuxi, noted that, "the pandemic has raised awareness across the country on the importance of the life science industry. The impact of the pandemic has brought both challenges and opportunities to enterprises in the life sciences industry. Wuxi will continue to focus on the construction of the life sciences industrial chain and continue to create superior business environment for the development of life sciences industrial clusters. In the meantime, we will constantly introduce high-quality programs from domestic and abroad, providing services platform to benefit more companies."

As one of the hosts of the webinar, ICampusis another global strategic platform developed by Wuxi for the creation of abiopharmaceutical industrial cluster. Leveraging its strategic importance in the Yangtze River Delta region, Wuxi has attracted and nurtured a number of leading companies with its open-minded cosmopolitan spirit and high-quality business environment. The life sciences industry in Wuxi, led by biopharmaceuticals, has become a powerful engineforthe global industrial chain. ICampus was co-established by the Wuxi municipal government, the government of the National Hi-tech District of Wuxi, and AstraZeneca in 2019. Asan international starting point, ICampus covers the entire life sciences cycle, aiming to accelerate the incubation and adoptionof global innovations in China. Since its opening last September, ICampus has quickly gained attention among many domestic and overseas innovative enterprises, bringing onboard 17 companies in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, devices, digitalization and other cutting-edgeareas of scientific research. Facing the pandemic, ICampushas managed to remain full of vitality. According to Gao Yaguang, deputy mayor of Wuxi, the Wuxi National Hi-tech District has actively conducted a series of initiativesto help life sciences enterprises registered at the ICampus toget through the pandemic. On one hand, government has ensured safe and continuous production during the pandemic, resulting in 90% of work resumption underway so far. On the other hand, the administration is trying their best to support companies in difficulties with raw materials and connecting product sales channels, helping to protect life sciences companies and encourage their survival through the pandemic. Ms. Gao Yaguang expressed her wishes for the future: "I hope that ICampus will become a leading incubation platform for outstanding life sciences companies around the globe."

As an overseas strategic partner of Wuxi International Life Sciences Innovation Campus, Mr.SteveBates, CEO of the UK Bioindustry Association, said that thepandemic has accelerated innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. "It was a pleasure to be part of today's discussion and to see China's continuous vitality in life sciences. It was fascinating to hear how companies in China have responded to COVID-19 and it is clear we need to learn from international partners and create global solutions for this epidemic." Mr. Bateswent on to say that, "We believe that in the future, more and more innovation companies from domestic and abroad will land in China and achieve their results through the platform of Wuxi International Life Science Innovation Campus."

Speaking of seizingonupcoming opportunities after the pandemic, Dr. Ye Xiaoping, founder and chairman of Tigermed, who leads one of the first batch of registered companies in ICampus, said it is more important than ever for the world to work together in responseto the crisis, given the shockfelt by every industry. "As an open platform, Wuxi International Life Science Innovation Campus introduces international concepts and practices to industries in China, and is expected to incubate new local models for export to overseas in the future, opening up more paths for the sustainable development of life sciences."

As a co-developer of Wuxi International Life Science Innovation Campus, AstraZeneca has been continuously committed to building a global life science innovation ecosystem in China. Leon Wang, executive vice president, international and China president of AstraZeneca said that AstraZeneca hopes to join hands with governments and multinational cross-sector forces, helping to contribute more ideas on the sustainable development of the life sciences industry under the pandemic by supporting the webinar. "We have witnessed the swift responsiveness of the Chinese government during the pandemic. With the strong support of the government, our production and innovation bases in Wuxi, as well as ICampus,were never halted due to the pandemic. We believe that after the pandemic subsides, industries in China will quickly rebound and unleash their great potential for continuous innovation. We hope to keep leveraging Wuxi's innovative environment and policy advantages and helping tobuilda global innovative hub which will contribute to the improvement of human health by forming a unifying pointfor global life sciences."

Earlier in March this year, AstraZeneca organized a series of live webinars on the topic of COVID-19 for tens of thousands of doctors and world-class health experts worldwide, providing firm support for the world in the fight against the pandemic. Leading experts from multiple countries including China, Japan, Italy, Singapore, Germany, France, Spain, the United States, Canada, Australia and Brazil shared their front-line experiences in fighting the virus during the live broadcast. Speakers included Zhong Nanshan, a renowned academic from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Professor Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University.
The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments on Friday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Commuters wearing face masks to protect themselves from the new coronavirus are reflected in a mirror at a skytrain station in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 3, 2020. Thailand's prime minister announced a nationwide 10 p.m.-to-4 a.m curfew starting Friday to combat the spread of the coronavirus. 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/Sakchai Lalit)

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments on Friday related to the global economy, the work place and the spread of the virus.

____________

COSTS MOUNT: The pandemic will cost the global economy as much as $4.1 trillion, or nearly 5% of all economic activity, according to new estimates from the Asian Development Bank.

The head of the International Monetary Fund said the recession sparked by the coronavirus pandemic is way worse than the 2008 global recession. At a press briefing in Geneva on Friday, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva described the situation as a crisis like no other.

AIRLINES: Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue said they applied Friday for their share of $25 billion in federal grants designed to cover airline payrolls for the next six months. None disclosed the amount they are seeking.

In this Thursday, April 2, 2020, photo, a man assists a woman with her belongings as they cross the expressway gate at the border of Wuhan city in central China's Hubei province. Millions of Chinese workers are streaming back to factories, shops and offices but many still face anti-coronavirus controls that add to their financial losses and aggravation. In Wuhan police require a health check and documents from employers for returning workers. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The grant money was part of $2.2 trillion relief bill approved last week. Deltas CEO says his airline is burning more than $60 million cash per day, and Uniteds president puts it at $100 million a day. Airline revenue has cratered during the coronavirus outbreak. Delta carried 38,000 passengers last Saturday. On a normal Saturday in late March it flies 600,000.

The number of travellers screened Thursday at airports nationwide was 124,000, a 95% drop from the same day last year.

And the global airline industry passed a milestone Friday: Half of all passenger jets are now grounded as airlines cut flights sharply. Aviation-data firm Cirium said that with another 530 parked since Thursday, there are now 12,635 jets in service and 13,655 grounded. The number of commercial flights is down 75%, according to tracking service

The Transportation Department, meanwhile, said it is getting more complaints from consumers who say airlines are giving travel vouchers instead of refunds after cancelling flights. The department says vouchers arent easy to use because airlines are cutting so many flights due to the coronavirus outbreak. Airlines can offer vouchers  and usually do, even in normal times  but the Transportation Department said it is reminding carriers of a longstanding requirement to issue prompt refunds to passengers who want them.

SMALL BUSINESS: More than $875 million in loan applications had been processed through the new small business loan program, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said via Twitter, almost all from community banks! Mnuchin said in that tweet that big banks were also taking applications and would be submitting them shortly. However, there were signs that the program is off to a rough start.

CROWD CONTROL: Walmart still wants customers, just fewer of them at a time. The nations largest retailer said it will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly about 20% of the average stores capacity. To oversee the restriction, workers will mark a queue at a single-entry door, and direct arriving customers there, where theyll be admitted one by one. Walmart joins Target and others in trying to limit the number of customers in the store to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Home Depot customers carry their purchases as they leave the store, Friday, April 3, 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

HEAVY INDUSTRY: Toyota is halting production at five of its 18 plants in Japan as sales evaporate. The stoppage will last three days for most of the plants, but one plant will close until mid-April.

The affected plants produce vehicles for export, including Lexus luxury models and the Prius hybrid. Other Japanese automakers, such as Honda Motor Co., have also suspended production.

The U.S. auto industry is completely shut down.

CORONA SIDELINED BY CORONAVIRUS: The coronavirus pandemic is even closing the taps on Corona beer  along with most other brews across Mexico.

Major breweries announced Friday they are suspending operations in response to government orders for non-essential businesses to keep their workers at home.

Grupo Modelo, maker of Corona among other popular brands, said it will suspend its operations at plants around the country by Sunday. The company pointed out in a statement that thousands of farmers depend on it buying their grain. It said it has a plan that would allow it to continue production with 75% of its workforce at home if the government decides to allow it to continue operating.

Some Mexican states have also imposed dry laws that restrict the sale of alcohol during the health crisis.

MARKETS: U.S. stocks fell Friday, leaving the S&P 500 down 26.5% since its record set in February.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The losses came after the government reported that U.S. employers cut 701,000 jobs in March, the monthly decline in nearly a decade. Because of the timing of the spread of COVID-19, the March report did not capture the extend of the damage. Economists are warning policy makers to brace for worse.

ROUNDING IT OUT: The U.S. typically has a unique response to crisis, and the coronavirus is no different.

Firearm sales spiked 85% last month compared with the March last year, according an analysis of the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System by Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting.

The laws of supply and demand also apply to arming up, of course, and the cost of adding guns the the shopping list will cost you.

Much of the industrys inventory will have been depleted, so that we anticipate that weapons and ammunition prices increased as well, said Jurgen Brauer, SAAF's chief economist.

Data on prices will be released soon.
Stormont finance minister Conor Murphys deal with the Irish Government to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) from China has been questioned.

Mr Murphy announced last week that a significant consignment of PPE had been secured in a joint order between Stormont and the Irish Government.

However, Stormont sources have queried whether any deal between the Irish Government and Northern Ireland executive for the order has been finalised.

Expand Close Finance Minister Conor Murphys announcement of a joint PPE order with Dublin has been queried (Rebecca Black/PA) PA / Facebook

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The department of finance responded by saying that in the last couple of weeks the finance minister has been assisting efforts to procure PPE and other supplies with both the Irish and British governments.

The Northern Ireland executive is set to be updated on the supply of PPE at its meeting later.

A nurses representative body has blasted mixed messages over supplies of PPE after the chief executive of the Belfast health trust spoke of challenges securing FFP3 masks while health minister Robin Swann said there are significant levels of PPE in stock.

As a political row erupted over PPE with deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill criticising Mr Swann, the Royal College of Nursing urged reassurance for those working on the front line.

RCN Northern Ireland director Pat Cullen said the body is awaiting legal advice on what steps to take if guarantees cannot be met.

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Paul Reid, chief executive of the Republic of Irelands Health Service Executive (HSE), confirmed an order for personal protective equipment worth more than 200 million euro (175 million) had been placed and that deliveries from China had started in recent days.

Concerns have been expressed about the first batch which has been arriving on Aer Lingus flights since Sunday.

Mr Reid said: We are, however, engaged worldwide to secure alternative stocks should these supplies not materialise to the extent that we expect.

It is a very competitive worldwide market but our procurement teams have done really well to secure what we have to date.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood called for urgent clarification on Northern Irelands PPE supply.

We have been asking for weeks for an update on the PPE crisis procurement plan from the Finance Minister. Despite repeated promises that supplies are due from China, we have yet to hear how much was ordered, when it is due for arrival and how it will be managed, he said.

New UK-wide NHS guidance about personal protective equipment (PPE) https://t.co/q2YyugM2gM  Department of Health (@healthdpt) April 2, 2020

We now need a clear statement from the finance minister. Our healthcare workers were told PPE was coming. We need to know what the status of the order is and if frontline workers are going to be forced to wait for lifesaving equipment.

The Department of Finance issued a statement saying: In the last couple of weeks the finance minister has been assisting efforts to procure PPE and other supplies with both the Irish and British governments.

There is global demand for all these goods and equipment and the scale of the pandemic we face means this will necessitate multiple orders from a range of suppliers at home and overseas.

We are sourcing the market for supplies locally, nationally and internationally in places including China. The task has become even more challenging with the US and India entering the market.

We must all protect our frontline workers and the executive will be updated on the latest position on PPE later today.
Police seal off key intersections and army called in to support residents as Bnei Brak declared a restricted zone.

Israel has set up roadblocks to seal off an ultra-Orthodox Jewish town due to its high rate of coronavirus cases, ordering in soldiers to support the residents.

The development came on Friday morning, hours after emergency regulations approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet declared Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, a restricted zone.

The new designation allows authorities to tighten curbs on public movement.

Police units, wearing surgical masks and gloves, moved swiftly early on Friday to cordon off important intersections around the town and enforce the new rules.

Bnei Brak is on lockdown, as of this morning, and police will prevent any movements in or out of the city, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. People are only allowed in or out for medical reasons or medical support.

Netanyahus office later said the military would help the town council provide services to citizens, but not help to enforce the closure.

The army said it would provide food, medicine, and any other assistance that was needed.

Israel has confirmed at least 36 deaths linked to the coronavirus and more than 7,000 infections  but medical experts estimate that as many as 75,000 people or 38 percent of Bnei Braks 200,000 residents are infected.

Bnei Braks population, many of them choosing study of scripture and traditional large families over a more worldly lifestyle, often live in very close proximity to one another in impoverished neighbourhoods.

Some have heeded rabbis who, out of distrust for the state, spurned anti-virus measures.

I am very, very concerned that well see a broader contagion in the ultra-Orthodox community and to the broader Israeli population, said Hagai Levine, a Hebrew University professor who chairs the Israeli Association of Public Health Physicians.

With the elderly especially vulnerable to the illness, the military plans to evacuate 4,500 people aged 80 and above and place them in isolation in requisitioned hostels.

Since Tuesday, about 600 soldiers have been supporting police across Israel in enforcing strict stay-at-home orders, which have forced many businesses to close and sent unemployment over 24 percent.
The secretive court that approves sensitive government surveillance requests said Friday that a lack of confidence in the accuracy of FBI surveillance requests "appears well founded," and ordered the bureau to show whether errors in documents supporting 29 wiretap requests may have rendered the surveillance invalid.

The directive from Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Judge James Boasberg comes just days after an internal Justice Department review found new problems with the FBI's management of wiretap applications, concluding that the documents supporting the requests routinely contained errors or "inadequately supported facts."

A DOJ inspector general's analysis of 29 surveillance requests from eight FBI field offices during the past five years concluded that "we do not have confidence" that the bureau followed standards to ensure their accuracy.

The report expanded on a harshly critical assessment of the FBI's surveillance activities issued in December, focusing on its handling of multiple wiretap applications for the monitoring of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

More: FBI outlines surveillance reforms after searing rebuke from court, DOJ inspector general

More: FISA deal reauthorizing surveillance laws passes in the House, faces uncertain fate in the Senate

In four of the 29 applications reviewed, the new report found that the supporting documents  known as "Woods Files"  for the wiretap applications could not be located. In three of those instances, agents did not know whether the underlying information existed at all.

DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz's report examines the FBI's Russia probe and its surveillance of former Donald Trump campaign aide Carter Page.

"Files identified apparent errors or inadequately supported facts in all of the 25 (fully-complete) applications we reviewed, and interviews to date with available agents or supervisors in field offices generally have confirmed the issues we identified," the report concluded.

On Friday, the surveillance court said Inspector General Michael Horowitz's assessment "provides further reason for systemic concern."

Story continues

"It would be an understatement to note that such lack of confidence appears well founded," Boasberg wrote. "None of the 29 cases reviewed had a Woods File that did what it is supposed to do: support each fact proffered to the Court.

"It thereby reinforces the need for the court to monitor the ongoing efforts of the FBI and (the Justice Department) to ensure that, going forward, FBI applications present accurate and complete facts," Boasberg wrote Friday.

Boasberg ordered the FBI to provide the names of all of those targeted in the 29 surveillance applications by June 15, along with an assessment of whether errors invalidated the court's surveillance authorizations.

Carter Page at a news conference in Moscow on Dec. 12, 2016.

"Maintaining the trust and confidence of the court is paramount to the FBI and we are continuing to implement the 40-plus corrective actions," the FBI said in a statement Friday, referring to directives issued by Director Chris Wray in December. "Although the applications reviewed by the (inspector general) in this audit predate the announcement of these corrective actions, the FBI understands the courts desire to obtain information related to the applications.

"In line with our duty of candor to the court and our responsibilities to the American people, we will continue to work closely with the FISC and the Department of Justice to ensure that our (surveillance) authorities are exercised responsibly."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Surveillance court cites lack of confidence in FBI surveillance
The publisher of the Nota Bene magazine has launched a collection to help people without homes.

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Our paywall policy: The Slovak Spectator has decided to leave all the articles about the coronavirus available for everyone. If you appreciate our work and would like to support good journalism, please buy our subscription. We believe this is an issue where accurate and fact-based information is important for people to cope.

People in Slovakia will not be able to buy the April issue of the Nota Bene magazine, sold by the homeless, in the streets.

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Instead, they can support the sellers, many of whom find themselves in dire straits in the current situation, through a financial contribution via the Pomahatjelahke.sk website.

We launched the collection because the empty streets have made it impossible for the sellers to earn their living by selling the magazine, Nota Benes publishers wrote on Facebook. Your gifts will help them secure the basic needs for survival: to keep their living, to receive food, hygienic products and medication.

As a thank you gift, every contributor will receive the magazine issue in electronic form directly to their email.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3

Trend:

Turkmenistan and Ukraine decided to hold regular consultations between their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trend reports with reference to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

A telephone conversation on the matter between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and the Minister of foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba was held on April 2, 2020.

The parties discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation as well as its development in the political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

They highlighted the need to intensify contacts at the state and foreign policy levels. The possibility of organizing a meeting of the presidents was also discussed.

They emphasized that Joint Turkmen-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation is an important mechanism of bilateral interstate partnership.
India introduces new Kashmir domicile law, raising fears of demographic manipulation

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 5:52 AM

India has introduced a new law that would make its citizens eligible to become permanent residents of the Indian-administered Kashmir, raising fears of demographic change in the Muslim-majority, Himalayan region.

The new law, which was announced by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday and which reportedly is not subject to parliamentary review, will deem any person who has resided in the Indian-controlled Kashmir for a period of 15 years or studied at certain school grades there as "domicile" of the territory.

The new law will also provide domicile status to the children of central government officials who have served in the Indian-controlled Kashmir for a total period of 10 years.

It will also open local jobs to non-residents.

The introduction of the law comes almost eight months after the Indian government stripped the disputed region of its limited autonomy. On August 5 last year, New Delhi revoked Article 370, a constitutional provision that had come into effect in 1949 and had granted special status to Kashmir, allowing it to have its own flag and constitution, among other rights.

In the lead-up to the revocation, India sent thousands of additional troops to the disputed region, imposed a curfew, arrested political leaders, and shut down telecommunication lines.

The new law also comes as the country of 1.3 billion people is under a 21-day lockdown in an attempt to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, raising speculation that the timing is intentional.

Legalizing settlements?

Residents in the Indian-controlled Kashmir fear that the new law would alter the demographic status of the region, with experts saying it will lead to "demographic flooding."

"It is a lot to circumvent the law. I think it illustrates clearly that some will not stop from politicking during coronavirus [epidemic]," Siddiq Wahid, a political analyst based in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, said.

"Obviously it is an attempt to change the demographics, not only change but flood it. It will lead to demographic flooding," Wahid said, according to Al Jazeera.

Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a professor of legal studies based in the region, said the move had already been in the offing.

"The whole purpose of revoking Article 370 was to settle outsiders here and change the demography of the [Jammu and Kashmir] state. Now this provides the modalities and entitles so many categories of Indians whose settlement will be legalized over here."

India's ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has denied that the new law is an attempt to change the demography of the region.

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since partition in 1947. Both countries claim all of Kashmir and have fought three wars over the territory.

Meanwhile, Muslims elsewhere in India have also been facing abuse and violence.

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An Earth-like world created by the Twitterbot. This planet is mainly covered with snow, with small pockets of ocean exposed.

You can now build your very own Earth 2.0! A new website allows users to create an Earth-like planet with a wide selection of options in an effort to demonstrate how many of the new exoplanets lauded as "Earth-like" may not resemble our planet at all. The researchers behind this website hope to clear up some of the confusion about what the phrase "Earth-like" really means.

"It is very tempting to think that an Earth-sized planet is like our habitable Earth," Kana Ishimaru, a graduate student at the University of Arizona, told Space.com in an email. "But changing only one property of the planet can affect the environment significantly."

Ishimaru lead the development of the website "Earth-like" and the Twitterbot of the same name while she was an undergraduate student at the University of Tokyo. Within the website, users can manipulate factors including the land-fraction and volcanism of the planet and where it lies within the habitable zone, the distance from a star where liquid water can remain on the surface. These small shifts can dramatically affect the environments on the surface of a planet.

Related: Our Interstellar Neighbors: 5 Potentially Earth-Like Planets Nearby

A land-locked planet created by the Earth-like project. (Image credit: Earth-Like)

Between the thousands of exoplanets revealed by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope and the bounty expected by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), along with worlds clarified with other instruments, many planets whose size and mass are similar to Earth have been publicly heralded as "Earth-like."

But a variety of factors could mean that those worlds are as different from Earth as Venus, a solar system world often heralded as Earth's twin that is at times hot enough to melt lead. Ishimaru's advisor, Elizabeth Tasker, worried that these planets were too-often viewed as true Earth twins , identical to our own world in their ability to allow life to evolve, when in fact they are likely to be dramatically different. With this in mind, she set off to build a website where anyone could probe how small changes in planetary conditions could change its habitability.

"Given we currently know the radius or mass [or both] for most of the Earth-sized exoplanets we've discovered, their surfaces could be wildly different from our own home world," Tasker said in an email to Space.com.

The journey of our generation

Planetary scientists have a wealth of models that they can tweak to demonstrate the effect of several different conditions on a planet all at once. By adjusting a variety of inputs, researchers can get a better handle on what kind of conditions are most likely to prevail on far-away planets. But most of these models are very computationally intensive, beyond what a regular space fan can run on their home computers. And they are rarely user friendly, Tasker added.

Instead, she turned her eyes toward a few key elements of planetary conditions that impact the carbon cycle , which moves carbon from Earth's atmosphere to its rocks and back again. Carbon helps to regulate the planet's temperature and makes life as we know it possible.

On Earth, most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, the ocean and the atmosphere . A gentle rain can kick off the carbon cycle, as atmospheric carbon combines with water that falls to the surface. The resulting acid dissolves rock through chemical weathering to release a variety of ions. These ions are carried to the ocean, where calcium and carbon ions combine to form calcium carbonate. Ocean organisms can also produce calcium carbonate in their shells, which cement together and turn into rock after they die. Plate tectonics can bury one layer of carbon-rich rock beneath another, causing it to melt under extreme heat and pressure and releasing carbon dioxide. Erupting volcanoes carry the carbon gas to the surface and back into the atmosphere, where the cycle starts over again.

By allowing users to fiddle with a world's landmass and volcanism, this website can create dramatic changes in the resulting planets. Additionally, by moving your planet on this website closer to or farther from its star, you can change how much heat hits and heats the world.

Related: Exoplanet Hunters Have a New Plan to Spot Hidden 'Migrating' Worlds

"This model makes it really exciting to think about what kind of surface conditions exoplanets can have," Ishimaru said.

In addition to a website, the project also includes a Twitterbot @EarthLikeWorld . Users can interact with the bot by tweeting the land-fraction of a world, its volcanism, and its habitable zone location and it returns a realistic-looking image of a world that meets those qualifications, though it's not likely to be identical to an exoplanet with the same characteristics.

According to Tasker, the hardest part of the website was keeping the code light enough to run on a website. That became most challenging when they added the option to render an image of the supposed planet. The visual image reveals the land and water percentages as a grey color to indicate volcanic mountainous regions and snowy land to demonstrate the surface temperatures. Originally, the images in the website were pixelated, but colleague Nicholas Guttenberg created a neural network that created a realistic-looking landscape based on images from Google-Earth. The images looked "so cool" that Tasker decided to add them to the website as well, Tasker said.

To keep the website from getting bogged down, the initial calculations run separately from the images. The inputs take only a few seconds. Images can be more challenging and can take 10 seconds or longer.

Already the researchers themselves have learned a great deal from the website.

"The biggest surprise I had was how good our carbon cycle is!" Tasker said. She went on to say that the carbon cycle controls the temperature reasonably well as land is increasingly exposed. "While geological cycles are too slow to save us from global warming, they really pull their weight to make the Earth habitable," she said.

In the future, the website might go beyond the most Earth-like models to consider broader changes in the planets, perhaps including other chemical elements or planet sizes. But Tasker worries that such changes might make the site too bulky, increasing runtimes.

"This is the journey of our generation," Tasker said. "In less than 30 years, we've gone from only knowing the planets of our solar system to discovering thousands of other worlds."

Upcoming instruments such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the Extremely Large Telescope will provide even more detail of exoplanets as they allow scientists to probe the atmosphere of these planets and gain a better understanding of their surface conditions.

"It's an incredible journey and one that may change the entire way humans perceive their place in the universe," Tasker said. "I don't understand why anyone would want to deprive someone of traveling that path through meaningless hype."

Follow Nola on Facebook and on Twitter at @NolaTRedd . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
(Newser)  Authorities were searching Friday for the daughter and a grandson of former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend after a canoe they were paddling in the Chesapeake Bay didn't return to shore. Gov. Larry Hogan identified the missing as Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and McKean's 8-year-old son, Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean. Hogan said at a news conference on Friday that he had spoken with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend about the search, the AP reports. Kennedy Townsend, who served two terms as Marylands lieutenant governor, is the eldest child of Robert F. Kennedy.

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The search started Thursday afternoon after the state Natural Resources Police responded to a report of two people on a canoe in the bay who appeared to be overtaken by strong winds. A statement from the agency, which didn't name the missing people, said they may have been paddling the canoe from a home in Shady Side to retrieve a ball and been unable to paddle back to shore. An overturned canoe matching the one used by the missing people was found Thursday night, the agency said. "News of this tragedy hit me and my family hard this morning," Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said. "We are holding Kathleen and her family in the light, and holding our own loved ones a little closer as we reflect on their pain and their loss."

(Read more Kathleen Kennedy Townsend stories.)


Experts seem to agree: If you are not a health care worker, do not buy N95 masks, long considered the best of protective masks.

They will not help you much, and they are in extremely short supply for the people who need them most: health care workers trying to protect themselves from COVID-19 while saving lives.

However, there is still debate over whether everyone should wear some kind of face covering when they leave their homes.

Staying home and limiting contact with groups of people remain the best ways to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

But some experts suggest that some kind of face covering may help, too -- not by protecting the wearer from infection, but by protecting others from the wearer.

There is growing evidence that people can spread the disease without having signs of sickness themselves. Two studies have linked 6 percent to 13 percent of infections to people who were not showing any signs of infections themselves.

The new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, spreads mostly through small drops of liquid that infected people expel from their mouths. That happens when they cough or sneeze. But it can also happen when they talk or sing.

If virus-infected drops of liquid land on surfaces, people who touch the surface get the drops on their hands. From the hands, it is a short trip to the eyes, nose or mouth. Masks may help by blocking at least some of those droplets.

"I don't think it's going to be the most effective tool in our toolbox, but I think it might help," said Tim Schacker. He is vice dean for research at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

However, he added, "this is a tough question because like all things COVID, we lack data."

There is not much definitive research on how well face masks of any kind work to prevent any disease, and even less research for a new disease like COVID-19.

N95 masks generally are best for preventing someone from catching a virus. When used correctly, they fit closely onto the face and block more particles than most other masks.

However, many people do not use them correctly. They often do not get a tight enough fit, which largely defeats the purpose of the masks.

Dr. Chongfei Jin works at Patient First in the state of Virginia. He said there are many videos available online that show how to wear the mask the right way.

He said, I just want to remind the public three things: Avoid inside out. Avoid upside down. And cover your nose as well.

Health care workers are facing serious shortages in part because the panicked public has bought N95 masks for themselves.

"If they run out of masks, then it's very difficult for them to stay healthy to take care of you and me when we get sick," said Jon Andrus, a professor of global health at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Surgical masks are another popular choice. But experts say they provide limited protection from the coronavirus since they do not fit as closely to the face. They may help prevent the wearer from infecting others. But again, the masks should be saved for health care workers.

Some cloth masks may also help protect the public too. But it is not clear how much protection different kinds of fabric provide.

Some efforts have aimed to ask the public to sew fabric masks for health care workers facing extreme shortages. But, these homemade masks do not provide the usual level of protection.

One study from 2013 states, "A homemade mask should only be considered as a last resort to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals." The researchers added, "But it would be better than no protection."

Jin, the Virginia doctor, said a homemade mask, I believe that is the last resort. If you have a surgical mask, please use the surgical mask [as] that's much better.

Andrus, the global health professor, is worried that masks will give wearers a false sense of security. Wearing a mask of any kind is no substitute for social distancing, he said.

But, "This is a war," he added. "Anything we can do to minimize risk is critically important."

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Steve Baragona reported this story for VOA News. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

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Words in This Story

droplet - n. a very small drop of liquid

tough - adj. very difficult to do or deal with

tight - adj. difficult to move : fastened, attached, or held in a position that is not easy to move

surgical - adj. of or relating to the process of performing a medical operation

global - adj. involving the whole world

sew - v. to make or repair something (such as a piece of clothing) by using a needle and thread
Even though no decision has been taken to extend the duration of the nationwide lockdown, national carrier Air India has announced that all ticket bookings will be closed from Friday onwards till April 30. This is applicable to all domestic and international flights. However, this decision will be reviewed after April 14, the last day of the nationwide lockdown. Currently, all domestic and international flight operations in India have been suspended till April 14. Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had revealed that no call had been taken yet on revoking the suspension of air travel after the lockdown period.

Bookings now closed till 30th April from today for all domestic and international routes. We are awaiting a decision post 14th April: Air India pic.twitter.com/Cpdp5QcJOx  ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2020

Read: Air India Cabin Crew Member Tests Positive For Coronavirus; Admitted To Mumbai Hospital

The current Lockdown on both domestic & international passenger flights is till April 15.



A decision to restart the flights after this period remains to be taken.



If required, we will have to assess the situation on a case by case basis.@MoCA_GoI @AAI_Official@MoHFW_INDIA  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) April 2, 2020

Read: PM Modi Hails Air India Crew As They Airlift 263 Indians Stranded In Rome Amid COVID-19

Air India to help repatriation of foreign nationals

Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, Air India CMD Rajiv Bansal revealed that the national carrier had entered into a contract with 4 countries- Germany, Canada, France, and Ireland. According to this agreement, a total of 18 one-way flights will be operated on a commercial basis to these countries whereby foreign nationals can leave India. The flights will come back to the country with no passengers on board. This decision was taken after a few countries requested assistance in repatriating their citizens from India.

Additionally, Bansal stated that the national carrier will operate cargo flights from Delhi to Hong Kong and Shanghai on April 4 and 5. This will enable India to get medical supplies from China. While acknowledging that Air India faced regulatory hurdles from the Chinese side, Bansal mentioned that the approval was finally granted on Thursday. At the same time, he highlighted that the Hong Kong authorities granted permission much faster.

Read: Air India Says Crew Who Rescued Stranded Indians 'ostracized'; Sonam, Richa & Others React

Read: COVID-19: Air India Says 'insurmountable' Dip In Revenues, Issues Various Cost-cutting Measures
One of the challenges with talent development is that it can be really hard to measure on an organizational impact scale, said Jennifer Stangl at the most recent CUES Symposium in Hawaii.

Stangl, director of professional development at CUES, asked participants in her breakout session, The Impact of Talent Development on Your Organizational Climate, to stand up if they thought of talent development as an expense at their organizations. Nobody stood. She then asked participants to stand if they thought of talent development as an investmentnearly the whole room rose.

This is the correct mindset if you want to foster a healthy organizational climatei.e., the employee experience, or how it feels to work at your credit union. When you think of talent development as an investment, you recognize that it really has an impact on the organization, including the bottom line, Stangl noted. Unfortunately, most organizations and industries havent identified a financial statement line item that helps quantify the importance of talent development.

In contrast, the impact of employee engagement is well documented. Engaged employees are always looking for ways to become more productive and more efficient, said Stangl. Engaged employees also have a positive impact on organizational goals, recruitment and commitment, individual development, the organizations future leadership pipeline and member experience.
New Delhi, April 3 : The International Council of Jurists (ICJ) and All India Bar Association have moved the United Nations Human Rights Council seeking compensation from China for "surreptitiously developing a biological weapon capable of mass destruction." The complaint was penned by senior advocate Adish C. Aggarwala, the Chairperson of All India Bar Association and President of International Council of Jurists, in the backdrop of the spread of deadly coronavirus, which has claimed thousands of lives across the world.

"It is humbly prayed that the UNHRC may be pleased to enquire and direct China and to adequately compensate international community and member states, particularly India, for surreptitiously developing a biological weapon capable of mass destruction of mankind," Aggarwala stated in the complaint.

The advocate demanded remuneration from China for inflicting serious physical, psychological, economic and social harm on the world.

Aggarwala also pointed out the effects of the pandemic on the Indian economy, the imbalance in demand and supply of commodities and migration of marginalized people.

"The economic activity of the country is put on hold, in turn causing a huge dent on the local economy of the country as well as in general, the global economy," the complaint added.

The complaint further claimed that China meticulously hatched a conspiracy to spread the coronavirus in the world and violated provisions of International Health Regulations (IHR), International Human Rights and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Laws and UDHR clauses.

"It remains a mystery as to how the virus has not spread to all provinces of China but at the same time, has spread to all countries in the world. The speculation only increases the likelihood of the COIVD-19 being a carefully assembled biological weapon, aimed at crippling major countries in the world leaving only China as the beneficiary," the complaint pointed out.

The complainant further claimed that the virus was developed in the Wuhan Virology Lab from where it was carefully deployed to affect a miniscule 0.001% of the Chinese population.

He said that the neighboring country deployed the coronavirus virus in a bid to control the economy of the world by buying up stocks from countries that are on the brink of economic collapse.

The Chinese government had deliberately censored information and hid the early warnings given by Dr. Li Wenliang, who was, in fact, reprimanded and initially punished by local authorities in China, he said.

"The government also did not sufficiently contain and curb the travel of infected persons from further contaminating the world."
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 09: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 09, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Elephant co-director Vanessa Berlowitz has revealed the reason why Meghan Markle decided to return to acting with the Disney documentary, which she narrates.

Berlowitz told People, She was absolutely intrigued by the elephants and transfixed, especially by the female empowerment side. How important the matriarchs are to the story; it really is all about female leadership.

Its a different form of power  its about consensual leadership. Its also very inclusive, as well  very contemporary. She was absolutely fascinated by that.

Read More: Meghan Markle's 'Elephant' documentary released: How to watch

After Berlowitz and her co-director Mark Linfield held some tentative talks with Markle about her working on the film, they then had to see if the former royals voice actually fit.

Elephant is now available to watch on Disney+ (Image by Disney+)

Rather than asking Markle to come in and audition, though, Linfield and Berlowitz formulated a different plan to hear her voice alongside the footage. They used one of her United Nations womens speeches against the picture, and, thankfully, they just worked great.

Meghan then recorded her narration at Pinewood Studios in London last October, with Harry even joining her in the studio, and, at times, corrected some of her pronunciation, too. Although, their young son Archie was, rather wisely, left at home while they worked.

Read More: We've seen Meghan Markle's Disney+ documentary: Everything you need to know about 'Elephant'

Berlowitz and Linfield were clearly ecstatic with the end results, too, with producer Roy Conli adding, She made it her own. I always say, If you feel something, do it, make it organic. Shes such a diligent professional and she wanted to get it right. It was a delight all the way around.

Elephant revolves around a heard of pachyderms trek across the Kalahari Desert in search of water, a journey that sees them travel around 1,000 miles.

Elephant is now available to watch on Disney+.
As the death toll from coronavirus rises in Navajo nation, experts closest to the crisis are tragically finding themselves the least surprised.

More and more conversations have circled back to warnings laid out nearly a decade ago, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked into the reasons the H1N1 flu killed four times the number of Native Americans compared to the rest of the population.

The 2009 study, commissioned by 12 states, found that the astronomically high death rate among Native Americans from H1N1 was largely because of health disparities like diabetes, heart disease and asthma that were  and still very much are  prevalent in Native American communities.

Laura Hammitt, director of Infectious Disease Programs for the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, has followed those trends back to 1918, when the Spanish flu nearly demolished Native American communities.

"If you think about the 1918 flu or the 2009 H1N1 influenza, during those respiratory viral pandemics we saw that Native American children and adults had markedly higher rates of both death and disease  sometimes in some cases four to five times higher than the general U.S. population," Hammitt said.

Why? A combination of high-risk health conditions, Hammitt said, as well as the impacts of poverty and the challenges of social distancing posed by crowded living situations.

The stark reality, however, is that despite the 100 years separating the Spanish flu and H1N1  and the decade between H1N1 and coronavirus  those risks are still just as prevalent for Native American and communities across the country facing similar challenges.

Hammitt said the Navajo Nation and Indian Health Service are doing a great job responding to the crisis with the resources they have but there is still concern knowing how much of the population is high risk.

"I think what is happening on Navajo Nation is not unlike what will happen in other communities that are really significantly impacted by poverty," Hammitt told ABC.

Story continues

Stacy Bohlen, the head of the National Indian Health Board, put it plainly. "We know that we have that vulnerability because of our health disparities," she told ABC News.

PHOTO: Members of a Arizona National Guard unit load up a Black Hawk helicopter to deliver medical supplies to the remote Navajo Nation town of Kayenta due to the coronavirus, March 31, 2020, in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin/AP, FILE)

Despite the risk, health centers shutter when Indian Country needs them most

While the additional risks facing Native Americans are well-documented, tribes still say their requests for federal help to deal with the coronavirus are being ignored  resulting in the same shortages of personal protective equipment and health care staff as hospitals around the country.

Meredith Raimondi, a spokesperson for the National Council of Urban Indian Health Centers, said she knows of two clinics that have closed because they didnt have enough staff and protective equipment to stay open.

She said the biggest concern across the board is a lack of supplies for hospitals and medical centers and that with the shortage of resources across the country tribes have seen little to no help.

"It really seems like Indian Country is going to continue to be last on the list and it's really concerning at this point," she told ABC News.

Urban Indian Health Centers are part of the Indian Health Service, a network that provides basic health care to tribal members at no cost. They exist as part of the federal governments promise and legal obligation to provide health care to tribes, based on the constitution, treaties, and orders going as far back as 1787.

Raimondi said the centers have built up trust to provide "culturally competent" care in Native American communities where there is a lot of mistrust of the federal government.

"There's grave concern from our programs that there will be a lack of community trust going forward because if more clinics are forced to close their doors and shut down and people are going to have to be referred elsewhere, that they won't come back," she said.

A virus keying in on Indian Country

Native Americans have three times the rate of diabetes as non-hispanic white people, and in some places that rate is even higher, according to Bohlen, the head of the National Indian Health Board. They also face higher rates of asthma and cardiovascular disease  and each of those conditions put people at high risk for severe illness from coronavirus, according to the CDC.

Tribes also face separate challenges in following the basic guidelines set out by the CDC to protect against coronavirus  social distancing and washing your hands constantly.

For example, its common for as many as 12-15 people to live in a four-person house on a reservation, from grandparents to babies.

"It makes it very difficult to achieve social distancing in a scenario like that, and that's cultural -- the caring for each other on a multi-generational basis," Bohlen said.

Plus, not all homes have running water  a problem particularly affecting tribes in Montana, Alaska and in Navajo Nation, Bohlen said.

"When the CDC is putting out guidance that you have to wash your hands, several times a day  you know that makes it very difficult to wash your hands several times a day when you don't even have running water," she said.

Hammitt said its important for tribes to be able to adapt CDC guidance to the language or culture of the community. Johns Hopkins has been working with the Indian Health Service to adapt public service announcements that can be shared by tribes.

Some also fear for large elderly populations, who are particularly high risk and in many tribes serve as the protectors of a lifestyle that has been slowly chipped away at.

"That's where the impact will be felt the most  the greatest risk to our elder population is the greatest risk to to losing our language and our traditions and culture," Dr. Gayle Dine Chacon, who held the role of chief medical director for Navajo nation for two years, told ABC News in a phone interview.

PHOTO: A photos shows a general view of Monument Valley, Utah, Oct. 25, 2018. (Rick Bowmer/AP, FILE)

Native American communities across the country say they are feeling the impact of those challenges during the COVID19 emergency.

Oj Semans, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe that lies along the South Dakota and Nebraska border, said coronavirus seemed like it was "keying in" on Indian Country.

Both Semans and his wife, who run a voting rights advocacy group called Four Directors, have type 2 diabetes and asthma, putting them in the high-risk category.

"I mean, if you're looking for a point to be nervous at where it could really go wrong, it's here, in Indian Country," Semans said.

"It's just upping the danger for our people by multiplying the risks we already have," he said.

Semans, who lives on the reservation, described housing projects built close to one another and multiple families living in most homes.

"The apartment complexes are basically wall-to-wall, where you don't have that real social distancing," Semans said. "We're not built with the thought of a pandemic happening."

MORE: New Mexico's governor warns tribal nations could be 'wiped out' by coronavirus

The threat is clear. Where is the help?

As the death toll in Navajo nation reaches eight and confirmed cases there make up more than two-thirds of the total in Indian Country, Chacon said it feels like the window for prevention has closed.

She feels shes gotten the message out to her family because of her career as a doctor, but she knows that not every family has access to resources like hers does, nevermind the daily, constant reminders of the risks or how to stay safe that she harps on in phone calls to her relatives.

"It is so difficult because we keep saying were at war with something we cant see," Chacon said.

MORE: Amid dire coronavirus warning, Navajo Nation 'hunkered down,' tribal president says

The spread, which Chacon called "stunning," has led New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to warn Trump that the Navajo nation is at risk of being wiped out.

But despite those warnings, Navajo President Jonathan Nez warned that the tribe is not getting the supplies they need.

"Theres frustration from leadership  not just here on Navajo but all of Indian Country," Nez said in a town hall over Facebook on Wednesday. "We feel that the United States government once again has ignored or even left out the first residents, the first people, the first citizens of this country: Indigenous people."

Bohlen, of the National Indian Health Board, backed up Nezs frustration.

"We have an opportunity here to get it right," she urged.

She described a telephone listening session on Tuesday with the CDC and around 700 tribal leaders to discuss how the tribes want to use the $125 million allocated to them from the CDC for coronavirus response.

The Indian Health Service says they have started distributing some money for tribes in coronavirus response and the CARES Act passed by Congress included more than $3.5 billion for response in Indian Country, including for the health service, resources for tribes, and the Board of Indian Affairs.

The Navajo Nation now has roadblocks set-up in the hardest-hit areas, where strict curfews are being enforced. Crews are delivering food, firewood and coal to homes, taking care not to interact directly with occupants as they make deliveries. Medical facilities, like many around the country, are struggling to maintain supplies of protective equipment.

But the Navajo Nation and other tribes say they havent seen any money from multiple packages passed to aid COVID19 response in recent weeks, even though states have already received funding.

One issue that came up over and over again was personal protective equipment. Even as equipment and ventilators are sent across the nation from the federal stockpile to hot spots like New York, Louisiana and Michigan, states are under no obligation to dole it out to tribes. That must come from the federal government, which is under a "trust and treaty" obligation to tribes to provide health care.

"I don't know how much more we can beat that drum, I mean, we need the personal protective equipment," Bohlen said.

"I did not hear one tribal representative say [on the call with the CDC], 'thank you for the personal protective equipment, we have it," she said. "But I heard repeatedly that they need it."

Indian Country faces higher risks, lack of resources in COVID-19 fight originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Warsaw, Budapest and Prague will face no immediate penalty for refusing to host refugees in 2015.

The European Unions top court ruled on Thursday that Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic had broken the law by refusing to host refugees to help ease the burden on southern EU states such as Greece and Italy after a surge in migrant arrivals from 2015.

The ruling underscores Europes bitter divisions over migration, though the three ex-communist nations face no immediate penalty as the relocation of tens of thousands of people agreed by the EU was only envisaged until 2017.

By refusing to comply with the temporary mechanism for the relocation of applicants for international protection, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have failed to fulfil their obligations under European Union law, the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union said in its ruling.

The eurosceptic, nationalist governments on the EUs eastern flank had cited national security reasons in refusing to take in any of the mostly Muslim refugees and migrants who had fled wars and poverty in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.

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Front-line states such as Italy and Greece complained angrily over the lack of European solidarity as they struggled with mass arrivals that overwhelmed their security and welfare systems.

Wealthy northern European states such as Germany also criticised the ex-communist east for refusing to help while continuing to benefit from generous EU financial aid.

More than a million people reached Europes shores from across the Mediterranean in 2015, catching the EU unprepared as they trekked across the continent and triggering a new wave of support in some quarters for far-right, anti-immigrant parties.

The EU has since cracked down on immigration, fortifying its external borders and offering money and aid to countries such as Turkey to help prevent migrants from heading to Europe.

But the internal EU divisions on migration are far from healed. The 2015 mass influx of migrants at least partly contributed to the United Kingdoms 2016 decision to leave the EU, in the worst setback for European integration since World War II.

The EU now faces a fresh test of its unity from the coronavirus pandemic, with member states mostly pursuing their own strategies to counter the spread of the disease and the worst-affected nations  Italy and Spain  again complaining of a lack of European solidarity and aid.
The first detected case of foot and mouth in 2001 in Britain was at an abattoir in Essex on February 19 on pigs from Buckinghamshire and the Isle of Wight.

Ten days later the agriculture minister in Northern Ireland, Brid Rodgers, ordered the slaughter of sheep at a farm in Meigh, south Armagh, as the disease continued to spread.

An eight-kilometre exclusion zone was set up which included part of north Louth, and took in Omeath and Carlingford, as well as the Dundalk-Castleblayney Road.

This meant restrictions on the movement of animals and animal products, as well as meat and dairy produce, in and out of the zone.

At checkpoints gardai confiscated such products which were bought in Dundalk to prevent them being taken into the exclusion zone.

Sport shut down as a precaution, with Dundalk FC and Louth teams left idle; while court sittings were curtailed.

At a meeting with Department of Agriculture officials in the Ballymascanlon Hotel, north Louth farmers in the exclusion zone complained of being under siege for two weeks.

There was some positive news in that animal feed could be collected from a designated point and brought to farms under permit.

It was also confirmed that meat and dairy items bought in Dundalk would no longer be confiscated.

However, just as the situation appeared to be improving, at least one farm was sealed off on March 21, and the Department of Agriculture placed 'precautionary measures' on a number of holdings, owned by farmer Michael Rice, Jenkinstown.

The next day minister for agriculture Joe Walsh announced, live from the Dail, a positive case concerning two sheep on Mr Rice's holding in Proleek, and 'Operation Ringfence' was established to contain the spread of the disease.

It was the Republic of Ireland's only positive case.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern visited the area, pledging the support of the government and promising that Louth would not be forgotten when the crisis abated.

Stringent restrictions were put in place, and more than 16,000 animals were slaughtered on the Cooley peninsula in the first week since the outbreak.

The cull comprised 15,361 sheep, 600 cattle and 27 goats.

In the end, almost 54,000 animals, including 49,000 sheep, were culled, and approximately 270 farmers received in excess of 5 million compensation.

Minister Walsh, on a visit to Louth, said the Cooley peninsula was being treated as the battle ground against the spread of foot and mouth to the rest of the country.

Farmers spoke of their devastation at having healthy animals taken away for slaughter, and in the middle of the lambing season.

The slaughtering was carried out in a humane manner, the animals loaded into lorries and transported to a nearby meat plant.

This saved the farmers the trauma of seeing their sheep and cattle put down on the farm, and the carcasses lying in the fields for days as had happened in the UK where burning pyres on land were commonplace.

The impact of the foot and mouth outbreak reached far beyond the agricultural community. Tourism and trade suffered knock-on effects.

Supports were put in place, such as counselling for farming families, and projects to rejuvenate business.

Dundalk got permission to play behind closed doors in the FAI Cup, only to suffer a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Portmarnock in John Hyland Park.

The Lilywhites were ordered to play all home matches in Monaghan.

However, Louth learned that Tyrone and Dublin got the points from their National League matches which were never played; while Central Council delegate Pat Hamilton was requested not to attend Congress on April 8 for an historic vote which could have led to Croke Park being opened to other sports.

There was delight when Dundalk's Maytime Festival got the green light.

On May 1 all foot and mouth checkpoints were removed, save for the border crossing at Dromad.

A meeting of the Cabinet took place in the Ballymascanlon Hotel on May 14 amid tight security.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern gave an assurance that Louth would not lose out for the sacrifices made during the crisis.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: Restrictions on the movement and assembly of people in Kashmir to contain the spread of coronavirus were tightened on Friday in view of congregational prayers, officials said.

The congregational prayers were not held at most mosques of the valley last Friday as various religious organisations appealed the people to offer prayers at home.

Main roads in the valley have been sealed off and barriers erected at several places by security forces to check the unwanted movement of the people and to enforce the lockdown on Friday, the officials said.

The markets across the valley were shut and public transport was off the roads with only pharmacies and groceries allowed to open, they said.

Educational institutions across Kashmir have been closed, while all public places including gymnasiums, parks, clubs and restaurants have been shut down more than a week before the nationwide lockdown announced by the Prime Minister.



COVID-19 LIVE | India tally of confirmed cases cross 2300, death toll touches 56

While the Prime Minister announced the country-wide lockdown on the evening of March 24, the union territory administration here had on March 22 announced a lockdown across Jammu and Kashmir till 31 March as part of its efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The administration said essential services including healthcare personnel have been exempted from the restrictions.

Restrictions were first imposed in many parts of the valley on March 19 to contain the spread of the virus infection.

The measures were taken after a 67-year-old woman from Khanyar area of the city, who had returned on 16 March from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, tested positive for COVID-19 infection.



ALSO READ | 'On 5th April, at 9 pm, for 9 minutes, light up candles': PM Modi calls for 'bright' show of solidarity to fight COVID-19

The officials said the authorities have started an aggressive contact tracing campaign across the union territory to contain the spread of the infection.

Nearly 2000 contacts of positive cases have been identified, they said, adding no known contact would be left untraced.

The total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir has gone up to 70.

Of these, 53 cases were detected in Kashmir and 17 in Jammu division.

While two patients have died, three patients have recovered from the disease, leaving 65 active cases.

The total number of positive cases in the union territory has gone up to 62, which includes 50 cases in the valley.



Two patients 'both from the valley -- have succumbed, while two' one each Kashmir and Jammu -- have recovered.
The Guard members had been preparing since morning for the incoming flights and said working with the airport has been easy.

An American Airlines flight from Dallas arrived around 11 a.m. on Friday with a total of eight passengers. Two passengers opted out of the voluntary screening. None of the six passengers who were screened registered fevers.

An emergency medicine physician, Dr. Alexander Cianflone who lives in Cody, was returning from working at a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday.

He said he wasn't screened at his other connections, and appreciated getting screened by the National Guard in Billings.

"They're nice," he said. "They're doing their jobs."

Cianflone, who was wearing a face mask, said he felt that wearing a mask while in public was crucial to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Teresa Bullock, a Billings resident traveling home from her horse ranch in Dallas, went through the screening process. Her puppy, Ruger, didn't have his temperature taken.

"It's good to be cautious," Bullock said. She owns the Cutie Patootie Boutique and Smile Bright, USA, both in Rimrock Mall.
(Bloomberg) -- France reported its deadliest day from the coronavirus amid tentative signs that the pandemic may be easing in Spain and Italy.

The health ministry in Paris reported 588 hospital deaths, the most yet, bringing the figure to 5,091 since the beginning of the outbreak. In contrast, new infections slowed and fatalities declined in Spain for the first time in four days, as infections stabilized in Italy. Together, the three countries account for more than half the deaths worldwide in the pandemic.

Austria could become one of the first in the region to loosen restrictions that have shut down much of public life. Chancellor Sebastian Kurzs government will review data and consider a plan in coming days to gradually restart the economy, the Austrian leader told parliament in Vienna on Friday.

Lets not jump to conclusions because there are some positive signals, Kurz said. I can promise you, if the numbers support it, well do what we can to return to normality step by step.

Despite the pockets of improvement, governments have little leeway to unwind lockdowns that have devasted the regions economy. IHS Markit said its monthly measure of services and manufacturing in the euro area points to an annualized contraction of about 10%. With new business, confidence and employment all down, there is worse inevitably to come in the near future, it said.

Signs emerged that squabbling national leaders are coalescing around an aid package. Euro-area finance ministers are set to agree on a coronavirus aid package of 500 billion euros ($540 billion) next week, the groups leader, Portugals Mario Centeno told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Germany is planning to set up an extra 300 billion-euro aid program to help small- and medium-sized companies, and Switzerland doubled the amount of state credit guarantees for businesses to 40 billion francs ($41 billion).

In another positive development, German Chancellor Angela Merkel left her precautionary quarantine. After ending 12 days in voluntary self-isolation in Berlin, Merkel will continue to observe social-distancing standards, government spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters.

Story continues

The chancellor, who this week prolonged a nationwide lockdown until April 19, addressed the public Friday from the chancellery for the first time since the quarantine, making a plea to stay home and avoid social contact through the Easter holiday.

Even though a slight slowing of the spread of the disease offers some hope, she said it was far too early to set a target date for easing restrictions.

Europes longest-serving leader took center stage in Germanys fight against the virus with a rare televised address to the nation on March 18, in which she called the pandemic the countrys gravest challenge since World War II.

Lockdown Review

Kurz, who wore a face mask before and after his speech, urged Austrians to persevere with measures to limit contact between people and asked them to refrain from celebrating the Easter holiday with large gatherings of families and friends. His government will review virus statistics with epidemiology experts on Sunday and present its plans on Monday.

Growth in new infections in Austria has decreased to less than 5% per day. The number of daily fatalities has fallen for four straight days this week.

Spains Health Ministry on Friday reported 932 new deaths and 7,472 cases over the latest 24-hour period, both smaller gains than the previous day. The dip in the daily figures could lead to less pressure on overwhelmed hospitals. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs government is looking to extend the current lockdown for another two weeks beyond April 11, Spanish media reported.

Italy reported 4,585 new infections, while there were 766 fatalities compared with 760 in the previous 24-hour period, civil protection authorities said at their daily news conference in Rome.

The pace of both new deaths and new infections has flattened out over past days, even as the containment measures shuttering all non-essential activities and banning most movement take a heavy toll on the economy. In total, the country had 119,827 cases and 14,681 deaths.

In France, daily intensive-care admissions fell for a fourth day, adding to signs that lockdown measures across Europe may be helping to bring the outbreak under control. The total number of fatalities is 6,507, including 1,416 deaths from nursing homes -- data that was partially included for the first time on Thursday.

Despite Merkel returning to work, Germanys fight against the outbreak suffered a setback. Fatalities and confirmed cases rose by more than the previous day on Friday, with total deaths climbing past 1,000. The mortality rate is probably underestimated because of insufficient testing, according to Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute.

The country -- which has 84,794 infections, the third-most in Europe -- may still need additional intensive-care space, even after boosting capacity by more than 40% since the crisis began, the head of Germanys public health authority said.

My personal appraisal is that it will not be enough, Wieler said at a press briefing. I would be happy to be wrong.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 21:33:12|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The forest fire that started on March 29 has been put out in southwestern China's Yunnan Province after over 2,000 people battled for days, said local authorities Friday.

Open fires have been put out in a total burning area of 426 hectares in the Shangri-La economic development zone as of 6:10 p.m. Friday, with four helicopters joining the efforts. Firefighters are still on guard to search for smoke points and clear embers.

No casualties have been reported so far.

The fire started in the economic development zone in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Strong winds and steep slopes had increased the difficulty of putting out the fire, said the local publicity department earlier.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said any decision on extending the curfew imposed in the state beyond April 14 would depend on the prevailing situation.

Singh was reacting to reports in a section of the media which quoted him as saying that the government would not lift the curfew on April 14.

"If the situation takes a turn for the worse, there will be no option with the government but to continue with controls," the chief minister said here.

Restrictions will have to continue as long as they are needed to save lives, he clarified.

Any decision on lifting or extending the curfew/lockdown in the state will be taken in the light of the situation that exists at the time, Singh said in a statement.

It would depend entirely on how things are then, he said, adding that it was not possible to commit to either way at this juncture when the situation was dynamically evolving.

"If things improve then there would be no need for such tight restrictions," Singh said.

The chief minister assured the people that his government would continue to take steps to minimise the hardships suffered by the people as a result of the curfew.

Already, a lot of essential services, which were initially locked down, have been restored, he pointed out, citing examples of banks, postal and courier services, harvesting etc.

The requirement of curfew passes for doctors, health staff and regular patients have also been done away with, Singh added.

More steps will be taken in the future to further ease the lives of the people, irrespective of whether or not the curfew continues, he said.

Punjab was the first state in the country to impose a curfew to check the coronavirus outbreak.

The chief minister, however, made it clear that the state government would not allow itself to become complacent, saying he had already directed the Health department to prepare on war footing for any eventuality, including community spread of the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The apex bank Reserve Bank of India has reduced the timing of debt as well as currency market from April 7 to April 17, 2020. The timings for currency market has been revised from 10 am to 2 pm in light of the lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak. Currently, the money market trades from 9 am to 5 pm.

Similarly, timing for trading in debt market has been revised to 11 am to 2 pm. RBI in its circular said that the unprecedented situation created by the COVID-19 outbreak has necessitated lockdowns, social distancing, restrictions on the movement of people and non-essential activities, work from home arrangements and business continuity plans.

However, timing for stock market remains unchanged. Currently, Indian equity market trades from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays.

The resultant dislocations have adversely impacted the functioning of financial markets, RBI added.

"Staff and IT resources have been several affected, posing operational and logistic risks. The thinning out of activity impacting market liquidity and increasing volatility of financial prices," the central bank added in its circular.

The filing further said," In order to minimise these risks and to ensure that market participant maintains adequate checks and supervisory controls while optimising the resources and ensuring the safety of personnel, it has been decided to revise trading hours for various markets".

Share Market Update: Sensex ends 674 points lower, Nifty at 8,083; Kotak Bank, IndusInd Bank top losers

ICICI Bank cuts interest rate on savings account, FDs
The coronavirus pandemic continues to grip both the UK and the world at large.

Heres your morning briefing of everything you may have missed over night.

Government to write off 13.4bn in historic NHS debt amid coronavirus crisis

The health secretary announced the government will write off 13.4bn of NHS debt to allow the health service to focus on the response to coronavirus crisis.

Matt Hancock revealed plans to wipe out historic debts to let hospital trusts channel their resources into battling the outbreak, rather than balancing the books.

In his first public appearance after self-isolating for seven days, Mr Hancock also paid an emotional tribute to NHS staff who have lost their lives, including doctors who had come to work in the British health service and paid the ultimate price.

Recovered patients to be given immunity certificates to leave lockdown early

Matt Hancock also announced people who test positive for coronavirus antibodies will be given immunity certificates to allow them to leave lockdown and return to normal life.

The move, already planned in Germany, will be implemented if hoped-for antibody tests  showing a person was infected, but is now healthy  become available on a mass scale.

Mr Hancock cautioned the antibody tests may not be introduced for some time, as none have yet obtained approval from Public Health England by meeting required accuracy levels.

Woman loitering at train station was wrongfully convicted

Police admitted a woman fined 660 after refusing to tell police why she was at a railway station was wrongfully charged with a crime under new coronavirus laws.

Marie Dinou, 41, refused to give police officers her name, address or reasons for travel when they questioned her because she was loitering between platforms at Newcastle Central station on Saturday.

She was convicted of an offence under the Coronavirus Act 2020 at North Tyneside Magistrates Court on Monday, despite not being present at the hearing.

Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Show all 15 1 /15 Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A rose is delivered by drone to a woman on Mother's Day in Jounieh, Lebanon AFP/Getty Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Women dance on their balcony as a radio station plays music for a flash mob to raise spirits in Rome Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A skeleton stands on a balcony in Frankfurt, Germany AP Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies The film Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna is projected on a building in Rome AP Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A woman uses a basket tied to a rope to pull a delivery of groceries up to her balcony in Naples, Italy EPA Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies DJ Francesco Cellini plays for his neighbours from the rooftop terrace of his flat block in Rome Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A woman gestures from her balcony in Barcelona EPA Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Cellist Karina Nunez performs for her neighbours at the balcony of her flat in Panama City Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies DJ Nash Petrovic live streams a set from his roof in Brooklyn Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies People applaud medical workers from their balconies in Modiin, Israel Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A Brooklyn resident relaxes in a hammock hung on their balcony Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Residents toast during a "safe distance" aperitif time between neighbours in Anderlecht, Belgium Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies Musician Adam Moser plays for neighbours from his balcony in Budapest, Hungary Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A man and his son on their balcony in Brooklyn Reuters Coronavirus culture from rooftops, windows and balconies A man sits alone on a roof terrace in Rome Reuters

But her conviction is to be quashed after police admitted the wrong law was used to prosecute her, and the case shouldnt have happened.

UK cases could hit plateau in 2 to 3 weeks, says top health official

One of Britains top health officials has said the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus could plateau in the next two to three weeks, as he conceded to frustration that not enough people in the UK were being tested.

Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director of Public Health England, could not rule out the possibility the UK was on course for 1,000 deaths a day by the weekend.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme he expected to see a continued increase in the number of people being infected and admitted to hospital before we hit a plateau in two to three weeks time if all social distancing measures are working.
Police in the UK have deployed a drone as part of its search operation for an Indian-origin man who was reported missing by his family this week.

Jasvir Leader, 58, has a medical condition and it is believed he left his home in the city of Leicester without any of his regular medication.

Leicestershire Police is appealing to the public for any information on the whereabouts of Leader, described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, slim, with greying short dark hair and wearing glasses.

"He may be wearing a dark green bomber jacket, woolly hat, dark trousers and shoes," the police said in its missing person's appeal on Thursday, when the drone was deployed to assist in their ongoing search.

The police said it is out of character for Leader to be missing and, as time passes, officers and his family, who lodged the formal missing person's report on Wednesday, are growing increasingly concerned for his safety.

"We are extremely concerned for Mr Leader's welfare and we are appealing for public help to find him. We urge anyone who knows where he might be or thinks they have seen a man matching his description to get in touch," said Sergeant Julie Graham, from the Missing Persons' Team at Leicestershire Police.

As part of their enquiries, officers have been visiting addresses in the area close to Wilberforce Road where Leader was last seen on Saturday, and are trawling through local CCTV footage as they try to establish his whereabouts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 01:06:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NEW DELHI, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held telephonic conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Britain's Prince of Wales -- Prince Charles, and discussed the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the two leaders, according to a statement issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs.

Modi and Merkel shared views on the inadequate availability of medicines and medical equipment required during the pandemic, and agreed to explore avenues of cooperation in this regard.

The German Chancellor agreed with Modi that the COVID-19 pandemic was an important turning point in modern history, and offered an opportunity to forge a new vision of globalisation focused on the shared interests of humanity as a whole, said the statement.

The Prince of Wales thanked the Indian prime minister for the facilitation and assistance provided for British citizens stranded in India during the present crisis, according to the statement.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) announced on March 23 that it was endorsing an industrial agreement offer from Metro Trains, the corporate operator of Melbournes train network. The move is a betrayal of the train workers protracted industrial dispute, involving major concessions on working conditions that especially affect train drivers.

Furious drivers have taken to the internet and social media to voice their opposition and rally support for a majority no vote on the deal.

Melbournes privatised train network is majority owned by the Hong Kong-based giant MTR Corporation. Negotiations for a new industrial agreement have been underway for more than a year.

At every step, the RTBU has subordinated the train workers to the parameters determined by the company and the Fair Work industrial regime established by the Rudd-Gillard Labor governments, in collaboration with the unions. In two anti-democratic rulings in August and December last year, the Federal Court used Fair Work laws to ban the workers from taking any form of industrial action whatsoever. The RTBU did nothing to defy these orders, instead intensifying their behind closed doors discussions with corporate management (see: Melbourne train and tram workers isolated by trade unions).

The union bureaucracy has cynically invoked the COVID-19 pandemic to justify the proposed deal. The global economy and the Australian economy face a crisis the union wrote, and against this background of uncertainty, Metro Trains had offered a very good outcome in very uncertain times.

The proposed agreement includes a 14 percent nominal wage rise over 4 years, far below the initial demand of 6 percent a year. The RTBU claimed to have won a new clause enhancing job security through redeployment and retraining, and other minor improvements in areas such as long service and parental leave.

Left out of all the publicly released agreement highlights, however, are the enormous workplace concessions to Metro Trains affecting drivers. This includes provisions opening the door for an uncapped part-time workforce, reducing job security and slashing overtime wages. Another concession threatening public safety involves train drivers being forced to repeat the same line three times in a single shift, which studies have shown increases the risk of driver error because of fatigue and reduced alertness.

One especially hated clause of the proposed agreement gives Metro Trains management greater leeway to choose which depot drivers are required to start their shifts. This could substantially increase drivers commute times, impact on family arrangements, such as school drop-offs, as well as increasing their personal transport expenditures.

The RTBU is engaged in a divide and rule strategy, pitting against the train drivers the other Metro Trains workers covered by the agreement, including signallers, authorised officers (ticket inspectors), station staff and administrators.

The sellout of the train drivers has triggered a rift within the RTBU, with the unions Locomotive Division opposed to the deal. The RTBU leadership has accused Locomotive Division officials of organising online abuse of the Branch Secretary [Luba Grigorovitch] and deliberately trying to mislead Members to scare them into rejecting the proposed agreement.

The Locomotive Division has called for a no vote, while at the same time insisting that train workers do nothing to challenge the Fair Work industrial regime. In a March 26 note to members, the union division wrote: Because an order of the court was breached the RTBU as a bargaining representative cannot currently organise and engage in protected industrial action in support of claims in bargaining. It added that the RTBU and its members are not in a strong bargaining position because of this.

The RTBU Locomotive Divisions strategy is to return to behind closed doors discussions with Metro Trains management to plea for an agreement that somewhat less aggressively strips workers conditions. Their aim, no less than their nominal opponents leading the other divisions of the RTBU, is to suppress widespread anger among workers.

Independently of the internecine dispute within the RTBU bureaucracy, train workers have sought to organise a rejection of the sellout offer.

A vote no online petition has been signed by more than 1,500 people. Comments from workers signing the petition include: Together we stand. With or without the union. Another: #VOTENO Our conditions are NOT for sale! Youve let us down RTBUyou should be bloody ashamed! And: I am signing this because the proposed EA [enterprise agreement] will result in an unsafe work environment. The rules and conditions are in place based on lessons learnt from previous mishaps. Lets not make them occur again.

Other comments on social media, including the RTBU Victorias Facebook page, reflect the train workers anger. One wrote: To use COVID-19 as a scare tactic against your members who are frontline staff is an absolute disgrace!!!! You should be ashamed!! #voteno. Another driver commented: I do not want to go down the same line 3 times a day, every day. They could double my pay and I would still say no.

Many workers directed their anger against the RTBU. One wrote: You should be ashamed! I am so furious that you are colluding to shoehorn this substandard EA offer through at such a time when front line staff are already experiencing extremely high stress levels over COVID-19. How dare you sell away our conditions?! Another added: If Metro get this EA because of the campaign by RTBU Victoria to vote yes, I predict mass resignations from the Loco Division.

The task confronting Metro Trains workers is to develop a mass no vote on the sellout agreement as the starting point for an industrial and political campaign that not only defends all train workers jobs, conditions, and wages, but works to bring Metro Trains and other private transport operators under public ownership with workers control.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the irrationality of allowing the private ownership of public transport networks, and operating them on the basis of profit maximisation. Transport workers are courageously risking exposure to the virus in order to maintain train, tram, and bus services that allow numerous health and other essential workers to get to their workplaces.

The corporate operators are meanwhile seeking to slash costs by reducing their services to weekend or public holiday timetables, potentially increasing crowding on the less frequent trains, trams, and buses and increasing the risk of coronavirus transmission.

A campaign for the nationalisation of Metro Trains requires the formation of new rank and file committees in every depot and station, which will take the struggle out of the hands of the RTBU, develop the widest democratic discussion among train workers, and turn out to other sections of the working class confronting similar attacks.

This struggle is inseparable from the fight for a workers government that would place the major corporations, across industries, and the banks, under public ownership and democratic workers control.
More than 31,000 doctors, including retired government and Armed Forces Medical Services, and private physicians have volunteered to help the government fight against COVID-19 pandemic, a senior government official said on Friday.

The government on March 25 had appealed to retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors to come forward and join the efforts to fight the pandemic caused by the deadly novel coronavirus.

"31,062 volunteer doctors,including retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors have so far signed up to the government to battle COVID-19 pandemic," the official told PTI.

The official said the maximum number of applications received fromMaharashtra (6,656), followed by Uttar Pradesh (2,816), Karnataka (2,060) Delhi, (2,022), Telangana (1,959), Gujarat (1,712), Rajasthan (1,478), Andhra Pradesh (1,685), Bihar (969), Kerala (946) and West Bangal(921).

Three applications were received from outside India.

Besides, 263 applications were received from Jharkhand and352applications received from Jammu and Kashmir among others.

The number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,301 in the country on Friday while the death toll rose to 56, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In a statement posted on Niti Aayog's website on March 25, the government had said those who wish to contribute to this and be a part of this noble mission to serve the country may register themselves on a link provided on the official website of the Niti Aayog.

"The Government of India requests for volunteer doctors who are fit and willing to be available for providing their services in the public health facilities and the training hospitals in the near future.

"We appeal to such doctors to come forward at this hour of need. You could also be a retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or a private doctor," the statement said.

It had noted that in case the outbreak leads to a high number of infected individuals, India's public health facilities will face tremendous load to take care of a large number of patients.

Many countries, including the US, Italy, the UK and Vietnam, have urged retired health workers to come back to work amid the pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Boris Johnson is to remain in self-isolation despite completing the planned seven-day period, as he continues to have a high temperature.

In a message on Twitter, the prime minister said he was extending his period of isolation in line with medical guidance.

And he issued an appeal to the public to stay at home over the coming weekend, when good weather is forecast, in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

He acknowledged that many people - particularly those with children in their households - may be feeling "stir crazy" after almost a fortnight behind closed doors.

But he urged them to maintain their "brilliant" efforts to reduce social contacts which he said had helped slow the spread of the disease.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

And he told them: "Let's focus on doing everything we can - stay at home folks, protect the NHS, save lives.

Mr Johnson, who was clearly not in full health in the brief video message, said: Although Im feeling better and I have done my seven days of self-isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms  a minor symptom. I still have a temperature.

So, in accordance with government advice I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom goes.

Mr Johnson had hoped to come out of isolation on Friday, having confined himself to his flat and an 11 Downing Street study and office after showing symptoms of coronavirus on 26 March.

Number 10 said he was complying with medical advice that anyone with symptoms should self-isolate for seven days, or longer if their high temperature persists.

No new date was named for Mr Johnson to emerge. He has continued to chair meetings of cabinet and the daily Covid-19 committee by video link, and appeared at the door on Thursday evening to join national applause for NHS workers.

The PMs official spokesman declined to say how high Mr Johnsons temperature was, but said: The guidance is very clear and the prime minister is following that advice to the letter. That is what we are expecting the public to do, and its absolutely right that the prime minister should follow that advice too.

In a message to anyone tempted to break social distancing guidance to enjoy the fine weather this weekend, Mr Johnson said: I reckon a lot of people will be starting to think that this is all going on for quite a long time and would rather be getting out there, particularly if youve got kids in the household.

"Everybody may be getting a bit stir crazy, and there may be just a temptation to get out there, hang out and start to break the regulations.

I just urge you not to do that. Please, please, stick with the guidance now.

This country has made a huge effort, a huge sacrifice, done absolutely brilliantly well in delaying the spread of the virus.

Lets stick with it now  remember that incredible clapping again last night for our fantastic NHS. Were doing it to protect them and to save lives.
Construction has kicked off on a vacant block owned by Chris and Liam Hemsworth.

The block is located near Chris' $20million mega-mansion in Broken Head, just outside of Byron Bay.

Photos taken near the property shows that work has started on the empty lot, but it's unclear what is being built.

Building something new? Construction has kicked off on Chris and Liam Hemsworth's vacant block in Broken Head, near Byron Bay

Brothers: Liam (left) is pictured with older brothers Chris (centre) and Luke (right)

Chris, 36, lives at his mansion with his wife Elsa Pataky, 43, and their three children, India Rose, 7, and twins Tristan and Sasha, 6.

The Thor hunk is often seen surfing on nearby beaches when he isn't busy filming in Hollywood.

His younger brother Liam, 30, boasts his own $4.5million mansion just a few kilometres away from Chris and Elsa's property.

Living large! Chris owns a $20million mega-mansion in the area while Liam has a $4.5million mansion just a few kilometres away

Construction: Photos taken near the property shows that work has started on the empty block, but it's unclear what is being built

Lush and green: Chris and Liam's pristine properties are located in Broken Head, Byron Bay

Liam purchased the property last year, just months after splitting from wife Miley Cyrus, 27.

Last August, Chris revealed that he was taking a break from the spotlight amid the runaway success of his Marvel films.

He told the Men's Health Strength Session podcast that he wanted to focus on his family instead of his career for a while.

Fresh start? Liam purchased his Byron Bay mansion after splitting with Miley Cyrus last year

'I'm just at home now, taking the next six months off and spending time with the kids and the wife,' Chris said of life back in Australia.

The Thor: Ragnarok star explained the decision to take time off at the peak of his career wasn't easy.

'After the Avengers press tour [in April] I had a real moment of like, "Oh, what now? I'm unemployed, what next?"' he said.

Taking a break: Last August, Chris revealed that he was taking a break from the spotlight amid the runaway success of his Marvel films

'And then I thought, "No, this is the problem. If you keep looking ahead and not enjoying [the present], then you're just going to miss it."'

Chris relocated to Australia with his family in 2014, after several years living in LA.

The actor will next be seen on screen in the action thriller Extraction.
James Durbin / The Oilfield Phot/The Oilfield Photographer, Inc.

Crude oil sold for less than $6 in some corners of the Permian Basin this week, according to a report from the Houston Chronicle.

The report states the while crude oil is selling for more than $25 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, WTL Midland, a type of light sweet crude oil produced in the western end of the Permian Basin known as the Delaware Basin, was being sold for May contracts between $5.48 and $7.23 per a barrel on Tuesday, data from the commodity price service Argus shows.
Toyota City, Japan, Apr 3, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., and Toyota Tsusho Corporation concluded an agreement today to establish Toyota Green Energy LLP for the purposes of obtaining and managing renewable energy sources in Japan and supplying electric power from renewable energy sources to the Toyota Group in the future.Toyota aspires to move toward a society where people, automobiles, and nature can coexist in harmony. Under Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, Toyota plans to reduce the environmental impact from automobiles to as close to zero as possible and at the same time engage in activities that contribute to the global environment and society. The clean energy to be supplied through this business is expected to reduce CO2 emissions from plants and other facilities to zero in the future and to contribute to the realization of a low-carbon society.Chubu Electric Power has been increasing the use of renewable energy in its drive to expand the scope of ESG management and contribute to resolving issues relating to SDGs. By participating as a business partner in the activities of the Toyota Group to create a low-carbon society, the company will contribute to improving Japan's energy self-sufficiency rate and reducing CO2 emissions.Toyota Tsusho has engaged in the renewable energy business for more than 30 years, from development to operation of power stations, with a focus on wind power and solar power generation. The company plans to make use of its expertise in management of such business in this project in order to foster the transition to a low-carbon society.Going forward, Toyota Green Energy will achieve sustainable and competitive energy by maintaining sustainable practices through cost reductions and extending the lifespans of and replacing existing facilities.About Toyota Motor CorporationToyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 29 countries, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.Source: Toyota Motor CorporationCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, is calling for significant new emergency cashflow and liquidity measures from Government in order to support vulnerable businesses.

The package outlined in a new report, if fully utilised, would increase the total Irish Government crisis response support to the economy to about 10% of GDP, bringing Ireland into line with other countries.

Ibec say the State can now provide the benefit of low cost money directly into Irish SMEs and larger businesses in ways that are not possible in normal times. The group says solutions to rents and local rates challenges facing businesses must also be addressed.

Commenting on the package, Ibec Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Fergal OBrien said, "The total programme of guarantees, loans, and other supports in this Ibec report would help ensure 26.4 billion of liquidity to the economy, but at a maximum would leave the Exchequer exposure at 5.9 billion. Although these are significant sums, there are no cheap alternatives. Without the implementation of these measures the road to recovery from the crisis will be longer and more expensive."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Contemporary debate around inequality is centered on a common theme: capital. Capital, broadly speaking, is wealth. People who have capital enjoy more leverage, security, and flexibility in their economic lives.

Capital in the Nineteenth Century is a history of how and where capital was originated and consolidated in the United States first century as an independent nation. It is an utterly original and painstaking work of economic history, one that illustrates the power of the field to inform our thorniest debates in the present.

Here, the eminent economist Claudia Goldin recounts the origins of the project: an unexpected (and not entirely organized) mailing from the late Robert Gallman.

In August 1998 a large envelope arrived from Bob Gallman, who was then a distinguished economic historian at the University of North Carolina. Inside was an unwieldy set of chapters that Bob was asking me to consider for the National Bureau of Economic Research monograph series, Long Term Factors in Economic Development, for which I served as editor for almost three decades. Bob and I had no prior discussions of the book he was proposing, which is not to say I was surprised by the manuscripts arrival since I knew Bob had intended to pull together his extensive work on the US capital stock. I was excited to publish a volume that was so thoroughly in the NBER tradition and that contained all of Gallmans data on capital and national income.

The rough shape of the manuscript was not a concern. I knew from my stint as editor of the Journal of Economic History that Bobs drafts differed wildly from their later, polished publications. I recalled a report Id received on one of Bobs earlier papers from a referee who noted how he/she had taken special care with his/her criticisms since the paper must have been written by a rookie economic historian. I chuckled, assured as I was that Bob would rise to the occasion and rewrite the paper such that the referee would someday feel embarrassed to learn that the extraordinary Bob Gallman was the author.

I sent Bob my thoughts about what to do with the many chapters he had sent. I drafted an outline for the book; much of that outline follows the chapters that are in Capital in the Nineteenth Century. I noted: There are various problems, some more major than others. I asked him to check the concordance of data across the various tables. I had a long paragraph on what he should do with his introduction that concluded: Add some spice to the volume with your colorful descriptions of the capital stock, and put that spice at the beginning of the introduction.

But I also knew that Bob in August 1998 was not the same Bob as in the late 1980s when I edited his JEH paper. He had cancer that had spread to his spine. I ended the note: I know that this coming week is your chemo time and that youll be exhausted for a short while. When you recover (and you seem to be doing that well), you can figure out how to proceed with this task. Then I added, I would guess that a good UNC student could do all the work in about four weeks (full-time) with a bit of your assistance.

Those were the days when we mailed and faxed letters. My letter of August 10 appears to have arrived after an initial fax from Bob, so I sent him another fax on August 15 responding to his points. I wrote: My advice generally  is to be wordier and to give more detail. Although this volume will be mainly for those who know something about national income accounts, even they will find many of the terms you use to be a bit baffling. I reminded Bob that many of his papers were written for a limited audience. There will be many people who would like to use the data, or who are simply curious about the history of the project, but who have forgotten the intricacies of national income accounts. Try to help them along.

I ended with this advice: In sum, make the preface and the introduction more accessible. Talk to your readers as you would to your (intelligent yet not-entirely-informed) graduate students on the first day of class. Pull them into the subject and give them sufficient information so that they can make full sense of it. Write it less like IRS code and more like one of those Your 1040 and You self-improvement books.

That was 20 years ago. I dont know if I really believed that a smart graduate student working full-time for four weeks with Bobs help could have whipped the manuscript into shape. But I wanted to be upbeat for Bob.

The beauty of economic history is that it never gets old. Historians, economic historians, economists, and others are fortunate that Paul Rhode completed what I had asked of Bob and his (imaginary) graduate student. It took a while because it was difficult to locate Bobs voice and yet add some of the spice I had requested.

Just before Bob Gallman died in November 1998, I was sent an invitation to a showing at Bostons Newberry Street Gallery called Into the West. The invitation featured the Currier and Ives print Through to the Pacific. I knew, then, that the lithograph would be the cover of the volume. It illustrates the unbounded exuberance of nineteenth-century America as revealed by the land that was cleared, the factories that were built, the railroads that linked the nation, the ships that sailed from ports, the logs that were cut, the homes that were erected, and the people who plowed the land, chopped wood, and labored across a grand nation. I looked at the print and saw the spice of the volume.

Claudia Goldin, Department of Economics, Harvard University

Capital in the Nineteenth Century is available now from our website and your favorite bookseller.
Photo: (Photo : pexels/Josh Willink)

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, families have more opportunities to spend time together. Since children are currently staying home and not schooling, they might be curious as to what is going on in the world.

Children are more vulnerable to feelings of anxiety, sadness, and stress during a crisis, according to UNICEF. That is why it is important that adults living with them provide a safe and reliable environment for them to discuss their feelings.

However, how can you tell them about the coronavirus? Here are some suggestions.

Share Kindness and Avoid Stigma

Avoid words that lead to assumptions blaming people about coronavirus concern. When talking to children, it is best to present facts in a balanced image as much as possible.

Tell children that the virus does not choose a specific gender or ethnicity. The illness does not depend on someone else's physical appearance.

You may ask children if they have any experience that relates to COVID-19. Ask them if there is someone in their class who has bullied anyone for infecting others. Ask them how they feel about the bully, or what they think made that person say such words.

This exchange of experience will help build trust between you and your children. It will help you bond more as a family.

Tell them that people are sacrificing for the good of others; that healthcare providers are doing their best to take care of the sick, and scientists are working overtime to find a cure. Let them know that volunteers are helping out the needy people.

You can encourage them to do their part in lifting the spirits of other people. They may video call their grandparents and see how they are doing. Or they can make crafts and send them to people to help spread love and kindness.

Be Honest

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), honesty and accuracy would go a long way in helping children understand what they hear.

Adults need to inform children about the current situation, but it should be appropriate for their age and developmental level.

UNICEF advises adults to use appropriate language, watch the children's reactions, and be sensitive to the children's level of anxiety.

Children are affected when adults around them are stressed. Thus, you should keep your stress levels at bay by doing relaxation techniques. Also, take advantage of the current stay-at-home situation by playing with your children to help them feel connected and secured.

Listen to Your Kids

First, ask them how much they know about the pandemic issue. Ask them open-ended questions and listen carefully to what they are going to say. Let them know that they can speak to you or any adult in your home when they need someone to listen to their concerns.

Do not say reassuring words like "Do not worry" or "Things like that would never happen". Instead, acknowledge their concerns and tell them that people are doing their best to solve the issue.

If your child is still small and is not aware of the issue yet, there's no need to tell them about it. Just keep on reminding them about proper hygiene and then continue playing with them.

Make Hygiene Precautions Enjoyable

It is hard to make children stay in one place for a long time. Since it is now advisable to wash hands for 20 seconds, adults should help entertain their children by singing their favorite songs or taking their minds off boredom.

You may also give rewards to your children who will cough or sneeze into their elbow to encourage them into doing the guidelines.

Be Calm

Even if the situation makes us all scared and troubled, parents must still model calmness. When children see that you are afraid, that makes them feel terrified as well.

Much like when you are traveling on an airplane, and there is turbulence, seeing a flight attendant that looks terrified would tell you that there is something wrong. However, if the flight attendant is calm, then it would send a message to you that everything will be alright.
By PTI

KARACHI: Pakistan's Sindh province government on Friday invoked the Maintenance of Public Order to keep in jail British-born al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh after a court overturned his death sentence in the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi in 2002.

On Thursday, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha found 46-year-old Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping and commuted his death sentence to seven years in prison.

He has been in jail for the past 18 years.

The court also acquitted his three aides - Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil- serving life sentences in the case.

The bench announced the verdict on the appeals filed by the four convicts 18 years ago.

The Sindh government acted swiftly to invoke the MPO which allows it to keep the four convicts behind bars for three months.

According to a notification issued by the Sindh Home Ministry, the release of Sheikh and his three associates could jeopardise the law and order situation in the province, thus necessitating their continued detention.

Talking to Geo News, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he was surprised at the timing of the verdict.

He said the order shall be challenged at a higher forum.

Under the Sindh High Court order, Sheikh is eligible to walk free as he has already served 18 years in prison on the death row.

The US on Friday criticised the Pakistani court for overturning the death sentence of the al-Qaeda leader, terming the verdict an "affront" to the victims of terrorism everywhere.

"The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl's murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere," Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, said in a tweet.

But the US' top diplomat for South Asia welcomed Pakistani prosecutors' indications that they would appeal the decision.

"We welcome Pakistan's decision to appeal the verdict. Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice," Wells said.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story on the alleged links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

Sheikh, who was the mastermind behind abduction and killing of Pearl, was arrested from Lahore in February 2002 and sentenced to death five months later by an anti-terrorism court.

The incident came three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814.

He was serving prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country.
South Africa: W Cape sees increase of local transmission of COVID-19

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the Western Cape has already seen an increase of COVID-19 positive cases of people who have not traveled abroad - which has led to an upsurge in the number of admissions to hospitals.

Briefing the media in Cape Town on Friday, Mkhize said the department, therefore, is pushing to roll-out more testing especially in densely populated areas such as townships and informal settlements.

He said they have already identified these sites and additional beds to augment the existing capacity as the number starts to peak to manage the outbreak.

The country has recorded two more deaths as the government continues to fight COVID-19 which has infected 1 million people worldwide.

The two new deaths include an 81-year-old female and an 80-year-old man - both from KwaZulu-Natal - and have no history of travelling anywhere  abroad or locally. The Minister said there were two more suspected COVID-19 related deaths that were yet to be confirmed.

This brings the number to seven deaths since the outbreak in South Africa and 1 505 infections to date.

While the government is working tirelessly to flatten the curve, Mkhize said he was still concerned that the numbers are slowly increasing.

Were sad at the passing of these particular individuals, Mkhize told the media.

He said the number of new cases which are up by 43 since Thursday was due to limitations of the reactive testing that will soon change, he said.

Were at the point [where] we need to scale up the testing, he stressed.

He is optimistic that the country will put a big dent on reducing the number of infections as lockdown continues. South Africa has also reduced the number of visitors, airlines and closed the ports and quarantined those who have been to areas of the epicentre of the pandemic, especially from the Western countries.

Mkhize also thanked the healthcare workers who are consumed by the task of saving the lives of others daily. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Imagining the future is often a luxury for parents with little kids who have immediate needs like eating, getting their diapers changed and finding that lost toy  right now. But many families, particularly those helmed by doctors and nurses, are realizing the coronavirus pandemic means planning for the worst-case scenario and they must jump to the top of the list.

They are scrambling to create wills and advanced health care directives knowing they might not survive this tragedy.

Its a dreaded task the Gamboa family has long intended to tackle  and finally is. Both parents work as doctors in Kaisers San Francisco hospital  dad Stephen, 42, as an emergency physician and mom Olivia, 36, as a hospitalist and palliative care doctor, meaning she treats patients admitted to the hospital and those who have life-threatening or terminal illnesses.

The Richmond District couple trade off caring for their two little kids, Wesley, 4, whose preschool has shuttered, and Emily, 16 months. Life for any family with little kids is stressful right now  but its even more rife with anxiety for doctors and other medical staff whose jobs suddenly entail treating patients with COVID-19, a highly contagious disease they could contract and bring home to the people they love the most.

We dont have a will now, but we realize we need to make one, Stephen Gamboa said. For other younger folks with small children who havent thought about their mortality up until now, maybe nows the time to think about it.

Its fair to say the situation has pushed us to think about things that no one likes to think about, echoed Olivia Gamboa. Theres a nonzero chance that something bad happens.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

As COVID-19 cases gradually climb at Kaiser and hospitals around San Francisco, the Gamboas wonder if the dreaded surge that overwhelmed their peers in Italy and New York City is still coming  or if it will remain busy, but manageable.

We have no idea what its going to be like in our city, Stephen Gamboa said. I feel anxious about what I see the virus doing in other places and imagining our future could be like that.

While the Gamboas said Kaiser has enough protective gear for staff, many hospitals around the country do not. Nurses at Highland Hospital in Oakland, for example, this week cut holes in trash bags and wore them over their clothes.

And now getting accurate information about the number of health care workers whove been made sick by the virus has become harder. The state on Monday stopped breaking out health care workers in its running total of those who test positive for the coronavirus. That announcement came after the number of infected health care workers in the state spiked 52% in one day from 48 on March 27 to 73 on March 28. They resumed reporting those numbers on Thursday and disclosed that 127 health workers were now infected.

The awful, nonstop news has understandably shaken doctors and nurses, especially those with children. After another San Francisco family  two emergency room doctors with three kids under 6  posted on Facebook asking for recommendations for lawyers who could help them draw up a will, Lauren Cappelloni sprang into action.

Shes a lawyer specializing in estate planning who posted that she would help draw up a will for free for anyone in the Bay Area working on the medical front lines who has children under 18 . She expected a handful of people would respond, but she spent 14 hours that first day going through all the requests. Shes held several Zoom meetings with groups of parents and has more scheduled.

I couldnt keep up, she said, noting another lawyer has stepped in to help her.

Usually, creating a familys full estate plan would take weeks or months, but these families dont have that kind of time. Cappelloni, who has two kids ages 5 and 7, is helping families craft an emergency package focused on who will be the guardians of their children if they die and who will be the executor of their funds.

I normally would never give someone a will like this in an hour  its not a full plan, she said. But theyre terrified and panicked and theres a sense of urgency.

Patricia De Fonte, another estate planning lawyer, has also seen an uptick in business from doctors and nurses with young children. She said her clientele has shifted from happy people just being proactive to people who are anxious and exhausted.

What I keep hearing over and over again is, We always knew we had to do this and now it feels like an emergency. How fast can we get this done? she said.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

The Gamboas are working to get their affairs in order  and to take precautions to prevent the worst from happening. They never wear their work clothes home anymore, instead they discard everything they were wearing at work, showering at the hospital and change into clean clothes before leaving.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

We worry about bringing the virus home and infecting our children, Stephen Gamboa said. Were taking precautions that weve never taken before.

Theyre hopeful San Francisco has successfully flattened the curve through its proactive, early measures to shut down much of the city  but they know the surge could still be coming.

There are bright sides, they readily admit. Unlike so many people, they still have jobs and their hefty paychecks keep coming. Their au pair was already living with them so she could stay when the shelter-in-place rules went into effect. Theyre also relieved that data show children mostly weather the virus just fine, and Wesley and Emily would likely be OK if their parents inadvertently brought the virus home.

But Olivia Gamboa is worried about her husband, who has asthma, which could make coping with the virus well-known respiratory effects that much harder.

But I think Ill be fine, she said. I have no way of knowing that for sure, but in medicine and in life, we have to go through assuming that were going to be OK. Otherwise, youre paralyzed.

Stephen Gamboa said hes confident everything will work out.

The fact that we can go and do something to make things better for other people is psychologically very good for me, he said. I think this is a time when we have to be brave. I know Olivias worried about me, but Im not worried about myself. Ill be OK.

Does he need to tell himself that?

Um, yeah, he said with a pause. We all have a job to do and so we just do it.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Instagram: @heatherknightsf
BJP president J P Nadda asked party workers on Friday to spread among the masses Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to light lamps or turn on mobile phone torches on Sunday.

He also claimed that India has become a "role model" for other countries for its help to the poor during the lockdown.

The government had announced the 21-day lockdown from March 25 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The way in which the entire country has fought the battle against the novel coronavirus unitedly under Modi's leadership is laudable, Nadda tweeted.

He also shared a video clip of World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus' appreciation of the Indian government's relief package for the poor.

"In this difficult time, when the world is fighting with COVID-19, everyone is praising Narendra Modi's leadership and his efforts. WHO chief Tedros praised PM for his efforts to help the poor amid the lockdown imposed to contain the virus. India is a role model for other nations," Nadda said.

Noting that Modi has urged people to turn off lights at their homes and light candles, lamps or turn on mobile phone torches at 9 pm on Sunday for nine minutes, the BJP president asked party workers to take this message to the masses.

This exercise will help spread the light of the people's collective confidence and this will defeat the darkness of the coronavirus crisis, he said.

Other BJP leaders also made similar appeals while welcoming the announcement.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, "PM Narendra Modi has made an appeal to all of us to switch off lights on April 5th for 9 minutes at 9 PM & illuminate our surroundings by lighting candles, diyas, torches or flashlights standing on balcony or at door step while maintaining social distance."



"We welcome this unique step of PM, which will boost the morale of the people," he said.

Let''s awaken the spirit of togetherness in the fight against the coronavirus, Javadekar added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An exterior view of the Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in West Philadelphia, where four residents have since died and as of mid-week 15 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus. Read more

Back in March, Joshua Uy, a Penn Medicine geriatrician who is also the top doctor at a West Philadelphia nursing home, thought he was ahead of the curve in protecting the facilitys residents from a new virus that had raged through a nursing home in Washington state.

He and his administrator, Sunil Chacko, restricted visits, stopped group activities, and didnt let outside vendors or transport workers go beyond the lobby of Renaissance Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center. Staff members were tested for fever before shifts and asked about symptoms.

We thought we were doing everything that Kirkland hadnt done, said Uy, referring to Life Care Center of Kirkland, the facility tied to 40 deaths of residents and visitors and 129 coronavirus infections.

Eight days later, on March 19, Renaissance became Philadelphias first nursing home with a positive case. Four residents have since died, and as of mid-week, 22 residents and a contract employee who provided therapy and last worked at the nursing home on March 11 had tested positive.

All of the infected residents lived in a 30-bed unit for long-term residents. Uy has known some of them for a decade. Hes met their children and grandchildren.

Its the patients we know the best, he said.

He was on quarantine himself for what turned out to be a cold when the first case was discovered in a hospitalized patient who later died. He immediately called West Coast medical directors who already had experience with the disease and was soon cleared to return to work.

It was easily the hardest week of my professional career," he said. "I have never dealt with an infection like this before. It feels like a professional failure when youve put so much effort into keeping the virus out, and it gets in anyway.

Now, two weeks into personally battling coronavirus, he has developed a powerful respect  and fear  for this tiny new enemy. He estimates that over the past week, he has talked with almost 50 other medical directors to share what hes learned. The best advice is coming from word of mouth, Uy said. This is changing so fast.

He tells his fellow doctors they have days, at most a week, to get their acts together. The terrible asymptomatic spread of coronavirus  some experts now think that most cases have no symptoms  makes it exceptionally difficult to defend against.

According to state health departments, 132 of New Jerseys 375 nursing homes had at least one coronavirus case, and 79 residents had died as of Friday. Meanwhile, 92 of Pennsylvanias 695 nursing homes had reported a total of 200 confirmed cases as of mid-week. Pennsylvania is not reporting nursing-home deaths. Because of nursing home residents advanced age and poor physical health, they are especially vulnerable to the new virus.

Nursing homes, Uy said, are used to trying to keep viruses like the flu out. Tough containment measures, such as blocking visitors and stopping activities, usually dont start until after the first, or index," case, in part because everything about a nursing home is designed to be social. Thats too late for this virus, he said.

In fact, starting a week or two before the first case may be too late because of the two-week incubation period. Once you wait for that index case, theres probably 10 or more in the building, Uy said.

After he knew Renaissance had a case, he had to make the hard emotional pivot from putting all of his energy into keeping the coronavirus out to working like crazy to keep it from spreading. Hes begging his fellow nursing home medical directors to make that strategic change now. If their only plan is to keep it out, theyre unprepared, he said. The best way to keep it out is to assume its already in the building.  Whatever you think youre going to do once its in your building, start doing it now  because the virus doesnt play nice. You have to get ahead of it.

Uy doesnt know how the coronavirus penetrated Renaissance. The most likely sources were staff members or patients who go out for dialysis three times a week. Dialysis patients have become infected in other locations, Uy said, and some of his patients have had symptoms. I think its an entry point that people have to think about, he said. Dialysis centers now treat all Renaissance patients as if they were infected, he said. In the week before the first case, there had been no new admissions, which are also a potential source of infection.

Uy advises nursing home leaders to soak up as much advice and help from others as possible. Workers from Philadelphias Department of Public Health very quickly did widespread testing at Renaissance. Uy learned what doctors in Washington and California had done and asked his colleagues at Penn and two other physicians at Renaissance for help in developing treatment protocols.

He began asking patients and their relatives how they would feel about spending two weeks on a ventilator, a common fate for those who suffer the most severe coronavirus symptoms. Within a couple days, he insisted that every staffer wear masks and face shields at all times in the building. Uy said that Renaissance, unlike many nursing homes, has enough protective equipment. The nursing homes owner made sure there was a respiratory therapist in the building.

Some hospice programs have not been working directly with patients who have COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, so Uy talked with Penns hospice program about supporting grieving family members. That, he said, has made a huge difference.

So far, there have been no positive cases outside of the initial wing. I dont rest easy about that, though, he said. I just dont trust this virus.

 HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday expressed concern over reports of misbehavior with medical professionals and staff engaged in treating coronavirus patients, saying such incidents will affect India's fight against the pandemic.

In a statement, the minister said ill-treating doctors and nurses will also create impediment in treatment being given to COVID-19 patients.

A five-member team from the health department had gone to Taatpatti Bakhal in Indore on Wednesday to quarantined relatives and acquaintances of a COVID-19 patient, when an unruly mob had attacked them with stones, injuring two women doctors.

The statement released by the minister's office quoted him as saying that he was concerned over the ill-treatment meted out to doctors and health workers in different parts of the country on Thursday and appealed to people to let them discharge their duties in this crisis time.

"Our Prime Minister has already praised the doctors and other health workers combating COVID-19 outbreak from the front-line. To obstruct their praiseworthy work will create impediment in treatment of coronavirus patients, and will also create a delay in overcoming this COVID-19 crisis," Vardhan said.

"With delay, it will not only increase the pain of patients, but also weaken the economy of the country," he cautioned.

Vardhan said that due to these "corona warriors" more than 150 patients affected by the pandemic have gone back home after treatment.

"These doctors and health workers are not just serving patients, but serving humanity, and trying to make the damage minimum. I appeal to let them work fearlessly and discharge their duties," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DEINOVE immediately strengthens its cash position by 1 million

This announcement is not intended to be released, published or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, in Canada, Australia or Japan.

Regulatory News:

DEINOVE (Paris:ALDEI) (Euronext Growth Paris: ALDEI), a French biotech company that uses a disruptive approach to develop innovative antibiotics and bio-based active ingredients for cosmetics, announces today the issuance of a 2nd tranche of notes convertible into new shares (the "OCA") as part of the agreement reached on July 9, 20191 with the European Select Growth Opportunities Fund (the "Investor") relating to a financing through the issuance of OCA for a maximum nominal amount of 15 million, with a 6.5% face discount upon conversion into shares, not bearing interest and with no stock subscription warrants attached, over a maximum period of 24 months.

This second tranche is composed of 100 OCA with a nominal value of EUR 10,000 each, representing a total amount of EUR 1,000,000, fully subscribed by the Investor today, in accordance with the contract signed on July 9, 2019.

The characteristics of the OCA and their theoretical dilutive impact are detailed in the press release dated July 9, 2019. DEINOVE recalls that 218 of the 220 OCA issued under the first tranche have already been converted to date.

Objectives

The objectives of this issue for DEINOVE are to (i) finance the need for working capital, (ii) continue the development and marketing of natural active ingredients for the cosmetic industry, (iii) continue the Phase II clinical trial in the United States testing DNV3837, its most advanced antibiotic candidate for the treatment of severe gastrointestinal infections caused by Clostridiodes difficile and (iv) discover new antibiotic leads based on its integrated and automated, high content, screening platform.

Concurrently, DEINOVE and the Investor entered into an amendment to the contract concluded on July 9, 2019. The purpose of this amendment is, in particular, to modify one of the characteristics of the OCA, namely the price per share used to determine the number of new shares to be obtained by the Investor in the event of conversion. Thus, this price is now equal to 93.5% of the lowest of the volume-weighted average daily prices on the trading days during which the Investor has not sold any DEINOVE shares on the market, among the 10 trading days immediately preceding the date of receipt of a conversion notice by DEINOVE.

ABOUT DEINOVE

DEINOVE is a French biotechnology company, a leader in disruptive innovation, which aims to help meet the challenges of antibiotic resistance and the transition to a sustainable production model for the cosmetics and nutrition industries.

DEINOVE has developed a unique and comprehensive expertise in the field of rare bacteria that it can decipher, culture, and optimize to disclose unsuspected possibilities and induce them to produce biobased molecules with activities of interest on an industrial scale. To do so, DEINOVE has been building and documenting since its creation an unparalleled biodiversity bank that it exploits thanks to a unique technological platform in Europe.

DEINOVE is organized around two areas of expertise:

ANTIBIOTICS, New-generation anti-infective drugs : A first antibiotic candidate, DNV3837, is now in Phase II. The Company is also pursuing the systematic exploration of biodiversity to supply its portfolio with new leads, drawing notably on partnerships with bioMerieux and Naicons (AGIR program supported by Bpifrance).

: A first antibiotic candidate, DNV3837, is now in Phase II. The Company is also pursuing the systematic exploration of biodiversity to supply its portfolio with new leads, drawing notably on partnerships with bioMerieux and Naicons (AGIR program supported by Bpifrance). BIOACTIVES, Active ingredients of natural origin with cosmetics as the first market: DEINOVE is already marketing a first cosmetic active ingredient, a second in partnership with Greentech and plans to launch new assets in 2020. Several other cosmetic actives are in development, including with Oleos (Hallstar Group) and Dow. It also runs a program in animal nutrition with the Avril group.

Within the Euromedecine science park located in Montpellier, DEINOVE employs 60 employees, mainly researchers, engineers, and technicians, and has filed about 350 patent applications internationally. The Company has been listed on EURONEXT GROWTH since April 2010.

Visit www.deinove.com

1 Press release dated July 9, 2019 available on the Company's website http://www.deinove.com/en/news/all-press-releases/issuance-notes-convertible-new-shares-maximum-amount-eu15m-issuance-first-eu22-million-tranche

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200402005669/en/

Contacts:

Investors

Coralie Martin

Communication, Marketing and Investor Relations

Ph.: +33 (0)4 48 19 01 60

coralie.martin@deinove.com

Media

ALIZE RP

Caroline Carmagnol

Ph.: +33 (0)6 64 18 99 59

deinove@alizerp.com
The canned hunting industry is a shockingly cruel type of sport where people hunt wild animals in caged and controlled environments. It is a rich mans activity designed to satisfy the distasteful desire to dominate nature. Even though many hunters denounce this type of unethical and unfair practice, it remains a lucrative business in many countries around the world, particularly the United States and South Africa. The following are ten horrifying secrets regarding the industry.

The Hunted

Victims of the canned hunting industry are diverse in species, but for the American hunter, they are usually exotic or foreign animals. Unfortunately, many endangered species find themselves vulnerable to the hunt: the scimitar oryx, the dama gazelle, the Nubian ibex, the mouflon, and the barasingha or swamp deer. Despite the unusualness of these creatures, lions tend to be the most popular prize.

Tourism

Hunters often take their kills home to be hung as trophies. Image credit: Lord Mountbatten / Public domain

Canned hunting thrives as a tourist sport, with South Africa being the most popular destination for the American and European wealthy. Their kills often return home with them, mounted as trophies or as souvenirs.

The Law

On a federal level, there are no laws that prohibit canned hunting in the United States. Whether or not it is permitted depends on each individual state. Approximately only half have banned the practice. To make matters more complicated, the Endangered Species Act protects threatened animals, but the Fish and Wildlife Service does not forbid private ownership of these animals and permits captive hunting. There are more than a thousand hunting operations in the country, 500 of which are located in Texas.

The law is a little more muddied in South Africa. For example, canned lion hunting is illegal, but captive-bred lion hunting is allowed.

Bred In Captivity

To ensure the legality of their practice, lions are bred in captivity in South Africa and are held in small dens until they are ready for the hunt. The exact number of breeding farms is unclear, but estimates range from 160 to over 200 with approximately 7,000 lions in captivity. In fact, there are around 5,000 more lions held in captivity than there are living in the wild.

Once they are born, cubs are immediately taken away from their mothers so that they can quickly become fertile again. An adult female will have about five litters every two years. Evolutionary biologist Pieter Kat describes it as a conveyor-belt production of animals.

Unknown Inhumanity

These operations are far more duplicitous than they sound. They prey on the kind-heartedness of others by masquerading as conservation projects aimed at protecting endangered species. Taken in by these deceptions, volunteers donate their time and effort to tend to these animals. Instead of making a positive impact, they are directlyyet unknowinglysupporting the canned hunting industry.

The Unfair Chase

Fair chase is defined as a hunter not having any sort of unfair advantage over their prey. It is an ethical and lawful philosophy abided by a large portion of the hunting community.

Canned hunting is referred to as unfair chase because animals are deposited in fenced-in areas with very little to no chance of survival. From birth, they are groomed for one purpose: to be hunted and killed. Sometimes they are already in bad shape due to poor nutrition. Furthermore, by interacting with them since the moment they are born, animals are trained not to be afraid of humans. This makes them easier targets and gives the hunter an unfair advantage.

Prices

The cost of canned hunting changes drastically depending on the species of the prey. When it comes to lions, prices are so exorbitant that a fully-grown, male lion can cost anywhere between $30,000 and $55,000. Many hunters will pay more money for lions with thick, dark manes as they supposedly make better trophies. Due to the importance of manes, lionesses can be bought for less than $6,000.

Some hunting packages include support from professional hunters and even room and board.

Internet Hunting

Internet hunting allows people to hunt live prey from behind a computer screen. In their den however far away, animals are lured into position by food at which point the so-called hunter would trigger a mounted weapon and kill their game with a single click of the mouse. Trophies are then prepared and shipped to the customer. Depending on the size and species of the animal, it could cost more than $1,500.

Many hunting communities regard this practice with distaste as it reduces the experience to murder and violates the fair chase philosophy.

With help from the Humane Society of the United States, internet hunting is currently banned in 38 states.

Diseases

Animals living in captivity are all at risk of catching and spreading various illnesses, including tuberculosis and brucellosis. A serious concern is chronic wasting disease which is fatal to deer, elk, and moose. Due to the unscrupulous nature of breeding farms, it is doubtful whether sick animals receive proper veterinary care.

Although canned hunting grounds are required by law to be fenced-in, animals in the past have escaped. If one such animal is suffering from a deadly disease, the outside wildlife suddenly becomes at risk.

Lion Bones

Image credit: www.dailymaverick.co.za

So many lions are born in captivity that a shortage of animals for the canned hunting industry is highly unlikely. In South Africa, euthanizing healthy captive-bred lions is legal with a permit. Many breeders choose this route to profit from the lucrative lion bone trade, which in itself is a prosperous business for lion farmers. Once the trade of tiger bones became illegal, the demand and monetary value of lion bones skyrocketed. They are usually shipped to various parts of Asia for use in traditional medicine products.
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Taipei, April 3, 2020  The Hong Kong government should let Radio Television Hong Kong report freely and without official harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Yesterday, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, a government body that supervises the public broadcaster, issued a statement accusing the broadcaster of breaching the One-China Principle and the purposes and mission of RTHK as a public service broadcaster.

The statement was issued in response to an RTHK interview with Bruce Aylward, a senior World Health Organization official, in which reporter Yvonne Tong asked Aylward about Taiwans status regarding the organization. Taiwan is barred from WHO membership because it is not a member of the United Nations, according to news reports.

The Hong Kong government must accept that reporters ask questions, sometimes tough ones, as part of their job of gathering news, said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler, in Washington, D.C. Slamming RTHK over a legitimate question about Taiwan threatens the press freedom that is fundamental to Hong Kongs success and identity.

The interview was conducted on the broadcasters English-language program The Pulse. In a video clip of the interview that circulated widely online, Aylward appeared not to hear the RTHK reporters question, and then hung up after she asked it again.

In its statement, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau Secretary Edward Yau reprimanded the broadcaster and called on the director of broadcasting, Leung Ka-wing, to be held responsible for not abiding by RTHKs charter.

RTHK rejected the governments claim that it had breached its mission and charter and defended Tongs questioning, according to a report from the broadcaster.

RTHKs union also released a statement, titled We Have Lost the Freedom to Ask Questions, on its Facebook page accusing the government of damaging Hong Kongs press freedom.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association also released a statement expressing regret over Yaus accusation, and stating concern that such rhetoric would have a chilling effect on the media and worsen the problem of self-censorship.

The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau did not reply to an email from CPJ requesting comment.

In December 2019, CPJ issued a special report entitled One Country, One Censor: How China undermines media freedom in Hong Kong and Taiwan that documented the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-03 20:48:46

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Granite Creek Copper Ltd. (TSXV:GCX) ("Granite Creek") announces the appointment of Rebecca Moriarty of Malaspina Consultants Inc. ("Malaspina") as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Moriarty is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has over 20 years of experience in the mining industry. As a senior member of the Malaspina team, she is focused primarily on the resource sector, drawing on her unique combination of technical and business accounting expertise with a degree in geology from Queens University and a Chartered Professional Accountant designation. Prior to joining Malaspina, Ms. Moriarty worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where she was a manager working exclusively with resource companies.Malaspina is a leading Vancouver based financial consulting firm providing accounting and advisory firm providing accounting and outsourced finance solutions for high-growth companies, particularly in the resource sector. In addition to providing the Company with CFO services, Malaspina will also provide accounting and corporate advisory services as required. Ms. Rebecca Moriarty replaces Mr. Tim Thiessen, who has stepped down from his role as CFO for the Metallic Group companies, in order to concentrate on other opportunities.Timothy Johnson, Granite Creek President and CEO, stated, "We are pleased to be working with Malaspina and recognize their provision of top quality, comprehensive accounting services as a good fit for Granite Creek. Ms. Moriarty will be assuming the role of CFO for the Company, supported by an experienced, dedicated team with extensive experience in the mining exploration sector. Granite Creek is very appreciative of the contributions Mr. Thiessen has made to the Company since its launch in 2018 and wish to extend our best wishes in his future pursuits." Covid-19 UpdateBased on guidelines from the World Health Organization, national governments and local communities, Granite Creek has implemented precautionary measures to reduce the risks associated with the spread of COVID-19. These measures include reducing travel and in-person meetings for all personnel. The Company is closely monitoring recommendations and guidance related to Corona virus for all of the communities in which we operate. Technical work on the Stu Copper-Gold project is ongoing, and the Company will provide further updates on operations and corporate developments in the coming weeks and months.About Granite Creek CopperGranite Creek Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on the advancement of its 100%-owned Stu Copper-Gold project located in the Yukon's Minto Copper District. This 115 square kilometer property is on trend with Pembridge Resources' high-grade Minto Copper-Gold Mine to the north and the Carmacks Copper-Gold-Silver project to the south. The Stu project has excellent access to infrastructure with the nearby paved Yukon Highway 2, along with grid power within 12 km. More information about Granite Creek and the Stu Copper-Gold Project can be viewed on the Company's website at www.gcxcopper.com About the Metallic Group of CompaniesThe Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry's highest-grade producers of silver and gold, platinum and palladium, and copper. Member companies include Metallic Minerals in the Yukon's high-grade Keno Hill silver district and La Plata silver-gold-copper district of Colorado, Group Ten Metals in the Stillwater PGM-nickel-copper district of Montana, and Granite Creek Copper in the Yukon's Minto copper district. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry's leading explorer/developers and major producers. With this expertise, the companies are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven, but under-explored, mining districts. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTC, and Frankfurt stock exchanges.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Timothy Johnson, President & CEOTelephone: 1 (604) 235-1982Toll Free: 1 (888) 361-3494E-mail: info@ gcxcopper.com Website: www.gcxcopper.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Granite Creek Copper Ltd.
ANSONIA  Every little bit helps.

Thats the thinking behind the Water Pollution Control Authoritys unanimous vote this week to reduce residents annual capital project sewer fee by $20.

The WPCA held its first-ever virtual meeting Wednesday, and voted to reduce the annual fee from $270 to $250.

The capital project fee is associated with the $50 million wastewater treatment plant the city built some 15 years ago on North Division Street. The city did a 20-year payment plan for the project, according to Public Works Director and WPCA member Mike DAlessio. Thanks to the city being ahead of schedule on payments at this time, and after some recalculations, the WPCA was able to reduce the annual fee, he said.

While many residents have found themselves suddenly unemployed because of the coronavirus pandemic, and struggling to pay bills and make ends meet, the WPCAs action to reduce the fees can help soften the blow, even just a bit.

I cant imagine anyone would be upset about paying less, said WPCA Chairman Domenico Philippone, who led the virtual meeting, as he and his fellow WPCA members practiced social distancing while still conducting important city business from their homes.

Many residents are struggling financially, Filippone added. The commission had the ability to lower the fee, and did not hesitate to act.

The public was invited to watch the WPCA in action via computer or phone, but those who were unable to catch the quick meeting, which only lasted about 10 minutes, can log onto the citys Facebook page and view it there.

Former City Comptroller Richard Bshara, a consultant for the WPCA, said upon analysis of the collection rate he felt the city was able to bring the capital fee down to $250 per unit, and may be able to offer another reduction in the future.

In related news, Mayor David Cassetti recently gave residents an extension on their regular sewer use bills.

We are facing a time of great uncertainty the likes of which we have never seen before, said Cassetti. I will not let you (residents) face this challenge alone.

Cassetti recently made an executive order to extend the due date for the second installment of the sewer bills to May 1 without penalties or interest, and said, if necessary, another extension could be warranted.

jean.sos@snet.net
The number of people infected with the new coronavirus in Israel rose by 571 to 7,428 in the past day, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

There were 6,857 infected in the country as of Thursday evening. Five more people have died from virus-related complications, taking the death toll to 39.

In Palestine, 22 people have tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said at a news briefing.

This brings the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in the Palestinian territories to 193, including 12 patients in the Gaza Strip. All new cases were imported from Israel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LEXINGTON, Mass., April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaleido Biosciences, Inc. (KLDO), a clinical-stage healthcare company with a chemistry-driven approach to leveraging the microbiome organ to treat disease and improve human health, today announced the appointment of Anne Prener, M.D., Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Prener has more than 25 years of leadership experience within life sciences companies, and recently served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Freeline Ltd.



We are thrilled to welcome Anne to our Board. She brings extensive experience in clinical development and commercialization in multiple therapeutic areas, which will be instrumental to Kaleido as we continue to advance our pipeline of Microbiome Metabolic Therapies (MMT), said Michael Bonney, Executive Chair of Kaleidos Board of Directors.

Dr. Prener has led companies and teams across several therapeutic areas, including a focus on rare diseases. As CEO of Freeline, a liver-directed gene therapy company, she scaled the company from preclinical stage to a fully integrated biotechnology organization, which included a broad, internally developed pipeline, two programs in clinical development and a commercial-scale, high-quality CMC and manufacturing platform. Prior to joining Freeline, she served as CEO of Gyroscope Therapeutics Ltd., a gene therapy company focused on eye diseases. Before that, Dr. Prener was Global Therapeutic Area Head of Hematology and Vice President, Clinical Research Hematology at Baxalta. During her time there, three new major product approvals in the U.S. and EU were secured along with a significant advancement in Baxaltas hematology portfolio. Earlier in her career, Dr. Prener held several positions of increasing responsibility at Novo Nordisk, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Hemophilia R&D Portfolio, where she was instrumental in building a portfolio of late stage and commercial hemophilia products.



Dr. Prener serves on the Boards of Directors of several life science companies, Rubius Therapeutics, Cellinta and Renovacor. She holds a Ph.D. in epidemiology and an M.D., both from the University of Copenhagen.

Story continues

With its differentiated approach to the microbiome and compelling human-centric discovery and development, Kaleido has the opportunity to redefine how we manage health and treat a broad range of diseases to impact patients lives. I look forward to working with the Board and talented leadership team as Kaleido continues to progress its programs and overall business, said Dr. Prener.



About Kaleido Biosciences

Kaleido Biosciences is a clinical-stage healthcare company with a differentiated, chemistry-driven approach to leveraging the microbiome organ to treat disease and improve human health. The Company has built a human-centric proprietary product platform to enable the rapid and cost-efficient discovery and development of novel Microbiome Metabolic Therapies (MMT). MMTs are designed to modulate the metabolic output and profile of the microbiome by driving the function and distribution of the organs existing microbes. Kaleido is advancing a broad pipeline of MMT candidates with the potential to address a variety of diseases and conditions with significant unmet patient needs. To learn more, visit https://kaleido.com/ .



Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding the therapeutic potential of our MMT candidates and our strategy, business plans and focus. The words may, will, could, would, should, expect, plan, anticipate, intend, believe, estimate, predict, project, potential, continue, target and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on managements current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those related to the breadth of our pipeline of product candidates, the strength of our proprietary product platform, the efficiency of our discovery and development approach, the clinical development and safety profile of our MMT candidates and their therapeutic potential, whether and when, if at all, our MMT candidates will receive approval form the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and for which, if any, indications, competition from other biotechnology companies, and other risks identified in our SEC filings, including our most recent Form 10-K, and subsequent filings with the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
After an employee of the



Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) was found coronavirus positive on Thursday, it has shut the department where he worked and asked its other staffers to remain home quarantined.

The BEST administration said that the employee had been admitted to a private hospital after he complained of fever from March 26 and he tested coronavirus positive on April 2. But he had not reported for duty from March 22.

The employee had travelled to his native place while he was on leave on March 18 and 19. He had joined work on March 20 for evening shift at the Hutatma Chowk receiving station in South Mumbai, the BEST said.

"On March 21, he reported for duty at the BEST's Transport Training Centre Building at Wadala depot. But from March 22, he stopped working," the BEST administration said.

After he tested positive for coronavirus, the Transport Training Centre has been shut. It will be sanitised and the staffers working there have been asked to remain home quarantined, it added.

Sources in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is the parent body of the BEST undertaking, said that the employee stayed at Tilak Nagar. His close contacts have been quarantined.

The civic body has sealed the residential building, where the employee stays. His family members have informed that his condition is stable.

BEST supplies power to 10 lakh consumers in Mumbai. It has a fleet of 3,500 buses, which ferry around 35 lakh commuters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China is bringing back some coronavirus restrictions amid fears of a second wave of infections as the country attempts to return to normal life.

Jia, a county in the central province of Henan, has banned outward movement and ordered workers without special permits to stay at home after several new infections were found.

Yunnan, a southern province bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, has blocked citizens leaving from ports in an effort to prevent them returning with the disease. Cinemas have been ordered to shut once more.

Shanghai, the largest city in China with 25 million people, has closed tourist attractions after a brief period of welcoming visitors while venues such as bars and internet cafes have been shut across the country.

The reintroduction of lockdown measures highlights the challenges Chinese authorities face in striking a balance between virus containment and restarting the world's second-largest economy. Beijing has lately signalled the virus has been beaten, lifting restrictions in the most badly ravaged parts of China.

Xi Jinping, leader of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, this week visited Zhejiang, the second-hardest hit province after Hubei and was pictured without a face mask for the first time in months.

Numbers do appear to be subsiding, with no local transmissions again on April 1. All 35 new cases were due to imported infections, national health authorities said.

But doubts persist over whether the figures reflect the scale of the outbreak, as hospitals were immediately overwhelmed when the pandemic hit.

The central government has yet to reschedule its postponed annual parliamentary meetings, a major political event experts say will be a key indicator that things are indeed returning to normal.

Authorities are still concerned about imported infections, and have banned foreigners from entering the country while ordering a sharp reduction in the number of international flights.

Since emerging in China late last year, the coronavirus has infected more than 950,000 people and killed about 50,200 around the world. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Kolkata, April 4 : A section of nurses and health workers at a state-run hospital in South Kolkata earmarked for the treatment of Covid-19 patients on Friday staged a demonstration and laid siege on the room of the superintendent, alleging that the health facility lacked the infrastructure to handle such an infectious disease.

The protesters expressed apprehension that they may get infected if Covid-19 patients are treated there.

They also alleged that the hospital did not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) at its disposal.

The nurses expressed fear that as the government has decided to post nurses as per roster to the Covid-19 isolation ward in the new hospital building, other patients may also get infected.

Later, however, the agitating nurses and health workers withdrew their protest.
Blacklisting proceedings have started against 360 foreigners who had participated in Tablighi Jamaat activities in India and left the country before borders were sealed in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the Union Home Ministry said on Friday.

IMAGE: Police use a drone to keep a vigil on the area as people who attended Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin West walk to board a bus for the LNJP Hospital for screening and COVID-19 test, in New Delh . Photograph: PTI Photo

Addressing a press conference here, Punya Salila Srivastava, a joint secretary in the Home Ministry, also ruled out the deportation of 960 foreigners, still in India, who came on a tourist visa and participated in Tablighi activities at this stage, saying action has already been initiated for alleged violations of visa conditions under the Foreigners Act and the Disaster Management Act.

"At this stage, there is no question of deportation because the action has already begun. As and when deportation will take place, it will be as per standard health protocol," a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, responding to a question on the deportation of 960 blacklisted foreign nationals linked to the Tablighi Jamaat.

These 960 foreigners who are on a tourist visa have been blacklisted for alleged violations of visa conditions for participating in Tablighi Jamaat activities, she said.

"Blacklisting process of 360 foreigners who took part in the activities of Tablighi Jamaat but have returned to their countries has begun," she said.

Home Ministry has asked all Directors Generals of Police and Commissioners of Police to initiate 'strict action' in such cases, she said.

Tablighi Jamaat's Markaz in Nizamuddin West has emerged as an epicentre for the spread of the coronavirus in different parts of the country after thousands of people took part in a congregation from March 1-15.

Many of the participants have tested positive for COVID-19 in several states and also died.

According to latest data, 647 COVID-19 cases have been reported among people who have participated in Tablighi Jamaat activities from 14 states.

India has reported 56 deaths from COVID-19 with 12 deaths reported in last 24 hours, a health ministry official said.

The ministry has also asked the states and Union Territories to take strict action in reported cases of attacks against health care professionals and frontline workers, Srivastava said.

The ministry has asked states to ensure the security of medical fraternity, she said.

Several cases have been reported in the country where healthcare workers and frontline workers were allegedly attacked by locales and Tablighi Jamaat members.

The Madhya Pradesh government has invoked the National Security Act against four persons allegedly involved in the attack on the medical team which had gone to quarantine relatives and neighbours of COVID-19 patients in Indore.

Similar action has been initiated by the Uttar Pradesh government against six Tablighi Jamaat members who misbehaved with nurses in a makeshift isolation ward where they have been kept.

Allegations of misbehaviour by Tablighi Jamaat members had also surfaced in the national capital when they were taken to quarantine centres.

The home ministry has set up two new helplines for coronavirus pandemic -- 1930 (national toll-free) and 1944 (specifically for North East India), she said.

"Also, list of states' helplines is posted on MHA website," she said.

Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to chief secretaries to ensure smooth disbursement of benefits of Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojna which is starting from Friday, she said.

"The home secretary asked the chief secretary to pass necessary instructions which should reach field level. Call people at staggered times, maintain social distancing and ensure the security of bank branches. Ensure smooth disbursement of benefits and every beneficiary gets due benefits," she said.
While social media has been widely blamed for spreading dangerous coronavirus misinformation, tens of thousands of Australians are using their networks to support the healthcare workers risking their lives on the front lines of the pandemic. When Chris Nicholas launched the Facebook group Adopta Healthcare Worker in Perth on March 14, he expected a handful of "mates and friends of friends" might join. "I had a friend who is a nurse, and she had been struggling to get shopping done around her shifts, so I offered to help her, and then I thought of extending the idea," Nicholas told AFP. Within days, the initiative "exploded", spreading across the country and internationally and now boasts over 140,000 members in Australia alone. The goal is to match volunteer helpers with "adoptee" healthcare workers struggling with increased work hours and the stress of fighting an unprecedented medical emergency that saw cases top one million worldwide on Thursday. Hannah Koch, an administrator for the Victorian branch of the site, understands the pressure doctors have been under since the outbreak took hold. Her brother works in a hospital and her mother is a GP. "We can't help them do their jobs because we are not skilled, but we can do the grocery shopping for them and I can offer to babysit my brother's kid when he has to pick up an extra shift," she told AFP. "There's fear but there's also support, and that's all they can ask for - and stay home," she added with a laugh. "Please, please, please stay home." The help on offer includes mowing lawns, household chores, delivering home-cooked meals and lifts to work for nurses so they don't have to take public transport. Cards and children's drawings saying thank you to "healthcare heroes" have also been collected through the site for display on the windows and entrances of COVID-19 wards, where deliveries of other gifts can not be received. "I want to say a huge thank you for the many beautiful messages and offers of assistance I received," wrote adoptee Linda Yate. "Offers to shop for me, cook and drop off meals, and offers of the chance to touch base with someone to just have a friendly chat and many, many more... The generosity of everyone is so humbling." - 'Love pouring out' - Dozens of other outreach groups have formed in recent weeks via Facebook, WhatsApp, and Chinese social media app Weibo to support the sick, needy and those in isolation. On one such Facebook group - Northside Melbourne Coronavirus Outreach - people offered food, groceries, homemade soaps, sanitary items and thermometers. Others offered to run errands, provide free IT support to those trying to adjust to working from home or give online fitness and relaxation classes. "The love pouring out of this page is everything right in our world," wrote one recipient. Sikh temples across Melbourne have also become a centre of support for both medical workers and those self-isolating. "We are trying to help all people who are in isolation or anyone who's having difficulty getting groceries... especially the health workers," said Manjit Singh. "Some of them are coming home after 12-hour shifts, and all they want to do is sleep and they haven't got time to cook. So we're trying to provide food for them so we can try and look after them while they look after us." At the Gurdwara Sahib in Plumpton - a Sikh place of gathering and worship on the outskirts of Melbourne - Singh and a small group of volunteers packed home-cooked food and other goods to fill orders across the city. Increasing restrictions on large gatherings have required constant adjustments to how they operate, with much of the food now being prepared at home and packed at the centre by volunteer delivery drivers. Singh said ensuring "no person will go hungry and no person will go naked" is part of the Sikh philosophy.
By Trend

Death toll from coronavirus (COVID-19) has reached 134 people over the past day in Iran, said Kiyanoosh Jahanpour, spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Trend reports referring to the ministry.

Jahanpour said that the number of those who have died from coronavirus in Iran reached 3,294 people.

He added that 2,715 people have been infected with coronavirus over the past day.

The total number of infected people is 53,183, the condition of 4,035 people is severe, and 17,935 people have recovered from the infection, said Jahanpour.

Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 53,000 people have been infected, 3,294 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 17,000 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.

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It was the second Saturday in February. Only 15 coronavirus cases had been confirmed in the United States. Baton Rouge native Christopher John Rogers was seeing his dreams unfold on a New York runway.

By the second week of March, the virus was a pandemic.

Even with rave reviews and fashion insiders crowning him the-one-to-watch, the 26-year-old Rogers was about to face a world of closed stores, buyers fearful of travel and stay-at-home mandates that meant no one was getting dressed to go anywhere.

Speaking from his Brooklyn apartment, Rogers looked out at an empty park. Six weeks earlier, he had been in a packed house of people, all standing shoulder-to-shoulder applauding his 40-piece fall 2020 collection.

Now when you do see people out, theyre carrying groceries or takeout, said Rogers. The accessory du jour: gloves and a mask.

But fashion is about the future, so Rogers and his team are still working and thinking ahead. They had set out for Paris shortly after his show last month to market his designs, and they came back with a coveted order from Net-a-Porte, the prestigious online luxury shopping website.

A store in California and another in Texas also placed orders.

A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Rogers launched his brand in 2016 while working for Diane von Furstenberg. He and his young creative team would sew things by hand and bounce ideas off each other at the end of full workdays at other jobs.

Rogers living room was his studio until he recently secured a workplace in SoHo. The show in February was Rogers second under his name during New York Fashion Week. Von Furstenberg would be among those applauding him at the end of his debut NYFW show last September.

The following month, Rogers won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, a $400,000 cash prize for young designers that comes with a yearlong mentorship with an established designer, not to mention mega media buzz.

Strong female icons were stepping out in his designs. Michelle Obama wore his shimmering cyan pantsuit on the final leg of her Becoming book tour. Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lizzo and Cardi B gave Rogers their high-profile stamps of approval on Instagram and red carpets.

While Rogers may have been inspired to design what he felt, he was speaking to a particular customer  women who really have their own point of view and arent necessarily swayed by expectations about how to dress. They have a really good sense of humor; theyre incredibly intelligent and self-aware. And they use fashion as a way to communicate that to the world without really having to say anything.

A designer who likes clothing that takes up space, Rogers sent a model onto the catwalk wearing a ballgown so grand the skirt almost overflowed the runway.

Rogers is not shy about using 30 yards of fabric in one gown. He is even more generous with color, having brightened up the runway with hues so distinctive he names them himself: What some call emerald green, Rogers translates into Baha Blast Green.

What inspired Rogers long before a first ladys stylist took notice were the church ladies at Mount Gideon Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. Going to church with his grandmother, he saw that joy was a big part of getting dressed in Sunday best. Rogers fall 2020 show during New York Fashion Week last month left no doubt that his parade of Skittles colors was nothing but uplifting.

Tech support

Rogers mother is a medical technologist, his father the director of technology for an agricultural extension service. That environment of technical aptitude came in handy for a son who knew in the fourth grade that he wanted to be a clothing designer.

I grew up in the age of the internet, says Rogers, who admits he was always on the computer searching for information that fed his creativity.

When he watched "Project Runway," he would look up some of the contestants to see where they went to school.

Then I would look up those schools and see who graduated from there. I learned about Isaac Mizrahi and Todd Oldham (who made their fashion debuts in the 80s, before Rogers was born). That fed my obsession with fashion and the ability of clothes to transform.

He started art classes in grade school and learned to sketch what was in his head, applying light and shadow and proportions, learning about the color wheel and what colors complement and contrast. He would use plastic garbage bags to twist and gather his concepts into clothing. He and his childhood friend Julie Liu created their own fashion shows in high school.

He was great at draping and fitting and designing on a mannequin. I would hand-sew everything until he learned to sew, said Liu, who took a different turn after graduation and is now getting her masters in social work. She had no doubt that Rogers would stay on the fashion path. I saw him becoming very very famous.

A daring spirit

While grandiosity is the headline-grabber for Rogers, he also strikes a balance with tailored pantsuits and close-to-the body dresses where fabric is gently twisted at the sternum or waist, creating gentle folds that ensure women feel the caress, not the restriction, of fashion.

He does the same with generous ruffles that bounce with every step. Anyone watching the YouTube video from his last show will applaud the hair love that completed the head-to-toe look. Bold wedge-shape Afros were as wide the exaggerated shoulders of his jackets and blouses. Lacquered, close-to-the-head Old Hollywood waves were paired with slimmer, draped column dresses.

Rogers possesses the daring spirit of a young designer, but he also has a sense of fashion history, sometimes paying homage to the sophistication of Madame Gres and sometimes to the flamboyance of a Red Carpet diva.

I like to use colors that are analogous so the different shades of one color are close together. I think that makes crazy color feel accessible. But I also mixed colors that are kind of off, says Rogers, who adds that knowing the rules makes it easier to break them and convince people that something that classically has been seen as incorrect or wrong suddenly feels right and relevant and exciting.

Keeping it in perspective

With a runway show that reflected a bright future, what does Rogers see under the dark cloud of a pandemic?

It seems fashions new kid on the block has a wise perspective on life to go along with his sense of proportion in fashion.

If people arent shopping right now, and we arent making as much money, then you know, we will have less money to use in the future. So instead of trying to pretend that were a Ralph Lauren or a Gucci or a Dior that can take one or two bad seasons, were not in that position. We wont pretend we are," he said.

"I think something necessary about (our) brand is staying true and being honest and authentic. Maybe one season we cant do a show and will just offer beautiful clothes through images, then thats what we will do. And maybe the collection wont be as broad, said Rogers, whose recent show included 40 looks.

Maybe we will do 20 or 30. I think its really kind of just about addressing the reality of the situation.

What Rogers recently told Womens Wear Daily sustains him.

I love the optimism of fashion.
Millions of young adults in Generation Z are struggling to adjust after moving back home amid the coronavirus pandemic as workplaces close and university campuses empty.

The pandemic  which has infected over one million people and killed 53,000 worldwide  has created a new normal of stringent shelter-in-place orders, business closures and social distancing measures

But it has paradoxically brought many families closer than ever as empty nesters welcome back grown children who have decided to ride out the quickening drumbeat of infections, death and mounting economic meltdown in the comfort of their childhood homes.

Millions of university students were sent back home after universities closed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: 'Bard College students Brent Smith and Griffin Gluck exit Penn Station on their way to the airport for a flight back home to Los Angeles'

Joselynn Guzman (pictured) of Chico State University said: 'I feel as if I've walked back into adolescence'

Gen Z, which describes people born since the mid-1990s, said being back at home has caused tension.

I feel as if I've walked back into adolescence," said Joselynn Guzman, 21, who has returned to her family in California.

But with this quarantine I think it is safe to say that this seems to be the general emotion of the whole country, she added.

As of Thursday, the United States has amassed 245,356 confirmed cases and at least 6,056deaths since the outbreak first infiltrated the country through Washington state.

In hots pots like New York, infections have soared past 92,000 and more than 2,400 residents have died from coronavirus.

Around 15 million students in the United States have been affected by coronavirus prevention measures, according to consultancy firm Entangled Solutions.

Deprived of odd jobs and with university campuses closed, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing young Americans to move back in with their parents

Students, many of whom are used to doing as they please, describe clashing with their parents over freedom. Pictured: Students move out of dorm rooms on Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University

Most have been forced to vacate university campuses as school administration scrambled to move physical classes to online.

Guzman, the younger of two daughters of Mexican immigrants, chose to attend Chico State University, in Chico, California, eight hours from her family home, in Riverside.

She found a job as a cashier, but lost it when the deadly new virus started spreading across the US.

Guzman, who is completing the last semester of her sociology degree online before graduating this summer, said she now feels weirdly dependent since returning to her familys home.

Some university students lost their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak and others have fears over getting employment as businesses shut down. Pictured: Volunteers are pictured while handing out approximately 300 laptops to students at East Los Angeles College as classes are switched to online

Something about living under your parents' roof wakes up the child in me, Guzman said.

Lauren Dalton, a first-year nursing student at Kent State University in Ohio, shared a similar sentiment.

Dalton said: I'm faced with an entire inquisition when I grab my keys to leave, with my parents wanting to know who I'm going to be with, where I'm going, when I'm coming home, and what I'm going to be doing.

Some students have been forced to reevaluate their post-university plans after shutdown orders in several states have delayed future jobs and employment.

I had a plan! I had a job lined up for after graduation! said Sage, 22, of Ashland, Oregon,

Sage, who suffers psychiatric issues, had found a balance at university between seeing her therapist, taking hikes, volunteering at an animal shelter and working as a librarian.

Back at her parent's home, she finds a tense atmosphere, exacerbated by being confined to the house.

I have no idea what the world will look like when this is over. Will I be able to find a job? Will I be able to find an apartment? she asked.

Will I be mentally stable enough to go back to school?

Kellie Lail, a 22-year-old student at Oklahoma State University, left her familys home five years ago with plans to branch out from her hometown.

In the last year of studying for a master's degree in biology and chemistry, Lail was working at the university gym and at a hospital for children before those opportunities dried up.

Her job at the university gym ended when the campus shutdown and her work at the hospital was halted because its not considered essential work.

Kellie Lail (pictured) of Oklahoma State University went back to her parents' home after her roomate, a medical expert specializing in veins, came into contact with coronavirus patients

Lail was forced to move back home to Lawton, after her roommate, a medical expert specializing in veins, started coming into contact with coronavirus patients. Unfortunately, Lail has immune deficiency.

She had planned to take a sabbatical year and visit the Cannes Film Festival before starting medicine but all plans are now on hold.

I do plan on leaving as soon as all of this slows down, she said.

Wynter March, a second-year student in information technology at the University of Missouri, is back with her parents in Saint Louis.

I wish I did not have to come back home. When you've become so accustomed to living on your own it's weird to have to come home and follow rules, she said.

Professor Corey Seemiller, an expert on Generation Z, said the experience of living through coronavirus and moving back home could affect some for a while.

Seemiller said: In the long run, what happens in a person's adolescence and early adulthood tends to shape the way they see and navigate the world for much of their lives.

She said Gen Zs oldest members, who are now entering the workforce, were already highly concerned about money and relatively risk averse.

Both the pandemic and the response are likely to exacerbate their fears a bit, Seemiller added.

On Monday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said designed Americans will receive their $1,200 bailout check in weeks - not months as previously reported.

Donald Trump said Sunday that the administration is extending the coronavirus guidelines, originally imposed for 15 days, until April 30  a 30 day extension

'I have previously said that it will take three weeks, I am pleased to report within two weeks, the first payments will be direct deposited into taxpayers accounts,' Mnuchin said Thursday at the daily White House coronavirus briefing.

This comes as nearly a third of Americans said theyve lost wages and, 16 percent have either fired or furloughed.

Almost half of millennials admitted they fear losing their jobs as the pandemic continues to deal blows to the worldwide economy.

Additionally, the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week has shot to a record 6.6 million - as layoffs increased amid the coronavirus pandemic and more states enforced stay-at-home orders.

The United States -which has the highest number coronavirus infections - currently has more than 245,000 cases and 6,056 deaths

New claims for unemployment benefits rose to 6.65 million in the week ending March 28, according to figures released by the Department of Labor on Thursday.

The number of first-time applications for jobless benefits was double the previous record of 3.3 million new claims filed for the week ending March 21.

It means that roughly 10 million Americans have lost their jobs and filed for unemployment in the two weeks that the coronavirus started rapidly spreading across the country.

In the same week of last year, only 211,000 people requested benefits for the first time.

The new unemployment claims account for the week in which states like New York shuttered non-essential businesses and enforced stay-at-home orders.

About 90 percent of Americans are now under some form of lockdown - up from less than 50 percent just a few weeks ago - as the death toll rose to 5,647 as more than 236,086 Americans have tested positive for the virus.

All 50 states reported rises in new unemployment claims, according to the report, with Pennsylvania (up 362,012), Ohio (up 189,263) and Massachusetts (up 141,003) reporting the largest increases.
A Primark store in Nottingham after the company announced that they had closed all UK stores to help limit the spread of coronavirus. (PA)

Bosses at Primark have asked for a temporary 50% pay cut, as the UKs retailers battle to survive the unprecedented coronavirus lockdown.

With retailers enduring their worst month on record in March and non-essential shops now forced to remain shut, Primark closed its 189 UK shops in late March. A further187 shops elsewhere in Europe and in the US had already been closed.

Primarks parent company told investors on Friday its full-year earnings would be much lower than expected.

The board is acutely aware that many Primark employees will see their livelihoods affected by COVID-19, said owner Associated British Foods (ABF.L).

It announced both the chief executive of Associated British Foods George Weston and Primark chief executive Paul Marchant had requested that their base pay be reduced temporarily by 50%. The board agreed, with ABF finance director John Bason also requesting a pay cut.

Read more: UK economy 'sucked into black hole' as coronavirus batters firms

Non-executive directors of the ABF board, including chair Michael McLintock, have decided that their fees should be reduced temporarily by 25%.

With Primarks income taking an enormous hit, the company said it had a strong balance sheet with around 1.7bn ($2.1bn) in cash.

It also said it had not seen a material impact on other key arms of the business, including sugar, grocery, ingredients and agriculture.

It comes as new figures show Britains high street retailers endured their worst month on record in March, both in stores and overall including online retail.

Data from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO showed total like-for-like sales dropped -17.9% in the past month.

In-store like-for-like sales plummeted a record 34.1% in the past month compared with a year earlier.

Read more: Coronavirus 'will wipe 15% off UK GDP' in the next quarter

Reduced footfall due to social distancing and isolation, diverted demand from discretionary to essential items, and enforced store closures in the final week of March all contributed to the worst results on record for total in-store like-for-like sales, said BDOs high street tracker report.
WILTON  While on Facebook recently, Nancy Pantoliano saw a post from a Wilton nurse who was issuing a plea for scrub caps.

With medical supplies dwindling at her hospital due to the coronavirus pandemic, she told Pantoliano that nurses handling patients in quarantine were running low on scrub caps and would soon not have anything to wear on their heads, leaving them exposed.

Pantoliano quickly came to her aid.

Although she had little experience with sewing, Pantoliano broke out her mothers old sewing machine and she and her daughters have made close to 100 scrub caps in the past few days.

She delivered them to nurses who in turn distributed them to ICUs at Norwalk Hospital, Danbury Hospital, Beth Israel and Montefiore Medical Center in New York, and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, where there is an influx of patients with COVID-19.

In response, nurses have sent Pantoliano thank you notes and photos of them wearing the homemade caps.

One of the notes said, With everything that is going on and the fear and uncertainty that everyone is feeling, these caps will be a gentle reminder for me that there is still so much good news and love in the world and that over time we will overcome this!

Pantoliano was touched by the response and wants to do more to help. Were going to continue making the caps until I run out of material, she told Hearst Connecticut Media.

But she has run into a stumbling block.

She has plenty of fabric for the caps, but is running low on the elastic that holds the caps in place. It takes three inches of quarter-inch braided elastic on each cap, and my supply is low. It is difficult to find quarter-inch braided elastic right now, she said.

Pantoliano has turned the dining room in her Wilton home into a makeshift scrub cap factory. As a former quilter, she has plenty of colorful quilting fabric on hand to make the caps. I have cute animal prints with bunnies, frogs, and hippos on them, and patriotic prints with stars and stripes. Were all set on the fabric end, she said.

Like many others, Pantoliano is working from home these days. She is juggling her job as office leader for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Westport and Rowayton, with her newfound passion for making scrub caps.

A true family affair, Pantoliano sews the caps guided by a YouTube instructional video. Her daughters Dani and Izze help by cutting out the fabric from a cardboard pattern they made, prepping them, then pressing them.

Some of the caps are being used on their own, while others are being used to cover face masks and other scrub caps, Pantoliano said.

The caps offer nurses an extra layer of protection so their medically issued ones can be reused.

Pantoliano welcomes assistance from others who would like to help make more scrub caps for the nurses.

This is keeping me sane. I recommend that anyone who can do something like this, do it. A project like this really grounds you during this time, she said.

Anyone interested in making scrub caps may contact Pantoliano for directions and information through a private message on Facebook at Pantzplace (Nancy Sheppard-Pantoliano).

Pantoliano also welcomes much-needed donations of quarter-inch braided elastic. She does not want any money or financial donations. Elastic donations and finished caps can be sent or dropped off to Nancy Pantoliano, 5 River Road, Box 308, Wilton CT 06897.

pgay@wiltonbulletin.com
Help India!

By Musheera Ashraf, TwoCircles.net

Despite taking all the precautions, every day I come back home thinking that today I might have caught the virus, says Shiba Minai a 33-year-old social worker who is working on ground to provide ration kits and cooked food among the construction site workers and people in slum areas of Hyderabad.

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A group of activists came together and appealed the government to start the Annapurna canteens but Annapurna is not accessible by everyone and does not cater to everybody. Though the Telangana Government is now trying out every possible way to stop the migrant workers from going out of the state but still the challenge to feed them is not meagre.

Despite being a mother of a 3-year-old baby Shiba has taken up the challenge of going out every day to help people suffering from hunger. The hospitals like Nilofer and Osmania are also falling short of safe drinking water so the group is also providing water to the patients in the hospital. The major challenge being the lack of supply and non-availability of essentials in shops.

After the announcement of the 21 days lockdown by the Prime Minister, abruptly putting one-fifth of the worlds population under lockdown to combat COVID-19, the population is facing many challenges https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/curfew-pushes-daily-items-off-shelves/articleshow/74818924.cms. To save India and every Indian, there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes, Modi said.

Syed Farman Ahmed , hails from Uttar Pradesh but is presently working with his team Movement For Education And Empowerment for Masses to cater to the needs of labour class and households living around Mustafabad and North East Delhi. The labour class is worst affected but the people who have private jobs are also sufferings, says Farman. With the help of a few volunteers and policemen, they move around to create awareness and identify people who require ration and food.

They get news through WhatsApp groups, after which they confirm the needs through volunteers and then provide essentials. We are fighting with two things virus and hunger. We are putting our self under risk to help people but still, we try to take proper precautions and discuss on safety measures daily in the evening says Farman for whom movement passes are also becoming a hurdle in reaching out to people.

People are similarly demanding help on social media and they are also being provided with proper assistance by the capable ones.

The government should first provide basic food and the BPL should not be the parameter because after a month when I will be short of food I will also urge the government to provide me food, says Hamza Masood who is a student of Law in Aligarh Muslim University and is providing food to around 100-150 households every day with the help of his family who are affluent enough and have pledged their crops of this season to fulfil the needs of people in Gangoh area of Saharanpur.

Hamza says that the government has not taken any drastic step to save the economy. The people who are stuck away from their home should feel secure and when already there is PM relief fund there was no need of a new scheme PM Cares.

Catering to the basic needs of people in Gangoh, even the providers are witnessing the shortage of pulses and other essentials like sanitisers

Questioning the possibility that this money will be used in political purposes Hamza, Shiba and Farman have similar feedback about the PM Care fund money that is still not being used for the welfare of people affected by Corona shutdown. They opine that at least transportation or food should have been provided by this money.

Saif, is a 21-year-old student from Purulia District of West Bengal. He started a help group with around 10 -15 members. They raised fund from people in their locality and then started with the distribution of sanitisers and mask to the beggars and the people who live at the roadside.

The group started distributing ration kits along with some money. The team constituted of members from all over Puralia which helped them identify the needy and provide food. In a day they used to help 30 35 people. We then were short of funds; our stock is finished now. So we are helpless to provide help on an individual basis says Saif

Saif has a different opinion on the working of government in their region. Our ward counsellors are giving food to every needy in Puralia town. Government is providing good support in West Bengal. Now the people which they identified are being provided cooked food by an NGO. Whereas, the state government in West Bengal is trying to help out people in best possible ways but on enquiring I havent heard anyone getting benefited by the PM cares yojana .says Saif
[April 03, 2020] PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust Announces Date for 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (NYSE: PMT) today announced that it will hold its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at the Company's headquarters located at 3043 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village, CA (News - Alert) 91361. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 16, 2020 are entitled to receive notice of, to attend, and to vote at the annual meeting. We intend to hold our Annual Meeting in person. However, we are monitoring developments regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and are planning for the possibility that the Annual Meeting may be held solely by means of remote communication. If we take this step, we will issue a press release announcing such change in advance, file the announcement with the Securities and Exchange Commission as additional proxy material, and will provide details on how to access and participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting at www.proxyvote.com or on our Investor Relations website at www.pennymac-reit.com/2020AnnMtg.



About PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is a mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests primarily in residential mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets. PMT is externally managed by PNMAC Capital Management, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: PFSI). Additional information about PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust is available at www.PennyMac-REIT.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005554/en/

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Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/03/2020 -- According to a new market research report "Web Content Management Market by Solution (Digital Marketing Management, Mobile and Social Content Management, and Web Experience Management), Service, Deployment Type, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Web Content Management Market expected to grow from USD 6.0 billion in 2020 to USD 13.6 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.6% during the forecast period.



The increasing need to reach targeted customers, enhance digital experiences, and increase revenues are factors expected to boost the adoption of the WCM solutions. With an increase in the adoption of cloud-based WCM solutions among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the WCM market is expected to gain traction during the forecast period



Browse in-depth TOC on "Web Content Management Market"

69- Tables

33- Figures

133- Pages



By component, the solutions segment to hold a larger market size during the forecast period



WCM solutions consist of digital marketing management, mobile and social content management, web experience management, digital asset management integration, web creation and edit tools, and content analysis. These solutions enable organizations to provide enhanced user experiences by serving clients, partners, prospects, and employees through web and mobile devices. In addition, the demand for personalized content delivery is high due to higher success rates. This is done through web analytics. WCM also caters to the management of the overall digital content that can be deployed whenever necessary. The building of localized content is vital, which enhances the brand presence within a specific region.



Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=255522685



By vertical, the retail and consumer goods vertical to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period



In this highly competitive market of retail and consumer goods, brand positioning is the key to higher revenues. This is a highly customer-centric industry that requires high-quality content delivered on various platforms, such as web, social media, email, and electronic devices. Many retailers and consumer goods companies are leveraging the internet by launching their eCommerce sites. This is an effective way to increase the ROI due to the absence of physical stores. eCommerce platforms require high-quality content that should be uniform across platforms. Expectations of customers from this industry are higher due to the competition. The retail industry has access to customer data, which is further used for promotions, marketing campaigns, and targeted ads. The data acts as the fuel for increasing revenue. The WCM system drives traffic, which increases sales and brand awareness. The WCM is also implemented for feedbacks from the customers and writing blogs of the products. The WCM is used for advanced web analytics, which includes time surfed in the site, which product attracted the customer, and which area of website was visited the most. This helps in the advertisement of certain products, which aim to influence the customer to make a purchase. The proper planning and execution of digital marketing campaigns can also be done by WCM systems. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) improves organically with proper digital marketing.



The cloud deployment type to hold a larger market size as well as the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.



The cloud deployment type is expected to dominate the WCM market during the forecast period. Organizations from various industries are adopting cloud-based WCM solutions. They offer benefits such as scalability, reduced operational costs, less upfront cost, and improved business agility. The cloud-based WCM solutions also integrate with other marketing tools, such as CRM and marketing resource management tools. This gives the benefit of an overall cost-effective marketing solution, which is used to reach the targeted audience worldwide. The organizations can easily plan, build, and execute the marketing strategies due to an easier integration to marketing tools and other third-party applications. Moreover, cloud deployment also gives easy access to the digital content irrespective of the location. Mostly, SMEs consider cloud-based WCM solutions, which is an integrated marketing package.



North America to hold the largest market size during the forecast period



Countries that contribute the most to the WCM market in North America include the US and Canada; the reason for the dominance of these countries is their well-established economies, which enable investments in new technologies. North America being the most developed region, is home to large industries that are capable of investing in reliable and advanced IT infrastructure for automating business processes, thereby opening new opportunities for the adoption of WCM software.



Market Players



Key market players profiled in this report are IBM Corp. (US), Adobe Inc. (US), OpenText Corporation (Canada), Oracle Corporation (US), Microsoft Corporation (US), Progress Software Corporation (US), Upland Software Inc. (US), SDL plc (UK), Sitecore (US), Crownpeak (US), Acquia (US), Episerver (US), Rackspace Inc. (US), e-Spirit (US), Percussion software (US), Kentico (Czech Republic), Angler Technologies (India), Contentful (Germany), HCL Software (India), and MODX (US).



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The Uttar Pradesh government has issued a directive ordering stern action under the Security Act (NSA) against those who attack police personnel in the state amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The accused will be booked under the NSA, a statement by the Yogi Adityanath-led government read.

"During the lockdown, strict action will be taken against those who attack the police at any place in the state. They will be booked under the NSA," it said.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh government had also warned of strict action against anyone found attacking the health workers or the policemen.

In several parts of the country, the suspected COVID-19 patients along with locals are attacking health workers and policemen who are visiting their areas to collect blood samples for COVID-19 tests.

Yesterday, three people were detained after a group of miscreants pelted stones at officials in Rampur's Tanda area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Workers compensation insurer Third Coast Underwriters (3CU) has promoted Peter Vaughn to director, Insurance Operations, and Mike Altman to regional director, Business Development. Vaughn and Altman are based at 3CUs headquarters in Chicago.

Vaughn brings 22 years of complex claim management, product development and multiline underwriting experience to 3CU. Altman has over 15 years of experience as a commercial insurance broker and underwriter.

Eleven years after launching as a specialized provider of workers compensation insurance to complex operations, 3CU continues its growth after reaching an important milestone in 2019, when it surpassed $100 million in written premium for the first time.

Third Coast Underwriters is a member of AF Group.

Source: Third Coast Underwriters

Topics Underwriting
VANCOUVERIt cost Deborah Hamann-Trou about $700 for a roundtrip ticket from Vancouver to Lima, Peru and $1,750 one-way to get home. Shed like to know why.

Hamann-Trou is one of the Canadians who say that ticket prices being charged to get back to Canada on repatriation flights arranged by the government are too much and exceed the initial costs.

The costs are being defended by the government and Air Canada, saying flights are being operated at cost, with no money being made.

After taking a flight back from Peru on March 26, Hamann-Trou says she considers herself lucky to be home, but still thinks the costs werent fair.

I understand the flight is coming to Peru empty, so they have to make up for that, she said. But its just the one way. Dont make us pay double.

She arrived in Peru on March 4, before any travel warnings about the country were issued, and was supposed to leave March 17. But the flight on Air Mexico was cancelled as COVID-19 fears spread around the world and Peru closed its borders.

To get back, she had to pay $1,408 for a flight to Toronto and then another $350 to get from there to Vancouver. Hamann-Trou isnt the only one whos perplexed.

Back in Toronto, Gaurav Dania says his parents were hoping to get out of India and back to Canada on charter flights arranged through the Canadian government. But, Dania said, the $2,900 price is quite steep.

I could understand if it was $1,500 to $1,600 per passenger considering the planes to India might be coming with no passengers, so essentially we pay for round trip, Dania said. But they are charging $2,900. Four times the cost of one way. My own parents went for $1,550 round trip.

After the airline ticket fee there are also hotel fees, transport and credit card charges associated with the journey. So his parents have decided to stay in India.

Another Ontario resident, Naila Waheed, told the Star she was originally quoted $3,500 per ticket to fly home from Pakistan on a special flight, but was told later the flights were cancelled.

She said two more special flights at $2,800 per ticket left Pakistan for Canada and she has booked one on a regular airline for April 10. But the flight requires driving the 1,400-kilometre trip from Islamabad to Karachi to catch it.

Meanwhile, Hamann-Trou said her cousin, a Peruvian national, was flown home by the Peruvian government from Miami. The Times of Israel also reports residents of the country were repatriated from Peru at no cost. She said it seems Canadians are being charged too much.

But whether the fees charged for flights to Canadian residents are fair depends on who you ask.

Air passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs says fees being more expensive than usual isnt illegal but, given the situation, could be considered questionable.

Lukacs stressed that if flights were cancelled by airlines subject to Canadian law being used to repatriate Canadians, those who were supposed to be on them should be able to use their credits from flights cancelled due to COVID-19 to get on repatriation flights.

He said that according to Canadas Air Passenger Protection Regulations, passengers are owed a spot on the next available flight if theirs is cancelled due to circumstances beyond the airlines control.

Id very happy if regulators were enforcing the law, Lukacs said. But theyre not.

He said though one-way tickets are usually more expensive than return tickets, in this case no return flights are available.

Air Canada, which organized the flights out of Peru with Ottawa, disagrees flight credits should be applied to repatriation flights and said it is keeping the costs as low as it can.

Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick said because the repatriation flights are specially arranged between the airline and the federal government, the normal regulations do not apply.

These special flights are not regular Air Canada flights, but rather we provide a service together with the government, offering our aircraft and crews, and facilitate booking (which is primarily done by local embassies, which contact Canadians locally), Fitzpatrick said in an email. Thats why credits are not valid in these cases.

He said Air Canada is not making money from the flights and is sending empty planes to pick up Canadians.

Krystyna Dodds, spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, said the government has worked out a deal with airlines ensuring flights are operated at cost.

The Government of Canada is working with Canadian airlines to ensure that stranded Canadians are offered a reasonable commercial price for their return ticket home, Dodds told the Star. Costs may vary depending on the airline and the location from where the flight is departing.

She said those who cannot pay should apply for an emergency loan through the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad.

Lukacs said he cannot find anything in the legislation indicating that repatriation flights are exempt from the usual regulations.

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Yucatan residents told to stay home after another increase in positive virus figures

Merida, Yucatan  I want to tell you that the critical moment has arrived. It is important that you understand we have to act responsibly. We are seeing what is happening in other parts of the world such as Italy and the United States where for not taking precautions on time, their health systems are completely overrun, said the Governor Yucatan, Mauricio Vila Dosal as a call to stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He sent his message after another increase in positive cases for the state was announced by health officials, who now have positive figures at 56. Vila Dosal said the most important thing is that people stay at home because otherwise, the number of patients with this virus will increase, which will overwhelm hospitals and could see the collapse of the health system.

But this will only and exclusively depend on each one of us, that we are responsible and supportive of each other.

He explained that the new measures by the Federal Government dictate that people must remain in their homes, which has been rigorously implemented, while non-essential companies and businesses must, for the time being, close until April 30th.

There is a coordinated operation to exhort people to stay at home and to close businesses that are not essential. People have to understand that it is for their health and for the health of others. We will enforce the decree issued by the federal government and in coming days, be more rigid, always within the framework of what the law determines, he added.
Pervert Jeffrey Epstein tried to lay a trap for cops by deliberately hiring women in their 20s who appeared years younger in a bid to gain sympathy from the public, one of the people who helped bring him down exclusively told DailyMail.com.

He hoped the women would be seen and his home would be raided and then he could claim he was being hounded, software architect Reichart Von Wolfsheild revealed.

Von Wolfsheild discovered the plot when he was invited to Epstein's Caribbean island Little St. James for a scientific conference in January 2011.

This was after Epstein had spent time in jail in Palm Beach, Florida, but before his notoriety as a child molester was widely known.

'They looked genuinely like underage girls,' said Von Wolfsheild, who decided to accept the invitation to get undercover information for lawyer Bradley Edwards, who was trying to unmask the predator.

Jeffrey Epstein tried to lay a trap for cops by deliberately hiring women in their 20s who appeared years younger in a bid to gain sympathy. He hoped the women would be seen and his home would be raided and then he could claim he was being hounded. Pictured: Epstein at his private US Virgin Islands estate with a young blonde woman, who appears to be his assistant Sarah Kellen, massaging his shoulders and smiling at the camera

Software architect Reichart Von Wolfsheild (pictured), who helped bring the pervert down, spoke to DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. 'They looked genuinely like underage girls,' said Von Wolfsheild, who decided to accept the invitation to get undercover information for lawyer Bradley Edwards, who was trying to unmask the predator

He discovered Epstein's plot He discovered the plot when he was invited to Little St. James (pictured) in January 2011, after Epstein had spent time in jail in Palm Beach, Florida

'But when you spoke to them, you realized these were graduates who had PhDs and Masters degrees from places like NYU and Cambridge.

'I thought: ''This is a trap for law enforcement.''

'Epstein thought these women were going to be seen and [police] will go after me again and when their ages were discovered he could say ''See, they're torturing me.''

Von Wolfsheild, 59, said he reported back to Edwards. 'I told him if you raid him, he will make you a laughing-stock. These are not 16-year-old girls. They all have degrees.

'Epstein knew all about manipulating the media and how he could turn this to his advantage.'

Von Wolfsheild said there were three women on Little St. James in the US Virgin Islands. All of them, he said appeared to be in their mid-teens, up to 10 years younger than they really were.

He had gone to the island to take part in a 'Mindshift' conference along with some of the top minds in a variety of sciences including Nobel laureates Murray Gell-Mann and Frances Arnold.

It was all put together by Al Seckel, a shady 'sensory illusionist' who was bigamously married to Isabel Maxwell  sister of Epstein's long-time girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who helped him procure underage girls to massage him.

It was all put together by Al Seckel, a shady 'sensory illusionist' who was bigamously married to Isabel Maxwell (pictured together ini 2008)  sister of Epstein's long-time girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who helped him procure underage girls to massage him

Von Wolfsheild added: 'I later asked Isabel what the deal was with the girls and she said there is this whole thing my sister is involved in. She's Epstein's liaison and he has a penchant for young attractive girls'

'I later asked Isabel what the deal was with the girls and she said there is this whole thing my sister is involved in. She's Epstein's liaison and he has a penchant for young attractive girls.'

'About half of what Al told you was made up in his head and the other half was true. But you never knew which was which,' Von Wolfsheild said of Seckel, who died in 2015.

Von Wolfsheild developed the data management program Qtask, the system on which lawyer Edwards stored his sensitive information about Epstein. When he and Epstein spoke at the conference, the financier bluntly asked for information that would help him hack Edwards' files.

Von Wolfsheild said Epstein was particularly interested in the greatest risks to the markets in the following 10-20 years.

'Afterwards [Nobel laureate] Frances Arnold came up to me and said: ''I never would have thought how scary that could be''.'

Von Wolfsheild had one more conversation with Epstein, he told DailyMail.com, this time on the veranda of a restaurant in St. Thomas.

Von Wolfsheild (left and right) said there were three women on Little St. James in the US Virgin Islands. All of them, he said appeared to be in their mid-teens, up to 10 years younger than they really were

'He began asking me about building a dating app. He asked me if there is a way to game the system to find particular people who would interest him.

'He asked if image recognition was good enough to lift out, say, a MiG from other planes or to tell the difference between a horse and a cow.

'And could you build one where you could easily find the most attractive women  he didn't ask specifically about young women, but that was the essence of the conversation.'

Epstein, 66, was found hanged in a federal prison in New York last August. He was awaiting trial for sex trafficking after being arrested on the tarmac at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

His death was ruled a suicide, but his lawyers and others have disputed that, claiming he was murdered.

In Edwards' new book Relentless Pursuit, the lawyer writes that Von Wolfsheild saw Epstein as 'a lion' looking for prey.

That prey was 'girls who were, according to an old definition, 'nubile,' as Epstein put it: 'The youngest-looking girl with breasts.'

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'

He also said that the financier viewed women as nothing more than 'a life support system for a vagina.'

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 that is when he tried to bring Von Wolfsheild on board.

'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 anticipated 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.'
Amid the Arizona Daily Sun's complete coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, this past week there were two articles about a looming shortage in our nation's blood supply.

The first, on 3/20/20, covered the request from the Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, who urged "healthy Americans, especially younger ones, to donate blood as supplies dwindle amid the coronavirus outbreak." The second, on 3/26/20, covered the Arizona perspective provided by Vitalant, the community blood service provider which manages all blood donations in northern Arizona. Due to the pandemic, several previously scheduled blood drives have been canceled due to school and workplace closures. Older Arizonans, who are the most consistent repeat donors, have not been donating as much in recent weeks due to perceived risks of going out in public.

In light of the above, I am giving this report from the front line, from the donor's recliner, if you will. I am an "older adult" and I donated last week at the San Francisco de Asis school gym. It was a pleasant and rewarding experience. Social distancing was in evidence in both waiting and donation areas. The donation reclining chairs and all surfaces were sanitized between each donor. I was assured that a person can neither get nor transmit the virus through blood donation.

While they do not test for coronavirus, they did do careful health history screening. They also took my temperature twice and checked my hemoglobin level. It was a great feeling to donate at this time, realizing that I was helping (one pint at a time) to keep one public health crisis (COVID-19) from creating another public health crisis (not having enough blood to meet basic patient needs for trauma and surgery).

Healthy adults can donate a pint of blood as often as every eight weeks. To find out about upcoming, newly scheduled, blood drives near you and to schedule an appointment visit vitalant.org. Recipients of your generosity will thank you.

DAVID SPENCE M.D.

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[April 03, 2020] Community Care Cooperative (C3) Receives Grant to Expand Telehealth Capacity to Fight COVID-19

Community Care Cooperative (C3 (News - Alert)), the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) that advances community-based care for MassHealth members through its network of 19 health centers throughout the state, today announced that it has been named a $1,026,000 grant recipient by the McGovern Foundation to rapidly expand telehealth capacity in community health centers statewide in the next two weeks in order to better fight the COVID-19 epidemic. "We are grateful for the McGovern Foundation's trust in C3 and look forward to applying this grant to the extremely urgent work of expanding and enhancing our telehealth capabilities to meet this crisis," said Christina Severin, President and CEO of C3. "This grant makes it possible for community health centers throughout Massachusetts to better serve the commonwealth's needs in the face of this pandemic by helping our most vulnerable and underserved residents." C3 will immediately expand telehealth activity to primarily serve community health center Medicaid patients through virtual consultations. This grant allows for $400,000 in enabling hardware and software, several hundred hours of IT support, and the creation of short- and longer-term strategies for telehealth. The grant also helps sustain health centers through increased patient and provider participation in telehealth and the resulting revenue during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. To help meet the coronavirus emergency, C3 will extend the telehealth benefits made possible through this grant to all Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Commonwealth and is partnering with the Massachusetts League of Health Centers. "As a family physician who worked in Massachusetts Community Health Centers fr close to 20 years, I recognize how essential these centers are to serving the most vulnerable across the Commonwealth," said McGovern Trustee Dr. Liz McGovern. "The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is honored to be partnering with C3 and the Mass League of Community Health Centers to help minimize the disruption in care through rapid deployment of telehealth services."



The move will also benefit health care providers, allowing doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses to work from home for part of the week, reducing their potential exposure to coronavirus while allowing patients sheltering in place to receive diagnostic and clinical care. "While we are doing telehealth out of necessity, patients are also telling us that they really like this option, especially when they don't feel well and don't have to come in if it's not necessary," said Dr. Julita Mir, C3's Chief Medical Officer and a practicing clinician at DotHouse Health. "It also helps keep health care workers safe at this difficult time and in the longer-term and should reduce burnout and improve retention in primary care."

The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is dedicated to improving lives globally with information technology, neuroscience and AI. The Foundation is the legacy of IDG founder Patrick J. McGovern, who believed in the potential for technology to democratize information, improve the human condition and advance social good. For more information, visit Mcgovern.org Community Care Cooperative (C3) is a 501(c)(3) Accountable Care Organization (ACO) that leverages the proven best practices of ACOs throughout the country and is the only ACO in Massachusetts founded and governed by Federally Qualified Health Centers and exclusively focused on advancing integrated and coordinated community-based care for MassHealth members. C3 is building its organization on the collective strengths of 19 partner health centers across the state, and continued growth enables C3 to better serve MassHealth members across the Commonwealth. To view a list of C3 health centers, click here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005437/en/

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It was a coronavirus aid shipment that already had raised eyebrows in both the United States and Russia.



A Russian Defense Ministry cargo jet loaded with masks, ventilators, and other medical equipment arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on April 1: It was "humanitarian assistance," according to the Kremlin, to help the United States in its fight against COVID-19.



Later that same day, however, the State Department contradicted the Kremlin: No, in fact, the United States had purchased the shipment from Russia. The State Department declined to say how much was paid.



A day later, Russia's Foreign Ministry spoke up, saying that Moscow and Washington had split the cost.



Now there's another wrinkle: Two of the Russian entities involved in the shipment were hit with sanctions by the U.S. administration as part of Western punishment imposed for the seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.



Adding yet further confusion: An anonymous U.S. administration official was quoted as saying that contrary to the Russian statement, the cost was not shared -- the United States paid for the entire shipment.



The back-and-forth raised questions among observers: Did the United States violate its own sanctions, or carve out a special exemption to allow the shipment to go forward? If so, why? And why the conflicting accounts about the payment?

Propaganda Concerns



Days earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump made passing reference to the aid shipment, saying it came up during a phone call he had with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. But he spoke about it as if it had already occurred.



On April 2, Trump was asked by reporters about the shipment, and specifically whether he thought it could be used as a part of a propaganda message by the Kremlin.



"He was very nice," Trump said of his phone call with Putin. "He said: 'We have it. They have difficulties with this virus also, as you know. It was a very nice gesture on behalf of President Putin. I could have said 'No.' But I said: 'I'll take it.'



"I'm not concerned about Russia and propaganda, not even a little bit. There is a lot of medical, very high-quality stuff that I've accepted. It may save a lot of lives and I will take it every day," he said.



Western and Russian critics of Moscow say that the Kremlin is using aid as part of a propaganda campaign amid the global coronavirus pandemic.



In Moscow, Russian state media broadcast stories about the shipment, including footage of the Antonov cargo jet being loaded with supplies. The cardboard boxes were printed with the words "From Russia With Love."

Russia's ambassador to the United States said in a post to the embassy's official Facebook page that he hoped the U.S. government would help Russia in the future, if needed -- "without any politicization."



"We can provide emergency equipment needed to save Americans. The Russian humanitarian mission can already be successful even if a single life is saved," Anatoly Antonov said. "We are sure that the U.S., if necessary, will also assist us and we will gladly accept the aid. Without any politicization."

'Needed Supplies'



In his second major televised address on the coronavirus crisis in Russia, shown the day the jet arrived in New York, on April 2, Putin did not mention the shipment.



But the shipment drew criticism from some of Russia's loudest opposition voices, including anti-corruption crusader Aleksei Navalny and the Doctors' Alliance, a nongovernmental organization that has been outspokenly critical of the state's coronavirus response.



"This is wonderful," the group said sarcastically. "We raise money all over the country to buy medical workers protective equipment, and our authorities sell [it] to the United States. This is some kind of mockery or something."

A day after the U.S. State Department clearly described the shipment as a "purchase of needed supplies," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that the shipments' costs were split.



"Half of the cost of cargo was paid by the Russian Direct Investment Fund [RDIF] and half by the American side, on their own," she said, adding that the RDIF "plays a significant role" in U.S.-Russian business cooperation and "supports American business in Russia."



On April 3, an unnamed senior U.S. administration official contradicted Zakharova.



"The United States is purchasing the supplies and equipment outright, as with deliveries from other countries," the unnamed official was quoted as telling Reuters. "We appreciate Russia selling these items to us below market value."



Bad Intentions?



The RDIF, which says it has $10 billion in assets under management, is a sovereign wealth fund, and is used, similar to other countries' sovereign wealth funds, by the Russian government to attract investment within Russia.



In 2015, the fund was put on a U.S. Treasury Department sanctions list, which blocked U.S. individuals and companies from making loans to it or investing in it. It was hit with sanctions because of its connection to another Russian development bank, Vnesheconombank, as part of wider sanctions levied in response to Russia's seizure of Crimea.

In a comment to RFE/RL, RDIF spokesman Arseny Palagin said the existing sanctions do not apply to the fund in this case.



"The sectoral sanctions imposed against certain Russian companies and their subsidiaries affect only specific transactions which relate to long-term financing of these companies by U.S. and European entities in the form of equity or debt," he wrote in an e-mail. "All other transactions, including co-investments and other business transactions are permitted."



Meantime, the ventilators that were included in the shipment to the United States were reportedly supplied by a Urals-based company known as Radio-Electronic Technologies, according to the Russian media outlet RBK, which examined photographs of the shipment. That company is owned by Rostec, a massive state conglomerate that encompasses some of Russia's best-known technology manufacturers.



Radio-Electronic Technologies has been under U.S. Treasury sanctions since July 2014, as part of the Ukraine and Crimea-related measures.

The U.S. Treasury Department did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment, and U.S. officials have not publicly described any deliberations or debate within the administration regarding the shipment.



In comments about the imminent delivery on March 31, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov appeared to suggest that there had been U.S. officials or agencies that raised objections to the shipment. His remark also echoed a Russian narrative asserting, without specific evidence, that some U.S. officials are out to undermine prospects for bilateral cooperation.



"It seemed that there were some on the American side who at least did not contribute to the prompt resolution of the technical issues in pursuance of the two presidents' agreement," Peskov was quoted as saying.



Brian O'Toole, a former analyst in the U.S. Treasury Department office that develops and oversees sanctions, said that there was not necessarily anything wrong with the investment fund's involvement, from a sanctions perspective. The involvement of the ventilator manufacturer, however, is more problematic, he said.



"Even if [the U.S. administration] ends up violating their own sanctions, buying respirators or ventilators or [other] stuff, it's not like they're going to punish their own agencies," O'Toole told RFE/RL. "The issue is more it's they don't know what they're doing, which is a consistent criticism of this administration."



"My sneaking suspicion is that they didn't bother to do research ahead of time, no one bothered to put two and two together," he said.

'Throwing The Middle Finger'



Neither the State Department nor the Russian Foreign Ministry disclosed the value of the shipment; the unnamed U.S. administration official told Reuters that the goods were sold "below market value."



Based on the type and number of ventilators included in the shipment, and the price list shown on the manufacturer's website, the ventilators alone would appear to normally cost around 76 million rubles, roughly $1 million.



It's also virtually certain that the Russian government knew it was involving two entities that had been sanctioned by the United States, O'Toole said.



"It's a silly story, in a lot of ways," O'Toole said. "More than anything, this is probably Putin throwing the middle finger at us again."



"It is entirely on brand for Putin to sneak a [sanctioned] company into the transaction in order to tweak us," he said.



Other former U.S. officials said that, sanctions aside, the perception of Russia supplying humanitarian aid to the United States -- which Putin and the Kremlin continue to see as an adversary -- was "a propaganda bonanza."

"All of the dealings between Trump and Putin over the past 3  years have been marred by this element of Trump's inexplicable chasing after Putin and currying favor," said Andrew Weiss, a former top Russia adviser at the National Security Council under President Barack Obama. "Putin very easily plays on that and takes on advantage of that, and tries to throw shade on U.S. policy."



"The Russians have an interest in using Trump as a battering ram to undermine U.S. policy goals, this week's phone call fits into that," said Weiss, who is now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C.

With reporting by Mark Krutov and Sergei Dobrynin of RFE/RL's Russian Service
Widespread confusion, conflicting reports, inconsistent testing, and off-indication use of existing and experimental drugs has resulted in no single source of information from the frontlines. To create a centralized and dynamic knowledge base, Sermo, the largest global healthcare polling company and social platform for physicians, leveraged its capabilities to publish results of a COVID-19 study with more than 6,200 physicians in 30 countries. The study was completed in three days. Data covers current treatment and prophylaxis options, timing to the outbreak peak, ethical choices, effectiveness of government responses, and much more. Multiple study waves including a deeper dive into treatments will be conducted over the next several weeks. To view results and countries visit sermo.com.

Key findings; Sermo Real Time Barometer*:

Treatments & Efficacy

The three most commonly prescribed treatments amongst COVID-19 treaters are 56% analgesics, 41% Azithromycin, and 33% Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine usage amongst COVID-19 treaters is 72% in Spain, 49% in Italy, 41% in Brazil, 39% in Mexico, 28% in France, 23% in the U.S., 17% in Germany, 16% in Canada, 13% in the UK, and 7% in Japan

Hydroxychloroquine was overall chosen as the most effective therapy amongst COVID-19 treaters from a list of 15 options. (37% of COVID-19 treaters) 75% in Spain, 53% Italy, 44% in China, 43% in Brazil, 29% in France, 23% in the U.S., and 13% in the UK



The two most common treatment regimens for Hydroxychloroquine were: (38%) 400mg twice daily on day one; 400 mg daily for five days (26%) 400mg twice daily on day one; 200mg twice daily for four days

Outside the U.S., Hydroxychloroquine was equally used for diagnosed patients with mild to severe symptoms whereas in the U.S. it was most commonly used for high risk diagnosed patients

Globally, 19% of physicians prescribed or have seen Hydroxychloroquine prophylactically used for high risk patients, and 8% for low risk patients



Second Wave of Outbreak

The second global outbreak is anticipated by 83% of global physicians, 90% of U.S. physicians but only 50% of Chinese physicians



Average Testing Time

On average tests in the U.S. take 4-5 days, and in 10% of cases the wait is more than 7 days

14% of U.S. physicians and over 50% in all of Europe and Japan report getting test results in 24 hours; in China 73% of doctors get tests back in 24 hours, while 8% get tests back within the hour



Prioritizing Treatment if Ventilator Shortage

In all countries except China, the top criteria for deciding who should receive a ventilator first was patients with the highest chance of recovery (47%) followed by those most ill and at highest risk of death (21%), then first responders (15%) In China the priorities were reversed as the most ill and highest risk of death received ventilators



First responders were more important in the U.S.

France, Japan, and Italy prioritized age

Brazil and Russia prioritized higher risk patients



Peak Timing & Restrictions

In the U.S., 63% of physicians recommend restrictions be lifted six or more weeks from now and 66% believe the peak is at least 3-4 weeks away



For the full methodology click here.

This is a treasure trove of global insights for policy makers. Physicians should have more of a voice in how we deal with this pandemic and be able to quickly share information with one another and the world, said Peter Kirk, CEO, Sermo. With censorship of the media and the medical community in some countries, along with biased and poorly designed studies, solutions to the pandemic are being delayed. We invite global physicians to contribute to help inform policy makers, their colleagues, and the public.

*Results provide physician observations but are not a substitute for official medical guidelines.

Methodology

Results are reported for individual countries with a minimum sample size of 250. Such a sample size provides for point estimates with a +/- 6% precision at a 94% confidence level. Thirty countries included in the study are the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, Poland, Russia, Finland, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, China, India, and Hong Kong. No incentive was offered to respondents. Full methodology.

About Sermo

Sermo is the largest healthcare data collection company and social platform for physicians, reaching 1,3MM HCPs across 150 countries. The platform enables doctors to anonymously talk real-world medicine, review treatment options via our proprietary Drug Ratings platform, collectively solve patient cases, and participate in medical market research. For more information, visit sermo.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200402005460/en/
One of the questions we are going to be asking  is, How widespread was this virus?  McNally said. "I think we have a lot of indication that its much more widespread than we know, because most of the younger people who get this get it relatively mildly, recover and do OK. And were not tracking any of those people right now.
Madrid (Spain), April 2, 2020 (Spain) - The State Coordination of Solidarity Associations with Western Sahara has expressed its condolence at the physical loss of the historic figure of the Frente POLISARIO, Mhamad Jadad, who died yesterday. The representation of the solidarity movement with the Sahrawi people joins the mourning of the disappearance of "an indefatigable fighter, a model of dedication and commitment for the entire movement of solidarity with the Sahrawi people and its legitimate representative, the Frente POLISARIO."

Today we mourn the loss of a comrade, a brother, an indefatigable fighter, a model of dedication and commitment for the entire movement of solidarity with the Sahrawi people and their legitimate representative, the Frente POLISARIO. CEAS-Sahara says in its condolence letter

As a solidarity movement, we express our heartfelt affection to all his family, to all his colleagues in the POLISARIO, and to all the Sahrawi people.

For your memory, for your example, we will continue resisting and fighting, and nothing and nobody will be able to prevent one day from achieving the independence of Western Sahara. CEAS-Sahara concludes in its condolence letter SPS

125/090/TRA
UPDATE Aug. 16, 2021: This case was dismissed on July 20, 2021. The original article appears below.

ORIGINAL STORY, April 2, 2020

A man is facing several charges after an alleged encounter with his ex-girlfriend and another man over the weekend at a property in Washington County.

Jason Ficke, 43, of Sullivan, has been charged with nine felony counts including first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, first-degree domestic assault, and second-degree domestic assault.

According to a probable cause statement from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, Ficke went to a property on Pecan Road Saturday where his ex-girlfriend and another man were getting items from a shed in a wooded area.

The report states that when Ficke arrived at the property, the woman was taking a hinge off of a door, and the man was lying on a four-wheeler.

The man that was with Fickes ex-girlfriend reported that he heard Ficke say, Get on the ground ... and looked up to see Ficke pointing a handgun at his head. The man said that Ficke started to scream at him and the woman. The woman took off running. He further reported that when the woman took off running, Ficke fired the gun an unknown amount of times toward her.

Ficke reportedly caught up with the woman and struck her in the head with the handgun before kicking her. The man who was with her started to run away and Ficke reportedly fired four rounds toward him, one of which struck him in the calf of his right leg.

The man stated that he fell on the ground before Ficke approached him and pointed the gun at his head while he was on the ground.

The report states that the woman ran up and yelled at Ficke to stop and to kill her instead. The man said the woman saved him from getting killed because when she yelled that, Ficke left him and started to run after her. He said the woman yelled for him to run and get help, and when he got up to run, he turned around and observed Ficke beating the woman.

The woman stated that when her friend was running away, Ficke shot a hole through her cell phone that was lying on the ground next to her.

The man was reportedly able to get in a vehicle to get medical treatment. The report states that Ficke fled the scene in his vehicle to his other residence in De Soto, where he was later located and arrested.

The woman received bruising around the right side of her neck and the man received the bullet wound to his calf that went completely through his leg.

The deputy states in his report that when he was canvassing the scene, he was able to only locate one spent .40 caliber shell casing due to the amount of vegetation in the wooded area.

When the deputy interviewed Ficke, he stated that he had not moved from his residence in De Soto all day. He also reportedly told the deputy that he had not talked to his ex-girlfriend since the day before.

The deputy asked Ficke if he spoke with the woman Saturday and he reportedly said, no. The deputy told Ficke that he was there listening to a phone conversation between him and his ex-girlfriend on speakerphone, and Ficke then changed his story. The deputy requested to look at Fickes phone for his GPS information and Ficke denied the deputys request. Ficke again denied being anywhere near the crime scene.

The deputy performed a search of Fickes criminal history, discovering that the man is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess firearms. When the deputy asked Ficke if he owned any firearms, he stated that he had a 30-06 rifle, a muzzleloader, and an SKS rifle. These firearms were discovered at the De Soto residence, according to the report.

Ficke was booked at the Washington County Jail Saturday, and a $200,000 cash-only bond was set. The mans bond was reduced to $100,000, cash-only, during a bond reduction hearing held Wednesday.

A search of Fickes criminal history shows that the man has been arrested before by the Washington County Sheriffs Office for felony stealing. Court records also show that Ficke has been arrested in the past by different Missouri law enforcement agencies for forgery, assault, and a probation violation.

If released on bond, Ficke must be fitted with a GPS monitoring device and is prohibited from having contact with the victims in this case.

Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com

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By Trend





Currently, a pandemic of coronavirus pneumonia is spreading around the world, which threatens the life and health of people and also creates great problems for global security, Chinese ambassador to Azerbaijan Guo Min said.

Min made remarks in Baku during a speech at the ceremony of transferring medical supplies from China to Azerbaijan as part of the fight against the spread of coronavirus, Trend reports.

Amid the sudden emergence of coronavirus from the beginning of the year, the Chinese government and people, who are not afraid of any difficulties, launched the people's war against the epidemic, the ambassador said.

After hard efforts and numerous victims, the situation in China continues to improve, production activity and people's lives are quickly recovering, Min said.

"On the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Azerbaijan, we have gathered here to conduct a ceremony of transferring China's anti-epidemic materials to help Azerbaijan, Min said.

This event is of particular importance and also demonstrates deep and close friendship, high mutual trust between China and Azerbaijan," the ambassador said.

During the most difficult period for China, the Azerbaijani government and friendly people from different countries rendered great support to China, Min said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The executive branch of Sumgayit city has sent the necessary assistance to prevent outbreak in Mianyang city of Yichuan province and Xi'an city of Shaanxi province, the ambassador added.

Such Azerbaijani public organizations as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center actively cooperate with China through relevant channels, Min said.

We will always maintain friendly relations, which are especially significant in this difficult situation, the ambassador said.

As a result of the aggravation of the global epidemiological situation, the Azerbaijani government and people also have faced this problem, Min said.

To stress the friendship between China and Azerbaijan, the Chinese government decided to donate 5,000 new types of tests to Azerbaijan to diagnose coronavirus, the ambassador said. China will also soon supply the second batch of aid to Azerbaijan, including non-invasive respirators, protective clothing and other items.

The Chinese embassy in Azerbaijan will actively carry out relevant work, Min said. Moreover, Xi'an city of Shaanxi province, Mianyang city of Yichuan province, Zhejiang city of Guizhou province and other local provinces and cities of China, as well as Azerbaijans Huawei Technologies Co. LTD take active measures for as many materials as possible for the prevention of epidemics to be supplied to Azerbaijan. We hope that the abovementioned funds may effectively help Azerbaijan in the work to prevent and control the epidemic.

During the recent extraordinary G20 leaders summit, Jinping stressed that the main infectious diseases are the enemies of all mankind, the ambassador said. The international community must build trust, jointly respond to the difficulties, work together, comprehensively strengthen the international cooperation, unite the efforts to overcome the pandemic and to overcome the main infectious diseases.

I believe that with the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, China and Azerbaijan will work together to eliminate difficulties, to prevent a pandemic as soon as possible for the sake of great tomorrow!" she stressed.
US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Friday discussed on having a meeting of five permanent members of the UN Security Council on a collective fight against coronavirus, the White House said.

The P5 or the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are the US, the UK, China, France and Russia.

"President Trump and President Macron discussed convening P5 leaders soon to increase UN cooperation on defeating the pandemic and ensuring international peace and security," the White House said in a readout of the phone call between the two leaders.

Trump and Macron also discussed important regional and bilateral issues, the readout said adding that the call was to discuss the latest coronavirus developments.

"President Trump conveyed that the United States stands with the French people and expressed condolences for those who have lost their lives in France as a result of the pandemic," the White House added.

The number of deaths due to coronavirus has crossed the 50,000 mark on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 19-year-old York County woman went out for a drive just to get out of the house for awhile on Sunday evening and was circling her way back home when she was stopped by two state police cars.

They cited her for violating Gov. Tom Wolfs stay-at-home order that took effect in York County two days before.

Anita Shaffer is now faced with what appears to be a ticket of at least $202.25 for breaking the states Disease Control and Prevention Act of 1955. She pleaded not guilty and intends to take up the matter before a magisterial district judge.

The citation fails to mention a fine amount but Trooper Brent Miller said it is a summary offense and the fine would be $25, which would bring the total cost of the ticket up to $227.25.

Shaffer said she saw the police cars parked in Yoe. After passing them, the police started following her until they pulled her over in Red Lion. One of the troopers said they stopped her because her taillight was out, she said. The trooper also mentioned that her window tinting was too dark, she said.

She said the troopers also asked her if she was under the influence or on drugs. She told them she wasnt but she said she was still told to step out of her car and troopers shined a flashlight in her eyes. Then the trooper told her to return to her car.

He asked me if I was aware of the stay-at-home act, she said. She responded: I am aware of it but I didnt know it pertained to just driving.

The trooper told her he wasnt going to fine her for the window tint or taillight "but you should be at home during this act thats in place right now and just get the taillight fixed, Shaffer said. Once she got home, she and her father Neil Shaffer said they discovered the taillight was working fine.

Shaffer said she was alone in her car and had no intention of getting out of it.

On the citation, it states she failed to abide by the order of the governor and secretary of health issued to control the spread of a communicable disease, requiring the closure of all non-life-sustaining businesses as of 20:00 hours on March 19, 2020. To wit, defendant states that she was going for a drive after this violation was in effect.

While the governors stay-at-home order is mandatory, state police spokesman Ryan Tarkowski said voluntary compliance is preferred and is what the state police are focusing on.

Troopers have been encouraged to use contacts with the public as opportunities to reinforce the necessity to abide by stay-at-home orders, he said.

However, Tarkowski added, Troopers maintain discretion to warn or issue citations and the decision is specific to the facts and circumstances of a particular encounter.

Like companies that can be cited for failing to suspend in-person operations of a business that isnt life sustaining, he said individuals may be cited for failing to abide by the stay at home order.

Tarkowski said Shaffers citation is the only one issued for violating the stay-at-home order. Since the governors stay-at-home order took effect statewide at 8 p.m. on April 1, two warnings have been issued, one in the northwestern counties and one in the southwestern counties.

Shaffer said she felt she was within her rights to operate her car. Her father agreed.

I think this is a little bit over the top," Neil Shaffer said. Theres a fine line here but at the same time, we still have some freedom, some rights and liberties and were allowed to operate our cars. Were allowed to go for a walk. Were allowed to go to the park and were even able to go to work if you work at a life-sustaining business or government agency, he said.

Most everybody is trying their best but that was ridiculous in my opinion, he said.

Neil Shaffer further said his daughters experience should serve as a warning to all Pennsylvanians.

The public should be a little bit careful and I think our people in office ought to understand what some of the repercussions are," he said. "Some of the things border on harassment that could start to take place here if we have a police force that could be looking at things in the wrong light and maybe taking things too far.

On Wednesday, the governor expanded the stay-at-home order across all of Pennsylvania. Its in effect until April 30.

Earlier this week, Wolf responded to a question about whether his stay-at-home orders were being enforced on individuals. At this point were focusing the state polices efforts on business closures," Wolf said.

Interestingly, the Pennsylvania State Police reported on Thursday that no citations have been issued to non-life-sustaining businesses operating in violation of the governors business closure order. Only warnings have been handed out.

The laws that grant them the citation powers include a 1955 law, which is the same one Dr. Rachel Levine, the states health secretary, has cited for withholding details about COVID-19 cases, and a provision in the 1929 administrative code that gives law enforcement the power to charge someone who defies health department orders.

Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York County, whose district includes Red Lion where Shaffer was stopped, said the mixed messages the administration has sent as part of its coronavirus mitigation efforts are confounding.

The governor needs to mean what he says and say what he means during these unprecedented times," she said. "If you are telling the public they will not be ticketed for violating the stay-at-home order, and yet we are seeing evidence of that occurring, we have more confusion and a lack of trust. These are uncertain times. Clarity is needed now more than ever.

Letter LEO Community by PennLive on Scribd

* This story has been updated to reflect the most recent number of warnings issued for stay-at-home order violations since that order took effect statewide as well as to note that Anita Shaffers citation was the first one to be issued by state police in Pennsylvania.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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Chancellor Rishi Sunak speaks during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by PA Video/PA Images via Getty Images)

With the general public under quarantine, businesses are struggling and many employees face an uncertain future.

Those being kept on by employers during the coronavirus will have 80% of their wages subsidised by the government - but ministers were criticised for not offering support to the self-employed.

There are around five million people in self-employment in the UK and the number has risen dramatically since the 2008 financial crisis. After calls for better support for self-employed people during the coronavirus pandemic, new emergency financial measures have now been announced for people working for themselves.

Heres the lowdown on the scheme - including what it is, who is eligible and how to make a claim.

What is the Self-employment Income Support Scheme?

The government will pay self-employed people a taxable grant based on their previous monthly earnings over the past three years. It will be worth up to 80% of earnings and capped at 2,500 a month. According to HMRC, you must have annual profits - self-employed earnings - of less than 50,000 a year. The scheme will last for three months but it may be extended.

HMRC will take an average of your last three years profits as a self-employed person, but if you have been self-employed for one or two years, it will rely on those tax returns. If you have not filed a tax return as a self-employed person, you are not eligible for money using the scheme. Instead, you can apply for universal credit.

According to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the scheme will cover 95% of the self-employed who make most of their money from self-employment.

Who is eligible for government support?

To be eligible, you must earn more than half your income from self-employment. You must also have submitted a tax return for 2018/19 and have a trading profit of less than 50,000 for 2018/19, or an average trading profit of less than 50,000 for the tax year 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19. This scheme is open to sole traders and members of partnerships.

Story continues

Anyone who missed the deadline in January has four weeks from the announcement (March 26th) to submit their tax return.

Those who pay themselves a salary and dividends through their own company are not covered by the scheme but will be covered for their salary by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if they are operating PAYE schemes.

When will the money be distributed?

Grants will be paid in a single lump sum instalment covering all 3 months, and will start to be paid at the beginning of June. However, the scheme may be up and running before June.

How do you apply?

You dont apply right now. HMRC will use existing information to check potential eligibility and invite applications once the scheme is up and running.

What happens after you have applied?

Once HMRC has received your claim and you are eligible for the grant, you will be contacted and told how much you will get and the payment details. If you claim tax credits, youll need to include the grant in your claim as income.

Watch out for fraud

Its likely that fraudsters will take advantage of the scheme. Its important to note that self-employed people can only access the scheme through the Gov.uk website.

If someone texts, calls or emails claiming to be from HMRC, saying that you can claim financial help or are owed a tax refund, and asks you to click on a link or to give information such as your name, credit card or bank details  it is a scam.
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.

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Technavio has been monitoring the server rail kit market and it is poised to grow by USD 275.1 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 8% 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.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005128/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Server Rail Kit Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact

The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Black Box, King Slide Works, Rittal, Super Micro Computer, and Vertiv are some of the major market participants. The deployment of edge computing 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.

Deployment of edge computing has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Server Rail Kit Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Server Rail Kit Market is segmented as below:

Application Rack Servers Blade Servers

Geographic Landscape The 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=IRTNTR30512

Server Rail Kit 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 server rail kit market report covers the following areas:

Server Rail Kit Market Size

Server Rail Kit Market Trends

Server Rail Kit Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies growth of HPC in enterprises as one of the prime reasons driving the server rail kit market growth during the next few years.

Server Rail Kit Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the server rail kit market, including some of the vendors such as Black Box, King Slide Works, Rittal, Super Micro Computer, and Vertiv. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the server rail kit market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Server Rail Kit Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist server rail kit market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the server rail kit market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the server rail kit market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of server rail kit 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

Rack servers Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Blade servers Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by application

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: 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 09: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 10: TRENDS

Developments in embedded platforms for data center servers

Increasing implementation of AI by enterprises

Growth of HPC in enterprises

PART 11: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 12: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Black Box

King Slide Works

Rittal

Super Micro Computer

Vertiv

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.

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GENEVA, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on Firmenich's donation of 20 tons of hand sanitizer in Geneva, the Group is increasing its production capacity to 100 tons for hospitals, as well as medical and emergency services across the USA and Switzerland. Firmenich has transformed its production lines to provide hand sanitizer vital to limiting the spread of COVID-19 and meeting growing global demand.

"As a responsible company, it is critical for us to take action and demonstrate our solidarity with the local communities where we operate in these unprecedented times," commented Gilbert Ghostine, CEO of Firmenich. "This hand sanitizer will allow us to protect our people and the frontline emergency staff working relentlessly to combat this pandemic. I am extremely proud of and grateful to all our Firmenich colleagues who are going above and beyond to make this happen. Together, we will prove that solidarity is more contagious than the virus."

Firmenich was the first in its industry to adapt production at its Geneva site to donate 20 tons of hand sanitizer to the Geneva University Hospital (HUG), and medical and emergency services. In response to the growing shortage of hand sanitizer, the Group is increasing its production to 100 tons with donations being made to hospitals, medical centers, midwives, care workers, emergency services, public transportation, NGOs and community associations supporting the pandemic efforts. The Group is currently exploring further production lines in Europe and Asia to meet growing needs in local communities.

About Firmenich

Firmenich is the world's largest privately-owned perfume and taste company, founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895. Driven by its purpose to create positive emotions to enhance wellbeing, naturally, Firmenich has designed many of the world's best-known perfumes and tastes, bringing delight to over four billion consumers every day. Renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its leadership in sustainability, each year, Firmenich invests 10% of its turnover in R&D to understand and share the best that nature has to offer responsibly. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 3.9 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2019. More information about Firmenich is available at www.firmenich.com.

SOURCE Firmenich

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Dubai

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he expects Saudi Arabia and Russia will end an oil production war and dramatically cut back.

U.S. benchmark crude climbed more than 20 percent Thursday after the tweet, but prices are still down 60 percent from the start of the year. A global glut in production, coupled with an economy reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, has sent energy prices to lows not seen since 2002. Trump tweeted Thursday that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, just days after talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the matter.

Trump tweeted; "I expect & hope that they will be cutting back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more which, if it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!" He later tweeted the presumed production cut could be as high as 15 million barrels.

Saudi Arabia called for an urgent meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC producers Thursday, weeks after triggering the price war with Russia that sent prices plummeting.

Russia's refusal last month to extend and deepen production cuts with OPEC and its de facto leader Saudi Arabia sparked immediate backlash from Riyadh, where oil policy is largely dictated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The kingdom slashed oil prices last month and vowed to ramp up production to more than 12 million barrels a day.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The clash is taking place during a period of vastly reduced energy demand. The pandemic arrived with the global economy entering a cycle of slower growth. The confluence has pushed Brent crude oil prices to below $30 a barrel, far below what Saudi Arabia or Russia need to balance their budgets. The price of U.S. crude fell harder than at any point in history, plunging more than 65 percent, to around $20 per barrel.

In a statement carried on the state-run Saudi Press Agency Thursday, the kingdom said its call for a meeting of major oil producers indicates the country's support for the global economy at this time, and is "in appreciation of" Trump and the request made by the United States. It said the purpose of calling a meeting is aimed at reaching a fair agreement to restore balance to the oil market.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on April 3 urged the WHO and the UN to act against China's wet markets, like the one where the deadly coronavirus is thought to have originated, as they pose "great risks" to the health and well-being of the rest of the world.

A wet market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan is believed to be the source of the coronavirus pandemic that began in December last year, crossing from animals to humans.

The number of cases from the virus has reached one million worldwide and more than 51,000 deaths have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.

Stating that China based "Wet markets were a very real and significant problem wherever they exist," Morrison in an interview to a news channel on April 2, said "this virus started in China and went round the world. And that's that's how it started."

"We all know that. And these wet markets can be a real problem when it comes to what can occur in those markets. And I think from a world health point of view, this is something the World Health Organisation should do something about. I mean, all this money that comes out of the UN and the World Health Organisation," Morrison said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

A wet market sells fresh meat, fish, produce, and other perishable goods as distinguished from "dry markets". It gets its name from the floors being constantly wet from the spraying of fresh produce and cleaning of meat and seafood stalls.

On April 3, during a media briefing on the health crisis, Morrison again reiterated his stance on global organisations to focus on such places and facilities stating that there was a "great risks to the health and well-being of the rest of world."

"I think this is a big challenge for the world..., the World Health Organisation and other international organisations I think it is an area they can spend a bit of time and attention on because we can clearly see the great risks to the health and well-being of the rest of the world as a result of these types of places and facilities," the Prime Minister said.

The US, the worst hit country from the virus, has reported more than 245,500 cases, with over 6,000 deaths followed by Italy, Spain and China.

As of April 2, a total of 81,620 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,322 people had died of the disease.

Hubei's capital Wuhan, which bore the brunt of the vicious virus for over two months, would begin its air services from April 8.

China began to ease its lockdown of Hubei province, home for over 56 million people, from March 25 by resuming local transport services followed by relaxation of travel for people tested negative for coronavirus.
How did a grocers store in Acton, west London, grow into a shopping phenomenon  a place where you can buy wild boar for your dog and Heston Blumenthals chocolate Scotch eggs?

New Channel 5 documentary Inside Waitrose reveals that friends in high places helped.

The show examines the stores royal connections, from Queen Marys passion for honey soap which earned it a royal warrant in 1928 to the deal in 2009 that saw Prince Charless Duchy Originals range sold exclusively there.

Waitrose (pictured) started as a grocers store in Acton, west London, grow into a shopping phenomenon

We see the Duchess of Cambridge pushing a trolley in Norfolk and Prince Harry scanning his goods in the Kensington branch.

But its not just a long association with the royals that makes Waitrose, founded in 1904, a cut above the rest.

A long-established reputation for the finest food and drink, says the shows director Elliot Kew, attracts the elite shoppers.

To define a typical Waitrose customer, youd say they were more discerning than average, with a little more to spend, says Elliot.

Wild boar with superfoods for dogs sold in Waitrose

Thats why theyre probably more willing to explore new products.

Waitrose certainly caters for customers like this. Its tie-in with Heston Blumenthal has meant healthy sales of items such as salmon smoked in Lapsang Souchong tea and his chocolate Scotch egg.

Food historian Angela Clutton tries both in the show. The salmon does well, but of the scotch egg she says, Nothing about it appeals to me.

Other products looked at include wild boar dog food and passion flower and green tea ironing water. Maybe not the kind of items youd find in Lidl, says Elliot.

Standing out from the crowd usually works for Waitrose, but occasionally it hasnt.

Heston Blumenthal has meant healthy sales of items including his chocolate scotch egg

Including flageolet beans and a limoncello dessert in its Essentials range raised eyebrows  but not as many as an article in the stores in-house magazine in 2018.

Coping in the crisis Waitrose insists its business as usual during the Coronavirus crisis  although its customers are having to play by new rules. The documentary explains that its introduced a temporary cap on buying certain items online and signed up to a joint agreement with other supermarkets asking customers not to buy more food items than they need. Advertisement

It offered culinary advice for children moving to university, with must-have items including cider vinegar, organic tamari soy sauce and rose harissa paste.

People took to social media to ridicule Waitrose, but the supermarket had a response. They explained that all the ingredients were long-lasting and would form the basis of tasty home-cooked meals, says Elliot.

He says its hard to say whether Waitrose is the poshest UK supermarket, But we found Londons seven most affluent postcodes had a Waitrose nearby.

What does seem certain is that having a Waitrose close by boosts the value of your home.

A study by Lloyds in 2018 suggested it increased the value by an average of 43,000.

The show tests this theory  with stunning results. Its called The Waitrose Effect, says Elliot, and its powerful.

Salmon smoked in Lapsang Souchong tea is another Heston Blumenthal product in Waitrose

Inside Waitrose, Tue, 9pm, Ch5.
The flood of predictive articles and columns on how our lives and cities will be profoundly changed by COVID-19 are fast and furious right now.

Some suggest its the end of dense cities altogether, that well never want to live close by or on top of one another. These ignore how the virus has spread through small towns and rural communities.

Others take more nuanced approaches, looking at how past plagues and pandemics have driven change, sometimes for the better, and made their predictions based on that history.

Though some are more soundly argued than others, what many of these sorts of articles do is increase my anxiety about the future. The thought of forced and rapid change is alarming. The fear is these predictions seem to threaten all the things we love about the way things were.

Things like going to the movies. Dinner parties. Visits to grandma. A crowded city park on a summer weekend. Sweaty dance floors. Gathering in places of worship. Weddings. Conversations with strangers. The bubbly happiness of the subway on a Saturday evening. Art galleries. Sporting events. The gym. The library. The beach. We each have our own list. Losing any of this would be painful.

In fact, what were already experiencing in these few weeks is grief. I couldnt figure out how to describe the feelings I had as the crisis evolved until I read a widely shared Harvard Business Review interview with grief expert David Kessler from last week. He explained were actually feeling different kinds of grief right now, from the loss of normalcy; the fear of economic toll; the loss of connection to an anticipatory grief around what the future holds.

While trying to mitigate some of that grief through virtual connections with friends and family, Ive found some solace around all those conflicting future predictions by remembering what Ive learned by combing through archives over the last two decades: predicting the future is hard.

This is to not say you should discard these predictions or their authors. Yours truly may yet write some. Know, though, that its the riskiest kind of writing as these speculations so often look absurd afterwards.

To remind myself of some of Torontos past predictions that didnt come to be, I got in touch with writer and historian Jamie Bradburn, who shared some of his vast research stash of old Toronto speculations with me.

Some of them are quite wild, like mile-high skyscrapers. There were other proposals for a dome over the city, suspended bicycle highways built on pillars, and a pedestrian promenade above Bay Street  ideas of the future that have all come and gone. Few people writing about Lake Ontario in the 1960s, when it was filthy, imagined it could be cleaned up and become swimmable, as it is today.

Most interesting was a chapter Bradburn sent me from Pierre Bertons 1961 book, The New City: A Prejudiced View of Toronto, where he wrote about what Toronto might be like into the 1980s and beyond during a time when the city was decaying at its heart but bursting at its boundaries. Some of what he wrote came true as Toronto boomed and expanded, but Berton thought the massive change the city was going through then would erase the city he knew and loved.

He wrote that his era of Torontonian would, see something nostalgic in the quiet backwater town of 1961, when life was simple and an expressway was like a shiny toy; when you could still go shopping to the little corner supermarket and the sidewalk stalls just off Spadina were still operating; when old-fashioned streetcars ran out to the Exhibition and there were trees left in the Humber Valley; when the streets were a babble of foreign tongues and the university campus still had some grass on it, and people drove to work and the subway was still a-building, and there was water in the Don River.

Today, though newer, streetcars still run to the Ex, and the urban experience Berton was already grieving for still largely exists in many parts of the city, even as we enter extremely precarious times for commercial businesses. Were even rebuilding the Gardiner so it will be a billion-dollar shiny toy again and the subway is a-building again under Eglinton.

So often the future predicted and dreamed about is closer to the way things were than not. Keep reading the speculations as you wish, but bear in mind no future vision is certain and we can also work towards a prescriptive one that might even improve on the past.

Imagine a post-COVID-19 city with a more robust food security system, better pay and job conditions for service workers who weve discovered are the backbone of our society, or housing that isnt precarious.

We have to be wary now, but the past teaches us the future is hard to predict.
Tripuras chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb has tapped the people of his state for suggestions to help his government tackle the economic after effects of the 21-day national lockdown, which is in place to beat the spread of coronavirus disease.

I am asking everyone to start thinking about the first 100 steps the government must take after the lockdown is lifted. We cant think about what should be done after the lockdown is removed, Deb said in a video message on Twitter.

The lockdown will end on April 14.

As he made the request, the chief minister gave an analogy of about parents think before choosing a school for their children. People take into account the number of teachers and facilities the school and also think about whether they can afford the fee before zeroing in, he said.

Thats why you have to suggest what should the first 100 steps that the state government must take because we have faced losses and pushed back due to the lockdown, he said.

Also read: Tripura gives Ratan Tata a wish list to fight coronavirus

These ideas, he said, can be sent to the CM dashboard, email ID of the chief ministers office and on WhatsApp numbers of government officials

We may receive hundred and thousands and lakhs of ideas but we will choose only the 100 best ideas, Deb said.

Deb also said the 26 people, who have returned from the Tablighi Jamaats event at Delhis Nizamuddin Markaz, have been sent to quarantine and no one has been found to be Covid-19 positive.

Though their reports came negative, we will conduct a re-test to confirm, said Deb.

The state government has quarantined 72 people, including the family members of Tablighi Jamaat.

Deb has also ordered the sealing of the states borders with Assam to prevent the inter-state entry of anyone or transport barring those carrying essential goods. These vehicles would be screened properly before their entry into the state, he said.

He also requested all religious leaders or gurus to share awareness about staying indoors in a video clip through social media for their followers. He hoped that if they do the same, many would respond to their appeal.

After meeting health officials, including medical superintendent of government-run GBP Hospital, on Thursday, the chief minister said the number of patients in the hospital has come down from 1500 to 500 every day on an average amidst the lockdown.

Also read:With fewer cases so far, North-east stays on maximum alert

As I asked the reason, the doctors said that people are learning to cope up with minor health-related problems from their own places, he said.

Deb added that his government has already started preparations to ensure the availability of medicines for blood pressure, dialysis, cancer, tuberculosis etc, both in shops and hospitals for the next one to two months.

Officials said 165 people have been arrested and a fine of Rs 350,000 has been imposed on others for violating restrictions put in place by the state government from March 24 to March 31.

The northeastern state has not reported any Covid-19 case till date.
As of 1 April 2020 Commerz Real has appointed Henning Koch, to date Global Head of Transactions, as a member of the companys management board. In addition to Transactions, he will also be responsible on the board for the Asset Management department, the reorganisation of which under the auspices of

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Wuhan's military industry back in action as epidemic situation eases

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/2 19:15:04

As the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic begins to subside in Wuhan, the city most severely affected by COVID-19 in China, the military industry of the city is now going back to normal and making up for time lost during the city's lockdown.

The Wuhan-based No.701 Institute under the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), a major design institute for China's warships, has been working overtime since March 3 to ensure that an undisclosed major project is not affected by the epidemic, according to a statement the institute released on its WeChat public account on Wednesday.

Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co Ltd, another CSSC subsidiary known for manufacturing submarines and surface vessels, welcomed a second batch of workers back to their positions on March 26, and its factory in Wuhan's Shuangliu reopened on March 27, with assembly lines there beginning to be gradually activated, the company said in two separate statements on its WeChat public account over the past week.

The situation facing military industry institutes and factories in Wuhan has drawn the attention of military observers since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, as the city was the most hit place by the epidemic in China.

Military experts told the Global Times in early February that China prioritized the health and safety of its weapon developers to avoid fatalities, which meant that any impact on weapons and equipment programs was just short-term.

The statements by the companies and institutes were positive signs, as any delay caused by the epidemic would only be two to three months, and even less if taking compensation for overtime work into consideration, analysts said.

In response to media reports that COVID-19's impact on the strategically important city of Wuhan could also impact China's weapons and equipment plan, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Ren Guoqiang said at a routine press conference on March 26 that the Chinese People's Liberation Army's determination, will, and ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not be shaken by any force or disturbed in any way.

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The 5,000 COVID-19 rapid testing kits that the City of Laredo and Webb County were planning to utilize at a drive thru testing site this week are likely fraudulent, according to the city.

After questioning the validity of the test kits, the validity of the FDA certification also came into question. An inquiry was initiated by the Laredo Police Department who are currently working with other authorities to investigate this matter, reads a press release from the city.

The kits were purchased through a public-private partnership with Clear Choice ER. Clear Choice had purchased around 20,000 of these kits in total.

When the city became aware that the freestanding ER would be receiving these sought-after rapid tests  which promised 93%-97% accuracy to test COVID-19 with only a finger prick and in 15 minutes  the city asked to purchase 2,500 for their drive-thru testing site, an expense they agreed to split with the county. Clear Choice said they would match this and agreed to provide the city with an additional 2,500 tests.

Health Director Dr. Hector Gonzalez said at a virtual media briefing on Thursday that they had been unsatisfied with the quality control checks on the testing kits, which had arrived in Laredo on Monday.

Being very honest, we are not liking the results of the controls, Gonzalez said. ... The kits sometimes are affected by weather or the shipment, so were testing different lots. Thats our control system.

Later Thursday, the city said that the results fell below the reliability range guaranteed by the company that issued the kits.

No tests were administered to the public and no payment was made for the tests by either the city or the county, the city assured. Likewise the planned drive-thru site at the Hillside park and ride will be taken down due to high winds and thunderstorms expected this weekend, Gonzalez told media Thursday.

Laredos Rep. Henry Cuellar posted on Facebook on March 31 that he had been working hard with health care providers, the Food and Drug Administration and Customs and Border Protection to get these tests approved and sent down to Laredo.

He included a photo of one of the test kits. The box is white with a light blue design, a dolphin logo in the upper left-hand corner and labeled COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Antibody Test Kit (Colloidal Gold). The kits were produced by a company called Anhui Deep Blue Medical Technology Co.

These appear to be the exact same kits that are under investigation in Portland, Oregon  where a man purchased 100 COVID-19 rapid testing kits that turned out to be unauthorized. This was the first case of alleged coronavirus fraud, according to the Oregonian.

In a statement to Laredo Morning Times, Clear Choice CEO Robert Castaneda Jr. said when they realized how the COVID-19 pandemic could affect Laredo, they began looking into ways to bring more testing options to the city.

Prior to purchasing these kits and in reviewing their authenticity, Clear Choice was provided with FDA documentation that identified these kits as an authorized device, Castaneda said; and when they received the tests, they conducted quality control measures.

In doing so, we found them to be lacking in efficacy; therefore, we have coordinated with the City of Laredo Health Department and we feel that it is more important to provide accurate results of Covid-19 screening than to perform mass testing and give a false sense of security or fear, he said.

Clear Choice is also working with the Department of Homeland Security to determine if there was any fraud involved by the company that sold them the tests, according to their statement.

LMT reached out to Anhui DeepBlue Medical Technology Co., Ltd. for comment via email regarding this story but a response has not yet been returned.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
Jammu and Kashmir is at the risk of becoming a police state, the National Conference said on Friday, a day after a senior police official warned of action against anyone found instigating people on the new domicile law announced by the Centre for the union territory.

"It would appear that along with everything else we also lost the fundamental right to free speech and the right to dissent last year. J&K may not be a 'state' but we risk becoming a police state (if we aren't already one)," the NC said on its official Twitter handle.

A report in a local daily has quoted Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar as saying that "some miscreants are instigating people on the new domicile law by misusing social media. FIR will be filed and action will be taken against those found involved".

Taking a dig at the IGP's remarks, NC's provincial spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said police should award those writing in favour of the domicile law.

"May I add... just a suggestion... Police should also award those writing in favour of #DomicilelawJK. Awardee should be allowed to nominate any 10 people of choice for #DomicileCertificate. Halwa batt raha hai toh sab khaye...(sic)," he tweeted.

The PDP too reacted sharply to the IGP's remarks.

"Seriously @JmuKmrPolice Article 19(1)(a) of Constitution says that all citizens have the right to freedom of speech, expression. Freedom of Speech & expression means the right to express one's own convictions & opinions freely by words of mouth, writing, printing or any mode," the party said in a tweet.

Nearly eight months after withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, the central government on Wednesday laid down rules for domicile which can now be given to anyone who has resided in the Union Territory for 15 years.

The Centre amended the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralisation and Recruitment) in which a clause for domicile category was introduced under which jobs up to Group-4 in the government were protected.

Under the new law, anyone who has resided for 15 years in Jammu and Kashmir or has studied for seven years and appeared in Class 10 and Class 12 examinations in an educational institution located in the Union Territory is a domicile.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
No Ballad employees have been furloughed up to this point, but because health care providers generally staff their facilities based on volumes, fewer employees are being called into work.

We have an awful lot of our staff members who currently are not working or are working significantly fewer hours, Levine said. Many of them are making up these hours by using paid time off, and of course, as they burn their paid time off, then they run out of resources.

Levine added, To some of these folks, a furlough would actually be welcome news because they would be able to access those unemployment benefits that Congress was generous enough to create. Thats why those benefits were put in place  to help people that are affected by furloughs or people whove lost hours because of the lost business.

He declined to specify what types of jobs could be affected by potential furloughs.

The one thing I will say is the most important people to have are those that are critical for the purpose of responding to the [pandemic] emergency or those that are critical for responding to the other health care needs of the community that are not related to the emergency, Levine said.
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Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 16:01 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8b827 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,Indonesia,climate,dry-season,coronavirus,WHO Free

A senior minister in President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's Cabinet is adamant that SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes the deadly coronavirus disease, will soon get "weaker" in the country as Indonesia enters the dry season in April.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Panjaitan said Indonesias relatively high temperature during the dry season as well as its humidity meant that the virus would be unable to survive, adding that the finding was a conclusion from an undisclosed research study.

The virus will be weaker in high-temperature locations, and that could be Indonesias advantage compared to other countries, Luhut said during a video conference on Thursday.

However, he said the advantage would be futile if the public kept on resisting the government's call for physical distancing, which is necessary to slow the transmission of the contagious disease.

If you have the virus but it is undetected, and you insist on performing mudik [exodus], you can kill others, including your family," Luhut went on to say, "Thus, we urge our Muslim citizens to refrain from returning to their hometowns for Idul Fitri."

The ministers claim, however, has previously been debunked by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The UN health body said exposing people to the sun or to temperatures higher than 25 degrees Celsius would not halt the spread of COVID-19, given that the disease has also emerged in countries with a hot climate.

You can catch COVID-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is, the WHO said on its COVID-19 myth busters page.

"To protect yourself, make sure you clean your hands frequently and thoroughly and avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi has fully recovered from COVID-19.

This was confirmed by Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe on Thursday during a press briefing at Afya House. Kagwe said Saburi tested negative on all three tests that were conducted after he was placed under forced quarantine.

The Health Cabinet Secretary maintained that the Kilifi Deputy will face the law after refusing to self-quarantine upon his return from Germany.

Im also pleased to announce to you that the Deputy Governor of Kilifi County whom we placed under mandatory quarantine has fully recovered. He has been declared fit after being subjected to three tests all of which have turned negative. Naturally, the issue of the law will now follow up with him, said Kagwe.

Apology

The statement comes after Gideon Saburi expressed his remorse and asked for forgiveness last weekend. He said he is a responsible person and that he did not intend to cause anxiety.

I am very remorseful for bringing anxiety on Coronavirus spread in Kilifi County and the entire country and hope that people will find a heart to forgive me.

I am a responsible person. I am a leader, a family man and a mentor to many. I did not do this on purpose, Saburi said, adding: Coronavirus is real. I call upon people to take precautions seriously.

The father of three tested positive on Sunday, March 22 after arriving in the country on March 6. He refused to self-isolate and came into contact with several leaders including Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Rabai MP William Kamoti, Mtwapa deputy OCS Bernard Otomei, and Base Commander Mathew Koech.

There Were No Clear Guidelines

He reportedly attended a Cabinet meeting, four funerals in Rabai, weddings and several social gatherings including going to night clubs.

Saburi defended himself saying: There were no clear guidelines set, upon my return, I did not do that intentionally. I cannot be careless enough to roam around infecting other people knowing well that I have Covid-19. All those years I have kept a clean bill of conduct. I have worked diligently and responsibly, discharging my duties as both CEC and deputy governor.

I have never indulged in any corrupt dealings to warrant complaints concerning my personality until when Coronavirus came in, he said.

The Kilifi Deputy Governor also confessed that: I attended funerals to condole with bereaved families and other gatherings in my rural home in Rabai bearing in mind the nature of my job and position in society. My governor had cleared me to attend the fair, the county secretary gave me a letter confirming the same. I have two residences in Mombasa where I live with my children and spouse. I went to a supermarket to buy food stocks and that is when I was accused of disregarding the quarantine order.

Before travelling, I spoke with the governor but we did not talk about the cancellation. Instead of 10 days as earlier planned, I stayed in Germany for three days. By then, the country had not been marked as a hotspot following the Coronavirus outbreak, Saburi said.
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Reporting on the White Houses herky-jerky coronavirus response, Vanity Fairs Gabriel Sherman has a quotation from Jared Kushner that should make all Americans, and particularly all New Yorkers, dizzy with terror.

According to Sherman, when New Yorks governor, Andrew Cuomo, said that the state would need 30,000 ventilators at the apex of the coronavirus outbreak, Kushner decided that Cuomo was being alarmist. I have all this data about I.C.U. capacity, Kushner reportedly said. Im doing my own projections, and Ive gotten a lot smarter about this. New York doesnt need all the ventilators. (Dr. Anthony Fauci, the countrys top expert on infectious diseases, has said he trusts Cuomos estimate.)

Even now, its hard to believe that someone with as little expertise as Kushner could be so arrogant, but he said something similar on Thursday, when he made his debut at the White Houses daily coronavirus briefing: People who have requests for different products and supplies, a lot of them are doing it based on projections which are not the realistic projections.

Kushner has succeeded at exactly three things in his life. He was born to the right parents, married well and learned how to influence his father-in-law. Most of his other endeavors  his biggest real estate deal, his foray into newspaper ownership, his attempt to broker a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians  have been failures.
Bangladesh: Scrambles to tackle COVID19

April 03,2020 | Source: ORF Online

The official report in Bangladesh is that the number of known cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus (Covid 19) is now 44, with five persons having died from it. The feeling among sections of the public, though, is that there could be many more than what the authorities have been coming forth with. After all, even as Covid 19 has struck down one nation after another, a number of ministers in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government either denied that coronavirus had entered the country or that it was of a scale meriting undue concern. Some of these ruling party figures even went overboard in publicly stating that with Sheikh Hasina as the countrys leader, the nation had little to fear from the outbreak of the disease.



Be that as it may, the Bangladesh authorities have in these past few days been scrambling to contain the fallout of the outbreak. This has come through the adoption of emergency measures, specifically by seeking aid from India and China. On Wednesday, Riva Ganguly Das, Indias High Commissioner in Dhaka, handed over 30,000 surgical masks and 15,000 head covers to the Bangladesh authorities. Meanwhile, plans are in the offing for a video conference between Indian and Bangladeshi medical professionals on the ways in which the disease can be better handled in Bangladesh.



For their part, the Chinese authorities have already sent 500 testing kits to Bangladesh, with promises of more assistance on the way. On the list are 10,000 PPEs, 10,000 more testing kits, 30,000 N95 masks and 1,000 infrared thermometers. These measures, together with the assistance from India, are a sign of the desperate steps Dhaka has been taking over the past week to contain the disease. On the eve of Bangladeshs anniversary of independence on 26 March, the countrys prime minister announced a financial package aimed at ensuring that workers in different factories were paid for their upkeep as the crisis unfolds. Meanwhile, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided the authorities with five polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines.



There is little question that it is the economy which is today in the danger zone in Bangladesh. In the last few months, private sector credit growth in the economy has been marked by a decline and the crisis now brought on by the coronavirus outbreak can only worsen the situation. Obviously, the countrys readymade garments sector, a major contributor to the economy, finds itself in a critical condition with buyers abroad ordering a cancellation of orders that had already been placed before the Covid 19 outbreak. Primark and other western buyers have stepped back from apparel orders amounting to $1.5 billion, a move which clearly threatens the livelihood of as many as 7,22,000 workers in 1,089 RMG factories across the country. With the RMG industry already having shown negative growth of 5.71 per cent in the first half of the ongoing fiscal year, there are very legitimate fears of conditions worsening in light of the new crisis. It would be well to recall that in the 2018-19 fiscal year, of the $34 billion worth of garments exported by Bangladesh, 60 percent went to Europe. That prospect is now under a dark cloud.



The looming crisis in the garments sector is serious enough to have prompted Rubana Huq, president of the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), into writing to the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Gerd Muller, for Berlin to come to Dhakas assistance in preventing the disastrous impact that Covid 19 has begun to have on Bangladeshs economy. Mullers response has been quite encouraging. I will not forget the workers in Bangladesh, he responded to Huq. That said, it is not just garments that are under threat. The economy is poised to take a battering in its exports of leather, footwear, jute, frozen food, home textiles and plastic products. For a country that has had GDP growth of over 7 percent for the last few years and has till recently touted its coming graduation to a middle-income country, the signs are certainly not good. With the hospitality industry, or more particularly its tourism, employing 500,000 people, it is feared that anywhere between 20 and 30 percent of employees will lose their jobs in the aftermath of the the viruss outbreak.



Where overall arrangements to handle cases of coronavirus affliction are the issue, the Bangladesh authorities have clamped a 10-day lockdown on the country. The police and other security forces have been deployed to ensure that people do not move out of their homes and that masks are used by citizens. It is in the countrys hospitals, though, that there are reasons for concern. At present, there are 1,285 ICU beds in the hospitals that cannot be given over to the treatment of coronavirus patients. Meanwhile, the government has moved to prepare a mere 29 beds for Covid 19 patients in five hospitals in Dhaka.



Not much light appears at the end of the tunnel. But Bangladeshs government cannot afford to sit back, understandably. In a country of 160 million-plus people and with resource constraints, it is a difficult calling. Politically and economically, the government is caught in a bad fix. Lest one forget, the authorities have just released former prime minister and chairperson of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Begum Khaleda Zia, from prison for six months on condition that she stays at home and does not engage in politics. Zia went to jail in February 2018 following conviction on corruption charges and despite numerous appeals for bail she was kept a prisoner. It is not too hard to understand that her familys appeal for her release as also fears over the Covid 19 situations have been factors behind the governments sudden demonstration of compassion.
The push to potentially release thousands of inmates from Pennsylvanias county jails accelerated Friday as the coronavirus further entrenched itself in detention centers across the state and sparked concern, especially in Philadelphia, of a widespread outbreak behind bars.

In response to a lawsuit from the ACLU, the state Supreme Court ordered president judges in every county to begin monitoring efforts to protect prisoners in their jails. If the facilities cant comply with recommended hygiene and social distancing guidelines, county courts should set up a process to consider certain low-level offenders, pre-trial detainees, and inmates facing the highest risks from infection for potential release, the justices said.

But despite reaching an unrelated accord with Philadelphias judges on one such protocol Friday, District Attorney Larry Krasner and the citys chief public defender, Keir Bradford-Grey, expressed frustration that even that process, set to begin next week, wont thin the jail population fast enough to avert a crisis.

We really need the courts to be more open to considering the direness of the situation, said Bradford-Grey. The prison positive tests are growing rapidly day by day. There is no way to social distance in jails and [those numbers are] going to continue to rise. We cant wait until next Tuesday.

Krasner added: We want now, and we have wanted all along, to move efficiently with the First Judicial District and all the other stakeholders to make progress. Sometimes progress in Philly takes a little longer than it should.

Their comments came just hours after the president judges of Philadelphias Municipal and Common Pleas Courts outlined the agreement they had cemented with Krasners and Bradford-Greys offices to expedite inmate release reviews.

Starting Tuesday, four courtrooms will be devoted three days a week to considering broad lists of cases on which prosecutors and public defenders can agree. With the Stout Center for Criminal Justice closed for all but emergency hearings, the proceedings will take place over the phone.

Prisoners convicted of economic crimes, those who have already completed their minimum sentence, and cases in which bail is less than $25,000 and the inmate has no prior record of violent crime, gun, drug or sex offenses will be fast-tracked. Those criteria could expand as the process moves forward, court officials said.

The protocol would not be used to evaluate juvenile cases, which have been undergoing their own process since March 13. It has led to the release of 20 young people from the citys juvenile detention center.

But in a statement accompanying the news, Municipal Court President Judge Patrick Dugan said if anyone was to blame for delays in the process so far, it was Krasners office.

For weeks the courts have sought from the District Attorneys Office an agreed-upon list of individuals whose cases were deemed sufficiently appropriate for review and possible release, as well as an agreed-upon method and criteria by which to conduct the reviews, he said, adding that the courts have still not received those lists.

Krasner said prosecutors supplied lists of 1,197 candidates for likely release some time ago. That claim drew another retort from the courts.

With all due respect, the courts have been waiting some three weeks for the DAs Office to provide a list of specific individuals to review and determine if immediate release is warranted," said Gabe Roberts, spokesperson for the First Judicial District. "It should be noted that at any point during these past three weeks, if the court had received such a list, it would have started a review process immediately.

That level of finger-pointing has characterized much of the discussion surrounding what stakeholders have described as a public health emergency unfolding behind bars, according to participants on all sides of the negotiations.

Advocates have been warning for weeks that the nations detention centers  with their cramped conditions, shared cells, limited hygiene, and inability to follow recommended social distancing guidelines  threaten to become a tinderbox for transmission that could put inmates, corrections officers, and the surrounding community at risk.

In New York City, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, more than 450 inmates and guards at Rikers Island have tested positive for the virus  an infection rate more than seven times the general populations.

And as of Friday, 31 prisoners in Philadelphias jails and an unspecified number of guards had fallen ill with the COVID-19 disease, city officials said  a rate of infection that outpaces the citys more than four times over. A week ago, only one inmate and one guard had tested positive for the virus.

Philadelphias judges, prosecutors and public defenders began discussing a process to review the cases of low-level offenders and those most at risk from an infection at the beginning of March  well before the state Supreme Court closed all courthouses to the public in a bid to prevent them from becoming vectors for the disease.

And yet, it was only last week that the three parties reached a vaguely outlined agreement to begin reviewing cases for potentially releasable inmates.

Thus far, the District Attorneys Office and the Defender Association have submitted to the courts more than 300 motions seeking the release of low-level offenders, including some held on technical probation violations such as missing a meeting with their probation officer. Many others have already completed their minimum jail sentence and would have been eligible for parole hearings if the court were open.

But they have had to do so through a time-consuming, case-by-case process instead of submitting a broad list of potentially releasable candidates for the courts review, said Bradford-Grey.

As of Friday, the population of the Philadelphia jails was only about 7% lower than two weeks earlier. Surrounding jails like those in Bucks and Delaware Counties have shaved their inmate counts by 20% and 35% percent respectively through a similar process of review, according to statistics provided by the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association.

These are people that would be out if the courts were functional, Bradford-Grey said. If some people dont get out of that prison soon, theyre not going to be able to come out because they are in quarantine.

Meanwhile, the tension level within quarantine blocks in the citys jails boiled over Friday afternoon.

Just after 2 p.m., nine quarantined inmates at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on State Road began throwing commissary containers at the windows of their cells in an effort to break the glass, according to two corrections officers who were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly.

Guards in riot gear and using pepper spray were called to extract those causing the disturbance, the officers said. No inmates or staff were injured, city officials said.

Managing Director Brian Abernathy said the jails have adopted new measures to address both security and health concerns. Inmates have now been provided with masks and are being kept sheltered in place in their cells, allowed out only to shower and use the phones.

We know advocates for all of those housed in congregate settings are worried, but the fact is we are going to great lengths to keep everyone safe, he said. Participants and staff alike.

Staff writers Laura McCrystal, Lisa Gartner, Barbara Laker, and Samantha Melamed contributed to this article.
The USNS Comfort medical ship moves up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty as it arrives in New York on March 30, 2020. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)

Navy Hospital Ship Docked in New York Changes Screening Process: Pentagon

It comes after Navy officials confirmed only 20 patients were being treated on the ship

A U.S. Navy hospital ship docked in New York will change its process for screening patients after a report claimed that just 20 people are being treated on the vessel, according to the Pentagon.

The screening effort for the USNS Comfort will no longer require a negative test, but each patient will still be screened by temperature and a short questionnaire, the Department of Defense (DoD) said in reference to the Navys Comfort ship that is docked off New York City.

The ship, which has 1,000 hospital beds, was sent to help offset the number of patients in city hospitals amid the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic, although Navy officials and a spokesperson told The New York Times and other news outlets on Thursday that only 20 patients have been admitted so far.

The Department of Defense added that screening for care on the USNS Comfort will be modified and will now occur pier-side in an effort to reduce the backlog at some of the nearby New York hospitals.

The assistance will allow local hospital and ambulance systems to function more efficiently and focus on more serious COVID-19 patients.

We will immediately implement this action and work with local officials in each area on the details of patient arrival, the Pentagon said.

The USNS Comfort was sent to New York City, the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States, to free up capacity in city hospitals to focus on treating COVID-19 patients.

On Thursday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the temporary hospital facility at the Javits Convention Center, which holds 2,500 beds, will treat virus patients.

Theres no question in my mind that will get resolved quickly. Youll see that number grow, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN on Friday, referring to the relatively small number of patients being treated on the Comfort.

Having the Comfort here is a very, very important thing for New York City in terms of the number of patients served, but also an extraordinary morale boost when we needed it, de Blasio added. I dont have a doubt in my mind, the Comfort will be filled up soon.

View of an almost empty Times Square in New York on April 3, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

The way in which the ship is being used drew criticism from New York hospital officials.

If Im blunt about it, its a joke, Michael Dowling, the head of New Yorks Northwell Health hospital system, told the NY Times. Everyone can say, Thank you for putting up these wonderful places and opening up these cavernous halls. But were in a crisis here, were in a battlefield.

Meanwhile, at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), hospitals built by the Army Corps of Engineers at convention centers in New York, New Orleans, and Dallas will now treat CCP virus patients, the Pentagon also said. The patients must first be treated at a local hospital and will require a lower level of medical care, it said.

We understand that introducing COVID-19 positive patients into the [Federal Medical Station] environments elevates the risk of transmission to other patients and our medical providers, the news release said. This decision was risk-informed and made to ensure that DoD can continue to provide these local communities the type of medical care they most need. Force health protection is a top priority and our medical professionals will have the required personal protective equipment needed for this mission.
What Did They Know? A Vulture series on artists whose work foretold our pandemic-stricken world. Photo: Kenny Braun

When Lawrence Wright first read about the outbreak of a deadly new virus in China, a strange and unsettling feeling came over him. I had a sense that what I had written was about to unfold, he recently recalled. Wright is best known as a journalist, but he had spent the past several years researching and writing a novel. Set in the spring of 2020, it tells the story of a fictional virus that originates in Asia and rampages across the world, overwhelming health-care systems, forcing schools to close and citizens to shelter in place, and plunging the global economy into ruin. At one point, a government official informs a colleague that the United States only has enough ventilators to accommodate a fraction of the people who need them. Watching each of these events play out in reality, Wright experienced a kind of astonishment, he said. When I was writing the novel I thought it might happen one day, he said, but I didnt think it would happen today.

The End of October will be published later this month, two weeks earlier than initially planned. Other titles have been delayed by the crisis, but Knopf has elected to get The End of October into the hands of the homebound reading public as quickly as possible, noting the uptick in sales of classic pandemic narratives like Albert Camuss The Plague and Stephen Kings The Stand. Im being called a profiteer, Wright told me the other day, speaking on FaceTime from his book-lined home office in Austin, Texas. The Telegraph, he noted dryly, had recently written that The End of October may be the only book to benefit from being launched while coronavirus spreads. His friends, meanwhile, had been ribbing him about being a prophet  an epithet that the modest Texan dismissed with a good-natured chuckle. I dont see myself as a prophet or even particularly prescient, he said. The question that journalism normally asks is, What happened? Our skill is to go out, and talk to people, and check their facts and try to understand it ourselves so we can explain it to our readers. Its not a very big step from that to say, What could happen?

Wright may not be a prophet, but he does have what his boss, David Remnick, the editor of the New Yorker, calls an unerring instinct for the big story. Pandemics were hardly a secret, Remnick wrote in an email, and many others have been warning about something like COVID-19 for a long time. Larry clearly set out to dramatize that warning in the shape of a novel. And then everything happened  too soon, too horribly. It would be easier to write off the books eerie verisimilitude as a function of pure coincidence if Wright hadnt done something like this once before. In the mid-90s, the producer Lynda Obst hired him to write a screenplay, stipulating only that it had to be about a woman in the CIA. He approached the challenge as a reporting assignment, interviewing a range of agents and intelligence experts who told him of the dangers posed by Islamist terrorism, a threat that was far from the forefronts of most peoples minds at the time. The film, The Siege, which depicted a series of terrorist attacks on New York City, was a box-office failure, but three years after its release, in the wake of 9/11, it became the most rented movie in America, Wright says. In an interview with CBS in 2007, Wright described the sensation of watching the September 11 attacks unfold on TV: People said, You know, it looks like a movie, and I was thinking, Yeah, it looks like my movie.

The plot for The End of October came to him after a conversation with the director Ridley Scott about a decade ago. Scott, who was interested in collaborating with Wright on a film, had recently read The Road, Cormac McCarthys relentlessly bleak novel about a father and son struggling to survive in the wreckage of an unspecified global cataclysm. Fires have consumed forests and cities; money has lost all value; governments have fallen; cannibalism has taken hold. Scott challenged Wright to write a script inspired by the unanswered question that hangs over McCarthys story. As Wright put it: What would it take to cause our civilization to fracture?

Photo: Penguin Randomhouse

Wright considered nuclear war and terrorism  the obvious culprits. (The perils of climate change, he pointed out, were not as widely understood as they are now). But then he thought back to the beginning of his career, when hed reported on the outbreak of swine flu at a military base in 1976. Hed been impressed by the bravery of the health-care workers and scientists hed met. They were swashbuckling intellectuals, a combination you dont always find, and theyd charge into places that are terribly, terribly dangerous, he recalled. If the heroes of those battles largely went unrecognized by the public, so did the foes they were battling against. Diseases are a kind of invisible enemy, he said. They dont announce themselves until they suddenly spring onto the stage. In part, this was a result of our hubris. The 20th century was all about overcoming the diseases of history, Wright said, and we did such a great job of it. But nature has not stopped creating new forms of diseases. It may be that disease is our greatest enemy, but weve set it aside because were so focused on our human adversaries.

Wright sent Scott a script about an epidemiologist trying to stop the viruss spread and find a cure, while his family struggled with the diseases terrible fallout. Scott didnt end up making the film, but Wright couldnt shake the scientists hed talked to while researching the story  how alarmed they were about the possibility of a civilization-cratering pandemic. It reminded him of conversations hed had with counterterrorism experts while researching The Siege. In both cases, Wright said, there was a level of anxiety that I had totally not expected. He decided hed turn his script into a novel, and immersed himself in research once again.

Wright is known for his exhaustive and meticulous reporting. His best-known work, The Looming Tower, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2007, is the definitive account of the rise of Al Qaeda. To construct the gripping narrative, he interviewed more than 500 sources, including Osama bin Ladens best friend in college. (It has been said that he knows more about Al Qaeda than many people in the CIA or the FBI.) For The End of October, he spoke with some of the foremost virologists and epidemiologists in the world, leaders of disease-fighting squadrons at places like the National Institute of Health and Ft. Detrick, the military laboratory that was once the center of the United States biological weapons program. Barney Graham, the deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center at the N.I.H, told me he agreed to help Wright because he hoped that the novel would help educate people about the need to prepare for a pandemic. It is hard to imagine the reality until you live through it, said Graham, who is now racing to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Another source, Dr. Philip R. Dormitzer, the chief scientific officer at Pfizer Vaccine Research, added that he hopes Wrights novel would spawn a new genre of thrillers. Stories in which a middle-aged, workaholic virologist is the hero are in short supply, he wrote.

Reading the book now, amid a pandemic that has exposed the terrifying fragility of our social structures and political institutions, is a deeply unnerving experience. Wrights virus, the Kongoli flu  a deadlier illness than COVID-19  sweeps around the world, unleashing a chain of dystopian horrors. Food grows scarce, governments collapse, a cyberattack takes down the internet, and war breaks out between the U.S. and Russia, dragging the world into a new dark age. Little was left of modernity except for weapons, Wright narrates in his plainspoken, reporterly voice. When I read a passage that explained how the run on ATMs made it nearly impossible for a character to buy groceries, I thought about the 23 dollars in my wallet and made a mental note to take out more cash. Wright told me hes experienced something similar. While he was writing, he set up a calendar on his computer to keep track of his characters movements as the virus spread around the world, and although hes tried to delete it, the reminders, uncannily, still pop up from time to time. At the beginning of March, while the city of Austin was still debating whether or not to cancel South by Southwest, Wright thought of his protagonist, the epidemiologist Henry Parsons, telling his wife to stock up on groceries and prepare to hunker down. He ordered seeds and planted lettuce. I was taking a note from my hero that we should do the same, he said.

Henry eventually stumbles onto the early stages of a vaccine, and succeeds in tracing the virus to its surprising origin. But the world is nonetheless fundamentally transformed, and not for the better. I wrote the book in a period of national desolation. America is in decline, our politics have become so contentious, were paralyzed as a nation, Wright said. And so the book reflects that attitude. And frankly, by the end of the book, the country doesnt succeed in meeting the challenge.

These days, as Wright shelters in place at his home in Austin, playing piano at night with his daughter and son-in-law, hes hoping for a better outcome than the one he imagined. We have a moment of opportunity to do a cultural reset that could lead us to a better time, he said, sounding a bit wistful. The Black Death led to the Renaissance. It ended the Middle Ages. It liberated the mentality of humankind. I dont know what will come of all this, he added, but I think its still in our hands.

The End of October is out April 28.
The first quarter of 2020 is already behind our back, and companies are now compiling their financial reports for the period. According to reports from South Korea, Samsung will post relatively solid Q1 earnings guidance despite the COVID-19 outbreak that affected production, sales, and marketing across the globe.

The Yonhap News Agency said Samsung is expected to announce KRW55.31 trillion (nearly $45 billion) in sales, which is a 5.5% increase from the same period last year. Operating profit is practically the same, but the provisional numbers say KRW6.22 trillion, which is technically a 0.09% drop over Q1 2019.

Samsung is expected to announce its guidance next week, with the full Q1 report usually arriving in the last days of the month. Analysts expect a big hit for the mobile business since Samsung had to shut down its bases in India, Brazil, and Russia. One investment agency estimated 62.2 million shipped units, down from 71.5 million units in Q1 2019.

The saving grace for Samsung is the semiconductor business - there is still demand for server chips, which leads to a steady increase in chip prices in the first three months of the year.

Source
MILWAUKEE, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation (the "Company") (NYSE-AOS) today announced that the Company's upcoming 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") will be held as a virtual meeting only. The change of venue for this year's meeting is being made due to the emerging public health threat of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of the Company's stockholders, employees, directors and communities. As previously announced, the Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. CDT.

To attend the Annual Meeting as a virtual meeting, go online to the virtual meeting website at https://web.lumiagm.com/235079118 or access the link directly from www.aosmith.com under the Company's InvestorsEvents and Presentations page. Attendees should enter the control number found on their proxy card, voting instruction form or the previously distributed notice, along with the meeting code #AOSMITH2020, to gain admittance to the meeting. Further information regarding this change to the location of the Annual Meeting can be found in the proxy supplement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2020. Online check-in for the Annual Meeting will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the Annual Meeting.

The Company's proxy statement, supplement and annual report are available on the Company's Investors page at www.aosmith.com.

About A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and air purification products. For more, information visit www.aosmith.com.

SOURCE A. O. Smith Corporation

Related Links

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The virus-stricken Grand Princess had just made headlines on March 5, when a sister ship  the Coral Princess  departed from a port in San Antonio, Chile, with the coronavirus still a distant scourge.

Among its passengers were Wilson and Toyling Maa, a South San Francisco couple who were traveling with a group of lifelong friends. They had left the Bay Area on Feb. 29, toured Machu Picchu for six days and climbed onto the ship eager for a luxurious voyage around South America.

The couple spent two weeks enjoying the ships Broadway-style shows and spiraling atrium, taking in the Amalia Glacier and sailing around Cape Horn.

But when they reached their destination in Buenos Aires on March 19, the coronavirus had exploded into a pandemic. Cities throughout the world were sheltering in place. Flights out of Argentina were canceled  the country had closed its borders.

With nowhere else to go, Toyling and Wilson stayed aboard the Coral Princess, which was headed to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and expected to arrive Saturday, although U.S. Coast Guard officials said Friday they would not allow it to immediately dock. Since leaving Argentina, the ships captain has tried to dock at other ports, only to be turned away. The Coral Princess remains stranded at sea with 1,020 passengers onboard.

Several of them began to develop flu symptoms, and on Sunday, 71-year-old Wilson got a fever. He tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, one of seven passengers and five crew members to be infected.

Even though several passengers had followed news stories about the harrowing journeys of the Grand Princess and before that, the Diamond Princess, most had little inkling that their ship would repeat the pattern. In the insular world of a ship at sea, communication with the outside is limited. Some passengers got regular news alerts or used apps to communicate with families and friends, but others seemed to unplug.

Late Thursday night, the Coral Princess floated past the Turks and Caicos Islands, en route to the Bahamas to pick up supplies from another vessel, the Regal Princess.

For now, everyone is isolated in their cabins.

After we went into isolation, we definitely werent seeing anybody, Toyling said on Thursday night, speaking to The Chronicle in a video chat on WhatsApp as she waited for dinner to arrive. It was after 9 p.m. and 64-year-old Toyling coughed occasionally as her husband moaned in the background.

He has been listless for several days, with a fever that oscillates between 100 and 102 degrees. Toyling is also feverish. Her cabin has a window that doesnt open, with an obstructed view. Toyling can squint out and see water.

We text or call each others cabins, she said. When you look out the door, you see an empty hallway. You wonder, Is anybody here?

Courtesy of Richard McRae

On the ninth deck, mid-aft, passenger Julie Sprague-McRae and her husband, Richard, still felt fine. She said the outbreak had caught everyone off guard.

When we got to Buenos Aires on the 19th, everyone was happy  the whole ship appeared to be healthy, said Sprague-McRae, a 66-year-old retired nurse from Fremont. The crew was joyous. The captain was happy. Everyone was happy.

Crews had spent six hours taking everybodys temperature at the request of the Argentine government, she said. At that time, no one had a fever.

As of Friday evening, nobody was quite sure when or where the ship would dock. Sprague-McRae gazed at a gauzy pink sunset over her balcony while she listened to the captain deliver grim news over a PA system. The U.S. Coast Guard had temporarily barred them from Port Everglades.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

We are disappointed to have shared news of this delay, the captain said. Please know that many people are working tirelessly to get you home as soon as possible.

Back home, family members of the passengers have desperately appealed to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna and several local politicians, Sprague-McRae said. Her sister Shannon called Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, in hopes that Mei would negotiate with Mayor Dean Trantalis in Fort Lauderdale.

Toyling worried that she and her husband may be stuck on the ship without adequate medical care, even after it arrives at a port. The ship has at least one doctor and nurse, as well as medical assistants, she said, all of whom appear to be overwhelmed. The doctor gave Wilson Tamiflu, a three-day antibiotic, and Tylenol to bring his fever down. When she calls for assistance, she gets an answering service.

You leave a message for more Tylenol, and then, two hours later, you get a call from a doctor, she said. And then you wait another two hours, and someone comes.

The captain provides regular announcements, but some passengers get updates faster than the crew, owing to various apps and contact with family members, Sprague-McRae said.

Shes still in good spirits. Down on a lower deck, the Maas are growing more despondent. They planned this trip for two years, and paid $7,000 apiece.

It was one of those bucket-list things, she said.

Now she wonders when shell return home.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
A Bolivian national who orally raped a woman after approaching her on the street has been jailed for six years.

The attack in public by Jose Lacerna Pena, 32, ended when two young men passing by saw the woman was in distress and intervened.

Pena, 32, of no fixed abode but originally from Bolivia, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to orally raping a woman at Wicklow Street, Dublin 2, on September 26, 2017.

He was convicted by a jury of the sole charge following a trial on December 13, 2019, and was remanded in custody. He does not accept the jury verdict, his lawyers told Mr Justice Paul McDermott.

In his evidence, Sergeant Wayne Donnelly said that the victim had been out in a nightclub with her friends and was making her way across the city centre to meet with more of her friends. CCTV footage from a nearby street showed her at one point stumbling and unsteady.

Sgt Donnelly said Pena approached the woman, began walking alongside her and talking to her. He linked his arm around her and then put his hand on the back of the woman's head, pushed her head down and put his penis in her mouth.

She came up and Pena forced her head down for a second time and again put his penis in her mouth. The two men saw the woman was trying to get away from Pena and intervened and the victim ran off.

Pena remained in the area and was arrested. During interview with gardai he said he could not remember the incident and claimed he had done nothing wrong.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice McDermott said Pena carried out the offence brazenly in the most public and humiliating manner as people were walking by.

He said that rather than offering the woman assistance, Pena took full advantage of her vulnerable position.

Mr Justice McDermott said that Pena's account during a Probation Service assessment seemed at odds with the evidence given to the jury that he had no memory of the incident. He said that some considerable work needed to be done with Pena regarding the nature of consent.

He said the offence was mitigated by Pena's lack of previous convictions and he accepted this offence was out of character. He acknowledged Pena will have difficulty serving his sentence far away from his country, family and friends.

Mr Justice McDermott sentenced him to six years imprisonment. He gave credit for time he has already served in custody and said that upon his release consideration should be given for his deportation.

'Trapped in a cycle of fear, sadness, anger and loneliness'

In her victim impact statement, which was read out in court on her behalf, the woman said that after the attack she withdrew from a lot of relationships. She said she was completely unable to communicate her pain and ended up suffering in silence.

The woman said she felt trapped in a cycle of fear, sadness, anger and loneliness for two years of her life. She said she wished she had the luxury of not remembering what happened, like the accused.

She said that she had not felt any shame; that the shame of this was not meant for her but for Pena. She said this was something she would carry for the rest of her life and she does not forgive him.

The woman said that she hopes if the accused ever starts a family he never has to hold his daughter the way her father had to hold her. She said she wanted to thank the two men who intervened and will never forget what they did for her.

Pena is a Bolivian national who came to Ireland to study English in June of 2017. He has no previous convictions in this jurisdiction or in his home country.

Sgt Donnelly agreed with Fiona Murphy SC, defending, that her client indicated he did not believe he would have acted in such a way as he is not that kind of person.

He agreed that Pena is alone in this jurisdiction and his family are on the other side of the world. She said he comes from a good family and his father is a colonel in the Bolivian military.

Ms Murphy said her client does not accept the verdict of the jury.

She said there is everything to suggest that it was a one-off incident that is totally out of character.

She asked the court to be as lenient as possible.
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Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 07:59 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f5f360 1 National 2020-census,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,field-research,online-census Free

Indonesias once-every-10-years national population census has become the latest collective activity to be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak sweeping the country, with online procedures extended until the end of May and face-to-face fieldwork pushed as far back as September.

This year marked the first time that the national census would be conducted both online and offline, with Statistics Indonesia (BPS) servers already going live almost two months ago to cater to citizens who wish to register themselves via the official website, sensus.bps.go.id.

The online census began on Feb. 15 and was slated to end on Tuesday, with the door-to-door portion taking place in July until all the fieldwork was completed, but meager participatory numbers and the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed the dates back later into the year.

The BPS announced, amid calls for physical-distancing measures, that the online census would be extended until May 29, and the door-to-door census would be postponed until Sept. 1.

Because of COVID-19 we have had to adjust the schedule for the population census. Up until [Tuesday], only 32.4 million people had accessed the [online census], BPS head Suhariyanto said during a virtual press conference on Wednesday, noting that the figure represented just 12.5 percent of the estimated population.

We hope to be able to reach 2022 percent of our target.

Suhariyanto said that the bureau would watch out for newer developments when it came to adjusting the census schedule further, but there was a working assumption that the pandemic would likely be over by September.

According to a state intelligence projection that was shared with lawmakers during a virtual meeting on Thursday, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chief Doni Monardo said the swelling of COVID-19 cases in the country is set to reach its peak "at the end of June or July".

If this turns out not to be the case, the BPS chief said that the face-to-face interviews would take into account existing COVID-19 handling protocols and physical-distancing measures.

Recruitment and training for on-field census takers were also affected by the health crisis, with the agency currently mulling a plan to train field workers remotely or online.

Meanwhile, many citizens were relieved by news of the extended online census date, as some have had technical difficulties in accessing the census as a result of heavy online traffic on the website.

Dinda Novita Baisyah, 23, finally finished filling in the online census for both of her parents and an older brother, despite some hiccups in the system earlier this week.

Yesterday I tried it but there were some errors; even trying to log on to the website came with an error [message], Dinda told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, breathing a sigh of relief.

She and her family had known for some time about the census, but they were often not at home or had little time to sit down and actually do it.

We prefer this online method, because even if the census officers came over it would be troublesome to write everything on paper. And not everyone is always home, even though since this pandemic no one from our district has gone out except to shop for the bare necessities, she said.

In response to concerns about the technical glitches, agency spokesperson Endang Retno Andani said that heavy website traffic on the last day of the initial online deadline had caused the census servers to slow down to a crawl.

After this is extended, we hope that people can start filling in [the census] without waiting until the very last moment, Endang said, adding that there were currently no plans to add more servers to boost the bandwidth.

IDG Karma Wisana, the associate director of the University of Indonesias Demographics Institute, said that the postponement of the physical census could be a boon for the agency, as it would give it more time to paint a more accurate picture of the population data.

Karma said that online data-gathering methods were used mostly to target specific segments of the population  such as the urban middle class  but the real impact could only be measured after concluding the entire process.

He suggested that the BPS focus on maintaining a high rate of accuracy in gathering online data.

If the online segment of the census is expanded to other regions, then the BPS will need to have a more intensive communications strategy to make sure the larger population fully understands the census process, Karma said on Wednesday, adding that the accuracy of the online data could only be measured after the fieldwork was finished.

A 2015 intercensal survey  that is, a study conducted halfway between censuses  projected that Indonesia would have a population of 266.9 million by 2019, leaping to 319 million by 2045.

The 2020 census is expected to help keep track of the countrys so-called demographic dividend  a boom in the productive working-age population that the government is so eager to cash in on. According to some estimates, Indonesias productive workforce will make up 70 percent of the entire population by 2030.

The BPS has set a budget of Rp 4 trillion (US$292.9 million) for this years census, up from the Rp 3.3 trillion allocated in 2010. It is also looking to hire around 390,000 volunteers for fieldwork.

But the pandemic has thrown a wrench into the logistics process, as its effects continue to be felt around the world.

Other countries that are slated to conduct their censuses this year have also pushed back their schedules or even postponed them altogether to next year, as is the case in Brazil, Panama and Saudi Arabia.

The United States, which is also conducting a census this year, has suspended all face-to-face surveys indefinitely and halted all operations at least until April 15, according to reports. The US Census Bureau has, however, already conducted part of the fieldwork by phone, mail and online.
Crude oil futures jumped to Rs 1,981 per barrel on April 3 due to short covering of positions by participants tracking global cues. Oil prices gained over 21 percent in international trade on April 2 following US President Donald Trump's tweet that Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to cut output by 10-15 million barrel.

Saudi Arabia on April 2 made a surprise appeal for an urgent meeting of OPEC+ nations to stabilise the oil market amid a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak too said the country has no plan of raising oil production. Both moves lent support to crude prices.

In the futures market, crude oil for April delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 1,989 and an intraday low of Rs 1,660 per barrel on the MCX. So far in the current series, black gold has touched a low of Rs 1,550 and a high of Rs 4,186 per barrel.

Crude oil delivery for April gained Rs 360, or 22.21 percent, to Rs 1,981 per barrel at 14:35 hours IST. The same for May delivery rose Rs 276, or 14.4 percent, to Rs 2,193 per barrel.

The value of April and May contracts traded so far is Rs 3,035.79 crore and Rs 180.87 crore, respectively.

"MCX crude oil has strong resistance at Rs 2,060-2,140 level, whereas support is placed at 1,720-1,650 level. If prices sustain and break above this resistance level, it will confirm a further positive move towards Rs 2,300-2,380 levels," Motilal Oswal said in a recent report.

West Texas Intermediate crude gained 1.94 percent to $25.81 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark was up 5.64 percent to $31.63 per barrel.
Total reported crime across Pennsylvania plummeted 65 percent in the last half of March amid the coronavirus shutdowns, according to state police statistics.

The downward crime trend, which is playing out across much of the country, is a rare bit of good news from the global pandemic.

Everybody is in survival mode, said Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter. When Im driving or walking around the city now, the streets are bare. So far, people are listening and trying to do what they should be doing: staying home.

State police recorded 3,417 criminal offenses between Feb. 29 and March 13, when the governor announced a statewide school closure. The next two weeks, criminal offenses fell sharply to 1,182.

The number of car crashes, arrests and DUI arrests also each dropped by more than half across the state, according to figures from March 14 to March 27.

State police logged 2,259 car crashes in the two weeks prior to March 13 but just 1,092 in the two weeks that followed. That means occupants of more than 1,100 vehicles could have been hurt but werent; those vehicles could have been damaged but werent.

The personal and monetary cost of all the crashes and crimes averted is significant and represents a silver lining to this dark cloud, said Professor David Harris, who studies police behavior, law enforcement and more at the University of Pittsburgh.

People are still committing some crimes, Harris said, but there are fewer because there is less opportunity. With most businesses closed, he said, its understandable that armed robberies would dry up. With fewer people on the streets: not many people to rob either. With bars closed, no bar fights break out. Also, with everyone at home watching their property and blocks: burglaries may not be an option.

While crimes and crashes have dropped, calls for service, however, increased 22 percent for state police in the end of March. Those calls include self-initiated police work such as checking on a closed schools, businesses and liquor establishments, said Ryan Tarkowski, Pennsylvania State Police communications director.

Its likely some of the increased duties of state police because of the coronavirus shutdowns contributed to the increase, he said. Police were tasked to ensure malls and liquor establishments had closed and also are focused on checking on closed businesses to prevent burglaries and vandalism.

Number of emergency calls to Dauphin County dispatchers shrinks amid coronavirus shutdowns.

Calls for emergency service in Dauphin County have slowed to nearly half the average level and even 911 calls had declined by 36 percent on March 29, according to statistics provided by county officials.

In Harrisburg, calls for police service dropped by 45 percent in the last half of March compared to the same time frame in 2019. The city logged 1,079 calls for service in the last half of March, compared to 1,970 calls for service during the same dates last year.

Burglaries, assaults and drug incidents have declined in March, said police Sgt. Kyle Gautsch. But police are getting slightly more reports of shootings, drug overdoses and domestic violence, he said.

Less traffic is the most noticeable thing about working in the city during a daytime shift right now, said Harrisburg police Cpl. Teresa Covey. There are fewer crashes and complaints, she said. With no commuters or bustle downtown, Covey said the homeless population stand out more.

Before they blended in with all the other people outside, she said. Now they are very visible.

The novel coronavirus has impacted more than just crime statistics. Its affected nearly everything about police work, from the kind of calls officers respond to in-person to the kind of crimes worth locking someone up in jail.

Police are handling non-active scenes and low-level crimes by phone and exercising great discretion in who gets arrested, as each person added to the back of a police vehicle or jail adds another layer of virus risk.

Officers must weigh the risks for every violation, said Carlisle Police Cpl. Jeffrey Kurtz.

Its difficult for some of the younger officers who want to be more aggressive, Kurtz said. We cant be as proactive as we would like, so were sitting in areas hoping our presence will get people to slow down and perhaps discourage people from other illegal acts.

But if police can opt to arrest fewer people now, is that something they could continue to do, even after the major virus risk passes, considering how deleterious it is to spend time behind bars? Harris said a jail stint of just a few days can be life-altering for people on the margins who could lose their homes or cars. Many poor defendants get stuck in jail longer if they cant afford bail.

We should hope were able to learn more about this, Harris said. Could we have a system that could arrest far fewer people without increasing the danger to public safety?

Harris said the current situation could show that we can handle these things without arresting as many people. One can hope thats one of the longer-term consequences out of this.

READ: Harrisburg man ran down street to fire back at fleeing shooters: watch video

READ: Pa. trooper tests positive for coronavirus

READ: Harrisburg police get creative with protective gear amid mask shortage
The United States recently touted some $40 million in emergency humanitarian assistance throughout the Middle East and North Africa to help combat the coronavirus pandemic. The West Bank and Gaza are not on the list of beneficiaries of this US largesse.

In fact, the Donald Trump administration is doubling down on its policy of eliminating Palestinian aid despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This has placed the White House at odds with the purse-string holders in Congress, particularly Democrats who worry that the Palestinian aid freeze could exacerbate the spread of COVID-19 throughout the West Bank and the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Bonnie Glick, the deputy administrator at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), defended the policy in an interview with Jewish Insider published today.

It actually isnt controversial except its portrayed in a controversial way, Glick said. The Palestinians, through [Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas], asked us to stop our assistance to the Palestinian Authority, because under congressional legislation it wouldve meant that they would be on the hook to pay reparations to American terror victims.

Its true the Palestinians rejected the last vestiges of US security assistance last year because it would have opened the PA to potentially ruinous lawsuits under the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act of 2018. But Glick also omitted that Congress removed that aid restriction last year as part of its annual spending package, paving the way for the assistance to resume without triggering the lawsuits. Furthermore, the Trump administration had eliminated all Palestinian economic aid before the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act became law.

Additionally, Congress also appropriated $75 million in economic and development aid for the West Bank and Gaza alongside another $75 million for security assistance to support the PA as part of its foreign aid spending bill. While USAID legally has until the end of fiscal year 2021 to allocate that assistance, the Trump administration has yet to do so.

This has resulted in scrutiny from some Democrats, including powerful appropriators on the foreign aid panel. One foreign aid appropriator  Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland  joined forces with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to lead six other Democrats in a letter pressing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the issue last week.

President Trump recently offered assistance to other countries fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, including North Korea and Iran, the lawmakers wrote. This principle of providing humanitarian aid to those in need should also apply to the Palestinian people. We write to urge the administration to take every reasonable step to provide medicine, medical equipment and other necessary assistance to the West Bank and Gaza Strip (Palestinian territories) to prevent a humanitarian disaster.

Other signatories to the letter included Setae Appropriations top Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont, his fellow foreign aid appropriator Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

They set today as the deadline for Pompeo to reply to a series of queries on the $75 million that Congress allocated in Palestinian economic and humanitarian aid as well as the Trump administrations plan to help halt the spread of coronavirus in the West Bank and Gaza. Today is the deadline for Pompeo to respond, and the State Department declined to respond to Al-Monitors request for comment on the record.

While there are roughly 150 recorded coronavirus cases in the West Bank and 12 in Gaza, Israel has confirmed more than 7,000 cases. The letter noted the extreme vulnerability of the health system in Gaza as a particular concern should the pandemic spread throughout the enclave, which is subject to an ongoing Israeli blockade.

The Trump administration did not ask Congress for any economic aid for the Palestinians in its 2021 budget request. Trumps budget also makes security aid to the PA  funding that Israel also supports  contingent on a $200 million request to Congress to fund the White Houses Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative.

Still, outgoing USAID Administrator Mark Green reassured the House foreign aid spending panel last month that there are no plans to close the agencys operations in the West Bank and Gaza, noting that the 45 local staff there are currently involved in other projects.

Were hopeful for a day where we can resume work [in the West Bank and Gaza] as part of the peace plan, Green said.

Green struck a softer tone in his House testimony than his deputy, Glick, in her Jewish Insider profile. The profile noted that her sister, Caroline Glick, is a well-known conservative journalist in Israel who mounted a failed Knesset bid last year as part of the New Right party.

Bonnie Glick was also reportedly involved in last years decision to delay $115 million in economic aid to Lebanon, a decision Pompeo overruled in December while Trump was mired in an impeachment inquiry over his hold on Ukrainian military assistance.

Devex reported last month that several development organizations had lobbied the Trump administration for Glick to replace Green as acting USAID administrator when he resigns at the end of last week. Trump instead picked John Basra, the assistant USAID administrator for Latin America, to fill the post after Greens departure.
On Thursday, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik had claimed that Britain's Prince Charles, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, has been cured through Ayurveda and homoeopathy treatment.

Reuters

"I got a call from Dr. (Isaac) Mathai, who runs the SOUKYA Ayurveda resort in Bengaluru. He told me that his treatment of Prince Charles through Ayurveda and homoeopathy has been successful," Naik had told news agency IANS.



While Isaac Mathai confirmed to Hindustan Times that the British royal and his wife are his patients. The website of his ayurveda resort, too, carries a video message from Prince Charles prominently on its landing page. But Mathai refused to confirm or deny Naiks remarks, citing patient confidentiality.

Reuters

But when the newspaper asked the spokesperson of Prince Charles to comment on the matter, he denied the claims. He is quoted by Hindustan Times as saying This information is incorrect. The Prince of Wales followed the medical advice of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and nothing more.



Prince Charles and his wife Camella, the Duchess of Cornwall, had isolated themselves in Scotland. Camella had tested negative for the COVID-19 disease, but was put in self-isolation as a preventive measure.

Reuters

In addition to the heir to British throne, United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock had earlier also tested positive for novel coronavirus.



A record 569 people have been confirmed to have died in the last 24 hours in United Kingdom, taking the death toll to 2921. The country is one of the hardest hit by coronavirus in the world.





These figures represent the single-biggest daily rise in the death toll since the crisis began, and mean the number of recorded victims has doubled in four days.



Britain lags Italy, Spain and France in terms of the number of deaths, but they are still doubling around every 3.5 days.
REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says U.S. President Donald Trump's order to an American company to stop shipping protective masks to Canada is "nothing short of a betrayal."

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). This virus was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. THE CANADIAN PRESS/CDC via AP, File

REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says U.S. President Donald Trump's order to an American company to stop shipping protective masks to Canada is "nothing short of a betrayal."

Moe said Trump's directive to 3M regarding N95 respirators makes the discussion around COVID-19 protective supplies in Canada all the more urgent.

The premier called the U.S. decision "reckless" and says he is reaching out to American governors to try to get it reversed.

"This decision is nothing short of a betrayal of our two great nations shared history of working together in times of need," Moe said at a news conference Friday.

"In this time of a pandemic, it is even more important that our nations strengthen our resolve to work together to fight this unseen enemy."

Moe said Canada should take a serious look at manufacturing its own supplies as other countries may also try to save medical gear for their own citizens.

He was recently part of a call with other premiers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland to talk about the response to the outbreak.

Accessing personal protective equipment was discussed, said Moe. There have been talks about how masks, gloves and gowns can be acquired through the federal government and shared with areas that need them the most.

Saskatchewan has announced 14 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 220.

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"We are one nation," Moe said. "We do have provinces that are short of supplies today and tomorrow."

Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, said the province's supply of protective gear is adequate, although he noted that face masks should be saved for health-care workers.

The province said an employee at an assisted-living facility in Regina recently tested positive for COVID-19. It said the employee works at a centre operated by Eden Care and the virus does not appear to have spread to residents or other staff.

The Ministry of Health said residents who have been in contact with the worker will have to isolate for 14 days and be checked for symptoms.

Moe said, effective immediately, workers at long-term care centres will be monitored for COVID-19 symptoms and have their temperatures checked before their shifts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020
After a long winter ... the fellas open season 2 (safely from the confines of their respective homes) chatting about impact of the coronavirus. They share how you can help save Chad's favorite coffee shop - Blip Roasters. Triple D: Yeah. It's coronavirus related, too.
Boeing offers employees voluntary layoffs

The companys chief executive Dave Calhoun announced that employees of Boeings voluntary workforce reduction efforts in a 2 April memo to staff.

The US aerospace company Boeing is launching a voluntary layoff plan as a response to market conditions struggling with coronavirus pandemic.

"A NATURAL TURNOVER"

The company CEO said in a statement on Thursday that the plan offers eligible employees who want to exit the company pay and benefits package.

Dave Calhoun said recovery from the crisis will take time for the aerospace industry. "When the world emerges from the pandemic, the size of the commercial market and the types of products and services our customers want and need will likely be different."

The company will need to balance the supply and demand accordingly, Calhoun said.

"We want to address it through natural turnover and voluntary employment actions to the extent we responsibly can," he said.
I mages of traders with their heads in their hands may have dominated TV screens in recent weeks, but staff at CMC Markets could have been forgiven for punching the air.

Today the spread betting to foreign exchange trading firm said that its contract for difference business had generated annual income of 241 million up on 216 million in 2019  helped by a strong final quarters trading as the Covid-19 crisis sent global markets on a rollercoaster ride.

Peel Hunt analyst Stuart Duncan said: Clearly there has been high levels of client trading with volatility attracting both existing and new clients.

We dont know how long this level of trading activity will go on for so thats holding back the share price a little. It depends on the shape of the global recovery.

CMC boss and former Conservative party co-treasurer Peter Cruddas said CMC is not reliant on sustained volatility to grow. Duncan argued the companys technology is also a strong asset. The shares were up 7p or 4% at 201p

Calling the oil market has been as slippery a job as the black stuff itself of late, and so it proved today. US President Donald Trump put a rocket under the oil price yesterday, tweeting that he had brokered a deal between Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut output. Today those gains were initially trimmed amid fears Trump wouldnt make his promise stick, but chatter that the Opec oil cartel might meet next week helped lift Brent Crude up $1.11 to $31.03. Shares in BP and Shell both fell, down 8p to 345p and 27p to 1515p respectively.

Overall the FTSE 100 fell 58.52 points to 5421.70 as the global number of coronavirus cases topped one million.

Tullow Oil attempted to reassure investors of its financial footing, saying it now has access to $700 million of undrawn loans and cash. It also cut planned spending by $50 million to $300 million this year. The oiler has been on the back foot since it admitted in November that it had discovered the wrong type of oil  which was too expensive to refine in its wells off the coast of Guyana. Shares rose 3p to 14.7p.

Oil services group Hunting ditched its $0.06 a share final dividend amid the the oil price fall but will pay a $0.03 interim divi. The stock rose 19p to 202p.
The Spanish tax authority, the AEAT, is set to send more letters to crypto traders this year, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

From April 1 - June 30, the AEAT would send notices to 66,000 cryptocurrency holders to remind them of their tax obligations, according to a report from Europa Press earlier this week.

That number is nearly 350% higher than the last year of 14,700, per the report. The AEAT is also targeting those who earn rental income and foreign income.



Crypto in Spain is subject to capital gains tax. The tax rate ranges from 19% to 23%, according to Spanish tax consultant GM.

Spain's tax authorities have been active in the crypto space since as early as 2015. Most recently, they contacted over 60 firms, including crypto exchanges, to get information on traders.
Late stage socialism has some pretty clownishly weird stuff on offer but can't say I've ever seen anything like this:

According to the BBC:

A Venezuelan navy coastal patrol boat sank in the Caribbean after allegedly ramming a cruise ship that it had ordered to change direction. The owners of the Portuguese-flagged RCGS Resolute said the naval vessel Naiguata also fired shots in an "act of aggression in international waters. The collision left the cruise ship, which has a reinforced hull for sailing in icy waters, with only minor damage. Venezuela accused the Resolute of an act of "aggression and piracy". It also said it "did not rule out" that the cruise ship "was transporting mercenaries to attack military bases in Venezuela".

So here we have a show of military might from the brave and ready chavista Venezuelan government, whose leader has just been declared by the U.S. to be a drug dealer and put on a special "Noriega" list, probably getting ready for his close-up against some loud tapes playing Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good," and they decided to put on a show of military force to teach gringo or something.

But instead of attacking a U.S. Navy warship, several of which have been dispatched by President Trump to the Venezuelan coast two days ago, loaded with surveillance aircraft and special forces teams, they went after a ... cruise ship, which might have been loaded with big German tourists sipping pina coladas, but in this case wasn't.

Here it is, from the Columbia Cruise Services web site:

Image credit: Columbia Cruise Services // fair use

It was a midnight attack, according to the Hamburg-based cruise line, so they probably wanted to steal it, given that they ordered the ship, in international waters no less, to head to now-hellhole Isla Margarita, where the locals once tried to beat Maduro to death and have had government funds cut off ever since. Pirates do sneak attacks at midnight.

Innocent of any knowledge that the cruise ship was equipped with reinforced hulls built for Arctic travel and its captain probably the nautical equivalent of an ice road trucker, all they managed to do was sink themselves while the big clunky unarmed floating tourist resort carried on with minor scrapes, wondering what that local talent incident was all about.

That's some show of force ahead of the U.S. Navy's warship "tour" of the area. That's some show of Venezuelan military readiness. Heck, it's some show of military judgment. They attacked an unarmed cruise ship, built for tourist travel ... and the cruise ship won.

The cruise ship even tried to contact the pitiful Chavista pudknockers to rescue them from their own idiocy in the water, but couldn't reach them, so odds are, they went down to Davy Jones' locker, although the Chavistas claim otherwise. Now they're yelling that the cruise ship was the real pirate and engaged in "aggression" in typical leftist projections.

This incident is so scorn-inducing one imagines will make it to maybe Hannity or Tucker Carlson on Fox News tonight, but it's actually socialism as it reaches Greg Gutfield territory. You can't find bigger clowns pulling a stunt this stupid, not even in cartoons.

One can only wonder what the U.S. sailors think as they make their way to the Venezuelan coast for a look-see.
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has appreciated India's effort to establish a COVID-19 emergency fund under South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to tackle the spread of the deadly virus in the member countries.

A mention of India's efforts was made in a UNESCAP report which summarises the key impact of COVID-19 in the Asia Pacific region and suggests some short and medium-term measures for consideration by member countries. It also highlights Reserve Bank of India's decision to pump liquidity to increase access to credit for the pharmaceuticals, construction and tourism industries as an example of targeted monetary easing to support financial health of sectors that are worst hit due to COVID-19 linked economic disruption.

The report titled "The impact and policy responses for COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific" said immediate and large fiscal measures, supported by targeted monetary easing, are required to contain COVID-19, to cure people and to ensure economic and financial stability. It called for the removal of tariff and non-tariff measures that are put in place by countries to facilitate cross-border movement of essential medicines, medical equipment and teams, and other essential goods. Regional cooperation to provide an additional avenue to respond to the pandemic, by establishing a regional and/or sub-regional public health emergency fund and coordinating debt relief measures was also mooted.

The report stressed the urgent need for immediate and concerted actions at sub-regional, regional and global level to increase mutual trust, share information and experience, ensure the supply and delivery of medical materials and equipment, to build confidence in all countries to fight the virus. 'Unless measures are set in place to meet the needs of vulnerable individuals and households who are already bordering poverty, the pandemic will only widen inequality gaps further and even entrench people in poverty", it pointed out.

According to UNESCAP, the costs of neglecting vulnerable populations will have impact not only on economic activity but also on higher rates of transmission. "The COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for governments in the region to build their crisis-resilience through strengthened and more systemic health and social protection measures for all. The ongoing crisis may be an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation to tackle this cross-border pandemic, using the increased public support to build a stronger and more resilient Asia-Pacific based on inclusion, solidarity, equality, and respect for human rights", it said.

Also Read: Coronavirus impact: Fitch cuts India's GDP growth outlook to 30-year low of 2% for FY21
Cities That Had More Aggressive Interventions Tended to Have Higher Employment Growth Growth in Manufacturing Employment 1914 to 1919 +120% Seattle Oakland 100 Omaha Portland +80 Los Angeles +60 Indianapolis Syracuse Birmingham Spokane Toledo San Francisco Columbus Denver Cleveland +40 Rochester Grand Rapids Buffalo Newark Kansas City Milwaukee Minneapolis Dayton St. Louis Baltimore Nashville Chicago +20 New Haven Washington Louisville New Orleans Pittsburgh Boston St. Paul New York Philadelphia Cincinnati Lowell Fall River shorter interventions Longer interventions Growth in Manufacturing Employment 1914 to 1919 +120% Seattle Oakland 100 Omaha Portland +80 Los Angeles +60 Indianapolis Syracuse Birmingham Spokane Toledo San Francisco Columbus Denver Cleveland +40 Rochester Grand Rapids Buffalo Newark Kansas City Milwaukee Minneapolis Dayton St. Louis Baltimore Nashville Chicago +20 Washington Louisville New Orleans Pittsburgh Boston New York St. Paul Philadelphia Cincinnati Lowell Fall River shorter interventions Longer interventions Growth in mfg. Employment 1914 to 1919 Seattle +120% Oakland 100 Omaha Portland +80 Los Angeles +60 Syracuse Spokane Toledo San Francisco +40 Denver Cleveland Buffalo Kansas City Minneapolis Chicago St. Louis +20 New Orleans Louisville Pittsburgh St. Paul New York Philadelphia Cincinnati Fall River Longer interventions shorter interventions Source: Sergio Correia, Stephan Luck, and Emil Verner

As the first local influenza deaths were counted in the fall of 1918, officials in Minneapolis moved quickly  more aggressively than even state health officials thought was wise  and shut down the city. They closed schools, churches, theaters and pool halls, effective midnight on Oct. 12.

Across the Mississippi River, St. Paul remained largely open into November, with its leaders confident they had the epidemic under control. Fully three weeks after Minneapolis  with The St. Paul Pioneer Press pleading In Heavens Name Do Something!  St. Paul ordered sweeping closures, too.

Both cities, relative to the worst-hit parts of the country, escaped steep death tolls. But the mortality rate in Minneapolis was considerably lower than in St. Paul. And as researchers today look back on those interventions, it appears the economy in Minneapolis emerged stronger, too.

The comparison between the Twin Cities is instructive today not just for what it tells us about the health benefits of social distancing, but also for what it says about any economic costs that come with it.

In 1918, cities that committed earlier and longer to interventions like banning public gatherings and closing schools didnt fare worse for disrupting their economies for longer. Many of those cities actually had relatively larger gains in manufacturing employment, manufacturing output and bank assets in 1919 and into the next few years, according to a new study from researchers at the Federal Reserve and M.I.T. This is particularly clear among Western cities that had more time to prepare for a pandemic that hit the East Coast first.

For cities with the most aggressive interventions, theres no trade-off apparent in this data between saving lives and hurting the economy.

If anything, these places do better, said Emil Verner, an economist at M.I.T., who wrote the paper with Sergio Correia and Stephan Luck of the Fed.

The reasons this would be true arent particularly hard to understand. But the same logic has been questioned today by elected officials and commentators who fear that social distancing in response to the coronavirus may not be worth the costs in shuttered businesses and unprecedented unemployment rolls.

The pandemic itself is just so destructive to the economy, so any policy that you can use that directly mitigates the severity of the pandemic can actually be beneficial for the economy, Mr. Verner said. Stricter interventions actually make it safer for economic activity to resume, and they mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic itself on mortality.

This second point was particularly important in 1918, because that pandemic devastated prime-working-age adults.

It was a very gendered economy where the breadwinners were almost exclusively men, said Howard Markel, who directs the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan. The fewer men that died who could then go and pursue their work once it ended meant that those families were better off than those that lost that breadwinner, who would then become potentially destitute.

Mr. Markel and a separate team of researchers previously compiled the historical records that tell us today how cities reacted to the 1918 influenza, and how many deaths were counted as it wore on. Their earlier work showed that cities that adopted interventions early, held them in place longer and layered them together  for instance, closing schools, banning public gatherings and isolating sick residents  were more successful managing the epidemic and reducing fatalities.

The new research by Mr. Verner and colleagues adds economic data to that record. Of course, some cities had stronger economies going into the pandemic, or were affected disproportionately by economic shocks that had little to do with the influenza outbreak. West Coast cities, for instance, were more affected by agricultural booms and busts around the end of World War I. But the underlying pattern the researchers found, shown above, held even when they took into account economic and demographic differences between cities.

One simpler way to see this is to compare cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul that are geographically close and were relatively similar in other ways at the time. On the West Coast, even as cities had more time to prepare, Los Angeles declared a state of emergency and banned all public gatherings early on, while San Francisco focused instead on urging residents to wear masks in public, which proved ineffective. Pittsburgh delayed closing its schools longer than other Eastern industrial cities like Cleveland, and it fared worse.

Between similar cities, places with longer-running interventions had lower mortality

Those same cities also had higher employment gains

In local news accounts at the time compiled by Mr. Markel and colleagues, there are plenty of examples of business owners who objected to the closings, even lobbying to roll them back. In Atlanta, theaters and movie houses complained of their losses, as did retailers in Columbus, Ohio. Cleveland hotels lost an estimated $200,000. In Philadelphia, saloons claimed they lost $350,000.

But theres less evidence that people were worried about lasting economic damage from those public health measures, as some Americans are today, including, at times, the president. Americans in 1918 were accustomed to more localized boom-and-bust economies, Mr. Markel said. They didnt have 401(k)s they were checking daily, or instantaneous access to news about the stock market.

In Minneapolis at the time, the newspapers reflected few such dire concerns about the economy, especially as the good news of the end of World War I in November competed with stories about the pandemic.

The city was almost schizophrenic: People were celebrating these victories while they were clearly worried about the fact that people were getting ill, said Iric Nathanson, who writes about the history of the Twin Cities and has researched the 1918 pandemic there. But there were never screaming headlines about the flu epidemic in the paper. I dont think anybody had assumed there was going to be a long-term economic fallout.

The outlook today is clearly grimmer. The economy is now global, leaving local communities susceptible to coronavirus effects on the other side of the world. And so much of the modern service-sector economy in the U.S. is contingent on people getting together  on planes, in restaurants, at theaters, in tourism hubs. But this lesson from 1918 is probably still true today: Its the pandemic that really hurts the economy, not the things we do to try to contain it.
Calls mount for Washington to ease sanctions that have crippled Iran.

The war against the coronavirus pandemic is a life-and-death fight for nations.

But Iran is waging it with an economy badly crippled by United States sanctions that have left Tehran bereft of financial resources to mount an effective public health response.

Al Jazeeras White House Correspondent Kimberly Halkett asks President Trump whether he will support Iranians as they struggle with the coronavirus.
Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP

The trump card of Donald Trump was always going to be the economy. If it wasnt the job market, it was the stock market. You could read it every day in his endless, mindless tweeting or the oh-so-subtle briefings of his campaign aides. November was going to be all about the economy, stupid.

Having ripped off so much of Ronald Reagans 1980s paraphernalia  including the slogan he now claims to have invented himself  Trump was all set to ask the voters the same question that Reagan posed just before his own re-election: are you better off than you were four years ago?

For an astonishingly large number of Americans, their answer is a deafeningly loud no. For almost everyone else, the answer is soon to be no.

This weeks unemployment numbers have taken the same rocket-ship trajectory as the number of coronavirus cases. Last week it was a record 3.3 million new claims; this week it doubled to another 6.65 million new claims. Thats almost 10 million newly unemployed Americans: more than the previous 10 months combined.

Experts already believe that the unemployment rate has jumped from historic lows of 3.5% to numbers we havent seen since the Great Depression of around 17%. You dont need to be an expert to know we have yet to reach peak pain.

We can argue about what number represents the greatest suffering in this pandemic: the number of the victims or the unemployed. Each one of the people affected  by the virus and by the virus-led recession  is more important to consider than the fate of one man watching cable television in the White House.

But we also need to talk about the carnival barker who played a businessman on reality TV for a few years. Because we have never seen someone more ill-suited for leadership at a time of crisis. The history books tell us about Herbert Hoovers failures to intervene to stop the Great Depression. They tell us about James Buchanans support for slavery and his failure to head off the secession of the slave states.

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Still, Trump stands alone: an incredibly shrinking man who looks and sounds smaller as the numbers of dead and unemployed grow ever larger. Even George W Bushs epically disastrous war in Iraq pales into insignificance. More Americans have died from this pandemic than in Bushs war of choice: more than 6,000 dead at the most recent count.

Before the revisionists try too hard to make us forget, Trumps leadership as the virus spread was as loud as a red cap perched on an orange combover. He abolished the pandemic group inside his own national security council, set aside the pandemic playbook left by his predecessor, and proposed cutting the CDCs funding at the very moment the pandemic was taking hold. He spent February pretending like the pandemic was a hoax or would disappear, and spent March telling governors to fend for themselves.

So how did he respond to the worst weekly unemployment claims in American history? By changing the subject to the oil industry, suggesting that the Saudis and Russians might just be cutting production. As he bizarrely tweeted to a shell-shocked nation, If it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry.

Only this sociopath of a president could imagine that whats good for the oil industry is good for the souls of 10 million newly unemployed Americans.

Later in the day, at his so-called press briefing, he said he knew better than anybody what people were suffering in the restaurant business. His cure is to allow corporations to make their restaurant expenses deductible from their taxes. If only people were going to work and having boozy business lunches, this might just be an idea worth throwing in the trash can. Instead, its yet another presidential brain fart.

Weve learned so much, so much, that we really have a chance to be bigger and better and stronger, he concluded, treating the epic disasters of the pandemic and recession as just one more lesson in his on-the-job training course.

Sadly Trumps capacity to learn is far smaller than the economys capacity to shed jobs. So we have stimulus cash designed to help people through the worst of the pandemic arriving not this month, or next, or the one after that. Some people wont receive the help until September, according to internal documents from the Internal Revenue Service.

How could we face such a botched preparation for a pandemic and such a botched response to a recession? Look no further than our botcher-in-chief, who decided to write to the Democratic leader in the Senate yesterday as if the only crisis that mattered was the one that threatened his ego.

Trumps spat with Chuck Schumer began, appropriately enough, with the New York senator appearing on cable news. Demonstrating the full scope of his leadership skills, Trump wrote a letter that ran the gamut of his emotions from infantile to childish.

If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax, which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere (except increasing my poll numbers), he wrote, and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the invisible enemy.

When it comes to haplessly going on forever, Trump may be something of an expert. It makes up for his lack of expertise in preparing for the invisible enemy that everyone but Trump could actually see coming.

Now the man who could not prepare for one pandemic disaster is even less prepared for the economic disaster unfolding at the same time.

Related: How do countries differ in their response to the coronavirus economic crisis? | Ricardo Reis

Back in the late stages of the 2008 election, in the middle of the financial collapse, then-candidate Barack Obama was stunned to hear the economists projections of 10% unemployment. Well have riots on the streets if that happens, one of his closest aides said in disbelief at the time. For his part, Obama joked darkly in private that maybe it would be better to lose the election after all.

Unemployment peaked at 10% a full year later. That was the single biggest factor in the Republican (and Tea Party) resurgence in Congress in 2010, effectively ending Obamas legislative power just two years into his presidency.

Today, as unemployment approaches twice that rate, Trump is already trailing Biden in the three battleground states that narrowly won him the presidency four years ago: Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Those states just happen to be where the spike in unemployment claims is among the highest in the country.

It wont be long before Bidens aides wonder what country they will face next January. Novembers election could be just the start of their troubles.

 Richard Wolffe is a Guardian US columnist
The coronavirus transmission rate may have fallen, indicating that infections are going to reduce, an expert has said.

Professor Stephen Powis, the medical director of NHS England, said there was early academic evidence that the transmission rate in the community may have fallen below one.

He added that this was important because it meant that people with Covid-19 were no longer passing the virus on to multiple people.

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Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Prof Powis explained why this was important.

He said: We know from evidence around the world, that if there are no social distancing measures in place, one person probably infects on average nearly three people.

And so if you just work through the maths of that  you very rapidly get into very, very high numbers.

And so, cutting the frequency which people transmit  so you spread to a fewer number  reduces that from an exponential curve to one that is much more linear.

WATCH LIVE: #coronavirus press conference (2 April 2020)



Speakers:

 Matt Hancock, Health Secretary

 Prof Stephen Powis, NHS England

 Prof John Newton, coordinator of national testing effort https://t.co/A74Oe3T7EJ  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 2, 2020

And of course, once the transmission rate gets to below one, it starts going in the opposite direction  it starts to drop.

So that is why we spend a lot of time talking about transmission and avoiding contact, that is the whole purpose of stay-at-home and social distancing, so that that number of people an individual infects on average falls.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was evidence to suggest the rate of infection was not exponential, but more linear.

He added that the curve needed to flatten before lockdown measures could be relaxed.

Mr Hancock said: If people want to see the lockdown ended, they know what to do.
: The Amalgamations Group, through its



entities Simpsons and Co, Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE), has donated Rs 5 crore to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to fight coronavirus pandemic.

"The Amalgamations Group and Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE) joins the fight against COVID19 and extends support to Government of Tamil Nadu by donating Rs 5 crore," a release said here on Friday.

TAFE said it was also engaged in distributing food grains and pulses to support families in Nilgiris district.

Ramco Cements Ltd said it has contributed Rs 2.50 crore to the TN CM's Relief Fund.

The company said it has partnered with many government administrations in their fight against the coronavirus in its operating states -- Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, West Bengal and Odisha.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Later school start times may have fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Town Council Thursday cut more than $1 million from the Board of Education budget, roughly the amount budgeted for buses to have high school students start classes later in the morning.

The vote was 8-4, with eight council members in favor of the reduction. That was the same tally by which an earlier motion was made by Mark Grzymski to accept a $300,000 cut offered by the Board of Education. Grzymski, Sven Englund, Tom Butterworth and Robin Bates-Mason dissented on both votes.

The Board of Finance cut, we cut more, now youre telling me were not voting on a health issue, Grzymski said That is absurd. The vote right now is a health care decision that the Board of Ed and a well-regarded superintendent have studied for three years.

The vote came two nights after dozens of some 50 speakers at the final budget public hearing implored the Town Council to pass the school budget untouched and allow the shift of start times.

Those who voted for the $1 million cut said it was a fiscal decision, based at least in part of the economic crisis coinciding with the coronavirus pandemic.

Town Council Chairman John Engel said he is not sure he would have cast his vote the same way prior to the coronavirus shutdown and its effect on the economy.

Council members who supported the reduction also said that the ultimate decision on what to cut rests in the hands of the Board of Education.

But Board of Education Member Brendan Hayes told the council Tuesday night that such a cut would result in the school start times proposal being shelved.

It could, however, have support next year, some council members said.
WEST MICHIGAN -- More than $8 million in aid is coming to West Michigan to help in the fight against coronavirus.

U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, announced the $8,596,660 in funding to help cities and counties in West Michigan respond to the coronavirus pandemic in a press release sent Friday, April 3.

Fund are provided through the Community Development Block Grants and Emergency Solutions Grants. It was included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law on March 27, the release said.

Cities and counties are on the front lines of this battle," Stabenow said. This funding will give local governments additional resources to respond to this unprecedented threat.

The funding can be used for assistance to business, job training for health care workers, shelter for homeless people, testing, equipment and supplies, she said.

On Thursday, officials announced the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Michigan has increased to 10,791. There were also 80 new deaths reported Thursday, bringing the statewide death toll to 417.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also announced Thursday that all K-12 schools would remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Each district must develop a plan for alternate learning, to finish out the school year, per the order.

Cities and counties in West Michigan will receive $6,943,709 through Community Development Block Grants for activities that prevent and respond to the spread of the coronavirus and another $1,652,951 through Emergency Solutions Grants to reduce the spread of the coronavirus among the homeless population.

The unprecedented public health and economic challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic are hitting our communities especially hard and this funding will make a difference for Michiganders who need extra assistance," Peters said.

The state will also receive an additional $38 million for distribution to other local communities in the state, the release said.

The funding breakdown by city or county:

Battle Creek Community Development Block Grants - $729,344

Benton Harbor Community Development Block Grants - $250,905

Grand Rapids Community Development Block Grants - $2,219,476 Emergency Solutions Grants - $1,120,648

Holland Community Development Block Grants - $191,446

City of Kalamazoo Community Development Block Grants - $958,737

Kent County Community Development Block Grants - $1,023,791 Emergency Solutions Grants - $532,303

City of Muskegon Community Development Block Grants - $585,238

Muskegon Heights Community Development Block Grants - $260,496

Niles Community Development Block Grants - $170,057

Norton Shores Community Development Block Grants - $83,261

Portage Community Development Block Grants - $130,474

Wyoming Community Development Block Grants - $340,484



Also on MLive:

Friday, April 3: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Whitmer orders all Michigan schools to remain closed through academic year as coronavirus cases surge

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer approves $150M for coronavirus relief, vetoes other spending as economy slumps
Oil posted a record weekly jump on hopes that global producers will decide to make historic output cuts next week, though optimism was tempered by concern that the curbs wont avert a glut.

The OPEC+ coalition including Saudi Arabia will hold a meeting of its members by video conference on Monday, with the gathering open to even producers outside the group. While its unclear who will attend, market watchers are predicting that stockpiles are likely to swell even if global supplies are cut by 10 million barrels a day.

Investors will be closing watching the guest list of the meeting -- especially names outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies -- after Saudi Arabia made clear it will only cut production if others, including the U.S., shoulder some of the burden.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures ended the week up 32%, while Brent crude jumped 37%. Still, prices are less than half the levels at the start of the year, with the coronavirus crisis crushing demand.

I think Russia, Saudi Arabia and OPEC are coming to the conclusion that if they dont agree to something, it will be forced on them by the market, said Brian Kessens, a portfolio manager at Tortoise Capital Advisors. Any cuts will extend the run way to June instead of May, which is helpful as countries try to work through the coronavirus lockdown. But it only softens the blow.

One delegate from the producer group said a global cut of 10 million barrels a day is a realistic goal. Russian President Vladimir Putin told the countrys top oil executives that producing countries should join together to slash output to reverse the collapse in prices, adding that worldwide curbs of a little above or below 10 million barrels a day are possible.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is convening an extraordinary gathering of the nations biggest refiners and producers at the White House on Friday. They are expected to discuss possible relief efforts from the administration, including potential American output cuts.

Getting countries from all over the world to agree would be a tough task. Even if thats successful, an output reduction of the size thats being discussed will be just a fraction of the 35 million barrels of daily demand destruction some traders now see.

Citigroup Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have argued any supply-reduction deal would anyway be too little, too late as consumption craters due to efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

A near-term return to production cuts still seems unlikely, and we are skeptical that such a large coalition could be put together, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note. Some of the necessary production shut-ins are likely to occur in the U.S. due purely to market forces.

The announcement of a potential supply cut first came from Trump, who tweeted on Thursday that he had spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had in turn spoken with Russias Putin.

However, the U.S. leaders goal is purely aspirational and will ultimately hinge on whether Riyadh and Moscow can reach a deal, a person familiar with the situation said.

Apart from benchmark futures, hopes for the curbs have boosted every corner of the market over the last 24 hours, from time spreads used to gauge market health, to key North Sea swaps. Those gains are now easing as traders worry that the undertaking may be too fraught with hurdles.

The physical oil market of actual barrels of crude continued to remain under pressure, giving producers more urgency to act. Belarus said Russian companies are offering Urals oil for $4 a barrel.
Photo: The Canadian Press Ontario Premier Doug Ford answers questions during the daily briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic at Queen's Park in Toronto on Thursday April 2, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

As known COVID-19 cases rose nationally and almost all construction in the country's economic heartland was idled on Friday, health authorities in Ontario said the death toll in that province alone could be kept below a still-staggering 15,000  if stringent isolation measures prove effective in curbing the pandemic.

In a sobering presentation, a top health official said the coronavirus might have killed as many as 100,000 people in Ontario had economy-crushing restrictions not been imposed.

"If we do everything that we can think of  everything that already has been done stays in place (and) all of the other measures which are being considered (are) put in place  I think we could reduce the death toll in Ontario to somewhere between 3,000 and 15,000," said Dr. Peter Donnelly, head of Public Health Ontario.

The latest data indicate more than 12,000 Canadians have contracted the virus. Of those, about 180 have died, but the numbers could be higher given gaps in reporting.

Ontario released its worst-case projections for the COVID-19 as its known caseload  and those of other provinces  climbed again. The province has now seen 3,255 cases and 67 deaths.

Given the "extremely serious" situation, Premier Doug Ford announced a halt to almost all industrial construction.

"We've told the vast majority of Ontario's work force to stay home," a grim Ford said. "Lives are on the line."

The pandemic and the unprecedented stay-at-home measures to fight it have taken a brutal toll on the economy and jobs, with no sign of near-term improvement.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the latest in a string of federal measures to cushion the blow: More aid to low-income people will flow through the GST credit this month, rather than in May. Qualifying adults will receive up to $300, plus $150 for each child.

Trudeau also said the military would move into northern Quebec, at the province's request, to help remote communities cope.

Canada's top public health official, Dr. Theresa Tam, noted a sharp increase in deaths but said the health-care system was coping. The national death rate stands at about one per cent of those testing positive.

British Columbia, with 31 deaths, had previously projected its worst case would see a shortage of about 182 intensive care beds and at least 38 ventilators. But it also said distancing measures appeared to have mitigated that threat. Donnelly said Ontario was more closely tracking the hard-hit United States than B.C.

Quebec, which reported 25 more deaths on Friday for a total of 61 and a caseload of more than 6,000, said medical authorities would present COVID projections on Tuesday. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island said they would also do so next week.

Overall mortality among those 80 years and older in Ontario has reached 20 per cent in coronavirus cases. A hard-hit nursing home in Bobcaygeon, Ont., reported four more resident deaths on Friday, bringing the toll to 20 at the 65-bed facility.

Experts advise frequent hand-washing and staying at least two metres from others to save the health-care system from overload. Front-line doctors have expressed worry about having to choose who lives and who dies if crucial ventilators run short.

In a tribute to health-care personnel, all ships in B.C. waters planned to sound their horns at 7 p.m. local time. Toronto's CN Tower has been lighting up blue in a similar show of solidarity.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu late Thursday stood by her earlier estimate that between 30 per cent and 70 per cent of Canadians will likely become infected.

"Having 70 per cent of people get COVID is not the end of the world," Hajdu said. "It is, though, if it all happens at once. And that's what we're trying to prevent."

Globally, the pandemic has infected more than one million people and killed more than 58,000, according to the latest official figures. Italy, with almost 15,000 deaths and Spain with about 11,000, have been hit hardest. The United States, however, leads the world in cases  a quarter of a million to date  and has reported more than 6,000 deaths.
On April 2, 2020 at 11:15, Vardenis Hospital filed a report to the police station in Vardenis stating that, the same day, a minor resident (born in 2007) of Sotk village of Gegharkunik Province of Armenia was found hanging from a bale thread near the entrance to the cattle farm adjacent to the familys villa.

The Investigative Committee of Armenia told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the Vardenis Investigation Division of the Regional Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia in Gegharkunik Province has instituted a criminal case under part 1 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (causing somebody to commit suicide).

Several expert examinations have been designated, other investigative and procedural actions are being performed to establish all the circumstances of the case.

Preliminary investigation is underway.
Devki Group's Narendra Raval donates KES100m for oxygen

03 April 2020

Kenyan cement and steel businessman, Narendra Raval, CEO of the Devki Group, has donated KES100m to supply oxygen to government hospitals in the fight against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 outbreak has already killed 110 people in Kenya. "I hereby confirm the pledge to donate oxygen worth KES100m to all government hospitals throughout the country. Oxygen will be collected from our Mombasa, Ruiru, and Athi River Devki Steel Mills Ltd Factories in exchange of empty cylinders," he said in a letter.



"If the need arises, I am ready to pledge all my assets to save my country and the people of Kenya from the COVID-19-19 devil," Mr Naval posted on Twitter.

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Workers from Philadelphia Custom Builders board up the popular Tinsel bar in Center City on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Gov. Tom Wolf called for the closure of all businesses that are not "life-sustaining," due to the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants are now takeout or delivery only. Read more

Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians have lost work as state and local officials shuttered businesses to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Some have been laid off, while others are furloughed indefinitely. Some essential workers are furloughed part-time as their employer implements social distancing in the workplace. And thats to say nothing of the workers who dont fit into those categories, like domestic workers and gig workers, who dont have traditional employment relationships but have nonetheless lost work during the crisis.

Whats the difference between a layoff and a furlough?

Its a matter of your employment relationship. If youre furloughed, youre taking a forced, unpaid leave of absence  but youre still an employee. If youre laid off, your employment relationship with the company is over.

Either way, youre likely eligible for unemployment. So in a lot of ways, for workers, theres no difference in how the two statuses affect your ability to get unemployment benefits.

I got laid off, but my employer said they were hoping to bring me back. Am I less likely to get called back if I got laid off vs. being furloughed?

Not necessarily. Your employer could bring you back when this is over. Its true that when people talk about layoffs, theyre often referring to one with more finality  as when the South Philly refinery shut for good and laid people off  but the coronavirus layoffs are slightly different in that many employers are laying workers off and saying its possible theyll get called back when business resumes.

Am I still eligible for unemployment benefits in Pennsylvania if I got furloughed?

Yes. The Inquirer has heard from employers saying that they laid their workers off so they could get unemployment. Thats not accurate. You can get unemployment compensation if you are furloughed, too.

Heres everything you need to know about how to access unemployment benefits.

Why would a company furlough its workers instead of laying them off?

There are a number of factors an employer could consider, said Barbara Rittinger Rigo, an employer-side lawyer at Littler.

Furloughed workers can still get access to benefits, like health care coverage or paid time off, but they might not. Unless theres a company policy saying otherwise, employers have no obligation to allow their workers to use their paid time off, for example. Employers also might not continue health-care benefits for furloughed workers, though some employers, like Urban Outfitters and Macys, have said they would. It depends on what the insurance plan dictates and what the employer chooses, Rigo said.

Another factor a company might weigh is the payout of benefits like paid sick leave or paid time off.

Some companies may have a policy that they pay out paid time off to workers when they are terminated but not when they are furloughed.

The Philadelphia paid sick leave law says that accrued paid sick leave does not have to be paid out upon termination (in this case, that means a layoff).

There has been some debate about this issue recently, as the Mayors Office of Labor has said that if an employer lays off its workers to get around allowing them to use their sick leave during the pandemic, that is a form of retaliation and against the law.

Rigo, though, said, I dont think that interpretation is fair to the businesses that are trying to survive.

 READ MORE: The Philly restaurant group behind Zahav and Federal Donuts will pay sick leave to 400 laid-off workers

Theres a lot of noise out there about employers not treating employees fairly, but Rigo said she didnt believe employers were looking at these decisions from a viewpoint of, Whats the least we can give our workers?

Are there any laws around when an employer can furlough a worker or lay a worker off?

No, unless youre a union worker and have language in your collective bargaining agreement that says otherwise. But for the most part, employees in the United States are at will," which means that employers can furlough you, lay you off, or fire you for any reason at any time. There are exceptions protected by law  employers cannot, for example, fire someone because of their race or sex  but workers have the burden of proving the employer fired them for that reason. (Last year, however, Philadelphia became the first city to pass a law that bars employers from firing parking lot workers without just cause.)

Also, if you got laid off, your employer could hire you back again. And if you got furloughed, your employer could lay you off at the end of that furlough. So there may not be much difference.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.
A Halyard employee involved in the project told The Post that the firm delivered the design to the government on time in 2018 and within the governments $5 million budget. Outside contractors and engineering firms were brought in, according to the manager, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the work.
I wish it would have been done a bit sooner, Blouin said. Now my concern is, whats the longer term strategy going to be? After a while, people without jobs, without money, without the basic survival needs, thats going to create a whole new set of problems. We can do this safe at home as a two- or a four-week strategy, but this thing can go on for months. We have to be thinking about that now.
There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt.

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Physiomics (LON:PYC) shareholders should 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. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'.

See our latest analysis for Physiomics

When Might Physiomics Run Out Of Money?

A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. In December 2019, Physiomics had UK434k in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through UK118k. Therefore, from December 2019 it had 3.7 years of cash runway. There's no doubt that this is a reassuringly long runway. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

AIM:PYC Historical Debt April 3rd 2020

How Is Physiomics's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

In our view, Physiomics doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just UK738k in the last twelve months. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis we'll focus on how the cash burn is tracking. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by 25%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. However, the company's true cash runway will therefore be shorter than suggested above, if spending continues to increase. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

Story continues

Can Physiomics Raise More Cash Easily?

Given its cash burn trajectory, Physiomics shareholders may wish to consider how easily it could raise more cash, despite its solid cash runway. Companies can raise capital through either debt or equity. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash to fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Physiomics has a market capitalisation of UK1.2m and burnt through UK118k last year, which is 9.7% of the company's market value. 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.

So, Should We Worry About Physiomics's Cash Burn?

As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about Physiomics's cash burn. In particular, we think its cash runway stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. While its increasing cash burn wasn't great, the other factors mentioned in this article more than make up for weakness on that measure. After taking into account the various metrics mentioned in this report, we're pretty comfortable with how the company is spending its cash. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 5 warning signs for Physiomics you should be aware of, and 2 of them are a bit concerning.

Of course Physiomics 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.
An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2020 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam....
Air India on Friday said it has stopped bookings till April 30 and is awaiting a decision after April 14, when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end.

Bookings have been stopped for both domestic and international routes.

Domestic and international commercial flights in the country are suspended till April 14 amid the lockdown to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.

An airline spokesperson said bookings have now been closed till April 30 from Friday.

"We are awaiting a decision post April 14," the spokesperson added.

On Thursday, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said airlines are free to take ticket bookings for any date after April 14.

The 21-day nationwide lockdown began on March 25.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Navy, Marine Corps Partner With Industry, FEMA to 3-D Print Face Shields

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200402-10

Release Date: 4/2/2020 6:15:00 PM

From Naval Air Systems Command Public Affairs

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- Nine Department of Navy (DON) commands began 3-D printing medical face shields March 28 at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region VIII as part of the effort to combat the Coronavirus outbreak.

"Our goal is to make the detailed manufacturing technical data packages for medical supplies and personal protective gear available so any agency can download and print them. Combating COVID-19 is an all hands effort, and we are honored to be part of it," said Liz McMichael, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Additive Manufacturing Integrated Program Team lead.

The initial request came from FEMA and University of Colorado Anshutz representatives who reached out to the Marine Corps Advanced Manufacturing Operations Cell (AMOC), which in turn contacted the DON distributed manufacturing network to request production of 220 face shields.

"When FEMA Region VIII was building their team, we were fortunate to get plugged into their efforts. Every AM producer I reached out to stepped up. It speaks volumes of our additive manufacturing community that every group was confident that they could produce the entire request on their own. We broke it up to distribute the load," said Marine Capt. Matthew Audette, Advanced Manufacturing Project Officer at the AMOC.

In a March 31 memo, Assistant Secretary for the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) James F. Geurts authorized all activities to support requests from FEMA.

"Our country is in a National Emergency so the Naval Research, Development and Acquisition community must engage accordingly. Effective and timely response to our communities must be prioritized to the extent the law permits," Geurts said in the memo.

The Navy and Marine Corps have partnered with America Makesa national manufacturing instituteto integrate government and commercial manufacturing capacity into a distributing manufacturing network to respond to urgent supply needs.

America Makes created a COVID-19 support site to identify critical medical supply shortages associated with COVID-19 and match them with available manufacturing capacity.

"The reason additive manufacturing is so perfect for this issue is that it's a liquid asset stock. When supply lines for a specific component are strained, a spool of 3-D printer filament can be the bracket for a face shield, a wrench, a valve or whatever else may be needed at that time," said Scott Ziv, an engineer in Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division's Additive Manufacturing Project Office.

The DoN is working across the DOD and with industry partners to determine the volume and scope of AM requests, the capacity to manufacture and distribute production across sites and ensure quality standards.

Faculty and active-duty personnel at the Center for Additive Manufacturing at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) responded to the request immediately.

"During the process we reached out to our local community and received the missing elements for the face shields. It was truly remarkable to see the network of people willing to help and support our mission. We are part of a large naval family and feel deeply connected with the local community that needs us now more than ever," said Amela Sadagic, co-director, Center for Additive Manufacturing.

The following nine DON commands participated in the initial effort.

- Center for Additive Manufacturing and the RoboDojo MakerLab, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California

- First Marine Logistics Group, I Marines Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California

- Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, Marine Detachment, Indian Head, Maryland

- Marine Corps Advanced Manufacturing Operations Cell, Quantico, Virginia

- Marine Depot Maintenance Command, Marine Corps Logistics Command, Albany, Georgia

- Naval Air Systems Command and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland

- Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific)

- Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, West Bethesda, Maryland

- Second Marine Logistics Group (2d MLG), II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

"Marines are trained to take action in times of crisis. While we can't be on the front lines of this fight, Second Marine Logistics Group stands ready to provide continued support in any capacity we can to equip those in critical need of medical supplies," said 1st Lt. Alexander Walls, MakerSpace/Innovation Officer in Charge, 2d MLG.

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On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Indians for nine minutes of their time on Sunday at 9 pm, April 5. He asked people to turn off lights in their homes and instead light candles and flash torches or their mobile phones in order to shun the "darkness" of COVID-19.

Addressing the country via a video message, PM Modi also lauded the discipline exhibited by Indians during the 21-day lockdown imposed by the government to check the spread of coronavirus.

However, opposition leaders did not seem convinced of the effectiveness of the move in terms of fighting the coronavirus pandemic. What seemed to irk many was the PM stating that the Diya lighting was meant to establish a sense of solidarity among Indians.

Congress leader P Chidambaram said that he had expected Modi to roll out a generous livelihood support package for the poor, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor demanded to know what the government was actually doing to contain the virus.

What we expected from you today was FAP II, a generous livelihood support package for the poor, including for those categories of poor who were totally ignored by @nsitharaman on 25-3-2020. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 3, 2020

Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease peoples pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by Indias Photo-Op PrimeMinister! Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 3, 2020

ModijiLearnt nothing about governments steps to1) contain the virus 2) protect our medical practitioners 3) provide testing kits 4) reach food and supplies to the poor5) finance migrant labour , the jobless Light the  Diya  of reasonNot that of superstition ! Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) April 3, 2020

Turn out lights & come on balconies? GET REAL MR. MODI! Give India fiscal pkg worth 8-10pc of GDP Ensure immediate wages to construction & other labour during lockdown- laws exist permitting thisStop gagging real press in name of curbing fake news Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 3, 2020

Earlier in the month, Indians had taken in large numbers to their windows and balconies and even the streets to observe PM Modi's call for beating plates and clapping at 5 PM on the Janata Curfew Sunday as a mark of appreciation for the health and medical personnel at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight.

While the move was deemed a success by the government and received praise from other countries as well as the United Nations, many in the opposition had at the time slammed the idea. "Clapping doesn't kill virus," Tharoor had tweeted at the time.

Meanwhile, the number of active coronavirus cases crossed the 2,000 mark in India on Friday with the total number of deaths at 56.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China stands ready to support and assist Indonesia in overcoming the current challenge of the COVID-19 epidemic.

In a phone conversation with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, Xi noted that the coronavirus disease is breaking out in multiple countries and regions, including Indonesia. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he extended sincere sympathies to their Indonesian counterparts.

After a strenuous struggle, the Chinese people have walked out of the most difficult period, Xi said, adding that China identifies with Indonesia's difficulties and is willing to offer help.

China, said the president, is confident that under the leadership of Widodo, Indonesia will prevail over the epidemic.

Xi stressed that in face of the severe pandemic, China and Indonesia have been supporting each other, which has demonstrated the profound friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between the two countries.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, Xi said China is willing to work with Indonesia to continuously deepen cooperation in building the Belt and Road and push forward the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The epidemic is a common challenge for all mankind, and only by fostering strong synergy can the international community defeat the enemy, stressed the president.

China and Indonesia, he suggested, should cooperate closely to push the Group of 20 major economies and the international community to play their roles in crisis response and global economic governance.

China will uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, share its experience and provide as much support as it can for the global battle against COVID-19, and work with other countries to promote the development of global public health and build a community of common health for mankind, he added.

For his part, Widodo said that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese people have scored important achievements in fighting the epidemic, from which the world can learn.

He expressed gratitude to China for its material assistance and valuable support for Indonesia's fight against the outbreak, saying that China's help is very important to Indonesia.

Viruses know no borders and stand as a common enemy of mankind, Widodo said, stressing that Indonesia is firmly opposed to any act of stigmatization and is ready to work with China to strengthen international solidarity and cooperation.

Indonesia, he added, looks forward to working with China to deepen cooperation and push forward the development of bilateral relations.
(CNN)  As video conference app Zoom surges in popularity due to increased usage amid the coronavirus pandemic, US federal officials are now warning of a new potential privacy and security concern called "Zoombombing."

The term refers to a form of cyber harassment reported by some app users, who have reported that some of their calls have been hijacked by unidentified individuals and trolls who spew hateful language or share graphic images.

"Zoombombing" has become so prevalent that this week the FBI issued a news release to warn people of the threat.

The FBI received "multiple reports" of video conference calls being interrupted by "pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language," the agency said in its release.

A spokesperson for Zoom told CNN in an email on Thursday that the company is aware of the FBI's recent press release and "appreciates all efforts to raise awareness around how to best prevent these kinds of attacks."

"We are deeply upset to hear about the incidents involving this type of attack and we strongly condemn such behavior," the spokesperson said in an email statement.

The company said it began "actively educating users on how they can protect their meetings and help prevent incidents of harassment" on March 20.

"We are listening to our community of users to help us evolve our approach," the spokesperson said.

Incidents across the US

The FBI Boston Division cited two recent "Zoombombing" incidents at schools in Massachusetts.

In late March, the FBI said in an unidentified person or persons dialed into a high school teacher's online class and yelled a profanity, as well as the teacher's home address.

In a separate instance, also in a Massachusetts teacher's virtual classroom, an individual who joined the conference call was seen on the video camera displaying swastika tattoos, the FBI said.

Similar "Zoombombing" threats have been reported across the country.

In Orange County, Florida, one man entered a virtual class and exposed himself, CNN affiliate WKMG reported.

At the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, administrators sent an email to the university community last week addressing online class breaches.

"We are sorry to report we learned today that some of our online Zoom classes were disrupted by people who used racist and vile language that interrupted lectures and learning," USC President Carol Folt and Provost Charles Zukoski wrote in an email, obtained by CNN. "We are taking immediate action to protect our classes from what is called Zoombombing -- which, unfortunately, is taking place in organizations around the country."

These instances of "Zoombombing" come as Zoom faces scrutiny over its privacy protections, which have been flagged by users, security researchers and US authorities.

Mitigating threats

Eric Yuan, Zoom's CEO and founder, published a blog post on Wednesday to address people's recent security concerns.

In it, he cited the company's plan for the next 90 days to dedicate "the resources needed to better identify, address and fix issues proactively."

These initiatives, he wrote, include "enacting a feature freeze" and "conducting a comprehensive review with third-party experts and representative users to understand and ensure the security of all of our new consumer use cases," according to the post.

Yuan also addressed "zoombombing" by referring concerned users to a March 20 blog post that outlines "the protective features that can help prevent this."

"Keep Zooming responsibly," the blog post reads, after listing tips to help "keep unwanted guests out."

Federal officials urged those using video teleconferencing apps to exercise "due diligence and caution" in their cybersecurity efforts to help mitigate these threats.

Both the FBI and Zoom shared some steps to help secure video conference calls and protect people from potential hackers or trolls.

They recommend users: make their meetings private (Zoom has options to require a password, as well as a waiting room function to control who's allowed in the call); avoid sharing the meeting link on public online forums; and limit screensharing to just the call's host.
A food bank that recently lost its leader to complications from COVID-19 will be getting a major helping hand from a local religious group.

In partnership with the Convoy of Hope, The Life Christian Church of New Jersey is set to donate $70,000 worth of food and supplies to the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Teaneck.

The delivery is expected to arrive Saturday.

Were concerned with making sure our efforts as a church reach far beyond our church community, especially in times of crisis, said Olivia Betances, director of operations for Life Christian Church.

Betances, who also works as an administrator at Teaneck High School, said her church wanted to give back to a community in need. On top of being a hot spot for the coronavirus, Teaneck lost a beloved member of its community Monday when Janice Preschel, a dedicated civil service leader, died after contracting the coronavirus.

Preschel, 60, was a co-founder of Helping Hands and a former president of the Teaneck Rotary.

Gov. Phil Murphy highlighted Preschels passing at a Wednesday afternoon briefing, echoing township officials statements that Teaneck had lost a true woman of valor.

She had the heart of a lion, said Teaneck Township Manager Dean Kazinci, a longtime friend of Preschels. Always, always, always putting the needs of others in front of her own. There was nothing she wouldnt do to help someone to put food on the table."

Janice Preschel (far left), 60, founder of Helping Hands Food Pantry in Teaneck, died from the coronavirus.Courtesy of Mohammed Hameeduddin

Staff and volunteers from the The Life Christian Church, which has locations in West Orange and Paramus, unloaded 26,000 pounds of supplies from the Convoy of Hope in preparation for Saturday. The Convoy of Hope, a faith-based, non-profit organization in Springfield, Mo., sent supplies in a 18-wheel truck. The truck made the haul from Missouri to West Orange, arriving this week.

In addition to its large donation to Helping Hands, TLCC will also be sending grocery bags to the West Orange Board of Education.

Our neighbors may already be dealing with a crisis of faith and fear. The last thing they need right now is worry where they will find food for their family," Terry Smith, lead pastor and founder of TLCC, said in a statement.

Food banks like Helping Hands from across New Jersey have asked for increased donations as demand has skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Here is more information on how to help food banks around the state.

Pat Lanni may be reached by e-mail at planni@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook for more coverage.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:55:42|Editor: huaxia

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Members of the Chinese expert team attend a video conference in Baghdad, Iraq, April 2, 2020. The Chinese expert team in Iraq on Thursday hosted a video conference in the Iraqi capital to exchange experience on the prevention and control of COVID-19. The conference was joined by representatives of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, the Red Cross Society of China, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). (Xinhua/Zhang Miao)

BEIJING/BAGHDAD, April 3 (Xinhua) --The Chinese expert team in Iraq on Thursday hosted a video conference in the Iraqi capital to exchange experience on the prevention and control of COVID-19.

The conference was joined by representatives of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, the Red Cross Society of China, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Chen Zhu, vice president of the IFRC and president of the Red Cross Society of China, who participated in the online conference in Beijing, first thanked Iraq for providing masks and other medical aid to China during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Asian country.

He said the Chinese experts are working closely with Iraq to share their anti-pandemic knowledge, formulate prevention and control measures, help Iraq improve coronavirus diagnosis capacities, as well as provide treatment plans to the country.

"I'd like to thank the expert team for your wonderful work by strengthening diagnosis capacity, disseminating knowledge and skills of prevention and control, and bringing useful treatment protocols to colleagues in Iraq," Chen said.

He said that the Red Cross Society of China will also provide medical screening equipment and personal protective equipment to Iraq.

Yasin Ahmed Abbas, head of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, said, "What you have presented to Iraq is very valuable and your experts did their best, and they just transferred their excellent experience in fighting this unknown enemy."

While facing the common enemy of the coronavirus, Abbas thanked the Chinese side for providing much-needed assistance to the Iraqi health system and the Chinese expert team for their valuable prevention and control experience.

"We are also very grateful for your response to Iraqi health system needs," he said.

Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world, Abbas also told the video conference that countries around the world have set their sights on China's experience in containing the virus.

"I'm sure everybody in the world is looking at your experience, with which you managed to defeat this enemy," he added.

For his part, Han Mengjie, a member of the expert team and an expert from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in order to control the spread of the coronavirus, the Iraqi central and local governments have taken important measures, such as closing borders, imposing curfews, and restricting inter-provincial transportation.

However, he said that Iraq is still facing challenges such as effective community mobilization and a lack of testing kits.

Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao said that the Chinese team of experts has visited several provinces in Iraq and exchanged and shared prevention and control experience and carried out training sessions there, which not only helped stabilize the pandemic situation in Iraq, but also promote China-Iraq relations and bilateral cooperation.

Farid Abdulkadir, director of the Iraqi office of the IFRC, and ICRC representatives in Geneva and Baghdad, also spoke during the session, affirming the importance of Chinese experience in fighting the pandemic.

After the video conference, the Chinese experts also conducted video training for staff and volunteers of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society.

As of Thursday, the Iraqi Health Ministry reported a total of 772 cases of COVID-19, 54 of whom have died and 202 others who have recovered.

To help Iraq cope with COVID-19, the seven-strong Chinese medical team has been working with their Iraqi counterparts since March 7.
New Delhi, April 4 : In a historic decision by changing Jammu and Kashmir domicile rules, the Centre on Friday issued an order declaring that all civil servant jobs in the newly created Union Territory will be reserved for its residents.

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced it through a Gazette notification making changes in the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment) Act, 2010.

As per the order, the civil servant will be a "domicile of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir".

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 96 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) and of all other powers enabling it on that behalf, the Central Government hereby makes the order in respect of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," the order mentions.

This order may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Second Order, 2020, the notification said, adding the order shall come into force with immediate effect.

"The General Clauses Act, 1897 applies for the interpretation of this order as it applies for the interpretation of laws in force in the territory of India.

"With immediate effect, the Act mentioned in the schedule to this order shall, until repealed or amended by a competent legislature or other competent authority, have effect, subject to the adaptations and modifications directed by the schedule to this order," the notification mentioned.

This was the second change in the Jammu and Kashmir domicile rule. The Narendra Modi government in a similar notification on April 1 redefined domicile for government jobs in the newly-created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020.

According to the notification, anyone who has resided in Jammu and Kashmir for 15 years or has studied in the state for seven years, and appeared in either the Class 10 or the Class 12 examination, will be eligible for domicile certificates. This would allow them to apply for gazetted and non-gazetted government jobs.
The assistance to the British Airways' staff may also include funding by the UK government up to $3,095 a month under a national plan, the report said.

British Airways may put about 28,000 employees on furlough in a bid to cut costs as more countries declared lockdowns and sealed their borders for air traffic in the wake of global coronavirus outbreak, said a news report.

The flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, after conducting talks with the staff, reportedly decided to give 80 percent of their usual salary, reported Bloomberg quoting Unite union.

The assistance to the British Airways' staff may also include funding by the UK government up to $3,095 a month under a national plan, the report said.

Meanwhile a Reuters report on Wednesday said that British Airways is expected to announce a suspension of about 36,000 of its employees.

The airline has reached a broad deal with Unite union that will include suspension of jobs of 80 percent of British Airways cabin crew, ground staff, engineers and those working at head office, the report said quoting a BBC News adding that no staff were expected to be made redundant.

With global travel in turmoil as the virus takes hold around the world, British Airways' owner IAG said it would also cut capacity by 90 percent in April and May, and scrap its dividend, in a desperate bid to survive the worst crisis in its history, reported Reuters.

SpiceJet, IndiGo, GoAir cut staff pay

On 31 March, India's budget carrier SpiceJet 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.

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.

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.

Airline industry braces for prolonged recovery

International seat capacity has dropped by almost 80 percent from a year ago and half the worlds airplanes are in storage, new data shows, suggesting the aviation industry may take years to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Carriers including United Airlines Holdings Inc and Air New Zealand Ltd have warned they are likely to emerge from the crisis smaller, and there are fears others may not survive.

The airline is cutting between 70 percent and 75 percent of domestic flights in April and about 80 percent in May. For both months it is cutting nearly 90 percent of its international flights.

Aviation industry needs govt help of $200 billion: IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecast the industry will need up to $200 billion of state support, piling pressure on governments facing demands from all quarters and a rapid worsening in public finances as economies slump.

Last month, CAPA Centre for Aviation had warned that the global airline industry might face its worst crisis even as the coronavirus pandemic was expected to cripple the economic activities across the world.

Most airlines in the world will be bankrupt by the end of May 2020 and the world aviation consultancy company Centre for Aviation (CAPA) said that only coordinated action by governments as well as the industry will be able to save the companies.

With the coronavirus cases spreading, the demand for travel and air travel especially has plunged drastically since the last two weeks after countries across the world implemented travel restrictions to curb further spread of the deadly disease, the report said.

Several governments offered financial help to the airlines in a bid to keep them afloat as the COVID-19 impact on the industry is expected to rise.

Last month, there were reports that India was planning a rescue package worth as much as $1.6 billion (Rs 12,000 crore) for the aviation sector, which has been battered after the coronavirus outbreak forced countries to close borders and brought air travel to a near-halt.

The Finance Ministry is considering a proposal that includes the temporary suspension of most taxes levied on the sector, including a deferment of aviation fuel tax, said the sources, who have direct knowledge of the matter.

The rescue package, proposed by the civil aviation ministry, is likely to be worth up to 100-120 billion rupees ($1.3-$1.6 billion), the two sources said.

Last month, New Zealand offered its national carrier a NZ$900 million ($510 million) lifeline, which finance minister Grant Robertson said would help it survive after the government banned all non-resident arrivals to the country.

Similarly, Norway will also back airlines with credit guarantees worth up to 6 billion Norwegian crowns ($537 million), half of them to Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA. Conditions include raising money from commercial banks and the equity market.

Finland, which owns a 56 percent stake in Finnair, said it would guarantee a 600 million euro ($645 million) loan for the state carrier. The firm said it was implementing a funding plan that included drawing on available credit lines, sale and leasebacks of planes. Its stock jumped 16 percent.

Major US airlines sought a government bailout of more than $50 billion (41 billion pounds) as the White House is urgently drafting a financial assistance package in the wake of the steep falloff in US travel demand sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, reported Reuters.

A trade association warned that without action airlines could run out of money by year-end - and even sooner if credit card companies started withholding payments. Without action soon, airlines and others in the sector could furlough tens of thousands of workers.

-- With inputs from agencies
Most number of foreign nationals banned for attending Tablighi cogregation from Indonesia

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: Foreign nationals from 41 countries including the United States took part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation that was held in Delhi last month.

The most number of foreign nationals to be blacklisted are from Indonesia (379). The next is Bangladesh (110), followed by Kyrgyzstan (77) There were 65 and 63 from Thailand and Myanmar respectively. The list also shows that there were participants from East Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and North America.

The Home Ministry had released a statement in which it said 960 foreigners present in India on a tourist visa had been blacklisted for their involvement in activities of the Jamaat.

In the past five years, the government has blacklisted over 4,000 foreigners who have flouted visa norms and engaged in Tablighi activity. An official with the Home Ministry tells OneIndia that these persons face an immigration blacklist if they are found preaching in India. The officer explained that these persons cannot undertake such activity when they are on a tourist visa. Most of them flout the norms as they are unwilling to go through the stringent process to obtain a religious missionary visa.

Tablighi event has caused big damage to the country says minorities panel

So far over 4,000 persons have been blacklisted, the officer explained, while adding that they will have to continue to deal with this problem. The norms will be further tightened to ensure that such activity does not prevail in India, which is not in accordance with the norms, the officer further noted.

The members of the Tablighi Jamaat have in the past too violated visa norms and have been blacklisted, the official cited above said. These persons need to have religious missionary visas to attend such congregations. However the members of the Tablighi have in the past and this time as well violated the norms by using tourist visas. The official explained that a religious missionary visa is given after through scrutiny and after several rounds of vetting. In order to avoid this process, these persons often use tourist visas and attend such congregations, the official also explained.

The MHA in a statement said that the Bureau of Immigration has been sharing since February 1 with State authorities, details of all international arrivals from affected countries based on Self Declaration Form filled in by them. In addition, since March 6, Bureau of Immigration had also been sharing details of all the international arrivals (both Indians and foreigners) at all the international airports in the country.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 15:56 [IST]
Two weeks ago, dozens of people in their 20s chartered a plane from Austin, Texas to Mexico for spring break. They went against the advice of White House officials who asked the public to avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 and nonessential air travel to help stop the spread of the virus.

Unfortunately, 44 people who went out for fun came home with coronavirus as they tested positive, and all of them are students from the University of Texas at Austin. An elected official had a blunt message for the spring breakers who broke the protocol. Texas House Speaker, Dennis Bonnen, told CNN affiliate KXAN "Quit being an a**. Get over yourselves. Whether you think this is an issue or not, it is. Whether you think it could affect you or not, it does. The reality of it is, if I'm a college kid who's going to spring break in Mexico, you're affecting a lot of people. Grow up."

According to the Austin Public Health Department, what they find also alarming is that some of the passengers who went on the trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, took commercial flights home and they will be difficult to trace and test to see if they have the virus.

Also read: Trump Says 'We Will Come Back Strong' As He Plans to End U.S. Lockdowns

Spring breakers contract coronavirus

Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said in a statement "The virus often hides in the healthy and is given to those who are at grave risk of being hospitalized or dying, while younger people have less risk for complications, they are not immune from severe illness and death from COVID-19."

The University Health Services, the UT Health Austin and the local public health department have contacted all of the passengers on the plane using flight manifests from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC. The University of Texas is also working to help public health officials.

The university spokesman J.B Bird said in a statement "The university is working closely with Austin Public Health to assist in contact tracing. The incident is a reminder of the vital importance of taking seriously the warnings of public health authorities on the risks of becoming infected with COVID-19 and spreading it to others."

The 44 students who tested positive for COVID-19 are now in self-isolation and are seeking treatment, according to health officials. The Department of State Health Services has been alerted to the spread of the virus.

The president of the university, Gregory L. Fenves, urged the students to stay inside, follow the protocol, practice good judgment and think about how their actions could affect others. In a statement, Fenves said "It is our responsibility to follow local, state and national public health orders, and use good judgment during this crisis. Our conduct and the decisions we make have direct ramifications on our own health and the health of everyone in our city and beyond. We must do everything we can to limit the spread of this virus -- the consequences of reckless actions at this time could not be clearer."

Nationwide lockdown

On March 24, Mayor Steve Adler issues a stay-at-home order for Austin, Texas. According to the health officials, Mexico was not under a federal travel advisory when the spring breakers traveled. On March 19, the United States announced the suspension of nonessential travel between the two countries because of the ongoing pandemic.

Related article: Trump Announces Extension of Social Distancing Guidelines in U.S. Until April 30

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As the tenor of everyday life dimmed across the globe as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak, Sunila Galappatti wondered if this unprecedented experience could be recorded in some way. The Sri Lanka-based dramaturg, theatre director and editor thought of an online Lockdown Journal  a way of coming together when we cant meet.

...Birds. Everyone spoke of birds throughout the day. I couldnt see them, but knew something unusual was up with them today. Were they wondering if the world had transformed into a paradise overnight? Just in case I needed a reminder in the future that this had really happened, I recorded 15 seconds of birdsong.

Around noon, another friend called to say she had just finished reading Joan Didions book The Year of Magical Thinking. You can tell she really understands grief, my friend said. Is there anyone who does not?

At 4.55 pm, faint, unrecognisable sounds were heard from outside. Mamma, wake up, its begun, I told my mother. From the window we watched our neighbours erupt into celebratory clamour. They clapped their hands and they banged their pans. A few days earlier, our Prime Minister had appealed to the nation to come out on to their balconies at 5 pm on the day of the Janta Curfew and cheer those on the frontlines of the pandemic. Downstairs, someone was blowing a conch shell. I asked him to look up so I could make a video but when he did, the spell was broken, and he made false notes.

What is this collective hysteria, I said aloud. My mother asked me not to be a spoilsport. She was right. This mass gathering made me smile. I even allowed myself to laugh heartily for a few minutes. It was the first time in weeks and it felt oddly uplifting. For a few moments, the apocalypse was forgotten. Just in case I needed a reminder in the future that this had really happened, I recorded 15 seconds of conching and clanging.

The birds went into hiding and were not heard from for the rest of the evening...

 Sukhada Tatke, Mumbai, 22 March, for the Lockdown Journal

***

As the tenor of everyday life dimmed across the globe as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak, Sunila Galappatti wondered if this unprecedented experience could be recorded in some way. The Sri Lanka-based dramaturg, theatre director and editor thought of an online Lockdown Journal  a way of coming together when we cant meet, asserting our solidarity with each other from a distance of at least two metres away. The website, which went live on 20 March, archives journal accounts of these days, no matter where you are in the world.

It didnt feel like a very original idea but my instinct was to start something that suited the uncertainty of the time  a project with no clear ending, Galappatti told Firstpost of how the project came about.

Memories of the past often open doors to the realities of the present  an observation Galappatti made note of when she came across a diary she had written in 1988/89, when schools in Sri Lanka were closed due to strife. The mundane notes of a nine or 10-year-old about her day were much more interesting to read in retrospect for the way they spoke of a certain time, she said.

The format or style of a journal entry would also counteract a peculiar feature of the modern condition: Surrounded by instant comment, we forget sometimes about looking back and seeing things differently. I wanted to create a quiet place where we could tell stories of ourselves we may not understand till much later, until the world has changed again and were looking back.

***

...On 1 September 1939, the day after war was declared, my mother arrived off the sleeper train at the local station. In the book I wrote which documented 100 years of this community, I described how on that first morning of the war my mother...

...went straight to join the others at Glen Fyne Lodge. Then that morning she and Tasia, Michael, Sisi and the children and nannies moved down from The Lodge back to Ardkinglas; so evacuee families could go to the Lodge. It was thought that evacuees with mothers would need to use the Lodge and the Bungalow. None of the evacuees were to go to Ardkinglas; it was planned that the big houses were to be kept in case there was a sudden rush of evacuees later, or in case they were to be needed as hospitals or convalescent homes.

At the time, my mother complained of numbness, of not being able to think. And how difficult it was living with all these people around.

It was hard for her and I am sure would have been for me too, but she felt that she and others had things they must do and people they had to provide for. While I have nothing to do except think about myself and my rhubarb patch...

 Christina Noble, Loch Fyne, Argyll, 23 March, for the Lockdown Journal

***

Lockdown Journal is not so much a project as a gesture or an experiment according to Galappatti, as she feels it is not an adequate chronicle of the current times.

Most of us writing [for the Journal] have homes, food, a few weeks or months or even years worth of savings in the bank. We have enough health, income, time, sustenance and wherewithal to take shelter and keep a diary. We are neither critically ill nor caring for those who are, she points out. Galappattis best hope for the Journal is that it accumulates an interesting record, while cautioning that it makes no grand claims for itself.

Galappatti has been working with writers for nearly 20 years  an experience that has held in good stead. From 20 March onwards, a bevy of collaborators have submitted accounts of their days wherever they might be in the world, in varying degrees of lockdowns. Imagine you are keeping a journal of your life during this time  it would be like youre sending us a page from that journal, say what you did on 3 April 2020, and the mood of that day in the place where you are, Galappatti explained.

As for her selection criteria, Galappatti prefers simply written, thoughtful entries[which] will almost always win over self-consciously literary efforts. What wont be published? Entries deemed too self-involved or offensive or which she cannot for some reason bear to inflict on other people. Anyone can contribute  from children (provided they are old enough to articulate what is happening around them) to the elderly.

The volume of entries is increasing: From just three entries to kickstart the website on 20 March, today at least 10 contributions come in per day. What must be noted is that Lockdown Journal is managed, edited and published every day by a single person  Galappatti herself.

I laugh when I get submissions addressed Dear Team, she said. There is just me at this end, trying to do this while keeping a promise to myself that I wont let it rob too much of the time I have to spend with my husband and three-year-old son. After all, were all at home together, and this is not a time to live distractedly.

***

A few days ago my husband reported to me a conversation with our son. He told me because he knew I would want to know. Also, I had been in the room with them at that time  where else would I be?

Kavan, nearly three, had apparently tried to speak to me several times but I had not responded. He asked his father, Does Amma not hear me?

I think she is distracted, his father replied.

Why is she distracted?

Because of the coronavirus.

You can imagine how I felt, hearing about this exchange  how I resolved to be more present the next day and partially succeeded. This is how it is, we go back and forth, partially succeeding.

 Sunila Galappatti, Colombo, 29 March, for the Lockdown Journal

***

In these uncertain times, the response to the Lockdown Journal wasnt something Galappatti even envisaged. If you told me that within 10 days of getting up a basic site I would be doing press interviews about it, I would have laughed at you, she said. But importantly, I am starting to get more entries from strangers than friends and friends-of-friends. People have said theyve enjoyed reading the entries and writing them.

So far the entries on the site are from Sri Lanka, India, UK, Germany, Portugal, Jamaica, Jordan, Nigeria, Kenya, US, Canada, Australia, and UAE, among others. Nurat Maqbool from Singapore/Bengaluru says she wrote for Lockdown Journal because she liked the idea of sharing her day with hundreds of people in a similar situation. It is not easy to write about your day when nothing really happens. So I have to put my emotions where so much is happening all day long, she says. Its good to read about people far and near in the same situation but with entirely different lives. And this is not fiction but a peek into real peoples lives.

Normally I don't keep a diary but in this particular situation, it felt good to note down my thoughts. My entry is from the beginning of the lockdown phase in Germany when I was still in the process of adjusting to the new situation, says Susanne Wieners from Germany. In many ways, it is comforting to read other entries on this site as it becomes clear that were all dealing with similar emotions and issues during this time. On another level, reading new posts every day has simply become a pleasant new routine.

UK-based Antonia Lloyd echoes a similar sentiment. At a time when everything feels out of control, I found it comforting to order and formulate my thoughts in a structured journal entry, Lloyd says, adding how this also offered an important moment to reflect. I loved reading other peoples entries  it made me feel a sense of solidarity with people across the world experiencing similar emotions, familiar challenges and facing this unprecedented time with strength and honesty.

Australias Mel Wicks thinks Lockdown Journal could be a unique and organic snapshot of an unprecedented event from so many different perspectives and cultures, to which Nurat Maqbool adds, I think it will be like a global memory bank where we put our memories to look back one day and see how we get by the greatest test of our times.

As for Galappatti and her vision for Lockdown Journal, her greatest fear was that it would become a repository for the self-indulgent reflections of the most comfortable people. But what resonates across the entries, she mused, is how the young are worried for their elders  and how elders are not used to thinking of themselves as such.

***

Its only just the beginning of this new normal but already our London home seems stifling. After our first week of juggling working from home, a myriad of Zoom video calls, and keeping our seven and four-year-olds entertained (and vaguely educated), we thought wed get out for the day and get some fresh air. A quick Google revealed the National Trusts Ashridge Estate, an hour out of London, with 5000 acres that could surely provide ample room for social distancing.

We arrived at 11 am and found ourselves walking through ancient woodland, a carpet of newly-sprouted wild garlic and the promise of Springs tendrils preparing to unfurl. I lay down on a large tree trunk and looked up at the swaying branches, then closed my eyes to try and make out birdsong  for all of 30 seconds before my son asked for help whittling a stick with a dangerously sharp implement (this is not a time for him to have a severe cut I think to myself). Perhaps finally in these months of confinement, I can learn to identify bird calls, mushrooms and other edible plants. We pass areas of coppiced sweet chestnut, Douglas Firs and a myriad of other trees I know nothing about but at various intervals, we come across enormous trunks that have fallen over in this years storms. They lay here and there like uninvited bodies, their messy branches splayed over other trees  beautifully sculptural but interrupting the order of the landscape. But then, our whole worldview has irrevocably changed now.

 Shehani Fernando, London, 21 March, for the Lockdown Journal

***

Read the Lockdown Journal here.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 15:07:57|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGSHA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A court in central China's Hunan Province Friday announced upholding the verdict of sentencing 10 public servants to jail terms for their sheltering of a murder case.

Wrapping up the appeal case, the Intermediate People's Court of Huaihua said the original ruling was based on clear facts and sufficient evidence.

On Dec. 30, the People's Court of Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County announced the verdict of the first trial. Ten public servants, including local government officials, police officers and school staff members, were sentenced to jail terms ranging from seven to 15 years for bending the law for personal gain or dereliction of duty.

According to the verdict, Huang Bingsong, former principal of the No. 1 Middle School of Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County and Yang Jun, former political commissar of the county's public security bureau, were both sentenced to jail for 15 years. Deng Shuisheng, a former detective and forensic doctor of the public security bureau in the city of Huaihua, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

During a crackdown campaign against gang-related crime, an organized crime group led by Du Shaoping was busted in April 2019. Du's criminal gang was later found to be related to the death of Deng Shiping, a staff member of the school, whose remains were found buried under the school's playground on June 20, 2019.

An investigation found that Du, a laid-off worker, was contracted to build the playground in 2001. During the construction, Du became dissatisfied with Deng, who oversaw the quality of the construction.

Du and his accomplice Luo Guangzhong killed Deng on Jan. 22, 2003 and buried him under the playground.

After the murder, Du's uncle Huang Bingsong, the principal of the school, sheltered the crime by seeking help from local public security officers and other public servants.
Social distancing is an alien concept in the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, as thousands of refugees jostle in the queues for toilets and showers.

International recommendations on how best to avoid contracting or passing on the coronavirus can seem light years away -- only a handful of people wear masks but even those are often homemade.

"What is the point of wearing a mask when I share the same toilet as 100 other people?" asks Hasmad, 36, from Kabul as he lines up to use a tap. Greece has ordered confinement for all migrant camps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus -- and the 19,000 asylum seekers crammed into Moria are more at risk than most.

So far, they have escaped infection but the restrictions are tight.

"We are no longer allowed to go to town to go shopping," says Hasmad. As a result, hundreds of residents rush to small open-air markets outside the camp. At the entrance, refugees and volunteers from the NGO Asterias distribute soap and antiseptics.

"We tell them to stay away from each other but when we see the queues, it's impossible," Afghan doctor Ahmand Sina Taha, who works for the NGO Kitrinos, tells AFP.

In an olive grove near Moria, where rubbish accumulates in the ditches, thousands of men, women and children live under tents and in sheds due to lack of space in the camp.

Said, a 17-year-old Afghan, says he learnt about the pandemic from the internet but cannot convince his parents to take precautions. "When someone comes to our house, my mother will kiss them, it's our culture," he tells AFP.

So far, Moria has been spared from the pandemic but others have not been so fortunate.

On Thursday, the Ritsona camp near Athens was quarantined because 23 asylum seekers tested positive for coronavirus out of the 2,720 migrants who live there.

On the island of Lesbos itself, a dozen of the 80,000 islanders have been infected.

Taha prefers to say nothing to migrants about COVID-19 cases on the island "to avoid panic".

Pathologist Nassos Galis points out that if the virus appears in the camp, it will not be via the refugees.

"There is a constant back and forth of camp workers without adequate measures being taken. The solution would be to unclog the camp," he says, echoing the opinion of many NGOs and the governor of the northern Aegean region.

The Greek government has promised to transfer thousands of migrants from the islands to the mainland but given the lack of places, this is a slow process.

On Friday, the International Organization for Migration urged the government to accelerate these transfers because with overcrowding on the islands it is "very difficult to take preventive measures".

"If COVID-19 appears in Moria, the camp will be placed in quarantine," says Galis, who will work in a medical unit created outside the camp. "We are only looking at suspected cases to try to lighten the work at the city hospital," he says. "What we do is just a drop in the ocean".

A second medical centre is on the verge of being set up in front of the camp and an isolation space is being put in place.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ten people associated with Waveny LifeCare Network  seven patients or residents, and three staff members  have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Three of those who were receiving care have died, Waveny President and CEO Russell Barksdale Jr. said. Four are in local hospitals.

We remain in contact with medical professionals and families and we hope that those hospitalized will recover and return home to Waveny soon, Barksdale said.

The three health care staff members are recuperating at home, he added.

As of Thursday night there had been seven deaths and were 63 positive cases in New Canaan, according to an update from Director of Emergency Management Michael Handler.

Waveny has limited visitors and discontinued its volunteer and outpatient services.

Staff and patients are screened daily, Barksdale said.

Wavenys board and senior management are incredibly grateful for the dedication, compassion, skill, and resiliency being put forth by our staff during these challenging times, Barksdale said. They remain tirelessly engaged daily battling this disease that disproportionately impacts the frail and the elderly.

Staff is wearing personal protective medical equipment, patients are being isolated and Waveny has acquired expedited testing, he added.

The entire staff at Waveny LifeCare Network  including those with direct and non-direct patient care  continues to follow all protocols, including wearing of personal protective equipment, while focusing on delivering the highest level of care to our patients and keeping the health and safety of each resident and team member our top priority, Barksdale said.

Barksdale asked the community to follow guidelines from the New Canaan Office of Emergency Management and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent the spread of the virus.

We extend our thanks and appreciation for the tremendous teamwork and support provided by our New Canaan EMS, local first responders, the New Canaan Office of Emergency Management, and the staff of area hospitals, Barksdale said. We also sincerely appreciate the communitys continued thoughts and prayers for our patients and residents, and for our staff and all those working tirelessly on the front lines of health care.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:31:30|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran Air has suspended all its flights to Germany amid the surge in novel coronavirus cases, Iran's state TV reported on Friday.

In a statement on Friday, Iran's flag bearer said its flights to three German destinations have been suspended until further notice.

The decision came after German health authorities recently announced new restrictions on arrivals.

The Iranian airline has already cancelled most of its flights to Europe and destinations in the Middle East because of the disease.

Iran's health ministry on Friday announced 53,183 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country and a total deaths of 3,294.
CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd April, 2020) Russia will continue supporting Moldova with medical aid in its struggle against the coronavirus epidemic, despite claims of political motives, its embassy said on Friday.

"We took note of the recent remarks by some Moldovan politicians who tried to paint Russia's humanitarian aid as part of a geopolitical influence campaign," it wrote on Facebook.

The embassy argued that Russia is giving "an absolute priority" to human life and well-being and is working together with Moldova to contain the pandemic and mitigate its consequences.

"In this difficult epidemiological and economic situation, Russia will continue helping the people of Moldova, with whom we share a centuries-old spiritual, mental and familial bond," it added.

The diplomatic mission urged Moldovan politicians to stop politicizing the health crisis and help deliver a joint response to "this plague of the 21st century," which has infected more than a million people worldwide.
Agra April 3 : After a long while, river Yamuna is flowing full and cleaner at this time of the year.

"When US president Donald Trump visited Agra on February 24, water was released by upstream barrages, but it did not reach Agra. Trump, however, did not go to the rear side of the Taj Mahal, otherwise the polluted and dry Yamuna would have disturbed him. But for the last 25 days or so, we are enjoying a rare view of Yamuna at the Etmauddaula View Point park. The river bed is under water and birds have returned," said River Connect Campaign member Jugal Kishore Shrotriya who conducts a daily arti of Yamuna to mobilise locals to keep the river clean.

River activist Devashish Bhattacharya said, "Perhaps due to the lockdown due to COVID-19, industries in Haryana and Delhi are not drawing water from the river. We have had several spells of rain in March, which could have raised the water level." Water level in Vrindavan and Mathura had also seen a steady rise in the past few weeks.

In Agra, surplus water from the Ganga Jal Pipeline was also being released in the Yamuna. The two water works in Agra receive 140 cusec of water continuously from the 130 km long pipeline. The entire quantity is not used. The excess goes into the Yamuna, according to a local corporator Anurag Chaubey.

The river behind the Taj Mahal, along Mahtaab Bagh has come alive, offering a breathtaking view. Due to the lockdown, the Taj Mahal, for the first time in its history, is relaxed and breathing freely, deprived of the daily human load, as all monuments have been shut down in Agra for visitors. The Archaeological Survey of India is utilising the opportunity to clean up and carry out repairs long overdue.

The city too is largely pollution free, due to restrictions on movement of vehicles. Only an occasional ambulance or a police vehicle can be seen on the Fatehabad road, which has the largest concentration of hotels.
Senate Republicans are still dedicating staff resources to an investigation into Hunter Biden while the Senate has scaled back operations to essential work during the coronavirus pandemic.

Politico reported Friday on evidence that the probe was ongoing, including that one witness' legal team was informed by a Senate staffer that the coronavirus would not pause the investigation into the son of the likely Democratic nominee for president, Joe Biden.

'While the chairman is primary focused on the once-in-a-generation crisis we're experiencing, our oversight staff is continuing to push ahead with their work,' said Austin Alternburg, a spokesman for Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, according to Politico.

Politico reported Friday on evidence the GOP Senate-led investigation is ongoing, including quoting a spokesperson for Senate Homeland Security Chair Ron Johnson (pictured) who said the pandemic has not changed long-term plans for investigations

Senate Republicans are looking into Hunter Biden's (left) Ukrainian business dealings as Joe Bidne (right), the former vice president, looks to be the Democratic nominee who will challenge President Trump for the White House in November

'Nothing has changed in our long-term plans for our investigations,' Altenburg added.

The spokesman did not directly mention the Biden probe.

Politico also reported that the probe is rattling an already politically divided Senate.

At a top-secret briefing less than a month ago, lawmakers were supposed to be discussing 2 election security.

Instead Democrats brought up the Biden probe - as the former vice president basically locked up the nomination on Super Tuesday, which took place March 3.

The briefing ended up devolving into a bunch of partisan sniping, the website said.

Hunter Biden was a board member of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma during his father's tenure as vice president.

Fired Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin has claimed he got the ax because the vice president was trying to stop him from looking into Burisma.

Shokin's ouster was being pushed by the U.S. government during the Obama administration and its allies because he wasn't doing enough to root out corruption in Ukraine.

Still, the scent of impropriety - even if it was simply left by nepotism - was enough to motivate Republicans into launching an investigation.

It was also central to President Trump's ask when he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 25 and asked him to announce investigations into Joe and Hunter Biden - the conversation that led to Trump's December impeachment by the House of Representative.

The Biden campaign told Politico the Senate probe amounts to an 'in-kind contribution to the Trump campaign.'
Google has released a trove of location data taken from its Maps app in an attempt to fight coronavirus.

The information collects data from 131 countries about how people have been moving around since they were forced into lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease.

It shows how places compare in dealing with the pandemic, offering information about how busy certain businesses and locations are under lockdown.

The company hopes that the information will be useful to authorities in dealing with lockdowns and protecting their citizens. The data could allow for officials to make changes to opening hours if people are still regularly taking essential trips, for instance, or busy transport hubs might suggest that extra buses or trains need to be added so that people can more effectively undertake social distancing.

Google also chose to release the data to the public so that people would be informed about how their information is being gathered and used, it said.

Such information is gathered from peoples phones as they move around if they have switched on Googles location history setting. It is already used within Google Maps, powering features such as a tool that advises people on how busy a shop might be at any given time.

In the new reports, the information is anonymised and information such as a specific persons location or movement is not made available.

The reports are organised by country and are available for anyone to download through Googles devote webpage.

They show charts that compare traffic from 16 February to 29 March at subway, train and bus stations, grocery stores and other broad categories of places with a five-week period earlier this year.

In Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by the virus, visits to retail and recreation locations, including restaurants and movie theatres, plunged 94 per cent while visits to workplaces slid 63 per cent. Reflecting the severity of the crisis there, grocery and pharmacy visits in Italy dropped 85 per cent and park visits were down by 90 per cent.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

In the United States, California, which was the first in the with a statewide lockdown, cut visits to retail and recreation locations by half. By contrast, Arkansas, one of the few states without a sweeping lockdown, has seen such visits fall 29 per cent, the lowest for a US state.

The data also underscores challenges authorities have faced in keeping people apart. Grocery store visits surged in Singapore, the UK and elsewhere as travel restrictions were set to go into place. Visits to parks spiked in March in some San Francisco Bay Area counties, forcing them to later put the sites off limits.

In Japan, where authorities have been relatively relaxed in urging social distancing measures but where calls have been growing daily for a state of emergency, visits to retail and recreational places fell 26 per cent. Visits to workplace dropped a mere 9 per cent.

The coronavirus has infected more than one million people globally, and Covid-19, the respiratory illness it causes, has killed 52,000, according to a Reuters tally.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Albany, N.Y.  Hospitals across New York will be forced to turn over spare ventilators and other medical equipment to the state under a new executive order Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to issue.

The extra supplies collected by the state will be redirected to facilities that need them to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Cuomo said today during a press briefing in Albany.

The National Guard will deploy to collect the equipment. Its possible hospitals in New York not currently stressed by the virus have several hundred ventilators that more stretched sites could use, Cuomo said.

Im not going to be in a position where people are dying and we have several hundred ventilators in our own state somewhere else," he said. Im just not going to allow us to go there. I think it would be wholly irresponsible.

In addition to ventilators, Cuomo said hospitals will be ordered to turn over masks, gowns and other protective equipment that theyre not using.

Hospitals forced to give up equipment will either get it back later or be paid for it.

I understand they dont want to give up their ventilators. Ventilators are expensive pieces of equipment Cuomo said. But I dont have an option.

Cuomo has been saying for days that hospitals statewide must coordinate to share resources, staff, supplies and even patients. Patient transfers from some New York City-area hospitals to Upstate have already started.

Several dozen patients have been moved so far, state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said.

Some staff members from Upstate have headed to the city as well.

The state could exhaust its supply of ventilators in just six days, Cuomo said Thursday.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has said hes willing to help downstate sites, as long as local hospitals can take care of Central New York patients first. Simply because Syracuse facilities have enough ventilators now doesnt mean they can send them away, he said yesterday.

The current epicenter of the pandemic is New York City and the surrounding counties, which together have over 89 percent of the total cases in the state.

But the virus will eventually hit Upstate New York harder, Cuomo said. When it does, the state will redeploy the equipment it collects to aid facilities there.

The goal is to get every hospital in New York the resources it needs.

Were going to share resources," Cuomo said. Were just sharing and shifting resources, which is the only intelligent thing to do.

Over 2,900 people have now died due to the virus in New York.

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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Homecoming, a music festival hosted by indie band The National in Cincinnati, has canceled its 2020 event.

The two-day festival, set to take place May 8-9 at Smale Riverfront Park, will not take place this year. The announcement comes after many other festivals and concerts have been postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus crisis.

The festival posted a statement on its website, clarifying refunds and other details:

We made every attempt to reschedule Homecoming for 2020, however due to circumstances beyond our control, the festival will not take place this year as planned. Tickets will be automatically refunded at point of purchase and purchasers will be contacted in the coming days with more details on next steps and timing. We look forward to bringing the event back in 2021. Stay tuned and stay safe. Take care of yourself and each other and well see you soon.

The 2020 festival lineup was set to be headlined by Patti Smith, The National, Sylvan Esso and Of Monsters And Men. The rest of the lineup was to be rounded out by indie and alternative acts like Japanese Breakfast, Local Natives, Phosphorescent, Hamilton Leithauser, Jay Som, Sudan Archives, Velvet Negroni, Wussy and Triiibe.

Find more information about the festival at ntlhomecoming.com.
Matt Hancock has announced a new research drive into coronavirus treatments as he appealed for volunteers for trials, and claimed the government will move mountains in its efforts to tackle the outbreak.

Insisting research into treatments for Covid-19 was essential to our plan for tackling the pandemic, the health secretary said the UK was carrying out world-leading trials.

At a Downing Street press conference on Friday evening, Mr Hancock said the government will bring together some of the finest research minds across the UK to design new trials and put them in place at record place.

And deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam revealed that already 926 volunteers had come forward for one trial. Volunteers were being sought among coronavirus patients identified as appropriate by doctors, and members of the public were not being invited to put themselves forward, he said.

The announcement came as the latest government figures showed a further 684 people had died in the UK from Covid-19 in the largest day-on-day increase so far, bringing the countrys death toll to 3,605.

Coronavirus: London on lockdown Show all 29 1 /29 Coronavirus: London on lockdown Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man walks down a deserted Camden High Street Photos Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Goodge Street Station is one of the many stations closed to help reduce the spread Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown An empty street in the heart of Chinatown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown People in masks in Chinatown a day after the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A near-empty Piccadilly Circus during the first week of lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Sonja, my neighbour, who I photographed while taking a short walk. It was nice to briefly chat even from a distance Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple sit on the empty steps of the statue Eros in Piccadilly Circus Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Making sure I stay two-meters apart  DArblay Street, Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A mannequin behind a shop window. UK stores have closed until further notice Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A notice displayed on a shop window in Camden Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown As part of the lockdown, all non-essential shops have been ordered to close.Image from Camden High Street Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A skateboarder wearing a mask utilises his exercise allowance in the Camden area Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Communities have been coming together in a time of need Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman stands alone in a deserted Oxford Street. Up until a few weeks ago, on average, half a million people visited the street per day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple walk hand in hand down a street in Soho, a day before the stricter lockdown was announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown During the first week of March, shoppers focused on stockpiling necessities ahead of a countrywide lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Many supermarkers are operating a queuing system to make sure only a limited amount of customers are allowed in at anyone time Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Stay Safe  Curzon cinemas are temporarily closed under the new measures Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Pubs, restaurants and bars were ordered to shut as part of the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street There are fears that coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling shops Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden Town is eerily silent on a normal working day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Shops and supermarkets ran out of hand sanitisers in the first week of the lockdown. As we approach the end of the second week most shops now have started to stock up Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty streets around Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A noticeboard on Camden High Street urges the public to stay at home Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street, one of Londons busiest tourist streets turns quiet Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Thriller Live confirmed its West End run ended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty and eerie Soho streets after stricter rules on social distancing announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman pauses for a cigarette on Hanway Street, behind Tottenham Court Road Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man steps outside onto Hanway Street, that sits behind what is usually a bustling retail hub Angela Christofilou

It followed the opening of the new Nightingale Hospital in the Excel Centre in east London, which will eventually provide 4,000 beds to cope with the expected surge in coronavirus cases. Similar hospitals are being created in Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, as well as two locations announced on Friday in Bristol and Harrogate.

Even without this extra capacity, Mr Hancock said that the NHS has spare capacity of 2,029 critical care beds, following emergency action to free up space as the epidemic progresses.

Mr Hancock said the government had established three national clinical trials covering each major stage of the disease, including primary care, hospital care and critical care for the most seriously ill.

"Just like the Nightingale hospital, one of these was put together in just nine days which is breathtaking speed, he added. "These trials are looking at the effectiveness of existing drugs and steroids, re-purposed for treatment for covid-19.

"One of the trials, which is called recovery and deals in hospital care, is the largest of its kind in the world, with 926 patients involved."

Prof Van-Tam said that the first trials involve currently licensed medicines including malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and retrovir, which is used to treat HIV.

But the teams are also planning to conduct tests with new drugs still under development in the hunt for a cure.

"This is a new disease where we don't have any proven treatments," he said. "The UK is absolutely determined however to find effective treatments for this virus disease.

Matt Hancock wants players to take a pay cut (PA)

"The treatment has to be effective. It also has to be safe. And we also have to understand the right doseage to use, the right patients to give the treatments to and the right time in the illness to give that treatment. This is complicated stuff."

Asked how soon results could be expected, he replied: "I don't know. I think it is going to be a few months, but it will all depend on how quickly patients are recruited into the trials."

Mr Hancock backed up the message, saying the "bigger the trials, the better the data and the faster we can roll out the treatments".

While this is a national effort to find these treatments, its also an international effort. We world the lead in the science of these treatments and whatever we learn we will share because we are all on the same side in this war.

Whether it's treatment, equipment or NHS capacity we will strain every sinew, we will move whatever mountains need to be moved. We need everyone to keeping playing their part.

The health secretary also gave an instruction for people to continue to stay at home this weekend, even if the weather improves. We are set for warm weekend weather in some parts of the country, he said.

"But the disease is still spreading and we absolutely cannot afford to relax the social distancing measures we have in place. We cannot relax our discipline now. If we do, people will die.

"I end with the advice we all know. This advice is not a request - it is an instruction. Stay at home, protect lives and then you will be doing your part."
"In these unprecedented and uncertain times, we all could use a little inspiration for each other and for ourselves," says James 'JC' Curleigh', CEO of Gibson. "With Gibson Gives, Sweetwater, and Amped, we are literally providing that inspiration and opportunity for anyone who loves music and has always wanted to learn to play guitar."

Amped Guitar is a unique and engaging two-way, online learning experience that listens to your playing and instinctively adapts the lesson vs. a one-way instructional video. It interacts with the player and creates an additional guitar layer in real-time that turns boring old guitar lessons into an empowering and immersive experience. Amped Guitar takes players from Beginners to Pros covering everything from basic skills to advanced techniques using Audio Augmented Reality; players can learn at their own pace, follow a curriculum or jam to their favorite songs. The Amped Guitar app is available on iOS globally, and will be launched on Android in Q2 2020. Amped Guitar is developed by Zoundio, a music tech company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Download Amped Guitar: Here and watch the trailer Here.

"Sweetwater was founded more than 40 years ago with one goal in mind: to help our friends make music. It remains our number one priority. This partnership will allow even more people to harness the power that music has to unite, heal, and inspire. That's especially important during these trying times," said Sweetwater Founder and CEO Chuck Surack.

With a three-month Premium Membership to Amped Guitar, players will receive:

Full learning curriculum with multiple genres, hundreds of guided lessons teaching you chords, soloing and songs

Immersive playing experience keeping you motivated to play and develop real skills

Step-by-step guidance based on AR

Play songs from some of the greatest guitarists in history including Eric Clapton , B.B. King, Santana, Aerosmith, Tom Petty , Dolly Parton , The Beatles, Bon Jovi, Thin Lizzy, Brian Adams and many more

, B.B. King, Santana, Aerosmith, , , The Beatles, Bon Jovi, Thin Lizzy, and many more Guided learning path from basic skills to advanced guitar techniques

Real-time feedback

Amped animations and videos to teach you new skills and guide you in your learning

Track your progress

All lessons developed by expert guitar teachers

Flexibility - play anywhere and anytime you want

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Plug in iRig to perform for friends

Playing and learning guitar has been proven to positively benefit the mind and the body with effects that endure even after the playing has ended. A neuroscientific study from McGill University in Montreal discovered that playing guitar and listening to the music you are creating alters brain chemistry triggering the release of dopamine--the feel-good chemical. Reducing stress and anxiety, mastering a new skill, increased focus and confidence, and even raising your base IQ level (University of Zurich study) are just a handful of the many benefits that can result from learning to play music.

"For us, this is like one giant love letter to anyone wanting to learn and we're proud to team up with Gibson and Sweetwater to help people learn guitar. Amped Guitar allows anyone to pick up a guitar and get an energized experience in their first lesson. We teach beginners without making them feel like beginners, which is a very powerful thing" says Daniel Katzenellenbogen, Amped Guitar CEO.

As previously announced, GibsonHomemade (#HomeMadeMusic) launched to immediately support our musicians and their current projects. The worldwide program unites legendary and new artists, music brands and industry partners together to entertain music lovers everywhere and spread hope through tough times. Artist performances, intimate interviews and conversations from all over the world can be watched and shared from anywhere via all Gibson and Epiphone digital platforms on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and the "Gibson Homemade Sessions" feature exclusive, full-length performances of original content on Gibson TV. Tune in to see appearances, performances and messages of support and love from Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer artists.

Gibson is working in solidarity with our network of retailers and distributors around the world to donate, promote and support all musicians and invites other music industry partners to join the Gibson Gives effort, and together we can widen the Amped Guitar Premium Membership subscription giveaway.

Download Amped Guitar on iOS globally:

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For more information, visit:

Gibson

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EPIPHONE.COM | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

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KRAMERGUITARS.COM | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

Gibson Gives:

GIBSON GIVES.ORG

About Gibson:

Gibson Brands, the world's most iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for more than 100 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the number one guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger and the Gibson Pro Audio division KRK Systems. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands. Learn more at http://www.gibson.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Gibson Gives:

The Gibson Gives | Gibson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) committed to introduce, inspire, and amplify the power of music through guitars across all generations, genres, and genders. For over 126 years Gibson has been shaping, contributing, and supporting sound through their guitars. Gibson realized early on that getting instruments into the hands of those with a desire to make music is a truly life-changing event. Gibson Gives (Gibson Foundation) has since provided thousands of guitars and related value-in-kind in excess of $30 million. In 2019, Gibson Gives committed to donating 1,000 guitars over the next 1000 days and is ahead, having donated 160 guitars in just four months. Gibson Gives played a lead role in supporting the 'Do it for the Love' Foundation, outfitted Maplewood High School in Nashville with multiple guitars for a music roomthrough Gibson Gives partner Give A Note--and played it forward donating 48 guitars and 19,000 string sets to Guitars For Vets to bring the power of music to returning U.S. military veterans with PTSD. Gibson Gives is off to a solid start in 2020 with 100% of all donations to and from Gibson Gives going towards giving the gift of music. The mission of Gibson Gives is to make music matter to more people in more waysone guitar at a time! For more information, visit: www.gibsongives.org.

About Sweetwater Sound:

Founded in 1979, Sweetwater is the No. 1 online retailer of music instruments and audio gear in the U. S. The company is respected as the nation's leading retailer serving musicians, recording studios, broadcast, education, and houses of worship. Sweetwater's customers can be found everywhere music is heard and audio is played, broadcast, or recorded, including recording, film, and broadcast studios in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami; in hundreds of thousands of home recording studios; and in schools and churches nationwide. Sweetwater's founding and meteoric growth are built on a knowledgeable and experienced staff, outstanding selection and pricing, and, above all, an unwavering commitment to customer service excellence in every situation. For further information, visit Sweetwater.com.

About Amped Guitar:

Amped Guitar is an engaging learning experience built on Audio Augmented Reality. It interacts with the player and creates an additional guitar layer in real-time that turns boring old guitar lessons into an empowering and immersive experience. The #1 guitar learning experience, Amped Guitar is not just a play and perform tool, but a brilliant way to learn guitar using Augmented Reality. Created by guitar teachers, Amped Guitar is a unique two-way learning tool that listens to your playing and adapts the lesson vs. a one-way video. Amped Guitar offers a full learning curriculum that covers everything from basic skills to advanced techniques. It's all you need to master the guitar. You'll get step-by-step guidance, adding one finger or skill at a time, so you always have the optimal conditions for your learning. Never too hard, and never too easy--just right for you. The secret behind Amped Guitar is years of development and by using AR we can control the difficult parts in playing and turn each step of your learning into a smooth, rewarding and motivating experience. You'll have a great playing experience even if you're brand new at guitar. All lessons are developed by expert teachers. 67% of the population wants to learn an instrument, but very few will ever try, and of those who do 9 out of 10 quit within the first year. Learning to play has always been hard. Amped Guitar addresses this issue by using AR. This makes learning less painful, and users have a blast playing. Simply put, we inspire people to play guitar by making them feel like rock stars while they develop real skills. Amped Guitar is aimed at everyone that has ever dreamt about playing guitar. Now you can. Amped Guitar is developed by Zoundio, a music tech company based in Stockholm, Sweden. The Amped Guitar app is available on iOS globally, and will be launched on Android in Q2 2020. Download Amped Guitar, Here.

For Gibson publicity enquiries and to request a media code for Amped Guitar, contact:

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PRIME PR GROUP, INC.

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Russia transferred to Azerbaijan another batch of novel coronavirus test kits, the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan said in a message received by Vestnik Kavkaza.



It reads that in the continuation of close cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of healthcare and in order to increase the effectiveness of the fight against the novel coronavirus, Rospotrebnadzor handed over to the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan 50 sets of novel coronavirus test kits for testing 50,000 people.



"Since the beginning of March this year, Russia has donated 120 sets of test kits that allow to hold over 120,000 tests for COVID-19 to Azerbaijan free of charge," the diplomatic mission said.

"We intend to continue making joint efforts to maintain the health and well-being of our countries' people, coordinate actions to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences in the region," the embassy emphasized.
On a bright spring day, darkened only by the clouds of a global pandemic, three docile animals and their handlers brought joy to some Riverview nursing home residents temporarily unable to have contact with the outside world.

Nicole George and her family have owned alpacas for about five years, but until now theyve been enjoyed simply as pets. That is until coronavirus came along and changed everything.

I just wanted to bring a smile to some faces during this uncertain time, George said, referring to the COVID-19 outbreak that has Michigan residents subject to a stay-at-home order and nursing homes under lockdown.

George said she and her family feel lucky that they get to smile everyday, just by seeing the alpacas in their backyard. She said this was the perfect time to take their alpacas to other places and spread some of that joy.

Its times like these that cause many people to think outside the box and to do something different or unexpected to help out and bring a smile to others, she said.

Alpacas are often described as adorable animals, in part because they are docile and inquisitive. They are domesticated versions of vicunas, South American ruminants that live high in the Andes. Although related to llamas, which are used as pack animals, alpacas are raised as pets and for their soft wool, known as fiber.

The youngest of Georges alpacas is Finn, which is 5 years old and the largest of the trio, followed by Thunder, 11; and Legacy (or Lego), 12.

Rivergate Terrace, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Riverview, is where Georges grandmother stayed until her death about 13 years ago. Being familiar with Rivergate, George thought its ranch style would be perfect for the alpacas to walk around the building and look inside the windows of each resident.

On Thursday afternoon, George packed her alpacas in a trailer and made the trip to Rivergate Terrace, along with her sister, Jeanine Vitale, and their mother, Karen Vitale. Jeanine lives in Hilton Head, South Carolina, but is back in Michigan for an extended visit.

Im stuck quarantined with my mother now, she said, jokingly. Thats not a bad thing. I want to be here.

George and her husband, Tim, along with daughters Lucy and Ivy, live in New Boston on a parcel of land that is slightly under 3 acres. Karen Vitale, along with another one of Nicoles sisters, Rita Offman, lives next door (but in separate quarters) in what the family affectionately refers to as the Vitale Compound.

Another sister lives in Kentucky.

Nicole, Jeanine and Karen each took an alpaca and walked the grounds, under the guidance of Rivergate Terrace Concierge Tracy Wiggins and Activity Director Patty Avendt.

A handful of the residents were napping at the time, and still others looked from their beds, but a majority who heard knocking on their windows got up to see the exotic animals peeking through their windows.

One of the reasons George said her family decided to purchase alpacas is because theyre friendly animals, low-maintenance, dont challenge a fence and in general are very easy keepers. They also appear to take direction well, as the animals willingly went up to each window to look inside, much to the delight of the residents.

Unfortunately, window visitors have become a common occurrence for many of the residents during the pandemic. Since visitors arent allowed inside, other than under the most serious of circumstances, family members have been visiting their loved ones, separated by glass.

But people are getting creative. During a recent visit, one child played tic-tac-toe with his grandparent.

As part of the safety measures during the pandemic, residents are eating meals in their rooms, not as part of a community as during normal times. For that reason, human and animal contact is important now as it ever was.

The closest thing to furry visitors has been a therapy dog named Shadow, who visits on one Saturday a month through the Fur Angels group. But its safe to say that this was the first time alpacas have played the therapy animal role for Rivergate Terrace residents.

It was clear from their laughter and wide smiles that George, her mother and sister were enjoying the visits at least as much as the residents.

Nicole and Tim Georges daughters are now 14 and 16 years old and with them growing up, the couple thought this might be a good time to start treating their alpacas like a business.

We thought, Lets get them to start making some money for us,' she said.

They named their farm IvyLu Alpacas and were just creating a website that would make the alpacas available for rentals.

But then this happened, George said. So we cant do any special events.

But as the old saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. George said she cant think of a better way to brighten a day for nursing home residents who currently have such limited contact with the outside world.

So I just started picking up the phone and calling several nursing homes and assisted living places, George said. Most of them agreed and are very excited for the alpaca visit!
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The coronavirus death toll across the state of New York has risen by 562 in just 24 hours, bringing the total number of victims to 2,935, and the number of infections has gone past 100,000.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed the startling new figures at a press conference on Friday morning where he pleaded with the other states to send help before the pandemic peaks.

Overnight, the death toll rose from 2,373 to 2,935 - the single highest increase in a day yet and the equivalent of 23 people dying every hour. The number of cases went up by 10,482 to 102,863.

More people have now died across the state of New York as a result of the coronavirus than were killed in New York City in the Twin Towers attacks on 9/11. That day, 2,753 died in New York and an additional 224 died in the attacks on the Pentagon and on United Flight 93.

Across America, there are now more than 270,000 cases of the virus and more than 7,000 people have died.

Gov. Cuomo said on Friday that the only 'logical, practical' plan was for the country to enact a rolling deployment of resources to the regions that need it when they need it.

Since New York is 'the first encounter', he is asking for help to be sent his way now but said he will return the favor if and when the crisis in his state is over.

Scroll down for video

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Friday that the number of cases and deaths continue to rise despite ongoing mitigation efforts

He has signed an executive order which allows him to take excess ventilators from hospitals that do not have a surge in coronavirus patients and redeploy them to any that are overrun by cases.

Cuomo said he knows individual hospitals will not like the order, but that it is what must be done to avoid people dying 'because we didn't share'.

He has promised to either return the ventilator once to the hospital it was taken from or reimburse them for it. His strategy hinges on the proviso that different localities will hit their peaks at different times.

'I understand they don't want to give up their ventilators. Ventilators are expensive pieces of equipment...but I don't have an option and I'm not going to get into a situation where we know we're running out and we could have people dying because there are no ventilators but there are hospitals in other parts of the state that have ventilators they are not using,' he said.

Asked whether he was worried some of the hospitals could sue him for the order, he said: 'It'd be a slow day if I didn't get sued five times but if they want to sue me for borrowing their excess ventilators to save lives, let them sue me.'

Cuomo used the analogy of borrowing someone's drill to illustrate his point.

'Lend me your drill. I will bring it back to you or I will buy you a new drill. How do you lose ? I'm not taking your last drill. You have five other drills in your toolbox.

'You're not going to to use use drills between then and if something happens where you go on a drilling frenzy? Call me and I'll bring you more,' he said.

Cuomo is asking companies with manufacturing capabilities in the US or in the state to start making medical gowns, surgical masks and gloves for the healthcare workers that need them. He says he will pay them a 'premium' for them if they can make them on time

Nationally, he said there will be instances of two cities hitting their apexes at the same time but that largely, the spread will be staggered.

'It depends on when the outbreak started in that region, so you have different curves in different parts of the country occurring at different times.

'The only practical solution at this point is focus on the emergency that is in front of you.

'Focus on the emergency at the place and time that is in front of you and then redeploy to the next situation so New York is the tip of the spear so to speak, we have the high numbers, the first major encounter.

'Deploy resources to New York - we'll hit that curve, we'll be at the top of the curve [in] 17 days, 21 days, we're on the other side and we're coming down and then I don't need the ventilators we've amassed. We can re-deploy what we have to whatever locality is next.

'It's not a perfect sequential timing but if you look at the projected curves when it's going to hit Michigan, Illinois, Florida, you'll see there is a timing sequence to it. Why not? What is the alternative to now saying: "lets help each other. Lets focus on each situation as it develops and move our resources and personnel as it develops.

'What is the alternative to the crisis that we have looming nationwide?'

He went on to say that America was a 'family' and that as 'brothers and sisters', it was in the 'DNA of America' to show up to help one another.

He lauded the 20,000 out-of-state healthcare workers who have volunteered to come to work in New York City's hospitals, and promised his workers would do the same elsewhere in the country if needed.

Cuomo also thanked the president for changing a policy which dictated that the Javits Center, a 2,500-bed field hospital, would not take coronavirus patients.

Dire: Medical workers move a body into a refrigerated mobile morgue at the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn

The New England Patriots have donated masks to the Javits Center, a 2,500 bed facility for coronavirus patients

Patients are also now being treated for coronavirus inside the Javits Center on Manhattan's west side

Now, people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 will be treated there. FEMA initially refused it. Trump overruled them yesterday.

Cuomo also said that he planned to speak to the Defense Secretary to learn more about why the USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship which docked in New York on Monday, was not taking COVID patients either.

The vague answer has been that it will be too difficult to disinfect the ship afterwards so they do not want the virus ever coming on board.

On Thursday night, it was revealed that the Navy issued a list of 49 other health conditions it said the Comfort would not be used to treat.

With hospitals now operating as largely COVID-only facilities, there are few other patients to take care of.

Cuomo said he planned to address it today.

'I did not speak to the president about the Comfort. The original agreement was it was for non-COVID people.

'The Navy's position is they don't want to put COVID people on the ship because it would be too hard to disinfect the ship afterwards. That's my rough interpretation of what they're saying.

'The need is for COVID patients. I don't know the science of ship disinfecting to know whether or not they're being overly dramatic,' he said.

Cuomo said that the crisis was 'hard' to deal with, particularly as the number of deaths and cases continues to rise.

'This is hard. It's hard to go through this all day and then it's hard to stay up all night watching those numbers come in and you know that you're in charge of the ship at this time. I don't shirk that responsibility at all.

'Eventually, you go through the darkness and you find the light. And we're going to find the light,' he said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has earmarked Sunday, April 5, as 'D Day', saying if more supplies do not come in before then or if more staff do not arrive to ease the burden on hospitals, the consequence could be hundreds of deaths.

Cuomo says he'll phone defense secretary to iron out the role of the USNS Comfort which is refusing to take COVID-19 patients

Cuomo said on Friday that he planned to phone Defense Secretary Mark Esper to resolve the row over the USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship with the capacity for 1,000 patients which docked in New York Harbor on Monday and still only has 20 people on board being cared for.

Health executives slammed the response as a 'joke', saying the only patients anywhere are now COVID-19 positive and that the Navy must start accepting them.

The reason the Navy does not want them is it says it will be too complex a mission to clean the ship once the pandemic is over in order to disinfect it.

FEMA had applied the same rules to the Javits Center, a 2,500-bed field hospital, but Trump overruled them at the request of Cuomo on Thursday.

Cuomo was not critical of the Navy and its decision when asked about it on Friday, but said he would speak to Esper.

The USNS Comfort has accepted just 20 patients since it docked in Manhattan four days ago despite promising relief to the coronavirus crisis in New York City

He also said he had not been informed that the Navy was also refusing to treat people for 49 other, as yet undisclosed conditions, on the ship.

THE RED TAPE KEEPING COVID PATIENTS FROM THE COMFORT Non Covid patients only From the outset, the plan was for the USNS Comfort to only take patients who did not have the virus and alleviate some of the pressure on the hospital system. A specific reason for that decision was never given but it was likely to avoid infecting the Navy or putting the physical ship in a position where it might have to be taken out of commission and disinfected Ambulances can't take anyone directly there Patients are not allowed to go directly to the USNS Comfort. First, an ambulance takes them to a city hospital. Then, they are tested for the virus and evaluated. They are then transported if they test negative. Ship may need to be reconfigured for COVID-19 patients A military doctor told The New York Times that the ship is fitted with narrow cot beds that are suitable for young, otherwise healthy soldiers with battlefield wounds, but may not be for older patients. The vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations are among people over the age of 65. Advertisement

'I did not speak to the president about the Comfort. The original agreement was [that] it was for non-COVID people.

'I am going to speak to the Secretary of Defense. The Navy position is they don't want to put COVID people on the ship because it would be too hard to disinfect the ship afterwards. That's my rough interpretation of what they're saying.

'We only have COVID and non-COVID patients. The need is for the COVID patients. They said it from day one, in fairness.

'I don't know the science of ship disinfecting to know whether or not they're being overly dramatic,' he said.

He added that he was appreciative of Trump overruling FEMA which had been firm on not taking coronavirus patients at the Javits Center.

'Frankly, the federal agencies were not eager to do that. FEMA was not eager. I called the president, spoke to him about it yesterday morning and that afternoon he called me back and said he had spoken to the task force and they would grant the request.

'That's a very big deal. I thank the president for doing it. He did it despite the fact they were not eager, and he did it quickly,' he said.

Michael Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health - NY's largest hospital system - said it was a 'joke'. '

'If I'm blunt about it, it's a joke.

'Everyone can say, "Thank you for putting up these wonderful places and opening up these cavernous halls".

'But we're in a crisis here, we're in a battlefield,' he told The New York Times.

Mayor Bill de Blasio was asked about the Comfort during an appearance on CNN on Friday morning. He said he was confident the issue would be resolved.

'There's no question in my mind that's going to get resolved very quickly, you're going to see that number grow.

'Having the Comfort here is a very important thing here in NYC. I don't have a doubt in my mind the Comfort is going to be filled up soon and the Javits is going to be filled up soon. That's the easy part.

'The hard part is the hospitals dealing with a massive surge in the coming days. We need more doctors and nurses,' he said.
Cafe Tinto is one of the fifty two businesses participating with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerces initiative to support local restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

If you have a sudden craving for tacos, arepas, or some sweet plantains with pork and rice, or you have no idea what to cook this weekend, consider delivery or take-out from one of the many Latino-owned restaurants in the Philadelphia region.

Dine Latino Take-Out Weekend is a marketing campaign, coordinated by the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and other regional partners in the financial and nonprofit sectors, intended to help Latino restaurants during the economic crisis created by the COVID-19 outbreak.

 READ MORE: Here are the years significant achievements of 10 Philly Latinos

Jennifer Rodriguez, president and CEO for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the goal is to pump more cash-flow to these businesses at a time when the owners need to pay rent, mortgage, and utilities.

Latinos have a large presence in the restaurant industry, rely heavily on cash, so we are trying to give more support and let them and others know that our business community is not invisible, Rodriguez said about the population group, considered to be disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

The marketing campaign, which takes place Friday through Sunday, will promote Latino-owned and operated businesses that offer take-out or delivery. Using the hashtags #DineLatino and #LatinoTakeOut, customers, local leaders and community organizations will share information about participating businesses in Philadelphia, Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The chamber has created a list of participating restaurants that will be highlighted on the organizations website.

As of Thursday, 52 businesses had registered to participate. According to the most recent Census data, there are 22,500 Latino-owned businesses in the region, but theres no specific data on restaurants.

 READ MORE: With language, internet challenges slowing access to relief funds, Philly bodega owners struggle to stay open

Restaurant owner Gilberto Arends said he appreciated the support. He has furloughed six of his employees at his restaurant, Puyero Venezuelan Flavor, in Society Hill.

There is nothing more important to us than to keep our employees and to guarantee that they have an income in these difficult times, said Arends, who just celebrated his restaurants third anniversary.

Daniela Garcia, who manages Cafe Tinto bakery in North Philadelphia, agreed. She said the pandemic has forced local businesses to be creative to remain open.

Its taken us to be innovative and rethink the ways we offer our goods, as we keep sharing our colors and flavors with the community, Garcia said.

 READ MORE: Will Phillys smoking lounge law mean Latino nightlife gets snuffed out?

Rodriguez said this is the first time the chamber has coordinated this type of initiative, and is considering expanding this effort to other businesses.

We look forward to staying close to the business community and to develop strategies that can strengthen them and make them more resilient.
According to figures published by the Louisiana Department of Health on Thursday the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state is now at 9,159, an increase of over 2,700 in just one day. Thirty-seven new deaths were also reported bring the death toll to 310, placing Louisiana fourth for fatalities in the United States. Thursday was the single deadliest day for the state since the onset of the pandemic.

Street performer Eddie Webb looks around the nearly deserted French Quarter looking to make money in New Orleans, Sunday, March 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Governor John Bel Edwards used his daily press conference Thursday to announce an extension of stay-at-home orders through the end of April. More than 70,000 workers have filed for unemployment in the last three weeks as restaurants and other businesses have been closed across the state as part of the effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Edwards reported that the virus had now spread to every parish (county) in the state but still sought to downplay the extent of the crisis wracking the state. While extremely upsetting, this increase in COVID-19 cases appears less a sign of new exponential growth and more a sign of a logjam from commercial labs, the governor told reporters.

At his press conference Wednesday Edwards urged citizens to follow the stay at home orders saying that it could be "a long time" before things return to normal. Addressing the high death rate in Louisiana, Edwards placed the blame on high rates of underlying health conditions which are more prevalent in Louisiana than many other states.

"We've been reporting for decades there are more chronic health conditions (like diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity) in Louisiana than in other states," Edwards told reporters. "When you factor that in what you see playing out is very tragic." Shifting blame from a lack of access to health care onto the people themselves for being generally less healthy than those in other states, Edwards continued, "Individuals are dying in greater numbers because greater numbers have underlying conditions. Its not because we have sub-standard care."

The city of New Orleans is being hit especially hard with nearly half of the total deaths occurring in the states largest city. Wednesday afternoon it was confirmed that a nurse working in a New Orleans East hospital had died after contracting coronavirus.

Larrice Anderson, 46, was working closely with COVID-19 patients when she came down with the virus herself and died within a week of testing positive. Anderson is the first nurse in Louisiana confirmed to have died from exposure to the virus while working. With masks and other protective gear supplies dwindling those numbers are in danger of rising as soon as next week.

Despite having about one tenth of the population of the largest state California, Louisiana leads that state and Washington as the state with most deaths behind New York, New Jersey and Michigan.

State officials have been criticized heavily in the media over the past two weeks for not instituting a more serious policy limiting interpersonal contact, with many restaurants still offering take out and few if any markets or stores in New Orleans enforcing a customer limit.

Alongside the lack of social distancing enforcement, the month-long carnival celebration that culminates in Mardi Gras, which draws in over a million people from all over the world to Louisiana every year, is the biggest factor in explaining why the state is being hit particularly hard.

Yet the quality of health care in the state has been suffering for years under Democratic and Republican administrations with deep cuts in health spending taking place over the last two decades and the loss of public hospitals in the years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005. State officials also report that personal protective equipment is critically low and that the state is expecting to run out of ventilators by this weekend.

A Baton Rouge area pastor named Tony Spell bused in over 1,000 people to his church service this week in defiance of social distancing orders, potentially exacerbating the spread of the disease to an already devastated state population. The virus, we believe, is politically motivated. We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says, the pastor told NBC.

Despite the state ban on public gatherings and federal CDC guidelines explicitly prohibiting such large functions, the pastor was able to use his fleet of 27 buses to bring parishioners from the area to his church, where mingling and touching was actively encouraged. The local police departments warned Spell that any further gatherings would be broken up.

The latest models from the White House predict at least 100,000 in the US will die from COVID-19 even with strict adherence to social distancing guidelines.
Rivas said in the last two weeks he has seen fewer people in grocery stores and traffic in the area has decreased. He predicted that the county will receive an "A" by the time Indiana reaches its peak in cases, which will likely be in two weeks some disease models show.
The Indian Union Muslim Leauge on Friday said it was unfortunate that "some people" were trying to communalise Tabligi Jamaat congregation held here last month, and urged people to fight coronavirus unitedly.

IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty also appealed to all those who attended the event in Nizamuddin to cooperate with authorities and undergo medical tests.

"It is unfortunate and sad that some elements are trying to communalise and give a religious colour when the country is fighting the pandemic," Kunhalikutty, who is the Lok Sabha member from Malappuram in Kerala, told PTI over phone.

Tabligi Jamaat in Nizamuddin West has emerged as the biggest hotspot of coronavirus in the country, following which a major area has been sealed and an FIR lodged against its cleric for violating government orders.

Kunhalikutty said "this is not the time to indulge in blame games and instead everyone should help and save India from the virus".

He also criticised Union minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's "harsh" comments about the Jamaat attendees.

"Naqvi, who is holding the portfolio to take care of the minorities, should have been careful in using such words. Making such statements when the country is in disaster would not help," he said.

On Tuesday, Naqvi had lashed out at the Tablighi Jamaat after authorities blamed the meeting organised by it for spreading coronavirus infection, saying the organisation has committed a "Talibani crime" and its "sin is unpardonable".

At the time of the meeting, March 13 to 15, even the government had informed Parliament that there was nothing to fear and normal life could be carried out, Kunhalikutty said, adding that authorities had also no plan to announce a countrywide lockdown



Meanwhile, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the IUML leader has urged him to direct the Indian Embassy in Kuwait to waive the processing fees for issuance of Emergency Certificate to Indian workers.

"The certificate is a mandatory document issued by embassies concerned to Indian citizens abroad who wish to travel back home in emergency circumstances," he said in the letter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cuomos tactics have seemingly paid off in tangible ways. In the month since the virus was first discovered in New York, the governor has finagled or finessed the creation of thousands of federally financed hospital beds; the federal authorization of labs in the state to run coronavirus tests; and the arrival Monday of a federal hospital ship, USNS Comfort, which the state hopes will help relieve pressure on local hospitals, although it has been largely underused thus far.
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback speaks at the Department of State in Washington on June 21, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

US Ambassador Calls on Countries to Release Religious Prisoners Amid Pandemic

The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom called on governments to release their religious prisoners amid the current pandemic. One of the countries singled out by the ambassador was China.

Its a good public health move for their nations, and its morally obviously the right thing to do. We unfortunately have a number of religious prisoners around the world in various countries that are being held, ambassador Sam Brownback said during a briefing on April 2.

He explained that COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, could easily spread in prisons given the tight space. The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

Brownback called on several countries to release their religious prisoners, including Iran, Vietnam, Russia, Eritrea, and China.

China continues to have a number of people imprisoned for their faith, Brownback said, pointing to Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang; believers of Protestant, Catholic, and house churches; Tibetan Buddhists; and Falun Gong adherents.

Those [in China] should all be released in this time of pandemic, he said.

Brownback also urged governments to ensure religious minorities receive medical aid should they be impacted by the virus.

Weve seen a situation in several countries where oftentimes a religious minority is excluded from the public health need and distribution in nations, and were calling on all nations to distribute this at this time of pandemic to all communities regardless of religious affiliation or otherwise, he said.

He also urged governments not to blame religious minorities as the source of the virus, though he did not name specific examples.

We are seeing that sort of blame game getting started up in different places around the world, and we hope it gets pushed back aggressively by those host governments, Brownback said.

On April 2, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) also joined in the call for Falun Gong adherents imprisoned in China to be freed.

In a tweet, the CECC explained that it was the first anniversary of eight Falun Gong adherents, being sentenced for up to 10 years because of their faith.

Falun Gong practitioners continue to face arrests & torture in #China, CECC stated, before adding #SunZhifen & other detained #FalunGong practitioners should be released immediately & unconditionally. Sun and others whereabouts are unknown.

Falun Gong

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient spiritual practice with meditative exercises and moral teachings based on three principles, truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. The practice was enormously popular in China; by the late 1990s, there were about 70 million to 100 million adherents, according to official estimates.

However, former Party leader Jiang Zemin viewed the practices popularity as a threat to his rule and launched nationwide persecution beginning on July 20, 1999. Since then, the Chinese regime has thrown hundreds of thousands of adherents into prisons, labor camps, brainwashing centers, psychiatric wards, and other detention facilities, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Chinas persecution against Falun Gong adherents has continued amid the global pandemic.

According to Minghui.org, a website that monitors the persecution of Falun Gong in China, the Chinese regime arrested 282 adherents, illegally sentenced 15 and harassed 113 in February alone.

Harassment typically is in the form of authorities ransacking practitioners homes or pressuring them to sign official documents promising to give up their faith.

That same month, at least six adherents, five of whom residents in northern Chinas Liaoning province, died due to the regimes persecution, according to Minghui.org.

On March 8, Zou Liming, 66, a resident of Panjin city in Liaoning, died inside a prison in Dalian, another city in the same province. According to Minghui.org, the prison refused to explain to Zhaos family why he fell into a coma on Feb. 7, after sending him to a local hospital for resuscitation.

Zou was detained at a prison in Liaonings Jinzhou city in September 2019, then transferred to the Dalian prison in November.

Since late January, the Chinese regime has called on citizens to participate in volunteer duties to combat the CCP virus. Minghui.org reported an instance in March, when some volunteers decided to report on Falun Gong adherents.

On March 16, Tang Huanxiang and Tang Shuhua, residents of Tianmen city in Hubei provincethe region hardest-hit by the viruswere taken to a local police station after some volunteers tipped off the police. The volunteers spotted the two Falun Gong practitioners passing out flyers about the Chinese regimes persecution.

They were held overnight at a police station in Zaoshi, a county in Tianmen. Police searched their homes. They were released at about 4 p.m. the following day.
JANUARY 6: The Angels tonight officially announced the signing of Baldoquin.

DECEMBER 20: Baldoquin has passed his physical. The deal is done, reports Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (via Twitter). Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (also Twitter) adds that there is still some paperwork to be filed before the deal is official.

DECEMBER 9: Baldoquin has arrived in the United States, Angels GM Jerry Dipoto told reporters (including Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times). The team hopes to have Baldoquins physical completed and the signing finalized by next week.

NOVEMBER 4: The Angels have reached an agreement with 20-year-old Cuban infielder Roberto Baldoquin on a record-setting $8MM bonus, reports MLB.coms Jesse Sanchez. The agreement is pending a physical and the $8MM bonus is the most ever for an amateur player under the current international signing rules.

Baldoquin called his agreement a dream come true in speaking to Sanchez, going on to state, Ive made a lot of sacrifices to get to this point. Im ready for the next part of my journey.

Baldoquin has three seasons of professional experience playing with Las Tunas in Serie Nacional, Sanchez writes, and he also appeared on the Cuban National 16-and-under team when he was eligible. Baldoquin left Cuba in February and has been training in the Dominican Republic. He can play both third base and the outfield, Sanchez adds.

Because Baldoquin was subject to the international signing bonus, the Angels have now clearly shattered their international bonus pool. By adding Baldoquin, the Halos are subjecting themselves to a 100 percent luxury tax on any dollars spent over their $2.383MM bonus pool, and they will also be ineligible to sign any player for more than $300K in either of the next two international signing periods. They can, however, spend as aggressively as they wish for the remainder of this signing period, which runs through mid-June. At this point, because theyll already have been hit with the max penalties, the only further penalties they will incur will be the 100 percent on any further dollars that are spent on international free agents.

Information on Baldoquin is sparse, but Sanchez lists him at 510, and interested fans can take a look at this 10-minute video compilation from YouTube that shows the right-handed hitter taking batting practice, fielding grounders, throwing across the diamond from third base and turning double plays as a shortstop with the help of a few workout partners.

At just 20 years of age and with only three seasons of experience in Serie Nacional, Baldoquin seems like a clear candidate to begin his Angels career in the minor leagues, even though the team has traded Howie Kendrick this offseason. Grant Green and Josh Rutledge are likely to man second base in Anaheim barring a further trade, though neither has a track record of much success in the Majors. Should one of them establish himself as an everyday option at second, another spot for Baldoquin could open in the near future anyway; David Freese are controlled only through the following season, while Erick Aybar is controlled through 2016.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has written to state governments to take strict action against those who have been found attacking healthcare and frontline workers. The ministry has also asked states to ensure security to the medical fraternity, Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Home Ministry said on Friday.

There are seven helpline numbers in the control room of the Union Home Ministry. Now, we have introduced two more helpline numbers - 1930 (all India toll-free number) and 1944 (dedicated to the Northeast) for such complaints, the Home Ministry official said.

Reports of healthcare workers as well as security personnel being attacked have come in from several parts of the country amid the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, seven people were arrested for allegedly attacking health workers in Indore. The residents of a locality in the city pelted stones at healthcare workers who went there to screen people for Covid-19. Two female doctors reportedly sustained injuries in the incident.

Also Read | With full weight of law: MHA orders FIRs against 960 foreign Jamaat workers, sponsors

In another incident, Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined at a Ghaziabad hospital allegedly misbehaved with the nurses, making lewd remarks and other obscene gestures, provoking the Uttar Pradesh government to invoke the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against them.

The six Jamaat members at the district hospital were shifted to an isolation ward set up at a private educational institute after complaints received against them.

They are among the thousands who attended a religious congregation at the organisations New Delhi headquarters, now identified as a coronavirus hotspot.

Also Read | Yogi Adityanath orders NSA against Jamaat members for alleged misbehaviour

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called those involved in the incident enemies of humanity.

They will neither accept the law nor follow arrangements. Whatever they did with women health workers is a heinous crime, he said on Friday. The NSA is being invoked against them. We will not let leave them, he said, in a government statement in Lucknow.
The world has been gripped by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic with more than a million people having been infected so far. More than 53,000 have died around the world while more than 2,12,000 have recovered. In India, the total number of cases exceeds 2,000 now.

The number has doubled in very quick time and the biggest Covid-19 hotspot in the country has been the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz in Nizamuddin, New Delhi where a congregation of thousands of people took place between 1-15 March. Attendees came from all over India and the world. Authorities jumped to act when 6 people who ...
[April 03, 2020] ORYZON Presents Efficacy Data From its Two Vafidemstat Clinical Trials in Alzheimer's Disease at the Virtual AAT-AD/PD 2020 Conference

 REIMAGINE-AD:

Significant reduction of Agitation-Aggression after 6 months of treatment

Significant improvement in caregiver-burden

Safe and well tolerated  ETHERAL-EU 6 month data: Primary endpoint met: safe and well tolerated

Some inflammatory and neuronal-damage biomarkers reduced

AD patients do not show cognitive improvement after 6 months of treatment MADRID, Spain and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oryzon Genomics, S.A. (ISIN Code: ES0167733015, ORY), a public clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging epigenetics to develop therapies in diseases with strong unmet medical need, announces that it will present safety and efficacy data from its two vafidemstat clinical trials in Alzheimers disease (AD), REIMAGINE-AD and ETHERAL, at the Advances in Alzheimers and Parkinsons Therapies AAT-AD/PD 2020 meeting, to be held April 2-5, 2020. This meeting, originally scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria, will now be held in an entirely virtual format due to the Covid-19 pandemic. REIMAGINE-AD is a Phase IIa study to assess the effect of vafidemstat in agitation-aggression in moderate and severe AD patients. The company is presenting a written communication (electronic poster) entitled VAFIDEMSTAT SAFETY AND EFFICACY IN ALZHEIMER-RELATED AGITATION & AGGRESSION: PHASE II REIMAGINE-AD 6-MONTH DATA. Following are the main findings reported in this e-poster. Twelve patients were recruited and treated for 2, 4, or 6 months with vafidemstat (1.2 mg). The drug was safe and well tolerated. Treatment also showed a significant statistical clinical improvement in the diverse clinical scales used in the study. Data were analyzed with the one-tail repeated-measures Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare cognitive/behavioral scores on visit 1 (or screening) and visit 8 (6 month treatment). Findings after six months of vafidemstat treatment included: Statistically significant reduction of aggression as measured by the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) scale (p<0.05).

Statistically significant reduction of aggression measured by the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) scale (p<0.05).

Statistically significant reduction of aggression measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) 4-item Agitation/Aggression subscale (p<0.05).

Statistically significant global improvement on the NPI total score (p<0.05).

Statistically significant global improvement on the caregiver burden as measured by the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) scale (p<0.05). Of note, the behavioral improvements in this AD population required longer treatment times than previously reported in the younger psychiatric populations in the original REIMAGINE trial. Regarding efficacy measurements that evaluated memory, the memory/cognitive capabilities measured by the MMSE showed a statistically significant improvement across the 11 patients completing 2 months of treatment (p<0.05), with 7 patients improving their MMSE, 3 with stable scores and 1 worsening. However, this improvement was not maintained at 4 and 6 months. Nevertheless, two out of four moderate patients consistently scored significantly better at months 4 and 6. On the basis of this anecdotal observation, the treatment in these two patients has been extended to 12 months to further investigate this finding. A copy of the poster is available here ETHERAL is a randomized, double-blind, 3-arm, parallel-group study with a 24-week placebo-controlled period, followed by a 24 week extension, to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of vafidemstat in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. During the extension period, placebo patients are randomized to vafidemstat therapy. Secondary endpoints include measures of cognition, function and behavior. In addition to traditional biomarkers, ETHERAL is also evaluating some novel CSF biomarkers related with inflammation and neuronal damage. The trial is being conducted in 17 hospitals in Europe, with a twin study running in the US. The company will present some preliminary data from the 6 month European cohort at AAT-AD/PD 2020 via a pre-recorded oral communication at a virtual session on April 5 from 08:35 till 10:35 CET within the SYMPOSIUM 37 Treating AD: alternatives to Immunotherapy -II. The data to be presented at this meeting are summarize below.



One hundred and seventeen patients were enrolled in the EU cohort and, of these, 96 completed the first 6 months of treatment. Drop-outs were randomly distributed across study arms: 15.5%, 18.4% and 14.7% in the placebo, low dose and high dose vafidemstat groups, respectively. Vafidemstat was safe and well tolerated. A total of 7 patients were reported to exhibit severe TEAEs: 4 in the placebo group (representing 8.89% of subjects in the placebo group), 2 in the low dose vafidemstat (5.26%), and 1 in the high dose vafidemstat (2.94%). A significant reduction of YKL40, an inflammatory biomarker in CSF, was detected between groups (p=0.007) assessed by 1-way ANOVA not corrected by multiplicity; similar results were obtained using a mixed-model repeated-measures (MMRM) test. This effect appears mainly driven by the effect in the moderate AD population. In this same ANOVA sub-analysis, a reduction of neurogranin, a biomarker of synaptic loss, was also observed in the low dose arm compared to placebo in the moderate AD population (p<0.05). A significant reduction of neurofilament light chain, a biomarker predictor of AD progression, was also observed in the mild AD group treated with high dose of vafidemstat. No changes were observed in S100A9, Abeta, total Tau and P-Tau.

Preliminary efficacy analyses on the ADAS-Cog, one of the most commonly used AD cognition scales in clinical trials, showed that, besides an unexpected slight improvement of the placebo arm which will require further analysis, there were no significant differences between groups. Dr. Carlos Buesa, Oryzons CEO, stated: The positive data obtained in agitation-aggression in moderate and severe AD patients are really encouraging, and they are in line with the results previously reported in psychiatric disorders. This is giving us additional confidence for the next trials in Agitation-Aggression under preparation. Dr. Roger Bullock, Oryzons Chief Medical Officer, commented: ETHERAL has met the primary endpoint of safety, which is a major step forward, as it opens the way for our new clinical development options. We have also seen the first in human proof of anti-inflammatory activity in the CNS for vafidemstat, along with positive changes in synaptic biomarkers. As stated in previous communications, ETHERAL was not powered to demonstrate significant differences on the clinical outcome assessments measuring cognition, agitation and aggression, function or quality of life; but we are still analyzing the data in order to enhance future trial designs. The company plans to deliver a full report of the 6 month data of ETHERAL in Europe at the AAIC-2020 Conference in July 2020 in Amsterdam. A copy of the presentation is available here For more information about this event, please visit AAT-AD/PD 2020 website About Oryzon Founded in 2000 in Barcelona, Spain, Oryzon (ISIN Code: ES0167733015) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company considered as the European champion in Epigenetics. Oryzon has one of the strongest portfolios in the field. Oryzons LSD1 program has rendered two compounds, vafidemstat and iadademstat, in clinical trials. In addition, Oryzon has ongoing programs for developing inhibitors against other epigenetic targets. Oryzon has a strong technological platform for biomarker identification and performs biomarker and target validation for a variety of malignant and neurological diseases. Oryzon has offices in Spain and the United States. For more information, visit www.oryzon.com About Vafidemstat Vafidemstat (ORY-2001) is an oral, CNS optimized LSD1 inhibitor. The molecule acts on several levels: it reduces cognitive impairment, including memory loss and neuroinflammation, and at the same time has neuroprotective effects. In animal studies vafidemstat not only restores memory but reduces the exacerbated aggressiveness of SAMP8 mice, a model for accelerated aging and Alzheimers disease (AD), to normal levels and also reduces social avoidance and enhances sociability in murine models. In addition, vafidemstat exhibits fast, strong and durable efficacy in several preclinical models of multiple sclerosis (MS). Oryzon has performed a Phase IIa clinical trial in aggressiveness in patients with different psychiatric disorders (REIMAGINE), with positive preliminary clinical results reported. Additional Phase IIa clinical trials with vafidemstat are ongoing in patients with Mild to Moderate AD (ETHERAL), in aggressiveness in patients with moderate or severe AD (REIMAGINE-AD), and in Relapse-Remitting and Secondary Progressive MS (SATEEN). FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains, or may contain, forward-looking information and statements about Oryzon, including financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, capital expenditures, synergies, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally identified by the words expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates and similar expressions. Although Oryzon believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of Oryzon shares are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Oryzon that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the documents sent by Oryzon to the Spanish Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), which are accessible to the public. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and have not been reviewed by the auditors of Oryzon. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Oryzon or any of its members, directors, officers, employees or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. All forward-looking statements included herein are based on information available to Oryzon on the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law, Oryzon does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Oryzons securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of Oryzons securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Oryzon or the selling security holder, as applicable, that will contain detailed information about Oryzon and management, as well as financial statements. IR & Media, US & Europe: Spain: Oryzon: LifeSci Advisors LLC ATREVIA Emili Torrell Hans Herklots Patricia Cobo/Carlos C. Ungria BD Director +41 79 598 7149 +34 91 564 07 25 +34 93 515 13 13 [email protected] [email protected]

[email protected] [email protected]

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ATLANTA, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As U.S. hospitals race to find beds for the surge of coronavirus patients, Serta today announced a plan to build on its earlier commitment to donate 10,000 mattresses.

Today, the nation's leading mattresses brand launched "Stay Home, Send Beds," a program that will facilitate bed donations for hospitals and temporary medical facilities nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors to www.SertaReliefBed.com can purchase up to 10,000 beds to be distributed in the city of their choosing.

For every 25 beds donated through "Stay Home, Send Beds," Serta will donate an additional bed on top of the 10,000 mattresses it committed to New York City hospitals on March 26, 2020. Those beds are currently in production and will begin shipping this week.

The need for hospital beds is significant. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and the University of Washington, 41 states will require more hospital beds than they currently have available due to the spread of coronavirus.

"At times like these, we all have to ask ourselves what we can do to help," said Serta Simmons Bedding Chairman and CEO David Swift. "Serta Simmons Bedding understands the importance of giving back to those in need with the resources we have available, and we hope to encourage our fellow citizens and our fellow bedding manufacturers to do the same."

All donations are being facilitated through a collaboration with Relief Bed International, a nonprofit organization that provides beds to impoverished people and disaster victims around the world. To learn more and to contribute to the cause, please visit www.SertaReliefBed.com.

About Serta, Inc.

Serta, Inc. ("Serta"), through its licensees, is America's leading mattress brand. Serta's product portfolio includes the Perfect Sleeper, which is the Only Official Mattress of the National Sleep Foundation, and the iComfort Sleep System, both named Consumers Digest Best Buys. Serta through its licensees also manufactures the iSeries Hybrid Sleep System.

As the leading provider of mattresses to the hospitality industry, Serta partners with hotel groups such as Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Choice Hotels International, Best Western International, Omni Hotels and Resorts, as well as Bellagio Las Vegas. In addition, Serta is distributed internationally in more than 150 other countries.

With its worldwide network, Serta is able to respond quickly to customers' needs while still preserving strict control standards to ensure the highest quality. For more information, visit www.serta.com.

About Serta Simmons Bedding LLC

Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is the leading sleep company and the largest manufacturer, marketer and supplier of mattresses in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages the two best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels throughout North America. SSB also owns Simmons and Tuft & Needle direct-to-consumer mattress brands. SSB operates 28 plants in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com.

About Relief Bed International

Relief Bed International provides strategically built beds to homeless shelters in the United States and to disaster relief victims and emerging countries through their network of international relief partners around the world. For more information and how to partner with Relief Bed, please visit www.reliefbed.com.

SOURCE Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC

Related Links

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(Natural News) Tucker Carlson exposed during a powerful monologue last night how the World Health Organization helped China cover-up the severity of coronavirus and how the U.S. media turned a blind eye.

(Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Summit.news)

The Fox News host noted how World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom got his job with Chinese support after he covered up cholera outbreaks in his home country of Egypt.

Tedros has denied the allegation, which centered around claims he had downplayed cholera epidemics in Ethiopia in 2006, 2009 and 2011 by passing them off as acute watery diarrhea, a symptom of cholera.

The United Nations later said that more lives could have been saved if the epidemic had been accurately labeled as cholera.

Carlson then accused Adhanom of setting the standard for corruption within the WHO by congratulating China for its speedy response to coronavirus in late January despite widespread evidence that China covered up the outbreak for over a month, lied about its severity and then silenced whistleblowers who tried to warn the world.

Everything you just heard him say there was a lie, said Carlson, highlighting an Australian 60 Minutes piece which features an expert explaining how China knew human to human transmission of COVID-19 had happened back in December.

Indeed, as we previously highlighted, on January 14th, the WHO was amplifying Chinese fake news that no human to human transmission of coronavirus had occurred.

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. pic.twitter.com/Fnl5P877VG  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 14, 2020

So the World Health Organizations leadership tells you that China set the standard for the response to the outbreak, apparently that standard includes disappearing doctors who tell the truth about it, said the Fox News host.

Ai Fen, a doctor at the head of emergency at Wuhan central hospital, asserted that Beijing stopped her from warning the world and subsequently disappeared with her whereabouts being completely unknown.

Pointing out that the U.S. media has completely failed to properly document Chinas cover-up of the coronavirus outbreak, Tucker noted how even as late as mid-February officials were seemingly more concerned with political correctness than the spread of the virus.

In early February, the director of the World Health Organization was still lecturing the public that using terms like Wuhan virus was racist, said Carlson before playing a clip of Adhanom from February 11 in which he asserted that using the wrong name for coronavirus was stigmatizing.

You might think that the World Health Organization, a group that got $58 million of your tax dollars last year might care that a government arrests doctors and lies about deadly new diseases, but no, like so many other organizations they are lapdogs for the powerful and that means their real job is sucking up to the Chinese government, concluded Carlson.

Read more at: Summit.news
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WHO's chief comments after El-Sisi ordered on Wednesday that the costs of a compulsory quarantine for all Egyptians returning to the country from abroad will be funded by the states Tahya Misr fund

The head of the World Health Organization has praised Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for his efforts to counter the coronavirus outbreak.

Thank you, President @AlsisiOfficial for your strong commitment to stop the #coronavirus from spreading and also ensuring that affected populations are receiving wide-ranging support. Great act of leadership and solidarity, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted on Friday.

Thank you, President @AlsisiOfficial for your strong commitment to stop the #coronavirus from spreading and also ensuring that affected populations are receiving wide-ranging support. Great act of leadership and solidarity!https://t.co/vNYUTmyTUd  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 3, 2020

His tweet directly referenced -- or quote tweeted -- a news report that El-Sisi had ordered the costs of the newly implemented compulsory quarantine for Egyptians returning to the country from abroad be paid by the states Tahya Misr charitable fund.

The government this week decided to quarantine all Egyptians returning to the country, and is requiring returnees to sign a written acknowledgement that they agree to the quarantine before boarding their flights.

Egypt saw its highest daily increase in new cases on Thursday, as 86, bringing the total to 865. The death toll now stands at 58.

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Highlights Indore police adopted a unique approach to stop people from violating lockdown The police filmed the ghost drive and posted videos of it on social media Volunteers disguised as ghosts scare those who loiter on roads

The police in Madhya Pradeshs Indore city on Friday adopted a unique approach to stop people from violating the COVID-19 lockdown, by using ghosts to scare them into staying indoors.

The Vijay Nagar police enlisted the help of some social workers, who donned black masks and attires with images of lungs, and walked around slums and crowded colonies to frighten residents into staying home, an official said.

The police filmed the ghost drive and posted videos of it on social media.

We have formed a special group of six social workers, who are reaching out to people living in slums and educating them about COVID-19, the official said.

Volunteers disguised as ghosts scare those who loiter on roads during the curfew to warn them that if they step out, coronavirus will possess them, he said.

At least 89 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Indore, of which five have succumbed to the infection.

A curfew has been in place in Indore since March 25, and the states business capital, which teemed with people 15 days ago, now resembles a ghost town.
Shelley Davies waits for her delivery at Plants and Friends./Douglas Zimmerman/SFGate

Two weeks ago, leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area ordered residents to shelter in place and leave their homes only to buy food, get medicine or perform other essential tasks, making the region the first to venture into a life-altering experiment.

The idea, they said, was to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent infected patients from overwhelming hospitals and health care systems.

Days later, on March 19, Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded the directive to all of California, home to almost 40 million people.

It would be days more before Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York put the state on pause, a different label for a very similar order.

Now, New York City is the center of the pandemic. New York state had reported 965 deaths from the virus, compared with 130 in California, as of Sunday, according to The New York Times tracking.

It is much too soon to say why New York has been hit harder  and whether early containment measures by California officials are paying off.

Testing has been significantly less available in California than in New York, and public health officials have repeated that as testing becomes more widespread in California, its likely to reveal many more cases.

But The Associated Press noted that Californias shortage of tests in the early weeks of the crisis doesnt alone explain the differences between the states.

Certainly, as my colleagues have reported, New York Citys density hasnt helped keep people apart. (Although, as my colleagues have also reported, density will also be a source of resilience in the difficult recovery.)

And over the weekend, Newsom and other California officials got some tentative thumbs up from experts who said that Californias restrictions  provided that they continue and that residents adhere to them  may help the states biggest urban areas avoid the kind of devastating scenes playing out in New York City.

When history is written, California leaders including Mayor London Breed of San Francisco and Newsom, should get credit for saving hundreds of lives, Dr. Bob Wachter said on Twitter.

He is a professor and chair of the University of California, San Franciscos department of medicine.

Nevertheless, officials across the state are scrambling to meet demand for hospital beds and health care. And theyre still pleading with residents to stay home.

Only time will tell us if that time you didnt go out saved a life, Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles said Sunday as he laid out plans to add more hospital beds at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Were racing against time.

______

And Finally 

My colleague Emma Goldberg wondered about the impulse to make art to reflect troubled times. Heres her dispatch on art in the coronavirus era:

Making art amid a pandemic can raise thorny questions. David Goodsell, a computational biologist by day and amateur painter by night, has spent years making watercolors of viruses  Ebola, Zika, HIV  to show their cellular structures.

When he tweeted his image of the coronavirus, he was surprised by the outpouring of responses it provoked, some critical of his decision to glamorize something so deadly.

You have to admit, these viruses are so symmetrical that theyre beautiful, said Goodsell, an associate professor at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla. Are bright colors and pretty stuff the right approach? The jurys still out. Im not trying to make these things look dangerous, I want people to understand how theyre built.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Seeing the infection count rise, Goodsell said he worried about the health of his aging parents in Los Angeles. But he hopes his painting can quell fears about the novel coronavirus by educating people on the viruss workings.

I want people to think of viruses as being an entity that we can learn about and fight. Theyre not nebulous nothings.

Across the country, artists, sellers and buyers are wrestling with the ethics of crafting virus-themed works. Earlier this month, Etsy removed all products mentioning COVID-19, which affected hundreds of items, including I Survived Coronavirus 2020 T-shirts and crochet models of the virus.

An Etsy spokesperson said that its ban aimed to ensure no one would exploit the developing coronavirus situation.

The decision rankled some artists who, like Goodsell, view their works as educational. One Etsy seller, Sydni Rubio, who had posted COVID-19 stickers for $4 a piece, wrote a petition protesting the ban. She said virus art brings awareness to the epidemic.

But for some creatives, COVID-19 works are more personal. In early March, Duyi Han, a designer in Los Angeles, was messaging daily with his grandparents quarantined in their Wuhan home, 2 miles from the seafood market where the outbreak began. He thought mournfully of the city he visited as a child, whose cherry blossom-lined streets had been deserted.

So Han created an oil painting and mural design, called The Saints Wear White, that depicts a chapel in Hubei province filled with coronavirus medical workers in decontamination suits.

When I work on it, its kind of a spiritual experience, Han said. When I paint those figures I really put my faith in them.

More than 3,000 Chinese health care workers have been infected by the outbreak.

To Han, seeking beauty from crisis is a timeworn tradition, one hes thought about since studying Pablo Picassos Guernica. He comforted his family in Wuhan by sending them photos of his art. In return, they sent pictures of food and masks to assure him they were safe.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
There wasnt a female detective that we know of running around in the Victorian era, battling crime as well as tight corsets.

But if there had been she would have had to be a lot like Eliza Scarlet, the irrepressible heroine of a new TV crime drama.

Miss Scarlet And The Duke mixes elements of Ripper Street, Sherlock Holmes and Peaky Blinders, but gives the whole package a distinctively feminine touch.

Just when you thought producers had mined this rich seam in every possible way, this is crime drama reinvented.

Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet as the irrepressible heroine of a new TV crime drama Miss Scarlet and the Duke

And as its a stylish costume drama with a hint of will-they-wont-they romance thrown in too, it basically encompasses all the things audiences across the world love about British television.

No wonder PBS, the channel that aired Downton Abbey in the States, has helped create the show.

The first episode starts with middle-class detectives daughter Eliza getting into a fight with a prostitute, before the rip-roaring adventure continues when she attempts to take over her fathers business after he dies.

But as her policeman friend Detective Inspector William The Duke Wellington likes to remind her, detective work is no business for a woman. That doesnt stop her, though.

The series was created by Grantchester and Trollied writer Rachael New, who says Eliza is the character I always wanted to write.

'Id love to say there was a female detective running around Victorian London, but I dont think there was.

Stuart Martin as William Wellington and Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet in the new series Miss Scarlet and the Duke

'And even if some women were doing this, no one was writing about them. But I love the idea of characters who wont toe the line, especially in a time when women had to toe the line.

Shes a mix of a few of my favourite characters, including Elizabeth Bennet from Pride And Prejudice who has sharp wit and powers of observation, and Scarlett OHara in Gone With The Wind, who had this total determination.

'I was the youngest of four, with three big brothers, and I had to assert myself. Thats why the subject of women pushing against their confines has always interested me.

Eliza is played by doll-faced Kate Phillips, best known as Arthur Shelbys wife Linda in Peaky Blinders and Princess Mary in the Downton Abbey movie.

This is the coolest, most exciting job Ive ever had. Eliza is dynamic, cool and lots of fun Kate Phillips

This is the coolest, most exciting job Ive ever had, she says during a break from filming at the productions main base outside Dublin. Eliza is dynamic, cool and lots of fun.

Eliza has been brought up mainly by her widowed father (played by another Downton Abbey actor, Kevin Doyle), a Scotland Yard detective.

His unique way of parenting includes teaching his daughter all about detection, but hes also an alcoholic whos unable to recover from his wifes death.

Having set up his own detective agency, hes let it almost run to rack and ruin. When he dies mysteriously, Eliza is forced to pick up the pieces and find a way of earning money.

And she quickly realises she needs to use her skills as a detective, even though no man thinks shes up to the job.

I think, even in our world, I was limited as a child because I was a girl, says Kate.

Caitlin Drabble as Margaret Fairfax and Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet in the new TV crime drama

But Eliza, although she sees boundaries, doesnt want to live within them. Shes braver than me.

'Theres an element of the maverick Sherlock in her but she doesnt have his magic mind. Shes just a brilliant, intelligent woman. And while she comes across as a refined Victorian lady, shes a bit scrappy underneath.

The cases Eliza investigates also show a side of Victorian Britain we dont often see. At one point she infiltrates the Suffragette movement and finds herself torn because while she believes in their cause, she has to investigate a crime within it.

And her most startling case involves working with a death photographer to find out why hes being sent photos of his own dead wife.

There is a huge amount of fondness between them but they also really irritate each other. He doesnt like the fact shes stepping on his toes and he thinks being a detective is a mans job Stuart Martin

Death photography was this weird practice where families would pose with their dead relatives whod be propped up to make them look alive, says Rachael.

I liked the idea of some difficult cases that took us into the underbelly of Victorian society.

Its not all grim, though. At the heart of the series is an enticing prospective romance with the Duke, played by handsome Scottish actor Stuart Martin, best known for Jamestown.

Hes grown up as a family friend  he was mentored by Elizas father, who found him as an orphan on the streets and helped bring him up  and the chemistry between the two leads genuinely sizzles.

There is a huge amount of fondness between them but they also really irritate each other, says Stuart.

He doesnt like the fact shes stepping on his toes and he thinks being a detective is a mans job.

'But over the six episodes their relationship changes as they start to work together and he begins to involve her more in his work.

'He realises shes an incredible detective and that changes his outlook. A lot of the humour in the show is in the way they are with each other. Theyre both rule-breakers but they see life in a different way.

Miss Scarlet And The Duke starts on Tuesday on Alibi (on Sky, Virgin, BT and TalkTalk TV).
EDMONTONThe death of a woman in her 20s is among five new fatal cases of COVID-19 announced Friday by the province of Alberta.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas chief medical officer of health, says it was unclear whether the woman in Edmonton had underlying health conditions.

This is a tragic reminder that it is not only the elderly, or those with underlying conditions, who are at risk, she said.

The five new deaths bring the provincial total to 18. Hinshaw said eight of those deaths have been at Calgarys McKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre, which has dozens of cases among its residents. It had the other four of the new deaths. Care homes have been a major battleground across Canada in the fight against the coronavirus.

Of the now 1,075 cases in Alberta, there are 137 that may be from community transmission, said Hinshaw. There have been been 196 recoveries since the outbreak.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney called Friday on any businesses that are able to produce equipment and supplies to step forward and help in the battle against the pandemic. He said the province is launching a bits and pieces program, citing a similar program during the Second World War in which all Canadians were called on to support the war effort.

That is the kind of spirit I am calling on Albertans to exhibit today, Kenney said.

The province intends to release its pandemic modelling, pegging numbers of cases and hospital visits over time, some time next week. But Kenney said he was confident that Alberta had the capacity to deal with the pandemic.

We have the health-care equipment, personnel and supplies needed to cope with anticipated hospitalizations, including in intensive care units, and including the usage of ventilators, he said.

Modelling projections newly released by the government of Ontario show that province could see 1,600 deaths from COVID-19 in April alone if stricter physical distancing measures arent followed.

Health officials in Ontario said Friday that hundreds of lives can be saved, with deaths in April limited to 200 and ICU capacity stretched but not overwhelmed, if the province adopts stricter interventions to limit person-to-person contact  and if residents comply with the orders.

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Police have so far booked 24 Tablighi Jamaat members in Himachal Pradesh, 13 of whom had attended a congregation at the organisation's New Delhi headquarter, now emerging as a coronavirus hotspot, an official spokesperson said on Friday.

The remaining 11 had come to Shimla from Paonta Sahib tehsil of Sirmaur district, violating the lockdown restrictions and the curfew imposed in the state. All 11 were arrested on Wednesday and placed in quarantine, he said.

Six FIRs were registered against the 24 Tablighi Jamaat members under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in five police districts of the hill-state in the last three days, the official said.

Two FIRs were lodged in Una district against nine members, one in Shimla against 11, one FIR in Baddi against two members and two FIRs against two more members in Kangra and Bilaspur, he added.

The 11 members arrested in Shimla were booked under sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC, DGP Sita Ram Mardi said on Thursday.

They arrived in Nerwa area of Shimla to go to their homes in different villages amid the curfew, a police officer said.

Eight of them are residents of Kima Chandrawali village, whereas two are residents of Bharanu village. The driver, Shabeer, is a resident of Paonta Sahib, he added.

All of them have been arrested and place in quarantine at the Panchayat Bhawan, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The volume of internet data used in Japan jumped 40% in roughly a month, industry figures show, prompting concerns about overwhelming the network.

This comes as Japanese schools remain in limbo over whether to reopen following a lengthy break. The risks from the novel coronavirus have also led to an upswing in telecommuting and video-streaming from home.

The big three wireless carriers announced Friday that they will offer 50 gigabytes of free monthly data for students, a move that will increase the network load, especially if distance learning catches on.

The National Institute of Informatics held a data usage symposium via videoconference the same day. Ideas on smoother web conferencing were aired, but concerns about data saturation were also raised.

Japan is home to roughly 15 million students from primary school to the university level, and the new school year normally begins in April. Should web learning become the replacement option of choice, there is a risk of network stoppage in peak periods, experts warn.

Daytime data volume has already surged as much as 40% on weekdays between early February and March 23, according to NTT Communications.

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has urged residents not to go out on weekends and at night -- a call seen expanding the ranks of people living their lives indoors.

The situation is not unique to Japan. Global data usage during the first quarter more than doubled to 160 terabytes per second, according to Akamai Technologies, a U.S.-based content delivery network services provider.

Microsoft reports that its Teams office collaboration platform drew 12 million new users worldwide during a week in mid-March alone. People have reportedly complained about network problems, depending on certain hours.

NTT Communications says it has the capacity to handle twice the current data load. But as data usage rises, connections have become harder to come by. This is due to the presence of third-party internet providers that connect to NTT's networks. The problem is compounded by the inadequacies of the company's internal systems.
After four years of writing the Daily Bonnet, a satirical website featuring Mennonites and current events, Andrew Unger never imagined the news he spoofs would become viral in all the wrong ways.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After four years of writing the Daily Bonnet, a satirical website featuring Mennonites and current events, Andrew Unger never imagined the news he spoofs would become viral in all the wrong ways.

So instead of getting laughs by overstating coronavirus stories featured in the headlines, the Steinbach resident tends to underplay the big news for some comic relief.

"You cant use the satirical tactic of exaggeration at this moment, you can only use the satirical tactic of understating it or putting a Mennonite twist on it," the high school English teacher said of the stories hes written about the COVID-19 pandemic.

When public health officials clamped down on groups larger than 10, Unger wrote a 225-word fictitious story about how the maximum put large Mennonite families in quite a predicament.

"The Friesens next door have got half the family in the root cellar and the older Schellenberg kids are sleeping in the F-150," wrote Unger, whose first novel is slated for publication in September. "I hear Pastor Bill has got some of his kids camping out in one of the old baptismal tanks."

Other recent headlines include, "Mennonite man super excited that he can finally attend church in his undies" (in response to church services moving online) and "Penner kids have been watching nothing but Frozen 2 all day every day for the past two weeks" (a commentary on how parents are coping with the recent cancellation of school).

Ungers humorous take on social distancing merited a retweet from former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall and 1,200 likes on Facebook.

"Pastor Tom has decreed that since everyone has to keep six feet apart these days anyway, they might as well allow a little rhythmic movement," the story said, explaining how a Mennonite church in Swift Current, Sask., relaxed its rules against dancing.

Along with spinning stories on current events, Unger reposts one older article daily so his 25,000 followers on Facebook and 2,300 Twitter followers get a sense of normalcy mixed in with coronavirus stories.

"People are under a lot of stress right now, and they need to laugh," said Unger, 40, who previously wrote under the pen name Andrew Bergman. "It is good for our mental health when we laugh."

The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project.

Searching for a funny side to current events has the benefit of keeping up his own spirits in the face of uncertainty as Canada ramps up its efforts to fight the virus.

"I look at the real news, which is all terrible and because Im writing these things, Im thinking of whats a funny spin, so it forces me not just to dwell on the negative."

Since Unger launched the Daily Bonnet (www.dailybonnet.com) in May 2016, it has received more than ten million views.

faith@freepress.mb.ca
The refusal of a number of western countries to pass the proposals on easing unilateral sanctions will make it more difficult to give a global and solidary response to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, Russias permanent mission to the United Nations said in a statement when commenting the refusal of Ukraine, Georgia, UK, US and EU to pass a relevant resolution initiated by Moscow in the UN General Assembly.



Earlier the UN General Assembly adopted an alternative and wider draft declaration on solidarity in countering COVID-19 pandemic, which ignored the UN Secretary-Generals urge to lift sanctions. However, the document proposed by Russia was not adopted.



"Our text envisaged: recognizing the leading role of the WHO in combating the pandemic; consent of states to cooperate, i.a. in order to develop methods that should stop the spread and ensure treatment of the COVID-19 disease; providing assistance to the most vulnerable states, especially developing countries; rejection of trade wars and unilateral sanctions adopted without the mandate of the UN Security Council, in order to ensure early access to food and medication; countering financial speculations with essential supplies," TASS cited the statement as saying.



"Our document failed to be adopted by consensus. Ukraine, Georgia, UK, US, and EU prevented it," the diplomatic mission noted.

Such a decision will make it more difficult to respond to the pandemic threat, according to the statement. "We regret that a small group of states championing sanctions-based policy appeared unready to respond to the call of the UN Secretary-General and refused to cast aside politicized approaches and interests. As a result, it will be much more difficult to give a global and solidary response to the threat of the new pandemic. A great number of people, in the developing countries in the first place, might be affected," the document said.



"We would be very interested to hear and see in writing reasoning and arguments for blocking our draft Declaration by the EU, US and UK. We would be willing and happy to spare and exempt Ukraine and Georgia from undertaking this exercise, as their arguments, as ever contemptuous and politicized, would not add any value to the understanding by most of the member-states," the mission said.



Russias declaration was co-sponsored by 28 UN member-states. "We will set forth coordination with our like-minded colleagues on that matter," the statement added.
Giving back to the community, its just that paying it forward and making sure that somebody, at least, is hopeful during this time of uncertainty, Church said. You can definitely have anxiety, but even if you have a smile on your face, it really helps.
Since the first responsibility of the state is to protect its citizens, it is understandable why, faced with a pandemic on a scale not seen since 1918, drastic measures have been taken to try to keep loss of life to a minimum.

However, some of the emergency policies launched to respond to the coronavirus pandemic could remain in place and that will more deeply entrench government across the economy and civil society.

Police have extraordinary new powers to enforce social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Credit:Cole Bennetts

Political leaders face two challenges: first, to judge carefully when restrictions can be lifted and to strike a balance between the damage caused by the virus and that caused by economic ruin; second, to ensure those restrictions do not leave a legacy in liberal societies, but are removed so society can proceed as before.

This wont be popular to read in certain circles, but the enthusiasm with which some governments  at home and abroad  have decided to print money and increase police powers has been disturbing.
In a display of exemplary dedication towards work, a team of doctors who were attacked by locals in Indore, are back in doing what they do best.

We had been working on the screening of contacts for the last four days. But what we saw yesterday, we had not seen it earlier. We sustained injuries but we have to do our job and will not be scared, Dr Zakiya Sayed said, according to news agency ANI.

Dr Zakiya Sayed was part of the team of healthcare workers who were pelted with stones by residents in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on April 1.

Madhya Pradesh: Health workers on whom stones were pelted by locals yesterday at Tatpatti Bakhal in Indore, today visited the same area to carry out screening services. Dr Zakiya Sayed says, "We have sustained injuries but we have to do our job and will not be scared." #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/GiUBwd1F8C  ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2020

We have been visiting the locality for the past three days for the screening of residents. We had information about a person coming in contact with a Covid-19 patientWe were talking to the person (the elderly woman) when, all of a sudden, residents got agitated and attacked us, one of the doctors had said after the attack on Wednesday, reported Hindustan Times.

                  ,                      ,     ,     #coronawarriors pic.twitter.com/IJyudQFoSY  The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) April 2, 2020

On Thursday, the Indore district administration on Friday invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in Taatpatti Bakhal area of the city.

This is first such action related to COVID-19 pandemic in Madhya Pradesh, an official said.

A five-member team from the health department had gone to Taatpatti Bakhal on Wednesday to quarantine relatives and acquaintances of a COVID-19 patient, when an unruly mob attacked them with stones, injuring two women doctors.





The police had arrested seven persons for the alleged attack on Thursday and the district administration has slapped the NSA on four of them, the official said.

The Indore police on Friday detained six more men in connection with the incident.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has viewed the work done as part of the expansion of Baku-Sumgayit highway, Trend reports referring to the presidential press-service.

The head of state also attended the inauguration of an overhead pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street.

Informing President Ilham Aliyev about the work carried out as part of the expansion of the Baku-Sumgayit highway, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov said:

- Dear Mr. President, according to your executive order, we have been expanding the roads from the 7th kilometer of the Baku-Guba-Russian Federation state border highway to the 14th kilometer of this highway, a place called the Masazir Bridge, for five months now. Our main goal here has been to expand the existing four-lane highway starting from the exit of a tunnel called 20 January - Shamakhinka. In addition, on your instruction, we have begun the construction of a new tunnel at a place called the Khirdalan Roundabout. Thus, automobiles will move from the center only in the direction of Baku-Guba-Russian Federation. We plan to separate the direction of traffic from the 20 January Roundabout using road signs. In other words, automobiles will move towards Binagadi, Bilajari and then Masazir and Sumgayit on the right side. At the Khirdalan Roundabout section of the road, we have opened a new tunnel and a two-lane adjoining road with a length of 495 meters and a width of 7.5 meters. The width of the new tunnel is 9 meters. In addition, we have introduced another innovation  we restricted the entry of cars coming from Shamakhi, Khojasan and Lokbatan directly to

the 20 January Roundabout. At this site, we have already completed 80 percent of the work. We will probably finish the work by the end of May.

Dear Mr. President, this railway bridge was built in the 1960s and its supports interfered with the new tunnel. According to your instruction, the construction of a new bridge without medium supports is envisaged here. We will completely build this bridge, which will consist of metal structures. There will be no disruption to the railway traffic. We will bring and install the bridge as soon as it is ready.

President Ilham Aliyev: Will the road be expanded from there?

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, we will expand it. The checkpoint is being removed. There will also be a turn here for vehicles moving from Khirdalan and Shamakhi to the central road. We will provide access onto the central road for both vehicles moving from the Russia-Guba direction and from Sumgayit, Shamakhi and Sulutapa.

Dear Mr. President, this is a new pedestrian crossing built at a place called Shamakhinka. For the first time in Azerbaijan, the crossing has been built using a pylon method, i.e. without the middle support. The arch rests on cables.

***

President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Many road and transport projects have been implemented in Baku in recent years. If these projects hadnt been implemented, it would be impossible to move in Baku now because of the traffic jams.

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, Mr. President.

President Ilham Aliyev: Dozens of bridges, road junctions, the construction of new roads, the expansion of existing ones, the standards observed during their construction. It is no coincidence that the Davos World Economic Forum gives the highest assessment to the quality of road infrastructure in Azerbaijan. We are in 30th place in the world in terms of the quality of our roads. But the population is growing and public activity is increasing. Even though economic activity has declined today, during the coronavirus period, it is, however, a temporary problem. At the end of the fight against this disease, economic activity will recover.

Considering the fact that the Baku-Sumgayit road is no longer able to cope with the existing traffic, which has become very busy, it was necessary to expand the road, of course. Baku and Sumgayit are somewhat connected now. Many people work in Baku but live in Sumgayit and vice versa. Therefore, we are implementing this project due to the strategic nature of this road  it is also a road leading to the north. Of course, technically this is not a straightforward project, because it involves numerous resettlements, construction of new bridges and relocation of some facilities. The implementation of this transport project is also provided for in the State Investment Program. Therefore, additional steps will be taken to build pedestrian crossings. A lot has been done in this direction in recent years, and this is of great importance for the safety of our people  modernization of the road infrastructure, reduction and elimination of traffic jams. Of course, Azeravtoyol, the Baku Transport Agency and other agencies dealing with transport issues should coordinate all of the work related to both the expansion and quality of the roads. At the same time, as a result of the application of regulatory rules on the roads, the creation of green corridors is also envisaged, and work in this direction is already under way. Therefore, it is necessary to continue this work. The road and all interchanges must be put into operation on time, i.e. within about two, maximum three months. This will bring people comfort and help avoid traffic jams on this road.

Saleh Mammadov: Mr. President, all this is being implemented according to your instructions. We, in turn, promise to complete all work within two months and thereby completely adjust comfortable movement in the direction of Sumgayit and Russia.

President Ilham Aliyev: Are you expanding this section of the Shamakhi road?

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, so that the cars traveling from here do not hamper each other.

President Ilham Aliyev: There have always been traffic jams here and the turn was narrow.

Saleh Mammadov: Yes, this section was narrow.

President Ilham Aliyev: Which side are you expanding it towards?

Saleh Mammadov: Towards the roundabout on the right.

X X X

Despite the recent sharp decline of the oil price in the world and the economic difficulties it has brought about, all the work envisaged in Azerbaijan in relation to socioeconomic development is being implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev successfully and in a timely manner. Clear evidence of that is the modernization of the road infrastructure as an important element of the social sphere and the widespread reconstruction of roads in the country. Large-scale work involving the reconstruction and expansion of roads at the modern level has also been done in Baku in recent years. All these measures are being taken in the interests of peoples comfort and safety. From this point of view, a major role is played by the project to expand the Baku-Sumgayit road being implemented on the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev. This project is very important for eliminating traffic jams and congestion, especially at rush hours, at the northern entrance to Baku. The implementation of the project will pave the way for a comfortable and safe entry and exit of vehicles.

***

The head of state then attended the inauguration of the overhead pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street.

On the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev and on the basis of relevant orders, comprehensive measures are currently being taken to ensure traffic safety on roads and provide citizens with comfortable and safe road crossings. In this regard, the construction of overhead and underground pedestrian crossings is of particular importance. In general, this work contributes to the modernization of the transport infrastructure in the capital. As part of the comprehensive measures taken in this direction, the overhead pedestrian crossing built at the intersection of Moscow Avenue and 20 January Street represents great importance as well. There is a high density of both vehicles and pedestrians in this territory. The construction of an overhead pedestrian crossing here will not only ensure the safety of pedestrians but also prevent possible traffic jams in the area, which will help intensify traffic. The construction of the 130 meters long and 3 meters widecrossing began in 2018.

---

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ApolloBVM, an open-source bag valve mask automation device, could help patients in treatment for COVID-19

HOUSTON - (April 3, 2020) - The plans for Rice University's ApolloBVM, an open-source emergency ventilator design that could help patients in treatment for COVID-19, are now online and freely available to everyone in the world.

The project first developed by students as a senior design project in 2019 has been brought up to medical grade by Rice engineers and one student, with the help of Texas Medical Center doctors. The device costs less than $300 in parts and can squeeze a common bag valve mask for hours on end.

Visitors to the ApolloBVM website will be asked to register before they can download the do-it-yourself plans so they can be kept up to date as the project progresses.

With the novel coronavirus gaining steam and a shortage of ventilators not only in the United States but around the world, ApolloBVM could help COVID-19 patients who are less-critically ill while they await availability of a standard hospital ventilator.

"This is going to make a difference in hospitals that run out of ventilators," said Dr. Rohith Malya, adviser to the Rice engineering team. "Those that have relationships with a production facility that can quickly produce them should seek FDA emergency use authorization. We're working locally to get that done.

"I want to emphasize that this is for use only when there is no ventilator available," he said. "We don't intend for this to be the primary device. We are still working towards the exact clinical use scenario as the situation demands it, nationally and globally."

Malya is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, an adjunct assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice and associate of the Rice 360 Institute for Global Health.

Rice announced the team's completion of a new prototype on March 27, and interest from clinicians, engineers, manufacturers and do-it-yourselfers was immediate.

More than 500 people from more than 50 countries have requested information about the project through the ApolloBVM website.

At the same time, more than a quarter-million people have now viewed the original "Take A Breather" and the current ApolloBVM videos on YouTube.

In lab tests with an artificial lung this week, the latest prototype delivered nonstop air for 24 hours, until the device was turned off.

"We have been working long hours, but if we are able to make at least one COVID-19 patient more comfortable, it will be all worth it," said Amy Kavalewitz, executive director of Rice' Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, where prototypes are being built using the facility's 3D printers and laser cutters.

The next steps are testing with human patients and manufacturing. Tests with a Texas Medical Center partner are imminent, according to the team.

Rice is also working with manufacturers seeking to ramp up production of a hospital-grade device as soon as possible to address current needs.

###

Visit the ApolloBVM website at http://oedk.rice.edu/apollobvm.

This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/04/03/rice-university-emergency-ventilator-plans-now-online/

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Images for download:

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/04/0406_VENTILATOR-1-WEB.jpg

Danny Blacker, left, and Fernando Cruz, staffers at Rice University's Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, assemble a prototype of the ApolloBVM bag valve mask automation device. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/04/0406_VENTILATOR-2-WEB.jpg

Rice University has released open-source plans for ApolloBVM, a bag valve mask automation device meant for emergency use when patients, including those with COVID-19, need assistance to breathe. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/04/0406_VENTILATOR-3-WEB.jpg

Members of the Rice University team developing the ApolloBVM bag valve mask automation device, from left: Rice staffer Fernando Cruz, project director Amy Kavalewitz, project engineer Danny Blacker, associate teaching professor Matthew Wettergreen, and senior Thomas Herring. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/03/0330_BREATHE-4-web.jpg

Rice University staff, students and partners have developed an automated bag valve mask ventilator unit that can be built for less than $300 in parts and helps critically ill COVID-19 patients. (Credit: Rice University)

Related materials:

Student invention gives patients the breath of life: http://news.rice.edu/2019/05/01/student-invention-gives-patients-the-breath-of-life-2/

Ventilator costing less than $300 developed by Rice University and Metric Technologies: http://news.rice.edu/2020/03/27/ventilator-costing-less-than-300-developed-by-rice-university-and-metric-technologies-2/

Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen: http://oedk.rice.edu

George R. Brown School of Engineering: https://engineering.rice.edu

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

Jeff Falk

713-348-6775

jfalk@rice.edu

Mike Williams

713-348-6728

mikewilliams@rice.edu
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bexar County shot up by 82 on Thursday to a total of 313, fueled by the positive test results of 59 more residents of a Southeast Side nursing home.

For the first time during the crisis, the number of cases attributed to community spread  82  was higher than travel-related cases, which stood at 79, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during the daily coronavirus briefing.

Thats significant, the mayor said.

Another 46 cases have been attributed to close contact with a COVID-19 carrier; 47 cases remain under investigation.

Those numbers regarding the cause of the infection did not include the 59 cases of the residents at Southeast Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center, which were reported after the days usual update.

GOOD NEWS: Because we need more of it, submit your story and we may feature it in an upcoming article

Its not known what started the outbreak at the nursing home; health officials are investigating.

So far, the death toll for Bexar County stands at nine, with no new deaths reported Thursday.

The number of patients who have fully recovered is 47, two more than reported Wednesday.

Of the cases confirmed before the 59 nursing home residents were reported, 72 involve patients who have been hospitalized; 34 were in intensive care, and 19 required a ventilator, Nirenberg said.

He said the majority of the residents who tested positive remain at the nursing home.

Also at Thursdays briefing, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff discussed his objection to Gov. Greg Abbotts recent order providing a religious service exemption that Wolff said overruled city and county orders discouraging church gatherings of more than 10 people but allowing services held via video, teleconference or other remote means.

With Holy Week and Easter approaching, Wolff said he and Nirenberg sent a letter asking religious leaders to voluntarily follow the local orders.

It really bothers me, Wolff said. I want to remind everybody how dangerous this can be.

He cited a recent incident in Mount Vernon, Washington, where nearly half of 60 members of a church choir who participated in a rehearsal tested positive for the disease. Two have died.

Health officials concluded that transmitting that through the air as they sang led to that. And we know singing occurs in church services, Wolff said.

Nirenberg echoed Wolffs concerns about community transmission  the spread of the disease, possibly through the air or contact with an object, that can leave people sick with COVID-19 without knowing how they got it.

You may feel fine, and you might transmit the virus to someone who might die from it, the mayor said.

One of the confirmed cases Thursday involves a Bexar County Sheriffs Office detention deputy who tested positive while at home self-monitoring. The Sheriffs Office said the case, the second involving staff after a civilian employee at the jail fell ill last week, appears to be the result of community transmission.

Meanwhile, a third San Antonio police officer tested positive Wednesday night; the cause is still unknown.

Comal County reported three additional cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, for a total of 15.

Kendall County reported one new case Thursday, bringing its total to eight.

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
The Keta Municipal Assembly has quarantined a cook of a Korean Fishing Vessel and five local fishermen over a COVID-19 scare.



The six were quarantined after the local fishermen rescued the cook at sea when he was allegedly thrown out of the Panafin a.ka. Sankofa Vessel following a misunderstanding with the crew.



Mr Godwin Effah, the Keta Municipal Chief Executive told the GNA that the fishermen rushed the cook, said to be about 40 years, to the Keta Municipal Hospital on suspicion of COVID-19, after crew members of the vessel dumped him in their canoe.



He said authorities of the Hospital with support from the Assembly, placed the cook and the fishermen under surveillance after taking specimen of the cook for testing at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.



The MCE said the Municipal Security Council had heightened security and sensitization for prompt management of any COVID-19 case whilst urging the public to go by health protocols to keep safe.



He emphasized regular hand washing with soap under running water, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and observing social distancing.



Mr Effah commended the locals for cooperating with the Assembly in the fight against COVID-19 and asked them to be more vigilant and isolate returnees from COVID-19 hit cities.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  55 Filipinos have tested positive for the coronavirus disease in Malaysia, Philippine Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Charles Jose said on Friday.

Jose said 46 are still undergoing treatment, while nine have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

"Mino-monitor po ng embassy ang kanilang status and safety on a daily basis," he said in a televised briefing aired over state-run PTV.

[Translation: The embassy is monitoring their status and safety on a daily basis.]

According to Jose, all but one of the COVID-19 infected Filipinos had attended a religious convention in Selangor.

The Manila envoy assured the public that they are keeping close coordination with the Malaysian Embassy in the Philippines for the evacuation of the stranded Filipinos. He said the Malaysian government is preparing for a special flight to Manila on Sunday.

"So far, meron na pong 24 Filipinos na nag-sign up para sa special flight ng Malaysian Airlines on Sunday," Jose stated.

[Translation: So far, there are 24 Filipinos who have signed up for the special flight of Malaysian Airlines on Sunday.]

There are now 466 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 21 deaths and 129 recoveries among Filipinos abroad.
Myanmar & COVID-19 Western Myanmars Remote Naga Area Braces for COVID-19

The Leshi Township sign. / Lei Lei / The Irrawaddy

YANGONLocal residents in Leshi Township in the Naga Self-Administered Zone have expressed concerns about a possible COVID-19 outbreak as the township has a serious shortage of health care workers and five residents are already being monitored for coronavirus infection.

U Kyaw Htay, a Lower House lawmaker for Leshi, told The Irrawaddy that there is only one doctor for the two public hospitals in the township.

Apart from those two hospitals, the township has only 27 healthcare centers, all understaffed, across its 72 villages. In rural areas of Myanmar like Leshi, health care centers are usually run by health care assistants and midwives.

The Ministry [of Health and Sports] said that they dont have enough fresh graduates to assign any here for the time being, but that they do have plans to fill the vacant positions, said U Kyaw Htay.

Leshi borders both India and Sagaing Regions Hkamti and Homalin townships. The Naga township has a population of over 10,000 people. As the township is located in a remote area and is not easily accessible from other parts of the country, Leshi residents usually cross into India for education and health care services.

The five people under investigation have returned from their studies in India. Three others returned from Singapore and have now completed home quarantine. We have concerns because there are people being monitored [for the coronavirus] but we dont have enough health care assistants. Local residents here also dont live a healthy lifestyle, so we have some reasonable cause for concerns, U Kyaw Htay told The Irrawaddy.

Township authorities have set up five checkpoints at crossings along the Indian border, where they will screen returnees for fevers and note down their addresses to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The government has provided 40 sets of personal protective equipment and two ventilators for the township but they still need health care workers, according to Dr. Nay Aung Soe, the townships only doctor, at Leshi Township Hospital.

I am worried not only about imported cases but also about local transmissions. As there have been local transmissions, I am concerned that local residents who return from those places might be infected, he said.

Dr. Thet Zin Aung, a doctor at the public hospital in the Naga township of Lahe, says his hospital is also in need of surgical masks and chlorine to use for disinfection.

Two people in Lahe who returned from India are now being monitored for COVID-19, according to the township administrator, U Myo Nyi Nyi.

Lahe has four wards and a population of over 50,000 people but also has only two hospitals.

The Naga Self-Administered Zone, populated mostly by the Naga ethnic group, is considered one of the poorest and most underdeveloped areas in Myanmar.

Home to some 130,000 people, the zone is made up of the three townshipsLahe, Leshi and Namyunand five sub-townshipsDonhee, Htanparkway, Mobaingluk, Pansaung and Sonemara.

The virus is still not a threat in Naga region. But we have formed committees in Leshi, Lahe and Namyun as a preventive measure, said U K Sai, chairman of the Naga leading body, which administers the Naga zone. We will work together with the township health department to educate the public about the coronavirus.

In 2016, a measles outbreak killed more than 80 people across the Naga Self-Administered Zone. The area also has the highest prevalence of malaria and tuberculosis in Myanmar.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

You may also like these stories:

Latest COVID-19 Developments in Myanmar: April 3, 2020

Myanmar Jails Two Returning Migrant Workers for Defying Quarantine

Two Children Among Latest COVID-19 Cases in Myanmar
Passengers from a virus-hit cruise ship and its sister vessel, also struck with a handful of cases, started heading home Friday from Florida, after being stranded at sea for days.

The Zaandam, operated by Holland America Line, began its stranger-than-fiction journey on March 7 in Buenos Aires -- before international restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus were in full force.

It was meant to dock two weeks later in Chile, but when passengers aboard fell ill, several countries refused to let the ship dock.

The Rotterdam came to its aid at sea, and the two vessels finally docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday -- with dozens of sick people aboard, and four dead.

"We have made history," said the captain of the Rotterdam, Bas Van Dreumel, in a message sent to AFP by a passenger.

"Some of you have a long journey ahead, some of you have already arrived home here in Florida. (...) You made me a better captain and you made me a better man."



On Friday, buses escorted by local police will transport those passengers deemed fit to travel to airports, where they will transfer to charter flights -- without transiting the terminal.

"Walking down the hallway," passenger Wendy De Pinho told AFP in a video message as she and husband Rick -- both in masks -- left their cabin for the first time in two weeks.

The couple then boarded a half-empty bus -- social distancing rules were being enforced.

"We'll be at the airport soon," De Pinho said.

Fourteen passengers and crew were evacuated on Thursday night to two local hospitals.

"Of the patients transferred to our system last night, some are in critical condition and some are in fair condition," said Jennifer Smith, a spokeswoman for Broward Health, which operates one of the hospitals.

Otherwise, a total of 26 passengers are being kept on board until they recover.

Another 50 crew members are also sick and recovering, but all crew will remain on board the ships.

All told, 107 passengers and 143 crew reported flu-like symptoms during the voyage, but many have since recovered. Only 11 tests were done, and nine were positive.

The ships are to remain in Port Everglades until Saturday, and then will be anchored offshore until the sick passengers are cleared to disembark.

"The people who came out to welcome the ships brought tears to the eyes of some on the ship," Rick De Pinho said of their Thursday arrival.

"It made me feel proud of our country."



Florida's Republican governor Ron DeSantis initially said he did not want the Zaandam and Rotterdam to dock, for fear the ill passengers would tax the state's already strained health care system.

But he eventually changed his tune, saying he had not immediately realized there were US citizens -- some of them Floridians -- involved.

DeSantis will have to make another tough decision in the near future.

Another ship with coronavirus patients on board, the Coral Princess, has said it is heading to Fort Lauderdale and hopes to come into port at the weekend.

Twelve passengers and crew tested positive for COVID-19 after samples were sent to Barbados, Princess Cruises announced.

The ship has a total of 1,898 people onboard -- 1,020 guests and 878 crew members, the company said in a statement to AFP.

The Coral Princess left Chile on March 5 for a two-week cruise that was due to end in Buenos Aires on March 19.

But Argentine authorities denied the ship port access, as did officials in Uruguay and Brazil.

Both Princess and Holland America are owned by cruise giant Carnival.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This is a temporary measure to protect the domestic market, the government says

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the decree, according to which the export of buckwheat will be forbidden until July 1, 2020. The Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture reported that on April 3.

This is a temporary measure to protect the domestic market, the government says. Previously, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan also made respective decisions.

The Cabinet also urged Ukrainian agrarian enterprises to increase the sowing areas for growing the buckwheat.

Earlier, the European Union stopped the import of chicken meat from Ukraine, as the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection stated. According to the operational message from the European Commission, which was received yesterday in the evening, the import of chicken meat, meat products from chicken and thermally unprocessed products from chicken from Ukraine to the territory of the EU. However, eggs and egg-products do not fall under these restrictions, the message said. In February, the import ban was lifted.
PM Images | Getty Images

A generation of risk-averse supersavers could emerge from the fallout of the coronavirus crisis and potentially reshape the economy, experts have said. Morgan Housel, partner at venture capital firm Collaborative Fund and author of "The Psychology of Money," said in a phone call that the coronavirus crisis would lead to "a generation of supersavers" who were wary of taking financial risks. "When you've suddenly woken up to the reality that the world is much more fragile than you once believed, you just have a much lower appetite to take risks about the future than you've had before," he told CNBC. "I think it's going to lead to a generation that is less interested in taking risk, and they won't mind if they're leaving opportunity on the table because they're just more and more interested in their downside protection than they were before." The new strain of coronavirus, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, has so far infected a million people globally, with total deaths from the virus over 53,000. Fears about the extent and duration of the outbreak have also roiled global stock markets and prompted analysts around the world to warn that a deep recession is on the horizon.

The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that a record 6.6 million jobless claims had been filed last week  double the previous week's number. Economists expect the numbers to continue surging amid the crisis. Housel speculated that the speed at which the crisis had taken hold of the economy would have "a profound impact on people's ability to think about the future in an optimistic way." "Even if this crisis were to end tomorrow  and to be clear, it's not going to  what we've gone through already has been severe enough to leave a generational impact," he warned.

Economic impact

Although Housel said a societal move toward cash hoarding would likely hamper gross domestic product (GDP) growth, he claimed there would be an economic upside. "It might lead to a system where we're actually more capable of managing and absorbing future shocks than we are today," he said. "Would it be to lower future growth? Probably, yes  but would it lead to a more robust, stronger society financially."

Historically, deep economic shocks have often prompted a shift away from spending, with consumers preferring to save their cash amid uncertainty. The proportion of Americans who prefer saving to spending rose significantly after the 2008 financial crisis, according to data compiled by Gallup. In its 2019 poll, over 60% of adults still said they would rather save than spend, which Gallup dubbed a "stark departure" from the years preceding the crisis. As such, perhaps it's no surprise that the coronavirus is already affecting spending habits; research published Tuesday by personal finance company Bankrate found that 52% of Americans had already cut their spending in response to the pandemic. Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate, said it could be economically damaging if younger generations did indeed become more risk averse. "One thing we saw from the financial crisis was people  particularly young people  tending to be under-invested in the stock market with their retirement savings, because they essentially didn't trust the market," he told CNBC in a phone call. "Many of those people, particularly millennials, lost out on an opportunity to fund their retirements early at a time when they were in the best position to weather the inevitable market and economic cycles."

The difference between Europe and the US

However, Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS Global Wealth Management, told CNBC he was skeptical that the current crisis would dramatically alter consumer mindsets. "The Great Depression changed behavior in America because it was so devastating for so long," he said in a phone call. "This, of course, we hope is going to be a relatively short incident." Donovan also noted that there would be some variation in behavior between countries as governments had taken different policy action in response to the pandemic. "Europe has essentially worked to prevent unemployment," he said. "So when you think about the U.K., for example, or Denmark or France, they've introduced schemes aimed at keeping people employed, maybe on 80% or 70% wages, but you've still got a job." As such, people might not feel so insecure that they resort to "precautionary savings," because the government stepped in.
Infectious disease specialist Professor Sam McConkey has said that nobody really knows how long the lockdown will last, but so far he thinks the country is doing a good job of stopping the spread of Covid-19.

Prof McConkey pointed out that in China it was 64 days before restrictions were lifted, but he asked if the level of social and physical distancing in Ireland was as good as that in China.
Samsung has a 5G version of the Galaxy A51 in the works and its nearing its market release. An official support page in the companys South Korean portal confirmed the existence of this device last month. Although the page has since been taken down, the Galaxy A51 5G continues to appear elsewhere. Today, it has been certified by the Wi-Fi alliance.

The Galaxy A51 has been previously spotted on Geekbench and Chinese certification site TENAA as well.

Now with it bagging another crucial certification, we can be just that extra bit more certain that this device will not elude the market for much longer.

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Galaxy A51 5G gets Wi-Fi certification

The Wi-Fi Alliance today certified an unannounced Samsung smartphone with model number SM-A516N. We know from recent leaks and the now-deleted official support page that it is the Galaxy A51 5G.

The new certification reveals that this device supports dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac and Wi-Fi Direct. It also confirms that the smartphone will run Android 10 out of the box. Neither of these is a change from the 4G-only Galaxy A51.

The Galaxy A51 5G will most likely share the rest of the specs with its LTE sibling as well, except the chipset, of course.

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To support the 5G cellular network, the Galaxy A51 5G will be packing Samsungs Exynos 980 SoC. This is the companys first chipset to integrate a 5G modem. The 4G-only Galaxy A51 runs on the Exynos 9611 mid-range chipset.

A Geekbench benchmark reveals that one of the Galaxy A51 5G variants will have 6GB of RAM. An 8GB RAM variant should also be in the works, though. The LTE Galaxy A51 has an 8GB memory option as well. Also, 5G smartphones generally have higher RAM requirements.

As for the remainder of the specs, you can expect a Super AMOLED Infinity-O display, a 4000mAh battery with support for 15W fast charging, 128GB UFS storage, microSD card slot, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port.

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The Galaxy A51 5G will most likely get the same quad-camera setup on the back. The rectangular camera bump on the back should be housing a 48-megapixel wide-angle primary camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The front-facing camera should be a 32-megapixel shooter.

Samsung is also working on a 5G Galaxy A71 and its most likely headed to the US. As for the Galaxy A51 5G, theres little evidence to support a stateside release at the moment.

It should certainly see a release outside South Korea, though. We should be hearing more about Samsungs upcoming mid-range 5G smartphones in the coming weeks.
As of this week, at least four homeless people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Seattle, Washington, the city where the first coronavirus infection in the United States was confirmed in January. The confirmation of infections among the homeless population prompted five of Seattle's largest homeless shelters, including the Union Gospel Mission, to go into a 14-day lockdown.

Homeless shelters across the state have seen a drop in volunteers and staff due to the pandemic, while some have agreed to live on-site for the remainder of the lockdown to take care of the roughly 300 people who are in the shelters.

The real scope of the situation is undoubtedly more severe, since testing for the virus in Washington state and throughout the United States has been criminally inadequate to meet the needs of the population and stop the virus from spreading.

As of this writing, the Washington State Department of Health has confirmed 6,585 cases and 262 deaths. Residents with coronavirus symptoms are still being denied testing unless they have known contact with a confirmed case, fall within the highest-risk groups, or require hospitalization due to severe symptoms.

The homeless are particularly vulnerable to contracting the virus and suffering severe complications, including death. The horrendous conditions that the homeless population facesextreme poverty, lack of resources, overcrowding in shelters, lack of hygiene, and compromised immune systems due to existing health issues and high rates of addictionprovide the perfect conditions for the spread of the coronavirus and other diseases.

Seattle has a homeless population of over 22,000 on any given day, the third largest of any city in the US, only behind Los Angeles and New York. The growth in Seattles homeless population is a result of an affordable housing crisis, set into motion with the housing boom of the last decade and urban redevelopment led by the expansion of Amazons headquarters and a number of major technology corporations.

Real estate developers have erected a vast amount of apartment complexes throughout the city that are unaffordable for most working people and have pushed housing costs up across the city. Following the national pattern, average rent in Seattle has soared in the last decade, from $1,034 per month in 2010 to $1,725 in 2019, even as wage growth for workers remains stagnant. About one in every 5 homeless people is employed but unable to afford an apartment in the city.

The number of homeless individuals in the city stands in stark contrast to the number of empty apartment units. Although exact numbers are difficult to find, roughly 1 in every 10 apartment units is vacant, according to the Associated Press.

The criminal negligence of government officials, Democrats and Republicans alike, has created a dire situation for the homeless and the population as a whole. Nearly a month since the first case of COVID-19 was reported among Seattles homeless population, officials are now scrambling to save face and provide shelter by using motels and tiny village homes, which are also breeding grounds for the pathogen because of their close proximity.

In 2015, a homeless emergency was declared by then mayor Ed Murray, allocating $5 million, or less than 1 percent of the citys budget, to address the homeless crisis. This did nothing to address the problem with Washington marking one of the largest increases in the number of people who are homeless in the US in 2018, rising by more than 1,000 people.

The city has also continued to do unannounced sweeps of homeless encampments despite the emergency declaration. While the Human Services Department (HSD) has stated that homeless sweeps will be halted under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the truth is they have continued unabated, with 15 sweeps done between March 1 and March 17 alone, risking the health and lives of the thousands of homeless people in the city.

There are over 567,000 people who are homeless on any given night throughout the United States. Public school students who experienced homelessness during the last school year numbered 1.5 million, according to the National Center for Homeless Education. According to the Washington Post, the most underserved portions of the homeless population are in Washington, D.C, California, Maine, Oregon and Washington state.

The National Committee of the Socialist Equality Party issued a program of action for the working class last month that calls for the provision of emergency housing for the homeless to help combat the pandemic.

The needs of the working class in the US and around the world are diametrically opposed to those of the ruling class, which has created the conditions that have allowed the coronavirus to flourish in the wealthiest country in the world. The pandemic has exposed not only the Democrats and Republicans, but the whole capitalist system as an existential threat to the very survival of humanity. To guarantee the right of every person to health, safety, food and housing, the vast scientific and material resources must be placed under the democratic control of the working class.
| 2020-04-03 07:18:02|Editor: Xiaoxia

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Firemen spray water to douse a fire at Bamboo Bazaar in Bangalore, India, April 2, 2020. A fire broke out early Thursday at Bamboo Bazaar in Bangalore. (Str/Xinhua)
Volcano of Rage Operation, a command force answering to UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), destroyed Thursday fuel and ammunition shipment en route for forces aligned with east-based rebel Gen. Khalifa Haftar, in Tripoli, Libya Observer reports.

A first shipment was shelled in Tininay area, in south Bani Walid, the media notes citing the commands outlets.

The convoy made up of three trucks, according to the command was carrying ammunition, artillery rounds and Grad rockets.

Another airstrike hit three other trucks transporting fuel, in Nassma area in south Bani Walid at dawn. The operation killed at least one Russian mercenary working for Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary firm reportedly closed to Moscow and which backs Haftar.

In another development, Major General Ahmed Al-Mismari, the spokesperson of the Libyan National Army (LNA), revealed that 20 Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike targeting a site of GNA militias in Misrata, reported Al Marsad news outlet.

Al-Mismari said that the LNA strikes targeted the flight operations room in the Air Force College in Misrata adding that 7 Turkish soldiers were targeted inside the operating room while the remaining 13 were killed in the Air College residence.

The LNA spokesperson also indicated, according to the news outlet, that the death toll of the Syrian mercenaries in Libya rose to 500 last week, pointing out that Fayez al-Sarrajs militias are placing these mercenaries in the frontlines on most battlefronts, especially in eastern Misrata and the vicinity of the capital, Tripoli.

Haftar launched in April last year a military offensive to capture capital Tripoli from the GNA that he accused of being controlled by terrorists.

The operation met strong resistance from the GNA, which has managed to contain the rebel forces to the South of the city.

The two rival sides are backed by foreign countries. Russia, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and France have thrown their weight behind Haftar while Turkey, Qatar and Italy endorse the GNA.
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Disturbing aerial photos show dozens of freshly excavated graves at Brazil's biggest cemetery after the country's death toll hit 329 and cases soar to 8,076.

The spike in coronavirus cases in the South American nation has forced workers at the 780,000-square meter burial ground to increase the number of plots to a site that already has more than 1.5 million graves.

Oswaldo dos Santos stood by this week as he watched several men in protective suits dig a hasty grave for his 36-year-old son at Cemiterio de Vila Formosa, the largest cemetery in Latin America.

His grief was mixed with fear: What if he had the coronavirus? What if they all did?

Such is the case these days in Brazil where patients typically go several days waiting for their results to confirm if they are infected with the deadly disease that had killed 329 people and sickened 8,076 as of Friday.

Dos Santos lived with his son until Sunday, when he was suddenly hospitalized with severe respiratory problems. Like so many now filling the graves in Brazil's biggest cemetery, the son died before getting his coronavirus test result.

'I think he had the disease,' Dos Santos said as from the cemetery in Vila Formosa, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo.

The burial took 10 minutes, under new guidelines to limit crowds and contagion.

The grave diggers of Vila Formosa are working at a grueling pace, as their load has doubled to almost 60 burials per day. Workers are convinced the coronavirus is quietly killing far more than official statistics show.

Workers at Cemiterio de Vila Formosa in Vila Formosa, a city in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, ramp up their efforts to set up freshly dug graves as burials have almost double to 60 per day after the spread of the coronavirus in the South American nation

Gravediggers wearing protective suits gather at Cemiterio de Vila Formosa, Brazil's largest graveyard, where the remains of more than 1.5million people are buried

Workers carry the casket of a victim that died of COVID-19. Burials are Cemiterio de Vila Formosa, located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, have nearly doubled because of the coronavirus pandemic. As of Friday, 329 people had died after being sickened with the virus

'That row of graves was meant to last three months, but it only lasted one,' one worker said, pointing at a section covered in freshly topped soil.

Five grave diggers said that the number of burials has swelled with the ranks of those who died before getting the results for coronavirus tests. Those cases are not immediately counted in Brazil's official statistics, which on Thursday rose to almost 300 dead and 7,910 confirmed cases, by far the most in Latin America.

'The numbers in the newspapers are very wrong,' said one grave digger. 'The real number is twice as high, maybe triple.'

Brazil's health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, acknowledged on Wednesday that coronavirus cases are likely underreported due to delays in testing.

Cemetery workers bury a person at Brazil's biggest burial ground in Vila Formosa, a city in Sao Paulo. There are more than 1.5million people buried at the 780,000-square meter graveyard

Gravediggers at Cemiterio de Vila Formosa take a break after a busy work day where daily burials have almost doubled

Friends and family members keep their distance while workers at Brazil's largest cemetery lower the casket of a person who recently died of the coronavirus

Sao Paulo's city's funeral services agency, which oversees the Vila Formosa cemetery, did not respond to a request for comment and did not respond to questions about the number of burials.

Staff at the cemetery asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, but showed death certificates that identify some dead as potentially having had the coronavirus.

Bodies of those with unconfirmed coronavirus are treated the same way as those with confirmed diagnoses. The bodies are wrapped in plastic. The grave diggers wear protective gear. There is no formal ceremony.

Cremation is uncommon in Brazil, where Catholic traditions run deep. The city of Sao Paulo operates 22 cemeteries but just one public crematory.

An employee digs a grave at Cemiterio de Vila Formosa, the largest cemetery in Brazil and Latin America

Grave diggers Cemiterio de Vila Formosa lower the casket of a person who allegedly died of COVID-19

A worker at Cemiterio de Vila Formosa in Vila Formosa, a city in the outskirts of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, digs a grave at the burial ground, which is the largest in Brazil and all of Latin America

Small crowds were still gathering around Vila Formosa on Thursday, with many wondering aloud if their loved ones had died of the coronavirus or had spread the disease to them.

At one point, there were six burials happening at the same time, all along a short row of new graves.

'Crowds are a problem,' said Joao Batista Gomes, a union leader at the cemetery. 'That's why our union is advocating for the cancellation of all funerals.'
2 1 of 2 Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Katherine Feser / Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less



Houston apartment landlords are offering financial help to tenants who have lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Camden Property Trust will provide certain residents in good standing a grant of up to $2,000 per apartment to help with living expenses.
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Mexico City, April 3, 2020  Mexican authorities should conduct a swift and credible investigation into the killing of reporter Maria Elena Ferral, determine whether the attack was related to her work, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On March 30, two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot Ferral at least three times while she was leaving the office of a local notary in the city of Papantla, in Veracruz state, according to news reports.

She was rushed to a local hospital, where she died while undergoing surgery, according to Ana Laura Perez, the president of the Veracruz State Commission for Attention to and Protection of Journalists (CEAPP), which operates autonomously from the state government, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview.

Ferral was a correspondent for the El Diario de Xalapa newspaper and also co-founded El Quinto Poder, a local news website, according to news reports. She also published columns on La Polaca Totonaca, a personal Facebook page.

In a statement published on Twitter that same day, the Veracruz state prosecutors office said it had opened an investigation into the killing.

With the tragic and brutal killing of Maria Elena Ferral, Veracruz confirms its status as not only the deadliest state for reporters in Mexico, but the single most violent territory for the press in the entire Western Hemisphere, said Jan-Albert Hootsen, CPJs Mexico representative. Even as Mexico is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities must not turn away from their responsibility to thoroughly investigate her case, determine whether it was retaliation for her journalism, and bring her killers to justice.

In an interview with news webste E-Consulta Veracruz, published shortly after the reporters funeral on April 1, Ferrals daughter Fernanda De Luna Ferral said that her mothers life had been in danger because of a column she published on March 12 on La Polaca Totonaca, in which she wrote about the murders of several candidates for mayor of Gutierrez Zamora, a nearby municipality.

De Luna Ferral told E-Consulta Veracruz that she asked her mother to take precautions after the column was published, because of the sensitive nature of the subject of the article.

A reporter from Poza Rica, a city near Papantla, who had worked with Ferral several times, told CPJ on April 1 that they were aware of threats against the reporters life, but did not know any specific details about the threats.

Maria Elena was hermetic, she did not speak a lot about the dangers of her work, the reporter, who asked CPJ to remain anonymous for safety reasons, added.

Ferral mostly reported on local news, politics, and crime in the Papantla area. Her most recent stories for El Diario de Xalapa reported on traffic accidents and crime.

Requests by CPJ for comment via the Facebook pages of El Diario de Xalapa and El Quinto Poder remain unanswered.

In April 2016, Basilio Camerino Picazo Perez, then a candidate for Veracruz state congress, threatened to abduct and kill Ferral, and she reported the threat to authorities, according to news reports.

In those reports, Ferral did not specify why Picazo had threatened her. CPJ was unable to find contact information for Picazo Perez.

Ana Laura Perez told CPJ that Ferral had been assigned a bodyguard and a GPS device in 2016 after having reported threats.

The state Public Security Secretariat removed the bodyguards in 2017, however, without consulting with the protection committee, Laura Perez said. She said the state government had determined that Ferral had not made good use of the security measures, but was unable to provide further details.

CPJ called the Veracruz Public Security Secretariat on April 1 and April 2 for comment, but no one answered the phone.

Mexico is the most dangerous country in the Western Hemisphere for journalists. According to CPJ research, at least five journalists were killed in 2019 in direct relation to their work. No state has been deadlier than Veracruz; since 1992, the first year CPJ began gathering statistics, at least seven journalists were murdered in the state in retaliation to their work. CPJ is investigating the motives of another fifteen killings in the state.
Guinea's constitutional court ratified the result of the West African state's contested constitutional referendum on Friday, recording a slightly reduced majority for the vote to approve the reforms than previously reported.

Changing the constitution has proved a hugely controversial proposal in Guinea, spurring mass demonstrations in which at last 32 people have been killed, according to an AFP tally.

Observers also recorded several deaths in election-related unrest on and around polling day, on March 22.

The government argues that the new constitution will codify progressive changes -- especially for women -- but critics fear it is a ploy for extending President Alpha Conde's time in office.

Last week, Guinea's Independent National Electoral Commission announced that 91.59 percent of ballots were cast in favour of adopting the new constitution, while 8.41 percent were against.

But in a statement broadcast on public radio on Friday, the constitutional court said that 89.76 percent voted in favour of changing the constitution, while 10.24 percent voted against.

Cheick Fantamady Conde, the court's secretary general, told AFP the discrepancy was due to "irregularities and malfunctions noted by the observation missions" conducted by court officials, without offering further details.

Guinea's embattled political opposition, which boycotted the referendum, has rejected the vote count, with former prime minister and opposition leader Sidya Toure referring to "Soviet-style results".

The United States and France, the Guinea's former colonial ruler, have also both cast doubt the credibility of the referendum, and a concurrent parliamentary election.

The new constitution will limit presidential terms to two but extend the length of the term to six years.

But the opposition fears it would also reset presidential terms to zero. This would potentially enable Conde, 82, to govern for another 12 years when his second and final term ends this year.

An opposition figure jailed under former hardline regimes, Conde made history in 2010 as the first democratically-elected president in a country with a history of military coups and turmoil.

Voters returned him to power in 2015 for his second and final five-year term under the current constitution, but critics say he has become increasingly authoritarian.
US President Donald Trump has said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin extended a "very nice offer" to him by providing America with medical supplies and equipment to combat the deadly coronavirus, brushing aside a warning that it would result in Kremlin "propaganda".

Putin offered the medical assistance during the two world leaders' telephonic conversation on March 30.

The US agreed to buy from Russia ventilators, medical supplies and other personal protection equipment needed to treat patients infected with COVID-19, a top State Department Spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"It was a very nice gesture on behalf of President Putin. I could've said no thank you or I could have said thank you. It was a large plane of very high quality medical supplies, and I said I'll take it," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday when asked about the supplies from Russia.

Trump was asked would it result in Kremlin propaganda.

"No, I'm not concerned about Russian propaganda, not even a little bit. He offered a lot of medical high-quality stuff that I accepted. That may save a lot of lives. I'll take it every day," he responded.

"We're accepting it. It was a very nice offer from President Putin. I spoke to him the other night. And they had excess medical equipment, things, and I'll take it. I'll take it," he said.

Trump said the US had received aid from China and other countries as well.

"We also help other countries. We like doing that. Like I said before, if we have excess stuff, we let it go out. We let some go out where, frankly, they had orders for it and I didn't want to stop orders," he said.

President Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the US was headed for a "very tough two weeks", advising people to be prepared for the "hard days" ahead, as the country is at war with the deadly coronavirus pandemic that the White House projects could claim one to two lakh lives during the next fortnight.

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 April 30.

Across the United States, hospitals are facing shortages of ventilators.

Some medical device makers 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.

A total of 1,002,159 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with51,485 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

The US has reported 236,339 COVID-19 cases, the highest in the world, and over 5,000 people have died due to the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus is the reason that one midstate theater is closing - permanently.

MoviE-Town Cinema in Elizabethtown announced this week via its Facebook page that the theater will close.

Unfortunately, due to the recent COVID-19 regulations we are placed in the situation of an indefinite opening date without recent titles to offer, the theater said in an announcement on Facebook. This has forced our business to make the extremely hard decision to close permanently.

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The theaters website also has the same message posted on its website.

The eight-screen theater is located at 700 N. Hanover St.

The theater also thanked its customers for its dedicated patronage over the years.

The company said it will discontinue its phone number, email address and Facebook page. The Facebook page will be discontinued beginning Sunday.

On March 19, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all non-life sustaining businesses must close as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Towns Theatres, which owns MoviE-Town Cinema also recently closed another theater in December. The company closed the Cocoaplex Cinema in Derry Township. Penn State Health has announced it will lease the 20,000 square feet of space at the Cocoaplex Center at 1150 Cocoa Ave. in the space currently occupied by the movie theater. Penn State Health said at the time that the offices were expected to open late next year.

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You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like PennLives business page on Facebook at @PennLiveBusiness
Official figures supplied by the Health Ministry on Wednesday put the total number of coronavirus infections in the country at more than 100,000, with 864 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours  the highest figure since the beginning of the outbreak. This is the fifth day running where more than 800 people have died from Covid-19.

Total cases now stand at 102,136, an increase of 7,719 from yesterday. The number of coronavirus fatalities since the crisis began now exceeds 9,000. Around 22,600 patients have recovered from the Covid-19 disease and have been discharged from hospital. Nearly 6,000 patients have required intensive care treatment.

The true number of deaths may be greater, given likely delays in the notification of victims

Tuesday saw the number of daily deaths in Spain reach a new high of 849 people, with the total of fatalities at 8,189. Registered infections rose to 94,417 yesterday. But health professionals have told EL PAIS that they are confident that the situation in Spanish hospitals was beginning to ease thanks to the confinement measures currently in place.

The growth in the number of deaths each day has slowed, but the curve is yet to be flattened in Spain  and the true number may be greater, given likely delays in the notification of victims.

The numbers do, however, suggest the situation is stabilizing, both in terms of victims and infections. The spike on Tuesday was broadly expected, given reporting delays over the weekend. The day on day increase in deaths in percentage terms related to total cases is now at 10.5% and has been falling since March 25, when the rise was 27%.

The figure for total cases does not provide the whole story in Spain, given that massive testing is still not being carried out, only on those with serious symptoms. But even so, the growth is slowing, with the rise in terms of total cases at 8.1%.

Speaking at the daily government press conference on the coronavirus crisis, Maria Jose Sierra from the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts, said that Spain was still in the stabilization phase of the pandemic. While this data is positive, our main objective is the patients in the intensive care units.

The figures of patients in ICUs, she continued, reflects what happened two to three weeks ago, and we are seeing the numbers we expected. Twenty-two percent of notified cases have been discharged.

We are now in April, and one day closer to being able to go outside Spains defense chief of staff, Miguel Angel Villarroya

Spains defense chief of staff, Miguel Angel Villarroya, also spoke at Wednesdays press conference. We are now in April, and one day closer to being able to go outside, he said. He explained that members of the Spanish military were working in 223 different areas, and carrying out disinfections, as well as the transport of cadavers  a total of 109 bodies was taken on Tuesday to the Palacio de Hielo ice rink in Madrid, which is being used as a makeshift morgue.

Villarroya also explained that navy ship Galicia was being prepared as a field hospital, and would be deployed at the North African exclave city of Melilla.

Civil Guard chief Jose Manuel Santiago reported that there were 27 arrests on Tuesday of people accused of violating Spains confinement measures. He also warned of online fraud. We have detected a regular scam that consists of messages being sent via WhatsApp explaining that cellphone networks are giving away gigabytes of data to customers, he said. You should not click on these links. You must be suspicious of information you did not request and report these incidents to the Civil Guard.

Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts, appeared at the meeting for the second day via video conference, after he tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday. A number of other high-level members of the Technical Committee tasked with combating the epidemic have also been infected.

Im doing very well, Simon said, speaking from his home. There are a lot of ways of transmitting this virus. On the committee, we have had a lot of activity in recent weeks and that has exposed us to risks. Knowing where the contagion could have happened is not easy. Its irrelevant whether it happened at La Moncloa [prime ministerial palace], where there are a lot of people without infection.

Effect on the economy

Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Nadia Calvino. EFE

Speaking on Spanish TV channel Telecinco this morning, Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Nadia Calvino said that a fall in tourism was going to hit the Spanish economy particularly hard. But elsewhere our economy was growing in a very dynamic manner until the end of February, she said. I trust that these foundations will allow us to recover a good pace of growth as soon as possible.

Speaking to radio station Onda Cero, Calvino also defended the governments decision not to suspend the collection of taxes such as IRPF income tax. Spain needs this income, she argued, because public costs such as the salaries of health workers and members of the military, all of whom are playing a key role in the fight against the coronavirus, have not disappeared.

This situation is exceptional, but that doesnt mean that we dont need income, she said during the interview. We cannot abandon the normal working of the public sector.

Opposition stance

The spokesperson for the Popular Party in the Senate, Javier Maroto, said on Wednesday that the conservative group would support the coalition governments measures to deal with the coronavirus crisis, but that any plans should first be run by the opposition. Maroto said that the PP was up to the task in terms of what citizens were calling for during this national emergency, but criticized the steps being taken by the Socialist Party-led administration. The PP was calling, he explained, for zero taxes for the self-employed who find themselves in a situation of zero income, rather than granting them interest-free loans, as the government announced it would on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Health Minister Salvador Illa announced that the Cabinet had approved a 300 million payout to Spains regions to shore up their health systems. We will make the details public, but the region that will receive the most money will be Madrid, with 52.7 million, followed by Catalonia, with 51 million, Andalusia, with 44 million, and so on, he explained. Madrid and Catalonia have been hardest hit so far by the coronavirus epidemic. The funds are being assigned on the basis of the number of patients, occupation levels of intensive care units, and total cases.

Infections among police chiefs

Joint operational director of Spains National Police force, Jose Angel Gonzalez. PALACIO DE LA MONCLOA (EFE)

It emerged on Tuesday that the joint operational director of Spains National Police force, Jose Angel Gonzalez, had tested positive for the Covid-19 disease. Gonzalez is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the force, and was taking part in the daily government press conferences on the coronavirus crisis from La Moncloa palace. Confirmation of his infection followed that of Fernando Simon, one of the most visible faces of the Spanish government during the crisis, and that of Laurentino Cena, the joint operation director of the Civil Guard. Gonzalez told EL PAIS that he was doing well, but that would be staying at home in isolation, as Simon and Cena are also doing.

Tuesday also saw the first death among Spains armed forces due to Covid-19. A second lieutenant from the Spanish Air Force, aged 58, passed away in the Gomez Ulla military hospital in Madrid.

Donations from business leader

Ambulances gathered outside Amancio Ortegas home on Saturday to celebrate the businessmans birthday. Cabalar (EFE)

Amancio Ortega, the founder of Spanish fashion giant Inditex, which owns brands such as Zara and Bershka, has purchased medical material worth 63 million to assist in the fight against the coronavirus. The Amancio Ortega Foundation reported on Tuesday that it was acquiring 1,450 respirators, three million masks for health workers, a million testing kits and other hospital equipment, including 450 beds.

Tourist rentals

Around 36 residents associations have called on the government to close down tourist apartments during the coronavirus crisis, on the basis that they believe them to be a source of expansion of the Covid-19 health risk during the state of alarm. The federations and associations are calling for access to platforms such as Niumba, Airbnb and Booking to be blocked while the confinement measures are in place.

With reporting from Pablo Linde.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Cuban officials say a shipment of coronavirus aid from Asia's richest man, Jack Ma, has been blocked by the six-decade U.S. embargo on the island.

Carlos M Pereira, Cuba's ambassador to China, said on his blog this week that Ma's foundation tried to send Cuba 100,000 facemasks and 10 COVID-19 diagnostic kits last month, along with other aid including ventilators and gloves.

Cuba was one of 24 countries in the region meant to receive the donations announced on March. 21 by the Jack Ma Foundation, which is sending similar aid to countries around the world, including the United States.

Cuban officials say the cargo carrier of Colombia-based Avianca Airlines declined to carry the aid to Cuba because its major shareholder is a US-based company subject to the trade embargo on Cuba.

The embargo has exceptions for food and medical aid but companies are often afraid to carry out related financing or transportation due to the risk of fines or prosecution under the embargo.

Human-rights groups have been calling for the U.S. to lift sanctions on Venezuela, Cuba and Iran during the coronavirus epidemic in order to permit the flow of more aid. The Trump administration has argued that only the countries' government would benefit from the sanctions relief.

An Avianca spokeswoman referred a query to a spokeswoman for Ma's company, Alibaba, who did not return an email seeking comment.

Cuba has closed all air and sea connections, with the exception of essential cargo and government flights, in an attempt to prevent the further introduction of coronavirus to the island.As of Friday morning, Cuba had 269 confirmed cases, 3,241 people in quarantine, 15 patients recovered from the infection and six who have died of it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To mask or not to mask? For the past few months, public health officials have advised that healthy people should not wear masks as a way to protect themselves from coronavirus. But as we learn more about the virus, more experts are challenging the official guidance and saying that there is probably some benefit to covering our faces in public.

But for now, commercially made masks are virtually impossible to find. Many people have hoarded masks in recent months, and everyone agrees that any available supply of medical masks should be reserved for hospitals and emergency workers. That ...
Lucknow, April 3 : With the number of positive patients touching the 50 mark in Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Meerut at the second position with 25 cases, the coronavirus on Friday reached out to other districts in Uttar Pradesh too.

Shahjahanpur, Ghazipur, Hardoi and Hapur reported their first cases on Friday.

The virus now has a presence from Ghaziabad in the west to Azamgarh in the east and this is mainly due to the members of the Tablighi Jamaat.

According to official sources, 3,029 persons are in institutional quarantine while 41, 506 travelers have completed 28 days observation period.

The total number of samples sent for testing was 4,006 and the total number of samples found positive was 174, spread across 24 districts of the state.

The total number of symptomatic travellers hospitalized as on date are 368.

Till date, the total number of travellers screened at border checkposts has touched 15,50,381.
Zarif rejects Trump's claim amid tensions in Iraq, says Iran won't initiate any war

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 9:28 AM

Iran's top diplomat has dismissed US President Donald Trump's claim that Tehran is about to launch an attack on American troops in Iraq, reaffirming the stance that the Islamic Republic will not initiate any war but it will decisively respond to aggression.

"Iran starts no wars, but teaches lessons to those who do," Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on Thursday, a day after Trump claimed that "Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on US troops and/or assets in Iraq" citing "information and belief."

Zarif dismissed Trump's allegation, saying Iran has no "proxies" but friends in Iraq.

Iran was the first state that rushed to Iraq's help in 2014 after the Daesh terror group emerged in the country and seized control of vast swaths of territory there.

Iran's advisory assistance enabled the Iraqi army and allied Popular Mobilization Units (PMU)  better known as Hashd al-Sha'abi  to reverse Daesh's gains and ultimately liberate Iraq in late 2017.

Washington views Hash al-Sha'abi  an official Iraqi military force  as Iran's "proxy." Angered by the Iran-backed defeat of Daesh, Trump ordered the US military to assassinate top Iranian and Iraqi anti-terror commanders Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a drone strike in Baghdad, sending anti-US sentiments soaring both in the two neighboring states and the entire region.

"Don't be misled by usual warmongers, AGAIN, @realDonaldTrump: Iran has FRIENDS: No one can have MILLIONS of proxies. Unlike the US  which surreptitiously lies, cheats & assassinates  Iran only acts in self-defense," tweeted Zarif.

Last week, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against 20 companies, claiming that they provided support for Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and the IRGC's Quds Force, as well as Iraq's Kata'ib Hezbollah, a pro-government resistance group, and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement, a subdivision of the PMU.

Tehran has time and again asserted that US threats and allegations are baseless and that it stands ready to defend its interests in the region.

Meanwhile, Iraqi security sources said on Sunday that new US troops had been deployed to Ain al-Asad base in the western Iraqi province of Anbar amid reports that the Pentagon was preparing for a new escalation in the Arab country.

On Thursday, Kata'ib Hezbollah  a major faction of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU)  revealed that the US military was preparing to carry out massive aerial operations  backed by ground troops  against bases of the force, which is currently busy helping Baghdad in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

A day later, The New York Times reported that the Pentagon had ordered planners at the US military's Central Command and in Iraq to draw up a strategy to dismantle Kata'ib Hezbollah.

However, the American's top commander in Iraq has warned that such a campaign could be bloody and counterproductive and risks war with Iran.

Iraqi resistance forces have vowed a firm response to any aggression.

The stepped-up US military activities come in defiance of an Iraqi parliament vote in January that called for an end to the presence of all foreign troops, including some 5,200 American forces.

Earlier this month, US-led coalition forces withdrew from three bases in Iraq in line with Washington's plans to consolidate its troops in other locations in the Arab country.

A top military advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei cautioned Washington on Wednesday of consequences of "provocative actions" in Iraq.

"We advise US politicians and military to take responsibility for the consequences of their provocative actions (in Iraq)," Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said.

"Any US action will mark an even larger strategic failure in the current president's record", he warned.

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According to the report, made on the basis of JICAs interviews with government agencies in charge of sending trainees abroad of six Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Northeast Asian economies of Japan, the RoK and Chinas Taiwan are competing for labour from Southeast Asia. However, the RoK is preferable to foreign workers thanks to its efforts in improving working conditions.

Japans NHK TV station quoted experts as saying they worry that this economy cannot attract skilled workers if it fails to improve the working conditions.
Dr Gabriel Scally is president of the Epidemiology and Public Health section of the Royal Society of Medicine and is thus well qualified to give an opinion on the merits of Irish and British policies on minimising the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

His allegations that UK government scientists considered World Health Organisation (WHO) advice for managing the pandemic as relevant only to low- and middle-income countries, and instead chose to follow a novel and unevidenced approach known as herd immunity is most concerning.

This has resulted in there being significant differences in the substance and timing of measures to control the outbreak between Britain and Ireland, and between Northern Ireland and the Republic with the result that even if Irelands policies of widespread testing and contact tracing and earlier adoption of school and business closures results in the successful suppression of the disease here, we could be subject to continuing re-infections originating in Northern Ireland.

In 2001, at the height of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK, Ian Paisley quipped that while Northern Ireland might be British, the cows were Irish, and therefore should be kept within an all-Ireland quarantine zone, and not subject to export bans to the EU.

As recently as last September, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson used this to justify Northern Ireland remaining effectively in the EU single market and customs union.

Northern Irelands cows were saved from the mass slaughter of Britains herds, but it seems that whats good enough for Irish cows is too good for people of Ireland.

Frank Schnittger

Blessington, Co Wicklow

Trump is not getting a fair crack of the whip from press

It was good to read Tom Smyths letter regarding negative reporting about US President Donald Trump but sad to see that his address was with the Editor (Negative reporting about Trump biased and low-brow, Letters, April 1).

Of course, that is understandable as otherwise Mr Smyth could expect adverse comments for his views.

It is welcome that you published the letter as there has indeed been sustained criticism of the US president since his election and, as your columnist Ian ODoherty pointed out some time ago, if he walked on water they would ask if he couldnt swim.

Surely that demonstrates the lack of balanced and factual reporting on the American president.

Like Mr Smyth, I do not always agree with his policies but with what politician do we agree with on all matters?

Mary Stewart

Donegal Town, Co Donegal

If only it were even harder to become president of the US

Donald Trump has uttered many inane, inappropriate and insensitive comments. Tragically, this science-denying president is holder of the most powerful office in the world during this uncertain time in our history.

He recently, apropos of nothing, informed the assembled White House press corps that it had cost him billions of dollars to become US president, adding that it was hard for rich people to run for office.

There are those of us who would wish that it were harder.

Eithne Mac Fadden

Carrigart, Co Donegal

Be careful not to hit the bottle too early while on lockdown

I got up early this morning and as usual I had a bowl of Cornflakes, but something seemed different, but enjoyable.

I had put wine in the bowl instead of milk.

Amazing how quickly you get used to drinking wine at any time of the day while youre in lockdown.

Damien Carroll

Dublin 24

Those in line to profit should make a gesture of goodwill

At this time of national crisis, there is need for accountability and transparency for the unprecedented government spending associated with it, especially in the transfer of public funds to the private sector.

To lessen this enormous expenditure, an appropriate gesture of goodwill would be for the owners of hotels and private hospitals who are offering their facilities to the health service to be content to accept a nominal rental sum while the crisis lasts.

Brendan Butler

Malahide, Co Dublin
Turkish Airlines company has suspended all international flights until May 1, 2020. Anadolu news agency reported that, pointing out that the reason is the ongoing pandemic of Covid-19.

Only domestic THY flights among 14 destinations will be performed. The flights will be performed to and from Adana, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri, Konya, Malatya, Samsun, Trabzon and Van.

Special document, namely the permission for a travel must be shown prior to the boarding on a plane of Turkish Airlines. Without it, a passenger will not be allowed on board - even if he/she bought a ticket.

On the night of March 27-28, at 00:00, Ukraine completely closed the state border and blocked all passenger traffic. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this in an appeal to the nation on Thursday, March 26.

According to the head of the state, diplomatic missions abroad will take care of those who have not been able to return over the last two days.
Additional Chief Secretary Home Awanish Kumar Awasthi on Friday said on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath all banks in the state will remain open on Mahavir Jayanti and Good Friday during the lockdown period.

Banks will remain open on two public holidays on the instructions of the chief minister on Mahavir Jayanti and Good Friday -- April 6 and 10 -- so that the beneficiaries of various schemes who have been given financial aid face no problems, he said.

The ACS said information was received about the presence of some people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin, following which the entire area has been sealed and every house is being searched.

The police commissioner is personally monitoring the searches in every house of the area which is being sanitised, Awasthi said, adding that the campaign of this kind was underway in the entire state.

Awasthi said as per the Supreme Court order, it has been decided to release the juvenile offenders and the chief minister has directed to release 248 juveniles.

"So far, 9,137 prisoners have been released on bail and parole in the state. Apart from this, to strengthen law and order, the chief minister has directed the DGP to make extensive use of drones," the ACS said.

On the appeal of Adityanath, many people have come forward and offered financial assistance to the government to deal with the crisis under which one day's salary was given by the Basic Education Department for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

The fund will be used in medical testing labs and telemedicine. Contribution is also being made in the COVID-19 Fund, which has been created by the chief minister.

So far, action has been taken against 129 people in the state by registering 91 FIRs on charges of black marketing and profiteering, he said.

Adityanath, who earlier in the day held a meeting with senior officials at his residence, also stressed on maintaining social distancing..

The ACS said that directions have been given for preparing a list of anaesthetists, physicians, gynaecologist and pediatricians to provide them necessary training for dealing with any eventuality, besides imparting training to Ayush doctors and paramedical staff.

He also called for setting up COVID-19 testing labs in all government medical colleges.

Adityanath has directed for manufacture of personal protective equipments in the state and taking help of youth volunteers of NSS ,NCC, women self-help groups and NGOs. For strengthening the home delivery system the services of postman could also be taken, Awasthi said.

Highlighting that the lockdown in the state has been successful barring some incidents in places like Kannauj, Awasthi said stern action will be taken wherever there is any violation.

All the borders have been sealed and the CM during a video conferencing with district magistrates and superintendents of police of different districts has asked them to personally monitor those under quarantine as they will be held responsible incase anyone escapes, Awasthi said, adding that fogging and sanitisation through fire brigades has started in places like Lucknow Noida and Kanpur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Qantas has confirmed 50 staff members have tested positive for coronavirus in the past week.

Six baggage handlers from Adelaide airport tested positive for the virus on Tuesday before staff who had come into contact with them were tested.

Since then, at least 19 flight attendants, 14 baggage handlers and eight pilots have test positive, as well as five staff members from Jetstar, according to The Australian.

Major airline Qantas has had 50 staff members test positive for coronavirus in the last week (stock)

Dr Russell Brown spoke to staff in a webinar regarding precautions that should be taken when dealing with the illness.

He said South Australia Health's advice, telling people to wipe their luggage, was 'disappointing'.

Dr Brown told Qantas staff the advice from SA Health was 'not in line with anything we know about the outbreak'.

He said most people who were flying from overseas were now taking precautions such as wearing a mask on board flights.

Dr Brown added surface transmissions were not a big part of how coronavirus is transmitted.

'The virus either spreads from a symptomatic infected person, or, if you're infected and not having many symptoms then having close contact (with another person). So far that's by far the most occasions,' said Dr Brown.

Dr Russell Brown spoke to staff in a webinar regarding precautions that should be taken when dealing with the illness (stock)

'The third one is an infected symptomatic person who contaminates the surface and then you touch that surface and pass it on to yourself. We know that with our workers' hand washing and cleaning processes, that would be very unlikely.'

The airline has warned anyone who is feeling ill should not turn up to work.

Dr Brown said it is important to abide by the strict 14-day quarantine as symptoms present between days three and five.

The airline's medical director has said there was no evidence to suggest transmission happened on board their planes.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas and South Australian Health for comment.
11 more patients of Coronavirus have been discharged form the Infectious Disease Hospital in Lagos state.

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this announcement this evening via his verified Instagram page.

The governor said the patients have all tested negative and were discharged today April 2nd. Earlier this week 9 patients were also discharged from the hospital in Lagos.

Read his statement below;

Dear Lagosians,

I am happy to break to you, the news of the discharge today of 11 more patients from our facility in Yaba.

They have fully recovered, tested negative to COVID-19 and have been allowed to return home to their families. This brings to 18 the number of discharged patients in Lagos since the index case was reported.

It is a thing of joy that we have not recorded any mortality, and we hope and pray that it remains so. We will not rest on our oars but continue to work assiduously for the full recovery of the other patients so that they can return home to their families and the community.

That the tests results of these patients came out negative twice is a big assurance to us that they pose no threat to the community. We are therefore, releasing them in furtherance of our commitment for a disease free State.

May I warn that this is not the time to relax, but to maintain our vigilance against Coronavirus because of the community infection that we are beginning to experience. We should be sober as the battle continues.

Reports of youths gathering for social and sporting activities, as well as those massing for religious purposes are quite unfortunate. This kind of insensitivity could be a weak link in our collective effort to break the chain of transmission of the infection.

The order for law enforcement agents to ensure that residents comply with the directive to stay indoors remains. I enjoin members of the Organised Private Sector and others to read the Federal Governments guidelines on the restriction of movement so that the directive is not breached in any way.

Again, I assure you as your Governor and Incident Commander, we will not relent in our efforts to completely eradicate this disease from our state.

Thank You all and God bless.
New Delhi, April 3 : There are at least 647 confirmed cases of coronavirus found to have links with Tablighi Jamaat in the last two days, the government said on Friday.

Speaking to the media at a press conference here, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Lav Agarwal said: "There are a total 2,301 coronavirus cases reported so far in India and 56 deaths have been reported from the country, of which 12 deaths have been reported since yesterday.

"As many as 157 patients have recovered. In the last two days, 647 confirmed cases in 14 states in the country have found links with Tablighi Jamaat." The states from which these cases of linkage with Tablighi Jamaat congregation have been reported are Andaman and Nicobar, Assam, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, said the Health Ministry.

The Joint Health Secretary said the cases had spiked recently due to a particular reason, indicating the Tablighi Jamaat episode.

"Otherwise, our efforts to promote lockdown and social isolation were resulting in less number of cases," he said.

The Home Ministry Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava who was also present, told the media that incidents related to the security of the health care and frontline workers have happened therefore the Home Ministry has directed the states to take stringent actions in such matters and ensure the security of the medical fraternity.

"The Home Ministry has blacklisted at least 960 Tablighi Jamaat related foreign nationals who were in India on tourist visas. At least 360 people who participated in Tablighi Jamat activity but have gone back to their countries, the ministry is in the process of blacklisting them as well," said Srivastava, adding "all DGP and commissioner of Police have been instructed to take strict actions as per Disaster Management Act and Foreigner Act against all visa violations".

A cluster transmission of COVID-19 was reported as a religious congregation 'Tablighi Jamaat' was recently organised at Markaz Nizamuddin in the capital, after which a number of coronavirus cases, including casualties, allegedly shot up in the country in the last few days.
India has recorded 647 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) that can be linked to a religious gathering in Delhis Nizamuddin, which has emerged as a hot spot of the disease in the country, the Union health ministry said on Friday.

These cases were detected in 14 states/Union Territories, namely Andaman and Nicobar Island, Assam, Delhi, Himachal, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, the government said.

A March congregation of Islamic missionary group Tablighi Jamaat at its six-storey headquarters has set the alarm bells ringing, with authorities in states launching hectic efforts to trace the footsteps of those who visited Nizamuddin for the gathering and subsequently fanned out across the country.

Twelve deaths due to Covid-19 surfaced in the past 24 hours, Lav Agarwal, the joint secretary of the Union health ministry, said at a press briefing on Friday afternoon, putting the total number of fatalities in the country at 56.

When asked how many of the 12 deaths were linked to the Jamaat congregation, Agarwal said: It is difficult to ascertain at this point.

The country has registered a total of 2,301 cases, and 336 of them have been reported since Thursday, Agarwal said. He added that 157 patients have recovered from the disease caused by the fast-spreading Sars-CoV-2 virus.

Agarwal added that about three million people downloaded the AarogyaSetu app, developed in public-private partnership to help people in assessing their risk of catching the coronavirus infection.

He asked citizens to support health workers in the backdrop of attacks on doctors conducting door-to-door drives to screen suspected coronavirus patients.

The Union health minister (Harsh Vardhan) has conveyed that he is concerned over attacks on health workers. Even the Prime Minister has appreciated health workers. Under such challenging circumstances, we should support them in every way possible, Agarwal said.

At the same briefing, Punya Salila Srivastava, joint secretary of the Union home ministry, said the central government has asked states to take strict action against those targeting health workers.

Manoj Murhekar of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said guidelines for rapid antibody diagnostics are likely to be released by Saturday.

India has allowed faster and cheaper antibody tests to check for the coronavirus disease in so-called hot spots -- these show clusters of infections -- of which there are 20 in the country.

Murhekar said India has conducted around 66,000 tests, of which around 8,000 were done on Thursday  the highest in a single day so far.

Testing has process and guidelines. Unnecessary testing for the sake of confidence building, especially when kits are limited, is not the right strategy. However, if we feel its needed, testing criteria can be revised. But, so far, no decision has been taken on that, he said, responding to a question on whether India will ramp up testing.
An MLA has vented his frustration and disgust after a Strabane shopworker was held at knifepoint in an armed robbery.

Two males - described as being in their late teens - entered the Lisnafin Park shop at around 2pm on Thursday, April 2.

The SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan posted CCTV footage of the incident on Facebook. It showed one of the males brandish a knife inches from her face before demanding money.

She backs away and then appears to plead with the pair to calm down. They then flee the shop empty-handed.

"I am totally and utterly disgusted and frustrated with anger about this disgusting attack on this lovely and kind frontline worker," Mr McCrossan said.

"At a time when communities are pulling together to support each other in these difficult and challenging times, these two complete idiots decided to go to a small community shop in Lisnafin and threaten this member of our community with a knife.

"What on earth is going through their heads?"

He added: "Do something useful with your time, like helping the people of this area, not attacking them.

"Total bloody selfish idiots."

He urged anyone that may recognise the pair to contact police.

"I hope this lady is okay - we as a community are with you," he added.

I am totally and utterly disgusted and frustrated with anger about this disgusting attack on this lovely and kind frontline worker. At a time when communities are pulling together to support each other in these difficult and challenging times, these two complete idiots decided to go to a small community shop in Lisnafin and threaten this member of our community with a knife! What on earth is going through their heads? Do something useful with your time, like helping the people of this area, not attacking them. Total bloody selfish idiots. I hope this lady is okay - we as a community are with you! Anyone recognise either of these two - step forward please. Posted by Daniel Wray McCrossan Mla on Thursday, April 2, 2020

A 16-year-old male has been arrested and remains in police custody.
Highlights OnePlus is hosting a special giveaway with its GameBox hamper.

The box will contain the rumoured OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z headphones.

OnePlus will also giveaway a OnePlus 8 Pro with one of the boxes.

The ongoing COVID-19 epidemic has sort of paused the world but it hasn't dampened the spirits of phone makers. OnePlus, despite the lockdown in several countries, is going ahead to launch its OnePlus 8 series on April 14. On the other hand, it also wants its community members to be safe, which is why it is hosting an online launch event. To make the lockdown easier for its gaming loving fans, it has now come up with another contest -- OnePlus GameBox.

Before you start tweeting about this, calm down. This is not a new gadget from the Shenzhen based phone maker. It is not a new software-based service either. The OnePlus GameBox is essentially a giveaway with a couple of free goodies for eight lucky people across the markets where OnePlus operates. OnePlus says it wanted to call it a giveaway but just to make it exciting, it fixated on the name GameBox.

While OnePlus hasn't revealed what this giveaway package will contain exactly, it has hinted a lot on its community -- quite a lot. The biggest takeaway for us is that this box will contain probably the rumoured Bullets Wireless Z earphones.

We know how crazy our Community is about gaming, so we prepared 8 gift boxes with something to help you hear more (can't tell you just yet, all will become clearer soon), play more (Warp Charge Bundle) and keep on playing (USD $50 or equivalent Google Play gift card), says the post.

Hence, winners will be among the first to get hands-on with the new Bullets earphones along with the OnePlus Warp Charge Bundle. Winners will also get $50 Google Play gift cards in the giveaway box.

However, there will be one special edition GameBox that will contain an extra item -- a OnePlus 8 series device. In the Twitter post, OnePlus says it will be the ultimate mobile gaming device. Again, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to decipher that OnePlus is talking about the OnePlus 8 Pro which will bring a 120Hz refresh rate display as well as some other hardware enhancements.

The giveaway, however, isn't for free. OnePlus says that if you are interested in it, you will have to compete for it. The contest requires participants to come up with ideas for a OnePlus game and it needs to be original. You can check out all the details on the OnePlus community forum.
Maggie O'Farrell freely admits of coronavirus and the uncanny parallels between the pandemic and her riveting new novel, Hamnet: "I didn't see it coming when I wrote it."

It's set during the bubonic plague outbreak of the 1590s and is a profound study of love, grief and the fragility of life that lands just as the world is on red alert dealing with Covid-19.

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, Hamnet is the author's eighth novel - and her first historical fiction. It puts the spotlight on William Shakespeare's only son, Hamnet, who died from what some historians believe to have been the plague in 1596, aged 11.

Passages in the book that describe the fear of getting it, and being shut away indoors if you have symptoms, will strike a chord.

"The plague, as we call it, completely informed our relationship with contagion and infection," says O'Farrell, on the phone from her home in Edinburgh.

"It's in our cities, it's in our language, it's in the songs we sing our children with Ring a Ring o' Roses" - the "roses" it is suggested, may have been the red blotches on the skin that announced the bubonic plague - "so I think it's very hard to get away from that when something as unprecedented as this pandemic happens; it speaks to all of us. We are automatically thinking of those history lessons. Our epigenetic memories of the Black Death are informing us now."

The 47-year-old is currently on lockdown with novelist husband William Sutcliffe, their 16-year-old son and two daughters (7 and 11), whose names she prefers not to disclose. "It is scary," she says. "But as a parent, it's your job to spread the message that it is all going to be okay."

O'Farrell is used to intense situations. Her middle child suffers from a life-threatening immune disorder that requires the family to be hyper-vigilant all the time. She suffers up to 15 extreme allergic reactions a year and this condition informs aspects of the novel. "You realise how easy it is for someone to slip over into that other state and die," she says.

O'Farrell waited to write Hamnet until her own son was older than Hamnet was when he died aged 11, "so as not to tempt fate".

"It is an odd superstition and slightly bonkers," she says. "I knew I would have to put myself inside the skin of a woman who is sitting beside her child and he died. If I was to write those things I would be thinking about my own son and how that would feel. And I thought, 'I cannot do that until he has gone past that age.'"

She writes about grief with unflinching precision; Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway (known as Agnes) finds "the grave is a shock" and "she might disintegrate, break apart, like a raindrop hitting a leaf".

She couldn't have written this book unless she was a parent, she says: "I think a huge amount of your love for a child is made up of a fear of loss. If you care about something or somebody deeply then it's not a huge stretch of the imagination to imagine what it would be like to lose them."

And she never mentions Shakespeare by name in the book. "It's almost impossible to write 'William Shakespeare sat up and ate his breakfast' without feeling like a total idiot," she says.

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"Every time I thought about writing his name I was pulled out of the story. He carries so much expectation and baggage in the name. I wanted people to forget everything they think they know about him and his life and open themselves up to this fictionalised account of it."

Hamnet is by no means all doom and gloom. O'Farrell wildly reimagines the playwright's domestic life with his wife before their marriage is pushed to the brink by grief when Hamnet dies - about four years before the Bard wrote Hamlet.

This is a link that O'Farrell claims is no coincidence, especially when the name Hamnet and Hamlet were "entirely interchangeable" in Stratford records at the time.

"Calling a tragic hero after your dead son is not nothing," she says.

O'Farrell's style is almost otherworldly, as she shines a light on lurking primal fears.

Whether it's told through a gripping portrait of a marriage breakdown, such as in 2016's This Must Be the Place, or in the fear and confusion of children whose father has mysteriously vanished in 2013's Instructions for a Heatwave, she dives deep into human emotion, but with a lightness of touch.

She plays with time frames, as in her spellbinding 2010 Costa Award-winning The Hand That First Held Mine - a portrait of two mothers separated by 50 years - with breathtaking ease.

In her latest book too she flits between Hamnet's short life and his parents' backstory and how they met.

It's a sexually charged romance, as they secretly meet in the barn where Agnes keeps a kestrel, amid the smell of apples. The 26-year-old Agnes has second sight and can cure illnesses with potions, and foresee the 18-year-old Shakespeare's future potential just by squeezing his hand. She's been unloved since her mother died, but "she's ready to recognise love again when it comes" - which it does in the form of the gifted young Shakespeare.

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Told through the prism of a fairy tale, the story turns Agnes into a sort of Cinderella/Red Riding Hood character. Her wild spirit feels at home in the forest "crazily cross-stitched with brambles and ivy". But Shakespeare - who is referred to in the novel as the Latin tutor, son, brother, and later husband and father - is a "feckless, tradeless boy" according to Agnes's cruel stepmother and as far as his abusively violent dad is concerned, he's a "wastrel son", so not an ideal partner for a woman with a dowry. But his father sees a good deal to be made in the union and somehow clears the way for marriage.

Agnes moves in with Shakespeare to a sort of annex next to his family home in Stratford-upon-Avon's now-famous Henley Street, where "she is like a painting on the wall, eyes missing nothing". They have three children - Susanna and the twins Judith and Hamnet. Once the illness jumps from Judith, who survives it, to Hamnet, the novel becomes a heart-rending account of bereavement for the whole family.

"I always thought that everybody rightly focuses on Shakespeare's extraordinary career in London - but to me, I always think there is an enormous drama and tragedy that was completely acted out offstage in Stratford-upon-Avon that had untold consequences on all of them," says O'Farrell.

She was always outraged that Hamnet was dismissed in biographies about Shakespeare and how it was assumed that child mortality at the time was so high that nobody grieved for them. When she reread Hamlet as she was writing the novel, she clearly saw Hamlet as 15 or 16 years old.

"He seems an exact portrait of that particular developmental stage in a teenager and it seemed to me to be saying very strongly that he, the playwright, had almost resurrected the boy. It's heartbreaking." But, she points out, it's peculiar that Shakespeare doesn't make a single reference to the plague in any of his works.

"I've often wondered why that might be," she says. "It was a disease that completely shaped Elizabethan thinking and their lives. His professional life would have been disrupted many times. The first thing the authorities in London did when there was an outbreak was to shut all the theatres."

O'Farrell herself suffered life-threatening illness as a child. At eight, she developed encephalitis - inflammation of the brain, usually caused by infection - and missed more than a year at school, after recovering in hospital. But, confined to bed, she read all the classics and found respite in writing from the stammer she has suffered from all her life.

Born in Coleraine, to Irish parents, she grew up in Wales and Scotland, where she went to school in the seaside town of North Berwick, about 20 miles from Edinburgh, before reading English at Cambridge.

In her bestselling 2017 memoir I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death, she describes how surviving encephalitis set her on a perilous course in life - in it, she escapes a murderer, jumps off a harbour wall and suffers a traumatic labour.

"A lot of the brushes with death I had I can relate back to having that illness as a child - in both physical and psychological ways," she says, while admitting she had "an unhealthy relationship to risk".

"The doctor told me when I was young I would die - and I heard him saying that. I was also told that I would never walk again. I have managed to hoodwink both of those paths laid out for me, so I have always just wanted to seize life with both hands. It's always felt like I was living on borrowed time, so I wanted to push it to the limits and make the most of the time I have."

In 1996, at 24, she got a job as an arts journalist at The Independent on Sunday, and was promoted to deputy literary editor, before leaving to become a full-time novelist a few years later.

She had already begun writing her debut After You'd Gone, a family saga about loss and family ties "with the page-turning pace of a thriller" according to one review. It was published in 2000 and won the Betty Trask Award.

"I wanted to be a novelist, but I didn't think it would ever happen," she recalls.

She had attended a residential writing course run by Arvon in 1996. Armed with about 20,000 words that would become her debut - but weren't at the time "fit for publication" - she shyly showed it to her tutors, who were very encouraging. "They told me to finish it and said they would send it to their agent," says O'Farrell, who was staying in a Yorkshire farmhouse where Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes had once lived. Another misadventure ensued. "It was mid-winter and freezing cold. I was so excited that I ran out semi-naked and fell into a really deep ditch full of muddy water up to my chest - I had to scrabble out."

Now, O'Farrell has written her first children's book Where Snow Angels Go, which will be published this autumn by Walker Books. It stems from stories she used to send her children in letters when she was away on book tours.

I wonder if, over the course of her long career, she has experienced sexism in the literary world? "A slight belittling," she says, of meeting male writers at places like literary festivals. "Sometimes I meet other writers who want to put me down, but it doesn't bother me. I have a thick skin. If somebody is going to be sexist, it's their problem and their anger belongs to them and it doesn't belong to me."

She has juggled having kids with writing novels, but says having limited time "sharpens your concentration". Daydreaming is of particular importance to her, she says, and is the main reason she doesn't engage with social media.

"I can see that to do social media well you have to invest quite a lot of time in it. I look at other people doing it. I can see it would devour daydreaming time."

It's easy to understand why she needed much of that while fictionalising the day-to-day life of Shakespeare and his family. As O'Farrell says about being pulled away from her desk by children: "There is always a little engine at the back of your head that is still working. A lot of very useful work does happen when you are looking the other way."

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell is published in hardback by Tinder Press, priced 20 (ebook 9.99). Available now
[April 03, 2020] ExxonMobil Supports Hunger Relief with $100,000 Contribution to West Texas Food Bank

ExxonMobil is supporting hunger relief in the Midland-Odessa area and across West Texas with a $100,000 donation to the West Texas Food Bank to help those facing difficult economic circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005347/en/ "We're proud to be able to help the communities where we operate and call home," said Staale Gjervik, senior vice president at ExxonMobil Upstream Oil and Gas Company and president of XTO Energy. "With school closures, job disruptions and health risks, thousands of West Texans are turning to the West Texas Food Bank for much-needed support." The West Texas Food Bank has been feeding families in Midland-Odessa region and the entire West Texas area for more than 35 years. As the largest nonprofit, non-governmental hunger relief organization in the Permian Basin, the West Texas Food Bank distributes donated and purchased food to children, families and seniors with help from more than 80 partner agencies. This network provides food to individuals across 34,000 square miles of Texas. "We have entered an uncertain time, but we are secure in the knowledge that our supporters are behind us," said Libby Campbell, executive director at the West Texas Food Bank. "The support we have received from ExxonMobil is crucial in a time where the food bank is having to spend extraordinary amounts of money to purchase food. I am forever grateful for their support." In addition to its donation to the West Texas Food Bank, ExxonMobil is supplying the fuels and other products that consumers, first responders and health care workers need to address the challenges faced by COVID-19. ExxonMobil is helping to meet demand for important products such as hand saitizers, alcohol wipes and disinfectant sprays by manufacturing a key ingredient, isopropyl alcohol, and providing it to the customers and areas that need it most. ExxonMobil is also working with the Global Center for Medical Innovation to design and support the manufacturing of reusable shields and masks for health care workers.



ExxonMobil is a founding member of the Permian Strategic Partnership, an alliance of 19 energy companies operating in the Permian Basin, working in partnership with community leaders to address public education, healthcare, housing, roads and workforce development. In 2018, ExxonMobil contributed nearly $35 million to higher education, medical care, environmental research and arts and civic organizations in Texas and New Mexico. About ExxonMobil

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), one of the largest publicly traded international energy company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world's growing energy needs. ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, with a focus on math and science in the United States, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria. In 2018, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $211 million in contributions worldwide. To learn more, visit exxonmobil.com and the Energy Factor. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About West Texas Food Bank The West Texas Food Bank (WTFB) is a nonprofit hunger relief organization who distributes donated and purchased food through a network of over 80 Partner Agencies in 19 counties throughout West Texas. WTFB supports the nutritional needs of children, families and senior citizens through strategic partnerships with civic and corporate groups, as well as private donors. Every dollar donated helps provide four meals for the hungry, and 92 cents of every dollar goes directly to feed hungry West Texans. Founded in 1985, WTFB is a member of Feeding America, the nation's largest network of hunger relief organizations. In 2019, roughly 6.5 million pounds of food was distributed to hungry West Texans. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005347/en/

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Australia's Prime Minister has told all foreign visitors and students to leave the country now amid fury at backpackers for failing to follow social distancing rules.

Scott Morrison said that while those with essential skills - such as visiting doctors and nurses - will be encouraged to stay, it was past time for everyone else to 'make their way home'.

It comes after one hostel in Sydney was shut down after police were called to break up a party, while tourists also packed on to Bondi Beach despite warnings not to gather outdoors.

There were more than 1million people in Australia on visitor and student visas on December 31 - thought to include tens of thousands of UK and US tourists - though it is unclear how many remain in the country.

Many people were struggling to arrange last-minute flights home following the announcement, as existing flights were being cancelled while prices for the remaining tickets soared to more than 1,000 each.

Police were called to a hostel in Sydney to break up this rooftop social gathering, where revellers were visibly flouting social distancing rules

British backpacker Peter Leggatt (pictured) defended the party, saying it is 'impossible' to socially distance in a hostel, where many travellers are 'trapped' as flights dry up

There are fears that backpacker hostels - with cramped living conditions and communal facilities - could become hotbeds of disease (pictured, a hostel in Bondi that was forced to shut after an outbreak there)

A cluster of cases among backpackers was also traced back to two parties at nightclubs near Bondi Beach in March, even as the government advised people not to take the threat of the virus lightly.

British backpacker Peter Leggatt then prompted further outrage when he suggested that people were simply 'jealous' that backpackers were still having fun.

Health minister Greg Hunt branded the situation in Bondi 'unacceptable' and called on the local council to 'stop that from occurring'.

Mr Morrison stopped short of ordering foreigners to leave as he spoke Friday, but made it clear they will not be a priority during the crisis.

Mr Morrison said: 'As much as it is lovely to have visitors to Australia in good times, at times like this if you're a visitor in this country, it is time... to make your way home.

'Australia must focus on its citizens and its residents to ensure that we can maximise the economic supports that we have.'

Australia has so far confirmed 5,330 cases of the virus with 28 deaths.

There are fears that backpacker hostels - with crowded living arrangements, shared kitchen and limited hygiene facilities - could turn into virus hotbeds.

Some backpackers have complained that they are effectively trapped in the country as hundreds of flights are grounded and costs for the remaining seats soar.

Police were filmed breaking up a rooftop party at one hostel in Sydney recently, where residents were ignoring social distancing rules.

Britons in desperate last-minute scramble to find a way home Thousands of Britons were scrambling to find a way home from Australia ordered all visitors to leave. Dozens of Facebook groups sprung up with people trying to book last-minute tickets as prices soared to more than 1,000 per seat. Meanwhile others revealed their scheduled flights had been cancelled, leaving them stranded. Britons were scrambling to find a way home from Australia on Friday after they were told to leave the country, with people searching for ways to afford a ticket Dozens of flights were being cancelled with costs for the remaining seats spiralling to more than 1,000 each The British Embassy told everyone wishing to return home to book a flight as soon as possible, but admitted that availability of seats is 'evolving'. MailOnline discovered one user who was considering taking out an emergency loan to cover the cost, and another who claimed to have been made jobless and homeless, and was unable to afford to fly home. Triona Mullahy, from Ireland, told ABC News that she has spent $8,000 on flights so far, only to see them all cancelled and was running out of options. Meanwhile Britons Dan Campbell and Leanne Hawkes said they also had a fight home that has been cancelled, and both recently lost their jobs in a call centre which means they cannot afford another. One Briton claimed to have been made jobless and homeless in the crisis, and was unable to return home because she could not afford a ticket While the UK has been chartering repatriation flights to some countries that halted all commercial flights, Australia has kept its airports open meaning that Britons are expected to book a ticket home. Even those who managed to book a flight home that went ahead, then found themselves stranded after landing because many coach and train services have been cancelled. National Express and Megabus have announced that all services have been cancelled this week, and while trains are still running many services have been reduced. UK regional airlines have also been grounding flights as demand plummets. The British Embassy advised everyone without Australian citizenship or residency to book a flight home as soon as possible, but admitted availability was 'evolving' Others complained of flights being cancelled last minute, leaving them stranded Advertisement

Bondi beach is now deserted after it was closed to prevent social contact, but was still crowded earlier this week despite government guidelines

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged all foreigners in the country on visitor or student visas to 'make your way home' as the country's coronavirus crisis intensifies (pictured, tourists leave a hostel in Bondi on Friday)

Mr Morrison said Australia will be prioritising its own citizens and residents for economic help as the country moves towards a lockdown over the virus

That prompted Briton Peter Leggatt to hit back on social media, saying it is 'impossible' to socially distance in a hostel and those cheering on police were simply 'jealous' of the fun they were having.

He also pointed out that many backpackers in Australia have no choice but to remain in the country, since departing flights are being repeatedly cancelled.

He wrote: 'We're stranded here, a lot of us without family or even friends, a huge chunk now out of work, and even more of us having flights home repeatedly cancelled leaving us with no funds and no way out.

'But let's ignore all that, and blame us solely for the outbreak in Bondi (because apparently it was only backpackers there).'

Backpackers have been singled out in the police blitz after a virus cluster emerged in the city's eastern suburbs, a hotspot for young travellers staying in cramped hostels.

Figures released last week identified Waverley Council, which covers Bondi, as having the most confirmed coronavirus cases in New South Wales.

The prime minister explained that some travellers to Australia, such as those on working-holiday visas could work in fruit picking and other agricultural work.

But he said they must first self-isolate before travelling to regional areas, amid fears the migration could spread the virus from cities to 'more vulnerable' regions.

He also said workers will be required to abide by social-distancing rules.

'This is being done to ensure that those producers can get the work done but also to ensure that the communities are protected,' he said.

It comes as Australians continue to return home to see out the pandemic. Passengers returned on a special flight repatriating Australians from abroad (pictured on Thursday in Brisbane)

Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane on Friday (pictured)

'You cant have six backpackers in a caravan up out in rural parts of the country,' he added.

'Thats not on. Not going to happen.'

He reiterated the current visa regulations which state that students who come to Australia must prove they have enough money to support themselves for 12 months.

Mr Morrison commented that given students will have known about this rule before arriving, it is 'not unreasonable' to expect them to look after themselves.

'That is a requirement for their visa when they come for the first year,' he explained.

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

'That is not an unreasonable expectation of the government that students would be able to fulfill the commitment that they gave.'

But those who can be useful to the health system, such as student nurses, have had restrictions on their visas lifted - bringing 20,000 more nurses into the workforce.

'For those backpackers who are nurses or doctors or have other critical skills that can really help us during this crisis then there will be opportunities for them as well,' he added.

'But our focus and our priority is on supporting Australians and Australian residents with the economic supports that are available.'

The call comes soon after Mr Morrison told Australians not to go on holiday for Easter, fearing mass movement could increase the spread of the deadly virus.

He said families should not even drive to see relatives and instead stay at home, with many state borders already shut.

'People should not be going away for Easter holidays. Holiday at home,' he said.

'People should not be getting in their cars and going to other places.'

The prime minister said his wife Jenny and two daughters had set up decorations at his house in Canberra in preparation for next weekend.

Mr Morrison said places of worship are closed to the public but services will be live-streamed.

He made the comments in a press conference in which he announced the government is working on a plan to save commercial tenants from eviction.

Under a national code of conduct proposed by real estate groups, tenants participating in the JobKeeper scheme could ask landlords for a rent reduction proportionate to the amount of revenue they have lost due to coronavirus.

'The turnover reduction of the tenant needs to be reflected in the rental waiver of the landlord,' Mr Morrison said.

'We want both parties to negotiate in good faith.'

This could mean that some tenants have to make no rental payments for months.

The code, expected to be finalised next week, will be mandatory and incorporated into state and territory legislation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:45:32|Editor: huaxia

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Two Chinese medical experts walk by the medical materials donated by China to Laos at the Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, March 29, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

The Chinese side sent medical experts to Laos in the shortest time possible and has offered assistance in medical supplies, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, adding that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance.

BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance for Laos' battle against the COVID-19 epidemic in line with the neighboring country's practical needs.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Bounnhang Vorachith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos.

On behalf of the CPC and the Chinese government and people, Xi extended sincere sympathies and firm support to their Lao counterparts.

Noting that China and Laos are both socialist countries led by Communist parties, Xi said that at a critical moment in China's fight against the coronavirus disease, Bounnhang immediately sent a letter of sympathies to him.

A staff member of the Ministry of Health of Laos transfers supplies donated by China in Vientiane, Laos, March 30, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

That, along with the brotherly and sincere help from various sections of Lao society, has vividly demonstrated the spirit of the China-Laos community with a shared future, which is characterized by sticking together and helping each other through thick and thin, added Xi.

Stressing that the Chinese people will bear Laos' support in mind, he said he is deeply concerned about the difficulties Laos is facing in its epidemic prevention and control.

The Chinese side sent medical experts to Laos in the shortest time possible and has offered assistance in medical supplies, Xi said, adding that China will continue to provide all-out support and assistance.

He said he believes that the Lao people will surely defeat the virus under the firm leadership of the LPRP Central Committee headed by Bounnhang.

The pandemic has once again proved the importance and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi pointed out, noting that the recent extraordinary leaders' summit of the Group of 20 has sent a positive signal on joining hands against COVID-19 and safeguarding the stability of the global economy.

China, he said, will continue to work with the international community, including Laos, to contribute to defeating the epidemic at an early date.

People wearing face masks are seen on the street in Vientiane, Laos, March 23, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, China stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Laos and advance bilateral cooperation in line with the action plan on building the China-Laos community with a shared future, added Xi.

He called for concerted efforts to deepen exchanges on experience in party and state governance, steadily push forward such major projects as the China-Laos railway and economic corridor, promote people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs.

In doing so, he said, the two countries can continuously deliver more solid outcomes in the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future and create greater benefits for the people in both countries.

Xi also wished the 11th congress of the LPRP to be held early next year a great success. 
The inclusion of Iran in the FATF's black list on February 21, 2020 has had some effect, a member of Iranian parliament Masoumeh Aghapour Alishahi told Trend.

According to Alishahi, this issue has led to 15-20 percent increase in foreign exchange in Iran.

Alishahi added that it also had a negative impact on the return of Iranian funds to the country.

The Iranian MP said that however, the fact that three European countries (the UK, France and Germany) in the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan launched the first operation under the INSTEX financial mechanism has reduced the FATF's influence.

Alishahi said that in addition, the effects of FATF are less severe in the current state of coronavirus spread.

The Iranian MP said that The Expediency Council of Iran may re-examine the FATF's projects, given the economic situation in Iran.

The objectives of FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

During the recent FATF meeting, Iran has been warned that it may be added to the list of non-cooperative countries within three months if it does not completely fulfill the FATF requirements. Iran fulfilled 37 of 41 FATF requirements. The remaining four requirements refer to the legislative field.

The amendments to Counter-Terrorist Financing Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act, Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo) and International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) were prepared by the Iranian government and sent to the parliament.

Although the four conventions have been approved and sent to the Expediency Council of Iran, the CFT and Palermo conventions have not yet been ratified by the Council.

FATF was established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 Group to combat money laundering. FATF has 37 members and its secretariat is in Paris.

Iran was included in the FATF blacklist in 2007. The anti-Tehran steps have been taken since 2009. Thus, the countries were cautious in their financial and banking transactions with Iran.

Taking of reciprocal steps against Iran through diplomatic steps has been postponed since 2016. FATF included Iran into the black list again on Feb. 21, 2020.
If youre hoping to leave behind some sort of legacy for your family, friends or favorite charity, you arent alone. In a 2019 survey by Caring.com, 53% of respondents said theyve talked to a loved one about needing a will or living trust, and 76% said having a will or living trust is important. But when it comes to follow-through, theres often a breakdown. Only 40% of the surveys respondents said they actually have a will or living trust in place. Most (50.4%) blamed procrastination for their lack of planning. But cost, time and not knowing how to go about it were also factors named, and nearly a quarter (21.6%) of the respondents said they simply didnt have enough assets to leave something to someone else. Estate Plans Arent Just for the Rich I get it. For some people, estate planning may seem like something only rich people need to do. They cant imagine there will be much of a problem disbursing whats left when theyre gone, especially if theyve talked to a friend or family members about who should get what. I believe those folks couldnt be more wrong. Just as with anything related to your finances, leaving a legacy takes planning. And, for most people, protecting that legacy takes professional assistance. At Scott Tucker Solutions, Inc. we have a strategic partnership with tax professionals and attorneys who can provide tax and/or legal advice since our firms financial professionals are not able to give tax or legal advice.

If youre wondering what estate planning should look like for you and your family, it can help to think of each step as a rung on the legacy ladder. If youre doing nothing, youre on the bottom rung of that ladder, and youll pass away intestate (without a will). That means your family will have to go through the probate process, and instead of an executor youve designated, a court-appointed administrator will organize your assets, pay any debts, and distribute what remains to anyone deemed a beneficiary according to state law. Take the First Step Up the Ladder If you have beneficiary designations on your bank accounts, certificates of deposit, investment accounts, etc., youve moved up a rung on the ladder. Your beneficiaries wont have access to these accounts while youre alive, but the transfer on death (TOD) instructions you put together now will help them avoid probate when you die. (If youre married, most state laws require that your accounts go to your surviving spouse first, and the TOD beneficiaries wont get the funds until your spouse passes.) Although it wont take care of all your estate-planning needs, this is one way to help make sure your money goes to the people you choose without a long delay. Just make sure you keep your beneficiary designations up to date. Its easy to overlook an old account or a new marriage  and that can make for an awkward memorial service. Some Pros and Cons of Wills The next rung on the ladder is for those who put a proper will in place. With a will, you can outline exactly how you want your assets disbursed  and thats a plus. Unfortunately, a will doesnt make your plan bulletproof. Its important to note that wills dont bypass probate, and it will be up to the court to decide if the will is valid or not. This process could be a problem for your family members in a few ways.

Theyll likely have to hire an attorney to represent their interests, which, depending on how complicated things get, could eat up some of the money in your estate. Theyll also lose privacy. The will and all probate proceedings will be published, so anyone whos curious can take a look. And it opens up your estate to claims from people who arent even named in your will. (Be sure to consult with a qualified attorney for decisions regarding your will.) Your executor and your beneficiaries also may lose time if they have to keep going back to court as the proceedings drag on. If, after checking out the pros and cons, a will sounds like the right fit for you, make sure youre working with a competent attorney. Yes, you can find the forms online and do it yourself, but if your goal is to take care of your family, why risk leaving them vulnerable to any more grief than theyll already be experiencing? Climbing All the Way to the Top The top rung on the legacy ladder is a trust. It isnt the cheapest way to go  at least not upfront. A trust could cost thousands of dollars in legal fees. But your heirs will dodge the time and expense of probate, which could cost as much, if not more, in the long run. And your family will keep its privacy by staying out of court. The idea of using a trust may seem silly to those who have only a small estate  maybe a house, some jewelry or art, and $100,000 or $200,000 in various accounts. But if you have an estate worth more than $100,000  or any complications that could keep your will from moving easily through probate  you may find youll benefit from consulting with an attorney and going with a trust instead. The last thing you want is for your kids to argue over Grandmas ring or the family cabin on the lake.

In a nutshell, some reasons why you might want to go with a trust over a will: Wills dont avoid probate.

A will costs less now, but then you have to pay legal fees to go through probate later.

Wills cause your loved ones to go through probate while theyre mourning.

Also, wills are published (a loss of privacy).

The probate process opens your estate up to claims from people not named in your will.

Estates settled with wills take longer to settle than those settled via trust. The Bottom Line If you have a larger estate, a professional who specializes in estate planning may be able to help you minimize taxes with a trust and offer other strategies that could further protect your money and your loved ones. Your financial adviser may be able to help you identify when considering a trust may be beneficial, and he or she likely can refer you to an attorney to assist you. (Its helpful when these professionals work together.) If you decide not to go with a trust, you still should work with an experienced and knowledgeable adviser who can consult with your attorney to help avoid a complicated probate process and get your money, your keys or Grandmas ring into the right hands as quickly and efficiently as possible. I believe its best to do this sooner than later. Dont let procrastination  or any other excuse  keep you from getting your wishes down on paper. Kim Franke-Folstad contributed to this article. Investment advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM). AEWM and Scott Tucker Solutions, Inc., are not affiliated companies. Scott Tucker Solutions, Inc. has a strategic partnership with tax professionals and attorneys who can provide tax and/or legal advice. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult with a qualified professional for guidance before making any purchasing decisions. 390397 The appearances in Kiplinger were obtained through a PR program. The columnist received assistance from a public relations firm in preparing this piece for submission to Kiplinger.com. Kiplinger was not compensated in any way.
"To illustrate that, normally when the economy is hit by a negative shock, the government's response is to inject stimulus." As the Morrison government has done this time, too. "But," continues Henry, "there are industries that the government has rightly decided are too dangerous to continue operating." Cafes, pubs, cinemas, gyms, theatres, restaurants, among others. "If you are closing whole sectors of the economy  and you have a negative shock due to people's concerns about their health  that makes the task of supporting the economy really, really difficult. It's much more difficult than just injecting stimulus." Illustration: Jim Pavlidis Credit: He doesn't think that the government's preferred economic metaphor of a "hibernation" fits. Morrison speaks of putting the economy into hibernation so it can recover full function when the emergency has passed. "You have to forgive me," says Henry, "I know about animals and what they need in hibernation and they just need a safe place. They don't need to worry about food, water, electricity, telecommunications, any of the utilities that our economy is desperately reliant on. I think life support gets closer to it."

But life support is expensive. So far, the Morrison government and the Reserve Bank have pledged total support  cash outlays as well as loan guarantees  of more than $320 billion, equal to 16 per cent of the national economy as measured by GDP. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg calls this "unprecedented levels of support". Loading So what bits does Australia need to keep on life support, and what can be allowed to die? Virgin Australia airlines is on the expendable list. The airline asked the federal government for a $1.4 billion loan to stay in business and was knocked back this week. Yet the childcare industry was put on life support at the cost of $1.6 billion over six months. "The challenge for the government is to put at least the core infrastructure of our economic system on life support," says Henry, who is on the board of the Australian stock exchange as well as four foundations and not-for-profits dealing variously with leadership, philanthropy and the environment. "That doesn't mean every business, but it does mean core utilities."

Ken Henry includes a good aviation service on his list of essential utilities, but so long as you have a viable flag carrier in Qantas, do you need another? Henry won't say, but he doesn't raise any objection to the government's decision. The Howard government thought a second airline a luxury  it let Ansett airlines go out of business. The same test applies today, evidently. But old-style nationalisation may well be necessary in some areas, says Henry: "You can't rule out a government, state or federal, injecting equity into a public utility, and you could even see an entire industry nationalised. You just have to keep an open mind." This is a real sign of the times. Henry fought for the forces of the free market in the Hawke-Keating and Howard-Costello reform programs. Did privatisation in that era go too far? Henry replies that Qantas and the Commonwealth Bank shouldn't have stayed in government ownership, "but there's a question about other utilities in other sectors that are not as competitive. That is a live question."

He lists the electricity, telecommunications, gas, water, waste disposal and private hospital industries in this category. "It happens we've had 30 years showing that it is possible to have these pieces of critical infrastructure in private hands and providing a reliable service. But, hit by this crisis, it might be true  but will it always be true that these assets in private ownership will continue to provide reliable service to the public? Loading "Private hospitals are a really interesting case. It's been government policy for many years to encourage them ... but if they are put at risk, because they are such an important part of our system, governments would have to think again." The federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, says he has guaranteed the viability of the private hospitals with the deal struck to include them in the national coronavirus response. Henry's point is that even this might not be enough ultimately. How about childcare? Does that deserve the full government lifeline Morrison has just thrown it? "Childcare supports the functioning of the labour market  how can people work if there's nowhere to have their kids minded?"

Similarly, the government's $130 billion decision this week to pay a wage subsidy to keep workers in jobs that their employers couldn't otherwise afford. "You've got to keep the labour market connection, keep people connected to an employer. We've seen in other recessions that some people, especially if they're older than 50, find it difficult or impossible" ever to work again. "That does generational damage to families and societies." Loading But where do you stop spending money on life support? What's a prudent limit? "We don't know," says Henry. "What does prudent mean in these circumstances? If you'd asked me 12 months ago, I would have said people's tolerance for government debt would be about 20 per cent of GDP." This is exactly where the government's pre-crisis forecast put it  peaking at 19.5 per cent of GDP right now, this financial year, before declining. After its emergency spending, that's now projected to hit 26 per cent. And now, says Henry: "By the time we can say we are out of this, I'd put the debt ratio well north of 50 per cent" of GDP, or more than double the current projected peak. "It's hard to argue that's imprudent in the circumstances, but it will take a generation or more to pay back. I'll tell you this much - if you want to pay it back, and I think we should, you haven't got the tax system we should have. You should have a highly efficient tax system. That is, a system that's capable of raising more revenue without impairing economic growth. At some stage, we are going to need a very major tax reform."

This was the cause to which the long-moribund Henry tax review, delivered in 2010, was dedicated. Henry retired in 2011 despairing that it would ever be acted on. Loading But impossible things are now happening daily. This week a Liberal Minister for Industrial Relations, Christian Porter, publicly thanked the ACTU. Why? Because the unions and employers worked closely to rewrite the industrial awards system to create more flexibility for firms to survive the crisis. Porter described it as "the type of change in three weeks inside the award system that you might otherwise wait 30 years to see". Says Henry: "If we can do that, we can do tax reform. When things are going well it's a huge task to convince politicians to make hard reforms. But when people are confronted with a crisis, maybe it's time." Not only has the pro-market neoliberal doctrine reach past its expiry date, so has the national consensus in favour of returning the budget to immediate balance.
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Valued at US$ 10 Bn in 2019, cacao beans market will grow at a robust CAGR during the forecast period (2019  2029). Increasing demand for organic ingredients in modern households and foodservice companies present an emerging source of continuous revenues. According to a new study by Future Market Insights (FMI), sales of cacao beans have surpassed traditional offline channels, witnessing a measurable uptick via online channels.

Key Research Findings of FMIs Cacao Beans Market Study

Owing to high availability, forastero cacao beans will maintain share-wide dominance.

On the back of rarity, criollo beans will register significant sales growth during the forecast period.

Foodservice industry will generate highest demand for cacao beans.

Europe continues to lead the market, with over 47% revenue share.

Key Growth Drivers  Cacao Beans Market

Heightening demand from the foodservice sector is driving market growth.

Expanding health-conscious consumer population assists the growth of market.

String presence of leading cacao grinders and processors in Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, and UK will drive growth in the European Union.

Increasing application in bakery & confectionary will bolster demand through the end of 2029.

Key Impediments  Cacao Beans Market

Low yield of criollo beans continues to pose a restraint for cacao beans market.

Growing interest in artificial cacao flavor production in lab is challenging traditional manufacturers in the market.

Competitive Analysis  Cacao Beans Market

Market players are consolidating the cacao supply chain through mergers and acquisitions. For instance, Barry Callebaut acquired Russian chocolate producer Inforum in February, 2019. Few prominent producers in the cacao beans market are Cargill Inc., Theobroma B.V., Olam International Limited, Ciranda Inc., Edna Group, Barry Callebaut AG, Dutch Cocoa B.V., Kakao Berlin, Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd., PT. Danora Agro Prima, Nederland SA, Cocoa Processing Company, India Cocoa Pvt Ltd., United Cocoa Processors Inc., BT Cocoa among others.

Request for covid19 Impact Analysis: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/covid19/REP-GB-11089

Press Release Source: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/03/03/1994405/0/en/Cacao-Beans-Market-Surpassed-US-10-Bn-Mark-in-2019-Increasing-Preference-for-Organic-Ingredients-to-Favor-Growth-Says-Future-Market-Insights.html

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Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMIs largest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition.

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WESTPORT  Despite schools being closed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Coleytown Middle Schools remediation project is still on schedule for now.

CMS Building Commitee Chairman Don ODay provided the update during the Board if Educations virtual meeting on Thursday.

The message that I wanted to put out is that, as of today, the schedule is still showing that we are going to open as of Sept. 1 for the fall semester at Coleytown Middle School, ODay said.

Currently no construction projections have been shut down in the state, but ODay said the governor in New York has shut down all nonessential construction projects.

ODay said the only potential problem is the glass supplier for the schools windows in Pennslyvania

Pennslyvania, probably more so than New York from a construction perspective, is really shut down, he said, adding contingencies were being established.

While there has not yet been a major problem with collecting building materials, ODay noted some staffing challenges with some workers being absent over the past three weeks. While the August deadline remains important, he said the health of the workers was a top priority.

The health and safety of everyone working on Coleytown Middle School is our top priority, ODay said. Im not going to rush to get the job done with fewer people to meet a deadline that is less important now than the health and safety of everyone working on the site.

In case the building does not open on time, Interim Superintendent David Abbey said contingencies were already being discussed. The portable classrooms set up at Bedford Middle School had been contracted for two years and could be used for additional space if needed.

Theres all kinds of scenarios we can consider, Abbey said. At this point, well have a backup scheduling plan and then were going forward with our hiring practices once the budget is settled as we would any year.

In other business, the education board reacted to the Board of Finances $1,327,000 reduction to its proposed $123 million budget. The finance board suggested a $250,000 reduction in budgeted school repairs, and a $550,000 cut due to anticipated health care savings.

Reductions proposed by the districts administration included $100,000 from staff turnover, $100,000 from the carryover account, $150,000 from anticipated electricity savings, and potentially $177,000 from personnel.

Considering the bulk of the budget proposals increase came from facilities and maintenance, some BOE members grew concerned about how additional staffing cuts could impact the schools. Members also considered having separate discussions for each part of the budget  facilities, the operating budget and health care costs.

I think we should keep those three budgets distinct, BOE member Vik Muktavaram said. We should keep them simple, distinct, and have three separate conversations.

The BOE will next meet on April 13, and can return to the finance board on April 15 to seek fund restorations.
The cooling towers of the Limerick Generating Station provide a backdrop to Pottstown, in western Montgomery County. The nuclear power station last week began its outage to refuel one of the two reactors on site, but Montgomery County officials have raised fears that the influx of more than a thousand workers into the area might accelerate the spread of COVID-19 virus in the area. Read more

One of about 1,400 contract workers involved with the refueling outage at the Limerick nuclear power plant in Montgomery County has tested positive for COVID-19, which is likely to further raise concerns of local officials who have protested Exelon Generations decision to proceed with the annual maintenance event.

Exelon notified county health officials that a contract worker at the Limerick Generating Station tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday night. The worker, who is from central Pennsylvania, was last on site on Monday. The areas that the worker used have been decontaminated and plant employees were notified, the company said in a statement.

Two other full-time Limerick workers were diagnosed recently with COVID-19 at the plant, but they have not been on site since March 20, Lacy Dean, director of communications for Exelon Generation, said in a statement.

The refueling outage, which involves the influx of about 1,400 workers, began on March 27.

The health and safety of our employees and contractors, and limiting the spread of the virus, are our utmost priorities, and we have strict protocols in place to address each case as it occurs, the company said in a statement Friday. Any employees who came in close contact with the affected persons or work at that reporting location are notified, and we perform an additional deep cleaning of all areas that have potentially been exposed.

Of the 1,400 workers, Exelon said about half are local and half come from out of state. But nobody who has traveled recently overseas, or is coming in from hard-hit New York City, is permitted to work on site.

News of the infected worker is likely to heighten concern among Montgomery County officials, who have raised protests in recent days about Exelons decision to proceed with the refueling of one of its two Limerick reactors.

County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said at a news conference Friday that county officials have had discussions with Exelon after she expressed concern this week that the influx of workers might jeopardize the countys efforts to combat the pandemic.

 ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters.

We are in communication with them on a daily basis, and our office of public health is working to establish a routine set of data for them to share with us every day, she said. They are giving us guidance on what data they are collecting.

Arkoosh did not mention the newly diagnosed worker.

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, a Democrat from Montgomery County, also expressed concern on Thursday. While I recognize the nuclear plant as a vital part of our infrastructure, we must ensure that proper measures are taken to keep both the workers and our community safe  and limit the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible, Dean said in a statement Thursday.

Some officials and anti-nuclear activists had suggested that Exelon should postpone the refueling event, in which a third of the nuclear fuel in Unit 1 is replaced.

We just do not have that luxury, Dave Marcheskie, Limericks communications manager, said in a video that the company posted on Thursday. Exelon officials said the refueling is required to keep the 2,260-megawatt complex operating at capacity in the summer, when its power is in peak demand.

The Department of Energy and Gov. Tom Wolf have designated power-generation plants as essential life-sustaining businesses that are permitted to remain open and conduct maintenance during the public health emergency. Dan Brouillette, the U.S. energy secretary, reached out on March 27 to Wolf to specifically ensure the Limerick refueling was not delayed.

Limerick is one of more than 30 reactors nationwide that are scheduled for refueling and maintenance outages this spring, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. Nuclear operators typically schedule outages for either spring or fall, when electricity demand subsides between the heating and air-conditioning seasons, and the workhorse power plants can be taken offline without risk to the power grid.

In addition to Limerick, spring refueling outages are also scheduled or underway at operators of the Beaver Valley Power Station in Shippingport, Pa., the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station in Berwick, Pa., and the Salem Nuclear Power Plant in Lower Alloways Creek Township, N.J.

Refueling outages are planned a year in advance  tools, experts, and nuclear fuel are ordered, and work schedules are choreographed to reduce the time the plants are offline during maintenance. Nuclear power plants typically operate nearly all year, providing a constant source of electricity to the grid. Each Limerick unit powers about one million homes.

As the start date for the Limerick outage approached amid the coronavirus outbreak, the company postponed nonessential maintenance tasks it had scheduled to reduce the workforce by more than 300 people, said Lacey Dean. The outage was also extended by two days to reduce the density of workers in the plant.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus math shows the importance of social distancing, and the horrible consequences of not doing it

Dean said in a statement that Limerick had strict procedures in place to keep the public, employees and contractors safe, including the use of social distancing.

As part of Limericks comprehensive COVID-19 safety precautions, all workers must pass a symptom screening and body temperature check prior to entry every shift, she said. Were also requiring social distancing, remote work where possible, frequent hand washing, and increased facility cleaning and disinfection.

Staff writers Allison Steele and Vinny Vella contributed to this article.
Hong Kong: HA explains alternatives to masks

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Hospital Authority today said it is asking local scientists if the N95 respirator masks could be decontaminated and reused to combat the shortage of medical masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The authoritys Chief Manager (Quality & Standards) Dr Lau Ka-hin explained during a press briefing that the authority is searching for alternative strategies that include using a different mask or asking experts to study if sterilising the scarce masks is a safe option.

"There is a very tight supply of N95 respirators (throughout) the whole world. We are facing a shortage of supply from other overseas countries because some countries have actually banned the export of N95 respirators.

"In the Hospital Authority, we are looking for any alternatives for the N95 respirators which can fulfil the international standards and give fairly good protection to our staff. We are contacting different factories, locally as well as overseas, to see whether there are other types of respirators which can provide the same standards as N95 respirators.

"For the new technology of sterilisation of N95 respirators, this is a fairly new guideline in some countries, but in Hong Kong we are still looking for any review of this new technology by our experts in infection control."

Dr Lau emphasised that hospital workers will continue using the N95 masks until infection control experts complete their study.

"We are not asking our staff to reuse the N95 respirators (in the meantime). We are waiting for the experts to review this technology before we go forward."

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 08:10:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (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 disease.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has risen above 1 million, according to the new tally from Johns Hopkins University on Thursday afternoon.

A total of 1,002,159 people have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus across the world, with a death toll of 51,485, while more than 200,000 patients have recovered, showed the tally updated by the university's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

- - - -

BRASILIA -- The death toll from the novel coronavirus climbed to 299 in Brazil as the number of confirmed cases went from 6,836 to 7,910, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

In the past 24 hours, 59 COVID-19 patients died, raising the mortality rate to 3.8 percent, and 1,074 people tested positive, slightly less than the 1,119 new cases reported in the previous 24-hour period.

- - - -

PARIS -- French hospitals registered a one-day loss of 471 coronavirus patients, taking the total to 4,503, while some 900 dependant elder people living at nursing homes had died of the virus since the epidemic began, a health official said on Thursday.

In total, 59,105 people had tested positive for the virus, up by 2,116 in one day, versus an increase of 4,861 on Wednesday, said Director General of Health Jerome Salomon at the daily conference on the epidemic.

- - - -

TRIPOLI -- Libya's National Center for Disease Control on Thursday announced the first death from COVID-19.

"The Reference Laboratory of Society Health of the National Center for Disease Control received a sample taken from an 85-year-old woman after she passed away. The sample tested positive for the new coronavirus," the center said in a statement.

- - - -

CAIRO -- The Egyptian Health Ministry announced in a statement on Thursday the death of six Egyptians of COVID-19, raising the death toll of the novel coronavirus in the country to 58.

As many as 86 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Egypt on Thursday, increasing the number of discovered infections among locals and foreigners since mid-February to 865, said the ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed in the statement.

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- Israel reported 765 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the daily highest so far, bringing the total number to 6,857, said the Ministry of Health.

It also announces five new death cases from the novel coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 36. The five deceased, aged 77 to 98, suffered from other serious illnesses.

- - - -

BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed two more deaths from COVID-19 and 44 new cases, bringing the total number of the infections to 772.

The new cases are two in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, 12 in Sulaimaniyah, 10 in Najaf, seven in Karbala, five each in Kirkuk and Basra, two in Erbil and one in Diwaniyah, the ministry said in a statement.

- - - -

LONDON -- The British Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposed Thursday a range of targeted temporary measures designed as a stop-gap to quickly support users of certain consumer credit products who are impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

For those consumers facing difficulties with their finances, the financial watchdog proposed firms to offer a temporary payment freeze of up to three months on loans and credit cards.

For those who have been hit financially by coronavirus and already have an arranged overdraft on their main personal current account, up to 500 pounds (about 618.8 U.S. dollars) will be charged at zero interest for up to three months, the FCA suggested.
Amid the growing scarcity of personal protective equipment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scarborough Health Network has received a donation of 8,000 masks, thanks to the help of a local MPP.

The donation from Investar Global Financial Group, a financial services company based in Markham, was secured by Scarborough  Agincourt MPP Aris Babikian. Babikian joined Investar president, Lynn Qi, on Thursday afternoon to deliver the masks in person.

The health network includes Scarborough General Hospital, the Birchmount Hospital and the Centenary Hospital.

Masks have been in short supply in Ontario hospitals, with some facilities asking nurses to reuse their marks. The union representing hospital workers says that 87 per cent of its members say that they havent been provided with enough masks.
Washington, April 3 : The commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt has been removed after saying the US Navy was not doing enough to halt a coronavirus outbreak on board the aircraft carrier.

In a letter, Captain Brett Crozier had urged his superiors to act to prevent US troops dying outside of wartime. But acting US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the commander "exercised extremely poor judgement", the BBC reported on Thursday.

At least 100 people aboard the vessel have been infected, reports say.

On Thursday, Modly told reporters that Crozier was being fired for allegedly leaking the letter to the media.

He said the letter "created the impression the Navy was not responding to his questions".

"It creates the perception the Navy is not on the job; the government is not on the job. That's just not true." Uninfected members of the ship's more than 4,000 crew are now being quarantined in Guam after the governor of the US island territory in the western Pacific Ocean said they could stay as long as they had no interactions with locals.

Until now, the sailors had been restricted to the naval base's pier.

He had warned the Pentagon that the outbreak aboard his ship was "accelerating" because crew members were living in confined spaces.

"We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die," stated the four-page letter, dated March 30.

Crozier had called for "decisive action", saying uninfected sailors had to be removed from the ship and isolated.

The letter was later published by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The African continent is projected to have more than 10,000 Covid-19 cases by the end of April according to health officials on Thursday at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC), and the least-equipped region has an enormous gap in crucial ventilators and other vital items to treat patients.

The virus is an existential threat to our continent, said ACDC chief Dr. John Nkengasong in a press conference, who pointed out that there are already 6,000 cases, very close to where Europe was after a 40-day period.

Five out of the 54 recognised countries on the continent have not reported cases, but Nkengasong said it was a matter of time before they report cases too.

Ventilators needed now

He said authorities are trying to procure ventilators, and are looking in to all avenues, including re-purposing other machines and local manufacturing.

On social media, people from manufacturing, technical or development backgrounds are putting out the call for those who have non-functioning ventilators that can be used for space parts.

"We've seen a lot of goodwill expressed to supporting Africa from bilateral and multilateral partners," but "we still have to see that translate into concrete action," said Nkengasong.

The World Health Organization said it was trying to find out how many ventilators are available to help patients in respiratory distress.

What we can say without a doubt is there is an enormous gap, said WHO regional director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti.

WHO official Dr. Zabulon Yoti estimated that 15 percent of all coronavirus patients will need intensive care, while a small percentage of those stricken with the virus will need to go on ventilators.

Nkengasong said that a number of African countries already desperately need supplies, in a world where even the richest countries are fighting over basic personal protection, such as masks.

Countries like Cameroon just reached out yesterday, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, asking, 'Look, we need tents because we're running out of hospital beds already,' he said.

Even if the equipment is promised, the global lockdown forcing one out of five people to stay home, in addition to travel restrictions will make transport of the supplies a major challenge. Some countries have made exceptions, and international shipping bodies have put pressure on governments to allow shipping via sea to continue.

Numbers of Covid-19 cases in Africa are not entirely accurate according to health officials, as there are testing backlogs even in South Africa, the most developed country on the continent.

While some lack supplies, regional body the East African Community has provided a number of mobile testing centres, and WHO reports that 43 countries now have testing capabilities.

Other countries suffer from the widespread shortage of testing kits or swabs, though 43 countries in the WHO Africa sub-Saharan region now have testing capability, up from two in early February.

Lockdown not the best idea for African nations

Both WHO and ACDC officials said that imposing lockdowns in African countries where people live day-to-day will be a huge challenge, especially as many children have been sent home from school due to the virus.

Rwanda was the first country to impose a lockdown, and has now extended it by two weeks. WHO Africa Director Moeti said that it is too early to tell how the lockdown in South Africa has affected the number of people catching coronavirus.

Don't lock down the whole country, said Nkengasong. Lock down cities or communities where there's extensive community transmission sosocial harm is minimized. But if infection is spreading across the entire country, you have no choice.
The Syrian government has ordered the isolation of the Sayyidah Zainab area and has extended curfew across Syria, as measures are put in place to tack the spread of the coronavirus reports SANA.

The government team assigned to follow up on the strategy to fight the coronavirus pandemic have made the decision to isolate the Sayyidah Zainab area in the Damascus countryside.

The team also decided to extend the curfew across Syria each Friday and Saturday from 12pm until 6am. The decision aims to reduce public gatherings and restrict movement in areas that become crowded during holidays.

Citizens are allowed to leave their homes only to secure their basic needs during the allowed period.

The government also decided to halt the export of a number of products for a month, including legumes, dairy products, eggs, chlorine and similar substances. This aims to ensure that the local markets are stocked with these products and to reduce their prices. The measure will also allow the Syrian Trade Establishment to import calves to secure sufficient quantities of red meat at subsidized prices.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry received a green light to sell everything produced at its facilities to the Trade Establishment to provide it to citizens at reasonable prices.

On Thursday, the team held a meeting to evaluate the impact of the precautionary measures on the market, especially concerning the availability of basic materials.

It also called on the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection to provide a detailed report on the basic cost of products and the reason behind the hike in their prices. The cabinet shall look into the findings next week during its meeting and take necessary measures in this regard.

It was decided to limit the activity of construction companies during this period, only continuing on basic projects. Also, agricultural pharmacies and nurseries will be allowed to produce fruit trees to meet the needs of the agricultural sector.

The government team urged the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to take the necessary steps, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, to boost measures against the pandemic at nursing homes for the elderly, orphanages and institutes for people with special needs.

The team further reviewed the development process of the unified treatment protocol for patients with COVID-19, which is being designed by an advisory team specialized in studying the experiences of other countries.

The protocol will be circulated to all hospitals and health centers in Syria to unify the mechanism used to deal with the virus.

The Minister of Health Dr. Nizar Yazigi highlighted the measures taken to boost the readiness of the health sector in all governorates, noting that five centers will be used to perform tests for the coronavirus.

The government will also adopt an incentive mechanism to motivate medical teams and provide them with all the necessary equipment.

Concerned ministries were asked to coordinate with the Ministry of Health to dedicate hotlines to answer citizens inquiries about the pandemic.

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.
New Delhi, April 3 : Read about how India's internet boom was guided to prosperity; examine the genesis of Maoism in the country and finally, 10 tips on ageing the right way.

The IANS Bookshelf this weekend has much to take you off the lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Immerse yourself! 1. Book: Telecom Man -- Leading From The Front In India's Digital Revolution; Author: Brijendra K. Syngal with Sandeepan Deb; Publisher: Westland; Pages: 267; Price: Rs 699.

It was then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's trusted aide Sam Pitroda who sowed the seeds of his return to India. At that time, Brijendra Syngal was a well-placed NRI, with a tax-free salary in London, working on cutting-edge satellite communication technology for ship-to-shore communication through INMARSAT when Pitroda posed him the question: Did he prefer challenge to money? Would he agree to come back to India and head Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL)? He did so at Rs 9,000 a month.

"In my seven years at VSNL (1991-98), I managed to transform a stodgy public sector corporation into a nimble future-focused organisation, intent on putting India on the global telecommunications map. From an overseas switched-voice company, VSNL (today Tata Communications) became an internationally recognised telecommunications company, offering a full range of basic and value-added international telecommunication services," Syngal, an alumnus of IIT-Kharagpur, writes.

Revenues surged from $125 million to $1.6 billion and profits from $32.5 million to $240 million.

All this came at a price. "I had to fight the bureaucracy; manage my political masters -- three governments, five telecom ministers -- through strategy, tactics, guile and plain stubbornness; and battle the corruption inherent in the system, not to mention media pressure, often paid for by international rivals".

In June 1998, Syngal was named one of 'The 50 Stars of Asia' by Business Week International Magazine. "But in the same week, I was fired with immediate effect, by fax, for not bowing down to political pressure from my political masters." Still, he has no regrets. He was immediately snapped up by Reliance Telecom and subsequently served with BPL Communications. Since 2007, he has been heading the ICT practice at a leading Indian consultancy that advises Fortune 500 companies.

"My good fortune has been that whether by chance or through personal initiative, I have been involved with every stage of the development of communications in our country," Syngal write.

Inspiring ideals to live up to! 2. Book: Prisoners Of Revolution; Author: Amar Mudi; Publisher: Niyogi Books; Pages: 196; Price: Rs 350 "I feel that the massive uprising in Bengal could not have happened out of the blue. It was the culmination of resistance to exploitation by thousands of unknown heroes in the nondescript villages of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Orissa, Bihar and other states....What happened on May 24, 1967 in Naxalbari and spread like wildfire, had its genesis in Lalgonda, Kakdwip, Srikkulam and other places, " writes Amar Mudi, an acclaimed author renowned for his translation of books into Bengali, on the beginning of the Maoist movement in India.

That incident happened when a group of people were attempting to take possession of the surplus land of a landlord. "One arrow shot in a moment of panic killed a police sub-inspector and all hell broke loose. Waves and waves of bullets showered on unsuspecting people to quell the so-called uprising but they stood their ground and continued their fight. The mortal terror among the landlords was visible for the first time, when thousands of peasants marched ahead, waving the red flag across the paddy fields of Terai. Naxalbari became synonymous with the new-found resurgence of the 'have-nots', " Mudi writes.

Today, the Maoist movement stretches all the way from the Nepal border through Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh -- as also parts of Maharashtra. Though the government has been claiming progress in its operations against the ultras, their attacks continue, as manifest in last week's ambush in Chhattisgarh in which 17 security personnel lost their lives.

For lay persons, those in the government and anthropologists, this book is a must-read if a solution to the Maoist movement is to be found.

3. Book: The Ten Steps Of Positive Ageing A Handbook For Personal Change In Later Life; Author: Guy Robertson; Publisher: Green Tree; Pages: 218; Price: Rs 699.

"The prospect for people over 60 has never looked as promising as it does now! On average, men and women at retirement age can expect to live for another 20 years, and for most of that time they are likely to be in good health," writes Robertson, a passionate proponent of the need to develop more positive approaches to ageing.

But then, it's not just a matter of living longer; the over 60s can actually look forward to a whole new phase in life --a period that can be longer than all the time spent at school and university, the author states and then provides you the 10 steps to make this a reality.

These are: Face up to your mortality; Fact-check the fake news about ageing; Watch your attitude; Safeguard your convoy ("me" to "acquaintances"); Adopt a mindful outlook; Broaden and build your wellbeing; Learn from your past; Establish what is most important to you; Create a vision for a new later life; and Build your resilience.

"Happy positive ageing," the author concludes. It's advice worth taking! (Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
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. Global cases: More than 1,088,878

Global deaths: At least 58,773

US cases: At least 270,473

US deaths: At least 7,077 The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

8 pm: White House advisor says another coronavirus epidemic like NYC could change US mortality rate

Another big coronavirus outbreak like the one New York City is bracing for could "dramatically change" the death rate of COVID-19 in the U.S., White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said Friday. White House officials earlier this week projected between 100,000 and 240,000 people will die from the coronavirus in the U.S. Birx said the mortality models are updated every night to take into account new data, which generally include how the disease is progressing in other countries, social distancing restrictions imposed by states and the rise in new infections. The estimates currently project between 40,000 and 178,000 deaths, according to the data cited by Birx, who added that the average number of deaths is expected to be around 93,000. William Feur

7:20 pm: Maine mandates 14-day quarantine for travelers

People who travel to Maine are mandated to self-quarantine for 14 days because of the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Janet Mills said on Friday. The order covers both non-residents and residents traveling back to the state through at least April 30. A summary of the order will be posted at airports, highways, and other points of entry. "Visitors are instructed not to travel to Maine if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, and are advised not to travel to Maine if they are traveling from cities and regions identified as COVID-19 "hot spots," including, among others, the cities of Detroit, Chicago and New York City," the order reads. The order also closes hotels, AirBnb rentals, and other lodging except in limited essential circumstances. It's enforceable by a penalty of up to six months in jail and a $1000 fine. Kif Leswing

7:01 pm: Alabama implements statewide stay-at-home order amid coronavirus pandemic

Alabama became the most recent state to enact a stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Gov. Kay Ivey announcing the new measure. Alabama's order will go into effect Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and is set to expire April 30 at 5:00 p.m. "We've got to take this order dead serious; otherwise, the fact is more people will end up dying," Ivey said in a tweet Friday. Hannah Miller

6:53 pm: Trump to ban export of coronavirus protection gear, says he's 'not happy with 3M'

President Donald Trump said Friday that he will invoke the Defense Production Act to ban "unscrupulous actors and profiteers" from exporting critical medical gear used to protect wearers from the coronavirus. The president unveiled the new order amid a dispute with U.S. manufacturing giant 3M, which had warned the Trump administration that halting its exports of respirator masks could make them even less available in the United States. "We're not happy with 3M. We're not at all happy with 3M. And the people who dealt with it directly are not happy with 3M," Trump said at a White House press briefing. Kevin Breuninger, Christina Wilkie

6:45 pm: More than 1 million people tested for coronavirus in US, but access varies from state to state

The U.S. hit a milestone this week  albeit one that came much later than promised: More than 1 million Americans have been tested for the novel coronavirus. More than 200,000 have tested positive. And though capacity is, finally, increasing after a much-criticized government rollout of the tests, states are still reporting major backlogs in getting results. Federal guidelines prioritize hospitalized patients, health-care workers and first responders with COVID-19 symptoms because of testing's scarcity. Meg Tirrell

6:32 pm: Wisconsin governor pushes to delay primary 4 days ahead of scheduled vote

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, with just four days until the state's primary, called for a special legislative session on Saturday to cancel the in-person portion of voting in Tuesday's election because of coronavirus concerns. Evers on Friday announced the session and said the state aims to shift to an all-mail voting system for the primary with a deadline of May 26 to get ballots in. The governor has previously pushed for creating an all-mail system but has never floated the postponement of the state's primary. Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have previously shot down the idea of an all-mail system. "If, as elected officials, we're going to expect the people of our state to make sacrifices to keep all of us safe, then, by golly, we better be willing do our part, too," Evers said in an announcement. "So, today I announced that I am calling the legislature into a special session to do its part  just as all of us are  to help keep our neighbors, our families, and our communities safe." Yelena Dzhanova

6:21 pm: Coronavirus could cause $1 billion loss for NBA, NHL and MLB broadcasters, ad firm says

The coronavirus pandemic could cause roughly $1 billion in lost advertising for broadcasters of the top three U.S. pro sports leagues, according to ad firm MediaRadar. The advertising information company released its findings showing how the virus would affect ad spend for the sports industry. The analysis found that combined, the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball would generate roughly $1 billion for broadcasters. And that number could significantly increase if the National Football League experiences any delays due to coronavirus. The NFL's season isn't scheduled to start until September. Jabari Young

6:16 pm: Updated map of US cases, which now total 270,473

6:09 pm: Next coronavirus relief bill should make health care a priority, McConnell says

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that health care must be at the "top of the list" in the next coronavirus rescue package. In an interview with The Associated Press, the Republican leader said Congress should focus on correcting any shortcomings in the just-passed $2.2 trillion aid bill and rely on health care experts for solutions to "wipe out" the virus. "There will be a next measure," McConnell said about what would be the fourth coronavirus aid bill from Congress. The Kentucky Republican said the next package "should be more a targeted response to what we got wrong and what we didn't do enough for  and at the top of the list there would have to be the health care part of it." Associated Press

6:02 pm: Treasury makes coronavirus loan terms less favorable for small businesses

The Treasury Department changed the terms on some loans it's offering to small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, making them less favorable for borrowers, experts say. The loans at issue are being made through the Paycheck Protection Program, which offers up to $10 million in forgivable loans to businesses with 500 or fewer employees. The program, which officially opened for many borrowers on Friday morning, will dole out up to $349 billion to ailing small businesses to help cover costs like payroll, rent and utilities. The loans are made through lenders approved by the Small Business Administration and other institutions. Greg Iacurci

5:45 pm: CDC recommends cloth face covering to protect against coronavirus, Trump says

President Donald Trump said the Centers for Disease Control recommends using a cloth face covering to protect against coronavirus, but said he does not plan to do so himself. Trump stressed that the recommendations were "voluntary." The CDC's website explained that the guidance was updated following new studies that some infected people can transmit the coronavirus even without displaying symptoms of the disease. "In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain," such as in grocery stores or pharmacies, "especially in areas of significant community-based transmission," the CDC says. Christina Wilkie

5:25 pm: Ace Hardware ramps up hiring as pandemic, spring season leads to more demand

Ace Hardware plans to hire more than 30,000 employees as they see more demand for home repair items and cleaning products during the coronavirus pandemic. The Illinois-based hardware cooperative is hiring full-time, part-time and seasonal employees at its more than 4,300 stores across the U.S. Home improvement retailers, including Ace Hardware, usually do seasonal hiring in the spring. It's the busiest season for the stores as people take advantage of warmer weather to garden or do home projects. This year, customers are turning to the stores during the pandemic, too, to get cleaning supplies or items for home maintenance and repairs as they stay indoors. Lowe's, which also said it's seen more business, and Home Depot are also looking to fill thousands of jobs. Melissa Repko

5 pm: Auto retailers furlough workers

AutoNation, the nation's largest U.S. auto dealership chain, is placing 7,000 employees on unpaid leave, slashing executive pay and postponing more than $50 million of capital spending as its year-over-year sales declined by about 50% last month, according to a Friday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company, as automakers did earlier in the week, cited "shelter-in-place" or "stay-at-home" orders from federal, state, and local governments as reasons for the decline in sales. J.D. Power earlier in the week forecast retail sales this month to decline by about 80% compared with April 2019 due to stay-at-home orders and COVID-19s overall impact on the economy and consumer confidence. Retail sales do not include sales to fleet customers such as the government or businesses. AutoNation's actions follow similar cuts from other publicly traded auto retailers such as Penske Automotive Group and Group 1 Automotive. Michael Wayland

4:45 pm: California secures 7,000 hotel rooms for the homeless

California Governor Gavin Newsom Agustin Paullier | AFP | Getty Images

California has secured 7,000 rooms and hopes to reserve as many as 15,000 to house homeless people as the state fights the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. A total of 869 people have moved in so far, Gov. Gavin Newsom said. "Homelessness is a crisis that predates the current crisis. We're doing everything we can to meet it head-on," he said. The project, called "Room Key," will be partially funded by FEMA, which will reimburse cities and counties for 75% of the costs, according to Newsom. Newsom's announcement comes a day after San Francisco reported its first COVID-19 case in a homeless shelter. Kif Leswing

4:30 pm: Mexico stops brewing Corona beer, deemed non-essential in epidemic

Mexico's Grupo Modelo said on Thursday it will temporarily stop brewing Corona beer and other brands exported to 180 countries after its business activities were declared non-essential under a government order aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. The Mexican government this week declared a health emergency and ordered the suspension of non-essential activities after the number of coronavirus cases in the country surpassed 1,000. On Thursday, it reported 1,510 cases and 50 deaths. Reuters

4:20 pm: Economic damage rises as coronavirus hit worsens  here's what to watch

The latest jobs report on Friday shone a light on the economic damage of the coronavirus crisis. U.S. nonfarm payrolls dropped by 701,000 jobs in March, according to the Labor Department. This comes after data released Thursday that showed a record-breaking 6.6 million new jobless claims last week. Five experts weigh in on the economic fallout. Ivana Freitas

4:03 pm: Dow drops more than 300 points to close out another wild week on Wall Street

Stocks fell on Friday to end another volatile week of trading, pressured by a spike in coronavirus-related deaths in New York while investors digested a dismal U.S. jobs report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 357 points, or 1.7% in wild trading. The S&P 500 dropped 1.5%. The Nasdaq Composite also pulled back 1.5%. Fred Imbert, Silvia Amaro, Thomas Franck

3:31 pm: Supreme Court postpones more oral arguments

The U.S. Supreme Court said it will postpone oral arguments scheduled for the last two weeks of April, and left open the possibility that some previously scheduled cases will not be heard at all before the end of the current term. The court announced last month that cases set for late March and early April would be delayed as a health precaution, noting that the last time such a precaution had been taken was for the 1918 Spanish flu. Among the delayed cases were high-profile disputes of President Donald Trump's financial records. "The Court will consider rescheduling some cases from the March and April sessions before the end of the Term, if circumstances permit in light of public health and safety guidance at that time," a spokesperson said in a statement. "The Court will consider a range of scheduling options and other alternatives if arguments cannot be held in the Courtroom before the end of the Term." The court will continue to decide cases for which it has already heard arguments, with opinions posted on its website. The Supreme Court term typically ends in June. Tucker Higgins

3:24 pm: Field hospitals go up around the world

An emergency field hospital is being constructed in Central Park in New York City, United States on March 30, 2020. Lokman Vural | Elibol | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Healthcare systems in countries around the world have been overwhelmed fighting the pandemic, forcing governments to build temporary field hospitals to help deal with the growing numbers of their infected population. In Wuhan, China where the coronavirus first originated, two massive emergency hospitals were built in just 10 days. In New York, the epicenter of cases in the U.S., field hospitals have now been set up in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Central Park, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has been converted into a 350-bed hospital. Here are photos of field hospitals around the world. Adam Jeffery

3:12 pm: Pentagon adjusts screening process for care on hospital ship in New York

The Pentagon announced it will modify the screening process for people to receive care on the hospital ship USNS Comfort in order to reduce the backlog of patients at New York hospitals. The screening effort will now occur pier-side and will no longer require a patient to test negative for the coronavirus. "Each patient will still be screened by temperature and a short questionnaire," the Pentagon said. "This assistance will further unburden the local hospital and ambulance systems in these areas, allowing them to focus on the more serious COVID-19 cases." On Thursday, the captains of the U.S. Navy's two hospital ships said that the vessels have treated fewer than 20 patients since deploying to New York and Los Angeles. Amanda Macias

2:49 pm: Disney sets new dates for 'Mulan,' 'Black Widow,' 'Jungle Cruise' and more

Disney is making drastic changes to its 2020 movie slate in the wake of the outbreak. The company revealed a number of films would be shifted to later dates on the calendar this year and into 2021 and 2022. Other films would be pushed to Disney+ or were not given a new release date as of yet. Here's Disney's new slate. Sarah Whitten

2:42 pm: Anyone near Trump or Pence will be given rapid coronavirus test, White House says

With the coronavirus contagion spreading, the White House said anyone expected to be near President Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence will be given a rapid COVID-19 test. "As the physician to the president and White House Operations continue to protect the health and safety of the president and vice president, starting today anyone who is expected to be in close proximity to either of them will be administered a COVID-19 test to evaluate for pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic carriers status to limit inadvertent transmission," said White House spokesman Judd Deere. Reuters

2:35 pm: Etsy calls on sellers to make masks and face covers

E-commerce website Etsy is calling on its existing sellers to make masks and face covers amid growing demand during the coronavirus pandemic. "We're experiencing unprecedented demand," Etsy said in an app notification sent to sellers. "You can make a difference." The company offered guidelines on how to list face covers and masks on the online marketplace, including warnings against making health or medical claims about the items and against reselling commercially made products. The company also offered suggestions for how to match descriptions of the products with what shoppers are searching for. Sarah Whitten

2:22 pm: Bank of America says 58,000 small businesses have asked for $6 billion in loans since 9 a.m.

Bank of America was the first major bank capable of accepting online applications for the government's $350 billion small business relief program. As of about 2 p.m. ET, the bank had received 58,000 applications totaling $6 billion. Hugh Son

2:16 pm: Loan program delayed for independent contractors and self-employed workers

2:01 pm: Trump compelled companies to make critical supplies, but most of them were already doing it

President Donald Trump, after much reluctance, has used the powers of the Defense Production Act to compel companies to manufacture items in short supply that would aid in the U.S. response to the deadly coronavirus. The bulk of the companies assisting with emergency supply production were compelled to do so on Thursday, more than two weeks after Trump signed the executive order triggering the Korean War-era law. In a statement, the president said his order would "more fully ensure that domestic manufacturers can produce ventilators needed to save American lives." "My order to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Homeland Security will help domestic manufacturers like General Electric, Hill-Rom, Medtronic, ResMed, Royal Philips, and Vyaire Medical secure the supplies they need to build ventilators needed to defeat the virus," the statement continued. Many of them had already ramped up production. Yelena Dzhanova

1:55 pm: Airlines ordered to give refunds  not just vouchers  when flights are axed amid coronavirus

A worker walks through a baggage claim area at a nearly-empty O'Hare International Airport on April 2, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson | Getty Images

The Department of Transportation said that airlines must give customers refunds when flights are canceled or significantly delayed amid coronavirus. The agency said it has received an increasing number of complaints from airline customers who said they were denied refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights and instead given vouchers to use for travel at a later date. "In recognition of the fact that the COVID-19 public health emergency has had major impacts on the airline industry, the Aviation Enforcement Office will exercise its prosecutorial discretion and provide carriers an opportunity to become compliant before taking further action," the agency said. Leslie Josephs

1:44 pm: Dow drops 500 points as sell-off accelerates to end a wild week

1:11 pm: Coronavirus pandemic economic fallout 'way worse than the global financial crisis,' IMF chief says

The coronavirus pandemic has created an economic crisis "like no other," the top International Monetary Fund official said. "Never in the history of the IMF have we witnessed the world economy come to a standstill," said IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva. "This is in my lifetime humanity's darkest hour, a big threat to the whole world, and it requires for us to stand united, be united," Georgieva said during a World Health Organization press conference. "It is way worse than the global financial crisis" of 2008-09, she said. "This is a crisis like no other." Dan Mangan

12:55 pm: WHO says countries that rush to containment risk 'more severe and prolonged' damage to economy

Countries that rush to lift quarantine restrictions risk an "even more severe and prolonged" economic downturn and a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned. "We are all aware of the profound social and economic consequences of the pandemic," Tedros said during a briefing at the agency's headquarters in Geneva. "Ultimately the best way for countries to end restrictions and ease their economic effects is to attack the virus." Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

12:46 pm: Forced off the campaign trail by coronavirus, House candidates reach more voters than ever

The coronavirus pandemic has changed almost everything about American life. Businesses are closed, people are home, and, for millions, the economic devastation has been life-altering. For those running for the House of Representatives, the crisis poses unique problems. Campaigning is a handshake, kiss-the-baby business, and so is its lifeblood  fundraising. You can't get out the vote if you can't get out. But interviews with candidates, strategists and fundraisers in recent days suggest that contenders in both parties are adjusting to the downturn with early signs of success. There are worries that the money will dry up, but it hasn't yet. Voters, cooped up at home and worried about the future, are tuning in. "What we are learning is that people are looking forward to distraction right now," said Mike Garcia, a California Republican who is running in a special election for the House seat vacated by former Rep. Katie Hill. "People are paying attention." Tucker Higgins

12:27 pm: Detroit automakers creating new 'arsenal of health'

Ford Motor employee Pat Tucker is among the autoworkers assisting the Detroit automakers in creating a new "arsenal of health" to assist health-care workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The 55-year-old grandmother has been working 12-hour shifts every day for nearly two weeks to build much-needed medical face shields at a Ford subsidiary facility in Plymouth, Michigan. "I want to help end this. I want to be here to watch my grandchildren grow up and graduate and get married, and I want them to be able to grow up," she told CNBC Thursday night. "I enjoy helping people." She's not alone. As they did nearly 80 years ago to assist the "Arsenal of Democracy" during World War II, employees at each of the Detroit automakers are assisting where they can. Ford's COVID-19 efforts are code-named "Project Apollo." General Motors is executing "Project V" and "Project M." Fiat Chrysler didn't code-name its efforts but is assisting in feeding American children and making supplies during the outbreak as well. Michael Wayland

12:18 pm: U.S. banks have processed more than $875 million in small business relief loans

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said community banks have processed more than $875 million in small business loans aimed at shoring up the economy amid the global coronavirus pandemic, and he sounded a positive note about a new program that lenders have greeted with skepticism. "#PPPloan now over $875,000,000 processed almost all from community banks!" Mnuchin wrote on Twitter. "Big banks taking applications and will submitting them shortly." Reuters

12:05 pm: Free meals available to New Yorkers

The New York City Department of Education is making three free daily meals available to any New Yorker. People can pick up the meals at any of the city's 400 Meal Hubs on weekdays, according to the DOE. Children and families can access the hubs from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., while adults can go from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration or identification is not required to obtain the meals, and halal and vegetarian options are available. New Yorkers can use the DOE's Meal Hub online lookup tool to find a pickup location.Hannah Miller

11:55 am: 'It's only right'  Cramer, a restaurant owner, says the government closed us, so it should help

Leaning on his experience as a restaurant owner, CNBC's Jim Cramer said the U.S. government has an obligation to aid small businesses that are shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. "I had a business that was closed. It was doing great, and then one day I learned I was closed," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." "You better help." Cramer owns Bar San Miguel and co-owns The Longshoreman, both in Brooklyn, New York. The "Mad Money" host's comments Friday came on the launch day of a $350 billion government program to help small business owners who are trying to navigate the economic shock from the coronavirus. Kevin Stankiewicz

11:47 am: Scammers swooping in amid coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus scams are on the rise. Government agencies, like the IRS, the Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration, are warning consumers to be vigilant as fraudsters try to take advantage of them during the coronavirus pandemic. "Whenever crises erupt, the scammers and fraudsters have a heyday," said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, a consumer advocacy group. "We see so much fraud related to COVID-19 because people need answers, aren't thinking straight and are somewhat confused." There's been an uptick in financial fraud connected to the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package signed into law last week. Greg Iacurci

11:39 am: Markets expect depression-level job losses, but the duration of the shutdowns is a much bigger worry

Stocks and bonds had a relatively muted response to the March employment report, which was far worse than forecast but barely reflected the unprecedented collapse of the labor market and the loss of millions of jobs from the coronavirus shutdowns. Nonfarm payrolls fell by 701,000 in March, seven times what was forecast, but just a fraction of the actual jobs lost, which already have shown up in 10 million unemployment claims in the second half of March. What the March employment report does show is the loss of 459,000 jobs in the leisure industry, showing how quickly the restaurant and hotel industry pared back staff, even ahead of major state shutdown orders. "We all know things are terrible. We all know millions of people are losing their jobs," said Peter Boockvar, chief investment strategist at Bleakley Advisory Group. "We had this sharp decline in anticipation of this news. The next batch of news we don't know is what is the duration of this and what is going to happen in May. We hope at the end of April that we are looking at a slow reopening." Patti Domm

11:31 am: It's 'absurd'  3M CEO defends coronavirus response after Trump invokes DPA

The CEO of 3M said his company is maximizing its efforts to get respirator masks to U.S. health workers fighting the coronavirus, pushing back on what he called President Donald Trump's "absurd" suggestion that the manufacturer was not doing all it could. "Nothing is further from the truth," CEO Mike Roman said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" when told of Trump's tweet slamming 3M "after seeing what they were doing with their Masks." Trump on Thursday issued an order under the Defense Production Act directing acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to "use any and all authority available under the Act to acquire, from any appropriate subsidiary or affiliate of 3M Company, the number of N-95 respirators that the Administrator determines to be appropriate." Later Thursday, Trump tweeted, "We hit 3M hard today." Kevin Breuninger

11:25 am: New York Gov. Cuomo says state saw its biggest single-day increase in coronavirus deaths on Thursday

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that 562 New Yorkers died from the coronavirus over the last 24 hours, the highest single increase in deaths since the outbreak began a few weeks ago. A total of 2,935 New Yorkers have died from the coronavirus. "The curve continues to go up," Cuomo said at a press conference in Albany, referring to the number of new COVID-19 cases across the state. There are 102,863 confirmed cases across the state, a 10% jump overnight, according to charts presented at the press conference. New York City alone accounts for 57,159 total cases, up 5,350 over the last 24 hours. Noah Higgins-Dunn Correction: This entry has been updated to reflect that 562 New Yorkers died from coronavirus over the last 24 hours.

11:16 am: Dr. Anthony Fauci warns we shouldn't assume hydroxychloroquine is a 'knockout drug'

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, participates in the daily coronavirus task force briefing in the Brady Briefing room at the White House on March 31, 2020 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee | Getty Images

Americans shouldn't assume hydroxychloroquine is a "knockout drug" in preventing or treating COVID-19, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci warned. "We still need to do the definitive studies to determine whether any intervention, not just this one, is truly safe and effective," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Fox News. "But when you don't have that information, it's understandable why people might want to take something anyway even with the slightest hint of being effective." New York state last week began the first large-scale clinical trial looking at hydroxychloroquine as a possible treatment for the coronavirus after the Food and Drug Administration fast-tracked the approval process. Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

11:12 am: This chart shows which industries saw big job losses in March 2020

Among the hardest-hit areas of the economy in March was accommodation and food services sector, which had more than half of the month's net losses. Businesses that prepare meals, snacks and beverages for customers for either on-premise (sit-down restaurants and bars) or off-premise (delivery and take-out) consumption saw payrolls slide by 417,000. The broader leisure and hospitality sector, which includes that 417,000 decline in the food services industry, saw payrolls decline by 459,000 as hotels and other lodging businesses also cut jobs. This employment decline nearly offset gains accrued over the previous two years. The government described the degree of losses in that industry (as well as in health care and social assistance) as "notable" and said the nosedive reflects the nationwide effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. Thomas Franck

11:02 am: 3M warns Trump that halting exports would reduce number of masks available to US

3M warned that the Trump administration's request for the company to stop exporting respirator masks could make the protective gear less available in the U.S. The American manufacturing giant shared that caution a day after President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to force 3M to produce respirator masks. The company said it was already working with the administration on getting more masks to the U.S. Kevin Breuninger

10:57 am: Dismissed US carrier captain to be reassigned during probe, acting Navy secretary says

Captain Brett Crozier, commanding officer of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, addresses the crew during an all-hands call on the ship's flight deck in the eastern Pacific Ocean December 19, 2019. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Huynh | US Navy

The fired commander of a U.S. aircraft carrier that suffered a coronavirus outbreak will not be thrown out of the Navy but rather reassigned, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told Reuters, adding that an investigation would determine if he should face disciplinary action. Modly said the probe would look into the communications and the chain of command after Capt. Brett Crozier was relieved of his command for sharing a scathing letter regarding the outbreak of the virus on the USS Theodore Roosevelt too widely, effectively allowing it to be leaked to the media. "He'll get reassigned, he's not thrown out of the Navy," Modly said. Reuters

10:51 am: US, Spain, and Italy continue to outpace the world in the number of cases

10:46 am: Brazil's leader under intensifying pressure over coronavirus denial

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has sparked public outcry over his laissez-faire handling of the coronavirus crisis, with a movement to impeach the right-wing nationalist leader gaining popular support. The president of Latin America's largest economy has repeatedly played down the threat of the pandemic, dismissing it as a "little flu" and condemning state governors for imposing lockdowns that are causing job losses. He has also contradicted his own health minister's advice over self-isolation and social distancing, encouraging people to end their time in quarantine and return to work. All but three of Brazil's 27 states have refused to relax lockdown measures, and citizens in many urban centers can be heard banging pots and pans from their homes each evening as an act of protest to the president's demands. Sam Meredith

10:21 am: Another figure in the jobs report paints an even gloomier picture of the damage

The government's survey of establishments painted a grim picture of the U.S. employment situation through early March, but its poll of households was far worse. The household survey, which asks individual residents how many people are working there, showed a stunning drop of 2,987,000 workers for the month. That compares with the 701,000 nonfarm payrolls decline reported in the establishment survey and gives another perspective to just how bad the situation has gotten since the economy has all but shut down to protect against the coronavirus spread. Jeff Cox

10:09 am: Florida finally takes cruise passengers, some on stretchers

A patient is taken off the the Zaandam cruise ship after it arrived at Port Everglades on April 02, 2020 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Passengers from an ill-fated cruise were carefully freed from their cabins and allowed to touch dry land for the first time in weeks, following the removal of 14 critically ill people who were wheeled off to Florida hospitals bracing for an onslaught of coronavirus patients. The exodus from the Zaandaam and its sister ship the Rotterdam was expected to continue throughout the day. Floridians were getting off first, followed by other passengers. At least four buses brought the first small groups to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, where they prepared to board two planes waiting on the tarmac. The passengers wore masks, while paramedics and airline workers were fully suited up and masked in protective gear. They'll be followed by what Carnival said was its last ship carrying passengers to a U.S. port since the pandemic was declared. The Coral Princess is expected to arrive at the Port Everglades terminal on Saturday with more than 1,000 passengers who have been isolating in their cabins, including 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on board. Associated Press

10:03 am: US services sector growth slows while employment drops, ISM reports

U.S. services sector activity slowed to a more than 3-year low in March, with industries reporting a moderation in new orders and a drop in employment amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Institute for Supply Management said its nonmanufacturing activity index fell to a reading of 52.5 last month, the lowest since August 2016, from 57.3 in February. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the services sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index dropping to a reading of 44.0 in March. Reuters

9:55 am: FedEx slashes CEO's salary, draws $1.5 billion from its credit line

FedEx said it would slash its chief executive officer's pay and draw down $1.5 billion from a credit facility as delivery services take a hit from coronavirus-led lockdowns across the globe. The company, which also suspended its financial outlook, said its board had approved a 91% reduction in CEO Frederick Smith's base salary for six-month period from April 1 to Sept. 30. Reuters

9:51 am: Pelosi wants more small business loans, direct payments, and unemployment benefits

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. Alex Edelman | AFP | Getty Images

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for another bill to expand the provisions in the $2 trillion package Congress passed last week to limit the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic. "It's not enough," Pelosi told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" about the last relief measure, after the government employment report showed the U.S. economy lost 701,000 jobs in early March as businesses started to close. The California Democrat said she wants more direct payments to individuals, beyond the chunks of up to $1,200 lawmakers previously approved. She pushed for more small business loan funding beyond the $350 billion in the last law, and to extend beefed-up unemployment insurance for two more months. Jacob Pramuk

9:44 am: The White House tried to force 3M to send face masks to US instead of Asia, report says

The White House reportedly tried to force 3M to export 10 million N95 respirator masks from its Singapore facilities to the U.S. rather than sending them to its markets in Asia, the Financial Times first reported, citing a person familiar with the conversations. The Minnesota-based company was reluctant to accept the White House request on legal and humanitarian grounds since health-care workers across the region would be left without protection, the person said. Peter Navarro, the White House advisor on trade and manufacturing, said that the administration "had some issues" making sure all the production 3M does around the world is going to the right places. The White House invoked the Defense Production Act on the company in an effort to boost its production of face masks. In a statement, 3M said the administration also requested the company cease exporting respirators to Canadian and Latin American markets, however, it said there are significant humanitarian implications of doing so. Noah Higgins-Dunn

9:15 am: New Google site shows where people are taking social distancing seriously  and where they're not

Google has launched a new website that uses anonymous location data collected from users of Google products and services to show the level of social distancing taking place in various locations. The COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports web site will show population data trends of six categories: Retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential. The data will track changes over the course of several weeks, and as recent as 48-to-72 hours prior, and will initially cover 131 countries as well as individual counties within certain states. Google says the data will be collected in aggregate, rather than at an individual level, and it won't show absolute numbers of people showing up at parks or grocery stores. The idea instead is to outline percentages, which highlight potential surges in attendance. Jennifer Elias

9:00 am: 'The Hot Zone' author warns the next pandemic could 'balloon faster' than the coronavirus

The world will experience another pandemic, and it could be even more severe than the new coronavirus, author Richard Preston told CNBC on Friday. "We hear some people saying, 'Well this is a once-in-a-100-year event.' It is absolutely not," Preston said on "Squawk Box." "I think a worse-case scenario could be worse than coronavirus." Preston is the author of the 1994 book, "The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus." It was the basis of 2019 TV mini-series from the National Geographic Channel. Kevin Stankiewicz

8:56 am: Small businesses have 'a million questions' about paycheck relief loan as applications come due

Millions of small business owners on Friday will start applying for government-backed loans that will let them pay people not to work with the hope that once the economy reopens companies can pick up where they left off. But confusion about the Small Business Administration loans is widespread at banks and among potential borrowers. The banks responsible for accepting the applications and distributing the money aren't all up to speed and, inundated with inquiries, are relaying differing messages to their clients. CNBC reported on Thursday that JPMorgan Chase, the biggest U.S. bank, told customers by email that it would likely not be ready to start taking applications on Friday. The loan in question is the paycheck protection program (PPP), and it accounts for $349 billion of the $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package, or CARES Act, passed by Congress and signed into law last week. Businesses with fewer than 500 employees are eligible, and that includes independent contractors. Employers can apply to receive up to 2.5 times their average monthly payroll expense, including health-care benefits, for annual salaries up to $100,000. Loans max out at $10 million. Ari Levy

8:40 am: The White House tried to force 3M to send face masks from Singapore to US, report says

The White House tried to force 3M to export 10 million N95 respirator masks from its Singapore facilities to the U.S., rather than sending them to its markets in Asia, the Financial Times first reported, citing a person familiar with the conversations. The Minnesota-based company was reluctant to accept the White House request on legal and humanitarian grounds since healthcare workers across the region would be left without protection, the person told the FT. The White House invoked the Defense Production Act in an effort to boost 3M's production of face masks. In a statement, 3M said the administration also requested the company cease exporting respirators to Canadian and Latin American markets. However, it said there are significant humanitarian implications of doing so. "Ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done," the company said in a statement. "If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease." Noah Higgins-Dunn

8:33 am: US payrolls drop 701,000 in March, the first jobs decline since 2010

Nonfarm payrolls dropped by 701,000 in March, according to Labor Department numbers that begin to show the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus crisis. The unemployment rate rose to 4.4% as employers just began to cut payrolls ahead of social distancing practices that shut down large swaths of the U.S. economy in order to stop the virus's spread. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a payroll decline of 10,000 and for the unemployment rate to rise to 3.7%. Jeff Cox

8:20 am: Cannes Lions advertising festival, previously postponed, is now canceled

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the ad industry's major awards festival and conference held in France each summer, has been canceled due to the coronavirus. The festival, originally scheduled for June 22 through June 26, was postponed in March to Oct. 26 through Oct 30, but organizers announced the decision to cancel it for good this year. "As the impact from COVID-19 continues to be felt across the world on consumers and our customers across the marketing, creative and media industries, it has become clear to us our customers' priorities have shifted to the need to protect people, to serve consumers with essential items and to focus on preserving companies, society and economies," organizers said in a statement Friday. The next festival will take place June 21 through June 25 in 2021. Megan Graham

8:09 am: Italian luxury shoemaker Sergio Rossi dies

Italian luxury shoemaker Sergio Rossi has died aged 85 after being hospitalized with the coronavirus, the mayor of the designer's home town said. Italy has recorded more deaths from coronavirus than any other country in the world, with 13,915 fatalities as of Thursday. The elderly have been particularly hard hit. Rossi died on Thursday in the small town of Cesena in central Italy. "He was among the founders of the high-end women's footwear district in the area of Forli and Cesena in the mid-20th century," said Luciana Garbuglia, mayor of San Mauro Pascoli, where Rossi was born in 1935 and where he founded his brand. French luxury fashion group Kering took over the brand in 1999. It then passed into the hands of the Italian private equity fund Investindustrial in 2015, when Rossi had already retired. Reuters

7:56 am: Spain cases surpass Italy's, now second in the world

A general view of the temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients located at the Ifema convention and exhibition centre in Madrid, Spain taken on April 03, 2020. Pierre-Philippe Marcou | AFP via Getty Images

As of 6 a.m. ET, Spain had reported 117,710 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, surpassing the total count of cases in Italy, the original epicenter of Europe's outbreak. According to Hopkins, Italy had reported 115,242 cases as of 6 a.m. That makes Spain second in the world for COVID-19 cases, behind only the U.S. Spain typically reports daily new cases several hours ahead of Italy, and the numbers will likely change throughout the day. Will Feuer

7:30 am: UK health minister suggests nationwide peak could be Easter Sunday

U.K. Health Minister itMatt Hancock reportedly said the deadliest peak of Britain's coronavirus outbreak could be on Easter Sunday. In an interview with Sky News, Hancock said he "would defer to the scientists on exact predictions," but the peak of the U.K. outbreak falling on April 12 was "one perfectly possible outcome." To date, the U.K. has reported more than 34,000 cases of the COVID-19 infection, with 2,926 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Sam Meredith

7:19 am: BMW CEO says the company is working to safeguard liquidity

An employee inspects the body frame of a BMW X4 sports utility vehicle on the assembly plant in Greer, South Carolina. Luke Sharrett | Bloomberg | Getty Images

BMW Chief Executive Oliver Zipse said the carmaker is focusing on preserving the health of its balance sheet and workforce. "No company can possibly get through something like this unscathed. Guaranteeing our liquidity needs to happen very quickly. The Management Board are currently meeting twice as often as normal, so we can make the necessary decisions," Zipse said in a statement. "We are preparing to ramp up production as soon as the time is right in full compliance with all the safety aspects, and with international coordination. It's essential that we synchronize with the supplier network on this," he added. Reuters

7:10 am: March job losses could be the worst in a decade

March's employment report could show the most monthly job losses in a decade, but it's only a fraction of the real hit to the workforce that came when many states issued stay-at-home orders late in the month. Economists expect a consensus decline of 100,000 nonfarm payrolls when data is released at 8:30 am ET, according to Refinitiv. But the survey for the report was done before many states began telling residents to stay home. For the final two weeks of the month, 10 million people sought unemployment benefits as businesses and schools closed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Patti Domm

7:06 am: European business activity craters as Brussels races to find a 'credible' funding plan

The coronavirus pandemic is hitting European economies sharply, with the latest economic data showing massive falls in services activity across the region. In Italy, the services industry dropped in March at the fastest rate since the IHS Markit survey began in 1998. In Germany, the services sector laid off staff at the steepest rate in about 23 years. In Spain, services activity contracted for the first time in six-and-a-half years. The data released Friday showed the final Composite Purchasing Managers' Index  which includes services and manufacturing  for the whole euro zone crashed to a record low of 29.7 in March, from 51.6 in February. This was the biggest monthly fall since the survey began. Silvia Amaro

6:00 am: Spain's daily death toll falls for the first time since March 26

Coffins containing the bodies of people who have died of coronavirus (COVID-19) are lined up in the long-term parking of the Collserola morgue before they either buried or incinerated, on April 02, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. David Ramos | Getty Images

The amount of people that have died from the coronavirus in Spain has seen its first daily fall since March 26. A total of 932 people died in the last 24 hours, down from 950 people the previous day, according to Reuters who cited the country's health ministry. Spain's death toll now stands at 10,935. Matt Clinch

5:33 am: China's central bank announces new stimulus measures

The People's Bank of China said it was reducing the amount of cash that small and mid-sized banks need to hold in reserve. It will reportedly free up around 400 billion yuan ($56.38 billion) in liquidity and aid the country's economy which has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Matt Clinch

4:50 am: Singapore shuts schools, closes most workplaces

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
Lee Soo-jin, left, and Na Kyung-won greet citizens on April 2 in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Yonhap



This is the fourth in a series on battleground districts for April 15 general election.  ED.



By Do Je-hae



One of the most coveted districts in the April 15 general election is the Dongjak-B District in southwestern Seoul.



Dongjak-B has been a stronghold of conservative parties for the past 12 years, but recent surveys have shown that there is a significant level of support for the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). A recent survey conducted by Research and Research showed that 38.9 percent supported the DPK, while 24.6 supported the main opposition United Future Party (UFP).



The candidates running in the district on the two main parties' tickets are both former judges. The two women are both in their 50s and graduated from Seoul National University's law school.



Rep. Na Kyung-won of the UFP, one of a handful of four-term female lawmakers, is seeking reelection in the district she has represented since 2014. The high-profile politician is being challenged by Lee Soo-jin of the DPK, who previously served as a district court judge until she resigned in December 2019 to join the ruling party.



With Rep. Na's long ties with the district, in addition to her lengthy experience as a lawmaker, she is more well-known than her competitor among voters in Dongjak-B. One of the things that Na has underlined during her campaign is that she was born and raised in the district and that she is keenly aware of what the district needs.



"For six years, I've made tireless efforts with the residents to turn Dongjak into a first-rate district," Na said during a press conference at the National Assembly March 26.



One of her trademark campaign slogans is the realization of "Four Gangnam Districts," to raise the stature of Dongjak to equal those of the three most affluent districts in Seoul  Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa.



"The power to make dreams and passions a reality depends on the capacity of the politician. I can do many things for Dongjak that cannot be done by a political novice," Na said. She has underlined that her past two terms have resulted in noticeable improvements in her district such as increased transportation and educational infrastructure.



But the voters seem more enthusiastic about Lee, a newcomer who is barely known outside the legal community. Lee is known for having opposed former Supreme Court chief Yang Sung-tae's abuse of power and was allegedly put on a "blacklist" of judges critical of him.



Despite being a political rookie, Lee has raised eyebrows in recent polls. An Embrain survey earlier this month showed that 44 percent of voters in Dongjak-B supported Lee, well ahead of Na with 34. 9 percent. According to another survey by Research and Research, March 20, 47.1 percent said they would vote for Lee, and 35. 4 percent, for Na.



Lee is optimistic about her chances in her first attempt at an Assembly seat. "There are concerns that I'm not as well-known as Na. But my confidence has grown since meeting the people of Dongak," Lee said in a radio interview March 31. "They told me that Na has not done much for Dongjak. Many say that they will switch to a new candidate."



If Na loses to Lee, it would be a big blow to her political career and significantly hamper her status as one of the nation's leading female politicians. She has been considered one of the most powerful female politicians in Korea, along with Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and SMEs Minister Park Young-sun. Na was also the first woman to serve as the floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the UFP.



As floor leader of the main opposition, she is mostly remembered for leading the fierce protest against the appointment of Cho Kuk, President Moon Jae-in's close confidant and a former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, as justice minister.



Cho had to resign from the Cabinet post after controversy erupted over his daughter's education and other family issues involving corruption. But Na has also faced suspicions that she took advantage of her position to facilitate the college admission of her children. Her opponents have complained that she is not much different from Cho, dismissing her credibility and ethics as a politician.


Yet the exposition was not universally acclaimed when it reached New Yorks Brooklyn Museum in 1977, and New York Times art critic Hilton Kramer wrote that the show was more social history than art, that some of its art was mediocre and that important commissions came across as scattershot. Defending the exhibit on national television, Mr. Driskell criticized Kramer and told NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw that all art is a form of social history.
Two members of the Kennedy family have gone missing after boating on Chesapeake Bay on Thursday evening, a family spokesperson confirmed.



Robert F Kennedy's granddaughter Maeve Kennedy McKean and her eight-year-old son, Gideon, were last seen after they took a canoe out on the water before they went missing.



"At this time our family asks for privacy and that everyone keep Maeve and Gideon in their prayers," a statement from a family spokesman read.



The mother-son duo were last seen floating just a few miles off the shore around 4.30pm on Thursday, according to a press release from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. The release at the time did not disclose the two victims.



David McKean confirmed his wife and son's disappearance when speaking with the Washington Post. He said the family was playing outdoors when a ball got kicked into water. His wife and son popped into a canoe to chase it down. They just got farther out than they could handle and couldnt get back in," he told the newspaper.



A water rescue arrived shortly after a concerned citizen called in that they saw a pair drifting out in a small canoe near Columbia Beach pier in Shady Side, Maryland.



Even though Anne Arundel County Fire Department arrived within five minutes of the call, Captain Erik Kornmeyer they were unable to rescue the canoe due to fast water currents. "Currents were pretty fast, they moved out of sight pretty quickly," he said.



Crews on boats and in helicopters engaged in searches of the water into Thursday night and then resumed the search on Friday morning.

"At approximately 7pm, an overturned canoe, matching the approximate description of the one which the pair were in, was located," the Natural Resources Police said. No official has confirmed if the mother or son have been found during the search.



Mrs McKean graduated from Boston College and Georgetown University with degrees in law and international conflict resolution. She went on to work during the Obama administration in State Department's global AIDS department. She also served the Department of Health and Human Services relating to human rights.



Maryland Governor Larry Hogan confirmed the woman and her son were missing when speaking at a press conference. He said he spoke with Mrs Mckean's mother, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who was Marylands lieutenant governor from 1995 to 2003. "On behalf of the people of Maryland, I expressed our most heartfelt sympathies," Mr Hogan said.
[April 03, 2020] STEMscopes NGSS 3D Named 2020 CODiE Award Finalist in Four Categories

Accelerate Learning today announced that STEMscopes NGSS 3D has been named an SIIA Education Technology 2020 CODiE Award Finalist in four categories: Best Science Instructional Solution for Grades PreK-8 and Grades 9-12, and Best STEM Instructional Solution for Grades PK-8 and Grades 9-12.



STEMscopes NGSS 3D is a phenomena-based STEM curriculum that provides teachers with everything they need to address the Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Science and Engineering Practices that form each standard of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). It includes customizable, coherent, storyline-driven bundles that immerse students in overarching phenomena while linking the three dimensions across lesson modules. "Among the features the judges praised were the program's robust teacher resources, the 5E plus Intervention and Acceleration lesson model, the richness of the multimedia content, and the Spanish resources for students," said Vernon Johnson, president and CEO of Accelerate Learning. "It is humbling and gratifying to know how much educators appreciate the lesson design and layered phenomena, and that they rate STEMscopes NGSS 3D among the best science and STEM solutions in the ed tech industry."

Acknowledged as the premier awards program for the software and information industries for 35 years, the SIIA CODiE Awards are produced by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA). The SIIA CODiE Awards are the industry's only peer-reviewed awards program. Educators and administrators serve as judges and conduct the first-round review of all education nominees. "We are thrilled to unveil the 2020 CODIE Award finalists, the best in education technology," said SIIA President Jeff Joseph. "These exciting innovations are setting the pace to improve outcomes in education for students, educators, and administrators." STEMscopes NGSS 3D was honored as one of 157 finalists across the 35 Education Technology categories. The winners will be announced during an online winner announcement celebration on May 19. For more information, visit https://www.stemscopes.com/ngss. About STEMscopes STEMscopes, created by Accelerate Learning Inc., is an award-winning, research-based national leader in PreK-12 STEM curriculum. For more information, visit stemscopes.com or call toll-free 800-531-0864. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005073/en/

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[April 03, 2020] Trustifi Releases Solution for Organizations to Protect Themselves Against the Explosion of Video Conferencing Cybercrime and Hacking

LAS VEGAS, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trustifi has just released a solution to the recent vulnerabilities leading to a cybercrime explosion amid COVID-19 work-from-home social distancing. The FBI just issued warnings about increased meeting hacking activities. The Trustifi solution will help organizations protect their video conferencing meetings from unwanted users and hackers. The company has released details on what organizations should do to protect themselves from this growing threat with the use of Trustifis simple solution.

The meeting invitation is a key point of vulnerability, said Idan Udi Edry, CEO of Trustifi. Many companies dont encrypt them, so they are incredibly easy to hijack. Once the criminal can access your meeting facilities, they can listen and record at will. Criminals are using this point of entry to gain access to all manner of sensitive information about your company, clients, employees, and finances. Video conferencing meetings, often about highly sensitive subjects, have become an irresistible target for cyber criminals. Trustifis solution, which can be found using this link , offes these critical protections:



End-to-end encryption of meeting invitation emails to secure all they critical details and prevent email hijackers from accessing your meeting.

Requiring authentications to ensure that only the intended recipient can get meeting details.

Allow access only once so that only the recipient can access the email. Once the invitation link is used, it becomes disabled. Now that online meetings play such a critical role in keeping businesses in operation, they have become a major and irresistible draw for criminals. We likely have not even begun to see how criminals can exploit the vulnerability. As Trustifis executives note, you need to stop them at the front door with secure encryption of meeting invitation emails. Media Contact:

Alex Marz

516-508-6538

[email protected]

For the solution:

Use this link About Trustifi

Trustifi is a cyber security firm featuring solutions delivered on software as a service platform. Trustifi leads the market with the easiest to use and deploy email security products providing both inbound and outbound email security from a single vendor. The most valuable asset to any organization, other than its employees, is the data contained in their email, and Trustifis key objective is keeping clients data, reputation, and brand safe from all threats related to email. With Trustifis Inbound Shield, Data Loss Prevention, and Email Encryption, clients are always one step ahead of attackers. The Trustifi solution was created by Israeli military intelligence engineers and programmers as a hassle-free method to send and receive electronic communications with absolute confidentiality, protection, security, and legal compliance. Trustifi adheres to GDPR, HIPPA, and Pii regulations. Trustifis solution was honored this year with Cyber Defense Magazines InfoSec Award, recognizing Trustifis Inbound Shield, Data Loss Prevention, and Email Encryption products as being among the most innovative and cutting-edge solutions in the field.

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Taliban to Swap 20 Afghan Security Members in Prisoner Exchange for 100 Fighters - Reports

Sputnik News

07:06 GMT 02.04.2020(updated 07:42 GMT 02.04.2020)

On Wednesday, the Taliban's spokesman revealed that the militant group had discussed the details of the release of its prisoners by the Afghan government, identifying a list of 5,000 jailed members it wanted to free.

The Taliban will release 20 Afghan security member in exchange for its 100 jailed militants, Reuters reported, citing a senior Afghan security official.

The release of Taliban members from Afghan prisons has been one of the key demands since the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations, as envisioned by the peace agreement struck between the Taliban and the United States.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stated that he would gradually free the prisoners given that the talks are successful.

On 29 February, the US and the Taliban agreed to a peace deal that, among other things, set the beginning of intra-Afghan talks for 10 March. However, the power crisis between Afghan Ghani and his political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, who refuses to concede his defeat in the presidential election, as well as Kabul's reluctance to exchange prisoners with the Taliban, resulted in a standstill in the peace process.

 Sputnik

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It's not the end of the world but coronavirus 'is serious,' warns Samaritan's Purse doctor at NYC field hospital

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NEW YORK CITY  As some Americans including pockets of practicing Christians raise skepticism about how much of a threat the new coronavirus poses to their lives, a doctor leading the Samaritan's Purse coronavirus response at a field hospital in Central Park warned Thursday that its serious, as residents welcomed the evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization.

While urging people not to be hysterical or dismissive of the disease, Dr. K. Elliott Tenpenny said Americans need to treat the coronavirus as a serious disease.

This is not something to think this is the end of the world, but it is not something thats also to dismiss, Tenpenny told The Christian Post at the site of the field hospital Thursday. Its serious. Its a serious disease. Its not the end of the world. Were going to make it through this, but it is serious and anyone that says differently I dont believe theyre speaking truthfully.

Tenpennys warning comes as White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx urged every state to begin practicing recommended social distancing guidelines after highlighting that data on the spread of the virus indicates not everyone is treating the virus with the seriousness it deserves.

"We're only as strong as every community, every county, every state, every American following the guidelines to a T," Birx said Thursday. "And I can tell by the curve (of infections) and as it is today that not every American is following it."

Many Americans, like Brooklyn resident David Self, who traveled to Manhattan to observe the Samaritans Purse 68-bed field hospital that opened Wednesday adjacent to Mount Sinai Hospital in Central Parks East Meadow, count themselves among the skeptics.

I came from Brooklyn. I was here yesterday to just to check it out because the media is saying the hospitals are overwhelmed but Im just not seeing that personally. Ive been to three different hospitals: Lenox, Brooklyn, this one. Its very quiet. Came by here yesterday, theres no patients, Self said. I think this is being hyped beyond what it actually is.

He said he was happy that the Franklin Graham-led Samaritans Purse had come to assist with the coronavirus crisis but added, I dont see what the problem is  there doesnt seem to be anything to help out for.

At least 245,573 Americans have been infected by the coronavirus and all states but Wyoming have reported deaths. New York is reporting more than 83,000 positive cases of the coronavirus and more than 45,000 of those have been reported in New York City alone. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that at least 2,468 people have died from the virus statewide and that hospitals will run out of ventilators in about six days.

"It's like watching a slow-moving hurricane across the country, where you know the path that it's taking," Cuomo said.

Self insisted Thursday that he didnt see evidence of that alarm while waiting outside the Samaritans Purse field hospital and across the city generally.

These guys are just assembling furniture, its very sleepy. There are no ambulances streaming in and out of here. Wheres the pandemic? Where is it? he asked.

When he was told that there were patients inside the newly opened field hospital being housed in a cluster of white tents on the lawn, Self still wasnt convinced.

View Photos

I stayed for 30 minutes at the emergency room exit of Mount Sinai over here. No one came in or out, so its not like a steady stream of ambulances and even if there were, is it a gunshot wound? Is it a stabbing? Is it a heart attack? Like how many of these are strep throat? All of a sudden no one has the common cold? No one has the flu? Everyone has coronavirus? he asked.

I think theres just a lot of questions. What I see with my own eyes does not match the hysteria. Theres a big discrepancy. Everyones wearing masks, staying home. Its a gorgeous day. Im going to find out for myself whats going on.  I work in reality television. I know how to create a story thats not there, he added.

Tenpenny told CP that the field hospital had only just started receiving patients Wednesday afternoon and already they had 20 patients in the unit and expected to be close to half their capacity by Thursday.

You wouldnt see a lot of activity because its all inside those tents. All you see is somebody pop out and pop back in, he said. Theres a lot of activity inside. All of the people getting the care are inside those tents. The nurses and doctors giving the care are inside those tents.

He said the 68 beds offered by the facility includes 10 ICU beds and had approximately 70 medical facility staff and about 80 staff members in general. Franklin Graham recently issued an appeal for more Christian healthcare workers to help join the effort in New York City and Tenpenny said the appeal was to ensure they could continue to help New York City even to a greater degree potentially elsewhere.

A release from the organization said Samaritans Purse worked closely with the Mount Sinai Health System, city and state officials, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deploy the field hospital to help meet the needs of local hospitals that are facing an unprecedented wave of sick patients.

Tenpenny said even with the help Samaritans Purse has committed, theres still a struggle.

Mount Sinai says thank you guys. Praise God youre over there but we are still struggling. And so if theres anything else that we can do, were not committed to anything [else at the moment] but were looking at what we could possibly do to help more, he said.

View Photos

The long game is New York has needs. We dont know how long those needs are going to last. Its not Samaritans Purse in the battle, its all of New York City, all of the world right now in the battle against this COVID-19. Were happy to do our part and we are here to serve the needs. So were watching and waiting and watching closely as time goes on to see how long those needs last. I dont know how long it will be. I dont know how long exactly New York will have those needs yet. Neither does anyone else. Thats the challenge, he said.

The Central Park Emergency Field Hospital opened less than two weeks after an identical unit was opened in northern Italy.

Tenpenny said this is the first time Samaritans Purse has run two field hospitals of the magnitude they have at one time.

Usually its one after a disaster, an earthquake, a war or whatever, but now it has two in two very geographically different places, he said.

Amid the pandemic, the evangelical Christian aid agency also reports how well they have been received by New York City.

The reception of the site here has been nothing short of phenomenal. Weve got people just pitching in and helping. Weve had people just come and just giving food. Heres food to eat. Weve had every utility company, every government agency, though they might have been here trying to help this happen quicker, Tenpenny said, pointing to a line power company Con Edison ran to connect the field hospital to the grid.

He highlighted the work of Mount Sinai, the NYPD, the FDNY and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation in helping to get things up and running.

Everyone was pitching in to do their part to be able to provide this care to the New York people, he said.

Integrative therapist Gina Cunningham said while there might be some LGBT advocates in the city who are wary of Samaritans Purse's conservative Christian values, it shouldnt be allowed to get in the way of the work they are doing.

I feel like its all hands on deck. Therell be plenty of time to talk about general perspectives. I feel like thats trivializing to someone who is LGBTQ. I do not trivialize that, but right now we need all the help we can get, Cunningham said.

Maybe that can be the foundation for having more expansive conversations and considerations for everybody in the future. Right now, if this is who can offer help, she said, then helping people survive trumps that issue right now.

Tenpenny also sought to allay concerns about Samaritans Purse by highlighting how their work is driven by their faith.

Our faith is the reason we do this. Our faith in Jesus Christ compels us to help those who are in the ditch in life and thats New York City right now. Thats because of this COVID-19 outbreak. Also our faith says you dont discriminate, period, he said. You take care of people regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation. It doesnt matter. We've been all over the world taking care of people. Ive deployed to half a dozen Muslim nations. You take care of anyone.

Cunningham, who works with older adults and was in the city on 9/11, said the impact of the coronavirus on the city is similar in a pivotal way.

Its such a slow unfolding. We saw it coming so its very different from 9/11. Its got some similarities in that it unifies people across all cultures.  I think its similar in that its pivotal. Theres going to be a before and an after, she said.

Listen to the scientists. Listen to the medical professionals. Listen to what theyre saying because theyre on the frontlines. And theyve been warning us about this for several months now and every decision that we make about social distancing and taking their very sage advice seriously, she said in parting advice for America. Every choice we make to do that or not do that we can be hurting ourselves. We have our lives in our own hands but also other peoples lives.
Add John Fogerty to the list of major concert draws who will be social distancing from fans for the foreseeable future.

Cancellations and postponements continue to pile up at area casinos and concert venues over coronavirus concerns.

Fogerty announced through his website that two April dates on his 2020 tour (including April 25 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.) have been postponed.

While that show has yet to be rescheduled, an April 17 performance from comic Tracy Morgan has been moved to Oct. 31.

Tickets purchased for his April show will be honored on the new date.

Over at Mohegan Sun, En Vogue has moved its April 17 show to Aug 20 with all ticket purchases being honored as well.

Closer to home, MGM Springfieldhas been forced to delay the Marlon Wayans performance to Oct. 23.

The Calvin Theatre in Northampton has cleared its calendar until May 31 when Tom Rush is scheduled to perform.

New dates for Guster and the Journey tribute Voyage will be announced shortly, while Peppa Pig Live! has been moved to July 25 and City and Colour will now play on Oct. 11.

Shop for concert tickets here: StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster.
International work disruptions are not the norm and, when they happen, they can feel paralyzing. Daily work and life routines drift to a halt. Streets empty, transportation trickles and our relationships retreat. It's like someone hit "pause" on our personal and professional practices.

But professional "pauses," if managed strategically, can bolster your business arsenal. We call this a "power pause." A power pause is particularly advantageous in intellectual property (IP). It affords businesses much needed time to dust off IP portfolios, reassess IP strategies and root around the corners of the business for yet-to-be protected IP.

From our team to yours, here are eight things you can do right now with your IP to get an edge on your competition:

1. Identify the "Crown Jewels." Audit, evaluate and button up the patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, trade secrets and domain names that are critical to your business and foundational to your success. Make sure you have identified your crucial "crown jewels" -- the assets your business just couldn't do without -- in every geographic market in which you do business. Also ensure that you have maximum patent, copyright and trademark protection for them.

2. Take Stock of Your IP Inventory. Seriously, what's in your IP wallet? Take inventory of your IP by identifying what patents, trademarks, copyrights, domain names, trade secrets and trade dress assets you own and figure out the status of each one. Further, make sure products and packaging are properly marked with relevant patent and trademark notices. Also review licensing agreements and royalty reports for accuracy and compliance.

3. Recalibrate Your IP Inventory. With a new sightline over your IP, keep only those things that make money, provide a strategic benefit or align with your organization's purpose. Decide which patents, trademarks, etc., you should keep and which you should discard. Allow superfluous assets to lapse or expire. Better yet, sell them to a third party or license them to create a new revenue stream.

4. Supplement Your IP Inventory. Replenish, replace or reinvigorate your IP portfolio by reviewing your IP strategy and taking steps to bolster that portfolio with new and necessary IP that will propel your business forward. Take a step back and consider whether there are ways to expand your portfolio with low-cost, low-maintenance options such as copyright registrations for your key written materials, images and software. With the cost savings realized by recalibrating your IP, you'll have a more robust budget for pursuing assets more fully aligned with that strategy.

5. Peel Back Your Competitors' Sheets. Whether you are a fast follower or a trend setter, it's a jungle out there. Don't let competitors eat your IP lunch. Conduct an IP landscape search on your key competitors' IP to see in which direction they are headed. Consider strategically fencing them in with your own refreshed IP strategy.

6. Steer the Course. For the IP assets you own and wish to maintain, review any upcoming maintenance deadlines and compile all necessary information for ensuring such assets are renewed or maintained. No need to wait until the last minute to maintain these assets so long as the renewal window is open. In fact, it is far better to not wait; getting an early start on renewals can stave off the risk of unexpected events and the delays that are already beginning to bog down the system.

7. Defend Your Turf. Is a competitor, counterfeiter or other interloper treading on the toes of your IP rights? You won't know if you don't look. Spend some of your down time conducting Google and social media searches to identify those whose unauthorized activities may be undercutting the goodwill and economic value of your hard-earned IP assets. So often, a well-timed warning letter from legal counsel can deter activities that would have become much more damaging down the road if left unchecked.

8. Don't Let Your Guard Down. The primary culprits for lost trade secrets and data breaches are mistakes by your own employees. New and unexpected remote work routines can contribute to reduced vigilance in ensuring your confidential information isn't overheard or intercepted. Remind your team that, now more than ever, they share the responsibility of keeping your data and proprietary information safe and secure.

Mary C. Bonnema and Brian D. Wassom, partners at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, authored this column as part of the Daily News' Community Connections initiative.
 Flash

China on Thursday refuted several United States intelligence officials' accusations that China concealed the extent of the coronavirus epidemic and under-reported the number of the COVID-19 cases and deaths, and noted that such remarks were "shameless and immoral."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the comments at a news briefing when answering a relevant question.

"China has been giving open, transparent and timely updates to the world as demonstrated clearly in the details my colleagues and I have elaborated on China's response many times," Hua said.

On international public health security, it is the World Health Organization (WHO) and experts on epidemiology and disease control who are entitled to make judgement, rather than several politicians who are habitual liars, Hua said.

She said a senior WHO official on Wednesday refuted unjustified accusations against China's epidemic data at a press conference in Geneva.

China has always been open, transparent and responsible in all its efforts, Hua said. "The decisive and strong measures taken by the Chinese government ensured to the highest possible extent the life, safety and health of the Chinese people and bought precious time for stemming the global spread of the virus."

"We understand that the United States is facing difficulties and some U.S. officials are under pressure, and we feel deeply for the hardship of the American people," Hua said. "Out of humanitarian spirit, we would like to provide help and support within our capability to the United States in the fight against the pandemic."

However, Hua said the remarks by these few U.S. politicians are just shameless and immoral. "Slandering, smearing and blaming cannot make up for lost time and more lies will only waste more time and lead to more lives lost."

"We advise these politicians that, at this moment, they should put the safety of people's lives and health before politics," Hua said. "It is immoral and inhumane to continue to politicize public health issue, which should be condemned by all people of the world, including people of the United States."
The Coronavirus pandemic has exponentially increased mask usage around the world, and rightfully so. If masks can prevent you from inhaling the droplets infected with the virus, it makes sense to always be protected with the gear.

However, unfortunately, it's not practical for everyone to wear a mask or even accessible, especially for people with disabilities.

A college student in Kentucky, United States, Ashley Lawrence noticed this accessibility issue with masks and has tried to bridge the gap.

 Ashley Lawrence/ Twitter

Face masks cover the mouth, making it harder for the deaf and the hard of hearing to communicate. With the help of her mother, Ashley, a 21-year-old studying education for the deaf and hard of hearing, made face masks with a clear and transparent panel in the middle, for the visibility of the mouth of the wearer.



This mask then provides assistance for people with disabilities. A mask with a visible panel can enable people to read lips or speak the Sign Language.

 Ashley Lawrence/ Twitter

This especially helps as the use of the hands and face for communication could put people with disabilities who are forced to communicate without a mask at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. In such a scenario, a mask like this makes all the difference.



 Ashley Lawrence/ Twitter

Ashley Lawrence had noticed this gap, "I felt like there was a huge population that was being looked over," Lawrence told Lex 18. "We're all panicking right now and so a lot of people are just not being thought of. So, I felt like it was very important that, even at a time like this, people need to have that communication."



In an attempt to bridge it, Ashley Lawrence said she and her mother initiated the process of experimenting with versatile materials to make different types of masks. These included a kind that would wrap around the head or neck to accommodate people with cochlear implants or hearing aids.

In just a matter of days, Ashley has received dozens of orders which she's making for free currently.
Sana Saeed, who played Shah Rukh Khan's on-screen daughter, Anjali in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, lost her ailing father, Urdu poet Abdul Ahad Saeed on the day of Janta Curfew (March 22, 2020). The most heartbreaking part is that the actress couldn't be with him in his final moments, as she was miles away in Los Angeles, amid the novel Coronavirus lockdown.

The Student Of The Year actress opened up about her father's demise and told Hindustan Times, "My dad was a diabetes patient, and this led to multiple organ failure. It was around 7 am in LA when I got the news and I wanted to rush back home and hug my mother and sisters. The circumstances under which I lost my father were very unfair. But I know in my heart that he was really suffering and he's definitely in a better place now."

Saeed, who went to the US for an event, couldn't fly back home because of the Coronavirus lockdown.

Further, owing to the Janta Curfew, on the day of her father's death, her family decided to keep the funeral low profile to avoid a large gathering.

"My family had decided to do the funeral on the same day and we had only three hours in hand. On their way, they were stopped by the cops to check, but after seeing the death certificate, they allowed them to go. Though I wasn't there physically, my sister kept texting me every time during the ceremony," Sana further told the tabloid.

The Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actress is currently stuck in the US. She is keeping herself occupied by praying and doing yoga. She has also enrolled herself in an online business course.

#Awww: Shahrukh Khan-Kajol's Unseen Photoshoot For Kuch Kuch Hota Hai [PICS]

20 Years Of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai: Here's Why Shahrukh Khan's Character 'Rahul' Was A Fraud
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SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectivity and sensors, and the TE Connectivity Foundation, a private charitable foundation funded entirely by TE, have donated more than $1 million to organizations supporting the fight against COVID-19.

The TE Foundation approved a $1 million emergency grant to Global Impact, a philanthropic partner across the private, nonprofit and public sectors, to fund diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines vital in managing the global pandemic.

"TE makes products that are essential to daily living and healthcare delivery, and our employees around the globe continue their important work in these trying times," said Karen Leggio, TE Foundation board chair. "The TE Foundation board knew we had to do our part, too, by supporting a global charitable organization that is helping to battle the coronavirus. We are proud to be a part of Global Impact's work to make a real and lasting impact."

Specifically, the TE Foundation has requested the funds be distributed among the following organizations:

Direct Relief, to supply medical personnel around the world with personal protective equipment (PPE) and other necessities

Americares, to mobilize medical personnel for overwhelmed health facilities around the world



Gates Philanthropy Partners' Therapeutics Accelerator, to speed up the identification and production of treatments for COVID-19

"We want to recognize the TE Connectivity Foundation for its leadership in making a significant gift during this time of great need," said Global Impact President and CEO Scott Jackson. "Their generosity will go a long way to support the Global Impact charities that are on the front lines developing therapies, researching vaccines and serving their constituencies around the world during this pandemic."

Separately from the foundation, TE Connectivity has committed to making a series of donations to charities that will have the biggest impact on the communities in which the company operates.

"Our most important priority is the health and safety of our employees and making sure we are doing what we can to support the communities where our people live and work," said TE Connectivity CEO Terrence Curtin. "We are working with our employees around the world to identify more opportunities where our dollars can make a difference in the days and weeks ahead."

TE has donated $100,000 to Direct Relief, as well as $75,000 to the Shanghai Charity Federation to purchase PPE. Additionally, TE will double the charitable match it offers to its U.S. employees to 200% when they donate to specific medical facilities near major TE locations nationwide.

ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY

TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) is a $13 billion global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications, and the home. With nearly 80,000 employees, including more than 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 150 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn , Facebook, WeChat and Twitter.

ABOUT TE CONNECTIVITY FOUNDATION

The TE Connectivity Foundation is a U.S.-based, private charitable foundation. Established in 1977 by TE Connectivity, the TE Foundation is funded entirely by TE Connectivity. The TE Foundation seeks to connect and strengthen communities around the world through access to technology and engineering for all, with a focus on women and underserved populations.

ABOUT GLOBAL IMPACT

Global Impact is a trusted advisor, intermediary and implementing partner across the private, nonprofit and public sectors. Through these partnerships, we have raised nearly $2 billion for causes such as disaster relief and global development. Our expertise includes fundraising and partnerships, employee engagement and corporate social responsibility (CSR), and finance and business services. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Impact established the Coronavirus Outbreak Fund to support members of the Global Impact Charity Alliance responding around the world to the outbreak, addressing critical humanitarian needs.

SOURCE TE Connectivity Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.te.com


A Current Affair's Tracy Grimshaw is said to be 'back hosting the program from the Channel Nine studios'.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald's Private Sydney on Saturday, filming at the 59-year-old's Sydney home could not continue due to 'technical issues'.

With tough new social distancing measures amid the coronavirus pandemic, Tracy made the decision to host the show from her spare bedroom on Monday.

'She's back in the studio': A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw (pictured), 59, is no longer working from home due to 'technical issues', according to The Sydney Morning Herald's Private Sydney on Saturday

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.

Tracy, who appeared barefoot under a table, told viewers on Monday's program that 'we're a little cramped, but we have to do it!'

But like other Australians making the switch to working from home, the famed journalist suffered a few hiccups along the way.

'We're a little bit cramped!' Tracy made the decision to host Monday's program from the spare bedroom of her Sydney home. She announced to viewers that it was vital during the pandemic

Removing a plush bed from her contemporary home, Tracy set up a makeshift table in the middle of the room and covered the surface with blue paper.

A TV was mounted with A Current Affair's logo and backdrop, making it appear as if she was in the Channel Nine studio.

Tracy wore her signature outfit of a blouse teamed with a black tailored blazer and pants - leaving most viewers unaware that she was barefoot.

The beloved television personality had her brunette bob blow-dried to perfection, and her makeup was suitably elegant.

Creative: The famed journalist utilised the spare bedroom (pictured) in her contemporary home

'Tonight we're coming to you from my bedroom,' Tracy announced to viewers at the start of the show.

'And there's something I never thought I'd say. It's a spare room and in the interests of staying home, we'll be here for a while.

'I have a small crew here for the first night, which is allowed, because they're of course at work.'

The show must go on! The bed was removed, and crew set up a makeshift table in the centre with blue paper covering the surface

Lights, camera, action: A TV screen was mounted and featured A Current Affair's logo and backdrop, making it appear as if Tracy was in the Channel Nine studio

And like other Australians who have been experiencing teething issues while working from home, Tracy suffered a few 'technical difficulties'.

In a short clip shared to a Channel Nine cameraman's Instagram page, Tracy was seen attempting to get a number of dogs to 'sit' underneath the table and behave.

And during an interview with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on the $130billion 'JobKeeper' support package made available for workers amid the pandemic, Tracy was left slightly red-faced when the TV screen behind switched to a rival network.

Viewers commended Tracy for working from home in a series of tweets.

Oops: However, as one viewer pointed out online, even acclaimed TV stars suffer technical difficulties. When conducting an interview, the screen behind changed to a rival network

'Sit!' Tracy was also seen in footage shared to Instagram by a cameraman, attempting to get a number of dogs to 'sit' and behave

'Awesome seeing Tracy hosting #9ACA from home,' one wrote, while another added: 'It's very bizarre but also convenient to see Tracy Grimshaw at home on A Current Affair tonight.'

'Tracy Grimshaw is reporting on A Current Affair from her bedroom!! There is NO excuse,' one also said, alongside several clapping hands emojis.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to not leave the house unless absolutely necessary, as the battle to fight the spread of coronavirus continues.

'There is NO excuse': Viewers commended Tracy for abiding by strict social distancing measures, including working from home where possible

Gyms, beauty salons and libraries have been closed, with restaurants and cafes only allowed to serve takeaway.

Tough new social distancing measures have also been enforced - limiting social gatherings, outside of the household, to just two people.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness accompanied by fever, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath and fatigue. It can produce pneumonia.

The spread of the disease, which began in Wuhan, China, has seen over 1,041,100 cases worldwide and more than 55,200 fatalities.

As of the morning of April 4, the total number of people diagnosed with the virus in Australia is 5,350 including 28 deaths.
Higher education colleges have been closed since March 12, with lectures going online, and work has been underway since to modify exam arrangements. (stock photo)

Universities say they will take into account the challenges and stresses facing students as a result of the Covid-19 emergency in designing and assessing end-of-year exams.

Universities and institutes of technology are finalising arrangements for end-of-year exams to go online or for some other assessment format that do not involve a traditional face-to-face exam, such as essays.

Higher education colleges have been closed since March 12, with lectures going online, and work has been underway since to modify exam arrangements to meet the requirements of the social distancing restrictions.

The Irish Universities Association (IUA) said today that universities planned to complete arrangements for end of semester assessments within the next week.

Read More

The IUA said that the primary objective of the universities was that students be able to successfully complete this semester and either graduate or progress to the next year of their studies.

It said that universities recognised that this was a stressful time for students, and many faced challenges, including studying in difficult conditions, caring for others and limited internet access for some.

The challenging and stressful circumstances that students are facing are being taken into account in the design and marking of these revised assessments, the IUA said.

The IUA stated that the alternative assessment procedures were designed to enable as much flexibility as possible for students to demonstrate that they have achieved the required learning outcomes, without compromising the integrity of the assessment process, and to maintain confidence and transparency in the quality of the degree and programme.

It said universities were applying a number of key principles and approaches including:

Under-pinning academic quality standards by ensuring that the assessment methods will satisfy the requirements of professional/accrediting bodies and External Examiners.

Replacement of traditional face-to-face exams with a variety of alternative assessment formats such as essays, reports, problem sheets, multiple choice questions and other formats.

Ensuring that students suffer no academic disadvantage with all universities introducing flexible arrangements in these exceptional circumstances in relation to exam formats, marking and re-sits if required.

Recognition that some students may have technical issues with poor connectivity with exam formats and timing adjusted appropriately by the flexible arrangements in place in each university.

Supports and arrangements for students with recognised disabilities.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) representing TU Dublin and institutes of technology, said its member colleges were in the process of writing out to students on all programmes advising that what their specific assessment arrangements would be.

The spokesperson said colleges in the sector had been a very active in identifying and reaching out to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The most incompetent and uninformed president in history has led the federal government into the worst emergency response to a pandemic that we have ever seen in this country, MSNBC host Lawrence ODonnell ranted on March 12. More people are sick in America tonight, because Donald Trump is president. More people are dead and dying in America tonight because Donald Trump is president.

According to Senator Bernie Sanders (Socialist, Vt.), the current administration is largely incompetent, and its incompetence and recklessness has [sic] threatened the lives of many people.

Time magazine snarled: Faced with the most dangerous threat to American life since at least the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the 45th President made matters worse.

Not to be outdone, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) sank to new depths on CNN last Sunday, when she basically accused President Trump of negligent homicide: As the president fiddles, people are dying.

As of Wednesday, April 1 at 11:53 p.m., Johns Hopkins University reported 216,515 COVID-19 cases in America, with 5,119 deaths and 8,593 recoveries. These rapidly changing figures are grim, especially with the U.S. now suffering the worlds highest coronavirus caseload. But how do these data compare with those overseas? How is a nation with 332 million people managing against, say, China, from where COVID-19 crawled, population 1.4 billion?

Social scientists would gauge these disparate figures as they would evaluate nations along other key metrics, such as GDP: on a per capita basis. Using Johns Hopkins priceless and highly televised COVID-19 website and the CIA World Factbooks population forecasts for July 2020, one easily can judge Americas relative international performance against this invisible enemy.

Among the top-20 nations in the Johns Hopkins ranking by total cases, America is No. 12, with 651 cases per million inhabitants. The top three countries, by this criterion, are Switzerland, with 2,114 per million, Spain (2,082), and Italy (1,772).

Story continues

Concerning fatalities, among these top 20, America is also No. 12, with 15.3 deaths per million. The three leading countries by this grim yardstick: Italy, with 211 per million, Spain (188), and Belgium (71). COVID-19 deaths skew older and male. These data, alas, do not address these variables.

On a cheerier note, what about those who regained their health? America is now No. 13, with 26 recoveries per million. The top three such countries are Spain, with 453 per million, Switzerland (353), and Italy (270).

How has the United States fared among the G7 industrialized nations? Placed beside Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, America ranks fourth for cases per million (651), fourth for deaths (15), and fifth for recoveries (26). The category leaders are Italy with 1,772 cases per million, Germany (973), and France (920). Deaths: Italy with 211 per million, France (64), and the UK (36). Recoveries: Italy with 270 per million, Germany (233), and France (176).

(For further details, please consult the interactive spreadsheet linked here .)

These numbers come with several significant caveats.

First, this is just a snapshot. Unlike a staged family portrait, this picture was taken at one moment during an unprecedented, swiftly changing, and incredibly complex global catastrophe. Another snapshot taken in three days, a fortnight, or on July 4 could look completely different.

Second, some of these data may be totally false or merely unreliable. To be charitable, Chinas and Irans statistics may be the work of censors rather than scientists. Elsewhere, honest countries are cautious and meticulous. Others are equally genuine, but casually phone in figures that are good enough for government work.

Third, these nations were not all afflicted at once. Instead, this rolling plague has battered different countries at various times, like a bizarre, macabre track race in which various runners react to staggered starter pistols. This highly dynamic plague frustrates comparisons across countries.

Fourth, until Pfizer invents the omniscience pill, mankind operates in a world of incomplete information of mixed quality. Some conclusions are clearer than others (e.g. I count precisely four oranges on the kitchen table, and they look like about six ounces each). And inferences are exactly that: inferences.

With these data subject to those words of caution, its fair to say that at this moment, they suggest that President Trumps leadership of Americas COVID-19 response is not the immaculate CDC clean room that his fans envision. But its also neither the festering Petri dish nor the death row of which Trumps foes scream.

Weighing COVID-19 cases, these data identify modern, prosperous, non-MAGA Switzerland, Spain, and Italy, and liberal favorites Belgium (No. 5), France (7), and the Netherlands (10) as nations with less attractive results than Americas (12). Conversely, Sweden (No. 14), Canada (16), and Turkey (18) enjoy better scores than Americas.

Among fatalities, the U.K.  home of the National Health Service  (No. 7), Sweden (9), and Portugal (10) have endured more deaths/million than America has (12). But Norway (No. 14), South Korea (16), and Israel (17) are less toxic.

Regarding recoveries, Americas spot (No. 13) is unenviable, although Sweden (15), Norway (19), and Brazil (20) have done worse. That said, some better performers were hit early, including South Korea (No. 9) and China (10), or hard, such as Spain (1) and Italy (3).

President Trumps response, to date, resembles neither Dr. Jonas Salk nor the Grim Reaper. America has steered clear of the top 10 in terms of COVID-19 cases and deaths, although its recovery numbers could be higher. Among the G7, the US is right in the middle of the pact for cases and deaths, and just behind that center spot for recoveries.

President Trump has worked tirelessly and creatively with a diligent team, all confronting an unseen and unexpected enemy. So far, one can infer from these data that their results have left Americans healthier than the citizens of numerous major nations.

While Democrats conducted Trumps Senate impeachment trial, he chaired a White House meeting of his Coronavirus Task Force and made his most important decision in this crisis: He barred aliens who had been in China within 14 days of attempted arrival. Trump did this on January 31, one day after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. President Trump frequently cites this courageous action as the likeliest reason that, to date, America does not resemble Italy with four time zones.

Furthermore, the Lefts Trump blew it narrative would ring true if the rest of the planet were healthy, open for business, and shocked at how badly the ailing, dying Yanks botched it, while everybody else aced it.

Instead, country after country has called in sick, closed its doors, and commenced prayer. If Trump got anything wrong, so did most nations and leaders, including some whom the Left adores.

COVID-19 struck Earth like an invisible asteroid. Nearly everyone has scrambled to defeat something absent since 1918s Spanish Flu pandemic  102 years ago. Acting legend Kirk Douglas survived that tragedy. Alas, he died on February 5, at age 103, and no longer offer his insights.

Has President Trumps response been perfect? Has anyones?

Bucknell Universitys Michael Malarkey contributed research to this opinion piece.

More from National Review
Pakistani Court Overturns Conviction, Death Sentence In Daniel Pearl Murder

By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal April 02, 2020

A Pakistani court has overturned a death sentence and murder conviction imposed on a British-born militant over the 2002 killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

Defense lawyer Khawja Naveed said that, in handing down the decision, a two-member bench of the High Court of Sindh Province reduced Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh's sentence to 7 years in prison for kidnapping, in what international media freedom watchdogs called a "denial of justice."

Since Sheikh has been in prison since 2002, he was expected to be released, but the court had yet to issue such an order, Naveed added.

Pearl, 38, was The Wall Street Journal's South Asia bureau chief when he was abducted and beheaded in Karachi in 2002, while researching a story about Islamist militants.

A video showing Pearl's decapitation was delivered to the U.S. consulate in Karachi nearly a month later.

Sheikh, a former student at the London School of Economics, was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court, while three other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Naveed said those three had been acquitted by the court in its new ruling.

Faiz Shah, the provincial prosecutor-general, said he intends to appeal the ruling.

"We will go through the court order once it is issued, we will probably file an appeal," Shah told Reuters.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said it was "deeply disappointed to see justice in the murder case of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl denied by a Pakistani court today."

Reporters Without Borders condemned the court's "incoherent" ruling, which the watchdog called "a shocking denial of justice" for Pearl's family and "a symbol of impunity for crimes of violence against journalists in Pakistan."

In January 2011, a report released by the Pearl Project, an investigative journalism team at Georgetown University in Washington, claimed that the wrong men were convicted for Pearl's murder.

The investigation claimed the reporter was murdered by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Mohammed was arrested in Pakistan in 2003 and is being held in the U.S. facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistani-court- overturns-conviction-death-sentence-in- daniel-pearl-murder/30524914.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Right now, we know that GM is working on a Hummer EV, and we know that, for some reason, the company thinks the Cadillac brand can sell a six-figure car, known as the Celestiq. I have downright critisized the brand on a number of occasions for not taking EVs seriously enough and, more recently, for the whole Celestiq situation. To me, it seems like GM just doesnt know what its doing, and I always assumed it was because of poor leadership. Now, word has surfaced that Honda and GM are teaming up on EVs. To be more specific, GM is going to help Honda develop its next two EVs, and at first I thought this was a very bad move, but then I saw the bigger picture.

Honda Has a Lot of Say in GMs Electric Platform Now

At one time, in my younger and ignorant years, I didnt like Honda one bit. My mind was clouded by the whole buy American thing. Then, one of my buddies bought a 1987 Honda Accord Lxi and, I kid you not, it was like a poor mans BMW. And, it was reliable. Since then, Ive been a big fan of Hondas and have had two that have surpassed the 400,000 mile mark with few mechanical problems. When I saw that GM was going to help Honda, I got this weird little knot in my gut that said please God no. Then I read into it a little more and this could actually be a very good thing for both companies.

GM is going to help Honda build its next two EVS, but by help, we mean that Honda is getting to use GMs Ultium battery technology and modular electric vehicle platform.

Honda, as a matter of fact, will engineer the architecture to ensure that any Honda vehicle it is used in meets consumer expectations. When were talking about Honda reliability, those expectations are high, so this isnt surprising. So, Honda is going to provide engineering input on the platform before it comes close to anything that wears a Honda badge, while the interior and exterior design work of these vehicles will also be all-Honda.

The only downside is that the vehicles will be built in GMs North American manufacturing facilities and thats a little troublesome considering the build quality of some of GMs vehicles these days.

Of course, the new Chevy Suburban and Tahoe seem to be a step up from pre-2020 GM days, so maybe things wont be that bad.

The point Im getting to here is that Honda, a brand known for its reliability and quality, is going to be giving GM some kind of input on its new modular electric EV platform and, if any of that rubs off onto the next round of GM EVs, thats going to be a very good thing for the future crop of Chevys, GMCs, and Cadillacs.
Domestic stocks are likely to open lower as trading resumes after a local holiday as an overnight surge in crude oil prices may impact sentiment. Local stock markets were closed on Thursday (2 April 2020) on account of Ram Navami.

Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could fall 66 points at the opening bell.

Overseas, stocks in Asia were little changed in Friday trade. The moves came after an overnight surge in oil prices, which saw U.S. crude futures soaring more than 24%.

On the economic data front, a private survey released Friday showed China's services sector shrank further in March. The Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for March was at 43 following a record low of 26.5 in February. PMI readings below 50 indicate contraction, while figures above that level signify an expansion.

In US, stock benchmarks on Thursday finished near the highs of the session, as investors appeared to focus on hope that a detente between some of the biggest oil producers on the planet might be achieved to substantially curb oil production and stabilize battered prices.

US President Donald Trump reportedly tweeted that he had been in contact with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and that he expected the Saudis and Russia to cut production of 10 million to 15 million barrels a day.

In economic news, the government said that the U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $39.9 billion in February from $45.5 billion in January.

The U.S. Labor Department said Thursday that initial jobless claims surged to more than 6 million last week, reaching a new record as coronavirus-related shutdowns roll through the country.

Back home, the domestic stock market slumped on Tuesday, 1 April 2020 dragged by weakness in IT and banks shares. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, tanked 1,203.18 points or 4.08% at 28,265.31. The Nifty 50 index tumbled 343.95 points or 4% at 8,253.80.

The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 1,116.79 crore on 1 April 2020, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 450.36 crore on 1 April 2020, as per provisional data.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thiruvananthapuram, April 3 : The Congress-led opposition in Kerala on Friday asked State Finance Minister Thomas Issac to tone down his "threats" over contribution from employees' salary to the state fund to fight coronavirus.

Speaking to the media, leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala asked Issac not to "intimidate" state government employees.

"While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan appears to be speaking in a sober voice, Issac is speaking in threatening laguage. We dismiss these threats. Medical professionals and those actively involved in fighting Covid-19 should be exempted from 'forced contribution'. Temporary and casual workers should also be exempted," said Chennithala.

He said the state government should allow everyone to decide how much they can contribute and reminded that even the Kerala High Court had taken a tough stance when the state government had launched 'salary challenge' during the worst floods in the state in 2018.

Vijayan and Issac have been asking state government employees to contribute a month's salary which can be done in instalments beginning in May.

"The credibility of the 'salary challenge' has fallen flat after frauds were reported from Kochi, and several persons were arrested for siphoning money from the flood relief funds," said Chennithala.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Two more Nightingale hospitals will be opened in Bristol and Harrogate, NHS England has announced.

The newly-planned sites at the University of the West of England and the Harrogate Convention Centre will look after patients from their regions.

The Bristol hospital will be able to look after up to 1,000 patients, while Harrogate can care for up to 500.

The newly-planned sites at the University of the West of England and the Harrogate Convention Centre will look after patients from their regions. Pictured: The London site

The news of an extra 1,500 beds to help deal with the coronavirus crisis comes on the same day the first new hospital is due to open in London.

The 4,000-bed facility at the ExCel Centre in the Docklands has been built in less than a fortnight as hospitals up their critical care capacity to deal with Covid-19.

It will join other sites due to open at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre and Manchester's Central Complex.

NHS hospitals have already managed to free up more than 33,000 beds which is equivalent to 50 new hospitals, according to the service.

The Bristol hospital (general view pictured) will be able to look after up to 1,000 patients, while Harrogate can care for up to 500

The NHS's chief executive has called the building of the London hospital 'nothing short of extraordinary'.

Sir Simon Stevens added: 'Now we are gearing up to repeat that feat at another four sites across the country to add to the surge capacity in current NHS hospitals.

'We're giving the go ahead to these additional sites, hoping they may not be needing but preparing in case they are.'

They will join other sites due to open at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre and Manchester's Central Complex. Pictured: The Harrogate site

The Health Secretary has also paid tribute to the 'hard work and dedication' of staff working on the hospitals across the country.

Matt Hancock said: 'The nation is facing an unprecedented global emergency and we are taking exceptional measures to ensure the NHS has whatever it needs to tackle this virus.

'The NHS and the military have achieved something extraordinary in setting up NHS Nightingale, London in only a matter of days.'
Families and individuals who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness are among our states most vulnerable, Durbin said in a statement. Its imperative that we provide additional support during this crisis. Sen. Duckworth and I will continue working to provide increased federal assistance during this challenging time.
Duterte issued the warning during a televised address Wednesday in response to demonstrations in a poor neighborhood in Manila by residents angry over insufficient food aid.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says anyone who violates the government's lockdown measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak could be shot by police.

He told police if they feel their lives are in danger when they confront protesters to "shoot them dead." Duterte also warned of harsh punishments for anyone responsible for attacking doctors and other health care workers.

Duterte has been condemned for his bombastic rhetoric coupled with his brutal crackdown on illicit drugs that has left thousands of suspected drug traffickers and users dead.

The Philippines has 2,311 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections, with 96 deaths.
Hundreds of NHS workers' coronavirus swabs have reportedly been flown to Germany because the results are coming back in half the time.

Samples passed to Public Health England are believed to be taking up to four days to process but those on the Continent can come back in just two.

Northampton General Hospital is understood to have exported 400 samples to Eurofins Biomnis on Monday and had the results on Wednesday.

Northamptonshire Healthcare and Kettering General Hospital were also said to have been asked to join the scheme.

It comes as an estimated 75 NHS workers were swabbed for the bug at a make-shift testing facility at Chessington, Surrey, yesterday before it closed for lunch.

Hundreds of NHS workers' coronavirus swabs have reportedly been flown to Germany because the results are coming back in half the time. Pictured: The NHS swabbing centre at Chessington

SERCO staff move equipment at the drive through coronavirus testing site in a car park at Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey

Samples passed to Public Health England are believed to be taking up to four days to process but those on the Continent can come back in just two. Pictured: Medical staff testing people at a coronavirus test centre in the car park of Chessington yesterday

At Chessington, half a dozen nurses, doctors and support staff waited in their cars for the testing to resume after medical and logistical staff took an hour off at 1pm

Elsewhere yesterday:

Some of the biggest firms in Britain, including British Airways, Topshop owner Arcadia and car giant Nissan, suspended tens of thousands of staff using the Government's job subsidy scheme in a move that could cost taxpayers 60 billion;

The UK's death toll soared to 2,921, with a record 569 people dying in a single day;

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide passed the million mark;

Millions across the country lined the street at 8pm to applaud NHS staff fighting the virus, in the second weekly Clap the Carers event;

Downing Street said Boris Johnson was still suffering 'mild' symptoms of coronavirus a week after testing positive and may not be ready to leave quarantine today;

More than 13 billion of historic hospital debt will be written off to ease cash concerns;

NHS medical director Steve Powis suggested the lockdown is set to continue for weeks;

Despite the surge in cases, Mr Hancock said the NHS still had 1,821 spare critical care beds, even before major new Nightingale field hospitals open in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and Harrogate;

Chancellor Rishi Sunak moved to force banks to make it easier for companies to get government-backed loans to help them through the crisis;

Mr Hancock urged Premier League footballers to 'take a pay cut'.

A source told the Sun: 'PHE said they'd be able to get results back within 24 hours but they don't have the capacity for that turnaround.'

Eurofins Biomnis, which has a lab in Surrey, would not be drawn on any deal with the NHS, but said it could partner with it to 'create a very significant capacity for the UK'.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has declared the UK will be conducting 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month as the Covid-19 death toll hit 2,921.

But Germany are already powering through 70,000 a day while Britain's lags behind on about 10,000.

At Chessington, half a dozen nurses, doctors and support staff waited in their cars for the testing to resume after medical and logistical staff took an hour off at 1pm.

The farcical scenes saw NHS staff keep their windows closed and their documents on display as they waited for test centre workers to return.

Those who have undergone tests have been told they will need to wait three days before they are notified over the phone by a clinician of their result.

It came just a day after pictures showed the site was completely deserted and the Government's testing fiasco was exposed.

The queues built up outside the drive-through - at the entrance to the Chessington World of Adventures - warning medics they had to have an appointment.

NHS staff have already called the scheme 'absurd', pleading for health chiefs to allow them to turn up whenever they have a spare moment to get swabbed.

Meanwhile at a coronavirus testing centre at Northampton General Hospital (pictured) yesterday, NHS workers found the station had been closed

At a coronavirus testing centre at Northampton General Hospital yesterday, NHS staff found that the station had been closed

Despite being set up only three days ago, health workers looking to be swabbed were told that testing at the site 'has been put on pause'

Meanwhile at a coronavirus testing centre at Northampton General Hospital yesterday, NHS workers found the station had been closed.

The drive-through was set up at the site on March 30, but after just three days health workers were told testing 'has been put on pause'.

In a statement on Monday the hospital, which swabbed more than 400 members of staff by that afternoon, said the facility was only available for designated NHS staff.

A spokesman for the hospital said: 'The testing has been put on pause.'

The chaotic scenes came amid a huge argument over Britain's lacklustre testing policy.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced demands to summon the Dunkirk spirit and let 'small ship' labs start screening for the killer infection.

It also has raised questions over how soon the tests can be processed, with NHS staff saying they have been left waiting days for their results.

Public Health England has previously insisted all coronavirus tests should be carried out centrally, an approach contrasting with the tactic in Germany.

Fewer than 10,000 tests are being carried out each day in the UK, meaning the true size of the UK's outbreak is a guessing game.

Almost 3,000 NHS staff have been tested at the drive-through stations since the first facilities opened at the weekend.

Around 150,000 people in the UK have been swabbed in total.

In another element of the Government's unfolding testing shambles, it was revealed yesterday health chiefs have rejected some antibody tests they promised would be ready for mid-April.

Pictures yesterday showed little activity at the Chessington coronavirus testing site, which was set up as a drive-through for NHS workers who need to get tested

Staff yesterday were pictured stretching their legs while there was little activity at the testing centre

Officials, who claim to have ordered 17.5million tests to check who is immune, admitted some of the kits were not deemed accurate enough - but it was not revealed which tests had been blocked.

Putting a mass antibody testing regime in place is vital to ease the lockdown strangling the economy, which would allow Britons to know they are immune and go back to their usual lives.

IS THIS BUILDING THE REASON BEHIND BRITAIN'S TESTING FIASCO? Business Secretary Amok Sharma compared the renovation as being like trying to build a car factory Control-freak health chiefs have put all their eggs in one basket to make a super-lab in Milton Keynes to analyse thousands of coronavirus tests - but it still isn't up and running and officials are clueless as to when it will be ready. The National Biosample Centre site could be the key to fixing Britain's testing fiasco, after the Prime Minister pledged to ramp up swabbing and finally accepted mass testing was the solution to the 'puzzle'. The centre - built for 24million in 2015 - would face a massive overhaul. Ministers yesterday admitted they 'don't know' when the facility in Milton Keynes will be fully operational. Millions of Britons may have already been infected with the life-threatening infection - but Number 10 is clueless about the true size of the outbreak because of its controversial decision to not carry out mass testing. Putting a mass testing regime in place is vital to ease the lockdown strangling the economy and threatening millions of jobs, which would allow Britons to go back to their usual lives and not be confined inside their own homes. Advertisement

Antibody tests look for proteins made by the immune system to fight off the virus - they are different to the viral swabs being carried out by the NHS.

Frustrated health workers were still being turned away from coronavirus testing sites yesterday because they do not have the correct paperwork.

A doctor yesterday said it was 'absurd' NHS workers - who are desperately fighting the outbreak - are unable to turn up when they have a spare moment.

One nurse yesterday revealed it took her more than a week to book an appointment for a mouth swab, and described the process as a 'bureaucratic nightmare'.

Clare Beer, who works for the Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust, told MailOnline: 'The test was over and done very quickly.'

The 57-year-old, from Surrey, added: 'I should have the results in a couple of days. But it took me a week to get this appointment.'

Mrs Beer went into self-isolation two weeks ago after she developed a persistent cough  a tell-tale symptom of the COVID-19 virus.

She contacted the trust a week later when she felt better and asked to be tested but she did not have an appointment at a testing site confirmed until last night.

Describing the shambolic process of booking an appointment, she said: 'There were these emails going backwards and forwards, it took forever.

'They kept asking the same basic questions  like my name and date of birth  it was ridiculous.'

Mrs Beer was among more than 50 NHS workers who were queuing to be tested at the facility.

But one nurse said he had to wait for an hour at the Chessington site to be tested.

Gene Tatuin, 53, from Surrey, told MailOnline: 'I had an appointment for 10.30 but I had to wait for an hour to be tested.

'Everything is so slow. I had to wait for days to get the appointment and I was here early but still I had to wait.

Builders rush to put up a new drive-through coronavirus testing centre in Whitstable, Kent, as the number of British victims spirals

GPs in Whistable have been told that patients may be sent to the site if they show symptoms of the deadly virus. It is unclear when it will be ready

'I'm normally in charge of a hospital ward but I'm off work now because I have the symptoms. But hopefully I can be back in seven days.'

Marshalls asked each worker to show a record of their appointment and their NHS identification before they are allowed into the testing centre.

Other nurses, including Ali Mohungoo, have explained how they want to be tested so they can get back to work.

The 51-year-old told MailOnline: 'I have been self-isolating because I've developed a cough. So I want to know if I have the virus so I can get over it and get back to work.

FRANCIS CRICK INSTITUTE CHIEF URGES PM TO OVERRULE HEALTH BOSSES AND SCALE UP MASS TESTING Boris Johnson is facing demands to overrule control-freak health chiefs yesterday amid warnings 'time is running out' to scale up coronavirus testing. Sir Paul Nurse, chief executive of the Francis Crick Institute, urged the PM to summon the Dunkirk spirit and let 'small ship' labs start screening. The institute announced it has started testing NHS staff from University College London Hospitals and aims to ramp up to 500 per day by next week and expand to other hospitals in the capital. Cancer Research UK said it is also providing testing kits and expert staff to ramp up testing for NHS staff across the country. The private labs' involvement come as the Government is facing bitter backlash over slow progress on increasing the number of people it is testing. Delivering a damning verdict on government's strategy and lack of 'preparation', Sir Paul Nurse warned the country was 'running out of time' to get on top of the outbreak and capacity at research facilities was 'agile' enough to get round shortages of chemicals. The comments came amid signs ministers are finally changing tack over the testing regime, after weeks of Public Health England (PHE) insisting all screening should be carried out centrally. PHE's approach is meant to ensure checks are conducted properly but contrasts with the decentralised tactics deployed successfully in countries like Germany, which is carrying out around 50,000 per day. Advertisement

'I organized this appointment through my NHS Trust. They are desperate to get staff back to work.'

A senior nurse explained it was vital for staff to be tested so they could be returned to the front-line as soon as possible.

The 45-year-old ward sister told MailOnline: 'I'm a ward sister in charge of a general ward in a local hospital.

'I have been self-isolating because I've got the symptoms and so has my husband and two children. I think we've all got it.

'But the sooner I can confirm I have the virus the quicker I can get back to work. My colleagues are having to carry on without me. So I want to back as soon as possible.'

Wembley's testing facility was also busy yesterday, with cars snaking down the road for up to 60 metres as they opened for business at 10am.

MailOnline was told around one in eight trying to enter Wembley IKEA car park were still being turned around and refused testing.

Shoppers appeared to mistake the queue for the store reopening yesterday, with one woman annoyed she couldn't pop into the store to buy a picture frame.

Mental health worker Oluwatoyin Adeoye was angry at being turned away, saying he just wanted a test to make sure he was not spreading the virus to his patients.

Mr Adeoye, who works at St Bernard's Hospital in Ealing, said: 'I came here to get a test so I know I do not have the virus and can continue to work at the hospital.

'I did not know that you need an email. This is wrong. All NHS workers should be given the test.'

Earlier a nurse who works at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital sat in her car having been turned away as she did not have an email authorisation.

Marites Vicenco said she had been given a time for an appointment at the IKEA test centre but had not received an email confirmation.

She spent over 15 minutes on her mobile phone calling an NHS helpline before she was sent the email that allowed her to enter the facility.

Even though the test centre only opened at 10am a long queue of cars had built up inside the car park waiting for their allotted slot.

Several people who identified themselves as key workers were among those refused entry because they did not have an appointment.

Radiographer Denise Orlandini said she was disappointed not to be allowed inside, adding: 'It hasn't been made very clear who and who cannot have the test.'

Care home worker Elena Filip drove from her home in North London in the hope of getting a test.

The 36 year old said she had developed a sore throat and wanted to make sure that she was not infected with coronavirus so that she could continue her work.

She told MailOnline: 'I work with old and vulnerable people and the last thing I want to do is infect them.

'I hope I do not have the virus but I wanted to be responsible and make sure that I am okay to work.'

Security guards at the test centre said one car every five minutes was being directed to a test bay.
(Photo : Screenshot from Official Facebook Page of Councillor Alex Wilson) (Photo : Screenshot from Official Facebook Page of Councilor Alex Wilson)

An SNP councilor's Facebook account was hacked by his wife, who has since then branded him as an "adulterer" and a "cheater" after he allegedly left her for a colleague of his.

Read More: How to Read Someone's WhatsApp Messages Without Their Phone

The Scoop Regarding The Issue

Glasgow Cardonald's representative Alex Wilson has been targeted by his distraught wife Pamela, who has said he left her to be in a relationship with one of the people he was working with. That person's name is SNP councilor, Mandy Morgan.

The furious Mrs. Wilson took to her husband's social media Thursday to post photos of him branded with the words "adulterer" and "cheater."

Mr. Wilson, who now has two children with wife Pamela, is said to be ending his marriage to be with the party colleague Ms. Morgan, a councilor for Glasgow North East.

Mr. Wilson had replied to one of the pictures posted by wife Pamela and had this to say, "I've been having an affair with Councillor Mandy Morgan and have left my wife of 20 years to go live with her and her four kids."

A social media user asked if the issue was a gag or some sick joke, to which Mrs. Wilson replied, "I'm very much alone with two kids with Autism.

'Alex dropped the bombshell of his affair this afternoon and then packed and left to go live with her.

'Both my kids are in bits, as am I, but Alex doesn't care.'

Mrs. Wilson told The Herald: "I am absolutely devastated. This came completely out of the blue. I don't know how I'll cope financially or how I'll keep a roof over the kids heads."

Read More: How to See My Boyfriend's Text Messages Without His Phone

Other Important Notes

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two teenage kids and just arrived recently from a family vacation from Orlando, Canada, to celebrate the councilor's 50th birthday.

The mother-of-two and now future divorcee has said that she will soon be finding another job which will "not be easy" since she now has to look after her children by herself.

The incident has stunned many social media users, with the majority of people siding with Mrs. Wilson's decision.

Many have voiced their opinions and had this to say:

Craig Wylie, "Phone the police, pretty sure that's against the new Covid regulations, can't be moving in with anyone during a lockdown. Scumbag.' While another user, MK Devlin, wrote, "Cllr Wilson, you have no shame and are not fit for public office." and finally, one more user, Graham Gibb, added, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and all that jazz."

If you're interested in learning more about the doings of your partner, we recently covered an article about how to check your spouse's iPhone messages without them knowing that you do. Trust isn't the issue here, but maybe assurance is. It can be found by clicking this link here.

Read More: Got a Stranger in your Zoom Call? Here's What You Need to Do!

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ten years ago, I was a 19-year-old going through chemotherapy. I know we can emerge from coronavirus with compassion.

From a bench in Central Park, Manhattan, I watched crowds of people frolicking as if we were not in the midst of a global pandemic. It was mid-March, and my friend, Sel, sat on the other side of the bench instructing me to stop fidgeting with my black mask. It would not do much to protect me from coronavirus if I kept touching my face, he pointed out.

Pinch the wiring towards your nose, he said. We had broken our quarantine for what we thought would be a harmless, deserted stroll.

Kids on playdates ran past, acquaintances shook hands and couples caressed. We looked on in horror. I breathed intentionally into the sides of my ribs just to see if I could, and a cold chill came over me.

Years ago, I was convinced I could tell if my cancer had come back by the depth of my inhale. Not only had my obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) reignited, but it hit me for the first time that I was a member of a high-risk group.

I elbow bumped my friend and paced home looking down at the pavement as if eye contact would alert the coronavirus gods that I had interacted with each stranger I passed.

I entered my Manhattan apartment, stripped off my shoes and clothes. If I had a fireplace, I would have burned them right then and there. As I scrubbed my door handle, I realised, my hypochondria, dormant for seven years, was alive and well once more.

Ten years ago, I was a 19-year-old undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. Cleanliness was of the utmost importance as a common cold or flu could be deadly. Gloves, sanitise, chemo, repeat.

Nurses latex gloves were snapped on as they entered my hospital room. The skin on my chest was disinfected with an antibacterial wipe for 20 seconds before a needle pierced it, leaving behind a stinging odour. I felt like I had a contagious disease that others were afraid of catching.

As an outpatient, I was quarantined in my childhood bedroom, allowed out only for daily hospital infusions, the treatment took effect and the tumour resting on my lungs shrunk little by little.

I secretly assured myself of its progress by noting the capacity of my inhales hundreds of times a day. Visitors were screened by my mother at the front door with a pump or two of hand sanitiser until their visits trickled off and ended entirely. For months, I yearned for human contact, but any interaction symbolised danger.

I watched the lives of my friends playing out on social media. Hugs, kisses, parties, all the trimmings of a typical teenage life I could not go back to while I was ill.

When my oncologists told me I was cancer-free, my brain did backflips. How could I re-enter the frightening world outside my hospital? Human interactions were expected of me now.

My first two scans came back clean and, while still living with my parents, I threw myself into the deep end of social experiments: College.

Do I look pale? I asked a classmate.

More like green actually, she whispered.

As the teacher lectured in our stadium-seating classroom in my university, I lowered my shaved head to my knees. I felt a distant cough like a wet gust of wind on the back of my neck. A boy in front of me swiped away his snot with his palm, another scratched her skin with bitten-off fingernails. The sensations flooded me. Beads of sweat dripped down my back, the walls closed in and my foggy vision sent me over the edge.

In one motion I snatched up my backpack, leapt over an unsuspecting row of confused teenagers and charged through double doors into the safety of the university hallway.

Life isnt only danger, Alex, my therapist, Dr T, said as I recounted my latest panic attack. She was my sole confidant. Go easy on yourself. Youve been trained to be on high alert.

Im just supposed to turn it off now? I asked.

It has helped save your life. But your life is now saved, sweetheart.

Dr T explained how my fight-or-flight responses were still on high alert. My brain was unaware of the danger of my cancer had gone.

Common daily occurrences like elevator rides, handshakes and small talk were still giant hurdles to leap. It was my responsibility to soothe my brain by showing it that human contact was OK.

As each year of remission passed, my obsessive body checks, cleaning of surfaces, and social distancing faded until I resembled what I had always wanted to  a healthy girl in body and mind with a bright future ahead to look forward to.

Ten years on in remission, my world, now ravaged by the new coronavirus, mimics my past life in treatment. Only now, I am not alone in my fear. Friends are afraid to walk out of their front door, and so am I.

After my walk in Central Park, I bunkered in alone. Days began to slow down as they once did when I was ill, and my traumas have been tested to the extreme. Only this time, I let go.

I let go of my precious schedule, of my illusion of control and one true fact remained. To be quarantined in great health is a blessing with endless opportunities. This time I am not the only one on pause, we all are. From my cousin in Italy, to my aunt in Puerto Rico, to my best friend in LA, we are supporting each other through it.

Remembering the lessons I learned during my quarantine as a cancer patient has given me hope for our collective journey through the coronavirus pandemic.

When I first emerged from isolation after treatment, I was raw, and my heart space opened up. Just as strongly as I could feel anxiety, I could also feel joy deeper than ever before.

I had been let free. I swiped mascara onto my tiny eyelashes that grew back as the chemo flushed out of my system. A new friend gave me a hug and human touch no longer felt unsafe  instead, it was heart-warming.

I grinned from ear to ear as I took my first deep breath of fresh air, tumour-free. I drew in so much appreciation for simple moments beyond what I thought I was capable of.

Human connection knew no bounds, and I was freed of all constructs that made me feel different from others. I was broken down to be opened up.

What if the same overflow of compassion I felt alone, post-treatment went viral. Imagine if we emerge from our isolation, after this global pandemic, united in gratitude for our health and for each other.

We have the potential to walk back outside into a world far greater than the one we once lived in.
(Newser)  As of now, Wisconsin was still scheduled to vote on Tuesday. But an about-face by Gov. Tony Evers has just called that into question. The Democratic governor said he now wants to postpone the vote and turn it into an all-mail election, with a deadline for ballots of May 26, reports Politico. Evers has called a special legislative session for Saturday to decide the issue. "This is a significant concern and a very unnecessary public health risk," Evers said Friday, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I can't move this election or change it on my own. My hands are tied." It was unclear whether the Republican-led legislature would go along.

story continues below

Evers has previously urged people to vote via absentee ballot but had rejected calls to postpone the vote, a stance criticized by members of his own party. Cities including Milwaukee have said they were struggling to find enough poll workers. Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich said this week it was "incredibly irresponsible" for the election to go forward. But not everyone agreed. "If you are bored at home and sick of watching Netlfix, volunteer to go and help at the polls," said GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on Wednesday.

(Read more primary stories.)
The long-awaited Demotech rating decisions for Florida domestic carriers are in, with many carriers having satisfied necessary steps to avoid ratings downgrades by the financial analysis firm.

After affirming a slew of companies in mid-March, Demotech announced April 2 that the remaining carriers that had yet to be decided were affirmed (see chart) because of enhancements to their business models.

On March 30, Demotech affirmed the A financial stability ratings of the following companies: Avatar Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Centauri Specialty Insurance Co., Cypress Property & Casualty, Safepoint Insurance Co., and Tower Hill Signature Insurance Co. Also affirmed were Tower Hill Select Insurance Co. and Omega Insurance Co., after their merger into Tower Hill Signature was approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation on March 25.

Since Demotech sounded the alarm in January that as many as 18 Florida carriers could see downgrades due to deteriorating insurance market conditions in the state, the ratings firm said several actions have been taken: one company was downgraded, one company was acquired by a carrier with an FSR of A; five companies were merged into carriers with FSRs of A, and an additional nine companies enhanced their business models.

The specific actions include:

Anchor P&C Assigned an FSR of M  ceased operations

Anchor Specialty FSR of A  Acquired by insurer with FSR of A

Omega FSR of A  Merged into an insurer with FSR of A

Tower Hill Select FSR of A  Merged into an insurer with FSR of A

Cypress TX FSR of A  Merged into an insurer with FSR of A

Prepared FSR of A  Merged into an insurer with FSR of A

Demotech said other carriers aggressively enhanced the capability of their business models to respond to the anticipated continuation of jurisdictional and weather-related challenges, the substantial increase in reinsurance costs during 2019, the likely increase in the cost of reinsurance in 2020, and the cost of the Rapid Cash Buildup Program of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

Those companies include:

Centauri Specialty FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Centauri National FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Safepoint FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Gulfstream P&C FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Avatar P&C FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Capitol Preferred FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Security First FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Tower Hill Signature FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Cypress P&C FSR of A, Business model enhanced

Our view of Floridas current residential property insurance marketplace is that the numerous financial and market based criteria that affect Florida residential property insurance have never been more difficult for carriers to navigate since we first rated Florida focused carriers in 1996. The marketplace as well as carrier-specific financial metrics drove the need to consider downgrades, Demotech said in an April 2 report on its ratings decisions.

The ratings firm said it asked certain Florida insurers to provide projections of their year-end 2019 financials immediately after it finished reviewing third quarter results in November last year. At that time, it also asked those insurers to answer two questions based on the following Florida-specific circumstances: 1. the lingering impact of the judicial activism of the past; 2. the litany of named weather events; 3. increases in the cost of reinsurance, and 4. the specter of additional increases in the cost of reinsurance in 2020.

The questions posed to companies were:

Will you continue to be focused on residential property insurance in Florida?

If so, based upon the conditions in the marketplace and the operating results that will emanate from those conditions, how will you revise your business model, or otherwise position your company, to combat more of those same conditions in the future?

Demotech said carrier responses used to make ratings decisions included documentation of the companys jurisdictional diversification, voluntary runoff, marketing existing books of business to other carriers, merging affiliates, or securing assistance.

The management teams of these carriers have fought the conditions in the most difficult operating jurisdiction in the country to a draw, the Demotech statement says. They have addressed the needs of policyholders, investigated and settled claims, paid their employees, producers, and reinsurers, met with us, negotiated with reinsurers for their 2020 programs, and filed timely financial statements in an orderly manner.

Demotech said it reviewed public and private financial information of companies, including:

Managing general agency contract and financial statements, when necessary

Holding company financial statements, when necessary

Actuarial reports and documents containing appreciably more detail than the actuarial opinion letter, which is a public document

Independent audits

Anticipated operating results in the form of pro forma financials in a prescribed format

Claims adjusting details and reports

Litigation services

Asset and investment management contracts

Disaster recovery plan

Catastrophe response plans

Catastrophe modelling output

A preliminary review of horizontal and vertical reinsurance programs

A final review of horizontal and vertical reinsurance programs

Review of rate level indications

Personal financial statements of key financial supporters.

On-site meetings with reinsurers

On-site meetings with companies

Florida Insurers Financial Stability Rating (FSR) American Coastal

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 American Integrity

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 American Platinum P&C

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 American Traditions

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Anchor P&C Insurance Co.

M  Downgraded 1/14/20; Ceased operations;

Policies acquired by Homeowners Choice Avatar P&C

A; Affirmed 3/30/20 Bankers Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Capitol Preferred Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/23/20 Castle Key Indemnity Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Castle Key Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Centauri Specialty Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/30/20 Cypress P&C

A; Affirmed 3/30/20 Edison Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 FedNat Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 First Community Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 First Protective Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Florida Family Home

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Florida Family Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Florida Peninsula Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Frontline Insurance Unlimited

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Gulfstream P&C Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/23/20 Heritage P&C Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Homeowners Choice P&C

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Maison Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Monarch National Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Olympus Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Omega Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/30/20;

B eing Acquired by Tower Hill Signature Insurance Peoples Trust Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Prepared Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/30/20;

Being Acquired by Lighthouse Property Insurance Safe Harbor Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Safepoint Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/30/20 Security First Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Southern Oak Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Stillwater Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Stillwater P&C Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 St. Johns Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Tower Hill Preferred

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Tower Hill Prime

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Tower Hill Select

A; Affirmed 3/30/20;

Being Acquired by Tower Hill Signature Insurance Tower Hill Signature

A; Affirmed 3/30/20; TypTap

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 United P&C Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Universal Insurance Co. of North America

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Universal P&C Insurance

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 US Coastal P&C

A; Affirmed 3/18/20 Weston Insurance Co.

A; Affirmed 3/19/20 A = Unsurpassed A= Unsurpassed; A= Exceptional;

S = Substantial; M = Moderate

Why Not More Downgrades?

According to Demotech, the jurisdictional and weather-related challenges are two obvious issues negatively affecting the states insurance market. The market also faced a substantial increase in reinsurance costs during 2019 and is likely to see another increase in 2020. The cost of the Rapid Cash Buildup Program of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and competition from the states insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., are other challenges.

Demotech said that operating losses over the past several years are the reality, in spite of the [AOB] legislative reforms enacted in 2019.

Just last week, Citizens President and CEO Barry Gilway noted that Florida domestics unprofitable results in 2019 not only continued, but worsened. Gilway said Florida domestics ended 2019 with a net underwriting loss of $684 million and negative net income of $340 million, which is more than double the net income loss in the prior two years.

Still, Demotech said carriers willing to sustain an FSR at the A level have demonstrated how they will fulfill their commitments to Floridians through a revised or enhanced business model.

Florida-Specific Issues

Demotech said that Floridas insurance system was designed to mitigate the financial impact of natural disasters was revised on an ad hoc basis and was never designed to address man-made disasters such as the judicial precedents created by AOB cases.

While financial ratings are necessary in evaluating the health of the marketplace, they are not sufficient, Demotech said.

Ratings are a scorecard on what has occurred in the past, and whether or not it is likely to continue into the future. You might think of financial operating results as a lagging indicator of the conditions in the marketplace. One should view the aggregate impact of public policy as the proximate cause of conditions in a marketplace, Demotech said.

Demotech said it actively reviews more than 400 insurers countrywide and works with state specialists in every jurisdiction.

We assure you that jurisdictional diversification, voluntary runoff, marketing existing books of business to other carriers, merging affiliates, or otherwise securing assistance to avoid a downgrade rarely occurs outside of the Sunshine State, Demotech said. The challenges facing Florida focused insurers is the operating environment that has emerged in Florida.

In a statement to Insurance Journal on Demotechs report, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said, Florida is one of the most complex insurance markets in the world. OIR is closely and consistently monitoring the financial condition and operational results of the states domestic property insurers. As always, OIR engages in regulatory activities to protect consumers.

Read Demotechs Full Report: Demotech Rated Florida Carriers Evolve to Maintain FSRs of A or Better

Related:

Topics Carriers Legislation Florida USA Reinsurance Property Property Casualty
(ISRAEL21c)The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed our daily lives. The virus has ushered in economic uncertainty, fear of losing loved ones, and the general anxiety of not knowing how long this crisis could last.

Each country facing this threat has adopted different strategies on curtailing the spread of this disease. The global community is still trying to figure how best to flatten the curve and save lives.

In todays connected world, other countries can learn from each others best practices. It is worth noting and learning some of those practices from Israel, the Startup Nation.

It is not just about how Israel is combating the viruss spread using technology but also about the Israeli attitude in facing adversity and coming out stronger.

For Israelis, this pandemic is a war.

Since its inception, Israel has had to prepare for any possible scenario with a strong partnership between the Israel Defense Forces and the public sector.

Americans, who are a resilient people, could learn from how the citizens of Israel have been able to thrive despite wars, terrorist attacks and the daily stresses of life.

Part of what makes the coronavirus so frightening is the seeming open-endedness of these lockdowns. Being resilient during a period you know will end eventually is one thing but being strong despite not knowing how long a difficult situation will persist is another.

Moving fast, despite pressure not to

The threat of a biological attack has worried Israeli leaders for decades, and that is reflected in how the government has taken on the coronavirus.

When Israel first announced it had taken what were deemed drastic measures at the time, many in the political and business community in Israel and abroad thought these actions were unwarranted.

In the face of possible diplomatic blowback, Israel chose to move quickly and enact stringent measures. These included not allowing travelers from certain countries to enter Israel and quarantining Israelis arriving from those countries as the virus was spreading globally.

At this point, in countries such as Italy and states like California, no measure seems too extreme in curbing the viruss spread.

In general, when it comes to security Israel has been accused of overreacting at times. In this case, with a relatively lower number of infected patients and a low death rate, it appears the Startup Nations actions may have been warranted.

Use of technology

In Israels battle in securing the homeland the use of technology has been key in keeping the public safe.

Not without controversy, Israel is using technology to track the cellphones of those who may have the coronavirus. In order to track and enforce quarantines, Israel has been using cellphone data sourced by its security services for a 30-day period.

Israel excels at developing tools for tracking security-related suspects, including face recognition software, phone tracking and drones.

The governments fast response to the situation is a great testament to Israels technological maturity and readiness to quickly roll out tech solutions to tackle challenges of national concern, writes cybersecurity strategist Jonathan Bennun, an alum of the IDFs 8200 signal intelligence unit and a former Cisco Security professional.

At the same time, this use of technology here is not novel; it is rather about promptly opening a data flow between different government branches with the right metadata, Bennun adds.

Israels practice is being observed as the United States is currently engaging major technology companies in using cellphones and carrier data to potentially track activity via phone numbers, cellphone towers or digital footprints. This practice can also be used to track suspected quarantine violators as well as crowds by using GPS location, cellphone tower workload, traffic maps and social media.

Sanitizing and filtering data are key during this crisis, as there will be many false notifications and false positives leading to data fatigue and wasted resources. This is where Israels expertise in machine learning and automation can help improve data quality.

The organization of data could help distribute, allocate and operationalize resources such as sending supplies directly to patients and to hospitals dealing with an infected population.

When the time comes, authorities could notify people suspected of being infected with COVID-19 as well as deploy and mobilize security forces and health workers to a specific location.

Startups leading the way

Other ways Israel is using technology to combat the virus is through the plethora of innovations from established companies and startups.

Examples include the ViriMASK, which offers those on the front line full facial protection from the virus; and Soapy, a handwashing station that helps people wash their hands effectively, even in places without plumbing.

Israeli startups thrive on tackling the worlds biggest challenges, and were likely to see more throw their hats into the ring. (Watch for an ISRAEL21c story detailing many med tech solutions already at work in combating the coronavirus crisis.)

The Israeli Innovation Authority is offering NIS 50 million ($13.6 million) worth of grants to startups coming up with solutions on how to fight COVID-19. Several Israeli labs are working toward developing a vaccine.

It is during economic downturns and times of crisis that many of the worlds most successful companies were created, and this crisis could usher in a new crop of future unicorns.

Understanding the military role

While the United States has one of the largest and most powerful militaries in the world, most Americans dont interact with the military in their daily lives.

In Israel, the IDF plays an important part in the countrys day-to-day life and has even been called to help when other countries faced natural disasters.

In places like Europe, militaries have stepped up their role augmenting police and security forces, and it looks like in New York and California this may be the case as well. Floating military hospitals are going to help treat the overflow of ill citizens and the National Guard has been put on call in many states.

Militaries by their nature prepare for any contingency, and, as we are seeing unfold across the globe, are taking an active leadership role.

As Abraham Ronen, a security expert from ActPro LTD Consulting & Project Management states, The military is an integrated and familiar part of Israeli society. The challenge we are currently facing is how active a role the IDF will play in taking responsibilities from the police and other security forces, particularly as the coronavirus is also impacting other players in the region.

It WILL be OK

For Israelis, optimism that all will be fine (yihiyeh bseder) is not some vague hope that things will work themselves out. It means things will be OK because people will actively figure out solutions.

Given Israels security situation, one would think that its citizens would be in a constant state of depression or panic. The reality is that living with purpose, close family and peer connections (which are being tested to an extreme these days because of self-isolation) and finding meaning in struggle have made Israels citizens among the worlds happiest.

People in Israel understand hardships will happen, but that ultimately they will prevail. That is a lesson many in the United States are learning now.

No one knows where this will lead. But both the United States and Israel are learning more every day about the virus. The examples above prove ways in which we can be proactive on a national scale to battle the COVID-19 crisis.

Jonathan Yoni Frenkel heads a digital marketing agency, YKC Media, that focuses on engaging millennial and tech professionals through content. Hes been involved in the New York-Israeli tech community for many years and previously held roles as a nonprofit professional at both the IAC Dor Chadash and AIPAC.
But over several months of discussion, the company was able to alleviate several of his concerns, Harrison said. Data from the planes will be stored for only 45 days, unless it is needed for an investigation. The planes cant be used for real-time surveillance, only to look back, and no one could be arrested solely based on images produced by the planes, Harrison said.
How timely is the new seven-piece Masterpiece title World on Fire, premiering Sunday at 9 p.m. on PBS. Thats not a question.

Amid a momentous pandemic shaking our world to its core comes a drama about a previous epidemic  the rise of 20th century fascism and hate in Europe that took millions of lives and changed the world in brutal fashion.

Episode one of the World War II drama begins along the border of Germany and Poland, where a U.S. journalist played by Helen Hunt witnesses the executions of Poles by German soldiers massing there in preparation for the invasion of Poland. Its telling that the story highlights a journalist since the first casualty of war is truth, and this radio reporter is having trouble getting the rest of the worlds attention about this gathering storm.

Sean Bean, Lesley Manville and Jonah Hauer-King also star in this disturbing and gripping series, and World of Fire did so well in the UK that it was quickly renewed for a second season. The only question is whether COVID-19-battered Americans will have the stomach for a story that replaces a ruthless virus with the bullets and tanks of fascist nationalism.

It feels like the world is on fire again, or on thin ice, but one lesson from this story is that the toll will be much lower if we can pull together and solve our differences before the virus leads not only to personal tragedies but a new round of national and international cataclysms made by man.

If you find World on Fire too taxing an idea during this time, try the equally stirring, Holocaust survival story at 10 p.m. the same night on PBS, The Windermere Children. If you dont stay up until 11:30, DVR this stirring story.

In this film, the war is over, and 1,000 child survivors of the Holocaust are brought to an estate near Englands Lake Windermere to recuperate with the help of volunteer therapists. They have physical and emotional scars and their families are likely dead (asked where hes from, one teen lists four concentration camps) but they find support in each other and they form bonds  even if theyre a puzzle to British townsfolk.

Most of our TV programming these days is viewed through the filter of the coronavirus crisis, and The Gene is no exception. The two-part, four-hour film Tiesday, April 7, and April 14 marks a PBS trifecta of worthy programs this week.

The new PBS documentary is from executive producers Ken Burns (you may have heard of him) and Pulitzer Prize-winner Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee; it unravels the history of the human genome and explains the breakthroughs for diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases  from the 19th centurybreakthrough of Gregor Mendel to the ethical questions raised by modern work on genes.

The heady film comes at a critical moment for the scientific community, as geneticists wrestle not only with the ethical implications of new technologies on known diseases but the potential of fighting COVID-19 and other threats through genetic science. The Gene doesnt address this coronavirus, but it does lay out the work of pioneers in the field, including Francis Collins (now head of the National Institutes of Health), James Watson and Nancy Wexler, not to mention Mukherjee.

If the history of terrible crimes is your thing, you can learn a lot in HBOs five-part documentary series Atlantas Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children, starting Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m.

Viewers under 40 dont recall the story of the abduction and murder of at least 20 African American children and young adults in Atlanta from 1979 to 1981. And older folks didnt hear of it quickly enough because the story didnt get enough national attention initially.

This series tracks the story from the discovery of two murdered teen boys to a growing fear that gripped the city of Atlanta and culminated in the indictment and prosecution of then-23-year-old Wayne Williams. But the rush to shut down the case that was so harmful to the cosmopolitan citys reputation left a load of questions unanswered, and the case has officially been reopened.

Former WFSB anchor, CBS This Morning standout and cultural icon Gayle King will host a new, two-hour special Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS called ACM Presents: Our Country. The special will feature intimate conversations and at-home acoustic performances with country music stars.

Joe Amarante is the Register arts editor who previously covered television for 25 years.
Adam Sandler unveiled his brand new 'quarantine song' during Thursday night's edition of The Tonight Show At Home with Jimmy Fallon.

The 53-year-old comedian joined Fallon on a live stream from his home, and at the end of the segment he debuted a new song about his life in quarantine.

The Uncut Gems star revealed that his touring partner Dan Bulla gave him the song, which he performed from his home.

New song: Adam Sandler unveiled his brand new 'quarantine song' during Thursday night's edition of The Tonight Show At Home with Jimmy Fallon

Live stream: The 53-year-old comedian joined Fallon on a live stream from his home, and at the end of the segment he debuted a new song about his life in quarantine

Before the song, Sandler said that another fellow Saturday Night Live alum, Dan Aykroyd, called him a few days ago to say how much he loved Uncut Gems.

The comedian also put on a pair of sunglasses for the performance, since he hadn't memorized the song yet and didn't want to see fans watch him, 'peeking at my notes.'

The song begins with Sandler singing about doctors, stating they 'bring you into this world' and 'take care of grandma.'

Shades: The comedian also put on a pair of sunglasses for the performance, since he hadn't memorized the song yet and didn't want to see fans watch him, 'peeking at my notes'

'Doctors always give you a lollipop after slapping your knee with a hammer,' Sandler continued.

The funnyman added that doctors will keep slapping your arm until they find a good vein, and that 'they wear crocs and they tell you the truth.'

He adds that the nurses give you 'ice packs and pain medication' while your, 'doctor smokes on the roof.'

Funnyman: The funnyman added that doctors will keep slapping your arm until they find a good vein, and that 'they wear crocs and they tell you the truth'

When he got to the chorus, the song struck a more serious tone, addressing how many doctors and nurses don't even have the supplies they need to do their job.

'Doctors and nurses will save us from this mess if we get them the supplies that they need,' he added, before throwing another joke in.

'And I hope they save it soon because I'm really really sick of my family,' Sandler joked.

Save us: 'Doctors and nurses will save us from this mess if we get them the supplies that they need,' he added, before throwing another joke in

The next part of the song is dedicated to school nurses, along with doctors in Italy and Spain, who have been battling the coronavirus.

He went on to bless 'Chinese doctors in China and Chinese doctors in America, while adding that we need to make, 'more ventilators and masks' to end this crisis.

The Funny People star then joked that he's currently teaching his kids math, 'and that can't be good for America.'

He ended the song by pleading, 'Stay home as much as you can, make sure to wash your hands to make this damn thing go away.'

'We love you doctors and nurses, you're saving lives every day. Find a cure for this s**t because I really really miss hugging my... mailman,' he concluded.
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Linkedin Mark Gurman (Bloomberg)  Fri, April 3, 2020 13:02 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f773a4 2 Science & Tech Apple,Apple-stores,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Apple Inc. on Thursday told employees that its retail stores in the US will remain closed and work-from-home procedures will stay in place until early May due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a memo to employees, Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and People Deirdre OBrien told staff that the company anticipates that flexible work arrangements will remain in place for all offices, and all retail stores will remain closed, until early May.

She said that Apple is continuing to monitor local conditions for every Apple facility on a daily basis and that the company will make reopening decisions on the basis of thorough, thoughtful reviews and the latest guidance from local governments and public health experts.

Read also: Apple works with White House to release 'COVID-19' app, website

The company is working on options to make sure parents have the support and the flexibility to adjust their schedules as needed, according to the note. OBrien also added that Apple is aware many parents are balancing homeschooling with working and is encouraging employees to be open with management about their challenges.

OBrien previously told staff that some stores outside of the US could open as early as the first half of April, Bloomberg News has reported. In Thursdays note, OBrien also said that the companys executive team is meeting daily and closely coordinating with teams across the company.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant has about 270 stores in the US, which are part of the 458 stores outside of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong that were shuttered in March to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Fix 'The Damn 800-Number'

The System's Big Problem

Michiganders Have Specific Questions

(TNS)  State officials have asked Michiganders to be patient as they try to make adjustments to an unemployment system that is overwhelmed, but, as Michigan's public health crisis turns into an economic one, patience is running out.Kathy Mooradian said Wednesday, she had enough.After days of trying to file for unemployment online, then all day trying to call in her claim, she concluded in a fit of frustration, "our governor doesn't give a hoot about any of us."Labor officials respond that it's not a matter of indifference, it's the situation. Michigan's unemployment claims ending March 28 topped 311,000, more than doubling from 128,000 the week before.Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cares deeply and help is on the way, state officials said. Unfortunately, the system is overwhelmed and everyone is in a position that they never anticipated.Whitmer briefly talked Thursday morning about the challenges with the unemployment claims, saying, that her stay-at-home order has "weighed heavily" on her and acknowledged that the system is overwhelmed."My encouragement for folks is, keep attempting to get that application in," she said. "But, know that we understand the incredible strain on the system, the incredible number of people that have been impacted and we are going to work to make sure people get the unemployment that they need to get through this crisis."The state labor department said it plans to offer more detail soon about who is eligible for extended benefits and its efforts to hire 100 more employees to help process claims.But in the meantime, Jason Moon, a spokesman for the state Labor Department, said Michiganders shouldn't panic. If nothing else works, they can document their efforts by emailing their concerns directly toSince the middle of last month, state labor officials have been besieged with claims and questions from wary Michiganders, and they are trying to sort out, not just the website, but new eligibility requirements.For the week ending March 21, there were more than 123,000 new claims, more than they've ever had before in one week  even during the recession in 2009. Back then, the highest one-week total was about 77,000 jobless claims.Nationally, for the week ending March 28, seasonally adjusted jobless claims were more than 6.6 million, doubling from the week before. It was the highest level of initial claims in American history.Last week, Google searches for File for unemployment, an informal measure of interest in the topic, were on the rise nationally, up 62 percent from the week before, with searches in Michigan up 160 percent.On Tuesday, the state's site, which had slowed to a crawl, crashed for nearly two hours before it was restored.Another issue that the state said was causing problems was the MILogin, the way into the system for a range of services, couldn't process the 25,000 transactions per hour that were coming in. Officials said it seemed to be corrected.To the state's credit, it has been trying to adjust to a rapidly changing public health crisis in which the number of sick and dead are rising exponentially, and to stop the spread of the virus, businesses have been shut down and folks are out of work.But, right now, Mooradian  and many other frustrated Michiganders  don't want explanations. She said she wants "the damn 800-number" fixed, a twist on the governor's campaign catchphrase: "Fix the damn roads."It's not that the unemployment system is entirely broken.Many states are handling an unprecedented number of claims, and, in Michigan, many claims are going through without any problems, filers acknowledged. It helps that Michiganders can file online at any time  day or night.The problem, however, comes in when a caller encounters a glitch or has a question.Mooradian, for instance, said she was able to log on, but as she was filing, something went wrong with the automated system. As a result, it told her to call in her claim, but that's when things started to go wrong.Then the unemployment line, she said, "cannot complete my call, is too busy sometimes it answers and I get to press 1, then it just hangs up," she said. "This has happened over 100 times."For Mooradian, a 65-year-old Livonia resident, this just added to her frustration about the pandemic and not being able to work. It also didn't help that she never filed an unemployment claim  nor, she said, had she ever been jobless.Normally, unemployment officials said, glitches and questions can be handled by a call center that has been shut down because of the efforts to keep people from gathering in groups and at home so they don't catch the virus.In other words: In the pandemic, the fail-safes failed.Labor lawyer Michael Pitt, the managing partner of Pitt McGehee Palmer & Rivers in Royal Oak, said now that Congress has passed relief legislation, many Michiganders, and small companies should be able to exhale  for now.The state, with federal money, has expanded coverage to include people who otherwise would be left out, self-employed workers, independent contractors, freelancers, and people who get paid by the job.But, state officials are still figuring out all the details.And for Michiganders that's another problem: There's no one to answer questions.Sheryl Wentworth, for example, wants to know whether she'd be eligible for partial unemployment loss. The 62-year-old Lapeer resident is a school district aide, who helps children get on and off the bus.She's getting a paycheck, but no longer getting any incentive pay.Paul Bedich, 55, of South Lyon said he feels like public officials keep saying that help is on the way, but his frustration is the system to get that help doesn't seem to be working.When he goes online, it tells him to call. When he calls, it tells him to go online."Everybody's telling you there's money out there, and you're already heightened with frustration and worry," Bedich said. "They tell you there's a path, you go down the path and you find the path is a loop."
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is holding his daily news conference on the COVID-19 outbreak, which has infected more than 92,700 people in the state as of Friday morning.

On Thursday, Cuomo said an outbreak of cases on Long Island has been "troubling" as the coronavirus has now spread to every county in the state. The COVID-19 outbreak isn't just hitting urban areas, either. It has spread across the state, including in rural communities where there are "more cows than people," Cuomo said.

"I'm doing everything I can, but people are still dying and that is hurtful and humbling and painful. Just painful," Cuomo said Thursday in Albany. "And this is a long time to be under that level of pain. What do you look like when you come out the other side, I don't know.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio later announced that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene would revise its previous guidance on face coverings, telling New Yorkers to begin covering their faces with a homemade mask, scarf or bandana when venturing outside.

Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 1,033,000 people and has killed at least 54,369, according to Johns Hopkins University data. In the U.S., the coronavirus has infected at least 245,500 people and has killed at least 6,058.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Trump administration will likely recommend that those in US coronavirus hot spots wear nonmedical masks when outside.

The administration of United States President Donald Trump is formalising new guidance to recommend that many, if not all, people living in US coronavirus hot spots wear face coverings when leaving home, in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

The recommendations, still being finalised on Thursday, would apply at least to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task forces discussion said officials would suggest that nonmedical masks, T-shirts or bandannas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home  for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks, particularly short-in-supply N95 masks, would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposed guidance before its public release.

Trump, who was tested again for COVID-19 on Thursday using a new rapid test, indicated on Tuesday that he would support such a recommendation, potentially even for all Americans regardless of where they live.

I would say do it, but use a scarf if you want, you know, rather than going out and getting a mask or whatever, he said.

Its not a bad idea, at least for a period of time, he added.

The White House said Trumps latest test returned a negative result in 15 minutes, and said Trump was healthy and without symptoms.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) draft of the guidance would make the covering recommendation apply to nearly all Americans, all over the country, according to a federal official who has seen the draft but was not authorised to discuss it.

Some exceptions would be young children under age two, anyone who has trouble breathing or anyone who is unable to remove the covering without help.

Officials were still discussing whether to limit the recommendations geographic scope.

Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks. The new proposal was driven by research showing that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

Droplets

On Wednesday, Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, urged his citys four million residents to wear masks when theyre in public.

In response to recent studies, the CDC on Wednesday changed how it was defining the risk of infection for Americans. It essentially says anyone may be a considered a carrier, whether they have symptoms or not.

The virus spreads mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, though experts stress that the germ is still not fully understood.

US officials have been telling people to stay at home as much as possible, and keep at least six feet (two metres) away from others when they do go out. Other advice includes frequent handwashing and not touching your face.

But until now, federal officials have stopped short of telling people to cover their faces out in public.

Scientists cant rule out that infected people sometimes exhale COVID-19 virus particles, rather than just when coughing or sneezing, but there isnt enough evidence to show if that can cause infection, according to a committee convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to advise the White House.

Medical professionals and hospital employees transfer a body on a hospital gurney into temporary storage in a mobile morgue, being used due to lack of space at the hospital, outside of the Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York, the United States [Justin Lane/EPA]

The question has to do with whether the new coronavirus spreads mostly by droplets that dont linger for long in the air, or also by tinier aerosolised particles. Certain medical procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes, can create those tiny particles, which is why healthcare workers wear close-fitting N95 masks during such care.

The committee cited one study that detected airborne viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) in and just outside some hospital isolation rooms, but noted that it was unclear if that could infect someone.

US Surgeon General Dr Jerome Adams has repeatedly admonished Americans not to wear face masks, saying they dont prevent the people who wear them from catching the virus. He and other officials have stressed that surgical face masks and other protective medical equipment have been in short supply and must be prioritised for people such as healthcare workers.

No specific evidence

The World Health Organization on Monday reiterated its advice that people in the general population do not need to wear face masks unless they are sick. Since the epidemic began in China, the WHO has said masks are for the sick and for people caring for them.

There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit, WHOs epidemic chief Dr Mike Ryan said during a news conference. In fact, theres some evidence to suggest the opposite, he added, noting risks from an improperly fitted mask  or from improperly putting it on or taking it off.

Two people wear face masks and gloves as a proactive prevention measure, at a campaign event of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, at Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California [Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo]

Thats in addition to the problem that healthcare workers who do need masks are facing a massive global shortage, Ryan said. The thought of them not having masks is horrific, so we have to be very careful on supply, but that is not the primary reason why WHO has advised against using masks.

Many people have taken it upon themselves to make their own masks, but one North Carolina health system found that such products vary in how well they work. Wake Forest Baptist Health doctors and scientists tested 13 different designs made by community volunteers. They found that some were better at filtering than off-the-shelf surgical masks, but others were barely better than wearing no mask at all.

Separately, a 2013 study tested whether homemade masks might help during a flu pandemic. It found surgical masks were three times more effective in catching droplets from coughing people than masks made from cotton T-shirts, though its not clear if the new coronavirus behaves exactly like flu viruses.
UWs Destination: Cowboy Offers State Students a Global Learning Experience

A trio from Cokeville High School in western Wyoming will travel across the Atlantic Ocean as part of a University of Wyoming study-abroad opportunity.

Cokeville students Eli Linford and Degory Day submitted the winning entry for UWs Destination: Cowboy promotion. The students produced a two-minute video for the contest, while their sponsor, Marty Linford, provided a letter of recommendation.

The grand prize includes full participation in a first-year seminar abroad in Iceland. Directed by a UW faculty member, the program takes place in August and allows participants to explore Iceland and its rich history. The contest was limited to current high school sophomores and juniors, and a school representative to act as a sponsor.

From the November launch through Feb. 29, 34 two-person teams from 19 communities in the state submitted their video entries. In two minutes or less, they answered the following questions:

-- What does it mean to be a Wyoming Cowboy?

-- Why do you think it is important for Wyoming students to experience the world?

-- What impact would an experience like this have on you personally?

The adult sponsor also submitted a letter, answering the following questions:

-- How will this experience help you better serve your community?

-- How will this experience help you grow as an educator?

Along with the UW study-abroad class, the Cokeville group will spend about 10 days in Iceland to learn about the countrys heritage, visit museums, explore Viking history and go on sightseeing tours of the nations impressive glacier formations. They also will document the full experience, including video, photos and social media posts.

Event organizers believe the experience will benefit the winning teams school community upon return, and also provide the adult sponsor the chance to see the value of international experiences and engagement.

The Destination: Cowboy committee received entries from Afton, Big Horn, Burns, Casper, Cheyenne, Cokeville, Dubois, Encampment, Evanston, Gillette, Green River, Guernsey, Laramie, Meeteetse, Powell, Riverton, Sheridan, Ten Sleep and Torrington.

I am thrilled and overwhelmed with the response we got from the students in this great state, UW Associate Vice Provost Anne Alexander says. Their enthusiasm and high character were on full display in the submissions, and we couldnt be happier that we received so much interest in our unique study-abroad opportunity. The hardest part was narrowing down and eventually picking the winner, because there were so many incredible entries.

Linford and Day will be admitted to UW as non-degree-seeking students and will receive one credit hour. Their video submission may be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMccsyV1LLg.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 06:15:24|Editor: huaxia

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A community doctor visits a family to check their health conditions in Havana, Cuba, March 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhu Wanjun)

Nearly 28,000 medical students in Havana have volunteered to join COVID-19 tracking teams.

HAVANA, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Katia Aguilon, a young Cuban medical student, goes door-to-door in Havana's Vedado district to uncover cases of COVID-19 that may have gone undetected and risk spreading the disease.

"This is a very effective method, because some people don't go to see a doctor when they get sick," neighborhood resident Ana Iris Conesa said.

Aguilon, 21, and her classmates are accompanying Cuban healthcare workers on their rounds, and gaining valuable hands-on experience in the process.

"This is very important for my training as a general practitioner," said Aguilon, adding that "I am already making contact with my potential future patients."

During their visits, students are warmly greeted by the locals, who praise their work and thank them for helping to contain the outbreak.

"Early detection of people infected with COVID-19 or any other respiratory disease is fundamental to curbing the epidemic," said Aurolys Otano, director of a teaching hospital in Vedado.

Nearly 28,000 medical students in Havana have volunteered to join COVID-19 tracking teams. Using a face mask is compulsory and team members are barred from entering the homes to prevent from spreading the virus.

Minister of Public Health Jose Angel Portal noted the importance of the task, saying "medical students are working very hard and with a great sense of responsibility."

According to health authorities on the island, the tracking teams have reached some 8.8 million people across the country. 
Hobby Lobby Forced to Close Despite Claiming Essential Status Amid Pandemic

Dallas authorities have forced Hobby Lobby stores to shutter after the craft chain stayed opened despite county-wide orders for non-essential businesses to close temporarily to curb the spread of the CCP virus, commonly knows as novel coronavirus.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins told a press conference on Thursday that a cease-and-desist order would be issued to the Hobby Lobby Corporation, Dallas News reported.

After the presser, sheriffs deputies went to Hobby Lobby stores in North Dallas and Garland and taped the orders to storefront doors, Courthouse News reported.

Attention other non-essential businesses who arent complying: Dont be next, Jenkins wrote on Twitter, sharing a photograph of the order posted on a front door window.

If you do not immediately comply with the Order, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office may take all appropriate measures, the order states, noting that violation may be punished criminally as a misdemeanor.

He said violators could face a $1,000 fine and up to six months behind bars.

Customers at a Hobby Lobby store in Denver, Colorado, on May 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

I just want to make it clear to Hobby Lobby and anybody who is foolish enough to follow in their footsteps that in Dallas County, the government and 99.9 percent of businesses put public health over profits, he said, according to Dallas News.

In another post, Jenkins urged people to report non-essential businesses that were ignoring the temporary closure order.

Most businesses are stepping up helping their employees and acting in compliance with the law. Companies that put profits over public health are a slap in the face to closed businesses and our residents focused on health, Jenkins wrote.

Officials in Ohio and Colorado also took action against Hobby Lobby after reports showed the firm had re-opened some locations in defiance of stay-at-home orders.

For the avoidance of doubt, and as you have been previously notified, Hobby Lobby is not a critical business,' attorney general Phil Weisers office stated in a letter obtained by ABC News. You are directed to immediately close all Hobby Lobby locations within the State of Colorado.

Hobby Lobby on Wednesday closed its stores in Ohio after its attorney general, Dave Yost, sent a cease-and-desist letter.

Hobby Lobby properly closed its stores during Ohios stay-home order. Now theyre open againwhats changed? Yost wrote on Twitter Wednesday. Neither the order, nor the seriousness of the health threat, for sure.

Same rules for everybody. Its hard. It hurts. But its about saving lives, he wrote in a follow-up post.

In an internal March 28 memo reported on by Business Insider, a Hobby Lobby executive provided instructions to employees about what they should say to intervening authorities to convince them the business is essential.

According to the report, Hobby Lobby stores put up signs in support of the essential claim, saying they were offering PPE mask supplies, educational supplies, office supplies and various components for at-home small businesses.

Jenkins rejected this claim, saying arts and craft stores did not meet the essential business criteria as outlined in the Critical Infrastructure Security Act, Dallas News reported.

In Texas, county judges are elected chief executives of countiesthese are administrative positions with no judicial function.

According to Courthouse News, Dallas County on Thursday reported 831 cases of COVID-19, the disease the CCP virus causes, and 17 deaths.
WASHINGTON - The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus on his ship was fired by Navy leaders who said he created a panic by sending his memo pleading for help to too many people.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this April 13, 2018, file photo the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier is anchored off Manila Bay west of Manila, Philippines. The captain of the 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. The ship is docked in Guam (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)

WASHINGTON - The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus on his ship was fired by Navy leaders who said he created a panic by sending his memo pleading for help to too many people.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the ship's commander, Capt. Brett Crozier, "demonstrated extremely poor judgment" in the middle of a crisis. He said the captain copied too many people on the memo, which was leaked to a California newspaper and quickly spread to many news outlets.

Modly's decision to remove Crozier as ship commander was immediately condemned by members of the House Armed Services Committee, who called it a "destabilizing move" that will "likely put our service members at greater risk and jeopardize our fleets readiness."

Modly told Pentagon reporters during an abruptly called press conference Thursday that Crozier should have gone directly to his immediate commanders, who were already moving to help the ship. And he said Crozier created a panic by suggesting 50 sailors could die.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, with a crew of nearly 5,000, is docked in Guam, and the Navy has said as many as 3,000 will be taken off the ship and quarantined by Friday. More than 100 sailors on the ship have tested positive for the virus, but none is hospitalized.

"What it does, it undermines our efforts and the chain of commands efforts to address this problem and creates a panic and creates the perception that the Navy is not on the job, the government is not on the job, and its just not true," Modly said.

He complained that Crozier sent the memo to people outside his chain of command and in a non-secure, unclassified email. And, he said he concluded that the captain's ability to react professionally was overwhelmed by the virus challenge, "when acting professionally was what was needed most. We do, and we should, expect more from the commanding officers of our aircraft carriers."

Earlier this week, Modly told reporters that Crozier would not be relieved of duty for trying to protect his sailors, but he left the door open for punishment if the captain leaked the memo to the press. On Thursday, Modly said he has no information to suggest that Crozier leaked the memo to the press.

He said that if Crozier had communicated only with his leadership and not widely distributed the memo, he would likely still have a job. He took sole responsibility for the decision to fire Crozier and said he got no pressure from the White House to do so.

Democrats on the House committee issued a joint statement in support of Crozier. They said that while the captain went outside his chain of command, the pandemic presents a new set of challenges.

"Captain Crozier was justifiably concerned about the health and safety of his crew, but he did not handle the immense pressure appropriately," the lawmakers said. "However, relieving him of his command is an overreaction."

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Sen. Jack Reed, top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he told Modly that Navy leaders must make it clear that the decision to fire Crozier doesn't inhibit others from taking steps to protect their sailors and Marines.

And he said the incident "raised critical questions" about the Navy's strategy to combat the virus across the fleet.

Crozier, in his memo, raised warnings the ship was facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus and asked for permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore, an extraordinary move to take a carrier out of duty in an effort to save lives.

He said that removing all but 10% of the crew would be a "necessary risk" to stop the spread of the virus.

"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 said.

As of Thursday, the Navy said 31% of the USS Theodore Roosevelt crew have been tested for the virus and 114 tested positive. The 180 sailors who tested negative will move into Guam hotels for quarantine. As testing continues, the ship will keep enough sailors on board to sustain essential services and sanitize the ship in port.
As the whole country fights the coronavirus outbreak, many doctors and nurses have started to pray together bringing help from above for patients and for the strength for their colleagues and each other.

There have been many photos of hospital staffs shared praying together on the rooftops and sharing from nurses testifying miracles receiving love and support from others.

Angela Gleaves, a nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, posted a powerful photo on Facebook Monday of her and four of her fellow nurses praying from the hospital's helipad atop in kneeling in opening their arms in prayer and also kneeling in solemnity, Today news reported.

Gleaves and fellow nurses Sarah Kremer, Beth Tiesler, Tanya Dixon and McKenzie Gibson joined together in opening their arms in prayer and also kneeling in solemnity asking for strength, protection and wisdom for everyone taking care of patients around the world.

"My best friend at work, Sarah Kremer, text me the night before, and said 'Hey I have this idea really laying on my heart, I wanna go to the helipad and I want to pray for everybody, and it was her birthday on Monday, and that was her birthday wish,"

"When you have a few extra minutes at work you take the time to go to the Helipad and pray," Gleaves wrote. "We prayed over the staff in our unit as well as all of the hospital employees. We also prayed over the patients and their families during this trying time.

"We also prayed for all of our colleagues around the world taking care of patients. It felt good to do this with some of my amazing co-workers. We could feel God's presence in the wind. Know that you are all covered in prayer."

Miami's Jackson South Medical Center posted a photo Wednesday a group of medical professionals kneeling and asking for God's "guidance and protection"

"This is how we started our morning today. Our team said a prayer, asking God for guidance and protection while we are at work, and to keep us and our families safe," senior ER tech Danny Rodriguez said on the Jackson Health System's twitter. "This is how we started our morning today. Our team said a prayer, asking God for guidance and protection while we are at work, and to keep us and our families safe."

According to Fox News, of Florida's 7,773 confirmed COVID-19 cases, at least 82 patients are being treated at the Jackson Health System hospitals, and this medical team gathered in a circle to pray on the helipad.

One nurse inside Piedmont Newnan told FOX 5 that working on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 is hard and draining, but he said seeing the support left him feeling blessed.

Nearly every spot in Piedmont Newnan Hospital's parking lot was filled by Georgians showing of support for local health care workers on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus.

In video shared by FOX 5 viewers, residents drove by honking their horns, flashing lights and singing "Amazing Grace."

"We all felt touched by this. Everyone's eyes were wet," Nurse Naman Patel said. "We all left our family home to take care of patients. It's hard and draining. And to see this gives goosebumps. I feel blessed."

The photo of the praying nurses has lifted people's spirits online and brought many cheers and gratitude for many health care workers

"Love this and thank you all for praying for us all in this stressful, uncertain time," one Facebook commenter wrote.

"This just gave me chills,'' another wrote. "Y'all are seriously amazing! God is there with you all."
A law enforcement officer with the Platte County Sheriffs Office shot and killed a person Wednesday, according to a statement released Friday by the Platte County and Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

The statement offers few details about the shooting itself. However, it does say the officer is now on administrative leave, which is a common practice after a police shooting.

No one else was physically harmed in what the attorneys office called a tragic incident. There is no ongoing threat to the community.

Authorities did not release information on what led to the shooting or where it occurred in Platte County.

The sheriffs office released its own statement on Thursday. The four-sentence statement does not provide additional information regarding the shooting. It states that the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation is examining the shooting.

When reached by phone Friday morning, Platte County Undersheriff Grady Winders declined to say how many people were shot, whether the person or people were injured or killed, what circumstances led to the shooting or whether the deputy was still on the street.

Platte County Coroner Philip Martin said by phone Friday that his office was investigating the death of one person, but when asked about the cause or manner of the death, he declined comment, referring the Star-Tribune to the county attorney and sheriffs offices.

When reached by phone the same morning, County Attorney Doug Weaver declined to comment. However, he later released the statement with more information.

DCIs Interim Director Forrest Frosty Williams declined to take a call regarding the investigation and referred the Star-Tribune to the Platte County Attorneys Office.

Williams has led the agency since longtime Director Steve Woody Woodson abruptly announced his retirement. Attorney General Bridget Hill, who is responsible for replacing Woodson on a permanent basis has not responded to Star-Tribune messages requesting details on her plan for the position.

DCI is authorized by state law to investigate drug crimes and organized crime that crosses into multiple local jurisdictions, as well as certain computer and sex crimes. The attorney general may also assign the agency to assist other law enforcement agencies and local prosecutors; the agency can also handle cases at the direction of the governor.

Many of the agencys most prominent non-drug investigations are of public corruption cases and police shootings. Earlier this year, Rep. Charles Pelkey, D-Laramie, criticized the practice, stating that the agencys ties to local law enforcement keep it from providing an impartial examination of police shootings, according to a WyoFile report.

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Looks like The Bachelors Peter Weber and Kelley Flanagan are still hanging out together after being spotted in Chicago amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On April 1, multiple Bachelor Nation fans brought forth a TikTok video featuring the 28-year-old pilot with his former contestant. And as expected, the short clip refueled the dating rumors surrounding Weber and Flanagan.

Bachelor Nations Peter Weber, Kelley Flanagan, and Dustin Kendrick appear in a TikTok video together

Kelley Flanagan and Peter Weber on The Bachelor | Francisco Roman via Getty Images

In the TikTok video shared among Bachelor Nation fans  including franchise blogger Reality Steve  Weber, Flanagan, and The Bachelorettes Dustin Kendrick hung out together with two other friends indoors. The five pals created their own rendition of the viral Something New dance challenge.

Weber kicked off the video and it went on as expected. But then Flanagan made a surprise appearance at the end of the clip, leaving The Bachelor fans stunned.

That said, this isnt the first time Weber and Flanagan have been seen together since their breakup on The Bachelor. And on March 25, Reality Steve unveiled photos of Weber, Flanagan, and Kendrick at the Chicago Riverwalk.

They were right across from Marina Towers. They seemed to just be hanging out on the walk, a witness told E! News about the meetup. Peter was vibing and it seemed like, at one point, Kelley had his leg in her lap.

At the time, no one knew how long the trio got together. On March 21, Illinois issued a stay at home order due to the coronavirus. But now it appears Weber, Flanagan, and Kendrick are still hanging out.

Are Peter Weber and Kelley Flanagan dating now?

Despite hanging out together recently, Weber and Flanagan have yet to confirm or deny their current relationship. But after The Bachelor finale on March 10  as well as Webers breakups with Hannah Ann Sluss and Madison Prewett  Flanagan confirmed she wasnt dating Pilot Pete.

Im not with Peter, Flanagan told E! News on March 12. I promise Im not dating Peter. Im not dating Peter.

Now two weeks have passed since Flanagan made her remarks. So its possible things have changed. But in an interview with Us Weekly on April 2, Kendrick hinted he wouldnt be opposed to Weber and Flanagan dating. But its up to them to decide what happens next, whether that means getting together or even updating the public about their relationship.

I think its fair for them to come out and say what they want to say, Kendrick said. But the only thing I can say is that they look really cute together and their interactions are really cute as well  Im sure youll be possibly hearing stuff in the future from them, but Ill let them say that.

He later added: After this is all over with, Peter and Kelley could be a thing. Im not opposed to it. From what Ive been seeing, theyre very cute together. So, I hope so.

Meanwhile, the recent TikTok video resurfaced concerns from Bachelor Nation fans who are worried the reality stars arent properly practicing social distancing amid the coronavirus. However, Kendrick claimed the pals have been quarantining together for about two weeks.

Its just the three of us staying at Kelleys apartment. Weve just been chilling, making TikTok videos, trying to stay out of trouble with people, he said. Im going to be here [quarantining with Peter and Kelley] until the very end. Hopefully, this will be over at the end of the month, so, well just see how it goes.

Read more: Will The Bachelor Summer Games Be Pushed to 2021 After the Cancellation in 2020?
(Kveller via JTA)So Im just going to come right out and say it: We dont keep kosher for Passover. I feel a bit like a party-pooping high school senior who chooses not to go to the prom revealing that. After all, we moved to Israel to bring our kids up Jewish and live close to our Israeli family. But we are secular Jews and the simple truth is that we pick and choose how we observe in line with our beliefs about whats important for us and whats not.

Ive read on Kveller about how Mayim Bialik makes her Passover meaningful, how Amanda Bradley secretly loves Passover and Tamara Reeses wonderful ideas to make observance less intimidating. I applaud and respect all those suggestions, opinions and choices. I know that people who observe the holidays from a strong sense of spirituality and tradition get a tremendous amount of nourishment from them. Thats something to envy.

Seventy percent of Israelis will be joining those ladies in banishing the hametz from their homes and digestive systems for the week. But while they will be cleaning, shopping and dusting off their Passover recipe books, puzzling out how to get through this week without bread, pasta and rice, Ill be chilling out and stocking up on the banned goodies before they perform their annual weeklong disappearing act.

Although we choose not to rid our house of hametz or refrain from eating it, it doesnt mean we dont honor or celebrate the holiday; we do. For the past six years Ive been taking turns hosting the sederand yes, that part we do without the presence of hametz at the table. We read the Passover Haggadah, we dip our fingers in wine as we recite the plagues, we recline. But mostly we wait for the bit where we can eat the food, sing the songs and let the kids hunt for the afikomen.

In hol hamoed, the week after the seder, Israeli supermarkets hide their wheaty wares on burka-dressed shelves, forbidden to purchasers one and all. Most restaurants keep kosher and the whole country is shrouded in a barbecue fog as Israelis cook up their choice of the tastiest alternative to wheatmeat! We tend to eat at home during this period, delving into our pile of forbidden hametz like thieves. If we feel a little like outsiders in the swimming sea of observance, its OK.

Its true in a way that we are choosing all the fun, warm and fuzzy bits of the holiday while ignoring the restrictive, roll-up-your-sleeves challenging parts. As secular Jews, the rules and dogmas of religion dont play a big role in our lives. I dont think it makes us any less Jewishit just makes us less observant. We are still book-loving, family-hugging, charity-giving, kugel-eating Zionists struggling to make it work in our homeland and to find a way thats meaningful to us.

Even without observing the weeklong prohibition of hametz, my kids still learn about the history of their people at school and from the seder, and they are still laying down traditions to be carried over to their children. They inhale the spirit of the holiday, even if practically we dont do everything that Exodus commands us to do.

So happy and kosher Passover to those of you who doand just happy Passover to those of you who dont. May we always be free to determine our own way.

Nerys Copelovitz lives in Israel, where she is the mother to two teens and a first-grader. You can catch her ruminating on Jewish, Israeli and parenting issues on thoughtfondue.com.
Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

CROMWELL  Following a hack that caused vile words and images to overwhelm the Zoom system, officials have adopted a new process for the budget-making process that begins on Monday.

In consultation with the towns IT representative, the town will not use the Zoom system.
Six passengers travelling in two buses along the Maiduguri  Kano highway were on Saturday hacked to death by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush on the outskirts of Maiduguri, witnesses said.

The news about the attacked travelers filtered around Maiduguri since Sunday but there was no official statement to corroborate the report.

An official of the Borno youth vigilante body, Civilian-JTF, Danbatta Bello, who earlier denied knowledge of the incident, later returned PREMIUM TIMES call to confirm the attack.

Mr Bello, a senior officer at the C-JTF said one of the ambushed passenger buses belongs to the Borno State government-owned transport company, Borno Express.

He said the two 18-seater passenger buses were heading to Maiduguri from Damaturu, Yobe State capital, late Saturday evening when they were ambushed by gunmen.

Six males were summarily killed while the remaining passengers, mostly women and children, and the Borno Express bus driver, were driven away,  said Mr Bello.

He said the security agencies in Borno got hint of an attack but no one had detailed information on the kind of vehicles involved.

Mr Bello said they later got to know about the incident on Wednesday when the bus driver made it back on foot.

According to the bus driver, who is now visibly traumatised, he was made to drive the bus far into the jungles that night until when his vehicle eventually ran out of gas, said the C-JTF chieftain.

The driver said they got to a remote area called Katapilla Bini on the way to Alagarno when his vehicle ran out of fuel. It was about 3 am in the morning and there was no way they (could) help the situation. So the insurgents, according to the driver, decided to abandon him and the women with a warning that they should find their way out of the jungle or risk being killed should another gang of Boko Haram to be on duty the next day finds them.

The driver was also advised to run for his life.

PREMIUM TIMES learned that the seven women and three children, led by the driver began their journey back on foot until they got to a military check at Njimtilo suburb of Maiduguri the next morning.

When the driver got to us in Maiduguri, to inform us about the incident and about his abandoned bus, we mobilised ourselves, and since we know the direction of Katapila Bini, which is a remote location near a riverbank that one must cross over to get to Alagarno.

It took us about five hours to get to Katapila Bini and we were able to get the bus before returning to Maiduguri on Thursday evening.

Mr Danbatta said the rescued women have been reunited with their families while the bus was handed over to the Borno State police command.

Sale Habib, a relative of some of the victims said his brother, Bakari Abuna, was killed and two other male siblings have been injured  one, from a bullet fired around his neck, and the other with deep cuts from an axe.

Three of the abducted women and their five children including the three men were all my family members, he said.

They left Suleja on Saturday and got to Damaturu by 6 pm. They had even called to inform us that they have arrived in Damaturu and we advised they should pass the night. But we later learnt that the driver joined other drivers to proceed with the remaining trip to Maiduguri.

He said the two vehicles tailed one another through the dangerous route until they ran into an ambush around 8 pm at a location not far away from Maiduguri.

I personally went to pick the women at the military checkpoint in the morning of Sunday. I found out that my brother, Bakari Abuna and five others were killed, Mr Habib said.

When contacted, the Borno State police public relations officer, Edet Okon, said he was not aware of this information.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, and former Vice President Joe Biden before the Feb. 25 debate in South Carolina. (Associated Press)

To the editor: Erin Aubrey Kaplan's op-ed article on why black voters are supporting former Vice President Joe Biden over Sen. Bernie Sanders was exactly on target. Comparing Sanders' ideas to those of Martin Luther King Jr. was right on.

Kaplan wrote, "In the decades since King's death, many black people have lost touch with the necessity of idealism and imagination." She also pointed out that the "overwhelming fear of a Trumpian future" is "making pragmatists of us all."

Not only black voters have traded their idealism for fear. I'm sure many other groups have forsaken idealism for fear-based pragmatism, and they may end up with the very Trumpian future they so deeply fear anyway.

Richard Robinson, Arroyo Grande

..

To the editor: Kaplan makes the astonishing statement that socialism is about government policies for the common good.

Throughout history and around the world, socialism has benefited only a small clique: the rulers, their cronies and their henchmen. The average person is sucked dry for the benefit of these few. The poor of course suffer the most.

This is why capitalist countries, rightly or wrongly, sometimes build walls to keep people out, while socialist countries have had to build walls to keep people in.

Kaplan's statement reminds me of the saying about those who forget history being condemned to repeat it. With many tens of millions murdered in the name of collectivism in the last century, one would hope that we have learned something, but apparently it is still a work in progress.

Jaco van der Colff, Woodland Hills
Model-actress Poonam Pandey has reportedly filed a complaint in the Bombay High Court against actress Shilpa Shetty's husband and businessman, Raj Kundra and his associates.

According to the IANS report, Poonam Pandey has alleged that Raj Kundra and his associates have been illegally using content featuring her, even after the contract between them was terminated. Kundra and his associate, Saurabh Kushwah denied Poonam Pandey's allegations and claimed that they haven't received any notice.

For those who are unaware, the matter started when Poonam Pandey signed a deal with Raj Kundra and his associates, called Armsprime Media. The company was handling The Poonam Pandey App. She claims that they have been using the content from the app for over eight months after the expiry. Pandey also claimed that Kundra is minting money out of those content and stated that over a period of six months, she has been getting obscene calls.

Explaining the matter to IANS, Poonam Pandey said, "The company (Armsprime) was handling my app. I kept the contract small because I could see that there was some fraud happening. After a while, I terminated the contract. Now, I read in the news that these guys have terminated the contract. If they have terminated the contract, why have they been stealing my videos over the past eight months? I have been calling and messaging Raj, mailing him with the request to stop stealing my video. Now, I am getting threatening messages from Raj Kundra."

"I want to understand whether he is really broke that he wants to steal my videos. If he is really facing a financial crunch, I can lend him some money but don't steal my content," the Nasha actress added. It's being claimed that Raj Kundra and his team were using her bold content explicitly and they even shared her contact number and wrote, "call me, I will strip for you".

Poonam Pandey said, "Now, that the news has gone out, these people have sent me a settlement agreement. They have accepted that they have been stealing my content, and are putting an amount in the contract. I am not going to be quiet. I have been silent for a year."

On the other hand, Armsprime Media issued an official statement signed by Kushwah. The statement states, "The allegations by Poonam Pandey are false and frivolous. We have not received any notice or even a copy of the Writ Petition filed. We are surprised at how can we even be made a party to such Petition. There has been a breach of contract on her part and we are exercising our rights as per the agreement. Since the matter is sub-judice in High Court, we don't wish to make any further statement. Just because Raj is an investor in Armsprime, she is trying to extort money by misusing criminal law."

Also Read : Poonam Pandey Felt Uncomfortable While Shooting With Shakti Kapoor; Takes A Dig At Tanushree Dutta

Poonam Pandey feels confident about the case as she has all the proof. "The case is in High Court. I have a strong case. I have all the proofs. I am seeking justice. And I know I can win the case," Poonam concluded.
Law enforcement officers wear masks while working at a newly opened free drive-through CCP virus testing site provided by United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, on April 2, 2020. (David J. Phillip/AP Photo)

3M Warns Trump That Halting Mask Exports Would Reduce US Supply

Manufacturing giant 3M, which produces medical equipment, warned Friday that the White Houses request for the firm to stop exporting respirator masks could make the gear less available in the United States.

The Minnesota-based companythe maker of Scotch tape, Post-It Notes, as well as protective masksissued a statement about a day after President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to force 3M to produce more respirator masks for healthcare workers during the battle against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Under the act, Trump requested 3M to stop exporting respirators to Canada and Latin America, according to the firm.

The company said the move would present significant humanitarian implications in Canada and Latin America because 3M is a crucial supplier to those countries. Other countries will likely do the same thing, which could impact supply chains, it argued.

If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease, 3M wrote in a statement Friday. That is the opposite of what we and the administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek.

An N95 mask at the lab from which the U.S. government has ordered 3 million masks in response to the countrys CCP virus outbreak, in Maplewood, Minnesota, on March 4, 2020. (Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters)

We also continue to act on reports of price gouging and unauthorized reselling related to 3M respirators. This activity is unethical and illegal. We are working with the U.S. Attorney General and attorneys general of every state, making it clear that 3M has not and will not raise prices for respirators and offering our assistance in the fight, according to the 3M statement.

On Thursday, Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to obtain more N95 respirators after seeing what they were doing with their masks, according to his post on Twitter, without elaborating. Healthcare professionals around the United States have struggled to try and obtain the masks in recent days as demand has skyrocketed.

Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doingwill have a big price to pay! he wrote.

Trumps executive order directing 3M to produce more masks authorizes the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to obtain any number of N95 masks, according to the text of the order.

Earlier this week, 3M announced it has boosted production of N95 masks to 100 million for the month, which would include 35 million masks per month in the United States.

Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, are reportedly going to soon recommend the general public to wear face masks in public.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has also advised New York City residents to cover their faces before leaving their homes, while New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it couldnt hurt to wear masks.

Officials in the town of Laredo, Texas said that starting on Thursday, people have to wear a mask or some form of coverage in public or they will receive a $1,000 fine.
President Akufo-Addo will later today, Friday, April 3, meet the leadership of all political parties in the country to deliberate on the best measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in Ghana.

President Akufo-Addo has in the past held discussions with members of the clergy, market women and transport operators to find ways of tackling the pandemic in the country.

Todays meeting will, therefore, afford the President an opportunity to also explain some critical decisions taken by the government to stem the spread.

In the Presidents last address on Friday, March 27, 2020, when he announced the partial lockdown of parts of Accra and Kumasi, he also called for a collectivised approach as Ghana finds a lasting solution in these hard times warning against the politicking and display of partisanship in the countrys COVID-19 fight.

Fellow Ghanaians, I am urging all of you to bear with these additional measures. They are being done in the interest of all of us. They are, hopefully, only for a short while. These additional measures, together with those earlier announced, are what will help us defeat the virus. And, we must be united in our determination and efforts to overcome this challenge. This, certainly, is not the time for politicking or the display of partisanship. The virus does not care which party you belong to, neither is it, as we have seen, a respecter of persons. The enemy is the virus and not each other, he admonished.

Already, over a million people across the globe have tested positive to the virus with about 51,000 dying as a result.

The US accounts for most cases; Italy the highest death toll.

The disease, COVID-19, first emerged in central China three months ago.

---citinewsroom
ALBANY, N.Y.  Albany County officials confirmed two additional deaths attributed to COVID-19. The announcement made Friday morning by Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, brings the death toll to four in the county.

One man died Thursday night and the other on Friday morning. Both men were in their 60s and had underlying health issues.

As more and more families are devastated and we tragically lose more lives in the wake of this pandemic, Albany Countys mission becomes twofold: To continue to do everything we can to stop the spread of this virus through social distancing and self-isolation, and to ensure that we all have the emotional support that we need, McCoy said.

My condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones. This is difficult news for all of us to handle. If you are struggling with depression or even just stress, we continue to encourage you to call our Mental Health Support Line and talk to someone. There are also ways to improve your mental well-being, including meditation, exercise, eating right and taking care of the basics at home, MCoy added.

In addition to those deaths, McCoy updated the number of cases in the county.

According to McCoy, there are 254 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, 412 people under mandatory quarantine and 123 people under precautionary quarantine.

In addition, 30 people are hospitalized with 15 in the ICU. The county hospitalization rate for COVID-19 stands at more than 11.8%.

Along with those cases, McCoy noted the Albany County Health Department is looking to contact those potentially exposed to an infected cashier working at the Popeyes at 900 Central Avenue in Albany.

If you were a customer and went to the restaurant on Monday, March 23 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. or Wednesday, March 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., county health officials are asking you to contact them immediately at (518) 447-4580 and to remain at home under precautionary quarantine until April 6 and April 8, respectively.

Additionally, County Executive McCoy took the time to thank Ford Motor Company for delivering 7,000 face shields to Albany Med, Albany Memorial and St. Peters Hospitals. He also thanked Laborers Local Union 190 for donating PPE equipment to Albany County.

Yet, Albany County Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen cautioned that while at the moment they have and adequate supply, health care workers will still need more PPE.

We are very aware of a critical shortage of PPE. This is a real thing in the community, specifically in situations where people are being cared for in their homes, people that are vulnerable that would be under the consideration of likely to develop complications of COVID-19, Whalen explained.

We really need to think of a way to continue to protect these individuals. We talk a lot about social distancing, we talk a lot about staying home, we talk a lot about hand hygiene but if youre caring for an individual who is vulnerable, its 100 times more important for you, Whalen noted regarding protecting those most vulnerable.

Whalen also commented on the issue surrounding the usage of homemade masks.

The considerations around PPE and masking are something that all of health care is discussing. The discussion around homemade masks, there was a guidance issued this morning overnight by the New York State Department of Health for health care workers and they are saying that homemade masks are not recommended for health care workers, Whalen remarked.

From a health department perspective, from a medical perspective, from a scientific perspective, our recommendations have to be evidence based. So we have to evidence that something works before we say we support or urge you to use a certain strategy, Whalen continued.

Unfortunately these masks have not been tested and so we cannot say with certainty that they protect the wearer from respiratory droplets and we cannot say for certainty that the wearer is not protected from spreading COVID-19. Therefore it is unlikely that there will be a recommendation issued for health care workers to wear these masks, Whalen added.
An Italian nurse who was pictured slumped over her desk during a long shift has revealed she tested positive for coronavirus shortly after the snap was taken, but said she 'can't wait to get back' to work.

Elena Pagliarini, 43, became a symbol of the Italian health workers' efforts when a picture of her asleep still in her gloves, masks, scrubs and headgear at a Cremona hospital was heavily shared three weeks ago.

Five days after the photograph was taken the nurse tested positive for coronavirus.

She has now recovered and is eager to get back to work, telling Italian news site Cremonasipuo.it: 'I can't wait to get back.'

Elena Pagliarini, 43, became a symbol of the Italian health workers' efforts when a picture of her asleep still in her gloves, masks, scrubs and headgear at a Cremona hospital went viral

The picture of Ms Pagliarini was published by industry website Nurse Times, and shared around the globe.

Still wearing her face mask and surgical gown the photo spoke of the Italian hospitals 'overwhelmed' by the crisis.

A fellow medic who took the picture said: 'We are all tested in body and mind, seeing all those sick people, asking for help with our eyes.

'We started at 8pm. We had been working tirelessly for over ten hours.

Five days after the photograph was snapped the nurse from Cremona tested positive for coronavirus. Ms Pagliarini (left and right) said she 'can't wait to get back' to work

'I saw Elena rest five minutes after hours spent running from one patient to another, trying to help yet another patient who came with a fever and respiratory failure.'

Italy first emerged as the European epicentre of the virus before rocketing to become the country with the most deaths from infection globally. Their death toll currently stands at 13,155, dwarfing the 3,318 recorded in China, where the outbreak began.

Medics have already described how hospitals are running at '200 per cent capacity' with operating theatres hurriedly converted into intensive care units.

Italy's death toll currently stands at 13,155, dwarfing the 3,318 recorded in China, where the outbreak began

Doctors have been forced into life-or-death decisions over who should receive intensive care, with virus cases piling up around the country.

Non-coronavirus cases are being sidelined with some medics being given a 'leaflet' and told to perform specialist tasks for which they are not qualified, while some patients over 65 are not even being assessed, one doctor in northern Italy said.

The doctor also issued a warning for the UK, saying that the Italian chaos would repeat itself in Britain 'if you don't take it seriously'.
Domestic flight bookings can start after April 14 says Hardeep Singh Puri

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: Signalling the easing of the lockdown, Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Puri said that airlines can take domestic bookings after April 14. He however said that this could be done if the lockdown is not extended further.

He said that as far as his ministry is concerned, it is proceedings on the basis of the understanding that the lockdown is till mid-April. There is no directive from us and what the airlines do as part of their contingency planning and to prepare for the future is. entirely up to the airline. I am hoping that from April 15 onwards, flights can at least start if not everything then in a calibrated manner, he also said.

On international flights, Puri said these would be considered on a case by case basis, depending on which countries they are coming from after April 15. He also said that Indian stranded abroad will have to wait until April 15. Any flights to bring Indians back will have to wait till April 15, he also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 16:17 [IST]
South Africa: Police won't accept non-compliant donations, says Cele

The South African Police Service (SAPS) turned down a sanitiser donation by Afriforum as it did not go through Treasury Regulations, said Police Minister Bheki Cele.

This comes after media reports this week indicated the SAPS in Gauteng had refused to accept a donation of hand sanitisers from the organisation.

While this was a leaked official and internal correspondence, the Police Minister believes it was published with the malicious intention of blowing things out of proportion.

In a statement, the Minister reiterated that, as with all government departments, the SAPS has a responsibility to uphold Treasury Regulations and in this case, implement the donation policy of the organisation.

"Let me repeat what I said to SAPS management when we were still under a State of Disaster: the national crisis we find ourselves in can never be used as justification to flout processes and procedures," the Minister said in the statement.

Cele has encouraged Afriforum and any other individual or organisation wishing to assist the SAPS with supplies, to engage with the SAPS management at a national level for the necessary exemption in relation to gifts/donations.

The Ministry said the sanitiser donation by Afriforum was to a specific SAPS unit in Gauteng.

The offer is welcome as a sign of goodwill and for this, the Minister will encourage the SAPS Management to engage the Afriforum to better coordinate this process of handing over and receiving of the donation, said the Minister.

Cele, however, has also welcomed the goodwill of some civil society organisations who have extended a hand to the law enforcement agencies, augmenting what management has put in place in terms of hygienic and protective supplies to the members.

Meanwhile, Cele has acknowledged that the COVID-19 21-day lockdown regulations have left police struggling with the shortage of protective and hygienic supplies for officers.

The Minister said the limited supply of much-needed necessary hygienic disposables such as masks and hand gloves, as well as sanitisers was a worldwide dilemma.

The SAPS, whose members are in the coal face of this pandemic, is also facing this same challenge of shortage of protective and hygienic supplies.

In the statement, the Minister commended the efforts by SAPS management to ensure as best as possible, that all members on the ground and all police stations are adequately protected and observing the requisite hygienic protocols.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
TAMIR KALIFA, STR / NYT

The number of operating U.S. oil and gas rigs plummeted by 64 this week, according to the Baker Hughes rig count. The count is seen as a leading indicator of oil and gas production activity in the U.S. The number of operating rigs in the U.S. is now 664.

The losses come after an already steep drop off in activity in 2019. Last year, the rig count dropped by more than 25 percent. A year ago this week, there were more than 1,000 operating oil and gas rigs in the U.S.
New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) India has sent essential medicines and hospital consumables to the Maldives to assist the counrty in their fight against COVID-19.

Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130 aircraft airlifted 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines and hospital consumables to Male in Maldives under Operation Sanjeevani on Wednesday.

"These medicines and consumables were procured from eight different suppliers in India; however, due to the 21-day lockdown imposed in India to contain COVID-19, these medicines could not be transported to the Maldives by the suppliers through any other means," Indian Air Force said in a statement.

At the request of the Maldives government, the IAF aircraft activated Operation Sanjeevani and lifted these medicines from airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Madurai before flying to the Maldives.

The Indian Army facilitated the transport of these medicines and consumables from warehouses across India to the respective airports.

Among other things, these medicines include influenza vaccines, anti-viral drugs such as lopinavir and ritonavir (which have been used to treat patients with COVID-19 in other countries), medicines for cardiac conditions, kidney ailments, hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, allergies and cancer treatment, anticonvulsants, as well as consumables such as catheters, nebulisers, urine bags and infant feeding tubes.

Earlier, India had sent 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines to the Maldives on March 14. India had also sent a 14-member COVID-19 Rapid Response Team of doctors and specialists enhance preparedness. The team worked closely with health authorities in Male and outlying islands.

The Maldives is the first country in India's neighborhood to have received essential medicines since the lockdown commenced in India.

The airlift of essential medicines, signals India's commitment to keep supplies of essential medicines open even in the most challenging times as the South Asian region combats the COVID-19 pandemic.

-- IANS

sk/prs
By Azernews





By Akbar Mammadov

Forty-three new coronavirus (COVID-19) infection cases were registered in Azerbaijan on April 3, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 443.

Of those 43 admitted to the hospital seven are in a critical condition, 12 are in moderate condition, and the health of others is stable, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers reported.

The Operational Headquarters also says that six more people infected with coronavirus have recovered and released from hospitals.

So far, 443 people have been infected with coronavirus in the country, 32 of them have been cured, 5 have died, and 406 are being treated.

According the official sources, relevant measures are being taken in Azerbaijan to examine 4,321 people placed in various quarantine zones.
New Delhi, April 3 : The Supreme Court on Friday asked the governments of Karnataka and Kerala to amicably resolve the border issue amid the three-week nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Karnataka government had moved the apex court challenging the Kerala High Court, which directed the Centre to remove the border blockade imposed by the state government restricting movement of patients from Kerala to access emergency medical care in hospitals.

A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta said chief secretaries of Kerala and Karnataka should hold a discussion with the Union health secretary and work out a solution amicably to facilitate the movement of people for medical treatment.

Earlier, a petition was filed by Kerala MP Rajmohan Unnithan challenging Karnataka's decision on restricting movement on the border.

The Kerala government had filed a caveat on the matter. The Supreme Court observed that no state government should precipitate the matter at this juncture when a nationwide lockdown is in place to contain the spread of the virus.

In its petition, Karnataka government claimed the implementation of the High Court order would lead to law and order issues as the local population is objecting to the movement of people from Kasargod district, which has a high number of COVID-19 cases.

The Karnataka government insisted that this would hamper its efforts since Kasargod is a hotspot of coronavirus cases, and the border was sealed in the interest of public health emergency.

It claimed the High Court of Kerala overstepped its territorial jurisdiction under Article 226(2) of the Constitution. The High Court held Karnataka's road blockade resulted in the denial of access to health services, which amounted to infringement of right to life under Article 21.

"The High Court failed to consider that the hospitals in Mangaluru, Dakshin Kannada district, are already overburdened and the people residing in Mangaluru are in panic due to the increasing number of cases in the Districts of Kerala, especially in Kasargod district. It is humbly submitted that the resources of the State of Karnataka are hard pressed and it is very difficult to cater to the needs of new patients from the State of Kerala," said the Karnataka government petition.

The case is essentially a dispute between two state governments; hence it falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 131. Therefore, the High Court should have not passed orders on the PIL, Karnataka government said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Starting from 6 April 2020, all banks in Malaysia will temporarily waive the RM1 MEPS ATM withdrawal fee for using the ATMs of other banks. Announced by the Minister of Defence, Dato Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, the fee exemption is in line with the ongoing movement control order (MCO), and will continue until the end of the period.

According to Dato Sri Ismail, this move was initiated to encourage people to move only within nearby areas during the MCO. With the RM1 fee temporarily removed, customers are free to conduct their withdrawals at the ATMs of any bank closest to their homes, instead of travelling further to use the ATM of a specific bank.

Prior to this announcement, OCBC Bank had already begun exempting the MEPS fee for interbank withdrawals since 25 March 2020, ending on 30 April 2020. UOB Bank followed soon on 30 March 2020, stating that the exemption will be offered until the end of the MCO period. The bank also said that it will reimburse all MEPS ATM withdrawal fees incurred from 18 March until 31 March 2020 to its customers, within 60 days after the MCO period.

Maybank also announced earlier today that it will be waiving the inter-bank withdrawal fee starting from 6 April 2020 until the end of the MCO period.

During this period of time, bank customers are encouraged to opt for cashless payments  such as debit and credit cards, as well as e-wallets  so that they can reduce the number of unnecessary trips to the ATMs. While Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has assured that these self-service terminals will still be fully operational in accessible locations, the daily operating hours have been restricted to limited time slots.

(Source: Majlis Keselamatan Negara)

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I was a federal prosecutor, not a CEO. Closest I came was leading a start-up. (Full disclosure: It was a school for disabled kids.)

But this is a plea to real CEOs: You are the most important people in the country right now. Your voices can help save lives in the days ahead.

Our president listens to CEOs, as do his key advisers: Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and economic adviser Lawrence Kudlow. In numbers, you can convince those with power (and a bully pulpit) to take actions needed immediately to stem the tide of this pandemic and a greater economic downturn.

Use your megaphone to get ideas like these to the administration:

1. We need a more unified national strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19 and stabilize our health care system.

It would matter if the president heard from you that the supply chain for masks, gloves and gowns needs to be nationalized. And does anyone doubt that if he leaned hard on governors whove delayed stay-at-home orders in their states, theyd quickly fall into line? Finally, why not have the military fly ventilators from places where they might not be needed right now to hot spots like New York or New Orleans, where the emergencies are.

2. The next recovery bill should include at least $1 trillion in government-backed, non-interest bridge loans delivered through banks quickly to businesses that continue to pay 90% of their workforce. And send states federal help to surge hospital beds, by converting empty hotels into infirmaries for infected individuals. (Hint: Dont try to exclude Trump Hotels!)

3. Have Jared Kushner tele-convene technologys top innovation officers to identify five products (1) best able to juice consumer-based (or other) e-commerce, but only if (2) marketable in 45 days with a strategic infusion of government cash.

Together, those actions would further assure the country and investors by demonstrating a three-prong plan to:

 Brace the economy

 Flatten the curve of contagion

 Keep our health care system afloat

This is Crisis Management 101: Act decisively while buying time. Our nations biotech firms are working 24/7 on treatments to come online before safe vaccines are available. Every day of slowed transmission and supporting hospitals in hard-hit areas is another day for technology to take care of us. Stronger policy medicine taken now gets us faster to national health and recovery.

But time is of the essence. Without measures like these, before long well find ourselves far worse off than in Italys shoes  not by design, and definitely not in a place we want to be.

Its still avoidable. CEOs can really help.

Dennis Aftergut, a founder of Oak Hill School, former prosecutor and chief assistant city attorney, lives in San Francisco.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

On and off snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low 9F. NNW winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

On and off snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low 9F. NNW winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Rights group and activists accuse govt of forcing cremation of Muslim COVID-19 victims in disregard to WHO guidelines.

The forced cremation of two COVID-19 infected Muslims in Sri Lanka has sent shock waves among the minority community, which accused the authorities of violating Islamic burial rites.

Bishrul Hafi Mohammed Joonus, a 73year old man from the capital Colombo who died of COVID-19, was the second Muslim to have been cremated in the Indian Ocean island nation, which has registered 151 cases so far.

Bishruls son Fayaz Joonus, 46, said his father who had a kidney disorder tested positive for the virus on April 1 and died the same day. He was cremated the following day.

Fayaz said they could not perform congregational funeral prayers, called the Janazah, for his father due to fear of infections.

My father was taken in a vehicle under the supervision of the police force and was cremated. We did some prayers outside the morgue, but it was not a Janazah that us Muslim typically do, Fayaz told Al Jazeera.

The government needs to make arrangements for us Muslims to be able to bury our loved ones in accordance with our Islamic burial rites.

The cremation of Muslims has caused anguish in the community [Al Jazeera]

If there is an option of burial, our government should accommodate. Cremation is not the only option, we want to bury our loved ones as per the Islamic way, he told Al Jazeera.

Sri Lankas Ministry of Health on Tuesday issued COVID-19 guidelines saying the standard procedure of disposing bodies should be cremation. It reversed an earlier guideline that allowed traditional Muslim burial.

It also said the body should not be washed and placed in a sealed bag and a coffin, as against the Islamic practice of washing the body.

Amnesty calls on authorities to stop forced cremation

Muslim leaders and activists have pointed out that the World Health Organization (WHO) allows both burial or cremation for people dying due to the pandemic.

Prominent lawyer Ali Sabry said in a Facebook post that he was disappointed with authorities decision to cremate bodies of Muslims, as it was in disregard to the WHO guidelines, which say that a body can be either buried or cremated.

The forced cremations have sent shock waves in the Muslim community in Sri Lanka [Al Jazeera]

Out of the four people who died due to COVID-19, two were Muslims. The cremation of Muslims has caused anguish in the community.

The Muslim community sees this as a racist agenda of extremist Buddhist forces that seem to hold the government to ransom, Hilmy Ahamed, vice president of Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, told Al Jazeera.

The guidelines issued by the WHO is practised by Britain, most of the European countries, Singapore, Hong Kong and all the Muslim nations [except for Sri Lanka], he told Al Jazeera.

Amnesty International has also called on authorities to respect the right of religious minorities to carry out the final rites according to their own traditions.

At this difficult time, the authorities should be bringing communities together and not deepening divisions between them, Biraj Patnaik, South Asia director at Amnesty International, said in a statement.

Grieving relatives of people who have died because of COVID-19 should be able to bid farewell to their loved ones in the way that they wish, especially where this is permissible under international guidelines.

Muslims account for 10 percent of Sri Lankas 21 million population. But their relationship with the majority Sinhala Buddhists deteriorated in the years after the end of civil war in 2009 during which hardline Buddhist groups were blamed for several attacks against Muslims businesses and places of worship.

Both #COVID19 & racism are killer contagions, that sicken anyone who catches them. Ironically, we lock down on one, but open floodgates to the other. Only way to save us is to improve immunity to them, as individuals and a nation. #LKA media should responsibly help the recovery.  Karu Jayasuriya (@KaruOnline) April 3, 2020

Following the deadly attacks in April 2019 that killed more than 250 people, Muslims have faced increased hostility from the Sinhala majority.

A little-known Muslim organisation was blamed for the island nations worst attack since the civil war fought between the government forces and the Tamil separatist fighters.

This is just to hurt the feelings of the minority, Azath Salley, leader of the National Unity Alliance political party and the former governor of Western province, told Al Jazeera.

Anti-Islamic sentiments

The method of the disposal of the body has become a big talking point in the country, with a section of the media accused of running anti-Muslim hysteria and pointing fingers at Muslims for the spread of the virus.

Nalaka Gunawadenne, a media analyst said amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is very disturbing and disheartening to see anti-Islamic sentiments and anti-Muslim hate speech raise their ugly head again in Sri Lanka.

This is national and global emergency shared by all humans, and not a time highlighting our cultural divisions. The coronavirus does not care about our ethnic or religious differences. We need to fear the virus  not each other  and unite in containing and battling the disease. he told Al Jazeera.

Now #SriLanka's Hon. Politicians are trying to protect their baby rather than trying to protect the country or nations from #COVID19. This is very clear, this is only the option to sustain their career if they protect #racism baby. Shame! pic.twitter.com/3N3aG6u3qt  Azeem JamalDeen (@HAF_AJ) April 2, 2020

Government officials from the health services department did not respond to repeated calls from Al Jazeera for comment.

Meanwhile, Fayaz, who is in a makeshift quarantine centers in Punani in the eastern province, said he did not inform his mother of his fathers death and cremation.

She has heart disease and we dont want to risk it. She wont be able to bear it.
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The Government today penned an open letter pleading for firms who can make PPE and coronavirus tests to come forward (pictured, one of the forms)

The Government today penned an open letter pleading for firms who can make personal protective equipment (PPE) and coronavirus tests to come forward - despite firms who offered help weeks ago saying they still have not heard back about helping tackle Britain's growing crisis.

In a desperate attempt to get a grip of the testing fiasco and nationwide shortage of protective equipment for NHS staff, the Department for Health and Social Care supplied two forms for British manufacturers to fill out if they could step up to help.

But MailOnline can reveal one firm poised to supply DIY coronavirus antibody tests to Number 10 - kits deemed crucial in ending Britain's draconian lockdown because they reveal who is immune to the disease - has yet to hear back on how it can get its test approved despite approaching them last month.

Brigette Bard, chief executive of Essex-based firm BioSure - which already makes HIV self-tests, demanded Public Health England offers clarity on what it needs, saying 'there is nothing more critical at the moment' than getting antibody tests approved.

She added in a video that PHE were not looking at her company's test because it was a self-test - claims which a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson furiously refuted, branding Ms Bard's words as 'untrue and misleading'.

Commercial laboratories and scientists drafted in to help yesterday after a screeching U-turn by ministers also exposed Downing Street's incompetence today, claiming they had offered two weeks ago to help the Government dramatically scale-up its swab testing capacity but were ignored.

One man running a fully-equipped lab in Leicester revealed his firm had offered to help the Government but was now testing private clients on its own.

He said: 'We approached the NHS on March 17 to offer our assistance and said we were happy to use all our capacity for NHS work and we've been trying to get a response since then.'

Scientists at the University of Oxford, one of the world's top institutions, said they also had not had their offers of help taken up by British authorities.

Matthew Freeman, a biologist at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford University said in a tweet: 'We have many people experienced in PCR.

'We'd love to help and have been trying to volunteer for weeks. Must be many university departments and institutes in similar position.'

Another lab at Oxford - the Butt Group, which studies genetics - added on Twitter: 'I echo this sense of frustration: we volunteered on day 1 and beyond being asked 3 times to list our expertise, have heard nothing.'

Marc Dionne, a researcher at Imperial College London, replied: 'Many from Imperial in the same position.'

Ramping up swab testing - often called antigen testing - is also viewed as crucial because it allows officials to test thousands of self-isolating health workers and to say for certain whether they have the disease, allowing those who are free of the killer infection to return to the NHS frontline.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night unveiled a five-point plan to boost COVID-19 testing capacity to 100,000 a day by the end of April - levels similar to those seen in Germany, which has been praised for its quick reaction to keeping the pandemic under control.

But Mr Hancock was forced to admit the six-figure target did not include antibody tests. None of the fingerprick kits have yet to be approved by health chiefs amid fears over their accuracy. Mr Hancock last night claimed one of the tests he was being urged to buy was wrong 75 per cent of the time.

Medics fighting the coronavirus crisis on the frontline have begged the Government to provide proper face masks, gloves and aprons amid claims of a nationwide shortage. The British Medical Association has already warned that doctors will die unless they are given adequate protection.

In other developments in the worldwide coronavirus crisis today:

The UK announced 684 more coronavirus deaths and 4,450 cases - taking the total number of fatalities to 3,605 while more than 38,000 Britons have now officially been struck down;

Mr Hancock admitted next week is likely to be even worse for coronavirus-ravaged Britain, warning more than 1,000 deaths could be recorded every day by Easter Sunday;

The family of Britain's youngest coronavirus victim - 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab - will not be able to attend his funeral because they are in self-isolation after his brother and sister developed symptoms;

A frontline nurse - 36-year-old Areema Nasreen - died after testing positive for the coronavirus, becoming the country's youngest health worker to be killed with the disease;

The Prince of Wales officially opened the new NHS Nightingale Hospital for intensive care coronavirus patients, saying from 530 miles away that it was a message of hope for those who may need it most;

Health chiefs urged locked-down Britons to continue staying at home to help fight the coronavirus pandemic this weekend as a mini-heatwave is due to sweep the country;

Heathrow Airport announced it will remain operational with one runway amid falling flight numbers and fury from passengers at lack of medical advice when they arrive back from coronavirus hotspots;

Global coronavirus cases soared past one million as the pandemic explodes in the US and the death tolls continue to climb in Italy and Spain.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, pictured at the opening of the Nightingale Hospital in London today, suggested the UK's lockdown will be in place until the end of April at the earliest

UK ANNOUNCES 684 MORE CORONAVIRUS DEATHS - TAKING TOTAL NUMBER TO 3,605 The UK has announced 684 more coronavirus deaths today, taking the total number of fatalities to 3,605. Yet again the number is a record one-day high - this has been the case almost every day this week, with each day since Tuesday announcing more victims than the last. Yesterday there were a record 569 new fatalities announced by the Department of Health and today's statistics show a rise 20 per cent larger. The new numbers mean the number of people dead from COVID-19 in the UK has risen five-fold in a week, from just 759 last Friday, March 27. The numbers behind the UK's crisis have escalated rapidly over the past seven days and Health Secretary Matt Hancock today admitted that next week is likely to be worse still, potentially topping out at more than 1,000 deaths per day by Easter Sunday. Britain is still being hammered by the consequences of huge numbers of people catching the coronavirus before the country went into total lockdown last week. The increases being seen each day are 'expected', scientists say. Experts say it could take another couple of weeks before the benefits of social distancing start to show in NHS statistics - but they insist that the outbreak will taper off and the daily numbers will start to fall. And insiders maintain that the NHS, by and large, is coping well with the strain so far and there are still intensive care beds and ventilators available for patients who need them. Advertisement

In an attack on the Government's handling of the antibody testing shambles, Ms Bard said: 'We urgently need a specification from Public Health England, so we know what we have to achieve.

'Matt Hancock has been on all the press this morning saying 'antibody tests don't work, self-tests don't work' but nobody knows what they are supposed to be working to.

'I want to know, if all these tests are failing and they're no good, what are they being benchmarked against? Saying a test is a failure when you don't know what failure is. I just don't understand it.'

She added there is an industry-recognised specification needed for the HIV self-testing kits BioSure makes to be brought to market, with the products needing to be at least 99.5 per cent accurate.

But Ms Bard, who yesterday resorted to social media for Britons to share a post calling on health chiefs to look at the firm's kit, fears the Government does not yet have a standard for COVID-19 tests.

She warned the company cannot start to manufacture the kits - which are just its HIV tests recalibrated to pick up on the coronavirus - until it knows what the benchmark for accuracy is.

Ms Bard told MailOnline: 'We have spent five years very successfully in the market generating masses of evidence, data, everything, so we have proven we have a highly usable, highly accurate test.'

In a plea on Twitter last night, she added: 'We are ready to go with the validation of this test at PHE. But they won't look at it because it's a self-test... This test needs to be in the UK market.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson responded: 'These claims are untrue and mislead the public.

'We are working round the clock to evaluate tests, including antibody tests which could be used in the home.

'But companies must give us enough information about their products so we can make correct decisions in validating their tests.

'The public's health is our foremost priority which is why we won't rush through tests before they are ready.'

They added that Biosure have not supplied the government with detailed information so it can fully evaluate their products.

The spokesperson added: 'The Government is currently evaluating antibody tests  potentially home-based tests that could allow people to find out whether theyve had the virus and are now immune, enabling them to go back to work.'

WHICH COMPANIES COULD MAKE ANTIBODY KITS FOR NUMBER 10? MailOnline has repeatedly asked officials to name which companies are in talks with the Government to make antibody tests but has never been offered clarity. One of these firms is thought to be Derby-based SureScreen, which has shipped its tests to be used in Germany and Spain, among other nations. The company sent hundreds of the tests - which trials have shown are 97 per cent accurate - to a PHE laboratory in Oxfordshire almost two weeks ago. MailOnline earlier this week revealed Belfast-based manufacturer Biopanda Reagents had opted to restrict sales to just UK healthcare providers, suggesting it was gearing up for an order. And Mologic - a Bedfordshire-based business awarded 1million by Number 10 to make antibody tests - this week began the evaluation of its kits at labs run by prestigious universities. But the company, whose laboratory was visited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month, estimates it will be up to five months before Brits can use the tests to tell if they are immune. Oxford Biosystems and Regenerus Laboratories in Surrey are also known to make antibody tests against COVID-19. It is unclear if their kits are being evaluated by PHE. In another twist in the saga, it was revealed earlier this week that officials had already bought 2million antibody tests from two Chinese manufacturers - Wondfo and AllTest - a fortnight ago. But it was alleged health chiefs had not even assessed whether the tests are suitable and that they still needed to be evaluated even though Number 10 had already parted with millions to buy them. European countries have already had to send back defective coronavirus medical kits bought from China during the pandemic. Spain was forced to return tens of thousands of testing kits and officials in the Netherlands recalled half a million 'defective' face masks it brought from Beijing. WHAT ABOUT ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD? The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last night authorized the use of an antibody kit made by Cellex on an emergency basis, saying it is 'reasonable' to believe the test works. China, where the pandemic began in December, had approved eight antibody tests in its fight against the virus - including one that Britain bought a fortnight ago and is expected to arrive this week. Germany is also planning on starting a mass antibody testing regime in the next fortnight as part of a major trial to get millions of workers out of lockdown. Advertisement

Other diagnostics manufacturers known to have sent their tests to PHE for trials today admitted there was still no clarity on whether they were actually going to be green-lighted.

Some kits Number 10 are known to be looking claim to be up to 98 per cent accurate. Ministers promised the kits - similar tests have already been approved in China - would be ready to start being rolled out in mid-April.

Public Health England is believed to be assessing up to 150 different antibody tests but several kits have already failed medical checks, including one that was wrong 75 per cent of the time.

Officials have not revealed how accurate the tests need to be before they will finally approve them. Mr Hancock warned last night that approving tests that don't thoroughly work is dangerous, adding: 'I will not do it.'

The UK is able to conduct 3,500 antibody tests every week at its specialist military laboratory at Porton Down in Wiltshire. But that specific test is laboratory-based and allegedly cannot be scaled up.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last night authorized the use of an antibody kit made by Cellex on an emergency basis, saying it is 'reasonable' to believe the test works.

In a letter to North Carolina-based firm, the FDA wrote: 'The known and potential benefits of your product when used for diagnosing COVID-19, outweigh the known and potential risks of your product.'

China, where the pandemic began in December, had approved eight antibody tests in its fight against the virus - including one that Britain bought a fortnight ago and is expected to arrive this week.

Germany is also planning on starting a mass antibody testing regime in the next fortnight as part of a major trial to get millions of workers out of lockdown.

Antibodies are substances produced by the immune system in response to an infection. They stored away so that if it comes into contact with that same pathogen again it knows how to fight if off.

The benefits of the UK's lockdown are expected to start filtering through to hospitals in the coming weeks and widespread testing to see who has had the coronavirus already is believed to be key to getting the country back on its feet.

But the government continues to face intense criticism with its opponents arguing that testing capacity should have been ramped up as soon as coronavirus emerged as a global threat.

Scrutiny of the approach taken in Whitehall has only increased after it was claimed that public health planners tasked with preparing the UK for a global health crisis ignored warnings from the World Health Organisation to prepare a mass testing programme.

Officials 'did not discuss' implementing such a programme because they assumed that a new strain of influenza was the most likely threat and testing in that scenario is 'not important', according to the Telegraph. The decision appears to contradict guidance on bird flu issued to countries by the WHO in 2005.

MailOnline has repeatedly asked officials to name which companies are in talks with the Government to make antibody tests but has never been offered clarity.

One of these firms is thought to be Derby-based SureScreen, which has shipped its tests to be used in Germany and Spain, among other nations.

The company sent hundreds of the tests - which trials have shown are 97 per cent accurate - to a PHE laboratory in Oxfordshire almost two weeks ago.

MailOnline earlier this week revealed Belfast-based manufacturer Biopanda Reagents had opted to restrict sales to just UK healthcare providers, suggesting it was gearing up for an order.

And Mologic - a Bedfordshire-based business awarded 1million by Number 10 to make antibody tests - this week began the evaluation of its kits at labs run by prestigious universities.

A member of the public is transported to an ambulance in Euston, London, by ambulance workers wearing personal protective clothing and medical face masks

BioSure claims to have developed an at-home finger prick test that takes a quarter of an hour

COMMERCIAL LABS OFFERED TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF EXTRA CORONAVIRUS SWAB TESTS TWO WEEKS AGO Scientists who offered their help to the British Government's coronavirus swab testing effort say they never heard back from officials. Universities, private laboratories and research institutes could have been processing thousands of coronavirus tests for weeks, they say, if they had been enlisted. A COVID-19 testing row erupted this week after Germany scaled up its testing capability to 93,000 per day while the UK was still managing fewer than 10,000. Public Health England, a government body separate from the Department of Health, is facing the burden of blame for insisting on developing its own tests and analysing results in its own eight laboratories along with around 40 NHS sites. Academics and private sector scientists, however, say they have the machines capable of interpreting swab tests if they were given the right information. There are believed to be thousands of the machines - PCR machines - ready and waiting in laboratories around the country and many owners are willing to help test NHS staff to help them keep working. Some have already taken matters into their own hands and begun testing medical workers in their local areas. The scientists are capable of doing PCR tests, which look for evidence of the coronavirus inside people's DNA and are different to antigen tests, which also test for current infection but do so by trying to trigger a reaction from viruses in a sample. Advertisement

But the company, whose laboratory was visited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month, estimates it will be up to five months before Brits can use the tests to tell if they are immune.

Oxford Biosystems and Regenerus Laboratories in Surrey are also known to make antibody tests against COVID-19. It is unclear if their kits are being evaluated by PHE.

In another twist in the saga, it was revealed earlier this week that officials had already bought 2million antibody tests from two Chinese manufacturers - Wondfo and AllTest - a fortnight ago.

But it was alleged health chiefs had not even assessed whether the tests are suitable and that they still needed to be evaluated even though Number 10 had already parted with millions to buy them.

European countries have already had to send back defective coronavirus medical kits bought from China during the pandemic.

Spain was forced to return tens of thousands of testing kits and officials in the Netherlands recalled half a million 'defective' face masks it brought from Beijing.

Mr Hancock, who returned to work yesterday after spending a week in isolation after catching coronavirus, was today grilled on his test pledge during numerous broadcast interviews.

Journalists repeatedly asked him what proportion of the 100,000 tests would be antibody. He said: 'I think that the antibody test, the blood test, at the moment we haven't got a reliable home test. If we manage to get one then that can be easily replicated and we can get into even higher figures, much higher figures.'

Asked why the government was factoring in the antibody test for its end of April deadline given that it does not currently have a test to use, Mr Hancock then replied: 'Yes, but I am not assuming any come on stream, that is pillar three as we call it, in order to hit the 100,000 target.'

Health experts have said they cannot yet guarantee that people who have had the virus will have total immunity but they do believe those who have already had it will have some resistance to catching it again.

WHAT IS AN ANTIBODY TEST, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TO AN ANTIGEN OR PCR 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. PCR 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. They can also be done using swabs. Advertisement

The row over antibody testing came as Mr Hancock signalled the nation could have a long wait for the end of lockdown. He suggested a mass testing and tracing programme will have to be put in place before restrictions can be lifted.

Such a programme would allow health experts to stop a second wave of the outbreak because people who catch coronavirus could be isolated quickly and all the people who they had come into contact with could also be found and tested.

He told the BBC: 'The first step is to get the rate of infection down so that that isn't increasing and as you say it takes some time after the lockdown is put in place to get that rate of infection, the rate of transmission down. That is the first step.

'Then we need to make sure that we have the testing in place and the tracking so that if we release any of the measures we don't simply then have the infection spread again in the way that it was starting to spread when we brought the measures into place. So it is a very difficult thing.'

Mr Hancock painted a tough picture of contracting the virus as he said he had lost half a stone in weight during his week in self-isolation with the killer bug. He said it was a 'pretty unpleasant experience' and felt like he had 'glass in my throat'.

The Health Secretary said that at the moment approximately 8,000 patients a day are taking the swab test but the hope is that number will fall as social distancing measures slow the spread of infection. He also said around 1,500 frontline medics are being tested at drive-through centres each day - but the number is 'ramping up fast'.

He added: 'At the moment we think that there are around 35,000 frontline NHS staff who aren't in work due to coronavirus. The number is much smaller than some of the anecdotal evidence that we've been hearing, although of course there may be pockets.'

Mr Hancock has placed Public Health England director of health improvement Professor John Newton in charge of overseeing the UK's testing efforts. Mr Newton warned today that testing right now would not lift the lockdown as testing 'doesn't really' help flatten the curve - a phrase for controlling the outbreak.

He was asked what percentage of the 100,000 tests would be antigen and what percentage would be antibody and he suggested the latter will play a role. He told the BBC: 'The Secretary of State's target was for all of those tests together. He was very clear about that.'

The government has been slammed in recent days over the 'embarrassing' performance of ministers at its daily conferences in Downing Street, with Mr Hancock's return yesterday viewed by many as a major improvement as he signalled a U-turn on the UK screening regime.

Emerging for the first time since being struck down by the disease himself, the Health Secretary said he 'gets' why there has been criticism as he abandoned the previous centralised approach and urged the wider science industry to help boost capacity. He said the longer-term goal was to have capacity for 250,000 checks every day.

Defending the government's response, a querulous and at times emotional Mr Hancock said that Public Health England had been 'working round the clock' and could be 'proud' of what it had done. Taking the press briefing in No10 this evening after a week in isolation recovering from the virus, he listed five 'pillars' for the new strategy.

Matt Hancock's five-point plan to increase coronavirus testing to 100,000 per day Heath secretary Matt Hancock yesterday unveiled a five-point plan to boost the UK's coronavirus testing ten-fold in a matter of weeks. The five points he unveiled were: Increase the number of swab tests being carried out by Public Health England labs and the NHS to 25,000 per day by the end of the month Shortages of chemicals and swabs have been blamed for stalling progress in this effort so far. Potentially PHE and NHS labs are thought to have the scope to carry out 100,000 tests a day by themselves. Vastly expand the swab testing network using universities and research institutions and private sector retailers like Boots and Amazon The key move by the Health Secretary was to give the green light for universities, institutes and private firms to get involved in testing. Up to now there have been complaints of control freakery in a Government insistent on using its own facilities to avoid getting unreliable results. Introduce antibody blood tests which would tell people if they had had the virus and recovered This is the game-changing test that would tell who is able to leave the constraints of lockdown and get the economy running again. Mr Hancock stressed that there are as yet no proven versions of this test, and the science of what immunity people have after the disease is still developing. But he confirmed that the government is looking at issuing 'immunity certificates' to people who pass such tests, so they can get back to 'normal life'. Boost community surveillance to determine the rate of infection and the spread across the country The abandonment of community testing when the government moved from the contain phase to 'delaying' the outbreak was highly controversial last month. The government wanted to focus resources on patients in hospital as number rose. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that without such mass testing in the community the government is 'trying to fight a fire blindfolded'. Boost the size of the UK diagnostics industry Mr Hancock addressed head-on criticism that the UK was lagging far behind Germany in terms of test numbers. He bluntly admitted that the UK did not have the same scale of biotech industry as Germany, where many firms already manufacture screening equipment at scale. But Mr Hancock committed to developing that infrastructure - which will not be a quick task. Advertisement

Swab tests at PHE labs will be increased dramatically to 25,000 a day; research institutions and private sector firms will be brought into the screening system; antibody tests will be introduced if they can be proved effective; community testing will be bolstered; and the overall UK diagnostics industry will be enlarged.

The previous approach on swab tests was meant to ensure checks are conducted properly, but the 10,000 per day level achieved so far contrasts sharply with the decentralised tactics deployed successfully in countries like Germany, which is carrying out up to 100,000.

Explaining the sluggishness in hiking test numbers, Mr Hancock said approving faulty tests would put people at risk by giving them false hope they are free of the virus. He added: 'I understand why NHS staff want tests, so they can get back to the frontline. Of course I do.

'But I took the decision that the first priority has to be the patients for whom the result of a test could be the difference in treatment that is the difference between life and death I believe anybody in my shoes would have taken the same decision.'

Mr Hancock said the UK lacked a large diagnostics industry so was having to build from a 'lower base' than the likes of Germany, which is testing at greater levels for coronavirus. He also confirmed the Government was looking at 'immunity certificates'.

But leading scientists have said the evidence about the truth on immunity is not yet clear enough. Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, warned they could give Britons a 'false sense of security'.

Fears have been raised that people can be struck down twice after reports in China and Japan of patients catching the disease after recovering. Other scientists believe the evidence for immunity is convincing and even claim that it could be life-long.

It comes after it was revealed this morning that scientists who offered their help to the British Government's coronavirus swab testing effort say they never heard back from officials.

Universities, private laboratories and research institutes could have been processing thousands of coronavirus tests for weeks, they say, if they had been enlisted.

Public Health England, a government body separate from the Department of Health, is facing the burden of blame for insisting on developing its own tests and analysing results in its own eight laboratories along with around 40 NHS sites.

Academics and private sector scientists, however, say they have the machines capable of interpreting swab tests if they were given the right information.

There are believed to be thousands of the machines - PCR machines - ready and waiting in laboratories around the country and many owners are willing to help test NHS staff to help them keep working.

Some have already taken matters into their own hands and begun testing medical workers in their local areas.

The scientists are capable of doing PCR tests, which look for evidence of the coronavirus inside people's DNA and are different to antigen tests, which also test for current infection but do so by trying to trigger a reaction from viruses in a sample.

IS THERE A SHORTAGE OF PPE FOR NHS NURSES AND DOCTORS? It comes as an NHS trust is conducting a search for PPE suppliers amid the coronavirus outbreak and a nationwide shortage of face masks, gloves and aprons, which saw Mr Hancock insist the required stocks exist but argue there had been challenges in distribution. The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) issued the tender document listed as 'Covid-19 - PPE' on April 1. It described it as an 'information gathering exercise' to identify those who could supply or manufacture PPE should it need additional supplies in future. Thousands of items of PPE were donated in recent weeks to help keep UHDB trust staff safe while treating Covid-19 patients, either suspected or confirmed. Doctors' Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar last month made an appeal to Boris Johnson, warning doctors and nurses feel like 'cannon fodder' because of a lack of protective equipment and kits. It also followed a letter in the Sunday Times from almost 4,000 NHS workers who called on the Prime Minister to 'protect the lives of the life-savers' and resolve the 'unacceptable' shortage of protective equipment. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) last week revealed there are medical staff working to save lives and turn the tide in Britain's war with coronavirus that have no access to basic protective clothing at all. Medics at Southend Hospital in Essex warned on Wednesday they may need to limit services to a 'bare minimum' amid concerns over a shortage of protective equipment for staff. While staff at The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, in County Durham,were last week warned not to resuscitate patients during the coronavirus crisis because of a lack of protective equipment. The British Medical Association yesterday launched a campaign to urge the Government to send more protective gear to the NHS frontline amid complaints there isn't enough go around. And GP practices say that, when they've appealed for equipment from the NHS, they have been told to buy their own from other suppliers. Some staff said they have seen colleagues fall ill because of 'inadequate PPE' and others are having to buy their own. One doctor revealed to their MP, Twickenham member Munira Wilson, that they had bought motocross goggles for their staff to wear. Advertisement

It comes as an NHS trust is conducting a search for PPE suppliers amid the coronavirus outbreak and a nationwide shortage of face masks, gloves and aprons, which saw Mr Hancock insist the required stocks exist but argue there had been challenges in distribution.

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) issued the tender document listed as 'Covid-19 - PPE' on April 1. It described it as an 'information gathering exercise' to identify those who could supply or manufacture PPE should it need additional supplies in future.

Thousands of items of PPE were donated in recent weeks to help keep UHDB trust staff safe while treating Covid-19 patients, either suspected or confirmed. This included goggles, gloves, surgical masks and protective suits from the University of Derby and 10,000 surgical masks from Rolls-Royce.

Doctors' Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar last month made an appeal to Boris Johnson, warning doctors and nurses feel like 'cannon fodder' because of a lack of protective equipment and kits.

It also followed a letter in the Sunday Times from almost 4,000 NHS workers who called on the Prime Minister to 'protect the lives of the life-savers' and resolve the 'unacceptable' shortage of protective equipment.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) last week revealed there are medical staff working to save lives and turn the tide in Britain's war with coronavirus that have no access to basic protective clothing at all.

Medics at Southend Hospital in Essex warned on Wednesday they may need to limit services to a 'bare minimum' amid concerns over a shortage of protective equipment for staff.

While staff at The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, in County Durham,were last week warned not to resuscitate patients during the coronavirus crisis because of a lack of protective equipment.

The British Medical Association yesterday launched a campaign to urge the Government to send more protective gear to the NHS frontline amid complaints there isn't enough go around.

And GP practices say that, when they've appealed for equipment from the NHS, they have been told to buy their own from other suppliers.

Some staff said they have seen colleagues fall ill because of 'inadequate PPE' and others are having to buy their own. One doctor revealed to their MP, Twickenham member Munira Wilson, that they had bought motocross goggles for their staff to wear.

The little ships sailing to the rescue: Prestigious Oxford University department famed for helping to create penicillin, the world-leading Francis Crick Institute and a private lab in Oxfordshire claim they could carry out thousands of tests a day

MATT HANCOCK DESCRIBES CORONAVIRUS AS LIKE HAVING RAZORS IN YOUR THROAT Matt Hancock today described his battle with coronavirus as he said he ha lost half a stone and it had felt like having razors in his throat. The Health Secretary branded the disease 'indiscriminate' and said it had left him unable to eat or drink for a few days and he had been unable to sleep. Mr Hancock, who said he had begun to go 'downhill' on March 26, claimed the worst part had been not knowing how bad things might get. He told BBC Breakfast: 'When you're on the way down it's really worrying because we can all see just how serious this illness is. 'And, for some people, the people who often get into the worst of health and those who lose their lives, it's often because the lungs over-react to the virus, there's an immune response. And you just don't know if that's going to happen, so I found it really worrying.' Having addressed the daily Downing Street press conference yesterday as his first public appearance back at work, he did a round of media interviews on Friday morning. Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, he said: 'I had two days or so when it was like just razors in your throat, a very, very sore throat. I couldn't eat and I couldn't drink. 'The worst bit was on the way down, worrying how bad it would get because we've all seen how bad it can get and it seems to be indiscriminate.' Describing himself as now being back to 'full health', he said he was relieved to have recovered. He told BBC Breakfast: 'Thankfully I bottomed out and started getting better, and for me it was short-lived and I was able to come back to work yesterday, and I'm in full health. But it is worrying. I've lost half a stone, it's quite a serious impact directly. ' Advertisement

Number 10 yesterday abandoned the centralised testing approach of control freak health chiefs and urged the wider science industry to help boost capacity.

Matt Hancock declared the UK will conduct 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month as he finally signalled a U-turn on the UK screening regime.

It came amid warnings 'time is running out' to scale up mass coronavirus testing to allow Britain to get a grip of the escalating crisis - which has killed almost 3,000 people.

The chief executive of one of the UK's leading laboratories urged the Prime Minister to summon the Dunkirk spirit and let 'small ship' labs start screening for the deadly infection spreading rampantly on British soil.

The Francis Crick Institute has started swabbing NHS staff at one trust and aims to ramp up to 500 per day by next week and expand to other overwhelmed hospitals across the capital.

Other smaller laboratories say they have volunteered to help with testing, too, among them the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford University and the Jack Birch Cancer Research Unit in York.

Another - Systems Biology Laboratory in Abingdon - is testing local GP staff already and Cancer Research UK said it is also providing equipment and expert staff to help with swabbing Britons.

But scientists say there are dozens of laboratories in the UK that already have the equipment needed to process coronavirus tests, and that any 'self-respecting' facility would be equipped to start immediately.

So where are the little ships that are sailing to the rescue? And how many tests can they carry out every day?

Francis Crick Institute, London

The Francis Crick Institute in King's Cross, London, has already started testing NHS staff from local hospitals and said it hopes to scale up to 2,000 tests per day

The Francis Crick Institute, a leading biomedical science lab in London, has already started using its facilities to test NHS staff from the University College London Hospitals NHS Trust.

It hopes to scale up to 500 tests per day by early next week with the ultimate aim of doing 2,000 every day - the equivalent of around 14,000 each week.

The institute - a partnership of leading charities and universities - will aim to provide results within 24 hours, to enable NHS staff to return to work as quickly as possible.

In comparison, only around 10,000 patients are being tested every day in Public Health England's centralised approach.

Sir Paul Nurse, director of the Crick, said: 'Testing is an essential part of the national effort to tackle the spread of COVID-19. We wanted to use our facilities and expertise to help support NHS staff on the front line who are battling this virus.

'Institutes like ours are coming together with a Dunkirk spirit  small boats that collectively can have a huge impact on the national endeavour.'

Cancer Research UK has scientists at the Crick Institute who are involved with carrying out the tests and is also using its staff and equipment around the country to help test medical workers so they can continue working on the frontline without fears they are spreading the infection.

Executive director of research at the charity, Iain Foulkes, said: 'They are providing desperately needed capacity at a time of national crisis, and testing NHS staff quickly so they can decide if they can return to their life-saving work.

'As a scientific research community, we need to beat the pandemic together  the sooner we do that the sooner our researchers can get back to beating cancer.'

Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford

The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at the University of Oxford, which usually studies human diseases, said it has offered help to the Government but not been commissioned

Some scientists with the right facilities have already volunteered to help the government effort but not had their offers taken up.

Matthew Freeman, at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford University, said in a tweet: 'We have many people experienced in PCR.'

The PCR machines examine DNA taken from a nose or throat swab to look for signs of viral genetic material (RNA) left behind by the coronavirus.

This is the kind of testing currently being used by Public Health England, which has eight of its own laboratories and access to 40 in NHS hospitals around the country.

Mr Freeman added: 'We'd love to help and have been trying to volunteer for weeks. Must be many university departments and institutes in similar position.

'I'd love to know more about why we can't be used. Would be interested to hear if others have been more successful in offering services.

'I understand how complex it is: quality control, biosafety, ethics... But can't help feeling that in an emergency these could have been sorted. Less complex than constructing a 5,000 bed hospital in two weeks.'

The department - famed for the development of penicillin - would normally use its machines to examine the minute workings of human infections and diseases.

Another lab at Oxford - the Butt Group, which studies genetics - added on Twitter: 'I echo this sense of frustration: we volunteered on day 1 and beyond being asked 3 times to list our expertise, have heard nothing.'

Marc Dionne, a researcher at Imperial College London, replied: 'Many from Imperial in the same position. I've heard that one of the personnel shortages now is not people capable of running PCR but people capable of directing them'.

Systems Biology Laboratory, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Systems Biology Laboratory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, is already testing staff at local GP surgeries

Systems Biology Laboratory, a not-for-profit science company, has taken local matters into its own hands and is already testing staff at 14 GP surgeries in Oxfordshire twice a week.

The tests - it is doing around 100 per day, according to The Times - mean staff can continue to work safe in the knowledge that they don't have the coronavirus so aren't passing it on to patients.

Director of the lab, Mike Fischer, said he started buying the testing kits online around two weeks ago and they cost about 10 per time. He hopes to scale up to be able to do 800 tests every day.

Mr Fischer said the lab was also using PCR tests and had ordered another 15,000. It is unclear who they bought them from or how much they cost.

He said: 'I wouldn't be surprised if there are 1,000 labs like that. We actually have this incredibly valuable strategic resource distributed around the country.'

Although Mr Fischer doesn't have official approval as a testing centre he said the Government was aware of what he was doing and was 'supportive'.

Mr Fischer, who also co-founded the stock imagery company Alamy, said his team of five people could scale up tests to 500 each day once they have honed the process.

Jack Birch Cancer Research Unit, York

One of the founders of the Jack Birch Cancer Research Unit in York yesterday claimed the facility was capable of carrying out potentially thousands of tests every day

One of the founders of the Jack Birch Cancer Research Unit in York yesterday claimed the facility - which mainly focuses on studying bladder cancer - was capable of carrying out potentially thousands of tests every day.

Professor Colin Garner, who said the UK must take war-time measures to fight the outbreak, claimed 'every self-respecting laboratory will have the equipment to conduct hundreds, if not thousands, of these tests every day'.

In a call to action, he said: 'My understanding is that the UK is building a large testing centre in Milton Keynes. Why wait for this to be built when there are labs and people sitting idle around the UK who could conduct these tests now?'

Professor Garner urged the Government to create an immediate task force comprised of the university medical and bioscience sector, cancer research labs, pharma giants, the NHS and other bodies.

He said: 'Just as the government called for volunteers to help vulnerable people and got 750,000 people applying, they should now put out an immediate call to all UK lab scientists and enlist them in this national effort.'

'It is heart breaking that we are putting our medical front-line staff at risk when there is a national testing capability that could be used now.

'A centralised lab is not the answer. Regional labs should be created and all the above organisations enlisted... The UK has some of the best scientists and facilities in the world. Let's get them working to beat COVID-19.'
Australians stranded abroad and desperate to get home during the coronavirus pandemic are being offered seats on 'mercy flights' with Qantas and Virgin.

Thousands of citizens are understood to be stranded overseas, but four international routes are now being subsidised by the federal government.

Both airlines previously stood down thousands of staff and stopped all international flights.

But repatriation flights will now run between Australia and Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London and Auckland to help stranded Australians get home.

It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted he was 'frustrated' by the 16,000 citizens who chose to travel abroad in recent weeks - despite being told by the government not to do so.

Passengers are seen exiting Brisbane airport (pictured) and put onto buses on Thursday where they were taken to hotels in the CBD to start their COVID-19 quarantine

Qantas flights (stock image) as well as some operated by Virgin will be used to bring Australians home during the coronavirus outbreak

The passengers being helped to return home will have to pay their own airfares.

But the federal government had agreed to pay for any financial loss to the airlines for flying the planes to the destinations to collect Australians.

It was also pay for any difference between the cost of the passengers' tickets and the overall cost of the flight.

Overseas travel has been effectively banned in Australia, with only 14 flights landing in Sydney on Friday, as the government tries to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Many of Australia's 5,337 cases have been the result of Australians returning from overseas, be that from holidays or living abroad.

A departing traveller at Sydney airport on Monday (pictured) as holidaymakers leave Australia and citizens begin to return

Around two-thirds of cases are thought to have come from cruise ship passengers, after a debacle in Sydney saw four infected cruise liners unload thousands of passengers.

The chaos, which saw more than 400 infected passengers leaving one ship alone - the Ruby Princess - prompted the government to bring in strict new arrival measures.

Anyone arriving into Australia from abroad must now self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, which will also apply to all the passengers on these mercy flights.

Taxpayers are footing the bill for the hotels, food and security.

On Tuesday, 292 Australian citizens and permanent residents were flown home to Sydney from Peru, with tickets costing $5,000 each.

Australians returning from overseas are seen being ushered into Sydney's InterContinental hotel for the 14-day quarantine period on Sunday (pictured)

Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane on 3 April

WHO PAYS FOR THE QUARANTINE HOTELS? The cost of the 14-day quarantine hotels for arrivals in Australia will be split between the states. It will depend on where the arriving travelling usually lives. So if the person is from Adelaide, but staying at a hotel in Sydney, it is South Australia which will pay. At the moment, there are no rules in place which dictate that the holidaymaker themselves has to pay, meaning it is coming from taxpayers. Advertisement

Thousands of Australians have defied Mr Morrison's call to stop overseas travel during the coronavirus outbreak, leaving taxpayers to foot their quarantine bill.

About 16,000 Australian citizens chose to fly overseas between March 19 and 30, despite stern instructions on March 18 to 'not travel abroad'.

Even after an official ban on overseas travel began on March 24, 3,800 Australians left the country, according to data seen by The Australian.

But under strict new rules, any arrivals into Australia will be taken into a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

This means that if the 16,000 or so who flew out want to return to Australia, the financial burden would fall on the taxpayer, at a time when economists are fearing a recession.

Arrivals into Australia are being taken into a mandatory hotel 14-day quarantine to slow the spread of the virus (pictured, a quarantined couple at Melbourne's Crown Promenade Hotel

Hundreds of passengers who flew back into the country in the last week have already been swept away to luxury hotels, all paid for by Australians.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

But Western Australian premier Mark McGowan has warned he would 'love to be able to charge' holidaymakers if they ignored travel advice.

'It was grossly irresponsible of people to go to Bali or Thailand or Britain or wherever it was,' he told reporters.

The cost of the quarantine accommodation, likely to be millions of dollars, is now being split by different states, depending on where the traveller is from.

Premiers hope this will ease the pressure on New South Wales, which has been accommodating the vast majority of international arrivals in Sydney.

After the two-week quarantine, in a variety of top hotels, the passengers are then allowed to return to their homes.

A traveller at Sydney airport walks towards a waiting bus on Monday (pictured), ahead of a 14-day isolation period

Police are seen monitoring the situation at Adelaide airport on Wednesday, as foreign nationals leave the country and Australians fly home

Of the 16,000 who defied the government's call, the 3,800 who left after March 24 did so with a special government exemption.

This means they either live overseas, need to leave for compassionate reasons or need to travel to an essential workplace.

That leaves 12,200 citizens who left without a special reason, and despite warnings they could put themselves or others at risk of COVID-19.

Those still abroad are being urged to 'not wait' to come back to Australia, and to do so at the soonest possible opportunity - before there are now flights left.

'Do not pass up commercial flights. In most cases, other flights WILL NOT be available,' advice on Smart Traveller said.
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Pharmacies, just like grocery stores, are considered life-sustaining businesses. And like grocery they stores, they are very busy these days. But many have made adjustments. Some have shortened hours and some provide medications by delivery and some have hours dedicated to seniors.

Weve compiled a short guide to what midstate pharmacies are doing these days during the coronavirus pandemic.

If you are an independent pharmacy owner in the midstate and would like to be added to the list feel free to e-mail the name of your pharmacy, address, hours, and any other pertinent details from a business e-mail address to business@pennlive.com. Please place pharmacy in the subject line.

Here is our guide:

Rite Aid is located at 337 W. Chocolate Ave. Chocolate Avenue in Hershey, October 28, 2019. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Rite Aid

Multiple locations

Rite Aid has an hour from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily dedicated for seniors 65 and older and those customers with a weakened immune system.

Rite Aids home-delivery service is available upon request and the company will waive delivery-service fees for eligible prescriptions. Controlled substances and/or refrigerated medications are not eligible for delivery. In addition to home delivery, Rite Aid offers drive-thru lanes for pick-up of prescriptions and over-the-counter products at more than 50 percent of its retail locations

Rite Aid customers are urged to speak to their pharmacy to see if theyre eligible for 90-day refills, early refill authorizations and prescription delivery.

Rite Aid is marking the floor areas in front of the pharmacy and front end counters with tape to ensure six feet of separation. Rite Aid is adhering to customer limits set by local municipalities regarding the number of customers allowed to shop at any one time in its stores. Rite Aid is in the process of installing Plexiglas shields at our pharmacy counters and front end counters.

Rite Aid says its current supply of generic medications is presently sufficient and the company does not anticipate any significant near-term supply chain disruptions that will affect its ability to fill prescriptions.

In conjunction with the White House COVID-19 Response Working Group, Rite Aid launched a COVID-19 testing site at one store in Philadelphia on March 23. The site is only open to testing for: first responders and healthcare workers.

CVS Pharmacy at 59 Washington St. in Hoboken. (photo by Reena Rose Sibayan, The Jersey Journal.Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal

CVS Pharmacy

Multiple locations

CVS Pharmacy offers free delivery for prescriptions and other items. Customers will need to sign up for text alerts or download the CVS app to be notified of delivery options.

CVSs MinuteClinic is no longer accepting walk-in patients; all patients must make an appointment on-line on the MinuteClinic website or via the CVS Pharmacy app. Patients making an appointment will be pre-screened outside of the clinic to determine if it is the right site of care for their symptoms. Patients are required to wait in their vehicle or outside the store until the MinuteClinic provider texts or calls them in for their scheduled visit. CVS is also offering video visits where patients can be evaluated for many conditions, including symptoms of coronavirus.

CVS says that all of its store employees have received protective masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. The company has hourly protocols in place for cleaning hard surfaces and more frequent cleaning of commonly handled items. Disinfecting wipe stations have been placed at the front of each store for customers. CVS has floor markers at the pharmacy counter. CVS is providing protective panels for its pharmacy counters and front-store checkout stations. Rollout began last week and the panels will be in place at all stores by next week, the retailer said.

READ MORE:

FILE - This June 25, 2019, file photo shows a sign outside a Walgreens Pharmacy in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) APAP

Walgreens

Multiple locations

Most store are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily while drive-thru locations are only open through the drive-thru lane from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. at 24 hour stores. There is a seniors-only hour from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. every Tuesday.

Walgreens offers delivery for prescriptions and other items. To order any of the items available, customers should visit Postmates.com or download the Postmates mobile app. Customers can get access to unlimited free delivery when they subscribe to Postmates membership service, Postmates Unlimited, for $9.99 per month.

Walgreens is offering select retail at its drive-thru lanes. More than 60 front-end products are currently available for purchase through the drive-thru lane. These additional products include cleaning supplies and sanitizers, select over the counter products such as cough/cold, pain/fever and immunity support, select grocery items, infant formula/adult nutrition, medical supplies, first aid and paper goods.

Walgreens also offers an online chat with pharmacy experts.

All stores have a Social Distancing Line, which begins six feet away from all checkout counters. Lines are marked where customers may begin to wait and six foot increments are also marked to indicate where customers should stand in line.

The chain is in the process of installing protective plastic shields in its stores.

The purchase of disinfectant wipes and cleaners, face masks, hand sanitizers, hand soap, thermometers, gloves, over-the-counter pain and pediatric medicines, paper goods, baby formula, vitamins, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and over-the-counter cough and cold treatment purchases are limited.

Giant Food, 5005 Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Twp. (Sue Gleiter, PennLive)HAR

Giant

Multiple locations

All in-store pharmacies open at 6 a.m. every Wednesday until further notice to accommodate older and immuno-compromised members of the community. This change aligns with the modified store hours of 6 a.m.  7 a.m. daily.

Seniors can also pickup prescriptions using the Giant Direct parking spaces at their local store. The prescriptions will need to be paid for by credit card in advance by calling the pharmacy. Once the customer arrives at the store, they can call the pharmacy regarding their prescription pickup.

Giant is also offering UPS mailing of prescriptions. The prescriptions will need to be paid for by credit card in advance by calling the pharmacy. The prescription will arrive in two business days and there will be no shipping charge at this time.

The Weis store on Union Deposit Road in Susquehanna Township on March 13, 2020. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

Weis

Multiple locations

Weis is maintaining normal pharmacy hours. The company has added sneeze guards, implemented curbside pickup and Fed-Ex delivery, is cleaning its pharmacies regularly throughout the day and is following state guidelines for medication limits of hydroxychloroquine. Weis also has limits on items like Tylenol and Excedrin.

The Wegmans supermarket in Silver Spring Twp.THE PATRIOT-NEWS

Wegmans

6416 Carlisle Pike, Silver Spring Township

Wegmans provides delivery to any location. Standard delivery in five to 10 business days is free while express delivery in one to two business days is $18.95.

For those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been diagnosed by a physician, the store has a curbside service available from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and during normal weekend business hours.

Wegmans is adding visual cues to encourage social distancing while customers wait to pick up their prescriptions, and it is also installing plexiglass shields at all the counters.

Wegmans has a limit on a number of health and wellness products as well as cleaning supplies.

t Walmart in Auburn, N.Y., Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. Kevin Rivoli | krivoli@syracuse.com

Walmart

Multiple locations

Most Walmart pharmacies are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays with a dedicated shopping hour on Tuesday mornings from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. for seniors ages 60 and older.

the company offers drive-thru, no-contact curbside pickup and mail delivery depending on the store. Customers should call the pharmacy to see which options are available.

Keystone Pharmacy

830 Fifth Avenue, Chambersburg, Franklin County

The Keystone Pharmacy is open and offering curbside service only for prescriptions and over the counter medications.

The pharmacy is open from 8 a.m. to 7 pm Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Custom Prescriptions of Lancaster

902 N. Duke St., Lancaster

The pharmacy is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The lobby is open and curbside service is available. The pharmacy also offers free delivery within the city of Lancaster. There is a charge for shipping outside the city and the pharmacy will also ship. Tylenol, vitamins, hand sanitizer, pet medications and other items are also available.

Wileys Pharmacies

Multiple locations in Lancaster County

They offer free delivery. The pharmacies are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Bloomfield Pharmacy

1 West Main St., New Bloomfield

The pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The company is offering curbside delivery and delivery to shut-ins.

Dauphin Professional Pharmacy

722 Allegheny St., Suite 1, Dauphin

The pharmacy is open and beside prescriptions, you can also purchase over the counter medicine and a limited supply of face masks and alcohol wipes.

The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment.

Adams Cumberland Pharmacy

3463 Biglerville Road, Butler Township, Adams County

The pharmacy is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Big Spring Pharmacy

91 S. High S.t, West Pennsboro Township

The pharmacy is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The pharmacy is only offering drive-thru service and curb-side pickup service at this location.

Holly Pharmacy

31 N. Baltimore Ave. Mount Holly Springs

The pharmacy is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Quality Care Pharmacy

1 Sprint Drive, South Middleton Township

The pharmacy is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The pharmacy is only offering drive-thru service at this location.

West Perry Pharmacy

1102 Montour Road, Tyrone Township, Perry County

The pharmacy is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Starting Monday, the pharmacy is only offering curb-side pickup service at this location.

Minnichs Pharmacy

974 S. George St., Spring Garden Township, York County

Minnichs Pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

The pharmacy offers curbside pick up and free delivery of medications, over the counter items, and any other store items to residents in York and parts of Adams County.

Minnichs Pharmacy has partnered with a local distillery to distribute hand sanitizers from 3 oz. to bulk ordering.

Stauffers Drug Store

149 E. Main Street, New Holland, Lancaster County

The pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The inside of the store is closed but the pharmacy is operating out of its drive-thru window. Stauffers is also offering free delivery of prescriptions and over the counter products to residents of Garden Spot Village and Fairmount Homes. They will also ship items.

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A team of University of Massachusetts Amherst food scientists has been awarded a grant from the Good Food Institute to create tasty, plant-based, protein-rich food that's similar in texture to whole chicken, pork or beef.

Distinguished Professor of Food Science David Julian McClements, well-known for his cutting-edge work in food design and nanotechnology, leads the multidisciplinary team that specializes in taste physiology and sensory science, gut health, food processing and plant-based meat product development. The other food scientists are Amanda Kinchla, extension associate professor; Jiakai Lu, assistant professor; Alissa Nolden, assistant professor; David Sela, associate professor; and Hang Xiao, professor and Clydesdale Scholar.

Under its competitive research grant program, the Good Food Institute recently announced 2020 grants totaling $4 million awarded to support 21 open-access research projects, based in nine countries. These projects aim to improve the sensory qualities, cost and profitability of alternative proteins. The UMass Amherst team will receive $200,000 over two years.

"Our 2020 grantees are leading biochemists, tissue engineers, computational modeling experts, plant geneticists and food scientists," says Austin Clowes, the institute's scientific research funding coordinator.

McClements points to a growing desire among consumers to reduce the amount of animal-based foods they eat for environmental, ethical and health reasons. "This grant will allow us to explore the use of applied nanotechnology and structural design to create molecular architectures from plant proteins that resemble those in meat," he explains. "In particular, we aim to simulate the properties of whole chicken, pork or beef - rather than burgers, sausages or nuggets that exist already."

The not-for-profit Good Food Institute promotes plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs, as well as cultivated "clean meat" grown from animal cells in a facility.

McClements and his team hope to develop an innovative approach to creating fiber-like structures from plant proteins that improve the texture of plant-based meat. "This would advance our technological ability to create meat-like fibers without the process of extrusion," says McClements, author of "Future Foods: How Modern Science Is Transforming the Way We Eat" (Springer Nature, 2019).

The institute's Clowes concludes, "We are thrilled to catalyze high-quality research that will produce open-access data to enable the entire sector to advance more efficiently and bring plant-based and cultivated meat to the masses. These projects will fill key research white spaces and help build the scientific foundation of a healthy, sustainable and just food system."

###
BUCKS COUNTY >> Police in Northampton, Lower Southampton and Upper Makefield townships report the following incidents and arrests: Lower Southampton THEFT >> In the early morning hours on Monday, Jan. 10 two individuals made off with the entire change machine from the Feasterville Laundromat along Bustleton Pike. The male appears to be "cracking himself up" while he hatches his scheme...
Golden Gate Park is celebrating its 150th birthday this year, and Western Neighborhoods Project is honoring this milestone in a variety of ways as an official Community Partner of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

Before we began sheltering in place in early March, we were preparing to unveil our newest exhibition, "Monumental Golden Gate Park," at our Home for History at 1617 Balboa Street. Co-curated by the park's Historian in Residence, Christopher Pollock, this exhibition will feature incredible relics from the past not seen by the public in decades; one special piece has been hidden from view for over 60 years! It will also include gorgeous watercolors and illustrations by Richmond District resident Patrick Mahar.

Make no mistake about it: this park is absolutely monumental. Carved out of sand dunes in the Outside Lands, legislation officially created Golden Gate Park on April 4, 1870. Since that time it has been an inspiration to and also a reflection of San Francisco. Statues, structures, recreation areas, and memorial spaces show us what was important to people of the past. They speak to the simultaneous devotion of immigrant communities to their birth countries and their adopted home; to times of peril like wars and health crises; to great men and women such as presidents, generals, and civic-minded San Franciscans; and to an appreciation of natural resources, art, science, and culture.

We'll get that exhibition up and running soon, but, in the meantime, you can explore that theme remotely from the comfort of your own home. Here you'll find articles, videos, podcasts, and historic photographs that will keep you entertained for hours.

Please enjoy this selection, explore the rest of our site, and consider making a tax-deductible donation to support the work (if you can).

- Nicole Meldahl, Executive Director, Western Neighborhoods Project
Zoom has been widely criticized over the past couple of weeks for terrible security, a poorly designed screensharing feature, misleading dark patterns, fake end-to-end-encryption claims and an incomplete privacy policy. Despite that, the video conferencing service has attracted a ton of new users thanks to the coronavirus lockdowns around the world  the company reached 200 million daily active users last month.

Zoom, an enterprise product designed for boring corporate meetings, has become a mainstream product with all the risks that it involves.

Thats why the companys CEO Eric S. Yuan has written a lengthy blog post to address some of the concerns around Zoom. He starts by sharing some metrics. Zoom has been used by 90,000 schools around 20 countries. Daily meetings participants jumped from 10 million in December to 200 million in March.

But some companies are starting to reconsider using Zoom for video conferences. For instance, SpaceX, Elon Musks rocket company, has banned its employees from using the service.

For the next 90 days, Zoom is enacting a feature freeze, which means that the company isnt going to ship any new feature until it is done fixing the current feature set. Zoom will also work with third-party experts and prepare a transparency report.

For the past several weeks, supporting this influx of users has been a tremendous undertaking and our sole focus, Yuan writes. However, we recognize that we have fallen short of the communitys  and our own  privacy and security expectations. For that, I am deeply sorry, and I want to share what we are doing about it.

As expected, Yuan says that mainstream adoption has led to unforeseen issues. We did not design the product with the foresight that, in a matter of weeks, every person in the world would suddenly be working, studying, and socializing from home. We now have a much broader set of users who are utilizing our product in a myriad of unexpected ways, presenting us with challenges we did not anticipate when the platform was conceived, he writes.

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In addition to keeping up with the massive influx of customer support requests, Zoom has already shipped a few updates to solve some issues. The company released a new version of its iOS app to remove Facebooks SDK as the companys privacy policy never said that you consent to sharing data with Facebook. The company updated its privacy policy as well.

Zoom removed the attendee attention tracker feature, a controversial feature that lets hosts see if the Zoom window is currently in focus. The company has also shipped security updates after Patrick Wardle uncovered vulnerabilities.

Zoom wrote a dedicated K-12 privacy policy and changed some default settings for schools (waiting rooms are on by default, only teachers can share content, etc.).

The company is far from done. Dont forget that it claimed that calls are end-to-end encrypted even though theyre not at all. More importantly, the fact that Zoom is fixing issues as quickly as it can isnt enough. Something is wrong at Zoom  theres a corporate culture issue that leads to all those missteps. It'll take much longer than 90 days.
The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital. 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. We note that Vongroup Limited (HKG:318) does have debt on its balance sheet. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

Why Does Debt Bring Risk?

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. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. 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. By replacing dilution, though, debt can be an extremely good tool for businesses that need capital to invest in growth at high rates of return. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for Vongroup

What Is Vongroup's Debt?

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that Vongroup had debt of HK$25.3m at the end of October 2019, a reduction from HK$27.2m over a year. But on the other hand it also has HK$80.4m in cash, leading to a HK$55.1m net cash position.

SEHK:318 Historical Debt April 2nd 2020

How Healthy Is Vongroup's Balance Sheet?

According to the last reported balance sheet, Vongroup had liabilities of HK$35.1m due within 12 months, and liabilities of HK$849.0k due beyond 12 months. On the other hand, it had cash of HK$80.4m and HK$56.8m worth of receivables due within a year. So it actually has HK$101.2m more liquid assets than total liabilities.

This surplus liquidity suggests that Vongroup's balance sheet could take a hit just as well as Homer Simpson's head can take a punch. On this basis we think its balance sheet is strong like a sleek panther or even a proud lion. Simply put, the fact that Vongroup has more cash than debt is arguably a good indication that it can manage its debt safely.

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In addition to that, we're happy to report that Vongroup has boosted its EBIT by 37%, thus reducing the spectre of future debt repayments. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is Vongroup's earnings that will influence how the balance sheet holds up in the future. So when considering debt, it's definitely worth looking at the earnings trend. Click here for an interactive snapshot.

Finally, a business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. Vongroup may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. During the last two years, Vongroup burned a lot of cash. While that may be a result of expenditure for growth, it does make the debt far more risky.

Summing up

While it is always sensible to investigate a company's debt, in this case Vongroup has HK$55.1m in net cash and a strong balance sheet. And it impressed us with its EBIT growth of 37% over the last year. So we don't think Vongroup's use of debt is risky. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. Be aware that Vongroup is showing 4 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about...

When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now.

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.
LOS ANGELESLike legions of immigrant farm workers, Nancy Silva for years has done the gruelling work of picking fresh fruit that Americans savour, all while afraid that she could one day lose her livelihood because she is in the country illegally.

But the widening coronavirus pandemic has brought an unusual kind of recognition: her job as a field worker has been deemed by the federal government as essential to the country.

Silva, who has spent much of her life in the United States evading law enforcement, now carries a letter from her employer in her wallet, declaring that the Department of Homeland Security considers her critical to the food supply chain.

Its like suddenly, they realized we are here contributing, said Silva, a 43-year-old immigrant from Mexico who has been working in the clementine groves south of Bakersfield, Calif.

It is an open secret that the vast majority of people who harvest Americas food are immigrants in the country illegally, mainly from Mexico and many of them decades-long residents of the United States. Often the parents of American-born children, they have lived for years with the cloud of deportation hanging over their households.

The essential work letters that many now carry are not a free pass from immigration authorities, who could still deport Silva and other field workers at any time.

But local law enforcement authorities said the letters might give immigrant workers a sense of security that they will not be arrested for violating stay-at-home orders.

If you have people who perceive that they may be stopped and questioned or deported because of their status, under these circumstances, having that letter makes them feel comfortable, said Eric Buschow, a captain with the sheriffs office in Ventura County, where thousands of farm workers labour in strawberry, lemon and avocado operations. They can go to work. And their work is essential now.

The pandemic has also put many of Immigration and Customs Enforcements operations on hold. On March 18, the agency said it would temporarily adjust its enforcement posture to focus not on ordinary immigrants in the country illegally, but on those who pose a public safety or criminal threat.

The agency said it would not carry out enforcement actions near health-care facilities except in the most extraordinary of circumstances and would instead focus its efforts on human trafficking, gangs and drug enforcement.

Those of us without papers live in fear that immigration will pick us up, Silva said. Now we are feeling more relaxed.

Across the country, farm workers have been struggling to understand what the coronavirus outbreak will mean for their safety and livelihoods. Even if they face a lower risk of deportation, many worry that the close working conditions in fields and packing facilities put them at risk for contracting the virus, and some warehouse workers are seeing their hours cut as employers adjust to the shifting market.

For many workers, the fact that they are now considered both illegal and essential is an irony that is not lost on them, nor is it for employers who have long had to navigate a legal thicket to maintain a workforce in the fields.

Its sad that it takes a health crisis like this to highlight the farm workers importance, said Hector Lujan, chief executive of Reiter Brothers, a large family-owned berry grower based in Oxnard, Calif., that also has operations in Florida and the Pacific Northwest.

Lujan, whose company employs thousands of field workers, described them as unsung heroes for guaranteeing that Americans have food security.

Maybe one of the benefits of this crisis is that they are recognized and come out of the shadows, said Lujan, whose company has been lobbying Congress to pass a bill that would legalize immigrant farm workers.

About half of all crop hands in the United States  more than one million  are in the country illegally, according to the Agriculture Department. Growers and labour contractors estimate that the share is closer to 75 per cent.

Despite increased mechanization, the agriculture sector has continued to struggle with a dearth of labour because many fruits and vegetables must be harvested by hand to avoid bruising.

In a 2017 survey of farmers by the California Farm Bureau, 55 per cent reported labour shortages, and the figure was nearly 70 per cent for those who depend on seasonal workers. Wage increases in recent years have not compensated for the shortfall, growers said.

Strawberry operations in California, apple orchards in Michigan and dairy farms in New York and Idaho are wrestling with a shrinking, aging workforce; a crackdown at the border; and the failure of Congress to agree on an immigration overhaul that could provide a steady source of labour. A surge in deportations and the voluntary return of many Mexicans to their home country have aggravated the shortage.

As a result, growers increasingly have turned to a seasonal guest-worker program  officially known as the H-2A program  to fill gaps in their labour supply. The number of workers on the visa rocketed to 257,667 in fiscal 2019, compared with 48,336 workers in fiscal 2005.

Growers panicked after the State Department earlier this month paused all visa processing in Mexico during the public-health emergency. In response to an outcry, the department announced March 26 that it would waive in-person interviews, enabling most applications to be vetted in time for the peak harvest.

American agriculture is at a critical juncture, with a massive volume of produce to be harvested between now and August. In California, citrus fruit is still being plucked off the trees, strawberries are getting underway and many other crops ripen in the summer. In Georgia, Vidalia onions and peaches will soon be mature. In Washington, apple trees are heavy with fruit in the summer.

The pandemic carries particular risks for agricultural workers. Most do not receive sick pay if they fall ill, and they lack health insurance. The $2-trillion (U.S.) pandemic-aid package that passed Congress last week does not offer any assistance to immigrants in the country illegally.

Armando Elenes, secretary-treasurer of the United Farm Workers, said letters affirming that workers are essential do not substitute for meaningful steps to stem the pandemic by protecting farm workers with basic actions. Those would include, he said, extending sick leave to 40 hours or more, making it easier for workers to claim sick days and providing more aggressive disinfection of work areas.

Some growers, like Reiter Brothers, have trained workers on how to stay healthy, including frequent handwashing and the proper techniques for coughing and sneezing. The company has increased the number of handwashing stations in the fields and spaced out workers who are picking strawberries. The company also offers medical care.

Jim Cochrane, a grower of organic berries, artichokes, broccoli and other crops in Santa Cruz, Calif., told his workers that he would keep paying them if they contracted the virus and had to miss work, even for three weeks.

But such policies are exceptions, according to the United Farm Workers.

Agricultural workers in packing warehouses and poultry plants, who often work in close quarters, are both fearful of getting the virus and worried about recent cutbacks that have threatened their ability to work.

Maura Fabian, 48, packs grapes for schools and hospitals in a warehouse in the Central Valley near Fresno, where she said that about half the workers have been let go. The others, she said, including her, have had their hours drastically cut.

Since March 16, Fabian has worked four-hour shifts most days, and been told not to report at all on other days.

She assumes that her employer has thinned the packing lines because, with schools closed, demand for packed fruit is down. The company is also trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among workers, she said.

Were afraid of this illness. But we are more afraid that we wont be able to make a living, said Fabian, a single mother who bought a house in October, where she lives with her three children.
Meryl Streep is one of the most legendary actresses in Hollywood today. She has been a star since the 1970s and has won numerous awards throughout the year, including three Academy Awards and eight Golden Globes.

Aside from being hugely successful in her career, Streep also has a marriage that has lasted for over four decades. Forty years is definitely an impressive number, so there are no doubt many fans who would love to hear some insights from Streep on how to keep a relationship going for a long time. Read on below to see that Streep has to say about the success of her marriage.

Meryl Streeps husband is sculptor Don Gummer

Meryl Streep | John Phillips/Getty Images

Streep is currently married to sculptor Don Gummer, who is about three years older than her.

Gummer is from Louisville, Kentucky, though he grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He later studied art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Then, he attended Yale University  the same school that Streep attended  and graduated in 1973. Streep graduated from Yale in 1975.

ArtDaily wrote that Gummers early work concentrated on table top and wall-mounted sculpture, but in the mid 1980s he shifted his interest to large free-standing works, often in bronze. Additionally, the publication noted that, starting in the 1990s, Gummer also added a variety of other materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum and stained glass into his works.

Since 1973, Gummer has done 22 solo exhibitions around the country and even in places like Italy and Japan. Gummer has been recognized numerous times for his works with several awards and features in public collections.

Meryl Streep and Don Gummer have been married since 1978

Streep and Gummer met in 1978 after the death of Streeps then-boyfriend, actor John Cazale. Streep and Cazale were together for about two years before he passed away from terminal brain cancer.

According to Michael Schulman, who wrote the biography Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep, when Streep found herself kicked out of the loft that she shared with Cazale, her brother came by to help along with his friend, Gummer. Streep and Gummer subsequently became friends, and Gummer even allowed a grief-stricken Streep to stay at his apartment while he was traveling.

It didnt take long for romance to develop between Streep and Gummer. The pair tied the knot in September 1978, just six months after Cazales death. While friends and family members were confused about Streeps decision to move on that quickly, its clear that both Streep and Gummer knew that their relationship was not just a rebound.

Streep later reportedly said: I havent got over Johns death, but Ive got to go on living and Don has showed me how to do that.

Streep and Gummer continued to stay together decade after decade. They have been married for over forty years now and have four children: Henry (b. 1979), Mary (b. 1983), Grace (b. 1986), and Louisa (b. 1991).

Meryl Streeps secret for a lasting marriage is communications

Meryl Streep and husband Don Gummer's incredible love story starts with a tragedybut ends with nearly 40 years of marital bliss https://t.co/o7d8w2FfYG pic.twitter.com/HkabgXPXWO  TOWN&COUNTRY (@TandCmag) June 13, 2018

Maintaining chemistry for years and years is a challenge for many people, though Streep and Gummer seem to have figured out how to do it for over four decades.

According to Streep, the secret to a lasting marriage is simply communications and listening to each other. She said: You have to talk about all the issues that arise, even the smallest things. You have to listen to your partners problems, suggestions, and advice, and accept that youre not always right. Conversation is the key to a successful marriage.

Additionally, at another time, Streep also said humorously that it also takes goodwill and a willingness to bend  and to shut up every once in a while.
The EU funded Flagships project is supporting the construction of a hydrogen fuel powered barge push boat in the French city of Lyon, one that will get its clean hydrogen from the Rhones hydroelectric power in a truly virtuous circle.

Expertise from several European countries is working together to create one of the most visible and demonstrable commercial hydrogen-fuel cell marine solutions in South France, a statement said.

The Rhone is more than just one of Europes great rivers flowing from the glaciers of Switzerland to the French coastline. It is also one of Frances major trade arteries and a significant source of renewable electricity for the country.

On this 276 km stretch between the port of Marseille and Lyon (these cities represent two of the three biggest cities in France) 11 hydroelectric power stations generate clean electricity off the rivers natural power.

There is also a regular convoy of barges being pushed up and down the river between these two great cities - imported cargo upstream and cargo for export downstream. When these barges reach Lyon they are dropped off, and the river tugs pick up another and head off south to the coast.

It is the operations in Lyon where these barges get moved between convoy positions and loading cranes that a unique new hydrogen fuel-cell powered push-boat will operate soon.

Flagships leading the way

The Flagships project, a 6.8 million ($7.43 million) project under the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU) and funded by the EUs Horizon 2020 framework programme, has two main parts to it. One is the creation of the hydrogen fuel cell and power system for a Norwegian public ferry service, the other is for this powerful push boat that will operate in Lyon shuttling empty and loaded barges from the loading cranes to the standby area and other highly visible roles in the French city.

The tug design is for two 200 kW fuel cells  the Norwegian ferry will have three of the same  connected to a mobile compressed-hydrogen fuel tank. This fuel tank can be removed and refilled with green hydrogen which will be created at an electrolysis plant using power from the Rhone hydroelectric dams.

Victor Laravoire, Newbuilding Project Manager at transport group Sogestran, which owns subsidiary Compagnie Fluviale De Transport, a member of the Flagships project and future owner of the hydrogen push boat, points to the virtuous circle of this project: The great rivers water flow will create the energy, which will create the hydrogen which then is used on a barge on the river. On the barge the water formed in the fuel cell reaction to create power is then returned to the river as the bi-product from the fuel cell.

The push-boat design will be for a mobile fuel tank with a 300 kg compressed hydrogen capacity, enough to power the pusher tug for two weeks says Laravoire. When it is empty it will be replaced by a second tank, and the first one taken by road to the refilling station located just beside the dock area to be refilled with compressed hydrogen.

As this pusher-tug will operate in the city centre of Lyon  one of its other proposed roles will be for the municipal authorities dealing with special garbage barges on the citys riverside  safety has to be a priority.

We are working closely with the French administration and with class as there are no rules on how to put hydrogen on these vessels said Laravoire. We want to be sure we do not miss anything. We are helping build the next set of safety rules for the use of hydrogen-powered fuel cells.

With the design of the push tug quite well advanced, CFT has tenders out for a yard to build the vessel and have delivery in mid-2021.

FCH-JU is a public Private partnership supporting research, technological development and demonstration activities in Europe. It aims to accelerate the market introduction of these technologies and realise their potential in achieving a clean energy system. The three members of the FCH-JU are the European Commission, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research.

Participating companies in the Flagships project include nine European partners, with two ship owners Norled (NO) and CFT (FR), the maritime OEM ABB, supplier of power and automation solutions Westcon Power & Automation (NO) and naval architect company LMG Marin (NO & FR).

World-leading fuel cell technology is provided by Ballard Europe (DK) and vessel energy monitoring and management by PersEE (FR). Management, dissemination activities and hydrogen safety expertise are provided by VTT (FI) and industry cluster NCE Maritime CleanTech (NO). TradeArabia News Service
International Participants from across the globe and official commercial partners have shown solidarity with Expo 2020 Dubai following the agreement to explore postponing the event because of the current global health crisis.

The significant impact of Covid-19 on global public, social and economic health led many countries to suggest delaying the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai until October 2021, while they focus on navigating the escalating situation.

The Expo 2020 Dubai Steering Committee  comprising members of the senior leadership of Expo 2020 and World Expo governing body the Bureau International des Expositions, BIE, alongside representatives from Expo 2020s International Participants, collectively agreed to explore with the BIE the possibility of a one-year delay to the opening of the event, reaffirming Expo 2020s solidarity with the international community.

Shri Bidyut Behari Swain, Additional Secretary at the Department of Commerce and Commissioner General of India at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: "While we have been looking forward to showcasing the best of India alongside the rest of the world at Expo 2020, our shared values as global citizens place on us the responsibility to accord priority to safeguarding global public health as the worlds most urgent need at this time."

"When the time is right, which we are confident shall be soon, we will all convene for a great celebration with renewed optimism and hope, in the spirit of global cooperation for the future. At this time, we reaffirm our resolve to work together for an end to this pandemic at the earliest possible," stated Swain.

Dr Ahmed Maghawry Diab, Commissioner General of Egypt at Expo 2020 Dubai, said, "Egypt appreciates the efforts undertaken by the UAE Government and the BIE to convene Expo 2020 Dubai. We also commend their efforts to accommodate the various needs and requests of all participants."

"Egypt is committed to a successful event as much as it is committed to all actions taken or to be agreed upon to ensure the safety of all international and domestic visitors," he added.

Sergio Segovia, Commissioner General of Brazil at Expo 2020 Dubai, said, "Our path hasnt changed course; it is just a bit longer. The World Expo in Dubai will still be an amazing event that brings out the best of our humanity, and Brazil wholeheartedly supports the decision to seek a postponement until 2021."

Juan Pablo Cavelier, Commissioner General of Colombia at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: "We applaud the idea of the BIE and Expo 2020 Dubai organisers to consider exploring new dates for the Expo. Today, more than ever the next World Expo represents an opportunity for the world to show the impact of this type of event. We are sure that the outcome of these efforts will result in a more impactful Expo and will better reflect the objectives of the 192 participating countries."

DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: "We are working resolutely to keep trade flowing around the world through the crisis, so the countries in which we operate continue to be supplied with food, medicine and other vital goods."

"We are doing so by putting the highest priority on the health and safety of our people and communities. We support the proposal to postpone Expo 2020 and DP World looks forward to opening our pavilion in 2021 where we will show how keeping trade flowing will help the world continue to recover from the crisis," he stated.

Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President, Middle East South for SAP, Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Innovative Enterprise Software Partner, said: "SAP expresses support for Expo 2020 Dubai and its Steering Committee exploring options with the Bureau International des Expositions to postpone the event by a year and ensure the health and wellbeing of the millions of expected visitors and participants."

"SAP remains firmly committed as Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Innovative Enterprise Software Partner and we will continue to co-innovate to deliver personalised experiences for the event," stated Maccotta.

Thierry Sabbagh, Managing Director of Nissan Middle East, Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Automotive Partner, said: "The decision also reflects the great sense of global citizenship embodied by Expo 2020 Dubai itself."

"This proposed delay will be viewed as an opportunity by all partners to come back together even stronger and deliver a truly world-class experience that millions of visitors will be able to celebrate in the true sense of safety, security and friendship that the UAE has always prided itself on," noted Sabbagh.

Siemens, Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Infrastructure Digitalisation Partner, stated, "We fully support the Expo 2020 Dubai Steering Committee to explore a postponement of the event. Its the right decision to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those working on the project, and means the whole world can join together when it opens its doors. We will continue working to create one of the smartest cities in the world, and look forward to seeing you all in 2021."

Eugene Willemsen, CEO, Africa, Middle East and South Asia at PepsiCo, Expo 2020 Dubais Official Premier Beverage and Snack Partner, said, "In light of the tragic circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, we understand and support the Expo 2020 organizers and the steering committees decision to explore postponing this mega event. We remain firmly committed to the event and look forward to helping deliver an exceptional World Expo at the right time. At PepsiCo, we recognize that now, more than ever, it is critical to focus on the fundamental human values that unite us across nations."

The BIE will now work with its member states and Expo 2020 to determine new dates. A final decision on postponement can only be made by the BIEs General Assembly, requiring a two-thirds majority vote from the member states.

The recommendation followed several weeks of discussions, both internally and in consultation with key UAE and international stakeholders, to review the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on Expo 2020s plans and preparations.-TradeArabia News Service
[April 02, 2020] MedChi Applauds Governor Hogan's Recent Action Expanding Telehealth Services in Maryland

MedChi CEO Gene Ransom applauds Governor Hogan's decisive action this week to clarify telehealth delivery services in Maryland. "Governor Hogan's executive order of April 1, 2020, and his signature of two emergency telehealth measures planned for April 3, clarify what Maryland physicians can do with telehealth and will help fight the deadly coronavirus crisis," Ransom said today. MedChi supported the first bill, Maryland Senate Bill 502, which requires Medicaid to provide mental health services appropriately delivered through telehealth to a patient in the patient's home setting. The bill also expands the definition of "telehealth" for purposes of private insurance coverage to include the delivery of mental health care services to a patient in the patient's home. MedChi's concerns about the second bill, Maryland Senate Bill 402, as it was originally written were resolved by the General Assembly's artfully drafted amendments that protect patients and clarify the role of in-person visits. "MedChi is very pleased the Governor is taking this action and signing the two bills today, and we appreciate the additional clarity of his recent Executive Order," said Ransom. MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, is urging the State of Maryland to provide physician practices with telehealth technology to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. MedChi has been a leader on coronavirus, educating and working with Maryland physicians, and keeping people up to date with their Coronavirus Resource page. "Our physician members have raised two major concerns about the pandemic," said Gene Ransom, MedChi CEO. "They are concerned about the lack of adequate testing and about preventing health worker exposure to the virus." The state recently announced that two major lab companies will be able to perform tests, which Ransom expects to help resolve physicians' concern about testing. "But the risk of exposure for healthcare workers continues to be a major concern," he adds. Because of the important role of social distancing to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, Congress, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and private insurance companies are supporting the expanded use of telehealth for patient care. Telehealth can allow patients to receive treatment without risking healthcare worker exposure to coronavirus, as well as protect other patients in the hospital or doctor's office. As a result of the outbreak, the MedChi Care Transformation Organization (MedChi CTO) provided its physician practices with telehealth capability, through DrFirst's Backline care collaboration platform.



Backline allows physicians to conduct telehealth sessions without requiring patients to download an app or complete a cumbersome registration process. Because Backline is a full care-collaboration platform that meets HIPAA requirements to protect patients' health information, it supports team-based care that goes beyond a single encounter, which is especially the case when treating patients with complex acute and chronic conditions. Backline is designed for every healthcare setting, from large hospitals to small physician practices and can be implemented quickly by facilities of any size and any number of users. This allows Backline to create a hospital or doctor's office "without walls," enabling healthcare providers to extend their care to satellite settings or to triage patients, while protecting healthcare workers and other patients from potential exposure to coronavirus. It also allows healthcare providers to work remotely if they are quarantined but well enough to work.

"MedChi endorses the use of telehealth and secure messaging to help Maryland physicians assess and treat patients through virtual visits to reduce exposure to the coronavirus. We chose the Backline product in our CTO for continuity of care and to reduce the risk of exposure," said Ransom. "We urge the State of Maryland to help healthcare workers have access to this urgently needed service to all of the physician practices in the state." Ransom notes that Backline also supports the Maryland Primary Care Program (MDPCP) and CTOs by allowing clinicians to provide 24/7 access for patients and their care teams for urgent, emergency, and chronic care." MedChi and DrFirst currently collaborate in additional ways to help physician practices as they care for their patients. DrFirst's iPrescribe is the first mobile e-prescribing app to allow Maryland clinicians to access the state's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data to help control the opioid crisis, through a partnership with MedChi and CRISP, the state's Health Information Exchange that operates the PDMP. In addition, the State of Maryland recently awarded DrFirst a grant to equip paramedics in two counties with Backline EMS so they can have real-time access to patients' medication histories and a secure way to text hospitals with patient information. "Telehealth is proving itself as a critical defense against the COVID-19 pandemic," said G. Cameron Deemer, president of DrFirst. "We stand ready to work with MedChi, physician practices, and hospitals in Maryland to help protect patients and healthcare providers from exposure." View a Backline telehealth demo here. About MedChi MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, is a non-profit membership association of Maryland physicians. It is the largest physician organization in Maryland. The mission of MedChi is to serve as Maryland's foremost advocate and resource for physicians, their patients and the public health of Maryland. For more information, please visit www.medchi.org. About DrFirst Since 2000, DrFirst has pioneered healthcare technology solutions and consulting services that securely connect people at touchpoints of care to improve patient outcomes. We create unconventional solutions that solve care collaboration, medication management, price transparency and adherence challenges faced in healthcare. We unite the Healthiverse by providing our clients with real-time access to the information they need, exactly when and how they need it - so patients get the best care possible. DrFirst solutions are used by nearly 300,000 healthcare professionals, including more than 100,000 prescribers, and more than 1,400 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit DrFirst.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200402005879/en/

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GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- About half of the diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the county come from Flint residents, who make up just 25 percent of the countys population.

A geographic breakdown of 337 cases from the county Health Department shows 163 are from Flint residents, 37 are from Flint Township, 29 from Grand Blanc Township, and 21 from Burton, 15 from the city of Grand Blanc and 12 from Mt. Morris.

Saginaw and Bay counties have yet to release a community-by-community breakdown.

Genesee County Chief Health Officer John McKellar said this week that he had been resisting calls for the community breakdown because it doesnt really matter where those cases are ... we should all be taking precautions to shelter at home and limit potential contact with coronavirus.

McKellar was not immediately available to comment on the statistics, but Dr. Lawrence Reynolds, a pediatrician and former president and chief executive officer of Mott Childrens Health Center in Flint, said the disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases from Flint aligns with other health disparities for people living in the city.

The countys community statistical breakdown came on the same day the state of Michigan reported the race of those who have been infected and died from the virus with 35 percent of known cases and 40 percent of the deaths due to cornavirus occurring among black residents.

More than half of Flints population is black.

If America catches a cold, communities of color get pneumonia, Reynolds said Friday, April 3. Racial and ethnic disparities contribute to the impact of disease on a community ... Its all a part of the same (bigger) picture."

Flints disproportionate number people in poverty, and those working in low-wage jobs that have not allowed them to shelter at homes also contribute to the large number of cases, said Reynolds, who has acted as an advisor to Mayor Sheldon Neeley on the issue.

We are smaller than New York City, Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles but the factors that contribute to this (disparity) are similar, Reynolds said.

Genesee County overall saw its biggest single-day increase in coronavirus cases from Wednesday, April 1 to Thursday, April 2 with 100 new cases, placing the total figure at 349. Not all of those cases are reflected in the numbers from the county Health Department.

The average age of county residents who have died of the disease is 70 years old and the age range is 46 to 89 years old for the 10 cases that have resulted in death, according to Health Department statistics.

Eight of the 10 deaths in the county have been men, and men account for 53 percent of confirmed cases.

Neeley, who enacted a citywide curfew this week in response to reports of people gathering in the parking lots of convenience stores despite shelter-at-home orders, said Friday that hes doing everything in my power to safeguard lives.

I would ask all to be a part of the fight against this virus ..., he said. I am going to act (based on) how to safeguard the most vulnerable ... Poor people, African American people have been the most vulnerable.

The mayors curfew is in place between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. and will be in effect through the end of April. Those who dont abide by the curfew can be punished with a misdemeanor, which can result in 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Before that action, Neeley declared an emergency over COVID-19 in Flint and ordered water service restored to homes that had been cut off for nonpayment weeks ahead of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive order requiring it.

I have had to be more pro-active and more aggressive with actions than other communities might, the mayor said. People are going stir crazy but we are far from (the end) of this crisis.

Biggest single-day jump in Genesee County coronavirus cases; Lapeer doubles

Genesee County plans to disclose general locations of COVID-19 deaths

Flint mayor announces city-wide curfew effective Thursday
The World Bank has welcomed the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the law to launch a land market in the country. However, it calls for the adoption of a number of additional legislative acts.

The World Bank welcomes the approval of the Land Turnover Law by the Ukrainian Parliament as a first step towards establishing a transparent and efficient market for agricultural land. To safeguard the interests of the Ukrainian people by making sure that land sales are done transparently, we urge the authorities to move quickly on additional legislation," World Bank Ukraine wrote on its Facebook page.

This includes legislation to provide open access to the cadaster data, strengthen land management, streamline land transfer procedures, regulate state land sales including mandatory electronic auctions, restrict discretionary handouts of state land, and enhance access to finance for small farmers.

It will also be important to bring forward participation of legal entities in the market to encourage healthy competition and to relax restrictions on the size of land purchases.

These reforms would help unlock investment in agriculture, enable access to finance for farmers, and allow Ukrainian landowners to realize the value of their asset," the report says.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine early on March 31 adopted the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Some Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Circulation of Agricultural Land". A total of 259 MPs voted for the adoption of the corresponding bill, No.2178-10.

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Criminals are continuing to use coronavirus as a weapon against police as they spit, cough or sneeze on officers during lockdown.

Four thugs have so far been jailed for separate assaults on police officers in Kent and Dorset.

It comes as the latest figures reported 38,168 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK with the death toll currently at 3,605.

Oliver Cook, 35, was caught on camera threatening officers with coronavirus in shocking body-cam footage in Whitstable, Kent

Officers from Kent Police had been searching Cook when he spat at a police officer and attempted to struggle free. He then laughed before declaring: 'I have coronavirus'

Oliver Cook, 35, was caught on camera threatening officers with coronavirus in shocking body-cam footage.

Cook had been arrested outside a supermarket in Whitstable, Kent, after trying to steal meat.

Officers from Kent Police had been searching Cook when he spat at a police officer and attempted to struggle free.

He then laughed before declaring: 'I have coronavirus.'

Cook was later charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, theft and criminal damage in the incident on Sunday evening

Cook continued to resist and repeatedly screamed: 'I have corona, get away from me'

The footage shows how Cook then repeatedly continued with his phrase 'I have corona, get away from me' while being pinned to the pavement in full view of the public.

Still showing resistance, Cook was seen writhing around on the floor in an attempt to make the police officers' jobs as difficult as possible, while a bystander - appearing to be a friend of Cook - pleaded with him: 'Don't spit, please don't say that and don't kick off.'

He was later charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, theft and criminal damage in the incident on Sunday evening.

Cook, of no fixed address, admitted the charges at Medway Magistrates' Court in Chatham, Kent on Tuesday and was jailed for a total of 120 days.

Supermarket staff called police after Cook became abusive when challenged over shoplifting and damaging a shop display.

After spitting at one of the officers who searched him, Cook kicked another as he was put into a police van.

Another man in the shot, who appeared to be a friend of Cook, was urging him to calm down

As the thief continued with the 'I have corona' screams, the other man urged 'please don't say that' while police officers continued to battle to keep him restrained

Kent Police District Commander for Canterbury and Dover, Chief Inspector Elena Hall, said: 'All emergency services and our whole community, which includes our officers and staff, are working extremely hard in challenging circumstances.

'We will not tolerate attacks of this kind. We will seek the prosecution of anyone who spits at or otherwise assaults any of our team, making sure the court know it is aggravated by any claims to have the coronavirus infection.

Martin Turner, 50, was one another who threatened police officers with the deadly pathogen after disregarding the two-metre social distancing measures while at a Boots store in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Police were called to the scene where they arrested Turner for being drunk and disorderly in public and failing to comply with directions under the coronavirus legislation.

In Bournemouth 50-year-old Martin Turner has been jailed after purposely sneezing on police officers and saying: 'have some of the coronavirus'

But as he was being cautioned he coughed at officers and sneezed in their direction.

Turner was not a confirmed case of coronavirus nor was he displaying symptoms.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, breaching COVID-19 legislation and being drunk and disorderly in a public place at Poole Magistrates' Court.

He has since been jailed for 24 weeks.

Two other yobs who spat at officers during the lockdown have also been jailed.

Scott Sanders, 36, was arrested over a disturbance at an address in Bournemouth before spitting at a custody sergeant when he was detained at a local police station.

Sanders, who was also in breach of a previous suspended prison sentence, admitted to assaulting an emergency worker and was jailed for six months.

Adam Power, 37, was arrested for stealing a bottle of wine from a Co-op store in Bournemouth.

He also attempted to spit at a police officer and kick them in the ankle while in a holding cell.

He admitted charges of assaulting an emergency worker, theft and criminal damage and was jailed for five months.

Dorset Chief Constable James Vaughan said: 'Our officers and staff demonstrate their commitment, courage and dedication to serving our communities on a daily basis and this is particularly the case during the current situation we are facing.

'They have signed up to protect and help the public, not to coming into work each day with the risk of being assaulted.

'Spitting is always a despicable offence but it is particularly abhorrent during the public health emergency we are all facing.

'We will not tolerate assaults on our officers or our emergency services colleagues.

'Offenders will be dealt with robustly and these cases demonstrate that we will bring criminal proceedings against those responsible.'
CHANDIGARH: With eight new cases, the number of Covid-19 patients has gone up to 43 in Haryana on Friday.

According to a bulletin of the state health department, Gurugram district, which had 10 cases on Thursday, accounted for the five new cases. Two of the five are from Maharashtra and had visited the Tablighi Jamaat gathering at Nizamuddin in Delhi, while one is from Uttar Pradesh.

Three men from Kerala who attended the Tablighi event and were quarantined in Nuh have also tested positive.

Faridabad has six positive cases, Panipat and Palwal four each, Sirsa and Ambala three each, Panchkula two and Hisar, Sonepat and Rohtak, one each.

The bulletin said that 13 coronavirus patients have been treated and discharged so far, taking the number of active patients in the state to 30.
Geneva: The World Health Organization said Wednesday it was deeply concerned about the near-exponential escalation of the new coronavirus pandemic, with the number of deaths doubling in a week.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged citizens around the globe to stand together to fight COVID-19, as he braced for the millionth confirmed case.

"As we enter the fourth month since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am deeply concerned about the rapid escalation and global spread of infection," he told a virtual news conference.

"Over the past five weeks, we have witnessed a near exponential growth in the number of new cases, reaching almost every country."

"The number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week. In the next few days we will reach one million confirmed cases and 50,000 deaths."

Since emerging in China in December, COVID-19 has spread across the globe, claiming more than 43,000 lives, and infecting more than 860,000 people, according to an AFP tally of officially confirmed cases.

The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 30,000 people in Europe alone. Italy and Spain account for three in every four deaths on the continent.

However, the virus is expected to gain a greater foothold in parts of the world that have not, so far, seen such large numbers of cases and deaths.

"While relatively lower numbers of confirmed cases have been reported from Africa, and from Central and South America, we realise that COVID-19 could have serious social, economic and political consequences for these regions," Tedros warned.

"It is critical that we ensure these countries are well equipped to detect, test, isolate and treat COVID-19 cases, and identify contacts."

He urged governments to implement social welfare measures to ensure that vulnerable people have access to food during the crisis -- and called for debt relief for poorer states.

"Many developing countries will struggle to implement social welfare programs of this nature. For those countries, debt relief is essential to enable them to take care of their people and avoid economic collapse," said Tedros.

He said there were many "unknowns" about how COVID-19 will behave, as it is the "first-ever coronavirus pandemic in the world".

A safe vaccine is thought to be 12 to 18 months away, while WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan stressed: "There is no therapy that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19."

As regards the use of face masks, the WHO recommends that those people who are infected and health workers who care for them should use medical masks.
As state governors and city leaders issue shelter-in-place orders, some government employees find they still must go into the office to do their jobs. That doesnt have to be the case, though.

With some quick planning, Los Angeless Information Technology Agencys CIO Ted Ross and his team set up a platform to accommodate teleworking for many of the city governments 50,000 employees. Their effort includes Connect2LACity.org, a work-from-home resources platform that shows city workers how to access their Google mail and calendar, connect to their work computer and where to turn for help.

GCN spoke with Ross to find out how his team did it. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

GCN: Whats the situation in LA?

Ross: On March 13, we had 12 people working on Connect2LACity. We were given shelter-at-home orders on March 18 and formal orders came down for city employees to start telecommuting wherever possible. On March 20, we had 2,159 people on the platform, and by April 1, weve got 11,600 people processed. To use yesterday [March 31] for an example, we had almost 5,000 people working at the same time at one point during the day.

This is full capability. This is the ability to effectively access all of the same shared drives, apps and tools that they access at work. The intent is to make sure that theyre an effective workforce from home.

How were you able to ramp up so much and so quickly?

It started off first with brainstorming meetings. We sat down infrastructure, application, management and other staff and said, Listen, if we need to support the telecommuting of over 15,000 employees, how would we do it?

We started off with proofs-of-concept. We demonstrated to everybody what we thought it would look like and how it would work. We had to do levels of testing to ensure that we could scale, because, like I said, were here to support 15,000 to 20,000 telecommuters. Then we had to work through the process: How would all this work? How would we communicate this? What kinds of tools and what kinds of resources do we have?

How is bandwidth holding up?

There is the bandwidth that we need to be able to traverse the city network, and weve been doing fine with that. We monitor it proactively. Then theres also bandwidth to the homes of the employees, and sometimes that can have issues.

Last week we actually had a couple of days in which a major home internet provider was saying that they were having issues with some of their bandwidth, and it was affecting some of our employees. Its interesting to see that with mass telecommuting, its not just infrastructure that you support, its infrastructure that others support.

Are people using their own equipment?

Yes, they are. We knew it would be impossible to order enough laptops to hand out to people, and one thing weve learned about telecommuting is its not about the hardware. Its really about the software and security. It was about taking advantage of those capabilities that people already had at home. So, yes, we are leveraging peoples home internet, we are leveraging peoples home computers, we are using the kinds of tools that have minimal impact on their desktops or laptops.

How are you managing security?

We made sure to establish a platform that had security through and through. Everything from multifactor authentication to ensure that its truly you whos logging in, all the way down to encryption at rest and in transit when it comes to your connecting with the city of LA and with our applications. We actually are proactively monitoring to make sure that departments are not using insecure methods.

Did you have continuity of operations plans in place that you built on?

We had plans. I dont think we had tools. Coronavirus is a terrible thing, but it is testing our ability to use technology remotely  our ability to run call centers, our ability to run council and commission meetings, our ability to process business licenses and permits. Now were forced to modernize our technology and modernize our processes. As the saying goes, necessity of the mother of invention, and we need to run a city with as many telecommuters as possible to prevent the spread of the virus. Its allowing us to invent and build the solutions that, honestly, we probably should have always had.

Many lessons will come from this. What do you think some might be?

I think its clearly shown us how much you can accomplish through telework. I would venture to say that as a city and as an organization, we would more seriously consider telecommuting and teleworking as a part of our lifestyle.

I think another takeaway is a reminder as to how important it is to build virtual tools and capabilities that allow you to separate where you are from what you can do, because thats really very old-fashioned, isnt it? That you have to be physically in a place to access some of your work tools? Making some of our work tools secure and accessible anytime, anywhere, I think is a really important lesson for how modern government needs to operate.
PACE rapporteur called on Spain and Turkey to release politicians under amnesty in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

Boriss Cilevics, PACE rapporteur on Should politicians be prosecuted for statements made in the exercise of their mandates? has called on Spain and Turkey to include imprisoned politicians in early releases prompted by the threat posed by the Coronavirus in overcrowded prisons.

I welcome the measures taken in many countries to release from prison non-violent prisoners who do not pose a threat to society or to apply non-custodial sanctions to them. This is the right thing to do in the face of the threat posed by the spread of the Coronavirus in prisons, he said.

Prisoners with political backgrounds, such as the Catalan politicians convicted for their role in the unconstitutional referendum in October 2017, or the Turkish parliamentarians, mayors and other politicians imprisoned for speeches made in the exercise of their mandate, should certainly benefit from such measures, added Mr Cilevics. Having personally met the Catalan colleagues during my fact-finding visit to Spain last February, I am fully convinced that these women and men pose no threat to anyone. The very fact of their detention causes concern, but the COVID-19 crisis should definitely prompt their release. The same is true for the imprisoned Turkish opposition politicians, journalists and civil society actors.

On March 31, the Turkish government submitted a draft parole bill to Parliament aimed at reducing the number of prisoners in overcrowded prisons in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. A bill that excluded political prisoners convicted on the basis of the country's conflicting anti-terrorism laws. UN and EU call on Turkey to non-discriminately reduce the prison population.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 07:32:51|Editor: huaxia

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Yuan Weifang (R), an experienced ICU nurse from Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital, tends a patient at Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 1, 2020. Yuan was one of the first medical workers who applied to aid the virus-hit Wuhan City upon the outbreak of COVID-19, although he was suffering from appendicitis and needed a surgery at that time. Finally, he was approved to leave for Wuhan after the second application as a member of the eighth batch of medical team from Shanghai to Hubei. Dispatched to the Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan, Yuan had to battle the previously unknown virus head-on and spare no effort to instruct about 100 unexperienced ICU nurses as one of the team leaders in ICU wards at the hospital. Meanwhile, the busy work left Yuan no time to have a surgery, so he persisted with duty by taking antibiotics injections against the appendicitis. "Each discharge of the Covid-19 patient from the hospital will ease our working pressure and make us happy, because the fight against the virus is our duty and responsibility as a medic," remarked Yuan. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K



Palaniswami on Friday warned of tightening the prohibitory orders in place in the state to implement the lockdown to battle coronavirus, saying people were yet to realise the seriousness of the contagion.

Tamil Nadu has so far reported 309 positive COVID19 cases, the second highest in the country after Maharashtra.

He also announced an assistance of Rs 3,000 for accredited journalists while acknowledging their role in the dissemination of information on COVID19.

Noting that section 144 of Cr.Pc., which bars assembly of more than five persons, was only being enforced to protect the public from the virus, the chief minister said many were 'casual' about it.

The reason for clamping prohibitory orders was to ensure maintaining social distancing as COVID19 was "a dangeours contagion," he told reporters here.

Though people are aware that it has affected some countries very badly, they were still not realising the gravity of the situation and many "are casually roaming around in two wheelers and cars," Palaniswami said.

"What the government requests is, realise the impact of the disease. Doctors say there is no medicine available for the virus. It has rattled the world and people should fully cooperate with the government in preventing its spread," he said.

Despite adequate media awareness, some were not heeding this, he said, adding the Union Home Ministry has asked that "severe action" be taken against violators.

"We were patient. All should follow it. Clamping of Section 144 Cr.Pc. is not to harass people. It is for the safety of all...people should give complete cooperation to the government," he said.

He advised people not to step out daily to buy essentials but purchase a week's stocks once when they are out.

"Some don't pay heed to the repeated requests. Henceforth law has to do its duty. The governmenmt is giving best cooperation to public. If people fail to utilise it properly, then the government has no other way other than to tighten the restrictions," the CM said.

The state police has booked over 45,000 cases relating to violations and arrested around 50,000 and let them off on bail.

The prohibitory orders won't be binding on transportation of essential commodities, although there was some difficulty in movement of certain grocery items from other states due to curbs there, besides dip in number of trucks being operated, he added.

However, the matter was being addressed.

To a query, he said there would be no pay cuts for the state government employees despite dwindling GST revenues due to the closure of many industries and firms due to the ongoing national lockdown.

Lauding the media for helping the government in its fight against the spread of coronavirus, Palaniswami announced an assistance of Rs 3,000 to accredited journalists to meet their incidental expenses.

The chief minister, who visited camps where migrant labourers are accommodated, assured all assistance to such persons in the state.

Around 1.34 lakh labourers from various other states were employed in factories, hotels and farms in Tamil Nadu, he said.

Similarly, the welfare of Tamil Nadu labourers in other states was also being ensured following the state taking up the matter with them, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Forty-nine persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana have been discharged from health facilities for home care management.

Giving a breakdown of the numbers, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Aboagye, said at a press briefing in Accra on Friday that 20 out of the 49 were awaiting retest.



He said in the Greater Accra Region, 58 patients were on admission at the Ga East Municipal Hospital and out of which 38 had been discharged for home care.



He added that the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) has four cases on admission, while the 37 Military Hospital has one case on admission and 6 cases being managed at home.



Dr Aboagye further said Kumasi has one case being managed at home and another one on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.



Obuasi, he said, was manging two cases at home, while one case was also being managed at home in Wa.



He said the 10 cases in Tamale were in a stable condition while the reported case in the Eastern Region was being managed at the Atuah Government Hospital.



Dr Aboagye also noted that a total of 6,000 people who came into contact with coronavirus patients in Accra and Kumasi have been traced and their samples taken for testing.



The contacts, he said, were traced by a team of about 300 people who have been trained to undertake the exercise in the affected areas.



As of Thursday, April 2, Ghana had confirmed 204 cases of the Coronavirus disease with five deaths.

Source: Daily Graphic









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Vitamin D can help to fight off the coronavirus, according to a new study.

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin say it plays a crucial role in preventing respiratory infections, such as Covid-19.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin by exposing the body to 10 or 15 minutes of sun a day.

However, one in eight Irish adults under the age of 50 is deficient in it.

This deficiency can be treated by supplements and eating certain foods.

Vitamin D is readily found in foods like eggs, liver and oily fish  such as salmon or mackerel  as well as fortified foods such as cereals and dairy products.

The research was carried out by the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin.

Speaking about the study, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Principal Investigator of TILDA, said:We have evidence to support a role for Vitamin D in the prevention of chest infections, particularly in older adults who have low levels. In one study Vitamin D reduced the risk of chest infections to half in people who took supplements.

"Though we do not know specifically of the role of Vitamin D in COVID infections, given its wider implications for improving immune responses and clear evidence for bone and muscle health, those cocooning and other at-risk cohorts should ensure they have an adequate intake of Vitamin D.

In Ireland, Vitamin D can only be made by the body between late March and late September. It can not be made in winter, and the amount produced by the body depends on how much sun is available and other factors.

Even in summer, getting a sufficient amount of Vitamin D can pose a challenge due to cloud cover, rainy weather and a lack of sunshine.
Alexandria, VA, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) announced today that Direct Relief, a longtime partner of the NAFC, will be distributing a $1 million grant program to the NAFC to support Free and Charitable Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies during this COVID-19 pandemic.

2 million people receive access to health care through Americas 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies each year. These organizations operate with little to no government funding and instead rely on the support of donors, partners and 207,000 volunteers, including 106,000 medical volunteers.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Free and Charitable Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies are having to adjust their service models to deal with limiting disease exposure and stay at home orders, while making sure that their patients have access to the care they need. Many clinics have started utilizing telehealth to limit in person visits while maintaining connection with their patients. Some clinics have increased their medication assistance programs and have created a drive through at their facility to ensure patients are able to get their needed prescriptions. And while clinics are working hard to continue their services, they are also dealing with having to cancel fundraisers, seeing lower donations and a potential influx of patients as people across the nation continue to lose their employment.

Our Free and Charitable Clinics and Pharmacies are on the frontlines of this pandemic, said Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC President and CEO. If our clinics arent there, people have no other option than to go to the emergency room, the one place that should be avoided. Our members are grassroots medicine at its finest, working hard daily with dwindling resources and no federal government financial support to keep 2 million people out of the emergency departments so hospitals can care for their patients. The support we receive from our partner Direct Relief shows what a thought leader the organization is, recognizing the need for our clinics to continue their important work.

In this time of crisis, it is more important than ever that the countrys free clinics can continue helping the least fortunate people stay healthy and out of the hospital, said Damon Taugher, Vice President of Global Programs at Direct Relief. Free clinics are critical providers of care for the most medically vulnerable in communities across the country.

The funding from Direct Relief will provide much needed support for NAFC members as they navigate through this pandemic. NAFC member organizations will be able to apply for funding to cover costs related to implementing telehealth, medication access, and general operational support, which can include COVID-19 related costs such as testing and personal protective equipment (PPE).

###

About the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics and Pharmacies that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care and strives to be a national voice promoting quality health care for all. For more information about the NAFC, please visit www.nafcclinics.org. Follow the NAFC on Twitter at @NAFClinics and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NAFCClinics.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Codebase Ventures Inc. ("Codebase" or the "Company") (CSE:CODE)(FSE:C5B)(OTCQB:BKLLF), an investment company, provides updates on progress with its holdings World High Life PLC and Arcology, the current status of Pressland and the Company's future looking investment focus.

World High Life PLC is an investment company with a strategic focus to invest in or acquire companies operating in the CBD wellness and medicinal cannabis industry. It's fully owned subsidiary, Love Hemp, is a leading CBD supplier in the UK. Love Hemp has deployed the capital investments made in the company to expand its product line and broaden its sales and distribution, resulting in record monthly sales through the combination of its retail presence and its ecommerce site.

Arcology, a cluster-computing powered AI blockchain ecosystem with unlimited scalability, is advancing its presence amongst dAPP developers by launching a project on GitHub.com, the world's largest source code sharing platform. "With this intelligent client-end simulator, which we call Ammolite, the goal is to demonstrate Arcology's scalability, ease of use and compatibility within the developer community - a community that will be crucial in the adoption and use of Arcology into the future," said Arcology Founder and Chief Scientist Laurent Zhang.

The Ammolite simulator works closely with ParallelKitties - which is a supercharged version of CryptoKitties - deployed on the Arcology network, demonstrating the ease of developing super high-performance applications on Arcology. Ammolite simulates hundreds of thousands of dAPPs users on the network simultaneously.

In the current business climate, the Company's Pressland investment is being put on hold to deploy resources in the most effective manner where shareholder returns in the near term are prioritized. Leadership and the Board of Directors will re-evaluate prospects for the business model as the current health and economic crisis unfolds over the coming months.

Leveraging its extensive network in the medical science sector, the Company' leadership, board and advisors are actively pursuing pharmaceutical investment opportunities that can have a positive impact on the current global health care crisis as a result of COVID -19.

About Codebase Ventures Inc.

Codebase Ventures Inc. is an investment company, led by technology and business experts who invest early in great ideas in sectors that have significant upside, including the cannabis sector. We operate from the understanding that technology is always evolving, bringing early opportunities for strategic investments that can deliver the exponential returns to our shareholders. We seek out and empower the innovators who are building tomorrow's standards with platforms, protocols and innovations - not just products. We invest early, support those founders, take their ideas to market and work tirelessly to help them realize their vision.

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.

For further information, please contact:

George Tsafalas or Ivy Lu

Investor Relations

Telephone: 1 (778) 806-5150

E-mail: IR@codebase.ventures

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 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. 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.

SOURCE: Codebase Ventures Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583723/Codebase-Provides-Update-on-Its-Holdings-and-Near-Term-Investment-Priorities
BioSure's chief executive revealed the firm was 'ready to go' but had been snubbed

Britain's testing fiasco deepened today after an Essex-based maker of antibody fingerprick kits claimed Public Health England bosses won't even 'look' at them because they are DIY.

BioSure's chief executive revealed the firm - which already makes HIV tests - was 'ready to go' but had been snubbed by health officials who are allegedly not looking at self-testing kits.

In hope of getting the Government-run body to change its mind and put its test through its paces, Brigette Bard called for Britons to share the message because the kit 'needs to be in the UK'.

Other manufacturers known to have sent their tests to PHE for trials today admitted there was still no clarity on whether they were going to be used.

Some kits Number 10 are known to be looking at in their promise to start rolling out antibody tests in mid-April claim to be up to 98 per cent accurate.

Antibody tests are the only ones that can tell if someone has ever caught the deadly infection, which has struck 1million people worldwide and killed more than 50,000.

Experts say screening to see if people have already fought off COVID-19 will be the biggest breakthrough in getting the country back on its feet and ending the Prime Minister's draconian lockdown.

Ministers have already promised 17.5million of the blood tests, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock claiming they would be ready by mid-April.

But in another blow to the plan, it was claimed today that none of the antibody tests officials have already evaluated work.

PHE is understood to be looking at 150 kits - but it is unclear how many have already been checked. It is also unknown how accurate they have to be to get approved.

Last night in a Downing Street press conference Mr Hancock warned approving tests that don't thoroughly work is dangerous, adding: 'I will not do it.'

He claimed the Government was working with nine companies who make the blood tests - but revealed one unnamed kit was wrong 75 per cent of the time.

As Britain scrambled to find an accurate test, US regulators last night approved the first antibody test in hope of jump-starting the economy.

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

WHAT IS AN ANTIBODY TEST, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TO AN ANTIGEN OR PCR 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. PCR 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. They can also be done using swabs. Advertisement

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of the kit by Cellex on an emergency basis, saying it is 'reasonable' to believe the kit works.

In a letter to North Carolina-based firm, the FDA wrote: 'The known and potential benefits of your product when used for diagnosing COVID-19, outweigh the known and potential risks of your product.'

China, where the pandemic began in December, approved eight antibody tests in its fight against the virus - including one that Britain bought a fortnight ago and is expected to arrive this week.

Antibody kits have also been approved in Singapore and Australia.

When someone gets infected with a virus their immune system must work out how to fight it off and produce substances called antibodies.

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.

Germany is also planning on starting a mass antibody testing regime in the next fortnight as part of a major trial to get millions of workers out of lockdown.

The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig is overseeing the project. It is unclear which antibody tests they will use.

As part of the project, German scientists have announced they will roll out 'immunity certificates' to try and ease the country of its lockdown.

Britons who have already have fought off the coronavirus could also be given immunity certificates or wristbands, ministers last night confirmed.

One district in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany is already offering antibody tests, with doctors taking blood from patients.

It is unclear who makes the kits but Krone Laboratory is analysing the samples. Local media reports claims the firm can analyse 2,000 results each day.

In a plea on Twitter, Ms Bard said: 'We are ready to go with the validation of this test at PHE. But they won't look at it because it's a self-test.

'We need some help guys, please work with us. This test needs to be in the UK market.'

MailOnline has asked the Department for Health for comment because Public Health England says it is not responsible for approving the tests.

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 - known as home-sampling.

PHE's medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle said samples would need to be sent to a laboratory and analysed by specialists - a process that could take days.

Professor Doyle also spoke earlier this week about tests that would be point-of-care, meaning they could be done 'in the home'. It now raises the question over whether the home-testing will be carried out by a health professional who goes door-to-door.

Mr Hancock said on March 24 that Britain had already purchased 3.5million antibody tests - but the deal was only ever in principle. PHE has also said the tests would be available for home delivery on Amazon or in Boots.

Oxford Biosystems and Regenerus Laboratories in Surrey are also known to make antibody tests

It comes as BBC Radio 4 Today's science correspondent Tom Feilden this morning described antibody kits as a 'get out of jail card'.

He said they could be thought of as the 'golden ticket' to allow thousands of Britons who have had COVID-19 to go back to normal life.

But Mr Feilden added: 'As I understand it, none of the antibody tests the Government has been looking at so far... have worked.'

He added that health chiefs have been 'working their way through about 150' - but did not reveal how many have already been evaluated.

MailOnline has repeatedly asked officials to name which companies are in talks with the Government but has never been offered clarity.

One of these firms is thought to be Derby-based SureScreen, which has shipped its tests to be used in Germany and Spain, among other nations.

The company sent hundreds of the tests - which trials have shown are 97 per cent accurate - to a PHE laboratory in Oxfordshire almost two weeks ago.

Another of the firms was believed to be BioSure, an Essex-based manufacturer which has been asked to get ready to ramp up production.

Despite repeated requests from MailOnline, the Department of Health has refused to confirm which businesses are in the running. One of these firms includes Derby-based SureScreen, which has shipped its tests to be used in Germany and Spain, among other nations

The other million, which are reportedly being held-up, are being made by AllTest, a diagnostics firm based in Hangzhou

Half of the rapid fingerprick kits are being made by Guangzhou-based firm Wondfo and will arrive in Britain by the end of the week

Belfast-based Biopanda Reagents posted an alert on its website to say the ban on all international orders was 'effective immediately'

But the company's chief executive warned it could take six weeks before it had any tests to sell to the Government because of the approval hold-up.

MailOnline earlier this week revealed Belfast-based manufacturer Biopanda Reagents had opted to restrict sales to just UK healthcare providers.

Mologic - a Bedfordshire-based business awarded 1million by Number 10 to make antibody tests - this week began the evaluation of its kits.

Its kits are being evaluated at labs at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and St Georges, University of London. It is unclear if PHE is testing them yet.

But the company, whose laboratory was visited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month, estimates it will be up to five months before Brits can use them.

Belfast-based manufacturer Biopanda Reagents has already announced it has opted to restrict sales of its antibody kits to just UK healthcare providers.

MailOnline has also asked the firm whether it is in the running to provide antibody tests in Britain but has yet to hear back.

Oxford Biosystems and Regenerus Laboratories in Surrey are also known to make antibody tests. It is unclear if their kits are being evaluated by PHE.

Earlier this week it was revealed officials had already bought 2million antibody tests from two Chinese manufacturers - Wondfo and AllTest.

It was alleged PHE had not assessed whether the tests are suitable, despite having had a fortnight to do so for reasons that are extremely unclear, ITV reported.

Countries have already had to send back defective coronavirus medical kits bought from China during the pandemic.

Spain returned tens of thousands of testing kits, while the Netherlands recalled half a million defective face masks it brought from Beijing.

The UK is able to conduct antibody tests at its specialist military laboratory at Porton Down in Wiltshire.

Around 3,500 of those tests are currently being carried out as part of a sampling effort to establish how many people have had coronavirus.

But that test is laboratory-based and apparently cannot be scaled up or put into a form which could reach out to people's homes.

As Britain scrambled to find an accurate test, US regulators last night approved the first antibody test - made by Cellex - in hope of jump-starting the economy

Britain could roll out coronavirus 'immunity wristbands' for people who have already fought off the deadly infection under antibody testing scheme

Britons who have already have fought off the coronavirus could be given 'immunity wristbands', ministers last night confirmed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted Number 10 was looking at the move at a Downing Street press conference tonight.

He told last nights Question Time on BBC1: When the science is good enough, we are looking at introducing something like an immunity certificate or a wristband that says Ive had it and Im immune and I cant pass it on and Im highly unlikely to catch it.'

German scientists have already announced they will roll out the certificates, to try and ease the country out of its draconian lockdown.

Discussing the prospect of introducing certificates, Mr Hancock said the evidence about the truth on immunity is not yet clear enough.

Fears have been raised that people can be struck down twice after reports in China and Japan of patients being reinfected.

Other scientists believe the evidence for immunity is convincing and even claim that it could be life-long.

Antibody tests are the only ones that can tell if someone has ever caught the deadly infection, which has struck almost 1million people worldwide.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted Number 10 was looking at the controversial move at a Downing Street press conference tonight

GERMANY TO ISSUE IMMUNITY CERTIFICATES AS PART OF PREPARATIONS TO CEASE LOCKDOWN 'Immunity certificates' are set to be introduced in Germany as part of preparations for the country to cease its lockdown. MailOnline reported earlier this week that researchers want to bring in the documents for citizens not at risk of contracting the novel coronavirus. As part of Germany's fight against the virus, scientists are using antibodies in test participants to find out which of them have had the illness and healed. The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig, 41miles (66km) east of Hanover, is overseeing the project, Der Spiegel reports. The academic team plans to test 100,000 people at a time, issuing documentation 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 has repeatedly been praised for its rigorous testing regime, which has seen 100,000 people get swabbed every day across the nation. Advertisement

When someone gets infected with a virus their immune system must work out how to fight it off - it does so by producing substances called antibodies.

Patients who catch COVID-19 develop and store COVID-19 antibodies for their body to use to battle the life-threatening virus in future.

But Number 10 has yet to approve any antibody tests in the UK, despite promises the DIY kits would be ready for use by mid-April.

In the press conference tonight, Mr Hancock revealed nine firms were in the running to produce the 17.5million blood tests it had ordered.

Experts say screening for if people have already fought off COVID-19 - antibody testing - will be the biggest breakthrough in getting the country back on its feet.

In a stark warning, Mr Hancock said the evaluation of the kits - which rely on just a finger-prick of blood and can give results in ten minutes - was still ongoing.

He said some kits had failed, adding: 'In one case, a test that I am being urged to buy missed three out of four positive cases of coronavirus.

'That means in three-quarters of cases that test would have given the false comfort of sending someone with coronavirus back on the wards.'

In a comment suggesting officials still need to evaluate the kits further, he added: 'Approving tests that don't work is dangerous and I will not do it.'

Mr Hancock first promised antibody tests last week. MailOnline understands the process of validating kits should only take a matter of days.

Discussing the potential of immunity certificates, he added: [It] is an important thing that we will be doing and are looking at.

'But its too early in the science of the immunity that comes from having had the disease. Its too early in that science to be able to put clarity around that.

'I wish that we could but the reason that we cant is because the science isnt yet advanced enough.'

Mass antibody testing could allow the UK to slowly ease its draconian lockdown, which senior officials have warned could last for months.

The regime would paint a clear picture on who has already caught the killer infection and is immune to being struck down again.

SCIENTISTS WHO OFFERED HELP TO UK TESTING EFFORT SAY THEY NEVER HEARD BACK FROM OFFICIALS Scientists who offered their help to the British Government's coronavirus swab testing effort say they never heard back from officials. Universities, private laboratories and research institutes could have been processing thousands of coronavirus tests for weeks, they say, if they had been enlisted. A COVID-19 testing row erupted this week after Germany scaled up its testing capability to 93,000 per day while the UK was still managing fewer than 10,000. Public Health England, a government body separate from the Department of Health, is facing the burden of blame for insisting on developing its own tests and analysing results in its own eight laboratories along with around 40 NHS sites. Academics and private sector scientists, however, say they have the machines capable of interpreting swab tests if they were given the right information. There are believed to be thousands of the machines - PCR machines - ready and waiting in laboratories around the country and many owners are willing to help test NHS staff to help them keep working. Some have already taken matters into their own hands and begun testing medical workers in their local areas. The scientists are capable of doing PCR tests, which look for evidence of the coronavirus inside people's DNA and are different to antigen tests, which also test for current infection but do so by trying to trigger a reaction from viruses in a sample. Advertisement

It would allow frontline NHS staff who are stuck at home - estimates suggest around a quarter of doctors are in lockdown - to get back to work.

But leading scientists warn the truth on immunity is still murky, with laboratory tests on monkeys proving they could not be reinfected.

Other experts have claimed similar coronaviruses also induce immunity for around three months - the UK is braced for a second wave of cases this winter.

And they warn that because the virus had never been seen before until the pandemic began in Wuhan in December more trials are urgently needed.

It comes after one health chiefs in one Chinese region revealed in February that around 14 per cent of coronavirus patients tested positive a second time.

Some researchers believe this is down to unreliable tests and are optimistic that people can become immune to the virus, called SARS-CoV-2.

MailOnline reported earlier this week that researchers in Germany want to bring in the documents for citizens not at risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

As part of Germany's fight against the virus, scientists are using antibodies in test participants to find out which of them have had the illness and healed.

The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig, 41miles (66km) east of Hanover, is overseeing the project, Der Spiegel reports.

The academic team plans to test 100,000 people at a time, issuing documentation 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 has repeatedly been praised for its rigorous testing regime, which has seen 100,000 people get swabbed every day across the nation.

Swab tests are different to antibody tests and can tell if someone is currently infected.

British health chiefs have said they could give out coronavirus 'immunity' certificates like Germany to allow millions of Britons out of isolation.

Otherwise, there is no official way of keeping track of who has already battled the virus and has developed some form of immunity.
Authorities in Maryland on Friday are searching for Robert F. Kennedys granddaughter Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and her son who were reported missing after their canoe didnt return to shore in the Chesapeake Bay.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan identified the missing people Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, and McKeans 8-year-old son, Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean. Kennedy Townsend is the daughter of former the Lt. Gov. of Maryland Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who is the oldest daughter of Robert Kennedy.

The search started Thursday afternoon after the state Natural Resources Police responded to a report of two people on a canoe in the Chesapeake Bay who appeared to be overtaken by strong winds.

A statement from the agency, which didnt name the missing people, said at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, it received a call from a concerned citizen. The caller stated he saw two people in a small canoe or kayak drifting in the bay, police said.

A water rescue team was dispatched to the area and firefighters arrived at the pier and confirmed the sighting of two people in a small vessel several miles from the pier drifting south in the Chesapeake Bay. Boats and helicopters began a search of the Chesapeake Bay, police said.

At 7 p.m., authorities said, a kayak and a paddle were recovered east of Rockhold Creek in Deale, Maryland by U.S. Coast Guard and the Fireboat from the City of Annapolis Fire Department.

The search was called off at 7:30 p.m. due to darkness.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said news of this tragedy hit me and my family hard this morning.

We are holding Kathleen and her family in the light, and holding our own loved ones a little closer as we reflect on their pain and their loss, he said in a statement.

The Maryland State Police, U.S. Coast Guard, and local police and fire departments joined in the search, which was ongoing as of Friday afternoon.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this story.
New Delhi, April 3 : Disney on Friday launched its streaming service Disney Plus (Disney+) in India via Hotstar, a popular on-demand video platform, at a starting price of Rs 399 a year.

The subscribers of the revamped streaming service, now called Disney+ Hotstar, will get access to Disney Originals in English as well as several local languages, live sporting events, dozens of TV channels and more, reports TechCrunch.

People can explore the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, they can watch the best of superheroes movies like "The Avengers", "Iron Man", "Thor Ragnarok" or latest movies including "The Lion King", "Frozen II", "Aladdin" and "Toy Story 4". Families can spend quality time together with characters like Mickey Mouse, Gajju Bhai, Doraemon and Shin-chan.

Starting today, people can pick from three distinct offerings -- Disney+ Hotstar VIP, Disney+ Hotstar Premium and an ad-supported basic tier.

The subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar Premium will receive all the benefits of Disney+ Hotstar VIP and 29 Disney+ Originals, including "The Mandalorian" from Jon Favreau; "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series", live-action version of "Lady and the Tramp" as well as the latest American shows from studios like HBO, Fox, Showtime. It will come at the price of Rs 1499 for a year.

There will be language-based subscription meaning that Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscribers can enjoy content in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

All existing subscribers will be automatically upgraded to their respective new subscription plan and will be charged the new rates upon renewal.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese home appliance giant Midea Group will spend RMB740 million to control 23.73% of voting shares in Beijing-based variable frequency drive supplier Hiconics Eco-energy Technology (Hiconics), in order to accelerate its push into industrial automation, the company announced on March 26.

Photo source: Midea's WeChat account)



The statement also triggers discussions from automobile industry as the acquiree is also engaged in the supply of components for new energy vehicles (NEVs).

Hiconics can provide new energy automotive powertrain, motor controller, the auxiliary power system, the electric car intelligent charging pile platform construction and new energy automobile lease, and other products and services, the company makes such self-introduction on its official website.

The latest acquisition was regarded as a signal that Midea attempts to tap NEV area. The speculation was made stemming from part of Mideas statement. Hiconics deployment in energy conservation, environmental protection and NEV will help the group diversify its businesses, and lay a positive and effective foundation for Midea to explore new operations and new business models.

The Guangdong-based home appliance producer is not a stranger in car-building field. It acquired stakes of three automakers located in Hunan and Yunnan provinces between 2004 and 2006, and found its own automobile manufacturing company dubbed Midea Sanxiang Bus. However, the latter bowed out of production in 2008 due to the unsound operation and dismal sales, and was then taken over by BYD.

It is hardly surprising that a home appliance developer aspires to gain a foothold in automobile domain. Such companies as AUX Group, Gree and Dyson had all made trial efforts, but failed eventually.

Photo source: Skywell)



But the television brand SKYWORTH should be counted as one of few successful doers. Its founder Huang Hongsheng set up automobile company Skywell in 2010, and then acquired and merged the bus manufacturer Nanjing Golden Dragon, shifting its business focus from traditional fuel-powered buses to NEVs.

In the field of PVs, Skywell obtained in 2017 the car-building qualification from China's MIIT. In addition, its wholly-owned subsidiary in Jiangsu launched at the end of 2019 a new NEV branddubbed Skywell as well, which focuses on producing all-electric PVs.
The Lehigh Valleys congresswoman has been dealing with texts and calls from residents worried they will not be able to feed their families, as economic shockwaves from the coronavirus pile up.

Im hearing from some people in the district who cannot figure out how to pay for groceries right now. It is a very deep concern, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild said during a media conference call Friday afternoon.

Wilds 7th Congressional District in Pennsylvania covers Lehigh, Northampton and southern Monroe counties.

She added this was not anecdotal evidence; residents are texting and calling her directly, telling me that they dont know how they will put food on the table.

Her office is fielding a lot of questions, not surprisingly she said, about the direct cash assistance for low and middle income Americas in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

CARES is giving economic impact payments of up to $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples and $500 for each qualifying child, for people who filed taxes with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for a single person and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns.

Its "cash they need to survive, Wild said of the payments.

Residents in Wilds district have called about when they will actually see the money. The first payments will start the week of April 13 to the 60 million Americans with direct deposit set up with IRS.

The next batch, of mailed paper checks, wont go out until May 3, Wild said. Part of the delay is physically mailing the checks -- it will take weeks to get them all out through the postal service.

Wild said she is somewhat reassured that residents with the lowest adjusted gross income will get their checks first.

Were still talking about a period of a long time, she said. I think we need to improve on it.

Some good news, Wild added, is that people who receive social security payments will not be required to file a short tax return in order to receive the money.

CARES also included Wilds proposal for funding for meal delivery for seniors.

Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley is running full speed, and the funds will be used to either greatly amplify Meals on Wheels, or create a new service for deliveries.

Meals on Wheels is still looking for volunteers, particularly those to go grocery shopping for homebound seniors.

Wild also touched on concerns about how the CARES money will be distributed. Pennsylvania is set to receive close to $5 billion in desperately needed funds, she said.

Direct assistance is only going to cities with populations of more than 500,000, so assistance for local municipalities is going through the state.

Wild said shes heard concerns from the Valleys mayors, and we are not alone in that. Many districts across the country are concerned about that.

The primary focus is that they see the monies are distributed quickly, fairly and flexibly, Wild said.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
OPEC will invite the U.S. oil regulator to take part in the emergency OPEC+ video meeting on Monday, a source involved in the preparation of the meeting told Russian news agency TASS on Friday.

The OPEC+ group of producers will meet online on April 6 to discuss a possible massive production cut of around 10 million bpd, according to several media reports.

However, the OPEC+ coalition would likely want all major producers in the world to take part in a collective cut, including producers such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, or Norway.

On Thursday, OPECs top producer and de facto leader Saudi Arabia called for the emergency meeting of OPEC+ and another group of countries to try to find a fair solution to the current market imbalance, after U.S. President Donald Trump said that he hoped and expected that Saudi Arabia and Russia would cut back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more.

President Trump hasnt mentioned any involvement of the U.S. in possible cuts, but he is scheduled to meet oil executives later on Friday and over the weekend to discuss the collapse of the oil prices and the subsequent impact on U.S. shale producers.



Related: Iraq On The Brink Of Civil War As Oil Revenues Evaporate

Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton discussed on Thursday the state of the oil market and the prospect of taking 10 million bpd off the markets with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak.

Last month, Sitton spoke with OPECs Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo and said that we all agree an international deal must get done to ensure economic stability as we recover from COVID-19. He was kind enough to invite me to the next OPEC meeting in June.

According to analysts, first, a deal involving the U.S. would be difficult to reach, and second, even 10 million bpd may not be able to erase the glut as global demand is currently falling by 20 million bpd and even more due to the widespread lockdowns around the world.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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Police are making house calls to check on self-isolated Australians in one of Sydney's most exclusive Eastern suburbs.

The officers went door knocking around the wealthy area of Vaucluse to ensure that the residents were complying with quarantine rules.

Two NSW Police officers visited four homes to check that the returned travellers were honouring their mandatory self-isolation.

NSW police made house calls to check on self-isolated Australians (pictured) in East Sydney

The two officers (pictured) visited the homes of returned travellers self-isolating in Vaucluse

Police (pictured) ensured the travellers were complying with the mandatory 14 day quarantine

Strict government measures to fight the spread of COVID-19 demand that any passengers who have entered Australia from overseas must quarantine for 14 days.

The policemen were pictured approaching the exclusive residences and knocking at the door.

One image showed an officer conversing with a woman in aviator sunglasses as she stood behind her high security gate.

Another picture revealed the officers entering a brick home that was situated behind a well-groomed hedge.

The policemen were then pictured exiting the building after completing their checkup.

Police established that three of the residences were complying with the mandatory quarantine.

The officers entered the homes (pictured) and spoke to residents face-to-face

Police (pictured) found one residence breaching quarantine as the occupants went shopping

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 occupants of the fourth home were found returning home from an illegal shopping trip.

NSW Police are also assisting the state government in additional isolation crackdowns where residents may only leave their homes for one of 16 essential reasons.

These reasons include exercise, grocery shopping, obtaining medical care and attending work or school.

Any Sydneysiders who do not abide by these laws could risk six months in jail or a fine of up to $11,000.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said on Thursday that these measures would be in place for 90 days.

The number of coronavirus cases in NSW rose to 2,389 while the national total has reached 5,315.
A person was killed overnight in a police shooting outside an Oregon coast drugstore.

Lincoln City police said officers were involved in a shooting in the parking lot of a Rite Aid store just off U.S. 101 late Thursday. One person, referred to by police only as the suspect, died at a hospital. No officers were hurt.

No information about the circumstances of the encounter has been released.

The shooting is under investigation, and the involved officers have been put on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol after police shootings.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegleman is speaking out about the perilous conditions in prisons because of the coronavirus pandemic, including the federal prison in Louisiana where he served most of his 78-month sentence for a bribery conviction.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has reported four inmate deaths at the Oakdale., La., facilities related to COVID-19.

Its like shooting fish in a barrel for a virus, Siegelman said in an interview with AL.com on Friday. Theres no place for people to go to hide and protect themselves. This one inmate sent me a note yesterday saying they just expect things to continue to get worse. Theres very little way that they can control it. I hope that they can.

Siegelman, who was released from prison in 2017, said he spent his time at Oakdale in a dorm with 150 to 175 other inmates. He said rows of bunk beds were separated by about two feet. One dorm at the prison, which Siegelman said inmates called the submarine room, had triple bunks.

The conditions were pretty devastating under normal conditions, the former governor said. Of course, people are generally not sympathetic with inmates. There were never color TVs, and hot meals three times a day and that kind of stuff anyway. But people have sort of a misconception of what its like.

But my point here is that the conditions are so closed in and so tight in and people are living in such a close and tight environment that makes it easy for things like staph infection to get spread around real quickly.

Advocates across the country have called for special measures to address the high risk of disease and death from COVID-19 in prisons because there are minimal options for isolation or social distancing.

Siegleman said he thinks state and federal officials should develop plans to release non-violent inmates who pose no risk to the public.

If theyre within six months of being released anyway, then send them home, the former governor said. "Put them on home confinement. Test them first to make sure they dont have the virus. But get them out of the prison and send them home with an electronic monitor.

Its a relief for taxpayers and it provides some better living conditions in the prisons because there will be less people there. Yeah, theres more that can be done.
Northern Territory on Alert for Rabies Outbreak

The Australian government has warned the Northern Territory and the Torres Strait communities that they are at risk of a rabies outbreak. Currently, Australia and Antarctica are the only continents free of the land-based rabies virus.

A study completed by Charles Darwin University has indicated that the virus has spread rapidly throughout the Indonesia Archipelago, only 600 km (about 373 miles) north of Darwin. This has left the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment concerned that an outbreak could occur at any time in the Torres Strait Islands or the Northern Territory.

According to Maryann Dalton, CEO of the Australian based Vets Beyond Borders, rabies is a very serious disease. Rabies is nearly always fatal but its 100 percent preventable by vaccination, said Dalton. Dog bites cause nearly all human cases of rabies.

Puppies about to be vaccinated for rabies in Bali, Indonesia. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

The World Health Organisation states that annually, rabies kills 59,000 people in over 150 countries. With children under the age of 15 making up 40 percent of those afflicted. Once infected, signs of the disease can develop after anywhere between 10 days or several months of exposure and death usually occurs within 10 days.

How Rabies Could Come to Australia

The Department of Agriculture believes that the most likely point of origin for rabies into Australia will be boats carrying rabies-infected dogs from Indonesia or the islands in Papua that land on our northern coastline. Those dogs could then infect dingoes and community cats and dogs.

In January and February 2019, Indonesia suffered an outbreak of rabies that left 629 people infected and 12 dead. The Indonesian Health Ministrys director for vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said the outbreak was caused by low vaccination rates among stray and domestic dogs.

One of the worst-hit regions by the virus was Dompu, where authorities had to distribute 2800 rabies vaccines and put down 1028 dogsa large number of which were strays. According to the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, rabies had been eliminated in 9 of the countrys 34 provinces, but thats now been reduced to just 4 provinces.

A tourist plays with a dog at Seminyak Beach, Bali, Indonesia. (Agung Parameswara/Getty Images)

The northern coastal regions of Australia are sparsely populated, but there are numerous packs of dingos, wild dogs, and community dogs in these areas that roam freely. If rabies were to reach these areas, these animals would pose an extensive threat to the health and safety of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

As Australia has never had rabies, vaccination rates for the virus are non-existent. To keep communities safe, the Department of Agriculture is encouraging everyone in the Northern Territory to be aware of animals acting strangely.

A culturally appropriate animated awareness-raising video campaign for the region is underway to encourage people to look out for dogs that suddenly change their behaviour from a happy to crazy and report it to a ranger, health clinic, or a biosecurity officer.
Suppose we wanted to estimate how many car owners there are in the UK and how many of those own a Ford Fiesta, but we only have data on those people who visited Ford car showrooms in the last year. If 10% of the showroom visitors owned a Fiesta, then, because of the bias in the sample, this would certainly overestimate the proportion of Ford Fiesta owners in the country.

Estimating death rates for people with COVID-19 is currently undertaken largely along the same lines. In the UK, for example, almost all testing of COVID-19 is performed on people already hospitalised with COVID-19 symptoms. At the time of writing, there are 29,474 confirmed COVID-19 cases (analogous to car owners visiting a showroom) of whom 2,352 have died (Ford Fiesta owners who visited a showroom). But it misses out all the people with mild or no symptoms.

Read more: COVID-19 tests: how they work and what's in development

Concluding that the death rate from COVID-19 is on average 8% (2,352 out of 29,474) ignores the many people with COVID-19 who are not hospitalised and have not died (analogous to car owners who did not visit a Ford showroom and who do not own a Ford Fiesta). It is therefore equivalent to making the mistake of concluding that 10% of all car owners own a Fiesta.

There are many prominent examples of this sort of conclusion. The Oxford COVID-19 Evidence Service have undertaken a thorough statistical analysis. They acknowledge potential selection bias, and add confidence intervals showing how big the error may be for the (potentially highly misleading) proportion of deaths among confirmed COVID-19 patients.

They note various factors that can result in wide national differences  for example the UKs 8% (mean) death rate is very high compared to Germanys 0.74%. These factors include different demographics, for example the number of elderly in a population, as well as how deaths are reported. For example, in some countries everybody who dies after having been diagnosed with COVID-19 is recorded as a COVID-19 death, even if the disease was not the actual cause, while other people may die from the virus without actually having been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Story continues

However, the models fail to incorporate explicit causal explanations in their modelling that might enable us to make more meaningful inferences from the available data, including data on virus testing.

Author provided

We have developed an initial prototype causal model whose structure is shown in the figure above. The links between the named variables in a model like this show how they are dependent on each other. These links, along with other unknown variables, are captured as probabilities. As data are entered for specific, known variables, all of the unknown variable probabilities are updated using a method called Bayesian inference. The model shows that the COVID-19 death rate is as much a function of sampling methods, testing and reporting, as it is determined by the underlying rate of infection in a vulnerable population.

Therefore, different countries may appear to have different death rates, but only because they have applied different sampling and reporting policies. It is not necessarily because they are managing the virus any better or that the virus has infected fewer or more people.

With a causal model that explains the process by which the data is generated, we can better account for these differences between countries. We can also more accurately learn the underlying true population infection and death rates from the observed data. Such a model could be extended to include demographic factors, as well as social distancing and other prevention policies. We have developed such models for many similar problems and are currently gathering data required for populating the kind of model that we outline in the above figure.

Random testing

In the absence of community-wide testing, only random testing applied throughout the population will enable us to learn about the number of people with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic or have already recovered. Only when we know how many people dont show symptoms, will we know the underlying infection and death rate. It will also enable us to learn about the accuracy of the tests (false positive and false negative rates).

Random testing therefore remains the most effective strategy to avoid selection bias and reduce the distortions in reported statistics. Ideally, this should be combined with a causal model.

Currently it seems there are no state-wide protocols in place in any country for randomised community testing of citizens for COVID-19. Spain did attempt it. But that involved purchasing large volumes of rapid COVID-19 tests, and they soon discovered that some Chinese-sourced tests had poor validity and reliability delivering only 30% accuracy  resulting in high numbers of false positives.

Read more: COVID-19 tests: how they work and what's in development

Countries like Norway have proposed introducing such tests, but there is uncertainty around how to legislatively compel citizens to test  and what might constitute an appropriate randomisation protocol. In Iceland, they have voluntary sampling which has covered 3% of the population, but this isnt random. Some countries with large scale testing, like South Korea, might get closer to being random.

The reason it is so hard to achieve random testing is that you have to account for several practical and psychological factors. How does one collect samples randomly? Gathering samples from volunteers may not be sufficient as it does not prevent self-selection bias.

During the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 20092010, there was a lot of anxiety about the disease that created mass psychogenic illness. This is when hypersensitivity to particular symptoms leads to healthy people self-diagnosing as having a virus  meaning they would be highly incentivised to get tested. This could, in part, further contribute to false positive rates if the sensitivity and specificity of the tests are not fully understood.

While self-selection bias is not going to be eliminated, it could be reduced by running field tests. This could involve asking the public to volunteer samples in locations where, even in a lockdown state, they might be expected to attend and also from those in self-imposed isolation or quarantine.

In any event, when statistics are communicated at press conferences or in the media, their limitations should be explained and any relevance to the individual or population should be properly delineated. It is this which we contend is lacking in the current crisis.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Norman Fenton is a Director of Agena Ltd, a company that specialises in risk management for critical systems using Bayesian networks. He also currently receives funding from the EPSRC under project EP/P009964/1: PAMBAYESIAN: Patient Managed decision-support using Bayes Networks

Magda Osman has received funding from ESRC, NIHR, EPSRC, MRC, ACE, DSTL and MoJ.

Martin Neil is a Director of Agena Ltd, a company that specialises in risk management for critical systems using Bayesian networks.

Scott McLachlan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Amaravati, April 4 : Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has expressed support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal to light a lamp, candle or shine a mobile flashlight during a nationwide 9 minute lights shutdown on April 5.

The Prime Minister had issued a video message on Friday morning, calling upon the nation for the unique show of symbolic unity and defiance against the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday evening, Reddy responded positively to Modi's call and urged the people of Andhra Pradesh to participate in the initiative.

"We all should stand together in the fight against the coronavirus, regardless of the caste, religion, region, and the states," he said.

The Chief Minister compared the initiative to the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness,and wished that mankind should win over the coronavirus.

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 in India, the Prime Minister has been periodically proposing events to foster a sense of national unity in the fight against the pandemic.

On March 22, the country had witnessed a Janata Curfew from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On the same day, he had also asked countrymen to come out of their homes and applaud the country's health professionals for their contribution to the fight against COVID-19.

To date, there are 2,301 cases and 56 deaths reported in the country.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
San Antonio native Whitley Strieber and his stories of encounters with extraordinary beings  and their vehicles that reportedly defy the laws of gravity  are deeply interwoven into the fabric of the Alamo City.

Striebers stories of attending classes with other local children in a nocturnal secret school in the Olmos Basin  not to mention the accounts of anomalous events in Terrell Hills and Alamo Heights that I have received from interviews with his childhood friends and others  have grown to become the stuff of local, national and inde,ed international legend.

Now, after more than three decades of what he calls his contact, conversation and communion with the beings he simply refers to as visitors, Strieber has written the most deeply insightful and powerfully provocative book of his extensive literary career, A New World.

In 13 captivating chapters, Strieber eloquently explains the most essential lessons he has learned from his continuous efforts to communicate with and understand his visitors, impelled by a great sense of urgency about the fate of humanity, and the Earth.

More Information 'A New World' by Whitley Strieber Walker & Collier 254 pages, $14.44 See More Collapse

A New World is arguably the most well-informed, authoritative and readable book yet written with the intention of making accessible the mysteries of the UFO phenomenon for the benefit of humanity in these perilous times.

In it, Strieber shares keys to how he has opened locked doors in his own spiritual and creative life. He recognizes that many of the statements he makes are difficult to accept, but he invites readers not to believe, but to question and consider, as he does.

For example, he explains his meditative method for making conscious contact with his visitors; describes his experiences of seeing, during a visit to the reservation of the Lakota Sioux, the landscape of another world apparently parallel to our own; and relays insights on the nature of his visitors relationship with time and, he asserts, their desire to communicate and interact with humans.

Strieber also reflects on the predatory nature of his visitors, a theme going back to his early novels The Hunger and The Wolfen.

Our best defense in establishing contact, he asserts  drawing examples from many religious traditions but especially from the soul science of ancient Egypt  is to develop a strong soul through exercising compassion and living a truthful, blameless life.

A New World is essential reading for anyone, like Strieber, who nourishes the hope that we can evolve as a species into a state where we are stronger, more conscious human beings able to overcome the challenges that threaten our survival.

Strieber remains true to the methodology of radical questioning he initially adopted in writing his 1987 narrative Communion: A True Story, which topped The New York Times nonfiction bestseller list in May 1987, the same month the Express-News published my initial profile of him.

Much has changed over the past 33, especially in terms of media coverage of UFOs and the attitudes of many top military, intelligence and other leaders, as well as the work of pioneering scholars of religion .

The excellent reporting of Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal and Leslie Kean in The New York Times has created an opening for discourse about this matter in many media outlets. Their groundbreaking articles on federal funding for private research into the UFO phenomenon, as well as sightings by U.S. Navy pilots of extraordinary vehicles  accompanied by officially released video  have gone viral.

Scholars such as Jeffrey J. Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Rice University, and Diana Walsh Pasulka, chairwoman of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Carolina Wilmington have undertaken serious studies of paranormal phenomena.

Kripals brilliant introduction to A New World is at once a ringing endorsement of the kinds of questions Strieber asks and a stinging indictment of the materialist worldviews that still dominate academic discourse in our day.

In A New World, Strieber effectively balances his narrative between the real world social and political implications of regarding UFOs and the visitors as real, and the inner, indeed spiritual, dimensions and demands of contact.

The book will be an enduring testament to Striebers own transformation through sustained communication with his visitors, turning his initial horror into pure amazement, inspiration and awe.

Ed Conroy is the author of Report on Communion: An Independent Investigation of and Commentary on Whitley Striebers Communion, (Morrow, 1989; Avon 1990)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 00:36:34|Editor: huaxia

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A container truck loaded with coal crosses the Shiveekhuren border point in Mongolia, March 30, 2020. Mongolia has gradually resumed coal exports to China by reopening its border with the neighbour, which has made visible progress in containing COVID-19. (Xinhua)

Chinese authorities urged border provinces and regions to improve their prevention and control plans in light of the rapid spread of the pandemic overseas.

BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities Thursday demanded further strengthening epidemic control efforts along its land border to prevent the importation of COVID-19 infections.

The demand was made at a meeting of the leading group of China's COVID-19 epidemic response, which was chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Noting the rapid spread of the pandemic overseas, the meeting urged authorities of border provinces and regions to improve their prevention and control plans in light of the local situation.

The meeting also called for cutting unnecessary cross-border travel and stressed cooperation with neighboring countries in epidemic prevention.

The meeting underscored the need to step up the management of asymptomatic infections and release daily and timely information.

Epidemiological surveys on asymptomatic infections should be conducted in places including Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan, and the reports should be made public to provide more scientific support for epidemic control, said the meeting.

The meeting also called for coordinated efforts for epidemic control and economic and social development.

Whilst implementing safety measures, the full restoration of work and living order should be promoted in low-risk areas, according to the meeting.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting. 
Chipotle Mexican Grill is developing a gift card program to help customers show their appreciation for those on the front lines of the war with the coronavirus.

CEO Brian Niccol told CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday that a portion of what patrons spend on gift cards can go to supporting "health-care heroes" who are working in hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients.

"People that purchase these gift cards will be able to give 10% of those proceeds, roughly, to health-care organizations that are supporting these individuals," he said in a "Mad Money" interview. "So that's in the works, and I think that'll probably be the easiest way where all of us can come together to continue to support the folks that really are just doing heroic things right now."

Niccol did not say when the donation drive will be made available or any further details regarding the initiative. The suggestion came on the same day that global cases of COVID-19 surpassed the 1 million mark. More than 242,000 have been diagnosed with the infection in the United States.

The restaurant chain announced earlier this week, in honor of National Burrito Day April 2, that it would deliver free burrito boxes to hospitals to thank health-care workers for their critical efforts during the coronavirus outbreak. Starting Monday, Chipotle will distribute 100,000 burritos during World Health Worker Week, according to a press release. DoorDash will handle delivery services.

On top of a shortage of supplies, including personal protective equipment, hospital staff are dealing with an influx of coronavirus patients. Government officials have ordered social distancing measures and businesses to close during the pandemic to stop the spread of the deadly virus, hoping to reduce pressure on overwhelmed hospitals.

Health officials have called for hospital systems to expand their bed counts and put elective surgeries on hold. Nurses are also now in short supply.

In New York, the epicenter of the epidemic in the U.S., Gov. Andrew Cuomo requested that health-care workers across the nation descend on the state to help in the fight against coronavirus. New York state has more than 92,500 cases as of Thursday evening, including more than 51,800 cases in New York City, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Outside of the hospitals, the restaurant industry is feeling pain from stay-at-home orders by multiple states, which have shifted consumer spending from eating out to eating in. Eateries have been allowed to continue delivery and take-out services, but the mandates have weighed on their bottom lines.

Clarification: This story was updated to clarify that Chipotle will be delivering the free burrito boxes to health-care workers during the week beginning April 6.
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In seventh-grade Latin class, the incomparable Irving Kizner taught us about one of Roman orator Cicero's rhetorical devices. As I recall, it's basically this: When you want to make sure your audience hears something, tell them that you won't mention it -- and then mention it.



The Russian state and particularly the Foreign Ministry have been using variations on this trick with some frequency since long before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged -- certainly since President Vladimir Putin made Sergei Lavrov the minister in 2004.



With the coronavirus roaming the Earth, governments including Russia's are saying that the need to steer clear of lies and disinformation is more important than ever. In Russia, in fact, rights activists say the state is using a controversial law against "fake news" to clamp down on citizens who criticize its response to the pandemic or question the official numbers.

Meanwhile, though, Cicero's device remains in use, dovetailing with another long-standing go-to tactic to explain problems plaguing Russia: Blame the West, usually the United States. A March 29 report from state news agency TASS provided a particularly striking example -- once one whacks one's way through the verbiage.



The headline: "The Russian Foreign Ministry Does Not Have Information About An 'American Trace' In The Occurrence Of The Coronavirus."



You see what they're doing there, right? It gets better -- or worse, depending on your point of view.



'No Information'



Several lines in, the TASS story cites its single source, whom it identifies as an unnamed person in the Foreign Ministry, as repeating the headline with a slight twist: the ministry does not have such information "as of today"-- the unspoken suggestion being that it's just a matter of time.



Immediately after that comes the "however" moment.



The source is quoted as saying, "However, we have long observed with concern the military-biological activity of the United States, conducted in direct proximity to our borders," and then claiming that there are Pentagon-funded biological labs "in the countries of the Transcaucasus and Central Asia," adding that those latter countries "border China."



This is presumably a reference to bioresearch labs in Kazakhstan and Georgia that are associated with the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, a U.S. initiative that was put in place after the 1991 Soviet collapse and aims to ensure the security of nuclear, chemical, and biological materials worldwide and curb the chances of their use.

The lab in Georgia, the Lugar Research Center, has for years been targeted without evidence by Russian officials and state-linked media outlets with claims, suggestions, and intimations that it is producing banned biological weapons. The United States says these claims are baseless, and independent experts who have examined the facility have backed up the U.S. position.



With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lab in Georgia has become part of the response, Georgian and U.S. officials say.



But it has also become a focus of what authorities in the United States and Europe say is a Russian disinformation campaign aimed at undermining trust in the ability of Western governments to protect their own citizens and lead an effective global response to the pandemic.

"A key piece of disinformation spread by both China and Russia -- and then repeated by friendly governments such as Iran's -- is a baseless accusation that the coronavirus, which originated in December in a seafood and live animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, was instead a U.S. military bioweapon gone awry," an article in the Canadian newspaper The Globe And Mail said.



"The subplot to the stories Moscow and Beijing are selling is one of Western societies in decline, with authoritarian systems proving themselves superior to democratic ones in managing the crisis," the article published on March 27 said.

The idea that Western societies are in decline was being spread by the Kremlin in the months and years before the coronavirus pandemic; President Vladimir Putin said in June 2019 that liberalism had "outlived its purpose."



Now, COVID-19 has simply been slotted in, without evidence, as evidence of that decline.



Putin's comment about liberalism came ahead of a summit of the Group of 20 countries and in the context of migration. Arguing without specific examples that Western governments were protecting the rights of migrants at the expense of the security of the "core population," he said: "The liberal idea presupposes that nothing needs to be done. The liberal idea has become obsolete."



Official Count Questioned



It seems ironic, or something, that "nothing" -- or not enough -- is what Kremlin critics accuse the Russian government of doing, for weeks, in response to the coronavirus. Russia moved quickly to restrict traffic across its frontiers, first with China and then nationwide, but was slower than many European countries and U.S. cities or states to impose or advise stay-at-home measures and other restrictions on movement within its borders.



And when it did, the West was again blamed -- or at least, developments held out as a horror story of what could happen and as reason that more restrictive measures were suddenly needed in Russia.

Late on the evening of March 29, when Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin abruptly announced that self-isolation measures stricter than those long in place in many European countries would be imposed at midnight, he was careful to say that the decisions taken by Putin and his government so far had been "very good" and had a "huge effect," limiting interpersonal contact and reducing movement around the Russian capital "by two-thirds."



"Nevertheless, the extremely negative development of events that we are seeing in the biggest cities of Europe and the United States raises huge alarm about the life and health of our citizens," Sobyanin added.



Amid concerns that the official count of COVID-19 cases and deaths from the disease may be substantially lower than the real figures, the numbers have risen sharply since Sobyanin spoke -- and similar measures were introduced in cities and regions across Russia.

On April 3, a day after Putin announced that stay-at-home measures would remain in place through the end of the month, Russia reported 4,149 positive tests so far and 34 deaths. But doubts about those numbers remained.



New Crisis, Old Tactics



The TASS report, meanwhile, also contains examples of a few other tried-and-not-so-true tricks of the disinformation -- or misinformation -- trade. One of them is the way it portrays two explanations of the origin of the coronavirus pandemic as equally plausible when in fact they are far from it.



Putin's government has used this tactic repeatedly in recent years in what critics say have been efforts to muddy the waters and raise questions about the strongly evidence-based conclusions pointing to Russian involvement in incidents such as the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014 and the nerve-agent attack on former Russian intelligence agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018.



In this case, it juxtaposes the widely accepted account of the outbreak's likely origin at a live-animal market in Wuhan, China, with what observers say is a main element of China's disinformation campaign: the notion that the coronavirus was brought to Wuhan by U.S. military personnel during the Military World Games in October 2019.



"That version was given prominence by Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, who retweeted an article published by a Montreal-based website known for propagating conspiracy theories and pro-Russian disinformation," according to The Globe And Mail.



Do As I Say, Not As I Do



Without providing evidence, the TASS article suggests that story and the version that most researchers and studies agree on have equal weight.



"Major scientific work is needed" in order to definitively determine the source of the outbreak, it quotes the source as saying in a comment on what it called "the declarations by Washington and Beijing about the origins of the disease."



The TASS report's unnamed source urges the United States not to point the finger at China or play "propagandistic games around the coronavirus" -- but employs an elaborate argument to point the finger at the United States. Washington is to blame the report suggests -- because globalization.

In the "globalized world, when the majority of states are closely connected by transport links, the transmission of infections from one point on the planet to another is a matter of a few hours," the state news agency quotes the state employee as saying.



"It's enough to remember that it is precisely the United States that for many decades was the main driving force of globalization and tried to use it to further its own geopolitical and economic interests," the Foreign Ministry employee is quoted as saying. "Now [the United States] can probably only kick itself for not thinking about the negative side effects.
A Belfast man suspected of making over 171 nuisance phone calls for an ambulance has been jailed for nine months.

Paramedics dispatched to Peter O'Toole's address were held up for periods of more than an hour when he refused to co-operate.

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard on one occasion the 55-year-old phoned again within minutes of being checked, and while a crew was still outside his home on Dunluce Avenue.

O'Toole admitted persistent improper use of a public electronic communications network, and obstructing or hindering ambulance services from responding to emergency circumstances.

District Judge George Conner told him: "In the current circumstances I'm compelled to impose a custodial sentence."

O'Toole made a total of 11 calls over a two-day period in February this year.

Referring to the wider alleged activity, prosecution counsel said the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received 171 calls between February 13, 2019 and February 13, 2020.

A previous court heard he has "clogged up" the emergency services.

When arrested O'Toole claimed he acted while drunk, telling police he lived alone and phoned for ambulances because he feared he was having panic attacks.

"He apologised profusely for wasting time and admitted he needs help with his alcohol issues," the prosecutor added.

Defence barrister Danielle McMahon, said her client's behaviour stemmed from the sudden death of his brother at a young age.

She told the court O'Toole suffers from bouts of anxiety and other health complaints.

"He feels his situation is going to be the same as his brother," Ms McMahon said.

Imposing five months imprisonment for the new offences, Judge Conner also ordered him to serve a further four months from a previously suspended sentence.

He pointed out: "Sadly... there are a great many entries for this type of offence."




A man has died after being attacked by a bull.

He was found unconscious on his farm by a neighbour and the emergency services were called.

They tried to save his life but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man, who was aged 64, had been working on his own in a shed at the farm in Tullylease, near Charleville, with the bulls when one of them attacked him.

The mans body was taken to Cork University Hospital morgue where a postmortem examination is due to be carried out today.

The Health and Safety Authority is to carry out an investigation into the incident while Gardai are treating it as a tragic accident.

Earlier this year, the HSA said farming was still the most dangerous sector last year.

In 2019, there were 18 deaths.

As almost three in every four farm fatalities last year involved people 60 and older, the HSA said in January farmers must recognise their limitations as they age which may affect their ability to work. As farmers get older, they must adjust their work practices to make sure that they avoid injury, the agency said.

Last years death toll was a 20% rise on 15 deaths in 2018.

And of the victims, 13 victims were over 60 years of age with 10 of these over 70, including two over 80.

Farming deaths occurred throughout 2019, with three each in January, April, July and September.

Some seven deaths were associated with being trapped or crushed, two were caused by someone being struck by a vehicle, two drowned and two were struck from a falling object.

Livestock were involved in six fatalities  in each case the animals involved were cattle.

Tractors were involved in the majority of workplace vehicle incidents last year, claiming five lives.

Trucks, loaders, trailers, teleporters, quads, trams, forklifts, road sweepers, and dumpers were also involved.
Barring a reversal even more extraordinary than the many that have marked British politics recently, Sir Keir Starmer will be elected leader of the Labour Party, and therefore leader of the official opposition, tomorrow.

It is hard to recall a moment in our politics when a more effective opposition has been needed quite so urgently.

We will not be alone in hoping that Sir Keir comes to represent a politics of the centre that is socially just, green and internationalist. The Independent has been hungry for change for some time, hoping for a progressive alternative to a right-wing government and an extreme left-wing opposition. Sir Keir certainly has the virtue of being neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn.

Sir Keir may have fought a disappointingly unexciting campaign  calls for unity are all very well, but he failed to enlighten us on how he would bridge the deep divide between the wings of the party.

Now, however, such considerations seem to miss the point. For the past month, the people taking the lead in holding the government to account have been scientists and journalists, in particular at the daily Downing Street briefing. But even with a large government majority at a time of crisis  indeed, especially at such a time  the opposition should be able to hold the government to account as well.

Recommended Keir Starmer favourite to replace Corbyn as voting closes

That is a task that should suit Sir Keir, with his grown-up debating style, his attention to detail and his preference for persuasion rather than energising the already persuaded.

To be fair to Mr Corbyn, he has tried to strike the right balance between supporting the government at a time of national emergency and asking constructive questions. But he has too often slipped into partisan posturing, and his questioning has never been focused enough to apply any significant pressure on the prime minister.

Mr Corbyns claim to have been vindicated by the governments economic response to the coronavirus epidemic was a typically tone-deaf reaction at a time of national tragedy. After his miserably poor election campaign, a period of silence from him would have been better judged.

For too long now, the quality of government in this country has suffered from the lack of a really testing opposition. Now the coronavirus crisis has exposed that weakness. We hope that Sir Keirs election will start to change that. Even while parliament is not sitting, his public statements can help to add to the pressure on the government to raise its game on testing, ventilators and the effective deployment of NHS staff.

Beyond the immediate crisis, Sir Keir has a huge job of reconstruction to do. He will need to restore trust in Labour among Jewish people; he will need to develop a credible economic policy against the background of a post-coronavirus recession, in which he must seek to ensure that the burden is fairly shared; he will need a futuristic vision of environmental sustainability; and he will need to present Mr Johnson, Dominic Raab, Priti Patel and Michael Gove as harking back to the past.

It goes without saying that Sir Keirs task for the next few years will be to keep Mr Johnson honest. That could be a long and thankless job, but it is a vital one, and one that needs to be done well if Labour is to have any chance at the next election.

 Sir Keir Starmer in profile

That is probably still four years away, and Sir Keir will have a chance of winning power only if Mr Johnson stumbles. So far, with the crisis still in its acute phase, the prime minister has impressed the people with the tone and intention, if not necessarily the speed, of his early response. But he must be held constantly to the mark, and if he slips, Sir Keirs record suggests that he could be ready as someone to whom the British people could turn.

The Labour leader very-nearly-elect is not flashy or charismatic, but nor is he beholden to that strange Corbynite mixture of class war and identity politics. There is a chance that Sir Keir could be the modern, caring and egalitarian leader that the people of Britain will want as the nation tries to heal after damage wrought by the coronavirus. But of course, The Independent being independent of party politics, he will have to prove himself first before we start to form any judgement about that.
New Google Mobility Data Shows Stunning Slowdown in NYC

Visits to parks, retail stores, restaurants, and transit stations in New York Citys Manhattan borough dropped by roughly 80 percent in late March as people stayed home amid the outbreak of the CCP virus pandemic, according to a mobility report released by Google on April 3.

Visits to Manhattans retail shops and restaurants dropped the most86 percent by March 29the latest figure in Google report for New York county. Visits to parks and transit stations dropped by 79 and 78 percent respectively.

New York City is the epicenter of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) viruscommonly known as the coronavirusoutbreak in the United States. Manhattan trails three of the other boroughs in total confirmed COVID-19 cases, but is home to many of the businesses that employ people from elsewhere in the city.

The data for New York is part of a vast trove covering more than 130 countries. China, where the CCP virus pandemic originated, is not part of the list because Google does not do business there.

Google released the reports in response to requests from officials who need more data to handle the response to the outbreak. The reports include no personal data.

We have heard from public health officials that this same type of aggregated, anonymized data could be helpful as they make critical decisions to combat COVID-19, Alphabet Inc., Googles parent company, said in a blog post.

In the coming weeks, we will work to add additional countries and regions to ensure these reports remain helpful to public health officials across the globe looking to protect people from the spread of COVID-19.

Visits to groceries and pharmacies in Manhattan dropped by 52 percent even though both businesses are considered essential and are allowed to stay open during the statewide stay-at-home order. Traffic to workplaces dropped by 57 percent.

Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronxboroughs that all have more confirmed COVID-19 cases than Manhattanhad similar but less intense slowdowns, the Google report shows.

Tens of millions of people around the United States are staying home to do their part to combat the spread of the CCP virus in compliance with guidance from the White House and local regulations.

New York state reported 562 deaths for April 2, the highest death toll in a single day since the beginning of the outbreak. A total of 2,935 people have died of COVID-19 in the state.
Each year, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs Wonder on Wheels mobile museum travels throughout the state.

A special curriculum is developed by the museum with the Wonder on Wheels, which then goes out to communities far and wide.

With students out for the rest of the school year, parents and teachers can take advantage of the online components offered by many of the states museums.

Weve been in the process of getting materials online for the public to use, says Daniel Zillmann, director of communications and marketing for DCA. These are important tools.

Take, for instance, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe.

The museum has put its 116-page curriculum for Indigenous New Mexico  Sharing the Wonders of Our World! online and available for download, at indianartsandculture.org/wonder-on-wheels-curriculum.

The packet includes information and lessons to provide background on Apache, Navajo and pueblo communities.

According to MIAC, the curriculum packet is intended as a pre-visit companion to the WOW mobile exhibit, which has been developed on areas that are important to the tribal groups: plants and foods (corn and yucca; Navajo textiles/dyes); clothing (Apache, pueblo and Navajo); musical instruments (drums and rattles); art (Apache and pueblo pottery; Navajo textiles); and hunting tools (bow & arrow, atlatl and rabbit sticks).

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According to MIAC, the educational lessons target kindergarten through eighth grade students and are tailored to address New Mexico State Content Standards, Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, which focus on the following content areas: social studies, language arts, reading, history, geography, mathematics and science.

The packet also features background information on the 24 tribes in New Mexico.

There are three Apache tribal groups (Mescalero, Fort Sill and Jicarilla), the Navajo Nation, and 19 New Mexico pueblos. One additional pueblo is included in this document, Ysleta del Sur, located on the border between New Mexico and Texas, near El Paso, the MIAC document says.

While related through kinship, clans and language groups, each of these tribes have their own distinctive traditions and ways of knowing the world. What complements them is the notion of their core values that are embedded in daily ways of living. While each tribe has a set of core values that embodies who they are as the principal people residing in the places they call home.

According to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the core vales are: love, respect, compassion, service, faith and balance.

Online

The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe not only offers a downloadable curriculum, but also has online exhibits and a YouTube channel where visitors can view lectures and performances. Visit indianartsandculture.org for more information.
In an unprecedented and a blunt attack on the United Nations health agency WHO, Japanese Vice Prime Minister Taro Aso said it should be called Chinese Health Organisation and now the United States President Donald Trumps eldest son, Donald Trump Jr has publically showcased his support to Taro. The comments by Japanese PM came as the global infections crossed one million and fatalities soared over 53,000 where he accused the World Health Organisation of favouring China while condemning the body for neglecting Taiwan.

After US President calling the coronavirus as Chinese Virus because it had originated in Chinas Wuhan in December 2019, Japanese Vice PM blasted the WHO and said it should be called CHO or China Health Organisation. Taro added that if WHO had taken the cautions by Taiwan into consideration instead of denying the possibility of a pneumonia pandemic from China, everybody would have taken the required precautions. Japanese deputy PM even accused the former director-general of the global health body Margaret Chan of poor accountability. Now, Donald Trump Jr has also declared that he agrees with the comments made by Taro to lash out on WHO.

Im with him! 



Japanese Vice PM says #WHO should be renamed "Chinese Health Organization." https://t.co/IXH27cp4kr  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 1, 2020

The coronavirus, which originated in China in December 2019, has now claimed over 53,238 lives worldwide as of April 3. According to the tally by international news agency, the pandemic has now spread to 204 countries and has infected at least 1,016,395 people. Out of the total infections, 213,133 have been recovered but the easily spread virus is continuing to disrupt many lives. Major cities have been put under lockdown in almost all countries and the economy is struggling.

Read - 'WHO? Call It China Health Organisation!': Japan Makes Big Allegations Amid Coronavirus

Read - Coronavirus: Japan's PM Faces Backlash For Not Declaring State Of Emergency

Taiwan accuses WHO of delayed action

Japanese Vice PM's comments came after Taiwan had already accused the World Health Organisation of not communicating an early caution about human-to-human transmission and slowing the drastic spread of the pandemic. According to international media reports, health officials in Taipei had alerted the UN health agency at the end of December about the risk of the pathogen being transmitted between humans. However, the officials also said that their concerns were not passed on to other countries.

According to reports, the Taiwanese doctors had learned from their colleagues in mainland China where the fatal virus was originated in December 2019 that the medical staff were falling ill from then-unnamed Coronavirus. It was the signal that the COVID-19 was being passed among humans and the WHO was made aware of the same on December 31. However, it was not communicated to other countries who later struggled to stem the spread of Coronavirus.

Read - Donald Trump Warns Against partisan Probe After Pelosi Announces Oversight Panel

Read - Donald Trump Re-tests For COVID-19 'out Of Curiosity'; Explains Its Process
The government on Friday asserted that there is no shortage of medicines in the country and it is taking steps to ensure all medical supplies are in place to fight COVID-19 pandemic.

The government is also paying full attention to the manufacturing and distribution of essential drugs as well as hospital devices, Union minister D V Sadanada Gowda tweeted on Friday.

The Government of India is making sure that there's no dearth of medical supplies across the country during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilizers tweeted.

The government is making sure that all the essential medical supplies are in place to fight COVID-19.

As many as 62 lifeline Udan flights transported over 15.4 tons of essential medical supplies in last five days, he added.

The government is also paying full attention to the manufacturing activities of essential items like pharmaceuticals and hospital devices.

For this over 200 units in SEZs are operational, Gowda said.

A Central Control Room has also been set up for close monitoring of the distribution of essential medical items and to address logistic related issues, he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government had said that there was no shortage of medicines to combat COVID-19 outbreak.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed manufacturers to produce and maintain sufficient stocks of essential drugs at any point of time, it had added.

When asked about the availability of key drugs hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in the country, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance Secretary-General Sudarshan Jain told PTI: "We have adequate stock of hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin. However, if the need arises, the companies are ready to ramp up the production capacity."



A spokesperson of drug firm Zydus Cadila, which manufactures hydroxychloroquine, in an email response to PTI on the availability of the drug, said: "The production of Hydroxychloroquine is being ramped up and it is available in adequate quantities. We are also ensuring that large supplies can be supplied to State and Central government."



The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had earlier asked the manufacturers of FDC Lopinavir and Ritonavir (200mg+50 mg) Hydroxychloroquine 200mg & 400 mg, Azithromycin 250 mg & 500 mg and Paracetamol 500 mg to provide details about their availability.

Earlier on March 25, the NPPA in an order to the manufacturers of FDC- 'Lopinavir and Ritonavir, had directed them to maintain the stock-level of the FDC at, at least 2.20 crore tablets at any point of time and also to ensure its sufficient availability till further orders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[April 03, 2020] OMNIQ to Host Conference Call to Provide 2019 Year End Update

SALT LAKE CITY, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OMNIQ Corp. (OTCQB: OMQS) (OMNIQ or the Company), a provider of Supply Chain and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based solutions, will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to provide an update on the year ended December 31, 2019.

To access the live webcast, go to the Companys website at www.questsolution.com , and click on the Investor Relations tab. To participate in the call by phone, dial (877) 407-9210 approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. International callers please dial (201) 689-8049. A replay of the teleconference will be available until April 21, 2020 and may be accessed by dialing (877) 481-4010. International callers may dial (919) 882-2331. Callers should use conference ID: 34018. About OMNIQ, Corp.

OMNIQ Corp. ( OMQS ) provides computerized and machine vision image processing solutions that use patented and proprietary AI technology to deliver data collection, real time surveillance and monitoring for supply chain management, homeland security, public safety, traffic & parking management and access control applications. The technology and services provided by the Company help clients move people, assets and data safely and securely through airports, warehouses, schools, national borders, and mny other applications and environments.



OMNIQs customers include government agencies and leading Fortune 500 companies from several sectors, including manufacturing, retail, distribution, food and beverage, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and oil, gas, and chemicals. Since 2014, annual revenues have grown to more than $50 million from clients in the USA and abroad. The Company currently addresses several billion-dollar markets, including the Global Safe City market, forecast to grow to $29 billion by 2022, and the Ticketless Safe Parking market, forecast to grow to $5.2 billion by 2023.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This release contains forward-looking statements that include information relating to future events and future financial and operating performance. The words anticipate, may, would, will, expect, estimate, can, believe, potential and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or managements good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in demand for the Companys products particularly during the current health crisis , the introduction of new products, the Companys ability to maintain customer and strategic business relationships, the impact of competitive products and pricing, growth in targeted markets, the adequacy of the Companys liquidity and financial strength to support its growth, the Companys ability to manage credit and debt structures from vendors, debt holders and secured lenders, the Companys ability to successfully integrate its acquisitions, and other information that may be detailed from time-to-time in OMNIQ Corp.s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of such forward looking statements in this release include, among others, statements regarding revenue growth, driving sales, operational and financial initiatives, cost reduction and profitability, and simplification of operations. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting OMNIQ Corp., please refer to the Companys recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. OMNIQ Corp. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law. Investor Contact:

John Nesbett/Jen Belodeau

IMS Investor Relations

203.972.9200

[email protected]



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INCATech continues to demonstrate that we consistently deliver quality software to our customers and we do it by exercising best practices throughout the life-cycle of our projects - Liliana Freedman

INCATech LLC today announced that it has been appraised, once again, at Dev level 3 of the CMMI Institutes Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). The appraisal was performed by Ace Guide LLC.

CMMI is a capability improvement framework that provides organizations with these essential elements of effective process that ultimately improve their performance.

An appraisal at maturity Dev level 3 indicates the organization is performing at a defined level. At this level, processes are well characterized and understood, and are described in standards, procedures, tools, and methods. The organizations set of standard process, which is the basis of maturity Dev level 3, is established and improved over time.

About INCATech

INCATech is an SBA 8(a) certified Woman Owned Small Business that has provided innovative technology to U.S. government and commercial customers for nearly a decade. Our expert teams apply CMMI Dev L3 and ISO 9001: 2015 Agile methodologies and use state-of-the-art products to achieve your mission goals and deliver breakthrough results. https://incatech-corp.com

About CMMI Institute

CMMI Institute (CMMIinstitute.com) is the global leader in the advancement of the best practices in people process and technology. CMMI Institutes promise is to inspire cultures of continuous improvement that elevate performance and create sustainable competitive advantage.

CMMI Institute offers market-driven solutions that provide insights for baselining and optimizing key organizational capabilities, cybermaturity, and data assets to elevate business performance. For over 25 years, thousands of high-performing organizations in a variety of industries, including aerospace, finance, healthcare, information technology, software, defense, transportation, and telecommunication, have achieved sustainable business success through adopting the CMMI and proved they are capable business partners and suppliers. To learn more about how CMMI can help your organization elevate performance, visit CMMIinstitute.com.
While some workers have lost jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many can still find work as several major Lehigh Valley chains are ramping up hiring efforts.

In last week alone, Pennsylvanians filed about 650,000 unemployment compensation claims as the spread of COVID-19 continues onward. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf began ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close their doors on March 19. Essential businesses still operating include anything from supermarkets to medical and health care facilities to restaurants for carryout and delivery. Also open are home improvement retailers, banks pet stores, warehouses and hotels.

Most of these essential businesses continue to need additional manpower.

Amazon recently announced plans to hire an additional 100,000 people nationally. Their employees would earn an additional $2 an hour until the end of April, bumping them up to at least $17 an hour for work in warehouses, delivery centers and Whole Foods grocery stores. Theyll meet a surge in demand as more folks turn to online shopping for supplies while self-quarantining during the outbreak. The positions include both full- and part-time jobs, Amazon executive Dave Clark wrote in a blog post.

The online giant expects to add more than 2,000 new jobs across Pennsylvania, including 300 new jobs at its fulfillment centers in Upper Macungie and Palmer townships, said spokeswoman Rachael Lighty.

At Keurig Dr Pepper, the beverage giant said last year it would bring nearly 400 full-time jobs over the next three years to the 92-acre former Kraft-Heinz property in Upper Macungie Township. Online job descriptions for the Upper Macungie site included senior operations manager, customer service representatives, forklift operators, training managers, warehouse leads and other supervisors.

Freshpet, a dog and cat food producer in Hanover Township, Northampton County, currently is expanding its production operations, creating more than 100 full-time jobs over a span of the next three years. The $84 million project will complete renovations, purchase new equipment and construct an addition to the current 100,000-square-foot facility.

Stuffed Puffs, a confectioner, plans to soon begin manufacturing at the former Guardian Life property, 3900 Burgess Place in Hanover Township, Northampton County. The property is owned by J.G. Petrucci, and the company has committed to investing $31.5 million in capital toward the project. The new employer plans to bring 134 jobs to region within the next three years.

The Giant Co. in recent weeks already has hired more than 800 people in Pennsylvania alone, said Ashley Flower, spokeswoman for the supermarket chain. There is a need for even more workers at Giant with immediate positions running the gamut from service associates and cashiers to general stock clerks, drivers and fulfillment center selectors. Those interested can apply here.

Weis Markets is continuing to hire part-time and full-time employees. More than 2,000 workers nationally have been hired throughout the past month with the majority of them in Pennsylvania, said spokesman Dennis Curtin. There continue to be openings at all levels: cashiers, stockers and department leadership, as well as the distribution center in Milton, Northumberland County, for warehouse selectors and drivers.

At Walmart, the chain is hiring 150,000 new employees through the end of May, including more than 5,300 associates across Pennsylvania, to work in its stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers. This includes the Bethlehem-based distribution center, a chain representative said.

Jobs are temporary and permanent, a representative said Wednesday. There will be an option for temp-to-permanent work later on.

Rite Aid has plans to hire 5,000 associates for full and part-time roles to meet increased demands, with positions including cashiers, pharmacy technicians and distribution center associates. Job seekers can apply here.

ShipBob, a Chicago-based e-commerce company plans to hire 100 workers in a span of the next six months at its Lower Nazareth Township fulfillment center, which spokesman Casey Armstrong said will more than double its current workforce of 75. The company moved in May from Brooklyn, New York to the Hanoverville Road facility.

Wakefern Food Corp., the parent company of ShopRite and Price Rite Marketplace, plans to fill hundreds of positions nationally, said spokeswoman Laura Panza. Dominos Pizza is hiring part-time and full-time delivery experts, pizza makers, customer service representatives, managers and assistant managers, as well as Class A CDL drivers at its U.S supply chain centers. Those interested can apply here.

At nearby Kings Food Market in Readington Township, Hunterdon County, prospective employees dont need to have any experience. The chain is hiring for multiple immediate, temporary positions, across all stores. Positions range from carry-out/cart retrieval to cashier to cleaning/sanitizing to shopping orders for delivery and stocking. Additional food service positions also are available in the the deli/food prep areas.

Dollar Tree is seeking to fill 25,000 jobs at its stores and distribution centers nationally. Open positions include full- and part-time managers at the companys more than 15,000 store locations, along with flexible part-time shifts for cashiers and stockers. Positions in the companys 24 distribution centers include order fillers, equipment operators and warehouse associates.

CVS is planning to fill about 1,600 full-time, part-time and temporary jobs across Pennsylvania. Positions include retail associates, warehouse workers and other customer service professionals, as well as pharmacy and clinical roles, including pharmacists, pharmacist technicians and nurses.

Pharmacies are a critical resource for communities across the country, and well continue to scale up our workforce to meet the increased demand for our products and healthcare services during this pandemic, said spokeswoman Amy Lanctot Thibault.

Walgreens also is looking to fill 9,500 full-time and part-time roles nationally. Positions include those working in customer service, pharmacy technicians and shift leads. A listing of all positions and job descriptions is available on the chains website.

Walgreens spokeswoman Margaret Sheehan said additionally and as the chain continues to assess its needs, the company plans to fill some temporary customer service associate positions. Those jobs could potentially lead to full-time job placement, she said.

Home Depot is hiring 40 part- and full-time seasonal employees for its distribution center in Upper Macungie Township. Applicants must complete an online application here.

The United States Postal Service also needs help. The postal service is hiring temporary carrier assistants, clerk assistants and mail processing assistants in: Allentown and Macungie, as well as in Camp Hill, Cumberland County; Carlisle, Cumberland County; Elizabethtown, Lackawanna County; Harrisburg, Dauphin County; Lancaster, Lancaster County; Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County; Reading, Berks County; Scranton, Lackawanna County; Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County; and York, York County. The deadline to apply is April 8 with pay ranging from $17.29 to $17.95 hourly. Applicants can register here.

Nancy Dischinat, executive director of Lehigh Valley Workforce Board, said CareerLink Lehigh Valley keeps a growing list of companies who are hiring. Dischinat on Wednesday provided an updated list of employers with more than 3,000 job openings. They include the following:

Aerotek: 100-plus, warehouse opportunities

Aldi: 42

Allied Personnel: 50

Amazon: 100

AutoZone: 129

BJs: 15

C&S Wholesale Grocers: 30, including 20 full-time and 10 part-time jobs

Country Meadows: 29

CoWorx Staffing Services: 120 call center jobs

CVS: 75

DHL: 50

Dominos: 40

Fanatics: 50 to 60, sewing machine operators

FedEx: 100

Giant Grocery: 250

Home Depot: 80 to 100

KeHe: 15 to 20

Lehigh Valley Health Network: approximately 400

Lowes: 60

QVC Distribution: 200

Sams Club: 20 to 25

Target: 40

Wal-Mart e-commerce center: 1,000

Wegmans: 15

Weis: 15

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
LOS ANGELESBedroom Products has partnered with Bedroom Products has partnered with Lucky Devil Eats , the worlds first topless meal delivery service, to include complimentary Lockdown Latex condoms in each order starting next week.

Located in Portland, Ore., Lucky Devil Eats is owned by one of the citys most famed strip clubs, Lucky Devil, and offers a full menu of takeout items delivered to customers by topless dancers.

The club began service on March 17 as a joke but quickly evolved into a local hot commodity as a new meal delivery option, while generating income for dancers while the city rolled out closures of non-essential businesses.

Bedroom Products Lockdown Latex free condom promotion kicked off last week in conjunction with The Sex Must Go On campaign, introduced to provide free and low-cost resources for consumers as quarantine and isolation rules began to take effect nationwide.

US residents over the age of 18 are welcome to order a free 4-pack of latex condoms on the Bedroom Products website, shipped directly to their door, sans any costs on behalf of the customer.

We saw Lucky Devil pivot in the blink of an eye, which inspired us to get creative, said Bedroom Products Marketing Director Casey Murphy. As a small business facing new limitations, we recognized the necessity of adopting an outside-the-box mindset in order to evolve with the circumstances. We started brainstorming avenues that would make a positive impact with the resources we had, and that resulted in The Sex Must Go On campaign.

In addition to free condoms, Bedroom Products also created two sex toy kits, curated for solo masturbation and couples play to encourage self-pleasure and intimate connection. The Self-Isolation Masturbation and Partner Pleasure Quarantine kits include handpicked Bedroom Products best-sellers valued at $50, available for $35 each.

Murphy added, through its unique service, Lucky Devil Eats is providing enjoyment, optimism and normalcy for those under quarantine and isolation guidelines, which goes hand-in-hand with our efforts as a sexual wellness brand. We are so stoked that the folks at Lucky Devil were open to the collaboration, and we hope that their customers love the addition of safe sex supplies with their food (and a side of boob).

Originally named Boober Eats, Lucky Devil Eats has garnered so much national attention in recent weeks that they were issued a cease and desist order on Thursday. The strip club will maintain delivery service and serve your appetite with food and socially distanced dancers. Tip donations are encouraged, which are pooled among those working each shift to help cover living expenses during the shutdown.

Follow Lucky Devil Eats on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Portland residents can order online here.
Srinagar: Security forces have apprehended four overground workers of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit from Handwara and Sopore areas of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said here on Friday.

A cordon and search operation was launched in Shalpora village in Handwara area of Kupwara district late on Thursday night following information about presence of militants there, the officials said. Two overground workers of LeT were apprehended during the searches.

They were identified as Aazad Ahmad Bhat and Altaf Ahmad Baba, they said, addingbtwo pistols and two hand grenades were recovered from their possession.

Security forces arrested two other LeT overground workers from Sopore in Baramulla district on Thursday evening during searches at a check point near Sadiq Colony. They were identified as Waseem Ahmad and Junaid Rashid Ganai, the officials said adding one pistol, two UBGL grenades and a grenade thrower were recovered from their possession.

Cases under relevant sections of law have been registered against the four arrested persons in respective police stations, they said.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

Parliament on Thursday evening April 3 passed the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Bill, 2020.

The House earlier determined to pass the Bill under a certificate of urgency after it was laid in the house by Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo.

The Fund will receive donations for disbursement to individuals who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 and also make provisions for how the Fund should be managed.

The Bill, when assented by the President into law, will give legal backing to the establishment of the COVID-19 National Trust Fund to complement the efforts of government in the fight against the disease after it was set up by government exactly a week ago

The trust, which will be chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, is to receive public contributions to help improve the lives of the vulnerable who will be worst-hit by the pandemic.

The other members of the Board of trustees of the Fund are Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, Jude Kofi Bucknor, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Elsie Addo-Awadzie, Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong, and Dr Tanko Collins Asare will act as Secretary to the Board.

The President, while inaugurating the Board at a brief ceremony at Jubilee House two days after the Fund's establishment noted that since the outbreak of the virus in Ghana, especially during the course of last week, organisations and individuals have made donations, with others wanting to find out how they can also contribute to the cause.

I felt that the best way was to establish a public trust so that the monies that come do not get intermingled with Government money and all of those problems. A public trust that is to be managed by an independent body of trustees, so that people will see that these monies are being properly accounted for and properly deployed, he said.

Donations to the Fund

President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia started by donated three months of thier salaries to the trust.

All Ministers of State and other top appointees at the presidency also voluntarily decided to donate 50 percent of their salary.

Parliament has also contributed GHS 200,000 with the Speaker of the House, Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye also donating half of his three months' salary to the fund.

---citinewsroom
The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is seen while entering into the port in Da Nang, Vietnam, on March 5, 2020. (Kham/Reuters)

USS Theodore Roosevelt Commander Relieved of Duty for Breach of Protocol

The U.S. Navy announced Thursday it has relieved the commander of the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt after the captain breached protocol when asking Pentagon leaders to pull crew off the ship that had reported an outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly announced the removal of Captain Brett Crozier from command of the vessel two days after the commanders letter leaked to the media. Modly said that Crozier had exercised poor judgment.

In the letter, Crozier asked Pentagon leaders to pull most of the crew off the ship, saying that adopting proper isolation measures aboard was impossible.

It is not an indictment of character, but rather of judgment, Modly told a news conference on Thursday. While I do take issue with the validity of some of the points in Captain Croziers letter, he was absolutely correct in raising them.

I have no doubt in my mind that Captain Crozier did what he thought was in the best interest of the safety and wellbeing of his crew, Modly said. Unfortunately, it did the opposite.

Croziers actions raised alarm bells unnecessarily and created the impression that the navy was not responding to his questions, Modly said, adding that the department of the navy had already moved resources for days in response to Croziers previous request.

The commanders actions also created doubt among families about the health of the sailors, Modly said.

Captain Crozier is an honorable man who, despite this uncharacteristic lapse of judgment, has dedicated himself throughout a lifetime of incredible service to our nation and he should be proud of that as we all are.

Captain Brett Crozier, commanding officer of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, on the ships flight deck in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Dec. 19, 2019. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Huynh/Handout via Reuters)

Modly said that the letter was not just sent up the chain of command, but also copied to about 20-30 others, and sent over non-secure, unclassified email, even though the ship possesses some of the most sophisticated communication equipment in the fleet.

[The letter] misrepresented the facts of what was going on on the ship as well, Modly told reporters. At the same time, the families in the United States were panicked about the realitythe reality of whats happening on the ship right now is we have about 114 sailors who have tested positive.

Modly added that of the CCP virus cases on the ship, none have needed hospitalization and all have shown mild or moderate flu symptoms, and some are asymptomatic. Some of the sailors had already recovered from the virus, he added.

Id like to send a message to the crew at Theodore Roosevelt and their families back here at home. I am entirely convinced that your commanding officer loves you and that he had you at the center of his heart and mind in every decision that he has made  but it is my responsibility to ensure that his love and concern for you is matched, if not exceeded, by his silver and professional judgment under pressure, Modly said.

Modlys decision to remove Crozier was immediately condemned by members of the House Armed Services Committee, who called it a destabilizing move that will likely put our service members at greater risk and jeopardize our fleets readiness.

Crozier, who took command in November, said in the memo that the ship appeared to be destined for a worse outcome than the case of the Diamond Princess where, despite interventions, seven people died from the CCP virus.

Crozier called for decisive action and said that there were two options: keep the sailors on board to maintain the nuclear-powered carrier on its expected war-footing (readiness), or take the crew off and disinfect.

The nuclear-powered carrier of more than 4,000 crew was in the Pacific when the Navy reported its first CCP virus case a week ago. It has since moored at U.S. Naval Base Guam on the southern end of the American island territory in the western Pacific.

The Navy has said that as many as 3,000 will be taken off the ship and quarantined by Friday. Furthermore, the 180 sailors who have tested negative so far will be moved into Guam hotels for quarantine.

As testing continues, the ship will keep enough sailors on board to sustain essential services while it is sanitized in port.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Neurologists around the world say that a small subset of patients with COVID-19 are developing serious impairments of the brain.

Although fever, cough and difficulty breathing are the typical hallmarks of infection with the new coronavirus, some patients exhibit altered mental status, or encephalopathy, a catchall term for brain disease or dysfunction that can have many underlying causes, as well as other serious conditions. These neurological syndromes join other unusual symptoms, such as diminished sense of smell and taste as well as heart ailments.

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In early March, a 74-year-old man came to the emergency room in Boca Raton, Florida, with a cough and a fever, but an X-ray ruled out pneumonia and he was sent home. The next day, when his fever spiked, family members brought him back. He was short of breath, and could not tell doctors his name or explain what was wrong  he had lost the ability to speak.

The patient, who had chronic lung disease and Parkinsons, was flailing his arms and legs in jerky movements, and appeared to be having a seizure. Doctors suspected he had COVID-19, and were eventually proven right when he was finally tested.

On Tuesday, doctors in Detroit reported another disturbing case involving a female airline worker in her late 50s with COVID-19. She was confused, and complained of a headache; she could tell the physicians her name but little else, and became less responsive over time. Brain scans showed abnormal swelling and inflammation in several regions, with smaller areas where some cells had died.

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Physicians diagnosed a dangerous condition called acute necrotizing encephalopathy, a rare complication of influenza and other viral infections.

The pattern of involvement, and the way that it rapidly progressed over days, is consistent with viral inflammation of the brain, Dr. Elissa Fory, a neurologist with Henry Ford Health System, said through an email. This may indicate the virus can invade the brain directly in rare circumstances. The patient is in critical condition.

These domestic reports follow similar observations by doctors in Italy and other parts of the world, of COVID-19 patients having strokes, seizures, encephalitislike symptoms and blood clots, as well as tingling or numbness in the extremities, called acroparesthesia. In some cases, patients were delirious even before developing fever or respiratory illness, according to Dr. Alessandro Padovani, whose hospital at University of Brescia in Italy opened a separate NeuroCovid unit to care for patients with neurological conditions.

The patients who come in with encephalopathy are confused and lethargic and may appear dazed, exhibiting strange behavior or staring off into space. They may be having seizures that require immediate medical care, and experts are warning health care providers who treat such patients to recognize that they may have COVID-19 and to take precautions to protect themselves from infection.

Much is still unknown about the neurological symptoms, but efforts are underway to study the phenomena, said Dr. Sherry H-Y. Chou, a neurologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, who is leading a team of investigators for the Neurocritical Care Society.

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We absolutely need to have an information finding mission, otherwise were flying blind, Chou said. Theres no ventilator for the brain. If the lungs are broken we can put the patient on a ventilator and hope for recovery. We dont have that luxury with the brain.

Experts have emphasized that most COVID-19 patients appear to be normal neurologically.

Most people are showing up awake and alert, and neurologically appear to be normal, said Dr. Robert Stevens, a neurologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore who is tracking neurological observations.

Neurological specialists also say that it is too early to make definitive statements or identify the specific mechanisms by which the new coronavirus is affecting the neurological system.

In one recent paper, Chinese scientists noted that there was some evidence that other coronaviruses were not confined to the respiratory tract and invaded the central nervous system, and the authors speculated that this may potentially play a role in acute respiratory failure in COVID-19.

Stevens emphasized that all mechanistic explanations at this point are hypotheses because so little is known: It could be as simple as low levels of oxygen in the bloodstream, resulting from respiratory failure, along with an increase in carbon dioxide, which can have significant impact on the function of the brain, and lead to states of confusion and lethargy, he said.

We are still in the early days of this, and we dont really know for sure.

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Neurologists in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak started, were among the first to report the symptoms in a preliminary paper published online in February.

Since that report, specialists observed similar symptoms in Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Holland as well as the United States, including among patients under 60, Stevens said.

Some doctors have reported cases of patients who were brought in for treatment because of their altered mental state, and who ultimately tested positive for COVID-19, although they had none of the classic symptoms like fever or cough.

Four elderly patients who came into Danbury Hospital in Connecticut with encephalopathy ultimately tested positive for COVID-19, although they had no other symptoms, said Dr. Paul Nee, an infectious disease specialist at the hospital. Two of the four went on to develop low grade fevers and needed oxygen briefly, but two did not, he said.

While it is not unusual for elderly people to experience confusion when they develop other infections, the striking thing is we have not seen any real respiratory illness in these patients, Nee said. They have continued to test positive and cannot be discharged, even though they are not really ill, he said.

But earlier reports had indicated that severely ill individuals with more typical symptoms were more likely to exhibit the rare neurological conditions, which ranged from dizziness and headaches to impaired consciousness, stroke and musculoskeletal injury. The Chinese study in February said that about 15% of those patients with severe illness experienced a change in mental status, compared with 2.4% of those who did not have severe illness, according to that study.

Another study, published in the British Medical Journal in late March, found that of 113 patients from Wuhan who died of COVID-19, 22% had experienced disorders of consciousness, ranging from somnolence to deep coma, compared with only 1% of another group of patients who recovered from the illness.

For potential COVID-19 patients and the people caring for them, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention includes new confusion or inability to rouse among the warning signs that should prompt a decision to seek immediate medical care.

Patients who have encephalopathy and seem confused or incoherent are prone to having seizures, and should receive treatment as soon as possible, said Dr. Jennifer Frontera, a neurologist at NYU Langone Health who is working with Chou. She added that seizures can manifest in more subtle ways than the dramatic presentations often depicted in movies and television shows.

Seizures are not always big things where people fall down and are shaking on the ground, Frontera said. Some could be just veering off, not paying attention, making repetitive nonpurposeful movements, or just mental status changes where people are just not themselves.

But even if seizures are not observed, people who are sick should be aware of other potential mental symptoms.

You dont feel your best when you have a fever, but you should be able to interact normally, Frontera said. You should be able to answer questions and converse in a normal fashion.

She added: I dont want everyone calling 911 because theyre overly concerned. We just dont have the capacity. But if someone is really out of it, they probably need medical attention.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
As Ontario hospitals rush to make space in anticipation of a surge in patients sick with COVID-19, one region northwest of Toronto has already exhausted its inventory of ventilators that it had before the coronavirus began spreading throughout the province.

The Central West Local Health Integration Network, which includes hospitals in north Etobicoke, Brampton and Orangeville, is operating at 127 per cent of its baseline capacity of critical care beds with ventilators, according to April 1 data collected by a government body.

This comes at a time when demand for critical care beds across the province is nearing 80 per cent of pre-pandemic capacity, even as experts say the number of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario has not yet peaked.

The data shows there are 33 patients currently on ventilators in the Central West region, but the hospitals within that area only had 26 machines. The data does not include how many ventilators the hospitals have added in response to COVID-19.

The hospitals  including William Osler Health Systems facilities in Etobicoke and Brampton, and Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville  did not respond to questions about their current ventilator capacities by deadline.

(UPDATE) Following publication, the William Osler Health System issued a public statement saying the hospitals have the capacity to care for an increased number of COVID-19 patients, including patients who may require ventilation.

In addition, Osler has not yet had to access a provincial stockpile of ventilators, which has recently been approved to increase in number, the statement reads.

A spokesperson for the health system did not specify how many ventilators its hospitals currently have.

That one health network is already under such strain should be a red alert for hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area, said Dionne Aleman, a University of Toronto professor and expert in pandemic modelling.

Once we start running out of ventilators, then doctors have to make choices about who gets a ventilator among the next, say, two people who show up at the hospital who need one, and our doctors should never be put in a position where they have to make that judgment, Aleman said.

Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontarios associated chief medical officer of health, told reporters Thursday that 405 confirmed COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized in the province, with 167 in intensive care, 112 of whom are on ventilators. Another 165 patients on ventilators had suspected cases of COVID-19, according to provincial data from April 1.

This data monitoring the provinces available critical care beds and ventilators is distributed to hospitals daily by Critical Care Services Ontario, an agency that emerged from the SARS crisis to help the health-care system better manage these limited, intensive-care resources. The data has not been publicly released, but some doctors with access are sharing it online.

A ministry of health spokesperson said Thursday the province currently has 1,384 intensive-care beds equipped with ventilation for adults and pediatric patients. In addition, there are 210 ventilators currently stockpiled and ready for distribution to hospitals, while an additional 300 have been procured, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the province recently placed an order with medical equipment company O-Two Medical Technologies for 10,000 ventilator units, he added.

Hospitals across the province have been freeing up capacity by cancelling elective surgeries, ordering more supplies and clearing space for potential use by a surge of sick patients. Some are taking advantage of new permissions given by the government to use space in other buildings, such as retirement homes and hotels, provided certain conditions are met. At Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington, for example, COVID-19 surge patients will be allocated to a 93-bed, $2-million modular structure currently under construction on the hospital grounds.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Dr. David Williams, Ontarios chief medical officer of health, noted that there is always demand for ventilators in the health-care system, even without the added burden of COVID-19. And even though the province has cancelled elective surgeries, he said that doesnt stop other health conditions requiring ventilation from continually presenting at hospitals.

Even before we came to this phase, ventilators, for the most part, were very highly used, he said.

As for how additional ventilators are distributed, Williams said one way would be to ensure they are sent to areas that have capacity  not just for the machines, but also rooms to put them in and staff to run them.

So you want to go and give them to the organizations that have the greatest surge capacity, he said, adding that if all of a sudden youre going to double your ventilator capacity, you have to have more than just the ventilators, you need other things in place.

A New England Journal of Medicine study of Seattle-area hospitals found 75 per cent of the COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care needed invasive mechanical ventilation  a tube stuck down their windpipe so they could breathe. The median number of days the patients spent on ventilators was 10.

The coronavirus attacks the lower respiratory tracts of these patients, damaging the lung wallss tiny air sacs, through which oxygen enters the bloodstream. The damage leads to fluid building up, making it harder to transfer oxygen to organs that need it. The ventilators make sure the patient gets enough oxygen.

Across the province, 47 per cent of the patients undergoing invasive ventilation have confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, according to the April 1 data. That is roughly the same ratio in the Central West region, where hospitals saw a jump from five confirmed or suspected cases needing ventilation to 15 in three days.

Modest influxes of critically ill patients can cause havoc for Ontario hospitals, many of which are operating at 90 per cent capacity on a normal day, said U of Ts Aleman.

Our system doesnt have the capacity to handle a modest increase because theyre already running so close to the edge. Weve been asking our hospitals to run leaner and leaner on smaller budgets, something like this is really only inevitable, she said.

Todd Coleman, an epidemiologist and assistant professor in health sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University, told the Star the ever-decreasing baseline critical care capacity worries him.

We still dont see any of the plateauing that we would expect to see within an epidemic curve. It really is anyones guess as to how many more people are going to get (COVID-19), he said, adding that as more people contract the virus, a percentage of those will be critical cases, which means that the number of required ventilators is also going to creep up.

The urgency on this is really key right now.

Update - April 3, 2020: This article was updated following its initial publication to provide a statement from the William Osler Hospital System.

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Freedom Trail Official Historic Sites, Museum of African American History, and Freedom Trail Foundation Distance Learning Resources

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / The Freedom Trail and Black Heritage Trail have plenty of opportunities for everyone to keep learning and experiencing Boston's history remotely. To serve the public while spending time away from schools and work places, the Freedom Trail official historic sites, Museum of African American History, and Freedom Trail Foundation will continue to provide existing and have created new on-line distance learning resources to bring history into homes.

From virtual tours to hands-on-activities and contests, on-line exhibits and games, educator resource kits and classroom lesson plans, to an on-line collections catalogue and lectures, webinars and more, Boston's historic sites are committed to assisting people at home by providing free engaging materials for learners of all ages. In addition, the Freedom Trail Foundation's This Day in History videos provides mini-history lessons 365 days per year and is offering the Hear History: Audio Guide of the Freedom Trail MP3 download, free for a limited time, for people to enjoy at home.

History organizations along Boston's iconic Freedom Trail and Black Heritage Trail will post daily about content and activities via their social media channels using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram while their websites provide constant valuable resources. Additionally, the Freedom Trail Foundation has created a special website page with a list of distance learning resources to help teachers and parents teach their students and for those interested in knowing more about Boston's historic treasures and our country's history.

For more information, please visit TheFreedomTrail.org/distance-learning-resources

Enclosure: Distance Learning Resources, available to date

Freedom Trail Official Historic Sites' Resources

King's Chapel

King's Chapel History Program blog. Visit kings-chapel.org/historyblog for up to date blog posts and new online content and resources.

Women's History Month digital exhibit kings-chapel.org/womenshistory.html

Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, and King's Chapel - connections to the May and Alcott families content kings-chapel.org/mayfamilyhistory.html

Old South Meeting House and Old State House - Revolutionary Spaces

Revolutionary Cards and Descriptions introduction to Bostonians whose experiences were shaped by the American Revolution revolutionarycharacters.org/

Educator Resources (Boston Massacre curriculum guides) for families and Lesson Plan Kits to open discussions and learn more about the Boston Massacre

revolutionaryspaces.org/educator-resources/

(Former) Bostonian Society Online Collections Catalog immerse oneself in objects and manuscripts related to the history of Boston and the Old South Meeting House bostonhistory.org/collections-catalog

Paul Revere House

Education Resources - experience Paul Revere House exhibits online and tune into lectures, recorded by the Forum Network paulreverehouse.org/resources/

Paul Revere House Articles help discover the story and legacy of Paul Revere and his family

paulreverehouse.org/

Old North Church & Historic Site

Old North Church Classroom Lessons allows for teachers to integrate the stories of Old North Church into their American Revolution Curriculum.

oldnorth.com/classroom-lessons/

"The Messenger" history blog provides articles ranging in topics from the Amistad to the narratives of Harriet Jacobs to life in 18th-century Boston linking the past to the present themessenger.oldnorth.com/

This Old Pew contains brief articles about the stories of people who have owned Old North Church's pews throughout its history oldnorth.com/this-old-pew/

Still Standing: 300 Years of the Clough House - Immerse yourself in the story of the Clough House through this exhibit narrative. In the story of this small brick building, one can see the story of the North End and the importance of preservation.

oldnorth.com/still-standing-300-years-of-the-clough-house-at-old-north/

USS Constitution & USS Constitution Museum

Daily Live Digital Tours - 1:00 p.m. daily, a USS Constitution Active Duty Sailor will host a tour of the ship for viewers to learn from and engage with the "Old Ironsides" from afar. facebook.com/ussconstitutionofficial/

USS Constitution Museum website has a host of online options to help engage with the stories of the USS Constitution. Their offerings include educator resources, digital collections, a museum blog, and hands-on activities families can do at home. ussconstitutionmuseum.org/

New interdisciplinary educator resource kits include primary sources, lesson plans, and at-home activities organized by major themes - Design and Construction, Life at Sea, Meet the Crew, War of 1812, and USS Constitution legacy. ussconstitutionmuseum.org/discover-learn/educator-resources/

A Sailor's Life for Me Launch April 1 - This dynamic online game and educator resource allows people of all ages to step into the shoes of an 1812 sailor and take on the tasks and challenges of life at sea, including scrubbing the deck, whacking rats in the hold, and sailing the ship at sea.

ussconstitutionmuseum.org/

"Old Ironsides" Activity Book invites young learners to explore the life of a young sailor on board USS Constitution during the War of 1812 from recruiting to battle to victorious homecoming. ussconstitutionmuseum.org/discover-learn/fun-games/

Hands-On Activities give step by step instructions from how to cook a sailor's meal to keeping a logbook, becoming a navigator to building USS Constitution with LEGO bricks and more. ussconstitutionmuseum.org/discover-learn/fun-games/

Weekly LEGO Contest

Families may participate in the weekly LEGO Ship Shape Competition via Facebook - on Mondays at 12:00 noon, a new contest will be posted with a Thursday 2:00 p.m. deadline (winners will be determined by online voting)

ussconstitutionmuseum.org/discover-learn/fun-games/

Engagefamilies.org features extensive research and strategies for family engagement for library and museum professionals.

Black Heritage Trail - Museum of African American History

Online Exhibit - details the life and legacy of the Abiel Smith School - the first public school created with the sole purpose of educating black children. maah.org/online_exhibit

Google Arts and Culture Exhibits invites visitors to take a Virtual Black Heritage Trail virtual tour and explore the "Freedom Rising" exhibit, which discusses Bostonian's fight for Civil Rights from the 1770s to the 1930s.

artsandculture.google.com/partner/museum-of-african-american-history-boston-nantucket

Freedom Trail Foundation Resources

This Day in History videos provide mini-history lessons for each day of the year by typing in the month and day into the search bar on the Foundation's YouTube page (Please Note: The videos describe American history and may need to be monitored before viewing with families). https://www.youtube.com/user/FreedomTrailBoston/search?query=TDIH

Hear History: Audio Guide of the Freedom Trail mp3 download, free for a limited time, for people to enjoy learning about the Freedom Trail official historic sites and more

www.dropbox.com/sh/f4lyqlojwggeumz/AAB0zVwHeP6zNzRjSovgldwha?dl=0

Contact:

Suzanne Taylor

Freedom Trail Foundation

staylor@thefreedomtrail.org

(617) 269-5233

SOURCE: Freedom Trail Foundation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583779/Freedom-Trail-and-Black-Heritage-Trail-Bring-History-Into-Homes-Near-and-Far
Tony Evers, then-Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin, speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic candidates in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, with just four days until the state's primary, called for a special legislative session on Saturday to cancel the in-person portion of voting in Tuesday's election because of coronavirus concerns.

Evers on Friday announced the session and said the state aims to shift to an all-mail voting system for the primary with a deadline of May 26 to get ballots in.

The governor has previously pushed for creating an all-mail system but has never floated the postponement of the state's primary. Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have previously shot down the idea of an all-mail system.

"If, as elected officials, we're going to expect the people of our state to make sacrifices to keep all of us safe, then, by golly, we better be willing do our part, too," Evers said in an announcement. "So, today I announced that I am calling the legislature into a special session to do its part  just as all of us are  to help keep our neighbors, our families, and our communities safe."

"I worked with the legislators several weeks ago, in talking about this exact same thing," Evers said. "They weren't interested, I believe they will be now. We are looking forward to having a great conversation with the legislature."

Evers also suggested that he would take other steps to keep people from voting in person at the booths if all-mail voting does not go into effect.

"If they take no action, we'll be looking at whatever action we can take," he said. "We will continue to find ways to make sure Wisconsinites are safe, and that's the bottom line."

The decision also comes as more than a dozen states and U.S. territories have adjusted their own presidential primaries, with some opting for a mail-in system to replace in-person voting and others delaying the primaries entirely.

Already, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way both former Vice President Joe Biden and Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders get their message out to voters. Both campaigns no longer do in-person events or rallies and have been relying on digital outreach to connect with voters.

Biden maintains a commanding lead over Sanders, having secured victories in most of the completed primaries. In March, Sanders was mulling his options, his campaign said in an email, but he has since given no indication he is ready to drop his bid.

Biden was the clear winner at the last nominating contests, which were held on March 17.

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the country, other national politicians have suggested that the outbreak could alter the way Americans vote.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said 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."

The coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than a million confirmed cases worldwide and over 53,000 deaths so far, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 245,500 cases in the United States and at least 6,058 deaths, according to the latest tallies.
Despite a ban on commercial passenger flights in bid to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the bodies of Indian expats who died in the UAE are being repatriated, slowly but surely

At a time when the living are grounded, the dead are flying back home to India from the UAE, bringing closure to their anxious family members.

While India suspended the entry of commercial passenger flights from 22 March, and the UAE closed its airspace from 26 March in a bid to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, even under these circumstances, the dead bodies of Indian expats are being repatriated, slowly but surely.

Since 22 March, about 17 cases of natural deaths have been registered with the Indian consulate in Dubai. Thanks to a few selfless social workers and help from the Office of Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai, many of these bodies have already been repatriated.

Guardian of the dead

Leading among them is one man  46-year-old Ashraf Thamarassery, a social worker, who has so far repatriated more than 5,600 bodies across 38 countries. He has been doing this for the past 20 years.

Ashraf, often described as the guardian of the dead, shot to fame in 2018 when he was quite instrumental in repatriating actress Sridevis body to India.

Like in most countries, the repatriation process in the UAE is also a long procedural loop involving ten different departments with multiple documentation. Ashraf, who owns a small business in a much lesser known Emirate called Ajman, dedicates all his time to help grieving families of the deceased to get their loved ones back from the UAE.

"Since the lockdown in India, we have managed to dispatch eight bodies through cargo planes of Emirates Airlines and Gulf Air, but nine bodies are still left, says Ashraf as he continues to toil over the challenges of accomplishing this task in these difficult times.

Since 26 March, the UAE government has implemented a National Sterilization Drive from 6 am to 8 pm until 5 April, imposing heavy fines on violators.

But for Ashraf, the hardest part is dealing with the families back home when it involves the death of a youth.

Among the bodies, Ashraf repatriated during the lockdown in India, were two young electrical engineers working in Dubai. Twenty-six-year-old Vishnu Raj, who died of a cardiac arrest and 27-year-old Manu Abraham whose cause of death is mentioned as 'unspecified injuries to head'.

"All of the deceased are men and none have died due to Coronavirus, confirms Ashraf adding that a 62-year-old Keralite, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 will be cremated in the UAE itself, as per the protocol mandated by UAEs Ministry of Health and Prevention.

The cost of repatriation invariably comes up to around 6,000 dirhams (Rs 1,24,700), which is usually born by the employer, but if in case of complications with the employer, the CGI bears the cost of repatriation, reveals Ashraf.

CGI to the rescue

Neeraj Agrawal, the Press Consul at the CGI in Dubai clarified that Air India does not charge for taking the body if the CGI is sending it, however, the local charges such as embalming, casket, documentation and other logistical costs are borne by the consulate.

"We use the Indian Committee Welfare Fund, which was set up in 2009 to assist overseas Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency in the most deserving cases," says Neeraj, adding that right now the challenge is more severe at the receiving end since India is under total lockdown.

The south connection

Interestingly, the bodies that have been repatriated since the lockdown in India have been only to Kerala  a state that already has well-oiled machinery in place to receive the bodies, even at this time. The fact that there are more than a million Keralites living in the UAE also merits this kind of support back home.

It also helps that most of the social workers like Ashraf hail from Kerala or other south Indian states. However, Neeraj says since there is no obligation for Indians to intimate the CGI in case the cremation is being done in the UAE itself, there are deaths of Indians here that he would not be aware of.

According to Neeraj, the CGI records four deaths daily on average, but since the lockdown in India that average has gone down.

This is a good thing, but if there have been more deaths, we request the Indian community to inform us so we can help, he says.
A protester outside Uber's office in Saugus, Massachusetts, last year.

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Uber promised financial assistance to drivers forced off the road by the coronavirus, but even some who appear to meet its strict eligibility criteria have been unable to get the company to pay them.

Multiple drivers, all of whom have underlying health conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the virus, told Business Insider that Uber had rejected or ignored their requests for sick pay after shutting down their accounts, despite doctor's notes.

While Uber immediately blocked them from driving, effectively cutting off their income, drivers say the company's response has left them frustrated and out of a paycheck at a time when they need it most.

"We remain committed to working with drivers and delivery people around the world to help support them. We will continue to advocate for independent workers," Uber said in a statement to Business Insider.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Zachary Frenette has driven for Uber in Phoenix, Arizona, for the past two years, earning "Diamond" status and a 4.96 average rating during that time, while completing more than 4,300 trips in the past year alone. He's also HIV positive, meaning he has a weakened immune system that puts him at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms or dying from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

On March 18, two of his passengers, both coughing and sneezing, said they had just left a relative's house who had tested positive for the virus. So, Frenette immediately stopped accepting rides and went to his doctor, who wrote him a letter telling him to self quarantine to "limit exposure and potential spread" of the virus. He then submitted that letter to Uber, which deactivated his driver account in an apparent effort to limit his contact with other passengers.

"My livelihood was in immediate risk," Frenette said.

Frenette, who relies mainly on Uber for his income, knew that Uber had a program to pay drivers who couldn't work because of risk of spreading the coronavirus. And with a doctor's note highlighting his possible exposure, he assumed the company would honor its policy  after all, they shut off his account as part of it.

Story continues

But Frenette and multiple other Uber drivers told Business Insider that the company hasn't given them the pay promised despite their heightened exposure or risk, leaving them without pay and unable to work. Some also raised concerns that shutting down accounts but not compensating drivers who follow the agreement risks disincentivizing drivers from self-quarantining in the middle of a pandemic.

Statewide lockdowns across more than half of the US have forced thousands of drivers like Frenette off the roads, both to protect their own health as well as others'  while those still driving have struggled to make any money, with rides dropping by as much as 94% in the US.

Earlier in March, in recognition of the precarious situation drivers have found themselves, Uber announced its intention to support them through a coronavirus financial assistance policy. Effectively a form of sick pay, the program promises to compensate drivers for up to 14 days, with the daily amount varying based on how much they had earned on the platform over the past six months.

But the initial policy was criticized for only applying to drivers who had confirmed cases of COVID-19 or were placed in quarantine by public health officials. Given the extremely limited availability of testing, Uber's policy made it nearly impossible for many drivers to prove they had or were at risk of spreading the disease, which can be highly contagious even if a person isn't showing symptoms.

After a backlash, Uber expanded the program to include drivers "personally asked by a public health authority or licensed medical provider to self-isolate due to your risk of spreading COVID-19" as well as drivers whose accounts are "restricted by Uber as a result of information provided by a public health authority that you have been diagnosed or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19," according to its website.

Uber drivers told Business Insider that even the new criteria was nearly impossible to meet. Some, like Frenette, said the company still wouldn't pay up even with a doctor's note detailing their risk of spreading COVID-19.

The company said in a statement that it had "been providing payments to eligible drivers and delivery people," but did not elaborate how many drivers were eligible, or why some drivers' claims were not answered, except to direct Business Insider to its policy.

"It seems like this is largely a PR campaign ... to make it seem to the public like they're doing something something for their extremely vulnerable drivers" said Veena Dubal, a professor of employment and labor law at the University of California, Hastings who focuses specifically on the gig economy.

A high bar

Frenette believed he met the new criteria  risk of spreading the disease, account deactivated  yet Uber denied his claim, sending him a generic replies without explaining why he wasn't eligible. After he called customer support "20 to 30 times," Frenette got a response from Uber saying his documentation needed to cite his "risk of spreading COVID-19 as the reason" for his quarantine.

So, Frenette got his doctor to write a second note specifically mentioning that his March 18 ride meant he was at risk of spreading coronavirus as well as reiterating the risk to his health due to his weakened immune system, still to no avail.

Eli Martin, a driver in Chicago who has cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects the lungs (chronic lung diseases have been shown to put people at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19), told Business Insider that he has had similar difficulties clearing the bar set by Uber, despite submitting a doctor's note instructing him to quarantine and get tested for coronavirus due to reporting a dry cough, sore throat, fatigue, and body aches  the symptoms most commonly seen in patients with the virus. Martin could not get tested because of limited availability of kits.

Uber has specifically said that "other health conditions" do not qualify someone for compensation, leaving its most vulnerable drivers in the lurch. That's prompted backlash from people like Nicole Knesek, a Sacramento-based driver who received a kidney transplant last year that requires her to take anti-rejection drugs, leaving her immune system suppressed.

"They just don't think about anyone but themselves," said Knesek, who told Business Insider her claim was rejected as well amid confusing and seemingly shifting criteria. "They changed it to work for them," she said.

Frenette echoed her critique about Uber's policy not covering those most at risk from the virus. "Preemptively, that should have already been introduced."

But Frenette and Martin both submitted doctor's notes that, in addition to mentioning their preexisting health conditions, noted their possible exposure to the virus and potential to spread it as a result.

"That's literally exactly what they're asking for, that's the exact wording," Martin said.

While these drivers have spent weeks, going back and forth with Uber, sometimes waiting multiple days for a reply, the company managed to deactivate their accounts almost immediately. All three said Uber banned them from driving within a day of submitting doctor's notes, implying it had acknowledged they shouldn't be in contact with passengers  either to protect themselves or others.

Under Uber's criteria, those deactivations should have entitled the drivers to financial assistance, but even though they're not able to earn income on the platform, the company still hasn't agreed to pay them under the policy.

"The safety and well-being of drivers on the Uber app is always our priority," Uber said in a statement to Business Insider, adding that it has "a dedicated team working around the clock to support drivers and delivery people."

'They just don't take drivers' safety seriously'

Regardless of the technicalities of Uber's coronavirus sick pay policy, the drivers expressed frustration more generally that the company isn't doing more to support them at a time when they need help the most  and when Uber has publicly stated its intention to do so.

"Every time Uber comes out with something that sounds like it's going to help drivers, in my experience, it typically doesn't or is a colossal failure," Martin said, adding, "they just don't take driver's safety seriously."

"Uber should be held strongly accountable for their actions if they're going to publicly portray themselves as generous, magnanimous, and caring, sharing part of this burden... and then turn around and completely dismiss, ignore and lie to the people they're vowing to help," Frenette said.

Part of that advocacy has been in the form of lobbying Congress to include benefits for gig workers in its $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill, which it ultimately did in the form of making them eligible for unemployment insurance for the first time.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, in a letter to lawmakers, also pushed for a third categorization of employee  somewhere in between full-time workers who enjoy benefits like healthcare and sick pay and independent contractors who don't  that could keep Uber from having to pay for those benefits.

Critics criticized the move, however, accusing Uber of using the coronavirus outbreak as cover to ask taxpayers for a bailout.

"It's so cruel, they're essentially taking advantage of a pandemic to try and create laws and regulations that specifically accommodate their illegal business model," Dubal said.

Do you drive for Uber, Lyft, Instacart, DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates or any other gig work company? We'd love to hear what life is like for you during the coronavirus pandemic. Contact this reporter via phone or encrypted messaging app Signal (+1 503-319-3213), email (tsonnemaker@businessinsider.com), or Twitter (@TylerSonnemaker). We can keep sources anonymous. PR pitches by email only, please.

Read the original article on Business Insider
According to President, next deliveries from China will be sent to Ternopil and Chernivtsi regions

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky told what steps the authorities are taking to solve problems in Ukrainian medical facilities, as 112 Ukraine TV channel reports.

According to Zelensky, in the Ternopil region, work is continuing on providing doctors to the city of Monastyrsk.

"The staff of the medical staff is fully staffed and continues to work, for which many thanks to them. As of now, there are 4 ventilation machines in the hospital. The local government will buy more, the relevant tender has been placed at ProZorro. The workers are provided with suits and respirators for the coming days, work is underway their full provision with everything necessary," the President said.

The President also noted that medics in the city of Dubno drew attention to the fact that emergency doctors were not provided with personal protective equipment.

From Kyiv, we sent 1,000 protective suits and 6,000 masks specifically for medical workers. But the Department of Health of the Rivne region, distributing funds, unfortunately, made a mistake and did not pass emergency medical care. Yesterday the issue was partially resolved, Zelensky emphasized.

In addition, the President of Ukraine recalled that ambulance workers from Zaporizhya rightly complained that they were not included in the list of health workers who would receive a cash bonus for countering coronavirus.

As we reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree on providing humanitarian assistance to Italy in order to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic.
I was driving on sand-covered roads, beneath downed power lines and past a giant floating casino pushed onto the shore within a day of Hurricane Katrina hitting the Gulf Coast in late August 2005. Our sister newspaper in Gulfport, Mississippi, needed help as they covered their trashed community and dealt with their homes after a 26-foot swell of water flooded them.

I saw firsthand what the response to a disaster looks like.

There were government pronouncements and press conferences, but days stretched into weeks as people waited. No one seemed to be in charge, and the more distant the government unit the more it obstructed rather than helped.

What did work were things closest to the disaster. Help came from locals helping locals. It came from churches and charities. And it came from private businesses.

Neighborhoods became tribes, with one woman on a camp stove cooking a big pot of stew for anyone who came. The local Missionary Baptist church was a center for supplies, relief and volunteer labor after networking with out-of-state churches. Walmart quickly came in with cash and supplies, after navigating the federal blockade, and Home Depot quickly got building materials into residents hands.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a very different disaster, but there are similar patterns. Disaster again pulls together communities  even when its members are told to keep their distance. And disaster lays bare our weaknesses.

Social distancing requires that we place to-go orders to keep our local eateries viable, on the Great American Take Out Day and later. Quarantines may mean caring for elderly relatives using video calls to undo the isolation. Those with sewing skills offer to make masks. Moms and youngsters place a rose on each car at Highland Park Hospital to thank weary health care workers.

Food banks are rethinking how they safely serve a growing need, with shortages creating purchasing challenges at the same time jobless ranks are swelling and children are home all day. Private companies are responding, with automakers volunteering to retool for production of ventilators and personal protective equipment.

The government closest to people again seems to work best, with schools providing lunches for students even while classrooms are closed. Gloved workers at Chatham Elementary, near Springfield, Illinois, hand sacks with breakfasts and lunches out the back door of the school when parents drive up.

With the death toll climbing past 1,100 in the U.S., our communities, our institutions and government are critical to handling COVID-19. The individual choices we make every day will curb or aggravate the pandemic. Then the policies we collectively pursue will either let us bounce back or aggravate the economic disaster.

The pandemic is still new but already there has been plenty to make us cringe: partisan games and personal hoarding topping the list. But disaster shows us something else about our species, something that Fred Rogers mom was wise enough to see.

When her small son saw scary things on the news, she would say: Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.

You may not need to look far during this scary time.

That helper may even be you.

Brad Weisenstein is editor at the Illinois Policy Institute. He spent more than 30 years as an editor at his hometown newspaper. Brad wrote this column for The Center Square.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. (FSM) (FVI.TO) provides an update on the status of its operations (refer to Fortuna news release dated March 17, 2020 ), production and cost guidance for 2020 and its financial position in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.



Caylloma Mine, Peru

On Sunday, March 15, 2020, the Government of Peru introduced a series of measures to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 which included: the closing of international borders and a declaration of a fifteen-day period of mandatory national social isolation. The period of social isolation has been subsequently extended to April 12, 2020.

The Company is working under the regulatory framework issued by the Ministerio de Energia y Minas (MINEM) and the Ministerio del Interior (MININTER), which allows mines to operate during this period with essential personnel. The Caylloma Mine continues to operate with a reduced task force drawing ore from its coarse ore stockpile. The transportation of concentrates and essential supplies continues to be permitted, and the operation has sufficient stock of critical supplies, consumables, and camp provisions to cover the extended isolation period.

San Jose Mine, Mexico

On March 31, 2020, the Government of Mexico announced extraordinary measures in response to the spread of COVID-19, which includes the suspension of all non-essential activities, including mining, until April 30, 2020. As a result, the Company has initiated the orderly temporary suspension of mining and processing activities. A reduced task force will remain on site to safeguard critical infrastructure and maintain environmental monitoring through the suspension period.

Lindero Project, Argentina

On March 19, 2020, the Government of Argentina declared effective at midnight a period of mandatory national social isolation in relation to COVID-19, effective until March 31, 2020. The period of isolation has been subsequently extended until April 13, 2020. All construction activities have been temporarily halted at Lindero and a reduced task force remains on site to maintain critical activities including security and environmental monitoring over the extended isolation period.

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The Company is assessing the impact of the temporary suspension of construction on the projects timeline and budget.

2020 Production and Cost Guidance

As a result of the government-mandated constraints on business in the countries that host our operations and the uncertainties related to these constraints, the Company is currently unable to determine the impact on its production and cost guidance for 2020. Therefore, the Company is withdrawing production and cost guidance for 2020 (refer to Fortuna news release dated February 20, 2020 ) until further notice.

Financial Position

As of the financial year ended December 31, 2019, Fortuna had total liquidity available of $123.4 million, comprised of $83.4 million in cash and an undrawn amount of $40 million (subsequently drawn) under its $150 million credit facility. An aggregate of $30 million matures on December 31, 2020, with the balance maturing in January 2022.

The credit facility requires the Company to maintain a debt to EBITDA ratio of not more than 3:1. As of the financial year ended December 31, 2019, the debt to EBITDA ratio was 1.7:1.

The Company has implemented measures to reduce spending and capital expenses consistent with the current uncertain business environment. These measures include the postponement of approximately 40 percent of sustaining capital budgets, a 60 percent reduction in the Brownfields exploration budget and reductions in senior executive annual compensation and other corporate expenses.

About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.

Fortuna is a growth oriented, precious metals producer focused on mining opportunities in Latin America. Our primary assets are the Caylloma silver Mine in southern Peru, the San Jose silver-gold Mine in Mexico and the Lindero gold Project, currently under construction, in Argentina. The Company is selectively pursuing acquisition opportunities throughout the Americas and in select other areas. For more information, please visit our website at www.fortunasilver.com .

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Jorge A. Ganoza

President, CEO and Director

Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.

Trading symbols: NYSE: FSM | TSX: FVI

Investor Relations:

Carlos Baca

T (Peru): +51.1.616.6060, ext. 0

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, Forward-looking Statements). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward-looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward-looking Statements. The Forward-looking Statements in this news release may include, without limitation, statements about the duration and effects of COVID-19 and any other pandemics on the Companys workforce, business, operations and financial condition, and the risks relating to a global pandemic, which unless contained could cause a slowdown in global economic growth and impact the Companys business, operations, financial condition and share price; the duration of the suspension of operations at the San Jose mine and the Lindero Project and the reduced operations at the Caylloma mine, the production and cost forecasts and guidance for 2020 . Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as estimated, potential, open, future, assumed, projected, used, detailed, has been, gain, planned, reflecting, will, containing, remaining, to be, or statements that events, could or should occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Forward-looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, the worldwide economic and social impact of COVID-19, the duration and extent of COVID-19,changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; the duration of government restrictions on business related to COVID-19; changes in prices for silver and other metals; technological and operational hazards in Fortunas mining and mine development activities; risks inherent in mineral exploration; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries; changes to current estimates of mineral reserves and resources; changes to production estimates; governmental and other approvals; changes in government, political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active; labor relations issues; as well as those factors discussed under Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Information Form. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking Statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to the management of the worldwide economic and social impact of COVID-19, that the duration and extent of COVID-19 is minimized and not long-term, the expected trends in mineral prices and currency exchange rates; the accuracy of the Companys current mineral resource and reserve estimates; that the Companys activities will be in accordance with the Companys public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained; that there will be no significant disruptions affecting operations and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking Statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in its legal proceedings or that these Forward-looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward-looking Statements.
The fact that I am writing this from home, in a New York City that has been more or less shut down, with the National Guard checked into neighboring hotels and, just a few blocks away, Gothams principal conference center hosting an emergency hospital, is a reminder that to dismiss almost anything these days as an impossibility is unwise. And so, yes, it is possible that Andrew Cuomo could be chosen as the Democratic nominee at whatever sort of convention the party is able to hold in Milwaukee in August. But it is also extremely unlikely.

In the Washington Post, Katrina vanden Heuvel has written what, on first sight, looks like a paean to Cuomo:

Andrew M. Cuomo is having quite a moment. Using the bully pulpit that the first Gov. Roosevelt, Theodore, made famous, the current governor of the Empire State hopes to emerge as our eras equivalent to the second Gov. Roosevelt, Franklin. Its an astounding, complex transformation brought on by the coronavirus crucible, and the nation is transfixed. The pandemic is Cuomos Great Depression. Unlike our juvenile president, Cuomo has been clear, compassionate and inspiring these past weeks. He has taken the words of Franklin Roosevelt to heart (and to Twitter): The news is going to get worse and worse before it gets better and better, and the American people deserve to have it straight from the shoulder.

Vanden Heuvel is hardly the first pundit to pick up on this train of thought, either. Kathleen Parker, writing in the same newspaper, beat her to the punch by a week:

Unlike Trumps self-indulgent soliloquies, Cuomos statements were straightforward, honest, factual and, despite the dire statistics, refreshingly reassuring. He understands that adults can absorb information and respond appropriately.

Well, yes and no, if his performance at a press briefing on March 24 is any indication. At times he seemed to echo the profoundly dishonest claim that we are confronted with a choice between reviving the economy and preserving human life (it really isnt that simple: If the economy founders, it will take lives with it), but at others he appeared to acknowledge, if only tacitly, the more complicated reality: The economys current plight is unsustainable. Some way has to be found to get people back to their jobs (younger workers, perhaps, or those who have recovered from the virus). The notion that this will not involve some calculation of acceptable levels of risk and, by extension, loss of life is nonsense, however eloquently Cuomo might maintain otherwise:

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My mother is not expendable, your mother is not expendable, and our brothers and sisters are not expendable, and were not going to accept the premise that human life is disposable, and were not going to put a dollar figure on human life.

Nevertheless, it would be churlish to deny that, so far, the governor is having, as Brits used to say, a good war. He has been decisive without rushing into drastic measures such as lockdowns until he has believed that they are unavoidable, and hes proving to be an effective manager. He has also, even to more critical observers than vanden Heuvel and Parker  i.e. his constituents  looked and sounded like a governor should: According to a Siena College poll released on Monday, 87 percent of New Yorkers, including 87 percent of independents, approve of the job he is doing in tackling the pandemic.

Under the circumstances, its unsurprising that some Democrats, dismayed at the prospect of being led into the election by either aging fanatic Bernie Sanders or doddering Joe Biden, are looking to Cuomo as an alternative. And its probably not only Democrats who feel that way. Ever helpful, Donald Trump himself has said that Cuomo would be a better candidate than Sleepy Joe.

Cuomo, who was early to endorse Biden, has repeatedly said, including in an interview on Monday, that he is not thinking of running for president, wording that does not technically rule out being drafted. But how that could be achieved remains, for now, hard to imagine. It would be extraordinarily difficult for Biden to hand Cuomo the crown, even if he wanted to, and Sanders and his supporters would never play along. It may say more about their ideological intensity than Cuomos fairly liberal politics, but theres little love lost between New Yorks governor and the partys progressive grassroots. Even vanden Heuvel, a long-term champion of the Left, seemed to imply that her support for Cuomo was conditioned on the assumption that he would move in her direction, becoming an impressive and persuasive salesman for policies in which he may not actually believe.

Even the vice-presidential slot, which is rather more important in a contest where  again, at least for now  the options are all men in their 70s with less than perfect health, looks closed to Cuomo given Bidens promise that he would pick a woman as his running mate. Its possible, I suppose, to dream up an exquisitely choreographed pantomime in which Biden offered the job to a woman who then declined it in favor of Cuomo, but to describe such a scenario as far-fetched is an understatement.

Theres also the little matter of what ditching New York in the middle of its fight against the coronavirus would do to the governors reputation as someone who can be relied upon in a crisis. Even if the pandemic peaks in the state at the end of this month, theres every danger that it will return later in the year. And even after its routed more permanently, the economic mess that it and the measures taken to combat it have created will be a long, long way from resolution. Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight Eisenhower owed their presidencies in no small part to the qualities of leadership they had shown in wartime, but their wars had been won before they took aim at the presidency. Cuomo will be very lucky indeed if he is able to declare victory in his war any time soon. To leave New York before then  whether to run for president or take a post in a Biden administration  would look uncomfortably like desertion.

The best guess, therefore, is that Cuomo  who, whatever he says, has always had eyes for the White House  will stay in Albany and run for a fourth term as governor in 2022. Quite what politics will look like in that year, both within the Democratic Party and outside it, is, in the wake of COVID-19, unusually tricky to predict, but if Cuomo manages to win reelection again, he ought to be well-placed to take advantage of whatever 2024 may have to offer him. Quite what that might be, however, is impossible to say.

More from National Review
Just one week after Julian Assanges request for bail in recognition of the threat posed to his life by COVID-19 was denied, the spread of the coronavirus through the prison system is escalating alarmingly.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange [Credit: AP Photo/Matt Dunham]

The WikiLeaks founder, held in Belmarsh prison facing extradition to the US for exposing war crimes, has a chronic lung condition and has had his health destroyed by a decade of mistreatment by the British state, amounting to psychological torture.

Already on Monday, 55 inmates were reported infected across 21 different prisons in the UK, plus 18 prison staff and four escort staff. The number of prisoners testing positive was double the total just three days before. By Tuesday, the number had risen again to 65, across 23 prisons. According to the Mirror, around 6,000 prison and probation staff are currently in self-isolation12 percent of the workforce. Two prisoners have already been killed by the virus, the first on March 22 and the second on March 26.

The direction of travel is indicated by Rikers Jail in New York city. On March 31 there were 180 reported cases in the prison out of a population of 4,604, meaning an infection rate eight times higher than the already severely affected city itself.

In the UK, the barbaric response of the authorities has been to cohort prisoners who display coronavirus-type symptoms, like a fever or cough, with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The Guardian reports that last week in Wandsworth prison in South West London, 12 coronavirus patients were kept with another 40 inmates with coughs and respiratory problems in the same isolation wing and in shared cells. This is in line with Ministry of Justice (MoJ) virus guidelines which read, If facing multiple cases of those displaying symptoms, cohorting, or the gathering of potentially infected cases into a designated area, may be necessary. There are apparently no plans for more tests at the prison and one wing has had no hot water supply for a week.

Unsanitary conditions are commonplace throughout the prisons system. A report from the National Audit Office earlier this year revealed a general state of chronic disrepair, including leaking rooms, broken heating systems and rat infestations. Last year, prison inspectors found that ten out of the thirty-five institutions they inspected did not meet minimum standards of cleanliness and infection-control compliance.

Belmarsh prison has a poor record on infection control. Noting that Assange has previously had significant dental problems, the Daily Maverick writes that a 2007 report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons discovered that infection control was inadequate, citing a lack of infection control measures in the dental suite.

The Daily Maverick article also references inspections from 2009 and 2011 which concluded that infection control and decontamination standards were still not sufficiently good and that the dental surgery should be refurbished to meet infection control guidelines. In 2013, another report found that this recommendation was not achieved. Last year, the Independent Monitoring Boards reported that major safety and decency concerns remain, while the state of the showers and many of the toilets across the prison is appalling.

Given these appalling conditions, prisoners rights groups have called for the release of older, non-violent and vulnerable inmates.

Deborah Coles, director of the charity Inquest, sent an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying, People in prison are already dying. Many detention settings already have the virus within their walls, with thousands of frontline staff self-isolating the prison service is making plans to store the bodies of prisoners who will die in the coming months The government has a legal and moral obligation to protect the lives of detained persons from a foreseeable danger to their health.

Emily Bolton, legal director of advocacy group Appeal, stated, For the government to leave prisoners to die of Covid-19 behind bars when these deaths could be avoided is like leaving prisoners to drown in Orleans parish prison when the waters rose after Hurricane Katrina time is running out to avoid minor offences becoming capital crimes, and life sentences from becoming death sentences.

Faced with a catastrophe, the government is making a few very limited moves to release some prisoners.

Around 200 inmates in Northern Irelandroughly 7 percent of the totalwho are currently in the last three months of their sentence for non-violent offences will be released soon, under curfew and conditions which restrict their contacts with others. Scottish prisons are considering similar plans, with Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf saying, We are actively looking at options to do that. It could happen as early as next week. The situation is increasingly alarming.

In England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has said pregnant women not considered a high risk to the public will be temporarily issued with an electronic tag within days.

Any additional releases are understood to have been ruled out. The Justice department insists that robust contingency plans have been put in place. No consideration whatsoever will be given to Assangeone of only two prisoners held on remand, as an innocent man, in Belmarsh maximum security prison.

In a video released on Wednesday, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said, A week ago, Magistrates Court Judge Vanessa Baraitser denied the request to set Julian Assange free on bail because of the extraordinary circumstances of Covid-19. She did so by citing that there were no known cases of Covid-19 in Belmarsh prison and that she had full faith in the prison authorities.

Only a few hours later that same day those authorities had to admit that there were numerous cases of Covid-19 in the UK prisons. And those numbers have been going up day by day. Last week we knew that more than a hundred guards in Belmarsh were staying at home in self-isolation, and those numbers have now escalated. We have learned now that they doubled over the weekend

The media reports today that prisoners with flu-like symptoms are forced to share cells with other inmates. This is outrageous if not criminal. This cannot go on. No one knows how widespread the virus is at the prison. No one is testing

It doesnt take an expert to understand that the prison environment is the worst environment for illnesses such as Covid-19. The parliamentary group of the Council of Europe has said that theres only one journalist in a UK prison. That journalist is Julian Assange. He has to be released immediately. Do not forget that he is on remand. He is innocent according to the law. Release Julian Assange right now.

Doctors for Assange have released a statement saying, [District Judge] Baraitser did not address the increased risk to Mr Assange relative to the general UK prison population, let alone prisoners at HMP Belmarsh where Assange is incarcerated. Nor did she address the rapidly emerging medical and legal consensus that vulnerable and low-risk prisoners should be released, immediately

Baraitsers assurance that government measures were adequate to protect Mr Assange rang hollow on the very day the UK government announced that Prince Charles tested positive for Covid-19. If the UK government cannot protect its own royal family from the disease, how can it adequately protect its most vulnerable prisoners in prisons, which have been described as breeding grounds for coronavirus?

The British ruling class are using one monstrous crime to achieve another. Their inaction in response to the pandemic has created a time-bomb in UK prisons whose consequences they now intend Assange to suffer. They would be happy to see him die. More than ever, his life depends on the defence of WikiLeaks and democratic rights becoming a mass issue in the international working class. We encourage everyone to join the Global Defence Campaign and publicise its work and material widely.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio  A federal judge on Friday declined to step in and change a plan Ohio lawmakers unanimously approved to alter the states primary election, which will now be held almost solely by mail through April 28 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. District Judge Michael Watson ruled that a coalition of voting-rights groups that filed suit Monday over the Ohio legislatures plan did not show that the rights of residents would be disenfranchised enough to override the law.

Even if the plan, named House Bill 197, isnt perfect, thats not enough to intervene, the judge wrote in his 27-page opinion.

The Constitution does not require the best plan, just a lawful one, wrote Watson, whose courtroom is in Columbus. As is apparent from the briefing in this lawsuit, every group has a different idea of what the best plan would be. But the Court will not declare the Ohio Legislatures unanimous bill to be unconstitutional simply because other options may have been better.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a statement that did not address the ruling but said that in these challenging times, Ohioans deserve an election done fairly and safely, and thats exactly what were going to do.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, which represented the groups, said in a statement that we are disappointed in the Courts decision not to order changes to protect voters from disenfranchisement.

The statement continued: We will be watching the execution of the April 28 primary closely. If Ohios process prevents people from voting, it will have denied its citizens fundamental rights. And the state will hear from us.

The primary election was previously set for March 17, though Ohio Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton closed polling places out of concern for the coronavirus-related risks associated with large gatherings. Acton previously issued orders banning mass gatherings for the same reason.

State lawmakers late last month set aside a proposal from LaRose to preserve an in-person vote on June 2 and instead send postcards with instructions on how to obtain absentee-ballot applications to all registered voters who hadnt previously voted early. Voters generally will be required to use their own postage stamp to send in their ballot application, and the process will go through April 28.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, while he signed the bill, noted that he would have liked a longer timeline for voters.

Lawmakers said wrapping the primary up sooner would allow for the states presidential delegates to be seated in time for the Republican and Democratic national conventions. They also noted that local government and education groups, which seek resolution on local levies and other ballot issues, need the results sooner because of their fiscal years.

The League of Women Voters of Ohio, the Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute and several state voters said in their lawsuit that the states timeline is too fast to conduct a proper election. They asked the court to take several steps, including pushing back the date, ordering county boards of elections to direct mail primary ballots with pre-paid envelopes, and expanding in-person voting. The states plan only allows disabled and homeless voters to cast ballots in person.

The groups also wanted the judge to re-open voter registration until 30 days before the end of voting.

But Watson, a President George W. Bush appointee, sided with the states argument that the April 28 deadline is not a new election date, but rather just a modification and extension of the date by which voters  who were otherwise eligible and prepared to cast their votes in-person on March 17, 2020  can submit their votes, primarily by absentee ballot.

He noted that the original registration deadline, Feb. 18, came and went before the state made any changes to the original election date, and Ohio did not violate the National Voter Registration Act.

As for whether the process is complicated enough to discourage voter participation and leaves no room for error, Watson shot down those arguments as well. He said voters had many chances to cast ballots either at boards of elections or by mail before the original primary date.

As for whether a stamp is akin to a poll tax, something expressly forbidden by the 24th Amendment, the judge characterized it as an evenhanded restriction that protects the integrity of the election.

The judge acknowledged that the short timeline does pose a burden on voters and that any delay on the part of a voter, board of election, or postal workers could result in a ballot not being counted.

Nonetheless, at the time the State enacted H.B. 197, this timeframe was justified, and it remains so, he wrote.

Read more:

Voting rights groups sue over Ohio primary elections new April 28 date, seeking in-person voting

Ohio lawmakers sets all-mail primary election through April 28; legal challenge still possible

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose proposes pre-paid, statewide mail vote for delayed primary
Few run toward the dying. Even fewer run toward the contagious.

But chaplains do. They ministered to the sick before this pandemic turned their hospitals into war zones. And they will do so after this plague subsides, whenever that day comes.

Doctors and nurses focus on healing the physical; chaplains are there for everything else. They are men and women from every religious background and none. Their job is not to convert, or to convince people to believe in God. Some dont believe in God themselves. Their job, in the words of the Rev. Kaylin Milazzo, a palliative care chaplain at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, is to be present with people in their suffering. Theirs is a ministry of presence.

In the world B.C.  Before Covid  the place of the hospital chaplain was at the bedside, holding a patients hand, counseling them and their family members, singing with them, crying with them, hugging them, offering the eucharist, or a prayer for healing. None of that is allowed now.

Family members are barred from hospitals. There are no masks and gowns to spare for chaplains, so they arent allowed into patients rooms. The sickest patients cant speak because of the breathing tubes in their mouths; many are unconscious.
On April 2, 2020, the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts entered a final judgment against Patrick Muraca and two biotechnology companies he controlled, NanoMolecularDX, LLC and MetaboRX, LLC for defrauding investors, ordering Muraca to disgorge over $400,000 in ill-gotten gains.

According to the SEC's complaint, filed on July 31, 2017, Muraca established two pharmaceutical development companies and raised nearly $1.2 million by representing that investor money would be used to develop products to detect cancer and other diseases. The SEC traced the flow of investor funds into Muraca's personal bank account and alleged that at least $400,000 had been used to pay rent for the restaurants and fund other purchases by Muraca, including payments to a casino, automotive shop, and cigar shop. The SEC's complaint alleged that investors were never informed of the alternative uses of their investments in NanoMolecularDX, LLC and MetaboRX, LLC.

On December 5, 2019, the court granted the SEC's motion for summary judgment, finding that Muraca, NanoMolecularDX, LLC and MetaboRX, LLC had violated the securities laws, and now the court has entered the final judgment, permanently enjoining Muraca from violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, barring Muraca from acting as an officer or director of a public company, and ordering Muraca to pay $411,684 in disgorgement, plus $31,442 in prejudgment interest, and post-judgment interest.

On August 8, 2018, in a related criminal action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Muraca was found guilty on all charges, including one count of wire fraud and one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement officers. Muraca was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment on January 10, 2019.

The Commission thanks the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for its assistance.
New Delhi, April 3 : A Delhi court on Friday extended the police custody of suspended Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police officer Davinder Singh till April 10.

Special Judge Munish Markan of Delhi's Patiala House Court extended his custody after the city police said that he needs to be confronted with three other accused in the case.

The tainted Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was nabbed from the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on January 11 while ferrying two militants -- Naveed Babu alias Babar Azam, his associate Asif Ahmad and a civilian.

Delhi Police's Special Cell had brought Davinder Singh to Delhi from Hira Nagar Jail in J&K earlier this month, for interrogation in another case.

The custody of the other accused -- Javed Iqbal, Syed Naveed Mushtaq and Imran Shafi Mir -- was also extended till April 10 by the court on the police 's plea.

The court had earlier sent Mushtaq and others to the custody of police till April 3 after the city police claimed that they were planning to execute terror attacks in the national capital and other parts of the country.

The police, on Friday told the court that their interrogation was required to unearth the larger conspiracy and role of the accused, to trace the details of the financial transactions and to verify and trace other offenders.

The Delhi Police had registered an FIR under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The FIR said that the youths of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab are being trained to carry out terrorist activities.

It has also mentioned D Company and gangster Chhota Shakeel. Davinder Singh was taken into custody under this FIR, although his name is not mentioned in it.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 06:53 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f5b861 1 Politics KUHP,Criminal-Code-amendment,Lawmakers,house-of-representatives,Golkar,student-protest,casual-sex Free

The House of Representatives has set a target of one week to resolve the problematic revisions to the Criminal Code (KUHP) and the 1995 Correctional Facility Law during the COVID-19 pandemic.

House deputy speaker Azis Syamsuddin, who is also a member of the House Commission III overseeing legal affairs, said the Commission's chairs had requested the bills be passed after a week of deliberations.

"We [House leadership] have coordinated with the Commission III leaders. They requested a week to deliberate the bill before handing it to the plenary session," Azis said while chairing a plenary session on Thursday at the House building in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

The Golkar Party politician, however, did not mention whether the Commission III would pick up where the previous batch of lawmakers had finished their discussions or open a new page on the Criminal Code revisions. The previous House lawmakers who ended their terms in October last year had begun deliberating the bills but a public outcry and massive street protests had halted the process. The protesters argued that the bills would threaten democracy and curtail civil rights.

Rights activists criticized the House, saying they should not take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to rush deliberations and dismiss public participation.

Activists from the National Alliance for the Reform of the Criminal Code said the government and the House should not use the pandemic as an opportunity to discuss and ratify the problematic bills.

The alliance noted that the final draft of the Criminal Code still included many controversial articles that would over-criminalize common practices, including articles to restore a ban on insulting the President that had been repealed by the Constitutional Court, as well as stipulations on morality that criminalize, among other things, consensual sex by unmarried people, cohabitation and the promotion of contraception.

"We called on the deliberation to be immediately postponed until the situation has recovered, they said in a written statement on Thursday.
Researchers conclude that Zoom uses non-industry-standard cryptographic techniques with identifiable weaknesses and is not suitable for sensitive communications.

A team of researchers at The Citizen Lab says the suddenly popular videoconferencing app Zoom uses a non-standard method of encryption, and transmits user information through China. If true, huge: the concern is that China could have access to all the encryption keys needed to access the contents of all those calls.

Read the report:

Move Fast & Roll Your Own Crypto

A Quick Look at the Confidentiality of Zoom Meetings

By Bill Marczak and John Scott-Railton

April 3, 2020

citizenlab.ca

The researchers advise against use of Zoom by government officials (Boris Johnson is using the app for Cabinet meetings), but say the app is fine for keeping in touch or other forms of low-security group communication, for most users.

Me? I ain't installing that app for nothing and nobody.

The Citizen Lab's report warns Zoom "may not be suitable" for:

 Governments and businesses worried about espionage

 Healthcare providers handling sensitive patient information

 Activists, lawyers and journalists working on sensitive topics

But "our findings should not necessarily be concerning", the report said.

They also note that "Zoom appears to own three companies in China through which at least 700 employees are paid to develop Zoom's softwarethis arrangement may make Zoom responsive to pressure from Chinese authorities."

More at Wired, BBC News.

Here's a snip from Bruce Schneier's takeaway on the news today:

Over the past few weeks, Zoom's use has exploded since it became the video conferencing platform of choice in today's COVID-19 world. (My own university, Harvard, uses it for all of its classes.) Over that same period, the company has been exposed for having both lousy privacy and lousy security. My goal here is to summarize all of the problems and talk about solutions and workarounds. In general, Zoom's problems fall into three broad buckets: (1) bad privacy practices, (2) bad security practices, and (3) bad user configurations. Privacy first: Zoom spies on its users for personal profit. It seems to have cleaned this up somewhat since everyone started paying attention, but it still does it. The company collects a laundry list of data about you, including user name, physical address, email address, phone number, job information, Facebook profile information, computer or phone specs, IP address, and any other information you create or upload. And it uses all of this surveillance data for profit, against your interests.

Read the rest at schneier.com:

Security and Privacy Implications of Zoom

And more observations on Twitter.

I wrote a non-technical post on the situation with Zoom and encryption. This mostly summarizes what we know from @citizenlab and Zoom itself: https://t.co/g6hFWjPwXT  Matthew Green (@matthew_d_green) April 3, 2020

Zoom is getting torn apart. That's not a bad thing. Very very few enterprise tools get the attention of world-class researchers. Even premier applications by huge companies go unexamimed b/c difficulty of obtaining and installing them. Plenty of Tier0 stuff written in C in 2007.  SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) April 2, 2020

Looks like solid research by @citizenlab. If I'm reading it correctly, actors in China could have access to all the encryption keys needed to see calls. Keep this in mind when you chose to discuss sensitive info using #zoom. Obviously no mil/gov should talk classified on it. https://t.co/9PH5Qd9e9k  Richard Bejtlich (@taosecurity) April 3, 2020

Among other concerns including encryption & data being routed through China, "Zoomappears to own three companies in China through which at least 700 employees are paid to develop Zoom's softwarethis arrangement may make Zoom responsive to pressure from Chinese authorities" https://t.co/Q6TNgykDwh  Mary Hui (@maryhui) April 3, 2020

Interesting research from Citizen Lab on Zoom  it raises concerns about Chinese end of the company  'during multiple test calls in North America, we observed keys for encrypting and decrypting meetings transmitted to servers in Beijing, China' https://t.co/M2dAN9wnEn  Gordon Corera (@gordoncorera) April 3, 2020

There are two things you should never do:

1. Get involved in a land war in Asia, and

2. Roll your own cryptohttps://t.co/5bIyf1oMLd  Jeffrey Vagle (@jvagle) April 3, 2020
Baby monitors market research report provides detailed analysis on emerging market trends, regional outlook, competitive landscape, and a comprehensive analysis on different market segments. The baby monitors market is poised to grow by USD 1.18 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 10% during the forecast period. Request Latest Free Sample Report of Baby Monitors Market

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005279/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Baby Monitors Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The baby monitors market report provides detailed analysis of market overview, market drivers, opportunities, and potential application.

Top Key Players of Baby Monitors Market Covered:

Angelcare

Dorel Industries (Dorel Juvenile Group)

Koninklijke Philips

Lenovo (Motorola Mobility)

Samsung Electronics

VTech Holdings

The increasing technological innovations is driving the growth of the global baby monitors market. Other growth drivers include a growing working women population.

The baby monitors market research report gives an overview of baby monitors industries by analyzing various key segments of this market based on the product, distribution channel, and geographic landscape.

Have a query before purchasing baby monitors market report https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30526

Baby Monitors Market Split by Product Audio and video baby monitors Advanced baby monitors Audio baby monitors

Baby Monitors Market Split by Distribution channel Offline Online

Baby Monitors Market Split by Geographic Landscape The Americas APAC EMEA



The regional distribution of baby monitors market industries are considered for this market analysis, the result of which is utilized to estimate the performance of the international market over the period from 2019-2023.

The baby monitors market research report sheds light on foremost regions: The US, China, UK, and Germany

Imperative Insights on the following aspects:

What was the size of the baby monitors industry by value in 2019?

What will be the size of the baby monitors industry in 2023?

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What are the main segments that make up the baby monitors market?

Baby monitors market research report presents critical information and factual data about baby monitors industry, with an overall statistical study of this market based on market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread trends and opportunities are also taken into consideration in baby monitors market study.

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The baby monitors market research report gives an overview of baby monitors industry by analyzing various key segments of this baby monitors market based on the product, distribution channel, and geographic landscape industries, baby monitors market scenario. The regional distribution of the baby monitors market is across the globe are considered for this baby monitors industry analysis, the result of which is utilized to estimate the performance of the baby monitors market over the period from 2019 to forecasted year.

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Table of Content:

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

Audio and video baby monitors Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Advanced baby monitors Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Audio baby monitors Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by product

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: 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 09: 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 10: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 11: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 12: MARKET TRENDS

Introduction of multi-functional baby monitor

Growing demand for baby monitor

Rising demand from developing countries

PART 13: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 14: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Angelcare

Dorel Industries (Dorel Juvenile Group)

Koninklijke Philips

Lenovo (Motorola Mobility)

Samsung Electronics

VTech Holdings

PART 15: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

PART 16: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO

Browse baby monitors market related details https://www.technavio.com/report/global-baby-monitors-market-industry-analysis

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Try these scrumptious recipes from James Martin's new book and TV series use the best of British produce, from succulent pork to the berries in a glorious pud.

In Purbeck in Dorset I visited one of the best pork producers in the south. There I saw hairy Hungarian mangalitza pigs (which translates as pig with a lot of lard).

This dish combines tasty pork with Dorset Blue Vinny cheese from Woodbridge Farm. Its delicious served cold with chutneys and pickles.

James said this dish combines tasty pork with Dorset Blue Vinny cheese from Woodbridge Farm

Serves 10

3kg (6lb 8oz) boned pork middle loin, skin scored

For the stuffing

300g (10oz) Dorset Blue Vinny cheese (or other blue cheese), crumbled

1 medium onion, grated

2 English apples, grated

tsp ground cinnamon

2tbsp fennel seeds

100g (3oz) sultanas

100g (3oz) walnuts, roughly chopped

A small bunch of parsley, chopped

50g (1oz) breadcrumbs

2 eggs, beaten

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve

Chutneys, pickles and watercress (optional)

Preheat the oven to 240C/fan 220C/gas 9. Put the stuffing ingredients in a bowl. Season and mix until well combined.

Lay the pork on a board and unroll it skin-side down. Use a sharp knife, starting at one side, to slice the meat in half horizontally, working almost all the way to the other side  do not cut all the way through.

Then open it out so you have a long rectangle. Spoon the stuffing over the surface and smooth.

Starting from the end with no skin attached, roll the meat up tightly to enclose the filling.

Secure with a piece of string at least 5 times the length of the joint. Make a noose in the end, loop it around the pork, then pull the string through the noose and pull tight.

Work down the joint, wrapping the string around the underside and back around to meet the string at the top, then feeding the string over and under the string at the top, pulling it taught. Tie it at the end.

Place the pork on a rack in a roasting tray and roast for 30 minutes. Turn the oven down to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1 and roast for 1 hours.

Allow to cool then chill on a plate overnight. When ready to serve, leave the porchetta out for 30 minutes to come to room temperature.

Cut off the string. Slice and serve with chutneys and pickles, and watercress, if you like.

Extracted from James Martins Islands To Highlands: 80 Fantastic Recipes From Around The British Isles by James Martin, published by Quadrille, 25. To order a copy for 20 (p&p free) go to mailshop.co.uk or call 01603 648155. Offer valid until 31 May, 2020. The accompanying TV series will air on weekdays from 6 April at 2pm on ITV.
The NHS is at risk of a major cyber attack as it fights against the outbreak of coronavirus, according to experts.

The health service is already stretched to breaking point and needs greater support to ensure that it can stay protected from any potentially devastating hack, according to think tank Chatham House.

Lessons have been learned since the WannaCry ransomware attack which caused widespread disruption to the NHS in 2017 but todays situation is far more fragile.

Evidently, the NHS is stretched to breaking point  expecting it to be on top of its cybersecurity during these exceptionally challenging times is unrealistic, Joyce Hakmeh, senior research fellow at Chatham Houses International Security Programme, said.

She argues that supporting the NHS should go beyond increasing human resources and equipment capacity, as cyber security is critical in ensuring health professionals can carry on saving lives, safely and securely.

At such a critical time for the health service, they want the government to call upon the private cybersecurity sector for assistance.

The think tank is also concerned about usual security processes being side-stepped, such as a national audit of the NHSs security and cyber-resilience which was put on hold until September due to Covid-19.

It comes as Europol recently warned about pandemic profiteering, particularly online where criminals are attempting to exploit the crisis.

Now is the time where innovative public-private partnerships on cybersecurity should be formed  similar to the economic package that the UK chancellor has put in place to shore up the economy against the Covid-19 impact and the innovative thinking on ventilator production, Ms Hakmeh continued.

The ways in which this support can be delivered can take different forms, the important thing is that it is mobilised swiftly.

Neil Bennett, acting chief information security officer at NHS Digital, said: This is a time of unprecedented stress on the NHS, not least for the cyber security and IT teams who are continuing to work hard in all NHS organisations to keep patient data and systems secure, to continue to deliver safe patient care.

He continued: Working closely with partner organisations such as the National Cyber Security Centre and NHSX, we have created a new programme of work to help tackle the challenges that Covid-19 has presented the health and care sector.

Coronavirus: London on lockdown Show all 29 1 /29 Coronavirus: London on lockdown Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man walks down a deserted Camden High Street Photos Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Goodge Street Station is one of the many stations closed to help reduce the spread Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown An empty street in the heart of Chinatown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown People in masks in Chinatown a day after the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A near-empty Piccadilly Circus during the first week of lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Sonja, my neighbour, who I photographed while taking a short walk. It was nice to briefly chat even from a distance Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple sit on the empty steps of the statue Eros in Piccadilly Circus Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Making sure I stay two-meters apart  DArblay Street, Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A mannequin behind a shop window. UK stores have closed until further notice Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A notice displayed on a shop window in Camden Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown As part of the lockdown, all non-essential shops have been ordered to close.Image from Camden High Street Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A skateboarder wearing a mask utilises his exercise allowance in the Camden area Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Communities have been coming together in a time of need Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman stands alone in a deserted Oxford Street. Up until a few weeks ago, on average, half a million people visited the street per day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple walk hand in hand down a street in Soho, a day before the stricter lockdown was announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown During the first week of March, shoppers focused on stockpiling necessities ahead of a countrywide lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Many supermarkers are operating a queuing system to make sure only a limited amount of customers are allowed in at anyone time Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Stay Safe  Curzon cinemas are temporarily closed under the new measures Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Pubs, restaurants and bars were ordered to shut as part of the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street There are fears that coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling shops Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden Town is eerily silent on a normal working day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Shops and supermarkets ran out of hand sanitisers in the first week of the lockdown. As we approach the end of the second week most shops now have started to stock up Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty streets around Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A noticeboard on Camden High Street urges the public to stay at home Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street, one of Londons busiest tourist streets turns quiet Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Thriller Live confirmed its West End run ended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty and eerie Soho streets after stricter rules on social distancing announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman pauses for a cigarette on Hanway Street, behind Tottenham Court Road Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man steps outside onto Hanway Street, that sits behind what is usually a bustling retail hub Angela Christofilou

This will support local organisations even further to identify and fix technical issues, provide resource where needed, enhance our threat intelligence and threat-hunting capabilities, and support the new field hospitals to set up their operations securely.

In addition, we are doing further work to protect Critical National Infrastructure assets, aligned to CPNI standards, and we are continuing to issue guidance to the sector on secure remote working, which we will continue to update as the threat landscape develops.

Additional reporting by Press Association
Amazons Jeff Bezos Donates $100 Million to Food Banks Amid Unemployment Surge

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on April 2 announced he will donate $100 million to food banks across the United States amid the CCP virus pandemic.

It comes as the U.S. economy has suffered nearly 10 million layoffs in just the past few weeks due to the pandemic, with a record 6.6 million Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week, according to report (pdf) from the Labor Department.

Even in ordinary times, food insecurity in American households is an important problem, and unfortunately COVID-19 is amplifying that stress significantly, Bezos said in an Instagram post Thursday. Millions of Americans are turning to food banks during this time.

Bezos, the worlds richest person with an estimated net worth of more than $120 billion, said he would donate the funds to Feeding America, a nonprofit organization that is a network of more than 200 food banks that feed 46 million across the United States.

Today, I want to support those on the front lines at our nations food banks and those who are relying on them for food, Bezos said. Feeding America will quickly distribute the funds to their national network of food banks and food pantries, getting food to those countless families who need it.

The U.S. economy is in a temporary standstill unprecedented in modern history. The majority of businesses are shuttered as workers stay home to do their part in helping slow the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus.

According to the Labor Departments report, job cuts are mounting against the backdrop of economies in the United States and abroad that have almost certainly sunk into a severe recession as businesses have shut down across the world.

Some economists believe that even more jobs will be lost.

A rough look at the most affected industries suggests a potential payroll job loss of over 16 million jobs, said David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Funds, on Thursday. The loss would be enough to boost the unemployment rate from roughly 3.5 percent to 12.5 percent, which would be its highest rate since the Great Depression.

Many economists believe that by the end of April, as many as 20 million jobs could be lostmore than double that of jobs lost during the Great Recession. The unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15 percent this month, above the previous record of 10.8 percent set during a deep recession in 1982.

The United States reported more than 6,000 deaths as of the morning of April 3, with confirmed cases exceeding 245,000, according to a tracking map from Johns Hopkins University, which collates official government data. The White House estimates that as many as 240,000 people may die from COVID-19 before the pandemic is extinguished.

The Associated Press and Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
Md. outlines what state deems as acceptable religious services amid coronavirus shutdown

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Officials in Maryland released a guidance Wednesday detailing what the state constitutes as acceptable religious gatherings amid a statewide stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Larry Hogan.

The Office of Legal Counsel released an interpretative guidance document that explains what types of religious services will be allowed until the order is lifted.

Acceptable gatherings included Drive-In Religious Services, Limited In-Person Services, and Minimal Operations at Religious Facilities.

Drive-In Religious Services, or services in which attendees remain inside their vehicles, will be allowed as long as no more than 10 people are in a vehicle, passengers remain in the vehicle at all times, and they refrain from physical contact with others.

Participants may not interact physically with clergy, staff, or participants in other vehicles. This includes, but is not limited to, collecting donations by basket or plate, explained the guidance.

Regarding Limited In-Person Services, the guidance said it was acceptable for 10 or fewer people, to be inside a house of worship, provided there was no physical contact among participants and social distancing was respected.

There must be at least a four hour gap between the end of one in-person service and the beginning of the next in-person service, the guidance adds. The Religious Facility should be cleaned between services, in accordance with CDC cleaning and disinfection guidance.

For both types of services, collecting offerings via basket or plate were considered unacceptable given the close proximity required between people.

Finally, on the issue of Minimal Operations at Religious Facilities, it was noted that houses of worship could conduct minimal operations provided they respect rules regarding social distancing.

In the case of religious facilities, the term Minimal Operations includes, but is not necessarily limited to, facilitating remote services, the document explained.

State orders aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19 have varied in how they treat religious gatherings, with some opting to exempt houses of worship from the recommended restrictions.

For example, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an exemption for places of religious worship from a statewide ban on gatherings of 50 people or more.

Whitmer told Fox News Sunday anchor John Roberts in March that she believed the government did not have the right to order houses of worship to close over the pandemic.

Well, you know, the separation of church and state and the Republican legislature asked me to clarify that, Whitmer said.

That's an area that we don't have the ability to directly enforce and control. We are encouraging people, though, do not congregate.
(Photo : Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash) Coronavirus Fact: Don't Leave Your Toilet Lid Open; You Might be Spreading the Virus (Photo : Franck V. on Unsplash ) Coronavirus Fact: Don't Leave Your Toilet Lid Open; You Might be Spreading the Virus

How many times do you use the toilet in a day? After every flush, there might be instances when you can unknowingly spread the Coronavirus (or other viruses) into the air in your home. Current studies have claimed that whenever you leave the toilet lid open when you flush, the chances of spreading the virus increase over time.

Study: Leaving the toilet lid open can spread viruses even more!

The Coronavirus has already spread to pandemic levels. It being a virus in the form of SARS-CoV-2, it easily spreads from human to human through droplets that may linger on contaminated surfaces or secretions from the nose or mouth.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already supported the first claim of their Chinese counterpart that says SARS-CoV-2 can be spread through human feces by fecal-oral transmission. But these have happened in isolated cases only.

"While viable, infectious SARS-CoV has been isolated from respiratory, blood, urine, and stool specimens, viable, infectious MERS-CoV has only been isolated from respiratory tract specimens," says US CDC.

On April 3, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, released a study explaining why you should be aware whenever you use the bathroom. In their study, it was found that there are so-called "aerosolized feces." These feces are released in the air whenever a person flushes the toilet. An estimated total of 80% of the particles in your toilet escape into the air whenever you flush.

If you happen to be a positive Coronavirus patient and you left the toilet lid open while flushing after defecating, there is a large chance that the virus could circulating in the air. To prevent this from happening, Dr. Qingyan Chen of Purdue University simply advises to "close the lid and then flush."

Washing your hands is still the best protection against the virus

A study from the City University of Hong Kong led by Alvin Lai also supported this claim. He said that "A toilet flush can release up to 80,000 polluted droplets and leave them suspended a meter in the air for hours if the lid is left up."

However, he clarified that this act must not be the only priority measurement against the virus. Proper washing of hands and regular sanitation must still be the first thing to do to prevent the disease from spreading even more.

How to prevent the fecal-oral transmission of the virus?

As reported in Forbes, fecal-oral transmission is more prone to happen with symptomatic patients. This means that if you share the same bathroom with symptomatic positive Coronavirus patients, the possibility increases.

Thererfore, when you have to use a public bathroom, make sure to wash your hands after doing your task. Use a tissue to press or pull the button or lever to flush the toilet while it's closed. Meanwhile, if you're waiting for someone to finish using it, wait for at least two minutes outside after he or she finishes to let the particle dissipate. Using these simple tricks, we can prevent the spread of any virus in our homes and public spaces.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has threatened to lock visitors in a room if they cross the border during the coronavirus crisis.

The tough-talking leader admitted he wanted to ban anyone entering from inter-state but the Constitution did not let him.

Instead, anyone coming in for non-essential reasons will be quarantined for two weeks in a hotel and forced to pay for it.

A Queensland Transport Inspector signals to a delivery truck approaching the NSW/Queensland border at Wallangarra on Thursday

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner (pictured) has threatened to lock visitors in a room if they cross the border during the coronavirus crisis

'If you come to the Territory, we will put you in a room, keep you there and then we will give you the bill,' he said today.

'If you don't want to be locked in a room and don't want to pay a massive bill, it is simple, don't come, stay away.'

The Northern Territory has only 22 confirmed cases of the virus. Mr Gunner described inter-state travellers as a serious threat.

'The rest of the country has coronavirus hotspots. We are a safe haven and are trying to stay that way,' he said.

Tommy Perkins is seen through his hotel room window with dumbbells brought in by his father, while in quarantine at the Novotel in Brisbane on Tuesday

A policeman talks to a driver at a checkpoint on the Queensland and New South Wales border on Griffith Street in Gold Coast on April 3

Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane on April 3

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 have said to the rest of the country, we want you back one day but, for now, you need to stay away. You are too dangerous.'

Mr Gunner said only 22 non-essential people have entered the state in the past 24 hours.

'Since my announcement on Monday, daily arrivals to the territory have now plummeted by 75 per cent compared to last Sunday,' he said.

Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland are also forcing non-essential travellers to self-isolate for 14 days after entering.

Section 92 of the Australian Constitution says: 'Trade, commerce, and intercourse among the States, whether by means of internal carriage or ocean navigation, shall be absolutely free.'

Any attempt by one state to completely close its border could end up in the High Court.

Legal experts say it is possible an exemption could be granted in the case of a public health emergency.
T he family of a London teenager who died alone after testing positive for Covid-19 can't attend his funeral after two of his siblings began displaying symptoms.

Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, 13, from Brixton, died at King's College Hospital in London on Monday and is believed to be the UK's youngest victim of coronavirus.

The teenager will be buried in Brixton on Friday without his family present as his mother and six siblings have now been forced to self-isolate.

Since his death, two of his siblings have developed mild Covid-19 symptoms including high temperatures and a loss of taste, family friend Mark Stephenson said.

Mr Stephenson set up a GoFundMe page earlier this week to raise money for the boy's funeral costs and family, who also lost Ismails father to cancer.

Global coronavirus statistics update

By Friday morning, more than 67,000 had been raised in donations, far exceeding the initial 4,000 target set. Any extra money raised will go directly to the family, the GoFundMe page says.

Meanwhile, in an updated statement on plans for his burial, Mr Stephenson said: "Shaykh Sharif Zain will be leading the funeral and I will be delivering a short speech for the Abdulwahab family and a few close family and friends.

"We hope that we can send a live stream of the funeral to his mother and siblings so they can be there remotely, but they are obviously devastated that they cant be there in person again.

"Its extremely upsetting for everyone involved, but they have been very moved by the warmth and very positive messages of support from people following their appeal."

Ismail, who had no apparent underlying health conditions, was described by his family as a "gentle and kind" boy with a "heartwarming" smile.

In a statement issued via the GoFundMe page earlier this week, the teenager's relatives said there were "heartbroken" by the "devastation caused by the coronavirus".

"Ismail was a loving son, brother, nephew to our family and a friend to many people who knew him," the family's statement added.

"We as a family are still trying to come to terms with the sudden death of Ismail.

"He leaves behind six siblings who are completely devastated and this has been made more difficult not being able to be with Ismail while he was in the hospital."

Coronavirus UK: Why are homeless people still on the streets?

The 13-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 last Friday, a day after he was admitted to Kings College Hospital.

He died in the early hours of Monday after his lungs failed and he had a cardiac arrest.
Alan Kelly is the new leader of the Labour Party after his opponent Aodhan O Riordain conceded late on Friday night.

Mr Kelly was formally declared the winner just before midnight after winning 1,047 votes (54.7pc) to Mr O Riordain's 868 votes (45.3pc)

He said: "Its my greatest honour to be elected as 13th Leader of Labour and one that I don't take lightly. I want to thank Aodhan O Riordain and his team & family. I know that we will work together to bring our party forward. Huge thanks to the members for putting their trust in me."

Mr Kelly succeeds Brendan Howlin, who stood down after the general election in February.

Mr O Riordain said on Twitter that he had called Mr Kelly to congratulate him on his election as leader. "I know that Labour's values are safe in Alan's hands," he said.

"Let's unite now, let's come together as a party, we've a lot of work together to help lead Ireland through our current difficulties and through the recovery."

Mr O Riordain conceded as counting continued with tallies indicating that Mr Kelly had surpassed the quota and will win with close to 60pc of the vote.

The sorting and counting of around 1,900 postal ballots began just after 2pm with senior counsel Conor Power carrying out the count in a room at the offices of auditing firm Mazars.

Due to the coronavirus restrictions the two candidates and their election agents are observing the count via video link. Labour parliamentary party members are also able to access the video link to observe the count.

Mr Kelly, a TD for Tipperary, will succeed Brendan Howlin.

Mr Howlin stood down in the aftermath of Labours disastrous general election in February where it won just six seats, one fewer than it had going into the campaign.

The former Cabinet ministers elevation comes four years after he failed to gain a nomination from any of his fellow TDs to contest for the Labour leadership against Mr Howlin.

Mr Kelly is the former deputy leader of the party who served as Minister for Housing between 2014 and 2016 and was a junior transport minister for three years before that.

A TD for Tipperary since 2011, Mr Kelly was previously a Senator and MEP who has had a long-held ambition to lead the party he said he joined when he was 16. He famously told the Sunday Independent prior to the 2016 general election that power was a drug that suits him.

Anybody who says that power isnt attractive is telling you a lie. Of course it is, he said. Its obviously a drug. Its attractive. Its something you thrive on. It suits some people. It doesnt suit others. I think it suits me.

He is the partys health spokesman and was a member of the Public Accounts Committee in the last Dail where he championed the cause of women at the centre of the CervicalCheck controversy. He has been strongly endorsed by the CervicalCheck campaigner and cancer patient Vicky Phelan in recent weeks.

Mr Kelly championed a "back to basics" approach during his leadership campaign, saying he would rebuild Labour from the grassroots up and attempt to "regenerate" the trust the party used to have with the people of Ireland.

He said there would be no apologising for the partys mistakes in government, particularly during the 2011-2016 coalition with Fine Gael. "The day of apologising is over," he said.

One of his first decisions as leader will be whether to seek a reversal of the partys decision to go into opposition in the current Dail amid pressure from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to join a coalition Government to deal with the economic fallout from the Covid-19 crisis.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British Airways will furlough more than 30,000 employees due to the escalating Covid-19 crisis. The furloughed employees will receive 80 percent of their base pay and of certain allowances. British Airways has also reached agreement with its 4,000 pilots to take four weeks of unpaid leave in April and May. IAG said its other airlines have received support from similar job retention and wage support schemes for more than 17,000 employees in Spain and are seeking similar support in Ireland. IAG has decided to reduce capacity further to an about 90 percent reduction in April and May compared to last year. On 16 March 2020, IAG announced that it would reduce capacity, expressed in terms of available seat kilometres, by at least 75 per cent in April and May compared to the same period in 2019. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged people to switch off lights in their homes and light candles, diyas or turn on mobile phone flashlights at 9 pm on Sunday in a nationwide show of solidarity to fight the pandemic.

On the 5th of April, at 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your homes, stand at your doors or in you balconies, and light candles or diyas, torches or mobile flashlights for 9 minutes. I repeat, light candles or diyas, torches or mobile flashlights, for 9 minutes at 9 pm on the 5th of April, the prime minister said.

At the same time, Modi asked people against thronging streets.

The Opposition slammed Modi over his new call, saying they had expected him to announce a second financial package.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described Modi as Pradhan Showman and a Photo-Op Prime Minister, while former finance minister P Chidambaram advised the PM to listen to the Opposition and to the wise counsel of epidemiologists and economists.

What we expected from you today was FAP II (Financial Action Plan), a generous livelihood support package for the poor, including the categories of the poor who were completely ignored by Nirmala Sitharaman on March 25, Chidambaram said.

Turn out lights and come on balconies? Get real Mr Modi. Give India a fiscal package worth 8-10 per cent of GDP, Trinamool Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra said.

This is no accident: the PM spoke on Ram Navami at 9 am for 9 mins, asked us to light diyas & candles on 5/4 at 9 pm for 9 mins. He is invoking all the auspicious elements Hinduism associates with number 9. Back to Ram Bharose?! #COVID19 must be more serious than we thought, Tharoor said.

The leaders remarks came after Modi gave pep talk to the people under lockdown and urged them to light a candle or diya on April 5 at 9 pm for nine minutes to dispel the darkness and gloom brought about by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru duo was arrested for illegally selling liquor at exorbitant price, violating the Covid lockdown, a police official said on Apr 3, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru: A Bengaluru duo was arrested for illegally selling liquor at exorbitant price, violating the Covid lockdown, a police official said on Apr 3, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, April 3 : Two persons were arrested for illegally selling liquor at exorbitant price, violating the Covid lockdown, a police official said here on Friday.

"While there is complete lockdown and malls, pubs and wine shops are closed, some tried to illegally sell liquor," tweeted Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil.

Patil said 100 liquor bottles, which included Dewar's and William Lawson's scotch, were seized.
Cats are capable of transmitting the coronavirus, a study has confirmed, days after a Belgium woman passed the disease on to her pet.

The study, undertaken by researches at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China, concluded that cats are highly vulnerable to the virus.

The lab discovered that the animals can transmit the disease to other cats through respiratory droplets after it undertook experiments on a small number of them.

Cats are capable of transmitting the coronavirus between themselves, a study in China has found. Picture: A cat relaxes outside Moscow apartments being disinfected

The news comes a week after a case in which a Belgium woman was found to have passed on the coronavirus to her pet cat. Vets found the infection on her pet a week after the woman had come down with the illness.

At the time, Belgium virologist Steven van Gucht said it was an 'isolated incident', showing how quickly scientists are developing their knowledge of the new strain of coronavirus that was only discovered in Wuhan, China in December.

The study is yet to be peer-reviewed, the process in which studies are evaluated to determine their credibility, although experts have said the findings are legitimate and credible.

The study was done by infecting a small number of cats, and then placing them close to uninfected cats, which then got the virus (stock image)

The study was done by administering a few cats with a high dosage of the disease. Cats which weren't infected were then placed in adjacent cages to those which were.

They weren't able to touch, but were close enough that they also caught the disease, leading to the conclusion that it can spread between the animals through repository droplets. This process was repeated with another group.

The findings did not prove that the disease can be spread from cats to humans, virologists and infectious disease experts told The Guardian but they did warn that people with cats should be extra cautious, and remember the importance of washing their hands.

'Surveillance for Sars-CoV-2 in cats should be considered as an adjunct to elimination of of Covid-19 in humans,' the study concluded.

Prof Eric Fevre, chair of veterinary infectious diseases at the University of Liverpool, said: 'People should take usual precautions of hand washing when handling their pets, and avoid overly intimate contact, especially if sick with Covid.

'It is important to add that this says nothing about how the virus coming out of a cat may or may not be infectious to humans.'

While there is no proof that cats can spread the disease back to humans, pet owners have been advised to take extra precautions when petting their furry friends, and taking extra care when washing their hands (stock image)

Yvonne Chow Hau Yee, pictured, was the owner of a dog who died after contracting coronavirus in Hong Kong

Just last week, the first reported case of a cat catching the coronavirus was found when a woman, from the Belgium city of Liege in the French speaking part of the country, passed the disease on to her pet.

At the time, public statements coming out of Belgium from health officials were saying that this was an unusual incident.

'The cat lived with her owner, who started showing symptoms of the virus a week before the cat did,' van Gucht said.

'We want to stress that this is an isolated case. Additionally, in this case, we are talking about a human-to-animal transmission, not the other way around.

'There are no indications that this is common. The risk of animal-to-human transmission, is very small.'

Before the cat in Belgium, two dogs in Hong Kong were reportedly found to have caught the virus, however the study in china found that dogs, chickens, pigs and ducks were less likely than cats to catch the infection.

Yesterday, the global confirmed cases of the coronavirus reached 1 million, with over 52,000 deaths. The cases have doubled in the last week.

On 2 April, the global number of confirmed coronavirus cases exceed 1 million, with over 52,000 deaths
The U.S. Department of Labor has authorized an additional 13 weeks of unemployment compensation for those who have exhausted their existing 26-week allotment of benefits during an unsuccessful search for work, or are otherwise on the cusp of doing so.

On Friday morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent as of March 12, a 0.9 percentage point spike that was the largest for any month since 1975, amid mass business closures sparked by rapid spread of the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus.

In a Friday note to investment clients, an economist in the New York City office of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group termed the Friday jobs report just a down payment ahead of larger declines expected next month.

April will have the first depression-magnitude job losses the country has seen since the 1930s, stated MUFG economist Chris Rupkey. Wed say brace yourselves, but you already are. ... The stock market knows it and has already discounted the bad news.

On Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont indicated the Connecticut Department of Labor has received more than 220,000 initial applications for unemployment assistance in the three weeks since he declared a public health emergency in Connecticut.

In the weeks leading up to the emergency order, Connecticut had about 42,000 residents who were already receiving unemployment compensation. The U.S. Department of Labor lists information on unemployment benefits at wdr.doleta.gov, with the Connecticut labor department doing so at www.ctdol.state.ct.us.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act tacks on an extra $600 to weekly benefits through the end of July, with benefits typically amounting to half of a workers average pay with caps.

Under a Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program that authorizes the 13-week extension, states must suspend the requirement that individuals be actively seeking work as a condition to getting unemployment pay, though applicants must state they are willing to work as opportunities arise.

More Business New coronavirus-related unemployment claims in CT top 220K

A decade ago, during mass layoffs triggered by the Great Recession, some Connecticut residents ended up receiving nearly two years of unemployment benefits under extensions granted by the federal government. As of March, 17 percent of all people classified as unemployed nationally had been out of work beyond the 26-week window of traditional benefits, with about one in 10 having been searching for work for a year or more.

This week, the Connecticut Department of Labor attempted to clarify one big question for some employers: how to handle situations in which workers refuse to return to workplaces on fears of contracting coronavirus, including scenarios in which workers might demand to be laid off should their employers remain adamant they return.

DOL has the right to weigh the health risk of any workplace in deciding on any continuation of benefits. The Connecticut department stated that if an employee does not have sufficient cause in refusing to work, the department could deny unemployment benefits until the employee has returned to the job and earned at least six times the individuals benefit rate.

The ruling is consistent with existing policies governing employees who refuse to return to work, according to Gary Phelan, a partner with the employment law firm Mitchell & Sheahan which has offices in Stratford and Westport. But given the extraordinary warnings from public health authorities, the policy could evolve further.

If its just (general) fear for their own safety, that is not a valid reason  theres not good cause not to return, Phelan said. If the person has an underlying autoimmune disease or is over age 65, for example, thats where the employer may have to look at possible accommodations. ... I think theres going to be a good number of hearings because of that.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
In the late 1990s, people started trickling out of Venezuela when dictator Hugo Chavez began transforming the country into a socialist nation.

But more recently, as the once prosperous democracy has devolved into poverty and political unrest under President Nicolas Maduro, the outward stream of Venezuelans has turned into a flood.

More than 4 million people have left the country since 2000 alone, reports from the United Nations indicate. And last week, Maduro was indicted by the U.S. Attorney General for taking part in a global cocaine trafficking ring, a move that many see as the Trump administrations attempt to push Maduro out of office.

Meanwhile, people continue to leave Venezuela, desperate for a better life elsewhere.

But how is this massive life change affecting the Venezuelan immigrants?

This question is the basis of the research being conducted by Seth Schwartz, a public health sciences professor in the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and graduate student Saskia Vos. The two are analyzing the mental health impacts on nearly 650 Venezuelan parents who have moved to Miami or Colombia during the past three years. They have learned that the process of leaving their home is taking a major toll.

We have found incredibly high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Venezuelans who are living in Miami and in Colombia, Vos said.

In this 2019 photo, Venezuelan migrants enter Colombia at the Simon Bolivar bridge near the city of Cucuta in the northeast part of the country. Photo: Dr. Denisse Pareja for the University of Miami

For the study, Schwartz surveyed close to 300 Venezuelans living in Bogota, Colombia, and 339 who live in South Florida about their reasons for leaving, as well as their feelings about their new home countries. The top reasons among all for abandoning their homes in Venezuela were the nations mass shortages in food, water, medicine, and other necessities. In addition, many stated that there were hardly any jobs in Venezuela, and those that existed did not pay enough for everyday survival.

Yet the researchers found major differences between Venezuelans living in Miami today and those who moved to Colombia. For example, those who immigrated to Miami often come as entire family units and typically the parents are college-educated, some with even advanced degrees. Venezuelans living in South Florida also said they left because they worried about the government targeting them, and some were afraid for their lives, Vos added.

Political persecution was another reason for them leaving, Vos added. People said either they or family members were being hunted by the government, because they said something wrong.

Perhaps as a result of that pressure, South Florida Venezuelans also exhibited more symptoms of PTSD than those living in Colombia, Schwartz and Vos said.

What we are finding is that this is a population that is experiencing a lot of stress, and some post-traumatic stress disorder, said Schwartz, citing that 31 percent of participants now living in the U.S. showed signs of PTSD, while 21 percent of those living in Colombia had those indications.

Meanwhile, Venezuelans now living in Colombia said they left the country for economic reasons, and data indicate they often moved without their children. This population was also much more likely to have high school as their highest level of education.

The people who went to Colombia are not the same kind of people who moved to the United States, said Schwartz, who focuses his research on crisis migration. They are not the same socioeconomic status and have somewhat different reasons for leaving.

In addition, while Schwartz and Vos expected that Venezuelans would feel more comfortable in Colombiawithout the language or cultural barriers that might be a hurdle in the United Statesthey found the opposite, Vos said. These people still had high levels of anxiety and did not feel welcome in Colombia. For example, one woman even wrote that Colombian children would not play with her son because he was Venezuelan.

Venezuelans in Colombia were having a harder time and facing more discrimination. People really didnt want them there, Vos said. Families that came to South Florida, even with a struggle, were more optimistic and hopeful that they could make a life here. But families in Colombia are still in survival mode.

And most of the time these immigrants are unable to get treatment. While Venezuelans in the United States are sometimes waiting six years for asylum, Schwartz said they are focused on basic needs in a new countrysuch as getting a job, feeding the family, and providing a stable home. So, a mental health appointment is seen as a luxury.

Because a lot of these immigrants are undocumented, they are afraid to get services because they are worried about Immigration and Customs Enforcement showing up, Vos added. Its a very difficult situation, where they are scared or cant afford it.

Schwartz has also collaborated with Christopher P. Salas-Wright, associate professor with Boston University, to examine data on 400 Venezuelan immigrant adolescents living in the United States, who also showed startling mental health problems. He said they have learned that many youth who experienced hunger in Venezuela are still suffering and are more likely to experience depression. In addition, nearly 40 percent of Venezuelan immigrant youth between the ages of 12 to 14 had already started drinking alcohol.

Schwartz and Vos are in the process of starting another study which will examine the impact of more recent immigration of Venezuelan parents and children over a three-year time period.
Medical workers wait for patients at a special coronavirus intake area at Maimonides Medical Center in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn which has seen an upsurge of coronavirus patients on April 2, 2020 in New York City. AAPI, representing Indian American physicians in the U.S., has embarked on several initiatives to help the thousands of its members across the U.S. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Earlier on Thursday, Trump shocked markets by tweeting that he expected Russia and Saudi Arabia alone to cut about 10 million barrels -- or roughly a tenth of global petroleum, sending oil prices soaring. A person familiar with the discussion later said that Trump, after a call with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was hoping to get other oil market participants to contribute to that cut, too. A second person familiar with the situation said Trumps goal is purely aspirational and will ultimately hinge on whether Saudi Arabia and Russia can reach a deal.

Any across-the-board reduction of this size will face serious challenges. Saudi Arabia hasnt voiced outright support for the move and instead called for an urgent meeting of the worlds oil producers to discuss a fair agreement. The response signals the country will only cut output if others do so and raises the question of whether the Trump administration is willing to cap Americas own production to reach a global accord.

Russias response was arguably harsher. In his tweet, Trump said he had spoken to MBS, who had in turn spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin. But a Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the conversation hadnt happened and confirmed that no production cut had been agreed to with the Saudis.

An OPEC+ delegate familiar with the conversations similarly said Saudi Arabia and Russia had yet to agree to production cuts -- let alone their size. Any proposed curbs would be conditioned upon every other major oil producer also agreeing to reduce production, the person said, asking not to be named discussing diplomatic conversations.



Meanwhile, Trump told reporters on Thursday that he expected a deal to be reached soon.

It would be great for Russia, it would be great for Saudi Arabia -- I hope they make that deal but thats what they told me, he said. Can something happen where it doesnt happen? I guess? In which case theres another alternative, but Id rather not see the other alternative.

Import Tariffs

The White House has considered tariffs on foreign oil imports to protect U.S. producers, though the idea is opposed by some top Trump advisers led by Larry Kudlow, the director of the National Economic Council, according to people familiar with the matter.

Saudi Arabia wants countries that arent part of the OPEC+ alliance to join in any future pro-rationing. Although Riyadh hasnt drawn up a formal list, in the past OPEC+ had invited big American oil producers, Brazil and Canada to its meetings. Both Canada and Brazil have previously declined.

In a rare move for a state energy regulator, Ryan Sitton -- one of three commissioners at the Texas Railroad Commission that oversees the states powerful oil industry -- said on Twitter Thursday that he had discussed a 10 million-barrel-a-day cut to global supplies with Russia Energy Minister Alexander Novak and planned to speak with Saudi Arabias energy minister. Sitton has been pitching a plan for days that would have the U.S. and OPEC working to cut production together.

The idea of a U.S. production cut, probably executed by capping exports, is also on the table at the White House, though many oil industry representatives have warned that the approach would cause the U.S. to cede the very energy dominance Trump has repeatedly celebrated.

Export Limits

A chief argument is that dialing down U.S. production is not aligned with the presidents America First agenda, said a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing lobbying strategy. For his part, Trump said Thursday that he had not discussed the possibility of U.S. oil production cuts.

Its not clear what mechanism the White House could use, and I dont think a lot of the tools that have been publicly reported would have the effect of cutting production, said Katie Bays, co-founder of Washington-based Sandhill Strategy LLC.

Restricting exports would likely be the most effective method of scaling down U.S. production, she said. That, coupled with letting producers use the governments Strategic Petroleum Reserve as oil storage, would functionally seem to work for the next few months to take oil off the water, Bays said.

Internal Confusion

Before Thursday, the U.S. president had signaled some ambivalence about the oil price war. Hes remarked that low prices at the pump for American consumers amounts to a tax cut, while also saying he didnt want the U.S. shale drilling industry to collapse.

Conflicting messages from the Trump administration -- the president has said he likes low gasoline prices, while Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and others have urged the Saudis to cut production -- have undermined the U.S. governments leverage, one person familiar with the discussions said, asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Read more: Why OPEC-Russia Blowup Sparked All-Out Oil Price War: QuickTake

The White House had said that, in a call with Putin earlier this week, the two leaders agreed that stability was important for energy markets.

Trump is scheduled to speak with the leaders of U.S. oil producers and refiners on Friday. One industry executive said the president may have been motivated to remark on the surplus oil production because the U.S. is literally running out of physical space to store crude.

I think something like this was inevitable because there is nowhere to put the oil, said Dan Eberhart, a Trump donor and chief executive of drilling services company Canary Drilling Services. I think this is out of necessity, not out of gamesmanship.

Bloomberg
Tunisia is setting up a free mental health helpline to support families following a spike in domestic abuse linked to the lockdown to curb the coronavirus, a government minister said Friday.

Asma Shiri Laabidi, the minister in charge of women's affairs, told AFP there had been a five-fold rise in the number of domestic abuse cases reported in recent days compared with the same period last year.

More than 40 cases involving abused women were recorded between March 23 and 29, compared to just seven during the same week in 2019, the minister said.

Most were aged between 30-40 and living in remote areas of the country, she said, adding that the abuse involved verbal or physical aggression and that two women had to be hospitalised.

"Confinement has significant consequences for families. Tensions have risen and the risk of women being attacked is much higher," Laabidi said.

From Monday, the toll-free number 1809 will go into service in the North African country and will be run by 11 volunteer psychologists, she said.

Families, including children, can reach out for help from 8:00 am until midnight and the experts will try to provide advice on how to manage stress during the lockdown.

Tunisia has been under night-time curfew since March 17 and authorities imposed stricter lockdown orders from March 22.

Originally scheduled to end on April 4, the lockdown has been extended for a further 15 days as the country tries to stem the spread of the virus, which has claimed at least 14 lives.

Another toll-free number set up by authorities in 2016 to deal with domestic violence registered more than 9,000 calls from Tunisian women reporting abuse last year, according to Dejla Ktari, who heads the department in charge of such issues.

The regular hours of that support line have also been extended to an around-the-clock service during the lockdown, the minister said.
Lamborghini is targeting a production rate of 1,000 face masks and 200 face shields per day. The supercar brand is the latest automaker to lend a helping hand to the medical frontliners who have had to fight a staggering number of recorded cases in Italy. As of April 1, 2020, Italy has recorded 110,574 cases of those affected by the virus. Of that figure, a total of 13,155 people have died while 16,874 have recovered from the deadly virus.

Add Lamborghini to the growing list of automakers that have stepped up to help medical frontliners in their fight against the COVID-19 virus. The Italian automaker has started production of face masks and protective shields for health workers at SantOrsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna, Italy.

Its been a harrowing last month for a lot of people all over the world. It doesnt matter where you are. Unless you live in Antarctica, the COVID-19 virus has affected your life in one form or another. The staggering number of affected individuals all over the world has not slowed down, making it even more crucial for companies to step up and help in the fight against the virus.

A lot of automakers have done exactly that, rallying to help those people in the front lines fighting the virus.

Ford and General Motors are working hard to produce ventilators. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is producing one million face masks a month for all the responders. Over in Europe, Mercedes-Benzs Formula One team is building breathing aids for health service use. Ferrari is likewise doing the same thing for Italy, the second hardest-hit country next to the U.S.

Turns out, Lamborghini isnt sitting this fight out, too. The Italian automaker has begun producing face masks and face shields in its production plant in SantAgata Bolognese, Italy.

The company has set a goal of producing 1,000 face masks and 200 face shields per day for the SantOrsola-Malpighi Hospital in the same region. The face masks will be produced by workers who are in charge of the Huracan and Aventadors interior and customization needs. Meanwhile, the plexiglass protective medical shields will be produced using the same 3D printers located within the automakers carbon fiber production plant and Research and Development department.

"During this emergency, we feel the need to make a concrete contribution, Stefani Domenicali, chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, said in a statement. The S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital is an institution with which we have had a collaborative relationship for years, through both professional consultancy in promoting programs to protect our workers health, and in research projects. We will win this battle together by working in union, supporting those who are at the forefront of fighting this pandemic every day.

With the spread of COVID-19 still on the upswing, any form of assistance from the auto industry is a welcome and refreshing development. Heres to hoping that more automakers step up and give assistance where its needed. The virus has shown that it knows no bounds; its time for the auto industry to do the same.
New Delhi, April 3 : "If the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is about giving citizenship to the persecuted in the neighbouring countries, I appeal to the Government of India to extend it to atheists and persecuted Muslims too. Just like Hindus, Christians and Buddhists are discriminated against in Bangladesh and Pakistan, atheists and activists who criticise Islam are hacked to death in Muslim nations, be it Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Afghanistan. In most cases, the well-off manage to get political asylum and settle in Europe or America, but what about the others? India must come forward," says writer Taslima Nasrin, best-known for 'Lajja', who has been in exile for more than 25 years after a fatwa was issued against her for 'criticising Islam' by a fundamentalist Islamic organisation in 1993.

Stressing that she is still a staunch believer in the Uniform Civil Code, the writer, whose works have been translated into more than 30 languages adds, "Let's be clear -- all religions are anti-woman and need critical scrutiny. The basis of marriage has to be equality. In these times, how can you have archaic laws that favour men when it comes to inheritance, divorce, etc?" Nasrin, a physician by profession, who fled Bangladesh in 1994 and spent the next ten years of her exile in Sweden, Germany, France and the US to come to Kolkata in 2004, was even forced out of West Bengal in 2007. "Isn't it so absurd -- a Bengali writer is neither accepted in East nor West Bengal? I moved from Europe to Kolkata for the love of the Bengali language, to be close to my roots. How do I feel now? Abandoned is the word," she laments.

Talking about her recently released book in India, 'My Girlhood' (Penguin Hamish Hamilton), which has been banned in Bangladesh, Nasrin says, "It starts with the time when I was not even born and traces my life till the age of fifteen. I witnessed the mass movement against Pakistan in 1969, the 1971 war, how for nine months, our family had to move from village to village to save ourselves from Pakistanis who were leaving a trail of devastation wherever they went. It was banned by Bangladesh on charges of 'obscenity', just because it also talked about the sexual harassment of a 15-year-old by a family member," says the author about the book that was written while she in Sweden. 'My Girlhood' was adjudged as the Best Non-Fiction work by Los Angeles Times.

A quarter of century of exile has surely changed the meaning of home for Nasrin. For the first five-six years, it was more on a physical level. Slowly, home has become a place that lives inside. "Now, it is where I feel safe, secure and loved. Where there is solidarity, respect and support. Physically, that can be anywhere in the world. After such a long time, different connections start collapsing from your own land....parents die, you lose touch with your friends..." But writing for Nasrin is not visiting wounds from the past, ('My Girlhood' is a memoir). She insists that even if there are autobiographical elements in her body of work, she talks about the society, politics, women and patriarchy."I tell stories so we can fight against sufferings. My intention has always been to keep talking about a society that is kind, liberal and most importantly, more human." As 'Shameless' (HarperCollins India), the sequel to her book 'Lajja' gets set to release in the near future, the author, who wrote it between 2004 and 2006, while living in Kolkata says that it revolves around the Bangladeshi Hindu family that escapes from Bangladesh to Kolkata in 'Lajja'. "While living in Kolkata, I got a first-hand experience of the condition of refugees in the city. I finished it in 2007, but had to leave the country after that. The draft, which required polishing was in India, that's why the delay in publishing."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Coronavirus: World Bank approves 1 billion USD emergency funds for India

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: The World Bank has approved USD 1-billion emergency financing for India to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 76 lives and infected 2,500 others in the country.

The World Bank's first set of aid projects, amounting to USD 1.9 billion, will assist 25 countries, and new operations are moving forward in over 40 nations using the fast-track process, the bank said.

The largest chunk of the emergency financial assistance has gone to India -- USD 1 billion.

"In India, USD 1 billion emergency financing will support better screening, contact tracing, and laboratory diagnostics; procure personal protective equipment; and set up new isolation wards," the World Bank said after its Board of Executive Directors approved the first set of emergency support operations for developing countries around the world, using a dedicated, fast-track facility for COVID-19 response.

World may recover from COVID-19 in 6 to 12 months says survey

In South Asia, the World Bank also approved USD 200 million for Pakistan, USD 100 million for Afghanistan, USD 7.3 million for Maldives and USD 128.6 million for Sri Lanka.

The World Bank said it is now working to grant up to USD 160 billion over the next 15 months to support measures to tackle the pandemic which will focus on the immediate health consequences and bolster economic recovery.

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Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 7:43 [IST]
Magnus Nicolin, the head of protective suits and glove manufacturer Ansell, says Beijing needs to crack down on Chinese companies that have substantially lifted the prices of face masks during the COVID-19 crisis.

"There's been an enormous price escalation. Some of the Chinese companies who are claiming to be doing so much good for mankind have taken prices up two, three, four, or even 10 times what it was before. So it leaves a little bit of an ugly taste," he told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

At the same time, he said the ASX-listed personal protective equipment (PPE) maker had "not changed our pricing one bit".

Ansell CEO Magnus Nicolin says governments must consider global needs when defining their essential industries and facilitate, not hinder the movement of personal protective equipment. Credit:Peter Rae

Asked if Chinese authorities needed to crack down on the price hikes, Mr Nicolin said "I think they need to". While it was up to all parties to crack down on price hikes, China had "a big role to play here", he said.
ALBANY  While the number of people being hospitalized each day due to COVID-19 continues to increase across the Capital Region, hospital leaders said Friday that the rate at which new people are being admitted appears to be slowing.

Up until about four or five days ago, the number of coronavirus patients being admitted to hospitals across the region was growing by roughly 33 to 35 percent a day, said Dr. Steven Hanks of St. Peters Health Partners, which has hospitals in Albany and Troy. That growth rate has since fallen to below 20 percent, he said.

"We are cautiously optimistic that that represents the positive effects of social distancing," he said So we cant emphasize enough to the public  and we know it gets old quick  but the social distancing is working and we need to continue social distancing because were trying to avoid the situation where the health care systems capabilities are outstripped by the demands of the patient population."

Hanks and leaders from six other hospitals in the Capital Region held a news conference Friday to explain their capacity to take in new patients, as well as their plan for coordinating transfers up from New York City in a way that wont jeopardize care to the local community.

Thirty-eight patients were transferred to regional hospitals this week as hospitals downstate grappled with overflowing emergency rooms. The first known transfers to the region  14 patients from overrun Flushing and Jamaica hospitals in Queens  arrived at Albany Medical Center late Tuesday night. An additional 24 transfers arrived in the region Thursday, and were spread out across various hospitals to help balance the load, officials explained.

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Albany Med and St. Peter's Health Partners each accepted six of the new transfers. Ellis Medicine in Schenectady and St. Mary's Healthcare in Amsterdam accepted four each, while Saratoga Hospital  which doesnt typically take transfers  accepted three.

"Those patients who came  we may or may not have any relation to them," said Albany Med president and CEO Dennis McKenna. "They may not be my brother, they may not be my mother, they may not be my spouse. But they are certainly somebody's mother, somebody's father, somebody's sister, somebody's spouse, somebody's child."

He appeared to be reacting to a sentiment that has reverberated across social media this week among people who believe that downstate transfers to the area will jeopardize Capital Region residents' ability to access care. He and other area hospital leaders say thats unequivocally false. Hospital census is down across all area facilities due to the cancellation of elective procedures, a drop in injuries due to fewer people being out on roads and in public, and the ongoing attempt by the general public to avoid unnecessary hospital trips right now.

In addition, all area hospitals have developed surge plans to boost existing bed capacity by at least 50 percent and, in some cases, beyond, he noted.

"We did not take these patients from New York City because theyre from New York City," McKenna said. "We did not take them because theyre from New York state. We took them because theyre people who needed help and we would do that every day and we would do it twice on Sunday because that is what medical centers do when they want to help out people."

The hospitals have developed a plan for coordinating all transfers in from the city, while also modeling expected surges to account for local needs and capacity, they said.

Albany Med will field all transfer requests for the area, and then make calls to area hospitals to determine who has the space and who is best suited to accept patients based on the severity of their condition, said Fred Venditti, hospital general director for Albany Med.

We know by speaking to area hospitals how many patients and the types of patients they can take, he said.

Albany Med has established a data analytics team that is assessing daily bed census and capacity, predictions for how many patients are expected to move from medical/surgical floors into intensive care, and how many of those patients are expected to require ventilators. The team is working up various modeling scenarios, he said, that will then help the hospital determine at what point it can no longer accept outside transfers.

Other area hospitals have been conducting similar modeling for their individual hospitals, according to Hanks. The goal, he said, is to develop a regionwide model with data from all the local hospitals. Indeed, hospitals have already begun feeding their data to Albany Med, he said.

Really what we need to know is when is the likely surge to hit and how high will the wave be when it hits right here in the Capital District? he said. And so thats the thinking behind using the data analytics team.

Hospital leaders did not say much Friday about Gov. Andrew Cuomos new executive order, which enables the National Guard to seize ventilators and personal protective equipment from hospitals that don't currently need them and redeploy them to harder-hit areas of the state.

Venditti said hospitals in the area are carefully tracking their ventilators  used and unused  and currently have "adequate numbers" to handle a "pretty reasonable increase" in patients who might need them.

Upstate hospitals have been asked to loan 20 percent of their unused ventilators to struggling downstate hospitals.

Hanks said he believes it makes more sense to encourage the movement of patients from hard-hit areas of the state to less-affected areas, versus moving the ventilators, since hard-hit areas may not have the available staff or even space to use them.

Meanwhile, Capital Region hospitals continued to insist Friday that they have an "adequate" supply of personal protective equipment, or PPE. But health care workers at multiple area hospitals have said they are being actively discouraged from wearing surgical masks while not caring for COVID-19 patients, despite the virus' ability to shed in asymptomatic people. They say they're worried they will inadvertently infect someone, or become infected themselves.

Hanks said that St. Peter's Health Partners parent organization  Michigan-based Trinity Health System  is moving to a new protocol, effective Friday, that authorizes all employees with "patient-facing responsibilities" to wear masks.

Other hospital leaders from the area say they are continuing to examine the issue of whether more employees should be wearing masks, but stressed their need to conserve PPE for those working on COVID-19 units.

Dr. David Liebers, chief medical officer at Ellis Medicine and an infectious disease specialist, admitted that staff are being discouraged from bringing in their own PPE such as goggles and gowns because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the staff who may not have such equipment.

Its certainly possible that asymptomatic staff members are coming into our organization, he said. Thats why were doing very careful screening of all our staff.

As of Friday, 50 health care workers at Albany Medical Center were known to have tested positive for the virus. Figures from other hospitals were not released.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Also on Friday, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came out and said the general public should wear masks when venturing out around others, but encouraged the use of masks that are more rudimentary than the surgical masks used by health care workers.

NEW TEST SITE

Cuomo announced Friday that the state will open a COVID-19 drive-through testing site at the University at Albany's uptown campus.

The site, which will be operated by the Department of State, will open Monday at the school's Colonial Quad parking lot, but only for those who make appointments beforehand. No walk-in or unscheduled testing will be allowed.

Residents who have symptoms and believe they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should call the states hotline at 888-364-3065 to be approved for testing at the site. They will be given a PIN number that enables access to the site.

Once there, they would be ushered through a series of checkpoints, which will be staffed by State Police, the National Guard and UAlbany police.

The testing site will cause some roadways around the university to be blocked, and the school is asking people to avoid driving to the northwest corner of the campus.

RISING CASES, DEATHS

Three new deaths due to COVID-19 were announced in the Capital Region on Friday, bringing the areas known death toll from the virus to 14.

Albany County announced that two more residents had died. Both were men in their 60s with underlying health conditions. One died Thursday night, and the other Friday morning.

The county also announced that a cashier at the Popeyes restaurant at 900 Central Ave. in Albany tested positive for the virus. Anyone who got food from the restaurant on March 23 between 4 and 10 p.m. or March 25 between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. is asked to call the county health department at 518-447-4580.

Meanwhile, Montgomery County experienced its first known death due to COVID-19  a retired Amsterdam firefighter died Friday at St. Mary's Hospital.

The death of Dave Swart, who operated Dave Dawg's food stand on Church Street in Amsterdam, was noted in a statement posted Friday to the Montgomery County government Facebook page.

"On behalf of our Montgomery County family, we are deeply saddened by the loss of Dave Swart," the statement said. "Our hearts go out to his family, friends, the Amsterdam Fire Department and the many lives he touched throughout the community. Such a kind person will be missed by all."

Swart turned 69 in March, according to public records, and his struggle with COVID-19 was publicized in recent days by stories in the Amsterdam Recorder newspaper. After his hospitalization, friends and family posted signs at his shuttered food stand. "You Got This Dave," one sign said.

On Thursday, his wife, Pam Swart, warned on social media that her husband's condition was worsening.

"Dave is doing a little worse than yesterday," she wrote. "Keep up the prayers and thoughts coming. You are holding me up and I know Daves is feeling the love."



There are now over 700 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the greater Capital Region. Below is a breakdown of known case counts, hospitalizations, recoveries and deaths, as reported by local counties or the state.

Albany County: 254 cases, 30 hospitalized, 15 adults in ICU, 4 deaths

Columbia County 57 cases, 5 hospitalized, 2 in ICU, 22 recovered, 2 deaths

Fulton County: 6 cases

Greene County: 27 cases, 4 hospitalized, 12 discharged

Montgomery County: 12 cases, 4 recovered, 3 remain under medical care, 1 death

Rensselaer County: 71 cases, 20 hospitalized, 14 recovered, 1 death

Saratoga County: 148 cases, 18 hospitalized, 1 death

Schenectady County: 101 cases, 21 hospitalizations, 21 recoveries, 5 deaths

Schoharie County: 11 cases

Warren County: 19 cases, 14 recovered

Washington County: 16 cases, 4 recovered

Chris Churchill and Steve Hughes contributed.
The 21-day lockdown has hit



farmers and essential item producers indirectly even as the government has exempted them from the purview of the shutdown



Edible oil supplies in the market have been hit due to various factors, industry players said.

These include lower production at plants due to reduction in the number of workers to maintain safety against COVID-19, less number of workers to load and unload raw materials at markets, less truck movement and payment disruptions.

"Our operations will be 50 per cent on an average for edible oils during this period," Emami group director Aditya Agarwal said.

Emami is one of the largest players in the edible oils like soybean, rice bran and mustard oil in the country.

He, however, said things are improving and there is no reason of shortage as there are enough stock in the market.

Asked about price rise, he said there had been cost-push but price rise is not much.

Price of all major variants of edible oil has soared by Rs 10-20 a litre at retail level due to a combination of factors, retailers claimed.

Panagarh Sech & Agriculture Welfare Society secretary Amar Nayek said milk farmers are suffering losses as there had been disruption in offtake of our produce by the agro industry companies.

"Amul picks our fresh milk but they are taking far less quantity due to the lockdown," he said.

The Hooghly-based farmers body said it has some 1,200 farmers under its fold and have written to the state government to exempt agro-based companies.

They said if agro-industries are not allowed to function smoothly during the lockdown then it will impact potato farmers next season.

"Pepsi procure potatoes also from us. They have taken this year's output but if they are unable to manufacture then they will procure less quantity next year from potato farmers," Nayek said.

Murshidabad-based paneer makers said, "we are unable to sell our produce and price have slipped more than 50 per cent to Rs 100 a kg, while in the city price has spurt over Rs 300 a kg.

South 24 Parganas-based puffed rice which is home- based industry is suffering due to the lockdown as prices have crashed while in the city there is a shortage.

"This is due to stoppage of trains. We ferry our production on suburban trains. There is shortage of labourers too," farmers said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(TNS)  Morgan Elise Johnson has been hosting virtual meditation sessions each weekday morning through her digital media company The Triibe, to bring a sense of calm to the audience during the coronavirus outbreak.One morning last week, though, that calm was shattered.The group was using video conferencing app Zoom and had just started its session when some young men joined the meeting, Johnson said. They started heckling the wellness professional leading the meditation. Then it got worse.They took control of the screen and started searching for adult videos, Johnson said. When she tried to mute them, the hackers scolded her and used a racial slur.I just exited out right away, Johnson said. For it to be at a moment where we were seeking community and seeking collective calm  it really cut through my spirit and affected me in a very visceral way.The group, comprised mainly of black Chicagoans, had been Zoombombed, an increasingly popular form of hacking where someone drops in, uninvited, to a Zoom video meeting. The Triibe has continued hosting meditation sessions, but theyre doing it on Instagram Live instead, Johnson said.Its just a question of how do we move forward? she said. Is Zoom a platform that we need to just disregard completely?Zooms popularity has skyrocketed as millions of homebound people settle into new remote work and learning routines during the pandemic. There are free versions of Zoom, or users can pay for a subscription for broader use. The platform has been used in recent weeks for everything from business meetings and yoga classes to virtual happy hours. But the increased use of Zoom has brought more opportunities to hack into it.Unlike other types of cyberattacks, hacking into a Zoom meeting can be relatively easy if certain security settings arent turned on, experts say. Zoom invites often are posted on social media to increase attendance, which can make them more vulnerable. Some argue Zooms default settings could be more secure.Bad actors are focusing on the fact that everybodys using it but not everybody may know how to use it properly, said Louis McHugh IV, a cybersecurity professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology.In other forms of cyberattacks, hackers typically want money, McHugh said. Theyre out for passwords, credit card numbers, or data to hold ransom that will end in a payday. That does not seem to be the case with Zoombombing, McHugh said. So far, the main motivation appears to be mischief.But many reported incidents of Zoombombing tread into more nefarious waters, said David Goldenberg, Midwest regional director of anti-hate organization ADL, also called the Anti-Defamation League. On Tuesday alone, ADLs Chicago office received four calls from different Jewish organizations reporting that their video meetings had been targeted."We assume that those who are doing it are seeking to disrupt, and in some cases, spread hate and even intimidate, Goldenberg said. Those who have particular ideologies  can use this as an opportunity to target different groups.ChiTribe, a Chicago-based organization meant to reach Jewish millennials, was Zoombombed Monday night, said co-founder and Executive Director Rebecca Joey Schwab.The group was hosting a virtual game night on Zoom with about 30 people, when hackers took control of the call. They appeared to be teenage boys, Schwab said.Schwab knew immediately what was happening. She uses Zoom frequently and knew that if meeting hosts dont disable certain settings, members can take control of the screen. Schwab and the meeting host acted quickly to shut down the call.The incident lasted less than a minute, but that was enough time for the hackers to shout antisemitic profanities, Schwab said.It was jarring, and it was good it happened to us because we knew what to do," she said.The host changed Zoom settings to lock down the meeting to uninvited guests, and took other measures. Ten minutes later, the virtual game night was up and running again.Similar incidents have been reported from around the city and country. Earlier this week, the FBI Boston Division put out a warning about Zoombombing after receiving reports of video conferences being interrupted with hate speech, pornography and threatening language.New Yorks attorney general sent Zoom a letter asking what steps the company is taking to ensure users security and privacy.On Tuesday, Chicago aldermen and Illinois state representatives were on a press conference via Zoom that was hacked.It was disruptive, said Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, who was on the call. The intent was to derail our press conference. Whoever did this had some success.Illinois attorney generals office has not received any complaints about Zoom hacking, but it is monitoring the issue, spokeswoman Tori Joseph said.We urge people to take steps to protect themselves, such as password protecting their meeting, not sharing meeting credentials with anyone who is not a participant in the meeting, and disabling screen sharing, she said in an email.Some organizations that use Zoom are taking measures to lock down their meetings or class sessions.The University of Chicago has worked with Zoom to maximize security and update default settings, said spokesman Gerald McSwiggan. The universitys information technology department is holding training sessions for instructors. Zoom did not respond to a request for comment, but the San Jose, Calif.-based company recently updated guidance on how to better lock down meetings.Users that have experienced a Zoombombing say they never would have thought theyd be hacked in such a way. Dr. Santina Wheat, a family physician at Erie Family Health Centers, said she was on a Zoom call last week that hackers dropped in on.She was about 40 minutes into a call with other physicians, discussing how to provide care during the pandemic, when two men joined the meeting and started swearing. It was jarring, Wheat said, but at least now she knows to look out for it.User education will be key to combating Zoombombing, said Art Sturdevant, director of operations at Ann Arbor, Michigan-based cybersecurity company Censys.As Zoom becomes more prevalent, this problem is going to pick up steam, he said. If the quarantine drives on, people are only going to get more bored, and youll see more mischief.Here are some tips from the FBI, Zoom and other experts to prevent Zoombombing:Keep meetings and classrooms private. Do this by requiring a meeting password. Additionally, the Waiting Room feature, which is turned on by default, can help hosts control who enters.Do not share invites to Zoom meetings on social media. Instead, send the meeting password directly to attendees.Use a random meeting ID, so it cant be shared multiple times. According to Zooms website, this is safer than using a Personal Meeting ID."Change screensharing settings to Only Host, so no one but the host can control the screen. The host can also mute participants in their settings.Lock a Zoom session that has already begun so no one else can join. Do this by clicking Participants in the bottom of a Zoom window, then clicking Lock Meeting.Remove participants by hovering over their name in the Participants menu, and clicking the Remove option. The removed participant will not be allowed back in, according to Zooms website.The FBI advises users to make sure they have the most updated version of Zooms software. A recent security update added default passwords and disabled the ability to scan for meetings to join.
Inside Hook

As the unspoken rules regulating public displays of online horniness continue to loosen in these unprecedented times, no digital platform is immune to the forces of quarantine horn, including, apparently, Change.org.

The site is now home to a petition asking for support in naming Dr. Anthony Fauci People magazines Sexiest Man Alive. The petition  which, at time of writing, has more than 4,000 signatures  argues that the 79-year-old director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases deserves the title held by the likes of Brad Pitt and Idris Elba in recognition of the health experts contributions to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
FILE PHOTO: Logo of Google is seen at VivaTech fair in Paris

By Paresh Dave

OAKLAND, California (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's <GOOGL.O> Google has published charts showing how the coronavirus has brought hard-hit Italy to a standstill, led to runs on grocery stores around the world and prompted a stark drop in going-out between Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day.

The analysis of location data from billions of Google users' phones is the largest public dataset available to help health authorities assess if people are abiding with shelter-in-place and similar orders issued across the world to rein in the virus.

The company released reports for 131 countries with charts that compare traffic from Feb. 16 to March 29 to retail and recreational venues, train and bus stations, grocery stores and workplaces with a five-week period earlier this year.

Google said it published the reports to avoid any confusion about what it was providing to authorities, given the global debate that has emerged about balancing privacy-invasive location tracking with the need to prevent further outbreaks.

The data often correlated with the severity of outbreaks and the harshness and breadth of orders imposed by governments.

Italy and Spain, two of the hardest-hit countries, both saw visits to retail and recreation locations such as restaurants and movie theaters plunge 94%. The United Kingdom, France and Philippines had declines of more than 80% while India, which went into a sudden 21-day lockdown on March 25, was also notable at 77%.

In the United States, where state responses have varied greatly, and in Australia, where good weather initially prompted many people to go the beach before social distancing measures were ratcheted up, the drops were less steep at under 50%.

In contrast, in Japan and Sweden, where authorities have not imposed harsh restrictions, visits to retail and recreation sites fell by roughly only a quarter. While in South Korea, which has successfully contained a large outbreak through aggressive testing and contact tracing, the decline was just 19%.

Story continues

The data also underscore some challenges authorities have faced in keeping people apart. Grocery store visits surged in Singapore, the United Kingdom and elsewhere as travel restrictions were set to go into place. Visits to parks spiked in March in some San Francisco Bay Area counties under lockdown in California, forcing them to later put the sites off limits.

The data also underscores how the mood of people around the world has shifted. In New Orleans, during its annual Mardi Gras celebrations Feb.16-25, which has with hindsight been criticized for helping spread the virus, there were off-the-chart increases in traffic to transit stations, parks and businesses.

But three weeks later in Dublin, heart of St. Patrick's holiday celebrations, traffic was down at retail and recreational venues as the country ordered big events canceled.

Within countries, there were wide gaps in behavior by region. California, which was the first in the U.S. with a statewide lockdown, cut visits to retail and recreation locations by half. In New York state, the slide in such visits was gradual as officials waited to impose strict curbs but they eventually fell 62%. By contrast, Arkansas, one of the few states without a sweeping lockdown, had the smallest decline at 29%.

The coronavirus has infected more than 1 million people globally, and COVID-19, the respiratory illness it causes, has killed 52,000, according to a Reuters tally.

There were no reports for China and Iran, where Google services are blocked.

BALANCING PRIVACY

Data in Google's reports come from users who enabled Google's "Location History" feature on their devices. The company said it adopted technical measures to ensure that no individual could be identified through the new reports.

"These reports have been developed to be helpful while adhering to our stringent privacy protocols and policies," Dr. Karen DeSalvo, chief health officer for Google Health and Jen Fitzpatrick, senior vice president for Google Geo, wrote in a blog post.

China, Singapore, South Korea and other countries have asked residents to use apps and other technology to track their compliance with quarantines, but privacy activists argue such measures can compromise individual liberties.

Infectious disease specialists have said analyzing travel across groups by age, income and other demographics could help shape public service announcements.

Google, which infers demographics from users' internet use as well as some data given when signing up to Google services, said it was not reporting demographic information. The company said, though, it was open to including additional information and countries in follow-up reports.

Google said consultations with officials in the U.S. and the World Health Organization helped inform the data shared.

The company declined to comment on whether it has received any legal requests to share more detailed data to help with efforts to tackle the pandemic.

Facebook Inc <FB.O>, which like Google has billions of users, has shared location data with non-governmental researchers that are producing similar reports for authorities in several countries. But the social media giant has not published any findings.

(Reporting by Paresh Dave; Additional reporting by Douglas Busvine in Berlin and Jonathan Weber, Miyoung Kim and Sayantani Ghosh in Singapore; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
By Clifford Kulwin

If Darwin Awards creator Wendy Northcutt ever devotes a volume to the COVID-19 crisis, she will have no shortage of material.

She might mention Brady Sluder, the infamous (and now apologetic) 22-year-old Ohio rapper who amidst partying throngs in Daytona Beach was caught on video saying, If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, Im not going to let it stop me from partying. Whatever happens, happens.

Sluders competition will include Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, the unapologetic pastor of a Tampa megachurch, who was arrested for holding two large services last Sunday. The church arranged special busses so members could attend, and videos show worshippers standing shoulder to shoulder, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Closer to home, attention has been focused on the Orthodox Jewish population of Lakewood, where several arrests have been made for violations of Gov. Phil Murphys March 21 executive order forbidding a wide variety of nonessential gatherings.

Earlier this week, 10 people were arrested at an engagement party, a synagogue study session of 35 men was broken up, and there have been numerous reports of backyard weddings, with multiple police interventions. On Wednesday, after reports that some 60-70 people gathered near a Jewish temple for a funeral, 15 people were issued a summons for defying the states ban on public gatherings.

Media accounts often make it seem that Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews throughout the tri-state area either consider themselves invulnerable to the virus, like Mr. Sluder, or disconnected from reality, like Pastor Howard-Browne.

To be sure, some among the Haredi are making bad decisions and they deserve whatever punishment the law deems appropriate. But to demonize them, as my friend Prof. David Myers wrote in a Forward article earlier this week, is both unfair and dangerous. It is akin to saying Brady Sluter is a typical member of Gen Z, or Pastor Howard-Browne is emblematic of all Christians.

Neither is true and the large majority of Haredi, like Jews in general and the population at large, are confronting the COVID-19 threat with the seriousness it unfortunately requires.

In a four-minute video posted on Vimeo by Boruch Perlowitz, a Haredi filmmaker, Lakewood appears as locked down like any other town: the Lakewood Yeshiva, the largest outside of Israel, is chained shut. Synagogue after synagogue has closed signs on the doors. The streets are virtually empty of pedestrians and almost every place of business is shuttered. Perlowitz himself notes that going out to film this video was the first time he had left his house in two weeks.

Myers, a scholar of the Haredi world, wrote of seeing people writing that Haredi are unhygienic and dont know how to take care of their children, that they are more than willing to endanger public health to satisfy their own customs, such as assembling for large gatherings in the days of pandemic.

This is simply not so. As in many traditional communities, Haredi Jews may have been later than others to recognize the gravity of the situation  a lamentable lapse in judgment of which our nations president is also guilty  but community leaders have stepped up, issuing edicts forbidding group prayer or study, demanding community members follow the rules laid down by the government of public gathering and social distancing.

The challenges are especially great in these communities, where families are large and living spaces are small and close together. But throughout the country, urban spaces where residents live in close proximity are the viruss most fertile breeding ground.

Without question, some in the Haredi community have acted recklessly and I am glad local officials are bearing down on them. As a Jew, if someone from my family acts irresponsibly, it absolutely bugs me in a special way, though every individual is free to make bad choices (and suffer the consequences). Im even more bugged, however, by the unnecessary danger it represents to public health.

And that is not the only danger. When I read words like those of Rick Wiles, the Florida pastor who claimed that the effort to impeach President Trump was a Jew coup, and now says the spread of coronavirus in synagogues is a punishment of the Jewish people for opposing Jesus, I am rendered speechless. I dont know how many there are but I do know there are people listening to him.

These are troubling times. Above all else, we must be vigilant. Vigilant about practices that might endanger our physical health, and also vigilant about words that might poison the health of our society. The dangers of both are great.

Clifford Kulwin is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Bnai Abraham in Livingston.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
The iconic Moorish castle in Gibraltar is illuminated in blue every evening in tribute to the health workers and essential services, but on Tuesday night some of the lighting didn't appear to be working and when technicians went to investigate they discovered that someone had gained access to the Old Prison from the area known as 'the Jungle' and interfered with the equipment.

The door had been left open and the rain had made the cables wet, but these were dried with heat blowers and the lighting system has now been restored.

The police were informed and an investigation is under way.
It was only a matter of time, really. With demand decimated by the coronavirus and Saudi Arabia on the oil warpath, the imbalance between oil supply and demand deepened dramatically, raising the question of what happens when the world's oil tanks and tankers fill up.

The answer? Nothing good.

Earlier this month, oil data analytics firm OilX warned that oil in storage around the world could reach 1 billion barrels before long. This week, Reuters quoted shipping industry sources as saying that as much as 80 million barrels of oil are hanging out in floating storage. OilX has calculated that this oil in floating storage could be even more, at some 100 million barrels.

And the number is only going to grow.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg quoted three sources from the Energy Department as saying the department was discussing whether to start renting out federal storage space to local oil producers as their tanks were filling up and there were no quick buyers for the oil they pump.

Earlier this month, Forbes' Gaurav Sharma reported that shipping rates for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) had soared by an insane rate of 678 percent in just one month--to $175,000 a day--to ship crude from the Middle East to Asia. A rate increase this large suggests a massive increase in demand for VLCCs. What's more, this demand for VLCCs does not coincide with a proportional increase in demand for crude.

Traders are hoarding oil.

Related: Russia: Oil Producing Countries Not Discussing Any New Deal



Reuters' Jonathan Saul notes in his report on storage that the last time there was so much oil in floating storage was in 2009, after the Great Recession. At the time, oil in floating storage reached 100 million barrels. This time it's anyone's guess how much oil traders and others would accumulate in storage before the demand situation improves. If forecasts coming in from investment banks and the IEA are any indication, it will be a while before all those barrels are sold.

Story continues

Goldman Sachs, for one, told CNBC that some grades are already trading below zero because of the devastation the Covid-19 pandemic has inflicted on oil demand.

"Indeed, given the cost of shutting down a well, a producer would be willing to pay someone to dispose of a barrel, implying negative pricing in landlocked areas," the bank said.

"With demand collapsing but supply rising after OPEC and non-affiliated Russia failed to reach a production cut agreement in early March, global inventories could reach their maximum capacity within weeks," analysts from Eurasia Group told CNBC, adding "Already, ports and refiners are turning away oil tankers. This will put even more downward pressure on prices and pose an existential threat to many companies."

Related: Why A 15 Million Barrel Per Day Cut Will Never Happen



The group of doomsayers is large and growing. There is virtually no optimistic scenario about oil demand right now, just a couple of months after the IEA and the EIA predicted continued growth for U.S. shale output to over 13 million bpd, and investment banks forecast stable oil prices. But two months ago, the coronavirus outbreak had not yet become a pandemic. The situation is, according to many, unprecedented, which means the industry and all other stakeholders are navigating a terra incognita.

Global oil storage capacity has an upper usability limit of 1.2 billion barrels, according to IHS Markit data cited by Forbes' Sharma. In order to avoid filling tanks and tankers to the brim, producers would have to cut production, and according to IHS Markit, the cut would need to be about 10 million bpd. It looks like this cut would need to come soon to avoid a collapse in benchmark prices into single-digit territory. Of course, a question arises here: who will agree to cut so much production?

The answer: whoever wants to survive the crisis without too much pain.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Read this article on OilPrice.com
Nepal's human rights commission on Friday expressed serious concern over the condition of hundreds of Nepalis, mostly migrant workers, stranded along the country's border with India due to the lockdown over coronavirus.

The workers, mostly from Western Nepal, were employed in various sectors across India and were trying to return home. As the government imposed nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, they have been left stranded along the border.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in a statement, said it was the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens and respect their human rights amidst the lockdown, which most of the countries have put in place.

"The NHRC urges the government to create a conducive environment enabling them to return home after health check-ups, in accordance with the prescribed standard on humanitarian grounds, as the Nepalis were compelled to leave India due to the problems of unemployment, food scarcity and lack of shelter," reads the statement.

Many migrant Nepali workers have managed to cross the border to return home through secret routes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Australian energy exchange platform Power Ledger has partnered with green energy retailer ekWateur to revolutionise Frances electricity market, according to a press release.

The partnership will enable French citizens customise their source of electricity for the first time using Power Ledgers blockchain-based system.

More than 220,000 electricity meters across France will gain access to Power Ledgers new blockchain-enabled product Vision, which certifies the origin and source of renewable energy.

We get a lot of questions about how our POWR tokens work within our Power Ledger ecosystem. So we developed a short "POWR Explained" summary. If you still have questions, please DM us and we will compile all the answers in the coming days for everyone. https://t.co/6e6M7tL1qn  Power Ledger (@PowerLedger_io) March 31, 2020

Households will be able to choose their own energy mix and track it in thirty minute intervals, as well as choose a certified source and origin of the renewable energy purchased.

Power Ledger has proven the technology works and now were ready for a full scale country rollout in what will be our largest project to date. This also marks a world-first in energy trading, with customers able to select their energy mix, knowing its certified via an immutable blockchain platform, said Power Ledger executive chairman Dr Jemma Green.

The platforms token (POWR) has responded as expected to the announcement with a 7.88% move to the upside against its USD trading pair while rallying by 10% against Bitcoin.

The project now has a market cap of $25 million, up significantly from the turn of the year when it was just $15 million.

For more blockchain news and guides, click here.
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A Singaporean living in Ho Chi Minh City and a Filipino-Japanese living in Tokyo have shared their thoughts on life in self-isolation due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

The comments were made following a request by Tuoi Tre News as the COVID-19 epidemic has infected over one million people globally and citizens around the world are being encouraged to stay home in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

The following comments have been edited by Tuoi Tre News for clarity, consistency, and coherence.

We can live responsibly for a better future

When the virus first emerged in Wuhan, China, I thought about the same thing as everyone else  that it seemed like something that was happening in a faraway country and could only be read about in the news.

When the virus first broke out, I was preparing to enjoy my Tet holiday back with my family in Singapore.

I think that people need to work hand in hand with their government to win the war against the virus.

So far, throughout this crisis, Ive noticed two types of behavior.

First, there are those who are socially irresponsible. They have the I dont give a damn attitude and think If I get coronavirus, I get coronavirus. At the end of the day, Im not going to let it stop me from partying.

If those people keep acting that way, it shows theyve clearly not considered the consequences of infecting their love ones, friends, or colleagues. Theyve also not thought of the burden that falls on the healthcare system.

There are also those out there who feel like its the end of the world. Those are the people who are panic buying and hoarding.

The trick to find a middle ground is rationality. We need to ask ourselves how can we rationally prepare for something thats likely to occur?

I know self-isolation might be unbearable for extroverts and sociable people but those people need to understand that we are in the middle of a pandemic.

Having lived in Australia for four years and Vietnam for the last seven, Ive learned to be adaptable.

Im an extrovert, but for the last days I've refrained from all social meetings and worked from home as well as eliminated all non-essential outdoor activities.

Staying home has its benefits. Besides having more time to exercise, Ive been able to improve my cooking skills and Ive spent some time thinking about the positive impacts of this pandemic.

Human beings claim to be supreme among the living creatures on the planet but we are currently being crippled by the smallest of living organisms. I see this as a reminder of our humanity. It begs the question: how have we been living as a species?

Perhaps its a good time to reflect on our lives. Was this a punishment from Mother Nature as a result of our mistreatment of the Earth?

After public health campaigns such as the #stayhome movement and social distancing, the natural environment has flourished all around the world.

Marine life has returned to the waters of Italy and the major slowdown in the manufacturing and industrial emissions has resulted in blue skies in Beijing.

While COVID-19 has claimed lives, perhaps many more have been saved by the reduced air and industrial pollution.

This pandemic shows us that the way our economies have been operating has a huge hidden health cost.

Governments should take this opportunity to promote climate change, reduce the toxins we put into the air, and reduce dumping waste in the ocean.

We need to use this time to ask ourselves, should we be reducing our use of disposable plastics and replace them with green products? After all, whats the point of throwing money into the economy if were going to lose our planet?

In closing, have courage! China has shown the world that the war against COVID-19 can be won.

This is the time when we must stand together as one. We must stand together with our government to keep this virus contained and to overcome this challenge, just as we have done in the past.

Darren Chua (Singaporean)

Be more responsible for yourself and for others

The current situation is a matter of creating a mindset where you have to be more responsible for yourself and for others.

When I learned more information about COVID-19, I realized that even going out to buy essentials is a risk. Therefore, I try my best to maximize my time outdoors so that I can buy all the things I need.

I maximize my time indoors reading, studying Japanese, reorganizing my things, cleaning my apartment, and checking my supplies.

Staying at home to self-isolate is not bad at all. I found myself having a lot of time for myself so I take things more slowly than usual.

Im able to enjoy my meals more because now I prepare them on my own. I also have the time to learn new recipes.

Since Im usually a very busy person, the extra time I have now because of the coronavirus has helped me to bond with my family and friends.

Im able to talk longer with my family and friends and ask how they are and have good conversations with them about politics, health, and wellness.

Being Catholic, Ive also been able to pray more and join online masses and prayer sessions against COVID-19.

I keep a positive mindset by avoiding social media as much as possible since there are a lot of toxic people and fake news that don't help mental health.

Choosing what to see and access is important while being online, especially during this pandemic.

My advice to stay positive would be: check in with your loved ones and friends, be good virtual company, have wholesome conversations, and spread positivity and encouragement especially if you have friends who are working on the frontlines.

Try to stay occupied by learning new things and being as productive and creative with your activities as possible.

Be of help, be charitable if possible, especially to those who are in need of medical supplies and other medical related equipment, if you can and if you have the means to do so. It is virtually possible.

Among this pandemic, there has also been an issue of panic buying. I think panic buying is counter-productive.

One will never know if one has secured themselves stocks because people are buying by impulse. Hence, most of the things bought will be wasted. Being a wise consumer is much more important than being a big consumer. That is a habit I was able to build up while growing up in the Philippines where we were constantly hit by typhoons and calamities.

Panic buying can also harm people who are living on low daily wages or in poverty.

As much as possible, we should be mindful that not all people can afford to buy what they need and we also have to consider their welfare and survival.

In times of crisis, survival is important but you can secure yourself while being kind and considerate to others.

If you can and if you are charitable enough, it might be a good time to offer to help pay for supplies for those in need. We never truly know how our acts of kindness can help others.

We need to realize that our lives are connected to one another. What happens to one of us happens to all of us.

Rie Fujinami (Filipino-Japanese)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially left the royal family. The couples exit from the monarchy became official on March 31 and the two are now looking to settle down in Los Angeles. But before Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, bid farewell, they dropped a subtle clue about their life after Megxit with a special Instagram post.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS  WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex say goodbye to the royal spotlight

A day before their departure took effect, Prince Harry and Meghan posted a final message on their Sussex Royal Instagram account. The pair thanked their followers for their continued support and admonished everyone to take good care of yourselves.

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. Youve been great! Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another, they wrote.

The farewell came shortly after the couple flew to Los Angeles. They had been staying in Canada for the past six months. Sources claim that they want to establish another home base in the City of Angels, where they will spend the majority of their time.

As part of their agreement, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use their HRH titles. They will also seek financial freedom from the crown and will be setting up a new charitable organization in the coming months.

The royals plan on reviewing the details of Harry and Meghans exit in 12 months. Anything that needs to be updated or tweaked will happen at that time.

What will Prince Harry and Meghan Markles life look like?

Harry and Meghans plan to pay for everything out of their own pocket has left royal watchers with a slew of questions. Between Meghans ties to Hollywood and Harrys royal lineage, the Sussexes have plenty of ways to earn money. Exactly what they do, however, remains a mystery.

The coronavirus pandemic has made Prince Harry and Meghans exit even more complicated. The two are currently under lockdown in California and will likely be forced to delay any of their pre-pandemic plans.

That said, the couple has already made several moves that offer a hint at whats ahead. Prince Harry, for example, has taken part in several speaking engagements while Meghan narrated a documentary for Disney called Elephants.

Welcome to LA! Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their son Archie have moved permanently to the Los Angeles area. They have bought a private compound in Malibu, and are living there now. pic.twitter.com/2uTSkP10cN  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) March 27, 2020

Public speaking gigs could be a great way for Harry to earn money and promote causes that are dear to his heart. Meghan Markle could also re-start her acting career, and her deal with Disney might be a teaser for whats to come.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not commented on the rumors surrounding their future plans. They did, however, release a statement informing fans that their focus will be on their family in the immediate future.

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 nonprofit organization, Harry and Meghan shared.

Harry and Meghan drop a subtle clue

While fans are looking forward to seeing what Harry and Meghan do next, many royal watchers missed a subtle clue the couple dropped in their final Instagram post.

At the end of their comment, the Sussexes signed off using their first names only. In previous posts, the pair used Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in closing.

Now that they are out of the royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be allowed to use their titles. This includes their main brand, Sussex Royal, which means they will be re-branding themselves in the coming months.

Harry and Meghan have not lost their titles, and Harry is still sixth in line to the throne. Queen Elizabeth just does not want the Sussexes to use their royal titles unless they return to the monarchy full-time.

How will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle afford security in America?

Security expenses have become a big topic now that Harry and Meghan are living in the US. President Donald Trump has already stated that the US will not foot the bill for the couples security, which could cost millions of dollars.

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! Trump stated.

REVEALED: Prince Charles will make 2million contribution to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 4million-a-year security bill https://t.co/a1OV9dWT85  Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) March 30, 2020

Fortunately, an inside source told Fox News that Prince Charles will be paying for a portion of Prince Harry and Meghans security expenses. The source claims that Charles has agreed to pay a private contribution, though it is unclear how much he is willing to give.

Charles receives around $26 million a year from the Duchy of Cornwall. His donation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will likely come from that estate and not from anything connected to the crown.
NEW YORK - The Walt Disney Co. on Friday overhauled its release schedule by moving the dates of half a dozen Marvel movies, announcing a new one for the live-action adaption of Mulan and pushing one movie, Artemis Fowl, to Disney Plus, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This image released by Disney/Marvel Studios' shows Scarlett Johansson in a scene from "Black Widow." The Walt Disney Co. on Friday overhauled its release schedule, moving the dates of half a dozen Marvel movies. Black Widow, which had been set to kick off the summer movie season, will now open Nov. 6. (Marvel Studios/Disney via AP)

NEW YORK - The Walt Disney Co. on Friday overhauled its release schedule by moving the dates of half a dozen Marvel movies, announcing a new one for the live-action adaption of Mulan and pushing one movie, Artemis Fowl, to Disney Plus, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Black Widow, the Marvel entry starring Scarlett Johansson, had been set to kick off the summer movie season. Instead, Disney said it will now open Nov. 6. Such delays have unique ramifications for Marvel movies because of their interconnection. With Black Widow on the move, that meant a domino effect, pushing most all upcoming Marvel releases back at least three months.

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Black Widow took the release date of The Eternals, which now moves to February 21 next year. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" departs that February date for May 7, 2021. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness shifts from next May to Nov. 5, 2021. And Thor: Love and Thunder is pushed three months, to Feb. 18, 2022.

Disney isn't abandoning the summer completely. Mulan, which been scheduled for March and already had its red carpet premiere, will now open July 24. That release date, of course, is subject to movie theatres being reopened by then and the pandemic subsiding.

While Disney shifted nearly all of its big-budget movies, it's going to send one to its streaming service. The Kenneth Branagh-directed science fiction adventure adaptation Artemis Fowl" will go to Disney Plus instead of opening in theatres. The movie had originally been slate for release last August but had been rescheduled for May of this year. With the exception of Universal's Trolls World Tour, the major studios have chosen to delay their top releases rather than push them to digital release and sacrifice box-office revenue.

Jungle Cruise, with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, is being pushed back a full year to July 30, 2021. The release of the fifth Indiana Jones movie, which Steven Spielberg last month departed as director with James Mangold replacing him, is also being delayed a full year, to July 2022. Harrison Ford will be 80 years old by then.

Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch is also postponed from July to Oct. 16.

On Thursday, the Walt Disney Co. announced they will start furloughing some workers in two weeks at its theme parks resorts in Florida and California.
The Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore has been postponed until September because of the coronavirus outbreak. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

The Preakness Stakes, normally the second leg of horse racings Triple Crown, was postponed Friday, but no new date was announced. The move was expected given the uncertainty of everything in the wake of the coronavirus. The race was supposed to be held May 16.

Last month, the Kentucky Derby, scheduled for May 2, was moved to Sept. 5. At the time, Churchill Downs suggested that the Preakness and Belmont Stakes would follow. But at the time neither the Stronach Group, which runs the Preakness in Baltimore, nor the New York Racing Assn., which puts on the Belmont, had made any decisions about the races.

There has been no announcement made on the Belmont, which is scheduled for June 6.

A decision will be made on a new date for Preakness 145 and will take into consideration all of the recommended best practices from local and government health authorities to protect our community, TSG said in a news release.

The Santa Anita Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep race, was supposed to be held Saturday but has also been postponed. All tracks in California, with the exception of Los Alamitos, are open to training but closed to racing.
Americas political leaders overcame political differences to enact $2 trillion in national economic support bill, while the Federal Reserve took historic steps to assure liquidity for the economy to address COVID-19. Important steps for sure, but a bigger challenge lies around the corner. This is a global pandemic causing global economic crisis; the United States must reassert its world economic leadership to protect our citizens and people everywhere from a deep, damaging recession worldwide.

The Trump administration took a small first step last week in a virtual meeting with leaders of major economies, the Group of 20 (G20). Bolder steps and concrete follow-through are needed. Congress can help.

The United States has been the driving force behind global responses to international challenges ever since the Marshall Plan. Bipartisan leadership from U.S. presidents and the Congress was essential in shaping such responses to the Asian financial crisis of the 1990s; to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001; and to the Great Recession of 2008. It is now the turn of the Trump administration and this Congress.

The George W. Bush administration created the G20 to ensure a coordinated response to the Great Recession. G20 cooperation ensured that the United States, China and Europe worked together rather than at cross purposes. The G20 undertook large, coordinated economic stimulus programs, avoided self-defeating trade barriers and supported International Monetary Fund and World Bank provision of crucial financial resources and policy advice for emerging market and low-income countries. The G20 should again be the epicenter of U.S. leadership.

The Trump administration and Congress must put their political muscle behind a global effort to subdue COVID-19 and head off economic collapse, first by assuring bold, coordinated G20 fiscal policy steps like the United States has now taken, not vague promises. Last week leaders seemed to promise support to vital World Health Organization programs but hedged by saying this would be on a voluntary basis. The administration and Congress need immediately to identify and provide the necessary resources to the WHO, and press others do the same, as George W. Bushs administration did to combat the AIDS epidemic and the Obama administration did in the Ebola crisis. If the administration does not act promptly and decisively, Congress should take the lead. Exerting such bipartisan American leadership will not be easy in the midst of a contentious election cycle and likely tension between Democrats and Republicans. But such leadership will be crucial to inspiring concerted action to restart the global economy on which U.S. prosperity depends.

Similarly, countries must pull together to avoid and reverse unilateral trade protectionism, particularly on critical medical supplies, protective gear and food supplies, and ensure the arteries of trade flow, supply chains and financing for economic activity function smoothly. We welcome proposals that the administration might defer collection of some tariff for 90 days but that is no substitute for much more broadly based reductions in or elimination of trade barriers to spur global economic growth.

For the last three years, all nations benefited from the strong tailwind of a global economic expansion. This mitigated the growth-killing effects of rising trade barriers. Now those tailwinds have been replaced by the powerful headwinds of a global recession. Even before the pandemic, global trade flows were slowing and G20 economies had slapped on new trade barriers. There is a real risk more countries will erect barriers on the export of medical items to fight the health crisis, and even on food. If recovery is to take hold, global trade barriers need to be reduced across the board. Congress should push such an initiative.

The G20 also must also take concrete steps to stop the collapse in oil prices caused by the price war between two G20 countries, Saudi Arabia and Russia, which has needlessly increased global economic uncertainty. Both countries seek to undercut U.S. domestic oil production, including from shale. Sound energy security policies practiced by successive U.S. administrations and Congresses have assured our energy supply security and created thriving U.S. energy industries, which are now threatened by the price war. The United States and other G20 countries should continue to press the Saudis and Russians to end this oil skirmish in the interest of a broad-based global economic recovery, which is also essential to them.

As the largest shareholder, the United States should also vigorously support IMF, World Bank and regional development bank efforts to help emerging countries, who make up a substantial percentage of global GDP, avoid economic devastation. These international financial institutions will likely need capital increases to fulfill this role. The United States should lead the effort to ensure that these institutions have adequate funds. Congress can play a key role in ensuring that this happens.

Every administration and every Congress enters into office with great plans and goals, which often get mugged by unanticipated events. COVID-19 was not expected. Now the question is whether the administration and Congress can adapt to new realities and lead a global coalition to defeat the virus and the threat of a global recession. The resources required are minor compared with the massive U.S. stimulus Congress just provided. The crucial resource required now is global leadership.

Larson and Eizenstat are both former diplomats and ambassadors who served as senior officials in the State Department and Treasury Department of the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations.
On demand training for water and wastewater utilities. American Water College is working to expand our MyWaterCollege operations to assist those who provide us all with safe water.

Today, American Water College announced an expansion of their MyWaterCollege online training operations to support the growing needs of utilities during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

As water sector utilities activate their continuity of operation plans, the need for flexible, on demand training options has never been greater. In these unprecedented times, American Water College is uniquely able to support the growing online training needs of our industry. MyWaterCollege is the most comprehensive online water utility learning management system.

Public utilities and organizations signed up for the MyWaterCollege system can continue delivering essential training to their entire organization while operating under their continuity of operation plans which require actions such as minimizing non-essential staff at treatment facilities and adjusting schedules to facilitate social distancing. Additionally, organizations can use the system to cross-train their employees, thus increasing operational resiliency in these unprecedented times.

On the expansion, Joe Kerschner, President of American Water College said, We are prouder than ever to serve water industry professionals. In these unprecedented times we all continue to deal with this global pandemic. American Water College is working to expand our MyWaterCollege operations to assist those who provide us all with safe water.

He continued, it is essential for the health of all Americans that our public water supply continues to provide safe water for drinking and for the all-important hand washing. We should all thank the water industry professionals for the work they continue to do, working to deliver safe and affordable water to our houses and other essential businesses.

American Water College was founded in 2006 with a vision to provide high quality, cost-effective online training to operators in the water and wastewater fields. For more information please contact the American Water College office or visit http://www.americanwatercollege.org.

American Water College

661-874-1655

info@americanwatercollege.org
Some conservatives have said they did not believe that Americans would ever accept wide usage. Michael Dougherty, a conservative writer at National Review, wrote that Americans would quickly feel that masks are ridiculous, menacing, or an imposition on life, then conclude they must be temporary.

Mr. Trumps personal hesitance also underscored questions about whether other politicians or media personalities would choose to wear masks while appearing in public.

Outside of the White House, the move toward masks accelerated quickly this week. On Friday, after Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, urged residents of his state to wear masks if they ventured out of their homes, the states health secretary reiterated that staying at home  away from groups of people  remained the most effective way to ensure that the virus would not spread.

A mask isnt a pass to go back to work, or go visit friends, or go socialize, said the health secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine.

At the World Health Organization briefing on Friday, Dr. Michael J. Ryan, the executive director of the health emergency program, said that while the W.H.O. still recommended masks only for front-line health workers and those who are sick or caring for someone who is, we can certainly see circumstances in which the use of masks, both homemade or cloth masks, at community level may help in an overall comprehensive response to this disease.

Senator Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, has been one of the most vocal supporters of wearing masks. In an interview from the basement of his home, where he is isolating because of his recent contact with lawmakers who tested positive for the virus, he said wearing masks would help limit the effect of it.

It just makes sense to have some kind of physical barrier that would reduce the droplets that are released when people speak and breathe, Mr. Toomey said. The idea is to protect everyone else. My mask protects you. Your mask protects me.
Cuba releases Christian homeschool mother jailed for not enrolling kids in gov't school

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A Christian homeschool mother who was arrested in Cuba for refusing to send her children to government-run schools has been released after over 11 months in prison. Her husband remains imprisoned.

Pastor Adya Exposito Leyva confirmed that she was released from a womens prison in Guantanamo last weekend.



Exposito Leyva was jailed along with her husband, Pastor Ramon Rigal, last April for homeschooling their children.



According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the couple homeschooled to avoid sending their kids to the government schools that promote socialism and atheism.

They were sentenced for crimes such as acts against the normal development of a minor.

USCIRF reports that Rigal remains in prison to serve a two-year sentence and is slated to be released in 2021.

Journalist Robert Jesus Quinones Haces is also imprisoned for allegedly trying to cover the couples legal trial. According to USCRIF, Haces was sentenced for disobedience.

While we welcome the release of Exposito and are particularly relieved that she can be reunited with her children, we believe that she should never have been imprisoned in the first place, USCIRF Commissioner and civil rights lawyer Anurima Bhargava said in a statement.

The charges brought against her and her husband are part of the Cuban governments harassment, discrimination, and arbitrary detention of individuals simply seeking to practice their religion."

Rigal and Exposito Leyva serve as representatives of Abundant Faith Ministry International headquartered in Nicaragua.

Marvyn Thomas, chief executive of the United Kingdom-based watchdog group Christian Solidarity Worldwide, welcomed the pastors release and also called on authorities to allow her to enjoy her freedom without harassment.

According to CSW, the bullying of children in school because of their religious beliefs is relatively common in Cuba.

CSW said it received a number of cases involving pastors kids being denied educational opportunities or singled out because their parents hold counter-revolutionary ideas.

Two Jewish boys were barred from entering their school while wearing kippahs, CSW reported last December. Authorities threatened to open up legal proceedings against their parents.

The Cuban authorities targeting of children on account of their religious beliefs or those of their parents is a deplorable violation of fundamental human rights, Thomas said in a statement. We call on the Cuban authorities to ensure that there is no religious discrimination in schools and that parents are afforded the right to place their children in an education system of their choosing.

This week, the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro called on Cuba to release thousands of political prisoners to combat the spread of the coronavirus in Cubas prisons.

According to USCRIF, Cuban prisons are overcrowded and lack adequate sanitary conditions.

More than ever during this global pandemic, the Cuban government must release Pastor Rigal and Roberto Jesus Quinones Haces, along with others held in Cuba for their beliefs or advocacy of religious freedom, USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer, a longtime social conservative activist, said in a statement.

With the coronavirus spreading on the island, the conditions in Cuban prisons are a ticking time bomb. We implore the Cuban government not to further punish individuals for their most deeply held convictions by keeping them behind bars despite the present danger.

In Cuba, there are at least 269 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and six related deaths as of Friday afternoon.

Last December, the U.S. State Department added Cuba to its special watch list of countries that have engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom. There have been hundreds of religious freedom violations in Cuba over the last several years, CSW reports.

Last July, Cuba barred evangelical leaders from traveling to the U.S. to participate in the State Department's historic Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. One of the leaders wrote on Facebook at the time that she was banned from traveling because the regime considered the ministerial to be a counter-revolutionary event.
The World Bank on 2 April approved $1 billion emergency fund for India to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The World Bank on 2 April approved $1 billion emergency fund for India to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The emergency financing is being given to support better screening, contact tracing and laboratory diagnostics in the country. It will also be used to procure personal protective equipment and set up new isolation wards in the country.

The fund is part of the World Banks first group of projects, amounting to $1.9 billion that will assist 25 countries.

Speaking about the initiative, World Bank group president David Malpass said they are taking rapid action to reduce the spread of COVID-19. He said health response operations are already moving forward in over 65 countries.

We are working to strengthen developing nations ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and shorten the time to economic and social recovery. The poorest and most vulnerable countries will likely be hit the hardest, and our teams around the world remain focused on country-level and regional solutions to address the ongoing crisis, Malpass said.

The World Bank is also helping countries access critically needed medical supplies by reaching out to suppliers on behalf of governments.

In the South Asia region, the World Bank is giving $100 million to support Afghanistan to slow and limi the spread of COVID-19 and $200 million to support Pakistan's preparedness and emergency response in health sector.

The coronavirus pandemic has already affected over 2,000 people in India with 53 people succumbing to the disease.
Two sisters, aged six and 10, broke their piggy banks, donating their savings to help those hit by the lockdown to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

Maysha Arora (6) and Alia Arora (10), daughters of businessman Gaurav Arora and students of La Martiniere Girls' College in Lucknow, have contributed Rs 5,000 each which they had saved over a period of time.

Maysha said they were inspired by their grandfather Kulbhushan Arora, who is the president of the Bahraich Udyog Vyapar Mandal, for the noble deed.

District Magistrate Shambhu Kumar too lauded the girls' contribution, saying they have set an example by donating their small savings.

In these difficult times, the young children have opened the locks of their treasure and have contributed their small savings to the Prime Minister's relief fund . By doing so, they have proved that age has nothing to do with compassion," the DM added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 637 Europeans were evacuated from Nigeria and Benin Republic on Thursday, according to PUNCH. German airline, Lufthansa a...





At least 637 Europeans were evacuated from Nigeria and Benin Republic on Thursday, according to PUNCH.





German airline, Lufthansa and Air France, were reportedly used to transport some of the Europeans from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.





In a tweet on Monday, the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria had announced that the European Union would evacuate its citizens from Nigeria, starting April 2.





To Swedish residents in Nigeria. Opportunity for EU citizens to be placed on a waiting list for flights from Lagos to Munich, April 2; Abuja to Vienna, April 3. Wishes are sent immediately to the embassy.abuja@gov.se. Note special medical conditions. it tweeted.

A total of 238 Germans were reportedly evacuated by Lufthansa, while 399 French and Dutch citizens boarded the Air France flight.





Out of the 399 French and Dutch citizens that were evacuated, 142 were said to have been airlifted from Cotonou, Benin Republic, while 257 others joined the flight at the Lagos airport.





The first evacuation was said to have taken place on March 26, while the next evacuation is expected to take place on April 9.





As part of the measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, the federal government had restricted flights from countries considered as high risk.





It later barred international flights coming into Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on March 23.





This was after it ordered the closure of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (DNKN); Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu (DNEN); and Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa (DNPO).




Toyota Corolla Hybrid Named 2020 Car Of The Year By Rocky Mountain Automotive Press +VIDEO

Worlds best-selling nameplate adds new hybrid model garnering media recognition in the Rockies

DENVER, CO - April 3, 2020: The all-new 2020 Corolla was introduced last Spring with reimagined styling, an enhanced driving experience and the addition of the first ever Corolla Hybrid in the U.S. This new Corolla model, which boasts up to an estimated 52 MPG combined, was especially appealing to the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association (RMAP), awarding the Corolla Hybrid 2020 Rocky Mountain Car of the Year.

We are honored to receive this award for the all-new Corolla Hybrid. This vehicle is another efficient and value-based offering in our lineup that provides more options for our customers based on their needs,  said John Mineweaser, assistant general manager of the Toyota Denver Region. Two years ago the redesigned Camry received this accolade, and it is rewarding to see that Toyotas latest passenger car products are being recognized by our local automotive press as leaders in an especially competitive and important segment in this market. The Toyota Denver Region sold over 23,000 Corollas and Camrys last year throughout its 71 dealers.

Corolla is the worlds best-selling nameplate with over 46 million vehicles sold globaly since it was introduced 24 years ago. And the 12th-generation Corolla is greater than ever with a new 169 horsepower, 2.0-liter Dynamic-Force engine, improved technology and the latest in Toyotas suite of standard active safety features, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. The Corolla Hybrid has a new-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive which combines a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two motor/generators through an electronically controlled planetary-type continuously variable transmission (CVT) transaxle. This pairing provides responsive acceleration without sacrificing fuel economy, which is not typical for most hybrids. Additionally, the hybrid battery warranty has been extended from 8 years or 100,000 miles from the date of first use to 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first providing extra peace of mind for owners.

The Rocky Mountain Press Association evaluates multiple vehicles every year before selecting four finalists to vote on. In order to be considered, the vehicle must have gone through a major redesign or added a new powertrain element, which was the case for Corolla. Each RMAP member is also required to test drive the vehicle and evaluate a certain set of criteria to select their top choice. In the sedan category, the 2020 Corolla Hybrid LE was assessed along with the 2019 BMW M850i xDrive convertible, 2020 Nissan Versa and 2020 Subaru Legacy.

As the voting finished up for the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) vehicle of the year we were thrilled to have the 2020 Toyota Corolla LE Hybrid come out on top, said RMAP president, Craig Conover. Taking an iconic name like Corolla and offering a hybrid that can get over 50 miles per gallon put this vehicle on top for this year in the sedan category in the Rocky Mountain Region. RMAP is a professional association comprised of 95 automotive media members in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska and Kansas.
As the COVID-19 pandemic grips the globe, new surveillance methods are already raising new privacy and security challenges despite the still-early days of this crisis. Chief among these potential problems is the sudden turn by the government toward using geolocation data to track millions of Americans' cell phones in monitoring the spread of the disease.

Silicon Valley giants, including Alphabet, Amazon and Facebook, have already been called into the White House to brainstorm ways to use geolocation, public media scraping and other technologies to track users in ways that ostensibly don't violate users' privacy. Meanwhile, phone carriers across Europe are sharing data with authorities while Israeli intelligence agencies are using phone tracking technology initially developed to combat terrorism in the fight against COVID-19

Touch-based biometric authentication shunned

Biometric and facial recognition technologies are also rapidly being adopted, and in some cases, melded together in new ways to battle the disease's outbreak. Part of what is spurring the no-contact version of identity verification is the growing fear that fingerprint or hand scanners used to control facility access are potential vectors for the disease's spread.

In New York, municipal workers are balking at the use of hand scanners to check in. The New York Police Department has halted its use of fingerprint entry security procedures amid fears of picking up COVID-19 from the keypad surfaces. Even condo associations are jettisoning biometric-based systems used to permit building entry.

Emerging biometrics combine new and old technology

These are a few examples of how biometric technology is evolving during the COVID crisis:

In China, tablets affixed to the back of bus drivers' seats record passengers body temperatures and take snapshots of their faces. The photos are used later for contact tracing if a passenger tests positive for coronavirus.

In the US, threat detection screening company Athena Security, whose system was previously used to detect guns, now offers what it calls its "Fever Detection COVID19 Screening System." It deploys "artificially intelligent thermal cameras" to detect fevers and alert customers to the presence of someone who may be carrying the coronavirus. Athena is pitching its product to be used in grocery stores, hospitals and voting locations and is currently deploying it at government agencies, airports and Fortune 500 companies.

Dermalog, a biometrics company that makes fingerprint, iris and facial recognition technology, has now added a feature to determine temperature and is pitching it as a new security feature to companies. The Thai government is already using Dermalog's technology as part of its border control system.

Telpo is launching temperature-sensing systems as part of its facial recognition technology, which works even if individuals are wearing masks.

Chinese company Wisesoft says it has developed a 3D facial recognition in conjunction with Sichuan University that can identify people wearing masks with 98% accuracy and collect their body temperatures. One hospital in Chengdu has already deployed 140 units of the company's product.

Another Chinese company, Hanvon, has developed technology that can detect faces through masks and also collects body temperatures.

Patrick Grother, a scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he works on biometric standards and testing, tells CSO he hasn't tested any of these new technologies, but adds that thermal cameras that measure body temperature have been prevalent for some time in the Far East. "You don't see them in the states, but you see them in airports in the Far East. You come through primary immigration, and they'll have a thermal camera on a tripod, and it's just looking for anybody with a fever," he says.

"It's not going to know whether that fever is coming from a coronavirus or any other pathogen. There's a camera that measures the amount of emitted radiation coming off somebody's face. It's just an infrared camera, and they don't correlate it back to anything."

Logistical, accuracy issues persist with biometric identity

The new biometric and facial recognition systems that are emerging now do seek to correlate temperatures with people and in the process raise a host of new logistical issues. "It's very difficult to isolate an individual person" when it comes to tracking their temperatures, Anil Jain, university distinguished professor at Michigan State University and a leading expert on biometric identification and intelligence, tells CSO.

"If you stop a person at the checkpoint and then take the temperature and take the face image, then you can do a face recognition" that jives with the body temperature. "Then it's a question of throughput, meaning how many people can you process per minute." Plus, sensitive high-end cameras must be recalibrated frequently to be accurate so a system that links temperatures with faces would have to constantly be stopped and started again.

How the information will be used dictates an even greater logistical challenge. If someone comes through with a fever and you can identify them, the next logical step would be to test them for coronavirus and hold them until the test results come through, Jain says. "That takes a lot of timeand you have a huge backlog."

The cost of such a system could be prohibitive and disrupt work activities. "Let's say you have a company headquarters of 5,000 people, and you just have ten checkpoints. Everybody's showing up at 8 a.m. to work. Can you imagine how long the queue will be?"

Moreover, some of the emerging systems, such as the one developed by Athena Security, haven't been tested for accuracy at labs such as the NIST lab where Grother works. "The face recognition accuracy of these companies has never been evaluated. They can claim whatever they want," says Jain.

New biometric uses, new privacy and security concerns

Even if these systems work and organizations, institutions and government agencies can figure out the logistics of how to use them, what about the privacy and security implications? "The biggest privacy threat is that your data is being collected without your knowledge," Jain says, which could lead to lawsuits down the road.

For example, Illinois, like many US states, has a biometric privacy regulation law that requires consent from consumers before anyone can collect their biometric data. The law also requires that organizations collecting biometric data spell out how they safeguard, handle, store and destroy the biometric data they collect. "If they don't protect it, then you are in a deep hole," Jain says. Moreover, if they are sending biometric data to third parties, the liabilities could soar even higher.

Still, despite the practical and privacy downsides of collecting biometric data, the coronavirus crisis shows that the benefits of knowing who has been exposed to the virus might help slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. "It's balancing public safety versus civil liberties, right?" NIST's Grother says. "Walking around shedding virus is a public safety issue."
Bonita Chapman

Anna Chavez

Loren Cherry

Samantha Johnson

Grace Lassiter

Jennfier Matheson

Morgan Peaden

Katlynn Stotesberry

Attila Nemecz

Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator

Beaufort County Community College

5337 U.S. Highway 264 East

Washington, N.C. 27889

Ph : 252-940-6387

: 252-940-6387 Cell : 252-940-8672

: 252-940-8672 attila.nemecz@beaufortccc.edu

The Beaufort County Community College Foundation is proud to announce the following scholarship recipients for the spring 2020 semester. The BCCC Foundation has awarded over $180,000 in scholarships during the 2019-2020 academic year. Students can apply now for fall 2020 scholarships online and apply for admission or register online for classes., 42, received the Jarl & Grey Bowers Scholarship. She is a Greenville resident who is part of the nursing program. Chapman attended D.H. Conley High School, holds an Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice, and she plans to work as a nurse. She currently works at Walter B. Jones Alcohol & Drug Abuse Treatment Center as a health care technician. She is a mother of three.This scholarship honors the memories of Grey Worley Bowers and Jarl E. Bowers. Mrs. Bowers taught home economics in Waltonsburg, Bailey and at Washington High School. She was an accomplished pianist and organ player. Mr. Bowers served in the U.S. Army, where he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, resulting in a Purple Heart. He worked in insurance and finance. Both were active members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church., 18, received the Linda L. Penrod Scholarship. She is a Creswell resident and a nursing student. She attended Washington County High School and plans to become a registered nurse. She is the daughter of Manuel and Tina Chavez of Creswell.Established in memory of Linda L. Penrod, the endowment funds scholarships for nursing students who have completed one semester and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Students must demonstrate financial need., 23, received the Robert Farrish Scholarship. She is a Washington resident and a business administration student. She currently works at Custom Carpentry, LLC as a secretary. She attended Northside High School, and she is the daughter of Lee Cherry and the late Neva Pridgen Cherry of Washington.Rebecca Farrish established this endowment in 2005 to honor the memory of her husband with scholarships that are reflective of his talents and interests in life. The scholarships are awarded to students in the business, criminal justice or automotive technology programs each year, and are based on need., 22, received the Rita Toler Scholarship. She is a Washington resident and a pre-nursing student working toward an Associate in General Education. She attended Washington High School. The daughter of Michelle and Harold Johnson of Washington, she currently works at Gaskins Land Surveying as a receptionist. She plans to continue her nursing education.Established in 2003, by her husband Gary and daughter Kelly T. Harding, in memory of Rita B. Toler, this scholarship for accounting students honors Toler's 32-year career in the BCCC Business office. Toler retired from her college Controller position in 2003 and is fondly remembered for her commitment to accuracy and integrity in accounting. Her wish was to pass this on to others. Scholarships are given to students with a GPA of 3.0 or greater who plan on continuing to a 4-year university with a concentration in accounting., 19, received the Robert Farrish Scholarship. She is a Washington resident and a nursing student. The daughter of Billy Lassiter and Renee Asby, she attended Washington High School. She currently works at Ribeyes of Washington as a server. She plans to become a nurse.Rebecca Farrish established this endowment in 2005 to honor the memory of her husband with scholarships that are reflective of his talents and interests in life. The scholarships are awarded to students in the business, criminal justice or automotive technology programs each year, and are based on need., 39, received the Dr. David & Terri McLawhorn Scholarship. She is a Washington resident working on her AAS in Human Services Technology. She holds an AA and an AS in Medical Office Administration. She plans to open a self-care and wellness center for domestic violence survivors. She is a mother of two.Dr. David McLawhorn initiated this endowment in 2004. As president of BCCC from July of 2001 through May of 2012, Dr. McLawhorn created the fund to supplement the work of the Foundation for students who demonstrate need and academic promise., 26, received the Linda L. Penrod Scholarship. She is a Washington resident and a nursing student. She attended Washington High School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is the wife of Phillip Peaden and plans to become a pediatric nurse.Established in memory of Linda L. Penrod, the endowment funds scholarships for nursing students who have completed one semester and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Students must demonstrate financial need., 18, received the Coca Cola Scholarship. She is a Plymouth resident and a nursing student. She attended Lawrence Academy and plans to earn a BS in Nursing.Established in 2010 with a generous gift from the Coca Cola Foundation and Coca Cola Bottling Plant in Washington, NC, this endowment provides a scholarship for a BCCC student with at least a 2.5 GPA and is receiving no other financial aid. Thanks to this donation, the Cocoa Cola Bottling Plant will model good corporate citizenship in perpetuity.For more information, contact Serena Sullivan, at serena.sullivan@beaufortccc.edu or 252-940-6218.
Covid-19 Briefs April 3: BRTA Modifies Bus Routes

BRTA Modifying Weekday Routes

Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is reducing the normal weekday service to a modified schedule effective Monday, April 6. Saturday service has not been affected and will run as scheduled. Modified schedules of

the effected routes below will be posted to the BRTA website

The following routes will have 120-minute headways instead of the usual weekday 60-minute service headways:

Route 1 Pittsfield to North Adams,

Route 2 Pittsfield to Lee,

Route 4 Pittsfield to Dalton/Hinsdale,

Route 11 Pittsfield to BCC,

Route 21 Lee to Great Barrington.

The following routes will not run:

Route 3S Pittsfield to Williamstown,

Route 14 Pittsfield shopping loop,

Route 21X Pittsfield express service to Great Barrington,

Route 22 Great Barrington circulator loop.

The remaining routes will operate on a regular weekday schedule:

Route 1 Evening Pilot Pittsfield to North Adams,

Route 3 Williamstown to North Adams,

Route 5 Pittsfield to Lanesborough,

Route 11N Evening Pilot to Walmart,

Route 12 Pittsfield shopping loop,

Route 15 West Pittsfield,

Route 16 Crane Avenue,

Route 34 North Adams loop.

These lifeline services provide to the BRTA communities will continue as long as possible during this pandemic. The safety of our staff, operators, and customers remains very important to us.

For additional information regarding these changes, contact the BRTA at 413-499-2782.

Freeman Center Providing Services for Abuse Survivors The Elizabeth Freeman Center, the county's provider of services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, is still operating but the is concerned about the decline in requests for help. Domestic violence rates have risen dramatically during the COVID-19 lockdown, according to data gathered world wide. Yet the numbers of calls to the agency and walk-in clients have actually decreased significantly during the past few weeks, as they have across the United States. Abuse survivors depend on many services that are increasingly difficult to access. Many are terrified to go near a hospital out of fear of exposure to the virus. Motels are closed and restaurants can't offer on-site dining. Public facilities with access to the internet are closed, as are courthouses although protections of order can still be obtained. "These are scary times for all of us, but especially for already vulnerable populations like abuse survivors. It is vitally important for the public to know that we are open and still providing services at our offices in Pittsfield and Great Barrington. The North Adams office is temporarily closed, but is expected to reopen next week," said Executive Director Janis Broderick The offices are set up with hand sanitizers and can provide social distancing for walk-in clients. Emergency services (including food and shelter) are available to those fleeing abuse. Call the hotline 24 hours a day/7 days a week at 866-401-2425.

Bartlett's Orchard Food Pantry

Barltett's Orchard has a set up a food pantry for those in need. You may pick up or drop off at the store during their normal hours Sunday through Saturday from 8 to 4. Staff will be able to assist you with any questions or you can call Cindy Bartlett at 413-698- 2559.

The orchard's farm store is currently open and has implemented extra cleaning measures.

Downtown Pittsfield's Gift Card Effort Nearing $10,000 Goal

Downtown Pittsfield Inc. recently launched an online store where the public can purchase gift cards in the amount of $25, $50 or $100 to local restaurants, retailers, and cultural organizations.

Since March 24, DPI has sold $8,425 in gift cards and hopes to reach its first goal of $10,000 in gift card purchases by the beginning of next week.

The goal of the online store is to use gift card sales to help bolster businesses reeling from statewide closures. A gift card purchased today can help sustain a local business now and it can be used as a treat or gift for later when normal business operations resume.

So far, there are almost 50 businesses selling gift cards through the new online store, which you can find at business.downtownpittsfield.com/store

Northern Berkshire Tip Jar Donations Exceed $20,000 GoFundMe set up to help servers and bartenders who lost their jobs because of the dining shutdown has raised $33,735 for North County residents. The fund is limited to restaurants in North Adams, Williamstown, Adams, Cheshire, Savoy, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, New Ashford, and Lanesborough. Contributors can request their donation go to a specific restaurant to be shared by employees or to a particular waiter or bartender. "The servers and bartenders who make our dining and drinking experiences enjoyable are in big trouble. Most of them have lost their jobs and, for many, their primary source of income. They rely on tips to pay their rent, keep their kids clothed and fed, and other expenses. They smile and take care of us no matter what is going on in their lives. Their lives have been upended in a very big way, and it's time for us to take care of them."

SBA Accepting Applications for Forgivable Loans

Starting Friday, April, 3, the Small Business Administration will start accepting applications for the Paycheck Protection Program.

The purpose of this program is to help businesses -- including nonprofits, veterans organizations, tribal business concerns, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, and independent contractors -- with 500 or fewer employees to keep them on payroll for at least the next eight weeks. Forgivable loan funds can be used for payroll, group health benefits/insurance premiums, rent/mortgage payments, utilities, and interest on certain debt obligations.

Applications must be facilitated through your financial institution (bank, lender, credit union) and will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Access to NBT Bank Branches During the Pandemic NBT Bank is making adjustments to branch access designed to enable continued banking service while maintaining strong protocols for social distancing and cleaning. To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the health and safety of employees and customers, all in-person banking transactions are being conducted through drive-up lanes and walk-up windows. Hours of operation have been adjusted, and some offices have been temporarily consolidated with nearby locations. Customers are encouraged to contact their preferred branch to check current hours or to visit www.nbtbank.com/access for information. Self-service banking options, including the NBT Bank Mobile app, online banking at www.nbtbank.com and automated telephone banking at 1-800-NBT-BANK (1-800-628-2265, Option 2) are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. "The health and safety of our employees, customers and communities is our top priority," said President and CEO John H. Watt Jr. "We are in this together as we look forward to greeting all of our customers in person again, once it is safe for all." For more information about hours, relief programs and more, visit www.nbtbank.com/coronavirus
Two satellite markets within the Greater Kumasi jurisdiction have been closed for gross violation of health protocols instituted by the government to curb the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) disease.



They include Dr. Mensah and Suame satellite markets, which were all closed on Wednesday, April 01, on the orders of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and Suame Municipal Assembly, respectively.



The affected facilities, which served as food retail distribution centers, had seen an upsurge in trading activities, following the partial lockdown of Greater Kumasi and other Ghanaian cities since Monday, March 30.



We are forced to shut down the markets because the market queens and traders have failed consistently to comply with the directive on social distancing, Mr. Osei Assibey-Antwi, the Mayor of Kumasi, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi.



The situation where lots of people massed up within a particular locality, he said, posed a serious health hazard under the present circumstances due to the highly infectious nature of the novel coronavirus.



A visit by the GNA to those facilities saw security personnel cordoned off the affected markets in order to ward off recalcitrant traders.



Meanwhile, Dr. John Osei Bobie-Boahin, the Suame Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), in an interview, has called on the public to avoid panic buying of foodstuff at the markets.



We are in hard times, but the country has enough food stock to feed the population, he assured, and advised the citizenry to shun overcrowding the markets since that was a dangerous thing to do in the wake of the pandemic.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The government has held several meetings with e-commerce players to resolve issues arising due to the lockdown, and now witnessing improvement on them daily, a top government official said on Friday.

Secretary in the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) Guruprasad Mohapatra said that with lot of follow-ups on their issues, relaxations were given to them by the home ministry.

"We had meetings with them, most of their issues are being resolved. E-commerce position is much better now then what was there on day one of lockdown. Everyday you are seeing improvement," he told PTI.

E-commerce representatives had shared the problems faced by them in the movement of essential goods by delivery boys due to the lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has earlier said they are committed to ensure that essential goods reach people in the most-convenient and safest manner.

Traders and e-commerce companies have raised concerns over police beating up delivery boys in various states while they were doing their duty.

Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and the DPIIT secretary too held detailed meetings with traders and e-commerce firms on the matter.

The DPIIT has set up a control room to monitor real time status of transportation and delivery of essential commodities amid the coronavirus lockdown.

It is also monitoring difficulties being faced by various stakeholders.
Rewarding British farmers for looking after their soil should take 'centre stage' in post-Brexit agricultural policy, a Royal Society report has said.

Farmers who focus on the quality and structure of their soil could help the United Kingdom meet its climate commitments.

The society's new Soil Structure and its Benefits report brings together evidence on the functions soils can perform.

As well as enabling 95% of human food production, soils filter water, store carbon and provide habitats for an array of life.

Despite this, they have too often been out of sight, out of mind when it comes to land management, the report says.

This looks set to change with the Agriculture Bill, which introduces provisions for farmers to access financial assistance for protecting or improving soil quality.

The report shows evidence for a number of win-win strategies where, by improving soil structure, farmers can increase productivity and simultaneously deliver societal priorities, like reducing flood risks and promoting biodiversity.

Defra estimates that topsoil erosion alone costs England and Wales 150m a year  around 40m of this is attributable to productivity losses.

Professor Alastair Fitter, Professor of Ecology at the University of York, said: We should be as appalled by badly managed soils in our fields as we are by the loss of our woods or wetlands.

Our soils lock away more carbon than the vegetation on them, they provide 95% of our food, and when managed well they limit the risk of flooding, while supporting a vast array of life.

"Too often, though, they are out of sight, out of mind."

He said the government is at a 'critical moment' in setting the course for farming, and that soils should take 'centre stage' in land management policy.

The report looks at four areas where well-structured soils  those porous enough to allow water drainage, free movement of air, and penetration by roots  have the biggest benefits.

These include climate change mitigation, clean water and flood prevention, agricultural productivity and boosting bodiversity.

It concludes with four example policy scenarios, setting out the benefits and the trade-offs that they might entail.

These range from a low cost, voluntary participation scheme with farmers self-assessing soil health, through to more scientifically rigorous systems, with regular monitoring of farmed soils.

Technology will be important too, as drones can be used to assess soil health and GPS-guided machinery can limit soil compaction.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has insisted that the partial lockdown of Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa has nothing to write home about.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, a member of the NDCs COVID-19 team, Dr. Grace Ayensu Dankwa said the lockdown should have taken immediate effect instead of the delayed implementation date.

According to her, because the implementation date delayed it gave people possibly infected with COVID-19 to leave the epicentres.

It was actually a lockdown of the people in the geographical area. So, in other words, it was more like we wanted to quarantine all the people in Accra. So you make an announcement two days, three days that you are going to lockdown Accra on Monday and what happened was more of what we predictedthe human beings that we were sort of concerned about, most of them left the area to other regions in the countryThe way this lockdown happened we think it has backfired in the sense that, the lockdown was not a geographical lockdown, she argued.

Ghana joined South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Mali, among others, in Africa to restrict the movement of citizens in a bid to curb the spread of the virus which has infected over a million people worldwide.

President Nana Akufo-Addo imposed a partial lockdown on Accra, Tema, and Kumasi effective Monday, March 30, 2020, when he addressed the nation on Friday, March 27, 2020.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) COVID-19 team had on Thursday, April 2, 2020, asked the government to as a matter of urgency, conduct a nationwide mass testing to curb the further spread of the novel coronavirus in Ghana.

The NDC has called for mass testing because we dont feel that currently, the contact tracing is actually working. We went from vertical cases to the horizontal cases with people who didnt have any travel history testing positive and when that happened we (NDC) knew the case numbers will go up. Then, the numbers went up in Accra and Kumasi and before that, we (NDC) had already called for the lockdown, Dr. Ayensu Dankwa noted.

---citinewsroom
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Business Insider

Capt. Brett Crozier.

US Navy

Senior Navy officials relieved a commander of an aircraft carrier on Thursday over a loss of confidence, four days after he sent a letter urging for more assistance in dealing with a coronavirus outbreak.

During a press conference Thursday, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said that Capt. Brett Crozier's dismissal was prompted by his circumvention of the chain of command.

But Modly's recent remarks are in conflict with comments he made a day before. On Wednesday, Modly told reporters that Crozier's act of writing the letter did not meet the bar for a punishment.

"The fact that he wrote the letter to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any type of retaliation," Modly said on Wednesday.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Senior Navy officials relieved a commander of an aircraft carrier on Thursday over a loss of confidence, four days after he sent a letter urging for more assistance in dealing with a coronavirus outbreak aboard his ship. The four-page letter was eventually leaked to and published in full in the San Francisco Chronicle.

During a Thursday press conference, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Capt. Brett Crozier's dismissal from the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a nuclear-powered carrier with about 4,800 service members, was prompted by his violation of military protocols in circumventing the chain of command.

"I have no doubt in my mind that Capt. Crozier did what he thought was in the best interest and well-being of his crew," Modly said to reporters. "Unfortunately, it did the opposite."

"We have the proper way of handling this," Modly said. "What he did by doing this and not being careful with who that information went to ... that's just not acceptable. He did not take care."

Modly said Crozier's letter "created a little bit of a panic on the ship" and did not allow the USS Theodore Roosevelt or the Navy to adequately respond to the fallout "in terms of how bad the situation was."

Story continues

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anna Van Nuys/Handout

Modly said his staff was in constant contact with Crozier "a day before he even sent that email" and that equipment was "flowing into theater."

"It misrepresented the facts of what was going on on the ship as well," Modly said. "And at the same time, the families here in the United States were panicked about the reality."

But Modly's recent remarks are in conflict with comments he made one day prior. On Wednesday, Modly told reporters that Crozier's act of writing the letter did not meet the bar for a punishment.

"The fact that he wrote the letter to his chain of command to express his concerns would absolutely not result in any type of retaliation," Modly said on Wednesday.

"He submitted this letter through his chain of command," Modly added. "How it got out into the media, I don't know. I don't think anyone will ever know. We certainly would prefer that it wouldn't."

It is unclear who the recipients of the letter were; however, Modly told reporters on Thursday it may have been "copied to 20 or 30 other people."

"I do know he did not safeguard that information to keep it from being leaked anywhere," he said.

While Modly continued to say that he had "no information" on how it was leaked, he added that if Crozier submitted the letter to the media, it would "violate the principles of good order and discipline."

Crozier is a native of Santa Rosa, California, and graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1992.

After the publication of Crozier's letter, sailors were rotated off the ship in Guam. About 2,700 of them are expected to be taken off the ship in the coming days, with many headed for isolation in nearby hotels. About 114 sailors tested positive for the coronavirus as of Thursday.

"The letter worked," a sailor aboard the ship told the Chronicle.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Chronicle. Photo: Alan Markfield/Twentieth Century Fox

In a different reality, wed right now be in the midst of Hollywoods blockbuster season, enjoying the nearly weekly unveiling of a major-event movie, including much-anticipated sequels (F9) and new installments of beloved properties (No Time to Die). Instead, well, youre cooped up in your place trying to figure out what to watch while not going stir-crazy.

This is where we come in. On a regular basis, well be presenting The Replacements: a list of five alternative choices for every big tentpole youd been excited to see before COVID-19 changed our lives. Well select movies that are thematically or narratively similar to the postponed blockbuster, offering picks that range from cool obscurities to certifiable classics to forgotten gems. For the time being, event movies are on hold. But hopefully our alternatives will help scratch that cinematic itch.

This week: The New Mutants, a spinoff from the X-Men franchise thats been delayed several times. Initially slotted for an April 2018 release, this horror film got pushed back to February 2019  and then August 2019  and then April 3, 2020  and now, well, who knows in our current pandemic? After the creative and commercial disaster of last years Dark Phoenix, audiences may not be ready for more mutants anytime soon, but this film stars Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Charlie Heaton as a collection of young people being held captive by Alice Braga, whos studying their untapped powers. Will The New Mutants be able to overcome its poisonously bad buzz? We have no idea, but in the meantime, let us recommend five replacements that might tide you over  and, to be honest, might end up being better.

Firestarter (1984)

In the peak era of quickie Stephen King adaptations, 1984s Firestarter tells the story of a little girl with pyrokinetic abilities (that means she can set things on fire with her mind) trying to escape an evil government agency with her father (David Keith). The thing is, though, is that you do not want to anger the little girl, particularly when shes played by a Drew Barrymore, whos already eager to show shes more than just little Gertie. The movie gets a boost from its very hammy villains (Martin Sheen and a wildly over-the-top George C. Scott), and while it can be a little conventional at times, its story of a child attempting to wrangle her overwhelming powers is surely a major theme of The New Mutants.

The Incredibles (2004)

Often, movies about young people with superpowers are dark, tormented affairs; theyre metaphors for adolescent hormones and teenage insecurities. Then theres The Incredibles, an altogether joyous story about the Parr family, who have tried to live like ordinary people, but thats impossible because theyre not like you and me. With its cool retro-futuristic design and jazzy score, writer-director Brad Birds first Pixar effort  after The Iron Giant and his long association with The Simpsons  stylishly presaged the Marvel/DC blockbuster era, making superpowers look like an absolute blast. Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack are a far cry from the miserable mutants of The New Mutants  the worst they have to do is hide their true nature from the public  and The Incredibles giddy action and heartwarming exploration of family make this ideal all-ages viewing.

Chronicle (2012)

The premise of Chronicle  three teenagers accidentally develop superpowers and have to deal with both those and the horrors of being a teenager  sounds gimmicky, especially when you add in a found-footage format. But Josh Tranks powerful concept thriller has more on its mind than that, as it grows progressively darker as it moves along, with the picked-on Andrew developing his powers in a different, more dangerous way than his more popular cohorts. This was the movie that made you think Dane DeHaan was going to be a huge star (that turned out to be reserved for Michael B. Jordan) and seemed to map Trank as a director to watch. That ended with his disastrous Fantastic Four, but still, this story of the dangers of too much power given to the too-inexperienced and callow resonates in a way The New Mutants will be lucky to approach.

The Witch (2015)

Not yet 24, Taylor-Joy has been on a hot streak for about five years. (For most anyone else, graduating to an X-Men movie would seem like a huge step up. But at this point, The New Mutants needs her more than she needs it.) The star of Split and Thoroughbreds showed a different side this year with the new adaptation of Emma., but if you never saw her breakthrough, then its time to check her out in the movie that was also Lighthouse filmmaker Robert Eggerss coming-out party. The Witch is a supernatural shocker rich in atmosphere and period detail, studying a Puritan family in 17th-century New England that lives out in the woods alone. Suddenly, strange things start occurring, and after Thomasins (Taylor-Joy) baby brother is kidnapped and killed, they wonder if satanic happenings are afoot. Taylor-Joy unleashed her slow-burn, edgy intensity for the first time here, and her character is our guide through The Witchs suffocating unease. The New Mutants is billed as a horror movie, but itll be a tall order to top this supreme chiller.

Deadpool 2 (2018)

This might be a little bit of a cheat, considering at one point Deadpool and his cohorts actually visit the X-Men campus and (almost) interact with some of the crew. But the irony of a film with a main character who has a lot of disdain for the X-Men is that Deadpool 2 is, in many ways, sort of like Professor Xavier: Its all about an older mentor (albeit an unconventional one!) helping younger kids understand and control their powers  and provide them a community of their own at last. Sure, Deadpool might not be the gentlest father figure, but hes a little softer in this sequel  almost at times Xavier-esque. He even sits in his chair!

Grierson & Leitch write about the movies regularly and host a podcast on film. Follow them on Twitter or visit their site.
Ansurullah calls on Saudi-led alliance to consider Yemen's mediation proposal

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 7:14 AM

Yemen's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement has called on the Saudi-led coalition of aggressors to consider its proposal for 12-party mediation aimed at ending the bloody war on the impoverished Arab state.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee of Yemen, proposed that twelve countries, including Russia, as well as the United Nations mediate to end the Yemen conflict.

The top Houthi official suggested that four Arab countries, four Muslim countries, three Asian nations, Russia as well as the UN be included in the group of mediators.

He referred to Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Russia, China, South Korea and Japan as his proposed countries.

The proposal comes a week after United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire in all conflicts worldwide amid a global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

The world body 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.

Ansarullah has welcomed the call, saying an aerial and maritime blockade imposed on Yemen by the Saudi regime and its coalition allies should be lifted to facilitate the adoption of preventive measures against the coronavirus outbreak.

While Yemen has not recorded any COVID-19 cases to date, the possibility of an outbreak threatens the war-ravaged country's already fragile healthcare system.

Tens of thousands of Yemenis have died since the beginning of the war that Saudi Arabia and its allies launched in 2015 to restore power to Yemen's former Riyadh-allied officials. The aggression has also brought entire Yemen to the edge of famine.

The United States and many of its allies have been providing political, military, logistical, and advisory support for the war.

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Here is a list of top stocks to focus on today based on the developments.

(Image: PTI)

RBL Bank | It has strong operating profit trajectory for Q4 with NIM at an all-time high and comfortable liquidity position. (Image: PTI)

PVR | ICRA retained rating at AA-/A1+, but placed rating on watch with developing implications due to lockdown. (Image: PTI)

Gallantt Ispat | Company received a subsidy of Rs 33.06 crore from Uttar Pradesh Government. (Image: Moneycontrol)

IndiaNivesh | Arm IndiaNivesh Shares decided to disable all stock broking (voluntary disablement) services. (Image: indianivesh.in)

Kanoria Chemicals | CARE revised rating for long-term bank loans as A from A+ earlier. (Image: kanoriachem.com)

Future Enterprises | Haresh Chawla resigned as an Independent Director of the company. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Ashiana Housing | ICICI Prudential MF increase stake in company to 7.27% from 6.98% earlier. (Image: ashianahousing.com)

Godrej Consumer Products | Dharnesh Gordhon joined company as Business Head -Africa, Middle East and USA. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Tata Power | Company completed sale of entire 50% stake in Cennergi (Pty), South Africa for ZAR 1,550 mn. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Atul Auto | March sales dropped 76.34% to 1,091 units versus 4,612 units YoY. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Kolte-Patil Developers | CRISIL reaffirmed rating at A+, but revised outlook to stable from positive for bank loans. (Image: Moneycontrol)

IDBI Bank | Fitch affirmed its existing Long Term Issuer Default Rating at BB+ with revised outlook of Negative from Stable. (Image: Flickr)

Tata Motors | Sales in March plunged to 12,924 vehicles, compared to 74,679 units sold in same month last year due to COVID-19 lockdown and planned transition to BSVI. (Image: Reuters)

Future Consumer | CRISIL assigned rating for commercial paper at A1/ Watch Negative. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Simbhaoli Sugars | Company's manufacturing units in rural UP initiated production of liquid hand sanitizers & Disinfectants. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Jammu & Kashmir Bank | RBI extended term of R K Chhibber, CMD of the bank by a period of three months. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Vascon Engineers | Acuite reaffirmed its credit rating on bank facilities/debt instruments of the company. (Image: vascon.com)

Company approved proposal for raising of funds through issuance of NCDs up to Rs 25,000 crore, in tranches, on a private placement basis.

APL Apollo Tubes: CRISIL reaffirmed its long term credit rating at AA- for company's bank facilities.

Nava Bharat Ventures: CRISIL downgraded company's long term rating to A-/Stable from A/Stable.

Strides Pharma Science: USFDA requested all manufacturers to withdraw Ranitidine products from the US market.

Company provided drone-based surveillance technology to support Telangana State Police in implementing COVID-19 lockdown.

Technocraft Industries: CRISIL reaffirmed its rating on long term bank loan facilities as A+/Positive.

Adani Ports: Company in FY20 achieved a throughput of 223 MMT across its nine operating ports in India, registering 7% cargo volume growth YoY.

Earum Pharmaceuticals: Company decided to acquire, CEDAC MEDICORP a partnership firm which makes pharmaceutical product.

PNC Infratech: CARE reaffirmed its credit rating on long term bank facilities as AA-/Stable

JB Chemicals: USFDA requested all manufacturers to withdraw Ranitidine products from the US market.

Solara Active Pharma: USFDA requested all manufacturers to withdraw Ranitidine products from the US market.

Cosmo Films: Company's Gujarat plant resumed partial operations to facilitate supply of packaging material for essential items.

BCL Industries: Company received permission from FDA to produce and supply hand sanitizers.

TVS Motor: March sales dropped to 1,44,739 units from 3,25,323 units in same month last year.

JSPL: Company reports highest ever domestic and overseas steel and related products production and sales during FY20

Cadila Healthcare: Zydus received approval from USFDA for Lamotrigine extended-release tablets.

Cipla: Company successfully completed Phase-3 clinical study for generic version of GSK's Advair Diskus.

Future Retail: Fitch downgraded company's expected long-term issuer default rating (IDR) to B-(EXP), from BB(EXP), and placed ratings on Rating Watch Negative (RWN).
Ukraine is continuing talks with Iran on the handover of black box flight recorders from a downed Ukrainian passenger plane, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

He said this during an online briefing on Friday, April 3, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Talks with Iran are ongoing. [...] We are working to gain control of the black boxes. There are now two tracks: the first is diplomatic and legal, where we negotiate with Iran and discuss the legal aspects of resolving this tragic situation. The second track is aviation and technical this is what the commission on air accidents investigation is doing," Kuleba said.

He added that in addition to talks with Iran, Ukraine is consulting with international partners, first and foremost, with Canada.

"Our number one goal is to get the boxes. Goal number two is to clearly write out and agree with Iran the mechanism for bearing legal responsibility for this tragedy. Step number three will be the implementation of the agreements reached," the minister said.

The Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time (04:30 Kyiv time) on January 8. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK). They all died.

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

It emerged later that the UIA plane had been shot down by two missiles of the Tor-M1 air defense system, which Iran received from Russia.

op
EDWARDSVILLE  Debate continues over how much information the Madison County Health Department should release on local coronavirus cases.

Fridays information discussion during a teleconferenced meeting of the Health Department Committee followed similar talk at Thursdays Health Department Advisory Committee meeting. The department has released only countywide information without identifying victims locations to preserve patient privacy.

Two public comments emailed to Fridays meeting asked if more details could be provided, and several committee members echoed that. Madison County Health Department Director Toni Corona said they will continue looking at the issue.

Its really about numbers and population, she said. Because the county numbers are still small, releasing case locations by ZIP code could potentially identify patients in violation of federal health privacy laws and Illinois Department of Public Health Guidelines. It could also potentially subject patients to stigma.

Corona said northern Illinois and St. Louis have larger populations and hundreds of positive cases, allowing the release of more information without endangering someones privacy. She said the department is absolutely looking at releasing more information eventually.

Its only going to be a matter of time before we get enough cases (to release additional information), she said. It needs to be more than 30 cases in a population of 250,000 people.

Several committee members pressed for more information. Phil Chapman, R-Highland, said it was common sense for people to want to know where cases were so they could avoid those areas.

Some people are not taking this very seriously, he said, and the additional information might help.

Corona said she is sure there are other cases within the county, noting reports nationwide of asymptomatic transmission, where people are not showing symptoms but still spreading the virus. She said the lack of cases in some communities might give people a false sense of security.

You should assume that all areas of Madison County have potential spread of COVID-19, she said. If people think they can goof off and not take this seriously until they see a case in their community then we have failed in our duty.

The message should be you should not be going out, she added. We dont know where people have been and were trying to break the transmission cycle of this virus. The best defense, the best tool I can give you, is to stay home and stay away from crowds.

She said the estimated peak of the virus in Illinois is the week of April 16-17, but there will be cases for weeks after that.

This isnt going to be over overnight; its not going to be over by Easter, Corona said. All I can tell you is we need to stay home.

She also gave an update on the departments activities, saying the department was fully involved in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple operations are underway.

This is unprecedented, she said. There is nothing in a book that tells us what we should be doing in week five of a pandemic.

She also talked briefly about additional precautions. Although no guidance has come down from the IDPH on homemade masks, she said health officials wont be shying away from taking additional precautions.

Go ahead and make your homemade masks and do those kinds of things, she said. But she added that is not a free pass to ignore the stay-at-home order or not practice social distancing.
Latin America is heading into "a deep recession" in 2020, with an expected drop in the region's GDP of 1.8 to 4.0 percent due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UN economic commission for the region said Friday. "We are at the beginning of a profound recession. We're faced with the largest fall in growth that the region has had," said Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL). Latin America was already struggling economically, with feeble growth of just 0.1 percent in 2019. As with other parts of the world, the region's main stock markets have suffered drastic losses as the virus crisis escalates, and several currencies have plunged in value against the US dollar. A reduction in economic activity due to lockdowns imposed to combat the spread of the virus, a drop in the value of raw materials and the blow to tourism have all contributed to the bleak outlook. Barcena said the best-case projection takes into account only the drop in economic activity with China, the region's largest trading partner. But if a drop in trade with the United States and European Union is also factored into the calculation, then a 3-4 percent contraction is expected. - 'A lot of pessimism' - Meanwhile, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has been widely criticized for a lax approach to the pandemic, questioned projections of a recession, even contradicting his own finance ministry. On Wednesday, the finance ministry cut its expectations for 2020 from growth of 1.5 to 2.5 percent, down to a range of 0.1 percent growth to 3.9 percent contraction. "I have other figures, other data, I'm talking about a temporary crisis, and that will allow us to move forward very soon," he said. "There's a lot of pessimism in the world, especially among economy and finance leaders and experts ... I don't share that point of view." Lopez Obrador said it made no sense to make projections given the pandemic had created an abnormal situation economically as well as politically. - 'Extraordinary response' - Peru announced it would guarantee new bank loans to 350,000 businesses worth $8.5 billion so they can pay staff and suppliers. Some 314,000 of the businesses have less than 10 employees, said President Martin Vizcarra, describing the program as "an extraordinary response to an extraordinary situation." - 'Special plan' - Venezuela's government announced a "special plan" against the fuel shortage due to the virus outbreak and tough US sanctions. The government has put into action "a special fuel supply plan aimed at guaranteeing the mobility of priority sectors," said Tareck El Aissami, vice-president in the economic sector. El Aissami didn't specify what measures would be taken but said it was necessary because US sanctions had produced a shortage of essential supplies for fuel production. - Chartered flight - Around 160 European tourists left Nicaragua on a flight chartered by France as part of evacuations organized by the European Union to bring home citizens stranded by coronavirus lockdowns. Most of the tourists leaving Nicaragua are French. "It's a one-off operation" to repatriate 130,000 French tourists stranded due to the grounding of airplanes all over the world, Philippe Letrilliart, France's ambassador to Nicaragua, told AFP. The passengers were provided with face masks and told that those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms would be quarantined upon their arrival in France. Around 600 tourists have left Nicaragua this week on flights chartered by France and Germany, EU Ambassador Pelayo Castro said. Nicaragua has reported five coronavirus cases including one death. Nicaragua has come under fire for not closing its borders or imposing social distancing measures. It's also invited its citizens to visit tourist sites over the Easter week. Cleaning workers wearing personal protective equipment disinfect a street in Mexico City amid the COVID-19 outbreak This handout picture released by Mexico's Presidency shows Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (C) during a visit to coronavirus patients at the Temamatla Military Hospital A tourist receives her passport to board a flight to Paris with some 160 European Union citizens, mostly French, at the Augusto C. Sandino airport in Managua, Nicaragua amid the COVID-19 outbreak
Cascade Brewing, a pioneer in the popularity surge of fruited sour beers nationwide over the past decade, has been sold to a local group that includes the founders of Tigards FlyBoy Brewery, Cascade announced Thursday.

Oregon beer icon Art Larrance, who founded Cascade in 1998, has decided to retire, Cascade said in a news release. The new ownership group is a team of brewery and taproom owners that includes Mark Becker, Ramie Mount, Brian Kovach and Greg Laird.

Ive known (Mount) for a few years -- hes probably one of the biggest sour beer enthusiasts in the world, Larrance said when reached by phone Thursday afternoon. "Hes been coming to our place and drinking beer for a long time.

He put together a good team, Larrance continued. Thats what is the most important thing to me. Theyll be able to take Cascade Brewing to the next plateau.

Becker is a former homebrewer who founded FlyBoy Brewing with his wife, Kristi, in Lake Oswego in 2014, then in 2017 opened FlyBoy Brewery and Pub in Tigard. Mount and Kovach are former software engineers who took over and own the Lake Oswego location, which now operates as FlyBoy Taproom, selling FlyBoy beers alongside a wide taplist. And Laird last year co-founded Parallel 45 Brewing in Independence.

Financial terms were not released. Cascade said the deal is a phased transition sale but did not elaborate.

Both the existing production team and pub management will remain in place, and the Cascade Brewing Barrel House, Blending House and Lodge at Cascade Brewing will stay open, Cascade said.

Reached by phone Thursday afternoon, Mount, who assembled the ownership team, said the group has no intention of changing what Cascade does.

Were huge fans of Cascade and of what Art has done over the past 25 years, Mount said. We hold him in high respect. Our only goal is to continue that growth and continue Arts vision."

Mount said the new owners plan to work with the existing team at Cascade "to scale the good thing that is in front of us already. He said they plan no changes to the creative team or brewing approach.

Cascade began life making pub ales, like most breweries at the time. But in 2006, increasing competition prompted the brewery to change course under the creative guidance of brewmaster Ron Gansberg and take a path less traveled: sour beers.

They created an aging and blending program, and in short time the Portland brewery would be widely hailed as a pioneer of the Northwest-style sour beer movement. Cascades House of Sour would become a tourist destination for those seeking to partake in the citys renowned beer scene.

This has exceeded my expectations, Larrance told The Oregonian/OregonLive during the House of Sours ninth anniversary party late last year.

Gansberg left the brewery two years ago, but Cascades reputation for quality and creativity remained. Cascades offerings include ales such as its Kriek, a a barrel-aged red with cherries, its Manhattan NW, styled after the Manhattan cocktail, and the classic Sang Rouge, a blend of sour red ales aged in wine barrels; or the Sang du Chene, a blend of sour strong blond and triple ales aged in three types of oak casks: foudres, puncheons and hogsheads.

Gansberg developed Cascades own strain of lactobacillus bacteria  the souring agent that infects beer and increases acidity. His experimentation with fruit widened, and Gansbergs vision and commitment to developing the brewerys sour and barrel-aging program would be widely credited for Cascades rapid rise.

Soon the experiment would pay off: Cascades Kriek would collect bronze, its Vlad the Imp Aler would collect silver, and its Bourbonic Plague would collect gold over two years at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival. The New York Times would name Kriek the best sour beer in America in 2011.

Im not the imagineer like Ron, Larrance said. I was more the facilitator. I was so lucky to work with him and some real good people through the years.

Larrance has a deep history in Oregons brewing industry. Now 75, he was among the original visionaries of Portlands craft beer industry, part of a group that founded Portland Brewing Co. in 1986, the eras fourth brewery in Portland.

He would go on in 1988 to help create the Oregon Brewers Festival, the huge celebration of craft beer held every July in downtown Portlands Waterfront Park. He will remain as owner of the festival.

Larrance, who will remain as an adviser during the transition as legal approvals are sought, said hes happy about the sale, especially that theyre giving me beer privileges for the rest of my life.

Now I get to be like Fred Bowman and Kurt Widmer and Dick Ponzi.

-- Andre Meunier

Subscribe to Andres text service and get ongoing alerts about beer releases and news from the Portland and Oregon beer scene. And check out Andres beer reviews on Untappd, where hes andremeunier13, and follow him on Instagram, where hes @oregonianbeerguy.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

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Williams College has canceled its commencement and reunion for this June.

Williams College Cancels Commencement, Reunion Weekend

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Williams College President Maud Mandel on Friday sent a community-wide email announcing that school's commencement and reunion weekend weekend will not take place as scheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Seniors, while I am heartbroken that graduation cannot happen in the conventional way at the conventional time, I am determined that you will have your moment," Mandel wrote. "Rather than deciding for you what that should look like, my colleagues and I want to start by asking you."

Mandel announced that members of the Class of 2020 will receive a survey seeking their ideas about alternative ways to celebrate their graduation from the liberal arts college.

Traditionally, commencement exercises are followed one week later by the reunion weekend, which invites back alumni from across generations with particular efforts to bring back members marking signficant class anniversaries  fifth, 10th, 15th, etc.

"My heart goes out especially to the class of 1970, whose own senior spring term was canceled due to protests over the bombing of Cambodia, and who are now having their 50th reunion disrupted by a global pandemic," Mandel said. "I promise that we will find other ways to celebrate these milestone anniversaries, which are so important to alumni and college alike."

Like the graduating seniors, the alumni in key classes will be contacted by the college to seek alternatives, according to Mandel's email.

Mandel early last month announced that the school would be moving to a remote instruction model after classes ended on Friday, March 13. The overwhelming majority of students were told to vacate their college housing by March 17. A handful of international students with more difficult travel plans were excepted from the March 17 date.

Commencement had been scheduled for Saturday, June 7.
Russia's Rusal has approved a new long-term aluminium supply contract with Glencore worth up to $16.3 billion, it said in a Hong-Kong regulatory statement on Friday.

Swiss trader and metals producer Glencore has long been one of the main clients of Hong Kong-listed Rusal, the world's largest aluminium producer outside China.

Glencore owns a stake in Rusal parent En+ Group.

The new contract is for 2020-2024 and can be extended for 2025, Rusal said.

It said its board of directors in December approved the deal, which succeeds a previous contract which expired in late 2018. The contract requires approval from Rusal shareholders.

Rusal, which produced 3.8 million tonnes of aluminium in 2019, will supply 6.9 million tonnes of the metal to Glencore under the contract, including 344,760 tonnes in 2020 and around 1.6 million tonnes per year in 2021-2024.

"This agreement provides the company with significant volumes of primary aluminium sales at market price with a number of quantitative options," Rusal said in a separate comment.

Glencore declined to comment.
"Given the current environment, we expect radio revenues to recover quickly which should have a positive effect on M&A activity in the quarters to come," said Volker Moerbitz, Research Analyst at Kagan, a media research group of S&P Global Market Intelligence.

First quarter results were largely unaffected by the current crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of current events, Kagan expects a steep decline for the broadcast deal market, but also a steep recovery after the resolution of the crisis.

For example, throughout February and March, TEGNA Inc. received several offers for all of its 66 TV stations. That could harbinger a first large deal announcement after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prices for the top TV transaction, in which Searchlight Capital Partners LP and ForgeLight LLC will acquire a 64% stake in Univision Holdings Inc., were not publicly disclosed. Based on estimates for Univision's 2020-2021 average cash flow, Kagan values Univision's 58 radio stations at $408.3 million and its 52 TV stations at $3.48 billion. That represents 52.3% of the station value that Kagan estimated for Saban Capital Group Inc.'s buyout of Univision in 2006.

Aside from the Univision buyout, Kagan estimated the first quarter's largest TV transaction was a settlement between Tribune Media and Sinclair Broadcast Group, in which Nexstar Media Group, the new owner of Tribune Media, will receive Sinclair's FOX affiliate WDKY-TV in the Lexington, Ky., market, along with "certain assets" of CBS affiliate KGBT-TV in Harlingen, Texas, together with a $60 million cash payment.

The first quarter's largest TV deal announcement with a disclosed price was the $15 million sale of Mega-TV affiliate KTBU-TV in the Houston, Texas, market, from Spanish Broadcasting System Inc. to TEGNA Inc.

In the radio market, the first quarter's three largest deal announcements, aside from Univision, all happened in the religious broadcasting sector.

In the quarter's top radio deal, Educational Media Foundation, the largest U.S. non-commercial religious operator, is buying Entercom Communications' WAAF-FM in the Boston market for $10.75 million.

Additionally, Word Broadcasting Network Inc. is exercising a $4 million purchase option to acquire one FM and two AM radio stations  coming with two translators  in Louisville, Ky., from Salem Media Group Inc. WBN has operated the stations under a local marketing agreement since 2016.

In the quarter's third-largest radio deal, in the Grand Rapids, Mich., market, Furniture City Broadcasting Corp. announced the sale of WFUR-FM to Bible Broadcasting Network Inc. for $2.75 million.

Throughout the first quarter, aside from Univision, only nine registered U.S. radio transactions were worth more than $1 million. According to Kagan's records, that represents the fewest million-dollar radio deals in any quarter since the second quarter of 1984.

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Michael Finegan broke the mould when he decided to change the direction of the family farm from cows to goats in 2010.

He studied agriculture at Greenmount College in Antrim, and after spending four years in New Zealand managing dairy farms, he returned to Ireland expecting to expand the dairy enterprise on the home farm in Mullagha, near Slane in Co Meath.

"I had every intention of continuing my dairy career when I returned home, but after arriving back in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture informed us that we were required to put in a new parlour and upgrade our system," he recalls.

"My father had been in partnership with his brother and the set-up was old and needed to be changed. My father decided that he didn't want to do this, so we got out of cows," says Michael.

"It was around the time of the boom, where opportunities were flowing, so I decided to work outside the farm for a while, but soon after that, the farm was split up and I took over."

Michael then took a leap of faith into goat farming.

"Goats are similar to cows in that they eat the same feedstuffs so it wasn't a drastic change for me," he says. "There were no quotas at that point either so I could milk as many as I wanted."

He introduced the goats on what was previously an out-farm.

"It had been an old estate and there was no power or running water so I had to start from scratch," says Michael. "I had to build purpose-built sheds and get a suitable parlour so I took out a loan and also got a Farm Waste Management Grant to aid with the set-up."

He purchased a second-hand parlour from an English farmer who had been milking 1,000 goats and was increasing to 2,000.

"I knew that I would only need to use half of the parlour as I was starting with 300 goats, but I'd always have the second half if was to expand later on down the line," says Michael.

"I bought the parlour from England as there were no parlours in Ireland to buy at that time."

Recession

"I started off milking 300 goats twice a day. I was supplying goat's milk to Glenisk as they were looking for new suppliers, but after only a year or so of milking the recession hit and milk prices became volatile as the demand dropped.

"It got me thinking, and I decided I wanted to produce a product myself, something that I had more control over."

He narrowed down his options to include milk, yoghurt or cheese.

"I decided on cheese production mainly because I like cheese and out of the all the options, it seemed the most straightforward for me," he says.

In 2010, after buying the necessary equipment and completing a Teagasc cheesemaking course, Michael launched his own brand of blue cheese, 'Boyne Valley Blue', which has proven extremely successful.

"I saw a gap in the market for my product, and it is still the only blue cheese of its type in Ireland," he says.

Business was going so well, he decided to expand in 2016 and launched his second product, a white cheese branded 'Boyne Valley Ban'.

"It is a younger and milder cheese, it's semi-hard and quite creamy, which makes it more popular."

Michael continues to supply Glenisk with around half the milk he produces, and the other half goes towards his own products.

"Business is going well. I'm lucky to have my wife Jenny to help. She is a nurse but when she is off she helps with the cheese production," he says.

Michael's father, who is semi-retired, also helps on a regular basis.

The goats are housed on a deep bed system, meaning that straw is added every day, allowing the bedding to build up; it is then cleaned out every three months or so. The goats are kept indoors all year round,

"Even during the summer the goats only go out on sunny days; they hate rain and cold," says Michael, who has a spring herd and an autumn herd, meaning that he milks all year round.

He has won an array of major awards for his cheeses.

"In 2017 I won Best Irish Cheese in the British Cheese Awards, in 2018 I was awarded three stars in the Great Taste Awards and I was also nominated for the Golden Fork Award. Last year, I won silver in the World Cheese Awards for Best New Cheese Maker," he says.

And as his cheeses grow in popularity, Michael's decision to break with tradition has been fully justified.





'I found the Teagasc help on developing recipes invaluable'

What level of start-up costs did you incur in setting up the business?

I had to start from scratch by transforming an old stone shed into a cheese production unit. There was no electricity or running water when I started, and I had to buy equipment, so it took 50,000.

What financing was readily available from the banks for this sort of business?

I found it very difficult to get financing,so I got a private investor.

Was planning permission required and if so was it difficult to get?

I didn't need planning permission as I was converting an existing building.

Did you need a licence or permission from any other government body?

I had to get approval from the Department of Agriculture. I had to get a food production licence and I have an audit every year and regular testing. I also had to develop a HACCP plan.

Are you required to pay rates or any other charges?

I have to pay rates to Meath County Council.

What grant aid or other assistance was available?

I got an Innovation Voucher from Enterprise Ireland, which is a 5,000 research grant. Any start-up company can apply for this. Enterprise Ireland have a list of bodies that you can use the voucher with, it's fantastic.

What supports bodies/state agencies were available to help?

Teagasc were an immense help to me in starting my business. They help people to develop food products and help with developing recipes, which I found invaluable.

I went to the Food Research Centre in Moorepark, Co Cork and learned how to make cheese. They also came up to me a few times and showed me how to make cheese effectively using my own equipment, it was brilliant.

How did your new business affect your tax dealings?

My cheese business is separate to the farm so I am tax-registered for the cheese business too - it's much the same as the farm, though, in terms of dealing with it.

How much time was needed to get the business off the ground?

It's hard to put a figure on the time frame. It took a lot longer than you'd think; I started up small and gradually expanded, so it was over a number of years.

Did you encourage any unexpected pitfalls or challenges?

I didn't face any major unexpected challenges really, but dealing with funding agencies was difficult - there's so much paperwork involved and they're more hassle than they're worth in my opinion.

Developing the HACCP plan was one of the hardest things I've had to do in terms of business, but once you have it and you keep on top of it it's fine. It taught me a lot but it was very hard work.




U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams retweeted a dictionary explanation of the traditional Korean idiom "to drink kimchi broth." The post drew criticism from the public here as it was seen as mocking the Korean government for hastily reporting on a defense-cost sharing agreement with the U.S. / captured image from USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams' Twitter



By Yi Whan-woo



The government is drawing criticism over its "hasty" announcement earlier this week that a tentative agreement had been reached with the United States in their defense cost-sharing talks.



Washington has yet to announce a new Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which Seoul said it would do Wednesday at the earliest, that stipulates the latter's share for upkeep of the 28,000 United States Forces Korea (USFK).

Analysts said Friday U.S. President Donald Trump may have refused to approve the agreement that, according to diplomatic sources, would have the two allies sign a multiple-year contract rather than another stopgap one-year deal.

The two sides were also believed to have agreed on Seoul paying somewhere between 1.2 trillion won to 1.3 trillion won ($1.05 billion) for 2020, up from 1.03 trillion won for 2019.

This is in contrast to Washington's demand for $4 billion annually.

"Trump is the ultimate decider in the defense-cost sharing talks," Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University, said. "In that regard, it is reckless for our government to make an announcement before confirming Trump has given his approval."

Park pointed out Trump has been dissatisfied with Seoul's "free-ride" on U.S. defense and sought a massive increase in Seoul's financial contribution for maintaining the USFK.

Kim Dong-yeop, a research professor at the Kyungnam University Institute for Far Eastern Studies, speculated Seoul's "hasty" announcement may have irked the White House and that it has decided to reconsider the tentative deal.

Kim reckoned the U.S. may have been "offended" by Korean media reports linking a recent phone call between President Moon Jae-in and Trump over the COVID-19 pandemic to the tentative agreement.

Citing a foreign ministry official, the reports said SMA talks saw a breakthrough after the two leaders appeared to have agreed to share the need for the allies to cooperate in difficult times.

Trump especially expressed hope that South Korea could provide medical equipment support to fight the spread of the virus across the U.S., according to media reports citing Cheong Wa Dae officials

"For Trump, his country is not in a position to accept other countries' demands just because it received help," Kim said. "The way the Korean media have explained the U.S.' need to fight the coronavirus in relation to the defense-cost sharing talks may have gotten on Trump's nerves."

U.S. officials denied South Korean media reports on an impending deal, saying negotiations were ongoing and that Trump has been clear that "Our allies around the world, including South Korea, can and should contribute more."

Meanwhile, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams has added to wild speculation on the tentative agreement, Thursday, through a Twitter post that appeared to mock the government for hastily announcing the deal.

He retweeted a dictionary explanation of the traditional Korean idiom "to drink kimchi broth," saying he had just learned the expression "Don't eat your kimchi stew before the time is right," which means "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
BLANDFORD  Police and state wildlife officials, monitoring a wandering moose here for several days to keep it away from the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 23, opted to immobilize and relocate the animal to a safer location.

Specially trained personnel from MassWildlife successfully immobilized the moose on Wednesday, according to a post on the Environmental Police Facebook page. Before doing so, state police and environmental police secured the area to ensure it would not move onto the roadways.

State police, Blandford police and bystanders then loaded the moose into a vehicle and took it to an undisclosed rural location where it was monitored until it fully recovered from the effects of the immobilization agent.

Moose-vehicle collisions can be deadly for motorists as well as moose, officials say. Moose, which can weigh over 1,000 pounds, have the potential to do significant damage to vehicles.

Massachusetts, according to a study, has about 1,000 moose and sees 30 to 50 moose-vehicle collisions a year.

The numbers of moose and moose-vehicle collisions are significantly higher in northern New England, according to the study, undertaken by MassWildlife, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Cooperative Research Unit at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Maine, with 30,000 to 60,000 moose, sees approximately 650 moose-vehicle collisions a year; New Hampshire, with 4,000 to 6,000 moose, sees approximately 250 collisions; Vermont, with 4,000 to 5,000 moose, has approximately 150 collisions per year.
Photo: (Photo : Instagram/jordanabrewster)

Jordana Brewster is thankful for surrogacy because it is the reason she has her two boys, namely Julian, now 6 , and Rowan, now 3 .

She Suggests Surrogacy

Brewster advises couples who are trying to conceive that they should go for surrogacy if that is the only way to get pregnant. She admits that when she found out that she could get pregnant by it, she got empowered.

Although she finds it hard to explain to her kids how they were formed as they grow bigger every day, she still feels lucky enough to be given an option because if not, then she would not have her two beautiful boys. She added that she loves them more than anything in this world.

Motherhood is Not Easy

Brewster said that being a mom is not easy. At first, she thought that she would be a chill mom; however, she is "pretty neurotic". She said that having kids makes her anxious, making her appreciate the wonderful effects meditation does to her.

She added that her children are just like her, especially her firstborn, Julian. Her six-and-half-year-old son always questions things that keep Brewster on her toes.

Brewster strives hard to be a good mom and not to take mothering too far that it makes her neurotic. She said that it helps that she has friends that she can talk to about similar issues as her. Although she said that she has too few "mom" friends and she admits she needs to have more of them.

Career and Motherhood

One thing that she finds hard to do is balancing her career and motherhood. Her nanny told her a few days ago that to be away for six weeks from her kids is a long time. The thought stuck with her for 48 hours, said the 39-year-old mom to NewBeautymagazine.

"The Fast and The Furious" actress asked her nanny what she meant because she said that both she and her husband have commitments at work. However, she and her husband had to process what her nanny said, so they had a mini-therapy session.

The former "As The World Turns" actress said that after having internalization, she felt really bad about the whole work-family thing.

Turning 40 Gracefully

As Brewster turns 40, she does not worry, for she looks up to celebrities who turned her age but "killed it" in Hollywood. She is inspired by how Sandra Bullock and Gwyneth Paltrow maintain their beauty despite being older than her.

Admittedly, she said that when she was younger, she used to worry that her career might suffer as she ages, but not anymore. She said that she would instead celebrate growing old rather than worrying about it. She is excited about her upcoming birthday.

Her Mom's Beauty Advice

Brewster said that her mom is so elegant and has aged far more gracefully than her because her mom did not undergo any surgery. However, because the high definition is invented, she has no choice but to do some cosmetology makeover. Her mom has not resorted to any "craziness" like her because her mom makes sure to eat healthily, get enough sleep, and follow a specific routine.
The State Bank of India has warned its employees against posting content on social media that is critical of the country's largest lender over its functioning in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

In a recent letter to chief general managers of all circles, SBI also said action will be taken against employees who take to social media platforms to write messages disparaging the bank, its management and policies, sources said on Friday.

"We have seen a spurt in social media posts pertaining to functioning of the bank's branches and offices... There have been many such posts critical of the bank not closing down operations in context of the COVID-19 outbreak, little appreciating the role of the bank at such a critical time," the sources said, quoting a circular.

The lender has already initiated action against two of its employees based in West Bengal for "offensive" posts against the bank and a senior management official, they said. The move has met with criticism by a large section of SBI employees, who called it an attempt to muzzle free speech and expression.

"Being a citizen of a democratic country, we have a broader right to express our views on social media about the situations that affect our day lives, without divulging details of our organisation or using derogatory language... this circular is an attempt to curb our rights enshrined in Article 19 of the Constitution," said an SBI employee, who preferred not to be named.

A senior United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) official told PTI that SBI is the only bank to have come out with such a circular amid the coronavirus crisis.

An official of the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) said the state-run lender's circular on social media posts of its employees is "definitely" a breach of their democratic rights.

"Indecent language in social media against banks is not encouraged, but employees are well within rights to flag concerns through their posts," he said.

When contacted, SBI Chief General Manager, Kolkata Circle, Ranjan Kumar Mishra, said the bank has a social media policy in place which every employee is expected to adhere to, failing which action could be initiated.

"Everybody is free to express themselves on social media regarding COVID-19 or any other subject, but if such posts tarnish the image of the bank and is violative of the set code of conduct, then disciplinary action might be taken after investigation," Mishra told PTI.

On reports that some of its employees are placed under suspension over recent social media posts, he said such steps are "regular internal matters of the bank".

Mishra also said SBI has been largely successful in managing customer flow at its branches across the country amid the ongoing lockdown, and help of local authorities is being sought wherever required.

INDIA CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: BusinessToday.In brings you a daily tracker as coronavirus cases continue to spread. Here is the state-wise data on total cases, fatalities and recoveries in one comprehensive graphic

Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Delhi reports 4 COVID-19 deaths; Country's toll at 56
Jacksonville will host a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition next year.

Illinois Humanities has selected the Jacksonville Area Museum as one of six small-town cultural institutions that will participate in the state tour of Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, the latest Museum on Main Street exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution.

The exhibit is scheduled to be on display Oct. 30-Dec. 11, 2021. Other locations in Illinois where the exhibit will be displayed include Murphysboro, Edwardsville, Savanna, Salem and Clinton.

Were honored to partner with these organizations to engage Illinoisans in thought and conversation about the vital role of civic participation in our communities, our state and our nation, said Gabrielle Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities. All of these institutions make significant contributions to the communities and regions that they serve, and were eager to support and learn from their work.

Illinois Humanities chose the six host organizations through a two-stage application process. Twenty-two institutions applied in the first round. Thirteen were invited to proceed to the second round.

The decision was based on criteria such as each applicants organizational capability, its potential to benefit from the experience and the learning and growth opportunities associated with it, its preliminary plans for companion exhibitions and public programs, the suitability of its venue, the likelihood of community support and participation and geographic distribution. Preference was given to organizations in communities with fewer than 25,000 residents.

The Jacksonville Area Museum is being developed in the old post office building downtown with an anticipated opening in late 2020 or early 2021.

The Jacksonville Area Museum is looking forward to its grand opening in the not-too-distant future and we are thrilled that Voices and Votes and Illinois Humanities will help us to celebrate our inaugural year of operation, said David Blanchette, museum board chairman. The Smithsonians stellar reputation as embodied in this exhibit will be the perfect complement to our museums interpretation of the Jacksonville areas unique culture and heritage.

Museum on Main Street is a program conducted cooperatively by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and state humanities councils nationwide. It gives rural and small-town Americans opportunities to experience world-class exhibitions in their own communities. It also enables the organizations that host the exhibitions to enhance their skills and expand their capacities in a variety of ways.

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America examines questions stemming from the leap of faith taken by the American revolutionaries who established a government that entrusted the power of the nation to its citizens.

Were excited by the Jacksonville Area Museums participation in the Illinois tour of this exhibition. Its a promising new institution, and were grateful for the opportunity to begin a working relationship with the museum early in its life, said Matt Meacham, program manager for statewide engagement with Illinois Humanities.

Jacksonville has played significant roles in the political histories of Illinois and the nation and we know that the museum will offer compelling interpretations of the communitys contributions to American democracy, Meacham said.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI -- The owners of vacation rentals in South Haven may not accept any guests this season until the governors executive order is lifted, city leaders said.

Non-residents and out-of-state visitors coming to South Haven to vacation is a clear violation of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order mandating residents stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus, according to a letter sent to business owners from City Manager Brian Dissette and Natalie Thompson, the chief of South Haven Police Department.

Related: Whitmer says those who dont follow Michigan stay home order are incredibly selfish,' risk coronavirus spread

The city leaders issued the notice to rental property owners in South Haven, instructing them to not accept any vacation guests until after the restrictions are lifted. The current executive order continues through April 14, but on Thursday Whitmer closed all K-12 schools through the remainder of the school year, which typically ends in June.

This is a not a suggestion; it is the law, Dissette and Thompson said in the letter. The law is clear when it comes to what is, and what is not acceptable when it comes to lodging. Vacation lodging or short-term vacation rentals do not qualify as essential businesses.

The states order threatens a misdemeanor charge, which entails a $500 fine and 90 days in jail if convicted. Local police departments were charged with enforcing the order, and people who wish to report a violation are encouraged to call local police tip lines instead of 911.

Michigans state health department this week added additional civil penalties up to $1,000 and potential business license violations to the list of possible punishments for disobeying the stay-at-home order and others issued to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Related: Violating Michigans coronavirus stay-at-home order could cost you $1,000, health department rules

Since the executive order was first issued, police officers in South Haven have broken up parties and large gatherings, written reports and provided warnings. The police department is empowered to take additional steps against those breaking the law, including fines or arrests, the letter states.

The Inn at The Park Bed and Breakfast is unusually quiet these days, owner Carol Ann Napowocki-Hall said in an interview with MLive.

Napowocki-Hall would be putting both her staff and guests at risk if she opened during this pandemic, she said.

Its easier to be closed and know that Im keeping people safe, she said.

But Napowocki-Hall recognizes the loss of revenue this pandemic means for her business and others like it. South Haven is a tourist town, she said.

In a typical year, she would be booking for guests eager to enjoy the first signs of spring in South Haven, and looking ahead to Memorial Day and other busy summer weekends, she said. This year is different.

My phone doesnt ring, Napowocki-Hall said. Its very quiet.

City officials recognize the financial strain the COVID-19 emergency is causing for rental property owners, the letter from leaders said.

We are asking you to follow the law and do the right thing for South Haven," the leaders said. "By doing so, we can get through this crisis as quickly as possible and welcome guests once again to visit our beautiful community.

The city cannot prevent homeowners from visiting a second home they own in South Haven, but city leaders ask for people to use common sense and to shelter in place where they currently are, Dissette said in a statement to MLive.

As the weather warms, the citys beaches are currently open to the public, though officials are encouraging everyone to follow the social distancing guidelines from the CDC, Dissette said. Officials are also using signage on the beaches to remind people to stay six feet apart from one another, he said.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Also on MLive:

Friday, April 3: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

$8M in coronavirus aid coming to West Michigan

Michigan snowbirds face tough choices during coronavirus pandemic, communities fear further spread
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he will have to stay in extended self-isolation as he gave an update on his health via social media on Friday, which should have marked the end of the stipulated seven-day self-isolation period after his COVID-19 diagnosis last week.

Johnson, 55, said he still has a temperature, one of the symptoms associated with coronavirus, and would therefore have to stay in isolation for longer.

"Although I'm feeling better and I've done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom.

"I still have a temperature and so, in accordance with the government advice, I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes," Johnson said in a new video message.

He used the latest message to urge the British public to stay at home ahead of the weekend, during which warmer weather is forecast after days of cold.

He said: "I just want to say one crucial thing, one quick thing to everybody thinking about this weekend and what may be some fine weather.

"Because I reckon a lot of people will be starting to think that this is all going on for quite a long time, and they'd rather be getting out there and, particularly if they've got kids in the household, everybody may be getting a bit stir crazy".

And there may be just a temptation to get out there, hang out and start to break the regulations, he said.

"And I just urge you not to do that. Please, please stick with the guidance now. This country has made a huge effort, a huge sacrifice, done absolutely brilliantly well in delaying the spread of the virus. Let's stick with it now," the prime minister said.

Johnson was last seen, still looking quite poorly, when he made a brief appearance at Downing Street on Thursday night to join the national "clap for carers" applause in appreciation of the hardwork of National Health Service (NHS) workers on the frontline of the fight against the outbreak.

"Remember that incredible clapping again last night for our fantastic NHS. We're doing it to protect them and to save lives. Let's focus on doing everything we can. Stay at home folks, protect our NHS, save lives," he said.

Johnson has been leading video conferences and virtual Cabinet meetings from his private quarters, the flat above No. 11 Downing Street traditionally used by Prime Ministers as their home next door to their No. 10 office. His pregnant fiance Carrie Symonds has been self-isolating separately at her flat in south London with their dog Dilyn.

The prime minister revealed his COVID-19 diagnosis last Friday, when he said he had tested positive for coronavirus after developing mild symptoms but vowed to remain in charge of the country's fightback against the pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Students across North Dakota embarked on a different form of learning this week prompted by the coronavirus. Its not a perfect situation, but there are some possible pluses to distance learning.

Of course, the biggest plus is the safety of our children, teachers and school personnel. It makes no sense to put people at risk, and Gov. Doug Burgum made the right decision when he closed the states schools. With distance learning in place, there should be no urgency in reopening schools.

Some school districts, such as Mandans, were better positioned for shifting to distance learning. Five years ago, Mandan went to one-to-one learning and provided all students with devices. The students were familiar with the devices, and while the transition wasnt seamless, it went well.

Bismarck, the largest district in the state with 13,000 students, had devices for students in grades 6-12. The districts administrators and teachers were able to develop a plan by the states deadline and launch on time.

In fact, its impressive that the Department of Public Instruction received all 171 plans from across the state on time along with 39 plans from nonpublic schools. There was some tweaking, but thats to be expected.

Thats a lesson in getting your homework done in a timely manner.

While distance learning lacks the personal touch of the teacher being in the classroom, it offers a different form of learning. It gives students more responsibility. Kids have to log in to classes, get assignments and complete them. Being at home might create more potential distractions, so students have to be focused.

Theres also the opportunity for parents to be more involved. Not just supervising their children, but getting a better idea of the material their children are being taught.

This isnt saying distance learning is better than being in a classroom. The Tribune doesnt believe thats true. However, its workable in a time of crisis.

We have to remember that students are under a lot of stress. The daily news about the coronavirus seems to get more scary. The uncertainty on how long the pandemic will last adds to the worry. Students have seen tournaments canceled, spring sports, concerts, proms and other activities indefinitely postponed. Graduation ceremonies are in doubt. Some colleges and universities have canceled commencements.

Its a difficult time for everyone, but for young people its their first experience with a crisis. So our state officials and educators should be commended for getting distance learning in operation. Education continues, while our students and staff are in a safer place. Thats an accomplishment that shouldnt be forgotten.

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has thanked Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his unflinching support to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which has now been shifted to 2021 because of the global coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to Modi, dated April 1, Bach said he was grateful to the Indian Prime Minister for his support to the Tokyo Games during the recent G20 Leaders Summit which was held via video conference in the wake of the pandemic, which has left the world in disarray.

Please accept my sincere thanks for the support you have given to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, expressed in the Extraordinary G20 Leaders Summit Statement, commending the International Olympic Committee for contributing to the containment of the COVID-19 virus, Bach wrote in his letter.

I am really grateful for your support for the Olympic Games and their unifying role, which the G20 Leaders Summit had already expressed at your meeting last year in Osaka.After their initial reluctance, the IOC and Tokyo Games orgainsers were forced to bow before the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and reschedule the 2020 Tokyo Games to 2021.

As per the revised schedule announced by the IOC, the Tokyo Olympics will now be held from July 23 to August 8, exactly a year after the global sporting event was originally scheduled.

The deadly COVID-19 outbreak has taken a gigantic shape with over 47,000 deaths reported worldwide so far while positive cases rose to nearly 9,40,000.

The IOC chief firmly put his support behind Tokyo, saying despite the pandemic, the Japanese city is well-prepared to host the quadrennial Games.

Given the great work having been done by our Japanese partners and friends, Tokyo is the best-ever prepared Olympic city.He is confident that with the support of the global leaders, the Tokyo Games next year will be a grand success.

Thanks to the excellent and trustful cooperation we are enjoying, like from the G20 Leaders Summit, we are confident that these Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be a great success, Bach said.

Like you, we are confident that the Olympic Games 2020 will be a symbol of human resilience. They will again show the unity of humanity in all our diversity by bringing together the worlds best 11,000 athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.As humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel, together with our Japanese partners and friends we want to make these Olympic Games a light at the end of this tunnel, he added.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Friday, April 3, was supposed to be a big deal for writer, actor and former Winnipegger Jonas Chernick.

Chernicks movie James Vs. His Future Self was going to premiere in eight cinemas across the country, an unusually large release for a small, quirky Canadian film. Chernick, who has starred in and co-written such films as My Awkward Sexual Adventure and Lucid (both directed by Sean Garrity), says it was to be "the biggest release Ive ever experienced in my career as a filmmaker."

Alas, COVID-19 happened, Cineplex closed its cinemas for the foreseeable future, and the film will now debut on various video-on-demand platforms on Friday.

Nobody saw it coming. And that ping of hindsight-regret is at the centre of the film, which Chernick, 46, co-wrote with director Jeremy LaLonde. Chernick plays James, a scientist so fixated on conquering time travel, he lets his personal relationships deteriorate, until he gets a visit from Jimmy (Daniel Stern). The dishevelled madman claims to be the older James, arrived from the future to warn his younger self to correct the obsessive path he has taken.

Jimmy, apparently, knows whats coming.

Anyone acquainted with Chernick may be aware that he has been percolating a secret "high-concept" science-fiction project for more than a decade. This film, he acknowledges, is the fruit of his own long obsession.

Banana-Moon Sky Films Jimmy (Daniel Stern, left) counsels his younger self, James (Jonas Chernick), in Chernicks time-travel film, which was denied a theatrical run because of the COVID-19 crisis.

"Ive been a big time-travel junkie for the longest time," Chernick says during a phone interview from his home in Toronto. "I was trying to figure out what my version of that story would be."

In 2004, he was at the Toronto International Film Festival and saw Primer, the low-budget American indie film about four engineers who inadvertently create a time machine. Chernick, putting it mildly, is a fan.

"It is the smartest time-travel movie ever made, the smartest time-travel story ever told, and I walked out of the theatre, my mind reeling," he recalls, adding that dreams of his own time-travel project almost disappeared like Doc Browns DeLorean hitting 88 m.p.h.

"I probably said it out loud: Well, there goes that idea," he says. "I could never write a time-travel movie because Ive just seen the ultimate time-travel movie."

Chernick says it was probably a decade later when the realization came to him. "My version of a time-travel movie isnt trying to wow the audience about how smart the time travel is. Its about the characters," he says. "And it has to do with the idea of time, not as a scientific phenomenon, but as a device to explore character.

"Thats when I realized that my time-travel movie was going to be much more Back to the Future and less Primer."

Chernicks collaborative instincts were nurtured during his days as a theatre student at the University of Manitoba, but in the realm of film, he had only worked with with Sean Garrity on scripts. That was before he was cast in the 2015 comedy How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town, written and directed by Toronto-based Jeremy LaLonde. While taking that film to the Slamdance Film Festival in Utah, LaLonde told Chernick that he dreamed of doing a science-fiction project and asked Chernick if he had any ideas.

Chernick pitched his concept, which LaLonde loved. "(He) said immediately, Yeah, lets jam on that. And very organically and very quickly we rushed it out into what eventually became this movie," Chernick says. "I collaborate well with the right partner. There havent been too many."

Banana-Moon Sky Films Jonas Chernick, left, and Cleopatra Coleman

Of course, the nature of the script required Chernick to work together with another partner, actor Daniel Stern as the older iteration of Chernicks character. Probably best known as one half of the "Wet Bandits" who terrorize Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, Sterns appeal to Chernick went back even further, to his turn in Barry Levinsons 1982 ensemble piece Diner.

"He was incredibly influential to me," says Chernick. "I know that whole Diner scene off by heart where he flipped out on Ellen Barkin for messing up the alphabetized records. When you look at Diner and you watch Daniel Sterns performance, hes basically doing the same thing or similar things to what I do as an actor. That lovable-loser-intellectual-anxious-funny guy. He was doing that a long time ago."

Stern too proved to be an enthusiastic creative partner, jumping right into the process with lots of ideas and suggestions via Skype.

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"He actually felt his character was the most well-formed entity in the script, but he had questions and comments about the rest of the story," Chernick says.

Those Skype sessions helped Chernick recreate his own character, in a sense.

"I got to watch him live and I got to study his mannerisms and the way he talked  his sensibilities and his temperament," the actor says. "So when he got on set it was kind of like we knew each other, because we had been collaborating on the script for so long.

"And then actually working with him was just a dream," Chernick says. "He knows his stuff and hes an exciting actor because you dont know what youre going to get from him. So the collaboration with him which one of the highlights, not just of this movie, but of my whole career."

randall.king@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @FreepKing

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Last month, residents of Kiryas Joel, a New York village of 35,000 Hasidic Jews roughly an hours drive from Manhattan, began hearing about a promising treatment for the coronavirus that had been rippling through their community.

The source was Dr. Vladimir Zelenko, 46, a mild-mannered family doctor with offices near the village. Since early March, his clinics had treated people with coronaviruslike symptoms, and he had developed an experimental treatment consisting of an antimalarial medication called hydroxychloroquine, the antibiotic azithromycin and zinc sulfate.

STAY POSITIVE: 15 pieces of good news to come out coronavirus pandemic

After testing this three-drug cocktail on hundreds of patients, some of whom had only mild or moderate symptoms when they arrived, Zelenko claimed that 100% of them had survived the virus with no hospitalizations and no need for a ventilator.

Im seeing tremendous positive results, he said in a March 21 video, which was addressed to President Donald Trump and eventually posted to YouTube and Facebook.

What happened next is a modern pandemic parable that illustrates how the coronavirus is colliding with our fragile information ecosystem: a jumble of facts, falsehoods and viral rumors patched together from Twitter threads and shards of online news, amplified by armchair experts and professional partisans and pumped through the warp-speed accelerator of social media.

Zelenkos treatment arrived at a useful moment for Trump and his media supporters, who have at times appeared more interested in discussing miracle cures than testing delays or ventilator shortages.

UNEMPLOYMENT: Macys furloughs most of its 130,000 staff amid pandemic

Sean Hannity, the Fox News host, quickly promoted Zelenkos claims on his TV and radio shows. Mark Meadows, the incoming White House chief of staff, called Zelenko to ask about his treatment plan. And Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal lawyer, praised him in a podcast interview this week for thinking of solutions, just like the president.

Few people have been as hopeful about hydroxychloroquine as Trump, who has enthusiastically promoted it for weeks as very effective and possibly the biggest game changer in the history of medicine  even as health experts have cautioned that more research and testing are needed.

That has not deterred Trumps supporters, who have vilified public health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the most outspoken advocate of emergency virus measures. Instead, some are pinning their hopes on Zelenko and his unproven treatment plan, which has now been seen by millions.

In a phone interview from his home, where he has been in self-isolation, Zelenko, who goes by Zev, described a dizzying week filled with calls from media and health officials from countries including Israel, Ukraine and Russia, all seeking information about his treatment. Some world leaders, including Brazils president, Jair Bolsonaro, are also talking up some of the same drugs as a cure.

Its a very surreal moment, said Zelenko, who has been practicing medicine for 16 years. Im a simple country doctor, you know. I dont have connections.

The online spread of his treatment plan may have real-world consequences as countries consider testing the drugs he recommends on patients. Their popularity has also spurred shortages of hydroxychloroquine, which is used to treat lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?: A timeline of the coronavirus pandemic

In New Yorks tight-knit Hasidic community, Zelenkos sudden fame has caused tensions. Shortly after he posted on YouTube, a group of village officials wrote an open letter pleading with him to stop. They said he had exaggerated the extent of the coronavirus outbreak in Kiryas Joel, using a small sample of his patients to predict that as many as 90% of village residents would get the virus.

Dr. Zelenkos videos have caused widespread fear that has resulted in the discrimination against members of the Hasidic community throughout the region, the officials wrote, disputing the figure.

Critics have accused Zelenko of getting ahead of scientific research. Several small studies, including a controversial French one of 20 coronavirus patients, have found that hydroxychloroquine may be effective against the coronavirus. This week, doctors in China said it had helped to speed the recovery of a small number of patients who were mildly ill from the coronavirus. But other studies have contradicted those findings or have been inconclusive.

Anyone who tells you these drugs work, or dont work, is not basing that view on science, said David Juurlink, head of the division of clinical pharmacology at the University of Toronto. Theres reason to be optimistic, and theres also reason to be pessimistic.

Dr. Jeff Paley, an internist in Englewood, New Jersey, who shares some patients with Zelenko, said it was irresponsible for him to promote a treatment without warning people that the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can cause severe side effects if not properly administered, especially in patients with preexisting heart problems.

Ive gotten numerous calls from patients demanding the regimen, saying they believe Dr. Zelenko is magically curing his patients, Paley said.

Zelenko, who learned two years ago that he had a rare form of cancer, was not the first doctor to recommend treating the coronavirus with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, although he was among the first to recommend that they be given to patients with only mild symptoms. He said that while he was optimistic, it was too early to tell whether the drugs would ultimately work.

But hopes for a miracle cure have ballooned as the coronavirus spreads, and Trump and his allies are not waiting for the clinical trials to finish. An analysis by Media Matters last week found that Fox News had promoted hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as a coronavirus cure more than 100 times over three days.

Tech companies have begun cracking down on hyperbolic claims about the drugs. Last week, Twitter removed a tweet by Giuliani that said hydroxychloroquine was 100% effective in treating COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Facebook and Twitter this week took down a video by Bolsonaro claiming that the drug is working in all places. YouTube later took down Zelenkos video, saying it violated the sites community guidelines.

Zelenko, who said he supported Trump, declined to discuss his politics in detail, saying they were irrelevant to his medical findings.

STAYING SAFE: How you can avoid coronavirus exposure while shopping

But he appeared to share the presidents initial skepticism about the virus. In early March, he posted several right-wing memes about the coronavirus on Facebook, including one that referred to the pandemic as a Dem panic and another that featured Hillary Clinton on a list of things more likely to kill you than the coronavirus.

When I see something funny, I maybe in a juvenile way posted it without much thought, Zelenko said of the posts. I never thought that I would be in the public limelight.

For more than a decade, Zelenko has been a fixture in Kiryas Joel, where a sign at the village entrance encourages visitors to dress and behave in a modest way. Unlike most of the residents, who belong to the Satmar sect of Orthodox Judaism, Zelenko is part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and does not live in Kiryas Joel itself, which has made him something of an outsider.

Ari Felberman, a patient of Zelenkos for years, called him a phenomenal doctor and said that if he had exaggerated the coronavirus threat in Kiryas Joel, it was only out of concern for his patients health.

When he spoke about how many people were affected, it was just to shake up the community and say, Dont take this lightly, Felberman said.

Villagers began experiencing coronavirus symptoms in early March. Days later, after Zelenko began treating patients with his three-drug combination and saw many of them improving, he created a YouTube account and uploaded his video that addressed Trump.

At the time, it was a brand-new finding, and I viewed it like a commander in the battlefield, he said of the video. I realized I needed to speak to the five-star general.

Hydroxychloroquine, which is sold under the brand name Plaquenil, has started selling out at many pharmacies nationwide. Some health systems have begun reserving their supplies for coronavirus patients, depriving those who take it for other conditions. At least four states have restricted hydroxychloroquine prescriptions to prevent hoarding.

HCQ, as hydroxychloroquine is known, is generally considered safe for clinical use. But it can be risky if patients administer the drugs themselves. Last month, an Arizona man died after ingesting a type of fish parasite treatment that listed chloroquine phosphate as one of its ingredients.

You dont want people stockpiling this at home, said Dr. Dena Grayson, a biotech executive who has helped develop drugs for Ebola and other epidemics. If you do get sick, you need to take this under close supervision of a doctor to make sure you dont drop dead.

This week, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, allowing doctors to distribute them to coronavirus patients. The agencys chief scientist, Denise Hinton, wrote in the authorization order that the drugs may be effective in treating COVID-19. New York also recently began clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin.

While dealing with his newfound fame, Zelenko, who has been practicing telemedicine from his home office, is working to keep his coronavirus patients alive. He said his team had seen about 900 patients with possible coronavirus symptoms, treating approximately 200 with his regimen. None had died as of Tuesday, he said, although six were hospitalized and three were on ventilators.

He is worried about his own health. One of his lungs was removed as part of his cancer treatment, and chemotherapy has weakened his immune system, putting him in a high-risk category for the coronavirus.

I have eight children, and I want to live, he said. Im personally motivated to find a solution.

Zelenko said he understood the need for clinical trials but added that ignoring a hopeful possibility was also risky.

Im a strong supporter of clinical trials, he said. But they take time, and thats one thing we dont have. The virus is here, its World War III, and not everyone has fully comprehended that yet.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 04:16:20|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The rights of persons with autism must be taken into account in efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic - "a public health crisis unlike any other in our lifetimes," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his message for the World Autism Awareness Day, which is observed annually on April 2.

"We must ensure that a long disruption caused by the COVID19 crisis does not result in rollbacks of the rights they have worked so hard to advance," Guterres said.

This year's commemoration is being held as countries grapple with the pandemic, which is placing persons with autism "at disproportionate risk of the new coronavirus and its impacts," the secretary-general noted.

"Persons with autism have the right to self-determination, independence and autonomy, as well as the right to education and employment on an equal basis with others. But the breakdown of vital support systems and networks as a result of COVID-19 exacerbates the obstacles that persons with autism face in exercising these rights," the UN chief noted.

"We must ensure that a prolonged disruption caused by the emergency does not result in rollbacks of the rights that persons with autism and their representative organizations have worked so hard to advance."

Autism refers to a range of conditions characterized by some degree of impaired social behavior, communication and language, which begin in childhood, usually during the first five years of life, according to the World Health Organization.

World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized day on April 2 every year, encouraging UN member states to take measures to raise awareness about people with autistic spectrum disorders including autism and Asperger syndrome throughout the world.
A man who kicked, coughed and spat on a group of Edison Police officers and told them now you all have the coronavirus was arrested Wednesday and was facing multiple charges, authorities said.

The officers were called to a home in town at 11:01 p.m. after the mans parents called the police and told them their son was acting out of control, according to a statement from the Edison Police Department.

They found the agitated man, who was not identified, in the kitchen and he began coughing in their direction and said I have coronavirus and I want somebody to come touch me," police said.

The officers and his parents tried to calm him down, but he did not and a struggle ensued and the man began kicking them as they attempted to restrain him, authorities said.

Eventually, the officers were able to get him into the back of a police car, but not before he kicked one of them, the department said.

Once they arrived at the station, he refused to get out of the car and he tried to kick them again and when they moved into headquarters, he again he again coughed and spit at police and said now you all have the coronavirus, according to the statement.

No officers were injured during the incident and whether or not the man actually has COVID-19 was still unknown Thursday afternoon.

The suspects name was not made public. He was charged with obstruction of law, terroristic threats, three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, and criminal mischief and was taken to Middlesex County Jail in North Brunswick.

I commend my officers for their restraint in dealing with this individual," Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan said. His actions are incomprehensible in this day and age and will not be tolerated. I am confident in our judicial system to prosecute him to the fullest extent.

The incident was the latest in a string of arrests across the state involving people coughing or spitting at police officers and telling them they were infected with the coronavirus.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
04/02/2020

By David Perry

Since its debut in early 2011 on Fox, Bobs Burgers has taken its place among the most beloved animated sitcoms, twice winning Emmy awards and developing a dedicated audience. Two UMass Lowell alumni, brothers and Spencer natives Tim and Pat Dacey, are linchpins of the shows distinct musical soundtrack. They joined the show in 2017  Tim 07, 09 (sound recording technology) as music editor and Pat 09 (music business) as music coordinator. Tim is also married to a double River Hawk, Jessica Crisci 08, 09.

Bobs Burgers tells the story of Bob and Linda Belcher and their kids, who run a burger restaurant. Music is a key component of the show, often funny and poignant, but always tied closely to the plot.

As the show was wrapping up its 10th season, Tim connected with us from his home in California to discuss his work, tips for breaking into television and the lasting influence of his UML education.

Q. California is under a stay-at-home order due to COVID-19. How is that affecting your work?

A. Our studio has gone remote, and we intend to finish production on the current season. It's been an inconvenience, but as far as I know, it hasn't affected our delivery schedule at all. We're lucky to be in animation, where the majority of what we do doesn't absolutely require a physical presence, though I think we all miss seeing all the great people we work with.

Q:How would you describe Bobs Burgers to someone who has never seen it?

A: Bob's Burgers is an animated comedy about a lower-middle-class family who run a burger restaurant. It's character-driven comedy, so everything from story to jokes is driven by who the characters are. The more you watch, the more they feel like real people. I think they are real to [series creator] Loren [Bouchard].

Q. How would you describe the shows music?

A. One way to describe the shows musical style might be playfully amateurish. We want the songs to be good, but we're always chasing that feeling of experimentation when something weird but great just happens. It would be awesome if all the songs felt like they were beautiful accidents. The biggest challenge is figuring out how to forget what you know about music, in a controlled way, so that you can let things be driven by how they feel, and then come back and look at it more analytically. But if the music is silly and fun to listen to, then we're pretty happy.

Q. What does the job of a music editor entail?

A. Our show composers deliver original music for each episode, and I check for any technical or sync issues and make sure everything is a reasonable level to deliver to the mix stage. I also handle any creative notes that can be done editorially. That part of the job involves both helping to finesse things in a way that achieves what the producers are looking for, but also protecting the musicality of our composers original delivery. If there is something that can't be done editorially, then we'll send it to the composer to make adjustments. I'm on call during the episode mix to make any last-minute changes. I also cut in the temporary music for pre-production screenings.

Q. Howd you get the Bobs job?

A. One day, I was wondering what the comedian from Dr. Katz was up to (Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, the computer-animated comedy series about a psychotherapist, created by actual therapist Jonathan Katz), and found that he lived in Newton and was making a web series. Their website said if you're talented and live in the Boston area, shoot us a message, and that led to (Katz) hiring me as his personal assistant. When my wife took a post-doctorate position in Los Angeles, Jonathan introduced me to Loren (who worked with Katz on Dr. Katz and Home Movies). Loren originally hired me to help put the first Bob's Burgers music album together. If you don't have any connections and want to get into television, look for production assistant jobs to meet people and get in the door. Don't be afraid to cold-message someone for advice. If you're respectful of their time, they'll probably want to be helpful. We all remember what it's like to be just starting out.

Brothers and UML alumni Tim, left, and Pat Dacey have a lot to do with the sound of the endearing animated hit, "Bob's Burgers." Q. Loren Bouchard, who is from Medford, has said he grew up among working-class creatives and hadnt seen such folks portrayed on TV. Do you agree? What were your own TV favorites growing up, and why?

A. One of my favorite shows growing up was Home Movies, which Loren created, and I'm guessing that's what he was referring to. Home Movies was a show about three young kids with a passion for making movies. They didn't always know what they were doing, but they were always doing it. I can't think of anything else that was like that on TV, but my life was kind of like that.

Q. Music seems more important in Bobs Burgers than in a lot of other shows, which makes your job pretty important. What particular skills do you bring?

A. We always try our best to make sure the music is following the story, no matter what. If the producers are feeling like something is close, but not exactly what they want, I'll try an edit or offer up some other options from our library. Since I started out working directly for Loren, I'll also sometimes find myself doing weird things like getting straws from Taco Bell to make a virtual instrument. If you've watched enough of the show, you'll be able to find that one. My brother and I also helped with the design of our in-house studio spaces. We have a record room with a control room that is good for both ADR (the post-production automated dialogue replacement) and music, and we have our own mix stage.

Q. Whats it like working with your brother? What does he do there?

A. It's great! He is the music coordinator. He manages communication for all things music and makes sure everything is getting done when and how it needs to, but it's really more than that. He's the glue holding this big crazy music machine together.

Q. Why did you come to UML, and what did you get here that led to your success?

A. I knew I wanted to do something with music, and I was also interested in computers and psychology. I looked at a lot of music therapy programs, but when I visited UML, the SRT program just felt like a really good fit.

Q. Was there a particular professor or mentor who taught you something special or particularly practical during your time here?

A. Absolutely  I find myself referring to Alex Case, John Shirley and William Moylan often.
American is reducing capacity on international flights by more than 60% compared with last summer, after slashing capacity by 80% to 90% in April and May. Its also pushing back new routes expected to launch this summer to 2021, including one connecting Chicago and Krakow, Poland, expected to begin flying in May.
The Philippine ambassador to Lebanon, Bernardita Catalla has died on April 2 at the age of 62 due to complications from the deadly coronavirus infection. An official statement from the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs said the Catalla worked as a diplomat for 27 years and served in multiple capacities. Catallas death has taken the death toll in the country to 16 and more than 400 people are infected in the region.

The statement from the DFA read, Bernie, as Ambassador Catalla was fondly called, has always lent a helping hand, to her family, friends and colleagues. Her ever-ready smile and infectious laughter may have been extinguished but her dedication to our country will always be there as a guiding light for all members of the Philippine foreign service.

READ: Canada's Hair Freezing Contest Offers Much-needed Laughs Amid Coronavirus Gloom

According to international media reports, Catalla was a strong defender of rights of Filipino domestic workers in Lebanon. She was also known for her hands-on approach. In recent month, the ambassador reportedly oversaw free mass repatriation aimed at more than 1,000 domestic workers whose jobs had become untenable due to the countrys deep economic crisis that led the local currency to lose more than 40 per cent of its value. Catalla also served in key posts like Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta and was Passport Director where she delivered frontline service to millions of Filipinos.

Loss for Lebanon

Several ministers also paid their condolences over Catallas death. Lebanons Labour Minister Lamia Yammine took to Twitter and said, I consider her death a loss for Lebanon as well as the Philippines, as she was working to promote and consolidate relations between our two countries in various fields.

Today, @DFAPHL lost one of its own. PH Ambassador to Lebanon Bernardita Bernie Catalla, a frontliner in our repatriation efforts, died from Covid19 in a Beirut hospital. A great loss to @DFAPHL & to our country. Our nation owes you a debt of gratitude. pic.twitter.com/Vh6nz96SE3  Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) April 2, 2020

It was a great shock to hear the very sad news of the passing away of H.E. Ambassador Bernardita Catalla today from complications arising from COVID-19. Please accept my sincerest condolences.(1/3)  Wang Kejian (@ChinainLebanon) April 2, 2020

READ: Coronavirus May Have Infected More Than 10 Million People Worldwide, Says Australia

Yesterday we learned the sad news of the passing away of Ms. Bernardita Catalla the #Philippine ambassador to #Lebanon due to #COVID2019 ... we pass our deepest condolences to the Philippine government & people, the staff of the Embassy & all philipinos in Lebanon... @DFAPHL pic.twitter.com/LuNMfyZ8ur  LF Foreign Affairs (@LF_ForeignAff) April 3, 2020

Meanwhile, coronavirus, which originated in China in December 2019, has now claimed over 54,000 lives worldwide as of April 3. According to the tally by international news agency, the pandemic has now spread to 204 countries and has infected more than one million people. Out of the total infections, 220,003 have been recovered but the easily spread virus is continuing to disrupt many lives. Major cities have been put under lockdown in almost all countries including Spain, and the economy is struggling.

(Image source: SyedEmaan/Twitter)

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First Minister Arlene Foster has said the Executive needs to be united after deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill criticised the region's health minister for his handling of the coronavirus emergency.

Michelle O'Neill said Robin Swann had been "too slow" to act on issues such as testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare staff.

The Sinn Fein vice president accused the Ulster Unionist minister and his Department of Health officials of "slavishly following the Boris Johnson model".

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Mrs Foster, speaking to the BBC, said: "We need to look at what the department of health has been faced with, they have been working very hard on a whole range of areas including workforce recruitment, they have put out an appeal for more people to come forward, they have brought forward specific Northern Ireland modelling so that we can have live data to make decisions on, which is critically important.

"We have a network of private care Covid centres, we have the reconfiguration of our hospital services, including the tower block at the City Hospital being made into a Nightingale hospital, and all the while dealing with the pressures around making sure that we have enough personal protective equipment for our frontline workers, and indeed having enough testing capacity as well."

Asked if she had confidence in Mr Swann, Ms Foster responded: "I do, yes."

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Ms Foster denied the executive is "collapsing into disarray".

"It's not collapsing into disarray, it's very important to recognise that we are coming forward as a five-party executive, I as the First Minister have a leadership role in that and I am trying to pull people together, and I speak to all of the ministers and pull us all together," she said.

"I think it is recognised that we are living through abnormal times.

"When the executive was set up, and I think people need to reflect on this, but just at the beginning of this year we knew that there would be challenges ahead, but none of us knew we were coming into the challenge that we are facing at this point in time, a challenge that we share with governments right across the world."

UUP leader Steve Aiken responded to the criticism, accusing Ms O'Neill of trying to exploit the crisis for political gain.

The deputy first minister stopped short of calling for Mr Swann's resignation and insisted she was committed to working with him going forward.

"Slavishly following the Boris Johnson model, which has been too slow to act, means we are not as prepared as we could be," she told BBC NI's The View.

Mrs O'Neill added: "I have made these arguments privately and I feel it's my moral duty, given the severity of the situation we are dealing with, that I have to say those things when I think they are not right.

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Asked if she retained confidence in Mr Swann, she added: "I will continue to work with Robin, I think he has been too slow to act but I think we have to work our way through what is going to be even more difficult days in the time ahead and this is not a time to be calling for anybody's head or any of those things."

A total of 36 people with Covid-19 have died in Northern Ireland with 774 confirmed cases in the region.

The comments are the latest evidence of rifts in the coalition executive over the Covid-19 response.

Sinn Fein continues to express concern that the rate of testing in Northern Ireland - around 500 people a day, with a target of around 1,100 - is well short of what is required.

The republican party has also said more must be done to provide more PPE to workers.

Mr Swann had insisted both issues are key priorities for his department.

Ms O'Neill said her stance on testing chimed with World Health Organisation (WHO) advice and best practice in other countries.

"Boris Johnson has now just recently in last 24 hours realised that his policy has been flawed and he's now moving towards more testing," she said.

Ms O'Neill added: "It's not easy to call things out whenever you think something is wrong but this is far too serious, this is not about party politics, this is about what is the best advice - the World Health Organisation have very clearly said 'test, test test'.

"This is about trying to save as many lives as we possibly can."

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Ms O'Neill insisted the executive was "working together" to address the issues and said progress had been made.

"We have seen significant improvement and we are going in the right direction and I will continue to work with all the other ministers to do everything we can to get ourselves through this," she said.

Mr Aiken said the deputy first minister's comments were "regrettable but not unexpected".

"Northern Ireland is in the midst of a health crisis the like of which has not been seen in over a century," he said.

"There is a need for the Northern Ireland Executive to be joining together, united in defeating the virus. The Health Minister Robin Swann and the staff in our health service have been responding magnificently to the unprecedented challenge.

"It is regrettable but not unexpected that the deputy first minister and Sinn Fein continue to seek to gain political advantage rather than joining together with the rest of the executive's political parties to do what is best for us all.

"It is well beyond time that Sinn Fein got the message and started working co-operatively for us all."
R ishi Sunaks emergency loan scheme for businesses struggling to survive the coronavirus pandemic has been revamped after it faced strong criticism over access.

More businesses will now be able to access financial support during the Covid-19 lockdown after the Chancellor announced a wider package of measures to assist companies.

The move will enable larger firms with turnovers as high as 500 million to access support, while opening up the availability of state-backed cash to smaller companies.

And the Treasury has confirmed the imposition of new rules on lenders in a bid to ensure money gets to business owners faster and with less personal risk involved.

Shut down: An empty terrace of tables outside a bar in Canary Wharf, London, amid the coronavirus lockdown / PA

The Treasury has confirmed:

- The introduction of a new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) providing a Government guarantee of 80 per cent to enable loans of up to 25 million for firms with an annual turnover of between 45 million and 500 million

- A ban on banks being able to demand debt-risking personal guarantees on loans of less than 250,000 to speed up the process of lending and reduce financial risk for applicants

- An expansion of the already-running Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to allow "viable" small businesses affected by Covid-19 to apply, no longer limiting it to those unable to secure commercial financing

- More than 90 million has been paid to 983 small and medium sized businesses, with 1.9 billion now in the accounts of larger firms

- The Chancellor will meet with chief executives of UK banks to discuss the implementation of the schemes next week.

London during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /66 London during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures A woman jogging near City Hall, London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA An image of Queen Elizabeth II and quotes from her broadcast on Sunday to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA A pedestrian walks past a billboard reading "Please believe these days will pass" on Broadway Market in east London AFP via Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge Getty Images Boris Johnson Jeremy Selwyn Sun-seekers cool off in the water and sunbathe on the riverbank at Hackney Marshes in east London AFP via Getty Images Ed Davey is shown on screens as he speaks via videolink during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London PA A herd of fallow deer graze on the lawns in front of a housing estate in Harold Hill in east London AFP via Getty Images A woman wearing a mask crosses a bridge over Camden Lock, London PA An empty Millenium Bridge PA A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images People push to enter the Niketown shop in Londo AP Jo Proudlove and daughter Eve, 9, follow the daily online "PE with Joe" Joe Wickes' exercise class on "Fancy dress Friday Reuters Waterloo station looking empty PA Police in Westminster Jeremy Selwyn Getty Images A quiet Parliament Square Getty Images PABest A man walks along a passageway at London's Oxford Street Underground station the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus PA Social distancing markers around the camel enclosure at ZSL London Zoo PA A police car patrols Greenwich Park in London PA The Premier League in action in front of empty stands AP Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed. A deserted Piccadilly Circus PA A general view is seen of a deserted Trafalgar Square AFP via Getty Images Getty Images The iconic Abbey Road crossing is seen after a re-paint by a Highways Maintenance team as they take advantage of the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown and quiet streets to refresh the markings Getty Images A view of 20 Fenchurch Street (the 'Walkie Talkie' building) in the City of London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus PA A deserted Chinatown PA A person looks at graffiti on a JD Wetherspoon pub in Crystal Palace, south London. Wetherspoons workers have described founder Tim Martin's lack of support for his chain's 40,000 employees as "absolutely outrageous" PA The London ExCel centre that has been turned into a makeshift NHS Hospital and critical care unit to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic PA The Palace Theatre, which usually shows the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, sits in a deserted Shaftesbury Avenue PA The Sondheim Theatre, which usually shows the Les Miserables musical, sits in a deserted Shaftesbury Avenue PA Two members of a British Army mounted regiment exercise their horses in Parliament Square AP Westminster Bridge is deserted PA A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA An empty street and bus stop at St James's Park AFP via Getty Images Whitehall Jeremy Selwyn A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA A single pedestrian walks past The national Gallery AFP via Getty Images London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn Kings Cross and St Pancras Jeremy Selwyn Buckingham Palace looking empty in London, PA London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn Kings Cross and St Pancras Jeremy Selwyn London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn London's Carnaby Street empty as shops closed after a lockdown was announced in the latest bid to stop the spread of coronavirus through the UK AP A single pedestrian walks past The national Gallery AFP via Getty Images A quiet Jubilee line westbound train carriage PA A quiet Canary Wharf Underground Station PA Empty Embankment Jeremy Selwyn

Mr Sunak said: "We are making great progress on getting much-needed support out to businesses to help manage their cash flows during this difficult time - with millions of pounds of loans and finance being provided to hundreds of firms across the country.

"And now I am taking further action by extending our generous loan scheme so even more businesses can benefit.

"We have also listened to the concerns of some larger businesses affected by Covid-19 and are announcing new support so they can benefit too.

"This is a national effort and we'll continue to work with the financial services sector to ensure that the 330 billion of government support, through loans and guarantees, reaches as many businesses in need as possible."

Business Secretary: Money must reach businesses as quickly as possible

More than 90 million of loans to nearly 1,000 small and medium sized firms have been approved under CBILS since its creation last week, the Treasury confirmed.

And a Government-backed scheme to provide financing to larger companies, being operated by the Bank of England, has also provided almost 1.9 billion of support to firms, with a further 1.6 billion committed.

It comes after Business Secretary Alok Sharma this week warned banks it would be "completely unacceptable" if they were found to be "unfairly refusing funds to good business in financial difficulty", especially following the taxpayer-funded 2008 bailouts after the financial crash.

The Government has now introduced measures to ensure financial support is readily available, including for larger businesses.

Those taking part in CLBILS will see 80 per cent of their loan guaranteed by the Government but, unlike the scheme for small to medium sized businesses, they will not get a 12-month holiday on paying the interest and fees involved.

For small business loans of more than 250,000, personal guarantees will be limited to just 20 per cent of any amount outstanding on the lending after any other recoveries from business assets, with lenders continuing to be prohibited from asking business owners to put their house on the line.

Mr Sharma said: "The changes we are making to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will make it easier for business to access the lending we have put in place, helping them to continue trading and protect the livelihoods of their staff."

Labour welcomed the measures but accused the Government of being "behind the curve" when implementing support measures.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "I welcome this move but the Chancellor cannot keep being behind the curve in supporting our economy.

"There remain huge gaps in support for employees and self-employed that must be addressed immediately if people are to avoid facing serious hardship in this crisis."

Business bodies, including the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said the measures would assist those impacted by the downturn brought about by Covid-19.

CBI director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said: "The Chancellor's measures are a big step forward.

"They will help deliver cash faster to firms battling for survival in the headwinds of the pandemic."

Mike Cherry, the FSB's national chair said: "Removing personal guarantees for all commercial loans below 250K is very welcome.

"Taking on debt at the current time is a daunting prospect for many small businesses and the self-employed."
Two more prison officers, including a second officer in Cork Prison, have tested positive for Covid-19  bringing to four the total number of prison staff infected, the Irish Examiner has learned.

The other new case is a prison officer in Mountjoy Prison, adding to a previous case in Cork Prison and Portlaoise Prison.

So far, no prisoners across the 13 jails have tested positive for the virus.

In relation to prisoners, up-to-date figures show:

A total of 142 prisoners have been isolated;

82 are currently in isolation, in their own cells, in special isolation areas;

60 have been cleared from isolation;

Sources said prisoners in isolation have their cells opened just twice a day, for breakfast and at lunchtime, when they get both their hot meal and their tea.

It is not clear how many officers nationally are in self-isolation, but it is thought 18 staff in Cork are, up from four officers two weeks ago.

In other developments:

video phone call facilities are being rolled out across prisons to allow inmates to speak to family members, replacing physical visits;

contact tracing system is being brought in;

Under new regimes, prisoners are released for recreation in smaller numbers with only half of landings taking breaks at the same time.

Sources said with some inmates it is very difficult to enforce social distancing.

The IPS has released 292 prisoners since March 11 under measures to reduce the prison population and improve infection control.

Sources said it has nearly exhausted its ability to use temporary release.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust said the most urgent action now is to further reduce numbers, saying it is the only way to achieve physical distancing.

IPRT executive director Fiona Ni Chinneide said the IPS must take all measures to ensure that isolation of prisoners does not have long-term adverse consequences on mental health.

She said prisoners should have a phone to maintain contact with family, prison psychology and other supports.

She said they are also concerned at the cocooning of elderly prisoners and those with compromised health, saying anything more than 22 hours in a cell is solitary confinement.

She said those who are not symptomatic, but categorised as highly vulnerable due to age or infirmity, must get a minimum of two hours human contact and one hour of fresh air daily.
Tech pastor launching Miamis oldest church in virtual reality format as evangelistic tool

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A Presbyterian pastor in Miami is set to launch a fully immersive virtual reality worship service in a digital replica of Miamis oldest organized congregation.

Christopher Benek, who pastors First Miami Presbyterian Church and is the CEO and pastor of the tech nonprofit CoCreators, believes a virtual reality service is an effective evangelistic tool to reach gamers and others with the Gospel.

"I think that it is important to understand that creation of CHVRCH+ (pronounced Church Plus) is not to displace the local congregation. Thats part of why we called it CHVRCH+  because it is meant to be an additional complement to the existing physical church," Benek told The Christian Post in an interview Tuesday.

Benek loves his local congregation, which is located in the heart of Brickell community and has nearly doubled in membership in the past year.

"But we also realize that we, like the rest of the church universal, have a lot of work to do. We live in one of the highest population densities south of New York City, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified our understanding that we need to meet peoples needs both physically and digitally," he said.

Digital and virtual spaces are no less Gods territory than our physical spaces, he continued, and when Christ called His followers to Make disciples of all nations he was not excluding digital ones.

"'There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!'" Benek said, referencing the words of the Dutch Reformed theologian Abraham Kuyper.

"Certainly this applies to digital spaces as well."

Creating virtual spaces is not a way to escape our present reality or ignore incarnational blessings, but rather a way to extend our understanding of reality and open our minds to the new possibilities that might exist in Jesus, the pastor elaborated.

"I think that it is the destructive flaw of many armchair theologians to assume that when faced with new ministry options that we can only experience God in one way. God is the Creator of the cosmos. Certainly, we are not so prideful as to assume that we know all of the ways that God might reveal Gods-self to us?" he said.

This is especially true given the public health crisis with COVID-19, he added, as it has disrupted our preconceived notions as to how the church must do ministry.

"It has also freed church leaders to experiment, fail fast, and live into their creative giftedness. Many churches have been doing ministry in ways that havent produced fruit now for decades. The present crisis is a digital wakeup call and I think that churches and congregants are eager to rise to the occasion."

Approximately 3.5 billion people are online today and the universal church has to have a sustainable long-term strategy, he stressed.

"We want churches to have new ways of engaging community online that pay homage to their current, sacred physical spaces while also allowing for the expression of the creativity that humanity has as creatures made in the image of the Creator God. As churches move into the exponentially advancing technological future we want them to have the tools to both acknowledge that they are standing on the shoulders of the saints who have gone before them, and they are building a digital legacy that the saints of the future will use to reach future generations for Christ," Benek said.

"Moreover, it is essential that churches take advantage of the current crisis in order to build sustainability plans. We know that COVID-19 will eventually pass. But when I speak around the world on artificial intelligence I remind people that the coming automation crisis will not have an end, he said, noting that 11% to 22% of the U.S. population is forecasted to lose their jobs by 2030 and that percentage only increases over time.

Thus, his new tech church provides a way for churches to start expanding their digital base, increase online giving, and meet the needs of people around the globe while they still have the time.

Asked how his congregation is responding to the idea of a VR church, Benek said they've been very enthusiastic.

"We are widely multiethnic, relatively young, and very entrepreneurial. Additionally, South Florida is also a hotspot for start-up culture. So our congregation generally understands and supports the ingenuity and creativeness of that culture."

When he preached during his Easter sermon last year he spoke of artificial intelligence and had a long line of people in the receiving line afterward who wanted to talk about emerging tech and theology. It was after that day when membership began growing.

"What that indicated to us is that people want the pastors to talk about tech more because it is impacting their greater sense of ultimate meaning. If there was ever a time for pastors to do so, it is right now," Benek said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday explored possible collaboration between Israel and India in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, including by improving the availability of pharmaceutical supplies and innovative use of high technology.

The two also agreed to maintain a focused channel of communication to explore such synergies during their telephonic conversation, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi said.

Israeli prime minister's media adviser said in Jerusalem that the two leaders also discussed various steps to deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 50,000 lives globally.

The two leaders have been in touch ever since the coronavirus crisis started.

"The leaders explored possible collaboration between India and Israel in fighting the pandemic, including by improving availability of pharmaceutical supplies and by innovative use of high technology," the PMO statement said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

They agreed to maintain a focused channel of communication to explore such synergies, it said.

Netanyahu agreed with Modi that the COVID-19 pandemic is an important turning point in modern history, and offers an opportunity to forge a new vision of globalisation focused on the shared interests of humanity as a whole.

Netanyahu had earlier reached out to Modi requesting him to approve and allow export of masks and pharmaceuticals to Israel.

The special request was made on March 13 after India decided to stop the export of these items to meet its own domestic requirements in view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

"I also spoke to the Prime Minister of India, my friend Narendra Modi. We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time," Netanyahu had then said addressing a press conference.

India has so far reported 2,547 coronavirus cases with 64 deaths. Israel has reported at least 38 deaths and more than 7,030 infections.
Another coronavirus-hit cruise liner is heading towards Florida in the hopes of docking, a day after state officials gave two separate cruise ships permission to disembark thousands of their passengers.

Coral Princess, which has 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19, wants to arrive in Fort Lauderdale Saturday morning - but is awaiting final sign off from authorities before it can do so.

The ship, which set off on a month-long cruise from Chile March 5, is carrying 1,898 passengers and crew who are now confined to their rooms due to the coronavirus outbreak on board.

Many have been begging to be let off the ship, and have had their spirits lifted by the fact that Florida official sallowed the two other cruise ships, MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam, to dock Thursday.

The Zaandam and the Rotterdam were carrying a combined total of 2,426 people - more than 200 of whom were ill with coronavirus symptoms.

At least 13 passengers were brought off the two boats Thursday evening and rushed to hospital.

On Friday, dozens of other passengers who were cleared for travel were able to disembark the vessels and fly out of Florida.

They were pictured being put straight onto a shuttle bus which was driven directly to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. They then flew out of the state on a plane chartered by Eastern Air.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has faced backlash for allowing the ships to port, with local residents fearful that passengers may spread COVID-19 in the area.

However, DeSantis promised that those on board the cruise ships would not be able to interact with the wider public.

Coral Princess, which has 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19, plans to arrive in Fort Lauderdale Saturday morning - but is awaiting final sign off from authorities before it can do so

On Friday, dozens of passengers from the MS Zaandam and the MS Rotterdam cruise ships were able to disembark the vessels and fly out of Florida

The cruise ship passengers were put onto a chartered bus and driven straight to the airport, so as not to come into contact with the Florida public at large

Eastern Air chartered the flight, but it is currently unknown where the passengers are flying to

'LET US OFF!' CORAL PRINCESS WANTS TO DOCK IN FLORIDA AFTER OTHER CRUISE SHIPS WERE ALLOWED TO DO SO

In a statement released Friday, Coral Princess parent company, Princess Cruises, appears to be pinning its hopes on being able to dock in Fort Lauderdale Saturday.

'Coral Princess is on her way to Ft. Lauderdale with an estimated arrival date of April 4. Princess Cruises continues to remain in contact with local officials regarding disembarkation details,' the statement read.

It confirmed a cluster of COVID-19 cases had broken out on the ship.

'In response to a reported small cluster of cases of respiratory illness and in an abundance of caution, Coral Princess proactively collected and sent 13 COVID-19 test samples to Barbados on March 31. We can confirm the results yielded 12 positive cases (7 guests and 5 crew),' they stated.

It's unclear how many more of the 1, 898 people on board are reporting coronavirus symptoms.

Guests are now confined to their staterooms, and many have spent time talking to media outlets about their desire to get home.

'Let us off and put us on the fastest bus possible to the airport," one Canadian couple told CBC Thursday.

Another passenger claimed there was a feeling of 'despair' and stated: 'All aboard pray that the U.S.A. authorities permit us to dock and provide us passage to the airport so that we may continue our journey home.'

Coral Princess (pictured in a stock image) wants to dock in Fort Lauderdale Saturday

DRAMATIC DOCKING: MS ZAANDAM AND MS ROTTERDAM FINALLY REACH DRY LAND

On Thursday, there were dramatic scenes in Fort Lauderdale as officials gave cruise ships MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam permission to port.

Critically-ill passengers were rushed off the coronavirus-stricken cruise ships, which finally docked in Florida after being turned away by 14 other countries.

Travelers were placed on stretchers and hurried to ambulances waiting on the quayside by hazmat-clad medical staff before they were driven to hospitals nearby.

Four passengers on the MS Zaandam died during the cruise, including 75-year-old British passenger John Carter. His widow, 74, who is struggling to eat, has been quarantined on the ship in isolation. Two of those who died had tested positive for Covid-19.

As many as 13 tourists and one crew member have been taken to Broward Health Medical Centre with flu-like symptoms, Local10 reported. 45 other sick passengers on the ships have been told to quarantine on board.

There have been nine confirmed cases of coronavirus on the MS Zaandam and 250 passengers and crew have presented with flu-like symptoms.

An unwell passenger is moved from the MS Zaandam to a waiting ambulance in Port Everglades yesterday

A second unwell passenger is taken by ambulance for treatment. Four passengers have died on board - two tested positive for coronavirus, which has caused a global shutdown

An unwell passenger is taken off the MS Zaandam yesterday evening before being transported to a hospital

The hazmat-clad group were pictured preparing the suitcases for disinfection before their journey back to home countries

Florida authorities have said that British nationals, and those from other countries, can fly back home. The British embassy in Florida said on Twitter it is 'celebrating the fact that British nationals on board will soon be going home'.

Disembarkation of international passengers begins today with 1,164 scheduled to depart for flights to Toronto, Atlanta, San Francisco, Paris, Frankfurt and London, reports Business Insider.

The first American passengers, who are Florida residents and are healthy, were allowed to disembark and drive home yesterday.

The remaining passengers on board will be disembarked on Saturday, the cruise liner said. They will be health screened by port authorities and cleared for entry by US Customs and Border Protection.

No crew from either ship will disembark.

The MS Zaadam began its voyage in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 and was due to disembark in San Antonio, Chile on March 21. However, the coronavirus outbreak forced the ship to veer more than 4,000 miles off course.

The MS Rotterdam had set off for a 15-day cruise from San Diego, California, to the Panama Canal on March 11. It was forced to veer more than 1,000 miles off course to reach Florida.

An ambulance pictured next to the MS Rotterdam cruise ship at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, yesterday before disembarkation

A passenger is moved by stretcher into an ambulance. They are being taken to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment

An unwell passenger is pictured being loaded into an ambulance by health workers before transport to a nearby hospital

Crew members on board the MS Zaandam as it docked at Port Everglades yesterday morning

In a statement yesterday, Holland America extended their 'sincere gratitude' to President Trump, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for helping to resolve the situation.

'These travelers could have been any one of us or our families, unexpectedly caught in the middle of this unprecedented closure of global borders that happened in a matter of days and without warning,' said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America.

'We are so happy to be able to get our guests home and assist those few who need additional medical services. The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our shared humanity, and we must do everything we can to ensure we continue to act in ways consistent with our common human dignity.

Thursday's deal comes after Trump urged DeSantis to drop his opposition to accepting the ships. The Governor has expressed concern that ill passengers will take hospital beds away from Florida's inhabitants who catch COVID-19.

The state is thought to be one of the country's next coronavirus hot spots, with confirmed cases of the virus surging there in recent days. Florida now has reported over 8,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and on Wednesday the state's death toll surged 16 per cent.

The MS Zaandam was turned away from docking at all South American ports.

The Zaandam is pictured arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Thursday. The coronavirus-stricken ship is carrying 1,045 passengers and crew

Land at last! The Zaandam is pictured making its way to port shortly before 5pm Eastern Time Thursday

Canadian passengers Chris and Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the Zaandam on March 27

Holland America has now suspended all cruise operations for the next thirty days, extending a previous suspension begun on March 13. It is also aiming to end all cruises currently in progress as quickly as possible.

There were 808 guests and 583 crew on the MS Rotterdam and 442 guests and 603 crew a board the MS Zaandam.

Guests booked on cruises affected by cancellations have been offered a full refund.

PRESIDENT TRUMP INTERVENES: 'THEY'RE DYING, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING'

During Wednesday's White House press conference, Trump said of the cruise ships' passengers: 'They're dying, so we have to do something'.

'It's a tough situation, it's a tough situation. You can understand there are people who are sick on those ships and states don't wanna take them - they have enough problems right now they don't want to take them.

One 80-year-old passenger from San Francisco says he is disheartened by the fact that the U.S. has not been more helpful in their rescue attempts. 'Jesus Christ, people, this is not the Black Death. What kind of fragile people have we [America] become that we can't rise up to the challenge?' he stated via text message.

'But from a humane standpoint we don't have a choice. We have to... people are dying. We're going to do something.'

More than 236,000 Americans have contracted COVID-19, and more than 5,100 have died due to the virus.

Governor DeSantis said Wednesday that he was only interested accepting the 49 Floridians on board.

'My concern is simply that we have worked so hard to make sure we have adequate hospital space in the event of a COVID-19 surge that we wouldn't want those valuable beds to be taken because of the cruise ship,' he stated.

'Just to drop people off at the place where we're having the highest number of cases right now just doesn't make a whole lot of sense,' the Governor added.

On Wednesday, DeSantis issued a 'stay-at-home' order for residents of his state amid the exploding case numbers. He has been criticized for implementing the order too late - with critics

However, his reversal comes amid increasing pressure - not just from the President, but from other Florida politicians as well.

'It is immoral not to let them come. We need a plan, a healthcare plan, obviously to protect the citizens on the ground and make sure that we test everyone, put them in isolation if necessary,' Florida Representative Donna Shalala told CNN Thursday.

'We have to admit them, the sickest ones need to go to our hospitals, and, of course, the hospitals are crowded but we Americans don't turn people away.'

On Saturday evening, the Rotterdam took on nearly 1,400 people who appear to be healthy from the Zaandam.

The passengers were seen boarding lifeboats at the side of the Zaandam, before making their way across to the Rotterdam which was anchored close by.

After the exercise, 450 guests and 602 crew members remained on the Zaandam.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that that he was only interested accepting the 49 Floridians on board the cruise ships

During Wednesday's White House press conference, Trump said of the cruise ships' passengers: 'They're dying, so we have to do something'

Florida is one of the nation's coronavirus hot spots with deaths surging 16% Wednesday. DeSantis says he wants to keep hospital beds for locals

On Saturday, passengers were seen boarding lifeboats at the side of the Zaandam, before making their way across to the Rotterdam which was anchored close by

PASSENGERS BEG THE GOVERNMENT FOR HELP: 'GET US THE HELL OFF THIS SHIP!'

Passengers have been complaining about deteriorating conditions on board the vessels - with some say they feel imprisoned.

One 80-year-old passenger from San Francisco told The New York Times that he was disheartened by the fact that the U.S. has not been more helpful in the rescue attempts.

'Jesus Christ, people, this is not the Black Death. What kind of fragile people have we become that we can't rise up to the challenge?' he stated via text message.

Passenger Chris Joiner told Canadian broadcaster CBC he had asked the Canadian embassy in Chile for help, saying: 'Get us the hell off this ship.'

Toronto resident Michael Kasprow said he's worried about his elderly mother and her friend, both in their 80s, who are stuck onboard. 'We've seen what it can do on a cruise ship, and I just feel like they're sitting ducks,' he said.

Another couple spoke of their fears that, even once they dock, they may be stranded away from home due to escalating travel restrictions and flight bans.

'How will we get home from a port with flights diminishing by the day?' said Norma Kirkham, 63, from Victoria, Canada. 'Where will we stay?'

Canadian passenger Anna Joiner is pictured in her cabin onboard the MS Zaandam last week. Many passengers have complained they are 'imprisoned' on the vessels, and their chances of contracting coronavirus are growing by the day

CRUISE SHIP CHAOS: THOUSANDS STILL STUCK AT SEA Last Thursday, more than a dozen crew members from two Costa cruise ships were brought to shore in Miami, before being rushed to the hospital to be tested for coronavirus. Startling footage saw more than a dozen crew from the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica jump into lifeboats in order to reach mainland United States. The crew members wore hazmat suits and were inspected by medics once they arrived on dry land, and several ambulances were on standby to escort them to hospital. A company spokesperson said the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica are carrying a combined total of 1,939 crew, and there are at least 30 who have come down with a flu-like illness. The boats are now headed back to Europe. The decision to bring in sick crew members divided the Miami community - with many claiming that resources should instead be going to locals, and not to overseas nationals from cruise ship companies. The decision to bring in sick crew members divided the Miami community - with many claiming that resources should instead be going to locals, and not to overseas nationals from cruise ship companies More than a dozen crew members from two Costa cruise ships were brought to shore in Miami, before being rushed onward to hospital to be tested for coronavirus Still stuck: There are 1,926 crew members who remain on board the Costa Favolosa and the Costa Magica, which are both anchored off the coast of Miami for more than a week. They have not been allowed to dock in the city Advertisement
Fake: Healthy Muslims are not being injected with coronavirus

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: A fake video on WhatsApp has been doing the rounds in which it is claimed that healthy Muslims are being taken away and injected with the coronavirus.

This video has been doing the rounds in Madhya Pradesh and became the main reason for the people to attack health workers.

The video is completely fake and is aimed at creating panic and inciting violence. It may be recalled that scores of people came out and attacked health workers and even pelted stones at them.

Those health workers who were attacked in Madhya Pradesh told the police that at first the people were cooperating. They even answered a few questions, but suddenly they started attacking.

Due to this fake video the residents of Tatapatti Bakal where the incident occurred are suspicious of the health workers. Police sources tell OneIndia that the people of this area were cooperating. It was only once this fake video started circulating, they became suspicious of the health workers and began attacking them.

Fake news: PM Modi has not been asked by 18 nations to lead a task force to fight COVID-19

Four persons have been booked in connection with the violence. All four have been booked under the stringent provisions of the National Security Act.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 8:25 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 21:50:57|Editor: huaxia

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KIGALI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Rwandans in the countryside will not gather for ceremonies marking the 26th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi on April 7, a government body said on Friday, the latest in a series of moves to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

Instead, on that day people will follow through different media platforms the launch of mourning week slated to take place at Kigali Genocide Memorial site, said Jean-Damascene Bizimana, executive secretary the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide, in a statement.

Also cancelled is a remembrance ceremony for Rwandan politicians killed in the genocide, which had been scheduled for April 13, at Rebero memorial site in Kicukiro district, to mark the end of the mourning week, he said.

The health ministry said on Thursday the total of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Rwanda stood at 84.

Last week, the commission had said the two ceremonies, now cancelled, would take place with fewer people.

The cancellation was in line with a COVID-19 lockdown extended by the cabinet until April 19 to further contain the spread of the virus, the statement said.

Other commemoration events that have been suspended include the Walk to Remember, which normally takes place in the afternoon on April 7, and a night vigil, which normally follows the Walk to Remember.

On April 7, Rwanda will only hold a brief commemoration event at Kigali Memorial site with bowing in silence to pay respects to more than 1 million people killed in the genocide, laying of wreaths at the graves, and lighting of a flame. Only a limited number of people are expected to attend the ceremony.
Note: While most shelters have closed their doors to the public for the coming weeks many are still meeting prospective adopters through appointments. Please visit the shelters website or call to get information on adoption or fostering an animal at this time.

Each week, MassLive showcases pets available for adoption at shelters at rescue organizations across Massachusetts. With the participation of the shelters listed below, many animals should be able to find a permanent home. Pets are adopted daily so please contact the shelter directly if you are interested in an animal.

Massachusetts Shelters:

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society

Address: 163 Montague Road, Leverett Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Telephone: (413) 548-9898

Address: 171 Union St., Springfield Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Telephone: (413) 781-4000

Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center Address: 627 Cottage St., Springfield Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; Thursday, noon-7 p.m. Telephone: (413) 781-1484

Westfield Homeless Cat Project Address: 1124 East Mountain Road, Westfield Hours: Adoption clinics, Thursday, 5-7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Westfield Regional Animal Shelter Address: 178 Apremont Way, Westfield Hours: Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Telephone: (413) 564-3129

Franklin County Sheriffs Office Regional Dog Shelter and Adoption CenterAddress: 10 Sandy Lane, Turners Falls Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Telephone: (413) 676-9182

Polverari/Southwick Animal Control Facility Address: 11 Depot St., Southwick Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Telephone: (413) 569-5348, ext. 649

Berkshire Humane Society Address: 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Telephone: (413) 447-7878

Animal Rescue League of Boston Address: 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116 Telephone: (617) 426-9170 Fax: (617) 426-3028

DAKIN HUMANE SOCIETY

There are still pets available for adoption in the Springfield Adoption Center only (Leverett is temporarily closed). People are asked to visit the Dakin webpage first to see what pets we have available, then call us if they are interested in one in particular to set an appointment. The staff will return the call within 48 hours to set an appointment for prospective adopters to come in and see the animal. That will help make the adoption process go more smoothly and prevent unproductive time spent by the lean on-site staff.

Blaze - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Blaze

Breed: Domestic Shorthair

Age: 2 Year

Gender: Male

Location: Springfield

Rico - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Rico  In foster

Breed: Boxer

Age: 11 Year

Gender: Male

Smokey - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Smokey

Breed: Chihuahua, Long Coat

Age: 6 Year

Gender: Female

Location: Springfield

Cookie - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Cookie  to be adopted with Mama

Breed: Guinea Pig

Age: 7 Months

Gender: Female

Location: Springfield

Oliver - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Oliver

Breed: Rex

Age: 10 Months

Gender: Male

Location: Springfield

Capri - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Capri  In foster

Breed: Domestic Shorthair

Age: 1 Year

Gender: Female

Shirley - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Shirley  Im in foster

Breed: Rat

Age: 2 Months

Gender: Female

Laura- Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Laura  In foster

Breed: Budgie/Budgerigar

Age: 9 Months

Gender: Female

Mama - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Mama  to be adopted with Cookie

Breed: Guinea Pig

Age: 7 Months

Gender: Female

Location: Springfield

Blue - Animals are available for adoption at Dakin Humane Society by appointment only.

Blue In foster care

Breed: Terrier, American Pit Bull

Age: 8 Year

Gender: Male

MSPCA ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION CENTERS

Animals are still available for adoption  you just need to make an appointment! Finding homes for our current population of shelter animals will be vital for our ability to provide temporary housing and increased surrender intake as a result of the outbreak.

Animals in need of immediate surrender will continue to be accepted by appointment . If the need to surrender your pet is not urgent, we ask that you wait to bring in your animal. This will allow us to ensure room for emergency cases and keep traffic low. Rest assured we are here to help if needed. Please visit our website at . If the need to surrender your pet is not urgent, we ask that you wait to bring in your animal. This will allow us to ensure room for emergency cases and keep traffic low. Rest assured we are here to help if needed. Please visit our website at mspca.org/surrender for more information.

Our Community Outreach teams will be reaching out to clients in our service areas to check in and make sure owners and pets have the resources they need.

Our adoption centers will make disaster preparedness supplies available to the public on an as-needed basis in the event of emergency. Supplies include dog crates, water bowls and pet food is available. Please call our adoption centers if you are in need of supplies.

Our adoption centers are determining plans for emergency temporary housing for pets whose owners are ill or hospitalized. Please call us to discuss your situation should you need help.

Angus - Pit Bull Terrier, male, 1 year old.

Deuce - Animals are available for adoption through appointment only.

Baby - Siamese, male, 14 years old.

Domestic Shorthair, female, 5 years old.

Domestic Longhair, female, 9 years old.

Janeway - Guinea Pig, female, 1 year old.

Rose Buddy - Rex, female, 5 years old.

Snuffles - Guinea pig, male, 2 years old.

Honey - Parakeet, female, 2 years old.

WORCESTER ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE

Animals can be adopted by appointment only. Call (508) 853-0030 or visit www.worcesterarl.org for more details.

Harley - Basenji/Miniature Pinscher, 6 years, 6 months, female.

Cream - Chihuahua, Short Coat/Mix, 9 years old, male.

Toro - Worcester Animal Rescue League has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

Shirley - Terrier, American Pit Bull/Mix, 8 years old, Female.

Reilly - Terrier, American Staffordshire/Mix, 3 years, Female.

Sasha- Worcester Animal Rescue League has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

Maddie - Worcester Animal Rescue League has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

Iris - Female, Mixed Breed, Medium (up to 44 lbs fully grown)/Mix, 5 years.

Gladys- Worcester Animal Rescue League has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY

Shelters will be closed to the public. The main shelter at 214 Barker Road in Pittsfield will still be staffed at r our staff and volunteers and the animals in our care and to support national, state and local recommendations, we are scaling back our op

Adoptions and Surrenders will be by appointment only. You can still surrender a pet or come to see a pet you'd like to adopt at the main shelter, but you'll have to make an appointment to do so. Please call 413-447-7878 to set up a time. Adoptions will not be available through Purradise. If you do come to Pittsfield for an adoption or surrender, please know that BHS has taken extra precautions to keep you safe from the virus.

Cat Boarding will be available at main shelter. Although Purradise will be closed for feline boarding, BHS can board your cat at the main shelter. Please call 413-447-7878 extension 124.

Pet Food Bank and SafePet programs are still available. If you are a food bank recipient, please call 413-447-7878 to set up an appointment. The BHS If you are a food bank recipient, please call 413-447-7878 to set up an appointment. The BHS SafePet program is available for owners of pets through our Participating Partners.

Medical care to shelter animals, including spay and neuter surgeries will continue. BHS will keep the shelter animals healthy and adoptable by continuing to work with local veterinarians.

Low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for cats will still be available to the public . Please call 413-447-7878 extension 124.

Family Dog School is closed

Education Programs are on hold: All meetings of Humane Heroes and Defenders are cancelled until further notice as are tours and community programs.

Catch - Animals are available for adoption at Berkshire Humane Society by appointment only.

Catch

Breed: Australian Cattle Dog

Age: 1 year

Gender: Male

Jethro- Animals are available for adoption at Berkshire Humane Society by appointment only.

Jethro

Breed: Terrier, American Pit Bull/Mix

Age: 3 months

Gender: Male

Billy - Animals are available for adoption at Berkshire Humane Society by appointment only.

Billy

Breed: Terrier, American Staffordshire/Mix

Age: 3 months

Gender: Male

Ozzie - Berkshire Humane Society has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

Ozzie

Breed: Mixed Breed

Age: 2 years

Gender: Male

Lucy- Berkshire Humane Society has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

Lucy

Breed: Poodle, Miniature/Retriever, Labrador

Age: 8 years

Gender: Female

Maddie - Berkshire Humane Society has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

Maddie

Breed: Terrier/Mix

Age: 5 years, 2 months

Gender: Female

Molly - Berkshire Humane Society has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

Molly

Breed: Poodle, Standard

Age: 12 years

Gender: Female

Alfonso- Berkshire Humane Society has animals available for adoption by appointment only.

Alfonso

Breed: Bulldog, American/Pointer

Age: 5 years, 6 months

Gender: Male

Pumpkin - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix

Age: 10 years 10 months

Gender: Male

Hazel - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Hazel

Breed: Siamese/Mix

Age: 2 years 11 month

Gender: Female

Clifford - Animals are available for adoption by appointment only.

Clifford

Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix

Age: 2 years

Gender: Male
This animated graph shows how the coronavirus pandemic has evolved when measured by cases per head - putting Luxembourg into a current global lead.

The chart visualises how the centre of the crisis has lurched from Asia to the West with extraordinary speed, with China once in a runaway lead but now not even represented in the top 20 of per-capita cases.

It also highlights small countries where the outbreak has been particularly bad when adjusted for population.

The current world leader in that respect is Luxembourg, where an outbreak of 2,500 cases has attracted little attention but where one in 240 people have been infected in a country of only 600,000 people.

Spain is second followed by Switzerland, which borders Italy and where 19,000 cases are an alarming number among only 8.5million people.

The animation was shared by physicist Robert Rohde of Berkeley Earth, a research institute based in California.

This graph shows the number of coronavirus cases per million people, putting Luxembourg into a clear global lead because of its small population

The virus first emerged in mainland China, and mostly remained there in the first few weeks after it was discovered.

As recently as February 21 - six weeks ago - China still accounted for 98 per cent of global coronavirus cases, according to the World Health Organisation.

China was the clear leader in the per-head table for weeks, despite its vast population which means that even 70,000 cases are only one in every 20,000 people.

By late February, smaller South Korea had overtaken China in the per-capita table, after the Asian country became one of a handful of key hotspots along with northern Italy and Iran.

Two Asian countries with small but dense populations - Bahrain and Singapore - also appeared near the top of the list in that period.

January 25: Only a few countries had recorded coronavirus cases by this point, and China was the clear leader per capita despite its vast population

February 16: China's unwanted lead was enormous at this point after cases piled up in mainland China early that month and were still only trickling in elsewhere

Italy overtook China in the per-capita table in early March, after it became the first European country to be ravaged by a virus outbreak.

The population of Italy (60million) is 23 times smaller than China's, meaning even a few thousand cases in the Mediterranean country were enough to put Italy ahead.

China went plummeting down the table during a dramatic week in mid-March in which a worrying outbreak in Europe became a full-blown crisis on the continent.

By March 15, although China still had a narrow majority of world cases at that date, many European nations including Germany, France, Sweden and Denmark were racking up more cases per head than mainland China.

Within days, China had disappeared from the top 20 in the per-capita list altogether, as its official numbers slowed to a trickle - although these have attracted doubts.

As the pathogen spread across Europe, Luxembourg moved into an unwanted global lead.

The duchy has only 600,000 residents, but nearly 2,500 people have tested positive - equivalent to one in every 240 people.

February 29: South Korea had overtaken China by this point while Italy was fourth, and the densely-populated countries of Singapore and Bahrain were high in the table

March 15: Italy had moved into the lead by this point after the country was ravaged by the virus epidemic, with neighbouring and lower-population Switzerland in second

For comparison, such a rate would mean around 250,000 positive cases in the UK, or more than 1.3million in the United States.

Similarly, Switzerland's 19,000 cases have attracted less attention than the more alarming numbers in Italy and Spain among others.

However, as the graph demonstrates, the number of cases per head has often been higher in the Alpine country.

The United States, which has a population far larger than any European country, has a lower infection rate per head than countries such as Italy or Germany.

Nonetheless, the U.S. has climbed into the top 20 in recent days, ahead of Iran which was once one of the major epicentres of the crisis.

As of April 1, the list is mainly a European one, reflecting how the continent has become the major breeding ground for the pandemic.

Israel, the United States, Iran and Bahrain were the only non-European countries in the top 20 on the first of this month.

That means there is no East Asian country high on the list, despite the virus's origin in China and early outbreak in South Korea.
Srinagar, April 2 (IANS) Another batch of 130 persons kept in quarantine in Srinagar was allowed to go home on Wednesday after they successfully completed the period and were declared free of any COVID-19 symptoms.

All these 130 are MBBS students who were put under quarantine after they returned from Bangladesh.

They had been kept under quarantine in a hotel in the Wazir Bagh area of Srinagar city and reports said they belong to different parts of the Kashmir Valley.

On Wednesday, 236 people were allowed to go home after they completed the quarantine period in another Srinagar hotel.

Policemen and officers of civil administration had lined up cheering the successful completion and lauding the cooperation these civilians have given the government to fight the Coronavirus scourge.

So far, 62 people have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir out of whom two have been cured while two succumbed to the infection.

Presently, there are 58 active cases in J&K out of whom 48 are in the valley and 10 in the Jammu division.

17,041 people are still under surveillance in J&K.

--IANS

sq/dpb
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has warned Donald Trump that his decision to stop a US manufacturing company from sending respirators to Canada could prompt retaliatory measures.

The Trump administration ordered 3M, a Minnesota-based manufacturer of protective healthcare equipment, to stop exporting protective masks to Canada and Latin America on Thursday.

Mr Trudeau said medical equipment goes both ways across the border, and noted that thousands of nurses travel from Canada to work in Detroit every day.

These are things that Americans rely on and it would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back and forth trade of essential goods and services, including medical goods, across our border, he said.

Mr Trump said Wednesday that he used the Defence Production Act, a Korean War-era law, to compel 3M to sell its equipment to the US government.

We hit 3M hard today after seeing what they were doing with their Masks. P Act all the way, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter. Big surprise to many in government as to what they were doing  will have a big price to pay! he added.

Hospitals across the world are facing severe shortages of protective equipment, which puts medical staff at greater risk as they treat coronavirus patients. In the US, many doctors and nurses are re-using their masks every day.

3M said it had been asked by the White House to limit exports of protective equipment manufactured in the US to Canada and Latin America, which the company opposed on humanitarian grounds.

The company said in a statement that there were significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to healthcare workers in Canada and Latin America, where we are a critical supplier of respirators. In addition, ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done.
Jamie Chui has been a virtual prisoner in her Hong Kong home for most of her nine-month pregnancy. Trapped intially by violent pro-democracy protests and tear gas, and then by the coronavirus -- she now faces giving birth alone, with her husband unlikely to see his child until days later. Asia is facing a second wave of COVID-19 infections and as cases spiral globally with one million confirmed positive and half the planet on lockdown, women are having to give birth in unprecedented circumstances. Hong Kong and China have imposed some of the world's strictest measures to prevent infections in maternity units: birthing partners are banned from labour units, delivery rooms and post-natal wards in public hospitals. That has left many women struggling not only with normal pregnancy anxieties and infection fears, but also the new reality of hospital deliveries, at a time when experts warn resources are more stretched than ever. "The most stressful part for me is that hospitals have suspended the visiting arrangements and accompanied labour," says Chui, adding: "I will need to fight alone." "I'm nervous, to be honest. But I don't know what else I could do." Hong Kong's protests began as Chui fell pregnant. Fearful of the violence and tear gas might do to her unborn child, she stayed indoors. Now she is doing the same thing because of the coronavirus. "I have been staying at home for almost my whole pregnancy," the 33-year-old photographer explains. - Women should have choices - Banning labour companions goes against the World Health Organization's 'Safe Childbirth Checklist' recommendations that women should have a trusted person with them during the process. A similar move was attempted by some hospitals in New York but governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order to ensure 'no woman would give birth alone', after a huge public outcry and 600,000-strong petition. In China and Hong Kong, women are instead left having to choose between spending upwards of HKD 100,000 (US$10,000) for private hospital delivery, where partners are still allowed to attend, or going it alone in the public system. "I have had to mentally and physically prepare to deliver without my husband's support," says 36-year-old Lidia Ins Cardoso Ribeiro, adding that she has written to the Hospital Authority to urge them to reconsider. "I believe all women should have the choice to have a person they trust to empower and support them through labour," she explains. Christina Kimont, a Canadian midwife and public health researcher, now in Macau, which operates similar restrictions, agrees the situation could be problematic. "The human body cannot easily do what it is designed to do while in a state of stress," she says. She warned that adding extra anxiety to people already worrying about their baby contracting the virus or exhausted medical teams, could make labour "longer, more difficult and likely to end up in unplanned surgical procedures." Irma Syahrifat, a trained doula in Indonesia, says women there have had to attend appointments with physicians in full-suited hazard gear -- an instantly distressing situation. Currently, Indonesian hospitals allow one birth support person but, with rules constantly changing as cases spike, she insists "mental preparedness" for delivery without an advocate is a necessary addition to ante-natal classes. There has been little research into the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women, but the WHO says current evidence suggests that while vulnerable to respiratory infections, they are no more at risk of serious illness than the general population. A small Chinese study following 33 expectant mothers in Wuhan found it was possible, though rare, to pass the infection in utero after three newborns tested positive for the virus. While infants and children account for a low proportion of documented infections and deaths, a six-week-old baby in the US died this week from complications relating to the disease. - Begging for help - Across Asia, it has become the norm for routine pregnancy check-ups to be replaced with telehealth consultations, while traditional ante-natal group sessions have been replaced by online courses. As infections soar in America and Europe the knock-on effects for maternity and postpartum care are already visible, with wards in California being used for virus cases instead. Britain's Royal College of Midwives reported that one in five midwife posts are now empty in maternity units -- double the figure before the virus crisis started as staff fall sick, self-isolate, or are redeployed to care for COVID-19 patients. WHO has warned dwindling supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers will put lives at risk. At Manila's Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, where women are sometimes three to a double bed, doctors now worry about a lack of isolation units and rely on donations for protective gear. Cynthia Anzures, who chairs the obstetrics department, says: "If we don't have enough donations, like for our n95 masks, we reuse them. We use raincoats if we don't have PPEs." There are fears this will soon be the reality in many more Asian cities, as a recent surge in cases creates fresh waves of panic-buying, while new country-wide lockdowns could impact supply chains. Chui says she has no choice but to stay inside even after delivery to protect her newborn. "I think it is better to just stay at home. Just like what I'm doing right now." Jamie Chui has been a virtual prisoner in her Hong Kong home for most of her pregnancy, trapped intially by violent pro-democracy protests and tear gas, and then by the coronavirus -- she now faces giving birth alone Hong Kong and China have imposed some of the world's strictest measures to prevent infections in maternity units: birthing partners are banned from labour units, delivery rooms and post-natal wards in public hospitals In Indonesia, some pregnant women there have had to attend appointments with physicians in full-suited hazard gear because of the pandemic -- an instantly distressing situation Asia is facing a second wave of COVID-19 infections and as cases spiral globally with one million confirmed positive and half the planet on lockdown, women are having to give birth in unprecedented circumstances WHO has warned dwindling supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers will put lives at risk
SALISBURY  Abe Alexander Helms, 45, of Salisbury has been charged with felony voluntary manslaughter after he was accused of causing the death of 61-year-old Raymond Eugene Drye on Wednesday, according to the Rowan County Sheriffs Office.

Helms is being held on $250,000 bond at Rowan County Detention Center for the charge. He was also charged with Helms was charged with simple assault, two counts of assault on a female and damage to property and was given a $2,500 bond for those charges.

According to Rowan County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to Yost Road in the early morning hours Wednesday in response to a disturbance call.

Officers arrived to discover Helms and Drye  who is Helms step-father  on the scene in addition to Helms 40-year-old girlfriend and his 68-year-old mother.

Helms was accused of causing extensive damage to the residence in addition to assaulting Drye, his mother and girlfriend.

He was intoxicated, ignored deputies commands and had to be restrained, according to a news release. He was found bleeding from injuries he received during the altercation, according to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.
Jewish Academy of Orlando students completed their first week of online learning. Students took part in all of their subjects including math, science, english language arts, PE, art, music and more. They even attended remote community events such as Shabbat and Monday morning minyan.

JAO students celebrate Shabbat over Google meet.

Jewish Academy of Orlando serves central Florida students of all faiths from transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. The school delivers a whole-child education fostering academic excellence and character education rooted in Jewish values. Jewish Academy of Orlando is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools.

To learn more about Jewish Academy of Orlando, please visit: jewishacademyorlando.org or follow the school on Facebook facebook.com/JewishAcademyOrlando.
UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, who tested positive for coronavirus after suffering symptoms recently, has sent a message pledging support for Gibraltar.

In a letter to the chief minister, Fabian Picardo, dated 28 March, he said additional supplies of personal protective equipment were being sent, and if Gibraltar needed extra essential health care staff the UK would consider what it could do in the way of support.

He ended by expressing his personal thanks.
The 14-year-old boy who received a chest injury after a gunshot fired by Azerbaijan on March 30 has been transferred from the reanimation unit to a hospital room, as reported Spokesperson of Surb Astvatsamayr Medical Center Gevorg Derdzyan.

His life isnt at risk, and hell be checked out of the hospital in a couple of days. He is feeling better and has no complaints, Derdzyan said.

On March 30, Azerbaijan made an attempt of sabotage penetration in the direction of the Armenian military posts in the Noyemberyan region of Tavush Province, but Azerbaijani troops were thwarted thanks to the operations of Armenian border guard troops. The Armenian side didnt suffer casualties, but two soldiers were slightly injured. The adversary had also targeted the Baghanis and Voskevan villages, and as a result of the adversarys operations, a minor resident of Voskevan, who was at his balcony, was injured.
What happened?

Shares of Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE:MIC) are down 25.8% at 12:28 p.m. on April 3, following the after-hours announcement yesterday that the company was suspending its dividend due to severely reduced demand for aviation fuel and energy services at two of its three main businesses. The company is acting to preserve cash so long as the coronavirus pandemic keeps the travel industry on hold.

So what

Macquarie's dividend cut shouldn't be a big surprise to anyone who follows its core business. The company operates three different segments, including an aviation business that provides jet fuel, terminal, and hangaring services for general aviation, energy services and distribution in Hawaii, and bulk liquid storage terminals.

The first two have seen big declines over the past month. In the press release announcing the dividend suspension, the company said that aviation fuel sales fell 80% by the end of March, while the 85% reduction in visitors to Hawaii had reduced demand for gas -- mainly propane and natural gas -- by 60%.

Now what

While two of the company's three segments are down significantly (and could remain down for some time to come), Macquarie's bulk liquids terminaling business is booming. The company can store up to 48 million barrels of refined petroleum products, agricultural liquids, chemicals, and vegetable oils, and the sharp reduction in consumer and industrial demand for these products has led to a big increase in the demand for storage.

According to its most recent presentation, 39% of its storage capacity is crude oil, and 34% was refined fuels. With fuel consumption cratering, that storage should be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

But the boost the company should see in this segment won't be enough to make up for the steep drop in demand from its other two businesses. In the fourth-quarter earnings announcement, management set 2020 guidance for $575 million to $600 million in EBITDA -- earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization -- and was counting on 61% of that coming from the aviation and Hawaii energy services businesses. Those segments are likely to lose money while the downturn persists.

The company drew $874 million from two revolving credit facilities, and to repay and cancel the revolving credit facility at its aviation subsidiary, in order to stay within the covenants on some of its other debt. Management says it should have "no immediate need" for additional capital and that the $300 million in cash on the balance sheet prior to the credit drawdowns, plus operating cash generated, will be sufficient to meet its 2020 financial obligations.
The Fremont Police Department is working to keep officers and the public safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the citys plan in response to the virus, Fremont Police Chief Jeff Elliott said the department has changed the way it handles some calls. The intent is to reduce interaction between officers and the public to help lessen the spread of COVID-19.

He asks for the publics patience.

Wed ask the public to understand the situation, Elliott said. The goal is to keep the police officers and the public as healthy as possible so that we dont have all the police officers sick at one time.

Elliott said he anticipates some officers will get sick and the department wants to make sure its still able to provide basic emergency services when necessary.

The goal behind this is keep the officers safe and to do this we ask the patience of the public in dealing with this because some things may take a little longer, he added.

Changes include:

How reports are handled.

Most calls for thefts, fraud and criminal mischief will be handled over the phone.

If you had your lawn mower stolen out of your garage, we used to send a police officer out there to take the report and talk to you face to face, Elliott said. We dont do that anymore. The officer makes the same report as if an officer responded to the scene.

Unless it is a felony crime, were not going to send somebody out there to process physical evidence, he said. By and large, misdemeanor crimes are going to be handled over the phone.

How property damage accidents are handled.

The department is not responding to property damage accidents on private property, such as a grocery store parking lot. Drivers are encouraged to exchange information and contact their insurance agents. Its up to them if they take photos with their phones.

At this point, police will respond if an accident occurs on public property like a street, alleyway or intersection.

Other services.

Police are no longer escorting funeral processions or doing fingerprinting.

But by and large, were still responding to most calls, Elliott said.

The changes occurred after a planning process.

Elliott said the City of Fremont developed a plan to deal with the response to the virus.

Each department, including police, was required to come up with its own plan.

Plans deal with four levelsranging from least to most severe.

The entire city is at Level 2 Yellow, which involves minimal impact to city services.

If the coronavirus continues to spread as predicted and the city moves to a Level 3 Orange, services will be affected and many non-essential services will be temporarily discontinued, Fremont City Administrator Brian Newton said in a prepared statement.

In the meantime, officers have been issued protective gear including N95 masks, hand sanitizer and safety glasses.

Now during Level 2 its still optional for officers to make their own discretion, but as we move up to Level 3, which I assume will occur in the future at some point, then wearing that protective gear will become mandatory, Elliott said.

The officers also have high-level protective gear such as full-body suits and gas masks, which they could wear if needed.

All of the officers on the department are issued hazardous material gear, which if in an event of a train derailment or something where a toxic chemical is released into the air, the officers are issued gas masks and Tyvex (full-body protective) suits, rubber gloves, gauntlets, and boots so they can still respond to the situations, Elliott said. And while that stuff is really meant for chemicals, it can be used in these types of situations, if the situation warranted it.

Elliott said the number of calls hasnt increased or decreased. The calls have just changed.

When schools are open, more traffic accidents occur during the morning and afternoon. Police are called to schools for various issues.

Were not responding to those, because the schools are closed, Elliott said. However, because the kids are at home, the issues dont go away. We end up responding to those types of calls at different locations.

Calls generally involve family issues, welfare checks, children not being cared for or children who are out of control.

Elliott said the department has not seen an increase in domestic disturbances.

We would anticipate that there is the potential for more domestic assault-type calls to come in especially if people are cooped up in their homes, he said.

Elliott believes most people are trying to do what they can to make the best of the situation and help others.

But the longer this goes onits human naturethat tends to wear off. People start to get on each others nerves and stuff happens and thats what were here for, he said.

Suzanne Smith, executive director of The Bridge, said in March the agency would continue to provide 24-hour crisis intervention services, providing as many as possible over the phone.

Advocates can be reached through the 24-hour crisis line at 402-727-7777 or 1-888-721-4340.

Individuals can email The Bridge at info@bridgefromviolence.com or send the agency a message via Facebook.

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(NOTE: RESIZED) Sonia Morales, of South Philadelphia, wears a protective bandana and gloves while waiting at the bus stop in South Philadelphia, Pa. on Friday, April 3, 2020. Morales picked up the brightly colored flowers from ShopRite for her fiance. She said she's been wearing the bandana for protection for awhile. Read more

U.S. officials are now recommending that people wear a cloth mask or facial covering in public settings like grocery stores to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends people wear non-medical cloth face coverings as a voluntary measure to defend against the transmission of COVID-19.

At the White House daily briefing, Trump emphasized wearing the covering is voluntary.

"You can do it. You dont have to do it. Im choosing not to do it, Trump said. Its only a recommendation.

The policy is a shift for the CDC, which has for weeks said only medical professionals, those who are sick, or those caring for the sick needed to wear masks. Over the last week, as an escalating number of Americans tested positive for the virus, pressure has mounted for the agency to revise its recommendations.

Still, the agency will not recommend everyone purchase medical-grade masks, as health systems worldwide are facing a massive shortage of protective equipment. Instead, theyre acknowledging that making a mask out of fabric or a T-shirt could help prevent carriers of the virus from spreading it if they cough or sneeze while in public, particularly before the onset of symptoms.

I want to emphasize that the CDC is not recommending the use of medical grade or surgical masks, Trump said.

At a briefing Thursday, Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, described the new advisory as an additive piece, saying a mask was not a replacement for social distancing and hand-washing.

We want to make sure everybody understands its not a substitute for the presidential guidelines that have already gone out, she said.

 HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you.

The CDC recommendation is significant in the United States, where there is less social acceptance of mask-wearing than in other countries. Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, who was the first member of Congress to explicitly endorse the campaign, said this is going to be about adopting a new social norm.

He said in other countries that have adopted mask-wearing policies, including the Czech Republic, it quickly becomes seen as anti-social to not don a facial covering in public. Thats what I hope happens here, he said.

The effect of a homemade mask is not certain. Some public health officials have warned that encouraging widespread mask use could lull the general public into complacency and give people a false sense of security, leading them to leave their homes for nonessential purposes.

Experts roundly agree that the best way to prevent the spread of the virus is to stay home, wash hands frequently, and avoid touching the mouth, nose, and eyes. Any use of a mask or facial covering, they say, should be in conjunction with social-distancing guidelines and efforts to stay at least six feet away from others.

Those who pressured the CDC to revise its guidelines argued that some studies have showed that homemade masks can approach the effectiveness of disposable surgical masks if used properly and alongside good hand hygiene. In addition, new evidence suggests one in four people who have the coronavirus have no symptoms and could spread it.

A campaign encouraging the public to wear masks, called #Masks4All, gained traction after a San Francisco-based research scientist argued in the Washington Post that we should all wear masks  store-bought or homemade  whenever were out in public.

A simple mask can be made without sewing by tying together two layers of a cut-up cotton blend T-shirt and covering the face and nose with it, being sure to wash the covering after each use.

Staff writers Ellie Rushing and Mensah M. Dean contributed to this article.
The risk of conflict between the US and Iran is still very real amid the coronavirus pandemic, Business Insider reported.

Although the coronavirus hit Iran, the Trump administration continued to impose tough sanctions on the country as part of its maximum pressure campaign.

And President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Iran with a military strike in the event of an American attack in the region. "Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on US troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed! Trump tweeted.

According to reports, intelligence suggested that Iranian proxy forces are plotting a conspiracy against the US. But it is unclear whether there is evidence of a more specific plan.

Irans top diplomat, Javad Zarif, answered Trump. "Unlike the US  which surreptitiously lies, cheats & assassinates  Iran only acts in self-defense. Openly Iran starts no wars, but teaches lessons to those who do," Zarif added.

This happened just a few weeks after the US attacked the militia supported by Iran in Iraq, after two American troops and a British soldier died in a rocket attack in early March.

Privately, Trump's chief advisers, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, were pushing Trump to strike directly at Iranian forces, the New York Times said in late March. Trump rejected such suggestions, arguing that an attack on Iran amid a pandemic would be inappropriate. In the meantime, Democratic leaders sent Trump a letter March 27, warning him of any military action against Iran without Congress approval.

Iran has been particularly affected by the coronavirus. According to the latest data from the Iranian health ministry, over 50,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the country, more than 3,000 people have died. For comparison: the US has over 230,000 reported coronavirus cases and over 5,700 people have died from it.

Iran was in a difficult situation before the advent of coronavirus. After Trumps controversial decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear agreement, his administration imposed economic sanctions on Tehran, which harmed the Iranian economy.

The US administration claims that tough sanctions that blocked Irans main source of income (oil) will push Iran into sitting down and negotiating a more stringent version of the 2015 agreement. There is virtually no evidence to support this position, since sanctions have intensified Irans aggressive activities in the region and exacerbated tensions between Washington and Tehran.

In early January, on the orders of Trump, General Qasem Soleimani was killed, which put the United States and Iran on the brink of war. Although the two countries ultimately retreated from the wider conflict, hostilities did not stop and the strategy of maximum pressure of economic sanctions continued. The US even imposed new sanctions against Iran amid a coronavirus pandemic.

The Iranian government also blames US sanctions on the coronavirus situation and calls on Washington to lift them for humanitarian reasons. "We had always said the sanctions are unjust but coronavirus revealed this injustice to the world," Zarif said in a recent video message, referring to the sanctions as "economic terrorism."

There are now growing calls in the international community, and within the US, for the sanctions to be lifted.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet recently called on countries to ease sanctions on countries such as Iran.

"At this crucial time, both for global public health reasons, and to support the rights and lives of millions of people in these countries, sectoral sanctions should be eased or suspended. In a context of global pandemic, impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us," Bachelet said in late March.

On Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden, a leading Democratic presidential contender in 2020, also called on Trump to ease sanctions against Iran.

"Iran is struggling to contain one of the deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks in the world. While the Iranian government has failed to respond effectively to this crisis, including lying and concealing the truth from its own people, and it continues to act provocatively in the region, the Iranian people are hurting desperately," Biden wrote in a post on Medium. "It is bad enough that the Trump administration abandoned the Iran nuclear deal in favor of a 'maximum pressure' strategy that has badly backfired, encouraging Iran to become even more aggressive and restart its nuclear program," Biden added. "It makes no sense, in a global health crisis, to compound that failure with cruelty by inhibiting access to needed humanitarian assistance. Whatever our profound differences with the Iranian government, we should support the Iranian people."
Chris Packham has lost a High Court bid to prevent work on ancient woodlands as part of the HS2 project

Chris Packham has lost a High Court bid to prevent work on ancient woodlands as part of the HS2 project.

The TV presenter and environmental campaigner was seeking an emergency injunction to stop works that he claimed would cause destruction or 'irreversible and irreparable loss' to such sites.

Packham applied for the order as part of an attempt to bring a legal challenge over the Government's decision in February to give the green light to HS2.

But at a High Court hearing on Friday, two senior judges refused Packham permission to bring a claim against the Government's decision and did not grant the injunction.

Announcing the court's decision, Lord Justice Coulson said: 'This application has no realistic prospect of success, so we do not grant permission to bring judicial review proceedings.'

He also said that, even if the court had thought the application had a realistic chance of success, they 'would not have favoured granting the injunction'.

Packham was seeking to bring a legal challenge against the Government on the grounds that the decision to give the go-ahead to HS2 was 'unlawful' because it relied on a review process that did not fully take into account issues such as the environmental costs of the project.

The injunction focused on preventing 'clearance works' at ancient woodlands, which Packham alleged would cause damage and destruction to the sites.

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The TV presenter and environmental campaigner was seeking an emergency injunction to stop works that he claimed would cause destruction or 'irreversible and irreparable loss' to such sites, including Glyn Davis Wood (pictured) in Warwickshire, which is under threat

He also said it would disturb species of animals protected under EU law, as well as nesting and breeding sites and resting places.

David Wolfe QC, representing Packham, told the court that the ancient woodlands are 'hundreds of years old' and are 'simply irreplaceable.'

He added that there was concern about the 'irreplaceable damage' that could be done to these sites and that the 'balance is in favour of pressing the pause button while the issues are considered'.

Packham applied for the order as part of an attempt to bring a legal challenge over the Government's decision to give the green light to HS2. Pictured: An artist's impression of the planned route

The Government argued that Packham's legal challenge did not have a real prospect of success and should not be allowed to proceed.

Lord Justice Coulson said the court would give full reasons for its decision in a written ruling at a later date.

In February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in the House of Commons that his Government had decided to approve the controversial project.

The project, which is expected to cost nearly 100billion, will link London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds in a Y-shaped line.

In January, a report by Wildlife Trusts claimed that 'huge swathes' of 'irreplaceable' natural habitats, including 39 nature reserves and 108 ancient woodlands, could be threatened by HS2

Pictured is the HS2rail route, showing phase one (dark blue line), two A (light blue line) and two B (orange line) as well as existing services that will use the network (yellow line)

WHAT COULD BE LOST FROM THE HS2? 5 wildlife refuges of international importance. 33 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. 693 Classified Local Wildlife Sites. 21 Designated Local Nature Reserves. 18 Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves. 26 Large landscape-scale initiatives, including four nature improvement areas awarded 1.7 million of public money. 108 'irreplaceable' ancient woodlands. Source: Wildlife Trusts Advertisement

In January, a report by Wildlife Trusts claimed that 'huge swathes' of 'irreplaceable' natural habitats, including 39 nature reserves and 108 ancient woodlands, could be threatened by HS2.

The report said the current proposals risk the loss of ancient woodlands, nature reserves, wildlife refuges and more.

Eighteen Wildlife Trust nature reserves will be affected, including London's Frays Farm Meadows, Holcroft Moss in Cheshire and Park Hall in Birmingham, as well as a further 21 local nature reserves.

HS2 will affect 26 large landscape-scale conservation initiatives in total, including four Nature Improvement Areas awarded 1.7 million of public money.

The Trust said 'rarities' such as the dingy skipper butterfly could also be made extinct locally, while barn owls and endangered wildlife such as white-clawed crayfish could be impacted.

The Wildlife Trusts comprises 46 local UK trusts that look after around 2,300 nature reserves covering more than 98,000 hectares.
Several mosques remained opened on Friday across Pakistan and people offered prayers there despite a government ban on big congregational gatherings in order to curb the spread of coronavirus that has killed 37 people and infected nearly 2,500 others in the country.

The Sindh government had announced curfew like restriction from 12 noon to 3pm to stop people from visiting mosques, while the Punjab government had issued fatwa for people to offer prayer in their homes. Similar instructions were issued by other provinces and the federal government.

The mosques made announcement urging people to pray at home, but some people defied the instruction and visited mosques, according to reports. Some clerics also encouraged people to attend prayers in mosques.

"The government and police are making statements to create a sense of fear. Nothing will happen. Karachi is a city of 20 million, the government cannot implement its decision in every nook and cranny, the prayer leader of the Jamia Mosque Quba told The Express Tribune.

A heavy contingent of police and Rangers personnel were also deployed in front of the New Memon Mosque and some other areas in Karachi.

Reports from different areas of Karachi suggested that the majority of mosques followed government orders, however, some continued to hold regular prayers.

"Baitul Mukarram Mosque is in front of my home. It was closed, so we prayed afternoon prayers at home, Rizwan Siddiqui, who lives Gulshan-e-Iqbal, told the paper.

"We were only five people at the mosque praying. We had already informed the area's citizenry not to attend Friday prayers as there is a ban on crowds assembling, said Qari Abdul Basit of Siddique Akbar Mosque in the Akhtar Colony locality.

In other towns and cities of the province, including Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions, the doors of most of the mosques were locked with only four to five people, including the prayer leader, allowed to pray.

But in rural areas, especially in villages, the ban could not be implemented.

We have offered Friday prayers in our Jamia mosque with the same crowd," said Abdul Hanan, who lives in a village in the Kamber Shahdadkot district.

The situation in Balochistan was not much different. A big crowd came to attend Friday prayers in Qandhari mosque of provincial capital Quetta, located near a police station.

In other areas of the province. most of the mosques were open, but attendance was low.

In Punjab, announcements were made from mosques urging the people to pray at homes. In cities, the orders were mostly followed but the situation in the rural areas was different as people came out in big numbers to offer prayers.

Officials said that it was not easy to stop people from visiting mosques unless they willingly cooperate.

Dar ul Iftah Jamia Naeemia, an Islamic university in Lahore, issued a fatwa (religious edict) saying that people who are stopped by the government from coming to mosques were not obliged to perform the prayers in congregation.

There were reports of confrontation between police and people on the issue of going to mosques. People gathered near Ghousia Mosque in Liaquatabad area of Karachi and pelted stones at police when stopped from entering the mosque.

Police said that the official vehicle of local Station House Officer was slightly damaged in the attack.

Last week, the Grand Imam Shaikh of Egypt's Jamia Al Azhar, an authority on Islamic injunctions, and the Supreme Council in Egypt, issued a fatwa (religious edict) on the request of Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, empowering the head of the state to suspend Friday prayers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Alvi had asked clerics in Pakistan to act as per the principles of Islam from Quran and Sunnah, and said it purely Islamic to cancel Friday prayers over coronavirus concerns, The reported.

In several Arab countries, the 'azaan' (call for prayer) has been amended and now it urges people to pray in their homes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This weeks issue is written by Besha Rodell, a columnist with the Australia bureau.

Every couple of days for the past few weeks, I have clambered onto my roof from the small patio on our second floor. I hoist up a pillow, our pet parrot Chobi in his cage, and a couple of beers or a glass of wine. Then I peer over the lip of the roof, and into the backyard of the house across the alleyway, where a friendly face is waiting.

My friend Brooke has lived in the house across the lane from our townhouse for over a year, and we rely on one another for normal neighborly things like borrowed ingredients and reciprocal pet feeding when one of us is out of town. But since coronavirus has made us all prisoners in our own homes, we have been holding regular catch-ups across the laneway, me from my roof and her from her backyard.

I call this isolation happy hour.

Before Victoria went into stage three lockdown, barring people from leaving home for anything but the most necessary activities, my brother and his partner would walk over from their home a few blocks away and set up lawn chairs in the alley, far enough from me on the roof and Brooke in her backyard to maintain appropriate distance, but close enough so that we could feel some sense of communion. That option is gone now, but Brooke is still there when I need her, and vice versa.

Apart from the obvious fear, anxiety and disruption, the thing that has struck me the most about the current crisis is the resourcefulness of our attempts to remain responsibly connected.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has called on the government to issue a nationwide stay-at-home order to slow the spread of coronavirus and said that CDC advice to wear masks in public will 'come soon'.

The US's top medical expert on the pandemic and a member of President Trump's coronavirus task force said during a town call with CNN Thursday night that he didn't understand why a nationwide lockdown hadn't been issued by the president.

Fauci also confirmed that guidance on people wearing face masks would be released soon, after Trump said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to advise all Americans to start wearing cloth masks or other face coverings in public.

The medical expert risked getting on the wrong side of the president again, saying he believes there should be a federally mandated stay-at-home order - something Trump has repeatedly dismissed as unnecessary.

The US's top medical expert on the pandemic and a member of President Trump's coronavirus task force Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a town call with CNN Thursday night that he didn't understand why a nationwide lockdown hadn't been issued by the president

'I don't understand why that's not happening. As you said, the tension between federally mandated versus states rights to do what they want is something I don't want to get into,' said Fauci.

'But if you look at what is going on in this country, I do not understand why we are not doing that. We really should be.'

On Wednesday, Trump again refused to consider a nationwide shutdown, saying that different states have varying levels of the pandemic.

'States are different and I understand that the governor of Florida, great Gov. Ron DeSantis issued one today and that's good, that's great. But there are some states that are different. There are some states that don't have much of a problem,' Trump said in the White House briefing.

Several states have still refused to go into lockdown despite medical advice warning this will slow the nation's recovery from the pandemic

'You have to look -- you have to give a little flexibility. If you have a state in the Midwest, or if Alaska for example doesn't have a problem, it's awfully tough to say close it down. We have to have a little bit of flexibility,' he argued.

Fauci confirmed that guidance on wearing masks in public will be 'on the agenda tomorrow'.

While he would not confirm what the new rules would be, he praised some Americans who are already wearing masks and admitted it was sometimes difficult to maintain social distancing in some public places.

'When we go out for food or to the pharmacy there will be times where we unwittingly will be closer than [6 feet],' he said. 'And we know asymptomatic people are transmitting the infection.'

Fauci said wearing masks in public is as much about people protecting themselves from the disease as to 'protect a person getting infected by you'.

'Assume you have been infected,' he said.

Guidance for healthcare workers wearing masks will not be changing he said.

Nurses and doctors across the US have spoken out about shortages in supply of protective masks as they work on the frontline to bring the pandemic under control

Guidance on wearing masks in public will be 'on the agenda tomorrow', Fauci said. The CDC will issue guidance for people to wear masks in public

Nurses and doctors across the US have spoken out about shortages in supply of protective masks as they work on the frontline to bring the pandemic under control.

One medical worker asked Fauci whether homemade masks would help them if the supply of N95 masks runs out.

Fauci said they would be 'better than nothing' but insisted that medical professionals will not run out of masks.

'I don't think we ever should get to that point where you have to make them yourselves,' he said.

FEMA, the federal government and states are all working together 'to make sure no healthcare worker runs out of PPE,' he said.

Fauci admitted that he was hearing from doctors around the US that supplies were dwindling but said he was confident those on the frontline will not run out.

'They're getting perilously close to when they run out,' he said of some hospitals.

'They haven't run out yet and I hope they don't... I hope we never have to get there.'

His comments on face masks come as Trump confirmed that new guidance will be issued around the general public wearing the protective gear.

'I think they're going to be coming out with the regulations on that,' the president said Thursday at his daily White House coronavirus briefing.

'I don't think it will be mandatory because some people don't want to do that, but if people wanted to wear them, they can. People wanted to use scarves, which they have that many people have of them, they can. In many cases, the scarf is better, it's thicker. Depending on the material, it's thicker. But they couldn't do that if they want. The recommendation is coming out and we'll see what that recommendation is but I will say this, they can pretty much decide for themselves right now,' he said.

Vice President Mike Pence noted it would be coming out 'in the days ahead.'

The CDC guidance will urge people to wear cloth masks when out in public but not surgical masks, which are desperately needed by healthcare workers.

Donald Trump's administration is encouraging all Americans to wear cloth masks or other face coverings if they go out in public

The CDC will urge people to wear cloth masks and not surgical masks, which are desperately needed by health care workers

But the policy marks a profound change in messaging as both the CDC and World Health Organization previously said people don't need to wear masks unless they are sick.

Dr. Deborah Birx, who coordinates the day-to-day administration response to the virus, cautioned people should not consider masks as a guarantee of protection.

'We don't want people to feel like I'm wearing a mask, I am protected, and I'm protecting others. You may be protecting others, but don't get a false sense of security that that mask is protecting you exclusively from getting infected because they were other ways that you can get infected because the number of asymptomatic and mild cases that are out there,' she said at the White House briefing.

She advised people to continue social distancing practices and to wash their hands.

The new guidance will make it clear that N95 surgical masks should be saved for health care workers and others on the front lines, who have been in dire need of them.

Simple cloth masks - or scarves or bandannas - will be the recommendation for when people go to the grocery store, for a walk or are outside.

'In light of these new data, along with evidence of widespread transmission in communities across the country, CDC recommends the community use of cloth masks as an additional public health measure people can take to prevent the spread of virus to those around them,' according to a copy of the guidance obtained by The Washington Post.

Dr Harvey Fineberg has said the virus can spread through breathing and speaking, not just coughing and sneezing

Fauci previously said that the subject of having Americans cover their faces in public is a 'very active discussion' among the committee.

During Thursday's town hall on CNN, Fauci also responded to concerns raised in a new medical study that the virus is spreading through the air when people speak and breathe - not just through coughs and sneezes.

Like most respiratory illnesses, coronavirus is spread in tiny droplets of moisture that carry virus particles and the CDC has said that these are expelled when sick people cough or sneeze.

However, talking can send the droplets into the air too, according to Dr Fineberg, former dean of the Harvard School of Public Health. Even the breathe of a person with coronavirus could be dangerous.

'While the current [coronavirus] specific research is limited, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing,' Dr Fineberg said.

The NAS letter to the White House noted research conducted in a Chinese hospital that found the virus can sent into the air and linger there when healthcare workers take off their protective gear and possibly as result of cleaning jostling the particles free, or even of movements.

More Americans may need to cover their faces as experts warn breathing and talking may spread coronavirus

'If you generate an aerosol of the virus with no circulation in a room, it's conceivable that if you walk through later, you could inhale the virus,' Dr Fineberg said.

'But if you're outside, the breeze will likely disperse it.'

Fauci admitted that the research raised a 'red flag' around the ease with which the outbreak is spreading.

However he said that he would not advise Americans to change their behaviors based on the findings because if people follow the current social distancing rules to stay 6 feet away from each other they will be protected.

'This brings up a number of issues. First, it underscores why you should continue to try and stay 6 feet away from someone. That would alleviate that immediately,' he said.

He will not be altering his own behavior including going outside running either, he added.

Fauci went on to advise Americans not to rely on warm weather to help clear the pandemic, following reports that the higher temperatures can kill the infection.

Medical professionals wear protective gear while administering a coronavirus test at a drive-thru testing site for children in Washington DC

When asked if there would be a phasing out of the lockdown when the outbreak slows, Fauci emphasized that there 'is not going to be an all clear flag'

'In general, viruses that are respiratory-borne tend to peter out a bit as you get into the warmer, moist weather, because viruses like cold/dry versus warm/moist,' he said.

'But that's not going to guarantee that that's happening because we have parts of our own country -- you know in Florida, where the weather is warm. Florida is now what Washington, DC, is going to be is in a few months. So we can't count on that.

'I think there will be some effect. I think when the country, as a country, gets into the summer, that we're going to get some positive effect. But we really can't rely on that being the mechanism where we get out of that. We just have to assume it will not help, and still continue to push on social distancing.

'Outside the United States, places in the southern hemisphere or that have warm climate year-round are also proving telling examples of whether this theory is true.'

When asked if there would be a phasing out of the lockdown when the outbreak slows, Fauci emphasized that there will be a longer term challenge.

'There's not going to be an all clear flag,' he said.

'We have to be careful on declaring victory just because we turn a corner on the curve.'

As the number of infections and deaths fall, the US will then need to 'test like crazy, identify people, isolate them and you do contact tracing', he said.

'You can't do that in the middle of the situation. When you get the curve down its the restart button.'
China will observe a national day of mourning on Saturday for martyrs, including the "whistleblower" Dr Li Wenliang, who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and the over 3,300 people who died of the infection in the country.

During the commemoration, national flags will fly at half-mast across the country and in all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and public recreational activities will be suspended across the country, official media reported on Friday.

At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Chinese people nationwide will observe three minutes of silence to mourn the deceased, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief.

Fourteen frontline workers in Central China's Hubei Province, including "whistleblower" Dr Li, were identified as martyrs on Thursday for sacrificing their lives in combating the COVID-19 outbreak.

The first group of martyrs includes 12 medics, one police officer and one community worker who fought on the frontlines.

According to the list, eight martyrs were members of the Communist Party of China. The oldest one was a 73-year-old while the youngest was 30 years old.

Li, 34, an ophthalmologist was one of the eight "whistleblowers" who tried to warn other medical workers of the novel coronavirus outbreak but was reprimanded by the local police. He died on February 7 after contracting COVID-19.

The national mourning day will be observed to express the nation's deep sorrow for the deaths of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the COVID-19 and people who died because of the outbreak, state-run Global Times reported.

Chinese officials earlier said that over 3,000 medical personnel contracted the disease.

According to official reports, 10 medical staff, including doctors, died of the disease.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Friday said that it received reports of 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Thursday, of which 29 were imported.

Two new domestic cases were reported- one in Liaoning Province and one in Guangdong Province.

Also, on Thursday, four deaths, all in Hubei Province, took the death toll in the country to 3,322.

On the same day, 60 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported on the mainland, including seven imported.

NHC said that 1,027 asymptomatic cases were still under medical observation, including 221 from abroad.

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases are those who test positive for the virus but do not show any symptoms and have the potential to cause sporadic clusters of infections.

As of Thursday, a total of 81,620 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,322 people had died of the disease.

Saturday also marks China's Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.

It is a tradition for the Chinese people to pay respect to their ancestors, deceased family members and national heroes and martyrs on the day of the festival.

China held its last national day of mourning in May 2008 for the victims of the Wenchuan earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, which killed more than 69,000 people.

Meanwhile, the Politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Tuesday, analysing the economic situation and decided on matters concerning the economy in the second half of the year.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

The Chinese economy maintained the steadily advancing momentum in the first half of 2019, with the main macroeconomic indicators remaining in the reasonable range, the official Xinhua agency reported on Friday, three days after the meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. File photo

BUSINESS leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire have welcomed the latest support to firms announced by the government  and say it is time to ramp up the levels of cash getting through to companies across the patch.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme is being extended to cover more firms to try to get more money into the accounts of businesses and ease cashflow concerns.

Among the changes are that lenders are no longer allowed to request personal guarantees on loans under 250,000 while the new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) is designed to see more firms able to benefit from government-backed support.

It will also provide a government guarantee of 80 per cent to enable banks to make loans of up to 25 million to firms with an annual turnover of between 45 million and 500 million.

Chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Louise Bennett, said: When we are speaking to businesses in our region on a daily basis, cashflow is their number one concern and that was highlighted in the British Chambers of Commerces first Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker Poll this week.

Its vitally important that the levels of cash going out to businesses is now ramped up over the coming days and weeks in order to help get companies through these unprecedented times.

Were speaking to banks in our area and to the local authorities and we know they are all working incredibly hard in incredibly difficult circumstances to deliver on the financial support for firms.

And we continue to identify where there are gaps in the support on offer and are passing those through to government.

She added: We are constantly updating the information we are distributing to businesses and small firms can now find all of the details on whether they are eligible for a Small Business Grant or a Leisure, Tourism and Retail Grant through our Coronavirus Toolkit. It also gives them details of where to register.

Its vitally important that companies do keep up-to-date with what is on offer and we are working hard to keep businesses fully informed and are in daily contact with companies across the region.

For more information, contact the Chamber on 024 7665 4321.
OFX Daily Market News





Posted by OFX



AUD  Australian Dollar

The Australian dollar fell through trade on Thursday marking a second consecutive daily depreciation as a decline in risk sentiment dominated direction. Over 1 million people have now been infected with the COVID19 virus as the pandemic shows little sign of slowing. Despite a colossal jump in US jobless claims overnight markets looked to the worlds base currency as demand for haven assets outstripped underlying macroeconomic fundamentals. The 3,000% jump in unemployment filings in the US highlights just how devastating the economic impact will be and suggests an extended period of fiscal stimulus and monetary policy support will be required, a prospect mirrored around the world and echoed by Prime Minister Morrison on Thursday. Morrison, suggested he fully expects the current environment will become the new normal for at least the next 6 months, stating, he would prefer to be up front and honest about the scale of lockdown measures and breadth of time required to get a handle on the outbreak rather than afford false hope that the situation will be contained in 2-3 weeks.

While short term forecasts remain squarely affixed to the evolving pandemic longer term forecasts for the AUD vary wildly. Some analyst are forecasting an AUD rebound and push back toward 0.70 into the end of the year, while others are pricing in a sustained period of underperformance and dip below March lows at 0.55. While we fell the AUD is incredibly cheap at the current handle and represents a reasonable buying opportunity the success of any recovery depends solely on our ability to tackle and suppress the Coronavirus outbreak. The longer the virus maintains its stranglehold on the global economy the deeper the global recession that follows, a scenario that does not necessarily bode well for the AUD.

Key Movers

The US Dollar climbed through trade on Thursday reversing the recent downtrend and marking a second straight daily advance. Investor concerns surrounding the state of the coronavirus and the looming global recession prompted a sustained risk off run and push toward haven assets. A grim milestone was reached Thursday with 1million cases of COVID 19 recorded globally, a fifth of which are in the US. With over 200,000 Americans already confirmed to have contracted the virus and the US woefully ill-prepared to deal with the outbreak there are real fears the US will outstrip Italys casualty rate in the weeks ahead. Vice President Mike Pence affirmed such fears Wednesday suggesting the US was on a trajectory comparable to Italy, stating that a horrific few weeks lay ahead. Investors largely ignored a 3,000% jump in jobless claims with 6.65million American filing for unemployment through the last week. The print dwarfed medium estimates and only served to highlight the economic footprint likely to be left behind by the spreading pandemic.

Story continues

Attentions remain squarely affixed to the evolving pandemic and we expect the US Dollar will remain largely well bid as risk sentiment continues to falter in the face of the unrelenting pandemic. That said with US funding costs easing topside moves amid normalized trading patterns are likely to be modest and more measured, while a sharp correction remains in play should panic envelop broader financial markets again.

EUR/USD fell below 1.09 and currently sits at 1.0858. Sterling pulled off highs above 1.2450 to open the Australasian session at 1.2392. The CAD and NOK outstrip all major counterparts, buoyed by a 25% resurgence in oil prices.

Expected Ranges

AUD/USD: 0.5930  0.6180 

AUD/EUR: 0.5480  0.5630 

GBP/AUD: 2.0020  2.0680 

AUD/NZD: 1.0120  1.0320 

AUD/CAD: 0.8480  0.8640 





Posted by OFX

The post Risk off as coronavirus marks grim milestone appeared first on .
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed at least 7,152 people in the United States.

With more than 277,000 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, the United States has by far the highest national tally in the world, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

More than 1.09 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with the disease. The actual number is believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding the scope of their nations' outbreaks.

Over 58,900 have died across the globe and more than 226,000 people have recovered.

Friday's biggest developments:

2,935 dead in New York state US death toll crosses 7,000 Anyone close to Trump will get rapid COVID-19 test New York City morgues are running out of space US cuts 701K jobs in March, unemployment rate jumps to 4.4%

Here's how the story developed Friday. All times Eastern.

10 p.m.: Pink tests positive for coronavirus

Singer Pink said on Instagram Friday night she tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago and has now recovered.

The pop star, who has won three Grammys, and her 3-year-old son, Jameson, were both tested after they started feelings symptoms, with her testing positive for the virus.

"It is an absolute travesty and failure of our government to not make testing more widely accessible," she wrote. "This illness is serious and real. People need to know that the illness affects the young and old, healthy and unhealthy, rich and poor, and we must make testing free and more widely accessible to protect our children, our families, our friends and our communities."

Pink, 40, also announced she will be making $1 million in donations, split equally between the Temple University Hospital Emergency Fund in Philadelphia, where her mother, Judy Moore, worked there for 18 years, and to the City of Los Angeles Mayors Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund.

Story continues

6:56 p.m.: Trump says we'll 'find out' if NY has enough ventilators

Asked at Friday's coronavirus task force briefing if he can provide assurances to New York that the state will have the ventilators they need in the days ahead, President Donald Trump said, "We're gonna find out."

"We happen to think that he is well served with ventilators. Were gonna find out," Trump said in a callous reply as New Yorkers find themselves at the epicenter of this crisis in the U.S.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has warned that New York is just days away from not having enough ventilators.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing as Health and Humand Services Secretary Alex Azar listens at the White House in Washington, April 3, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

The president continued to place blame on New York state for any shortage: "They should've had more ventilators [ready before the pandemic]."

"We are doing our best for New York," Trump said, before adding, "We have states, we have a lot of states."

6:35 p.m.: US death toll crosses 7,000

The number of deaths from coronavirus continue to skyrocket in the U.S.

The death toll passed 7,000 in the country Friday evening, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. At least 7,077 people have died due to COVID-19.

In addition, there are at least 273,880 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States.

6:29 p.m.: Death toll, cases jump in New York City

New numbers released by the New York City Health Department Friday evening show a significant jump in the number of cases in the city. There have been 56,289 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in NYC -- an increase of 6,582 cases from yesterdays figure.

There have been 1,867 deaths due to the coronavirus in New York City, an increase of 305 reported deaths in a 24-hour period.

Also, 11,739 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19 in New York City.

PHOTO: Cashiers work in a grocery store in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn during the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 2, 2020, in New York City. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

6:09 p.m.: Alabama, Missouri issue stay-at-home order

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey just announced a stay-at-home order for the state effective tomorrow at 5 p.m. CST until April 30. Soon after, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also issued a stay-at-home order, which begins at 12:01 Monday, April 6, and will continue until April 24.

Now just nine states have not issued a formal stay-at-home order: Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

Ivey said, "I am convinced that our previous efforts to limit social interaction and reduce the chances of spreading this virus have not been enough. And that's why we are taking this more drastic step."

Ivey said the expected surge in her state is in two to three weeks.

"Our surge of hospitalization will occur in the next two or three weeks," she said. "Those patients are the ones who will become infected in the next few days. Folks, we need to extend our health orders now."

The remaining states had come under pressure to order people to stay home except under certain instances during the pandemic.

"First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I love this state and the people of this state," Parson said in a statement. "The people of this great state clearly define who we are in Missouri, and as Governor, I have no greater responsibility than to protect the health, well-being, and safety of all Missourians."

5:31 p.m.: CDC asking people to wear face coverings outside

The entire country is now being asked to cover their faces when out in public, on the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Judd Deere, the White House's deputy press secretary, made the announcement in a tweet.

"@CDCgov is recommending that Americans voluntarily wear a non-medical basic cloth or fabric mask that can be either purchased online or simply made at home," he wrote. "The CDC is NOT recommending the use of medical grade or surgical grade masks."

NEW: In light of recent studies, @CDCgov is recommending that Americans voluntarily wear a non-medical basic cloth or fabric mask that can be either purchased online or simply made at home. The CDC is NOT recommending the use of medical grade or surgical grade masks. #COVID19  Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere45) April 3, 2020

4:15 p.m.: NYC needs minimum of 2,500 ventilators for next week

As the "epicenter" of the coronavirus crisis with about 25% of the nation's cases, New York City is in desperate need for more supplies, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday.

"People are dying. And they need to be saved," he said.

We are about to hit a huge surge in the coming days," the mayor warned.

PHOTO: A man is brought into Elmhurst Hospital in the Queens neighborhood, which has one of the highest infection rates of coronavirus in the nation, on April 03, 2020, in New York. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

De Blasio said President Donald Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, told him Thursday they would send 200,000 N95 masks to New York City's public hospitals, and those masks have since been delivered.

But to get through April and May, New York City needs more resources including 85,000 hospital beds, 45,000 medical staff and a total of 15,000 ventilators, he said.

Shortly after the press conference, an emergency alert was sent to phones in the New York City area asking for licensed health care workers to sign up to help.

PHOTO: Medical workers approach a refrigerator truck being used as a morgue outside of Brooklyn Hospital Center amid the coronavirus pandemic on April 3, 2020, in New York. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

For next week specifically, New York City needs a minimum of 2,500 to 3,000 ventilators. He said there are about 2,000 ventilators left in the state stockpile and called the federal government "the single most important source."

De Blasio commended the governors of New York and New Jersey who he said "took a crucial step" on Friday by ordering private companies to release any stockpiles they have of "crucially needed supplies" including ventilators and personal protective equipment.

"I would urge every state in the union to exercise the same approach," de Blasio said.

If any company or individual tries to resist this new order from the state, de Blasio threatened, "I am authorizing the NYDP, the sheriff's office, the FDNY to use their law enforcement capacity to make sure those items are turned over immediately and brought immediately to where the need is greatest in our hospital system."

PHOTO: Cars pass the Jacob Javits Convention Center Friday, April 3, 2020, in New York. (Frank Franklin Ii/AP)

De Blasio said the city is bringing in medical personnel from across the country under contract and asking for volunteers, as a part of an "unprecedented "national enlistment effort."

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.

3:10 p.m.: Anyone close to Trump will get rapid COVID-19 test

A new procedure is in place at the White House as of Friday so that anyone who comes into close proximity with the president or vice president will receive a rapid COVID-19 test, deputy press secretary Judd Deere said.

The White House declined to elaborate on why this policy is being implemented now, other than to say that decisions are made in consultation with the White House physician.

This development comes one day after President Trump received his second negative coronavirus test.

2:55 p.m.: UK Prime Minister to extend his self-isolation

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has tested positive for coronavirus, says he will extend his self-isolation.

The prime minister is one of 38,688 people in the U.K. who have tested positive for COVID-19. Also among those diagnosed with the virus is Charles Prince of Wales -- first in line to the British throne.

PHOTO: A woman wearing a protective face mask is seen leaving Brixton Station, as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues, London, April 3, 2020. (Hannah Mckay/Reuters)

The death toll in the U.K. has climbed to 3,605 -- an increase of 684 since Thursday.

Johnson said in a video message, "Everybody may be getting a bit stir crazy, and there may be just a temptation to get out there, hang out and start to break the regulations. And I just urge you not to do that. Please, please stick with the guidance now. This country has made a huge effort, a huge sacrifice, done absolutely brilliantly well in delaying the spread of the virus. Let's stick with it."

2:35 p.m.: Massachusetts announces nation's 1st test-and-trace initiative

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday announced the creation of a "robust" tracing effort, in collaboration with Partners in Health, to identify individuals who may have come in close contact with coronavirus-positive people.

"Staff will contact recent COVID-19 patients and ensure they're healthy and taking appropriate steps to not spread the virus further," Baker said.

Risk for severe COVID-19 increases with each decade of age

Once an individual has tested positive, the COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative will work to gather information about who may have been exposed to the person, and subsequently contact them.

A group of 1,000 people will be asked to provide information on the timing and location of their respective infections.

How experts worry the coronavirus outbreak could cloud the 2020 general election

Baker said the program is the first of its kind in the nation, and he added that he hopes to have the initiative up and running by the end of the month.

Baker also announced that the parking lot at the New England Patriots' Gillette Stadium will be converted to a testing site for first responders. Up to 200 first responders are expected to be tested per day.

1:20 p.m.: New Jersey's death toll climbs to 646

In the last 24 hours, another 113 people died from coronavirus in New Jersey, bringing the state's death toll to 646, Gov. Phil Murphy said.

With 4,372 new diagnosed cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the Garden State now has over 29,000 diagnosed cases of COVID-19.

PHOTO: Residents are greeted by medical personnel as Camden County's first public coronavirus drive-thru testing site opens in Camden's Cooper's Poynt Waterfront Park in Camden, N.J., April 1, 2020. (Tom Gralish/AP)

"There is no silver bullet we can load to make this go away overnight," the governor said, as he urged New Jersey residents to honor those who have died by staying home.

Murphy said he is signing an executive order directing all flags to be lowered to half-staff effective immediately, and lasting indefinitely, to honor those who have died and those who will die.

"This is one of the greatest tragedies to ever hit our state," Murphy tweeted.

I'm signing an Executive Order directing that all flags across NJ be lowered to half-staff indefinitely in honor of those we have lost  and those we will lose  to #COVID19. This is one of the greatest tragedies to ever hit our state. We must have a constant & visible memorial. pic.twitter.com/2LOcEr1aPz  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 3, 2020

Murphy said UBS is donating 10,000 N95 masks to the state while Tito's Handmade Vodka is sending 432 gallons of hand sanitizer, 3,000 masks and 2,000 gloves.

12:50 p.m.: WHO warns lifting lockdowns early could end up being even worse for economies

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus -- who called the coronavirus pandemic an "unprecedented crisis" -- issued a warning to countries that are considering easing lockdowns given the considerable economic suffering.

"If countries rush to lift restrictions quickly, the coronavirus could resurge and the economic impact could be more severe and prolonged," he said Friday. "Financing the health response is an essential investment not just in saving lives, but in the longer-term social and economic recovery."

PHOTO: Firefighters in protective suits are seen during an operation to disinfect Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, April 3, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

He went on, "The best way for countries to end restrictions and ease their economic effects is to attack the coronavirus, with the aggressive and comprehensive package of measures that we've spoken about many times before: find, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact."

"We still have a long way to go in this fight," he noted.

SLIDESHOW: Coronavirus outbreak sparks global health emergency

Dr. Tedros also acknowledged the rise of domestic violence as victims are stuck indoors with abusers and he urged countries to increase resources for victims.

New York state -- the hardest-hit spot in the U.S. -- has seen an uptick in domestic violence incidents, the governor said Friday.

12:20 p.m.: Mayor predicts DC will reach peak cases by the end of June, early July

PHOTO: A woman visits the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall on April 2, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

The District of Columbia is forecast to reach peak COVID-19 infections at the end of June or beginning of July, Mayor Muriel Bowser said Friday, citing local officials.

Bowser said the projection -- based on the CHIME model -- estimates more than 93,000 residents could be infected with coronavirus over the course of the pandemic. She said the modeling predicts between 220 and 1,000 deaths in D.C., calling it a "tough number to report."

If the forecast holds true, the mayor said the nation's capital will need 5,000 more hospital beds and 1,000 more ventilators.

PHOTO: Customers keep their social distance from each other while waiting in line to enter and shop at a Trader Joe's grocery store in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 2020. (Erik S. Lesser/EPA via Shutterstock)

11:45 a.m.: 2,935 dead in New York state

In New York -- the state hit hardest by the pandemic -- 102,863 have tested positive for coronavirus and 2,935 people have died, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.

The number of deaths in New York increased by nearly 600 from Thursday to Friday, the biggest daily increase.

New York state has by far the most cases and fatalities.

"New York is in crisis," Cuomo said.

PHOTO: Franklin Graham Samaritan's Purse makeshift hospital in New York City on April 1, 2020. (Steve Sanchez/Pacific Press/REX via Shutterstock)

More ventilators are still needed, the governor said, stressing that the machines are the difference between life and death for coronavirus patients in intensive care units.

Cuomo said he is signing an executive order allowing the National Guard to take ventilators and personal protection equipment from hospitals in the state that don't need them now and redeploy the devices to other parts of the state.

PHOTO: Medical workers are seen moving a body from the sidewalk into a refrigerator truck outside of Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in the borough of Brooklyn on April 3, 2020 in New York City. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

Those hospitals will be reimbursed or the ventilators will be returned, Cuomo said.

"I'm not going to let people die because we didn't redistribute ventilators," he said.

A timeline of Cuomo's and Trump's responses to coronavirus outbreak

Cuomo also implored manufacturers in the state to begin making personal protection equipment.

On a more positive note, the governor said 20,000 health professionals volunteered "in a matter of days" to come help New York.

"When our curve is over," Cuomo vowed, "New Yorkers are going to take what we've amassed, we're going to take our equipment, we're going to take our personnel, we're going to take our knowledge and we will go to any community that needs help."

11:12 a.m. Temporary hospitals at US convention centers will now treat COVID-19 patients

The U.S. Department of Defense announced Friday that three temporary medical facilities at convention centers in Dallas, New Orleans and New York, which were originally intended to treat non-coronavirus patients, will now also take those diagnosed with the disease.

"At the request of FEMA, the Department of Defense will expand its medical support to include COVID-19 positive patients at the Javits Federal Medical Station (FMS) in New York City, the Morial FMS in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Kay Bailey Hutchinson FMS in Dallas, Texas," the Pentagon said in a statement Friday. "These three DoD-supported locations will now provide support to COVID-19 positive patients in convalescent care, as well as low-acuity patients. These patients, who require a lower level of medical care, must first be screened at a local hospital."

The facilities were initially set up to ease the strain on overloaded hospitals and expand overall capacity.

"As it turns out, we don't have non-COVID people to any great extent in the hospitals," Cuomo said Friday. "So we wanted to turn Javits from non-COVID to COVID."

PHOTO: Jacob Javits Center is now ready to begin treating coronavirus patients March 27, 2020. (Matthew Mcdermott/Polaris)

The Department of Defense said it is also making changes to the USNS Comfort's process for taking in patients. Screening for care on the U.S. Navy hospital ship docked in New York City will now occur pier-side "in an effort to reduce the backlog at some of the nearby New York hospitals." A patient will no longer require a negative COVID-19 test in order to be admitted, but rather each individual will be screened by temperature and a short questionnaire.

Previously, a patient had to go to a local hospital, be referred to the USNS Comfort and receive COVID-19 screening prior to being transferred there.

"This assistance will further unburden the local hospital and ambulance systems in these areas, allowing them to focus on the more serious COVID-19 cases," the Pentagon said. "We will immediately implement this action and work with local officials in each area on the details of patient arrival."

9:45 a.m.: Queen Elizabeth to address pandemic in rare special broadcast this weekend

Queen Elizabeth II has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the televised address, which was recorded at Windsor Castle, will be broadcast Sunday at 8 p.m. local time, according to the statement from the royal household.

On Sunday 5th April at 8pm (BST)

Her Majesty The Queen will address the UK and the Commonwealth in a televised broadcast. As well as on television and radio, The Queen's address will be shown on The @RoyalFamily's social media channels. pic.twitter.com/EADh7WNU7b  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 3, 2020

It will be just the fourth time in the queen's 68-year reign that she has delivered a special address to the nation.

The queen's oldest child and heir apparent to the British throne, Prince Charles, was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early March.

9:15 a.m.: US cuts 701K jobs in March, unemployment rate jumps to 4.4%

U.S. employers slashed 701,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate climbed to 4.4% from 3.5%, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Friday's report offered more details on how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the U.S. labor market.

PHOTO: People queue to enter Payomatic, a business that offers check cashing, as unemployment claim figures were released, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Manhattan, New York City, April 2, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

About 90% of the U.S. population is under stay-at-home orders due to the pandemic and many businesses are closed. At least 45 U.S. states have issued or announced statewide closures of all non-essential businesses to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

8:43 a.m.: Florida-bound cruise ship confirms 12 positive cases

At least 12 people aboard the Florida-bound cruise ship Coral Princess have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Those infected include seven guests and five crew, according to Princess Cruises, the California-based cruise line that operates the ship.

Princess Cruises said it "proactively" collected 13 test samples from the ship and sent them to a lab in Barbados on March 31 "in response to a reported small cluster of cases of respiratory illness and in an abundance of caution."

The Coral Princess is scheduled to arrive in Florida's Port Everglades on Saturday.

7:59 a.m.: New York City morgues are running out of space

New York City morgues are almost full amid a mounting death toll from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency records reviewed by ABC News.

The city has ordered 85 refrigerated trucks from the U.S. military to use as makeshift morgues hold the dead. The trucks are expected to arrive by mid-April.

PHOTO: Refrigerated tractor-trailers that can be used by hospitals for makeshift morgues are seen during the coronavirus pandemic, in Icahn Stadium parking lot on Randall's Island in New York City, New York, March 31, 2020. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

ABC News has reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense as well as New York City's office of chief medical examiner for comment.

So far, at least 1,562 people in New York City have died from COVID-19, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

What to know about the novel 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

6:32 a.m.: New poll shows less than half of Americans believe their daily routine will return to normal by June

Fewer than half of Americans believe their regular daily routine will return to normal by June 1 amid sharply rising concerns over contracting the novel coronavirus, according to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday.

In the new poll, just over nine in 10 Americans now say that the outbreak has disrupted their daily routine, showing the reach of the pandemic's impact. Among those, 44% say they think they will be able to resume their regular routine by June 1 -- including 13% who say by May 1 -- while a combined 84% believe that will happen by the end of the summer.

How concerned are you that you or someone you know will be infected with the coronavirus? (ABC News/Ipsos Poll)

Still, concern over the pandemic continues on an upward trajectory, with 89% of Americans now saying they are concerned that they or someone they know will be infected with the virus, compared to 79% in a poll conducted from March 18-19 and 66% in a poll in the field from March 11-12. The steady increase in anxiety includes nearly twice as many Americans who are now very concerned (now at 50%) in the new poll, compared to the earliest poll in March when it was only 26%.

The poll was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs in partnership with ABC News, using Ipsos' Knowledge Panel, on April 1-2, 2020, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 559 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 4.8 points, including the design effect. Read more about the poll's topline results here.

5:48 a.m.: Google launches 'community mobility reports' during pandemic

Google is launching a tool that will publicly track people's movements amid the coronavirus pandemic, allowing health officials to check whether their communities are abiding by social-distancing measures.

The California-based tech giant says it will publish and regularly update the "community mobility reports," which are broken down by location and display the change in visits to public places such as grocery stores and parks. The tool, announced by the company late Thursday, uses "aggregated, anonymized sets of data" that Google has collected on users, including through Google Maps.

PHOTO: Visitors pass by the logo of Google at the annual technology conference VivaTech in Paris, France, on May 16, 2019. (Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Google says the reports "were developed to be helpful while adhering to our stringent privacy protocols and protecting people's privacy."

"No personally identifiable information, such as an individual's location, contacts or movement, will be made available at any point," the company says.

3 a.m.: US death toll tops 6,000

The mounting death toll from the novel coronavirus in the United States surpassed 6,000 early Friday morning, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

A vast majority of those deaths have occurred in New York state, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak. The virus has claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people in New York City alone.

PHOTO: Paramedics transport a patient wearing a face mask to the emergency room entrance of the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in the New York City borough of Brooklyn on April 2, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has asked the U.S. Department of Defense for 100,000 body bags due to the possibility that funeral homes across the country will become overwhelmed, a Pentagon spokesman told ABC News on Thursday.

About 90% of the U.S. population is under stay-at-home orders, and many businesses are closed.

ABC News' Dee Carden, Katherine Faulders, Kendall Karson, Zoe Magee, Josh Margolin, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Arielle Mitropoulos, Kirit Radia, John Santucci, Terrance Smith and Catherine Thorbecke contributed to this report.

New York City morgues almost full, alert sent for 45K health care workers amid coronavirus outbreak originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL --The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners has issued the following statement in response to Governor DeSantis' "Stay At Home" executive order:

"Starting Friday, April 3, to adhere to the Safer-at-Home Executive Order #20-91 issued by Governor Ron DeSantis, all County employees 65 years of age or older will remain home through May 1. Additionally, at this time the following county offices will be closed through May 1.

Library

University of Florida County Extension Office

Recreation

Code Enforcement

Veteran Affairs

Economic Development

Tourist Development

Central Communications

9-1-1 Addressing

Information Technology





Some employees within the offices listed above will work remotely during this time. If citizens need assistance from these offices they may contact the main office numbers listed on www.columbiacountyfla.com or contact the main County office phone number at (386) 755-4100. The following offices will remain open as essential services:



Fire Department

9-1-1 Communications Call Center

Emergency Management

Landfill

Utilities

Public Works

Landscape

Building and Zoning

Administration

Maintenance





All Columbia County government office buildings will remain closed to the public through May 1. The County will continue to monitor the progress of COVID-19 and will assess any need for further action.

Please follow CDC guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at www.cdc.gov.

See below for how certain services will be handled during this time.

Tax Collector

As of March 26, 2020 and until further notice, the Columbia County Tax Collectors office lobbies are closed to the public. Accordingly, while our lobbies will be closed to the public, customers can continue to process transactions online at www.columbiataxcollector.com, by mail, by using our drive thru or by phone (386) 758-1077 or (386) 758-1080.

Sheriff

Office is open with controlled access to facility including the County Detention Center.

Supervisor of Elections

Main Office will be closed to the public through May 1. However, we will remain staffed and ready to assist voters of Columbia County by phone at (386) 758-1026. In-person services are available by appointment only. The Fort White Branch Office will be closed and re-open on May 6.

Clerk of Courts

Regretfully, at this time the Columbia County Clerk of Courts office has suspended marriage ceremonies and passport applications. Marriage licenses are not being issued at this time.

The Florida Supreme Court has temporarily suspended jury selection proceedings from Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, May 1, 2020.

Parties to a case should contact their attorney or appear at their next regularly scheduled court event. Please monitor the Clerks website for updates at www.columbiaclerk.com.

As a reminder, many of the services offered in our offices are provided online and are available 24/7.

 Pay traffic tickets

 Search Official Records

 Search Court Records

 Pay Court fines and costs

For any other questions regarding Clerk of Court related functions, please call (386) 758-1342.

Property Appraiser

The Columbia County Property Appraisers Office will be closed to the public through May 1. However, we will remain staffed and ready to assist the citizens of Columbia County by phone at (386) 758-1083.

The deadline for all Tax Exemptions and Agricultural Classification applications have been extended.

The Tangible Personal Property deadline has been extended until May 15, 2020. There will be no requirements for a written or oral request.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

Columbia County Health Department

Office is open, please call (386) 758-1068 for an appointment.

Columbia County Environmental Health Department

While the Courthouse Annex is closed, the Environmental Health Department will continue to serve the public by calling (386) 758-1058.

The State Department of Health has a 24/7 COVID-19 Information Line (866) 779-6121."
The Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell sharply to 41.9 in March from 49.0 in February, a survey by IHS Markit and Nikkei released on April 1 showed.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the Vietnamese manufacturing sector during March. (Photo: ndh.vn)

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the Vietnamese manufacturing sector during March, according to the survey.

Business conditions deteriorated to the greatest extent since the survey began in March 2011 amid record falls in output, new orders and employment.

Firms also scaled back purchasing activity and inventory holdings, while severe disruption to supply chains was reported. Meanwhile, business confidence also hit a new low.

The latest PMI survey data signalled a steep decline in the health of the manufacturing sector, and one that was the most marked in more than nine years of data collection. The deterioration surpassed the previous record seen in July 2012.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to substantial declines in both new orders and production during March. Both fell at the sharpest rates in the survey's history, with total new business decreasing at a broadly similar pace to new export orders.

According to the survey, around 42 percent of respondents saw manufacturing production fall at the end of the first quarter. Steep reductions were registered across each of the consumer, intermediate and investment goods sectors.

A severe drop in new orders as a result of COVID-19 led firms to lower their staffing levels. Employment fell markedly, and for the second month running. Despite job cuts, firms were still able to reduce their backlog of work given the extent of the decline in new business.

Manufacturers also looked to reduce their purchasing activity during March, with input buying down at a record pace. An unprecedented fall in stocks of purchases was signalled as a result./.VNS

5G to fuel smart manufacturing in Vietnam As 5G has already gone live in several markets around the world, people are getting a first-hand experience of the technology.
Karl Stefanovic has angrily denied spending $55,000 on hair plugs and says his new darker locks are the result of subdued studio lighting due to coronavirus cutbacks.

'It's just completely untrue,' a source close to the 45-year-old journalist told Daily Mail Australia of the transplant bill rumours.

'He doesn't know where this has come from. The idea he spent $55,000 on hair plugs is absolutely ludicrous. If he paid $55,000 for that he'd want his money back.'

The Today host appeared to have a particularly healthy-looking mane on Friday when he showed off what some believed was a new black dye job.

New look: Karl Stefanovic's hair appeared noticeably darker on the Today show on Friday (right). He has told friends the difference was due to poor lighting. Pictured left: Karl with lighter hair in 2018

Karl's hair appeared noticeably darker and thicker than it had in 2018 and earlier.

However, the source said Karl had not had a dye job and his hair instead looked different because Channel Nine staff numbers were down during the COVID-19 crisis and the studio was poorly lit.

'Everyone looks like they've got darker hair,' the source said.

The $55,000 hair plug bill rumour began last year when Woman's Day reported Karl had spent that amount on transplants over the years.

In September, Karl joked about his 'expensive' hair on This Time Next Year.

He stepped away from a woman who was burning her bra on stage, saying: 'Don't want to burn my hair and stuff. Do you know what I mean? It's expensive!'

A hair-raising figure! Last year, Woman's Day reported that Karl had spent up to $55,000 on a hair transplant. Karl has denied the claim to friends. Pictured with Georgie Gardner in 2018

In January, Karl slammed his former colleague Richard Reid and called him a 'tosser' after the gossip guru discussed his hair transplant on I'm a Celebrity.

He told The Kyle and Jackie O Show: 'When he said it, I had to turn off that show and I just thought, "You are just a tosser." Richard Reid is a tosser of the highest order!'

Just minutes later, Richard called in to offer his side of the story.

He claimed that he and Karl didn't get along during their seven years as co-hosts on Channel Nine's Today show.

War of words! In January, Karl slammed his former colleague Richard Reid (pictured) and called him a 'tosser' after the gossip guru discussed his hair transplant on I'm a Celebrity

He also defended his hair transplant revelation by saying he had 'kept Karl's name in the headlines... when he didn't have a job' in 2019.

Brushing off Karl's insult, he added with a laugh: 'At least I'm a tosser of the highest order! Does that mean I get a crown or a medal?'

When Kyle Sandilands asked directly if Richard had a problem with his ex-colleague, he replied sarcastically: 'I like Karl just fine. I like him just fine... in small doses.'

Rivals: The pair's feud went public in February 2019 when Richard - who hosted a daily Hollywood gossip segment on Today from 2008 until 2015 - let slip on I'm a Celebrity that Karl had undergone a hair transplant years earlier. Pictured with Richard Wilkins in October 2007

The pair's feud went public in February 2019 when Richard - who hosted a daily Hollywood gossip segment on Today from 2008 until 2015 - let slip on I'm a Celebrity that Karl had undergone a hair transplant years earlier.

Recalling the moment he discovered Karl's hair loss, he said: 'So I go into the hair room, and this guy looks up and he's kind of balding... It was Karl Stefanovic without his spray-on hair!

'And then he went away and got hair plugs. He had one of those six-week vacations and came back with [makes gesture for hair plugs]. And he still used the spray-on until it filled in!'

Of course, it wasn't the first time Karl's hair had made headlines.

In 2017, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that he'd undergone a transplant because he was feeling 'pressure' to look younger.

The publication claimed he'd had a 'subtle hair transplant' a few years earlier to cover thinning at the front and top.
VizyPay, a West Des Moines, Iowa-based payment processing solutions company operating in all 50 states, acquired Echo Daily, a Nevada-based point-of-sale and payment solutions company.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

Through the deal, VizyPay will accelerate its growth by gaining key employees that strengthen the sales and customer and tech support departments, opening a second office location and acquiring proprietary technologies that provide improved services for its customers. This acquisition brings together two veteran companies in the payments industry with a mutual commitment to supporting small businesses. VizyPay launched in April 2017 with a single employee operating out of a small office space and has since grown to more than 34 full-time employees led by Austin Mac Nab, CEO, and hundreds of contractors across the country. With plans for continued growth, the company will open a second office location in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and gain key Echo Daily team members, allowing the company to enhance its sales, customer service and technology support departments and attract new talent. VizyPay will also gain proprietary technology for a POS loyalty program that will expand its existing service offerings built with small business owners in mind. The company will roll out a Cash Discount program allowing business owners to pay a low, flat monthly fee for unlimited credit card processing that puts the cash back into their own pockets. As part of the acquisition, VizyPay added Jared Hackler, owner of Echo Daily, to his new role as National Sales Director overseeing the development of VizyPays sales training process. FinSMEs 03/04/2020
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 16:42:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (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 disease.

- - - -

UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday adopted a resolution on COVID-19, calling for "intensified" international cooperation to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resolution 74/270 states that the 193-member UNGA notes "with great concern" the threat to human health, safety and well-being caused by COVID-19, which continues to spread globally.

- - - -

NEW YORK -- The United States tallied over 240,000 COVID-19 cases as the global total surpassed 1 million as of Thursday night local time, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Nearly 6,000 deaths were reported across the country, with over 20 percent occurred in New York City, the data showed.

- - - -

WELLINGTON -- The New Zealand government will be introducing legislation to make changes to the Companies Act to help companies facing insolvency due to COVID-19 to remain viable and keep New Zealanders in jobs.

The temporary changes include giving directors of companies facing significant liquidity problems because of COVID-19 a "safe harbor" from insolvency duties under the Companies Act, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in a statement on Friday.

- - - -

HOUSTON -- U.S. state of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Thursday announced at a press conference the extension of the stay-at-home order through the end of April due to COVID-19 concerns.

According to the order, residents should stay at home unless going out for essential tasks, including trips to the grocery store and pharmacy.

- - - -

SAN FRANCISCO -- Governor Jay Inslee of the U.S. state of Washington on Thursday announced a month-long extension of his "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" emergency order till May 4 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The order bans all gatherings and temporarily shutters non-essential businesses.

- - - -

SYDNEY -- Despite case rates are stabilizing in the badly hit state of New South Wales (NSW) on Friday, other states in Australia went ahead with tighter border restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19.

For the first time in history, the largest state of Western Australia (WA) closed its borders to the rest of the country, taking effect from midnight on Sunday.

- - - -

PHNOM PENH -- The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a 20 million U.S. dollars credit for the Cambodia COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, the World Bank-Cambodia said in a press statement on Friday.

"This fast-tracked financing will help Cambodia confront this unprecedented global health emergency by sourcing much-needed medical supplies and facilities to diagnose and treat COVID-19, reduce the spread of infection, strengthen pandemic response capabilities, and shorten the time to recovery for both people and the economy," Inguna Dobraja, World Bank country manager for Cambodia, said in the statement.

- - - -

KABUL -- A total of 19 more confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, bringing the number of the patients carrying the disease to 273, Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said Friday.

According to the official, 15 new positive cases including 11 men and four women were confirmed in Herat province, the epicenter of the disease bordering Iran and the remaining four others were detected in other provinces.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 for a second time, the White House announced on Thursday.

In a memo, White House physician Sean Conley said Trump tested again for the virus earlier in the day, "utilizing a new, rapid point-of-care test capability."

- - - -

SEOUL -- South Korea's reported cases of the COVID-19 topped 10,000 as of midnight Friday local time as 86 more cases were confirmed for the past 24 hours.

The number of infections here totaled 10,062, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The KCDC has updated the data once a day.

- - - -

BUENOS AIRES -- The World Bank on Thursday approved a loan worth 35 million U.S. dollars to help Argentina contain the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The World Bank and the Argentinian government said in a joint statement that the loan will be used to purchase medical supplies for early detection of infections and treatment of the disease, which can lead to pneumonia.

- - - -

KIGALI -- Rwandan police said Thursday that it will strictly enforce the extended COVID-19 lockdown measures as the health ministry reported a total of 84 cases after two more people tested positive for the virus.

"Unnecessary movements, sporting activities outside homes, loitering along the roads, many people driving in one vehicle to the market are all not permitted. Whoever breaches any of those will be arrested, imprisoned and fined. Measures remain the same; stay at home," police spokesperson John Bosco Kabera said on national Rwanda television.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has risen above 1 million, according to the new tally from Johns Hopkins University on Thursday afternoon.

A total of 1,002,159 people have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus across the world, with a death toll of 51,485, while more than 200,000 patients have recovered, showed the tally updated by the university's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
New Delhi, April 3 : Delhi Police has booked an alcoholic resident of Rajokri village on the charge of violating the lockdown following a complaint by his own son.

Sources in the Vasant Kunj (South) police station said that police received a call from a resident of Rajokri, situated near the Delhi-Haryana border, on Wednesday that his alcoholic father used to roam the village and made fun of the lockdown after getting drunk.

The complainant, said to be working in a private telecom company, said that though the family had warned his father many times about the danger to his life from coronavirus and the lockdown, he was not listening to them.

A police official said on the condition of anonymity that the man was taken into custody and booked under Section 188 (disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

He was counselled on the lockdown and coronavirus prevention and later let off.
Intrastate border closures have wreaked havoc on one of the state's major money-spinning industries, forcing tourism businesses primed for a bumper season into an "early hibernation".

According to WA Tourism figures, the state government's decision to implement travel restrictions between regions will see the industry lose out on an estimated $3.81 billion from intrastate visitors alone, and $8.5 billion in total.

Rottnest Island's most famous resident  the quokka. Now, the island is being used to quarantine cruise ship passengers. Credit:Tourism Western Australia

The unprecedented restrictions came into effect on Tuesday morning, with police checkpoints and mobile patrols clamping down on travel between WA's six major regions.

Those travelling will only be allowed across borders for work, freight and construction, medical and compassionate purposes.
With coronavirus cases on the rise in Nigeria, the governor of Lagos is expanding the state's capacity to help patients by increasing the number of treatment beds and encouraging volunteers.

"We have built so much redundancy that it is unimaginable. We certainly can take ten times the number that we have currently," Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu told the Associated Press in an interview.

He spoke as health authorities on Thursday reported 98 positive cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, in Lagos state.

Sanwo-Olu, who is working from home and observing social distancing guidelines, said he did not believe all people in the state should get tested for the new virus.

"To the extent that if you don't feel unwell... there's really no need for us to begin to say to everybody on the street to come and get tested, no," Sanwo-Olu said.

He stressed that authorities were "checking, watching and tracking" across the state to try to identify positive cases and bring the outbreak under control.

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 older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

The vast majority of people recover.

The new coronavirus has caused a global pandemic that has sickened over 1 million, killed at least 53,000 worldwide, crippled economies and forced restrictions on the movement of millions of people in an effort to stop the virus from spreading further and overwhelming health care systems.




Jung Yun-hak, the leader of K-pop boy band SUPERNOVA, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment in Seoul, the band has said.







The band broke the news on its official Japanese website Friday, saying, "Having been in a bad condition, Yun-hak got tested on Tuesday, and the test result found the next day that he had been infected with the new coronavirus."







He has been admitted to a hospital in Seoul and is focusing on treatment, the website said, apologizing for "causing concern and inconvenience."







The boy band is known as "Choshinsei" in Japan and has been active in the country since its launch in 2007. In 2018, the group was renamed SUPERNOVA.







In Japan, Jung has expanded into acting and musicals.







He is the first South Korean entertainer reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 since the country's first case was confirmed in late January. (Yonhap)


MBABANE  We are reminding our members not to appear before any court unless extremely necessary. We are not an essential service.



This was said by the Vice President of the Law Society of Swaziland (LSS) Lucky Howe, who further urged lawyers to shut down their offices in light of the statement that had been issued by the government on the COVID-19 pandemic.



Howe was referring to the statement wherein the government specifically stated that all businesses and entities that were not involved in the manufacturing, supply or provision of essential goods and services should cease operation.



Government also announced that there will be a complete lockdown of all non-essential government services with effect from next week Monday until Wednesday April 15, 2020.



He said at the end of the day, the government was the ultimate authority and once it had spoken in this fashion all of our rights were diminished to a great extent including the authority of the chief justice. He said the chief justice should understand that his powers had now been reduced immensely because of the situation.



Comply



Howe went on to ask lawyers to comply with the decision of the government as they were not an essential service.

From our point of view we are advising and reminding our members of the instruction from the government. The authorities have spoken and we have to follow that as the membership, said Howe.



He further warned members of the public not to be surprised when they find that their legal representatives had closed offices and were not present in court to represent them. The vice president urged litigants to contact their lawyers through emails or any other forms of communication until the situation has normalised.



The executive of the Law Society of Swaziland is calling upon all its members and legal practitioners during this period of the worldwide COVID- 19 pandemic to limit their social and human foot print and accordingly implement social distancing measures which include closure of their offices during this period, unless extremely necessary or where rights of persons have been infringed whereupon access to the courts is justified to defer all other ordinary matters to another date, reads part of the statement issued by the LSS vice president.



Cessation



The law society further called upon the chief justice, judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court, magistrates and court personnel to join hands with them (legal fraternity) and the nation to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which might include the cessation of all trial proceedings, motion proceedings save for urgent or exceptional circumstances where the rights of persons had been infringed upon and to maintain a minimum skeletal staff for such purpose.



Likewise, all lawyers are encouraged to scale down their legal practices to a bare minimum, to work from home, file pleadings electronically and where possible postpone all ordinary matters and to likewise practice fair play with the highest ethical standards and responsibility during this difficult period,  said Howe



He concluded by stating that: Your co-operation during this difficult time will save lives. God bless you all and be safe.



Directive



Meanwhile, the CJ recently issued a directive informing all judges to continue working during this period.

You are reminded to report to work timesouly and execute your duties accordingly. You are further advised to observe the necessary precautions in the practice directive, reads part of the directive.



According to the practice directive, only judicial officers who are lawfully on leave will be excused from reporting to work.

It had been reliably gathered that the directive by the CJ did not go down well with most of the judges as they felt that by continuing coming to work they were exposing themselves to the virus.



This is not only unfair but it is also discriminatory as flexible working conditions have been made for the support staff, said one of the concerned judges.

They further noted that the directive by the chief justice did not talk about them working from home, self-isolation or quarantining themselves but only directed them to report to work timeously.



One of the judge opined that instead they should be allowed to work from home as it seems the situation was calamitous and due to the stance that had been taken by government for the containment of the virus.

We are worried why we are not allowed to work from home as lawyers do not come to court and clearly our lives are in danger. This is the time we should be working from home, writing reserved judgments, added another concerned judge.



The judges said sometimes they went to court only to find that there were no lawyers, no witnesses and no prosecutors, forcing them to postpone matters. According to the judge, this has resulted in them postponing most of the matters. It was further observed by the judges that since the outbreak of the virus, no one had met with them to discuss precautionary measures they were expected to take and they mostly relied on the media for information.



On Monday, Principal Judge Qinisile Mabuza came in court wearing a surgical mask and went on to inform lawyers that she was feeling uncomfortable as her throat was itchy and she was coughing.

The principal judge said since she was coughing, the attorneys who were in court were in danger. She pointed out that because judges had not been sensitised on COVID-19, she was not aware as to when or at what stage she was supposed to start getting worried.



No one came to have a meeting with us to tell us about the precautionary measures we need to take for the containment of the disease. No medical practitioner had come to educate us about this virus, said Judge Mabuza.



Postpone



Chief Justice was also reported to have told judges that it was not acceptable to postpone matters on condition of the coronavirus.

Following the latest development, a questionnaire was sent to the CJ through the Information Technology Officer of the Judiciary of Eswatini, Njabulo Malindzisa, but no response had been received at the time of compiling this report.
Bollywood celebrities including Raveena Tandon, Preity Zinta, Javed Akhtar, Hema Malini and Paresh Rawal have strongly condemned the attacks on doctors and cops in the cities like Indore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Their tweets came in the wake of many viral videos, wherein people of different part of the country were seen pelting stones at doctors and cops.

While slamming this brutality of people, Raveena Tandon tweeted, "Omg is this for real? We should be thanking our health workers everyday and praying for their well-being,they are sacrificing everything to beat this disease at the cost of their own lives and this is what they get from these ungrateful barbarians. #TributeToDoctorsAndForces."

Preity Zinta also raised her voice against these gruesome videos and wrote, "Sad to see that Millions are quarantined inside their homes trying 2break the corona chain while many are going hungry due 2the lockdown. Then there are those breaking quarantine and pelting stones on Cops & doctors who are working without proper PPE. Whats happening to India? #Sad."

Javed Akhtar also condemned the brutality of people and tweeted, "I strongly condemn those who have thrown stones on the doctors in Indore and hope that Indore police will not to show any leniency to them n I request others to CO-operate with the doctors Police n administration every where. The whole nation should be united to fight Korona." (sic)

Paresh Rawal too reacted to the viral videos which has left the nation all appalled and tweeted, "Just think what will happen if Doctors refuse to treat those who have treated them so inhumanly!"

Rishi Kapoor Requests People To Not Indulge In Violence During 'Coronavirus War'

Veteran actor-politician Hema Malini also reacted to the horrific incidents and tweeted, "In the midst of the entire country's appreciation of the sacrifices of doctors, health workers & paramedics comes the news of unwarranted attacks on them in Indore by ungrateful miscreants. How could a mob attack ppl who are risking their own lives to save ours? Sad! Shameful!"

We hope and pray that the citizens of India fight the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic all together without hurting anyone!

(Social media posts are unedited.)
Eleven members of Tablighi Jamaat



allegedly fled from a mosque in Shirur tehsil of Pune district after they were instructed to remain isolated there for possible exposure to novel coronavirus, police said on Friday.

According to police, none of them had attended the religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin area last month, which has emerged as a key source for the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

They had been in Pune district since February 22, police said.

"They are originally from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. None of the 11 members had attended the Nizamuddin event, but they had been stamped 'home quarantine' on April 1 as a precautionary measure," a senior officer from Pune rural police said.

"They had come to Pune on February 22. Till March 6, they were in Nana Peth area of the city and later moved to a mosque in Shirur," he said.

After the Delhi incident came to light, we instructed these 11 persons to remain isolated in the mosque and stamped them, the officer said.

"On the day they were stamped, all these people somehow escaped in a vehicle. Today, when our people went for checking, they could not be found," he said.

A case has been registered against them for breaking the rules of home quarantine and a search has been launched, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Onenew positive case of



coronavirus has been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of the affected in the state to 125, the Health department said on Friday.

"One new case has reported from since last evening to this morning...

till date 125 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed. This includes 3 deaths and 11 discharges," the department said in its mid day situation update.

The only case reported since last evening is a 75-year- old man, who is a resident of Bagalkote.

A detailed investigation is underway to ascertain how he got infected, thedepartment said adding the case was isolated in a designated hospital in Bagalkote.

The department has also appealed to any person who has attended Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz Masjid in New Delhi, to kindly contact 080-29711171 Arogya Sayavaani.

Nearly 1,000 people from Karnataka, who are linked to Tablighi-Jamaat, have been screened and so far and 10 men from Bidar and one woman from Kalaburagi, who is the contact of a person who attended the event, had tested positive, health department officials had said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in view of COVID-19, emergency Additional Chief Secretary, H&FW Department has issued an order to extend the services of Medical & Para-medical staff, Clinical & Nonclinical staff for the next three months till June 30, 2020, who retire in April & May 2020.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samsung began rolling out the One UI 2.1 update to the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 phones last week. The update was initially released in a couple of European markets. The company has now announced that the new software will be available for Galaxy S10 and Note 10 phones in the US starting today, April 3.

One UI 2.1 brings some popular Galaxy S20 features to Samsungs older flagships. The list includes quite a few fan-favorite camera features.

Theres Single Take, a new camera mode that lets you capture multiple photos and videos at once. Samsungs integrated AI technology then recommends the best shot for you out of all of them.

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Samsungs new software also lets users create a custom image filter with colors and styles of their liking.

With the new My filters feature, users can select an existing photo and use it to create their own filter. Those filters can be saved for later reuse as well. Night Hyperlaspe and improved camera Night Mode are also part of Samsungs One UI 2.1.

The Pro Video mode, meanwhile, gives videographers more control over their Samsung Galaxy camera. Users can adjust settings like ISO, shutter speed and exposure level for videos to capture a scene just the way they like. It also allows them to switch between the front and rear cameras while recording video.

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One UI 2.1 also adds Clean View and Quick Crop features to the Gallery app. Clean View automatically groups all photos of the same subject together, while Quick Crop lets you crop images quickly by zooming in on them. With the new Quick Share feature, you can easily share photos, videos, and other files directly with nearby Galaxy users.

Last but not the least, One UI 2.1 brings a Music Share feature that lets you share your paired Bluetooth connection with a friend.

One UI 2.1 update for Galaxy S10 and Note 10 in the US

One UI 2.1, the latest iteration of Samsungs custom Android skin, first shipped with the Galaxy S20 series and the Galaxy Z Flip. Samsung has now released the new software for Galaxy S10, Note 10, and the Galaxy Fold as well.

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Starting today, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 users in the US will be receiving the One UI 2.1 update over the air (OTA). The OTA download size weighs in at around 1.5GB, though it may vary according to device model and carrier.

The factory-unlocked Galaxy S10 and Note 10 units will most likely receive the update first. Do keep in mind that updates are released in stages and may not be available for all eligible devices straightaway.

You should receive a notification once the update becomes available for your unit. You can also manually check for the update from the Software update menu in your phones Settings app.
Silicon Valley-based insurance company, Go, is now offering a 50% discount on auto insurance to all essential workers in Texas who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

Go has partnered with Redpoint County Mutual Insurance Co. to offer coverage in Texas.

The Go Essential Transactions, or GET Program, will provide auto insurance at 50% off of standard premiums for all Texans on the front lines of the unprecedented COVID-19 fight, such as those who work in health care, police, fire departments, grocery stores, pharmacies, news media and banks.

Additionally, immediate family members of essential workers will be able to receive a 25% discount on their auto insurance policies, the company said.

Examples of essential services include: healthcare operations; grocery stores, water retailers; food cultivation including farming, livestock, and fishing; organizations that provide food, shelter, and social services; newspapers, TV, radio, and other media services; gas service stations, auto supply; banks, credit unions, financial institutions, and insurance companies; plumbers, electricians, carpenters; and educational institutions.

Source: Go

Topics Carriers Texas Auto
Coronation Street star Alan Halsall has paid tribute to his girlfriend Tisha Merry on their one year anniversary.

After sharing a picture of them together on Instagram on Thursday, he wrote about how happy she has made him.

Alan, 37, best known for playing hapless Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap, penned: '1 year. 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. 8760 hours. 525,600 minutes. 31,536,000 seconds.......& Ive loved every second .

'What a difference a year makes': Corrie's Alan Halsall shared a romantic tribute to girlfriend Tisha Merry on their anniversary on Instagram on Thursday

'What a difference you make to my life': Alan's words were very romantic and no doubt put a smile on Tisha's face

'What a difference a year makes & what a difference you make to my life!! Happy anniversary. I love you x.'

The day before, Alan revealed he was feeling pretty nervous as his stunning girlfriend was cut his hair while they were in lockdown together due to the coronavirus.

Alan recently said he had 'everything he needed to self-quarantine' as he was with Tisha and his daughter, Sienna-Rae, six.

Love is all uou need: Alan has been in quarantine with Tisha and his daughter Sienna

Tisha, 26, met Alan on the Corrie cobbles when she played Steph Britton.

Alan shares his daughter Sienna with ex Lucy-Jo, 36, who he was married to for almost a decade before the actors parted ways in 2018.

He publicly announced his relationship with Tisha in May 2019, and the inseparable pair regularly take to social media to share their special moments.

Big role: Alan is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street (pictured opposite Jennie McAlpine as Fiz in 2018)

The Corrie couple recently returned from a luxury break in the Dominican Republic where they soaked up the sun in scenic five-star resort Excellence El Carmen.

Alan recently revealed he's already feeling pressured to propose to Tisha, despite it only being months after the pair publicly confirmed their romance.

He told The Mirror he's still in the throngs of early love with his girlfriend, and is in no rush to pop the question.

He said: 'The pressure is there from day one but weve not been together that long, so I think well just enjoy ourselves for now.'
Medical workers screen people at a drive-through testing center for the new coronavirus in New Orleans. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

COVID-19 has moved quickly across Louisiana, killing hundreds and infecting thousands of all ages and walks of life in the Pelican State. Among the dead this last week: A 46-year-old registered nurse, a 33-year-old member of Gov. John Bel Edwards' staff and 85-year-old Ellis Marsalis Jr., the renowned Jazz patriarch.

On Thursday, the state reported a 40% increase in new cases, 9,150 total infections and 310 deaths. Edwards called the spike "jarring," but said it resulted from a testing backlog at private labs and was not a measure of how well mitigation efforts like social distancing have worked. Edwards was among governors who issued stay-at-home orders earlier this month to stop the virus from spreading, but some have resisted, including at least one church that has continued to hold services.

The situation remains concerning, but every Louisianan has the power to change the path we are on, the Democratic governor said Thursday. Think of your neighbors, and please stay at home.

Edwards has warned that the state could run out of hospital beds and ventilators as soon as Sunday. As the governors of nearby states this week forced those leaving Louisiana to quarantine for two weeks, many in New Orleans were reminded of being branded Katrina refugees when they evacuated. At Tulane Medical Center, intensive care Dr. Joshua Denson echoed a concern of fellow Katrina survivors: that the federal disaster response to the outbreak in New Orleans would fall short.

New York is going to get what they need, but I worry well get left out, said Denson, who emerged from quarantine last week after diagnosing the hospitals second case of the virus.

The city and state have high rates of obesity, diabetes and other underlying conditions, he noted, so the outbreak has reached more age groups. Of 89 people who died after testing positive for COVID-19 in Louisiana last week, 41% had diabetes; over a third had chronic kidney disease and 28% were obese, state health officials said.

Story continues

Denson has seen a slow, steady onslaught of patients placed on ventilators for several weeks, some in their 20s and 30s. More than half of the intensive care COVID-19 patients he has seen have died; others were near death this week.

They probably will be left with a severe disability. My recommendation would be a palliative care approach, but its hard to have those conversations with patients isolated from relatives due to the virus, he said.

New Orleans hospitals were converting operating rooms and other units into COVID-19 treatment areas this week, searching for additional staff, ventilators and dialysis machines for the coronavirus patients, whose kidneys often fail. National Guard troops were racing to build a temporary 3,000-bed hospital in the citys convention center.

The specter of patients converging on the convention center conjured images of the overwhelmed Superdome after Katrina.

Were not talking about a shelter; were talking about hospital-level care, with nurses and privacy barriers, said Dr. Joseph Kanter, assistant state health officer and medical director for the New Orleans region.

Kanter said state officials were preparing for up to 4,000 additional patients, a quarter of whom will need ventilators. They ordered 14,000  5,000 of them from the federal stockpile. President Trump has promised to send 150. Its not clear how many will go to New Orleans, Kanter said.

As of Thursday, 47 nursing homes across the state had reported COVID-19 outbreaks, including Lambeth House in New Orleans, where 53 residents have tested positive and 13 have died.

In the city's Uptown neighborhood, 63-year-old Theresa Elloie died of the virus on March 24. Elloie was a regular at her familys bar, Sportsmans Corner, a Mardi Gras second-line parade stop where she would craft holiday corsages. She didnt have any underlying conditions and initially suffered mild flu-like symptoms before being hospitalized on a ventilator around St. Patrick's Day, her son said.

They did everything they could, said Leon Elloie, 39. Everything just started failing.

He and other relatives have self-quarantined.

It look like anybody can get this, he said.

In the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans last weekend, people who knew some of those with COVID-19 who had died gathered as usual under a community tree. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times)

Down the street from Sportsmans Corner last weekend, 10 neighbors who knew Elloie rested in the shade of a community sycamore tree, sipping beer. Two men set up a card table to play dominoes, one with a surgical mask around his neck. No one else had masks or gloves or was practicing social distancing. The group said they didnt see the difference between gathering under the tree or on someones porch, as others had.

Hairstylist Keyoka Perkins said she instructed her five children, ages 5 to 22, to stay home to avoid infection. But I keep going out, so it may be defeating the purpose, she said.

Kevin Murray, 54, who works for the local sewer and water board, said his 38-year-old daughter was quarantined at home with symptoms.

I know lots of people thats infected with it, he said.

Dr. David Mushatt, head of infectious diseases at Tulane University, was quarantined this week after being exposed to the virus, likely by two men he treated who didnt initially appear to have it but later tested positive.

The intensity of the epidemic is very high here, Mushatt said by phone from home. Our hospitals are very stressed right now.

The virus has spread among healthcare workers, even though New Orleans hospitals have set up areas in recent weeks to treat new patients suspected of having the disease. An estimated 25% of those with the virus don't have symptoms, according to studies from China.

Tulane doctors recently began tracking COVID-19 patients for a study, Denson said. Medical students got thousands of surgical masks from industrial suppliers. The universitys primate center figured out how to decontaminate hundreds of used masks with hydrogen peroxide vapor. Cajun Navy volunteers, accustomed to helping neighbors during hurricanes, brought more.

The supply bottleneck seems to be improving, said Ecoee Rooney, president of the New Orleans District Nurses Assn. and president-elect of the state nurses association. There are resources that are pouring in to our region now.

But a New Orleans healthcare provider who asked not to be identified because he wasnt authorized to speak said his hospital was still running low on masks and other protective gear, and were getting new guidelines about how to conserve every day.

COVID-19 patients outnumbered other admissions to his hospital 10 to 1, he said.

Almost all of our ICU beds are currently dedicated to caring for people with COVID. We have dozens of people on ventilators for COVID, he said. Every team has become a COVID team. Its spooky, and its similar to what I hear from New York. New Orleans is a very vulnerable city.

A New Orleans nurse who also asked not to be identified said she was forced to reuse N95 masks this week with COVID-19 patients in intensive care.

Anytime you reuse any equipment that has been in the vicinity of a patient who has tested positive, theres a concern for contracting COVID, she said. We have to do the best we can with what we have.

She hasn't had to make patients share ventilators, but said colleagues were preparing to. They were only allowing relatives to see dying patients through a window, she said. Nurses had to keep their distance, too.

Normally If Im with somebody at end of life and their family cant be there, Im going to be in there holding their hand as they pass away," she said. "But we cant do that because were concerned we might catch this. It would have been using up valuable [protective equipment] that we need to take care of other people.
Two persons, who had attendedTablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi last month, are among six people who tested positive for coronavirus in Punjab on Friday, officials said.

With this, the total count of coronavirus cases in the state rose to 53, they said.

Two fresh cases were reported from Mohali, three Amritsar and one Ludhiana, according to a media bulletin.

"Two more positive cases in Mohali district. They had attended a religious congregation in Delhi," Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan tweeted.

Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta on Thursday said around 200 people from Punjab had visited Delhi's Nizamuddin for the congregation, affecting 12 districts in the state.

Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin West has emerged as the biggest hotspot of coronavirus in the country, following which a major area has been sealed and an FIR lodged against its cleric for violating government orders.

On Monday, the Telangana government had said that six people who attended the religious congregation between March 13 and 15 died due to coronavirus.

Subsequently, 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.

Of the total 53 cases in Punjab, Nawanshahr reported 19, Mohali 12, Hoshiarpur 7, Jalandhar and Amritsar five each, Ludhiana four and Patiala one.

The figure includes five deaths and one patient who was discharged from hospital after his second test results came negative.

A total of 1,585 samples have been taken in the state so far. Of this, 1,381 samples were negative and reports of 151 samples were awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A federal judge on Thursday declined to postpone Wisconsin's scheduled April 7 presidential primaries amid widespread worries that holding elections during the coronavirus pandemic could risk public health and curtail access to the polls.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge William Conley means Wisconsin will remain the only one of 11 states originally scheduled to hold contests in April that has not postponed or dramatically altered voting amid the pandemic.

However, in a 53-page ruling, Conley extended the deadline for absentee ballots to be requested by voters from Thursday to Friday, and extended the deadline for completed ballots to be received by local election officials by six days: from 8 p.m. on April 7 to 4 p.m. on April 13.

He also prohibited the state from enforcing the requirement that absentee ballot envelopes bear a witness signature when voters include a statement that they were unable to obtain one safely.

Conley made clear that he disagreed with the state's decision to go forward with the election, but he explained that he was constrained to consider only the constitutional rights of voters - not public health.

"Without doubt, the April 7 election day will create unprecedented burdens not just for aspiring voters, but also for poll workers, clerks, and indeed the state," Conley wrote. "As much as the court would prefer that the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor consider the public health ahead of any political considerations, that does not appear in the cards. Nor is it appropriate for a federal-district court to act as the state's chief health official by taking that step for them."

Conley also reserved the right to judge that voters' rights have been infringed - something that he said could not be assessed until Election Day.

It is unclear what action he would take if he concluded that, as he wrote, "the actual voter turnout, ability to vote on election day or overall conduct of the election and counting votes timely has undermined citizens' right to vote."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., this week urged state officials this week to postpone the contest, but former vice president Joe Biden told reporters Thursday that the question is "for the Wisconsin courts and folks to decide," adding that he thinks it's possible to hold an election during the pandemic with more mail-in balloting.

Voting-rights activists and local election administrators in Wisconsin painted a dire portrait of the risk of infection to poll workers and voters, saying how difficult it would be to administer elections under those circumstances.

More than 100 municipalities reported not having enough poll workers to open a single voting location. State officials predicted that tens of thousands of voters who have flooded election offices with mail-ballot requests in recent days were at risk of not receiving them on time.

Scott McDonell, the Dane County clerk, who spent Thursday distributing to city and town election officials masks, gloves and "170 proof" sanitizer cooked up by a local distillery, said his biggest concern is the likely spread of the virus on Tuesday. New projections place April 7 near the peak of Wisconsin's coronavirus outbreak.

"I agree with the judge that it's extremely dangerous for us to go forward with an election right as this pandemic is accelerating," McDonell said. "But that's what's going to happen, so we're planning the best we can right now to make it work on Tuesday."

Leaders in the Republican-controlled legislature argued that moving the voting date so late in the process would sow confusion and create a leadership vacuum in cities and towns holding contests for municipal posts that will be vacant as early as mid-April.

Voting rights groups turned to the federal courts for intervention, supported by national Democrats and some county clerks in the state. National Republicans are helping defend the decision to go forward with voting next week.

A lawyer for the Republican National Committee and the Wisconsin Republican Party, Patrick Strawbridge, filed a notice of appeal soon after Conley issued his opinion.

The Republican legislature filed an appeal Thursday, too.

"It is unprecedented to allow votes to be cast after Election Day has already occurred, and we are appealing the judge's decision in order to uphold the integrity of our elections," RNC national press secretary Mandi Merritt said in a statement.

The power to delay an election in Wisconsin lies with the legislature, but Scott Fitzgerald, the Republican majority leader in the Senate, and the Republican House speaker, Robin Vos, noted that Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, did not push to postpone Tuesday's vote, either.

"If I could have changed the election on my own I would have but I can't without violating state law," the governor said in a statement Wednesday night. "I've asked the legislature to do its part to ensure a fair and safe election and I hope we can get some clarity as soon as possible."

Evers announced Wednesday that he will deploy the Wisconsin National Guard to help staff polling locations with sharp deficits of workers. Election officials have not yet been told how many soldiers will be deployed to each locality.

At a news conference Wednesday, Vos said he plans to volunteer at the polls Tuesday, and encouraged others to do the same.

"I feel safe being there because of the safeguards being put in place by local governments and the Wisconsin Elections Commission," Vos said. "If you're bored at home and sick of watching Netflix, volunteer to go and help at the polls."

Evers had previously asked for mail ballots to be sent to every registered voter. He also asked the legislature to lift photo ID requirements for mail-in voters, extend in-person early voting through the final weekend before the election and move back the deadlines for returning absentee ballots, as well as counting them. The legislature had rejected his requests.

"In the absence of the Legislature doing its part to ensure a fair and safe election, I appreciate that the court chose to implement some of the common-sense solutions that I've been advocating for," the governor said in a statement Thursday. "It's great news that Wisconsinites will have more time to request and submit a ballot and that clerks will have more time to count ballots. I continue to encourage every Wisconsinite to request their absentee ballot and vote safely from home."

Now, with Biden holding a dominant lead in the delegate count against Sanders, state and local election officials said they expect a less robust turnout for the Democratic primary.

Democrats and voting activists have accused Republican lawmakers of trying to suppress voter turnout intentionally to help an incumbent candidate for the state Supreme Court, conservative Justice Daniel Kelly, keep his seat.

In late 2018, GOP lawmakers considered changing the date of the Democratic presidential primary, which was expected to draw high turnout, to protect Kelly's candidacy. At the time, Fitzgerald said that moving the Democratic contest to March would give the justice a "better chance" of winning.

- - -

The Washington Post's Matt Viser contributed to this report.
On Monday, Capt. Brett Crozier, the commander of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, sent a letter to the Navy pleading for permission to unload his crew, including scores of sailors sickened with Covid-19, in Guam, where it was docked. The Pentagon had been dragging its feet, and the situation on the ship was growing dire.

We are not at war, he wrote. 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.

After the letter was leaked to The San Francisco Chronicle, the Navy relented. But on Thursday, it relieved Captain Crozier of his command.

Captain Crozier joins a growing list of heroic men and women who have risked their careers over the last few weeks to speak out about life-threatening failures to treat the victims of this terrible pandemic. Many of them are doctors and nurses, and many of them, like Captain Crozier, have been punished. All of them deserve our deepest gratitude.
"We are very fortunate and proud to have Julie Long as part of our team"

New FED Mortgage Corp. congratulates Julie Long for ranking as a Scotsman Guide 2019 Top Originator. Julie Long was ranked #78 ranking with 492 in closed loans and #92 in Top Dollar Volume of $170,247,883 in fundings.

Scotsman Guide, the leading resource for mortgage originators, released its annual Top Originators rankings on April 1 for the previous year. The list, which ranks the nations top mortgage producers, appears in Scotsman Guides April 2020 residential edition, and the rankings are available online at Scotsmanguide.com/rankings/top-originators.

Julie was ranked among entries from more than 2,600 mortgage professionals across the country, and she has made this coveted list in past years. To be eligible for initial consideration in Scotsman Guides Top Originators ranking, originators must have had at least $40 million in loan volume or closed 100 or more loans in calendar year 2019. After receiving submissions, Scotsman Guide required written verification of top entrants volume from a certified public accountant, the chief financial officer at the originators company or a similar source.

Julie started her mortgage banking career in 2011, and her tenacious attention in providing quality fast service has been a key aspect with her successful career in the mortgage business. She strategizes to the individual needs of her clients and offers options that best suit their financial goals. Julie is most importantly a mom, residing in Southern New Hampshire with her daughter.

New Fed Mortgage, based in Massachusetts has specialized in residential retail lending since 2001. Licensed in 11 states, the company is an approved Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Seller Servicer Lender that offers a multitude of mortgage programs and products. New Fed Mortgage President, Brian DAmico commented We are very fortunate and proud to have Julie Long as part of our team. She joined our company in early 2019 and has consistently proven to be an exceptional hard working professional that is admired by her peers.

Scotsman Guide Media Inc. publishes a residential edition and a commercial edition of Scotsman Guide, in addition to Scotsman Guide News, Loan Post, Scotsman Guide Community and other platforms at ScotsmanGuide.com. Each month, the magazines reach tens of thousands of subscribers nationwide. Scotsman Guide is the leading resource for mortgage originators and connects mortgage originators with wholesale and commercial lenders.
The first phase of online learning activities for the students of Delhi government schools up to Class 8 has been launched, with different activities being sent to parents through text messages in the wake of the nationwide lockdown till April 14 due to the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Friday.

The city government also plans to start live online classes for senior students, they added.

"Namaste. It is important that the studies of your child are not hampered due to the shutdown of schools. That is why we will be sending a new activity to you everyday. I would request you to do that activity with your child," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said in a text message sent out to parents on April 1.

According to a Delhi government official, Friday's activity was sent out to 28,663 parents of kindergarten students, asking the kids to identify the vegetables cooked at home and draw and colour pictures of the same.

"Through this activity, the message to the parents was to see any item in the household as potential learning material. Another exercise for the students of Classes 1 and 2 was sent on Friday to encourage them to estimate the number of items available at home, which they can hold in their hand, and then actually hold them.

"With an aim to connect with the elders of their families through stories, the students of Classes 3 to 5 were assigned the task to listen to a story from their grandparents and parents of their time," the official said.

According to the Union Health Ministry, 2,301 COVID-19 cases and 56 deaths have been reported in India so far. Twelve deaths due to the coronavirus have been reported since Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Editor's Note: With so much market volatility, stay on top of daily news! Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news and expert opinions. Sign up here!

(Kitco News) - The gold market is seeing a modest push higher as the U.S. economy lost 701,000 jobs in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The data was a lot worse than expected as economists were expecting to see the economy shed 100,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate came in at 4.4%, compared to Februarys level at 3.5%; consensus forecasts were calling for a reading at 3.8%.

There is some mixed sentiment in the marketplace following the weaker than expected data. The gold market is steady to modestly higher on the day following the weak employment report. June gold futures last traded at $1,644.20 an ounce, up 0.42% on the day.

While the U.S. economy is starting to lose jobs, wages picked up in March. The report said that average hourly wages increased by 11 cents or 0.4% to $28.62. Wages are up 3.1% for the year.

The monthly nonfarm payrolls report is traditionally highly anticipated and a critical gauge for the health of the U.S economy; however, many economists were dismissing the data ahead of the release saying that it wouldnt capture the full extent of the weakness in the labor market.

We do not expect that acute stress to be reflected in the employment report released on Friday, said economists at Nomura ahead of Fridays numbers. The March employment report is likely to be a poor preview of what lies ahead.

Thursday, weekly jobless claims showed that 6.6 million people applied for unemployment insurance last week. The record number of claims doubled the previous weeks level of 3.3 million. The U.S. economy has come to a screeching halt as states and cities initiate lockdown measures, asking people to stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Most economists have said that they are waiting for Aprils employment report to see how the spreading coronavirus has impacted the U.S. economy and labor market.

"The April report will be far worse," said Adam Button, managing director at Forexlive.com

Andrew Grantham, senior economist at CIBC, also said that he expects the worst is still to come.

Given the scale of job losses implied by those weekly claims figures, the unemployment rate will likely move above 10% in short order in Q2, he said.

Along with the disappointing headline data, the report also highlighted downward revision at the start of the year. The bureau said that Januarys employment numbers were revised down 59,000 to +214,000 from +273,000. Meanwhile, February was revised up by 2,000 to +275,000 from +273,000.
Life on the margins: People wait outside of a gate to receive relief supplies provided by local police authorities amid the Covid-19 outbreak in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photo: REUTERS

Peru tried to do everything right. Officials declared an early lockdown - and backed it up with 16,000 arrests. Yet cases of coronavirus are surging, up nearly 60pc since last weekend.

In Egypt, observers say a repressive government is vastly undercounting the infected. In Brazil, where the president has dubbed Latin America's largest outbreak a "fantasy", numbers are skyrocketing.

New York hospitals and Italian villages are the current front lines of the global pandemic. But epidemiologists and other public health experts say coronavirus is poised to spread dangerously south, engulfing developing nations already plagued by fraying health-care systems, fragile governments and impoverished populations for whom social distancing can be practically impossible.

"In three to six weeks, Europe and America will continue in the throes of this - but there is no doubt the centre will move to places like Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro and Monrovia," said Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. "We need to be very worried."

There's rising concern the epidemic will continue to build and spread in the Southern Hemisphere winter, raising the potential for retransmission to North America, Europe and Asia.

"There is certainly a significant risk," said Stephen Morisson, director of the Global Health Policy Centre at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "It is a highly fast-moving, highly transmissible virus that is expected to continue its circulation around the planet.

"Downstream, as we approach the next wave - winter 2020-2021 - we have to be worried about importation of the virus from the Southern Hemisphere."

The pandemic is already confronting some of the world's poorest nations with their greatest economic challenge in decades. Income losses in the developing world are expected to exceed 202bn, the United Nations has warned. Nearly half of all jobs in Africa could be lost.

European governments are paying furloughed workers the majority of their salaries, and millions of Americans who lose their jobs will have access to unemployment benefits. But billions of people in Africa, South Asia and parts of Latin America and the Caribbean live life on the margins with little or no social safety net.

They are street vendors, house cleaners, motorcycle-taxi drivers. They live off what they earn for the day. They frequently lack property, or savings. Running water. Refrigerators. They're being told to distance themselves socially while they sleep in rooms crammed in some cases with a dozen or more people.

Umm Muhammad, a single mother in Alexandria, Egypt, has lived without her 69 salary since the outbreak forced the clothing factory where she worked to close three weeks ago.

"We are the people who are below rock bottom," she said. "Now we are perishing."

In Egypt, experts fear the number of infected could be at least 10 times greater than the 609 confirmed by the authoritarian government.

Analysts say the health system would not be equipped to deal with larger numbers. The country has 0.5 hospital beds for every 1,000 people, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The US has 2.8. South Korea has 12.3.

Experts say there's no official count of intensive-care beds or ventilators.

Mumbai anesthesiologist Atul Kulkarni, editor of the 'Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine', has estimated there are about 67,000 intensive-care beds in the country of 1.3 billion. State-level resources paint a grimmer picture: One study found that Madhya Pradesh, home to more than 70 million people, had just 1,816 intensive-care beds.

A spike in infections would quickly overwhelm those resources. In a worst-case scenario, a group of epidemiologists and biostatisticians predicted, India could have 915,000 infections by May 15.

To prepare, India has banned the export of goods that could be crucial in the fight against the coronavirus, including ventilators, surgical masks and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, now being studied as a possible treatment for Covid-19 - a decision that could complicate the ability of other developing nations to obtain them.

Ibrahima Soce Fall, the World Health Organisation's assistant director general for emergency response, said the extent to which the virus spreads in a country depends on how authorities manage their first clusters - "and a lot of countries are not responding well".

One silver lining, he said, is that outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola have trained some developing countries to closely follow WHO advice - something many are now rigorously doing.

The IMF and World Bank are moving to offer billions of dollars in emergency loans to poor and middle-income nations. But they have warned it's unlikely to be enough, and some developing nations will require substantial debt relief.

Citizens of poor nations living under weak or repressive governments are at particular risk of finding themselves cast toward the bottom of the global scrum for scarce medicines and ventilators. ( Washington Post)

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

 Washington Post
Climate Change Officer, Bridgetown, Barbados

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Barbados

City: Bridgetown, Barbados

Office: UNDP Bridgetown, Barbados

Grade: NO-B

Closing date: Monday, 13 April 2020

Job ID: 29791

Practice Area - Job Family: Environment and Energy

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 13/04/2020

Duty Station: Bridgetown, Barbados

Education & Work Experience: I-Masters Level Degree - 2 year(s) experience

Languages: English

Grade: NOB

Vacancy Type: TA Local

Posting Type: External

Bureau: Latin America & the Caribbean

Contract Duration: One Year

Suitably Qualified Nationals of Barbados, Nationals of the Eastern Caribbean who have legal status to work in Barbados are encouraged to apply.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) operates in over 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, to reduce inequalities and to increase sustainability. Within this challenging scenario, partnership development is a crucial aspect for the achievement of UNDP goals and the engagement of different institutions among the private and public sectors.

Climate change is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people. The global response to this challenge must be just, inclusive, and leave no one behind, while seeking the most efficient climate solutions that advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals at once. UNDP has recently launched its ambitious Climate Promise which will support 100 countries to enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement by 2020, with demonstrated increase in ambition for greater emissions reduction and resilience building. To deliver this promise, UNDP is leveraging its extensive expertise and capacities across the world, including through our donors and partners, to support country offices.

In cooperation with the Italian ministry of Environment, UNDP will deploy a National Officer/Advisor to boost the capacities of the country office to manage the growing demand of support from the government in the areas of climate and environment policy advisory and programming support, particularly in delivering the Climate Promise support in 2020.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean DRR, in close consultation with the UNDP Cluster Head of Sustainable Solutions and Energy and the overall guidance of the Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development (ACSD) Coordinator, the National Officer will be expected to assist with the following activities and tasks:

1. Delivery, monitoring and reporting of Climate Promise and Environment related projects

Conduct thorough analysis and research of the political, social, economic and environmental situation in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries and Territories covered by the Barbados MCO, and preparation of substantive inputs to strategies, reviews, evaluations and project designs;

Support the preparation of at least two (2) environment related project proposals;

Review and revise workplans and budgets and provide inputs to the preparation of results-based work plans;

Coordinate day-to-day implementation of climate promise and environment related projects

Support the preparation of project progress reports and related presentations, briefings, knowledge products and relevant documents as required;

Support the quality assurance of the portfolio through the substantive and financial monitoring of projects, including through filed visits, to identify operational bottlenecks and develop recommendations for effective solutions; Liaise with the regional technical advisor/hub focal point on the implementation progress and advise of any deviations from the project plan;

Manage information flows and oversee project implementation in cooperation with the ACSD office and regional technical advisor/hub focal point;

Support the recruitment of consultants and the administration of contracts through: drafting TORs, finalizing advertisements, screening, long and short listing, interviews;

Maintain records of project files and other supporting documents;

Prepare project completion reports and ensure compliance with contractual obligations;

Tags climate change conflict resolution emissions reduction environmental management environmental protection food security international relations knowledge management knowledge products latin america legal status monitoring and reporting natural resource management natural resources non governmental organizations project implementation project management public administration public sector social sciences sustainable development sustainable development goals

Provide strategic support to all aspects of the climate and environment portfolio through anticipatory action, proactive monitoring, data mining, production of studies and processes supporting the alignment of the portfolio targets with the UNDP Business Plan;

1. Stakeholder management, partnership coordination, and external relations

Support the coordination and management of communications with donors, implementing partners, and other cooperation agencies under the supervision of the DRR;

Liaise and build relationships with government counterparts, other United Nations (UN) agencies, international non-governmental organizations (I/NGOS), academia, private sector, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders;

Support the establishment of strategic partnerships and management of external relations;

Conduct analysis and research of information on partners and donors for the preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of cooperation opportunities;

Knowledge management and innovation

Contribute to knowledge building and sharing related to the current and emerging trends in the fields of sustainable development, climate change, energy, resource efficiency;

Contribute to the compilation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned through relevant knowledge platforms including the UNDP Global Community of Practices related to Energy, Climate and Environment;

Identify and synthesize of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to the Climate Promise and the climate/environment portfolio;

Keep well-informed of new developments and innovative approaches/solutions in the areas of climate change and environmental management and actively contribute to the office learning process and corporate knowledge tools

Competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Delivery

Ability to get things done

Level 4: Originate (Peer Regarded Lead Expert)

Project Management

Knowledge of project and programme development work and the ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Quality of work

Ability to deliver high-quality work and manage competing priorities in time sensitive situations

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Analytic sense

Ability to evaluates information accurately and identifies key issues required to resolve problems

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Teamwork and task resolution

Ability to work in teams and across units effectively and shows conflict resolution skills

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Secondary

Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Inter-personal skills

Ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural environment

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Self reliance

Ability to establishes priorities for his-herself, schedules activities to ensure optimum use of time and resources

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Sensitivity and adaptability

Displays cultural, gender, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Commitment to UNDP

Demonstrates commitment to UNDPs mission, vision and values

Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in International Relations, Public Administration, Law, natural or social sciences related to natural resources management and/or sustainable development

Experience:

A minimum of two years of work experience related to sustainable development, climate change, natural resource management or environmental protection;

2. Demonstrated experience in the areas of project development, planning, implementation, and monitoring;

3. Experience working with the UN or another international organization would be considered an advantage;

4. Experience working with multi-donor and/or vertical funded (GCF, GEF, AF, LDCF/SCCF) projects is highly desirable;

5. Experience working in a multi-cultural setting is desired;

Experience in the use of an ERP system is an added advantage;

Language Requirements:

Fluency in oral and written English;
Uber Eats is adding a button that lets users donate to restaurants affected by an ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The button will be in-app and will feature several different suggested donations, including a baseline $2 option, according to The Verge. All of the donated amount will go directly to the restaurant, Uber says.

The company will also match contributions dollar-for-dollar going up to $3 million with proceeds going to the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, which is managed the National Restaurant Association.

Uber Eats is the ride-hailing giants' delivery service. It would likely be the jumping off points for any test kits

The association, a trade group that represents restaurant workers across the US said that restaurants and employees affected by an ongoing pandemic can apply for grants that offer relief.

It says that money will be awarded 'as soon as possible' by the association as soon as the claim is verified.

Yelp, which also offers delivery services, has set up similar fundraising efforts for restaurants affected by the pandemic but has taken flack for automatically opting in partners.

Uber said that it hasn't yet asked restaurants if they want to participated in the donation efforts but said partners will have an easy way to opt out.

As the coronavirus pandemic grows, Uber, as well as it's main ride-hailing competitor Lyft have both amended their businesses, including the decision to suspend Uber Pool in the US and Canada to help limit the virus' spread.

The pooled option allows riders to book trips at lower prices by sharing the car with up to three other passengers traveling in the same direction.

Uber announced previously that it may temporarily suspend accounts of riders and drivers who have tested positive for the coronavirus or been exposed to it at the direction of health authorities (stock)

However, the ride-sharing giant has disabled the option in order to help the public maintain social-distancing during the pandemic.

Regular rides and the firm's food delivery platform Uber Eats remain available, but Uber said it was in contact with local authorities to adjust operations as needed.

Additionally, Uber joined other car companies in its decision to suspend self-driving rides and tests.
Nalova Lyonga, Minister of Secondary Education Archives

Cameroons Government shut down schools nationwide on March 18 for an uncertain period as part of measures to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The uncertainty notwithstanding, the Minister of Secondary Education has instructed proprietors of secondary schools to pay March salaries for their staff as well as other statutory emoluments.

Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga made the recommendations in Circular Letter No. 09/20/LC/MINESEC/CAB of March 27, 2020 on the management of Government and private secondary schools during the period of class restriction due to COVID-19.

Further to the measures instructed by the President of the Republic in order to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), specifically with regard to the closure of government and private schools for the period of fifteen (15) days renewable from 18 March 2020, measures that were announced by the Prime Minister, Head of government, will you please ensure the payment of March salaries to teachers in private schools and part-time staff, support staff as well as output incentives, the communique read in part.

Still, at the administrative level, Minister Nalova said, while routine administrative activities should continue pending further instructions, the administration should ensure that students and other users do not access school premises.

The Minister further directed that the administration should draw up work schedules for all staff in order to avoid overstaffing in the offices, and in strict compliance with the instruction to keep at least one-metre distance between staff members during the above-mentioned period.

The Minister also stressed that apart from disseminating recommended hygiene measures through posters on school campuses and other MINESEC facilities, stakeholders should urgently create and use distance working platforms agreed on with MINESEC.

At the pedagogic level, the Minister prescribed that course materials, (audio, video, digital, and hardcopy) should be prepared as soon as possible under the coordination of the General Inspectorate of Education through its various divisions to enable students to access knowledge and evaluation without interruption.

While suspending sine die, teaching practice for student teachers in ENS and ENSET, it was ordered that internships in companies for technical education students continue till further notice, and that it should be done in strict compliance with the national plan for the prevention and response to COVID-19.

On the infrastructural level, Prof. Nalova called on all to make sure there are toilets and hand-washing facilities in the various structures. Above all, the Minister reminded stakeholders that the implementation of these measures is a collective responsibility of each and every one to save lives.

Some inspectors appreciated the move taken by the Minister but stated that the main problem they are facing is a slow and unsteady internet connection. They urged the administration to ensure fast and constant internet services to help access and disseminate documents.

As we went to press, Cameroon had confirmed 306 cases of the novel coronavirus, eight deaths and 10 recoveries. The Prime Minister had on April 1, 2020 extended the anti-coronavirus restrictive measures for a 15-day period which includes the closure of schools.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - We know that the state has confirmed 81 coronavirus-related deaths and that the numbers for deaths, hospitalizations and cases overall continue to increase by the day.

But there is a lot that is unknown as we head toward the predicted peak of the crisis later this month or in early May.

Heres a rundown:

Known

The Ohio Department of Health on Thursday confirmed 2,902 coronavirus cases in Ohio. This number has shot up from the first three cases reported on March 9, hitting the 1,000 mark on March 27 and then going over 2,000 four days later on Tuesday.

Its also known that far more people likely have contracted coronavirus.

As Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health, noted Thursday, most people who have COVID-19 have not been tested, and doctors are telling people with symptoms to stay at home if they dont require more attention. Acton has repeatedly referred to the confirmed number of cases as the tip of the iceberg."

This graphic illustrates the increase in known coronavirus cases in Ohio since the first three were reported on March 9 through the 2,902 the state reported Thursday. These are running totals that do not account for anyone who may no longer have the virus. The Ohio Department of Health said it does not have that information.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

Unknown

Acton said the state has no details for how many of these 2,902 people still have the coronavirus, promising going forward to do our best to track that.

A real understanding of this is going to fall very short for a while," Acton said. One issue is follow-up testing, or the lack of it, especially for those who were never hospitalized.

Coronavirus can run its course in 14 days, Acton said.

Heres what cleveland.com was able to determine based on the information available (also illustrated in the graphic at the top of this story):

The onset of symptoms for 63% of the confirmed cases (1,832 of 2,902) are estimated by the state to have been in the last two weeks.

43 of these 1,832 have died.

That leaves a rough estimate of 1,789 active confirmed cases, based solely on the two-week timeframe. This is far from exact. There could be more or fewer remaining cases among the confirmed, depending on the length of infection and whether the starting date was accurately identified.

According to an article published by Dr. Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Medicine, Those with mild cases of COVID-19 appear to recover within one to two weeks. For severe cases, recovery may take six weeks or more."

Known

Through Thursday a total of 802 hospitalizations have been attributed to the coronavirus, including 260 in intensive care units. This is up from 233 hospitalizations, with 91 in ICU, on Thursday, March 26.

Total hospitalizations doubled from Sunday to Thursday, and the number of ICU cases nearly doubled.

The hospitalization data is likely a more accurate of an indication of the spread of the virus than the available overall case numbers because, as Acton has said, there has been a focus on testing patients with the most severe problems, as well as health care workers.

The total number of coronavirus-related in hospitalizations in Ohio increased 18% from Wednesday to Thursday, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

Unknown

It is unknown, however, how many people currently are in the hospital with coronavirus, or even how many remain in ICU. Some have been discharged; some of those hospitalized have died.

Acton said she hoped to soon be able to offer better tracking of this information.

She did report on March 24 that overall, Ohio had 3,600 ICU beds, of which 1,300 were vacant at the time.

A spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Health told cleveland.com on Thursday that no more recent information was available for this statistic.

Known

Based on research from Ohio State, the Cleveland Clinic and others, Acton is projecting a peak of new cases daily in late April or by mid-May. On Thursday, she again displayed a graphic based on research at OSU that showed a peak of 10,000 new cases during the week of April 19-26.

This graphic provided by the Ohio Department of Health shows an anticipated peak of new coronavirus cases at 10,000 in mid-April. Later versions now show the peak a few days later.

Unknown

This projection is for new cases per day, not the smaller number of confirmed cases per day.

Again, Acton has repeated that what the Ohio Department of Health has been able to confirm is likely a fraction of all cases. Limited testing is one issue. Another issue is that some people might have coronavirus without knowing it.

Known

Over the last few days, the daily increase in new cases has not skyrocketed, but the number continues to rise.

On a percentage basis, confirmed cases have gone up 14%, 16%, 14%, 17% and 18% over the last five days. Previous to that, the increases daily were 24%, 31%, 23%, 25% and 28%.

Same goes for the pure number of confirmed cases, but not at the sharp rate feared before the state took mitigating actions such as closing schools, restaurants and later non-essential businesses.

There were 355 new cases Thursday over Wednesday. The daily increases the previous days were 348, 266, 280, 247, 269, 270, 163 and 140. These numbers are based on what the state has reported each day, not revisions officials have later made for older cases based on estimated onset dates.

These graphics illustrate the daily changes in the number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

Unknown

This goes back to available testing once again. Its unknown how many people have had the virus for sure, and its also unknown how many currently have it.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral.

Read related coverage

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Coronavirus in Cuyahoga County: Growth, age, gender, death stats as of March 28

Does coronavirus spread along Ohios highways? Not so simple
In Belgium, a cat has recently apparently been infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus, and could have the COVID-19 disease. This is the first case to be reported in this animal, suggesting that cats can catch SARS-CoV-2. However, no evidence yet exists that they have a role in spreading it. It is also still not clear if they are susceptible to the COVID-19 disease. (Photo : Pexels)

In Belgium, a cat has recently apparently been infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus, and it could have the COVID-19 disease. It is the first case to be reported, suggesting that cats can catch SARS-CoV-2. However, no evidence yet exists that they have a role in spreading it. It is also still not clear if they are susceptible to COVID-19 disease.

KU Leuven microbiologist Emmanuel Andre stated in a news conference sponsored by the Public Health Institute of Belgium that the case is an isolated one.

According to Science News, the virus could have been contracted from the cat's owner, who got sick from the disease after returning from a trip to northern Italy. After a week, signs of infection was shown by the cat, including diarrhea, nausea, and respiratory problems. Its vomit and stool had high virus content.

The case has not been fully confirmed because it was only the owner who collected the samples and sent them to the laboratory. The cat has also not yet been examined by a veterinarian. After nine days, the animal recovered; it is still in quarantine, and researchers are going to test its blood for antibodies to confirm for COVID-19 infection. The results will be out within one week.

However, even if the animal does have antibodies, it is still not a definitive proof that the cat got sick from COVID-19 because many other disease-causing microorganisms cause the same clinical signs, particularly abdominal and respiratory problems. The University of California, Davis veterinarian Jane Sykes states that they do believe the cat got infected because of the massive amounts of virus in its vomit and stool, as detected by several tests over many days.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus hacks into its host's cells by latching on to ACE2, or the angiotensin-converting enzyme II protein. Humans and cats have different versions of the protein, which are almost identical in the areas where the coronavirus binds. In SARS, the causative agent has the same method of breaking into the cells as its close relative SARS-CoV-2. SARS is known to have infected ferrets and cats in vitro. Cats, however, did not show signs of disease in SARS.

A study published in the Journal of Virology noted that the virus might be able to recognize the ACE2 in ferrets, cats, bats, monkeys, and orangutans. According to another study, the infection has been confirmed in ferrets.

Meanwhile, in dogs, two have so far been found positive, the first and the second cases of which occurred last March. Neither had clinical signs, but the first one died shortly after being released from quarantine. The ACE2 protein is a little different in canines, which could make it harder for SARS-CoV-2 to recognize it and infect dogs.

Hong Kong continues to screen animals who have owners positive for the virus. From eight cats and 17 dogs tested, two turned out positive. Idexx Laboratories, which has its own RealPCR test for animals, has tested more than 4,000 cats, horses, and dogs in the US and S. Korea, none of which turned out positive. It is expanding its testing range to Canada and Europe.

Sykes reiterates that if COVID-19 was a problem for animals, they should have known it by this time. She states that dogs and cats are "dead-end" hosts, which get infected, shed the virus, but are not likely to shed enough of it to infect people.
Head of the Health and Labor Inspectorate of Armenia Hakob Avagyan today told reporters that two of the Inspectorates employees have tested positive for coronavirus.

He explained that one of the employees had tested positive since he was on duty at Zvartnots Airport on March 1.

One of the employees has already been checked out of the hospital and has been transported to a hotel to be isolated. The other employee was suspected of having pneumonia, but fortunately, it wasnt confirmed, the official said.

According to Avagyan, overall, 17 employees are isolated, and another 14 are self-isolated.
Easton is furloughing 81 city employees for more than three weeks as the coronavirus pandemic threatens $5.5 million (17.6%) in revenue budgeted for 2020, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. announced Friday.

The unpaid leave is effective Monday, April 6, through Thursday, April 30, and subject to change as needed, according to a news release from the city.

These are difficult times for everyone, and the city is no different," Panto says a statement. "Difficult decisions must be made to keep the city financially solvent.

No city police officers or firefighters are affected, and none of the furloughed employees will lose their health care benefits. The city administration has communicated the decision to the furloughed workers' AFSCME union.

Statewide, Pennsylvania will stop paying about 9,000 state workers whose offices have been closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Friday.

Pennsylvanias death toll from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, has surpassed 100 people, with a dozen more announced Friday. In its daily update, the Pennsylvania Department of Health says 1,404 new cases of the coronavirus bring the states total to 8,420. Of those, 852 have been hospitalized; 102 Pennsylvanians have died.

Paid leave for state employees whose work locations are closed and who are unable to work remotely will end April 10, according to Gov. Tom Wolf's office.

The pay freeze affects about 12% of the state workforce, though individual agencies were hit much harder, with the state departments of Transportation and Revenue halting pay to more than half their employees. The state will continue to provide health and life insurance benefits.

This was a difficult decision as our commonwealth faces significant fiscal challenges, Wolf's office said in a statement. The governor chose an alternative to furloughs so each affected employee will keep their health care benefits and has the flexibility to choose from a range of leave options that is best for them.

In Easton, Panto invited city residents and business owners to take part in a virtual town meeting updating them on the crisis. Its set for 4 p.m. Tuesday. Panto said he and city Administrator Luis Campos will take questions and comments. Access to the meeting can be found easton-pa.com.

With non-life-sustaining business closed under state order, and residents ordered to remain home except for essential travel, Easton is losing amusement tax revenue paid by the Crayola Experience, State Theatre and Sigal Museum, Panto said.

"Those visitors also pay to use our parking facilities which generate more than $1.5 million a year," Panto stated. "With the Wind Creek casino closed, that line item will also be impacted. We budget for $1.3 million in casino revenues annually based on the amount of money gambled, and with the casino closed, that payment will be much less.

"Another large revenue item is the Earned Income Tax. With many people out of work, that revenue item too will be much less. Eastons revenues could be down as much as $5.5 million this year, depending on the length of this economic shutdown.

The situation today is a stark reversal from less than a month ago, when Panto delivered his State of the City on March 11 to city council.

There is no doubt that prior to this coronavirus setback Eastons economy was robust, and we were on our way back to pre-urban renewal days, the mayor stated Friday. "Our population was growing, and our central business district was alive with people on the streets shopping, eating, and going to our attractions. We set a course of recovery and everyone was working hard to make our community the place we know it can be and want Easton to be. We built the budget on our economy and when it goes up, our revenues go up, but when it bottoms out so do our city revenues.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The Bayelsa Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has began the distribution of food items to the 2019 flood victims in the various local government areas of the state.

The distribution of the food items took place at the SEMA office in Igbogene, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items distributed were rice, millets and garri, among others.

The state Chairman of the agency, Maj. Hezekiah Isu (rtd), said that the state government had promised to pay back whatever SEMA had bought for distribution.



I am not speaking on behalf of the state government, but his Excellency, Gov. Diri, said when funds come, they will pay back what the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has brought.

These food items are suppose to be for flood victims, but was delayed by NEMA, because it is their food stuffs which they brought for flood victims in 2019, to affect families.

What happened was that they normally send their respresentives who will in turn distribute the items in synergy with the SEMA in Bayelsa.

I wrote letters to NEMA repeatedly, but all was to no avail, as they did not reply. In fact these items have been here for over three months.

I called them that most of the items are going bad, especially the garri, yet they did not respond. So, I was made to report to the Governor, who later intervened before they were ask to distribute the items, he said.

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So was the focus on New Yorkers a mistake  a needless stigmatization?

Maybe, she said. I dont know. I did it because Rhode Island is so close to New York and I was hearing from my constituents in coastal towns that they were really, really afraid because rental properties were being rented out at a rapid rate by New Yorkers. Many New Yorkers with means have indeed fled the city for less congested places where coronavirus infection rates are lower  for now.

Heres a thing Ive learned, she told me. In uncertain times, there are no easy answers.

Friends of mine in Rhode Island tell me that the states residents, including many who werent previously fond of Raimondo, have been impressed with and comforted by her.

They point to the steady flow of unvarnished information that she has provided, to how and when she closed schools and issued social-distancing directives, and to the energy with which she has up rounded up resources for a state that as of this writing had 711 confirmed cases of infected people and 14 deaths. (New York, in contrast, had 92,743 cases and 2,473 deaths.)

They praise her for her manner  sometimes tough, other times tender, almost always candid  at the daily news briefings that she, like Cuomo, holds. They say that shes more popular than ever.

And while theres no polling to support or refute that, theres The Providence Journal Election Panel, a group of more than a dozen ideologically diverse Rhode Island voters who periodically weigh in on events. Asked several days ago to assign grades to Raimondo and Presdient Trump for their handling of the pandemic, most of them gave her an A and him, a C, D or F.

Shes also being validated by novelty clothing. A Providence gift shop named Frog & Toad has sold thousands of T-shirts that say Knock It Off, words that she has directed so often at Rhode Islanders who flout her distancing directives that they have become her signature catchphrase.
A High Court judge has ordered the effective detention in his own home of an elderly man with advancing dementia due to concerns he does not properly understand the risks to himself and others from Covid-19.

The man, aged in his 80s, does not understand the importance of cocooning, hand washing and social distancing, is continuing to go shopping and attempting to call to peoples homes, and is putting himself and others at risk as a result, the court was told.

While his GP and other medical professionals are of the view he is of unsound mind and lacks capacity to make decisions about his person and finances as a result of advancing cognitive impairment, he is physically very mobile, David Leahy BL said.

The man lives alone and there is no need for him to leave home because he has carers calling three times daily and other supports, counsel said.

Mr Justice David Keane said on Friday he was satisfied, on the evidence and submissions, he should make the orders and returned the matter to next Tuesday.

Mr Leahy, on behalf of a solicitor previously appointed by the man with a view to registering an enduring power of attorney, sought the orders under the High Courts wardship jurisdiction.

The application was supported by the man's GP and a friend in daily contact with him who expressed serious concerns about his vulnerability to Covid-19 and that he may also be putting others at risk. His doctor expressed the view the risk is such he should not leave home under any circumstances.

Mr Leahy said he wanted orders authorising the man's detention at home pending further order unless a healthcare professional decides it is in his best interests to leave and provided he is accompanied by a nurse, doctor or paramedic.

In the best interests of the man

He also sought orders appointing a medical visitor to carry out a further capacity assessment and to report on that and how he can be managed during the Covid-19 crisis.

The orders are in the best interests of the man and also in the interests of public health, counsel said.

Attempts to persuade the man to stay at home by his doctors, friends and a community Garda had not worked to date, counsel outlined.

While there is an issue whether the man has capacity to understand the orders, it was hoped, when he was informed of the orders, he would comply with them.

The orders also provide, should he leave his home, gardai have permission to search for and return him there.

Counsel noted the recently introduced emergency legislation - the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 - provides that medical officers can direct detention of people believed to be a potential Covid-19 risk.

Mr Leahy also said the man's carers have reported he does not let them assist him with personal hygiene and they had concerns about his ability to maintain that to an appropriate level. The carers also expressed concerns about deteriorating cognitive ability and his ability to manage at home and appreciate the dangers of Covid-19.
Regions facing water problems, contamination and inefficient management are wondering where the water to maintain this hygiene will come from.

By Supriya Vohra

Yashoda, 52, lives in her mothers house with her husband and four children, a dog called Babuli, a white cat that meanders around, a hen and her chicks. Her 150-year-old ancestral home is barely 500 metres away from the Arabian Sea, in Sasihithlu, a fishing village in south Karnataka. The water she gets in her well is salty. She depends on government tankers to send her two big drums of potable water once every two days. But the delivery is patchy. Sometimes, there is no water for weeks, and she has to go to her friends place nearby to get her supply.

India has problems of water stress, water contamination, and water management. These are aggravated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic where washing hands with water is among some of the hygiene recommendations to avoid the spread of the disease.

Nearly 820 million people in India face high-to-extreme water stress and 70 percent of surface water resources in the country is contaminated. According to the National Sample Survey Offices (NSSO) 76th Round report on Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Condition in India, 21.4 percent of households in India have access to piped water connections. In rural India, according to the latest National Rural Water Development Program report, 18 percent households receive potable water directly in their homes. India also ranks 13th out of 17 countries in the extremely highly water stressed countries in the world. In the year 2019, the summer months had 44 percent of the country reeling under drought conditions.

In the midst of this is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has, as of April 1, claimed 41 lives with 1649 active cases in 103 districts in India. The Indian government has declared a national lockdown to contain the virus and prevent community transmission.

The virus spreads through close contact via respiratory droplet transmission when a person coughs or sneezes, and via surface transmission, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO has released a set of guidelines to follow to prevent the disease from spreading, with the Indian government following suit.

One of the pertinent guidelines by WHO to prevent the spread of the disease is to wash hands with soap frequently, or use sanitiser, and maintain proper hygiene.

Meanwhile, water experts across the Indias rural and urban landscape wonder where this water is going to come from.

The 20-second hand wash, advised to kill the virus, will take on an average 2 litres of water per wash, says Ranjan Panda, convener of Water Initiative Odisha.

If we are required to wash hands frequently, which is very much essential, this would mean about 15-20 litres of water per person per day. For a family of five this is about 100 litres of water per day just for washing hands. Do we have that kind of water? Especially with the summer months approaching? he asks.

Almost 50 percent of the country does not have access to water, and on top of this, the Odisha government has issued an advisory to not use common water sources for bathing and cleaning. This is a wise advisory though, difficult for the people to follow. What are the people supposed to do? he adds.

On March 17, the government of Odisha issued a set of operational guidelines for social distancing. Under one such guideline, it states that bathing and cleaning in common water reservoirs like ponds are to be avoided as far as possible.

Odisha has a number of ghats, open water bodies and reservoirs on which people depend for their daily hygiene. They dont have facilities to store water at home, and have to step out every day. says Panda. How are they expected to manage? It is like a catch-22 situation.

Also Read: Coronavirus has no known cures, dont trust the memes that spread misinformation

Siddharth Agarwal, an independent researcher on Indian rivers, feels the enforcement of guidelines on handwashing is rather odd in light of the current scenario of access to water in many parts of the country.

We walked along the Ken river in Behrasur village in April 2018. It was bone dry, we walked on the river bed, he said. The groundwater has run out in most parts of the village. I used one of their main hand pumps to draw out water, and it took me at least 2-3 minutes to draw one litre of water.

He walked through some parts of Rajasthan in the summer of 2018. In Begas village, about 40 km west of Jaipur, the current water table is at 600 feet.

People here are so measured in their consumption of water. How are they expecting them to wash hands? he asked.

He also feels that there are caste-based issues on access to water that are problematic. Villages are designed in a way where people from supposed lower caste are on the fringes of villages, and often access to water becomes a major hurdle for them. I fear that if the current guideline is understood incorrectly, it may ostracise them further, he says.

Marathwada is a drought-prone region in western Maharashtra. It is one of the most water-stressed regions in the country, experiencing a drought once every 2-3 years. The region registered its first COVID-19 case in mid-March, in Aurangabad. We are in complete lockdown, said Atul Deulgaokar, veteran environment journalist based in Latur, a district in Marathwada.

We get piped water supply, once in eight days, he says. We have the facility to store water, but many dont. They have to walk for miles to get water from the baolis, in Beed, Usmanabad for example, he says.

In rural India, there is a need for 50-60 litres of water per person per day, explains Deulgaokar. The situation gets more dire in the summer months. Water becomes an expensive commodity. Water could cost Rs. 5 per 10 litres. How could they afford water for cleanliness? he asks.

Our water policies are industry and rich people-centric. Every year you will read reports of young girls dying while trying to fetch water. People die because of lack of water, he says.

This lockdown might be a workable solution for the rich and middle class, but isnt practical for the poor, says Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP). He feels the country has a huge problem of water management.

An estimated 78 percent of rural households and 59 percent of urban household dont have access to reliable water supply of necessary quality at within their homes. And on top of that you are told that you must wash hands. The lack of access to clean water is essentially a result of our poor management, he says.

K. J. Joy, social researcher and founding member of Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM), Pune echoes this sentiment. By and large this is a management, distribution and governance problem, he says.

Reliable access to water really depends on where you live. Lutyens Delhi, for example, gets a lot of water for luxury use, and a place like Kishangarh (city in Rajasthan) has problem accessing water for basic use, he said.

In such a scenario, in light of COVID-19, the government should look at an equitable distribution of water, he says. He also suggested creating a campaign that encouraged not to keep the tap running through out while washing hands, to conserve water.

Samrat Basak, director of Urban Water, World Resources Institute-India thinks that it will be important for authorities to make sure reliable availability of water across the entire spectrum of population to facilitate recommended hygiene practices. According to him, an additional 20 to 40 litres of water per person per day will be required to meet the recommended handwashing practice alone.

For a city like Bengaluru, with a population of approximately 10 million, this would mean an additional requirement of 200-400 million litres of water per day, he says.

He also explains that there are two groups in urban India with inadequate access to reliable water supply, and most susceptible to the transmission of COVID-19  the first is the vulnerable, low-income communities that live in informal settlements and have to access communal sources of water, increasing chances of local transmission.

Further, sourcing the additional water for frequent handwashing will be a huge challenge for these households. The second are those who live in peri-urban areas, in gated communities and are dependent on the private market of water tankers for their supply. He says that such sourcing of water from private markets may not be always reliable due to multiple reasons including increased risk of disease transmission or just scarcity of water during summer months.

The urgent need of the hour, in my opinion, is for the government to increase the number of public handwashing facilities with soap and water stations across the country, especially in areas of informal settlements, he says.

This article was originally published on Mongabay.com. Mongabay-India is an environmental science and conservation news service. This article has been republished under the Creative Commons license.

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Coronavirus Outbreak FAQ: N95 masks, safe meat, how to stay informed on latest as Covid-19 pandemic spreads further
A group of Kenyan pastors have asked the government to include churches in the list of essential services to allow them to remain open as the country battles the Covid-19 outbreak.

The preachers representing churches in Makueni country in eastern Kenya, say faith is the best way to fight the unseen enemy.

They want to be allowed to hold Sunday services in open grounds, while adhering to the proposed one-metre distance between people to prevent infection.

The government has banned public gatherings and police officers have been enforcing the ban.



One of the pastors, Nicholas Kyule, was quoted by Citizen TV as saying that the church was the best place for hope and resilience during this time.

Another, Titus Uswii, was quoted in the Star Newspaper as saying that the country may be involved in a futile exercise as long as churches remain closed.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 10:32:28|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Tu Yifan

RIYADH, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese health experts shared their experience in fighting the novel coronavirus with their Saudi Arabian peers via a video conference on Thursday.

During the conference, Zhang Yang, director of the international cooperation department of the Chinese National Health Commission (NHC), briefed the Saudi side on the latest situation of fighting COVID-19 at home and China's anti-epidemic measures, as well as experience in prevention, control and clinical treatment.

Zhang said that China will continue to share experience with and provide support to Saudi Arabia and the international community to jointly safeguard global and regional public health security.

Zhou Lei, an expert with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Wang Guiqiang, director of the infectious diseases department in Peking University First Hospital, elaborated on the virus' characteristics at different stages and experience in disease control, treatment and quarantine management.

Abdullah Asiri, Saudi Arabia's assistant deputy minister for preventive health, commended China's effective measures to contain the spread of the virus, saying that Saudi Arabia would like to draw on China's experience in their own battle.

Since the outbreak, Asiri said, his country has taken a number of measures to contain the spread and achieved good results.

Expressing thanks to China for its aid to fight the epidemic, Asiri said that the Saudi side is willing to strengthen cooperation with China..

A total of 165 more coronavirus cases were reported in the country on Thursday, bringing the tally to 1,885 with 21 deaths, said the health ministry, adding that 328 patients have recovered so far.

Both countries have contributed greatly to the global fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chen Weiqing said when concluding the conference.

The Chinese people will never forget the Saudis' timely help after the coronavirus disease broke out in China, said Chen, adding that the Chinese embassy has maintained close communication with relevant Saudi authorities and China stands ready to provide as much assistance as its capability allows.

"I believe that through our comprehensive cooperation, we will surely win the battle against this crisis and embrace a more promising future," Chen added.
West Linn Police Chief Terry Kruger repeatedly and vigorously defended his departments questionable arrest of a Portland man during private meetings before the mayor and City Council, newly released documents show.

Krugers comments in the closed-door executive sessions appear to contradict more recent public statements distancing himself from the controversial 2017 arrest of Michael Fesser on unwarranted theft charges.

They also raise questions about the chiefs statements to The Oregonian/OregonLive this year that he had recused himself from the case as soon as the Fesser litigation was brought before me.

Kruger, though he wasnt chief at the time of the arrest, has had to handle the fallout after Fesser earlier this year won a $600,000 settlement from West Linn for the bungled police investigation. In February, Kruger placed the detective involved in the arrest, now a sergeant, on paid leave, and then at a packed City Council meeting in March called Fessers allegations deeply disturbing and said he would not tolerate racial or any other bias'' in policing.

But two years before, Kruger forcefully denied any wrongdoing by West Linn police in response to Fessers allegations.

Kruger had received Fessers notice of intent to sue the city his first day on the job as chief, June 4, 2018. In the notice, Fesser outlined his wrongful arrest allegations and specific claims of discrimination, referenced a series of racist and crude text messages between Fessers former boss and the lead West Linn detective on the case and how the investigation was launched by a former West Linn police chief who was chummy with Fessers boss at the time.

During two subsequent council executive sessions, on Sept. 4, 2018 and Feb. 19, 2019, Kruger addressed the mayor and council members, calling the West Linn investigation of Fesser legal and warranted. He said the inquiry was done to help out a West Linn resident, Fessers employer from A&B Towing Co. Kruger never named the man and never mentioned in the executive session that he also had personal ties to him.

It's not an illegal investigation. There wasn't illegal surveillance. It wasn't an unlawful arrest. There wasn't a violation of his civil rights. These are the allegations. But it was a legitimate investigation, Kruger told the council at a Sept. 4, 2018, closed-door meeting.

There was probable cause. They did arrest him lawfully. He was indicted for crimes.

Comments at executive sessions typically remain private under Oregon law, but the West Linn City Council this week voted to release transcripts of five of their closed meetings that dealt with the Fesser litigation. The Oregonian/OregonLive obtained them through a public records request.

Fessers arrest has become the focus of at least four investigations by local, state and federal authorities. A group of West Linn residents has called for sweeping changes at the police department, including Krugers resignation.

Kruger said Thursday that he was only relaying to the council what others had told him about the Fesser investigation.

I recused myself from the investigation, he said in an email. I only shared with Council what I was told; as the Department head, I too was briefed.

The transcripts covered executive sessions held on July 2, 2018, Sept. 4, 2018, Feb. 19, 2019, Dec. 5, 2019, and this past Feb. 10.

They also showed that the attorney for West Linns insurance company, which negotiated the settlement with Fesser, downplayed the offensive text messages and only met with the mayor and City Council once. At that council executive session, he advised the council that the text messages didnt indicate police misconduct.

Yet, according to the transcripts, the local city attorney in February of this year relayed the insurance providers recommendation to settle Fessers lawsuit, saying it would be preferable to allowing all the details of the case to come out at trial.

'Would they do it for any citizen or just a friend?

The Fesser arrest and the revelations his lawsuit brought have thrown West Linn government -- and Krugers police force in particular -- into a tailspin. Fessers lawyer has called the Portland mans treatment by West Linn police a classic example of old-boy-style racism.'

The citys officers investigated Fesser even though he lived and worked in Portland and had nothing to do with West Linn. West Linn police became involved at the direction of former Police Chief Terry Timeus. Timeus was a fishing buddy of West Linn resident Eric Benson, who happened to be Fessers boss at A&B Towing Co. in Southeast Portland.

Benson accused Fesser of skimming money from the towing company. Fesser said Benson targeted him because he had complained about racist comments and harassment at work.

On the night of Fessers February 2017 arrest, Benson exchanged texts with West Linn Detective Tony Reeves using racial epithets. Reeves sent back homophobic and crude messages.

All charges eventually were dropped against Fesser and he also won a $415,000 settlement from Benson and A&B Towing for discrimination.

Kruger entered the picture when he took over as West Linn police chief in June 2018.

In a fall 2018 executive session, several council members, including then-Council President Brenda Perry, questioned why West Linn police would investigate a theft case in Portland.

Why were West Linn (police) so involved in this when this was (a) Portland thing? Perry asked. Would they do it for any citizen or just a friend?

Kruger said police investigated Fesser to help out Fessers employer, A&B Towing. He pointed out that the company also did business with the city of West Linn and was owned by a West Linn resident.

Kruger told Perry that West Linn police powers are good statewide. When Portland police couldnt pursue an investigation, West Linn police assigned a detective, Kruger told the council.

I would say it's not out of the ordinary for a resident who has business dealings within the city, who looks to be a victim of a crime, who can't get investigative resources in the jurisdiction he's in, just due to overload, to assign detectives to look into it, Kruger told the council in the September 2018 session.

Kruger, a retired Portland police lieutenant, told the council then that it would have been ideal if Portland police would have pursued the theft investigation into Fesser when West Linn alerted that bureau, and he would have used every favor, friend and network I had, to press Portland police to run with the case. When that didnt happen, what West Linn police did was not unlawful, is not unethical, he added.

The transcripts indicate that Kruger was familiar with the details of Fessers arrest and investigation, and eagerly defended West Linn police actions before the council, though he told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he had recused himself from the case when Fessers litigation was brought before me because he knew Benson.

Kruger didnt name Benson and didnt mention at either of the two executive sessions he attended related to the Fesser case that he also had personal ties to Benson. Other city records released earlier this year revealed that Kruger was a personal friend of Bensons. Kruger subsequently told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he met Benson through a mutual friend of his sons.

He told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Thursday that he told the city manager, the city attorney and city labor lawyers, among others, that he had stepped away from the case because of his ties to Benson, and I believed the council already knew.

Several council members said they were unaware of Krugers ties to Benson.

Theres some text messages that I wish didnt exist

The executive session transcripts also reveal that Andrew Campbell, the attorney for the citys insurance provider City County Insurance Services, acknowledged that the text messages on the night of Fessers arrest were problematic, during his sole closed-door meeting with the council in February 2019.

But Campbell told the council he was confident that a jury would understand that we all make mistakes.

"There's some text messages that I wish didn't exist, Campbell told the council.

He said he started out as a Marion County prosecutor handing homicide and violent crime, explaining that: I've spent my entire career dealing with police officers, and we all make mistakes.

But frankly I don't think any of that is really strong evidence that any of the officers did anything wrong, Campbell said.

He said the text messages contained some fairly colorful language but made little reference to the racist or homophobic statements.

Campbell said he considered the Fesser suit a fairly defensible case and a fairly strong case for the city of West Linn, even noting that he was excited about defending it, allowing him to return to his roots and litigate a mini-criminal case inside a civil case.

In this case, we've heard about these text messages. I'll tell you, I've read them. And the only fault I can think of for the West Linn officers is the offensive words are coming in and the West Linn officers aren't saying, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, that's inappropriate, Campbell said.

The West Linn officers aren't saying things, I can't say unqualified, but for the most part, they're not volunteering inappropriate things, he said. For the most part, they're dealing with a witness who has a colorful vocabulary.

Jon Stouffer, the insurance providers risk analyst, was at the executive session with Campbell and said the big parts of the case are those texts. But those judges are all good at understanding what the real issue is and won't be distracted by those texts. The jury might be, but I think even the juries will understand it as well.

Drama we dont need

In the executive sessions, local city attorney Tim Ramis told the council that police had probable cause to arrest Fesser, but that the charges were dismissed as part of a civil compromise between Fesser and A&B Towing, largely because of some questionable correspondences that were discovered.

Ramis didnt mention the police involvement in the messages.

It turns out there are apparently emails (sic, they were texts,) where the employer's not very careful about his own attitudes and about political correctness in those communications, Ramis said.

And I think the DA's office, our understanding is, that they reached a conclusion that's not the sort of thing you want to put in front of a jury in a case, Ramis said, without going into further detail.

At the executive session earlier this year when the $600,000 settlement was discussed, the council was briefed by Ramis, West Linn Capt. Pete Mahuna and interim city manager John Williams.

Ramis and Williams both relayed that it was the insurance providers recommendation to accept the settlement. No one from the insurance company attended the session.

That while $600,000 is a lot of money and it's unpalatable in many ways, Ramis said, there's also good reason to avoid going to trial on the issue and exposing all of the evidence that there is on the case.

Williams added, He was pretty clear that he felt this was a good number to settle at considering the amount of risk that is out there getting into a jury trial, from my understanding.

Council President Teri Cummings commented that a trial could open the door to so much drama.

Mayor Russ Axelrod, who was personally served with Fessers notice of intent to sue in 2018, chimed in: Drama we dont need.

Mahuna wondered if the city could keep the settlement amount private.

Is there any way to close the agreement once its signed to say were not going to give a dollar amount out to the media or something like that? he asked.

Ramis said hed look into that.

The City Council, in fact, never voted on the settlement publicly, contending it was a matter agreed upon by its insurance provider.

The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed the settlement after speaking with Fessers lawyer, obtaining copies of depositions taken for the lawsuit, as well as the full text messages.

--

TRANSCRIPTS OF WEST LINN CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSIONS RELEASED:

July 2, 2018

Sept 4, 2018

Feb. 19, 2019

Dec. 5, 2019

Feb. 10, 2020

Statement from West Linn attorneys office

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

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In a speech in Lebanon, Samir Geagea has denounced the Assad regime and their efforts to keep the Syrian refugees in Lebanon writes Al-Masdar.

The President of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, stated at the 39th commemoration of the Zahle martyrs, that the people of the city, have paid a hefty price so they could push the Assad regime out the door, not for someone else to try and bring it back through the window, under the pretext of the displaced.

One of the most important indications that Assad does not want the displaced people back is the closure of borders, Geagea said, noting that Assad had made such a decision very clear, and every attempt to reinstate the Assad regime will be considered a blow to the sacrifices of the people of Zahle and Lebanon.

The Lebanese Forces leader pointed out that, the Lebanese are suffering from a stifling economic crisis, and all other countries are subject to crises. The difference between us and the rest of the world lies in solution-finding. Locally, no lessons have yet been drawn from the uprising of the Lebanese people. Parties in power are acting as though nothing has happened.

This authority will not be able to triumph. We must triumph over it and generate a straightforward national authority that will rid the people of its problems, he said.

Geagea, who has been a long-time opponent of the Syrian government, has sought to undermine Lebanons relationship with Syria, often accusing the March 8th political bloc of carrying out Damascus endeavors.

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 Royal Institute for British Architects have reported a 'serious incident' to the Charity Commission about their president Alan Jones.

The institute filed a 'serious incident report' to the charity after Jones emailed members of RIBA Council on Thursday to say 'a matter had arisen' in his personal life that meant he could not carry on with his duties as president.

Details of the 'incident' involving the Northern Irish architect have not been disclosed, but RIBA members have called for greater transparency with the organisation facing claims of a 'cover-up', while others said they were concerned over when the crisis has come to light

The Royal Institute for British Architects have reported a 'serious incident' to the Charity Commission about their president Alan Jones

Robert Wakeham, a former member of RIBA, also commented online: 'It's difficult to reconcile something described as a 'serious incident' relative to the RIBA's status as a registered charity with the need to safeguard the privacy of someone's 'personal life' - even if that person is the president of the institute.

'No 'cover-up', no matter how 'personal' the matter.'

Another RIBA member also told The Daily Telegraph: 'The timing of this is really bad given the impact coronavirus is having on architects, who are mostly self-employed. The industry does not need this right now.'

The commission's guidance says a serious incident constitutes an adverse event  whether actual or alleged  that results in or risks significant:

Harm to a charity's beneficiaries, staff, volunteers or others who come into contact with the charity through its work, loss of a charity's money or assets, damage to a charity's property, or harm to a charity's work or reputation.

Members of the RIBA however have called for greater transparency with the organisation facing claims of a 'cover-up'

In Jones's email to council, he said: 'I'm grateful for the strong support I have from my wife and family. I need to take some time out from my duties as president and would be grateful if everyone could respect our privacy.

'I appreciate this comes at a time when there are extraordinary demands on everyone and I can only ask that you reinforce your support to our staff and senior officers during this period.'

Following Jones' email, RIBA's honorary secretary Kerr Robertson said in a statement: 'RIBA president Alan Jones has brought a sensitive matter to our attention which we are investigating and, in line with regulations, we have informed the Charity Commission.

'Alan Jones has temporarily stepped back from his day-to-day duties as RIBA president. It wouldn't be appropriate for the RIBA to comment further at this stage.'

'We will be working as hard as ever during the President's time away to ensure minimum disruption to the RIBA business. The RIBA is led by a team of dedicated senior trustees and expert staff, who will continue to support our members and represent their interests at the highest levels.'

A Charity Commission spokesman also said: 'The Royal Institute of British Architects has acted in line with our guidance, by submitting a serious incident report to the Commission in connection with the recent stepping down of the charity's president.

'We are currently assessing the charity's response to this matter, to ensure that it is being handled appropriately.'
Due to Minister Dekker insisting that the detainees return to Sint Maarten, within the time frame that was set.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Recently, Sint Maarten was made aware that the Netherlands would within short, be returning three of our detainees who were transferred to the Netherlands due to the state that our prison was in after Hurricane Irma. During the discussions with the Netherlands concerning the transfer of the detainees, it quickly became evident that it was not possible for the detainees to remain in the Netherlands any longer.

Considering the limited resources that Sint Maarten has, the chair lady of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs made a strong appeal to the Dutch Minister of Legal Protection Mr. Dekker requesting additional time of (one week/7 days) to get the necessary support system in place, to ensure an adequate transfer and accommodation of the detainees. Despite this plea, Minister Dekker insisted that the detainees return to Sint Maarten within the time frame that was set.

On Tuesday March 31st, 2020, the three detainees returned from the Netherlands to Sint Maarten under a security-detachment provided by members of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee). The transfer took place via two legs, namely Amsterdam  Curacao followed by Curacao-Sint Maarten, where the detainees and their escorts were transferred securely, from a larger aircraft to a smaller aircraft. This is referred to as a so-called "Wing to Wing transfer". Upon a successful completion of the transfer of the detainees to Sint Maarten, the security escorts flew directly back to Curacao with the same charter.

This operation was made possible with the cooperation of the Minister of Justice of Curacao Mr. Quincy Girigorie and Minister of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning of Curacao Mrs. Zita Jesus-Leto. We would like to express our gratitude towards both Ministers as well as all the persons involved in the safe transport and security of the detainees.
Google is a dominant data juggernaut with a mission to "organize the world's information," its leaders long have said. Now, the company is aiming to put its lucrative trove to use in a novel way - helping doctors across the globe to battle the deadly coronavirus.

A new effort unveiled by Google on Friday seeks to harness the tech giant's vast cache of digital records about its users' whereabouts to help public health officials spot key trends and better combat the pandemic. In 131 countries, down to the county level in the United States, Google says government experts will soon be able to see whether people are traveling more or less to grocery stores, pharmacies, parks and other businesses, or generally choosing to heed advice and stay at home.

Google is presenting the data as aggregated statistics, and it isn't publishing the real-time movements of individual users or the places they have visited, Jen Fitzpatrick, a senior vice president, and Karen DeSalvo, Google's chief health officer, said in a blog post. The technology powering this service is typically used to help people figure out whether a restaurant or bar is crowded.

With the coronavirus, though, the Mountain View, California-based search-and-advertising behemoth wants to make it easier for epidemiologists to gauge the effectiveness of social distancing, a centerpiece in efforts to slow the spread of an outbreak that has sickened more than 1 million people around the world.

The company also signaled it would share anonymous "mobility" data with select, unspecified researchers that would help them "forecast the pandemic." The aggregated information can help map patterns of movements over time, Google said.

In doing so, Google's project has illuminated the growing global debate over the role that data-rich tech giants should play in a public health crisis. With detailed dossiers about billions of users at its disposal, and insights about their behavior that rival what most governments can discern on their own, the whole of Silicon Valley is confronting an unprecedented dilemma - how to balance people's privacy with fighting a pandemic.

"There's no higher stakes," said Michelle Richardson, director of the Data and Privacy Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, who praised Google's effort as privacy protective. "We've talked a lot about commercial use of data over the last couple years and the serious impacts on peoples lives. This is really life and death, so we have to get it right."

Similar tensions have played out globally in recent weeks. In Singapore, South Korea and Israel, for example, government leaders have taken a much more aggressive tech approach against the coronavirus, compiling data and tapping private-sector sources in an attempt to stop the outbreak at all costs - a strategy some say has contributed to their success.

But those efforts have drawn sharp rebukes from consumer watchdogs, who fear they presage a more permanent erosion of people's privacy. This week, more than 100 public-interest groups urged governments not to adopt sweeping new surveillance programs to combat the coronavirus, stressing that even in extraordinary times, "human rights law still applies."

"Technology can and should play an important role during this effort to save lives, such as to spread public health messages and increase access to health care," they wrote.

But they added that the overuse of data, including location records, also "threatens privacy, freedom of expression and freedom of association, in ways that could violate rights and degrade trust in public authorities - undermining the effectiveness of any public health response."

Such an approach clashes culturally, politically and legally in the United States, where the legacy of secret government surveillance - brought to light by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden - remains fresh on the minds of federal leaders, tech giants and Americans alike. When White House officials began speaking with people in Silicon Valley about leveraging location data to combat the coronavirus, which was first reported by The Washington Post in March, it sparked widespread privacy concerns.

For now, some U.S. officials are working with academics, researchers and tech companies to harness anonymous location information to study social distancing. One such endeavor from Unacast, a mobile ad company, helped The Post pinpoint last month where Americans are following health guidelines. (The nation's capital did a better job than Wyoming, the data showed.)

Google said Friday it is taking a different approach. Its new hub isn't a map, but rather, reports that public health officials and Americans can consult to see the percentage increase and decrease in trips to certain public places. The goal is to provide statistical data that can "shape recommendations on business hours or inform delivery service offerings," the company executives said.

In one example, shared with The Post ahead of its launch on Friday, Google offered a snapshot of California, where coronavirus infections have recently leveled off. Across the state, visits to retail stores were down 50 percent than usual. Trips to workplaces were down nearly 40 percent, Google data found, while people were home 15 percent more. The company collects the information from users who have opted to share their location history and plans to update the numbers frequently.

Google said it developed its portal with the input of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, governors in states such as Texas and California and health officials around the world. The CDC and the governors of Texas and California did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

"Having access to these data can allow real-time adjustments to be made in social distancing decisions to further prevent the spread of COVID-19," Lori Tremmel Freeman, the leader of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said in a statement shared by Google.
Mobile tower companies have requested the Department of Telecom (DoT) to expand scope of their permit to support upgradation and expansion of networks due to rise in data consumption.

The Industry body Tower And Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) on Friday said that it has written to Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash to enhance the scope of permit in line with recommendation of the sector regulator Trai.

Mobile tower companies are registered under IP-1 category and are presently allowed to install active elements like antenna, network transmission equipments, cable etc of behalf of telecom operators



The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on March 13 had recommended to enhance their scope of work by allowing them to own, establish, maintain, and work all such infrastructure items, equipment, and systems that are required for setting up wireless networks and transmission of signals except spectrum.

Taipa said that around 90 per cent of employees in the country is working from home and the adoption of e-Services, OTT platforms, e-Commerce and e-Governance etc has increased and all this has led to a significant upsurge in mobile and internet traffic by almost 20-30 per cent.

"In order to address it, telecom network capacity needs to be enhanced quickly through additional/ upgradation of existing networks comprising telecom towers, base stations, in-building solutions, OFC and other backhauling solutions such as Microwave etc. This not only requires huge investments into the sector but also time to market' would be critical," Taipa said.

The industry body said that the Trai recommendations have come at the right time when the country requires quick investments into the networks due to sudden surge in demand for round the clock mobile and internet connectivity to the citizens due to lockdowns.

It said that at a time when telecom industry especially the Infrastructure Providers are working tirelessly and going through a lot of hardship to ensure round the clock availability of connectivity infrastructure across the country during the lockdown period, the government also needs to expedite such policy decisions to facilitate huge investments required in networks.

"In view of the above, we urge the DoT that the scope of infrastructure providers (IP-1) be enhanced immediately, accepting the Trai recommendations dated March 13 2020, in toto," Taipa Director General T R Dua said.

The industry body said the move to allow sharing of active infrastructure through telecom tower firms will help mobile operators save 33-35 per cent of their capital expenditure and 25-33 per cent operational expenses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"When we got the call from our associate at Mack Media, we didn't hesitate," says Monty Bagga, Chief Operating Officer, Tempur Sealy Canada. "Canada's medical professionals are frontline heroes, saving lives and helping our communities at great personal risk. It's exceptionally brave and selfless. If we can contribute and make even a small impact for the health care community, we felt an obligation to do so."

During this unprecedented time, the need for personal protective gear for health care workers is at an all-time high and the supply of personal protective equipment is critically tight. Ongoing shortage could impair the ability to stem infection rates and place the most vulnerable frontline responders at great risk. What's important is getting this protective equipment in the hands of Ontario's frontline health workers as soon as possible.

Mack Media Inc., a large-format digital printing company, developed and created a prototype for personal protective equipment to help support people on the front lines. One hundred percent of their operations are working to build and assemble the face shields, but they need additional manpower. In an effort to supply the quantity needed as quickly as possible, President Frank Mackovski approached Tempur Sealy, an existing partner.

"The need is great, and it is expected to grow in the weeks ahead," says Mackovski. "The worldwide objective to slow this virus and stop this pandemic in its tracks will depend on the collective efforts of many. We have to be creative, strategic and collaborative to flatten the curve. We were so humbled when Tempur Sealy Canada offered their support to fulfill this need."

Cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, and medical experts predict a surge in cases in coming weeks, as the virus spreads throughout the province and across Canada. As of the morning of April 2nd, Canada reported 9,731 confirmed and presumptive cases, including 129 deaths and 1736 resolved. Ontario has reported 2,392 confirmed cases to date, including 37 deaths and 689 resolved.

In the next coming weeks, it is critical for anyone that can provide support to step up and offer what they can.

About Tempur Sealy Canada

Tempur Sealy Canada is a division of Tempur Sealy International, the world's largest developer and manufacturer of mattresses, adjustable bases, pillows and other sleep and relaxation products. Combining a proud history and groundbreaking innovation, the company holds some of the most highly recognized brands in the industry: Tempur-Pedic, Cocoon by Sealy, Sealy, and Stearns & Foster.

SOURCE Tempur Sealy Canada

For further information: Adele Di Paola, Director of Marketing, Tempur Sealy Canada, 416-274-9020, [email protected]; Frank Mackovski, President, Mack Media Inc., 416-888-8741, [email protected]
By Liz Dunphy and Christy Parker

People across the country are volunteering their time and expertise to make protective masks to combat the spread of Covid-19.

The WHO has been considering an update on advice on wearing face masks to fight the virus after a US study suggested that a sneeze or cough could travel much further than previously thought - up to 8m - and masks, worn properly, may contain that spread.

Sanctuary Masks Initiative (SMI) was dreamed up by Vera Stojanovic, co-ordinator with charity Better Together.

Helped by Cork Migrant Centre, UCC University of Sanctuary, UCC Feminist, Failte Refugees Societies, and designer Charlotte Cargin, SMI collected and distributed sewing machines, fabric, elastic and thread to 10 women with sewing skills living in all five direct provision centres in Cork.

Women at the Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre have already produced hundreds of masks this week, and all five centres will be producing thousands for some of Irelands most vulnerable from Monday.

The target is to first make 6,000 pure cotton and linen masks to give three to each of the 2,000 people living in direct provision in Cork. The masks may also be distributed to other vulnerable groups before SMI takes orders from the wider public.

Ms Cargin, Kinsale-based designer with clothing label Charlotte and Jane, said SMI's work is vital to help support and protect some of our most vulnerable at this time.

There are 2,000 people living in direct provision in Cork and they are very vulnerable, with barely any opportunity to self-isolate or social distance, so the priority is to make masks for them first, she said.

Its also giving employment to women with sewing skills in direct provision.

An information leaflet in multiple languages with HSE and WHO guidelines on mask use and sanitation will be distributed with each mask.

Youn can donate to the project's GoFundMe page or email sanctuarymaskinitiative@gmail.com.

Another Cork-based project is making protective face shields with 3D printers and a laser cutter to donate to frontline health workers.

The group, which started at Benchspace co-making space in Cork city and has since extended throughout the country, currently has 65 people with a collective capacity to make 3000 shields per week.

On Monday, the face shields were approved for the HSE supply chain. You can also donate to their GoFundMe page.

An official supplier of GAA merchandise has also moved into manufacturing face masks to fight Covid-19.

Waterford-based Azzurri Sport Ltd, assisted by local businesses Sheridan Signs and Metalman Engineering, delivered 5,000 free, reusable masks to over 40 outlets in its first week.

Using a laser-based cutting technique, it hopes to surpass that number this week with instructions included on correct use the masks.

Viral protection material, with the same viral protection standards as surgical clothing, is used to make the masks, Azzurri owner and manager John Molloy said.

But the high production cost makes free supply unsustainable in the long run.

Were not doing it for profit and will significantly subsidise the masks, but the real problem is that once you start charging, they must be officially certified as masks, to EU standards," Mr Molloy said.

It has to pass through an independent test house and it can take weeks, if not months.

The company is now deferring to the HSE for a solution to the certification impasse unless another way is found to cover the manufacturing costs.

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Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

From Harper's BAZAAR

WARNING: Spoilers for Little Fires Everywhere ahead.

Episode 5 of Little Fires Everywhere reintroduces a character from Elena Richardson's (Reese Witherspoon) past in a scene that wasn't originally in the book.

Jamie, her former boyfriend and now a journalist at The New York Times, reenters the picture when Elena travels to New York City to snoop into Mia Warren's (Kerry Washington) history.

In this week's episode of Little Fires Everywhere, the differences between Celeste Ng's novel and the Hulu limited series become more apparent. Right from the beginning, a flashback to Elena Richardson's younger years sheds light on her former serious relationship with her ex, Jamie Caplan, in a way we didn't originally see on the page: They're together in Paris in 1976. After a night out dancing, they're caught arguing about their futureElena has her life planned in their hometown of Shaker Heights, Ohio, while Jamie, an aspiring journalist, wants to explore bigger thingsso they break up.

Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

In the book, Jamie goes on to fight in the Vietnam War and Elena never sees him again. But the screen adaptation changes that.

In the show's '90s present day, Elena enlists Jamie's help when she travels to New York to snoop on her housekeeper and tenant, Mia Warren, after a portrait of Mia lands in The New York Times. Mia and Elena have been clashing lately, as Mia is helping her coworker Bebe regain custody of her child, who was adopted by Elena's close friend Linda.

Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

Leaving her husband and four kids back in Shaker, Elena travels to NYC, meets with Jamie (played by Australian actor Luke Bracey), now a journalist for the Times, and asks him to use his connections to help her gather information about Mia. Their rendezvous involves a fancy dinner, late-night drinks, and an evening stroll through Manhattanbut things quickly go sour.

Elena wants to be friends with Jamie again and says she wanted to know if he regrets anything about how his life played out, because she does. When she asks him back to her hotel, he takes offense and calls her a narcissist. "It's not my job to make your life bearable," Jamie jabs at Elena before walking off.

Story continues

Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

Further deviations from the book in the episode? Mia sells her portrait for $400,000 to fund legal representation for Bebe and the image appears in the Times rather than a museum, as it did in the written version. And later on, after Elena's daughter Lexie gets an abortion and covers it up by using the name of Mia's daughter, Pearl, Mia reprimands her rather than generously comforting her, like she does in the book.

Stream Little Fires Everywhere now on Hulu. New episodes arrive on Wednesdays.

Watch

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The World Banks Board of Executive Directors has approved a fast-track $1 billion India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help India prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. This is the largest ever health sector support from the bank to India.

This new support will cover all States and Union Territories across India and address the needs of infected people, at-risk populations, medical and emergency personnel and service providers, medical and testing facilities, and national and animal health agencies, a press statement said.

The project will immediately enable the Government of India (GOI) to scale-up efforts to limit human-to-human transmission, including reducing local transmission of cases and containing the epidemic from progressing further. In parallel, interventions to strengthen the health system will be rolled out to improve the countrys capacity to respond to the COVID-19 epidemic and be better prepared to respond to emerging disease outbreaks, including transmission between humans and animals.

For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here

Procurement of testing kits; setting up of new isolation wards  including turning hospital beds into intensive care units; infection prevention and control; and purchase of personal protective equipment, ventilators, and medicines, particularly in district hospitals and designated infectious disease hospitals will be scaled up under the project.

"The World Bank is working in close partnership with the Government of India to provide urgent and flexible support to the country as it fights the spread of COVID-19," said Junaid Ahmad, World Bank Country Director for India. "This operation is expected to enhance surveillance capacities, strengthen diagnostic systems, and expand the capacity of laboratories. But, COVID-19 is not only a health challenge. It has deep social and economic implications. In parallel, we are working with equal urgency with Government on social protection programs and economic measures that protect the livelihoods of people," he added.

The project will also enhance the resilience of Indias health system to provide core public health prevention and patient care to better manage COVID-19 and future disease outbreaks. It will help strengthen Indias Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, revamp infectious disease hospitals, district, civil, general and medical college hospitals, and build a network of high containment Biosafety Level 3 laboratories.

Today, about 75 percent of new infectious diseases begin with human-to-animal contact, including HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and SARS. The project will develop capacity and systems to detect existing and emerging zoonoses, support biomedical research on COVID-19 by Indian institutions, and upgrade viral research and diagnostic laboratories for testing and research.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 20:08:43|Editor: Yurou

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GABORONE, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Four poachers have been killed in an exchange of fire with Botswana's army on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning in the east of Linyati area in the Chobe National Park on the river-border between Botswana and Namibia, said Tebo Dikole, commander for Botswana Defense Force (BDF).

The incident happened three days after one poacher was killed around the Shaile or Linyati area.

"In their continued declaration of war on BDF members, the poachers in both incidents used weapons of war, hunting rifles and other tools of trade," said Dikole.

Dikole said BDF will continue to execute its mission and other assigned tasks.

In March, an army patrol team also exchanged fire with poachers in the region, which resulted in the death of a soldier and a poacher.
Leticia Stauch 'violently' killed her step-son Gannon Stauch and 'lied to investigators on multiple occasions' as they tried to learn what happened to the 11-year-old, a leaked affidavit claims.

The 32pg document was shared across various social media platforms and authenticated by various local outlets. The DailyMail.com has obtained a copy of the affidavit.

Gannon Stauch went missing from his home in Colorado Springs on January 27 and was discovered last month 1,400 miles away by construction workers under the overpass.

In the affidavit, authorities claim that Leticia Stauch killed her step-son in his bedroom on January 27 and used the following day to dispose of his body

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said they were contacted by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office in Florida on Wednesday about the remains of a boy recovered in Pace, north of Pensacola.

In the affidavit, authorities claim that the 36-year-old killed her step-son in his bedroom on January 27, and used the following day to dispose of his body.

Gannon Stauch went missing from his home in Colorado Springs on January 27 and was discovered last month 1,400 miles away by construction workers under the overpass.

'Physical evidence recovered from the residence and inside Gannon's bedroom supports that a violent event occurred in his bedroom, which caused bloodshed, including blood spatter on the walls, and enough blood loss to stain his mattress, soak through the carpet, the carpet pad, and stain the concrete below his bed,' the affidavit states.

Included in the documents are photos of Gannon's room and mattresses, as well as some of the '50 droplets' of blood splatter that were found on walls near the bed.

Blood was also found in and on Stauch's Volkswagen Tiguan SUV, which authorities believed was used to dispose of the boy's body the following day off a highway in Douglas County, Colorado.

Last month, Stauch was booked into the El Paso County jail on counts of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with evidence.

Letecia Stauch was arrested in South Carolina on March 2 and was later extradited back to Colorado to face charges of murder of a child under 12 years of age by a person in a position of trust, child abuse resulting in death and tampering with a dead body.

'Physical evidence recovered from the residence and inside Gannon's bedroom supports that a violent event occurred in his bedroom, which caused bloodshed, including blood spatter on the walls, and enough blood loss to stain his mattress, soak through the carpet, the carpet pad, and stain the concrete below his bed,' the affidavit states. The affidavit included photos of stained items in the home

She originally told authorities that she last saw her stepson between 3.15pm and 4pm on January 27. She said at the time that he was heading to a friend's house in Colorado Springs.

But the affidavit explains that Stauch was incompetent when it came to providing details about who the friends were and the names of their parents. She also could not name where the friend's house was located.

Surveillance video from a neighbor's home captured Stauch leaving the home with Gannon in her pickup truck at around 10.13am on January 27.

However, when she returned at 2.19pm, Gannon is nowhere to be seen.

'Gannon likely did return home with Letecia that afternoon,' authorities asserted in the affidavit, however.

ncluded in the documents are photos of Gannon's room and mattresses, as well as some of the '50 droplets' of blood splatter that were found on walls near the bed

Letecia originally told authorities that she last saw her stepson between 3.15pm and 4pm on January 27. She said at the time that he was heading to a friend's house in Colorado Springs. Investigators found several holes in her story

The affidavit states that Letecia 'lied to investigators on multiple occasions' when telling them what happened and displayed 'abdnormal behavior' when she rented a car that was not her usual mode of transportation.

Police believe she killed Gannon on the afternoon of the 27th, as Letecia had sent photos from her phone to the boy's father. They confiscated her phone and internet records, learning that she made a variety of Google inquiries inquiring about various elements tied to Gannon's killing.

Stauch asked her daughter to purchase carpet cleaner, baking soda and trash bags. Police believed these items to be purchases for the step-mother to clean up the murder scene, the affidavit states

Many inquiries on her phone indicated that she was not happy with the state of her marriage and her relationship with her husband's kids, the affidavit says.

Stauch asked her daughter to purchase carpet cleaner, baking soda and trash bags. Police believed these items to be purchases for the step-mother to clean up the murder scene, the affidavit states.

A receipt for the items has been found by authorities.

Letecia Stauch was extremely difficult to interview, during the early hours of the investigations, and routinely changed her narrative of what happened to her step-son.

During interviews on January 29, she told investigators that she had been raped by a man named 'Eguardo' who abducted Gannon after 'vaginally penetrating' her twice.

Stauch claimed that she hit her head twice during the ordeal but authorities found no head injuries on the woman.

When authorities initially tried to detain her while they applied for a search warrant to obtain her DNA, according to the affidavit, Stauch is said to have begun 'stuffing tissues in her pants, and said she was having chest pain and shortness of breath.'

Authorities took her to receive medical attention but claimed that Stauch waited for the opportune time to make a phone call in the waiting room of the hospital and get picked up by an 'unknown person'.

Google searches from Letetia's phone lead authorities to believe that their was familial conflict in the home

Internet searches made by Letecia

While at the hospital, authorities said Stauch was difficult when medical staff tried to ask her questions.

'She was reunited with her daughter several miles from the hospital,' the affidavit states.

Gannon's father was in Oklahoma on a business trip at the time of the killing. He released a statement sharing he was shocked upon learning that his son's body was found.

'My little boy is not coming home. We will never play Nintendo again. No more taco Tuesdays. No more smooth-looking hair cuts. And no more G-man for the world,' Albert Stauch said in a statement.

'The person who committed this heinous, horrible crime is one that I gave more to anyone else on this planet, and that is a burden that I will carry with me for a very long time.'

Gannon's devastated mother Landen Hoitt at a press conference on the day of Letecia's arrest on March 2
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(Kitco News) - Gold prices are trading moderately up in early U.S. trading Friday, in the wake of another dour U.S. economic report that shows a crippled U.S. economy. June gold futures were last up $5.30 an ounce at $1,643.50. May Comex silver prices were last down $0.029 at $14.625 an ounce.

Fridays just-released monthly employment report for March showed an unemployment rate of 4.4% (3.5% in February) and a big non-farm payrolls decline of 701,000 (up 273,000 in February). Analysts were looking for a 10,000 decline in payrolls. This is be the first decline in monthly non-farm payrolls in nine years. The monthly employment report for April is very likely to be much more grim than the March jobs data.

Global stock markets were flat to weaker in overnight trading. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward lower openings when the New York day session begins. In a stark show of how much damage the coronavirus outbreak has done to the Euro zone economy in such a short period of time, the blocs March composite purchasing managers index (PMI)which includes both the manufacturing and services sectorcame in at a record low of 29.7 versus a reading of 51.6 in February. A reading below 50.0 suggests contraction.

Chinas central bank again eased its monetary policy Friday by lowering its reserve requirement ratio. The worlds second-largest economy has seen its central bank make several monetary policy stimulus moves over the past month.

The important outside markets today see Nymex crude oil prices higher and trading around $26.50 a barrel, on short covering and perceived bargain hunting after hitting an 18-year low of $19.27 a barrel Monday. Reports Friday said OPEC officials will meet next Monday via a conference call to discuss production cuts of at least 6 million barrels. OPEC members also said they may invite U.S. oil companies to join the call, and want them to commit to reducing their production, too. President Trump said Thursday there would be an agreement between the two major oil producers. Trump reportedly said a figure of 10-15 million barrels, while the Saudi Kingdom said that any cuts would not be that large. Trump is to meet with U.S. oil company executives Friday, and OPEC officials will be watching the results of that meeting very closely. Percentage-wise, Thursdays rally in crude oil prices was the largest gain ever.

The U.S. dollar index is higher this morning as the bulls are having a very good week. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is trading around 0.6% Friday morning.

Other U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes the U.S. services PMI, the ISM non-manufacturing report on business, and the global services PMI.

Technically, the gold bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage. Bulls next upside price objective is to produce a close in June futures above solid resistance at $1,675.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at this weeks low of $1,576.00. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $1,644.50 and then at $1,650.00. First support is seen at the overnight low of $1,624.40 and then at $1,613.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5

May silver futures bulls and bears are on a level overall near-term technical playing field. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at $15.00 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $13.00. First resistance is seen at $15.00 and then at $15.20. Next support is seen at $14.25 and then at $14.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.0.
L ondon's very own 'hot priest' has been taking to the streets to deliver church services to try and lift spirits at this difficult time.

Pat Allerton, the vicar of St Peter's, Notting Hill, has decided if people can't go to church during the coronavirus lockdown, the church must go to the people.

Every day, he drives to a different street and holds a 10-minute service from a loudspeaker in the boot of his car, inviting residents to sing along to the classic hymn Amazing Grace, and join the Lord's Prayer from their doorsteps and windows.

Beyond the residential streets, he hopes to travel to London's hospitals to play the famous song and say a prayer for NHS staff and patients.

Pat Allerton has been delivering services in the street during lockdown / Evening Standard

Explaining the idea on his Instagram, he said: "The vision is to go round the different streets in the parish, starting with the Portobello Road right here, and to set up a speaker system and invite everyone from the comfort of their own homes and safety, or perhaps their doorway, to join in in singing an old classic favourite hymn and then I'm going to lead us all in the Lord's Prayer.

"So it's going to be very loud and very amplified - hopefully it won't annoy the neighbours too much."

Speaking exclusively to the Evening Standard, he said: "The idea just came into my mind about heading into the parish with a speaker system, self-isolating in my car, being very careful to obey all the guidelines on social distancing and all of that.

"Recognising I've got a bit of a captive audience and I don't want to abuse that or take advantage, I normally start by saying 'I'm not going to preach at you'.

"Generally it's just to lead people in a hymn, an old classic hymn that they might even recognise, perhaps from when they were young or from when they were at school, or perhaps they do go to church, but at the very least, it's a beautiful piece of music which can help lift spirits.

"We are facing extraordinary challenges and I think as time goes on those challenges will get harder and people will feel lonelier, they will feel more disconnected and they will feel perhaps more anxious, more fearful.

"So I felt prompted to go into the parish, to go into the streets and play this hymn, an old classic hymn at the church called 'Amazing Grace' , to play it loudly so everyone could hear it, and invite people to join in if they would like to, or just sit back and relax and listen to that music."

Rev Pat Allerton has been the vicar at St Peters in Notting Hill since 2017 / Evening Standard

After the hymn, the 41-year-old vicar leads a prayer to "bring into our hearts and thoughts people known to us who are struggling with this awful disease or in hospital fighting for their lives".

He ends the service by leading the Lord's Prayer for anyone who wants to join.

"I wanted to do it to bring a bit of joy, to bring a bit of hope, to lift spirits," he said.

"It's a communal activity, but obviously I encourage people not to gather, keep two metres apart.

"Perhaps come to your windows, to your doorways, but join - just recognise we are all in this together."

He said the services have had an overwhelmingly positive response from grateful residents, with rounds of applause and cheers.

"At the end of the song, there's a ripple of applause every time," he said.

"People are just longing, I think, for something that keeps them connected in some way and longing for a bit of hope and somewhere to look for a bit of strength at these times."

He added: "What I've been amazed by is how much people are thankful for this and how it's moving people.

"I'm just getting dozens and dozens of messages on Facebook or Instagram, or even email, just saying thank you, 'this has brought me hope'.

"The response is overwhelmingly positive because I think people just recognise they need something more - they need some hope at this time and this is just a little thing that I felt led to do.

"I'm just delighted it's blessing and bringing a bit of joy, bringing a bit of hope and connection to people at this time."

On Thursday evening, Rev Allerton held one of his services outside Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith, playing Amazing Grace for hospital patients and staff to hear.

He said: "I did the usual stuff I've been doing and played the song and I'm amazed to see today someone on the street just back from where I was doing it came out of their house and they filmed it.

"They caught the music, but they couldn't see me and they couldn't see the set up, but they were just focused on Charing Cross Hospital and the music playing over the streets, and it was stunning."

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

The video posted to Facebook has had more than one million views, Rev Allerton said, and has been shared thousands of time.

"I think that just speaks of how much people are longing for something, even if it's just a distraction, but I think it's more than that, there's a power in this - the power of hope," he said.

"I'm deeply humbled by the response."

Now, Rev Allerton wants to travel to London hospitals to spread his message of hope and unity and he said some medical professionals have already contacted him about bringing his services to their hospitals.

He said: "I see this as essential - having hope is essential. So I see the travel to get there as essential.

"I would love to go around the hospitals of London, playing 'Amazing Grace', leading people in silence with prayer and then leading them in the Lord's Prayer."

He added: "I'd love to get to the Nightingale Hospital. I'd love to go into it and lead a team of people like 'Corona Chaplains' to go into the Nightingale Hospital and pray for the sick.

"The NHS are doing an incredible job and I want the church to step up and take risks.

"Fine, I might get struck down, it's a risk, but Jesus laid down his life for the world, so how can I do anything less?"

Rev Allerton said he has been likened to TV series Fleabag's 'hot priest' Andrew Scott and his Instagram following has soared in the last few days.

"It's come up occasionally," he said.

"But I would never make such a claim for myself, but obviously when you are relatively young - I'm older than I look - some sort of comparison, one hopes, is inevitable."

He has encouraged residents to send him a message on Instagram or email the church if they want him to hold a service on their street.

"I go where I'm invited, because I want to show that hospitality," he said. "I'm willing to travel.

"And I'm hoping other vicars and other people take up this challenge - it's a pretty simple model.

"People can do it all over the place, but you must do it safely and discourage any gathering, invite people to stay where they are and join in safely."

Made in Chelsea star Oliver Proudlock, a close friend of Mr Allerton, thanked him for brightening up people's streets with a hymn and a prayer.
"What we will be doing is turning off the old system and going to a new system, which will provide that relief to parents." Free childcare will be available to all families from next week, subject to availability, but Mr Tehan said preference would be given to children of essential workers, disadvantaged children and previously enrolled children. "The most important of those are those essential workers and the vulnerable children," he said. Mr Tehan encouraged any parents who had terminated enrolments to get back in contact with their childcare centre.

"I don't want a parent to have to choose between feeding their kids and having their kids looked after or having their education being provided," Mr Morrison said. Mr Morrison said the official medical advice on children attending childcare was clear and had not changed. "There is no health risk in children going to school or childcare," he said. Under the new system, means-testing for childcare subsidies will be suspended. The government is also waiving the gap fee for parents who have been paying for childcare, backdated to March 23. Advocacy group Early Childhood Australia praised the package for tackling the key concerns of providers and families.

"Families will now continue to have access to the services they trust, and services know they can stay open with core jobs secured," chief executive Samantha Page said. "For families who want to keep their children at home, there is no longer a terrible choice between paying a gap fee and losing their place at the service." The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia said the measures would encourage families to put children back in care and resume their early education. "ELACCA is also very pleased that frontline workers and children experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage will have priority of access to early learning and care services across Australia," chief executive Elizabeth Death said.

Under a $1.6 billion measure, providers will be paid 50 per cent of their fee revenue up to the existing hourly rate cap based on enrolment levels before the mass exodus of children at the start of March. Loading To be eligible for the payments, providers must stay open, not charge any fees and prioritise care for children of essential workers, vulnerable and disadvantaged children and those previously enrolled. "They must also seek to re-enrol those parents who might have dropped off," Mr Tehan said. Mr Tehan said 60 per cent of the costs of a childcare centre were wages and noted the previously announced JobKeeper wage subsidy would also be supporting the sector "to the tune of over $1 billion".

After-school care and vacation-care services will also be able to access the payment, taking the entire package to $1.6 billion, on top of the JobKeeper subsidy. "The old system is quite a complex system. It was drafted for a pre-pandemic time. What we needed to be able to do with reductions in attendances is look at how we could put in place a new system which would adjust for that," Mr Tehan said. He said the temporary system would be reviewed after one month and in place for at least six months. Eventually the government would "look to evolve back to the existing system". According to the latest figures, 1.34 million children from 945,000 families were enrolled in childcare and early learning before the COVID-19 crisis. Average weekly use per child was 24.7 hours. The country's largest childcare provider, Goodstart Early Learning, does not currently qualify for the JobKeeper package because its turnover exceeds $1 billion and Mr Tehan said discussions were ongoing about support for the company. In a press conference on Thursday, he said the company made $100 million in profit annually.

The company, which operates 665 centres, immediately rejected the claim, saying it was a not-for-profit and its operating surplus was $11 million last year. It estimates a loss of $20 million this year. Loading "Todays announcement offers no certainty for our educators and teachers. Nor does it offer any comfort for the 3000 casual educators we had to stand down last week," the company said in a statement. The company must demonstrate a 50 per cent reduction in turnover to access JobKeeper subsidies, without which it says "we will not be able to keep our centres open  not for essential workers and vulnerable children now and not when the rebuild begins". Labor's early child education spokeswoman, Amanda Rishworth, welcomed the measures announced by the government.
Five people have now passed away from the novel coronavirus in Laredo.

READ MORE: Test kits planned for Laredo drive thru are likely fraudulent

Laredos fourth patient who succumbed to the virus was a 43-year-old man. He had underlying health conditions and had previously tested positive for COVID-19. The patient had been ill for over a week and was being treated at Doctors Hospital when he succumbed to the disease on Wednesday, according to the City of Laredo.

The fifth patient was a 97-year-old woman with underlying health conditions, according to a city spokesperson.

This marked the third day in a row that Laredo and Webb County officials have had to begin their daily press briefings with condolences to the loved ones of people who have died due to COVID-19.

Again, our condolences. It seems like every day were expressing condolences. Its sad, now we have a fourth person, Mayor Pete Saenz said at the noon meeting, before the fifth person had passed away.

As of Thursday afternoon, now 65 people have tested positive in Laredo, 12 of whom are hospitalized. Seven people have recovered locally.

Thursday also marked the first day of the new citywide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and the enforcement of the order to cover ones nose and mouth if inside a public building.

City Manager Robert Eads underscored the importance of staying home during this pandemic. He asked people to consider that the more they go out and interact with others, the more they put Laredos doctors, nurses and first responders at risk.

READ MORE: Nuevo Laredo confirms second case of novel coronavirus

Our hospitals are struggling, our first responders are struggling. We need to take this serious. Remember, this is not just about you, Eads said. ... Right now its a choice were making to either continue to have this disease become more pervasive and put more people in danger, when we dont have to.
Guaido tweeted that he will remain firm despite the cowardly kidnapping of his close associates.

Venezuelas opposition leader has refused to appear before prosecutors on charges of attempting a coup.

Five of Juan Guaidos associates have been detained by secret police in what is seen as an attempt to intimidate the opposition.

Analysts say the arrests are in response to US pressure on Nicolas Maduros government.

Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman reports.
Nigel McKenna is living in New York with his wife and two sons.

'I am scary, and being scary is good! We laugh, cry and laugh again... our goal is to come out of this alive! Every day we can see and talk to each other is a good day!' says Kilkerley native Nigel McKenna, who lives in New York with his wife and two sons.

The family have now fled their home in Astoria, Queens, where they have lived since 1994, as coronavirus takes a grip on New York, with an every increasing number of deaths.

'Our house in Astoria is three miles from Elmhurst, they had 13 deaths yesterday,' Nigel told The Argus.

'Since Queens is now the epicenter of COVID-19 in NYC, we relocated to our small cottage in Katonah, last Monday.'

As the pandemic sweeps across the world, Nigel says that the family had 'a little advance warning of what was coming, due to family members in Italy,' and decided to go into since March 16th.

'I been out shopping for groceries twice since, every time we go shopping we reset the clock... we leave our bags in the hallway overnight, wipe down the dry good boxes the next day. Items that needs to go into the fridge right away we clean or remove from bags, wipe and put in zip lock bags,' he explains.

Nigel drove to Canada to pick up their eldest son, twenty year old Tristan, from college in Montreal before the border closed.

He says that the speed at which the pandemic has taken hold has taken people by surprise.

'To think my wife's company two weeks before helped raise $1mm dollars for city meals on wheels and a week later let go of 756 of their restaurant employees.'

Meanwhile, Nigel, who works as executive estate manager for one of the most influential men in the world - billionaire Stephen Schwarzman, says: 'We are working from home and each day during our lunch break we take the one hour to see, touch, hear, smell and taste to clear our minds from anxiety! My local hospital, three miles from my home that I have taken my son when he was a baby many times, had 13 people died last night from the virus.'

With the death toll in New York state approaching 1,000, and almost 60,000 cases of Covid 19, the most in the country, he says: 'The general mood in the city is empty! Everyone is putting on a brave face but their eyes tell a difference story, dead quiet, scared and everyone potentially is a suspect. Wearing masks, gloves etc is normal now -it is unreal.'

He adds: 'I stopped watching the news because it keeps getting more scary on the hour here! The new goodbye greeting now is stay safe!'

Even though the family have moved to their small cottage in Katonah, about 40 miles from New York City, they are still concerned about the spread of coronavirus.

'We decided yesterday that we will no longer go shopping for food,' Nigel told The Argus on Friday. 'Lucky my wife is Italian and she makes her tomato sauce annually for pasta, so we are naturally stocked for this season by default from last year tomato plants.'

Both sons still have schooling every day, albeit remotely. 'My youngest, Luca, must login and video chat with his teachers for each class like normally. It's a bit funny to shout 'Get up and login or are you loggedin to school?' His teachers will email me if he does not attend class remotely.'

Nigel, who left his native Kilkerly to work in New York when he was just twenty years old, hit the headlines last year after Paris Hilton took a picture of him at a party and tweeted it to her millions of followers.

While his work sees him rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, he told reporters at the time 'To me, I'm always going to be Nigel McKenna from Kilkerley. I start work each day like it is my first day on the job.'

And although Donald Trump promoted him when he worked for his hotel group, 'Nigel this week Our City Hall needs to call the president out! Invite him to Elmhurst, Queens. He is from Queens! The US govt needs more pressure. They don't seem to be taking the COVID19 seriously enough.'
OTTAWA - The federal government is planning to offer full-time employment to all reservists in the Canadian Armed Forces until the end of the summer as it seeks to bolster the military's ranks and help offset some of the economic damage from COVID-19.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Reservists help pack military vehicles with boats and fuel at CFB Kingston Kingston, Ont., on May 9, 2017. The federal government is planning to offer full-time employment to all reservists in the Canadian Armed Forces until the end of the summer. The move is intended to make sure the military has enough troops should it be called upon to respond to COVID-19, a natural disaster such as a flood or both at the same time. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

OTTAWA - The federal government is planning to offer full-time employment to all reservists in the Canadian Armed Forces until the end of the summer as it seeks to bolster the military's ranks and help offset some of the economic damage from COVID-19.

Reservists across the country are being contacted to see if they are available and interested in the offer, which will see them receive regular pay and benefits while staying on standby to respond should the military be asked to help with the current pandemic.

In a letter to military members and their families, chief of defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance said reservists will likely serve close to home  but that could change.

"I envision the Reserve Force serving initially within or close to their communities, but prepared to regroup rapidly should operations demand," he wrote in the letter, posted to Twitter on Friday.

Vance also said the ceremonial guard on Parliament Hill and at Rideau Hall will be cancelled this summer, and that the military is still reviewing options to see whether it will be possible to have sentries at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The show season for the Snowbirds and other demonstration teams might also be cancelled.

While planning is still underway, the Department of National Defence says many reservists who voluntarily agree to serve full-time will see their contracts begin as early as Sunday and continue through to the end of August.

Those who agree will receive the same pay and benefits as regular-force personnel for the next five months. Defence Department spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier says they will be required "to remain at home, to stay healthy and ready" until assigned a specific mission or task.

Canada has about 25,000 reservists, most of whom serve one day per week and one weekend per month. However, they are often asked to help with natural disasters and can represent 20 to 30 per cent of military personnel deployed on any given overseas mission.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said earlier this week that military commanders were preparing to mobilize up to 24,000 troops, including reservists and Canadian Ranger patrols, to help with COVID-19 or a natural disaster  or both at the same time, if required.

That is one of the largest peacetime mobilizations in Canadian history.

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Quebec on Friday became the first province to formally request military assistance because of COVID-19. Military officials say they are now identifying the number of troops and the other resources that will be required to respond.

Retired lieutenant-general Guy Thibault, who previously served as the military's second-in-command and is now chair of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, applauded the decision to offer full-time employment to all reservists during the COVID-19 crisis.

Many reservists are university students or have other part-time jobs that might have been affected by the pandemic, he said, so integrating them into the Forces at a time when they may need money and the military needs people makes sense.

"So as a way to really leverage the potential of a surge in a domestic crisis like this, it's a perfect opportunity given the shutdown of a lot of what's going on in society," said Thibault.

"It's a financial benefit for them and it's great for the Forces to expand the bench of available folks for whatever might yet come their way."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020.
A man has lost his Supreme Court appeal over his conviction for the murder of another man who was shot outside a house in Co. Tipperary.

The five-judge court, in a judgment delivered electronically today, dismissed Maurice Power's appeal aimed at overturning his conviction for the murder of Shane Rossiter on October 17, 2012.

Power (aged 36), of Dranganbeg, Kilmoyler, Cahir, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Rossiter following a house party, where illegal drugs were being taken, in Church Lane, Golden. He was found guilty by a majority Central Criminal Court jury verdict in 2014 and jailed for life.

The prosecution relied on confession statements made by him while in custody at Clonmel Garda Station between December 11 and 15, 2012.

After his conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal, he secured a further appeal to the Supreme Court on points of law of general public importance.

One related to the extension of his detention by a District Court judge after he was arrested on suspicion of Mr Rossiters murder. While in detention, Power admitted to gardai he had shot Mr Rossiter, saying he had feared Mr Rossiter intended to kill him.

He claimed his detention by the District Court was unlawful and, as a result, that statement was not admissible.

A second issue concerned interpretation of section 10 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993, which provides, where evidence of a confession is uncorroborated, the trial judge should advise the jury to have due regard to that fact.

Giving the unanimous judgment, Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley said Power was arrested on December 11, 2012, and detained until December 13, in accordance with law, on foot of decisions by senior gardai.

This appeal related only to the lawfulness of the further extension of his detention on December 13, 2012, by the District Court.

The defence argued that extension was obtained on the basis of incomplete and factually unsound information because the fact Power had begun earlier that day to make admissions in detention had not been taken into account.

Ms Justice O'Malley said the District Judge was obliged to make a decision on the evidence and submissions put before him and neither side informed him Power had begun to make admissions.

If the District Judge came to a rational conclusion on the material before him, it was difficult to see how that could be characterised as unlawful simply because some other piece of evidence might, theoretically, have cast a different light on the issue.

The District Court decision was reasonable having regard to the evidence and submissions and the trial judge was thus entitled to find the decision was lawful, she ruled.

Addressing the interpretation of section 10, she said it obliges a trial judge to give particular advice to the jury if evidence of a confession is uncorroborated. The provision goes beyond the evidence the confession was made by the accused and is also concerned with the factual content of the confession.

What is to be assessed is whether or not there is objective and relevant confirmation of that material, she said.

The distinction sought to be drawn by Power between the truth of the confession and the commission of the crime is not valid, she said.

In this case, the trial judge correctly decided a warning concerning uncorroborated confessions was appropriate and correctly informed the jury the case rose or fell on the confession. She also gave an appropriately worded explanation of the need to examine the other evidence to see whether it confirmed the truth and reliability of the confession but made clear the jury were entitled to convict if satisfied beyond reasonable doubt the confession was true.

On the basis of those and other findings, she dismissed the appeal.
Virgin Orbit may be focusing its production efforts right now on making ventilators to support healthcare workers battling COVID-19, but it's also still making moves to build out the infrastructure that will underpin its small satellite launch business. To that end, the new space company unveiled a new partnership with Oita Prefecture in Japan to build a new spaceport there from which to launch and land its horizontal take-off launch vehicle carrier aircraft.

Working in collaboration with ANA Holdings and the Space Port Japan Association, Virgin Orbit says it is currently targeting Oita Airport as the site for its next launch site -- the first in Asia -- with a plan to start flying missions from the new location as early as 2022.

There are still a number of steps that must take place before the Oita airport becomes official -- including performing a technical study in partnership with local government to determine the feasibility of using the proposed site. Already, Oita is home to facilities from a number of corporations, including Toshiba, Nippon Steel, Canon, Sony, Daihatsu and more, but this would marks its first entry into the space industry, an area Oita is hoping to encourage in the future.

We are eager to host the first horizontal takeoff and landing spaceport in Japan. We are also honored to be able to collaborate with brave technology companies solving global-level problems through their small satellites, said Katsusada Hirose, governor for the Oita Prefectural Government, in a press release. We hope to foster a cluster of space industry in our prefecture, starting with our collaboration with Virgin Orbit.

Virgin Orbit is looking to scale its efforts globally in a number of ways, even as it gears up for a first demonstration launch of its orbital small satellite delivery capabilities sometime later this year. The company announced plans to provide launch services from a forthcoming spaceport facility in Cornwall for the U.K. market, and it's also looking at standing up a site in Guam.

The horizontal launch model that Virgin Orbit uses means that it can much more easily leverage traditional airport infrastructure and processes to set up launch sites, and doing so can provide domestic launch capabilities essentially on-demand for countries looking to add small satellite flight to their in-country-housed services. That's a big selling point, and securing Oita should be a considerable win for Japan as the site of a first Virgin Orbit port across the whole continent.
The first loans as part of the $349 billion program included in the CARES Act were approved Friday to help businesses hurting financially amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The program didnt launch without any hurdles, though.

Some bumps in the road early today. I know with some time things will smooth out, said Bob Nelson, the Massachusetts District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The funding became available through the $2.2 trillion CARES Act signed by President Donald Trump last week. It created funding for the Paycheck Protection Program to relieve small businesses across the country.

The SBA approved the first loans on Friday. By the end of June, the administration has the task of approving $349 billion in loans. By comparison, the most money the SBA has loaned in a single year was $30 billion.

This is certainly a huge undertaking, Nelson said. But our businesses in Massachusetts, many of them are hurting. Many of them are suffering.

Like any new program wrinkles appeared and the SBA is working on ironing out those issues. Many lenders didnt receive the final rules and regulations to the program until 7:30 p.m. Thursday night.

One of the key recurring issues, Nelson said, involves the computer software. Many lenders are new to the SBA or havent worked with them in a long time so they are still getting accustomed to the programing.

Other issues that popped up included some lenders only offering Paycheck Protection Program loans to applicants who already are members of credit unions or have depository or savings plans.

The SBA recommends applicants contact their local lenders regarding Paycheck Protection Program loans. A sample application form is available here.

Theyre trying to figure out how theyre going to internally handle the volume of requests that are coming in, Nelson said. I know from my discussions with a lot of lenders, there is huge demand and significant interest for this money. Its just a lifeline.

The total number of Americans that have filed for unemployment amid the coronavirus pandemic grew to 6 million this week. Many small businesses in Massachusetts have been closed since Gov. Charlie Baker issued a stay-at-home order on March 23. Earlier this week, he extended that to continue through May 4.

The loans offered by the SBA can be used for payroll, rent, mortgages and other costs incurred during the coronavirus pandemic that were processed to keep the business open.

Loans can be entirely forgiven if requirements are met. The SBA said that at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll. Forgiveness is also based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels, the SBA said. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time employment declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.

The SBA also is continuing to offer more conventional loans that it normally provides, Nelson said. Last year, the SBA helped about 1,700 small businesses receive $720 million. The CARES Act also requires the SBA to provide six months worth of payments to small businesses with existing SBA loans.

That's a huge benefit for our businesses, Nelson said. Thats something thats in the process. Were getting lenders that information.

For a business looking to apply for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, heres is the information you need to know.

Which businesses qualify?

All businesses, including non-profits, veterans organizations, tribal concerns, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, and independent contractors, with 500 or fewer employees qualify.

Businesses with more than 500 employees may still qualify if they meet the SBAs size standards for specific industries. More information on the SBAs size standard can be found here.

Currently, conventional corporations or LLCs are permitted to apply, but Nelson said, as soon as next week, contractors, self-proprietors and those who are self-employed will be able to apply.

How much can a business request?

The maximum loan amount per small business is $10 million.

Nelson said lenders will look at monthly payroll to provide loan amounts. Small businesses can apply for 250% of their total monthly payroll.

Where can I apply?

Small businesses can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender. Loans can also be obtained through any participating federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, or Farm Credit System institution.

Nelson said the SBA is creating a webpage that will allow applicants to search for the lender closest to them. The address is sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find, however, as of Friday afternoon, the address only brought users to the Paycheck Protection Information page.

How to ensure loans are forgiven

The SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest, the Treasury Department said.

The SBA said that at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll. Forgiveness is also based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels, the SBA said. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time employment declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.

Loans carry 0.5% interest and are available retroactive from Feb. 15 so employers can rehire laid-off employees through June 30.

Related Content:
Iran on Friday announced 134 more deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the officially confirmed total to 3,294.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a conference that 2,715 new infections had been confirmed in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 53,183.

Iran is one of the countries worst-hit by the coronavirus pandemic and has been struggling to contain the outbreak since it reported its first deaths on February 19.

Jahanpour said 17,935 of those hospitalised with the virus had recovered, while 4,035 were in a critical condition.

The government has banned all intercity travel until at least April 8, and has repeatedly urged Iranians to stay at home. There is no official lockdown inside Iran's cities.

President Hassan Rouhani warned on Thursday that there was no quick fix and that Iran might have to battle the pandemic for another year.

Authorities have closed schools and universities as well as four key Shiite pilgrimage destinations, including the Fatima Masumeh shrine in Qom, the city where the first deaths were reported.

They have also cancelled the main weekly Friday prayers and temporarily closed parliament.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For the first time, Gov. Greg Abbott described the states ventilator and hospital bed capacity in detail on Friday after fielding frequent questions in recent weeks about how Texas would manage a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The state has 19,695 hospital beds available  about 42 percent of Texas overall capacity, which has more than doubled about 8,000 in mid-March, Abbott said. The state also has 2,107 beds available in intensive care units.

We are fully prepared for the hospital needs of Texans as we continue to respond to the coronavirus, Abbott said, speaking from the Texas State Capitol Auditorium. We start ahead of the curve, but we are sprinting to stay ahead of the curve.

Estimates from a Harvard Global Health Institute study, however, indicate that cities like Houston and San Antonio could come up short unless bed capacity is significantly expanded.

The state also has 8,741 ventilators available, though Abbott did not give specifics on the states needs, only saying he is confident Texas should have the capacity to meet them. Abbott did not respond to a question about whether the state has requested more from the national stockpile, which the Washington Post reported Wednesday is nearly depleted.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

By comparison, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said New York will need 30,000 ventilators at the peak of the crisis in a state with almost 10 million fewer people.

More than 55,000 Texans have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Department of State Health Services. About 6,000 have confirmed cases and 100 have died of the virus, according to data that Hearst Newspapers has collected from federal, state and local data and its own reporting. Abbott said Friday that 827 Texans have been hospitalized.

Abbott said the state continues to increase its supplies of masks, gloves and face shields; however, doctors and nurses across the state have said that they continue to face shortages of personal protective equipment. Carrie Williams, spokeswoman for the Texas Hospital Association, said Friday that hospitals simply dont have what they need to protect staff.

FOR THE LATEST: Interactive maps, charts show spread of coronavirus in Texas

Abbott credited his executive orders banning elective surgeries, suspending certain regulations to allow for more patients to be housed in the same room and loosening licensing requirements to allow graduate and retired medical professionals to work, as the reason for increased bed availability.

In the Houston area, about 33 percent of beds area available, or 3,332 beds out of 10,079, Abbott said. Other parts of the state were in better shape, such as the San Antonio area, where 46 percent of beds are available, or 2,997 beds out of 6,463, and Austin where 53 percent of beds are available.

According to data released by the Harvard Global Health Institute study, under a moderate scenario where 40 percent of the population is infected over a 12-month period, hospitals in Houston would need 14,300 beds over that time period  about 77 percent more than it has now.

Under the same scenario in San Antonio, the city would need 6,030 beds over 12 months, or about 3,000 more than it has available now.

MAD RUSH FOR BEDS: Houston leaders urgently planning for surge of COVID-19 patients to avoid New York's nightmare

Former state Rep. John Zerwas, a physician who is now the University of Texas System's vice chancellor for health affairs, went over the states plan for handling a potential overflow of patients ailing from COVID-19. Zerwas said state officials have been working with the Texas Hospital Association to come up with come up creative ways to increase bed capacity.

The first option theyd look at would be converting operating rooms or post-anesthesia care units, while also adding equipment and staffing, which Zerwas said could yield the state about 10,000 additional beds.

If still more beds were needed, Zerwas said the state would then look to other facilities, such as ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, long-term acute care centers and nursing homes.

In the most urgent scenario, the state could move less critical patients to hotels and motels, reopen closed hospitals or build stand-up care sites in remote areas operated by the local government, hospital or both, as New York has done.

Some of those makeshift care sites are already in the works: In Dallas, state officials are working to open the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas with a 250-bed capacity. About the same number of beds are available in a San Antonio exposition hall at the Freeman Coliseum thats being converted for use as a field hospital. Houston officials are making plans to open one at the NRG Stadium.

MAKING SPACE: 250 beds are being set up at Freeman Coliseum for coronavirus field hospital

Zerwas also said he feels comfortable with the states ventilator supply, adding that more are on the way. Zerwas said companies are developing innovative new ventilators that can actually be produced fairly quickly and at a pretty low cost.

I think were going to be in a good place, Zerwas said. Were fortunate that were seeing whats going on elsewhere across the world and in our own country, and it has given us that opportunity  to incorporate these (social distancing) practices, which I believe is going to blunt the curve significantly, and with that, hopefully blunt any extraordinary need that were going to have for ventilation devices.

Abbott and DSHS Dr. John Hellerstedt urged Texans to continue following social distancing guidelines put in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Dont forget that this is a future that we can control with the kind of activities that were engaging in right now, so the things that were doing in terms of social distancing, hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation of our environment, Hellerstedt said. That can alter the course of what the future is like.
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Ambulance crews exposed to potential harm due to patients not being honest during coronavirus outbreak

This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 3rd, 2020

The Welsh Ambulance Service is urging the public to be honest about the nature of their illness when calling 111 or 999 for help.

It comes amid fears that some members of the public have been withholding information about their illness during the Covid-19 outbreak for fear of not being sent an ambulance, according to feedback from Trust staff.

This means crews have been attending some incidents without the necessary protective equipment, exposing them to potential harm.

Now the service is asking the public to be open and transparent about the nature of their call and their symptoms so it can signpost patients to the most appropriate care and safeguard its crews from contracting the virus.

In a video message to the public shared on social media, Lee Brooks, the Trusts director of operations, said: Right across our organisation, staff are working tirelessly to ensure we can continue to provide you the best possible care as we respond to Covid-19.

This is unchartered territory for our generation but our plans continue to develop as we work with our partners to ensure that we deliver care as safely and effectively as possible.

I have a plea for the wider public at this time. Our teams operating in your community are reporting that they arrive at the scene of an incident, possibly at your home, to discover that callers have withheld information about their symptoms.

Some of you have told us that you were concerned that, had you been honest, an ambulance would not have been sent.

We understand your concerns but I want to make a couple of things clear. Firstly, we will always send an ambulance where it is warranted, but this means relying on what our call handlers are told at the point that you call us.

If you dont give us accurate information, you risk the welfare of the people whose job it is to care for us all. This is incredibly unfair on our staff, as it means that their right to enter your home prepared has been removed.

Personal protective equipment is worn by our staff to protect them from contracting the disease.

I must ask everyone who calls either 111 or 999 to be honest with us about whats wrong with you and allow us to signpost you to the right care.

These are difficult times for us all, but please dont put our staff in harms way when they just dont need to be.

Lee added: Please heed the official advice from government and Stay At Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives.

Lees video message can be viewed in full below:
Five people have been arrested for



allegedly manhandling health workers conducting a coronavirus survey at a layout near Hegde Nagar here, police said.

An FIR was registered against them on a complaint by health inspector Muniraju and they were arrested late on Thursday night, they said.

The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers along with health officials, were conducting a door-to-door survey in Sadiq Layout as part of an exercise to identify if any of those who returned to the state after attending the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Delhi had COVID-19 symptoms.

Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao warned miscreants attacking health workers.

"Instances of health workers being assaulted and also creating obstruction have been noted.

A very stringent warning is issued that anyone who does or supports such acts, non bailable criminal cases will be registered against them and they will be sent to Jail.

Doctors n Medical team have our full protection," Rao tweeted.

A woman ASHA worker had alleged that announcement was made from the mosque after which people came out of their homes, abused and attacked them and snatched their bags, kits and mobile phones.

The incident prompted the Karnataka government to issue a stern warning on Thursday to the offenders, saying strong action would be taken against them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Netflix led rivals YouTube, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus with over 59 million installs in the first quarter of 2020, but more time was spent on YouTube's Kids service as usage boomed following the shutdown of thousands of schools in March, according to a report by analytics firms Apptopia and Braze. The report did not give actual hours of usage, but it ranked YouTube Kids first, followed by Netflix. YouTube itself was in third place.
Brave nurses battling on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic are being told not to wear their uniform outside of work in fears of them being abused in the street.

Hospitals are advising staff to take the unsettling precaution after nurses reported being 'egged' and abused on the streets, with some being accused of 'spreading' COVID-19.

Staff are being verbally attacked, and even pelted with eggs, in supermarkets and on public transport.

The bullying is taking place across Australia, with staff at hospitals in Queensland told to take the drastic measure to protect themselves.

Workers at the Princess Alexandra, Queensland Children's, Prince Charles, Logan, Gold Coast and several Mater hospitals have all reported such incidents, according to the Courier Mail.

A nurse screens patients outside a clinic in the Barossa Valley, north of Adelaide, on Tuesday (pictured). Many were told not to wear their uniforms outside of work in fear of getting abused

Steven Miles, Queensland's health minister, called the treatment 'abhorrent'.

'They have been vilified, they have been threatened, they have been treated abhorrently,' he said on Friday.

'I want to call on every Queenslander if you see someone out and about in a Queensland Health uniform, they're our heroes.

'They should wear their scrubs with pride  not fear they'll single them out for abuse.

'They are people who go to work every day to take care of us, so thank them, don't yell at them.'

It comes after a whistleblower in NSW revealed members of healthcare staff were even being spat on.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles (pictured, centre) looks on as clinical nurse Janice Geary (right) examines a patient at the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane on March 6

The shocking revelations come just days after a whistleblower from a NSW hospital claimed nurses and cleaners there were being abused and spat on.

'Nurses are being spat on and copping abuse if they're seen anywhere in their scrubs,' they told The Northern Star.

'The common statement is, ''you're spreading the disease''. It's the epitome of ignorance.

'Most staff don't work in the COVID-19 clinics. They are very careful to prevent the spread of disease.

'Nurses and cleaners should be revered for what they're doing.'

One exhausted nurse told the Courier Mail staff were being 'treated like lepers'.

'It is soul destroying,' she said.

A nurse (pictured) has revealed a patient suspected of having coronavirus spat on her face while she was treating him as he awaits his test results

'We've been told not to wear our uniforms anymore after three cases of nurses being egged while walking into work  we are the ones turning up every day to help people, yet we are being treated like lepers.'

In carefully managed COVID-19 rules, all hospital staff are required to wash their uniforms after every shift to kill any trace of the virus.

Last week, one NSW nurse revealed a patient suspected of having coronavirus spat in her face while she was treating him.

The young woman, who works in New South Wales - the epicentre for the deadly virus in Australia - shared her story on social media.

A healthcare worker (pictured) talks to a man at a pop-up clinic testing for the coronavirus disease at Bondi Beach on Wednesday after several outbreaks were recorded in the area

Wearing blue scrubs, she detailed how the patient told her he did it because 'I'm going to get sick anyway'.

'Australians generally have this attitude about coronavirus where they don't care whether they live or die or kill, or their grandparents, which is already super fun to deal with,' the young nurse says in the clip.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'But yesterday I had a patient spit on my face. We don't know if he's been confirmed or not but he's been tested, we haven't got the swabs back yet. He spat on my face because ''I'm going to get sick anyway''.'

During the past few weeks some nurses have been refused entry to stores while wearing their uniforms, others say they have been abused in the street.

The incidents are believed to be caused by frightened people who think they are at risk of catching the virus from healthcare workers.

The fears are completely unfounded, with staff treating COVID-19 patients required to be fully decontaminated at the end of their shift to avoid spreading the virus.

An email from Gold Coast Health noted the virus had left many members of the public frightened and caused some to lash out at nurses.

It said one nurses was spat at while travelling to work while another was refused entry to a store because of their work uniform.

A police officer overseeing a hotel quarantine at the Duxton Hotel in Perth on Monday (pictured) as the government tries to stop the spread of COVID-19
The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in London

(Reuters) - Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world jumped to more than 1,250,000, exceeding 68,400 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

* For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread, open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.

* U.S.-focused tracker with state-by-state and county map, open https://tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T in an external browser.

EUROPE

* British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in hospital for tests on Monday suffering persistent symptoms 10 days after testing positive, but Downing Street said he remained in charge of the government.

* Britain will impose more restrictions on outdoor exercise if people flout lockdown rules, the health minister said.

* France reported a slowing daily death toll, and Germany its fourth straight day with a drop in new cases.

* Italy reported its lowest daily death toll for more than two weeks on Sunday, as the health minister outlined plans for broader testing and beefed-up health services as part of measures following a future easing of the lockdown.

* The rate of new infections and deaths in Spain slowed again as the country began its fourth week under a near-total lockdown.

* Russia's cases jumped by almost 1,000 in a record daily increase.

* Ireland's prime minister re-registered as a medical practitioner and will work one shift a week to help out during the crisis.

* Scotland's chief medical officer resigned after she broke her own advice to stay at home by visiting her second home on two successive weekends.

AMERICAS

* President Donald Trump expressed hope the United States was seeing a "leveling-off" in some of its hot spots, even as a senior official warned the country was entering the "hardest" week of the crisis.

* Guatemala asked the United States to limit its deportations of immigrants to 25 persons per plane, after two deported migrants were hospitalised in recent weeks after testing positive.

Story continues

* Deaths in Canada jumped by 20% in a day, while Ottawa offered full-time jobs to reservists in the armed forces.

* Haiti and Barbados reported their first deaths.

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

* Mainland China reported 39 new cases as of Sunday, up from 30 a day earlier, and the number of asymptomatic cases also surged, as Beijing continued to struggle to extinguish the outbreak despite drastic containment efforts.

* Japan will declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday, media reported, as a shortage of beds and a rise in cases linked to hospitals are pushing Tokyo's medical system to the brink of collapse.

* The U.S. Forces Japan declared a public health emergency for its military bases in eastern Japan.

* South Korea reported fewer than 50 new cases for the first time since its peak in late February.

* India is restricting the export of most diagnostic testing kits, as its cases topped 3,350 despite a three-week nationwide lockdown.

* New Zealand will stick to its tough curbs despite some early signs the spread of the illness has been stabilising.

* Virus-hit Carnival cruise ship, the biggest single source of infections in Australia, docked south of Sydney to get help for sick crew members requiring urgent medical treatment and to refuel in preparation for departure.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* About 20 million jobs are at risk in Africa as the continent's economies are projected to shrink this year.

* Turkey said it would minimise its troop movements in operation zones in neighbouring Syria.

* The United Arab Emirates will reinforce its stockpile of strategic goods and waive residency visa fines for the rest of the year.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT

* Stocks jumped on Monday as investors were encouraged by a slowdown in virus-related deaths and new cases, while oil prices skidded after Saudi-Russian negotiations to cut output were delayed, keeping oversupply concerns alive. [MKTS/GLOB]

* Euro zone governments tapped bond markets for a bumper 27 billion euros in March as they funded stimulus programmes to soften the blow of the pandemic.

* Japan vows to fight "biggest global crisis since WWII" with a massive fiscal, monetary and tax stimulus to be approved on Tuesday, a draft document reviewed by Reuters showed.

* Singapore unveiled S$5.1 billion ($3.55 billion) in additional economic spending such as wage support, waiver of levies and one-off payments.

* British consumer confidence recorded its biggest fall in more than 45 years, as a widening shutdown of the economy hammered households' financial hopes.

SPORTS

* German soccer clubs were allowed to return to training on Monday, with some opting to train players in small groups.

(Compiled by Milla Nissi, Frances Kerry and Uttaresh.V; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Tomasz Janowski)
German passengers who were two days ago found to be still on the MV Artania despite rescue flights leaving WA last weekend have complained about not being able to smoke or leave their hotel rooms after they were taken off the ship on Wednesday.

The German cruise liner, which was on an around-the-world voyage before it got stranded in Fremantle last week with an outbreak of coronavirus, continues to cause severe concern for the WA government.

Passengers from the Artania cruise ship were transported from the Fremantle Passenger Terminal on buses by a police escort to Perth International Airport last week. Credit:Getty Images

Premier Mark McGowan has described dealing with the situation as one of the "great frustrations" of his life.

On Monday 39 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the ship were transferred to Joondalup hospital after about 850 passengers were flown to Germany on four chartered flights over the weekend.
An investigation is under way after at least 20 decapitated pig heads were dumped in rural Co Down.

The gruesome scene was discovered by a resident on the Clontafleece Road close to Warrenpoint on Tuesday night.

The eyewitness reported it to local independent councillor Mark Gibbons.

Describing the scene, Mr Gibbons said the heads were dumped close to the old Clontafleece Primary School, between the villages of Burren and Mayobridge.

"Local residents contacted me and said they were lying at the side of the field up a laneway," he continued.

"There were about 20 pigs' heads. There was no other part of the body, just the heads sitting stacked up, and it was just horrific.

"I couldn't believe it. I was sitting at the kitchen table with the family around me when I saw it and I just went pale."

Mr Gibbons added that he does not know who would have done this and said local farmers are just as "puzzled".

"There's very few pig farmers in the area anyway and any of the pig farmers that we do know just simply wouldn't do something like that," he said. "We're trying to find out what on Earth has happened."

The councillor stated that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the PSNI were all informed.

He also appealed for anyone with any information to contact police.

A spokesperson for the council said the heads were removed from the scene yesterday by a private contractor.

"The council's environmental health department have also reported this incident to DAERA and to the National Food Crime Unit for further investigation," they added.

"Newry, Mourne and Down District Council condemns this incident and is appalled by the treatment the animals experienced."
KYODO NEWS - Apr 3, 2020 - 10:39 | All, World, Coronavirus

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said his administration is considering banning the entry of foreign nationals from Japan as the Asian country continues to see a rise in coronavirus cases.

"We're looking at it," Trump said at a press conference, while showing understanding of Japan's recent decision to expand its entry ban to include foreign travelers from the United States.

"I think it's fine that they do that. They're trying to protect their country and we have to protect our country," the president said.

The Trump administration has so far barred the entry of foreign travelers coming from mainland China, the first country to be hit by the virus, as well as from Iran and many European countries. The State Department has advised Americans to avoid all international travel.

Related coverage:

South Korea's confirmed coronavirus cases top 10,000

Japan to give 200,000 yen in cash to each household in need

Coronavirus infections top 1 million worldwide as pandemic rages
Telugu actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna has donated Rs 1.25 crore towards the fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He has donated Rs 50 lakh each to CM relief funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Rs 25 lakh towards the 'Corona Cris Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, 3 April (IANS) Telugu actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna has donated Rs 1.25 crore towards the fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He has donated Rs 50 lakh each to CM relief funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Rs 25 lak Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, 3 April : Telugu actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna has donated Rs 1.25 crore towards the fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He has donated Rs 50 lakh each to CM relief funds of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Rs 25 lakh towards the 'Corona Crisis Charity' welfare of cine workers of Telugu filmdom, which was initiated by Chiranjeevi.

In a video released by his team, he appreciated all front-line warriors -- the police, doctors, healthcare worker and the governments -- for fighting to win against the pandemic. He also requested his fans to follow precautionary measures.

Colleague and friend Chiranjeevi took to his social media to express his appreciation.

"Thank you dear brother #Balayya #NBK for donating 25 lacs to #CoronaCrisisCharity & 50 lacs each to Telangana & AP Govts. You proved ur generous heart goes out to the needy every time.'' A few days back he tweeted "Rs.6.2 Cr has been collected so far by #CoronaCrisisCharity Heartfelt Thanks to each one of the contributors Appeal to every one to come forward for this cause," wrote Chiranjeevi.

Chiranjeevi recently joined hands with Akkineni Nagarjuna, Varun Tej and Sai Dharam Tej to record a special song to create awareness about the COVID-19 pandemic. The song highlights the need to fight the virus while staying home.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Balakrishna has signed on to work in director Boyapati Srinu's film which is likely to star Shriya and Nayanthara.
One New York City couple had less of a meet-cute and more of a meet-sick last month when they went out on a first date  and shortly after, both developed symptoms of coronavirus.

Nick Crawford, 23, told MarketWatch that he and the unidentified woman went out for the first time on March 7, and within days, both were experiencing flu-like symptoms and told to self-isolate at home.

But in this case, it wasn't just the virus that was infectious: Despite one possibly infecting the other, Nick and the woman liked each other so much that they've continued to date, and even met up several times a week while quarantining.

How they met: Nick Crawford, 23, said he and an unidentified woman went out for the first time on March 7, and within days, both were experiencing flu-like symptoms

Nick, a web designer, said that he and the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, matched on Hinge and started chatting before making a plan to meet on March 7.

Hopping around: Nick, a web designer, said that he and the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, matched on Hinge and then went to several bars

'At that point, coronavirus wasnt even a real threat. It didnt feel real yet,' Nick said.

There had, in fact, already been cases in the US, and experts warned that it would spread quickly. However, the President was still calling the virus a 'hoax' at that time, and social distancing protocol had yet to have been adopted int he US.

It was also still more than a week before New York closed bars and restaurants, so Nick and the woman had no trouble finding a place to go out.

The pair went to several bars in Brooklyn that night, and even met up with friends.

Shortly after they went out, Nick began to feel flu-like symptoms. He visited an urgent care clinic and tested negative for the flu, but doctors wouldn't give him a COVID-19 test, telling him that there weren't enough.

Hiding away: Nick couldn't get a COVID-19 test, but a doctor told him he probably had it and should self-isolate

Meanwhile, his date also experienced flu-life symptoms, too. She has taken a test but is still awaiting results.

But a friend they met up with that night did test positive for COVID-19, seemingly confirming that the virus is the source of their illness, while also suggesting that they both contracted the coronavirus during that first meeting.

'I guess at one of the bars we went to, both of us ended up contracting what we would later find out is COVID-19,' Crawford said.

That's not necessarily the case, though  either Nick or his date may have already contracted the virus before the date, but remained asymptomatic, and given it to the other.

Still, while Nick didn't actually get tested, his doctor said he probably had COVID-19, and urging him to self-isolate.

What self-isolation? The couple apparently hit it off, though, and have continued to see each other

'We have spent a lot of time together since then, quarantining together,' he added to MarketWatch, indicating that they've met up two or three times a week

Even if he did get it from his date, Nick said there are no hard feelings.

'I dont blame her at all. We both had a really fun time together on our first date,' he said.

In fact, the pair are still seeing each other, and Nick tweeted on Thursday: 'Looks like I caught more than just feelings during this pandemic.'

'We have spent a lot of time together since then, quarantining together,' he added to MarketWatch, indicating that they've met up two or three times a week while supposedly self-isolating.

He thinks they may have a future together, too.

'Id probably tell my grandkids the story of how we met,' he said.
Bhubaneswar, April 3 : The sixth Covid-19 patient in Odisha from Cuttack had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizamuddin area last month, state government's spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said on Friday, adding that the authorities have started contact tracing for this person.

The person tested positive on Friday.

Among the 27 returnees from the Tablighi event in Delhi, seven are foreigners. Out of them, 21 persons have tested negative, while the sample of one person returned positive. The reports of five persons are awaited, Bagchi said.

This apart, 40 other persons from Odisha who attended the Tablighi event are at different quarantine centres in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi.

"Besides, 10 West Bengal residents who had attended the Tablighi event had visited Talcher in Odisha after returning from Delhi. We have traced the contacts and their samples have been sent for testing," said Bagchi.
There are still no reported cases of coronavirus, COVID-19 in Yemen. But watching the invisible tsunami crashing through countries, and creating a global health crisis and economic catastrophe, we are preparing for landfall in Yemen, already one of the most fragile countries on earth

With COVID-19 Yemen will face a new, merciless enemy that will be unbeatable if the armed conflict continues. It will threaten the fragile gains made, making the worlds worst humanitarian and development crisis even more dire. Ending the fighting now will allow for a UN-led mediation to end the war and will help prevent a COVID-19 outbreak in an already tenuous environment.

The protracted conflict has decimated what was already a very weak health system. An outbreak would overwhelm it, with the most vulnerable hit the hardest. UNDP Yemens Impact of War report show that by the end of 2019, the conflict had thrust Yemens development back by 21 years and delayed achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 31 years. The conflict has left fewer than 50 percent of Yemens hospitals and clinics fully operational, and most lack qualified staff, medicine, and often even electricity.

A country at war

The question is how can we prepare, respond, and recover in a country at war?

On 25 March, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire in Yemen to help avert a COVID-19 disaster. This was followed by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths encouraging the warring parties to act now as; Battlefields are dividing Yemen and making it harder to combat the possible outbreak of COVID-19.

All the warring parties responded positively; however follow-through will be what saves potentially millions of lives. Everyone must put their differences aside, stop the fighting, and coordinate efforts to help mitigate COVID-19s deadly spread. There must be local, national and international coordinated public health policies to ensure Yemens swift and effective response.

UNDP has learned from disease outbreaks and past pandemics that enable us to develop effective responses focused on the most vulnerable groups that are driven by solidarity, science, and human rights. For COVID-19 in Yemen, we are contributing to the UN response through preparedness, mitigation, and recovery by delivering in four pillars:

Strengthening the first line of defense

Strengthening health systems, supply chains, doctors and nurses at the front lines of defense is key. Protecting heroic health workers--supplying face masks and protective clothing--and strong partnerships with authorities will help ensure Yemenis have equal access and treatment to healthcare.

Led by the UN Resident Coordinator and the World Health Organization (WHO), and in coordination with the authorities, UNDP will help to buy much needed supplies, rehabilitate critical infrastructure, and deliver equipment. To reach across frontlines, we will work to empower and strengthen local governance through financial and technical support while boosting civil society partnerships to ensure effective service delivery.

Flattening the curve

Learning from global experiences, this is most effective when allowing for social distancing, working from home, closing schools, and postponing large gatherings.

UNDP is already supporting containment strategy efforts of authorities and WHO to slow the viruss spread by introducing additional measures within UNDP and our programming.

Protecting now and in the future

To enable a faster recovery, we must strengthen social protection by extending the coverage of existing programmes including food aid, direct cash transfers, cash-for-work, and public work schemes. It is essential that we protect those in prison, the internally displaced and others living in congested areas.

UNDP is working with authorities and implementing partners to scale up existing programming in these areas throughout Yemen.

Stimulating the economy

Yemen already suffers from a collapse of economic infrastructure, unpaid salaries, and a lack of jobs.

UNDP will rely upon our World Bank, European Union, and other partnerships to expand existing programmes and to develop new ones as we remain committed to creating jobs through our projects, increasing support to small and medium businesses, supporting local value chains such as farming, and strengthening public-private partnerships.

To help ensure COVID-19 does not become another disaster in Yemen, the war must stop now. With its tidal wave barreling down on Yemens shores, we must all rally around the common goal of defeating the virus.

Yemen can no longer wait.
KAMPALA  The Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala has warned special groups of people against misusing the stickers issued to them by Government.

While issuing guidelines that will be followed by vehicle owners to acquire stickers that will be used in this period of the coronavirus lockdown, the minister noted that some people have begun taking the stickers for granted, including forging them

Gen Katumba said companies that qualify for the stickers are medical service providers, telcos, pharmaceutical companies, utility providers, food production companies, fuel stations, firefighters and so on.

According to the minister, only motor vehicles that are meant to operate in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, which covers Kampala, Entebbe, Wakiso, Mpigi, and Mukono, will get stickers.

Any vehicles operating outside these geographical boundaries will be impounded by police and other security organs and offenders will be prosecuted accordingly, the minister said.

There are provisions to acquire stickers when operating outside the above region, but youll have to put that in writing.

Related
NAkoah Nazareth Ansah Jamson, the Founder of the Israel King of Jews Church, has called on Christians to have "faith" in God that the global outbreak which is killing thousand will soon pass.



He, however, pointed out that "faith alone is not enough" to fight outbreak, and entreated all to abide by directives outlined by government to help curb the spread of Coronavirus.



As part of measures to prevent further spread of the deadly Coronavirus, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced a two-week restriction on movement within the Kasoa township, Greater Accra Region and Greater Kumasi and some municipalities in the Ashanti Region, effective 1 am on Monday, 30 March 2020.



Essential service providers and some other business enterprises have been exempted from the lockdown.



Some Ghanaians are said to be flouting the lockdown directive going about their duties as in normal times.



In an inspiring and educative video on the pandemic, the renowned Spiritual Leader reiterated that the virus irrespective of your position, can break you down, and urged Christians to refrain from flouting the lockdown protocols by seeking to attempt to visit men of God for solutions.



Spiritual leaders can pass on the virus to you going to them, the same way you can also pass on the virus to your spiritual leader, and it will keep spreading. For now, we must all obey what our leader [President Nana Addo] has advised so we can help stop the spread of the virus. NAkoah Nazareth Ansah Jamson advised



Watch full video ...









Ghana's confirmed Coronavirus cases has shot up to 204, after nine (9) additional cases were recorded 204.



All the nine newly recorded cases are from the Greater Accra region.



This was confirmed by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in its latest situational update on the pandemic.



Until now, the number of cases recorded stood at 195.



According to the GHS, "Since the last situational update, Ghana has confirmed nine additional COVID-19 cases, all from the Greater Accra region. Four (4) of them have no history of travel nor contact with any confirmed case. Other four (4) have no travel history but are contacts of confirmed cases in Ghana; and one traveled to Ghana from Benin within the past 14 days.



The GHS further indicated that "as at 2nd April 2020, Ghana has recorded 204 cases COVID-19 with five (5) deaths. The number of regions reporting cases remains five (5) (Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Upper West and Eastern).



Giving a breakdown of the regional statistics of cases recorded, the GHS revealed that "the Greater Accra Region has most of the cases (183) followed by the Northern Region (10), Ashanti Region (9), Upper West Region (1) and Eastern Region (1).



"Most of the cases are reported from routine / enhanced surveillance activities. Cases from travellers under mandatory quarantine remain 89."





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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ALBANY - New York state missed a payment deadline and and will forfeit the right to buy 1.5 million highly sought, specialized medical masks, according to the Capital Region firm that tried to facilitate the deal.

Darn Good Yarn, which has operated in Halfmoon for more than a decade, has relationships with suppliers in China that have access to 1.5 million N-95 respirator masks that help protect medical personnel and others against airborne droplets from sneezes or coughs. The specialized masks are among the most sought types of protective medical equipment in short supply in New York, the state now at the center of the worldwide COVID-19 crisis.

On Friday, at 3 p.m, the companys chance to buy any of the masks from the Chinese suppliers for about $4 apiece for New York government evaporated. Nicole Snow, the founder and CEO of Darn Good Yarn, said the Cuomo administration, which initially seemed poised to buy the masks, didn't come up with the $6 million needed over the past eight days.

Snow said she believes the state currently lacks the cash-on-hand to make the purchase.

A Division of Budget spokesman, however, said New York had billions of dollars in reserves to spend even before passage of the state budget on April 2.

"New York state takes its responsibility to procure personal protective gear extremely seriously, and is vetting all possible avenues to secure products that are viable, available, and cost appropriate," Heather Groll, a spokeswoman for the state Office of General Services, had said Thursday evening. "Darn Good Yarns offer is under consideration."

Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi said in a brief phone call on Friday that the state needs to "balance" obtaining materials quickly with vetting vendors for potential scams that pop up during these types of calamities.

State lawmakers have been in the throws of a state budget process that ran up to and past Wednesday's deadline that made dramatic cuts. The Chinese suppliers that would be involved in the deal for the 1.5 million masks, meanwhile, require up-front payment.

A ProPublica article published on Thursday said that New York was willing to overpay for crucial supplies on an inflated private market, including paying up to $7.50 per mask, or about 15 times the normal price.

At this moment in time the New York state team is focused on procuring goods and services based on current market conditions, Groll told ProPublica There will be time to look back and pull together info on all this, that time will be when the pandemic is over."

The $4 charge for a mask is more than the amount per mask that former NBA star Stephon Marbury says he secured from a Chinese supplier. Marbury, now a coach in the Chinese Basketball Association and a basketball legend in China, says he can get the 10 million masks at cost from a supplier for $2.75 each, while the masks are often now going for $7.50.

"'Under consideration' means they want us to procure the items and not pay for them," Snow said. "The thing that really gets me is that my business, my employees and I, are hard-working taxpayers and now were trying to help the government to help us and protect our fellow citizens. And theyre not coming through, claiming that they have no money."

Snow said that Larry Schwartz, a former second-in-command to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo who is assisting the administration in obtaining medical equipment, told the Halfmoon firm that he wanted to buy the masks a week ago. Emails show the company then worked to arrange the delivery details with the Cuomo administration.

But the administration did not come through with the funds. Since the budget numbers came into view on Wednesday evening, according to Snow, Cuomo administration officials in the Office of General Services have been unresponsive concerning whether New York wants the 750,000 masks, or any other quantity.

"I levered a giant sum of money from our business and pulled on our line of credit to secure this order for NYS. I pushed boundaries with our suppliers and I have them holding this order for me until Friday," wrote the manager of operations at Darn Good Yard, Amanda Schermerhorn, to OGS officials on Wednesday. "What do you think we can do? We're just looking to help!"

There has not been any response from the state, Snow said late Thursday.

Snow said that the worldwide market for protective medical equipment is drying up and it will be difficult for New York government or hospitals to otherwise obtain the masks in coming months. Countries, such as France and Denmark, have recently been placing huge orders, she said.

The nonprofit arms of certain New York hospitals have wanted to buy the masks, according to Snow, but hospitals are mostly waiting for New York government to pay for the equipment.

"They believe they don't need to buy it, because they can buy it from the state," Snow said. "But it's not coming."

The company says the N-95 masks available from China are "industrial grade" and approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The Food and Drug Administration is allowing this grade of masks to used by front line medical professionals under an emergency order because there aren't enough medical grade N-95 surgical masks available, Schermerhorn said. The masks being sold by the Halfmoon company would be available in New York in two weeks to 30 days, according to the company, since earlier shipments have now already been allocated to hospitals.
Galloway Township Police Chief Donna Higbee oversees a department of 50 sworn officers. She became the first female chief in her community five years ago. Read more

While Philadelphia now has its first female police commissioner, Danielle Outlaw, a sprawling South Jersey town near Atlantic City has had a woman running its police force for five years.

Galloway Township Police Chief Donna Higbee made history when she became the first female top law enforcement officer in her Atlantic County community in July 2015. Shes still the only woman to lead a police department in the county, and among only a handful in New Jerseys 565 municipalities.

She wants to change that.

I love this job," said Higbee, 43, a third-generation law enforcement officer. It just goes to show that its not just a mans world. I want to inspire other women to see that they can have it all.

Higbee oversees about 50 sworn officers and 14 part-timers. Only four women are among the ranks. The towns rate of violent crime is below the state average, but it still had 399 aggravated assaults and 295 burglaries in 2018, the most recent statistics available.

The chief attributed the spikes to a transient population in the 115-square-mile town, the largest geographically in the state. The department has implemented community programs with businesses to combat crime, she said.

Higbee began her law enforcement career in Wildwood as a Class 2, or part-time, officer in 1999. She graduated that year from the Cape May County Police Academy and joined the Hamilton Township Police Department for three years.

Galloway hired her in 2002 as a patrol officer and she worked her way up, serving in every rank and division. She has been a field training officer, a crisis/hostage negotiator, a bicycle patrol instructor, and head of the departments honor guard unit.

County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner called Higbee as fine a chief [as] any enforcement agency could want to lead them. She is also president of the Atlantic County Chiefs Association.

Higbee credited her parents for encouraging her to obtain an education  a bachelors degree from Stockton University and a masters from Seton Hall  and the rank and file officers who make me look good.

 READ MORE: What to know about Danielle Outlaw, the first black woman to lead the Philly police

Penny Harrington, founding director of the National Center for Women and Policing, said she was encouraged by Outlaws selection and by Higbees tenure.

Its still really tough, said Harrington, former chief of the Portland, Ore., Police Bureau, who became the first woman chief of a major U.S. city in January 1985. Theres a very long way to go. Outlaw came to Philadelphia from Portland.

Higbee followed in the footsteps of her father, John, who retired as a patrolman with the Galloway department in 1999 after 27 years. His great-uncle Arthur Higbee was Atlantic Citys police chief in the 1940s.

She was raised in a section of the township known as Higbeetown and resides in Galloway with her husband and two children. She sees her service on the force as a way to give back to the community of 37,349 residents.

Im just so proud of her, I dont know what to say, said John Higbee, 81. Shes just one of those special kids. Shed do anything for anybody."

In the community, Higbee is known for her personal touch, visiting senior citizens and businesses, and participating in veterans activities and a Thanksgiving food drive.

Higbees husband, Steve Garrison, also serves on the force. They met on the job about 10 years ago. He was a patrolman and she was a detective, one of her favorite positions in her tenure.

I get jokes about her being the boss at home and the boss at work. We just have fun with it, said Garrison, 42. I always knew she was going to reach the top of the profession.

One of her biggest challenges, she said, has been a 1971 cold case of a young girl whose body was found in a wooded area in the township. Higbee worked to get her DNA recovered and sent to the FBI lab.

I would love to see it solved, she said.

Higbee plans to retire in two years and possibly teach full-time at Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing, where she has been an adjunct professor since 2019.

Im very proud of my career, she said.
No coronavirus case reported in Sikkim so far: Report

Worse yet to come for countries in conflict, says UN chief

Of total coronavirus cases in Delhi, 259 from Nizamuddin Markaz, says state health dept

50 Lakh to be given to the kin of any police officer that may die while discharging duties during lockdown: Maha Govt

Premier League to return 'when it is safe and appropriate'

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said guidelines for rapid antibody tests (or blood tests) are likely to be released on Saturday. The modalities on which we are working on include how to deploy the test in high-risk areas, low-risk areas, hot spots...," ICMR's Manoj Murhekar said at a press briefing on Friday.

India has allowed faster and cheaper antibody tests to check for the coronavirus disease in so-called hot spots, of which there are 20 in the country. The test used now PCR (polymerase chain reaction) identifies the Sars-CoV-2 virus from throat or nasal swab samples of people with symptoms or high-risk individuals (health workers and family members) who might have come in contact with a Covid-19 patient.

The number of coronavirus deaths in country stand at 62, while the cases have touched 2,547.

Here are the major highlights of the day on coronavirus pandemic:
People gather at the entrance for the New York State Department of Labor offices in Brooklyn on March 20, 2020. The Federal Reserve estimates that 47 million people could lose their jobs before the COVID-19 crisis ends. Andrew Kelly | REUTERS

The number of weekly unemployment claims filed in the U.S. could soon exceed 8 million as the fallout from widespread shutdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen, one economist told CNBC on Friday. In the week ending March 28, 6,648,000 Americans filed for unemployment, doubling the previous week's 3.28 million figure which was itself a record high by a significant margin. However, Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief Economist Ian Shepherdson told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday that next week's figure could be much higher still. "Just looking at some of the state data and looking at some of the Google data of people who are searching for how to file for unemployment, that hasn't really come down yet, in fact the latest numbers seem to me to be creeping a bit higher compared to last week," Shepherdson said. "So we might possibly see another record number, possibly 7 or 8 million and it might even be more than that, which is astonishing and breathtaking."

Shepherdson suggested that the speed at which lockdowns across the country have been implemented and the subsequent speed of job losses in the consumer sector might have been a factor in the unprecedented spike. He also highlighted the differences in policy between the U.S. and Europe, which has broadly implemented aggressive employment subsidies to furloughed workers. "It has simply been that businesses, unlike in Europe, haven't been able to enjoy these sorts of job retention schemes where people have been kept on payrolls even though they haven't got anything to do," Shepherdson suggested. By contrast, U.S. policy has allowed workers to be laid off but offered increased unemployment benefits for an extended period of time, which is why such a huge number of claims are beginning to roll in stateside.

'There is no good story'

Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, said the key question was not the significance of last week's 6.6 million figure itself, but whether this is the peak or whether volumes of 10 million claims every two weeks would continue to run for the foreseeable future. "I fear that the numbers are going to continue to get worse, at least for another couple of weeks," Weinberg told CNBC's "Street Signs." He suggested that The Blitz in London during World War II was the closest comparable example of an entire nation shutting itself down, but that most nations around the world doing so simultaneously had "no comparable basis." Meaning governments and businesses are having to "change and adapt" on the fly.
A 36-year-old woman, named only as Galina, died from coronavirus just hours after giving birth to a baby girl in Ukraine

A woman has died from coronavirus hours after giving birth to her daughter in Ukraine.

The 36-year-old mother, identified only as Galina, is said to have been infected with the virus at a perinatal centre in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, in western Ukraine.

She was admitted to the centre on March 10 when she had no sign of the virus, local media reported, but fell severely ill after a 19-day stay at the unit.

Local health authorities spokesman Volodymyr Chemny said during a press conference: 'On March 29, the womans condition suddenly worsened.

'The oxygen level in her blood sharply lowered. Her body temperature rose to 39 degrees Celsius [102.2 Fahrenheit].

'She started having trouble breathing and quickly developed pneumonia. She was tested positive for coronavirus.'

On the same day in the evening Galina delivered a healthy 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) baby girl.

Galina's family say she was in good health when she was admitted to a perinatal unit on March 10, but believe she was infected by other patients or staff while being cared for

Galina developed severe symptoms on March 29, went into labour the same day, gave birth, then died hours later

After that, her condition became critical. She was rushed in the intensive care unit and placed on a ventilator.

Devastated relative Oksana Stasevich said: 'We were told that she was dying. They allowed us to enter her ward and say goodbye to her.

'Galina died hours after giving birth to her child.'

Mrs Stasevich believes Galina contracted coronavirus at the health facility and blames its staff for the new mother's death.

She said: 'Galina was in a ward with two other women who had fever. They shared the room for several days before the ill women were isolated.

'A doctor from this hospital told me they had confirmed coronavirus cases among staff about three weeks ago.

'Medics do not have any protective gear there. One doctor didn't even wear a medical mask.

'I am one hundred per cent sure that Galina was infected at the hospital.'

All staff and patients are now being tested for the virus, with three medics testing positive so far. Galina's baby tested negative

The perinatal unit in western Ukraine where Galina is thought to have caught the virus

The city authorities confirm two medics caught the infection a day before Galina was admitted to the perinatal centre and another one, a local midwife, was tested positive for the virus just a few days ago.

The newborn girl was tested negative and is under constant medical monitoring, doctors said.

Yury Pavlushynsky, the head of the hospital commented: 'The child's condition is normal. Her life is not in danger.'

All the hospital staff and patients are to be tested for the disease due to the incident, say local media.

According to medics, Galina suffered from high blood pressure and obesity.

On Thursday Ukraine had officially registered 897 cases of the infection, with 20 deaths.
A father who died from coronavirus told his family that he 'can't keep fighting it' the evening before he succumbed to the killer bug.

Father-of-two Ryan Storrie, 45 - from Ardrossan, Ayrshire - lived in Dubai but flew to Glasgow for his 40th birthday celebrations.

Mr Storrie, who suffered from Asthma, is believed to have contracted the bug after landing but had been told to stay in his bedroom rather than go to a hospital as he tried to fight the virus.

Coronavirus has killed 3,605 people and infected more than 38,000 in the UK alone.

Father-of-two Ryan Storrie, 45, who died from coronavirus told his family that he 'can't keep fighting it' the evening before he succumbed to the killer bug. Pictured: Mr Storrie with his wife Hilary and sons Aaron, 13, and Andrew 11, at his 40th birthday celebrations just 19 days before he died

Mr Storrie's wife Hilary told how he said 'I'm done, Hilary, I can't keep fighting it' the evening before she found him dead in his bed.

The couple's sons Aaron, 13, and Andrew 11, are currently self-isolating with Mrs Storrie for 14 days, leaving them unable to see family and friends.

Mrs Storrie said her husband was told to remain in the family's holiday flat after he was found to have a fever on March 20.

By the tenth day of being sick, Mr Storrie was suffering from a fever and persistent coughing and could barely talk.

Mr Storrie's wife Hilary (pictured together) told how he said 'I'm done, Hilary, I can't keep fighting it' the evening before she discovered him dead in his bed

But Mrs Storrie said she thought his condition improved that evening when he joined her in the living room.

Mrs Storrie told The Sun: 'That was when he turned and said to me "I'm done, Hilary, I can't keep fighting it".

'He went to his bed that night and when I went to check on him the following morning - Day 11 - he was gone.'

Coronavirus has killed 2,921 people in the UK alone and infected more than 33,718. Pictured: Police patrol a street in Perth, Scotland, in a bid to enforce lockdown rules

She performed CPR on her husband before the paramedics arrived but it was too late to save him.

Mrs Storrie urged Britons to stay indoors and obey lockdown guidelines

'It takes someone that you love dying from this for it to hit home, for you to realise how serious it is.'
Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested on Friday that a sweeping modernization of US infrastructure to help mitigate the coronavirus damage could take a back seat  again  to the needs of struggling small businesses and the overstretched health care system in the next legislative relief package.

That's a reversal from the position the Speaker and other Democratic leaders have carved out over the last week. Ms Pelosi, other Democratic leaders, and even Donald Trump have been angling in recent days to include measures in the next coronavirus response bill that would pump hundreds of billions of dollars  or, in the president's case, trillions  into programs to expand broadband internet access, clean up US water systems, and revamp highways.

But Ms Pelosi appeared to face a new reality on Friday that small businesses will need paying customers to get back on their feet, and the government must do more to make sure American consumers have cash to spend.

"While I'm very much in favor of doing some of the things that we need to do to meet the needs  clean water, more broadband and the rest of that  that may have to be for a bill beyond this right now," Ms Pelosi said in an interview with CNBC on Friday.

The third coronavirus legislative response package, which Congress passed and the president signed into law last week, included more than $350bn in small business relief in the form of loans that could be forgiven up to 100 per cent if businesses meet certain payroll and operational requirements.

Congress must provide billions more in the phase four bill, in addition to more cash payments than the $1,200 Treasury will begin sending out to taxpayers later this month, Ms Pelosi has said.

"The small business piece [is] very, very essential. But when these businesses say they survived [the health crisis]  they meet the criteria of keeping their employees on, they pay the rent, the utilities and the rest, and then their loan is forgiven  they still need customers," Ms Pelosi said. "And again, money in the pockets of America's working families. I doubt that they will have at least some resources. We are a consumer society. So let's have them have the resources to consume."

Yet another delay on beleaguered infrastructure negotiations is sure to frustrate Mr Trump, for whom the specter of a sweeping infrastructure deal is a key messaging point for his 2020 re-election campaign.

On Tuesday, the president took to Twitter to ask Congress to send him a "VERY BIG & BOLD" infrastructure bill worth $2trn that is "focused solely on jobs and rebuilding the once great infrastructure of our Country!"

But Capitol Hill Republicans have urged a wait-and-see approach until the phase three, $2.2trn law from last week has taken full effect before they begin negotiating a fourth response bill.
THE Parliamentary Committee on HIV and AIDS Affairs has asked the government to consider easing congestion in prisons by ensuring that remandees are handled at police stations and not in prisons.

The committee chairman, Oscar Mukasa, said during the tabling of the Prime Ministers Office budget estimates that most prisons were congested by remandees, urging the government to solve the problem.

He said his committee proposes that the police force must be tasked to handle remandees and prisons should take full charge of prisoners.

The number of remandees in our prisons is bigger than that of prisoners; this is not proper, the committee needs the government and all other stakeholders to do something to address this situation, he said.

According to Mr Mukasa, the huge congestion in prisons was risky for remandees, prisoners and prison wardens when it comes to airborne diseases like tuberculosis (TB).

We are asking the government to consider easing congestion in our prisons by making sure the remandees are handled by the police, he said.

The committee chairman also cautioned on the state of prison cubes, saying they do not allow air ventilation.

This situation may lead to serious transmission of airborne diseases, we wish to ask the government to resolve this challenge, he remarked.

Moreover, the committee asked the government to review the prisons system of purchasing food saying the department was purchasing food items at high prices.

He said the prison was producing food and selling it at low prices and then buys it again from the supplier at higher prices.

We have discovered a surprising situation in this business; the department produces food, sells it at low prices and then buys it at higher prices; we are proposing a new system that will benefit both sides, he said.

On fighting HIV/AIDS, the Tanz ania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) has asked the government to allocate 7.6bn/- for implementing its programmes in the 2 02 0/2 1 fiscal year.

The committee chairman explained that out of the requested amount, 4.9bn/- , which is equivalent to 6 4 per cent, is for development projects and the remaining amount is for other charges (OC) paying salaries and other issues.

On the source of funds, the committee asked the government to avoid donor dependency and ensure it funds various programmes independently.

According to Mr Mukasa, the committee has realised that much of the funds for fighting the scourge comes from donors.

He said in 2 019/2 0, the government allocated 1.4bn/- which was equivalent to 2 per cent of all allocated fund; however, the commission received only 2 8 .2 m/- from different stakeholders.

Depending on donors funds in fighting HIV/AIDS does not guarantee us victory since they sometimes reduce the amount, he said.

He added that in 2 019/2 0, the Presidents Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reduced the support by 2 3 per cent, which was 28 2 .8 bn/- (119m US dollar).

PEPFAR is a United States governmental initiative to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and helps to save the lives of those suffering from the disease.

The committee asked the government to support the commissions budget by 75 per cent and the remaining 25 per cent should be requested from donors.

According to UNAIDS statistics for Tanz ania, in 2 018 , 1.6 million people were living with HIV in the country.

This equates to an estimated HIV prevalence among adults of 4.6 per cent. In the same year, 72 ,000 people were newly infected with HIV, and 2 4,000 people died from an AIDS-related illness.

Despite the numbers, Tanzania has done well to control the HIV epidemic over the last decade.

Scaling up access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) has meant that between 2010 and 2 018 , the number of new infections declined by 13per cent and the number of people dying from an AIDS-related illness has halved.
Amgen (Thousand Oaks, CA, USA) is collaborating with Adaptive Biotechnologies (Seattle, WA, USA) to help address the COVID-19 pandemic. The companies will combine their expertise to discover and develop fully human neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 to potentially prevent or treat COVID-19. The mutually exclusive collaboration brings together Adaptive's proprietary immune medicine platform for the identification of virus-neutralizing antibodies with Amgen's expertise in immunology and novel antibody therapy development. Given the rapidly rising incidence of COVID-19 around the world, the companies will begin work immediately and finalize financial details and terms in the coming weeks.Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology. Adaptive is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on harnessing the inherent biology of the adaptive immune system to transform the diagnosis and treatment of disease.Adaptive will extend its high throughput platform to rapidly screen the massive genetic diversity of the B cell receptors from individuals that have recovered from COVID-19. This enables the identification of tens of thousands of naturally occurring antibodies from survivors of COVID-19 to select those that neutralize SARS-CoV-2. Amgen will then leverage its world-class antibody engineering and drug development capabilities to select, develop and manufacture antibodies designed to bind and neutralize SARS-CoV-2. deCODE Genetics (Reykjavik, Iceland), a subsidiary of Amgen, will provide genetic insights from patients who were previously infected with COVID-19.The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enable the parties to start work immediately and are planning to execute a Collaboration and License Agreement. Both the companies aim to accelerate the development of a potential antibody against COVID-19 as fast as possible for patients in need."Our strong history of collaboration with Adaptive gives us the ability to immediately mobilize our combined resources to help address the urgency in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. After swiftly obtaining viral gene sequences from hundreds of patients, Amgen was motivated to use these insights and quickly pair them with our drug development and manufacturing capabilities. Working with Adaptive and using their viral-neutralizing antibody platform will expedite our ability to bring a promising new medicine into clinical trials as quickly as possible," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen."We are extremely motivated to join forces with our trusted partner, Amgen, to tackle this global health crisis," said Chad Robins, chief executive officer and co-founder of Adaptive Biotechnologies. "This partnership expands our drug discovery capabilities, demonstrating the power and versatility of our immune medicine platform."
Pakistan's Sindh province government on Friday invoked the Maintenance of Public Order to keep in jail British-born al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh after a court overturned his death sentence in the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi in 2002.

On Thursday, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha found 46-year-old Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping and commuted his death sentence to seven years in prison. He has been in jail for the past 18 years.

The court also acquitted his three aides - Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil- serving life sentences in the case. The bench announced the verdict on the appeals filed by the four convicts 18 years ago.

The Sindh government acted swiftly to invoke the MPO which allows it to keep the four convicts behind bars for three months.

According to a notification issued by the Sindh Home Ministry, the release of Sheikh and his three associates could jeopardise the law and order situation in the province, thus necessitating their continued detention.

Talking to Geo News, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he was surprised at the timing of the verdict.

He said the order shall be challenged at a higher forum.

Under the Sindh High Court order, Sheikh is eligible to walk free as he has already served 18 years in prison on the death row.

The US on Friday criticised the Pakistani court for overturning the death sentence of the al-Qaeda leader, terming the verdict an "affront" to the victims of terrorism everywhere.

"The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl's murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere," Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, said in a tweet.

But the US' top diplomat for South Asia welcomed Pakistani prosecutors' indications that they would appeal the decision.

"We welcome Pakistan's decision to appeal the verdict. Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice," Wells said.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story on the alleged links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

Sheikh, who was the mastermind behind abduction and killing of Pearl, was arrested from Lahore in February 2002 and sentenced to death five months later by an anti-terrorism court.

The incident came three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814. He was serving prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday held a telephonic conversation with European Union's top official on external relations Helga M Schmid with a focus on ways to coordinate efforts to deal with the challenge of coronavirus pandemic.

Official sources said Shringla and Schimid, Secretary General of the European External Action Service, exchanged views on the fast evolving situation and respective efforts to deal with the pandemic in the European Union and India.

The two officials also explored ways for coordinating efforts to contain the pandemic under the framework multilateral bodies like G20 and SAARC.

Foreign Secretary expressed his deep sympathies on the losses due to COVID-19 in the EU region, the sources said.

Europe has been one of the hardest hit regions with the death toll due to the virus infection mounting at an alarming rate in countries like Spain, Italy, Germany and France among others.

The number of deaths due to the infection crossed 31,000, in these four countries alone. Globally, the virus has infected more than one million people and claimed around 50,000 lives.

India has recorded over 2,300 positive cases of coronavirus and at least 56 deaths so far.

Sources said Schimid appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives in the G20 and in SAARC to deal with the pandemic.

She thanked Shringla for all the support extended by India for the return of the nationals of EU countries and the Foreign Secretary reassured her of India's continued support in facilitating the return of EU nationals.

Recognising the valued strategic partnership between India and the EU, the two sides agreed to maintain contacts towards consultation and cooperation at the bilateral level as well as in the international context, sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CHICO, Calif. - One Northern California Fire Department is preparing for impacts of the coronavirus not just now ---but also long term.

Chico Chief Steve Standridge says his team is ready to handle the virus but he isn't relying on outside resources to help.

Standridge says if there was ever a major outbreak in the city it would look a lot like a wildfire response.

Cal Fire and Oroville Fire would share resources with them.

Standridge says right now his 51 firefighters stand ready to do what's needed to combat the virus.

"In this particular case, we might not be able to rely upon state resources as the entire states being affected by this. We have to be prepared to deal with this in our own county," Standridge said.

Standridge says he is in contact with Cal OES only on a regional level.

They're following guidelines from the CDC and California Public Health on how his crew responds to calls.

Standridge says the coronavirus response plan could change if neighboring cities need the same level of response as they do.

In that case - he says he would try to only use his staff so resources aren't depleted in other cities.

Standridge says he likes to have at least 17 staff members a day to monitor any emergencies.

The department has four fire engines in its arsenal.
As capable as robots are, the original animals after which they tend to be designed are always much, much better. That's partly because it's difficult to learn how to walk like a dog directly from a dog  but this research from Google's AI labs make it considerably easier.

The goal of this research, a collaboration with UC Berkeley, was to find a way to efficiently and automatically transfer "agile behaviors" like a light-footed trot or spin from their source (a good dog) to a quadrupedal robot. This sort of thing has been done before, but as the researchers' blog post points out, the established training process can often "require a great deal of expert insight, and often involves a lengthy reward tuning process for each desired skill."

That doesn't scale well, naturally, but that manual tuning is necessary to make sure the animal's movements are approximated well by the robot. Even a very doglike robot isn't actually a dog, and the way a dog moves may not be exactly the way the robot should, leading the latter to fall down, lock up or otherwise fail.

The Google AI project addresses this by adding a bit of controlled chaos to the normal order of things. Ordinarily, the dog's motions would be captured and key points like feet and joints would be carefully tracked. These points would be approximated to the robot's in a digital simulation, where a virtual version of the robot attempts to imitate the motions of the dog with its own, learning as it goes.

So far, so good, but the real problem comes when you try to use the results of that simulation to control an actual robot. The real world isn't a 2D plane with idealized friction rules and all that. Unfortunately, that means that uncorrected simulation-based gaits tend to walk a robot right into the ground.

To prevent this, the researchers introduced an element of randomness to the physical parameters used in the simulation, making the virtual robot weigh more, or have weaker motors, or experience greater friction with the ground. This made the machine learning model describing how to walk have to account for all kinds of small variances and the complications they create down the line  and how to counteract them.

Story continues

Learning to accommodate for that randomness made the learned walking method far more robust in the real world, leading to a passable imitation of the target dog walk, and even more complicated moves like turns and spins, without any manual intervention and only a little extra virtual training.

Naturally manual tweaking could still be added to the mix if desired, but as it stands this is a large improvement over what could previously be done totally automatically.

In another research project described in the same post, another set of researchers describe a robot teaching itself to walk on its own, but imbued with the intelligence to avoid walking outside its designated area and to pick itself up when it falls. With those basic skills baked in, the robot was able to amble around its training area continuously with no human intervention, learning quite respectable locomotion skills.

The paper on learning agile behaviors from animals can be read here, while the one on robots learning to walk on their own (a collaboration with Berkeley and the Georgia Institute of Technology) is here.
Samahon said his agency is on quasi-shutdown and sought out DSPs willing to shelter in place with residential clients for three to 14 days, to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus, in part by reducing the number of people going in and out of the residential settings.
While insurance regulator IRDA has specified existing policies will cover coronavirus, many insurers such as Star Health, Religare Health and ICICI Lombard have launched corona-specific health plans

As number of coronavirus cases hit over 2,500 after testing and treatment began in private hospitals, COVID-linked insurance claims have started trickling in. From Star Health and Allied Insurance, ICICI Lombard to Bajaj Allianz, many insurers have confirmed receiving claims from across the country.

"Recently we approved a claim from Delhi where the person had gone to hospital for check-up against a different disease but was diagnosed with coronavirus. He was quarantined in the hospital and now has been discharged," says Sanjay Datta, Chief-Underwriting, Claims and Reinsurance, ICICI Lombard. Bajaj Allianz has received quite a few claims intimations over the last few days, which the insurer says it has been settling as per policy terms.

COVID-specific health plans will offer a lump-sum amount if a claim occurs

No bills will be needed and coverage amount will be paid fully

A comprehensive health plan will cover all medical expenses including pre and post hospitalisation

Buy a COVID-specific plan if you do not have a health cover

Even if you buy a health cover it will have a typical 30 days cooling period during which no claim is entertained

COVID-specific cover could also be taken as a supplement to your existing health plan

The lump-sum amount can compensate for loss of income

Understand the coverage of the policy and its exclusions before buying a plan

While insurance regulator IRDA has specified existing policies will cover coronavirus, many insurers such as Star Health, Religare Health and ICICI Lombard have launched corona-specific health plans. IFFCO - Tokio will launch one soon. If you are willing to buy a health plan and are unsure whether to buy a comprehensive or COVID-specific cover, we tell you which one to use:

COVID versus comprehensive covers

The difference between COVID-specific and a comprehensive plan is that the first one gives you fixed benefit, that is, a lumpsum amount at affordable premiums while later is a traditional health policy that covers your hospitalisation and related medical expenses. Note that the lump-sum amount offered under such plans will not be enough to cover all hospital expenses. For example, Star Novel Coronavirus Insurance Policy by Star Health offers a sum assured of just Rs 42,000. So, corona-specific plan at best be a quick solution if you can't afford a comprehensive plan.

"A corona-specific health plan will provide coverage to COVID-19 positive person only. Hence it is always advisable to go for a comprehensive health insurance plan that will cover you for a wide range of diseases/illnesses including corona. The sum assured of a comprehensive health insurance plan will be sufficient to assist you in the hour of need," says Naval Goel, founder of PolicyX.com.

That said, if you do not have health insurance, buying a comprehensive health plan makes more sense. But, Even if you buy a health cover it will have a typical 30 days cooling period during which no claim will be entertained. "One needs to evaluate the pros and cons of fixed benefit health insurance plans since these are very different from the regular indemnity health insurance plans. Read the inclusions and exclusions carefully before buying a corona-specific or a comprehensive policy," suggests Dhirendra Mahyavanshi, Co-Founder, Turtlemint.

What is the utility of corona-specific plans then?

Such policies could be a good supplement to your existing health plan. If you already have a health plan, you may want to buy a disease-specific policy because while your traditional policy will cover hospital expenses, the fixed benefit under a corona-specific plan can take care of your loss of income.

"If you get hospitalised due to coronavirus, who will bear the loss of salary? You can use the lump-sum amount to compensate for loss of income. You don't have to use it for treatment since existing plan will take care of that," says Amit Chhabra, Head - Health Insurance, Policybazaar.com.

Chhabra emphasises that people without a health plan must buy a comprehensive one. "Today there is coronavirus. Tomorrow there could be something else. If you take a sufficient coverage, you'll be covered come what may. Adequacy is important. So, buy a higher sum assured. We recommend at least Rs 10 lakh coverage per person. A lot of innovation has happened in the space. Even Rs 1 crore sum assured is available for as low as Rs 1000 per month. The industry has never seen a claim beyond Rs 1 crore so far."

Most importantly, not all existing policies cover coronavirus. You must reach out to your insurer to check if your particular policy protects you against COVID-19. "Make sure that the chosen comprehensive health insurance plan is offering cover against pandemic as there are few plans that do not cover the same. In that case, the COVID-19 cover is advisable," says Goel.

Things to keep in mind:

Like any other disease, if you are being treated for coronavirus at the hospital, your pre and post hospitalisation expenses will be covered. "Although policy features may vary insurer to insurer, largely pre and post hospitalisation expenses such as visit to a neighbourhood hospital will be reimbursed. The timeline for pre and post expenses, say 30 or 60 days, could be different across insurers. COVID tests will be covered and even if you are quarantined at home, some policies will cover your medical expenses," says Chhabra of Policybazaar.

There are some exclusions as well. For example, you must be hospitalised for over 24 hours to file a claim under a regular health insurance plan. Note that most policies only cover a single private room. "If you go to a deluxe room, you'll be charged extra. So take a room accordingly," suggests Chhabra.

If you are buying a policy now, either corona-specific or a comprehensive one, there could be a waiting period during which no diseases will be covered. Take that into account. Also, some policies may not cover people with international travel history. Enquire about it.

"In a general mediclaim policy, there is a waiting period of 30 days which may cause unnecessary problem for the insured and the same could be investigated by the insurance company to find out the origin date of illness. There could also be a provision for exclusion of pre-existing diseases. In effect, the insurance company will ensure themselves that the Covid -19 virus has not originated before the inception of the policy," says Pankaj Chauhan, MD & CEO, EPOCH Insurance Brokers.

Bhaskar Nerurkar, Head - Health Claims, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance says buy a policy that matches with your requirement and understand the coverage of the policy and its exclusions. "It is vital to go through the terms and conditions of the policy thoroughly and opt for one that offers wider cover with least exclusions and fits your pocket. Make an informed decision and get adequate coverage," he says.

How to file a claim

For making the claim process smooth and hassle-free amid lockdown, most insurers have ramped up their digital services.

"Our toll-free number 18001035499 is operational from 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM to answer all queries ranging from lodging a claim, buying to renewing a policy. We have made efforts to enable our policyholders to reach us out using our digital methods such as SMS, emails, etc. Moreover, we are operating with necessary staff to keep providing essential insurance services such as, claims settlement and authorisation for hospitalisation to our policyholders," says Subrata Mondal, Executive Vice President, IFFCO - Tokio General Insurance.

Religare Health Insurance has established a 'Crisis Management Committee' that ensures all necessary measures are in place to avoid any impact due to the present situation on servicing of our customers.

"Our foremost priority during this time has been to appraise our customers on how our digital solutions can help them in availing benefits of their policy from the safety of their home. This includes filing claims, policy renewal, making changes or endorsements in policy etc," says Ashutosh Shrotriya, Head - Product & Business Processes, Religare Health Insurance.

Also Read: Coronavirus: Maruti, Noida firm get nod to supply 10,000 ventilators

Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: India Inc.'s post 21-day lockdown plan

Also Read: Coronavirus impact: Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, UP stare at big fiscal hole
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Where the president gets his advice

Maggie Haberman, a star White House correspondent at The Times, joined us yesterday for a wide-ranging conference call with DealBook readers about the Trump administrations response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Listen to a recording of the call here.) Among many other things, Maggie talked about the people the president trusts on the crisis, both inside and outside the government.

Theres a group of people he is listening to, but they dont always agree.

 Maggie said that President Trump isnt wedded to any particular opinion or receptive to advice from a specific person, which should be clear based on the degree to which he has bounced around on what hes said.

He gets as angry at Mnuchin as he does at almost anybody else who works for him.

 Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has emerged as the face of the governments economic stimulus efforts, despite the president blaming him for recommending Jay Powell as Fed chairman. Wall Street considers Mr. Mnuchin a steadying presence, Maggie said, and there is a recognition in the administration that they have to make their steadying presences known and available and seen.

The top of any list is always Steve Schwarzman.

 In the business world, Mr. Trump most often turns to the founder of Blackstone, according to Maggie. Rupert Murdoch is also an important confidant. Generally speaking, the advice the president receives from corporate moguls he trusts has been to worry about the effect of an extended lockdown on the economy.
Across Australia, teachers have been demanding the closure of schools, passing resolutions, initiating petitions and threatening strikes and walk-outs because of the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.

The teacher trade unions have refused to take any action. Instead they are working closely with the federal, state and territory governments to keep schools open as much as possible despite the clear dangers to education workers, students and parents of infections spreading in classrooms and school playgrounds.

South Australian teachers protesting last July [Credit: Australian Education Union (SA Branch) via Facebook]

Last week, the state Liberal Party government in South Australia (SA) announced that schools would continue to remain open. From April 6 to 9, schools would be pupil-free leading into the end of the term break. This was supposed to allow time for teaching staff to prepare online learning.

On Monday, the state government announced the closure of all schools, early childhood facilities and out-of-school services in the Barossa Valley, a key tourist and wine-producing region in SA. The decision was made after a cluster of 34 coronavirus cases was identified in the region.

Earlier, Cedar College, a private Christian school in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, the state capital, announced its closure in a letter to parents on Saturday. The principal described the move as a precautionary measure after a family member of a non-teaching employee tested positive to COVID-19.

On March 16, a meeting of over 40 staff was held at an Adelaide secondary school. They passed a resolution that described the appalling and inadequate conditions at the school, and called for a series of measures to protect staff and students, including immediate action to close schools.

Sue Phillips, national convenor of the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), interviewed a long-standing teacher at the school. Concerned about victimisation, the teacher will be known as Julie in this interview.

Sue Phillips: Can you tell me about the situation in your school?

Julie: We had an email two weeks ago telling us that we needed to clean our classrooms when we got to school on Monday morning with our students because there wouldnt be any cleaning over the weekend. Driving to work that day the state premier was on the radio, saying the lack of hand sanitiser situation had been resolved and was to be delivered to staff and all students that day. I finally received one tiny sanitiser last Friday, not bigger than a pen. This was for my entire class!

SP: What is the discussion among teachers?

Julie: Teachers are very stressed by not knowing whats going on. Theyre trying to reassure students and keep them calm. Teachers have their own families with children. Theyre trying to balance: When do I take my own child out of school? Whos going to look after my child if I stay at school? People who live with or care for vulnerable people or older parents are really stressed as the numbers of COVID-19 cases are increasing.

Students are being pulled out of school by their families, and there is an increasing demand to deliver online learning. We cant deliver a program for learning in the classroom and online learning. Were just one person! We can only do one job at a time. Our school has made it clear to parents that if they choose to remove their child from school, thats fine, but they cant expect the teacher to deliver an online learning program because theyre still employed to teach in the classroom .

SP: The federal Liberal-National government continues to insist that schools should remain open. What do you think about that?

Julie: I think that is a decision made by people who have absolutely no idea about what happens in a school, and have no desire to listen to those who do. They dont give us the resources, the capacity, to do it safely. And we are at the point where student and staff safety is being compromised by keeping schools open in the current manner.

SP: Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a press conference that parents should keep their children at school because this would save lives. What do you think about that?

Julie: I cant believe he can say that. Every time he opens his mouth and talks about schools, he completely contradicts the reasons he gives for why schools should stay open. Its like he imagines that when students and staff walk into a school theyre in this little disinfected bubble. He either thinks we are completely stupid and that were buying it, or he is stupid. The public is getting really sick of hearing this garbage.

The World Health Organisation says that the way to control this is to test, test, test. The reality is that there is a shortage of the product needed to test. In that case, then isolate people as much as possible. You cant be saying, we cant test people, we are going to ration tests, but schools are perfectly safe. We have no idea which person in the school could be carrying the virus. And governments overwhelmingly tell us that young people are really great at having the virus, but not having symptoms, and then passing it on.

SP: Are you fearful for your students health and yours?

Julie: Yes. I regularly send children home who are unwell. Im not concerned for my own wellbeing but its the people I could give it to. Ive got vulnerable people in my household.

I stopped at the shops on the way home the other night. I was standing in the line, people were just chatting, and talking about the impact this was having on their employment. They all looked at me, and I said: Im a teacher. They all took two steps backward. One of the women said: Oh, sorry. That wasnt very nice was it? You could tell, the general public thinks that teachers sit in a viral incubator: The same for nurses, doctors and other health professionals.

SP: Can you comment on the Morrison government providing bailouts to business but at the same time giving nothing for schools and only minimal funding for the health services?

Julie: Ive gone through the cycle of anger, and Im almost in despair now. I just think: Yep, $100,000 if you keep employing staff in a small business but no hand sanitisers for the schools. Or, were still going to make you have 27 students in your class, and oh, sorry about the social distancing thing, but youll be right. However, were going to close Bondi Beach because too many people are on it. And were going to talk to the country as if we are all little children, and weve been very naughty and had gatherings. But go on teachers, keep working.

SP: The Morrison government is following governments internationally. Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron are all providing massive corporate bailouts. What do you think?

Julie: It means governments that have been elected are totally invested in capitalism. They believe the only way we can maintain our society is through economic means. It has to be a make-money situation for humanity to survive. The governments think if some people have to be sacrificed for that purpose, its for the good of the greater community. Well its not for the good of the hundreds of thousands of kids and staff who go to school every day and millions of others everywhere.

SP: The union branch at your school passed a resolution describing the impact on students and staff, and calling for a series of actions.

Julie: Yes, I thought we shouldnt be mucking around negotiating better cleaning arrangements. We need to be saying it is time to close the schools. Correna Haythorpe, federal president of the Australian Education Union, has just put a new thing on the unions Facebook page, saying to the federal and state governments, you need to be clear and consistent and you need to give clear guidelines. My comment was: No, we need to stop asking the governments what they are going to do for us, and start telling them what they have to do for us.

The union talks about health and safety. Thats a really easy thing for them to talk loudly about, when they really dont have any jurisdiction over health and safety. They are just sitting there, waiting for the government to tell them what theyre going to do.

I think Ive had a misguided belief that I could rely on my union.

SP: What do you think of the CFPE statement calling for the formation of workplace action committees, democratic organisations independent of employers, governments and unions?

Julie: Yes, I agree but its hard because people are scared. They dont know what to do and how to act. I am hopeful that in the endwhen this is all finishedthere will be enough anger left over and people will say: We need to do things differently. We cant find ourselves in this position again. We know what needs to be done. We cant allow ourselves to be dictated to by chief executives and politicians who have never been teachers, who have probably never been in public schools but tell us how it should be done.

We need to listen out for like-minded people and encourage them to be more assertive and outspoken about their beliefs and to form a collective with those people. People are looking for alternatives.

My father was a teenager during the Second World War. He grew up in the Netherlands, so they were pretty hard hit. And he said the feeling he senses now in the community is exactly the same as he had around him at the start of World War II. No one knows the answer, everyone is looking for someone to blame. Everyone is trying to work out how it got this bad so quickly and why didnt we notice this? This was the pervasive feeling then and now.

This Sunday, April 5, at 12 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time, the Committee for Public Education is holding an online meeting entitled, The COVID-19 pandemic: The political issues confronting educators.

The CFPE urges teachers, school staff, academics, kindergarten and childcare workers, and students to attend and discuss the dangerous conditions they confront and the policies required to defend the health and well-being of all.

To participate, download the GoTo Meeting app now, then on the day of the meeting click here.

Alternatively, you can participate by calling +61 2 9087 3604, you will need the access code:368-799-509.

Teachers and education workers can contact the CFPE via email or via our Facebook page. The CFPE Twitter account is @CFPE_Australia.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

On Thursday, the New York Post reported that Joe Exotic was transferred to a prison medical center from coronavirus isolation. According to inmate records, the 57 year old Tiger King star is now located at the Federal Bureau of Prisons-operated Federal Medical Center Fort Worth for male inmates of all security levels with special medical needs. Exotic is currently serving a 22 year sentence for orchestrating a murder for hire plot against his nemesis Carole Baskin as well as violating the Endangered Species Act and falsifying wildlife records.

While Exotic has been transferred to the hospital, it is unclear as to whether or not he has contracted COVID-19. In an interview with Andy Cohen earlier this week, Exotics fourth husband, Dillon Passage, said that Exotic has been in coronavirus isolation because of confirmed cases where he was previously held at the Grady County Jail in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Just yesterday, Exotic appeared on The Late Show via video chat, giving Stephen Colbert an update on his life from jail. A Grady County staffer told the Post that Exotic was no longer here at this facility but did not confirm whether Exotic had tested positive for coronavirus.
A Syrian refugee with more than 30 years of experience as a surgeon is desperate to fight the coronavirus pandemic - but his final test to qualify as a doctor in Australia has been deferred.

Tamer Antakly, 58, moved to Australia with his wife and two daughters in 2015 after having worked in Syria and Saudi Arabia, and now lives in Melbourne.

Dr Antakly has passed every stage required for him to be able to work as a doctor and was due to sit the final English exam on Saturday.

But due to the outbreak of the disease, his exam has been delayed until June and Dr Antakly remains unable to put his experience to use.

'I want to contribute to this war against coronavirus,' Dr Antakly told Daily Mail Australia.

Tamer Antakly, 58, (pictured) is desperate to help fight coronavirus but his final test to be eligible to practise as a doctor in Australia has been delayed

He said had had already passed the English test but it had expired before he met the other qualifications and was required to sit it again.

'It's been deferred for two months. Nobody can guarantee this crisis will end in two months, it could be postponed and delayed again,' he said.

'It's very frustrating, I only found out one week ago.

'My experience is wasted because I'm just sitting at home.'

Dr Antakly said he would be happy to take any medical role he could as long as he was helping out.

'This is my purpose, if I can help in anyway to stand against coronavirus,' he said.

'There are doctors who have refugee backgrounds who can really contribute. But we need a job offer to start working.'

The surgeon is now hoping the migrant settlement agency AMES Australia will be able to help him and a string of other skilled refugees.

AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said they were working with 40 doctors, pharmacists and dentists who were desperate to join the battle against coronavirus.

Ms Scarth said there were other options available to these refugees to get into the workforce while they wait to receive all their qualifications.

'They've come from pretty traumatic experiences overseas where they were already providing medical support across conflict zones,' she told the SBS.

'We're really keen to work with hospitals and other health bodies to see how we can get these people working.

'We've got a community who are really willing to help in any way they can  even if it's just that they communicate as doctors to their own communities in language, or providing translations in hospitals.'
As researchers around the world scramble to come up with a vaccine for COVID-19, Canadian Blood Services has announced it plans to test whether convalescent plasma could help infected patients.

The organization is actively working with Health Canada to gain approval for a national clinical trial at multiple sites. If approved, CBS will be responsible for supplying convalescent plasma to hospitals across the country.

Convalescent plasma is collected through the plasma donation process. It is derived from patients who have already contracted the virus, developed antibodies against it and are no longer infected.

In theory, these antibodies can then be used as a treatment to help patients in the earlier stages of COVID-19 by attacking the virus in their system.

There is currently a small but growing number of people across Canada who could be eligible to participate as convalescent plasma donors in the trial.

CBS chief scientist Dana Devine says Canada is not the only country in the world that is looking into this therapeutic for the treatment of COVID-19.

Canada is working in partnership with an international group of researchers from Australia, China, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Researchers are focusing on the use of convalescent plasma as a preventative treatment for healthcare workers who have been exposed but are not yet sick, and for patients in the early stages of the disease, she says.

"There are some concerns about using convalescent plasma in patients who are very ill, because there is a possibility that convalescent plasma with all of these antibodies on board can actually make the disease worse instead of making it better, so the patients who are most likely to be treated with convalescent plasma are patients earlier in the COVID-19 disease, rather than people who are very severely ill," Devine said.

Devine believes that if successful, convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients will only be an interim solution in place of stronger treatments such as new drugs.

"We think this is probably actually an interim measure. The reason we think that is because there are a lot of smart scientists around the globe who are working at developing other kinds of therapies for treating COVID-19," Devine said.

"In the time between today when people are doing that research and actually having a product available for patients, there will be a window of opportunity for convalescent plasma to be used, so we see that convalescent plasma will be with us for some period of time, but my guess is that eventually it will be replaced by better therapies."

A national clinical trial of this size and scope is expected to take several months to complete. In the meantime, CBS is asking Canadians to continue donating blood to help maintain an adequate supply of products for patients.

You can book an appointment by visiting blood.ca, downloading the GiveBlood app or calling 1-888-2-DONATE (1-866-236-6283).
Coronavirus FAQ

What is the coronavirus?

The coronavirus outbreak started in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and has spread worldwide. The new virus causes a disease known as COVID-19. The virus is part of a larger family of coronaviruses, which can lead to illnesses ranging from a mild common cold to more severe respiratory diseases such as SARS and MERS.

Who is at risk and what are the symptoms?

Public health experts say the new coronavirus is more contagious than the seasonal flu. The majority of people who become sick experience mild symptoms, but some become more seriously ill. People who contract the virus can develop pneumonia, and some have died. People who are elderly or have underlying medical issues are at greater risk of becoming more severely sick. Symptoms of the virus include a cough, fever and shortness of breath.

What should I do if I develop symptoms?

The North Dakota Department of Health advises that people call their health care provider to tell them about recent travel or exposure, and to follow their guidance. Try to avoid contact with other people in the meantime.

What can I do to prevent the virus from spreading?

The health department advises that people wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds. People who are sick should stay home from work or school, both to protect themselves and others with whom they would come in contact. Avoid touching your face, cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or an elbow, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, and avoid contact with people who are sick.

Where can I find more information?

People with coronavirus-related questions can call the state health department hotline at 866-207-2880. Those who need medical advice should contact their health care provider.

The health department's online coronavirus page: www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's online coronavirus page: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
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With the recent outbreak of the coronavirus in Gaza, all eyes are (strangely) on Israel. Lets explore why and if thats well founded or helpful.

Some background is important. During the British occupation of the Land of Israel (1917-1948), Gaza was meant to become part of an Arab state per a two-state solution which they, and the rest of the Arab world, rejected. Many refugees fled Israel in the 1948-49 War of Independence, where they lived in squalor under Egyptian occupation. Gaza was captured, along with all of Sinai, from Egypt (and Judea and Samaria/the West Bank from Jordanian occupation, and the Golan from Syria) in the 1967 Six Day War.

Israel left Gaza unilaterally in 2005, bulldozing dozens of communities and disinterring thousands of dead, evacuating every Jew, dead and alive, from Gaza. A year later, Hamas wrested control from the Palestinian Authority/PLO in a bloody coup. Since then Israel has suffered endless attacks and war with Gaza as Hamas builds terror tunnels, stockpiles rockets, mortars, and other weapons, and holds the population hostage. They are used as human shields, as Hamas stays in power by fighting internally with even more radical terror groups.

Recently, I got engaged in a conversation on Facebook about whether Israel should aid Gaza. A friend (1) posted a question that generated lively dialogue. This is the conversation, edited for brevity and clarity.

Participant 1Now that Gaza has corona, we should offer to trade them medicine, masks, and disinfectant for rockets and other weapons; 1 for 1.

Participant 2No, we trade and offer them nothing and hope that the tunnels and weapons that they have invested in somehow have some curative abilities.

Participant 3Wait, we give them meds, they give us rockets? Until now theyve been giving us rockets for free.

#1We bring our laden trucks, they bring theirs, and we make the trade at Erez (Crossing).

Participant 4Theyd rather die horrible deaths than do that.

Participant 5How about us not giving them anything until (Israeli hostages and dead soldiers) Hadar Goldin, Oren Shaul, Avera Mengistu, and Hisham al-Sayed are returned to Israel.

Participant 6We should help them because thats our Jewish values.

#1Trading aid for weapons helps them- on every level.

#2 to #6Jewish values dont require enabling murders. Egypt can help them or any other Arabs who still care. They cannot stockpile weapons, dig attack tunnels, use their people as human shields taking advantage of and abusing them, and blame us for their problems while holding our hostages, and expect us to bail them out. We are protecting our soldiers and keeping them in the army for months on end with no break to protect ourselves from them. Maybe the Gazans will overthrow Hamas, taking responsibility and create a prosperous society for themselves; building schools, hospitals, and houses rather than shelters for the terrorist leaders under their hospitals and among their citizens.

#4Helping the Palestinians accept defeat would be the greatest kindness that Israel could do for them.

#6 to #2You dont understand the disaster theyre in. They dont have work, they are poor and hungry, no one cares about them. Theyre in crisis. Sometimes its important to take a step back and get perspective, realize who youre fighting. Yes, they kill us, they hate us, they want our homes. But when you call others your enemy, at least in my view, they need to be my equal. Theyre not my equal. Theyre miserable. We have a moral responsibility. We have the upper hand and it needs to be used according to our Jewish values.

#1 to #6This is the direct result of their choices. This isnt our fault or our problem: That they hold those positions is their fault and their problem. Every resulting calamity that befalls them is the direct result.

#6Of course its the results of their position. It is our problem when a bunch of weak people die from a disaster and we do nothing to help them because its not our fault theyre in crisis.

#2 to #6I understand their situation. I regret it on many levels. But its a situation of their own doing. Over decades theyve played the wrong hand. Theyve played victim and only exist in that narrative rather building a society they can be proud of and thrive in. They sit on hugely valuable property, and could have been our equals in every way. The people didnt rise up to revolt against Arafat or Hamas for 25 years. They could have exercised human values, if not because they love us, at least because they would have been better off. It wont have been the first bloody Arab revolution and it wouldnt be their last. People will die. Thats too bad, really. Now they may die because of the negligence and abuse of, and by, their leaders who they enable. If we were living next to Switzerland maybe Id feel different, but per the original post, they hold our hostages, have spent untold money to kill us, and forced us to spend untold money to defend ourselves. Plus the lives they have taken. Jewish values do not dictate having to do anything for an enemy like this even if we had all the hospital beds, medical personnel, equipment and drugs to absorb responsibility for another 2 million. Not on my shekel.

#6In a war both sides are affected. People die from both sides. It hurts an Arab mother the same way as it hurts a Jewish mother.

#4 to #6At a certain point, one loses compassion, empathy and sympathy for people who make bad choices. Lets be honest, if this virus doesnt completely destroy their society, they will forget any help the Jews gave them and go back to Khaybar Khaybar yaYahud (exterminating Jews).

#6I dont think either side has compassion or empathy for the other.

#4 to #6Lot of Jews have compassion, empathy and sympathy for Palestinians. Israel allows goods and electricity to pass through the Erez crossing to a people at war with them is compassionate. That theres a knock on the door policy (warning before bombing a terrorist leaders home) is compassionate.

#1He who is compassionate to the cruel will ultimately become cruel to the compassionate.

#6What a silly and flawed sentence to stand behind!

#1Its from (great sages) and is the normative Jewish view about those who try to destroy us. It was originally said about King Saul, who showed mercy to Agag, the King of Amalek. Because he showed mercy when he shouldnt have, we ended up facing Haman, his descendant, later on.

The conversation ended with #4 posting a link to an article that said even if Israel were to offer, Hamas would refuse Israeli aid.

Who really cares about Gaza? Qatar is offering $150 million. But Hamas doesnt care, nor does the Palestinian Authority or the PLO. Nor the rest of the Arab world. Not even Iran, which bankrolls Hamas terrorism.

Maybe Israel could, but should it? Previously when humanitarian efforts by Israel to help Gazans provided Israel good PR, Hamas callously blocks access to the aid, and preventing Gazan Palestinians from receiving help.
OTTAWA  Indigenous communities will start receiving federal cash next week to fund anti-COVID-19 efforts, though the military says its readying to deploy for disasters.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Indigenous communities will start receiving federal cash next week to fund anti-COVID-19 efforts, though the military says its readying to deploy for disasters.

A $305-million spending package from Indigenous Services Canada will go to band councils and Metis communities in Manitoba, as well as Inuit groups and, eventually, urban Indigenous organizations.

Last week, a pair of large First Nations in northern Manitoba asked the military to set up a field hospital to contain a possible novel coronavirus outbreak.

However, it appears the new funding would allow band councils to buy things such as medical tents, in line with a request by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak to move COVID-19 testing out of nursing stations into temporary structures.

ISC Minister Marc Miller said the military will be reserved for worst-case scenarios. That could mean an outbreak combined with a spring flood.

"Were looking at catastrophic scenarios in which the military would be deployed, to assist evacuating or assist in setting up triage situations, hospital-like situations," Miller told the Free Press.

"It would be foolish to exclude those scenarios, even though theyre things we dont want to contemplate."

Miller said his priority is avoiding outbreaks, hopefully, in lockstep with provinces.

The military confirmed this week its signing full-time contracts with reservists starting Monday, so they can quarantine and deploy when needed. The army has protective gear and, reportedly, ventilators in its arsenal.

Officials estimate the reservists will make up one-fourth of up to 24,000 personnel ready to respond to COVID-19 threats, with the rest being regular army, air and navy troops.

As for the ISC funding, band councils reported Friday not knowing how much money theyll receive; the department said it sent out letters specifying those amounts this week.

The 63 First Nations in Manitoba will receive just short of $36 million, sorted by community "based on population, remoteness and community well-being."

The Manitoba Metis Federation is getting $7.5 million.

The cash is for things such as physical structures, counselling, school alternatives, and food.

The department said its trying to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading through nurses who circulate in and out of remote reserves on two-week shifts.

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"We have protocols in place in order to prevent the transmission or the introduction of the virus into the community," ISC chief medical officer Tom Wong told the Free Press.

"We modify and escalate our approach, as the virus evolves throughout Canada."

Three weeks after ISC said it has not done any modeling of COVID-19 in Indigenous communities, Wong said his colleagues are asking academics and the Public Health Agency of Canada to share their modeling.

Manitoba MP Niki Ashton said the province-wide shortage of test kits poses an extreme risk in the North. After a confirmed case in Flin Flon, symptomatic locals have been turned away, while many in the North have immune issues and limited housing options.

It is estimated an outbreak on northern reserves would likely strain Winnipeg hospitals.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
In early September 2017, New Orleans tourism officials were preparing to launch their fall ad campaign when someone realized that it targeted the Houston region, still staggering from the floodwaters of Hurricane Harvey.

The New Orleans officials regrouped with a different approach: a full-page love letter in the Houston Chronicle and Texas Monthly. It spoke to the city that had cemented a special place in the hearts of New Orleanians after Hurricane Katrina had overwhelmed the levees and flooded 80 percent of the city.

New Orleans was my home for 27 years before I joined the Chronicles editorial board in January. I lived through Katrina and its brutal aftermath. I can tell you that its times like those when you find out who your friends are. And there was no truer friend to New Orleans than Houston, taking in up to 250,000 Louisiana evacuees, providing food, clothing, shelter, schooling and jobs. As many as 40,000 of my former neighbors decided to stay and start their lives over in Houston.

Twelve years ago, you took in hundreds of thousands of us, the ad began. You opened your homes, closets, and kitchens. You found schools for our kids and jobs to tide us over. Some of us are still there. And when the rest of the world told us not to rebuild, you told us not to listen. Keep our city and traditions alive.

While others were criticizing the Louisiana government as a banana republic and calling for New Orleans to be bulldozed, the unquestioning kindness and support from Houstonians seem to be saying, We got your back. We know a little about hurricanes, floods and doubters. Youre going to be OK.

And we were. And we never forgot.

Now, I find myself at the other end of the equation, a recent transplant to Houston looking back at my longtime hometown with angst and a sense of helplessness.

A different kind of natural disaster, the new coronavirus pandemic. Its like a hurricane, somebody said on Facebook, a Category 5, but theres nowhere to evacuate. At midweek, the whole state of Louisiana had more than 9,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 300 dead. New Orleans alone had more than 3,000 of those cases with 125 reported deaths. The curve continues to climb exponentially toward more sickness and death.

By comparison, all of Texas, with a population six times that of Louisiana, had 4,700 confirmed cases. Harris County had 847 of those and six deaths.

My Louisiana friends and family warn me not to get complacent, pointing to the fact that Louisiana ranked third nationally in the number of tests performed per capita while Texas was 44th. We just dont know how bad it might get here.

But looking down I-10, we can get an idea of whats possible if we dont take this seriously.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has said that New Orleans could run out of health care capacity this week or next, the dire scenario when there simply arent enough doctors, hospital beds or emergency equipment to treat the seriously ill.

Theres not much either city can do for the other at this point but to pray for the best and promise to offer a helping hand  as soon as it is safe to grasp that hand without fear of infection.

I worry about the folks back home and they worry about me. What else can we do? My son and daughter worry that Im in Houston all alone and I worry that they are in New Orleans not alone enough. Our shared seasonal allergies is the phone conversation equivalent of a false positive: Are you sure youre OK? You dont sound OK.

Headlines like Deaths, intubations swamp New Orleans doctors in coronavirus surge and Coronavirus expert Dr. Peter Hotez: New Orleans is a hot spot. Will Houston be next? are the stuff of nightmares. Good thing Im not sleeping much.

Ive assured my kids that Im better off in Houston with all its well-equipped hospitals and modern medical centers. But saying that only makes me more apprehensive about what is happening in New Orleans.

It was a punch in the gut to read last week that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was ordering state police to stop cars with Louisiana plates at the border and order two-week quarantines. Still, its hard to argue with its purpose.

As one friend said, Were all living in the new abnormal.

Nathan Chapman, the founder of a national marketing and consulting agency and a 35-year resident of the French Quarter, said hes never seen anything like this.

For a long time it just felt like sadness, he said. But now there is a lot more nervousness.

Chapman, 59, was the president of the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents & Associates, a neighborhood watchdog and preservation group, when Katrina hit in 2005.

He spent some of his time, ironically, dealing with issues of zoning, noise, parking and the operations of the so-called ghost tours of allegedly haunted sites in New Orleans.

None of those concerns is an issue at the moment.

When I look out, even on the weekends, at night, its just really odd, more desolate than Ive ever seen it, he said, noting that even the raucous Bourbon Street was all quiet last Friday night and the chronic problem of finding a parking spot in the Quarter is no more. Its a crazy ghost town ... with no ghost tours.

Houston cant come to the rescue this time. And if it hits Texas hard in the coming weeks, who knows what shape New Orleans will be in by then.

The two cities, tied together by decades of oil booms, busts and tropical storms, are on their own. But there is still some comfort to be found in that 2017 ad.

Now, no two storms are the same, it says. Comparing rising waters is a waste of energy when you need it most. But you know this  in our darkest hour, we found peace and a scorching, bright light of hope with our friends in Texas. And we hope youll find the same in us.

It may feel as though we have never been farther apart. But we are all in this together. From Houston to New Orleans: Be careful and be safe.

Morris joined the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board in December after decades as a reporter and editor in New Orleans. A columnist and editorial writer, he wrote this Editorial Observer on behalf of the board.
Websites have crashed, phones are jammed and confusion reigns as businesses rushed at today's kickoff to get their chunk of the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program.

Why it matters: This is a race to save jobs in the present and the future, and to ensure that as many workers as possible keep their benefits and paychecks during the coronavirus lockdown.

The urgent sprint: To get every qualified business that needs a loan access to one before running out of cash.

"Borrowers are waiting for their money but the banks' hands are tied because they can't get into the SBA's portal," Paul Merski, who heads up government relations for one of the biggest community bank advocacy groups, told Axios.

60% of banks have not previously participated in SBA lending programs, he notes.

in SBA lending programs, he notes. Some banks and lenders, like Wells Fargo, said they wouldnt be ready to take applications today.

like Wells Fargo, said they wouldnt be ready to take applications today. Others, like Bank of America, initially said they made the decision to only take customers who have previously taken out a loan with them to speed up the process. After a slew of outrage, it subsequently said small businesses that did not meet this requirement could deal directly with bankers to submit an application.

Between the lines: Because many banks only are accepting existing business clients, and some other banks aren't processing PPP loans at all, it's likely that many small businesses will get left out because they picked the "wrong" bank years ago.

Axios made an open call to its readers, asking them to share their experience.

Nick B: Commercial lender here. We worked late hours trying to internally review applications only to find out they would no longer accept the prior application. Desperate businesses are redoing applications. Underwriting is not well defined, banks are asking for varying different supporting documentation. E-Tran applications are backlogged, billion dollar banks are left with one or two individuals that even have access to process into the SBA. 1000s of apps.

Commercial lender here. We worked late hours trying to internally review applications only to find out they would no longer accept the prior application. Desperate businesses are redoing applications. Underwriting is not well defined, banks are asking for varying different supporting documentation. E-Tran applications are backlogged, billion dollar banks are left with one or two individuals that even have access to process into the SBA. 1000s of apps. Readers said Chase told them the application site would be live at noon. But minutes after, it crashed (it later was up and running).

the application site would be live at noon. But minutes after, it crashed (it later was up and running). A banker: Its up- but getting frequent errors and having difficulty uploading pages, like trying to call in to a radio prize some get through, most get a busy signal. Not all fields are set up in the system yet either."

Its up- but getting frequent errors and having difficulty uploading pages, like trying to call in to a radio prize some get through, most get a busy signal. Not all fields are set up in the system yet either." Another banker: We havent even opened up apps (online, or the alternative fielding email request manually and sending to central teamwe assume will be reqd when the online portal crashes from demand. Most banks Ive spoke to havent due to the late revisions to the app. But assumption is that whatever systems are going to be leveraged for external application acceptance will be overwhelmed."

We havent even opened up apps (online, or the alternative fielding email request manually and sending to central teamwe assume will be reqd when the online portal crashes from demand. Most banks Ive spoke to havent due to the late revisions to the app. But assumption is that whatever systems are going to be leveraged for external application acceptance will be overwhelmed." William Agush (startup entrepreneur) : Ive had 5 different lists of paperwork needed. Each one different and each item takes hours to complete. One list says IRS941 forms for last year. Another list just Q1 2020 but instead payroll reports. And so on.

: Ive had 5 different lists of paperwork needed. Each one different and each item takes hours to complete. One list says IRS941 forms for last year. Another list just Q1 2020 but instead payroll reports. And so on. A Boston banker told Axios that absolutely the system crashed, over and over again. The banker said they received the latest app right before the PPP program launched, said its impossible to use. He describe his experience as a cluster f*ck and a sh*t show, adding that it was working as badly as my worst fears.

Behind the scenes: On a call with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin this morning, a number of Republican House members passed on concerns they were hearing about banks in their districts struggling to work with the SBA to get money to people quickly, Axios' Jonathan Swan reports.
3rd April 2020: In the wake of the increase in the number of infections in Ghana, GFD is being asked many questions about concrete plans of the government for persons with disabilities in Ghana in managing the current pandemic of COVID-19 especially during the period of partial lockdown in some parts of the country.

As the lead organizations of the disability movement in Ghana, GFD is commending the government of Ghana for including sign language interpretation in its regular media briefing on COVID-19 led by the Ministry of Information.

The Federation and some stakeholders in the disability sector met with the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo on 25th March to discuss disability inclusion in governments emergency response and activities on COVID-19 and the need for accessible information sharing on the pandemic.

The president has addressed the nation several times and put some measures in place to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, including the two weeks partial lockdown in some parts of the country. At a press briefing by the Ministry of Information on 1st April 2020 the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cynthia Morrison announced governments plan to support 10,435 persons with disabilities but such statement appeared vague. No concrete measure were outlined to ensure the safety and protection of persons with disabilities as was done for some categories of vulnerable groups like Kayaye.

Persons with disabilities are asking if they have been catered for at all in the governments emergency response plan. What kind of activities or support system is available for persons with disabilities?

People with disabilities are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to barriers in accessing preventive information and hygiene, reliance on physical contact with the environment or support persons, as well as respiratory conditions caused by certain impairments. Information about infection mitigating tips, public restriction plans, and the services offered in this critical moment are not accessible and available to all categories of persons with disabilities.

By this press release, we want to remind government of its responsibility to ensuring that proper support is given to persons with disabilities to meet their daily living requirements, including access to food, housing and quality healthcare.

We also call on the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection to give us the details of the support intended for persons with disabilities.

We call on government to use the regular media briefing sessions organized by the Ministry of Information to tell Ghanaians including persons with disabilities about specific actions taken to promote and protect persons with disabilities. That will be more assuring.

GFD assures the government of its readiness to support in mitigating COVID-19 in Ghana. With GFDs branches at national and regional levels as well as in over 236 districts in Ghana we are ready to provide technical support on disability issues all levels and also support in practical identification of persons with disabilities in their communities.

Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations is an umbrella organisation of nine distinct disability groups consisting Ghana Blind Union, Ghana National Association of the Deaf, Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, Mental Health Society of Ghana, Inclusion Ghana  a group of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism, ShareCare Ghana  a group of people with auto-immune conditions and cerebral palsy, Burns Survivor Foundation and Ghana Stammering Association. GFD works to promote full inclusion and effective participation of persons with disabilities in the Ghanaian society.

SIGNED

Mawunyo Yakor-Dagbah

National President
Bhopal, April 3 : Harassed by unsolicited calls on his mobile phone for the past four-five days, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said on Friday that he had complained to police and also switched off his cell phone.

"These phone calls were disturbing me for the last four-five days. I also complained to the state DGP and to the service provider, but with no results. So, I switched it off. However, I am available on my landline number in Bhopal due to the lockdown," the senior Congress leader tweeted.

Sources said that the callers had used unparliamentary language for the senior Congress leader.

Efforts to contact Singh for comments on the issue were not successful.
 Read the full article on Motorious

Liberation and occupation completed in two stages in April 1945.

75 years ago, on April 11, 1945, US troops liberated the Volkswagen plant and the city then known as Stadt des KdF-Wagens which was later named Wolfsburg to the south of Mittellandkanal. At the Volkswagen plant, about 7,700 forced laborers were freed. Over the eight weeks that followed, the Americans made groundbreaking decisions for the future of the people, the city and the plant. The brief but marked intermezzo of US military rule laid the foundations for democracy, freedom and reconstruction in the region. In May, the plant was already producing vehicles  Kubelwagen for the U.S. Army, which were then called Volkswagen Jeeps. The American occupation ended at the end of June 1945 when the region became part of the British occupation zone.

On April 10, the last 50 Kubelwagen (Type 82) intended for the German army were completed at the Volkswagen plant. Alarms announced the advance of the US tanks into the area. The plant, which had been largely destroyed by air raids in 1944, ended wartime production with a total of 66,285 vehicles.



On April 11, US troops liberated the plant and the city on the Mittellandkanal. The troops advanced from Fallersleben along the Mittellandkanal to the former bridge at Hesslingen and through the city without encountering any military resistance. On the same day, the Americans advanced towards Salzwedel and the River Elbe. The maps used by the U.S. Army did not even show the city or the plant.

A temporary power vacuum arose in the area. After the SS and the company security force had been withdrawn or had fled before the American advance and the Volkssturm had been dissolved, forced laborers and prisoners of war saw that the end of their suffering had been reached. They were hungry and their pent-up anger at the suffering and injustice they had faced was released. There were some cases of plundering, destruction and violence. To maintain order, the forced laborers formed a provisional security team consisting of French prisoners of war and Dutch students who had been forced to work at the plant. They obtained weapons and vehicles at the plant and used the plant fire station as their headquarters.

Story continues

Fritz Kuntze, the manager of the power plant, had refused to obey the orders given by the local Nazi leaders to blow up the power plant and bridges. The German-American was determined to prevent damage to the power plant by sabotage as it was essential for energy supplies. Kuntze drove to the US units remaining in Fallersleben with two other engineers, who also spoke good English, and the Catholic priest Father (later Monsignor) Antonius Holling. They convinced the GIs that they should demonstrate a military presence. On April 15, the Americans occupied the plant and the city, disarmed the self-appointed vigilantes and assumed responsibility for administration. The staff officers of the 9th Army gradually arrived up to April 15.



All in all, about 20,000 people were forced to work for the former Volkswagenwerk GmbH, including about 5,000 people from concentration camps. In 1944, two-thirds of the people working at the factory were there against their will, facing racial discrimination. They included Jewish women and men, prisoners of war, and conscripted workers, as well as deported and displaced persons from European countries under German occupation.

On the day of liberation, there were about 9,100 people working at the plant, of whom more than 7,700 were forced laborers from other countries. The largest group, of 3,000 people, came from the Soviet Union, chiefly from Ukraine.

The Americans established Wolfsburg as the collection point for all displaced persons in the rural district of Gifhorn and organized their repatriation. In April and May 1945, the first trains, mainly consisting of open goods cars, left Wolfsburg station for the home countries of the former forced laborers. Some of them faced humiliation and persecution when they returned, as they were often regarded as suspected deserters or collaborators of the Germans.



The US military gave the Stadt des KdF-Wagens, as Wolfsburg was then known, its first democratic structures with a Magistrat (municipal administration) and a Stadtverordnetenversammlung (city council). At their first meeting on May 25, the members of the city council decided to rename the city Wolfsburg. In doing so, they followed the suggestion made by the municipal administration. The young city took its new, historic name from Wolfsburg Castle, which was mentioned for the first time in documents in 1302.



At the Volkswagen plant, the American liberators set up a repair shop for their own military vehicles. At the plant and in the surrounding area, they found certain components and stocks and recognized the potential of the plant for vehicle production.

In May 1945, the 9th Army headquarters already reported that the assembly of Volkswagen Jeeps had started at the Volkswagen plant with a workforce of 200 people. Initially, the Americans appointed Rudolf Brormann, formerly inspection manager. as manager of the plant.

A total of 133 post-war Kubelwagen utility cars were assembled under extremely precarious conditions to meet the mobility needs of the US troops. These vehicles marked the resumption of production and started the conversion of the armaments plant into a civilian vehicle factory.

This process was continued by the British in June 1945, when they moved into their occupation zone and assumed responsibility for the city and the Volkswagen plant from the Americans. Under conditions which were still challenging, they started civilian series production of the Volkswagen Type 1, the Beetle, just after Christmas 1945.

Source: Volkswagen

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Northern Ireland is set to receive five million items of personal protective equipment from London ahead of the expected coronavirus surge.

The announcement from British Health Secretary Matt Hancock that he has agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive to immediately provide five million items of PPE to meet their needs came amid rows in the North over the issue.

Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy faced questions over a deal with the Irish Government for PPE which he announced had been placed.

The Department of Health here said that no joint order has been placed for PPE from China in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Executive.

A spokeswoman said: We are ready to discuss any area where we can co-operate effectively, North and South, including on procurement of PPE and critical supplies.

In relation to procurement, while it has not so far proved possible to place a joint order in the context of what is an increasingly challenging international environment, discussions between procurement teams are ongoing and active, and it remains our intention to continue to co-operate in this area.

Mr Murphy insisted he had agreed with Dublin to place the order, but that had fallen through when supply lines have been bought over by others.

We sent them our requirements on Friday night, he said.

We have struggled all week to keep that order in place until yesterday afternoon when we learned that those supply lines have been bought over by others.

Covid-19 testing in London today.

Arrangements had been made for payment before the order fell through, he said.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill criticised health minister Robin Swann, claiming he had been too slow to act over the Covid-19 threat.

And the Royal College of Nursing asked for reassurances over PPE supplies, adding the body is awaiting legal advice on what steps to take if guarantees cannot be met.

Mr Swann has repeatedly insisted that there are significant supplies of PPE.

However concerns have been voiced about the availability of specialist respiratory masks, with the chief executive of the Belfast health trust Dr Cathy Jack telling the health committee of challenges securing FFP3 masks.

Of course staff deserve to have the right type of PPE and get it when they need it, Mr Swann said.

We do have significant stores of PPE in place, weve over 22.5million gloves, nearly seven million aprons and over a million items of eye protection but couldnt we do with more, of course we could.

There is not a country in the world that has enough PPE in stock.

We are aggressively pursuing all feasible routes, nationally, internationally and local.

This is an absolute priority for both me as well as my executive colleagues.

The rifts came on a day when the largest number of deaths of Covid-19 patients was confirmed.

Covid-19 testing in London today.

Twelve deaths were announced by the Public Heath Agency today, bringing the regions total to 48 with 904 confirmed cases in the North.

Earlier concerns were expressed with the first batch of PPE equipment which arrived in Dublin from China with images posted online showing gowns with three-quarter length sleeves, leaving arms exposed.

Mr Swann warned he would not accept any inferior materials.

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A while ago, Minister of Health of Armenia Arsen Torosyan went live on Facebook and showed the new module under construction in the yard of the Nork Infection Clinic Hospital.

Im not happy about the fact that we have to build a module in the premises of a hospital, but I wanted to show it to everyone since this is one of the first attempts, and I think it turned out well, he said.

During his live broadcast on Facebook, the minister particularly showed the advantages of the module. There are doors from the outside so that the patient doesnt have contact with other patients inside. There is also a call system. Since patients arent allowed to leave the room, theyll call the nurse by pressing a special button.

The minister added that he visited almost all the other hospitals combating coronavirus today. Were doing everything we can to make sure the number of patients doesnt increase, but citizens also need to contribute by staying home, he said.
From government stock seizures to sales to the highest bidder on airport tarmacs, the hunt for face masks amid the coronavirus outbreak has become a global free-for-all where the rules of fair play no longer apply.

Officials worldwide were caught short by the crisis with most countries unable to manufacture the millions of masks needed every day for health workers alone.

So nearly everyone is turning to China and other Asian producers, and some players are doing whatever it takes to get their hands on the coveted stocks.

"Procurement markets for COVID-19 supplies are collapsing, and the traditional means of competition and transparency are really not being used," Christopher Yukins, a law professor at George Washington University said during a videoconference Thursday.

Even among Western countries that are nominally allies, accusations of unscrupulous behaviour have underscored the mounting anxiety over mask shortages.

The president of the Ile-de-France region encompassing Paris, Valerie Pecresse, said this week that a shipment of masks ordered for her hard-hit department was snatched at the last minute by "Americans who made a higher bid".

"The Americans pay cash sight unseen, which obviously can be more tempting for people just looking to make money off the entire world's distress," she said. Pecresse offered no details on the purported American buyers, but officials in at least two other French regions also claimed US buyers swept in to acquire their



Chinese orders -- in one case on the airport runway just as the plane was about to take off.

In Washington, a senior administration official told AFP "the United States government has not purchased any masks intended for delivery from China to France." The buyers could well have been private firms, or middlemen working on behalf of individual American states.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he was "concerned" by a report that a mask order came in smaller than expected after part of it was sold to "a higher bidder" -- a not-so-subtle reference to the US.

"We understand that the needs in the US are very extensive, but it's the same in Canada, so we have to work together," Trudeau said.

Yet it appears unlikely that cooperation is in the cards.

Jean-Sylvestre Mongrenier at the Thomas More Institute, a Franco-Belgian think-tank, warned of "endemic insecurity between nations, or even a state of anarchy if the international public order disintegrates".

"But outbidding on a mask delivery is more a case of competing for access to resources. It's unfortunate but it's not going to spark an outbreak of hostilities." Yet the competition can be "frightening," as recounted by Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Motovylovets after a trip to China last month to secure a mask shipment.

"Our consuls who go to factories find their colleagues from other countries (Russia, USA, France) who are trying to obtain our orders," he wrote on Facebook. "We have paid upfront by wire transfer and have signed contracts. But they have more money, in cash. We have to fight for each shipment." And since only a handful of Chinese mask producers have export licenses, most have to use middlemen to sell to foreign buyers, vastly increasing the number of intermediaries in a seller's market.

"We're dealing with direct negotiations, over-the-counter deals, which are pragmatic during health emergencies but which often go hand-in-hand with favouritism, misappropriations and price gouging," Laurence Folliot Lalliot, a public law professor in Paris, wrote in French daily Le Monde.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Guillaume Lavallee (Agence France-Presse) Jerusalem  Fri, April 3, 2020 10:15 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f6bc6f 2 World zoom,Jewish,Jews,Holiday,stay-at-home,religion,religious-beliefs,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health Free

The Jewish holiday of Passover has long inspired intense debate, with favorite topics including whether Moses actually parted the Red Sea or if the Ten Plagues were an ethical response to enslavement.

But with the COVID-19 pandemic raging, a previously unthinkable question has consumed Jewish debate less than a week before the holiday starts: is it permissible to hold the traditional Seder meal over Zoom?

The videoconferencing application has emerged as an essential tool during a crisis that has confined people across the globe in their homes.

But the app and similar tools that have connected people through the pandemic have created divisions among Jewish leaders.

Passover, an eight-day holiday that marks the Jewish people's biblical exodus from Egypt, begins Wednesday evening with a Seder, one of the most important events of the year for Jews.

A typical Seder involves large gatherings of relatives crowded around a table, who recount the Exodus story through song and prayer while sharing a multi-course meal.

Are digital Seders kosher?

Israel, which has more than 6,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases, has banned people from straying more than 100 meters from their homes except for essential activities.

A wealthy benefactor floated the idea of donating 10,000 computers to confined elderly people, allowing them to join loved ones in digital Seders.

He asked a group of Orthodox rabbis from the Sephardic tradition, which is rooted in southern Europe and North Africa, to assess if the plan was consistent with halacha, or Jewish law.

Rabbi Rephael Delouya, one of the 13-member panel that studied the issue, told AFP the answer was "easy".

Digital Seders were permissible to alleviate loneliness that isolated elderly people were experiencing during the pandemic.

"Loneliness can lead to a weaker mind, which causes lower immunity," Delouya said.

"Mental health and physical health are connected."

The Sephardic rabbis also issued a formal ruling, or posek, declaring that conferencing apps like Zoom could be used in an "emergency" to aid the "elderly" and the "sick".

It could "give them motivation to continue fighting for their lives and to prevent them from falling into depression" the ruling said.

Delouya said the decision was based on guidance from "wise" Sephardic leaders, who more than 50 years ago approved the use of certain forms of electricity, like an oven light, on Jewish holidays.

They were later overruled by Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz of the Ashkenazi tradition of eastern Europe, whose guidance against using electricity on holidays prevailed across the Orthodox world.

'I don't bend'

Israel's chief rabbis -- the Ashkenazi leader David Lau and the Sephardic Yitzhak Yosef -- pushed back against the videoconferencing decision.

"Loneliness is painful and we must respond to it, perhaps by having a video conference on the eve of the holiday before it begins, but not by desecrating the holiday," they wrote.

An expert in Orthodox movements at Israel's Bar Ilan University, Kimmy Caplan, told AFP the debate hinged on tensions Judaism has faced previously when Orthodox rabbis confront social challenges.

"Overall, the Orthodox stance on many issues is that we don't (adjust) for social issues... when they contradict the letter of the law," Caplan said.

The typical response from Orthodox rabbis is, "I don't bend my legal system because of a social situation," he added.

A similar tension between social reality and Jewish law divided Orthodox and Conservative leaders in the US in the 1950s.

As American Jews moved to suburbs, and therefore further away from their synagogues, it became imperative for many to use cars on Shabbat.

Conservative rabbis decided the need to preserve Jewish life justified the use of cars, while Orthodox rabbis held firm in opposition, Caplan said.

'Turning point'

Jerusalem resident Sabrina Castro-Moise told AFP she will use videoconferencing on Seder night next week to connect with her 76-year-old mother, who lives nearby.

"We spend all the holidays together," she said.

Zoom will ensure her mother is not alone on Passover, "while being consistent with what [the panel of Sephardic] rabbis said", she added.

Michael Lev, a 44-year-old businessman agreed that the decision by the rabbis to allow Zoom was "humane".

"What's the purpose of the [Seder] ritual if you practice it alone?" he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in quarantine after his health minister tested positive for COVID-19, urged the country late Wednesday to only have Seders "with the nuclear family that is with you now".

Passover, he said, could be a "turning point" in Israel's battle against COVID-19 if precautions are followed.
The presence of eight Kyrgyzstan nationals at Markaz Masjid in Ratkalpura area of the city has caused concern among the people of the city.

This comes close on the heels of 11 people from Bidar district testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner H R Mahadev told reporters that they came to the city 25 days ago. We quarantined them as soon as they arrived. Doctors who examined them said that there is no need to collect their throat swab samples for testing, the DC said.

Superintendent of Police D L Nagesh told DH that though they belonged to the Jamaat organisation, it was not clear whether they attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation held at Nizamuddin in Delhi.

"Kyrgyzstan nationals came to Delhi in January itself and stayed there till March 9. They came to Bidar on March 10. On examining, we came to know that they had come on tourist visas. They have been quarantined at the masjid after a health check-up, he said.

According to sources, eight people from a few villages of Bidar district, said to be linked to the Jamaat organisation, had travelled to Indonesia on December 12, 2019. They are stranded there due to the lockdown.
HURON COUNTY  Huron County Emergency Services announced that it will be conducting a tornado drill at 7 p.m. on April 7.

Normally, two weeks notice is given for a tornado drill, but given the issues surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak in Michigan, that is not possible.

During the drill, tornado sirens across Huron County will be activated and residents should get to their place of shelter. Should a siren not function properly, the local authority in charge will notify 911 and work to resolve the issue.

Emergency Services wants people to observe social distancing protocol during the tornado drill and for people to incorporate such measures if possible into their tornado safety plans.

We want everyone to stay safe no matter the disaster and there is no need expose themselves during a drill to COVID-19, Emergency Services said in a statement. Practice to live, not to die.

Emergency Services notes that in the case of an actual tornado in Huron County, social distancing may not be possible, and getting to a safe location and making sure everyone is safe, takes priority. The goal is to survive the most immediate and most dangerous threat and move forward from there.

Huron County does not issue any all clear signs after tornado warnings, as the weather can change rapidly and may lead to a false sense of security. Citizens are encouraged to monitor local weather outlets such as local tv and radio stations and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the latest updates to determine if the weather is safe.

Further safety information on tornadoes and severe weather can be found on the National Weather website at www.nws.noaa.gov/om/seavereweather/prepare.
Gov. Ned Lamont bolstered his plan to create coronavirus-only nursing homes by offering to double the state Medicaid payment rate for ones that specialize in COVID-19 treatment.

Lamonts announcement, part of a larger $35 million plan to boost payments to all of Connecticuts 216 nursing homes by 10 percent, follows a charge by a nursing home CEO that Lamont went public too soon this week with a plan to create coronavirus-only nursing home sites, causing sites to drop out.

He blurted it out, got the facilities and the families all excited, and blew the deal, said Paul Liistro, CEO of Manchester Manor and Vernon Manor nursing homes, and a continuing care retirement community in Manchester called Arbors of Hop Brook. We have been talking about this for a month with the governors office and the Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health, and now everything is up in the air.

Lamont responded on Friday afternoon by announcing Connecticut would make $600 per-day payments for each person served in nursing homes that specialize in coronavirus treatment.

Together with the nursing home industry and unions representing many of the men and women on the front line of care, my administration is working on a number of levels to support and fund high-quality health care services during this pandemic and beyond, Lamont said.

Lamont said the same $600 per-day state payments for each person served by a nursing home that agrees to specialize in coronavirus treatment would be given to idle facilities to bring nursing home beds for COVID-19 patients back into service.

The governors incentive followed a day of fallout over the plan he announced Wednesday to create 1,175 segregated beds for COVID-19 nursing home patients.

The plan is in flux, in part because public outcry caused at least one nursing home to back out of the deal, followed by two other nursing homes who said they were never part of the deal.

On the other hand, Renee Coleman-Mitchell, Connecticuts top health official, said the state is talking with other nursing homes about becoming coronavirus-only sites, and, What we said yesterday could be very different as of today, in regards to whos working with us to address those in need.

Liistro said that none of his facilities have residents or staff who have tested positive for the highly contagious respiratory virus.

Meanwhile for those keeping score, two out of the five nursing homes proposed by Lamont to care only for coronavirus patients in Greenwich and Sharon continue to negotiate with Hartford. Three other nursing homes have dropped out in Bloomfield, Farmington and Stafford Springs.

Of the five idle sites that Lamont proposed bringing back into service to treat only coronavirus patients, the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center has dropped out. Still on the table are Silver Hill Hospital in New Caanan, and idle sites in East Hartford, Meriden, and an undisclosed location in the northwestern corner of the state.

The plan is part of an initiative announced by Lamont to separate the 221 nursing home residents in Connecticut who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The plan does not cover Connecticuts assisted care facilities such as Benchmark Senior Livings Ridgefield Crossings in Ridgefield, where nine former residents have died from coronavirus.

Ridgefield Crossings said it has already sent some of its residents who tested negative for the virus to a hotel.

To date, 57 of the states 216 nursing homes have had at least one confirmed case of COVID-19. Of 221 nursing home residents with COVID-19, 80 were hospitalized and 23 have died, according to the state health department.

In context, Connecticut has had 4,900 cases confirmed and 131 deaths since March 8.

Connecticut is bracing for a surge of infections that is expected to begin next week. Across the country, Americans are fighting the same war.

There are 239,000 cases nationwide, and more than 5,400 dead.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
Many industries and businesses in Kenosha County are looking for workers.

Workers are looking for jobs, but many struggle to find a place to live.

A recent series of stories by business writer James Lawson pointed out that while workforce housing inventory is lacking now, theres momentum to change that.

The Kenosha Area Business Alliance, the economic development organization which has helped to bring much of the new business and industrial growth for years, has a new mission today.

It is leading the way in expanding housing development to fit the need of a growing workforce.

To that end, KABA and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. hosted the Workforce Housing Outlook: Needs and Strategies community development forum in January. The workshop was a visual reminder that housing development was underway in Kenosha.

Heather Wessling Grosz, KABA vice president, said the task force will work with our municipalities and employers to drive workable solutions to balance the opportunities and encourage options all along the housing spectrum.

A study of U.S. Census Bureau statistics released in January by Storage Cafe, a nationwide self-storage website, showed Wisconsin had welcomed 25,155 arrivals from Illinois in 2018. Projections dictate a severe need for housing development.

They almost have to be building nonstop for two to five years to meet all of the housing demands, said Lou Molitor, Kenosha Chamber of Commerce president.

Is the housing shortage slowing some of the employment growth?

Maybe not yet, said Wessling Grosz. But more often than wed like, our new employees are not our new residents.

Developers like S.R. Mills, Greg Moyer and David Nankin have multiple housing projects in various phases of completion in Kenosha, Somers and Pleasant Prairie.

Still, obstacles are many in housing projects. They are, among others, zoning restrictions, density, infrastructure and land cost.

How much of it should be market rate, luxury rentals, single-family affordable, lower income? We know there needs to be a mix of all types. Cluster homes may be part of the answer.

Housing and financial experts have seen new strategies come up, such as tax incremental financial districts for workforce housing, state tax credits and more funding and partnerships for down payment assistance.

We need to work together to encourage new housing stock that attracts young families starting out, said Kurt Paulsen, University of Wisconsin professor of urban and regional planning, who presented at the recent conference. A home is where a job goes to sleep at night.

Our housing series was published just as the coronavirus pandemic was hitting home and the governors safer-at-home order started. Well get out of this, and when we do theres a lot in the works with much more potential for workforce housing gains in the county.

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From Good Housekeeping

One 21-year-old college senior in Kentucky has created a new kind of face mask for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Ashley Lawrence is helping other sewers across the globe by working on sharing her template with others.

She's also shipping these custom face masks to individuals who ask for one, free of charge.

There's been an outpouring of support from sewers around the country as they race to provide more personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals treating those afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic. But one college senior in Kentucky studying education for the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) quickly realized that protective face masks are prohibitive for people who rely on speech reading or lip reading to communicate. As local NBC-affiliate LEX18 reports, Ashley Lawrence is spending her free time spearheading a new kind of mask for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

"I felt like there was a huge population that was being looked over," said Lawrence, the 21-year-old senior who is earning her specialized degree at Eastern Kentucky University. "We're all panicking right now and so a lot of people are just not being thought of. So, I felt like it was very important that, even at a time like this, people need to have that communication."

Teaming up with her mother, Lawrence put her sewing skills to use to create a first prototype that rethinks the traditional structure of a face mask altogether. She used bed sheets and leftover plastic crafting supplies to create a mask that provides protection, but clearly shows a user's mouth to help people who rely on lip reading skills to communicate.

"[American Sign Language] is very big on facial expressions and it is part of the grammar," she explained, using interpreters employed by the governor of Kentucky as an example. "So I don't know if you have seen Virginia Moore on Andy Beshear's things at five o'clock, but she's very emotive, and if half of that is gone because you're wearing a mask then half of what you're saying is being missed, so even if it's not physically talking and just using ASL, then you need to have that kind of access."

Story continues

Lawrence is also working on other inclusive face masks, as well: "We're trying different things for people with cochlear implants and hearing aids if they can't wrap around the ears," Lawrence told LEX18. "We're making some that have around the head and around the neck."

Facebook users from around the world have taken time to connect with Lawrence, sharing how her story and her initiative has impacted them. "These are great," one user commented. "My daughters co-workers need these. She can't read lips anymore. And wearing mask with hearing aids is hard on her ears." There are nearly 500 shares and more than 100 comments from sewers who are interested in helping create more, as well as people who are hoping they may receive some for caregivers in their own community.

Lawrence told LEX18 that she's received dozens of orders from six different states within 48 hours of sharing her prototype on Facebook. According to her profile, she's working on creating a template that can be shared virtually with sewers who want to create their own, and she's also establishing a new Facebook page for those interested in helping her aid more individuals in the DHH community. In the interim, she's set up an email where people can learn more information: dhhmaskproject@gmail.com. And she's also created a GoFundMe campaign to help her cover the costs of shipping and production in her own home.

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(Natural News) The deputy prime minister of Japan says that the WHO should be renamed the Chinese Health Organization for its role in helping Beijing cover-up the severity of the coronavirus outbreak.

(Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Summit.news)

Referring to a petition which now has almost 700,000 signatures calling on WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom to resign, Taro Aso tore into the organization for conspiring with China and failing to stop a global pandemic that could have been prevented.

People think the World Health Organization should change its name. It shouldnt be called the WHO, it should be renamed the Chinese Health Organization (CHO). This appeal is truly resonating with the people, said Aso.

Early on, if the WHO had not insisted to the world that China had no pneumonia epidemic, then everybody would have taken precautions, he added, noting that Taiwan had to face coronavirus on its own because it was excluded from the WHO.

Indeed, as we have highlighted, the World Health Organization repeatedly amplified Chinese propaganda that the coronavirus outbreak was under control, including a January 14th tweet which falsely claimed there was no human to human transmission of the disease, despite this having occurred in December.

Throughout January, the WHO praised China for its open and speedy response to COVID-19, even as Beijing authorities were silencing and disappearing doctors like Ai Fen who tried to warn the world that China was engaged in a cover-up.

The global health body also repeatedly told countries not to enforce border controls that could have stopped the spread of the virus, instead placing more importance on avoiding the stigmatization of Chinese people.

Daily reminder that China is to blame for coronavirus. It originated in China. China lied about human to human transmission. The WHO amplified this lie. China disappeared doctors who tried to warn the world. Yet our media still suggests it's racist to talk about any of this.  Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) April 1, 2020

Read more at: Summit.news
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Consumers were becoming increasingly comfortable with the idea of ordering food online, either for pick up or home delivery, even before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Now many more shoppers are turning to online grocery shopping for the first time.

People have been comfortable ordering food such as pizza for delivery for years, noted Commercetools Vice President of Americas Marketing Margaret Rea.

Companies like Grubhub have helped expand options and expand peoples thinking about what they can order for meal delivery. Its not a stretch to consider ordering meals from your favorite restaurant or even a DIY meal kit service, she told the E-Commerce Times. People are more willing to try these things based on positive experiences with early food delivery.

Food Solutions

Getting food is a stress point for many people, and online ordering and creative fulfillment strategies can be time-saving, anxiety-relieving solutions.

Online shopping has become a lifestyle versus an isolated activity, driven in large part by people looking for more balance in their lives, said Rea.

Ordering from the office or the car for curbside pickup on the way home is one way technology  especially online commerce  is helping people manage their busy lifestyles.

The advent of new technologies and strategies is helping to make online food shopping convenient and stress-free, and perhaps even enjoyable.

The customer experience is improving in both food and grocery delivery, said Rea. In Germany, for example, food giant REWE has a mobile app that allows people to add precise amounts of ingredients into their shopping cart based on a recipe they are making and the number of guests they are serving. This and other positive customer experiences make online grocery shopping seamless  and even a fun and social part of life.

The availability of fast and reliable delivery options is another factor driving the growth of e-commerce food sales.

One of the main reasons for the increase in online grocery purchases is convenience and being able to find what you are looking for quickly and easily, observed Markus Stripf, CEO of Spoon Guru.

Delivery times coming down rapidly is, of course, a major advantage, he told the E-Commerce Times.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Delivered by Technology

A number of new, behind-the-scene technologies also are helping to drive the boom in online food and grocery sales, pick-up and delivery. Walmart, for instance, has invested heavily in the technologies supporting its grocery pick-up and delivery services.

Behind the scenes, Walmart has built a robust e-commerce engine and new operational processes that are all powered by customer data and insights, said Bobby Greenberg, senior vice president of consulting for Kobie.

Walmart has managed to marry humans and robots, so to speak, by providing Walmart+ users the ability to order groceries via text message, giving the ordering experience a personal touch and making it as seamless as possible, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Its a strategy that ultimately can build a lasting bond between consumers and particular brands and retailers.

Many consumers are emotionally motivated to choose brands based on convenience and ease, noted Greenberg. Home delivery transforms the grocery-buying experience to the touch of a few buttons and can motivate people to develop new long-term habits with Walmart.

Providing a curated grocery experience, along with targeted recommendations, can be an important part of selling consumers on the value of online food shopping.

Spoon Guru makes it easy for shoppers to find the right foods for their specific needs and health objectives by removing the friction from the search and discovery process and providing highly tailored recommendations based on their preferences and propensity, said Stripf. The advantages to the retailer are twofold: We drive customer value and loyalty.

Using technology to fit together the many aspects of online food retailing  from inventory management to delivery  helps give consumers a sense of engagement and confidence.

Commercetools APIs connect commerce capability  like cart, check-out and product catalog  to any front-end as well as back-end systems, like inventory and fulfillment, said Rea.

Because each API is designed for a specific task, IT teams can build, create, experiment and iterate at about four times the speed of older monolithic commerce platforms, she explained, enabling the tech team to respond faster to the needs and requests of the business. If, for example, customers want to purchase food for delivery via a social media channel like Facebook or an in-store IoT-based kiosk, the tech team can build out that functionality rapidly using Commercetools APIs.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

How consumers ultimately get their food  and how easy that process is made for them  is a key component to a successful food and e-commerce strategy.

Food e-commerce companies understand the importance of delivery and increasingly let consumers choose a convenient delivery scenario, said Tanya Yablonskaya, e-commerce industry analyst at ScienceSoft.

Among the variants, which are the most popular with shoppers, are same-day or scheduled door-to-door delivery, click-and-pick, express delivery, and automatic subscription, she told the E-Commerce Times.

Future Food

The food and e-commerce industry is expanding and evolving rapidly, changing the way people think about everything from restaurants to grocery stores.

For decades, the food distribution and fulfillment industry stagnated with little innovation, forcing consumers to shop for food in the same old ways, said Rea.

The good news is that the future is bright. With advancements in e-commerce technology and the increasing acceptance of online food purchasing, delivery and innovative pick-up options, consumers will have more choices than ever  not only in how they buy and receive their food, but also in sources of locally grown foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs and even flour, she pointed out.

Rural and urban consumers will be able to buy more food from local growers who offer seasonal harvests through an online shop or mobile app for delivery or pick-up, Rea said.

Innovations in mobile technologies and creative ways of matching people with the food they want are likely to continue transforming the industry.

In large metropolitan areas, improved customer experiences on mobile apps, shopping sites and even in-car marketplaces  including real-time updates, flash sales on limited supply items and loyalty programs  will continue to increase the adoption of online food buying and disrupt the entire food distribution industry, said Rea.

Evolving along with the market and with consumer demand ultimately will be key to the survival of food retailers.

More than one in three Americans now buy groceries online, and retailers are racing to grab a bigger slice of that pie, so expect some significant developments from the big players as well as the smaller ones over the next few years, said Stripf. Those who innovate will thrive, but those who stand still will not be able to compete for much longer.
Chomsky slams USs handling of virus as he warns nuclear war, global warming threats will remain after pandemic is over.

The coronavirus crisis could have been prevented because there was enough information available to the world, according to Noam Chomsky, who has warned that once the pandemic is over, two critical challenges will remain  the threats of nuclear war and global warming.

Speaking from his office in self-isolation to Croatian philosopher and author Srecko Horvat, the celebrated 91-year-old US linguist offered a stark perspective on how the pandemic has been managed by different countries.

This coronavirus pandemic could have been prevented, the information was there to prevent it. In fact, it was well-known. In October 2019, just before the outbreak, there was a large-scale simulation in the United States  possible pandemic of this kind, he said, referring to an exercise  titled Event 201  hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Nothing was done. The crisis was then made worse by the treachery of the political systems that didnt pay attention to the information that they were aware of.

On December 31, China informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of pneumonia-like symptoms with unknown origins. A week later, some Chinese scientists identified a coronavirus. Furthermore, they sequenced it and provided information to the world. By then, virologists and others who were bothering to read WHO reports knew that there was a coronavirus and knew that had to deal with it. Did they do anything? Well yes, some did.

China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore began to do something, and they have sort of pretty much seemed to have contained at least the first surge of the crisis.

He explained that the way the West prepared for the crisis differed between countries.

In Europe, to some extent, its happened. Germany  did have spare diagnostic capacity and was able to act in a highly selfish fashion, not helping others but for itself at least, to evident reasonable containment.

Other countries just ignored it. The worst was the United Kingdom and the worst of all was the United States.

One day [US President Donald Trump] says, There is no crisis, its just like flu. The next day, Its a terrible crisis and I knew it all along. The next day, We have to go back to the business, because I have to win the election. The idea that the world is in these hands is shocking.

The US has the worlds highest number of infections with more than 250,000 cases, while more than 6,500 have died with the virus.

Globally, there are more than a million cases across at least 180 countries, and more than 53,000 people have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, which has origins in China.

Describing the US president as a sociopathic buffoon, Chomsky said while the coronavirus was serious, its worth recalling that there is a much greater horror approaching. We are racing to the edge of disaster, far worse than anything thats happened in human history.

Donald Trump and his minions are in the lead in racing to the abyss. In fact there are two immense threats that were facing  one is the growing threat of nuclear war  and the other of course is the growing threat of global warming.

While the coronavirus can have terrifying consequences, there will be recovery, said Chomsky, but regarding the other threats, there wont be recovery, its finished.

He also blasted Trump for continuing punishing sanctions on Iran, a country which is struggling to contain the virus with more than 3,000 deaths, as a way to make people suffer bitterly.

When the US imposes devastating sanctions  its the only country that can do that, everyone has to follow  the master. Or else they are kicked out the financial system, said Chomsky.

Why is there a coronavirus crisis? It's a colossal market failure. It goes right back to the essence of markets exacerbated by the savage neoliberal intensification of deep social-economic problems. Noam Chomsky

The conversation with Horvat took place online on March 28 as part of a series by Democracy in Europe Movement 2025, a political party launched by Greeces former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, to discuss the world after the pandemic.

Other speakers have included Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek and German-Croatian theatre director and author Angela Richter.

Looking ahead, Chomsky said there could be reason for hope as he made a case against neoliberalism.

Possibly, a good side of the coronavirus, is it might bring people to think about what kind of a world do we want.

We should think about the emergence of this crisis, why is there a coronavirus crisis? Its a colossal market failure. It goes right back to the essence of markets exacerbated by the savage neoliberal intensification of deep social-economic problems.

It was known for a long time that pandemics are very likely and it was underestimated. It was very well understood there were likely to be coronavirus pandemics, modifications of the SARS epidemic 15 years ago.

At the time, it was overcome. The viruses were identified, sequences to the vaccines were available.

Labs around the world could be working right then on developing protection for potential coronavirus pandemics. Why didnt they do it? The market signals were wrong. The drug companies. We have handed over our fate to private tyrannies called corporations, which are unaccountable to the public, in this case, Big Pharma. And for them, making new body creams is more profitable than finding a vaccine that will protect people from total destruction.

Remembering the polio epidemic in the US, Chomsky noted that it was ended by the discovery of the Salk vaccine by a government institution. The vaccine was available by the early 1950s.

No patents, available to everyone. That could have been done this time, but the neoliberal plague has blocked that.

Asked for his view on the current war-time language used during the crisis, which has seen medical workers described as being on the front line and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning of the biggest challenge since World War II, Chomsky said the rhetoric was justified to mobilise people.

But post-pandemic options, he warned, range from the installation of highly authoritarian brutal states all the way over to radical reconstruction of society and more humane terms concerned with human need and no private profit.

We should bear in mind that highly authoritarian vicious states are quite compatible with neoliberalism.
Carlton's La Mama Theatre, one of the leading independent theatres in the country with a 50 year history of producing original works, has been stripped of its federal funding in a move that has shocked Melbourne's already reeling theatrical community.

The Australia Council announced on Friday that almost 100 arts organisations across the country had secured crucial long-term federal funding, though they will have to take a cut after the council's funds were spread more thinly than anticipated.

Artistic director Liz Jones in 2018 after the La Mama theatre fire. Credit:Meredith O'Shea

But La Mama lost all its funding despite being told it had made a strong case, artistic director and chief executive Liz Jones said.

The companys theatre burned to the ground in May 2018, forcing them to relocate and raise funds for a new theatre. Now, the COVID-19 shutdown has put all live performance venues in crisis mode.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought to prepare the state bureaucracy for withdrawal of the lockdown while maintaining the norms of social

distancing at the end of the 21-day period.

He asked the leaders of 11 different teams set up during the lockdown to chalk out a strategy to define how and when the schools, colleges, different markets and malls would reopen in a phased manner after the lockdown period was over.

The CM announced the creation of a corona care fund of Rs 1,000 crore as a buffer to deal with any emergency. "With this fund, facilities for testing labs

will be provided and arrangements of ventilators, masks, sanitizers, PPE (Personal

Protection Equipment) etc. would be made," said the CM adding that the

government was keeping the option of reaching out to corporate houses to seek help

under the Corporate Social Responsibility corpus open.

Efforts will be made to provide examination facilities in every division and all 24

government medical colleges, he said.

While holding a meeting with Team-11 on Friday, the CM asked the officials to convey a strong message to violators of restrictions.

An incident like Indore should not happen anywhere in UP. Lodge cases against such people under the Disaster Act. Those who seek to disagree with the norms must be kept under strict supervision. Take strict action against all those who indulge in creating ruckus and resort to lawlessness like in Ghaziabad hospital, the CM told the officers.

He exhorted the authorities to handle quarantine violators with an iron fist.

If someone escapes quarantine, then make the administration concerned

accountable. Make large buildings quarantine centres instead of primary

schools, directed the CM.

He also asked the officials to prepare a list of those doing extraordinary work during the lockdown. The government will honour such people when the situation becomes normal. Take strict measures to curb black marketing and hoarding. If the essential goods are available at a higher price from the wholesale market itself, then take action against the accused, directed the CM.

Yogi asked the officials to ensure food was delivered to the needy on time with the

help of voluntary organizations, in coordination with DMs of the districts

concerned and involvement of Anganwadi workers.

He asked the officers to be prepared at two levelshandling the prevailing conditions and post-lockdown scenario. To handle the prevailing situation, keep on

operating community kitchens in every district with diligence with the help of

voluntary organizations, he said. Establish a collection centre to facilitate food

distribution smoothly, directed the CM.

In view of future preparations, he asked them to prepare volunteers from the NSS, NCC, Scouts and Youth Mangal Dal and sensitize them over prevention of corona spread and the steps to be taken during infection. They will be helpful in supply of food and essential goods and handling any exigency if it arises in future, added

the CM.

CM Yogi also instructed the officers to prepare a list of doctors both in government

medical facilities and private sector to handle the situation if there was an unprecedented spurt in number of inflictions. Proper training should be imparted to doctors and medical staff to meet any future challenge. Make a list of beds and ventilators which could be made available in private hospitals if the need arises in future, he maintained.

Chief Secretary RK Tiwari along with other members of Team-11 was also present at the meeting. The Chief Minister also took feedback of the actions taken by

the team.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel ordered two companies to stop selling faulty COVID-19 test kits and refund consumers who unwittingly fell for the scam.

Nessels office sent a Wednesday letter to VitaStik Inc. and $tronghold Inc. demanding they stop marketing unapproved at-home testing for the coronavirus and accusing the companies of trying to profit from the public health emergency. The Federal Trade Commission advises people to ignore all offers for at-home test kits, which have never been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.

This Office hopes to call out your scam and leave this matter to the Federal authorities for appropriate action," the Attorney Generals letter reads. No response to this letter is required. But your compliance is demanded.

A Whitehall resident reported the businesses, which sold $25 kits suspiciously marketed as being able to deliver results in 15 minutes that were 96.3% accurate. These claims are false, according to the Attorney General.

A special agent from the Attorney Generals office contacted the business owner, who reportedly claimed the test kits were going through approval processes with the FDA. The business-owner allegedly said he partnered with companies in China that manufacture the tests, and that they had been widely used throughout China.

The agent found no one at the FDA had knowledge of the business owner or the kits.

Nessel informed the businesses they are violating the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. She also notified federal authorities, who may take further enforcement action.

The two companies registered in Las Vegas, Nevada, but operate in Beverly Hills, California, according to the Attorney General. The owner agreed to comply with the offices request, according to a press release.

During public emergencies, its common for scams to become more prevalent and consumers must be cautious, Nessel said in a statement. I appreciate the consumer reports that continue to be filed with my office, and my Consumer Protection team and I will keep fighting to ensure hard-working, honest people are protected from scammers and price-gougers.

Michigan residents can file a consumer complaint online or by calling a tip line at (877) 765-8388 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Attorney Generals office reported receiving 2,806 reports of price-gouging, as of Friday morning.

The Attorney Generals office also received reports from business owners who have been subjects of the offices efforts to rein in price-gouging, who said they have been receiving threats from members of the public.

Nessels office said residents who report price gougers and call them out on social media are helpful, but responding to price-gouging by threatening violence is a crime.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has voiced sharp disappointment with the US Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group for its role in a joint US-French-Russian statement dismissing the March 31st Artsakh elections, underscoring that such reactions  in addition to setting back the cause of peace  denigrate Americas own founding commitment to free and fair elections as the basis for democratic self-determination, as stated on anca.org.

The United States can only apply one standard when it comes to elections  the benchmark set by our founders in the Declaration of Independence  establishing our unconditional support for the unalienable right to establish democratically elected governments deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Sadly, this weeks OSCE Minsk Group statement on the elections in Artsakh falls far short of this democratic yardstick, said ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian, adding that American leaders should be praising Artsakhs free and fair elections.
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Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 07:43 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f5e5e4 1 National Papua,West-Papua,oil-palm-plantations,research,Walhi,FWI,green-investment,law Free

While international researchers have backed a government decision made in February to halt the development of new oil palm plantations in Papua in favor of greener cash crops, activists fear that the shift in policy will have no effect on the lives of poor, indigenous Papuans and may also have little effect on deforestation.

In a study titled Understanding the expansion of oil palm cultivation: A case study in Papua published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, researchers from the Madrid Polytechnic University argued that preventing forest cover from being turned into more plantations might indeed be more beneficial than cashing in on Indonesias most lucrative export commodity.

The investigation, based on a study of a PT Rimba Matoa Lestari oil palm plantation in Jayapura regency, found that the economic benefits of keeping forest cover outweighed those of cutting down the forests and turning the land into plantations.

The research also conducted a survey of people who worked on the plantation and residents from nearby villages in December 2016.

While plantations may improve the local standard of living, increase life expectancy and provide access to education, the government stands to gain greater economic benefits in the form of food, water, wood and materials for medicines, the study found. These benefits are in addition to those of maintaining biodiversity and slowing the pace of climate changeboth results of keeping forests intact.

According to the study, while the Indonesian government could expect to gain US$2,153 per hectare per year from turning Papuan forests into oil palm plantations, it would actually gain approximately $3,795.44 per hectare per year if the forest cover was maintained.

In late February, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investments Luhut Panjaitan, along with the governors of Papua and West Papua, announced that the government was looking for green investments of up to Rp 2.8 trillion (US$169.7 million) to help develop the region.

Luhut called on small and medium enterprises to develop the island, while rejecting the idea of having big companies carve up Papua for palm oil plantations. The investments, Luhut said, were reserved for other crops such as cacao, coffee, nutmeg, sago and kelp.

West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan said that his administration was committed to maintaining at least 70 percent of the islands forest cover.

Pablo Acosta, one of the researchers who conducted the study, said that while he was glad there was a sense of urgency about preventing deforestation in Papua, he thought switching to other cash crops was the wrong solution.

Planting any other type of crops in forested land should be avoided altogether; actually, the level of emissions for low carbon storage crops such as coffee, nutmeg, rice, etc. would raise the emissions due to land use change even more than palm oil plantations, as their carbon storage is lower than palm oil, Acosta told The Jakarta Post in an email last week.

Instead, he said that the sustainable use of forest cover should be considered, as it would benefit communities, and if managed properly, could provide even more value from agroforestry products and ecotourism.

Official figures on the total area of oil palm concessions in Papua remain unclear, as the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry has yet to disclose any maps despite an order in February by the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) to release the data.

A report from Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), based on bits of data available from the ministry website that were quickly taken down, places the total area of concessions in Papua at 2.9 million hectares, with only 323,000 ha, about 11 percent, certified with the right to cultivate (HGU).

In West Papua, some 139,000 ha (29 percent) of the total 485,000 ha of concessions are HGU-certified. According to 2019 Agriculture Ministry data, there are about 14.6 million hectares of oil palm plantations in the country.

In response to the international study, FWI researcher Mufti Ode noted the continued prevalence of deforestation in investors plans for Papua, even as the civil society group supported plans to improve the economy on the island without reducing critical forest cover.

Up until today we havent seen any clear plan on what a green investment in Papua constitutes. Based on existing policies, natural forests can still be converted, albeit using different methods, Mufti said.

He said that developing human resources capacity among native Papuans should instead be the sectors main priority, as the current development model rarely took into account the specific local contexts and heritages of indigenous peoples, risking a possible clash of cultures.

Unlike FWI, Aiesh Rumbekwan of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) said his group was unconvinced that the green investments scheme would respect any commitment to protect Papuan forest cover. Aiesh said it was just another ploy to continue with extractive business practices.

Walhi still sees no change in the paradigm; it is still capitalism. The nature [of the investment] has also not changed because vast stretches of land will continue to be used up, whereas local communities have yet to benefit from the long history of investment, Aiesh said, noting that investments have only managed to create conflict and inhibit local ways of life.

The government, too, has yet to find an effective way to make the most of existing legal frameworks to guarantee the provinces special autonomy status, the Walhi executive director told the Post last week.

Law No. 21/2001 grants Papua special autonomy, which at the time of its passing covered the entirety of the island as well as its surrounding islets. The law stipulates that native Papuans must be taken into account and prioritized in economic activities in the region.

He said the government should translate local community values into development instead of relying on extractive sectors, so that indigenous land would be respected and the ecosystem preserved at the same time.

Even today there is no way for locals to properly manage the products of their own forests, whether timber or otherwise, and yet [the government] promotes monoculture crops to reduce palm oil use, Aiesh said. They are better off giving the indigenous people better access instead.
SIOUX CITY -- Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday extended the closure of K-12 schools through April 30 as part of the state's efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

In Sioux City, students have not been in school since March 13. On March 15, Reynolds recommended districts halt classes until at least April 13. Most districts called off classes in the next day or two.

Keeping Iowan students out of classrooms is a very difficult decision, but it remains necessary for now, the Republican governor said at her news conference Thursday.

On Wednesday, Gov. Pete Ricketts ordered Nebraska K-12 schools to remain closed through May 31, effectively guaranteeing students in the Cornhusker State won't be returning this academic year. Gov. Kristi Noem last week announced South Dakota schools would remain closed through May 1.

In other actions Thursday, Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the state public health emergency declaration and also prohibited public gatherings of more than 10 people for the rest of the month.

In addition to schools, Reynolds also extended until April 30 closures of non-essential businesses, including most retail stores, casinos, barber shops, hair salons, tattoo parlors, movie theaters and fitness centers. Under an order that had been set to expire April 7, restaurants and bars are still not allowed to serve food and beverage on their premises, but can remain open with drive-thru, carryout or delivery service.

Reynolds noted it was important public and private schools provide continuous learning opportunities to their students.

The Iowa Department of Education has created two options for districts to provide continuous learning: Learning opportunities can be voluntary or required, and districts will need to make a decision and notify the department by April 10.

A required distance learning plan will begin Monday in the Bishop Heelan Catholic school system in Sioux City. Bishop schools President John Flanery said the distance learning plan will see schools transitioning from voluntary online enrichment activities and review to actual required graded instruction.

The Sioux City public school district will announce its next plans on Friday, district spokeswoman Mandie Mayo said Thursday.

Iowa education department director Ann Lebo said the department will also implement an expedited application process to gain approval for required distance learning. The process will be available in a few days, and she said applications should be turned around in 24 hours. For districts opting to require classes, teachers will take attendance, grade assignments and offer credit for the coursework.

Districts requiring work can offer online learning, paper packets of assignments or a combination of the two. They also have the ability to start with the voluntary model and move to required work, or split the models by grade, depending on what they think will work best locally.

Districts may also opt to not provide either form of continuous learning, but would have to make up lost learning time beyond the four weeks Reynolds previously waived from the minimum 1,080 hours or 180 days of instruction mandated by the state.

The Department of Education is surveying schools to identify and address barriers, including professional learning opportunities and access to wi-fi, and will be meeting with school leaders.

We know there will be challenges throughout this process, along with much uncertainty, Lebo said.

Reynolds said districts will receive a two-week notice of any further decisions about school closures.

The Quad-City Times' Megan Valley contributed to this story.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2020) - TriSummit Utilities Inc. ("TSU") announced that it has agreed to issue $100 million of senior unsecured medium-term notes (the "Offering"). The notes carry a coupon rate of 3.13% and mature on April 7, 2027.

The Offering is expected to close on or about April 7, 2020. The net proceeds resulting from the Offering will be used (i) as to approximately $96 million, to repay amounts outstanding under TSU's syndicated revolving credit facility, and (ii) as to the remainder, for general corporate purposes.

The Offering is being made through a syndicate of investment dealers co-led by CIBC Capital Markets and RBC Capital Markets under TSU's Short Form Base Shelf Prospectus dated November 14, 2018 and Prospectus Supplement dated November 15, 2018.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. This press release is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia) or any other jurisdiction outside Canada. This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer to buy or sell any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction outside of Canada. The securities of TSU 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. Accordingly, these securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to a U.S. person unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or except pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. There will be no public offering of securities in the United States.

About TriSummit Utilities

TSU is a Canadian company with natural gas distribution utilities and renewable power generation assets. TSU serves approximately 130,000 customers, delivering low carbon energy, safely and reliably. For more information visit: www.trisummit.ca.

For Further Information Contact:



TriSummit Utilities Inc.

Investor Relations

587-955-3660

communications@trisummit.ca

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This news release contains forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions, as they relate to TSU or an affiliate of TSU, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to, among other things, the Offering, the closing of the Offering and the use of proceeds from the Offering. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect TSU's current views with respect to future events based on certain material factors and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, changes in market, competition, governmental or regulatory developments, general economic conditions and other factors set out in TSU's public disclosure documents. Many factors could cause TSU's actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this news release, including without limitation those listed above. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this news release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, sought, proposed, estimated or expected, and such forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference in this news release, should not be unduly relied upon. Such statements speak only as of the date of this news release. TSU does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that a financial relief package will be given to small businesses in California. Additionally, new resources to help job seekers will be provided. This is one of the ways on how the state is handling the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis, says an article.

For Small Businesses

For small businesses with taxable sales not exceeding $5 million will be allowed to delay payments of not more than $50,000 in a year. This grant is allowed without being required to pay a fine or penalty for the delay, said Newsom. Newsom calls this a 'bridge loan.'

However, these plans are still subject to approval by the state legislature.

An executive order signed by Governor Newsom had allowed for the extension of the tax deadline for small businesses until July 31. This latest measure proposed by the governor will be beyond that.

Relief Program for Small Businesses

Governor Newsom also announced a program for small businesses that still employs and pays the salary of their employees amid the COVID-19 crisis. The program allows providing relief of up to $10 million for these businesses.

New Job Searching Website

The governor also announced that a comprehensive new job search website will also help the people of California who were laid off due to the COVID-19 crisis. The website aims to help them find employment.

The website was created in partnership between LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Bitwise Industries in Fresno. The website works by matching job vacancies with the skillset of people.

Check these out:

Issue with Unemployment

In California, unemployment is an issue. Approximately, 900,000 of the state's population had applied for jobless benefits in the previous week.

Since March 12, 1.9 million of the state's population had already filed for unemployment. This number was a result of the suspension of operations of non-essential businesses in the state. This was after the stay-at-home order was announced in the state.

According to Newsom, almost half of the total working population of the state is employed by small businesses.

Typically, the Employment Development of California has a 21-day turnaround. However, due to the current health crisis, it has been struggling to keep up with that record.

Unemployment Benefits for Californians

The government of California pays a range of $40 to $450 in unemployment benefits per week. Additionally, the federal stimulus provides an additional $600 per week for eligible citizens.

COVID-19 Cases in the State

As the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state continues to increase, the governor said that the hospitals in the state can meet the demands. He attributes this to the residents who are staying at home and are strictly following social distancing guidelines when they leave their homes.

As of Thursday, California had reported 9,937 confirmed cases of the COVID-29. There were 203 deaths from the deadly virus as of that date. Approximately, there are 2,000 Californians who have been sent to the hospital, this includes the 816 people who were sent to ICUs.
New Delhi, April 3 : The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president on Friday appealed to all Muslims to offer Friday prayers from home amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Syed Arshad Madani in a statement said the Muslim community should offer Namaz at their home like they did the last time.

He appealed to all the citizens to follow the advisories of the Union Health Ministry to fight the coronavirus.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of active coronavirus cases in India are 2088 while 56 have died due to the deadly virus. However, 156 have also been cured.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has slammed Amazon calling its treatment of a fired warehouse employee 'racist and classist' after leaked notes revealed the trillion dollar company's plans to vilify him after he led a walkout over coronavirus health concerns.

The US Representative waded into the drama with the retail giant Thursday night, after the notes surfaced showing the firm's PR strategy to smear ex-worker Christian Smalls.

'Amazon's attempt to smear Chris Smalls, one of their own warehouse workers, as 'not smart or articulate' is a racist & classist PR campaign,' AOC tweeted.

'If execs are as concerned abt (sic) worker health & safety as they claim, then they should provide the full paid sick leave ALL workers deserve.'

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez waded into the drama with Amazon Thursday night calling its treatment of a fired warehouse employee 'racist and classist'

In the memo obtained by Vice News, top Amazon executives planned to smear 31-year-old Smalls, a management assistant, after he spearheaded a walkout of several employees on March 30 over coronavirus safety fears.

The top bosses referred to Smalls as 'not smart' and discussed placing him as the face of the workers' walkout.

'He's not smart, or articulate, and to the extent the press wants to focus on us versus him, we will be in a much stronger PR position than simply explaining for the umpteenth time how we're trying to protect workers,' wrote Amazon General Counsel David Zapolsky.

Amazon workers at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse strike in demand that the facility be shut down and cleaned after one staffer tested positive for the coronavirus

Vice News obtained meeting notes from Amazon General Counsel David Zapolsky (pictured) that reportedly show top executives discussing fired employee Christian Smalls

In the memo, which took place at a day meeting and included CEO Jeff Bezos, Zapolsky's notes reportedly show executives mapping how to navigate bad press of Smalls' firing.

They allegedly wanted to make Smalls the center of Amazon's narrative about worker safety.

Christian Smalls (pictured), 31, led a employee walkout at a Staten Island Amazon warehouse over health concerns

Zapolsky wrote: 'We should spend the first part of our response strongly laying out the case for why the organizer's conduct was immoral, unacceptable, and arguably illegal, in detail, and only then follow with our usual talking points about worker safety.

'Make him the most interesting part of the story, and if possible make him the face of the entire union/organizing movement.'

The memo allegedly showed executives considering using Smalls to discredit the company's labor movement.

It was also revealed in the memo that Amazon attempted to buy millions of protective masks for staffers and has considered producing its own masks.

A spokesperson for Amazon has since responded to AOC's comments saying: 'That's not true. In fact, Mr. Zapolsky didn't even know the race of the person at the time he made his comments.'

Smalls led the walkout of staff on Monday, claiming that the company had not provided adequate protective gear or cleaned the Staten Island warehouse after at least seven workers fell ill from the virus.

Workers at Amazon's fulfillment center in Staten Island protested work conditions in the company's warehouse on March 30 over claims that the warehouse had not been cleaned after confirmed coronavirus cases

Pictured: Employees protesting outside a Staten Island warehouse on March 30

Amazon has since fired Smalls from the company, a move that he said is in retaliation for begging management to sanitize the warehouse and be more transparent about sick workers.

'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.

But Amazon said he was fired for violating a company-mandated 14-day quarantine after he was in contact with an infected employee.

Smalls (center) said Amazon fired him in retaliation for speaking out against uncleaned facilities and asking for more transparency

On April 1, New York state recorded more than 8,600 new coronavirus cases after a concerning high of 9,2988 cases on March 30

At least 432 New Yorkers died of coronavirus on April 1, as the disease continues to spread across the country and overwhelm healthcare workers

Smalls' location, known as JFK8, started an effort to unionize workers in 2018.

Of the memo, Zapolsky told Vice News that his 'comments were personal and emotional.'

'I was frustrated and upset that an Amazon employee would endanger the health and safety of other Amazonians by repeatedly returning to the premises after having been warned to quarantine himself after exposure to virus Covid-19,' said Zapolsky.

'I let my emotions draft my words and get the better of me,' he added.

The notes also reportedly explore Amazon's concerns with the pandemic - which has infected more than 245,000 and killed 6,056 in the US - and its efforts to increase testing.

Workers say the company 'has still not provided essential protections' during the coronavirus outbreak which has seen some workers become ill

The day meeting between top Amazon executives reportedly included CEO Jeff Bezos (pictured)

Zapolsky wrote that testing all employees, even asymptomatic ones, could be beneficial for the company.

He wrote: 'That can have benefits both for the system and for our employees. Every test we do is incremental and is one less test that existing resources have to do.'

Amazon discussed PR strategies over their face masks supply with 'different and bold' ways of handing out extra masks to hospitals and independent grocery stores.

'If we can get masks in quantity it's a fantastic gift if we donate strategically,' wrote Zapolsky.

'Another idea for giving masks away  give 1,000 masks to every police station in the country,' he said, adding that it may 'reminds folks it's not just medical workers who need these.'

Vice News said Amazon executives brainstormed different ways to obtain or produce masks. Working with other companies with resources to make masks was also suggested.

Thus far, Zapolsky wrote that Amazon has at least 10million masks for 'our operations guys', with an additional 25million coming from a supplier in the next two weeks.

'There are ways of making FDA approved surgical and other masks from fabric and we're working with those manufacturers as well,' said the notes.

The notes said that that Center for Disease Prevention and Control would recommend face masks to citizens, if not for a supply shortage.

'CDC's hesitancy to recommend masks has been to manage supply (though that's a bad reason to sacrifice scientific integrity),' said Zapolsky.

Pictured: A New York City Amazon worker protests Amazon with a sign reading 'treat your workers like your customers'

Although Amazon reportedly has a 'line of sight' on a supply of N95 masks, the company is 'starting to put together internal efforts' for face mask production.

This task was described as 'more of a nine month type project.'

Finally, the notes hint that Amazon's attempts to buy N95 masks from China before plans came to a halt.

Zapolsky wrote: 'China has deemed N95 masks as 'strategic'. They're keeping them for optionality. They also want to use them for 'diplomacy.' The masks in China that we thought we had probably got redirected by profiteers.'

This news comes after Bezos donated $100million to Feeding America. The donation will go directly to supplying more food as the usual donations from catering businesses are scarce due to the forced closure of restaurants.

As the coronavirus pandemic has forced millions of people out of work -with 6.6million people apply for unemployment claims - some companies are continuing to hire.

This includes Amazon, Whole Foods Market, CVS, Walmart, Dollar General, Instacart, Papa John's, Domino's Pizza and Stop & Shop.
Around 80% of the Covid-19 positive people in Indore do not have a known travel history, the health officials said, pointing at the possible local transmission of the virus in Madhya Pradeshs business capital.

Indore recorded its first Covid-19 case on March 25, five days after the first four cases in the state were reported from Jabalpur. Four cases were reported that day, which included one each from Ranipura, Chandan Nagar and Khajrana localities in Indore, which emerged as Covid-19 clusters within a week.

Till March 29, Indore reported a marginal increase in cases every day: four on the 25th, five on the 26th, four each on the 27th and the 28th and three on the 29th. The spurt began on March 30, when 19 new cases were reported, and since then 61 new positive cases have been reported from the city, taking the total figure to 82 till Thursday night. Madhya Pradesh has 107 total cases.

A health department official, who was not willing to be named, said when the initial cases were reported there was not much screening of people in these densely populated localities and the complete lockdown was also not strictly enforced. This may have caused some community spread, the official said.

Sensing trouble, the MP government on March 30, replaced then collector, Lokesh Kumar Jatav, and the then DIG police, Ruchivardhan Mishra, with Manish Singh, as the new collector, and Harinarayan Chari Mishra, as the new DIG of police. Jatav refused to comment on the alleged lapses during initial stages saying the new collector should brief the media about the Indore situation.

As the days passed, the Covid-19 pandemic spread to newer localities such as Daulatganj and Azad Nagar, neighbouring the ones from where the first four cases were reported, clearly showing that lockdown was not enforced.

The localities cited by the administration are Muslim-dominated localities, having a combined population of 3.5 lakh to 4 lakh, according to Muslim community leaders. A sizeable section of the population comes from the middle and lower classes.

What has shocked the health officials is that theres no travel history of 80% of the Covid-19 cases till Thursday night. Chief medical and health officer (CMHO), Indore, Dr Praveen Jadia said, Most of the cases dont have a travel history. We suspect that the first four cases may have got the disease from one source and may have unknowingly spread it to others.

Anwar Qadri, Muslim community leader and corporator in Indore, agreed with him and said that except a couple of them none has any travel history to the best of his knowledge. We are also baffled as to how the virus spread so fast in these localities, he said, that unlike other places Indore Muslims were not associated with Tablighi Jamaat, except an insignificant number.

A government official, who didnt want to be named, said direct flights between Indore and Dubai were introduced last year, they have been suspended now. There is a possibility that people from Indore who travelled to Dubai contracted the virus there, he said.

Even three days after the spurt happened, the district administration is yet to complete contact tracking of all Covid patients. Commissioner, Indore division Akash Tripathi said, We are trying to know as to how many persons came in contact with Covid-19 positive cases to identify and screen such people. But we are yet to know as to from whom it all started.

He admitted that social media had added to their problems as people in these localities were resisting screening because of rumours related to the disease on different platforms, including WhatsApp.

A section of people believing in the rumour that persons being picked for quarantine in Indore will be injected with a Corona injection led to attack on four health workers, after which chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had asked officials to book the miscreants under stringent National Security Act (NSA). Rumours were one of the reasons behind the attack, said deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Indore, Harinarayan Chari Mishra.

Indore Shahar Qazi, Mohammed Ishrat Ali, has appealed to Muslim community not to believe rumours and cooperate with the health department team in identifying and treating coronavirus affected people.

The state government health bulletin said only 9% of people affected by coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh have travel history in comparison to 25% at the national level while 40% got it through contact transmission in comparison to 46% at the national level.

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If one has to understand the chronology of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, one needs to just look at developments in the domestic automobile industry over the last two months. When reports of the first casualty came from China in mid-January, they were ignored. It was then just a local virus after all.

Things became serious when China's Wuhan province was quarantined and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency in late January. Then, the worry was more about the virus jeopardising the biennial Indian Auto Expo in early February. This year, there was a significant Chinese presence, but after contemplating a cancellation, the organisers took a chance, helped by the fact that no cases had been reported in India till then. While the gamble paid off, the first strain on business became evident as shipment of parts from China started getting impacted.

It has quickly gone downhill since then. With the virus gaining a firm foothold in the country, operations started getting impacted at the start of the month. The 21-day country lockdown that came into effect from March 25 was only the next logical step. Not only has the $120 billion industry, which accounts for 49 per cent of the country's manufacturing GDP, been brought to a grinding halt, the future is also very hazy. Battling a protracted near two-year slowdown in the domestic industry, the sector was hoping for a revival and sustainable growth from the second half of fiscal 2021. That is history now. In its latest report, research firm Crisil has said it does not foresee a recovery across the sector in FY2021.

"Clearly, recovery is now off-track and further challenged by the COVID-19 impact. Entering into the fourth month of the growing global pandemic, the Indian auto industry is beginning to feel the heat with rampant disruptions to its supply chain and having to suspend operations with the lock-down," says Vinay Piparsania, consulting director for automotive at Counterpoint Research. "With no clear relief in sight, OEMs (automobile companies) are scrambling to put in place countermeasures to salvage the year. The situation is fairly fluid and with every passing week, the recovery timeline is getting pushed further. Revised projections for this fiscal will be bleak. It will surely take time for consumer confidence to return to normal."

The industry was lumbering along - set to log the biggest decline in sales in two decades this fiscal, when the virus struck. While the period of lockdown will be a complete washout, in the post Corona stage, revival is expected to be very gradual. Another sharp decline in FY21 even on a low base of FY20, cannot be ruled out. The crisis staring in the face is of giant proportions - factories running at low capacities for months on end, companies bleeding, which can manifest itself in big layoffs.

"This is the most unprecedented crisis that we have even seen in our lives. It is bigger than any other pandemic, be it SARS or Zika or swine flu or even the Spanish flu of the last century," says R.C. Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. "Restarting operations once the clampdown is lifted does not take more than five-seven days but the crucial thing is how the demand situation will be." A definite fallout of the crisis would be industry realigning itself to reduce dependence on China. It is something where the industry expects the government to provide sops for import substitution. In the area of electric vehicles for example, China is a big supplier of lithium ion batteries. "It is a very capital intensive business but the industry will be wary of putting all its eggs in one basket after Covid 19," says a senior executive who works in an electric vehicle startup in Bangalore. "We are already looking at alternative sourcing destinations. The scale that China has is such that it is difficult for others to match their prices. But something needs to be done. The best scenario will be to make it all in India but that can happen only with strong government support."

For now, the industry is counting its losses and hoping for a quick turnaround once the lockdown ends. But it will not be easy. Each day that factories remain shut, the production loss is estimated at Rs 2,300 crore. For three weeks and more, since factories were shut from March 21 itself, the figure balloons to close to Rs 50,000 crore. It does not end there. Picking up the pieces and restarting, an exercise that has never been done before, will be even more challenging.

"There are chances the lockdown could be extended. In China, it took nearly three months to bring the virus under control," says a senior executive at a Gurgaon-based auto firm. "Even if operations were to start from mid-April, the ramp-up will be slow. It will be like building from scratch after a tsunami has ravaged a city. Consumers are not likely to return to showrooms anytime soon, so demand will be weak. We are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best."

For an industry that is already battling an unprecedented slowdown in demand - sales have fallen in the domestic market for more than 20 months now - early indicators suggest the virus has exacerbated matters. Till January this year, when the virus started spreading outside China, automobile sales in India were declining at an average of 13-14 per cent. In February, this worsened to over 19 per cent. Hero MotoCorp and TVS said the virus impacted 10 per cent sales during the month.

With its origin in China, the world's second-largest economy and the largest automobile market, the first impact for the industry was on supply of parts from across the border. India has a fledgling $57 billion domestic automobile component industry but it is not completely insulated and depends on China for many critical components like printed circuit boards. In fact, import of components from China has been on the rise. In FY19, India imported auto components worth $4.6 billion from China. In the first six months of FY20, imports from China were worth $2 billion.

"There is not a single country in the world that produces everything. It's the same with the automotive industry. (In India) we are weak as far as electronics are concerned. Depending on the product, there's always a piece of China," says Guenter Butschek, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Motors.

It also comes at a crucial time for the industry which is in the process of leapfrogging into the more stringent BSVI emission regime starting April. "The epidemic comes at a time when the auto industry was already grappling with lower volumes and transition to BSVI norms, which were already impacting pricing. While governments around the world have taken effective steps to contain the spread of the virus, the approach to normalcy might still take some time. This may impact the cost situation," says Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India. "We had in place a situation team from early January and while it can have some cost implication with respect to certain critical components, we will not pass on the same to the customer."

According to a recent report by Fitch Solutions, vehicle production in India is likely to contract 8.3 per cent in 2020 following an estimated 13.2 per cent decline in 2019. Supply constraints due to the spread of the virus are cited as one of the reasons for the contraction. Another Crisil report said while the domestic industry has inventories for up to 30-60 days, which could help them tide over the crisis for the short term, any shortage of critical components such as printed circuit boards could impair ability of manufacturers to produce vehicles.

"Till January, it was a crisis of consumer confidence. Fixing that is in our hands with new products or aggressive marketing strategies. In a pandemic like this when you are forced to lock down, what can one do?" says a senior executive with a Gurgaon-based auto firm. "Frankly, it looks quite dark from here. We do not know how long this will last but hope things begin to normalise early April onwards. Even then, it will take months for the economy to get back on track."

While big companies that have deeper pockets would be able to ride the storm, the virus could sound the death knell for many component makers. The component industry accounts for 2.3 per cent of the country's GDP and employs over five million people. Like the industry at large, is also witnessing its worst-ever performance in almost two decades. In the first half of 2019/20, overall revenues contracted 10.1 per cent to Rs 1.79 lakh crore, which resulted in around 100,000 people losing their jobs and an estimated investment loss of about $2 billion that would have happened had the industry continued to grow.

"This was quite unexpected and is unprecedented. It all depends on the situation now. The epidemic has to be controlled. Business is secondary," says Nirmal Minda, Chairman and Managing Director, Minda Industries. "Factories can be restarted in the near future but the impact on consumers will be far-reaching. In such a scenario of uncertainty, consumers tend to conserve money and buying a vehicle is low on priority."

The third arm of the industry that is currently bearing the brunt of the lockdown is the 15,000-odd car dealer community. Footfalls at showrooms had already started falling since the start of the month. The lockdown has brought it to a standstill. This puts these dealers at a grave risk as they are yet to liquidate all BS-IV vehicles, which will become unsaleable from April.

Estimates with the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association indicate the 26,000 dealerships in the country are left with BS-IV stocks worth Rs 6,340 crore. Of this, around seven lakh units are two-wheelers worth Rs 3,850 crore. Passenger vehicles account for 15,000 units worth Rs 1,050 crore. Another 12,000 units are slow moving trucks and buses worth Rs 1,440 crore. As all dealers in the country will remain closed till April 14, this inventory will be reduced to junk on the morning of April 1.

"It is our worst nightmare come true. I do not wish to be critical of the government as the virus was unforeseen and the lockdown was a necessity but they have to make an exception for us and extend the deadline," says a sales officer who works at a Hero MotoCorp showroom. "The losses either at a dealer or cumulative level will be huge. I am not sure how many will be able to survive this blow. I dont know if I will have a job next month."

@sumantbanerji
By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - Queen Elizabeth will make an extremely rare address to the nation on Sunday as Britain grapples with the increasingly deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The government has put Britain into a virtual lockdown, closing pubs, restaurants and nearly all shops, while banning social gatherings and ordering Britons to stay at home unless it is absolutely essential to venture out.

The measures are intended to stop the spread of the epidemic with officials saying on Friday the death toll in the United Kingdom among those who had tested positive for the virus had risen by 684 to 3,605, up 23% on the previous day.

"Her Majesty The Queen has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus outbreak," Buckingham Palace said in statement, without giving any details about its content.

The address, which was recorded at Windsor Castle where the 93-year-old monarch is staying with her husband Prince Philip, will be broadcast at 1900 GMT on Sunday, it said.

Last month, the queen issued a written statement in which she said the royal family would play its part in rising to the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak.

"We know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty," she said then.

"We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them."

The queen rarely broadcasts to the nation apart from her annual televised Christmas Day message, usually to offer personal thanks or provide reassurance in times of crisis.

Royal experts said it would be only the fifth such televised address she had made during her 68 years on the throne.

The last was in 2012 following celebrations to mark her 60th year as queen which came a decade after the preceding broadcast which followed the death of her mother, the Queen Mother, in 2002 when she thanked Britons for their messages of condolence.

She also gave an address at the start of the Gulf War in 1991, and most famously, she delivered a sombre live broadcast after the death of her daughter-in-law Princess Diana in a Paris car crash in 1997 amid a national outpouring of grief and criticism of the royal family's response.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kate Holton and Giles Elgood)
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a male university student over the alleged assault of a man in Toshima Ward last year, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Apr. 3).

At around 1:30 a.m. on November 13, Shunki Koga, 20, allegedly punched the man, aged in his 40s, in the face during a dispute at a bicycle parking area in the Higashi-Ikebukuro area.

The man suffered various injuries, including a broken nose, that required two months to heal, the Ikebukuro Police Station said.

Upon his arrest on suspicion of inflicting injury, Koga admitted to the allegations. aSince I had been drinking, my memory is foggy, but I did hit him,a the suspect was quoted by police.

Prior to the incident, the man had warned Koga and an acquaintance about smoking and urinating on the street near the bicycle parking area. The dispute then ensued, police said.
We have heard the messages over and over again about how we must behave differently if we are going to flatten the curve of this terrible scourge affecting everyone.

Unfortunately, there are still many among us for whom these messages still fail to resonate. So, they go about their lives engaging in travel, trips to the store and gathering with friends.

It's discouraging to see because it's that collective behavior that will prolong this mess for all of us. Sometimes its enough to discourage me (Henri Bianucci) to the point of thinking that the worst case scenario will actually play out in our country. It makes me sad, and it makes me angry.

Although working in this profession exposes me to some of the very worst aspects of humanity, it also provides me the opportunity to see the best, and it's those glimpses of what we are all capable of, that gives faith that we will emerge from this crisis and prevail after all.

In a very short time, our practice has had to radically transform how we handle patients and interact with clients. Gone are the waiting rooms full of clients, and exam room visits that afford a face-to-face discussion of our findings and treatment recommendations.

The interpersonal dance that allowed us to gauge our clients reaction to bad news, and tailor its delivery accordingly, is replaced by a detached and impersonal phone call. Our patient exams occur while our clients wait outside, unseen, in their car. Communications are entirely by phone. For now, one of my favorite aspects of this job, client interaction, is suspended.

Our personnel are putting themselves on the front lines and working to continue to provide patient care to our communities pets, while knowing that every day they are working closely with someone who could be COVID-19 positive. They have to wear masks all day, clean continuously and know that at any time they could find out that a co-worker has tested positive, and their job may be temporarily eliminated. The dark specter of uncertainty hangs over every person on the planet. Although it takes an emotional toll, it also unites us. And thats why it will not defeat us.

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I had a client a couple of weeks ago, who brought in her beautiful, all white, 1-year-old cat named Oprah. Because of COVID-19, we were seeing clients out in the parking lot. The cat had a broken thigh bone. The client and her family loved that cat and were determined to do the right thing for her. I recommended surgical repair as the best option.

She asked the cost of surgery, and then decided to go ahead with it. As we were preparing for surgery, I was informed that the owner needed to talk to me. I went back into the parking lot, and she tearfully told me that they had a family meeting, and that they had decided they could not afford this surgery after all. She explained that her husband was their breadwinner, and he had just been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. He could not work, and his prognosis wasnt even clear. Given this COVID-19 crisis, her job may also be affected, and they just could not risk being without finances.

She asked what would happen if they did nothing, and I explained that the leg may heal, but function would probably not be good. She wondered about putting her to sleep, but I explained that this was not necessary because Oprah has three other legs, and could still live a nice life. The owner then asked about turning her over to the Charleston Animal Society, to see if they would have her treated. In spite of the incredible difficulties she was facing in her family, this person was desperately trying to find a way to provide her beloved cat the care it needed, even if it meant giving her up. In that moment, it became clear to me that I was going to fix this cat one way or another.

So, I asked her if the estimate were cut in half, could she do it. She said yes, and I told her then that would be my contribution to her family. Through her tears, she approached to give me a hug, but, sadly, pulled back. I went back in the hospital and told the staff to continue preparing for surgery.

I didnt know it, but another of my clients had overheard this conversation. What I could not have known was this particular client is a devout Christian, who tithes every month. This particular month, she had forgotten to do so, and when she woke up that morning, she prayed to God to show her where she could help someone else in need. Having heard our conversation, she and her boyfriend approached Oprahs mom and asked if they could help, in response she poured out her heart. Right in the parking lot they prayed together. The next thing I knew, my receptionist informed me that these other clients had paid half of the bill. Shortly after that, they returned and paid the rest.

Things may look pretty dark right now, but as long as I see people caring for animals and caring for each other, I know brighter days are ahead.
A group of Kenyan pastors have asked the government to include churches in the list of "essential services" to allow them to remain open as the country battles the Covid-19 outbreak.



The preachers representing churches in Makueni country in eastern Kenya, say faith is the best way to fight the unseen enemy.



They want to be allowed to hold Sunday services in open grounds, while adhering to the proposed one-metre distance between people to prevent infection.



The government has banned public gatherings and police officers have been enforcing the ban.



One of the pastors, Nicholas Kyule, was quoted by Citizen TV as saying that the church was the best place for hope and resilience during this time.



Another, Titus Uswii, was quoted in the Star Newspaper as saying that the country may be involved in a futile exercise as long as churches remain closed.



The Kenyan government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on 27 March, but exempted those in what it termed "essential services", which included health workers, security officers, the media, food dealers and transporters among others.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The first group of Chinese volunteers who received potential coronavirus vaccinations are said to be healthy after finishing 14 days of quarantine.

Fourteen people returned home yesterday after participating in the first clinical trial for the vaccine candidate in Wuhan. A total of 18 out of the 108 participants have completed their medical observation as of Thursday.

The research team will monitor all the volunteers for another six months and take their blood samples to examine the antibodies.

Scientists have said that they plan to conduct additional trials overseas if the vaccine is proved to be effective and safe.

The first group of Chinese volunteers who received potential coronavirus vaccinations have claimed to maintain good health after finishing two-week quarantine for observation

On March 17, China launched the clinical trials for its first potential coronavirus vaccine, which is developed by Chen Wei, the country's top military bio-warfare expert, and her team.

A total of 108 healthy adults, aged between 18 and 60, volunteered to receive the vaccinations. They were divided into three groups which were injected with different amounts of the vaccine, Chinese media report.

The candidates have been isolated at the Wuhan Special Service Health Centre to monitor their condition. They will finish the medical observation on different days depending on when they were injected, according to the press.

A total of 108 healthy adults, aged between 18 and 60, volunteered to receive the vaccinations. They were divided into three groups which were injected with different amounts of the vaccine, Chinese media report

The candidates have been isolated at the Wuhan Special Service Health Centre to monitor their condition. They will finish the medical observation on different days depending on when they were injected, according to the press

'My health has been absolutely fine during this period. I don't feel sick or painful anywhere,' a participant told Pear Video as he was leaving the facility yesterday.

'There was a slight pain in where I was injected for the initial few days.

'I feel very confident about the vaccine,' he added. 'I believe it will be introduced to the public very soon.'

Another volunteer told the press that she has returned to her daily life after 'everything feels normal.'

'It felt nothing different from receiving a regular injection, like being bitten by a mosquito,' said Jin Guanping to Southern Metropolis daily.

The researchers said they will extend the vaccine tests internationally if the first trial proceeded smoothly. The picture shows one of the volunteers receiving the injection

The Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine was successfully developed following more than a month of research. Chen Wei (right), is pictured with two medical researchers in Wuhan

The researchers said they would extend the vaccine tests internationally if the first trial proceeded smoothly.

'If the initial results prove the vaccine is safe and produces [desired] effects, we will continue to test its effectiveness overseas through international cooperation if the global epidemic continues to spread,' Chen Wei told the press.

The results of the clinical trial will be published in April, according to China Daily.

The Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine was successfully developed following more than a month of research, including the study of the vaccines for Ebola.

Chen, also a leading specialist in genetic engineering vaccines in China, developed a medical spray during the SARS outbreak in 2003. The product prevented around 14,000 medical workers from contracting the virus, said another state-media report.

She is also known in the country as the 'terminator of Ebola' for leading a team to create a vaccine against the fatal illness.

Speaking of fighting the novel coronavirus, Chen said: 'The epidemic is like a military situation. The epicentre equals to the battlefield.'

The 54-year-old expert, also a Major General of the People's Army, has been working on the coronavirus vaccine since arriving in Wuhan on January 26, according to the press.

Chen and her team were already developing a quicker way to screen the COVID-19 coronavirus from a tent in the epicentre on January 30, according to an official report from China.

The news comes as another new COVID-19 vaccine that fires proteins in the body that destroy the virus within two weeks is just a few months from human trials.

The 'highly scalable' vaccine is the first peer-reviewed antidote to the coronavirus that currently has much of the world in lockdown or isolation.

Pharmacist Michael Witte, left, gives Rebecca Sirull, right, a shot in the first-stage safety study clinical trial of a potential vaccine for the coronavirus at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh say the new treatment would be delivered through a 'painless jab' similar to the annual flu vaccine.

The team from the US have tested the vaccine on mice and estimate that it should be able to neutralise the deadly virus for at least a year.

It will be between 12 and 18 months before the test is publicly available but when it is approved tens of thousands of doses could be produced every day.

The researchers are now applying for approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and aim to start the first human trial and hope to be able to begin those trials within months.
The repairs to the West Africa Cable System (WACS) are complete, with the connection beginning to recover.

The South African National Research and Education Network (SANREN) tweeted this morning that it began to see recovery of the SANREN WACS links as of 07:13.

It has now confirmed that post-recovery checks are being done to ensure that the cable is properly fixed.

It added that that connectivity may be interrupted for brief periods during this process.

We are awaiting final clearance that all is well, tweeted SANREN.

This followed communication from SANREN yesterday that the repair process was proceeding on schedule.

WACS Outage Update: We are seeing recovery of the SA NREN WACS links as of 07h13 UTC+2 this morning. We are hoping that this is the permanent recovery.  SA NREN Operational Updates & Alerts (@RENAlerts) April 3, 2020

Cable breaks

On Friday 27 March, a break was detected on a cable belonging to TATA.

This cable connects between Highbridge in the UK and Seixal in Portugal, and connects African users to Europe.

The TATA-owned Ile DAix repair ship was promptly dispatched to the location of the break to commence repairs.

It arrived at the break on 31 March and began work on the repairs immediately.

The SAT-3 cable, which also runs along the west coast of Africa, was also down following a break on 9 March, but RENAlerts noted on 31 March that its SAT-3 links were being restored.

The simultaneous breaks on WACS and SAT-3 caused international connectivity issues for many South African ISPs.

A repeat scenario

This is not the first time this year that breaks on the WACS and SAT-3 cables have taken place simultaneously.

In January, both cables suffered breaks on the same day.

Both of these breaks were in the middle of the ocean off the coast of Congo, while WACS suffered another break near a European landing station.

The Leon Thevenin repair ship had its departure delayed because of poor weather in Cape Town, meaning it took weeks for the repairs to be completed.
Three persons from Uttar Pradesh were among the eight who tested positive for COVID-19 in Assam on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 24, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

All the patients, except one, are linked to a religious congregation in Tablighi Jammat Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin West last month, he said.

Three persons tested positive in Nalbari and they were a part of an 11-member group that came from Shamli in Uttar Pradesh and were visiting different mosques in the district, Deputy Commissioner B B Dev Choudhury told PTI.

They are undergoing treatment at the Nalbari Civil Hospital, he said.

Another member of the group who had tested positive on April 1 is undergoing treatment at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The team arrived in the Mollapara area of Nalbari town on the night of March 21 after attending the congregation in Nizamuddin.

The fourth person who tested positive during the day is from the South Salmara district, the health minister said.

Later in the night, he said in a tweet that three persons -- one each from Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup and Morigaon -- have also tested positive and two of them have links to the congregation. However, which two persons the minister spoke about was not immediately clear.

The first positive case in the state was reported from Silchar on March 31. Twelve cases were reported the next day -- four in Guwahati and eight in Jorhat -- and later three people tested positive in Goalpara.

In another tweet, he said one more COVID-19 positive case from Golaghat has been confirmed, taking the total number in Assam to 24.

This case is related to Nizamuddin Markaz event in Delhi, Sarma said.

All the eight patients testing positive for the disease in Jorhat are from Golaghat district and include four women who accompanied their family members to Delhi. They are undergoing treatment at the Golaghat Civil Hospital, officials said.

The patients who tested positive in Guwahati are being treated at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, they said.

Besides, three patients are admitted to Goalpara Civil Hospital and the first patient is undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, the officials said.

Samples of 361 people who attended the congregation were collected, with 23 of them testing positive, while reports of the rest are awaited, they said.

Altogether 503 people from the state attended the Delhi congregation, while 488 of them were already in quarantine, the remaining 15 were located during the day, they said.

Sarma said there could be more who attended the congregation and they should reach out to health workers for testing.

They "are now like human bombs who can infect their immediate family members, the neighbourhood and the entire society", he said.

Sarma visited the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital and Golaghat Civil Hospital along with Minister of State for Health Pijush Hazarika and Agriculture Minister Atul Bora to take stock of the situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the countrywide lockdown, police officers, doctors, nurses and other medical staff at the Narmada Trauma Centre in Bhopal applauded each other as a mark of gratitude for their services.

The essential services providers have been working hard amid the lockdown in order to fight the virus and ease its impact on the country.

Earlier, when the nation observed 'Janata Curfew' on March 22 responding to the call of Prime Minister Modi, people across the country came out in their balconies and clapped to express their gratitude to the medical professionals combating the coronavirus outbreak.

Today is the 10th day of the 21-day lockdown imposed by the Centre from March 25 in order to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

There are 2,088 active cases of COVID-19 in India as per the latest update of the Union Health Ministry on Friday. Till now, 156 patients have either been cured or discharged, while 56 deaths have been reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus outbreak and the



consequent lockdown have pushed the poultry sector in the country into a crisis with losses projected at Rs 22,500 crore beginning February this year, prompting the apex body of poultry breeders to seek Centre's intervention to bail it out.

The All India Poultry Breeders Association (AIPBA) has sought restructuring of loans, interest subvention among others from the Narendra Modi-led government to help the industry tide over the crisis.

Vice President of the Association, Suresh Chitturi said the industry suffered heavily, beginning February, owing to false information linking coronavirus to consumption of chicken and eggs and subsequently due to problems in movement of poultry during the lockout.

"Rumours began doing rounds in the first week of February, which affected us very badly. Some people spread false information that chicken and eggs should not be consumed. The adverse impact continued for about six weeks," Chitturi told PTI here.

Though the poultry industry recovered a bit following the clarification issued by them that eating chickens was safe, issues relating to inter-state movement of eggs and chickens at various parts of the country hurt the sector, he claimed.

According to the Association, the industry employs more than 10 lakh poultry farmers and contributes Rs 1.3 lakh crore to the country's GDP directly.

The sector provides direct benefit to more than one crore maize and soya agriculture farmers.

Poultry farming offers direct and indirect employment to over five crore Indian citizens engaged in poultry production, trading, feed manufacturing, agriculture crops, logistics, exports and others.

The AIPBA has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 30 seeking "urgent financial assistance and rescue package" from the Centre.

Chitturi said the Association requested restructuring of loans allowing conversion of existing working capital loans cash credit (CC) limits to term loans with two years moratorium.

He said the Association also requested the government for interest subvention and issuing fresh working capital.

All small farmers with less than 20,000 capacity farms should be provided a compensation of Rs 100 per bird based on their chicks' purchase bill paid through banking transactions, the Association said in the memorandum.

The AIPBA appealed to the Centre to provide wheat and rice of 'Feed Grade' from old stock of government at a subsidized rate of Rs 10 per kg.

It further sought exemption of GST on Soya Seed and Soya Meal which has added to the input cost on livestock feed to the farmers.

The total loss to the poultry industry in two-and-half- months beginning February this year was pegged at Rs 22,500 crore.

"The current 2.5 months loss of poultry industry (broiler farmers and layer farmers, Integration companies and breeding companies) beginning 1 st Feb to 15th April 2020 until Lockdown opens is of INR 22,500 CR," the poultry breeder's said.

On the current market scenario, the memorandum said poultry birds were being sold at a price of Rs 10 to Rs 30 per kg at the Farm Gate level due to fake regarding Coronavirus.

Noting that the production cost of poultry in India was Rs 80 per kg, the Association stated that the prices of eggs have plunged to two rupees per egg at Farm Gate.

It pointed out that the cost of production of egg on an average was four rupees per egg, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. shale oil companies have started a lobbying campaign with Washington to take a more aggressive stance against Russia and Saudi Arabia to force them to cut oil production, the Financial Times has reported, citing industry sources.

Among the measures, according to the sources, is the proposal to introduce tariffs on Saudi oil imports and blocking shipments to the massive Motiva refinery, which is majority-owned and operated by Saudi Aramco. One source said that the latter is the idea that has been gaining the most traction.

Motiva is the largest oil refinery in the United States.

The campaign has taken on former Energy Secretary Rick Perry to help, according to the FT report, and his participation is already making a difference, one industry source has said.

U.S. shale producers were among the hardest-hit players in the industry when Saudi Arabia launched its game of chicken with Russia announcing it would increase oil supply to 12.3 million bpd this month, boosting its production capacity to 13 million bpd. Yet now both Riyadh and Moscow seem to be reconsidering.

Russia said it would not increase production by the 300,000-500,000 bpd it previously said it could add to its average daily from April, while Riyadh has called for an OPEC meeting to discuss next moves as oil price slumped below $30 a barrel.

Yesterday, the benchmarks got a breather after, in a tweet, President Trump said he hoped and expected Russia and Saudi Arabia would reach an agreement to collectively cut between 10 and 15 million bpd. While it is highly unlikely the two would agree to such a massive cut without anyone else - notably the U.S. - taking part, too, the tide may be changing. Related: Iraq On The Brink Of Civil War As Oil Revenues Evaporate

The current oil price is too low even for Russia, who claims to have the most favorable production cost/breakeven ratio among the worlds top three producers. Saudi Arabia, while the lowest-cost producer, needs oil at more than $80 to break even in terms of its budget, while U.S. shale producers have breakevens more than double the current price of WTI. The top Russian companies, on the other hand, could remain profitable even with Urals at $15 thanks to a free-floating currency and a flexible tax regime. Russias budget for 2020 is based on an oil price of a little over $42 a barrel.

The Wall Street Journal has reported, citing OPEC officials, that the cartel and Russia would be meeting Monday to discuss prices and are thinking of inviting U.S. producers to the talks.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Catalan border town of La Jonquera, a busy crossing point for traffic between Spain and France, is also home to one of Europes biggest and best-known brothels, Paradise. At 2,700 square meters, it has 80 rooms and also provides accommodation for its sex workers.

Inaugurated in 2010, this establishment shut its doors on March 13, as many other businesses across Spain did after the government decreed a state of alarm and introduced strict confinement measures for the population in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The approximately 90 women who work there, according to one sex workers estimate, suddenly found themselves out on the street. We were literally standing in the street with our suitcases in our hands, she said.

The brothel is located on the outskirts of La Jonquera, in an area filled with large restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, casino hotels and sex shops. The town is home to many other brothels besides the Paradise due to its location, which makes it a busy transit hub at all times of the year.

Layoffs

The clubs owner, Jose Moreno, has filed for a temporary layoff scheme known as ERTE, which the government has created specifically to address the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.

Morenos ERTE affects 69 employees at Paradise, none of whom are sex workers. Despite physically using the premises, the latter have no formal legal ties with the company, from which they rent out the rooms. In Spain, where prostitution is not regulated but pimping is illegal, licenses are granted to clubs that may work as brothels as long as the sex workers are not directly hired by the owner.

We are desperate, like everybody else, said Moreno in a telephone interview last month. Closing is the best solution: for the women, for the clients, for the staff...for everyone. Moreno has been working in the brothel business for years, and has been the target of several criminal investigations. In 2012 he was sentenced to three years in prison for favoring illegal immigration, after it was proven that he was bringing women in from Brazil for prostitution.

We were literally standing in the street with our suitcases in our hands Sex worker at Paradise

One of the sex workers said that when they were turned out, the streets were so deserted that it looked like there had been a fire, or a zombie war.

Many of the women who work at the Paradise club also lived on the premises. They explain that they need to rent a room for at least 21 days to get a guaranteed spot inside the downstairs club.

I was suspicious when I heard that he [Moreno] was not going to shut down the rooms, said one woman who spoke on condition of anonymity. There was talk that the owner was not showing much solidarity. This is a business, and he is a businessman.

The day after the government decree, the mamis (the women who manage the rooms) confirmed that everyone had to be out by noon.

La Jonquera Mayor Sonia Martinez talking to a sex worker in 2012. PERE DURAN

Moreno says he had no choice but to close because the maintenance costs are very high, including a monthly rent of 42,000. There are just three security guards left to ensure that nobody goes in. Two months of closure means ruin. Weve survived so far, but well see what happens from now on.

As for the sex workers, everyone scrambled to find a new place to stay. Those of us without any family members here did not know what to do. So we just looked up at heaven, said the anonymous woman, who has since found someone to stay with. Some of them moved to Figueres [in the province of Girona], others went back to Romania, others traveled to France... the only help they got was from the kitchen mamis. They offered us their homes, but they are making a low salary. You cant move in with them and eat their food.

This woman came to Spain exclusively to work at the Paradise club. Her plan was to work for three months and go back to her country. But the return ticket has been canceled, and she cannot afford to buy a flight back: the last available fare was going for 4,000.

My family cannot help me, I am helping them, she says. She is considering going to her countrys consulate to seek help, but they are busy helping the sick people, and I understand.

My family cannot help me, I am helping them Sex worker at Paradise

The sex workers at the Paradise club pay 80 for a room (75 in rent and five more euros for electricity). This price includes two meals a day. Those who go downstairs into the club area after 6pm must pay an additional 90.

Work was very bad. We were only working two days a week, but you still had to pay for the room. Getting those 90 was not easy, explains this woman, who despite her situation is not considering violating Spanish law by engaging in prostitution in private apartments.

Where do those women go? What social services do they turn to for help? wonders Clarisa Velocci, of a support association named Genera that is providing telephone assistance to sex workers affected by the confinement orders in Spain.

We guarantee that we will cover any need they might have, whether it be food or accommodation, said the mayor of La Jonquera, Sonia Martinez. The mayor said that so far the police has not found any of these women living on the streets, and that none of them has asked for help, either.

Velocci says the sex workers have had to rely on their own wits to get ahead, and she asks for greater social protection by flexibilizing economic aid for women in their situation.

English version by Susana Urra.
Manjadikuru Malayalam Movie

Feature Film | Drama | 2h 0min

Manjadikuru is a 2012 Indian movie directed by Anjali Menon starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Rahman, Urvashi and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. The feature film is produced by Vinod Menon and Anjali Menon and the music composed by Pandit Ramesh Narayanan.

PLOT:

A story of homecoming from late 1970s, when 10 year old Vicky arrives at his grandparents home in rural Kerala to attend his grandfather's funeral.

REVIEWS (1)

4.0 Critics 4.1 Users

CRITIC REVIEWS





MOVIE STILL PHOTOS

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Cast & Crew Details:

Director: Anjali Menon

Producers: Vinod Menon, Anjali Menon

Production Company: Little Films

Music Director: Pandit Ramesh Narayanan

Song Lyrics Writer: Kavalam Narayana Panicker

Editor: B. Lenin

Art Designer: Ratheesh Babu

Original Story Writer: Anjali Menon



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Manjadikuru IN THE NEWS
Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined at the district hospital allegedly misbehaved with the nurses, making lewd remarks and dropping their pants, provoking Uttar Pradesh government's decision to invoke the stringent National Security Act against them.

They were later shifted to a temporary isolation ward at a private educational institute.

The Jamaat members were among the thousands who attended a religious congregation at organisation's New Delhi headquarter, now being seen as a coronavirus hotspot.

Some of them are in Ghaziabad at an isolation ward of the MMG District Hospital.

In a sharp reaction, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called those involved in the hospital incident enemies of humanity.

They will neither accept the law nor follow arrangements. Whatever they did with women health workers is a heinous crime. The NSA is being invoked against them. We will not let them go scot-free," he said in a statement in Lucknow.

Police said the Jamaat members have been booked for indulging in ugly acts and passing lewd remarks against the women staff members at the hospital.

A case was registered against them at the GT Road Kotwali on receiving a complaint from the chief medical officer.

SSP Kalanidhi Naithani said stringent action will be initiated against them. In the complaint, a nurse has alleged that the coronavirus suspects were roaming in the hospital without trousers.

They sang vulgar songs and made ugly gestures, the nurse alleged, adding that they were not taking their medicines.

They were also not following social distancing norms, she said in the complaint.

Police have registered the case under Sections 269, 270, 271, 294 and 354 of the IPC, the SSP said. The sections relate to sexual harassment and acts relating to the spread of disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Colin Kinghorn, COO of lpsos Business Consulting Southeast Asia

Up to now, the public attention has focused on politicians and business leaders. They, in turn, have been reliant on the ability of virologists and epidemiologists to study the distribution, patterns, and parameters of this new strain of coronavirus and identify the risk factors for disease and preventive health factors in a sufficiently robust manner to be able to draw conclusions that will shape policy decisions.

The challenge is that there is still insufficient reliable data available for these experts to be able to give us any definitive conclusions. While the updated information being released from China and South Korea would suggest that they are in the process of entering the stage of recovery, we are still waiting to see what happens next in both countries. Having looked at what is being written in authoritative journals, a prevailing view is that Europe and North America may not fare so well, given their relative lack of experience in handling such outbreaks compared to Asia. The lack of understanding in how and when the spread of this virus will be contained means that analysts are divided on the estimates of the economic damage which is likely to involve a contraction by between 6 and 8 per cent. Coincidentally, exports to the EU are also estimated to fall in the first quarter, according to the statement of the countrys Ministry of Industry and Trade made on March 20.

The EU estimates that the crisis will have a very large detrimental economic impact on the EU and the eurozone. They estimate that the direct impact through all channels will reduce real GDP growth in 2020 by 2.5 percentage points compared to a situation with no pandemic. Given that real GDP growth was forecast to be 1.4 per cent for the EU in 2020, this would imply it could fall to just over -1 per cent in 2020. The EU is forecasting that the bloc would see a substantial but not complete rebound in 2021. This seems to be a bullish estimate of economic damage and assumes that the member states will recover along the same lines, or better than China, when averaged across the bloc. The financial markets remain a concern and we have yet to see our political and business leaders overcome the collective paralysis that has gripped the international community. As one commentator said recently, there seems to be no adults in the room.

Preparing now

None of this bodes well for those Vietnamese companies whose business model places a heavy reliance on exporting goods to EU member states. Even if the border controls are resolved, there is still the question of when affected markets will rebound during 2021 and 2022. In addition to the potentially prolonged economic damage that arises in those sectors unable to trade, Vietnamese companies need to give some thought to the various scenarios in relation to what could emerge at the other side of this crisis in terms of the customer wants and needs.

We have already seen an immediate shift in consumer behaviour when the virus reaches their shores. While I can understand why many businesses have adopted a wait-and-see approach to the pandemic, our view is that this needs serious examination now with the objective of identifying the possible scenarios that could emerge and how you may need to adjust your business model, proposition, and brand communications post-pandemic as well as during it.

If the economic damage in certain industries turns out to be politically or financially painful, then it is not unreasonable to expect some actions to frustrate foreign player access to these markets. Now is the time to make contingency plans that are supported by a thorough analysis of the finances, people, technology systems, and operational changes that you have to be prepared for.

The world faces tough times and a lot will depend on the extent of the economic damage within each country, the effect that this pandemic has had on their citizens, the stimulus package put in place by governments, and also any emerging threats from countries that are more confident about their ambitions and see an opportunity to move to occupy a space that your industry previously controlled.

It is not that long ago that the EU was rocked by a sovereign debt crisis and is frantically working to keep the euro intact as a world currency. The fallout from the recent trade wars still lingers, and the ongoing turmoil in the financial markets (Softbanks announcement about asset selling to secure funds to clear crippling debts must raise an eyebrow or two) and even EU member states are already regulating against each other in an effort to prepare for the wave of virus infections hitting their nations. It is almost certain that we will see some level of protectionism to shelter those industries that were the worst affected by the crisis and give them a chance to recover.

Some would argue that the EU has one of the biggest challenges ahead when looking at the task of mitigating the economic damage risks. The bloc is preparing for damage and trade disruption to go through the first and second quarters of 2020. The EU has issued a series of communiques to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Central Bank, and the European Investment Bank to outline the need for a co-ordinated response to assist member states in coping with the economic damage.

The security and integrity of the Schengen border is of paramount importance to the EU and it seems clear that there will not be any hesitation in extending the period for these border controls should infection rates continue to present serious danger to the countries and their citizens. When it comes to border control, the EU expects member states to rigidly apply them at all times and this will be consistent in its application in every one. The world is waiting to see what the outcome is in countries like Italy and France, hoping that they win the fight to protect citizens and contain the virus. There seems to be no doubt that the authorities in both countries have taken strong action to deal with this pandemic.

Thinking about the EU trade preparations and contingency plans, initial assumptions seemed to imply that the EU expects to see signs of Italy and France coming out of recovery at the end of March or in early April. Nevertheless, then there is some reason to believe that the border controls will be reviewed and eased in line with response plan updates. If not, then we should be prepared for the border controls to be tightened further as well as their duration extended.

European companies have already been preparing investment moves ahead of the EVFTA. Photo: Le Toan

Medium-term effects

A recent survey by Ipsos, which is a global leader in market research, showed that three in four people in some of the worlds virus hotspots are in favour of their governments taking the same sort of drastic measures on border control as we saw in China and Russia. This sentiment is also shared in Vietnam, where 79 per cent agreed that the countrys borders should be closed during this pandemic.

With regards to investment flows from the EU to Vietnam, it is highly likely that investment will be delayed to some extent as some investors will be compelled to turn their attention to their core market which could be hardest hit. The turmoil in the financial market, share prices in a freefall, and potentially mounting corporate debts could influence the foreign direct investment outflows from the EU in the medium term, depending on the level of support that the EU offers to businesses and EU citizens to facilitate recovery.

Looking at this issue another way, it is not unrealistic to think that the Asian countries and their economies might be seen to come out of this global crisis in better shape than the EU and the US, both in terms of how they initially responded to the pandemic and also the pace by which the situation was stabilised.

With the EU being a somewhat stagnant economic bloc whose GDP growth is not that attractive even in the best of years, we may see foreign investors looking more closely at those Asian economies that have a track record of strong growth and were seen to cope better in managing the rate at which the infection spread. Vietnam may be facing an opportunity to significantly accelerate what was an already impressive growth rate for FDI in recent years.

Again, it is too early to know how and when the pandemic will subside and we see the extent of the fallout around the world  economic damage, companies lost, and unemployment rates. But if Vietnam can keep its infection rates from getting out of control and maintain a stable economy, there is good reason to believe that it can come out of this in a stronger position than many other countries.

The border controls will become even tougher if the EU estimates of infection rates across member states prove significantly wrong. We could then see individual states suspending the free movement rules and the Schengen principles. The logistics, tourism, and retail sectors will likely see some companies collapse and business and consumer sentiment taking a tumble and industry segments supplied by Vietnamese companies suffering. We could see a situation where Vietnamese companies struggle to get their goods into the EU bloc only to find that the customer needs are no longer there.

Scenario planning and a revamp of the sales strategy need to be started as part of leaders work to protect their company, its stakeholders, its employees, and its customers. This is not about making business continuity plans or a simple contingency plan in case we lose some market share. Now is a time for regulators, trade bodies, and businesses to come together and work as a unit when assessing each development with regards to the crisis and determine the likely impact on markets and companies and deciding which direction to lead the team towards. We need leaders and we need them now.
As part of its current campaign aimed at supporting the fight against the spread of the corona virus in Ghana, the GNPC Foundation has presented assorted items to the Central Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service at the Central Regional Coordinating Council in Cape Coast.



The hygiene facilities include 150 veronica buckets with stands, 840 bin bags, 1000 nose masks, 1500 liquid soaps, 2000 hand sanitizers and paper towels among items.



The Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, who received the items on behalf of the people of the Central Region, expressed his profound gratitude to the GNPC Foundation for meeting the region at its point of need as they execute measures aimed at keeping the Region COVID19-free.



The Regional Director of Health, Dr. Akosua Owusu Sarpong, on her part, called the intervention timely and assured that, following their needs assessment of hospitals, markets and other public spaces, the items would be fairly distributed across the region to serve as many people as possible.



I call on other government agencies to emulate the efforts of GNPC Ghana by joining forces with the various Regional Health Directorates and the Ghana Health Service to effectively fight off the spread of the virus in Ghana, she said.



Dr. Dominic Eduah, Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation,? ?reaffirmed GNPCs commitment to supporting campaigns aimed at highlighting safety and health of Ghanaians. We remain committed along with everyone doing their bit to ensure that the threats of this virus is kept at bay and people are protected against getting infected, he added.????



?Also present during the brief handing over were the deputy Regional Minister, Thomas Agyei Baffour and the Paramount Chief of Elmina, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI. ??

Source: peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Some of the restrictions set out by the legislation, like a temporary halt on companies using their own money to buy back stock, appear to apply to all company loans. But a commitment by companies to maintain hiring at or close to recent levels is not required across the board. It would apply to the aid for airlines and companies deemed important to national security, but only through the end of September. On Friday, United management told staff that the federal aid would prevent any substantial reductions in staff or pay through September, but suggested that layoffs may come if the recovery was as slow as the company expected.

Treasury could also demand stock in exchange for supporting airlines and companies like Boeing.

For some executives, giving the government shares in their company could be a big sticking point. In a TV interview last week, Mr. Calhoun, the Boeing chief executive, suggested he would not be interested in a rescue package that gave the federal government stock in the company.

I dont have a need for an equity stake, he told Fox Business. If they force it, we just look at all the other options, and weve got plenty of them.

While the government has laid out initial guidance on terms for the $17 billion available to companies deemed essential to national security, it is expected to release more specific terms in the coming days. Until those terms are clear, Boeing is holding off on making a decision, two people briefed on the companys deliberations said.

The airlines have not set out a clear position on giving the taxpayer stock.

On Thursday, the chief executive of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly, told employees that the airline planned to apply for the grants to pay workers, but a spokesman declined to say whether the airline would be willing to give the government an equity stake in exchange for the assistance. Last week, Mr. Kelly said that the legislation only gives us another option and that the company could also raise capital in the private markets.

American, which has said it would seek aid from the government, referred questions about whether the government should take a stake in airlines to Airlines for America, an industry group. The group and United Airlines declined to comment. Delta Air Lines did not respond to a request for comment.

But on Wednesday, the unions that represent flight attendants at several major airlines urged Mr. Mnuchin not to exercise his power to take stock in the airlines. They argued that if he did so, he could scare off executives from accepting the aid, which would, in turn, mean more layoffs.
Lieutenant General Codanda Poovaiah Cariappa on Friday assumed the charge as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the elite 1 Corps here.

He took over the reins of the Corps from Lieutenant General Amardeep Singh Bhinder.

Prior to the new appointment, Lt General Cariappa served as Military Secretary to the President.

Lt General Cariappa is an alumni of prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Higher Command at Army War College and the United States Army War College.

An expert in manoeuvre warfare, counter terrorism and operational art, Lieutenant General C P Cariappa was commissioned into the 4th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles on June 9, 1984, Defence PRO Gargi Malik Sinha said.

He has served in all types of terrain including deserts, mountains and plains covering a wide spectrum of military operations that has given him an intellectual edge in understanding the nuances of complex military operations both at operational and strategic levels, she said.

The General Officer has a master's degree in Philosophy in Defence Studies and Management, as well as in Strategic Studies.

He has commanded a Mountain Division and an Infantry Brigade and has made valuable and laudable contributions while serving as part of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force at Mozambique, Iraq and Kuwait, Sinha said.

While assuming the charge of the Mathura Corps on Friday, Lt General C P Cariappa exhorted the soldiers to continue work with the same zeal and enthusiasm.

"Focus on operational preparedness, with realistic training, to achieve exceptional level of military professionalism so that 1 Corps continues to undertake its mandated role of defeating military misadventurism by enemies of India," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A local family, the Quintanas, are mourning the loss of two family members to COVID-19.

READ MORE: Coronavirus test kits planned for Laredo drive thru are likely fraudulent

Were in mourning, and at the same time, we continue to pray because we have other family members who are still trying to recover from (the virus), said Webb County Precinct 1 Commissioner Jesse Gonzalez, who was related to one of the patients in the affected Quintana family. No other members wished to be disclosed for this story.

I do want to thank everybody that has reached out to everybody from my family, including myself, Gonzalez added. I believe the community is mourning with us and everybody that has been affected due to the virus.  I want to thank the community for keeping us in our prayers.

Gonzalez pointed out that many people are in denial thinking that its not going to happen in Laredo.

Its here. Its happening, he said. We want to make sure people are following the orders from the city and county. Stay home. Theres no other way to combat this virus. Isolate yourself and your family, and practice social distancing.

Gonzalez said that his family has found ways to keep in touch with each other in this time of mourning and prayer.

Weve been in communication with our phones. There are a lot of apps that you can download, and you can video conference through Messenger, WhatsApp, he said.

People tend to think that theyll make a quick trip to do an errand to a relatives house.

You dont know who or where somebody is infected, Gonzalez said. I really hope that the community takes this serious.  The scary part is how easy it spreads.

Gonzalez warned people about unconfirmed rumors posted on social media, such as the National Guard applying martial law. Gonzalez encouraged the community to get their information from official sources such as the City of Laredo or Webb County websites.

Gonzalez said he also appreciates the people who still go out to work, such as first responders, law enforcement, the medical field and grocery store workers, among many others.

READ MORE: COVID-19 death toll up to five in Laredo, 65 cases total

You have to be appreciative and thankful to all, he said.
NEW YORK, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has announced emergency grants totaling $11 million to hospitals all across Israel to help the country fight COVID-19.

The money will go to hospitals throughout Israel facing the COVID-19 pandemic, in the center and the periphery, to pay for creating new isolation wards and intensive care units (ICU), medical equipment, and personal protective gear for medical personnel.

The Helmsley grants include $5 million for eight Clalit Health Services hospitals, with $2.1 million of that amount to help pay for turning HaSharon Hospital into a dedicated COVID-19 facility, and $2.9 million to create two new COVID-19 isolation wards at each of Soroka, Kaplan, Emek, Meir, Carmel, Schneider, and Yoseftal hospitals. The grants will also help Clalit purchase ICU beds, ECMO life-support machines, remote monitoring systems, and personalized protective gear for Clalit's medical staff in those hospitals.

In addition, Helmsley has made emergency grants for COVID-19 facilities at each of the following hospitals:

Poriya - $1,006,717 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 emergency ward;



Hadassah - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 isolation ward;



Rambam - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for two COVID-19 isolation wards;



Shaare Zedek - $1,000,000 for COVID-19 testing equipment and construction of a COVID-19 isolation ward and ICU;



Sheba - $1,000,000 for medical equipment for a COVID-19 ICU; and



Sourasky - $1,000,000 for personal protective gear for medical personnel, and medical equipment for a COVID-19 ICU.

These emergency grants are part of Helmsley's ongoing efforts to help Israel strengthen its healthcare system across the country. Over the past decade, Helmsley has awarded more than $340 million to Israeli institutions to improve access to healthcare, support scientific and medical research, and strengthen the understanding and appreciation of Israel throughout the world.

"Helping the Israeli people in times of crisis is core to the mission of the Israel Program at the Helmsley Charitable Trust," said Sandor Frankel, a Helmsley Trustee. "Israel is a nation that excels at rapid response in emergencies, but they shouldn't have to do it alone. Helmsley's support will help Israel's outstanding medical personnel and frontline workers have the equipment and facilities necessary to protect their patients and themselves as they face the COVID-19 crisis. We continue to be involved in responding to the country's emergency needs, and hope our support will galvanize others to help in this critical moment."

"In these unpredictable and unsettling times, we must come together to support each other and those working on the frontlines," said Professor Ehud Davidson, CEO of Clalit Health Services. "Helmsley has been a stalwart supporter of the Israeli people over the past decade, and their support now will undoubtedly save lives in the coming weeks and months."

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $2.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. For more information on Helmsley and its programs, visit helmsleytrust.org.
British mobile network providers have been forced to debunk 'baseless' theories circulating online that 5G masts are linked to coronavirus after several were set on fire.

MobileUK, the trade organisation representing Three, O2, EE and Vodafone, added it was concerning the pandemic was being used to further such untruths and said some of the industry's key workers are being abused over the unfounded 5G myths.

It comes after videos emerged online of phone masts ablaze, including one in Birmingham and one in Coventry.

Shocking footage posted to Facebook captured the moment the 70ft (21m) masts erupted in flames, with firefighters dispatched to tackle the inferno.

Emergency services were called to the blaze on Spring Road in the Sparkhill area of the city at 8.18pm on Thursday night. Firefighters battled to douse the flames for two hours while police closed the road to protect traffic. Police say they are not yet sure what started the fire.

West Midlands Fire Service said eight firefighters attended an incident on Thursday evening, involving a 70-foot tower on a telecommunications site in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham - though a spokesman said the cause was yet to be identified and could not confirm whether the mast in question was 5G.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: 'We're aware of a fire involving a phone mast, but are awaiting further details on its cause.'

But in a now-deleted Facebook group, conspiracy theorists claimed 5G being emitted was sparking coronavirus.

There is no scientific evidence that 5G technology poses any threat to human health and it was confirmed as safe by the radiation watchdog last month.

Facebook said the banned page was deleted for breaching its policies because it has the potential to cause real world harm.

However, one user claimed they reported the page early on to moderators for promoting violence, only to receive a response saying it was not deemed to be in violation of Facebook's community standards.

Pictured, a screengrab from a video posted online of the Birmingham mobile network mast ablaze. It is unknown if the specific mast was emitting 5G and it was allegedly set on fire by conspiracy theorists saying it was linked to coronavirus

Several videos claiming to show 5G towers on fire were posted to a page on Facebook, which encouraged others to do the same.

The page was created on Thursday and taken down by Facebook on Friday morning.

Mobile UK, the trade body which represents network providers, said it is 'concerning that certain groups are using the Covid-19 pandemic to spread false rumours and theories about the safety of 5G technologies'.

'More worryingly some people are also abusing our key workers and making threats to damage infrastructure under the pretence of claims about 5G,' a statement said.

Several videos claiming to show 5G towers on fire, including one in Coventry, were posted to a page on Facebook, which encouraged others to do the same.

The page was created on Thursday and taken down by Facebook on Friday morning.

In a now-deleted Facebook group, conspiracy theorists stated the 5G being emitted was sparking coronavirus, an outlandish and impossible claim

Screengrab taken from Facebook showing a message left on a now-banned Facebook page encouraging people to set fire to 5G masts

Mobile UK said: '[It is] concerning that certain groups are using the Covid-19 pandemic to spread false rumours and theories about the safety of 5G technologies.

'More worryingly some people are also abusing our key workers and making threats to damage infrastructure under the pretence of claims about 5G.

'This is not acceptable and only impacts on our ability as an industry to maintain the resilience and operational capacity of the networks to support mass home working and critical connectivity to the emergency services, vulnerable consumers and hospitals.

'The theories that are being spread about 5G on social media are baseless and are not grounded in accepted scientific theory.

'Research into the safety of radio signals including 5G, which has been conducted for more than 50 years, has led to the establishment of human exposure standards including safety factors that protect against all established health risks.'

A government spokesperson said: 'These are baseless theories - there is absolutely no credible evidence of a link between 5G and coronavirus.

'Threats or violence towards any key worker or damage to mobile phone masts will not be tolerated.'

Facebook said the banned page was deleted for breaching its policies because it has the potential to cause real world harm.

However, one user claimed they reported the page early on to moderators for promoting violence, only to receive a response saying it was not deemed to be in violation of Facebook's community standards.

Elsewhere, O2 is issuing engineers working outside on essential network projects with a sign to explain they are a key worker, after reports of telecoms staff being verbally abused by members of the public.

'Engineers are out doing key work to keep everyone connected, making repairs and keeping the network running, so they'll show a sign to explain that,' a spokesman said.

Fact-checking site FullFact, the UK's leading and independent fact-checking charity, said this week: 'There is no evidence that 5G WiFi networks are linked to the new coronavirus.'
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

With COVID-19 now detected at one of Albuquerques most prominent retirement communities, city officials say they are intensifying communication with local nursing homes.

La Vida Llena, a sprawling, 425-resident community in Albuquerques Northeast Heights, announced this week that one of its residents was in the hospital and had tested positive for COVID-19.

In a message on its website Tuesday, La Vida Llenas executive director Linda Givens said the resident was exposed by a private caregiver and was already in isolation when symptoms began and they were transported to the hospital.

There was no exposure to other residents and attending staff had been using appropriate protective gear, the note states.

The resident, who had independently hired the caregiver, tested positive last Saturday, a representative of La Vida Llenas parent company told the Journal.

The facility received the test result from the state Department of Health on Monday and notified all residents with Tuesdays memo, said Mark Goodman of Haverland Carter LifeStyle Group, which operates La Vida Llena.

The facility has now begun screening private caregivers on arrival by checking temperatures and using a questionnaire, Goodman said.

Mayor Tim Keller on Thursday cited the La Vida Llena case in announcing new monitoring measures by the city.

Were going to have to start inspecting our nursing homes, he said during a media briefing. We know that these are extremely high-risk areas.

People over 65 and those with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease and the state of New Mexico last month began restricting visitation at nursing homes.

Its unclear how many of New Mexicos current coronavirus cases are at nursing homes; a state Department of Health spokesman said he did not have that number, but there are media reports of at least one more.

New Mexico In-Depth recently reported that Rio Grande Gracious Retirement Living facility in Rio Rancho ordered a lockdown after one of its residents tested positive for COVID-19.

In Albuquerque, Environmental Health Deputy Director Mark DiMenna said the citys coronavirus-related contact with nursing homes had been limited up to now, though it had responded to a complaint about La Vida Llena and told the facility it needed to close its dining room.

The facility is now taking residents phone orders for meals, according to Givens message.

DiMenna said inspectors will now contact the approximately 150 other facilities around the city to discuss best practices, ask for details about their operation and answer questions.

He said nursing homes should have closed dining rooms and other meeting spaces, and canceled group activities. They should also have isolating protocol for residents who are waiting for test results or showing coronavirus symptoms, he said. The city will create some specific guidance related to food service since thats something needing clarification.

To avoid in-person contact for the time being, he said field inspections will happen only if necessary.

Were not going to show up and knock on doors at this point, he said.
Catholic schools in New South Wales will start their Easter holidays a week early due to the coronavirus pandemic as parents struggle with the demands of home learning.

The schools will have pupil free days from Monday April 6 to Thursday April 9 to help them transition towards remote learning with the coronavirus expected to disrupt learning until at least September.

There will be no new lessons from Monday but schools will remain open to supervise students whose parents are required to work. Term 1 was originally scheduled to finish on Thursday.

Catholic schools in New South Wales will start their Easter holidays a week early due to the coronavirus pandemic (stock image)

Parents across the state were notified of the changes in emails sent on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

The decision was made in consultation with the 11 Dioceses of NSW/ACT, the NSW Government and Catholic Schools NSW.

Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta said Friday would be the last day of lessons for Term 1 in a statement on Thursday evening.

'Supervision of students who require it will continue to be provided next week as needed,' the statement said.

'We've been listening carefully to your concerns and understand the challenges for many families supporting students in studying at home for the first time.

'Next week, teachers will be preparing to continue supporting students learning at home which is highly likely in Term Two.

'Thank you for your support and understanding as we respond together to COVID-19.'

Catholic Schools NSW is yet to update their website with the curriculum changes.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said families should not go on holiday during the Easter holidays. Pictured: Easter eggs

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 after St Michael's Catholic Primary School Belfield, in Sydney's south-west, was shut on Friday due to a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said families should not go away for a holiday during the Easter break during a press conference on Friday.

'People should not be going away for Easter holidays. Holiday at home,' he said.

'We put the Easter decorations up at our house yesterday with Jenny and the kids, it might keep them occupied for an hour.

'People should not be getting in their cars and going to other places.'

Mr Morrison said education ministers would be working with medical experts to determine how the rest of the school year would be conducted.

The number of coronavirus cases in NSW reached 5,315 on Friday, with 28 deaths.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Catholic Schools NSW for comment.
People practice social distancing as they sit on chairs spread apart in a waiting area for take-away food orders at a shopping mall in hopes of preventing the spread of the coronavirus in Bangkok, Thailand. Read more

SINGAPORE  Vietnam has banned public gatherings of more than two people. Hong Kong has closed nightclubs, karaoke bars and mah-jongg parlors, and deployed health inspectors to check that restaurants are seating parties at least 6 feet apart. Singapore has warned that anyone standing within 3 feet of another person in line could face up to six months in jail.

Suddenly, Asian governments that appeared to be bringing the coronavirus under control are imposing new social restrictions as the numbers of infections  many from overseas  continue to rise.

In places that took early, effective action against the COVID-19 outbreak, the stepped-up measures in recent days are a sign that fighting the disease will take much longer than anticipated. They also show that governments must adapt their responses as the threat from the virus evolves, epidemiologists say.

We have to find measures that can control, slow down the virus, and do so in a way that is sustainable  not just for two weeks, two months, but all the way through to the end of the year, Lawrence Wong, co-chair of Singapores coronavirus task force, said this week.

The novel coronavirus is now so widespread that it is highly unlikely that our current control measures would be able to drive this virus out of the human population, said Ooi Eng Eong, deputy director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Program at the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. Without a vaccine or antiviral drug, we should expect to deal with this virus (for) the long haul.

That has become clear as several Asian countries see infections rising rapidly, most commonly in people who traveled to newer hot spots such as the U.S. and Europe.

Singapore and Vietnam, despite their proximity to the source of the outbreak in China, managed to keep a lid on coronavirus cases starting in January thanks to vigilant traveler screening, contact tracing and quarantining of suspected infections.

Hong Kong quickly closed schools, museums and government buildings, although residents were otherwise spared the hugely disruptive shutdowns and shelter-in-place orders now in force in much of the U.S.

As COVID-19 cases surged in the U.S. and Europe, Asian countries also began to close their borders. But starting in early March, residents who were living or studying abroad rushed back home, bringing with them a second wave of infections.

In the last two weeks, the number of cases in Singapore has quadrupled to more than 1,000. Most were recent travelers who were immediately placed in isolation to reduce the risk of transmission.

New infections are also emerging in people with no recent travel history, a worrying sign that the disease continues to circulate in the community more than two months after Singapores first controls were implemented.

On Thursday, Singapore notched 74 new infections, its highest single-day total, 54 of them from transmission within the community. Ten were linked to a senior citizens home, prompting the government to announce a monthlong ban on visitors to nursing homes islandwide.

Experts say countries must be alert to a resurgence of the virus when existing measures lapse or people start to grow complacent.

With the second wave, we are finding it a lot harder to control local spread as well as stop imported cases, said Paul Ananth Tambyah, Singapore-based president of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection. That is something that all countries will probably eventually discover.

Hong Kong, known for its nightlife, last week banned gatherings of more than four people but let bars and pubs remain open, even as dozens of infections were linked to such venues. On Thursday, as the government recorded 37 more cases to bring its total to 802, watering holes were ordered to close for two weeks.

Vietnam, among the first countries to block travel from China and close schools, went three weeks without recording a new infection. In the last month, however, the number of confirmed cases has risen from 16 to more than 220.

The communist-led nation has since banned all foreign visitors and ordered a two-week lockdown starting Wednesday, a dramatic tightening in what had been one of Asias fastest-growing economies.

Experts say that Vietnam is still seeing mostly clusters of infections, meaning the virus isnt spreading in the population in a significant way. Vietnams rulers are hoping that tough measures will keep its still-developing health system from being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

Im sure thats whats on their minds, that if they can prevent transmission now perhaps they can have an easier time in the future, said Todd Pollack, an infectious diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School who leads a Harvard-based health initiative in Hanoi.

But the borders cant stay closed forever. And if other countries havent had that same level of success against the virus, youre going to continually deal with imported cases.

In prosperous Singapore, which had earlier banned large gatherings and instituted temperature checks at high-traffic buildings, stricter measures implemented last week limit private gatherings to 10 people. Authorities suspended all religious services and closed bars, karaoke lounges and nightclubs.

Officials also ordered commercial establishments to ensure 3 feet of space between patrons. At cafes and shopping centers, employees taped a large X on every other seat, denoting where people arent supposed to sit.

Government inspectors fanned out to office buildings this week to ensure that companies were allowing most employees to work from home. While schools remain open, officials have told campuses to prepare for home-schooling if needed.

Experts say Singapores gradual approach has allowed life to carry on more or less as normal for a population accustomed to efficient public services. But the government is now working to convince people that they must take the pandemic more seriously.

At a news conference this week, Wong, the coronavirus task force chief, lamented that some Singaporeans were still asking whether they could go to malls or have parties of fewer than 10 people. Such requests were missing the point of the need for social distancing, he said.

Ooi at the Duke-NUS Medical School said all governments had to balance societys patience with what was needed to tame the virus.

Working out sustainable disease control measures, which may be different from city to city due to local nuances, are just as important as implementing emergency measures, he said.
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Market Research Future Has Published a Half-Cooked Research Report on the Global Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA) Market.

Market Overview:

In terms of value, the global acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) market is expected to reach USD 1,050.6 Million in 2025 and register a CAGR of 6.1%. Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) is produced by copolymerization reaction between styrene and acrylonitrile. It is tough and exhibits properties such as thermal stability, chemical resistance, and rigidity. Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate is significantly used in the construction industry.

The increasing spending on renovation activities is driving market growth. Additionally, increasing investments in infrastructure projects such as transportation, water management, and energy sectors are favoring the growth of the Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate Market Size in the region. In the US, revenue from the construction industry crossed USD 1 trillion in 20162017 and is expected to reach USD 1.7 trillion by 2020. Moreover, the exterior parts of automobiles require high-performance materials such as ASA to protect them from harsh weather conditions and aging. The application of ASA in the manufacturing of automobile components has increased owing to its unique properties and increasing preference for lightweight vehicles.

Competitive Analysis:

The prominent players in the global acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) market include Lauren International (US), BASF SE (Germany), A. Schulman (US), LANXESS (Germany), INEOS Styrolution Group GmbH (Germany), LG Chem Ltd (South Korea), Chi Mei Corporation (Taiwan), Entec Polymers (US), and SABIC (Saudi Arabia).

Market Segmentation:

The global acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) market has been segmented on the basis of manufacturing process, application, and region. By manufacturing process, the global acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) market has been divided into extrusion, coextrusion, injection molding, and others. The extrusion segment held significant market share in 2018 and is estimated to be dominant in the next five years owing to the growing use in the construction industry. The global market has been segmented based on application into automotive, construction, furniture, and others. The high demand for ASA in the construction industry is expected to fuel the growth of the segment during the review period.

Regional Analysis:

The Asia-Pacific market is projected to register a healthy CAGR during the forecast period due to high public sector investments in the construction industry. The growing urbanization in the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and China has increased the spending in infrastructure development. The US is expected to be the leading market in North America; it registered a CAGR of 5.2% in 2018. The South and West regions are projected to register a CAGRs of 6% and 5%, respectively.
Samsung Vietnam is expected to cut its export target for 2020 by 12.7 percent against 2019 due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Specifically, the South Korean companys exports will likely fall by $5.8 billion to $45.5 billion, the trade ministry said in a report to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on assessment of COVID-19 impacts on key industries.

On a larger scale, the ministry said that Vietnams electronics industry will be greatly affected in the next quarters of 2020, with demand falling in the U.S. and the European Union due to the complicated developments of the pandemic.

According to the ministry, the U.S. and the EU respectively account for 17 percent and 24 percent of Vietnams smartphone exports, and 17 percent and 14 percent of the Southeast Asian countrys computer and electronic exports.

The U.S. and EU markets also together make up over 50 percent of Samsung Electronics Vietnams export value.

Globally, the worlds smartphone shipments for 2020 are projected to drop ten percent, or by 100 million units, Nikkei Asian Review cited U.S. research company Strategy Analytics in a March 18 report.

As a result, electronic manufacturing and assembly companies in Vietnam will have very few long-term orders and new orders in the near future, the Vietnam Electronic Industry Association (VEIA) assessed.

Likewise, two other key export sectors of Vietnam, textile-footwear and wood products, will also be affected.

Particularly, many large customers from the U.S. and Europe have asked Vietnamese textile and footwear enterprises to space out or delay deliveries while not signing new contracts.

It is expected that Vietnams number of textile and footwear orders for April and May will plunge by about 70 percent.

Similarly, customers from the U.S. and EU markets, which account for 58 percent of Vietnams wood and forestry exports, have temporarily rejected shipments while delaying payments of signed orders.

New orders will not be negotiated until the epidemic ends.

The Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association warned that the situation will force Vietnamese wood industry enterprises to cut their production by 70 percent in the next two weeks and completely stop production in a month.

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Image: An Indian border guard on patrol wearing a mask in Tripura. UNI Photo

New Delhi/IBNS: India completed the tenth day of a nationwide 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of Coronavirus as the official death toll touched 62 and the number of positive cases spiked up, partly propelled by a Muslim religious gathering last month that led to a massive hunt to track the participants scattered across the country.

However, US-based John Hopkin University Coronavirus live tracker map and Worldometers.info put the number of deaths in India at 72, a significant difference from the government data.

According to both these live trackers, the number of COVID-19 positive cases have crossed 2500-mark in India. The present infected tally is 2567 with 192 recoveries.

Of this, a huge number of 647 people affected have been traced to be among the attendees of Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, which has emerged as a new hotspot of Coronavirus spread in the country.

The day was also marked by a much-derided video address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he asked people to switch off lights at their homes, stand at the doorsteps or balconies and light candles or switch on mobile flashlights for nine minutes to stand united as a nation.

Unlike his previous appeals, Modi's address this time sparked a flurry of criticism with the Opposition accusing him of promoting superstition and his critics on social media booing his idea at a time the health workers need protective gears and testing kits to fight the contagion.

960 foreign nationals on tourist visa blacklisted for attending Tablighi Jamaat:

Taking a strong note of the flagrant violations of the tourist visa conditions, the government banned 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries, including the US, who were present in Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, a Hindustan Times report said.

As many as 960 foreign nationals, who were blacklisted, were from Indonesia (379), Bangladesh (110), Kyrgyzstan (77), Myanmar (63) and Thailand (65). Several Jamaatis came to attend the congregation from as far as Djibouti in East Africa and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Islands in North America, have also been banned, the HT report added.

In a statement on Thursday night, the Home Ministry said that 960 foreigners had been blacklisted for flouting tourist visa norms and taking part in activities of Tablighi Jamaat.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry in a statement confirmed that the 647 coronavirus cases reported in the last two days emanated from the Tablighi Jamaat.

The infected Jamaatis had travelled to their native states after the congregation and are present in the 14 states across in India.

At a time the idea of social distancing was embraced both by the Centre and the state governments, Tablighi Jamaat, an "orthodox" missionary, congregated around 3,000 people at Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid in Nizamuddin here flouting all norms of self-isolation.

Reports suggest around 2000-3000 preachers had congregated at the event of Tablighi Jamaat preachers in mid-March, just days after the Delhi government had banned the gatherings of 200 people at any place in the wake of the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus.

PM Modi's video message:

In his video message to the nation, Indian PM Narendra Modi on Friday asked people to switch off lights in their homes at 9 pm on Sunday and light up candles, clay lamps, torch or mobile flashlights for nine minutes to show their solidarity at a time when the country is under a 21-day lockdown to fight against COVID-19 outbreak.

Modi had addressed the nation twice in recent times.

In his first address, he had asked people to follow Janata Curfew on Mar 22 and then announced 21-day lockdown in his next.

"To defeat the darkness of despair and light our lives with hope, let's switch off all lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm on Sunday 5 April & illuminate our surroundings with candles, Diyas, Torch or Mobile flashlights. Let's maintain social distancing during this period," he said.

He asserted that people should not gather on roads and maintain social distancing during that period.

Congress reaction:

The country's oldest political outfit, Congress, has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of promoting "superstition" by appealing to people to light candles in the midst of the COVID-19 spread in India, triggering a fresh war of words between the ruling dispensation and the main opposition party.

Following Modi's announcement, which was speculated by plenty of people to be something big, Congress leader and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal tweeted, "Modiji Learnt nothing about governments steps to 1) contain the virus 2) protect our medical practitioners 3) provide testing kits 4) reach food and supplies to the poor 5) finance migrant labour, the jobless Light the  Diya  of reason Not that of superstition !"

Modiji



Learnt nothing about governments steps to



1) contain the virus

2) protect our medical practitioners

3) provide testing kits

4) reach food and supplies to the poor

5) finance migrant labour , the jobless



Light the  Diya  of reason

Not that of superstition !  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) April 3, 2020

Not finding much substance in the Prime Minister's 9 am video message on Friday, Congress Lok Sabha MP from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, tweeted, "Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease peoples pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by Indias Photo-Op PrimeMinister!"

Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease peoples pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by Indias Photo-Op PrimeMinister!  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 3, 2020




Australian poet Bruce Dawe has been remembered as a remarkable educator and one of the country's foremost writers of verse.

The popular poet, whose work is studied in high schools across the country, died in Queensland earlier this week. He was 90 years old.

Bruce Dawe at home on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in 2004. Credit:Andy Zakeli

Dawe was born in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy in 1930. He left school at the age of 16 to work as a labourer before joining the Royal Australian Air Force. His first poem was published in The Age while he was still a teenager, under the pseudonym Llewellyn Rees. In 1962, he published his first collection of poetry No fixed address.

Dawe would go on to publish more than 15 books during his lifetime. His seminal text Sometimes Gladness has been reprinted several times and has sold well over 100,000 copies (the vast majority of Australian poetry collections have a print run of just a few hundred). Dawe's most recent collection, Border Security, was published by UWA Publishing in 2016.
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 25 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Apr. 3.

The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.

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
The Coral Princess cruise ship, which told all passengers to stay in their rooms Tuesday following a "higher-than-normal number" of people reporting flu-like symptoms, has 12 positive cases of coronavirus on board.

Princess Cruises confirmed the cases publicly after noon on Thursday. Passengers said the ship's captain announced the news late Wednesday night over a public-address system. The ship is carrying 1,020 guests and 878 crew, and has two doctors and three nurses.

"We are evaluating the need for additional resources and will deploy as needed," spokeswoman Alivia Owyoung Ender said in an email.

According to Princess, the ship sent 13 test samples to Barbados during a stop for supplies on Tuesday. Twelve of those - taken from seven guests and five crew - came back positive. One passenger was taken off the ship for medical attention in Barbados.

"Coral Princess is on her way to Ft. Lauderdale with an estimated arrival date of April 4," the company said. "Princess Cruises continues to remain in contact with local officials regarding disembarkation details."

The ship approaches on the heels of the Zaandam and Rotterdam, which arrived in Port Everglades, Florida, late Thursday afternoon and started disembarking passengers after hashing out a plan with local, state and federal authorities. Nine people on Zaandam tested positive for the virus, and President Donald Trump and Florida's governor have both weighed in on the fate of the passengers.

Princess Cruises ships have been the scene of the most high-profile coronavirus crises on cruise ships, including the Diamond Princess in Japan in February and the Grand Princess in California last month.

The cruise line announced a 60-day suspension of operations on March 12, but some ships - including Coral Princess, which left from Chile on March 5 - have not been able to find a place to dock over the past couple weeks as ports shut down around the globe. The company tried to disembark all passengers in Buenos Aires on March 19, but only some were allowed to leave; they had no luck in Uruguay and Brazil and decided to head to Fort Lauderdale.

Passengers on Coral Princess thought they were safe from the virus; as recently as Monday, the company was saying there was "no known risk of covid-19 onboard." Activities were plentiful, and guests could mingle at will.

By Thursday, the scene was far different, with everyone stuck in their rooms. Some passengers were trying to get food delivered by room service and talking to worried loved ones on land. Family members, in turn, were trying to make sure passengers would be able to disembark, especially after the captain announced there would likely be a delay in arriving to land.

Sisters Juliet and Anne Friedman said their 73-year-old mother and 81-year-old stepfather were healthy but worried about the situation on board - and still hungry for lunch at 4 p.m. after food had not yet arrived. Joani and Sanford Binder, of Seal Beach, Calif., celebrate their four-year wedding anniversary Friday.

"I think all of us are feeling really distraught by the lack of information and the confusion around it and having loved ones on the boat," said Juliet Friedman, 36, of Santa Ana, Calif. "We just hear that so many people are getting sick ... and every day that passes there's more and more worry that these people are sitting on a petri dish of infection."

She said her mother was trying to do exercises in her stateroom, worried that sitting too much would be unhealthy.

"She said she's gotten 1,000 steps today, 9,000 to go," said Anne Friedman, 49, of Long Beach, California. "She feels like a mouse going around and around."

For others, the health concerns had become much more acute.

Nancy Chien, of California, said her 71-year-old father, Wilson Maa, had tested positive for covid-19. Her mother Toyling Maa, who is in her 60s, was not tested but had a cough and fever. The San Francisco Bay Area husband and wife are at higher risk of complications from the virus, their daughter said. They left California to start their vacation on Feb. 23 or 24, more than two weeks before the World Health Organization declared a pandemic.

Chien worried that her parents were not getting attentive enough care already - her mother had to plead for breakfast, she said - and is concerned about what will happen if they have to stay on the ship for another extended period of time once they reach land.

"The cruise ship is not a hospital," she said. "It shouldn't be expected to be. I just feel nervous for them to stay on the ship again for another 14 days and get potentially subpar treatment."

Paul Nahm, a 39-year-old resident of Fort Lee, New Jersey, who works at the United Nations, was also trying to make sure his parents, who live in Syosset, Long Island, were getting the care they needed. He said his father, Peter Nahm, 71, tested positive on the ship and his mother, Grace Nahm, 72, was coughing, feverish and achy as she awaited a diagnosis.

"My parents are doing very poorly but they can breathe, so they're not an emergency," he said. "They're not priority."

Nahm's father, an insurance broker in Manhattan, needed intravenous treatment earlier for nausea and was trying to get the same help Thursday. When he talked to his mother, she said the infirmary was too busy in the afternoon.

"I worry for everyone on board: crew, passengers, people who need medical attention," Nahm said. "Are they getting it? Do they need it sooner?"

He said he has been looking at the situation with Zaandam and Rotterdam at Port Everglades as a kind of template for what might happen with his parents' ship. Both cruise lines are part of parent company Carnival Corp.

"Things are so fast-moving, who knows what happens in two days," he said.

Nahm said his parents tried to cancel their trip before they left for Argentina on March 1; friends from South Korea who were supposed to join the trip were not going to be allowed to board the ship anyway under the guidelines in place at the time.

"They spent thousands of dollars, and the cruise ship said there were no refunds," he said. "They tried to cancel, but were not going to be refunded."

He added: "This is the worst-case scenario that happened."
Pathanamthitta, a hilly district in central Travancore region in Kerala and home to the Sabarimala shrine was among the first sites in the country where coronavirus spread after a family that had returned from Italy tested positive for Covid-19 in early March.

However, the district now has only 13 of the 286 positive cases in the state. By comparison, Kasargod has 121. According to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while Kasargod remains in the hotspot list of the union health ministry, Pathanamthitta has been removed from it.

One of the main persons responsible for this containment is a 2012 batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, PB Nooh, who serves as the district collector of Pathanamthitta. He raised an alarm with the state government after thousands of devotees congregated at Sabarimala to attend the monthly prayers that began March 13.

This wasnt received well by devotees and he faced much abuse on social media.

When Sabarimala temple was opened for monthly pooja in March, despite the Travancore Devaswom Boards warning, at least 13,000 pilgrims came in four days. Milling pilgrims was not a good sign. In fact it was a recipe for tragedy. So I sent an SOS to the government to announce the closure of the temple, Nooh told the Hindustan Times.

On March 20, the state government disallowed pilgrims entry to the Sabarimala shrine following Noohs report suggesting restriction of entry in light of rising Covid-19 cases. The shrine will not reopen on March 28 as previously planned.

The state saw a steady rise in the number of positive infections starting March 18, according to data provided by the state government: from 28 confirmed Covid-19 to the current 286.

On March 10, the Travancore Devaswom Board president N Vasu had asked the public to not attend the monthly prayers at the temple; the state cabinet too called upon people to not hold large public gatherings, including weddings or festivals.

This was barely days after local cases of Covid-19 began emerging from the state, and nearly a month after three imported cases  students who had contracted the virus at Wuhan and returned to the state  were detected.

Pathanamthitta was the first district in the state to use flow charts to help trace the contacts of infected persons. The idea was to track where all the family, which had returned from Italy on February 29 and tested positive for Covid-19 on March 6, had travelled to and whom all they had met.

On March 11, the administration released a flowchart titled Patient Flowchart Covid-19: P1 Cluster. It showed where all the family, comprising a middle-aged couple and their 24 year old son, had travelled to after landing at Kochi airport. By then, many relatives and friends of the family had tested positive too, prompting the administration to release the flowchart to the public.

The family had visited a church, a post office, a jewellery shop and a hypermarket: many members of the public were at risk. The administration wanted to reach out to everyone whom the family had come in contact with  in all, 1300 were placed under observation.

Making the flow chart was a cumbersome process. Police, health workers, NGOs and political leaders all helped us in the process. This also raised the awareness level of the people, Nooh said. All three members of the family and eight of their contacts, including a 95-year-old great grandfather, have recovered from Covid-19 and have been discharged from the hospital.

Pathanamthitta was first to introduce a geofencing application to locate quarantine violators. This application is now being used across all the districts control rooms to monitor the spread of coronavirus. Once installed on a persons phone, it alerts authorities if they step out of their house, and even tags the location they are at.

It is teamwork and many of us have spent sleepless nights. We have received full support from the government. We literally chased contacts and enforced norms ruthlessly. In such a situation we cant go soft and now this has started showing some results, said Nooh, who is the seventh of eight children of a couple that owned a small grocery shop in Perumbavoor in Ernakulam. One of Noohs older brothers, PB Salim, is an IAS officer from the West Bengal cadre.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ramesh Babu Ramesh Babu is HTs bureau chief in Kerala, with about three decades of experience in journalism. ...view detail
BRASILIA, April 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's National Mining Agency (ANM) said on Thursday that it would halt operations at 47 mining dams that failed to certify their stability, including at least 25 belonging to the world's largest iron ore producer Vale SA .

The safety of Vale's facilities have been under heavy scrutiny after one of its dam collapsed last year, releasing a torrent of mining waste that killed about 270 people. It was the second Vale dam to collapse in four years. Last October, 54 Brazilian dams failed to certify their stability or file the stability paperwork altogether. Many of the same dams remain on the list and several new dams operated by Vale or its affiliates were added.

In a statement, Vale acknowledged that its Santana dam in the city of Itabira in Minas Gerais state had failed to register its declaration of stability.

That dam had been placed on a level 1 emergency alert in October last year and has been under 24 hour monitoring since then, Vale said. The company is planning to make structural improvements to the dam in the second half of the year, it said.

Vale said on Wednesday that it continues to institute improvements to its dam oversight system, with 78 of its structures successfully registering stability declarations, and it gave details on planned actions to improve safety at several dams.

Eight new structures had negative stability declarations and will also be put on level 1 emergency alert, Vale said. Vale said the safety of people and communities downstream from its dams is a priority.

On Wednesday, it also said it was testing alternatives to tailings dams to boost production capacity at its Brucutu mining facility, which includes the Norte/Laranjeiras dam that failed to certify its stability.

(Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Messaging: jake.spring.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
International seat capacity has dropped by almost 80% from a year ago and half the world's airplanes are in storage, new data shows, suggesting the aviation industry may take years to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Carriers including United Airlines Holdings Inc and Air New Zealand Ltd have warned they are likely to emerge from the crisis smaller, and there are fears others may not survive. "It is likely that when we get across to the other side of the pandemic, things won't return to the vibrant market conditions we had at the start of the year," said ...
When Vladimir Putin was given a dire forecast of the economy under the cloud of a crippling coronavirus pandemic and a sharp fall in global demand for petroleum, the Russian president was much less bullish about his country's prospects in a price war with oil-producing rival Saudi Arabia. "For our economy, yes definitely, this is a very serious challenge," Putin told Audit Chamber head Aleksei Kudrin on April 1, adding that the United States, which recently surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world's largest oil producer, would also suffer.

It was a big step back from the line being floated just two weeks ago when, despite Russia's economic dependence on natural resources, Moscow engaged in a bit of chest-thumping about its chances in a price war, arguing that Russia was in a stronger position than its main competitors to ride it out.

But that was before the true impact of the coronavirus on the global economy was understood, and before Kudrin -- a former finance minister and trusted ally -- told Putin in a government meeting held by video that the Russian economy could decline this year by between 3 and 5 percent.

And that was a moderate outlook, according to Kudrin, who went on to warn that the situation could be as bad as the nearly 8 percent decline the country suffered in 2009 during the financial crisis.

When faced with slumping oil demand as the global economy suffered from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Riyadh's demands for output cuts were refused by fellow OPEC+ member Moscow. After walking away from the table, the Saudis instead took the surprising route of increasing oil output, causing the largest one-day drop in prices in nearly three decades.

Putin's comment is one sign that Russia, which always expressed openness to continue negotiations with Riyadh, may be keen on coming to an agreement. "Today's acknowledgement by Putin shows Russia is interested in the dialogue process and wants to go ahead with it," Rauf Mammadov, an energy analyst at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told RFE/RL on April 1.

High-Stakes Game

From the beginning, the price war has raised questions about who would cave first: Moscow, Riyadh, or U.S. production, which depends on shale-oil producers that have gained market share at the expense of Russia and Saudi Arabia but require higher oil prices to stay in business.

Russia is now preparing to ramp up spending to support millions of citizens and thousands of companies affected by quarantines and shutdowns. The Kremlin has thus far announced an increase of spending by $17.5 billion to counter the outbreak.

Related: $1 Oil: Saudi Arabia's Attempt To Crush U.S. Shale But according to Kudrin, the country may need to spend 5 percent of gross domestic product -- or about $70 billion -- to combat the impact of the coronavirus, which Russia has officially said has infected more than 3,500 people, but which skeptics suggest is a low-ball figure.

Those costs will be difficult to cover if oil prices are low -- but on April 2, the price of Russia's Urals crude blend fell below $11 a barrel, the lowest since Putin came to power two decades ago. The international benchmark Brent crude, meanwhile, was going for just over $26 a barrel on April 2, whereas Russia depends on a price of about $40 a barrel to balance its budget.

Russia as of March 20 had $551 billion in foreign-currency reserves at its disposal, although economists suggested that Putin would prefer not to tap into them. In just one week, however, those reserves had already fallen by $30 billion.

Even before Putin's government meeting, there were signs that Russia was having second thoughts about engaging in a price war with Riyadh, with Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak saying earlier on April 1 that Russia would not increase oil production in April, a reversal of earlier comments by officials.

Analysts have said that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman's surprise decision to increase oil production was intended to get Putin back to the negotiating table.

And there is reason to believe that the Saudis might not want to keep the price war going either. Like Russia, the sharp decline in the price and volume of oil threatens Saudi Arabia's aggressive spending programs aimed at lifting living standards and diversifying its economy.

But Riyadh needs a much higher Brent crude price to balance its budget, nearly $80 per barrel, analysts have said. And while Saudi Arabia has $480 billion in foreign-currency reserves to lean on, it has already announced $13 billion in spending to deal with the lower budget revenue.

"Despite the bravado that we have been hearing on both sides, this is not about who has the lowest cost of production and higher profitability. This is about funding budgets, and for both Russia and Saudi budget expansion has been significant in recent years," Chris Weafer, the co-founder of Macro Advisory in Moscow, told RFE/RL on March 28. "The reality is that both of them need a deal to put a better price support in place."

Trump Wants A Deal

The other oil-producing elephant in the room is the United States, which has seen its shale-oil producers suffer as a result of the price dispute.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called the price war "crazy," has been trying to accelerate talks between Russia and Saudi Arabia while members of Congress have been calling for sanctions and tariffs if they dont find an agreement.

Related: An Oilmans Plea To President Trump

Trump has said he recently spoke with the leaders of both countries and that Moscow and Riyadh were "going to get together" but he gave no further details. He expressed optimism on April 1 that an agreement was near.

"I think that Russia and Saudi Arabia, at some point, are going to make a deal in the not-too-distant future because it's very bad for Russia. It's very bad for Saudi Arabia," Trump said.

The U.S. president reiterated that hope on April 2, saying in a tweet that he expected Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut 10 million barrels a day, though it was unclear if he was referring just to the two countries or to OPEC+, the alliance of two dozen oil-producing states that Moscow and Riyadh lead. It was also unclear if U.S. companies would be involved in the output cut.

Just minutes after Trump's tweet, Saudi Arabia called for an emergency meeting of OPEC+ members.

Macro Advisory co-founder Weafer said he expected Moscow and Riyadh to find a short-term solution to their dispute that would get them through the crisis period.

The Middle East Institute's Mammadov suggested that Russia and Saudi Arabia could reach an agreement with other countries through the Group of 20 (G20) format, as it would offer both Putin and Prince Salman a way to claim victory. "It would eliminate the face-saving confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Russia because it's not about the old OPEC+ deal" that they fought over, he said.

Trump will meet with U.S. oil executives on April 3 to discuss measures to support the domestic market, including possible tariffs on oil imports from Russia and Saudi Arabia as well as American production cuts.

Analysts have said that Riyadh and Moscow will want to see U.S. producers share the burden of stabilizing the market by cutting supply.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
On a near-daily basis, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton gives the people of Ohio the latest COVID-19 numbers for confirmed cases and deaths -- not just statewide, but county by county. As of Thursday, 75 of Ohios 88 counties had confirmed cases, ranging from 663 in Cuyahoga County to one each in Holmes County southeast of Cleveland and seven other largely rural counties.

On a near-daily basis, Acton cautions that no one should conclude these are the only coronavirus cases in Ohio or that the remaining 13 counties are free of the virus. Far from it. Because of very limited testing and widespread community spread, public health experts urgently warn of the surge thats coming.

Ohios daily coronavirus briefing reinforces this message and this reality.

Contrast that with Ohios counties -- including hard-hit counties in Northeast Ohio.

In many ways, these counties are microcosms of the state. The public health message is the same. So should be the approach to providing detailed data -- as much data as possible.

But Ohio counties by and large are keeping what they know to themselves. That has to end.

There is no good reason for counties with scores of confirmed cases, and who are recording mounting numbers of deaths, to shield such information for those who die as age, gender, prior risk factors and mode of transmission, if known, or, for confirmed cases, the geographic distribution.

Following a critical editorial from our editorial board, Cuyahoga County, to its credit, issued a ZIP code map for the county, showing areas with many reported cases and those with fewer -- but the county is still withholding details about its 12 deaths so far. And yes, such a ZIP code map could be skewed by where the countys many health care workers live, since health care workers get priority in testing and now make up about one-fifth of statewide confirmed cases. Yes, those in areas with fewer cases must not assume that COVID-19 isnt already widespread in their towns.

Summit County followed Cuyahogas lead only partially, releasing a map showing ZIP codes with confirmed cases -- virtually the whole county -- but without highlighting where most cases are. It needs to issue such a map.

But no other counties in Northeast Oho are being even that transparent. Officials cite, variously, federal HIPAA privacy restrictions, the misleading nature of existing data, a danger that even the most generalized information might allow someone to do the detective work to identify individuals, with the risk of stigmatization, and a desire to let grieving families grieve untroubled by concerns their neighbors will find out.

Publishing a map based on what everyone acknowledges is incomplete data would be printing a blatant lie, argued Lorain County Health Commissioner Dave Covell in a particularly impassioned conversation. (See his brief essay elsewhere on this page).

Yet if Covell is right, then Ohios daily coronavirus briefing is a blatant lie, too, because it also is limited to those cases where COVID-19 tests have been conducted. No one would argue that this information should be withheld.

County health departments ignore their public health obligations in hiding behind HIPAA laws to shield information the public needs to know -- not just on the details of deaths and the geography of confirmed cases, but also regarding possible clusters in long-term-care facilities.

Some counties face other considerations. Geauga County Health Commissioner Tom Quade said hes already getting emails from people blaming the countys Amish population for Geaugas numerically small but rising COVID-19 cases -- 33 as of Thursday, with no deaths. (No evidence has emerged to support such a notion of blame.)

Lake County Health Commissioner Ron H. Graham said the small size of many of Lake Countys 24 communities makes releasing municipal-level data problematic. But Lake should find a way to get that information out. And all counties should follow Lakes lead in providing, at a minimum, the gender and age of those who die of COVID-19.

A local health department worker in Ohio has already died of COVID-19, Acton has revealed. Northeast Ohios health departments are working overtime to trace cases, identify clusters, and work with families to quarantine adequately and safely.

But much more transparency is needed. All counties should find a way to release a generalized geographic distribution of confirmed cases. (HIPAA appears to allow this if a statistician finds the data is general enough to reasonably protect privacy.)

Current cases will grow, likely by a lot. The swift spread of the novel coronavirus to all corners of our state, counties and communities will drive home to people -- if it hasnt already -- the public health message that Ohioans need to hear: COVID-19 contagion is a strong risk wherever you go. Act accordingly. Stay home as much as you can, protect yourself and practice social distancing rigorously.

More transparency, not less, more information, not less, will reinforce this. County health departments need to become far more open in revealing what they know about the extent of COVID-19 infection in Ohio.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
How does the coronavirus infect human being?



To start off, it is very important to understand that viruses in general including this novel coronavirus are non-living things. By non-living things mean, outside a host, for example human beings, they do not survive and are doormat or non-active. Though many people currently still use the term killing the virus, it is mostly advisable to refer to a virus outside the human body or a virus that has been dismantled non-active. A virus need a living organism such as a human body to survive.



So if viruses are non-active, how does COVID-19 become active in the human body and more importantly, how do they make us sick? This is a question that the majority of people in the non-medical community have been asking since the global pandemic. To explain this, we need to know what the coronavirus is made up of.



The name corona was given to the virus because of its appearance. According to the scientist who termed the virus, under a microscope, the virus resembled a crown. The word virus is a latin word meaning venom and it is explained as very tiny agents that area able to cause infectious disease. Therefore the name coronavirus. Even though this virus is new to us, its genetic material (which we will get into briefly) shows that the virus belongs to a family of other coronaviruses known as severe acute respiratory syndrome virus also referred to as SARS-COV. Therefore, not to get confused and to be able to differentiate between these viruses, this novel coronavirus is called SARS-COV-2 or COVID-19 where the 19 stands for the years it was discovered.



Structurally, the coronavirus is made up of little more than a single strand of RNA (a bit like half of the ladder-shaped DNA that humans have) covered in a lipid bilayer (which is the outer layer) and protein spikes. So now that we know how they look like, how do they infect us and make us sick, after all, you might be wondering, how much damage can a tiny non-living virus cause?



Inside every human cells, you have a very sophisticated machinery that sustain the cell and makes sure that the cell does it job as instructed. Your cells are designed to work for you however, once the virus is inside your body and in your cell, it uses the spike protein to bind to the host (human) own cells. Like a key placed in a lock. It hijacks your cells and instruct your cells machinery to now work for the virus and make lots of copies of the coronavirus. So instead of your own cells doing what they are supposed to do under normal circumstances, your cells effectively now works for the virus like a factory producing machine.



It is interesting to note that even though we say that your cells makes copies of the virus, it is not exactly true. Your cells do not makes copies like photo copying a page or scanning a page to produce the same copy. Instead, once the virus hijacks your cells, your own cells makes the three product the virus is made up of (which we mentioned earlier) which is the RNA, lipid bilayer and spike proteins individually which are then assembled later on to make the coronavirus structure. So to put it simple using a car analogy, its like making car parts and then later on assembling the car.



This explanation is important because this is how mutations occur. During the production of the different parts of the virus, mutation of the virus can occur which can be either advantageous or disadvantageous. For example the effectiveness of vaccines being produced can be affected. Imagine making a vaccine for one particular strain of COVID-19 and within some few weeks, 30 different COVID-19 strains are identified. This means that people can still get the virus and die from it.



So now, imagine that your cells are now producing thousands of these tiny coronaviruses, what will happened in the cell? Yep, you guessed right. Eventually, the human cell is overwhelmed and it effectively kills itself. Imagine if your boss told you to work three days straight without a break, you will eventually be overwhelmed and have a burnout.



This is exactly what happens with your cells. Moreover, the thousands and thousands of coronavirus being produce, even though they are tiny, the human cell will eventually burst open because there are too many coronaviruses in the cells. This burst will cause the thousands and thousands of coronaviruses to flood out and spread to new cells. The coronavirus will then do the same to these new cells but now because there are more of the virus, they will hijack more cells. This process is how they spread and at the same time destroy your cells.

Colorized scanning electron micrograph of human cells which is shown in green and COVID-19 virus which is shown in purple. Whiles some human cells (green) still have their normal round like structure, some of these cells looks deformed which shows that they burst open once they were infected by the coronavirus (purple) and are now dead.

Source: Dr Marian Manso (PhD)









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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During the current lockdown scenario amidst the coronavirus crisis, its easy to get into a rut and forget about having fun once youve been in a relationship for some time. You end up doing the same thing day after day with your partner. Of course, to maintain the same spark you felt at the beginning of your relationship isnt easy. After all, when you cant go out anywhere, being cooped up within the confines of the four walls of your house can get difficult.

Were not saying that youve got bored of your partner, but eventually things might get there if you dont make an effort. A mature relationship is important, but so is enjoying it. So here are a list of things you can do to keep the romance going and also be of support to each other.

Watching movies of different genres

The one big support system we do have when trapped in the house comes in the form of Netflix, Amazon and Other OTT platforms. There are a whole world of movies and series that you might have missed out on before due to your busy schedules. Now is the time to make up for them!

Decide on a bunch of movies you want to watch together, whether it be drama, comedy, action or scary- and make the most of this time.

Cook for each other

The healthiest and safest option right now is to cook yourselves. Try avoid ordering from outside, or even calling your cook over because you may put yourself at more of a risk. So this is the ideal time to cook different meals for your partner, and especially, cook together. Maybe you arent the best chef, but atleast you can cut the vegetables and help in the preparation of food items, while your partner gives the final touches to the dishes!

Be verbal about your love

After a certain point of time, we forget to say certain important things to one another which at the start of the relationship would have taken place naturally. From time to time, its important to verbalise your feelings for one another.

Get flirty

In the beginning of your relationship, all those flirtatious messages instilled a sense of excitement- which is what might be missing right now. You need to remember all those things you did at the beginning and repeat!

So what if shes only in the other room, send some romantic messages or quirky messages and see what happens!

What is boring to you?

Each person has a different idea of what is boring for them. What you need to do is identify what is boring for you and what is boring for your partner. Of course, there could be instances where what your partner likes could be boring for you and vice versa. In that case a balance of activities needs to be worked out, so that both partners are happy. At this time it could be working on some puzzles, seeing how-to videos on YouTube.

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The next full moon  a super pink moon on April 7  will be the brightest of 2020.

Like the March worm moon, the pink moon in April will be a supermoon, which is when the full moon coincides with the closest point to Earth in the moons orbit.

The full moon in April will be a little closer than in March, hence a little bit bigger and a brighter, though the difference is probably negligible for most viewers.

The April full moon is called the pink moon, but it will not appear in any usual colors. The name is a Native American reference to the flowers and other flora that arrive in early spring, according to The Old Farmers Almanac.

The moon will reach its full phase at 10:35 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday. It will rise at 7:11 p.m. that night.

A supermoon rises over Phillipsburg on March 9, 2020. The April full moon is called the pink moon, but it won't appear pink in color. The name refers to flowers that appear this time of year.Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

As of Thursday, the National Weather Service forecast for Tuesday calls for partly sunny skies during the day and increasing cloud cover overnight, with a chance of showers throughout.

If you want to see a nearly full moon a day earlier, it rises at 5:54 p.m. Monday; skies are predicted to be mostly sunny during the day with increasing clouds at night. On Wednesday, the moon rises at 8:28 p.m., again under increasing clouds.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Lucknow, April 3 : A massive sanitization drive began in major cities in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

Rajkumar Vishwakarma, DG, fire services, told reporters that sanitization was being done with sodium hypochlorite and fire personnel had been instructed to take care and not to spray the disinfectant on human beings and animals.

Spraying will also not be done inside any building due to electrical connections.

Fire personnel have been asked to take photographs and post it on WhatsApp media groups. They have been asked to avoid calling the media personnel to the sanitization sites to avoid risks.

Earlier this week, about 50 migrant workers who were at a bus station in Bareilly, were sprayed with sodium hypochlorite by the sanitization staff. Those who were sprayed, including children, complained of itching in the eyes and rashes on the body.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had expressed his concern over the incident and assured action against the guilty.

District magistrate Bareilly, Nitish Kumar said that the incident happened due to 'over-zealous' workers.
Lee Jung Hoon (Kim Dong-Wook) went to the hospital to check the status of the man who killed Jung Seo Yun (Lee Joo-Bin). He wanted to be sure if he was guarded and in treatment. He also thought of him as the stalker of Yeo Ha Jin (Moon Ga-Young). He can't afford to lose her the way he lost Seo Yun.

Jung Hoon agreed to accompany Ha Jin to meet writer Hwang and the director of the new film. Ms. Hwang chose Ha Jin to play the lead role as a news anchor. Ms. Hwang also encouraged Ha Jin to learn newscasting with Jung Hoon before they start filming, but the director confronted Ha Jin and told her to decline the role. He told Ha Jin she is not the right actress for the film and that he thinks she is not a serious actress. Jung Hoon overheard what the director said and assured Ms. Hwang that Ha Jin will work hard and train well.

On their way home, Ha Jin was upset about what the director said to her. She asked Jung Hoon to buy a beer in a convenience store for her to drink, to which Jung Hoon complied. Ha Jin got drunk and felt relieved. She went out of the car and started walking towards a dark alley. She sat down while Jung Hoon followed her. Ha Jin asked if Jung Hoon pitied her about what the director said. He comforted her and did not think about the incident. Ha Jin looked at him and kissed him. Jung Hoon surprisingly pulled her away.

The following day, Ha Jin went to the broadcasting company, and she saw Jung Hoon and Tae Eun together. Ha Jin approached them and she greeted doctor Tae Eun. She asked if she could join them for lunch. Ha Jin discovered that Jung Hoon and Tae Eun are good friends since they were 11 years old. She asked Jung Hoon if Tae Eun told him about her memory problem. Jung Hoon explained that she knew about her and continues to understand her situation.

Jung Hoon went ahead to work. Tae Eun and Ha Jin went to a small place for a short chat. She told him she remembered the story he shared with her in the hospital. Back in the days, Ha Jin was still recovering and in counseling treatment with Tae Eun. He would tell her about a friend who had a rare disease - his friend who never forgets. Ha Jin told Tae Eun that she remembered that part and asked if that man is Jung Hoon. Tae Eun nodded and sighed looking at Ha Jin. Jung Hoon doesn't forget anything and she felt sad to know his story.

It was the start of her training with Jung Hoon in the newsroom. Ha Jin walked around the news area and sat down with Jung Hoon to check his script. Ha Jin wrote everything in a small book about the day's activities.

Later that day, Jung Hoon met his mother in the lobby area. Mi Hyun saw Ha Jin and called her. When they met, Mi Hyun happily invited Ha Jin to have dinner with her and Jung Hoon. They enjoyed the night, in which Jung Hoon treated her mother in a steak restaurant. Mi Hyun took a picture with Ha Jin and the three of them before she went home.

The next day, Ha Jin went straight to the newsroom for her training. Jung Hoon prepared himself in the dressing room and saw the notebook Ha Jin used to write down her notes for the training. Before the broadcast started, Jung Hoon gave Ha Jin the notebook and told her not to play around.

On their way home, Jung Hoon took Ha Jin to a hospital to visit a friend. Ha Jin's road manager wasn't able to pick her up. While he was parking the car, Jung Hoon saw his father walking outside the hospital. He then wondered about his father's business there late at night.
On the left, there is no dirtier word than "billionaire," although asterisks are put by the names of left-wing billionaires such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos. Hollywood's left-leaning millionaires also get a pass.

But otherwise, billionaires are evil. After all, who can forget Bernie Sanders, in his Brooklyn accent, hurling insults against "millionaires and billionaires" or, since he joined the millionaires' club, just against "billionaires"?

The Democrat party debates saw a parade of candidates promising to deliver money to America's oppressed by taxing billionaires. Elizabeth Warren assured us that her "wealth tax" would just skim a bit off the top, only 2% or 6% or some other percent, from the very wealthy. She seemed to believe that the wealthy wouldn't do what they have always done, which is to find tax loopholes.

Indeed, all the Democrat candidates apparently believe that billionaires constitute an inexhaustible money tree, like something from a fairytale, from which the government can endlessly pluck cash. Here's a secret: that's not how it works.

The Democrats are disconnected from the fact that people in America do not gain their billions the way billionaires in oligarchies, dictatorships, communist countries, and other corrupt political systems do. In those systems, people become billionaires through cronyism and corruption. In America, people become billionaires because they produce goods or services that are valuable in the free market. Bill Gates may be a putz, but he's a putz who changed the world, selling things that people desperately wanted.

Being rich in America doesn't make people evil. It just makes them rich. For example, take Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas casino-owner and billionaire. Adelson worked his way up from nothing, and he remembers what having nothing meant. That's why, even though Adelson has had to close the Las Vegas Sands, he has promised to keep paying his employees for at least another two months:

Although the resort hotels of my company, Las Vegas Sands, are shuttered, I'm paying every one of our nearly 10,000 employees as though they were still working. We're even working to make up for lost tips. I hope to do that right up until the time that we can reopen our businesses. It's not only the right thing to do  it's good business. I've often said the story of my career would be a true rags-to-riches account, except for the fact that my parents couldn't even afford the rags. As the son of hard-working, low-income, immigrant parents, I grew up with the same anxiety people across the nation are feeling right now. Where is the next meal coming from? How can I pay the rent and electricity bill? Families are desperate to know when they can go back to work. I recall one of the most important lessons I learned from my father. He would come home from work  when he could find work, that is  and put loose change in the family pushke (charity box). When I asked why he would give to others when we had so little, he would say, "There is always someone whose need is greater than ours."

Adelson's story of the poor box on the table, no matter how poor the household was, is typical of old-fashioned, religious Jewish families. This is how the world should work if there are enough moral, decent people. (By the way, Adelson is also reported to have donated two million masks to health care workers in New York and Nevada.)

Please read and share Adelson's article. America would be a better place if more billionaires remembered that not everyone is a blessed as they are, whether with luck or that unique combination of brains and ambition that propels some people into the economic stratosphere.
Last week, Lyft announced that it would provide free bike rides for healthcare workers in New York City, Chicago, the Bay Area and Boston who are helping to keep the public safe during the coronavirus pandemic. The company is expanding its efforts to help front-line employees get to and from work by providing unlimited 30-minute scooter rides, free of charge. First-responder, healthcare, and transit workers in Austin, Denver, Los Angeles, D.C., San Diego and Santa Monica all qualify, and Lyft will be providing extra scooters near hospitals to ensure that enough are available. The company has also increased its cleaning protocols so that there is less of a chance of germs spreading via contact with the scooters.

Employers can sign up by reaching out to Lyft via email. Once enrolled, employees will have access to the scooters until April 30th. Lyfts bikes and scooters should provide workers with a convenient way to commute while practicing social distancing -- public transportation and ride sharing are probably too risky for many at this point. The company is also helping to deliver food and medical supplies to those in need.
Detectives have identified a man found shot to death early Thursday morning in the University area.

Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said the body of 27-year-old Zachary Schaefer was discovered in the 1500 block of Gold SE, near Central and University.

Gallegos did not say if there are any suspects.

Officers responded to a possible shooting sometime before 12:30 a.m. when they found Schaefer laying in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Now it was hard to keep on typing: How do you attempt to explain how skilled and well suited you are for the job when half the world is locked down in quarantine? What is the point of all of this?

If you are a senior in the midst of all this craziness, I feel for you; believe me, I do. Right now, it seems like there is only today, and that today seems never-ending.

Its hard to think toward the future and imagine ourselves taking the Metro to go to our newly landed job when we currently cant even step foot outside. Its hard to attempt to plan a course of action when even the worlds biggest nations are struggling to do so. Its hard to find the motivation for anything when it feels like nothing is moving forward.

So take it slow. Open a job-search engine and scroll. You dont have to produce 15 cover letters in one sitting. Dont be overwhelmed because you find yourself completing one task a day. If you have to divide the task into small steps, then do so. Try to find a single company that you are interested in, and then go from there. Every day look for another one. If youre suddenly overwhelmed, thinking of the panic that seems to be consuming the entire population, take a step back: Breathe.
I know this is disappointing to us all, but especially our students, their families and loved ones, who were looking forward to celebrating this incredible milestone at the end of this semester, Chancellor Dan Edelman said in a press release. We take comfort knowing that in these uncertain times that our graduates are leading us into the future. We appreciate your understanding and commitment to unite as a community and nation to support our collective efforts to protect those most vulnerable to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic."
The Madras High Court on Friday



directed distribution of state government's COVID-19 relief assistance meant for migrant workers essential commodities like rice and dhal at ration shops.

A Special Division Bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and R Suresh Kumar heard four different petitions seeking separate relief, but all of which emerged from the present scenario of the nation's battle against the scourge of coronavirus.

Hearing a PIL that sought a direction from the Court to treat patients affected by COVID-19 using traditional 'Siddha' medicine 'Kabasura Kashayam', the bench directed the Tamil Nadu government to take a decision on its usage in accordance with the guide lines issued by Central Government.

In another plea seeking door to door delivery of relief assistance to ration card holders to avoid crowding in Public Distribution System outlets, the government submitted that direct handover was impossible.

Detailed guidelines have been issued to avoid large gathering of people in PDS stores, the government submitted.

The court recorded the submission, which cited guidelines like distribution of tokens to ration card holders to avoid crowd and directed the state to file a counter affidavit and posted the matter to April 9.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami had announced cash assistance of Rs 1,000 to 'rice' card holders and essential commodities ike rice, dhal and cooking oil free of cost to all types of card holders.

After hearing another petition, the bench directed distribution of relief -essential commodities- to migrant and construction workers at PDS outlets nearest to their present place of stay considering their inconvenience in approaching the district collectors' offices.

The matter was posted to April 9.

The government had announced 15 kg of rice, one kg each of dhal and cooking oil to migrant and construction workers as part of its COVID-19 relief measures.

In another plea which sought a direction to the State to form a High Powered committee to determine the class of prisoners who could be released on parole or interim bail in view of the Supreme Court directions, vis-a-vis COVID-19 scenario, the senior most judge of the bench Justice Vineet Kothari said the panel has already been constituted and he was its chairman.

The apex court had directed states and union territories to set up HPCs to decide on prisoners' release.

The bench then issued notice to Additional Advocate General P H Arvind Pandiyan and directed him to inform police to give instructions on bail applications at the earliest and fixed April 8 for further hearing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Trend

It is planned to introduce the first gas in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) sections in Albania and then in Italy in coming weeks and months, Murad Heydarov Chairman of TAP Board of Directors, told Trend.

TAPs project activities are in full compliance with the COVID 19 related sanitary provisions in Greece, Albania and Italy. We aim at enabling the project to progress towards delivering first gas within 2020. Despite the challenges related to lockdowns and quarantine measures, works are currently progressing with extreme care. In these unprecedented times, TAPs utmost priority is the health and safety of its staff, contractors and sub-contractors personnel. At the end of February 2020, the TAP project was almost 93.5 percent complete. In the upcoming weeks and months, we plan to introduce first gas in Albania and then in Italy. However, we continue to monitor the evolution of COVID-19 very closely, following the guidance of public health authorities at international and national levels. We keep high our readiness to adjust our planned project activities to further requirements of the host countries and react efficiently if the situation changes. As I said the health of all people assigned to the project is our utmost priority, he said.

TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.

Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.

The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.

Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
Authorities in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus epidemic emerged, have warned that the public aren't paying enough heed to disease control and prevention codes.



The municipal health commission said in a statement on its website that the public is now "slacking off" in its attitude to the disease, and called for strict controls on residents' movements to continue.



The notice sparked concerns in the city that the lockdown may not now be lifted as planned on .



The notice warned that large numbers of people are beginning to arrive in the city from elsewhere in China, with all forms of traffic on the rise ahead of the lifting of restrictions.



It called on the ruling Chinese Communist Party's neighborhood committees, which have direct control over the lives of people in residential compounds and housing projects, to continue with a closed-door policy for all residential areas, preventing all but essential comings and goings.



The notice was also carried by state-run media, and the message reiterated on other official government websites.



Comments on the social media platform Sina Weibo expressed concern that the lifting of the lockdown, which has lasted more than two months, may not now go ahead.



"Will the lockdown still be lifted in five days' time now?" one comment said, while another said. "I haven't left my residential compound for 80 days now; I have job interviews but I can't get to them."



"The government should subsidize the people of Wuhan ... because we still have to pay rent," said another comment.



Masks and distancing remain

A resident of Wuhan surnamed Zhang said she has been confined to her home for around 50 days now.



"There aren't many people on the streets," Zhang said. "They are mostly staying home, as much as possible, in the absence of urgent business."



"When we go out, we wear masks and try to keep a distance ... they are also measuring body temperature and give us feedback about that," she said.



Zhang said she worries about her lack of income if the lockdown isn't lifted soon.



"Some people in the private sector won't have anything to live on, no source of income, if they don't work," she said.



Authorities in Hubei lifted travel restrictions on , calling on people to observe the disease prevention guidelines, but allowing them to travel around freely.



A resident of Hubei's Yichang city surnamed Li said there were already large numbers of people on the streets on , as the population returned to work.



"The green code indicates that I've never had coronavirus, so I can go anywhere, including shopping malls and supermarkets," Li said.



"There aren't quite as many people out as before [the epidemic], but there are still quite a lot walking around, and a lot of vehicles too," he said.



"Some sectors haven't resumed, such as movie theaters and big restaurants, where you have to get takeout; you can't eat it in the restaurant."



April 8 lockdown lift still on

An official who answered the phone at the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission on said the current guidelines still state that the lockdown in the city will end on .



"They have also issued this announcement, which means that residential compounds will remain closed; people won't be able to come and go freely," the official said.



"People who have a green code can still come and go, if they have to go to work."



An Wuhan resident surnamed Song, who runs a store near the epicenter of the epidemic, the Nanhua Seafood Market, said many business owners are anxious to open up again.



But he said many will likely go under.



"It's hard for small and medium-sized enterprises to survive right now," he said. "Factories have their plant costs, wages, no orders, and rising prices of raw materials."



"There is no way to borrow money, and loan probably wouldn't save them anyway," Song said.



Zhang Gong, a retired economics professor at Sichuan University, said the economic impact of the pandemic will be huge.



"If the epidemic continues to spread globally, the consequences will be very serious -- similar to the impact of a world war," Zhang said.



"Now it's not just the butterfly effect, it's the domino effect," Zhang said. "For example, aviation is hit hard, real estate is hit hard, and shipping is hit hard."



"How will the financial industry escape that impact? This is far more serious than the 2008 financial crisis," he said, adding that, in China, the most affected are migrant workers and people with mortgages.



The impact looks set to reverberate around China, not just in the worst-hit areas of Hubei and Wuhan.



Social media users have been posting photos of stores on Nanjing's popular Xinjiekou shopping district which have started displaying "For Sale" notices in their window.



Reported by Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Thousands of Australians stranded overseas will be able to return on mercy flights operated by Qantas and Virgin after the federal government agreed to subsidise four international routes.

The airlines, who ceased all international flights and stood down thousands of staff as the coronavirus pandemic pushed countries to close borders and restrict movement, will restart scheduled flights to Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London and Auckland in a bid to assist Australians stuck overseas make their way home.

Australians stuck overseas will get mercy flights home. Credit:AAP

The agreement was finalised on the same day Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was "bewildered and frustrated" by 16,000 Australians who flew out of the country in the fortnight after they were told not to travel overseas. Returning passengers on the Qantas and Virgin flights will have to pay their own airfares.

"Those who go overseas over this period, how they actually think they're going to get back now is going to be very difficult," Mr Morrison told Nine Radio on Friday. "I don't think they'll find themselves high on the list."
OPEC

The OPEC+ crude oil exporter group is debating cutting global supply by 10 million barrels per day (bpd), an OPEC source said on Friday, adding that any further cuts must include producers from outside the alliance.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had brokered a deal that could result in Russia and Saudi Arabia cutting output by 10 million to 15 million bpd, representing 10-15 percent of global supply. Trump said he made no offer to cut U.S. output.

The source added that OPEC+ is watching the outcome of a meeting between Trump and the oil companies later on Friday and that a final figure on cuts depends on participation by all oil producers.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday called for an emergency meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC producers, saying it aimed to reach a fair agreement to stabilise oil markets that have crashed on the demand impact from the coronavirus pandemic.

The energy ministry of non-OPEC producer Azerbaijan, meanwhile, said that an OPEC+ meeting is planned for April 6 and will be held as a video conference, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

Russia and Saudi Arabia both belong to the grouping of members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, but the United States does not.
Ahmedabad Woman who was treated at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital for Covid19. She is the second person to be discharged from hospital. Image Source: IANS News

Ahmedabad Woman who was treated at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital for Covid19. She is the second person to be discharged from hospital. Image Source: IANS News

Ahmedabad Woman who was treated at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital for Covid19. She is the second person to be discharged from hospital. Image Source: IANS News

Ahmedabad, April 3 : Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is providing personal healing to the novel coronavirus patients (Covid-19) in the state, as he is interacting with them from time to time by taking the feedback from the patients, one of the patients discharged said.

Speaking to IANS, a 34-year-old female patient, who had travel history from Finland said, "I returned from Finland on March 12 and got admitted in the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Hospital in Ahmedabad after I had fever for four days." She said she got admitted in the hospital on March 18 and was tested positive for the Covid-19 on March 20.

She was the second patient in Gujarat, who was discharged from hospital and now she is staying at her home and has quarantined herself for next few weeks.

Sharing her experience of staying in the government hospital, she said that after returning from Finland, she had very mild symptoms of Covid-19, thus she connected with the doctor at the SVP hospital.

She said: "I called Dr Meemansha Chug on March 16 after I felt a slight cough and a little tightness in the chest. The symptoms were mild but I still called Meemansa and she told me to come meet her at SVP hospital. I wore my mask, drove down alone again and went to meet her. She examined my chest, I had slight wheezing and I was told to get tested for Covid-19." "The doctor after checking me, asked me to get admitted in the hospital as I had mild symptoms of the Covid-19. I was immediately shifted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. I was a bit nervous to get admitted on the same day as I didn't carry any extra clothes with me in the hospital," she said.

She said that there were four to five more Covid-19 suspects in the ward at the SVP hospital.

"Little did I know that two from amongst us, were going to be the first two cases of Covid-19 from Ahmedabad," she said.

Narrating her experience of the hospital facilities, she said that the doctors and nursing staff were all very helpful in treating me and other patients there. "They didn't discriminate among patients and answered all our queries," she said.

"Even the quality of food provided to us was very good and it changed my perception of the facilities of the government hospitals," she said.

When asked if the Chief Minister, ever interacted with her, she replied, "Rupani sir interacted with me twice and assured me that best of facilities will be provided to all the patients admitted in the government hospitals." The Chief Minister interacted to me through video conferencing and also hailed the doctors and hospital staff, calling them the first line defence for fighting Covid-19 and said that they were doing fabulous job.

"The Chief Minister also assured me that I will get well very soon," she recalled.

She said on the day of her discharge from the hospital, the Chief Minister again interacted with me and asked me to follow the precautions advised by the doctors.

She said, once I was tested positive for Covid-19, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation reached my home and interacted with my family.

"They explained to my family that they will have to stay in home quarantine," she said, adding that even the complete building including her bedroom and home was sanitized by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

She said, the state government also provided food to our family so that none of our family members had to go out to buy the grocery items.

The 34-year old, has three family members including her mother, father and a sister.

When asked about the behaviour of people towards her, when she returned from the hospital, the 34-year old said, "Every person of our society welcomed me. They applauded me and I didn't feel any kind of objection from them." "The people were happy that I got treated properly at the government hospital," she said, recalling her return to home.

On Thursday, the total number of Covid-19 in Gujarat was 89 with seven deaths.

Out of these patients, seven have died and 10 discharged after recovery. The remaining 72 are still undergoing treatment, the state health department officials said.

Till date, 31 cases have been reported from Ahmedabad, followed by 12 in Surat, 10 in Rajkot, nine in Vadodara, seven in Bhavnagar, three from Porbandar, two from Gir and Somnath, and one each from Kutch, Mehsana and Panchmahal districts.

(Anand singh can be contacted at Anand.s@ians.in)
BALLINA, Australia, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Australia's first Asian born Artist is back in the charts.

From being banned on Radio and Tv in Pakistan, falling victim to piracy by Bollywood, recording a Live album at Sydney Opera House, going number one on Aria charts with his song 'Like the river', to cracking the US World music radio stations, Mahmood's career is blessed with divine diversity that can be heard in his songs.

This new achievement adds another chapter to Mahmood's musical journey which has flourished in Australia thanks to the support from community radio stations like Ballarat FM, and Amrap Airit program. (See a complete list of Community radio stations supporting this new sound here)

Power FM Ballarat Mahmood Khan Interview podcast

In Australia, he is successfully creating a new genre he calls 'World/pop' also known as Oz/pop.

'A new genre that is based on Funk with World music sensibility and 'hip-pop' overtones where the lyrics talk about a deeper spiritual connection with self is what it is all about I really am grateful to Amrap and the volunteers running Australian Community radio for their encouragement and support in helping me bring my music to a wider audience', said Mahmood.

Earlier, Mahmood worked as a sound engineer/ producer at a Black/Funk Music production house in Hollywood for 14 years before getting his big break of writing and producing an album for the legendary World music Artist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in 1997.

He was also signed to India's music label MagnaSound where he delivered an album 'Panah' recently re-released by Sony Music.

In 2019 Mahmood recorded an all-original repertoire Live album with Willoughby Symphony Orchestra which included song 'Jagamarra', a tribute to Aboriginal Australia.

Taken from the album 'Made in Australia', Runaway, the new single chants about celebrating freedom and self-development. It comes at a challenging time when we all need that extra support to get us through. It is a refreshing new sound.

According to BMA magazine, 'The most appealing aspect of Runaway is perhaps this unification of assembled sound and artistic sorcery, in the process creating a viably engaging style which feels as fresh as it does authentic'.

Vents magazine describes it as 'Enchanting and Reverent'. (Read the full review here)

Get Runaway on ITUNES

Mahmood Khan Official site

Mahmood Khan Soundcloud playlist

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12817161

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Mahmood Khan
CHARLESTON, S.C., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KOR Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Vikor Scientific, has announced that Dr. Saeed Khan will join its new innovative biopharmaceutical company in Charleston, SC, as President of Research and Development.

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to join KOR Life Sciences and head the company's research and development organization. I am honored to have been chosen for this important position, especially given the company's renewed focus on discovering and developing transformational new medicines. I am eager to join as the President of Research and Development and build the oncology novel discovery and collaborations to fast-track new innovative therapeutics, biomarkers, and diagnostic tools to market. I look forward to growing KOR Life Sciences into a first-in-class biopharma company. I will be responsible for building a culture centered on collaboration, agility, and partnership. By doing so, I will fulfill the company's vision as a leading global biopharma company focused on innovation and specialty care.

Over the course of my career, I have come across hundreds of people suffering from chronic diseases. It is devastating to see so many people enduring these serious conditions without having access to the proper medical treatment complex diseases. Here in KOR Life Sciences, I am dedicated to making substantial contributions to drug discovery and clinical development to deliver high-quality novel anti-cancer agents and therapeutic for other indications to the clinical arena. I accepted this position as a way of channeling my biomedical knowledge in the field of drug discovery to promote the well-being of people suffering from chronic illnesses around the country and worldwide.

Prior to joining the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Senior Scientist and Johns Hopkins Medicine as a Professor and Director of Drug Discovery in 1999, Dr. Khan received his Doctorate from M.D Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and completed his postdoctoral training in drug discovery at the University of Texas' M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr. Khan's academic positions include adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins Medicine and Medical University of South Carolina. He has been issued several patents for his work in cancer research and has published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

KOR Life Sciences is located on the same floor of Vikor Scientific's headquarters in the new 22 WestEdge building in Charleston, South Carolina.

SOURCE Vikor Scientific

Related Links

https://www.vikorscientific.com/


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Shares of GameStop (NYSE: GME) were plummeting 12.7% in morning trading Monday on no news specific to the video game retailer, but it follows the 22% spike in its stock last Friday (it closed up 7% at the end of the day) after it announced it was getting into the non-fungible token (NFT) market in a big way. The markets are reacting to expectations the Federal Reserve will start hiking interest rates as soon as March -- meaning there could be as many as four rate hikes this year -- as inflation continues to spiral higher. GameStop is looking to build partnerships in the cryptocurrency world and said it would be launching an NFT exchange for gamers by the end of the year.
The Shiv Sena has criticized the Nizamuddin congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat members held in violation of the restrictions imposed on mass gatherings in view of the threat of Covid-19 community transmissions. The party which rules Maharasthra in coalition with the Congress and NCP, on Friday described the congregation, which has become a major source of infections across the country as inhuman act and added that no religious or national purpose was solved by holding of such an event, said news agency PTI.

What religious and national service have these people done by such a congregation in the name of Islam. In fact, it is inhuman and great disservice, an excerpt quoted by the agency from editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana said.

It also referred to the two conflicting accounts of the violation by Jamaat members and added that it was difficult to ascertain who between the Delhi police and the Jamaat officials was right in this matter.

What is truth only these two will know. But just like the police cleared the Shaheen Bagh protest area after the Delhi assembly polls, this event also could have been stopped using force, the editorial said.

Delhi police said they had warned the Jamaat members in Nizamuddin against mass prayers and gatherings but the organisers claim they had been denied permission by the police to move out, forcing them to stay inside.

This was a matter of national health and not religion. The Muslim community, too, would have supported such a move. Violating the lockdown is playing with other peoples lives, the Saamna editorial quoted by PTI added.

Central government yesterday said that over 9,000 people including the Jamaat members and other individual who they came in contact with have been identified across states and quarantined. The government said that 334 of Jamaat members had been found positive and admitted to hospitals.

Sena mouthpiece highlighted the risk of transmission posed by such a huge religious gathering.

The programme saw congregation of over 5,000 people from 22 states in the country and eight foreign countries. Out of the 5,000 participants, 2,000 were foreigners, it said.

Centre has begun action against the Jamaat and its leader Maulana Mohammad Saad, who has been booked under sections that punish offences that could lead to the worsening of an epidemic and for criminal conspiracy. Home minister Amit Shah said on Thursday the government has blacklisted 960 foreigners for their involvement in activities with the group while they were in India on tourist visas.
By PTI

BEIJING: China will observe a national day of mourning on Saturday for martyrs, including the "whistleblower" Dr Li Wenliang, who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and the over 3,300 people who died of the infection in the country.

During the commemoration, national flags will fly at half-mast across the country and in all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and public recreational activities will be suspended across the country, official media reported on Friday.

At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Chinese people nationwide will observe three minutes of silence to mourn the deceased, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief.

Fourteen frontline workers in Central China's Hubei Province, including "whistleblower" Dr Li, were identified as martyrs on Thursday for sacrificing their lives in combating the COVID-19 outbreak.

The first group of martyrs includes 12 medics, one police officer and one community worker who fought on the frontlines.

According to the list, eight martyrs were members of the Communist Party of China.

The oldest one was a 73-year-old while the youngest was 30 years old.

Li, 34, an ophthalmologist was one of the eight "whistleblowers" who tried to warn other medical workers of the novel coronavirus outbreak but was reprimanded by the local police. He died on February 7 after contracting COVID-19.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES HERE

The national mourning day will be observed to express the nation's deep sorrow for the deaths of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the COVID-19 and people who died because of the outbreak, state-run Global Times reported.

Chinese officials earlier said that over 3,000 medical personnel contracted the disease.

According to official reports, 10 medical staff, including doctors, died of the disease.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Friday said that it received reports of 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Thursday, of which 29 were imported.

Two new domestic cases were reported- one in Liaoning Province and one in Guangdong Province.

Also, on Thursday, four deaths, all in Hubei Province, took the death toll in the country to 3,322.

On the same day, 60 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported on the mainland, including seven imported.

NHC said that 1,027 asymptomatic cases were still under medical observation, including 221 from abroad.

ALSO READ: India, China trade declines over 12 per cent in first two months of 2020

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases are those who test positive for the virus but do not show any symptoms and have the potential to cause sporadic clusters of infections.

As of Thursday, a total of 81,620 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,322 people had died of the disease.

Saturday also marks China's Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.

It is a tradition for the Chinese people to pay respect to their ancestors, deceased family members and national heroes and martyrs on the day of the festival.

China held its last national day of mourning in May 2008 for the victims of the Wenchuan earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, which killed more than 69,000 people.

Meanwhile, the Politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Tuesday, analysing the economic situation and decided on matters concerning the economy in the second half of the year.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

The Chinese economy maintained the steadily advancing momentum in the first half of 2019, with the main macroeconomic indicators remaining in the reasonable range, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday, three days after the meeting.
KARACHI, PakistanA Pakistani provincial government Friday ordered a British Pakistani man whose conviction in the kidnapping and killing of a U.S. journalist was overturned to remain in custody for three months.

The Superintendent of Karachis Central Prison, Hasan Sehtoo, said he received an order from the Sindh provincial government saying Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikhs release would threaten public safety. The government ordered him detained as it appeals to the Pakistan Supreme Court to have his murder conviction reinstated.

Saeed was found guilty of murder and kidnapping in the 2002 death of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and sentenced to death. On Thursday, the Sindh High Court overturned his murder conviction and sentenced him to seven years for the kidnapping.

Pearl disappeared Jan. 23, 2002 in Karachi while researching links between Pakistani militants and Richard C. Reid, who became known as the shoe bomber after he was arrested on a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives in his shoes. Prosecutors said Saeed lured Pearl into a trap by promising to arrange an interview with an Islamic cleric who police believed was not involved in the conspiracy.
The wearing of masks could play a role in reducing the length of the lockdown.

The discussion surrounding the use of protective masks has been ongoing since the pandemic began, with many stories surfacing to disprove their usefulness. However, on Thursday, Germany's Robert Koch Institute officially amended their view of mask usage, particularly now that a greater percentage of the population carry the virus. Rather than protecting the wearer, masks can help to stop the wearer spreading the virus to others.

On Wednesday, the patient association Patientevertriedung published an open letter to the government, encouraging the widespread distribution of masks. In many places, the wearing of masks is commonplace and therefore more effective.

Prof. Claude P. MULLER, a virologist at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, agreed that wearing masks could become an acceptable habit in the Grand Duchy, and suggested they could contribute to ending the containment measures earlier than anticipated.

Muller explained the masks can prevent droplets caused by speaking and coughing from reaching other people, as the mask will partially absorb the droplets. Although he acknowledged the masks are not 100% effective, the reduction in the contamination risk was significant.

Rene PIZZAFERRI, president of the patient association, said they requested single use masks for every resident, to protect the rest of the population, once the medical sector has been sufficiently outfitted.

Although masks should be exchanged and thrown away after a certain amount of time, Muller advised of a solution in the face of a global shortage of masks. He suggested placing a tissue within the mask, which can then be thrown away instead, as this would absorb a large amount of the moisture.

Muller also reiterated that masks form an additional protective measure and should not be used to replace social distancing or washing hands.

Video in Luxembourgish
The first frontline worker to die in the UK fighting the coronavirus pandemic was married to a Carlow woman.

Doctor Amged El Hawrani, Yoxall, England was beloved husband of Pamela Foley, Shillelagh Grove, Tullow and much-loved father of Ashraf.

He will be greatly missed by his mother and brothers in the UK, his mother-in-law Nancy Foley, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and his many colleagues, patients and friends at University Hospital of Derby and Burton.

Amged was one of the first senior medics to die in the UK as a result of fighting the global coronavirus pandemic.

His funeral took place in Bristol on March 31.

Amged, who died at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester on March 28, was described as being "fit and healthy" before he became infected.

The 55-year-old consultant's colleagues at Queen's Hospital in Burton held a minute's silence in his honour and staff across the profession have paid tribute.

Speaking to the BBC, his brother Amal El-Hawrani said all NHS staff should be regarded as heroes.

He said he "went out fighting like the noble, strong man he was".

Mr El-Hawrani said his brother "would have been heavily exposed" to the virus.

"He worked so hard both private and NHS at many hospitals. He saw hundreds and hundreds of patients. We don't know how many patients he was exposed to," he said.

"Is he a hero? Of course, just like every doctor and every nurse and anyone working at the NHS.

"My heart goes out to anyone who has also lost someone because of this virus."

He said the "international tragedy" did not discriminate.

"It doesn't worry about religion or creed, race or colour. It affects all of us," he added.

Francis Foley, Amged's brother-in-law, told the Irish Independent that his sister was devastated.

"She is heartbroken," he said. "We are all devastated over Amged's death. You couldn't meet a kinder or more selfless man. Anyone that met him was richer for the experience.

"His passion was for his family and his work and that's what he dedicated his life to.

"He was known for his dedication to his patients everywhere and it is just so hard to believe. He is gone too soon."

Dr El Hawrani and his wife, who worked in the Indian Embassy, were married in 1996. He worked in Beaumont Hospital, in Dublin, for a time, before taking up various posts in the UK, where the couple settled. They have one son, Ashraf (18).

The funeral of the consultant ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon took place in Bristol on Tuesday.

"It's been very tough not being able to be there to support our sister and Ashraf," said Mr Foley. "We couldn't be there for them at a time when we all wanted to be. The whole family here in Carlow will miss Amged immensely. There are no words."
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home to the iconic 101st Airborne Division, is typically a hub of training activity, from formation runs to marches and group physical training sessions.

But that was all before the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to business as usual, even as the Army strives to keep its soldiers ready for the fight.. The 101st Airborne and other Campbell units have adopted a rigid lifestyle of social-distancing practices that have drastically altered life at the home of the hard-charging Screaming Eagles.

"We are not doing formations; soldiers are doing [fitness training] every day, but it's kind of as a buddy-team," Maj. Gen. Brian Winski, commander of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell, told Military.com in a Wednesday morning interview. "No field training, ranges or anything of that nature, and we anticipate that will be the case for at least the next two to three weeks."

As cases spike across the military and in the general population, Fort Campbell has just one soldier who has tested positive for the disease, officials said. Thats despite weeks of strict measures to isolate troops from the deadly virus.

Post officials did not release the soldier's identity or unit, but said the individual is currently isolated at their off-post residence.

"Considering our population and the law of averages, we should at this point have a much higher number," Winski said. At the time he spoke, there were only three cases of COVID-19 there -- an Army retiree and two family members who live off-post. He noted that he does expect the number of cases to grow.

"The preponderance of our formations are young, vital, strong soldiers. I suspect a fair amount have it now but just simply [are] not exhibiting symptoms; their bodies will fight it and they will be done with it," he added. "Every model that you see shows that containing it is the key to keep the numbers at a manageable level for the health care system to be able to surge on those that really need it."

Elsewhere on base, signs of strict preventative measures are everywhere.

The dining areas are closed, but the chow halls prepare grab-and-go meals for troops.

"The soldiers maintain dispersion ... they grab their chow, and they are generally eating it outside on picnic tables or bring it back to their room," Winski said.

For soldiers in the barracks, the shoppettes are still open, as well as the post exchange and commissary, but they enforce strict social distancing, he added.

All bars in Tennessee and Kentucky are closed, as well as those on post.

Soldiers are allowed to go off-post within a 50-mile radius, Winski said.

"We intentionally excluded Nashville because we want them to stay out of the major metropolitan areas ... but soldiers are allowed to go into town if they want to get chow or essential things -- that is permissible," he said. "But what is not permissible, and leaders and on post we are checking for, are little backyard barbeques and things of that nature. Any clustering of people is dispersed immediately."

Related: In First, a Marine at the Pentagon Has Tested Positive for Coronavirus

For most soldiers, their "place of duty is generally in their barracks or in their quarters," Winski said, describing how units are taking advantage of online resources to reinforce basic soldier skills.

"These days, for all soldier fundamental tasks, there are many videos for the execution of that task to make sure it's done exactly right," he said. "In a rifle squad, they will tell the soldiers, 'Hey, focus on weapons tasks today; hey, watch these ... on load, unload, reduce a stoppage on a machine gun.'"

Winski said he is concerned about readiness slipping but stressed that units are trying to counter this by focusing on high levels of physical fitness readiness.

"In a lot of ways, [focusing] soldiers on these fundamental tasks and doing some leader training will help when we do resume training," he said. "But if this obviously continues for weeks and weeks and weeks into months and months, there is going to be some training atrophy, but we will be able to get that back quickly. I don't see a significant decline, but there will be a natural decline the longer this thing goes."

Fort Campbell leaders are assessing conditions every day, but it's unlikely that life will return to its pre-COVID-19 state anytime soon.

"We are trying to keep [soldiers] engaged with PT, with the training that we can do -- just some leader development things, some readings to try to get them as engaged as possible, knowing that potentially this is going to be a long time cooped up in the barracks," Winski said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Carrier Commanding Officer Fired Over Plea for Resources that Went Public
The tragic tale of a RAF ace who was shot down and killed over Dunkirk while his brother watched from the beaches can be revealed after his medals emerged for sale.

Flying Officer Peter Dixon had taken out five German aircraft in five days before he engaged three more Luftwaffe fighter planes on June 1, 1940.

The British troops below, who included Major John Dixon, cheered on the RAF before being silenced when F/Off Dixon's Hurricane was hit.

They watched the pilot bail out only for his parachute to catch fire.

War medals belonging to WWII RAF pilot Peter Dixon, who was shot down and killed over Dunkirk, have been put up for auction

The medals for Flying Officer Dixon, are being sold by a private collector with London auctioneers Spink & Son

He was recovered from the sea and taken by ambulance to the end of The Mole, the breakwater at Dunkirk where thousands of troops waited to be evacuated.

One of those was Maj Dixon who is likely to have seen the ambulance go by without realising his brother was on it.

F/Off Dixon died from his injuries two days later aged 25.

When Maj Dixon returned home weeks later he read the dreaded telegram his parents had received stating Peter was missing 'as a result of air operations on 1st June 1940.'

Later research revealed the pilot he had seen drop from the skies was his brother who was not confirmed dead by the Air Ministry until July 1942.

The medals of F/Off Dixon, who two weeks before his death managed to fly himself back to Britain after being stranded in northern France following a crash landing, are now being sold by a private collector with London auctioneers Spink & Son.

Marcus Budgen, head of the medal department at Spink & Son, said: 'The awards of Flying Officer Peter Dixon are perhaps the most poignant and moving that I have ever had the privilege to offer.

'His service as a gallant Hurricane pilot over the skies in the summer of 1940 was impeccable.

'Shot down over Dunkirk whilst the fate of Britain was on a knife edge, the family story of loss is simply so heartbreaking for his brother watched the scene unfold.

'Peter was fished out of the sea, so badly burnt that he died just two days later.

'We hope that collectors far and wide will appreciate his story and expect strong bidding.'

F/Off Dixon was born in Darlington, County Durham, in 1915.

The Cambridge University graduate, who worked at his father's engineering company, joined the Auxiliary Air Force in 1936.

He was commissioned with No 607 Squadron, initially flying Gladiators over the North Sea, before joining the Advanced Air Striking Force in France and converting to Hurricanes.

In May 1940, he claimed five kills in as many days.

Describing his first success in his combat report, he wrote: 'I was flying Red 3 on patrol when four He. (Heinkel) 111s were sighted being attacked by three Hurricanes.

F/Off Dixon had shot down five German aircraft in five days before his Hurricane was brought down by a Luftwaffe in June 1940

'One dropped back with starboard engine revving slowly. I attacked, which stopped its port engine.

'The aircraft then released its bomb loads in fields and was seen gliding down for the ground with both motors stopped.'

Later that month, F/Off Dixon was forced into an emergency landing at a shell-cratered airfield near Tirlemont, Flanders, France, when he ran out of fuel after trailing and taking out a Heinkel plane.

He set off in search of fuel but by the time he returned to the airfield the Germans had destroyed his Hurricane.

F/Off Dixon joined a column of refugees and hitched a lift with a Belgian army officer to Brussels where he swiftly returned to the cockpit.

There was another near-miss when he was almost shot in the foot and then ran out of oxygen at 17,000ft, forcing him to do a hurried landing at high speed.

With No 607 Squadron sustaining such heavy losses, the surviving aircrew were sent back to Britain in mid-May 1940 and F/Off Dixon was transferred to No 145 Squadron at RAF Tangmere in West Sussex.

Major John Dixon was watching on the beaches below at Dunkirk in June 1940 as his brother fell from the skies to his death

During Operation Dynamo - the Dunkirk evacuation - F/Off Dixon made several flights over northern France to fend off the Luftwaffe from dive-bombing the 400,000 troops on the beaches.

On June 1, he was acting as a 'weaver' for a large attack when he was shot down.

He was taken to a cafe that had been turned into a casualty clearing station and then transported to The Mole ready to be evacuated.

He fell into a coma shortly before his death on June 3.

F/Off Dixon was buried at Rosendeal before his remains transferred to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Dunkirk in 1948.

F/Off Dixon's friend Petter Parrott, in a touching letter to the fallen airman's family, said: 'On the 1st June I had been given a day off to go to London to get a new uniform.

'On my return to Tangmere in the evening I was told Peter was 'missing'. A day or two later we heard he had 'belly-landed' on the beach at Dunkirk, badly wounded.

Although not initially realising, research revealed the pilot he had seen drop from the skies was his brother who was not confirmed dead by the Air Ministry until July 1942

'Later still we heard that he was seen on a stretcher being loaded aboard a destroyer, then the final blow the destroyer was sunk.

'In the short time we had known each other we became close friends and, had he survived, I am sure we would still be close.

'He was the most likeable person, with a good sense of humour, kind, generous, and truly a gentleman.'

Later investigations found he had landed in the sea, and not on the beach.

F/Off Dixon's medal group, which is expected to fetch 800, consists of a 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star and War Medal 1939-45.

The sale takes place on April 22.
The parents of a nine-month-old baby who received life-saving heart surgery in the Republic thanks to cross-border cooperation have told of their relief after their son's procedure was a resounding success.

Miracle child Riley Patterson from Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, is currently making a promising recovery following an operation to repair two holes in his heart at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) in Crumlin earlier this week.

Had he not had surgery in Dublin, the little boy was in danger of suffering heart failure.

"When they opened him up Riley surprised us because he had an extra hole in the heart," his mother Victoria said.

"They were able to, thankfully, close the two holes. So far, it has been a great success and he's now out of intensive care."

Riley's mum was just 28 weeks pregnant when he was born prematurely last June, weighing a mere 1lb 12 ounces, and he was so little his father could slip his wedding ring onto his leg.

"He was very tiny, one of the smallest in Belfast in recent years," dad John told RTE.

"My wedding ring actually fitted over his leg when he was first born."

Staff at NHS hospitals in Craigavon and Belfast have played a crucial role in keeping Riley alive after he was given only a 20% chance of survival.

It was hard to breathe let alone stand when they took him off us at the theatre doors, because of Covid-19 we couldn't go in like last time so it was a lot harder Victoria Patterson

In keeping with cross-border arrangements, the surgical team at CHI was on hand when Riley needed an urgent operation, despite his parents' fears that he mightn't be able to receive the care he needed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Riley is still in recovery in Dublin and the Pattersons are hugely grateful for the care he has received on both sides of the border.

Victoria and John, who are with their little boy, hope that moving him to a Belfast hospital may be an option in the coming days.

The couple also said they would love to have him home in Aughnacloy for his first birthday in June.

Writing on her Facebook page on Wednesday, Victoria kept family and friends informed of his progress.

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"Riley had his open heart surgery on Monday to fix the hole in his heart," she wrote.

"Riley is still currently in intensive care but was able to come off the ventilator last night, he is still requiring oxygen but hoping they can start to reduce the support he needs down throughout the next few days."

Describing events in the hospital on Monday as "unbearable", Victoria spoke of her pain at not being by her son's side during surgery.

"It was hard to breathe let alone stand when they took him off us at the theatre doors, because of Covid-19 we couldn't go in like last time so it was a lot harder. Messages of support were a huge help to us and a distraction so thank you to anyone that done this."

Victoria said that "this past year has been a rollercoaster of emotions".

She added: "We just can't believe this surgery is now over.

"Riley is a miracle and amazes us every single day!

"We still have a journey ahead of us and like any parents we don't know what lies ahead!

"We are thankful we know and trust the one that does."

Victoria also said that "as Christian parents" they "just want to take this time to publicly thank anyone that has prayed for us as a family".

She specifically referred to "friends who have lifted us up, family for being amazing especially our parents and siblings/in-laws".

Victoria added: "We will never, ever forget the kindness and love that has been shown to us."
Denis O'Brien will be left $1.7bn (1.6bn) better off if Digicel bondholders accept his proposal to slash what they are owed by his telecoms empire.

While Mr O'Brien will put in $50m to sweeten the deal - half cash and half by way of a Digicel office block he owns in Jamaica - lenders will take a massive hit just to keep the company afloat. Under the deal on the table, some bondholders who accept the offer now would get 49pc of Digicel in three years' time if they have not been repaid the new, lower debt in the meantime.

The 49pc stake is tied to a convertible bond. This means a class of bondholders who'll hold that convertible debt will potentially get almost half of Digicel three years from now, but only if things fall apart again in the meantime to the extent that even the new, lower debts cannot be honoured. As it stands though, Mr O'Brien will put up a relatively small stake to retain ownership of a newly cleaned-up Digicel with debts of about $5.3bn. He currently owns a version of Digicel that has debts of about $7bn.

Bondholders will write off $1.7bn of debt, in exchange for a smaller amount of new bonds with somewhat improved security and higher interest payments. It begs the question of why bondholders would accept it.

In the first case, we do not know that they will. The bondholders have until April 8 and April 14 to respond to aspects of the offer now on the table. Those dates help concentrate minds but are not something the company can really enforce. Bondholders could reject the deal outright or, more likely, will seek changes to the current proposal that are more favourable to themselves.

On the other hand, and what Digicel is betting on, is the following. If bondholders reject the offer outright, and do not agree an alternative, they are ultimately faced with either trying to take over and run it themselves or even the possibility of a collapse of the group under the weight of its debts.

The nature of Digicel means that would be daunting at the best of times. The group operates in 32 different legal jurisdictions spanning the globe just south of the equator, from Haiti to Papua New Guinea.

Those complicated operations prop up an even more complex debt structure where you would have competing levels of bondholders all secured on different assets in a variety of markets.

Unpicking all of that and keeping the wheels spinning at the same time would be hugely challenging. The nature of most bondholders is also a factor. Most institutional lenders are allergic to taking equity in companies.

When they do, they must often carry its value on their books at zero. This is because, in many cases, their mandate from investors is to lend money, not to buy companies. There is a class of investor - so-called vulture funds - with the scale, skill and appetite to swoop into distressed debt situations with a view to taking control.

We saw plenty of that action in the last crash, most notably when Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman led a massively successful takeover of Eircom that included writing off 40pc of the debt and taking all of its shares through an examinership.

There are only ever a handful of investors globally who will take on that type of venture. An established former telecoms incumbent like Eircom, in a single, highly regulated market like Ireland, with a legal system and culture that was very familiar to US and UK-based investors, is a very different proposition to Digicel.

At the best of times, the complexity and shape of Digicel means that elbowing Mr O'Brien out of the equation would be far more challenging than it was to knock Eircom's Singaporean owners off the field.

Doing it during an unprecedented global economic crisis means that it would be brutally difficult.

So far, there does not appear to be a distressed debt buccaneer involved in the Digicel process, although that could change given the value that now appears to be up for grabs.

The bondholders' decision ultimately boils down to whether they believe they will emerge better off with Mr O'Brien in-situ - even if that means a haircut - than they would without him.
The first person currently incarcerated within the states Department of Corrections has tested positive for coronavirus, according to an internal memo obtained by NJ Advance Media.

The memo says an inmate currently residing at the Fletcher House in Camden as part of a residential community release program has tested positive for the disease, marking the first case in the NJDOCs incarcerated population. The memo says there are no confirmed cases among inmates incarcerated in any of the states prisons.

Fletcher House is an 84-bed residential community that offers assistance and support for incarcerated men who are soon to be paroled. An official at Fletcher House could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Department of Corrections (DOC) did not immediately respond to a request for comment and has not publicly disclosed the positive case of the inmate at Fletcher House.

On Thursday morning, a DOC spokesperson said 10 inmates had been tested for the disease, eight from prisons and two from halfway houses. She said three tests were negative, and the results of the remaining tests were pending.

There are 18,000 people currently incarcerated in state prisons across New Jersey.

The memo obtained by NJ Advance Media Thursday night said there are now a total of 34 DOC employees who have tested positive for coronavirus, up from the previously reported 21 cases.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

Staff writer S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage.

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Pennsylvania State Police reported 27 more warnings were issued to non-life-sustaining businesses on Thursday, at the end of the agencys second week enforcing Gov. Tom Wolfs closure order to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

State police data shows the Hazleton barracks had the highest number of violations on Thursday, with five warnings issued to business owners.

The new numbers bring the statewide total up to 163. No citations have been issued to business owners found in violation of the order.

Non-life-sustaining businesses have been closed since the governor issued the order on March 19.

Citizens can report violators by calling their local police departments non-emergency number.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Department of Health and Department of Agriculture are also assisting with enforcement.

READ MORE

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Central Pa. movie theater to close its doors permanently due to coronavirus pandemic

Capital Area Transit will stop running some routes on April 6 because of coronavirus pandemic
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Carrier, the air conditioning maker with roots in Syracuse, has gone independent for the first time in 41 years.

Carrier Global Corp. launched as an independent, publicly traded company Friday after completing its separation from United Technologies Corp.

Shares of the company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CARR. The companys headquarters are in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Willis Carrier, the Cornell University graduate who invented modern air conditioning in 1902, founded the company in 1915, opening his first factory in New Jersey. During the Great Depression, he moved the company to a former auto plant on South Geddes Street in Syracuse.

The company opened a large manufacturing complex off Thompson Road in DeWitt in 1947. When a traffic circle was built in front of the plant in the 1950s, it was named Carrier Circle.

UTC acquired Carrier in 1979 and over the years has significantly shrunk its Central New York footprint. It moved Carriers headquarters from DeWitt to Hartford, Connecticut, and in 2004 stopped all manufacturing in DeWitt, turning the campus into a research and development center. It once employed 7,000 people in DeWitt but now employs about 1,000.

UTC announced in 2018 it planned to split itself into three independent companies -- an aerospace firm named United Technologies, an elevator and escalator maker named Otis, and Carrier, a leading maker of heating, ventilating and air conditioning, refrigeration, and fire and security technologies.

Carrier has a global workforce of 53,000 people, with operations in 160 countries.

For more than a century, Carrier has been a symbol of excellence, and today, as a standalone company, we have defined our own strategy, vision, culture and priorities, Carrier President and CEO Dave Gitlin said in a statement Friday. We have an unmatched legacy and look forward to delivering sustainable long-term growth to our shareowners and other stakeholders.

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
At Brazil's biggest cemetery, grave diggers take own measure of coronavirus toll A gravedigger opens new graves with an excavator as the number of dead people rose after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at Vila Formosa cemetery, Brazil's biggest cemetery, in Sao Paulo

By Marcelo Rochabrun

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - As Oswaldo dos Santos watched several men in protective suits dig a hasty grave for his 36-year-old son, his grief was mixed with fear: What if he had the coronavirus? What if they all did?

Dos Santos lived with his son until Sunday, when he was suddenly hospitalized with severe respiratory problems. Like so many now filling the graves in Brazil's biggest cemetery, the son died before getting the results of a coronavirus test.

"I think he had the disease," Dos Santos told Reuters from among more than 1.5 million graves in Vila Formosa, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, where freshly dug rows are filled with the bodies of those infected - knowingly or not - by the virus.

The burial took 10 minutes, under new guidelines to limit crowds and contagion.

The grave diggers of Vila Formosa are working at a grueling pace, as their load has doubled to almost 60 burials per day. Workers are convinced the coronavirus is quietly killing far more than official statistics show.

"That row of graves was meant to last three months, but it only lasted one," one worker said, pointing at a section covered in freshly topped soil.

Five grave diggers told Reuters that the number of burials has swelled with the ranks of those who died before getting the results for coronavirus tests. Those cases are not immediately counted in Brazil's official statistics, which on Thursday rose to almost 300 dead and 7,910 confirmed cases, by far the most in Latin America.

"The numbers in the newspapers are very wrong," said one grave digger. "The real number is twice as high, maybe triple."

Brazil's health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, acknowledged on Wednesday that coronavirus cases are likely underreported due to delays in testing.

Sao Paulo's city's funeral services agency, which oversees the Vila Formosa cemetery, did not respond to a request for comment and did not respond to questions about the number of burials. Staff at the cemetery asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, but showed death certificates that identify some dead as potentially having had the coronavirus.

Story continues

Bodies of those with unconfirmed coronavirus are treated the same way as those with confirmed diagnoses. The bodies are wrapped in plastic. The grave diggers wear protective gear. There is no formal ceremony.

Cremation is uncommon in Brazil, where Catholic traditions run deep. The city of Sao Paulo operates 22 cemeteries but just one public crematory.

Small crowds were still gathering around Vila Formosa on Thursday, with many wondering aloud if their loved ones had died of the coronavirus or had spread the disease to them.

At one point, there were six burials happening at the same time, all along a short row of new graves.

"Crowds are a problem," said Joao Batista Gomes, a union leader at the cemetery. "That's why our union is advocating for the cancellation of all funerals."

(Reporting by Marcelo Rochabrun; Additional reporting by Eduardo Simoes and Pablo Garcia; Editing by Brad Haynes and Leslie Adler)
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Linkedin Jonathan Barrett and Renju Jose (Reuters) Sydney, Australia  Fri, April 3, 2020 10:31 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f6eb34 2 World Australia,border-areas,coronavirus,COVID-19,infection,pandemic,health,infectious-diseases,SARS-CoV-2,novel-coronavirus Free

Australian authorities expressed concern on Friday about a rise in the number of coronavirus cases without a known source, even as the country's rate of new infections dropped sharply and internal border controls were tightened.

Several states in Australia are placing checkpoints at their borders to prevent all but essential travel from neighboring territories, the first time such drastic measures have been taken since the Spanish flu epidemic 100 years ago.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 now exceed 5,200 nationally, with daily increases in new cases falling to single digits over the past several days from between 25% and 30% two weeks ago. There have been 26 deaths.

Imported cases, via returning overseas travellers, still account for the majority of the infections in Australia, but there are a rising number of "local transmission" cases where a source could not be determined.

"If we can't identify the source it means we can't deal with the spread - that is something we're worried about," said New South Wales (NSW) state Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

NSW, the country's most populous state, accounts for just under half of the nation's confirmed cases. It reported 91 new cases overnight, the first time the number of new daily cases in the state has been below 100 since mid-March.

NSW has been one of several states to give police the power to impose hefty fines and potential prison terms on anybody found breaching strict social distancing rules, including restrictions on leaving home and reducing public gatherings to just two people.

Neighboring Queensland state erected water barriers and road checkpoints on Friday, with other states taking similar measures.

Tasmania, an island state off the mainland's southeast coast, is all but isolated, while the iron ore-rich state of Western Australia is enforcing a "hard border close" from Sunday night.

Western Australian authorities are also restricting access to and from the northern Kimberley region, an area with a large and often remote indigenous population where services are limited and health metrics generally trail the rest of the country.

As a popular Pacific port destination, Australia is among numerous countries around the world negotiating arrangements with cruise ships unable to find a destination.

The issue has been a source of public angst in Australia after hundreds of infections were traced to cruise ship passengers and returning travellers.

NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller said on Friday that five Royal Caribbean ships off the country's east coast will depart for their port of origin after refueling and restocking on the weekend.

On Australia's western coast, state authorities are in a stand-off with a German cruise ship docked in Fremantle which is refusing to leave.

Two cruise ships in Florida with coronavirus patients aboard will dock at a port near Fort Lauderdale, resolving a days-long impasse that drew the attention of President Donald Trump.

There are about 130 Australians on the two Holland America vessels who will fly home promptly, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Friday.
Like so many people, I've been spending time watching various boxsets, and recently finished 'Star Trek: Picard', which tells the story of the further adventures of now retired Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, late of the USS Enterprise-E. (The fact I put E there is to confirm my Trekkie knowledge status, by the way.)

In one episode, there's a scene where Picard remonstrates with another admiral about the failure of the Federation (think the EU with starships) to rescue millions of refugees from their former superpower rivals the Romulan empire.

The admiral (coincidentally resembling EU President Ursula von der Leyen) lays out the cool hard realpolitik of the situation: the Romulans were the enemy until very recently and members of the Federation were threatening to leave the alliance (Fedxit?) if the Romulans were taken in.

In short, she said, the preservation of the Federation was more important.

It was an unusual moment for 'Star Trek', which is usually (but not always) more comfortable with a straight goodies/baddies narrative.

It was also a timely scene, given the current travails that another multi-member political alliance (also with prominent French leadership) is going through, where principle meets pragmatism.

It's always entertaining to watch many in the now departed UK still banging on about the EU and how doomed it apparently is. The Covid-19 crisis is being used, in particular, as proof that the European ideal is some sort of gossamer-like substance that blows away at the first sign of a storm.

One can't help suspecting there's a hint of the protesting ex-boyfriend about the Brexiteers, constantly hovering around their former girlfriend's Facebook seeing who she is now dating while adamant that they don't care.

Their criticism would be true if the EU was the cartoon superstate that Brexiteers always either believed it to be (through the wearing of an assortment of kitchen-foil-based self-assembled headwear) or simply hoped it to be so that they could rail against it.

The reality is that the EU is exactly what those of us supporting it always said it was: closely integrated but still a union of sovereign independent states.

In a crisis, the EU is doing what it is supposed to do, clearing obstacles like relaxing state aid rules and negotiating "green lanes" through closed borders to get vital supplies through, while staying out of the way and letting member states do what they have to do to fight the virus at the most appropriate level, which in this case is mostly nationally.

The complaint that EU countries are putting their national interests first and foremost is a contrived one because that's what EU countries invented the EU for: not to abolish sovereignty but to act as a de facto bionic enhancement of it, by giving national governments more tools to pursue the interests of their people.

I'm a believer in freedom of movement but I also believe in the sovereign right of nations to control their borders and, yes, close them in an emergency.

Yet, even as they have done that, EU countries have been helping each other where they can, with medical resources where they can, caring for each others' citizens, and helping to get each other's citizens back to Europe.

The EU is not a federal government. Personally, I wish it was, but it ain't. Instead it is a mechanism to assist co-operation. Nobody, including the Commission, wanted Brussels to be deciding who got how many ventilators.

Eurosceptics (and some pro-Europeans) are complaining that the EU is not a top-down federalist superstate because, well, it isn't. The robust debate over whether to have "Coronabonds" to fund our now eye-watering crisis debts is a healthy one, with all points of view being voiced.

The EU will undoubtedly have failures during the crisis, but almost all will be because the EU institutions don't have the power or resources to do what people now demand of them.

That's not a rupture in the union. That's what a healthy democratic alliance does.

By the way, there is one union of states where the central government has imposed orders upon the democratically elected heads of the national governments, and that is the United Kingdom.

I, for one, would be totally opposed to the EU being run in a manner similar to the centralised diktat of the UK, where the largest nation in the union can overrule all other members of that union. But that's another day's debate.

It's not that there aren't lessons to be learned. The debate about a European army, or perhaps better-named European Crisis Force, to be able to mobilise transport aircraft and rapidly build emergency field hospitals is a debate that has to be had. As is one about Europe's seeming inability to rapidly manufacture emergency medical supplies.

Then there's Hungary, where the Orban regime is using the crisis to effectively create a dictatorship.

Yes, every government has voted itself emergency powers, but Viktor Orban has form on this sort of thing, and has now suspended parliament and elections indefinitely, and there's no place for that in the EU.

There's no system for expelling a country from the EU, but if the EU is anything it's creative and it is time to call Orban's bluff. I'm not paying my taxes for them to be used as some sort of Fidesz (Orban's party) slush fund to keep a dodgy outfit in power.

Either Orban backs down, or Hungary has to go, by whatever means. Orban uses EU criticism as a means of bolstering power in Hungary.

Maybe it's now time for ordinary Hungarians to realise that Orban has created a Hungary that the rest of Europe does not want to be associated with, and act accordingly.

Hungary is a sovereign nation entitled to respect. But so are the rest of us.

For all the criticisms, Europe isn't going away. It can't. It's a key tool to helping us live long and prosper.
Kolkata, April 3 : The number of COVID-19 cases went up to 38 in West Bengal on Friday, while nine patients have fully recovered, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

Briefing mediapersons at the state secretariat Nabanna, Banerjee said three persons had recovered from the disease earlier and were discharged from hospital.

"So, the good news is total 12 persons have recovered in Bengal so far".

Expressing happiness at the development, she said this only shows that most cases can be cured if the patients do not have any comorbidity.

The state chief secretary had on Thursday said there were 34 active COVID-19 cases in the state, while three people have died so far.

Regarding the deaths of four other patients who had tested positive for the deadly virus, Sinha said they had comorbidity. "They were suffering from renal failure or pneumonia or heart problems." The chief minister said six members of the family of a woman in Kalimpong who died of the disease have tested positive for the infection.

Sources said all six have now been admitted to the North Bengal Medical College Hospital.

Eight other family members of the deceased are now in quarantine at a government centre in Jalpaiguri district.

Twenty seven others who had come in contact with her have been quarantined in Kalimpong district.
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Beaches in Volusia County, Florida, closed Thursday night and the stark contrast of beachgoers before and after the shutdown are laid bare in photos.

DailyMail.com was at the bustling Daytona Beach Thursday just before the closure, where residents were seen getting in their last bits of beachfront sunshine and spoke of the shutdown.

But on Friday, the typically crowded area was empty, as residence are now abiding by a stay-at-home order, put in place by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, until at least April 30.

'Even though I've been coming a lot I do think it should have been closed sooner,' one woman told DailyMail.com while packing up her things on the beach. 'I'm actually surprised it lasted this long.'

 Slide me  Beaches in Volusia County, Florida, were ordered to close Thursday night by county manager George Recktenwald

 Slide me  DailyMail.com was at Daytona Beach Thursday just before the closure and saw beachgoers getting in their last bit of sunshine

 Slide me  Before and after photos show the contrast between Thursday and Friday, where the typically crowded beach was empty

 Slide me  'Even though I've been coming a lot I do think it should have been closed sooner,' one woman told DailyMail.com while packing up her things on the beach. 'I'm actually surprised it lasted this long'

 Slide me  Beachgoers enjoy a sunny day in Daytona Beach, Florida, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Volusia County beaches were some of the final beaches to remain open in Florida

Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald announced in a news conference Thursday that all beaches were to close to the public to comply with Governor DeSantis' statewide stay-at-home order.

Recktenwald said that beaches would close at 12.01 a.m. Friday for 30 days.

'The beach is closed. We have beautiful trails,' he said. 'There' a lot of places where people can walk.'

He said people who fail to comply and repeat offenders spotted on the beach could face a second-degree misdemeanor and up to $500 in fines.

County parks, boat ramps and trails will remain open as long as locals follow the CDC's social distancing guidelines, Recktenwald said.

One beachgoer said before the sundown that she thinks closing the beaches are a 'good idea'.

'It does bum me out a little bit,' she said. 'This is where I was coming to get out of my house but I think it's a good idea because I have been getting uncomfortable with how many people are on the beach. '

County parks, boat ramps and trails will remain open as long as locals follow the CDC's social distancing guidelines, Recktenwald said

Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald (right) announced in a news conference Thursday that all beaches were to close to the public to comply with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' (left) statewide stay-at-home order

Nastia Daven, 22, of California, and Gabby Bonowski, 23, of Pennsylvania , share their disappointment, that beaches will close for 30 days in Florida

Before the shutdown, there were signs set up around the beach reminding people to keep a 6ft distance

 Slide me  Recktenwald said at a press conference that the decision to shut the beaches was made because the county does not want to send an inconsistent message about social distancing

Another woman opposed the closure, saying that if the public is encouraged to go outside, the beach should be fair game.

'They say you can exercise so why not hang out at the beach? Why not walk on the beach?' Nastia Daven, 22, said.

Volusia County is one of the last of the coastal counties to have closed their beached. Recktenwald said they are trying to discourage people from traveling to their beaches.

Recktenwald said that the decision to shut the beaches was made because the county does not want to send an inconsistent message about social distancing.

Before the shutdown, there were signs set up around the beach reminding people to keep a 6ft distance. But DailyMail.com photos show beachgoers in close contact.

By sunset Thursday, safety officers were setting up cones to block off beach parking lots and access points.

Recktenwald said at a press conference that the decision to shut the beaches was made because the county does not want to send an inconsistent message about social distancing

Main Street on Daytona Beach, Florida is completely shut down and empty on a sunny Friday afternoon amid the coronavirus pandemic

Daytona was one of the final beaches to close, on April 3, 2020, following a state order by Governor Ron Desantis for all residents to stay at home

DeSantis made the shutdown announcement to Wednesday after increasing pressure to take state-wide action.

'I'm going to be doing an executive order today directing all Floridians to limit movements and personal interactions outside the home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities,' he said.

'The goal is to reduce contacts with people outside the home,' he said. 'It's less important what you do than how you do it.'

The order didn't specifically shut down beaches but allowed local governments to set greater restrictions as needed.

'Each region in Florida is very distinct, and some of these things might be approached differently. I'm happy to work with them about it,' he said.
WASHINGTON - Leading disease forecasters, whose research the White House used to conclude that 100,000 to 240,000 people will die nationwide from the coronavirus, were mystified when they saw the administration's projection this week.

The experts said they don't challenge the numbers' validity but said they don't know how the White House arrived at them.

White House officials have refused to explain how they generated the figure - a death toll bigger than the United States suffered in the Vietnam War or the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. They have not provided the underlying data so others can assess its reliability, and have not provided long-term strategies to lower that death count.

Some of President Donald Trump's top advisers have expressed doubts about the estimate, according to three White House officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. There have been fierce debates inside the White House about its accuracy.

At a task force meeting this week, according to two officials with direct knowledge of it, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told others that there are too many variables at play in the pandemic to make the models reliable: "I've looked at all the models. I've spent a lot of time on the models. They don't tell you anything. You can't really rely upon models."

Robert Redfield, director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the vice president's office have similarly voiced doubts about the projections' accuracy, the three officials said.

Jeffrey Shaman, a Columbia University epidemiologist whose models were cited by the White House, said his own work on the pandemic doesn't go far enough into the future to make predictions akin to the White House fatality forecast.

"We don't have a sense of what's going on in the here and now, and we don't know what people will do in the future," he said. "We don't know if the virus is seasonal."

The estimate appeared to be a rushed affair, said Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiologist and the director of Harvard University's Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics. "They contacted us, I think, on a Tuesday a week ago, and asked for answers and feedback by Thursday, basically 24 hours," he said. "My initial response was we can't do it that fast. But we ended up providing them some numbers responding to very specific scenarios."

Other experts noted that the White House didn't even explain the time period the death estimate supposedly captures - just the coming few months, or the year-plus it will take to deploy a vaccine.

Almost the entirety of what the public knows about the death projection was presented on a single slide at a briefing Tuesday from the White House coronavirus task force. A White House representative said the task force has not publicly released the models from which it drew, out of respect for the confidentiality of the modelers, many of whom approached the White House unsolicited and simply want to continue their work without publicity.

A representative for Fauci did not respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for Vice President Mike Pence declined to comment. On a Thursday call with conservative leaders, Pence said that it was "difficult" to view the models but that "the president thought it was important to share with the American people."

Among epidemiologists, the estimate raised more questions than it answered - not just about methodology and accuracy but, perhaps more importantly, about purpose.

The primary goal of such models amid an outbreak is to allow authorities to game out scenarios, foresee challenges and create a coherent, long-term strategy - something some experts worry doesn't exist within the White House.

"I wish there were more of a concerted national plan. I wish it had started a month and a half ago, maybe two months ago," Shaman said.

Natalie Dean, a biostatistician who was not involved in the White House effort but is working on coronavirus vaccine evaluation with the World Health Organization, pointed out that "the whole reason you create models is to help you make decisions. But you have to actually act on those projections and answers. Otherwise, the models are useless."

- - -

At Tuesday's briefing, Trump announced the government's projected death count, saying it was based on data "that has been, I think, brilliantly put together."

The coordinator of Trump's coronavirus task force, Deborah Birx, then projected a slide with a high-arcing mountain showing the worst-case scenario: 1.5 million to 2.2 million deaths if Americans and the government did absolutely nothing to stop the virus. And a smaller - but still imposing - hill with 100,000 to 240,000 deaths if measures such as social distancing are taken.

Birx said the projection was based on five or six modelers, including from Imperial College in Britain and Harvard, Columbia and Northeastern universities. "It was their models that created the ability to see what these mitigations could do, how steeply they could depress the curve," Birx said, referring to the trend line on a graph depicting infection counts.

But two models appeared to have been particularly influential: the one by Imperial College and one from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at University of Washington (IHME).

At a news briefing Sunday, Birx explained the process this way: Her task force initially reviewed the work of 12 models. "Then we went back to the drawing board over the last week or two, and worked from the ground up, utilizing actual reporting of cases," Birx said. "It's the way we built the HIV model, the TB model, the malaria model. And when we finished, the other group that was working in parallel - which we didn't know about," referring to the IHME group.

The IHME model initially that estimated deaths through this summer would total 38,000 to 162,000 - a lower projection than many others and beneath the White House's own estimate. But because of its lower figure and Birx's comments, experts believe it to be a main source for the White House's best-case scenario of 100,000 to 240,000 deaths.

Meanwhile, the White House appeared to rely on Imperial College for its worst-case scenario. That study estimated as many as 2.2 million U.S. deaths if no action were taken, 1.1 million deaths if moderate mitigation strategies were adopted, and an unspecified number if drastic measures were taken.

But as the common statistician's refrain goes: A model is only as good as the assumptions it is built on.

- - -

Knowing the assumptions built into the White House officials' projected number could tell a lot: exactly how contagious and deadly they believe the virus to be. It also would reflect their beliefs on how the federal government and states will behave in coming months and whether they will do enough to make a difference.

The IHME model assumes every state will quickly impose stay-at-home orders, which some states, including Alabama and Missouri, have yet to do. It also assumes the entire country will maintain these restrictions until summer. But Trump has extended the White House's restrictions until April 30 and made clear that he wants to reopen the country as soon as possible.

Another key question is what time period the White House's 100,000-to-240,000 projection covers. Imperial College's worst-case scenario calculated the toll exacted by the virus over a couple of years. But if the White House's projection covers only the next few months, like the IHME model does, the true death toll will almost certainly be larger because America will probably see additional waves of covid-19 until a vaccine is deployed.

And it is important to note, experts say, that the IHME model differs from most epidemiological models - another reason its death estimate is lower, experts say.

Epidemiological projections are often based on what is called the Susceptible Infectious Recovered model (SIR). It is a mathematical way to represent three different populations in an outbreak: those vulnerable to infection, those who are infectious and those gradually removed from the equation by death or recovery.

IMHE, however, took an entirely different approach. It is a statistical model that takes the trending curve of deaths from China, for example, and "fits" that curve to emerging death data from cities and counties to predict what might come next.

"It's a valuable tool, providing updated state-by-state projections, but it is inherently optimistic because it assumes that all states respond as swiftly as China," said Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida.

In an interview earlier this week, the head of the IHME group, Christopher Murray, said his model was created for a different purpose from Imperial College's.

"The reason we created our model is to help hospitals plan. How many beds you'll need, how many ventilators, when the peak is likely coming," Murray said. The purpose of Imperial's model "is to make people realize government intervention is crucial and what would happen without that."

- - -

For the past decade, the federal government has been nurturing a group of about 50 epidemiologists and math modelers at universities. The U.S. government launched the effort when it became apparent that U.S. expertise in disease modeling was outstripped by England's world-class experts, said Dylan George, a former Obama administration official at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy who was involved in that effort.

Since January, the CDC has been working with that larger group of modeling teams, but it has been unclear, especially in recent weeks, how much the White House was listening to their data and projections.

The handful of projections the task force has plucked from the group and used in White House discussions, administration officials said, are sometimes deployed with an audience of one in mind: Trump.

Officials have said Imperial College's 2.2 million-death projection convinced Trump to stop dismissing the outbreak and take it more seriously. Similarly, officials said, the new projection of 100,000 to 240,000 deaths is what convinced Trump to extend restrictions for 30 days and abandon his push to reopen parts of the United States by April 12, which many health experts believe could have worsened the outbreak.

But what remains unclear and alarming to many modelers is whether the White House is using their data to create a coordinated, coherent long-term strategy.

- - -

Such a national strategy is critical because of the lag time in data that comes with outbreaks.

Any numbers available today - confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths - lag two to three weeks behind how the virus is spreading. So decisions made by authorities based on that present-day data are, almost by definition, reactive and potentially come too late.

To get ahead of a virus like this one, authorities must use projections of the future to act in the present.

A White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak by name said the administration does have long-term plans and has been addressing those concerns in the daily briefings.

"Repurposing a [car] plant to make ventilators is great, but honestly - I'm not one to cast stones - but it could have been done earlier," said Shaman, the Columbia epidemiologist whose models have been reviewed by the White House.

But Shaman doesn't think the White House's death projection is too low, nor does he think it's too late to act decisively.

"I think we can come in under 100,000 deaths. I do," he said. "The jury is not yet in on this."

- - -

The Washington Post's Lena H. Sun contributed to this report.
Australia could face a deeper public health crisis because jobless temporary visa holders are unable to access welfare and are at risk of homelessness.

Researchers from the University of Sydney's business school said Australia is risking the spread of COVID-19 by creating an underclass of migrant workers thrown out of jobs but with no right to the new $1500 JobKeeper fortnightly payment, Medicare or other welfare - and many unable to fly home even if they want to.

With no income, the researchers say many are struggling to pay rent or see doctors - even if they have symptoms that should be reported - and many will be tempted to move to cash jobs in the underground economy to survive, raising the risk of infection.

University student Liz Wibowo has appealed to the federal government for welfare support on behalf of migrant workers on temporary visas. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Since losing her retail job in recent weeks, student Liz Wibowo, 22, from Indonesia has been living off savings and financial support from her parents. The University of Sydney politics student believes temporary visa holders should receive the same welfare support given to other workers.
NAPLES - The central bank of Kuwait recently launched an aid package to attenuate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. The Central Bank of Kuwait has reduced liquidity and capital adequacy requirements for banks and cut risk weighting for SMEs, it said in a statement, according to The National.



The bank cut capital adequacy requirements by 2.5% and eased the risk weighting for SMEs to 25% from 75%. It also raised the maximum lending limit to 100% from 90% and increased the maximum financing for residential real estate developments to the value of the property or the cost of development.



The bank said the measures would encourage banks to lend more and help vital sectors and SMEs "overcome the current circumstances" and that it would closely monitor banks to ensure the package meets its intended purpose "and will not hesitate to take further measures to meet the higher interest of the national economy".



The central bank also asked banks to ease loan repayments for companies affected.
Quito: Troops and police in Ecuador have collected at least 150 bodies from streets and homes in the country's most populous city Guayaquil amid warnings that as many as 3,500 people could die of the coronavirus in the city and surrounding province in the coming months.

A joint military and police task force sent out to gather corpses in the horror-struck port city had collected 150 in just three days, government spokesman Jorge Wated said late Wednesday.

Residents had published videos on social media showing abandoned bodies in the streets in the Latin American city worst hit by the pandemic.

Some left desperate messages for authorities to take away the corpses of people who had died in their homes.

Authorities have not confirmed how many of the dead were victims of the coronavirus.

Rosa Romero, 51, lost her husband Bolivar Reyes and had to wait a day for his body to be removed from their home.

A week later, amid the chaos of the city's mortuary system, she does not know where it is.

"In the forensic bureau they told us that they had taken him to the Guasmo Hospital. We went there to find him but he has not registered anywhere," Romero said.

A 15-hour curfew imposed in the city makes further searching difficult.

Government apology

The government's spokesman apologized in a message broadcast on state television late Wednesday.

He said mortuary workers had been unable to keep up with the removal of bodies because of the curfew.

"We acknowledge any errors and apologize to those who had to wait days for their loved ones to be taken away," Wated said.

Mortuary workers in masks and protective clothing were seen carrying plastic-wrapped coffins in the city on Wednesday as authorities tried to cope with the backlog of dead.

Work at cemeteries and funeral homes has stalled, with staffers reluctant to handle the dead over contagion fears.

Ecuador is the Latin American country worst hit by the virus after Brazil, with more than 3,160 infections and 120 deaths by Thursday morning.

Guayaquil has Latin America's highest mortality rate from COVID-19 with 1.35 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants  higher than the 0.92 per 100,000 registered in Brazil's epicenter Sao Paulo  according to Esteban Ortiz from Ecuador's University of the Americas.

Guayaquil's surrounding province of Guayas has 70 percent of the country's COVID-19 infections.

Ecuador's first reported case of COVID-19 was a 71-year-old Ecuadoran woman who arrived in Guayaquil from Spain on February 14.

'Difficult days ahead'

Wated said the government is preparing for even more difficult days ahead.

"The medical experts unfortunately estimate that deaths from COVID in these months will reach between 2,500 and 3,500  in the province of Guayas alone, and we are preparing for that," he said.

Autopsies have been restricted and the government, which has banned usually crowded funeral services, initially insisted that COVID-19 victims be cremated but was forced to relent after a public backlash.

"We are working so that each person can be buried with dignity in one-person spaces," Wated said, referring to a government-run cemetery being made available with capacity for around 2,000 bodies.

Last month, the city's mayor Cynthia Viteri sent municipal vehicles to block an Iberia plane sent to repatriate stranded foreigners from landing at the city's international airport.

But Viteri was unapologetic as the number of cases spiraled in her city.

"I take responsibility for protecting my city," she said.
Covid-19 is likely to create a series of challenges for the county's farmers, according to Wicklow IFA county chairperson Chris Hill.

Speaking to this paper, Mr Hill said 'the impact on society first and foremost has been dramatic. We have never seen anything like this before. Our supply chains are still working so farmers can get what we need in terms of food for animals, etc. Milk and dairy is okay for now. We have the capacity to produce food in Ireland to feed 35 million people, but we have a market here of 5 million.'

Mr Hill said that surplus food and a slowdown of supply chains across Europe could create issues for farmers.

'Take meat for example, the closure of McDonalds and Supermacs restaurants will have an impact on demand. The market for steaks has crashed all of sudden because a huge proportion of steaks went to restaurants. Now, we face a problem of oversupply which will create downward pressures on prices.'

Mr Hill said that Spring is a busy time for farmers.

'Animals are also reaching weight and need to go to be sold or to the factories. We can't stop this process indefinitely. Border controls will have the effect of slowing down the movement of animals and food even though there is no restriction on the movement of livestock.'

However, Mr Hill said retail demand may ease some of the supply-side issues for farmers.

'People still have to eat. They'll need to go shopping to buy food and when they do, they may choose to cook nutritious home-made meals, if they have the time to do so.'

The closure of the marts last week, following a direction from Government, will have a 'huge impact' on farmers.

'At this time of year, animals are traded to graze on grassland to get up to weight while calves from dairy herds are also being sold. The competitive element of sales becomes harder to judge [without the marts]. Farm to farm trading can help, but the process is much simpler through marts.

'Marts did shut down for a time due to concerns about Foot and Mouth in 2001. The system that was put in place did work, but it imposed a high level of cost and loss on farmers.'

Mr Hill said at the moment 'farmers are out in the fields doing what they do best', however, 'if the farmer gets sick, this comes with its own risks. The question of who will look after the farm is complex. I'm not aware of any instances of farmers testing positive for Covid-19 in my area so far but there are issues that need to be worked out.'

He added that the IFA has been lobbying the Government and EU for additional supports.

'At the top level, the IFA have made early representations to the Government and the EU about the situation. These concerns will need to be straightened out. We're conscious that these issues affect the whole country.'
U.S. President Donald Trump says he brokered a deal with Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut oil output and end a steep decline in oil prices amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Trump said he spoke with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 2, but details of how the cuts would work were unclear.

"I expect & hope that they will be cutting back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more which, if it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

Trump said Russia and Saudi Arabia could cut output by 10 million to 15 million barrels per day -- an unprecedented amount representing 10 percent to 15 percent of global supply. Such a cut would require the participation of nations outside of OPEC and its allies.

The U.S. president said he did not make any concessions to Saudi Arabia and Russia, such as agreeing to a U.S. domestic production cut, in brokering the deal.

Russia and Saudi Arabia have been at odds since failing early last month to agree on a deal curbing output as the coronavirus spread around the globe. The pandemic has worsened since, freezing economic activity and sending oil prices into a tailspin.

Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said on April 3 that Moscow was no longer planning to raise output and was ready to cooperate with OPEC and other producers to stabilize the market.

Saudi Arabia has called for an emergency meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, an informal grouping known as OPEC+, state media reported, saying it aimed to reach a fair agreement to stabilize oil markets.

Trump is set to meet with U.S. oil industry executives at the White House on April 3.

With reporting by Reuters, Bloomberg, and AP
In his first three years in office President Donald Trump has been able to survive various scandals, such as the Mueller investigation into Russian collusion and the Ukrainian quid pro quo that ended in a failed impeachment conviction. Notwithstanding these rocky moments, Trump did not detour from his duties in protecting Americans -- he had both ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Irans General Qasem Soleimani eliminated while simultaneously keeping the U.S. from another potential war in the Middle East. He was also able to do what no prior president has done over his first 35 months, keeping the unemployment to less than 4% at 3.9% -- the closest was Dwight Eisenhower, when the rate averaged 4.3% between February 1953 and December 1955. As Stanfords Hoover Institution research fellow Bruce Thornton said: The opposition Democrats looked increasingly likely to be settling one of two old, rich, white mediocrities as their standard-bearer for November [election day], with nothing to recommend them other than utopian, expensive anti-free market policies and their irrational hatred of Donald Trump.

However, since the COVID-19 outbreak, the invisible enemy has thus far infected over 140,000 Americans and killed over 2,600. The economy has taken a massive hit as Wall Streets 11-year bull run came to an end, ushering in a recession as shutdowns of economic activity roll across America; the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits soared to a record-shattering 3.283 million. Now that Trumps presidency is being tested like no other in the modern period, how will history judge his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, especially since hes been criticized by the usual suspects for mishandling the situation?

Let us not forget that information was rather thin when China identified it in December. The Chinese Communist Party ordered its scientists to destroy evidence of the virus, suppress physician warnings, turned around ships loaded with vital supplies, and threaten to block critical pharmaceuticals so that America might experience the hell of a novel coronavirus epidemic. As for the false accusation that Trump reacted late in handling the invisible enemy -- it would be in the accusers best interest to know that he took action before any other Western leader. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated on January 14: There is no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission. [emphasis added] Incidentally, Trump was also falsely accused by Democrats of saying that the coronavirus was a hoax. An examination of the video and transcript show Trump actually described Democratic complaints about his handling of the virus threat as their new hoax. He never referred to the coronavirus itself as a hoax. In any case, just a week after the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Seattle, Washington, Trump announced on January 29 the creation of the Presidents Coronavirus Task Force to lead the United States government response to the novel 2019 coronavirus and with keeping him apprised of developments. Two days later the Trump administration suspended entry into the United States by foreign nationals who had traveled to China within the last 14 days (excluding Hong Kong and Macau), and presidential hopeful Joe Biden accused Trump of hysteria, xenophobia and fearmongering for this; the travel ban was extended to Europe on March 11.

It is true that Trump at a news conference on February 25 in India said that the coronavirus is well under control was in fact true -- one of so many Trump statements taken out of context and misconstrued by those who want him to fail. In fact, Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume addressed critics of the presidents daily coronavirus briefings saying that while some in the press corps play it straight, too many of them are still trying to, you know, play the old game that you do... asking these questions intended to show theres something that Trump said previously was inconsistent with somebody. So thats fine for normal times. These are not normal times.

The Trump administration was handling the outbreak the best it could with what it had on hand, unlike other leaders in the free world who demonstrated complete ineptitude.

Keep in mind that I am an American who lives in the European coronavirus hotspot, Italy, which has everything a good democratic socialist in America would want, including universal health care -- prior to the outbreak, Italy was judged by at least one study to possess the worlds second-best health care system. When the severe outbreak occurred in the northern part of the country, Florence Mayor Dario Nardella and the Regional President of the Lazio (southern Tuscany) Nicola Zingaretti, both encouraged everyone to hug the Chinese and to disregard any social distancing -- afterwards the former went into quarantine for 14 days and the latter announced that he was positive for coronavirus. Let us not forget UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who initially refused to take aggressive measures and wound up, like Prince Charles, testing positive for the virus.

Paralleling the lockdown measures put in place in China and Europe, on March 16 the White House released a 15-day advisory, requesting citizens to avoid all but essential excursions from the home, such as for food or to pharmacies. On March 27 Trump signed into law a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill after it passed in both the House and the Senate. And as of March 30, because of his business-type style in working with the private sector, a new COVID-19 test from the medical device company Abbott was approved for emergency use thus far only in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration. The test can return positive results in five minutes -- and it can be run in a doctors office.

Trump, again compared to the rest of the free world, has acted with lightning speed within the last month with the Task Force anchored by Vice President Mike Pence -- I have told my family, relatives and friends in the States that I wish we would have the same in Italy, especially after the European Union has thus far done nothing for us here. Despite this, in addition to his daily briefings, the #NeverTrump media have continued their obsessive-compulsive habit of manipulating people's fears and vilifying Trumps decisions to the point that they circulate patent lies, such as both the Associated Press and the Washington Post printing that Trump had cut funding for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which they had to correct.

How will Trump be judged, especially by Americans at the ballot box come this November? It is still rather early, but President Trumps overall approval rating has gone up by 5% in the most recent weekly Gallup poll. For only the second time in his presidency, Gallup found more Americans approving (49%) than disapproving (45%) of his job performance; some 60% gave him positive reviews for his handling of the pandemic. As Bruce Thornton succinctly stated: By this point, at least half of American voters have become used to the media and Dems crying wolf. Many voters no doubt will see these antics as a despicable search for partisan advantage at a time when the whole country faces a serious health crisis. What they see on the news nearly every day is Trumps attention focused on resolving the crisis and instituting policies to soften the economic blow.
Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 10:43PM

The wide aspect ratio cut out important visual gags like this scene that should show that the Duff, Duff Lite, and Duff Dry beers all come out of the same spout. (Screencap credit: Tristan Cooper/Twitter)

Disney drew a lot of flak when it launched Disney+ with The Simpsons not streaming in the correct 4:3 aspect ratio. But now, the series will be available in this aspect ratio soon. Almost six months since the launch of Disney+, the company announced that it had found a solution, and it hopes to stream The Simpsons in its proper format by the end of May.

It was sometime in Season 20 when The Simpsons switched from 4:3 to 16:9. The latter format was what Disney opted to stream the series in "to guarantee visual quality and consistency across all 30 seasons." But that came at the cost of losing visual gags because they got cropped out. And fans were unhappy about this development. Now, let's hope Disney will be able to meet the deadline they set so that The Simpsons can be enjoyed in its proper format.

Source: The Verge
Health-care workers are engaged in what is more and more often being described as a war against the covid-19 pandemic, and the casualties are mounting. In China, an estimated 3,000 health-care workers have been infected by the virus responsible for covid-19; at least 22 have died. In Italys Lombardy region, 1 in 5 health-care professionals has become infected, and many fear the United States could soon be headed in that same direction. More than 50 of Italys doctors are already confirmed dead. Domestically, we lost our first physicians and nurses to covid-19 two weeks ago. With dozens more surely to follow, when is enough, enough?
Passengers from a virus-hit cruise ship and its sister vessel, also struck with a handful of cases, started heading home Friday from Florida, after being stranded at sea for days. The Zaandam, operated by Holland America Line, began its stranger-than-fiction journey on March 7 in Buenos Aires -- before international restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus were in full force. It was meant to dock two weeks later in Chile, but when passengers aboard fell ill, several countries refused to let the ship dock. The Rotterdam came to its aid at sea, and the two vessels finally docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday -- with dozens of sick people aboard, and four dead. "We have made history," said the captain of the Rotterdam, Bas Van Dreumel, in a message sent to AFP by a passenger. "Some of you have a long journey ahead, some of you have already arrived home here in Florida. (...) You made me a better captain, and you made me a better man." On Friday, buses escorted by local police will transport those passengers deemed fit to travel to airports, where they will transfer to charter flights -- without transiting the terminal. "Walking down the hallway," passenger Wendy De Pinho told AFP in a video message as she and husband Rick -- both in masks -- left their cabin for the first time in two weeks. The couple then boarded a half-empty bus -- social distancing rules were being enforced. "We'll be at the airport soon," she said. Fourteen passengers and crew were evacuated on Thursday night to two local hospitals. "Of the patients transferred to our system last night, some are in critical condition and some are in fair condition," said Jennifer Smith, a spokeswoman for Broward Health, which operates one of the hospitals. Otherwise, a total of 26 passengers are being kept on board until they recover. Another 50 crew members are also sick and recovering, but all crew will remain on board the ships. All told, 107 passengers and 143 crew reported flu-like symptoms during the voyage, but many have since recovered. Only 11 tests were done, and nine were positive. The ships are to remain in Port Everglades until Saturday, and then will be anchored offshore until the sick passengers are cleared to disembark. "The people who came out to welcome the ships brought tears to the eyes of some on the ship," Rick De Pinho said of their Thursday arrival. "It made me feel proud of our country." - Another ship on way to Florida - Florida's Republican governor Ron DeSantis initially said he did not want the Zaandam and Rotterdam to dock, for fear the ill passengers would tax the state's already strained health care system. But he eventually changed his tune, saying he had not immediately realized there were US citizens -- some of them Floridians -- involved. DeSantis may have to make another tough decision in the near future. Another ship with coronavirus patients on board, the Coral Princess, is now also seeking safe harbor in Fort Lauderdale after some of its passengers and crew were diagnosed with the virus. Plans to do so are "under review with local officials," Princess Cruises told AFP, adding that it would give updates as soon as possible. It was not clear if the ship, flagged in Bermuda, was seeking entry to any other ports. It has already been denied access to ones in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Twelve passengers and crew on board the Coral Princess tested positive for COVID-19 after samples were sent to Barbados, the cruise line announced. The ship has a total of 1,898 people onboard -- 1,020 guests and 878 crew members, the company said in a statement to AFP. The Coral Princess left Chile on March 5 for a two-week cruise that was due to end in Buenos Aires on March 19. Both Princess and Holland America are owned by cruise giant Carnival. Medics transfer a patient on a stretcher from Holland America's cruise ship Zaandam after it docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Holland America's cruise ship Zaandam was at sea far longer than planned once passengers became ill with flu-like symptoms Passenger Rick De Pinho and his wife Wendy, who were transferred from the Zaandam to the Rotterdam at sea, have now disembarked and are heading home to New Jersey More than a dozen passengers and crew from the Zaandam and Rotterdam have been taken to local hospitals in Florida
Popular Vote

To the Editor:

In his review of Jesse Wegmans Let the People Pick the President (March 22), Josh Chafetz argues that the Electoral College as we have it now should go. Although his case appears to endorse the democratic approach to selecting a president  let the majority decide  he fails to see the probable detriment in letting the voters decide. With a strictly popular vote process, an avalanche of political parties will undoubtedly run candidates for the White House. For example, rather than one Democrat and one Republican opposing each other, you will see countless candidates running for the highest office in our land (2016 candidates would include Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Mitt Romney). No single candidate in either party could possibly amass 50 percent of the popular vote in a state primary. Convention delegates would represent possibly dozens of candidates, with no one able to secure a majority.

Countries such as Italy, France and Israel have systems where no political party candidate can ever win an election outright, leading to very tenuous coalitions. We cannot afford to have fractured presidential campaigns, where a possible winner holds 25 percent of the total popular vote.

The Electoral College as we have it now ensures that a president has wide and deep support from the American populace  lets keep it that way.

Gary S. Laveman

New York



To the Editor:

Its hard to imagine a political institution less suited to a 21st-century liberal democracy than the Electoral College, Josh Chafetz writes in his review. Actually its easy: One need look no further than the United States Senate, which treats, for instance, every single Wyoming voter as equal to 68 Californians.
A man and a child look peek the window of their house at Dharavi, which has been sealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. (PTI)

Mumbai: Alarmed by the rising cases of coronavirus across Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified 212 containment zones where movement of people will be curtailed. It has sealed off some of these areas completely with the help of the police.

The BMC made public the GIS map of COVID-19-affected areas in the city on its website.

Containment zones are areas where either one or more COVID-19 cases has been found or suspected patients live. They include slums, isolated buildings, nursing homes and housing colonies.

CCTV cameras have been installed in these areas to keep a watch on the residents. It is also using video analytics systems, which can locate a person loitering or moving out of the area and automatically send a message to police.

Covid-19 cases in Mumbai are now also being reported from densely populated areas like Dharavi, the citys biggest slum.

"Some areas like Dharavi, Worli Koliwada, Prabhadevi and Bimbisar Nagar in Goregaon have been sealed off completely with the help of the police. No one is allowed to go in and out of these areas. Disinfectants were also sprayed to sanitise these places, a senior BMC official said.

To avoid inconvenience to people living in the containment zones, the BMC has been supplying essential commodities to these localities. We are making making all necessary arrangements in these areas, said the official.

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope informed that the Centre has allowed Maharashtra to conduct rapid, mass-scale COVID-19 testing by using blood samples to expedite detection of coronavirus cases. The government will use blood samples instead of swabs in the rapid tests, he added.

Dr Avinash Phadke, president of SRL Labs, said that rapid test reports will be available in two hours. If antibodies are found in the blood, the patient can be referred for the swab test to confirm the infection. The rapid tests will not only reduce the burden on the laboratories, but the facility can be easily available even in the rural areas, he said.
Mayor Eric Garcetti recently advised the citizens of Los Angeles to don face masks while leaving their homes to run 'essential errands.'

And Julia Roberts appeared to take Garcetti's advice to heart when she braved the open air on Friday morning for a CVS shopping trip in Malibu.

The 52-year-old actress had a colorful mask draped across her face and a pair of disposable gloves slipped over her hands.

Safety first: Julia Roberts stepped out on Friday morning for an errand run in her Malibu neighborhood

The Pretty Woman star concealed her recognizable brown peepers behind a pair of black RayBan sunglasses, while her hair hung down in natural waves from a neat middle part.

Roberts rocked a black bomber jacket that she layered over a striped long sleeve shirt.

She slipped her slender stems into a pair of denim skinny jeans and rounded out her look with a pair of black Gucci loafers with fur trim.

Julia brought her own reusable totes for her errand run, but due to the volume of items purchased, she had no choice but put the rest of her goods in a provided paper bag.

Suited up: The 52-year-old actress donned a colorful face mask and slipped a pair of gloves over her hands for protection amid the coronavirus pandemic

Stock piling: Roberts made the most of her essential errand run by filling her cart to the brim with goods

As the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic has grown, Roberts has chosen to use her personal Instagram as a means of communicating the importance of quarantining.

In mid-March, the famous leading lady shared a makeup-free selfie as part of a celeb-only challenge that forced participants to list the reasons they 'stay home for.'

In the post seen by her 8.4million followers, Roberts wrote: '#IStayHomeFor My Family, For Small Businesses, For all the health care workers fighting around the world, For my amazing 95 year old neighbor.'

She continued: 'I stay home to be part of the solution. Everyone, stay home. It is the right thing to do.'

Roberts stunned in a pair of tortoise shell glasses and plunging red floral patterned dress, as she posed before her mirror.

Staying home: In mid-March, the famous leading lady shared a makeup-free selfie as part of a celeb-only challenge that forced participants to list the reasons they 'stay home for'; Julia posted this photo on Instagram on March 23

Social distancing: On Thursday, Julia revealed to her online following that she has been using FaceTime as a means to keep in contact with those she is socially distanced from

To keep the challenge going, Julia tagged fellow Hollywood A-Lister Jennifer Aniston and her 29-year-old niece Emma Roberts.

'Wish I was staying home with you,' wrote Emma in the comment section.

On Thursday, Julia revealed to her online following that she has been using FaceTime as a means to keep in contact with those she is socially distanced from.

'April, trying to FaceTime you,' captioned the Academy Award winning actress.

In the coinciding photograph, Roberts attempted to cover her famous mug with a slew of emoji stickers.

Important: As the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic has grown, Roberts has chosen to use her personal Instagram as a means of communicating the importance of quarantining

Though Mayor Eric Garcetti suggested the use of face masks while out in public, he also stated that wearing a face mask does not mean large numbers of people should be making their way onto the streets.

In his statement, released on Tuesday in the LA Times, Garcetti wrote: 'To be clear, you should still stay at home. This isnt an excuse to suddenly all go out.'

Though the mayor was originally waiting for official confirmation from the CDC regarding nation wide face mask use, he decided to get ahead of the curve by introducing the advice early to Angelenos.
Since the health emergency was decreed in Morocco on March 20 to fight the Covid-19 spread, thousands of people have attempted to violate the rules, but that was without counting on the vigilance of the security services.

Thus, since the enforcement of the laws governing the quarantine period and providing for sanctions against those who violate the precautionary measures laid down by authorities, 4,835 individuals were prosecuted for having violated these provisions, of which 334 were under arrest, said the public prosecutors office in a statement Thursday.

Likewise, 263 people, including 43 under arrest, have been prosecuted for violating some provisions of the laws related to the state of health emergency.

The public prosecutors office also said that part of the fight against fake news, 81 judicial inquiries were conducted and led to the prosecution of 58 people.

The offenders face the penalties provided for in the pandemic-related laws, i.e. 1 to 3 months imprisonment and fines of 300 to 1,300 dirhams.

The individuals who obstruct public forces work in monitoring compliance with the state of emergency, those who encourage citizens not to abide by the confinement and the physical distancing or to take to the streets and to hold rallies may be prosecuted.

In the event of acts penalized by the Criminal Code, such as resistance to law enforcement, or breaching the confinement without the authorization delivered by authorities, harsher and more dissuasive penalties may be applied, including a sentence from 6 months to 2 years in prison.
IT firm Cyient on Friday said it has signed an agreement with Hitachi Rail to deliver a series of project engineering services to support the latter in accelerating the evolution of its signalling technology.

The partnership will also help Hitachi Rail in expanding and enhancing its project execution capacity, Cyient said in a statement.

As part of the agreement, Cyient will develop and operate a central delivery centre for Hitachi Rail in India, and a regional centre in the US, it added.

These centres will be responsible for delivering engineering services (such as application logic design, hardware design, software configuration, and verification and validation) for Hitachi's global signalling projects that use proprietary interlocking platforms, the statement said.

The company will also provide software development and configuration support for Hitachi's ATS product.

"We are excited to be working with Hitachi Rail and support them on critical, state-of-the-art signaling projects worldwide. This agreement is a reflection of Cyient's credibility in building global partnerships in safety-critical industries such as rail transportation," Cyient MD and CEO Krishna Bodanapu said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In order to comply with the social distancing guidelines, and to take steps to ensure the health and safety of the press corps and White House staff, there is no room for reporters who do not have an assigned seat today, or on any given day, to be standing in the briefing room, he said in a statement. If somebody is to be a guest of the White House, they should be sitting in the seats to the side [of the podium] which are set aside for White House staff.
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Former Top Gear star Richard Hammond has been given the go ahead to renovate a party barn at his 15th Century Grade II listed 2million castle - but he will have to share his home with a rare breed of bats.

The Grand Tour presenter won a battle with conservationists over revamping his country estate near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, and submitted two planning applications.

But ecologists also noted that parts of the historic castle could have the potential to house the flying mammals.

Historic England also warned that the Grand Designs-style makeover plans could impact on the attractiveness of part of his 15th century property.

Hammond, 49 - nicknamed The Hamster - wanted to add five-bedrooms to house family and friends and revamp a swimming pool.

An aerial view of Richard Hammond's 15th Century Grade II listed castle (pictured above), which cost 2million. He has submitted two planning applications for the six-bedroom property and won a battle with conservationists over renovations, but was warned by ecologists the historic building could have the potential to house a rare breed of bat

The Grand Tour presenter and former Top Gear star's barn (above), which will be subject to a Grand Designs-style makeover. In planning documents, Hammond's agent Mark Watson said the proposal has been designed as a 'minimal intervention, bringing light into the middle of the barn while being recessive to the main structure'

A swimming pool (above), currently housed in the barn, is set to be reduced as part of the plans. Hammond purchased the property, which has 20 acres of land, for himself, his wife Mindy, and their two young daughters. Alongside revamping the swimming pool, the TV host also plans to build a glazed extension and add five bedrooms to the building

He also plans to build a bigger conservatory, a boot room, and a secondary stairway between the ground and first floors.

As part of the renovations, the TV host also plans to build a glazed extension to link a dining room to a display room to show off his impressive motorbikes collection.

Richard Hammond pictured with his wife Mindy Hammond. The pair married in 2002 and have two daughters

Clarke Webb Ecology, raised concerns about bats and said in a report: 'There are a small number of external crevices that overlook both proposed extensions and that appear suitable for use as a roost by bats.'

Sarah Lewis, historic buildings inspector, raised concerns about the conservatory, kitchen and boot room and said: 'Historic England has concerns regarding the applications on heritage grounds.

'These alterations will impact on significance and should therefore comply with the policy contained in section 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

'A detailed assessment of significance has been undertaken which demonstrates that the kitchen, boot room and conservatory impact on areas of the building that have already been much altered into the twentieth century.

'The new layout at this level in the east range retains fabric that contributes to significance and introduces partitions and a new stair that respond sensitively to the historic structure.

'A series of cupboards is proposed to create a dressing room. We are not clear on what form these will take.'

'These alterations will impact on significance and should therefore comply with the policy contained in section 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

'A detailed assessment of significance has been undertaken which demonstrates that the kitchen, boot room and conservatory impact on areas of the building that have already been much altered into the twentieth century.

Hammond's plans for his 2million estate (pictured), showing the locations for potential bat roosting 'enhancements', as mentioned by case officer Emily Reed, namely the 'existing boot room with castellated parapet', 'gaps below overhanging eaves on NE elevation' and in the 'occasional slightly lifted roof tile on overlooking roof slopes SW and NW elevations'

The proposed ground floor plan (pictured). Mr Watson, Hammond's agent, said the proposal involves 'alterations to the ground floor to provide space for entertaining guests'. The much-loved TV presenter purchased the property in 2008

Another map of the proposed ground floor plan (above). Bollitree Castle near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, dates back to the 15th century and was originally the home of wealthy merchant Richard Amerike. Castle walls were added in the 18th Cenury

The proposed plan for the barn, which is designed to bring more light into the middle of the area while being 'recessive to the main structure'. After six months, council bosses have given the go-ahead to both of Hammond's planning applications

'The new layout at this level in the east range retains fabric that contributes to significance and introduces partitions and a new stair that respond sensitively to the historic structure.

'A series of cupboards is proposed to create a dressing room. We are not clear on what form these will take.'

She added: 'We have similar concerns about the shower room in the principal bedroom in the west range.

'This room makes a strong contribution to the bedroom of highest status in the early 18th century.

'The existing front door case does not contribute to significance and has an awkward aesthetic in the context of this mostly designed evolution.'

After six months, council bosses have now given the go-ahead to both proposals after Hammond submitted revised plans for the glazed kitchen, sun room and boot room in January.

But the council told Hammond that he must install two bat boxes within the boundary of these areas.

Case officer Emily Reed said: 'The proposal looks to alter a designated heritage asset in a way that ensures that the historic and architectural merits of the building are retained and harm is avoided, following the submission of amended plans.

'This is reinforced by the lack of objection from the Council's Historic Buildings Officer and Historic England.

The proposed first floor plan (pictured). Mr Watson, Hammond's agent, said the proposal 'primarily involves providing additional sleeping accommodation on the first floor'. The council told Hammond that he must install two bat boxes

Another planning application of the proposed first floor plan (above) showing two bedrooms, the master bedroom, master ensuite, dressing room and a bathroom. Internally, a 'simple detailed oak gallery' will provide access to the first floor

'The ecological impacts of the proposal have been assessed above and based on the submitted information are found to be relevant and appropriate.

'The recommendations within the survey will be conditioned on any approval.

Adding of the conditions on bat protection, she said: 'Within three months of completion of the works approved under this planning decision notice, evidence of the suitably placed installation within the site boundary of at least two Bat roosting enhancements and two bird nesting boxes should be supplied to and be acknowledged by the local authority.'

Hammond and his wife Mindy at the 'NHS Heroes Awards' held at Hilton Park Lane on May 14, 2018, in London

In planning documents, Hammond's agent Mark Watson wrote: 'The proposal primarily involves providing additional sleeping accommodation on the first floor, with alterations to the ground floor to provide space for entertaining guests.

'The swimming pool is reduced in size and the gym relocated to the southern end of the barn. A glazed extension provides a link between the dining area and the motorbike display room.

'The proposal has been designed as a minimal intervention, bringing light into the middle of the barn while being recessive to the main structure.

'Internally, it is proposed to remove a section of modern floor structure to create a double height dining space with a simple detailed oak gallery providing access to the first floor.'

Bollitree Castle dates back to the 15th century and was originally the home of wealthy merchant Richard Amerike.

Castle walls were added in the 18th century but they are now crumbling in places and the small panes of an arched widow have been smashed.

The castle also has a stable yard which is graced by various gargoyle statues and carvings and surrounded by a moat with 12ft high hedges and an imposing iron gate.

Hammond purchased the property in 2008 for 2million.

It comes after Oasis legend Noel Gallagher encountered a similar problem at his Hampshire property last year.

The pop star was planning to remove a wall on the first floor of the property and rearrange internal partitions to create an enlarged dressing room and en-suite bathrooms.

But ecologists found an active bat roost in the roof of the 8 million mansion meaning the former Oasis star will have to switch off all lights on the first floor until they are replaced - because they are 'emitting light and high frequency noise into the roof void'.
In collaboration with long-term community partners, TruTalks will assist Florida residents in accessing available resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

TALLAHASSEE, FL, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL &OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company based in the United States, is launching a month-long series to assist Florida residents in understanding and accessing the resources available to them during this time. The TruTalks will be streamed in half hour increments with community partners and will contain information related to the social services available to all Florida residents.

"Over the past four years, we've grown from one store to 45 throughout the State of Florida, and we wouldn't be able to do that without the support of the communities we become a part of," said Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve. "From the beginning, one of our driving goals as a company has been to increase and deliver accessibility to Florida's patients. The current COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to so many; not just to our Trulievers, but to the communities we are fortunate to call home. We feel honored that we can use our platform to help our fellow Floridians find, access, and understand the resources available to them and are thankful to our long-term community partners in helping us do so."

For the inaugural stream, Trulieve is partnering with Lutheran Social Services, a national organization with offices in Jacksonville, Florida. Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida (LSSNF) operates four distinct community outreach programs with the overall goal "to help those facing hardships stabilize their lives and earn a fresh start."

The discussion will focus on information about social services available to people in Florida, including advice on applying for unemployment, finding a local food pantry, and help with health insurance. The stream will take place on Saturday, April 4th, at 12:00pm, and will be hosted by Bill Brim, LSSNF Executive Director.

WHAT: Trulieve TruTalk with Bill Brim, Lutheran Social Services

WHEN: Saturday, April 4, 2020, at 12:00 PM

WHERE: Trulieve's YouTube Page

To learn more about Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida and the resources available through them, please visit LSSJax.org.

For the second stream, Trulieve is working with the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Sarasota County (NAMI Sarasota), a non-profit "dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with illness  through support, education, awareness, and advocacy."

The stream will be a discussion on mental illness and the resources residents can utilize during this crisis. Trulieve will stream live with NAMI Sarasota on Tuesday, April 7th, at 12:00pm, and will be hosted by Colleen Thayer, Executive Director of NAMI Sarasota.

WHAT: Trulieve TruTalk with Colleen Thayer, National Institute on Mental Illness

WHEN: Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 12:00 PM

WHERE: Trulieve's YouTube Page

To learn more about NAMI Sarasota and their mission, please visit NAMISarasotaCounty.org.

TruTalks are set to run through the month of April and will focus on a variety of topics. For more information, please visit www.Trulieve.com.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is a vertically integrated "seed-to-sale" company and is the first and largest fully licensed medical cannabis company in the State of Florida. Trulieve cultivates and produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulieve-branded stores (dispensaries) throughout the State of Florida, as well as directly to patients via home delivery. Trulieve also operates in California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Trulieve is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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 the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

To learn more about Trulieve, visit www.Trulieve.com.

SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.
Bentley Institute Press, a publisher of cutting-edge textbooks and professional reference works for the advancement of the engineering, architectural, construction, operations, geospatial, and educational communities, has launched its new Inside MicroStation Connect Edition.

The three-volume set focuses on developing a strong understanding of the basics of MicroStation and follows a step-by-step approach that includes exercises and real-world examples complete with illustrations.

The publications instruct readers on how to use the 2D design fundamentals of MicroStation and lay a foundation for advanced learning.

The series can be found on Amazon Kindle (volumes I, II, III) and Apple books (volumes I, II, III). The book series serves as a powerful learning tool and a quick reference guide for students, beginners, and practicing professionals, said Bentley Institute Press in a statement.

The book series reflects the benefits of using the Connect Edition and discusses the features of MicroStation Connect Edition, including new CAD capabilities and its power and versatility to precisely view, model, document, and visualize information-rich designs of all types and scales.

MicroStation Connect Edition is for professionals working in every discipline on infrastructure projects of every type.

Vinayak Trivedi, Vice President, and Global Head of Bentley Institute, said: "We are pleased to offer this much-awaited title from Bentley Institute Press, which will help engineers take a massive leap forward in their productivity, while working with MicroStation."

"Bentley experts Samir Haque, Smrutirekha Mahapatra, and Shaylesh Lunawat have brought together their years of experience and lessons learned to write these three volumes. I anticipate that all readers of this series will be able to increase their mastery of MicroStation Connect Edition and enhance their careers with this book set, he added.
Long after the governments of Delhi



and Uttar Pradesh were done ferrying Bihari migrants to their homes by busloads, a young daily wage labourer found himself at the Anand Vihar bus terminus in the national capital, grieving for his mother.

Mukesh Yadav alias Dipu (26), who hails from Bhagalpur district, had been crestfallen ever since receiving a call from his father on Monday evening that his mother was killed in a freak accident that left her head severed from her body.

Working as a daily wage earner since he was only 14, Dipu was out of work but had planned to stay back at his shanty in Sarai Kale Khan until receiving the terrible

We had been visiting the Anand Vihar bus terminus with food for the hapless migrants ever since the mass exodus began. On Monday evening, the number of people was far less and it appeared that the business of sending off migrants was over. Suddenly we spotted this young man, weeping inconsolably," says Yogita Bhayana, Delhi-based social worker.

Bhayana, who has been better known for her activism against sexual crimes in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya gang rape incident, swung into action but met initial disappointment.

"I rang up many legislators and bureaucrats in Delhi for help. They all told me the restrictions on movement of people from one place to another have tightened and it was impossible to help Dipu reach his village and attend his mothers funeral.

"I tweeted furiously, tagging the chief ministers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, hoping for help to come from whichever corner possible. I was told that my tweets had gone viral, Bihar politicians like Tejashwi Yadav, Pappu Yadav and Chirag Paswan sharing these on their official handles. However, concrete help eluded us, she told PTI over phone.

Bhayana said, it was late in the evening when she got a call from the Resident Commissioner of Bihar Vipin Gupta, who said he had been tipped off about her tweets by the office of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"Gupta asked me to come right away which I did. He was forthcoming help and wasted no time in giving a signed and stamped letter authorising travel to Bihar. There was a small obstacle, though, as he said he was not in a position to arrange a vehicle.

"My younger brother Hemant, a passionate animal lover, then demonstrated that he cared no less for humans," she remarked fondly.

Hemant took Dipu in his car and took off for a gruelling, more than 1,000 kilometers long drive, around midnight on Tuesday.

"Another associate of ours, Rohit, joined him to take turns at the steering wheel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Myanmar & COVID-19 COVID-19 Patients Dog Spared From Execution in Myanmar

One-year-old Jackie. / Supplied

Yangon  The life of a one-year-old dog belonging to COVID-19 patients in Bago Regions Pauk Khaung Township has been spared after it was marked out for execution.

On Thursday, U Tun Tun Oo, the regional minister for immigration and human resources, told the media that Jackie was due to be executed because the family of four was forced into hospital isolation after testing positive for coronavirus.

U Thet Min Zaw, the township parliamentarian, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the minister had allowed the German shepherd dog to be rescued.

Jackie was left alone in the house when the family was sent to hospital for isolation.

Ko Aung Kyaw Moe, the founder of the stray dog shelter Anada Myitta in Bagos Pyay Township, told The Irrawaddy that he had received permission from the regional government to look after the dog.

He said he had planned a separate kennel for 14 days.

I also want to study if the virus can infect both humans and animals, said Ko Aung Kyaw Moe.

Jackies owner is a Pauk Khaung administrator. He and his 10-year-old son, eight-year-old daughter and 18-year-old niece are believed to have been infected with the virus from his 45-year-old wife who lives in Yangon and tested COVID-19 positive on Tuesday.

Eleven people, including four parliamentarians, who attended a meeting with the administrator, have not been tested for coronavirus and are under home quarantine, U Thet Min Zaw said.

Nine others at the meeting are in a Pauk Khaung quarantine center.
The coronavirus is affecting all aspects of life around St. Louis.

Missouri's governor ends holdout against "stay at home" order" and issues one to start Monday. West and north St. Louis County have been the hardest-hit parts of the county so far during the crisis. Fair St. Louis is called off. Price-gouging complaints roll in to Missouri officials. Grocery stores and shoppers face some struggles navigating the new norms of keeping away from one another. The nation shed more than 700,000 jobs in March. Radio layoffs hit St. Louis These are some of Friday's developments.

7:30 p.m.: ST. LOUIS  People experiencing homelessness are setting up tents in a park across from Stifel Theater, near Market Street, to help protect themselves from coronavirus. Yusef Scoggin, director of family and health services in St. Louis County and chairman of St. Louis Area Regional Commission, said Friday that, according to national statistics, about 40% of people experiencing homelessness are likely to end up with COVID-19.

6 p.m.  ST. LOUIS  Four women in the city have died of coronavirus, bringing the city's total death toll to five. Three of the women were older than 70 years old, and one was in her 50s.
Dear Editor:

Lets be clear about one thing: The doctors and scientists who know the most about the coronavirus say that, at best, if we take all the measures they have recommended, the U.S. will suffer between 100,000 to 200,000 deaths. Even President Trump has parroted these numbers.

In order to stay at the lower range of that prediction, we must have a nationwide stay-at-home order. Schools, bars, restaurants, churches, playgrounds, beaches, etc., must be closed. Plus do all the rest: no crowds over 10, wash hands, stay 6 feet apart.

The president needs to make that an order, but he wont. He has abdicated his leadership. Failing that, the governors of the individual states must step up and do their jobs. About 35 governors have ordered those things for their states. Let it be known that if we have near 200,000 deaths or, God forbid, more, it is the fault of Donald J. Trump and the governors of Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming and Florida.

This is what happens when the president is unfit and governors lack leadership. This is truly the Trump Pandemic.

Lee Augustine

Wawarsing, N.Y.
GREENWICH  As the number of cases of coronavirus continues to rise in Greenwich, First Selectman Fred Camillo said Thursday that tough steps may need to be taken nationwide.

A total of 170 Greeenwich residents had been diagnosed with coronavirus as of Thursday, up from 157 on Wednesday, according to the state of Connecticut. The state medical examiners office said seven people with coronavirus have died at Greenwich Hospital, although that counts includes all patients, not just Greenwich residents.

Of those seven, at least three were town residents. But Camillo said a family friend had passed away Wednesday night after being diagnosed with the virus and that total had not been officially updated.

As cases rise nationwide, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said Thursday that the nation must institute stronger stay-at-home policies immediately. When meting with the local media, Camillo did not dispute Ganims viewpoint and said the Democratic mayor was speaking from the heart.

Thats not a foreign thought at this point, said Camillo, a Republican. Its been discussed by almost everybody. I dont know if were there yet, but lets look at it this way: If we had shut down for two weeks as a nation two weeks ago, how much further along would we be in flattening the curve?

What were trying to do is keep the economy going as much as possible and keep government functioning as much as possible while flattening the curve by shutting down as many things as possible but not totally doing it. he said. On many levels, were not far from it now so I think (Ganim) is not far off.

Camillo has been aggressive in promoting social distancing in town, closing the towns parks and beaches as well as the playgrounds, libraries and civic centers. The towns Senior Center and Town Hall are also closed to the public.

Hospital adds surge beds

As of Thursday afternoon, there were 95 patients at Greenwich Hospital who have tested positive for the virus. Since the outbreak began, 75 coronavirus patients have been treated at Greenwich Hospital and discharged to continue their recovery at home.

The hospital said it continues to handle the patients without needing to look for alternate sites.

Greenwich Hospital has reassigned patient areas to maximize our internal hospital bed capacity and added surge beds in many locations throughout the hospital, hospital COO Diane Kelly said Thursday.

We also have surge plans that include using our outpatient facility at Holly Hill Lane. We are jointly examining with the state and town additional alternate local sites, as this is an important step in the process, she said. Hospital leaders will continue their dialogue with town officials about alternate sites.

BET meets via Zoom

In the meantime, the business of town government continues. The Board of Education and the Board of Estimate and Taxation have successfully held meetings remotely through the use of the Zoom video conferencing app. On April 7, the towns Planning and Zoning Commission will do so, too.

Four items will be considered at the next meeting, including sewer hookups to the new Greenwich Academy Performing Arts Center and preliminary plans for the Greenwich High School Cardinal Stadium improvements, Town Director of Planning and Zoning Katie DeLuca said.

GHS is not seeking a municipal improvement yet but rather this is a pre-application.

DeLuca said this is a chance to simply discuss the plans and is not yet a formal application.

This allows for an applicant to express a concept with the Planning and Zoning Commission, DeLuca said. It is non-binding. It is an important part of the process because we want the applicant to present the entire project to the commission.

Residents can observe the meeting by going to www.greenwichct.gov/virtualpnz.

It is important people know there is still transparency and an ability to get involved, DeLuca said. Its our way to try to keep things afloat.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
But as challenging as it may have been, Ms. Bosworths life was hardly grim.

Patricia Crum was born into privilege on April 24, 1933, in San Francisco, the daughter of Bartley Cavanaugh Crum and Anna Bosworth Crum, who was known as Cutsie. Her mother was a former crime reporter who wrote several novels, among them Strumpet Wind (1938).

Her father, who was known as Bart, encouraged Patricias acting aspirations, and it was he who advised her to take her mothers maiden name  depriving future critics of the chance, as she put it, to castigate a crummy performance by Patricia Crum.

During Ms. Bosworths childhood, her father practiced law in San Francisco and served as an adviser to the liberal-leaning internationalist Wendell Willkie in his Republican presidential campaign in 1940 and for some years after.

Image Ms. Bosworths second memoir, published in 2017, is both the story of a survivor who struggles with the suicides of her father and brother and an entertaining account of the authors sexual awakening and her life among actors in New York. Credit... Patricia Wall/The New York Times

In her first memoir, Ms. Bosworth remembered her parents as glamorous figures, always leaving for parties or throwing them, their living room crowded with celebrities. But there were shadows behind the California sunlight.

Her mother, feeling abandoned by her constantly traveling husband, had affairs; her fathers heartfelt liberalism would run athwart of the postwar Red Scare. More than one reviewer of Anything Your Little Heart Desires compared the Crums story to an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.

Mr. Crums decline followed his defense of members of the Hollywood Ten, who had refused to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee in its attempt to root out suspected Communists in the movie industry. His corporate clients disappeared. He moved the family to New York, where he purchased the left-wing newspaper PM and tried to turn it around as The New York Star. The attempt failed, and he became despondent, worried about money and harassed by the F.B.I.
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEx:2318; SSE:601318) announced that Ping An and its Chairman Ma Mingzhe are now responding to the urgent needs of the British government by donating medical supplies to the United Kingdom (U.K.) with a total value of GBP1.1 million (approximately RMB10 million). The donation is an initiative in response to the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit's call to support various nations in fighting the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The donated supplies include medical equipment such as COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, surgical masks, protective clothing, ventilators and safety googles, to help address the serious shortage of medical supplies in the U.K. The donation also includes technological support such as the COVID-19 smart image-reading system developed by Ping An, which can generate rapid and accurate analysis of Computed Tomography (CT) lung scans for each individual case within 15 seconds, with a 97% accuracy rate. This service can aid and support doctors' efficiency and accuracy in diagnosis.

In more detail, Ping An's medical supply donation to the U.K. includes 100,000 surgical masks, 100,000 pairs of gloves, 10,000 safety goggles, 10,000 hand sanitizers, 10,000 face masks, 10,000 COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, 4,000 sets of protective clothing and 15 respirators. The medical technological aid includes 1,000 sets of the COVID-19 smart image-reading system. In China, Ping An's COVID-19 smart image-reading system has supported more than 1,500 medical institutions in China, including Hubei Province, and has assisted doctors with analysis in over one million CT scans for more than 20,000 patients.

As early as 2015, China and the U.K. established a strategic partnership for the 21st century. Both countries have always worked together to help each other. During the fight against the pandemic this year, President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have spoken twice over the phone. The two leaders focused on reaching an agreement on strengthening cooperation in fighting the pandemic and exploring the establishment of a global health partnership. At present, the domestic COVID-19 situation in China is effectively under control, with China in the process of resuming work and production, as its economic and social systems are being restored in an orderly manner. With the current situation in the U.K. being severe and complex, the serious shortage of medical supplies threatens the safety of medical staff and the British people. With this donation, Ping An is supporting Britain's efforts in fighting the outbreak.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," a Ping An spokesperson said. "Many parts of the world are facing a pandemic, and the situation in the U.K. is serious. The Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit has called on the international community to accelerate efforts to contain the outbreak. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in China earlier, countries around the world, including the U.K., have supported China in its fight against the epidemic. Ping An stands ready to fulfill its corporate social responsibility, using its advantages in insurance protection, financial services and healthtech to contribute to the international community's pandemic control efforts. Ping An believes that by working together with the international community, we will triumph over the pandemic."

Last week, Ping An also responded to the needs of the Indonesian government by donating USD1.5 million (RMB 10 million) of COVID-19 medical supplies, including 10,000 sets of safety goggles, 10,000 sets of COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, 150,000 swab kits, 200 infusion pumps, and 100 patient monitors. Medical technology support included 1,000 sets of the COVID-19 smart image-reading system and 10,000 AskBob medical artificial intelligence (AI) assistants. Previously, Ping An Good Doctor cooperated with Grab, the Southeast Asia ride-hailing service provider, to co-launch an online medical service platform, GrabHealth, to provide more than 10,000 daily online consultations.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic in China, Ping An has introduced several initiatives in terms of insurance protection, public welfare donations and medical services. To date, Ping An has donated more than USD20 million (RMB150 million) of supplies and cash. Ping An has also provided free insurance protection for frontline medical staff, journalists, police officers and volunteers. Ping An partnered with the Ming Yuan Charity Fund and has donated RMB18 million (USD2.5 million) to the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to support the Phase III clinical trials of COVID-19 drug remdesivir and other clinical trials to combat COVID-19.

Ping An's subsidiary Ping An Good Doctor, an online health platform, has cooperated with 62 provincial, municipal and regional governments to provide real-time online and phone consultations. Since the outbreak, it handled 1.72 billion platform visits. The Ping An Healthcare Testing Center was among the first batch of third-party medical institutions authorized by Hubei Province to carry out the Nucleic Acid Test (NAT), the primary reference for COVID-19 diagnosis. The center has also deployed mobile CT-imaging vehicles to perform 64-slice lung CT scans to screen and diagnose the novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia. The vehicles have conducted over 500 tests daily and over 22,000 tests in total since the end of January.

Ping An Smart Healthcare, the smart health care team of subsidiary Ping An Smart City, created the National Real-time COVID-19 Update System, covering 21 provinces and 31 cities. It provides smart epidemic forecasting for relevant national ministries and commissions as well as 15 provincial health committees, achieving more than 98% accuracy for one-day forecasts and 97% accuracy for seven-day forecasts.

- End -
The number of reported covid-19 cases in India has jumped 50 percent over the past two days to 2069, last evenings data from the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) shows. This is a faster increase compared to the previous 48 hours, when the reported case count rose 35 percent to 1379.

The actual increase has likely been higher, given the ministry updated its data for yesterday early evening, and did not post any further updates in the night even as figures aggregated from state government officials suggested that the case count had inched up far beyond what the Union health ministry was reporting.

Compared to last week, Indias trajectory has steepened considerably this week. Indias curve is still flatter than that of the US, which is emerging as the new global epicentre of covid-19. Yet, it is far more steeper than either Singapore or South Korea, which have managed to flatten their coronavirus curves through a combination of focused surveillance, screening, and the effective use of masks to contain the pandemic.

Indias case count is now roughly double what it was four days ago. At this trajectory, the number of cases could shoot up to 10,000 over the next ten days. If the same trajectory continues beyond that period, Indias hospitals could get overwhelmed in the next few months.

Given the volatility in Indias daily data over the past few days, it is too early to say whether the current trajectory will sustain, rise, or flatten in the coming days. It is worth noting that the US had a flatter trajectory compared to China till recently. But as testing expanded, cases spiked up, with the US now overtaking China as the country with the most confirmed cases of covid-19.

At 280, Maharashtra leads in terms of the number of active cases of covid-19, according to the latest health ministry update. Active cases exclude deaths and recoveries from the list of confirmed cases. Kerala has the second most number of active cases (238), closely followed by Tamil Nadu (227). At 207 active cases, Delhi has the fourth-highest number of active cases, followed closely by Rajasthan (105). The top five states together account for 57 percent of the active cases nationally.

These are early days yet and the state-wise distribution could change rapidly in the coming days. Across the country, there seems to be a strong link between the extent of testing done by states and the number of cases that have been identified. This suggests that as other states ramp up testing, more cases could get reported from those states as well.

View Full Image Data as of 2nd April 6PM

View Full Image Source: State government portals

So far, three states have reported covid-19 cases in the north-east: Manipur, Mizoram, and Assam. Other north-eastern states have not reported any case so far.

Over the past two days, Delhi and Tamil Nadu have seen the biggest spikes in confirmed cases. These two states accounted for 44 percent of the rise in confirmed cases nationally over this period.

View Full Image Source: MoHFW

Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have seen the biggest spikes in active cases since Wednesday night. The number of active cases rose from 144 to 207 in Delhi, from 63 to 93 in Madhya Pradesh, and from 254 to 280 in Maharashtra.

So far, the provisional district wise details are available for 1,965 confirmed cases nationally. In this list, Mumbai (174 cases) has reported the most number of cases nationally, and also leads in the state of Maharashtra.

Kasargod district (115 cases) has reported the most number of cases in Kerala. Chennai (37 cases) tops the list of most confirmed cases in Tamil Nadu. In Rajasthan, it is the capital city of Jaipur (32 cases) that has reported the most number of cases.





Close to a million people have now been detected as covid-19 patients globally even as severe parts of the world, including India, have taken severe lockdown measures in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes covid-19.

So far, covid-19 has claimed 53,030 deaths globally, of which Italy has accounted for the most deaths (13,915), followed by Spain (10,348). These countries have overtaken China --- where the virus originated --- in the number of deaths. China, which has seen 3,332 covid-19 deaths so far, has been able to slow the spread of the disease over the past month.

If Europe followed China in becoming the epicentre of the pandemic, the US has followed Europe now. At 245,070 confirmed cases and 5,949 deaths so far, the US has surpassed China on both counts. US officials have however disputed Chinas figures on deaths and cases, and suggested that the actual toll in China might have been several times higher.

In India, there have been 53 deaths till yesterday but this could change in the coming weeks. Testing criteria in India have been stringent so far and are gradually being relaxed even as new labs have begun testing.

It is likely that cases will continue to mount over the coming days as testing expands, even if the lockdown has lowered the rate of transmission of the virus. The full impact of the lockdown can be gauged only after a few weeks. If the lockdown phase is used effectively to identify and isolate affected patients, this could help India flatten the curve in the coming weeks. If not, cases could spike once the lockdown ends.

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The quick intervention of the Akuapem South District Chief Executive (DCE) and his health emergency management team saved four men who had sneaked into Apantem, a farming community near Aburi in the Eastern Region from being lynched by community members.

The arrival of the four who fled from Accra following the imposed partial lockdown on the capital city triggered agitation and unrest over fears that they could be infected with the coronavirus and may spread it in the community.

The presence of the DCE created fear among the residents who stopped the attack on the men.

The Akuapem South DCE, Frank Aidoo who was on a sensitization tour as part of measures carried out by four assemblies in the Eastern Region to halt the spread of COVID-19 intervened and gave the four money to return to Accra.

We were on our usual routine to go and educate the villagers on COVID-19 and upon arrival, we were told that these gentlemen had actually sneaked into the village. If we had not gotten there, it would have ended up in a lynch because the residents were quite angry. So what we did was to try and calm them down and later on, we had to ask the people to leave because we couldn't guarantee their safety.

We came out with certain modalities and what we wanted to do was to make sure that some of these things are curbed. We had a lot of people coming from Accra when Accra was shut down. So among the things that we told people was that when somebody comes from anywhere, what the person should do is to self-isolate. Once the person does that, we feel that is okay. So at the moment, what we are doing is to educate them, he explained.

---citinewsroom
Misha Friedman/Getty

If New York City wasnt under a strict stay-at-home order right now, protesters might be marching along Central Park. Thats where an evangelical Christian organization called Samaritans Purse is preparing to open a makeshift COVID-19 ward. The 60-bed emergency field hospital is composed largely of tarp-wrapped tents and will function as a respiratory unit servicing overflow patients from Mount Sinai Hospital.

Some New York residents have criticized Samaritans Purses presence, citing their spotty record in the field and expressing fears that the conservative religious groups beliefs could even open the door to substandard care or discrimination. City Mayor Bill de Blasio admitted he was very concerned about the operation and was sending people from his office to monitor Samaritans Purse.

As a result, conservative Christians exploded on social media, citing the controversy as further proof that their faith is under attack by intolerant liberals and coastal elites who care little about human life.

Andrew Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Seminary, tweeted, Cultural decadence is allowing intersectionality to determine the acceptability of emergency response. And Peter Hasson, a Catholic editor for conservative news site The Daily Caller, tweeted, If youre getting mad at the people taking care of the sick during a pandemic, maybe consider the fact that youre not the good guy in this story.

As my therapist often reminds me, the human brain is capable of understanding that two things can be true at the same time. In this case, a person can believe that the brave doctors and nurses currently deploying to Central Park to help combat this terrible virus are brave and necessary and also believe that the organization chosen to manage the work of these doctors and nurses is deeply problematic. Holding both of these ideas in your mind at the same time doesnt make you a bad person; it demonstrates that youre a thinking person. Were in the midst of a public-health crisis and must take an all-hands-on-deck approach to caring for the sick.

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And upon closer inspection, New Yorkers have plenty of good reasons to feel uncomfortable about this new coronavirus hospital.

Of chief concern is the person overseeing the Central Park ward: Samaritans Purses president and CEO Franklin Graham. He is the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham and a spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump who has a surprisingly long history of controversial comments and hate speech.

Graham seems to harbor a special level of disdain for followers of Islam, which he characterizes as a wicked and evil religion that encourages adherents to beat their wives and murder their disobedient children. In 2015, he recommended banning all Muslims from immigrating to America and suggested our government treat them like the Japanese and German during World War II. As rationale, he argued that Muslims have the potential to be radicalized and participate in killing to honor their religion and Muhammed.

Thats the man running Samaritans Purses coronavirus hospital, so yes, Muslim New Yorkers are right to be skeptical.

"A tent hospital run by Samaritan's Purse opens to treat overflow patients from Mt. Sinai Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 1, 2020 in Central Park, New York City." Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty

Grahams hate speech is also often aimed at LGBTQ people. He has called same-sex marriages detestable and has drummed up fear toward gays and lesbianswhom he believes should burn in hellby claiming they want to drag an immoral agenda into our communities. In an article that has mysteriously disappeared from the Decision Magazine website, Graham wrote that the architect of the LGBTQ rights movement was none other than Satan himself. And when Vladimir Putin initiated a violent crackdown on LGBTQ rights in Russia, it sparked a wave of beatings, abduction, public humiliation and other forms of violence against sexual minorities there. Graham responded by praising Putins policy, lauding the authoritarian leader for [protecting] his nations children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda.

Given such history, it makes complete sense that Mount Sinai Hospital asked Samaritans Purse to sign a written pledge to treat all patients equally.

Some conservative Christians have dismissed this as harassment, claiming that a scenario in which evangelicals discriminated against gays and lesbians is ridiculous to imagine. But our fair city has a long memory. We remember all the gay men who fled communities across America where evangelicals pastors condemned them as abominations and found safe harbor in New York. We remember that when masses of them contracted HIV/AIDS and filled our hospital beds, evangelical preachers on TV called it Gods judgment. We remember Jerry Falwell and the religious right lobbying against HIV research and relief in the '90s, leading to untold deaths.

All this occurred in my lifetime, and I am only 37. So please pardon New Yorkers if they feel uneasy, given American evangelicals often-unacknowledged track record coupled with Grahams comments, and want to take some minor precautions to ensure all citizens are protected. Gay, lesbian, and transgender New Yorkers are right to be skeptical.

Even some conservative Christians whove acknowledged the disturbing nature of Grahams comments have attacked Samaritans Purses critics for intolerance. Anyone should be able to help anyone in this time, the argument goes. Its wrong to prevent people from serving the sick. I totally agree; but Samaritans Purse does not. The organization is requiring that all personnel serving in its pop-up hospital be Christians who agree to Samaritans Purses 11-point Statement of Faith, which includes the beliefs that non-Christians will burn in hell and that same-sex relationships are sinful.

Its unsurprising, if lamentable, that a Christian aid group would turn away a Buddhist doctor looking to help its efforts. But if a lung doctor shows up in Central Park with the knowledge and experience to save lives, she could be sent home if she happens to be a liberal Episcopalian who voted for Hillary Clinton and supports marriage equality.

If it is wrong to quibble over who is fit to help save lives in the middle of a crisis, then we must admit that Samaritans Purse is no better than its critics.

The groups defenders are correct, however, that the organization has laudably worked to meet emergency needs in crisis regions since its founding. They have accomplished much good in places like Kosovo, Sudan, Somalia, and Darfur. But their record is not unblemished, and many in the humanitarian world have questioned the quality of some of Samaritans Purses work.

After USAID gave Samaritans Purse a large grant to help victims of the earthquake in El Salvador, they were disturbed to learn that the Christian group blurred the lines between church and state by using funds to evangelize victims instead of just help them. An official with Samaritans Purse dismissed the criticism by claiming, We are first a Christian organization and second an aid organization.

That wasnt the first time such blurring occurred, however. During the first Gulf War, respected U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf publicly criticized the group for trying to coerce American troops serving in Saudi Arabia to covertly distribute Arab-language Bibles under the guise of humanitarian work. And Samaritans Purses popular Operation Christmas Child has recently been drawn fire when people learned that the holiday shoeboxes given to poor children in non-Christian families around the world were stuffed with Christian evangelism materials.

The vast majority of New Yorkers are not Christian, and if they find themselves wheezing for air due to COVID-19, they dont want to be proselytized while receiving treatment. They too have reason to be skeptical of the organizations makeshift hospital.

This is what Samaritans Purse doeswe respond in the middle of crises to help people in Jesus Name. Please pray for our teams and for everyone around the world affected by the virus, Graham declared in a press release announcing the ward.

None of Samaritans Purses detractors have argued that the Central Park ward should be shuttered or that the organization be barred from offering care. And no one is casting aspersions on the many courageous health-care professionals who will put their lives at risk when this hospital opens. Most agree with the letter from Mount Sinai staff and doctorsat least one of whom is LGBTQthat concerns about Samaritans Purse, while valid, must be set aside at the moment because the higher mission at present is to preserve human life.

To this, I say yes and. New Yorkers can admit that Samaritans Purse should have a role to play in this vital work, and they can also acknowledge the many valid reasons that might make vulnerable and marginalized residents a little more than nervous.



Jonathan Merritt is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are VanishingAnd How We Can Revive Them.

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Iraq condemns UK-based news agencys story that claimed number of new infections much higher than official figures.

Iraq has revoked Reuters news agencys reporting licence for three months after it reported the number of new coronavirus cases in the country was in the thousands, much higher than official figures.

Iraqs Communications and Media Commission (CMC) condemned the reporting, calling it astonishing in a statement on Thursday.

Reuters quoted three unnamed doctors along with anonymous health ministry and senior government officials as saying that thousands of people in Iraq had contracted COVID-19.

The news report also said the number of deaths was much higher than publicly reported, and that Baghdad was concealing data from the public  allegations strongly rejected by Iraqs health ministry.

Its incorrect information, said Saif al-Badr, the health ministry spokesman, in a text message sent to Reuters without elaborating.

The official death toll in Iraq from COVID-19 is 54, while the number of coronavirus cases totals 772.

In addition to temporarily revoking Reuters licence, Iraq said it would impose a fine of about $21,000.

It also asked Reuters to issue an apology over the report that put social security at risk. There was no immediate response from the news agency.





Expected spike

The World Health Organization (WHO) in Iraq said on Wednesday the number of COVID-19 cases in the country would rise sharply over the next 10 days as testing becomes more rigorous.

The figures in Iraq are still moderate so far but expect a spike in the coming weeks because of the increase in testing, said WHOs representative in Iraq, Adham Ismail, in an interview with Al-Ayyam TV, an Iraqi satellite channel.

Three laboratories became operational for COVID-19 testing in Najaf, Basra and Baghdad Medical City in Baghdad, Ismail said.

This has increased the numbers of tested cases to more than 4,500 tests a day, compared to a maximum of 100 a day a few weeks ago, he added.

Iraq introduced a curfew on March 17 and restrictions on travel as part of measures to contain the infections. It has since extended the nationwide curfew twice.

The country shares an extensive border with Iran, which has the highest number of cases in the Middle East. Iraq also suffers from an overstretched healthcare system after years of sanctions, war and neglect.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China in late December, the virus has spread to at least 181 countries and regions.

Data compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University shows worldwide infections surpassed one million with more than 52,800 deaths. About 208,900 victims have recovered.








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The eggs' developmental rates and gene expression were measured. The researchers evaluated the ability of embryos to reach critical stages of development at specific time points. With higher concentrations of THC, they found a significant decrease and delay in the ability of the treated oocytes to reach these checkpoints. "This is a key indicator in determining the quality and developmental potential of the egg," Misner said.THC exposure led to a significant decrease in the expression of genes called connexins, which are present at increased levels in higher quality oocytes. Poorer quality oocytes, with lower connexin expression levels, have been shown to lead to poorer embryo development. "This embryo would be less likely to proceed past the first week of development, and thus lead to infertility," Misner said.Preliminary data also showed THC affected the activity of a total of 62 genes in the treatment groups compared with the non-treated groups. "This implies lower quality and lower fertilization capability, therefore lower fertility in the end," she said.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.Source: Eurekalert
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics centre in Boves

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Amazon is not liable for unknowingly stocking goods for third-party sellers that infringe trademarks, Europe's top court said on Thursday, handing online retailers a victory in their battle against luxury goods companies.

The case, brought by U.S. cosmetics company Coty's German unit, illustrates the tension between brand names seeking to preserve their brand exclusivity and sprawling online platforms such as Amazon and eBay fighting against curbs on their business.

Luxury goods makers have questioned the scope of online platforms' responsibility for products sold, or content transmitted, on their sites.

Amazon found itself in a German court after Coty said it violated its trademark rights by stocking its Davidoff perfume for third-party sellers and should be held responsible for such practices. The online retail giant's "Fulfilled by Amazon" scheme allows it to store and deliver goods for such sellers, a key part of its business model.

The German court sought guidance from Europe's top tribunal, the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which backed Amazon.

"The mere storage by Amazon, in the context of its online marketplace (Amazon Marketplace), of goods which infringe trademark rights does not constitute an infringement by Amazon of those trademark rights," judges said.

'POWERFUL REMEDIES'

The online retailer welcomed the decision. "Amazon continues to invest heavily in fighting bad actors on our store and is committed to driving counterfeits to zero," it said.

Coty said it was important that luxury brands be allowed to control online sales of their products.

"Not every virtual marketplace follows the same criteria and though online is an important growth channel, it is important that the framework of selective distribution is maintained here as well," it added.

The ruling does not give a free pass to online retailers, said Joel Smith, head of intellectual property at law firm Herbert Smith Freehills.

Story continues

"Most European courts are now also willing to grant broad injunctions to force platforms to take down infringing items and search their sites," he said.

"Powerful remedies still exist to tackle the sale of counterfeit, look-a-like and infringing products online across the major sales platforms, despite this decision."

Coty gained the CJEU backing in 2017 to stop retailers selling their products on online platforms to protect their image, marking a landmark victory for brand names. Europe has more luxury brands than other continents.

(Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Pravin Char)
Odisha government on Friday



said a total of 60 people from the state had attended the religious congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month and one of them has tested positive to COVID-19.

Twenty seven of the Tablighi Jamaat participants, including seven foreign nationals, have returned to Odisha after attending congregation at Nizamuddin, an official said.

"Of the 27 people back in Odisha, 21 have tested negative while a resident of Cuttack was detected as positive to COVID-19," said the state governments COVID-19 Chief Spokesperson Subroto Bagchi.

He said test reports of five others are awaited.

Apart from the 27 persons (including 7 foreigners) who have come to Odisha after attending the event in Nizamuddin, 40 others from the state had also attended the congregation.

"They are quarantined in different states like Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh," Bagchi said.

The people who have returned to the state and their family members have been put in government quarantine and under close observation.

The seven foreign nationals who have come to the state after attending the Nizamuddin event in Delhi, comprise six from Sudan and one man from Djibouti.

The state government has also launched a massive contact tracing exercise of the people who attended a similar religious congregation at Talcher in the state. "The samples from some people in Talcher were collected and sent for COVID test," Bagchi said.

He said that a group of 10 people from neighbouring West Bengal had recently visited Talcher in Odishas Angul district. Some local people of Talcher had participated in the event attended by the 10 people, Bagchi said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The largest wholesale food market in the world has opened as a morgue for people who have died from coronavirus  while still selling meat, fish and vegetables.

France's giant Rungis International, which is based in the southern suburbs of Paris, is providing a refrigerated hall for up to 1,000 coffins.

'This is necessary because undertakers cannot cope with the massive death toll  more space is urgently needed,' said a police source in the city.

The Rungis market, in Paris, now houses a makeshift morgue for some of the city's coronavirus victims after a sudden spike in deaths mean space ran out (file image)

The first bodies will arrive on Friday while the rest of the market remains open for business, as ministers insist the morgue has been completely isolated from the other pavilions (file)

'Coffins will start arriving at Rungis on Friday, and on Monday families and friends will be allowed to visit under strict conditions to pay their respects.'

Paris police chief Didier Lallement had authorised the move, saying 'Paris is the region of France most affected by coronavirus' and adding that the crisis is 'expected to continue for weeks'.

The makeshift mortuary is located on the edge of the market and 'isolated from the other pavilions,' the police chief told French news agency AFP.

The coffins will eventually be moved from the market hall to cemeteries or crematoria around France or abroad.

The market, which normally employs up to 15,000 people and is on a 575 acre site, will meanwhile continue to sell food.

The coronavirus death death toll surged to just under 5,400 people on Thursday after the government began including nursing home fatalities in its data.

France has confirmed 59,105 cases of coronavirus and 5,387 deaths from the disease as the curve of infection peaks, leaving medical services overwhelmed (pictured, a patient is evacuated from Paris to another hospital with fewer cases)

French firefighters have been drafted on to the frontlines in Paris where they are helping to evacuate coronavirus patients to other hospitals

The pandemic had claimed the lives of 4,503 patients in hospitals, said Jerome Salomon, head of France's health authority.

More grim figures showed Covid-19 had killed a further 884 people in nursing homes and other care facilities, he added.

This makes for a total of 5,387 lives lost to coronavirus in France - an increase of 1,355 over Wednesday's cumulative total.

Mr Salomon said: 'We are in France confronting an exceptional epidemic with an unprecedented impact on public health.'

The country's broad lockdown is likely to be extended beyond April 15, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said, extending a confinement order to try and deal with the crisis that began on March 17.

The country is to introduce smart phone barcodes to help enforce its Coronavirus lockdown  making it easier to track people and fine them.

The move  which was announced by Interior Minister Christophe Castaner on Thursday night  comes as more than 50m has already been paid out by those caught without the right documentation.
A coronavirus graffiti drawn at a junction to create awareness during a nationwide lockdown, imposed in the wake of COVID 19 outbreak, in Bengaluru. PTI

Karnataka reports 14 new Covid19 cases

14 new Covid19 cases have been reported from Karnataka, rising the total to 124. At least 11 out of the 14 people tested have been directly or indirectly linked to the Jablighi-Jamaat event in Delhi.

Karnataka move to SC over inter-state issue with Kerala

The karnataka government moved to Supreme Court over Kerala High Court's orders to open the Karnataka-Kerala inter state borders to facilitate the movement of patients from Kasaragod district to Mangalore for medical help.

Karnataka moves to SC over Kerala HC's orders on inter-state border

Bagalkote reports first Covid19 case

A 75-year resident of Bagalkote district, with no history of travel tested positive for coronavirus, making Bagalkote the 14th district in the state to report the virus.

The new case takes the state's overall cases to 125, with three deaths so far.

Karnataka reports one more Covid19 case, tally rises to 125

Muslim MLAs agree to provide details of Tablighi Jamaat participants

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said Muslim MLAs of the state have agreed to provide details of those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi, to the government and also convince them to undergo COVID-19 tests along with quarantining themselves.

CM Yediyurappa seeks Muslim leaders' cooperation to contain virus outbreak

Southern Railways to turn train coaches into isolation wards

Southern Railway have begun work on converting 20 train coaches into isolation wards for treatment of Covid-19 patients here on the instructions from the Railway Board.

Southern Railways to turn train coaches into isolation wards for Covid19 patients
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 14:59:34|Editor: Wang Yamei

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HOUSTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. state of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Thursday announced at a press conference the extension of the stay-at-home order through the end of April due to COVID-19 concerns.

According to the order, residents should stay at home unless going out for essential tasks, including trips to the grocery store and pharmacy.

"This order will close additional non-essential businesses but keep open gas stations and pharmacies that are providing critical services. Restaurants will still be allowed to have carry-out and drive-thru takeout meals," the governor said.

"In the last two weeks, our growth rate (of confirmed COVID-19 cases) has been faster than any other state or country in the world. That is why it matters," he said, explaining the reason for the order extension.

According to the state's department of health, 9,150 cases and 310 deaths have been reported in Louisiana as of April 2.
She tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend Chandler Powell at Australia Zoo last week before the venue was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And now Bindi Irwin has confirmed that fans will be able to share in their special day.

The 21-year-old revealed on Instagram on Friday that the couple is broadcasting their 'wedding story' on Animal Planet.

Must watch! Bindi Irwin (right) revealed on Instagram on Friday she is sharing her wedding to Chandler Powell (left) in a special episode of Crikey! It's the Irwin's on Animal Planet

'We will also be sharing our entire wedding story on Animal Planet (on) April 18 during a special episode,' she announced.

'We can't wait to see you there. Love wins!'

Bindi and her family starred in a 12 part series called Crikey! It's the Irwin's which aired on the network in 2019 and concluded with Chandler proposing on her 21st birthday.

So sweet! 'We will also be sharing our entire wedding story on Animal Planet (on) April 18 during a special episode. We can't wait to see you there. Love wins!' Bindi told fans

It comes after the newlywed revealed to People magazine that her elegant wedding gown was a tribute to her mother Terri's wedding dress, from when she married Crocodile Hunter Steve in 1992.

'I wanted something very similar because I've admired [my mum's] dress since I was tiny,' Bindi said.

Bindi recalled putting on her mother's wedding gown when she was 12 and falling in love with it.

The blonde beauty wasn't able to wear the same dress or have it altered because it was already 50 years old.

Tribute: It comes after the newlywed revealed to People magazine that her elegant wedding gown was a tribute to her mother Terri's wedding dress

Luckily she found a 'perfect' gown, by Paddington Weddings, that resembled the family heirloom.

'It was just perfect, I said, 'Oh my goodness, that's the dress,' and we all started crying again,' she said.

The dress also featured sunflower lace sleeves which Bindi said reminded her family and her late father Steve.

Bindi and Chandler, 23, got married at the family zoo - just hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced new restrictions on weddings due to the coronavirus pandemic, with only five people allowed to attend.

Just like her parents: Bindi recalled putting on her mother's wedding gown when she was 12 and falling in love with it . Terri married Steve Irwin in 1992 (pictured)
A total of 204 people from Himachal Pradesh, who attended the religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin last month, have been traced and quarantined in the state, a police spokesperson said on Friday.

They were identified and quarantined in seven police districts, SP law and order Khushal Sharma said.

The highest number of people were quarantined in Baddi (73), followed by Una (39), Sirmaur (35), Shimla (23), Chamba (20), Kangra (10) and Mandi (4), he added.

The Nizamuddin Markaz is being seen as hotspot of coronavirus in the country as thousands of people including hundreds of foreigners, many of whom were suspected to be COVID-19 positive, took part in the congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat.

"The 204 people who returned to the state after attending the gathering in Nizamuddin have been traced and quarantined," Sharma said.

Meanwhile, three Himachal Pradesh residents who had participated in the Nizamuddin event had tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

They were staying in Una but are natives of Mandi district. They have been admitted to Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMS) in Kangra district, officials said.

Till Thursday, a total of 190 Markaz attendees were traced and quarantined in the state, Sharma said.

Besides, 17 people from the hill state have been quarantined in Delhi.

According to some reports, the Union home ministry has sent a list of more than 700 people from Himachal Pradesh who attended the congregation in the national capital.

The list has reportedly been prepared after tracking the mobile phone location data of those who were present at the Markaz. However, despite repeated queries by the media, no one from the state police confirmed or denied the reports.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(JNS)Some Israeli political leaders are about to do something that would severely alienate a large portion of Diaspora Jewry.

No, Im not talking about the arguments over prayer areas at the Western Wall or the Who is a Jew? dispute.

Im referring to a very different threat to Israel-Diaspora relations: The prospect that terror-supporters will be given a significant role in the makeup and policies of the next government of Israel.

Last week, a newly elected Arab member of the Knesset, Mrs. Aida Touma-Sliman, made a dramatic announcement. She unveiled a video clip that, she said, showed another atrocity by the occupation under the cover of the coronavirusthe IDF is spraying Palestinians at the Qalqilya checkpoint with an unknown substance. ...The horrors being committed under the cover of the crisis cant be ignored.

The clip actually showed Palestinian Authority security forces disinfecting their side of a local checkpoint.

Israels Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett, called Touma-Sliman a liar, anti-Semitic and contemptible. Hes right. But that anti-Semitic, contemptible liar could soon have a major role in the government of Israel.

Mrs. Touma-Sliman is a representative of the radical Joint Arab List. Opposition leader Benny Gantz, who is now attempting to form a new government, has indicated that he is prepared to include it for its seats. This could mean officially giving the Joint List control over important government ministries and Knesset committees. Or it could mean that it technically will not be part of the government, but will support it in any no-confidence votes in exchange for all sorts of concessions by Gantz.

Either way, millions of Jews around the world will suddenly find themselves confronted with the frightening new phenomenon of an Israeli government that is beholden to, or partly controlled by, a party that seeks Israels destruction.

I am referring to the long record of statements and actions by the leaders of the Joint List. Touma-Slimans ugly anti-Israel libel last week is just the tip of the iceberg.

The partys official platform calls for the right of returnthat is, allowing millions of Arabs from around the world to flood into Israel. It also calls for the release of all imprisoned Arab terrorists (whom it calls political prisoners) and the demolition of Israels racist security fence (so that suicide-bombers can get into Israel more easily).

For anybody who thinks these radicals are loyal Israeli citizens, note that their platform pledges to fight to annul compulsory military service for the Arab-Druze community, and against all programs of military recruitment and national service for young Arab people.

The Joint Lists leader, Ayman Odeh, openly defends Palestinian Arab violence against Israelis. When asked on Israel Army Radio about the murder of a young Israeli couple in front of their children, he replied that Palestinians have a right to struggle against Israel. He cited the first intifadawith its thousands of bombings, shootings and other attacksas an example of struggle that is fully justified. Asked whether throwing rocks at Jews is legitimate, Odeh said, I always blame the occupation for being guilty. I cannot tell the nation how to struggle, where and which target to throw the rock. I do not put red lines on the Arab Palestinian nation (Oct. 6, 2015).

In an interview with Al-Arabiya TV, Odeh was asked about the wave of Palestinian knife attacks against Israelis. He replied: We should examine our history and the history of the nations to determine strategies. There is no doubt that a popular intifada is most beneficial to the Palestinian people. I, from my place, cannot tell the Palestinian people how to resist (March 4, 2016).

Another Joint List leader, Ahmad Tibi, himself has a record of engaging in violence. In 1987, he assaulted a Hadassah Hospital security guard who had the temerity to ask Tibi to open his briefcase. Tibi smashed the guard across the head with the hard edge of the briefcase, leaving him sprawled on the ground and bleeding as Tibi strolled away.

During the 1990s, Tibi served as a senior adviser to mass-murderer Yasser Arafat. He has never expressed a word of remorse about aiding and abetting the most prolific killer of Jews in the last 50 years.

Thats not all. Two leaders of Baladone of the factions that make up the Joint ListSaid Nafa and Basel Ghattas, have served time in prison for terrorist-related activity. Nafa was convicted of illegally entering an enemy state (Syria) and contacting a foreign agent (a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a terrorist group). Ghattas was convicted of using his parliamentary immunity to smuggle cell phones to terrorists in Israels Ketziot Prison.

Is this the Israel for which Diaspora Jews prayed for 2,000 years? The Israel to which we have contributed untold millions of dollars? The Israel to which we send our children to study and devote our political activism? The Israel that is supposed to inspire us?

An Israeli government in which the Joint List plays any roleofficial or unofficialwill ignite an unprecedented crisis between Israel and the Diaspora. I hope Israeli political leaders will keep that mind as they ponder the ramifications of their next decisions.

Stephen M. Flatow, an attorney in New Jersey, is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. He is the author of A Fathers Story: My Fight for Justice Against Iranian Terrorism, now available on Kindle.


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Poetry Ireland has announced that Poetry Day Ireland will take place as a digital/virtual festival on Thursday, April 30, allowing everyone to take part from the safety of their own home and collectively experience the joy of poetry.

The Director of Poetry Ireland, Maureen Kennelly, announced plans for this years festival, which has been amended from its original format due to the ongoing fight against Covid-19.

Now in its sixth year, this annual celebration of the spoken and written word is presented by Poetry Ireland in partnership with poetry lovers the length and breadth of the country.

And while this year will see a different format than the norm for Poetry Day Ireland, it will be an uplifting and interactive opportunity for everyone to connect through virtual poetry workshops, video poetry readings, social media and much more.

Events lined up so far for this years festival include a Poetry Day Ireland Virtual Pub Quiz, First in Line! Online Poetry Workshop for Beginners and video readings from the shortlisted poets for The Moth Poetry Prize in the run-up to the live announcement of the winner of the 10,000 prize.

Poetry Day Ireland will also present well-known figures reading poems in a series of videos, as it has done in previous years, and share 12 beautiful time-themed Pocket Poems online and through social media.

Further programme details will be announced in the coming days on www.poetryday.ie.

The theme this year - There will be time  has been in the works since last autumn, long before the current guidelines were put in place in Ireland.

It was partly chosen as 2020 is a leap year, when we gain an extra day of time that didnt exist in the previous year. Today, the theme of time resonates with us in another way due to the impact of the Covid-19 measures on our daily lives and our sense of time passing.

Each poem is, in a way, a time machine  travelling to the past or the present or the future, examining the way we were, are, and hope to be.

There is still plenty of time for people to register their virtual/online-only event on the Poetry Day website  visit www.poetryday.ie.

And the Poetry Day Ireland team is keen to know how everyone will be marking this day at home  let them know by using #PoetryDayIRL.
Senator Marsha Blackburn is urging the Food and Drug Administration to address shortages of drugs used to treat patients with lupus. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, which are used to treat autoimmune diseases like lupus, are currently being used as treatment for COVID-19.We should not be facing a choice between treating lupus and COVID-19, said Senator Blackburn. We have to fix our US drug supply problem right now. All Americans should be able to trust that they will not be the population left behind while we identify treatment for COVID-19.This follows Senators Blackburn and Bob Mendendezs introduction of the bipartisan Securing Americas Medicine Cabinet Act, which seeks to address the fact that over 70 percent of the ingredients used to make pharmaceuticals are manufactured overseas.The SAM-C Act will encourage pharmaceutical drug manufacturers to spur innovations similar to those in other industries such as automotive, aerospace and semiconductors and bring drug manufacturing back to the United States. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) have joined as cosponsors.The full text of the letter is available below:Dear Commissioner Hahn:I write today with concerns regarding the availability of treatments for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly called lupus. As you know, this is an autoimmune disease that can cause significant illness. Women of child bearing age are particularly affected by this disease.I have been contacted by Tennesseans who have lupus with concerns about access to hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. Recent news reports echo those concerns. In addition, the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists (ASHP) reported shortages of both of these drugs on March 24, 2020. Please carefully consider that there have been previous shortages, unrelated to the current COVID19 pandemic. These two drugs were listed on the FDA drug shortages website on March 31, 2020. Notably, chloroquine has only one manufacturer listed.The COVID19 pandemic is an unprecedented situation that requires thoughtful decision making.To address these concerns, please respond to the following questions by April 17, 2020. If you have any questions, please contact my staff @ 202-224-3344.1. Please explain the discrepancy of the date of the current shortage of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine reported by FDA and ASHP.2. How does the FDA collect information about potential drug shortages?3. Are chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine essential medicines included in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)? If so, how much is stockpiled? If not, why not?4. When the Emergency Use Authorization was released for the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for COVID19, did officials anticipate or consider the possibility of shortages of these medications? If so, please explain what considerations where made. If not, why not?5. What steps is FDA taking to mitigate the effect of these shortages on patients with lupus who depend upon chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-04 06:47:42|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS/GENEVA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- As the world fights against COVID-19 onslaught and global confirmed cases rose to over one million, European nations have begun to introduce more financial aid packages to assist people and enterprises against the impacts of the pandemic.

SHARED STRUGGLE

More than one million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), including more than 50,000 deaths, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing on Friday, noting the profound social and economic consequences of the pandemic.

The WHO chief highlighted the significance of financing health response, calling it an essential investment in saving lives, as well as in the longer-term social and economic recovery.

"We are in a shared struggle to protect both lives and livelihoods," Tedros said, suggesting countries to ease the burden on their populations through social welfare programs to ensure people have food and other life essentials in the short term.

EXTENDING RESTRICTION PERIOD

The WHO chief warned against attempts to lift restrictions too quickly, saying that the virus could then resurge and the economic impact could be even more severe and prolonged.

More and more European nations have realized the effects of lockdown and decided to extend related measures.

In Italy, which has been bearing the brunt of the grim march of the coronavirus, the government has extended the nationwide lockdown till April 13.

Experts of the National Health Institute (ISS) and Higher Health Council confirmed on Friday a moderate daily decrease in the number of new infections.

To date, the coronavirus pandemic has claimed 14,681 lives in locked-down Italy while Spain recorded a total death toll of 10,935.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Thursday that the government was considering extending the State of Alarm, which was imposed on March 14 and due to expire on April 12.

"We are facing a dynamic and changing situation. We speak to the scientific committee every day to decide what the best way to proceed is," he said, highlighting how the growth of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 has slowed down over the past week.

In neighboring Portugal, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has announced a 15-day extension of State of Emergency in order to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Bulgaria, the country's National Assembly on Friday approved the extension of the nationwide state of emergency until May 13 in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

RELIEVING ECONOMIC PAIN

While the economic pain is felt across the continent, European countries have also put forward aid packages to help people and enterprises in dire need.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday that the government was considering nationalizing, for a limited period of time, those companies suffering from the financial market turmoil due to the coronavirus epidemic.

"It is simply a matter of having the state protect companies, for a limited period, by taking a stake or possibly by making a temporary nationalization," Le Maire told France 24 and RFI radio.

The minister noted that the government would use all means, including recapitalization, to support enterprises affected by coronavirus outbreak, notably those dealing with auto, transport and tourism businesses.

The French government was mobilizing 45 billion euros (48.5 billion U.S. dollars) to help companies stay afloat through the virus outbreak, consisting in large part of tax and payroll charge deferrals.

Among the other remedies, struggling domestic firms would benefit from state loans guarantees worth 300 billion euros, which could help commercial banks reduce potential exposure to loan losses.

Also on Friday, the Finnish government announced additional direct financial aid to medium-sized businesses, which must have been profit makers before the COVID-19 crisis and must have a turnover of over 10 million euros.

Friday's 150 million-euro aid pledge follows the authorization of a billion in aid and 10 billion as loan guarantees, where the state collateral would cover 80 percent, with the rest 20 percent remaining as a risk of the creditor.

The government also rolled out several legislative plans to ease the position of the entrepreneurs. The right of creditors to demand a bankruptcy would be limited and the fees collectors can charge would be curbed.

In Germany, the government announced on Wednesday it would support start-ups with 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) during the coronavirus crisis.

Venture capital by the government would be expanded so that "financing rounds for promising and innovative start-ups from Germany can continue to take place," said Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier.

In the short term, additional funds would be given to public venture capital investors. The funds could also be used in co-investments with private investors for financing rounds of start-ups, according to the Ministry.

In addition, Germany's umbrella fund investor KfW Capital and the European Investment Fund (EIF) would be enabled to take over shares from defaulting fund investors, according to the Ministry.

The Greek government also on Thursday tabled a supplementary budget worth 5 billion euros (5.43 billion U.S. dollars) to finance economic support measures announced for enterprises and individuals hit by the pandemic. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollars)
New Delhi: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to switch off lights, on April 5, at 9 pm, for nine minutes, the union power ministry, on Friday, held a high-level review meeting to assess the impact of power fluctuation on the grid. The grid is already reeling under the stress of an unprecedented dip in demand during the lockdown period.

The meeting was chaired by union power minister RK Singh and senior officials from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and grid operator POSOCO National Load Despatch Centre, according to two officials aware of the proceedings of the meeting.

 The minister discussed the issue with PGCIL and load dispatcher in the meeting. Since we are in an unprecedented situation with low demand during the lockdown, we are closely monitoring the health of the grid. They have said they are confident of managing the grid stability for the event and have been told to ensure blackout doesnt occur., a senior official said requesting anonymity.

With a dip of 30% in demand for power due to the absence of commercial activity in the wake of the lockdown, a sudden change in grid frequency could lead to a potential power blackout. According to power ministry data available for April 2, peak demand stood at 125.8 GW which is 25% lower than 168.3 GW for the same day last year.

Experts too warned about the possibly adverse impact of millions of households switching off, and then switching on, lights on Sunday night almost simultaneously.

This is absolutely unprecedented. If this is effectively implemented, then we are looking at an impact of 10-15GW of load going down and coming back again which will have a very severe impact on the grid. I am not aware of any event before leading to such a sharp fluctuation before, said Vinay Rustagi, managing director at renewable energy consultancy Bridge to India Energy Private Limited. This, Rustagi emphasised, will need careful management and preplanning. They will have to judicially use hydro and gas power plants to come back and curtail risk.

But power ministry officials said they were confident of managing the situation on Sunday night.

We are making arrangements since the event is known to us in advance. The current peak load of the country stands at around 120GW; of this domestic household lighting comprises of 12-15 GW and we will need to manage and monitor this 15GW of fluctuation, a second government official said.

With the sudden dip in demand the Centre last week had announced a slew of measures to aid the power sector during the lockdown period. These measures include a three-month moratorium on the payment of already financially squeezed distribution companies (Discoms) to Generating Companies (Gencos) and no penalty on late payment.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two Cleveland-area law firms have asked Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to grant emergency reprieves and temporarily release thousands of Ohio prisoners at risk of serious illness or death should they contract the coronavirus behind bars.

The 25-page filing delivered to DeWines office and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Thursday calls for the emergency releases of prisoners serving time on low-level and nonviolent felony convictions, those with a low likelihood to commit new crimes, and those who have medical conditions that make them especially vulnerable.

The filing comes after the Marion Correctional Facility was placed on in full quarantine Sunday after a staff member tested positive for the virus. The facility had tested 30 of its 2,500 inmates on Thursday for the virus, and 29 tests had come back negative, and aone was still pending, according to the ODRC.

There are nearly 50,000 prisoners and 12,000 staff members working in the 31 prisons spread out across the state, mostly in rural areas where local hospitals have just a few ICU beds. Conditions inside the facilities, including many where prisoners sleep on stacked bunk beds and sharing common areas, along with population that is on average less healthy than the average population, make prison ripe for the virus to spread rapidly once it gets behind bars, the filing says.

Absent bold and immediate action, Ohio prisoners will fall ill and die in unprecedented numbers. Inaction in the face of this pandemic is tantamount to cruel and unusual punishment and violates the rights of all prisoners in the custody of ODRC, the filing states. A human rights and constitutional rights crisis is brewing inside ODRC prisons.

DeWines spokesman Dan Tierney said Friday that the governor would not comment on this ongoing litigation.

At Fridays daily briefing from the Ohio Statehouse, DeWine said he and ODRC Director Annette Chambers-Smith identified 38 prisoners for potential early release -- 23 women who are either pregnant or have recently given birth while in prison, and 15 inmates over the age of 60 who were scheduled to be released in the next 120 days. His administration plans to send letters to the judges that heard the cases and allow the local courts to make the final call.

Were not going to release anybody whos a sex offender, were not going to release anyone whos a murderer," DeWine said.

Kimberly Kendall Corral and Megan Patituce from Strongsville-based Patituce and Associates, and Jacqueline Greene and Sarah Gelsomino from the Friedman & Gilbert firm in downtown Cleveland, drafted the filing seeking reprieves on behalf of four named clients who are currently serving prison sentences. But the filing went further and used data from the prison systems 2019 annual report to identify as many as 15,000 inmates who would be eligible under the emergency request.

Prisoners on death row or those serving sentences of life without parole, and those who have been deemed a security threat while incarcerated, would not be eligible for emergency reprieve under the request.

For all others, the reprieve request asks for the release of any prisoner who has a certificate from their doctor saying they have a condition that would render them vulnerable to the disease caused by the virus, or if they are diagnosed with health conditions including chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, a severe heart conditions, diabetes, renal or liver failure or any conditions that leave them immunocompromised like HIV/AIDS or cancer.

For inmates who do not have such a health diagnosis, those convicted of aggravated murder, murder and rape, must be categorized as a low-security risk, be at least 55 years old and have served the greater of either 25 years in prison or the minimum of the sentencing range to qualify for reprieve. So someone sentenced to life in prison with their first chance at probation after 30 years would only be eligible if they have served at least 30 years.

The request also seeks reprieves for anyone serving prison time on felonies of the fourth and fifth degrees, the least serious crimes. Those convicted of third-degree felonies would be eligible if they are on their first conviction or if they have served at least half of their sentence.

Before being released, the prisoner must agree to have a health screening, adhere to all public health orders in place, provide the address where theyll be staying, arrange for their own transportation, and agree that they could be returned to prison once the public health crisis subsidies.

They will have the opportunity to file requests within 180 days to have the rest of their sentences commuted.

The filing seeks the release of four named prisoners.

Patricia Sharp, from Sandusky County, has served 18 months of a 30-month sentence sentence for tampering with records conviction. She has completed Military Training and culinary programs while behind bars, and done 250 hours of community service.

Shiloh Israel has served over half of his two-year sentence on drug trafficking and weapons charges in Hamilton County. He has no disciplinary history and has been eligible for early release since September.

Michelle Jones was sentenced in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in 1986 to 18 to 50 years in prison on involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery charges. She was released on parole in 2004, but was arrested in 2006 and sent back to prison, where she has remained since. Jones, 57, contracted Hepatitis C during a 2009 blood transfusion she received while in prison, the filing says. She has also received treatment for Stage IV liver fibrosis, and is immunocompromised.

John Tiedjen has been imprisoned out of Cleveland since 1989 on murder charges, but has maintained his innocence. A Common Pleas Court judge is currently considering whether to grant him a new trial based on newly discovered crime scene photographs that were not turned over to Tiedjens defense lawyers at his original trial.

Tiedjen, who is 56, has served 30 years on a minimum sentence of 18 years to life. He has been diagnosed with asthma and circulation issues, and has been monitored by an EKG machine in recent years, the filing says.

Advocates have sounded alarm bells about the impact an outbreak of the virus would have on the nations prison and jail populations. ACLU of Ohio Executive Director J. Bennet Guess urged DeWine in an op-ed published by cleveland.com to significantly reduce the states prison population.

COVID-19 should not be a death sentence for all who find themselves behind bars right now, Guess wrote. Gov. DeWine can and should take necessary steps to ensure this pandemic does not completely ravage Ohios prisons and jails.

Officials in Cuyahoga County scrambled to reduce the population of the county jail to make room should inmates need to be quarantined, shedding nearly half of its inmates from March 9 through Friday, when the county announced that six inmates had tested positive for virus and two more had symptoms consistent with it.

Federal officials also confirmed on Friday that a second inmate at Elkton Federal Correctional Institution in Columbiana County had died due to complications from COVID-19.

DeWine said at Tuesdays daily news briefing that he would consider releasing some inmates on a case-by-case basis, but said he would draw the line on inmates convicted of violent crimes or those deemed sexual predators.

"We do have an obligation to people in prison, we have an obligation to the staff to make it safe, he said. "But we also have an obligation to people who are outside. And were not going to turn sex offenders loose and people who were in there for very, very serious crimes.

Read more coronavirus stories

First Ohio prison coronavirus case found in staffer

Six Cuyahoga County Jail inmates test positive for coronavirus, officials say

Second inmate dies at federal prison in Ohio as coronavirus rips through lockups

Inmate at federal prison in Ohio dies after experiencing coronavirus symptoms

Coronavirus got 900 inmates out of Cuyahoga Countys troubled jail when inmate deaths didnt. Some say the changes should stick

Some Ohio inmates may be released because of the coronavirus crisis, Gov. Mike DeWine says
Syrian UN envoy calls for removing of all US economic sanctions amid COVID-19 pandemic

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 2:14 PM

Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja'afari has reiterated a call by his country for immediate and unconditional lifting of all US economic sanctions, a few days after the coronavirus killed the first patient in the Arab country.

In a letter to UN chief Antonio Guterres and president of the UN Security Council Zhang Jun, Ja'afari lambasted remarks by US State Department official James Jeffrey who accused Damascus Monday of using "cynical ploys" and urged Syrians to "count" on Washington in "delivering humanitarian assistance to people in need".

Ja'afari said such "irresponsible and misleading" comments by US officials "are just an attempt to cover the US crimes and violations against the sovereignty, independence and safety of the Syrian territories and against the security, peace and prosperity of the Syrian people".

The senior Syrian diplomat also said that since 1979, Washington has been imposing arrays of unilateral and crippling economic sanctions against Syria, whose impact have been particularly aggravating since 2011 when a foreign-backed militancy began in the country.

He said the previous as well as the current US administrations have issued at least eight executive orders on further tightening the economic blockade on the Syrian nation.

Ja'afari said the unprecedented economic embargoes on Syria's banking, energy, investment, import, export, communications and the air, sea and land transport sectors are all imposed with the aim of depriving the Syrians of their basic rights.

The US economic sanctions have devastating impacts on Syria and moved its ranking in the Human Development Index to the list of the least developed countries in the Human Development Report 2016, Ja'afari further said.

Such coercive measure, he added, have disrupted the process of delivering humanitarian aid to Syrians and undermined their ability to meet their basic needs.

Elsewhere in the letter, the Syrian envoy to the UN said the Arab country is facing an additional pressure in curbing the new pandemic, which demands implementing urgent measures by Damascus "to provide the basic infrastructure and the necessary potentials for the health sector".

The COVID-19 disease, caused by a new coronavirus, jumped from wildlife to people in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and is currently affecting 203 countries and territories across the globe. It has so far affected more than 955,400 people and killed over 48,580.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has already declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.

Official figures by the Syrian government show that as of Thursday, 10 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and two others have lost their lives so far.

Ja'afari condemned "hostile" US polices against Syria as a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and of the principles of international law, particularly during the current pandemic.

He also called for the immediate withdrawal of US troops from all the Syrian territories, particularly its oil and gas fields, in order to allow Damascus to commence the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation of oil and gas plants and to use the income "for the interest of the Syrian people exclusively".

Damascus "affirms that it has mobilized all of its available human, medical and food resources to serve all the Syrians wherever they are in the face of this global pandemic", Ja'afari said.

"Any collective and international effort for curbing the spread of this dangerous pandemic cannot be accomplished in light of the continuity of the policy of imposing economic siege by some governments, including the US, on more than two billion people in our world," he said.



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A mother has told a court that she is denying her ex-partner access to their son because she is protecting the boy and her family from coronavirus.

The couple are estranged and live in separate homes a number of miles away from each other in Co. Clare.

The father hasnt seen his 12-year old son since March 4 and solicitor for the father, Frank Doherty, stated that his client has been denied access on 13 separate dates in March in breach of a court order in place for access to the child.

Mr Doherty said that there are 16 separate access dates between the father and son scheduled during April.

The mother told the court that she was denying access because the HSE is telling us not to mix with other people - that is why I am protecting my family from people coming into my house from other houses.

The woman told Judge Mary Larkin at the family law court in Ennis: I am being sensible, I am protecting my child.

The mother said that it would not be safe for her son to live at his fathers house.

The woman said that along with her husband and their baby, another older family relative lives with them at the family home.

She said: We dont mix. We stay at home. We are living on a farm in a very isolated environment.

For that reason, I am keeping my son with me because it is just too risky. None of us wants to get this virus into our home.

The mother said that if she allowed access, her son would be mixing with other people as his father would bring him to meet with his own parents at another address in rural Clare.

She said: I would be afraid that he would be mixing with other people. The HSE state not to mix with other people and that is what I am complying with.

It is not only us in this situation - it is the whole country in this situation.

The father told the court that he lives by himself and has been self-isolating during the coronavirus outbreak.

Judge Larkin told the mother: I dont accept that the child is any safer in your house than his fathers house.

I have no difficulty sending someone to jail for breach of access. This is a breach of a court order and you have to comply with court orders.

Judge Larkin stated that the law of the land is not based on HSE directives.

She said: The law in Ireland is based on what the law is and there is a court order in place. You are going to have to come to terms with managing this access.

I dont think the court or the law envisages that the child wouldnt see his father for six months The whole country has to come to terms to manage relationships between parents and children.

Judge Larkin stated that she didnt believe that it is the intention that children should not see their other parent during the course of the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: The other alternative is that the child would live with his father.

The mothers solicitor wasnt in court for the hearing and Judge Larkin told Mr Doherty to inform the solicitor that her client is in jeopardy as she is in breach of a court order and could be sent to jail.

Judge Larkin said: This will have to be resolved

Judge Larkin told the mother that she has the option of making an application to have the current access order varied.

She asked the mother: Surely, your son wants to see his father?

In response, the mother said: My son has access to Facebook messenger and the phone and he doesnt speak with him. He doesnt want it.

Judge Larkin said that she expected the matter to be resolved by the next court date on April 16.




Ellis Marsalis Jr., the jazz musician, teacher and head of a musical family has died after being infected with coronavirus.

He was 85.

Ellis Marsalis III, one of his sons, told The Associated Press that his father's death was caused by the coronavirus. He died after a battle with lung infections brought on by COVID-19, his son said.

Four of the jazz musicians six sons are also musicians: Wynton, one of America's best-known jazz musicians, is the artistic director of jazz at New York's Lincoln Center; Branford led The Tonight Show band and toured with Sting; Delfeayo is a recording producer and performer; and Jason has his own musical group.

Marsalis made his career in New Orleans. He later joined his sons on tour as they played around the world.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said of the man: "Ellis Marsalis was a legend He was a teacher, a father, and an icon.

Harry Connick Jr. was one of Marsalis' students at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. Other well-known musicians from his classrooms include Nicholas Payton, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Victor Goines, and Reginald Veal.

Marsalis was born in New Orleans. His father ran a hotel in an area of the city where African-American musicians stayed when they toured. At the time, African-Americans could not stay in downtown New Orleans hotels.

He played saxophone in high school. He also played piano by the time he went to Dillard University.

New Orleans was a traditional jazz town. Rock 'n' roll was the new sound in the 1950s. But Marsalis preferred bebop and modern jazz. His music has been described as romantic, modern, or simply "Louisiana jazz."

Marsalis joined the Marine Corps and played piano on a weekly military program for CBS television in New York. From the show, he said, he learned all kinds of music. Back in New Orleans, he worked at the Playboy Club and appeared again on TV as part of a jazz group.

In the mid-1970s, he taught at a special New Orleans high school for musicians. He also taught at Xavier University and the University of New Orleans.

On Wednesday night, Ellis III recalled how his father taught him the meaning of integrity before he even knew the word.

As young boys, Ellis and his brother Delfeayo went to hear their father play at a club. There was only one man who was sleeping and drunk in the club. The boys asked to leave.

Ellis said, "He looked at us and said, I can't leave I'm paid to play this set. I'm going to play this set. It doesn't matter that nobody's here."

Im Jonathan Evans.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

jazz - n. a type of American music with lively rhythms and melodies that are often created by musicians while they play

legend - n. a man of great stature

icon - n. someone who noted for his greatness in a particular skill

saxophone - n. a musical instrument that has a curved metal tube and is played by blowing into the mouthpiece and pressing keys with your fingers

bebop - n. a fast complex type of jazz

integrity - n. the quality of being fair and honest

club - n. a place where people go to listen to live music and drink alcohol
One student couldnt get a flight back home to Italy. For others, restrictions on travel to China meant two weeks of waiting, followed by another two weeks of quarantine before they could return to their families. Still others lost part-time restaurant jobs, leaving them short on money for food and rent.

These were some of the unexpected circumstances William & Mary students encountered this March when residence halls closed and businesses shut down or reduced their hours in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Between March 20-27, the Dean of Students Office assisted 118 students  many of them international  with emergency housing, food, lodging and transportation needs.

Among those was a graduate student from India who did not receive his usual monthly stipend for living expenses from his bank because of the lockdown in his home country. As his April 1 rent payment date approached, panic started to set in and he reached out to the university for help. Within 30 minutes of talking with a staff member on March 26, he learned that he would receive $1,500 in emergency funds by the next day.

It was a massive relief, he says. Ive never seen any engine work so efficiently as this school.

Using a combination of expedited housing rebates and donor-supported funds, the university distributed $140,550 to the students  sometimes within hours of when the request was made. Vice President of Student Affairs Ginger Ambler 88, Ph.D. 06, P 24 enabled the Dean of Students Office to access emergency funds as needed.

I was overwhelmed by how our university partners came together to ensure that there was no obstacle to get students the money they needed, says S. Mark Sikes Ph.D. 15, vice dean for student success. It really shows you the value of the William & Mary family all wanting to help others and to help our students succeed.

Private support through the For the Bold campaign was essential in providing resources for students. The newly established Health, Emergencies, And Resources for the Tribe (HEART) Fund, the Edith Rohlfs Marsh Endowment, the Student Affairs Emergency Fund (non-loan) and the Janet, John and Elizabeth Osborn Emergency Fund Endowment are just a few examples of funds that were tapped to help students facing hardships during the COVID-19 crisis.

During this time of unprecedented need, I am more grateful than ever for the generosity of the William & Mary family, Ambler says. In the last two weeks, we have been able to leverage funds from multiple sources  endowments both long-standing and new; annual gifts both large and small  to respond quickly and with compassion to our students in dire need. If ever our students needed widespread emergency support, this is surely that time.

New donations have been coming in as well. William & Marys Student Assembly recently allocated up to $20,000 for Student Affairs emergency support funds (with another $15,000 available if needed) and 112 individual donors contributed nearly $18,000 to the HEART Fund, the International Student Scholarship Fund and the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation Fund between March 12 and April 1. Some students are also giving their room and board rebates to the university.

The HEART Funds creators, Teri Dale Dungan 88 and Thomas Dungan III 88, set up the endowment in 2019 with payments to be made over five years. The Dungans, who have two children attending William & Mary and a third whos an alumnus, say they learned that even during a typical year, many students struggle to cover unexpected costs, whether that means a new pair of eyeglasses or a trip home for a funeral. And this is no typical year.

Kids often are working three jobs and they have a scholarship, and everything goes to books and lodging and food. Theres literally no wiggle room, Teri Dungan says. You put a pandemic on top of that and theres real need.

Both say they trust Ambler and her staff to ensure that funds are being applied to the greatest needs. Theyre also encouraged to know that others have been inspired to contribute to the fund.

We need help from other people to make sure the HEART Fund has the resources it needs to rise to the occasion right now, Tom Dungan says.

The International Student Scholarship Fund is another source of emergency support that likely will be needed as the effects of COVID-19 continue, says Eva Wong, director of international students, scholars and programs at the Reves Center for International Studies.

Theres a lot of uncertainty, she says. Students who have found temporary housing might need something long term. A lot of students are depending on employment on campus or off campus.

Now those students are unsure whether jobs will be available and whether theyll be able to work remotely.

When the residence halls closed March 25, freshman Celia Lu 23 and two other students from China booked flights for March 28, but those were canceled. William & Mary helped them find hotel rooms and covered the $240 cost of their stay for three nights until they found an apartment, where they have a three-month lease.

Lu, who intends to major in sociology and economics, was planning to go home to Shanghai for the summer, but she doesnt know if that will be possible because flights to China are so limited. If she stays in Williamsburg, shell have to find another short-term lease for the summer before she can move back to the dorm.

Its hard to go back to China and its hard to stay, Lu says. Im going to wait and see what the situation is.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is how to handle the belongings that were left in residence halls by students who had to evacuate campus quickly and travel long distances, Wong says. Those items may have to go into storage or be shipped internationally.

Some students dont return home every year, she says. Now theyve incurred an expense that they did not foresee. Thats another example of the repercussions in terms of financial impact that students and families will have to navigate in the weeks or months.

When the university moved all in-person classes to remote instruction on March 23, William & Marys Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation partnered with the universitys Information Technology staff and W&M Libraries to help faculty and students make the transition quickly.

Supported by a combination of public and private funding, the Studio opened last fall in Swem Library as a hub for promoting collaboration across disciplines and exploring new technologies and ways of teaching.

One example of how private funding for the Studio is assisting in the current online learning environment: Kinesiology and health sciences professor Carrie Dolan was able to provide $1,330 worth of statistical software and training modules to students in her Research Methods in International Health course.

Her students needed to be able to manage and analyze data for their projects. Without the new Stata software, there wouldnt have been a way to transition that part of the class to online instruction in just a weeks time.

In the classroom, I was able to teach the program and offer support by working with them one on one, Dolan says. Without the money for the software, it would have been a completely different experience for the students.

Statas self-paced learning modules help students import and export data from different formats, reproduce and document their work and interact with the Stata community online.

The 15 undergraduate students in Dolans class are using the software for projects such as exploring how to improve vaccination rates in Kenya and the connection between cultural attitudes and trash disposal practices in the Dominican Republic.

Gifts to the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation Fund make it possible to provide such essential materials, says Ann Marie Stock, vice provost for academic and faculty affairs. She recalls that last year at this time, she was collaborating with a team on crafting a vision for the Studio.

We knew it would be an important engine for teaching and learning, but we could never imagine just how important this resource would be, she says. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the excellence of the William & Mary academic experience is assured, despite the challenging circumstances.
The charity sector has been badly hit by the latest lockdown but like so many businesses, it is looking at ways to keep income streams going.

National Council for the Blind Ireland (NCBI), Ireland's second largest charity retailer with 117 shops around the country, says its aim is to beat Covid-19 by looking from footfall to e-commerce.

The national sight loss organisation charity, which provides practical and emotional support to people who are blind or visually impaired, has shuttered all its stores resulting in major fall in income which directly funds its frontline services.

It is fortunate to have Ireland and Leinster rugby player Robbie Henshaw as an ambassador and supporter. He opened its branch in Rathmines in Dublin only last May and donated glasses from his Henshaw Eyewear company.

But the charity is acutely aware a closure of three months could cost it 2m.

In a fast turnaround, it has moved the focus from footfall to online and teamed up with Thriftify, a start-up social enterprise and web-based platform designed specifically for the charity retail sector.

Rosie Henson, head of retail at NCBI, said it had to act quickly to find a way of maintaining a connection with customers and establish ways of raising funds as the charity is not completely funded by the HSE .

"That means that a huge part of us being able to deliver services to blind people comes from our retail arm," she said. In a fast fashion sweep around their stores, it picked the best clothing pieces, accessories and footwear that had been donated.

Within two days, it had photographed and uploaded images of 200 pieces which run in price from 6 to 100.

They include high street brands plus designer names like Stella McCartney, Anna Sui, Ralph Lauren, Armani Exchange and Karen Millen.

Video of the Day

Ronan O Dalaigh, CEO of Thriftify, said that fashion was a new area for it and up until now, it focused the technology on items that were barcoded.

He said it had to "turn things around incredibly quickly to get the solution for fashion working, but we're delighted to be able to help in whatever way we can".

He added: "The great thing about digital technology like ours is that it enables retailers who would have typically just relied on the punter walking in the door for sales to broaden their reach to the global market."

Ms Henson said it photographed as much as it could against a white wall in her office, using a spotlight from the warehouse.

"We were really making the best of what we had to pull something together for the short term," she said. "We've had orders already and you are allowed to continue with online orders as long as any warehouse activity is actioned under the safe parameters. We have partnered with Fastway for deliveries. It is going to be little and often and we are going to update and replenish as we can."
'No one should make coronavirus a Hindu-Muslim issue.'

IMAGE: A man wearing a protective mask sits inside a bus to be taken to hospital amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease in the Nizamuddin area in New Delhi. Photograph: Prabhat Mehrotra/ANI Photo

The Tablighi Jamaat have come into the spotlight after an event it held in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi spawned a number of coronavirus clusters across the country.

In fact, the country is now scrambling to find and quarantine all the participants, including the 275 foreign nationals, fearing they could further spread the virus.

The Jamaat has come under severe criticism for defying the lockdown and organising a congregation.

At the time of filing this interview on April 2, 53 people who took part in the Jamaat congregation have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Union home ministry stated on Thursday that so far, 9,000 Tablighi members and their primary contacts have been quarantined across the country.

Now, the issue has taken on communal tones with many taking to social media to level accusations against the Jamaat.

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and chairman of the Islamic Centre of India, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, "Those participating in the congregation are law-abiding citizens and for the last 100 years they have not done anything that is unlawful."

What is your reaction to the allegations that the Tablighi Jamaat may have spread coronavirus across India?

There has to be a thorough inquiry and before that comments should not be made based on a religious colour.

Doing that is suicidal because one cannot divide the country on religious lines when our country is facing such a huge crisis.

You are keeping the communal pot boiling in such times.

The Markaz (the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters in Delhi) has given a detailed press note stating what they were doing every day and at what time where their delegates were, which place they were and what kind of permissions they had from authorities.

In these circumstances I don't think it is right to target them.

They are law-abiding citizens and for the last 100 years they have not done anything that is unlawful. Therefore, I feel an inquiry has to be conducted and only after the findings should action be taken.

But the message that is being sent out is that the Markaz did not inform the police about the foreign travellers and therefore, the virus has now spread in India.

They have given details as to which (police) officers they met and informed about their programmes for which they have also got acknowledgement notes from the officers.

Therefore, I said, let there be an inquiry and everything will come out in the open.

Coronavirus is such a disease that if anyone hides it, they are sure to infect all their loved ones. It is harmful to everyone and therefore I appeal to anyone who had gone to the Markaz that he should come forward and present himself in front of government officials and doctors and get treated.

But many of those who were in Markaz are hiding in different parts of India.

That is not true. There are maulanas who are in quarantine wards.

When the lockdown was announced everybody stayed put at the place where they were. The migrant labourers too got stuck and therefore they had to walk back to their villages.

In the same way in Markaz, where people were staying, they did not move out, but stayed at the same place.

The media is saying they were having a party at Markaz, which is not true. They have no understanding of the Tablighi Jamaat.

In gurdwaras too, people stayed put where they were and didn't move out after the lockdown was announced. The Markaz too did the same thing.

Some media has played a very negative role and it is a very sad state of affairs. These media people portrayed Markaz in a way that only it spread coronavirus in India whereas the fact is that coronavirus came from China, not Markaz in Nizamuddin.

But we saw videos of these people spitting from buses.

They should not do it and if one or two people have done it then it is sad and action must be taken against such people.

In Indore, too, doctors were driven out of Muslim localities where they had gone to check on local residents.

It is illegal to do so. They have done the wrong thing and it must be explained to them why it is important to be tested for coronavirus.

No one should make coronavirus a Hindu-Muslim issue.

IMAGE: Health workers remove their protective suits outside the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters after a 36-hour-long operation in which 2,631 Muslim worshippers were evacuated and taken to hospitals for quarantine in Nizamuddin, New Delhi. Photograph: Yawar Nazir/Getty Images

If Saudi Arabia sealed off Mecca and Medina, why were these people still praying at the Markaz?

In India too that has happened. Friday namaaz is not happening anywhere in India. In Markaz, they were already staying at that place before the lockdown was announced.

But there were foreigners inside, so was it not the duty of the Markaz to inform the police and doctors of their presence?

These foreigners came from different airports in India. Why were they not checked at the airports? Why were these foreigners given visas? They were given a valid visa by the government and therefore they came.

According to an audio message circulating on social media, Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad Kandhalwi said coronavirus can do no harm to Muslims and termed the calls by the government for social distancing and a ban on religious gatherings as a 'conspiracy to divide Muslims and dent their unity by keeping them away'.

It is wrong on his part to say such things. Prophet Mohammed has said clearly that you have to take suggestions and follow the advice of doctors and experts of medicines. Therefore, Mecca and Medina too is shut.

On social media, the words 'corona jihad' are being flung at the Tablighi Jamaat.

Allah has therefore sent all mankind behind four walls. Everybody is in a prison-like structure even if he may be the most powerful man of the world or the most ordinary man. Everybody is in the same position today.

When labourers were migrating, did anyone give it a communal colour?

And if people were stuck in a temple, will anyone say Hindus were spreading coronavirus?

Nobody should say such things.

On March 23 itself, the police had called the Markaz authorities and told them to vacate the Markaz. There is even a video showing this.

I saw that video, but it is not shown what the Markaz guys replied to that policeman. That is only one side of the story.

We should know what answer the Markaz authorities gave to that policeman. Therefore, I am saying let us have a proper inquiry in this matter.

But the Markaz authorities must have known about the fact that foreigners were present and they could be carrying coronavirus. Was it not their failure then in not informing the authorities?

I am again saying why were these foreigners allowed to enter India with a valid visa?

If they were suffering from coronavirus, why were they allowed inside the country?

Therefore, there has to be an impartial inquiry in this matter.
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his call to light candles on Sunday at 9 pm in order to ward off corona's darkness, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor termed it as a "feel-good moment" curated by the PM Modi without any vision to ease people's pain, their burdens, and financial anxieties.

"Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease people's pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by India's Photo-Op PrimeMinister!" tweeted Tharoor.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra asked Prime Minister to "get real" while cornering him for his call to light candles and diyas.

"Turn out lights and come on balconies? GET REAL MR MODI! Give India fiscal pkg worth 8-10 pc of GDP ensure immediate wages to construction and other labour during lockdown - laws exist permitting this Stop gagging real press in name of curbing fake news," she tweeted.In a video message, the Prime Minister asked citizens to turn all lights off in their houses at 9 pm on Sunday (April 5) and to stand at their doors or windows with a candle, diya and torch for nine minutes in a battle against the COVID-19.In his address to the nation on March 24, the Prime Minister had announced a 21-day lockdown in the country to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, which has infected over 2,000 people in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
According to a New Article on the OnlineTenders Website, the South African Company Finished 2019 on a High Note

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / The founders of OnlineTenders are pleased to announce that they are now securing 900 tenders each day, thanks in large part to a very busy Q3 in 2019. To share this positive news with their valued clients, the founders recently posted an article on their website.

To check out the article in its entirety, please visit https://www.onlinetenders.co.za/news/onlinetenders-subscribers-securing-900-tenders-each-day.

As the new article notes, OnlineTenders, which is the leading online tenders platform in South Africa, attributes this healthy growth to a series of initiatives and earnestness on the company's part.

"We've been quite busy lately, trying to take OnlineTenders to the next level. Whether it's expanding markets from South Africa to Africa, or catering to the users of a competitor going out of business," said OnlineTenders' Operations Director Sherlin Pather.

For example, the article notes, last June the online tenders platform took on the subscribers of TradeWorld when it closed its doors. OnlineTenders also expanded its market reach beyond South Africa, into Africa. The company also upgraded its website and mobile apps in addition to targeting international subscribers.

These actions and more have resulted in OnlineTenders experiencing a great deal of activity, with a rapidly growing number of tenders being secured by OnlineTenders subscribers. The public sector's procurement of goods and services has increased, the article notes, which is indicative of a recovering economy.

OnlineTenders has also continued to maintain its policy of being an affordable yet profitable solution. It continues to offer its services, leading to lucrative tender opportunities, and reasonable packages continues to drive the growth of OnlineTenders and its subscribers each day.

"We've always been proud of our contribution to the country's economy. And the boost in procurement activity by the public sector gives us confidence that the economy is slowly turning around. So we are optimistic that OnlineTenders will be used by more parties, and used more efficiently," Mr. Pather said.

Story continues

About OnlineTenders:

Founded in March 2007 and based in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, OnlineTenders is a trusted tender notification service throughout Africa. Each day, new opportunities are listed from all levels of government and private sector companies throughout South Africa and Africa. Using hi-tech online Internet software, tenders and business leads are collected and classified by industry type, keywords and regions to match exactly the kind of tenders relevant to a number of businesses. Learn more about the OnlineTenders at www.onlinetenders.co.za.

Contact:

Sherlin Pather

sherlin@onlinetenders.co.za

(+27) 010 823 2600

SOURCE: OnlineTenders





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/583789/OnlineTenders-Subscribers-are-Now-Securing-900-Tenders-Each-Day




Scanning electron microscope image shows the CCP virus (round blue objects), the virus that causes COVID-19, emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. (NIAID-RML)

Top US Epidemiology Expert Infected With the CCP Virus One Month After He Helped China Defend the Origin of the Virus

Commentary

Walter Ian Lipkin, professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, known as a virus hunter, revealed in an interview on Fox Business Network that he has tested positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus on March 24.

Lipkin is the director of Columbia Universitys Center for Infection and Immunity, and has earned the reputation of a virus hunter for his efficiency and innovative methods of identifying new viruses. In the past 30 years, he has been involved in the epidemic control of almost all major contagions in the world, including West Nile virus and SARS. In addition, he has discovered and identified more than 800 viruses causing human, wildlife or domestic animal diseases.

Lipkins friendship with the Chinese communist regime probably started in 2003 when he was invited to visit Beijing during the SARS outbreak. Working closely with a team in Beijing headed by then Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Chen Zhu, Lipkin and Chinese medical scientists developed a strategy to combat SARS. He also gifted 10,000 SARS test kits to China.

Subsequently, Lipkin assisted China in setting up disease research institutions such as Institut Pasteur of Shanghai (IPS) and Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health. In May 2013, he went to Beijing again and signed a contract with the Virology Institute of Chinas Center for Disease Control, to build a collaboration lab for pathogen research. All investment for this project came from the Chinese authorities.

Chinese state media often praise Lipkin for having made great contribution to China in the past ten years. In 2015, he was among one of the seven foreign recipients of Chinas International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.

Has Lipkin procured any personal gains from the over ten years of contribution? Although there is no clear evidence on that, his statement after the CCP virus outbreak is telling the world that he certainly has an intimate tie with the CCP.

Lipkin was in China from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, and met with high-ranking officials as well as top medical experts, including Chinas chief coronavirus consultant Zhong Nanshan. Nonetheless, he did not go to Wuhan, the epicenter of the CCP virus.

On Feb. 24, Lipkin accepted an interview by Yang Lan, a famous TV hostess in China, and made a key statement in support of the Chinese authorities with regard to the origin of the CCP virus.

What my colleagues and I think happened was that this virus was existing in a bat, probably came into contact with an animal, perhaps in a wild animal market, perhaps an infected human, he said.

We dont think theres any evidence that this virus was created in the Wuhan Institute of Virology or released accidentally. We think it emerged in nature. Its a natural problem. And we need to address it as a naturally occurring virus.

Dr. Lyons-Weiler, the founder and CEO of the Institute for Pure and Applied Knowledge (IPAK), published an article on Jan. 31 stating that medical research found evidence that might suggest the CCP virus could come out from a laboratory-induced event.

He said that the available evidence most strongly supports that the 2019-NCoV virus is a vaccine strain of coronavirus either accidentally released from a laboratory accident, perhaps a laboratory researcher becoming infected with the virus while conducting animal experiments, or the Chinese were performing clinical studies of a coronavirus vaccine in humans.

During the interview with Yang on Feb. 24, Lipkin did not provide any scientific evidence or argument to refute Lyon-Weilers statement.

Special Coverage:

For our latest coverage of the CCP Virus Outbreak, visit our new section and sign up for our daily newsletter.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Further 5million has been announced to help frontline charities hit by covid-19

A UK-wide disaster relief fund has announced a further 5 million will be distributed to frontline charities helping those most impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Nearly half of the 16 million total pledged to the The National Emergencies Trust's coronavirus appeal has been given out, following an initial allocation of almost 2.5 million a week after the appeal was launched on March 18.

Further distributions will be made in the coming days to 46 local community foundations across the country who are helping the most vulnerable.

The National Emergencies Trust's coronavirus appeal was launched in partnership with the British Red Cross and with the support of the Duke of Cambridge.

The National Emergencies Trust has announced a further 5 million to be distributed to frontline charities helping those impacted by coronavirus. Pictured: Homeless street charity Kindness gives out food in Glasgow

The trust was founded in November last year to raise and distribute funds for future national emergencies, and the duke remarked at the time that he 'dreaded' the day that it would be needed.

John Herriman, chief executive of the National Emergencies Trust, said: 'It is fantastic that good causes across the UK are already seeing the benefits of the public's support and the overwhelming generosity of our corporate donors.

'It's vital that we are able to offer support to these groups as soon as we can.

'Our work may have started but there is still much more to do.

'We're asking the public to get behind the appeal and make contribution if possible, or to spread the word to help raise awareness.

Further distributions will be made in the coming days to 46 local community foundations across the country. Pictured: Volunteers sort food at a warehouse for Manchester charity The Bread and Butter Thing

'Everyone who donates can be confident their money is reaching those in need quickly and making an instant difference to the most vulnerable in our communities at this difficult time.

'We need to come together more than ever and I'm heartened the British public are rising to the challenge.'

Major businesses and charitable trusts, as well as the public, have donated to the appeal, with corporate donors including BT, Tesco, HSBC, M&S and National Grid.

Donations can be made at www.nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk or by texting APPEAL to 70141 to donate 10.
PITTSBURGH  The net proceeds of JuJu Smith-Schusters autograph sales will go to support the Pittsburgh Food Bank in the middle of the coronavirus crisis.

One of several food banks in the area, the line for the Pittsburgh Food Bank in Duquesne, was photographed earlier this week backed up for miles as people in need responded to the coronavirus.

On Monday, March 30th, we served about 1,600 boxes of food to our community. This could not happen without our selfless volunteers, hardworking staff and generous donors. With your help, we can continue these efforts during the COVID-19 crisis.



Learn more https://t.co/gAZDW3ZuWA pic.twitter.com/w7EdFNqbK3  PghFoodBank (@PghFoodBank) April 3, 2020

According to the listing, Smith-Schuster will be signing helmets, uniforms a poster depicting him standing over a concussed Vontaze Burfict and other paraphernalia.

Items range in price from photos at 93 dollars to helmets at 899 dollars.

Here are some other ways to help or be helped in Pittsburgh:

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
T hree north London men have been jailed for raping a 16-year-old school girl, after one threatened her with a machete, robbed her and held her captive.

Roberto French, 22, Abdisalam Mohamad, 21, and Hilal Mohamed, 22, face a combined prison term of 45 years over the incident which took place in August 2016.

During the trial, which ended on February 6, 2020, jurors heard how the victim had travelled to London from Bristol when French held a machete against her throat while robbing her in front of the other two men.

The 22-year-old then falsely imprisoned her in a residential block in Enfield, where she was forced by the defendants to perform oral sex on each of them.

Once the assault was over, French followed the victim as she attempted to make her escape.

Abdisalam Mohamad and Hilal Mohamed were both sentenced to 14 years each for rape at Wood Green Count Court on Friday.

French was sentenced at the same court to 17 years for rape, five years for robbery and 10 for false imprisonment, to run concurrently.

Judge HHJ Perrins said the victim deserved "significant credit for persevering with this case as the years went by, even when it seemed nothing was happening."

"She has shown real inner strength and resolve in seeing this matter through, he added.

Met police Detective Sergeant Charlotte Carter, who described the teenager's ordeal as "horrific", praised the sentences for reflecting severity of the offences committed.
Pasadena had great plans for the 2020 U.S. Census  and then the novel coronavirus pandemic reared its head.

Our Census efforts were going full-tilt when all the COVID-19 precautions kicked in, Pasadena spokeswoman Laura Branch Mireles said.

Because of the pandemic, the U.S. Census schedule for public self-response to fill out the questionnaires has been extended to Aug. 14.

Pasadenas population stood at 149,043 in 2010 and was estimated at 153,219 in 2018. Just where it checks in this year is open to debate.

Given everything thats happening, were really hesitant to make any guesses, Mireles said. Our hope is that everyone takes advantage of the their time indoors during the Safe Home/Work Safe order to log on to our website and complete the Census online. Accurate numbers will mean a big help for Pasadena with federal funding and assistance in Pasadena ISD.

At its website, the city links to the Census online form and other Census-related information, including in Spanish and Vietnamese.

There often is a lot of legwork involved as Census takers go door-to-door in cases where residents did not respond electronically. Since Centers for Disease Control coronavirus precautions include keeping a minimum distance of 6 feet between people, Census takers will drop off invitations at front doors through May 1.

The nationwide count is taken every 10 years, and the aim is to count every person living in the United States. The numbers are used to determine how many seats each state has in the House of Representatives, but also affect the amount of federal funding given to cities and counties for schools, health care and road work, among other things.

It helps our local economy, too, Mayor Jeff Wagner said in an informational video put out by the city. Businesses use Census data to decide where to open new locations.

In an effort to get every resident counted, the city established a Complete Count Committee. Such committees are tasked with creating awareness about the importance of the Census.

The Pasadena committee had members that represented several municipal departments, including planning, police, parks and also had members from the Pasadena ISD, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, churches and business owners.

(Our) Complete Count Committee had been meeting monthly since last fall, and we held our official kick-off meeting Jan. 29, Mireles said.

The city has undertaken a number of projects to inform residents, including setting up a Facebook page.

Pasadena also is making an effort to reach its Spanish-speaking population.

Mayor Wagner felt it was extremely important to reach out to all the members of our community and he understood the need for Spanish messaging, Mireles said.

To that end, the videos are also in Spanish.

We've teamed up with Andrea Gomez to help with our public service announcements, Mireles said. Andrea is a former Univision anchor who still has a huge fan base in Pasadena. We're thrilled to have her help with this project.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.
Western Massachusetts legislators are calling for a separate hearing and investigation into how officials at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke handled the spreading coronavirus, which has left 16 residents dead, 23 more veterans infected and the homes superintendent on suspension.

State and local officials found out on Sunday that at least eight people had died since Wednesday and multiple others were believed to be stricken with COVID-19. On Monday a team from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services responded to the home and after an examination placed Superintendent Bennett Walsh on administrative leave with pay, assigned a new administrator and called for a team of medical experts to respond to the problems.

The virus toll on has now risen to 16 veterans dead on Thursday, with 12 of the deaths confirmed to be due to COVID-19, three test results pending, one unknown. Two more people are confirmed as having died from another cause. An additional 23 residents have tested positive for the virus and seven staff have also tested positive.

My firm belief is that the Legislature, a totally independent branch of the government from the executive branch of government, is also obligated to conduct this investigation, said state Rep. John Velis, D-Westfield. I believe that the Legislature is uniquely qualified and equipped to conduct the most thorough and independent investigation possible

Already Gov. Charlie Baker has ordered an investigation into the situation at the Soldiers Home and tapped Boston lawyer Mark W. Pearlstein, a former federal prosecutor to lead the probe.

We owe it to the families who have lost loved ones, the Soldiers Home staff, similar facilities throughout the Commonwealth, and our entire veteran population to discover precisely what went wrong and how we can make sure it never happens again. If there was ever a time for an investigation that leaves no stone unturned, it is now, Velis said.

State Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, said he is working with Velis, who is vice chairman of the Houses Veterans Committee, and the rest of the Western Massachusetts delegation and other legislators to set a hearing to investigate how the administration handled the spread of the virus.

We will continue to make it a priority, we owe that to the staff and the families and the residents, but I have no idea when the timeline would be, he said.

With the Legislature following the same stay-at-home orders as the rest of the state, it is currently impossible to get the House and Senate members together, Vega said. He suspects a hearing will occur in May at the earliest.

While it is the Holyoke Soldiers Home, it is all of our Soldiers Home, he said. It is very special to the Western Mass delegation.

Leaders of both the House and Senate have shown support to investigate what went wrong at the home, Vega said.

State Sen. James Welch, D-West Springfield, said he is working with other Western Massachusetts senators to push for the investigation since the Senate seat in Holyoke is currently vacant. While the facility is in Holyoke, veterans from many senators districts are housed there.

I think our first concern is what happens immediately in terms of stabilizing the Soldiers Home from a health standpoint, he said.

Welch said he feels Marylou Sudders, secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, has put multiple practices in place that will at least help to prevent the virus from spreading to the residents who have not been infected.

Val Liptak, a registered nurse and CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield, has assumed responsibility for the administration of the Soldiers Home. WMH Chief Operating Officer Anthony DiStefano is overseeing day-to-day operations of the Holyoke facility.

Officials have also formed an onsite clinical command team made up of medical, epidemiological, and operational experts responsible for the comprehensive and rapid response to the outbreak of COVID-19. Members of the National Guard are also assisting.

The men and women who live there gave so much for this country and are vulnerable in this time in their lives, Welch said. We have to stabilize it and finding out what happened will certainly come next.

Walsh, who has been the superintendent since 2016, said in a written statement that he informed state officials and families after the first resident tested positive for COVID-19 on March 21 and said he gave state officials regular updates after that.

At no time did I, or anyone on my staff, hide, conceal or mislead anyone regarding the tragic impact of the virus and it would be outrageous for anyone to even think of doing such a thing, Walsh said.

But Mayor Alex B. Morse said the citys Board of Health were never notified. Baker said he did not learn about the crisis until Morse contacted him.
VANCOUVER, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Choom Holdings Inc. (the "Company" or "Choom") (CSE: CHOO;OTCQB: CHOOF), an emerging adult use cannabis company that has secured one of the largest national retail networks in Canada, is pleased to announce Choom has completed the acquisition of the retail cannabis store (the "Niagara Store") in Niagara Falls, Ontario (the "Transaction"). The acquisition of this store furthers the Company's continued nationwide rollout. The Niagara Store has had a robust and stable operating history* with unaudited gross sales of approximately $7 million for the 9.5 months since opening on June 15, 2019.

"Choom is excited to add the Niagara store to its corporately owned portfolio of stores, with its large and loyal customer base and top-tier financial performance," said Corey Gillon, Choom's CEO. "Over the coming year, we look forward to growing our presence in the Ontario market and reaching the maximum of 10 stores per operator as quickly as possible," Mr. Gillon added. Through this transaction, Choom has made its first move toward significantly expanding its retail network in Canada's most populous province.

Consideration for the acquisition, includes cash of $2,000,000 (of which $1.45M will be funded from the cumulative operating cash flow from the Niagara Store) and $2,000,000 equivalent issued to the vendor in common shares of Choom. The Transaction was completed with the consent of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) following the expiry of certain restrictions on change of control established under the rules applicable to the first cannabis retail lottery conducted by the AGCO on January 11, 2019. In connection with the Transaction, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of 2688412 Ontario Ltd. that was wholly owned by the holder (the "Vendor") of a cannabis retail operator licence issued by the AGCO in the first lottery.

Say hello to Choom

Choom is an emerging adult use cannabis company whose mission is to establish one of the largest retail networks in Canada. The Choom brand is inspired by Hawaii's "Choom Gang"a group of buddies in Honolulu during the 1970's who loved to smoke weedor as the locals called it, "Choom". Evoking the spirit of the original Choom Gang, our brand caters to the Canadian adult use market with the ethos of 'cultivating good times'. Choom is focused on delivering an elevated customer experience through our curated retail environments, offering a diversity of brands for Canadians across a national retail network.

Corey Gillon

CEO

Cautionary Statement:

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Forward-Looking Information, Forward-Looking Financial Information and Non-IFRS Measures*

This news release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company's proposed activities and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking information relates to management's future outlook and anticipated events or results and include statements or information regarding the closing of the Offering, the use of proceeds, and future plans or prospects of the Company. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. These factors include risks and uncertainties associated with or arising as a result of delays in obtaining or an inability to obtain required regulatory approvals, access to sufficient quantities of cannabis, the results of diligence investigations, the actions of third parties, the results of negotiations with third parties, developments in the cannabis sector, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, reliance on key personnel, regulatory risks and delays and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of the Company's interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings, including those made with the CSE and applicable Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such forward looking information 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 information.

This news release also contains certain future oriented financial information and financial outlooks (collectively, "FOFI") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The FOFI has been prepared by management of the Company for inclusion as at March 30, 2020, solely to demonstrate the underlying performance of the Niagara Store and the benefits of the Transaction to shareholders. Management of the Company believes that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting best estimates and judgments, and based on a number of assumptions management believes are reasonable as well as information provided to the Company by the Vendor. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks, including the risks discussed above, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the FOFI prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

The FOFI included in this news release may be based on certain non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") financial measures, which may include EBITDA, EBIT before special items, and EBITDA before special items, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow. These non-IFRS measures do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS, and therefore, others using these terms may define them differently. The Company has used or included such non-IFRS measures solely to provide investors with added insight into the underlying performance of the Niagara Store and the proposed Transaction, and readers are cautioned that the non-IFRS measures included herein (or incorporated in the FOFI included herein) may not be appropriate for any other purpose. These non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The forwardlooking statements and FOFI contained herein are current as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company does not have any obligation to advise any person if it becomes aware of any inaccuracy in or omission from any forward-looking statement or FOFI, nor does it intend, or assume any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements or FOFI to reflect new events or circumstances. Any and all forward-looking statements and FOFI included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement, and except as otherwise indicated, are made as of the date of this news release.

SOURCE Choom Holdings Inc.

Related Links

https://choom.ca/


Travel data shows 3.4 million travelers from countries that would end up hardest-hit by the coronavirus outbreak entered the U.S. as the pandemic was starting.

Figures from the U.S. Commerce Department from December, January and February, which were the critical early months in the outbreak, reveal how hundreds of thousands or even millions of undetected coronavirus cases could have entered the country while medical experts remained unaware of the seriousness of the illness.

The world first heard about the coronavirus in December, when it remained confined to China.

Beijing was accused of covering up the spread of the virus, which may have left China's borders through asymptomatic patients well before new cases were picked up around the world.

Isolated cases started showing up in Europe in late January, before the pandemic took off in Europe in February.

Governments around could have taken the threat of the virus more seriously at the start of 2020 if China could have at least issued grave warnings, instead of insisting the virus was under control.

The travel data shows 759,493 people entered the U.S. from China before President Trump's travel ban on 31 January.

Travel data shows 3.4 million travelers from countries that would end up hardest-hit by the coronavirus outbreak entered the U.S. as the pandemic was starting

Travelers from Italy, a virus hotspot, are seen arriving in New York's John F. Kennedy Airport earlier this year

'It is difficult to estimate the portion of travelers coming from China to the U.S. with COVID-19, but fair to speculate that a large number might have been infected at the time of travel,' says Dr. Simone Wildes, an infectious disease specialist at South Shore Health, responding to the figures, reports ABC News.

Another 343,402 arrived from Italy, 418,848 from Spain and about 1.9 million more came from Britain.

'This is an astonishing number in a short period of time, illustrating how globalized our world has become. Just as people can hop continents with amazing ease, the infections they carry can too,' said Dr. Vinayak Kumar, an internal medicine resident at the Mayo Clinic and a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.

The travel data was pulled from Commerce Department records and information provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Medical experts say it cannot be known how many travelers may have been infected, but it's highly likely some were not exhibiting symptoms.

And as air travel has surged in recent years, enabling the pandemic to spread as it has, some officials suspect the virus' true impact was happening sooner than they realized.

'I have no doubt that the virus was here much earlier than any of us know, and we have the virus more than any other state because travelers from other parts of the world come here first,' says New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo says.

Travelers most probably ended up in New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles and other large destinations, but with the total numbers of those arriving so high, people could have gone anywhere in the country.

There have been more than 272000 confirmed cases in the U.S. of the coronavirus, making it the worst country to be affected by the deadly flu-like virus, also known as COVID-19.

The virus has been blamed for more than 7,000 known deaths across the country.

How the number of coronavirus cases in the US have escalated over time

The World Health Organization officially proclaimed the virus outbreak a worldwide pandemic on March 11.

President Donald Trump imposed restrictions on travel to and from China Feb. 2, a move that likely helped save lives. But data shows there were about 18,000 Americans who returned to the U.S. from China in the same month and March.

The more than three-quarters of a million people who entered the U.S. from China during the early months, 'is an astonishing number in a short period of time, illustrating how globalized our world has become, says Dr. Vinayak Kumar, an internal medicine resident at the Mayo Clinic.

'Just as people can hop continents with amazing ease, the infections they carry can too.'

The China travelers included more than 228,000 Americans returning home and hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals who were on business trips, travel for school, touring or visiting family.

The data includes 759,493 people who entered the U.S. from China, where the outbreak is suspected to have originated in Wuhan market place in November. Passengers arrive at Chicago's O'Hare in late January

'The numbers are clearly alarming,' Dr. Simone Wildes, an infectious disease specialist at South Shore Health says. 'It shows that globalization is here, and we have to be better prepared to deal with the impact this will have on all our lives in so many ways.'

Johns Hopkins University researchers suspect the virus may have started as far back as November, and that by December there may have been hundreds of cases in Wuhan.

A team of researchers from University of Toronto warned in mid-January that the outbreak could quickly jump from Wuhan to other major cities because of international travel.
Islamabad, April 3 : Pakistan is set to start a week-long repatriation flight programme from Saturday to bring back its nationals stranded overseas because of disruption of flights and tightening of travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said 17 repatriation flights would be flown between April 4-11, reports Dawn news.

Under the plan approved by the National Coordination Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic, phased repatriation would be carried out under which priority would be given to those held up in transit, followed by those, whose visas were expiring. Pakistanis working or studying overseas would be third on the priority list, Qureshi said.

All returning passengers, he said, would be subject to coronavirus testing at the airports for which the testing and quarantine capacity was being augmented.

Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the Pakistan International Airlines had operated special flights to bring back stranded PakisAtanis from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar and Thailand.

"Plans for repatriation from Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Tashkent, Baku, Baghdad, London and Toronto have been finalised, while plans for repatriation of our nationals from other destinations is also under active consideration. As this is a dynamic and evolving situation, these plans will be reviewed regularly," Dawn news quoted Farooqui as saying.

Pakistan has so far reported 2,441 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 35 deaths.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged people to gather together for a unique exercise on April 5 at 9 pm to show they were together in the fight against coronavirus. He has asked the citizens to switch off lights for nine minutes and light candles and diyas instead.

Reacting to the same, actor Taapsee Pannu tweeted, New task is here! Yay yay yayy!!! Her tweet received more than 1.3K replied in under an hour, most of which are trolling her for her reaction.

New task is here ! Yay yay yayy !!!  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) April 3, 2020

On the other hand, Kangana Ranauts sister Rangoli Chandel welcomed the new initiative. Lighting Diyas is a very good gesture, diya creates an ethereal aura which is very calming and effective, to show each other our support lets do this, I love how @narendramodi ji also focuses on our emotional needs and tries to heal us in every way .... Jai Shri Ram, she wrote in a tweet. Lyricist Prasoon Joshi tweeted a poem in Hindi about light to welcome the PMs idea.

The PM said in his address, On this Sunday, April 5, we will challenge the darkness of coronavirus threat together. On April 5, at 9 pm, I need your 9 minutes. At 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your houses and light a Diya, candle, torch or flashlight for 9 minutes at your doors, or balcony. The Prime Minister further said that this will send out a message that nobody among the 130 crore Indians is alone in this fight against the deadly infection. He also advised people to do so from within their houses or balconies while practising social distancing.

Also read: Anushka Sharma interrupts Virat Kohlis live chat with Kevin Pietersen: Chalo chalo dinner time

He also expressed gratitude towards countrymen for participating in janta curfew on March 22 and said it has become an example for all countries today as they are following it.

The novel coronavirus has infected over 2,000 people in the country, killing more than 50.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
St George's, University of London, the UK's specialist health university, is focusing all its ongoing research on tackling coronavirus (COVID-19).

While other research on site has been paused, the University will remain open for researchers working on clinical trials and diagnostic tests for the disease, as well as those looking to understand the underlying biology of the virus and the body's immune response. The first trial led by the University to receive ethical approval is the collection of clinical samples from COVID-19-infected patients. These samples will initially be used to evaluate a rapid antibody test designed to tell people if they have coronavirus or not.

This project will be led by Professor Sanjeev Krishna and Dr. Tim Planche from the Institute of Infection & Immunity at St George's, University of London. The test, being developed by the company Mologic, has received funding from The UK Department for International Development (DFID) and The Wellcome Trust. Achieving ethical approval for this trial brings the test even closer to being used across healthcare systems.

The clinical samples collected from St George's Hospital patients as part of this trial will also enable the University to carry out further investigations into the biology of coronavirus and how it can be treated.

Dr. Tim Planche said:

Without testing and samples, you're fighting coronavirus blind. This study will enable the work of a taskforce at St George's to tackle the disease, by giving all parts of the University quick access to samples in a national time of need. We've got one shot at this, and by opening up our samples to be looked at by many people to evaluate the immune response, virus clearance and more, we can have the greatest impact."

As well as focusing on diagnostics, the University will be contributing to other fields of research. Projects will include: being involved in national and international trials for potential treatments for COVID-19, understanding transmission in pregnant women and babies, understanding the biology of the disease, influencing policy on infection control, and developing guidance for clinicians.

Many of the trials will benefit from a joint approach between St George's, University of London and St George's University Hospitals. The trials of new treatments, which are being run by St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have already started and patients are being recruited by University and Trust staff. Doctors and nurses at the hospital will be collaborating with researchers at the University to provide samples and data to enable a direct link from patients to research and research to patients. In particular, the Clinical Research Facility managed by St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is now almost completely focused on COVID-19 research.

Deputy Principal for Research at St George's, University of London, Professor Jon Friedland, said: "The whole University is mobilizing clinical, diagnostic and underlying scientific research so that we can help the effort against COVID-19. We want to send out the message that St George's is very much open to research on COVID-19, and we are welcoming collaborations with partners across industry and academia.

"As a specialist health university with a major interest in infection and a strong history of successful translational research, we can see the impact COVID-19 is having on a national and global scale, so have taken the decision to switch our current research on site to focus on tackling this disease. Our aim is to improve treatments and outcomes for patients, with our experts developing better and faster diagnostic tests, evaluating drugs to treat the disease, and working towards understanding the both transmission of the virus and how the human immune system responds to it so vaccines can be developed."

St George's, University of London has a proud history of contributing to the control and eradication of diseases, from Edward Jenner's research into the first ever vaccine to current efforts against diseases such as meningitis and malaria. This medical and scientific expertise is now focused towards beating the current coronavirus pandemic.
A view of the USNS Comfort at the Pier 90 on April 1, 2020 in New York City. The Comfort, a naval hospital ship, is equipped to take in patients within 24 hours but will not be treating patients with COVID-19. The ship's 1,000 beds and 12 operation rooms will help ease the pressure on New York hospitals, many of which are now overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

WASHINGTON  The Pentagon announced Friday that it will modify the screening process for people to receive care on the hospital ship USNS Comfort in order to reduce the backlog of patients at New York hospitals.

The screening effort will now occur pier-side and will no longer require a patient to test negative for the coronavirus.

"Each patient will still be screened by temperature and a short questionnaire," the Pentagon said. "This assistance will further unburden the local hospital and ambulance systems in these areas, allowing them to focus on the more serious COVID-19 cases."

A day prior, the captains of the U.S. Navy's two hospital ships said that the vessels have treated fewer than 20 patients since deploying to New York and Los Angeles.

When asked why the vessels hadn't received more referrals given the capacity of each ship, U.S. Navy Capt. Patrick Amersbach, the commanding officer of the USNS Comfort, said Thursday that he could not speculate if there was a delay and what the reason might be.

"The process continues, and we are honestly looking forward to seeing a significant increase in patients being transferred to the Comfort," he said, adding that each patient must be referred to the vessel by a local hospital.
An NHS nurse aged 36 has died at Walsall Manor Hospital in the West Midlands after contracting Covid-19.

Areema Nasreen, a mother of three, died more than two weeks after first being diagnosed with the disease, the hospital confirmed.

Ms Nasreen had worked for the NHS for more than 16 years. She is reported to have died in the early hours of Friday.

When her illness was first reported on 23 March, she was said to have had no underlying health issues and was described as normally fit and healthy by her family while she was on a ventilator in the hospital where she worked.

At the time, her sister Kazeema Nasreen said: People are not taking this seriously enough. She is young  it is not just the elderly who are at risk.

I want everyone to know how dangerous this is. My sister is only 36 and is normally fit and healthy.

 Coronavirus in numbers

The 22-year-old said her elder sister was on annual leave from her job at Walsall Manor Hospital when she first started showing symptoms and she could have picked it up virtually anywhere.

Fellow nurse and close friend of Ms Naseen, Rubi Aktar, paid tribute to her on social media: She was the most loveliest, genuine person you could ever meet, she went above and beyond for everyone she met.

Im so grateful that I had the honour to call her my best friend, she saw me at my best and my worst and accepted my every flaw.

I am so broken that words cant explain. I cant believe I will not see your smile again.

On Friday another nurse was also named as having died from coronavirus at a hospital in Kent.

Aimee ORourke, 39, died on Thursday at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate.

She was also a mother of three. Ms ORourke, described as an amazing mum and one in a million, studied at Canterbury Christ Church University before joining the NHS in 2017, Kent Messenger reports.

It is understood she started showing symptoms of coronavirus about two weeks ago before her condition deteriorated and she was taken into intensive care at the QEQM  the hospital where she worked  and put on a ventilator.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust paid tribute to Ms O'Rourke. Ward manager Julie Gammon, who sat with Ms O'Rourke upon her admission to hospital after she fell ill, said: "She was such a kind and caring nurse, and she had a really special relationship with her patients and colleagues. "Nursing was something she had always wanted to do, although she came to it relatively late after raising her girls. "Aimee was a really valuable part of our work family and would always offer to help if she could. She was really growing and developing in her skills and confidence and I know she would have gone on to have a great career."

The health secretary Matt Hancock told the PA news agency: I pay tribute to the NHS staff whove died serving the NHS, serving the nation.

It shows the incredible bravery of every member of the NHS who goes into work knowing that these dangers are there.

I think it is a testament to every doctor and nurse and paramedic and other health professional who is working in the NHS in these difficult times.

And I think the whole nation is grateful.

The deaths come after the UK endured its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic, with 569 fatalities recorded in 24 hours, according to figures released on Thursday.

Amid mounting anger at lack of testing for Covid-19 in the UK  including among frontline health workers  the government has repeatedly promised to increase levels.

On Thursday afternoon, health secretary Matt Hancock announced a new target of testing 100,000 people a day for Covid-19 by the end of April, and he said tests for frontline NHS staff would increase significantly from this weekend.

The target is now lower than earlier promises of 250,000 tests a day which Boris Johnson had announced in mid-March.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 20:35:12|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China will continue to step up assistance for Namibia and other African countries in combating the COVID-19 epidemic.

He made the remarks in a phone conversation with Namibian President Hage Geingob.

The coronavirus disease caught the world by surprise and has posed a major test of governance capacity to all governments across the world, Xi said.

The Chinese government always puts people in the first place and gives top priority to people's safety and health, he said, adding that thanks to more than two months of arduous efforts, China's epidemic prevention and control situation has been continuously improving.

With enormous efforts and sacrifices, the Chinese people have bolstered confidence, bought time and accumulated experience for other countries' epidemic prevention and control, said Xi.

In the face of this global public health crisis, only through solidarity and cooperation can the international community overcome the pandemic, stressed the president.

Xi recalled that at the extraordinary leaders' summit of the Group of 20 major economies a few days ago, he urged the international community to step up action, effectively carry out collective prevention and control, resolutely contain the spread of the epidemic, and particularly work together to help developing countries with weak public health systems to enhance preparedness and response.

During the most difficult period of China's fight against COVID-19, African countries provided China with valuable support, which will be engraved in the hearts of the Chinese people, Xi said.

Expressing deep concern about the current COVID-19 situation in Africa, he said China has overcome difficulties to actively assist the African Union and African countries with anti-epidemic supplies, and organize video conferences of medical experts to share experience.

Meanwhile, Chinese enterprises and non-governmental organizations have also extended a helping hand to African countries, he added, pointing out that all these are true manifestations of the China-Africa community with a shared future.

China, Xi said, will continue to share experience on epidemic prevention and control with African countries, and work with them to enhance cooperation in health care and win the final victory over the pandemic.

He added that he is confident that the friendship between China and African countries, including Namibia, will grow deeper in the joint fight against the epidemic.

Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, he said China stands ready to work with Namibia to seize the opportunity to maintain mutual understanding and support, strengthen practical cooperation and lift China-Namibia and China-Africa relations to new levels.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 20:39:58|Editor: Yurou

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JAKARTA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Operator of airports in Indonesia, PT Angkasa Pura II, has started trimming the operational hours of airports in the country in a bid to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus which has killed 181 people in the country, an official said on Friday.

President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II Muhammad Awaluddin said that the reduction of the operational period was expected to maximize the health surveillance and security checks at the airports.

With that strategy, he said, health conditions of passengers, visitors, and workers at the airports would be well maintained.

The new operational hours have been applied in the Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Banten province and other airports under the management of the state-owned firm, said Awaluddin.

"With this strategy PT Angkasa Pura II will be able to maximally operate with still paying attention to the safety, security and services, as well as the obedience to the rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic," he said in a statement.

However, the president director did not give details on how long the operator would cut the operational hours, citing that the adjustment is being classified in the categories of normal operation, slow down operation, minimum operation and terminated operation.

Several airports have applied for slow-down operation and minimum operation, according to him.

Indonesia has been applying physical distancing measure as an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly across Indonesia. As of Friday the Health Ministry reported the biggest daily hike of confirmed cases of 196, bringing the total to 1,986.
AMRI and Fortis are among the tertiary care private hospitals that are COVID-19 ready with isolation wards and dedicated staff to deal with both suspected and confirmed cases, report Jyoti Mukul and Ishita Ayan Dutt.

In the heart of Gurugram, next to the HUDA City Centre metro station, currently not in operation because of the 21-day national lockdown, a couple of policemen walk up to Fortis Hospital because one of them has a fever.

They are guided to the flu clinic on the ground floor through a separate passage marked with cones for suspected patients, who have to wear an orange wristband.

Every person who enters the hospital undergoes a check for fever and is required to declare travel history.

Those who are cleared are given a green band and those with fever, cough and cold wear the orange one.

Even employees have to go through this first line of defence against the highly contagious coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

A similar protocol is being followed at AMRI Dhakuria in south Kolkata.

Security guards guide patients and relatives to a table where their temperature is recorded.

AMRI and Fortis are among the tertiary care private hospitals that are COVID-19 ready with isolation wards and dedicated staff to deal with both suspected and confirmed cases.

Fortis has set up isolation wards with 262 beds across its 28 hospitals in the country.

A total of 83 suspected COVID-19 patients and 28 patients, who have tested positive, are under treatment at these hospitals.

Fortis and AMRI have one patient each in the 40-50 age group who is on ventilator.

The AMRI patient works for a non-government organisation that distributes food packets in the slums, and had no travel history in the past month.

In Gurugram, Fortis has so far admitted six COVID-19 patients, of whom four are in their 30s and have been discharged.

The hospital has converted its corporate periodic health check-up area, Health4U, into a Flu Clinic where sample collection and basic tests are done.

In the night, these operations move to a Quarantine Room in the basement.

"Anybody suspected to have COVID-19, they are wheeled into the emergency isolation ward," says Dr Ritu Garg, zonal director, Fortis Memorial Research Institute.

For COVID-19 testing, samples were earlier sent to the government city hospital, but they are now sent to SRL Diagnostics, which charges Rs 4,500. If confirmed, a patient is kept in a separate isolation ward.

"We don't like to call them corona wards, so we refer to them as ER Isolation Ward and Isolation Ward," says Dr Manoj Goyal, director and unit head, pulmonary.

Fortis has converted its chemotherapy daycare ward into the main isolation ward that has a separate entry and a small window for food and beverage service.

The isolation ward at the Dhakuria unit has a four-bed ward and a single room for Covid-suspect cases.

There are about three doctors and six nurses in the ward, said Ashok Mishra, head of emergency and nodal officer for AMRI Dhakuria.

Critical or COVID-positive cases are, however, put in the ITU where two beds have been kept for isolation.

The pathway to the COVID-dedicated ITU, again, is different.

AMRI has an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine that can serve as life-saving rescue therapy for refractory respiratory failure.

One such machine is located at its Bhubaneswar unit. Just the cost of consumables for use for a first day in an ECMO is Rs 1.5 lakh and over a period of three to five days, it could be Rs 4-5 lakh.

"Right now, cost is not important," said, Rupak Barua, group chief executive officer and director, AMRI Group of Hospitals.

Fortis is in the process of aligning its charges with the Haryana government notified rates, says Dr Garg.

It is the resources that are needed for dealing with such patients that make the treatment costlier.

"The level of criticality is same as in other patients with serious conditions. The only added risk is of healthcare workers and the additional gear that is required to mitigate it. This increases the cost," says Dr Sandeep Dewan, director and head of the department, Critical Care Medicine at Fortis.

Dr Dewan, who sits at the command centre that has a computer with four screens and a two-way speaker, says, "We can look at notes on one screen, vitals on the other, see the patients and hold consultations on the fourth."

Inside the isolation ward, a general duty assistant (GDA) attends to a patient on ventilator.

Besides the GDA, nurses enter the ward to monitor. Between the command centre and bed-side monitoring, there is electronic monitoring done by the critical care management team.

Dr Gupta says COVID-19 attacks the lungs and leads to severe pneumonia.

"We give them supportive treatment because lung function is impaired but if the situation deteriorates, like other organ failure, they are put on ventilator."

There is specific treatment directed at the virus, too, though there isn't any proven medication for it.

The bigger challenge is the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Medical staff have to wear fresh PPE every time they enter the ward.

Dr Gupta says the gear is later incinerated and a fresh one used next time. Remote monitoring reduces the pressure on PPEs.

Hospitals are seeing lower footfalls because patients are avoiding routine visits.

Doctors, too, have started consulting online while elective and planned surgeries have been put on hold.

Focus is to swiftly move to check the spread of pandemic.

"It is important to have experienced people so that they can identify COVID-suspect cases," says Dr Mishra.
A group of Korean evacuees arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Friday, from Morocco via a Moroccan carrier provided by the North African nation.. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



The number of coronavirus infections in Korea surpassed 10,000, Thursday, the health authorities announced Friday. This was recorded 74 days after the first case was reported in January.



According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), 86 new infections were confirmed Thursday, bringing the nation's total to 10,062. The death toll rose by five to 174.



Among the 86 new cases, 38 involve people who were infected overseas, bringing the total number of such cases to 647. The KCDC said 22 of them were detected at quarantine checkpoints.



Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the nation's two worst-affected regions, reported nine and five new cases, respectively. The total number of cases reported in Daegu and the North Gyeongsang Province reached 6,734 and 1,309, respectively.



The Seoul metropolitan region continues to see new cases daily, mainly due to infection clusters at major hospitals and churches. Five more new cases were reported at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital in Gyeonggi Province, bringing the total number of infections there to 27.



Seoul reported 18 new cases, bringing its total to 506, many attributed to infection clusters at a church and a call center. At least 37 people from the church have tested positive for the virus so far.



The country now requires all those arriving from abroad to spend a mandatory 14 days in quarantine in order to contain the virus spread in the country. The Ministry of Justice said Friday it has implemented an administrative order that will restrict the scope of activities for all foreign arrivals to make sure that they don't travel around the country now.



The measure was introduced as some foreigners infected with COVID-19 did not comply with the self-isolation rules and traveled without wearing masks.



The restriction has applied to all non-Korean arrivals since Wednesday. Those who violate the restriction can face a prison term of up to three years or a fine up to 20 million won ($16,300).



"The government expects that when the number of people under self-quarantine and those who were infected from overseas stabilizes, community infections will be contained," said Prime Minister Chung Sei-kyun during a government meeting on COVID-19.


Nurses, group-D staff and ward



boys of the state-run MR Bangur Hospital here staged a protest on its premises on Friday, demanding adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Despite hospital superintendent Dr Sisir Naskar's assurances that their demand would be fulfilled at the earliest, they refused to call off the protest.

"We have been handling patients for several days now without any proper PPEs. We don't know who is carrying what disease. Several requests have been made to the authorities for PPEs, but they did not pay heed..." one of the protesters, a group-D staff member at the south Kolkata hospital, said.

Last week, too, nurses at Beliaghata ID hospital, another state-run facility in the city, had staged a demonstration over shortage of protective gears.

Several nurses had said they would attend to the patients only after receiving (PPE) - masks, gloves and full body suits - following which hospital officials had promised to look into their demand.

Meanwhile, a group of contractual workers at SSKM hospital on Friday sought an insurance coverage from the government, at par with the permanent employees.

The workers reasoned that they were also taking chances and risking their lives while attending to the patients at the government hospital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Berlin is enlisting German multinationals and their networks of contacts abroad, especially in China, to secure protective clothing and equipment in the fight against the coronavirus, the health ministry said Friday.

"The health ministry procures directly, but we are also in contact with a whole string of companies... who may be able to help," a spokeswoman told reporters at a press conference in the German capital.

A spokesman for chemical giant BASF told AFP that its "employees are on a government procurement team" known as the Task Force Personal Protective Equipment (TFPSA).

"In China, BASF experts are currently working with other companies and their local contacts to help procure and transport medical protective clothing and equipment such as face masks that are urgently needed in Germany," the spokesman said.

Public broadcaster ARD had earlier reported that other German global giants like carmaker Volkswagen and airline group Lufthansa were involved in the effort.

Staff from the health, finance and foreign ministries were looking to counter "dynamic market developments", ARD reported, quoting from a government document that outlined the scheme.

A global rush to secure vital gear for medical personnel as they treat virus-infected patients has sent prices soaring and led to Wild West-like scenes in producer countries.

French regional leaders told AFP that shipments of masks they had ordered were snapped up by American buyers as they stood ready for departure on the tarmac at Chinese airports.

"The Americans took a shipment from us, we've identified a load they outbid us on," said Valerie Pecresse, head of the Ile-de-France region that encompasses capital Paris and its surroundings.

So far Berlin has been able to acquire around 20 million face masks, although many hospitals, medical practices and care homes still report shortages.

Hopes the German military's procurement arm could speed up the process have been disappointed, as most of the gear so far has been procured directly by the health ministry.

A shipment of six million masks ordered by the military went missing at an airport in Kenya in March, the defence ministry confirmed last week.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) responsible for disease control reported Friday 76,696 confirmed coronavirus infections in Germany, an increase of more than 6,000 in 24 hours.

So far over 1,000 Germans have died of the COVID-19 disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus pandemic is pushing countries around the world into a cutthroat competition for medical resources  and the United States is being cast as a leading villain.

President Donald Trumps administration stands accused of effectively hijacking shipments of masks and additional crucial supplies meant for other countries, including U.S. allies, and strong-arming private firms to prioritize America over other parts of the world. On Friday, Trump announced he was invoking the Defense Production Act to restrict U.S. exports of key medical gear.

Developing countries, where Covid-19 has yet to fully wreak havoc, are terrified of being left behind in the race for personal protective equipment, or PPE, and other materials because they cannot match the purchasing power of the U.S. and other wealthy countries.

Independent aid organizations that cater to the neediest corners of the globe are finding themselves competing for attention from medical goods manufacturers. The Trump administration has even asked aid groups to share those supplies with the U.S. government, in a bizarre reversal of the usual dynamic between the worlds leading power and those it typically helps.

Its Lord of the Flies: PPE Edition, said Jeremy Konyndyk, a former U.S. official who specializes in disaster response. We need some global solidarity, and instead we have global competition.

The international scramble mirrors the beggar-thy-neighbor competition among U.S. states for ventilators and other items considered vital to halting the spread of infections. Its a reflection of the astonishing dearth of coordination among world leaders on the response to the virus, which has appeared in more than 180 countries.

It also could exacerbate and extend the crisis: If poorer countries are unable to stop the virus, it is even more likely reemerge in more developed parts of the world that thought they had defeated it.

Some inside the Trump administration are keenly aware of the risks. In a strategy document obtained by POLITICO and crafted by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. officials argue that mitigating the virus in poorer countries is critical for the safety and security of the American people. Failing to do so could derail U.S. efforts to help other countries become more financially sound and independent, they add.

Story continues

The pace and rapid spread of COVID-19 will likely surpass local response capacity and existing resources in many countries that are important to U.S. interests, the document asserts. Depending on the severity in each country, COVID-19 is expected to cause significant economic and social disruption.

The document, labeled sensitive but unclassified, adds that longer-term impacts could reverse valuable economic and development gains made over many years, which could slow a countrys Journey to Self-Reliance and undermine billions of dollars of investments by American taxpayers that have resulted in tremendous health gains.

But the United States faces criticism that its behavior during the pandemic is simply making the global situation worse.

Multiple reports emerged this week in which foreign officials accused Americans  including U.S. government representatives  of essentially commandeering shipments of medical supplies meant for other countries, among them generally well-off U.S. allies in Europe.

In one case, according to a report in The Guardian, American buyers managed to wrest control of a shipment of masks from China that was supposed to go to France by offering three times the selling price. In another report, a German official accused the U.S. of an act of modern piracy after a shipment of masks from China that was meant for Berlin were seized and diverted to the U.S. while en route in Thailand. Similar reports emerged from Brazil, where a top official said China had set aside his countrys orders for equipment after the U.S. sent some 20 planes to pick up materials for itself.

It wasnt always clear whether the U.S. government had authorized such diversions of goods. In a statement to POLITICO, a senior Trump administration official asserted that the reports of U.S. malfeasance are completely false.

The United States government has not confiscated or taken any masks intended for delivery to or ordered by any other country, the official said. We are producing vast quantities of materials domestically and are working through the appropriate channels to purchase supplies from other nations to meet our needs.

But theres no question the U.S. is trying to procure as much medical equipment as it possibly can.

One company caught in the middle is U.S.-based manufacturer 3M. Trump on Thursday invoked the Defense Production Act to demand more N95 respirators from 3M, and the company has been the target of a threatening tweet from the president.

In a statement Friday, 3M expressed concern that the Trump administration had asked it to stop exporting certain respirators to Canada and Latin America and instead respond to growing demand in the United States.

There are  significant humanitarian implications of ceasing respirator supplies to health care workers in Canada and Latin America, where we are a critical supplier of respirators, the company said.

It also argued that other countries could retaliate by halting exports of crucial materials to the United States. Thats a key point that aid experts make as they try to predict the future; some note that the fight for medical equipment now could evolve into a battle for the elements that make therapeutics and vaccines.

Trumps pressure on 3M prompted a rebuke from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who noted that U.S.-Canadian trade goes both ways.

These are things that Americans rely on and it would be a mistake to create blockages or reduce the amount of back-and-forth trade of essential goods and services, including medical goods, across our border, he said.

Still, there are signs that imposing controls on what the U.S. sends overseas will have bipartisan support in Washington.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., talks to reporters as before he meets with fellow House Democrats at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Prior to Trumps announcement Friday that he would use the Defense Production Act to limit medical exports, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) called for such a move.

There is mounting evidence that the critical shortages of surgical masks and other personal protective equipment are being exacerbated by the unregulated export of such medical supplies from the United States, Engel wrote to Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the administrations coronavirus task force.

And the United States isnt the only one imposing export restrictions due to the virus; the European Union did so weeks ago, while countries within the bloc have squabbled over supplies.

There already are more than 1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide, with more than 58,000 deaths. But the epicenters of the disease have primarily been in better-off countries  China, the United States, Spain and Italy.

U.S. officials, global health analysts and others say the worst may be yet to come, in less-well off places like India, Nigeria, Bangladesh and parts of Latin America. The health infrastructure in many of these countries is already weak, and sparse in rural areas in particular. Some of them also have large, densely concentrated urban populations that make it hard to exercise social distancing rules.

Yet these countries are caught up in the global competition for medical supplies even though they have less cash to spread around.

Earlier this week, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, a founder of Tesla, tweeted that the car company has extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free.

One respondent was Bashir Ahmad, a top aide to the president of Nigeria, who wrote to Musk: Nigeria, my dear country is in need. Kindly send 100s here, we really need them, thanks!

The State Department and USAID have been caught in the middle, grappling with what often feel like contradictory impulses by the Trump administration.

One impulse is characterized by the America First philosophy, which says the U.S. must put its needs ahead of other countries and that other governments should share more of the global burden of humanitarian aid. The other is the desire to project continued U.S. dominance worldwide  the notion that America remains indispensable to any global effort.

On the one hand, the U.S. is trumpeting that it has made available some $274 million worth of aid to help other countries afflicted by the coronavirus. Those aid announcements come as U.S. adversary China, the original epicenter of the illness, has been on a public relations spree touting the expertise and equipment it is sending to other countries to help them battle the virus.

On the other, as POLITICO first reported earlier this week, the vice presidents office has ordered a review of U.S. assistance to ensure that personal protective equipment needed in America isnt heading to other countries  at least not so long as theres need in the U.S.

Aid experts gave some leeway to the Trump administrations approach.

They noted that such a worldwide crisis was highly unusual, not least because the U.S. itself is one of the hardest-hit zones. The idea that the U.S. is in crisis  with official projections of 100,000 to 240,000 dead  is hard to digest for aid workers who are used to viewing America as a safe harbor.

I would really doubt that any other administration would be different about prioritizing American needs when theyre looking at a quarter of a million people dying in the next few months, said Nicole Widdersheim, a former National Security Council official with expertise in Africa.

Nongovernmental aid groups also are caught in the competition for medical supplies.

Chris Skopec, a top official with Project HOPE, said his group recently put in a $500,000 order for 200,000 masks from a Chinese manufacturer. The masks were going to be sent to countries like Colombia, Ethiopia and the Philippines. But word soon came that the manufacturer had taken another order from another source for 20 million masks to be sent to the U.S. and Europe, Skopec said.

So our modest order got sidelined and deprioritized, he said. Project HOPE managed to find another manufacturer.

On March 27, USAID issued an extraordinary urgent request asking aid groups around the world to see if they have personal protective gear and other medical supplies that could be given to the United States.

In a note to the organizations, a USAID official attached a spreadsheet in which they could tabulate the items they could spare, including endotracheal tubes, biohazard bags and nasal cannula. NBC News first reported the request. USAID officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. officials and health experts say its likely the Trump administration will focus more on what it can do for other countries once it feels it has the situation in the United States under control.

A senior State Department official said thats definitely the plan as far as donating PPE to other countries. This is a global challenge, and we have to respond globally as well, the official said. Were not going to just fix it at home and then seal the borders.

The problem with that, others say, is that by the time Americas health crisis is under control, its economy might be in such poor shape that giving aid to other countries would be even less politically palatable than it is now.

And besides, it might be too late for many less developed countries.

Some poorer countries are trying to impose social distancing and other measures to prevent the virus from gaining too big a foothold. India, which has more than 1 billion residents, on March 24 announced a three-week nationwide lockdown. The number of confirmed cases in neighboring Pakistan has ticked past 2,600.

Still, with densely packed areas and limited access to health care, its hard to tell how truly widespread the infection already is in many of those countries. By the time enough equipment arrives from overseas, the death tolls could be staggering.

All that means it will be even more likely the virus could find its way back to the United States and other countries that thought they had brought it under control.

If there are countries that are raging fires, and weve still got kindling at home, then weve still got a problem, Konyndyk said.
New Delhi: Citizens of 41 countries including the United States, United Kingdom and China are among 960 overseas-based Tablighi Jamaat members who have been blacklisted by India for violating their visa conditions, according to an initial government assessment seen by Hindustan Times.

Around 400 more foreigners who took part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation held last month in the Islamic missionary group headquarters in Delhis NIzamuddin, which has since emerged as a hotspot of the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19), and are in quarantine are also likely to be soon blacklisted, an official in MHA said.

The 960 people blacklisted include four citizens of the United States, nine of the United Kingdom and six of China.The most were from Indonesia (379), Bangladesh (110), Kyrgyzstan (77), Myanmar (63) and Thailand (65). There are 33 Sri Lankans, 75 Malaysians, 24 Iranians, 63 Myanmarese and 12 Vietnamese as well besides attendees from as far Djibouti in East Africa and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Islands.

The foreign participants in the Jamaats congregation entered India on tourist visas but participated in a religious event, a violation that invites the revocation of their visas and blacklisting for future travel.

On Thursday, the ministry of home affairs had said in a statement that 960 foreigners present in India on tourist visas had been blacklisted for their involvement in activities of the Tablighi Jamaat.

As many as 4,200 foreigners have thus far been blacklisted by the home ministrys immigration department for flouting tourist visa norms and engaging in Tablighi activities, particularly missionary work, since 2015, according to government officials familiar with the matter.
A police robot has been deployed on the streets of Tunisia to make sure residents are following lockdown rules to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Known as PGuard, the so-called 'robocop' was deployed by Tunisia's interior ministry across the capital city of Tunis and is operated remotely.

It is equipped with four full HD infrared cameras, a 360-degree thermal camera, a GPS and a laser telemetry system and can run for up to eight hours.

The PGuard has been mainly sold overseas to companies for security uses, but can be now be spotted patrolling the streets of Tunisia

PGuard calls out to suspected violators of the lockdown: 'What are you doing? Show me your ID. You don't know there's a lockdown?'

Lockdown rules mean everyone must stay in their homes but people are allowed out for medical reasons or to purchase necessities.

The PGuard robot (above) checks the exit permit of a citizen while calling on residents to respect a quarantine order in Tunis

If the robot spies anyone walking in the largely deserted streets, it approaches them and asks why they are out, according to the BBC.

They must then show their ID to the robot's camera so officers controlling it remotely can check them.

The country has been under night-time curfew since March 17 with stricter lockdown orders imposed from March 22.

The robot was first produced in 2015 to carry out security patrols. Built by Enova Robotics, a the company is planning to deploy a second robot in a Tunis hospital to help coronavirus patients communicate with relatives

What are the symptoms of coronavirus? The Covid-19 is transmitted from person to person via droplets when an infected person breathes out, coughs or sneezes. It can also spread via contaminated surfaces such as door handles or railings. Coronavirus infections have a wide range of symptoms, including fever, coughing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Mild cases can cause cold-like symptoms including a sore throat, headache, fever, cough or trouble breathing. Severe cases can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory illness, kidney failure and death. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Advertisement

The PGuard robot can be seen keeping a watchful eye in front of the famous Tunis clocktower

A total of 455 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and 14 people have died from the virus.

The robot's Tunisian creator Anis Sahbani said the machine was first produced in 2015 essentially to carry out security patrols and that it operates autonomously through artificial intelligence.

The robot, built by Sahbani's Enova Robotics firm, costs between 100,000-130,000 and has been mainly sold overseas to companies for security uses.

A number of the robots have been donated to the interior ministry.

Based in the eastern city of Sousse, the company is now planning to deploy another robot in a Tunis hospital to help coronavirus patients communicate with relatives.

A third is being produced and should be operational by the end of April in hospitals as part of a process to determine which patients are likely infected with COVID-19.
President Buahris daughter who has been on self isolation for 14 days after she returned from the UK has finally united with her family.

The first lady shared the goodnews on twitter and wrote;

 It is a thing of joy & gratitude to Almighty God to reunite with my daughter after she had been in isolation for 14 days immediately she landed in Nigeria. While Im wishing all those infected for a speedy recovery, I pray for the end of this pandemic.

See photo below;
Troops and police in Ecuador have collected at least 150 bodies from streets and homes in the port city of Guayaquil, the government said, warning that as many as 3,500 people could die of the coronavirus in the city and surrounding province in the coming months. A joint military and police task force had collected 150 bodies over the last three days, government spokesman Jorge Wated said late Wednesday. Residents in Guayaquil, Ecuador's second city, had earlier published videos on social media of abandoned bodies in the streets. Some left desperate messages for authorities to take away the corpses of people who had died in their homes. The government spokesman apologized in a message broadcast on state television. He said mortuary workers had been unable to keep up with the removal of dead people because of a curfew imposed under the pandemic. "We acknowledge any errors and apologize to those who had to wait days for their loved ones to be taken away," Wated said. Authorities have not confirmed how many of the dead were victims of the coronavirus. Ecuador is the Latin American country worst hit by the virus after Brazil, with more than 3,160 infections and 120 deaths by Thursday morning. Guayaquil's surrounding province of Guayas has 70 percent of the country's COVID-19 infections. Wated said the government is preparing for difficult days ahead. "The medical experts unfortunately estimate that deaths from COVID in these months will reach between 2,500 and 3,500 -- in the province of Guayas alone, and we are preparing for that," he said. Mortuary workers in masks and protective clothing were seen carrying plastic-wrapped coffins in the city on Wednesday as authorities tried to cope with the backlog of dead. "We are working so that each person can be buried with dignity in one-person spaces," Wated said, referring to a government-run cemetery being made available with capacity for around 2,000 bodies.
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Mass infections continue, requiring drastic measures



The number of confirmed COVID-19 patients here surpassed 10,000, Friday, 74 days after the first South Korean was infected in the outbreak, Jan. 20.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 86 new infections on the day, bringing the country's total to 10,062. The death toll rose by five to 174.



Thankfully, the spread of the new coronavirus has slowed as citizens and companies are complying well with the government's "social distancing" guidelines, and the administration has toughened measures to prevent possible transmission from people coming from abroad. Still, infection clusters are continuously being reported at hospitals and churches. Additional measures are definitely needed for these places.



In particular, mass infections at hospitals could be more disastrous because the fatality rate for those diagnosed with the new coronavirus is much higher for patients suffering from other diseases. Hospitals have been at the forefront of this battle against COVID-19, but it is true that infection clusters there are making the fight harder.



As of Friday morning, 30 cases were confirmed just at St. Mary's Hospital in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. A nine-year-old girl hospitalized at the Asan Medical Center (AMC) in Seoul, one of the country's biggest hospitals with 2,700 beds, tested positive for the coronavirus, Tuesday. She is believed to have been infected with the virus while receiving treatment at St. Mary's Hospital before being transferred to AMC.



As of yet, there are no additional cases reported at AMC, but it cannot be ruled out that it could turn into a new infection cluster. Fifty doctors, nurses and hospital workers who came into contact with the girl and her parents have been quarantined, hampering the operation of the hospital. Previously, cluster infections were also reported at Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul, and Bundang Jesaeng Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.



During the past two weeks, about 35 percent of cases reported in Seoul and the greater capital area were at hospitals, according to the KCDC. The dilemma is that the authorities have no choice but to take limited measures against hospitals although there have been infection clusters there. In case of churches, municipal governments have implemented administrative measures to ban gatherings and punish those violating preventive guidelines after some churches became new infection clusters. However, they cannot close hospitals just because infections were discovered at some of them.



What is clear is that it is impossible to overcome the virus if hospitals remain loopholes. It is necessary for the government to demand hospitals implement more drastic preventive measures while covering losses caused by these. Of course, they should not discourage hospitals. What is equally important is to draw up comprehensive support measures for hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.


health-trends Coronavirus pandemic | 70% of COVID-19 patients in Kerala have Dubai links It is common among the people of Kerala, especially those hailing from the northern reaches of the state, to move to Gulf countries for work. Several such people working in Dubai had returned to India in early March.
TORONTO, April 2, 2020 /CNW/ - MindBeacon, provider of the leading digital mental and behavioural health therapy service BEACON, announces the launch of Stronger Minds, created to support all Canadians through heightened stresses related to COVID-19. Available Monday, April 6, the new digital program provides participants with day-to-day guidance from the extensive MindBeacon team of clinical psychologists. Through the BEACON digital platform, Stronger Minds participants will access guidance in the form of short expert Q&A videos, quick reads and resilience-building activities  all focused on protecting our emotional well-being as the COVID-19 crisis progresses. Fresh and useful insights will be provided daily, in response to the evolving worries expressed by Canadians as they participate in the program. Stronger Minds will be offered indefinitely, in recognition this crisis has an uncertain timeline.

Stronger Minds by BEACON is a free program that will be available for all Canadians. This is made possible through support from Manulife and Green Shield Canada (GSC) as part of their commitment to communities through the pandemic crisis. Created to address the specific emotional worries stirred by the pandemic, Stronger Minds is distinct from the existing treatment service offered through BEACON's guided digital therapy (iCBT). Unlike therapy, Stronger Minds requires no assessment to participate. BEACON recognizes that all Canadians are looking for expert-led support without the need to engage in a course of therapy.

"We have seen firsthand that our customers are looking for ways to access mental well-being support and information as we continue to navigate the impacts of a pandemic," says Donna Carbell, Head, Group Benefits, Manulife. "The time to act is now. Our sponsorship of Stronger Minds enables Canadians to access mental health information from their home. Manulife is dedicated to helping people become healthier  financially, physically, mentally and socially."

"During the COVID-19 crisis, we've heard from Canadians right across the country - and mental health challenges have been a common theme," says Joe Blomeley, GSC's EVP, Individual, Public Sector and Mental Health. "It's in our DNA to step up in moments like this and bring high-quality mental health care options within easier reach. BEACON digital therapy has already improved the mental health of thousands of Canadians, and we are excited about the potential of the Stronger Minds program."

"Our MindBeacon team of clinical psychologists, with our collective expertise and experience, makes us well-suited to help people with the challenges that matter through this time  whether it's difficulties with social isolation, supporting struggling family members, worries about financial insecurity, and much more," says Dr. Peter Farvolden, clinical psychologist and Chief Science Officer for BEACON. "Canada is in this together and we're wholeheartedly ready to help Canadians cope through the stressful events of this time, so they can successfully face every day as it comes."

Information on Stronger Minds by BEACON is available at mindbeacon.com/strongerminds

About MindBeacon Group

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Judge Walker was an unrelenting defender of Justice Kavanaugh during the lefts unprecedented smear campaign, Carrie Severino, the president of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network, said on Twitter after his nomination. I expect Walker to bring similar courage with him to the DC Circuit as he defends the rule of law.

Judge Walker is a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School and had worked as an appellate lawyer in the Washington office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher before returning to Louisville to practice law and teach. He is a member of the Federalist Society, the conservative group that has been central to the extremely successful push by the Trump administration, in concert with Mr. McConnell, to place scores of conservatives on the federal courts.

In his writings, Judge Walker has exhibited a strongly conservative view. In one article, he labeled the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act as catastrophic. Defending Justice Kavanaugh, Judge Walker hailed a conservative judicial revolution that he said would bring an end to affirmative action, an end to successful litigation about religious displays and prayers, an end to bans on semiautomatic rifles and an end to almost all judicial restrictions on abortion.

In opposing the confirmation last year, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, pointed to Judge Walkers lack of experience and said the only reason for his nomination seemed to be his membership in the Federalist Society and his far-right wing views on health care, civil rights, and executive power.

Judge Walker would succeed Judge Thomas B. Griffith, who was nominated in 2004 by President George W. Bush after Senate Democrats filibustered the nomination of Miguel Estrada and intensified the fight over judicial confirmations that is still underway. Judge Griffith announced last month that he would step down in the fall.

Judge Walkers confirmation would not immediately change the balance on the court, which now consists of seven judges nominated by Democratic presidents and four by Republicans. He would be the third judge Mr. Trump has placed on the court.

Mr. McConnell has emphasized that he intends for the Senate to continue confirming judges through the end of the year, adopting the motto of leave no vacancy behind. With openings diminishing, Mr. McConnell and other Senate Republicans have been reaching out to Republican-nominated judges eligible for retirement to sound them out about their plans.
Cargo ships and air freight companies will be able to dock and land on South African shores to deliver essential services, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Thursday.

Eric Gevaert via 123RF

The regulations, implemented by government during the 21-day National State of Disaster Covid-19 enforced lockdown, have been amended by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma."All cargo has now been allowed into the country and to be offloaded from ships. This applies to essential goods and other goods, subject to sanitising and disinfection," said Patel at a briefing of Ministers from the Covid-19 National Command Council.Patel said this will prevent ports from clogging up and allow essential goods to reach South Africans.The regulations also make provision for cargo planes entering South Africa.Patel outlined the rules for crews from such cargo planes."From there, they will go to a dedicated hotel near the airport, where they will be on lockdown in their rooms until they return to their planes and fly back. Airfreight companies have strongly welcomed this clarification," he said.Additionally, internationally operated call centres are now permitted to operate, provided they observe social distancing rules."There are a number of them that operate in South Africa and the regulations clarify that they may provide essential services in respect of healthcare, social services, government services and financial services - subject to social distancing rules that will be determined by the Ministers of Health and Trade, Industry and Competition," Patel said.The Ministers are currently finalising these.Meanwhile, Patel said given the taxi operating hours, supermarkets have been required to adjust opening hours. Most major retailers now open at 7am."The stores have tried, especially with the payment of social grants, to maintain social distancing and they are at the same time able to service customers who have come to purchase basic needs."We are now reviewing areas around exemption to ensure that the regulations are implemented appropriately. Action is now being taken around the regulations dealing with price [hikes]."We have received hundreds of complaints that have been lodged with the National Consumer Commission and the Competition Commission. Within a very short period of time, we will see the first cases coming up at the tribunals, where the two commissions will lay the evidence they have collected from complaints laid. We anticipate that the decisions will be made quite quickly," said Patel.
 Flash

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Thursday thanked the Chinese city of Shanghai for its donation of 21,000 face masks.

"Let me thank Shanghai, China because there are 21,000 masks that they offered. Those masks are on the ground here in the city of Houston and now within our possession. So I want to thank them for their donation. Thank you very, very much," Turner said during a news conference.

Chinese Consul General in Houston Cai Wei made a phone call to Turner Friday, promising that Shanghai will help Houston, its sister city, combat COVID-19.

In the phone call, Cai expressed support for the mayor and the citizens of Houston, saying that Shanghai and the Chinese Consulate General in Houston will provide help within its capacity to Houston in the fight against COVID-19.

Emphasizing that viruses know no borders, Cai expressed his hope that the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens, especially Chinese students, and the interests of Chinese enterprises in Houston will be protected.




The yoga guru's appeal came at a time when Nizamuddin West in Delhi has emerged as an epicentre for the spread of coronavirus in different parts of the country after thousands of people took part in an Islamic congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat from March 1-15 and returned to their states.

New Delhi : Spiritual guru, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on Thursday appealed to the people not to blame a "specific religion" for the spread of coronavirus and stressed there should be no division in the name of caste and creed.

On Thursday, describing the contagion as "a very dangerous pandemic," Vasudev said one should be a part of the solution and not that of the problem.

"At a time like this, let us not create divisions in the name of religion, caste and creed. This is the time that as a generation of people we must stand up and see that this pandemic does not transform itself into a major calamity for this generation," he said in a video message.

He further said that by behaving responsibly and consciously we can ensure this pandemic passes off as a "minor aberration but not a major calamity."
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- The Chagrin Falls Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday (April 2) to extend the payment of the school districts classified staff through the end of this school year.

Robert Hunt, superintendent of the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools, said that despite the state-mandated closing of all school buildings due to the coronavirus, the district has continued to engage its classified staff in various ways. He said he expects that usage to increase as the year progresses.

Weve looked at the cost to the district in terms of what we might pay in unemployment, said Hunt, who recommended the resolution. Our (classified) staff would have continued to collect that unemployment over the summer, where normally theyre not paid.

Financially, we dont believe it to be a great incentive to try to save money. So in the final analysis, it just didnt make sense" to furlough these staff members so they could collect unemployment, he said.

Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered all public and private schools in the state to be closed through at least May 1 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Meeting via Zoom

Also at the special meeting, the board approved a resolution to allow it to conduct meetings via electronic means during the COVID-19 state of emergency, which requires social distancing.

This meeting was the boards first held via Zoom video conferencing and was live-streamed on YouTube. All five board members, Hunt and district Treasurer Ashley Brudno took part in the meeting remotely via computer.

The district launched its virtual learning program on March 18, the day after the mandated closure of schools, Hunt said.

We took most of spring break (March 23-29) off as far as communicating with our students, and as of this Monday (March 30), we were back into virtual learning, he said.

Im extremely proud of our staff and students, and certainly appreciate all the support of the Board of Education and the parents during this last couple of weeks.

Heres what classified staff are working on

Meanwhile, classified staff members continue to be engaged in a number of ways.

For example, Hunt said, food service employees have rotated in assisting with food preparation and purchasing food for families in the district that receive free or reduced-price lunches.

We have opened that up to additional families in need in our district, and were currently providing food for 12 families in the district, he said. Our (bus) drivers are rotating through and dispersing those meals on a weekly basis.

Bus drivers are also helping the districts technology department with transporting Chromebooks to and from schools when students have issues with them, Hunt said.

Hunt also explained how custodial and grounds workers have been engaged since the schools closed.

Trying to restaff in these departments would be extremely difficult, especially in the area of transportation, he said.

Hunt said the board would re-evaluate this plan as the end of the school year approaches.

Law for public meetings

Brudno said the recent passage of House Bill 197 -- signed into law by DeWine March 27 -- made it possible for local governments to hold public meetings remotely and with transparency during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, due to Ohios Sunshine Laws, such meetings were not permitted.

(The laws) allowed for a board member to call in to participate in a discussion, but not to be counted as present at a meeting and not to vote, she said. House Bill 197 made it so that we can operate meetings like this, and (board members) can all vote.

So to implement that, we need to approve a resolution just stating that were going to operate a board meeting in this manner for the time being.

The resolution also suspends the districts policy to allow public participation while conducting meetings remotely, Brudno said.

But we want our community and everyone to know that we still want to hear from you, she said. So if there is something you would like to discuss or that youd like us to know about, you can email any of us at any time.

Email addresses for all board members are available on the districts website, chagrinschools.org.

Some flexibility and relief

Hunt also discussed some highlights of House Bill 197, which he said provides some flexibility and relief for school districts as they venture into virtual learning.

He said the bill waives state testing requirements for schoolchildren this year. It also declared that there will be no state report card rankings from the 2019-20 school year, which would have been released next year.

In terms of the third-grade reading guarantee, authority was given to building principals, teachers and guidance counselors to determine if they believe if a student is reading at or below grade level and to make a decision on retention, he said.

Similar authority was given to high school principals in terms of graduation, Hunt said.

The bill requires districts not only to create a virtual learning plan, but also to document how its accounting for the hours missed in the classroom since the closure, Hunt said.

Within our plan, we have to articulate how those hours are being made up, he said. So we're working on adding that to the plan right now and engaging our union leadership in that.

In addition, Hunt said the administration is working on a survey for district parents to solicit feedback on how they feel the virtual learning is going. He expects the survey to be launched Friday (April 3).

We want to turn that around fairly quickly, because we want that data to drive whatever changes we need to make to ensure that we are reaching kids and engaging them on an appropriate level, he said.

Board member Sharon Broz said the feedback she has received from parents -- and from her own familys perspective -- on the virtual learning has been that the district has exceeded anyones expectations, in terms of reacting and being prepared and keeping life going as usual.

All the time that our staff and our administration have put into making that possible, Im just very grateful to be a part of this school district and very blessed to have the talent that we have, she said.

Hunt thanked Broz for her support.

Its been a pretty chaotic two weeks for everyone, he said. Our staff has really stepped up, and theyre going above and beyond.

By and large, I think people have been very appreciative of how quickly weve pulled it together and launched it. I think we were a little bit ahead of the curve because of the work that was done on the front end.

The board will meet again remotely at 6 p.m. Wednesday (April 8).

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
Stream near Lunch Creek Trail, Alaska, where Jennifer Treat and her son Jaxson Brown were lost on Wednesday, March 25. (Alaska.org)

Boy, 5, Found Dead on Alaska Hiking Trail

A 5-year-old boy was found dead on an Alaska hiking trail days after his mother left him to seek help after the two became disoriented and lost, state troopers said.

Five-year-old Jaxson Brown was found on Lunch Creek trail in Ketchikan County by rescue workers on Saturday afternoon, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. Jaxsons mother, 36-year-old Jennifer Treat, was found 3 miles up the trail on Friday.

The two had embarked on a hike along the five-mile Lunch Creek Trail and got lost on Wednesday, March 25. Mother and son had to spend the night in the wild together.

heartbreaking update: The body of a five-year-old Ketchikan boy missing since Wednesday has been found, according to Alaska State Troopers  ground searchers located Jaxson [Brown] deceased and recovered his remains

May this little lamb rest in Paradise. https://t.co/TTG0sRoyS6  True Blue Warriors (@TruBluWarriors) March 30, 2020

Treat had set out alone seeking help on Thursday when Jaxson became too hungry and tired and did not want to hike any further. The air was chilly, and foggy with temperatures diving into the deep forties at night.

The trail was muddy and slippery and partly made up of boardwalks, with natural tread sections. In some places, snow was waist-deep, Jerry Kiffer, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad incident commander, said.

In her quest for help, the mother fell multiple times and had severely injured her leg, which impeded her from seeking help. In her rush to find help, Treat reportedly tripped on a root and significantly injured her leg, Alaska State Troopers said in a press release.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter sits in a beach area in order to airlift personnel with Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad to a remote area of Lunch Creek, a state recreation site in Ketchikan, Alaska on Saturday, March 28, 2020. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News/AP)

Troopers received a phone call to help a woman and a boy. Police found Treats car at the trailhead parking lot, and a rescue team of some 20 troopers and volunteers assisted by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter started an extensive search for the two, which led to finding Treat on Friday. Treat was transported by helicopter for treatment.

On Friday, searchers found a shoe that belonged to Jaxson, but it wasnt till Saturday around 2:45 p.m. that Jaxson was found, but, by then, it was too late; Jaxson had already died.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the manner and cause of death. At this time, while it is very tragic, it doesnt appear to be suspicious in nature, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said, the outlet reported.

From NTD News
This week, dozens of retailers, including Macy's, Kohl's, J.C. Penney and Gap, among many others, announced they would furlough the majority of their staff, resulting in hundreds of thousands of Americans going without pay during the coronavirus pandemic. These retailers are the latest to issue sweeping furloughs for the majority of their workforce, following similar moves made in the restaurant and hospitality industries that have been hard hit by pandemic closures As more states mandate the closures of non-essential businesses, it's likely more companies and industries will follow suit. For those who may be furloughed for the first time, or worried they'll be furloughed due to the pandemic, here's what workers should know.

What does it mean to be furloughed?

When a person is furloughed, they can't work and can't receive pay. It's essentially a temporary, unpaid leave of absence. It's not a layoff, however. A furloughed worker remains an employee with the company and can return to their job when the company decides to reopen. Companies can also choose to continue providing health insurance and benefits coverage to furloughed workers for a certain amount of time, though it's not required or guaranteed. For example, Macy's workers furloughed this week will keep their existing medical, dental, vision and other insurance benefits through May. Workers also retain their employer-sponsored 401(k) accounts, though employees won't be able to contribute to them while they are not being paid.

How long does a furlough last?

It depends. Some companies may regularly furlough their workforce due to the availability of seasonal work, says Michele Evermore, senior researcher and policy analyst at National Employment Law Project. Steelworkers, for example, may be furloughed for a few months every year when construction needs are down. Katherine Williams, 40, of Waterford, Conn., was furloughed from her job as a fulfillment lead at Macy's this week. Previously, she spent several years working as a school bus driver. She would often be furloughed during the summer when school wasn't in session, but she could come to expect re-employment every August. With her current situation, however, "nobody really knows what's going to happen," she tells CNBC Make It.

Why do companies furlough their employees?

Companies impacted by the pandemic are resorting to many different measures to cut costs, including by reducing work hours, mandating pay cuts and laying off employees. Furloughs are one way to quickly cut operating costs now and minimize re-hiring costs later. "A furlough is a way for companies to lessen their spend on a temporary basis without permanently reducing the size of their staff," says Michelle Armer, chief people officer of the job site CareerBuilder. Because companies retain their workforce through a furlough, they can resume operations much faster after it's over. They won't have to spend time and money hiring new workers or re-hiring workers they previously laid off.

Can a furlough become a layoff?

Yes, a company that has furloughed its workforce can later decide to permanently lay off employees. "It's entirely possible; I'm expecting quite a bit of that to start happening," Evermore says, given the economic upheaval caused by the global pandemic. "Companies that temporarily ramp down now may later on realize they have to shutter their doors if this goes on long enough." For her part, Williams is worried her job might not make it past the furlough period. She says the Macy's store where she works was identified as one of the 125 locations the department chain plans to close in the next three years. "Knowing if I'm going to have a job after two months, or however long this lasts, is a big question," Williams says. "It's scary to know Macy's may not be able to bounce back from this."

Can you file for unemployment if you're furloughed?

Yes. Workers furloughed due to the pandemic are eligible to receive unemployment insurance, which has dramatically expanded as part of the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. "It doesn't matter whether you've been furloughed or laid off, you'll be eligible for unemployment under the COVID-19 stimulus package," Evermore says. She adds workers still receiving employer-sponsored benefits during a furlough are still eligible for unemployment insurance. Under the $2 trillion CARES Act, unemployed workers (including those who've been furloughed) are eligible to receive their state-administered benefit, based on previous earnings, for up to 39 weeks. They'll also get an additional $600 per week for up to four months until July 31. Williams says she's been able to file for unemployment in Connecticut as of April 1, the first official day Macy's workers were on furlough. Due to the crush of demand in unemployment claims, she estimates it'll be another three to four weeks until she receives an unemployment check. In Miami, Fla., 30-year-old Andres Balzan was furloughed from his job in merchandise support for Macy's. He began trying to file for unemployment Wednesday morning but found the Florida unemployment site was down. "I've been hearing from other [Macy's] colleagues that the site is terribly slow, or they may get through to the end of the session, and it won't submit for them," he adds. The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that 6.6 million new unemployment claims were filed in the past week, adding up to roughly 10 million Americans who've filed for unemployment in the past two weeks.

Can furloughed employees look for other work?
Washington: The World Bank has approved USD 1 billion emergency funding for India to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed 76 lives and infected 2,500 people in the country.

The World Bank's first set of aid projects, amounting to USD 1.9 billion, will assist 25 countries, and new operations are moving forward in over 40 nations using the fast-track process, the bank said on Thursday.

The largest chunk of the emergency financial assistance has gone to India USD 1 billion.

"In India, USD 1 billion emergency financing will support better screening, contact tracing, and laboratory diagnostics; procure personal protective equipment; and set up new isolation wards," the World Bank said after its Board of Executive Directors approved the first set of emergency support operations for developing countries around the world, using a dedicated, fast-track facility for COVID-19 response.

In South Asia, the World Bank also approved USD 200 million for Pakistan, USD 100 million for Afghanistan, USD 7.3 million for the Maldives and USD 128.6 million for Sri Lanka.

The World Bank said it was now working to grant up to USD 160 billion over the next 15 months to support measures to tackle the pandemic which will focus on the immediate health consequences and bolster economic recovery.

The broader economic program will aim to shorten the time to recovery, create conditions for growth, support small and medium enterprises, and help protect the poor and vulnerable.

"The World Bank Group is taking broad, fast action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we already have health response operations moving forward in over 65 countries," said World Bank Group President David Malpass.

"We are working to strengthen (the) developing nations' ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and shorten the time to economic and social recovery," Malpass said.

According to the bank, USD 100 million will support Afghanistan to slow and limit the spread of COVID-19 through enhanced detection, surveillance, and laboratory systems, as well as strengthen essential health care delivery and intensive care.

In Pakistan, USD 200 million will support preparedness and emergency response in the health sector and include social protection and education measures, the bank said.

A total of 1,002,159 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with 51,485 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 08:16 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f62fe5 1 National COVID-19,mudik,quarantine,exodus,Idul-Fitri,idul-fitri-exodus,Contagion,infectious-diseases,pandemic,social-distancing Free

For West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, the consequences of letting people go to their hometowns during a pandemic are real. The governor posted on his Facebook wall on Thursday a news story about a 72-year-old stroke patient from Ciamis who tested positive for COVID-19 after having contact with his child from virus-stricken Jakarta.



This story is one of many cases of parents in West Java who are COVID-19 positive after being visited by their children or relatives, who are unaware that they are carrying the virus to their hometowns, he said. Restrain yourselves and love your parents. Dont go home now, he pleaded.



The post is just another sign of growing apprehension among regional leaders over a possible explosion of coronavirus cases in their respective areas as millions of people from Greater Jakarta  largely deprived of their livelihood due to large-scale physical distancing policies  are set to travel to their hometowns for Idul Fitri early.



The central government still lacks a clear strategy on preventing that. Just hours before Ridwan made his plea, President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced that he would not officially ban people from traveling for the Idul Fitri holidays, ignoring warnings from public health experts that the consequences of failing to prevent people from leaving Jakarta, the epicenter of the outbreak in the country, could be dire.

Read also: Some 70,000 Indonesians could be infected with COVID-19 before Ramadan, scientists say

Annually, some 20 million people from Greater Jakarta travel to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri in a tradition called mudik (exodus). The tradition, public health experts say, could lead to massive COVID-19 contagion on Java, an island of 141 million people, where many regions have far worse healthcare systems than Jakarta.



[The President] underlines that there is no official ban on people going on the mudik during the 2020 Idul Fitri holiday period. The travelers, however, must self-isolate for 14 days, will be given people under observation [ODP] status, as per the World Health Organization health protocol, and will be monitored by the respective local administration, presidential spokesman Fadjroel Rachman said in a statement on Thursday, shortly after a speech by the President on the matter.



State Secretary Pratikno, however, later clarified Fadjroels statement, saying that the President actually called on people to stay in the capital, though he did not categorically state that the President would ban the mudik.



A revised statement from Fadjroel was not redacted to retract the original one.

Number of travelers during Idul Fitri exodus in Indonesia (JP/Hengky Wijaya)

Speaking in a teleconferenced Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Jokowi said the government had advised people not to go back to their hometowns for Idul Fitri, so as to contain the spread of the virus, which has killed at least 170 people nationwide. But he stopped short of banning people from doing so.



His refusal to ban the mudik has surprised many, but it falls in line with the main strategy he adopted to fight the virus, which is one of large-scale social restrictions. The President has ruled out any form of lockdown, be it a closure of regional borders or a strict restriction of peoples movement, saying that such a drastic policy was not suited to the characteristics of Indonesians and would severely hurt businesses.



But despite his refusal to isolate cities, the President still wanted regional leaders and his ministers to devise ways to discourage people from the exodus this year.

The Jakarta administration, he said, had proposed that 3.6 million people in the capital be included in social safety nets to keep them from leaving. The President himself said he was open to adjusting the dates of the Idul Fitri public holiday for people who would not be able to return to their hometowns for the annual exodus.



As some people would still be able to leave Jakarta, Jokowi also instructed authorities at the subdistrict and village level in the regions to tighten surveillance, saying that local authorities could also use village funds to act as a local social safety net. I would like to encourage participation at the community level, be it through neighborhood units [RT] or community units [RW], so that travelers [returning to their hometowns] from Greater Jakarta can be given ODP status, said Jokowi at Bogor Palace, West Java.



Meanwhile, Jokowis large-scale social restriction policy has created public confusion. On Wednesday, the Transportation Ministry issued a circular outlining restrictions on transportation to and from Greater Jakarta, sparking speculation that the government was ready to ban people from leaving the capital.



It was later clarified that the circular was just a recommendation and that Jakarta and its satellite cities should send a letter asking the Health Minister to allow them to impose wide-scale social restrictions, known as PSBB, to restrict transportation services.

Read also: Governor Anies calls for greater authority to handle COVID-19 epicenter

The Jakarta administration had made a request to stop intercity bus services to and from Jakarta on Monday, but it was rejected by acting transportation minister Luhut Pandjaitan after Jokowi turned down the capitals request for a lockdown.



On Thursday, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said he would make that request even though he had earlier claimed that Jakarta had already imposed PSBB.



Today, we will send a letter to the health minister asking for the minister to immediately approve the PSBB for Jakarta. What we need from the central government is to grant us the status, so that we can issue regulations [with regard to COVID-19 handling], Anies said in a virtual meeting with Vice President Maruf Amin.



He suggested that the PSBB for Jakarta apply also to surrounding cities, saying that the outbreak affected Greater Jakarta areas.



Anies had issued a circular asking interregional buses to temporarily halt operations starting Monday in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 to other regions.



We were worried about peoples mobility from Jakarta to areas outside the capital. Hence, we issued the circular because of the high risk of spreading the disease [to other regions]. This needs to be a concern for the central government.

Padjajaran University epidemiologist Panji Hadiseomarto said the government's green light for the exodus was "confusing", as it contradicted the large-scale social restrictions policy announced just a few days earlier. He said the decision would certainly widen the spread of the virus across the country.

"It'll be hard to get people to isolate themselves [...]. If local epidemics occur in the regions, I'm sure most of the regions will be overwhelmed. If we'll see more victims of COVID-19 following the exodus, I will blame it on the government," he said.

 Ardila Syakriah contributed to this story.
Even as the world races against times to save lives and find cure for the deadly COVID-19 virus, Indian start-up ecosystem is uniting in the fight against coronavirus. From start-up founders, venture capitalists to family offices and investment bankers, all are coming together in unusual ways to help find quick and scalable solutions.

VCs earmark separate funds to COVID-19 solutions

Investment bankers chip in with expertise without fees

The Action Covid Team (ACT) Grants, a Rs 100 crore collective grant fund from leading VC funds such as Sequoia, Light speed, Nexus, Matrix partners and start-up industry leaders such as Nandan Nilekani, Ritesh Agarwal, Vijay Shekar Sharma, Kunal Shah, Kiran Shaw, among others, has been specifically earmarked for projects directly related to combating covid-19 with the ability to have an immediate impact. Start-up ideas that are quickly actionable and scalable in the areas of prevention of spread of COVID-19, scaling of testing for the virus, disease management at homes, support to healthcare workers and critically-ill patients are being considered for funding under the grant.

Ravi Gururaj, President TiE Bangalore said, "This is a terrific initiative to deliver critical solutions speedily at scale by tapping into India's best technology founders, teams and technology." The fund has raised Rs 70 crore till now and invested in two start-ups namely Founders vs Covid (Rs 25 Lakhs) and Mylabs (Rs 1 crore).

Omidyar Network India had earlier announced a Rs 7.5 crore Rapid Response Funding Initiative to fight the pandemic. The investment firm has released a collective fund of Rs 1 crore to 20 grassroots civil society organisations to deal with the problems faced by migrant workers and their families. Omidyar Network India's Managing Director, Roopa Kudva said, "Collaboration is the need of the hour to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The civil society organizations in this collective work across 12 states have deep rural networks and can provide strong support to government efforts."

Even investment banking community is rising to the occasion by providing their services without fees. For instance, Bexley Advisors' initiative 'The COVID-19 Action Fund' helps innovators reach VCs quickly and effectively. The company has dedicated a quarter of its resources to rapidly create investment materials for select entrepreneurs and also waive off its engagement fees for the duration of the crisis. Utkarsh Sinha, Managing Director of Bexley Advisors said, "In times like this there is huge tendency of fund flows to freeze. Hence, this is exactly the time that enablers like us have to make sure the flow happens and people working towards it can have the impact that they need to have."

Under the Startup India initiative, the Department For Promotion Of Industry And Internal Trade has also announced a challenge. It has called for start-ups to submit their technology solutions and solutions for precautionary as well as treatment-related interventions by April 15.

Also Read: Coronavirus: Maruti, Noida firm get nod to supply 10,000 ventilators

Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: India Inc.'s post 21-day lockdown plan

Also Read: Coronavirus impact: Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, UP stare at big fiscal hole
People from as many as 40 countries attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation held recently at Nizamuddin in the capital, government sources said. The event has emerged as India's biggest COVID-19 hotspot.

According to government sources, these countries include United Kingdom, Bangladesh Indonesia, Madagascar, Australia, Sweden, Ukraine etc.

The sources claimed that more than 40 per cent foreigners out of 960 came from Indonesia. "379 foreigners came from Indonesia for the Tablighi Jamaat event, followed by the United Kingdom (110), Malaysia (75) and Kyrgyzstan (77)," informed sources.

The Centre has cancelled visas of the 960 foreigners and also blacklisted them from entering into India in future as well."Government of India has cancelled Visa of these 960 foreigners and also blacklisted them from entering into India in future as well. Under the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has blacklisted 960 foreigners, present in India on tourist visas, for their involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities," the government said in a press statement.

The MHA has also directed DGPs of all concerned states and Union territories and Delhi Police to take necessary legal action against all such violators, on priority, under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Disaster Management Act, 2005.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A hospital patient has been charged with common assault after allegedly coughing in the face of an NHS nurse while claiming to have coronavirus.

Mark Payne, 45, was handed the charge after an incident in hospital on March 26 which saw a man repeatedly asked to cover his mouth by the emergency worker, Nottinghamshire Police said.

Inspector Christine Busuttil said: "Nottinghamshire Police takes assaults on emergency services workers extremely seriously and protecting the health of frontline NHS staff is extremely important during the current coronavirus pandemic."

Payne, of no fixed address, will appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Special look inside the NHS Nightingale Hospital - In pictures 1 /20 Special look inside the NHS Nightingale Hospital - In pictures The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle Portrait of Matthew Trainer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The map of the identical layout of each ICU station on the wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle Portrait of Dr Alan McGlennan, Medical Director of the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre, Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle

News of the charge came after a spate of other incidents involving reports of people deliberately coughing at others, including NHS staff, in an attempt to frighten them as public anxiety grows amid the coronavirus outbreak.

People who are found guilty of deliberately coughing on emergency workers during the pandemic may face prison time.

Covid-19 is highly infectious and spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks.

The number of people to die in care in the UK after testing positive for the virus has meanwhile now spiralled to 2,921.

Department of Health figures published on Thursday revealed 163,194 people had been tested for Covid-19 nationwide as of 5pm on Wednesday, 33,718 of which have returned positive results.

The Government has set a target of carrying out 100,000 tests for coronavirus every day by the end of this month.

The goal, announced on Thursday by Mr Hancock, came amid a growing outcry over the lack of testing of NHS staff for coronavirus.
Despite increasing cases of COVID19-19 in Nigeria, and the attendant closure of the nations borders to curb spread, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said it is embarrassing to deny citizens entry into the country.

Mr Aregbesola while answering questions from journalists at the Presidential Taskforce briefing on Thursday said every citizen has the right to return to his fatherland at any time.

Every citizen of every nation has the right to return to his fatherland whenever he or she wishes regardless of the situation, even at war, he said.

Nigerians have raised concerns over the entry of 127 returnees from Cote dIvoire last week out of which 12 tested positive to the COVID-19 virus.

The returnees, mostly from Abidjan, Cote dIvoires densely populated economic capital, had returned home to avoid the planned lockdown of the city by the Ivorian government.

Following the record of the first death out of 165 cases in the country as of Saturday, the government locked down the city on Monday, barring movement except for people on essential duties.

The Nigerian government as of March 18, placed restrictions on international travels by closing the airport and land borders to contain the spread of the disease in the country.

However, some persons have reprotedly returned into the country through the land borders.

How the returnees came in

On Friday, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, reached out to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun, informing him of six buses conveying indigenes of the state, who were stranded at the states boundary with Benin Republic.

The development, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, was a result of the closure of all international entry points to the state by the state government.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Osun States commissioner for information, Funke Egbemode, Mr Oyetola was appreciative of the support granted the returnees, who were not only allowed access to pass through the state but were also escorted by security operatives from the state.

The returnees, mostly from Abidjan, Cote dIvoires densely populated economic capital, had returned home to avoid the planned lockdown of the city.

Following the record of the first death out of 165 cases in the country as of Saturday, the government locked down the city on Monday, barring movement except of people on essential duties.

Ismail Omipidan, the chief press secretary to the Osun governor, had told our reporter on the telephone that on their arrival in the state, the returnees were led to their hometown, Ejigbo, but restricted from mingling with the people as they were camped separately.

The 127 of them were camped within the dormitory of a high school in the town and they were barred from moving out of the camp. The government has since been responsible for their welfare while their samples were taken for screening for the coronavirus disease.

However, on Monday evening, results of 24 out of the 127 samples taken indicated that three were already positive. So as at Tuesday, we were still awaiting the results for the remaining 103.

Findings by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that late on Tuesday when the results of additional 47 of the 103 returnees were released by the accredited testing centre at the Redeemed University, Ede, nine more tested positive, increasing the number of confirmed cases in the state to 14.

No human is stateless

During Thursdays briefing, Mr Aregbesola said the Nigerian government signed an international treaty that says no human being is stateless.

We have signed into an international treaty that says no human being is stateless, he said. We cannot deny our citizens entry into our nation. If we do that it will be embarrassing and not speak well of our nation.

He also said measures are in place to ensure every returnee is isolated upon arrival.

It is difficult for us to aggregate our responsibility to our nationals who return by land border. When they get to our land border, what the accredited officials of state do is to first determine they are Nigerians.

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Once the issue of their citizenship is determined, the governments are contacted to find out if they could isolate them in their isolation centres, he said.
A government commissioner in Kogi State brutalised a woman and raped her multiple times over a post she made on the social media, the victim and gender activists have told PREMIUM TIMES.

Elizabeth Oyeniyi, showing her severely blistered arms and thighs, told PREMIUM TIMES she was targeted after posting a comment about the commissioners step sister, who has been her friend for years.

The alleged culprit is Abdulmumuni Danga, the Commissioner for Water Resources in the state.

Mr Danga did not answer repeated phone calls from PREMIUM TIMES and did not reply text messages seeking comments.

The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) quoted Mr Danga as saying he preferred the matter to be left as it is. The politician neither affirmed nor denied the allegations against him, according to the publication.

The police in Kogi told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that the woman had not filed a complaint, and that she would have to return to the state where the alleged attack took place to report to the police.

Asked if the victim could report to any police station close to her present location, spokesperson William Aya said it does not work that way by law.

Ms Oyeniyi said she travelled after he life was repeatedly threatened.

Amid widespread anger on the social media, after many Nigerians learned of Ms Oyeniyis ordeal and saw a clip of the woman apparently being forced to disclaim her earlier post, the Kogi government released a statement vowing to investigate the matter and thoroughly punish any offender.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, Ms Oyeniyi said Mr Danga personally flogged her and said he could have killed her were it not for her young son who was with the mom.

She said the commissioner then stripped her while at least 15 men, who worked for him, watched. They suspected thugs videoed the nude woman as she was being whipped and humiliated.

After the attack, Ms Oyeniyi said Mr Danga drove her to a hotel close to the Kogi State House in Lokoja, the state capital, where he forcefully had sex with her three times overnight.

The case has angered many Nigerians, and activists have vowed to ensure justice is done.

Read the transcript of Ms Oyeniyis interview with PREMIUM TIMES below:

On March 29, I made a post about the commissioner for water resources because his step sister is very close to me and she told me how her brother had failed to support her financially; that she dropped out of school and has been speaking to him about herself but he has not responded.

So on Sunday morning, I saw a local comedian from our state who made a post of the same commissioner distributing relief packages. So when I saw the post of him praising the commissioner, I just made a post on social media. I thought that I should post something telling him that charity begins at home that he should start by supporting his sister. So the local comedian took a screen short of my post after insulting me in the comment section. He then sent it to the commissioner. Soon, people started attacking me on social media and so I deleted the post because I knew what it could result to.

An hour after I deleted that post, some guys came with a gold colour Sienna and a Hilux; they said that the commissioner needed my presence at the moment. I was not dressed so I said I would quickly get dressed. They said the commissioner does not have the time to wait for me; that if I wanted to be bundled, that they would bundle me. They said it was because of the coronavirus that they may not touch me or get close to me. When I got to the place, the man asked if I knew him, I said I just knew that he was a commissioner and a brother to his friend. He then asked why I made such a post about him and I told him it was because of the complaints his sister had made repeatedly about him and saw a post showing that he was distributing local materials. I got pissed off, that he was showing off when his family was in need of his help.

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So he asked his sister; because I met her there and I knew that they had spoken to her and asked her to deny the fact that she said that to me. So he said that he would have killed me if I was not with my child. Because he had sworn that whoever made a social media post about him would not go free. He even said he had a chemical in his car which would have been used to destroy my skin at the moment.

He then started flogging me. He was flogging me and asking me to take off my cloth. He made a video of me after stripping me naked. They collected my phone initially and destroyed it so that I will not have a record of everything. He made me apologise to his fans that what I said was not true. That he was not such a person, that he was a humanitarian. He even asked us (my friend and I) to apply powder and said we should not destroy his career with our stupid talk.

After making the video. He gave me N30, 000 to get a new phone. I rejected it because I felt very bad. Not just because I was beaten, but because he stripped me naked in the presence of about 15 men and his girlfriend.

I was begging him not to strip me naked. They were about 15 men, his girlfriend. And his sister. Those people were making a video of me; mucking me and all that. I told him I could not take the money. So he insisted; he flogged and insulted me. He said I was as ugly as I was stupid. He kept saying that it was only because of my son that he did not do what he would have done which was to kill me. He said no one would have done anything about it if he killed me because I had absolutely no body. That I am a nobody.

When we were about to leave, he said he would drop me and my friend at their place so that I will relax there before returning to where they brought me from. When he took me, he dropped my friend at her place and dropped my son with them and said they should take care of my son. He said he would go with me; because the place; (he friends place) according to him will not be convenient for ball of us. He asked me not to get down that he would take me some place else. I did not know that he had booked a hotel room where he intended to take me. When we got there; the hotel is directly facing the Kogi state government house by the right. When you look down, there is an untarred road that leads to the hotel.

I had never been to that street. I did not even know it was a hotel, until we got there. At the hotel, he took a while outside and made it look like he had come to lodge a place for me so that I would feel convenient. I actually went in and had my bath. When I came out, he came in with two guys; after talking with them, he asked them to get me something I would eat. I said I could not eat. He then started saying all sorts of annoying things. He said he was sorry. At that point, I was still very scared cause I had this believe that he had power over me since I had not left his sight. Till late in the night, he started forcing me to sleep with him. He did it three times that night. The next morning when they wanted to go and share the relieve packages, he dropped me off at a junction I am not familiar with and said I would recognise my home from that junction.

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A statement by the Kogi government signed by Governor Bellos spokesperson, Kingsley Fanwo, said, The Kogi State Government reaffirms its unalloyed commitment to the protection of everyone from all forms of oppression, and will not tolerate violence against women or children under any form or guise.

We give our word that if these allegations are proven, everyone found culpable will be brought to justice.

Dorothy Ngamanze, a womens rights activist, told PREMIUM TIMES that a coalition of civil groups expect an immediate action from the government so that Mr Danga is suspended pending the outcome of investigations into the matter.

Our concern in all of these is that the power imbalance is too obvious. First things first, the government should have relieved him of access to state powers, she said.

I have heard her speak with different media people and she had been very consistent. The fact that he has still not been suspended sends a loud human right issue. We should all help to ensure that whatever bit of it she want to prosecute, we can help her through it.
A hospital in Passaic County moved 45 of its patients with chronic medical conditions from a residential program to a motel in in the Meadowlands to avoid the spread of coronavirus, officials said Thursday.

The patients are all COVID-19 negative and hospital officials say they hope to keep them that way by moving them.

Our thinking was that they needed more space for social distancing, said Vanessa Warner, spokeswoman for St. Marys General Hospital in Passaic.

Warner said federal law prohibited her from disclosing the nature of the medical conditions. She described the patients as adults who are St. Marys clients in need of the hospitals services.

The clients had been living in close quarters in a residential program at a YMCA near the hospital and were sharing bathrooms, Warner said.

Now, they each have separate rooms and bathrooms at the Econo Lodge Meadowlands motel on Washington Avenue in Carlstadt, she said.

The program for vulnerable individuals is sanctioned and funded through the New Jersey Department of Human Services, according to Tom Hester, a state spokesman.

St. Marys approached the department to help keep these residents safe in an environment where they could better practice social distancing, Hester said in an email. (The department) assisted them with (the transfer) as a preventative measure.

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The move is not sitting well with Carlstadt Mayor Bob Zimmermann, who said the borough had earlier turned down the motels request to house the patients.

Econo Lodge spoke to my director of emergency management and said, Could we take patients in from St. Marys hospital? Zimmermann said.

Officials rejected the idea, telling Econo Lodge the borough does not have enough police, fire and medical resources to accommodate such a plan, Zimmermann said.

The motel did it anyway, Zimmermann said. Its a motel and its being turned into an off-site medical facility.

Zimmerman said hospital workers are at the motel round-the-clock to monitor their conditions and administer medical treatment.

The Econo Lodge is near Paterson Plank road, which is home to other hotels. Zimmerman said hes worried Econo Lodge is setting a precedent for the other businesses.

We really dont have the resources to take care of all of these (potential) emergency services calls, Zimmerman said.

The mayor added that the borough is in talks with the state and the hospital to try to figure out what were going to do.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Secular groups challenge legality of relief loans for churches impacted by COVID-19

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Secularist advocacy groups are pressuring the Small Business Administration to discriminate against churches and religious nonprofits struggling during the coronavirus lockdown when administering protection loans created by the new stimulus package.

American Atheists, a nonprofit advocacy group that promotes separation of church and state, teamed up with like-minded groups to send a letter to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza Tuesday.

They pushed back against calls for the agency to treat churches and religious charities equally when administering the loan program created by last weeks legislation.

Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, about $350 billion in government payroll protection loans are available to organizations to help pay for things like payroll and employee-related expenses.



As the agency prepares to issue regulations on the newly passed stimulus bill, the organizations asked the agency not to set aside what their letter called vital constitutional protections for religious freedom.

The organizations assert that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment precludes government funding of religious activities.

Our historical understanding of religious liberty is built on the idea that government entanglement with religion can be a profound threat to individual rights, too often leading to religious oppression, the groups stated in the joint letter sent March 31.

A core principle of religious liberty is that the coercive taxing power of the government cannot be used to force citizens to support a religion that is not their own.



American Atheists were joined in the letter by American Humanist Association, Center for Disability Rights, Center for Inquiry, Freedom From Religion Foundation, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Transgender Equality and Secular Coalition for America.

Even during this emergency, Congress recognized that it is essential to protect our constitutional separation of religion and government by, for example, providing that institutions of higher education receiving funds in the stimulus package may not use such funding for capital outlays associated with facilities related to sectarian instruction, or religious worship," the letter reads.

The organizations argue that SBA regulations already provide that businesses principally engaged in teaching, instructing, counseling or indoctrinating religion or religious beliefs, whether in a religious or secular setting are not eligible for SBA business loans.



Moreover, businesses are not eligible for economic disaster loans that are Principally engaged in teaching, instructing, counseling, or indoctrinating religion or religious beliefs, whether in a religious or secular setting, the letter continues.

These provisions would apply to the CARES Act, respectively the Paycheck Protection Program and the Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which both provide loans to small businesses and nonprofits.

On Thursday evening, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri sent a letter urging SBA officials to correct local and regional offices that are telling churches and religious nonprofits that they are not eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program.

Hawley further demanded that the SBA must not arbitrarily disqualify churches and other religious nonprofits. He argued that reports of misinformation at SBA local offices underscore the need for swift official guidance and program rules.



SBA offices are communicating to churches that they are not eligible for the program before the application process, Hawley wrote. I am alarmed by these erroneous instructions, which directly contradict the text of the statute. You must rectify this issue immediately.

Hawley pointed to Section 1102 of the CARES ACT to argue that unaffiliated non-profit entities with under 500 employees that are structured as 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible for assistance.

This includes churches and other religious nonprofits, he stressed. As I noted in my previous letter dated April 1, 2020, organizations with a principal religious purpose are not excluded from assistance under the Paycheck Protection Program.

Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, contended in an op-ed that the SBA loans dont violate the principle of separation of church and state.



The loans themselves, whether to a church or to a hardware store, are not from the government at all, but, as always, from banks, Moore pointed out. The governments role is simply to guarantee to the banks these loans, in case of default. That does not privilege or penalize any religion in any way different from any other entity.

Moore added that as many church leaders are reluctant to take funding from the government, many are uneasy with the fact that some of these loans may turn out to be forgivable depending on how the borrowed funding is used.



Some are concerned that were they to take out SBA-backed loans, especially if they turn out to be forgivable, that this will invite the government in to dictate their ministries or policies, he explained. We have no indication that such would be the case, and, were any future governing authority to seek retroactively to restrict the First Amendment on such grounds, I believe such a move would be successfully repudiated in court.

Moore compared SBA loans to a church calling the local fire department when there is a fire.

This is not government support of that church, he argued. Its the governments interest in keeping people from being killed in a conflagration. A similar dynamic is at work here. The government would no more be entangled in your churchs ministry as a result of this than your bank is now.

In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Missouri could not discriminate against a church daycare facility that applied to a secular funding program to help improve the safety of its playground just because of its inherent religious affiliation.



The letter from the secular groups urges the SBA not to apply the Supreme Courts 2017 ruling because it did not address religious uses of funding or other forms of discrimination.
As our time spent in coronavirus-induced quarantine grows, so does our hair.

Gov. Phil Murphy closed barbershops and hair salons March 19 to help combat the spread of COVID-19. While weve only been self-distancing for a few weeks, many people are already wishing they had hit the barbershop one last time before locking down.

Soon enough, everyone in New Jersey is going to look like a roadie for Van Halen. Okay, maybe thats an exaggeration. But some of us are definitely starting to gaze longingly at their scissors and wonder how they can cut their own hair.

If you are bold enough to try such a hair-raising feat, we have some tips for you straight from of the best barbers in New Jersey. We talked to Jason Webb of Webbs Barbershop in Somerdale, Zane Keyes of V. Sosa Grooming Bar in Montclair and John Huhn of Fathers Mustache in Spring Lake to make sure you dont come out of quarantine looking like your hair lost a fight with a buzzsaw.

NOTE: These tips are primarily for people with short hair. Though some tips apply to all home hair-cutters.

First, get the right equipment

If youre going to take the plunge and give yourself a trim, dont do it with typical office scissors. Theyre designed to cut paper, not hair. And if you dont have hair-cutting scissors, good clippers (from companies like Wahl or Andis) are affordable and much more first-time hair-cutter friendly.

There are good clippers you can get it on Amazon or in the store for between $20 and $40 depending on the quality of it," Huhn said.

But youd be wise to invest in a self-cut mirror which will show you the front, the side and the back of your head all at once. It wont be cheap, but can you put a price on avoiding a terrible haircut?

As as far as attempting to cut your hair, Keyes said. The three-way mirror would be great.

Stay away from scissors

Really bent on giving yourself a trim? Spring for the clippers. Youre not trained to use scissors, and clippers are much more first-time barber-friendly.

Id rather they use a buzzer like on the side of their head if they could, rather than just try to use scissors, because thats not gonna turn out well, Huhn said. "Its not easy to do that by yourself, like scissor-over-comb work. Its a lot easier to put a guard on the on the clipper and then just go over the hair and keep it close to the head. Itll take hair off and even out, so thats definitely the best way for someone to do it at home.

Prep your hair

Dont be afraid to get your hair a little damp with a few spritzes from a spray bottle, and be sure to comb it out.

You should always comb your hair the way that it grows all around, from where it starts in the back of your head, at crown, Keyes said. And out from the crown you should comb into the way grows and then start to cut from the bottom up.

Start with the sides

Dont go right at the top of your head. In fact, a few of the barbers we talked to suggested leaving the top alone. Start on the sides, and work on blending the top to match.

I would take the sides to one level and focus on trying to blend them in around your parietal ridge, which is where your head starts to curve on both sides of your head, Keyes said. I would recommend to anybody who has clippers, a No. 2 guard (a quarter-inch length), that will be good for your sides. ...When you want to blend into your parietal ridge on the sides of your head, you need to do a bit of a rocking motion out while youre going up with the clipper."

Watch your ears!

It sounds simple. But reattaching earlobes isnt simple! And if youre not used to cutting hair, youre much more likely to snip more than just hair as you trim the sides of your head.

Lets say you want to just draw up around your ears and youre not paying attention to what youre looking at in the mirror and you nick your ear?" Webb said. "Now you got to go to the hospital get your ear stitched.

This is another check in the clippers column. Youre much less likely to cut your ears with them than scissors.

Dont be afraid to ask for help

If youre cutting your own hair, theres a good chance youre quarantining alone. But you have a roommate, family member or significant other, you should at least trust them to do the back of your neck. Doing that effectively on your own is almost impossible.

Ask for a little help from somebody else youre quarantining with to kind of get the back," Huhn said. "thats what my uncle did. He had his wife shave around the back of his neck and he FaceTime me, it didnt look too bad!

YouTube is your friend

So you have the clippers and the mirror, you even have a friend to help with the back. The last step may be YouTube. There are plenty of general guides on cutting your own hair to watch that will make sure youre not just going into it completely blind.

Everythings on YouTube now," Huhn said. "So if anybodys unsure, just YouTube self-haircuts youll get the steps on what to do as.

Less is more

You can always cut more hair. You cant put hair back on one youve cut it. So not only should you be going for a simple, subtle cut, but you should take your time with it. Cut a little bit off and then reassess.

I would just start off longer, and then go shorter," Huhn said. "Dont start right down to the skin and then youre like, Oh, its way too short. At the end of the day, you can always come back to it.

Go for a trim, not for style

All three barbers we talked to agreed that now isnt the time to be experimenting with new styles or being too ambitious. If youre going to cut your own hair, you should really just be looking to clean things up a bit. Anything more extreme than that, and youre not just risking a bad haircut  youre making more work for your barber when this is all over.

Fixing home cuts isnt easy, Webb said. Maybe a bald spot, maybe its too short in certain areas and you just, cant really blend it in. I can hide some mess ups. Ive had plenty of children come in whove decided to take scissors to their hair.

You may not be a child, but you risk the same result. Youve been warned.

Maybe just wait?

If reading all this didnt scare you off, then more power to you. But the bottom line is an overgrown legitimate haircut is better than a fresh makeshift one. Your hair grows an average of a half-inch per month, so its not gonna get that bad anyway. And even if it does, no one is judging your hair during your Zoom meeting.

I would wait, whats the hurry? ... When you try to give yourself a home haircut, and you mess it up, will that make you feel better? Make you feel worse?" Webb said. It took me a long time to learn what I do. Its not easy to do on yourself.

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The Ghaziabad police has booked six Nepalese nationals and two clerics of a mosque in Pasonda for staying at the mosque and not revealing the information to the local administration. The eight persons were earlier picked up by the health department on April 1 and confined to a quarantine facility.

According to police, the six had come from Nepal in March and stayed at Kaila Bhatta area from where they moved to the mosque in Pasonda on March 21. The police said the FIR was registered under the IPC and provisions of the Epidemic Act and the Disaster Management Act at Tila Morh police station.

The six persons did not disclose their whereabouts and had come to the mosque to attend a Tablighi Jamaat religious congregation. The mosque in Pasonda is a sub centre of the Jamaat. The two clerics also did not disclose anything about the Nepali residents and all of them were staying at the mosque. All eight were found during a search and sent to quarantine facility. An FIR against them was registered on Friday, Rakesh Mishra, circle officer (Sahibabad), said.

The health department officials on Friday evening said they have picked up 177 persons in Ghaziabad who had attended different religious congregations, including the one held at Nizamuddin in Delhi in March.

They further added that temporary sealing of the Savior Park high-rise in Mohan Nagar, where a couple had tested positive for Covid-19, was extended and it will remain sealed until further orders. The high-rise has about 500 families.

The building was sealed after a couple tested positive for Covid-19. They have 93 contacts within the building and 27 people from the high-rise are still in quarantine. The building will be sealed till further orders from the district administration, Dr NK Gupta, chief medical officer, said.

The woman who tested positive is an employee of Noida-based company Ceasefire, which has reported several Covid-19 cases. She had passed on the infection to her husband, the officials said.

A 30-year-old male employee of the company and his two contacts, a 29-year-old woman employee of the same company and another man from Duhai, have already contracted Covid-19. The surge in cases in Ghaziabad is due to employees of the Noida company or their contacts and also due to people who have attended religious congregations, Dr Gupta said.

The district magistrates and police chiefs will monitor quarantine facilities and they will be held responsible in case there is any lapse in safety and security at these centres. To enforce the lockdown, the state police has also been asked to make use of drones for surveillance activities, UP principal secretary (health) Amit Mohan Prasad said.

During the ongoing countrywide lockdown, the UP police till Friday afternoon has registered 7,662 FIRs and booked 24,537 violators of lockdown norms.

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A British man who travelled to Australia to ask his girlfriend to marry him has revealed they are now both stranded in the country unable to afford a flight home to the UK - and feel 'abandoned' by the British authorities.

Keelan Charlton, 28, from Somerset, spent months planning his romantic proposal to Elley Bugler, 24, with the help of her best friend Paris Grose, 24.

After Elley said yes on March 1, the trio - along with pal George Panayides, 23 - went on a two-week road trip before returning to Brisbane, at which point Covid-19 was rapidly taking hold of the country.

Keelan's flight back to Canada - where he was working - was cancelled, and when the group tried to find alternative tickets home to the UK, after the government advised all British citizens to return, fares had jumped thousands of dollars.

Keelan Charlton, 28, from Somerset, spent months planning his romantic proposal to Elley Bugler, 24, pictured together, with the help of her best friend Paris Grose, 24

Speaking to FEMAIL, Elley said they were scared to use the little money they had left between them to book a flight in case it was cancelled.

'We read in the news that repatriation flights were being discussed and were a possibility for the near future, as there had been funding put into place in order to bring home all stranded UK citizens,' she explained.

'With this in mind we had no choice but to hold out for these flights. We called the British consulate, as advised by Australian home affairs, and asked for some advice on what we should do and what our options were with regards to any funding whilst we're stuck here and if there were any repatriation flights being sent out to get UK citizens home.

'The consulate said there was nothing they can do to help us, there's no repatriation flights currently in place, and they don't know if or when they will be available to us.

Keelan popped the question to Elley beside Serenity Falls at Buderim Forest Park in Queensland

After Elley said yes on March 1, the trio - along with pal George Panayides, 23 - went on a two-week road trip (pictured at Whitsunday Islands)

'I was also told there was no funding available for us. I asked what we were advised to do as we soon won't be able to afford rent, and the advice given to me was, "I can't help you, just take out a credit card and book a flight home."

'We felt abandoned and disappointed that the British consulate couldn't give us any further advice or reassurance on how we could get home. I don't think that Brits stranded abroad are getting enough support at all.'

Elley has set up a GoFundMe page to help them raise money towards the cost of their flights home.

'Many of our friends and family from the UK have already supported us with this by sharing the post and making donations, for which we are very grateful,' she said.

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Paris and Elley had jobs as dental assistants in Brisbane on working holiday visas, while Keelan was labouring in Canada for Elley's uncle, a carpenter.

Elley joined Paris, who has been in Australia since October, in January. She and Keelan, who have been together nearly seven years, live together in the UK but both decided to spend some time travelling - keeping in touch via FaceTime.

Elley admitted she had no idea Keelan was planning to propose - or that he had been plotting with Paris.

Elley, pictured with Keelan in 2014, said they are scared to use the little money they have left between them to book a flight in case it is cancelled

'For two months they had been sorting out where it was going to happen and trying to find out my ring size whilst keeping it all a secret so I didn't suspect a thing!' she said.

'A couple of days after Keelan landed in Australia he took me to Serenity Falls at Buderim Forest Park in Queensland, along with our friends.

'I thought it was just a normal day, having a picnic by a waterfall with my friends, and the next thing I know Keelan was down on one knee asking me to marry him!

'It was very surreal, I couldn't believe that this had been planned from the moment I had arrived in Australia and I hadn't suspected a thing! Keelan said that from the moment we left each other in England to go to Canada and Australia, he knew that it was the right thing to do after being together for almost seven years.'

Keelan said from the moment they left each other in England to go to Canada and Australia, he knew that it was the right thing to propose, after being together for almost seven years

Elley's plan was to remain in Australia until May, then fly to Bali with Paris before flying to Canada in June, where she'd meet Keelan and the pair would return to the UK together.

'When we got back to Brisbane at the end of our road trip in a camper van from Brisbane to Cairns, things had become serious with Covid-19 and Keelan's flight from Australia back to Canada had been cancelled,' Elley explained.

'We hadn't booked any flights home to the UK as the ones we had looked at booking had already been cancelled, and several of our friends had also had one or multiple flights cancelled and lost thousands of dollars.'

With dental practices closing in Brisbane, the group were left with no income. Luckily a friend is letting them stay with her paying minimal rent.

Elley admitted she had no idea Keelan was planning to propose - or that he had been plotting with Paris

'Without this we would have nowhere else to go,' Elley said. 'I understand that UK citizens aren't going to be a priority right now, but it would be nice to have a little bit of guidance and understanding from our consulate in this stressful situation.

'Our friend has kindly taken us in, as we had no where else to go and no means to pay for rent in an apartment. We are very appreciative of this, but realise this is only a temporary measure while we wait for repatriation flights to become available.

'The few commercial flights that are in place are too expensive and are still being cancelled, not to mention the fact borders are closing and the risk of being stranded in a transit airport somewhere would be very dangerous with the current pandemic.

Elley and Keelan, pictured on their six year anniversary, said their families in the UK are very worried about them

'Our families at home are very worried, they want us to get home as quickly and safely as possible.'

To donate to the GoFundMe campaign, click here.

A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office told FEMAIL: 'We recognise British tourists abroad are finding it difficult to return to the UK because of the unprecedented international travel and domestic restrictions that are being introduced around the world  often with very little or no notice.

'The government has partnered with a number of airlines who have committed to work together to get Brits back to the UK and up to 75 million has been made available for charter flights were commercial options are no longer available. We'll continue working around the clock to bring people home.'
Elyse Knowles and her boyfriend, Josh Barker, were criticised last week for going on a caravan holiday during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the 27-year-old model brushed off her critics on Friday when she shared two throwback photos to Instagram from their trip to Moreton Island.

In the pictures, she posed in a leopard print bikini with a sarong wrapped around her waist while hiking in bushland near the beach.

Scroll down for video

Happier times: Elyse Knowles flaunted her bikini body on Friday in throwback photos from her recent holiday on Moreton Island

She wrote in the caption: 'I still can't get over the colour of our land. Bring on the time that we can explore again.'

Last Tuesday, Elyse and Josh, 31, landed themselves in hot water after sharing photos from their camping holiday and calling it a 'magical' trip.

'No earlier ferries so we embraced being near no one. Time to hit the road before the borders close,' she wrote in the caption.

Throwback: In the pictures, she posed in a leopard print bikini with a sarong wrapped around her waist while hiking in bushland near the beach

'Tone deaf': Last Tuesday, Elyse and her boyfriend, Josh Barker, landed themselves in hot water after sharing photos from their camping holiday and calling it a 'magical' trip

Her post prompted many followers to call her out, accusing the couple of being 'insensitive', 'moronic' and 'tone deaf'.

A fired-up Josh responded to critics in a lengthy comment on Elyse's post, accusing them of 'bullying and harassment'.

'So for all you morons that don't know our circumstances, our ferry to Moreton [was] booked in January,' he said.

'There wasn't a camping ban when we left the mainland a week ago otherwise they wouldn't have let us go, and then when we actually tried to change our ferry to get home earlier "like everyone else on the island" they were fully booked.'

Explanation: The next day, Elyse explained that she hadn't been aware of the severity of the coronavirus pandemic when she and Josh set out on their holiday

The next day, Elyse explained that she hadn't been aware of the severity of the pandemic when she and Josh set out on their holiday.

She said as soon as they realised what was happening, they made every effort to return to Byron Bay.

'As things started to change, we started to know that we needed to be home, and tried to get on earlier ferries, but because we were on an island, we couldn't,' she said in a video shared to Instagram.

'So, we isolated as much as we could, we didn't see anyone, and came back on the ferry when we could.'

As of Friday afternoon, there are 5,315 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 27 deaths.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  As lawmakers cite science for supporting a possible extension on the Luzon-wide quarantine, an expert from the medical field argued, it is too soon to tell.

Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Edsel Salvana said the government would have to look at how things progress in the next few days before deciding if it should lift the movement restrictions over the countrys northern island.

I think we need to see what happens this week before we can make a firmer decision about whether it needs to be lifted or not, Salvana told CNN Philippines Newsroom.

He explained that the public is currently seeing the early effects of the enhanced community quarantine. The Philippines tallied 3,076 cases of the coronavirus disease, with a daily record of hundreds, increasing each day. Salvana said the present rate of rising cases is looking good so far.

The doubling time is now about every five days and that is I would say from a cautiously optimistic standpoint, because if you have an out-of-control epidemic, the doubling time is usually every three days and (if) its under control its about seven days, the specialist explained.

He added that This is just the early effect of the ECQ so if this trend continues, we might actually see it slowing down.

However, Salvana stressed he is against fully removing physical distancing practices.

"If there is a modification to kind of lighten it, we'll still have to keep a lot of the things that keep us physically distant so probably still close the schools, probably still no mass gatherings, he said.

Several lawmakers have called on prolonging the quarantine which has suspended transportation, work and social gatherings until April 13, to contain the spread of COVID-19. Their suggestions ranged from extending it by two weeks up to another 30 days.

Expanded, not mass' testing

As for the governments plan to conduct mass testing, Salvana said it has to clear up the procedure first.

Im not sure what they mean by mass testing because when you say mass testing, you dont actually mean youre going to test every single person. No one can do that, he asserted.

Salvana said it makes more sense to widen the scope of testing to include those who came in contact with a person under investigation, than to target the entire population.

"I think what you mean by mass testing is that you have this thing where youre testing people, increasing circles at risk so first of all the PUI himself and the people who were exposed to that person and then you can look at the larger community, he said. And thats really been the thrust of testing. Its just we dont have enough tests."

Health officials said mass testing is still under deliberation by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Diseases. However, the Health Department assured that testing capacity will significantly improve in the coming weeks, even rising to up to 8,000 tests per day hopefully by months end.
Police have been told to use exceptional powers for exceptional circumstances only during the coronavirus outbreak, following a miscarriage of justice.

Guidance issued to officers nationwide has been published after a woman was wrongly charged under new laws and fined 660.

The case came amid confusion over the extent of the new powers afforded to police, and criticism of the way some forces have been imposing new lockdown rules.

An official document drawn up by the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) states that the Coronavirus Act 2020 is meant to support public health workers.

[These are] exceptional powers for exceptional circumstances only, it says. We dont expect you to use these powers in the course of ordinary duty and you really shouldnt unless asked by a public health officer.

The law, which is separate from the Health Protection Regulations that enforce the UK lockdown, only applies to potentially infectious persons.

It gives medics the power to direct people to undergo coronavirus screening, and enables police to enforce their instructions and to detain or move people by force if necessary.

Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act creates an offence of failing to without reasonable excuse to comply with any direction, reasonable instruction, requirement or restriction imposed as part of the act.

The provision was wrongly used to prosecute a woman who had been loitering between platforms at Newcastle Central station.

Marie Dinou, 41, was held in custody for two days after being detained by British Transport Police (BTP) officers on Saturday.

The force said she was arrested after refusing to give her name or reasons for travel  but her actions were not an offence under the Coronavirus Act.

Despite the error, a district judge at North Tyneside Magistrates Court convicted her on Monday  after ejecting her from the hearing  and ordered her to pay more than 800 in a fine and costs.

On Thursday, BTP admitted it had used the wrong section of the law to charge Ms Dinou and that the case shouldnt have happened.

The conviction will be formally quashed at a new hearing.

The police guidance, which was written before the Newcastle incident, stresses that the Coronavirus Act is public health led and aims to support the testing and treatment of coronavirus, and slow its spread.

It says officers must obtain advice from healthcare workers before exercising the powers against anyone suspected of being infectious, adding: Coronavirus symptoms can be vague and it is important we do not turn to these powers in haste if we see someone with a cough or temperature.

The guidance says: We cannot impress on you strongly enough, that these powers are for use in conjunction with public health ... we do not envisage you ever acting without their express request or on their advice.

The Coronavirus Act came into force on 25 March and had been drafted at a time when the threat was perceived to mainly come from people entering the UK from abroad.

But its provisions were rapidly overtaken by events as coronavirus transmission spread within Britain, and the mandatory testing envisaged in the law has not yet taken place.

A North Yorkshire Police officer reinforces the importance of social distancing and staying at home at a vehicle stop (Getty)

The Coronavirus Act is expected to be used less frequently than the separate Public Health Regulations, which allow police to hand out 60 fines to people who leave their homes without reasonable excuse.

Gaps between the legal regulations and the governments guidance, which is more strict in some respects, has sparked confusion.

Following a series of controversies about alleged heavy-handedness, including a force that filmed walkers with drones and another that set up roadblocks, officers were told to use fines and arrests as a last resort.

Chief Constable Charlie Hall, the NPCC lead for operations, said the vast majority of the public are abiding by government guidance and the law by staying at home.

It is important to emphasise to our officers and staff that these new powers are there to support health colleagues and are only ever likely to be used in exceptional circumstances, he added.

We have tried to anticipate the questions and concerns that our officers and staff will undoubtedly have on these powers to ensure they are used appropriately.

Chief Constable Mike Cunningham, chief executive of the College of Policing, said the new powers were to support the NHS.

He added: These are unprecedented times and we are clear that these powers are only to be used in exceptional circumstances and only on the advice or direction of healthcare professionals.

The police will continue to work with communities to help save lives and I am grateful to all officers and staff who are putting themselves at risk during this time.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Oprah Winfrey on Thursday announced that she will be donating USD 10 million to help Americans amid the coronavirus crisis.

"I am donating $10 million overall to help Americans during this pandemic in cities across the country and in areas where I grew up," she tweeted.

I am donating $10 million overall to help Americans during this pandemic in cities across the country and in areas where I grew up. For more on this Fund and how everyone can be of service, watch this free AppleTV+ conversation here: https://t.co/n7L6drnpcV  Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 2, 2020

Winfrey also shared a link to her TV series 'Oprah Talk COVID-19' and tweeted, "For more on this Fund and how everyone can be of service, watch this free AppleTV+ conversation here."

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged almost the entire globe and has claimed the lives of over 45000 people according to WHO.
The coronavirus has devastated air travel demand, prompting airlines to plead with their employees to take unpaid and partially paid leave as they scramble to cut costs. Even with the aid, top airline leaders warn of a prolonged slump in demand that has no end in sight.

Carriers had until 5 p.m. ET Friday to apply for $25 billion in grants in exchange for not furloughing workers or cutting their pay rates through Sept. 30, aid that airlines and labor unions lobbied for and Congress approved in a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package last week. The aid also allows for $29 billion in loans for passenger and cargo airlines.

U.S. airlines JetBlue , American , United and Delta on Friday submitted applications to the Treasury Department for government grants to not furlough employees through Sept. 30 despite an unprecedented decline in air travel demand. Now they have to negotiate the details.

"But those funds alone are not nearly enough," Delta CEO Ed Bastian told employees in a note. "We are expecting our revenue in the second quarter to be down 90%. Without the self-help actions we are taking to save costs and raise new financing, that money would be gone by June."

He said 30,000 employees have volunteered for unpaid leaves of absence and that the Atlanta-based airline still needs more volunteers.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes told employees that it planned to work through the weekend to "conclude an agreement next week, as time is of the essence." But Hayes warned employees that the airline "may not get enough to cover pay and benefits at the level you see when we are flying at full capacity." The New York-based airline is cutting its capacity by 70% this month, meaning smaller paychecks. The aid requires airlines not to cut airline workers' pay rates, not their hours.

"The good news is this law keeps paychecks coming and it buys us time," Hayes wrote.

Guidelines for the payroll aid issued earlier this week state that the Treasury Department is authorized to receive compensation in the form of warrants, options, preferred stock and other securities in exchange for the grants.

At least one U.S. airline debated the size of an equity stake to offer in its application, or whether the carrier should offer one at all, but ultimately included it in its application according to a person familiar with the discussions. Another person familiar with the industry's thinking said executives might be willing to allow the government to take small equity stakes such as around 2%, or cap the size of the stake.

While the loan application implies financial instruments in exchange for the funds will be required, the application for grants notes it "may" include such securities. One of the people familiar with the industry's thinking said the softer language in applications for cash grants leaves the door open to negotiation

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he wants taxpayers compensated for the investment, though he has not outlined those plans in great detail.

"I'll be working very closely with the president to make sure we strike the right balance," Mnuchin said in at news conference on Thursday. "Not a bailout: taxpayers get compensated."

Airlines applying for grants will put forward an offer to the government on both the amount and terms. Those offers differ across airlines, whose balance sheets and payroll costs vary.
LEMOYNE, Pa., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors has filed an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit filed against Gov. Tom Wolf today. The lawsuit is on behalf of several businesses, which have been impacted by the arbitrary and unclear rules under the governor's closure order issued last month in response to the coronavirus.

"PAR is specifically requesting that the governor designate real estate services as a life-sustaining business, as most other states have done," said Hank Lerner, PAR's director of law and policy.

"The three essentials to life are food, clothing and shelter and the governor is preventing Pennsylvanians' ability to gain shelter. Pennsylvania Realtors are responsible for helping people achieve that shelter but across Pennsylvania, first-time homebuyers, single parents, doctors and other emergency workers may be unable to 'stay at home' if they're not able to secure their new home because of these orders," said PAR President Bill Festa.

Mike McGee, PAR CEO, added, "Early on, PAR filed for a request for the governor to reclassify real estate services as life-essential. The governor's waiver process has created inconsistencies in the marketplace and the guidelines of how these requests would be reviewed has changed throughout the process."

From the start of the pandemic, PAR has asked its members to follow the governor's orders. The association continues to be committed to working with the state and other related industries to develop a comprehensive safety strategy for moving the industry forward in a way that protects the community and those involved in providing and receiving real estate services.

"The association's goal is to minimize in-person services wherever possible and follow appropriate CDC guidelines surrounding sanitation and social distancing practices where such in-person services are necessary to allow homebuyers and sellers to be able to attain shelter," McGee added.

The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary of representing more than 35,000 Realtors in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Association of Realtors

Related Links

http://www.parealtor.org


Dublin, April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Global Military Ammunition Market 2019-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Ammunition Market 2019-2029 report offers a detailed analysis of the industry, with market size forecasts covering the next ten years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for ammunition, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants.



Factors such as modernization initiatives, regional conflicts, and instability among the nations are further anticipated to influence the demand for ammunition over the forecast period. For instance, the US, China, Russia, the UK, Saudi Arabia, India, and Brazil are allocating significant amounts to strengthen the capabilities of their ground forces through the procurement of small arms, howitzers, and mortars. The US will heavily invest in the procurement of guided multiple launch rocket systems (GMLRSs), small diameter bombs, Hydra70 rockets, grenades, demolition munitions, and shoulder-launched munitions.



In addition, Substantial evolution of warfare techniques is giving rise to newer methods such as asymmetric warfare including guerilla warfare, and counter-insurgency. Various countries across the globae are engaged in conflicts with their neighbors owing to territorial disputes and instances of terrorism. The situation is overt in the Asia-Pacific region, where rapid economic prosperity and military development have led to an arms race among China, India, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea, which is likely to trigger the demand for associated ammunition in coming years



Scope

The global Ammunition market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.04% over the forecast period.

The market consists of five segments: Rockets and Others, Artillery Ammunition, Small Caliber Ammunition, Mortar Ammunition, Medium Caliber Ammunition and Large Caliber Ammunition. North America will dominate the sector, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe.

The Rockets and Others segment is expected to be the leading segment with a share of 51.1%.

Story continues

Reasons to Buy

Determine prospective investment areas based on a detailed trend analysis of the global ammunition market over the next ten years

Gain in-depth understanding about the underlying factors driving demand for different ammunition segments in the top spending countries across the world and identify the opportunities offered by each of them

Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, industry trends, and the latest technological developments, among others

Identify the major channels that are driving the global ammunition market, providing a clear picture about future opportunities that can be tapped, resulting in revenue expansion

Channelize resources by focusing on the ongoing programs that are being undertaken by the defense ministries of different countries within the global ammunition market

Make correct business decisions based on thorough analysis of the total competitive landscape of the sector with detailed profiles of the top ammunition providers around the world which include information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins and financial analysis wherever available



Key Topics Covered:



Executive Summary

Global Military Ammunition Market - Overview

Global Military Ammunition Market By Region, 2019-2029

Global Military Ammunition Market By Segment, 2019-2029

Market Dynamics

Demand Drivers: Analysis of factors that trigger spending within the sector

Trends: Prevalent practices, industry consolidation and procurement patterns within the market

Technological Developments : New products, processes and innovations recently inducted within the sector

Key Challenges: Obstacles affecting sector growth

Global Military Ammunition Market - Segment Analysis

Segment Analysis: Rockets and Others

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Segment Analysis: Artillery Ammunition

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Segment Analysis: Small Caliber Ammunition

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Segment Analysis: Mortar Ammunition

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Segment Analysis: Medium Caliber Ammunition

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Segment Analysis: Large Caliber Ammunition

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Global Military Ammunition Market - Regional Analysis

Global Military Ammunition - Regional Overview, 2019 & 2029

Regional Analysis: North America

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Top Suppliers

Regional Analysis: Asia Pacific

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Top Suppliers

Regional Analysis: Europe

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Top Suppliers

Regional Analysis: Middle East

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Top Suppliers

Regional Analysis: Latin America

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Top Suppliers

Regional Analysis: Africa

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Top Suppliers

Trend Analysis - Key Defense Markets

Top 10 Global Growth Opportunities Scores

Global Military Ammunition - Country Overview, 2019 & 2029

Leading Segments in Key Countries

Country Analysis - 15 leading countries

Market size and CAGR growth analysis, 2019-2029

Change in market share, 2019-2029

Segmental Share (%), 2019-2029

Country Share (%), 2019 & 2029

Major Suppliers

Segmental Analysis

Military Ammunition Market - Future Outlook (The Road Ahead)

Key Programs Analysis

Description of key programs

Delivery period, units and total expenditure

Competitive Landscape Analysis

Competitive analysis - 11 leading companies

Major Products and Services

Major Alliances and Recent Contracts

Financial Analysis covering Revenue, Operating Profit and Net Profit



Companies Mentioned



General Dynamics

Nammo AS

Expal Systems S.A.

Saab Group

Thales

BAE Systems

Boeing

Elbit Systems

Raytheon Company

Northrop Grumman

Rheimetall



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yfziuu

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
Six security force personnel were injured in firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, officials said.

The Pakistani troops fired mortar shells in Sunderbani sector early Friday morning, they said.

Six security personnel patrolling in the area were injured in the firing, forcing Indian troops to retaliate, they said.

The injured have been hospitalised, they said.

In the evening, Pakistani troops initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district, they said.

Indian troops retaliated befittingly, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
04/03/2020

Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu





LOWELL, Mass.  As COVID-19 threatens millions of lives, the research and development at the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) has taken on increased urgency and focus.





A business incubator for biotechnology and medical device companies, M2D2 is a partnership between UMass Lowell and UMass Medical School. Research by two startups at the center hold promise in the fight against the disease. Such research has been designated by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker as among essential operations in the state, allowing the scientists to remain on the job at M2D2s Lowell location while practicing safety precautions including social distancing.





Biotech company Versatope has been working to develop a universal flu vaccine. The M2D2-based company is now also using its technology to design possible vaccines for COVID-19.





Pandemics have been a threat throughout history, but this moved so much faster than most people had anticipated, said Versatope CEO Christopher Locher, who has worked in the infectious disease field for 30 years.





Versatope is pursuing two different tracks for a vaccine. One approach involves replicating a portion of the spike protein on the novel coronavirus that latches onto human cells for a vaccine that would create antibodies in humans to block this protein. The company is also designing a vaccine based on the amino acid residues that come in contact with antibodies that could defend against the virus, according to Locher, who is seeking National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to support the first approach and a public-private partnership to back the second.





Another M2D2 company, Nuclease Probe Technologies, is working on a faster testing method for COVID-19, building on its expertise in developing simple tests to detect bloodstream infections such as sepsis.





Like everyone else, were concerned about the coronavirus and we consider this really important work in these times, said company CEO James McNamara.





Steven Tello, a member of M2D2s leadership team and UMass Lowells vice provost of graduate, online and professional studies, is confident in what these dedicated researchers and scientists can achieve.





The universitys support of M2D2 for the past decade has helped create an ecosystem that attracts innovative life science startups and researchers, people who are ready to tackle the challenge COVID-19 presents, Tello said. We are fortunate to have companies like Versatope and Nuclease Probe already working here. We all look forward to celebrating their successes.





M2D2 is uniquely poised to assist entrepreneurs working to eradicate the novel coronavirus. The business incubator is a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Division of Research, Innovation and Ventures (DRIVe) network, run by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to respond to critical public-health emergencies. M2D2 is also home to the Center for Advancing Point of Care Technologies (CAPCaT), which assists inventors in developing products and technologies for patients with heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. The center was established through a $7.9 million grant from the NIH.





Through M2D2, entrepreneurs can gain access to these and other resources for funding to support their innovations.





People are laser-focused right now and brainstorming hard about how their slice of the health-care or biomedical enterprise could be used to address this very acute crisis that were in. Its amazing how people have come together, said M2D2 Co-director Nathaniel Hafer, assistant professor of molecular medicine at UMass Medical School in Worcester.





Since its launch in 2007, M2D2 has assisted more than 100 startups across its three sites in Lowell and Worcester and is affiliated with more than 50 other companies around the world. In addition to lab and other research space and assistance in finding funding opportunities, the incubator provides resources for business development, clinical assistance and prototype design.





Were able to help these early-stage, emerging biotech companies from an idea all the way through to commercialization, said M2D2 Director of Operations Mary Ann Picard.




Up to this point, we have aggressively positioned to maintain business continuity and stay in the market through a number of steps across our global office footprint. In recent weeks, we have split teams into additional space in New York and Greenwich and now have established an additional office in Florida, the firm said. We believe this business continuity decision positions us to continue to provide liquidity to our clients and the market given the trajectory of the virus.
As the Coronavirus continues to wreak havoc and take lives with now Ireland and the European continent suffering heaviest from it, the good that local based charity Crosscause has brought to needy parts of the world continues.

It is just after opening a new eye clinic in Ghana to provide a much needed facility and offer treatments and eye services in respect of which this part of West Africa lagged badly behind western society.

The charity has built a brand new building to house the clinic with medical equipment including three eye microscopes obtained from the Mater hospital, two for use in the clinic, and one donated to a different clinic.

The clinic will enable cataract removals to be undertaken and the distribution of glasses and medicine from it.

The location of the clinic will reduce the distance that those in the Volta region where it is based will have to travel to avail of the services.

The cost of the construction of the clinic was met by Crosscause's Italian partners.

A container was transported from Ireland with essential equipment to fit it out. It included glasses, test machines, beds, bandaging and the three eye microscope machines.

Local dignitaries attended the official opening of the clinic at which Conor Hughes, local co-founder of the charity was present having travelled over from home.

He went over to meet the container at the docks and distribute all the contents! These included also schools books, sewing machines, an incubator from Cork hospital, a tractor/plough from the men's shed in Westport! Loads of medical and educational goods were also donated to take over to Ghana.

Founded in 2003, CrossCause was, set up by dedicated volunteers working with special needs orphans in Romania. It expanded its work and activities into Eastern Europe and West Africa.

The charity is staffed by self funding volunteers, and ensures that donors where funds are spent are provided with precise and transparent information.

From the outset the charity's efforts in Ghana has been concentrated on assisting in the educational sphere and improving health and hygiene facilities. This has resulted in the construction of school extensions, scholarships for students and the provision of basic toilet facilities.
Lawns are still getting mowed during New Yorks coronavirus shutdown.

Landscapers and horticulture businesses have found themselves in a gray area when it comes to the states orders to close or have employees work from home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

On one hand, the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets deemed most horticulture businesses non-essential." On the other, food production and maintenance are exempt from the order, including landscaping maintenance and pest control.

Landscaping has been designated as essential solely as it relates to maintenance and pest control only, not cosmetic landscaping," an Empire State Development spokesperson said in a statement Friday. Any other business activities being completed that does not relate to maintenance and pest control functions are considered not essential are still subject to the [governors revised order.]

State officials caution all businesses and workers to practice social distancing and other public health protocols to help prevent the spread of the virus.

But landscapers note some of their work is essential to the publics health and safety -- especially when it comes to pests.

The main thing, in this part of the world, and especially on the east side of Syracuse, are ticks," said James Burt, a landscaper and vice president of the trade organization PLANT CNY. That is the number one concern.

Burts organization and its parent group the New York State Nursing and Landscape Association have been trying to provide up-to-date guidance to landscapers during an uncertain time.

His general rule of thumb for landscapers is that maintaining and managing current plants and lawns is OK to continue, but new projects and planting should be avoided.

We feel that a spring clean-up in terms of removing dead plant material, managing plant growth and lawns is something we feel we can do safely and that it is essential to peoples health and safety, he said. Were not going to be planting flowers, not going to be starting new construction projects. Again, our number one priority is to keep everyone safe.

The last two weeks have been tumultuous for the industry, as a global pandemic shut down the state just as landscapers were headed into their busy season.

The state is exempting food production and retail, so horticulture businesses that sell or grow food-producing plants are OK to continue operating.

It is also granting exemptions to businesses that do essential maintenance and pest control -- with an eye toward whats necessary to ensure peoples health and safety.

Dozens of landscapers and lawn mowers have written to syracuse.com with questions about how to interpret this guidance, as the state adopts new rules and public officials learn more about the coronavirus and how it spreads.

State officials generally acknowledge some landscaping functions are essential, but they are urging individuals to use the appropriate practices to avoid spreading the virus.

Syracuse University business law professor Gregory Germain implored businesses to use common sense.

Nobody can do business as usual, he said. The extent of precautions are going to depend on the needs of the particular industry  but we all have to take precautions, even if were exempt.

Have a question about your industry? Contact Reporter Julie McMahon: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

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The death toll from the novel coronavirus climbed to 299 in Brazil as the number of confirmed cases went from 6,836 to 7,910, the Health Ministry said, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

In the past 24 hours, 59 COVID-19 patients died, raising the mortality rate to 3.8 percent, and 1,074 people tested positive, slightly less than the 1,119 new cases reported in the previous 24-hour period.

Brazil's more prosperous southeast region continues to be the epicenter of the national outbreak, with 4,988 cases, followed by the northeast, with 1,180 cases.

Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta on Wednesday said officials were expecting a spike in cases in April.

He urged Brazilians to "redouble" their efforts at social distancing and sheltering in place, saying "this is not the time to waver."
GM and Honda have agreed to jointly develop two all-new electric vehicles for Honda.

The vehicles will be on GMs global EV platform powered by proprietary Ultium batteries, but Honda will design the exteriors and interiors. The platform will be engineered to match the way Honda vehicles handle.

For GM this is "another step" toward its vision of an all-electric future and will provide a profitable EV business "through increased scale and capacity utilization," said Doug Parks, GM executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain.

About a month ago, GM CEO Mary Barra said GM will spend $20 billion between now and 2025, about $3 billion a year, on EV development.

The vehicles will be manufactured at GM plants in North America, but GM is not specifying which plants.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra addresses the gathering Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at an event detailing GMs electric vehicle technologies and upcoming products in the Design Dome on the GM Tech Center campus in Warren, Michigan. (Photo by Steve Fecht for General Motors)

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GM is retooling its Detroit-Hamtramck plant to build all-electric vehicles in about 18 months, so it may be a candidate. A GM spokeswoman said the company will offer more details as it gets closer to the launch date.

These new electric vehicles are expected to go on sale in the 2024 model year in Hondas United States and Canadian markets, the companies said.

GM and Honda have an ongoing relationship in EV development. They have worked on fuel cells and the Cruise Origin, an electric, self-driving car revealed in San Francisco early this year.

Cruise, GM's self-driving vehicle unit, has been testing self-driving cars in San Francisco for the last few years. GM has said it will build the Origin at Detroit-Hamtramck.

The interior of the Cruise Origin, the GM company's first purpose built autonomous EV meant for ride hailing, features seating for six, who sit facing each other.

Honda also joined GMs battery module development efforts in 2018.

This expanded partnership will unlock economies of scale to accelerate our electrification roadmap and advance our industry-leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Rick Schostek, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. We are in discussions with one another regarding the possibility of further extending our partnership."

Story continues

As part of the agreement, Honda will incorporate GMs OnStar safety and security services into the two EVs and integrate them with HondaLink. Honda also plans to make GMs hands-free advanced driver-assist technology available.

Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM, Honda team up to make two new electric vehicles at GM plants
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SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched Tales from the Loop, streaming now on Amazon.

From the moment it was conceived, Tales From the Loop  which debuted Thursday night on Amazon Prime Video  was unlike any science fiction TV series ever conceived, for the simple reason that its based on a series of paintings by Swedish artist Simon Stalenhag.

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Stalenhags artwork is at once everyday and fantastical  like a modest rural home sitting quietly in a winter landscape, while a robot stares almost plaintively at it from outside. When Nathaniel Halpern (Legion) first saw them while meeting with filmmaker Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes) at Reeves production company 6th & Idaho nearly five years ago, he was immediately captivated.

Its very hard to have an original aesthetic, especially in the science fiction genre, Halpern tells Variety. Theres something about the marriage between the ordinary and the extraordinary, and also how poignant his images are, that I really responded to. And then the idea of adapting paintings into a TV series seemed so wonderfully unique I just leapt at the opportunity.

The series takes its title from a book of Stalenhags paintings published in 2014, which has a sparse quasi-narrative. But although Stalenhag consulted on the show, Halpern conceived the story almost from whole cloth, save for a few key elements: the concept of the Loop, an underground facility somehow responsible for the strange events in the surrounding town; the setting in the early 1980s; and, of course, those striking visual tableaus. Halpern used those components to write a series of eight loosely connected episodes set in the fictitious small town of Mercer, Ohio, using the Loop  a.k.a. the Mercer Center for Experimental Physics  as the sci-fi spark for his stories.

Story continues

Each episode is directed by a different filmmaker, including Mark Romanek (who helmed the first episode and also serves as an executive producer on the show), Andrew Stanton, Ti West and Jodie Foster. (Reeves executive produced, but didnt direct any episodes.)

But after watching just one episode, its plain that Halperns voice leads the show, with no less an ambition than to have Tales From the Loop stand apart from the vast majority of sci-fi storytelling over the last 25 years. Heres how he pulled it off.

It isnt quite a serialized show, and not quite an anthology show, either.

The center of Tales From the Loop is a classic nuclear family: Loretta (Rebecca Hall), who works at the Loop; her husband, George (Paul Schneider), whose father Russ (Jonathan Pryce) founded and administers the Loop; and Loretta and Georges two sons, Cole (Duncan Joiner) and Jakob (Daniel Zolghadri).

Many episodes focus on just one or two members of the family so I didnt have to tie myself in knots to see how they would intersect, Halpern says. The fact that they all live in the same house was an elegant way to have characters weave in and out of each others story.

But several episodes barely involve the family at all, choosing instead to focus in a peripheral character for the full hour  like Gaddis (Ato Essandoh), the clerk who sits at the entrance to the Loop.

I wanted to capture Simons sense of wonder  keep that alive episode to episode, and not have the audience get too accustomed to the world, says Halpern. I find whats tricky in TV series is that theres that wonderful alchemy of an ordinary person who encounters something extraordinary, but when too many extraordinary things happen to an ordinary person, theyre no longer ordinary, and its very hard to relate to them. So thats dictated within this show having different characters take center stage, so we always have that balance of wonder and having someone we can relate to going on an extraordinary journey.

It isnt interested in explaining how things happen.

Those extraordinary journeys are always catalyzed by a sci-fi conceit inspired by one of Stalenhags paintings  like the hover-tractor sitting dormant in a field of wheat that winds up transporting Gaddis into a parallel dimension.

How that transpires, however, is never explored. The show is almost studiously uninterested in examining whatever exotic scientific theory might explain whats causing these events to occur.

When you hinge on a question or a mystery or a puzzle, its a mental exercise that has its own rewards, but it doesnt move me in an emotional way, Halpern says. I think an under-serviced aspect of the genre [is] the idea of using the science fiction to amplify what the character is feeling versus the other way around. A lot of times in science fiction, a character purely exists to serve as a science fiction idea.

Instead, Halpern wanted to use the Loop as a way to explore more universal truths that would be impossible in a straight drama series. In Gaddis case: What would happen if after yearning for a life you didnt think you could ever have, you got to see yourself living it, up close and personal? The result is a kind of human-scaled storytelling almost entirely missing from the current sci-fi canon.

Theres so much out there that mines our anxiety and fear and anger, to the point where, if you just watch TV or film you might think thats the only emotions we had, Halpern says. But theres a whole spectrum of other feelings that I think go underserviced, and I think thats the discovery in the show, of being moved by these various stories that are exploring different aspects of the human condition.

So dont expect the mysteries to be resolved.

Stalenhag never painted the Loop itself in his work, choosing to allow the viewer to imply what it might be. But Halpern chose to take the audience inside the Loop facility in the very first episode.

I didnt want to do a puzzle box where it was all about, Oh, I wonder whats going on underground?' he says. I thought that would come at a disservice to the emotion and the characters where I wanted everyones focus to be. So its important for me to go underground in that first episode and say, Here it is.'

In that first episode, Halpern also reveals the object that drives all the research at the Loop, and the unexplainable events that fuel the show: A massive, floating, geodesic sphere referred to as the Eclipse. Just dont ever expect the show to tell you where the Eclipse came from, or what its made of, or what it does.

In my mind, its beside the point, Halpern says. If there was an investigator at the center of the show, there sure would be questions that would be front and center. But none of the characters are asking these questions. And so I hope we take our cues from them and just go on their emotional journeys with their individual stories.

Its an approach that flies in the face of decades of mainstream sci-fi storytelling that demands that every possible question raised over the course of a show  what is that giant black thing?  gets an answer.

I think weve been trained to think theres greater mythology, and more to uncover, Halpern says. Weve been given so much of that I think were on some level wired to expect it. I do understand some people take comfort in trying to nail down specific answers. Its just not what I was pursuing with this.

The 1980s setting doesnt really matter.

Halpern chose to keep to the early-1980s time period of Stalenhags paintings, as evidenced by the squared-off cars, beige-y costumes and giant, boxy computer monitors.

But in contrast to other period sci-fi TV series of late, he would just as soon you forget when the show is specifically taking place.

I didnt want to fetishize the time period and make pop culture references, he says. I dont want to be nostalgic for media; I want to be nostalgic for events in my own life. So I tried to take the timestamp out of the show, and hopefully there are these intimate moments that people can recognize themselves in and [think], Oh I remember that as a kid. And it doesnt have anything to do with what year it is.

Hopefully, this isnt the end.

While Halpern says there hasnt been a formal conversation about a second season of Tales From the Loop, he is keen to make one.

The Loop itself is this great storytelling generating device, he says. So the possibilities are pretty endless to what you can do. I certainly have more stories to tell about this town and the people who live there.

Halpern is especially eager to revisit the (relatively) idyllic nature of Tales From the Loop. Although some of Stalenhags paintings are quite grim  and very much in line with the robustly dystopian streak in sci-fi storytelling over the last 40 years  Halpern steered his show in the complete opposite direction.

I knew this was not going to be a show that was doom and gloom about how awful technology is, he says. Thats all well-covered.

He had no way of knowing, of course, that Tales From the Loop would debut when the real world has itself tipped precariously into the apocalyptic. But the shows gentle, humanistic approach could be exactly the balm audiences need right now.

Its both fortunate and very unfortunate timing, Halpern says. But it was always designed to hopefully provide a little bit of hope and comfort. Its not sentimental by any stretch of the imagination. But my hope is people can recognize themselves in it, and take comfort that theyre not the only ones that feel that way.

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Ram Gopal Varma on COVID-19: When the whole nation is fighting the battle against COVID-19, Rangeela director Ram Gopal Varma posted a distasteful tweet about being tested positive on April 1. Howbeit, Ram apologised for his prank. Check the post here

Ram Gopal Varma on coronavirus: When the nation is facing the novel coronavirus crisis, director Ram Gopal Varma cant keep calm and posted a distasteful tweet about being tested positive as an April Fools Day prank.

Asking for an apology, Ram took to twitter and wrote: he was trying to lighten up the intense situation and the jest was on him, if anybody got offended with it, he apologies from all of them. Perhaps, the phrase correctly suits on him, no work only play is making the jack a dull boy!

When the whole nation has joined hands in the battle against COVID- 19, some are still not serious to understand the deadly situation which the world is facing right now, a social media user said. Talking to a news portal, Ram said, he knew that he would be badly trolled for his intentional tweet, also a complaint has been lodged against him for spreading false news, howbeit it was an April Fool joke.

Check the post here:

My doctor just told me that I tested positive with Corona  Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) April 1, 2020

On April 1, Rangeela director tweeted that he was tested positive for COVID-19; covering it up, he posted a new tweet claiming his doctor pranked on him on April Fools Day. Well, his ribald humour doesnt go well with Twitteratis as they called him insensitive. A user wrote: Really disappointed with your post when the world is dealing with coronavirus pandemic.

Check the post here:

Anyway I am just trying to make light of a grim situation but the joke is on me and if I dint offend anyone I sincerely apologise to them  Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) April 1, 2020

Talking about the current scenario in India, The infected cases are multiplying rapidly as confirmed positive cases reached 2,088 and the death toll jumped to 56, Health Ministry said.

PM Modi during interaction with sportspersons gave five-point mantra of Sankalp,Sanyam,Sakaratmakta,Samman & Sahyog to tackle COVID19. PM said that sportspersons have brought glory to nation&now have important role to play in boosting morale of nation& spreading positivity:PMO https://t.co/YloYhyv4Ql  ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2020

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The country's total number of infections reaches 985 while the death toll climbs to 66

Egypt reported on Friday its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases and deaths with 120 new cases and eight fatalities, bringing it closer to 1,000 infections as authorities warn of a more rapid spread of the contagion.



The country's health ministry said in a statement that the total number of COVID-19 cases has now reached 985 nationwide, while the death toll stands at 66.

Health minister Hala Zayed previously said it would be hard to track the origin of each case if infections climbed to 1,000 too soon.

The ministry added that 15 Egyptians have fully recovered and left isolation hospitals on Friday, which brings the total number of recoveries from the virus so far to 216.

The number of cases whose test results have turned from positive to negative, including the recoveries, has now reached 296.

The newly detected cases include three foreigners and 117 Egyptians, who either have recently returned from abroad or have been in contact with previously announced positive cases, health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed explained.

He added that the eight new deaths include one foreigner and seven Egyptians.

The average daily infection rate in Egypt was between 30 and 40 cases last week, and between 50 and 60 this week, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said on Thursday.

Madbouly expected that next week the average daily increase will range from 60 to 70 cases a day.

He had urged Egyptians on many occasions to comply with the preventive measures, warning of reaching the "dangerous" milestone of 1,000 infections.

On 24 March, Egypt declared a two-week curfew from 7 pm to 6 am, the broadest measure yet taken to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Authorities have warned that those who break the curfew are subject to penalties under the country's emergency law, which range from a fine of EGP 4,000 ($253) to imprisonment.

Egyptian authorities had already halted international flights, banned mass gatherings, shuttered cinemas, mosques and churches and suspended communal prayers.

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Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) News Desk  Fri, April 3, 2020 14:00 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f7d64c 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-rapid-test,doni-monardo,BIN,State-Intelligence-Agency Free

A study by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) has warned that the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country may reach its peak in the next three months, culminating to more than 106,000 cases by July, Indonesias COVID-19 rapid response task force says.

The task force's chief, Doni Monardo, presented a study conducted by the spy agency during a meeting with House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing health care and manpower on Thursday.

According to the forecast, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia will rise gradually in the coming months -- to up to 27,307 cases by the end of April, 95,451 cases by the end of May to 105,765 cases by the end of June -- and is estimated to reach up to 106,287 cases by July.

Doni said the study might be accurate since BIN was close in its estimation of the number of people who would be infected with the disease by the end of March, following the governments confirmation of the countrys first two positive cases on March 2.

BIN previously estimated that the country would record up to 1,577 confirmed COVID-19 cases by the end of last month, a slight difference from the government's official count of 1,528 cases as of March 31.

So far, BIN has been 99 percent accurate in its estimates, Doni said during the meeting, "Therefore, we also expect the contagion to peak in July."

Read also: COVID-19: 'Mudik' risks mass contagion across Java

As many as 50 cities and regencies across the country, particularly in Java, are at high risk, he added.

As of Thursday afternoon, Indonesia's official count of confirmed COVID-19 cases had reached 1,790, with 170 fatalities and 112 recoveries. The figure put the country's current COVID-19 mortality rate at 9.4 percent, which is among the highest in the world.

The provinces of Java now contain the majority of the countrys total infections, as combined cases from Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java totaled 1,519 as of Thursday.

A surge in the number of confirmed cases might happen in the coming months since the country failed to conduct quick and massive coronavirus tests, therefore the positive cases will gradually increase toward the peak period of the contagion, Doni said.

He went on to tell the lawmakers that the central government had scrambled to address the issue, including in carrying out nationwide rapid tests and authorizing more than 12 laboratories to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which were considered to be accurate in confirming coronavirus infections.

The government has promised to give its full support for COVID-19 testing, including by allocating a portion of the state budget to increase the capacity of testing facilities, Doni added.
Iran's death toll from the novel coronavirus has reportedly surged to 3,294 as 134 new fatalities were reported in the past 24 hours, according to Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpur. The total cases now stand at 53,183, he said on state television, adding that 4,035 were "under observation", indicating that figures for the patients in the Intensive Care Unit. However, at least 17,935 have recovered, he said.

President Hassan Rouhani reportedly warned at a cabinet meeting earlier that there was no quick fix to the deadly pandemic and the containment efforts had to be strictly followed by the general public. He said, "Coronavirus is not something for which we can point to a certain date and say it will be completely eradicated by then. Further adding, he said that the disease, maybe with us in upcoming months, or until the end of the current Iranian year, in March 2021.

Read: Grocery Shopping Tips To Avoid Getting Infected By Coronavirus When Out To Buy Necessities

Read: Indian Badminton Goes Online Due To Coronavirus Lockdown

12,000 deaths in weeks ahead

Iran had earlier issued a direful warning to the citizens to remain under quarantine, suggesting that millions are expected to die in the Islamic Republic. A medic was quoted on the state television as saying that based on Tehran's prestigious Sharif University of Technologys research and analysis, there could be a large number of fatalities if the containment directives were neglected. He stressed that the public must adhere to the social distancing protocol, to break the chain of transmission.

Another prestigious medical worker, Dr. Afruz Eslami, was quoted as saying that Iran might have over 120,000 infections, and at least 12,000 deaths in weeks ahead provided citizens followed guidelines that would flatten the curve. Upon failure of guidelines, the already overwhelmed healthcare systems will collapse, and over 3.5 million people will die, Eslami was reported predicting as per local media outlets. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prohibited non-essential movement for the religious groups, after their failure of compliance despite repeated warnings.

Read: Bernie Sanders, Other US Lawmakers Write To Trump To Lift Iran Sanctions Amid COVID-19

Read: COVID-19: Pompeo Hints At Easing Iran Sanctions Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Somewhere in San Franciscos Western Addition, a woman scrolls through online personals. She searches profiles for words like apocalypse and crisis and quarantine and asks people questions like, What sorts of things do you think are possible now that you didnt think were possible before?

In the Mission District, a couple already engaged fix a spice rack as they shelter in place, and learn about each other, too. Not far from there, this time in the Tenderloin, a relationship ends over text: I do not want to date you anymore. Im sorry for the timing.

Imagine walking down the street and all the fronts of all the buildings falling away. Imagine the living room stages revealed and the dramas unfolding. All around the world, people are falling in love and loving and falling out of love just as they always have. Only now with the added complication of a pandemic.

What Ive been noticing a lot is those Tinder boys are very lonely right now, says Jessi Reid. Shes 33, and single in the Mission District for a year now. About a week before the shutdown, she thought shed try dating again. Odd timing, she knows, but its not a bad distraction. Shes chatted with a few and gone on one really strange video date with another. Men are more emotionally available on the app. Since no one is hooking up, theyre just wanting to talk, which is really sweet.

Theres a sense that the world has stopped even as it spins wildly out of control  so much time to contemplate so much uncertainty. Love can be uncertain, too, but its a familiar sort of uncertainty. So, it seems, there are lots of not-quite, not-yet love stories like Reids.

Maybe a week or so before the isolation order, Lauren Ruben (28, San Francisco) had met a man on one of the usual apps. They dated some. Really good dates, she says. As social isolation set in, they met at a park one last time. Sat on opposite sides of the bench. They talked about how weird it felt that the world still seemed normal. We did have a connection, Ruben says. The whole world was slowing down, and it seemed a lot less transactional than normal.

She was committed to keeping space, though. And anyway, he had plans to leave the city and pass the pandemic in a cabin in Sonoma County.

From that distance he wrote her daily. This kept on for a while, and after many days Ruben drove to the cabin, just for a couple hours, just for dinner.

In her first letter back to him, Ruben seemed to already know what was coming next.

Were going to have to square the emotional intimacy weve achieved of talking all the time with the reality of not having actually spent much time together when this all lands, she wrote. Last week she called it off. The more I would talk to him, that friendship or connection would develop, but the greater the gulf was for our physical comfort, she says.

But even if that story is ending, others continue. John Dellaporta, a 36-year-old actor in Los Angeles, is still talking with an online date who, almost as soon as they connected, moved back east to be with family. The other night, he mentioned how weird it was that they hadnt yet kissed. Its ridiculous  but its kind of fun ridiculous. It just feels like the stakes are so much lower, but the fact that the low stakes invited intimacy isnt something I expected.

Others find comfort not in something new but in nostalgia. Nairi Azaryan (25, San Francisco) has been thinking a lot about an ex lately, about a trip they made to the desert. Piece by piece, day by day, Ive been recollecting on my actions  how they eventually did lead to us breaking up.

She ended up texting him. I mean yeah, its stupid, but whatever.

There are no expectations, she says, except maybe comfort. Im just trying to hurtle past all the normal  theres a slow game of Lets get comfortable talking to each other. She just wants to be able to call and talk to him. Im kind of alone most of the day in the house, which doesnt help.

The pandemic and all its uncertainty have made distance a thing you can now measure in time  everybody who is not together is far away from one another, whether a few miles away or several states away. Emily Graham had plans to fly from Long Beach to Washington, D.C. Shes 22 and it was spring break and thats where her boyfriend lives. But his lungs carry scars from a previous injury. Its just not worth the risk, she says.

It was hard enough, him living all those miles away, but at least, before this pandemic, they had a date to look forward to. When you date long-distance, she says, all you ever really have is a date  a date on a calendar; thats what keeps you going. So they do what they usually do, talking through screens and over the phone, texting just to keep up, only without much hope for any time together soon. Theres no end date for all this, Graham says. He was planning on moving here come summertime, but obviously 

Just as far away from one another, but in the same house, are Martha Cecilia Ovadia, 35, and her husband, down in Homestead, Fla. Her husband works at a hospital, and it seems almost certain hell be exposed to the virus. They dont talk in ifs, they talk in whens, so theyve split their home in two; one floor for him, one floor for her. They talk down hallways to each other and watch the same show, bedrooms away. Were pretty much self-quarantined from each other, Ovadia says.

In the morning Ovadia writes letters to him, on new paper that looks like old paper. The notes are melodramatic and funny. She seals them with wax. Save it for when it gets rough, she tells him. It feels like Im sending my husband to war every morning. When he gets home his face is different, changed from his time at the hospital, but they do not touch. Its the most surreal experience. Its hard not to feel insecure when you lose a thing like touch, when you lose proximity. But there are worse things even still. Another friend they know has moved into an apartment on his own, away from his family. The friends wife just gave birth.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Love shifts to fit the moment  proximity and touch drives a lot of what we do now. Three people, in a polyamorous relationship, downsized from two homes to one. Elsewhere, an MBA student at Stanford and her girlfriend decided theyd rather be together than apart during all this, so when courses went online she flew to Houston. Theyve adopted a cat, too.

There was a moment where Amelia Bonow (35, Seattle) tried to feel things out with a guy shed just started dating, if only to avoid a quarantine with no touching and no pleasure. I would like to be able to hang with somebody, if were all going to be quarantined, she says. But no. They ended it. From that point forward  Ive just been flailing wildly with the phone and the computer, she says. It feels like everyone is sitting really lonely and alone, looking at their phones.

There is a lead maybe, this really cute boy who lives downstairs in my apartment. (But) hes not giving me enough to work with.

Times like these serve to test and to clarify. All those people talking online will eventually have to meet in person. The shotgun move-ins, done under all this pressure, will offer a nice proof of concept. Or they wont.

In retrospect, Bea White (34, Tenderloin) maybe could have been a little clearer with her boyfriend that the relationship had run its course. In retrospect, maybe he shouldnt have picked her up from the airport the night the shutdown went into effect. And in retrospect, maybe she shouldnt have invited him inside her friends house where they began to meal plan and pool money for the weeks ahead. But she did and the pressure grew.

He didnt know how to cut an endive, and he kept asking her if she was all right. I couldnt breathe without him noticing.

And so the text. I do not want to date you anymore. Im sorry for the timing.

This is a love story, too, even if its the end of one.

Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @RyanKost
The brewer of Corona beer has suspended production because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The brand of lager - whose unfortunate name has made it a punchline during the health crisis - will not be produced after Mexico deemed it non-essential.

Fears of a shortage have prompted panic-buying, with pictures from Mexican shops showing trolleys piled up with beer.

The brewery Grupo Modelo said it was scaling down its operations to a 'bare minimum' in line with the Mexican government's orders.

However, the company suggested it could keep brewing beer if its operations were deemed to be agriculture, which is allowed.

Fears of a shortage of alcohol in Mexico have prompted panic-buying, with pictures from Mexican shops showing trolleys piled up with Corona and its sibling Coronita

Corona lager - whose unfortunate name has made it a punchline during the health crisis - will not be produced after Mexico deemed it non-essential

Corona beer - pictured here on a shelf in Thailand last month - is suspending production because of the coronavirus crisis in Mexico

Grupo Modelo, which also has other export brands including Pacifico and Modelo, said it would complete the suspension in the next few days.

The brewery will reduce operations to a level where they could resume once the suspension is lifted, Grupo Modelo says.

The company said that brewing could continue 'if the government considers it appropriate to issue some clarification confirming beer as an agro-industrial product'.

'We are ready to execute a plan with more than 75 per cent of our staff working from home and at the same time guaranteeing the supply of beer,' a statement said.

Agriculture and food production are among the key sectors which are still allowed to function under Mexican government orders.

Non-essential activities have been suspended for at least the month of April to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Mexico's other major beer producer Heineken - which makes the Tecate and Dos Equis brands - could also stop activities on Friday, Mexican media said.

The northern state of Nuevo Leon where Heineken's Mexican operations are based said on Wednesday it would stop the distribution of beer, sparking panic-buying.

Speculation about a total alcohol ban - although so far unfounded - has also prompted queues at shops.

A police officer and volunteer patrol a closec beach in Baja California in Mexico earlier this week as the country shuts down non-essential activities

Jaime Heliodoro Rodriguez Calderon, the governor of Nuevo Leon, told local media: 'Why buy alcohol now and cause a problem?

'Someone can be infected, you are creating risk. You will leave the shop infected and you will infect your children.'

Mexico has so far registered more than 1,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 50 deaths.

Constellation Brands, which sells Corona in the U.S., said in February that its sales remained strong despite the label's obvious drawbacks.

But the company suffered a separate blow last week when plans for a $1.5billion brewery on the U.S. border were rejected in a referendum.

The plant was already two-thirds built but Mexico's government said it would not grant operating permits after the vote.

Mexico's deputy health minister said yesterday there are no plans for border closures even as the country's death toll mounts.

'There's no plan, because there's no intention to use the border closure mechanism as if it were a useful mechanism for controlling the epidemic,' said Hugo Lopez-Gatell during his regular evening news conference.

'Although there's an expectation in the general public's view that a physical barrier can be put to epidemics, there's no scientific, historical demonstration that these types of measures are of any use.'
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, lockdowns are extended and restrictions on global travel continue to tighten, one of the industries hit hardest by the lack of travelers has been animal tourism.

For many zoos and aquariums, the lack of guests has both opened up and forced them down new avenues. Some are now holding live streams for the public, expanding interactions with zookeepers through spaces like Facebook Live, and allowing their permanent animal residents to check in on some of their longtime neighbors.

Elsewhere, whole swaths of animal industries dependent on global tourism have been thrust into crisis mode, and many animal conservation efforts are facing uncertainty with the unprecedented decline in human and animal movement alike.

Natasha Daly, a writer for National Geographic who covers animal welfare, wildlife conservation and animal exploitation, says it's too soon to tell how conservation will be affected by the lack of tourism. But she's encouraged by the reality that for many people, humanity's relationship to nature is now front of mind.

"This crisis has put the issues of the wildlife trade and the ways that people exploit animals for all sorts of things - it has thrust it into the spotlight," Daly said. (Netflix's wildly popular documentary series "Tiger King" has only added to the attention.) "So, I think that maybe more people than ever are aware of some of the issues involved in the wildlife trade, just because it's dominated the headlines over the last few months."

That dominance has become especially notable on social media, where news of animals acting in never-before-seen ways has become a salve.

Posts about swans returning to Venetian canals and elephants passed out after drinking corn wine in the fields of China were showered with hundreds of thousands of likes, endorsing the idea that the lack of human activity had reversed the course of nature and given animals a break from our disruptive ways.

The only problem with the feel-good stories is that they were fake. And Daly - the author of the piece debunking them - says that although she was heartened to see that people care, fake nature stories can be harmful to our understanding of how we can help going forward, no matter how good it feels in these troubling times.

"The bottom line is that it's important that these things we're cheering on are actually true," she said.

There are plenty of posts that are. In one of the more heartwarming videos (with nearly 15 million views on Twitter), a pair of rockhopper penguins at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago were shown wandering around the empty facility, interacting with various underwater exhibits and even waddling past the reception desk.

Meanwhile, at the Fort Worth Zoo, a Patagonian mara spent quality time with a trio of otters on the other side of the glass, and the Toronto Zoo shared a photo of donkeys and llamas getting up close and personal with a couple of polar bears.

Andrew Lentini, senior director of wildlife and science at the Toronto Zoo, says it's important that the animals still be able to do walkabouts as a part of their training and care, but many of them miss guest interaction and the joys of people-watching. "One of our oldest residents here is an orangutan named Puppe who just loves to watch people and particularly loves children," Lentini said. "She'll often go right up to a mom and a young child. She just loves to watch them, and not having guests here, she misses that a little bit."

Lentini says the biggest change in day-to-day operations has been safeguarding the staff and maintaining precautions like social distancing for some of their animals, including the great apes, who may have a similar susceptibility to covid-19 as humans.

With reopening pushed further down the calendar, Lentini says the zoo is focused on maintaining its mission to connect people with animals and its dedication to conservation science. The zoo has received positive feedback from its social media outreach and online programs, such as a virtual zoo school. Lentini says his goal, with the zoo's continuing work, is to give people hope.

"It's not business as usual," he said. "We rely on our guests to really help support the zoo, not just in our mission but also through their attendance here. So, without that, we're making some changes to really control our spending - just spending on essential items that are critical for our operation - and we'll continue to adapt as this goes on."

For some animals outside of zoo and aquarium settings, pandemic-related restrictions and the decline in travelers have provided not just an opportunity for rest, but also a lifesaving turn.

One of the most profound shifts in tourism is the shutdown of elephant parks in Thailand. The country derives a significant source of its annual revenue from elephant tourism, with 40 million visitors per year.

The Maesa Elephant Camp, in Chiang Mai, has released its 78 elephants from the large wood and metal seats strapped to them, which animal rights groups said caused "psychological anguish." And the camp announced that it won't place the seats back on even when business continues, according to Britain's the Independent.

Since elephants in captivity are forbidden to be released back into the wild, the park said it plans to let them roam free, in hopes of attracting future visitors to an elephant sanctuary.

Not all of the industry's owners have the luxury of doing so, however, and many advocates in Thailand fear that elephants, which are expensive to feed, will be left starving on the streets, with their owners begging for money or forced into the illegal logging sector.

Daly worries that the reliance on foreign tourism to take care of the elephants will lead to widespread problems in Thailand. There are an estimated 3,000 captive elephants in camps, and the country, she says, has to contend not only with the "scary" business-side reality of camps struggling to feed and water elephants, but also with the conservation side - of rescue organizations not being able to raise funds to save elephants from captivity.

Thousands more elephants, in Africa, are getting a reprieve from one of the world's most controversial forms of tourism: sport hunting.

That's because Botswana has banned entry for travelers from 18 countries it has deemed high-risk, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, countries that make up the majority of the world's foreign trophy hunters.

The southern African country, which holds close to 130,000 elephants, recently overturned its ban on commercial hunting, alarming conservationists. But with travel restrictions in place globally to help stop the spread of coronavirus, Botswana's hunting season - which was set to begin this month - is at a standstill.

Ultimately, Daly says the decline in tourism is a global issue that will continue to affect the animal industry in uneven ways. And smaller facilities will face a heavier burden than larger, more established ones.

"There's a very real concern that many of these animals that are languishing in some of these substandard facilities around the world may not be getting the care or food or veterinary attention that they would if the facilities had the sort of money coming in that they're used to," Daly said. Some desperate animals in the wild have been recorded wandering into city centers in search of food.

Daly hopes the lack of access to animal tourism will help people reevaluate what they do while on vacation, because the industry depends on tourists to keep scientific and conservation efforts afloat.

But she fears that since the reality of city lockdowns is temporary, when coronavirus concerns blow over and societies return to normal, many people will go back to living their normal lives.

"If anything, [coronavirus] might bring some attention to the fact that this industry exists and that many animals depend on us to keep them fed and keep them thriving," Daly said. "For people who care about this and care about animals as they're affected by us, this is an interesting case study in terms of how animals may be affected in the long term."

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The Washington Post's Antonia Noori Farzan and Siobhan O'Grady contributed to this report.
The United States of America, France, and Germany are deeply concerned about the restrictions on the access to the occupied Donbas under the pretext of COVID-19 pandemic imposed on OSCE, UN and International Committee of the Red Cross.

We join France and Germany in expressing deep concern on access restrictions imposed on the OSCE SMM - Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, United Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross, & others, under the pretext of the COVID19 pandemic, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Facebook.

The American diplomats call on Russia to adhere to its international agreements, implement a ceasefire, and withdraw its forces from Ukraine.

On March 28, 29 and 30, the invaders again banned the OSCE SMM patrols from entering the occupied areas in Donbas, although the observers used the official road corridors for crossing. In most cases, militants banned the access because of "orders given by leadership in connection with COVID-19."

According to the mission, the bans on access for OSCE SMM patrols during their attempts to enter the militant-controlled areas began on March 21 in Donetsk region and on March 23 in Luhansk region.

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Playboi Carti was arrested in Georgia on drug and gun-related charges.

The 23-year-old boyfriend of Iggy Azalea - real name is Jordan Terrell Carter - was pulled over in his black Lamborghini Huracan on Thursday as police found three firearms and several bags of drugs.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Carti and another man were pulled over for having expired tags.

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Legal trouble: Playboi Carti was arrested in Georgia on drug and gun-related charges according to TMZ on Friday

On and off: Carti has had an on/off relationship with Iggy Azalea as the pair were spotted out together in January catching a flight to Los Angeles from Sydney after their split

Clayton County officers claim that they had discovered drugs and weapons in the vehicle during the traffic stop.

TMZ's sources claim that the rapper's luxury vehicle contained 12 bags of marijuana, xanax, oxycodone and codeine in addition to the weapons.

Photos of the items found in the car were posted on the Twitter account of the Clayton County Sheriff's Office.

Carti posted bond and was released on Friday morning.

Run in: Photos of the items found in the car were posted on the Twitter account of the Clayton County Sheriff's Office

Haul: TMZ's sources claim that the rapper's luxury vehicle contained 12 bags of marijuana, xanax, oxycodone and codeine in addition to three firearms

The rapper and Australian rapper Iggy Azalea have enjoyed an on-off relationship in recent months as they split at the end of 2019 only to seemingly reconcile later.

She very publicly addressed the split back in December, where she posted a status on Instagram saying simply: 'I'm single'.

Shortly after, she followed up with another post apologizing for telling her fans that she and the rapper were no longer dating after being linked together since August 2018.

'I need to make an apology,' she started out in the Instagram Story post.

Dynamic duo: The rapper and Australian rapper Iggy Azalea have enjoyed an on-off relationship in recent months as they split at the end of 2019 only to seemingly reconcile later

Putting it out there: In December, Iggy very publicly addressed the split back in December, where she posted a status on Instagram saying simply: 'I'm single'

Spoke too soon? Shortly after, Iggy followed this up with another post apologizing for telling fans that she and Playboi had split up

'It's not my character to put out whatever business I go through in my private life on the internet for the world to comment on. I felt very upset and I made an impulse choice that I immediately regretted, but it was too late to undo.'

She continued: 'The truth is that I love Jordan very much, I always will - more than you could ever know. That's all in the world should ever need to hear and I am sorry for making something public that should always remain between him & I no matter what.'

It's not known if the duo have since reconciled, after the pair were spotted out together in January catching a flight to Los Angeles from Sydney.

She was also seen watching his set at Falls Festival in Australia in January.

Support system: Iggy was also seen watching his set at Falls Festival in Australia in January
The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported last month that a 55-year-old man may have contracted a novel coronavirus infection on November 17, 2019. This individual is the earliest confirmed case of COVID-19, but authorities believe he wasnt patient-zero. The next confirmed case appeared on December 1, 2019 but had no links to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market located in Wuhan. The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on January 9, 2020, that the outbreak had first been detected in Wuhan on December 12. Unusual cases of a pneumonia-like illness appeared at local hospitals.

Jinyintan hospital, one of the first hospitals to admit infectious disease patients with an unusual pneumonia

Fluids gathered from the lungs of these patients admitted to ICUs were evaluated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Six of seven patients in the ICU were sellers or deliverymen working at the market. On December 21, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention published their report on a cluster of patients with a pneumonia of unknown cause.

As more patients were admitted for severe pneumonia-like illness linking them to the market, the Wuhan Municipal Health Committee issued an urgent notice on December 30 on its Weibo social media account. The World Health Organization (WHO) was notified that there were 27 suspected cases, seven in critical condition.

Many physicians shared this information on the internet, including Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, who posted a warning to his medical school colleagues via a WeChat group. When his post went viral, he was severely reprimanded by authorities for making false comments and severely disturbing the social order and compelled to sign a confession. He contracted the infection on January 12 and died on February 7.

On January 1, Chinese authorities closed the Huanan Seafood Market. On January 2, there were 41 patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed infections. They were relocated to the Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan.

The Chinese scientists at the National Institute of Viral Disease and Prevention determined the genetic sequence of the novel virus on January 3, naming it 2019-nCoV. Health authorities were alarmed by the sudden jump in reported cases with many of them seriously ill. No deaths had been reported but close contacts were being monitored. Incidentally, CDC director Robert Redfield alerted US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar that same day on his discussions with Chinese physicians about the virus.

Hong Kongs center for infection warned that the city should begin implementing strict surveillance against a new viral pneumonia that was spreading from human to human. The Singapore Ministry of Health was notified of a three-year-old Chinese girl with pneumonia and travel history to Wuhan. The young child tested negative for SARS and MERS-CoV.

Medical workers examining a patient

By January 7 the Chinese authorities were clamping down on all social media posting information on the outbreak. The US CDC issued a travel notice advisory to Wuhan. In South Korea, health authorities placed a 36-year-old Chinese woman under isolation after returning from Wuhan and experiencing cough and fever. The World Health Organization confirmed that a novel coronavirus had been isolated on January 9. The first death was also confirmed: a 61-year-old man who was a regular customer at the Seafood Market. He had multiple medical conditions including chronic liver disease.

On January 13, Chinese virologists had posted the genome sequence for the virus on the NIH genetic sequence database, GenBank. Thailand reported the first confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in a Chinese woman who had arrived in Bangkok on January 8. On January 15, the second death of a 69-year-old man in China was confirmed, who had become ill December 31.

The WHO confirmed that a team from the German Center for Infection Research and Virologists at Charite Hospital in Berlin had developed a new lab test that could detect 2019-nCoV. The assay protocol was published. According to Dr. Christian Drosten, director of the institute, Now that this diagnostic test is widely available, I expect that it wont be long before we are able to reliably diagnose suspected cases. This will also help scientists understand whether the virus is capable of spreading from human to human. This is an important step in our fight against this new virus.

By January 21, a total of 291 cases were reported across major cities in China. The MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College, London, suggested that their modeling predicted more than 1,700 cases of infection. The Chinese government began warning lower-level officials to no longer cover up the spread of the new coronavirus. It also was later made known that President Xi Jinping was aware of the outbreak sooner than had been indicated. The same day, the US reported its first case in Washington state.

On January 24, more countries outside of China were reporting imported cases. The first confirmed case of a human-to-human transmission outside of China occurred in Vietnam. The Chinese Politburo placed the entire Hubei province under a city-by-city quarantine, affecting almost 60 million people.

Patient room at Huoshenshan, one of the hospitals built in ten days

Benjamin Mateus of the WSWS had an opportunity in mid-March, through an intermediary, to communicate with four Chinese physicians who were involved from the beginning in the massive response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan. To assure the anonymity of these individuals, names and locations have been changed. The correspondence has been edited and reformatted for clarity and brevity.

Benjamin Mateus (BM): Good morning. Id like to thank all of you for sharing your experiences. They are important for readers to understand what happened in Wuhan and hear directly from you on how you worked during the harrowing period. But before we begin, could you briefly tell us in what you do?

Dr. X: I am an anesthesiologist at a provincial tertiary center in Hubei province.

Dr. D: I work in the emergency department. I work in another province at a provincial tertiary center.

Dr. Z: Thank you. Yes, I am an internist with a specialty in respiratory medicine. My focus during the outbreak in Wuhan was to evaluate suspected patients with throat swabs looking for the coronavirus. We also arranged their CT scans. If they tested positive or had findings concerning for pneumonia, we admitted them into the hospital. We called this area the observation room.

Dr. W: I do obstetrics and gynecologydeliver babies and take care of womens health issues. Dr. Z and I are both from Wuhan.

BM: Dr. D, when were you called to Wuhan?

Dr. D: My team and I were dispatched to Wuhan on January 24, when Hubei province was placed in lockdown. That was the Chinese New Years Eve. Once we received orders from the government, we immediately organized our teams and medical supply. I worked in a team with 138 workers.

BM: How did you get there?

Dr. D: We flew on a government-chartered flight. Once we arrived, we were quartered in a nearby hotel. All the medical workers, even those from Wuhan, though their homes were just by the hospital, had to stay in the designated hotels. The food was plentiful and nutritious. It was donated by the citizens.

Physicians intubating a patient

BM: Why were you quartered in this way?

Dr. Z: Mainly, to protect our families. We realized that it would be impossible to be with them and keep them safe.

BM: Can you speak about how the hospitals were supplied?

Dr. D: The government was responsible for coordinating all the necessary supplies. One governmental branch would coordinate through the regions branch which were then dispersed to the next levels down to the hospitals. There is a network weve established for these matters.

BM: Dr. D, where did you work?

Dr. D: My team was assigned to a traditional comprehensive hospital in Hankou which was converted to a COVID-19 patient admission hospital during the outbreak.

[Wuhan city is a conglomeration of three towns of WuhanHankou, Wuchang and Hanyang. It stands north of the confluence of the Han and Yangtze rivers.]

BM: Dr. X, can you speak to the number of health care workers that supported Wuhan?

Dr. X: When the lockdown went into effect and our resources were mobilized, I think we had about 40,000 healthcare workers supporting our efforts here in Hubei province. It was difficult at first. Hospitals were becoming overwhelmed with patients and we werent able to keep up. We were running short on supplies, but now we have managed to staff the hospitals and have the necessary equipment.

BM: And how did the work on the wards proceed? We have seen pictures of Chinese physicians in full personal protective gear.

Dr. X: We quickly learned to develop the process to put on and take off our protective gear. [They explained they donned full protective gearinstead of just gowns and hair netswith masks and shields and including four pairs of gloves]. It was very difficult to work in them. We were on shift work. Doctors ran a six-hour shift while nurses ran four-hour shifts. We spent one hour before our shift getting into our gear and another hour after just to remove them. When we intubated patients, we used respirators.

Dr. D: We may have been over-zealous with wearing of goggles and outer protective gears at times when maybe we didnt. We wore three to four layers of gloves. But it was hard to say if it was necessary or not. But we went into it with an abundance of caution.

BM: Dr. Z, I had read that the Chinese doctors were using CT scans to diagnose patients with COVID-19. Why was that?

Dr. Z: We recognized that patients with mild symptoms sometimes were sent home and they collapsed. We learned that the CT scan had a prognostic value. So, if a patient has tested positive but has mild symptoms, they can go home unless their CT scan shows there are infiltrates [pneumonia]. We admit these patients because we found they may decompensate later.

Dr. D: Even now that the epidemic has passed, we remain guarded. Maybe two or three weeks ago we had a 72-year-old come in without any difficulty breathing or feversjust dizziness and fatigue. The patient was admitted to the neurology department. When they did a CT scan, the patient had all the hallmarks of COVID-19 lungs. Seventeen doctors and nurses were infected, and the department was closed. So, the CT scan has proven valuable when the patients dont present with the common signs and symptoms.

Medical workers with full personal protective equipment

BM: How are your families coping with your absence during the outbreak?

Dr. W: My husband works in a shipyard as a manager and weve been separated to protect him from becoming infected. But hes also involved in fighting COVID-19. It isnt only medical workers. The whole country is involved in the fightwe miss each other but it helps that we understand everyone is involved.

Dr. X: My son is at university, so we know hes safe. My wife is also a physician and we work in the same hospital. We stay at the hotel but have separate rooms. The situation is tough, but we know the disease is preventable, controllable and treatable if we remain committed and vigilant.

Dr. Z: My husband is a physician and works in our hospital as well. We sent our son to stay with his grandparents before they closed Wuhan. We knew the situation would be very serious and we wouldnt be able to take care of him.

BM: What difficulties did Wuhan, in your opinion, encounter in their fight against the epidemic?

Dr. X: At the beginning of the outbreak in Wuhan, the local authorities covered up the problem. They didnt report it to the health department or government. Later, it became impossible to cover it up, but the infection was moving quickly. The health care was short on staff and supplies.

BM: Is that why the fatality rate was so much higher in Wuhan than in other provinces?

Dr. X: We were in a difficult situation. We were short in medical supplies. However, the government was able to allocate medical equipmentprotective suits, gloves, maskseven food and more to every hospital. We even built two hospitals in two weeks.

BM: Did any of you work there? That was a tremendous feat.

Dr. W: No, we didnt.

BM: Hospitals in Europe and the United States are being inundated with cases. How did you cope with the rush of infected patients?

Dr. X: At the hospital I was working in, they had 3,000 inpatient rooms. We decided to have patients with COVID-19 share rooms but keep suspected patients isolated to a single room each. This way we expanded our capacity. But you have to do what is needed. Having the COVID-19 patients together also helped them cope better because they kept each other company. Families werent allowed to visit.

BM: Dr. W, did you find pregnant patients with COVID-19 do poorly or have more complications?

Dr. W: We didnt see extra special risks for pregnancy compared to non-pregnant women. We treated their pregnancy no differently than usual, but their families werent allowed to be with them.

BM: So, pregnant woman did well?

Dr. W: Yes, for the most part. We did have a lower threshold for moving the patient back for a cesarean delivery because of the exertional difficulty with breathing during labor.

BM: And what about the newborn?

Dr. W: The newborns were sent to a negative pressure inpatient room, isolated and remained in quarantine for two weeks. The mothers stayed in quarantine an additional two weeks after they became asymptomatic and had a negative nucleic acid test. If both the mother and baby tested negative, then the baby could stay with its mother and breastfeed.

BM: What part of the work did all of you find most challenging?

Dr. X: I worked at the regional admission center ICU. So, all the most severe patients came to us. I know the patients were always very appreciative of our efforts and they knew we were trying our best. You could see they were scared. Sometimes you feel so helpless and that was painful.

I had one patient. He was in his fifties. He had lost his parents to COVID-19. Though he was intubated, he always raised his thumb. He tried to always stay positive. But he wasnt getting better, so I knew he wasnt going to recover. Three weeks later he died of respiratory failure. I dont know why his death affected me so much. I felt crushed. I went back to my hotel room isolated. My wife was in the next room. We would sit against the wall and talk to each other. I will never forget that night.

Dr. D: When we restedwe never really felt rested. Its hard to explain. It wasnt numbness or bewilderment. Maybe a sense of pain or fear. In my head all I could think of was how to save these patientsconstantly searching references, to look at guidelines, read articles, have discussions and meetings.

Seeing a patient on the ventilator and watching their blood oxygen levels slowly decrease, at this point there is nothing left to do. Seeing them slowly die is very painful. You feel so helpless.

I think 129 patients died in the hospital I was working at just in February38 of them just in my ward. In the peak of the outbreak, I saw four bodies kept on the ward for over 24 hours, because the morgue was full and short-staffed. It was so overwhelming that fear arose from the tip of my hair to the bottom of my feet. I felt the whole world is sickthe whole world is just sick.

Many of my colleagues told me they were unable to sleep. Many developed severe anxieties when they came on the ward. They were shaking when they had to clean the medical waste. I tried to console them, work with them, calm them.

Dr. Z: I remember that we had lost a patient and I was working up the courage to notify the family. I called and as soon as he answered the phone, he said, It is my dad? I said, yes. Then he said, Thank you. I will be there in about an hour. I have to finish treating a patient. He is my colleague. He told me that his mother had died the day before and his two brothers the week before. He came and signed the papers and left. I called to him and he turned around and said, Thank you. Bye, and left.

BM: Can you speak about Dr. Li Wenliang? He died of COVID-19 [on February 7, 2020] but was reprimanded when he warned his colleagues on social media of the outbreak in December. What are your thoughts?

Dr. W: I knew him. I had spoken with him. I am shocked that he died. He was so young. His wife was pregnant when he passed away. Its difficult to speak about this. It could have happened to anyone. But these are political matters  And his family couldnt be with him. They just put his body in a bag and delivered it to the funeral parlor.

BM: I read that the Communist Party of China (CPC) exonerated him and offered a solemn apology to his family.

Dr. W: It isnt about exonerating him. Talking about the CPCI especially so hate to talk about it. Too much meaningless sacrifice. Too many meaningless losses of life. Four doctors died of COVID in their own hospitaltwo from the same department (ophthalmology). There are also four doctors that are still on ventilators for almost two months. Nobody dares to let them die because the public wont forgive them.

BM: Dr. D, how many health care workers came to Wuhan and how many became infected?

Dr. D: By the time my team had arrived, we had about 40,000 health care workers in Hubei province. I think about 3,000 became infected, but mostly during the initial phase of the response. We had not implemented a strict infection control policy yet and we were short on medical supplies .

BM: Did any of your team members become infected?



Dr. X: We were involved almost immediately in early January. In my team, four became infected, but only one had to be intubated but they recovered.

Dr. D: None of our 138 medical workers in my team became infected.

BM: What lessons did you learn from this outbreak? What worked well and what didnt?

Dr. X: It was important to make the diagnosis early. We isolated patients quickly and implemented treatment immediately. But, most importantly, protecting the health care workers was essential. We have around 200 staff in our virus institute and zero in infections.

For the general population, wearing masks and washing hands was key to reducing infections. This also applied to medical workers. But proper donning of protective gear was something we learned quickly. We also found ventilating patient rooms helped infection control.

Dr. Z: We also immediately stopped all clinical rotations for medical students. We repeatedly instructed residents to pay strict attention to personal protection procedures. We climbed stairs instead of using the lift. We limited our time in closed spaces. We had one set of clothes, shoes and hat to wear outside. We sprayed our whole body with medical alcohol before going into our room and then immediately took a shower. We cut our hair very short.

BM: Were there any treatments you found ineffective? In the US and Europe people are using chloroquine because they have heard it may help fight the infection.

Dr. X: We used Arbidol (umifenoviran antiviral treatment for influenza used in Russia and China). It didnt help at all and did some liver damage. We also gave lopinavir (antiretroviral of the protease inhibitor class used against HIV) which also caused some liver damage and gave the patients nausea or vomiting. It was also no use. Virazole (also known as ribavirin, used to treat respiratory syncytial virus infections) had no obvious side effects but had no benefit. Steroids didnt seem to have any benefits either but may have decreased patient immunity.

BM: What were your clinical experience with this infection? The age of the patients, how long it took for them to become ill, how deadly was the infection?

Dr. X: For the elderly it was quite devastating. They didnt do well, but we saw all ages. Usually, once a person became exposed, it would take a few days or a week before they developed symptoms. Patients with minimal symptoms were isolated at home and health care workers regularly checked on them. After a week or two, they either recovered or presented to the hospital and were admitted. Around 80 percent of the patients that required intubation diedusually by the fifth day of hospitalization. Sometimes they would stay on longer, but chance of recovery grew worse.

BM: I wanted to conclude by asking your opinions on the global response to this pandemic. What would you like to say to the rest of the worldin Europe, The United States, and Africa and Latin America?

Dr. D: Every government must pay as much as attention as possible to this pandemic. Allocate materials, health care workers to the most needed areas. Close the city, even the country early. Isolate susceptible people early.

Dr. Z: I think its important we work together. After this huge disaster and material shortage, China sent 300 health care workers to support Italy to include medical supplies.

Dr. X: In under-developed countries, their governments need to use their resources in the most efficient manner as possible. They have to protect the general population and if that means closing the cities or countries, they should do it as early as possible. They should educate the population on washing their hands and keeping their houses ventilated. Protect medical workers.

We didnt pay enough attention at the early stage.

BM: I want to thank all of you for participating. I thank you for your work. Please, always, stay safe.

On March 18, 2020, Chinese authorities reported no new infections, achieving a milestone in a pandemic that has now affected more than 200 countries and territories with over one million cases and over 53,000 deaths. The fight against the pandemic is being waged at its new epicenters in Europe and the United States. China has seen its numbers hold under 82,000 cases with over 76,000 people having recovered and 3,318 deaths reported. There are presently 1,863 active cases.

On March 25, the strict lockdown in Hubei province ended when the Hubei Health Commission announced it would relax travel restrictions. However, local authorities are refusing to lift travel bans. Despite Beijings attempt to get people back to work, there are broad concerns and doubts about the governments assurances that the epidemic has been brought under control. On March 28, police in the city of Jiujiang set up a blockade to prevent migrant workers crossing from Hubei. The situation turned violent with footage showing police from Jiujiang and Huangmei confronting each other as well as hundreds of people attacking the police.

Henan province in central China, just north of Hubei, placed Jia county into lockdown on Tuesday affecting 600,000 people. All businesses were shut down, except for essential services like utilities, medical suppliers and logistics. The basis for these measures came after a news outlet reported three new infections on Sunday. A physician named Liu was tested positive on Saturday as well as two colleagues to whom he had passed the infection.
Hawaii Five-O is concluding its 10th season on Friday, April 3 at 9 p.m. The series stars Alex OLoughlin, Scott Caan, Taryn Manning, Masi Oka, Michelle Borth, and Katrina Law.

Heres the information youll need to watch Hawaii Five-O online without cable.

When is 'Hawaii Five-O on?

The final episode of Hawaii Five-O airs on Friday, April 3 at 9 p.m. on CBS. The episode will be preceded by a new episode of MacGyver at 8 p.m., and followed by a new episode of Blue Bloods at 10 p.m.

How to watch Hawaii Five-O without cable

If youre a cord-cutter or dont have cable, you can live stream Hawaii Five-O on any one of the following streaming platforms:

Hulu Live TV

CBS All Access (free trial)

What channel is CBS?

You can use the channel finder on your providers website to locate it: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish.

What is Hawaii Five-O about?

According to the official CBS website: Hawaii Five-0 is a contemporary take on the classic series about an elite federalized task force whose mission is to wipe out the crime that washes up on the islands sun-drenched beaches. Detective Steve McGarrett, a decorated Naval officer turned cop, returned to Oahu after Hawaiis former governor persuaded him to head up the new team: his rules, no red tape and full blanket authority to hunt down the biggest game in town. Joining McGarrett are Detective Danny Danno Williams, a relocated ex-New Jersey cop who is committed to keeping the islands safe for his children; Captain Lou Grover, who formerly headed Hawaiis SWAT unit; Jerry Ortega, the islands local conspiracy theorist; and Tani Rey, a bold, recent police academy graduate. Helping them is Adam Noshimuri, a friend with old ties to a deadly crime family; Junior Reigns, a former SEAL who comes to McGarrett looking for a job; Kamekona, a local entrepreneur who has his pulse on the Island; Sgt. Duke Lukela, a trusted member of the HPD; and medical examiner Dr. Noelani Cunha. The states brash Five-0 unit, who may spar and jest among themselves, remain determined to eliminate the seedy elements from the 50th state.

Heres a look at an overview of Hawaii Five-O as a series, courtesy of the shows official YouTube channel:

Where can I watch other shows like Hawaii Five-O?

There are plenty of other procedural police series with high drama and action similar to "Hawaii Five-O. Look for them on some of the following streaming platforms:

Hulu Live TV

CBS All Access (free trial)

Related stories about Hawaii Five-O

Here are some additional stories and articles about Hawaii Five-O, including a look at the cast discussing the end of the long-running series:

Peter M. Lenkov on Why Hawaii Five-0 Is Ending, Who Was/Wasnt Leaving, and How Series Finale Checks Every Box

Hawaii Five-O says Aloha after 10 seasons with its series finale

The Final Season: Hawaii Five-0s Ian Anthony Dale Reveals Emotional Behind-the-Scenes Farewell

Joseph Rejent may be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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[April 03, 2020] COVID-19 Telemedicine Consults Surge 120%, Non-COVID Demand Levels Off for First Stop Health

CHICAGO, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- During this past week, total telemedicine patient consults at First Stop Health were up 57% over pre-COVID-19 levels, a 40% decrease from the prior week. However, First Stop Health has experienced a 120% increase in the past week for telemedicine patients with COVID-19 issues. Patients continue to get speedy access to First Stop Health doctors with an average response time of less than nine minutes. First Stop Health believes that this decline can be attributed to several factors: Shelter-in-place rules have reduced overall exposure to all contagious diseases

The entry of traditional brick-and-mortar medical facilities into telemedicine in part due to temporarily more lax regulations

Seasonal declines in non-COVID-19 conditions such as colds and flu First Stop Health is helping keep people away from medical waiting rooms and providing much-needed advice to anxious patients on how to operate in the presence of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus.









COVID-19

Visits* Non-COVID-19

Visits* Visit Increase

Since March 9 Median Doctor

Response Time March 9 1% 99% -- <6 minutes March 16 9% 91% 78% <15 minutes March 23 9% 91% 92% <11 minutes March 30 20% 80% 57% <9 minutes

*Percentage of telemedicine visits According to the CDC, COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have increased more than 270% in the past week. "People are worried about their health, and our doctors are helping screen patients for coronavirus symptoms," said Mark Friedman, MD, FACEP, FACP, chief medical officer at First Stop Health. "We want patients to contact us first instead of risking COVID-19 exposure at their doctor's office, urgent care or local ER." First Stop Health doctors follow CDC guidelines when screening patients. "If a patient presents to an FSH doctor with fever, cough and, in serious cases, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, the doctor will assess whether or not the patient meets the criteria for a 'patient under investigation' or PUI," said Friedman. If the patient does not meet the criteria, the doctor treats whatever they believe the illness to be. If the patient does meet the criteria: The doctor advises the patient to remain in respiratory isolation until symptom-free for 72 hours.

If the patient is experiencing mild symptoms, the doctor will advise against seeking in-person care. If the patient is having difficulty breathing or is in respiratory distress, the doctor advises the patient to dial 911 and let the dispatcher know that they may have COVID-19.

First Stop Health will provide information to the patient on how to contact their local health authorities. Learn more by visiting fshealth.com/coronavirus. About First Stop Health First Stop Health provides care that people love. Patients can talk with doctors 24/7 via mobile app, website or phone. We help them save time and money with convenient, high-quality care. Our Telemedicine services are only available as an employee benefit program from employers. Contact

Nick Severino | VP, Marketing

888-691-7867 x-410 | [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/covid-19-telemedicine-consults-surge-120-non-covid-demand-levels-off-for-first-stop-health-301034668.html SOURCE First Stop Health

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Embattled travel software firm Datalex is introducing a redundancy programme and temporarily cutting working hours for all employees in a bid to reduce the financial impact of the coronavirus.

The software company's main platform helps customers, mainly airlines, boost sales of ancillary items to passengers.

In a trading update yesterday Datalex said it expects the coronavirus to have a "significant impact" on its revenues this year.

It is "difficult" to accurately quantify the likely impact of Covid-19 on its financial and trading performance at this stage, the company said.

Datalex added that the travel restrictions imposed to control the continuing spread of the deadly virus are having "a significant and negative impact on our airline customers".

In order to protect its balance sheet the company is also re-negotiating business partner arrangements, eliminating discretionary spending, and implementing a recruitment freeze.

"The board believes that these actions, together with the support of our customers and ongoing flexibility from our business partners, mean that the group is well positioned to withstand the impact of Covid-19 and to look to the future following the pandemic with confidence," Datalex said.

About 100 people lost their jobs at Datalex last year as a result of accounting irregularities that were unearthed.

It emerged the firm had materially misstated its first-half results for 2018 after a huge over-run on costs.

Its then chief executive, Aidan Brogan resigned, as did long-time chairman Paschal Taggart. Datalex appointed Sean Corkery as chief executive last year in a bid to staunch the crisis.

In September Datalex revealed plans to raise a total of up to $10m (9m) from investors including billionaire Dermot Desmond to keep the firm afloat after it posted a $50m loss for 2018.
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Donald Trump has spent weeks blaming states for his failed response to the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo blew a hole in that strategy on Thursday.

During an interview with MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, Cuomo compared Trumps blame game to George W. Bushs attempt to pass the buck to the mayor of New Orleans after the bungled federal response to Hurricane Katrina.

If the localities cant handle it, then the federal government steps in, the New York governor said, explaining to Trump how government works. No state is equipped to handle this situation.

States dont do public health emergencies, he added. There is no capacity in my state health system that runs at 50,000 beds to create and maintain an additional 50,000 beds just in case, once every 20 years, there is a pandemic.

Video:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo explains to Donald Trump how public health emergency responses are supposed to work. #ctl #p2 #maddow pic.twitter.com/H4e9PbDBmx  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) April 3, 2020

Gov. Cuomo said:

If the localities cant handle it, then the federal government steps in. Remember what happened with President Bush with Hurricane Katrina. He blamed the mayor. Why? Because that was rule one. The mayor didnt know how to handle it, and its the mayors fault. Yeah, but it was rule two which is if its beyond the capacity of the local government, then the federal government should step in. No state is equipped to handle this situation. State emergency management does hurricanes, floods, of moderate dimension, if they are really big, the federal government comes in, thats what FEMA is all about. States dont do public health emergencies. There is no capacity in my state health system that runs at 50,000 beds to create and maintain an additional 50,000 beds just in case, once every 20 years, there is a pandemic. You know, it doesnt work that way. But thats where we are now. Hindsight is 20/20.

Trump is looking to blame anybody but himself

After months of this virus spreading across the globe, its nothing short of incredible that Donald Trump still looks at this pandemic as a state and local issue.

Earlier on Thursday, he even said the federal government is basically supposed to play a back-up role in these types of emergencies. Spoken like a true wartime president.

At the end of the day, Donald Trump knows  like George W. Bush did in 2005  that his incompetence has led to thousands of dead Americans.

Hes looking to blame anybody but himself.

Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter
Jessica Alba, appearing Thursday on a stream on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, spoke about her efforts to help people in need with her business, The Honest Company, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread globally.

The mom-of-three - to daughters Honor, 11, and Haven, eight, and son Hayes, two, with husband Cash Warren, 41 - said that the company, which sells health and wellness products, has made sure to step up its philanthropic efforts as citywide shutdowns and panic shopping makes many of her items scarce at retail stores.

'With The Honest Company ... we've donated three million diapers' in addition to thousands of 'personal care products because there's so many families now' in need, the Pomona, California native told Fallon in the appearance.

Scroll down for video

Focused: Jessica Alba, 38, appearing on a stream on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, spoke about her efforts to help people in need with her business, The Honest Company , as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread globally

The Dear Eleanor actress also noted the massive economic impact of the virus, which has left many in short supply of money and goods amid an international health crisis.

'That is the number one need for families right now who are living in poverty, but also families who are out of work,' she said. 'They have to choose between diapers and a meal and they shouldn't have to.'

Alba told Fallon that many customers have reached out to her with gratitude, as her company has been a dependable source for items in scare supply at retail, such as sanitizers, wipes and shampoos.

Alba said that social distancing is also a priority in delivering her company's goods to the public.

Couple: Alba's husband Cash Warren, 41, made a cameo on the stream

Keeping it together: Alba told Fallon that many customers have reached out to her with gratitude, as her company has been a dependable source for items in scare supply at retail, such as sanitizers, wipes and shampoos

'We have a very rigorous way that we deliver to people and we make sure that it's safe and that the workers are safe,' she said.

Alba is fundraising via Honest amid the troubled times. The international pandemic has impacted a number of celebrities, as Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Idris Elba, Andy Cohen and Prince Charles are among the notable names who have tested positive.

As of Thursday, the death total for COVID-19 - declared a public health emergency by World Health Organization - had soared to 5,862 people in the U.S., The COVID Tracking Project reported, with 241,734 total positive diagnoses.

For a good cause: Fallon implored viewers to donate to Jessica's charity efforts
New Delhi, April 3 : The Delhi government on Friday launched a COVID-19 helpline chatbot to provide updated information on coronavirus in the city.

Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the helpline chatbot -- 8800007722, where people can get all information related to coronavirus.

"The Delhi government is issuing a WhatsApp number today, which will provide you with all information related to corona. You have to send a Hi to this number on WhatsApp, and a Menu will appear before you", the Chief Minister said.

He also added that the information on hunger relief centres, COVID-19 symptoms, measures taken by the Delhi government to deal with the pandemic and all other information can be gathered from this number.

So far, 384 people have been tested positive for the coronavirus positive in Delhi.
Anita Arthur and daughter, Brielle Ivory Naa Koshie Lamptey, one day old, at Howard County General Hospital. This photo was taken remotely in order to practice physical distancing and conserve protective equipment.

Posted April 3, 2020 | Written by Karen Nitkin

A lot has changed since Anita Arthur was admitted to Howard County General Hospital on Feb. 20, sick with a seasonal flu that was taking a dangerous toll on her and her unborn baby.

She wasnt yet a mother, and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 still seemed far away, with just a few diagnosed cases in the United States and none in Maryland.

Five weeks later, Arthur and husband Bright Lamptey drove home to Laurel with their healthy daughter, Brielle Ivory Naa Koshie Lamptey. Their baby, nicknamed Naa, weighed just 4 pounds, 14 ounces when she was born at 36 weeks.

Shes a tough lady, says her mother, noting that, in her native Ghana, Naa Koshie means the first girl child of the family and Naa means queen.

Thrilled as they are to welcome their firstborn child, the couples happiness is tinged with worry.

Their little girl was born into a world defined by a global pandemic that is changing the way people live and die. On Naas birthday, March 18, Maryland recorded its first COVID-19 death. Schools, bars, restaurants and other public spaces had closed, and residents were getting used to staying at least 6 feet away from each other.

Im excited, and at the same time Im scared, says Arthur, 39, a research nurse with the National Institutes of Health.

You want your loved ones to come around, she says. But because of physical distancing rules to slow infection rates, family and friends cant visit. It breaks your heart to restrict people from sharing in your joy.

Naa and her fellow babies dont care about COVID-19. They just keep being born, at the same rates as always.

The week little Naa came into the world, 55 other babies were delivered at Howard County General Hospital. About 40 were born at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 70 at Sibley Memorial Hospital and 25 in the maternity ward of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Literally, life is going on despite all of this, says Nickie Matters, nurse manager for labor and delivery at Howard County General Hospital. To celebrate the birth of Naa, the nurses surprised Arthur with a cookie cake and balloons  just as they always do for patients who stay for several weeks.

New Rules in the Happiest of Hospital Wards

Across Johns Hopkins, the virus is bringing changes to this happiest of hospital wards.

Its adding a lot of anxiety for women who are pregnant, says Cynthia Argani, director of labor and delivery at Johns Hopkins Bayview.

As the first cases of pregnant women with COVID-19 trickle in, Johns Hopkins is ready.

All Johns Hopkins patients are now screened for fever, cough and other signs they may be infected. Plans are in place to isolate pregnant women who are suspected of, or have, COVID-19 and need hospitalization either because of the virus or to deliver their babies.

Its not yet known if babies can acquire the coronavirus in utero, Argani says. Protocol calls for separating a newborn from an infected mother after delivery. A mother with COVID-19 may pump breast milk for her new baby, although nursing is not allowed.

Healthy mothers-to-be are also seeing change.

A new rule limits Johns Hopkins hospital patients to a single visitor, even during labor and delivery, which can take hours or even days.

Normal pregnancy checkups are now spaced further apart, and conducted by telemedicine when appropriate.

In general, pregnant women dont want to come to the hospital because of the virus, and we support them in that, says Argani. If youre early in your pregnancy and we normally see you every four weeks, well space you at six to eight weeks.

As for Arthur, she is adhering to physical distancing rules that were enacted while she was in the hospital. But after five weeks of bedrest, she is enjoying more freedom now that she is home with her husband and baby.

It was a challenge to stay in bed the whole time, she says of her hospital stay. But you have to make the best of the situation and stay positive.

Shes bringing that attitude to her new role as a mother in a frightening time.
Joe Exotic, the main figure in the recently released Netflix true-crime series, "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness," has named an actor he wants to play him in any future film adaptation.

Talking to The Hollywood Reporter about the now incarcerated Exotic (whose real name is Joe Maldonado-Passage), the creators of "Tiger King" Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin has revealed that the former zoo keeper had previously shared his casting preferences for a hypothetical biopic, without realizing that there was already a Joe Exotic limited TV series in active development.

"He would like Brad Pitt or David Spade to play him. He doesn't refer to David Spade as David Spade - he refers to his as 'Joe Dirt.'"

While Pitt and Exotic don't seem to look the same in the appearance department, Brad Pitt has always displayed some Exotic-esqueroles in different films, such as "12 Monkeys" and "Burn After Reading."

The 56-year-old actor could even be game to do the gig for "Tiger King" because he's "a little obsessed with comedy right now," he told Variety in January.

David Spade, on the other hand, is also the same age as Exotic. On his talk show "Lights Out with David Spade," he was able to talk to the original "Tiger King" crew members such as John Reinke and Kelci "Saff" Saffery.

Though Exotic hasn't seen the seven-part docu-series yet, he is aware of his newfound fame and loving it.

Chaiklin revealed, "He's been cut off from phones, but Joe is somebody who has always wanted to be a star, and so he's very excited for this to have captured people's attention the way it did."

His husband Dillon Passage told Andy Cohen in an interview that Exotic was happy to get loads of email from fans.

"He's in jail, so he can't necessarily watch it, but once the show dropped he was getting hundreds and hundreds of emails to his jail mail, and he was ecstatic."

Despite the success of the Netflix series, both Goode and Chaiklin wanted viewers of the series to know that Exotic did a lot of horrible things.

"Joe committed some really serious crimes and Joe was not only cruel and inhumane to his animals, he was cruel to people around him."

As per Chaiklin, Maldonado-Passage is also placed in self-isolated in a Texas prison after a couple of inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, Goode confirmed that Exotic has not tested positive for the COVID-19.

Joe Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being convicted of murder-for-hire in an attempt to kill Big Cat Rescue CEO Carole Baskin, and wildlife violations including the killing of five tigers, as per The Washington post.

He has recently filed a $78 million lawsuit against the Department of Interior and the US Federal Wildlife Service for placing the generic tiger on the "endangered species list," according to TMZ.

Joe Exotic also claims that the US government did this in order to hurt big cat owners financially, so he's suing for an additional $15 million regarding the various criminal charges against him.

News of his lawsuit is still pending because of the coronavirus.

READ MORE: Joe Exotic More Criminal and Fake Than Netflix 'Tiger King' Portrayal, Jeff Lowe Says
Some people are stunned that government using computer models to predict high coronavirus deaths has many Americans willing to gift Democrats and fake news media their lifelong dream of ending the U.S. Constitution. Panic-stricken citizens want everyone non-compliant with immediate dictatorial government demands thrown into jail.

Consequently, Democrats are behaving like power-drunk pirates, raping and pillaging our God-given and constitutional freedoms. Incredibly, New York mayor de Blasio has threatened to close places of worship forever. Virginia governor (supreme dictator) Northam decreed that residents stay at home until June 10, after the June 9 Republican primary.

Despite practicing CDC guidelines, a pastor was arrested for opening his church while the nearby Home Depot was packed with people. Planned Parenthood dead-baby-body-parts-chop-shops deemed essential are allowed to remain open.

Across America, thousands of inmates are being released from prison because of the coronavirus. Disease-infested tent city vagrants ignore corona restrictions while violators of stay-at-home orders are arrested. Democrats always handle illegal aliens, criminals, and those who are irresponsible with velvet gloves while bludgeoning law-abiding citizens with an iron fist.

Drunk with corona-power, Barack Obama, Andrew Cuomo, and Nancy Pelosi are exploiting the virus to pressure Trump to fund a laundry list of unrelated extreme leftist pet projects.

The big question that concerns many is, will our constitutional rights be restored after corona? Can the Democrat/Deep State evil genie be put back into the bottle? Will President Trump betray us by rubber-stamping the Deep State's illegal, extreme power-grab-as the "new normal"?

I think not. Trump is not one of them. He is one of us.

Candidate Trump was a non-ideological "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" kind of guy, expecting bipartisan support to do whatever is best for America and We the People. His agenda has not changed. President Trump will fight to restore our God-given and constitutional freedoms.

Like you, I did not enjoy hearing that America will not reopen before April 30. However, I understand the situation. Fear is a powerful thing. Due to 24/7 apocalyptic coronavirus reporting, fake news media pretty much hold the emotions of millions of Americans in the palm of their sleazy, evil, anti-Trump hand.

Wisely, Trump is allowing another month for Americans to become fed up with house arrest and realize that computer models are not gospel and the sky is not falling. We are Americans. We overcome everything. God is with us.

Due to the extreme unprecedented situation, I am fine with the $2-trillion bailout. The American people did not irresponsibly put themselves into this predicament. We give billions to countries and people who hate our guts. Why not lend a hand to our own?

Democrats are salivating over the possibility of the bailout being the first taste of addicting Americans to the deceptive unfulfilling drug of socialism/communism. Because of who Trump is and who we are, America will not become a socialist/communist country.

Treasonous fake news media coronavirus reporting is intended to generate fear, panic, and hatred for Trump. Fake news media tried to shame "My Pillow Guy" Mike Lindell for expressing his faith in God during a White House briefing. A majority of Americans respect and appreciate our patriot brother Mike for his contribution to fight the virus. We are a Christian nation. God promises that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

Folks, I do not fear the coronavirus, nor the loss of America as we know it.

Some will say, Lloyd, you're an idiot for not worrying. Alcoholics Anonymous warns against imagining, when something negative happens, that it will cause a chain reaction of other negative things to happen. Suddenly, that person is foolishly jumping off a bridge based solely on his imagined coming catastrophe. The Bible says worrying about something you cannot change is unwise.

"Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path" (Proverbs 3:56). Please do not misunderstand me. Trusting God does not mean we should passively allow out-of-control fear to flush our economy down the toilet. President Trump must get Americans back to work ASAP.

Meanwhile, my wife Mary and I are frequently washing our hands, using sanitizer, limiting our shopping, and catching up on long overdue projects around our house. After much research on YouTube, I painted our bedroom dark gray. It looks awesome!

Romans 8:28 promises that as Christians, God is working all things for our good. So I feel great, enjoying my lovely wife of 40 years and enjoying my creative projects.

Our hope for a greater, stronger and restored America rest in trusting God and our president.

Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American

Help Lloyd Spread the Truth

https://www.trumptrainusa2020.com/

http://LloydMarcus.com
New Jerseys tally of coronavirus cases increased on Thursday to 25,590 people infected while the death toll jumped to 537, another day of surging numbers for the state.

Officials said there were 182 new deaths  by far the states largest one-day spike  and 3,489 new positive tests over the last 24 hours.

New positive test data is 7-10 days old, the governor said. So when we tell you about new positives today, those are tests that are at least a week old. Just keep that in mind.  NJ.com (@njdotcom) April 2, 2020

We have lost another 182 members of our New Jersey family, Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters at his daily coronavirus press briefing. Our prayers and thoughts and sympathies go out to their family and friends.

Heres a roundup of coronavirus news:

Worldwide coronavirus cases top 1 million: The number of worldwide cases of the coronavirus reached more than 1 million on Thursday, according to reports from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

See inside the first coronavirus field hospital being set up in N.J.: New Jersey is preparing to open its first pop-up field hospital to help take the load off of hospitals flooded with patients. The facility at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus was expected to open sometime next week.

N.J. State Police now has power to commandeer medical equipment, supplies for coronavirus fight: State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan now has the authority to commandeer much-needed medical supplies and equipment from companies and people in New Jersey that have not donated it to health-care facilities, under an executive order Gov. Phil Murphy said he signed Thursday.

I hope Pat doesnt have to use this authority, the governor said during his daily coronavirus press briefing. I hope people step forward and do the right thing.

Amazon, Whole Foods employees to get masks, temperature checks: Amazon announced Thursday it will give face masks and temperature checks to all employees at U.S. and European warehouses and Whole Foods stores, by early next week to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

N.J.-based lab company Quest had huge backlog of coronavirus tests, report says: New Jersey-based commercial lab giant Quest Diagnostics had thousands of coronavirus test orders waiting to be completed, leading to days of delays, CNN reported.

Rutgers campus will stay closed until August with summer classes online: Rutgers University said it will hold summer classes online and cancel all camps and activities through mid-August in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The university on Thursday announced the cancellation of all other events until Aug. 14 at its New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses.

N.J. coronavirus deaths increase to 537 with 25,590 total cases. More than 3K new cases confirmed: State officials reported 182 new deaths and 3,489 new positive tests in the last 24 hours on Thursday.

3 more Ocean County beaches closing this week as coronavirus cases mount: Point Pleasant Beach, Mantoloking and Bay Head collectively decided to close their beaches as the number of coronavirus cases in Ocean County continued to mount this month.

Coronavirus cases in the United States: There were 238,820 cases reported in the country as of Thursday afternoon, according to information from the the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The center logged 5,758 deaths nationwide.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Anthony Attrino, Nicolette Accardi, Adam Clark, Brent Johnson, Jeff Goldman and Chris Sheldon contributed to this report.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Hong Kong: Health rules for truck drivers

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today noted that starting April 10, all cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers entering Shenzhen via its ports will need to present the i Shenzhen health certification code.

They should also present proof of a negative result for a nucleic acid test conducted within the previous seven days to Shenzhen customs officers for examination before entering the city.

The Shenzhen Municipal Government introduced the new requirement to strengthen the measures against COVID-19, and further protect the health and safety of Shenzhen and Hong Kong residents and cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers.

Cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers can also pay to undergo a nucleic acid test either at the qualified medical institutions in Shenzhen and Hong Kong or on site at the Shenzhen ports.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to maintain close contact with the Shenzhen authorities and the trade, to ensure the normal operation of cross-boundary freight logistics.

This story has been published on: 2020-04-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:00:00|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A number of countries have been taking actions to reduce overcrowding in prisons so as to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, a UN human rights official said here Friday.

At a virtual press briefing, Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, cited the example of Iran, saying it has increased the number of prisoners it is releasing, at least on a temporary basis, to around 100,000 prisoners.

Indonesia announced it would be releasing some 30,000 prisoners convicted of minor crimes, the UN official said, adding that Turkey is similarly considering releasing a large number of inmates.

"Other countries have also been announcing prisoner releases of varying numbers, including of specific at-risk groups such as pregnant women, people with disabilities, elderly prisoners, those who are sick, minor and low-risk offenders, people nearing the end of their sentences and others who can safely be reintegrated into society," the spokesperson said.

"We continue to urge all countries to review who is being held and to take measures as soon as possible to ensure the physical distancing necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 becomes feasible," he added.

However, the UN official stressed with respect to people fairly convicted of serious crimes or prisoners who might pose serious risk to others, they should only exceptionally be considered for temporary release from custody during the course of the pandemic.
A man accused of helping to dispose of a 'brilliant' jazz trumpeter's body appeared in court today as it was revealed the 53-year-old victim was stabbed 20 times before his arms and legs were removed.

Police found William Algars head and torso wrapped up in sheets with both his arms and legs missing.

Mr Algars dismembered body was discovered at a house in Nowell Road, Barnes, west London, on January 3 after he went missing the previous month.

William Algar (pictured), 53, a musician whose remains were found at an address in Nowell Road, Barnes, west London on January 3 after he went missing in December

Mr Algar, above, was known to friends and family as Blaise. Speaking after his death, his relatives described him as 'an incredibly talented musician and a gentle man'

The cause of death was identified as a stab wound to the chest following a post-mortem examination at Kingston mortuary on 5 January.

Mark Harding, 44, is charged with perverting the course of justice, between 16 and 20 December 2019, along with Emeka Dawuda-Wodu, 18, and Simon Emmons, 39.

Dawuda-Wodu and Emmons were not present for the hearing today while Harding appeared at the Old Bailey via prison video link wearing a black top and was not arraigned.

The charge alleges they did a series of acts, namely assist with the disposal and burial of William Algars body, which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice.

Prosecutor Peter Ratliffe earlier said: This case concerns the discovery by police, on 3 January this year, of a dismembered and decomposing body in a premises in Barnes.

The Crowns case is that the deceased was a vulnerable man with long-standing mental health issues and drug addiction. He was last seen in mid-December.

Police presence outside the house in Barnes after officers discovered remains at the address.

The premises when searched was found to contain high volume of blood stains which there had been an attempt to clean.

The body itself was wrapped up in a sheet noughted twice. Both of his arms and both of his legs had been removed. They have never been recovered.

The torso and head remained. The fatal injury was an eight cm deep stab wound to the chest which penetrated the heart.'

He added: There were a further 20 stab wounds to available body of the deceased and a large area of damage to the scalp consistent with knife tip chopping down on the skull.

Analysis of the joints to which the dismembered limbs should have been attached suggest not a saw but similar tools will have been used and considerable force.

The evidence suggest that the deceased property had been occupied by drug dealers in the summer, in the practice often referred to as cuckooing.

Police forensics teams enter a tent at the house in Barnes following the discovery in January. Today, Harding was remanded in custody and the hearing was adjourned until 17 April

Harding from Isleworth, Hounslow, and Dawuda-Wodu and Emmons, both of no fixed address, are charged with perverting the course of justice.

Mr Algar was known to friends and family as Blaise and speaking after his death his grieving relatives said in a tribute: We are utterly horrified to lose our son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend in such tragic circumstances.

William Algar, also known as Blaise, was an incredibly talented musician and a gentle man. He was a brilliant jazz trumpeter and his playing brought joy to so many people.

He was also a very vulnerable man.

We hope that someone, anyone, can provide vital information to ensure those responsible for his death are brought to justice as swiftly as possible.

Harding was remanded in custody and the hearing was adjourned until 17 April.
STORY LINK Euro to US Dollar Exchange Rate Falls as Eurozone Composite PMI Contracts

EUR/USD Exchange Rate Sinks as Eurozone Economic Outlook Darkens

US Dollar (USD) Rises Despite Record Levels of Unemployment

EUR/USD Forecast: Greenback to Benefit from Rising Safe-Haven Demand

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The Euro to US Dollar (EUR/USD) exchange rate fell by -0.4% today after Marchs Eurozone composite PMI report fell deeper into contraction territory than previously forecast, with the figure falling from 31.4 to 29.7. The pairing is currently trading around $1.07.Chris Williamson, the Chief Business Economist at HIS Markit, was downbeat in his assessment, and painted a bleak picture of the Eurozones economy going forward:No countries are escaping the severe downturn in business activity, but the especially steep decline in of Italys service sector PMI to just 17.4 likely gives a taste of things to come for other countries as closures and lockdowns become more prevalent and more strictly enforced in coming months.However, the ultimate economic cost of the COVID-19 outbreak cannot be accurately estimated until we get more clarity on the duration and scale of the pandemic.Meanwhile, divisions within the Euro-area are continuing to grow over coronabonds, a joint mutualised bond to aid countries particularly affected by the coronavirus, such as Italy and Spain.Consequently, the Euro has fallen against the stronger US Dollar on fears that the EUs unity could be threatened by the Covid-19 pandemic.The US Dollar (USD) continued to edge higher against the Euro (EUR) despite a record number of Americans  6.6 million  filing for unemployment last week.Michelle Meyer, head of U.S. economics at Bank of America, commented:These are numbers that are way out of the range that we have seen. During the financial crisis, we were seeing a peak of about 650,000 [first-time applications] a week.Today also saw the release of the March US Nonfarm Payrolls report for March, which plummeted to a worse-than-expected -701,000 despite estimates of a mere -100,000 drop.US unemployment data also rocketed up from record lows of 3.5% to 4.4%, leaving many Greenback investors concerned about the American economy in the weeks ahead.Meanwhile, Morgan Stanleys team of economists have predicted that the US economy could drop by as much as -38% in the second quarter.Morgan Stanley analysts said in their statement:We expect the U.S. economic recovery will be more drawn-out than previously anticipated, marked by a deeper drop into recession and slower climb out.The USD/EUR exchange rate has, however, continued to benefit from safe-haven demand, with investors shunning risky assets in favour of the relatively secure Greenback.Euro (EUR) investors will be looking ahead to Mondays release of Februarys German Factory Orders report. However, any further bad news regarding Germanys manufacturing sector could push the EUR/USD exchange rate downwards.The US Dollar (USD) will likely hold onto its gains early into next week as markets prepare for yet another week of coronavirus developments. With the global economy continuing to teeter towards recession, we could see safe-haven demand boost the Greenback higher.The EUR/USD exchange rate will also continue to fall if there are any further signs of discord within the European Union over its fiscal practices. However, these could be relieved be an easing number of coronavirus cases in countries like Spain and Italy.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 20:19:08|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Mao Pengfei

PHNOM PENH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- As neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are tightly interlocked and closely working together in the face of COVID-19.

"United we stand, divided we fall," says a Cambodian proverb. ASEAN countries have been standing firmly with China from the very beginning of the viral outbreak.

When China was facing its most difficult time in fighting the epidemic, ASEAN member states donated money and anti-epidemic materials to China; leaders of ASEAN countries expressed, through letters, phone calls and visits, their sympathies to China and their resolve to jointly defeat COVID-19.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen paid a special visit to Beijing on Feb. 5, which, as Chinese President Xi Jinping put it, demonstrated the unbreakable friendship and mutual trust between the two countries and showcased the essence of building a community with a shared future.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. After China made it through the most difficult period, it rushed to the aid of others, including its neighbors, as the pandemic spread to ASEAN member states, with total confirmed cases now exceeding 10,000.

By offering necessary medical supplies, sharing anti-epidemic experience and dispatching expert teams, China is repaying the kindness and support of its ASEAN friends.

Chinese medical experts have arrived in Cambodia and Laos to fight side by side with local medical teams. Chinese donations of test kits, masks and protective suits, among other medical supplies, have kept flowing into the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand.

The two sides also held the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease, exploring ways to cope with the epidemic, and delivering a signal to the world that China and ASEAN would join hands to fight the disease, safeguard the health of all countries and promote regional health security.

The joint fight against COVID-19 bonds China and ASEAN closer together, fostering a stronger synergy in building a community of common health.

COVID-19 represents a common challenge for all countries. As Xi pointed out, viruses know no national boundaries or races, and only by working together can mankind win the battle against them.
Ever since the breakout of COVID-19 pandemic, wearing face masks and washing hands were identified as a means of prevention from it. While washing hands is easily achieved, the same can't be said for access to face masks purely because people have been hoarding them. Even medical stores have run out of them. But since necessity is the mother of invention, people quickly found ways to replace them with homemade versions. Here are a few of them.




SpaceX began testing its newest prototype of a massive Starship vehicle in Texas overnight, and video footage suggests that process did not go smoothly.

Starship is the company's massive spacecraft designed to colonize Mars and tackle other heavy-lift deep-space missions. For about a year now, SpaceX has been building and testing various prototypes of the vehicle, including a miniature Starhopper that flew in August 2019. The latest version, dubbed SN3 (short for Serial No. 3) was scheduled to undergo a series of tests culminating in short, "hopping" flights. But something went wrong in an early test conducted yesterday (April 2).

"We will see what data review says in the morning, but this may have been a test configuration mistake," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a post on Twitter .

"Some valves leaked at cryo temp. Fixing & will retest soon," Musk added in a follow-up tweet .

Video: Watch SpaceX's Starship SN3 collapse during pressure test

More: SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy rocket in pictures

Video of the SpaceX's SN3 test captured by Spadre.com and NASASpaceflight.com showed the vehicle's pressure test failure from different angles.

The test, a cryogenic pressure test, was intended to demonstrate that SN3 could withstand the high pressure of very cold fuel that such a vehicle will need to endure before flights. In another tweet , Musk said that SN3 had passed an ambient temperature test the night prior to the failed cryogenic pressure test.

The cryogenic pressure test would have been followed by a static fire , during which the vehicle's engines would have briefly lit while SN3 was held in place, and a hopping test, when SN3 would have made the first flight of a full-size Starship prototype.

SpaceX's Starship SN3 prototype collapses during cryogenic pressure test on April 3, 2020 at the company's Boca Chica, Texas facility. (Image credit: SPadre.com

Instead, the video footage taken near SpaceX's Starship hub in Boca Chica, Texas, appears to show SN3 collapse under pressure.

SN3 is the third SpaceX Starship prototype to be lost during testing. The company's first Starship Mk1 was destroyed during a failed pressure test in November 2019. Its successor, the Starship SN1 (or Serial Number 1), was lost in a pressure test in Feb. 28 of this year. A subsequent prototype, called Starship SN2, successfully passed the same pressure test on March 8. Each iteration of Starship has included tweaks and improvements over its predecessor.

The Starship SN3's failed test means that the company will presumably move on to SN4 as it continues to sort out design issues. Musk had previously said he wanted to see that vehicle reach as high as 12 miles (20 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

SpaceX has been pushing hard on Starship development in recent months despite the test failures. The spacecraft (and a planned megabooster called Super Heavy) form the core of SpaceX's plan for deep-space missions to the moon, as well as for Mars colonization.

We will see what data review says in the morning, but this may have been a test configuration mistakeApril 3, 2020 See more

During a recent Falcon 9 rocket launch carrying 60 Starlink internet satellites las month, SpaceX put out a call for welders and other professionals to join the company's push to build new Starships. Musk also held a career day in February at the Boca Chica site to interview new workers.

Earlier this week, SpaceX unveiled a users' guide for Starship describing the different payloads and missions, crewed and uncrewed, it could fly for customers.

SpaceX has already signed one customer for a Starship flight. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has booked a trip around the moon on the spacecraft, with a target launch date of 2023.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

Some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); Friends of the Nation, Center for Public Interest Law, and Natural Resource Governance Institute have joined calls urging government not to use the Heritage Fund to combat the novel coronavirus in Ghana.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta while addressing Parliament on the economic impact of COVID-19 on the country called for the amendment of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) to allow the government to utilize portions of the Heritage Fund to combat the Coronavirus outbreak.

He also sought the support of Parliament to amend the relevant laws to lower the cap of the Stabilisation Fund from US$300 million to US$100 million to enable the government scoop the excess funds to bridge the gap created by the economic impact of the pandemic.

These suggestions from the Minister has since sparked up many discussions, with some individuals and groups disagreeing to the move or not.

The three CSOs, in a statement, expressed worry with these radical proposals which, if carried through, would have serious implications on petroleum revenue management in particular and fiscal governance in general during and post the pandemic.

Giving reasons for this assertion, they said that the usage of the Heritage Fund should not be welcomed at all because the PRMA makes provision for excess resources to be deposited into the contingency fund. However, adherence to this requirement has often been problematic as observed by many CSOs.

If this were adhered to, the proposal to use the Heritage Fund which is meant to be an intergenerational investment for when Ghana's oil resources are depleted to mitigate economic impact of COVID-19 would not be necessary. It is important going forward to streamline this and ensure that this is enforced in the long-term. In the short term and within the remit of the exigency, we expect any crude price appreciation and subsequent revenues to be distributed in ways that would not constrain the contingency fund, the statement added.

The group further suggested that As the government seeks rapid financial facilities from the World Bank (GHS 1,716 million) and the IMF (GHS3,145 million), we expect that the processes for contracting and utilization of these funds be transparent and must prioritize the poor, vulnerable businesses in the informal sector, primary health care providers and especially target women and Persons with Disability. We further support expanding the LEAP programme to cushion the impact on extremely poor people.

---citinewsroom
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Telangana High Court on Friday will hear a PIL complaining about the lack of proper 14-day quarantine to international passengers who returned to the State between February 1 and March 25.

The petition, filed by Prof PL Vishweshwar Rao and Dr Cheruku Sudhakar from Nalgonda, also highlighted the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors and paramedics.

The petitioners complained about the lack of essential commodities at reasonable prices to people, particularly to inter-State migrant labourers and hostel students, during the lockdown. They also pointed out the governments laxity over providing minimum funds to unorganised labourers, homeless, street children, orphans and the destitute who do not have white ration cards.

The PIL stated that the number of Covid-19 positive cases and deaths increased due to the governments failure to provide better medical treatment and facilities to international flyers.

It urged the court to direct the government either to manufacture or import large scale diagnostic kits, PPE, N-95 masks and ventilators to protect the lives of doctors, paramedics and the public. The secretary to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, State chief secretary, principal secretaries to Medical, Health, Finance, Civil Supplies, Labour and others concerned were named as respondents.
A woman on Friday allegedly attacked an on-duty Telangana policeman who had stopped her at a checkpost here.

According to police, the woman was riding a bike along with two others, when they were flagged down at the Lalapet checkpost for violating lockdown rules put in place in the wake of spread of coronavirus.

While a police man was handing out traffic challan, the woman entered into an argument with the official and was also seen grabbing his collar.

Speaking to ANI over the phone, ACP Malkajgiri said: "Three people were travelling on a single bike. Officials at Lalapet checkpost stopped them as they were violating the lockdown rules. While a challan was being issued, the woman and her boyfriend argued with the police officer and shook his collar. A case has been registered. Further investigation is underway."

There has been reports of incidents of attacks on doctors, policemen, health officials from several parts of the country amid the lockdown due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Earlier today in the capital Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Home Ministry told a press briefing that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has written to State governments to take strict action in cases of attack on healthcare and frontline workers and ensure the security to the medical fraternity.

She said two more helplines 1930 (all India toll-free number) and 1944 (dedicated to the Northeast) have been introduced for such complaints.

Recently an FIR was registered against six persons from Tablighi Jamaat who were in quarantine at a Ghaziabad Hospital for misbehaving with the hospital staff. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday invoked the Security Act (NSA) against them, terming them as "enemies of humanity."

In another case three persons were arrested in Aligarh on charges of pelting stones at a police team in the Bannadevi area of the city.

In Indore city police on Thursday said that seven people had been arrested in connection with pelting stones at health workers who had gone to screen people for COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At long last, Meghan Markle is making her return to the small screen. This time around, however, she had a little help from Prince Harry.

As previously reported, the new Disney documentary, Elephant, that the 38-year-old Duchess of Sussex lent her voice to premieres on Disney+ today. Thanks to her career as the star of Suits (prior to her becoming a royal, then stepping down), Markle has had a fair amount of acting experience. But that didnt stop her 35-year-old husband from playing momager when she recorded her voiceover part late last year.

It was amazing having [Harry] there, filmmaker Vanessa Berlowitz told People. He had a connection to Botswana, of course. Her filmmaking partner Mark Linfield added, Harry was correcting [Meghans] pronunciation! Oh, Harry.

Despite Harrys feedback, Roy Conli (who also directed the film) shared that Meghan made it her own. Conli continued, I always say, If you feel something, do it, make it organic. Shes such a diligent professional and she wanted to get it right. It was a delight all the way around.

In addition to the fact that Botswana, where the film was made, and elephants are an important and integral part of Harry and Meghans love story, Berlowitz explained that Meghan was particularly amazed by the matriarchal practices of the elephants. [She] was absolutely intrigued by the elephants and transfixed, especially by the female empowerment side. How important the matriarchs are to the story; it really is all about female leadership. Its a different form of powerits about consensual leadership. Its also very inclusive, as wellvery contemporary. She was absolutely fascinated by that.

Berlowitz went on to note that at the time of the recording, which occurred last October in London, [Meghan] had a small child. You could totally tell she was identifying with [elephants] Shani and Jojo, and keeping little ones in tow. She felt like a normal mom going through the normal trials and tribulations of bringing up a baby. Like one of us.

You can catch Markles Elephant voiceover debut on Disney+ starting today.

RELATED: Harry & Meghans New Out of Office Email Signifies the End of an Era: Now Closed'
WUHAN, China - After two months in locked-down Wuhan, Wei Lei was eager to get back to work on a railway construction site. Instead, the 22-year-old found himself stranded at an expressway toll plaza where police decided who was allowed in and out of the city where the coronavirus pandemic started.

The authorities wanted a letter from his bosses saying he was needed, but Wei said he didnt have one because employees who would prepare it had yet to return to work.

It was boring staying at home and I was embarrassed to be fed by my parents, Wei said Thursday.

Chinese leaders are trying to revive the economy, but local officials under orders to prevent new infections are enforcing disease checks and other controls that add to financial losses and aggravation for millions of workers.

Beijing told companies to keep paying employees and promised loans and other aid. But millions of migrants, day labourers and others without regular jobs need to return to work before they can start getting paid after two idle months.

More than 100 million workers who visited their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday were stranded after travel controls imposed Jan. 23 on Wuhan to fight the virus were extended to cover most of China. The holiday was prolonged to keep factories and offices closed and the public at home.

Even after the ruling Communist Party reversed course in early March and started allowing some businesses to reopen, travel curbs remained in place in many areas, keeping workers away from their jobs.

Chinese officials say state-dominated industries such as steel are almost back to normal production. But many private employers  the sector that generates most of Chinas jobs and wealth  say they are operating at a fraction of normal levels in part because employees havent come back to work.

The Peoples Daily newspaper reported March 20 that about 100 million migrant workers, or about 80% of those who returned to their hometowns for the holiday, were back at work. No official figures for possible job losses have been reported.

One of the bleakest estimates came from Liu Chenjie, an economic commentator and chairman of Upright Capital, a hedge fund. He said in comments reported by the website Sina.com that as many as 200 million people might have lost jobs or were underemployed due to the virus.

Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in Hubei province, is the industrial and transportation hub of central China.

At the Wuhan East toll plaza where Wei waited, police in gloves and face masks were turning away vehicles without Wuhan plates.

Wearing masks and carrying children, returnees showed a green health code on a smartphone app that indicates they are symptom-free. Occupants of cars waiting inside the barrier to pick up returnees were checked for fever by police.

Cai Luo, a saleswoman for an internet company in Wuhan, was returning from her nearby hometown of Huanggang.

I had to show my green code and be checked at every stop on the way back, said Cai, 24. I felt panic because I had never come across before.

Huanggang also was quarantined but controls there and on other cities were lifted last month.

We werent allowed to walk out of our home, let alone shopping at a supermarket, Cai said. They knew I was back from Wuhan so they put stricter grounding on me.

Cai said she worked from home but her parents couldnt and had no income.

It is hard for ordinary families to have no income for two months, she said.

The final controls on Wuhan, which had three-fourths of Chinas virus deaths, last through April 8.

Returnees who were allowed into Wuhan were picked up by their employers or squeezed into private cars. Divers earned extra cash as informal taxis on a day when many businesses had yet to reopen.

Despite easing controls that shut down most of Chinas air, rail and bus service, authorities still require fever checks at public buildings nationwide and try to keep track of where individual travellers go.

Wei said he worked on a construction site in Huangmei County on the boundary between Hubei and neighbouring Jiangxi province. He showed a reporter a copy of a letter given to a coworker by their employer bearing the red approval seals of a village committee and local government.

After two hours at the roadblock, Wei said he was not hopeful he could get his own approval letter.

I prepared documents the day before yesterday, but today something changed and the documents didnt work anymore, he said. I have to go back to do it again.

___

McDonald reported from Beijng. AP producer Olivia Zhang in Wuhan and researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed.
Coronavirus: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirmed 2547 positive COVID-19 cases and number of deaths grown to 62.

As per the data shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on its official website, the numnber of positive coronavirus aka COVID-19 cases shoot up to 2,547 on Friday, April 3. The ministry confirmed 2,322 active cases, 62 deaths, while 162 people have been cured. One patient has been migrated, the data added. Sadly, there is no vaccine for the virus till date and only social distancing and hygiene are the ways to stay protected, said doctors.

Talking about the capital, 91 fresh positive cases have been detected in last 24 hours in Delhi taking the total to 384 including 259 who were evacuated from Nizamuddin Markaz. Notably, 5 persons have succumbed to deadly virus.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal told the media that off 384 cases, 58 had recent foreign travel history and 38 people got infected after coming in contact with them.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation for the third time since the corona virus breakout. In his speech, PM Modi requested people to light diyas and candles on Sunday, April 5 at 9:00 pm for 9 minutes which will help India to generate a positivity and boost moral to combat the deadly coronavirus.

Prime Minister again requested people to stay indoors and follow social distancing. He added that a few people are not taking complete measure which may risk their life along with their family, neighborhood and nation.

Entire nation is observing 21-day lockdown since March 23 and will continue till April 15.

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(Bloomberg) -- When Microsoft Corp. Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott wanted to examine how artificial intelligence was poised to create yet another economic upheaval in a rural America, he returned to the Virginia countryside where he was born. Instead, he found small businesses already using technology and primed to take advantage of AI  a much more hopeful picture, if only the U.S. could figure out how to boost education and access to technology throughout the working class.

In the months since since Scott finished writing Reprogramming the American Dream, which is scheduled for release next week, the Covid-19 pandemic has made the shortcomings he identifies starker and more immediate. The same way its hard to build a small business in towns without reliable fast internet access, people cant work from home without it. In underfunded schools with little computer education, its hard to set up distance learning.

We want to put opportunity and the best possible tools into the hands of as many people as possible, Scott said in an interview. I dont know that its going to be some overnight transformation, but we have to bake it into the values that we have and the economic decisions we are all making as consumers, big businesses, partners and policy makers.

After 16 years working on machine learning, Scott, 48, said hed developed a typical point of view in the industry that AI would be a disaster for low- and middle-skilled workers and a boon to information and tech workers. Yet in a visit to his hometown of Gladys, Virginia, and its county seat -- the evocatively named Rustburg (population 1,431 in the last census) -- he found burgeoning small businesses using new technology and a cause for optimism mixed with high rates of poverty and unemployment borne from the demise of local industries like textiles and tobacco.

I had this a-ha moment that these people Id grown up with were doing work and running businesses that were already using technology in really interesting ways, and the types of tech they were using were exactly the sorts of things that were going to be amenable to improvements with AI, he said. These people, and not the tech leaders and AI researchers, were going to have a better idea how to use AI for their specific industries and challenges, he said.

Story continues

Scott is pushing ideas he hopes will boost rural economies and lessen the impact of future disruptions like the current one. Microsoft, his employer, stands to benefit greatly by more use of AI as one of the largest providers of AI tools over the internet. He suggests the U.S. government spend $200 billion, an amount equivalent to the Apollo program that sent the first astronauts to the moon, for AI in service of the public good. He calculated the figure using the percentage of GDP spent on the Apollo program in the 1960s. If some of that funding is used to provide better health care for all, it might pay for itself by reducing waste and costs, he said. He also wants the government to come up with ways to provide ongoing education for the skills of the future and to finally fix the lack of rural broadband.

Promoting rural small businesses, like the precision plastic parts plant a high school classmate of Scotts manages in an former textile mill, will also require buyers for their goods. The current pandemic, which has large companies rethinking their overseas supply chains, particularly in China, may provide opportunities for smaller U.S.-based businesses to prove their worth, Scott said. Companies like Microsoft can help by committing to buy from rural America more often, he said.

While using artificial intelligence to sharpen and improve business practices is essential, Scott said, the technology cant replace people in many areas.

We should make sure we are never taking for granted those things humans do uniquely well, he said.

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YEREVAN.  Zhoghovurd daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: On March 31, Alina Nikoghosyan, spokesperson for the RA Minister of Health, had informed on her Facebook page: "The place of residence of 30 patients infected with the coronavirus is being determined as there is a discrepancy in the latters actual and passport data."

However, according to Zhoghovurd dailys information, in fact () the patients have given inaccurate information about them.

Yesterday, Zhoghovurd daily tried to find out from Lilit Babakhanyan, Head of the Department of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Health, at what stage their verifications are. "These 30 people are confirmed, hospitalized patients receiving treatment. Simply, the personal data they provided for the mapping and the data stated in the passport do not correspond only in residence. That is to say, the problem is only in mapping, not losing [track of] a person." The latter also informed that everything has already been verified; there is no problem.
The Centre told the Delhi High Court Friday that it cannot evacuate Indians abroad due to the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic, but was taking proactive steps for their safety and welfare.

A bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Navin Chawla, which conducted the hearing through video conferencing, was told by the Centre's counsel that a high-level group of ministers has been formed to review the current status and actions for prevention and management of COVID-19 and appropriate advisories are being issued from time to time.

Central government standing counsel Jasmeet Singh said a large number of Indian students are studying abroad and the missions are in constant touch with their universities or educational institutions for rendering assistance to them.

In the present lockdown situation, it is not possible for the Ministry (of External Affairs) to organise any evacuation of Indian Nationals from Bangladesh or any other country, however all possible help and assistance is being provided to all Indian nationals, he said.

A COVID-19 cell has been formed to ensure greater access and precision of information. Sub-groups dealing with different regions of the world have also been created. Missions/ Posts abroad have been advised to set up dedicated helpline numbers and given wide publicity to the same to assist stranded Indians...

Nodal officers have been identified and designated at each Mission/ Post to provide assistance to Indian nationals abroad and a 24X7 helpline number and an e-mail have been made functional for the said purpose and the helpline numbers and e-mail IDs have been widely publicized through social networking sites, official government websites so that Indians abroad get information regarding the same, he said.

The Centre, in an affidavit filed in the court, said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, the government has taken proactive steps to ensure safety, welfare and well being of the Indian nationals abroad as well as its people in India.

After perusing the affidavit and status report of the Centre, the bench said it was of the view that no further orders are required to be passed on the petition filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal seeking direction to the authorities to forthwith take steps for safe and secure return of around 500 Indian medical students who are stuck in Bangladesh.

The advocate said most of the students are residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

The court disposed of the petition and granted liberty to the petitioner to approach it in case the need arises in future.

The Centre further said that the Ambassadors are interacting with the Indian community through virtual platforms for their engagement in the time of crisis and to provide assistance.

It said the Indian nationals and communities are being mobilised to help fellow Indians in distress in their country and wherever possible, the Missions are providing food and accommodation to stranded citizens.

Regarding the steps taken by the Mission in Bangladesh, the government said it has established a 24X7 helpline on March 15 to address the queries of Indians and regular information is being shared through website and social media.

It said that since the educational institutions were closed in Bangladesh, all local students have left for their homes and only foreign students including Indians remained there and the High Commission has contacted the concerned authorities in the colleges to keep the canteens/mess running and make available the resources to ensure the students' well being.

It is stated that there are 114 medical colleges in Bangladesh and around 6,000 Indian students study in these colleges and approximately 500 Indian students have stayed back in Bangladesh. With regard to this situation, it is stated that since most of the medical colleges are attached to hospitals. In case of any emergency these hospitals are best equipped to deal with the situation, it said.

Regarding sanitisers, the government said it was available with the colleges and in markets and the colleges in Bangladesh are trying to provide basic facilities to all the students who are in the hostels.

With regard to food facilities, the court was informed by the government that a majority of students are availing mess facilities and some of them, in their own volition, have started running their own mess because of social distancing.

The court was told that the nodal officer appointed in Bangladesh has contacted one student of each of the medical colleges as per the list provided by the petitioner and assured cooperation to them.

The court had earlier asked the Centre to explain the steps taken by it to evacuate the Indian students stranded in Bangladesh.

The court also disposed of another petition filed by a man seeking direction to the Centre to evacuate his son from Edinburgh, Scotland and to ensure that he is provided all medical facilities, if required.

The man said in his plea that pursuant to the consolidated travel advisory issued by the Centre, his son was not been able to travel back to India.

The court said in view of the status report filed by the Ministry of External Affairs, through Central government standing counsel Amit Mahajan, and the assurance given that all possible necessary help shall be provided to all Indian students who are stranded abroad, no further orders were required to be passed in the petition.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Greetings:

We write to you as representatives of the Yemeni-American organizations in the United States appealing for the release of non-criminal Yemeni detainees held by the Department of Homeland Security. These detainees are held pending removal to Yemen.

Removal to Yemen has not been possible. The situation in Yemen is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The civil war in Yemen has been described by the UN as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. This crisis has been compounded by COVID 19. Yemen already is short of all basic necessities.

As to the detainees condition in the US, social distancing is hard to do in detention. US medical resources are already stretched dealing with COVID 19. Releasing the low risk detainees, held on administrative violations, can help reduce the spread of the virus to the detainees and to the DHS agents themselves.

In fact, in recognition of the threat to public health of crowded facilities, a number of states have already released low risk prisoners in order to mitigate the spread of the virus. Administrative detainees are even of a lower risk to society than the prisoners that have been released by a number of states.

We hope that you seriously consider our humanitarian appeal. We hope and pray for the health and safety of everyone in the United States. For more information, please contact Dr. Dahan Alnajjar at 313-658-0351 or via email [email protected].

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

The Signatories:

1- International Council for Rights and Relief ICRR Michigan (313)658-0351, http://www.INFO.ICRR.INFO , email: [email protected]

2- The Yemeni-American Chamber of Commerce YACC, Michigan (877)516-9222, http://www.yaccusa.com , email: [email protected]

3- Youth Advancement Council YAC, Michigan (877)516-9222 http://www.youthcouncil.us, email:[email protected]

4. Yemeni American Benevolent Association YABA, Michigan (313)841-3333, http://www.yabacommunity2121.org,

5. The Yemeni American Leadership Association YALA, Michigan (313)285-9279, www.yalacommunity.org
Hippo Teams with SimpliSafe

Hippo Insurance has teamed up with SimpliSafe to give homeowners access to home security systems.

Hippo, a managing general agent launched in Palo Alto, Calif. in 2015, was an early adopter of smart-phone technology to connect with consumers and has expanded its product offering to include smart home technology. The company said the partnership with SimpliSafe will expand the suite of services available within its smart home program, which protects more than 3 million people.

New Hippo Insurance customers in select states who enroll in its smart home program will now be eligible to receive a professionally monitored home alarm system from SimpliSafe, provided completely complimentary with their homeowners policy. The SimpliSafe home security system will include a high-definition camera, two water sensors, smoke detector, window or door entry sensor, keypad and base station. As part of the offer, eligible customers will also receive two free months of 24/7 interactive monitoring and a discount on their annual home insurance premium. After the initial two month period, customers in the program will pay for professional monitoring, which starts at $14.99 per month.

Hippo Insurance said it has already sent over 200,000 self-monitored smart sensors to its customers. Hippo developed the smart home program more than two years ago, initially launching with self-monitored sensor kits. As activation rates for smart sensors increased throughout the program, now topping over 70 percent, a growing number of Hippo customers have requested an even more extensive smart home option, the company said.

Infinilytics Added to Intellagents Platform

Infinilytics announced that Intellagents has added its artificial intelligence-based claims management system, Charlee, to its platform.

Infinilytics, based in Pleasanton, Calif., said the Intellagents Marketplace is a collection of insurtech solutions that use application programming interfaces (APIs) to connect insurers existing assets (files, databases, API web services, messages).

The company said its Charlee product provides four insights in managing insurance claims: best practices, red flag alerts, quality control alerts, and litigation prediction. Charlee serves as an early warning system that identifies hidden patterns that help to expedite or fast track the claims process and predict which claims may eventually lead to litigation.

Charlee is designed to help reduce allocated loss adjustment expense and claims severity, the company said.

Infinilytics said Intellagents is an anchor of the Hartford, Connecticut insurtech community.

Mitchell Launches Auto Claims Estimating Product

Mitchell International announced the launch of an auto claims estimating product that uses artificial intelligence, called Intelligent Estimating.

Mitchell said the product was built to meet carriers increasing automation and virtualization needs. Mitchell said the product offers an end-to-end framework that leverages artificial intelligence with a cloud-based estimating system that turns photos of damaged vehicles into component-level estimate lines.

As carriers work through technology challenges, and now increased requirements for virtual claims practices, the process advantages of the Mitchell Intelligent Estimating solution are expected to help pave the way for more productive workflows in the future, said Olivier Baudoux, Head of Product & Artificial Intelligence for Mitchell.

Mitchell, based in San Diego, Calif., said it first began using automation in the automotive space 75 years ago.

Honk Upgrades its App

Honk Technologies, a Los Angeles-based insurtech that produces software to connect drivers with tow trucks and insurers, says it has updated its app to increase the speed of response and ease of use.

New features include a chatbot that keeps customers informed throughout the process. Artificial intelligence now enables insurance carriers that use Honk as their roadside assistance provider to receive real-time updates on changes to driver arrival time or consumer location, the company said.

HONK said it operates a network of more than 75,000 towing and roadside assistance service vehicles. The technology is used byinsurers such as Farmers, along with fleet managers, manufacturers, and consumers.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier is anchored off Manila Bay west of Manila, Philippines. The captain of the 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. The ship is docked in Guam File/Bullit Marquez/AP
Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) walks through Statuary Hall with other senators to the House Chamber for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Loeffler Reports $1.4 Million in Trades Amid Virus-Fueled Market Rout

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) bought and sold around $1.4 million in stocks in the past month, as markets continued to be rocked by pandemic panic.

Loeffler wrote on Twitter Wednesday that she had filed another Periodic Transaction Report (PTR), a type of financial disclosure document lawmakers are required to file (pdf) in line with the STOCK Act, a law that seeks to prevent officials from exploiting their office for profit. One of its provisions makes it illegal for lawmakers to use privileged information for financial benefit.

I filed another PTR & the facts are still the same. My portfolio is managed by 3rd parties. I have no communication about the transactions. Theyre a mix of buys and sells. Standard, routine, transparent, Loeffler wrote, pushing back against criticism she sold stocks after being privy to information about the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The freshman Georgia senator was one of a half dozen senate lawmakers who sold equities holdings after receiving sensitive briefings on the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus in the early weeks of what would later spiral into a pandemic that has seen sharp stock market selloffs.

Wall Streets COVID-19 rout has left the benchmark S&P 500 down 26 percent from its February record high.

The Justice Department, in coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the FBI, are reportedly probing some of the lawmakers stock sales, CNN reported.

There is no indication of any wrongdoing and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that members of Loefflers staff said she has not been contacted in connection with any investigation.

A spokeswoman told the newspaper that Loeffler holds herself to high standards of ethics and transparency, including acting in accordance with both the letter and spirit of the law, which she has done at every step of her time in the Senate and in her lengthy career in financial services.

Loeffler responded to early criticism about her stock sales, writing on Twitter: I want to set the record straight: This is a ridiculous & baseless attack. I dont make investment decisions for my portfolio. Investment decisions are made by multiple third-party advisors without my or my husbands knowledge or involvement.

She also said she wasnt informed of the sales and purchases until Feb. 16, three weeks after they were made.

At the time, Loeffler, who replaced retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) in early January, disclosed sales of between $1.3 million and $3.1 million, according to earlier disclosure forms.

The new disclosure forms filed with the Senate on Tuesday show stocks worth millions of dollars owned by Loeffler and her husband, Jeff Sprecher, CEO of a company that owns the New York Stock Exchange and other financial marketplaces.

According to an analysis of Loefflers recent disclosures by The Wall Street Journal, she and her husband suffered more losses on paper than they saved by selling stocks.

Both Loeffler and her campaign have repeatedly said that neither she nor her husband manage their investment portfolio directly. Their net worth, according to The Wall Street Journal, is estimated at around half a billion dollars, making Loeffler the wealthiest member of Congress.

Even if absent any wrongdoing, the optics of the stock sales are troublesome, according to Chester Spatt, professor of finance at Carnegie Mellon University and former SEC economist.

This is why senators shouldnt be doing this, he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The burden is on them to demonstrate they were not using insider information.

The Wall Street Journal, in its assessment of Loefflers recent filing, concluded thatmarked to market on Mondaythe stocks she and her husband bought brought them paper losses of $102,000.

This time, one outlet finally got the facts right, Loeffler said of the WSJ coverage.
A 30-year-old man sentenced for carjacking and robbery in Solano County is at large after walking away as a minimum-security inmate from a site in Del Norte County earlier this week, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Lester Jackson, who was assigned as an inmate firefighter, was last seen Tuesday at the Alder Conservation Camp in Klamath and was wearing gray sweatpants, CDCR officials said.
All Egyptians returning to the country from abroad will now be quarantined by the authorities

A repatriation flight from Washington DC carrying Egyptian passengers arrived in Marsa Alam on Friday, and the passengers on board were placed in a local hotel for a 14-day quarantine.

According to a statement by the tourism ministry, Maged Fawzy, the chairman of the Egyptian Hotel Association, said a hotel in the Red Sea city had received 293 Egyptian passengers and 13 children.

Fawzy said that another hotel in the city would receive other Egyptian passengers returning from the US, adding that the designated hotels had been disinfected and sterilised before their arrival.

He added that the returning passengers had undergone medical check-ups upon their arrival at Marsa Alam airport by health ministry medical specialists and upon arrival at the hotels.

On Thursday, EgyptAir changed the destination of the repatriation flight from Washington to Marsa Alam instead of Cairo.

The government has decided to quarantine all Egyptians returning to the country from abroad, and is requiring returnees to sign a written acknowledgement that they agree to the quarantine before boarding their flights.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi decided on Wednesday that the costs of their stay at hotels will be funded by the state.

Egypt recorded its highest daily increase in new cases on Thursday, at 86 new cases, bringing the total to 865. The death toll now stands at 58.

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With theatres around the country forced to close their doors indefinitely, you'd think someone would turn off the lights on the way out.

But an ancient, spooky tradition means some theatres are leaving one light on while shut due to the ban on public gatherings in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

For the first time in at least 30 years, the Sydney Opera House has installed ghost lights inside its main theatre spaces during the venue's historic shutdown. The city's Capitol, Belvoir and Griffin theatres will also leave their lights on throughout the closure. However, in Melbourne, major venues have chosen to part with tradition and leave their theatres shrouded in darkness.

Last one out, leave the lights on: the Sydney Opera House is marking the unprecedented shutdown by reviving an ancient tradition. Credit:Daniel Boud

The concept of a ghost light is part superstition, part safety measure. Keeping a light on inside dark theatres is said to either appease or scare away the ghost that many believe roams when theatres are empty. But it also helps prevent clumsy crew members from falling off stage into the orchestra pit.
Alleged leader of Russias Aum Shinrikyo cell goes on trial

 flickr.com/jpellgen

15:00 03/04/2020

MOSCOW, April 3 (RAPSI)  The South District Military Court will consider a case against Mikhail Ustyantsev, an alleged organizer of a Russian cell of Aum Shinrikyo organization prohibited in Russia, the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Russia reports Friday.

The man stands charged with creating a terrorist community, organizing activities of an organization banned in Russia. Investigation into the case was completed in late March.

Ustyantsev, then 46, was arrested in Russias Volgograd during a meeting aimed to involve local citizens in illegal activities of the organization and receive money from them on May 1, 2018. Several days later, he was placed in detention upon a Moscow court order.

According to investigators, the defendant was in contact with unknown Japanese leaders of Aum Shinrikyo quite a long time, prepared and held the organization members' meetings in Russian cities and coordinated fundraising and cash management from 2010 to April 2018.

In 2016, the Russian Supreme Court declared Aum Shinrikyo a terrorist organization and banned its activity in the country.

Aum Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth) was set up in 1987 by Chizuo Matsumoto (aka Shoko Asahara). It combined Buddhist and Hindu meditation practices and apocalyptic teachings and was believed to have between 30,000 and 50,000 followers, with more than 10,000 members in Russia, where Aum was engaged in missionary activity and economic enterprise. The sect was banned worldwide in 1995, with Russia leading the crackdown.

In 1994, Aum Shinrikyo members dispersed sarin gas in Matsumoto, Nagano, killing seven people. After the March '95 attack on Tokyo, police arrested about 30 of the sect leaders, some of whom, including Shoko Asahara, were sentenced to death.

Now operating under the name of Aleph, the cult is still in business and is believed to have between 1,000 and 2,000 members in Japan.
The U.S. Navy relieved aircraft carrier Captain Brett Crozier of his command after the captain sent a letter to superiors urging them to take action to contain a Wuhan coronavirus outbreak on the ship.

He sent [the letter] out pretty broadly and in sending it out pretty broadly, he did not take care to ensure that it couldnt be leaked and thats part of his responsibility, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said at a Thursday press conference. It raised alarm bells unnecessarily.

Crozier took command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in November 2019. The ship has a crew of over 4,000 sailors, more than 100 of whom had tested positive for coronavirus as of Friday morning. The ship is currently docked in Guam.

Footage of Crozier leaving the ship showed the sailors on board applauding and cheering the captain.

In the letter, Crozier urged his superiors to begin taking sailors off of the vessel in order to prevent the further transmission of the virus.

Due to a warships inherent limitations of space, we are not [social distancing], Crozier wrote in the letter, which was obtained by the San Fransisco Chronicle. The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating.

Crozier continued, Decisive action is required. Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure. . . . This is a necessary risk.

Modly added, I have no information, nor am I trying to suggest that he leaked the information.

Senator Mark Warner (D., Va.) criticized the Navys decision, saying Crozier was just trying to do whats best for his crew. President Trump also expressed his disapproval.

I dont agree with that at all. Not at all. Not even a little bit, Trump said.

More from National Review
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky praised the fact that 27 public services, including the first simplified services for self-employed individuals, are already available online on the web portal "Diia" launched by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

Every Ukrainian and I personally have faced, to put it mildly, misunderstandings while getting this or that public service. Making services online is a progressive initiative aimed to change the interaction of the state with people. The state should become a service. After all, that's what we are working for, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky noted, the press service of the Head of State reports.

Being able to get public services from the state simply, quickly and without leaving home is extremely important during the forced quarantine period. Previously, in order to open a sole proprietorship, it was necessary to fill in a complex form of 58 lines - now there are only 12 lines. It has also become much easier and faster to change or cease entrepreneurial activity. I believe that such simplification in the provision of public services will promote entrepreneurship, fight corruption and, most importantly, facilitate the growth of our country's economy, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov noted.

According to him, it would take up to 10 minutes to complete the application. The system created by the Ministry of Digital Transformation allows for prompt processing of requests and virtually automatic registration. By 2024, all government services will be available to citizens via a single web portal Diia.

Ukrainians who have already used the services on the web portal in their own citizen's account can check the status of provision of these services and available information about them from five state registers. Also, the account contains documents that are displayed in the mobile application "Diia". Currently, it is a vehicle registration certificate and a driver's license. Later, a digital passport of the citizen of Ukraine in the form of an ID card and a biometric passport of the citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad will also be available.

Digitization of Ukraine is an initiative and one of the key goals of President Volodymyr Zelensky aimed to combat corruption and help business development in the country.

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03.04.2020 LISTEN

Thomas Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of America (1913 to 1921) has been credited as the father of modern Public Administration. Woodrow Wilson generated an unending issue in debate in Public Administration. This issue, politics - administration dichotomy, was supported by Woodrow Wilson's adherents especially Frank Goodnow.

Wilson published the politics - administration dichotomy theory /debate in Political Science Quarterly (PSQ) in 1887. PSQ is a renowned American academic journal which has been published since 1886.

With the politics-administration dichotomy theory, Woodrow Wilson argued inter alia that:

Inherently, politics and administration are different and must be approached separately. The field of administration is a business field, which is removed from the hurry and strife of politics. Administration lies outside the proper sphere of politics. Administrative questions are not political questions. Although politics sets the tasks for administration, administration should not be manipulated by politics.

In this article, we will join Wilson's unending debate and tail it down to Public Administration in Ghana with regard to working in the public services.

The Public Services of Ghana

Article 190 of Ghana's 1992 (Fourth Republican Constitution) outlines the Public Services of Ghana and makes provision for establishment of more public services on the condition that Parliament may prescribe so by law, usually through the passage of an Act of Parliament.

Today, the Public Services of Ghana are many and notable among them are the Civil Service (the oldest, Which was established by Gordon Guggisberg), Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Statistical Service, the Legal Service, the Judicial Service and many more. The employees of the Public Services are usually called Public Servants but those working specifically in the Civil Service are referred to as Civil Servants. It means that even though all Civil Servants are Public servants, it is not all Public servants who are Civil Servants because all the Public Servants are not working within the Civil Service.

As a matter of fact, the Public Services of Ghana practice Public Administration which involves making and implementing policies chiefly to solve societal problems and advance sustainable development.

However, just as Woodrow Wilson propounded, politics sets the tasks for Public Administration practice in Ghana but contrariwise to the Wilsonian prescription, the political class in Ghana does not only set the administrative tasks in the public sector but it also manipulates the way certain administrative functions are or must be performed. But are the Ghanaian Public Servants themselves also non- political or neutral? The answer is a big no. Most of them are equally politicians who fake neutrality. Very often, we hear the debate or is it the blame game that the administrative technocrats assert that the politicians do not give them the required free hand to operate. The politicians also argue that the administrative technocrats are to blame for not doing their jobs well and for failing to be completely neutral so far as partisan politics is concerned.

In my candid view, the two sides of the blame game is veracious because for each side, the real situation is like a simple pendulum, which swings freely in two directions. Of course, there are no complete politicians manufactured in an experimental laboratory who know nothing at all about Public Administration. Most politicians were once practicing technocrats before occupying political positions. Suffice to say that Public Servants recognize political positions as being higher than the position of the Public Administrator. As such, Public Administrators aspire to become politicians. The reverse is rare.

The Woes of the Ghanaian Public Servants

Each political party vying for election in Ghana to form government prepares or is supposed to prepare a manifesto that captures the direction of the national developmental agenda. The assumption is that the electorates or the people have endorsed the manifesto whenever they vote massively to elect a winner. Mostly, the manifesto of the winning party is the driving force of what the National Budget or Appropriation Act contains.

Election winning in Ghana is a zero sum game because the winner takes all. There are two trajectories of the winner takes all syndrome in Ghanaian politics. Supposing party A contests party B in the election and party B wins, no or very little appointments are given to the members of the opposition party (party A). The first trajectory is that members of the winning party (B) fears that if appointees from the opposition party (A) will ever be loyal to the course of the winning party (B) that forms government. The second trajectory is the refusal of opposition party (A) members to accept any appointment opportunities offered them by the party B government because they fear their own party (A) members will take them to be traitors and disown them. This makes the zero sum game so complex in Ghanaian politics to the detriment of institutional memory and sustainable development.

In most of the Public Services of Ghana, the technocrats have their political affiliations and sometimes it is glare. Public Servants who feel their party is in power often take advantage of that and maltreat their colleagues in the offices using the politicians' face as a mask. Public Servants often cause the removal, transfer or resignation of their colleagues they think do not belong to their political parties. This unfortunate occurrence often fixes square pegs in round holes as some deployments are not done on merit in the Public Services.

Quite apart from the above, there is professional rivalry in the Public Services both at personal levels and at respective professional association levels where the Rational Choice Theory with its overwhelming cynical shadows prevail. The situation often leads to unjust transfers, which serve as punitive mechanisms.

The public sector organizational structure in Ghana is heavily centralized with somewhat decentralization but devolution in the true sense is virtually a mirage. The decentralized offices are only field offices of the top echelon of the mother organization. The peripheral officers of a typical Public Service in Ghana have limited power to act on certain issues. Rivalry, nepotism, cronyism and all forms of favoritism coupled with victimization and vilification abound with the top hierarchy occupants seemingly the protectorates of knowledge and experience.

Is the Ghanaian Public Servant not his own enemy? Methinks yes, because they use political affiliations to manipulate or maltreat professional colleagues and turn around to blame the politicians. There are times that certain situations or decisions are attributable to the politicians when in reality, the politicians had no scintilla of prior knowledge of those decisions.

Dancing To The Tunes From Above

Apart from the issues raised earlier, the Wilsonian prescription of politics not manipulating administration does not work in reality. In most countries and in Ghana my mother land, politics sets the tasks for administration and administration is equally subordinate to politics. If you take the governance structure of Ghana for example, the Public Servant or the Public Administrator is a subordinate to the politician hence the former is often answerable to the latter. Right from the presidency through the Ministries to local government levels, the Public Administrator reports to the politician. Even though the Chief Director (CD) of every sector ministry of Ghana is appointed by the Head of Civil Service, the CD is answerable directly to the Minister responsible for the ministry. Again, Regional Coordinating Directors and the District Coordinating Directors are answerable to the Regional Ministers and the District /Municipal /Metropolitan Chief executives respectively. As such, Woodrow Wilson's Politics- Administration Dichotomy Theory is difficult to be made a reality even in America where he propounded it. How can administrative questions not be political questions when it is mostly the politicians who call the shots when it comes to public policy making and implementation? The public purse and the resource allocation power are equally placed in the hands of the politician. As such, the Wilsonian prescription of Politics-Administration Dichotomy is nothing but a management fad or an illusion because it does not work in real life situations.

What is rather worrying which must be eschewed in the Public Services in Ghana is the rivalry and the usage of the zero sum game against professional colleagues. Sometimes however, even when the Public Servants try hard to be neutral and do their jobs as professionals, their hands are tied and they fear losing their jobs so they tend to describe the colour of an object as near black even when the object is truly black in colour. Whenever such a situation develops, the masses or the people who are the beneficiaries of public policy implementation tend to suffer the consequences. The public servants might not be given the resources to work with, and the people agitate but the public servants fear to say what the real situation is. The Ghanaian Public Servants therefore dance to the tunes from above both from the political level and from professional echelons. The higher echelon of centralized or somewhat decentralized organizational structures often rubbish and stifle peripheral initiatives.

However, there is a thin line between politics and administration in practice. Public Administrators perform some political functions whereas politicians also perform some administrative functions so the two fields cannot be removed from each other or separated as Woodrow Wilson suggested. Woodrow Wilson himself could not practice this when he became American President. In the Public Services of Ghana, politics and administration constitute two different sides of the same coin and the two sometimes perform overlapping duties. Most Public Administrators look up to the elected officers (politicians) for direction so far as national development is concerned. The Public Administrators tend to dance poignantly to the whims and caprices of both the politicians and other Public Administrators who either have strong political affiliations or are professionally knowledgeable.

Conclusion

Politics-Administration Dichotomy advanced by Woodrow Wilson and his cohorts or adherents is only good for academic debate but difficult to actualize in real life official situations. What should prevail is a good working relationship between the politician and the Public Administrator. Synergy and harmonious working environments are known to be pivotal to productivity and go to support sustainable development.

However, with enough public education and putting county first and above individual benefits, the two trajectories of the zero sum game whereby the winner of a general election takes all in Ghana can and should be overcome.

Public Servants should equally stop rivalry and blaming the politicians for every unfortunate development. The politicians should equally seek for professional advice and involve the peripheral officers who implement public policy. Oh how I wished they would listen to me!!!

~ Asante Sana ~

Author: Philip Afeti Korto.

Email: [email protected]
(Bloomberg) -- Global attention right now is on fighting the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesnt mean the worlds conflict spots have gone silent.

Some leaders are looking to exploit the virus as a distraction that allows them to advance goals like cracking down on dissent. Equally, the epidemic feeds into existing tensions such as the struggle between China and the U.S. for global strategic and economic influence.

The consequences may not necessarily all be negative. As the International Crisis Group notes, natural disasters have sometimes resulted in the diminution of conflicts, as rivals are forced to work together.

What seems clear, though, is that Western nations face years of strain on their economies and constraints on government spending, says Tim Huxley, Executive Director for Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

That may lead to a fundamental re-examination of priorities, and a shift away from defense spending and toward health and welfare, he says. After all, Western democracies are armed to the teeth but cannot provide security against threats to human and environmental security.

Heres a look at some current hot spots in the time of Covid-19.

North Korea

March saw the reclusive regime break a three-month lull in missile testing by leader Kim Jong Un. It fired a series of ballistic missiles during the month  not long-range enough to draw U.S. President Donald Trumps ire, but enough to remind the world of its existence.

Kim has been threatening to take a new path in nuclear talks with the U.S. in 2020, if Trump didnt make a more appealing offer.

The tests could also be a message to neighbors like South Korea and China. Pyongyang often uses military provocations to nudge others into giving it aid, and the countrys antiquated and underfunded medical system would need help to cope with a serious coronavirus outbreak.

South China Sea

After months of relative calm in the disputed South China Sea  one of the worlds key waterways for trade and with large stores of energy and fish  analysts have noted the return of Chinese fishing fleets and coast guard ships to areas claimed by other countries.

Story continues

Most of the Chinese vessels that operate in the southern part of the waters are based out of Guangxi provinces Beihai city, which halted operations due to the virus, said Ryan Martinson, assistant professor of the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College. Now the Beihai fishing fleet has put to sea again, he said.

By the end of February, 360 fishing vessels had set sail with some operating in the Spratly Islands, which are at least in some part also claimed by Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam. State-run Xinhua News Agency reported China established two research stations there last month. The bottom line is that the PRC has very likely resumed operations to assert its claimed maritime rights, Martinson said.

Iran

The isolated state has struggled with the virus, which has sickened or killed senior officials and infected some 50,000 people in total. The U.S. has refused to lift sanctions on Tehran, saying they dont prevent medical aid getting through.

Some members of the Trump administration have speculated in private that the challenges for Iran from the virus and a cratering economy might yet create space for regime change. Though the virus may also make a desperate Iran even more of a military threat, General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, said last month.

Tussles continue: The U.S. military recently struck back at an Iraqi militia closely aligned with Iran that it believed responsible for a rocket attack that killed two Americans and a Briton.

Trump on Wednesday warned Iran against what he said was a possible sneak attack the Islamic Republic was planning against U.S. troops in Iraq. Trump indicated in a tweet that the U.S. had information about a possible attack but didnt elaborate.

Syria

Syrias civil war has killed hundreds of thousands, displaced millions, and hollowed out its economy. Russia and Turkey had agreed a cease-fire in northern Idlib province in March (Russia backs Syrian forces there, Turkey the rebels), but the truce is precarious.

Medecins Sans Frontieres has warned Covid-19 may spread very quickly in Idlib, where many live in camps. A further humanitarian disaster would potentially set off fresh geopolitical tensions in the region.

Germany is alarmed at the prospect of another wave of refugees moving in the direction of Turkey and Europe on the back of the spread of the virus in the border region, Der Spiegel reported on Wednesday, citing a confidential government analysis.

Libya

Rival factions in the oil-rich North African nation are at war, and the pandemic is doing nothing to ease the conflict.

QuicktakeLibya Turmoil

Over the past week, eastern commander Khalifa Haftars forces have shelled the capital Tripoli, where the internationally recognized government is based. Clashes east of the capital have killed dozens. Lined up on either side of the conflict are the likes of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

One of the impacts of Covid-19 on the action of the warring parties in Libya has been that both weaponize the virus as part of their propaganda, accusing one another of being responsible for spreading the disease, says Emadeddin Badi, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Libya has now announced its first coronavirus death - an 85 year-old woman in Tripoli.

Yemen

Yemen has reported no Covid-19 cases, but an outbreak in the Arab worlds poorest country could be disastrous. Yemen has been ravaged by a five-year war which has created what the United Nations says is the worlds worst humanitarian disaster. Even before the conflict, medical services in Yemen were basic.

The World Health Organization is working with Yemeni authorities to prepare for a possible outbreak. Saudi Arabia has sent medication and supplies. In the meantime, hostilities continue. On Saturday night, the Saudis intercepted two missiles over Riyadh launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen. On Monday, Saudi Arabia said the Saudi-led coalition that supports Yemens government retaliated with airstrikes on Houthi targets.

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed the conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the countrys east with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, as efforts continue to try to organize summit talks to resolve the war thats killed at least 13,000 since 2014. Merkel also offered German solidarity during the Covid-19 outbreak.

While international monitors regularly report low-level cease-fire violations, Ukrainian and Russian officials are continuing to negotiate possible exchanges of detainees following talks between Zelenskiy and his Kremlin counterpart Vladimir Putin in Paris in December.

Russia remains under U.S. and European Union sanctions for its role in the conflict and for the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Putin marked the sixth anniversary of the takeover on March 18 by traveling to Crimea, which is now linked to Russia by a giant road and rail bridge.

Islamic State

Still reeling from defeat in Syria and Iraq and the death of leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the so-called Islamic State urged its followers in its Al Naba newsletter to take advantage of the pandemic to attack enemies.

The group, which commands affiliates across Africa and Asia, has continued to carry out deadly attacks. Last week, a gunman massacred dozens of congregants in Afghanistans capital Kabul after storming a Sikh temple. Over just two days in the last week of March, IS claimed attacks in Iraq, Syria, Egypts Sinai Peninsula and Nigeria.

Power Consolidation

Some leaders are working during the crisis to amass further power domestically. Among them, Russias Vladimir Putin, who is seeking constitutional changes that would allow him to rule to 2036. Hungarys parliament handed Prime Minister Viktor Orban the right to rule by decree indefinitely. And in Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro has ordered a lockdown in what is already a police state.

As the International Crisis Group said in a report last month, unscrupulous leaders may exploit the pandemic to advance their objectives, exacerbating domestic or international crises. That could mean crushing dissent at home or escalating conflicts with rival states, it said, all on the assumption that they will get away with it while the world is otherwise occupied.

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The Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort chugged into New York City at 10 a.m. Monday on a mission to help alleviate the surge in patients during the coronavirus outbreak, but after days of being up and running, on Thursday morning officials said in a briefing that just three patients had been admitted to the facility. The Navy said later in the day Thursday that the number of transfers had risen to 20 patients. The aim of the thousand-bed vessel staffed by a 1,200-member crew was to take non-coronavirus-infected patients to allow the citys hospitals to use their resources to assist those suffering from the virus. So far, it isnt working. Officials say that a similar Navy hospital ship docked on the other side of the country in Los Angeles has seen a total of 15 patients.

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Whats wrong? The process of admitting patients onto the Navy ship hospital in New York is cumbersome, in part, by design. In order to make the facility safe for non-coronavirus-infected patients, each patient must test negative for the virus before being allowed on board for treatment. That means ambulances cannot directly deliver patients to the hospital ship like they would to an emergency room at a normal hospital under normal conditions. Instead, patients first must be taken to an existing hospital for evaluation. Only then, if they test negative for the virus, can they be transported to the ship for treatment. There are a number of other hurdles, according to the New York Times, including 49 other medical conditions that prevent a patient from admission to the Comfort.

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The effort to prevent the spread of the virus on the ship is a well-intentioned one, of course, because a single case could knock out its ability to safely serve patients for a protracted period. So it makes sense to be carefulbut not to the point of incapacitation. Hospital officials expressed frustration and anger to the New York Times about the ineffectiveness of the ship. The head of New Yorks largest hospital system referred to the situation as a joke. While other city hospitals are treating people in corridors and hallways, the non-coronavirus ship hospital is lagging, in part, because the entire city is largely sitting around at home, which has led to a dramatic drop in the other types of injuries that might require a trip to the emergency room.

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Where does that leave us? The USNS Comfort could be repurposed to treat coronavirus patients, much like how the newly erected, military-operated facility at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan has been repurposed. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked President Donald Trump to change the mission of the sites 2,500 hospital beds to treat coronavirus patients, and Trump agreed Thursday night. Navy officials say the Comfort could be refitted to function as a coronavirus unit but needs the go-ahead orders to do so. Misjudging the impact of a good-faith decision can and will happen during this crisis, and isnt a justification for having not acted at all, but leadership at all levels needs to be nimble and humble enough to course-correct. As health systems teeter, time is of the essence.

The inability of both the Navy hospital ships to jump on the moving treadmill that is the coronavirus response should serve as a reminder that grand gestures, presidential proclamations (and tweets), and easy fixes are not whats going to make the difference. Beating back the pandemic will be mundane, incremental, and unglamorousjust like the virus.

For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to this weeks What Next: TBD.
Three Pakistani Soldiers Killed and 2 Injured in Ceasefire Violation in Jammu and Kashmir

Sputnik News

17:22 GMT 02.04.2020

New Delhi (Sputnik): Ever since India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August, 2019, there has been a growing number of ceasefire violations. During the first two months of 2020 alone, there were at least 646 incidents, according to India's federal government.

At least three Pakistani soldiers have been killed with two others injured when Indian troops retaliated to ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, an Indian government official claimed.

"On Wednesday night, there was firing by Pakistan on the border and in retaliation two Pakistani Army personnel were killed and one was injured. Again this morning, there was a ceasefire from Pakistan in which another army personnel from their side was killed and three others, including two Indian soldiers, were injured," government sources said.

According to the Indian army, ever since COVID-19 struck, ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the border have decreased. But in the last week there have been several instances of cross border firing.

India shares a 510 km 'Line of Control' and a 198 km border with Pakistan.

Both countries claim Jammu and Kashmir as part of its territory, but administer it in part. India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two over Kashmir and a third for the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. The nuclear capable neighbours also were on the brink of a war, when their forces engaged each other in a conflict in Kargil in 1999.

 Sputnik

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The US has purchased 60 tons of ventilators, masks, and respirators in a shipment from the Russian government in a public relations coup for Vladimir Putin.

The delivery, which is believed to have arrived at JFK airport on Wednesday, comes following a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Monday, after which the US President claimed the leaders discussed the virus at length.

The US Department of State revealed the transaction in a press release posted to its website.

The United States has agreed to purchase needed medical supplies, including ventilators and personal protection equipment, from Russia, which were handed over to FEMA on April 1 in New York City, a spokesperson said.

Both countries have provided humanitarian assistance to each other in times of crisis in the past and will no doubt do so again in the future. This is a time to work together to overcome a common enemy that threatens the lives of all of us.

The official said the equipment would be carefully examined to ensure it complies with the quality requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration.

A US official in Washington said the shipment contained 60 tons of ventilators, masks, respirators and other items, Reuters said.

Across the US, supplies at hospitals hard hit by the coronavirus are severely stretched as services become overwhelmed by the increasing number of Covid-19 patients needing emergency care.

While the supplies are desperately needed in the US, critics have labelled the transaction propaganda, suggesting Mr Putin is using the opportunity to promote himself on a global stage.

Nothing to see here. Just a Russian military aircraft landing at JFK with 60 tons of medical supplies to support Americas #Covid-19 response. A propaganda bonanza as our own government shrinks from Americas leadership role in a global crisis, Brett McGurk, a former diplomat. tweeted.

Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putins spokesman reportedly expressed that Russia hoped the US will reciprocate the aid when necessary.

It is important to note that when offering assistance to U.S colleagues, the president (Putin) assumes that when US manufacturers of medical equipment and materials gain momentum, they will also be able to reciprocate if necessary, Mr Peskov was cited as saying.

Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the US have surpassed 238,000 with the deal toll has reached over 5,700, according to statistics recorded by John Hopkins University.

In Russia, confirmed numbers of the disease are much lower at 2,337 with 17 deaths. However, some officials have raised scepticism of the accuracy of official data as numbers in Europe continue to soar.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Legislators have amended the controversial bail reform laws that became effective at the beginning of this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

The changes, contained in the enacted Fiscal Year 2021 budget, noticeably expand the number of bail-eligible crimes.

The modifications become effective within 90 days of the budgets enactment, or around July 1.

New bail-qualifying charges include sex-trafficking offenses, first-degree money laundering, money laundering in support of terrorism in the third and fourth degree, child pornography offenses and first-degree grand larceny.

Other added bail-eligible offenses include alleged crimes which caused another persons death, some vehicular assault offenses, enterprise corruption, and specified crimes against family or household members.

Class A-1 drug offenses are also among those crimes now eligible for bail, as are bail jumping, failing to register as a sex offender and criminal weapon possession on school grounds.

The modifications also permit bail for individuals accused of felonies while on probation or post-release supervision, as well as those defendants charged with felonies who may be a persistent felony offenders.

Furthermore, the adjustments allow the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to ban from subways, trains and buses those defendants sentenced for sex crimes against an MTA passenger, customer or employee, or for assaulting an MTA worker.

Courts could bar those individuals for up to three years or the duration of their period of probation or conditional discharge, whichever is shorter.

In addition, the amendments also extend the time for prosecutors to provide initial discovery materials to the defense.

Such information must now be turned over in 20 days from arraignment as opposed to 15 days for defendants in custody and in 35 days for those not in jail.

ORIGINAL REFORMS PASSED YEAR AGO

The original reforms, passed last year, eliminated bail for all misdemeanor charges, with the exceptions of sex offenses and criminal contempt for violating an order of protection in a domestic violence case.

Bail and pretrial detention were also scrapped for nearly all nonviolent felonies with the exceptions being witness intimation or tampering, murder conspiracy, contempt charges involving domestic violence and some offenses against children, sex charges and terrorism-related offenses.

In cases of flight risk, judges were allowed to set a number of conditions upon a defendants release.

Bail and detention were permitted for virtually all violent felonies, except specific sub-sections of second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary.

Bail-reform advocates had hailed the original measures, saying they leveled the scales of justice, particularly for those defendants who remained incarcerated for non-violent and relatively minor crimes simply because they couldnt afford bail.

Many law enforcement officials contended the reforms as initially passed were overly lenient and jeopardized public safety.

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said he supports the modifications.

"While the changes enacted in this years New York State budget do not make our bail and discovery laws perfect, the changes made are significant improvements of the egregious flaws in last years reforms and better serve victims and survivors of crime, said McMahon in a statement.

Adding several serious crimes to the list of qualifying offenses for bail and extending time for our ADAs (assistant district attorneys) to compile discovery materials are very positive changes to the law, McMahon said.

The D.A. thanked their entire Staten Island delegation for working closely together to ensure the safety of our communities.

Bail reform advocates swiftly denounced the changes.

In a joint statement, five public-defender groups, including the Legal Aid Society, which represents indigent defendants on Staten Island, said the alterations have bludgeoned reform just as it was taking root.

These rollbacks ignore a core truth: Bail and discovery reform have had a profound and positive impact on tens of thousands of New Yorkers, said the group. Instead of sitting in jail with the cards stacked against them, they have been able to remain with their families and communities and more effectively defend their rights and obtain a fairer outcome.

Taken together, these actions mean more incarceration and more wrongful convictions at a time when lawmakers should be emptying jail and prisons to protect the health and safety of all New Yorkers, the statement said, apparently referring to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Mark J. Fonte, a St. George-based criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor, also ripped the amendments.

Tweaking the bail reform law was not necessary, he said. Crime was down significantly even before the onset of the pandemic. As usual, though, injecting fear into the debate always bends public opinion in your favor. Its a tried-and-true tactic by aspiring politicians.
Look closely: The kettle drum player has a wooden spoon in one hand, a ladle in the other ... and doesn't even have his drums.

But, hey, cutting a few corners can be forgiven of an orchestra that managed the remarkable feat of performing "Bolero" while its musicians are scattered far and wide under coronavirus lockdowns.

Why? To send this message to music lovers: We are still here for you.

Like building a musical jigsaw puzzle, the National Orchestra of France used the magic of technology to weave together the sight and sounds of its musicians, who filmed themselves playing alone in their homes into a seamless, rousing whole.

Posting a video of their stitched-together performance on YouTube was a way of keeping in touch with each other and with audiences they sorely miss playing for.

"For us, the public is essential. Without the public, we don't really exist," said Didier Benetti, the kettle drum player.

The video posted Sunday has quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of views.

The performance starts with three musicians: a cellist, a violinist and a percussionist with "Stay home" written on his red drum.

A flutist joins, haunting, bewitching, seemingly playing in his lounge.

The musical tension and power builds as more and more join, until they are an orchestra of 50.

Benetti rearranged French composer Maurice Ravel's work, chopping it down from the usual 15 minutes to a more manageable and social media-friendly length of just under four minutes.

The musicians got their scores by email. They also got an audio track to listen to through headphones as they played. That audio included a previous recording of the music and the ticking sound of a metronome, to help them keep time and stay in perfect unison despite being scattered to the winds.

The musicians filmed themselves over four days in the final week of March. One violinist played outside, with a beautiful seascape as his backdrop. Most of the others filmed themselves inside, making the performance feel particularly intimate. No black tie. The clothes were casual, with open shirts, T-shirts, jeans.

When France went into lockdown on March 17, Benetti couldn't take his hefty kettle drums home. So unlike other musicians, he had to improvise for the video, enthusiastically pretending to bang two chairs in his living room with utensils he took from his kitchen.

Performing for the video was "very therapeutic," but still felt like second-best compared to being all together on stage, Benetti said.

 Associated Press

SXSW to move film festival online

The popcorn will be bring-your-own and the barbecue won't be as good, but the Austin, Texas, SXSW Film Festival is moving online after having its 27th edition canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

SXSW announced Thursday that it's partnering with Amazon Prime Video to stream as much of its movie lineup as possible for a 10-day period in the U.S. It will be free to viewers with or without an Amazon Prime membership.

South by Southwest organizers have worked frantically to salvage what they could of the festival and bring attention to the many films that had been planning to premiere there. SXSW, which had been scheduled to run March 13-22, last week announced awards for its competition categories, anyway.

Individual films will choose whether they want to opt in to the 10-day "SXSW 2020 Film Festival Collection" on Amazon. Don't count on movies acquired by Netflix, for example, to participate. The festival declined to say how many films it expects to host.

SXSW and Prime Video are aiming to hold the 10-day online event in late April.

 Associated Press

DiCaprio, others launch relief fund

Leonardo DiCaprio will help launch America's Food Fund, which has already raised $12 million to help communities impacted by the coronavirus.

The organization said Thursday that the funds will be aimed to help low-income families, the elderly, individuals facing job disruptions and children who rely on school lunch programs.

The food fund will work with hunger relief organizations World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.

DiCaprio serves as a co-founder of America's Food Fund with philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs. Apple and the Ford Foundation are also providing money to help launch the new initiative.

On Thursday, Oprah Winfrey announced a $1 million donation to the fund and $10 million in total to feed the hungry during the crisis.

Organizers say donations to America's Food Fund are being accepted and will be used on efforts to get meals to those who need them.

- Associated Press
Whatever the situation may be, Jennifer Lopez always steps out in style. The fact that she headed out in her best workout gear to get some exercise ahead of Florida's impending lockdown just proves how dedicated she is to her routine.

Lopez and fiance Alex Rodriguez spent Wednesday evening (April 1) out at their favorite Miami gym just ahead of a 30-day order for those in the area to stay indoors. The pair had already been spending the rest of their time social distancing. When photographed, they were seen leaving a facility that was closed with a white sign on it advising potential visitors to "stay home, stay safe."

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Lopez opted for a bright red bra with spaghetti straps as well as ornate bandana-print leggings, while Rodriguez chose an all-back workout look. Her trusty bejeweled Starbucks cup was in tow as well.

The pair will be ordered to remain at home starting Friday, April 3 by Florida governor Ron DeSantis, thanks to an order that will remain in place until April 30. That means residents will only be able to head out to partake in "essential services," and gyms are not one of those.

"It makes sense to make this move now," DeSantis said in a press briefing about the decision. Essential services include grocery runs, trips to the doctor's office, and other "must-do" periods where leaving home is absolutely warranted.

RELATED: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez Made Their Backyard into a Baseball Field

Luckily, J.Lo and her family have been keeping busy while social distancing already. The pair have created fun TikTok challenge videos and even turned their backyard into a baseball field during the coronavirus pandemic. They'll be fine  but at least Lopez got one more cool workout look in before the lockdown takes place.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 05:03:21|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese renowned respiratory scientist Zhong Nanshan receives an interview with Xinhua in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

"It seems entirely fitting that a figure at the heart of global efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 is our first Being Edinburgh Award winner," says the university.

LONDON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Renowned Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan has won an alumni award of the University of Edinburgh for his remarkable contribution in fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic, the university said Thursday.

With over 90 percent vote of students, staff and alumni, Zhong won the university's first Being Edinburgh Award, which is given in recognition of individuals whose actions and achievements have inspired the university's community.

"It seems entirely fitting that a figure at the heart of global efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 is our first Being Edinburgh Award winner," said the university.

"During this time of international crisis, the Being Edinburgh Award allows us to highlight positive news in our global alumni community. Dr Zhong is an inspiration to students, staff and alumni alike, and embodies important values that the University aims to uphold: drive, passion, and sustained hard work. His win is well-deserved, and we wish him the best of luck in his research on COVID-19," said Niamh Martin-McGarrigle, a student studying Linguistics and French, and a member of the Being Edinburgh selection panel.

In an email to the university, Zhong said it is an honour to receive the first Being Edinburgh Award. He took time to thank those who voted and confirmed a future lecture series for colleagues in Europe and the United States about the transmission route, infectivity, diagnosis and management of COVID-19.

Known for his important role in the 2003 outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an illness also caused by coronavirus, Zhong was a visiting student at the university between 1979 and 1981 and awarded with an Honorary Doctorate of Medicine in 2007.
Parents who refused to have their son vaccinated because it would make him a 'creature of the state' have lost their case at the Court of Appeal.

The couple, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, decided not to register their son's birth and decided against getting him vaccinated.

Violating the Birth and Deaths Registration Act 1953, which requires a birth to be registered within 42 days, the parents lost their High Court battle in June.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the father had feared his child becoming a 'creature of the state', while his mother raised concerns about vaccinations.

Tower Hamlets Council in London then intervened using powers under the Children Act 1989, acting as the boy's 'institutional parent' to get him vaccinated.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal quashed the parents' challenge after judges reviewed local authority powers under Section 33 of the 1989 Act which allow for councils to consent to vaccinations for children subject to care orders.

Parents who refused to have their son vaccinated because it would make him a 'creature of the state' have lost their case at the Court of Appeal (stock photo)

Representing Tower Hamlets council, Chris Barnes called the court's decision 'an important marker on an issue that generates considerable public debate'.

He said: 'The appeal could not be more timely in light of falling rates of vaccination, the rise of the "anti-vax" movement, and... the current global health emergency.'

In a January ruling over vaccinations, the High Court described the parents' objections to vaccinations for their son as 'tenuous and tendentious'.

Mr Justice Hayden said the birth was not registered because the father held 'unusual and somewhat eccentric' views on matter of 'personal sovereignty'.

'The essence of the father's objection is his belief that registration will cause his son to become controlled by a state which he perceives to be authoritarian and capricious,' the judge said in his ruling.

'It is manifestly in (the baby's) best interest for his birth to be registered, in order that he may be recognised as a citizen and entitled to the benefits of such citizenship.'
The cruise liner Viking Sea made a short visit to Gibraltar on Wednesday to take on fuel and supplies and dispose of waste.

This was a purely technical call, as the ship was carrying no passengers and the crew were not permitted to disembark due to the coronavirus lockdown. Shore staff were not allowed to board the ship either.

The Gibraltar government, which has suspended all normal cruise ship visits during the coronavirus crisis, issued a statement beforehand to prevent speculation.
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud and Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak are seen at the beginning of an OPEC and Non-OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria December 6, 2019.

(Photo: REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo)

United States President Donald Trump announced he had invited top oil executives to the White House to find how to support the industry disrupted by plunging demand for energy during a pandemic and a price showdown between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Trump also disclosed he had recently spoken with both Russia's and Saudi Arabia's leaders and hoped the two countries would strike a deal and iron out their differences within a "few days" - reducing production and pushing oil prices back up.

Oil prices rose on Thursday after Trump told CNBC that the Kingdom and the Russians will relieve oil pressure, putting an end to a price conflict that led to the deep plunge of crude.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 25 percent to settle for the highest one-day percentage gain in history at $25.32 per barrel. Given the 60 percent decrease of WTI this year, a smaller increase of course, now represents a much bigger percentage shift. International standard Brent jumped at $29.14 a barrel, or $4.40.

American pressure to withdraw from its price war with Russia has so far been resisted by Saudi Arabia going on with its intention to pump large amounts of oil even as the coronavirus pandemic erodes global demand.

Hours after the announcement from the Department of Energy went public, Trump told reporters during a media briefing that he thinks the two economic powerhouses "will be working it out in the next few days."

Worldwide, oil prices have fallen by about two-thirds at the start of 2020 as the coronavirus has battered global economies at the same time as Saudi Arabia's main producers and Russia have started flooding the oil market.

Speaking to Reuters on Thursday, a senior Gulf source familiar with Saudi thought said the Kingdom is supporting oil producers' cooperation in stabilizing prices but Russia's resistance to last month's proposal to deepen supply cuts has caused market turbulence.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia called for an "urgent" meeting between OPEC and its allies, through its official media unit.

Notwithstanding the nearly 25 percent rally of oil, the contract settled its day's highest mark as traders doubted whether a fall in Trump's magnitude indicated was even doable, particularly if Washington was not involved. As a matter of fact, according to a Reuters report, the administration will not be asking local producers to slash output.

Trump is expected to explore a number of options for improving the industry in the coming meetings with oil executives, including the prospect of oil import tariffs from Saudi Arabia, according to the Wall Street Journal, which was first to report on the scheduled meetings.
The statue of Marshall Ivan Stepanovic Konev is removed (Petr David Josek/AP)

A statue of a Soviet Second World War commander has been removed from a district in Prague despite protests from Russia and pro-Russian Czech President Milos Zeman.

Marshall Ivan Stepanovic Konev led the Red Army forces that liberated Prague and large parts of Czechoslovakia from the Nazi occupation in 1945.

His monument, unveiled in the Prague 6 district in 1980 when the country was occupied by Soviet troops, has been a source of controversy.

Expand Close A worker removes the sign from the statues pedestal (Petr David Josek/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A worker removes the sign from the statues pedestal (Petr David Josek/AP)

Russia vehemently protested when an explanatory text about Konevs role in crushing the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising in Hungary and preparing the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia was attached to his monument two years ago.

Prague 6 mayor Ondrej Kolar said the authorities wanted to give people full information that would not conceal what happened.

After the site was targeted by vandals, Prague 6 representatives agreed last year with Mr Kolars proposal to remove the statue.

Expand Close Marshall Konev led the Red Army forces that liberated Prague and large parts of Czechoslovakia from the Nazi occupation in 1945 (Petr David Josek/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Marshall Konev led the Red Army forces that liberated Prague and large parts of Czechoslovakia from the Nazi occupation in 1945 (Petr David Josek/AP)

Russias Foreign Ministry and the Russian embassy in Prague condemned the plan but a crane at the site lifted the statue from its place on Friday morning.

Prague 6 officials said the Konev site will get a new monument to honour the liberators at the end of the Second World War, and his statue will be transferred to a museum.
FIRs have been registered against six people in Himachal Pradesh for hiding information that they attended Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi, said Director General of Police (DGP) SR Mardi on Friday.

"People, who attended the event in Nizamuddin, arrived at Una on March 21 when there was no lockdown. There was free movement of the people. However, these people had hidden the information from the authorities, for which cases have been registered against them under the Disaster Management Act," added Mardi.

He further said that six people had tested positive for COVID-19, and 204 people have been quarantined.

Mardi also advised the people to follow the instructions of the government and obey the rules of the lockdown.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases rose to 2,301 in India on Friday, including 156 cured or discharged, 56 deaths and one migrated, as per the data provided by 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.)
Journalist Alice Stockton-Rossini hosted a 90th birthday for her mother last month in New Jersey. At the time, the radio host said, she had no idea she'd been infected with coronavirus while covering an outbreak in New Rochelle, New York.

Stockton-Rossini later tested positive for coronavirus, and says she believes she infected people at the party on March 8. Two people have died and six others have tested positive -- all linked to the party, she said.

Those who tested positive include her parents and her brother-in-law, who's 56 and is on a ventilator at a hospital in New York City, she said. He was not at the party.

"I had no idea how quickly this virus would spread. No idea at all," she told CNN. "And it is frightening. And it is sobering. And it's not fun to have to live with the fact that you could make someone extremely sick."

The party, which was at a church in Long Beach Island, was attended by about 25 of her mother's friends.

"The day after the party, my mother got really sick," said Stockton-Rossini, a reporter for 710 WOR. "And she didn't have symptoms that were like any other symptoms we had heard about. There was congestion. But she was throwing up. She had a really high fever. She was sick for several days.

When her fever spiked to 102, they took her to the hospital, where she tested positive for coronavirus.

"All I can say is at that point, we did not know how quickly this virus spread," Stockton-Rossini said. "Even reporters like myself were saying, you know, more people die of the flu, it's not going to be much worse ... And we quickly found out that it was a big deal. That it spreads very quickly. And that social distancing has proven to be the way to control it."

Social gatherings had not been banned at that point, she said. Now she knows how crucial it is that people practice social distancing.

"If you don't want to social distance because it's making, you know, your life miserable, think about the people that you don't realize might have a compromised immune system," she said.

She urged people to be vigilant because not everyone has symptoms similar to those widely reported.

"Every member of my family has tested positive except for my son," she said. "Not all of us had the same symptoms. They really have to test people that are having a variety of symptoms -- not just the big three: fever, and cough and lethargy."

The US has reported more than 245,500 cases, with over 6,000 deaths.

More than 30 states and the District of Columbia have ordered their residents to stay at home. The nation's top infectious disease expert said Thursday he doesn't understand why every state hasn't issued stay-at-home orders as coronavirus cases surge across the US.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said governors that have held out thus far "really should" reconsider with the number of US cases continuing to climb
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The Begusarai police on Thursday lodged an FIR against three people for allegedly revealing the identity of a Covid-19 patient on social media platforms.

The police said the case was lodged on the statement of the station house officer (SHO) of Town police station following the directive of superintendent of police (SP) Awakash Kumar.

Police said the three were identified as Bhavesh Kumar Bhartiya, Subodh Kumar and Om Prakash Razak. The FIR has been lodged under Section188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that provides for a months imprisonment or 1,000 fine or both.

The union ministry of health had earlier issued a directive to maintain strict confidentiality on the identity confirmed and suspected cases. As revealing identity violates the right to privacy of the people, an FIR can be lodged against people violating the government order.

The accused had revealed the identity of the patient in separate WhatsApp groups, the Begusarai SP said.

Meanwhile, the district administration also sealed the Noorpur panchayat, with a population of 855, falling under Barauni block, after a youth tested positive. The youth had returned from Dubai via Goa on March 22 and was referred to Patna on Tuesday. The borders of the nearby villages were sealed and movement of the residents within the 3-km radius was banned. The decision to seal off the area came after two suspects died last week.

Begusarai district magistrate (DM) Arvind Kumar Verma said as many as 18 family members of the infected person had been put in quarantine at the Begusarai Sadar Hospital. The village was sealed with the support of social workers and surveillance teams have also been sent to identify the infected youths close contacts in the village, said the DM.

A health department official said 18 samples of the close contacts of the patient had been collected and sent for testing. The department has also started a survey in the village to detect patients, if any.

Meanwhile, reports from Siwan said the administration had sealed over 40 villages of Barharia, Darauli and Hasanpur blocks after five residents of the locality tested positive. Barricades have been erected on all entry points of the villages concerned. Police personnel have also been deployed there.

Reports of people testing positive and subsequent sealing of the affected villages have also poured in from Gopalganj, Lakhisarai, Munger, Gaya, Patna and Nalanda districts.

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Submitted to the Tribune

Warranty Deeds

Week of March 2-20

Thomas and Linda M. Hart to John Anthony and Danielle Marie Curnan, Sr.; parcel of land located in Lake Township

Nathan D. and Cynthia O. Bergh to Allyn Russell and Susan Elizabeth West; parcel of land located in Caseville Township

Scott S. and Charlotte L. Kasper to Danielle Romzek; parcel of land located in Village of Kinde

US Bank National Association to Theresa Hartley; parcel of land located in City of Bad Axe

Robert E. Preston to Karl E. Kraus Trust; parcel of land located in City of Bad Axe

Vess A. Hatch to Michael Fritz; parcel of land located in City of Bad Axe

Chemical Collateral Holding Company LLC to Battery Man of Ubly LLC; parcel of land located in Village of Ubly

Lynn M. Finan to David and Julia Rizzi; parcel of land located in Lake Township

Maxine D. Henry and Nancy Daher to David E. Goretski; parcel of land located in Dwight Township

Maxine D. Henry and Nancy Daher to Jerry and Valerie Fischer; parcel of land located in Dwight Township

Daniel and Marlene Jaraczewski to Daniel B. Jaraczewski and David Jaraczewski; parcel of land located in Caseville Township

Autumn Fibranz to Erika Deacons and Richard Fibranz; parcel of land located in Verona Township

Janice M. Weinlander to Michael J. and Shelly A. Burza; parcel of land located in Sebewaing Township

Cit Bank, N.A. to River Associates LLC; parcel of land located in Caseville Township

Mark A. and Beverly S. Bevins to Guy E. and BarbaraAnne V. Mitchell Family Trust; parcel of land located in Port Austin Township

Christina Grim to Melissa Serazin; parcel of land located in City of Bad Axe

Shirley E. Young Trust to Sandy Shores Venture, LLC; parcel of land located in Port Austin Township

Probate Court

Week of March 5-11

Estate of Richard L. Armstrong, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #19-41,715-DE - Informal Probate, Certificate of Completion filed

Estate of Jessica Varney, Deceased, of Harbor Beach, File #18-41,387-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed

Estate of Curtis E. Adams, Deceased, of Sebewaing, File #19-41,606-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Sarah M. Helm, Deceased, of Kinde, File #20(1)41,876-DE - Informal Probate, Affidavit of Publication filed

Estate of Irene R. Olczak, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #18-41,255-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Joseph W. Ayotte, Deceased, of Hampton, VA, File #20-41,870-DE - Informal Probate, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed

Estate of Gary D. Sprague, Deceased, of Bay Port, File #18-41,261-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed

Estate of Brandon M. Dickert, Deceased, of Harbor Beach, File #15-40,223-DE - Informal Probate, Final Account filed, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Kenneth M. McRae, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #07-37,086-DE - Informal Probate, Affidavit of Publication filed, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Audrey E. Harris, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #20-41,886-DE - Informal Probate, Will filed, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Supplemental Testimony to Identify Non-Heir Devisees filed, Renunciation of Right to Appointment, Nomination of Personal Representative filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Notice to Creditors filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed, Inventory filed, Proof of Service filed, Proof of Service filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Evelyn J. Rundell, Deceased, of Sebewaing, File #20-41,898-DE - Informal Probate, Pour Over Will filed, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Supplemental Testimony to Identify Non-Heir Devisees filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed

Estate of Robert C. Bonini, Deceased, of Sebewaing, File #18-41,243-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Margo B. Bonini, Deceased, of Sebewaing, File #18-41,244-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Larry L. Hahn, Deceased, of Sebewaing, File #19-41,579-DE - Informal Probate, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Gary A. Dudzinski, Deceased, of Kinde, File #20-41,896-DE - Informal Probate, Will filed, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identiy Heirs filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed, Notice to Creditors filed, Inventory filed

Estate of Charles E. Halbert, Deceased, of Caseville, File #19-41,692-DE - Informal Probate, Subpoena and Proof of Service filed

Estate of Jack S. Schubach, Deceased, of Pigeon, File #16-40,644-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed

Estate of Scotty J. Scott, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #20-41,877-DE Informal Probate, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed, Statement and Proof of Claim filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of William C. Kauffman, Deceased, of Bay Port, File #19-41,727-DE - Informal Probate, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed, Proof of Mailing filed

Estate of Clara L. Buerker, Deceased, of Winsor Twp., File #19-41,761-DE - Informal Probate, Affidavit of Publication filed, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed

Estate of Conrad A. Przystup, Deceased, of Caseville, File #18-41,493-DE - Informal Probate, Sworn Closing Statement, Summary Proceeding filed

Estate of Gordon W. Lasceski, Deceased, of Kinde, File #19-41,740-DA - Supervised Bond of Fiduciary filed, Amended Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Petition for Approval of Sale of Real Estate filed, Notice of Hearing filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Lawrence J. Verbeke, Deceased, of Caseville, File #18-41,408-DE - Informal Probate, Sworn Closing Statement, Summary Proceedings filed

Estate of William G. Pettit, Deceased, of Port Austin, File #20-41,900-DE - Informal Probate, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed

Estate of Elmer W. Brahmer, Deceased, of Ubly, File #19-41,744-DE - Informal Probate, Inventory filed

Estate of Matthew J. Grant, Deceased, of Ubly, File #16-40,491-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed

Estate of Elmer Gaylor, Deceased, of Caseville, File #13-39,334-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed

Estate of Juan A. Quintana, II, Deceased, of Caseville, File #18-41,550-DE - Informal Probate, Notice of Continued Administration filed, Proof of Service filed

Week of March 12-18

Estate of Donna J. LaDuke, Deceased, of Port Austin, File #18-41,263-DE - Informal Probate, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed, Sworn Statement to Close Unsupervised Administration filed

Estate of Andrew V. Rowe, Deceased, of Caseville, File #18-41,287-DE - Informal Probate, Certificate of Completion filed

Estate of Charles W. Hewlett, Deceased, of Pigeon, File #20-41,897-DE - Informal Probate, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Register's Statement filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed, Notice to Creditors filed, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Leonard A. Defrain, Deceased, of Harbor Beach, File #20-41,895-DE - Informal Probate, Will filed, Application for Informal Probate and/or Appointment of Personal Representative filed, Testimony to Identify Heirs filed, Supplemental Testimony to Identify Non-Heir Devisees filed, Register's Statement filed, Acceptance of Appointment filed, Letters of Authority for Personal Representative filed, Notice of Appointment and Duties of Personal Representative filed, Notice to Creditors filed, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed, Notice Regarding Attorney Fees filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Scotty Scott, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #20-41,877-DE - Informal Probate, Affidavit of Publication filed

Estate of Audrey E. Harris, Deceased, of Bad Axe, File #20-41,886-DE - Informal Probate, Affidavit of Publication filed

Estate of Alfredene E. Junkkari, Deceased, of Harbor Beach, File #19(1)41,568-DE - Informal Probate, Petition for Complete Estate Settlement filed, Supplemental to Petition for Complete Estate Settlement filed, First Annual Account filed, Final Account filed, Notice of Hearing filed, Proof of Service filed

Estate of Evelyn J. Rundell, Deceased, of Sebewaing, File #20-41,898-DE - Informal Probate, Personal Representative Notice to the Friend of the Court filed, Proof of Service filed
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:14:01|Editor: huaxia

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BUDAPEST, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Every Hungarian healthcare workers will receive a special bonus of 500,000 forints (1,475.4 U.S. dollars) this year, Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared here on Friday.

"This year, every healthcare worker will receive an additional 500,000 forints," Orban said on public radio station MR1, during his regular Friday morning interview. "Details about the payment and other measures will be made public on Saturday," he added.

Orban also spoke about the restriction on movements introduced on March 28, till April 11, saying that a decision on the lockdown would be made on Wednesday during the next session of the government.

"If we must, we will prolong the lockdown, but I feel myself that it is an unnatural situation," he said.

He noted that Easter, a family holiday, was approaching. "One would visit relatives... but it will hardly be possible now, or only with strict restrictions," he warned.

With regard to the criticism from the European Union (EU) about the coronavirus emergency law which has given Orban special powers, he said: "Brussels is dealing with us, when it should be dealing with the virus."

On Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her concern about the law, saying "I understand that member states may need to take emergency measures to address the immediate health crisis, but I am concerned that certain measures go too far, and I am particularly concerned with the situation in Hungary."

Dismissing it, Orban said: "In Brussels, they sit isolated in some kind of bubble and give advice instead of saving lives."

According to official figures, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 623 on Friday, with 43 reported recoveries and 26 fatalities. (1 U.S. dollar = 339 Hungarian forints)
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

A federal district judge has dismissed a case filed last year by the state of New Mexico and city of Albuquerque over the federal governments decision to release asylum-seekers, with no assistance, into border communities.

The state and city teamed up in June 2019 to sue several federal officials over the sudden and unlawful abandonment of its long-standing Safe Release policy, under which it provided needed assistance to asylum-seekers, including help traveling to the destinations where they would wait for their claims to be processed. Plaintiffs said as a result of that policy change, asylum-seekers were released without food, health care or transportation and local entities had to step in.

In a 115-page order filed Tuesday, Judge James Browning found that the Department of Homeland Security was acting within its discretion when it chose to end the program.

The U.S. Attorneys Office announced the order in a news release Thursday, saying the federal government had prevailed in the lawsuit and that the judge determined that DHS fully complied with the law.

The court also determined that sovereign immunity protected the federal government from liability and that the governments policies satisfied the Due Process Clause and other constitutional standards.

New Mexico and Albuquerque may wish that the United States share their concern for asylees wellbeing. The Tenth Amendment, however, protects the States from being forced to adopt, carry out, or enforce federal policy; it does not require the United States to adopt, carry out, or enforce the States preferred policies, the judge wrote.

According to the order, the defendants asserted that in response to the end to the Safe Release Program, New Mexico and Albuquerque took it upon themselves to fulfill some type of humanitarian aid which is commendable but was not at the federal governments behest.

The plaintiffs said that in 2019, the government released around 9,000 asylum-seekers in Las Cruces and 4,700 in Deming. Albuquerque, too, had a dramatic influx of asylum-seekers.

In order to prevent a potentially significant humanitarian and/or public health crisis, New Mexico state and local governments have been forced to step in and provide the basic assistance to these people that the federal government has callously (and without prior warning) refused to provide at a cost of millions of dollars, the city and state argued in their lawsuit.

The city and state did not respond to requests for comment on the dismissal.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers refusal to push for a delay of his states Tuesday primary has infuriated fellow Democrats in the state, who are now openly accusing him of failing to prevent an impending train wreck.

As the nation hurtles toward 5,000 coronavirus deaths and governors across the country take extreme steps to keep people at home, Wisconsin is forging ahead with the election despite having its own stay-at-home order. The likely outcome is that Wisconsinites will wake up on election day being told to stay put at the same time they're greenlighted to head to crowded polling sites.

Other Democrats in the state say the conflicting signals will disenfranchise voters. Already, the sanctity of the vote has been called into question by snafus with early voting: In Milwaukee, some voting sites were closed for a period of the designated voting before being reopened.

Theres this enormous conflict between what we need to do in a democracy in the midst of a pandemic. You cant have a stay-at-home order but then tell millions of people to go stand in line and congregate near one another across the state, said Racine Mayor Cory Mason. "Having an election in the middle of a stay-at-home order makes no sense. It did not have to be this way.

The intraparty conflict in Wisconsin is a bad look in a state that's central to the party's hopes of beating President Donald Trump in November. It also doesnt bode well for a unified message in the run-up to the Democratic convention in Milwaukee, an event that was just pushed back a month to August.

While Democrats across Wisconsin have called for postponing the election, pointing to health concerns and the inability to staff polling sites, Evers has cited his limited authority to impose a delay against Republican resistance in the Legislature.

Evers has advocated that residents vote by mail and called on lawmakers to ease up on election day requirements to allow more flexibility on when ballots could be turned in and counted.

Story continues

On Thursday, a federal judge provided some relief. While refusing to move the primary, U.S. District Judge William Conley extended the deadline by one day to request absentee ballots and is allowing voters six additional days after Election Day to return them. Conley in a Wednesday ruling said his hands were tied to postpone the election and called out both Evers and the legislature for not taking the action themselves.



Waukesha settles on one polling place for in-person voting for Election Day due to the coronavirus Tuesday, March 31, 2020 in Waukesha. Waukesha city officials announced Monday all voters will be directed to the Schuetze Recreation Center, 1120 Baxter St. The city is reducing the number of polling places from the usual 13 sites. (Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP)



And in interviews with POLITICO, more than a dozen Democratic officials in the state expressed frustration that Evers didn't act sooner. They argue that he hasn't tapped the full range of his powers, such as calling for a special legislative session or announcing an election delay and forcing someone to stop him. That's essentially what Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine did last month, even in the face of an adverse court ruling.

Mason, a Democrat who served in the Wisconsin state Legislature for 11 years, described local officials as exasperated over trying to carry out an election amid the pandemic. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett had urged people not to go the polls on election day to vote for him  but instead to do so by mail ahead of time.

Polling places across the state are down at least 7,000 poll workers already. Only a fraction of polling sites are expected to be open in Milwaukee, an area that serves large African American and minority populations.

But Evers' office said the governor is unlikely to change course.

Our democracy is essential, it must go on. Keeping people safe is the governors top priority but we want people to participate in this election. We want as many people as possible to vote from home, Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff told POLITICO. "We hope the Legislature would work with the governor to extend the time for [ballots] to be counted and to be received.

She dismissed the possibility of the governor attempting to halt the election like DeWine did. Its not going to happen," Baldauff said. "He doesnt want to do it and he also doesnt have the authority to do it.

The governors office has argued that there's no certain future date when the health crisis would relent. Officials also said that a delay would put at risk hundreds of nonpartisan positions on the ballot  including the mayor of Milwaukee  that under statute would be vacant if the election does not take place on Tuesday. That scenario, the governor's office said, would create even more chaos amid a public health emergency. But critics say it is a gray area that Evers could have exploited through the Legislature or the courts to find a bridge solution until the health crisis abates.

Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz agreed the governor could not act unilaterally. But Hintz also said holding the election Tuesday will put people's health at risk and expose the state to more lawsuits.

It's "an exercise in futility. That appears to be the way were headed now," Hintz said. Every day people realize how serious this is. We already have major problems with peoples abilities to vote  with absentee ballots requested two weeks ago not being received.

"Its a pretty bad idea to go through with this.

While Evers has advocated that residents vote by mail, complaints are streaming in from people across the state that they havent received absentee ballots in the mail. Evers decision to bring in the National Guard to assist with election day is introducing its own concerns, from questions about how to expedite training to fears that a military presence will turn off hordes of potential voters.

We have three branches of government to ensure a system of checks and balances, and questions about our elections typically rely on all three playing a role. If I could have changed the election on my own I would have but I cant without violating state law, Evers tweeted Wednesday. Ive asked the legislature to do its part to ensure a fair, safe election and I hope we can get some clarity as soon as possible. The bottom line is that we have to keep folks safe and we have to make sure everyone who wants to vote has the opportunity to make their voice heard.

All three branches of government have failed to do anything, Mason said. The governor has refused to call a special session. The Legislature has failed to call a special session, and a federal judge who heard a case on Wednesday seemed to hint he would not intervene, he said. Nobody has stepped up to the plate.

Evers on Friday called for absentee ballots to be mailed to every Wisconsin resident, a proposal rejected by the Republican-majority Assembly. But Democrats expressed frustration that Evers hadnt pressed the issue by ordering a special session. Baldauff said Evers' powers extend only so far; Republicans had already indicated they would not budge and pointed to a previous special session in which they gaveled in and out without taking action.

But critics say forcing the matter again would put the onus on Republicans to act. They also complain Evers' office intervened in an ongoing lawsuit only at the eleventh hour  and even then, he proposed a middle-ground solution rather than siding with mayors and progressive groups that filed lawsuits calling for the election to be delayed or voting extended.

Its been a cataclysmic failure, said one Wisconsin-based Democratic strategist who supported Evers 2018 campaign. It has been disappointment after disappointment. I do not believe that hes shown leadership or good judgment during this crisis.

Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich said he pressed Evers earlier this month to consider alternatives. On top of public health concerns, Genrich said, the electoral system could not withstand the strain of holding an election amid a pandemic thats caused a backlog in processing ballots and sidelining poll workers.

I had a conversation with him several weeks back, I expressed my frustrations to him. I didnt want to file a lawsuit but said that was my intention if things were not resolved, Genrich said. Ive been very upfront with him and his staff and legislators about how strongly we feel about how difficult it would be and how wrongheaded it would be to move forward with an election. But unfortunately, we have gotten no action.

The Wisconsin Democratic Party broke with the governor on Wednesday and called for a delay in Tuesday's election. In an interview, however, Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler defended Evers.

"The governor is overseeing the whole coronavirus response in Wisconsin," Wikler said, "and one piece of that is doing everything he can to make the election safe under current law while urging the Legislature to change the law."
On March 31, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint against four individuals for conducting a fraudulent unauthorized trading scheme through retail customer accounts at their Commission-registered brokerage firm.

According to the SEC's complaint, Jonah Engler of New York, Joshua W. Turney of California, Hector Perez of New Jersey, and Barbara Desiderio of New Jersey engaged in a scheme to conduct voluminous unauthorized trading in over 360 retail customer accounts as Global Arena Capital Corp., the New York broker dealer they were associated with at the time, was going out of business. This unauthorized trading allegedly generated over $2.4 million in unlawful markups, markdowns, and commissions for their firm and resulted in over $4 million in net losses for their customers. The complaint alleges that Engler, who indirectly owned and controlled Global, orchestrated the scheme, and Turney and Perez, who were registered representatives at Global, carried it out with the assistance of Desiderio, Global's President, CCO and supervisor.

The SEC's complaint, filed in federal district court in Brooklyn, charges Engler, Turney and Perez with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a)(1) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5(a) and (c) thereunder, and charges Desiderio with aiding and abetting Engler's, Turney's and Perez's violations. The SEC's complaint further seeks disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus prejudgment interest, penalties, and injunctive relief.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Hane L. Kim, Margaret Spillane, Jacqueline Fine, Sandra Yanez, and Steven G. Rawlings, and supervised by Lara S. Mehraban. The SEC's litigation will be led by Richard Primoff, Ms. Kim and Ms. Spillane. The SEC thanks the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for their assistance in this matter. The SEC's investigation is continuing.
The American Academy of Poets, which launched National Poetry Month in 1996, is building a resource list to help poets and poetry organizations during the epidemic, says Jeffrey Gleaves, digital engagement and content director. The academy will publish guidelines and best practices for virtual events and readings, and organizations are encouraged to submit virtual events to its Poetry Near You listings page on Poets.org.

On March 20, the academy launched the #ShelterInPoems initiative, which invites readers to select a poem from the Poets.org website and post on social media why they find the poem inspiring. The effort will continue through at least April, Gleaves said, and the organization is sending select testimonials to its newsletter list weekly.

Weekdays through April, U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo will guest edit the Poem-a-Day on Poets.org. Other resources at the academys website include a list of 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month at home and in a digital classroom.

Paul Slovak, executive editor at Viking, is looking after the Penguin poetry list, as hes done for the past two decades. On World Poetry Day, March 21, Penguin announced a social media initiative encouraging readers to pause and take a moment for poetry. The first poem, excerpted from American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin by Terrance Hayes, was shared on March 24 across Penguins socials. The campaign will continue through National Poetry Month.

In April, Penguin Books is releasing a Farsi/English edition of Iranian poet Garous Abdolmalekians Lean Against This Late Hour, the first English language publication of his work and the first time the Penguin Poets series has done poetry in translation. It always seemed a long shot that Garous would be able to come from Iran for the publication, Slovak said. We had set up a launch event at Poets House in New York for April 16 that was to include the two translators, Idra Novey and Ahmad Nadalizadeh, and are now exploring whether that event could be done virtually.

Four Way Books is also looking into virtual events, says publicity director Clarissa Long. The press, which releases 1618 titles per year, published Gregory Pardlos 2015 Pulitzer Prizewinning collection, Digest, and its spring poetry list includes Fantasia for the Man in Blue by Tommye Blount, Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry by John Murillo, and Let It Be Broke by Ed Pavlic . Four Way is speaking with venues that had been scheduled to host its authors and brainstorming ways to promote new books without an in-person reading, such as livestreaming q&as.

Return to the main feature.
The Pakistan government is facing mounting criticism within the country and abroad for its delayed reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the virus spreading quickly due to failures in screening and quarantining.

Pakistan currently has more than 2,400 confirmed cases and Covid-19 has caused 34 deaths across the country.

Most of the initial cases were Shia pilgrims returning from Iran, one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic, and the virus spread rapidly after hundreds of people were kept in camps along the border with Balochistan without any screening. The camps also had no medical facilities, and this exacerbated the situation.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

The Pakistan government also failed to take effective action to shut down mosques, with thousands joining Friday prayers on March 20 and March 27. Commentators within the country have criticised the governments lack of action, pointing out that Saudi Arabia had suspended the Umrah pilgrimage and shut even the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Early in March, some 250,000 men from Pakistan and abroad gathered at Raiwind near Lahore for a five-day meeting of the Tablighi Jamaat, after the country had already reported confirmed Covid-19 cases and there were public demands for the gathering to be called off.

The Tablighi Jamaat members were asked to disperse on March 12, a day after the meeting began, but the gathering has since been identified as the source of infections as far afield as Palestine and Kyrgyzstan. Some 550 Jamaat members, including nationals of Indonesia, Nigeria, Afghanistan and China, have been quarantined in Sindh after a Chinese citizen tested positive after attending the meeting in Raiwind, according to media reports.

Reports suggest the Pakistan government has failed to act on such gatherings or to shut mosques because of fears of a backlash from powerful Islamic organisations. In the face of the governments dilly-dallying approach to the pandemic, the military has taken on a greater role in controlling the spread of the Coronavirus.

Pakistans planning minister Asad Umar, addressing a news conference on April 1, said the current lockdown in the country will continue till April 14.

Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, planning minister Asad Umar and President Arif Ali went into self-quarantine after a recent visit to China, which was apparently aimed at obtaining financial and other support for Pakistan due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

While in isolation at his home, Qureshi was critical of those blaming China for the spread of the Coronavirus. The world is blaming China [for the outbreak] whereas it is an international issuePakistan had expressed confidence in not repatriating students from China, he was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

A medical team sent by China to Pakistan has been sitting idle because of a lack of interpreters, according to media reports. The team of eight medical experts arrived in Islamabad last week and visited several health centres and quarantine facilities for Covid-19 patients.

But when the Chinese medical experts started conversing, some local medical staff appeared lost, unable to understand what was being said in Chinese, The Express Tribune reported.

Opposition PML-N lawmaker Abdul Qayyum criticised the governments handling of the visit by the Chinese medical team, saying it should have arranged for interpreters so that their knowledge could be transferred to Pakistani doctors. People do not know in which direction are we heading and they are asking where is the government, he said.
It is also installing plexiglass shields at pharmacy and checkout counters in select markets and aims to use them across its chain. The company also said that it will conduct health screenings, including temperature checks, at distribution centers and other locations.

The announcement came as pressure has increased on retail chains deemed essential enough to remain open to provide additional protections for their employees, who are working in some of the few places where Americans are still able to congregate.

Masks, in particular, have become a point of contention, with some employees complaining that they are not allowed to wear masks even if they brought their own. Walmart and Target have said in recent days that they will begin providing face coverings to their staffs.

What we know about how the Fed plans to spend its new pot of money.

Congress has earmarked $454 billion for Federal Reserve programs that are meant to keep credit flowing to businesses, states and local governments  funding that could help it to fend off a worst-case scenario for the United States economy.

During troubled times, the Fed can lend more or less directly to companies and governments using its emergency authorities. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin must sign off on the programs, and the Treasury Department backstops the programs with a layer of funding meant to absorb losses.

The central banks actions so far, taken when the Treasury had far less money to provide backup, offer a rough outline of how it might use the new appropriation.

For individuals: The Fed is rolling out one lending program that gives eligible companies cheap loans in exchange for asset-backed securities  basically, bundles of debt  built on newly issued credit card debt, student loans, auto loans and the like. By creating a big incentive, the program should make loans available and cheaper for consumers.
Family violence experts say calls for help have plunged by up to 30 per cent despite an expected sharp increase in incidents while families are ordered to stay at home during the coronavirus crisis.

They believe the drop is due to victims finding it difficult to safely call for help while they are stuck at home with their abusers.

It comes as police prepare for a new wave of first-time victims to surface  many of them children  in what they say is likely to be a tragic consequence of Australia's social distancing measures.

If someone is experiencing or afraid of family violence, they can call Safe Steps 24 hours on 1800 015 188 or the national helpline on 1800 RESPECT. In case of emergency call 000. Credit:Shutterstock

Rita Butera, chief executive officer of Victorias family violence crisis centre Safe Steps, said evidence showed that family violence incidents increased during times of disaster, such as the bushfire crisis.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Joe Macias stormed out of his mobile home Wednesday after becoming upset that he didnt qualify for a COVID-19-related stimulus check, according to the Albuquerque Police Department.

When the 63-year-old came back, he allegedly doused his wife and mobile home with gasoline before trying to set it ablaze.

Macias was unsuccessful and is now charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and aggravated battery against a household member. He has been booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court:

Police responded around 8:30 p.m. to a family dispute at a mobile home park in the 7400 block of San Pedro NE, a few blocks north of San Antonio. Arriving officers found Macias walking down the street, his clothes soaked in gasoline.

Officers discovered Macias disabled wife, her hair and pajamas soaked in gasoline, on the floor inside a nearby trailer. The wife told police Macias had come home around 5 p.m. with a four-pack of beer and upset because he did not qualify for the stimulus check.

Once Macias finished the beer, he asked for his wifes car keys to go buy more and, when she refused, he yelled youre going to pay the consequences and stormed out. She said he came back a few hours later with a gas can and pushed her onto the floor.

The wife told police that, as she lay on the floor, unable to get up, Macias threw gasoline onto her and all over the mobile home. She said Macias then pulled out a cigarette and attempted to light it several times, but was unsuccessful due to the lighter getting gasoline on it.
'For every epidemic, it takes a peak and then it comes down.'

'Usually, infections peak in 14 days, and you give another week's time after the peak.'

'That is why the lockdown is for 21 days.'

IMAGE: A policeman wearing a helmet and holding shields depicting coronavirus walks in a market area in Chennai to advise people to maintain a safe distance, April 2, 2020. Photograph: P Ravikumar/Reuters

The world has seen around a million coronavirus infections as on April 2.

And around 50,000 deaths.

Statistics reveal that a majority of those died are the elderly, above the age of 70 with existing health conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

Why is it that people with diabetes are at high risk?

What should they do to remain safe?

The issue is of strong relevance to India which, with 50.9 million diabetics, is described as the diabetes capital of the world.

Worryingly, the number of diabetics in India is expected to rise to 69.9 million by 2025 and 80 million by 2030.

Answering these questions is Dr A Ramachandran, an internationally known diabetologist with an experience of 48 years.

A member of the expert advisory committee on diabetes for WHO, he is the founder of Dr A Ramachandran's Diabetic Hospitals and president of the India Diabetes Research Foundation. He is also a visiting professor at the Imperial College, London.

"The question is whether people with diabetes are at a higher risk of contracting the infection. No. In China, they didn't find that. But once you get the infection, the outcome will be more serious in those with diabetes," Dr Ramachandran tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com.

It is said that the most vulnerable against the coronavirus that attacks the respiratory system are the elderly with hypertension and diabetes. Why is it that people with diabetes are at a higher risk?

Generally speaking, complications and outcomes of all infections, and that include bacterial and viral infections, are more serious in diabetics than in non-diabetics. That means the risk of complications is more.

Why is it so?

It is because diabetes reduces your general immunity level, for two reasons. One, because of tissue hyper glycemia, which means when the glucose level is high, the organisms find it easy to grow in the tissues.

So, in uncontrolled diabetes, the epithelium of the bronchial system will be more vulnerable for the virus to be growing there.

Secondly, the immunity also comes down because the defence mechanism is fighting the virus. So, the power of the WBC is reduced in tissues with diabetes.

The question is whether people with diabetes are at a higher risk of contracting the infection. No. In China, they didn't find that.

But once you get the infection, the outcome will be more serious in those with diabetes.

For example, the death rate of diabetic patients was 7.3% compared to the total percentage of 2.3%.

The other problem is that patients with diabetes are mostly aged.

First of all, age is a risk and as age advances, the number of people with diabetes also increases.

So, when you are an elderly person, you are likely to have diabetes. If only 15% of the general population has diabetes, among people above 65, 25% to 30% people have diabetes.

Then, one of the major risk factors is cardio-vascular disease and unfortunately, people with diabetes have cardio-vascular diseases.

It is a bad combination to have both diabetes and cardio-vascular disease.

What is the risk factor for people with controlled diabetes compared to people with uncontrolled diabetes?

There is no doubt, people with controlled diabetes behave like non-diabetics. Therefore, it is important that people with long term diabetes, especially people with multiple doses of insulin, have to be more careful in these circumstances.

An infection can suddenly increase their glucose level and can go uncontrolled.

They say that all the elderly in society should quarantine themselves whether they have any illness or not. Is that the precaution people with diabetes should take as well?

The precautions that they should take is not different for what elderly people with diabetes or without diabetes. All of them have to do social distancing, wash their hands with soaps after they go out.

So, the precautions are not different except that you make sure your diabetes is under good control. That is because even if you get an ordinary infection, the risk is much higher if you are diabetic.

But if you get fever, if you get cough and if you are diabetic, it is better you call your doctor and get an earlier hospitalisation done. Because it can get worse and the complication can be more severe.

Because not much testing is being done in India, do you think it puts people with diabetes more at risk?

The number of cases which is now reported by the ministry of health is definitely an underestimation; there is no doubt about that. It may be ten times more than that.

The second point is they do not have enough testing kits, and testing kits are expensive at Rs 4,500. The Government of India is finding it difficult to do enough testing that now they have asked the private labs to do the testing. But even to test at the private labs, somebody has to pay.

The best thing, more than testing is, social distancing.

What the Government of India has done, what the prime minister has done, is exactly the right thing.

Even if you test negative once, you can test positive later.

Also, you can be asymptomatic for 14 days even if you are infected. So, that person can be a potential infector.

Therefore, testing alone is not enough; distancing, and avoiding crowds is the most effective method.

The other point is you should not get scared because in 80% to 85% of the people, it goes like an ordinary flu. You may get a little fever, you may get a cough but it will go away.

Unfortunately, the death rate is higher than the common flu. But you must know that 85% of the people came out of the infection successfully.

So, avoiding the infection is the best way. Yes, be at home and don't step out. Yes, you are paying a very big price for this. But that is absolutely justified.

Would you say people with better immunity survive even if they are diabetic?

Of course. The recovery is there. Still, the death rate is definitely much less than SARS. SARS was less contagious, but this virus is very contagious.

It is like lightning, like wild fire. Even though the death rate is low, it is infecting millions of people in a few days.

And in India, we cannot afford to have such a situation.

How can you improve immunity?

We do not know how to improve your immunity system just like that.

Be healthy, exercise, breathe well, have good food. But you cannot improve your immunity immediately.

You spoke about exercise. Exercise is a must for people with diabetes. So, how will the 21 days of lockdown affect people with diabetes who have no exercise?

They have to do some exercise at home like doing yoga or walk on the terrace.

If you live in a very clean area and nobody is going to the park in your area, you can go there.

If somebody is walking around with infection and coughing when you are passing, you are inviting trouble.

So, at this point, you can afford to sacrifice your exercise.

Photograph: PTI Photo

Do you feel this is a warning for the entire world which has neglected healthcare for quite some time?

I wouldn't say so. Because even in developed countries, in the European countries where healthcare is very good, we could't stop this virus because we didn't have an anti-viral agent. Neither do we have a vaccine so far. It is a new strain of virus.

One of the reasons why there is higher mortality in countries like Italy is because the healthcare system is good and people are living longer. So, a large number of population there is above the age of 70.

The pyramid is different there unlike in India where you have more young people.

And the elderly is the most vulnerable lot. And these people also have co-morbidity like diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, cancer while smokers will have respiratory diseases.

When you have these co-morbid conditions and you are an old person, you are at a higher risk.

I don't think you can blame the health system there because modern medicine and its progress have made people live longer. So, you have age-related diseases like diabetes, cancer and cardio vascular diseases much more in this population. And they becoming vulnerable is the problem.

Do you feel this is nature's way of telling people that it is unnatural to extend life artificially with modern medicine?

This only shows nature is more powerful than human beings!

When the tsunami came, nobody knew it was coming. Here, it is a known tsunami coming, but we do not know how to stop it.

The criticism against the UK and the US is that they have been taking it very slowly. In fact, India has done faster.

Because our healthcare system does not have enough testing kits, ventilators and hospital beds, social distancing and a lockdown are the only way of tackling the virus?

This is the only one option we have, and what the prime minister has done is correct.

There is no doubt our healthcare system is fragmented, and not up to the mark. However, we do not have the necessity to have so many ventilators in normal conditions. And nobody anticipated a pandemic like this to happen.

Even in the United States and UK, they do not have enough ventilators. That is because in normal conditions, we do not need so many ventilators. We cannot blame the health system for that.

So, the lockdown is the only option we have and even if it is efficient by 75% to 85%, that is good enough.

But why 21 days?

For every epidemic, it takes a peak and then it comes down. Usually, infections peak in 14 days, and you give another week's time after the peak. That is why the lockdown is for 21 days.

Had it been two weeks, it is too low and had it been 4 weeks, it would have been too long.

You will know after two weeks whether there will be an extension or whether it will end in 21 days.

Which direction do you think is the trajectory of the virus going?

Even though there is under-reporting, there has not been too many deaths. That's a good point.

The second point is, we do not know whether the survival of the virus in a temperate climate like ours is shortened by the temperature. Most viruses survive better in cold weather.

Another thing is, we do not know whether there is difference in immunity for our people. There could be definite differences in defence mechanisms and also response to certain virus infections.

Then, we have to see whether the virus has gone for a spontaneous mutation after going from continent to continent.

If it has become less virulent, we are lucky.

Also, it is a fact that we are exposed to more infections than white people. So, there is a possibility that Indians may have a little higher immunity.

Of course, these are all hypotheses.

The proof will be evident in two weeks's time.
Polarized is a weekly series featuring Americans from all 50 states sharing their views on the 2020 elections. Click here if you would like to be a part of this project

When life in Wisconsin came to a screeching halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, Emily Thurmann was forced to stop working at the locally owned restaurant where she is a waitress.

And yet, the state is still encouraging voters like her to flock to the polls come Tuesday, when it defiantly plans to hold its presidential primaries amid a deadly nationwide outbreak of Covid-19.
An entire Spanish family including eleven children have contracted Coronavirus and are under strict isolation in their home.

The Cebrian Gervas family have been forced to lock themselves away in Valladolid in north-west Spain after every single one of them was diagnosed with the virus.

Mother Irene Gervas was the first in the family to test positive for Covid-19.

Doctors placed the family under a strict lockdown because their viral load means they have an increased risk of affecting others in their home city of Valladolid

The family said they are keeping their children entertained using technical devices like laptops and mobile phones and are home schooling them from Monday to Friday

Father Jose Maria Cebrian told local media: 'The children fell one by one. Some of them got over it better and some of them a bit worse. As the virus takes five or six days to show up when you feel bad you start to recall and then you think 'ok!''

Carmen (15), Fernando (14), Luiz (12), Juan Pablo (11), twins Miguel and Manuel (10), Alvaro (8), Irene (5), Alicia (4), Helena (3), and Jose Maria (1) are now unable to leave their home.

The family can be seen above standing on their balcony

Cebrian added: 'In our case, they (the children) are sick one day, they have a headache, they vomit and after vomiting, they feel better. The day after they don't even remember.'

The family is under a strict lockdown as they could infect others due to the high number of family members under the same roof.

Cebrian added: 'The doctor told us that we will have to stay at least two more weeks on an absolute lockdown because of the viral load that we have. If we go out and take it out we could start a source in Valladolid.'

They have so far been in isolation since testing positive on March 14, the day Spain announced it was extending its state of alarm.

The country has recorded more than 117,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 11,000 deaths.

Local media said that the family is relying on relatives and their 14-year-old son to help them deal with the situation.

Their son is only allowed to go out to the pharmacy so long as he wears a face mask and gloves.

Cebrian also said: 'He is the only one who goes out a bit. I take out the rubbish and he is the messenger. When we get our groceries delivered they leave it in the garage and my son goes down to pick it up.

Local media reported that only the family's 14 year old son is allowed to leave the house to go to the pharmacy so long as he wears a face mask and gloves

'Our siblings are in Valladolid and our loving mothers, the grandmothers, who do not stop cooking, asking and bringing things.'

The children are reportedly being home schooled using laptops, tablets and mobile phones.

Jose Maria said: 'It is important they do not have the feeling that this is chaos, so they have classes from Monday to Friday.'
Immigration authorities started releasing detainees who were held at the Bristol County House of Correction, a federal judge said Friday.

U.S. District Court Judge William Young on Friday ordered officials to release three detainees who have no criminal charges or prior records, Commonwealth Magazine reported. They will be placed under house arrest.

Young said during Fridays remote hearing that six other detainees were voluntarily released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

John Mohan, an ICE Boston spokesman, declined to comment on the judges remarks, except that if the agency must release a sick or isolated detainee, health staff must immediately notify local public health agencies.

ICE makes custody determinations every day on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with U.S. law and Department of Homeland Security policy, considering the merits and factors of each case while adhering to current agency priorities, guidelines and legal mandates, Mohan said in a statement to MassLive. When making such decisions, ICE officers weigh a variety of factors, including the persons criminal record, immigration history, ties to the community, risk of flight, and whether he or she poses a potential threat to public safety.

The order comes after a class-action lawsuit filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights and Yale Law School on behalf of dozens of detainees seeking to be released for fear of becoming infected with the coronavirus.

The facilitys Unit B has about 57 detainees held on civil immigration violations, as well as more immigrant detainees in an area described in the complaint as the Correira.

According to the initial complaint, lawyers said detainees were confined in close proximity without adequate soap, toilet paper and other basic supplies.

A health care staffer working at the facility in Bristol County tested positive, Lawyers for Civil Rights said on Thursday.

Young held a hearing Thursday to review the detainees that attorneys wanted to see released. He put them into five groups: detainees with no criminal record and no pending charges; detainees with minor records who have underlying health conditions; detainees with minor records with no underlying health conditions; detainees with serious pending charges against them in the U.S. or elsewhere; detainees who have criminal conditions for serious violent crimes.

He provisionally certified the first class of detainees on Thursday, those with no criminal record or pending charges.

Im operating from the premise that every person bailed from the facility improves the chances of those that remain in the facility," Young said during Thursdays hearing.

After ordering the release of three inmates on Friday, Young requested a list of detainees he could review Saturday to be released, Commonwealth Magazine reported.

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Midland ISD is entering a new phase of its academic plan, and like the previous one, grades will not be a part of determining academic achievement.

Midland ISD Chief of Staff Katie Atkins said Thursday that the move to a virtual platform  including Google Classrooms -- will provide different ways for a student to reach a teacher for the academic discussions that will take place.

She also said the district and its teaching and learning staff are moving toward providing feedback and performance monitoring.

We are still not taking grades, Atkins said. I know there are different thoughts about grades and things of that nature, but given the disparities with technology access in homes, it is not fair for all of our students to be treated exactly the same in that regards.

Atkins said the district is working to acquire 1,000 hot spots and that those are in very high demand right now. As hot spots or other internet equipment are provided to campus leaders, the district will communicate with the families of its 26,000-plus students so that were not moving forward with a bunch of people rushing up to school at one time. Its going to be a very careful, calculated process and information about distributing the hot spots will be available in the coming days.

Atkins said many questions will be answered as the district has discussions with the Texas Education Agency. These questions range from best practices for grading for the rest of the 2019-20 school year, how to determine if students will progress from one grade to the next or how class rankings will be determined.

When asked about whether the end of the school will be canceled, Atkins said the district wants to be consistent with Gov. Greg Abbott. For now, that means schools may not start before May 4. She said it is important for the district also to be consistent with entities such as the Texas Education Agency.

Other highlights from Midland ISDs presentation at the Thursday morning press conference include:

--maintaining social distancing is preventing district officials from visiting homes of students they havent been able to reach.

--a mental health support hotline will be set up so students can talk to a Midland ISD counselor.

The hotline will be manned 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Crisis counselors are available to anyone in the community by calling 1-877-420-3962. That service is free, Atkins said.
ONTARIO  The Saint Alphonsus Health System announced Wednesday it planned to slash hours for some employees, reduce compensation for senior leaders and furlough workers in response to financial losses linked to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

Saint Alphonsus Health System is part of Trinity Health, a Michigan-based medical group. Trinity Health operates medical facilities and clinics throughout southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon.

How many employees at the 49-bed Saint Alphonsus Medical Center Ontario will be impacted is not known, said Mark Snider, a spokesman for Saint Alphonsus Health System said today.

We are still evaluating. No decision has been made as to the number, said Snider.

Snider said in terms of care, not much will change for residents who seek medical attention.

So, if someone received service at the Ontario hospital there is a high likelihood, they will receive the same service today, tomorrow and yesterday, said Snider.

Snider said the hospital group isnt closing its doors.

Certainly, for some of the support functions, the people who are not directly involved in patient care, if they cant be shifted to other roles, they may seem some impacts, said Snider.

CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS

In a statement released Wednesday, Odette Bolano, chief executive officer and president of Saint Alphonsus Health System said, health systems worldwide are under tremendous pressure to prepare for the upcoming COVID-19 surge.

We are actively recruiting to increase our clinical staff, redeploying colleagues to address critical needs, decreasing senior leader compensation and planning for reduction of colleagues hours and furloughs to address the challenges we face, Bolano said.

The hospital system stopped elective procedures more than two weeks ago to prepare for an onslaught of COVID-19 virus patients which sliced into its bottom line.

That had a negative impact on cash flow and finances, said Snider

Snider said the furloughs were not layoffs but unpaid leave. He said furloughed employees can be quickly called back into service if needed.

Hospitals everywhere are beginning to feel a financial squeeze even as the COVID-19 virus continues to rage.

Last week, the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, asked the Oregon Legislature to convene a special session to create a $250 million Hospital COVID-19 Emergency Fund. The association also urged lawmakers to design a $200 million Hospital Stabilization Fund where money can be directed directly to hospitals to address urgent needs. Part of those funds will be committed to Oregons smaller rural hospitals to forestall layoffs or furloughs.

-- Pat Caldwell, Malheur Enterprise
Boris Johnson is to remain in self-isolation after failing to fully recover from coronavirus, he revealed today.

The Prime Minister was due to exit quarantine in Downing Street today, seven days after testing positive.

But in a video message today he confirmed that he continues to have a high temperature and will therefore remain in isolation.

'Although I'm feeling better, and I've done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom - I still have a temperature,' he revealed.

'So in accordance with Government advice I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes.'

He appeared at the door of No 11 Downing Street, where he lives, to join in the mass clapping for key workers at 8pm last night.

Mr Johnson also urged people today to stick to the regulations over the weekend and not to be tempted by the forecast of good weather.

He said: 'I reckon a lot of people will be starting to think that this is all going on for quite a long time and would rather be getting out there, particularly if you've got kids in the household, everybody may be getting a bit stir crazy, and there may be just a temptation to get out there, hang out and start to break the regulations.

'I just urge you not to do that. Please, please stick with the guidance now.

In a video message today Mr Johnson confirmed that he continues to have a high temperature and will therefore remain in isolation

Mr Johnson appeared at the door of No11 Downing Street, where he lives, to join in the mass clapping for key workers at 8pm last night

Matt Hancock warns there could be 1,000 coronavirus deaths a DAY by Easter Sunday The UK's coronavirus outbreak could peak over Easter weekend and next Sunday, April 12, could have the highest death toll of the entire epidemic with around 1,000 fatalities, according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Mr Hancock said it was 'perfectly possible' that the one-day death record of 569, recorded yesterday, could double next week. The Health Secretary's comments came as he was grilled this morning after pledging to boost the UK's COVID-19 testing capacity to 100,000 per day by the end of April but admitting the Government hasn't yet found a reliable antibody test for people who have already recovered from the virus. When asked whether he thought next Sunday would be the worst day of the entire crisis he told Sky News: 'I'm not going to steer you away from that. That is one perfectly possible outcome.' Advertisement

'This country has made a huge effort, a huge sacrifice, done absolutely brilliantly well in delaying the spread of the virus.

'Let's stick with it now - remember that incredible clapping again last night for our fantastic NHS. We're doing it to protect them and to save lives.'

Mr Johnson went into isolation last Friday but has continued to work while being kept apart from his staff, other ministers and also his pregnant fiancee, Carrie Symonds.

His official spokesman told reporters today: 'He does continue to have mild symptoms, in particular a high temperature.

'The guidance is clear that if you still have a high temperature you should keep self isolating until it returns to normal.'

It came as Matt Hancock, who has recovered, described the illness as feeling as if you had' razors in your throat'.

The Health Secretary this morning told of his concerns at how serious things might get when he was struck down by coronavirus, describing how he lost half a stone during the illness.

Rishi Sunak turns on the spending taps yet again with more support for ailing businesses as the coronavirus shutdown sees service sector COLLAPSE Rishi Sunak turned the Government's spending taps on again today to help more firms struggling to withstand the onslaught of coronavirus. The Chancellor unveiled an expansion of his multi billion-pound scheme to keep businesses afloat and ensure millions of workers stay in their jobs. The move will enable larger firms with turnovers as high as 500 million to access support, while opening up the availability of state-backed cash to smaller companies. It came as new figures revealed today that the UK's service sector has seen its largest collapse on record as the economy ground to a standstill to contain the spread of the pandemic. Data from the IHS Markit/CIPS service purchasing managers' index (PMI) gave the UK a score of 34.5 in March, down from 53.2 in February. Anything below 50 is considered a contraction in the economy. It is the worst decline recorded since it began in 1996. Advertisement

He told BBC Breakfast: 'When you're on the way down it's really worrying because we can all see just how serious this illness is.

'And, for some people, the people who often get into the worst of health and those who lose their lives, it's often because the lungs over-react to the virus, there's an immune response. And you just don't know if that's going to happen, so I found it really worrying.'

Having addressed the daily Downing Street press conference on Thursday as his first public appearance back at work, he did a round of media interviews on Friday morning.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, he said: 'I had two days or so when it was like just razors in your throat, a very, very sore throat. I couldn't eat and I couldn't drink.

'The worst bit was on the way down, worrying how bad it would get because we've all seen how bad it can get and it seems to be indiscriminate.'

He branded the disease 'indiscriminate' and said it had left him unable to eat or drink for a few days and he had been unable to sleep.

Mr Hancock, who said he had begun to go 'downhill' on March 26, claimed the worst part had been not knowing how bad things might get.

Health chiefs fear 68F mini-heatwave at the start of Easter holidays this weekend will lead to public flouting coronavirus lockdown rules as police urge public to stay at home or face fines and arrest

Health chiefs today urged locked-down Britons to continue staying at home to help fight the coronavirus pandemic this weekend as a mini-heatwave is due to sweep the country.

Large parts of the UK will enjoy 'a good deal of sunshine' on Saturday, with the weather 'feeling warmer than recently', according to the Met Office. Sunday also looks dry from many, with warm sunshine in the East.

Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 68F (20C) on Sunday, but the rising mercury has left medical bosses concerned that families tired of quarantine could be tempted to break the rules and make day trips out.

As a result, police forces are bracing themselves to deter visitors to popular beauty spots - with the mild, sunny weather also expected to last into the start of next week for southern and eastern areas. Officers are now priming themselves for potential clashes with sun-seekers, picnickers and travellers as the Easter holiday period begins.

Tourism figures said they were worried online home rental sites such as Airbnb are encouraging people to travel across the country for so-called 'stay-cations'. Good Friday is fast approaching in a week's time on April 10, but all Britons have been told to cancel any holiday plans and stay at home to help fight the pandemic.

Today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also urged people to stick to the regulations over the weekend and not to be tempted by the forecast of good weather. He said: 'I just want to say one crucial thing, one quick thing to everybody thinking about this weekend and what may be some fine weather.

Two people enjoy the spring weather in St James Park, London, yesterday, as health chiefs grow concerned large numbers will break lockdown to enjoy the rising temperatures this weekend

'I reckon a lot of people will be starting to think that this is all going on for quite a long time and would rather be getting out there, particularly if you've got kids in the household, everybody may be getting a bit stir crazy, and there may be just a temptation to get out there, hang out and start to break the regulations.

'I just urge you not to do that. Please, please stick with the guidance now. This country has made a huge effort, a huge sacrifice, done absolutely brilliantly well in delaying the spread of the virus. Let's stick with it now, remember that incredible clapping again last night for our fantastic NHS. We're doing it to protect them and to save lives.'

Meanwhile Ken Marsh, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said police were ready to use new powers handed to them to enforce lockdown measures.

He said: 'I don't doubt more people will be out. There are pockets of people not taking the rules on board and if there are gatherings in parks or any area where we feel there are groups of more than two or three people, they will be spoken to and dealt with very rapidly.

'First it will be a conversation, and if they don't adhere to that there will be fines and, yes, there could be arrests.'

Derbyshire Police, which came under criticism after using drones to stalk hill walkers, yesterday urged people to stay away from the Peak District and National Forest. It also raised the prospect of increasing patrols if people flout the rules.

A spokesman said: 'Our officers are already out and about across the county speaking to people and explaining how they can best follow the guidance and, where appropriate, moving people on if they are behaving in contravention of that guidance.

'As a force we do not want to criminalise otherwise law-abiding members of our communities; however, where all other means have been exhausted then fines can and will be issued.'

Hotels, hostels and short-term accommodation venues have all been ordered to close by the government.

And Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, said: 'We are worried it will tempt people to come and we're worried about the impact between local people and the industry, as the government advice is clear and locals want people not to come.

'It seems to me that it wouldn't be very difficult for a large website like Airbnb to just say 'we are not allowing any bookings for the foreseeable future'.'

The Prime Minister yesterday warned that data was showing more people were using transport than in previous days, with No.10 growing increasingly worried about more cars appearing on the road this weekend.

When the lockdown was first enforced, large groups of people could still be seen in public places across the country, with officers often spotted speaking to those flouting the rules.

According to The Guardian, England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van Tam, said: 'Whatever the weather, we all have a shared responsibility to protect those around us, and the single most important action we can all take in fighting coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.'

While visitor numbers at the popular Lake District have fallen in recent days, officers have still had to tell day-trippers to leave, according to Andy Slattery, assistant chief constable of Cumbria Police.

He admitted he was concerned families would be suffering from 'boredom and frustration' after nearly two weeks of being told to stay home, and that people would be tempted to get in their cars to travel for a change of scenery.

Messages will be pumped out on social media across London from today, urging people to resist the desire to go out, though police chiefs fear the Easter weekend could prove to be an even bigger concern, with forces drawing up plans to boost patrols, according to the newspaper.

While there is fear in some quarters that the public will struggle to continue to follow the lockdown rules, a government adviser and behavioural change expert said research suggests violations of the guidance should not be expected.
The San Rafael Waterfall, one of Ecuadors most popular tourist attraction has all but disappeared after a mysterious sinkhole diverted the gushing Coca River into three small streams.

As part of the Cayambe Coca National Park, in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, the San Rafael Waterfall reportedly attracted tens of thousands of tourists every year. Thats all in the past, though, as the impressive 150-meter-high waterfall all but stopped flowing on February 2nd, after a mysterious sinkhole formed on the river fueling it, diverting the water into three small streams. All tourism to the site has been closed and the waterfall doesnt even show up on Ecuadors official travel website anymore.

Unfortunately, Cascada San Rafael is now part of history and will not return, an Ecuadorian official was quoted as saying. Thats quite a shockingly abrupt end to what was once the South American countrys largest waterfall.

The cause of the sinkhole remains uncertain, and the Governments quick decision to lay the waterfall to rest only fueled rumors that the construction of a hyrdoplant on the Coca River was to blame.

Photo: Ministerio de Turismo Ecuador

A waterfall that has been there for thousands of years does not collapse, coincidentally, a few years after opening a hydroelectric project, Emilio Cobo, coordinator of the South America Water Program at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, told Mongabay. These are processes that are in scientific papers and there is sufficient evidence that a dam can cause effects of this type on a river.

However, geologists like Alfredo Carrasco say that the waterfall was located in an area of volcanic activity, so it is likely that its collapse was a natural phenomenon, albeit one never recorded in the history of Ecuador.

Although the river still flows under an arch that survived the collapse of the land, seen from the place where it used to be photographed, the San Rafael Waterfall has virtually disappeared.
3 April 2020

EUROCANN INTERNATIONAL PLC

NEX: BUD

(the "Company" or "Eurocann")

Notice of AGM

Eurocann (NEX: BUD), quoted on the AQSE Growth Market, is please to announce that notice convening the Company's Annual General Meeting, to be held at Abbey House, 282 Farnborough Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7NA on 22 April 2020 at 3pm, has been posted to shareholders.

The notice of AGM can be found at: https://eurocannintplc.com/

Given the current COVID-19 on-going situation, the Company has included a letter outlining the AGM procedures with the Notice of AGM. The content of the letter is paraphrased below.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

ENQUIRIES:

Company

Eurocann International plc

Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi / Conrad Windham

Telephone: 020 3778 1106

Corporate Adviser

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Guy Miller and Mark Anwyl

Telephone: 020 7220 9796

"Dear Eurocann Shareholder,

In light of the evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and the recent announcements by UK Government, which the Board has reviewed carefully, the Directors consider the health and well-being of shareholders and other AGM attendees a priority. Based on the latest available advice, the AGM is expected to proceed on 22 April 2020.

To comply with the UK Government's requirement that physical gatherings should consist of no more than 2 persons in public, the Board requests that no shareholders should attend the meeting (apart from Mr Burns Singh TennentBhohi (as a director and shareholder of the Company) and Mr Conrad Windham (as a director and shareholder of the Company), to constitute the minimum quorum for the AGM to take place under the Company's articles of association and company law requirements). Shareholders should note that only the usual and formal business set out in the notice of AGM will be considered at the AGM. The meeting will be conducted swiftly, with no presentation by either director and no question and answer session.

Shareholders wishing to vote on any of the matters of business are urged to do so through completion of a proxy form, which can be submitted to the Company's Registrar. Proxy forms should be completed and returned in accordance with the instructions thereon and the latest time for the receipt of proxy forms is 3.00 p.m. on Monday, 20 April 2020. Proxy votes can be also be submitted via CREST.

We thank you for your understanding at this unprecedented time.

Yours Sincerely,

Stephen Ronaldson,

Company Secretary,

Eurocann International plc"
Representative Image

The number of COVID-19 cases across the globe is rising by the hour, inching closer to breach the 1 million mark. The pandemic, having made its way into about 207 countries or territories, has already claimed as many as 50,000 lives as of April 3, 2020.

In India, as per the Health Ministry's latest updates, the number of positive cases stands at 2,547, of which 62 people have already lost their lives to the viral infection.

Also Read | Coronavirus pandemic: The mental agony of working from home and how to deal with it

Here are the key developments as on April 3:

>> Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the country via a video message. He urged people to come together in solidarity on April 5 at 9 pm. As a show of support, he asked everyone to switch off the lights in their homes, stand in their balconies with candles, diyas, or mobile flashlights and torch lights, for 9 minutes.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

>> Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot tweeted saying that there has been a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases reported in the state in the past 24 hours. He said that in light of this critical situation, a team from the WHO will be visiting the Tonk district in the state to conduct a survey.

Also Read | India may not lift coronavirus lockdown before September, study says

>> The World Bank approved an emergency fund of $1 billion for India on the evening of April 2. The fund is meant to support the country's efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak and help in better screening, contact tracing and lab diagnostics, procurement of personal protective equipment and setting up of isolation wards.

>> The Election Commission of India has further postponed the Rajya Sabha polls in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fresh dates for the same are to be announced later.

>> The Indore district administration invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against four men involved in the alleged attack on health workers in Taatpatti Bakhal area of the city.

>> PM Modi also interacted with sportspersons via video conferencing on the situation arising due to COVID-19.
Little did newly-weds Dr Niteesh Bharadwaj, a paediatrician, and his wife Inchara know, when they set on a trip to Maldives, that they would have to spend three days in a quarantine hospital after their return.

Now in home quarantine, after the couple tested negative for COVID-19, Dr Niteesh said, I am narrating my experiences in a quarantine hospital now so that it may help others feel less anxious.

Follow live updates on coronavirus

The couple had headed to Maldives last month. At the time, there were a few cases here and there, but since things were okay, we decided to go ahead with the trip, he recollected.

The number of tourists were less there. Anyway, we didnt come in contact with anybody. However, at the airports and flights, you never know, he said, in hindsight.

Once we landed in Mumbai, we filled in a self-declaration form saying we didnt have fever or cough. A thermal scan was also done. We didnt have any symptoms then. There was no stamping for home quarantine.



Dinner provided at the Isolation Hospital, Indiranagar.



Dr Nitheesh explained, Initially, the home quarantine stamping was only for 25 countries and Maldives was not in that list. We took a connecting flight to Bengaluru from Mumbai. There was no screening done because it was a domestic flight.

However, once they reached home, they decided to self-isolate themselves to a room on their terrace because we had our parents, who are nearly 60, and my niece staying with us.

After a week, Dr Niteesh developed a mild sore throat.

A day later, his wife started having a runny nose and cough apart from slight breathing difficulties.

We became cautious, he said. After discussing with a few of my colleagues, we decided to get tested at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, he recollected

It was pretty simple there, he said, allaying all fears of testing.

The hospital has separate counters for patients. At gate number one, they have a hut sort of thing which is meant only for screening COVID-19 patients. Here, the doctor asked for our basic details, our travel history, etc. and filled up a form. We then went to the registration desk and got our OPD card printed. With the card we went to gate number 2 to meet a senior doctor.

After he took down our clinical history, he suggested that we get tested. He added that we need to stay in a quarantine hospital also after the test.

This was something that they did not expect.

We were told that the test will be taken and the reports will come after three days. If the test is positive, we would be sent to a hospital allocated to keep only the COVID-19 positive patients, he said.

They were tested for the virus and H1N1. They took our throat and nose swabs and vitals were checked. They then categorise into high risk and low risk patients, Dr Niteesh said.

For the low-risk patients, like the couple, there are about 10 quarantine hospitals, he informed.

They were asked whether they wanted to go to a private or government hospital. They chose the latter.

Since the couple stayed in Chamrajpet, the closest hospital was ESI Rajajinagar. Unfortunately, there were no vacant beds available and the other hospitals were very far for them. They finally chose the Isolation Hospital in Indiranagar.

There were only four pickup ambulances, so we waited for two hours for an ambulance to take us to Isolation Hospital in Indiranagar. We are not allowed to go by ourselves. This is because some people wont go to hospitals after the tests, they just abscond, Dr Niteesh informed.

At the hospital, there were two wards -- one for male and one for female patients. There were six patients in 12 beds with screens and adequate distancing between the beds, he said.

For the couple, though, the next two days were all about waiting for the reports.



Male ward at the Isolation Hospital, Indiranagar.



The staff in the hospital were very friendly, took good care of everyone and were strict when they were required to be. We were prescribed anti-flu medicines and antibiotics. Antibiotics, probably, was a blanket therapy for everyone. We were also given medications for cold and cough, Dr Niteesh explained.

The food, he said, was served on time and there were extra boxes of food for those who required them. The bathrooms were clean, even the fittings were new, he added.

Dr Ansari was the district surgeon in charge of the hospital. He had ensured that the food and other facilities were provided to all patients on time, he said satisfied with the services provided.

As was said, on the third day, they got their report and they tested negative.

The hospital also got our report -- for a double check. The doctor then prepared our discharge summary and we were given the discharge card. We were also stamped for home quarantine for 14 days.

With his hospital quarantine days over, Dr Niteesh is now raring to get back to work.

While waiting for the home quarantine to be over, Dr Niteesh says,

Whatever the government is doing, it is the best thing. Lockdown is not just to protect the patient but their parents and contacts from contracting the disease. One should respect the lockdown and if one is in home quarantine, strictly follow it and stay at home, he said

And did I say there were no expenses at all, right from testing to discharge? he summed up.
In the time of coronavirus, companies will be closely scrutinized for how they treat their workers, and its the first time in recent history that American capitalism will be getting a blanket wakeup call: Starting now, its all about reputation. In fact, what is clear to many but still elusive to some, has prompted billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban to advise U.S. companies to go over and above to protect their workers during the pandemic. How companies treat their workers now will define their brand for decades, he said.

Millions of Americans already have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis and the worst of the damage is yet to come, with some predicting that 67 million jobs are at high risk of unemployment.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits amid the pandemic has doubled in a week to a record of 6.65 million, while the Washington Post reports that 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in March alone.



So, this is where we separate the wheat from the chaff in a time of global crisis, when everyone is expected to pull together for the greater good.

Its wise to heed Cubans advice when he says that the younger generation of consumers are paying very close attention to how companies are behaving during the pandemic stressing that large companies need to prioritize their employees during this difficult time.



If you get branded as a company that acted in bad faith, laid off all your employees, or really cut back and you took a bonus or whatever, youre going to get crushed and your brand is going to go straight into the toilet, Cuban said.



The Anecdotal Report Card



As the situation is changing rapidly, Just Capital has created a COVID-19 Corporate Response Tracker which covers choices major U.S. companies are making during the coronavirus pandemic, and how theyre making them.

(Click to enlarge)

Source: JustCapital



The tracker is focused on the 100 largest public employers in the U.S and measures various dimensions of company response, from the expansion of paid sick leave and work-from-home policies and layoffs to customer accommodations and community relief funds.

A



Outdoor gear company Patagonia has promised to pay its employees while it shutters all stores and offices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.



Many other retail chains, including Apple, Warby Parker and Urban Outfitters, are choosing to do the same and pay their employees.

Target, UPS, Home Depot, Kroger, Walmart, Amazon, Lowes, CVS, AT&T, Dollar Tree and Starbucks--among others--are all offering workers paid sick leave.

C



One favorite millennial stock thats getting a lot of media attention--both positive and negative--is Amazon (NYSE:AMZN). In the past few days, media reports are focusing on the fate of a single Amazon warehouse employee who helped organize a worker walkout earlier this week.

Related: The Surprising Businesses Deemed Essential During The Coronavirus Lockdown

A group of warehouse workers walked off their jobs in Staten Island to demand that the company close the facility following several confirmed cases of the coronavirus among staff. Later that day, the company fired one of the organizers, saying he violated quarantine and safety measures. The incident has even prompted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to order the city's human rights commissioner to investigate Amazon over the firing.



E



There are many failures, too, though, with plenty of companies firing workers and freezing their positions with unpaid sick leave, while still others are lobbying incessantly and dubiously to be labeled as essential business to make their employees return to work despite the risk.



In an internal Hobby Lobby memo obtained by Business Insider, the company told managers that sick employees must use personal paid time off and vacation pay or take an "unpaid leave of absence until further notice."



According to Business Insider, Hobby Lobby founder David Green allegedly told employees that staying open was a message from God.



At Joann Fabrics, its CEO claimed that major hospitals had asked the company for help with materials for masks and gowns, which they denied.



At another major craft store, Michaels, workers were told they were "essential" to serving the public looking to take their minds off a stressful reality.

Menards is also getting a failing grade on this report card. In Michigan, its even been officially warned by the Attorney General to cease opportunistic practices during coronavirus--and its already the companys second warning.



The current climate should not be viewed through the lens of business opportunism where dollars drive decisions over the good of the publics health, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a news release. Dana is taking issue with Menards marketing practices that are designed to bring large numbers of people to its stores for non-emergency purposes.

And prior to this, on March 17th, Menards was accused of price gouging on face masks and bleach by the Michigan Attorney General.



By Michael Kern for Safehaven.com

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Presidente @MartinVizcarraC : Hasta la fecha, hemos realizado 17 334 pruebas, de las cuales 1595 han resultado positivas. De estos casos, 243 pacientes se encuentran hospitalizados, de los cuales 72 se encuentran en UCI con ventilacion mecanica. pic.twitter.com/m7ePdYn9bw

#PeruEstaEnNuestrasManos El presidente @MartinVizcarraC informa sobre la situacion del Estado de Emergencia en el #Dia19 y las acciones que realiza el Gobierno para contener la propagacion del COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/fI2saAlRtW https://t.co/30NJpOkaaY
"Now, foreigners are getting rich in South Sudan and nationals are getting agitated in some ways and little do they know that even if the foreigners leave those properties to them, they will still not be beneficial to them..."
It was your professional obligation to notify the District as soon as you became aware of these charges, which was on December 6, 2019, when you were served with the criminal complaint, the district said in the statement to Tolefree, which the News-Sun obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request this week.
The U.S. attorneys in eastern and western Virginia recently announced the Virginia Coronavirus Fraud Task Force, in partnership with the Virginia State Police and the FBI. They noted that phony websites claiming to sell high-demand medical supplies have popped up, fake charities have been calling seeking donations, and scammers posing as health authorities such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been sending phishing emails designed to download malware or extract personal information.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 02:33:48|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Iran will respond severely if the United States does anything to undermine security of Iran, Chief of Staff of Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri said on Thursday.

"If (the U.S.) takes the smallest step against the security of our country, they will be faced with the most severe reaction," Baqeri was quoted as saying by Press TV.

Over the recent days, the U.S. military activities across Iraq and the Gulf have increased, he said.

"On the psychological and media fronts, they (Americans) are also engaged in massive dissemination of news denoting that they have plans against resistance groups in Iraq," he said, adding that "we are completely monitoring such activities."

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that "Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops or assets in Iraq."

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday rejected U.S. claims, saying that Iran has no plan of an attack on U.S. troops in Iraq.
(TNS)  The Stark County Crime Stoppers nonprofit has rolled out a new crime-reporting system that will put the power of reporting a crime anonymously into the hands of the public."Our mission is to keep the community safe and gather any information we can to help solve crime," Ferrero said in a news release. "We believe the new StarkCo Crime Stoppers app from tip411 will make it easier for residents to contact law enforcement with information to help keep their community safe."The city of Canton has had a Tip411 line for six years. The company that handles Canton's tipline is also the same company that handles the county's new service.Now the county Crime Stoppers group, spearheaded by Ferrero's office, has a Tip411 line covering the entire county, although the service will also accept tips for crimes that involve the city, Ferrero said."We did the research. There are over 1,500 communities in the United States that have Crime Stopper programs and most of them tip411 systems that have been very beneficial to helping law enforcement receive tips on crimes," Ferrero said.Tipsters need only download the free StarkCo Crime Stoppers app via Google Play Store or iTunes App Store on their smartphones. They can also send text messages to the Crime Stoppers website.Although they won't know who they're talking to because the technology removes all tipster information except for a number, the officers can respond to the tipster via the tip411 system to create an anonymous two-way conversation."We've listened to feedback from partners like Stark County Crime Stoppers and have built a more advanced and innovative product to help law enforcement better engage their communities," said tip411 President Terry Halsch in the news release. "The StarkCo Crime Stoppers app powered by will greatly improve the public's access to safety alerts, social media channels, important information, and more to help fight crime."The tips or information should be about crimes that have already occurred."Now, if a citizen sees a crime in progress, they should call 911. That's important. Don't waste time calling tip411 on a crime that's already in progress. Hurry up and call 911," the prosecutor said.Police won't know who is calling."We don't know the phone number, we don't know the IP address," Ferrero said, noting that the information is "all anonymous because a lot of people are hesitant, perhaps out of fear of retaliation, or they just don't want to get involved."Police would rather have the information than know who's giving it because they simply want to solve the crime.Tipsters can not only submit information about crime, they can also check to see whether a case has been resolved and whether they qualify for reward money, he said.Reward money amounts are determined by the Crime Stoppers Board of Trustees. The higher the visibility of the crime, the larger the reward, he said.To send a message to the county's tip411 program, Ferrero said tipsters should download the app, text the keyword "STARKTIP" to 847411, add a space and then type in the tip information.Then, he said, click on the word "send."The prosecutor said that with the nationwide slowdown currently in progress due to the coronavirus precautions, make this an excellent time to visit the website at starkcrimestoppers.com and download the app."It's really helpful. Everything we can say in our reporting to the public is there," he said.
A daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari has returned home after undergoing 14 days self-isolation.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on March 19 how the first lady, Aisha Buhari, announced that one of her daughters returned from the UK and went into self-isolation required of anybody returning to the country since the coronavirus was declared a pandemic.

Mrs Buhari said the unnamed daughter showed no symptoms of the deadly coronavirus but heeded the medical advice to people coming into the country from high-risk countries.

Back home

Announcing her return via her official twitter handle, an elated first lady said it was a thing of joy to receive her unnamed daughter after being away from the family for two weeks.

It is a thing of joy & gratitude to Almighty God to reunite with my daughter after she had been in isolation for 14 days immediately she landed in Nigeria. While Im wishing all those infected for a speedy recovery, I pray for the end of this, she wrote.

Pandemic

Despite lockdown and other preventive measures, Nigeria has seen a slow increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19, a rare strain of the coronavirus which has been wrecking havoc across the world.

Many of these cases are found in people returning from high-risk countries and to this end, authorities advised returnees to submit themselves for checks at the airport and also observe 14 days self-isolation as a necessary step. It takes 14 days for the full symptoms to manifest.

Many returnees including politically exposed persons have been flouting this advisory which is being enforced in many nations.

This prompted a troubled Nigerian health minister to ask Nigerians to help the government report any returnee not observing the safety routine.

President Buharis Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, who recently returned from Germany and tested positive, had raised alarm over the breach of safety protocols by several Nigerian lawmakers upon arrival into the country.

Apart from Mr Kyari, several persons in Nigerias high political class are now infected after they returned from countries with high cases of the disease or came in contact with those who did.

Their status suggests possible exposure of many others, whom they had met with in the past days, to the pandemic.

The vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and several state governors, went on self-isolation after coming in contact with those infected.

On Thursday evening, Nigeria reported 10 new cases, bringing to 184 the total tally.

The total number of states which have reported at least a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Nigeria is still 12 and the FCT.
The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commended the Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for his timely intervention which has resulted in the smooth distribution of petroleum products to Rivers State neighbouring states.

A press release by the corporations Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted the Managing Director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr. Musa Lawan, as saying that Governor Wikes intervention, by way of relaxing the stay-at-home order as it affected petroleum tanker drivers, went a long way in restoring normalcy to the fuel supply and distribution system in Rivers State and the environs.

The PPMC boss stated that despite the stay-at-home order, vessels laden with petroleum products were berthing the shores of Nigeria to guarantee products supply continuity, assuring that the question of shortage of petroleum products does not arise at all.

Everything in terms of petroleum products supply and distribution across the country has normalized. With respect to Port Harcourt, we had a grid lock about two days ago that built up around the Imo River which restricted movement of trucks and loading of petroleum products from Port Harcourt to neighbouring states. But as we speak, that gridlock has disappeared and I would like to thank His Excellency, Chief Nyesom Wike, for personally intervening with his team. Tankers can now go in and truck out petroleum products and deliver to neigbouring states, Lawan said.

He said the Management of the NNPC under the leadership of the Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, was appreciative of initiatives like that and appealed to other governors to rapidly intervene in such situations to avoid shocks in the fuel distribution and supply system across the country.

He appealed to motorists not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products, especially petrol, noting that with the ample supply of the products, there was no need for anybody to stock up the product in jerry cans to avoid the danger of inferno at homes.
The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine intends to restart the Council of Exporters and Investors so that to more effectively support Ukrainian exporters during the coronavirus pandemic.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated this at an online briefing on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"I pay a lot of attention to economic diplomacy... I have decided to restart the Council of Exporters and Investors, which operates at the Foreign Ministry. An address of the Foreign Ministry to entrepreneurs and companies will be published on the Foreign Ministrys website today, Kuleba said.

In this regard, he called on exporters wishing to cooperate with the Foreign Ministry to declare their interest and apply to the Council of Exporters and Investors.

"We will divide them into clusters according to interests and we will work thematically to promote economic interests of our country in the world," the minister said.

Kuleba also informed that the Foreign Ministry would offer a number of support instruments to the Ukrainian business in foreign markets.

iy
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris have issued an order for Alabama residents to stay at home except for essential activities effective at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The governor announced the update to state measures to control the coronanvirus pandemic at the Capitol this afternoon.

The order states that it will remain in full force and effect until 5 p.m. on April 30. Prior to 5:00 p.m. on April 30, 2020, a determination shall be made whether to extend this Orderor, if circumstances permit, to relax this Order.

Ivey said she became convinced that previous efforts to control the pandemic have not been enough. She said it became obvious late Thursday afternoon that more had to be done.

Folks, April stands to be very tough, and potentially very deadly, the governor said.

You need to understand we are past urging people to stay at home. It is now the law.

Explainer: Stay at home order for Alabama: What you can and cant do.

The order also requires people who test positive for COVID-19 to be quarantined at home for 14 days. They are not to leave home except to receive necessary medical treatment.

The Alabama Department of Public Health reports that as of Friday evening there were 1,529 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. There have been 39 deaths reported in Alabama, with 21 confirmed by the ADPH.

Here is a link to the order, which is also at the end of this article.

The governor also issued a proclamation granting temporary relief from disclosures and evictions from residences. It directs law enforcement to cease enforcement of any order that would displace people from their homes.

AL.com had reported that some Alabama counties were carrying out eviction orders during the pandemic. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones cited the report in his call for the state to put a hold on evictions.

The governor had previously resisted calls for a statewide shelter-in-place order that most states have imposed, including the states that border Alabama. The governor had drawn harsh criticism for her position.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is leading the federal government response to the pandemic, has said all states should have shelter-in-place orders.

The mayor in Montgomery tweeted today, saying that an order from the state for a shelter-in-place order is imminent. Also, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson early Friday afternoon signed a stay at home order with a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.

State Health Officer Harris, Attorney General Steve Marshall, and Dexter Avenue Dexter Avenue Baptist Churchs Rev. Cromwell A. Handy joined the governor for this afternoons press conference.

Marshall said the statewide stay-at-home order carries the full weight of law with criminal enforcement sanctions available. Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Marshall said the extraordinary circumstances did not call for overly aggressive law enforcement but also called on citizens to do whats being asked of them.

Alabama had previously been under statewide emergency health orders that closed public schools for the remainder of the school year, closed non-essential businesses and prohibited public gatherings of 10 or more.

The new order supersedes that. It says every person is ordered to stay at home except for essential activities. Those are listed under categories -- to obtain necessary supplies, to obtain or provide necessary services, to attend religious services, to take care of others, to work, to engage in outdoor activity, to seek shelter, to travel as required by law, and to see family members.

Those categories are further defined with specifics that narrow the exceptions to the stay at home order. For example, worship services must involve 10 or fewer people who maintain a six-foot distance or be drive-in services where participants stay in their vehicles.

The order defines essential business and operations, including essential retailers.

Supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, liquor stores, warehouse clubs, office supply stores, hardware stores, gas stations, and home improvement stores are on a long list of retail businesses considered essential. (See the full list in the order, attached to the end of this article).

Effective Saturday at 5 p.m., the essential retailers will be subject to emergency maximum occupancy limits of no more than 50 percent of the normal occupancy allowed by the fire marshal.

Harris said the list of essential retailers is not intended to give people loopholes to avoid staying at home.

We really need the people of Alabama to pay attention, Harris said. We really need them to understand this is important and can save a life. It may save your own life, or certainly the life of someone that you love and care about or someone in your community.

Things will look a lot different in our state in the next two or three weeks if we can just get people to see that.

Ivey talked about why she decided to take the additional step that some officials had encouraged her to do previously. She said she had tried to let science and facts drive the decisions while keeping all options on the table.

Ive also tried to find the right balance, something that was measured, while not overreacting, that would look out for peoples health while keeping government from choking the life out of business and commerce, Ivey said.

But the governor said the most recent statistics about the outbreak demanded tighter restrictions.

Alabama is seeing an increasing number of positives, positive tests, every day, Ivey said. "Over 160 new positives yesterday, and likely a greater number today. At least 34 people have died, including some as young as 33 years of age.

Our expected surge in hospitalization will occur in about two or three weeks. And those patients are the ones who will become infected in the next few days. So folks we need to extend our health orders now.

Ivey said more than 200 health care workers in the state are already infected and will be sidelined from the effort to fight the outbreak.

Jones was among the officials who had previously urged the governor to issue a stay-at-home order. Jones said he was relieved by the announcement.

We can now turn our collective focus to ensuring we have the resources to test those who fear they have been infected, care for those who are sick, and protect health care and other essential workers who are on the front lines of this crisis, Jones said in a press release.

Evictions Protection Order by KentFaulk on Scribd

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth issued a statement asking Alabama residents to heed the shelter in place order. Last week he wrote a biting open letter to Gov. Kay Iveys COVID-19 task force, arguing they were not taking a realistic approach about the looming tsunami of hospital patients.

I fully support Governor Ivey's decision to issue a statewide shelter in place order.



Read my full statement below. pic.twitter.com/3yUgGk35FT  Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) April 3, 2020

This story was updated at 10:43 a.m. on April 4 to add quotes from Dr. Scott Harris. Updated at 10:54 p.m. to add that order requires people who test positive for COVID-19 to quarantine at home for 14 days.
Grocery delivery service Instacart said Thursday that it will provide face masks, thermometers and hand sanitizer to its full-service shoppers in the wake of worker demands that they get better protections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instacart shoppers can order the free health and safety kits starting next week through a special portal created for them, the company said. Instacart will also pass out face masks to its employees at stores where it has on-site operations.

Our teams are working quickly to introduce new services and features to ensure our shopper community is supported as this situation unfolds, Nilam Ganenthiran, president of Instacart said in a statement.

Ganenthiran said the company had been working around the clock over the last few weeks to proactively secure personal protective equipment.

But the lack of protections and hazard pay prompted some Instacart employees to stay off the job Monday. It was just one of several protests being staged or planned this week by delivery, warehouse and grocery workers who have become critical to getting supplies to millions of Americans hunkered down at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Instacart says that it will offer sick pay and COVID-19 bonuses to in-store shoppers, extend pay to part-time workers and shoppers affected by the virus, and create special time periods before and after stores open so its employees can pick up groceries in less crowded conditions.

Workers, labour advocates and lawmakers are increasingly calling attention to the health hazards faced by those tasked with meeting the skyrocketing demand for deliveries and supplies as tens of millions of Americans are told to stay inside.

Workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, N.Y., staged a walkout Monday, the same day Instacart workers planned a similar action. And employees at Whole Foods, also owned by Amazon, said they would protest this week.

Amazon has announced additional safeguards, saying Thursday it will check all employees for fever, and offer masks to protect them at work.

Walmart and Sams Club will start taking the temperature of each of its employees to help slow the spread of the coronavirus as well as provide gloves and masks to those who ask. And Target said Thursday that it will give out protective gear to workers in its nearly 1,900 stores.

As of Thursday, more than 5,000 Americans had died of the coronavirus, and the number of cases surpassed one million worldwide.

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100 prisoners in Northern Ireland have been approved for early temporary release due to the coronavirus crisis. (PA)

One hundred prisoners in Northern Ireland are set to be released over the coming days to ease pressure on the prison system.

Justice Minister Naomi Long announced earlier this week that up to 200 prisoners could be given temporary early release amid the coronavirus crisis.

On Friday, the department of justice said that approximately 100 prisoners have so far met the criteria set out in the scheme and will have been released by Monday April 6.

The spokesman also said that there have so far been no positive cases of Covid-19 either among prison officers or the prisoner population in Northern Ireland.

There are currently just over 1,500 prisoners in Northern Ireland.

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 early release.

Earlier this week Stormonts justice committee heard that almost 200 prison staff are off due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Nearly a quarter of the workforce is absent due to precautions around the infection and unrelated sickness, Northern Ireland Prison Service director general Ronnie Armour said.

A small number of prisoners were being held in isolation and special measures are being taken to protect elderly or otherwise vulnerable inmates.

Mr Armour said: There is no rule or guidebook to point us to the right answers.

He said they were attempting to act with certainty but planning for the unknown.

A total of 197 staff are off due to Covid-19.

Another 94 are absent for unrelated sickness, totalling 23% of the current workforce, the senior official told the committee.
Nursing student Ryane Panasewicz (R), poses with her colleagues at the Anaheim Global Medical Center in Anaheim, Calif. Panasewicz and other nursing students may not graduate as planned this year due to a disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic of clinical hours required. (Courtesy of Ryane Panasewicz)

Pandemic Puts Graduation at Risk for Many California Nursing Students

The career path of an estimated 10,000 nursing students in California has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and for students like Ryane Panasewicz, 27, no answers or solutions have been offered.

Weve just been on standby  waiting to hear whats going to happen, she told The Epoch Times. Its like drawing the short stick  going to nursing school right now, when COVID-19 comes out.

Panasewicz, a nursing student at West Coast Universitys Anaheim campus, was 12 weeks from graduation when hospitals across the county began closing their doors to students.

They literally said absolutely no students, she said. All of our clinical sites have shut down.

The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) has strict clinical requirements that students must adhere to in order to graduate. They must have 75 percent patient contact and 25 percent simulationa technique that replaces real-world experiencesin order to be eligible for the licensing exam at the end of the program.

For Panasewicz, who has already signed a contract for a New Grad Residency in the Emergency Department at Duke University Hospital for July, this cancellation poses a serious threat to graduating.

Im so discouraged  Ive got to do something, she said. I cant let [this opportunity] slip through my fingers. Ive worked hard to get that.

When appeals to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the BRN didnt produce results, Panasewicz teamed up with a classmate, Brea Ortiz, to start a petition on Change.org.

Petition and Support

We need the BRN to soften their restrictions and provide an alternate solution for the clinical hours to the thousands of student nurses that are impacted by the crisis, the petition says.

The fate of our future employment lies in the hands of those at the BRN. We desperately want to partake in alleviating the nursing shortage in California. (A 2017 study in the American Journal of Medical Quality predicted California could have a shortfall of almost 200,000 nurses by 2030.)

Panasewicz was overwhelmed by the number of people who signed the petition.

We totally thought it was just going to be something small, she said. Itll probably just float around our school and [get] like 500, 1000 signatures.

The petition had more than 136,000 signatures as of April 3.

It was encouraging to hear that other students from other states were supporting us too, Panasewicz added.

Nursing student Ryane Panasewicz (2nd R) poses with her colleagues at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif. (Courtesy of Ryane Panasewicz)

One of the signees, a nursing student in California named Danielle Schwab, wrote a comment on the petition, I believe that our graduation should not be postponed due to COVID-19. It is a nurses duty to attend to these clients, and if nursing students are not able to get experience during this time, how are they supposed to be prepared for pandemics like COVID-19?

The petition got the attention of Lashonda Shannon, associate governmental program analyst at the BRN.

[Panasewicz] told me her story, which just absolutely broke my heart, Shannon told The Epoch Times, making it clear that she doesnt speak on behalf of the BRN.

Shes not the only person thats petitioned the board. I know community colleges as well as private sector community colleges have asked the BRN to either increase simulations or to provide an alternative so that students can still graduate on time and then enter the workforce.

But thus far, she said, the board members have been completely unresponsive.

BRN Cap on Simulations

Californias capping of simulations at 25 percent of the clinical experience is somewhat unusual compared to other states, Shannon said. Most states have no restrictions or they cap simulations at about 50 percent.

Shannon cited a study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing that shows no difference in outcome between students who have 25 percent or 50 percent simulation.

Unfortunately, our board members just havent adopted new regulations to reflect what the rest of the country is doing and  what the data shows we should be doing, she said.

Its just really up in the air, Shannon said. Thats why students have started the petition. Thats why were calling the governors office, because we have nowhere else to turn. There is no other option besides public outcry in order for us to get something done.

Students Encouraged to Help With Pandemic

On March 30, Newsom signed an executive order to expand the states health care workforce. Nursing students were among those encouraged to join the California Health Corps.

The following day, the BRN released a statement urging nursing students to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Board of Registered Nursing advises healthcare providers and the public that nursing students can be deployed to assist in healthcare facilities today, Loretta Melby, BRN acting executive officer, said in the statement. These students will not be violating the Nursing Practice Act by providing services without a license.

The BRN developed a schematic that correlates a nursing students academic progression with a similar role in the health care community.

While this statement effectively allows students to assist during the health crisis, theres still no information on how or if their efforts will satisfy the requirements needed to graduate.

Shannon contends that the BRNs statement fails to address the main question: Will nursing students be able to complete their programs?

If the BRN is saying its okay for nursing students to be deployed to the front lines in healthcare facilities to help, they should also be saying that their time spent working can be used to satisfy their clinical hour requirements, she said.

California needs a well-equipped health care system now more than ever and the BRN should be a solution, not a roadblock.

Governors in Oregon, Virginia, and Texas have put measures in place that allow nursing students to assist during the crisis, stipulating explicitly that their time at work will count toward graduation.

DCA [Department of Consumer Affairs] and BRN are aware of, and sympathetic to, the predicament some nursing students are in as well as the need for health care workers during the pandemic, Veronica Harms, deputy director of communications for DCA, told The Epoch Times in an email.

Our goal  is to get the nursing students out into direct patient care experiences to help in an ordered and expeditious manner while encouraging the academic institutions that these nursing students are enrolled in to allow them to receive academic credit for their time spent assisting in the care of our COVID-19 patients.

But if the BRN maintains control over whether or not restrictions can be loosened for the sake of students closer to graduation, its unclear to what extent academic institutions have power to give the students credit.

Who has the final say on who can graduate: the BRN or the school?

In some sense, both, Scott Casanover, senior vice president of governmental affairs for West Coast University and American Career College, told The Epoch Times.

But as we sit now, there is no regulatory relief from statutes that require students to have several hundred hours of direct patient care in order to graduate.

Casanover said DCA, in response to the governors executive order, will allow schools to submit waivers to current regulatory restrictions. Then, the DCA and the BRN will decide if the waivers will be granted or denied.

The situation is still very much in flux, he said.
A noxious wind is blowing in Bauchi State. A political musical chairs appears on the offing against the democratic choice made by the citizens and residents of the Pearl of Tourism. This comes against developments geared at cleansing the State of corrupt excesses.

Credible information available to 247ureports.com indicates the immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar along with a group of disgruntled politicians have launched a plot to dislodge the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed from the seat of Governor to avert an impending prosecution by the Bauchi State Government against stolen Bauchi State properties found in their possession.

As a caveat, it is recalled that on the 12th day of July, 2019, shortly following his victory at the polls, Governor Bala Mohammed inaugurated the Bauchi State Governments Assets and Funds Recovery Committee. And, on October 2, 2019, the committee headed by Brig. Gen. M. K. Yake completed its assigned task  which was to recover all stolen funds and assets belonging to the good people of Bauchi State. The committee issued a press release detailing a summary of their findings [see below].

The findings were an eye opener to the people of Bauchi State on how the State was looted by the former Governor and his cabal.

Against the backdrop, the culprits indicted by the contents of the committees report were further jolted by the public pledge by Governor Bala Mohammed to prosecute the culprits indicted by the Committees report. Of which, the former Governor, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar was heavily indicted by the report for stealing and contract fraud valued in the high billions of Naira.

According to a source from the Bauchi State House of Assembly who summarized the tension, said, Mohammed Abubakar is afraid and wants to remove Bala before he returns from Covid19 isolation.

The Bauchi lawmaker revealed to 247ureports.com of a recent meeting convened by the former Governor in Gombe State with a good number of Bauchi lawmakers. The meeting discussed the threat of impending prosecution by the Bauchi Government  as Bala Mohammed had pledged publicly. He revealed to the lawmaker how some of the corrupt cases indicted the lawmakers individually. Particularly, the former Governor cited the N8.5billion anchor loan received from the federal government on behalf of the rural farmers in the State.

The loan was meant to be distributed to small scale farmers in the rural area to help their food production and throughput. The money was received in a UBA account belonging to a front of the former governor. The former governor, instead of distributing the loan as stipulated, proceeded to share the money to the lawmakers at N15m each. The former Governor pocketed the remainder. In the words of the lawmaker, He was telling the lawmakers to act  that their hands were soiled too.

FICTITIOUS CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF CHEMICALS FOR A PURPORTED FUMIGATION  The Committee uncovered a N418,425,000.00 fictitious contract awarded at the eve of the 2019 election on 31st December, 2018 by the Bauchi State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for the supply of Agro-Allied Chemicals for fumigation in primary schools in the 20 Local Government Areas of the State. The supply of this chemicals was never done, but the contractor, one Wuro Soyo Investment Nigeria Limited has been fully paid. It is instructive to know that, chemicals of this amount when diluted, can spray a farmland equal to the entire land area of Bauchi State, which is 49,119 km2.

The former Governor tasked the lawmakers to act first by removing the current Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Y. Suleiman representing Ningi Central  who is considered to be loyal to the Governor. It is recalled Alhaji Abubakar Y. Suleiman mounted the seated in June 2019 following an election bitterly contested by the lawmakers loyal to the former governor.

The removal of the current speaker of the Bauchi State Assembly will give way to the installation of a Speaker considered loyal to the former governor  preferably Honorable Kawuwa Shehu Damina. The new speaker is expected to begin the impeachment of Governor Bala Mohammed.

Our source reveals that the national ruling party, the All Progressive Congress [APC] is aware of the plot  and are fully in support of the former governor to return the State to APC. Oshiomole has assured Abubakar of support. The lawmakers are fully aware of Oshiomoles stance.

The desperation level is dangerously concerning. Abubakar is willing to do anything to remove Bala. He sees Balas current situation as the best time to strike.

The lawmaker indicated that many lawmakers within the Bauchi State legislative chamber are singularly interested in filling their pockets. They are not loyal to any one person. Aside from the influence by the former governor on the lawmakers, our source indicates that Bala Mohammed had not been as willing to share monies to the lawmakers  in the manner they would want. They claim that the current speaker is weak in pressuring the Governor into disbursing funds to the lawmakers. It is simple. They want money.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Bauchi State continues to stay in isolation receiving treatment for the Coronavirus  although he is yet to display any symptoms associated with the illness. He continues to govern the state from isolation. Today, he reversed the curfew imposed on the state while still maintaining shut borders. So far, Bauchi has three confirmed cases of Coronavirus. This includes a State Commissioner.

While in isolation, in the presence of impending danger, Governor Bala Mohammed has organized and coordinated for the hospitalization of coronavirus patients in Bauchi.

[See pictures below]



Excerpt from the Committee Report:

The following are some of the heart-wrenching discoveries made by the Committee:

FUNDS ACCRUED TO BAUCHI STATE BETWEEN MAY 2007 AND MAY 2015 (EIGHT YEARS ADMINISTRATION OF FORMER GOVERNOR ISAH YUGUDA)

STATUTORY ALLOCATION (2007  2015)

According to the submission by Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Bauchi State received a total of N393,867,570,547.75 as Statutory Allocation between May 2007 and May 2015.

Conversely, this Committee was able to trace a total of N386,500,736,402.86, from relevant Bank Statements of Accounts at the Bauchi State Treasury. A discrepancy of N6,611,420,477.79, representing Unaccounted Statutory Revenue due to Bauchi State.

SURE-P INTERVENTION PROGRAMME (2007  2015)

The Committee discovered that between May 2012 and December 2014, the sum of N8,338,485,091.46 as Federal Governments SURE-P Intervention. Investigation is still going on to confirm the actual utilization of this amount and you will be duly informed of further discovery in due course.

BANK LOANS TO BAUCHI STATE (2007  2015)

The Committee has discovered that a total of N135,145,096,050.84 commercial loans were taken. Out of this amount, N100,961,539,849.33 were loans taken without the authorisation of Bauchi State House of Assembly as required by the extant law. The balance of N34,183,556,201.51 represents the loans which followed due process of law.

Similarly, the Committee discovered that a total of N881,464,360.73 was interest charge on the unauthorised loans.

TEN BILLION NAIRA (N10,000,000,000.00) LOAN FROM FINBANK (NOW FCMB)  BASG MAIN ACCOUNT NO. 2134384701

The Committee also discovered a commercial loan to the tune of N10,000,000,000.00 taken from the then FINBANK (now FCMB), through a credit entry in the former Main Account of the State Government No. 2134384701, which was apparently an unsolicited loan. There were no documents, whatsoever from the Office of the Accountant General of Bauchi State in respect of this loan. The Committees search is ongoing to confirm how the funds were utilised.

FIFTEEN BILLION NAIRA (N15,000,000,000.00) BOND

At the beginning of the year 2014, Bauchi State Government initiated a process for raising funds from the Capital Market through the issuance of N15,000,000,000.00 Series 1 Fixed Bond under the Bauchi State Medium Term Loan Programme.

The objective of raising these funds as stated in the issue documents were the completion of Bauchi International Airport; New Bauchi Specialist Hospital and; refinancing of existing bank loans in Fidelity Bank and FCMB.

By mid-December 2014, the process was completed and the proceeds of the Bonds Issue were disbursed through the lead bank  United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.

Full investigation on the utilisation and management of the funds is still in progress and details will be announced as soon as investigation is completed.

ECOLOGICAL FUNDS

According to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), the sum of N2,000,000,000.00 was paid to the Bauchi State Government as it share of the Ecological Fund for the year 2013. Similarly, the Ecological Fund Office has through a letter with reference no. EF/ACCT/019/1/14 dated 18th September, 2019 confirmed that in 2014, another N500,000,000.00 was paid into the Bauchi State Government Account No. 0998552029 domiciled with FCMB, as Grant for Displaced Persons in the State.

What is outstanding is how this amount totaling N2,500,000,000.00 were expended.

A total of N564,851,151,690.05 had accrued to Bauchi State between May 2007 and May 2015. Over N200,000,000,000.00 of this funds, this Committee discovered, was mismanaged or outrightly stolen under the administration of former Governor Isah Yuguda.

In line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee, To consider and appraise the report of various enquiry commissions or committees set-up by the previous administrations from May, 2007 to May 2019 with the view of effecting full implantation of all the recommendations requiring recovery of Governments properties and funds, the Committee is going to implement all the recommendations contained in the HIGH POWERED COMMITTEE reportthat investigated all major contracts awarded between May 2007 and May 2015.

FUNDS ACCRUED TO BAUCHI STATE BETWEEN MAY 2015 AND MAY 2019 (FOUR YEARS ADMINISTRATION OF FORMER GOVERNOR MOHAMMED ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR, ESQ)

GOVERNMENT FINANCES:

STATUTORY ALLOCATION (2015  2019)

According to the submission by Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Bauchi State received a total of N321,460,759,830.34 as Statutory Allocation between May 2015 and May 2019.

BANK LOANS (2015  2019)

The Committee discovered that a total of N58,602,385,544.00 loans were taken between May 2015 and May 2019.

BAILOUT LOAN FACILITY

According to the submission by the Office of the Accountant General of Bauchi State, a bailout facility of N8,609,100,000.00; N5,968,400,090.00; N700,000,000.00 in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively, totalling N15,282,400,000.00 were released to the Bauchi State Government.

PARIS CLUB REFUNDS

Similarly, the total sum of N47,314,330,501.72 in 2016, 2017 and 2018 was received by the last administration of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, according to submission by the Office Accountant General of Bauchi State.

BUDGET SUPPORT LOAN FACILITY

The Committee discovered that the sum of N17,569,000,000.00 was received by the State as Budget Support Facility from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA) LOAN FACILITY

The sum of N10,000,000,000.00 was also received by the State as Excess Crude Account (ECA) loan facility.

However, the Committee has observed a discrepancy in the figures supplied by Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), Debt Management Agency (Bauchi State) and Office of the Accountant General of Bauchi State on Budget Support Facility provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The figures under the Budget Support Facility was given as N17,569,000,000.00 and N12,125,000,000.00 by the OAGF and Office of the Accountant General of Bauchi State/Debt Management Agency (Bauchi State), respectively.

Similarly, a loan of N850,000,000.00 being counterpart funding paid Bauchi State by for the Rural Access and Agriculture Mobility Project (RAAMP) has not been captured in the debt portfolio of the State by both the Office of the Accountant General of Bauchi State and Debt Management Agency (Bauchi State).

2. ASSETS TAKEN AWAY/REFUSED TO BE RETURNED

The Committee discovered that the former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has sold to himself, seven (7) posh vehicles belonging to Bauchi State Government in violation of provisions of BAUCHI STATE BUDGET MONITORING, PRICE INTELLIGENCE AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW (BMPIPP 2008), for the disposal of government assets and/or properties. The vehicles are as follows;

Land Cruiser Armoured Jeep, with Chassis No. JTMHX09J9F4089580 auctioned at the cost of N7,800,000.00. Land Cruiser V8, with Chassis No. JTMHX09J8D4050814 sold at the cost N2,800,000.00. Toyota Hilux, with Chassis No. MROFX22G2F1436641sold at the cost of N1,050,000.00. Toyota Hilux, with Chassis No. MROFX22G701415100 sold at the cost of N1,050,000.00. Range Rover (Jeep), with Chassis No. SALWA2VF3EA366819 sold at the cost of N2,947,875.00. Range Rover (Jeep), with Chassis No. SALLSAAD4DA800170 sold at the cost of N2,114,700.00. Range Rover (Jeep), with Chassis No. SALLSAAD4DA81373 sold at the cost of N2,114,700.00.

Similarly, thirty (30) exotic vehicles allocated to his political appointees and public office holders that have left office were found to have not been returned. The Committee has already recovered fifteen (15) of such vehicles and, is on the trail of the remaining fifteen (15) with a view to recovering and returning them to government pool. In the same vein, the Committee has taken steps to recover the vehicles that the former governor arbitrarily sold to himself.

It was also discovered that in violation of his Oath of Office, the former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar initiated a transaction and sold to himself a house with Certificate of Occupancy No. BA/40245 located adjacent to Wikki Hotel, belonging to Bauchi State Government, at a highly subsidised rate. This also, in gross violation of the BAUCHI STATE BUDGET MONITORING, PRICE INTELLIGENCE AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW (BMPIPP 2008), for the disposal of government assets and/or properties. Section 55, Subsection 4 & 5 states inter alia; All procuring entities shall distribute responsibilities for the disposal of public property between procurement units and Tenders Board; and, A report of the findings shall be forwarded to the Executive Council for appropriate directive. Similarly, PART XI  Section 56, Subsection 6(f) stipulates, Avoiding all situations likely to render an officer vulnerable to embarrassment or undue influence. All these provisions were found to have been violated. Above all, the disposing entity, Bauchi Geographic Information Service (BAGIS) is not backed by any law, as the Bill that established the Agency in 2017 is yet to be signed into law. It follows therefore that, whatever business the Agency transacted, and with whomsoever  individuals or organisations, is illegal, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever. The Committee considers as morally reprehensible for a sitting governor to apply for the purchase of a government property and approved same for himself, placing his individual interest above public interest.

The Committee was also able to trace about fifteen (15) properties in Kaduna State, which belong to Bauchi State Government, with their Certificates of Occupancy and ground rents paid up to year 2017. However, the Committee noticed a lot of trespass and encroachment on the properties due to neglect, but legal machineries have been set to evict the trespassers.

3. ILLEGAL DEDUCTIONS UNDER SECURITY VOTE

WITHOUT APPROVAL

Between October 2016 and May 2018 alone, nearly N1.4 billion was outrightly stolen. In 2017 and 2018, unremitted taxes amounting to over N705 Million was uncovered to have been carted away by some greedy officers at the State Treasury.

Furthermore, there were deductions in the name of civil servants in Bauchi State, for National Housing Fund supposed to be paid to the Federal Mortgage Bank but diverted to private pockets, amounting to nearly N350 Million. Under these direct withdrawals and theft we have a total of about N2.5 Billion. The culprits have been identified and efforts have reached advanced stage to retrieve the amount, and appropriately prosecuted.

4. FRAUDULENT/QUESTIONABLE CONTRACTS

The Committee uncovered multi-billion naira fraudulent and questionable contracts, some of them fully paid for according to documents showing capital releases, but were either abandoned or completely not executed. While the Committee is still uncovering such contracts, a few examples of them that were established to be bogus are as follows:

CONSULTANCY CONTRACT ON PARIS CLUB REFUND

The Committee identified a highly suspicious contract on Paris Club recovery, awarded to a consultant, Mauritz Walton. What makes this contract even more suspicious was the claim by the consultant to have received N5 Billion being part payment from Bauchi State Government, waiting for a balance of N3 Billion. However, according to payment voucher from the State Treasury and a Bank Statement of Account of Bauchi State showed a figure much less than what he claimed to have received. Apparently, the Consultant has no idea on how much he has actually been paid. This underscores the shoddy nature of the contract. It is shocking that from our preliminary findings, there was no such consultancy work performed by the presumed consultant to warrant payment of such whooping amount of money. It is on record that Nigeria Governors Forum had hired a Consultant on behalf of all the States of the Federation on the same issue. The Committee is about to conclude its investigation, and certainly recover the amount fraudulently paid to the so called consultant.

FICTITIOUS CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF CHEMICALS FOR A PURPORTED FUMIGATION

The Committee uncovered a N418,425,000.00 fictitious contract awarded at the eve of the 2019 election on 31st December, 2018 by the Bauchi State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, for the supply of Agro-Allied Chemicals for fumigation in primary schools in the 20 Local Government Areas of the State. The supply of this chemicals was never done, but the contractor, one Wuro Soyo Investment Nigeria Limited has been fully paid. It is instructive to know that, chemicals of this amount when diluted, can spray a farmland equal to the entire land area of Bauchi State, which is 49,119 km2.

CONTRACT FOR THE REHABILITATION OF MURTALA MOHAMMED WAY (CBN ROUNDABOUT-FEDERAL LOW COST-RAILWAY ROUNDABOUT)

This contract is the most controversial of all the contacts awarded under the administration of former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. The 4.5km road contract was originally awarded at the cost N2,328,679,294.33 on 3rd November, 2015. The Committee observed that this contract has been reviewed two times, in the sum of N1,744,338,324.33 and N2,428,995,536.88 respectively. As at today, the contractor has been paid a total sum of N2,786,321,283.45. The Committees valuation of work done to date is only N1,318,692,684.54, implying that an overpayment to the tune of N1,467,628,598.91 has been made to the contractor, Messrs QUMECS NIG. LTD.

It is disheartening that after all these payments, work was abandoned and the contractor is not on site. The upward review of this contract, the Committee observed, was done illegally which led to the overpayment as mentioned above. It was also observed that some Certificates of Valuation (CV) raised were not forwarded to Due Process Office Certification for Payments. These Certificates are those that contained the illegally reviewed rates. There seems to be a collusion between some unpatriotic Government Officials and the contractor to review the contracts upward. These officials would be sanctioned according to the Civil Service Rules and Regulations, and the amount overpaid would be recovered.

CONTRACT OF 1.3KM LINK ROAD WITH STREET LIGHT AT FADAMAN MADA, BAUCHI

This contract was awarded to Messrs KANNOU PROJECT NIG. LTD. at original cost of N298,596,929.00 in November 2015. The contract was later reviewed upward to N463,817,177.75. The total amount paid to the contractor as at today is N412,771,115.00, and the actual value of work done is worth N298,715,521.21. The illegal review of the original contract rate led to the overpayment of N414,055,593.79. There is an established collusion between some Government Officials and the contractor, which resulted in the overpayment. The officials would be treated appropriately while recovery of overpayment is being handled.

CONTRACT FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF ITAS-ATAFOWA-MAGARYA ROAD

This contract was awarded to Messrs KANNOU PROJECT NIG. LTD. at the original cost of N1,455,001,214.90 on 7th October, 2016. It was later reviewed upward to N2,979,340,218.25. A total of N553,978,770.00 has been paid to the contractor, while value of work done is only N151,122,021.00. The project has been abandoned and the contractor has left the project site. It clearly appears that the contractor is incompetent to handle project of such magnitude and complexity, that is why for nearly four years on site, and with the amount paid, only 5% work is achieved. This contract is recommended to be determined and the amount of N402,856,749.64 being overpayment to the contractor be recovered.

CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF 500 UNITS OF TRACTORS INCLUDING COMPLETE IMPLEMENTS

This contract was awarded at the cost of N7,925,000,000.00. This contract was a Public Private Partnership contract, with State and LGs to pay N3,170,000,000.00 (being 40% of the contract sum) and the contractor and Bank to pay N4,755,000,000.00 (being 60% of the contract sum). As at September 2018, a total payment of N2,068,958,350.00 has been made to the contractor.

However, as at today only 40 Units of tractors valued at N554,829,280.00 were supplied by the contractor, leaving a balance of N1,514,129,070.00 with the contractor to date. The contractors ground for non-completion of the contract was that the Client could not pay up the agreed Advance Payment of 40% balance of N600,000,000.00. The Committee is making appropriate recommendation to the Government on the best option to tackle this matter.

CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF MAHOGANY AND SHRUOD TO CEMETERIES

This contract was awarded between 2016 and January 2019, to an array of companies including one that is an Engineering and Design Company. The supplies were to be made to Bauchi Central Cemetery, Azare, Misau, Ningi, Jamaare, Dass, Toro, Gamawa, Darazo, Alkaleri Cemeteries, and other various locations not properly defined. The total number of mahogany to be supplied is 573,000 (2x12x12) at the cost of N1,568,033,810.00. While the total number of shroud to be supplied is 66,000 bundles at the cost of N820,423,360.00. The total cost of the contract therefore, is N2,388,457,170.00.

The above outrageous contract implied that at the worst case scenario, at least 573,000 people must have died within this period for the mahogany to be exhausted. While a total number of 198,000 people must have died within the period for 66,000 bundles of shroud to be exhausted.

In the meantime, the relevant Ministry handling the two related matters has already approached the current Governor for approval to supply more of such materials at over N155 Million Naira, but investigation would be concluded when the Committee confirm death figures from various locations to assess the true position of whether or not the materials could truly be said to have been exhausted.

CONTRACT FOR THE REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF SOME ROADS IN BAUCHI

This contract was awarded to Messrs QUMECS NIG. LTD. at the initial cost of N1,957,519,297.53. It was later reviewed downward twice in the sum of N1,103,734,742.13 and N1,237,202,468.13 respectively. Similarly, the sum of N133,467,726.00 was found to have been added to the contract sum as Loss of Profit to compensate for the omission of Asphalt Work. This, the Committee believes is too much a compensation. The percentage of work done to date is 21.6% and, the contract has been abandoned and the contractor has left site. The Committee has established an overpayment of N537,117,385.86, which is going to be recovered. In the same vein, the appropriate compensation for Loss of Profit would be determined, and any such amount overcharged would be recovered.
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For many, the word 'cowboy' conjures up characters played by John Wayne and Clint Eastwood in Westerns, but there are still places where real ranching, roping and rodeo traditions thrive. Like Alberta, Canada.

'I feel like I'm stepping back in time,' said Leah Hennel, a photographer who has been chronicling the province's cowboy and cattle culture since 1998. 'Most of the ranches in southern Alberta haven't changed much in a 100 years.'

Hennel's images capture calves being 'wrassled' down to the ground to be branded, riders clinging to horses trying to buck them, and barrel racers who use speed and skill to create the shape of a cloverleaf. There are quiet moment as well: two young girls relaxing on a hill after sheep shearing, and the muddy and determined face of a young rodeo competitor after a ride.

'The ranching lifestyle is  you're really dedicated to it,' Lenore McLean, a third-generation rancher told DailyMail.com. 'When you got animals, you always have to be checking them and seeing that they're healthy. We also have crop to put in So it is very intense.'

In 1998, Leah Hennel started to take pictures of the ranches and rodeos in southern Alberta, Canada. A full-time photojournalist by day, Hennel spent her nights and weekends shooting life on the ranch and competitive events at rodeos. Some of the images are part of the new edition of her book, All Along the Western Front. Above, a woman, left, 'wrassles' a calf down during branding time at the Pincher Creek Colony, a Hutterite community, in 2017. 'I just loved the photo because she's wearing the long dress, which the women always wear, but she had her jeans underneath,' Hennel told DailyMail.com

Barrel racing is predominately a women's event at rodeos. A skilled rider maneuvers around barrels to create the shape of a cloverleaf. The fastest time wins. Hennel took the image above in 2018 at the annual Writing-On-Stone Rodeo. Depending on the rodeo and venue, there is different access for photographers. For the above photo, Hennel said: 'I'm laying on my stomach in the dirt right at the gate where she's going to come through. You're so close, you can feel the horse, you can feel the breathing. I mean, one time I broke my lens 'cause one of the rocks in the dirt came up and hit my lens you're as close as you can get'

After more than 20 years of taking pictures around southern Alberta, Hennel said she has built relationships with many ranchers. But in the beginning of the project, she had to earn people's trust, especially since she was shooting on private property. The above image was taken during branding time at the Bar S Ranch in 2013. Hennel said she had been visiting the ranch since around 2009. The ranchers, she explained, had gotten so used to her that she was able to walk up right beside the horse to get this picture of a woman about to rope cattle

McLean, who was born in 1939, grew up on her family's ranch and her roots in Alberta stretch back to when her grandfather emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1889. He eventually homesteaded in the southern part of the province.

During her childhood, she explained, the nearest town was 10 miles away and that was where they got their mail. If their vehicle didn't run due to the cold, they then went by sleigh and horses. 'We had to pretty well have our staples and live off the land,' she recalled.

She went away to boarding school but missed the ranch lifestyle too much. She said: 'In that day and age, they used to have the milk wagon come around to deliver the milk at the boarding school so I used to crawl out my window and shimmy down the drain pipes just to smell the horse and pet it when it came by  that's how homesick I was for my country life.'

After getting her education, McLean married a fellow rancher and she noted that she only moved about ten miles east of where she was brought up. 'So I was right back in my element helping my husband,' she said.

They settled on his family's land, Stimson Creek Ranches, where they raise cattle and plant crops like barley, wheat and oats. And while there have been changes throughout the decades  electricity, running water, and now with technology  McLean said that she hopes that the family's ranching tradition continues and her three sons carry on the business.

Hennel told DailyMail.com she prefers to shoot in black and white, saying that she feels it is timeless. It is especially appealing to her for portraits. 'To me, portraits are so revealing for the character of the person you're photographing. And I find especially in black and white, you really focus, I think, on their eyes or who that person is.' For the above image, she said she had five minutes with Kade McDonald, a novice steer rider who she photographed right after his ride at the Calgary Stampede in 2017. Steers, who are typically less aggressive than bulls, are used for youth events

In the early 2000s, McLean was one of three women chosen for an advertising campaign called 'If it ain't Alberta, it ain't beef.' For about seven years, she and the two other ranchers talked about how their beef was raised, and traveled across Canada and parts of the United States and Mexico, she said.

McLean met Hennel, a photojournalist with the Calgary Herald, when Hennel was sent to take pictures and interview her about the campaign and the poster, which featured the trio and the beef tagline. McLean said: 'I was very taken with Leah because she had a natural eye and (was) inquisitive She had the ability to envision our lifestyle to her camera and I'd also say she approached the idea of ranching openly and with such a zest.'

Hennel grew up in Calgary but spent summers at her father's family farm. She recalled helping out with chores, such as branding, in which an animal is marked so that a farmer or rancher can identify it as their livestock.

In high school, she had a work experience course at a local daily newspaper in which she took pictures, made prints in the darkroom, and tagged along with staff photographers on assignments. 'From there I just got hooked,' Hennel told DailyMail.com.

After graduating from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, she got a staff position with the Calgary Herald in 2000 and worked there until last year when she went freelance.

In 1998, she started taking photos on the ranches. Some are the images are part of a new edition of her book, Along the Western Front.

'It's my passion project that I'll hopefully be doing it for my lifetime if I can,' Hennel said. 'It's kind of my way of dealing with being a news photographer when I would cover very difficult topics.'

In the 1800s, chuckwagons were used to store food and supplies for settlers, cowboys and loggers while traveling and often where the cooking took place for camps. Now, there is competitive chuckwagon rodeo racing where teams vie to cross the finish line first. An outrider races alongside his or her team during the race. Above, a portrait of Chloe Studer, taken at the chuckwagon barns at the Calgary Stampede in July 2019. Studer is the only active female outrider and is one of the youngest on the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association circuit, according to Hennel

Above, Ginny Donahue at her ranch in 2018. Donahue and her husband, Randy, run the Sierra West, which also offers ranch vacations. Donahue, Hennel explained, is a third-generation rancher, and they also raise cattle. Another third-generation rancher that Hennel knows is Lenore McLean, whose roots to southern Alberta stretch back to her grandfather settling in the area after emigrating from Scotland to Canada in 1889. Hennel noted that many of the big ranches in southern Alberta have been in business for over a 100 years

The lifestyle appeals to Hennel, who points out it is both a hard and simple life, and since she has been shooting images around southern Alberta for more than two decades, many of the ranchers, like McLean, have become her friends over time.

But in the beginning of the project, she explained she had to make inroads and was taking photos on private property: ranches, indigenous reserves and Hutterite colonies. Hutterites, similar in some ways to the Amish and Mennonites, have communal property, meaning that the colony owns almost everything together.

Hennel said that people are allowing you into lives and that should be respected. For example, the first Hutterite colony that she went to in 2000, she said that for the first month, she probably didn't take any pictures. She noted that they are very private religious group and many don't like their photos taken.

'I really try to get to know them and talk to them before I take their photos because I'm portraying their way of life. I don't want them to think that I'm portraying it in a bad way. I just want to learn more about their cultures.'

Another reason, she said, that she gravitates toward the ranches  especially around branding time, which is usually between May and June  is that despite the different cultures and groups, people pitch in to assist their fellow ranchers.

McLean said: 'Usually the ranchers help one another, you know, with branding and things. We really depend on our neighbors.'

Above, Dana Herr with her daughter Reata on the Lazy U Ranch in March 2016. Hennel told DailyMail.com: 'Dana was actually getting her chaps on to get ready to go riding and she put Reata on the front seat there while she was getting dressed outside the truck, and it was just a moment where... everything lined up. There's just something about a working mom on the ranch.' During the first three years of the project, which was done during her free time while she worked full-time as a photojournalist at the Calgary Herald, Hennel would bring her son with her to photograph, saying she had 'cameras hanging off me' and 'a baby in front'

Hennel said that she often gravitates toward the ranches around branding time, which is usually between May and June. She grew up in Calgary but spent summers at her father's family farm and recalled helping out with chores, such as branding, in which an animal is marked so that a farmer or rancher can identify it as their livestock. The above image was taken at the Lazy U Ranch near Pincher Creek in May 2016. As she has photographed branding before, she was looking to frame the picture differently. 'I liked the design on the stirrups so I focus in on that,' she said, pointing out 'the leather work on the cowboy in the foreground'

Southern Alberta, Hennel said, is 'big sky country.' The above photo of a group of riders at the Bar S Ranch from 2019 appeals to Hennel, who tends to be drawn to prairies. 'I feel like I'm stepping back in time,' she told DailyMail.com. 'Most of the ranchers in southern Alberta haven't changed much in a 100 years.' Hennel noted that she is not trying to romanticize the lifestyle, which entails a lot of hard work and is dependent on the weather. Lenore McLean, a third-generation rancher, said that one must be dedicated. McLean said: 'You never know when a storm is coming in'

In addition to life on the ranch, Hennel documented rodeos and their events, such as saddle bronc riding in which a bucking horse makes it very hard for a rider to stay on for eight seconds. One of her black-and-white portraits captures the face of a young competitor right after a novice event during the Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo and festival.

'He walked out of the dressing room outside, he was covered in mud and I saw him,' she said. 'He just posed like that. I didn't have to tell him anything.'

Another event is barrel racing. Hennel explained that a skilled female rider goes around barrels to create the shape of a cloverleaf. The fastest time wins.

Hennel has taken photos at larger rodeos, such as the Calgary Stampede, and at smaller ones in which she can shoot closer to the action. For the black-and-white photo of a barrel racer during an event at the annual Writing-On-Stone Rodeo, she explained that she was on her stomach in the dirt outside of the gate.

'You're so close, you can feel the horse, you can feel the breathing. I mean, one time I broke my lens 'cause one of the rocks in the dirt came up and hit my lens you're as close as you can get.'

Hennel does not ride herself: she is allergic to horses and has to take medication while working on the project.

Nonetheless, she has persisted for years to chronicle the culture and said she will continue to do so. When she started in 1998, she was working with film that was developed in a darkroom. Now it is all digital.

'It's interesting looking back. But the ranching lifestyle hasn't really changed as much as my photography,' she said and then laughed.

The image above was taken 'after a day of sheep shearing,' Hennel told DailyMail.com 'So the girls were walking back to their houses and they just laid down on the top of that hill. I love photographing kids 'cause I find kids everywhere act the same and they're so open to new people.' She took the image at the Spring Point Hutterite Colony in 2019. Hutterites, similar in some ways to the Amish and Mennonites, have communal property, meaning that the colony owns almost everything together. For tasks such as sheep shearing, she said, the different colonies help each other out

Above, the man, center, is a saddle bronc rider at the annual Writing-On-Stone Rodeo in 2019. In the event, the competitor tries to stay on a bucking horse for eight seconds. If he somehow does remain on the horse, pickup men, above left and right, ride up beside him. Hennel said: 'It's kind of like an old West movie and they help him off the horse or they have to pull him off.' The rodeo takes place at the Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and has many rock carvings by Canada's indigenous peoples. Hennel said it's an 'awe-inspiring' place to take photos
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 16:37:43|Editor: Liu

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Photo taken on April 3, 2020 shows the entrance of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge during a curfew in Male, the Maldives. (Photo by Li Xiang/Xinhua)

MALE, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives Police Force has issued warnings to 95 individuals who violated a curfew imposed by the Heath Protection Authority (HPA) as a precaution against the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported here Friday.

Maldives announced a partial curfew applicable to Greater Male between local time 5 pm and 8 pm that came into effect on Thursday. Maldives Police said that 83 citizens and 13 foreigners were apprehended for violating curfew on the first day.

According to Maldives' Public Health Act, individuals infected or suspected to be infected by a disease must follow regulations set by authorities or risk being taken to court by the Police. Individuals violating HPA regulations can be fined up to 65 U.S. dollars.

Maldives is currently under a 30-day State of Public Health Emergency amid a COVID-19 outbreak that has seen 19 confirmed cases.
Los Angeles, April 3 : Hollywood star Tom Cruise's "Top Gun: Maverick", the much-anticipated sequel of the 1986 hit "Top Gun", will now release on December 23 instead of original release date June 24.

"Top Gun: Maverick" is the latest movie to be pushed amid the spread of the coronavirus, reports variety.com.

Released in 1986, "Top Gun" was apparently inspired by a magazine article on Navy pilots. The film followed the life of a fighter pilot and launched Cruise's career as a global action star. The sequel picks up decades after the 1986 box-office hit. It also features Miles Teller as the son of Goose, Maverick's partner who died in the original film. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the movie will be exclusively distributed in India by Viacom18 Studios.

As part of the release shake-up, Paramount has also moved "A Quiet Place Part II" to September 4, 2020. "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run", an animated adventure based on the absorbent underwater fry cook, was originally slated to hit theaters on May 22 and will now bow July 31, 2020. Meanwhile, sci-fi fantasy film "The Tomorrow War", previously scheduled for December 25, 2020, is now undated.

The films join a growing list of tentpoles that were pulled from release because of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent closure of multiplexes. Sony also delayed most of its summer slate, including "Morbius" and "Ghostbusters: Afterlife". Disney postponed "Black Widow" and "Mulan" while Warner Bros. reshuffled "Wonder Woman 1984" and "In the Heights" and Universal halted "Minions: The Rise of Gru" and "Fast & Furious" entry "F9".
With the booming number of COVID-19 cases in the US, ICE border detention facilities are like petri dishes ideal for the spread of the viral disease. Housing more than 38,000 individuals in these limited facilities make it impossible to impose social distancing and practice sanitation like frequent hand washing. Some interviewed immigrants complained that they even have to buy their soap from the commissaries.

Though ICE implements a strict protocol to screen incoming immigrant detainees with symptoms, advocates and authorities are still skeptical about it. Now, family members are also not allowed to visit these detention centers.

Sylvia Garcia, the U.S. Representative for Texas is one of the skeptics that advocate for the release of immigrant detainees that poses no threat to the general public.

"ICE's failure to reduce detention numbers and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 has a real possibility of creating a severe health crisis for detention centers and overwhelming local health care facilities," Garcia said.

With nine cases reported of COVID-19 infection in detention facilities, nine of whom are immigrants, ICE must consider a more aggressive action. They can resort to either preventing or mitigating the spread of the viral disease--the former being the ideal action.

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Since these centers are lacking in basic commodities from the beginning, opening up new facilities will not solve the issue. This will still expose the vulnerable detainees, the children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised, to the viral disease.

As the number of cases increases each day, hospitals become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Immigrant detainees with no access to health insurance and assistance from the government will greatly suffer. Worst is being denied freedom once these detention centers start to succumb to the viral disease.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus together with the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigrant Justice Centers demand ICE to release immigrant detainees that are vulnerable and those who are not public safety risks.

Take the United Kingdom as an example, releasing one-third of the 900 immigrant detainees as a preventive measure to avoid outbreaks in institutional settings.

As stated by the New York Representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who also agrees to this proposition "This is a humanitarian crisis that is right on our doorstep. A decision to do nothing is a decision to harm." However, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez has yet to produce any kind of plan as to the proper way of releasing these illegal immigrants. The Trump administration on the other hand is actively finding ways to minimize the spread of the infectious diease.

Now that New York is the epidemic center of COVID-19 cases in the United States, advocates and politicians want to take preventive actions instead of mitigating measures. The disease is highly infectious which is rapidly increasing once a case has been reported. Being one of the crowded cities in the United States, New Yorkers already know the value of social distancing and proper sanitation to keep the number of cases steady.
DUSHANBE -- A military court in Tajikistan has sentenced a Jehovah's Witness to two years in prison after finding him guilty of refusing compulsory military service.

The court in the capital, Dushanbe, made the ruling against 20-year-old Jovidon Bobojonov on April 2, the Jehovah's Witnesses told RFE/RL.

The trial was held behind closed doors.

Tajik authorities have not provided information about his sentencing.

Bobojonov has appealed against his conviction, according to the Norway-based Forum18 human rights organization.

The Jehovah's Witnesses said Bobojonov was arrested in January after he refused to wear a military uniform and take the military oath of allegiance.

Bobojonov refused, the group said, because it contradicted his religious beliefs.

Tajik authorities banned Jehovahs Witnesses in the Central Asian nation in 2008.

In September, a court in the northeastern city of Khujand sentenced a Jehovah's Witness to 7 1/2 years in prison after finding him guilty of inciting religious hatred.

The court also ruled that after serving his term, Shamil Hakimov will be barred from working in religious organizations for three years.

In autumn 2017, a court in the southern Tajik region of Khatlon sentenced an 18-year-old army conscript, Daniil Islomov, to six months in prison for refusing to wear a military uniform because of his beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness.

Tajik law obliges all men between the ages of 18 to 27 to serve in the armed forces for two years.

Refusing military service is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Tajikistan gives exemptions from military duty to full-time university students, men who are the only son in the family, married men with more than one child, and individuals unfit for service due to medical reasons.
New White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has privately discussed the possibility of replacing White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, who is at home under self-quarantine, according to a new report.

Grisham is at home following her exposure to a Brazilian official at Mar-a-Lago March 7 who later tested positive for the coronavirus. A day earlier, President Donald Trump announced on Twitter that Mulvaney would be his new chief of staff, replacing Mick Mulvaney.

Meadows, who resigned from his North Carolina seat Congress March 30 to begin his new post as Trump's fourth chief of staff, has privately discussed bringing Pentagon spokeswoman Alyssa Farrah on for the job, Axios reported. Farrah previously served as press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence.

'If true, how ironic that the press secretary would hear about being replaced in the press,' said White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, in a statement about new chief of staff Mark Meadows discussing her possible replacement

Grisham, whose decision to self-quarantine following contact with the Brazilian delegation was reported March 17, gave a statement that did not deny the possibility of a change.

'Sounds like more palace intrigue to me, but Ive also been in quarantine. If true, how ironic that the press secretary would hear about being replaced in the press,' she told the publication.

Grisham also serves as White House communications director, so it is not clear whether Meadows is exploring a press secretary who would conduct traditional briefings while Grisham remains in her other post. The communications director typically focuses on broader messaging issues.

Grisham has been criticized for failing to hold a single press briefing during her tenure, even while conducting multiple TV interviews with Fox News and conservative outlets.

Meadows has spoken about bringing on Pentagon spokeswoman Alyssa Farah

Kayleigh McEnany serves as spokeswoman for the Trump presidential campaign

Meadows gave up his North Carolina congressional seat to serve as Trump's fourth chief of staff

Farah became Pentagon press secretary after holding the same position for Vice President Mike Pence

President Trump has gone for four chiefs of staff and three press secretaries

Alyssa Farah, Department of Defense Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Media Affairs, poses for her official portrait in the Army portrait studio at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Sept., 30, 2019

She has countered that President Trump has made himself accessible to media in other ways. As the coronavirus outbreak has begun to hit in full force, Trump has taken over daily briefings at the White House along with the coronavirus task force.

The president seems to embrace the responsibility, holding a session that exceeded two hours Tuesday, and has bragged online about how many people are watching.

Farah, 30, was communications director in Meadows' office when he was an influential conservative voice and head of the House Freedom Caucus.

Meadows has also spoken about Trump campaign spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany as a potential contender. She conducts multiple TV interviews that were established around Trump rallies before the virus caused the campaign to cancel the frequent events. She holds a Harvard Law degree and previously served as press secretary for the Republican National Committee.

Grisham, 43, bonded with Trump as a member of his small campaign staff, then served as deputy to press secretary Sean Spicer before becoming spokeswoman for First Lady Melania Trump.
It's not often that I have a visceral reaction to a single product. But over the last several days, Zoom has proven that it's time for individuals, companies, and schools to move on and find another solution.

As Covid-19 continues to spread around the world, the number of people forced to work and attend school from home has swelled, while companies, schools, and people just looking to communicate with friends and family have sought a digital solution with many of them choosing Zoom.

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said this week that at the end of 2019, Zoom had about 10 million daily users. Since Covid-19 swept across the globe, Zoom daily usage has jumped to 200 million people, with no sign of slowing anytime soon.

It's easy to understand why. Zoom comes with a great interface, a level of usability few other options can match, and enough scalability to host one-on-one meetings or massive webinars.

But at some point, we need to balance that value (and it is significant) with the risks. And at this moment, I'm not so sure the value is enough.

A Series of Major Concerns

It's hard to know where to start with Zoom's troubles. In 2018, the trouble started in earnest, when a bug was discovered that would have allowed malicious hackers to hijack meetings, remove users from a call, and more. It was a relatively minor problem that was easily fixed, but started a flurry of much bigger concerns.

Just a year later, security researcher Jonathan Leitschuh revealed a zero-day vulnerability in Zoom that allowed hackers to access a Mac user's webcam and spy on them. Again, Zoom fixed the problem and moved on.

Now Zoom's biggest issues are being exposed at a time when it's also experiencing its greatest growth.

More Trouble

Just this week, the FBI warned the public of a new term called "zoombombing," in which hackers who get unauthorized access to a meeting wreak havoc. In one case, a zoombomber targeted a classroom in Massachusetts.

"In late March 2020, a Massachusetts-based high school reported that while a teacher was conducting an online class using the teleconferencing software Zoom, an unidentified individual(s) dialed into the classroom," the FBI said. "This individual yelled a profanity and then shouted the teacher's home address in the middle of instruction."

It didn't stop there.

Earlier this week, former NSA employee and security researcher Patrick Wardle said that he found two zero-day exploits that could still be exploited by hackers. One of the bugs gave hackers access to a Zoom's users webcam and microphone. The other? A user's entire computer.

On Thursday, The New York Times reported that Zoom had a data-mining feature built into the app that allowed some Zoom users to have access to others' LinkedIn account data. Zoom said it would shut it down.

Not to be outdone, the Washington Post reported on Friday that simple Web searches could help you find thousands of Zoom calls thought to be private, but freely accessible on the internet. The videos weren't "recorded by default," the Post reported, but they're accessible nonetheless. And in some cases, unwitting users revealed personal information and intimate conversations to the world.

Oh, and don't forget that New York Attorney General Letitia James is now investigating Zoom's privacy practices, her office said this week.

Zoom's Growth

Despite all that, Zoom usage continues. Children across the globe are using Zoom to learn from home, despite the risk of someone yelling obscenities during their classes. Companies are holding meetings over Zoom, revealing trade secrets, talking strategy, and more, despite the threat of a hacker listening in. Individuals, desperate to see their loved ones again, are using Zoom to connect, even though those conversations could be spied on.

In a world where privacy and security should be on the top of everyone's mind at all times, we're all using a tool that has a decidedly poor track record.

Zoom Responds

But don't take my word for it.

This week, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan apologized to Zoom users for the company's lapses in security. He also promised to do better.

"We recognize that we have fallen short of the community's--and our own--privacy and security expectations," Yuan said. "For that, I am deeply sorry."

Yuan went on to thank journalists and security researchers for highlighting the app's flaws and said that the company "takes them extremely seriously."

"We are looking into each and every one of them and addressing them as expeditiously as we can," Yuan said. "We are committed to learning from them and doing better in the future."

Yuan then promised a series of improvements to Zoom, including more engineering resources focusing on security, a contract with third-party experts to find issues in the platform, and a better bug bounty program to find flaws and fix them. Yuan is even planning to host a weekly webinar on privacy and security as Zoom rolls out the changes.

While I applaud Zoom for wanting to do more, those changes are being rolled out over the next 90 days. By then, we'll hopefully be back to work and the need to use Zoom will wane.

Until then, however, I don't see why Zoom should be your go-to source for communication. It's certainly convenient and it's a fine choice for big companies. But the sheer number of flaws and security problems, coupled with the reality that competitors, like Microsoft's Skype or Google's Meet, are solid alternatives, makes Zoom less of a necessity.

Like every other tech company, I want to see Zoom succeed. But given what I know and what still needs to be done, I can't recommend that anyone use Zoom until it gets its act together.
[April 03, 2020] Grocery Expert Brittain Ladd Joins Robomart's Advisory Board

MILPITAS, Calif., April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robomart, the Silicon Valley based leader in store-hailing, announced today the appointment of Brittain Ladd as a member of the companys Advisory Board.

Mr. Ladd is widely recognized as an expert in the grocery space, having designed the strategy for Amazons Grocery efforts. He regularly consults the CEOs of the leading supermarkets across the world and publishes thought leadership pieces in some of the most prominent publications. Robomart Co-founder and CEO Ali Ahmed commented: We are extremely excited to welcome Brittain as an advisor to Robomart. Brittain was early to recognize the uniqueness of our offering and has been a huge believer in our mission. We are fortunate to be able to leverage his wealth of expertise as we push our business forward. Mr. Ladd is currently the chief logistics officer for Pulse Integration, and has worked on Worldwide E-Commerce and CrossBorder Expansion, Fresh/Pantry Operations, and Micro-Fulfillment at Amazon and on strategy at Deloitte, Capgemini and Dell.



Brittain commented, Due to the current pandemic consumers are increasingly reluctant to go to the grocery store and shop around others. This is an opportune time for Robomart??the business is ideally positioned to provide unique benefits by offering personal grocery shopping at consumers doorsteps without having to shop around others or risk having a delivery person handle their goods. Im excited to help navigate Robomarts strategic direction as they get ready to deploy. About Robomart

Based in Milpitas, Calif., Robomart, Inc. has created the world's first store-hailing service through its on-demand, automated mobile mini-marts. Robomarts are engineered with cutting-edge technology, including driverless tech for autonomy, teleoperations for safety, a checkout-free system for convenience, and purpose-built refrigeration for cooling. Founded in 2017 by serial entrepreneurs with deep domain expertise in on-demand delivery, robotics, and food retailing, the companys mission is to create the most accessible and immediate way to shop. To learn more about Robomart, visit robomart.co . Press Contact:

[email protected]

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Camus was preoccupied with the absurd  with Sisyphus condemned, like mankind, to pushing a stone up a hillside. In The Plague he found a lens for projecting life at once suspended and more vivid. Though Oran had become but a vast railway waiting-room, with all the boredom and indifference the metaphor implies, people were, at least, living in the present. The urgency of volunteering in sanitary squads replaces the yearning for a vaccine or the outside world. The present replaces the future. A mysterious observer trapped in Oran, to whose diary the narrator gains access, posits that only this  being fully aware of time  guarantees that it wont be wasted.
Pakistani Court Overturns Death Sentence of Accused Killer of Journalist Daniel Pearl

By Ayesha Tanzeem April 02, 2020

A Pakistani court Thursday overturned on appeal the death sentence of a man accused of kidnapping and beheading Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, sentencing him to seven years in prison for kidnapping only, and acquitted three of his co-accused.

British-born Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh had been on death row since his conviction 18 years ago. Three others, Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib, and Sheikh Adil, were serving life sentences.

The prosecution could appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court.

Defense attorney Khwaja Naveed Ahmed told VOA Sheikh was not even charged with murder at the time of his arrest in 2002, before news of Pearl's murder became public. He was only charged with kidnapping and handing Pearl over to someone else. The charge of murder was added once a video of Pearl's beheading surfaced, he said.

"The prosecution's story was that Sheikh became friends with Pearl because he could speak French and had graduated from the London School of Economics," Ahmed said, adding that after today's verdict he is expected to be released in a day or two.

Pearl, the newspaper's South Asia bureau chief, was kidnapped while investigating religious extremists in Karachi. His beheading made headlines around the world and the international outcry forced Pakistan to take swift action against the perpetrators.

Later, a detailed report issued by a Georgetown University investigative journalism project called the Pearl Project, claimed Pearl had been beheaded by al-Qaida's Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Ruling condemned

Thursday's ruling drew denunciation from global and domestic groups campaigning for the rights and security of journalists.

The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was "deeply disappointed" to see that the Pakistani court denied justice in the murder case of the WSJ reporter.

"We urge prosecutors to appeal the decision, which found Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh guilty only of kidnapping Pearl in a crime that led directly to his murder," said Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the ruling as a "shocking symbol of impunity" for violent crimes against journalists and an "incoherent" decision.

Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk, noted that the court order recognizes Sheikh's guilt while in effect overturning his conviction.

"This is a shocking denial of justice for Daniel Pearl's family and will stand as a symbol of impunity for crimes of violence against journalists in Pakistan," Daniel said.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in a statement showed its concern over the reduction in Sheikh's sentence, saying it will a "bring bad name" for the country.

It demanded the court review its decision and asked the government to immediately file an appeal against it in the Supreme Court "so that the culprits be brought to justice."

Pearl's story was later turned into a Hollywood movie starring actress Angelina Jolie as his wife, Mariane Pearl.

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President Akufo-Addos speech heralding the partial lockdown of parts of Ghana to stem the spread of COVID-19 has enthralled thousands across the globe.



The Presidents line, We know how to bring the economy back. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life has had the world awed.



It is, therefore, not strange that powerful people across the globe have been commending His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for delivering such a powerful message.



The Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has described President Akufo-Addos 4th Address to the Nation on Ghanas situation in relation to Coronavirus as powerful.



Dr. Ghebreyesus in a tweet on Twitter commended



Ghanas President for his address to the nation announcing a partial lockdown in Greater Accra and Kumasi.



Thank you for sending such a powerful message to the world, my brother @NAkufoAddo, President of #Ghana. Together, for a healthier, safer, fairer world! Together against #COVID19! Dr. Ghebreyesus tweeted.



When your president knows what he is about, he makes your nation and its citizens proud.



He has proven beyond doubt that he understands the times we are in as a country. Akufo-Addo is well aware of the fact that as a country we cannot avoid the storms of life. He also knows that it is not avoiding the storm that matters because some storms cannot be sidestepped and that what is important is what one does when the storm comes.



Knowing what to do, how to do it and when to do it are far more important than trying to act like the fictitious Superman going to great lengths to shield the world from one pestilence or the other. History will remember Nana Akufo-Addo as one of the greatest leaders of the country.



May God continue to bless His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Source: P.K.Sarpong, Whispers from the Corridors of the Thinking Place.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Students in schools and universities across the country have had to continue with their classes after many of them moved online amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But some lucky learners have been treated to special guest lectures from high profile celebrities including Kim Kardashian, 39, and Matthew McConaughey, 50.

The special guests have had a chance to share the subjects their most passionate about while modeling responsible social distancing to young students.

Giving back: Celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Matthew McConaughey and Petyon Manning have broken up the coronavirus self-isolating by dropping in on online classes for guest lectures; shown in November

Earlier this week, aspiring lawyer Kim had the opportunity to speak on a subject that's near and dear to her heart: criminal justice reform.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star made an appearance to talk about the subject with Dr. Marc Howard, a professor at Georgetown University whose area of expertise is mass incarceration.

Kim posted a screenshot of the entire class, which featured some students who were previously incarcerated as she raved about the experience, saying: 'It was so great to speak to Dr. Marc Howard as he teaches his course.'

Kim will have a chance to speak further on the subject in her upcoming documentary The Justice Project, which airs Sunday, April 5 on Oxygen.

Close to her heart: Kim was a special guest of Dr. Marc Howard, who teaches on mass incarceration and criminal justice reform at Georgetown University; pictured in November

Alright, alright, alright! Matthew McConaughey looked ultra casual as he graced a Zoom faculty chat at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism

Matthew McConaughey also joined in on the online learning.

Robert Quigley, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism posted a screenshot of the True Detective star looking laid back in a pale green hoodie and large tortoiseshell glasses.

'Special guest in our Zoom faculty chat. This is surreal,' wrote Quigley.

Great idea: Loyola Marymount University student Jessica Saucedo posted on TikTok about messaging Harrison to talk him into speaking to her Ethics of Love and Marriage class

Time on his hands: Luckily, he had some free time now that he's been isolating at home

Expert opinion: She shared a video of his appearance, which he called 'the most dramatic class yet'

After almost 20 years hosting The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, Chris Harrison probably qualifies as some kind of expert on love and relationships.

Luckily, he had some free time now that he's been isolating at home.

Loyola Marymount University student Jessica Saucedo posted on TikTok about messaging Harrison to talk him into speaking to her Ethics of Love and Marriage class.

She shared a video of his appearance, which he called 'the most dramatic class yet.'

Words of encouragement: Peyton Manning called in to a class from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and tried to boost the students' spirits amid the coronavirus outbreak

Athletes have also been getting in on the online classes.

Peyton Manning called in to a class from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and tried to boost the students' spirits amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Though many of the celebrity drop-ins have been with online college courses, Shaquille O'Neal surprised some first grade fans during one of the virtual learning sessions.
The call by Egypts Health Ministry for volunteers to help fight Covid-19 has met unexpected demand

Egypts Health Ministry announced this week that it temporarily suspended receiving applications from volunteers who are offering their services in dealing with the spread of the coronavirus.

The ministrys Central Unit for Medical Service Providers Affairs (CUMSPA) called out to volunteers on 25 March as part of its efforts to take precautionary measures in the fight against the virus, and to shore up a possible shortage in doctors.

Under the slogan Be a Hero, the CUMSPA called for volunteers from all medical professions. It also requested medical college students, non-medical college students and non-medical workers.

It provided a website for registration and dedicated an e-mail address [email protected] for inquiries.

The CUMSPA, established in October 2019, is responsible for improving work environment for workers in the public health sector.

We received 10,000 applications, just three hours after opening the door for volunteers to register, the CUMSPA said.

Mohamed Shaker, an IT engineer, wanted to apply but could not because applications had closed. At least if I die, I would be a martyr in the line of duty, he said.

The volunteers, according to CUMSPA, are set to work with medical support teams in isolation hospitals, referral procedures, field investigation, and follow-up as well as awareness teams.

The figure  10,000 volunteer applications  is very honourable and promising. Doctors Syndicate Secretary-General Ehab Al-Taher told Al-Ahram Weekly.

The CUMSPA also stated that all volunteers who will be selected as needed will be trained on the required tasks and also provided with protection and prevention means This is our battle.

God willing, we will not need these volunteers, but we must be ready if a large outbreak occurs. The non-medical workers who volunteered will be helpful in organisational and administrative work, Al-Taher said.

Many countries have a shortage of medical workers and have resorted to calling up volunteers. In Britain, only 24 hours after an appeal announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock for 250,000 people in good health to help the National Health Service (NHS) deal with the spread of Covid-19, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on 25 March that 405,000 volunteers had signed up.

The scenario was repeated in Italy when its Civil Protection Department sought to create a task force of 300 doctors from across Italy to help treat patients in the worst-hit regions of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna. Within 24 hours of putting out the call, according to the Italian daily The Local, the department announced on 23 March that it had received more than 7,900 applications.

In Egypt, in addition to calling up volunteers, the ministry has also opened the door for contracting retired physicians to make up for any shortfall. Health Minister Hala Zayed said that the ministry was taking in retired doctors to work in government hospitals if the doctor expresses a desire to do so.

Al-Taher said that it was preferable to assign young doctors to work on the front lines in isolation hospitals. Contracting retired doctors might be useful but it has nothing to do with the fight against the coronavirus. They might be assigned in advisory positions or even work in hospitals that are not related to coronavirus, he said.

Indeed, Zayed said on TV we are trying to ensure that the doctors in the isolation hospitals are less than 50 years old so that they are not at risk of infection.

That is why, the minister noted, retired doctors who are called up will work as consultants on scientific committees and will visit isolation hospitals, if necessary, only to audit.

Worldwide statistics and various research show that there is greater susceptibility to the virus among older patients who suffer other diseases, be it a weaker immune system, or simply worse overall health.

In an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Egypt has adopted a series of strict preventative measures, including imposing a night-time curfew, bringing air flights to a standstill, closing down mosques and churches and suspending classes at schools and universities.

At a conference in Cairo on Monday, John Jabbour, the representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Egypt, praised Egyptian doctors and the rest of the medical staff on the front line to combat the new 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.

In the press conference, Yvan Hutin, director for communicable diseases at the WHOs Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, said Egypt has a real opportunity to stop the transmission.

Though Hutin warned that there is also a scenario by which transmission could expand, leading to a large number of cases in the country, he emphasised that the number of new cases detected in Egypt since the first case was confirmed on 14 February suggest that transmission is limited to chains of infection.

Egypt's health ministry reported 85 new coronavirus infections on Saturday 4 April, bringing the countrys total number of confirmed cases up to 1070, while the death toll stands at 71.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 2 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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If the late 2014 decline in oil prices and subsequent hit to GCC fiscal revenues is any guide to the current oil glut, the signal now to Gulf labor markets is a siren. When oil revenues declined sharply in late 2014, the structural fundamentals were similar to what OPEC+ members thought they saw in early March 2020. They saw declining demand in China and persistent supply from US producers. OPEC, with new partners like Russia and Mexico (the "plus"), responded in late 2016 with production cuts that held prices steady in the range of $50-70 per barrel until the agreement fell apart on March 5.

Since then, oil prices have been in free fall, reaching under $20 per barrel, as Saudi Arabia committed to expand production and flood markets with product. Barring some unlikely cooperation that would require private firms across the United States and Europe to agree to trust Russian oil producers and the Saudi government, oil producers are bracing for impact. What is profoundly different from the price volatility five years ago, and what the Saudis and Russians surely could not have fully foreseen, is the demand destruction from the novel coronavirus pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the largest economies in the world.

The siren is blaring for labor markets because the last oil market downturn spurred a series of policy shifts with "nationalization" of jobs in certain sectors, more flexible visas, new taxes and fees on the backs of foreign workers and vast purges of low wage workers in construction. New nationalization policies across the GCC are meant to encourage and safeguard certain jobs for citizens. Oman blocked foreigners from working in more than 80 job categories. Saudi Arabia reserved employment to nationals in a number of retail and hospitality sectors, from mobile phone shops to eyeglass stores. The decline in government contracting, a cyclical normality to GCC economies when oil revenues drop, was especially sharp between 2015 and 2018. Expatriate workers felt that pain as low wage construction workers found themselves stranded and unemployed. As many as 700,000 foreign low wage workers were laid off in Saudi Arabia and went home to poor communities in the Middle East and South Asia unable to support their families.

For Gulf economies with a disproportionate number of foreigners to citizens, governments enacted taxes and fees that would turn foreigners into new sources of revenue, including the institution of road tolls, visa renewal fees and excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco and sugary drinks. In all, the last downturn spurred some diversification measures that did less to wean governments from oil revenue than to encourage governments to pull back on some generous social spending and ending the normalization of government subsidies of electricity and water as well as expected public sector jobs for citizens.

In the five years since 2015, foreign workers across the Gulf have been scrutinized by GCC governments for their utility as consumers and sources of government revenue in taxes and fees. And governments have also seen where lower skilled labor is a useful entry point for nationals in the workforce, especially in Saudi Arabia's retail and service sectors. Those expatriates with investment potential as real estate buyers or highly skilled experts have received some privileged residency status opportunities.

This time, the pain will be broader across labor markets. There are a few reasons. First, governments around the world are seeking policy measures to ease the burden on workers, as unemployment in the service sector and retail jobs surges. GCC governments have little incentive to give cash supplements to displaced workers, as most are foreigners. The assumption is that unemployed foreigners must return home, usually within a 30-day period of termination. Moreover, the legal requirements that firms and organizations have toward foreign workers may be changing, in some cases making it easier for businesses to lay off workers. The UAE enacted a new regulation on March 26 that allows employers to make workers redundant but must still provide housing (if provided contractually) and allow the employee to transfer his or her visa to a new employer if a new position is found. It also allows the employer to temporarily reduce salaries or force employees to take paid or unpaid annual leave. Saudi Arabia has announced partial salary support for citizens working in the private sector who are made redundant, but no support for foreign residents.

Second, GCC governments are responding with stimulus packages that mainly provide liquidity to the banking sector and provide some minimal support to small and medium-sized businesses. As coronavirus cases mount across the region and the burden extends to health care systems, governments will need to make difficult decisions about extending care to all citizens and residents, as King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has committed to do. But many private hospitals in Saudi Arabia are reliant on the government for payment from the General Organization for Social Insurance, Ministry of Health or National Guard. They may see payments delayed as the government extends benefits across the population and struggles with a number of fiscal burdens. But these packages are unlikely to stem the losses in the largest employers in the region  state-owned or state-related entities from airlines to logistics and major contracting firms. These businesses will need major recapitalization just to survive and they will not survive with the same number of employees.

Third, people will want to go home. The social impact of the pandemic on transnational labor will be devastating. The panic of repatriating stranded citizens as borders have closed and flights have been canceled over the last few weeks has created a new reality for global labor. From retail workers to senior executives, many expatriate workers are finding it unsettling to be quarantined in a foreign country, without family support or familiarity with health care norms. We should expect the end of the school term and beginning of Ramadan to prompt departures of expatriates from the Gulf.

The economies of the GCC states will experience major changes from the twin COVID-19 and oil crises, as will the global economy. The societies of the GCC states, however, may be the most changed in terms of their demographic composition and reliance on foreign labor. This could be a moment for recalibration of reliance on foreign workers. It could also be a moment in which standards of living are drastically downshifted as a vibrant consumer base is weakened by expatriate exits.
Six Vietnamese representatives in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list

The 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list honors six Vietnamese representatives in healthcare, finance, industry, and social entrepreneurship.

Hoang Nguyen of Ho Chi Minh City and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Huyen of Hanoi are named in the healthcare and science category.

Hoang, 29, is a cofounder of thuocsi.vn, a marketplace and platform for healthcare sourcing and distribution by linking pharmacies with licensed distributors.

Hoang Nguyen, cofounder of thuocsi.vn. Photo courtesy of Hoang Nguyen.

Founded in 2018, the startup operates an online marketplace matching orders with distributors and providing real-time pricing as well as logistics information.

In September last year thuocsi.vn raised $500,000 in seed funding from investors led by Singapore's Cocoon Capital and VietCapital Ventures.

Huyen, 26, is a cofounder and CEO of Medlink Asia, a healthtech startup launched in 2018 that disrupted the pharmaceutical distribution process by connecting drug companies directly with pharmacies bypassing intermediaries.

Within a year of launch Huyen successfully brought on board thousands of pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies. She has won several startup competitions, including Techsauce Global Pitch Competition in Thailand and Vietchallenge in the U.S.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Huyen, CEO of Medlink Asia. Photo courtesy of Nguyen Thi Ngoc Huyen.

Han Ngoc Tuan Linh and Nghiem Xuan Huy of Hanoi are honored in the finance and venture capital category.

Linh, 29, is a cofounder and CEO of VSV Capital, a venture capital firm with $7 million worth of assets under management. So far it has made more than 70 investments, including in e-commerce startup Lozi and SaaS enterprise platform base. He says VSV Capital was the first early-stage startup investor in Vietnam when it was launched in 2014.

Han Ngoc Tuan Linh, CEO of VSV Capital. Photo courtesy of Han Ngoc Tuan Linh.

Huy, 28, quit his finance job in Australia and returned to Vietnam to establish Finhay, a micro-investment platform targeted at millennials, in 2017. It allows customers to invest as little as VND50,000 ($2.17) in mutual funds from Finhays investment portfolio.

Huy envisions Finhay as a one-stop solution for customers to manage their wealth. It recommends several micro-finance products including saving, investment and insurance based on the customer's personal information and risk appetite.

In 2019, Finhay raised $1 million in seed funding from Singapores Insignia Ventures Partners and other foreign investors.

Nghiem Xuan Huy, founder and CEO of Vietnamese fintech firm Finhay. Photo courtesy of Nghiem Xuan Huy.

Pham Khanh Linh, 26, appears on the Forbes list in the industry, manufacturing, energy category.

The Cambridge graduate founded Logivan, a web platform that helps truck operators connect with potential customers, in 2017, disrupting Vietnam's $25-billion trucking industry. Its truck-hailing platform enables real-time tracking and connects shippers directly with drivers, reducing the rate of vehicles returning empty and offering an income to independent drivers.

Pham Khanh Linh is founder of Logivan. Photo courtesy of Pham Khanh Linh.

With more than 44,000 truck drivers in its network, Logivan serves 30,000 individual shippers and 300 companies including Wilmar, Nestle and Crown.

Van has raised $7.9 million over three rounds from high-profile investors such as Insignia Venture Partners, David Su of Matrix Partners China and Vinacapital Ventures.

The last Vietnamese representative is Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, 30, CEO of WildAct, a non-profit which monitors the illegal wildlife trade and organizes educational programs for youths. She was honored in the social entrepreneurs category.

Growing up in Vietnam and seeing from a young age monkeys chained and sold on the streets and bears held captive to extract bile, she travels to conservation sites, safaris and national parks and works with the police and anti-poaching units in Africa and authorities in Asia to save animals.

For her advocacy, Nguyen was named by the BBC as one of the 100 most inspiring and influential women of 2019. In 2018 she was awarded the Future For Nature Award.

Nguyen Thi Thu Trang is a wildlife conservationist and CEO of Vietnam-based non-profit organization WildAct. Photo courtesy of Nguyen Thi Thu Trang.

This years Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia lists 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders and change makers from 22 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region chosen from over 3,500 entries.

The criteria for making the list include a demonstration of leadership, embodying the "entrepreneurial spirit that is synonymous with Forbes" and their potential for success in their industry.

Other factors like innovation, disruption  and size and growth of their ventures in some categories  also play a role.

India leads the region with the highest number of honorees on this years list, 69, followed by China with 41.
In a heart-warming gesture,



children in Gujarat are emptying their humble piggy banks and donating their little savings to help fight the coronavirus crisis and provide relief to poor people affected by the ongoing lockdown.

They have enthusiastically joined the celebrities and business tycoons in donating in the PM-CARES Fund and also aid in direct relief measures for the poor.

The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) was set up last month to raise money to deal with any emergency situation, like COVID-19 now, and provide relief to the affected people.

While a four-year-old girl from Ankleshwar town in Bharuch district has donated Rs 11,200 in the PM-CARES Fund, three boys from Ahmedabad walked into a police station to give away their combined savings of Rs 5,500 to feed the poor and migrant workers, whose life has been upended by the lockdown.

Four-year-old Paris Vyas won the hearts of millions when she told the media she is donating whatever she had saved in her piggy bank to fight the crisis and provide succour to the poor.

It turned out that her fancy piggy bank had coins and currency notes worth Rs 11,200.

"I am donating whatever I have saved in my piggy bank. I saw in the TV that many famous people are giving money to fight coronavirus.

"If they can do it, I can also give my money. I am giving away all my savings. Everyone should donate money to help the government in fighting coronavirus," she said.

Two days back, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nonagenarian mother Hiraba, who lives in Gandhinagar, donated Rs 25,000 from her personal savings in the PM-CARES Fund.

Inspired by her gesture, a family in Gandhinagar has decided to donate Rs 1 lakh in the fund after being prompted by their 13-year-old son Rudra Patel to do so.

"I have decided not to celebrate my birthday this time. Upon my request, my parents have decided to donate Rs 1 lakh into the PM-CARES Fund," Rudra told a channel, proudly holding a cheque of same amount.

Three boys, brothers aged between four and 10 years, walked into a police station in Ahmedabad with their piggy banks as they wanted to contribute in city police's efforts to feed the poor, homeless and migrant workers hit by the lockdown imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19.

In a video shared by the Ahmedabad police on its Twitter handle, the three brothers are seen walking into the premises accompanied by their mother.

"Heartfelt thank you to Zaid, Moin and Amen, who donated Rs 5,500 from their piggy banks after their mother showed them the relief work being done by us.

"We are extremely pleased by the kind gesture of these kids," said the police in a tweet on Wednesday.

In the video, one of the boys can be heard asking a sub-inspector to give his money to the poor.

"What you (police) are doing for the poor people is commendable. Though they have nothing to eat, they feel shy in asking for help directly.

"We are living in difficult times. Thus, my kids told me to donate their savings to help the poor," the woman can be heard saying in the video shot inside the police station.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man is in critical condition after showing up to a South Side hospital with gunshot wounds, San Antonio police said.

Officers were at Southwest General Hospital just before 2:30 a.m. Friday for an unrelated call when a female friend brought 25-year-old Ezequiel Garcia to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the upper torso, police said. He told police that two masked men shot him, but didn't know who they were.
SOUTH HADLEY  Closed to the public since March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 57-year-old Odyssey Bookshop reached out to the public this week for help in remaining in business.

Owner Joan Grenier posted an appeal Thursday on the gofundme website, gofundme.com/f/support-the-odyssey-bookshop. Even after cutting staff shes having trouble making ends meet with very little income.

In an interview, she sighed recalling that the coronavirus is merely the most recent trial for the bookstore her father, Romeo Grenier, founded in 1963.

Weve had two fires, a flood and now a plague, she said.

Itll be a common refrain among businesses trying to hold on through the coronavirus-caused recession.

As of midday Friday, shed raised about $17,000 toward a $60,000 goal.

I cant emphasize enough that we have a terrific staff, Grenier said. I think thats one of the reasons people are responding so generously. I really thank people form the bottom of my heart. I really look forward to opening our doors and seeing our customers in person. Its a frightening time for just about everybody.

Given the needs in the community, Grenier said she was reluctant to issue the gofundme appeal. but the alternative might have been to suddenly go out of business. And she didnt want to do that without at least informing her customers of her plight and giving them a chance to help.

Odyssey is also promoting other ways for its customers to show support, including subscribing to audiobooks through the shop and preordering books that have yet to be released.

We are processing web orders, she said. Even though there is only one of us in the store at a time. People are buying gift cards, too. That helps with cash flow. Its kind of funny, people ask for them to be filled out from me to me.

But those online orders amount to just a third of the shops regular revenue.

Grenier said in the gofundme post that Odyssey is missing out on several important sources of revenue at a shop that has used author events and personal recommendations to compete with the big box stores and Amazon.

At this time, it wouldnt surprise me if we are closed into the summer, she wrote. Two large off-site revenue-generating events were cancelled in March, along with several in-store author events. April events have all been cancelled; we assume the same will be true for May.

01/10/2020-South Hadley-A signed poster from Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren sits on a shelf at The Odyssey Bookshop at the Village Commons. (Dave Roback/ Special to The Republican)

Normally, Odyssey hosts more than 125 events each year for adults, drawing thousands of people. And April and May are usually Greniers two busiest months.

Odyssey, located in the Village Commons, also depends on business from Mount Holyoke College across the street. It has been the college store for three years, selling not only texts but also logo sweatshirts, keychains, water bottles and the like.

But the campus is closed and commencement  which draws families and shoppers  is canceled, as is the annual reunion. And the students accepted for the fall wont be visiting campus, and shopping, over the next few weeks

Id built up my inventory, Grenier said.

She said she will apply for grants under the new CARES Act federal stimulus package to help cover rent, utilities and payroll.

The book industry has funding available, including a $500,000 donation from thriller author James Patterson to the American Booksellers Association and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation.

Some good news to brighten your day @JP_Books has generously donated $500,000 to help #SaveIndieBookstores, with the support of @ReesesBookClub! 



Here's how you can help: https://t.co/Y87RWeVlLz pic.twitter.com/eEeV8RYwa9  librofm (@librofm) April 2, 2020

However, this will not cover all our losses, and we still need to pay publishers, other vendors, and try to continue to support our staff, she wrote in the appeal. My husband Jon and I have already put significant money into the Odyssey and will add more from our personal savings. However, Im 68 years old and I cant afford to take on the amount of debt that I believe is necessary. Im not ready to retire  my dad ran the Odyssey until age 79, and I hope to be here at least that long  but a long term loan at this stage is not a viable option.

Still, Grenier was able to remain upbeat.

Im committed to opening up. Im hoping to bring back the whole staff, she said. We have a lot of support.
By Valentina Za and Giancarlo Navach

BARI, Italy (Reuters) - Grape exporters in Puglia  the heel on Italy's boot -- don't have time for debates about European solidarity bonds.

By now, they would normally have loans in place to buy the Italia and Regina varieties of grapes that will soon bud on local vines, destined for fruit bowls around the world.

But normal banking transactions, like almost every other economic activity, have ground to a halt as the coronavirus sweeps through Italy, killing more people than anywhere else in the world and decimating the euro zones third largest economy.

With each passing day, revenue prospects get dimmer and with them the hope of credit relief from banks. It's a downward spiral that is particularly acute in southern Italy and risks widening the gap with the richer north, where before the pandemic struck, income levels were twice as high and unemployment was nearly a third of the rate of the south.

Coronavirus paranoia is hurting sales of our produce abroad. Orders from France and Germany have stopped. And if the situation doesn't improve we won't find seasonal workers for the harvest, said Luca Lazzaro, head of regional farming lobby Confagricoltura Puglia.

Facing a steep recession, Italy has called for Europe to issue so-called corona bonds to alleviate the financial pain from the pandemic, a move some richer countries, such as Germany, oppose.

In the meantime, major Italian banks have earmarked billions of euros to support stricken businesses and the government has pledged to guarantee up to 80% of new loans. But an unprecedented drop in commerce, required to halt the spread of the virus, makes credit decisions difficult.

Those difficulties are compounded in the south, where banks are weaker and companies are less profitable than their northern rivals and more reliant on bank credit for their day-to-day financing.

Having prioritised problem banks in the centre and north of the country over the past five years, Italy had only started to tackle the bad debt problems at its southern lenders when the coronavirus struck.

Rome had moved to bail out Popolare di Bari, the region's largest lender, in December with over a quarter of its loans, mainly to fragile local businesses, in arrears. Another 15 smaller southern banks are in a risky position, according to Italys central bank, with one in ten loans in trouble after accounting for loss provisions, more than twice the national average.

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"This is a country divided in two. The south's frail ecosystem needs local credit," said Adriano Giannola, an academic and the chairman of south-focused think-tank Svimez.

"Authorities thought it was best to have the south's biggest banks merged into the large northern-based groups. But banks first allocate credit to the least risky borrowers and that puts southern businesses at a disadvantage."

Almost 40% of southern businesses were ranked as "vulnerable" or "at risk" before the coronavirus crisis, according to credit data group Cerved, compared to a national average of 24%. Cerved said the pandemic could boost those scores by a quarter.

A POSITIVE TREND

At the start of this year, things had been looking up for Bari, Puglia's capital city.

After a decade-long downturn, more businesses, including cafes, restaurants and B&Bs, were opening than closing and employment levels were rising partly thanks to tourism  an industry obliterated by the virus.

"I'm not saying we were over the crisis that started in 2009, but we did have a positive trend, said Beniamino Campobasso, head of local retail industry association Confesercenti Puglia.

Despite public debt running at more than 1.3 times domestic output, Rome is planning additional support for the economy that could double the 25 billion euro (23.04 billion pounds) stimulus package announced earlier this month.

The government has also told banks to give firms a six-month moratorium on their debts but the measure applies only to businesses that were in good health before the pandemic  leaving troubled firms on the hook.

The moratorium means something of a reprieve for the fruit dealers and farmers of Puglia, whose olive oil industry has been devastated by a bacteria that has killed thousands of olive trees.

Its definitely something, said Lazzaro, the head of the regional farming lobby.

Before the coronavirus outbreak started shutting things down, Popolare di Baris temporary administrators were calling on borrowers to repay existing debts, triggering alarm among local businesses.

Popolare di Bari declined to comment.

But a debt holiday will only work if local firms can get fresh funding. Quick decisions on credit, not easy at the best of times, are even more difficult with bank staff confined at home, dealing with a flurry of loan applications.

"To still be here to start again when the ban lifts we need immediate and easy access to credit," said Campobasso.

"Let's speak plainly: that is not something we're used to around here. Credit has become more and more difficult with each passing year."

(Editing by Carmel Crimmins)
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Missouri highway officials approved a plan to complete the remaining five miles of the Bella Vista Bypass, also known as the Interstate 49 Missouri/Arkansas Connector.

Bella Vista is the only stretch where traffic has to leave I-49 and continue on U.S. 71 to travel north or south.

The goal is for Arkansas and Missouri to each build their parts and meet at the state line, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The 19-mile (30.58-kilometre) connector will allow motorists to circumvent Bella Vista to the west and south on a four-lane interstate, reduce travel times and improve safety, planners have said.

The project, awarded to Emery Sapp & Sons of Columbia, Mo., for $58.7 million, is being described as one of the regions most important, and is considered a priority by Northwest Arkansas and federal transportation officials.

Construction is expected to begin in late April or early May with completion by Sept. 30, 2021.
At Nizamuddin, where otherwise the elite of Delhi come to buy organic produce at the masterfully refurbished Sunder Nursery, and where distinct class lines separate the well-heeled in the east of the neighbourhood from the more ordinary dwellers of the west, the images are now straight from dystopia.

I was on the ground over the past two days to make sense of how the Tablighi Jamaat  an orthodox, missionary Islamic movement  came to be a major virus vector for India. The facts reveal gross, even criminal, negligence by the Jamaat. They highlight a series of grave lapses by and sloppiness on the part of many other key players in the system.

As I watched doctors from the World Health Organization wade into the congested alleys of the mosque area and patiently evacuate Jamaat members in the hundreds, I shuddered just a bit, at the callousness and carelessness that has brought us to this point.

It could easily have been prevented. To understand how the contagion spread from the congregation that collected at the Markaz (centre) between March 13 and March 15, you have to first understand what happened in Malaysia in February. The Tablighi Jamaat, launched in Mewat in 1927, now has a following in over 150 countries. It is a non-political, but orthodox clergy that calls for Muslims to return to Islam as it was practised at the time of the Prophet. About 16,000 people collected at a Tablighi Jamaat meet in Malaysia. It was from this that the coronavirus infection first spread across six countries in Southeast Asia.

Despite this, Jamaat representatives from the coronavirus pandemic-hit countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia were able to make their way to India for the annual congregation in March, bringing the virus with them and spreading it among the Indian Jamaat members, and then from there to multiple states across the country.

On the ground, the Jamaat leaders I spoke to defended themselves by arguing that the moment Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a janata curfew (peoples curfew) and the Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, issued a notice saying no gatherings of more than 50 are allowed, they reached out to the police and local administration for logistical help in getting the foreigners out. A trail of letters has been released by them that do indeed document this attempt.

But there is no explanation for why the March 13 order by the Delhi government, which stipulated that no more than 200 people should gather in one place, was flouted. There was also an absence of basic civic responsibility. By then, the coronavirus threat was known globally, Saudi Arabia had suspended congregational prayers in other mosques in the country except Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi, in Mecca and Medina, and the Malaysia congregation had proved to be a virus spreader. It should not have needed an official order to know that to proceed with a gathering of thousands, packed together in a small area, was a terrible idea. We woke up late, admits advocate Mujib Rehman, the lawyer for the Jamaat. So did everyone else. But he showed no regret for the Jamaats colossal mistake, nor was he able to give any explanation for Maulana Saads bizarre sermon in which he suggests that if youre dying, the mosque is the best place to come and die in, as people can be heard coughing in background.

The role of the police is also bewildering. The local station virtually shares a wall with the markaz. The police maintain a register at all times of who goes in and out of the mosque. Why did they not step in way earlier? The video released by the Delhi Police, shows the local officer issuing an aggressive warning to the Jamaat, as of March 23. There is no answer for why the police did not try and do this before the congregation.

Also, how do hundreds of foreigners collect at a mosque at a time like this without the Intelligence Bureau, the home ministry and the external affairs ministry in the loop? Its now clear that given the scale of the spread, travel visas for foreigners needed to have been suspended way earlier than March 12. And, in general, religious congregations should have been banned across religions, across India, in February.

But the Tablighi Jamaats whataboutery is adding insult to injury. Equally, using the indisputable negligence of the Jamaat to smear Indian Muslims at large is unacceptable. Terms such as corona jihad are being mainstreamed by some of our media networks, making trollspeak a respectable language.

The Jamaat leadership must be held accountable. But hundreds of people who attended the congregation without knowing any of this need to be urgently encouraged to come forward and disclose their identities to government agencies. This will not happen if they fear stigma and other consequences.

There will be enough time for apportioning blame. But it is self-destructive as a nation to get locked in some banal, toxic, Hindu-Muslim debate when there is the future of an entire nation at stake.

Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author

The views expressed are personal

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Canadas highest court is calling for stiffer sentences for those convicted of sex crimes against children, saying child sex offenders should be punished more harshly than those who offend against adults.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canadas highest court is calling for stiffer sentences for those convicted of sex crimes against children, saying child sex offenders should be punished more harshly than those who offend against adults.

Last October, the Supreme Court of Canada restored a six-year prison sentence for Justyn Kyle Napoleon Friesen, who was convicted in 2017 of sexually abusing the four-year-old daughter of a woman he met on a dating website. The sentence was later reduced on appeal to 4  years.

The Supreme Court released reasons for its decision Thursday.

"Far from being so excessive, the (original) sentence was on the lenient end of the spectrum of fit sentences," the Supreme Court said.

Sentences for child sex offenders should increase as societys understanding of the great harm inflicted on children deepens, the court said.

"Courts are justified in departing from dated precedents that do not reflect societys current awareness of the impact of sexual violence on children in imposing a fit sentence," the court said.

The Manitoba Court of Appeal reduced Friesens sentence in June 2018, ruling provincial court Judge Brent Stewart erred when he cited a child sex abuse case that set the starting point for cases involving a "position of trust" at four to five years.

While Friesen was not in a position of trust, the aggravating circumstances of his offence justified using the same starting point for sentencing, Stewart ruled.

According to court records, Friesen had sex with the victims mother while the victim and a babysitter were sleeping in another part of the home. When they were finished, Friesen told the woman to bring her daughter to the room so they could sexually abuse her. The girls screams awakened the babysitter, who took her out of the bedroom.

Friesen was charged with an additional count of attempted extortion after he threatened to expose the mother for allegedly abusing another child if she did not retrieve the victim for him.

Stewart was entitled to conclude the circumstances of the case put it on a par with those "trust relationship" cases where the starting sentencing range is four to five years, the Supreme Court said.

"The sentencing judge sought to exercise his discretion in a way that gave effect to the principles of sentencing, in light of the circumstances of the case, and his decision should be afforded deference," the court said.

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The case highlights the danger of treating starting points or sentencing ranges as "binding laws," the court said.

"Sentencing ranges and starting points are guidelines, not hard and fast rules," the court said. "Rather than focusing on whether the sentencing judge chose the right starting point, the Court of Appeal should have focused on whether the sentence was fit and, most fundamentally, whether the sentencing judge properly applied the principles of sentencing."

Sex crimes against children should "generally" be treated more harshly than those against adults, the court said.

"Accordingly, provincial appellate courts are directed to revise and rationalize sentencing ranges and starting points where they have treated sexual violence against children and sexual violence against adults similarly," the court said.

In 2015, Parliament increased the maximum sentences for sexual interference, sexual exploitation and invitation to sexual touching offences involving victims under 16 from 10 years to 14 years in prison.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
If you think that suave architect renovations are for city homes only, consider a typical modest 1960s bungalow at Ballymoney in the sunny south east, which has been utterly remodelled from frumpy to fabulous with the help of Gorey-based designer Michael Molloy.

A house that may be of interest to young professionals who don't mind the hour and a quarter drive into the capital, the beach house at Sea Road in Ballymoney was bought by Coolgreany- born professional sign writer Gavin O'Toole, at the back end of 2018. He had just sold a house in a neighbouring village and was looking for a site to build from scratch. He didn't think the property would be suitable for him when he first went to view it, but once he stepped inside, he knew it had something special.

"I put a call into Michael Molloy of Molloy Architecture in Gorey after the viewing to see if there was potential in this old house before I made a final decision on it," recalls O'Toole, who currently works for CK Signs in Gorey. "I remember the first thing he said to me was that I was lucky to get a house in such a popular holiday spot. Then, with just a few days to go until Christmas, he sent me through a hand-drawn sketch that had an open living area with a mezzanine looking down, and I knew straight away that it was exactly what I wanted."

It took a while for the work to get to that point, however. It was stripped out so that the simple and plain house was brought back to just four walls and there were times O'Toole asked himself if he should have just bought a greenfield site.

Expand Close Labour of love: Gavin OToole said remodelling Sea Road was the perfect distraction at a difficult time / Facebook

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Whatsapp Labour of love: Gavin OToole said remodelling Sea Road was the perfect distraction at a difficult time

"We started pulling it apart and every corner we turned, there was another issue. It felt like the Fr Ted episode where they were trying to get the dent out of the car, but it just kept getting worse. I was down there one day with my brother and the roof was off and two walls were down, and I just thought 'what have I done?'."

But the project turned into a great focus for O'Toole when he really needed it. "I had a close friend who wasn't well at all at the time and I just found that the house was the distraction that I needed. I just threw myself into it," he said. "It was challenging though. I built my previous house from scratch, so this was much more complicated, but I ended up loving it."

The interior design ideas came from hours of scrolling through Pinterest. "At the start, I thought we'd just be knocking down a few walls and modernising, but it turned into a lot more than that," said O'Toole, who was determined to get the look just right. "I walked around Ikea on about 45 different occasions. My sister and sister-in-law threw some ideas in too that I was happy to take on. I think you need to be willing to listen to others and take advice on board. I was thinking I wanted it to be industrial but also a little bit beachy, which I hope I achieved." A lot of the furniture and fittings were picked up in Ikea on one of the many visits. O'Toole thought the lights over the table and island would be a bit too much work to hang them, but they turned out just the way he hoped. "I think if you're going with Ikea, it's worth going with something a little bit different," he advises."

The steel staircase was the work of East Coast Fabrication. O'Toole must have been a dream client for them because he was happy to step out of his comfort zone and take their lead when it came to the design of the stairs. "They were excited about the job too and put a lot into it. I got them to do the pergola out the back, as well as the electronic gate at the front and even the legs of the dining table."

While it may look small from the outside, the house has an internal floor area of 1,776 sq ft, two thirds more than that of a standard three-bed semi. The contemporary layout makes it bright and spacious, while still feeling cosy and intimate. The entrance hall leads down to the open living area. The contrast of the exposed steal, brick-effect tiles on one wall and the clean white walls is striking. For a man with no interior design experience, O'Toole most definitely pulled it off.

The kitchen was designed and built by furniture-maker Darren Langrell in Enniscorthy. It was the third time that Gavin worked with him and loves that he always pushes a little further to make things the best they can be. The floors in the living area are a distressed timber effect tile and very easy to keep clean, according to O'Toole.

Expand Close The large open-plan living/dining room of Sea Road in Ballymoney, Co Wexford, which Gavin wanted to look industrial but beachy / Facebook

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Whatsapp The large open-plan living/dining room of Sea Road in Ballymoney, Co Wexford, which Gavin wanted to look industrial but beachy

There are two bedrooms and a bathroom at the front of the house. At the back is the master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom with rainwater head power shower.

What really won O'Toole over when he first saw the architect's drawings was the mezzanine, which he says is a real bonus space. On a good day, with the sun beaming in the two Velux windows, it's a lovely place to sit and relax. There is also a large attic room off the mezzanine.

One thing Gavin was adamant about was getting the BER up from the low point it was at when he bought the house. "Insulation and solar panels might be the boring stuff, but the payback is huge," he insists. "I knew, as a second-hand property with old walls, that I could only get it so far, so I was delighted that I got it up to a B1."

Ballymoney is probably best known as a holiday spot where Dubs flock to in the summer months. O'Toole just loves the village. He says he loves that during the summer, the place is buzzing and everyone is in a good mood, and then you get to enjoy the peace when everyone leaves.

"The last week in August is like someone pressing a light switch. The kids go back to school and everyone is gone. You run down to the beach in the mornings and there are only a couple of people on it and it's lovely."

Ballymoney Beach is a few minutes away for runners like O'Toole or a 10-minute walk for the rest of us. It is a blue-flag beach with a lifeguard in the summer months and a little shop that opens in high season.

After a day at the beach, though, there is nothing worse than walking sand throughout the house on your return, but O'Toole has that covered.

"People have said I have notions," he laughs, "But I installed an outdoor shower at the back of the shed. It has a tiny boiler that gives you enough hot water for a two-and-a-half minute shower. I use it all the time when I come back from a run."

O'Toole has loved every minute of living in his converted cottage, but now he has the building bug again. He is hoping to find a site closer to his family home in a nearby town and build his 'forever' home.

"The project was stressful at times, but it was well worth it," he says. "It's a great cosy house in a great location." Prices had actually started to surge in Wexford before Covid-19 kicked off. Latest figures from the Irish Independent/REA Average House Price Index published on Monday show that the biggest rise in values in the country over the last 12 months were seen in Wexford and led by Dubliners seeking more affordable homes. Prices went up by 9.5pc, bringing the average house price in the county to 202,500, an increase of 7,500 on the end of last year.

Agents around the county are seeing an increase in enquiries and viewings, although they are keen to note that there is also a lack of stock, with many buyers coming down from Dublin to buy a more affordable home and commute in and out to the city.

Interested buyers can book a virtual viewing with agent James Kinsella of Sherry FitzGerald at (053) 943 0088.
A Nigerian coronavirus patient has been detained for allegedly attacking and biting a Chinese nurse on her face in a bid to escape from isolation.

Okonkwonwoye Chika Patrick, 47, savagely beat up the nurse, known by her surname Wang, after she stopped him from leaving his quarantine ward at a hospital in Guangzhou on Wednesday.

Shocking footage shows the nurse bursting into tears as her swollen face is covered with bruises and lacerations.

A Nigerian coronavirus patient has been detained for brutally attacking and biting a Chinese nurse on her face after he refuses to cooperate in taking a blood test

Local police said the detained patient is receiving treatment under quarantine with police supervision. He will be prosecuted accordingly to Chinese laws after recovery.

Mr Okonkwonwoye had been treated at the Guangzhou Eighth Peoples Hospital since March 23.

He tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Guangzhou city of southern China from abroad on March 20.

When Ms Wang asked Mr Okonkwonwoye to take a blood test on April 1, the patient ignored her and attempted to walk out of his quarantine ward.

The Chinese nurse was pushed to the ground and bitten on the face when she tried to stop the Nigerian citizen from leaving, according to a police statement.

Shocking footage shows the nurse, known by her surname Wang, bursting into tears as her swollen face is covered with bruises and lacerations after being attacked by a patient

Ms Wang is said to have suffered multiple injuries to her face, neck and waist.

Mr Okonkwonwoye is receiving anti-virus treatment under supervised isolation by the police.

The Guangzhou police said they have been investigating the incident and will immediately carry out prosecution once the treatment is finished.

At the moment, the patient still tests positive, the police statement read. The hospital has strengthened its security measures in the internal isolation zone.

'The police would like to stress again that all inbound travellers should strictly comply with the relevant laws and anti-virus regulations in China,' the statement continued.

When Ms Wang asked Mr Okonkwonwoye to take a blood test on April 1, the patient ignored her and attempted to walk out of his quarantine ward. A former coronavirus patient is seen taking a blood test at the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital in Guangzhou

The news come after China ordered a Moroccan citizen to leave the country after he launched an assault on hazmat-clad health officers who asked him to wear a face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus .

Shocking video shows the man yelling 'motherf******' before throwing his phone at the workers in north-western China's Xi'an city on March 29.

The foreign resident is facing deportation after being arrested by local police for disrupting public services, according to an official statement.

The man allegedly became infuriated after the community workers ordered him to wear a face mask before entering the residential complex he lived in.

Experts fear that China is facing a second outbreak due to the increasing number of imported cases as well as the 'silent carriers' who show no symptoms. A worker wearing a protective suit checks the body temperature of a passenger at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (centre) urged officials to ramp up testing suspected asymptomatic cases and intensify the monitoring, tracking, quarantine and treatment efforts imposed on them. Mr Li is pictured speaking to medical workers at Jinyintan Hospital

Experts fear that China is facing a second outbreak due to the increasing number of imported cases as well as the 'silent carriers' who show no symptoms.

Beijing's health officials have started providing day-to-day updates of the nation's 'silent carriers', who can potentially spread the contagion unaware.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang urged officials to ramp up testing suspected asymptomatic cases and intensify the monitoring, tracking, quarantine and treatment efforts imposed on them.

Total number of infections in China, which excludes asymptomatic patients, now stands at 81,620, while the death toll rose by four to 3,322. Worldwide, the number of cases has topped 1 million, with at least 53,000 deaths.
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In a letter that could have been written by a toddler who had a toy taken from him, Donald Trump blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and blamed impeachment for the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.

If you spent less time on your ridiculous impeachment hoax, which went haplessly on forever and ended up going nowhere (except increasing my poll numbers), and instead focused on helping the people of New York, then New York would not have been so completely unprepared for the invisible. enemy,' Trump raged in one run-on sentence.

No wonder AOC and others are thinking about running against you in the primary, he continued. If they did, they would likely win.

Just a reminder that this bottom-of-the-dumpster tantrum was written on paper with the official White House letterhead, as opposed to the used napkin it truly belonged on.

The full letter via CNNs Phil Mattingly:

President Trump has sent a letter to Sen. Schumer: pic.twitter.com/uIo8bUcdj0  Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) April 2, 2020

Note to the media: Donald Trump will never change

Like a dog chasing shiny new objects, the media likes to key in on any small day-to-day shift in the presidents tone during his daily coronavirus rallies.

If Trump spends more than 30 seconds pretending to take this outbreak seriously, they pounce and claim that maybe this is the moment that the former slumlord game show host will act like an adult.

As The Daily Beast reported on Wednesday, Trumps ever-shifting tone is a game he likes to play with the press because he knows that even a few somber syllables will earn him praise from a media that still hasnt truly figured out how to cover him.

But in his shameful yet completely on-brand letter to Chuck Schumer on Thursday, Donald Trump reminded the country that he is and always has been a repugnant human being.

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New Delhi, April 3 : US-basd United Airlines will begin operating repatriation flights for US citizens from New Delhi from April 5.

According to the airline, it is working with the US government to repatriate travellers who are stranded abroad in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

"Beginning April 5, United will begin operating repatriation flights from Delhi to San Francisco.

"We will continue working with government officials in the near-term to play our part in bringing Americans home," the airline said in a statement.

As per the statement, this month would see the airline operate 56 repatriation flights bringing nearly 8,000 passengers back to US from places like Guatemala City, Lima, Quito, Roatan, San Salvador, San Pedro, and Tegucigalpa.
EMTs in protective gear help a sick patient into an ambulance during the outbreak of coronavirus in New York.

Stefan Jeremiah/Reuters

The New York Post obtained a memo sent out to New York City ambulance workers, advising them not bring cardiac-arrest patients to the hospital if they can't get a pulse at the scene.

Such patients were previously brought to the hospital, where doctors would try to revive them, but these cases are being deprioritized during the coronavirus outbreak.

The city's ambulance service has been overwhelmed by the pandemic. Last week, Reuters reported that about 20% of the city's EMTs weren't working because they were either sick with coronavirus or had been exposed.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The coronavirus outbreak has left New York City's ambulance services overwhelmed, causing a new directive not to transport some cardiac-arrest sufferers to the hospital.

The New York Post obtained a memo that was sent out to the city's EMTs on Tuesday, saying that if they can't get a pulse from a cardiac-arrest patient at the scene, they shouldn't transport them to the hospital as is normally advised.

The directive was sent out by the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York, which oversees the city's ambulance service. The organization did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Ambulances clog the street outside Elmhurst Hospital's trauma unit in Queens, New York, on March 30 as the city deals with a wave of coronavirus cases.

Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

The Tuesday memo told paramedics to still try to resuscitate cardiac-arrest patients as usual, but changed its guidance on what to do if they can't restart the heart at the scene.

If paramedics fail to get a pulse, they should turn the body over to the New York Police Department or its body-removal team, the new directive said.

"They're trying to do what they can with the people who have the most likely chance of being saved," one anonymous EMT worker told the Post.

The US has now become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, with New York its hardest-hit city. As of Wednesday, there were more than 45,700 cases in the city and more than 9,700 hospitalized with COVID-19. The city has recorded 1,374 deaths due to the virus.

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New York's Empire State Building flashed red on Wednesday to honor the city's first responders.

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

'We don't even have time to go to the bathroom'

Hospitals as well as ambulance services have been overwhelmed.

Lewis Marshall, the board chairman of the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council, told Reuters last week that 20% of its 4,500 ambulance workers were unable to work  either because they themselves were sick with COVID-19, or had been exposed to it. That number may rise to 30% soon.

The EMTs that are able to work, meanwhile, are being made to do 16- to 17-hour days, two workers told Reuters.

"We don't even have time to go to the bathroom," one EMT in Harlem said.

But the fire department  which the ambulance service is a part of  denied that workers were being forced to do double shifts.

EMS lieutenant Vincent Variale, who heads a supervisors' union, said that "if this continues, we fully expect to have bodies on the street."

Variale said on March 26 they received more than 6,000 calls in one day. About 400 calls that were deemed less serious were left on hold, he said.

Correction: This article previously referred to the patients as heart-attack patients, instead of cardiac-arrest patients.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Last week, a policy statement from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit surfaced describing how they would decide who will and will not receive life-saving treatment in their facilities as COVID-19 cases begin to overwhelm their capacity. In part, it stated that Patients who have the best chance of getting better are our first priority.

This seemingly innocent and rational statement struck terror into the hearts of people in the disability community. Their terror is well-founded because, when it comes to allocation of scarce medical resources, disabled people all too often are seen as part of the population who dont qualify to receive them. Detroit Disability Power quickly issued a press release calling for more clear language that explicitly protects people with disabilities.

Disabled and chronically ill residents are outraged by the release of a confirmed Henry Ford Health System letter outlining protocol for rationing care under scarce medical resources and prioritizing Patients who have the best chance of getting better. This vagueness and ambiguity are unacceptable. Such guidance does a disservice to decision making as well as human dignity. Due to a history of ableism in medicine, public policy, and American culture at large, perceived notions of quality of life are biased and problematic, often minimizing the value of the vulnerable. We cannot let quality of life serve as a pretext for denying treatment, especially vital treatment, to people with disabilities and chronic illness. [] [W]e call on Henry Ford Health System, and all other local healthcare systems, to clarify their policies and we call on our City & State Government to confirm that they will not tolerate discrimination against disabled and chronically ill people as critical care is rationed during this pandemic.

If your organization would like to sign on to this letter, click HERE.

Yesterday, Detroit Disability Power and 40 other organizations followed up this statement with a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, calling on her and her administration to ensure that the rights and lives of disabled Michiganders are protected as healthcare rationing begins in our states hospitals and other medical care facilities saying, [W]e ask that the Governors Office and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services clarify our states policy for rationing care during health care emergencies and publicly confirm that discrimination in regard to health care access will not be tolerated.

I spoke with Dessa Cosma, Executive Director of Detroit Disability Power. Hospital systems around the country are understandably grappling with how to administer scarce resources, she told me. Our intent is the same as our health care practitioners  to prepare and protect. However, patchwork policies from hospital to hospital are a disservice to decision making and human dignity. Therefore, were asking our elected and public officials to clarify our states policy for rationing care during health care emergencies and to publicly confirm that discrimination in regard to health care access will not be tolerated.

It goes without saying that people in the disability community are rightfully terrified that their lives will be seen as less than when hard decisions about medical care rationing are being made. Its important that all of us step up to be their allies and help to advocate on their behalf. As Seattle Times columnist Naomi Ishisaka writes, Coronavirus shows everyone what people with disabilities have known all along:

It seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. Accommodations that people with disabilities had requested for years were implemented nearly overnight. Jobs that were supposedly impossible to accommodate from home could suddenly be worked remotely. Employees who felt sick were no longer asked to prove it with a doctors note; they were given the benefit of the doubt and paid to stay home. Telemedicine, or the ability to get health care remotely, was quickly supported with millions of dollars from the federal government. These changes were, of course, due to the coronavirus pandemic, which turned what were long ignored priorities for disabled and sick people into priorities for everyone. [] In anticipation of a potential shift back to the old ways, disability rights advocates have compiled a digital paper trail of all the ways accommodations were made for non-disabled people during the coronavirus outbreak as proof that those accommodations can be achieved when there is a will. In addition to physical and economic threats from the coronavirus, people with disabilities face another existential threat. Will their lives be seen as valuable if life-saving care begins to be rationed? When there arent enough ventilators to go around, will their lives be seen as worth saving? A complaint filed by advocates for people with disabilities last week over Washington state guidelines for potential rationing of care argued that the rules would leave people with disabilities to die. Basas said the concern is very real. I dont trust doctors to value my life the same way that I do, she said. [When] youre disabled, youre not going to be ranked very high up on that list for getting that care and getting that equipment.

You can send a letter to your Member of Congress and your U.S. Senators on this issue by clicking HERE.

You can send a letter to your state Senator and Representative by clicking HERE.

The Arc, a national group advocating on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is asking people to call or write to their members of Congress and ask them to pass legislation that does four things:

Funding for a Medicaid grant program to support access to home and community-based services (to combat institutionalization) and to support the DSP workforce. Congress should pass the Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act.

to support access to home and community-based services (to combat institutionalization) and to support the DSP workforce. Congress should pass the Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for direct support professionals. This is urgently needed to protect the health and safety of this critical workforce. Direct support professionals must be designated as essential workforce so that they have access to the PPE and medical supplies they need.

for direct support professionals. This is urgently needed to protect the health and safety of this critical workforce. Direct support professionals must be designated as essential workforce so that they have access to the PPE and medical supplies they need. Paid leave for caregivers. As more people with disabilities lose their usual sources of care, family caregivers are scrambling and need access to paid leave and sick days to help their loved ones. Congress should include all family caregivers in the emergency paid leave provisions.

As more people with disabilities lose their usual sources of care, family caregivers are scrambling and need access to paid leave and sick days to help their loved ones. Congress should include all family caregivers in the emergency paid leave provisions. Help for people on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to access Recovery Rebates. People with disabilities on SSI are being asked to file needless paperwork in order to access economic stimulus payments. Congress should tell Federal agencies to use their existing authority to share data and file for people on SSI.

You can take this action by clicking HERE.

CSM, a faith-based disability advocacy group out of Germany, put together this useful Disability Inclusive Community Action  COVID-19 Matrix for organizations to use when making decisions that will impact the disability community:



Click image for a larger version

The disability community was largely responsible for saving the Affordable Care Act when Republicans were trying to dismantle it after 2016. Now its time we step up for THEM during this difficult time. Wherever you are, whatever you do, please make sure youre centering our disabled brothers and sisters because, now more than ever before, we truly are all in this together.

[CC image credit: SZERVAC Attila | Wikimedia Commons]
Former glamour model Linda Lusardi has opened up on her coronavirus diagnosis and said the symptoms were so severe she wanted to die (Yui Mok/PA)

Former glamour model Linda Lusardi has opened up on her coronavirus diagnosis and said the symptoms were so severe she wanted to die.

The Dancing On Ice star, 61, contracted the illness alongside husband Sam Kane and spent 10 days in hospital suffering from fever, chronic chest pains and vomiting.

Lusardi told The Sun: It got to the stage where both of us were praying we wouldnt wake up because it was so bad.

Expand Close Linda Lusardi has opened up on her coronavirus ordeal (Ian West/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Linda Lusardi has opened up on her coronavirus ordeal (Ian West/PA)

The veteran model told the newspaper she fell ill at home and her son Jack, 20, called 999 and she and Kane were hooked up to oxygen and taken to hospital in the same ambulance.

She tested positive for Covid-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Kanes condition improved but Lusardis worsened, she told The Sun, and a doctor said he did not know if she would pull through.

She added: I said to him, Am I going to make this? and he said, Youre 61, I cant guarantee anything. We dont know what were dealing with here.

To hear that was just dreadful and I just burst into tears.

I text Sam and they wheeled him up to me. The couple are now recovering at home.

Lusardi previously urged fans to follow expert advice on self-isolation to halt the spread of coronavirus.

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Please take care of yourselves, loved ones and each other, she said.

Lusardi, whose TV appearances include Emmerdale, Dancing On Ice and Loose Women, found fame in the 1970s and 80s, and in a 2005 poll was voted the UKs most popular Page 3 girl ever.
Chris Fischer, Gene Fischer and Amy Schumer are seen on March 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jackson Lee/GC Images)

If ever there was a reminder of the haves and have nots, its been the COVID-19 lockdown.

In Ireland, our celebrities have the wherewithal to either not showcase the expensive furniture and sprawling views cleverly hidden behind Instagram posts. Or, because of our somewhat small pool of celebrities to choose from, theyre struggling as much as the rest of us.

Hosting a show on a major Irish network will only guarantee some fame as fortune in Irish media tends to only follow a few decades work.

In the US, however, all fallacies of the American dream are unravelling before our eyes. The ultra-rich have jetted off to their second homes to wait this out with a beachside view - or in the case of billionaire David Geffen, you literally take to the seas and post your yacht selfie via drone on Instagram.

Meanwhile, frontline employees working at supermarkets and multinationals are being fired for staging protests about poor working conditions during a global pandemic.

Elsewhere, celebrities who donate money are criticised and praised in equal measure. Kylie Jenners $1 million donation to buy PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for healthcare workers sparked a debate on Reddit after one user compared her net worth of $690 million the average millennials savings account of $8,000; saying its the equivalent of the average person donating $8. Its hard to disagree with that kind of maths.

And then, during all this, Ben Affleck is treating his daily walk like a pitch for guaranteed media coverage of his new relationship with actress Ana de Armas. Every day, the couple are pictured, cup of coffee in hand, strolling around his Los Angeles neighbourhood. And every day, those photos run on celebrity-worshipping blogs and websites hungry for anything to satiate the demanding news cycle during a time of crisis.

Affleck knows better than anyone the value of a redemption tour, on which he went after divorcing Jennifer Garner and won praise just last month for speaking candidly about his battle with alcoholism. But he is treating these pictures of his honeymoon phase like a public service.

There is no attempt at discretion or a sense of acceptance that the paparazzi follow is inevitable for a star of his calibre; but instead, their PDAs are so exaggerated youd be forgiven for thinking theyre shopping around a reality show.

Video of the Day

In the UK, there are the legitimate reasons to get dolled up on your way to work as broadcasters are still required to operate as safely as possible. It's hard to muster the same rage at seeing a pregnant Vogue Williams wearing a white poplin dress and colourful Hayley Menzies cardigan on her first day at working at Heart radio. Or Amanda Holdens parade of black leather skirts more suited to an evening event than her breakfast show start time at that same station.

Expand Close Chris Fischer, Gene Fischer and Amy Schumer are seen on March 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jackson Lee/GC Images) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Chris Fischer, Gene Fischer and Amy Schumer are seen on March 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jackson Lee/GC Images)

And then theres Amy Schumer, who has made a career out of being normal. Looking at Schumer walking around a virtually abandoned New York City with her husband Chris Fischer and five-month-old son Gene is like looking in a mirror: sans makeup in clashing leggings with a baby carrier wrapped around her torso.

Schumers down-to-earth style is more reflective of real-life than any staged pap walk could be - shes getting some fresh air with her young family and saying hello to her father Gordon through the window of his nursing home; a parent with whom she is famously close and doesnt know the next time she will see him.

Like the rest of us (minus the fortune shes amassed), its hard to find the motivation to do a DIY bouncy blow dry when you have real problems weighing on your shoulders and you dont have the fresh Malibu air your face on your private estate to comfort you.
VANCOUVERWhen Deanna Bell quit working in delis and bought her own food truck in 2014, she had a thought that she could park it on the side of the highway and serve up hearty meals to hungry travellers and truck drivers alike.

The Kamloops, B.C., woman and her chef-meet-right-hand-man Hardley Williams Jr. soon had so much business at summer festivals and events that the highway idea fell to the sidelines. That is until the coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of all the usual spring and summer events, and also left a gaping hole in the availability of good, hot food for truckers.

So the old idea became new again. Bell has spent this week prepping and preparing to start serving food from her Cookshack Cravings food truck on the side of the highway in Kamloops. And theyre leading a wave of other food trucks doing the same.

You dont meet a rich food truck owner  but Im in it for the food, Bell said. Were going to feed these truckers and Im just determined that everyone deserves good food.

For now, truckers are the people supplying Canadians with the things they need the most. According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, more than $2 billion in goods cross the Canada-U. S. each day, 70 per cent by truck.

Still, for drivers, the on-the-road realities of the pandemic mean life is far from business as usual. The closure of public spaces across the country is taking a serious toll  in a sparsely populated country where washrooms and hot meals arent easy to come by on a good day, for instance, more and more rest stops are closing their doors, and fast-food places have switched to drive-thru only  but that doesnt work in a large truck.

Its a problem that has prompted calls from truckers across the country, asking restaurants to keep their doors open  or even just allow them to walk through the drive-thru windows.

Greg Munden, who owns Kamloops trucking and forestry company Munden Ventures, was talking with another local business owner about the problem, when the conversation turned to food trucks.

Truckers need food and facilities. Food trucks need business. Why not match one with the other?

One thing led to another and weve quickly gone from coming up with a local solution to something that is growing quickly, Munden said. Im hearing from a lot of food truck operators who are obviously facing a bleak season, when they should really be ramping up.

Munden became a sort of co-ordinator for the effort to bring food trucks to highways. Using his local knowledge of which areas are under-served by amenities, and connections with gas station companies, he was able to find cardlocks  unattended fuelling sites for truckers  willing to provide space for food trucks to operate.

Bells truck will be the first to kick off in Kamloops this Saturday, but Munden says they now have interest from all over the province, with the cardlock owners pitching in.

People are just coming out of the woodwork really to help, Munden said.

The effort has highlighted a silver lining in a dark time for Munden, who is a third-generation family owner of his business.

Weve often wondered in this industry how we get people to recognize the importance of the trucking industry, he said. The silver lining of this crisis from an industry perspective is people are really understanding the importance of what these drivers do.

Bell is excited to get back to doing what she does best: bringing food to people. She swears by Williams jerk chicken and had been busy sourcing ingredients all week to provide a big menu to roadside customers.

Were so grateful for two reasons. I need an income and so does my cook, she said. Realistically were going to be feeding the truckers for the next six months and that suits me just fine.

With files from Kevin McGran

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The government had earlier announced that passenger flights will resume after midnight of April 14-15, unless the lockdown is extended, in which case all flights would be cancelled. The international flights will resume in a gradual manner and not all at once, allowing passengers, mostly Indians who are stranded in foreign countries, to fly back to India. The schedule and frequency of the flights will be decided by the health and home ministry officials on a country to country basis.

"Even before international flights were suspended on March 22, there were restrictions on people coming to India (similar to those adopted by many other countries) depending on the corona situation there. Unless the lockdown is extended, the health ministry will decide which all countries are safe enough (corona-wise) to allow people to fly from there to India starting April 15," said aviation secretary PS Kharola in a video conference on Sunday, reported The Times of India.

According to the daily, airlines in their internal notices have told employees that whenever the lockdown ends, the chances of domestic flights operating is much higher than international flights. International flights would be more of a gradual affair than an immediate one.

In a video conference organized by the Aviation Ministry, Air India Chairman Rajiv Bansal said that Air India has signed a contract with four nations to operate evacuation flights that will fly the stranded citizens of these countries out of India. The daily reports that 10 flights to Germany, six to Canada, one to France and one to Ireland will take citizens of these countries back. These special flights started on Wednesday with German nationals flying back to Frankfurt.

"We have been approached by some countries through their embassies in Delhi to operate special charter to flying heir citizens back home. We will be operating 18 such flights to the four countries. These flights out of India will be carrying their citizens on the way back to India, the aircraft will not have any cargo or any passenger (ferry flight)," said Bansal in the video conference, reports the daily.

Also Read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: COVID-19 cases cross 400-mark in last 24 hours; PM Modi's address at 9 am

Also Read: PM Modi plans for staggered exit from lockdown; asks state govts for help
Tablighis have not been super spreaders just in India, but in other parts of the world too

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: Names misspelt or written wrong in the registers. It has become a Herculean task for the agencies to track down the Tablighi Jamaat members, who attended the congregation at Nizamuddin last month.

Officials tracking the case say that the congregations by the Jamaat has created havoc not just in India, but in several other parts of the world as well.

About 9,000 Tablighi Jamaat members and their primary contacts have been quarantined till now across the country in view of the coronavirus infection. However tracking these persons has been anything but easy. The Jamaat has made an entry of all the names in its registry. However in most cases, the name does not match with the passport because it is either written wrong or misspelt.

4,000 blacklisted for engaging in Tablighi activity illegally: Why India needs to do more

On Thursday Punya Salila Srivastava, a joint secretary in the Union Home Ministry, told reporters during a daily briefing that out of about 2,000 such Tablighi Jamaat members in Delhi, 1,804 have been shifted to quarantine centres while 334 symptomatic persons have been admitted to hospitals.

She said these numbers are a result of a "massive effort" that was undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in coordination with states to identify Tablighi Jamaat workers or members in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials in the Home Ministry tell OneIndia that the problem is multi-fold. The first problem is tracking these persons. Next comes the issue of finding out who all they have come in contact with, their places of visit and also travel routes. We are doing the best we can and I could say so far so good, the officer cited above said.

India is not the only country in which the Talbighi followers have become super spreaders. In Malaysia there was a gathering of the Jamaat in February and at least 600 cases are linked to it. In Pakistan, there was a congregation of the Jamaat in March. Nearly 2.50 lakh people attended the congregation. The coronavirus infections thanks to this congregation has been linked to cases in Palestine, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan too.

Tablighi event has caused big damage to the country says minorities panel

Nearly 65 per cent of the new all India cases are linked to the event that took place in the city. At least 295 delegates from across the country who had attended the religious congregation at Delhi last month have tested positive, accounting for more than 60 per cent of the 485 confirmed cases across the country recorded till Thursday.

The nation wide count has crossed 2,000 with Delhi (141), Maharashtra (88) and Tamil Nadu (75) adding to the numbers in a big way.

On Thursday Delhi led the tally with 129 of the 141 cases being linked to the Jamaat. The states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka accounted for 143 Talblighi delegates of their contacts testing positive.

In Tamil Nadu 74 of the 75 cases comprised Tablighi delegates or their contacts. In Telangana the number stood at 26 of 27 while in Karnataka it was 11 of 14. All 32 cases reported in Andhra Pradesh were linked to the Jamaat.

How Tablighi Jamaat has become the super spreader of the coronavirus

In the states of Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur all the cases reported were linked to the congregation.

In Rajasthan out of the 13 cases, 3 were linked to the Jamaat while in UP the number was 2 out of ten. In Maharashtra, 8 out of the 88 cases were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat.

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Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 13:22 [IST]
By Sonya Dowsett

MADRID (Reuters) - Inditex <ITX.MC> has switched its clothes factories in Spain over to making medical supplies and its logistics hub has almost ground to a halt, effectively freezing the nerve centre of its business from which it supplies stores worldwide.

Retailers around the world have had to close shops and in some cases their entire business as governments have told people to stay at home to try to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Inditex, the owner of brands including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Bershka, said in its annual results on March 18 that it had temporarily closed 3,785 stores worldwide.

That would leave around half of its shops still open, suggesting its global footprint might help it to cope better in the crisis than some rivals.

However, with Spain suffering the most deadly outbreak of the coronavirus outside Italy, the government on Saturday tightened the terms of its lockdown - already entering its third week - by ordering all non-essential workers to stay at home for two weeks from March 30 to April 9.

That has meant Inditex's 13 factories in its home market have had to stop making clothes and - in order to remain open as well as to help with the fight against the coronavirus - they have switched to producing medical supplies like scrubs and masks, according to four union representatives.

Inditex does not disclose the proportion of its fashions made in Spain, but says it sources 57% from factories near its Spanish headquarters - mostly in Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Morocco - so it can quickly refresh its stores around the world.

The tightened restrictions since Saturday also mean the company's 10 logistics centres in Spain - the heart of its global distribution operations - have almost ground to a halt, two union officials and a worker said, putting a question mark over supplies to shops elsewhere in the world that remain open.

In Inditex's highly-centralised system, the logistics centres in Spain make two deliveries per week to stores to ensure they are kept up to date with the latest fashions.

"Store orders are not being taken care of during this time," said one union representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "All work for stores has stopped."

Story continues

Inditex did not respond to a request for comment.

Inditex's rival, H&M <HMb.ST> of Sweden, on Friday said it expected a loss in the second quarter after reporting a 46% plunge in March sales as the pandemic took its toll.

SERVING SPAIN

Inditex's logistics centres are allowed to stay open to process online orders, as e-commerce is one of the sectors of the economy classed as essential by the Spanish government, the union representative said.

However, he said the centres were now operating for as little as one reduced shift of four hours per week.

The priority for workers is to unload trucks that arrive from suppliers in countries like Turkey and Morocco, he said, so as not to leave them unattended at loading bays. The number of trucks arriving at the centres is greatly reduced, he added.

A notice posted on Tuesday on one union's Facebook page for Inditex's logistics and distribution platform in Zaragoza, northeast Spain, asked for workers to sign up for two four-hour shifts per week to cover minimum service.

The platform is working at around 15% its usual levels of activity, said one worker, speaking on condition on anonymity. Logistics centres are full of merchandise because so many shops are closed, he said.

The worker said clothing was being sent to China to serve online orders on cargo planes from Zaragoza that come back loaded with medical supplies for Spain.

Inditex's billionaire founder and owner, Amancio Ortega, said this week his foundation had bought medical material worth 63 million euros ($68 million) - including ventilators, masks and testing kits - for Spain's fight against the coronavirus.

Government officials have highlighted the importance of the company's capabilities in bringing in medical supplies.

"Without Inditex's planes, most of the supplies would be stuck in China," said Alberto Nunez Feijoo, head of the northern region of Galicia, where Inditex has its headquarters.

(Reporting By Sonya Dowsett; Editing by Mark Potter)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 23:56:24|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A commentary to be published in Saturday's People's Daily stresses adhering to "one country, two systems" and safeguarding the authority of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

On April 4, 1990, China's top legislature adopted the HKSAR Basic Law, a milestone in turning the policy of "one country, two systems" from a concept to reality.

Over the past 30 years, the Basic Law has shown its great vitality, the commentary says, adding that summing up the experience of practicing the Basic Law at this juncture is key to guaranteeing the "one country, two systems" is not bent or distorted in practice.

"One country" is the bottom line that brooks no challenge and is also the precondition and basis for "two systems," the commentary says.

The commentary stresses maintaining firm confidence in "one country, two systems" and not being wavered by temporary twists and turns.

"As a unprecedented political practice, 'one country, two systems' is inevitable to encounter some new situations, problems and challenges," the commentary says. "It underscores the need and urgency to improve the institutions for 'one country, two systems'."

The central authorities are determined to uphold "one country, two systems," "the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy for the region, the commentary says.
I am sorry to pass on the news that Bill Withers died on Monday at the age of 81. The cause, according to his family, was heart complications. The news will break the hearts of anyone who leaned on his music to get through sad times or celebrate happy occasions.

Where were you the first time you heard Aint No Sunshine in 1971? If you were around at the time, I bet you remember. It was a heckuva single, one of those buried treasures discovered by deejays who had to flip over the A side (Harlem) to find it. The rest of us took it from there.

I should add that that this single and the first album were produced by Booker T. Jones with the Stax rhythm section and a few other guests backing Withers. Stephen Stills sat in on guitar for Aint No Sunshine. The estimable Booker T. added the string arrangement.

Witherss background and personality seemed to me to ooze from the grooves of his records. Thats what I hear in Grandmas Hands, anyway.

I think the same applies to Use Me. This just pops out at you.

Born in Slab Fork, West Virginia, Withers joined the Navy at age 17. He put in 9 years as an aircraft mechanic before he punched out. I learn from the Times obituary that [a] visit to a club to see Lou Rawls perform was a catalyst for changing his life. It wasnt just Rawlss singing that lit Withers up, either. It was the babe magnet aspect of the vocation. You can hear it oozing from the grooves of Use Me.

Withers was his own man. When his original label went bust, Withers signed with Columbia. The suits at Columbia wouldnt let him be. The Times obit also plucks this quotable quote from a Rolling Stone interview in 2015 when he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: I wouldnt know a pop chart from a Pop-Tart. RIP.
A graph illustrating the current situation in Cork- and what might have been

While doctors, nurses and others on the frontline are working long shifts to care for people who have fallen ill with COVID-19, the restrictions introduced in the country have led to a significant impact on the spread of the virus in the community.

A six-fold increase in the number of confirmed cases in Cork since March 16, while alarming in itself, falls far short of a mid-March projection of 1,550 cases for the county. This was based on an estimated 30% increase per day in confirmed cases.

Agriculture Minister and Cork North West TD Michael Creed, however, told The Corkman that it wasn't time for backslapping and warned it would 'get worse before it got better'.

Public Health expert Dr Joe Barry, a native of Fermoy, told this newspaper that while models had predicted the country would be in a worse position now than we appear to be, the Irish government's graduated response appeared to be working.

While the figures give some grounds for optimism, they do not allow for any complacency or any indication of a relaxation in the restrictions that have compelled people to stay at home and observe social distancing and handwashing guidelines.

Streets in the county's main towns and villages have been all but deserted since midnight on Friday, after the new restrictions announced earlier that evening by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has been tasked with ensuring the food chain is sustained through the crisis and he paid tribute to the unstinting work being carried out by farmers and fishermen, food processors and regulatory agencies to keep things moving.

"I salute them, they're doing heroic work," he said.

In terms of the overall public health picture, he said the public response had been phenomenal.

"They're accepting unprecedented impositions on their personal liberty for the common good," he said.

He said he was cautious about offering any sense that we were turning a corner and warned the COVID-19 situation would 'get worse before it gets better'.

He paid tribute to the leadership of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Simon Harris and his other colleagues in Government and singled out the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan and his team for their 'extraordinary leadership' during the crisis.

For his part, Minister Creed is tasked with overseeing the examination in its 'granular detail' the workings of the Department of Agriculture to ensure it supports as effectively as possible the ongoing work to counter the effects of the crisis.

Retired TCD Public Health Professor, Dr. Joe Barry, who hails from Fermoy, has himself been recalled to the frontline, liaising with people in direct provision, the travelling community and the homeless, to help them cope with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The overall picture is better now than what we thought it might be back in mid March - the restrictions appear to be working and people have accepted them," he said.
Seattle, Washington--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2020) - CFN Media (OTCQB: CNFN), the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the legalized North American cannabis industry announces publication of an article discussing investing in the psychedelic market.

Psilocybin

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Psychedelics are rapidly becoming both a mainstream treatment option and investment opportunity. With growing interest among researchers, forward-thinking companies are starting to build a presence in the space.

In this article, we will take a look at the growing body of therapeutic evidence for psychedelics. How decriminalization is gaining ground, and how Ehave Inc. (OTC-Pink: EHVVF) along with other public companies are positioning themselves in the psychedelic space.

A Growing Body of Evidence

A growing body of evidence supports the use of psychedelics to treat a variety of different medical conditions. In 2016, Johns Hopkins researchers found that psilocybin produced a substantial and sustained decrease in depression and anxiety in cancer patients. A follow-up study on the same patients five years later found lasting effects from the one-time therapy.

The therapeutic evidence has become so overwhelming that Johns Hopkins established the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research earlier this year to start rigorously investigating the drugs' therapeutic potential. Researchers believe that it could have a beneficial impact on everything from smoking addiction to Alzheimer's disease.

In addition to medical benefits, there's plenty of anecdotal evidence that microdoses of psychedelics could improve mental health, well-being and productivity. Many prominent business leaders in Silicon Valley, including the late Steve Jobs, praised the benefits of microdosing psychedelics for creativity and cognition.

Click here to receive Ehave News and Investor Updates

Decriminalization Gains Ground

The growing interest among researchers has bolstered attempts by activists to decriminalize psychedelics throughout the country. Denver, Oakland and Santa Cruz have already decriminalized psychedelics over the past year, while California, Oregon and Iowa could see psychedelic-related measures on the ballot in November.

In the nation's capital, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY recently introduced legislation that would allow researchers to more easily study the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of psilocybin and other psychedelics. These developments mirror what happened in the early medical cannabis industry where regulations were slowly relaxed over time.

It's worth noting that these early efforts seek to decriminalize psychedelics and pave the way for research. Unlike the cannabis industry, there's less interest in a recreational market and more interest in building a viable alternative therapy for countless different medical conditions that impact the brain-many without any current options.

Investors Start Taking Notice

Mind Medicine Inc., better known as MindMed, became the first psychedelic pharmaceutical company to go public earlier this year on the NEO exchange. After raising $24.2 million in pre-public funding, the company plans to initially focus on addressing the opioid crisis and other forms of addiction with the use of psychedelics.

Click here to receive Ehave News and Investor Updates

Ehave Inc. (OTC-Pink: EHVVF) is another publicly-traded company in the space. Its Mycotopia Therapy subsidiary recently acquired PsychedeliTech and plans on hosting an inaugural PsyTech Summit in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 14-15, 2020. The conference will be modeled after the highly-successful CannaTech conference and connect key industry participants.

New Dates: June 14-15

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The company believes that its Dash platform will play a crucial role in the global advancement of psychedelic research. As a HIPAA and GDPR compliant platform, Dash is secure and compliant with some of the world's strictest privacy laws. It's an optimal way to compile psychedelic research and results to provide easy access for scientists globally.

Looking Ahead

Psychedelics are quickly picking up steam among both researchers and investors. As the market opens up, forward-thinking companies are building an early presence in the space before it grows into a large and mainstream industry. Cannabis investors may want to consider building a position in some of these companies given the similarities.

Please click here for additional Information on Ehave, Inc. (OTC-Pink: EHVVF)

Please click here for additional Information on Mycotopia Therapy

Click here to read the full feature: https://bit.ly/2V2r0Se

Ehave Contact:

Gabe Rodriguez

ir@ehave.com

623-261-9046

CFN Media Contact:

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But marijuana shops have had to alter operations, figuring out how to keep customers 6 feet apart, implementing preorder systems and taking other measures. Additional perks to having a medical card have emerged as certain dispensaries halted recreational sales and instituted measures such as curbside pickup that are available only to medical patients.
Real I.S. made its first German investment for the public AIF Realisinvest Europa launched in autumn: The fund management has acquired two buildings forming part of the Kontorhaus complex in Berlin. The property represents the third acquisition for Real I.S. AGs open-ended real estate fund for private individuals. Two investments

Photos: BNP Paribas Real Estate



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Turkish forces, militants shell Syria's Hasakah; two civilians killed

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 3:18 PM

At least two people have lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when Turkish military forces and allied militants launched barrages of mortar shells at residential neighborhoods in the western sector of Syria's northeastern province of al-Hasakah.

Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria's official news agency SANA that Turkish troops and their proxies targeted buildings in the villages of Qabr al-Saqir and al-Abosh, which lie in the Tall Tamr district of the province, on Thursday afternoon, leaving two civilians dead and four others injured.

The sources added that the projectile inflicted material damage on people's property in the targeted areas as well.

The development came only a day after the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a family of four was injured after Turkish forces and their allied militants shelled their home in Rabia'at village in Abu Rasin district in the same province.

Separately, Turkish troops and their allies also fired mortar shells at Zarkan town and Muharmal village in the same district of Hasakah province. The shells damaged residential buildings, but there were no reports of casualties.

Also on Wednesday, the Observatory reported that Turkey had dispatched new reinforcements to Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, as Ankara beefs up its military presence in the embattled region following a ceasefire reached earlier this month with Moscow to halt an escalation of violence there.

The Britain-based war monitor, citing activists requesting anonymity, reported that a Turkish convoy, consisting of dozens of tanks, personnel carriers and armored vehicles, crossed into the Syrian territory through Kafr Lusin border crossing on Thursday afternoon, and headed towards Turkish positions.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced on March 13 that the Russian and Turkish militaries had agreed on the details of a new ceasefire in Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone following four days of talks in Ankara.

Akar said the first joint patrol by Turkey and Russia on the M4 highway in Idlib would take place on March 15, and that Turkey and Russia will set up joint coordination centers in the area.

The announcement followed a telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan the previous day to discuss the implementation of the agreements the two leaders had reached in Moscow the previous week.

"Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed the importance of continued close joint efforts, first of all between the Russian and Turkish defense ministries, in order to ensure a stable ceasefire and further stabilization of the situation," a Kremlin press release read.

"It was agreed to maintain a regular dialogue at various levels, including personal contacts," the statement added.

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Lunar, a Nordic challenger bank, raised 20m in an additional Series B funding round now totalling 46m.

The round was led by Seed Capital Denmark with participation from Greyhound, Socii, and Augustinus. In addition to the funding, Ole Mahrt, Monzos former head of product, will join Lunars board of directors along with David Helgason, founder of Unity Technologies.

The company intends to use the funds to introduce new products and features in all Nordic markets.

Founded in 2015, Lunar is a digital bank that enables more than 150,000 users to control their personal finances. It has secured a banking license in 2019. The company has more than 120 employees in Aarhus, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. It has received almost 47m in funding to date.

FinSMEs

03/04/2020
Former President John Mahama is advising Akufo-Addo's government to consider producing face masks locally for easy access by all Ghanaians for protection against COVID-19.

In a Facebook write-up on day five of the two-week partial lockdown, the flag bearer of the NDC suggested: We can also consider applying some revenue to procure the appropriate materials to facilitate local production of face masks by our tailors and dressmakers.

This will make available millions of reusable masks by the general public, Mr Mahama said.

Furthermore, he said it will allow for medical masks to be reserved for health personnel only.

Apart from the above, he said: This project will help provide income for thousands in the textile and garment sector.

Last week Sunday, Mr Mahama presented one hundred sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) to health workers at the Greater Accra Regional (Ridge) Hospital in Accra.

The presentation, according to Mr Mahama, followed reports of shortage of PPE and other materials required by the frontline medical personnel at the hospital in their fight against the coronavirus.

Mr Mahama expressed the hope that the items presented will help in protecting the staff of the hospital as they go about their work.

We all, Ghana, appreciates the work you are doing. You are the frontline defence of the population against the disease and we must all support you to be able to protect us.

The items presented include 100 full sets of PPE, 100 gumboots, 120 doctor scrubs, 50 patient gowns, 30 theatre gowns and 400 packs of bottled drinking water.

Recently, Ghana took delivery of 20,000 laboratory diagnostic test kits, 100,000 medical masks, and 1,000 protective suits and face shields from Chinas richest man Jack Ma and the Alibaba Foundation.

All the countries in Africa also benefitted from Mr Mas munificence to help the continent fight the coronavirus outbreak, which first surfaced in his home country.

Also, several companies, groups, individuals, politicians, and civil society organisations have made donations to the governments COVID-19 Fund to help fight the virus.

---classfmonline
(JTA)As the world shut down around it, the Brooklyn headquarters of the worldwide Chabad movement carried on as usualuntil late Tuesday night, when its neighborhoods rabbinic leadership ordered synagogues closed to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

All week, men came and went from the massive building in the Crown Heights neighborhood, crowding in for prayer services and study sessions.

After news broke that the headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway would close amid global efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus, there was a final prayer service where worshippers stood shoulder to shoulder. A raucous dance party stretched late into the night.

The building, known among followers of the Hasidic Jewish movement as 770, has never closed, according to Chabad.info, a movement website that confirmed the closure.

The closure, which was first reported by the Orthodox news service COLlive.com, came after days in which it was unclear how seriously some in the neighborhood were taking the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as other synagogues around the globe curtailed their Purim parties more than a week ago and called off Shabbat services last weekend, 770 and the surrounding neighborhood continued to bustle.

A celebration Saturday night drew at least 100 men to the building, according to a video Chabad posted on YouTube. And COLlive reported that the head of 770 said on Tuesday that he had no plans to close the building, though visitors over 65 had been discouraged from entering.

Then it became clear that Crown Heights was emerging as a coronavirus hotspot in New York City. The New York Times also reported about a wedding in South Williamsburg, another Brooklyn neighborhood with many Hasidic residents, that drew at least 200 people in violation of city regulations barring large gatherings.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Beth Din of Crown Heights, the neighborhoods Orthodox rabbinic council, issued a decree requiring synagogues and mens mikvahs, or ritual baths, to close.

The decree came nearly a week after the first coronavirus-induced local rabbinic prohibition on communal Jewish activity, in Bergen County, New Jersey, and did not go nearly as far. While the rabbis in Bergen County explicitly prohibited in-home group prayer, the Crown Heights decree does not mention home minyanim, or prayer quorums, for example.

May we be zoche [worthy] to the eradication of all illness with the coming of Moshiach NOW, the Crown Heights ruling concludes, using the Yiddish word for the Messiah.
CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / How might real estate help people retire? In the case of a Self-Directed IRA, a piece of real estate can become investment property with the tax protections of a retirement account. But a recent post at American IRA, a Self-Directed IRA administration firm based in North Carolina, recently highlighted how investors can utilize these unique arrangements to maximize the amount of money available to them during retirement.

As the article noted, real estate has the advantage of collecting rent, which can generate a generous cash flow for a savvy investor, even well into retirement. This cash flow helps supplement the income of the retirement investor, which in turn helps them either have more money to invest or provides more money to help with budgeting during retirement. And as investors add more real estate to a retirement portfolio, the potential cash flow value of that real estate only increases.

Investors can also use non-recourse loans through a Self-Directed IRA, which keeps the assets within the IRA separate from the investor. This provides a layer of protection for investors that would not otherwise be realized in personal investments.

While the post notes that there are "disqualified persons" for a Self-Directed IRA-people that should not use the retirement investment for personal use-this does not mean that real estate is ruled out as an investment. Instead, American IRA encouraged investors to think about their retirement real estate investments as separate investments. Real estate held within an IRA is for generating returns and cash flow, not for personal use.

"With this post, we showed just how powerful a real estate investment can be, even if you are not using it for yourself," said Jim Hitt, CEO of American IRA. "There are a lot of people out there who know the power of real estate for generating wealth. And we wanted to show that it's something that you can use for generating retirement wealth, too."

Story continues

For more information on Real Estate IRA tips or the Self-Directed IRA, visit the post at www.AmericanIRA.com. Interested parties may also contact American IRA at 866-7500-IRA (472).

"About:

American IRA, LLC was established in 2004 by Jim Hitt, CEO in Asheville, NC.

The mission of American IRA is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry. Jim Hitt and his team have grown the company to over $400 million in assets under administration by educating the public that their Self-Directed IRA account can invest in a variety of assets such as real estate, private lending, limited liability companies, precious metals and much more.

As a Self-Directed IRA administrator, they are a neutral third party. They do not make any recommendations to any person or entity associated with investments of any type (including financial representatives, investment promoters or companies, or employees, agents or representatives associated with these firms). They are not responsible for and are not bound by any statements, representations, warranties or agreements made by any such person or entity and do not provide any recommendation on the quality profitability or reputability of any investment, individual or company. The term "they" refers to American IRA, located in Asheville and Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA."

SOURCE: American IRA, LLC





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/581321/American-IRA-Discusses-Real-Estate-IRA-Tips-for-Maximizing-a-Retirement-Nest-Egg




THE Second Vice-President, Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, has come out of selfquarantine with a call to the general public to take social distancing seriously and that the mandatory quarantine for people from abroad should not be regarded as a punishment.

The vice-president spent 14 days plus seven extra days in self-isolation after returning from Cuba at the time when the Ministry of Health had imposed 14-days compulsory quarantine for people returning from abroad.

I had to comply and follow the advice from health experts as one of the effective ways of controlling the worsening COVID- 19 outbreak, he said.

He said self-quarantine and observing all health precautions will save the people from the deadly corona- virus which has spread worldwide, disrupting social, political and economic activities.

Ambassador Iddis quarantine which started three weeks ago was not announced.

During his time in quarantine at his home, Iddi was monitored by health practitioners and had no physical contact with outsiders.

The second vice President thanked Health Ministers Ms Ummy Mwalimu (Union government), and Mr Hamad Rashid (Zanzibar) for tireless efforts in awakening the public about the pandemic.

Meanwhile, in supporting the government in the battle against COVID-19, members of the business community led by Ambassador Abdulsamad Abdulrahman and AMREF donated several items including food, medical and sanitary facilities worth more than 100m/-.

Mr Abdulrahman, Brazils honorary consul in Zanzibar, on behalf of the donors, including Vigor- Turkeys group of companies, Bakhressa group companies, and Advent- Construction handed over the items to the State Minister, Mr Mohamed Aboud Mohamed, who thanked the donors, saying the war against corona virus must involve all people. Everyone in the country has a role to play in controlling the spread.

He named some of the items as toilet rolls, bottled water, 100 water tanks with capacity of 200-litres each, sugar, rice, cooking, and sanitary equipment (soap, sanitizers) and stand-by trucks for logistics if required.

The food and medical supplies will be used in quarantine centres in Unguja and Pemba, while water tanks and sanitary supplies will be placed at market places, hospitals, and other risk places with big populations, to facilitate hand washing.

Members of the business community, including some in the Middle East, have accepted to contribute to the construction of a modern medical laboratory (which will also be used to test corona-virus), Abdulrahaman said at the handing over ceremony held at the premises of the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Antiquities.

The construction, already underway, is planned to take three months.

At a different event, the director of Mnazi Mmoja Referral Hospital, Dr Jamala Taib, received donations from AMREF Health Africa and some staff from the United Nations (UN) liaison offices, including disposable beddings and sanitary Supplies, estimated to cost more than 7m/-.
Michael S. Megonigal and his daughter, Marley, wanted to help people who lost their jobs as the covid-19 pandemic spread, perhaps by buying someone some food, but the two weren't sure about how to do it.

Then, after stepping in line to buy a snack at the Culmore Supermarket in Baileys Crossroads last weekend, an opportunity unfolded before them: Another customer discovered she couldn't afford everything and was about to put an item back. Megonigal paid for her groceries, and then some.

"We went there with the intention to [buy groceries for someone]," said Megonigal, 58, an auto body worker at Caliber Collision in Arlington. "Now it just so happened that when we got in line, there was a lady who was short already. So I just said, 'I'll tell you what. I got it.' The girl behind the register didn't understand. She didn't understand what I was telling her."

And then Megonigal told the next woman in line he would pay for her groceries, too, and the next person, and the person after that. Alex Lee, the grocery store's owner, said Megonigal told him to let the register go up to $1,000. And then Megonigal told him to let it go a little higher, and a little higher after that.

"He stood and watched the register go up, then he said, 'Let it go. We're blessed,' " Lee recalled Wednesday.

Some customers were initially confused, or disbelieving. Some tried to pay until the clerks explained what was going on. Some, who had selected only the items they thought they could afford, returned to the shelves for a few more at Megonigal's urging while 11-year-old Marley ran for things and brought them back, according to Lee and Megonigal.

Nearly an hour passed - until the final tally came to $2,523.32, Lee said. Video that Lee shot shows his manager, Mirian Calero, and others cheering and applauding as Megonigal's free-for-all wound down. At least 30 people received free groceries that day.

"I'll tell you what - you've never seen so many happy people. Really happy, really grateful," Megonigal said. "They just said thank you and God bless you. Most of them don't even speak English, to be honest with you. It was a great feeling. It really felt good to help out."

Lee felt so moved by the display of generosity that he said he didn't bother to check Megonigal's ID when he submitted a debit card for payment; he wondered whether the card would go through. It did, and that meant a lot in that neighborhood, Lee said. One in five people live in poverty in Baileys Crossroads, a neighborhood of approximately 24,000 people, according to census data. More than half are foreign born, and about 36% are Hispanic.

"We're a blue-collar, small community," Lee said, adding that he wonders how his customers can hang on while the government stay-at-home decrees remain in place and the economy remains almost at a standstill. Many already worked two jobs to support their families, he said.

"Their source of income has dried up," Lee said. "It's going to be devastating for everyone."

On Wednesday, hundreds of people waited on the other side of Leesburg Pike outside Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church for free food. The line of waiting cars snaked through the parking lot and onto Leesburg Pike, while dozens of others stood on foot in the chilly spring air as volunteers prepared 40-pound bags of groceries, such as eggs, chicken, fruit, rice and cooking oil.

Yareli Bonilla, a mother of two young children who lives in Vienna, said she was grateful for the food because she's been without work since the Burlington Coat Factory let her go because of the pandemic. Her partner, Marvin Torres, 27, still has a job at McDonald's but his hours were cut from 40 a week to about three. The crunch has also had repercussions as far away as El Salvador, where she used to send $150 from her biweekly paycheck to her father and grandparents.

"I don't know what we'll have to do, especially about the rent," she said.

With so many in need, the church has been trying to stretch its supplies to help as many people as possible, said Ubaldo Cisneros, coordinator of the church's social ministry.

"We're getting short on food, so we're reducing [each individual bag] little by little," Cisneros said. He estimated that demand is now four times higher than normal. On Monday, 573 people received free food; on Wednesday he estimated it would be 600 or more.

Megonigal said his family struggled too when he was growing up in Baileys Crossroads more than four decades ago after his father left his mother, his three brothers and him to fend for themselves.

"It wasn't that difficult because we didn't know any better. And she worked really hard," Megonigal said of his mother.

Things eased a bit after they all moved in with his grandmother in Lincolnia. Megonigal went to work on cars after graduation from JEB Stuart High School.

"We were luckier than a lot of other people," Megonigal said.

Over the years, Megonigal has found other ways to help people in his old neighborhood - donating money and bicycles and the like. The idea of helping more directly came up while he was discussing the crisis with his daughter Marley, who lives with her mother in Sterling.

"She came up with the idea of, 'Hey, we need to do something to help other people out. We need to find a way to give back,' " Megonigal said.

On Saturday the two drove around several neighborhoods in Northern Virginia and the District considering ways they could offer assistance. Then he suggested his old neighborhood, and Marley liked the idea.

"It's kind of strange. We knew we were going to help somebody but we just didn't know really what we were going to do," he said.

The enormous pleasure he felt in laying down his debit card for others almost took him by surprise, as did the depth of people's gratitude.

"It was fun watch the people especially when they didn't realize it, and they were explaining it to them, and they were looking around, going 'What?' " Megonigal recalled. "It was awesome. I can't wait to do it again."
Oishani Mojumder By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Owing to flood of patients at Gandhi Hospital, primarily those who have been identified as attendees at the Nizamuddin Markaz, the situation at Gandhi Hospital is worsening not just for doctors but also the patients.

Doctors complain that they do not have proper personal protection equipment, and the hospital is not being disinfected as often as it is supposed to be.

Elderly patients with suspected Covid symptoms say that they have no one to take care of them while they wait for test results.

Speaking to Express, MBT spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan, revealed that a 70-year-old man who tested positive for Covid-19 had a bout of severe diarrhoea. But there was no one to clean him up.

The mans entire family was at a quarantine centre at Nizamabad. A fellow patient, who noticed that the old man was stinking, shot a video and requested me to get in touch with the authorities to let one of his family members in, said Khan.

According to the MBT leader, this man had self-reported after two of his fellow attendees at the Markaz died after testing positive for Covid-19.Khan added, Many of the patients from Gandhi Hospital have also called and complained about the quality of the food. There are no nurses or ward boys around the patients. The doctor comes in at sparse intervals just to give medication.

Patients seem unable to get any form of nursing care as the State faces a lack of nursing cadre.

On the other hand, doctors treating Covid suspects or positive patients are dealing with a lack of security and personal protection equipment. On Wednesday, two junior doctors and a security personnel were attacked by a deceased patients relatives after they received the news of his death. The two relatives are also Covid-positive.

Last week, close to 12 post-graduate resident doctors at Niloufer Hospital, were symptomatic after treating a 3-year-old Covid-positive infant without personnel protection equipment. Fortunately, all the 12 have tested negative, but will have to be tested again if symptoms recur.
Postman, the company behind the collaborative API development platform, is offering a resource of its own in the fight against COVID-19: a collection of API endpoints for tapping information about the outbreak. The most recent addition to the resource list is a crowdsourced directory of COVID-19 testing locations throughout the United States.

The list of APIs curated by Postman and its contributors ranges wide. Aside from official sources like the World Health Organization and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, the Postman COVID-19 collection also includes APIs for state-level information, research datasets, information and statistics on COVID-19 from other countries (e.g., India), and connections to other useful resources such as official Twitter accounts for state and federal government bureaus.

Each of the APIs can be accessed through a conventional REST interface, but also through the in-browser front end that Postman exposes for an API. Sample code for polling the API is available for many languages and tools (e.g., curl ).

Postman also provides tools for converting existing datasets not already exposed as APIs into API endpoints. For instance, many ad hoc data collection efforts use Google Sheets as a place to dump raw data, but its difficult to make use of that data through an API without hacking together a script or some other mechanism to do it. Postman provides a collection to pull data from a Google Sheet into a queryable API.

Other Postman projects provide API front ends for generic websites and databases hosted on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Heroku.

Many of the projects covered by Postman, including its own COVID-19 testing location dataset, are contributor-driven efforts. The COVID-19 API project is open source, with code on GitHub, and welcomes contributions.

[An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Postman had information about testing locations in all 50 states in the United States.]
Number of cases nearly doubles in a week in region with health systems eroded by conflict in several nations.

Middle Eastern governments must act quickly to limit the spread of the coronavirus as cases in the region have risen to nearly 60,000  almost double the tally of a week earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.

New cases have been reported in some of the most vulnerable countries with fragile health systems, Ahmed al-Mandhari, WHOs director for the Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as MENA countries, said on Thursday.

Even in countries with stronger health systems, we have seen a worrying spike in the numbers of cases and deaths reported, al-Mandhari said in a statement.





Outside of Iran, which has reported more than 50,000 cases, coronavirus numbers have been relatively low in the Middle East and North Africa compared to Europe, the United States and Asia.

But health officials fear cases of the highly contagious respiratory illness, COVID-19, are under-reported. They say many countries with weak governments and health systems eroded by conflict will struggle to cope.

I cannot stress enough the urgency of the situation, said al-Mandhari. The increasing numbers of cases show that transmission is rapidly occurring at local and community levels.

We still have a window of opportunity, but this window is slowly closing day by day.

The total number of cases in the region has risen to 58,168 from 32,442 on March 26, the WHO said, on a day when global COVID-19 cases crossed the one million mark.

To date, 1,016,534 people have been infected globally, with 53,179 deaths.

Yemens humanitarian catastrophe

One of the countries worst affected by conflict is Yemen, where the World Bank said on Thursday it would provide $26.9m in emergency funding to help the WHO and local authorities improve capacity for detecting, containing and treating the coronavirus.

Yemen has not confirmed any coronavirus cases but is seen as especially vulnerable because a five-year civil war has brought its health system to the brink of collapse and has created one of the worst man-made humanitarian disasters in the world.

The country has already been struggling with overlapping infectious diseases including cholera, diphtheria and dengue fever, and large numbers of people have been displaced in the ongoing conflict.

About 24 million of its population of 29 million need humanitarian assistance. There are no doctors in 18 percent of the countrys districts, most healthcare workers have not been paid for at least two years, and COVID-19 testing kits are available for just 600 people, according to the World Bank.

The epidemic does pose unique public health risks in Yemen  given the already weak health system and the high vulnerability among the population, said Marina Wes, the banks country director.

Meanwhile, the United Nations warned on Friday that health care facilities in war-torn Libya  another vulnerable country ravaged by conflict  were already fragile as the country recorded its first death from the virus.

The UN-recognised, Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), which controls the west of the country, has officially recorded 10 cases of the virus in Libya.

The ongoing conflict has severely impacted the countrys health system and medical services, which have limited financial resources and face shortages of basic equipment and medicines, UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch said.

He called for the release of hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees held by Libyan authorities in detention centres, saying they are particularly vulnerable and exposed, given often poor sanitation facilities, limited health services and overcrowded conditions.
It is known that most coronavirus patients are above the age of 50 and already have underlying health conditions. However, young and healthy people are also at risk.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that young people must not be confident about not acquiring the coronavirus because of age limits.

According to him, young people are not invincible. He added that the virus could infect people in hospitals for weeks, it can even kill people and people under the age of 50 years old make up a significant portion of patients that need to be admitted into the hospital.

This also became a contrast to the issues that suggest that only older people, people with underlying conditions and people who are potential in having life-threatening pneumonia are at risk of acquiring coronavirus.

It was sad news when an infant who was infected with the coronavirus passed away in Illinois. Though, it is not yet verified as to whether the infant had any underlying health conditions.

Meanwhile, there was also a report that a healthy teenager died in Los Angeles after contracting coronavirus.

In the United Kingdom, there were two reported cases of teenagers who had no underlying conditions but also died after acquiring the virus. The teenagers were 13 and 19 years old.

Related Articles:

Studies show that eight in every 10 people who have tested positive in the virus are over 65 years old but two of those patients are young. If it is going to be multiplied on a worldwide scale, numbers will overflow of younger patients who died of coronavirus.

Studies also show that the people who are under the age of 50 have stronger immune systems which means that their bodies recognize a new foreign agent that enters our body which COVID-19 that acts quick in entering and destroying if it gets inside their cells, antibodies must also be produced to further make a quick response in fighting the foreign agent.

Before coronavirus will act and cause serious damage in the body like difficulties in breathing and severe pneumonia cases in the lungs, the immune system should have fought it off the body, and the body must be well and on its way to the recovery stage suffering only fever, dry cough, and fatigue.

But, it is ironically the youth's blossoming immune system that may have been the problem as well as the root cause of why the people below 50 years old are still being infected and dying due to the virus.

As the immune system still fights off foreign entries of unknown agents in our body and attacks it, other small harmless genetic and environmental factors can also cause the immune system to go overdrive.

The inflammatory cells in our body which are called the "cytokines" help off provide a combative environment for the infection and the inflammatory cells set off a chain reaction which is called a cytokine storm. However, there are uncommon cases like an overreaction on the part of the immune system that can cause problems.

Prolonged overreaction of the cytokine storm in the body can cause difficulties in breathing and some may shutdown completely clogging the airways that can lead to suffocation.

To have a balance between the cases, doctors must prescribe the proper drugs for the patients for their immune systems to suppress it and stop the overreaction but not take it off completely for the body to fight the bacteria and patients must also have ventilators that will help their lungs so they can breathe properly until they can breathe on their own.
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has spent the past couple of weeks essentially begging the federal government to help fill an anticipated shortfall of more than 20,000 ventilators as COVID-19 ravages his state. These machines, which push air into people too sick to breathe for themselves, are turning into our nations most precious commodity. On Tuesday, Cuomo said that states are essentially bidding against each other, almost like eBay, for lifesaving materials. On Thursday, he announced that his state would run out of ventilators in six days at the current burn rate and he had stopped putting his hope in the feds. I dont think the federal government is in a position to provide ventilators to the extent the nation may need them, Cuomo said. Assume you are on your own in life. On Friday, Cuomo stated more bluntly that the market has literally collapsed for the needed medical equipment and that the feds did not have enough equipment on hand to give to the states. Senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner all but confirmed that New York would be on its own, suggesting he didnt believe the governors numbers. People who have requests for different products and supplies, a lot of them are doing it based on projections which are not the realistic projections, he said. New York and other states seeking theseand othermuch-needed supplies, though, have another option they may have not considered.

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States need not depend entirely on the president, or Congress, or even the courts. Instead, the Constitution lets the states help each other.

Its a little buried, and a little obscure, but the Constitution has a provision to let states form a compact with each other. New York and New Jerseys Port Authority, for instance, is an interstate compact. But there are hundreds moregoverning everything from agriculture to radioactive waste to wildland fire protection.

Theres even a compact for all the states and federal territories to help each other during a crisis, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The indication from Cuomo, though, is that existing state compacts are not helping in this moment.

A new compact could resolve this situation. Heres how the plan might work. States, as many as possible, could essentially draw up a contract to work with each other. It could look however they want it look. But to blunt the harm thats rightfully driving Cuomo to apoplexy, the states would probably need a couple of basic features: bid as a group, and then shuttle the lifesaving machines between the states to whatever coronavirus hot spots are exploding. Whats the goal? To stop all of the bidding against one another while still giving all states as good a shot as possible to help the sick people in their borders.

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Theres one more feature, crucial for at least the first few states that join together: They need to pony up a lot of cash to outbid everyone, especially the other states. So the startup states should probably be the ones motivated to act: say, New York, California, Ohio, and Maryland join together.

The other states need to understand that, if they stay on their own, their residents will lose out. That will give any doubters a big incentive to join the new compact. As more states sign up, the outliers will become less and less successful securing the equipment they need and so will face more and more pressure to sign on too. Eventually, the states, working together, will become a behemoth buyer (or as antitrust lawyers might say, something approaching a monopsony). With that sort of market power, the states might well be able to drive prices back downand then share what they buy.

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There are a few limits to interstate compacts. Most important, compacts cant serve as an affront to the sovereignty of non-member States, but the Supreme Court has already ruled that creating economic pressure isnt enough to do that. In fact, the Supreme Court doesnt police limits very rigorously. For example, despite text in the Constitution saying Congress must approve interstate compacts, the Supreme Court almost never requires thatit has generally only been required when a state agreement might encroach upon or interfere with the just supremacy of the United States. The feds can join compacts, too, which might address Cuomos other complaint that hes also bidding against the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But adding FEMA to the compact actually would require Congress to act. And if Congress could get around to doing that, probably it could fix the entire problem more directly.

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A few additional points to consider.

First, despite those limits on interstate compacts, good luck to anyone who goes to court to challenge a ventilator compact. In todays dire circumstances, the Supreme Court will almost certainly let the states do as they wish. Even from a more doctrinal perspective, dont forget that, in recent years, the majority of the justices have often limited federal authority in favor of more robust state power.

Second, this solution doesnt apply to just ventilators. If the federal government truly wants to act only as a backup, as President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated, then states may want or need to allocate a whole array of stuff among themselves: everything from face masks to medicine to, if necessary, even food.

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Finally, think about this. What Cuomo described is a world where states are facing the world almost as free agents, squabbling with each other, unable to agree. Thats what the United States looked like before the Constitution, when the states lived together uneasily under the Articles of Confederation. The people who wrote the Constitution desperately wanted to replace those creaky, wobbly, and ultimately failed articles. But the constitutional Framers did leave in this one vestige from the old regime. Essentially, the interstate compact clause lets the states gin up ad hoc articles of confederation. Meaning, 231 years after we ratified the Constitution, we may now need to use parts of that very system we thought we had moved beyond.

In an ideal world, the states should not need to improvise like this in a crisis. In an ideal world, the states and the federal government would work as peers. In an ideal world, theres no grisly bidding war between states, to seal who will breathe, and so who will live, and who will die. In an ideal world, we dont need this interstate compact.

For more on the impact of the coronavirus on essential workers, listen to this weeks What Next: TBD.

But in todays broken world, we probably do.
NEW YORK, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: RA) (the Fund) today announced that its Board of Directors declared the Funds monthly distributions for April, May and June 2020.



Month Record Date Ex Date Payable Date Amount per Share April 2020 April 15, 2020 April 14, 2020 April 23, 2020 $0.1990 May 2020 May 13, 2020 May 12, 2020 May 21, 2020 $0.1990 June 2020 June 17, 2020 June 16, 2020 June 25, 2020 $0.1990

Shares purchased on or after the ex-distribution date will not receive the distribution discussed above. Please contact your financial advisor with any questions. Distributions may include net investment income, capital gains and/or return of capital (ROC). Any portion of the Funds distributions that is a return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Funds investment performance and should not be confused with yield or income. The tax status of distributions will be determined at the end of the taxable year.*

Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (PSG) is an SEC-registered investment adviser that represents the Public Securities platform of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., providing global listed real assets strategies including real estate equities, infrastructure equities, energy infrastructure equities, multi-strategy real asset solutions and real asset debt. With approximately $20 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2019, PSG manages separate accounts, registered funds and opportunistic strategies for financial institutions, public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds and individual investors. PSG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., a leading global alternative asset manager with over $540 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2019. For more information, go to https://publicsecurities.brookfield.com/.

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. is managed by PSG. The Fund uses its website as a channel of distribution of material information about the Fund. Financial and other material information regarding the Fund is routinely posted on and accessible at https://publicsecurities.brookfield.com/

COMPANY CONTACT

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.

Brookfield Place

250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor

New York, NY 10281-1023

(855) 777-8001

publicsecurities.enquiries@brookfield.com

Investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

* Distributions include all distribution payments regardless of source and may include net income, capital gains, and/or return of capital (ROC). ROC should not be confused with yield or income. The Fund's Section 19a-1 Notice, if applicable, contains additional distribution composition information and may be obtained by visiting publicsecurities.brookfield.com. Final determination of a distribution's tax character will be made on Form 1099 DIV and sent to shareholders. On a tax basis, as of February 29, 2020, the most recent available figures, the estimated components of the cumulative distributions for the fiscal year to date would include an estimated return of capital of $0.2621 (65.85%) per share for the Fund. This amount is an estimate and the actual amount and sources for tax reporting purposes may change upon final determination of tax characteristics and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. A return of capital is not taxable and results in a reduction in the tax basis of a shareholders investment. The final determination regarding the nature of the distributions will be made after the end of the Funds fiscal year when the Fund can determine its earnings and profits. The final tax status of the distributions may differ substantially and will be made available to shareholders after the close of each calendar year. The proportion of distributions that are treated as taxable distributions may also vary and or increase in future years. The Fund invests in master limited partnerships (MLPs), which are generally treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. Distributions from MLPs are estimated as income and return of capital based on information reported by the MLPs and managements estimates of such amounts based on historical information. These estimates are adjusted when the actual source of distributions is disclosed by the MLPs and the actual amounts may differ from the estimated amounts. In setting the Funds distribution policy, PSG and the Funds Board consider a number of factors, including both expected income and distributions received by the Fund and our expectations regarding potential capital appreciation. From time to time the Fund may be over- or under- distributed when taking into account actual income, distributions and net unrealized gains or losses since actual capital appreciation is variable over time. However, our goal is to have a distribution rate that is stable over the long term.

Quasar Distributors, LLC provides filing administration for Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.
As a new normal begins to settle across the world amid the coronavirus pandemic, many in-person activities are converting to online spaces. For some, this can be challenging. But the difficulties of using technology are not stopping Anna Marie Leo from teaching her dance classes via Zoom.

Born in 1930, Leo began dancing at the age of four after she tagged along to her sister's classes in Wilmington, Delaware. Her sister ended up giving up dance, but Leo discovered her lifelong passion in those classes.

Anna Marie Leo.

When she was 21, Leo teamed up with her husband to open a dance studio in Wilmington: Anna Marie Dance Studio.

"I got that year maybe 75 students where lessons were a dollar and a half a week," Leo told TODAY. "Think about that! A dance lesson for $1.50. My rent for that building was maybe $600 a month. Boy, would I like to be paying that now!"

From there it escalated, and over the past 69 years her studio has inhabited six different locations. Despite selling the business to her great-niece a few years ago, she still teaches three days a week.

Now, the coronavirus pandemic has forced the small business to shut its doors but Leo is not letting the pandemic stopping her from teaching.

Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.

Anna Marie Leo and her son, Sonny.

The 89-year-old has overcome the loss of her husband and a daughter, and even a fire that burned down her studio in 1982, so resilience is no stranger to her.

"I go online and I can see the children dancing and they can see and hear me," she explained, adding that her grandson, who she lives with, is helping her with the technical side of broadcasting dance classes via video conferencing.

"But it's working. I hope it continues to work. Sometimes you have to get creative, but for me and my students this gives us something to look forward to. So of course I hope we don't have to do this too much longer, but if we do, we keep doing this."

Story continues

One of the students who looks forward to her classes is 11-year-old Annie Rosenthal, who has been dancing at Anna Marie Dance Studio for six years.

11-year-old Annie Rosenthal is one of Leo's students.

"She's always been a really good teacher," Rosenthal said of Leo. "She's loving. She's really caring and she really cares that we get the steps right."

Rosenthal explained that even though dancing in her bedroom is different than dancing in a studio, she's made some changes, like adding cardboard on top of her carpet, to make it work.

"I love that it's added some normalcy to my kids' lives," Rosenthal's mom, Meredith, said. "They are able to partake in things that they like. It also keeps them on a schedule, which is really important for them. It helps them be able to "see" other people and interact with them. It enables them to have exercise. So it's been extremely valuable."

"I also love that a small business like Anna Marie's can still give us value. We paid for these classes and I love that they can still do this and stay in business. We're very satisfied with what our kids are getting out of using technology."

Leo  who has diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is on oxygen  checks many of the boxes that make her vulnerable to COVID-19.

"Yes, I'm a little bit scared," she shared. "I haven't been out of the house for probably three weeks. But I am not giving up. I'm optimistic. I'm definitely one of the half-full glass people. Always has been, always will be. I guess maybe that's how I got to 90, so hopefully I'll get to many more of those years."

Leo says she hopes her story can inspire others and her message to others is to "never give up."

Leo is teaching four classes over three days to her students, who span all ages from preteens to adults.

"There's always a solution," she adds. "When you think, 'Oh my gosh, how am I going to make this happen?' Look for a solution. You can find it. There's always a way. If it doesn't work with plan A, go to plan B. Stay positive and know that we are all going to get through this together. And what I'd like to see when we all get over it, is that the camaraderie stays."

"Don't go back to your 'I' or 'me' self, but stay with your neighbors, your coworkers and everybody. I think that's going to be very important when this all ends ... that we keep that connection and camaraderie that we are forming out of this."
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The citys public hospitals will be getting more doctors and nurses, free coronavirus testing for its health care workers and more intensive care unit beds to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, while Staten Island, not part of the citys Health + Hospitals system, was left out of the citys latest plan.

The city formally rolled out a plan this week for its Health + Hospitals system to prepare for a surge in coronavirus cases by adding 3,000 more ICU beds by May 1 and equipping them with more than 2,500 doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians and free Covid-19 testing for its staff at their request.

The delivery of additional resources to the citys public hospitals comes as the Islands two private hospitals could be at about half of their capacity.

Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters during a press conference Thursday the Islands Richmond University Medical Center and Staten Island University Hospital were already being mandated to expand its ICU beds as part of Governor Cuomos ordering of hospitals to increase their capacity by 50% to accommodate more coronavirus patients.

But he avoided saying whether the Islands private hospitals would receive the level of staffing and free coronavirus testing like the public hospitals.

Hospitals are going to be converted more and more to ICU. RUMC is going to be converted more and more to ICU with the existing beds that it has, the same with Staten Island University Hospital, de Blasio said Thursday. All hospitals, public and private, have to have an expansion plan, 50% expansion of their capacity within their building within their campus.

City Hall could not say whether Staten Island would receive more doctors and nurses like the rest of the public hospitals around the city and noted that other voluntary and private hospitals would not be getting free coronavirus testing for its healthcare workers either when pressed.

As the rest of the citys public hospitals received a commitment from City Hall for more resources this week to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, on Thursday, Staten Islands two private hospitals said they were treating 411 coronavirus patients alone.

Last week, the heads of the Islands two private hospitals told the Advance they are able to expand to 829 ICU and general hospital beds combined under its surge capacity.

That means the hospitals could currently be at half of their capacity treating coronavirus patients alone based on the number of coronavirus patients they were treating Thursday.

The Island is set to receive a 260-bed field hospital at South Beach Psychiatric Center sometime next week to treat coronavirus patients only.

Another field hospital at the College of Staten Island, will add 1,000 beds

However, details on when the colleges field hospital will open, who will staff it, and whether the site will treat coronavirus patients or non-coronavirus patients have yet to be answered.

Under the citys current approach, the mayor said that hospitals would be converted to ICU beds and then additional facilities like field hospitals, hotels and other venues would be built out for additional capacity

The mayor has vowed in recent days to look for every additional opportunity to build more hospital capacity on Staten Island during the coronavirus outbreak.

He has also said the city has given supplies to the Islands two private hospitals.

However, the Department of Health does not provide a breakdown of the supplies the city distributes to local hospitals and the Islands two private hospitals have not detailed how many of those supplies it has received from the city to date.

The Islands coronavirus deaths hit 105 Thursday morning as Staten Island again reached its high mark of 14 fatalities over a 24-hour period, according to the boroughs two hospital systems.

An additional 84 coronavirus patients have been discharged from borough hospitals  62 from SIUH and 22 from Richmond University - the hospitals said.

As of Thursday evening there were 2,822 confirmed coronavirus cases across the borough.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.

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Updated: Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the most important thing government can do is keep people in jobs, and New Zealand is well placed to build back up after the lockdown.

Grant says the wage subsidy has paid out $4.8 billion in the last two weeks, helping nearly 800,000 New Zealanders, 120,000 of who are sole traders or self employed.

The government will be introducing legislation to make changes to the Companies Act to help companies facing insolvency due to COVID-19 to remain viable and keep New Zealanders in jobs, he says.

The temporary changes include:

Giving directors of companies facing significant liquidity problems because of COVID19 a safe harbour from insolvency duties under the Companies Act.

Enabling businesses affected by COVID19 to place existing debts into hibernation until they are able to start trading normally again.

Allowing the use of electronic signatures where necessary due to COVID19 restrictions.

Giving the Registrar of Companies the power to temporarily extend deadlines imposed on companies, incorporated societies, charitable trusts and other entities under legislation, and

Giving temporary relief for entities that are unable to comply with requirements in their constitutions or rules because of COVID19.

These measures will support the Governments work to cushion the economic impact for New Zealand and to support businesses and protect jobs and incomes, says Grant.

We are announcing these decisions now to give businesses certainty that these measures are being worked through. We will be asking Parliament to agree to make some of these changes retrospective.

While they will help increase certainty and provide practical assistance to business owners and directors, the changes must not be seen as a workaround for obligations to creditors and the responsibility of directors to act in good faith.

I want to emphasise that these changes will not mean that directors are free to disregard the consequences of their actions for the next six months. Other protections in the Companies Act, such as those addressing serious breaches of the duty to act in good faith and punishing those who dishonestly incur debts, will remain in place.

Going into a Business Debt Hibernation will give businesses the space to talk to their creditors about prioritising paying some debts, and deferring others for six months.

It is inevitable that some businesses are going to have to go into liquidation. However these measures provide an accessible and pragmatic means of helping some businesses to weather the storm in a way that does as little harm as possible to creditors interests.

He urges businesses to talk to their creditors and banks, and also reminded them that the government had a Wage Subsidy scheme in place as well as a Business Finance Guarantee Scheme, which can offer loans up to $500,000 over three years.

He says the best way to get the economy back to normal is to follow public health advice.

If we get this virus under control it will be not only the best thing for our health, but also our economy.

Earlier: Finance Minister Grant Robertson is delivering an update on the COVID-19 situation this afternoon.

Earlier today Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield announced there are 71 new cases today, bringing the total to 868.

A total of 103 people have recovered from the virus so far.

"There are 13 people in hospital. One person is in ICU. They are all stable," says Ashley.

To date, 29,485 lab tests have been carried out.

Ashley says they now have the capacity to carry out 5400 tests a day.

There is still strong links to overseas travel.

He says 49 per cent of cases are linked to overseas travel and 39 per cent have confirmed links to positive cases.

Community transmission is still at one per cent, but Ashley believes this will increase as they continue to investigate the remaining cases.
Mumbai, April 3 : Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan has taken to social media to laud the selfless performance of doctors and paramedical staff across the world in the battle against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

T 3491 - "        ..." 

( my song from film 'Coolie' ) pic.twitter.com/XfeSIYSn3R  Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 3, 2020

Big B on Friday morning, shared a cartoon that shows a doctor holding the globe on his shoulders, like Atlas. The veteran actor shared that the efforts of the medical community in these times of crisis remind him of his song from the film "Coolie" that goes, "Saari duniya ka bojh hum uthate hain".

Netizens agreed with the actor saying that doctors are indeed doing a great job amidst all the difficulties.

A fan commented below his tweet: "True sir Ji. My son and dUghter in law are in the medical field. Appropriate song." However, another fan quickly reminded the actor that not only doctors but the police and sanitation workers also deserve respect.

The fan commented: "Sir including doctors their also police and sanitation workers too... We should not forget their contribution."

-- Syndicated from IANS
Massachusetts transportation agencies will be getting a sizable check  more than $990 million  from the federal stimulus package President Donald Trump signed into law last week.

The Federal Transit Administration announced on Thursday that it will be disbursing $25 billion in federal funds to help keep the nations public transportation systems afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly $885 million is being set aside for the Boston area, and $38 million for Worcester. About $13 million will be coming in to help rural parts of the state, according to the federal database.

The funding can be used for capital, operating and other expenses generally eligible under those programs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19," and will come through the FTAs annual funding formula for transit agencies.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said in a statement that the funds will ensure our nations public transportation systems can continue to provide services to the millions of Americans who depend on them."

In Massachusetts, the MBTA is likely to receive most of the funds as subway and bus ridership continues to decrease dramatically and virus spreads throughout the state.

For the week of March 29, subway ridership dropped to as low as 90% compared to the same week in February, according to the T, as ridership hovered around only 10,000 taps or ticket insertions at 64 gated stations across the transit system. Bus ridership is also down also. During the first week of March, there were as many as 400,000 bus riders across the system. On Sunday, there were fewer than 45,000 passengers.

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Panaji, April 3 : The North Goa district administration on Friday shut down a hotel near Panaji, after it was revealed that the state's sixth COVID-19 positive person had checked into it after his return from Mozambique via Mumbai last month.

"The management and all staff of the Orion hotel are hereby directed to be in home quarantine forthwith for a period of 14 days as per the instructions of health department," the order issued by North Goa District Magistrate R. Menaka on Friday said.

The order said that the decision was taken in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced Goa's sixth COVID-19 positive case, after a sailor from Mandrem sub district in North Goa, who had returned to Goa from Mozambique via Mumbai tested positive.
While the NCP criticised Prime



Minister Narendra Modis ligh up lamps message to people, an MLA of the party, who is also a relative of Sharad Pawar, on Friday struck a different note and appeared to welcome the appeal.

NCP MLA Rohit Pawar said Modi's message was aimed at brining the country together in the fight against coronavirus.

Rohit Pawar, grandnephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, also urged citizens to use the national flag as the display picture (DP) of their respective social media accounts.

Prime minister @narendramodi ji is aiming to bring the country together through lights & if so, we should welcome this thought.

"Likewise, as a citizen of this country I urge you to place the flag of our country as a DP of your social media accounts for a message of solidarity, the MLA from the Karjat -Jamkhed Assembly segment tweeted.

In his 9 AM video message to the nation, Modi urged people to switch off lights of their homes at 9 pm for nine minutes on April 5 and light up lamps, candles and mobile flashlights to display the nation's collective spirit to defeat coronavirus.

The NCP criticised Modi over the message, saying it left citizens "quite disappointed" in the fight against coronavirus even as one of its Maharashtra ministers, Jitendra Awhad, termed it as pure stupidity to tell people to do so.

The party maintained it was expected that the prime minister would talk about measures being taken to combat COVID-19, but people were instead told to light up lamps.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin told its workforce on Friday that it will not be laying off employees during the coronavirus crisis and instead plans to continue hiring.

Blue Origin management was quoted by The Verge on Thursday as saying workers in Texas may "lose their jobs  because of our actions" if employees in Washington state refused to travel to help conduct a test launch of the company's space tourism rocket New Shepard.

The possibility of launching on April 10 was considered as the company is exempt from stay-at-home orders, due to the Pentagon declaring Blue Origin "mission essential" due to its national security contracts.

"What happens to the technicians down there that operate the vehicle who no longer then have jobs?" a Blue Origin senior director said according to The Verge.

But CEO Bob Smith said Friday in an email seen by CNBC that the company would not be letting employees go if New Shepard's next flight is postponed.

"Blue Origin is unique and in a very fortunate position. We will not be having layoffs, but in fact, we will be hiring. We will not be making budget, payroll or benefit cuts based on this crisis," Smith wrote in the email.

Bezos, the company's founder, has previously said that he sells about $1 billion of Amazon stock each year to fund Blue Origin  although he recently cashed out of nearly $4.1 billion worth, suggesting that annual amount has increased. Blue Origin had about 2,500 employees at the end of last year and plans to grow that workforce total by a third this year.
The government on Thursday announced new rules allowing flights to evacuate stranded foreign nationals and the release from quarantine of people who arrived in the country after February 15 and had tested negative for Covid-19.

The new rules unveiled by the home ministry followed restrictions imposed on all international flights and rules requiring the quarantine of all people entering India at government or private facilities.

The rules, which were conveyed to all states in a notification, state the external affairs ministry will examine on a case to case basis all requests by foreign governments to evacuate their nationals stranded in different parts of the country due to the current 21-day lockdown.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

If the evacuation requests are endorsed by the external affairs ministry, chartered flights will be arranged by the foreign governments in consultation with the civil aviation ministry.

Before their departure, the foreign nationals will be screened for Covid-19 symptoms. Only those foreign national(s) would be allowed to leave who are asymptomatic for Covid-19, according to the standard operating procedure (SOP) for evacuation of foreigners.

In case of symptomatic person(s), the future course of treatment would be followed as per the standard health protocol, the SOP states.

Embassies will have to arrange local transport to ferry their nationals to airports and transit passes for such vehicles will be issued by state governments.

The SOP for release of people quarantined after returning from abroad since February 15 state they will be released if they test negative. However, this will not apply to a group, where even one person tests positive for Covid-19, it states.

The transit passes for people released from quarantine will be issued by state governments and they will have to undergo home quarantine for 14 days as a measure of abundant caution on reaching their destination.

According to several estimates, countries such as the US, the UK, France, Germany, Israel and Russia are engaged in hectic efforts to evacuate more than 20,000 of their stranded nationals from different parts of the country.

The Germany embassy has evacuated some 2,400 stranded travelers, including nationals of other European countries, in the past few days and flew out 600 more on two flights on Thursday.

The US embassy has said it will have several evacuation flights from New Delhi and Mumbai from this weekend. The UK high commission has also asked its nationals to register for evacuation flights that expected to begin in the next few days.

People familiar with developments said Air India is expected to operate flights from Mumbai and New Delhi to London between Saturday and Tuesday.

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Finnish Armed Forces to Proceed With Spring Drills Despite Coronavirus Crisis

Sputnik News

05:12 GMT 02.04.2020(updated 06:24 GMT 02.04.2020)

The Finnish Armed Forces have about 10 drills planned this spring involving up to 18,000 conscripts, despite extensive nationwide emergency measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Finland's military intends to hold spring exercises despite the raging coronavirus pandemic, which earlier this year led to the cancellation of Cold Response, a major series of NATO drills, in neighbouring Norway.

So far, only individual national exercises have been called off, according to Lieutenant Commander Tuomas Syvanen of the Armed Forces' General Headquarters.

This spring, the Finnish Defence Forces are planning about 10 different exercises involving up to 18,000 conscripts, national broadcaster Yle reported. However, not all of the drills will take place at the same time or at the same place.

Syvanen justified the intention to go ahead with the exercises by referencing a government decision taken in mid-March, according to which the Armed Forces, the largest in Northern Europe with an active personnel of 25,000 conscripts, are required to ensure their continuity and readiness in all situations.

The headquarters spokesperson said that emergency measures and restrictions on public gatherings aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus do not apply to Defence Force activities.

However, refresher training exercises have been suspended until the end of April.

According to Syvanen, the military will be paying close attention to preventing the spread of the virus during the exercises. The organisation is closely following the development and may still make changes in the scheme of the planned drills.

Earlier this week, Finland's government extended existing emergency measures, which include closed borders, social distancing and homeschooling, until 13 May.

Last week, the Finnish government cordoned off the capital area, that includes Greater Helsinki and is home to nearly 1.7 million people, or one-third of Finland's population, as part of its strategy to stop the epidemic.

So far, Finland appears to be the least affected by the coronavirus epidemic of all the Nordic nations.

As of 1 April, Finland recorded 1,446 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Finland with no new death cases in the past 24 hours. In total, 17 patients have succumbed to the disease. The majority of cases, and fatalities, are concentrated in Helsinki and Uusimaa region, which have been cordoned off.

 Sputnik

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:43:18|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Poverty Reduction Fund under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is being used to help farmers in Xaysomboun province improve clean agricultural production with the aim of reducing poverty, food security and creating sustainable income.

Farmers in Xaysomboun province, some 130 km northeast of Lao capital Vientiane, are being provided technical support for increasing the planting of clean crops, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday.

The center will be built to showcase methods for clean agricultural production, and it will have various sections to help farmers grow a variety of clean crops. It will also encourage villagers to plant clean vegetables in greenhouses, according to a Lao official from the Poverty Reduction Fund.

The center will support groups of poor farmers by providing techniques and methods, and helping them access more finances from the banks. It will also help in setting up model families for clean agricultural production and playing an important role in increasing the planting of quality products, said the report.

This will be in line with the agriculture ministry's strategy to transform from inorganic chemical agricultural production methods to organic alternatives.

Under the strategy, the Department of Agriculture is focusing on supporting local farmers' groups to expand the range and volume of organic production by creating more understanding about organic agriculture among Lao farmers.

As part of planned activities for boosting clean and organic agriculture and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) across Laos, the department will develop marketing based on analysis of demands at the domestic and overseas levels and seek to ensure quantity and quality standards and prices, according to the report.
This story originally appeared on Alma.

At Zoom University Hillel, there are no comfy places to study or free snacks. There's no director or rabbinic intern or student board. But there are memes, words of comfort and a sense of community as strong as any university's Hillel house.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced nearly every college to transition to online courses and, in most cases, move students out of their dorms and back to their homes. College students naturally have taken to Facebook meme groups to cope with the sudden lifestyle change.

The Zoom University Hillel Facebook group, which was founded by Clark University student Ari Hoffman, stemmed from a larger group with over 200,000 members called Zoom Memes for Self Quaranteens.

Hoffman posted in the original group, jokingly asking, "So who wants to join Zoom University Hillel?" When people expressed interest, Hoffman created the group. Within four days, the group had over 8,000 members.

Hoffman said he didn't expect the group to grow so quickly.

"It was kind of wild how it blew up," he told me.

In the group are memes, polls, Zoom hangouts, matchmaking and, of course, Jewish geography.

Tyler Bardfeld, a sophomore at the University of Delaware, posted in the group looking to unravel the "largest conceivable game of Jewish Geography." Within 18 hours, the post had over 2,000 comments of students clicking on people's names to see how many mutual friends they have.

"I thought it was interesting how there were all these people that I recognized from summer camp and when I was in BBYO and people from school... I didn't think it would get as many comments as it did, but it was fun," Bardfeld said.

Adina Ornstein-Luks, a student at Vassar College, shared a similar experience of joining the group and immediately seeing people she knew from summer camp, college and home all in the same place.

"I was like, 'This is crazy. This is the intersection of all of the Jews I've ever known all in one place!'" Ornstein-Luks said. "I really got a kick out of it. I was looking through and I had mutual friends with everyone."

Like many Jewish gatherings, humor plays a huge role in the group. A poll questioning whether or not Shrek is Jewish (Shrek means fear in Yiddish) sparked vigorous debate. Sophie Frieden, a student at DePaul University (and Alma ambassador) started a thread of bar/bat mitzvah pictures and glow-ups.

"The humor is good. We're able to make fun of each other, but in a lighthearted way. There's good banter," said Sofia Freudenstein, a student at the University of Toronto.

Occasionally a political debate breaks out, but the group mostly remains civil and drama-free, something that can be rare for online Jewish spaces. Especially rare among a group of college students, there has been almost no discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Members are using the larger group to find smaller pockets of community, with call-out posts such as "Where are my Russian-speaking Jews at," "Where are my trans Jews at?" and "Where are all my Latino Jews?"

Freudenstein said she loves how everyone is finding their niches in the group.

"For me, it was finding all the other Canadians," she said.

Ornstein-Luks posted looking for other queer Jews and got a lot of responses right away-prompting her to create a spinoff group called Zoom University Hillel (but queer) with Jacob Miller, a fellow Vassar student. She said this smaller subgroup has been the best part of the experience for her because it's allowed her to connect one on one with people and serve as a self-described "queer yenta."

Numerous group chats on Facebook Messenger, Slack, Snapchat and What's App have started from the group. People are using the group to find friends, something New York University freshman Nina Robins said she thinks is unique.

"You don't necessarily see social media as a place to make more friends... but I think people in this group are really down to meet new people and I think that's cool," Robins said.

Hoffman said it's nice to have people to talk to during all this isolation.

"Just having a little group that's smaller than that bigger group but still a good amount of people to talk with [is really nice]," Hoffman said.

As one would expect in a group of over 8,000 young Jews, there is plenty of matchmaking. Multiple matchmaking Google forms have emerged, promising to find applicants their true love/bashert through a blind Zoom date.

Aaron Raimi, a college student in San Diego, took the matchmaking to a new level by creating the spinoff group Zoom University MeetJew-Find your #CoronaCutie, which gained nearly 3,000 members in a matter of days.

"I was thinking, 'Why doesn't someone create a page that revolves around dating?'... I thought it could be something fun, so I posted on the [Zoom University] Hillel page saying, 'So, am I gonna be the one who has to create this Jswipe/dating/shidduch Zoom University page?' I got a bunch of reactions," Raimi said. "I was like, 'You know what, everyone's quarantined, I have a lot of time on my hands, I'll just make this and see what happens."

While Zoom University Hillel is created and run by students, there are also online programs from Jewish college professionals. Hillel International recently launched Hillel@Home, a series of virtual events with speakers, and many college Hillels have created their own virtual programs.

Zoom University Hillel is not the only Jewish-focused Zoom meme group, either-there's also the Zoom University Chabad and the Zoom Beit Midrash, among others.

In a time of fear and uncertainty, these Facebook groups are bringing students together and providing a sense of community.

"This would have never happened if we weren't in this situation, which is why I'm really trying to see this as a positive," Ornstein-Luks said. "This group is truly iconic. I think it's so funny and so powerful."

Multiple students have posted in the group expressing their gratitude for the community.

Mason Brown, a University of Minnesota student, posted his appreciation, saying "It's amazing that during something as serious as a global pandemic, we're so willing to come together (albeit virtually). I hope everyone is doing well, and staying safe and healthy. I can't wait to meet more of you and make connections over the next hectic few weeks or so, but I hope this group continues even beyond that."

Freudenstein said the group has given her a sense of unity that she didn't expect.

"It's not just my Hillel that I'd be comfortable in, but no matter what campus I'd go to, Hillel would try to make me feel comfortable," she said. "That's a really nice feeling."
A pub owner, a clothing store owner, and a person selling alcohol out of a U-Haul truck were among those cited as police continue to crack down on New Jersey residents violating Gov. Phil Murphys orders to stay at home, close non-essential businesses, and not gather to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the State Police, said Friday at the states daily coronavirus press briefing that hundreds of residents in Newark were cited, and a Warren County woman was also charged for lying to police about being positive for coronavirus.

In total, 79 other indictable offenses have been charged in connection with residents violating the stay-home order. Violating the order is not an indictable offense.

Murphy has routinely called violators of his orders knuckleheads. He has said people who engage in reckless behaviors will face, at least, fines of up to $10,000 and up to 18 months in jail.

Callahan listed the following police actions in the last 24 hours:

 A Blairstown pub owner was cited for a second offense for being open and selling to patrons.

 Newark police issued 228 summons and closed nine businesses.

 In Lakewood, police cited a person operating a clothing store.

 Also in Lakewood, a person was cited for selling alcohol out of a U-Haul truck.

 In Atlantic City, police responding to a ShotSpotter activation stopped a vehicle, recovered a handgun and drugs, and arrested all five occupants.

 On a domestic violence call in Independence, a woman lied to police, saying she was positive for COVID-19 when she was not, Callahan said. She was cited for assault and creating a false public alarm.

New Jersey, a state of nine million people, now has at least 29,895 cases, including 646 deaths, from COVID-19, officials said Friday. Only New York has more among U.S. states.

The virus is now the most common cause of death in New Jersey.

Murphy has said he expects the state to be dealing with the fallout of the virus deep into May.

He said Friday that he needs everyone in the state to comply with his orders to help slow the virus spread.

We need to bat 100%, the governor said. And where we dont see compliance, we will continue to crack down.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said social distancing must remain in place even though religious holidays  such as Easter as Passover  are around the corner.

I want to urge residents to abide by the ban on social gatherings, Persichilli said. I know this will be difficult. We understand while this may be disappointing to many  it is imperative to limit face to face interaction in order to slow the spread of this virus.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GBU) ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 122,908 incentive stock options under the Company's stock option plan (the "Option Plan") and 99,176 deferred share units under the Company's deferred share unit plan (the "DSU Plan") to certain directors of the Company as non-cash directors' fees for Q1 2020 (the "Director Grant"). All incentive stock options issued under the Director Grant are exercisable for a period of ten years at $0.49 per share and vest immediately from the date of grant.The Option Plan allows for the issuance of up to 10% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company in the form of incentive stock options. As of the date hereof, a total of 31,603,619 common shares of the Company are reserved for issuance under the Option Plan, representing approximately 5.5% of the issued and outstanding share capital. 3,452,814 common shares of the Company are currently reserved for issuance under the DSU Plan.For information on this press release, please contact:Dragos TanasePresident & CEOPhone: +1 425 414 9256dt@ gabrielresources.com Richard BrownChief Financial OfficerPhone: +44 7748 760276Neither 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.Further InformationAbout GabrielGabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal focus has been the exploration and development of the Rosia Montana gold and silver project in Romania ("Rosia Montana Project"). The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license ("License") for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Rosia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company.Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group (as defined below) focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com Forward-looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with: the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Company's ability to fund its operations (including but not limited to the completion of further funding noted above) or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information.Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "is of the view", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements.Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:delay or extension to the duration of the ICSID Arbitration;required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration against Romania;changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and the group of companies of which it is directly or indirectly parent ("Group");access to funding to support the Group's continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future;equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of new or existing securities in part or in whole to
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 14:39:44|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The global tally of COVID-19 cases swelled to 1 million on Thursday, posing a tough test for the human race.

As the pandemic is raging around the globe, China has been joining hands with the international community to fight the virus by donating medical supplies, sharing anti-coronavirus experience and sending professional medical teams to epidemic-stricken countries.

"This is, indeed, the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War," said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday.

SOARING INFECTIONS

A total of 1,002,159 cases have been reported across the world, with a death toll of 51,485, an interactive map maintained by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering showed on Thursday afternoon.

The bruising pandemic has further rampaged in the United States, where over 244,000 cases have been reported with more than 5,900 deaths, according to the tally.

Some 40 U.S. states have ordered residents to stay at home unless necessary, including the heavily hit New York, New Jersey, Michigan, California, and Louisiana.

Non-essential businesses, such as theaters, museums, gyms, and shopping malls are largely shut down, and restaurants and bars are asked to avoid in-person dining, effectively paralyzing the consumption-driven U.S. economy.

The fast-moving coronavirus has also haunted Europe.

In locked-down Italy, the pandemic has claimed close to 14,000 lives, and the caseload surged to 115,242 by Thursday, according to the latest data released by the country's Civil Protection Department.

In neighbouring France, hospitals registered a one-day loss of 471 coronavirus patients, taking the death toll to 4,503, while some 900 dependant elder people living at nursing homes had died of the virus since the epidemic began, a health official said on Thursday.

In Spain, more than 110,000 cases and 10,096 deaths have been reported.

Speaking on Spanish radio station RNE on Thursday morning, Jose Luis Abalos, minister of transport, mobility and urban agenda, said the coronavirus had presented the government with a "double challenge," and that Spain had to "fight the epidemic and to avoid the economic activity being swept away."

The outbreak has been rampant in the Middle East. Iran's tally surged past 50,000 cases on Thursday, while Turkey's approached 20,000.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went into isolation for the second time in a week after Health Minister Yaakov Litzman was diagnosed with COVID-19. Netanyahu, 70, will stay in self-quarantine until Wednesday.

CHINA'S EFFORTS

Ten days after Iran reported its first confirmed case on Feb. 19, a medical team sent by the Red Cross Society of China arrived in Tehran. At that time, China was in the thick of battle against the disease.

Upon their arrival, the experts immediately engaged in exchanging experience on combating COVID-19 with their Iranian counterparts and promoting bilateral cooperation on medicine and health.

On March 7, a Chinese team of seven health experts arrived in Baghdad to provide guidance and medical assistance to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in Iraq.

In addition, a charter flight carrying a 9-member Chinese aid team arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport on March 12, as part of China's efforts to help Italy contain the outbreak.

Also, the Chinese government has sent tons of medical supplies to Greece after Athens' urgent request.

On March 18, 1 million face masks were flown from China to Belgium en route to France. The medical supply was mobilized by two Chinese charities to help combat the spread of COVID-19.

On Tuesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press conference that 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 supplies.

Many experts have said that China's efforts to contain the spread of the virus worldwide show how the country works together with the international society to build a community of a shared future for humanity in the face of this global public health challenge.

According to the National Health Commission, China has so far shared its experience with more than 100 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations.
President Donald Trump will convene an extraordinary gathering of the oil industrys competing factions at the White House on Friday, as a global pandemic and oil-price war weigh on markets.

Chief executives of the nations biggest refiners and producers are expected to discuss possible relief efforts from the administration, including potential cuts in U.S. production to bring the price of crude back from a historic plunge, according to people familiar with the matter.

But there are deep divisions among the various factions over what should be done, especially on the question of possible tariffs on Saudi Arabian oil, which may force Trump to make a difficult decision that could hurt some executives who are among his most ardent supporters.

Trump has sought to forge an agreement with Russia and Saudi Arabia to end their price war by cutting back on production, a move that could boost prices and help drillers and refiners located in states like Texas and Louisiana that are crucial to his re-election in the fall. Canada is also in talks with OPEC and the U.S. about the state of the global oil market.

But it isnt clear whether Russia and Saudi Arabia would agree to cut output unless the U.S. also takes part -- a move that would be unpopular with some U.S. producers. A meeting of OPEC+ oil cartel members is set for Monday and Vladimir Putin said his country is prepared to take part in deep reductions in oil production.

Trumps discussion with U.S. producers is going to be a productive meeting, it will be an exchange of views, chief White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters on Friday.

West Texas Intermediate crude suffered its biggest-ever quarterly decline in the three months through March. Even after the past two days rally, futures are still down 56% this year.

Fridays meeting is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette and Kudlow are also expected to hold a separate call with independent refiners and producers following the White House meeting.

From industry, chief executives including Exxon Mobil Corp.s Darren Woods, Occidental Petroleum Corp.s Vicki Hollub and Energy Transfer LPs Kelcy Warren are expected to attend, as are Greg Garland, chairman and CEO of Phillips 66, and Mike Wirth, chairman and CEO of Chevron Corp., a person familiar with the matter said.

One of the most contentious matters among the oil giants is whether Trump should slap tariffs on Saudi crude to get the kingdom to reduce its output.

Its an idea championed by Oklahoma oil man Harold Hamm, a Trump confidant on energy who will be part of the meeting Friday, as well as some Republican senators who say tariffs could help the president win concessions from Saudi Arabia and stabilize the global crude market.

Tariff option

Tariffs are also a weapon of choice for the president, who has wielded it against China, foreign steel producers and during trade negotiations with Mexico and Canada. Within the oil industry, the idea has exposed deep rifts, with refiners and Northeast U.S. gas producers firmly opposed.

If they were to go down this route it would probably result in some refineries shutting down completely, said Chet Thompson, head of the industrys top trade group, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.

Trump has indicated he already has a plan in mind for helping oil companies he says are being ravaged by a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. He said he knows what to do to solve the problem, though he declined to reveal the strategy other than to say its tough and Id rather not do that.

Instead, the president said, he hoped Russians and the Saudis would strike an agreement to cut production.

It would be great for Russia. It would be great for Saudi Arabia. I hope they make that deal, Trump told reporters Thursday. If they dont, he said, theres another alternative.

Large, integrated industry giants such as Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., which will be represented in the meeting Friday, have typically opposed any kind of government intervention in crude markets. They have better access to capital and are more diversified than independent producers, making them more resilient to ride the rout.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the coronavirus pandemic puts stress on the boroughs markets, the Saturday open-air Greenmarkets might come as a relief to shoppers.

GrowNYC, the entity that coordinates the farmers markets, said that both the St. George and Staten Island Mall Greenmarkets are open this Saturday, rain or shine, with most regular farmers in attendance. Jersey Farm is the only producer absent from the St. George lineup.

Otherwise the North Shore operation will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., as usual in winter, at the top of Hyatt Street and St. Marks Place, behind the St. George Theatre. Producers include: Rabbits Run Farm of New Hope, Pa., American Pride Seafood of Hampton Bays, Long Island, Francescas Bakery of Middlesex County, N.J. and Stoney Mountain Ranch from Schuylkill County, Pa. Food scrap and clothing collections are temporarily suspended, according to GrowNYC.com.

Farmer Dan Torrison of Rabbits Run Farms said he is loaded with egg inventory but has sold out of his meats. He sold out two weeks ago to Staten Islanders -- getting an appointment with the butcher have been difficult -- but expects more for Greek Easter. Lettuces, fresh chevre and raw mixed cow and goat-milk cheeses are available at his stand.

Torrison will self-quarantine for 14 days after his visit to New York City. This Saturday will be Day 14 since his last trip to St. George.

On Saturday the Mall Greenmarket will be open at Ring Road, from 9 a.m. to 1 pm., with the Orchards of Concklin of Rockland County, N.Y. Food scrap collection has been cancelled until further notice.

GrowNYC has set up a spreadsheet for consumers who wish to order from the farms through their online platforms.

With precautions in place to protect the farmers and patrons, visitors are asked to maintain six-feet distance from each other. Sampling is not permitted. Customers may not touch the produce or goods. Instead product must be handed over to the shopper.

Barbara Fisher is a regular at the St. George Greenmarket and stops in each Saturday despite the coronavirus crisis. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

Hand sanitizer will be offered at the market managers stations. Staff handling credit and debit cards or processing SNAP transactions must wear protective gloves. Sick staffers are mandated to stay home. And the market management will provide reminders to farmers about proper food handling.

In addition to following general public health guidelines, GrowNYC encourages patrons to wash all produce before using and to keep reusable produce bags washed and clean.

Regular shopper Barbara Fisher of Stapleton said, For those who cant get to a restaurant or who like to cook: I bake pizza... using mushrooms and sausage from the Greenmarket. Very easy and good. I also use the pizza dough to make vegetable buns with leftovers. Pizza dough can be store-bought or made from scratch.

A grilled sausage pizza can be the result of Greenmarket sausage from DiPaolo Turkey Farm and greens from another St. George producer. (Staten Island Advance File Photo)Staten Island Advance

***** CLICK HERE FOR MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE *****

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Four policemen were injured when a



group of people allegedly attacked them with stones after being asked not to gather for Friday prayers at a mosque in Hubballi in north Karnataka, a top police official said.

Some among the crowd also were injured in the incident, Hubballi Police commissioner R Dileep said without elaborating.

"Today the prayers were called in certain prayer halls and people had gathered there. Police on rounds requested them not to gather because of the order of the government and to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease but some people got sentimental about it,"



The leaders of their community came there and persuaded the agitated people to exercise restraint saying police were performing their duties and they should not obstruct them.

"But inspite of it, some people got agitated and hurled some stones, in which four (police personnel) persons were injured. They got minor injuries. They are back on duty. There is nothing alarming and equally some people from their community got injured," the commissioner said.

Presently the situation was peaceful because of the efforts of police and community leaders, he said adding patrolling was on.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
European countries, including Spain and the UK, announced record-high daily coronavirus death tolls Thursday. With the 4,199 new deaths yesterday, 37,864 have already perished in Europe. There have been more than 521,000 cases of COVID-19 infections on the continent including 33,661 new cases.

In Spain, 950 diedthe third consecutive day of a record high.

Italian Army soldiers monitoring cars and controlling the streets in Bari: (credit Twitter: Italian Army)

In the UK, the death rate has quadrupled in a week. In just four days since Monday, 1,693 coronavirus deaths have been announcedmore than were recorded on all days up to March 29. The Department of Health and Social Care reported a record 569 deaths Thursday, taking the total to almost 3,000 (2,921). This was the second consecutive day Boris Johnsons Conservative government announced over 500 deaths. Wednesdays 563 fatalities were a 31 percent increase on the previous day.

With an age range of the latest deaths between 22 and 100 years old, nearly 8 percent (44 people) of yesterdays victims had no known underlying health conditions.

Britain is now showing the terrible daily toll commonplace in Italy and Spain, with the pandemic taking over 13,000 and 10,000 lives in those countries.

The UK infection rate has also shot up, with 4,324 new cases announced Wednesday and 4,244 Thursday. Total infections in the UK stand at 33,718 but are in reality much higher. Hardly any tests were done when the outbreak began, despite months of warnings. Three weeks ago, Johnson announcedas part of attempting to enforce his herd immunity policy aimed at infecting everyone in the country with coronavirusthat no systematic testing would be done and that everyone who showed symptoms should self-isolate.

More than 1.7 million people in the UK have likely caught coronavirus over the past 15 days. Data from the NHS 111 online service revealed that web-based assessments flagged 1,496,651 people as potential carriers; a further 243,543 calls to 111 and the 999 emergency number concluded callers had signs of COVID-19.

It was only after widespread outrage at its social Darwinist policy that the government was forced to pledge that widespread testing would be done. Even now, just 163,194 tests have been completed with yet another promise yesterday of 100,000 a day for the end of April. Only 2,000 of 550,000 National Health Service frontline workers have been tested.

The BBCs head of statistics, Robert Cuffe, commented Thursday, if that [UK death rate] keeps up, wed expect to see in the region of a thousand deaths a day by the weekend. Sky News economist Ed Conway noted that For the past week or so, the UKs death rate has been doubling every three days and if the growth rate continued like that, in a weeks time there would be 10,000 people dead and the UK would be on a far worse trajectory than Italy.

An explanation of this steeper curve emerged late yesterday, when NHS England reported that the earliest death in the UK had in fact occurred on February 28, one week earlier than previously reported. In total, six people had died in hospital prior to March 5.

In Italy, 760 died Thursday, taking the total to almost 13,915. Two new studies suggested the true death toll could be significantly higher than reported. The InTwig data analysis firm reveals that while there were 4,500 deaths in the hardest-hit city of Bergamo, the Civil Protection Agency only reported 2,060 deaths. The University of Bergamo, using historical data from the national statistics office compared to current hospital data, showed that deaths in the north of Italy doubled in the first three weeks of March, compared with the average number of deaths during the same period between 2015 and 2019. The uncounted deaths were mostly elderly victims who were not admitted to hospital and never tested for the virus.

The government welfare assistance website remains down, leaving Italys most vulnerable unable to receive any COVID-19 scheme for financial support. An estimated 3.3 million Italians work in the black economy and dont qualify for welfare support schemes. Twenty thousand army soldiers are deployed in southern Campania, Puglia and Sicily to patrol the streets amid rising tensions as citizens run out of food and money.

Germany announced 168 new deaths, taking the total to 1,099. After Berlin approved its coronavirus aid programmea bailout worth 600 billion for the banks, corporations and the super-richanger among workers is growing. In the past days, health employees in hospitals, nursing homes and workers in businesses vital to the supply of the populations needs have criticised catastrophic and unsafe working conditions.

Truck drivers, airport workers, delivery workers and steelworkers are also voicing opposition. A worker at the Outokumpu stainless steel group in Krefeld, speaking anonymously to the WSWS, said, Were all angry, feeling betrayed. Even those in risk groups still have to work. An info sheet says they should talk to the company doctor. I did that. He advised me to wash my hands and disinfect myself. But we dont have any disinfectant, or face masks. I use keyboards, telephones, etc.

In a dramatic development, France's death toll shot up by 1,355. Previously, Emmanuel Macron's government had only released the deaths of those who had died in hospital of coronavirus. Yesterday, it announced that 884 people had also perished in retirement and care homes. On top of the 471 hospital fatalities, this takes total deaths to 5,387. Other countries, including until recently Britain, have also not included those who died outside hospital in their fatality announcements to play down the scale of the catastrophe they are responsible for.

Aware of explosive social anger in workplaces, the Stalinist General Confederation of Labour (CGT) has issued an authorization for public sector workers outside the hospitals to strike in April. The CGT is not calling for strike action or opposition to President Emmanuel Macron, but cynically authorizing isolated action by individual workers while the union bureaucracy keeps working with the government to slash wages and social benefits.

Workers have mounted strikes or walked off the job at Amazon, in supermarkets, in the auto industry and in aeronautics. One worker at an air conditioner manufacturing plant told the press, This epidemic has woken up a lot of peoplenow the masks are falling. Usually management manages to calm them down, but today they are seeing that even when it is a matter of life and death, management has no concern for them.

Lockdowns throughout the continent have led to staggering job losses. The Financial Times reported Wednesday, Unemployment is growing much faster than in previous recessions because the measures taken to slow the spread of the virus are felt most severely in low-wage, labour-intensive sectors such as retail, hospitality and other consumer-facing services.

In the UK, more than 1 million people have been forced onto the welfare rolls in just two weeks. Austria reported Wednesday that unemployment now stood at over 12 percentthe highest level since records began in 1946. In Spain, over 900,000 people have been made unemployed since the outbreak began there. In Norway, unemployment has risen from 2.3 percent to 10.4 percent in little over a month. The Financial Times noted the governments Labour and Welfare Administration statement that a quarter of tourism and transport workers and almost a fifth of retail workers were now claiming unemployment insurance.

The newspaper reported that in Germany, some 470,000 companies have applied for government wage subsidies through the Kurzarbeit, or short-hours, programmealmost five times higher than the 100,000 people who used the scheme during the 2008-2009 recession.

Another indication of the devastating impact of the coronavirus on the working class is seen in the map produced by the Catalan regional government in Spain, showing that the virus is six or seven times more prevalent in Barcelonas poorer areas than in wealthier areas.
This is an opinion column.

On Thursday, Alabamas governor took to Twitter to answer questions from the public.

It did not go well.

Kay Ivey was one of 13 governors across the country that took part in a Twitter-sponsored event called #AskTheGov. What followed was a gubernatorial failure of technology Alabama hasnt seen since Robert Bentley sent his wife Dianne text messages he meant for his love interest, Rebekah. At least, Ivey didnt use any rose emojis in her online Q&A.

Anyone with a Twitter account could ask Ivey whatever was near their hearts. Thats asking for trouble even in normal times, but maybe the most revealing thing from this social media experiment was how substantive and consistent those questions were, mostly focusing on two topics.

First, why hadnt Ivey issued a statewide order to shelter in place?

Second, would the state finally expand Medicaid?

These are legitimate questions that deserve answers. Alabama has stubbornly refused to expand the Medicaid program, turning away billions of federal dollars for healthcare in Alabama and leaving more than 200,000 working Alabamians stuck in the coverage gap, making too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance.

Meanwhile, Alabama is one of a dwindling handful of states that have not given a shelter-in-place order, and Ivey has previously said giving one now would cost jobs.

The questions directed at the governor were, for the most part, respectful and direct.

Her answers were insipid and evasive.

Has this virus brought you any closer to changing your mind about expanding Medicaid? If not, can you explain to us why? @JonTew asked.

Ivey answered with the sort of inexact boilerplate you might get from a fortune cookie.

All health care options are being considered & evaluated to ensure the safety & wellbeing of the people of Alabama, she replied.

When it came to the shelter-in-place question, Ivey wasnt any more helpful or reassuring, even as some on Twitter begged her to give the statewide order.

Each state has to weigh their own set of factors, Ivey wrote. Im in communication with local, state & federal officials on a daily basis. We are taking a measured approach to keep Alabamians healthy, safe & working, wherever possible.

The blowback on Twitter was fierce. Some attacked her for not answering any of the questions. Others asked how and when Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth would take over her office. Id encourage you to peruse them yourself here.

In normal times, a trainwreck like this would be cause to fire her press officer, but too many people on her staff had to know this would be such a disaster to blame just one. To hold anyone accountable, youd have to send home everyone in the office, including the governor herself.

Its this simple: If you dont have answers, dont agree to a Q&A.

But the most frightening thing to consider is that the same people who agreed to let Ivey play Answer Time on Twitter are the same people who are making decisions about our response to the coronavirus.

Ivey was an accidental governor who ascended to the office after the last failure went sex-crazy for his senior political advisor and was forced to quit. This path to the governors mansion won her the highest approval ratings of any governor in America. She benefited from a lower standard, and unfortunately for Alabama, a lower standard is what we got.

This is what happens when a governor refuses to interview with the press during her campaign.

This is what happens when you have a governor who campaigned by hiding from the public.

This is what happens when a governor ducks debates, both with her opponents in the Republican primary and her Democratic challenger in the general election.

This is what happens when a governor says she didnt have time for such things  even when her calendar showed she had as much free time on the job as some folks have when theyre retired.

Gov. Ivey couldnt answer anyones questions then.

Why did anyone expect her to have answers now?

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group.

You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram.

More columns by Kyle Whitmire

Alabama is stuck on autopilot

What Ill take from the quarantine: My daughters first steps

Stop with the California comparisons, Kay Ivey

Lieutenant governor demands Alabama coronavirus task force do its job

If Alabama has to go back to work, so should the Legislature

In grief for normal life

The truth will tell itself

Corona-proof Alabama elections now
Four Americans, nine British and six Chinese nationals were among the 960 foreign Tablighi Jamaat activists who were blacklisted and their tourist visas cancelled by the Union Home Ministry, officials said on Friday.

The foreign Jamaat members, who are currently in different parts of the country, some of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, also include 379 Indonesians, 110 Bangladeshi, 63 Myanmarese and 33 Sri Lankan citizens.

As many as 77 Kyrgyzstan, 75 Malaysian, 65 Thai,12 Vietnamese, 9 Saudi and three French nationals were also among those Tablighi Jamaat activists who were blacklisted and their visas cancelled, a government official said.

Action against the foreign Tablighi Jamaat members were taken after over 2,300 activists, including 250 foreigners of the Islamic organisation were found to be living at its headquarters located at Delhi's despite the 21-day imposed to check the spread of

More than 300 of these Tablighi Jamaat activists have tested positive for COVID-19 while others have been put in different quarantine centres.

At least 9,000 people had participated at a congregation at the Markaz last month after which many have travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works.

So far, around 400 COVID-19 positive cases and about 12 deaths in the country were found to have links with the Markaz.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By IANS

KABUL: Exchange of prisoners between the Afghan government and Taliban militants has been postponed for the third time, local media said in a report.

"Taliban prisoners release process planned for Thursday has postponed and the course may kick off on Saturday," Xinhua news agency quoted the TOLO News as saying in the report on thursday.

The report said that after the arrival of a three-member Taliban technical delegation in Kabul on Tuesday, negotiations on the prisoners swap continued on Thursday, the third consecutive day, but no detail was immediately available on the outcome of the talks.

The US and Taliban inked a peace deal in the Gulf state of Qatar on February 29 and the agreement required the Afghan government to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners.

In exchange, the Taliban agreed for direct peace talks with the government besides releasing 1,000 Afghan security forces prisoners.

On March 11, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a decree to gradually release 5,000 Taliban inmates on parole.

The first batch of Taliban prisoners were expected to be released on March 14 in consideration of age, medical condition, and the remaining time of sentenced imprisonment, but their release was postponed.

On Wednesday, Afghan officials said 100 Taliban inmates would be released on Thursday and Taliban will also free 20 Afghan soldiers.

All Taliban prisoners, who will be released in accordance with the decree, must make a written commitment to guarantee they would not return to the battlefield.
Chatoulette's daily user numbers have more than doubled from 50,000 to more than 120,000 since the beginning of the year as the world goes into lockdown over the coronavirus.

The site, which first launched in 2009, randomly connects users with other strangers in a video chat session that either side can end at any point.

Founder Andrey Ternovskiy believes the platform has become even more useful now that many people are shut indoors and deprived of regular social contact.

The infamous video chat site Chatroulette has seen its daily users more than double during the COVID-19 pandemic, growing from 50,000 at the start of 2020 to more than 120,000 currently

'Our numbers are progressively increasing as more people have to stay in place,' he told The Daily Beast.

'There are some people who naturally stay at home, and now everybody has to. Theyre rediscovering Chatroulette.'

'I didnt think usage would double. I didnt expect it. Soon itll be tripled.'

Ternovskiy originally developed the site as a hobby project to practice coding when he was 17-years-old.

The site provoked a number of controversies during its initial wave of popularity.

One family reported that their 11-year-old had been coerced into stripping by an adult during a videochat.

The experience had been so unexpected and traumatic, the family reported it left the child suicidal and in need of counseling.

In 2013, UK support foundation Cybersmile said they got 15 calls a week from parents reporting that their children had been harassed or abused on the site.

According to site founder Andre Ternovskiy, Chatroulette has helped people deal with the emotional and psychological challenges of isolation. 'Our numbers are progressively increasing as more people have to stay in place,' he said

The site has revised its rules and guidelines after years of media controversy. To minimize the chances of sexual harassment and abuse of minors, the site specifically bans any sexual content from Filtered Chats

The complaints included bullying, blackmail, and solicitation of sexual material from minors.

Chatroulette has since revised a number of its policies and rules to make it easier to ban users and try and prevent abuse.

Chats are now split into two categories: Filtered chats, where no sexual content whatsoever is allowed; and Random/Unfiltered chats, where no children or minors are allowed.

The site's guidelines also focuses on consent and consideration.

'When in doubt ask your partner for consent,' the site guidelines advise.

'Treat your partner the way you want to be treated.'
In this series called Member Showcase, we publish interviews with members of The Oracles. This interview is with Ahmad K. Osman, Mahmoud Elmedani and Islam Sery, founders of Scotch Plains Fanwood Dental Care. It was condensed by The Oracles.

Who are you?

Ahmad K. Osman, Mahmoud Elmedani, Islam Sery: We are friends who became business partners, which turned into family. Were dreamers and achievers  the guys everyone thinks are crazy when sharing their goals.

We founded our New Jersey dental practice to challenge the status quo about how people perceive dentistry. No one likes going to the dentist, so we built ultra-high-end, luxurious offices for a relaxing, stress-free patient experience. Were growing and look forward to coming to a town near you.

What are you more skilled at than most people in the world?

Ahmad K. Osman, Mahmoud Elmedani, Islam Sery: Were perfectionists who expect greatness from ourselves and those around us. When planning our first dental practice  now infamously known as 001, where it all began  we invested in the best technology and material that would help us deliver consistent clinical excellence.

Most dentists only care about maximizing profits. We care about maximizing results. As a result, money is abundant for us.

What are the core values that guide your business, and why did you pick them?

Ahmad K. Osman, Mahmoud Elmedani, Islam Sery: One core value is the soul of our company: treating everyone how you want to be treated. While this may sound cliche, if youre visiting a health professional, you expect to be treated with the utmost respect, undivided attention, dignity and honor. Running our company like this is the No. 1 reason for our success.

Whats your favorite quote?

Ahmad K. Osman: It may be that those who do most, dream most, by the Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer and humorist Stephen Leacock.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Ahmad K. Osman: When youre young, you want everything now. But sometimes now isnt the right time. When you get frustrated by how long it will take until your dreams come true, remind yourself: as long as it takes. You can and will achieve all that your heart desires; so dream big, work harder and stay the course.

How do you define great leadership?

Ahmad K. Osman: A good leader is passionate, just, empathetic, trustworthy, transparent and approachable, with a big heart.

How do you hire top talent?

Ahmad K. Osman, Mahmoud Elmedani, Islam Sery: Because of the way we built our dental practice, the values we uphold, and the way we treat our patients and staff, we naturally attract people who want to join our team.

How do you prevent burnout?

Ahmad K. Osman, Mahmoud Elmedani, Islam Sery: Our brand and cause are way bigger than the three of us. We remind our assistants, hygienists, management team and doctors of this. When you carry this tremendous responsibility together, its more manageable and enjoyable, which prevents burnout. It isnt easy, but its worth it.

What are you working on right now?

Ahmad K. Osman, Mahmoud Elmedani, Islam Sery: Redefining the standard in dental care while building relationships to expand our brand and market share. Were looking to grow by three locations per year and have the funding. By 2025, our goal is to be recognized as the best dental organization in New Jersey. By 2030, we plan to expand across America.

What do you want to be known for, or what do you want your legacy to be?

Ahmad K. Osman, Mahmoud Elmedani, Islam Sery: To motivate the younger generation by showing them that when you live selflessly and with gratitude  dedicating your heart, soul and love to something  the results are positive and possible.

Connect with the founders of Scotch Plains Fanwood Dental Care via their website.

The words and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewees alone. What worked for them may not work for everyone. Any claims in this article have not been independently verified.

Related:

How Three Best Friends Are Looking to Revolutionize the Dental Experience

Dr. Rodney Raanan: The Next Generation of Luxury Dentistry

This Indian Startup Wants to Create an Organized Industry for Dentists



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
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The UK has announced 684 more coronavirus deaths today, taking the total number of fatalities to 3,605.

Yet again the number is a record one-day high - this has been the case almost every day this week, with each day since Tuesday announcing more victims than the last.

Yesterday there were a record 569 new fatalities announced by the Department of Health and today's statistics show a rise 20 per cent larger.

The new numbers mean the number of people dead from COVID-19 in the UK has risen five-fold in a week, from just 759 last Friday, March 27.

The numbers behind the UK's crisis have escalated rapidly over the past seven days and Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said the virus 'continues its grim march'. He admitted that next week is likely to be worse still, potentially topping out at more than 1,000 deaths per day by Easter Sunday.

Britain is still being hammered by the consequences of huge numbers of people catching the coronavirus before the country went into total lockdown last week. The increases being seen each day are 'expected', scientists say.

Experts say it could take another couple of weeks before the benefits of social distancing start to show in NHS statistics - but they insist that the outbreak will taper off and the daily numbers will start to fall.

Matt Hancock and the chief nursing officer, Ruth May, said in today's briefing that people must resist the urge to break isolation and go out this weekend, when sunny weather is expected. Mr Hancock said: 'We cannot relax our discipline now. If we do, people will die. This advice is not a request - it is an instruction.'

And officials maintain that the NHS is coping well with the strain so far and there are now more than 2,000 spare intensive care beds available across the country, as well as ventilators available for patients who need them.

But the Government is facing a huge backlash over its coronavirus testing policy. Mr Hancock last night pledged to ramp up to carrying out 100,000 tests per day by the end of April after being criticised for the UK currently only managing around 10,000 daily.

He was then forced to admit, however, that this did not include antibody tests, which reveal if someone has already recovered from the illness and are considered vital for ending the UK's lockdown. He also said that the Government still hasn't found one it thinks it good enough to use.

And scientists at private research companies and university labs around the country have said they offered to help the Government with analysing swab test results weeks ago but never heard back because Public Health England insisted on doing all the work internally.

Officials have now opened this up and penned a letter pleading for businesses to get in touch if they are able to make antigen or antibody testing kits or protective equipment. One company told MailOnline it still has not heard from the Government despite offering to produce tests a month ago.

In other developments in the worldwide coronavirus crisis:

Two NHS nurses - Areema Nasreen, 36, and Aimee O'Rourke, 39, have died after catching the coronavirus, taking the death toll of frontline health workers to seven;

The Government is enrolling COVID-19 patients in three major clinical trials in NHS hospitals to test what types of treatments can be used. One of them already has 926 people involved;

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway's husband, Derek Draper, 52, is in intensive care with a severe case of COVID-19;

The Queen will address the nation in a televised speech about the coronavirus on Sunday;

Teachers will submit 'carefully considered' GCSE and A-Level grades for their students after coronavirus cancelled exams - but regulators will crack down on over-generous marking;

Premier League clubs will ask their players to take wage cuts of up to 30 per cent and will donate 20million to the NHS after Matt Hancock hinted they should not be drawing full pay;

Beijing's chief medical adviser on coronavirus, Zhong Nanshan, said the world is heading for disaster if the US can't get a grip on its outbreak. There have been around 250,000 confirmed cases there

The funeral of Britain's youngest coronavirus victim - 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab - was held today without his family present because they are in isolation after developing symptoms;

The Prince of Wales officially opened the new NHS Nightingale Hospital for intensive care coronavirus patients, saying from 530 miles away that it was a message of hope for those who may need it most;

Health chiefs urged locked-down Britons to continue staying at home to help fight the coronavirus pandemic this weekend as a mini-heatwave is due to sweep the country;

Sainsbury's has said it will no longer allow couples to shop together in a bid to maintain social distancing;

Heathrow Airport announced it will remain operational with one runway amid falling flight numbers and fury from passengers at lack of medical advice when they arrive back from coronavirus hotspots.

The UK's coronavirus outbreak is expected to get worse before it gets better, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said (Pictured: Paramedics working in London)

WHERE DID TODAY'S CORONAVIRUS DEATHS HAPPEN? London: 161

Midlands: 150

North West: 88

East of England: 66

North East & Yorkshire: 62

Scotland: 46

South East: 41

South West: 36

Wales: 24

Northern Ireland: 12 Total: 686 NB: The totals of all countries' separate counts add up to more than the official total for the UK because the Department of Health stops recorded at 5pm the day before it publishes the statistics. Some of the deaths outside of England will be counted in tomorrow's total for Britain. Advertisement

Public Health England said 173,784 people have now been tested for the coronavirus - 7,651 people were tested yesterday, Thursday, a total of 11,764 times.

And NHS England, which collects data on the deaths which happen in England, said 604 of the new fatalities happened in its hospitals, with patients aged between 24 and 100.

Thirty-four of the patients had been healthy before they caught COVID-19 and they ranged in age from 27 and 92, reiterating that young people with no long-term illnesses can still be killed by the infection.

Tributes have today been pouring out to 36-year-old nurse and mother of three in Walsall, Areema Nasreen, who died today in the hospital where she had worked before becoming ill - Walsall Manor Hospital in the Midlands.

A change in the information published by the NHS today has seen the health service shift away from naming the hospitals where patients have died and the dates they died on. Instead it has shifted to regional totals as the numbers become too large for specific details to be realistic.

It revealed that today's death toll includes 161 patients in London, 150 in the Midlands, 88 in the North West, 66 in the East of England, 62 in the North East & Yorkshire, 41 in the South East and 36 in the South West.

Scotland today announced 46 more fatalities, Wales 24 and Northern Ireland 12.

The totals of all countries' separate counts add up to more than the official total for the UK because the Department of Health stops recorded at 5pm the day before it publishes the statistics. Some of the deaths outside of England will be counted in tomorrow's total for Britain.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock today warned the UK's coronavirus outbreak could peak over the Easter weekend and by next Sunday up to 1,000 people a day could be dying from the deadly disease.

Statistics show hospital admissions of coronavirus patients in England appeared to start dropping in London this week

GOVERNMENT BEGS FIRMS WHO CAN MAKE CORONAVIRUS TESTS TO COME FORWARD - DESPITE FIRS SAYING THEY HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FOR WEEKS The Government today penned an open letter pleading for firms who can make PPE and coronavirus tests to come forward (pictured, one of the forms) The Government today penned an open letter pleading for firms who can make personal protective equipment (PPE) and coronavirus tests to come forward - despite firms who offered help weeks ago saying they still have not heard back about helping tackle Britain's growing crisis. In a desperate attempt to get a grip of the testing fiasco and nationwide shortage of protective equipment for NHS staff, the Department for Health and Social Care supplied two forms for British manufacturers to fill out if they could step up to help. But MailOnline can reveal one firm poised to supply DIY coronavirus antibody tests to Number 10 - kits deemed crucial in ending Britain's draconian lockdown because they reveal who is immune to the disease - has yet to hear back on how it can get its test approved despite approaching them last month. Brigette Bard, chief executive of Essex-based firm BioSure - which already makes HIV self-tests, demanded Public Health England offers clarity on what it needs, saying 'there is nothing more critical at the moment' than getting antibody tests approved. Commercial laboratories and scientists drafted in to help yesterday after a screeching U-turn by ministers also exposed Downing Street's incompetence today, claiming they had offered two weeks ago to help the Government dramatically scale-up its swab testing capacity but were ignored. Ramping up swab testing - often called antigen testing - is also viewed as crucial because it allows officials to test thousands of self-isolating health workers and to say for certain whether they have the disease, allowing those who are free of the killer infection to return to the NHS frontline. Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night unveiled a five-point plan to boost COVID-19 testing capacity to 100,000 a day by the end of April - levels similar to those seen in Germany, which has been praised for its quick reaction to keeping the pandemic under control. But Mr Hancock was forced to admit the six-figure target did not include antibody tests. None of the fingerprick kits have yet to be approved by health chiefs amid fears over their accuracy. Mr Hancock last night claimed one of the tests he was being urged to buy was wrong 75 per cent of the time. Medics fighting the coronavirus crisis on the frontline have begged the Government to provide proper face masks, gloves and aprons amid claims of a nationwide shortage. The British Medical Association has already warned that doctors will die unless they are given adequate protection. Advertisement

Mr Hancock said it was 'perfectly possible' that the current numbers of deaths being seen each day could double next week.

It came after he was forced to admit his pledge to boost COVID-19 testing capacity to 100,000 per day by the end of April did not include antibody kits, which are seen as crucial to getting the UK back up and running because they can reveal who has had, and is now immune to, the coronavirus.

Number 10 yesterday performed a screeching U-turn on its testing policy as it abandoned the previous centralised approach by health chiefs and finally invited the wider science and medical research sectors to help, with private labs now joining the effort to process thousands of swab tests.

But the Government's shambolic handling of the testing crisis was today exposed by scientists and commercial laboratories, who claimed they offered to help the government two weeks ago to increase antigen testing - which only tells if someone is currently infected - but were ignored.

Increasing swab testing - sometimes called antigen testing - is viewed as crucial because it allows officials to test more self-isolating health workers and to say for certain whether they have the disease, allowing those who do not to return to the NHS frontline.

Public Health England is believed to be assessing up to 150 different antibody tests but several kits have already failed medical checks, including one that was wrong 75 per cent of the time.

Officials have not revealed how accurate the tests need to be before they will finally give them the green-light.

Manufacturers of antibody tests who have sent them to PHE for assessment today said there was still no clarity on whether their kits were going to be used despite some claiming their devices are 98 per cent accurate.

But the Government today penned an open letter pleading for firms who can make personal protective equipment (PPE) and coronavirus tests to come forward - despite firms who offered help weeks ago saying they still have not heard back about helping tackle Britain's growing crisis.

In a desperate attempt to get a grip on the fiasco, the Department for Health and Social Care supplied two forms for British manufacturers to fill out if they could step up to help.

But MailOnline can reveal one firm poised to supply DIY coronavirus antibody tests to Number 10 - kits deemed crucial in ending Britain's draconian lockdown because they reveal who is immune to the disease - has yet to hear back on how it can get its test approved despite approaching them last month.

Brigette Bard, chief executive of Essex-based firm BioSure - which already makes HIV self-tests, demanded Public Health England offers clarity on what it needs, saying 'there is nothing more critical at the moment' than getting antibody tests approved.

In an attack on the Government's handling of the antibody testing shambles, Ms Bard said: 'We urgently need a specification from Public Health England, so we know what we have to achieve.

'Matt Hancock has been on all the press this morning saying "antibody tests dont work, self-tests dont work" but nobody knows what they are supposed to be working to.

'I want to know, if all these tests are failing and theyre no good, what are they being benchmarked against? Saying a test is a failure when you dont know what failure is. I just dont understand it.'

She added there is an industry-recognised specification needed for the HIV self-testing kits BioSure makes to be brought to market, with the products needing to be at least 99.5 per cent accurate.

But Ms Bard, who yesterday resorted to social media for Britons to share a post calling on health chiefs to look at the firm's kit, fears the Government does not yet have a standard for COVID-19 tests.

She warned the company cannot start to manufacture the kits - which are just its HIV tests recalibrated to pick up on the coronavirus - until it knows what the benchmark for accuracy is.

Ms Bard told MailOnline: 'We have spent five years very successfully in the market generating masses of evidence, data, everything, so we have proven we have a highly usable, highly accurate test.'

In a plea on Twitter last night, she added: 'We are ready to go with the validation of this test at PHE. But they won't look at it because it's a self-test... This test needs to be in the UK market.'

MailOnline has asked the Department for Health and Social Care for comment because Public Health England says it is not responsible for approving any kind of test - even though its laboratories are being used to evaluate some.

Explaining the sluggishness in hiking test numbers, Mr Hancock yesterday said approving faulty tests would put people at risk.

'I understand why NHS staff want tests, so they can get back to the frontline. Of course I do,' he said at the Government's briefing last night.

'But I took the decision that the first priority has to be the patients for whom the result of a test could be the difference in treatment that is the difference between life and death

'I believe anybody in my shoes would have taken the same decision.'

First Minister for Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, said in a briefing today that her ministers have not found a reliable antibody test either.

She said Scottish Government's targets on testing are proportionally equal to what is being done in the rest of UK, although the expansion to allow 3,500 tests per day in Scotland is slightly higher proportionally.

The Scottish Government is looking at how antibody testing  which can tell if a person has previously had the virus  can move Scotland out of lockdown, although the test does not currently exist in a 'reliable form', the Ms Sturgeon added.

A testing oversight group has been set up by the Scottish Government, she announced, which has been tasked with monitoring the provision of tests for the disease.

BORIS JOHNSON STILL HAS SYMPTOMS AFTER A WEEK AND WILL REMAIN IN ISOLATION Boris Johnson is to remain in self-isolation after failing to fully recover from coronavirus, he revealed today. The Prime Minister was due to exit quarantine in Downing Street today, seven days after testing positive. But in a video message today he confirmed that he continues to have a high temperature and will therefore remain in isolation. 'Although I'm feeling better, and I've done my seven days of isolation, alas I still have one of the symptoms, a minor symptom - I still have a temperature,' he revealed. In a video message today Mr Johnson confirmed that he continues to have a high temperature and will remain in isolation 'So in accordance with Government advice I must continue my self-isolation until that symptom itself goes.' He appeared at the door of No 11 Downing Street, where he lives, to join in the mass clapping for key workers at 8pm last night. Mr Johnson also urged people today to stick to the regulations over the weekend and not to be tempted by the forecast of good weather. He said: 'I reckon a lot of people will be starting to think that this is all going on for quite a long time and would rather be getting out there, particularly if you've got kids in the household, everybody may be getting a bit stir crazy, and there may be just a temptation to get out there, hang out and start to break the regulations. 'I just urge you not to do that. Please, please stick with the guidance now. Advertisement

The group will be responsible for the increase in capacity of the labs in Scotland, along with the Scottish side of the delivery of the UK initiative to allow 'non-NHS testing'.

Scientists in private labs at research companies and universities across the UK now say that they had offered to help the Government with swab testing weeks ago but never heard back.

Unofficial labs could have been processing thousands of coronavirus tests for weeks, they say, if they had been enlisted.

The COVID-19 testing row erupted this week after Germany scaled up its testing capability to 93,000 per day while the UK was still managing fewer than 10,000.

Public Health England, a government body separate from the Department of Health, is facing the burden of blame for insisting on developing its own tests and analysing results in its own eight laboratories along with around 40 NHS sites.

Academics and private sector scientists, however, say they have the machines capable of interpreting swab tests if they were given the right information.

There are believed to be thousands of the machines - PCR machines - ready and waiting in laboratories around the country and many owners are willing to help test NHS staff to help them keep working.

Some have already taken matters into their own hands and begun testing medical workers in their local areas.

The scientists are capable of doing PCR tests, which look for evidence of the coronavirus inside people's DNA and are different to antigen tests, which also test for current infection but do so by trying to trigger a reaction from viruses in a sample.

One man running a fully-equipped lab in Leicester told The Times his firm had offered to help the Government but was now testing private clients on its own.

He said: 'We approached the NHS on March 17 to offer our assistance and said we were happy to use all our capacity for NHS work and we've been trying to get a response since then.'

Mr Dunn said the lack of smaller labs being involved in the testing effort was 'a bit of a travesty'.

He thinks his lab alone could work up to completing 1,500 tests per day.

The tests in question are called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and sample people's DNA to look for traces of the coronavirus's genetic material which have got mixed in, showing whether they are currently infected with the virus.

They rely on PCR machines which are widely used in biological sciences for their ability to examine DNA.

A former regional director of Public Health England (PHE), John Ashton, said the body's handling of the testing programme had been a 'fiasco'.

Scientists at the University of Oxford, one of the world's top institutions, said they also had not had their offers of help taken up by British authorities.

Matthew Freeman, a biologist at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford University said in a tweet: 'We have many people experienced in PCR.

'We'd love to help and have been trying to volunteer for weeks. Must be many university departments and institutes in similar position.'

QUEEN TO ADDRESS NATION IN SPEECH ON SUNDAY The Queen will address the nation in a special televised broadcast about the coronavirus outbreak from Windsor Castle which will air this Sunday at 8pm. Buckingham Palace announced that the broadcast to 'the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth' by the 93-year-old monarch has already been recorded. Expectation has been growing about when the head of state would make a public statement about the unprecedented events that have put the country into lockdown. The Queen spoke to Prime Minister Boris Johnson from Windsor Castle on March 25 It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is 'feeling better' after suffering from coronavirus but will remain in self-isolation until his temperature drops. Meanwhile the Department of Health confirmed 684 more people have died in hospital after testing positive for the virus, bringing the total UK deaths to 3,605. And royal aides have been speaking to Downing Street for a fortnight about Her Majesty giving a morale-boosting television address to the UK amid the pandemic. Sources had stressed last week that the country was at the start of a very long and difficult process and that the timing of the address 'needs to be right'. Advertisement

Another lab at Oxford - the Butt Group, which studies genetics - added on Twitter: 'I echo this sense of frustration: we volunteered on day 1 and beyond being asked 3 times to list our expertise, have heard nothing.'

Marc Dionne, a researcher at Imperial College London, replied: 'Many from Imperial in the same position.'

Amid the backlash, some institutions are forging their own relationships with local NHS workers.

The Francis Crick Institute in London, one of the country's foremost biomedicine labs, announced yesterday it is carrying out tests for staff at the Imperial College London Hospitals nearby.

It said it could scale up to 500 tests per day by next week and hopefully to 2,000 daily in the long run.

Speaking on Radio 4 yesterday the institute's CEO, Sir Paul Nurse, urged the Government to let 'small ship' private labs help out with the massive testing effort.

Referring to the famous Second World War evacuation of UK forces from the French coast, Sir Paul said: 'A metaphor here is Dunkirk, to be honest. We are a lot of little boats and the little boats can be effective.

'The government has put some bigger boats - destroyers - in place. that is a bit more cumbersome to get working and we wish them all the luck to do that. But we little boats can contribute as well.'

Sir Paul said the smaller labs were 'more agile' to deal with global shortages of reagents. 'We can make pipelines of reagents and chemicals,' he said.

'We can move faster to deal with issues. Of course we have supply chain problems but we can reduce them by being small and agile.'

The Government yesterday hit back at claims that it has been too slow to act and accusations of control-freakery.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who last night pledged England would scale up to 100,000 tests per day by the end of April, said the Government was working hard to make sure the tests it uses are the best they can be.

Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical adviser to the Cabinet, has said in the past that the only thing worse than no test is a bad one.

'Tell us if you can produce testing kits': Manufacturers are baffled after government pens letter pleading for businesses to make antigen and antibody kits - after their offers of help were ignored for FOUR WEEKS

The Government today penned an open letter pleading for firms who can make personal protective equipment (PPE) and coronavirus tests to come forward - despite firms who offered help weeks ago saying they still have not heard back about helping tackle Britain's growing crisis.

In a desperate attempt to get a grip of the testing fiasco and nationwide shortage of protective equipment for NHS staff, the Department for Health and Social Care supplied two forms for British manufacturers to fill out if they could step up to help.

But MailOnline can reveal one firm poised to supply DIY coronavirus antibody tests to Number 10 - kits deemed crucial in ending Britain's draconian lockdown because they reveal who is immune to the disease - has yet to hear back on how it can get its test approved despite approaching them last month.

Brigette Bard, chief executive of Essex-based firm BioSure - which already makes HIV self-tests, demanded Public Health England offers clarity on what it needs, saying 'there is nothing more critical at the moment' than getting antibody tests approved.

Commercial laboratories and scientists drafted in to help yesterday after a screeching U-turn by ministers also exposed Downing Street's incompetence today, claiming they had offered two weeks ago to help the Government dramatically scale-up its swab testing capacity but were ignored.

Ramping up swab testing - often called antigen testing - is also viewed as crucial because it allows officials to test thousands of self-isolating health workers and to say for certain whether they have the disease, allowing those who are free of the killer infection to return to the NHS frontline.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night unveiled a five-point plan to boost COVID-19 testing capacity to 100,000 a day by the end of April - levels similar to those seen in Germany, which has been praised for its quick reaction to keeping the pandemic under control.

But Mr Hancock was forced to admit the six-figure target did not include antibody tests. None of the fingerprick kits have yet to be approved by health chiefs amid fears over their accuracy. Mr Hancock last night claimed one of the tests he was being urged to buy was wrong 75 per cent of the time.

Medics fighting the coronavirus crisis on the frontline have begged the Government to provide proper face masks, gloves and aprons amid claims of a nationwide shortage. The British Medical Association has already warned that doctors will die unless they are given adequate protection.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, pictured at the opening of the Nightingale Hospital in London today, suggested the UK's lockdown will be in place until the end of April at the earliest

In an attack on the Government's handling of the antibody testing shambles, Ms Bard said: 'We urgently need a specification from Public Health England, so we know what we have to achieve.

'Matt Hancock has been on all the press this morning saying "antibody tests dont work, self-tests dont work" but nobody knows what they are supposed to be working to.

'I want to know, if all these tests are failing and theyre no good, what are they being benchmarked against? Saying a test is a failure when you dont know what failure is. I just dont understand it.'

WHICH COMPANIES COULD MAKE ANTIBODY KITS FOR NUMBER 10? MailOnline has repeatedly asked officials to name which companies are in talks with the Government to make antibody tests but has never been offered clarity. One of these firms is thought to be Derby-based SureScreen, which has shipped its tests to be used in Germany and Spain, among other nations. The company sent hundreds of the tests - which trials have shown are 97 per cent accurate - to a PHE laboratory in Oxfordshire almost two weeks ago. MailOnline earlier this week revealed Belfast-based manufacturer Biopanda Reagents had opted to restrict sales to just UK healthcare providers, suggesting it was gearing up for an order. And Mologic - a Bedfordshire-based business awarded 1million by Number 10 to make antibody tests - this week began the evaluation of its kits at labs run by prestigious universities. But the company, whose laboratory was visited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month, estimates it will be up to five months before Brits can use the tests to tell if they are immune. Oxford Biosystems and Regenerus Laboratories in Surrey are also known to make antibody tests against COVID-19. It is unclear if their kits are being evaluated by PHE. In another twist in the saga, it was revealed earlier this week that officials had already bought 2million antibody tests from two Chinese manufacturers - Wondfo and AllTest - a fortnight ago. But it was alleged health chiefs had not even assessed whether the tests are suitable and that they still needed to be evaluated even though Number 10 had already parted with millions to buy them. European countries have already had to send back defective coronavirus medical kits bought from China during the pandemic. Spain was forced to return tens of thousands of testing kits and officials in the Netherlands recalled half a million defective face masks it brought from Beijing. WHAT ABOUT ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD? The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last night authorized the use of an antibody kit made by Cellex on an emergency basis, saying it is 'reasonable' to believe the test works. China, where the pandemic began in December, had approved eight antibody tests in its fight against the virus - including one that Britain bought a fortnight ago and is expected to arrive this week. Germany is also planning on starting a mass antibody testing regime in the next fortnight as part of a major trial to get millions of workers out of lockdown. Advertisement

She added there is an industry-recognised specification needed for the HIV self-testing kits BioSure makes to be brought to market, with the products needing to be at least 99.5 per cent accurate.

But Ms Bard, who yesterday resorted to social media for Britons to share a post calling on health chiefs to look at the firm's kit, fears the Government does not yet have a standard for COVID-19 tests.

She warned the company cannot start to manufacture the kits - which are just its HIV tests recalibrated to pick up on the coronavirus - until it knows what the benchmark for accuracy is.

Ms Bard told MailOnline: 'We have spent five years very successfully in the market generating masses of evidence, data, everything, so we have proven we have a highly usable, highly accurate test.'

In a plea on Twitter last night, she added: 'We are ready to go with the validation of this test at PHE. But they won't look at it because it's a self-test... This test needs to be in the UK market.'

MailOnline has asked the Department for Health and Social Care for comment because Public Health England says it is not responsible for approving any kind of test - even though its laboratories are being used to evaluate some.

Other diagnostics manufacturers known to have sent their tests to PHE for trials today admitted there was still no clarity on whether they were actually going to be green-lighted.

Some kits Number 10 are known to be looking claim to be up to 98 per cent accurate. Ministers promised the kits - similar tests have already been approved in China - would be ready to start being rolled out in mid-April.

Public Health England is believed to be assessing up to 150 different antibody tests but several kits have already failed medical checks, including one that was wrong 75 per cent of the time.

Officials have not revealed how accurate the tests need to be before they will finally approve them. Mr Hancock warned last night that approving tests that don't thoroughly work is dangerous, adding: 'I will not do it.'

The UK is able to conduct 3,500 antibody tests every week at its specialist military laboratory at Porton Down in Wiltshire. But that specific test is laboratory-based and allegedly cannot be scaled up.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last night authorized the use of an antibody kit made by Cellex on an emergency basis, saying it is 'reasonable' to believe the test works.

In a letter to North Carolina-based firm, the FDA wrote: 'The known and potential benefits of your product when used for diagnosing COVID-19, outweigh the known and potential risks of your product.'

China, where the pandemic began in December, had approved eight antibody tests in its fight against the virus - including one that Britain bought a fortnight ago and is expected to arrive this week.

Germany is also planning on starting a mass antibody testing regime in the next fortnight as part of a major trial to get millions of workers out of lockdown.

Antibodies are substances produced by the immune system in response to an infection. They stored away so that if it comes into contact with that same pathogen again it knows how to fight if off.

A member of the public is transported to an ambulance in Euston, London, by ambulance workers wearing personal protective clothing and medical face masks

The benefits of the UK's lockdown are expected to start filtering through to hospitals in the coming weeks and widespread testing to see who has had the coronavirus already is believed to be key to getting the country back on its feet.

But the government continues to face intense criticism with its opponents arguing that testing capacity should have been ramped up as soon as coronavirus emerged as a global threat.

Scrutiny of the approach taken in Whitehall has only increased after it was claimed that public health planners tasked with preparing the UK for a global health crisis ignored warnings from the World Health Organisation to prepare a mass testing programme.

Officials 'did not discuss' implementing such a programme because they assumed that a new strain of influenza was the most likely threat and testing in that scenario is 'not important', according to the Telegraph. The decision appears to contradict guidance on bird flu issued to countries by the WHO in 2005.

MailOnline has repeatedly asked officials to name which companies are in talks with the Government to make antibody tests but has never been offered clarity.

One of these firms is thought to be Derby-based SureScreen, which has shipped its tests to be used in Germany and Spain, among other nations.

The company sent hundreds of the tests - which trials have shown are 97 per cent accurate - to a PHE laboratory in Oxfordshire almost two weeks ago.

MailOnline earlier this week revealed Belfast-based manufacturer Biopanda Reagents had opted to restrict sales to just UK healthcare providers, suggesting it was gearing up for an order.

And Mologic - a Bedfordshire-based business awarded 1million by Number 10 to make antibody tests - this week began the evaluation of its kits at labs run by prestigious universities.

BioSure claims to have developed an at-home finger prick test that takes a quarter of an hour

COMMERCIAL LABS OFFERED TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF EXTRA CORONAVIRUS SWAB TESTS TWO WEEKS AGO Scientists who offered their help to the British Government's coronavirus swab testing effort say they never heard back from officials. Universities, private laboratories and research institutes could have been processing thousands of coronavirus tests for weeks, they say, if they had been enlisted. A COVID-19 testing row erupted this week after Germany scaled up its testing capability to 93,000 per day while the UK was still managing fewer than 10,000. Public Health England, a government body separate from the Department of Health, is facing the burden of blame for insisting on developing its own tests and analysing results in its own eight laboratories along with around 40 NHS sites. Academics and private sector scientists, however, say they have the machines capable of interpreting swab tests if they were given the right information. There are believed to be thousands of the machines - PCR machines - ready and waiting in laboratories around the country and many owners are willing to help test NHS staff to help them keep working. Some have already taken matters into their own hands and begun testing medical workers in their local areas. The scientists are capable of doing PCR tests, which look for evidence of the coronavirus inside people's DNA and are different to antigen tests, which also test for current infection but do so by trying to trigger a reaction from viruses in a sample. Advertisement

But the company, whose laboratory was visited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month, estimates it will be up to five months before Brits can use the tests to tell if they are immune.

Oxford Biosystems and Regenerus Laboratories in Surrey are also known to make antibody tests against COVID-19. It is unclear if their kits are being evaluated by PHE.

In another twist in the saga, it was revealed earlier this week that officials had already bought 2million antibody tests from two Chinese manufacturers - Wondfo and AllTest - a fortnight ago.

But it was alleged health chiefs had not even assessed whether the tests are suitable and that they still needed to be evaluated even though Number 10 had already parted with millions to buy them.

European countries have already had to send back defective coronavirus medical kits bought from China during the pandemic.

Spain was forced to return tens of thousands of testing kits and officials in the Netherlands recalled half a million defective face masks it brought from Beijing.

Mr Hancock, who returned to work yesterday after spending a week in isolation after catching coronavirus, was today grilled on his test pledge during numerous broadcast interviews.

Journalists repeatedly asked him what proportion of the 100,000 tests would be antibody. He said: 'I think that the antibody test, the blood test, at the moment we haven't got a reliable home test. If we manage to get one then that can be easily replicated and we can get into even higher figures, much higher figures.'

Asked why the government was factoring in the antibody test for its end of April deadline given that it does not currently have a test to use, Mr Hancock then replied: 'Yes, but I am not assuming any come on stream, that is pillar three as we call it, in order to hit the 100,000 target.'

Health experts have said they cannot yet guarantee that people who have had the virus will have total immunity but they do believe those who have already had it will have some resistance to catching it again.

WHAT IS AN ANTIBODY TEST, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TO AN ANTIGEN OR PCR 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. PCR 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. They can also be done using swabs. Advertisement

The row over antibody testing came as Mr Hancock signalled the nation could have a long wait for the end of lockdown. He suggested a mass testing and tracing programme will have to be put in place before restrictions can be lifted.

Such a programme would allow health experts to stop a second wave of the outbreak because people who catch coronavirus could be isolated quickly and all the people who they had come into contact with could also be found and tested.

He told the BBC: 'The first step is to get the rate of infection down so that that isn't increasing and as you say it takes some time after the lockdown is put in place to get that rate of infection, the rate of transmission down. That is the first step.

'Then we need to make sure that we have the testing in place and the tracking so that if we release any of the measures we don't simply then have the infection spread again in the way that it was starting to spread when we brought the measures into place. So it is a very difficult thing.'

Mr Hancock painted a tough picture of contracting the virus as he said he had lost half a stone in weight during his week in self-isolation with the killer bug. He said it was a 'pretty unpleasant experience' and felt like he had 'glass in my throat'.

The Health Secretary said that at the moment approximately 8,000 patients a day are taking the swab test but the hope is that number will fall as social distancing measures slow the spread of infection. He also said around 1,500 frontline medics are being tested at drive-through centres each day - but the number is 'ramping up fast'.

He added: 'At the moment we think that there are around 35,000 frontline NHS staff who aren't in work due to coronavirus. The number is much smaller than some of the anecdotal evidence that we've been hearing, although of course there may be pockets.'

Mr Hancock has placed Public Health England director of health improvement Professor John Newton in charge of overseeing the UK's testing efforts. Mr Newton warned today that testing right now would not lift the lockdown as testing 'doesn't really' help flatten the curve - a phrase for controlling the outbreak.

He was asked what percentage of the 100,000 tests would be antigen and what percentage would be antibody and he suggested the latter will play a role. He told the BBC: 'The Secretary of State's target was for all of those tests together. He was very clear about that.'

The government has been slammed in recent days over the 'embarrassing' performance of ministers at its daily conferences in Downing Street, with Mr Hancock's return yesterday viewed by many as a major improvement as he signalled a U-turn on the UK screening regime.

Emerging for the first time since being struck down by the disease himself, the Health Secretary said he 'gets' why there has been criticism as he abandoned the previous centralised approach and urged the wider science industry to help boost capacity. He said the longer-term goal was to have capacity for 250,000 checks every day.

Defending the government's response, a querulous and at times emotional Mr Hancock said that Public Health England had been 'working round the clock' and could be 'proud' of what it had done. Taking the press briefing in No10 this evening after a week in isolation recovering from the virus, he listed five 'pillars' for the new strategy.

Matt Hancock's five-point plan to increase coronavirus testing to 100,000 per day Heath secretary Matt Hancock yesterday unveiled a five-point plan to boost the UK's coronavirus testing ten-fold in a matter of weeks. The five points he unveiled were: Increase the number of swab tests being carried out by Public Health England labs and the NHS to 25,000 per day by the end of the month Shortages of chemicals and swabs have been blamed for stalling progress in this effort so far. Potentially PHE and NHS labs are thought to have the scope to carry out 100,000 tests a day by themselves. Vastly expand the swab testing network using universities and research institutions and private sector retailers like Boots and Amazon The key move by the Health Secretary was to give the green light for universities, institutes and private firms to get involved in testing. Up to now there have been complaints of control freakery in a Government insistent on using its own facilities to avoid getting unreliable results. Introduce antibody blood tests which would tell people if they had had the virus and recovered This is the game-changing test that would tell who is able to leave the constraints of lockdown and get the economy running again. Mr Hancock stressed that there are as yet no proven versions of this test, and the science of what immunity people have after the disease is still developing. But he confirmed that the government is looking at issuing 'immunity certificates' to people who pass such tests, so they can get back to 'normal life'. Boost community surveillance to determine the rate of infection and the spread across the country The abandonment of community testing when the government moved from the contain phase to 'delaying' the outbreak was highly controversial last month. The government wanted to focus resources on patients in hospital as number rose. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that without such mass testing in the community the government is 'trying to fight a fire blindfolded'. Boost the size of the UK diagnostics industry Mr Hancock addressed head-on criticism that the UK was lagging far behind Germany in terms of test numbers. He bluntly admitted that the UK did not have the same scale of biotech industry as Germany, where many firms already manufacture screening equipment at scale. But Mr Hancock committed to developing that infrastructure - which will not be a quick task. Advertisement

Swab tests at PHE labs will be increased dramatically to 25,000 a day; research institutions and private sector firms will be brought into the screening system; antibody tests will be introduced if they can be proved effective; community testing will be bolstered; and the overall UK diagnostics industry will be enlarged.

The previous approach on swab tests was meant to ensure checks are conducted properly, but the 10,000 per day level achieved so far contrasts sharply with the decentralised tactics deployed successfully in countries like Germany, which is carrying out up to 100,000.

Explaining the sluggishness in hiking test numbers, Mr Hancock said approving faulty tests would put people at risk by giving them false hope they are free of the virus. He added: 'I understand why NHS staff want tests, so they can get back to the frontline. Of course I do.

'But I took the decision that the first priority has to be the patients for whom the result of a test could be the difference in treatment that is the difference between life and death I believe anybody in my shoes would have taken the same decision.'

Mr Hancock said the UK lacked a large diagnostics industry so was having to build from a 'lower base' than the likes of Germany, which is testing at greater levels for coronavirus. He also confirmed the Government was looking at 'immunity certificates'.

But leading scientists have said the evidence about the truth on immunity is not yet clear enough. Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, warned they could give Britons a 'false sense of security'.

Fears have been raised that people can be struck down twice after reports in China and Japan of patients catching the disease after recovering. Other scientists believe the evidence for immunity is convincing and even claim that it could be life-long.

It comes after it was revealed this morning that scientists who offered their help to the British Government's coronavirus swab testing effort say they never heard back from officials.

Universities, private laboratories and research institutes could have been processing thousands of coronavirus tests for weeks, they say, if they had been enlisted.

Public Health England, a government body separate from the Department of Health, is facing the burden of blame for insisting on developing its own tests and analysing results in its own eight laboratories along with around 40 NHS sites.

Academics and private sector scientists, however, say they have the machines capable of interpreting swab tests if they were given the right information.

There are believed to be thousands of the machines - PCR machines - ready and waiting in laboratories around the country and many owners are willing to help test NHS staff to help them keep working.

Some have already taken matters into their own hands and begun testing medical workers in their local areas.

The scientists are capable of doing PCR tests, which look for evidence of the coronavirus inside people's DNA and are different to antigen tests, which also test for current infection but do so by trying to trigger a reaction from viruses in a sample.

IS THERE A SHORTAGE OF PPE FOR NHS NURSES AND DOCTORS? It comes as an NHS trust is conducting a search for PPE suppliers amid the coronavirus outbreak and a nationwide shortage of face masks, gloves and aprons, which saw Mr Hancock insist the required stocks exist but argue there had been challenges in distribution. The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) issued the tender document listed as 'Covid-19 - PPE' on April 1. It described it as an 'information gathering exercise' to identify those who could supply or manufacture PPE should it need additional supplies in future. Thousands of items of PPE were donated in recent weeks to help keep UHDB trust staff safe while treating Covid-19 patients, either suspected or confirmed. Doctors' Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar last month made an appeal to Boris Johnson, warning doctors and nurses feel like 'cannon fodder' because of a lack of protective equipment and kits. It also followed a letter in the Sunday Times from almost 4,000 NHS workers who called on the Prime Minister to 'protect the lives of the life-savers' and resolve the 'unacceptable' shortage of protective equipment. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) last week revealed there are medical staff working to save lives and turn the tide in Britain's war with coronavirus that have no access to basic protective clothing at all. Medics at Southend Hospital in Essex warned on Wednesday they may need to limit services to a 'bare minimum' amid concerns over a shortage of protective equipment for staff. While staff at The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, in County Durham,were last week warned not to resuscitate patients during the coronavirus crisis because of a lack of protective equipment. The British Medical Association yesterday launched a campaign to urge the Government to send more protective gear to the NHS frontline amid complaints there isn't enough go around. And GP practices say that, when they've appealed for equipment from the NHS, they have been told to buy their own from other suppliers. Some staff said they have seen colleagues fall ill because of 'inadequate PPE' and others are having to buy their own. One doctor revealed to their MP, Twickenham member Munira Wilson, that they had bought motocross goggles for their staff to wear. Advertisement

It comes as an NHS trust is conducting a search for PPE suppliers amid the coronavirus outbreak and a nationwide shortage of face masks, gloves and aprons, which saw Mr Hancock insist the required stocks exist but argue there had been challenges in distribution.

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) issued the tender document listed as 'Covid-19 - PPE' on April 1. It described it as an 'information gathering exercise' to identify those who could supply or manufacture PPE should it need additional supplies in future.

Thousands of items of PPE were donated in recent weeks to help keep UHDB trust staff safe while treating Covid-19 patients, either suspected or confirmed. This included goggles, gloves, surgical masks and protective suits from the University of Derby and 10,000 surgical masks from Rolls-Royce.

Doctors' Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar last month made an appeal to Boris Johnson, warning doctors and nurses feel like 'cannon fodder' because of a lack of protective equipment and kits.

It also followed a letter in the Sunday Times from almost 4,000 NHS workers who called on the Prime Minister to 'protect the lives of the life-savers' and resolve the 'unacceptable' shortage of protective equipment.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) last week revealed there are medical staff working to save lives and turn the tide in Britain's war with coronavirus that have no access to basic protective clothing at all.

Medics at Southend Hospital in Essex warned on Wednesday they may need to limit services to a 'bare minimum' amid concerns over a shortage of protective equipment for staff.

While staff at The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, in County Durham,were last week warned not to resuscitate patients during the coronavirus crisis because of a lack of protective equipment.

The British Medical Association yesterday launched a campaign to urge the Government to send more protective gear to the NHS frontline amid complaints there isn't enough go around.

And GP practices say that, when they've appealed for equipment from the NHS, they have been told to buy their own from other suppliers.

Some staff said they have seen colleagues fall ill because of 'inadequate PPE' and others are having to buy their own. One doctor revealed to their MP, Twickenham member Munira Wilson, that they had bought motocross goggles for their staff to wear.
The police were also questioning several people whom they have taken into custody. According to sources, Maulana Saad Khandhlawi, the controversial head of Markaz Tablighi Jamaat, who is absconding since an FIR was registered against him, has been served a notice of inquiry.

A Delhi Police source said: "On Thursday, the wanted men have been searched in several areas, including outside Delhi. A lot of clues have been found in the FIR about Maulana Saad. Hopefully, they will be in front of Delhi Police Crime Branch soon."

Meanwhile, the police in Greater Noida have nabbed two coronavirus suspects who were present at the Tabligi Jamaat meet.

DCP Greater Noida (zone-three) Rajesh Kumar Singh told IANS on late Thursday that the corona suspects -- Md. Azam and Danish Khan, have also confessed that they, along with 11 other companions, had disappeared from the Tabligi headquarters.

"All of them reached Alwar in Rajasthan. Police arrested eight people there. Azam and Danish escaped from there. Three other persons who fled with them are suspected to be hiding in Ghaziabad," the police officer said.

Delhi Police Crime Branch sources said that through the notice, Mualana Saad has been asked to join the police investigation as soon as possible.

IANS spoke to some close associates of Maulana Saad on this on till Wednesday.

On the condition of not disclosing his name, one of the associates said: "Maulana Saad has not escaped. He will come forward soon and tell you all the things. "

According to Jamaat and Delhi Police sources, "One of the wanted accused, who has been given a police notice to be sent to Maulana Saad, is presently kept in a quarantine home at a Tughlakabad school."

Most of the six-seven accused are absconding since the FIR was filed. The FIR includes most of the activists of the Jamaat, who were seen in a meeting with SHO Mukesh Walia, which was made at the Nizamuddin police station on March 23-24 and went viral.

Delhi Police said that some of the persons who had attended the meet were also questioned on Thursday.

"The problem is that most of them have been quarantined. Therefore, it will take more time to interrogate them. Until the Health Department gives permission, it is almost impossible to inquire even the 160 foreign-bound passengers in Delhi," a police officer said.

(Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be reached at sanjeev.c@ians.in)

--IANS

hindi-pgh/dpb
A vaccine that was developed a hundred years ago to fight the tuberculosis scourge in Europe is now being tested against the coronavirus by scientists eager to find a quick way to protect health care workers, among others.

The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine is still widely used in the developing world, where scientists have found that it does more than prevent TB. The vaccine prevents infant deaths from a variety of causes, and sharply reduces the incidence of respiratory infections.

The vaccine seems to train the immune system to recognize and respond to a variety of infections, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, experts say. There is little evidence yet that the vaccine will blunt infection with the coronavirus, but a series of clinical trials may answer the question in just months.

On Monday, scientists in Melbourne, Australia, started administering the B.C.G. vaccine or a placebo to thousands of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other health care workers  the first of several randomized controlled trials intended to test the vaccines effectiveness against the coronavirus.
[April 03, 2020] University of Illinois Launches Website for Educators Teaching Birth Through 12th Grade Remotely

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has launched a website to help PK-12 educators effectively teach their students remotely, as commonly mandated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. LearnAway (learnaway.education.illinois.edu), which officially launched on April 2, is filled with educator resources and curriculum ideas that will help teachers continue to meet the social, physical, and intellectual needs of children. "The challenge is to create remote learning strategies that meet the same instructional goals that teachers have in face-to-face settings," says Nancy Latham , executive director of the Council on Teacher Education at the University of Illinois. "Teachers remain responsible for and committed to their learners' social, emotional, and academic growth, however, their toolbox for doing that has shifted overnight. We want to provide a space for them to find and explore the tools they now need for remote instruction." Soon, the site will also offer 10- to 15-minute webinars with educators from around the country whocan share resources, innovative ideas, and inspiration for remote learning.



"LearnAway is a repository of curated, consistently updated online tools for teachers to use as they work to meet the needs of their learners within each individual family dynamic," Latham says. PK-12 educators, higher education faculty, and even college students preparing to become teachers are contributing to the site, Latham says.

"We see this as an incredibly challenging time, but also an incredible opportunity," she says. "I hope what we see come out of this is a deeper than ever connection between families and schools, a connection that we maintain as we eventually move back to face-to-face instruction." About the College of Education within the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Founded in 1905, the College of Education is one of the nation's first land-grant schools of education, revered for its groundbreaking research, preparation of educator-leaders, and worldwide impact. U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks the College and its programs among the world's best. Home of the late Dr. Samuel Kirk, the "father of special education," and now more than 70 tenure-track faculty and over 2,000 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online students  Great Minds Think Illinois. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, founded in 1867, has a total enrollment of over 47,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Illinois pioneers innovative research to tackle grand challenges and expand the human experience. With interdisciplinary hubs of discovery including the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the largest public university library in the nation, our transformative learning experiences are designed to produce alumni who make a significant societal impact. Contact: Gina Manola, Director of Marketing and Communications, College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 217-300-5939 | [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg Related Links LearnAway! College of Education at Illinois View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-illinois-launches-website-for-educators-teaching-birth-through-12th-grade-remotely-301034662.html SOURCE University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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OTTAWA - The federal government is shaking up the people in the top spots at the Canada Infrastructure Bank, including saying goodbye to the chief executive and installing a new board chair.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

President and CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank Pierre Lavallee participates in an interview with The Canadian Press, in Ottawa on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. The federal government says Lavallee is stepping down from his position as chief executive of the Canada Infrastructure Bank to pursue other opportunities.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - The federal government is shaking up the people in the top spots at the Canada Infrastructure Bank, including saying goodbye to the chief executive and installing a new board chair.

Out is Pierre Lavallee, the first CEO of the infrastructure financing agency that the Liberals created two years ago.

In as the new board chair is Michael Sabia, who was on an advisory group that recommended the creation the agency, and a former chief executive of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec that is behind an electric-rail project in Montreal that the bank is backing.

In a statement, the Liberal says the changes "signal a new phase" for the financing agency and come at "critical time" to address the "health and economic consequences" of COVID-19.

The Trudeau Liberals created the bank in late 2017 to use $35 billion in federal financing over a decade to help governments at all levels partner with the private sector to build revenue-generating roads, highways, bridges and electricity and water systems.

About $15 billion of that is money the government doesn't expect to get back.

The agency faced political opposition at its creation, and then criticism for the slow pace at which it was evaluating and signing deals.

In a statement, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Sabia's experience with infrastructure would be "a critical asset as the bank accelerates its activities." Sabia becomes chair on April 15 to replace former RBC executive Janice Fukakusa, who signalled her interest in stepping down months ago.

The agency had told Finance Department officials last year that it had 25 projects on the verge of being announced by early 2020 and was looking to engage with investors in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Japan and China.

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The update, from a briefing note and accompanying presentation provided to the top civil servant at the Finance Department, also noted a need to effectively tell Canadians about the agency's work.

The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the document under the Access to Information Act.

One presentation slide says the bank should "demonstrate the public benefit"  the words are underlined  from projects to back up its investment decisions, and the benefits "clearly communicated to Canadians."

The rest of the page, discussing communications, has been blacked out.

The document also says that the agency should "lead in disrupting" how things get built in this country, as well as how governments cover the cost.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020.
Employees check novel coronavirus testing kits at the production facility of a biotech company in Taizhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo by Tang Dehong/For China Daily]

China's response to the novel coronavirus outbreak has been remarkable at several levels. First, the decisive leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese officials' years of experience in managing local and national affairs have helped the country to largely contain the spread of the virus in the country.

The authorities didn't waste any time before locking down Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China, and its parent province of Hubei as soon as they realized the threat the virus posed to human health. In fact, the CPC-led leadership needed less time than the so-called democratic countries to build societal consensus to take consequential decisions.

No panic buying reported in China

Second, the Chinese people did not react to the quarantine and lockdown measures with resistance or panic. They stayed home and put on face masks when they went outside to prevent the spread of the virus, and thus helping flatten the curve of infections relatively early. Also, people in China did not indulge in panic buying of daily necessities including face masks, paper towels and water, unlike what we have seen in the United States and many other countries in recent weeks.

Third, as the "factory of the world", China produced enough masks, sanitizers, and medical supplies to meet the demand in Wuhan and other cities. Also, many Chinese working, studying or living overseas bought masks from the local markets and sent them to China to meet the local needs.

Fourth, using technology, China has been able to monitor and track the infected individuals. It's the same technology the Republic of Korea and Singapore used to track and isolate the infected people.

Rapid and comprehensive response to rising cases

Fifth, China was able to build two hospitals in Wuhan in less than two weeks to admit novel coronavirus patients. Chinese doctors and other medical staff worked extra hours to treat the patients, with some of them even losing their lives. The survivors will forever be indebted to these brave soldiers. And as opposed to other countries such as the US and European states, availability of enough reagent test kits was not an issue in China.

Sixth, according to China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention data on confirmed cases and deaths, China was able to control the increase of new cases and the resulting deaths. In comparison, the death tolls are still rising rapidly in some developed countries.

Seventh, China's CDC started updating the figures for recovered patients from Feb 3 and, as a result, the daily recovery count shifted the global outlook from confirmed cases and deaths to hope and optimism.

Eighth, in the Chinese cities not severely affected by the virus, economic activities remained more or less operational, and the supply of essential products such as food was not affected. Municipal services, too, remained functional.

And ninth, China kept fighting fake news and Western propaganda. In a tweet on Jan 24, US President Donald Trump praised President Xi Jinping for taking strong measures to contain the virus. But when the virus hit other countries, the US in particular, the US leader and other senior US officials started criticizing China and using racist terms to describe the virus. China, in concert with the World Health Organization, warded off such attacks with resilience.

By early March, it was clear that the new cases' curve had flattened out in China, and Chinese businesses could resume normal operations. Forty-two Apple stores were reopened in China on March 13 while those in other countries, including the US, were being shut down. In the second fortnight of March, China was the only country where Apple stores were open.

Tell-tale signs of China returning to normal

In the middle of last week, China lifted the lockdown on Hubei, with the exception of Wuhan. And the strict restrictions on Wuhan are likely to be withdrawn on April 8.

By the end of February, new epicenters of the novel coronavirus started emerging, shifting from Iran and the ROK to European countriesspecially Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Now the US has the highest number of confirmed cases.

By April 2, Italy's death toll had exceeded that of China, while new local cases had declined drastically in China, including Wuhan.

Now the death toll in Italy is almost four times that of China, and the US has more than 200,000 confirmed cases.

And it is to help the rest of the world to effectively fight the virus that China is sharing its experience of how it managed to largely contain the outbreak. China has also sent medical teams and supplies to many countries including Iran, Italy, France, the UK, and Pakistan.

US decision to work with China good for the world

President Xi has extended a helping hand to all world leaders including the US president. But it was not until March 28 when the confirmed cases in the US surpassed that in China that Trump tweeted about working closely with China to fight the pandemic, which nevertheless bodes well for both countries as well as the rest of the world.

With the dysfunctional leadership in many countries, President Xi has emerged as a capable leader who can help the world overcome the health crisis. As Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters on March 16, "the only country that can help us is China. For the rest of them (EU leaders), thanks for nothing".

The author is a China watcher, an award-winning journalist and former editor of Lahore-based The News. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
The Federal Government has refused to be specific about the end of the lockdown it imposed on Lagos, Ogun, and the FCT in an effort to halt the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria.

It however hinges its decision to end or extend the restriction on civic responsibility, and the odds are high it will be extended.

No fewer than 190 cases have been confirmed so far. And experts believe the figure will rise as there are thousands of contacts to trace.

The government noted that it would be difficult to defeat coronavirus if citizens failed to observe directives meant to safeguard themselves and others.

According to Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, the behavior of Nigerians would determine that.

If we dont behave ourselves, it is likely that the lockdown will be extended, but if we behave ourselves, there might not be an extension and I hope we do so.

If we stay at home for two weeks and we are doing everything we are supposed to do, we should be able to effectively contain the disease.

My appeal to Nigerians is that they should obey the directives on social distancing, personal hygiene, and shun gatherings; after two weeks, we will resume our normal lives.

But if they think it is a joke, then we may have to stay at home more than the two weeks, Mohammed added.

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Elizabeth Fischer / Courtesy NiAID

The City of Midland Health Department is currently conducting their investigation on three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Midland County, bringing the overall case count to twenty-two.

The twentieth confirmed case is a female in her 30s that was tested by Midland Health. The female is currently an inpatient at Midland Health. The source of exposure is travel related within the United States.
The US aircraft carrier commander, who received a hard hit from the coronavirus pandemic, has been relieved of command on Thursday just a few days after he wrote a memo which asked for immediate decisive action from the Navy leadership to save the lives of the ship's crew.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly announced that in his direction, Captain Brett Crozier of USS Theodore Roosevelt has been officially relieved from duty as commander of the ship. He also added that Crozier was removed after he supposedly showed "extremely poor judgement" which created a firestorm through the wide dissemination of the memo which detailed his concerns to at least 20 to 30 people.

Furthermore, he said that Crozier was not removed from the chain of command due to any evidence that suggested he leaked the memo. Instead, he was relieved because he let the complexity of the situation he was facing with COVID-19 cloud his judgment and overwhelm his ability of acting professionally when it was needed the most.

In the memo that Crozier wrote to the Navy's Pacific Fleet this week was asking for help amid the challenge they are facing with COVID-19 on board. He also stated that they are not in the middle of a war, and sailors do not need to die. He also called for immediate action and noted that the sailors are not being properly taken care of at the time of this tragedy.

Modly further added that another reason for Crozier removal from position is that he went outside the chain of command and sen the memo over an unsecure system, which may have caused it to leak.

Read also: Trump Unveils New Guidelines for Country Lockdown

Democrats slammed Navy's decision

However, not everyone was in favor of the Navy's decision to relieve the commander. Democratic leaders on House Armed Services Committee called out the NAvy and slammed the move.

On a statement released on Thursday, the top democrats acknowledged that the captain indeed went out of the chain of command. However, his dismissal at the moment could be a destabilizing move which may put members to greater risk and jeopardize the readiness of the fleet, especially with the sailors on board still being confronted by the pandemic.

As Crozier left the ship, he was given a loud and warm send of by his former crew.

Sailor quarantined as cases onboard rapidly increase

The news of Crozier's removal from command followed the annoucnement of a US defense official that there are already 114 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier who were infected and tested positive for COVID-19, and cases are still rapidly increasing.

According to previous reports, the sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt will disembark in Guam and will be quarantined in hotel rooms in the country.

Modly said on Wednesday that there were already 1,273 out of the 4,800 crew members of the ship who have been tested for the virus and are still awaiting results. He also said that at least 1,000 of the sailors have already evacuated from the ship and are now being quarantined ashore in Guam where the ship is currently anchored.

Related article:Mass Disinfection Against COVID-19: Experts Say it's 'Ridiculous,' Might be Toxic

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The coronavirus surge is coming within the next two to three weeks in Fairfield County, and Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday that while the 7,000 hospital beds may be enough statewide, there are only 1,000 ventilators when 4,000 may be needed.

During a solemn late-afternoon news conference in the state Capitol, Lamont said there were 1,090 new cases of COVID-19 since Thursday, and he hopes the states social distancing effort succeeds in slowing the spread of the pandemic. The state Department of Public Health reported 132 fatalities, up from 112 on Thursday. There are 909 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, an increase of 82 from Thursday, Lamont said.

This is a tough time for our state and a tough time for our country, Lamont said after taking reporters through the models that state health officials have utilized, projecting that the pandemic wave may linger into July. Its a series of rolling apexes and thats how weve tried to coordinate our response.

He said the 4,000 hospital beds for COVID-19 patients could be expanded to 7,000. Overall the anticipated four surges could prompt the need for 12,000 hospital beds if nothing changes due to social distancing or technology, Lamont said. Field hospitals with hundreds more beds have been erected in recent days throughout the state.

Certainly the southern part of Fairfield County, the places that were first hit with COVID, the places that have maybe the longest experience with social distancing, theres been some slight moderation, but its really too early to speculate on that, he said. But I think we see in Fairfield County the surge in the next two-and-a-half, three weeks.

Matt Comerford, vice president for strategic planning at Yale New Haven Health, said Greenwich Hospital is beginning to feel the first ripple from the coronavirus wave that is coming into Fairfield County.

Comerford agreed with Lamonts assessment that the predicted slow movement of the virus will allow hospitals to handle the influx of patients and, if needed, move patients to other hospitals at peak demand times.

Its not a layup and we have done a lot of surge planning and expanded capabilities, Comerford said. We are partnering with other health systems to address patient needs.

New Haven County will experience the most cases of COVID-19 around May 10, a couple of weeks after Fairfield County, Lamont said, showing graphs with infection curves and time lines. That gives us a little bit of planning room in terms of how we allocate resources between hospitals, Lamont said. Hartfords surge will be afterwards and eastern Connecticut, with a low population density, will see its most cases in the months afterward in the four waves.

Lamont is concerned that social media-fueled misinformation is inflaming some segments of the population, and he wants to put an end to harmful gossip about things that arent true, such as the imminent closure of liquor stores and deploying the National Guard to enforce martial law.

More Information Volunteers wanted in battle against coronavirus  Volunteers must be 18 or older, and should not volunteer if at risk or compromised. Those who are immunocompromised, over 60, showing symptoms of COVID-19, or live with or care for someone in any of those categories should avoid being in public, including for volunteer efforts.  Volunteers do not need to be health care workers. In addition to calling on physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals who may be retired, the state needs community members to help out at food banks, food deliveries to the elderly, and at shelters in a number of ways.  For those who do have a background in health care, the state's medical community has specific needs at this time. Hospitals have advised the state that they have a high need for critical care nurses and repository therapists.  Volunteers will be sent where they are most needed and feel most comfortable. The volunteer process is centralized so that the state and participating organizations have a clear picture of everyone who can help, and everything that is needed. That way, volunteers can be matched with an opportunity that is most in need of that person's skillset. Source: Gov. Ned Lamont See More Collapse

Speaking Friday morning on a northeastern Connecticut radio station, he warned that the rumors are not helping the public cope with the crisis.

In reaction to a question from morning host Dave Ward on WINY, an AM station in Putnam, Lamont said it would be a good idea to develop a new hotline similar to the sometimes-overwhelmed 211 phone line, to provide information and dispel such rumors.

Tell us what that misinformation is on our hotline, then we can tell you what the facts are, in attempt to derail gossip, Lamont said. Obviously social media is a rumor mill, Lamont said in a 15-minute on-air appearance. Yesterday our 211 calls were shutting down the state.

Max Reiss, the governors communications director, said the rumors range from the closing of liquor stores, to a full state-ordered shelter-in-place directive with the Connecticut National Guard deployed to enforce martial law.

At around noon, Lamonts Twitter page included a Rumor Control post: Myth: The National Guard and police are preparing for a federal/state lockdown of citizens in their homes. Fact: This is not true. There is no such discussion or plans for that. The @CTNationalGuard has been leading the effort to deploy and build field hospitals.

By mid-afternoon, the governor along with other state officials and social-service providers issued a call for volunteers, particularly those with medical backgrounds, to help respond to the health crisis. Lamont stressed that those without health care are needed at food banks, and to make deliveries to the elderly people and shelters.

During times like this, it is critical that we come together as a community  as a family  and support our neighbors in this response effort, Governor Lamont said. Our front-line providers at food banks, meal delivery services, and shelters need extra help right now, and that is why we are asking for more volunteers to step forward. I am grateful to everyone who has already pitched in to support Connecticut families. The way well get through this public health emergency is by working together.

While schools are officially set to reopen after April 20, its most likely the closure will last longer, he said, adding that he expects an announcement soon on the issue from the state Department of Education.

The latest amendment to Lamonts executive order limiting the use of hotels and short-stay rentals to essential personnel, was also aimed at possibly discouraging out-of-staters from booking the facilities in the pandemic. He apologized for the hit that southeastern Connecticut tourism will take in the order.

Its about vacationers, Lamont said. Its about folks who are renting hotel rooms or short-term rentals on AirBnB. Were just worried that there are an awful lot of people coming from very infected parts of the state and parts of the region coming up to other places. And we want to stop that. You know it follows the presidents dictate when he had the travel advisory, stay at home. Right now those short-term rentals are only for essential personnel. Those are public health workers and others who really need that space.

Lamont said he was interested in a possible issue facing truck and bus drivers who need to renew their Commercial Drivers Licenses in person at DMV offices that are currently closed in the response to the pandemic. While personal drivers licenses up for renewal have been extended, Lamont admitted he had not yet thought about the requirements for CDL holders, many of whom are essential personnel, especially truck and public transit drivers.

It makes all the sense in the world, Lamont said. Were doing we can to make sure you dont feel like you have to go out to the DMV, especially if you are a senior, especially is youre over 65.

In other pandemic developments, the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut announced on Friday that it is suing the state in an attempt to force emergency action against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic into prisons and jails.

The suit is on the behalf of the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and four men behind bars, one of whom has an autoimmune issue, another who is over 60, another who is scheduled for release next month and a fourth who has one lung and is being held for want of $5,000.

Currently, the DOC reports that 16 guards and eight inmates have been tested positive for COVID-19.

Bill Cummings contributed to this report.
A United Nations human rights official on Friday voiced concern over prisoners after reports of unrest in facilities prompted by worries over a coronavirus outbreak in countries including Iran, one of the worst-hit in the world.

Iranian media have reported unrest in several prisons, and a mass escape from a facility in the west of the country, despite the temporary release of some 100,000 inmates to curb prison overcrowding.

Radio Farda reported on unrest in two prisons in Irans oil-rich Khuzestan province on March 30 and 31, where according to activists up to 20 inmates were killed, some by direct gunfire by security forces.

"As you see in Iran and some other countries, we are seeing riots, prisoners who are afraid, who are distressed at the big loss of contact from family members and so on. So, there are many, many issues surrounding this," U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a virtual briefing in Geneva.

Iran is one of the countries worst-hit by the global coronavirus outbreak. Its official death toll rose on Friday to 3,294 as 134 died in the past 24 hours, with the total number of cases reaching 53,183, according to a Health Ministry spokesman.

However, an independent estimate by Radio Farda puts the numbers much higher, as Iran does not test every dead person with coronavirus symptoms and only counts those who multiple times tested positive.

"Iran... has increased the number it is releasing, at least on a temporary basis, to around 100,000 prisoners  some 40 percent of the entire prison population," Colville said.

"We are horrified at the death of a juvenile offender after he was reportedly badly beaten by security officers," Colville added. "Prisoners were protesting at prison conditions and the failure of the authorities to temporarily release them amid the COVID-19 pandemic."

The young man, Daniel Zeinolabedini was put in solitary confinement and beaten by security officers in Mahabad prison in Urmia in West Azerbaijan Province after a riot erupted on 28 March. Prisoners were protesting at prison conditions and the failure of the authorities to temporarily release them amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Colville said.

Zeinlabedini was arrested two years ago for murder and put on death row, although he was 17 and a juvenile when he committed murder.

Iran routinely deals with underaged offenders according to Islamic law, which allows for the death penalty for people under 18 years of age. However, the sentence is carried out after they turn 18, according to the countrys civil code.

There was no immediate report of the alleged incident in Iranian media and Reuters says officials could not be reached on Friday, the weekend in the country.

With reporting by Reuters
A long line stretched out the door of Trader Joes in Orange on Thursday afternoon, as customers waited several feet apart from each other for their turn to enter the grocery store and employees monitored the number of people inside.

At the New Haven Stop & Shop, customers were offered wipes as they entered and were tallied by an employee instructed to allow no more than 240 people inside. Bright blue and pink duct tape arrows designated one-way aisles, though several shoppers seemed to disregard them in search of their purchases. Tape also marked the floor of Home Depot, where yellow squares and crosses showed customers where to stand while they waited to check out.

Those measures, some of which had already been in place at many local grocery and retail stores, will become mandatory Friday, when new Safe Store rules take effect in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus in some of the few remaining places where groups of people can gather. More than 100 Connecticut residents have died from the coronavirus, including 27 new deaths reported on Thursday.

The latest restrictions require stores to limit capacity to half of their legal occupancy, and must take measures to keep customers apart and enforce social distancing. That includes restricting aisles to one-way where possible, maximizing space in checkout lines and high-traffic areas, and using plexiglass shields to separate employees from customers at checkout lines, where practicable.

Employees are also instructed to wear gloves and facemasks whenever possible when interacting with customers or handling products. Sourcing those materials is a challenge, Connecticut Food Association President Wayne Pesce said. Theyre in high-demand for health care workers, but grocery stores are working to get more of their own, he said.

The heightened restrictions come as concerns about safety at grocery stores and other retailers continue to rise: a Stew Leonards employee in Norwalk tested positive for the virus and others have been quarantined, and Trader Joes in Fairfield closed temporarily Thursday for cleaning after a worker there tested positive.

Gov. Ned Lamonts directives for stores followed Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling issuing similar instructions on Saturday, and supermarket chains following suit. While the statewide Safe Store Rules dont address the number of customers shopping together, Rilling, Pesce and many stores are encouraging people to come alone, sending only one family member rather than shopping together.

But whether that will truly help slow the spread of the coronavirus depends largely on stores enforcement and on the behavior of shoppers.

Jessica Rua, who waited outside Trader Joes in Orange, said the distancing system seemed to be working because employees were monitoring and enforcing it, ensuring the store wasnt excessively crowded. On a trip to another store last week, social distancing seemed to be nowhere in sight, she said.

An employee at Home Depot, who asked for her name to be withheld, said customers for the most part have respected the spacing, or if I step back, theyll step back, she said.

She wore gloves that were provided by the store, and a mask of her own, though she said the company was planning to also start providing those. There are still times when the store gets crowded, which makes her anxious, she said.

I have to talk myself through it, she said.

While shes mostly pleased with the restrictions that have been established so far, she worries the store should be open fewer hours, and that people are coming in for non-essential purchases too frequently.

She said some employees who are over 60 years old are taking time off, which means more work and more cleaning for those who are still working. Stew Leonard Jr. said his stores are also dealing with staffing gaps that hes seeking to fill with new hires because some employees are quarantined after being exposed to the coronavirus.

Pesce, whose association includes more than 200 retailers and distributors, said stores are taking the restrictions very seriously and complying however and wherever and whenever we can.

At some point, it becomes the customers understanding and willingness to make that happen, Pesce said. Some of this is about a social contract here.

Stores can put up signs and add restrictions, but customers also need to take seriously the need for space.

Most folks coming in are bring really, really good about it, he said.

Customers and employees can also limit risks by monitoring their own behavior, said John Nwangwu, an epidemiologist at Southern Connecticut State University. The biggest risk comes from contracting the virus from other people, as well as from shared surfaces, but that can be mitigated if people avoid touching their face and clean their hands.

Even if you make a contact, if you dont touch your face, mouth, eyes, ears, etc., and youre able to clean your hands, youre not going to get infected, he said.

He also cautioned that wearing masks and gloves shouldnt provide a false sense of safety: while they can help, including by preventing people from touching their faces, theyre not a substitute for hand hygiene.

It would seem to me that knowledge is more important than those kind of regulations, Nwangwu said. If people are well-educated and know exactly the risk, I think that would be better than putting extra burden on stores.

Some of the distancing efforts do just that: they remind people, in bright colors and large letters, that they should be changing their behavior.

Its made a lot of difference, said Noah Villot, an electrician who shopped at Home Depot on Thursday. He said the tape markers on the floor inside the store were a reminder of the distancing requirements, which otherwise might be overlooked. Theyre doing a good job, he said.

Things like signs, tape marks and physical barriers are key, said Jean Breny, who chairs Southerns Public Health and works on behavioral changes to promote health.

People get used to doing things a certain way. We all know, at some level, were supposed to stay six feet away from another person, but its not really happening, she said. In a crowded grocery store, people unintentionally will end up close together. These kinds of guidelines may seem like an inconvenience, but theyll help people keep their distance and adjust their habits to include keeping their distance, she said.

Lamont so far has resisted calls to tighten the limits on essential businesses, including requests on social media to shutter everything other than pharmacies and grocery stores.

Liz.teitz@hearstmediact.com
Utility operators in the United States are staying on-site and in isolation to guarantee that Americans still have power as they try to cling to some form of normalcy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

At two New York Independent System Operator facilities in the state, approximately 37 workers have been living in RVs.

Tim Pasquini, one of the employees at the privately owned company, said that he volunteered to stay at one of the buildings because he got 10 weeks of paid leave too be with his newborn son two years ago.

Paid leave is paid for by the state.

Utility workers in New York and in Florida (Tallahassee pictured) are staying in RV on company grounds in order to work and keep their families safe

'It's something everyone in the state of New York pays into. And I got that benefit because of everyone, I see it more as giving back to everyone else in this time where there's like a pandemic going on,' Pasquini explained to ABC News.

Pasquini described the environment like camping, noting people were on calls with their families daily. He did add, however, that he could see the setting getting old.

'Last week we had a couple nice, sunny days -- we were all out in lawn chairs hanging out outside our trailers. Someone brought a guitar. We've been trying to stay busy, we have cornhole we've been playing in the parking lot. And we got a bunch of board games, things like that,' he said.

Tallahassee, Florida, is rotating its approximately 120 workers and having groups come in for week at a time so employees can spend some time at home with their families while still trying to keep the power on for some 123,000 customers.

Tallahassee Chief Electric System Operator Alan Gale has converted his own office into his home

Rob McGarrah, general manager for Tallahassee, said that the city has housed employees for some days after various hurricanes but that they had to quickly adjust for the coronavirus.

He said that the city purchased dozens of RVs, coordinating meal deliveries from local restaurants and is converting offices into living spaces.

More than 245,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus

While McGarrah is still able to go home, Chief Electric System Operator Alan Gale has converted his own office into his home.

He shared that his wife is considered high risk so his staying in the office allows her to have more freedom.

'The way we look at it is, we're sleeping there. It's better than having a hurricane and having to restore power. So we're just operating and being sequestered, and I've got 9 out of my 15 people are previous military members so it's better than being deployed it's better than being on a submarine or on a ship,' he said.

Gale, who has 22-year experience working on nuclear submarines in the Navy, was at least happy he gets to keep his office cleaned.

The city took to their on Twitter page to share the story about the utility workers.

'#TallahasseeProud to see our efforts to ensure reliable electric service during the #COVID19 emergency highlighted nationwide,' the city said in tweet.
Turkish president issues partial curfew for those under 20 and shuts borders of 31 cities to halt coronavirus spread.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has imposed a partial curfew for citizens under the age of 20 as part of measures imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

The mandatory confinement is due to come into effect at midnight on Friday, Erdogan said in a televised address, adding that Ankara also decided to close down borders of 31 cities for vehicles  excluding essential supplies.

Vehicles will no longer be able to leave or enter the cities, including Istanbul and Ankara, for 15 days, he said, adding that mask usage will be obligatory in crowded places.

Turkeys death toll from the outbreak rose to 425 on Friday, while the number of confirmed cases from the disease rose to over 20,000, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

We have decided to bring partial curfew into effect for people under the age of 20 as of midnight Friday, Erdogan said.

The shutdown of city borders will be in effect for 15 days initially. However, this period can be extended if necessary, Erdogan told a news conference.

Ankara has halted all international flights, limited domestic travel, closed schools, bars and cafes and suspended mass prayers to counter the outbreak. But people are still going to work, as Erdogan seeks to sustain economic production and exports.

People above 65 years of age or those with chronic medical conditions are already subject to obligatory confinement.

Calls for Istanbul lockdown



Istanbuls Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been urging the government to impose a strict lockdown in the city, which is home to nearly 16 million people.

Unal Cevikoz, deputy chair of the Republican Peoples Party  the main opposition party in Turkey  told Al Jazeera on Friday there has been an increase in the number of infections every two days.

Istanbul seems to be the epicentre  it is growing with a serious expediential rate, Cevikoz said

Erdogan had not imposed a total lockdown in a bid to keep the countrys economy afloat, but the economy has already slowed down because of the recession, Cevikoz said.

Most of the shops are still open [in Istanbul]  we are all expecting a peak in the number of cases and deaths, he said.
Burma All Myanmar Is a HorrorFacebook Mistranslates Daw Aung San Suu Kyis Post

Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi / Myanmar State Counselors Office

YANGONBarely a day after taking to Facebook for the first time in an effort to connect more directly with the public, Myanmars de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ran into problems with the California-based social media platform, as its auto-English translation function on Thursday rendered parts of her original Burmese-language post into such mistranslations and oddities as all Myanmar is a horror and all the worlds of the world Eliminate.

The 74-year-old joined the platform on Wednesday. In her first post in Burmese, she said she had not intended to use Facebook, but now [I] will use this to be able to communicate quickly and effectively with the people regarding COVID-19 challenges. Facebook is the most popular social media platform in Myanmar.

However, when she published her second post on Thursday about the governments response to her discussions with four people involved in the fight against the disease, the apps auto-English translation function embarrassed her with a series of often bizarre mistranslations.

At the end of the post, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi says her father, independence hero General Aung San, sometimes used to end his speeches with a Pali expression meaning, May Myanmar be free from danger.

For me, I would say, May everyone in the world be free from danger, she ends her post.

But Facebook translated her fathers quote as: all Myanmar is a horror.

The translation ends on a brutal note: all the worlds of the world Eliminate.

Its not the first time Facebooks translation function has caused embarrassment among Myanmar officials. When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Myanmar in January, the platform rendered the presidents name as Mr Shithole in an English translation of a post about the visit published by the State Counselors Facebook page.

At that time, Facebook blamed a technical error and apologized for any offense caused.
Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson found a productive way to keep themselves entertained as they socially isolate together.

The 23-year-old Australian hunk posted an Instagram video this Thursday in which his girlfriend shaved off his luscious locks.

In a black and white montage set to the song Buzzin' by Shwayze, the 27-year-old songbird gave her boyfriend a close buzz cut.

Having a blast: Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson found a productive way to keep themselves entertained as they socially isolate together

Her beefcake showed off his toned figure and tattoos as he sat in his chair, taking a swig or two from a bottle as Miley worked away at his do.

The Hannah Montana star, who is hosting an Instagram Live talk show called Bright Minded amid the lockdowns, got help from a gentleman while giving the haircut.

Cody uploaded a heartwarming Insta Stories update on Wednesday to mark his half-year anniversary with Miley.

Making it happen: The 23-year-old Australian hunk posted an Instagram video this Thursday in which his girlfriend shaved off his luscious locks

New look: In a black and white montage set to the song Buzzin' by Shwayze, the 27-year-old songbird gave her boyfriend a close buzz cut

Refreshments: Her beefcake showed off his toned figure and tattoos as he sat in his chair, taking a swig or two from a bottle as Miley worked away at his do

'6 months with you is worth a lifetime with anybody else,' wrote the antipodean pop act over a picture of Miley, adding: 'I love you.'

Cody was meant to go on tour for his new book Prince Neptune: Poetry & Prose but had to cancel because of social distancing guidelines.

The Broadway alum is now offering his fans the chance to participate in a 'virtual book signing' at 3pm EST this coming Tuesday.

Helping hand: The Hannah Montana star, who is hosting an Instagram Live talk show called Bright Minded amid the lockdowns, got help from a gentleman while giving the haircut

'I love you': Cody uploaded a heartwarming Insta Stories update on Wednesday to mark his half-year anniversary with Miley

Feeling the pinch: Cody was meant to go on tour for his new book Prince Neptune: Poetry & Prose but had to cancel because of social distancing guidelines

Last year Miley separated from with her Australian husband Liam Hemsworth, whom she had married in her native Tennessee only the previous December.

She then embarked on a whirlwind summer romance with Kaitlynn Carter, who had herself just split from reality TV dreamboat Brody Jenner.

After that relationship fell apart Miley moved on with Cody, who has been friends with her since they were both teenagers.

History: Last year Miley separated from with her Australian husband Liam Hemsworth, whom she had married in her native Tennessee only the previous December

Backdrop: She then embarked on a whirlwind summer romance with Kaitlynn Carter, who had herself just split from reality TV dreamboat Brody Jenner
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Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 06:30 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f5aa72 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Luhut-Binsar-Pandjaitan,Jokowi Free

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is also acting transportation minister, said that the government decided to allow an Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite also appealing to the public not to do it, for economic reasons.

Our main consideration is to prevent the economy from stopping altogether. After we calculated everything, [having no lockdown] is our best option among a number of flawed options, Luhut said during a virtual press briefing from the Presidential Palace on Thursday. Based on these considerations, we advised the President [] and he agreed that [if we ban mudik] it would affect low-income households the most.

He added that the decision was also taken based on the governments modeling, which he said showed that the countrys hot weather and high humidity would slow the virus.

Even if we choose to prohibit people from mudik, theyd do it anyway. Therefore we decided to tell them instead that mudik will bring the disease to their families so its better not to do it, he added.

Luhut said the people who choose not to mudik would be given an as yet undisclosed amount of compensation.

Earlier on Thursday, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said there would be no official ban on mudik, asking local authorities to monitor potential virus carriers instead.

The decision was made despite calls from public health experts and regional heads for the government to impose a lockdown for red zone areas, such as Jakarta, to prevent the disease from spreading farther across the island of Java.

According to the central governments official count, there were 1,790 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide as of Thursday, 897 of which were in Jakarta.
When President Trump spoke last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the leaders agreed to tamp down their war of words over the novel coronavirus  but the truce is temporary. The Chinese Communist Partys brazen campaign of lies and distortion is just an example of the new information environment the United States and its partners must now come together to confront.
Ever since Kanika Kapoor was diagnosed with Covid-19 last month, she has been subjected to heavy criticism and trolling. She was first targeted for not self-quarantining after return from London and then for throwing tantrums at the hospital.

Now, in an interview with Indian Today, her family has revealed all about how and when she flew back, started feeling unwell, got her tests done and also what happened at the hospital. The family also addressed Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS)s claims of her throwing starry tantrums at the hospital. They said she complained when she was asked by the doctors to change into a medical gown behind a curtain in the hospital room as she did not feel comfortable. She also saw dirt in the quarantine ward and asked the hospital staff to clean it.

In an earlier interview to The Times of India, Kanika had said she was not given food or any medicine at the hospital. Ive been here since 11 am and all Ive been given is a small bottle of water to drink. Ive been asking these people to give me something to eat but Ive only been given two small bananas and an orange that had flies on it. I am so hungry, I havent even taken the medicine that I was supposed to till now. I have fever, Ive informed them, but no one has attended to me. The food I brought with me has been taken away. I cant even eat anything thats given to me as I am allergic to some foods. I am hungry, thirsty and I feel miserable here, she had said.

Also Watch | Coronavirus crisis: How Kanika Kapoor ignored warnings & why you should not

When I asked the doctor attending to me to have the room cleaned, he said to me that this was not a five star hotel where I should expect that kind of treatment. He said that the authorities are going to file an FIR against me for withholding information and not disclosing my illness. These are the kind of threats being given to me, she added and said she was being ill-treated at the hospital.

Also read: Priyanka Chopra to donate$100,000 in total to women who do their bit in times of crisis, asks for nominations

Later, Dr RK Dhiman, the director of the hospital said the best of facilities are being provided to Kanika. The hospital staff at her disposal is for a four-hour shift during which they cannot eat or drink because they wear anti-infection equipment. Every four hours one team is donned off their gear and another shift takes over. The room is cleaned every four hours. Kanika Kapoors claims are all baseless, Dr Dhiman told Ahmedabad Mirror. Kanika Kapoor has been provided with the best that is possible in a hospital. She must co-operate as a patient and not throw tantrums of a star in Lucknow, he added.

Kanika has tested positive for Covid-19 for the fifth time even though she is now asymptomatic of the disease. She will only be allowed to go back home when she tests negative.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL) today announced a change in location for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Monday, May 11, at 4:30 p.m. ET at its headquarters at 4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia. Unfortunately, due to the public health impact of the coronavirus and in compliance with governmental orders and directives, attendance at the meeting will be limited to company officers and other personnel required to conduct the meeting.

Shareholders and other interested parties will be able to listen to the meeting over the Internet. Details on how shareholders and other interested parties may do so, including how questions may be submitted in advance, will be provided in a subsequent press release.

The process for voting shares at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders remains the same, as detailed in the previously distributed Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders sent to the Company's shareholders of record as of the record date, March 3, 2020.

About Markel

Markel is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. The Company's principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products. In each of the Company's businesses, it seeks to provide quality products and excellent customer service so that it can be a market leader. The financial goals of the Company are to earn consistent underwriting and operating profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value. Visit Markel on the web at markel.com.

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On April 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss potential cooperation in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, the next steps in joint efforts in Syria as well as the developments in Libya.

The phone call came a week after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Syria and was hosted by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

Why it matters? As Al-Monitor reported earlier, Shoigu and Assad also discussed the situation in Idlib and the coronavirus crisis. The Putin-Erdogan negotiated truce for Idlib has been holding up so far but remains rather fragile. Russia now expects Turkey to deliver on its commitments to separate the moderate Syrian opposition from the terrorists of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. Russian military sources told Al-Monitor this week that Ankara might be preparing for a limited operation against the extremists in Idlib.

The coronavirus pandemic is yet another issue that keeps both presidents busy these days. Both need to demonstrate to their constituencies that they can manage it effectively. Both have received domestic criticism that their actions to combat COVID-19 have left a lot to be desired. For Putin, who concentrated some of Russia's coronavirus efforts on the foreign policy front, international contacts  be they with Turkeys Erdogan, Americas Donald Trump, Chinas Xi Jinping or Italys Giuseppe Conte  are an important marker of international leadership success. Hence, the special attention Putin drew to the safe return of Russians, stuck in Turkey, back home.

Other key phone calls: On the same day, Erdogan had a separate phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The official press statement suggests the two focused on measures to combat the coronavirus and discussed bilateral relations and regional issues. Zelensky requested respirators and special protective suits from Erdogan, the Ukrainian presidency's press office said.

In turn, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had a phone conversation March 27 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. While the two also focused on the joint fight of the coronavirus, the very call and the subsequent reaction to it made many in Moscow conclude the sheikh's reach-out to Assad is a continuation of the UAE's engagement with Russia on a number of issues and areas that challenge Turkeys own interests, including in Libya.

Whats next? Some analysts in Moscow said they thought that it is important for Erdogan to receive some guarantees from Putin that Assad is not going to take advantage of the situation with the coronavirus and push Turkey farther out from Idlib. Should this happen, Erdogan may get a triple blow: the epidemic, the economic turmoil and defeat in Syria.

At this point, however, Russia doesnt seem to be interested in exacerbating the situation with Turkey  an important regional player whom it would like to see as a partner. Apart from being focused on its own challenges vis-a-vis the coronavirus, Putin is very much concerned with the drop in oil prices and has to figure out ways to mend ties with the Saudis.

Know more: Check out this story on how COVID-19 is changing the Astana trios dynamics in Syria and this take on how Turkey imposed its own first curfew amid the surge of coronavirus infection.

Ezgi Akin contributed to this story
Putting criminals in jail is one thing. Keeping an entire state of 7.5 million people inside their homes is a whole other ball game, as NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller learned this week.

NSW Police Commissioner and State Emergency Operations Controller Mick Fuller. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Who is he?

A week ago he was simply the state's top cop. Now NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has an even more serious role. The 52-year-old has been appointed State Emergency Operations Controller, tasked with leading the fight in NSW against the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

This Tuesday marked his third anniversary in the job he took over from Andrew Scipione in 2017, when he vowed to move NSW Police "into the future." Fuller is often described as having an "off-the-cuff" approach to his public-facing role, unlike the more traditionally polished style of his predecessor. No "shrinking violet," he speaks frankly and stands his ground, colleagues say, as on issues such as pill-testing and the strip-searching of young people at music festivals. In November he was forced to defend comments about strip-searching, saying that "a little bit of fear" could aid law enforcement. Lawyers for the commissioner were also forced to "correct the record" after comments he made about a music festivalgoer's strip-search claims during an inquest. But fellow police say that he's "focused .. and he'll get things done".
Despite the fear and uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic, Pennsylvanias food supply is safe.

That was the overarching message from a news conference held by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on Thursday afternoon.

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by Food Safety Director Jeff Warner and Food Safety Assistant Director Sherri Morris in seeking to reassure Pennsylvanians that the supply is safe, and measures are being taken to ensure that the acquisition and future of the states food supply will continue to be that way.

Weve seen changes in nearly every aspect of our lives, Redding said to open the news conference, carried on the Zoom videoconferencing platform. But the one thing that were working hard to keep constant is the reliability of safe, healthy food available to all, even if your paycheck stopped.

That starts with the food itself, which has shown no evidence of being able to transmit COVID-19 through even just basic food preparation, whether it be heating packaged food or washing a piece of fresh produce from a grocery store shelf.

Since the pandemic began in January in the United States, grocery stores, food manufacturers, takeout-only restaurants and other food distributors have had guidance from the state on how to operate while staying as safe and sanitary as possible on the front lines, including limiting customer interaction within six feet or keeping earlier hours strictly for elderly or immuno-compromised customers.

These responsibilities have also fallen on employees in the industry, and methods like regimented hand-washing breaks and sneeze guards have become essential.

On April 1, state food safety inspectors re-deployed to ensure that the best practices are being followed at various food service sites. Inspectors had been removed from the field for 15 days as part of the 15 Days to Slow the Spread initiative.

The general public has its own responsibilities, too. People should only be getting groceries every one to two weeks, and not buying an overwhelming amount that results in empty shelves. Part of the reason they shouldnt is that its impacting food banks. Over-purchasing," as Redding called it, is putting a lot of pressure on the food supply chain. Theres been an increase in demand at grocery stores, and were working in real-time with our regional food banks to keep up with that demand, Redding said.

State agriculture officials are also working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to loosen restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other similar programs, which Redding sees as the most effective and easiest ways to get food to those who are food-insecure.

Similar efforts are underway as the state anticipates an increase in need for food access as people remain out of work due to the state shutdown.

Of course, traveling is essential for distribution, and Redding did confirm that despite Gov. Tom Wolfs stay-at-home order, food industry workers are essential, life-sustaining workers, and therefore dont need travel papers of any kind.

Both the department and the state of Pennsylvania have more information on the COVID-19 pandemic and safety measures to take during this time on their websites.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorLagore. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The ruling Georgian Dream party members in the Georgian government as well as in the Parliament will transfer 1/3 of their monthly salaries to the StopCov fund for three months, ruling party MP Irakli Kobakhidze said.

He noted that there are 93 ruling party MPs in parliament, while there are 11 ministers and a prime minister in the government, so in total a third of the salaries of 105 individuals will be transferred to the StopCov fund.



I am sure that also other members of our party who have the opportunity despite the difficult situation, work in the private or public sector and have the income, will make contributions to the fund according to their income and social status. Thus they will express solidarity to our citizens," Agenda.ge cited the PM as saying.



As of April 1, a total of 20,500,000 GEL ($6.44 mln) has been given to the StopCov fund.
Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

After poring over various academic and scientific studies over the last two weeks, President Donald Trumps coronavirus task force is expected to announce new guidelines that Americans wear masks or other protective facial cloth to prevent the spread of the virus, according to three individuals familiar with those conversations, including two senior administration officials.

The decision to announce, first reported by Stat News, had been delayed, in part, by fears inside the White House over the optics of issuing new guidelines that directly contradicted those previously pushed out by the federal government, those same sources said. In internal deliberations, members of the administrations coronavirus taskforce have worried that changing the messaging on masks could raise questions about whether the government made a mistake in its original guidelines, officials say.

Officials are also concerned that the new guidelines would end up worsening the supply problems for healthcare workers who are already running low on personal protective gear, including N95 respirators. As such, the administration's guidance is likely to encourage people to make their own masks at home, an official said.

On February 29, the countrys top doctor, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, posted a disclaimer on Twitter, asking Americans to stop buying masks. They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, he said, adding that healthcare workers needed them to remain in the supply chain so they could more safely treat coronavirus patients. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that Americans do not need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing or if they are taking care of a person with coronavirus.

A barrage of recently published scientific studies say otherwise. And Trumps coronavirus task force, including officials from the CDC, have for weeks been looking at some of those papers that say the coronavirus can be spread by individuals who do not show symptoms through liquid droplet transmission.

Story continues

In an email to The Daily Beast, Arleen Porcell, a spokesperson for the CDC said the agency had not yet changed its guidelines on face masks while acknowledging that they were evaluating the data.

CDC is always evaluating emerging scientific evidence and making guidance updates as needed to keep the American public safe, she said.

One of the papers being reviewed by the task forcewhich was written by doctors in Germany and funded in part by the European Unionsays the coronavirus can present like the common cold and that the virus can spread through pharyngeal viral shedding at a time when symptoms are still mild and typical of upper respiratory tract infection. Other studies being reviewed by the task force and the CDC suggest that the coronavirus might shed through liquid droplets from our mouths and noses when speaking or singingaround others

In recent days, a slew of doctors, in opinion pieces and on social media, have pushed for the federal government to implement the universal mask policy, arguing that while strict social distancing guidelines do help contain the virus, the use of masks or paper cloths across the nose and mouth could significantly decrease transmission. It shouldnt be the case that just individuals who are sick wear protective coverings, doctors say. Now that scientists know the virus spreads through asymptomatic or presymptomatic people, they, too, should wear masks.

Despite the overwhelming number of studies looking at the issue and medical professionals calling for the universal use of face masks, officials on the task force and within the CDC debated whether the data available on asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission was enough to move the needle. A recent report from Singapore re-published on the CDC website said presymptomatic transmission might occur through generation of respiratory droplets and possibly through indirect transmission. The lack of clear language, officials said, worried the scientists and academics on the taskforce who sought to obtain more convincing reports before moving forward.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at the University of California Los Angeles who previously worked for the CDC, said that there was no new evidence of the benefit of encouraging mask wearing.

The response to the epidemic is driven by panic and politics, said Klausner. The same way we saw recent FDA approval for some medications that have not had demonstrated scientific benefits. Theres been active discussion and pushback from public health experts and politics. Politicians are saying whats the harm, but public health experts are saying whats the benefit. None, based on scientific evidence.

Klausner and others pointed to the serious shortage of masks available for even healthcare professionals encountering infected patients as a downside to a policy shift. But Dr. David Larsen, an associated professor in the Department of Public Health at Syracuse University, said in a statement on Tuesday that there is as much evidence for face masks as there is for social distancing.

We are rightfully closing our schools, shuttering our businesses, and disrupting our social lives, said Larsen. We need to bring anything that can work to the fight, and face masks may help.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Vital Capital, an impact investor focused on companies in sub-Saharan Africa, announced a new debt facility providing loans to promising businesses to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic while continuing to offer essential services.

The Vital Impact Relief Facility offers businesses immediate access to capital in anticipation of a severe economic crisis that could result from the rapid spread of coronavirus in the region.

These loans, which seek risk-adjusted returns, will help fundamentally sound African businesses providing impactful services to weather the economic consequences of the virus and put them in a position to thrive when the pandemic has ended.

The facility will start with an initial $10m in capital and will issue roughly 10 loans on favorable terms of approximately $1 million each with a duration of up to four years.

Vital also plans to open the facility to other investors to extend the available pool of capital. The vehicle will primarily target companies involved in agro-industry & processing, healthcare, sustainable infrastructure and education, and is initially launching in Kenya and Uganda. It will then expand into Vitals target geographies including Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote dIvoire, Angola and Senegal.

To co-lead these efforts and oversee this new vehicle, Vital Capital has hired Guido Boysen, who recently stepped down as CEO of Grofin, an Africa SME lender, and has vast experience in creating and managing targeted debt facilities in Africa.

Founded in 2011 and led by Nimrod Gerber, Managing Partner, Vital Capital is an impact investment, private equity fund that is focused on sub-Saharan Africa. The firm is focused on the fastest growing sectors in sub-Saharan African markets with a primary emphasis on agro-industry & processing, healthcare, sustainable infrastructure and education. It manages the $350 million Vital Capital Fund as well as the new debt facility.

FinSMEs

03/04/2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi must get "serious" about the magnitude of the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country, Maharashtra Congress chief and state revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat said on Friday.

He said it was time for the PM to take some firm policy decisions to fight the outbreak and give relief to people rather than "create an event" out of the issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier in the day, urged people to switch off lights of their homes at 9 pm for nine minutes on April 5 and light up lamps, candles, mobile flashlights to display the nation's collective spirit to defeat coronavirus.

"Is it the PM's job to ask people to clap, light lamps? The BJP just wants to create an event out of any issue. During such times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take some firm policy decisions. It is about time the PM gets serious on these issues," Thorat said.

He said the need of the hour was to firmly be behind the people who are in the frontline fighting to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and to increase infrastructure like ventilators, testing kits and labs, personal protection equipment, he said.

The general public needs to be given hope during these distressing times and relief packages must be provided to those affected by the lockdown.

"After hearing the address, the question being raised is whether Narendra Modi will behave like a PM or not. When a country is going through a crisis, a responsible leadership is required. The BJP is taking away the seriousness of the issue at hand by announcing such PR stunts," Thorat said.

Meanwhile, state housing minister Jitendra Awhad also slammed Modi's address saying in a video that it was expected that Modi will talk about issues such as the plight of the poor because of lockdown to contain coronavirus pandemic, but he disappointed.

"I don't understand why they want to make an event of everything. This is nothing but foolishness, childishness," said Awhad.

"I want to announce, I am working, I meet the poor, I take care of them, give them food. I will give the money to the poor instead of spending it on oil and candles. I will keep all the lights in my house on and not light even a single candle," the minister said.

It was expected that Modi will assure people that there was enough stock of essential commodities, masks, sanitizers, medicines and testing kits but he did not do that, Awhad said.

Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut also mocked appeal and in a tweet, said, "When people were asked to clap, they crowded the roads and beat drums. I just hope now they don't burn down their own houses."

"Sir 'diyato jalayenge' but please tell us what the government is doing to improve the condition," Raut further asked.
There is no evidence that Covid-19 has been transmitted by food or food packaging, according to U.S. federal health agencies. How the virus fares among food workers may be a different story.

By law, food manufacturers must prevent anyone who is sick or has a communicable disease from handling, processing or preparing food for human consumption. But much of the food supply chain is staffed by low-wage workers, many of them undocumented immigrants with limited ties to health services.

The Pew Research Center has estimated that about one quarter of U.S. farm workers are undocumented. A U.S. Department of Labor survey estimated that the share of field workers who are undocumented is closer to half. The food processing industry also has high numbers of undocumented workers, as do many of the nations smaller grocers and fast-food restaurants.

Immigrant farming communities are often close-knit, with laborers living and working in close proximity. As the California-based Western Growers Association states, Social distancing is difficult or perhaps impossible in certain settings such as harvesting, transport (of workers) and housing.

One California grower told National Public Radio that if the coronavirus penetrates the agricultural community, it will spread like wildfire.

California, the nations largest agricultural state, moved early against the virus. It was the first state to order residents to stay home, on March 19. For now, Covid-19 deaths in California are growing at a slower rate than in New York, doubling every three or four days in California instead of every one or two.

But farm workers, like those who work processing chickens or stocking grocery shelves, cant work from home.

Moreover, undocumented workers are at high risk of being uninsured, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. And uninsured workers are less likely to visit a doctor or health clinic when sick, or to have a regular source of medical care.

Fruit and vegetable farmers, in particular, have complained of labor shortages in recent years. The farm workforce is aging, the work is hard and, until the coronavirus outbreak, unemployment was low. President Donald Trumps immigration policies have further reduced the supply of labor while also making it more precarious for immigrants to get access to public health services. Robots are not coming to the industrys rescue anytime soon.

There is no shortage of food in the U.S.  and there very likely wont be. Food is grown in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. But the logistical miracle that is the U.S. food supply chain is already stressed by panic buying at grocers and a huge disruption of markets, including thousands of suddenly closed restaurants. (Its not easy to reroute to markets food that was previously destined for restaurants.) The supply chain could be further undermined by outbreaks of coronavirus among agricultural workers.

The Trump administration last week eased rules on foreign agricultural guest workers. It says it has suspended immigration arrests at hospitals, though its not clear that the announcement will ease the anxiety of undocumented immigrants. Rural hospitals will get assistance from the rescue package that Congress passed last week.

But such actions will hardly fill the gaps in production and distribution if coronavirus sweeps across the farm sector. It could have a devastating effect on the ability to produce food, Dale Moore, executive vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, told me.

While farms are taking safety precautions, encouraging social distancing and better hygiene, theres little contingency planning for labor in the event of significant outbreaks. How would labor  including skilled work  be replaced? What exactly that looks like, Moore said, is an evolving process.

Photo: MESA, CALIFORNIA  MARCH 27: Agricultural laborers pick lemons inside the orchards of Samag Services, Inc, where they grow Avocado, Lemons and Oranges. The bottom has fallen out of the Avocado market as restaurants close during this period of the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Agricultural workers have become essential workers in the race to maintain Americas food supply while simultaneously staying healthy. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images.)

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics California Catastrophe COVID-19 USA Agribusiness
Wearing a face mask alone is not adequate enough to protect an individual from coronavirus, the White House has said, emphasising that the strict enforcement of social distancing measures and other precautions are key in the fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

The White House announcement came amidst an intense debate in the US on the necessity of wearing a face mask.

"Just remember, it (face mask) is not a substitute for everything that were asking people to do," Deborah Brix from the White House Task Force on Coronavirus told reporters at a conference on Thursday.

President Donald Trump has recommended that people who want to cover their mouths and noses could wear scarves instead of masks, which are desperately needed by health-care workers battling the surge of COVID-19 cases.

"I think they are going to be coming out with regulations on that and if people want to abide by them frankly I don't think they will be mandatory because some people don't want to do that, but if people want it as an example on the mask if people wanted to wear them they can," he said.

"People wanted to use scarves which they have, and many people have them they can. In many cases the scarf is better, it is thicker," Trump said without providing evidence.

Vice President Mike Pence said at a press briefing on Thursday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will issue new nationwide guidance "in the next several days" about wearing masks in public to prevent transmission of the coronavirus.

"And just to everybody out there across the country, when we say no gatherings of 10, we're looking at we wanted to be clear if you have a family of 10, we don't want you to be split up. But we don't expect people to be having dinner parties, cocktail parties," Brix said.

"I know you've seen the slope in the United States versus the slope in Italy and we have to change that slope. We have to change the logarithmic curve that we are on. We see country after country having done that. What it means in the United States is not everyone is doing it," she said.

The WHO and the US Surgeon General have talked about various studies that show that mask may not even be helpful in protecting people and may actually increase the rates of illness because people touch the mask then they touch themselves.

"We don't want people to get an artificial sense of protection because they are behind a mask, because if they are touching things -remember your eyes are not in the mask. So if you are touching things and then touching your eyes you are exposing yourself in the same way, so we don't want people to feel like, oh, 'I'm wearing a mask I'm protected and I'm protecting others'," Brix said.

You may be protecting others, but don't get a false sense of security that the mask is protecting you exclusively from getting infected because there are other ways that you can get infected because the number of asymptomatic and mild cases that are out there," the White House official said.

"When we are trying to send a signal that every single person in this country needs to stay six point feet away from everybody, that needs to be washing their hands constantly and know where their hands are to send a signal that we think a mask is equivalent to those pieces," she said.

"We want to make sure everybody understands it is not a substitute for the presidential guidelines that have already gone out and to be absolutely clear about that," Brix said.

A total of 1,002,159 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with51,485 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

The US has reported 236,339 COVID-19 cases, the highest in the world, and over 5,000 people have died due to the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
From Deepika Padukone to Priyanka Chopra, a bevy of Bollywood celebrities took up the Safe Hands Challenge introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last month to raise awareness about hand hygiene amid the coronavirus pandemic. Kangana Ranauts sister Rangoli Chandel mocked the videos of celebrities washing their hands and called them so lame.

Rangoli was responding to a Twitter user, who sarcastically wrote that he had forgotten how to wash hands until he watched the tutorials shared by celebrities on social media. She replied to the tweet, nice one!!! those celebrities videos are so lame teaching how to turn the tap on create lather from soap how to rub your hands and wash off the soap, ha ha what fools.

nice one!!! those celebrities videos are so lame teaching how to turn the tap on create lather from soap how to rub your hands and wash off the soap, ha ha what fools https://t.co/1q8wfqzWkE  Rangoli Chandel (@Rangoli_A) April 1, 2020

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, nominated Bollywood stars Deepika and Priyanka to take up the Safe Hands Challenge. Others such as Anushka Sharma, Shilpa Shetty, Dia Mirza, Mouni Roy and Ekta Kapoor also shared videos of their hand-washing routine.

Thank You @DrTedros, for nominating me for the #SafeHands Challenge!#COVID19 surely is an uphill health and public safety task, but all of us are in this fight together!I further nominate @rogerfederer,@Cristiano and @imVkohli to take up this challenge! #coronavirus #StaySafe https://t.co/45glSxXkqP pic.twitter.com/7s7R4pIrrL  Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) March 17, 2020

Currently, India is in total lockdown mode for three weeks due to the rapidly increasing cases of coronavirus in the country. On Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an address asked citizens to fight the darkness of the pandemic with light. He requested them to switch off all the lights at 9pm on Sunday (March 5) night and stand at their doors or windows with torches, candles or diyas in their hands.

Also read | Rishi Kapoor, Raveena Tandon lead Bollywood in condemning attacks on doctors, cops: They are endangering their lives

Rangoli hailed the prime ministers request and wrote on Twitter, Lighting Diyas is a very good gesture, diya creates an ethereal aura which is very calming and effective, to show each other our support lets do this, I love how @narendramodi ji also focuses on our emotional needs and tries to heal us in every way .... Jai Shri Ram She added that we were very fortunate to have a leader like PM Narendra Modi.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Roger Misso, of Red Creek, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a former naval officer. He was a candidate for Congress in the 24th Congressional District.

By Roger Misso | Special to Syracuse.com

Ship. Shipmate. Self.

When I left Central New York to attend the United States Naval Academy in 2005, I quickly learned those three important words. In order, they were to be our priority as naval officers for the rest of our careers. Our duty is first to the safety of the ship, then to the safety of those around us, and only after both of those priorities are secure are we to consider our own needs.

This has served naval officers well both in battle and in crisis for centuries. That is, unfortunately, until the Trump administration came along.

Thursday, it was reported that Capt. Brett Crozier, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, was relieved of command for extremely poor judgment. This was in response to a memo he penned to his superiors exhorting them to allow his ship, being ravaged by the COVID-19 virus, to make an emergency disembarkation in Guam before more of the crew was stricken. The memo was leaked to the press and became a public rallying cry against a confused response to this public health crisis by both the White House and Department of Defense.

Croziers first instinct was to protect the lives of his crew. The spread of the disease is ongoing and accelerating, the captain wrote. We are not at war, and therefore cannot allow a single Sailor to perish as a result of this pandemic unnecessarily. In all my studies of naval history, and in my experience serving on aircraft carriers, in the Pentagon and around the world, I have never heard of a commanding officer relieved for doing his duty so clearly as Crozier displayed.

Tragically, the leadership of the Department of Defenses first instinct was to protect themselves from the White House. In the midst of a global pandemic, the response to a ship captain trying to make sure that more or our sons and daughters do not become infected was to fire him, lest the president let loose a late-night, tweeted reprisal against them. Crozier paid the ultimate price at a time when American leadership seems to care more about public relations than public health.

Roger Misso talks to a reporter before the Feb. 15 designation vote. Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com

I fear for the lesson this teaches the next generation of naval leaders. We have always relied upon those who go to sea to be capable of autonomy, a principle naval doctrine calls command by negation. We expect commanding officers to know what is best for their own ships and to have both the courage and humility to do what is right at all times, regardless of the consequences. With this shameful action, we may be teaching new Sailors to fear the chain of command, or, worse, to keep a weather eye on Washington instead of their own horizon.

Ship. Shipmate. Self. I have never forgotten those words. The Trump administration could do well to learn them.

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Cattle are loaded at the Lebanese flag ship NADA in the port of Santos, Brazil December 2, 2017. Twenty-seven thousand animals will be transported to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Iskenderun, according to Ecoporto terminal company. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Beef shipments from Argentina to the EU have completely stalled as global coronavirus outbreak hits food supply chains.

Argentine beef shipments have skyrocketed in recent years, fuelled especially by demand in China, helping the South American nation boost beef exports to $3 billion in 2019. The European Union accounted for 9% of beef exports.

However, according to reports by Reuters the coronavirus pandemic has arrested the market, clogging global trade and hurting demand in a hit to Argentina.

China, where the coronavirus outbreak first appeared, has been in lockdown since the start of the year with strict quarantine measures that have hit the food service sector and prompted beef demand to plunge.

Argentine meat industry officials said the market in Europe, now at the centre of the pandemic, had seen demand collapse even harder, basically paralyzing exports to the region that normally buys pricier cuts of the South American countrys beef.

In Europe practically all restaurants are closed because they are in quarantine and beef in Europe is basically consumed in restaurants, said Miguel Schiariti, director of the Argentine Chamber of Meat Industry and Commerce (CICCRA).

Importers said stop, dont send me any more.

It comes as Meat Industry Ireland said Irish processors, particularly in beef and lamb, are under pressure to maintain throughput levels given the loss of the important food service market channel.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is causing serious devaluation of finished livestock prices as key market channels and certain EU markets are effectively closed and the mix of sales through retail outlets is skewed heavily towards lower value cuts.

"MII has communicated these market issues to all the stakeholders and to the Government. While traditional market supports (intervention and APS) may not work in this case, other forms of support must be brought forward by the European Commission without delay, it said.

ICMSA has called for beef imports from outside the EU should be suspended immediately as they specifically target the steak market which is under most pressure at this time in the absence of a food service market, said the Livestock Committee Chairperson.

Mr Morrison said that such a suspension is justified based on the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in and the imperative to protect our own beef sector from this temporary shock until such time as the EU beef market returns to stability.

Profitability in the beef sector is already extremely low and the EU Commission must immediately deliver market measures and action that provides farmers with a level of confidence required to continue to produce high quality sustainable beef, concluded Mr. Morrison.
Fourteen frontline workers in Central China's Hubei Province, including "whistleblower" doctor Li Wenliang, were identified as martyrs

Beijing: China will observe a national day of mourning on Saturday for martyrs, including the "whistleblower" doctor Li Wenliang, who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and the over 3,300 people who died of the COVID-19 in the country.

During the commemoration, national flags will fly at half-mast across the country and in all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and public recreational activities will be suspended across the country, official media reported on Friday.

Fourteen frontline workers in Central China's Hubei Province, including "whistleblower" doctor Li Wenliang, were identified as martyrs on Thursday for sacrificing their lives in combating the COVID-19 outbreak.

The first group of martyrs includes 12 medics, one police officer and one community worker who fought on the frontlines.

Li Wenliang, 34, an ophthalmologist was one of the eight "whistleblowers" who tried to warn other medical workers of the novel coronavirus outbreak but was reprimanded by the local police. He died on February 7 after contracting COVID-19.

The national mourning day will be observed to express the nation's deep sorrow for the deaths of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the COVID-19 and people who died because of the outbreak, state-run Global Times reported.

Chinese officials earlier said that over 3,000 medical personnel contracted the disease.

According to official reports, 10 medical staff, including doctors, died of the disease.

Saturday also marks China's Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.

It is a tradition for the Chinese people to pay respect to their ancestors, deceased family members and national heroes and martyrs on the day of the festival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, through a video message, urged the citizens of India to switch off all lights in the house for nine minutes on April 5 at 9 PM and light candles and diyas. B-town, in response, took to social media and applauded the gesture.

"On April 5, Sunday, at 9 pm, I want your 9 minutes. At 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your homes and light diyas or candles," PM Modi had stated in the video.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta praised PM by sharing the link to a video of the song 'Diya Jalao Jagmag'. He also tweeted, "Homage to our PM Narendra Modi." On the other hand, actress Taapsee Pannu reacted to PM's video message in an unusual way, she wrote, "New task is here ! Yay yay yayy !!!"

Rangoli Chandel tweeted, "Lighting Diyas is a very good gesture, diya creates an ethereal aura which is very calming and effective, to show each other our support let's do this, I love how @narendramodi ji also focuses on our emotional needs and tries to heal us in every way .... Jai Shri Ram..." and followed the post with another tweet praising PM Nadrenda Modi.

"very fortunate to have a leader like @narendramodi ji,after today's PM speech I am very confident we will win the fight against Corona, let's all light diyas Sunday 9pm,to mark our togetherness and love for each other and this nation, anti national ki phat chuki hai, ignore them," Rangoli added.

Prasoon Joshi took to his social media in support of the initiative and dedicated his own poem talking about the importance of the gesture. He tweeted, "Let's support PM @narendramodi's call to fight the darkness of disease and despair by igniting the light of hope in us. Dedicating my poem to this cause #IndiaFightsCorona"

Lets support PM @narendramodis call to fight the darkness of disease and despair by igniting the light of hope in us.Dedicating my poem to this cause #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/vGxInHJTu1  Prasoon Joshi (@prasoonjoshi_) April 3, 2020

The novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has infected over 2,000 people in the country and killed more than 50 with the number only growing by the day.

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Shares of ITC jumped almost 10 percent in intraday trade on BSE on April 3 after reports emerged that the company was looking to acquire spice maker Sunrise Food.

ITC, however, in a BSE filing on April 2 denied any such development.

"We would like to inform that the company has not entered into an exclusivity agreement for the acquisition of Sunrise Foods Private Limited," the regulatory filing by ITC said.

Meanwhile, Dominos Pizza, in partnership with ITC Foods, has launched Dominos Essentials.

Jubilant FoodWorks, in a BSE filing on April 2 said the delivery infrastructure of Dominos will be leveraged to help customers order everyday grocery essentials offered by ITC Foods, Indias most trusted packaged staple brand.

"This first-of-its-kind, unique partnership between a QSR and an FMCG company is aimed at serving the community at large by ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential items without them having to step outside the safety of their homes," the BSE filing by Jubilant said.

As per the filing, a combo pack of Aashirvaad Atta and Spices including chili, coriander and turmeric powder will be available on Dominos app starting today. This service will be available for consumers first in Bengaluru and then in the cities of Noida, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Shares of ITC traded 6.76 percent up at Rs 177.60 while those of Jubilant FoodWorks were 6.03 percent down at Rs 1,300 on BSE around 14:10 hours.
The figures are frightening.

Across the globe, the number of reported confirmed cases of the coronavirus is always higher than the day before, topping 1 million as of April 2.

But what if the true numbers are actually even higher?

Experts say data -- and how it is reported, or not reported -- can give us an incomplete portrait of the problem.

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

Testing, or lack thereof, is one of the main reasons the true scale of the pandemic is unknown. And that may not be the fault of governments. Many of those infected show no symptoms and thus are not candidates for testing.

But there may be other problems with the data -- namely, that some governments may be distorting figures to understate the scale of the problem in their respective countries.

U.S. media reported on April 1 that U.S. officials believe China has concealed the extent of the coronavirus outbreak in its country, with officials calling China's numbers "fake."

Like China, Iran has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. And like Beijing, Tehran is also suspected of tampering with its numbers to distort the situation there.

Questions have also been raised by Russia's relatively low numbers as well.

While some governments minimize the problem at home, they may be behind efforts to maximize the scale of the pandemic elsewhere.

An EU watchdog tracking fake news said on April 1 that pro-Kremlin sources on social media were promoting a narrative that the European Union is failing to deal with the pandemic and is on the verge of collapse.

The more testing, the more likely countries will be able to curb the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization.

Data from the United States shows the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rising sharply as testing has improved.

But does that mean infections are rising? Not necessarily. Experts say more testing could explain, at least in part, the higher number.

As The Atlantic magazine put it in an article published on March 26:

"Is the U.S. currently experiencing rapid growth in coronavirus cases, or rapid growth in coronavirus testing, or both? The answer should sound familiar: We don't know yet, and it will be a while before we do."

While the United States has ramped up testing, India has taken a different tack.

New Delhi has refused to expand coronavirus testing, despite criticism that limited testing could leave COVID-19 cases undetected in the world's second-most populous country.

As Al-Jazeera reported on March 18, Indian officials have said the WHO guidance on more testing didn't apply in India because the spread of the virus was less severe there than elsewhere.

RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.

Balaram Bharghava, who heads the Indian Council of Medical Research, said more testing would only create "more fear, more paranoia, and more hype."

As of April 3, India -- a country of nearly 1.4 billion people -- had just over 2,500 reported confirmed coronavirus cases and 72 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Silent Spreaders

But even if governments have the means and are eager to test, it may not always be clear whom should be tested.

That's because not everyone reacts the same way to the coronavirus.

Jarmila Razova, the Czech Republic's head hygienist, told Czech media on April 2 that up to 40 percent of people infected with the coronavirus may show no symptoms at all.

These so-called silent spreaders are feared to be fueling the coronavirus pandemic.

"Stealth transmission" is not only real but a "major driver" of the epidemic, said Columbia University infectious diseases researcher Jeffrey Shaman, who led a study published on March 16 in the journal Science. Its contribution to the virus's spread "is substantially undetected, and it's flying below the radar."

But even when the data may be as close as possible to giving a true picture of the coronavirus problem, some governments may be opting to distort it.

China, where the outbreak began in late December, has reported only about 82,000 cases and 3,300 deaths as of April 3, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

By comparison, the United States has reported more than 245,000 cases and more than 6,000 deaths as of April 3.

Doubts that the Chinese numbers are accurate have been fueled in part by stacks of thousands of urns outside funeral homes in Hubei Province, where the coronavirus was first detected.

U.S. intelligence concluded in a classified report that was handed over to the White house that China covered up the true extent of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on April 1.

U.S. officials refused to disclose details of the report, saying only, according to a Bloomberg report, that "China's public reporting on cases and deaths is intentionally incomplete."

In the Middle East, no country has been harder hit than Iran. The Islamic republic has reported more than 50,000 cases and more than 3,100 deaths as of April 3, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. However, many suspect the numbers being reported by Iran, notorious for its censorship and lack of transparency, are low.

Since the start of the crisis, members of parliament and local officials in some of the major centers of the coronavirus in the country have said the real number of dead and those infected is being grossly understated by the clerical regime that rules Iran.

Satellite images from mid-March appeared to show mass graves being dug in the area around the city of Qom, where the country's outbreak is believed to have begun.

Faulty Russian Testing Tool?

With a population of over 144 million, Russia has reported some 3,500 confirmed cases and just 30 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

While Russia has been lauded for carrying out testing early and on a relatively large scale, some experts say the low numbers may be explained in part by the testing tool developed by a state-funded laboratory in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, known by its shorthand name Vektor.

A Russian science blog called PCR News, which said it had reviewed the specific protocols of the lab's test, said it only detects the virus if it is over a certain threshold in a sample. The test also appeared to give a higher than expected number of "false positives."

On March 23, Moscow's coronavirus task force said the testing protocol would be changed, but it is unclear if the move will win over skeptics.

Within Russia itself, the Kremlin has moved to shut down domestic naysayers, accusing them of spreading disinformation on social media.

In early March, Russia's Federal Security Service and Internet watchdog moved to take down a viral post claiming the real number of coronavirus cases had reached 20,000 and that the Russian government was covering it up.

Shortly after the move, Facebook and Instagram users in Russia started to see coronavirus awareness alerts linking to Rospotrebnadzor's official website.

While the Kremlin has been quick to downplay crisis at home, it appears eager to promote it abroad.

According to an analysis released on April 1 by the EU's East StratCom Task Force, "claims that the EU is disintegrating in the face of COVID-19 are trending on social media in all analyzed regions," including EU states and Eastern Europe.

It also said RT and Sputnik -- Kremlin-funded media -- were peddling conspiracy theories that the virus was man-made or intentionally spread, while portraying Russia and China as "responsible powers."
Peoples basic health is at stake here ... and my philosophy has always been you meet people where they are, so obviously with COVID and whats happening now, there are incredible needs popping up, Dozier said. Its food today, but who knows what it will be like in four weeks, six weeks and three months from now, so I think its Chicago Beyonds responsibility to be keep our ears to the ground and make sure were doing whatever we can with whatever is in our power to meet those needs.
Salam Khashan is acutely aware of the devastation a coronavirus outbreak would wreak on the Gaza Strip. Since the 25-mile long Palestinian territory confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases on March 22, the 29-year-old family doctor and her colleagues have been preparing for a large-scale outbreak of the highly infectious virus in one of the worlds most densely populated and impoverished places.

At the Nasser medical complex in Khan Yunis where Khashan works, local positive cases would activate a new staff rotation system, with doctors working 14-day shifts, followed by 14 days in quarantinethe viruss incubation periodbefore being allowed to return home. New triage centers have been set up to receive ambulances and determine which patients need hospitalization. And a planned shift towards teleconsultations will soon allow Khashan to conduct some appointments remotely.

But in a territory where mains electricity is often available for less than half the day, and where there are fewer than 100 ventilators to serve a population of around 2 million people, Khashan acknowledges that no amount of preparation will be sufficient. We dont have enough hospitals, or ICU beds, or mechanical ventilators. I understand those facts, she tells TIME by phone on March 31. If we have a positive case in the community, it will be a disaster.

Gazas health system is already overstretched, already at its limit, says Ignacio Casares, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sub-delegation to Gaza. It is unable to absorb the impact of an aggressive pandemic like COVID-19. The critical shortage of test kits, ventilators, drugs, and medical consumables, heap pressure on Gazas densely packed population, he says, with those in refugee camps (run by UNRWA, the main U.N. agency providing aid to Palestinian refugees) especially at risk from COVID-19. In Israel, which pulled out of Gaza in 2005 but retains responsibilities for the 140-square mile enclave under international law, senior security officials have warned that a local coronavirus outbreak would constitute a god-help-us scenario.

Story continues

Despite the dire projections, that scenario is yet to arrive. As of April 3, Gaza had recorded only 12 COVID-19 infections: far fewer than Israel, which has in excess of 6,800 cases, or the 750-plus cases in neighboring Egypt, whose authorities have been accused of grossly underestimating infection rates.

Experts say such underreporting is unlikely in Gaza. The dozen Gazans diagnosed with COVID-19 were all either recent returnees from abroad already in isolation when they were diagnosed, or members of security forces staying with those returnees at quarantine centers.

While its impossible to entirely rule out undetected infections in the wider community, rigorous contact tracing means the number of positive cases we are seeing right now might give us the right picture, says Gerald Rockenschaub, Head of the World Health Organizations office for the occupied Palestinian territory.

Such a low case rate is a function of Gazas isolation. In 2007, after the militant group Hamas violently expelled the Palestinian Authority from the Strip, Israel and Egypt imposed an air, land, and sea blockade that for almost 13 years has restricted the movement of people and goods in and out of the territory.

Israel says the restrictions it places on an exhaustive list of dual-use itemswhose contents range from chemical fertilizers, to aluminum poles, to steel cables, to water skisare necessary for maintaining security against a hostile military group that frequently launches missile barrages across its borders. But critics of the policywhich has at times restricted goods as quotidian as cilantroinsist it has transformed Gaza into the worlds largest open-air prison.

For now, an instrument the U.N.s Human Rights Council says is being used for collective punishment is Gazas principal bulwark against the coronavirus. The irony is not lost on Khashan. For the first time in our lives, the blockade gives us an advantage, she says. Still, the poverty it has exacerbated makes it difficult for her to convince patients to stay at home: If people do that, maybe they can escape the coronavirus, but they cant escape the lack of supplies or the lack of food.

Palestinian artists draw a mural during awareness campaign about the coronavirus COVID-19, in Gaza on April 2,2020. | Majdi FathiNurPhoto/ Getty Images

Israels leadership and the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers the occupied West Bank, both moved rapidly to contain the novel coronavirus, which as of April 3 had killed 37 people in Israel and one person in the West Bank.

Israels embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the first world leaders to implement mandatory quarantining for all arrivals. And after the discovery of COVID-19 cases in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the PA also moved quickly to impose a lockdown. Israel and the PA established a joint command center to manage the crisis, and the U.N.s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has praised Israels and the Ramallah-based Palestinian leaderships cooperation as excellent. Hamass relationship to Israel, however, appeared to remain business as usual. Despite the pandemic inducing a lull in violence, Gaza-based militants in March fired rockets into Israel, prompting retaliation from the Israel Defense Force.

Yet no amount of preparation could prevent the pandemic from battering Israel economically. Around a quarter of Israelis are now out of work, up from about 5% at the end of 2019, Joshua Krasna, a former Israeli diplomat tells TIME. Polling by the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute suggests that two-thirds of Israelis are now worried about their economic future, with Arab-Israeliswho constitute a disproportionate number of those in povertythe most concerned.

While no such surveys exist in Gaza, economic anxiety is widespread. Even before the pandemic, about half of Gazas population was living in poverty, including some 400,000 children. When rare protests against Hamas erupted last year, demonstrators held aloft placards bearing slogans such as revolt of the hungry. and Gazas weekly March of the Return demonstrations along Israels borderat which Palestinians demanded the right to return to their ancestors homeshave also highlighted the strips dire economic conditions.

Those conditions have contributed to a healthcare system woefully underprepared for a pandemic. In addition to the paucity of ventilators and other medical equipment, Gaza has only around 120 ICU beds, says ICRCs Casaresand most are already occupied by non-COVID-19 patients. We are asking the UN and the international community to give us immediate support, including ventilators and intensive care equipment to deal with the epidemic, Gazas Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra told a press briefing on March 24.

In the past, much of the funding supplied to the UN agency that supports the Palestinians came from the U.S. But those funds have dried up under President Trumps White House. Cutting financing to UNRWA is only one of several long-held U.S. positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Trump has reversed. In January, he released his son-in-law and special advisor Jared Kushners long-delayed Middle East Peace Plan, which greenlights Israels annexation of swathes of West Bank territory.

Although the U.S. Congress last year allocated $75 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in 2020, the White House has not allowed that aid to be delivered, despite the pandemic. On March 27, a group of Democratic Senators wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that providing coronavirus relief to Gaza and the West Bank would not only be in the interest of the Palestinian people but also in the national security interest of the United States as well as that of our ally Israel.

But Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, tells TIME there is little chance of the Trump administration reversing course on aid to the Palestinians, despite the prospect of high numbers of COVID-19 related deaths.

When Ive spoken to administration officials, theyve argued that the Palestinians are responsible for their own conditions and the opportunities are there for the Palestinians to ameliorate their own conditions, by cooperating politically with Israel and Washington, he says. I have continuously heard Israeli and U.S. officials reject responsibly for Palestinian suffering and put the blame on the Palestinian leadership, adds Alterman, a former State Department official.

The WHOs Rockenschaub tells TIME that we see very positive cooperation from the Israeli side in terms of facilitating the entry of essential supplies into Gaza. But as recently as February, the WHO had officially accused Israel of obstructing Palestinians access to vital medicine. On April 1, Israels hawkish Defense Minister Naftali Bennet linked future support for Gazas coronavirus mitigation efforts to the recovery of two Israeli soldiers lost during the 2014 war, Reuters reports.

Unless shes asked directly, Dr. Khashan does not tell her patients about the dire lack of ICU beds, ventilators, personal protective equipment, and medication in Gaza.

In consultations, the family doctor advises her patients to focus on things we can control, like washing of hands, not touching your face, and social distancing. In houses where water and electricity are erratic, shared by up to 13 relatives, such advice can be difficult to implement. But you have to do what you can, Khashan tells her patients. You have to deal with what you have.

Braced for a coronavirus outbreak in a system ill-equipped to contain it, its also a principle with which she also abides. I have many choices. One of them is to worry and to cry, Khashan says. At the same time, I have the choice to stand up and work and do my best. And thats what Im going to do.

With reporting by Kimberly Dozier / Washington D.C.
Telangana Chief Minister K



Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday urged people in the state to light lamps at 9 PM on April5 as sought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to display collective spirit in the fight against the coronavirus.

People should light lamps to express solidarity and unity and make the event a success, a release from his office quoted him as saying.

Modi in a video message asked people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat coronavirus.

Meanwhile, state Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan attended a video conference held by President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu with Governors of states and Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of union territories.

Kovind and Naidu discussed ways to contribute to the measures taken by the Centre and state governments in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, according to an official release.

In a report, the Governor informed that Epidemic Disease Act has been invoked in the state since March 20.

She said 26,586 people who have history of foreign travel and their contacts were placed in home quarantine.A total of 19,364 have completed the home quarantine till date.

By April 7, all others would complete the home quarantine, part of the protocol to check the spread of coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iraq's PMU warns Trump not to take any hostile action against Iraqis, resistance groups

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 5:56 PM

Iraq's Kata'ib Hezbollah resistance group, which is part of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), has warned US President Donald Trump about taking any hostile measures against the Iraqi nation and resistance groups.

In a statement on Thursday, Kata'ib Hezbollah said providing that all American troops in Iraq kept withdrawing from the Arab country until the last soldier, no attack would be launched by the resistance group against them.

The resistance group also strongly warned Trump not to get "involved in any aggressive action" against the Iraqi people and the "sacrificing" resistance groups.

"At a time when the world is facing the danger of the coronavirus pandemic, and the United Nations and humanitarian organizations are stressing the necessity of halting the wars waged by the forces of arrogance in the world; so that nations can combat this imminent danger, stupid Trump or one of his underlings threatens the resistance groups in Iraq, particularly the Kata'ib Hezbollah, with impudent remarks almost on a daily basis," the statement added.

The group also emphasized the pure patriotic nature of its resistance, stressing that it is not influenced by any foreign country, rejecting US allegations that the group is supported by neighboring Iran.

The development came just a few days after US-led coalition forces withdrew from K1 Air Base, which lies 15 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of Kirkuk, and submitted it to Iraqi forces during a

ceremony.

The coalition has already said that the transfer of US-led military forces had nothing to do with the missile attacks against Iraqi bases hosting the coalition forces, or the outbreak of COVID-19.

The disease, caused by a new coronavirus, jumped from wildlife to people in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and is currently affecting 204 countries and territories across the globe. It has so far affected more than 996,910 people and killed over 50,970.

Official figures by Iraq's health ministry show that as of Thursday, 772 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Arab country and 54 others have died so far.

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New Delhi, April 3 : Indian Army medical teams were rushed to the quarantine centre in Delhi's Narela area on Friday where some of the Covid-19 positive Tablighi Jamaat workers are being kept. This the first time the army has been deployed to assist the civil administration in Delhi in the fight against coronavirus.

During a review meeting on April 1 over preparedness to combat Covid-19, army chief, Gen M.M. Naravane had also informed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that more than 8,500 doctors and support staff are available to extend necessary assistance to the civil administration.

In Narela, the unoccupied Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flats were converted into quarantine centres last month after Indians were repatriated from various nations as coronavirus spread.

Two medical teams with support staff were rushed to Narela after the authorities looking after the quarantine centre made a requisition to the Ministry of Defence. "With the medical team and support staff, a small protective group of soldiers also went to the centre for logistic support. It is done as per standard operating procedure," said army sources.

Sources said that Covid-19 positive Tablighi Jamaat workers, who are quarantined at the centre, are also creating problems over which they are now counselled regularly about the deadly virus.

So far, now six quarantine facilities at Mumbai, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai are being run by the armed forces. A total of 1,737 persons have been handled, of which 403 have been released and balance are still in quarantine.

In addition, 15 other facilities catering to a total of approximately 7,000 capacity are being kept ready as standby for use, if required.

Out of these, six army facilities at Babina, Jhansi, Barmer, Bhopal, Kolkata and Binnaguri on standby, as well as six Indian Air Force facilities at Bhatinda, Hyderabad, Deolali, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Agra, and three Indian Navy facilities at Vizag, Kochi and Chilka.

"Dedicated Covid facilities including High Dependency Units (scaled-down version of an ICU) and ICUs are being prepared in approximately 51 Armed Forces hospitals across the length and breadth of the country," the army said.

To assist in the transportation of essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment within the country, the IAF's transport fleet is being used, and so far, approximately 60 tonnes of stores have been airlifted to various parts of the country. As many as 30 fixed-wing aircraft and 28 helicopters are on standby.

Viral Testing Labs at Armed Forces hospitals located at Udhampur, Lucknow, New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru have been activated as part of the national viral testing grid, while all armed Forces units at the local level are coordinating with civilian authorities to enhance COVID preparedness levels.

A medical team of five doctors, two nursing officers and seven paramedics were deployed in the Maldives from March 13 to March 21, 2020. The team was basically deployed in an advisory role to assist the Male government to set up its domestic Covid protection measures.

Six Naval ships loaded with medical teams and HADR storess are kept on standby for assistance at Vizag, Kochi and Mumbai to respond any requests from littoral neighbouring countries like Maldives, Srilanka and Bangladesh.

"Five medical teams are standby for deployed in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan," the armed forces added.
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 08:27 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f65de2 1 National COVID-19-Jakarta,COVID-19,risalah-jakarta,community,Jokowi,Joko-Widodo Free

Community forum Risalah Jakarta has urged President Joko Jokowi Widodo to improve health facilities and impose a strict territorial quarantine as COVID-19 cases continue to climb.

Risalah Jakarta includes religious leaders, activists, academics and cultural figures in Jakarta. The forum was initiated by former Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin and has been facilitated by the ministry since 2018.

Alissa Wahid, who is a moderator of the forum, said the government should focus on building more emergency hospitals at both the central and regional levels.

If necessary, prepare field hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients with mild infections. Allow hospitals that have stated their readiness to conduct rapid tests and accelerate the acquisition of test results, Alissa said in a press release on Thursday.

She added that the ongoing health crisis was an extraordinary circumstance and the result of a serious and infectious disease, as reflected by the declaration of a public health emergency, so it required a strict restriction policy.

Consider the proposed territorial quarantine policy to the extent that is required by the urgency of the situation, duration, geographical coverage and scope. Simplify government licensing for the need to act fast, she said.

Alissa thought the social distancing policy and the appeal to stay at home had not reached their goal and that the government needed to increase the communitys sensitivity to the crisis.

Read also: Governor Anies calls for greater authority to handle COVID-19 epicenter

The 2018 Health Quarantine Law stipulated four quarantine measures: home quarantine, hospital quarantine, territorial quarantine and large-scale social distancing.

President Jokowi declared a COVID-19 public health emergency on Tuesday. He also decided to impose large-scale social distancing measures using powers established by the health quarantine law.

On the same day, Risalah Jakarta sent an open letter to the President, urging him to improve parts of the pandemic response, including medical facilities and equipment, social security and the legal compliance of all parties during the crisis.

Member Usman Hamid, who is also the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, stressed the importance of social security in times of social restriction.

It will adversely affect the right of people to work, especially citizens who have unstable jobs, those with low incomes or informal workers, who are affected disproportionately, said Usman.

He said companies, except those in health care and other essential sectors, should allow employees to work from home, but the government needed to ensure all affected citizens had enough access to social security.

Risalah Jakarta called on the government to cooperate with agencies dealing with COVID-19 in other countries and allow intervention in areas that were significantly affected and had the potential to spread the disease.

The forum also asked Indonesia to learn from other countries experiences to carry out protocols and procurement precisely, quickly and on a large scale.

As of Thursday, Indonesian health authorities had confirmed 1,790 cases of COVID-19 with 170 fatalities across 32 provinces.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday urged people to strictly maintain social distancing amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.

On Friday, the state government reported four new cases of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, taking the total tally to 57. Of them, 38 were described as active cases, as 12 have recovered and seven died. The government, however, suspects that four of the seven Covid-19 deaths were due to co-morbidity.

The Covid-19 infection spreads among family members. Weve come across one case in which 10 people in a family have tested Covid-19 positive. There are other cases, including the one in which five members of a family have tested Covid-19 positive. Im urging everybody to protect yourself in a bid to save your family members and loved ones, Banerjee said while addressing the media on Friday.

The CM also expressed concerns over incidents that some people were objecting to setting up of Covid-19 hospitals in their localities.

Were not mixing Covid-19 cases with other patients. Were setting up hospitals in every district exclusively for novel coronavirus. But some people are objecting to our move. Some are even objecting to the cremation of the dead. I urge you not to do this. I remind you that under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, the government is the final authority to decide on such matters, Banerjee said.

She urged people not to panic, assuring that most patients recover. Except for those who are suffering from other bronchial or kidney ailments, most of those who test positive for Covid-19 recover, she said.

Of the total 5,110 people who have been quarantined in government-run centres, 3,218 have been released, the government said. Of the 54,965 people asked to be quarantined at home, 2,936 are released, it added.
After his plane brought 1.2 million medical masks from China back to the United States, Thursday, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he was glad to be part of the effort to fight the coronavirus.

We want to give hope and good cheer at this time that were all banding together and trying to do whats right and put anyones selfish interests to the side and come together to help one another, Kraft said on NBC 10 Boston Thursday.

The Patriots team plane departed early Wednesday morning from Shenzen, China, where it picked up 1.2 million N95 face masks to bring to the United States for use in Massachusetts and New York according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. About half a million pieces of PPE didnt fit on the plane, so another shipment will be made, according to the WSJ.

Speaking to Krafts son Jonathan, Governor Charlie Baker praised their familys efforts.

Jonathan Honestly, we cant thank you, your dad and your family enough for answering the call and helping make this happen, Baker said. And for the many, many dedicated frontline workers across this state who are battling COVID-19 on behalf of the people in Massachusetts every single day. This gear will make an enormous difference. Keeping our frontline workers safe is critical not just to the success of our efforts to fight this virus but to the commitment that I know we all here in the commonwealth want to make to honor the commitment they make to all of us and our family members as they serve on the front line."

Related content:

Coronavirus response: After Patriots plane with medical supplies arrives in Boston, Gov. Charlie Baker says Our job now is to protect each other

Coronavirus response: New England Patriots airplane ships 1.2 million face masks from China to US
G ordon Ramsays hairdo raised eyebrows during the first episode of Gordon, Gino & Fred: American Road Trip last night.

Ramsay was in Mexico with Gino DAcampo and Fred Sirieix for the first leg of their American Road Trip, where they chased tequila, chilli and stopped off to eat the best breakfast in the world.

During the trip, Ramsay tried his hand at spearfishing, and after a dip in the water, his hair took on a new look - which was ruthlessly mocked by his mates.

While slicing the fish hed caught, DAcampo and Sirieix took a swipe at the 53-year-old celebrity chefs hair, which was now pushed forward in a fringe rather than his normally quiffed style.

I cannot take him seriously with his hair like that, said DAcampo.

No me neither  its like S Club 7, Sirieix added.

ITV

Ramsay laughed it off, saying: Ive just come out of the water!

The trio were in Mexico for the first leg of their American Road Trip, which will see them head up into California, across to Las Vegas in Nevada and back down to Texas.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in pictures 1 /5 Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in pictures Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in pictures Cornish skate Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in pictures Cornish turbot Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in pictures Dining Room Gordon Ramsay Holdings Ltd Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in pictures

Last nights episode also included the terrifying racing accident that occurred while the trio were filming in Mexico.

DAcampos vehicle crashed while racing Ramsay on the Baja 400 track.

"I was going 70 or 80 miles an hour, and when I hit it I thought, 'This is over now. I'm going to die'," DAcampo said in March of the incident.

"The thing that scared me the most is that my fuel tank burst and I had petrol all over me."
Back when the Affordable Care Act was in its early days, Republican governors who opposed the law often referred to as Obamacare found several ways to distance themselves.

The most obvious method was to reject Medicaid expansion, an option that wasnt written into the law itself but granted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Then-Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal did just that, in the process depriving his constituents of coverage for which the federal government would have picked up most of the tab. Once he took office, Gov. John Bel Edwards reversed course. That allowed nearly half a million lower-income Louisianans to get health coverage, and will surely help many more caught in the coronavirus shutdown.

There was another choice that many of them, including Jindal, made, and it was to rely on the federal private insurance marketplace rather than set up their own. Ironically, this decision put Louisianans seeking subsidized coverage in the federal governments hands, but it was seen as a way for governors to signal that they wanted no part of implementing the new law.

As with Medicaid expansion, the coronaviruss economic and health implications are shining a spotlight on these decisions.

A number of states that set up their own exchanges have loosened the rules since the start of the pandemic, thus allowing people whove lost employer-based insurance or didnt have it to begin with to get insurance. But President Donald Trump decided this week not to do so for states, including Louisiana, on the federal exchanges.

People whove lost employer coverage can apply anyway, although theyll need to have the right paperwork. But the administration is making it more cumbersome for them, and keeping others who might want to sign up from doing so at all.

This despite the fact that opening up the exchanges has support from the insurance industry, some major medical groups and politicians of both parties. In fact, five governors of states that use the federal exchanges, including two Republicans, had asked the administration to declare a special enrollment period.

Edwards isnt one of them, but his administration would support such a move, spokeswoman Christina Stephens said.

In general the governor supports efforts that bring more people health care coverage, she said.

The real question is why the president doesnt.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 19:54:52|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, plants a tree during a voluntary tree-planting activity in Daxing District in Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2020. The activity was also attended by other leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Friday joined Beijingers to plant trees and urged efforts to respect and protect nature and promote harmony between humans and nature.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while attending a voluntary tree-planting activity in the Chinese capital's southern district of Daxing.

"We plant trees together as a concrete action to boost the economic and social progress and the expedited return to normal work and life," Xi said, noting that the situation of epidemic control in China is continuously turning for the better.

The activity was also attended by other leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan.

While planting saplings of different types of trees, Xi talked to the officials and people on-site, pointing out that afforestation has been a fine tradition of the Chinese nation since ancient times.

Ecological advancement has been brought into the country's five-sphere integrated plan since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 and large-scale afforestation has thus been stepped up, Xi said.

China has seen its forest resources continuously increasing and its area of desertified land declining, making important contributions to the climate change response and global ecological governance, Xi said.

Underscoring the need to adhere to the principle of people-centered development, Xi called for planting trees for the people, thus bringing benefits to them.

He also stressed that citizens bear legal obligations to support afforestation and forest protection.

Speaking to community workers participating in the activity, Xi said as work resumption picked up pace, communities must not drop their guard in preventing the spread of the coronavirus and should make it their main task to guarantee residents' safety and health.
[Read our Coronavirus Relief Small Business F.A.Q.]

The frenzy began even before most banks opened. By 9 a.m. on Friday, banks had already processed 700 loans totaling $2.5 million for small businesses as the spigot opened on a federal emergency relief program. But that was just the beginning. By early afternoon that number had ballooned to $1.8 billion. And by evening it was $3.2 billion in loans that will go to more than 10,000 small businesses desperate to save themselves.

It was all part of a scramble by small businesses around the country to stay alive by grabbing a piece of a Treasury Department program to pump $349 billion into the sputtering U.S. economy. Small businesses, which employ nearly half of Americas private-sector workers, are hemorrhaging, and the loans are meant to help them retain employees or rehire those they let go because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But business owners found that applying for the money was harder than they had anticipated. Lenders had received guidance from the Treasury Department only the night before, just hours before they were to start making loans. On top of that, banks imposed their own rules on which businesses could and couldnt borrow. And many lenders, including JPMorgan Chase, the nations largest, didnt have their websites ready for borrowers until later Friday.

For small-business owners, many of whom have run out of cash to pay salaries and rent, time was everything. Fearful that the money will run out  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the loans would be on a first-come, first-served basis  they flooded banks with calls and emails as they tried to get to the front of the line.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Xi stressed that in face of the severe pandemic, China and Indonesia have been supporting each other, which has demonstrated the profound friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between the two countries.

BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China stands ready to support and assist Indonesia in overcoming the current challenge of the COVID-19 epidemic.

In a phone conversation with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, Xi noted that the coronavirus disease is breaking out in multiple countries and regions, including Indonesia. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he extended sincere sympathies to their Indonesian counterparts.

After a strenuous struggle, the Chinese people have walked out of the most difficult period, Xi said, adding that China identifies with Indonesia's difficulties and is willing to offer help.

China, said the president, is confident that under the leadership of Widodo, Indonesia will prevail over the epidemic.

Xi stressed that in face of the severe pandemic, China and Indonesia have been supporting each other, which has demonstrated the profound friendship of sharing weal and woe and helping each other between the two countries.

People attend an event to show their support to the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the once epicenter of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, Xi said China is willing to work with Indonesia to continuously deepen cooperation in building the Belt and Road and push forward the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The epidemic is a common challenge for all mankind, and only by fostering strong synergy can the international community defeat the enemy, stressed the president.

China and Indonesia, he suggested, should cooperate closely to push the Group of 20 major economies and the international community to play their roles in crisis response and global economic governance.

China will uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, share its experience and provide as much support as it can for the global battle against COVID-19, and work with other countries to promote the development of global public health and build a community of common health for mankind, he added.

Officers of Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) and Indonesian customs receive medical supplies provided by China at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 26, 2020.(Xinhua/Du Yu)

For his part, Widodo said that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese people have scored important achievements in fighting the epidemic, from which the world can learn.

He expressed gratitude to China for its material assistance and valuable support for Indonesia's fight against the outbreak, saying that China's help is very important to Indonesia.

Viruses know no borders and stand as a common enemy of mankind, Widodo said, stressing that Indonesia is firmly opposed to any act of stigmatization and is ready to work with China to strengthen international solidarity and cooperation.

Indonesia, he added, looks forward to working with China to deepen cooperation and push forward the development of bilateral relations.
Delhi Police have arrested a PhD scholar from Jamia Millia Islamia in connection with a case of rioting and criminal conspiracy linked to the February riots in north-east Delhi, officers with knowledge of the development said.

Joint commissioner of police (special cell) Neeraj Thakur confirmed Wednesdays arrest of the scholar, Meeran Haider, but did not disclose details.

The suspects alleged involvement in the conspiracy to instigate the riots, funding the violence and the agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Shaheen Bagh is also being probed, the officers cited above said, requesting anonymity..

At least 53 people were killed and more than 400 injured in the February 23-25 rioting in north-east Delhi that started as clashes between supporters and opponents of the CAA before acquiring a communal colour. Shaheen Bagh was the venue of an anti-CAA sit-in protest in December. A senior police officer, one of two cited in the first instance, said Haider was president of the Delhi unit of the Bihar-based Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)s youth wing, Chhatra RJD. Haider is being interrogated at the special cells Lodhi Colony office.

Haider, a resident of Jamia Nagar, was served a notice on March 31, asking him to join the probe in the case that was registered by the crime branch after the riots. He Haider was asked to reach the special cells Lodhi Colony office at 10am on Wednesday.

We arrested Haider as we have evidence to prove the charges against him. His role in funding the riots and anti-CAA protests is being probed, the officer said. The Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) alleged that Haider was called for interrogation by the Delhi Polices special cell on Wednesday. Yesterday around 10pm, men in uniform had approached his residence enquiring about him. He was taken into custody around 10.30pm. The JCC demands that he must be released as charges against him are baseless, the committee said.

The University administration said it had not been informed about the incident by the police and declined to comment further.

The JNU unit of RJD on Thursday also issued a statement demanding his release. Delhi Police had asked Meeran Haider, the president of the young RJD, Delhi, to join the investigation and then arrested him without giving any valid reason. We demand his release, the statement read.

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While many people around the world are reaching for soap, water, and antibacterial hand gel to prevent the transmission of the new coronavirus, Angelina does not have that luxury.

Her family and a neighboring family had their access to water and sewage services cut off by local authorities in January 2019. Fifteen months later, they still have no access.

All in an attempt to force them to renounce their Protestant faith.

As of April 2, Mexico had reported more than 1,500 cases of COVID-19, with 50 confirmed deaths. Just three days prior, the government announced a national health emergency, suspending non-essential activities, banning gatherings of over 50 people, and encouraging the population to stay at home for as much time as possible.

Angelina, 50, with her three adult children, lives in the central state of Hidalgo, which reports 26 confirmed cases, 3 deaths, and a further 65 suspected cases. With this number all but certain to climb in the coming days, her family and others like them lack access to one of the first lines of defense against this invisible threat.

Image: CSW

Article 4 of the Mexican constitution states: Everyone has the right to access, disposal, and treatment of water for personal and household consumption in sufficient measure, safely, acceptably, and affordably. However, this right is not enjoyed by all people. Nor is the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Mexico is currently on a monitoring list for the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), having previously been considered a Tier 2 country. Moderate and severe violations of religious freedom remain common, particularly in the states of Hidalgo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero. [Editors note: From 2015 to 2019, Open Doors even put Mexico on its World Watch List of Christian persecution, where it ranked anywhere from No. 38 to No. 41 among the 50 worst countries.]

The Mexican governments reluctance to proactively defend religious freedom is often compounded by the nations Law of Uses and Customs, which gives significant autonomy to indigenous communities to implement and maintain their own social and cultural norms.

This law is meant to be exercised in line with the human rights guarantees in the Mexican constitution; however, in practice, this is not enforced. Many local leaders in communities functioning under the law mandate uniformity of religious practice and beliefcompelling all members of the community to participate in the religious activities of the majority or face punishment.

One of the most common violations of religious freedom in Mexico is the cutting of access to basic services, including water and electricity. On January 14, 2019, authorities cut water and sewage services to two Protestant families in the primarily subsistence farming village of La Mesa Limantitla in the Hidalgo municipality of Huejutla, after Angelina and the others asked to be excused from obligatory financial contributions and community work linked to the celebration of Roman Catholic festivals and activities. Today, they are no longer recognized as members of the community and must walk half a mile to access water.

Image: CSW

In addition to depriving religious minorities of access to basic services, even education, women within these groups can be singled out for particularly harsh treatment.

In the case of La Mesa Limantitla, Angelina was simultaneously stripped of her position as the community representative for Bienstar, a government well-being program. She was systematically ostracized and left without support after the local authorities threatened to cut other community members access to basic services if they visited her during her recovery from a hysterectomy in July 2019. Angelina told CSW, a UK-based religious freedom advocacy group, that as a result, no one visited her or offered support following the operation.

Article continues below

Angelinas daughter-in-law, who was living with her as her caregiver after the surgery, was forced to return to her own home in the community because she was pregnant and could not continue without access to water and sewage services, leaving her mother isolated and alone.

Lack of access to clean water can lead to serious health issues such as malnutrition, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal disorders, creating a burden for those who are targeted as well as for those who care for the sick. The coronavirus pandemic is a real concern for many, but is of particular concern to those without basic sanitation.

Often government attempts to rectify situations such as these take the form of agreements and negotiations, which sometimes even invite further violations of freedom of religion or belief. For example, in an agreement with a community from Buenavista Bahuitz in the Chiapas municipality of Margaritas, children were forbidden from speaking about their faith and Protestants in the community were forced to pay a yearly special tax.

Reports have emerged in recent days that suggest that the government may have agreed to pay an illegal fine to restore the two families access to water. If these prove true, they highlight another concerning aspect of the reality faced by families like Angelinas: in the rare cases where the government does take action, true justice is not served; those responsible for cutting the services are not held to account for their actions, and as a result, victims remain vulnerable to it happening again.

Image: CSW

In another example, in February 2016 an agreement was reached that restored access to water and electricity for 27 Protestant families in the village of Union Juarez in the Chiapas municipality of Trinitaria. This happened just days after Pope Francis visited the state, and the case was officially settled in April 2016 after the government paid a fine of 350,000 pesos (approximately US$18,500 at the time) to the community authorities. The fine, however, was illegal, and the fact that the state paid it arguably sets a bad precedent which could be used to justify future acts of discrimination.

Mision 21 Gramos, a Chiapas-based NGO that supports vulnerable groupsprimarily those facing religious persecutionreported to CSW that a significant number of such cases in Chiapas remain open and unresolved. In a particularly striking example, approximately 31 Protestant families in the village of Mariano Matamoros in the Chiapas municipality of Venustiano Carranza, have been denied access to water, sewage, and other basic services since 2012. As a result, these families have suffered a variety of illnesses such as diarrhea, gastrointestinal diseases, parasites, and malnutrition. (According to Mision 21 Gramos, the deaths of two elderly men suffering from diabetes can be linked to some degree to this lack of access to water.)

Also in the southern state of Chiapas, 15 Protestant families in Barrios San Jose in the municipality of Teopisca have been without access to water since May 2016, and 10 Protestant families from the village of El Encanto in the municipality of Las Margaritas have been without water since November 2016.

Chiapas has reported 15 cases of COVID-19 so far. Experts say keeping your hands clean with soap and water is one of the simplest ways to prevent transmission of the new coronavirus. But for minority Protestants in communities such as these, maintaining good hygiene will be next to impossible.

Emily Featherstone is CSWs advocacy officer for Latin America. CSW is a human rights organization specializing in the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Speaking Out is Christianity Todays guest opinion column and (unlike an editorial) does not necessarily represent the opinion of the magazine.




CLEAR streets occasionally flooded by baboons and warthogs now characterise the once busy Victoria Falls central business district which has turned into a ghost town overnight.





When the outbreak of the novel coronavirus was first confirmed in China in December 2019, the town was teeming with tourists.





Four months into another year, Victoria Falls is grounded with no tourism activity and all hotels are closed.





While there is life in residential areas where people have defied Government calls to stay at home, the CBD is completely deserted as there are no tourists in town.





However, being the countrys prime destination and biggest contributor to 2,29 million annual arrivals recorded in 2019, Victoria Falls situation is critical as the towns economy is solely dependent on tourism.





About 90 percent of jobs in the town are supported by tourism with the majority of the over 30 000 workforce relying on the sector.





weeks time. Hotels closed on Tuesday after recording unprecedented zero occupancies and are planning to open after three months despite the lockdown ending in threeweeks time.





Tour operators also suspended all activities with airlines also cutting flights leaving the resort town with no visitors and source of revenue.





Curio markets, curio shops, restaurants, hotels and the Rainforest are some of the places that closed thereby grounding the whole town.





All activities ranging from helicopter flights, canoeing, bungee jumping, gorge swing, white water rafting, game drives, to village tours and tour of the Rainforest have all been suspended as there are no clients.





A day in the economy of Victoria Falls consists of a travel agent who from anywhere in the world books a tourist with a hotel.





The next thing the tourist flies or drives through the border and is welcomed by a local agent and taxi driver who take him or her to a hotel.





At the hotel the tourist is served by a reservationist before a porter leads him or her to a room and is served with food by a waiter.





There is a tour guide from an operator who is waiting to accompany the tourist for a tour on different activities after which he or she goes for shopping. The tourists also briefly stop at supermarkets to buy food stuffs or occasionally go out for dinner at different eateries dotted around town.





There is also a villager in surrounding communal areas waiting to showcase African culture through traditional food and dance among other things during village tours.





From airport to the hotel and eateries, there are traditional dance groups waiting to entice visitors with their well-choreographed traditional music and dance while all this is captured by a video and photographer who follows every activity.





Illegal vendors who masquerade as agents are also not left out as they chase after visitors selling old Bearers Cheques which tourists love to buy for souvenirs.





Sadly, the whole value chain has been cut by Covid-19 and people are grounded.





Mr Gilbert Tshuma, a curio vendor said: We have never heard about Victoria Falls being closed. Even this Sinathankawu market has never been closed throughout the history of the town. This was our source of income and we are left hopeless.





Taxi drivers also literally have no one to transport in the absence of tourists. A taxi driver Mr Kevin Muleya said they were in a fix.





We carry both locals and tourists and its not a secret that most of our revenue is from tourists who pay in foreign currency as opposed to locals who pay in Zimdollar. We have parked our cars and waiting to see if there will be life after this. Many of us were driving hired cars where we pay owners every month and at the same time take care of our children hence you can see how we have been affected, he said.





Zimbabwe Tourism Authority acting chief executive Mr Givemore Chidzidzi said Victoria Falls just like any part of the country is closed to any visitors.





The current situation is what was desired in the face of Covid-19, that no one travels so that there is no more transmission. Hotel occupancy and entry into the Rainforest is zero and the facilities are closed for periods extending beyond the lockdown. That was the whole idea of the worldwide lockdown, said Mr Chidzidzi.





He said this is the time for various authorities involved in tourism to attend to issues that are usually not easy to address during busy periods.





Mr Chidzidzi said the municipality and other stakeholders can now rehabilitate roads, signage and other facilities.





Tourism executive Mr Clement Mukwasi concurred saying the recession should be used to clean the city especially removing the deadly lantana camara in the Victoria Falls National Parks Rainforest.





Victoria Falls town clerk Mr Ronnie Dube however said no maintenance work can be done around town because of the lockdown and resource constraints.





The town looks like a ghost town. It has never happened in the history of Victoria Falls. Funny enough this has happened at a time when the river has drastically increased in its flow but sadly there are no tourists to witness this, he said.





Hope is not lost though.





The thunderous sound of the mighty Victoria Falls is back as water level has significantly risen on the Zambezi River giving hope a rebound of the tourism sector after the Covid-19 threat has been dealt with.




BBVA, Houston's fourth-largest bank by deposits, has launched a COVID-19 focused branding campaign, which encourages customers to conduct banking through its phone and digital channels. The campaign, which will appear in broadcast, radio and social media, sends a message to customers to stay home and safe and incorporates the #IStayAtHome hashtag.

The bank, which has been ramping up operations to facilitate banking from home, has been moving to drive-thru banking in most of its locations since the spread of the coronavirus has made personal interactions more risky. Five percent of branches -- those without a drive-thru and more than 10 miles from another BBVA -- are operating with limited lobby hours three days a week. All branches are now closed on Saturdays.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  Some members of the Senate and House of Representatives called on Friday for an extension of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

The island-wide quarantine, imposed to avert the spread of COVID-19, is currently on its third week and scheduled to end on midnight of April 13.

Senator Joel Villanueva said the extension of the lockdown is necessary due to the rising number of COVID-19-infected patients. There are 3,015 confirmed cases and 136 deaths in the country as of the Department of Healths latest count Friday.

RELATED: 29 more die from COVID-19 in PH as cases top 3,000

Without suggesting timeframe for the extension, Villanueva noted some sectors need to be exempted from the quarantine.

We have to consult our supply chain experts as we need to probably exempt some sectors in this lockdown, especially the food, manufacturing and delivery sector," Villanueva said. "This is to ensure that we have sufficient supplies of food and basic necessities while we continue our quarantine."

Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon suggested to extend the Luzon-wide ECQ for two weeks until April 30. He also expressed support for Villanueva's proposal to continue exempting some sectors if the quarantine period is extended.

During those two weeks, we must ensure (a stable) food supply and movement of essential goods and services, said Drilon.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda also seconded the two-week extension, noting that its premature lifting will not be good for the economy.

RELATED: Albay lawmaker calls for two-week extension of Luzon-wide quarantine

Drilon said the ECQ can be relaxed in May, but certain restrictions must still be in effect such as limited travel to and from Luzon, social distancing in different modes of transportation, closure of malls and churches, and holding of mass gatherings.

What is essential is more jobs and livelihood as well as access to food and supplies, said Drilon, citing the manufacturing and construction sectors as the most critical industries in time of crisis as they provide income to many people.

Drilon also noted that by June, there should be a gradual opening of retail and other businesses.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also favored a two-week extension of the quarantine. He also underscored the need for mass testing in the country which is expected to start on April 14, a day after the scheduled lifting of the ECQ.

RELATED: PH eyes 'massive testing' of suspected COVID-19 cases by April 14

Mass testing of PUMs and PUIs is the only way to determine if we are winning the war or not," Gatchalian said. "Without mass testing, we are totally blind. And when we are blind, the risk is higher of spreading the virus again, thereby wasting the 30-day ECQ."

Senator Ralph Recto also expressed support for ECQ extension and mass testing for all PUIs and PUMs to win the COVID-19 battle.

When asked how long he wanted it extended, Recto said it depends on how fast the government does its work and be ahead of the virus.

Meanwhile, Caloocan City's 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice proposed a 30-day extension due to the unabated rise of COVID-19 cases in the country.

"Science, the experience of other countries and common sense would dictate that the Philippine government should extend the enhanced community quarantine for another 30 days as we continue to grapple with hard facts on the real statistics of COVID-19 spread in our communities," said Erice.

RELATED: Lawmaker calls for 30-day extension of Luzon-wide quarantine

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the chairperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, said on Tuesday that science will determine if the Luzon-wide ECQ will be lifted.

Nograles added the Department of Health leads the technical working group, whose findings will be President Rodrigo Dutertes basis for the lifting of the Luzon-wide quarantine.

RELATED: 'Science' to determine if Luzon-wide quarantine will be lifted or expanded  CabSec
The Gujarat Police on Friday



traced 19 more persons who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, taking the number of such persons in the state to 103.

All the 19 persons who were traced on Friday were residents of Ahmedabad city and have been sent to quarantine facilities, said Director General of Police Shivanand Jha.

Search is still on for others from the state who might have attended the gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz last month but not disclosed it to the authorities, he said.

The attendees from Gujarat included a man from Bhavnagar who subsequently succumbed to the virus infection, the DGP said.

The congregation in Nizamuddin area of Delhi was found to have been a major source of the spread of coronavirus in the country.

One of the Tablighee participants traced iin the state on Friday has already been diagnosed as coronavirus positive and admitted to a hospital here, Jha said.

The 68-year-old man hails from Uttar Pradesh and was living in Ahmedabad's Kalupur area, he said.

Ahmedabad civic authorities had informed in the morning that he had attended the gathering while announcing that he had tested positive.

Of the 103 persons identified and quarantined so far, 57 belong to Ahmedabad, followed by Bhavnagar (20), Mehsana (12) Surat (8), Botad (4) and Navsari (2).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Trend

Iran plans to facilitate the release of 4 million tons of necessary goods stored at customs, said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

"There are currently around 4 million tons of basic goods in the customs, so we should implement necessary measures to release them," said Hassan Rouhani, Trend reports citing ILNA.

"The Central Bank of Iran and the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade are to announce a corresponding decision to owners of the imported goods," the head of state said adding that appropriate decisions were made over shipping goods to the country.

He expressed hope that 4 million tons of goods are to be imported in the coming days.

"There are necessary goods and equipment stored at the customs that have been imported for production in the country. The Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade has issued the list of goods that are to be released, while the Central Bank of Iran has developed a procedure to unload goods at ports," Rouhani said.

According to the Central Bank of Iran, the country has sufficient reserves of foreign currency for purchasing medical and basic goods, he said.

"The issue of buying wheat for producing bread has been discussed and decisions were made over import. The Foreign Ministry is expected to implement measures to provide needed foreign currency resources and develop economic ties with neighbor countries based on the framework of health protocols," the president noted.

"People's health is important although fighting poverty is also a priority; therefore, good decisions have been made about the issue. They will be finalized and announced on Sunday," he said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
OAKLAND (BCN)

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced on Friday that she's appointed former San Francisco transportation chief Edward Reiskin to be her city's new permanent city administrator.

Reiskin worked for the city of Oakland many years ago as the assistant to the city manager and returned to Oakland last August to serve as its assistant city administrator.

Reiskin was the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's Director of Transportation for eight years but announced his resignation last April 29 after Mayor London Breed criticized his performance.

Schaaf's appointment of Reiskin is a step toward stabilizing the city's leadership ranks, which have been shaken by former City Administrator Sabrina Landreth's decision to stop down on March 11; Schaaf's decision to fire former Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick on Feb. 20; and Fire Chief Darin White's recent decision to resign to lead the San Rafael Fire Department.

Former Lafayette City Manager Steven Falk has been Oakland's Acting City Administrator since March 12, and Schaaf recently appointed former San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer as interim police chief until a permanent chief is found. Deputy Fire Chief Melinda Drayton will take over as interim fire chief effective next week while a search is conducted to fill that post.

"Following a robust national recruitment process, I am thrilled to announce that I have appointed our own Ed Reiskin to serve in the critical role of city administrator," Schaaf said in a statement.

Schaaf said, "Ed brings depths of experience, sharp insights and a steady leadership style to the job in these unprecedented times. His passion for public service and the residents of Oakland will serve our community well and help Oakland thrive into the future."

Schaaf said Reiskin has more than 30 years of experience in the private, academic, nonprofit and public sectors.

Reiskin said, "It is deeply humbling to be given the opportunity to be considered for the role of Oakland's city administrator."

He said, "I look forward to working with the mayor, the City Council, other elected officials and stakeholders to support the great employees of the city in providing outstanding service that befits this outstanding city, particularly in support of the most vulnerable among us."

The Oakland City Council is expected to vote on confirming Reiskin at its next regular meeting on April 21.

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For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners (Psalm 69:33)

We are facing a crisis unlike any in our lifetime. A virus is infecting us at unprecedented rates. Over 100,000 have been infected in the United States and the death toll in our country is already in the thousands. But were not doing everything possible to keep us safe.

The county jails in Alabama, which lock up thousands of people, are a major health risk.

The incarcerated population cant practice social distancing and instead are left to languish in these facilities with no soap or supplies to sanitize their own cells.

Imprisoned people are highly vulnerable to outbreaks of contagious illnesses such as COVID-19. People incarcerated in jails are housed in close quarters, and are often in poor health. And recent reporting showed that the county jail population quadrupled between 2014 and 2018.

The way to mitigate that health risk is clear. We need to release people who are no risk to our communities and vulnerable to exposure immediately. And jail officials need to come up with a plan, and make it public, for how they will deal with a COVID-19 outbreak in their facility.

Gov. Kay Ivey acknowledged the danger in her State of Emergency declaration, finding that the condition of jails inherently heightens the possibility of COVID-19 transmission. Iveys declaration said that people charged with crimes could be served with a summons instead of being arrested. But that doesnt do much for the people already locked up and awaiting trial.

A COVID-19 outbreak in these jails with the current incarcerated population would be disastrous for public health. The incarcerated people who get infected would have to be taken to our already overcrowded hospitals, and people who work in the jails are also in danger of both being infected, and spreading the infection to people on the outside. Lowering the total number of people locked up would make an outbreak less likely, and also make it easier to quarantine people who have been infected.

There is also a moral and humanitarian reason to get people out of these jails.

The crime rate in our state didnt quadruple in the last few years, but our jail population did. Many of the people now locked up arent there because they committed horrible crimes, theyre locked up because theyre too poor to afford bail.

Some are even elderly and therefore at higher risk for severe illness, according to the CDC. It is wrong to lock people up because they cant afford to pay bail. If a judge has already decided that someone does not pose a threat to the community and they can get out of jail if they can pay a fee, then they shouldnt be locked up at all during a crisis like this. Poverty is not a crime and under these circumstances, it should not put you at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Last month county jail inmates with bonds under $5,000 were ordered released in Autauga, Elmore and Chilton Counties, as long as the sheriffs and wardens sign off on it. Mobile County has also announced it would release certain pre-trial inmates. These actions were taken due to fears of the spread of COVID-19. Other states have also started doing this. Montana, California, New Jersey, Washington and Wyoming are among the states that have actively worked to reduce its incarcerated population in the last few weeks.

Actions like these need to be the norm going forward. COVID-19 is scary, but we must meet it with Christian love and compassion. We must extend that to our brothers and sisters behind bars who pose no threat to our communities and are awaiting their day in court.

We must consider those who are elderly and already ill. This virus is the worst thing many of us have seen in our lifetimes, lets combat it with love and compassion, instead of hate and fear.

Van Moody is a Bestselling Author and the Founding Pastor of The Worship Center (TWC) a nondenominational, multicultural ministry. TWC has three campuses, multiple services, and ministers to those locally as well as those as far away as Kuwait and South Africa via its online campus. TWC is most widely known and recognized for its life-changing messages, service in the community, and commitment to transforming lives.
For governors, too, the coronavirus has been a test.

They find themselves rallying an anxious public, bidding against one another for scarce ventilators on the open market and sometimes scrapping with the president over what the federal government should and has delivered.

More than any other elected official, governors have been making the on-the-ground decisions that will determine the lives and, in some cases, the deaths of Americans during this pandemic. They are responsible for deciding when stay-at-home orders are issued to slow the spread of COVID-19 and have scrambled to try to ensure adequate medical treatment is going to be available when it does spread.

That has put them in a national spotlight that has burnished the reputations of some  Mike DeWine of Ohio, Larry Hogan of Maryland, Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan  and subjected others to caustic scrutiny. Some have found themselves both praised and pilloried.

Whitmer, elected governor in 2018, has been surprised by the limits of the federal role in the crisis.

"COVID-19 doesn't respect state boundaries; it doesn't observe partisan lines," she said in an interview with USA TODAY. "Having a more cohesive national strategy, I think, is something that I would have expected, and that [lack] is creating a unique challenge for us to get our arms around COVID-19."

States vs. COVID-19: They're playing an outsized role, but they are far from united

In responding to crises from hurricanes to mass shootings, governors are typically important figures, but they have become more central in this one because the president has chosen not to exert all the authority he could.

Trump hasn't imposed a national shutdown order, leaving a patchwork of regulations across the country. He has only reluctantly and narrowly triggered the Defense Production Act that would order companies to produce scarce materials. The federal government hasn't taken charge of the medical supply chain despite pleas from governors in both parties to take control of procurement and distribution.

Story continues

The step back is deliberate. Trump says he wants to give the states "flexibility" on whether to issue stay-at-home orders. Vice President Mike Pence, head of the White House coronavirus task force, has repeated a mantra that the administration's approach is "locally executed, state managed and federally supported."

The result: Never in modern times has any governor had to handle a bigger or more deadly crisis, one that is also stressing the global economy and straining the nation's health care system. More than 6,000 Americans have died, a number that doesn't yet show signs of leveling off, and a record 6.6 million Americans filed this week for unemployment insurance.

US coronavirus map: Tracking the outbreak

"Ninety days after I became governor, I was faced with the riots in Baltimore, where we called up 4,000 members of the National Guard and a thousand police officers," Hogan, who is also chair of the National Governors Association, said in an interview with USA TODAY. "This is like 10 times more than that every single day. It's like a hurricane hits all 50 states that keeps coming and keeps increasing intensity with each and every day."

He said some of the decisions being made  to close schools, shut down businesses, impose quarantines, erect emergency hospitals and blow up state budgets  would have been unimaginable only a month ago.

Enforcing the shutdown: Officials grapple with stay-at-home orders, social distancing

Is there a cost to candor?

President Trump has criticized some governors who have questioned his administration's handling of the coronavirus.

One of the decisions: Whether to criticize Trump.

Governors who have publicly faulted the federal government for not delivering enough help or the right help have found themselves the target of the president's bully pulpit. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, the first state to record a coronavirus outbreak and death, in an early tweet thanked Pence for his help but added that "our work would be more successful if the Trump administration stuck to the science and told the truth."

Trump then labeled Inslee "a snake" who was "not a good governor" and someone he would refuse to talk to, although Pence has continued to speak with him. Those exchanges have fueled fears in Washington State and elsewhere that a rhetorical breach could have a substantive impact  that is, could prompt federal agencies to punish a governor by sending less aid to his or her state.

"I'm praying that it doesn't," Inslee's predecessor, Christine Gregoire, said in an interview. The former two-term governor provides training sessions for new governors through the National Governors Association, a group she once headed, but she says she's never encountered this particular challenge before.

"I have to tell you," she said, "I can't remember one where the stakes were high, let alone a matter of life and death, where there's been public disagreements of this nature."

Governors have found themselves trying walk a fine line between expressing candor and protecting their state's interests.

"Maybe some of them are a little more critical than they probably should be, in my opinion, and some of them maybe don't speak up as much as they should," Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said.

"Maybe some of them are a little more critical than they probably should be, in my opinion, and some of them maybe don't speak up as much as they should," Hogan, a Republican, said of his fellow governors in an interview with USA TODAY. "But I just try to strike that balance of being respectful, not overly critical, but really clearly stating what the needs are."

Hogan pushed back this week when Trump said, inaccurately, that governors were no longer expressing concerns about a shortage of testing kits.

When the federal government sent 170 ventilators to Los Angeles County, none of them operational, Newsom said he simply located a Silicon Valley firm that could refurbish them. "I didn't call a press conference," the California governor said, although he did relate the experience in an interview on CNN Wednesday. "Not finger-pointing; not nail-biting."

Newsom said his state, which has among the highest number of coronavirus patients in the country, doesn't expect to receive all the ventilators it needs from the federal stockpile and instead is competing with other states to buy them, a situation that has encouraged price-gouging. "It's the wild, wild West, no question about it."

Scarce supplies: U.S. exported millions in masks and ventilators ahead of the coronavirus crisis

Wrath for 'a woman governor' who spoke out

Whitmer also has incurred Trump's wrath.

"All she does is sit there and blame the federal government," the president complained last week, referring to her as the "young, a woman governor" in Michigan, not mentioning her name.

Whitmer responded with a tweet that included a hand-waving emoji. "Hi, my name is Gretchen Whitmer, and that governor is me." In an appearance on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah," Whitmer sported a bright blue T-shirt that said, "That Woman from Michigan."

The president and the governor did finally speak on the phone Tuesday. "It was an unscheduled call," Whitmer said in the interview. "I had reached out and asked for a call and it didn't happen immediately, but ultimately it did."

She said she thanked him for a federal shipment of protective N95 masks from the Strategic National Stockpile but said much more were needed. "When we have one hospital system in Detroit that'll go through 12,000 masks in a shift, it tells you that 112,000 is helpful, but it's nowhere near solving the problem," she said.

She dismissed questions about the political implications of the crisis: "We all have to remember right now the enemy is COVID-19."

That said, Whitmer's political stock has risen. Former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said this week that she had already been on his list of possible running mates.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been widely praised for his blunt, measured updates on the coronavirus.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's reputation has grown, too. His daily briefing from Albany has become a Democratic counterpoint to the White House briefing later each day presided over by President Trump. The governor's blunt, measured updates have even prompted speculation on social media that he would be a stronger presidential nominee than Biden, a notion the governor has rejected.

The coronavirus crisis could have a broader political impact as well. For one thing, it could counter the public's long-standing appetite for outsiders in political office.

At the moment, deep experience and an ability to direct the bureaucracy are seen as valued assets. Among the governors who have gotten the highest marks are those with long  and sometimes familial  records in politics. Cuomo and Hogan have not only been elected to multiple gubernatorial terms but also are both second-generation politicians. (Cuomo's father was a New York governor; Hogan's father was a Maryland congressman.) Ohio Gov. DeWine is a former lieutenant governor, state attorney general, U.S. representative and senator.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who has been widely praised for his handling of the coronavirus, has a long political resume.

The challenges for governors won't end when the coronavirus crisis eases. At that point, they'll be dealing with the pandemic's repercussions for the health system, for the economy and for budgets that in 49 states are mandated to be balanced. (The exception: Vermont.)

Fact check: What's true and what's false about coronavirus?

Spring break at the beach

The governors who have gotten the most criticism are those who have been slowest to act, calculating that the threat to their citizens didn't warrant ordering the most disruptive restrictions.

Only a dozen governors, all of them Republicans, so far haven't issued statewide stay-at-home orders, a step that public health officials say is crucial to "flatten the curve," to reduce transmission of the virus to avoid overloading the health system. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. (Some of those governors have ordered less far-reaching restrictions.)

Coronavirus in the US: How all 50 states are responding

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose retiree-heavy population makes his state particularly susceptible to the disease, has been hammered for resisting calls to close down crowded beaches during spring break celebrations that drew thousands of young people. Trump had praised him as a "great governor" who "knows exactly what he's doing."

Once the president on Tuesday adopted a more somber tone and issued a sobering projected death toll, however, DeSantis did order a statewide shutdown for 30 days, starting Friday. He acted after the U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams, said on NBC's "Today" show that DeSantis should view the federal guidelines urging social distancing as "a national stay-at-home order."

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also issued a statewide shelter-in-place order on Wednesday. At a news conference, he said he had just learned that people who showed no symptoms could be infected and pass on the virus. Public health experts had been warning about that fact since January, the fundamental reason they had been urging everyone to stay home.

Well, we didnt know that until the last 24 hours, Kemp told reporters. This is a game-changer for us."

Fraud follows coronavirus: Fake vaccines, testing, scams are exacting a toll

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus tests governors, pits many against Trump in quest for help
Jaipur, April 3 : A team from the World Health Organisation, on Friday, arrived in Rajasthan's Tonk district to survey the situation as Covid -19 cases alarmingly spiked from 4 to 16 within 24 hours District Collector K.K. Sharma told IANS: "WHO team, as per my knowledge, has already arrived here with its doctors who shall carry out a survey in the district." Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin pilot said: "There has been a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state in last 24 hours with an increase in the number of positive cases reported from Tonk. Given this critical situation, a team from WHO will visit and conduct a survey in Tonk today." "We will strictly adhere and follow the report and guidelines as submitted by WHO. Prevention and containment of the virus spread is the our utmost priority. If we act responsibly, the spread of the virus can be controlled," he said.

Corona positive cases on Friday, jumped to 154 in state out of which 16 cases are from Tonk.

Twelve out of these 16 have been reported on Friday, worrying the health officials. They confirmed that 2 samples were still awaited. Seven among these 12 are all contacts of Tablighi Jamaat persons, said additional chief secretary health-Rohit Kumar Singh adding that the first four cases were reported from this district on Wednesday who were all members of Tablikhi Jamat who had visited a religious event in Delhi in mid March.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Stormont finance minister Conor Murphys deal with the Irish Government to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) from China has been questioned.

Mr Murphy announced last week that a significant consignment of PPE had been secured in a joint order between Stormont and the Irish Government.

However, Stormont sources have queried whether any deal between the Irish Government and Northern Ireland executive for the order has been finalised.

The department of finance responded by saying that in the last couple of weeks the finance minister has been assisting efforts to procure PPE and other supplies with both the Irish and British governments.

The Northern Ireland executive is set to be updated on the supply of PPE at its meeting later.

A nurses representative body has blasted mixed messages over supplies of PPE after the chief executive of the Belfast health trust spoke of challenges securing FFP3 masks while health minister Robin Swann said there are significant levels of PPE in stock.

As a political row erupted over PPE with deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill criticising Mr Swann, the Royal College of Nursing urged reassurance for those working on the front line.

RCN Northern Ireland director Pat Cullen said the body is awaiting legal advice on what steps to take if guarantees cannot be met.

Paul Reid, chief executive of the Republic of Irelands Health Service Executive (HSE), confirmed an order for personal protective equipment worth more than 200 million euro (175 million) had been placed and that deliveries from China had started in recent days.

Concerns have been expressed about the first batch which has been arriving on Aer Lingus flights since Sunday.

Mr Reid said: We are, however, engaged worldwide to secure alternative stocks should these supplies not materialise to the extent that we expect.

It is a very competitive worldwide market but our procurement teams have done really well to secure what we have to date.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood called for urgent clarification on Northern Irelands PPE supply.

We have been asking for weeks for an update on the PPE crisis procurement plan from the Finance Minister. Despite repeated promises that supplies are due from China, we have yet to hear how much was ordered, when it is due for arrival and how it will be managed, he said.

New UK-wide NHS guidance about personal protective equipment (PPE) https://t.co/q2YyugM2gM  Department of Health (@healthdpt) April 2, 2020

We now need a clear statement from the finance minister. Our healthcare workers were told PPE was coming. We need to know what the status of the order is and if frontline workers are going to be forced to wait for lifesaving equipment.

The Department of Finance issued a statement saying: In the last couple of weeks the finance minister has been assisting efforts to procure PPE and other supplies with both the Irish and British governments.

There is global demand for all these goods and equipment and the scale of the pandemic we face means this will necessitate multiple orders from a range of suppliers at home and overseas.

We are sourcing the market for supplies locally, nationally and internationally in places including China. The task has become even more challenging with the US and India entering the market.

We must all protect our frontline workers and the executive will be updated on the latest position on PPE later today.
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Linkedin Heather Scott (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Fri, April 3, 2020 08:41 648 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f66aea 2 Business COVID-19,coronavirus,united-states,unemployment,Donald-Trump,stimulus Free

A staggering 10 million US workers have lost their jobs in the second half of March as the coronavirus forced stores and businesses nationwide to close their doors.

The data have left analysts at a loss for words as they try to gauge the damage, while politicians and economists blame policymakers and President Donald Trump for failing to prepare the country for the unprecedented economic hit.

Another 6.65 million US workers filed for unemployment benefits for the first time last week, the most ever recorded, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The number for the week ended March 28 was double the amount registered in the previous week, which was revised up by 24,000 to 3.3 million  the previous record, according to the data.

Read also: This is not a normal time: BI to break barriers in COVID-19 battle

"Nearly every state providing comments cited the COVID-19 virus," the report said, noting a widening impact across industries, especially hotels, but also manufacturing and retail.

The result far surpassed even the highest of estimates by economists, and reflected the growing damage to the US economy as the pandemic worsens and the rising death toll prompts more states to impose lockdowns.

Bustling cities have been turned into ghost towns, as COVID-19 restrictions have forced shops, restaurants and offices to close, leaving grocery stores and hospitals the lone epicenters of activity.

Trump, after playing down the threat for weeks, has begun to prepare Americans for worse news to come.

"We're going to have a couple of weeks... that are going to be horrific," Trump said late Wednesday at his daily White House briefing on the pandemic.

Some economists are predicting the worst job losses since World War II, with the country already in a severe recession.

In the same week of last year, only 211,000 people requested unemployment benefits for the first time.

'No words'

Even analysts who had expected grim figures were stunned.

"No words for this," said Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics.

Read also: World food prices fall sharply in March because of coronavirus, oil slump: UN

"We're hoping today's reading will be the peak, but we can't be sure," he said in an analysis. "In any event, total layoffs between the March and April payroll surveys look destined to reach perhaps 16 to 20 million, consistent with the unemployment rate leaping to 13 to 16 percent. In one month."

The government last week approved a US$2.2 trillion rescue package that includes a massive expansion and extension of unemployment benefits to cushion the blow for the millions of workers left without a paycheck.

The program also includes $349 billion in loans to businesses that will be forgiven if they are primarily used to pay workers, even those already dismissed.

But even so, analysts warn the record-low US unemployment rate is likely to surge into double-digits as early as April.

More stimulus coming?

Former vice president Joe Biden, the Democratic frontrunner in the November presidential election, blamed Trump for delaying the response.

"Donald Trump is not responsible for the coronavirus, but he is responsible for failing to prepare our nation," Biden said in a statement, lambasting "the erratic and unacceptably slow federal response that has tragically lagged behind other countries."

Shepherdson likewise lamented the government response, and said another stimulus package is "inevitable."

"It didn't have to be this way; the US could have followed the lead of several major European countries and offered job retention programs," he said. "The result will be even greater dislocation for both people and businesses, some of which could have been avoided."

Read also: The same stimulus that rich countries lean on could worsen poor economies

The official employment report for March due out Friday will not show the full extent of the job losses because of the nature of how that report is compiled, looking at payroll data in the week including the 12th day of the month  which in March was before the most stringent lockdowns took effect.

Mickey Levy of Berenberg Capital Markets notes that the two-week total for initial claims is 9.9 million "which is almost twice the 5.8 million persons counted as unemployed in February, when the unemployment rate was 3.5 percent."

The largest increases in first-time jobless claims last week were in Pennsylvania (+362,012), Ohio (+189,263), Massachusetts (+141,003), Texas (+139,250) and California (+128,727). No state reported a decline.

Pennsylvania cited "layoffs in the transportation and warehousing, accommodation and food services, administrative, support, waste management and remediation services, and healthcare and social assistance industries."
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Ma Zhaoxu, vice minister of foreign affairs;





Tian Xuejun, vice minister of education;





Lyu Erxue, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC);





Zhang Yang, head for the Department of International Cooperation of the National Health Commission.





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Hu Kaihong, spokesperson of the State Council Information Office of China





Date:





April 2, 2020
The super spreader, Dang Thi Lynh Trang, or "Patient 34," is a 51-year-old Vietnamese businesswoman residing in the south central province of Binh Thuan.

She flew from Washington D.C. to HCMC on March 2 and tested positive 10 days later for the novel coronavirus, before she led to 10 other infections.

She was released from Binh Thuan General Hospital Friday along with six other patients: her female employee, her daughter in law, her two-year-old granddaughter, her son, her husband, and an in-law.

All the patients tested negative three different times before the decision to discharge them was taken.

Two other patients in Trangs infection circle are still under treatment at the hospital  her housemaid and the 12-year-old son of her infected employee. The boy's mother had asked to stay at the hospital to care for her son and was permitted to do so.

On behalf of her family, Trang gave flowers to the doctors and nurses, expressing gratitude for their care over the past two weeks.

Trang is the owner of a building materials company in Phan Thiet Town in Binh Thuan Province.

She was the first Covid-19 case confirmed in Binh Thuan. Aside from all the patients treated at the Binh Thuan General Hospital, she had also transmitted the virus to two men in HCMC after they met her in Phan Thiet last month. The two men, aged 25 and 31, were treated in HCMC and have been discharged from hospital.

Trangs neighborhood in Phan Thiet was isolated for three weeks and quarantine was lifted Friday.

The seven discharges in Binh Thuan Province raise the number of Covid-19 patients released from hospitals in Vietnam to 85.

Vietnam has recorded 233 Covid-19 cases so far. Most of the active cases are those who have returned from Europe and the U.S. and people whove had close contact with them
On March 22, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro delivered a long cadena an impromptu speech carried live by public and regime-controlled TV stations  dedicated exclusively to COVID-19. Wearing, somewhat incongruously, a FC Barcelona tracksuit, Maduro gave a grim report on the spread of the virus around the world and justified his decision to impose a voluntary and radical national quarantine across the country. People should stay at home, he exhorted, and everybody walking around will need to wear a face mask at all times. He made clear that the full power of the state would be used to enforce these and any other additional measures the crisis might demand. The military immediately joined the effort by announcing that, at 10am the following morning, fighter jets of the Bolivarian Air Force would start flying over Caracas in a show of support.

So far so good, or at least (minus the air parade) in line with what many other countries around the world are doing at the moment. But then Maduros speech took an unexpected turn. Displaying a folder of charts and printouts, he disclosed a recent conversation with Sirio Quintero, a Venezuelan nanotechnologist who claims to have found a cure for COVID-19. Derived from ancestral Venezuelan medical knowledge, the improbable remedy consists of a brew of malojillo (lemongrass), ginger, black peppercorns and lemon zest, to be drunk at regular intervals seven times a week. The SARS-CoV-2 virus itself  Dr. Quintero argued and Maduro repeated  is an intracellular parasite engineered by unnamed centres of imperial power as a weapon of bioterrorism (not a particularly lethal one, we can surmise, if it can be defeated with a herbal infusion). In the last few days regime-affiliated outlets  including Maduross own Twitter account  have energetically promoted Mr. Quinteros very Venezuelan COVID-19 remedy.

A revolutionary quarantine, parades of low-flying fighter jets, and a home brew of malojillo make for an odd policy mix to combat a clear and present public health danger. The combination of the coercive and the ludicrous is typical of the current situation in Venezuela, but slightly less virulent forms of the same strain of heavy-handed crackpottery have been in evidence among other self-styled strong men in the region.

In Brazil, President Bolsonaro has consistently downplayed the seriousness of COVID-19 (Its just a little flu or the sniffles), tried to sabotage stay-at-home orders issued by state governors, and declared large religious gatherings essential services to prevent their closure by local authorities. The only concrete measure he has adopted  or at least the only one he appears to have adopted willingly  was an order to the Ministry of Defence to increase production of the chloroquine, followed by a decision to ban exports of the drug. He did this, of course, the day after Donald Trump had touted in a press conference the promise of the anti-malarial drug despite the lack of hard evidence about its therapeutic effect against the new coronavirus (I feel good about it). Bolsonaro continues to extoll the merits of chloroquine in virtually all his public appearances. Videos posted by him on social media declaring that chloroquine works everywhere were recently removed by Facebook and Twitter for spreading misinformation.

Obviously chloroquine is not malojillo it is far more toxic  but the logic that drives Bolsonaro (and Trump for that matter) to hype the prospects of an unproven treatment is not too dissimilar from Maduros eagerness to publicize Dr. Quinteros pseudo-treatment: a desperate hope that a ready-made cure will absolve them from the obligation to mount a proper public health response.

The proliferation of these populist pharmakoi raises important questions about the political impact of the new coronavirus in the Americas. One would expect authoritarian rulers to use the COVID-19 emergency to consolidate their grip on power. This is at least how epidemics have often played out in history. A sudden and acute biological threat increases the vulnerability of the population and enhances the role of the state as the only effective lever of power. Social distancing measures disorganise civil society and limit the capacity of citizens to coordinate collective acts of protest, particularly in countries where rulers are able to control the flow of information. The result is an opportunity for non-democratic leaders to concentrate power in their own hands with the excuse of serving as protectors of the people in times of critical need. Chinas experience with COVID-19 offers a good example of this dynamic. In Hungary, Orban is trying to follow the same playbook.

But this principle assumes that rulers have an interest in promoting public health to begin with  whether as a substantive end in itself, a means of concentrating political power, or a combination of both. When rulers display instead a general indifference towards the wellbeing of their population and lack the wherewithal to take effective measures, public health crises accentuate the shortcomings of authoritarian regimes and reveal their deepest contradictions.

In this regard, Bolsonaros blase response to COVID-19 (Some will die. Im sorry. Thats life) is not simply a reflection of his limited understanding of the lethality of the virus, or an attempt to ape his hero in the White House, but above all a sign of his chronic disregard for the health of the nation in general, and of large (read: poor) sections of the population in particular. His obsession with chloroquine at the expense of other actions that might reduce the spread of infection or alleviate the suffering already unfolding in the country reflects the absence, within his impoverished ideological worldview (Brazil above everything, God above everyone), of any principle that might be translated into actual and effective assistance to his people in this hour of need. His pandemic strategy consists entirely in gambling on the efficacy of an old antimalarial drug.

It is telling that, in the absence of a coherent government policy, initial efforts to contain the virus in deprived urban areas have relied on the mobilization of a myriad community organisations and grassroots initiatives. Even criminal syndicates are displaying a keener sense of the public health threat. In some favelas in Rio de Janeiro, drug-trafficking gangs and militias are reportedly enforcing lockdowns and limiting large public gatherings. As gang members in Cidade de Deus angrily noted: Were imposing a curfew because nobody is taking this seriously.

The situation in Venezuela is even more dramatic. The hollowing of state institutions leaves the country with very few options against the virus. With a shattered health system the country will be unable to manage a growing outbreak (some of the hospitals designated by the government to lead the COVID-19 response do not even have running water, and the country has probably fewer than 200 active Intensive Care Units for a population of more than 30 million). The situation is likely to escalate quickly when the general lockdown starts to be ignored by impoverished Venezuelans who cant work remotely and rely on daily commercial activity to survive.

The social distancing strategies imposed by Maduro also represent a severe blow to the extremely fragile Venezuelan economy, which had just experienced a small revival following the lifting of some economic controls. Travel restrictions and lockdowns across the region threaten to close the countrys only escape valve: large-scale migration and the remittances sent by Venezuelans living and working abroad. Furthermore, the arrival of COVID-19 coincides with the global collapse of oil prices and a steady decline in national oil production and revenue. The prospects are so dire that Venezuela has recently requested financial help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to purchase medical equipment. The IMF has so far refused any assistance, and is unlikely to change course now that the U.S. Department of Justice has brought charges of drug-trafficking against Maduro and other leading regime figures.

In the meantime, the virus has become another excuse to crack down on internal opponents or anybody perceived to represent a threat to the regime. Darvinson Rojas, a Caracas-based journalist, was detained by security officers on March 21 under the allegation that someone in his house had denounced a COVID-19 case. Other journalists have been forced by the military to surrender their mobiles after visiting hospitals in Caracas. Citizens who denounce the shortcomings of the governments response are forced into hiding. In poor areas of Caracas, colectivos armed groups of pro-regime civilians) have been imposing curfews, using in some cases indiscriminate force. On March 21 three people were shot dead, allegedly by members of one of these groups, when they were found playing board games in the street in defiance of the order to remain indoors.

Civil society groups, which are playing a crucial role in tackling other ongoing public health emergencies such as the limited supply of antiretroviral HIV drugs, are no substitute for concerted public health action in the face of a pandemic. Palliative community activism of the sort in evidence in Brazil is hampered by the regimes suspicion of any social organisation it does not directly control. In the meantime, Dr. Quinteros bogus cure remains, tragically, the least harmful of the governments policies.

Juan Carlos Gabaldon is a Venezuelan medical doctor interested in tropical medicine, malaria and public health. Currently a MSc candidate in Medical Parasitology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Javier Lezaun is Associate Professor in the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at the University of Oxford, where he directs the Institute for Science, Innovation and Society (InSIS).

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Indias Maoist-controlled Left Trade Union Congress (LTUC) last month capitulated to Sanmina-SCI management demands and shut down a 17-day strike of the companys workers in Oragadam, a manufacturing hub outside Chennai, the Tamil Nadu state capital.

The Sanmina workers walked out on strike on March 3 to demand a pay rise and reinstatement of six dismissed workers and eight others suspended over their involvement in earlier struggles and for opposing a management Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).

The LTUC ended all industrial action after a meeting with the Assistant Labour Commissioner at Irunkkatukottai on March 19 and ordered strikers to resume work on March 23. The union dropped its wage claim, opposition to the VRS and abandoned the six dismissed workers. Sanmina management only agreed to take back three of the eight suspended workers, with the remaining five subjected to an internal inquiry.

The Sanmina plant in Oragadam produces medical and non-medical electronic equipment for a range of national and international customers. The US-owned Sanmina, in fact, is one of the worlds largest independent manufacturers of printed circuit boards and related computer hardware, with nearly 80 manufacturing sites around the world.

Sanmina-SCI is the Indian subsidiary of the global company and notorious for its low wages and brutal working conditions. The Oragadam plant currently employs about 1,200 workers, including up to 400 temporary trainees under the governments National Employment Enhancement Mission. In 2008, the monthly salary for permanent workers was 6,000 rupees ($US78), 12 years later it is only 22,000 rupees, which is very low compared to similar industries in the area.

From the outset, the LTUC leadership, fearful that the Sanmina strike could become a spearhead of a broader working-class mobilisation in the Oragadam-Sriperumbudur Industrial Zone, worked to weaken and isolate Sanmina workers, thus paving the way for their defeat. Senior union officials failed to organise a single demonstration or rally of the strikers, let alone call on workers in the numerous other plants in the area.

The union insisted that strikers demands could be realised through talks with management, the state governments labour officials and slavish appeals to Tamil Nadus right-wing AIADMK government.

From 2010 Sanmina workers have been involved in repeated strikes and protests for pay rises, improved working conditions and permanent jobs for contract workers. These struggles, which have been under the control of a range of pro-capitalist Stalinist and Congress party union federations, have all been betrayed.

From 2010 to 2015, the Sanmina workers were aligned to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), which is affiliated to the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM; from 2015 to 2017 to the Congress Partys Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC); and from 2017 to late 2019, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), which is affiliated to Maoist Communist Party of IndiaMarxist-Leninist-Liberation (CPI-ML-Liberation).

In late 2019 the Sanmina workers were under the domination of the LTUC. Last months betrayal further demonstrates that the LTUC, a split-off from the AICCTU, is no different from any of the other union federations. All serve as industrial police for big business.

The LTUC is led by Maoist demagogue S. Kumaraswamy, a former AICCTU national president and CPI-ML-Liberation leader.

Kumaraswamy established the new union federation after making a politically unexplained split from CPI-ML-Liberation, calling his splinter group the Communist Party and linking the Sanmina workers union to the LTUC.

The LTUC also took over the AICCTUs coverage of workers at the Motherson Automotive Technologies & Engineering (MATE) factory in Sriperumbudur and in January 2020 it betrayed a 140-day strike at that plant. Both union federations worked to isolate the striking Motherson workers.

The LTUC signed a sellout agreement with MATE management, ordering the strikers to return to work without wining any of their demands and leaving 79 victimised workers out of a job.

The reactionary policies and sordid maneuvers of the AICCTU and LTUC flow from the nationalist and pro-capitalist program of the CPI-ML-Liberation, which is also in an alliance with the two main Stalinist parliamentary partiesthe CPM and CPI.

During last years national parliamentary elections the CPM and the CPI formed an electoral alliance with the big-business Dravida Munnethra Kazhagam (DMK). In Bihar state, CPI-ML-Liberation established an electoral bloc with the Congress Party and pledged to help it form an alternative state government. During the 2019 national elections all three Stalinist parties also made clear that were ready to support a national government led by the Congress Party.

WSWS correspondents spoke with several Sanmina workers during their 17-day strike, discussing the treacherous role of all the Maoist and Stalinist formations and the necessity to build a section of the Trotskyist movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), in India.

Arun, a permanent Sanmina-SCI worker, said: In 2011 we launched a strike under CITU affiliation but were sold out. Soundarajan, a CITU and CPM leader who was involved in our strike, finally betrayed us and became MLA [a member of state assembly] in alliance with AIADMK. Now he and his party pretend to oppose AIADMK. The LTUCs break from AICCTU was not explained to us. I feel these splits are for their own benefits, not for workers.

Gothandaraman, 32, said: Ive been working for this company for more than 11 years but my salary is just 23,000 rupees. There is no respect in this company for workersits like a military dictatorship in the industry. Lunch time is just half an hour and the interval break is just three minutes. We live under very difficult conditions but I refuse to accept this.

Gothandaraman asked about the possibility of uniting workers internationally. WSWS correspondents explained the objective basis for a united movement of the international working class, pointing out how workers globally are facing similar attacks at the hands of transnational corporations.

He commented: I agree that the social crisis is international in character and faced by the vast majority of people, including workers, farmers, and students who are involved in numerous strikes. I agree these strikes must be united against capitalist government.

A decade of bitter industrial struggles by the Sanmina workers strikes and their latest betrayal demonstrates that workers can only go forward by making a complete break from all the Stalinist-Maoist controlled unions.

What is required is the building of genuinely independent rank-and-file committees in India and the mobilisation of workers to defend their jobs, wages and basic democratic rights on a socialist and internationalist program. To lead these struggles, a section of the ICFI in India is needed.
L ondons death toll from coronavirus surged over 1,000 today as experts warned that the peak may hit the capital in the next fortnight.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that the highest level of infections may arrive earlier than first predicted, and suggested that extreme social distancing measures started 12 days ago may have to be extended.

Another large increase in infections and fatalities was anticipated this afternoon on top of yesterdays official tally of 33,718 confirmed cases nationwide, including 9,291 in London alone, and 2,921 deaths.

The official NHS tally of death in London, which excludes fatalities outside hospitals and where relatives might not have been informed, went up by 171 to 899. But the more up-to-date unchecked total across the capital was 1,053, said the Health Service Journal.

Special look inside the NHS Nightingale Hospital - In pictures 1 /20 Special look inside the NHS Nightingale Hospital - In pictures The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle Portrait of Matthew Trainer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The map of the identical layout of each ICU station on the wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle Portrait of Dr Alan McGlennan, Medical Director of the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle The ventilator that will helps save lives at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre, Matt Writtle The ICU wards at the newly created Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre Matt Writtle

NHS London said over a quarter of the citys intensive care unit beds are free, meaning there is spare capacity. But officials told the Standard their modelling points to a steep increase in case-load, including a London peak next week or the week after.

The arrival of NHS Nightingale  potentially boosting critical care by the equivalent of 15 new district hospitals  means the capital is now ready to face the storm.

Prince Charles opening Nightingale hospital / PA

The Prince of Wales, who this week came out of self-isolation after contracting a mild form of the virus, performed the opening ceremony by video link.

On behalf of the nation, he thanked NHS staff, the military and construction workers who worked round the clock to transform the ExCel centre into a crisis medical facility

Charles, who is at his Birkhall home in Scotland, praised the tireless team effort in the first live address by a member of the Royal Family since the crisis began.

Nightingale hospital opening / PA

Matthew Trainer, deputy chief executive of the Nightingale, told the Evening Standard during a tour of the new facility: Our aim is to get Londoners out of here alive and we need people to keep following the guidelines on social distancing that will help us.

We are in extraordinary times and the people here have responded in an extraordinary way. The Chinese built a hospital incredibly quickly and people said we would not be able to do that here. But we have and we should be proud.

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It came as two siblings of Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, the 13-year-old who died after testing positive for coronavirus, have also developed symptoms, according to a family friend.

Ismails mother and six siblings are self-isolating and cannot attend his funeral in Brixton today, Mark Stephenson said.

Mr Hancock revealed the Government is looking at immunity certificates for people who are deemed safe to return to work because they have had the virus.

But the Secretary of State, who has just returned to the office after recovering from Covid-19, stressed he would personally continue to practise social-distancing because nobody can know for sure that they are immune until antibody testing is available.

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He was unclear about how many of the 100,000 tests promised yesterday would be swab tests for the virus, and how many would be the cheap and simple antibody test, whose accuracy is still being checked, which will eventually show if a person is immune.

Its a big ask, a big task, he said. Mr Hancock said there should be thousands of tests for NHS frontline staff soon, but did not give a firm target. Some 5,000 amazing NHS staff have been tested so far this week, he added.

Matt Hancock speaking in Downing Street / PA

Describing his illness as like having razors in your throat, Mr Hancock said social distancing would be needed until mass testing and tracking is established.

The first step is to get rate of infection down ... Then we need to make sure the testing is in place and the tracking so that if we release any of the measures we do not simply then have the infection spread again in the way that it was starting to spread when we brought the measures into place.

Mr Hancock said UK scientific advisers have not so far recommended that the public wear face masks.

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New York and other cities are telling residents to use masks or scarves to reduce inhalation of Covid-19. America announced its biggest daily tally of infections.

NHS Nightingale has been built in Docklands in less than a fortnight and will eventually be able to treat 4,000 patients.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast



Work began on March 23 and has been led by the managing director of St Bartholomews hospital Professor Charles Knight, who has been appointed chief executive, as well as military medics.

The first 42 beds, equipped with ventilators, will be available from today. However, health chiefs dont expect the first patients to arrive until next week as almost 500 intensive care beds are currently available in London.

It is understood that it will receive slightly lower risk patients from London hospitals whose ITUs get close to capacity.
As a public health graduate student who works with incarcerated people, I am concerned with how Montana has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incarcerated people are more susceptible to pandemics for several reasons. They are more likely to have a chronic illness or infectious disease than the general population. Prisons and jails are also often unsanitary, overcrowded and leave little ability to social distance.

Montana has already suspended all visits to prisons to help flatten the curve. There is much more we can do. Montana should decrease unnecessary arrests to limit the number of people entering jails; ensure that incarcerated people have free access to personal hygiene products; limit probation and parole requirements that force people to ignore social distancing and leave their homes unnecessarily, like random drug testing; and release people who are pretrial or convicted of low-level offenses.

Too often, the health needs of our justice-involved community members are ignored, despite the fact that the Supreme Court ruled that denial of health care in prison constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

We must do more to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in prisons and jails. The health of justice-involved people cannot be left behind in a pandemic.

Abaki Beck,

Missoula
Mr Isaac Adongo, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bolgatanga Constituency in the Upper East Region says the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic requires a way of life that is consistent with hygienic behaviour.



He said the fight required major attitudinal change and hygienic behavior, which were absent among Ghanaians, saying, Our people have lived very communal lives that have been very care free and we know that this virus strives on hygienic conducts when we dont observe them.



Mr Adongo was speaking at a media launch against COVID-19 in the Bolgatanga Constituency as part of measures to prevent the possible spread of the virus in the constituency, after he had earlier presented medical and non-medical consumables to the Municipal Health Directorate to fight the virus.



If this disease will have the courage to attack the Prime Minister of England, then, it is a respecter of nobody, and I want to appeal to the media to be very circumspect in the work that you do and not be swayed too much by the political rhetoric of those of us who are into politics.



The MP said the media had a critical role to play in achieving the core objective of driving the disease out of the country, We need to consistently develop a strategy that focuses on this disease as one that kills and to work towards killing the disease right now.



He said there would be no electorates to vote for political parties if the country did not survive the COVID-19 pandemic, and indicated that the main focus of their activities in the next couple of days was on a more united front to defeat the virus.



Dr Winfred Ofosu, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) who launched the campaign led by a three-member team of nurses, thanked the MP for the initiative and support against the COVID-19 pandemic.



He charged the team to collaborate with other health professionals in the Constituency, to visit all public places, especially drinking bars, market and lorry stations, Youth Parliaments among other places to educate them on the need to ensure social distancing.



He urged the team to also school members of the public on the GHS protocols on COVID-19 and the signs and symptoms associated with the virus.



Dr Ofosu said even though the Region had not yet recorded a case of COVID-19, they would not be surprised to see some in the near future due to the movement of persons in and out of the Region, and urged the team, all health professionals and the media not to relax but intensify education on the GHS protocols devoid of creating panic and fear in members of the public.



The items the MP earlier presented to the Municipal Health Directorate valued at about Gh 80,000.00, included 100 pieces of sterile reusable and disposable overall gowns, methylated spirit, examination gloves, face masks, 60 boxes of liquid soap, 78 Veronica Buckets and two spraying machines for disinfection of health facilities in the constituency.

Source: GNA









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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:39:43|Editor: huaxia

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Analytics firm GlobalData predicted that about 880,000 more ventilators are in demand globally amid the pandemic. Ventilator manufacturers across the world are running full-steam to meet the surging demand. China, one of the largest ventilator producers, has joined the global fight against COVID-19.

by Xinhua writers He Leijing, Cheng Lu, Zhu Xiao and Qin Huajiang

BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese ventilator makers are working around the clock to bolster supplies of the life-saving machine as global demand skyrockets due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hospitals around the world have faced a surge of patients with breathing difficulties from the coronavirus, which is sparking a global hunt for ventilators, a kind of medical devices that pump oxygen into the lungs and are essential to save the lives of the sickest.

Analytics firm GlobalData predicted that about 880,000 more ventilators are in demand globally amid the pandemic, with the United States reporting a gap of 75,000 ventilators, while France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Britain are collectively short of 74,000.

Ventilator manufacturers across the world are running full-steam to meet the surging demand. China, one of the largest ventilator producers, has joined the global fight against COVID-19 by ramping up its production of the life-saving machines.

China has 21 invasive ventilator makers and eight of them have obtained the European Union's compulsory CE marking, according to Xu Kemin, an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

"Chinese manufacturers have received orders for about 20,000 ventilators from other countries and have swung into full gear to meet the surging demand in foreign market," Xu said at a press conference on Monday.

Employees assemble ventilators at a plant of Beijing Aeonmed Co., LTD., an anesthesia and respiratory medical equipment enterprise, in Yanjiao, a town of north China's Hebei Province, March 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Xia Zilin)



IN FULL SWING

In a factory in Yanjiao, a town near Beijing inside the border of north China's Hebei Province, workers are busy testing, assembling and packing ventilators to catch up to the backlogs, making sure the devices can be delivered overseas as soon as possible.

"From production to shipment, we dare not to waste any minute. More than 500 workers have returned to their jobs and are toiling day and night," said Li Kai, assistant to the chairman of Beijing Aeonmed Co., Ltd., an anesthesia and respiratory medical equipment enterprise.

The company, which previously could produce thousands of ventilators a year, has recently seen overseas orders surge. It has received orders for over 1,000 ventilators from international organizations and foreign countries including Italy, Britain and Russia, and is ramping up efforts to lift the output.

"We have not taken even one day off since late January, and have already manufactured and delivered hundreds of ventilators to overseas markets, with thousands of products scheduled to be produced," Li said.

As the coronavirus outbreak is under better control in China, the country has sped up work resumption of businesses. The ventilator makers are increasing manpower to meet the growing global demand.

Employees produce ventilators at Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., a medical device manufacturer based in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)



At Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., a medical device manufacturer based in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, employees from the headquarters are turning into frontline workers to help tighten screws, label and assemble components of ventilators.

The number of workers at Mindray's Guangming Manufacturing Center in Shenzhen has thus increased to more than 3,800 from 2,000 and the company also turns to automation. "Now we can triple capacity and produce around 3,000 ventilators per month, and we hope to increase it to 4,000 by June," said Jing Jungang, general manager of Mindray's Manufacturing Department.

In ten days since March 19, Chinese companies have provided more than 1,700 invasive ventilators to other countries, Xu said on Monday.

STRICT QUALITY CONTROL

The official with MIIT said the ministry will take more steps to elevate production capacity, and it has urged firms to tighten supervision over quality and enhance production safety.

Starting Wednesday, exporters of medical products including COVID-19 testing kits, medical face masks, medical protective suits, ventilators and infrared thermometers need to provide extra documentation when they go through customs clearance, according to the commerce ministry.

The document, in either print or digital form, should contain a declaration that the products have been officially registered in China and meet the quality-control standards of respective export destinations, the ministry said in a notice on its website.

A technician tests a ventilator at a research and development center of Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co., Ltd. in Danyang, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Lin Kai)

Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co., Ltd., a major Chinese ventilator maker, announced Wednesday that certain types of ventilators made by its subsidiary obtained an Emergency Use Authorization in the United States.

"We have delivered 7,000 non-invasive ventilators to domestic market since the outbreak. Recently, the company has received orders for medical supplies from 58 countries, and the demand for ventilators has surpassed 20,000," said Yuan Zhen, deputy general manager of the company.

Yuan said all the exported ventilators are easy to operate with English manuals and installation instruction videos.

"But manufacturing a ventilator is no easy task, it requires strict quality control," he said, noting their research and development is based on clinical needs. "Products will first go through testing processes in the specialized test center, and then get tested again by third-party institutions and hospitals."

CONCERTED EFFORT

Each ventilator has more than 1,000 components, and some major suppliers of these parts are located in foreign countries. It requires the coordination of all sides.

"Some of our components including the solenoid valve are imported from overseas, and the suppliers are also working day and night, but there are many uncertainties due to the pandemic," said Li with the Beijing-based company.

A supplier of ventilator components told Xinhua that the solenoid valve is a precision electronic part, and the demand of a domestic ventilator company is about thousands of sets per year, but the figure rose up to 80,000 in a short period since late January.

An employee transports packages of ventilators that will be exported to Italy at Guangming Manufacturing Center of Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo called for global solutions to address the challenge caused by the pandemic. "Trade allows for the efficient production and supply of basic goods and services, medical supplies and equipment...Keeping trade and investment flowing will be critical to keep shelves plentiful and prices affordable," he said in a video on the organization's website.

To speed up deliveries of ventilators desperately needed worldwide, the Chinese government has also lent a hand. Local authorities give customs clearance priority to key components, promote work resumption of suppliers, and offer financial support for medical supplies enterprises.

For instance, starting March 19, Beijing Medical Products Administration cut handling time from seven days to one day for export certificate related to medical equipment.

"As we breathe the same air and share the same future, we will go to great lengths to contribute our own efforts into global fight against the coronavirus," Li said.

(Tu Ming, Yang Na, Ma Xiaocheng, Lin Miaomiao, Xia Zilin, Sun Fei, Chen Yuxuan and Jing Huaiqiao contributed to the story)

(Video reporters: Lin Kai, Zhou Ziyang, Tu Ming, Xia Zilin, Yang Na and Lin Miaomiao; Video editor: Chen Sihong)
By Express News Service

As the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak continues to spread across India, several reports of doctors and health workers coming under attack have come to the fore raising concerns over their safety. In Madhya Pradeshs Indore, seven people were arrested on Thursday in connection with Wednesdays attack on health workers at Taat Patti Bakhal locality under Chhattripura area, said DIG Indore HC Chari Mishra. The seven accused have been arrested and some others are being identified through video footage, he said.

Two women doctors were injured when the five-member team of health officials was pelted with stones while they were trying to trace a person who had come into contact with a COVID-19 patient, police said.

Dr Madhav Hasani, who is the general secretary of the MP Medical Officers Association has condemned the incident and raised the issue with states chief secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, demanding security of health workers and doctors engaged in the field screening and survey exercise.

Condemning the incident, the Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said such incidents will not be tolerated and those involved will not be spared.A similar scene played out in Assam when a youth Shahrukh Khan, who was kept under home quarantine following his return from Bihar, attacked a multipurpose worker of Assams health department at Hajo in Kamrup district last week. He was later arrested by the police.

In Bihars Munger district, a team of health workers and policemen were allegedly attacked by a mob when the team insisted on collecting samples from the family of an eight-old-girl, who had died on Monday and is suspected to have contracted the virus. The locals turned violent when the team wanted to place the family of the deceased in an isolation ward.

Taking note of the violence, the central unit of Indian Medical Association has written to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Thursday requesting him to take adequate steps for the safety of people of health fraternity.

We request your good self to take adequate steps to secure the hospitals and the lives of doctors. Any demotivation or fall in morale amongst doctors and health workers will be a serious setback, the IMA letter said.

Health workers had to face similar resistance from locals In Jharkhands Hindpiri on Thursday. A Malaysian woman, who was found along with 17 other foreigners in Hindpiri area of Ranchi, had tested positive of coronavirus on Tuesday. The district administration, after imposing curfew in the area, decided to conduct screening of every person living in the area and health workers were called in. The locals refused to let them in and said that did not need any check-up.
Lucknow, April 3 : Children in Uttar Pradesh, obviously inspired by the campaign against Coronavirus, are now taking their piggy banks to the nearest police stations to make their contribution to PM CARES fund.

In Kutesra village in Muzaffarnagar, two siblings reached a nearby police check-post on Thursday and handed over their 'lifetime' savings kept in two piggy banks for the needy people.

Sub inspector Shiv Kumar said, "I have informed deputy superintendent of police and sought his advice if this money can be accepted or not, but personally I admire the children for their effort." "The piggy banks have not been opened yet as we will first take the permission from higher authorities for it," he said.

The policemen, in turn, gave red roses to the children -- Adeeba, 10, and her 7-year-old brother Adib - as a token of appreciation.

Two days ago, a five-year-old boy, Devasthan, in Basti district went up to a police station and handed over his piggy bank. The boy did not know how much money he had in the piggy bank but said that he wanted to give it to the Prime Minister for the battle against Corona.

He said that he had seen on television how people were joining in the battle against the virus and he decided to make his contribution.

The cops tried to make the boy from giving up his savings because he had come alone to the police station but Devasthan was firm. "We will send the money to higher officials and they will decide how it has to be sent," said a police official in Basti.

Another six-year-old boy in Kanpur, Rohtash, told his parents that he wanted to 'sell' his toys and send the money to Prime Minister.

"We have convinced him to wait for the lockdown to be lifted. I will probably give the toys to an orphanage and give some money to Rohtash so that he feels that he has sold his toys to get money," said the boy's father who did not wish to be named.
[April 03, 2020] People's Bank Committed to Serving Communities

People's Bank of Commerce (OTCBB: PBCO) is pleased to announce that its $5 million capital offering was fully subscribed and completed on March 11, 2020. The new capital will add strength and resiliency to the Bank, which is committed to serving its communities during the COVID-19 crisis. As a Preferred Lender with SBA, People's Bank's is participating in the new SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that went live at 12:01 am on Friday, April 3rd. The Bank has successfully submitted applications and has received multiple approvals via the SBA E-Tran system. People's Bank is committed to assisting clients in the communities we serve as they navigate throug these uncertain and challenging times.



About People's Bank of Commerce People's Bank of Commerce's stock trades on the over-the-counter market under the symbol PBCO. Additional information about the Bank is available in the investor section of the bank's website at: www.peoplesbank.bank.

Founded in 1998, People's Bank of Commerce is the only locally owned and managed community bank in Southern Oregon. People's Bank of Commerce is a full-service, commercial bank headquartered in Medford, Oregon with branches in Medford, Ashland, Central Point, Grants Pass and Klamath Falls. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005536/en/

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Los Angeles billboard star Angelyne has been forced to adapt to the city's Safer At Home guidelines in wake of the growing coronavirus pandemic.

But the 69-year-old model refused to sacrifice style for safety, when she stepped out on Thursday afternoon sans mask or gloves for a coffee run in her Los Angeles neighborhood.

Angelyne, who arrived to the java joint in her iconic pink Corvette, flaunted her slender stems in a leopard print mini dress with pink trim on the hem.

No sacrifice: Angelyne refused to sacrifice style for safety, when she stepped out on Thursday afternoon sans mask or gloves for a coffee run in her Los Angeles neighborhood.

She layered up her look with a pink cropped jacket and a stylish chiffon scarf covered in hearts.

Her bleach blonde hair was carefully styled into voluminous curls, while her signature blunt bangs neatly framed her face.

With two coffees in hand, the Los Angeles icon carefully waddled her way back to her unmissable vehicle in a pair of leopard open toed wedge heels.

Angelyne became a Los Angeles celebrity in 1984, when she began buying up billboard space across the city that featured illustrations and photos of herself in suggestive poses.

Iconic: Angelyne, who arrived to the java joint in her iconic pink Corvette, flaunted her slender stems in a leopard print mini dress with pink trim on the hem

Self made celebrity: Angelyne became a Los Angeles celebrity in 1984, when she began buying up billboard space across the city that featured illustrations and photos of herself in suggestive poses

Though she would go on to release two albums of new waveinspired music, her billboards did not have an advertising agenda.

Most of her billboards, which sometimes numbered more than 200, would simply feature her famous mug, her curvaceous frame, and her name in large lettering.

The semi-anonymous celebrity could be seen around the city driving in her unmissable pink Corvette, but little was known about her until a 2017 expose in The Hollywood Reporter.

Exposed: The semi-anonymous celebrity could be seen around the city driving in her unmissable pink Corvette, but little was known about her until a 2017 expose in The Hollywood Reporter; Angelyne pictured in 1996

Using public records and interviews with old friends, journalist Gary Baum revealed that Angelyne was born in Poland in 1950 as Ronia Goldberg.

Her parents, Polish Holocaust survivors who endured unimaginable horrors in multiple concentration camps, moved to Israel shortly after her birth, before migrating to the United States in 1959.

By the mid-1970s, Angelyne traded out her natural red hair for blonde locks and a pink wardrobe. She's admitted to multiple cosmetic surgeries over the years, though she wouldn't become famous for being famous for nearly a decade more.

Biographical: Most recently, Shameless star Emmy Rossum has been filming a limited series about Angelyne's life for NBCUniversal's upcoming streaming network Peacock; Rossum pictured in February

Shocked: But in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail in March, the blonde bombshell admitted that she was shocked at how Rossum was plastered with prosthetics as part of her costume; Angelyne (left) in 2012 and Rossum (right) in March

Most recently, Shameless star Emmy Rossum has been filming a limited series about Angelyne's life for NBCUniversal's upcoming streaming network Peacock.

The series, created by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, who's also her husband, is based on the Hollywood Reporter article and features the actress in striking makeup and costumes to mimic Angelyne's unmistakable look.

She's also had to wear fake cleavage and old-age prosthetics to match the billboard star's current visage.

Rossum announced in February that Angelyne had signed on to the miniseries as an executive producer.

Party for one: 'She's tall, she's skinny, it's prosthetics. God bless her, she's going to do the best she can. But I've spoken to them about that, they're trying to make it look a little bit better,' said Angelyne

But in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail in March, the blonde bombshell admitted that she was shocked at how Rossum was plastered with prosthetics as part of her costume.

'I just spoke to them about the way they portrayed me visually, because she looks nothing like me at all,' said Angelyne in the interview.

'She's tall, she's skinny, it's prosthetics. God bless her, she's going to do the best she can. But I've spoken to them about that, they're trying to make it look a little bit better.

'But nobody's going to look like me. There's only one Marilyn, there's only one Elvis, there's only one Michael Jackson, and there's only one Angelyne. People can try to emulate but really there's only one.'
Meek Mill speaks to the press about a visit to State Correctional Institution Phoenix in 2019. Read more

Nearly 100,000 surgical masks have been sent to prisons to protect inmates from the coronavirus, courtesy of Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, Sixers partner Michael Rubin, and their criminal justice reform organization.

On Friday, with the help of author and prison reform advocate Shaka Senghor, the Reform Alliance rushed 50,000 masks to New Yorks Rikers Island, where hundreds of inmates and staff have been infected with the virus.

It plans to deliver 2,500 to a Rikers medical facility; 40,000 to the Tennessee Department of Corrections; and 5,000 to the Mississippi State Penitentiary, the organization said in a statement.

The deliveries come as prisons across the country start to see cases of the coronavirus and activists, including the ACLU of Pennsylvania, call for officials to reduce prison populations by releasing low-level offenders and people with health conditions that make them more susceptible. Corrections officials say they can handle the crisis and dont want to threaten public safety.

 READ MORE: What its like to be locked in prison during the coronavirus pandemic

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has said he wants to reduce the citys jail population which is about 4,400  due to the pandemic. There have been cases reported in city jails, as well as in correctional facilities in Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties.

I cannot sleep. I cannot breathe, and I feel like Im going to die, one inmate in York County Prison wrote last month. Nobody in here can even get me an inhaler. How can they save us from this virus?

Along with sending masks, and Rubin making masks for health-care workers, the Reform Alliance is also advocating for reductions in jail populations.

Governors and people who run jails and prisons in this country need to take the pandemic in Rikers as a warning, news commentator, author, and Reform Alliance CEO Van Jones said in a statement. Were in danger of seeing prisons coast to coast turn into morgues. It is important to get medical supplies in, and it is equally important to get more human beings out."

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania asked FEMA for nearly 500,000 N95 masks. Its still 380,000 short.

Meek Mill, Rubin, and Jay-Z founded the Reform Alliance last year. The organization was a byproduct of the #FreeMeek movement that took off after Mill was sentenced to two to four years in prison for probation violations related to a 2008 arrest.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to ban walking in groups of more than two people, except for those who accompany children, in order to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this in his address on Friday, April 3.

"We have adopted a resolution prohibiting public gatherings of more than two people, with the exception of those accompanying children," he said.

As Ukrinform reported, on April 3, the government approved a list of additional restrictions during quarantine.

Since March 12, 2020, the quarantine has been introduced in Ukraine to fight the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19.

On March 25, the emergency situation regime was introduced across Ukraine. The quarantine was extended until April 24.

As of 10:00 on April 3, Ukraine had 942 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 23 deaths. Nineteen patients recovered. Over the last 24 hours, 138 new coronavirus cases were confirmed.

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SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon Office of Emergency Management announced Thursday Gov. Kate Brown's early action to impose aggressive social distancing measures could be working.

In a joint press conference with officials from the Oregon Health Authority, they said data from the Institute of Disease Monitoring outside of Seattle is seeing a positive outlook for the state. The data suggests with the current trajectory Oregon is on, residents will see a gradual increase in cases. This will allow hospitals to keep up with the number of people getting sick and not be overwhelmed like the country is seeing in current hot spots.

Dr. Dean Slidelinger from the Oregon Health Authority said this trend depends on two things, continuous aggressive social distancing and the supply of personal protective equipment for health care workers.

"If we can accomplish those things, we are cautiously optimistic that here in Oregon cases seem to be rising at a level where we will be able to care for those who need it most," Slidelinger said.

Officials from both state agencies stressed the public still needs to follow the governor's aggressive social distancing orders. If the public doesn't, then there could be a spike in cases that overwhelms Oregon's health care system.
The ballroom at Fitzroy Town Hall looked like army battle lines.

Yarra City councillors walked down white lines constructed from masking tape, made abrupt 90-degree turns and sat on chairs so far apart they could barely hear each other speak.

There were no tables because they were deemed too hard to sanitise.

Mayor Misha Coleman found herself hunched over the computer in her lap, trying to chair a council meeting across three different platforms.

An immunocompromised staff member dialled in. So did a 70-year-old councillor.
Nearly a million medical-grade masks and gloves that were seized this week from a Brooklyn man who was charged with lying to federal agents about price-gouging will go to medical workers in New York and New Jersey, the authorities said Thursday.

The need for masks and personal protective equipment, known as PPE, is acute in the New York metropolitan region, an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

The stockpile of supplies that were seized included 192,000 N95 respirators, 130,000 surgical masks and nearly 600,000 medical grade gloves, the authorities said. They said they also had recovered surgical gowns, disinfectant towels, particulate filters, hand sanitizer and spray disinfectant.

The man who was charged with lying to federal agents, Baruch Feldheim, 43, charged a doctor $12,000 last month for a large order of masks, gowns and hazmat gear at a 700 percent markup, according to the F.B.I. The agency called it a glaring example of hoarding of medical supplies that are designated as essential under a presidential executive order.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:51:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged respect for nature, harmony between human and nature, and efforts to build a Beautiful China.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while attending a tree-planting activity in Beijing.
COLUMBUS, OhioGov. Mike DeWine announced Friday he is asking judges to consider releasing 38 non-violent inmates early to help protect them from contracting coronavirus at an Ohio prison.

DeWine, speaking during his daily briefing at the Ohio Statehouse, said his administration is sending letters to judges around the state suggesting that they hold a hearing regarding the release of these inmates. If hearings are held, victims of the offenders will have an opportunity to weigh in before any decision is made, the governor said.

Of the 38 inmates, 23 are women who are either pregnant or who recently gave birth in prison, DeWine said. The other 15 are older than 60 and are within 60 days of being released.

None of these inmates are violent offenders, and none have any outstanding warrants or major infractions while in prison, the governor said.

These individuals seem to make sense, DeWine said.

DeWine said it will be up to the judges to decide whether these 38 inmates, if they are released, should go into Ohios parole system or not.

The governor said he could have used his power to commute sentences, but he wanted to leave the final decision to the courts that sentenced the 38 people.

Already, a number of county jails have moved to depopulate their facilities because of the coronavirus, which as of Friday has infected more than 3,300 people in Ohio, killing 91. The Cuyahoga County Jails population dropped by about 300 in just eight days in mid-March.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio tweeted Friday that the governors announcement "is a step forward, but it will simply not be enough to protect the vast majority of Ohioans behind bars.

Other types of inmates should be considered for release as well, the ACLU of Ohio stated, including people serving time for low-level, drug, or non-violent convictions, as well as technical violations"; as well as those who have health issues or have 6 months or less remaining on their sentence.

Last week, the ACLU of Ohio and three other groups called on DeWine to reduce the population of Ohios 31 prisons, which DeWine said currently stands at 48,991 inmates.

The groups argue that people behind bars tend to already have worse health statuses, live in conditions that make it virtually impossible to practice social distancing, and have limited access to health care.

These are the perfect conditions for COVID-19 to spread like wildfire, the groups stated in a letter to the governor.

On Thursday, two Cleveland-area law firms asked DeWine and the states prisons agency to grant emergency reprieves and temporarily release thousands of Ohio prisoners at risk of serious illness or death should they contract the coronavirus behind bars. A human-rights and constitutional-rights crisis is brewing inside ODRC prisons, their filing stated.

However, Bill Faith who heads the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO), said releasing prisoners without first ensuring they have somewhere to live puts further strain on the states already-overburdened homeless-shelter system.

In many instances, Faith said, those being released are given nothing more than the items they came in with and a card directing them to nearby homeless shelters and food pantries. This is a really stupid idea, he said.

As prisoners are released, coupled with mounting job losses, Ohios homeless shelters are quickly becoming crowded, creating ideal conditions for new outbreaks, Faith said.

Were dealing with some awful situations in the homeless shelters where we have so many people congregated together, he said. And its just waiting for a massive outbreak.

Read more Ohio coronavirus coverage:

Ohio lawmaker has been waiting two weeks for coronavirus test results

What we know and dont know about Ohios coronavirus trends

The questions and answers from Mike DeWines Twitter Q&A on coronavirus

Federal judge denies Ohios request to halt ruling permitting some surgical abortions during coronavirus pandemic

Ohio State researchers say state coronavirus modeling will likely be public next week
Former CMs of Jammu and Kashmir have now been rid of their perks

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: The government has withdrawn privileges and perks to former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir. This includes rent free accommodation.

This perk was being availed by former chief ministers, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Under Section 3-C of the State Legislature Members' Pension Act, 1984, former chief ministers were entitled for rent free accommodation, expenditure to the limit of Rs 35,000 per annum, free telephone calls up to Rs 48,000 per year, free electricity to the extent of Rs 1,500 a month, car, medical facilities, petrol and driver.

First death in Kashmir: 65-year-old religious preacher dies of coronavirus

"Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a member who is entitled to a pension under this Act and who has served as Chief Minister of the State, shall be entitled to a car, petrol, medical facilities, driver, rent-free furnished accommodation, expenditure to the limit of Rs 35,000 per annum for furnishing of the residential accommodation, free telephone calls up to the value of Rs 48,000 per annum, free electricity to the extent of Rs 1500 per month etc," Section 3( C) of the Act says.

The decision to withdraw these facilities comes after the Centre abrogated Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ceasing all export of respirators produced in the United States would likely cause other countries to retaliate and do the same, as some have already done. If that were to occur, the net number of respirators being made available to the United States would actually decrease, the company said. That is the opposite of what we and the Administration, on behalf of the American people, both seek.
The announcement comes as Egypt detected 86 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest reported daily toll so far, bringing the total to 865

The World Bank is providing $7.9 million to Egypt to fund emergency response activities related to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, a statement by the World Bank Group read.

According to the statement, the World Bank on 20 March activated the Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) under the Transforming Egypts Healthcare System Project over the pandemic.

"The World Bank is mobilising quickly to support Egypts emergency response activities and the implementation of a preventive plan to confront the COVID-19 outbreak, said Marina Wes, World Bank country director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti.

The CERC activation will support the Egyptian government with the implementation of the preventive plan against the coronavirus, the World Bank added.

Egypt detected 86 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest reported daily toll so far, bringing the total to 865, as well as six new fatalities, giving a death toll of 58.

Last month, the World Bank Group said would roll out a $14 billion fast-track package to strengthen coronavirus response in developing countries and shorten the time to recovery.

The immediate response includes financing, policy advice and technical assistance to help countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

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Debra Parrish-Hooks saw education as her life's purpose and took a leadership role in helping ensure that children of all abilities had access to a quality education.

Since 2011, Mrs. Parrish-Hooks had been executive director of Exceptional Children Have Opportunities, a special education cooperative for students with disabilities and those at risk academically in the south suburbs. She was the organization's assistant director for eight years.

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"She gave her all  she was so focused on providing educational opportunities for all children, especially children with special needs," said board member Cecilia Heiberger, superintendent of Lansing School District 158. "She's greatly missed already."

"She was so concerned about the plight of black children and that they were not getting the proper education," said Cheryl Judice, a longtime friend. "That really became her passion  to make sure there was equity in education."

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Mrs. Parrish-Hooks, 59, died of ovarian cancer Sunday, Jan. 12, in her Flossmoor home, according to her daughter Mariah Hooks-LeBlanc. She lived in Flossmoor for many years.

Born Debra Parrish, she grew up on the South Side of Chicago and credited her mother, also an educator, with being her role model.

After graduating from the since-closed Academy of Our Lady, she received a degree in social science and education from DePaul University. She later received a master's degree in counseling from Pepperdine University in California, said her husband, William Hooks, a Cook County Circuit Court judge.

Mrs. Parrish-Hooks also received a master's degree in educational administration from Governors State University in University Park and in 2007 got a doctorate in educational leadership from National Louis University in Chicago, her husband said.

Along the way, she worked as an elementary teacher and later as a counselor in the Chicago area. She also worked as a counselor and school psychologist in Virginia, where she moved with her husband, who was in the Marine Corps at the time of their 1975 marriage.

After the family's return to Illinois in the mid-1980s, Mrs. Parrish-Hooks worked in school psychology, special education, student services and administration for a number of south suburban school districts, including West Harvey-Dixmoor District 147, South Holland District 150, Lincoln Elementary District 156 in Calumet City and Park Forest District 163.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Parrish-Hooks never lost focus on the educational needs of children.

In a "life purpose statement" Mrs. Parrish-Hooks wrote as part of her doctoral course work, she spoke of her conviction that many children are at risk and of her determination to work with parents and educators to help those students.

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"She was concerned that children would get labeled with these negative labels at an early age," said Judice, a faculty member in Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy.

"It was really about making sure every child was being served," Mariah Hooks-LeBlanc said.

Her concern extended beyond children, according to her husband, who said she spent a great deal of time mentoring and preparing others for leadership positions not only in education but in other fields.

"She took a lot of satisfaction in helping people reach their highest potential," he said.

Survivors also include another daughter, Ashley Hooks-Williams; her mother, Grace Parrish; and two grandchildren.

Services were held.
A hilltop fortress town in Spain that cut itself off from the rest of the world in a bid to tackle coronavirus has not recorded a single case among its inhabitants.

Zahara de la Sierra sits high above the Andalusian countryside in southern Spain.

On March 14, the same day Spain announced it was extending its state of alarm, the town's mayor Santiago Galvan, 40, blocked all but one of its five entrances.

Zahara de la Sierra, high in the Andusian mountains, was once fought over by the Moors and Christians in the Medieval times because of its perfect position overlooking a valley

Since then Spain has recorded more than 117,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 11,000 deaths.

But not one single case of Covid-19 has been recorded among Zahara's 1,400 inhabitants, more than two weeks after the town cut itself off.

The checkpoint on the one road into the town that remains open is manned by a single police officer.

Two men wearing protective clothing normally used for spraying the olive groves wash every vehicle that enters with bleach and water. Each vehicle must also drive through a make-shift ditch to disinfect its tyres.

The town's mayor has introduced intense measures to keep Covid-19 out. Every day 10 people walk the streets with disinfection machines. Another business pays two women to deliver medical supplies and groceries to residents to reduce footfall in the town

He added: 'There is no car that comes through the checkpoint that's not disinfected. We have managed to give tranquility to our neighbours. They know no one unknown can come in.'

Other sanitation measures introduced in the town include disinfection procedures.

Galvan said that every Monday and Thursday at 5:30pm around 10 people disinfect the town, streets, plazas and outside homes of Zahara de la Sierra.

Zahara de la Sierra is in the province of Cadiz and around an hour's drive away from Seville

One local farmer, Antonio Atienza, drives his tractor through the town and sprays the streets.

Another local business pays two women to deliver groceries and medical supplies to residents for around 11 hours a day.

Each vehicle that enters the town's one remaining access point must drive through a make-shift ditch to ensure their tyres are disinfected. Two men wearing protective clothing wash every vehicle with bleach and water

WHAT ARE THE CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS? The virus, called COVID-19, is transmitted from person to person via droplets when an infected person breathes out, coughs or sneezes. It can also spread via contaminated surfaces such as door handles or railings. Coronavirus infections have a wide range of symptoms, including fever, coughing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Mild cases can cause cold-like symptoms including a sore throat, headache, fever, cough or trouble breathing. Severe cases can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory illness, kidney failure and death. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Advertisement

One of the women, Auxi Rascon, 48, told CNN: 'They [the residents] are very happy, because they don't need to go out, they feel protected and feel confident.

'They took the right measures at the right moment, and now we are seeing the results.'

The mayor's drastic action has had the full support of the townspeople, of which nearly a quarter are older than 65.

The Zaharilla women's association also arranges basic repairs for elderly residents who need help. A Facebook page created for older residents has started a drive to get old photos online.

To keep spirits high, Galvan said that two cars have been fitted with music and lights that children can look at from their balconies.

Much of Zahara's economy is provided by family-run businesses and the self-employed.

Galvan that the town council has dipped into its contingency fund to cover electricity, water and taxes costs for local businesses during the national state of emergency.

Spain is the country most affected by the coronavirus in Europe after Italy and a state of emergency has been in place since March 14. In a bid to keep spirits high two cars in Zahara de la Sierra have been fitted with music and lights (pictured) to entertain children who watch from their balconies.

Spain has recorded the first drop in its daily death toll since March 26

He said that ultimately, though, Zahara will need financial support from Madrid or the regional government.

The fortress town is just an hour from Seville and a popular destination for tourists who flock to see its white houses and narrow streets that cling to the steep hillside, complete with medieval fortifications and rolling olive groves.

Galvan said that they had to turn away French and German tourists who were unaware of the town's measures in the first few days after he blocked the entrances.
ALBANY  While the number of people being hospitalized each day due to COVID-19 continues to increase across the Capital Region, hospital leaders said Friday that the rate at which new people are being admitted appears to be slowing.

Up until about four or five days ago, the number of coronavirus patients being admitted to hospitals across the region was growing by roughly 33 to 35 percent a day, said Dr. Steven Hanks of St. Peters Health Partners, which has hospitals in Albany and Troy. That growth rate has since fallen to below 20 percent, he said.

"We are cautiously optimistic that that represents the positive effects of social distancing," he said So we cant emphasize enough to the public  and we know it gets old quick  but the social distancing is working and we need to continue social distancing because were trying to avoid the situation where the health care systems capabilities are outstripped by the demands of the patient population."

Hanks and leaders from six other hospitals in the Capital Region held a news conference Friday to explain their capacity to take in new patients, as well as their plan for coordinating transfers up from New York City in a way that wont jeopardize care to the local community.

Thirty-eight patients were transferred to regional hospitals this week as hospitals downstate grappled with overflowing emergency rooms. The first known transfers to the region  14 patients from overrun Flushing and Jamaica hospitals in Queens  arrived at Albany Medical Center late Tuesday night. An additional 24 transfers arrived in the region Thursday, and were spread out across various hospitals to help balance the load, officials explained.

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Albany Med and St. Peter's Health Partners each accepted six of the new transfers. Ellis Medicine in Schenectady and St. Mary's Healthcare in Amsterdam accepted four each, while Saratoga Hospital  which doesnt typically take transfers  accepted three.

"Those patients who came  we may or may not have any relation to them," said Albany Med president and CEO Dennis McKenna. "They may not be my brother, they may not be my mother, they may not be my spouse. But they are certainly somebody's mother, somebody's father, somebody's sister, somebody's spouse, somebody's child."

He appeared to be reacting to a sentiment that has reverberated across social media this week among people who believe that downstate transfers to the area will jeopardize Capital Region residents' ability to access care. He and other area hospital leaders say thats unequivocally false. Hospital census is down across all area facilities due to the cancellation of elective procedures, a drop in injuries due to fewer people being out on roads and in public, and the ongoing attempt by the general public to avoid unnecessary hospital trips right now.

In addition, all area hospitals have developed surge plans to boost existing bed capacity by at least 50 percent and, in some cases, beyond, he noted.

"We did not take these patients from New York City because theyre from New York City," McKenna said. "We did not take them because theyre from New York state. We took them because theyre people who needed help and we would do that every day and we would do it twice on Sunday because that is what medical centers do when they want to help out people."

The hospitals have developed a plan for coordinating all transfers in from the city, while also modeling expected surges to account for local needs and capacity, they said.

Albany Med will field all transfer requests for the area, and then make calls to area hospitals to determine who has the space and who is best suited to accept patients based on the severity of their condition, said Fred Venditti, hospital general director for Albany Med.

We know by speaking to area hospitals how many patients and the types of patients they can take, he said.

Albany Med has established a data analytics team that is assessing daily bed census and capacity, predictions for how many patients are expected to move from medical/surgical floors into intensive care, and how many of those patients are expected to require ventilators. The team is working up various modeling scenarios, he said, that will then help the hospital determine at what point it can no longer accept outside transfers.

Other area hospitals have been conducting similar modeling for their individual hospitals, according to Hanks. The goal, he said, is to develop a regionwide model with data from all the local hospitals. Indeed, hospitals have already begun feeding their data to Albany Med, he said.

Really what we need to know is when is the likely surge to hit and how high will the wave be when it hits right here in the Capital District? he said. And so thats the thinking behind using the data analytics team.

Hospital leaders did not say much Friday about Gov. Andrew Cuomos new executive order, which enables the National Guard to seize ventilators and personal protective equipment from hospitals that don't currently need them and redeploy them to harder-hit areas of the state.

Venditti said hospitals in the area are carefully tracking their ventilators  used and unused  and currently have "adequate numbers" to handle a "pretty reasonable increase" in patients who might need them.

Upstate hospitals have been asked to loan 20 percent of their unused ventilators to struggling downstate hospitals.

Hanks said he believes it makes more sense to encourage the movement of patients from hard-hit areas of the state to less-affected areas, versus moving the ventilators, since hard-hit areas may not have the available staff or even space to use them.

Meanwhile, Capital Region hospitals continued to insist Friday that they have an "adequate" supply of personal protective equipment, or PPE. But health care workers at multiple area hospitals have said they are being actively discouraged from wearing surgical masks while not caring for COVID-19 patients, despite the virus' ability to shed in asymptomatic people. They say they're worried they will inadvertently infect someone, or become infected themselves.

Hanks said that St. Peter's Health Partners parent organization  Michigan-based Trinity Health System  is moving to a new protocol, effective Friday, that authorizes all employees with "patient-facing responsibilities" to wear masks.

Other hospital leaders from the area say they are continuing to examine the issue of whether more employees should be wearing masks, but stressed their need to conserve PPE for those working on COVID-19 units.

Dr. David Liebers, chief medical officer at Ellis Medicine and an infectious disease specialist, admitted that staff are being discouraged from bringing in their own PPE such as goggles and gowns because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the staff who may not have such equipment.

Its certainly possible that asymptomatic staff members are coming into our organization, he said. Thats why were doing very careful screening of all our staff.

As of Friday, 50 health care workers at Albany Medical Center were known to have tested positive for the virus. Figures from other hospitals were not released.

Also on Friday, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came out and said the general public should wear masks when venturing out around others, but encouraged the use of masks that are more rudimentary than the surgical masks used by health care workers.

NEW TEST SITE

Cuomo announced Friday that the state will open a COVID-19 drive-through testing site at the University at Albany's uptown campus.

The site, which will be operated by the Department of State, will open Monday at the school's Colonial Quad parking lot, but only for those who make appointments beforehand. No walk-in or unscheduled testing will be allowed.

Residents who have symptoms and believe they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should call the states hotline at 888-364-3065 to be approved for testing at the site. They will be given a PIN number that enables access to the site.

Once there, they would be ushered through a series of checkpoints, which will be staffed by State Police, the National Guard and UAlbany police.

The testing site will cause some roadways around the university to be blocked, and the school is asking people to avoid driving to the northwest corner of the campus.

RISING CASES, DEATHS

Three new deaths due to COVID-19 were announced in the Capital Region on Friday, bringing the areas known death toll from the virus to 14.

Albany County announced that two more residents had died. Both were men in their 60s with underlying health conditions. One died Thursday night, and the other Friday morning.

The county also announced that a cashier at the Popeyes restaurant at 900 Central Ave. in Albany tested positive for the virus. Anyone who got food from the restaurant on March 23 between 4 and 10 p.m. or March 25 between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. is asked to call the county health department at 518-447-4580.

Meanwhile, Montgomery County experienced its first known death due to COVID-19  a retired Amsterdam firefighter died Friday at St. Mary's Hospital.

The death of Dave Swart, who operated Dave Dawg's food stand on Church Street in Amsterdam, was noted in a statement posted Friday to the Montgomery County government Facebook page.

"On behalf of our Montgomery County family, we are deeply saddened by the loss of Dave Swart," the statement said. "Our hearts go out to his family, friends, the Amsterdam Fire Department and the many lives he touched throughout the community. Such a kind person will be missed by all."

Swart turned 69 in March, according to public records, and his struggle with COVID-19 was publicized in recent days by stories in the Amsterdam Recorder newspaper. After his hospitalization, friends and family posted signs at his shuttered food stand. "You Got This Dave," one sign said.

On Thursday, his wife, Pam Swart, warned on social media that her husband's condition was worsening.

"Dave is doing a little worse than yesterday," she wrote. "Keep up the prayers and thoughts coming. You are holding me up and I know Daves is feeling the love."



There are now over 700 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the greater Capital Region. Below is a breakdown of known case counts, hospitalizations, recoveries and deaths, as reported by local counties or the state.

Albany County: 254 cases, 30 hospitalized, 15 adults in ICU, 4 deaths

Columbia County 57 cases, 5 hospitalized, 2 in ICU, 22 recovered, 2 deaths

Fulton County: 6 cases

Greene County: 27 cases, 4 hospitalized, 12 discharged

Montgomery County: 12 cases, 4 recovered, 3 remain under medical care, 1 death

Rensselaer County: 71 cases, 20 hospitalized, 14 recovered, 1 death

Saratoga County: 148 cases, 18 hospitalized, 1 death

Schenectady County: 101 cases, 21 hospitalizations, 21 recoveries, 5 deaths

Schoharie County: 11 cases

Warren County: 19 cases, 14 recovered

Washington County: 16 cases, 4 recovered

Chris Churchill and Steve Hughes contributed.
China will observe a national day of mourning on April 4 for martyrs, including the "whistleblower" doctor Li Wenliang, who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and the over 3,300 people who died of the COVID-19 in the country.

During the commemoration, national flags will fly at half-mast across the country and in all Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and public recreational activities will be suspended across the country, official media reported on April 3.

At 10.00 am on April 4, Chinese people nationwide will observe three minutes of silence to mourn the deceased, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships will wail in grief.

Fourteen frontline workers in Central China's Hubei Province, including "whistleblower" doctor Li Wenliang, were identified as martyrs on April 2 for sacrificing their lives in combating the COVID-19 outbreak.

The first group of martyrs includes 12 medics, one police officer and one community worker who fought on the frontlines.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

According to the list, eight martyrs were members of the Communist Party of China. The oldest one was a 73-year-old while the youngest was 30 years old.

Li Wenliang, 34, an ophthalmologist was one of the eight "whistleblowers" who tried to warn other medical workers of the novel coronavirus outbreak but was reprimanded by the local police. He died on February 7 after contracting COVID-19.

The national mourning day will be observed to express the nation's deep sorrow for the deaths of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the COVID-19 and people who died because of the outbreak, state-run Global Times reported.

Chinese officials earlier said that over 3,000 medical personnel contracted the disease.

According to official reports, 10 medical staff, including doctors, died of the disease.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) on Friday said that it received reports of 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on April 2, of which 29 were imported.

Two new domestic cases were reported- one in Liaoning Province and one in Guangdong Province.

Also, on April 2, four deaths, all in Hubei Province, took the death toll in the country to 3,322.

On the same day, 60 new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported on the mainland, including seven imported.

NHC said that 1,027 asymptomatic cases were still under medical observation, including 221 from abroad.

Asymptomatic coronavirus cases are those who test positive for the virus but do not show any symptoms and have the potential to cause sporadic clusters of infections.

As of April 2, a total of 81,620 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported on the Chinese mainland, and 3,322 people had died of the disease.

Saturday also marks China's Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.

It is a tradition for the Chinese people to pay respect to their ancestors, deceased family members and national heroes and martyrs on the day of the festival.

China held its last national day of mourning in May 2008 for the victims of the Wenchuan Earthquake in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, which killed more than 69,000 people.
Earlier this week, Married At First Sight's Mikey Pembroke was falsely accused of being 'patient zero' for COVID-19 in Australia.

The false rumour started when he was shown coughing during Tuesday's reunion episode, which was filmed in mid-January after he had returned from a trip to Italy.

On Friday, the 29-year-old operations manager was criticised by some of his followers on Instagram after he made a joke about the speculation.

Just kidding! Married At First Sight's Mikey Pembroke divided fans on Friday after joking about false rumours he'd contracted coronavirus in Italy and brought it to Australia in January

Posting a photo from his holiday, Mikey wrote: 'Throwback to when I apparently picked up and brought COVID-19 to Australia!'

While most of his fans got the joke, some couldn't find the humour in it.

'Pathetic joke grow up,' one of them snapped. Another added: 'You sounded sick at the dinner on Tuesday. So maybe you did. Not funny.'

Unfortunate caption: Posting a photo from his trip to Italy, Mikey wrote: 'Throwback to when I apparently picked up and brought COVID-19 to Australia!'

However, most of the comments were simply gushing over Mikey's good looks, with many fans saying they'd happily catch coronavirus from him.

'Wouldn't mind copping some Rona from him!' one follower wrote. ('Rona' is an Australian slang term for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.)

Another commented: 'Look how thirsty some of these comments are.'

'Wouldn't mind copping some Rona from him!' Despite some backlash, most of the comments were simply gushing over Mikey's good looks, with many fans saying they'd happily catch coronavirus from him

Earlier this week, viewers falsely speculated on Twitter that Mikey was 'patient zero' for COVID-19 in Australia because he kept coughing on camera at the reunion dinner party, which aired on Tuesday.

While there is no evidence Mikey was exposed to COVID-19, and none is suggested, fans pointed out that he had just returned from a holiday in Italy when the episode was recorded on January 15.

However, Mikey could not have been exposed to COVID-19 for the reason that the first detected case in Italy was some time later, namely on January 29.

Bizarre! Earlier this week, Married At First Sight fans came up with a bizarre - and false - theory that Mikey had coronavirus when he filmed Tuesday night's reunion dinner party

'Mikey came back from overseas. He is coughing. Patient zero?' one person tweeted at the time, in the first of several false claims.

Another wrote: 'Why isn't Mikey in quarantine? I mean, that's a lot of coughing.'

A third added: 'Oh God, Mikey's coughing, he's patient X for coronavirus with this lot.'

Speculation: Viewers falsely speculated on Twitter that the 29-year-old operations manager was 'patient zero' for COVID-19 in Australia because he kept coughing on camera

Coincidence: While there is no evidence Mikey was exposed to COVID-19, fans pointed out that he had just returned from a holiday in Italy when the episode was recorded on January 15

Mikey coughed frequently throughout the episode and at one point stepped outside and had a coughing fit - but this wasn't due to coronavirus.

The dinner party was stressful for Mikey, who was forced to admit to his one-night stand with Stacey Hampton or face the wrath of his ex-'wife', Natasha Spencer.

Last Wednesday, Mikey reflected on his trip to Italy at the start of the year.

Phew! However, Mikey could not have been exposed to COVID-19 for the reason that the first detected case in Italy was some time later, namely on January 29. Pictured in Rome

He captioned a photo of himself on a balcony in Rome: 'Italy is a little like my family's adopted country, being there only a few weeks ago and now seeing them really struggling as they approach 7,000 [coronavirus] deaths is devastating.

'This s**t it serious... what we do now will determine how badly it will affects us. Without health, it's impossible to move forward... thinking of everyone.'

Coronavirus symptoms include a cough, fever, tiredness and difficulty breathing. (Mikey does not have coronavirus.)

Italy is one of the worst-affected countries, with more than 115,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and almost 14,000 deaths.

As of Friday morning, there are 5,315 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including 25 deaths.
Lesley Ann Devereux (38) from Greystones, has expressed her gratitude to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, British Government and Irish Embassy in Peru for getting her and many others home through closed borders.

She arrived home on Sunday afternoon a mammoth journey and days of worry. 'It was a huge sense of relief touching down on Irish soil,' said Lesley Ann.

She took a 20-hour bus journey to Lima to catch a specially chartered British Airway flight from a military base to London. The final leg of the journey was with Aer Lingus to Dublin.

The GOAL worker had decided to join her Peruvian husband in his home country before starting a new post with the charity at its Dun Laoghaire HQ.

The couple were due to fly home on March 31 but a week after she arrived, Peruvians and foreigners alike were given 28 hours to get to their home cities or leave the country.

Due to the logistics involved, this proved impossible and they watched as all commercial flights were cancelled and the border closed.

Lesley Ann and her husband were locked down in a small hostel in the tourist city Cuzco with around 12 other people. 'It was surreal,' she said. 'Military police were controlling the quarantine. The city was shut down.'

Tourists from Ireland and the UK joined forces to campaign for help to get home. Their respective governments stepped in negotiate their repatriation, resulting in a very relieved Lesley Ann's arrival home.
Study estimates 1 in 7 frontline medical workers may miss work to care for their children when US schools are closed to reduce the spread of COVID-19

US policymakers considering physical distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 face a difficult trade-off between closing schools to reduce transmission and new cases, and potential health-care worker absenteeism due to additional childcare needs that could ultimately increase mortality from COVID-19, according to new modelling research published in The Lancet Public Health journal.

Using the latest data from the US Census Bureau's Current Population Survey to measure the childcare needs of health-care workers if schools are shut, researchers estimate that nationwide, at least one in seven medical workers may have to miss work to care for their children aged 3-12 years old, even after taking into account childcare provided by non-working adults and older siblings within the same household.

These additional childcare obligations could compromise the ability of the US healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 if alternative childcare arrangements are not made, researchers say.

However, the authors caution that the true impact of school closures on overall deaths from COVID-19 cannot be precisely predicted because of large uncertainties around estimates of transmission and infectivity, and to what extent a decline in the health-care workforce impacts the survival of patients with COVID-19.

"Closing schools comes with many trade-offs, and can create unintentional child-care shortages that put a strain on the health-care system", says Professor Eli Fenichel from Yale University in the USA who co-led the research. "Health-care workers spending less time providing patient care to look after their own children can directly influence the development of an epidemic and the survival of those patients. Understanding these trade-offs is vital when planning the public health response to COVID-19 because if the survival of infected patients is sufficiently sensitive to declines in the healthcare workforce, then school closures could potentially increase deaths from COVID-19." [1]

Support for mandatory school closures to reduce cases and mortality from COVID-19 comes from experience with influenza, or models that do not include the effect of school closure on the health-care workforce. Few studies have considered the trade-off between case reduction and disease burden and the potential loss of healthcare workers to childcare obligations.

In the study, researchers analysed data on more than 3 million individuals between January 2018 and January 2020 to assess family structure and probable within-household childcare options for health-care workers. They identified those most likely to require additional childcare for children aged 3-12 years old in the event of school closures by type of health-care occupation nationally and across different states, assuming that early childcare for children aged under 2 years remains open. They also modelled potential declines in the health-care workforce during school closures with estimates of case reductions from school closures to identify the point at which more lives are lost from school closures than are saved.

The analyses suggest that around 29% of US health-care workers need to provide care for children aged 3-12 years old. In households without a non-working adult or a sibling aged 13 years or older to provide care, the researchers estimate that 15% of health-care workers will require childcare--equivalent to around 2.3 million children nationwide--if schools close. However, the authors note that they were unable to account for health-care workers finding alternative methods of care for their children such as babysitters or friends.

School closures will be especially challenging for nurse practitioners (22% will need childcare), physician's assistants (21%), diagnostic technicians (19%), and physicians and surgeons (16%), as well as nearly 13% of the nursing and home health aids who are single parents and part of the group helping the elderly with infection control in nursing homes, researchers say.

The US states likely to have the greatest unmet childcare needs include South Dakota (21% of health-care workers will need childcare), Oregon (21%), and Missouri (21%). In contrast, Washington DC (9% health-care workers with unmet childcare needs), New Mexico (10%), and New Jersey (11%) are least likely to have health-care worker shortages if schools close.

Further analysis suggests that if the case fatality fraction (the share of people who die out of all those infected) rises from 2% to more than 2.4% when the health-care workforce declines by 15%, school closures could lead to a greater number of deaths than those they prevent. However, there is substantial variation across the country. For example, in South Dakota estimates suggest that the case fatality rate must not increase by more than 1.7% before school closures stop saving lives and start increasing overall mortality, whereas in Washington DC it is 4.1%--this is due to the low child care obligations in Washington DC relative to South Dakota.

"The US healthcare system appears disproportionately prone to labour shortages from school closures, particularly among those health-care workers providing infection control in nursing homes", says co-lead author Dr Jude Bayham from Colorado State University, USA. "These potential health-care workforce shortages should be a priority when assessing the potential benefits and costs of school closures, and alternative child care arrangements must be part of the school closure plan." [1]

According to Fenichel, "Closing schools and distancing in general is about bending the curve to stay below hospital capacity and reduce COVID-19 mortality, but how we distance in order to bend the curve can also influence the hospital capacity we need to stay below. We need to account for both."

The authors note some important limitations of the study, including that the authors informed their model based on the influenza virus, to which children are particularly vulnerable--however, early data on COVID-19 suggests children may be less vulnerable, so the benefits of school closures may be smaller than expected. On the other hand, the authors note that closing schools earlier in an outbreak could prevent more cases and lead to less health-care workers being infected and thus able to treat more patients. The study did not include mortality from other conditions that might occur if the health-care workforce declined, which should be taken into consideration when deciding about closing schools, the authors say.

###

NOTES TO EDITORS

It was conducted by researchers from Colorado State University, USA; and Yale University, USA.

The labels have been added to this press release as part of a project run by the Academy of Medical Sciences seeking to improve the communication of evidence. For more information, please see: http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/AMS-press-release-labelling-system-GUIDANCE.pdf if you have any questions or feedback, please contact The Lancet press office pressoffice@lancet.com

[1] Quotes direct from authors and cannot be found in the text of the Article.

Peer-reviewed / Modelling study / People
In some cases, groups or lobbyists representing companies like Google and Facebook have pursued changes, like the delay in Californias privacy law enforcement, that they were already hoping for before the pandemic. Others representing companies such as Amazon have asked for regulatory changes to benefit their businesses where demand is now soaring because of the outbreak.

Its certainly opportunistic, said Daniel Auble, the senior researcher at the Center for Responsive Politics, a research organization that tracks money in politics. Everybodys searching for every way that they can get some kind of assistance, whether its cash or delaying a regulation that will cost them money to implement, and may or may not have an effect on their performance during the crisis in essential ways.

While many industries rocked by the virus have recently asked Congress for direct financial assistance, tech companies requests are striking because Silicon Valley has not suffered from the same devastation as businesses in areas like travel or retailing.

Instead, tech services are increasingly in demand as millions of people work and socialize from home to avoid being infected by the coronavirus. Amazon orders have soared so much that the company has put a priority on shipping essential items like soap, food and toilet paper. Google has provided temporary free access to some of its remote work tools. And Facebooks traffic has surged.

Amazon, Google and Facebook are very well positioned, said John Blackledge, a tech analyst at Cowen, adding that the companies have substantial cash reserves to weather an economic downturn.
Samsung is pursuing in-house foldable glass as a way to combat expensive prices of bendable smartphones. According to new reports, the tech behemoth isnt pleased by the fact its already sourcing foldable display panels from its sister company. Instead, its planning to supplement Samsung Displays supply with its very own screen modules.

The plans understood to be in extremely early stages. For now, Samsung Electronics is merely looking for partners meant to assist in those endeavors.

Industry watchers also claim Samsungs desire to lower component supply prices is just part of the equation. On the other hand, the company is also eager to increase the availability of foldable glass in general.

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As things stand right now, foldable smartphones are an extremely niche product category due to a variety of reasons. Besides high price tags, some prospective buyers remain put off by durability concerns.

Samsung not happy with current foldable glass prices

Samsung attempted addressing some of those pain points with the recently released Galaxy Z Flip. However, with a starting price of nearly $1,400, the flagship remains out of the reach of many.

Having a more immediate path to foldable glass would certainly help Samsung put a dent in those prices. At the same time, it wouldnt signficantly impact its profit margins. Quite the contrary, it might even improve them.

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The majority of consumer-facing price tags still come down to covering R&D and marketing costs, not production. For example, the foldable glass module of the Galaxy Z Flip costs approximately $40 to manufacture. Thats still a far cry from the average tempered glass panel which Samsung can produce for around $2 a piece, naturally.

An alternative source of foldable glass wouldnt just lower the prices of Samsungs bendable Android handsets; it may prompt a similar change on an industry-wide basis. Namely, Samsung Display is still ramping up its foldable panel production capabilities irrespective of its sister companys ambitions.

Even if Samsung Electronics makes its supply chain more autonomous, that would simply leave Samsung Display with a larger quantity of panels it could sell to third parties. In effect, the number of foldable smartphones would increase, which would also lower prices.

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Its unlikely any of that comes to pass until late late 2021 at the earliest. As for the immediate future, Samsungs expected to release at least one other ultra-premium foldable by the end of the year. The company also wont be moving away from its traditional handset lines anytime soon.
The HRD Ministry has launched a helpline portal for students who are facing difficulties due to closure of schools and colleges in view of the nationwide lockdown to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

The portal developed by two student interns at All India Council of Technical (AICTE) was launched by Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Friday.

"This portal is essentially to connect those who are willing to provide help with those who need help. The nature of support includes accommodation, food, on line classes, attendance, examinations, scholarships, health, transport and harassment of any kind," the Human Resource Development minister said.

"As many as 6,500 colleges have already come forward to provide support at such a crucial juncture. Students in difficulty are encouraged to directly get connected with them through this portal," he added.

According to the Health Ministry, so far there have been 2,301 cases of COVID-19 in India and 56 deaths out of which 12 were reported since Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the face of the covid-19 pandemic, local government leaders across the country are rising to the enormous challenge of coordinating emergency public health measures and ensuring timely public communications, all while trying to keep the government running uninterrupted.

Many are doing this in various states of administrative upheaval, as they work to quickly transition their workforce and technology to enable remote operations. Unforeseen challenges to maintain business continuity are emerging among many local governments, including how to communicate with residents, how to host council and other public meetings, and how to keep City Hall running.

Dozens of OpenGov customers are demonstrating leadership and resilience as they resourcefully adapt in response to this crisisrapidly enabling public-facing communication sites and virtual council meetings with public input. Provided below are examples of how local governments nationwide are working to ensure quality public communications, maintain operations, and enable strategic decision-making amidst this growing crisis.

A Single Source of Truth for Accurate, Rapid Public Communications

Cities including Redding, CA are using OpenGov's public communications platform, OpenGov Stories , to keep community members up to date on covid-19 announcements and local response measures. Having already faced the Carr Wildfire in late 2018, the City was poised to respond in a crisis and understood one of their most urgent priorities was to coalesce public safety information into a single, accessible source of truth to ensure accurate real-time updates.

While others may not have had the same experience coming into the crisis, they are learning to quickly adapt their communications to meet the urgent need. After collaborating with OpenGov staff, the Town of Needham, Mass. used OpenGov Stories to consolidate several different web pages into a cohesive covid-19 response page within 72 hours, featuring daily announcements, real-time stats and public health data visualizations, such as the number of active cases and administered tests. Additionally, Needham's Health Department team can now update their covid-19 page in real time (without IT help), with some aspects embedded directly into the Town's social media feeds, enabling the rapid and widespread dissemination of information.

"In times of crisis, it's especially important for governments to be able to communicate clearly and quickly with the public," said Cyndi Roy Gonzalez, Public Information Officer for the Town of Needham. "The team at OpenGov made that job much easier for us by providing us with an engaging web platform to help us share information. Our new Covid-19 website is low-maintenance and easy to navigate. Feedback from the public has been positive."

Other agencies have also found success rapidly deploying public communication sites in response to covid-19, with Dallas County, for example, launching their response site featuring embedded, dynamic reports and public feedback collection in less than 72 hours. Dozens of other cities and counties are following suit, launching their own unique response sites featuring real-time updates, case statistics, and other safety information, such as those published by Waco, T exas , Pompano Beach, Fla , and Half Moon Bay, Calif .

Enabling Decision-Making Through Virtual Meetings and Public Input

Another important administrative hurdle for local government decision makers is the ability to have and stream virtual council meetings, and to be able to solicit public feedback during the process. Officials in the California cities of San Mateo and Daly City have both begun leveraging OpenGov's public meetings and feedback tool, Open Town Hall , to ensure they stay virtually connected with their communities during such a critical time.

"Daly City wanted to preserve the public input process during the pandemic, so we approached OpenGov to help take our City Council meetings and Commission meetings fully virtual," said Stephen Stolte, Assistant to the City Manager. "It has been a surprisingly seamless transition for our City. We are using the 'Open Town Hall' feature as a one-stop shop for our virtual meetings, where the public can watch a live stream of our online meeting, read the agenda and supporting documents, and comment on specific agenda items. We have received great feedback so far."

In addition to city council meetings, Open Town Hall is also allowing departments to continue doing business by enabling other virtual meetings such as plan commission meetings. "Having to move quickly on our feet, our Open Town Hall platform allowed our City Clerk's office to solicit public comment for our virtual council and planning commission meetings," said San Mateo City Clerk Patrice Olds. "This helped us keep the public involved and run business as usual in unprecedented time."

As local governments across the country respond to covid-19, they are being called to adapt and stretch their capacity beyond what they thought was possible. Spurred by the urgency of the time, cities and their govtech partners are also coming together in effective and creative new ways. In addition to offering OpenGov Stories and Open Town Hall for free to customers through the end of the year, OpenGov is actively working to serve other public agencies who need support enabling flexible, accessible cloud-based software to continue operations and keep our communities running.

About OpenGov

OpenGov is the leader in providing our nation's state agencies and local governments with modern cloud software to help power more effective and accountable government. Built exclusively for the unique budgeting, financial, and community development needs of the public sector, OpenGov solutions help our more than 1,000 customers plan effectively, increase efficiency, and improve engagement through better collaboration and transparency.

SOURCE OpenGov

Related Links

https://www.opengov.com


It is planned to introduce the first gas in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) sections in Albania and then in Italy in coming weeks and months, Murad Heydarov Chairman of TAP Board of Directors, told local media.

TAPs project activities are in full compliance with the COVID 19 related sanitary provisions in Greece, Albania and Italy. We aim at enabling the project to progress towards delivering first gas within 2020. Despite the challenges related to lockdowns and quarantine measures, works are currently progressing with extreme care. In these unprecedented times, TAPs utmost priority is the health and safety of its staff, contractors and sub-contractors personnel. At the end of February 2020, the TAP project was almost 93.5 percent complete. In the upcoming weeks and months, we plan to introduce first gas in Albania and then in Italy. However, we continue to monitor the evolution of COVID-19 very closely, following the guidance of public health authorities at international and national levels. We keep high our readiness to adjust our planned project activities to further requirements of the host countries and react efficiently if the situation changes. As I said the health of all people assigned to the project is our utmost priority, he said.

TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.

Connecting with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network.

The project is currently in its construction phase, which started in 2016.

Once built, TAP will offer a direct and cost-effective transportation route opening up the vital Southern Gas Corridor, a 3,500-kilometer long gas value chain stretching from the Caspian Sea to Europe.

TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmar Jails Two Returning Migrant Workers for Defying Quarantine

Migrant returnees arrive at a makeshift quarantine center in Lemyethna Township, Ayeyarwaddy Region. / U Soe Khaing / Facebook

YANGONCourts in Myanmars Ayeyarwaddy and Sagaing regions have jailed two men who recently returned from abroad for refusing to stay at quarantine centers as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Lawmaker U Soe Khaing from Ayeyarwaddy Regions Lemyethna Township told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the township court sentenced a man who returned from China to three months in prison with hard labor for refusing to stay in the township quarantine center.

The returnee fled the quarantine center on Wednesday after being sent there on Saturday.

Township police arrested him on Thursday and the court sentenced him on the same day under Section 18 of the Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease Law.

The man was sent directly to prison, U Soe Khaing said.

Also on Thursday, Pale Township Court in Sagaing Region in northwest Myanmar sentenced another returnee migrant worker for failing to follow the instructions of the quarantine center supervisor earlier that day, lawmaker U Myint Kyi told The Irrawaddy.

The township court sentenced the returnee to six months in prison with labor under Section 30(a) of the Natural Disaster Management Law.

The man would be sent to prison after spending 14 days in a quarantine center, according to a local news report.

As of April 2, Myanmar had a total of 20 COVID-19 cases, including two children.

You may also like these stories:

Latest COVID-19 Developments in Myanmar: April 1, 2020

Myanmar Told to Brace for Major COVID-19 Outbreak as Returning Migrant Among New Cases
The coronavirus pandemic has hit the television industry particularly hard, as all shoots have been stalled and episode banks are exhausted. As makers of television shows suffer massive losses, producer Ekta Kapoor has announced her decision to forgo a years salary of Rs 2.5 crore, so that her employees at Balaji Telefilms are not forced to take a pay cut.

In a statement shared on her Instagram account, Ekta wrote, The impact of CORONA crisis is huge, unprecedented and multi-pronged. We all need to do things that will ease the hardships of people around us and of our country at large. It is my first & foremost responsibility to take care of the various freelancers & daily wage workers who work at Balaji Telefilms & who are going to suffer immense losses due to no shootings in the current scenario and uncertainty over the indefinite period to follow.

The statement added, I would thus forsake my one years salary that is Rs. 2.5 crores at Balaji Telefilms so that my co-workers dont have to take a hit during this period of crisis and complete lockdown. The only way ahead, is together. Stay Safe, Stay Healthy.

Also read: Aamir Khans daughter Ira calls herself fashion disaster, shares struggle with complicated dresses in throwback photo

Last month, Ekta announced that since they were unable to shoot new episodes of their popular shows Kumkum Bhagya and Kundali Bhagya, they would temporarily replace it with their ALTBalaji web series Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat, starring Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar. The show will air on Zee TV from 9pm to 10pm.

Meanwhile, all administrative and production work across Ektas production houses - Balaji Telefilms, Balaji Motion Pictures and ALTBalaji - has been completely stopped. Amongst many firsts, this is the first time we have shut office, as the team worked even during the floods, terror attacks and bank holidays. But today is not about spirit, but safety! she shared in a statement posted on her Instagram account.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Coronavirus has become 'the Rona' and is even being called 'the c-word' by some, but only a covidiot would believe 'the cozza' will stand the test of time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we go about our lives and it is already creating words and phrases that are entering Australian English.

Macquarie Dictionary's team of editors has been following the use of coronavirus language since the outbreak began and is gathering terms to include in its next online and print editions.

The disease is set to launch more new words than any other cataclysmic event since the last world war.

'COVID-19' will be appearing online in Macquarie's next update along with established variant forms 'coronavirus', 'Wuhan coronavirus' and '2019-nCov'.

Slang words including 'iso' for self-isolation and 'sanny' for sanitiser will go in while 'covidiot' likely won't make the cut and 'boomer remover' is still being considered.

Coronavirus has been shortened to 'the Rona' and is now being called 'the c-word' by some, but only a covidiot would believe 'the cozza' will make it into dictionaries. Sunbathers are pictured ignoring beach closures at Vaucluse in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

'Social distancing' could be the Macquarie Dictionary's word of the year and 'self-isolation may be included. A woman is pictured gesturing her hotel room at the Crown Promenade in Melbourne on March 30

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we go about our lives and it is already creating words and phrases that are entering Australian English. 'Sanny' is being used for sanitiser

Two of the Macquarie team's first decisions were to settle on 'coronavirus' over 'the coronavirus' and the fully capitalised 'COVID-19' rather than 'Covid-19'.

The Macquarie's senior editor Victoria Morgan said 'P2' and 'N95' face masks and 'wet market' would make debuts and 'flatten the curve' might appear.

'And of course we've got "social distancing",' Ms Morgan said. 'That's in our database as we speak.

Social distancing had been defined by the Macquarie as 'the practice of maintaining a distance, usually specified by a health authority, between individuals, as a means of limiting transmission of an infectious disease.'

So widespread was the phrase it was already firming as favourite for the dictionary's word of the year.

'I don't think it will be the disease itself,' Ms Morgan said of that official recognition. 'I think it will have to go to one of the new terms that comes up.

'Whether it's "social distancing" or whether that will be too old by then, we're watching.'

Two of Macquarie's first decisions were to settle on 'coronavirus' over 'the coronavirus' and the fully capitalised 'COVID-19' rather than 'Covid-19'. Pictured is the SARS-CoV-2 virus

'Iso' for self-isolation and 'sanny' for sanitiser have become colloquially established terms. A woman is pictured walking past hand sanitiser in a Sydney shopping centre

'Coronavirus' as defined by the Macquarie means: 'An RNA virus affecting mammals, the cause of a variety of illnesses in humans, including the common cold.'

'COVID-19' exists to differentiate it from other coronaviruses. Broken into parts, it means CO(RONA)VI(RUS) + D(ISEASE) + (20)19 (referring to the year it was first reported).

Ms Morgan said the dictionary's editors were constantly monitoring Australians' use of coronavirus language including on social media and in news reports.

New COVID-19 words for the Macquarie Going in: COVID-19, Social distancing, P2 and N95 face masks, wet market, iso, sanny, Wuhan coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2 Being considered: The Rona, rony, corony, coronary, boomer remover, flatten the curve, the c-word Unlikely: The cozza, magpie, covidiot, covidiocy Advertisement

'With the current coronavirus we've seen a number of terms that have definitely been established and are already in our database,' she said.

'We always monitor terms and they can change. It's our job to reflect those changes but we also need to establish usage to start with before an entry is to go into the dictionary.'

It had been relatively easy for the dictionary to decide the standard form of writing 'COVID-19'.

'We were watching this very early and whether COVID-19 was capitalised or whether it was "coronavirus" or "the coronavirus", things like that,' she said.

'What we have found is it really has settled into COVID-19, all caps. I don't think people would question that any more but that was something we were watching.

'Initially everyone was reporting about "the Wuhan coronavirus", but the World Health Organisation was trying to sort of get away from that.

The Macquarie Dictionary's senior editor Victoria Morgan says editors are constantly monitoring Australians' use of language including on social media and in news reports

'Magpie' has been suggested as a word for hoarders panic-buying goods. Shoppers are pictured buying toilet paper at a Sydney supermarket

'The Australian government sort of settled on the "2019-nCoV" but again while that is a term used it is not the predominant term. So we have that in as a variant for COVID-19.'

Ms Morgan said Macquarie's editors were keeping an eye on slang versions of coronavirus and there was currently a clear leader.

'Colloquially for COVID-19 the disease we have "the Rona" with a capital R leading the charge,' she said.

Macquarie Dictionary COVID-19 definitions COVID-19: /kovd-nantin/ (say kohvuhd-nuyn'teen), /kvd-/ (say kovuhd-) noun a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2; first appeared in China in 2019. Also, coronavirus, Wuhan coronavirus, 2019-nCoV. [CO(RONA)VI(RUS) + D(ISEASE) + 19 (referring to the year it was first reported)] SARS-CoV-2: /saz-ko vi-tu/ (say sahz-koh vee-tooh) noun the coronavirus which causes COVID-19. [s(evere) a(cute) r(espiratory) s(yndrome)-co(rona)v(irus)-2; 2 used to distinguish from the virus which caused SARS] social distancing: /sol dstns/ (say sohshuhl 'distuhnsing) noun (especially in epidemiology) the practice of maintaining a distance, usually specified by a health authority, between individuals, as a means of limiting transmission of an infectious disease. Advertisement

'But there's "rony" and "corony" and also "the cozza" - which is really taking it to a new level. "The Rona" is ahead by far.'

Macqurie's editors would continue to watch which words fell away and which remained popular.

'All these terms we're watching,' Ms Morgan said. 'They seem to come and go so we don't know if these are going to be established and we don't want to jump the gun.'

The most recent terms Ms Morgan had encountered were 'boomer remover', which refered to COVID-19's impact on the elderly, and 'the c-word'.

'"Boomer remover" from what we've seen so far has been used humourously but I know that there is a very dark underlying sense there,' Ms Morgan said.

'That surprised me, that's only been the last few days and it's being used a lot more than I would have expected.

'The favourite with the editors at the moment is "the c-word". Lots of people will think it's hilarious and some people might take offence.'

Ms Morgan gave an example of how to use that phrase: 'I'm about to head to the shops, if you don't hear from me again the c-word has taken me out.'

Some entries such as P2 were already on the Macquarie's watch list because of their use during summer's devastating bushfires.

'At that stage it was definitely a P2 mask - we hadn't heard N95 then. While these existed before they weren't prevalent.'

COVID-19 is believed to have sprung from a Chinese 'wet market' where fresh meat and fish are sold and for the first time that term will go in the Macquarie Dictionary

'Iso' for self-isolation and 'sanny' for sanitiser had become colloquially established terms.

COVID-19 is believed to have sprung from a Chinese 'wet market' in Wuhan where live exotic animals are sold for meat and for the first time that term will go in the Macquarie.

'Up until now it just hasn't warranted an entry in our dictionary but because of all the coverage and we're familiar with it now that is something we'll have to cover as well,' Ms Morgan said.

'Self-isolation' and 'flatten the curve' were still being considered.

'We are looking at this,' Ms Morgan said. 'We have the prefix 'self' and then 'isolation' and the same with 'self' and 'quarantine'.

'So it's quite transparent. Self isolation doesnt mean anything other than what it means. You can self-isolate in other circumstances as well.

'But because it is so big now it could be useful for us to put in its own an entry.'

'"Flatten the curve" is one we're looking at as well. There's also the variant "squash the sombrero".

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we go about our lives and it is already creating words and phrases that are entering Australian English. Passengers are pictured leaving the Ruby Princess cruise ship at Circular Quay on March 19

'That doesn't so much apply in Australian English but we do see that being used if people want to be a bit lighter about it.'

'Magpie' has been suggested as a word for hoarders panic-buying goods and 'covidiot' for someone who ignores public health warnings but Ms Morgan had seen little use of them.

'They have been constructed and the public hasn't picked them up and run with them which is really interesting.'

'There's the other thing where existing words, words that have been in our language, lots of people aren't aware of and they've come to the forefront.

'They're words like "patient zero" and "PPE" for personal protective equipment. They're things that most people wouldn't have really thought about before.'

Ms Morgan said coronavirus was providing more new words than any recent major event she could recall.

'Self-isolation' and 'flatten the curve' were still being considered by the Macquarie's editors

'When things like this happen that are big enough and effect our lives so much this is where new terms do seem to arise from.

'With the GFC there was a small amount of language that resulted from that but I think the biggest ones we would have seen are the world wars.

'I guess the closest thing is the internet and social media, which just created a whole new language. New devices, new technologies new behaviours around everything.

The next online edition of the Macquarie Dictionary will be published mid-year

'But I think otherwise you need to go back to recessions and depressions and world wars.'

Ms Morgan said while the Macquarie's editors were doing most of the word-spotting contributors were pointing out language - particularly slang - being used on social media.

The next online edition of the Macquarie is due mid-year with a print edition in July or August.

'We are looking at maybe putting a new subset up because I think a lot of people are trying to look these words up and also settle on a form,' Ms Morgan said.

'People can email into our website terms they can't find in the dictionary or think should be in.'

Ms Morgan said once COVID-19 has passed the language it created would remain.

'It will be reflected in our language after we're over and done with it and I guess this language will be there if this happens again,' she said.

'It will leave a legacy in language itself in Australian English. Not just Australian English but all world languages.'

The Macquarie Dictionary invites feedback or suggestions of new words.
Prisons in America are already overcrowded, under-supported, and maddeningly profitable for the people who made them that way. And when people die in incarceration under more normal circumstances, it still tends to get ignored or covered up. As a result, some of them have been struggling with how to deal with social distancing, quarantine, and general medical safety during this pandemic. (Case-in-point: Joe Exotic may have been exposed to coronavirus.)

Even in that context, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections offered a particularly absurd excuse for their less-than-bare-minimum effort in treating incarcerated people with basic humanity. According to CourtWatch MA, a volunteer community group that acts as a watchdog for the state prison system, the state's latest prison capacity report claims that the DOC is prepared for a capacity of 7,492 people. But there are 7,916 people currently incarcerated by the state  nearly 500 more than that design/rated capacity. (The state also claims that its operational capacity is 10,157, which is not consistent with the data available records requests.

This week, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court asked the sheriffs of 14 counties to provide information about their handling of this overcrowding during the coronavirus outbreak, to ensure that they're all adhering to proper CDC guidelines. Here's the first question they asked:

Approximately what percentage of inmates or detainees sleeps within six feet of another inmate or detainee? Individuals in disciplinary isolation should be excluded from this estimate.

That seems fairly straight-forward. But the sheriff Hampden County responded that "0% sleeps within six feet of one another" at the main institution, the women's facility, the regional recovery and wellness center, and the pre-release center in that county. That's good!

Except that every single answer includes a parenthetical caveat: "(100% are able to sleep six feet or more apart utilizing in some units, head to positioning consistent with CDC guidelines.)"

How is it that 100% of the incarcerated people in Hampden County are able to sleep six-feet apart from one another, while 100% of them are also sleeping head-to-toe?

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office applied this exact same logic:

36% of all inmates are in single cell. 64% sleep in dormitory bunk beds. The inmates/detainees who are in dormitory style bunk beds are being arranged head to toe so that there is at least six feet separation between individual inmates. The spacing between the actual bunks in the dormitories are at least approximately 3 feet.

So there's  3 feet of space between the bunks on the bed  which is also 6 feet  if you turn your head around? Does it add an extra foot if you sleep on your stomach? What about if you sleep on your left side, and the person 3 feet above you sleeps head-to-toe on their left side  does that add another 3 feet? What's worse: that these people are genuinely terrible at math, or that they actually think this logic passes any muster?

Regarding meals, the Bristol County Sheriff's Office also added:

3% [of incarcerated people] eat only in their cells which may be double bunked and one can eat on the bunk and the other can eat at the desk which is approximately four feet of separation.

Four feet of separation. Which is  not six feet, as required by the CDC.

Prisoners Legal Services of Massachusetts have already issued a response to this, because it's clearly inhumane and dangerous.

The Sheriffs' of the fourteen counties of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts response to the Court's order of April 1, 2020 [Commonwealth of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court / Mass.gov]

Image: Officer Bimblebury / Wikimedia Commons (CC 4.0)
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca confirmed 2,456 new cases of COVID-19 in Turkey on Thursday. 79 more people have died.

The total number of cases is now 18,135 and the total number of fatalities now stands at 356 with 415 people recovered and 1,101 being treated in the ICU, the minister added.

READ: COVID-19 deaths in Turkey rise to 356

Global COVID-19 cases top 1 million as death toll passes 50,000

A man wearing a protective face mask walks in front of Saint-Denis Basilica on the seventeenth day of lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 in Saint-Denis, Paris on April 2, 2020. (AFP Photo)

Coronavirus continues its relentless march across the globe with the number of cases around the world now more than one million.

The number of fatalities is now more than 50,000.

More than half the planet is now on lockdown

READ: Global COVID-19 cases top 1 million as death toll passes 50,000

Together We Are Stronger (Birlikte Daha Gucluyuz)

Fethiye residents have conveyed their thanks to the Governors office and Fethiye Municipality for everything they are doing.

READ: Together We Are Stronger (Birlikte Daha Gucluyuz)

Stricter controls at Fethiyes markets

Stricter controls have been imposed at Fethiyes markets to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus among stallholders and their customers.

The report from MuglaTurk indicates, while stalls have been spread further apart than normal at todays Friday market, barriers have also been erected and a one-in-one-out system is operating at designated entry and exit points similar to the restrictions used in larger supermarkets.

Markets at Patlangic tomorrow and Cals on Sunday may follow suit.

Source: http://www.muglaturk.com/haber/koylu-milletin-efendisidir-2051.html?fbclid=IwAR3RAig47O9Rc1NuMHZTyiOEIVUnSxnBCLObS6vac0OfDXQ9WU2TPnmEHG8

Vehicle TUV inspections postponed for 3 months

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has granted an additional three months to those who are unable to take their vehicle for TUV inspections due to the corona virus outbreak. This is effective from 3 April 2020.

If necessary, the three-month period could be extended by the Ministry.

Source: https://gercekfethiye.com/arac-muayeneleri-3-ay-ertelendi/26386/?fbclid=IwAR0U5ZULm4G7DCVQxIHrwe3fg05Omq1S-wXozTpNMUfRlnLxOiLT3jtFOMc

Fethiye Mayor holds press conference about COVID-19 in Fethiye

In a press conference this afternoon, Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca gave an update on COVID-19 in Fethiye.

Mehmet Saltk, 71, who was treated for Covid-19 at Fethiye State Hospital, died two days ago and was buried by at Catalark Cemetery by a team from the Municipality.

His wife, Sevinc Saltk, is currently receiving treatment for the virus at Fethiye State Hospital. She has suffered serious damage to her lungs however, her general condition is good.

The couple lived in Hamburg, Germany and came to Istanbul in February and to Fethiye on 18 March. They were admitted to the hospital on 24 March where they were diagnosed

as COVID-19 positive.

The Mayor stated that there is no quarantine in the Akarca District, where the couple lived. He said, The Health Directorate related to that region are carrying out a comprehensive study as to whether the area should be isolated. This controlled study continues and there is no quarantine

The Mayor went on to say Currently, there are 5 positive coronavirus cases in Fethiye State Hospital. There are also 8 other patients displaying symptoms awaiting test results. Serious problems are waiting for us if we do not stay and home. We want to stop people entering Fethiye. I ask all of our citizens on the street, please be isolated in your homes.

Source: https://gercekfethiye.com/koronadan-olen-sahis-18-mart-ta-fethiye-ye-gelmis/26397/

New system for electricity and naturals bills

In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, a new system will be used for calculating electricity and natural gas bills from April.

To protect the personnel who read the meters from the virus, the bills will be based on average usage from the last two years.

After the epidemic, meters will be read and an adjustment will be made to accounts based on actual usage from those readings.

If there is no previous consumption history for any particular month, invoices will be issued calculated on the precedent consumption or the consumption of other properties of the same type and size.

Source: https://www.haber48.com.tr/ekonomi/elektrik-ve-dogal-gaz-faturasinda-koronavirus-donemi-h32067.html?fbclid=IwAR3YCmRn0TzMPLEdRQuTy1myN3g6KKs4kkmyp37rO_088sRPYR097DA1MHs

Global statistics

There are now 1,062,237 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, of which 225,603 have recovered. The number of fatalities stands at 56,570.

Source: Worldometer.

Follow Fethiye Times on social media for regular updates.

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#EvindeKalTurkiyem
The current optimism of analysts and the media that an end to the ongoing OPEC+ oil price spat is near is entirely unjustified. The ongoing oil market volatility, the battle between leading producers for market share, the logistical impossibility of enforcing U.S. production cuts, and the continued demand destruction caused by COVID-19 are not issues that can be solved by an OPEC meeting. Immediately after Trumps latest OPEC twitter offensive, Saudi Arabia and Russia came out with critical statements about the impact and influence of the US president on the matter. While Putin and Mohammed bin Salman are reluctant to bash Trump, the real power when it comes to the oil market does not lie with the U.S. President. The tweet by Trump claiming that MBS and Putin would agree to a 10+ million bpd production cut shows not only his overestimation of his own power over the two countries, but also shows a lack of knowledge about the underlying market fundamentals and the current demand destruction worldwide. As former US president George W. Bush stated during his election campaign, which did not end well as we know, its the economy stupid that matters in the end. Trumps tweets and general approach to this matter suggests he and his administration are out of touch with reality. Even if a Saudi-Russian combination would cut 10 million bpd, the oil price reaction would be minimal and very short-lived. At present, leading oil market experts such as Vitol, Trafigura and Goldman Sachs are warning of a total demand destruction of 20 million bpd or more. When looking at the cuts in global refinery runs, we have already hit levels of -17 million bpd or more. Downstream companies are cutting back on all production as demand from industry and consumers worldwide collapses. Lockdowns in more than half the world are having a major impact, hurting demand for oil, gas and other kinds of energy. Cutting 10+ million bpd of production is not a real solution and it could even cause markets to react negatively. When production cuts fail to send oil prices up, the fear in the market could hit historical highs, causing oil prices to fall to levels below $10 per barrel in the coming weeks.

Related: How To Find A Bargain In A Distressed Energy Sector



The upcoming OPEC+ and Friends meeting is going to be a very tricky one. There is the very real possibility of the meeting failing as the targets that have been set are totally unclear. Saudi Arabia, probably supported by Abu Dhabi, called an emergency meeting, not only of OPEC+ members but of all oil-producing nations. That means that, at least according to Western media, the US is invited and will likely attend. In inviting the U.S., it seems that Saudi Arabia has called Trumps bluff because by attending the meeting Washington will be implicitly stating that a possible production cut agreement would include the US. When looking at the US upstream oil and gas sector there is one thing you can state without any analysis.Washington and US oil and gas operators are not on the same page. Suggestions of Washington being able to control or even force US oil to cut production, even via legislation, are ludicrous and would end in a mammoth legal battle. Even if only Texas representatives attend, oil companies will be unlikely to comply, it is simply not in the US oil and gas DNA to work together on an international level. Free market economics is a cornerstone of U.S. society and business.

The second major threat at the Monday meeting is that Saudi Arabia not appear to be at all convinced that it needs to change its current tactics. Its targeted goals of regaining market share, forcing Russia to come to the table and bringing non-OPEC producers such as U.S. shale to their knees are working well. Several Saudi officials have stated that they are willing to discuss a new agreement but only under the conditions that potential production cuts will be on the shoulders of all, not only Saudi Arabia, Russia, and UAE. In this light - Trumps demand for a more than 10 million bpd cut from Russia and Saudi Arabia is unrealistic, to say the least.

Russias position has, until now, remained unclear. While Putin is still acting as though he has nothing to worry about, Russian oligarchs and the Russian leader are happy to debate any options that are on the table. For Russia, the current position taken by Trump is being seen as an opportunity to get some gifts from the U.S. very soon. Russia might consider cooperation with the U.S. if Washington agrees to bring an end to Russian sanctions. But that is not as important to Moscow as a strong relationship with Riyadh and OPEC going forward. Future opportunities with Saudi Arabia are more attractive to Putin than a positive relationship with a President that may not be re-elected this year.

While all eyes will be on Washington, Riyadh, and Moscow in the coming day, there is a fourth group that is going to be vital at Mondays meeting. In order to reach a 10 million bpd cut, OPEC will have to convince all other oil-producing countries to contribute. At present, convincing such a large list of independent nations to join these efforts seems unrealistic. Countries such as Libya, Iran, Iraq, Brazil, and Canada, are unlikely to agree at present to cut production. This is yet another reason that the OPEC meeting will likely fail on Monday.

The real fear for markets at the moment should be sentiment and expectation. After Trumps tweet cited a 10-15 million barrel per day cut, oil prices have soared and anything less than that will be seen as a failure. After what is looking set to be a fairly quiet weekend for energy markets, a Monday failure with plenty of media attention is likely to drive markets into a frenzy. This fear, combined with continued demand destruction could serve as a serious problem for oil markets next week.

With this in mind, the rational short-term approach of OPEC+ should be, especially for Riyadh and Moscow, to not move at all. Dont increase production, stand on the quay and watch the US shale and non-OPEC VLCCs fill oil storage to the brim. If OPEC+ cuts without the assistance of other nations it will lose future leverage and markets may crash anyway. By doing nothing, Saudi Arabia and Russia can maintain the illusion that a production cut from OPEC+ would save markets.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

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Today

Brisk and cold with a mix of clouds and sun. There might be a stray flurry or snow shower later in the day, mainly north of the area.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, breezy, and bitterly cold. Wind chills close to 0 degrees.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny and bitterly cold. It will feel like it's in the single digits and low teens.
Emergency services are at the scene of an overturned truck on the m50.

Part of the truck's load has spilled on the road at the Junction 9 northbound.
New Delhi, April 3 : The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from Centre on a PIL filed by activists Harsh Mander and Anjali Bhardwaj seeking directions to the Centre and state governments to ensure payments of minimum wages to all migrant workers within a week, amid the nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak.

A bench comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta after hearing advocate Prashant Bhushan asked the Centre to file a response by April 7. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta raised objections to the PIL. "These PIL shops should close down. Genuine people are helping people on the ground. Sitting in air-conditioned rooms and filing PILs will not help", Mehta contended before the bench.

The judges observed they are concerned about the plight of the workers amid this period of crisis. Bhushan argued that several migrant workers are facing difficulties, despite government orders. Bhushan argued that contractors must pay full wages, but they have not done so far.

Mander had moved the Supreme Court claiming the 21-day lockdown had unleashed an unprecedented humanitarian crisis on the migrant workers, and sought direction from the Supreme Court for the Centre and state governments to ensure payments of minimum wages to all migrant workers within a week.

Mander also sought direction to immediately activate National and State Advisory Committees of experts in the field of disaster management and public health and prepare national and state disaster management plans for dealing with the COVID epidemic. "The current lockdown has cast an unprecedented economic hardship on daily wage earners. It is submitted that the Central and State Authorities have the necessary power and consequential duty to direct that all daily wage earners be provided with their wages at the place where they are currently present under the lockdown", the plea contended.

The petition also said that the Disaster Management Act obliges the Centre and state governments to put in place a detailed plan and machinery for dealing with and mitigating the effects of disasters and obliges them to take all steps required to help the victims of disasters whether direct or indirect in accordance with the plan.

Mander contended the unplanned and sudden lockdown led to loss of jobs and money for migrant workers, and also curtailed access to food and shelter. "The government must thus ensure that the wages are paid to migrant workers at the place that they are presently located during the lockdown, whether in their home state or in shelter homes or in the state where they had migrated to before the lockdown", said the plea.
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Relations today at the Ministry to discuss about the welfare of the Sri Lankan expatriate communities, difficulties currently being faced by these communities and ways to explore practical solutions to assist expatriate communities at this time of need.

Earlier this week, taking note of the growing concerns of the Overseas Sri Lankans amidst the rapid spread of COVID- 19 and their inability to immediately return to Sri Lanka, the Ministry had discussed with Sri Lanka Missions abroad ongoing and further measures to ensure the well being and safety of Overseas Sri Lankans.

In discussing issues of migrant workers, especially in the Middle Eastern countries, the Minister directed the senior officials of the Ministry to work closely with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to find appropriate solutions to such issues.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena also highlighted the importance of maintaining economic and trade relations between Sri Lanka and other countries during this period. He advised the officials to take necessary actions to explore new markets for Sri Lankan products, especially for Tea and to consolidate existing markets for Sri Lankan products such as apparel.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena appreciated the services of senior officials of the Ministry, including staff of Sri Lankan Overseas Missions, and their dedication during this difficult period. Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, Additional Secretaries, Directors General and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Colombo



03 April 2020

Read more www.mfa.gov.lk
That weekend, in anticipation of staying open, my husband and I changed air filters and disinfected the air ducts and items in the classroom. Our cleaning company aggressively cleaned with bleach. On Monday, we opened, not knowing what to expect. More than half of our students attended. While we were overstaffed, we used this opportunity to deep-clean everything. I do mean everything. Classroom chairs were taken outside and bleached. Carpets were shampooed. Classroom toys, computers and furniture were all disinfected. We then instituted a policy that after busy morning drop-off and pickup times, the common area check-in station would be sanitized twice a day. We hung signs on the doors asking anyone who has a cough or is feeling ill not to enter the center. We made a policy to not allow in any outside visitors.
WASHINGTON  Democratic senators Friday called on the Pentagon inspector general to investigate the Navy's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its firing of a captain for raising concerns about its slow response to the outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

One of the lead authors of the letter, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, said the Navy lacks the ability to test sailors for the coronavirus on many of its ships, particularly those smaller than the Roosevelt, an aircraft carriers with more than 4,800 crew members.

"How many other Theodore Roosevelts are out there?" Blumenthal, a member of the Armed Services Committee from Connecticut, said in an interview with USA TODAY. "There is testing on some of the bigger ships. The smaller ships don't have that capability. They just don't. There are potential hot spots at sea of unknown size and dimension."

He speculated that the Navy had "no idea how many potential hot spots it has."

Big send-off: Capt. Brett Crozier, fired for pleading for help for his sailors, bid fond farewell

On Thursday, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly announced the firing of the Roosevelt's Capt. Brett Crozier, who was forced out after he sent a letter Sunday raising concerns about the Navy's response to the COVID-19 outbreak aboard his ship and stating sailors could die without prompt assistance. Crozier had the opportunity to bring the issue to the attention of his superior officers, including one aboard the Roosevelt, but instead sent a letter copied to dozens of people, Modly said.

Medical personnel and assistance were en route when Crozier sent his letter, Modly said.

Crozier's failure to respect the chain of command resulted in a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead, Modly said, explaining at a briefing why he stripped Crozier of command. Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, agreed with the decision to fire Crozier.

On Friday, 137 sailors from the Roosevelt had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Navy. The Navy has quarantined 576 crew members in hotels in Guam after they tested negatively for the disease. Nobody has been hospitalized. Sailors remain aboard the ship to maintain its nuclear reactors and guard its weapons.

Story continues

The first three positive cases were found March 24.

As of Friday, 41% of the USS Theodore Roosevelt crew were tested for COVID-19, with 137 positive cases so far.

There have been zero hospitalizations.

Friday evening, 400 more sailors who tested negative will move into Guam hotels for quarantine, bringing the total housed there to 576. As testing continues, the ship will keep enough sailors on board to sustain essential services and sanitize the ship in port.

The 17 Democratic and independent senators, in their letter to acting Pentagon Inspector General Glenn Fine, asked him to evaluate whether the Navy has taken the proper steps to protect the safety of sailors aboard ships and submarines.

Dwrena Allen, a spokeswoman for the inspector general, confirmed that the letter was being evaluated by Fine's office.

"How many other Theodore Roosevelts are out there?" Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Armed Services Committee from Connecticut, said in an interview with USA TODAY.

Blumenthal, in the interview, said the senators are also concerned that Crozier was fired because he embarrassed Pentagon leadership by questioning whether enough was being done to protect sailors' health.

Discouraging troops from raising concerns about safety and health compounds the problem, he said.

"That's a recipe for disaster," Bluementhal said.

Fact check: What's true and what's false about coronavirus?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senators demand Navy probe after handling of COVID-19, Crozier firing
Some good news from East Africa, where the promised opening of a new data centre facility could offer some economic opportunities for Ugandans.

The new data centre will be on the outskirts of Ugandas capital, Kampala. It is due to open in June.

The Raxio Uganda facility is marketed as a colocation facility, pitching for Ugandan businesses (such as finance) and government agencies. The facility was first announced in 2018 but has been delayed.

Raxio says its data centre  the first of its kind in Uganda  will be operating as a carrier-neutral facility, meeting the international Tier III standard. Upon final phase completion, the data centre will able to house around 400 racks and to provide 1.5MW of IT power to ensure the equipment housed within it operates optimally, 24/7, in a fully safe, secure and redundant environment.

The Raxio data centre is being built in the Namanve Industrial and Business Park, which means, says Raxio, that it will be ideally located for addressing both the primary and disaster recovery needs of its customers. Being along one of Ugandas principal fibre routes also ensures optimal connectivity.

Roha, a US investment group focused on African infrastructure projects, is building a series of data centres in Africa under the name Raxio. To build facilities in Uganda and elsewhere, it has established a data centre subsidiary called First Brick Holdings Group.

First Brick Holdings is now building a Raxio Data Centre in Ethiopia. Ten other facilities across the continent are also planned.

One reason for this activity is latency. Much internet content is not in Africa; local data centres would allow for faster connectivity. Also a local data centre gives private businesses a chance to rent space in a data centre rather than store data on their own servers.
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Two Chinese workers, who were abducted in Nigeria's southeastern Ebonyi state last week, have been freed, police said on Thursday.

State police spokesperson Loveth Odah, who confirmed this to Xinhua on phone, said the victims were released unharmed as a result of the sustained pressure mounted by the police operatives.

The Chinese were kidnapped at a quarry site at Ishiagu in the Ivo area of the state by the gunmen.

The two Chinese workers are basically in good health condition, Odah told Xinhua, adding that the police are on a manhunt for the suspected gunmen.




Startups across the nation and around the world are looking for ways to relieve shortages of much-needed personal protective equipment and sanitizers used to halt the spread of COVID-19.

While some of the largest privately held technology companies, like SpaceX and Tesla, have shifted to manufacturing ventilators, smaller companies are also trying to pitch in and relieve scarcity locally.

Supplies have been difficult to come by in some of the areas hardest hit by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, and the shortfalls have been made worse by a lack of coordination from the federal government. In some instances local governments have been bidding for supplies against each other and the federal government to acquire needed personal protective equipment.

On Sunday, New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo* pleaded with local governments to not engage in a bidding war. In fact, Kentucky was outbid by the federal government for personal protective equipment.

"FEMA came out and bought it all out from under us," Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear told a local newspaper. "It is a challenge that the federal government says, 'States, you need to go and find your supply chain,' and then the federal government ends up buying from that supply chain."

Against this backdrop local startups and maker spaces are stepping up to do what they can to fill the gap.

Alcohol brands are turning their attention to making hand sanitizer to distribute in communities experiencing shortages. 3D-printing companies are working on new ways to manufacture personal protective equipment and swabs for COVID-19 testing. And one fast fashion retail startup is teaching its tailors and seamstresses how to make cloth masks for consumer protection.

AirCo, a New York-based startup that developed a process to use captured carbon dioxide to make liquor, shifted its efforts to making hand sanitizer for donations in communities in New York City.

Now, new alcohol brands Bev and Endless West are joining the manufacturing push.

Story continues

Endless West announced this morning that it would shift production away from its distillery to begin making hand sanitizers. The World Health Organization approved their sanitizers, which the company will produce in its warehouse in San Francisco.

The two-ounce bottles will be donated to local restaurants and bars that remain open for delivery, so that employees can use them and distribute them to customers. Bulk quantities will be distributed to healthcare organizations and facilities that need them.

Endless West also put out a call for other companies to provide supplies to hospitals and health organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We felt it was imperative to do our part and dedicate what resources we have to assist with shortages in the healthcare and food & beverage industries who keep the engine running and provide such important functions in this time of immense need throughout the community, said Alec Lee, CEO of Endless West, in a statement.

Los Angeles-based Bev is no different.

"As an alcoholic beverage company, Bev is very lucky in that we are licensed to purchase ethanol directly from our suppliers, who are doing their part by discounting the product to anyone licensed to purchase it," said Bev chief executive, Alix Peabody. "Community underscores everything we do here at Bev, and as such, we will be producing hand sanitizer and distributing it free of charge to the homeless and elderly communities here in Venice, populations who largely have insufficient access to healthcare and essential goods like sanitizer."

Hand sanitizer is one sorely needed item in short supply, but there are others -- including face masks, surgical masks, face shields, swabs and ventilator equipment that other startups are now switching gears to produce.

(Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

In Canada, INKSmith, a startup that was making design and tech tools accessible for kids, has now moved to making face shields and is hiring up to 100 new employees to meet demand.

I think in the short term, were going to scale up to meet the needs of the province soon. After that, were going to meet the demands of Canada, INKSmith CEO Jeremy Hedges told the Canadian news outlet Global News.

3D-printing companies like Massachusetts-based Markforged and Formlabs are both making personal protective equipment like face shields, as well as nasal swabs to use for COVID-19 testing.

Markforged is pushing ahead with a number of efforts to focus some of the benefits of 3D printing on the immediate problem of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers most exposed to COVID-19.

"We have about 20 people working on this pretty much as much as they can," said Markforged chief executive, Gregory Mark. "We break it up into three different programs. The first stage is prototyping validation and getting first pass to doctors. The second is clinical trials and the third is production. We are in clinical trials with two. One is the nasal swab and two is the face shield."

The ability to spin up manufacturing more quickly than traditional production lines using 3D printing means that both companies are in some ways better positioned to address a thousandfold increase in demand for supplies that no one anticipated.

"3D printing is the fastest way to make anything in the world up to a certain number of days, weeks, months or years," says Mark. "As soon as we get the green light from hospitals, 10,000 printers around the world can be printing face shields and nose swabs."

Formlabs, which already has a robust business supplying custom-printed surgical-grade healthcare products, is pushing to bring its swabs to market quickly.

"Not only can we help in the development of the swabs, but we can manufacture them ourselves," says Formlabs chief product officer, David Lakatos.

Swabs for testing are in short supply in part because there are only a few manufacturers in the world who made them -- and one of those primary manufacturers is in Italy, which means supplies and staff are in short supply. "There's a shortage of them and nobody was expecting that we would need to test millions of people in short order," says Lakatos.

Formlabs is also working on another piece of personal protective equipment -- looking at converting snorkeling masks into respirators and face masks. "Our goal is to make one that is reusable," says Lakatos. "A patient can use it as a respirator and you can put it in an autoclave and reuse it."

In Brooklyn, Voodoo Manufacturing has repurposed its 5,000-square-foot facility to mass-produce personal protective equipment. The company has set up a website, CombatingCovid.com, where organizations in need of supplies can place orders. Voodoo aims to print at least 2,500 protective face shields weekly and can scale to larger production volumes based on demand, the company said.

STAMFORD, CT - MARCH 23: Nurse Hannah Sutherland, dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) awaits new patients at a drive-thru coronavirus testing station at Cummings Park on March 23, 2020 in Stamford, Connecticut. Availability of protective clothing for medical workers has become a major issue as COVID-19 cases surge throughout the United States. The Stamford site is run by Murphy Medical Associates. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Finally, Resonance, a startup launched by the founder of FirstMark Capital, Lawrence Lenihan, is using its factory in the Dominican Republic to make face masks for consumers on the island and beyond.

"To contribute to the Dominican health efforts, Resonance is acting to utilize their resources to manufacture safety masks for distribution to local hospitals, nursing homes, and other high-risk facilities as quickly as possible. They have provided user-friendly instructions and material and will pay their sewers who can to make these masks from the security of their homes," a spokesperson for the company wrote in an email. "Resonance is currently working to share this downloadable platform and simple instructions to their website, so anyone in the world can contribute to their own local communities."

All of these efforts -- and countless others too numerous to mention -- point to the ways small companies are hoping to do something to help their communities stay safe and healthy in the midst of this global outbreak.

But many of these extreme measures may not have been necessary had governments around the world actively coordinated their response and engaged in better preparation before the situation became so dire.

There are a litany of errors that governments made -- and are still making -- in their efforts to respond to the pandemic, even as the private sector steps in and steps up to address them.

*This article has been updated to indicate that Andrew Cuomo made the plea to the Trump Administration. Not Mario Cuomo who was New York's governor from 1983 to 1994.
SANTANDER (dpa-AFX) - Banco Santander S.A. (BNC.L, BSBR, SAN)Friday said its board has decided to cancel the payment of the final dividend against 2019 results and the dividend policy for 2020. The decision follows the European Central Bank's recommendation that all European banks to preserve capital by canceling the payment of dividends against 2019 and 2020 results amid the coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic. The company on March 23 had communicated its decision to cancel the interim dividend for fiscal year 2020 and to postpone any decision on the 2020 dividends until there is more visibility on the full impact of the crisis. The board's intention is now not to propose any dividend distribution until there is more visibility of the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and the 2020 results are known. The Bank noted that it meets the capital requirements to maintain its current dividend policy and is comfortable with its capital buffers over regulatory requirements. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Decree No.100/2019/ND-CP and the COVID-19 outbreak slow down beer and alcohol consumption in Vietnam, thereby negatively affecting Sabeco's business performance in 2020

In 2019, Sabeco posted steep growth by generating a total net revenue of VND37.89 trillion ($1.65 billion) and after-tax profit and minority interests of VND5.1 trillion ($221.74 million), up 5.4 and 21 per cent on-year, respectively, according to a report by Bao Viet Securities (BVSC).

However, BVSC believes that 2020 will be a challenging year for Sabeco. The two main sources of headwinds this year will be Decree 100/2019/ND-CP and the COVID-19 outbreak that slow down beer and alcohol consumption in Vietnam. BVSC has drawn up many scenarios for business results in 2020, but revenue will likely decrease.

In a positive scenario of a 5 per cent increase in beer consumption, Sabeco can achieve a revenue of VND40 trillion ($1.74 billion) and profit of VND5.7 trillion ($247.83 million). In the worst-case scenario of a 20 per cent fall in beer consumption, Sabeco may post revenue of VND31 trillion ($1.35 billion) and profit of VND4 trillion ($173.9 million), which is the lowest growth in the past three years.

Another challenge for the beer maker is the lack of materials, particularly barley and hops, which are mainly imported from Europe and are two indispensable ingredients for the brewing process. However, the imports of these ingredients will likely be slow as Europe closed its borders to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ta Hoang Linh, head of the Ministry and Trades Departments of Domestic Market, European-American Market, said, This EU disease control regulation may not affect the import and export of goods between Vietnam and the EU in the short-term because it only applies to individual travellers and basic cargo transportation and trading activities are not restricted. However, in some economic aspects, epidemic control measures will in fact slow down the movement of goods through export, transportation, customs clearance, and storage, causing disruptions or delaying economic, trade and service flows.

The companys representative refused to comment on the scenarios for its business results in 2020 as well as the potential lack of ingredients for brewing beer.

Sabeco shares ended at VND233,200 ($10.14) apiece on December 26, 2019. Last Friday, Sabeco shares were traded at around VND128,000 ($5.57) with a market cap of VND79 trillion ($3.43 billion).

In December 2017, ThaiBev acquired 343.62 million shares, equivalent to 53.59 per cent of Sabeco at the unit price of VND320,000 (nearly $14). ThaiBev spent $4.78 billion on this deal. However, only two years after, the Thai company saw nearly half of its investment in Sabeco eroded amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the COVID-19 virus outbreak growing in scale keeps consumers away from crowded places like restaurants, negatively affecting alcohol consumption. Note that the main trading channel for Vietnam's beer industry is the on-trade channel that accounts for 70 per cent of total consumption (Euromonitor). Also, people mainly stock up on essential products rather than beer during the crisis. Therefore, Sabeco should brace for negative growth in 2020.

However, even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, Sabeco will continue to face difficulties. In a report released in 2016, FPT Securities warned that Sabeco shares were not attractive in the long term as liver cancer is the most common cancer in Vietnam. The increase in the incidence of liver cancer can be attributable to uncontrollable beer consumption in Vietnam.

The WHO predicts that there will be 850,000 cases of lung cancer in Vietnam by 2030. This figure will increase if the government does not take measures to control the situation. Decree 100 stipulating heavy fines for drinking is a bold move by the government in response to the warning of the WHO.

Sabeco is upgrading its production capacity at Saigon-Quang Ngai factory, Saigon-Cu Chi factory and Saigon-Soc Trang factory. According to sources familiar with the matter, Sabeco will increase its production capacity from 1.66 billion litres per year to 2 billion litres per year.

In addition to enlarging brewing capacity, Sabeco also holds more than 60 per cent of the mainstream beer segment. However, the brewery maker might lose their competitive edge with the government taking measures to limit beer consumption and consumers switch to healthier beverage choices.

To cope with this problem, Sabeco has developed new product lines targeting the mid-end segment. The company has also diversified its distribution channels to replace the on-trade channel as restaurants and pubs are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. As of present, Sabeco has a network of 100,000 points-of-sale nationwide. As many restaurants and pubs are shut due to the COVID-19 crisis, Sabeco now focuses its distribution efforts on convenience stores and traditional grocery stores.
Filmmaker Aditya Dhar believes that in the post-coronavirus world, it will be a challenge to ensure the survival of cinema houses as the audiences have got more used to the streaming services.

The coronavirus pandemic has put the industry under heavy stress as release of many movies have been delayed due to the closure of cinema houses, while production on various projects has been put on hold.

Aditya, who broke out in the Bollywood scene with his blockbuster debut film Uri: The Surgical Strike, said the nationwide lockdown has altered the viewing experience.

In the kind of situation we are in, I believe when everything gets normal it will be a little bit of a challenge to get the audience back to theatre because they are used to digital content, web series, films just by sitting at home, Aditya told PTI in an interview.

According to Aditya, the key to lure audiences back in to the cinema halls would be "big event films".

The best way is to make big event films and that is the natural progression that is happening everywhere around the world, including the US and China. All the major markets are getting into big event films. It is high time we give Indian audience event films, which brings them to theatres.

While in the lockdown, Aditya has started prep work on his next Ashwatthama, which will feature Uri... actor Vicky Kaushal in the lead.

I was kind of prepared for isolation because I'm used to it. It is not something which is affecting me quite a lot. But it is very unfortunate, the reason why the isolation has happened. I am busy writing my next Ashwatthama' and it is going pretty well.

When things were not going right for me, writing was the only thing that kept my equilibrium right, it has always been a do-it thing when I feel sad or lonely or low, he said.

The filmmaker said writing has always been his saviour whenever thing didn't go his way.

In the last 10 to 12 years when things were not going my way, I was just writing scripts. I have a bank of ten to 12 scripts for web-series, films and short films. Right now all my focus is on my Ashwatthama'.

Aditya hopes that someone someday makes a film that will underline the heroic efforts of the medical fraternity during the coronavirus pandemic.

I hope the kind of situation we are in will inspire some writers to write more about things that are going to affect our children, our future and our next generation.

I am hoping everyone understands what the medical professionals are doing, like a story from their perspective, how they are fighting and trying to save lives. I hope we understand the value of these people, who are standing in front line to save all of us, he said.

The writer-director said he hopes the current scenario is an eye opener for everyone around the world.

This was something that was inevitable. Unfortunately it shouldn't have been this way. We need to get our act right and sort this out.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 20-year-old man accused of killing a teenager in February told police he started shooting in self-defense, according to an arrest affidavit.

On Feb. 23, 16-year-old Jesse Alviar died after he was shot at Benavides Park on the West Side. Alviar was at the park with a group of teenagers when a confrontation broke out with a second group of friends that included Fabian Vega, the affidavit said.

During the confrontation, Vega allegedly pulled out a gun and shot at the group, killing Alviar and injuring two others, the affidavit continued.

ON EXPRESSNEWS.COM: Man sought in fatal shooting in February arrested

Police said witnesses accused Vega of being the shooter, according to the affidavit, but he was not located until Wednesday, when he was arrested and charged with murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

Vega told police he acted in self-defense and he fired "after the victim, or someone in the victim's group had raised a gun at him and shot at (Vega) four times," the arrest affidavit said. Police said evidence found at the scene and witnesses contradict Vega.

Vega was also charged Wednesday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with another shooting in December that involved one of Alviar's friends.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

In that incident, Vega is accused of shooting at a 24-year-old male unprovoked, according to a second arrest affidavit.

The 24-year-old said Vega was leaving his home after visiting his roommate. As the door was closing behind him, Vega pushed it back open and began shooting at the the 24-year-old while he was falling asleep on the couch, hitting him twice in the chest and in the calf, the affidavit said.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, MySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
PRIVATE buses can now temporarily offer public transport services to relieve city commuters as authorities enforce the order for buses to carry passengers according to the licensed capacity, a measure that aims at containing the spread of novel coronavirus.

The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has invited owners of the buses to apply for short-term licences to start offering transport to city commuters.

LATRAs move comes barely a day after the Daily News exclusively reported on transport woes commuters in Dar es Salaam were enduring as authorities ordered for quick implementation of the level seat directive, resulting in many passengers being stranded at various bus stations.

In last Wednesdays Daily News edition, a picture of how commuters struggled to get transport, particularly in the morning and evening, was cast in sharp focus.

Brief checks by this newspaper in highly populated areas such as Mbagala, Gongolamboto, Kurasini and K igamboni, witnessed scores of commuters walking to their destinations as others crowded at different bus stations waiting for buses for hours.

In its statement to invite temporary public transport operators yesterday, LATRA said due to implementation of measures against the corona pandemic, it noted an increase of demand for more buses to cater for public transport demand.

The LATRA calls upon individuals, schools or other institutions that have idle buses to request for temporary licences for offering services in city areas, part of the statement said.

The owners could submit their requests to their nearest LATRA offices and conditions for providing transport in the cities would be considered.

However, LATRA Director General Gilliard Ngewe later told the Daily News over the phone that they mainly targeted school buses, considering that schools are now still closed.

It is expected that licensing more buses during this time of combating the virus would cushion commuters from struggling in getting transport.

One of commuters residing in Mbagala Rangi Tatu, Mr James Masanja, told this paper that on Tuesday morning he was stranded at a bus stop for over two hours waiting for the bus to his workplace.

Some passengers were forced to dig deeper into their pockets to pay for alternative means of transport such as motorcycles and tricycles commonly- known as bodaboda and bajaj respectively.
The captain of a US Navy aircraft carrier has been fired for showing "extremely poor judgment" after he wrote "to everyone he knows" that decisive action was needed to prevent American troops dying outside of wartime.

In a letter, Captain Brett Crozier, who commands the USS Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier with a crew of nearly 5,000, pointed out to his superiors that the US Navy was not doing enough to halt a coronavirus outbreak on board the vessel.

At least 100 people aboard the warship have been infected, reports said as the US, the current global COVID-19 hotspot, struggled to contain the number of infections and deaths.

Announcing the decision to relieve 50-year-old Crozier of the command of the warship, acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said the captain created a panic by sending his memo appealing for urgent help to too many people.

"Today at my direction the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Captain Brett Crozier, was relieved of command by carrier strike group commander Rear Admiral Stewart Baker," Modly said during a Pentagon press briefing on Thursday.

Modly said Crozier was removed for showing "extremely poor judgment" and creating a "firestorm" by too widely disseminating the memo detailing his concerns, copying some 20 to 30 people, CNN reported.

He said Crozier was not removed because of any evidence suggesting he leaked the memo to the press, but rather for allowing "the complexity of his challenge with the Covid breakout on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally when acting professionally was what was needed the most at the time."



He called Crozier's note "a blast-out email to everyone he knows."



Modly said the letter "created the impression the Navy was not responding to his questions".

"It creates the perception the Navy is not on the job; the government is not on the job. That's just not true."his command Thursday, but he will keep his rank and remain in the Navy.

Though Crozier was relieved of his command, he will keep his rank and remain in the Navy, NBCnews.com reported.

Meanwhile, reports said that some 3,000 uninfected members of the ship's crew are now being quarantined in Guam after the governor of the US island territory in the western Pacific Ocean said they could stay as long as they had no interactions with local people.

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, the US currently has over 245,000 confirmed cases of infection and 6,000 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Alliance News) - Oil and gas services company Gulf Marine Services PLC on Tuesday said it has secured a new debt structure with lenders as part of the company's objective of achieving a sustainable capital structure.

Under the new debt agreement, the company has renewed existing term loan facilities with an extended maturity to June 30, 2025, and secured a new USD50 million working capital facility.

The new debt structure also provides increased financial covenant headroom to the company.

Gulf Marine said it also intends to seek shareholder approval, when equity markets allow, to undertake a share capital increase before the end of 2020, with the aim of raising at least USD75 million of net proceeds.

Tim Summers, executive chair of Gulf Marine Services, said: "This agreement with our banks provides the foundations for the resetting of our capital structure. GMS today is in a much healthier and stronger position to face the unique challenge of COVID-19 as well as continued oil price volatility."

Gulf Marine has decided to delay the release of its 2019 results beyond April 6 in line with UK Financial Conduct Authority's request for two-week moratorium

Shares in the company closed at 3.55 pence each on Thursday in London, up 11%.

By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Paris, April 1 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Apr, 2020 ) :Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is leaking from industry sites at rates equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of France and Germany combined, a new analysis using satellite data shows.

Using imaging data gathered by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-5P monitoring mission, the study shows more than 100 "high-volume emission events" worldwide from gas storage and transmission facilities.

These events alone emitted around 20 million tonnes of methane -- the short-term equivalent to releasing 1.8 billion tonnes of carbon pollution.

"The good news is most of these are man-made and can easily be addressed through action by individual companies, governments and regulators," said Antoine Rostand, CEO of Kayrros, an asset observation platform that conducted the analysis.

The analysis showed methane plumes from just three oil and gas facilities in Algeria were emitting more than 25 tonnes of methane per hour -- equivalent to the CO2 emissions from a 750 megawatt coal power plant.

While methane only stays in the atmosphere a fraction of the time that CO2 does, over a period of decades it is dozens of times more potent as a greenhouse gas.

Overall, greenhouse gas emissions from energy have risen globally nearly every year in the last decade, despite the 2015 Paris climate deal mandating their reduction.

The United Nations says that manmade emissions must decline 7.6 percent annually by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels -- the more ambitious cap laid out in the Paris deal.

Claus Zehner, Sentinel-5P mission manager at ESA, said satellite monitoring of methane leaks could help industry "support the reduction of global emissions and slow down climate change".

The analysis has not been peer-reviewed but has been shared with the European Commission.

The International Energy Agency on Tuesday released its assessment of global methane emissions, which found that about 570 million tonnes are added to the atmosphere each year -- around 60 percent of which comes from human activity.

"The ability to identify big leaks by satellite will not solve the challenge presented by methane emissions from oil and gas by itself," the IEA said.

"Tackling them requires companies to pursue and maintain high operational standards, and policy makers to put in place well-designed regulations." Commenting on the Kayrros project, Gunnar Luderer and Nico Bauer, climate economists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said that it may overestimate the warming impact of methane leaks.

"Still, however, the annual leakage of 20 Mt of methane from 100 point sources mostly in the energy industry is an astonishing loss that is worth further validation," they told AFP.

They said that the leaks alone were worth nearly two thirds of all natural gas use in France every year, with an industry impact of roughly four billion Euros ($4.4 billion).

"Economists would expect that such leakage would be avoided for pure cost reasons," said Luderer and Bauer.

"In any case, regulatory intervention could lead to lower emissions with economic benefit."
Honda will launch two new EVs for model year 2024 in the US and Canada, and they'll both be based on GM's EV platform. According to GM EVP Doug Parks, the automakers have teamed up to achieve an "all-electric future" and to deliver "a profitable EV business through increased scale and capacity utilization." Since they'll still be Honda vehicles, the Japanese automaker will be in charge of its interior and exterior designs. They'll be manufactured at GM's plants in North America, though, since they'll be using GM technology. In addition, they'll also feature GM's OnStar safety and security services.

A report from 2019 said Honda is developing a modular EV platform of its own, but it won't be ready until 2025. Meanwhile, GM's global EV platform is ready for use and will be the basis for various vehicles by the automaker's brands, including Chevy and Cadillac. GM's platform is powered by the company's Ultium batteries, which can deliver as much as 400 miles of range and 0-to-60MPH in 3 seconds. The battery's latest version is also cheaper to manufacture than its previous ones, and it has a 200kW fast charging capability.

This is far from the first time Honda and GM are working together. The two automakers teamed up to develop hydrogen fuel cells in the past and collaborated to build Cruise Origin, an autonomous electric van that could be used as a robotaxi.
Bengaluru, April 3 : Three more Tablighi Jamaat pilgrims have tested Covid-19 positive in Karnataka, raising the state's tally to 128, an official said on Friday.

"As of 5 p.m. on Friday, 128 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, including three deaths and 11 discharges," said the health official.

Across the state, 111 Covid-19 patients, including a pregnant woman, are in isolation at designated hospitals and their condition is stated to be stable, except three -- cases No. 43, 101 and 102.

After one non-Tablighi case surfaced in the morning, Friday saw three more Tablighi men from Belagavi testing positive for the dreaded virus.

The state's 126th Covid positive case is a 70-year-old from Belagavi who attended the Tablighi Jamaat religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area last month.

A 26-year-old Tablighi pilgrim from the same place is the 127th case.

Karnataka's last case for Friday is a 20-year-old from Belagavi who also attended the Tablighi event.

All the new cases have been admitted to a designated hospital in Belagavi, 510 km from from Bengaluru on the west coast of the state.

With these, the number of positive cases in the state with Tablighi connect has gone up to 13.
Arguably the glue that binds the Money Heist team together, Alvaro Mortes Professor is one of the reasons people are addicted to the series.

When Money Heist  aka La Casa de Papel  first kicked off on Netflix, viewers were introduced to the serious but genius bad boy who is the orchestrator of the heist.

Through three seasons, weve watched the character go from being a stoic, focused nerd to a stoic, focused nerd-lover who can lose his cool. With part 4 of the show due to arrive in April, fans will be seeing a different side of Professor and hence, a different side of Morte.

Lets take a look at this talented actor and learn why viewers love him as a criminal mastermind anti-hero.

Alvaro Morte of La Casa de Papel | Miriam Vera/Coolmedia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Mortes done film and television

When Morte first launched his acting career in 2002, he landed a small role on the Spanish medical drama Hospital Central. The TV series has been compared to E.R. His first feature was for Lola, la pelicula, a film about Spanish flamenco dancer, Lola Flores.

Since then, hes appeared in Isabel alongside his La Casa de Papel co-star Ursula Corbero, and other projects such as Bandolera, Love in Difficult Times, Mirage, and The Pier.

Hes married

Morte and his wife, Blanca Clemente, wed in private ceremony. The couple share a set of fraternal twins: one boy and one girl, and he often posts photos of his children on Instagram.

La Casa de Papel changed his life

Due to the worldwide success of the show, Morte and the rest of the cast are now recognized internationally. He wasnt used to being an overnight sensation.

Morte told the Brazilian paper Metro Journal that he feels fortunate because of the show and now hes being offered roles from around the globe. The record-breaking series changed his life.

It has changed a lot in one way, but in another I am the same. I havent changed my habits or behavior. But it is true that, on the one hand, there is the fame part and it is strange that overnight, I am asked for photos and autograph.

A different TV series challenged Morte as an actor

While on break from filming Money Heist/La Casa de Papel, Morte spent time working on a different series, The Pier. The story is actually from the same creators as Money Heist but follows a man whos in love with two women. Mortes character, Oscar, is a married man with emotional baggage.

During a promotional panel for the series, he said he was afraid to step into Oscars shoes.

With The Pier, I was afraid of playing a polyamourous character! You start as a man (Oscar) whos cheating on his wife, so hes going to go to hell! But thats part of the challenge. Lets see him, hear what happened, see whats happened in his life to get hime there. So, you see episodes from the wifes point of view, but you dont immediately make the connection. It was very difficult to perform this guy, starting from cheating on his wife. So how can we forget that, start working from another point of view and make the audience understand him without sending him straight to hell? That was the challenge.

Money Heist part 4 premieres on Netflix on April 3.
As authorities across the region struggle to contain the pandemic through curfews and lockdowns, few have thought of the knock-on effects. For many women, more time at home means more physical abuse from family members, Deutsche Welle writes in the article Coronavirus fuels domestic violence in the Middle East.

For many women in the Middle East and North Africa, physical violence is a part of everyday life. In countries such as Yemen, Morocco and Egypt, at least a quarter of all married women say their husbands have physically abused them, according to a Princeton University study published last year. Last week Tunisian Women's Affairs Minister Asma Shiri raised the alarm on rising domestic violence as a result of government efforts to curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. After Tunisia imposed a curfew in mid-March, the number of domestic violence cases rose fivefold.

Although nearly half of the countries that make up the Middle East and North Africa region have passed laws to combat domestic violence, they have proven ineffective at tackling the problem and curbing abuse, according to Human Right Watch. Many cases of domestic violence occur in marriage and are seldom limited to a single instance. "Physical violence has become a part of my life," said Laila, whose name has been changed. "It's as familiar as the air I breathe. I know nothing else." Laila did not want her name published or her country of origin mentioned for fear of any reprisal from her husband or the wider community. The woman, who is in her 50s, said she married a young distant relative more than 30 years ago and has suffered physical abuse ever since. "Whenever he beat me, I sought shelter in my parents' house," said Laila. "But to avoid scandal, I kept returning to him."

Children at risk

At times, Laila would return home to find her children  seven daughters and one son  with bruises on their face, arms or back. She had only found solace in the times that her husband would travel for work, saying it gave her a chance to escape the normality of violence that had become her life. "When my husband was away, it was like a party for me and my children." But government restrictions to curb the novel coronavirus have meant that her husband no longer takes those work trips and is forced to stay at home. But Laila isn't the only one. Aisha, an Arab woman who was forced to flee from her country to Turkey, said her husband beats her and her children every day. DW has also changed her name to protect her. "Once, he even threatened to burn me," she said. Aisha fears that Turkey could impose further restrictions to curb the coronavirus pandemic, including a curfew. That would prevent her from working and keep her locked indoors with her husband. "I assume that I would be beaten and harassed even more than I currently am," said Aisha. "I couldn't take it."

Under pressure

Although domestic violence is not unique to the Arab world, it appears especially dire due to patriarchal notions of women's roles, especially at home. Lebanese social worker Rania Suleiman said women face additional pressure as a result of tight-knit family structures and multigenerational living conditions in confined spaces. "Under these conditions, women are forced to react to the needs of the family to a large extent," Suleiman said. "This means highly stressful situations daily. If they don't meet the demands the way their husband wants them to, they run the risk of being physically abused."

Alaa Aknes, a social worker at an emergency clinic in the Gaza Strip where victims of domestic violence are treated, recommends always carrying official identity documents, having available phone numbers of aid organizations and identifying trusted persons that could help in an emergency.
Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, withdrew a planned decree that would have limited the publishing of information related to COVID-19 just to official sources on 2 April. The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) welcome the U-turn by the government and urges the authorities to respect the free flow of information and not to arrest journalists for their reports on COVID-19.

The Serbian government had on 28 March passed a decree stating that only the Prime Minister or individuals authorized by the Crisis Management Taskforce could release information about the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the government, the decision was intended to fight against fake news about the pandemic.

However, the decree was strongly criticized by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Desir and media groups, as it was a flagrant attempt to limit media reporting about the health crisis.

A few days after, the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, announced the dropping of the decree following international pressure.

Serbian media workers are going through difficult times. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least two journalists have been detained and had their equipment seized. Nova.rs journalist Ana Lalic was detained on 1 April and held for 48 hours for causing panic and unrest after publishing a story on the poor conditions of theClinical Center of Vojvodina.

Zrenjanins KTV crew Daniel Radic and Robert Bajtaiju were detained on 28 March for violating the measures announced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The police still have their equipment.

The IFJ and EFJ expressed deep concerns over the media situation in Serbia and stressed that the government is bound by its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, especially with respect to freedom of opinion and expression, and media freedom.

Together with their affiliates in Serbia, SINOS, UNS and NUNS, the IFJ and EFJ urge the Serbian authorities to guarantee a safe environment for journalists to do their job independently and to provide the citizens with free and public interest information at such a critical moment.
The coronavirus pandemic introduced a new virus to the US with no available cure or treatment to help patients.

Due to a rapid increase in cases and deaths, the White House and health officials have raced to find and develop drugs that could curb or mitigate the novel virus in its tracks, but this race has come with warnings about the potential negative effects on patients.

President Donald Trump himself has promoted the potential benefits of using drugs like hydroxychloroquine on Covid-19 positive patients. During one of his daily press briefings last month, he called hydroxychloroquine a "game-changer" despite the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning data has yet to conclusively show the drug's benefits against the virus.

Increased promotion of Covid-19 treatments has also caused shortages for hydroxychloroquine across the US, with doctors being accused of hoarding the medication, which is used on-label to treat malaria and aid lupus sufferers.

The White House has also reportedly considered Avigan, a drug used in other parts of the world to treat the flu, as a potential therapy for Covid-19.

Experts are now working quickly to determine if these drugs work as therapies against the novel virus and help infected patients, as Covid-19 spreads throughout the country.

Hydroxychloroquine

Previous research from France and China has suggested hydroxychloroquine, a variant of chloroquine first approved in 1955, showed faster clearance of the virus when used for some patients, according to limited studies.

But these studies were done on fewer than 100 people.

Dr David Boulware, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, and his team received FDA approval last month to launch a series of clinical trials attempting to answer if hydroxychloroquine could prevent and treat symptoms of Covid-19.

The first trial launched on 17 March to determine if hydroxychloroquine could be used as a preventive measure to halt or limit the virus' impact on the body post-exposure.

"We're looking at that group and the question of can we give hydroxychloroquine within the first four days post-exposure so we can prevent disease or decrease the severity of this disease," Dr Boulware told The Independent.

Then a second trial started on 23 March for Covid-19 positive patients or those who showed symptoms for the novel virus.

"We are looking at the question of can we give early therapy to shorten their disease course, decrease hospitalisation, and decrease the severity of the disease," he said about the second trial. Each clinical trial will include 1,500 volunteers.

Hydroxychloroquine was initially approved by the FDA for treating malaria and aiding symptoms like joint inflammation for lupus patients, so health officials already know the potential positive and negative effects for the drug.

But experts have cautioned the federal government and FDA about promoting hydroxychloroquine for treating Covid-19 before adequate research shows the benefits.

The Mayo Clinic released a warning for healthcare providers last week about the dangers the drug could pose on some patients, which includes it potentially causing sudden cardiac death when taken. The European Commission also announced on Tuesday there was no proof hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, which is also used for malaria, could treat the coronavirus.

"The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of Covid-19 patients has to date not been proved," a spokesman for the European Commission said.

But the FDA still approved using hydroxychloroquine on-label for treating Covid-19 on Sunday.

Dr Michael Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, told The Independent why the Mayo Clinic released its warning about the drug.

"While we are waiting to know the benefits signal, do they work (for Covid-19), I know, as a genetic cardiologist, the potential dark side of these medications," he said. "There's a risk of drug-induced long QT syndrome that can lead to drug-induced sudden cardiac death."

Hydroxychloroquine can block "one of the critical potassium channel proteins in the heart muscle," Dr Ackerman added. In patients with specific risk factors, the heart can then "spin electrically out of control into a dangerously fast rhythm that could culminate into a drug-induced sudden cardiac death."

While this occurs in a small margin of the population, Dr Ackerman and other health professionals want prescribers and those taking the drug to be aware of the risks prior to use.

"We've got to take care of that at-risk group every bit as much as we need to try to do our best job as healthcare providers to treat those who are experiencing bad coronavirus infections and Covid-19 disease expression," Dr Ackerman added.

About 90 per cent of patients will experience no negative effects on their hearts from the drug, but the other 10 per cent are at risk to experience changes in their heart rhythm. In about one per cent of the population, this risk could be deadly, the genetic cardiologist said.

Hospitals and doctors are told they must report negative side effects to the FDA that any patient experiences.

Dr Boulware acknowledged the risks relating to hydroxychloroquine and explained the steps his clinical trial was utilising to diminish risks.

"People on heart rhythm medications are excluded from our trial," he said.

Pairing hydroxychloroquine with the antibiotic azithromycin, which was said could also work to alleviate Covid-19 symptoms, would also not be tested during Dr Boulware's first two clinical trials to prevent any negative side effects on the heart.

"When you start adding multiple medications like azithromycin, or if you're on other medications, then it may certainly be more relevant," Dr Boulware said about the risk factors. "The hydroxychloroquine alone is a very safe medication based on 65 years of use without ever doing."

Results from the clinical trials are expected within the next month depending on how quickly Dr Boulware and his team can enlist volunteers for the trials.

"I don't know what the answer is going to be if it does work or doesn't work but I think regardless of what the answer is it's an important answer ... if it doesn't work then this is medication we shouldn't be using in the outpatient setting for prevention or early treatment," he said. "But if it does work then we should totally be using it and rolling it out."

Volunteers can participate in the clinical trial from their home after completing a survey on Dr Boulware's trial's website to see if they qualify. Medication will then be mailed to the participants' doorstep.

Already hospitals have prescribed hydroxychloroquine to patients hospitalised from the virus while clinical trials are in the process.

One patient, Suzanne Schwing from New York City, told WABC she thought the drug was what helped her walk out of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Centre after succumbing to the virus. "I don't know how much of my recovery was due to the cocktail and how much of it was due to the length of the time I was spending recovering, but something certainly shifted," she said. "And I think it would have shifted a lot later had I not received that particular treatment. That's my gut feeling."

Avigan

The Trump administration has also pushed for the FDA to approve the use of Avigan as a potential treatment for Covid-19, according to documents obtained by Politico.

The decades-old flu drug was promoted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for its potential benefits. But the drug also comes with negative side effects, such as birth defects.

The White House has asked the FDA to look into emergency authorisation for Avigan, similar to what was allowed for hydroxychloroquine. The White House Security Council has also asked the government to accept a donation of Avigan from Japan, Politico reports.

Avigan was rejected for use in the US by health officials previously, despite its use in places like Japan, because of its risk factors.

But already other countries have shown interest in testing the flu drug on their own patients with Covid-19. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said during a news conference that about 30 countries have sought Avigan, including Indonesia, Germany, and Turkey.

Indonesia, for example, ordered 2m doses of the drug on 20 March. The interest from other countries will help expand the clinical trial for the drug's potential benefits, Mr Suga said.

The FDA has not commented on whether it was considering the drug for any future trials to treat Covid-19 patients.

Although drug therapies are an easier treatment to test while scientists work to develop a coronavirus vaccine, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, as well as other health officials, have advised the Trump administration to stop pushing miracle drugs publicly before research can back up the potential benefits.
US Navy Photo / Alamy Stock Photo

En espanol | Since it was converted from a San Clemente-class supertanker into an acute surgical medical facility in 1987, the USNS Comfort, part of the Navy's Military Sealift Command, has provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief around the world. More than 550,000 people have received care provided by it and its sister ship, USNS Mercy, since 2001. Today, it is providing relief to New York hospitals strained by the number of patients infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

"This will right away be making a difference in this city and we are so, so grateful to the Navy, to the military that this new ship will be arriving in our city, said New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, ahead of the naval ship's arrival on March 30.
The stock markets continued their journey southward and ended the session in red down by 2 percent dragged mainly by selling pressure in BFSI stocks

The stock markets continued their journey southward and ended the session in red down by 2 percent dragged mainly by selling pressure in BFSI stocks despite gains in global peers and reversal in crude oil prices. Investor sentiments continued to weigh amid uncertainty over coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact. With fresh cases of CoronaVirus rising day by day, concerns over the looming economic recession are keeping Investors on edge.

Factory activity data, released on Thursday said it grew at a slowest pace in four months, also dented sentiments. BFSI heavyweight stocks like Kotak Bank, ICICI bank, HDFC among others were among top contributors in today's decline.

However, healthy gains in pharma stocks like Cipla, Lupin among others restricted the downfall. Broader indices, too, were under selling pressure ending with cuts down by 1.4 percent. The market is expected to continue to be volatile till there is clarity on the situation after the lockdown ends on 14 April, 2020.

The Sensex tumbled 674 points on Friday, weighed by losses in banking stocks as unabated spike in new COVID-19 cases fuelled uncertainty over the economic impact of the pandemic. After hitting a low of 27,500.79 during the day, the 30-share BSE barometer ended 674.36 points or 2.39 per cent lower at 27,590.95.

The NSE Nifty shed 170 points, or 2.06 per cent, to finish at 8,083.80.

Axis Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack, cracking over 9 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, Titan, SBI, Maruti, HDFC and Asian Paints.

On the other hand, Sun Pharma, ITC, ONGC, M&M and Tech Mahindra were among the gainers.

Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director, Choice Broking said, finally the Nifty settled its weekly closing at 8,083-level with the loss of 170 points and even below its support of 8,100 which shows some concern during upcoming trading sessions. "Moreover, we have seen last moment selling pressure due to three days off in the market. The COVID-19 spread is also increasing its pressure as the number of infected people has risen to more than 1 Million in recent days as unemployment numbers from the US are also at a worrying level. Technically support comes at 7,800 while resistance comes at 8,500.

Paras Bothra, President of Equity Research, Ashika Stock Broking said the domestic markets ended lower as India battles to restrict the number of new COVID-19 cases and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the formulation of a common exit strategy to ensure a staggered re-emergence of the population once the 21-day lockdown ends. "Sluggish auto sales figures, falling tax revenues, weak manufacturing data for March, expected rise in NPAs and a sharp rebound in oil prices have kept India on tenterhooks. Barring FMCG and Pharma, other indices succumbed to selling. At close, the Sensex was down 674.36 points or 2.39 percent at 27590.95, and the Nifty was down 170.00 points or 2.06 percent at 8083.80".

Fears of economic recession keep investors on edge

With fresh cases of novel coronavirus mounting by the day, concerns over a looming economic recession kept investors on the edge, traders said.

The Asian Development Bank warned on Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic could cost the global economy $4.1 trillion as it ravages United States, Europe and other major economies. It also said that India's economic growth rate will slip to 4 percent in the current fiscal, PTI said.

The number of COVID-19 cases in India has crossed 2,300 while the death toll rose to 56, according to the Health Ministry.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world has soared past one million and fatalities have topped 50,000 as the US reported the highest daily death toll of any country so far.

Bourses in Shanghai and Hong Kong ended in the red, while those in Seoul and Tokyo closed with mild gains.

Stocks in Europe were also trading with significant losses in early deals.

On the currency front, the rupee depreciated 55 paise to 76.15 against the US dollar in intra-day trade.

Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rallied 8.15 per cent to USD 32.36 per barrel amid hopes that Russia and Saudi Arabia will end a price war by slashing crude output.

Trading hours revised for various markets

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday revised the trading hours for various markets to minimise the risks and to ensure that market participants maintain adequate checks and supervisory controls while optimising thin resources and ensuring safety of personnel, ANI reported.

The trading hours for various markets have been revised from 10 AM to 2 PM.

The trading hours for various markets have been revised from 10 am to 2 pm. #coronavirus https://t.co/pPwG1Ngz0k  ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2020

Indian shares in world capital cap below historic average

A report by Motilal Oswal said India's share in the global market capitalisation is below the historic average.

Currently, it is at 2.2 percent below its historic average of 2.5 percent.

The 'Bull & Bears' report also noted that India's market cap has declined more, compared to the fall in the world market cap in the past 12 months. "Over the last 12 months, the world's market cap has decreased 12.3 per cent ($9.6 trillion), while India's market cap is down 31 per cent," it said.

The report also noted that the market cap-to-GDP ratio of India has declined swiftly from 79 per cent as on FY19 to 54 percent (FY20EGDP), much below its long-term average of 75 per cent and closer to the levels last seen during FY05 and FY09.

On the market performance in the FY 2019-20, it said: "The Nifty could not have had a worse finish to FY20. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spread across the world, the Nifty nosedived 23 per cent in Mar 20 to close at 8,598 (-26 per cent YoY), the worst since Oct'08."

While funds from domestic institutional investors at $17.9 billion, against $10.3 billion in FY19 were robust in FY20, inflows from foreign institutional investors (FII) were weak at $1 billion.

It noted that the Nifty is trading at a 12-month forward return on equity (RoE) of 15 per cent, above its long-term average of 14.5 percent.

It also said that 80 percent of the Nifty companies are trading at discount to their historical averages

On the private banking sector, the report said that business environment remains under challenging due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Over the past few years, corporate lending was muted resulting in systemic loan growth being largely driven by the retail segment. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 has led to weakening of credit demand in consumer retail, MFI and SME/business banking segments," it said.

Loan growth of private banks is likely to moderate to 14 per cent, in FY21 against the previous projection of 18 per cent. Moderation in business growth and the recent reduction of 75 basis points in the repo rate will have a bearing on margins as floating retail and SME loans linked to the external benchmark get re-pricedimmediately while deposits re-price with a lag effect.

Among the private banks, the Motilal Oswal report said that IndusInd Bank and RBL Bank will be the most vulnerable to asset quality challenges, and thus, credit cost should rise significantly, IANS reported.

On the public sector banks (PSB), it said that the consolidation of PSBs is a positive move from a long-term perspective, whichwill improve their competitiveness.

"However, this will come with its own set of challenges in the near term related to credit growth, higher credit cost, integration issues, etc. The outbreak of COVID-19 has further weakened credit growth of PSBs."

State Bank of India's (SBI) loan growth is likely to moderate to 8 per cent while for Bank of Baroda, it is likely to moderate to 7 per cent over FY21.

PSBs have relatively higher share of exposure in the SME segment, and thus, asset quality should remain under pressure in the near-term.

--With inputs from agencies
Millions of farmers, domestic consumers and industrial units in Rajasthan can now pay their electricity and water bills for March and April in May, amid the lockdown to prevent the transmission of Covid-19, chief minister Ashok Gehlot has said.

A release from the chief ministers office on Thursday night has said the decision will benefit nearly 1.3 million farmers and about 15 million domestic consumers.

The government also announced a 5% discount in the next electricity bill for agriculture and domestic category consumers if they pay by May 31, 2020.

For industries, the government has deferred fixed charges on electricity connections in proportion to the lockdown period till May 31, 2020, for March and April bills which will be issued in April and May.

This will provide relief to about 168,000 consumers of small, medium and big industrial units.

Similarly, the fixed charge of electricity bills of about 11,00,000 other home-based connections for March and Aprilcommercial and tourism-related establishments, showrooms, shops, hotels, working hostels, etcexcept state and lockdown-free establishments will be deferred till May 31, 2020.

The government will allocate 650 crore to power distribution companies against this relief, the release said.

The government also said that it will suspend the recovery of the water bill for March and April for all consumers in the state. The consumer can now pay the bills in May.

Also read: Maharashtra, Kerala on top; total nears 2,500

This decision will postpone revenue collection of about 100 crore.

The state government has also said it will pay a premium of 700 crore of the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme by May to ensure that farmers get insurance claims without any delay for kharif year 2019.

It has paid 2034 crore as premium in the last one year.

A decision has also been taken to increase loan for kharif crops by 25%, which will be starting from April 16, and that a loan of about 8000 crore will be disbursed in during this year. About 20,00,000 farmers will get the benefit of the increased amount.

Rajasthan reported 14 news cases of the coronavirus disease on Friday morning, taking the number of Covid-19 patients to 154 in the state till date.

This includes seven Covid-19 patients in Jaipur and two in Bikaner, who went to the Tablighi Jamaats Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi.

So far, 23 Tablighi members have tested positive in the state.

Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra have also allowed for an extension in the payment of electricity bills generated during the 21-day nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Hobby Lobby, the national chain of craft stores, has been performing a kind of solo act of defiance of law by refusing to close stores around the country because its owners would like to stay open during a pandemic. This follows three weeks of insistence that it wouldnt close, a summary firing (by email) of staff, and then a grand reopening in select states in violation of shelter-in-place orders. Is any part of you somehow surprised that Hobby Lobby believes itself to be above the law?

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After all, just a few years ago no lesser an institution than the U.S. Supreme Court announced that the company could simply ignore federal law when it wanted to deny contraceptive care to its employees. Having been blessed with the right to skirt the law as it sees fit, regardless of the harms it rains down on everyone else, Hobby Lobby strides into this pandemic self-certain, anti-science, and at war with the countryjust as Samuel Alito invited it to be.

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In 2014, by a 54 vote, the Supreme Court determined that under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the religious owners of a the for-profit craft supply stores could exempt themselves from the contraception mandate of the Affordable Care Act. The ACA had provided that businesses with over 50 employees needed to offer workers birth control coverage as part of a basic preventative care package, or pay a fine. The owners of Hobby Lobby, claiming a religious belief that some birth control devices were abortifacients, sought to deny that coverage. The case, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, set new goal posts in the religious freedom wars playing out in American courts. For-profit corporations could claim to be religious persons and opt out of general legal obligations. Alito, in his majority opinion, was emphatic that the holding was extremely narrow and specific:

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We do not hold, as the principal dissent alleges, that for-profit corporations and other commercial enterprises can opt out of any law (saving only tax laws) they judge incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs. Nor do we hold, as the dissent implies, that such corporations have free rein to take steps that impose disadvantages  on others or that require the general public [to] pick up the tab. And we certainly do not hold or suggest that RFRA demands accommodation of a for-profit corporations religious beliefs no matter the impact that accommodation may have on  thousands of women employed by Hobby Lobby.

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It was a teensy little case about a teensy mom and pop company with sincerely held religious convictions.

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing the principal dissent that helped cement her status as the Notorious RBG, disagreed. She opened her dissent with this warning:

In a decision of startling breadth, the Court holds that commercial enterprises, including corporations, along with partnerships and sole proprietorships, can opt out of any law (saving only tax laws) they judge incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs. Compelling governmental interests in uniform compliance with the law, and disadvantages that religion-based opt- outs impose on others, hold no sway, the Court decides, at least when there is a less restrictive alternative. And such an alternative, the Court suggests, there always will be whenever, in lieu of tolling an enterprise claiming a religion-based exemption, the government, i.e., the general public, can pick up the tab.

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It wasnt just the breadth of the majoritys holding that worried Ginsburg, who believed there was nothing in it to stop other religious for-profit corporations from similarly opting out of generally applicable laws. Under the majoritys logic, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act demands accommodation of a for-profit corporations religious beliefs no matter the impact that accommodation may have on third parties who do not share the corporation owners religious faith. Employees of Hobby Lobby who did not share the owners religious values would be materially harmed by the decision and the cases that would follow. Women who needed and could not afford expensive contraceptive care would suffer. Alito seemed unbothered by the so-called third-party impacts, but Justice Ginsberg, presciently, was worried.

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Back in 2014 the high court couldnt even be bothered to address the third-party harms it was creating when it was just birth control being denied to Hobby Lobby workers.

Six years later, we have witnessed a long and thickening string of cases brought by religious dissenters who make all kinds of claims about the primacy of their own faiths and the implicit irrelevance of the harms born by everyone else. So it should hardly come as a surprise to anyone that Hobby Lobby itself seems to be leading the move to defy state orders about the need for nonessential businesses to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hobby Lobby, once again, is in it for Hobby Lobby, the religious institution and beating heart of spiritual conviction. To everyone else? Good luck.

And so Hobby Lobby reopened stores this week despite stay-at-home orders by governors in Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana. State attorneys general in Colorado and Ohio threatened the chain with sanctions if they do not close immediately. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that some Wisconsin Hobby Lobby stores had reopened on Monday, having closed last week, now posting signs indicating they were essential businesses because they were now offering PPE masks, supplies, educational supplies, office supplies and various components for home small businesses. After threats of legal action in Colorado and Ohio, the stores appear to finally be closing their doors.

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Hobby Lobbys founder and CEO, David Green, has been openly defiant about remaining open through the pandemic. On March 19 he sent a letter to employees, thanking God who will Guide us through this storm, promising to keep the company open, and insisting that his wife Barbara, the prayer warrior in their family, assured him that the workers were all able to labor safely after consultation with God. Then late last week Green sacked thousands of his hourly employees and canceled their health insurance via email. As Micah Schwartzman was quick to note on Twitter, at oral arguments in Hobby Lobby in 2014, the Green family had insisted that it could not abandon the employees to fend for themselves in the exchanges, thus relieving the companys religious burden to fund contraception, because apparently the familys religion required it to provide employees with health care. Not anymore.

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Now that some stores remain open, its been further reported that they are not being cleaned to appropriate standards, and staff has not been given protective gloves because so many of the hourly workers were laid off. The company has been singularly uninterested in the health and welfare of staff, shoppers, or anyone else. And why should they be? The Supreme Court told David Green none of those interests was relevant when it came to health insurance and the special status of Hobby Lobby, and Green doubtless still believes it. Back in 2014 the high court couldnt even be bothered to address the third-party harms it was creating when it was just birth control being denied to its workers. Today, Hobby Lobby believes it can ignore third-party harms, and why shouldnt it? After all, this is just a pandemic.

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In her dissent in Hobby Lobby, Ginsburg distinguished between religious liberty for people and the interests of corporations: Religious organizations exist to foster the interests of persons subscribing to the same religious faith. Not so for-profit corporations. Workers who sustain the operations of those corporations commonly are not drawn from one religious community. She further warned of the slippery slope that would follow: The Courts determination that RFRA extends to for- profit corporations is bound to have untoward effects. Although the Court attempts to cabin its language to closely held corporations, its logic extends to corporations of any size, public or private. Little doubt that RFRA claims will proliferate, for the Courts expansive notion of corporate personhoodcombined with its other errors in construing RFRAinvites for-profit entities to seek religion-based exemptions from regulations they deem offensive to their faith.

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The court is at this very moment poised to further bolster individual religious liberties and harm third parties. These cases are invariably cast as pitting the dissenting voices of small but mighty religious Davids against the trivial civil liberties of nameless, unimportant third-party Goliaths. But the coronavirus has rapidly proved that a few small and mighty religious Davids can quickly infect whole populations who did not choose to adhere to the religious tenets of those making reckless decisions. This time, the third parties are the grandmothers in nursing homes, the kids with asthma, the elderly store and warehouse workers. Those third parties had been invisible statistics to the court for quite some time now. They will not be invisible statistics for long.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 17:37:59|Editor: huaxia

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Workers prepare to participate in a massive disinfection campaign in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on April 3, 2020. Kuwait reported on Friday 75 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 417, the Health Ministry said in a statement. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait reported on Friday 75 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 417, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Among the new cases, there are six Kuwaiti citizens who returned from Britain and Iran and one Iraqi resident who arrived from Iraq, according to the ministry statement.

Another 36 cases have a history of contact with infected patients, and 32 are still under investigation, the statement said.

So far, 335 patients are still receiving treatment, including 16 in ICU, it noted.

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Minister of Health Bassel Al-Sabah announced the recovery of one more patient from the coronavirus, raising the number of the cured in the country to 82.

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.
Madonna has announced she has donated $1million to the Gates Philanthropy Partners' COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator in order to help find a cure for coronavirus.

In a lengthy statement shared to her website Madona.com, the pop star, 61, said she is 'so impressed by the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation' that she wants to contribute to the cause.

The Microsoft billionaire announced his plans to fund seven different research labs in order to find a cure for the virus on Thursday.

Charity: Madonna has announced that she has donated 1 million to the Gates Philanthropy Partners' COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator in order to help find a cure for coronavirus

Madonna shared a video to her Instagram page on Friday and announced the news of her hefty donation to fans.

She said: 'Individually and globally we are obviously living in a state of emergency, I must admit it took me time to accept and process and modify my own lifestyle.'

'I'm joining the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation effort to find a drug that will prevent or treat COVID-19.

'We need this to protect our health workers, the most vulnerable, and all of our friends and families.

Impressive: The Microsoft billionaire announced his plans to fund seven different research labs in order to find a cure for the virus on Thursday

'I'm talking about this: I am so impressed by the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator's urgent efforts to find new or existing drugs that could effectively prevent or treat the disease.

'Harnessing the strength and knowledge of the research community, the Accelerator's critical scientific progress will inform how we end this pandemic and prevent future impact from the virus.

'I send enormous gratitude and strength to the courageous first responders, medical professionals and scientists who are protecting our communities, those suffering and our most vulnerable.'

Reaching out: Madonna shared a video to her Instagram page on Friday and announced the news of her hefty donation to fans

Bill revealed his charity's aim on The Daily Show and told host Trever Noah: 'Because our foundation has such deep expertise in infectious diseases, we've thought about the epidemic, we did fund some things to be more prepared, like a vaccine effort,'

He continued: 'Our early money can accelerate things.'

The entrepreneur said he was picking the top seven vaccine candidates and building manufacturing capacity for them.

He said: 'Even though we'll end up picking at most two of them, we're going to fund factories for all seven, just so that we don't waste time in serially saying, "ok, which vaccine works?" and then building the factory.'

Global coronavirus cases have soared past one million as the pandemic explodes in the US and the death tolls continue to climb in Italy and Spain, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The deadly virus has killed more than 52,000 across the world, with the largest number of deaths in Italy, followed by Spain and the US.

The first 100,000 cases were reported in around 55 days, the first 500,000 in 76 days, and they doubled to one million within the past eight days.

There are 117 countries and territories that have reported over 100 cases, 50 with outbreaks of over 1,000 and seven that have reported 50,000 or more COVID-19 cases, mainly in Europe.

The global fatality rate is now over 5 per cent of all reported cases, with countries including the UK, the US and Spain reporting a spike in fatalities over recent days.

Around 22 per cent of total cases have been reported by the US, while Italy and Spain have each reported 11 per cent of global cases.

Scientists are working tirelessly to discover more about COVID-19 and to create a vaccine.
The Minority Caucus on the Health Committee is asking government to extend the partial lockdown to three other regions in the country where similar cases of COVID-19 have been recorded.

President Nana Akufo-Addo imposed a partial lockdown on Accra, Tema, and Kumasi effective Monday, March 30, 2020, when he addressed the nation on Friday, March 27, 2020, in a bid to contain the spread of the outbreak in the country.

The case count currently in the country is 204 recorded in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, Upper West, and Eastern Regions.

The Upper West, Northern and Eastern Regions are not affected by the lockdown measures.

Addressing the media, Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh indicated that extending the lockdown to the other COVID-19 affected regions will help contain the spread of the disease.

In the essence of a lockdown, you lockdown, you restrict movement because once the movement is not restricted, the spread moves faster. So, in order to contain them, I think that restricting the movement of persons in these five regions will not be bad. But if you restrict the movements in these regions and you sit idle, only restricting the movements alone will not stop the spread. You must have steps in place to fight them while you contain them. If you embark on lockdown and dont do anything after the lockdown people will still be carrying the virus, he opined.

He also appealed to government to urgently respond to the call of doctors at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital who have threatened to withdraw services for lack of PPEs.

We will never back medical doctors or health professionals to embark on a strike at this crucial moment. We are all at risk so we can only appeal to them to be at work. But you see, they must be alive and they must survive before they can protect us. So while we are appealing to them to be at work, the government must also expedite actions on what they need. It looks like they (government) have done well with the talking but at this time its actions we need and not talking. So they must walk the talk.

---citinewsroom
Burundi made headlines by becoming the first country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in October 2017. Today, the small central African nation is once again making a name for itself. While in most countries major national events likely to mobilize crowds are postponed to limit the spread of coronavirus, Burundi is maintaining the 20 May date for its general elections. Government spokesman Jean-Claude Karerwa Ndenzako recently told the BBC that his country (which officially had only two confirmed cases of coronavirus as of 31 March) was protected from any calamity because it is bound to God by a special pact.

The electoral process is therefore continuing, including the registration of candidates for the presidency currently held by President Pierre Nkurunziza, now dubbed the Supreme Guide of Patriotism. Meanwhile, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), charged with addressing the inter-ethnic conflicts that have bloodied the country since its independence, is continuing its work. But its exhumations of victims of 1972 massacres, presented by some perpetrators as genocide against the majority Hutu ethnic group, are causing growing controversy in this electoral context. Some Burundian observers fear there is a hidden agenda behind this operation. Others denounce outright an attempt by the authorities, through the Commission, to play on ethnicity in order to seduce the Hutu electorate.

Villagers witness the exhumation of mass graves in Burundi last January.  Onesphore Nibigira / AFP

Symbolic significance of the 1972 massacres

Lambert Nigarura, president of the Burundian Coalition for the ICC, points to the TRCs lack of forensic expertise, material and technical means to identify victims and date massacres. For him, this operation carried out in haste is decidedly dangerous. Launching these activities despite the lack of anything that could help establish the truth hides a desire to manipulate history for purely political purposes on the eve of elections, he said.

French sociologist Andre Guichaoua, one of the leading Western specialists on this troubled region of the African Great Lakes, is closely following the work of the TRC. He emphasizes that all the exhumation procedures that make it possible to carry out inventories of the sites and to bury the remains of these victims with dignity meet the expectations of their relatives, eyewitnesses and others. However, he shares the fear that the opening of these 1972 mass graves may be electoral manipulation. The current exhumations of the 1972 mass graves organized by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission raise new controversy because its clear that such a selective tribute to the dead of one camp and/or ethnic group is being instrumentalized for political purposes in the current Burundian electoral context, even more so at a time of a major political transition that entrenches for decades the hegemony of an authoritarian pro-Hutu party.

In a telephone interview from Bujumbura, opposition member Tatien Sibomana, spokesman for one of the factions of the UPRONA (Union for National Progress) party, drives home the point. According to him, the TRC wants to influence views of history for political propaganda to the benefit of the ruling party, which is short of ideas. It wants to make the public believe that the dark periods Burundi went through only killed Hutus. Sibomana, a former public prosecutor, accuses the TRC of trying to cover up the massacres perpetrated against Tutsis in 1965, 1992 and 1993.

Recommended reading Burundi: the commission of divided truths

A risk of rekindling ethnic tensions?

Doudou Diene, chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, also expressed his apprehensions at a session of the UN Human Rights Council on 9 March. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission seems to be concerned only with the victims of 1972, the majority of whom are of Hutu ethnicity, which is not insignificant in the run-up to important elections, since any criticism of the government of Burundi is considered support for the perpetrators of the 1972 massacres, he said. Reacting to this, the representative of Burundi, Revocat Tabu, accused Diene and his team of having been picked and manipulated by geopolitical lobbies, under the guise of human rights protection .

Reginas Ndayiragije, a teacher and researcher at Antwerp University in Belgium, thinks it is premature to make a value judgment on the Commission s work. The act in itself is not a problem; it is even beneficial, says the Burundian academic, who has long worked in peacebuilding programmes in his country, as well as in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The problem lies in the method. I have the impression that the TRC has not prepared peoples minds for this highly symbolic and emotional work. There should have been more efforts to communicate the meaning of this act and the next steps. For example, there should have been an explanation as to why the identification of mass graves has become the top priority, because the reason remains obscure.

There are some who may fall into this ethnic manipulation of history, but many Burundians are already aware that the CNDD-FDD [President Nkurunzizas ruling party] has only this to sell, because it lacks popularity,

I dont believe that excavation per se can rekindle ethnic tensions, he adds. The Burundians have shown in recent years that they have developed amazing resilience. Ultimately, extremists on all sides will find this a perfect time to pour out their hatred and use the work of the TRC to achieve their unhealthy political and ideological goals, but I doubt it will rekindle ethnic tensions. Tatien Sibomana seems to agree. There are some who may fall into this ethnic manipulation of history, but many Burundians are already aware that the CNDD-FDD [President Nkurunzizas ruling party] has only this to sell, because it lacks popularity, he says.

Truth Commission defends itself

All these accusations, fears and concerns are brushed aside by the TRC, which proclaims its independence and defends its methods. In an interview with Justice Info, one of its members, Aloys Batungwanayo, said this is not the first time that the TRC has carried out exhumation work. More than a year ago we carried out exhumations in Marangara commune, Ngozi province. We exhumed around 275 human remains of victims from 1995-1996. But people did not comment because the number was not high. From December 15, 2019 to January 12, 2020, we exhumed 270 human remains of victims from 1994, 1995 and 1996. Again, since the number was not very high, there were no comments. Then, as of 21 January we have exhumed around 6,000 remains of victims from 1972 on the banks of the Ruvubu River. Since the number is very high, people started commenting and criticizing, the commissioner said, adding that the TRC will continue exhumations at mass graves from the 1988, 1992 and 1993 massacres.

The Commission is simply doing its job. It was working before the electoral process, and it will work during and after this event. The Commission is in no way being used by any institution; we are working for everyone. We are here to seek the truth that will reconcile Burundians.

These accusations are baseless, he says. The Commission is simply doing its job. It was working before the electoral process, and it will work during and after this event. We have developed a methodology and we are going to follow it. The Commission is in no way being used by any institution; we are working for everyone. We are here to seek the truth that will reconcile Burundians.

Reconciliation from the top and grassroots

What then is needed to foster reconciliation? Burundians need political leaders who are not steeped in the crimes of the past, says Nigarura. It is no longer a secret that the Burundian people are victims of political compromises usually aimed at covering up leaders who were responsible during the troubled times of our history. They are of all ethnicities (Hutu andTutsi) and this has led to a culture of impunity and, as a result, vicious cycles of violence and revenge. Reconciliation is only possible if Burundians can reconcile with their State, agrees Ndayiragije, explaining that the bulk of past and current crimes are attributable to the State and its representatives. If we can ensure that yesterdays victims have the assurance their children will not experience what they have endured, that would be an important step towards reconciliation. And this can only be possible if the perpetrators of yesterdays, todays and tomorrows crimes are held accountable, continued the academic.

Ndayiragije also calls for supporting and increasing the reconciliation efforts that have been initiated in the past, under the impetus of certain NGOs, both local and international. He suggests that emphasis should be placed on reconciliation from the bottom up and that young Burundians should be offered platforms for depolarized exchange so that they can learn from the mistakes of the generations that preceded them.
Northampton County as of Wednesday moved all inmates out of its work release facility in West Easton, officials announced Thursday.

The inmates were transferred to a county Department of Corrections building on South Union Street in Easton.

The Main Street, West Easton, building is now available under the countys emergency disaster declaration in the event its need as a staging area or field hospital for care of COVID-19 patients.

The facility as of Thursday was being cleaned in preparation for its possible new role in the fight against the coronavirus.

PrimeCare Medical, the health care provider for Northampton County Prison, recommended the transfer, county Executive Lamont McClure's administration announced.

"The West Easton facility has an open barracks setup," the administration said in a news release. "If any inmate tested positive or showed symptoms for COVID-19, the entire facility would have to be quarantined. At the Community Corrections facility on South Union Street, the inmates can be housed in smaller groups and they will be closer to medical resources in the Northampton County Prison."

The West Easton facility has a 120-bed capacity, a large classroom for briefings and a kitchen that can be used to warm food. It can be used for medical needs or as a quarantine site, the county says.

Pennsylvanias confirmed coronavirus cases now total 7,016 and at least 90 people have died, according to the latest data released Thursday by the state Department of Health. Sixteen new deaths were reported, four of them in Northampton County, which now has nine since the local outbreak began in early March. Five people have died in Lehigh County. As a region the Lehigh Valleys 14 COVID-19 deaths outnumber Philadelphia, where 13 have died among nearly 2,000 sickened.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Camonghne Felix

Camonghne Felix, who was national director of surrogates communications, black media & strategic communications for Elizabeth Warren's presidential run, has joined Blue State in Washington.

She will lead strategic communications for the WPP unit that has worked for Ford Motor, UNICEF, Google and Planned Parent Federation of America.

Before joining the Warren campaign, Felix was communications director for Amara Envia's run for mayor of Chicago, senior communications manager at MS Foundation for Women, senior account executive/strategist at BerlinRosen and speechwriter for New York governor Andrew Cuomo.

Blue State CEO/co-founder Joe Rospars said Felix's "campaign experience, passion for cause-based communications, and unique writing abilities," makes her a perfect fit for the firm.

He served as chief strategist for Warren's campaign and new media director for Barack Obama presidential campaigns.
The World Bank on Thursday approved a plan to roll out USD 160 billion in emergency aid over 15 months to help countries deal with the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The board of the Washington-based development lender announced the first set of fast-track crisis funding, with an initial $1.9 billion going to projects in 25 countries, and operations moving forward in another 40 nations, the bank said in a statement.

We are working to strengthen developing nations ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and shorten the time to economic and social recovery, said World Bank President David Malpass.

The poorest and most vulnerable countries will likely be hit the hardest, and our teams around the world remain focused on country-level and regional solutions to address the ongoing crisis. The bank also is working to redeploy USD 1.7 billion of existing funding, including the use of catastrophic drawdowns, a type of emergency credit line.

India will be the largest beneficiary of the first wave of programs with a facility for USD 1 billion, followed by Pakistan with USD 200 million and Afghanistan with a little over USD 100 million, but funding is going to countries on nearly every continent, the bank said.

In addition, the World Banks private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, is providing $8 billion in financing to help private companies affected by the pandemic and preserve jobs.
In India, around 50 doctors and medical staff have tested positive for coronovirus (Covid-19), raising the eyebrows of the Union Health Ministry, sources said on Friday.

The Health Ministry is trying to assess the situation and ascertain whether these doctors and medical staff have been infected by Covid-19 positive patients.

"We are trying to understand whether these medical staff have been infected by the patients or had a contact history from outside their work space," said a senior official in the Health Ministry.

The official, however, explained that among the 50 cases of medical staff testing positive, a few were not engaged in treating Covid-19 patients.

The government has now started contact tracing of such cases to accurately assess the reason for them getting infected.

It was also found that due to shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the hospitals, the doctors and medical staff have become vulnerable to coronavirus patients they are treating.

In order to meet the shortages, the defence public sector undertakings and other private players have been roped in to manufacture PPE in large scale for the people, including the medical professionals.

Further, the government fears that as the number of coronavirus cases rises in the country, the most vulnerable section are the medical community who are engaged in treating such patients.

On March 29, a Colonel-rank Indian Army doctor tested positive for Covid-19 at the Army Command Hospital in Kolkata. The officer, who was in New Delhi recently, has been put under quarantine and all precautionary measures are being taken for his colleagues as well.

The Colonel-rank doctor is serving at the Command Hospital in Kolkata. The Army has traced all those who have come in contact with him and accordingly they have been quarantined.

One Delhi-based doctor from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had also tested positive of Covid-19 on April 1. The doctor has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Haryana's Jhajjar.

The doctor, in the rank of Chief Medical Officer, was posted in the office of the Additional Director General (Medical) of the CRPF. It was not immediately clear how the doctor contracted the infection. He was staying at the CRPF transit mess in south Delhi's Saket area. Those present in the mess have also been quarantined.

Similarly, a resident doctor of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, and his nine-month pregnant wife have tested positive for Covid-19. The doctor posted at the physiology department of AIIMS was the first to show symptoms and later his wife was also brought in and both have now tested positive.

The family members and close work contacts of the couple have been isolated and screened and contact tracing protocol has been initiated in both the cases.
* Denmark would be first non-Asian country to relax curbs

* Number of cases stabilising

* Country seeks to balance economy and public safety

* Authorities appear confident of stopping second outbreak

* Many question whether that stance is well-founded

By Stine Jacobsen and Nikolaj Skydsgaard

COPENHAGEN, April 3 (Reuters) - Denmark is expected this weekend to reveal plans to relax its coronavirus lockdown, becoming the first country outside Asia to do so, reasoning that the risks of a deep recession may now be more dangerous for Danish society than a second outbreak.

The Nordic country was one of the first in Europe to shut down, and with the number of coronavirus cases stabilizing it is now facing tough decisions on reopening that many other governments around the world have lying ahead of them.

The Danish government on March 11 ordered the closure of schools, day cares, restaurants, cafes and gyms, and shut all borders to most foreigners.

On Monday, the government said it would start gradually lifting its lockdown after Easter if the numbers of cases and deaths remained stable, apparently confident it can guard its population against a second outbreak.

Frederiksen said she hoped to be able to present a plan for the first phase of a reopening by the end of this week after consultation with the other parties in government.

But many Danes question whether the government's confidence is well-founded.

Qasim Khan, co-owner and head chef at a small Latin American restaurant in central Copenhagen, applauds the government's quick decision to shut down the country, but worries that a reopening after Easter would be too early and could actually delay a return to normal.

"You risk that our three weeks of very tough quarantine ends being worth nothing ... I don't see a reason for opening up and then risk having to shut down again," he told Reuters.

In considering whether to ease the restrictions, the government is trying to balance the need to keep its population safe and the economic risks of a deep recession.

Story continues

"POLITICAL CHOICE"

"The situation we are in is far more complicated than appreciating human life," the country's prime minister Mette Frederiksen said on Monday.

"We cannot open a textbook - neither on healthcare nor economy - and find the right answer," she said, adding: "The math is too simple."

Denmark, which has imposed less strict limits on daily life than in Italy or France, had reported 139 coronavirus-related deaths as of Friday, with the number of patients hospitalized falling this week.

"What we've done so far is very sensible, but I would have liked to see a development over a longer period before I dared to say that the curve is broken," said Hans Jorn Kolmos, professor in clinical microbiology at the University of Southern Denmark.

Frederiksen acknowledged on Monday that "the strategy we follow is a political choice."

Restaurant owner Khan, with the help of his pregnant girlfriend and two remaining staff, is still keeping his kitchen open for take-away orders.

"Is it really worth risking getting ill versus shutting down the place? That has been the toughest decision," Khan said.

(Additional reporting by Andreas Mortensen; writing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, Editing by William Maclean)
The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) has written to the Indian Government seeking its support to deal with the surmounting challenges faced by print media with the COVID-19 crisis at hand. Print media is under assault from all directions with distribution bottlenecks due to COVID-19, high cost of importing newsprint and shrinking advertiser support.

The letter addressed to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been written by INS president, Shailesh Gupta, promoter of leading Hindi daily Dainik Jagran. As per the recommendations of the letter, the INS has urged the Finance Minister to remove the 5% import duty on newsprint to ease the burden on the print media players.

The letter states that these measures are critical for the survival of domestic newspapers in India, especially local papers citing the example of Afternoon Dispatch and Courier which had shut down recently.

Another local Hindi newspaper Hamara Mahanagar was forced to close its shutters because it was unable to pay back its stakeholders.

India remains one of the few countries where print media continues to grow albeit at a snails pace.
New Delhi [India], April 3 (ANI): In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the Union Health Ministry has placed an order of about 10 crore hydroxychloroquine tablets with various pharmaceutical companies for healthcare workers.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has suggested the use of hydroxychloroquine tablets only for healthcare workers and caregivers involved in the treatment and direct contact with the suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.

For those COVID-19 patients who require ICU care, the Health Ministry has suggested the use of hydroxychloroquine tablets in combination with Azithromycin.

"We have placed an order of approximately 10 crore tablets for the anti-malarial drug -- hydroxychloroquine tablets. Prior to this, we have purchased over 70 lakh tablets," said a health ministry official.

However, the Health Ministry has clearly mentioned that these drugs are not recommended for children less than 12 years of age, pregnant and lactating women. It has published its revised guidelines on clinical management of COVID-19.

"We have removed our earlier recommendation of the use of anti-HIV drug combination Lopinavir and Ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. As of now, there is no clinical and scientific data available in the world about Lopinavir and Ritonavir drug combination on COVID-19 patients. And it did not give significant result to the patient," the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The White House has urged Americans to maintain six feet of distance between yourself and others at all times amid the devastating coronavirus pandemic currently sweeping the globe.

But many are forgetting the advice, apparently including Hollywood actress Olivia Wilde, who stood rather close to a Los Angeles neighbor on Thursday.

The Tron: Legacy star did however cover her face with a makeshift mask as she conversed.

Social distancing: Olivia Wilde [R] stood rather close to a Los Angeles neighbor on Thursday

The Booksmart director clad her shapely pins in a pair of black leggings adorned with the word 'WARRIOR'.

She also wore a pink T-shirt marked with the words 'SUMMER FRIENDS' and shielded her eyes with a pair of Ray-Ban Blaze Cat Eye shades.

The wife of comedian Jason Sudeikis completed the sporty look with a pair of white sneakers.

Cover up: The Tron: Legacy star did however cover her face with a makeshift mask as she conversed

Legs for daze: The Booksmart director clad her shapely pins in a pair of black leggings adorned with the word 'WARRIOR'

In a concession to the pandemic, which as of Thursday evening had claimed 246 lives in California alone, Olivia wrapped a sweatshirt around her face.

Her wavy ombre tresses were worn tied back in a loose pony tail for the walk with her gorgeous Labrador pooch.

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.

Future's so bright: Olivia also shielded her eyes with a pair of Ray-Ban Blaze Cat Eye shades

Wilde and husband 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.
This will, surely, go down as one of the most memorable achievements in the history of the National Health Service.

It was certainly marked by one of the more memorable opening ceremonies in the long plaque-unveiling history of the House of Windsor.

Thus it was that the Prince of Wales opened the 4,000-bed Nightingale Hospital in east London yesterday  while sitting in his armchair in deepest Aberdeenshire.

It is without doubt a spectacular and almost unbelievable feat of work in every sense, declared the prince as he saluted all those involved in the mass mobilisation to withstand the coronavirus crisis.

It was just last week that the virus laid low the prince himself, although he appeared fully recovered as he spoke on a video screen in front of what is now Europes largest hospital.

Just nine days ago, this had been the ExCeL conference centre, its one million square feet reserved for the National Wedding Show which should have been kicking off at 9am today.

As of now, it will be the epicentre of the greatest peacetime emergency in modern times.

An example, if ever one was needed, the prince continued, of how the impossible can be made possible and how we can achieve the unthinkable through human will and ingenuity.

Just nine days ago, this had been the ExCeL conference centre, its one million square feet reserved for the National Wedding Show which should have been kicking off at 9am today

Standing 6ft apart, like chess pieces, the watching VIP greeting party was led by the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, himself on the mend from by a mild dose of Covid-19.

The clinical functionality of this sanatorium-cum-spaceship could hardly have been in greater contrast to the homely sight of the prince in his drawing room at Birkhall.

Here was an avuncular figure in a favourite old suit, surrounded by family photos, tartan, fresh flowers and some of his grandmothers favourite bits and bobs.

Through the long widowhood of the Queen Mother, Birkhall was her refuge on the Balmoral estate. The young Prince Charles loved Grannys home every bit as much as the 71-year-old Prince Charles loves it now. The Spy cartoons are still on the wall.

The old piano, on which the Queen Mothers musical lady-in-waiting, Ruth, Lady Fermoy, would entertain the guests, is still there. Among the photographs on top of it these days is one of the prince with his sons at the centenary of the Royal Air Force and a black and white portrait of the prince with his grandson, Prince Louis.

Royal Kremlinologists might enjoy looking for hidden meaning in the precise positioning of various photos but, in fact, many are not royal at all.

This is the Duchess of Cornwalls drawing room, too, after all. In pride of place is a picture of her beloved late brother, Mark Shand, and a portrait of a Parker Bowles family christening.

In any case, royal aides were not worried about the backdrop. They were far more concerned about establishing a safe wi-fi connection.

Standing 6ft apart, like chess pieces, the watching VIP greeting party was led by the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, himself on the mend from by a mild dose of Covid-19

The prince was addressing the nation via a staff laptop logged on to the video conference website, Zoom. Royal Deeside is not blessed with the most reliable internet connections.

And Charles, by his own admission, is still somewhere in the tech Stone Age. There is no resident IT boffin at Birkhall, which remains firmly sealed off with a skeleton crew of domestic staff.

Though a link had been established in good time, it was suddenly pointed out that the basic Zoom service cuts out after 40 minutes (unless you pay extra).

So we made sure we topped up the meter, said a source. The prince had written the speech himself. Even his private office were not entirely sure what was coming.

The name of this hospital could not have been more aptly chosen, he went on, still with a hint of a croak.

Florence Nightingale, The Lady with the Lamp, brought hope and healing to thousands in their darkest hour. In this dark time, this place will be a shining light.

No one has had more experience of ribbon-cuttings and tree-plantings than the Royal Family.

The Duke of Edinburgh has sometimes described himself as the worlds most experienced plaque-unveiler.

The Queen herself has performed some notable openings during her long reign. She unveiled the modern telephone network, she was the first world leader to send an email, and she opened the 2012 Olympics. But even she has never had to unveil a plaque from 500 miles away.

The wonders of modern technology can only do so much  and I cant quite reach, the Prince of Wales concluded. Perhaps I could invite Nightingales head of nursing, Natalie Grey, on my behalf, to unveil the plaque to declare N.H.S. Nightingale Hospital, open!

Yesterdays event was also unique for one other reason. This was the first time any royal had opened a hospital in the fervent hope that, as soon as possible, they will be invited back to close it again.
COVID-19 has spread across the world at an unprecedented rate. What started in a small market in Wuhan has travelled thousands of kilometres and has literally halted our world, crumbling economies in its way.

Reuters

Today, the number of infected cases has crossed the 10 million mark, while claiming lives of nearly 54,000.



In India too, weve seen an exponential increase in the number of cases since the past week, with the total infected number at 2,300 and 56 deaths. The number seems quite less, but it's not just due to our authorities COVID-19 lockdown methods -- many people arent yet tested.

In a recent report shared by ICMR, 8,000 samples tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. Moreover, 182 labs in the country for COVID-19 diagnosis, out of which 130 are govt labs. If youre thinking this is a lot, it isn't.

According to ICMR, the 130 state-run labs are operating at only 36 percent capacity, while the remaining 52 private labs managed just an average of eight tests each on Monday.

Test rate across the world

Looking at statistical data from Our World In Data, the US conducts a whopping 100,989 tests on a daily basis. Italy sits at the second spot with around 34,455 tests per day.

Our World In Data

The UK is barely scraping 9,793 tests daily (their target is to have at least 10,000 tests daily). And sitting last, with just 5,163 tests every day as of April 1st, 2020, but we improved that tally with 8,000 tests alone on April 2nd. Hopefully, the testing rate will improve in India significantly over the coming days.

What is the reason for such a low test rate?

As of April 1st, 2020, India has only done 47,951 tests in total. In a country with over 133 crore population, this is barely anything.

The main reason for the slow test rate seems to be the unavailability of test kits, which are crucial for determining the presence of COVID-19, and test centres in India dont have them in abundant quantities.





Moreover, reports have revealed that countries are sending test kits to places where COVID-19 has taken a stronger hit -- countries like the US, UK, Italy, Spain etc. Judging by Indias population density, we surely need a lot of them in time.
LOS ANGELES  For over a decade, Jennifer Field Piette has put together boxes of local fruits, vegetables and various pantry staples from California  Koda Farms rice, pale blue pastured eggs, crusty loaves of sourdough  and delivered them to peoples doorsteps in Los Angeles.

Three weeks ago, the customer base for her business, Narrative Food, leapt from 85 people a week to 185. A week later, that number shot up to about 350.

I think theres a wake-up call going on, in terms of food systems, Ms. Piette said. I hope its not a blip.

The potential danger of a crowded supermarket during the coronavirus pandemic, for both shoppers and workers, and the fragility of the industrial food supply, have people all over the city frantically looking for reliable, low-contact or no-contact groceries.
The President of CELAM, Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo, Peru, appeals for generous, compassionate and merciful love for the most needy who are suffering as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

By Vatican News

In a letter addressed to the whole of Latin America and the Caribbean, Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, OFM, President of the Latin American Bishops Council (known as CELAM from its initials in Spanish) and President of the Peruvian Bishops Conference, reflects on faith, hope and mercy in the face of the global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A moment of grace

In the document, Archbishop Cabrejos expresses the hope that this global crisis can be overcome if we all work together responsibly: In the midst of experiences of insecurity and anxiety, of fear of loneliness, this time can also be a moment of grace to allow God to touch and heal our wounds, to transform and renew us interiorly, so that we can live with eyes, ears and hearts open to God, to our brothers and sisters and to Mother Nature.

The President of CELAM also recalls the words spoken by Pope Francis during the Moment of Prayer celebrated on Friday, 27 March. The Holy Father said that this pandemic is not the time of your judgement, but of our judgement: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not."

Sharing the merciful love of God

In these circumstances, Archbishop Cabrejos writes, a true love for ones neighbor and for the care of the most vulnerable people is shown in respect for the measures linked to physical and social isolation, but these restrictions should not lead us to erect walls and barriers in our hearts. At the same time, the President of CELAM asks the faithful to extend the generous, compassionate and merciful love that God has for us, especially for our brothers and sisters who live in conditions of great precariousness because they do not have sufficient financial income for their basic needs.

The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting all of us, he adds, it is an absolutely exceptional and unprecedented situation, which upsets our lives and generates great pain because of so much human suffering that makes us reflect and ask questions, and pushes us to discern: What is Gods message to the human heart about what is happening?

Our hope in the Cross of Christ

Archbishop Cabrejos notes, The Holy Father also pointed out that we have become accustomed to great inequalities and injustices, to lifestyles marked by the desire for power and prestige, and to the insatiable consumption of many superfluous goods; all this at the expense of the poor, of nature, hurting the dignity of the person and of entire peoples, condemning them to live in less human situations. The current pandemic, on the other hand, makes us aware that we have not heard the cry of the poor and of our seriously ill planet.

He concludes his letter, In this Lent and Easter season that we must live in times of pandemic, we place our hope in the Cross of Jesus, through which we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from His redeeming love.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3)  The private sector has taken part in putting up more quarantine facilities as the medical sector ramps up testing capacities for the coronavirus disease.

In particular, the Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects on Friday acknowledged private sector groups for their contribution.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank lahat po ng tumulong sa pribadong sektor, kasi kung hindi ho dahil sa kanila, hindi ho natin magagawa nang ganito kabilis ang ating mga facilities," Vince Dizon said in a public briefing.

[Translation: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped from the private sector; for if it weren't for them, we wouldn't have been able to finish our healthcare facilities this fast.]

"Talaga pong ito ang tunay na bayanihan  na sama-sama po ang publikong sektor at ang pribadong sektor na i-build itong mga facilities na ito para sa ating mga kababayan," he added.

[Translation: This is what real heroism is  the public sector and the private sector working hand in hand to provide medical facilities for our fellow citizens.]

Dizon said the Razon Group, Prime Metro BMD Corporation, and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation are involved in the setting up of isolation facilities at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila; while Ayala Land, AC Energy, Makati Development Corporation, and Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines are taking part in the transformation of the World Trade Center in Pasay City into a separate quarantine site.

He added that EEI Corporation and Vista Land partnered with the Department of Public Works and Highways for facilities at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Meanwhile, DM Consuji, Inc. (DMCI) has taken charge of the quarantine center at Quezon Institute in Quezon City.

These companies shouldered the construction costs, Dizon said.

Some private groups have also offered free services to help in efforts to contain the virus.

Dizon said power distributor Meralco assured the government of free and stable supply for COVID-19 referral hospitals and facilities. Concepcion Industrial Corporation will give out air conditioning units, while PLDT and Smart Communications will provide free Wi-Fi access in isolation centers.

Dizon also thanked Globe Telecom, Filinvest, Aboitiz Group, and Lina Group of Companies for their support and assistance.

"Kung tayo po ay magsasama-sama, talaga pong mapoprotektahan at maaalagaan natin ang ating mga kababayan," he said.

[Translation: If we work together, we will truly be able to protect and take good care of our fellow Filipinos.]
Cuba is no longer libre (free) for foreign travellers. After decades in which tourists have been able to wander without restrictions, the communist government of the Caribbeans largest island has imposed draconian new rules in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus.

As the health ministry in Havana announced 36 new cases of Covid-19 across the country, all flights in and out of Cuba have been banned  with the exception of repatriation flights agreed at a governmental level.

All foreign vessels have been ordered to leave Cuban waters.

Anyone who arrived between 17 and 23 March will be retrospectively tested for coronavirus. This could include some British travellers: the Foreign Office warning against non-essential travel abroad was issued on 17 March after flights had departed.

Overseas tourists are being funnelled into a few foreigner hotspots.

Tourists are confined to their hotels. Anyone who is staying in a casa particular  a private house with rooms rented to tourists  must stay inside the dwelling until transport arrives to move them to a government hotel.

While that journey will be free, the tourist will pay the bill for the hotel.

The Foreign Office says: Tourists who did not leave on the scheduled commercial flights (last one on 1 April 2020) will have to stay in a designated hotel until the government of Cuba reviews the measures.

But the UK embassy in Havana has told British travellers that they can sign up for a repatriation flight to Rome. Blue Panorama is operating from the Cuban capital to Rome Fiumicino on 5 April 2020.

Cuba has long boasted the best health service in the Caribbean  and arguably the whole of Latin America.

Early on in the Covid-19 crisis, a group of Cuban doctors flew to Italy to help with the medical effort in the worst-affected European country. Health care teams from Cuba are also working in other countries.

Any tourists who fall ill while in Cuba will not be allowed to leave the country until they have settled their medical bills.
In the absence of a vaccine, Hungary will need all medicines possible to ease the symptoms of Covid-19, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.

Several drugs are currently being tested or are ready for production in Hungary, and the aim is to stockpile enough of them, he said.



Orban and Laszlo Palkovics, the innovation and technology minister, held a videoconference with the heads of the teams researching the new coronavirus, to discuss developments necessary in the Hungarian pharmaceutical industry, the prime ministers press chief, Bertalan Havasi, said.



The team heads briefed Orban on the results so far and on future steps and developments. Orban warned that the epidemic was going to last for a long time, and the brunt of it still lies ahead of us.



Human Resources Minister Miklos Kasler last week commissioned scientists to research possible therapeutic treatments of Covid-19.



Among the scientists at the meeting were virologist Ferenc Jakab of the Pecs University, Imre Kacskovics, the dean of the natural sciences faculty at Budapests Eotvos University, and Gergely Rost of the Szeged University.



MTI Photo
The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by 188 nations including India, on COVID-19, calling for intensified international cooperation to defeat the pandemic that is causing severe disruption to societies and economies.

The resolution titled Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was the first such document on the global pandemic to be adopted by the world organization.

The UN Security Council is yet to discuss the coronavirus outbreak, even as the total number of coronavirus cases across the world crossed one million.

The resolution said the 193-member General Assembly notes with great concern the threat to human health, safety and well-being caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which continues to spread globally.

It recognizes the "unprecedented effects of the pandemic, including the severe disruption to societies and economies, as well as to global travel and commerce, and the devastating impact on the livelihood of people.

The resolution called for intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat the pandemic, including by exchanging information, scientific knowledge and best practices and by applying the relevant guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization.

Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic requires a global response based on unity, solidarity and renewed multilateral cooperation, the resolution said the General Assembly reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation and multilateralism and its strong support for the central role of the United Nations system in the global response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

It also emphasized the need for full respect for human rights, and stressed that there is no place for any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in the response to the pandemic.

The resolution was sponsored by Ghana, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland.

Since the General Assembly is not holding meetings due to the pandemic, the resolution was adopted under a silence procedure.

The draft resolution was under silence procedure until April 2 at 6pm. If there were no objections to the resolution within the specified time period from member states, the President of the General Assembly circulates a letter confirming adoption.
Panhandle Public Health District confirmed two people residing in Kimball County are confirmed positive for COVID-19, a female in her 40s and a male in his 50s, Wednesday.

Contact investigations are underway to identify people who may have come into close contact with the individual for the past 14 days to help prevent further spread, PPHD announced in a press release. All identified close contacts will self-quarantine and be actively monitored twice daily by public health officials for fever and respiratory symptoms. More details will be released when available.

PPHD did not release if the cases were connect to a case earlier announced this week in Kimball County. That case involves a man his 50s residing in Kimball County and identified as travel-related to Colorado. He is currently hospitalized.

The presence of one COVID-19 case in the community suggests the possibility that more patients will be diagnosed. For your health, please follow these guidelines:

 Practice good hand hygiene, including frequent and thorough hand washing and proper use of hand sanitizer

 Avoid touching your face, including your eyes, nose, and mouth
Im following their example and encouraging myself, encouraging my team and encouraging the entire city to really embrace this moment as horrific at times as it feels, because the only way we get to the other side of this is by being lockstep together in knowing that our fate is wrapped up in each other, Lightfoot said. When the light at the end of the tunnel comes, its going to be because of the sacrifices that each of us have made in service of a larger good. (Gregory Pratt)
The $100 billion promised to health care providers in the federal economic stimulus package wont be enough for the health care industry, according to a new analysis from researchers at Rice University and the Baylor College of Medicine.

The funds can only be used to reimburse for coronavirus-related expenses and lost revenues, said Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Caring for COVID-19 patients will be expensive. Data from Strata Decision Technology, which provides financial technology for health care systems, showed that almost every American hospital is set to lose an average of $2,800 per COVID-19 case at current insurance reimbursement rates.

The most extreme cases could run hospital systems up to $10,000, according to Strata.

"Almost every hospital big or small is going to show a significant loss," Ho said.

RECESSION WOES: How a global pandemic inflicts pain on Houstons economy

U.S. hospital systems could lose $38.4 billion in COVID-19 hospitalizations, wrote Ho and fellow researcher Dr. Heidi Russell, a pediatric oncologist at Texas Childrens Hospital and health policy professor at the Baylor College of Medicine.

Those estimates exclude the costs of protective equipment, lost revenues from non-coronavirus care and administrative labor. The mounting lossses could force small clinics and rural hospital systems to close.

As for the financial impact for Houston, home to the world's largest medical center complex, Ho said its too early to know concrete numbers because Houston has not yet hit the peak of COVID-19 cases.

Houstons health care sector is already bracing for the worst as revenues from elective procedures drop. The Texas Medical Center suspended non-urgent surgeries last month to reserve beds in case of a possible influx of coronavirus cases.

When you think about it, the average hospital is having a 2.1 percent profit margin, she said. Thats going to be gone.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

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Oil prices traded higher on Thursday from lows of $23 to $30 a barrel following a tweet from President Donald Trump that said he had spoken to "his friend," Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who Trump said in turn spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about slashing oil production .

Just spoke to my friend MBS (Crown Prince) of Saudi Arabia, who spoke with President Putin of Russia, & I expect & hope that they will be cutting back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more which, if it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2020

The Saudis are calling for a meeting aimed at reaching a fair oil deal and confirm the meeting was requested by Trump, Reuters reported, citing Saudi state news.

The Russian state-controlled news outlet Sputnik quoted a Kremlin spokesman as saying that Trump's statement about a conversation between Putin and bin Salman is false.

"No. There was no such conversation," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Oil prices have been exacerbated due to a global surplus; the volatility is expected to continue as the coronavirus outbreak and slowdown in business add downward pressure to oil prices.

Russia, Saudi Arabia's Oil Price War

At the March 6 Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting, Russia refused to sign up to additional cuts proposed by OPEC oil producers.

Saudi Arabia decided to increase its oil production and launched an oil price war that triggered a major fall in the price of oil.

Related Links:

Oil Market Continues To Leak, Analyst Says It Needs Rebalancing

Oil Claws Its Way Back Up, Analyst Projects Startling Q2 Surplus

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
LAPEER COUNTY, MI -- A deputy with the Lapeer County Sheriffs Office has tested positive for COVID-19.

Lapeer County Sheriff Scott McKenna issued a statement Thursday afternoon which said the department was notified Wednesday night of a deputy who had been hospitalized in the progressive care unit and tested positive for the virus.

This deputy happened to be on sick leave with an injury the last couple months so there is no concern about contamination inside the department, said McKenna.

The Lapeer County Health Department has completed their investigations and contacted anyone who would have been in contact with the deputy, including a fellow deputy in contact with him approximately 12 days ago.

The Health Department has quarantined the second deputy for the next two days to meet at 14 day window, McKenna said. This deputy has no symptoms and feels perfectly fine, the quarantine is strictly for precautionary measures and to follow protocols.

Lapeer County saw more than a double of reported COVID-19 cases Thursday, going from 8 on Wednesday up to 21.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Related news:

Thursday, April 2: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Biggest single-day jump in Genesee County coronavirus cases; Lapeer doubles

Greater Flint community donates thousands of meals to hospital workers

Bay City family worries about their toddlers health issues amid coronavirus crisis

UM-Flint turns residence halls into resting space for medical professionals

Community members fill incredible need feeding Saginaw children during coronavirus pandemic
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 09:50:51|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank on Thursday approved a loan worth 35 million U.S. dollars to help Argentina contain the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The World Bank and the Argentinian government said in a joint statement that the loan will be used to purchase medical supplies for early detection of infections and treatment of the disease, which can lead to pneumonia.

The loan is part of a larger 14-billion-U.S.-dollar package the bank has made available to help countries mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

"With these resources, we will continue to strengthen the response level of our health system, supporting the provinces by delivering medical equipment to achieve equal access (to healthcare) for all Argentines," Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia said.

The loan is to be paid back over 32 years, with a seven-year grace period.

Jordan Schwartz, the bank's director for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, said the agency was working to help Argentina limit the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

Argentina has reported 1,133 cases of COVID-19 with 34 deaths, according to the latest report from the Health Ministry.
WARSAW, April 3 (Reuters) - There is no way the Civic Platform (PO), Polands main opposition party, will support changing the constitution in the wake of the coronavirus crisis to allow for the extension of the current presidents term, the partys head said on Friday. The current rules allow for a calling a state of natural disaster, which allows for postponing the elections. Lets do it ... But there is no way that Andrzej Dudas term will be extended, Budka said in a televised statement. (Reporting by Marcin Goclowski and Pawel Florkiewicz, Editing by Joanna Plucinska)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
NEW DELHI: A Delhi Police head constable's daughter has written an emotional letter in which she had thanked her father and his colleagues for helping people during the ongoing lockdown over coronavirus.

DCP (West) Delhi Police took to Twitter to share the hand-written ''heart-warming'' letter penned by the girl.

It further informed that the girl whose name is Vidhi Dhaka is the daughter of its Head Constable Anil Kumar Dhaka. Vidhi is a student of Class 4.

In her letter, the girl encourages her father to help others during the 21-day lockdown to combat the deadly pandemic.

''Here is a heartwarming note written by the daughter of @delhipolice Head Constable who is a student of Class 4. She encourages her father to help others in #21DayLockdown,'' the tweet said.

Here is a heartwarming note written by the daughter of @delhipolice Head Constable who is a student of Class 4. She encourages her father to help others in #21DayLockdown#DelhiPoliceFightsCOVID @LtGovDelhi @CPDelhi pic.twitter.com/Vj8pYk7Id0  DCP South Delhi (@DCPSouthDelhi) April 3, 2020

This holds significance since police personnel, doctors and health workers are under a lot of stress these days and at a greater risk of contracting the deadly virus than those staying at their homes.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (April 3, 2020) appreciated the discipline shown by 130 crore Indians during lockdown to contain the deadly coronavirus pandemic, in his brief video message to the nation.

The PM boosted the morale of the countrymen by saying that "no one is alone" in the fight against coronavirus as the strength of 130 crore Indians is with each of us.

"Today, when crores of people are inside homes, then some of us may think about how they will fight this battle against COVID-19 alone. Such questions might come up in your mind? But please remember, none of us is alone. The strength of 130 crores of Indians is with each one of us," Prime Minister Modi said.

The PM said the way people in India are fighting the battle against coronavirus is an example for the world. "The way you paid gratitude to people fighting against COVID-19 on March 22, has become a model that is being emulated by other countries. So when the country is fighting such a big battle, one should keep witnessing the power of public as it gives morale, aim and energy to achieve height and makes the path more clear," he said.

In this dark period, we all need to go ahead towards the light. Those who are most affected by this are the poor and marginalised. To overcome this darkness, we must all unite to spread the light," he said.

In his address to the nation on March 24, the Prime Minister had announced a 21-day lockdown in the country to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, which has infected over 2,000 people in the country.

During the last "Mann Ki Baat" on COVID-19 related issue, the Prime Minister had apologised to the countrymen for taking the tough decision of complete lockdown. "My conscience says you will forgive me," he had said.








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Donald Trump has declared that gun stores, shooting ranges and weapon manufactures are essential businesses amid lockdown. The decision was met with criticism from human rights organizations including Amnesty.

In response to the announcement, Brady, a gun control organization, filed a Freedom of Information request for access to internal discussions that led to the Department of Homeland security to make the decision.

In recent weeks, the US has seen a rapid rise in gun sales, especially amongst first-time buyers. With a backlog of background checks, fears are rising of customers exposing a loophole in which gun dealers can make a sale if the background check takes longer than three days.

A recent nationwide survey showed that seventy-seven percent of Republican voters in the US, see gun ownership as morally acceptable. Only forty five percent of Democrats in contrast viewed gun ownership as morally acceptable. As Donald Trump continues his reelection campaign, these results suggest that his decision could be a popular one amongst his voter base.

The survey was organized by BettingScanner, a site that ranks and reviews new sportsbooks in the US. The aim of the survey was to obtain an overview of how Americans perceive gambling compared to other practices such as smoking marijuana and the use of single-use plastics.

Joe Biden, who is currently the leading 2020 Democratic presidential nominee has previously announced a plan to end gun violence in the US. His plan would ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines as well as regulate the existing weapons under the National Firearms Act.

Bidens rival Bernie Sanders has previously faced criticism from the left on the issue of gun control. Sanders had previously voted against a bill that promoted national background checks. During this 2020 campaign he has hardened his stance, advocating for background checks and a ban on assault weapons.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh



Tope on Friday said that around 1,400 people from the state, who had attended the religious congregation at Delhi's Nizamuddin last month, have been traced.

Talking to PTI, Tope said these people are being isolated or quarantined by the district administrations.

"The quarantine facilities for them will be put in place in their respective districts," the minister added.

At least 9,000 people had participated in the religious congregation at Tablighi Jamaat's headquarters at Nizamuddin in the national capital last month. The event became a key source for the spread of COVID-19 in India as many of the participants travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works.

So far, around 400 COVID-19 positive cases and about 12 deaths in the country were found to have links with the Nizamuddin Markaz.

According the health department officials in Maharashtra, the COVID-19 count in the state so far is 423, while 21 patients have died due to the infection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pennsylvania Governor Asks All Residents to Wear Masks in Public

Scarves and bandanas can be used, state says

Pennsylvania residents are suggested to wear a cloth mask in public to curb the spread of COVID-19, said Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday, becoming the first U.S. governor to make such a recommendation.

Wolf noted that the Trump administration is readying guidelines on wearing face masks and called on Pennsylvanians to make their own and wear them when they are out in public, namely at the grocery store, pharmacy, and other places where people gather.

Wearing a mask will help us cut down the possibility that we might be infecting an innocent bystander, like that grocery store cashier, the pharmacist, or someone stocking shelves, Wolf said during a video news conference, via WPVI. These folks are keeping us alive by getting us the supplies we need. We owe it to them to do everything we can to keep them safe. Right now, that means wearing a mask.

Amid a shortage of N95 respirators during the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic, residents should not buy them, he said. Those masks should be reserved for healthcare workers, the governor said.

Wolf added in the news conference that masks are not a substitute for the social distancing measures that were put in place.

Masks help prevent people from sharing illnesses. But, they dont do a great job at keeping people from getting sick and theyre not foolproof, so it is critical that our first act is to ask ourselves if we really need to leave our house. If we dont really, truly need to leave, then we shouldnt, he said.

Homemade Masks

The states Department of Health posted guidance (pdf) on homemade masks on its website.

Homemade masks made out of fabric and cloth are not considered personal protective equipment, according to the website.

A shopper and cashier both wear masks and gloves and the cashier also has on a plastic visor at the checkout station Pats Farms grocery store in Merrick, New York, on March 31, 2020. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

But homemade masks such as a scarf or bandana can limit the spread of droplets containing the CCP virus.

When a homemade mask cant be acquired a scarf or bandana can be utilized. By implementing community use of these homemade fabric or cloth masks, everyone will have a higher degree of protection from this virus, the department said.

Wearing such a mask, the department said, might be helpful for shopping at essential businesses, visiting a doctor or hospital, using public transportation, interacting with people at businesses, or when feeling sick.

Because homemade masks protect everyone else from the droplets created by the wearer, it is important that as many people as possible wear these masks when leaving their homes. This helps prevent those who may be infectious but are only mildly symptomatic or not symptomatic from spreading the virus to others in the community. Everyone should remember the phrase my mask protects you, your mask protects me,' it said.

There are also online tutorials for making face masks on YouTube and on other websites. Online retailers, including Etsy, are selling cloth masks.

So far, more than 8,400 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state, while more than 100 deaths have been reported, according to online tallies.
A legally required annual servicing of tens of thousands of gas boilers across Northern Ireland should be temporarily put on hold to stem the spread of coronavirus, an engineering firm boss has said.

Connaire McGreevy of Warrenpoint's CTS Projects, alongside a UK-wide industry campaign, is calling for a three-month suspension of gas boiler servicing here.

He is confident of their safety and feels it is a necessary step to protect staff and households.

His firm looks after around 13,000 gas boilers across Northern Ireland each year. "(It's about) protecting tenants and protecting my staff," Mr McGreevy said.

"There is a legal obligation on landlords to service a gas boiler every year. We are calling for a suspension of gas servicing as we try and flatten the curve.

"Give us a short extension of around three months, and then have a light touch in terms of the regulation, to allow a catch-up period, post-global pandemic."

Mr McGreevy said his company and others have maintained a 100% compliance level across social housing clients in Northern Ireland over the last year.

However, minimising the contact between staff and tenants is crucial at present, while emergency and key maintenance work will continue as normal. He wrote to Economy Minister Diane Dodds to request suspension of the work, but in a reply this week the minister said she would not extend timescales. "If one engineer catches the virus, that could impact many families in just a few days. This is an easy, low-hanging fruit for the Economy Minister to suspend gas servicing," he said.

Mr McGreevy said he and the wider industry is "confident" that the boilers are safe. He added: "All housing association buildings also have carbon monoxide detectors. They are also highly intelligent boilers - we are confident they are safe."
House of Assembly

The Valley, Anguilla

Tel: +1 (264) 497 5081



Fellow Anguillians, it has come to my attention that officers from the Royal Anguilla Police Force have been prohibiting fishermen in District 1 and perhaps elsewhere from fishing in our waters. I have been in contact with the Governors Office this morning seeking an immediate audience with His Excellency Tim Foy on this matter. In addition, I have contacted the Attorney Generals Office and the Fisheries Department on this important issue.

The Public Health (Temporary Restriction on Movement of People and

Public Gatherings) Regulations, 2020 which was Gazetted on 27th March

2020 outlines restrictions in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In those restrictions, exemptions have been made for essential workers. However, fishermen were not included in this category.

This is a critical time in our country and we need our fishermen now more than ever. Not only do they supply our grocery stores and restaurants, but they also provide fresh fish to households and communities. Fish is a healthy food choice and a critical component of our food security here in Anguilla. I would also like to point out that fishing and farming have been classified as essential services in Turks and Caicos, another Overseas Territory that has implemented even more stringent measures in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Likewise in Trinidad and Tobago, the Public Health Novel Coronavirus Regulations 2020 on page 238 specifically makes exemptions for fishermen and farmworkers.

Perhaps this was an oversight on the part of the Government, and I am calling on the Minister of Health and the Minister responsible for Fisheries



to please address this issue with great urgency, so that our fishermen and our farmers can be added to the list of essential services and be allowed to do their work. This is part of their livelihood and a source of income for their families. It is also important to engage in discussions on this matter with our fishermen and farmers so that they have a clear understanding of new approaches and processes which they must follow to minimize exposure to the Coronavirus, while at the same time being able to maintain supply to the local market. I appreciate that the monitoring of our borders is also a priority and I am willing to work with the government to mitigate this so that our fishermen are not compromised.

Once again, I am calling on the Governor, the Premier and the Ministers

responsible to address this matter swiftly. Thank you.

Office of the Leader of the Opposition

HON. PAM WEBSTER
BALLSTON SPA  Fear the cononavirus pandemic will destroy Saratoga County's economy, 10 supervisors from the countys biggest communities are asking county leadership to make adjustments to the budget to avoid fiscal calamity.

The bipartisan caucus, the same that fought to kill the 50 percent pay raise for county managers earning six-figures, now wants the county administration to eliminate all discretionary spending, cut 20 percent from every departments budget and prioritize all infrastructure projects this year.

The shutdown of our economy will have a devastating effect on our neighbors, businesses and governmental entities, a statement from the supervisors said. Significantly raising taxes should be avoided at all cost, to ensure government does not add to the burden of the residents we serve. We should also do everything possible to avoid layoffs or furloughs of county employees.

The 10 supervisors represent 75 percent of the county's residents but fall short of a majority on the 23-member board of supervisors. They say they are especially concerned that Saratoga Race Course wont open this summer and the county's "financial situation will worsen considerably" if the track is dark in July and August.

The track revenue, $1 million annually, is estimated to make up only .33 percent of the countys overall $335.5 million budget. However, Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett, Republican, said the tourism business bolstered by the track feeds the countys $128 million in sales tax and $1 million in hotel tax.

The (tracks) general economic activity over many weeks generates a tremendous amount of occupancy tax and sales tax, Barrett said. We hope beyond hope the meet will be able to continue. But we need to be prepared should the meet need to be canceled.

Previously: Saratoga County: Forget the promised pandemic pay

Saratoga County HR director benefits from pandemic pay hike

Saratoga County officials angry over essential employees getting huge pay bump

The New York Racing Association has assured the horses will run in Saratoga this year. However, on Thursday, it announced it was delaying the opening of the Oklahoma training track which was to open on April 15. NYRA said that will have no impact on the the summer racing season which is set to open on July 16.

Both county Administrator Spencer Hellwig and the county Board of Supervisors Chairman Preston Allen, Republican, did not respond to Times Union requests for comment on the supervisors' concerns. In his budget message delivered last October, Hellwig touted the countys fiscal health.

As the fastest growing county in New York State, Hellwig said that the county enjoys one of the states lowest property tax rates ($2.26 per $1,000 of assessed value) and that countys property values total $27.7 billion. He also said that the county is fueled by a world-class tourism attraction and enjoys an enviable position.

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But now, the supervisors say, the financial picture is unsettling and impossible to calculate.

Saratoga Springs Supervisor Tara Gaston, a Democrat, said that is why it's important to press ahead with the $30 million in infrastructure and capital projects as soon as possible.

We want to get done as many projects as we can because we might not have the ability later, Gaston said. We need to do it before we have to batten down the hatches.

Barrett agreed.

As difficult as it may be to execute all of the planned projects in a given year after experiencing the decrease in revenue that we will certainly see soon, Barrett said. Infrastructure is incredibly important. It maintains a safe environment for Saratoga County residents. Our feeling is we do need to identify savings for the remainder of the year, but infrastructure projects large and small should move forward, as applicable to federal and state guidelines.

Moreau Supervisor Todd Kusnierz said the state, county and local governments are all in a dire economic situation and must tighten their beats. A week ago, he halted all discretionary spending in Moreau because he sees a crash in sales tax, which the county shares with each municipality.

We rely heavily on sales tax, Kusnierz, a Republican, said. We expect it will be incredibly low moving forward. As representatives of our county government, we need to make adjustments.

Barrett, Gaston and Kusnierz are also joined by Supervisors Eric Connolly, John Lant, Darren OConnor, Jonathan Schofp, Kevin Tollisen, Matthew Veitch and Benny Zlotnick in sharing this concern.

Kusnierz said their group have been closed out of many discussions at the county level after going public with the controversial pandemic pay plan, in which administrators decided to pay everyone, including themselves, time-and-a-half for every hour worked. The plan was later scuttled after it was reported in the Times Union.

Hellwig did reach out to supervisors in an email, saying they are trying to come up with a time to meet about the compensation and the budget issues "as soon as humanly possible."

We are making every attempt to manage everything we have been tasked with since the beginning of this pandemic," Hellwig wrote. The time and energy it takes to address the daily operational needs unfortunately make it very difficult to plan for scheduling a board meeting.

Kusnierz said without a meeting, the administration "is effectively silencing the voice of 75 percent of residents."

That is who we represent," Kusnierz said. "The county administration is essentially treading water and as a result of these discussions happening in a vacuum, they are running out of breath. A meeting has to happen ASAP.
Italy had the most deaths, more than 13,900, followed by Spain. The United States had the most confirmed cases of any country, more than 240,000, the data showed.

Global coronavirus cases surpassed 1 million on Thursday with more than 52,000 deaths as the pandemic further exploded in the United States and the death toll climbed in Spain and Italy, according to a Reuters tally of official data.

Italy had the most deaths, more than 13,900, followed by Spain. The United States had the most confirmed cases of any country, more than 240,000, the data showed.

Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak

Since the virus was first recorded in China late last year, the pandemic has spread around the world, prompting governments to close businesses, ground airlines and order hundreds of millions of people to stay at home to try to slow the contagion.

Amid unprecedented government steps to prop up economies battered by the outbreak, US weekly jobless claims jumped to a record 6.6 million, double the record from the previous week. That reinforced economists views that the longest employment boom in US history probably ended in March, and that claims were expected to rise further.

Morgues and hospitals in New York City, the epicenter of the US outbreak, bent under the strain on Thursday, struggling to treat or bury casualties, as New York states Governor Andrew Cuomo offered a grim prediction the rest of the country would soon face the same misery.

Staff at one medical center in Brooklyn were seen disposing of their gowns and caps and other protective wear in a sidewalk trash can after wheeling bodies out of the hospital and loading them into a refrigerated truck.

In hard-hit Spain, the death toll rose to more than 10,000 on Thursday after a record 950 people died overnight, but health officials were encouraged by a slowdown in daily increases in infections and deaths.

Spain has shed jobs at a record pace since it went into lockdown to fight the coronavirus, social security data showed on Thursday, with some 900,000 workers have lost their jobs since mid-March.

Appearing for the first time since recovering from the virus himself, Britains health minister Matt Hancock promised a tenfold increase in the number of daily tests for the coronavirus by the end of the month after the government faced criticism for failing to roll out mass checks for health workers and the public.

Britain initially took a restrained approach to the outbreak but Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tested positive for the virus himself, changed tack and imposed stringent social distancing measures after modeling showed a quarter of a million people in the country could die.

In Italy, which hit a daily peak of 6,557 new cases on March 21 and accounts for around 28% of all global fatalities, the death toll climbed to 13,915 on Thursday. But it was the fourth consecutive day in which the number of new cases stayed within a range of 4,050-4,782, seeming to confirm government hopes that the epidemic had hit a plateau.

Italy was the first Western country to introduce sweeping bans on movement and economic activity, having first confirmed the presence of coronavirus almost six weeks ago.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin prolonged until April 30 a paid non-working period across the country, just a week after the Kremlin said there was no epidemic.
Half of Ukrainian businesses may not survive longer quarantine  poll

09:00, 03.04.20 1535

Only a quarter of respondents find it necessary to extend restrictive measures amid the spread of COVID-19.
The urgent search for a COVID-19 cure means that the usual scientific approach to testing medicines  big studies with careful control groups  is not an option. We can't wait that long. Instead, trial and error, along with an accretion of anecdotal data, is the best we've got.

This method has yielded one significant possibility for treating COVID-19: chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine (which are similar malaria drugs), along with azithromycin and zinc. (For ease, I'll refer here to the whole treatment as "chloroquine.")

Funnily enough, the Democrats are incredibly hostile to chloroquine. One has to wonder if they're hoping not for the best, but for the worst.

Fairly early in the COVID-19 pandemic, China said it had seen some good outcomes with chloroquine. Others began noting the same thing. In early March, UPI reported that South Korean experts recommended anti-malarial drugs to treat coronavirus.

Chloroquine also got a boost when Prof. Didier Raoult, a famous virologist, published a study showing that, of eighty in-patients treated with chloroquine, seventy-eight recovered fully, one died, and one remained ill. Raoult felt so strongly about chloroquine's benefits that he concluded that it would be unethical to have a control group that did not receive the medicine. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that another study from China pointed to chloroquine as a possible cure.

One day after we learned about Raoult's study, "[a]n international poll of more than 6,000 doctors released Thursday found that the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine was the most highly rated treatment for the novel coronavirus." On the same day, infectious disease expert Stephen Smith predicted that chloroquine is the "beginning of the end" for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, just one day after its own reporting on the most recent Chinese study, the Times was already trying to undermine chloroquine. Thus, it published an article casting delicately phrased aspersions at Dr. Vladimir Zelenko, a board-certified family practitioner, who claims he's successfully used chloroquine hundreds of times on patients in Kiryas Joel, a New York community outside Manhattan that is home to around 35,000 Hasidic Jews. Zelenko admittedly hasn't been able to test the hundreds of people who reported to him with COVID-19 symptoms, but he's offered that treating his symptomatic patients with chloroquine, azithromycin, and zinc sulfate resulted in every patient being cured, without any worsening.

Incidentally, it's not unreasonable to believe that Zelenko has seen a lot of patients with COVID-19. For both cultural and religious reasons, ultra-orthodox Jews have been more vulnerable to the disease.

Zelenko made a video addressed to President Trump and gained viral fame, especially among conservatives. And that is where the leftists' willingness to accept his information comes to a screeching halt. Look at the way the Times describes the response to Zelenko:

Dr. Zelenko's treatment arrived at a useful moment for Mr. Trump and his media supporters, who have at times appeared more interested in discussing miracle cures than testing delays or ventilator shortages. Sean Hannity, the Fox News host, quickly promoted Dr. Zelenko's claims on his TV and radio shows. Mark Meadows, the incoming White House chief of staff, called Dr. Zelenko to ask about his treatment plan. And Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Trump's personal lawyer, praised him in a podcast interview this week for "thinking of solutions, just like the president." Few people have been as hopeful about hydroxychloroquine as Mr. Trump, who has enthusiastically promoted it for weeks as "very effective" and possibly "the biggest game changer in the history of medicine"  even as health experts have cautioned that more research and testing are needed.

The message to Times readers is clear: do not take this treatment seriously. It's all about propping up President Trump.

It's true that Zelenko's data are limited and that his sudden fame has elevated chloroquine farther than his small sampling of patients would indicate, mainly because he hasn't been able to test them for the virus. And there's the usual grumbling about side-effects from a known drug regimen.

The left's determination to cast shade on chloroquine, though, seems to go beyond an effort not to get people's hopes up. As the references to "Trump and his media supporters" indicates, leftists seem genuinely concerned that a quick cure, following on the heels of Trump's increased visibility and popularity, will help Trump in November.

However, what may also be going on is a wish, either overt or subliminal, that there won't be a quick cure for the virus and that the economy crashes. This would be the realization of the Cloward-Piven strategy that Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven, two hard leftists, called for in 1966. The strategy envisioned overloading the welfare system to cause the economy to crash. Once crashed, it could be rebuilt along socialist lines.

Would leftists really want tens of thousands of people to die and the economy to collapse just to realize socialism? Maybe. I'll let you draw your own conclusions after you listen to this question-and-answer session with California governor Gavin Newsom. While Newsom explicitly praises capitalism (as he should, because the Getty family gave him his start in business), he entertains the idea of using the pandemic to rebuild society along Progressive lines:
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A San Antonio nursing home where a coronavirus outbreak has killed one person and infected at least 74 others was cited for a number of issues during a health inspection in October.

Overall, federal regulators rated Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center's performance one out of five stars. The 116-bed facility on the Southeast Side received the lowest score possible for health and fire inspections, staffing levels and quality of resident care.

READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio

"The facility failed to maintain an infection control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases," the report said.

Regulators documented incidents where Southeast Nursing staff failed to exercise proper sanitation and infection control measures.

As of Friday, 67 residents and eight staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus. One resident, a man in his 80s who contracted the virus, has died.

Here are some of the incidents documented in the October report:

- Two nursing assistants left a resident's room after cleaning the person's rectal area without washing or sanitizing their hands. One assistant touched a clean towel with a soiled glove, then used the same towel to pat the resident dry.

- A residents oxygen tubing was not kept in a plastic bag when not in use. The practice "could place residents who receive oxygen at-risk for respiratory

infections," the report said.

- The facility did not provide two residents access to their personal funds during weekends. The practice "could place residents whose personal funds are managed by the facility at-risk of not receiving their funds and not honoring residents' preferences," the report said.

- There was sliced cheese in the refrigerator stored in a container that lacked a label or a date.

- The care plan for a resident who had originally requested a do-not-resuscitate order was not updated after the resident's family changed their mind and wanted to allow all interventions needed to get the heart started.

- The stove and oven unit in the kitchen was missing two burner knobs.

- There were flies in the main dining room and above the food service line, as well as gnats in the dry storage area.

Prior to the October report, the nursing home was cited for abuse or neglect of a resident.

According to a federal report from March 2019, the facility failed to notify the attending physician of a woman with dementia after she did not have a bowel movement for 13 days, resulting in massive fecal impaction. She was transported to the emergency room, where she underwent surgery.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
Highlighting the importance of staying indoors to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus infection, search engine giant Google, on Friday, shared the message of "stay home, save lives" with a colourful doodle on its homepage.

The doodle showed animated letters of the word "Google" engaged in different activities that one can take up within the confines of their homes.

While one immersed itself in reading, another played a guitar, and some talked to each other over a phone call.

Clicking on the doodle redirects the user to another page that lists "Coronavirus tips.

"As COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world, help stop the spread by following these steps," the page reads.

The pandemic has claimed 56 lives in India, while 2,301 people have been tested positive for the virus.

The webpage lists "Stay home", "Keep a safe distance", "Wash hands often", "Cover your cough", and "Sick? Call the helpline" as the steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

It also features a list of Dos and Don'ts.

"Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub. Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze. Avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell. Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell," reads the list of precautions to be taken.

Further it also suggested not to "touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean".

The webpage also shows an interactive map of the world with realtime coronavirus statistics.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ten officers of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who were posted at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), have tested positive for the Sars-Cov-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. Six tested positive on Friday and four had tested positive on March 29. All 10 are asymptomatic. The total number of CISF personnel who have tested positive is now 11, including one who has since tested negative.

On March 27, a CISF head constable (HC) tested positive for Covid-19 after reporting a mild fever. Following this, 152 personnel were quarantined at a CISF residential camp at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai. MA Ganapathy, special director general, CISF, said , After the first positive case, we decided to test 11 of his close contacts, four of whom tested positive on March 29. As all lived in the same camp, we decided to test all 152 personnel living in the camp. Six more tested positive on Friday, taking the total to 10. All those who tested positive are asymptomatic. The camp has since been vacated and sanitised.

Senior CISF officers said one of the Covid-positive personnel has been admitted to Kasturba Gandhi Hospital and the six who tested positive on Friday have been admitted to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital. In his two most recent tests, the HC has tested negative for the virus.

Sources said the CISF officers may have contracted the virus from passengers while discharging duties at the airport.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

The Management of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has admonished the general public to store enough water in the wake of the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to avert any pposible interruption.

This was contained in a press release which also advised that,critical facilities especially hospitals, clinics, Airports, MMDAs, and Hotels and the general public who do not have adequate storage facilities to do so.

The statement further gave an assurance that GWCL has put the necessary measures in place for all their regions so as to put to check service providers and critical facilities to ensure that they are adequately served in order to meet their 24/7 water demand.

Read full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE: 3rd April, 2020

CONTACT: Stanley Martey- Chief Manager (PR/Communications)

TELEPHONE Nos: 0244 336180

COMBATING COVID-19; GWCL ASSURES GHANAIANS OF WATER

The Management of the Ghana Water Company Limited, wishes to assure the general Public that, it appreciates the role of water supply in combating the covid-19 pandemic and assures consumers that, a strategic water supply demand Management Plan is in place, due to the variance in the increasing demand and the volumes that GWCL is able to supply.

As a result, GWCL has put in place measures for all our regions to constantly check on essential service providers and critical facilities especially hospitals, clinics, Airports, MMDAs, and Hotels to ensure that these facilities are adequately served to enable them store to meet their 24/7 water demand. GWCL wishes to emphasize that, it is essential for these institutions to store water and will again advice these institutions and the general public who do not have adequate storage facilities to do so. This will ensure that they have enough water, so that in the event of interrupted water supply, which could be due to power challenges, emergency repair works etc. they can still be served from their storage tanks.

The GWCL has also arranged with other institutions like the NADMO, National Security and other agencies with water Tankers to support our fleet of tankers in the delivery of water to critical areas.

Management entreats the general public to direct all queries and enquiries to the companys call centre and to the temporal numbers listed below for immediate assistance. All essential service providers, especially hospitals and clinics should also call the numbers but with emphasis on their status to enable them receive priority attention. Communities with serious challenges should relay their situation through opinion leaders within their communities to the listed numbers.

Accra East: 0244964864, 0208192834

Accra West: 0244606859, 0244262719, 0244455539,

Tema Region: 0242802055, 0277456151, 0507158505

Ashanti North: 0208173642, 0242103375

Ashanti South: 0555679991, 0207707135, 0507158505

Call Centre: 0555123393, 0555155524, 0207385087, 0207385088, 0207385089, 0207385090

While Management is working around the clock to ensure reliability of supply, customers are being encouraged to pay their bills via mobile money with all the telcos, the Bank Apps and GWCLs collection and Revenue Pay points throughout the country. Help GWCL to serve you better.
Kasey and Jared Siegel always knew they'd have a memorable story to tell their son, who is being born via surrogate in May, about his birth.

That story, already fraught with roller-coaster emotions and unwavering determination, has become even more so since the onset of the novel coronavirus that's gripped the nation.

The New Jersey couple's baby is due to be born in Dallas, Texas. With travel and hospital restrictions changing frequently, the parents are in a race against time and regulations to make sure they will be in Dallas when their son is born.

Kasey Siegal told "Good Morning America" that she and her husband have been in voluntary isolation for weeks to stay healthy. But a requirement from their surrogate agency to get a notarized letter saying who would take their baby in the event that they would not make it to Dallas for the birth, threatened to break their quarantine. If they didn't sign, they risked their baby going into foster care. If they did, they'd possibly expose themselves to the virus.

"We didn't sign it," she said, and she will get to her baby's birth, "if I have to crawl across state borders."

MORE: 'There's been a lot of tears': NICU parents unable to visit baby in the hospital

The couple who called themselves "extremely fortunate," secured a private plane to take them to Dallas. They plan to leave Saturday, but their bags are packed to leave at any moment. When they arrive in Dallas, they will go directly to an Airbnb they've secured and will return to isolation.

According to Texas regulations, anyone arriving by plane from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New Orleans must be quarantined for 14 days.

Kasey Siegel said that when the Texas regulations were put into place, "I started having a panic attack, throwing things in a bag saying we needed to leave immediately." She said the idea that state borders could close down completely is a very real fear of both her and her husband.

Story continues

And while she struggles with so much fear of the unknown, Kasey said her struggle with infertility has actually helped her prepare for this very uncertain journey too.

"My body was ravaged by four years of infertility treatments," she told "GMA." "I needed to step away and heal and it was when I started to give up control over everything that things actually started falling into place." The couple then found their surrogate, who Kasey said is her "soulmate" in so many ways.

MORE: Mom speaks out against 'insensitive' comments about those vulnerable during coronavirus crisis

The Siegels said they trust the woman carrying their baby is doing everything she can to keep herself healthy. Kasey said that the woman, who is an assistant principal at a school and has two biological children of her own and two stepchildren, is cautious.

"She does things I wouldn't even have thought of," Kasey said. "The school wanted all the teachers to visit with the kids since they're at home and she got a doctor's note to be excused and shield herself from exposure. We're so grateful."

A big unknown: How things will go at the birth of their son. As Kasey understands it, there will be one person allowed in the delivery room with the woman giving birth to their son. That person will likely be the surrogate's husband. She's hopeful there may be some flexibility given the circumstances.

"I'm just taking it one day at a time," she said.

When the panic sets in, she said, she and Jared look at the baby carrier they have for their son, kept at the foot of their bed.

"I focus on the big picture," she said, "and imagine when I can hold him in my arms."

Amid coronavirus, couple races against time to be with baby being born via surrogate originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week he talks to Spencer Tunick. The American visual artist, 53, is best known for photographing large groups of nude people in natural and urban landscapes, from New Yorks Times Square to the Sydney Opera House.

Spencer Tunick: "Im lucky to be able to survive off my work and not work for someone else." Credit:Paul Harris

DEATH

To what extent is your work about the vulnerability and impermanence of the human body? When I started my group works in the mid-1990s, they were a reaction to an idea of defencelessness, and acts of crime and war. My first group nude was photographed in front of the UN building in New York in response to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Having bodies clustered together creates an abstraction that goes between life, death and vulnerability.

Youve been arrested five times while working outdoors in Manhattan. My first arrest was in 1994. When youre arrested in New York, youre often put into communal jail

cells  sometimes with violent criminals  so it can be dangerous. Id prepare myself to get arrested by having painkillers with me, and writing my First Amendment criminal defence lawyers phone number under my clothing.
Issues Letter and Proxy Critical of the Treatment of Minority Investors in Turquoise Hill by Companys Current Board and Management and its Controlling Shareholder Rio Tinto plc.

Turquoise Hill shareholders have suffered massive value destruction at the hands of Rio Tinto, which operates the Oyu Tolgoi Project (allegedly under the watchful eye of Oyu Tolgoi's majority owner, Turquoise Hill) while also being the majority shareholder of Turquoise Hill.





Turquoise Hills board and management have failed to effectively oversee Rio Tinto, and intervene in the abuse of control and refusal to make complete and truthful disclosure by Rio Tinto of the Oyu Tolgoi Project.





Turquoise Hills officers are a revolving door of Rio Tinto executives, employees and board nominees, who are rotated into senior positions at Turquoise Hill and tasked with "negotiating" material agreements with Rio Tinto on behalf of Turquoise Hill.





Rio Tinto exercises effective control over the selection and nomination of Turquoise Hills "independent directors", without any meaningful input from Turquoise Hill's minority shareholders.





Turquoise Hill's directors lack sufficient independence from Rio Tinto, and their financial incentives are not aligned with the interests of Turquoise Hill or its minority shareholders.





Shareholders are urged to vote using only the GOLD proxy now for Pentwater's meaningfully independent, experienced and motivated director nominee and its minority shareholder representation proposal to restore accountability at Turquoise Hill.





Vote on the GOLD proxy or VIF and submit prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on Thursday May 7, 2020 or earlier to permit it to be delivered to the Company in time to be counted.

NAPLES, Fla., April 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pentwater Capital Management LP ("Pentwater"), a long-term supportive investor and the largest minority shareholder of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill" or the "Company") (TRQ.TO) (TRQ.TO), owning, together with its affiliates and associates, approximately 9.09% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares, today filed a proxy circular, GOLD proxy card, and issued a letter to shareholders of Turquoise Hill in connection with the Company's upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders scheduled for 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on May 12, 2020 (the "Meeting") in the Saint-Laurent 5 room of Hotel Bonaventure Montreal, located at 900 Rue de la Gauchetiere Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Story continues

Since Rio Tinto plc. (NYSE:RIO:US)(LON:RIO:L)(ASX:RIO:AX) ("Rio Tinto") gained control of Turquoise Hill in 2012, Pentwater has grown increasingly alarmed at the significant value destruction and mismanagement of and failure to make material disclosures about the Company and its material asset  the Oyu Tolgoi Project  at the hands of Rio Tinto and its hand-picked Turquoise Hill officers and directors. The tangled web that has been woven between Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill has resulted in a lack of corporate governance controls, systemic disregard for the interests of minority shareholders, a sustained period of false and misleading disclosures and irreparable harm to the interests of all Turquoise Hill stakeholders.

The Oyu Tolgoi Project is one of the largest known copper and gold deposits in the world, containing ore that is six times the average-industry grade. If managed and operated properly, the Oyu Tolgoi Project should reap exceptional benefits for all stakeholders  including the people and government of Mongolia and the majority and minority shareholders of Turquoise Hill.

It is time to take action against the current culture of entrenchment, value destruction and misconduct at Turquoise Hill. At the Meeting, Pentwater is seeking the support of Turquoise Hill shareholders to vote using the GOLD form of proxy or VIF FOR :

the election of the highly qualified and meaningfully independent director nominee, Matthew Halbower, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Pentwater, to the board of directors of the Company; and

the adoption of a shareholder proposal, which would provide minority shareholders of Turquoise Hill with the exclusive right to nominate and elect three of seven directors to the board of directors of the Company.

Turquoise Hill shareholders have the opportunity to initiate much-needed change, to restore accountability and to safeguard minority shareholder interests in Turquoise Hill. By electing Matthew Halbower to the board of directors of the Company, minority shareholders will for the first time have a director representing them whose interests are fully aligned with theirs, rather than Rio Tinto's, which is exemplified by Pentwater's significant investment in Turquoise Hill.

To ensure your vote is counted, please vote using the GOLD form of proxy or GOLD VIF prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, May 7, 2020. You should discard any management proxies or VIFs that you receive.

Shareholders are urged to read the full text of Pentwater's proxy circular and letter to shareholders, which are available under Turquoise Hill's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Pentwater

Pentwater is a private investment firm focused on investing in event driven strategies with expertise across the capital structure. Founded in April of 2007, the firms experienced team uses a dynamic, disciplined approach to mitigate risk and optimize returns.

The head office of Pentwater is located at 1001 10th Ave South, Suite 216, Naples, FL 34102.

For further information contact:

MacKenzie Partners, Inc.

Daniel Burch  1-212-929-5748

Jeanne Carr  1-917-648-4478
Three more people have died in a string of killings during the UK lockdown after two pensioners and a man were found dead this week.

The killings bring the total number of dead to 12 in five days as quarantine continues across the country.

In Derbyshire, officers were called to a house in Langley Mill at around 2am on Friday, where they found a man's body inside the property.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and a 28-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and she remains in police custody.

A Derbyshire police spokesperson said: 'We are treating this as an isolated incident and our investigations are still in the early stages as we work to establish the facts.

A 40-year-old woman has been arrested after a man was found dead at his house in Langley Mill, Derbyshire early on Friday morning

'There will be an increased police presence in the area and a scene remains in place.'

The force said the death is being treated as an isolated incident and investigations are still in the early stages.

In Manchester, a 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a pensioner's body was found at a home in Greater Manchester.

Police attended shortly after 2pm on Thursday and discovered the body of a man in his 80s.

Police said they were 'keeping an open mind' about the circumstances surrounding the pensioner's death.

The incident comes on the same day as a man being arrested on suspicion of murdering a pensioner in Hyde, Greater Manchester

Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Chatterton, of GMP's Major Incident Team, said: 'This was a tragic incident which sadly resulted in the death of an elderly man in his own home. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this devastating time.

'Whilst we have a man in custody who is assisting us with our enquiries, we are keeping an open mind and officers are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the man's death.'

In County Antrim, a man has been charged with murdering his elderly grandmother during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

Elizabeth Dobbin - known as Betty - was 82 and was found dead on Monday evening in the harbour town of Larne.

And a third murder this week came in County Antrim where Alan Gingles has been accused of murdering his grandmother Betty Dobbin

Today her grandson Alan Gingles, 32, was charged with her murder and claimed he was 'seeing zombies'.

Belfast Magistrates' Court also heard that Gingles expressed concerns about coronavirus when police quizzed him following the sudden death of Mrs Dobbin.

The pensioner's body was discovered at the home they shared on Dromaine Drive in the Craigyhill area of the town on Monday evening at around 10pm.

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Major Investigation Team charged Gingles with her murder after a post-mortem examination was carried out.

The accused's court appearance was conducted by video-link from a custody suite at Belfast's Musgrave police station due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He spoke only to confirm that he understood the single charge against him. No bail application was made during the hearing, and no further details were revealed about the cause of death.

But Gingles' solicitor, John Doran, said: 'This was his grandmother, it's a very tragic situation.'

Mr Doran also told the court: 'Mr Gingles spoke of hearing voices, and concerns about the coronavirus. He also spoke of seeing zombies.'

'That clearly will be a matter for expert medical opinion further down the line,' he added.

Remanding Gingles in custody, District Judge George Conner said he will appear again by video-link in four weeks time on April 30.

A neighbour of Mrs Dobbin described her as a 'quiet, harmless and friendly' woman who was well respected.

He said: 'She lost her husband Geordie (George) many years ago, he worked in the power station in the town.

'She took in her grandson Alan after he had been living in England a while as his mother is no longer alive.

'Betty was just a quiet, harmless and friendly woman and what has happened to her has left the town in complete shock.'

It comes after Britain saw a string of killings over the past week. A double murder in Stockwell, South London on Wednesday led to the arrest of 44-year-old Daniel Briceno-Garcia, who has been charged with two counts of murder.

Two adults and two children were found dead on Sunday evening at a house in Woodmancote, Sussex.

Mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall, 31, was stabbed multiple times yesterday evening outside her home in the village of Middlecliffe, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Anthony Williams (left), 69, is accused of killing wife Ruth (right), 67, at their semi-detached home where they had been self isolating

Two adults and two children were found dead on Sunday evening at a house in Woodmancote, Sussex (pictured, the scene tonight)

Police found the bodies - believed to be from the same family - and the dog after responding to a report of concern for the occupants.

On Monday, 69-year-old Anthony Williams from Brynglas, Cwmbran, South Wales, appeared in court accused of murdering his 'lovely' wife during self-isolation.

In South Yorkshire, nurse and mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall, 31, was stabbed multiple times outside her home in the village of Middlecliffe, Barnsley on Sunday night.

Her husband Craig Woodhall, a former soldier, who she had two sons and daughter with, was later arrested by police. The children were unharmed.

Elsewhere, a man was charged with killing his wife in South Wales. On Monday, 69-year-old Anthony Williams from Brynglas, Cwmbran, South Wales, appeared in court accused of murdering his 'lovely' wife during self-isolation.

Three died in an apparent murder-suicide in Hertfordshire. Caroline and Gary Walker, aged 50 and 57, and daughter Katie, 24, were killed when a fire ripped through their home in Hemel Hempstead.
Bengaluru, April 4 : Bracing for a long war against the coronavirus pandemic, the Karnataka government has sought donations from the public, including the industry, corporates, traders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society to meet the rising expenditure in containing the spread of the dreaded virus, an official said on Friday.

"The state government has appealed to all stakeholders, including the public and the institutes, to donate to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for Covid-19. All contributions to the fund are exempted from income tax," the official from the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement.

Noting that the deadly virus had caused immense hardship to the citizens due to the lockdown, the official said the sudden crisis had shot up the state's expenditure exponentially in screening, testing and treating the affected persons.

"The Chief Minister has set up a three-member committee to coordinate the response-related activities with all the stakeholders, including the industry, trade bodies and NGOs," said the official.

The committee is headed by Additional Chief Secretary Mahendra Jain, with Principal Secretary Uma Mahadevan and Industry Commissioner Gunjan Krishna as its members.

The committee has urged all the stakeholders to join the government in fighting the virus on war footing with a targeted approach.

"The committee also appealed to the public and various organisations to donate medical and relief materials to the state health and related departments for meeting the growing demand for treating Covid-19 patients in the state-run and private hospitals," the official added.

The department is in urgent need of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing kits, ventilators, N95 and triple-layer masks, cots, mattresses, pillows, sheets, sanitary items like hand towels, toilet papers, tissues, adult diapers, hand sanitisers, hand-wash liquid, floor and toilet cleaning detergents and disinfectants.
JERUSALEM - Israel's unprecedented political stalemate - in which no party has been able to construct a governing majority in the deeply divided country for more than a year - has persisted through three ugly national elections, relentless campaigning and round-after-round of negotiations.

Now, not even the surrender of one side has been enough to create to a breakthrough. At least, not yet.

More than a week ago, Benny Gantz, the former army chief of staff who spent the last 16 months trying to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stunned the country when he announced he was willing to join forces with his rival in an emergency unity government as the country battles the coronavirus outbreak.

Some Israelis were devastated, others cheered, but all wondered if finally - finally! - Israel would get its first government since the political system locked up at the end of 2018.

But Gantz's move only plunged the parties back into the tar pit of compromise as they tried to divvy up dozens of ministerial portfolios and settle major policy disputes, illustrating just how rusty and broken the country's governing machinery remains.

Leaked reports from inside the talks have consistently portrayed the broad outlines of a deal in which Netanyahu will remain as prime minister for a fixed period, possibly 18 months, after which Gantz would take over the top job. Each would serve as the other's deputy premier in turn.

But the rest of the government has reportedly been harder to build as the parties have vied for the most influential ministries, factions have fiercely resisted giving up their plum jobs, and thorny policy issues - including the timing of future moves to annex Jewish settlements of the West Bank - have proven to be stubborn sticking points.

Would Gantz take over as foreign minister, as some reports hinted? Would he take over the Defense Ministry or remain as the speaker of the Knesset, a job he was elected to last week after his parliamentary forces unseated the previous speaker, a Netanyahu ally? Even the living arrangements of the two party leaders became an issue when a proposal was floated that the new position of deputy prime minister would require a second official residence.

Negotiators have also wrestled over the size of the government, which is on track to become Israel's biggest - with 34 or 36 ministries, according to reports - leading many to warn of a bloated, costly structure just as the economy is sagging under the coronavirus slowdown.

Gantz has said he wants a government in place by the beginning of the Passover holiday next week.

The haggling has unfolded against the backdrop of a worsening covid-19 outbreak, with the number of infections topping 7,000. Twice during negotiations, Netanyahu himself has had to go into isolation after being exposed to infected individuals including, most recently, his own minister of health.

It was the pandemic that forced Gantz to finally give up his drive to end Netanyahu's long tenure at the top of Israeli politics.

"These are unusual times, and they call for unusual decisions. That's why I intend to explore the formation of a national emergency government," Gantz said in address to the Knesset after his election as speaker.

Analysts said both Gantz and Netanyahu were forced to come together after it became clear that, once again, the March 2 election had left both short of taking control. As the pandemic worsened, the ongoing stalemate became even more intolerable.

"The thought of another election is unbearable these days," said Aviv Bushinsky, a political commentator and former Netanyahu aide. "For Gantz, because of all his political mistakes, he will not be able to get the same kind of results as in the past. And for Netanyahu, because no one knows how he will exit this crisis. Will he still be King Bibi, or will he be a loser?"

But bringing Gantz to the table was also a triumph of Netanyahu's relentless efforts to stay in power even after failing to achieve a majority in three elections and being indicted on corruption charges.

As the pandemic erupted, Netanyahu became the public face of the response, appearing almost nightly on television and beseeching Gantz to drop his opposition and join him in government.

"King Bibi," as his unshakable base of supporters calls him, still faces trial on multiple counts of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. But the proceeding was put on hold when his justice minister shut down most courts, citing the virus outbreak, two days before his trial was to begin.

Netanyahu, who tried unsuccessfully to win parliamentary immunity from prosecution earlier this year, is expected to use his office to delay it further or to seek some form of official protection.

Gantz's surrender, after more than a year of pledging never to serve with Netanyahu, broke apart the Blue and White party he helped found.

Some of its members have agreed to join him in the unity government. Others said he has been hoodwinked by the savvy prime minister. And some accused Gantz of betraying their common cause of finally breaking Netanyahu's grip on power.

Yair Lapid, one of Blue and White co-founders, said his former partner was "crawling" into their rival's government.

"The coronavirus crisis doesn't permit us to give up our values," Lapid said. "This is rewarding criminality."

Members of the Joint List, a coalition of Arab parties that broke years of precedent by agreeing to support Gantz's bid for prime minister, condemned him as well.

"He has now demonstrated that he is a clone of Netanyahu," said Yousef Jabareen, a Joint List member of the Knesset.

But whatever their view of his motives in joining a Netanyahu government, all were still awaiting the still-elusive final step that would end the country's longest stretch with no government at all.
The Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) has donated boom mic poles to some media organisations to aid journalists safety in the coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Chamber presented the boom microphone poles to the Multimedia Group (JoynewsTV), Despite Media Group (UTv) and Omni Media (CitiTv) on Friday, April 3.

The poles, when connected to the boom mics will help journalists keep their distance while conducting field interviews, in keeping with the governments directive for all to observe social distancing.

The Chief Executive Officer of the CBOD, Senyo Hosi, said journalists take a risk every day to bring us the news in this period of the coronavirus outbreak hence the need for them to be protected.

"We really want to thank you on behalf of our membership for the service you are rendering to Mother Ghana. You are running a high-risk job. You leave your homes every day to make sure we get informed but every time you do that you put yourselves at risk for our country," he stated.

He continued, You are the ones who are still keeping the country sane and keeping us up to date but we need you to be safe. The safer you are, the better it will be for you to serve us as a people. So we found it prudent to make this donation to empower you to be able to observe the necessary social distancing required in this fight against COVID-19."

Mr. Hosi commends all journalists for their selfless work and prayed for their safety. God bless you all and we wish that you all stay safe and no incident is ever recorded whatsoever here. We'll keep you in our prayers.

He said all Ghanaians are in this together and must support one another to get through this crisis.
A man has been arrested in connection with a robbery at a Dublin supermarket.

Last night around 8.30pm, gardai arrived at the scene after reports of a robbery at the Old Bawn Shopping Centre in Dublin 24.

A man carrying what witnesses believed to be a knife threatened staff and took a sum of money, according to a garda spokesperson.

During a follow-up operation a man in his late 30s was arrested and is currently being detained at Rathfarnham Garda Station, they added.

The man is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

All of the cash taken during the robbery was recovered by Gardai.

Gardai say investigations are ongoing.
Reverend Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Head of the Table of Office in Parliament, has said the prayers offered by the nation on March 25, 2020 against the coronavirus pandemic will surely be answered by God.



God will heal the nation, Rev Djietror said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, adding; The Almighty God is hearer and answerer of prayer, who takes note of the entreaties of the faithful, and answers accordingly.



Rev Djietror urged Ghanaians to observe the recommended health and safety protocols as washing hands with soap under running water, sanitizing the hands with alcohol-based sanitizers, covering nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding handshakes as they continued to seek the face of God for a solution against the pandemic.



Parliament on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, led by the Speaker, Rev Prof Aaron Michael Oquaye, joined the nation on the request of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to pray and fast to seek the face of God in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.



Reverend Djietror said Ghana was in extraordinary times, hence the need to observe fasting and prayer; and challenged believers in Christ to engage in such communal religious exercises from time to time.



The disease has defied scientific and medical intervention; hence we all have to turn to God for solace, Rev Djietror said, and recalled that throughout human history, there had been events that made people fear God and drew them closer to Him.



If you draw closer to God, he will draw closer to you, Rev Djietror said.



He called on all to go into what he described as the laboratory of personal self-examination and introspection, and said: I strongly believe therell be light at the end of the tunnel.



As of Thursday, April 2, 2020, the Ghana Health Service has reported that Ghana has recorded 204 COVID-19 confirmed cases with five deaths and three recoveries.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President Xi Jinping on Friday joined Beijingers to plant trees and urged efforts to respect and protect nature and promote harmony between humans and nature.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while attending a voluntary tree-planting activity in the Chinese capital's southern district of Daxing.







"We plant trees together as a concrete action to boost the economic and social progress and the expedited return to normal work and life," Xi said, noting that the situation of epidemic control in China is continuously turning for the better.





The activity was also attended by other leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan.





While planting saplings of different types of trees, Xi talked to the officials and people on-site, pointing out that afforestation has been a fine tradition of the Chinese nation since ancient times.





Ecological advancement has been brought into the country's five-sphere integrated plan since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 and large-scale afforestation has thus been stepped up, Xi said.





China has seen its forest resources continuously increasing and its area of desertified land declining, making important contributions to the climate change response and global ecological governance, Xi said.





Underscoring the need to adhere to the principle of people-centered development, Xi called for planting trees for the people, thus bringing benefits to them.





He also stressed that citizens bear legal obligations to support afforestation and forest protection.





Speaking to community workers participating in the activity, Xi said as work resumption picked up pace, communities must not drop their guard in preventing the spread of the coronavirus and should make it their main task to guarantee residents' safety and health.
Have you been briefed by the C.D.C.? I have. Are there worries about a pandemic at this point? No, were not at all, and we have it totally under control. Its one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. Its going to be just fine. Ive always known this is a real  this is a pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic. Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus. We did one of the great jobs. You say, Hows President Trump doing? They go, Oh, not good, not good. They have no clue. They dont have any clue. And this is their new hoax. Ive always viewed it as very serious. There was no difference yesterday from days before. I feel the tone is similar, but some people said it wasnt. Were  what do you have, a very small number of people in the country right now with it? Its like around 12. Many of them are getting better. Some are fully recovered already. So were in very good shape. Were going to be pretty soon at only five people. And we could be at just one or two people over the next short period of time. So youre talking about 2.2 million deaths  2.2 million people from this. And so if we could hold that down, as were saying, to 100,000  its a horrible number, maybe even less, but to 100,000, so we have between 100,000 and 200,000. We all together have done a very good job. The flu in our country kills from 25,000 people to 69,000 people a year. That was shocking to me. But thats a little bit like the flu. Its a little like the regular flu that we have flu shots for. And well essentially have a flu shot for this in a fairly quick manner. View this the same as the flu. This is not the flu. Its vicious. It is so contagious. Flu has never been like that, and there is  flu is contagious, but nothing like weve ever seen here. Anybody that wants a test can get a test. Thats what  the bottom line. Anybody right now and yesterday, anybody that needs a test gets a test. Theyre there. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful. And in some cases, theyre in California where we have too many. And then in other cases, the distribution could be a little bit better for certain areas, but weve done a good job on testing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 15:11:54|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has approved a total of 26.9 million U.S. dollars to help combat COVID-19 in Mongolia, the bank's office in Mongolia said Friday.

The financing was approved within the framework of the bank's COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Project.

The money will go toward the training of emergency medical staff and purchase of equipment and supplies, as well as the strengthening of COVID-19 diagnostic capacity across the country, according to the bank.

"The global COVID-19 pandemic clearly calls for strengthening the preparedness and resilience of health systems to respond to such crisis situations," said Andrei Mikhnev, World Bank country manager for Mongolia.

He expressed confidence that the project would not only provide immediate support to address the COVID-19 pandemic, but also benefit Mongolia's health sector in the longer term.

As of Friday, a total of 14 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country. All cases are imported ones.
Doctors have urged the Government to come clean over how long it will take to address problems with some Chinese coronavirus protective equipment as the HSE admitted some stock had been sent back.

Images posted online show gowns with three-quarter length sleeves, leaving arms exposed, and some staff have described gear as not fit for purpose.

A 200m order has seen plane-loads of kit arriving in Ireland over recent days, and ministers have vowed good use will be found for it.

It is intended to protect doctors and nurses who are braced for a surge in the number of Covid-19 patients in the country's hospitals over coming weeks.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the personal protective equipment (PPE) stock arriving in the country was being closely checked for quality and some had been sent back.

He said: We have secured other lines of stock that will be coming through in the coming days.

We have stepped up production of surgical masks in our country.

He said a company in Limerick had tripled its production.

This is not peace time. There is a worldwide shortage. In some cases countries have run out.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), warned: It is unacceptable to expect frontline health care staff to work without proper protection.

Health chiefs have acknowledged supplies in some cases are different from what medics here are used to.

They are attempting to source additional equipment.

The IMO said: We welcome the acceptance by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that there are problems with the recent supply from China and the fact that they are pursuing changes to future orders and alternate suppliers.

However, we must again stress that doctors and other healthcare workers need assurances on the issues around personal protection equipment  the supply lines and the timelines in which the issues will be addressed in an open and transparent way.

It said it was monitoring the ongoing situation closely.

High quality and reliable personal protective equipment is an absolute necessity for frontline medical professionals and those working in each setting have to have access for the appropriate personal protective equipment for their roles so as to protect themselves, patients, and continue working in what are already highly stressful environments.

He said the rate of spread of the virus had fallen from 33% to 10% but that needed to fall further.

The latest figures from the HSE showed another 424 cases of coronavirus had been diagnosed in the country, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 4,273.

Of the 22 further deaths recorded, half were male and half female.

The virus has hit the east of the country hardest.

The median age of those admitted to hospital intensive care units was 63.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said available equipment was different from that which the countrys healthcare professionals are used to.

It is being tested and assessed by the HSE.

Good use will be found for it. We will continue to look for additional equipment.

It has become such a competitive environment for this equipment and we are looking at this all the time.

Paul Reid, HSE chief executive, said supplies had been arriving on Aer Lingus flights since Sunday.

He added: We are engaged worldwide to secure alternative stocks should these supplies not materialise to the extent that we expect.

It is a very competitive worldwide market but our procurement teams have done really well to secure what we have to date.

A HSE spokeswoman said its infection prevention and control clinical experts had been undertaking product testing on all shipments received in order to assess quality and suitability for use of the equipment.

This includes material from China which arrived in recent days, she said.

Any issues identified in the first batch are being fed back to be addressed in subsequent orders. We are very grateful to our Chinese partners for facilitating us and we look forward to receiving further quantities of materials from this source over the coming weeks.

She added: Procuring goods that meets the necessary standards of HSE, and as specified by WHO, is of paramount importance to HSE. There are multiple suppliers of PPE to HSE.

Meanwhile, official data has shown that almost 90% of those dying with coronavirus in Ireland are aged 65 and above.

Two deaths have been recorded among patients aged between 25 and 34.

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

A total of 160 clusters of infection have been identified, and Dublin has recorded more than half the total of cases.

Nursing homes are undergoing a particular problem and Mr Donohoe said that is being considered by the Government.

Consultants who normally do private work have been enlisted for public hospital work.

They are working alongside their colleagues but are seeking clarity on elements of their temporary three-month contracts during the emergency.

Elsewhere, the Central Bank has warned the crisis is likely to make a 22 billion euro hole in the countrys finances and the number of unemployed is soaring.

Mr Donohoe said: Change that in the darkest of years would have taken a year to happen has happened over the space of a number of days.

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In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, medical professional across the globe have put their lives at risk to help those in need. Despite the threat of contracting the deadly disease, many are also putting a complete pause on their private matters and going beyond their means to help patients.

Twitter

In one such instance of dedication, a 25-year-old nurse named S Vinothini who is eight months pregnant, travelled 250 km from Tiruchy to Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, to help treat COVID-19 patients.

According to The New Indian Express, she had been employed by a private hospital in Tiruchy but after receiving a call from the Joint Director (JD) of Health Services of Ramanathapuram on April 1, she decided to make the journey and serve in a primary health centre (PHC).

PTI

With the help of DYFI district secretary P Lenin, Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natarajan and Collector S Sivarasu she got a pass to venture outside despite the lockdown.

The nurse who is eight months pregnant finally managed to reach Ramanathapuram from Tiruchy by car with her husband.





A big salute to all the professionals who are making sure to care for those in need in this time of crisis.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / Cannabis Global, Inc. (OTC PINK:MCTC), a cannabinoid and hemp extract science forward company developing infusion and delivery technologies, today announced a change in corporate domicile from Delaware to Nevada under the corporate name of Cannabis Global, Inc. The Company plans to institute a corporate action with FINRA for an official name change with that organization and for a change of the stock trading symbol.

"We have made tremendous progress as an organization since our reorganization last May, but now it is time for our corporate identity to match our corporate mission. Thus, we have changed the name of the corporation to Cannabis Global, Inc. and we will be applying with FINRA for a new stock trading symbol to match our marketplace," commented Arman Tabatabaei, CEO.

Cannabis Global, Inc. was reorganized during May of 2019 with a change in corporate direction into the hemp extract and cannabis markets. Since that time the Company has acquired important intellectual properties, invested in research and development, and began to roll products out into the marketplace.

Mr. Tabatabaei, continued, "We are especially excited about our progress relative to introducing to the industry novel and advanced hemp infusion technologies, several on which we have filed for patent protection, this includes our new water soluble, all-natural infusions on which we are basing our Hemp You Can Feel brand. The redomicile to Nevada provides us with important corporate flexibility considering our growing stature in the cannabis IP sector. The change in name allows us to better identify the company relative to the cannabis marketplace. We are looking forward to our progress under this new corporate identity."

The Company has recently filed six patents on hemp extract technologies and delivery systems. Cannabis Global is currently working with patent counsel to protect various other aspects of its new technologies. As previously announced, the Company plans to continue other areas of delivery systems research including its programs pertaining to polymeric cannabinoid nanoparticles and nanofibers. Additionally, Cannabis Global has recently announced a varin cannabinoid R&D program concentrating on new applications for THC-V.

About Cannabis Global, Inc.

Cannabis Global, Inc. is a Nevada registered, fully reporting and audited publicly-traded company. With the hemp and cannabis industries moving very quickly and with a growing number of market entrants, Cannabis Global plans to concentrate its efforts on the middle portions of the hemp and cannabis value chain. The Company plans to actively pursue R&D programs and productization for exotic cannabinoid isolation, bioenhancement of cannabinoids and polymeric solid nanoparticles and nanofibers for addition into consumer products and for dermal application. The Company was reorganized during June of 2019 and announced its intent to enter the fast-growing cannabis sector and its intent to change its corporate identity to Cannabis Global, Inc. The Company is headed and managed by a group of highly experienced cannabis industry pioneers and entrepreneurs.

More information on the Company can be viewed at www.CannabisGlobalinc.com.

For more information, please contact:

Arman Tabatabaei

IR@cannabisglobalinc.com

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities and words such as "anticipate", "seek", intend", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "project", "plan", or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based products. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-k, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please visit www.sec.gov.

SOURCE: MCTC Holdings, Inc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/583756/MCTC-Domiciles-into-Nevada-Announces-Name-Change-to-Cannabis-Global-Inc-to-Better-Reflect-the-Companys-Cannabis-Direction
Judge Issues Scathing Order After Watchdog Flags Rampant Flaws in FBI Surveillance

The lead judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court reprimanded the FBI over widespread flaws in surveillance applications uncovered by the Justice Department inspector general.

In an order issued on April 3, Judge James Boasberg directed the FBI to turn over the names of the targets in the 29 applications audited by the inspector general.

The inspector generals audit, the results of which were released in a memo to the FBI on March 30, found that every one of the 29 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) applications reviewed had a missing or inadequate Woods Filea group of records that substantiate the facts the bureau asserts in applications to the court.

The inspector general concluded that it was not confident that the FBIs procedures were adequate in ensuring the bureau followed its own policy that FISA applications have to be scrupulously accurate.

It would be an understatement to note that such lack of confidence appears well founded, Boasberg wrote.

In addition to turning over the names and docket numbers for the 29 FISA applications, the judge asked the government to assess whether any of the applications contained material misstatements and omissions, and whether these flaws render the courts surveillance orders invalid. The judge is also asking the bureau to identify the four applications for which a Woods File was missing entirely.

Boasberg gave the bureau until June 15 to comply.

The review by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General (OIG) was prompted by the damning findings of its inquiry into the FISA applications the FBI obtained to spy on Trump-campaign associate Carter Page. That review turned up 17 significant errors and omissions, including multiple instances in which the FBI withheld exculpatory information from the court.

Carter Page, petroleum industry consultant and former foreign-policy adviser to Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential election campaign, in Washington on May 28, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

The findings in the Page case led the court to order the FBI to show why the court should trust any of its future surveillance applications. The bureau has since embarked on a list of reforms. The findings of pervasive flaws beyond the Page case underline the need for the court to supervise the bureaus efforts, the order states.

The OIG Memorandum provides further reason for systemic concern. It thereby reinforces the need for the Court to monitor the ongoing efforts of the FBI and DOJ to ensure that, going forward, FBI applications present accurate and complete facts, Boasberg wrote.

The FBI acknowledged the receipt of the order.

Maintaining the trust and confidence of the Court is paramount to the FBI and we are continuing to implement the 40-plus corrective actions ordered by [FBI] Director [Christopher] Wray in December 2019, the bureau said in a statement.

Although the applications reviewed by the IG in this audit predate the announcement of these corrective actions, the FBI understands the Courts desire to obtain information related to the applications.

The surveillance of Page prompted President Donald Trump and his allies to assert that the Obama-era FBI spied on the Trump campaign in 2016 for political gain. However, the inspector generals inquiry did not find evidence that political motivations factored into the decision to surveil Page.

An unverified dossier of opposition research on Trump compiled by a former foreign spy played a crucial role in the FBIs decision to seek a warrant to spy on Carter Page. That dossier was funded through a law firm by Hillary Clintons presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

The applications used for a warrant to surveil Carter Page cast him as an agent of Russia, despite the FBI being in possession of evidence to the contrary that wasnt included in the applications. Notably, the FBI was advised by the CIA that he was working with the agency and had regularly reported on his contacts with Russians.
RESIDENTS in Henley showed their appreciation for NHS workers tackling the coronavirus pandemic by taking part in a Clap for Carers tribute.

It happened on Thursday, April 2 at 8pm and was marked by people across the country, including the Royal Family and Prime Minister.

David and Barbara Lindsay, of St Marks Road, were among neighbours who stood outside their house and clapped.

Mrs Lindsay, 67, said it was important to honour all key workers.

We werent just clapping for the NHS but for all the key workers like the bin collectors, teachers and supermarket workers, she said.

The NHS is of course extremely important, but so are all the other people working at the moment.

I just thought it was a good thing to do and it keeps morale up and is good for community spirit.

We have a good community spirit here, so I think were quite fortunate and its nice to see the neighbours coming out and talking to each other, even though we have to stand two or three metres away. Its good on lots of fronts.

Her husband agreed and explained how he was affected by the Governments restrictions on peoples movement.

Mr Lindsay said: Its not great for anyone. I find it quite boring and isolation is quite wearying. But Im not complaining because weve not got it quite so bad.

It was important, as Barbara said, to show were supporting NHS workers.

Keri Froehlich, also of St Marks Road, clapped with her children Sebastian, eight, Ferris, eight, and Georgia, four.

She said: We just wanted to show our support for the NHS and see each other. Its a really, really lovely community and its the only time we see each other.

The first national Clap for Carers tribute took place on Thursday, March 26.

So far more than 2,960 people in the UK have died from coronavirus.
First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has made an Instagram post in connection with the April battles.

In a post on her official Instagram page, Mehriban Aliyeva said: "The memory of our brave sons who died heroically for the Motherland in the April battles will always live in our hearts! May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs!
OAKLAND COUNTY, MI  A group of pilots are volunteering their time and planes to pick up face shields in Indiana and bring them back to Michigan hospitals battling COVID-19.

Cran Jones, Co-Owner of the Michigan Seaplane Flight School, organized the project. He works in the automotive industry and reached out to Mursix Corporation in Indiana to ask if the manufacturer had the ability to make face shields.

Days later, Jones had a team of volunteer pilots assembled, ready to pick up the 12,000 shields Mursix had made in Muncie, Indiana.

Jones and his team left from Oakland County International Airport on Friday, April 3. The four planes are expected to arrive at Willow Run around 4:30 p.m. Friday, at which point the shields will be distributed to Michigan hospitals.

"This is the spirit that I think so many of us are feeling," said Oakland County Executive David Coulter, just before the pilots took off. "I've heard examples like this all over the county of people pitching in and doing what they can."

It takes about four hours to drive to Muncie, Indiana  but only 75 to 90 minutes to fly there, Jones said. The goal is to get shields to hospitals as fast as possible, he said.

"We wanted to try to help out in our own way," Jones said.

Michigan has 10,791 cases of coronavirus and 417 deaths, as of Thursday, April 2. Oakland County has been hit particularly hard, with more than 2,500 cases of the virus and 135 deaths, as of Friday morning, Coulter said.

Shields and masks are at a premium, as health care workers need them for protection while working with patients with COVID-19. Businesses and residents across Michigan have also chipped in to help make shields, from a trio of Kalamazoo businesses to high school teachers and students with 3D printers.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here

Friday, April 3: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Violating Michigans coronavirus stay-at-home order could cost you $1,000, health department rules

Dr. Fauci questioning why more states not issuing stay-at-home orders

Younger coronavirus patients make up 40% of Michigan cases, have potential to spread the illness

Michigan workers with coronavirus ties cant be disciplined for staying home, Gov. Whitmer orders
UW School of Pharmacy Produces Hand Sanitizer during COVID-19 Supply Shortage

From left, Kem Krueger, dean of the UW School of Pharmacy, assists with labeling, while Sreejayan Nair, professor of pharmacology, and Amit Thakar, research associate, dispense hand sanitizer into containers. (UW Photo)

As people quickly learned during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many household staples normally in plentiful supply suddenly vanished from grocery store shelves.

Among those products was any type of hand sanitizer. This shortage didnt only affect individuals and families; it also impacted health care providers, including physicians in private practice, clinics, assisted living facilities and Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie.

As the shortage worsened, it was unclear, in some cases, how additional supplies of sanitizer could be found.

Enter University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy Professor Sreejayan Nair. Nair had an idea of how to convert a pharmacy lab into a temporary hand sanitizer factory.

Nair, director of the School of Pharmacys biomedical sciences graduate program, presented his idea to School of Pharmacy Dean Kem Krueger and College of Health Sciences Dean David Jones.

They were both excited and wholeheartedly supported this effort, Nair says. Dean Krueger also came up to the lab and helped us label the sanitizer. Because of the social distancing, we had limited personnel working in the lab. Dean Jones made calls to clinics around town and personally delivered the sanitizer.

To date, containers have been distributed to the Laramie fire stations, UW Student Health Service clinic, UW custodial services, Laramie Reproductive Clinic, Laramie Care Center, the Downtown Clinic, Albany Community Health Clinic and Ivinson Memorial Hospital.

While time was of the essence to begin production, rules needed to be followed in accordance with the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) guidelines.

We used a World Health Organization (WHO) recommended formulation, which is consistent with the FDAs recently updated policy for temporary compounding of alcohol-based sanitizer products during the public health emergency, Nair says. We used the WHO recommended hand-sanitizer formulation, which also has been adapted by the FDA.

The finished sanitizer contains alcohol, glycerin and hydrogen peroxide. The UW team then puts it in 250-milliliter containers and labels them according to FDA specifications.

As many university employees are working remotely off campus, personnel and lab supplies have been hard to find.

Jack Leonhardt, manager of UWs chemical stockroom, located in the Physical Sciences Building, is credited with saving the day by providing the pharmacy lab the needed chemicals and containers to allow full production of much-needed hand sanitizer.

Obtaining chemicals and containers was challenging, Nair says, noting that Leonhardt did a yeomans job sourcing and procuring the required supplies.

No one is sure how long the impact of COVID-19 will last in Wyoming or elsewhere. In this regard, efforts such as hand sanitizer production in the UW School of Pharmacy could continue, if necessary.

We are limited by the supplies, Nair says. However, as long as there is a need and there are supplies, we are willing to produce as much as we can. We have prepared about 30-40 gallons as of now.
Tehran, April 4 : The US "cruel and illegal" sanctions against Iran have caused difficulties for ordinary Iranians' access to medicine and medical equipment and services amid the COVID-19 spread, Esmaeil Baqaei Hamaneh, Iran's envoy to the UN office in Geneva, said on Friday.

"The sanctions have blocked Iran's banking interaction with other countries in the purchase of commodities required in the fight against the coronavirus," Baqaei Hamaneh said in a letter to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, Xinhua reported citing the state TV.

"The illegal restrictions are a serious threat to Iran's efforts to battle and contain the virus," he said, stressing the importance of rolling back of the US sanctions against Iran.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday censured the US for maintaining its sanctions against Iran despite the outbreak of COVID-19 across the country.

Over the past weeks, Iran has intensified global campaign for the removal of US sanction as the Islamic republic combats the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the country.

Iran, the worst-hit country by the virus in the Middle East, announced on Friday 53,183 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country and a total deaths of 3,294.
A view of an empty restaurant is seen at Grand Central Station on March 25, 2020 in New York City. Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images

Barry O'Donovan opened his Irish pub across from a railroad station used by Wall Street commuters just five days before Lehman failed. His business survived the Great Recession. Then in August, 2011, Hurricane Irene swept the nearby Rahway River straight through his Cranford, N.J. restaurant. Again, his Kilkenny House survived, thanks in part to a $200,000 Small Business Administration Loan. He continues to pay it off. Now, the coronavirus has hit, and O'Donovan like thousands of small business owners is hoping to get funds from the small business lending program, which the Treasury planned to have up and running by Friday. However, as of Friday afternoon, only Bank of America and J.P. Morgan were operating and able to accept applications for the hastily established program. Business owners like O'Donovan are worried. "I personally gave my business a loan," O'Donovan said. "We're trying to keep people employed." Economists are worried too. By some estimates, it will take until 2023 or even longer to bring the labor market back to where it was in February, before the shocking layoff of millions of workers by companies that were forced to shutdown or scale back all across the country. March's employment report Friday showed a loss of 701,000 jobs, 459,000 of which were related to leisure businesses, such as hotels or restaurants. The unemployment rate jumped to by 0.9 to 4.4%. April is expected to be much worse with jobs declining by 10 million or more, and economists forecasting unemployment at as much as 15% or more. Several economists told CNBC the speed at which the government can get money into the hands of small business owners, like O'Donovan, the more likely they will be to be to retain workers, and the more likely they will be to weather the weeks of shutdown with a business healthy enough to reopen. Small businesses are the biggest creators of jobs. Restaurants have been particularly hard hit because many were forced to close as soon as President Donald Trump told Americans to stay away from eating establishments and bars in March. O'Donovan has kept a handful of worker busy with a takeout business. Customers can pull up out front, and the staff loads takeout meals into the back of their vehicles. Delivery services would be a costly overhead. "I can last maybe a month or so. We're not even breaking even. It's cheaper to close than to stay open," O'Donovan said. He had run other similar pubs in Brooklyn before moving to New Jersey.

What will the recovery look like?

Economists have had trouble predicting the extent of the economy's decline. Some major firms, like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, have revised already scary forecasts with even more harrowing projections of a 30% or even deeper contraction in the second quarter. As the first quarter ended, the economy has already toppled over, but economists expect a spring back later in the year. The problem is determining what that spring back will look like, and that will depend on when the virus peaks, and whether it will return. It also depends on the ability of businesses to hang on. "There is a boatload of stimulus coming, and I do think it is big enough to offset the demand shock," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. "The first quarter was probably down 4 or 5% I think. A lot really depends on what you're assuming for the timing of the lock down and what a lockdown means in terms of output." Zandi said the economy could bounce back by 11% in the third quarter, then go flat for a period. Congress has authorized $2 trillion in aid to fight the coronavirus including the small business program and also expanded unemployment benefits that will reach more people. But economists it is almost certain more help will be needed. Trump has declared social distancing rules will be in place until April 30, and states covering about 80% of the economy have shelter in place orders. In just two weeks, 10 million workers have filed with states for unemployment benefits, and by the end of the month the number could double. "The suddenness with which it slipped off a cliff in two weeks is shocking," said Michael Gapen, chief U.S. economist at Barclays. Gapen said it will take until the end of 2022 for the economy to recover lost jobs. Unemployment was at 3.5% in February and could easily get to 10% or higher in April. "We have it at 5% at the end of next year. To get it back in the 4s will take longer." But it will be the road back, and how many businesses fail along the way that determines how quickly the economy can come back. "As soon as businesses reopen, you're going to see this surge in activity," said Zandi. The recovery of the economy could also depend on whether a medical solution is found that would enable people to congregate again, even if it recurred. "The second half of next year should be strong in terms of growth, and I expect 2022 to be a very good year for growth. But we won't get back to full employment until well into 2023," Zandi said. "By July and August, most of the businesses that haven't failed will be coming back on line. The small business lending is helpful. More helpful in appearance than in practice, I think it's going to be really hard for them to scale and get this money out there fast enough." Zandi said 10% of small companies with fewer than 500 employees could fail. A new poll of small businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife ,conducted in late March, found one in four small businesses say they are two months or less from closing permanently amid the economic downturn caused by the virus. One in 10 are less than one month away from permanently closing. According to the survey, about one in four have already shut down temporarily, and of those that have not, about 50% say they are likely to close at least temporarily within the next two weeks.

Work at home - for now
OPEC started preparations for negotiations within the OPEC+ framework, initiated by Saudi Arabia. The meeting may take place next week, a source taking part in the preparations said.



"The meeting may take place next week. We have started communicating with countries on this issue," the source said, without specifying the format of negotiations.



Earlier, Saudi Arabia called on to urgently convene a meeting of OPEC+ countries to discuss decisions on the oil market, TASS reorted.



Saudi Arabias statement followed negotiations between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. Trump believes that the largest oil powers should together find a way out of the crisis in the oil market. He proposed to reduce production by 10 mln barrels per day in order to offset decline in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The World Bank has sanctioned $1 billion to roll out a COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project in India. This includes a $350 million emergency support for scale up of isolation wards, intensive care units, and purchase of testing kits, personal protective equipment, ventilators, and medicines. The emergency funds will be managed by the National Health Mission (NHM), the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

"The World Bank is working in close partnership with the Government of India to provide urgent and flexible support to the country as it fights the spread of COVID-19," said Junaid Ahmad, World Bank Country Director for India.

The other portion of the committed $1 billion will be utilised to strengthen India's ability to respond to such healthcare emergencies in future. The Health systems Preparedness component will strengthen India's Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, revamp infectious disease hospitals, district, civil, general and medical college hospitals, and build a network of high containment Biosafety Level 3 laboratories.

"This operation is expected to enhance surveillance capacities, strengthen diagnostic systems, and expand the capacity of laboratories. But, COVID-19 is not only a health challenge. It has deep social and economic implications. In parallel, we are working with equal urgency with the government on social protection programs and economic measures that protect the livelihoods of people," Ahmad said.

Also read: World Bank grants $1 billion to help India fight coronavirus

The project to help India prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness is the largest ever health sector support from the World Bank to India.

In a statement issued on April 3, the Bank said the new support will cover all states and Union Territories across India and address the needs of infected people, at-risk populations, medical and emergency personnel and service providers, medical and testing facilities, and national and animal health agencies.

"The project will immediately enable the Government of India (GOI) to scale-up efforts to limit human-to-human transmission, including reducing local transmission of cases and containing the epidemic from progressing further. In parallel, interventions to strengthen the health system will be rolled out to improve the country's capacity to respond to the COVID-19 epidemic and be better prepared to respond to emerging disease outbreaks, including transmission between humans and animals," the statement said.

The funds will be utilised to procure testing kits; setting up of new isolation wards - including turning hospital beds into intensive care unit beds; infection prevention and control; and purchase of personal protective equipment, ventilators, and medicines, particularly in district hospitals. Designated infectious disease hospitals will also be scaled up under the project. It will also enhance the resilience of India's health system to provide core public health prevention and patient care to better manage COVID-19 and future disease outbreaks.

Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Doctor from Dharavi tests COVID-19 positive; second case from slum

The project will develop capacity and systems to detect existing and emerging zoonoses, support biomedical research on COVID-19 by Indian institutions, and upgrade viral research and diagnostic laboratories for testing and research.

The project is financed from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). It is part of World Bank Group's $14 billion fast track package to strengthen the COVID-19 response in developing countries and shorten the time to recovery. The immediate response includes financing, policy advice and technical assistance to help countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

The World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation is providing $8 billion in financing to help private companies affected by the pandemic and preserve jobs. The other two arms IBRD and International Development Association are making an initial US$6 billion available for the health-response. As countries need broader support, the World Bank Group will deploy up to $160 billion over 15 months to protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery, the statement said.

Also read: Coronavirus outbreak: 9-minute Diwali! PM Modi says light candles on April 5
Coronavirus is expected to claim the lives of more than 2,000 Massachusetts residents by summer, according to a new analysis, but it could have been worse.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, an independent population health research center at the University of Washington, released nationwide and state-by-state projections of hospital resource use and residents infected.

The number of deaths per day is expected to peak in Massachusetts to just under 100 deaths daily in the next two-and-a-half weeks. A total of 2,357 deaths are projected for Massachusetts by August.

Globally, the number of daily deaths from the virus has been increasing exponentially every day. On March 1, fewer than 75 people a day were dying around the world from the virus. By March 19, it had surpassed 1,000 a day. Four days later, on March 24, it had surpassed 2,000 a day. Three days later, on March 27, it surpassed 3,000 a day. By March 31 daily deaths surpassed 4,000 a day.

Although most people who are infected with the virus have mild symptoms, may not even require hospitalization, and recover, the overall toll on life remains sobering.

Gov. Charlie Baker shared projections from state health officials on Thursday, said that up to 172,000 Massachusetts residents could potentially be infected.

He urged people to stay home, wash their hands and take the advice on social distancing seriously to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

It is a powerful weapon and has been proven in most cases to be the most powerful weapon, Baker said on Thursday. If everyone plays their part, we can flatten the curve and reduce the strain on our health care systems and our communities.

There have been 8,966 people who tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 154 people have died, according to figures released by the state Department of Public Health on Wednesday.

COVID-19, the novel coronavirus causing the pandemic, is expected to peak nationwide in mid-April. Just under 94,000 fatalities are expected across the United States by August.

New York is expected to be the hardest hit state, with 16,000 deaths projected. Single-day death tolls rising to more than 2,500 are expected in the next two-and-a-half weeks.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached more than 83,000 in New York - including more than 8,000 overnight. Of the confirmed 83,712 cases, 47,439 are in New York Citys five boroughs.

Statewide death totals from the virus in New York rose to 1,941, up 391 from Tuesday.

That number will continue to go up, Cuomo said. We are still looking for a curve; we are still looking to see where we hit the plateau."

He emphasized that its Not just New York, adding, If you believe these numbers  16,000 deaths in New York  that means youre going to get tens of thousands of deaths outside of New York.

So, to the extent people watch their nightly news in Kansas and say, well, this is a New York problem, thats not what these numbers say. It says its a New York problem today. Tomorrow, its a Kansas problem and a Texas problem and a New Mexico problem," Cuomo said.

The model accounts for steps taken to slow the curve and assumes continued social distancing until the end of May.

Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts in early March, encouraging companies to allow their employees to work from home, encouraging residents to limit travel and gathering in large groups and lifting restrictions on public schools, allowing schools and students to be free from attendance requirements.

As schools across the commonwealth announced temporary closures, Baker announced all public schools will be suspended until mid-April, then extended the measure until at least May 4, with districts turning to remote learning for about a million students in Massachusetts. The governor ordered all restaurants and bars shut down on-site food and drink service. He ordered limits on all public gatherings, including sporting activities, concerts and faith gatherings.

I realize these measures are unprecedented, Baker said, but were asking our residents to take a deep breath and understand the rationale behind this guidance.

People were also asked to keep a 6-foot distance between themselves and others.

Baker on Monday announced that he is shutting down all non-essential operations to help curtail the spread of the virus. Gatherings are now limited to 10 people.

The majority of Americans - about 80% - are under lockdown orders, with governors closing schools, banning social gatherings and ordering residents to stay home. But a handful of states have enacted only partial stay-at-home orders.

The United States has the highest number of cases, over 200,000 cases as of Thursday, and over 5,000 deaths.

Worldwide, the total number of confirmed cases rose above a million on Thursday, with over 50,000 confirmed deaths.

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A combo pack of ITC-owned Aashirvaad atta and spices including chili, coriander and turmeric powders will be available on Dominos app.

The service will be available in Bengaluru first and will then be expanded to Noida, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

In a first-of-its-kind partnership between a quick-service restaurant and a fast-moving consumer goods company, Jubilant FoodWorks, the master franchisee of the Dominos brand in India, has tied up with ITC to deliver essential commodities at the consumers doorsteps.

The partnership aims to maximise the sales and distribution channels of both firms, while encouraging consumers to stay at home and receive essentials during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

According to the firms, a combo pack of ITC-owned Aashirvaad atta (flour) and spices including chili, coriander and turmeric powders will be available on Dominos app starting Thursday.

Buyers can order the items that have been listed under the Dominos Essentials menu on the app.

While ITC will provide the items, Dominos will deliver the products.

As of December 31, 2019, Dominos had 1,325 restaurants in the country across 282 cities and towns.

The Aashirvaad brand of atta is worth Rs 4,500 crore for the company and is the market leader in the segment.

Customers can order using the Dominos App and their order will be delivered safely and hygienically using Zero Contact Delivery.

"We are happy to partner with ITC Foods for this initiative, enabling consumers to procure and receive certain essentials while staying safe at their homes, said Pratik Pota, chief executive officer and whole-time director at Jubilant FoodWorks.

The service will be available in Bengaluru first and will then be expanded to Noida, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

As part of its growth strategy, Jubilant FoodWorks has prioritised expanding geographical footprints, driving innovation, value for money and strengthening the brand offline and online.

In the third quarter of previous fiscal, Jubilants 14 per cent growth was primarily driven by a strong performance in delivery, especially online sales, which now contribute to 87 per cent of total delivery sales.

The Dominos App saw 4.1 million downloads during the period.

On a cumulative basis, the Dominos app has seen a download count of 12.7 million.

We have redoubled our efforts to expand availability of food products by leveraging various avenues and channels that connect seamlessly with consumers.

"This valuable partnership with Dominos during this pandemic will enable us to fulfill the rising demand for food products like Aashirvaad atta and spices, said Hemant Malik, divisional chief executive of the foods division at ITC.

At the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, ITC had focused on contingency and business continuity plans and has been producing and supplying essential items only.

Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Reuters
Particle chasing -- it's a game that so many physicists play. Sometimes the hunt takes place inside large supercolliders, where spectacular collisions are necessary to find hidden particles and new physics. For physicists studying solids, the game occurs in a much different environment and the sought-after particles don't come from furious collisions. Instead, particle-like entities, called quasiparticles, emerge from complicated electronic interactions that happen deep within a material. Sometimes the quasiparticles are easy to probe, but others are more difficult to spot, lurking just out of reach.

Now a team of researchers at the University of Illinois, led by physicist Vidya Madhavan, in collaboration with researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the University of Maryland, Boston College, and ETH Zurich, have used high-resolution microscopy tools to peer at the inner-workings of an unusual type of superconductor, uranium ditelluride (UTe2). Their measurements reveal strong evidence that this material may be a natural home to an exotic quasiparticle that's been hiding from physicists for decades. The study is published in the March 26 issue of Nature.

The particles in question were theorized back in 1937 by an Italian physicist named Ettore Majorana, and since then, physicists have been trying to prove that they can exist. Scientists think a particular class of materials called chiral unconventional superconductors may naturally host Majoranas. UTe2 may have all of the right properties to spawn these elusive quasiparticles.

"We know the physics of conventional superconductors and understand how they can conduct electricity or transport electrons from one end of a wire to the other with no resistance," said Madhavan. "Chiral unconventional superconductors are much rarer, and the physics is less well known. Understanding them is important for fundamental physics and has potential applications in quantum computing," she said.

Inside of a normal superconductor, the electrons pair up in a way that enables the lossless, persistent currents. This is in contrast to a normal conductor, like copper wire, which heats up as current passes through it. Part of the theory behind superconductivity was formulated decades ago by three scientists at the U of I who earned a Nobel prize in physics for their work. For this conventional kind of superconductivity, magnetic fields are the enemy and break up the pairs, returning the material back to normal. Over the last year, researchers showed that uranium ditelluride behaves differently.

In 2019, Sheng Ran, Nicholas Butch (both co-authors on this study) and their collaborators announced that UTe2 remains superconducting in the presence of magnetic fields up to 65 Tesla, which is about 10,000 times stronger than a refrigerator magnet. This unconventional behavior, combined with other measurements, led the authors of that paper to surmise that the electrons were pairing up in an unusual way that enabled them to resist break-ups. The pairing is important because superconductors with this property could very likely have Majorana particles on the surface. The new study from Madhavan and collaborators strengthens the case for this.

The team used a high-resolution microscope called a scanning tunneling microscope to look for evidence of the unusual electron pairing and Majorana particles. This microscope can not only map out the surface of uranium ditelluride down to the level of atoms but also probe what's happening with the electrons. The material itself is silvery with steps jutting up from the surface. These step features are where evidence for Majorana quasiparticles is best seen. They provide a clean edge that, if predictions are correct, should show signatures of a continuous current that moves in one direction, even without the application of a voltage. The team scanned opposite sides of the step and saw a signal with a peak. But the peak was different, depending on which side of the step was scanned.

"Looking at both sides of the step, you see a signal that is a mirror image of each other. In a normal superconductor, you cannot find that," said Madhavan. "The best explanation for seeing the mirror images is that we are directly measuring the presence of moving Majorana particles," said Madhavan. The team says that the measurements indicate that free-moving Majorana quasiparticles are circulating together in one direction, giving rise to mirrored, or chiral, signals.

Madhavan says the next step is to make measurements that would confirm that the material has broken time-reversal symmetry. This means that the particles should move differently if the arrow of time were theoretically reversed. Such a study would provide additional evidence for the chiral nature of UTe2.

If confirmed, uranium ditelluride would be the only material, other than superfluid He-3, proven to be a chiral unconventional superconductor. "This is a huge discovery that will allow us to understand this rare kind of superconductivity, and maybe, in time, we could even manipulate Majorana quasiparticles in a useful way for quantum information science."
Barsha Pickell, PhD, has been named vice president of Academic Affairs at Cleveland State Community College. "Extraordinary times call for exceptional leadership. For her exceptional leadership and wisdom, Dr. Pickell is the right leader at the right time," officials said.



During her tenure as interim vice president, Dr. Pickell proved she has a strong ability to engage with our faculty in very positive ways, said Dr. Bill Seymour, Cleveland State Community College president. And her leadership during this current crisis has proven to me again that she is indeed the right person at the right time for our college.



"Having started her academic career in 1997, Dr. Pickell knows the academic world well," officials said. "When she served as dean of Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Education at CSCC, she showed her leadership skills each day. And since being named interim vice president in August 2019, she has taken remarkable steps to keep CSCC moving in a positive direction.



"Her skill has been on full display since the COVID-19 crisis came to Cleveland. From day one, Dr. Pickells diligence to ensure ongoing student success made it clear that she shouldnt be Interim Vice President any longer. So, in the midst of an unprecedented time for America and American education, Dr. Pickell went from Interim Vice President to Vice President.



"While this would ordinarily be reason to stop and celebrate, Dr. Pickell is too focused on the problems at hand to worry with patting herself on the back."



In academics, we plan a semester and sometimes a year in advance, Dr. Pickell said. Its difficult to plan when protocols change daily and we dont know when we can return to normal operations.



"Prior to this semester, Dr. Pickell did everything in her power to help students succeed in the classroom and beyond," officials said. "Now, she is doing it without the ability to plan too far in advance with certainty, all while students face more obstacles than ever.



"Some students dont have reliable internet. The college has provided Chromebooks, laptops and webcams for students and employees, but a bad internet connection cant be corrected by Dr. Pickell or CSCC. So, instructors are allowing students to take an incomplete for classes they cant complete online. Once school is open again, the students can finish on campus.



"Others are missing clinical and field experiences. Online virtual simulations and lab offerings are in place to help students complete these requirements.



"Still others are overwhelmed with stress. Non-traditional students with children struggle to complete classes when their children at home need the computer to do their own online classes. So, Cleveland State faculty have taken training to alleviate the stress by fostering online communities and recognizing when a student is having mental health struggles.



"All of this has come under Dr. Pickells leadership. And while shes thankful to be in a position to help the college thrive in a difficult time, Pickells already looking to the future, where she plans to make use of what shes learned in this trying time.



"She plans to use what she is learning during this unprecedented time to make Cleveland State even stronger. And despite being in uncertain times, she knows the college will come back from this crisis stronger than ever, thanks to the people who give every ounce of effort they have to the college every day."



Im so proud of the way our instructors have stepped up to the challenge of transitioning to distance learning, Dr. Pickell said. The dedicated family of outstanding faculty and staff have met each challenge with resolve and an unwavering spirit of not only getting the job done, but of getting the job done well.



"By the looks of it, theyre just following their leader," officials said.



To learn more about the latest Coronavirus-related updates impacting Cleveland State, contact CSCC Director of Communication and Marketing Don Foley at 423.473.2341 or dfoley@clevelandstatecc.edu.



Students are currently enrolled online through the CSCC main campus in Cleveland, Tennessee, as well as CSCCs Athens Center in Athens, Tennessee and Monroe County Center in Vonore, Tennessee.
Donald Trump announced Friday that the government will pay for coronavirus treatments for those without insurance by using funds from the $2.2 trillion economic aid package the president signed into law last week.

'I can so proudly announce that hospitals and health care providers treating uninsured coronavirus patients will be reimbursed by the federal government using funds from the economic relief package,' the president said at his daily press briefing.

'That should alleviate any concern on uninsured Americans have about seeking the coronavirus treatment. That answers the question pretty well. And pretty much in the favor of our great people,' he added.

His announcement comes on the same day a federal report showed more than 700,000 jobs were lost in March after many businesses closed due to the coronavirus. Nearly 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in the final two weeks of March.

President Donald Trump announced the government will pay for coronavirus treatments for those without insurance

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that any hospital that accepts federal funding will 'be forbidden from balance billing the uninsured for the cost of their care'

The administration was facing heavy criticism for not having a plan to cover the uninsured. Congressional Democrats were pushing for the coverage.

President Trump didn't answer when he asked how illegal immigrants fit into the plan.

'Well be talking about that at a different time,' he said.

Vice President Mike Pence said Trumps decision will ensure that no American will ever have to worry about paying for testing or for coronavirus treatment.

He noted the federal entitlement programs were already covering coronavirus treatments.

I am pleased to report that at the president's direction, Medicaid and Medicare already expanded to coronavirus treatment and testing early on, he added.

I will make sure that any American knows -- even those with no insurance will be able to receive treatment in the hospital and never have to worry about the bill, Pence noted.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that any hospital that accepts federal funding will 'be forbidden from balance billing the uninsured for the cost of their care.'

Providers will be reimbursed at Medicare rates, he noted.

He also had a message for those who have lost their jobs.

I would also like to remind people that if you have lost employer insurance coverage, you have insurance options that you should look into. You would be eligible for a special enrollment, back on the health care of exchanges, and depending on your states, you may be eligible for Medicaid.

The administration's announcement also comes after the White House decided not to extend an open enrollment period for Obamacare.

President Trump had kept alive the idea of expanding the open enrollment period for health coverage due to the crisis, even though is administration is arguing in the Supreme Court that the law is unconstitutional.

'It's something we're talking to a lot of people about. We'll see what happens,' Trump said last month.

The White House is not extending open enrollment under Obamacare, despite President Trump saying it was an option amid the coronavirus outbreak

But the White House said Tuesday it would not follow through on having a 'special enrollment period' where Americans could still sign-up, Politico reported.

The idea, which had been run by private ensurers who participate in the plan in advance, woud have been to extend the deadline. But the Healthcare.gov website said Wednesday that '2020 Open Enrollment is Over. Special enrollment does allow Americans to sign up for coverage if they 'have certain life changes,' according to the site. Those changes include the loss of a job  a potential boost for the 3.3 million Americans filing for unemployment last week.

The White House did not provide an immediate explanation for the decision. Neither did the Health and Human Services Department. The administration may have decided expanding enrollment would run counter to its current legal course of trying to have the law overturned.

Last week, former Vice President Joe Biden demanded the federal government abandon efforts to seek to have Obamacare ruled unconstitutional by citing the impacts of the coronavirus.

Biden released a letter to Trump and state attorneys general slamming the ongoing lawsuit.

The Trump administration decided not to open up the Obamacare health exchange to allow people to buy insurance

People wait for a coronavirus test at Elmhurst Hospital in the Borough of Queens on March 31, 2020 in New York

President Donald Trump stands next to a graph during the daily coronavirus task force briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on March 31, 2020 in Washington, DC. With the nationwide death toll rising due to the coronavirus, the United States has extended its social distancing practices through the end of April

Former Vice President Joe Biden demanded the federal government abandon efforts to seek to have Obamacare ruled unconstitutional by citing the impacts of the coronavirus

'At a time of national emergency, which is laying bare the existing vulnerabilities in our public health infrastructure, it is unconscionable that you are continuing to pursue a lawsuit designed to strip millions of Americans of their health insurance and protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the ban on insurers denying coverage or raising premiums due to pre-existing conditions,' Biden wrote.

'No American should have the added worry right now that you are in court trying to take away their health care. You are letting partisan rancor and politics threaten the lives of your constituents, and that is a dereliction of your sworn duty. I am therefore calling on each of you to drop your support of litigation to repeal the ACA,' he wrote.

'The litigation you are supporting Texas v. the U.S. jeopardizes every single one of those protections and threatens the peace of mind and access to care for hundreds of millions of Americans.

Anecdotally, there have been reports of people running up large hospitals bills seeking testing or treatment for possible coronavirus infections. Trump has saluted three major health insurance companies who have said they are waiving patients' share of costs for treatment for COVID-19. But that won't apply to people who don't have insurance.
Beijing is bolstering its soft power and taking the lead in a global response to the coronavirus public health crisis, CNBC reported.

In the last few weeks, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been seeking leaders around the world and joining forces to coordinate global efforts to fight the COVID-19 outbreak. Chinese health experts organized video conferences with representatives of other countries to exchange experiences.

This is the first international crisis where China is actively taking a global leadership role and it stands in particular contrast to the US, which has disdained international cooperation and invested more political capital in criticizing China for its role in allowing the outbreak to spread, said analysts from the Eurasia Group in a report this week.

On social and state media, China continues to promote its shipments of medical supplies to hard hit countries in Europe and Africa.

Chinese officials also used Twitter - blocked in the country - to trumpet Beijings efforts. They praise China's success in containing the outbreak.

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 doesnt (want to) waste an opportunity like this, Keyu Jin, associate professor of economics at LSE.

However, the second largest economy in the world will not be able to fulfill its ambitions wisely, says the risk management consulting company Eurasia Group.

Countries like the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey have found defects with masks and tests from China and this setback wont be the last, Eurasia analysts wrote.

Chinese diplomacy is intended not only for a global audience, but also for a domestic one.

Analysts said that emphasizing Chinas leadership achieves two important political goals for Xi Jinping.

First, it buttresses his claim in the superiority of Chinas governance model, an implicit pushback against some of the criticism that has come from within China about aggressive containment measures and silencing of early warnings about the outbreak, they said. Second, it taps into patriotic sentiment at home, rallying support for Beijing as Xi guides the economy through a painful year. Many of Xis conversations with foreign leaders have focused on keeping supply chains open and trade running as well as the delivery of aid.

But such efforts also show Chinas uncertainty and weakness, said Ryan Hass and Kevin Dong at the Brookings Institution.

They serve as reminders of Chinas lethally botched initial response to the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan, they wrote in a recent web post. Recognising this reputational risk, Chinese propagandists are feverishly attempting to rewrite the COVID-19 narrative to place their leaders in a favourable light.

This leads the two most powerful countries in the world to rhetorical warfare, emphasizing geopolitical rivalry and further tensions in the future.

News of Beijings generous help is also not always well received at home, as the crisis worsens income equality in China. This will act as a constraint on the scale of Beijings aid, and also leads to a tendency to frame Chinas assistance in ways that highlight the benefit to China. Chinese officials have openly said that one of their criteria for providing assistance is how those potential recipients have treated China in the past, Eurasia Group said.

In particular, the EU has long been wary of Chinas efforts to build relationships with smaller European economics and countries considering EU membership and is paying close attention to Chinas mask diplomacy in Italy, Hungary, and Serbia, added the Eurasia Group analysts.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has recently raised this issue in a blog post warning about the battle of narratives that has emerged in the public health crisis.

China is aggressively pushing the message that, unlike the US, it is a responsible and reliable partner, he wrote.

We must be aware there is a geo-political component including a struggle for influence through spinning and the politics of generosity, Borrell added.
Mortuary workers push a coffin at the parking of the Collserola funeral parlour in Montcada i Reixac, near Barcelona, Spain on April 3, 2020. (Pau Barrena/AFP via Getty Images)

COVID-19 Deaths in Spain Near 11,000 as Hospitals in Catalonia Reach Maximum Stress

Deaths from the new COVID-19 disease in Spain jumped again overnight to 10,935, an increase of 932 from Thursday.

The number was a decline from the day prior, the first time that happened in over a week.

Spains Ministry of Health also reported that 7,472 new patients tested positive and 342 more patients were placed in intensive care. The country now has 117,710 patients, of whom 6,416 are in ICUs.

The number of people discharged from hospitals also rose to 30,513, an increase of more than 3,700. About 26,000 remain hospitalized.

Spanish authorities have said this week that the country has reached the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. If so, the number of cases and deaths will remain around the same level for several days before beginning to drop.

The central issue is no longer whether weve reached the peak or not, it seems like we are there, health emergency chief Fernando Simon, who was himself diagnosed with the virus this week, told a briefing on Wednesday.

Theres light at the end of the tunnel, Health Minister Salvador Illa added on Thursday. A glimpse of hope: the curve has stabilized. We have reached  the peak of the curve and we have started the slowdown phase.

COVID-19 is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Spanish soldiers open boxes of medical aid at the Ifema convention and exhibition centre in Madrid, Spain, where a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients is located, on April 3, 2020. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP via Getty Images)

Health workers stand outside the Ifema convention and exhibition center in Madrid, Spain, where a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients is located, on April 3, 2020. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP via Getty Images)

Spain announced a lockdown on March 14 and tightened the measures last week, forbidding employees deemed nonessential from working.

Madrid has been the hardest-hit region in Spain so far and the case numbers there reached 34,188 while the number of dead climbed to 4,483. Several makeshift morgues have opened amid the pandemic. But Catalonia, the most affected area behind the capital, is struggling to deal with an influx of patients.

Catalan regional government chief Quim Torra said hospitals in Catalonia are at maximum stress as they deal with 2,053 patients in intensive care.

At the hospital level we are being able to give response to all the cases that are arriving but we are at the limit, we are at maximum stress, he said on Friday.

The main issue is a shortage of equipment like masks and gloves, he added.

No other region has more than 8,600 cases or more than 363 patients in intensive care units.

Reuters contributed to this report.
World Banks largest chunk of emergency financial assistance given to India - USD 1 billion

Photo courtesy: Facebook/World Bank India

The World Bank on Thursday approved USD 1 billion as emergency financing for India to tackle the coronavirus outbreak - this the largest chunk of its emergency financial assistance.

"In India, USD 1 billion emergency financing will support better screening, contact tracing, and laboratory diagnostics; procure personal protective equipment; and set up new isolation wards," the World Bank said.

India has over 2000 COVID-19 cases with at least 53 deaths so far.

How will the @WorldBank Group emergency package to help countries respond to #Coronavirus be used?



In #India, were hoping to make a difference now, and shorten the time to recovery. https://t.co/Uqhz8GdV9c pic.twitter.com/DkALvAmkRk  World Bank (@WorldBank) April 2, 2020

The World Bank has announced its first set of aid projects, which is geared to assist 25 countries and amounts to USD 1.9 billion.

In South Asia, the World Bank also approved USD 200 million for Pakistan, USD 100 million for Afghanistan, USD 7.3 million for Maldives and USD 128.6 million for Sri Lanka.

The World Bank also said it is now working to grant up to USD 160 billion over the next 15 months to support measures to tackle the pandemic. This amount will be used to focus on the immediate health consequences and bolster economic recovery.

A fast track response to the threat of #Coronavirus. @WorldBank Group launches the first wave of its emergency operations. https://t.co/N72v47UVIY pic.twitter.com/QNRtGAEGq6  World Bank (@WorldBank) April 2, 2020

"The World Bank Group is taking broad, fast action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we already have health response operations moving forward in over 65 countries," said World Bank Group President David Malpass.

"We are working to strengthen (the) developing nations ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and shorten the time to economic and social recovery. The poorest and most vulnerable countries will likely be hit the hardest, and our teams around the world remain focused on country-level and regional solutions to address the ongoing crisis," Malpass added.

The World Bank is also helping countries access critically needed medical supplies by reaching out to suppliers on behalf of the governments.
Reese Witherspoon wants to show her appreciation to teachers whove been working hard during the coronavirus epidemic.

Draper James, the clothing brand founded by the actress, is giving away free dresses to teachers to thank them for their efforts and give them a fashion pick-me-up.

These past few weeks have shown me so much about humanity. I have been so encouraged by the ways people are showing up for each other. Particularly the teachers," Witherspoon, a mother of three, said in a statement on the Draper James Instagram account. "During quarantine, teachers are broadcasting lessons from their own homes and figuring out new remote-learning technology and platforms on the fly, all while continuing to educate and connect with our kids. Advocating for the children of the world is no easy task, so I wanted to show teachers a little extra love right now.

To apply for a free dress, teachers must complete an online form that asks for basic information -- teacher name, school name, state, grade level/subject -- by 10:59 p.m. CT on April 5. Dresses will be given out through a random lottery. Theres a limited number of dresses available, although the company hasnt specified how many. (While supplies last, the Draper James Instagram says.) Teachers chosen to receive dresses will be notified on April 7.

I started this company to honor my Southern heritage and in particular my grandparents who were, and still are, the greatest influences in my life: my grandmother, Dorothea Draper and my grandfather, William James Witherspoon, the actress said via the Draper James website. My grandparents taught me everything I know about gracious Southern living. From them I learned to dress and act like a lady, to take pride in my home, to reach out to help a neighbor, and to always invite everyone in for a visit.

Draper James, which launched in 2015, has four brick-and-mortar stores, in Nashville; Atlanta; Lexington, Kentucky; and Southlake, Texas. All are closed right now to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Witherspoon, 44, is a New Orleans native who grew up in Nashville. She won the Oscar for best actress in 2006, for portraying June Carter Cash in Walk the Line. The actress has appeared in movies such as Election, Legally Blonde," Sweet Home Alabama, Wild, Mud, Four Christmases and A Wrinkle in Time. Shes also a producer and the author of a lifestyle book, Whiskey in a Teacup.

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.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking immediate relief for the telecom operators, including rationalisation of regulatory levies and liquidity support due to the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We request for refund of the unutilised input tax credit immediately. Else, we request that soft loan at MCLR rate should be given to companies, using the GST input credit as collateral," the COAI letter said.

Urging the government to rationalise the burden of the regulatory levies on the telcos with immediate effect, the industry body sought reduction of the Spectrum Usage Charge (SUC). The effective rate of the SUC should be reduced by 3 per cent for all the TSP, it said.

Further, it also said that the licence fee contribution should be immediately brought down from 8 per cent to 3 per cent.

The COAI, in its letter also said that the telcos should be exempted from the levy of GST on license fees (LF), spectrum usage charges and payment of spectrum acquired in auctions.

"Exempt service tax on amount of LF/SUC payable by telecom operators in compliance with the Supreme Court order," it added.

Outlining the issues faced the market players, COAI said: "On behalf of telecom service providers i.e Bharti Airtel Ltd, Reliance Jio and Vodafone IDEA Ltd, we wish to highlight that in the current situation, despite the outbreak and spread of the Covid-19 pandemic across the country, telecom companies are playing a critical role in addressing the challenges faced by individuals, corporates, governance services, emergency and utility services etc."

Ensuring continuity of these services is of utmost importance in these challenging times, it added.

In the last few days, the load on the Indian telecom networks has seen an exponential surge, primarily driven by 'work from home' and extensive usage of telecom networks by all government agencies and private companies to remain 'virtually connected' due to lock-down, it said, adding that telecom service providers have invested and will continue to invest significantly in the telecom infrastructure (CAPEX and OPEX) and it has enabled to meet the increased demand for telecom services.

It noted that there has been a severe disruptive impact on the global supply chain, demand and supply elements and most importantly, on the cash flows of the companies due to the slowing economic activities and this downturn will have an impact on all payments including those of employees, interest, loan repayments and taxes.
It will be prolonged for older people, children and students

Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers 24 Channel

Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmygal stated in his video address that the quarantine measures in Ukraine might be gradually loosened in late April if there were the dynamics of the decline in COVID-19 incidence.

This process will take several stages. Initially, people of working age will be allowed to work. Public transport will be renewed in parallel. But they will still have to wear masks," he said.

The Prime Minister said that the quarantine would be prolonged for the elderly, children and students.

As we reported earlier, the Ministry of Health expects that COVID-19 incidence in Ukraine may increase in the near future.

"We predict that we will see a peak growth of coronavirus disease across the territory of Ukraine in the near future. Therefore, we suggest imposing rigid measures as our calculations show that we can significantly reduce the number of critical cases with the introduction of additional measures for isolation and limitation of mobility," Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko said.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Constituency has advised front liners in the fight against the global pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) to always protect themselves as they take care of patients.



The Assin Central legislator gave the advise after he donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other sanitary items to the Assin Fosu Health Directorate with Assin South and North district health facilities being the beneficiaries.

The items included 30 gallons of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, 10 Hospital Beds, 100 Veronica Buckets, 14,500 face masks, 12,000 gloves together with tissues and Soaps.



He pledged to add more beds and other equipment in the coming days and pleaded with the citizenry to donate in their own small way to support the fight against the disease in the Country.



The MP asked the health workers to make good use of the PPEs to meet the targeted purpose.



Mr. Nicholas Fiifi Baako, Assin Fosu Municipal Chief Executive said no COVID-19 case has so far been recorded in the Municipality and thanked the MP for his relentless effort towards the fight against coronavirus in the country as a whole.



Mr. George Asumadu, the Assin North Director of Health for the three Assin Districts thanked Mr. Agyapong for the kind gesture.



He pleaded with churches, non-governmental Organizations and well to do individuals to support the health sector with the little they could to protect health workers and all and promised to make judicious use of the equipment.



He also pleaded with the public to stay at home if they have no serious business to do outside as well as observe all the precautionary measures given by the Ghana Health Service.



Let everyone take their health into their own hands in order to support the effort of the government.

Source: GNA









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Bella Ciao! Just over eight months after Money Heist fans left The Professor asserting all-out war on the police, Season 4 of the Spanish drama will pick up right after the dramatic cliffhanger.

The Professor's entire plan was on the verge of collapse. Oh, wait! It's no longer a plan anymore! His brother Berlin has just spilled the beans with his partner Palermo. The Professor's thought of robbing the Bank of Spain of its massive gold reserve turned out to be a suicide project.

Why did The Professor pick high-risk missions?

The Professor has a secure link: a wife, a circle of relatives, and funds that might allow his own family to live well for generations. And still, why? It is the identical question we ask of Robert De Niro's Neil McCauley and his crew in Heat (1995). Why didn't they walk away with everything when they had the chance?

As Tom Sizemore's Michael Cheritto places it, "For me, the action is the juice." Here, the operative phrase is the juice, which doesn't talk over with the cash that the team makes by robbing the next bank.

There is also a side to the series' "anti-system" philosophy. While the show is meant to entertain, Alex Pina, the author of Money Heist, told The Guardian the perception of skepticism towards governments, banks, and the system had been formulated in a unique narrative.

Pina also thought of combining two concepts, explaining the "action genre used to be taken into consideration shallow and superficial, and social movies as boring."

Chaos is juice

After pulling off the biggest heist in human history, The Professor could keep away from doing what he's good at, according to The Newsweek.

Pina is aware of that it isn't always the ingeniously planned heist that continues interest viewers. It's the unpredictability of each characters' drama.

The Professor is going to take extraordinary measures to ensure that nobody gets hurt or killed when breaking in banks because it would harm the popularity of the heist to the public. For the people, the robbery is a bold move against massive corporations and influential individuals who rob taxpayers of their money.

Will the Dalis' act of battle hurt the public's opinion of them? Will Lisbon destroy and surrender the plan in return for the protection of her daughter and mother? Will Toyko stick to the plan? More importantly, will The Professor regain control of the heist?

ALSO READ: 'Rainbow Six Siege' Crossover with 'Money Heist' in an Epic Limited-Time Event; Now Live!

Stakes are really high

The show's producers have also made season four a lot funnier. At times, the Dalis behave like cheeky Marvel characters undercutting the seriousness of the drama with a gag or trash talk. Even though it isn't new to the audience, Alex Pina has elevated its dosage in the state-of-the-art season significantly.

All episodes of Money Heist Season 4 will start streaming from April 3 on Netflix.

ALSO READ: [VIDEO] Netflix Series 'My Secret, Terrius' Predicts The Coming of COVID-19?

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[April 03, 2020] United Health Foundation Supports Americans Experiencing Homelessness and Food Insecurity Amid COVID-19 Emergency

The United Health Foundation has pledged $5 million to provide urgent support for people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity as they face unprecedented hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The national partnerships with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America is part of UnitedHealth Group's (NYSE: UNH) previously announced $50 million initial commitment to fight COVID-19 and support impacted populations, including health care workers, seniors and hard-hit communities. "People experiencing homelessness and food insecurity are among the most vulnerable populations and the COVID-19 emergency has only compounded the risks they face every day," said Heather Cianfrocco, United Health Foundation board member and chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare Community & State. "By collaborating with proven, national partners like the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America, we will ensure critical aid is deployed quickly and effectively to those in urgent need." The partnerships include: $2.5 million to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council to support both urgent, immediate needs at local health care for homeless programs as well as longer-term needs to expand capacity;

$1.5 million to the Feeding America network of member food banks for COVID-19 response needs, such as purchasing additional food to meet sudden increases in demand, supporting new distribution approaches and responding to a sudden decline in volunteers; and

$1 million to Meals on Wheels America to support local programs addressing the immediate and ongoing needs of vulnerable seniors. "The United Health Foundation's generosity will further bolster our 30-year commitment to people experiencing homelessness and the professionals working at the nexus of health care and homelessness who serve them during this COVID-19 pandemic. Health care for the homeless programs and medical respite care programs advance our mission to eliminate homelessness by ensuring comprehensive health care and secure housing for everyone," said Bobby Watts, chief executive officer, National Health Care for the Homeless Council. "Food banks have reported a 40% increase in the number of people seeking their help. We anticipate the need for food will continue to rise as our neighbors face greater financial stress," said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, chief executive officer, Feeding America. "We are grateful to the United Health Foundation for their generous support of our work to feed more people during this crisis." "Meals on Wheels is uniquely positioned to reach at-risk older adults and is working tirelessly to adapt to the rapidly evolving situation, delivr nutritious meals safely and respond to an unprecedented increase in demand," said Ellie Hollander, president and chief executive officer, Meals on Wheels America. "The United Health Foundation's generous donation will help us to ensure this trusted network of community-based programs continues to deliver its vital lifeline during this national crisis."



UnitedHealth Group, including UnitedHealthcare, Optum and the United Health Foundation, has a long history of addressing homelessness and food insecurity - key determinants of health among vulnerable populations. UnitedHealth Group began its affordable housing initiative in 2011 in an effort to help remove social barriers and disparities. The company has invested more than $400 million to build 80 affordable-housing communities throughout 18 states across the country. As a result, more than 4,500 new homes have been created for individuals and families in need, including seniors, military veterans, people living with disabilities and those struggling with homelessness.

Additionally, large areas of focus for UnitedHealth Group employee charitable donations are to support better nutrition and the fight against food insecurity. In 2019, for example, 495 different food and nutrition organizations were supported by UnitedHealth Group employees, totaling more than $1 million. UnitedHealthcare also has a history of forming strategic grant partnerships that enable food banks to provide healthy, fresh food to underserved communities and has partnered with local community-based organizations to distribute more than 47 million meals since 2018. About UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter (News - Alert). About National Health Care for the Homeless Council Grounded in human rights and social justice, the Council works on behalf of 300 health care for the homeless centers and 90 medical respite care programs to build an equitable, high-quality health care system through training, research and advocacy in the movement to end homelessness. For 30 years, the Council has been guided by the needs of people with lived expertise of homelessness and the professionals who serve them. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the Council serves a nationwide community. About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, it provides meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people it serves, educates the public about the problem of hunger and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find it on Facebook (News - Alert) or follow it on Twitter. About Meals on Wheels America Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005064/en/

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LANSING -- Permits for open burning of yard debris remain suspended across most of the state in response to the governor's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" Executive Order to reduce the effects of the COVID-19 virus.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Burning Permit Map shows open debris burning is not allowed anywhere in the northern Lower Peninsula, including Manistee County, as of Friday afternoon.

Fire danger is also increasing as temperatures warm during spring. A number of recent fires have been caused by backyard debris burning, including a 21-acre wildfire in Presque Isle County. Burning debris is the top cause of wildfires in Michigan. DNR firefighters also have stopped conducting prescribed burns at this time.

Despite the moratorium on permits for burning yard debris, campfires for recreation and warming, as well as some agricultural burning, are still allowed.

"We know everybody wants to get out and get things cleaned up, but we need to make sure our emergency response resources are available when and where they are needed during this time," said Dan Laux, fire supervisor for the DNR Forest Resources Division. "Less open burning means less potential for escaped fires."

Some burning still is allowed:

 Campfires -- small fires for warming or recreational purposes are allowed. Contain fires in a pit or ring, burn only wood and make sure the fire is thoroughly extinguished before leaving it for the night. Review fire-safety tips at Michigan.gov/PreventWildfires.

 Some agricultural burning, including the burning of seasonal trimmings from orchards and vineyards as well as burning related to cleanup of existing cropping systems is allowable. Burning debris (logs/brush) from land clearing operations is not permitted at this time.

 No permit is necessary for a burn barrel fire; however, barrels must have a proper fitting screen or lid, holes no larger than three-quarters of an inch in size, and rest on nonflammable material extending 3 feet on all sides.

Residents are encouraged to check the website Michigan.gov/BurnPermit to see when restrictions are lifted and what is currently allowed. Burn permits in the southern Lower Peninsula are issued by local fire departments and governmental offices; check local ordinances before you burn. In the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula, permits are issued through the website.

Get the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
By repurposing badges originally designed to locate nurses and other hospital staff, Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they can precisely monitor how patients in the hospital are walking outside of their rooms, a well-known indicator and contributor to recovery after surgery.

A team of engineers and clinicians at The Johns Hopkins Hospital developed the repurposed badges to study their value in tracking "ambulation," or mobility, among inpatients who had undergone cardiac surgery.

The study, which began nearly four years ago and is described in a report published March 17 in JAMA Network Open, was inspired by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Vice Dean for Research Antony Rosen, M.D., who also directs the institution's precision medicine effort, inHealth. Rosen asked his colleague, Johns Hopkins University engineer Peter Searson, Ph.D., to help find ways to improve the assessment of how well patients are functioning.

"I was sold on Antony's vision to improve patient care by finding ways to make high value measurements of patients' functional status," says Searson, the Joseph R. and Lynne C. Reynolds Professor of Engineering and a professor of materials science and engineering at The Johns Hopkins University.

After collecting information about how clinicians currently assess functional status day to day, Searson joined efforts with anesthesiologist and clinical researcher Charles Brown, M.D., who was conducting an ongoing study funded by inHealth, which focused on measuring the mobility of patients after cardiac surgery.

"Ambulation is important for hospitalized patients; in particular, for patients who have surgery and those who are older," says Brown, an associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, whose research focuses on improving perioperative care for older adults. "More ambulation immediately after surgery probably helps preserve patients' cognitive and physical function, and is linked to spending less time in the hospital."

Most of the nursing staff in the hospital wear small badges on their uniforms as location and paging systems. The badges send beams of light, much like the ones used for TV remotes, to sensors in the ceilings of hospital rooms and corridors. The research team's idea was to adapt the system to assess how far and how fast patients walked after surgery.

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Searson and In cheol Jeong, Ph.D., replicated the tracker system in their laboratory to see how well the devices could record the timing and speed of patients' movements.

The team ruled out other movement tracking devices that rely on GPS or accelerometers because they aren't sensitive enough to detect whether a patient is in or out of their room, and the devices may not register the typical shuffling gait of a patient recovering from surgery.

"The system collects and records real-time information about a patient's mobility," says Jeong, a former trainee in Searson's lab and now assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York.

For the study, the team obtained consent from 100 patients, mostly men, whose average age was 63, and attached trackers to their hospital gowns. Researchers collected information on how far and how fast patients walked in the unit's corridors every time they left their room.

Generally, patients are encouraged by hospital staff to walk outside of their rooms three times a day. Data collected by the Johns Hopkins team showed that approximately 25 percent of the 100 patients achieved that goal.

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The Johns Hopkins team also found that the tracked mobility records among patients were more than 90 percent accurate in predicting the patients' 30-day readmission rate, discharge to home or rehabilitation center and their length of stay in the hospital.

Brown cautioned that, "There are many aspects of measuring and establishing ambulation metrics that aren't clear. Maybe the goal of three times a day needs to be refined or adjusted for baseline function and speed," he explains. The researchers also said there may have been ambulation that wasn't captured by the device.

But the study results, he said, suggest the badges would be valuable in giving feedback to health care workers and patients, encouraging ambulation and helping clinicians identify earlier those who can benefit from earlier discharge or more intensive rehabilitation.

The researchers have filed patents for the technology developed for the study. Funding for the study was provided by Johns Hopkins inHealth.
From cash handouts to tax relief, governments have pledged billions of dollars to support Australians through the coronavirus crisis.

The federal government is spending $215 billion on unprecedented measures including paying people's wages and offering free childcare.

The states and territories have also announced their own rescue packages to inject cash into the floundering economy.

New South Wales has offered $10,000 grants for distressed businesses and Tasmania will pay people $250 if they are told to self-isolate.

Free childcare

Scott Morrison has announced that childcare will temporarily become free from next week to help families through the coronavirus crisis.

The government will pay 13,000 childcare centres 50 per cent of their fee revenue and in return the centres must stay open and not charge parents.

The scheme, which will last for at least three months, will cost $1.6 billion and will benefit around 1 million families.

A woman and child leave the Banksia Cottage Childcare Centre in Sydney on 5 March

Free childcare will be available to all parents regardless of their job but if places fill up centres will prioritise essential workers such as doctors and nurses.

'We want people to understand that the priority will be given to those who need to be working. The priority will be given to those who can't care for their children,' Education Minister Dan Tehan said.

In a message to parents, the minister added: 'We want to ensure your childcare centre will remain open.'

Childcare centres will also benefit from the government's JobKeeper payment which will give them $1,500 per fortnight for each member of staff.

Asked if centres will make less money compared with normal times, Mr Tehan said: 'When you put JobKeeper in there, our view is we are providing additional support to the sector.'

The fee revenue payments will be paid fortnightly from April 6 and will replace the Child Care (CCS) and Additional Child Care Subsidy payments.

The scheme will be reviewed after three months and may be extended for a further three months. After the pandemic, the system will revert back to normal.

JobKeeper scheme

The Prime Minster announced an extraordinary plan to pay the wages of six million Australians for the next six months.

Workers at companies hit by the coronavirus shut down will be paid a flat rate of $1,500 per fortnight.

The money will be given from the tax office to the companies, who have a legal obligation to pass it on to their employees.

The $130 billion scheme is designed to keep workers connected to their employers so the economy will rebound faster when the coronavirus crisis is over.

Sydney's Northern Beaches are pictured with people everywhere on April 3

People queue to enter Centrelink on March 24, 2020 in Melbourne as thousands of jobs were axed

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 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.

Households

The federal government has announced huge support for households, including handing out $750 to individuals through the ATO.

Recipients on Newstart, the disability support pension, carers' allowance, youth allowance, veterans support payments, family tax benefits and Commonwealth senior health card-holders are eligible.

Australia's 2.4million aged pensioners are also getting the payment.

The payments began automatically on 31 March and will be delivered by mid-April.

The government also doubled the JobSeeker payment by an extra $550 per fortnight for the duration of the coronavirus crisis - and made this available to students.

There are also changes to superannuation which allow anyone to make a tax-free early withdrawal of up to $20,000.

Also, the minimum amount that pensioners have to take out of their super each year has been cut from 5 per cent to 2.5 per cent for the next two years.

Businesses

Alongside the JobKeeper payment, the government announced various measures to help keep businesses afloat.

Instant asset write offs have been expanded so tradies can buy trucks and other equipment worth $150,000 on the taxman until 30 June. The previous limit was $30,000.

There is also $20 billion loan scheme in place where the Commonwealth guarantees 50 per cent of an eligible loan to small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus.

A policeman talks to a driver at a checkpoint on the Queensland and New South Wales border on Griffith Street in Gold Coast on April 3

Businesses that have less than $50m turnover per year will be eligible under the scheme.

In the first stimulus package, the government vowed to hand out tax-free cash grants of up to $25,000 to 7,000 small businesses who turn over less than $50million and employ people.

In the second package, this was raised to $100,000 and extended to charities, taking the cost of the measure from $7billion to $32billion.

New South Wales

The New South Wales government will hand out $10,000 cash grants to small businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions.

Businesses that employ between one and 19 workers and turn over $75,000 a year can apply through Service NSW.

Companies will have to show they have been 'highly impacted' by the shut down.

The New South Wales government will hand out $10,000 cash grants to small businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions. Pictured: Premier Gladys Berejiklian

The government has not defined 'highly impacted' but one source told the Sydney Morning Herald it means a revenue reduction of 75 per cent.

The scheme will cost an estimated $750 million.

The government has also deferred payroll tax for business with payrolls over $10million for six months, up to $4billion.

Businesses with payrolls under $10million have three months waived and then three months deferred.

The gaming tax for clubs, pubs and hotels and the lotteries tax have been deferred for six months.

Businesses with less than 20 workers that rent government-owned buildings will have their rents deferred for six months.

The government has also spent $80 million on waiving various fees and charges for small businesses such as cafes and restaurants.

Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane on April 3

Victoria

The Victorian government will provide full payroll tax refunds for the 2019-20 financial year to small and medium-sized businesses with payroll of less than $3 million  giving $550 million back to businesses.

The same businesses will also be able to defer any payroll tax for the first three months of the 2020/21 financial year until 1 January 2021, freeing up a further $83 million in cashflow.

Commercial tenants in government buildings can apply for rent relief  a move private landlords are also being encouraged to undertake  and 2020 land tax payments will be deferred for eligible small businesses.

The government has also waived liquor licensing fees for 2020 for affected venues and small businesses.

Two people enjoying a coffee on a park bench in Double Bay on Thursday were moved on

Queensland

In Queensland, homeowners and renters will receive $200 off their utility bills while sole traders and small businesses will receive a $500 rebate on their power bill for the year.

All businesses have been given a three-month payroll tax break so they don't have to pay any more payroll tax for the financial year.

There is a $500 million fund to help workers who lose their jobs find other work including on farms.

Liquor licence fees are being waived and there is rent relief for businesses who rent premises from the state government.

Western Australia

The Western Australia government has vowed that power and water disconnections will not occur, and interest will not be charged on deferred payments until 30 September 2020.

There is a one-off $2,500 credit on electricity bills for 95,000 small businesses, available for those that consumer less than 50MWh per annum.

Household fees and charges, including electricity, water, motor vehicle charges, emergency services levy and public transport fares have been frozen.

Police screen incoming passengers at the domestic airport in Brisbane

Interest-free payment arrangements and late payment penalties have been waived for transfer duty, landholder duty, vehicle licence duty or land tax.

Payroll tax will be waived for four months for businesses with a wages bill under $7.5 million a year.

Small businesses can apply to defer payment of 2019-20 payroll tax until 21 July 2020.

South Australia

South Australia has announced it will pay everyone receiving the JobSeeker payment an extra $500 as a one-off payment.

It has waived payroll tax for all businesses with an annual payroll of up to $4 million from April to September.

This measure is expected to assist up to 2,400 businesses and save them up to $84,000 over the six months with an average saving of $25,000.

Under new land tax rules individuals and businesses with outstanding quarterly bills for 2019-20 will be able to defer payments for 6 months.

Liquor licence fees for 2020-21 for those hotels, restaurants, cafes and clubs forced to close as a result of new social distancing restrictions have been waived.

Tasmania

Tasmania has a scheme to give one-off payments of $250 for individuals or up to $1,000 for families who are required by Public Health to self-isolate as a result of the coronavirus.

Eligibility includes those with a Health Care Card or a Pensioners Concession Card and those on low incomes who can demonstrate a need for financial support, including casual workers.

There is a freeze on all power, water and electricity prices for homes and small businesses and the waiving of first quarter utility bills for all small businesses.

The government has announced interest free loans and tax and charges waivers for businesses shut-down or severely impacted.

Payroll tax has been waived for hospitality, tourism and seafood industry businesses. Other businesses must apply for payroll tax waiver.

ACT

The ACT has frozen vehicle registration, public transport fares and parking fees.

Residential ratepayers will be given $150 and people on utilities concession will get a $200 rebate.

Small businesses will get a $750 rebate through their next electricity bill.

International travellers who arrived back in Australia are seen looking out from their hotel rooms whilst in quarantine at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney on 31 March

Businesses paying up to $10 million in wages can defer payroll tax for 12 months and 'affected' industries can receive a one-off six month waiver.

Fees for taxi and rideshare companies have been waived as well as food and liquor license fees.

Northern Territory

Under a new $30 million home improvement scheme, residents will be given up to $6,000 if they contribute $2,000 of their own money to build or maintain their homes.

A similar scheme is in place for businesses which allows business owners a $10,000 grant, followed by an additional $10,000 grant if they contribute $10,000 of their own money.

All regular increases to government fees and charges, including electricity costs have been put on hold.

A payroll tax exemption for hiring employees has been extended to 30 June 2021.
According to the German Interior Ministry there were more than 1,700 attacks on refugees, including children, in 2019. The figures are based on the answer to a question from German parliament (Bundestag) deputy Ulla Jelpke (Left Party). Of these offences, 128 were attacks on asylum accommodation and 78 were attacks on refugee aid organisations and helpers. The remaining 1,620 offences include assault, property damage, racist speech and insults. As a result of these incidents, 229 people were injured; explosives, weapons and arson were involved in 260 cases.

Refugees await in Berlin. (WSWS.org/Ludwig Niethammer)

The numbers once again highlight the dramatic growth of far-right violence in Germany. Already in 2018 there were 1,775 attacks against refugees, 173 of them on asylum accommodation facilities. The actual number of violent acts in 2019 is likely to be much higher since the current statistics still lack a significant number of reports from individual police stations. Based on the experience of recent years, it can be assumed that the numbers for last year could be up to 50 percent higher than currently reported.

The statistics known to date also show that far-right violent offenders are frequently not detected and remain at large. Just 1,039 suspects were identified in 840 criminal offences, i.e., less than half of all attacks. Suspects were identified in 27 cases of attacks on asylum accommodation. That corresponds to not even one-fifth of the total number of cases.

This represents a continuation of the trend of recent years regarding racist and right-wing extremist criminality. The above numbers register only those attacks directed against refugees. The total number of right-wing extremist crimes also skyrocketed last year. A total of 20,856 offences, including 917 acts involving violence, is the figure for 2019 emerging from the governments response to official enquires into Politically Motivated Crimefrom the Right, raised monthly by the Left Party.

This figure could also go even higher following the publication of the 2019 report by Germanys domestic intelligence service, the Verfassungshcutz (Office for Protection of the Constitution).

Criminal acts by extreme right-wingers rose by 52 percent in 2019 to 917 cases in the state of Hesse, where the head of a local government, Walter Lubcke (Christian Democratic Union), was murdered by a fascist on June 2. ReachOut, a counselling centre based in Berlin for victims of right-wing, racist and anti-Semitic violence, reported 390 attacks in the capital in 2019an increase of 81 (26 percent) compared to 2018. These are the highest numbers recorded since the project was founded in 2001.

We are seeing an increasing lack of inhibition and taboos regarding violence against marginalised and discriminated groups. Especially when we see that attacks are increasingly taking place in confined spaces, such as living quarters and other places that are not public, a press release from ReachOut states. This is so disquieting because victims have felt relatively safe in these places until now. Although perpetrators are easier to identify in such cases compared to offences on the streets or at stations, they feel increasingly confident that their opinions and actions will be tolerated.

Left Party deputy Jelpke feigned concern at the growing right-wing extremist terror and stated: We clearly have a social climate in Germany in which refugees can expect to be verbally and physically assaulted at all times. The fact is, however, that the Left Party has been instrumental, along with the countrys other political parties, in creating this hostile climate and the corresponding explosion of violence against refugees and immigrants.

Just a few days ago, the red-red-green government in the state of Thuringia, (Left PartySocial Democratic PartyGreen Party), carried out a large-scale police operation involving armoured vehicles, water cannon and two squads of riot police directed against a centre for refugees in Suhl. Around 20 asylum seekers, cynically referred to as disruptors, were arrested for protesting against the collective detention of 533 asylum seekers.

For many years the Left Party has in practice implemented the racist anti-refugee policy of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in all those regions where it is in power. The Left Party carries out brutal deportations, has built new deportation prisons and senior party members such as Oskar Lafontaine and Sahra Wagenknecht have agitated against refugees in a similar manner to the AfD.

In Thuringia, the Left Party has now gone even further in its collaboration with the far right. The head of the state government, Bodo Ramelow (Left Party), recently voted in favour of AfD deputy Michael Kaufmann for the post of vice president of the Thuringian state parliament. Kaufmann is a close confidant of the fascist Bjorn Hocke (AfD). In his public speeches Hocke has called the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin a monument of shame and demanded a 180-degree shift in the countrys attitude toward the Holocaust.

The Left Party has responded to the increased number of terrorist attacks from the right by calling for a strong state and thereby strengthening far-right terror structures already existing in the state apparatus.

The right-wing extremist history professor Jorg Baberowski, who declared that Hitler was not vicious, has been defended in the past by leading representatives of the Left Party, such as Evrim Sommer, a member of the Bundestag. In 2013, the Left Party went so far as to organise a public meeting for the head of the Office for Protection of the Constitution at that time, Hans-Georg Maassen. Maassen is the living embodiment of fascist influence in German political life.

The growing attacks on refugees and terror of the far-right are a direct product of the policies of all the establishment parties. The far-right perpetrators are emboldened by the anti-refugee policies of the federal and state governments and the relativisation of Nazi crimes at German universities.

Fascism is despised by the masses. Last month, tens of thousands took to the streets of the city of Hanau following the rampage by a neo-fascist who murdered nine immigrant workers. A growing proportion of the population recognises the established parties and the state apparatus, in particular the domestic intelligence service, as the main source of far-right terrorism.
New Delhi, April 3 : Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Friday told the Supreme Court, citing PILs filed by activists Harsh Mander and Swami Agnivesh, that professional "PIL shops" must be locked down till India wins the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

The top court today virtually had a special bench to hear a flurry of petitions -- seeking relief for migrant workers, free COVID-19 testing facility, price management of masks & sanitizers, overcrowding in children homes and acquiring hotels, guesthouses for isolation or quarantine to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Mehta sternly opposed the petitions filed by Harsh Mander through advocate Prashant Bhushan and Swami Agnivesh through advocate Colin Gonsalves.

Mander's petition sought directions to the Centre and state government to ensure payments of minimum wages to all migrant workers during lockdown.

Swami Agnivesh sought immediate relief to the poor, informal sector workers, slum dwellers and economically weaker sections. He pointed out that filing of PILs in the midst of the government's successful fight with this deadly disease is proving to be detrimental in the entire country.

Mehta pointed out that the country is going through an unprecedented crisis of fighting an unknown deadly virus and all officers are working day and night through several control rooms.

While opposing the two petitions, he took the stand that none of the named people have bothered to serve the poor and needy or the persons suffering from Covid-19 disease and, therefore, can never be treated as "public spirited citizens".

"Till the country and the world comes out of this unprecedented tragedy such "professional PIL shops" must be locked down as none of them has any concern about the poor and needy or thousands of patients fighting this deadly disease", said Mehta.

He asserted that the forum of the Supreme Court can never be used for gaining cheap publicity or achieving any ulterior objectives. He reiterated that everyone should join hands with the government's efforts which have been successful so far.
In New York City, ambulances queued up outside the entrance to an emergency room. Passengers waited, some for five hours, to be triaged. They sat in the lobby hours more before seeing a doctor.

Calvin Sun  a freelance ER physician who said hes worked 18 shifts at 10 hospitals in recent weeks  said it was easier for him to leave the ER from one door and reenter through another rather than weave between the tightly packed beds of coughing, sick people. Many more filled a hallway, sometimes for three days, until a bed or ventilator was available upstairs. Some died waiting.

Sun said nurses he knew to be unflinching told him they were terrified for their lives. Some used days-old face masks and wore garbage bags as gowns. When the hospitals ran out of hairnets and surgical caps, Sun wrapped a scarf around his head. When a gown did not have long enough sleeves, a co-worker wrapped tape around his arms.

Ambulance workers clean a gurney at Mount Sinai Hospital on April 1 in New York City, where hospitals face shortages of beds, ventilators and protective equipment for medical staff.

Sun, who has worked in New York emergency rooms since earning his medical degree five years ago, assessed the growing list of patients  all reported COVID-19 symptoms. He felt like every care decision he made was between a bad choice and a worse one.

He wept.

I was crying for the future, Sun said. I felt like nothing I was doing was beating back the tides.

USA TODAY spoke with 36 health care workers from coast to coast to capture a snapshot of what life is like for them amid a pandemic thats raging in some cities and still creeping into others.

Health workers in places with fewer confirmed cases said they count their supplies, answer fearful questions on social media and anxiously read news reports about colleagues elsewhere who are swamped with patients desperate for care.

They prepare.

And they hope.

In Rapid City, South Dakota, Dr. Nancy Babbitt stewed on the reports of chaos out of New York medical centers as she rode her bike to work. She alternated between anger and sadness as she pedaled by neighbors ignoring public health recommendations to avoid contact as they hugged friends or let their kids play at the neighbors house.

Story continues

Babbitt knows it is only a matter of time before her own town is in crisis.

Everything tells us, all the data we can see tells us, no place in the United States will be spared, she said. We have that information. And its hard to see people going about their daily lives in a state of denial or fear.

In the cities overwhelmed with critical patients, doctors and nurses fear for their safety while choosing which patients to keep alive and which to let die. Some killed by COVID-19 have been their colleagues.

Hope has given way to determination and exhaustion.

Despite shortages of safety equipment and the medical tools to do their jobs, health workers showed up for work and made do with creative workarounds.

Those unfamiliar with intensive care and infectious disease procedures report going through condensed training on how to operate ventilators, intubate patients and safely don protective equipment  if such equipment is available. Theyve made makeshift surgical masks out of sanitary pads or by stapling rubber bands to slip-on shoe covers. Some hospitals bulk-ordered rain ponchos because medical gowns are on back order.

Tailor Babs Wuertz sews a face mask in her workshop in the Bavarian village of Essenbach, southern Germany, on April 3. The tailor, who otherwise produces custom-made traditional Bavarian dirndls, prepares protective masks in various colors for children and adults.

Theyve relied on community volunteers who sewed fabric masks that are not ideal but better than nothing. High school teachers with 3D printers manufactured washable devices that can be fitted with a piece of a N95 filter, allowing hospitals to stretch their limited supply.

A nurse  a friend of a friend who had seen Sun's Instagram post that he had extra N95 masks to share  came by his house to pick up some. She told Sun two of her co-workers had died from COVID-19.

Sun said goodbye, closed the door and picked up his phone to continue talking with a reporter.

Oh my God, he said. One of the nurses that died was a patient I intubated at a different hospital a week and a half ago.

A few hours later, he was asked to cover another ER shift. He went in.

'Theyre afraid theyre going to die at work '

John Coleman, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Chicagos Northwestern Memorial Hospital, has seen the number of COVID-19 cases increase each day.

Weve had to go from one ICU to two ICUs to three ICUs, Coleman said. Now we have a mix of people who are getting sick acutely and requiring high levels of support and ventilation.

Doctors, nurses and technicians train one another in their respective roles to minimize exposure to the coronavirus and limit the use of supplies.

Usually everyone in the team goes into the room, but our approach is, whoevers going into the room will do all three jobs, Coleman said.

Tricia Rae Pendergrast, a med student at Northwesterns Feinberg School of Medicine works with GetMePPE, a nationwide effort to find and distribute protective equipment to health care workers who are jeopardizing their own well-being.

I have colleagues in their 20s setting up wills and sending their banking information to their spouse because theyre afraid theyre going to die at work and wont be able to make those preparations, she said.

Dr. David Thimons has been at the center of the largest COVID-19 outbreak in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

He cares for 450 people at Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. In one week, 41 patients tested positive, three of whom died. Six employees also tested positive.

For days, Thimons has worked from early in the morning to late at night, evaluating the latest techniques and literature on anything that could help his aging residents battle COVID-19. When talking about patients he worried would not survive, Thimons sounded exhausted and defeated, but his tone grew hopeful as he described those beginning to show signs of recovery.

It was the first time in three days that I smiled, he said.

The home front

Every day when Cleveland, Mississippi, nurse Brittany McCreary arrives at Bolivar Medical Center for her shift, she changes her clothes, puts them in a paper bag and puts on her scrubs. After work, she changes back into her clothes, puts her scrubs in the paper bag and rolls up the top. Once home, she takes off her shoes outside the house then dumps her scrubs directly in the washing machine. Finally, she takes a shower before touching her kids.

I dont think they fully understand, McCreary said.

Health workers said family support and little moments of normal life have been critical to managing unusually high levels of stress.

On Sunday, McCreary planned an alternative birthday party for her daughter, who turned 9: a scavenger hunt around the city with clues leading to presents. They were surprised by family friends who devised their own celebration.

About 10 cars rolled past their house in a birthday parade with appropriate social distancing. Parents honked horns while children held up signs for McCrearys daughter and tossed candy.

Its a birthday she will never forget, McCreary said. It was awesome.

Safety protocols mean nurses and doctors have to deny their patients similar interactions with friends or family that could be comforting. No visitors. No exceptions.

Sometimes hospital staff can help patients use video chat to stay connected with loved ones. The dynamics can be tense. Distraught family members have screamed at nurses who denied them entry to a hospital. A few tried to run past screeners and had to be removed by security.

After turning away husbands and wives and daughters and sons, health workers have watched patients die alone. Nurse Kellie Gross said thats been the most heartbreaking part of the crisis for her.

Every time a code is called overhead, my stomach drops, said Gross, who works at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

Sometimes, health workers know the people who die.

On March 30, the Rev. Tim Russell, a pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, died of complications from COVID-19 after nearly two weeks of hospital care. His care team included members of his church.

Tim was a good friend to many people and a resource for this community, said Steve Threlkeld, co-director of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis' infectious disease prevention program. He will be sorely missed.

The preparations

Albuquerque, New Mexico, progressive care nurse Pamela Mount is a planner and problem solver, not a worrier. In her spare time, she crafts wooden boxes with drawers based on friends favorite songs: a cowboy boot for the country music lover and a bright, whimsical one for the Pink fanatic.

In the past few days, Mount has taken the safety glasses from her workshop to use at work  a poor substitute for protective medical gear.

Mount said she feels prepared and well-trained for the fight ahead. Still, she worries about her 84-year-old mother, for whom she is a caregiver, and her husband, who has a health condition that puts him at high risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms. Mount admits that if either were to contract the disease and need hospitalization, neither would receive a ventilator if they were in short supply. She knows someone else would be more likely to survive.

"It's been very, very busy," says Cathy Hopkins, a family nurse practitioner working in the emergency room at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Yonkers, N.Y. "People are afraid, scared."

Instead of cutting back her available hours at work to protect her family, Mount has volunteered to work extra shifts. She is looking for a relative to take on primary caregiving duties for her mother and reviewing how to minimize the risk of bringing an infectious disease home from work.

When I chose to be a nurse 37 years ago, that was part of my commitment. It means I get put in the way of harm, she said. I feel very strongly that I want to support this community. I want to be able to go to work and do everything I can in order to help people through this crazy, insane period.

It turns out Mount wont be going to work anytime soon. She received a call from work telling her to isolate for two weeks because one of her nurse co-workers tested positive.

I really hope shes OK. I dont have any symptoms, Mount said, still trying to figure out how to minimize contact with family at home. I think its the spirit of the universe telling me  to be quiet and maybe run my bandsaw.

Up north, another nurse grappled with a positive test.

After caring for about 20 COVID-19 patients at the University of Illinois Hospital, Daniel Ortiz, 29, learned he had been infected.

Its a roller coaster of emotions, and its difficult to put it into words, he said. Its like were flying an airplane as were building it in the air, knowing that its going to crash into a circus.

Dozens of other nurses at the Chicago hospital tested positive for the virus, and Ortiz said its causing staffing shortages.

The hospital is hectic. Its chaos. You cant even imagine whats going on, he said. You get to the hospital, and half of your staff isnt there anymore. Theyre either calling in sick, or theyre worried theyre going to bring it home to their kids or family.

Ortiz lives in a Chicago apartment complex with his wife and parents. His parents live in a unit upstairs, and he lives in a unit with his wife below. He hasnt seen his parents in a month, and he and his wife sleep in different rooms.

I havent really hugged and kissed my wife the way I want to," Ortiz said. "When we talk, I have a mask on. Its like Im in the hospital.

Last month, on his day off, Ortiz developed a fever and headache. He woke up in the middle of the night in sweats. Ortiz called off work and was tested. The hospital had his results March 30, but he couldnt get the results until the next day because the hospitals employee health services was overloaded with calls. Ortiz went back to work a week later, seven days since the onset of his symptoms and after three days being fever-free.

Specimen collection kits are used for swab testing citizens for COVID-19.

Ultimately, my goal was to get back to work, he said. Imagine how the patients in the bed are feeling, knowing theyre drowning? Im not going to just hide at home and not take care of the people that need me.

New stresses

Around the country, hospitals with no or few cases describe planning efforts: how they will find extra staff if regular workers test positive and must be quarantined, how they plan to ration supplies and equipment and who will receive extra training so they always have someone available to intubate a patient or monitor a ventilator.

Despite all the preparations, Deb Snell said there is anxiety among her nursing colleagues in Burlington, Vermont.

Its the unknown, waiting to see whats going to happen and how bad its going to get, she said.

Babbitt, the family medicine doctor in South Dakota, volunteered to work shifts at hospitals if needed during an outbreak. The case count remains low, but she is exhausted by worry  both her own and the fears of friends and family.

The unknown of how we keep our business going. The unknown of what people can and cant do, and who they can and cant be with. The unknown of whats happening to people who are alone and isolated and dont have a good social network, she said.

Notifications ping on her phone more often these days. A text from a friend describing symptoms and asking whether to be tested. A Facebook comment from someone trying to make sense of public health orders. Babbitt is overwhelmed but feels a duty to help people however she can.

One recent night, Babbitt left work, delivered groceries to her 88-year-old mother and didnt get home until 8 p.m. She had little time to unwind before a video chat with her elderly father-in-law in San Francisco, who described worrisome physical symptoms. She was on the phone with him, off and on, until around 2 a.m.

Ultimately, we had to have a family member come over and call 911, she said.

A few hours later, Babbitt was back at the office trying to figure out how to keep her business afloat when patient visits are down and insurance companies have reimbursed only a fraction of the actual cost for a telehealth visit.

Its a lot to process, she said. I try to stay centered and stay zen and have a big glass of wine every night.

Rebecca Lauderdale, who practices internal medicine at a clinic in southern Mississippi, describes a similar anxiety waiting to know how the coronavirus will affect her rural community. She has a surreal sense that something much worse is about to arrive.

We get a lot of hurricanes down here, and thats what this feels like, Lauderdale said, that a hurricane is coming.

The first cases

The night before his first rotation on the COVID-19 unit at Franklin, Tennessees Williamson Medical Center, Dr. Aaron Milstone was restless.

He intensely studied safety recommendations. He focused on the precise placement of protective gear  the bonnet on his head, the goggles on his face, the double gloves on his hands, the gown on his body and the booties on his feet. He analyzed over and over again the need for perfection when putting these items on and taking them off.

Christine MacNeil, a registered nurse with the Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corps, puts on equipment to limit her exposure to the coronavirus in Pine Plains, N.Y., on March 18.

Thats what scared him most. If he did it wrong, he knew he could be responsible for spreading the disease.

"In 25 years of practicing medicine, I have never once shied away from anything," said Milstone, a former medical director of Vanderbilt University Medical Centers lung transplant program who works in intensive care at Williamson Medical Center. "The AIDS epidemic or H1N1 in 2009, I never thought twice about catching something from a patient. With this, I felt like I was truly going into battle.

On March 30, he began his first shift caring for the sickest patients  those on life support.

As he walked the unit's floor, he scrutinized the white boards on the wall, the ones detailing proper safety procedures. He examined the equipment, looking with a diligence he never had before. Then he prepared to see his patients.

"This is what I went into medicine to do," he thought. "I just need to forge ahead."

Tennessee's first COVID-19 case was diagnosed in Williamson County on March 4. More than a month later, the county is beginning to tally deaths.

Milstone's first case of the day was a woman in her 70s, one whose only major risk factor was her age. She was unresponsive when he checked on her.

"Do we tell the family there is some hope left? Milstone thought. Or that we've done everything possible?"

He reviewed her condition. She was no longer making urine. Multiple organs were failing. She was on life support.

He picked up the phone and called the patient's daughter.

"There's nothing I can do," he told her.

Many of those who die from COVID-19 die alone. Loved ones can see the body, but they can't touch it. Even after death, the virus keeps families apart.

When Milstone left the room, he paused, distraught and unsure whether he could carry on.

He looked down the stretch of hallway in front of him. Behind each door was another patient waiting alone.

Milstone walked to the next room. There was no time to mourn.

He had to fight for those who were left.

He had to save who he could.

Contributing: Dan DAmbrosio, Brett Kelman, Corinne S. Kennedy, Rebekah L. Sanders and A. Drew Smith

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Health care workers manage COVID-19 chaos or prepare for it to hit
Its a common refrain: technology moves at warp speed; policy not so fast. But never before has so much new technology been adopted and put to use by the economy in a relatively short period of time, while raising a litany of concerns about its impact. In just a few years, technologies once considered niche have become mainstream. Just look at how fast artificial intelligence, drones, e-scooters and cryptocurrencies have emerged as major and disruptive players. Compounding this growth is the insatiable need for data. To feed the demand, telcom companies are building bigger and faster networks. Computing power needs to keep pace or stay ahead of the demand from these and other innovations, fueling new generations of automation, robotics and high-performance processing. In government, it has meant multiple hybrids of on-premises and cloud infrastructure even as industry players make competing claims about quantum breakthroughs.

Artificial Intelligence

Once again, policymakers are playing catch-up, trying to constrain the worst elements of these new technologies without strangling their innovative and economic impact. Problems with data privacy have taken center stage and tied to it are some key tech elements, such as AI. Exacerbating these issues are the inconsistent, often weak efforts by government to protect everyones personal information from hackers and data thieves. And what to do about all those drones in the air and e-scooters on the streets?To make sense of what is going on with these very big digital issues, we have put together this report to bring some clarity and intelligence to the trends underway and what is happening on the regulatory and legislative fronts.--Two years ago, the outlook on artificial intelligence was largely optimistic about its impact on productivity in just about every sector of the economy, from farming to health care. Efforts to legislate or regulate AI were practically nonexistent. But as companies and governments have increased their use of AI in the workplace, demands have grown to rein in the technology and are likely to expand in 2020.The biggest factor is the rapid rise of facial recognition. The technologys vast capabilities first caught the publics attention when reports came out of China about its use as a surveillance tool on citizens, especially ethnic minorities. In 2016, Amazon introduced Rekognition, an identification technology available through subscription to law enforcement agencies and private companies. Rekognition and tools like it have spread, thanks to better algorithms that can identify a persons features, lower tech costs and, most importantly, AI, which makes it possible to sort through vast data sets of images at high speeds to find a match.

Facial recognitions use of AI and its rapid adoption by law enforcement as a way to identify suspects and bad actors quickly put the technology in the crosshairs of privacy groups. Their chief worry: the implications of a still immature software tool that could run amok without proper constraints. In May 2019, San Francisco passed a ban on the use of facial recognition by police and other city agencies. Since then, at least a dozen local governments have set restrictions on government surveillance broadly, including the use of AI software, according to LexisNexis State Net.

Concerns about AIs impact on privacy have also led to legislation at the state level. Last year, California enacted AB 1215, which imposed a three-year moratorium on the use of facial recognition software in police body cameras. The state is one of 20 that have introduced legislation in 2019, the majority of which would restrict or ban the use of this particular form of AI.

A bill signed into law in Illinois, and taking effect this year, requires employers to inform job applicants about the use of AI during the hiring process. A growing number of firms are using interview bots to evaluate personal characteristics, including facial expressions, body language, word choice and tone of voice, according to Jennifer Betts, an attorney who specializes in labor law. Firms that use the technology must provide applicants with a written explanation of the technology and acquire their prior consent to be assessed by AI.

Writing in the, Betts pointed out that the Illinois law, known as the Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act, highlights a myriad of privacy concerns for employers evaluating the costs and benefits of incorporating AI technology into their hiring practices.

Other states are beginning to address the issue of deepfakes, which are AI-altered audio and video, often of celebrities and politicians, that make them appear to say and do things that did not actually happen. Already, several federal bills have been introduced that attack deepfakes, but only a handful of state bills have been introduced  namely in California, Texas and Massachusetts. In Texas, a bill introduced by state Sen. Bryan Hughes would criminalize the creation of such deepfakes meant to injure a candidate or influence the result of an election. The bill has been criticized by civil rights groups as an infringement upon free speech rights.

Last year, on Capitol Hill, congressional Democrats introduced a bill called the Federal Algorithmic Accountability Act, which would provide federal oversight of AI and data privacy, including the regulation of AI systems that make decisions impacting consumers. It would require organizations to audit their AI tools and platforms for bias and discrimination and take corrective action to resolve any issues. Oversight responsibility would be in the hands of the Federal Trade Commission.

The bill is unlikely to become law, according to Betts. But it could be a harbinger of things to come.

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Cybersecurity

For state and local governments, 2019 was the year that cybersecurity could no longer be ignored.

Large, coordinated ransomware attacks in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and many other states across the country showed the growing power of malicious hackers to wreak havoc on communities big and small through financial pressure and disruption of services. Costing the nation upwards of $7.5 billion in damages last year alone, the attacks targeted organizations that had previously seen little action: One study showed an increase in attacks on schools, while another showed attacks on hospitals rose by an estimated 65 percent

In spite of this, attempts to ameliorate the problem legislatively have had real shortcomings. A recently introduced bill in Maryland , for instance, has sought to criminalize the possession of ransomware if a person intended to use it, but the law faces an obvious problem: Most hackers use identity cloaking technologies and deploy their attacks from locations greatly removed from their targets. Enforcement of such a law, in many cases, would be impossible.

If punishment for hackers is mostly a dead end for policymakers, an alternative strategy  and one were likely to see more of in the coming year  has been to bolster defenses. Unfortunately, this is more an aspiration than a reality for many governments because of financial constraints: Almost half of states do not have a separate cybersecurity budget and spend a total of 1 to 2 percent of their overall IT budgets on security. Cybersecurity staffing issues have been an obvious problem for states for a long time, and the problem is even more egregious for most cities

A workaround for these deficiencies has been to encourage smaller governments to lean on the federal government for assistance in areas like preparedness and best practices, most predominantly from the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Agencies like CISA have the expertise, technology and manpower to deliver defenses and intelligence that state and local bodies simply do not possess. Bills seeking to emphasize CISAs facilitator role include ones like the Cybersecurity State Coordinator Act , which would create CISA cybersecurity liaisons to partner with state and local officials on security and defense.

Similarly, a bill introduced and passed by the U.S. Senate last year would create a federal Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Team through DHS that would be responsible for assisting entities that have already been hit by a cyberattack of some kind.

In an attempt to help governments help themselves, a recently introduced bill would create a $400 million fund, administered by CISA , from which communities could apply to receive grant money to shore up their defenses, including areas like staffing, cyberhygiene, and regular testing. At the same time, CISA has also announced its intentions to assist governments across the country with their election security preparations during the 2020 presidential race.

At the end of the day, its likely to be an uphill battle either way, but increased partnerships between the state, local and federal levels of government will likely mitigate the costs of cyberattacks in the long run.

--

Data Privacy

State lawmakers are increasingly concerned about protecting personal data. Agreeing on how to do it at a time when individual information is everywhere remains a huge challenge.

A total of 160 bills addressing consumer privacy have been introduced this year in 26 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Thats a lot, but roughly the same number of bills were introduced in about the same number of states in 2019. Few of them reached the governors desk.

All around the country, legislators are struggling to find the right balance between protecting individuals information while not burdening businesses with excessive regulation. Theyre not thinking only of Silicon Valley concerns. These days, all kinds of companies collect and use data.

My concern is that our data is being used in ways that we never could have imagined, that were not giving our permission to  monetizing our data, plus straight-up violations of privacy, says Andrew Zwicker, who is drafting a privacy bill in the New Jersey Assembly. Im also working hard to drive New Jerseys innovation economy.

Zwickers bill will be based on the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, a set of privacy rights enshrined by the European Union in 2018. That same year, California legislators passed their own comprehensive privacy rights law, known as the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA.

Like GDPR, the California law gives individuals the ability to access data that companies hold on them. California went further than the Europeans in allowing consumers ways of opting out of data collection, particularly children. There are other key differences between the regulatory schemes, especially when it comes to the fine print.

CCPA appears to be the model most states are looking at now, including Massachusetts and New York. Weve seen a number of states introduce or reach out for discussion about broad privacy bills like we have in California, says Hayley Tsukayama, who focuses on state legislation at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a public interest law firm in San Francisco.

Industry lobbyists are warning legislators, however, that the California model may be unworkable. In fact, they note that the 2-year-old law is itself still very much a work in progress. Although CCPA took effect on Jan. 1, the state attorney general is barred from enforcing its provisions before July. The ultimate scope of its regulation is still under debate.

Meanwhile, Californians for Consumer Privacy, the group behind a 2018 ballot measure that prodded passage of the CCPA in the first place, is now proposing a new initiative for this Novembers ballot that would amend that law significantly.

Even as California sorts out its approach, however, other states are acting. Last year, Nevada enacted a law that, like the CCPA, allows consumers to opt out of the sale or use of their personal information, although the Nevada laws definitions and scope are narrower. The Silver States law is now the model for proposed legislation in Florida.

In the meantime, considerable attention is being paid to Washington state. On Feb. 14, the state Senate passed, by a near-unanimous vote, a bill that would give residents the right to access data about themselves and correct or delete information. They could also opt out of having their data used for ad targeting. The Senate version dropped a provision that would have allowed consumers to sue when there are violations.

A similar bill passed the Washington Senate last year, but died in the state House. Sponsors have only until the scheduled March 12 adjournment date for this years short session to win passage in both chambers. Although industry groups like Washingtons legislation better than the CCPA, consumer rights groups complain it isnt strong enough. It picks and chooses from GDPR in ways that benefit companies more than consumers, says Tsukayama.

Even as states wrestle with the privacy question, local governments are pursuing their own policies, notably facial recognition bans that have been put in place in cities including San Francisco and Oakland, Calif., and Somerville and Cambridge, Mass.

All this activity has the tech lobby and other business groups concerned about having to respond to overlapping but contradictory laws and policies across the nation. The best solution is a comprehensive federal privacy law that empowers people to understand how personal information they share is collected, used and protected, says Robert Callahan, senior vice president of state government affairs with the Internet Association, a tech industry trade group. An inconsistent patchwork of privacy protections leads to a false sense of consumer privacy, and its on Congress ... to act on a comprehensive federal law that establishes consistent standards for consumers and businesses across all industries.

There are plenty of draft discussion bills floating around Capitol Hill, but as yet there appears to be no ready consensus in Congress about how to handle privacy concerns. The Uniform Law Commission has started work on model state-level legislation, but its not expected to release its template until later in the year or perhaps in 2021.

That means legislators in individual states will continue trying to navigate the tricky currents of privacy policy on their own.

Look, the federal government is for a variety of different reasons unable to act, says Zwicker. I always hear we need a national solution, and I 100 percent agree, but were not seeing any federal action, so its incumbent on me as a legislator to act.

--

Drones

5G and Broadband

Drones, in various forms, have been around since the late 19th century, but have gained widespread popularity in the past decade thanks to rapid advances in technology. The private sector uses these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to monitor powerlines, petrochemical plants and sewage pipes as well as to deliver packages. State and local governments have used drones to assist police in their 911 call responses, count homeless populations and monitor wildfires.Beginning in 2013, states started introducing various types of legislation for drones, ranging from defining what a drone was to how they could be used in the public and private sectors. By 2017, 38 states had considered some type of drone legislation and 24 had passed laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. On June 21, 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the first operational rules for routine non-hobby use for drones.As drone use continues to grow, so have uncertainties about how they should be regulated. Assistant Professor Pablo Rangel of Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, thinks that legislators need to team up with researchers to make more informed decisions regarding drones. For successful regulation to occur, there must be a connection between legislation, the governments, local researchers and private industries so that the laws are comprehensive and successful, he says.One way to do this is to fly drones in a controlled environment. Most states currently require drones to stay within a pilots line of sight as a safety precaution. Last November, New York received approval from the FAA to operate a 50-mile corridor that will allow researchers and companies to fly drones without chase planes or maintaining line of sight and develop plans for managing air traffic and long-distance drone technology in a controlled space.This is very good, actually, that theyre starting to deal with these kinds of corridors, explains Professor Rangel, who has conducted studies on drones. It allows people to work with [the drones] in a realistic capacity.The corridors will also build public acceptance, which Rangel believes is one of the main issues with drone technology. Many people have grown increasingly worried about the privacy and safety risks of UAVs. During Superbowl LIV, drones were banned within a 30-mile radius and up to 18,000 feet above Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla., even though the move was precautionary, with no evidence of a credible threat This fear of drones concerns Rangel because if the public isnt happy with it, then there wont be any developments this year or anytime in the future. Its the task of researchers, government, media, everyone to try and promote the best parts of [drone technology] so it can be studied to create regulations and developments can be made to ensure safe drone usage, he says.Regulating the technology is difficult because every state has a different focus and different perspective when it comes to what should be permitted, according to Rangel. Without some agreement between legislatures, researchers and private companies, drone regulations will be extremely slow to develop, which could increase public fears around safety, privacy and surveillance. If the industry is selling a product, people are going to buy it, even if there are no regulations of it, he says.If states create laws that constrain drones, then the technology will simply adapt to avoid any mandates that limit their use. If one state decides to make drones illegal but neighboring states allow them, the technology will leapfrog over state lines. If a state bans drones but one of the states counties allows them, drones will still fly. The reality that we all face in 2020 is that technologies dont disappear, says Rangel. They transform into different perspectives.--Telecom companies are rolling out 5G wireless networks across the country, calling the technology the next evolution of high-speed Internet. With its much higher speeds, this seems to be the case. 5G, however, poses a major infrastructure challenge A network using 5G technology requires a dense rollout of devices, often mounted on public infrastructure, including utility poles, along rights of way within municipalities. The number of devices will far exceed what is currently installed to run the nations existing 4G cellular network. As telecom firms increase their deployment of 5G, questions have been raised concerning the installation of the network hardware, especially around which level of government has the power to regulate approval of where the devices can be installed and how much compensation localities should receive for the use of their rights of way by the telecoms.In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission issued its Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order , which essentially took the power to regulate 5G rollout out of local government hands by setting up its own set of rules, with the aim of making it easier and faster for telecom companies to install the technology on public infrastructure nationwide.In addition to these federal rules  which were unsuccessfully challenged in court by a coalition of local governments  a number of states have taken legislative action to override local government installation rules as well, establishing their own timelines and pricing levels for the use of city-owned property. Jurisdictions ranging from New York City to a coalition of cities in Florida have challenged state-level rulings that remove or curtail local control. While there is a broad consensus that high-speed 5G Internet should be rolled out as expediently as possible, disagreements persist between localities and many states over what exactly should be sacrificed to enable this, with legislative action filling in gaps in some instances.In terms of broadband, state governments have shifted their thinking away from the traditional view of high-speed Internet as a luxury for some to a utility that all residents need to support vital opportunities such as access to health care, employment and education. This year in Washington, D.C., nearly a dozen state government officials attended an event hosted by Pew Charitable Trusts, and discussed this shift, as well as actions being taken  both executive and legislative  to extend broadband access to residents, along with affordable rates and skills training so that the public at large can take advantage of the technology in meaningful ways.These officials agreed that there is no easy answer for providing broadband to all residents, rich and poor. They considered giving municipalities more leeway to establish city-owned broadband networks, but found the option viable in some areas and problematic in others. Its clear, however, that a new momentum for broadband in state government has taken hold, some of which is codified by legislative actions.At the federal level, progress around speeding up broadband adoption is happening at a slower pace but is also being pushed forward by the idea that broadband access is in the nascent stages of becoming a utility. To this end, the U.S. House of Representatives held its first-ever hearing about digital equity earlier this year, hinting at a sea change in thinking at the federal level as well.--

Mobility

Digital Issues on the Horizon

Scaling back car driving, and the greenhouse gases they create, will continue to be a mobility trend in 2020 as policymakers and industry leaders look for opportunities to expand the appeal of public transit, micro-mobility and the electrification of the transportation sector.In transit agencies from Houston to Seattle , bus routes have been reimagined to improve their desirability and efficiency through the use of more direct routes, traffic signal priority technologies or bus-rapid-transit lanes. Some systems, like the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority , plan to eliminate fares entirely.Meanwhile, expect budding relationships among transit, micro-mobility and other forms of transportation to increase as transit agencies continue to integrate trip-planning with mobility services and systems, and start to close the gap between booking those complete trips and paying for them. Already, transit agencies like MTA in New York and TriMet in Portland have begun to implement contactless payment where riders can use their mobile devices or contactless credit cards for fare payment in one seamless swipe.This year could also be the year of micro-mobility 2.0 as scooter providers become more serious players on the urban mobility landscape, forming substantive relationships with cities, becoming advocates for expanded and improved infrastructure and honing a business model with a focus on sustainability.Bird released in San Francisco its beefed-up Bird Two scooters, which can better handle the rigors of city use with features that include improved batteries, puncture-resistant tires and self-reporting damage sensors. Improvements like these make the devices less throwaway and longer lasting. Also, expect some winnowing within the scooter industry as it evolves from a nascent novelty to businesses with a plan for the long term.This could lead to a shakedown in the [scooter] industry, Quemuel Arroyo, the global head of community at Charge , and a former chief accessibility specialist for the New York City Department of Transportation, toldin January. You have too many operators. Too many people doing things. And that wasnt going to last. And what youre seeing now is, the heavy hitters, the big operators that have the funds to sustain themselves through the shakedown, will be the ones were left with.Several states are considering legislation aimed at regulating various aspects of the micro-mobility business, with legislation introduced in Maryland New Jersey and Virginia . A bill in New York would require cities with a population of more than one million residents to have riders of e-scooters, e-bikes or conventional bikes wear helmets. A bill introduced in New Jersey would require scooters to have safety flags.The march toward electrifying transportation is well underway. Expect to see electric mobility reach more transportation vehicles, including those we dont often think about: airport cargo movers and forklifts along with more commonly used heavy-duty vehicles like city transit buses.The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is moving forward with a landmark rule to require the gradual phasing in of zero-emission buses and trucks in the coming decade. CARB has also launched its new Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) to speed up the adoption of off-road freight equipment. Meanwhile, automakers will introduce more EV models edging into SUVs and trucks, with the price parity narrowing between gas-powered and electric-powered cars.--Several digital trends are in the various stages of adoption, making their policy implications less clear. Because of their potential to change, even disrupt, traditional business practices, they are worth following this year.. At its core, blockchain is an open, decentralized ledger that records transactions between two parties in a permanent way without needing third-party authentication. This creates an extremely efficient process that has the potential to dramatically reduce the cost of transactions.Blockchain transactions can be permissionless, in which the transactions are open to anyone to view or participate, or they can be permissioned, which limits the transactions to specific groups of users. Blockchain got its start as a way to bring trust to digital currencies. But other uses for blockchain have emerged and include online voting, medical records, insurance policies, property and real estate records, copyrights and licenses and supply chain tracking.

Twenty-eight states have introduced legislation relating to blockchain in 2019, according the National Conference of State Legislatures, with 27 bills and resolutions enacted or adopted.

. Bitcoin emerged in 2008 as the first digital currency not tied to any legal framework of any state or country. Since then, the cryptocurrency has followed a wild trajectory of popularity, value swings and, at times, outright hostility. What has emerged is a growing realization that some regulation could bring order to the currency and others like it, reducing its role as a favored form of money for criminals and opening up a dialogue on how it can be used in business.The federal sector has not set any direction around cryptocurrency regulation, leaving the states to handle the matter. So far, they have mainly focused on the use of cryptocurrencies as legal tender in business transactions (including taxation), imposing authority on operations of cryptocurrency exchanges as money transmitters, and the status of smart contracts and ethereum tokens , according to Investopedia

While few states have taken the regulatory lead on all three aspects of cryptocurrencies, New York and California are further ahead than others. In contrast, Massachusetts and Washington state, hotbeds of tech innovation, have either opposed digital currencies or have not enacted any legislative action.. Todays technological breakthroughs depend on speed. The faster data can be processed, analyzed and acted on, the better the result. Edge computing is about putting the software that runs the application as close as possible to the data that feeds it and the people who use it. Just about every sector of todays economy, including government, will benefit from edge computing.The rise of self-driving, autonomous vehicles and telehealth are two examples. So, too, are chatbots, such as Alexa, which are growing in popularity for personal and retail purposes. In government, edge computing tells transportation departments how much salt to put down on a road, helps police conduct criminal forensics in their patrol cars, allows drones to conduct aerial analysis of wildfires and can even tell public works the best time to pick up garbage.Edge computing depends on several key technological components, some of which are facing government regulation. High speed, wireless networks is one factor. Another is artificial intelligence. Any legislation or regulatory requirement on these digital issues could impact how quickly and comprehensively edge computing can mature and take hold.

--Government TechnologyGoverning.
Days after a 55-year-old man



died in a government hospital in Vijayawada, the Andhra Pradesh government on Friday confirmed that coronavirus was the cause of the death.

This is the first coronavirus death reported in the state, where total number of positive cases rose to 161, out of which three have recovered.

The man contracted the disease from his son, who returned from New Delhi after attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation on March 17.

"The man came to the government hospital at 11.30 am on March 30 for health checkup. His blood swab was sent for examination and in the meantime he died around 12.30 pm.

He was suffering from hypertension and cardiac problems besides being diabetic.

The delay in confirming whether or not he died of coronavirus affliction was because of his other ailments," state nodal officer Arja Srikanth said in a release.

The man's son tested positive for Covid-19 on March 31 and was kept in quarantine.

"We have identified 29 others who came in contact with him and they were also sent to quarantine," Srikanth added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister (Health) A K K Srinivas said over 140 out of 161 Corona positive patients in AP are related to the Jamaat.

"Of the tested 881 blood samples of those who attended the Jamaat event, 108 turned positive. Results of another 65 cases is awaited.

Also, 32 of their contacts too tested positive for coronavirus," Srinivas told reporters after a high-level review meeting with Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The Deputy CM said of the 1,085 people who attended the Jamaat event from AP, 946 had since returned while the rest 139 were still away.

Of the 946, only 881 have been traced so far, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Google Play Console leaked two mid-range vivo phones - the V19 and Y50. No, not that V19 that was unveiled in Indonesia last month, this one is fairly different.



Google Play Console leak: vivo V19  vivo Y50

The vivo V19 (model number 1933) has a dual punch hole for the selfie camera (instead of single). However, the Console doesn't tell us about the camera hardware inside, noting about the rear cams either (the Indonesian V19 has a 48+8+2+2MP setup).

This V19 gets a more powerful chipset, the Snapdragon 712. Compared to the S675 used in its namesake, the major difference is the faster GPU (their CPUs trade blows without a clear winner). The V19 has 8GB of RAM and runs Android 10.

Judging by the screen specs supplied by the Console, this vivo V19 will have something very similar to the 6.44" Super AMOLED panel with 1,080 x 2,400px resolution that the other V19 uses.

Based on teasers, this version of the vivo V19 will be released in India and Malaysia. The release date is still TBD (it was March 26 originally, but they were postponed due to the outbreak).



vivo V19  vivo Y50

The vivo Y50 (aka vivo 1935) is the first of the Y-series to have a punch hole for the selfie camera (just the one). It's screen has 1,080 x 2,340px resolution and should be slightly smaller than the one one the V19.

This phone is powered by the Snapdragon 665 chipset with 6GB of RAM. This chip was most recently used in the related vivo Y9S. Anyway, the V50 is also running Android 10. There's no word on when it might be made official.

Via
Industries Enormous energy savings for packaging process

Vacuum system with three MINK claw vacuum pumps during assembly with the two vacuum vessels in the background

03.04.2020 09:50:52 - Fresh and ready-to-eat salads, vegetable dishes, herbs, and freshly cut fruit form part of Gartenfrisch Jung GmbH's product portfolio.



(live-PR.com) - The long-established company has evolved into the German market leader for fresh convenience products thanks to its quality and experience. Since early 2019, the vacuum supply to its tray sealer packaging machines has been exceptionally energy-efficient following the installation of a central vacuum system by Busch Vacuum Solutions.



Gartenfrisch Jung produces its convenience foods in a modern facility in Jagsthausen, a - The long-established company has evolved into the German market leader for fresh convenience products thanks to its quality and experience. Since early 2019, the vacuum supply to its tray sealer packaging machines has been exceptionally energy-efficient following the installation of a central vacuum system by Busch Vacuum Solutions.Gartenfrisch Jung produces its convenience foods in a modern facility in Jagsthausen, a town in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. To allow it to supply fresh raw produce all year round, the company has its own growers in Germany and Portugal. Cultivation in two different climate zones ensures that the entire product range can be supplied year-round, sold to end users across Germany via supermarket chains and discount stores. The ready-to-eat salads are packaged into bowls under the company's own label, as well as for third party brands. Gartenfrisch Jung's history dates back to 1795. What started out as a small piece of farmland has now transformed into integrated, controlled growers of salads and vegetables and another arm for processing these products. As a family business, Gartenfrish Jung has been passed from one generation to the next ever since it started. The expertise gained as a result has therefore grown steadily, leading to the company's successful development and a high quality standard of its products. Nowadays, Gartenfrisch Jung processes 120 tonnes of raw food every day. This is equivalent to handling 2,000 pallets, which are then delivered to customers by 80 refrigerated vehicles.



The ready-to-eat salad dishes are packaged on twelve packaging lines with tray sealer packaging machines. In the past, these packaging machines were equipped with one rotary vane vacuum pump each, though one machine had two vacuum pumps. These 13 vacuum pumps were used to evacuate the trays to the required vacuum level prior to sealing. A two-shift operation is in place on all twelve packaging lines. The vacuum pumps ran constantly throughout these shifts, apart from during breaks. During a third shift, the production facilities are cleaned while all machinery is stationary.

Jochen Neff, who is in charge of technology at Gartenfrisch Jung, was looking for an alternative vacuum supply, because the heat radiated by the 13 vacuum pumps was putting a strain on the air conditioning system in the production facilities, which are cooled to between 5 and 6 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the vacuum pumps' had an installed motor output of over 50 kilowatts. The vacuum experts from Busch Vacuum Solutions analyzed the situation and recommended a centralized vacuum supply, which could be set up in a non-air-conditioned room outside the production facilities.



Because Jung's convenience products have the ideal vacuum for packaging at a vacuum level of 400 millibars, Busch recommended using MINK claw vacuum pumps. This type of vacuum pump has the highest efficiency factor out of all mechanical vacuum pumps. This is a result of their contact-free operating principle, which means that the moving parts inside the vacuum pump do not come in contact with each other. In turn, no oil-based lubrication is required and all maintenance work related to the use of oil as an operating fluid is eliminated.

Busch designed a vacuum system with three frequency-controlled MINK claw vacuum pumps, each of which was equipped with a motor with a nominal motor rating of 8 kilowatts. However, one of the three vacuum pumps is exclusively on stand-by. Nevertheless, the control system is programmed to ensure that all three vacuum pumps have the same number of operating hours.



Centralizing the vacuum supply enabled the total installed motor rating to be reduced from 50.2 to 16 kilowatts if we assume that two of the vacuum pumps run at 60 Hertz, i.e. maximum power. This would correspond to a 68 percent reduction in energy consumption. However, in practice Jochen Neff has discovered that only one of the two MINK claw vacuum pumps is normally in use and that this tends to run at a reduced rotational speed. After several months of use, Jochen Neff has measured average power consumption of four kilowatt hours for the entire vacuum supply. This is mainly linked to the fact that the twelve packaging lines do not all always run at maximum speed and not all of the machines are in use all the time. The demand-based control system then decreases the rotational speed to reduce the output, meaning that the system only provides the performance that is actually required. In practice, this equates to energy savings of over 90 percent for vacuum generation.



The new centralized vacuum system was installed in April 2019 and has been in use every since. It is connected to the packaging machines via a network of pipelines. Two upstream vacuum vessels with a volume of 1,500 liters each make sure that the required vacuum level is available in the packaging chambers as soon as it is needed in the packaging cycle. Removing the 13 original vacuum pumps from the production areas relieved strain from the air conditioning system. This meant that the air conditioning system could be turned down to keep the room temperature between 5 and 6 degrees Celsius. The savings in energy costs as a result of reducing the air conditioning output have not been measured. However, it can generally be assumed that the change resulted in a significant reduction in the energy consumed by the air conditioning system.



Thanks to the vacuum system's redundant design, maintenance can be carried out on the individual MINK claw vacuum pumps during production and packaging. MINK claw vacuum pumps are nearly maintenance-free. Maintenance is limited mainly to the annual preventive change in gear oil. This is performed by a Busch service technician. With the centralized vacuum system, Jochen Neff has created a highly energy-efficient, reliable and economical vacuum supply for packaging his convenience products.

town in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. To allow it to supply fresh raw produce all year round, the company has its own growers in Germany and Portugal. Cultivation in two different climate zones ensures that the entire product range can be supplied year-round, sold to end users across Germany via supermarket chains and discount stores. The ready-to-eat salads are packaged into bowls under the company's own label, as well as for third party brands. Gartenfrisch Jung's history dates back to 1795. What started out as a small piece of farmland has now transformed into integrated, controlled growers of salads and vegetables and another arm for processing these products. As a family business, Gartenfrish Jung has been passed from one generation to the next ever since it started. The expertise gained as a result has therefore grown steadily, leading to the company's successful development and a high quality standard of its products. Nowadays, Gartenfrisch Jung processes 120 tonnes of raw food every day. This is equivalent to handling 2,000 pallets, which are then delivered to customers by 80 refrigerated vehicles.The ready-to-eat salad dishes are packaged on twelve packaging lines with tray sealer packaging machines. In the past, these packaging machines were equipped with one rotary vane vacuum pump each, though one machine had two vacuum pumps. These 13 vacuum pumps were used to evacuate the trays to the required vacuum level prior to sealing. A two-shift operation is in place on all twelve packaging lines. The vacuum pumps ran constantly throughout these shifts, apart from during breaks. During a third shift, the production facilities are cleaned while all machinery is stationary.Jochen Neff, who is in charge of technology at Gartenfrisch Jung, was looking for an alternative vacuum supply, because the heat radiated by the 13 vacuum pumps was putting a strain on the air conditioning system in the production facilities, which are cooled to between 5 and 6 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the vacuum pumps' had an installed motor output of over 50 kilowatts. The vacuum experts from Busch Vacuum Solutions analyzed the situation and recommended a centralized vacuum supply, which could be set up in a non-air-conditioned room outside the production facilities.Because Jung's convenience products have the ideal vacuum for packaging at a vacuum level of 400 millibars, Busch recommended using MINK claw vacuum pumps. This type of vacuum pump has the highest efficiency factor out of all mechanical vacuum pumps. This is a result of their contact-free operating principle, which means that the moving parts inside the vacuum pump do not come in contact with each other. In turn, no oil-based lubrication is required and all maintenance work related to the use of oil as an operating fluid is eliminated.Busch designed a vacuum system with three frequency-controlled MINK claw vacuum pumps, each of which was equipped with a motor with a nominal motor rating of 8 kilowatts. However, one of the three vacuum pumps is exclusively on stand-by. Nevertheless, the control system is programmed to ensure that all three vacuum pumps have the same number of operating hours.Centralizing the vacuum supply enabled the total installed motor rating to be reduced from 50.2 to 16 kilowatts if we assume that two of the vacuum pumps run at 60 Hertz, i.e. maximum power. This would correspond to a 68 percent reduction in energy consumption. However, in practice Jochen Neff has discovered that only one of the two MINK claw vacuum pumps is normally in use and that this tends to run at a reduced rotational speed. After several months of use, Jochen Neff has measured average power consumption of four kilowatt hours for the entire vacuum supply. This is mainly linked to the fact that the twelve packaging lines do not all always run at maximum speed and not all of the machines are in use all the time. The demand-based control system then decreases the rotational speed to reduce the output, meaning that the system only provides the performance that is actually required. In practice, this equates to energy savings of over 90 percent for vacuum generation.The new centralized vacuum system was installed in April 2019 and has been in use every since. It is connected to the packaging machines via a network of pipelines. Two upstream vacuum vessels with a volume of 1,500 liters each make sure that the required vacuum level is available in the packaging chambers as soon as it is needed in the packaging cycle. Removing the 13 original vacuum pumps from the production areas relieved strain from the air conditioning system. This meant that the air conditioning system could be turned down to keep the room temperature between 5 and 6 degrees Celsius. The savings in energy costs as a result of reducing the air conditioning output have not been measured. However, it can generally be assumed that the change resulted in a significant reduction in the energy consumed by the air conditioning system.Thanks to the vacuum system's redundant design, maintenance can be carried out on the individual MINK claw vacuum pumps during production and packaging. MINK claw vacuum pumps are nearly maintenance-free. Maintenance is limited mainly to the annual preventive change in gear oil. This is performed by a Busch service technician. With the centralized vacuum system, Jochen Neff has created a highly energy-efficient, reliable and economical vacuum supply for packaging his convenience products. Contact information:

Busch Vacuum Solutions



Schauinslandstrasse 1

79689 Maulburg



Contact Person:

Jasmin Markanic

Coordinator Global Press&Media Relations

Phone: +49 7622 681-3376

eMail: eMail



Web: http://www.buschvacuum.com

Author:

Jasmin Markanic

e-mail

Web: http://www.buschvacuum.com

Phone: 076226813376 03.04.2020 09:50:52 -

Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party.
Contrary to expectations, Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 series may happen after all. Thats according to Li Chuangqi, the companys very own product manager.

While speaking to fans on social media earlier this week, Li said Xiaomi has not given up on tablets. The assertion took industry watchers by surprise as its been nearly two years since the Beijing-based firm last launched an Android slate.

Beyond confirming it exists, Li wasnt keen on discussing any specifics of Xiaomis current tablet strategy.

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The last two tablets from Xiaomi were the Mi Pad 4 and Mi Pad 4 Plus. Announced and released in mid-2018, the two slates appealed to budget-conscious consumers, much like the majority of Xiaomis portfolio. Even if Xiaomi doesnt follow up on them directly, its future slates will likely fit in that same value-oriented niche.

Why is Xiaomi even considering a new tablet series?

As for the firms reluctance to continue tablet investments, that phenomenon isnt difficult to explain. Over the last several years, narrow-display phablets largely replaced the functionality of tablets, all while doubling as smartphones. The 2020 tablet ecosystem hence comes down to iPads and a hugely diversified, albeit small, group of Android products.

This state of affairs means only the largest brands can even afford to continue churning out tablets. Besides Samsung, Apple, and Huawei, very few manufacturers remain in the space. Its unclear why is Xiaomi even pondering a return to the segment, given those trends. One explanation is that Lis latest comment is merely standard PR talk; one meant to avoid absolute statements instead of provide any sort of substance.

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A less skeptical outlook would be that Xiaomis unwillingness to completely rule out tablets doesnt equate to concrete plans for launching a new slate in the immediate future. Dont forget that following its 2018 IPO, the companys focus shifted from aggressive market share expansion to profits. And Android tablets havent been synonymous with profits in a really long time. But publicly giving up on potential new revenue generators was never a good idea for publicly traded companies.

All things considered, anyone planning on buying a new Android tablet in 2020 probably shouldnt be waiting for the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5. Samsung and Huawei remain the only real modern options on the market; assuming security updates and customer support are things you care about to any degree. As it turns out, both of those companies are set to launch new Android slates in the coming months.
Jinjurs reign is shaded by dated chauvinism. She forces men to do domestic chores and uses the Oz treasury to pay for new dresses for her army. The only useful weapons for her girl soldiers are their knitting needles. (Scarecrows one-man army has a gun, but hes lost the ammunition.) In one confrontation, Scarecrow scatters the female army by releasing a dozen field mice in their ranks. Hmm.

Scarecrow appeals for help to Glinda the Good, who forces Jinjur from the throne, but insists that the rightful monarch should be Ozma, the daughter of King Pastoria (who the Wizard had forced out years earlier).

Mombi, the evil sorceress, has been hiding Ozma all these years, having transformed her into  wait for it  Tip, our protagonist.

Tip is none too happy at the prospect of being transformed back into a girl, but gets over it, and they all live happily ever after, or at least until the next installment. (Baum published 15 Oz books and two more came out after he was dead.)

I normally leave the gender analysis to my colleague Ginnie Graham, but Oz demands it.

Obviously, the books chauvinistic depiction of General Jinjur and her army dont stand up well to the test of time. A mouse! Eek!
Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has pledged to set up a facility with more than 1,000 beds in Pune to fight coronavirus. The carmaker has said that it has donated Rs 1 crore to Sassoon Hospital in Pune for setting up the 1,100-bed facility.

"The contribution is made towards essential medical consumables and critical care equipment for the medical team and patients fighting the COVID-19," Skoda Auto Volkswagen India said in a press release.

Also read: Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Country's active COVID-19 cases rise to 2,088 ; death tally at 56

The Volkswagen Group subsidiary has said that it has also produced reusable face shields within the Chakan factory to offer a primary level of protection to healthcare providers who are on the frontline in coronavirus fight.

"The company is also producing reusable face shields within the Chakan factory which will be distributed amongst healthcare providers treating Covid19 patients," the company added.

Skoda Auto VW India said the masks were certified and can be used in ICU while treating COVID-19 patients. The company added that approval has been obtained from Dr Ajay Chandanwale, Dean of the Maharashtra State Government-run Sassoon General Hospital.

"The transparent sheet that forms the shield can be sanitised after 6-8 hours before reuse," Skoda Volkswagen India stated.

Besides, the company will also import medical supplies to India through Volkswagen AG.

In partnership with an NGO, Volkswagen India said it will be donating 35,000 sanitizers to Sassoon General Hospital (Pune), Kasturba Gandhi Hospital (Mumbai) and Government Hospital (Aurangabad). Additionally, it will also distribute over 50,000 food packets in the Aurangabad region with the support from Annamitra Foundation.

In collaboration with the Czech Technical University, the parent company Skoda Auto has developed reusable FFP3 respirators for hospitals using 3D printer.

Skod Auto said that Volkswagen Group also said it was organising medical materials including face masks, gloves, disinfectants, clinical thermometers, protective goggles and protective clothing for medical personnel.

Also read: World Bank's $1 billion emergency fund: How will India spend it to fight coronavirus?

Also read: Coronavirus Lockdown III: Is India's public healthcare system prepared to fight the COVID-19 menace?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday announced that its staff, central police organisations and Union Territories without legislature will contribute their one day's salary amounting to Rs 89 crores to PM CARES Fund to combat coronavirus.

"On the clarion call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officers and staff of Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Police Organisations, as well as six UTs without a legislature, would contribute one day's salary (totaling Rs 89 crores) to PM CARES Fund to fight the COVID-19," Shah tweeted.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created PM CARES Fund and appealed to all the countrymen to show their support for the cause.

The Prime Minister is the chairman of the trust and its members include the defence minister, the home minister and the finance minister.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
April 3, 2020(BRONX, NY) Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine has joined a clinical trial to evaluate the experimental drug remdesivir to treat people who are hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infection. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring the trial. This treatment has the potential to help people who have serious lung complications as a result of COVID-19. Recruitment for the trial began in March and is still underway.

Montefiore-Einstein is one of 46 testing sites nationwide and is the first site in New York State to open. NIAID launched the multi-center international effort to determine if remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug, acts against COVID-19 viral infection. Remdesivir has shown promise in animal models of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), both caused by human coronaviruses.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is being led by principal investigator Barry Zingman, M.D., professor of medicine at Einstein and clinical director, infectious diseases, in the Moses division of Montefiore Health System. The trial is "adaptive," meaning it can be modified to include other investigational treatments. "This flexibility allows us to add additional therapies to the trial step-by-step to improve treatment as the pandemic continues," said Dr. Zingman.

Trial participants are hospitalized patients with a laboratory-confirmed coronavirus infection and lung complications, including rattling sounds when breathing, a need for supplemental oxygen, abnormal chest X-rays showing pneumonia, or the need for a mechanical ventilator.

People in the treatment group will receive 200 mg of remdesivir intravenously on the first day of their enrollment in the study and will receive another 100 mg each day for the duration of hospitalization, for up to 10 days total. The placebo group will receive an equal volume of a solution that resembles remdesivir but contains inactive ingredients.

Montefiore and Einstein's robust clinical trial infrastructure contributed to its selection and rapid approval for participation. No therapies have yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating COVID-19.

Remdesivir, an investigational antiviral therapy, was developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

###

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit http://www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2019-20 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 158 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,800 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2019, Einstein received more than $178 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit http://www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube.
Small business owners are already encountering problems as they try to apply for the new Paycheck Protection Program loans - from banks narrowing what customers they'll serve, to banks not having online applications ready at all.

Meanwhile, a link to other loan products on the Small Business Administration website is broken, DailyMail.com found.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as well as Ivanka Trump who retweeted him, cheered on the roll-out anyway on Friday morning, which was when business owners were supposed to start getting access to loan applications that would help them keep their employees on the payroll through the coronavirus crisis.

Small Business Administration head Jovita Carranza (left), and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (right) appeared in the White House briefing room Thursday in order to preview the new Paycheck Protection Program loan program, which launched Friday

While Mnuchin applauded the early effort, small business owners have been grumbling that lenders are rejecting their applications. Some lenders don't even have the application websites up and running

DailyMail.com found that those seeking information on additional Small Business Administration loan products would be led to a blank page on the agency's website

A number of small business owners were sharing this image on Twitter. While some of the owners said they were pre-existing Bank of America customers, the bank was limiting the loans to borrowers. A spokesman for the bank didn't reply to a request for comment

'Congratulations to @SBAGov and @USTreasury teams!! I just got first report on#PPPloan The system is up and running. Community banks have already processed over 700 loans processed for $2,500,000. Great work!! #CARESAct #SmallBizRelief,' Mnuchin tweeted.

Before 10 a.m. EST, Mnuchin said $400,000,000 in loans had been originated, using the hashtag 'big banks.'

But elsewhere on Twitter, business owners were posting images of loan rejections from Bank of America, which said those without a specific business credit line would be ineligible for the government-backed loans.

A spokesperson for Bank of America has not replied to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Neither has a spokesperson for the Small Business Administration, to a query of whether the SBA will address the problem.

Besides Bank of America, CNBC reported that none of the websites for the other big three banks - JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo or Citigroup - were taking loan applications by mid-morning Friday.

By early afternoon a spokesperson for Citigroup told CNBC that the lender was 'reviewing the new SBA guidelines and we expect to begin accepting online loan applications as soon as possible.'

Wells Fargo previously announced the bank would not be able to take applications Friday.

The banks said they lacked guidance to get the systems up and running by the government's deadline.

Guidance from the Treasury Department didn't come until around 7 p.m. Thursday.

'Having just received guidance outlining how to implement a $349 billion program literally hours before it starts, we would ask for everyone to be patient,' Richard Hunt, the head of the Consumer Bankers Association, told CNBC Thursday.

He added that the organization's membership would 'move heaven and earth to get a system in place and running to help America's small businesses and the millions of men and women who work for them.'

Top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow scoffed when he heard that some of the banks needed more time or guidance.

'They know they're going to get paid back,' Kudlow told reporters Friday in the White House driveway.

'I will say this, this past week as the Treasury secretary put the final touches on it, he was in constant touch with the banks, constant touch. So, it's hard for me to believe,' Kudlow continued. 'I'll have to look into all these complaints.'

The way the law was worded already had family-owned restaurants and mom and pop stores fretting that they'll be competing against large corporations for a part of the $349 billion pot of money the U.S. government has allocated for businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Paycheck Protection Program aims to keep businesses afloat for at least two months and is part of the $2.3 trillion 'phase three' stimulus program passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump.



The term 'small business,' however, took on a new meaning when a 56-word provision was inserted into the 148,124-word bill that raced through Congress.

For certain small business loan purposes, the term typically refers to companies that employ fewer than 500 workers.

But Congress and the Trump administration agreed to include large hotel and restaurant chains, as long as they employed fewer than 500 workers in a given location.

Now, private-equity firms, venture capital funds and other large investors are also angling for a piece of the action.

Some smaller restaurants worry they could be shouldered aside by well-connected corporate operations.

'Who needs the support most desperately - the Big Mac or the Small-Fry?' the management of The Eleanor restaurant in Washington wrote on Instagram last week.

Jared Bernstein, an economist at the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said well-oiled bigger enterprises could get to the head of the line for loans that will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

'At the end of the day it's going to be very hard to figure out how to help the smallest, most vulnerable businesses. We're in a tsunami here and some people will get washed away,' Bernstein said.

Before Congress could even pass the economic stimulus, consultants advised clients to ready their applications for 'forgivable' loans that can turn into grants if the money is used for payroll, rent and other expenses.

'We would advise consulting your own preferred lender now,' the Berman and Company public-relations firm wrote to clients on March 25, two days before President Trump signed the bill into law.

Restaurant and hotel owners and their workers, reeling from shutdowns, were high on policymakers' list of concerns as they crafted the bill.

The restaurant industry lost $25 billion in sales and 3 million jobs in the first three weeks of March, according to the National Restaurant Association, a trade group that represents various-sized food establishments.

'Mom and Pop' family-owned operations account for 90 percent of restaurants.

Health-club and beauty-salon chains are also clamoring for a piece of the pie.

Private equity firms and investment partnerships also asked Mnuchin this week to be included.

'It shouldn't matter if these companies are backed by investments from corporations, pension funds, or others,' said Drew Mahoney of the American Investment Council, which represents the industry.

Nearly 20 members of Congress also want start-up companies backed by venture capital firms to participate in the program, arguing that they created 3 million jobs in 2019.

'We cannot let this terrible pandemic lead to irreparable damage to our most innovative and vibrant businesses,' wrote the lawmakers, led by Rep. Anna Eshoo, a Democrat who represents California's Silicon Valley.

But smaller firms worry they may get crowded out by better- equipped rivals that have the resources to get their applications in quickly. Without the money, many may be forced to close their doors.

'It is a lifeline. The stakes are really high,' said National Restaurant Association lobbyist Shannon Meade.
At least seven residents of a state-run home for military veterans in St. John the Baptist Parish have died after testing positive for coronavirus, and at least 18 residents of the home have been infected so far, state officials confirmed late Thursday.

St. John Parish Coroner Christy Montegut told The Times-Picayune | The Advocate on Friday morning that the death toll from coronavirus at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Reserve now stands at eight.

The cluster appears to be the second-deadliest outbreak of the coronavirus in a facility for Louisiana seniors. At Lambeth House in Uptown New Orleans, at least 53 residents have tested positive and 13 have died from the coronavirus.

Around Louisiana, state officials have identified at least 46 senior complexes and nursing homes as "clusters" of coronavirus, meaning there are at least two confirmed cases. Lambeth House and the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home are the only ones where state officials have confirmed multiple deaths from the virus.

+3 St. John Parish, with new nursing home cluster, has highest U.S. coronavirus death rate St. John the Baptist Parish now has the highest per-capita death rate of any county in the U.S. from the coronavirus, a grim statistic that pa

The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home houses up to 156 people, including veterans and their relatives. It is one of five similar facilities around the state that is overseen by the state Department of Veterans Affairs; it is the only one in the New Orleans metro area. It's the only one of the five that has been identified as a cluster.

The acknowledgement by the department Thursday that the virus had claimed seven lives at the home lined up with what Montegut told The Times-Picayune | The Advocate a day earlier.

In an interview Wednesday, Montegut said that at least seven residents of the home had died after testing positive for coronavirus. He said coronavirus was "highly suspected" in the deaths of three other residents, but that officials might never know if those three ever contracted the virus.

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Montegut said the home was a major factor in St. John Parish's per-capita death rate from coronavirus, which is among the highest -- if not the highest -- of all American counties.

+3 Four deaths, 14 coronavirus cases now at Louisiana veterans nursing home in Reserve At least 14 residents of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home have tested positive for the coronavirus and at least four of them have died in

State figures released Friday show 17 deaths in the parish from coronavirus so far, but Montegut says the state numbers lag reality by a couple of days. He said Friday morning that the parish had recorded 22 deaths in known coronavirus cases by Wednesday evening, with eight them involving residents of the Reserve nursing home.

Brandee Patrick, a spokeswoman for the Department of Veterans Affairs, said Friday morning that the department was not aware of an eighth coronavirus death at the home.

Montegut also told the newspaper there had been one coronavirus death in another nursing home in the parish, Twin Oaks Nursing Home and Convalescent Home. Reached by phone, officials there declined to comment.

Twin Oaks was not among the nursing homes state officials had identified as a coronavirus cluster as of Wednesday. The state list was not updated Thursday.
ST. PAUL  The head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis said Thursday, April 2, that economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic has "almost certainly" pushed the U.S. into a recession.

How quickly the country can bounce back from the developing financial crisis depends on how long it takes to bring the pandemic under control, bank president Neel Kashkari said. The sooner that happens, he said, the sooner that scores of laid off workers can return to their old jobs and the less disruptive a recession will be.

But more and more businesses will go under the longer the pandemic lasts, he said, and the longer economic recovery will take.

Kashkari's comments during a web forum broadcast Thursday illustrate how little time it took for the pandemic to turn the U.S. economy on its head. Just last November, at a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce meeting, Kashkari said that a recession did not appear to be in the cards.

Waves of business closures and stay-at-home orders have been issued since then in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Those mandates have had the effect of historic job losses; the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that more than 10 million Americans have filed for unemployment insurance in just the past two weeks.

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More than 200,000 claims have been submitted so far in Minnesota alone. In South Dakota, meanwhile, 6,600 claims were filed last week, with North Dakota filing more than 12,500 in that same span of time.

Despite those figures, Kashkari still said he was optimistic that the U.S. could still rebound quickly.

"One thing we know from 2008, when you had millions and millions of Americans losing their jobs, it took more than a decade to put the labor market back together," Kashkari said. "Im really pleased that a lot of the action by the federal government and the state governments has been focused on trying to keep workers in their jobs."

Kashkari and other officials on the webcast said the Paycheck Protection Program will hopefully allow businesses to keep their employees on payroll. Enacted last week as part of the $2 trillion federal stimulus plan, the program is intended to pump up to $350 billion in forgivable loans out to small business to preserve cash flow and payrolls.

The program could be especially critical for area not-for-profit businesses. Minnesota Council of Nonprofits lobbyist Marie Ellis said during Thursday's webcast that non-profit organizations that self-insure for unemployment will not be able to absorb the cost of mass layoffs.

In another sign of distress, Minnesota officials announced Thursday that they would ask the White House for a major disaster declaration that they say will funnel federal dollars toward mental healthcare during the crisis.

"People are fearing for their health. They are worried about how they are going to make ends meet," state Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Joe Kelly said in a statement. "Just the simple disruption to our regular routine is hard for us all."
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Have you ever wanted to race with Kilian Jornet, while raising money for the World Health Organization (WHO) to help fight against COVID-19?

Heres your chance! On Saturday, April 4th, Irunfar.com is hosting Operation Inspiration, a virtual race that will bring together runners from all over the globe to run in solidarity. All you have to do to enter is pay an entry fee, and exercise for an hour.

The race entry is a sliding fee from $20 to $250 to accommodate as many runners as possible. 100-percent of your entry fee will go to WHOs COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. So far, over 900 runners from 33 countries and 47 states have raised over $27,000 for WHO.

You can register, here. Runners who sign up become eligible for over 140 prizes that will be distributed in the days after the virtual race. Powerhouse runners like Kilian Jornet, Emelie Forsberg, Sage Canaday, Sandi Nypaver, Sally McRae, Maggie Guterl, Lucy Bartholomew, Dean Karnazes, Tim Tollefson, Devon Yanko and Anna Frost are among those registered for the virtual event.

To compete, you simply need to exercise for one hour on Saturday. Depending on local regulations, this might mean an outdoor run or an in-your-home workout. Whatever you can safely do for 60 minutes while practicing good trail stewardship and social distancing is fair game.

Irunfar.coms Bryon Powell says that he and his partner and co-editor Meghan Hicks were inspired by how the trail-running community was coming together in the face of crisis and wanted their online community to play a part.

We reflected on iRunFars dual missionto inspire and to informand resolved to help meet that inspirational goal head-on during these challenging times, he says. So, we created the Operation Inspiration, with the virtual race being one part of it.

After creating their own virtual race, Powell says they were further encouraged by the success of the #YoCorroEnCasa event based in Spain, which raised 85,000 Euros in solidarity with those who are forced to work out in their homes. Brands that have put aside their own manufacturing in order to produce masks and medical personal protective equipment have also been a source of positivity for Irunfar.com.

Powell says the hopes that participants in the virtual race gain a sense of community and connection from the experience, thatglobally and locallywere communities that are extremely powerful forces for personal mental and physical well being as well as larger-scale good. That were resilient and can enjoy running or working out without group runs or races, at least for some time.

Zoe Rom is Assistant Editor at Trail Runner , host of the DNF Podcast and a trail running coach. She enjoys podcasts and pizza.
On dozens of Twitter accounts and online forums, people are drawn into private group chats on Discord, an app that has been popular in far-right circles. There, people share Zoom codes, raid video conferences simultaneously and designate point values for certain types of harassment in order to drive competition. The Times discovered 14 active Discord chats with dozens of messages sent a minute, with the most popular chat hosting over 2,000 people.

This behavior violates Discords terms of service, and we strongly condemn it, a spokesperson from Discord said in an email statement. Once we identify those servers engaging in this sort of activity, we quickly investigate and take action, including removing content, banning users and shutting down those servers.

On Instagram, a network of accounts with names like Zoomraid and Zoomattack began to appear over the weekend and saw a spike in followers  nearly 30,000 as of Thursday. The owners of these accounts post Zoom meeting codes so that others can coordinate raids of password-protected videoconferences.

We dont want Instagram used this way. We will block hashtags used to coordinate zoombombing and remove accounts created solely for the purpose of zoombombing when we see them, a Facebook company spokesperson said via email.

As classrooms across the country have largely shifted to online-only education in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, many students feel ill equipped to perform in this new learning environment. Several teenagers who ran Zoom raid accounts spoke about their frustrations with online schooling and how, for them, Zoom raiding classes provided an outlet. It was the only way they felt they could escape their crushing academic workload.

Most of the accounts run by teenagers are operating with the goal of derailing middle and high school classes with disruptive but largely inoffensive jokes.

Part of the reason we do it is a lot of teachers give us a lot of work right now, said James, 16, who runs a Zoom raid account. Its stressing us out. We just got home for quarantine and on top of all that we have all this schoolwork to do. We still have tests to do, I have more work to do sometimes now than before because every teacher will assign stuff every week and sometimes classes get in the way of each other. Its really stressful to keep up.
The IRS plans to send electronic payments as soon as late next week to more than 115 million Americans as part of the $2 trillion coronavirus law, a week sooner than expected, according to a plan circulated internally Wednesday.

However, $30 million in paper checks for millions of other Americans won't start being sent out until April 24, because the government lacks their banking information. And some of those checks won't reach people until September, the document shows, underscoring the reality that many Americans could have to wait five months to receive their checks.

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The speed with which the money is disbursed will depend largely on people's method of filing taxes. Electronic payments can be distributed quickly, whereas the IRS must print paper checks and mail them separately. About 8 in 10 taxpayers have signed up for direct deposit payments for their past tax refunds, a number that has grown in recent years. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday that these Americans would receive the money within two weeks.

An IRS spokesman couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The IRS plan would distribute paper checks to the lowest-income Americans first, prioritizing payments for individual taxpayers with incomes of $10,000 or less on April 24.

HOMESCHOOL HEADACHES: Homeschooling memes let parents vent about quarantines

Checks for earners of $20,000 or less would be in the mail May 1, followed by those with incomes of $30,000 on May 8, $40,000 on May 15, and continuing in income increments of $10,000 each week, according to the plan. The IRS plans to issue about 5 million checks each week.

Stimulus checks would be issued on Sept. 4 to joint taxpayers earning around $200,000, the maximum allowed under the stimulus. All others would be sent on Sept. 11, in most cases because the IRS did not have prior tax information for them and they need to apply for the checks.

The tax agency is racing to set up payment systems as millions of Americans have been forced out of the labor force by the pandemic, with jobless claims soaring to a staggering 6.6 million last week.

The plan is to generate electronic checks on April 9, according to the payment schedule reviewed by The Washington Post. Depending on how quickly banks process the payments, they would be deposited by April 14 at the latest.

"If we know where to put the money, we're going to press the button and put it there next week," said an IRS official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly.

American adults who earned less than $75,000 will receive a $1,200 payment, with children receiving $500. The payment will be phased out for Americans who receive more than that, and adults who earned more than $99,000 will not receive the benefit, under the law.

About 145 million Americans are eligible for stimulus checks, depending on their income. Mnuchin had said he expected most Americans to get their payments by April 17. The IRS still has not said publicly how long it would take the agency to issue paper checks, or how it plans to decide who should get them first.

HOUSTON CASES: Houston eclipses 500 cases and Harris County nears 1,000 as coronavirus spread continues

Another 64 million Americans receiving Social Security and disability income will also receive checks, many of them electronically, after the Treasury Department announced Wednesday that they can get payments even if they typically do not file a tax return.

Most taxpayers will not have to file a separate claim with the IRS to receive their checks. The new law directs the Treasury to look at Americans' 2019 or 2018 tax returns to determine whether they are eligible for a payment.

The agency had strongly considered spacing payments out based on $25,000 income brackets, but it concluded in recent days that it needed to send the checks in smaller batches because its networks do not have the bandwidth to issue so many checks in one week, the IRS official said. A slower ramp seemed more manageable, the official said.
Daniel Larrea died on March 30 after a week of high fever, struggling to breathe and steadily turning blue. Then a new nightmare began for his family. No one in their city on Ecuadors Pacific coast would pick up his body.

We wrapped him up in black plastic, Larreas wife, Karina, said Wednesday. Hes here in the living room.

Hospitals are turning away patients and bodies are being left on streets and in homes for days in Guayaquil, a normally bustling city of 2.6 million that has become a hot spot in Latin America as the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic spreads.

The small South American nation has recorded 120 CCP virus deaths, but officials say there could be dozens more who died without ever being officially diagnosedpeople like Larrea, who had all the symptoms, but never got tested. Nationwide, there were 3,160 cases confirmed on Thursday, likely a vast underestimate.

Meanwhile, untold numbers of Ecuadorians are dying of unrelated diseases that cant be treated because hospitals are overwhelmed.

Its not just medical services at a breaking point. Morgues, funeral homes, and all related services for the dead are over capacity.

In recent days, macabre images and pleas from families have appeared on social media showing dead loved ones wrapped in plastic or cloth, waiting for them to be taken away. Television crews have captured images of bodies and coffins left on sidewalks.

Its a desperate smell, said Merwin Teran, 61, the owner of a Guayaquil funeral home, who said he saw 50 dead in one morgue alone.

Doctors say there arent enough tests in the country, making it harder to identify and isolate the sick to try to stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease the CCP virus causesas well as too few hospital beds and ventilators.

We are seeing a situation quite similar to that of Italy, said Dr. Mireya Rodas, a lung specialist at a Guayaquil hospital who has herself tested positive.

Ecuador identified its first case of COVID-19 on Feb. 29a 71-year-old woman who had traveled from Spainmaking it one of the first Latin American countries to confirm the arrival of the disease.

Medical experts fear the disaster brewing in Guayaquil may offer a frightening glimpse of what awaits the region in coming weeks and months.

More contagion, more mortality, said Enrique Acosta, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic research in Germany. They are closely intertwined.

Acosta is among a group of policy experts urging Latin American governments to quickly ramp up testing. They note that in countries like Singapore and South Korea, where the CCP virus has been more quickly contained, testing was widespread. But that is not the case in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Medical professionals believe the true number of CCP virus cases in Ecuador could be five times the official count or higher.

Teran, the funeral home owner, said he went to a cemetery on Tuesday where workers usually inter about 30 people a day, but 149 bodies were awaiting burial or cremation.

He said many funeral homes are not operating, while those that are have to send workers to pick up bodies without adequate protection. By law, he said, funeral homes cant pick up bodies until a doctor has signed off on a cause of death, but because so many physicians are treating patients, bodies are accumulating in morgues, creating a backlog.

Not all of the dead are dying from the CCP viruswhich for most people, causes only mild to moderate symptoms, like a fever and cough. But for others, particularly older adults and those with other health problems, it can lead to pneumonia and death.

Carmen Suarez, 71, died at her home over the weekend in Guayaquil from what the family believes was kidney failure. Relatives tried to find a hospital that would accept her as her legs grew increasingly swollen, but were told no beds were available and that taking her to a hospital would be risky anyway because of the CCP virus spread.

By Tuesday, the family had spent three days waiting for her body to be taken away. They eventually called a funeral home worker who brought a coffin and embalmed her body, which was still waiting on the familys patio.

Its catastrophic what is happening in Guayaquil, said Byron Moreira, 36, her son-in-law. I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy.

Esteban Ortiz, a public health specialist, said that in the province of Guayas, which includes Guayaquil and where 70 percent of the countrys CCP virus cases are located, only around 175 ventilators are likely available. On Thursday, 225 people were hospitalized, including 122 in serious condition nationwide, indicating a likely critical shortage of the live-saving equipment.

Were not giving them a chance to come and get medical attention, he said.

The Ministry of Public Health did not respond to requests for comment. But at a news conference Wednesday, health authorities defended Ecuadors response, saying that new technology would soon allow testing to increase to 1,400 a day.

Jorge Wated, the official tasked by the government with handling the death toll crisis, said authorities were preparing for many more fatalities and working to ensure all are buried appropriately. He said authorities usually pick up about 30 people who have died in their homes each day, but have been picking up around 150, not all of whom died of COVID-19.

We ask for forgiveness for those who had to wait days for their loved ones to be picked up, he said.

Gina Watson, representative for the Pan American Health Organization in Ecuador, said experts expect to see a similar uptick in cases elsewhere in the region.

Guayaquil is experiencing what we expect to see in all countries, she said. A rising curve of cases along with the associated mortality.

Until he came down with a 102-degree fever a week ago, Larrea had no known health problems other than being overweight, his family said.

The family called doctors, who advised him to stay home and take an over-the-counter fever reducer.

As he grew worsestruggling to breath and changing colorthe family called for an ambulance, only to be told none were available to go to their poor neighborhood.

The family was dependent on the 42-year-old Uber driver and father of four for their economic livelihood and together with other relativeseight people in totallive in a small home.

After he died, they wrapped the body in thick black plastic, called 911 and waited.

Aside from the emotional toll of seeing their loved one die, the family now fears that they have all been exposed to CCP virus.

Were afraid, said Larreas wife, Karina, that were all infected.

By Christine Armario and Gonzalo Solano

NTD staff contributed to this report.
She welcomed her first child, daughter Frankie Violet, in October.

And model Jennifer Hawkins has revealed she is 'proud' of how her body has changed after pregnancy and childbirth.

The 36-year-old model told Marie Claire she didn't mind having a 'stomach pouch' because motherhood was worth every sacrifice.

'You let go': Jennifer Hawkins has revealed she is 'proud' of how her body has changed after pregnancy and childbirth. Pictured with her five-month-old daughter, Frankie Violet

'I have so much more respect for my body, instead of worrying about it aesthetically. You let go and I feel like I'm much calmer now,' Jennifer said.

'I'm really content and I don't mind what people say because I'm happy with myself. I thought I'd be worried about having a stomach that wouldn't pull in - I have a pouch!

'But I just think "Who cares? Look what I've got in my arms.'" I look at Frankie and go, "Wow, my body grew her and feeds her."'

'It's freeing': The 36-year-old model told Marie Claire she didn't mind having a 'stomach pouch' because motherhood was worth every sacrifice

The former Miss Universe described her newfound self-acceptance as 'freeing' after she and her husband had tried for a baby for two years.

The doting mother featured on the cover of the May edition of Marie Claire while cradling her five-month-old daughter.

While Jennifer has appeared on the covers of countless magazines in the past, this is the first time she has posed with her child

Lovely: The former Miss Universe described her newfound self-acceptance as 'freeing' after she and her husband had tried for a baby for two years

Jennifer, who is married to property developer Jake Wall, wore a peach-toned linen dress while holding Frankie close to her chest.

The former Australia's Next Top Model host 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.
L isa Nandy is just one of three potential candidates to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party.

The MP for Wigan threw her hat into the ring earlier this year and is fighting it out with Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey to be the next leader of the opposition.

Earlier this year, Mr Corbyn announced he would stand down as party chief after he oversaw Labour's worst election results since 1935, and the race to replace him opened at the end of February.

The polls closed on Thursday, April 2 and with the results to be announced on Saturday morning (April 4), we take a look at LIsa Nandy.

Northern powerhouse: Lisa Nandy at Westminster / Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd

Who is Lisa Nandy?

The veteran Labour politician has been representing Wigan since 2010. Before that, she was a Labour councillor for Hammersmith Broadway from 2006-2010 where she served as a shadow cabinet member for housing.

Born in Manchester in 1979, her grandfather was Liberal MP Frank Byers and her father is the Marxist and academic Dipak Nandy. Before entering Parliament, she also worked as a researcher and caseworker for Labour MP Neil Gerard.

With a reputation as a constituency campaigner, Ms Nandy set up the Centre for Towns thinktank last year and has called for the party's decision-making structures to move out of the capital in order to the party to regain the trust of voters outside London.

"Our Labour headquarters, in my view, should move out of London, our regional offices should be empowered to take real decisions, we should move our party conferences back to towns as well as cities," she said.

Ms Nandy said it is "undoubtedly true" that Mr Corbyn is to blame for the devastating defeat, but said it was not a rejection of the ideas in the Labour manifesto.

Considered to be a soft-left MP, Ms Nandy was one of a handful of shadow minister who resigned from Mr Corbyns's frontbench after the Brexit referendum and his leadership, and has in the past revealed the abuse she has received for not supporting the outgoing leader.

Labour leadership vote closes

A former shadow energy secretary, Ms Nandy voted Remain in 2016 but has argued against a second referendum and revealed that she voted in favour of Boris Johnson's Brexit deal in October.

The 40-year-old mother-of-one was born in Manchester and educated at a comprehensive school in the city, before continuing her education at a sixth form college in Bury and later studying politics at Newcastle University.

Her partner, Andy Collis, is a public relations consultant, and she is determinedly focused on winning back many of Labour's traditional heartlands which it lost in the December 2019 general election.

She told the Telegraph: "I understand that we have one chance to win back the trust of people in Wigan, Workington and Wrexham.
Coronavirus:Libya at risk of humanitarian catastrophe,UNHCR Fighting worsened over past week

(ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 3 - UNHCR on Friday warned of a possible ''humanitarian catastrophe'' in Libya due to worsening fighting a year after the launch of General Khalifa Haftar's military operation against Tripoli and due to the risk of COVID-19 spreading throughout the country. ''More than 300 civilians have been killed and 150,000 others displaced from their homes since last April. Despite the tentative agreement on a humanitarian truce, fighting escalated significantly in the past week. The deteriorating security has also undermined the ability of the tens of thousands of formerly displaced persons to safely return to their areas of origin,'' a statement said. Meanwhile, the authorities have now confirmed ten cases of COVID-19 and one death in Libya, raising new fears about the ability of the country's weakened health services to respond.



The head of the UNHCR mission in Libya, Jean-Paul Cavalieri, warned of a possible humanitarian catastrophe if the virus was not contained.(ANSAmed).




Manila, April 2 (IANS) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered police officers to shoot those who violate the strict quarantine imposed in the country over the coronavirus pandemic.

"I will not hesitate. My orders are to the police and military that if there is trouble or the situation arises that people fight and your lives are on the line, shoot them dead. Do you understand?" Efe news quoted the President as saying on Wednesday night in a televised speech.

The closure of much of the country, including Manila, and strict quarantine and confinement regulations have prevented millions who subsist day by day in the capital's poorest neighbourhoods from finding a way to earn a living.

Duterte accused left-wing civil groups of instigating the protest.

"Remember, you leftists: You are not the government. Do not go around causing trouble and riots because I will order you detained until this COVID (outbreak ends)," the President said.

Duterte was granted special executive powers from Congress last week to deal with the disease.

The law includes a provision of 200 billion pesos ($4 billion) to distribute among 18 million disadvantaged households in the country, where 16 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

However, aid is blocked because the government still produces a "consolidated database" of beneficiaries.

"Just wait for the delivery even if it's delayed, it will arrive and you will not go hungry. You will not die of hunger," Duterte said.

On thursday, human rights defenders and civil groups denounced the President's remarks, which went viral on the social media, where the hashtag #OustDuterte (expel Duterte) has been trending since Wednesday night.

"We are seriously alarmed that the President's words will translate to worse and more brutal forms of human rights violations, repression, and State violence in the days to come," human rights organization Karapatan said.

Student group CEGP said one "cannot expect the people to just remain silent if their stomachs are churning," adding that the government "cannot clutch unto his fascistic and militaristic schemes because he will not win against a hunger-stricken nation filled with disgust and anger against his incompetent regime".

The Philippines has so far reported 2,311 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 96 deaths.

--IANS

ksk/
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 22:20:32|Editor: huaxia

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DUBLIN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Europe's largest budget airline Ryanair said on Friday that its March passenger numbers dropped sharply due to flight bans and restrictions imposed by various European countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, Ryanair Group handled a total of 5.7 million passengers, down 47.7 percent compared with the 10.9 million passengers handled by the group in the same month of last year, the airline said in a statement.

The load factor or flight occupancy of the group for March stood at 91 percent, five percentage points lower than the previous month's figure of 96 percent, according to the Ryanair statistics.

Ryanair operated over 33,000 scheduled flights in March including a number of rescue and medical flights on behalf of various governments of the European Union (EU) countries, said the airline.

"Ryanair expects to carry minimal if any traffic during the months of April and May," said the company's statement.

Ryanair has canceled most of its flights starting from midnight of March 24.

Headquartered in Ireland, Ryanair mainly operates flights within Europe and part of North Africa. The company boasts a fleet of more than 470 aircraft and a staff force of nearly 20,000 people.
Fake: CBSE is not resuming class 10, 12 exams from April 22

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 03: A press release stating that the CBSE class 10 and 12 exams would resume from April 22 2020 has been doing the rounds.

The release also notes that the evaluation of the answer sheets would resume from April 25 onwards. However this is a fake press release and students are advised not to believe in it. No such announcement has been made by the CBSE.

The CBSE has said, as a precautionary measure and in compliance of the instructions received from Secretary, Department of Higher Education/ School Education and Literacy, Government of India, dated 18th March, 2020, CBSE had postponed all the board examinations that were to be held between 19.03.2020 to 31.03.2020. It was informed in the Board's press release dated 18.3.20 that "date sheets for the rescheduled board examinations shall be communicated by the board through its website and press release after re-assessment of the situation."

The Board is committed to the academic welfare of its students; therefore, the Board is constantly assessing the situation, and is keen to mitigate the anxiety of the students, parents, and schools. In view of the prevailing extraordinary circumstances of the worldwide spread of COVID-19 and the countrywide lockdown, and in view of the queries raised by our stakeholders regarding the academic future of students, the Board advises/informs all schools affiliated to the Board as follows as a one-time measure:

1. For classes 1 to 8: All students studying in classes 1 to 8 maybe promoted to the next class/grade. This advisory is being issued in consultation with NCERT.

2. For classes 9 and 11: It has come to our notice that though several schools affiliated to CBSE have completed their examination, evaluation and promotion process for students who were studying in grades 9 and 11 in the 2019-20 academic session, there are several schools that have not been able to do so. This includes among others, Kendriaya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, State/UT government schools, private schools, schools located in India and abroad, etc. All such schools are advised to promote students of grades 9 and 11 to the next grades on the basis of all the school-based assessments including project work, periodic tests, term exams, etc. conducted so far. For any child who is unable to clear this internal process, (in any number of subjects), the school may utilise this period for providing remedial interventions, and school may give the opportunity of appearing in school-based test/s, online or offline. The promotion of such children may be decided on the basis of such tests.

3.Schedule for class 10 and 12 board exams: With regard to rescheduling board examinations for classes 10 and 12, it is informed that at this stage it is difficult for the Board to decide and announce the new schedule for examinations. However, it is informed that any decision that the board will take with regard to the conduct of examinations will be taken by undertaking extensive consultation with higher education authorities and by keeping all aspects related to entrance exams, admissions dates, etc. in mind. In this context, it is further informed that the Board will give notice of about 10 days to all stakeholders before starting the Board examinations.

4.Subjects for Board exams: It is informed that the Board was not able to conduct exams on 8 examination days due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Further, due to the law and order situation in North East Delhi District the board was not able to conduct exams on 4 examination days, while a very small number of students from and around this District were not able to appear in exams on 6 examination days.

Considering the extraordinary circumstances, the Board has been forced to review its policy in this regard. Under ordinary circumstances, the Board would not have hesitated to conduct all examinations that could not be held after 18th March, 2020 or are postponed for other reasons. But in the present situation, the Board has decided as follows:

The Board will conduct examinations for only main subjects that will be required for promotion and maybe crucial for admissions in higher educational institutions.

For the rest of the subjects, the Board will not hold examinations; the instructions for marking/assessment in all such cases shall be separately issued by the Board.

Therefore, as and when the Board is in a position to hold examinations, it shall hold examinations only for the following 29 subjects:

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Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2020, 9:08 [IST]
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @emmiqasim36)

Have you ever heard of someone suing a tech giant like Google? How about children suing Google? That's the case in this article in which two children are suing Google for allegedly violating privacy laws with their educational tools.

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What's The Scoop

Two children are suing Google for allegedly collecting biometric data, like face scans, of millions of students through the search giant's software tools used in classrooms all over the country. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in a federal court in San Jose, California. Is seeking a class-action lawsuit status.

The children whose initials start with H.K and J.C. are the ones who filed the complaint, are suing through their father, Clinton Farwell.

Google has been using its services to create "voiceprints" and face templates for children, through a program in which the search giant provides school districts all across the country with Chromebooks and also free access to G Suite for Education apps, the complaint states.

The apps include student versions of Gmail, Google Docs, and Calendar.

The data collection would most likely violate Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act or also called BIPA. In which it regulates facial recognition, fingerprinting, and all other biometric technologies in the state of Chicago. This would also likely be hit the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act or also called COPPA, in which federal law that requires sites to get parental consent when collecting parental information from users who are under 13 years old.

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The lawsuit says, "Google has complete control over the data collection, use, and retention practices of the 'G Suite for Education' service, including the biometric data and other personally identifying information collected through the use of the service, and uses this control not only to secretly and unlawfully monitor and profile children but to do so without the knowledge or consent of those children's parents,"

Bloomberg has tried to get a comment from Google, in which the latter has declined to do so.

What Are They Asking For in Return?

The complaint is asking for damages of over 1,000 USD for each member of the class for BIPA violations that Google committed "negligently," or around 5,000 USD each for each offense committed "intentionally or recklessly."

This lawsuit empathizes Google's dominance over the American classrooms, which has only garnered attention in recent weeks. Schools now depend more and more on the tech giant's educational tools as they are starting to go to class remotely rather than physical courses around the nation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Several states right now are enacting stay-at-home orders, and the usage of Google's tools has soared. The downloads alone for Google Classroom, which helps teachers create online classes, have up to over 50 million downloads, which makes it the number one education app on Apple's iOS and also Google's Android platforms.

Google has also announced on Thursday that they will be partnering with California Gov. Gavin Newsom to donate over 4,000 Chromebooks to students all across the sunny state.

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
It is scary enough that a dangerous virus is multiplying throughout the world, but one of the most frightening aspects of COVID-19 is the mysterious way it affects its victims, killing some people and leaving others with mild or no symptoms.

It is a puzzle that has baffled medical professionals and prompted a batch of studies in the Bay Area and around the world to try to figure out what is going on. The early evidence is sobering.

Infectious disease specialists increasingly believe the perplexing randomness of who gets sickest may have less to do with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease, than it does with some peoples overly robust immune responses to the infection.

The quandary has taken on new urgency, given that many hard-hit victims are not old or harboring preexisting medical conditions, but young, healthy and active people. That troubling fact was highlighted this week by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of President Trumps coronavirus task force.

You get so many people who do well and then some people who just, bingo, theyre on a respirator, theyre on ECMO (a life-support machine) and theyre dead, Fauci said during an interview with CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. I mean, the dichotomy between that, theres something there, Sanjay, that were missing from a pathogenesis standpoint. And I dont think its only if youre elderly or if you have underlying conditions. Theres something else going on there that hopefully well ultimately figure out.

The death toll is, no doubt, highest among the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, but the extreme respiratory distress that causes those deaths  inflammation, the filling of the lungs with fluid, pneumonia  seems to be less selective.

Some of the symptoms are caused by the inflammatory response to the virus, said Levi Garraway, chief medical officer at Genentech, which is conducting trials on a drug called Actemra, which was designed to control overactive immune responses. The response can be a good thing, but in some cases there may be an excessive response. That can lead to its own problems.

Most autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis, are the result of a hyperactive immune response. Although the causes of most autoimmune diseases are unknown, it is believed that some kind of bacteria, virus or drug tricks the body and causes white blood cells to think healthy cells are invaders and attack them.

Experts theorize that it was the strong immune system responses of victims that caused so much death during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which actually killed more young, healthy 20- to 40-year-olds than anyone else.

The coronavirus spreading across the globe appears to be triggering a similar autoimmune type reaction in certain people, experts say.

Dr. Carolyn Calfee, a professor of medicine and anesthesia at UCSF, is researching those reactions and trying to understand how this coronavirus differs from other infections.

One thing common in virtually every critical case, she said, is the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, which is characterized by fluid leaking into the lungs. That is why many victims need a ventilator to breathe.

Calfee, an expert on the condition, said ARDS is caused by inflammation in the lungs, similar to a burn or blister on the skin.

Imagine what happens when you burn your arm. Well, when you have acute injury to the air sacs in your lungs, a similar thing happens, Calfee said. The nice clean barrier between the air sacs and the blood becomes leaky and inflames and fluids begin pouring into the lungs.

Whats strange, she said, is how suddenly ARDS materializes in COVID-19 patients and how difficult it is to eliminate.

She said patients may experience relatively mild, flu-like symptoms for as long as a week before symptoms of ARDS begin, and its onset is usually sudden, without warning. And then it often requires a week to several weeks on a ventilator  an unusually long time for a patient with a respiratory illness  for patients to recover, if they do.

Calfee and her colleagues are collecting blood and lung fluid samples trying to figure out what it is about some peoples immune systems that causes them to have such severe reactions. These kinds of studies are the key for dozens of university laboratories and biological institutes around the world trying to develop medicines and a vaccine.

Dr. Melanie Ott, a senior investigator with the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology in San Franciscos Mission Bay, said the extreme coronavirus cases are the result of a unique interaction between the virus and its human host.

Viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, she explained, are parasitical microbes that cannot reproduce or live very long outside of an animal.

It needs to go inside and hijack the machinery, which is what makes it so dangerous because it takes the host machinery away, Ott said. It propagates its genome into a host cell.

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The problems begin, experts say, when the body gets confused and attacks healthy cells along with the virus-compromised organisms in the lungs, causing an out-of-control inflammatory reaction that sometimes impacts the heart and gut, too.

Microbiologists must now comb through the sequenced genomes of the virus in search of the mechanisms that provoke such a harsh human immune system response, which specialists call cytokine storm syndrome. They will scour through the microbes in inflamed and healthy tissues, examine molecules in the fluid extracted from the lungs of sick people and search for a weakness in the virus that can be exploited.

Were trying to predict how this virus is vulnerable by replicating the infection and the damage it causes in humans, Ott said.

The scientists working on this case have done it before with HIV/AIDS, which was once a death sentence and is now a chronic but treatable disease, and hepatitis C, which can now be cured in eight weeks with a drug that was approved for use in 2014.

Duplicating those success stories isnt an easy task, said Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, an infectious disease specialist at San Francisco General Hospital, who participated in the clinical trials for both HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

There were no coronavirus experts before this pandemic, Luetkemeyer said. All of us had to step up and say, What am I gonna do? We had to become COVID experts. ... Not only have we been asked to take care of this disease that nobody has ever seen before, but also figure out how to treat it.

It appears now that the key to unlocking the mystery of the pandemic is to figure out why a damaging immune response occurs only in some people and what COVID-19 does to cause that reaction.

You can learn a lot from a virus, Ott said. The more we learn, the more we can fight.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite
Steve Bannons Huawei Film Claws of the Red Dragon Screens on China in Focus

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannons new film Claws of the Red Dragon will be screened at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 5, on China in Focus, a Youtube channel from NTD that provides compelling, first-hand news from China.

Released by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTD) and starring Dorren Lee, Taras Lavren, and Eric Peterson, the 54-minute film seeks to shed light on the connection between Huawei Technologiesthe worlds largest maker of telecommunications gearand Chinas ruling Communist Party.

Bannon said the film is for helping average citizens to understand how the Chinese regime uses Huawei and the Belt and Road Initiative to expand its power through dominating the infrastructure of other countries.

This is not going to be a Cold War. This is going to be much more you have information war, you have economic war, you have connected war, Bannon said after a private screening of the film in Manhattan on Oct. 17, 2019. He said Huawei is a key player in Chinas plan.

The film comes as the United States imposed bans in May on Huaweis access to U.S. technology and accused the company of installing back doors in its equipment to enable China to spy on the country.

Clara Del Villar, a former vice president at the telecom company Nortel Networks and an audience member at the screening, said she expects the next large confrontation in the world to take place in the cyber realm, and thats why Huawei needs to be monitored.

Im not normally a doomsday scenario type of person. But if you look out for decades to come, its likely that that will be the characteristic that lies ahead, she told NTD.

After witnessing the growth of Huawei from primitive to dominant during her work in the telecoms industry, she said the concerns revealed by the film are real.

Their ability to really become a master in telecoms technology would make them a very powerful player if there are any misdeeds in cyber warfare in the years to come, she said.

I think Steve [Bannon] is absolutely right, Gerald Brant, who was also at the screening, told NTD. You could certainly have the risk of a dystopia, in the Orwellian 1984 sense of the term, when you have technologies like this 5G and artificial intelligence in the hands of a totalitarian government.

Huaweis equipment is used by 45 of the 50 biggest global phone carriers, according to an Associated Press report.

The United States has been warning its allies and companies not to use Huawei equipment. Last month, Italy approved measures to allow its government more power to oversee any 5G supply deals involving non-European vendors and influence deals.

The U.S. government is doing the right things, Brant said, and actually, I think the Trump administration deserves a lot of credit in terms of the way theyre applying the pressure globally on Huawei.

From NTD News
A Vietnamese doctor working in the U.S. reveals things are horrific at her New York-Presbyterian Hospital as it struggles to cope with Covid-19.

Trang Phuong Trinh, 30, said things changed dramatically in March in New York City, which became the epicenter of the novel coronavirus, and working at the hospital was like "going to the battlefield."

She and her husband, also a doctor, and colleagues all share the same anxiety and helplessness as Covid-19 claims lives right before their eyes.

In early March, when Covid-19 was yet to make an impact, she and her husband went on a cross-state road trip. At her hospital, everyone was talking about the disease but were not worried much. But things started to change 10 days into her vacation.

On the day New York reported its first case of Covid-19, Trinh and her husband saw numerous emails from the hospital exhorting staff to maintain personal hygiene.

Two days later a super spreader was identified in New Rochelle on the outskirts of the city. Trinh felt a chill after reading about it and began to fear he could have infected a lot of people.

As the number of infections began to surge, Trinh continued to receive emails from the hospital instructing when to use an N95 mask and when to use a regular mask. Besides, the hospital stopped putting hand sanitizers in dispensers, and Trinh found it strange because there was usually plenty of stock. It turned out the contents of the dispensers were stolen by patients and visitors and the hospital was running out of it quickly.

The hospital also ordered the cancelation of all meetings and lectures with more than 25 attendees and required doctors on leave to declare where they went or plan to go, and to stay at home if they had any symptoms of illness.

On March 10, when Trinh and her husband returned to work, the number of infections in New York had increased to 173. They had walked right into a Covid-19 storm.

Things soon started spiraling out of control as the number of cases doubled every three days and all hospitals in the city were overloaded.

A ventilator shortage began to loom, even at Trinh's hospital, which had 100 of them.

She witnessed a scene where a child had to move to another hospital to make room for Covid-19 patients, and could not control bursting into tears.

A shortage of medical staff meant the government had to call retired doctors back to work and field hospitals were set up everywhere. Trinh said New York hospitals looked at the overcrowded hospitals in Italy and began to fear the same thing would happen there.

Her hospital announced it was running out of personal protective equipment, and limited the number of staff entering patients rooms.

In the beginning doctors wore a new N95 mask when examining each patient. Soon masks became extremely scarce, and each doctor was given only one disposable mask disinfected with antiseptic solution and instructed to reuse it until it became dirty.

In the past reusing a mask was unthinkable, and in fact anyone caught doing so would be punished.

"But at the moment all those rules mean nothing," Trinh said.

Patients' family members were not allowed to visit to prevent the virus from spreading. Many people had to see their father, mother or husband on Facetime; some did not even know when a relative died because the hospital could not contact them.

Trinh was heartbroken to witness patients suffocate to death when their lungs could no longer supply oxygen to the body and there were not enough ventilators. Family members could not meet them one last time or hold funerals because of the ban on gatherings.

The city was forced to bring refrigerated trucks to carry the dead away and the increasing number of deaths every day caused the morgue to be overloaded.

Women had to deliver babies on their own without their husbands to support them to avoid transmission.

Workers from various sectors were mobilized to assist general and emergency healthcare personnel. Many of them were physically exhausted and often had to stay at home. Medical students in their final year were graduated early to be able to treat patients at hospitals.

Being on the frontlines in the fight against epidemics, doctors like Trinh always live in fear of spreading the disease to their loved ones.

"My friends had to go down to the basement, sleep in another bedroom or go to a hotel. If anyone had children, they were sent to stay with their grandparents, and they didn't dare visit their children. Since my husband and I both are doctors, we had already realized that if one us got infected and other will also get infected."

She said doctors scrambled to write wills, especially those who had children. The joke about writing "If something ever happens to me, get a new wife" seemed less funny now, she said.

Trinh's mother-in-law bought all kinds of vitamins and forced her and her husband to drink, and every day she provided them with food though she only dared to leave it outside their door.

Some of her colleagues were advised by their family to quit work and return after the pandemic died down, but no one dared do that because of the responsibility they felt toward patients and colleagues.

Trinh said the city and state now put all their trust and hope in hospitals. Restaurants and food delivery services have begun to provide free meals to doctors who show hospital IDs so that they can focus on their work. Shoe and clothing brands also offer their products to health workers.

Trinh is deeply motivated when the whole city applauds and cheers first responders and medical personnel at 7 p.m. every day. She sees people stand in the balconies and clap loudly.

She and her husband worry about the possibility of being infected. Her mother-in-law has been visiting them every week, though only standing outside and looking at and talking to them through the window.

"Yesterday she asked to come in and my husband said: 'Mom, you must not get infected now. If you get sick, you will be in hospital alone. And if they have to choose, the doctors will surely use the ventilator on younger patients because their chances of survival are higher. If that happens because I passed it to you, I will never forgive myself.' After hearing that, she agreed not to come in."

The death toll in the U.S. has crossed 5,800.

As of Friday morning, Vietnam had recorded 233 infections. The latest discharges raise the number of Covid-19 patients released from hospitals in Vietnam to 75.

To date, the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed more than 53,000 lives in 204 countries and territories.
The imminent grounding of the Rathcoole-based charity air ambulance will leave thousands of communities stranded and put lives at risk

That was the stark warning from its operators, Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR), after it emerged the service is to be indefinitely grounded from Friday as is funding reserves reach breaking point.

The move has prompted Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan to call on Health Minister Simon Harris to provide the funding needed to keep the ambulance airborne.

Despite implementing sweeping cost cutting measures, including the laying off of non-essential staff and cutting the hours of remaining staff which in turn reduced operating times, the cancellation of fundraising events for the service due to the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt it a brutal and potentially devastating blow.

ICRR operations manager Ruth Bruton said it was with deep regret they have taken the decision to take the ambulance, which has flown more that 351 missions since it first took to the sky last summer each costing in the region of 3,500, out of service.

"We are incredibly upset that lives will be lost due to the grounding of the service at this time, especially given how vital front-line medical support is during the COVID-19 pandemic and given how successful it has been to date," said Ms Bruton.

She said that success was down to donations and the money raised through various fundraising events. However, the latter funding stream has now been completely "extinguished" due to the sweeping restrictions imposed on public events following the Coronavirus outbreak.

"Ours sincere thanks go to the people of Ireland who have supported this service and kept it flying for the last eight months. You have all been a part of a community that has saved hundreds of lives and impacted many, many families," said Ms Bruton.

She said that as a final resort ICRR had written to the Government seeking interim financial support for the service, but thus far had yet to receive a reply.

"The board at ICRR are distraught at having to cease operations during the current crisis. We need supports to keep this vital front-line service flying as cardiac arrest, strokes farming accidents and road traffic collisions will still occur during the COVID-19 crisis," she said.

Deputy Moynihan echoed these sentiments, saying it was vital that the service remain operational as it had "undoubtedly saved lives" since becoming operational.

"This is a seriously worrying development and must be addressed. The funding has to be found to keep this essential service operational - otherwise lives will be lost,"warned Deputy Moynihan.

"I understand our health services are pushed to the limit as the COVID 19 pandemic continues. However, our emergency services must be resourced. Helicopter emergency medical services need to be protected and I am calling on the Health Minister to intervene and ensure that this vital resource is maintained."
The US on Friday criticised a Pakistani court for overturning the death sentence of British-born top al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted in the abduction and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

Washington: The US on Friday criticised a Pakistani court for overturning the death sentence of British-born top Al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted in the abduction and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, terming the verdict an "affront" to victims of terrorism everywhere.

The US' response comes after the Sindh High Court on Thursday found the 46-year-old Sheikh guilty of the lesser charge of kidnapping and commuted his death sentence to seven years in prison.

Sheikh has been in jail for the past 18 years after being convicted in Pearl's murder in Karachi in 2002 in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attack.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha also acquitted the three others  Fa4had Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil  serving life sentences in the case.

"The overturning of the convictions for Daniel Pearl's murder is an affront to victims of terrorism everywhere," Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, said in a tweet. But the US' top diplomat for South Asia welcomed Pakistani prosecutors' indications that they would appeal the decision.

"We welcome Pakistan's decision to appeal the verdict. Those responsible for Daniel's heinous kidnapping and murder must face the full measure of justice," Wells said. Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story on the alleged links between the country''s powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

In another tweet, Congressman Eliot Engel, Chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee said he was deeply concerned by Pakistan court's overturning of convictions for the abduction and killing of Pearl.

"It's critical Pakistan demonstrate a real commitment to addressing its longstanding terrorism problem by holding those involved accountable," Engel tweeted.

Congressman Brad Sherman spoke to Pakistan's Ambassador to the US to convey his view on the court verdict. "This court decision is outrageous and will hopefully be reversed by a higher court," he said.

"We are appalled by the court's decision to overturn the murder conviction of Omar Saeed Sheikh and release him from prison," said Commissioner Johnnie Moore from US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

"After nearly two decades, there is still insufficient accountability for the horrific murder of Daniel Pearl who was executed, in part, for being Jewish," he said.

Congressman Michael McCaul, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said he is extremely troubled by the Pakistani court's decision to overturn the convictions. "We must never stop seeking justice for Daniel. he tweeted.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Anurima Bhargava said the verdict showed not only the lack of accountability for Pearl's murder but also the misplaced priorities of the Pakistani legal system.

"There are currently dozens of prisoners facing life sentences and the death penalty under the country's blasphemy law, so often abused to convict religious minorities using false evidence. We urge the Pakistani government to prioritise the release of prisoners of conscience who are especially vulnerable now with the spread of the coronavirus," she said.

Sheikh, who was the mastermind behind abduction and killing of Pearl, was arrested from Lahore in February 2002 and sentenced to death five months later by an anti-terrorism court.

The incident had come three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814. He was serving prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country.

"Justice has been done to my clients," said one of Sheikh's lawyers Khawaja Naveed. The case had strained the relations between Pakistan and the US when terrorism was at its height in Pakistan after the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre.

The verdict on Thursday came more than a month after Paris-based Financial Action Task Force warned Pakistan that stern action will be taken against it if the country fails to check the flow of money to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) among others.

The FATF, which supervises effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, last year placed Pakistan on its "Grey List" of countries for failure to curb funnelling of funds to terror groups like the LeT and the JeM.

If not removed from the list by April end, Pakistan may move to a blacklist of countries such as Iran that face severe economic sanctions.
New Delhi, April 3 : The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Friday wrote to universities and colleges to apprise students and the faculty about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to light candles at 9 p.m. for 9 minutes on April 5.

The request came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to stay indoors and switch off lights of their homes for nine minutes and light up lamps, candles, and mobile flashlights at 9 p.m. on Sunday to display the nation's collective spirit to defeat the coronavirus pandemic.

In the letter, UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain requested vice-chancellors of universities and principals of colleges to disseminate information among students, faculty members, researchers, non-teaching staff members and others about the PM's request.

The UGC also urged the heads of the institutes to share information about Arogya Setu mobile application. The application is designed to inform the users about risks, best practices and relevant advisories pertaining to the containment of Covid-19.

The letter also urged the heads to share information about AYUSH Ministry's guidelines on self-care that involve Ayurvedic steps like Yoga, to build a strong defence mechanism and follow the principle of "prevention is better than cure."
A woman from Ohio says her family has been 'destroyed' by the coronavirus, with her parents and brother dying while her husband is in hospital fighting for his life.

Tragedy struck Kelly Conkey Billups who lost her brother to Covid-19, followed by both her parents, in the space of just three days. Her Husband Don is now clinging to life on a support ventilator.

Conkey Billups, 54, shared her story with The Columbus Dispatch with a message to others to stay at home and keep your loved ones safe.

Kelly Conkey Billups (pictured in the center) with her family. Her husband Don Billups (far left) is on a ventilator fighting for his life. Parents Judith and Lewis sit at the front and her brother stands David Cokey stands right, have all sadly died

Kelly Conkey Billups spoke to The Columbus Dispatch describing her grief of losing her parents and brother to Covid-19, while her husband also fights for his life in hospital

'It has destroyed my family. It has broken my family,' she told The Columbus Dispatch from her home in Grove City home, where she is quarantined.

'It's like a nightmare. It's like knowing that a big winter storm is blowing in and you get prepared and you hunker down and you just wonder how bad it's going to get, how long it's going to last, and what happens when it's all over and how you dig yourself out,' she said. 'But I don't know how to dig myself out now.'

David Conkey, Kelly's brother, died on Sunday aged 51 after falling ill. They had all been gathered as a family over 7 - 8 March.

To compound Conkey Billups' grief, both of her parents Lewis and Judith Conkey - reportedly highschool sweethearts who had married in 1963 - passed away the following Tuesday just a couple of hours apart at a Grove City hospital.

Judith Conkey, who died aged 75, had undergone a recent surgery and required rehabilitation. David Conkey and his wife traveled together to Columbus, Ohio to help get their mother settled in a rehab home. During this time, the family spent two days together.

Of their time together, Conkey Billups said: 'We laughed and joked and just had a ball.' However, when he returned home, David Conkey developed symptoms. On 10 March he was diagnosed with ear and sinus infections, and two days later was put on a ventilator.

Conkey Billups takes a selfie with her father Lewis, who passed away from Covid-19 last month

Her mother Judith, also passed away last month aged 75 hours apart from her husband Lewis whom she had married is 1963

That Friday, their father Lewis began to experience symptoms of Covid-19, shortly followed by their mother Judith. Conkey Billups also had to call an ambulance for her husband Don on 23 March.

Conkey Billups says that her Don had texted her saying he was struggling to breathe, and two days after was also put on ventilation.

After experiencing the loss of her brother and seeing her parents put on ventilation, she said: 'I prayed to my brother to come with God to take them [her parents] together because our parents would never have survived knowing that we lost him,' she said.

'They would not have been able to recover. Not ever.' They died a few hours apart.

At first, Don Billips tested negative for Covid-19 but doctors suspected it was a false-negative. After being tested for a second time, the results are currently pending., according to Fox8.

A friend of Conkey Billups helped start a GoFundMe campaign to help the family. By Friday 3 April, it has now raised over $42,000 of its $50,000 target.

'Writing on the GoFundMe page, her friend wrote: Please consider giving what you can, as Kelly is always one of the first to offer assistance to those in need.

'She reached out to me during a difficult time in my life, and she had only known me through Facebook.

'I know I am not alone. She brings kindness to strangers all the time. This money will help the family tremendously. If it cannot be used for the family, I am confident it will be paid forward.'

The US has had 272,168 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with over 7,000 deaths. Ohio has had 2,902 confirmed cases with 81 deaths.

A look at how cases of the coronavirus have escalated over time

A look at the number of U.S. resulting from the coronavirus per day
Scientists have unearthed a huge cache of fossilised Australian amber filled with flies, baby spiders, midges and plants from between 40 and 230 million years ago.

The work sheds new light on what Australia looked like when it was part of the supercontinent Gondwana, which also included South America, Africa, India and Antarctica.

Until now Australias amber record from that time was essentially empty.

A rare example of frozen behaviour in the fossil record of two mating, long-legged flies in clear, honey-coloured amber from Anglesea, Victoria, dated to about 41 million years ago. Credit:Jeffrey Stilwell / Supplied

More than 5800 chunks of amber taken from nine sites, including an oil well in the middle of Bass Strait and the Anglesea coal seams west of Melbourne, contain the first Australian fossils of ancient Gondwanan ants and slender springtails, tiny wingless creatures never before seen here.
HAMDEN  Police are investigating after an alleged armed robbery on Whitney Avenue Friday morning.

Officer Keron Bryce was called to the Shell Food Mart on Whitney Avenue at approximately 2 a.m., Capt. Ronald Smith said in a release.

Investigation revealed that an individual, described as a white or light-skinned male, 52, thin build, wearing a face mask, entered the store holding a shotgun style firearm. The male pointed the firearm at the clerk, while demanding money, Smith said. He subsequently fled on foot, southbound on Whitney Avenue, with an undisclosed amount of money.

The man was last seen getting into a gray Nissan, Smith said.

Smith asked anyone with information to contact the Hamden Police Department at (203) 230-4000.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
OTTAWA  CN Rail staff in Winnipeg claim the railway uses shoddy sanitation measures on trains and company buildings, an issue union stewards are reporting across Canada.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  CN Rail staff in Winnipeg claim the railway uses shoddy sanitation measures on trains and company buildings, an issue union stewards are reporting across Canada.

"We need to be protecting essential workers, especially in the transportation sector, because at the moment our supply chains depend on them," said Christopher Monette, spokesman for the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.

Multiple CN employees based in Winnipeg have sent the Free Press photos, videos and audio clips that suggest lax cleanliness on trains and CN property. (The Free Press is not printing the photos to protect the identity of the employees who shared them.)

Last week in some Symington Yard stairwells, staff wiped cloths and napkins down indoor handrails that showed plenty of dirt.

Theyve filmed the same issue this week, with excessive dirt on indoor control switches.

Also this week, supervisors have told staff that locomotive cabins and belt packs on trains arriving from other provinces or the United States were been cleaned in the past 24 hours  but not between shift changes.

In some recordings, supervisors asked staff if they really need bottles of cleaning supplies, and why the provided wipes at their workspaces don't suffice.

The staff can show theyve been assigned tasks that exceed the physical-distancing rules the company has passed along from public-health officials.

Because the sources werent authorized to speak with media, the Free Press is withholding their names, and did not share these excerpts with CN Rail, which said it cant fully respond without seeing that evidence.

However, the company insists its cleaning locomotives as soon as they arrive at interchange points such as Winnipeg, and leaving two packs of four large disinfectant wipes for each shift.

In some recordings supplied to the Free Press by CN employees, supervisors asked staff if they really needed bottles of cleaning supplies, and why the provided wipes at their workspaces don't suffice. (Ryan Remiorz / The Canadian Press files)

The Teamsters union said the CN bunkhouse in Rivers is among resting areas where staff are unsafely kept in tight quarters.

CN activated a pandemic plan on March 9, and said staff have been told to reduce by half the number of employees in rest facilities and crew vans.

The railway has made "a senior-level, cross-functional team" to procure and even make disinfectant fluids and supplies, while "increasing our capacity to move employees from one location to another, to help respect the physical distancing guidelines when travelling," wrote spokesman Jonathan Abecassis.

"We have enacted all of these measures because we take the threat of COVID-19 very seriously. Our employees are at the heart of our company and they play critical roles."

Monette said CP Rail was more responsive when the union raised concerns about inadequate cleanliness and physical distancing, while CN reacted only after TCRC issued a Monday press release. The railway did not dispute that.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau was not available for an interview. But his office wrote that Transport Canada has daily calls with the rail industry and unions, as well as federal border, health and labour officials.

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The regulator has suspended some safety recertifications, in agreement with the Teamsters, to avoid congregating.

NDP MP Daniel Blaikie said he was worried about critical supply chains, and said CN should step up its collaboration with Ottawa and unions.

"We cant afford CN to do down because theres been a massive infection within its ranks," he said. "So much is relying on national supply chains."

The MP for Elmwood-Transcona said Ottawa should ensure rail companies have adequate sanitary supplies, and help with bulk purchases if not.

"There is a role for government here, not just to wag its finger," he said, adding that lax cleanliness at Symington contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the city.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
About two weeks ago, Randy Flatau called master jeweler George Gotcher Jr. to help craft a ring. It would be the longtime friends last collaboration.

Flatau, who owned Randys Fine Jewelry on Dowlen Road for decades, on Wednesday became the first person in Beaumont to die of the coronavirus.

I just finished a job for him about three days ago, said Gotcher, who had worked with Flatau since the 1990s. It was an engagement ring for one of his customers.

In a mid-March phone call, Flatau said he wasnt feeling well and so he couldnt ship a package to Gotcher.

I told him he had the label and to just send it when he could, Gotcher said. The next day, I asked him how he was and he said he might have a virus and that he had to wait and find out.

Gotcher said he communicated with Flatau through text messages over the next few days.

Then his wife called me and told me he was in the hospital, he said.

Darrell Troppy, a local artist, said he met Flatau on a visit to the jewelry store about 25 years ago. In the quarter century he knew him, Troppy recalled the jeweler facing an occupational hazard on more than one occasion. Flatau proved himself a merchant to be reckoned with.

He got robbed three times, Troppy said. The last time he got robbed, I think I made it to the hospital before (Flataus wife) Teresa did. I looked at him and asked him if he was OK. He just looked at me and said, I got him.

In 2012, a man posing as a customer entered Flataus business before pulling a gun to rob the store. The man shot Flatau in the leg and tied him up, then went to empty the safe. Despite being wounded and bound, Flatau managed to reach a gun he had under the counter, turning the tables on the man, whom he shot several times before police arrived.

Troppy said Flatau made several pieces of jewelry for him.

I would always look at the picture of him on the counter, which was him looking at the jewelers table as a kid with a loupe on his eye, Troppy said. I would just think, Wow, you knew what you wanted to do as long as I did. He had certain standards he lived up to that people liked. He was a great storyteller. There were several times I would go into his store for 20 minutes and end up staying there for two hours.

Troppy expressed sympathy for Flataus widow as he recalled experiencing the loss of friends to a different emerging illness decades ago: the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

I really feel sorry for Teresa, he said. She is still in quarantine and didnt get to say goodbye. I called her back last night. Its hitting home for me all over again, because I watched more than 100 friends of mine die in the early 80s. Until it happens to you and someone you know dies, it is not going to sink in. Its like, God, I have to live this all over again? I worked at a bar in Houston. I knew everybody. I didnt go to very many funerals. Im guilty of that. It was so final and permanent.

In Flatau, the coronavirus pandemic claimed a man Gotcher described as a business owner who could brighten anyones day.

Every time I would talk to him or answer his phone calls, he always had an upbeat story, he said. It was always about helping out a little old lady or someone who didnt have enough money. We would try to work out something to get something on somebodys finger that didnt have the money to get it done.  He was always helping the people. That is just how he was. His eyes were full of love when you met him.

Beaumont City Councilman W.L. Pate said Flatau was a consummate professional and a better person.

It is a real loss for our community, Pate said. He was an excellent example of what small business in America is all about. He was about the people he served. He did not try to sell people things. He wanted to help them get what they wanted.

Troppy said he plans to help Teresa Flatau organize a memorial for her late husband within a few months.

Its not just my loss. Its the communitys loss, he said. If it were anybody, I wouldve never expected it to be him. I literally had to sit down when she told me. I talked to him two weeks ago. I had asked him if he had his bullets loaded in case they tried to rob him again.

chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/chris_moore09
Representative image

Long after the governments of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were done with ferrying Bihari migrants to their homes by busloads, a young daily wage labourer found himself at the Anand Vihar bus terminus in the national capital, grieving for his mother.

Mukesh Yadav alias Dipu (26), who hails from Bhagalpur district, had been crestfallen ever since receiving a call from his father on the evening of March 30 that his mother was killed in a freak accident that left her head severed from her body.

Working as a daily wage earner since he was only 14, Dipu was out of work but had planned to stay back at his shanty in Sarai Kale Khan until receiving the terrible news.

We had been visiting the Anand Vihar bus terminus with food for the hapless migrants ever since the mass exodus began. On Monday evening, the number of people was far less and it appeared that the business of sending off migrants was over. Suddenly we spotted this young man, weeping inconsolably," says Yogita Bhayana, Delhi-based social worker.

Bhayana, who has been better known for her activism against sexual crimes in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya gang rape incident, swung into action but met with initial disappointment.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

"I rang up many legislators and bureaucrats in Delhi for help. They all told me the restrictions on movement of people from one place to another have tightened and it was impossible to help Dipu reach his village and attend his mothers funeral.

"I tweeted furiously, tagging the chief ministers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, hoping for help to come from whichever corner possible. I was told that my tweets had gone viral, with Bihar politicians like Tejashwi Yadav, Pappu Yadav and Chirag Paswan sharing these on their official handles. However, concrete help eluded us, she told PTI over phone.

Bhayana said, it was late in the evening when she got a call from the Resident Commissioner of Bihar Vipin Gupta, who said he had been tipped off about her tweets by the office of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "Gupta asked me to come right away which I did. He was forthcoming with help and wasted no time in giving a signed and stamped letter authorising travel to Bihar. There was a small obstacle, though, as he said he was not in a position to arrange a vehicle.

"My younger brother Hemant, a passionate animal lover, then demonstrated that he cared no less for humans," she remarked fondly.

Hemant took Dipu in his car and took off for a gruelling, more than 1,000 kilometers long drive, around midnight on March 31.

"Another associate of ours, Rohit, joined him to take turns at the steering wheel. I had stuffed Hemants car with food but it could not have kept fatigue at bay," she added.

On the evening of April 1, the car reached Dipus village in Shahkund block.

Dipu was disappointed that he was not there when his mother was cremated the previous evening but satisfied that at last he was with his family in the hour of grief.

"I shall be indebted to Yogita didi (elder sister) for the rest of my life. She helped me when I had lost all hope. My father was alone. I am the only son. My sisters are married," said Dipu.

Relieved at the mission being accomplished, Bhayana has only one thing in mind that her brother returns home at the earliest".

"I must express my gratitude to Bhagalpur SSP Ashish Bharti whom I had called up for help and who ensured that Hemant reached his destination without any hassles.

"Bharti was kind enough to have arranged a place for the night stay of Hemant and Rohit. It is another thing that they were eager to return and began their journey back home immediately," she added.

Bhayana also expressed her gratitude to Manoj Kumar Tiwari, the Superintendent of Police of Gopalganj, for his positive response when she called him to inform that Hemant might halt there for some brief rest and refreshments.

"Bihar officials have surprised me with their humaneness. I wish their counterparts in the Delhi cadre took a leaf out of their book," she remarked.

"Social service is a never-ending journey. Soon after word spread about Dipu, I was approached by Sheikhpura residents Pankaj and Roshan, who have lost their father," Bhayana said. The Bihar Resident Commissioner authorised their travel on April 2.

"A vehicle has been arranged and the brothers have left for their destination. I pray to the Almighty to make me strong so that I could help more and more people," she added.
Phukets first night of curfew see mass rollout of law enforcement, military

PHUKET: More than 1,000 officers and military personnel took to the streets of Phuket tonight (Apr 3) to enforce the first night of the national street curfew from 10pm through to 4am.

COVID-19Coronavirushealthpolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Friday 3 April 2020, 11:58PM

More than 1,00 police, military personnel and volunteers were deployed to enforce the curfew. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

More than 1,00 police, military personnel and volunteers were deployed to enforce the curfew. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Before the mass deployment, Region 8 Police Lt Gen Jirawat Thippayachan addressed the troops at an assembly at Phuket City Police Station. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The Clocktower Circle in Phuket Town devoid of traffic 30 mminutes before the national curfew came into effect. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Before the mass deployment, Region 8 Police Lt Gen Jirawat Thippayachan addressed the troops at an assembly at Phuket City Police Station at 9pm.

The assembly comprised officers from the Phuket Provincial Police, Tourist Police, Phuket Immigration, Marine Police, Highway, military personnel and 150 volunteer administrative officers from the public sector.

Phuket Provincial Police have assigned all 1,337 of their officers, setting up checkpoints to cover all areas and rapid response units have been stationed at each police station on the island to treat infected patients or assist in patient surveillance, Lt Gen Jirawat pointed out.

The assembly was held to prepare personnel to be operational in the effective enforcement of the law to prevent potential complications. Similar assemblies were held across the country, he said

We have an important goal of limiting travel and the movement of people and preventing people from gathering in large groups, especially in Phuket, which is a high risk area, Lt Gen Jirawat said.

The Phuket Governor has issued various strict measures to in accordance with the current situation, which must be taken seriously.

We may not feel as comfortable as usual, but we must all adapt to survive. We have a responsibility to the public so we can overcome this crisis, he added.

Lt Gen Jirawat concluded his address to the officers and volunteers assembled with words of support: May you all work together and take your responsibilities seriously, and protect everyone in the manner that the government has laid out in its guidelines.

We must publicise these guidelines. Let the people know, so they will act accordingly to prevent the spread of disease, and not violate the terms of any announcements or orders.

And I would like to encourage fellow police officers and all relevant personnel in carrying out their duties vigorously.
Giving immunity certificates to former coronavirus patients would be dangerous, a scientist has warned.

Eleanor Riley, a professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, said the documents  suggested by the government  would give people a sense of false security about the virus.

We do not know yet whether somebody who has had this virus is immune, she added.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said on Thursday the government was considering handing out the certificates to allow people to get back, as much as possible, to normal life, although he stressed they would only be rolled out if testing had proved it was safe.

The distribution of the certificates would require antibody tests  showing a once-infected persons body had fought off the disease  to be available on a mass scale.

However, Professor Riley said it was not yet clear whether people who have recovered from coronavirus were immune from reinfection.

She said: They have antibodies, theyve clearly been exposed, yet will those antibodies protect them against reinfection? Im not sure that we know that.

Professor Riley added: To give a certificate saying somebody is immune I think is actually quite dangerous, because firstly we dont know if its true, and secondly it could give people a slight sense of false security, where they start to do things that they wouldnt otherwise do.

For the general public, saying youre immune, they will think: Oh OK, I dont need to worry anymore  and there will be people who will die as a result of that. I think its very risky and I dont think its necessary.

Speaking on the Today programme on Friday, the health secretary said he had now recovered from coronavirus after testing positive and that it was highly likely he was immune, but not certain.

Like everybody else who has been through it, Im social distancing, he said.

We have a stream of work under way on immunity, Mr Hancock said, adding that the UK was looking into using immunity certificates when the science is clear about the point at which [people] are then immune.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it could not currently provide further information on the plan to issue certificates as it was too early in the science of immunity.

As the technology develops and becomes clearer we will be able to update, a spokesperson said.

No antibody test has been approved for use in the UK yet but they are being used elsewhere are expected to be rolled out to NHS staff soon.

Professor Riley said she did not think immunity certificates would be very useful for people who are not health professionals who want to return to work.

For anybody else I really dont see the benefit of it, she said. A, at an individual level its not informative, and B, if people think they are immune they will start to take risks and any attempt at social distancing will start to break down.

All public gatherings of more than two have been banned and people have been told to stay inside unless it is essential as the UK tries to limit the spread of coronavirus.

A partial lockdown could last for as long as six months as the country battles the outbreak, according to the deputy chief medical officer.

Press Association contributed to this report
Selecting Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Industrial Plants

Dont let your industrial fires get out of handor happen at all. Here are some factors to consider.

When we think of major fires in industry, we undoubtedly picture large-scale explosions and flammable events. These are usually the result of hydrocarbon and solvent spills or fires that, when not extinguished via the use of fixed suppression systems (sprinklers, etc.), require the mobilization of large-scale, high-flow water monitors and foam application systems. If these types of fires are not controlled adequately, they can certainly create devastation on a massive scale.

However, most fire responses to industrial facilities are not on this scale. Although large-scale hydrocarbon and solvent fires can create spectacular visuals, it is preferable to extinguish these blazes over time and from a distance using the appropriate equipment. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the following facts are noted regarding emergency response at industrial properties1:

Between 2011 and 2015, municipal fire departments in the U.S. responded to an estimated average of 37,910 fires at industrial or manufacturing properties each year, with annual losses from these fires estimated at 16 civilian deaths, 273 civilian injures, and $1.2 billion in direct property damage.

The vast majority of fires (71 percent) in industrial and manufacturing properties were outside or unclassified fires, which accounted for an estimated average of three civilian deaths, 38 civilian injuries, and $265 million in direct property damage each year.

Vehicle fires accounted for an estimated average of nine percent of industrial and manufacturing property fires) each year, with losses estimated at 6 civilian deaths, 17 civilian injuries and $125 million in direct property damage each year.

Of note above is that despite most fires being outside or unclassified, a disproportionate number of civilian deaths and injuries resulted from structure fires on industrial sites. Structure fires present specific risk whether on an industrial site or in the community. The risks of rescue, containment and extinguishment in structures are well documented elsewhere. For purposes of this article, the focus here will be on some of the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) for both the industrial fire brigade personnel as well as responding municipal fire departments.

This article originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
Photo: BC gov. Flickr Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

The province is urging the cancellation of all non-essential travel, including tourism within B.C., to slow the spread of COVID-19.

During the daily virus press conference Thursday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry asked those in B.C. to halt all travel within the province not deemed essential, especially to smaller communities.

There are many of our smaller communities that are very concerned about people coming to vacation homes, to fishing lodges, etc. I am asking people now to forego those types of travel, Dr. Henry said.

She said smaller communities may not have the healthcare resources to handle an outbreak if a tourist transmits the virus.

That's a really important thing that we need to do now to protect those who are more vulnerable in those communities, particularly our seniors and our elders in our small and remote communities around the province, she said.

With spring here and summer around the corner, the measures could be more bad news for the Okanagan tourist industry, which has already been decimated by COVID-19 measures. The industry has also dealt with challenges due to wildfires and floods in recent summers.

While Dr. Henry has issued enforceable public health orders in the past, like forcing those returning from international travel to quarantine for 14 days and prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people, an order was not issued to prohibit non-essential travel within the province.

As of Thursday, a total of 1,121 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified in B.C., although 641 of these patients have fully recovered. The bulk of the cases have been identified in the the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions.
After a record surge on Thursday, crude prices fall in early Asian trade then rebound on hopes of an output cut deal.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  The weeks drama on the worlds oil markets continued into Friday with a rebound from the days lows following reports that the worlds top crude producers would meet to discuss cutting output to stabilise prices.

But the recovery in oil did little to lift most major share markets in Asia and Europe, which remained in the red for most of the day.

Oil price surged past $30 per barrel late on Friday in Asia, reversing earlier declines after an urgent meeting was scheduled on Monday for the so-called OPEC+ group of producers  made up of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 11 non-OPEC countries aimed at stabilising oil prices.

The meeting came after United States President Donald Trump said in a Twitter post on Thursday that he had brokered a deal between top oil exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia to cut oil output by about 10 million barrels per day or more. His tweet drove a record single-day gain in crude prices on Thursday.

Plans for the surprise meeting renewed optimism that a truce may be in the offing after an intense price war between the Saudi-led group and Russia sent crude prices tumbling last month, hurting all exporters already reeling from an imminent sharp drop in demand as the global economy is set to shrink this year.

Thats the most important thing on the supply side, they need to reduce the supply because the demand side is falling. Otherwise, the gap between supply and demand is so big, Ang Kok Heng, chief investment officer at Phillip Capital Management, told Al Jazeera.

Even if China wants to buy more oil to build its reserves, they would need to store and oil storage is full, Ang said. He sees Russia being the obstacle to a potential ceasefire as Saudi appeared ready to reduce production.

They should come to an agreement, hopefully. Everybody is affected, he said.

Brent crude jumped 3.41 percent to $30.96 per barrel on Friday, while US West Texas Intermediate gained 0.43 percent to $25.41 per barrel.

Stocks in the red

But the excitement in the oil markets did not spill over into stocks. Most shares in Asia fell on Friday, while European stocks also dropped in early trade.

Singapores Straits Times Index declined 2.07 percent, Indias Sensex index slid 1.72 percent, while Australias ASX 200 index was down 1.68 percent.

Chinas benchmark Shanghai Composite dropped 0.89 percent, while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index shed 0.8 percent.

Japans Nikkei 225 and South Koreas Kospi were little changed with less than 0.1 percent movements in both indices.

Shares in the UK, Germany and France lost between 0.62 percent and 1 percent.

Volatility in stock markets is expected to persist as the world struggles to control the spread of the coronavirus, which has sickened more than a million people globally. The epicentre has shifted from China, where the outbreak started, to the US, which has overtaken China in the number of reported cases.

While Trumps claim of an oil truce and the planned producers meeting lifted some hopes of a recovery in prices, the euphoria has also been met with scepticism. Analysts said a deal would be hard to reach without the participation of the US shale oil producers in output cuts. Trump has made it clear he did not promise to reduce US supplies.

As usual with Trump, we have to be careful with his flamboyant [statement], Freddy Lim, co-founder and chief investment officer at Singapore-based investment firm StashAway, told Al Jazeera.

We are still in the spiral for the next few weeks. China has taken about five weeks for cases to peak and in the US it will get worse in the next few weeks, which the market has expected, Lim said, adding that investors are eager to see if new cases of infection stabilise in the US subsequently.

Despite Thursdays rally, oil prices are about a third of their levels at the end of December.

Scepticism over Trumps ambitions

The crash in prices stemmed from the price war which began in early March, sparked by disagreements between Saudi Arabia and Russia on production levels, and was exacerbated by dissipating demand for oil at a time when global economic growth came to a sudden halt as the coronavirus spread.

Analysts also doubt Trumps claim that Russia and Saudi would agree to a production cut of more than 10 million barrels per day.

Its difficult to see the current OPEC+ group cutting output by at least 10 million barrels per day  the scale of the reduction would be just too much for the group to handle, Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING, wrote in a note.

He said to materialise, a deal of this size would require the involvement of additional producers, including countries like Canada, Brazil, and in particular, the US.

This is where it becomes more difficult, as getting the US oil industry to agree on production quotas will be a tough ask, and is also unlikely to gel with US antitrust legislation.

Even if oil producers come around in an agreement, a reduction of 10 million barrels of oil equivalent per day may not be enough to solve the surplus in the market in coming months as a widening and extended lockdown globally threatens to further sap demand, Patterson said.

Meanwhile, the global fight against the coronaviruss spread continues to take its toll on the world economy as evidenced by grim economic data.

In the US, government figures released on Thursday showed the number of Americans filing for initial unemployment benefits soared to a new record of 6.65 million in the week ending March 28, double the number in the previous week.

Policymakers from the US to Australia and Singapore have also launched trillions of dollars of stimulus spending packages in their bids to buttress their economies, which are suffering from a sudden halt in business activities.

While the true extent of the economic damage remains uncertain, as is the duration of the pandemic, the massive government efforts globally have offered some comfort to investors.

The market is in a stalemate of bulls and bears, previously there were just bears. Dont forget there are also a lot of policy bazookas, StashAways Lim said, adding that more stimulus spending plans are being planned by some governments to counter the economic fallout.

We are replacing the lost output, thats why theres a stalemate. Its more balanced and the market is not going down further, he said.
Veterinary Professionals Gained Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Experience through Unique CE Program in Belize

For the second year in a row, Purdue Veterinary Medicines Office of Global Engagement and Office of Lifelong Learning hosted an eight-day continuing education course in Belize and Guatemala early earlier this year. Two veterinarians and five veterinary nurses from across the U.S. and Canada joined PVM Director of Lifelong Learning Andrea Brown on the adventure. The continuing education course was offered in partnership with the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic (BWRC) / Wildlife Institute located near San Ignacio, Belize.

The program focused on multiple aspects of wildlife medicine and rehabilitation, and provided participants extensive hands-on experiences with a variety of wildlife species. The course gave attendees a unique opportunity to learn from some of the top wildlife veterinary and conservation professionals in Central America.

A behind the scenes tour of the Belize Zoo, which included an up-close encounter with a Tapir, gave participants an in-depth look at wildlife species in Central America.

Participants learned how to properly restrain and draw blood on reptiles during the course.

BWRC co-founder Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand and her team provided engaging lectures and hands-on labs focused on wildlife medicine and conservation. Topics included wildlife case discussions, distance immobilization and restraint, osteology, x-ray diagnostic case examples, parasitology, reptile medicine and handling, and avian medicine and conservation.

The group also spent time at the ARCAS Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Peten, Guatemala. Drs. Fernando Martinez and Alejandro Morales shared their vast knowledge of wildlife conservation, rescue, and rehabilitation during the visit. The group gained hands-on training with Amazon Parrots that needed routine parasite and vitamin treatments. Volunteer coordinator, Anna Bryant, provided an in-depth tour of the center and shared information about wildlife trafficking in Central America.

Following the reptile blood draws, participants had a hematology discussion with BWRC co-founder Dr. Isabel Paquet-Durand, and analyzed the samples under the microscope.

Course participants practiced their avian restraint and handling skills as they performed routine treatments on Amazon parrots at ARCAS in Peten, Guatemala.

This course provided attendees with 30 hours of continuing education credit and a new appreciation for wildlife conservation in Central America. The program had been planned since last fall.

Writer(s): Andrea Brown and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu
Hospitals that treat uninsured patients will be reimbursed by the federal government, Donald Trump announced on Friday in a move to encourage and make it easier for such people to seek treatment.

The presidents announcement came at the end of a week during which he again vacillated wildly from potential virus-fighting policy position to another, sometimes opposite one, and millions more Americans lost their jobs and sought unemployment benefits. US stock markets, which Mr Trump watches closely to assess his own re-election odds, had another rollercoaster-like five days, starting the week with gains before again falling off. As another weekend with most Americans confined to their homes or a few essential businesses began, the president faced new questions about ordering them to stay at home and wear some kind of protective mask when they do have to go outside.

Today, I can so proudly announce that hospitals and healthcare providers treating uninsured coronavirus patients will be reimbursed by the federal government, the president said during his daily Covid-19 briefing. This should alleviate any concern uninsured Americans may have about seeking the coronavirus treatment.

The announcement came as the president and senior Trump administration officials have been peppered with questions about why they are not reopening the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges to allow uninsured people to obtain coverage before they possibly contract Covid-19. The plan announced on Friday would allow those people to get care for the virus specifically, at least on paper, free of charge. Hospitals who treat the uninsured would then be reimbursed at Medicare rates, officials said, not explaining who would pay any difference between those rates and the costs of caring for an uninsured virus victim.

The move also appeared to serve a political purpose, providing an answer to his likely Democratic general election foe.

During this outbreak, when healthcare coverage is more important than ever, Donald Trump is refusing to give those who have been uninsured access to the best resource we have: the ACAs marketplaces, former vice president Joe Biden said this week.

On their coming showdown, the president guaranteed the presidential election will go on as planned in November. He did not say why he is so confident, but earlier this week he and his public health team said they expect a deadly April with life returning to normal possibly by early June. He also said he opposes voters casting ballots by mail because people cheat when they mail in their ballots; he did not give any evidence to support that claim. Growing agitated with the reporter who asked about the 3 November election, Mr Trump finished his emotional answer and ended the evenings briefing.

The president continued to push policies in the mould of a conservative federalist, saying he wants to leave many calls up to governors. That includes stay-at-home orders, which some governors in hard-hit places have issued. Mr Trump again said he will leave such decisions up to state chiefs executive.

Asked about a shortage of medical gear and supplies that are needed for virus victims and health workers, Mr Trump again tried to blame the Obama administration for a lack of medical equipment and supplies, saying, the shelves were empty.

But senior officials who worked in the Obama administration have said they left the federal government prepared, shooting back that Mr Trumps dismissive attitude towards the virus in the late winter and early spring doomed America to a major outbreak.

Those debates likely will rage for some time. On Friday, the White House wanted to focus on their plan to help the growing list of uninsured Americans get Covid-19 treatment at hospitals.

The unveiling of the plan came after vice president Mike Pence on Thursday evening said the administration will find a way to pay for the coronavirus treatment of uninsured people.

The Economic Policy Institute has urged the White House to extend the open enrolment period for the 38 states that have access to Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges.

From unemployment claims in March, analysts estimate roughly 3.5 million people lost their employer-based health insurance in the middle of the national health emergency, according to the institute.

Roughly half of the US workforce gets their insurance through their employer or through an employer-sponsored plan available to someone in their family. Without those jobs, they also can lose their health insurance. The institute notes that its calculations might understate the loss of health insurance coverage because they do not account for family members who are no longer covered because of the policyholders layoff. And because not all layoffs result in [unemployment insurance] claims, we will underestimate the actual magnitude of job losses.

Meantime, Mr Trump was asked about a comment Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and a White House policy adviser made on Thursday.

You know what our means? The United States of America, he said. And then we take that our and we distribute it to the states.

Mr Kusher had said this at Thursday evenings coronavirus press briefing: The notion of the federal stockpile was its supposed to be our stockpile. Its not supposed to be states stockpile that they then use.

Nasty reporter

The president berated a female reporter for asking about Mr Kushners comment, calling her nasty and telling her you should be ashamed of yourself.

Meantime, the president confirmed that his own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending all Americans wear a cloth mask when they venture out into public.

I just dont want to wear one myself, Mr Trump said, saying it would not seem quite fitting while he is sitting in the Oval Office behind that resolute desk as he meets with foreign leaders and other dignitaries.

But, he said, if people want to wear a mask, thats okay.

As the pandemic outbreak continues to ravage the economy, Mr Trump and senior Republican and Democratic lawmakers are discussing a fourth aid package.

Democratic house speaker Nancy Pelosi will be a leading figure in those talks. She and Mr Trump are not on speaking terms after a years-long feud, including her ripping up her copy of his State of the Union address inside the House chamber in February. She says the two have not spoken since that night, but she insists her negotiations since with treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and a few other administration officials work.

Asked about their tense relationship possibly hindering an expected phase four recovery bill, Mr Trump claimed of Pelosi: I would talk to her if it would help the American people.

Additional reporting by Alex Woodward
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is reminding hunters of a slight change in harvest reporting requirements this year. Beginning with the 2020 spring turkey hunting season, the Tag Before You Drag system is in effect for tagging big game animals in the field prior to moving their harvest.



Hunters will be able to use the TWRA on the Go app to simply E-tag and report their harvest in the field in one easy step, with or without cell phone service, prior to moving.

If a hunter does not have a phone, attach one of the temporary transportation tags that is printed at the bottom of your license this year. If using a temporary transportation tag, hunters have until midnight on the same day of the harvest to check in online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com.



Tennessees spring turkey hunting season is open for business and runs from April 4 through May 17.

To learn more about turkey hunting in Tennessee, visit the TWRA website at www.tnwildlife.org.
Numerical data sometimes reveal facts that are otherwise concealed within an onslaught of information from an overwhelming number of sources. Prof. Ron Milo and research student Yinon Bar-On of the Weizmann Institute of Science's Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, together with American colleagues Prof. Rob Phillips of Caltech and Dr. Avi Flamholz of the University of California, Berkeley, have now employed an original research method to organize the flood of coronavirus information in an orderly framework.

The scientists examined hundreds of studies from around the world. The first stage of the project required the scientists to understand the different measurement and estimation methods so that they could coordinate and translate all the findings into the same "language"  a complex task requiring great care. The scientists' experience helped them in this task, as they translated and consolidated a wealth of data and findings that they accumulated in previous studies: the number of cells in the human body, biomass distribution on Earth, and more. (For example, see: http://book.bionumbers.org/.)

The research was fast-tracked to publication in the journal eLife. One of the interesting findings highlighted by the collected data is the similarity between the coronavirus genome and the genome of other viruses. For example, the genome of the coronavirus is:

96% identical to a coronavirus genome that infects bats

91% identical to a coronavirus genome that infects scaly anteaters (pangolins)

80% identical to the SARS virus that erupted about two decades ago

55% identical to the MERS virus that erupted eight years ago

50% identical to the coronavirus that causes "common colds"

The scientists also present numerical data on the coronavirus's attachment to various organs in the body (bronchi, lungs, different types of cells, and more).

The study presents the number of copies and other quantitative features of virus "targets," which are relevant for developing vaccines and pharmaceuticals that block the virus's ability to adhere to and penetrate a human cell.

An additional part of the team's research relates to the virus's mutation accumulation rate. This value is related to the chance (risk) that the virus will bypass vaccines developed against it  and return to attack humans. The coronavirus's mutation accumulation rate is relatively slow compared to influenza viruses; Prof. Milo cautiously estimates that this may indicate that drugs and vaccines developed by scientists will be more durable in curbing this virus over time.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 21:52:09|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Friday it had killed one suspected terrorist and detained another four in two operations.

It said in a statement that one operation took place in the Stavropol Region, where law enforcers killed one suspect who had staged armed resistance, and detained another one.

The two were suspected of being Islamic State members and planning attacks on police officers and citizens.

The other operation was carried out in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region, where law enforcers detained three suspected members of the Caucasus Emirate terrorist group, it said.

The detainees were suspected of preparing a terrorist attack on a local commercial facility.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday spoke to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi over telephone to discuss various steps to deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 50,000 lives globally.

The two leaders have been in touch ever since the coronavirus crisis started.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two discussed technological cooperation as well as the various steps to deal with the spread of the coronavirus," the Israeli PM's media adviser said in a statement.

Netanyahu had earlier reached out to Modi requesting him to approve and allow export of masks and pharmaceuticals to Israel.

The special request was made on March 13 after India decided to stop the export of these items to meet its own domestic requirements in view of the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

"I also spoke to the Prime Minister of India, my friend Narendra Modi. We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time," Netanyahu had then said addressing a press conference.

Israel has so far reported at least 38 deaths and more than 7,030 infections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is donating $2.35 million worth of protective medical equipment and food to help in the states fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The health insurance company will begin delivering 500,000 N95 respirator masks and 81,000 face shields next week for distribution throughout the state. Additional deliveries will be made throughout April, the Newark-based company announced Thursday.

The Company is also donating $100,000 to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and $60,000 to the Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May, two organizations that are responding to the needs of New Jerseyans suffering from the economic impact of the pandemic.

Gov. Phil Murphy has said the state is desperately seeking more medical equipment as the number of people in N.J. who have tested positive for COVID-19 continues to increase exponentially, reaching 25,590 on Thursday.

Murphy ordered businesses last week to send the state an inventory of any respirators, masks, gloves, goggles, and ventilators they have. And on Thursday he gave NJ State Police the authority to commandeer equipment from private companies and institutions.

Supporting the health and well-being of New Jerseys communities has been central to Horizons mission for 88 years, said Kevin P. Conlin, Horizon BCBSNJs Chairman, President, and CEO.

This is the largest single donation ever made by BCBSNJ.

The Jersey Strong spirit is alive and well with partners like Horizon," said Cathy Bennett, president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association. "Their generous gift to protect our healthcare heroes on the front lines and provide food to our states most vulnerable exemplifies the sense of community we all need right now.

Horizon joins Merck & Co., Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, PSE&G and many other companies who have pitched in with donations to the state of equipment, money and other resources.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
President Donald Trump holds up the results of his CCP virus test in the press briefing room with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in Washington on April 2, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump to Announce Free Virus Treatment for Americans Without Insurance

President Donald Trump will announce on Friday free CCP virus treatment for uninsured Americans.

Around 30 million people in the country lack insurance.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, top administration officials are focused on a plan that would relieve people without insurance from paying for virus testing or treatment. COVID-19 is a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The president has made it clear: we dont want any American to worry about the cost of getting a test or the cost of getting treatment, Vice President Mike Pence, the White House Coronavirus Task Force head, told reporters on Thursday night.

The task force is working on a proposal that would use some of the $100 billion directed toward hospitals in a recent piece of legislation to compensate hospitals directly for any CCP virus treatment they provide to uninsured Americans.

The exact details are still being worked out.

A staff member of Odyssey House Louisiana, which runs a drive-through testing site for the CCP virus, waves to passing vehicles to try to alert the community about testing in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 27, 2020. (Kathleen Flynn/Reuters)

A health care worker tests people at a drive-through testing station run by the state health department, for people who suspect they have the CCP virus, in Denver, Colorado, on March 11, 2020. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

There are 30-odd million uninsured Americans and the president has directed the coronavirus task force to find a way to make sure that they know we will find a way to pay for the coronavirus treatment and the president will be announcing that tomorrow, Pence said at the White House.

Many insurance companies waived co-payment for virus testing and some Blue Cross companies will waive cost-sharing treatment for COVID-19, the company announced earlier in the day.

Coverage under Medicaid and Medicare has also been expanded to include CCP virus testing and treatment as well as telehealth services.

Administration officials have declined to commit to reopening the insurance marketplace and Trump on Thursday said theyre looking at a different method of helping those without insurance.

Were going to try to get a cash payment to the people and were working out the mechanics of that with the legislature, the president said.

Just opening it up doesnt help as much. Were going to try and get, for that certain group of people, a cash payment.
We hope to continue to support Metro as much as possible because it is a necessary service for the region, he said in a statement. Its difficult to say what that commitment looks like at this moment until the County Executive provides an updated budget next week. Fairfax County like many others are seeing budget shortfalls due to losses in revenue streams like sales tax and property tax.
More of Britains biggest firms revealed plans yesterday to suspend tens of thousands of staff in a move which could cost the taxpayer up to 60billion over the next six months.

In a vivid illustration of the impact of coronavirus on the economy, British Airways, Nissan, Topshop owner Arcadia and energy firm Ovo all announced plans to furlough workers as they try to cut costs.

They join a growing list of household names, from Greggs to Costa, McDonalds and Primark, which have already sent home 400,000 staff.

All plan to reclaim wages from the Governments job retention scheme, which covers 80 per cent of salaries up to 2,500 a month.

Experts at the Centre for Economics and Business Research think-tank last night predicted that as many as 6.1million private sector employees could be furloughed.

That would cost the Government 30billion if they were off work for three months or 60billion if they were off work for six months, based on estimates by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Once the self-employed are accounted for, the cost could hit 80billion.

The IFS conceded the totals were uncertain, but they underline the huge cost of the Covid-19 outbreak to the country.

The furlough scheme is not expected to be up and running until the end of the month, meaning many will have to get by for weeks.

And the number of those furloughed is set to spiral in the coming weeks. The British Chambers of Commerce estimates 44 per cent of firms expect to furlough at least half of their staff, and almost a third between three-quarters and all of their workforce over the next week.

Where does the word furlough come from? The term furlough refers to when employees are given a temporary leave of absence. It is believed to have derived from a Dutch word in the 17th century as a term of absence for those in the military. In modern terms, it generally indicates when an employee is forced to take some time off work because the company it works for may be in a difficult financial situation. In recent history, the term started appearing in the US during the financial crisis of 2008, as many American companies furloughed its employees. US companies have also started to furlough its employees during the current coronavirus crisis, although the US government scheme works differently from the UK's. In the US, companies that keep paying workers who can no longer work because of the coronavirus shutdown are given tax breaks. However, many retailers like Urban Outfitters have not chosen to do that, leaving staff without pay, while only preserving their health coverage. Advertisement

There are now growing fears the Government may have underestimated the cost of subsidising the wages of Britains workforce, having already committed a 330billion rescue package for businesses.

The IFSs Carl Emmerson said: Large increases in borrowing are well advised to address this current crisis, but the consequences for the public finances will be felt long after the immediate public health emergency has hopefully passed.

Yesterday British Airways confirmed plans to suspend more than 30,000 staff  roughly three-quarters of its workforce  until the end of May. Those furloughed include the vast majority of cabin crew, ground staff, engineers and those working at head office. Thousands of pilots have already been suspended with a 50 per cent pay cut.

Arcadia Group  the retail empire of disgraced billionaire Sir Philip Green which owns Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge  announced it would be suspending 14,500 of its 16,000 staff.

For shop workers, the furlough is effective from March 21  when non-essential retailers were ordered to shut down stores  while most head office staff have been told they will be suspended from tomorrow.

Nissan also revealed the majority of the 6,000 workers at its Sunderland plant, which closed on March 17, will be furloughed for the remainder of this month, while energy firm Ovo will suspend 3,400 staff  more than a third of its workforce.

I've been furloughed: What does it mean, why are companies doing this and what happens next?

ByCamilla Canocchiand Jayna Rana For Thisismoney.co.uk

Until a fortnight ago, it's unlikely many British workers had ever encountered the term 'furloughed', but now it is a concept that has been thrust into the spotlight by the coronavirus crisis.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a series of measures to cover the wages of millions of people suddenly left without work and prevent businesses going bankrupt due to the coronavirus crisis - and furloughing staff lays at the heart of it.

The so-called coronavirus job retention scheme enables businesses to continue paying part of their employees' salary who would otherwise have been laid off because of the crisis.

Sunak said the Government will cover 80 per cent of salaries up to a ceiling of 2,500 a month - equivalent to the UK average wage of 30,000 a year.

Going home: easyJet just one among the many companies announcing a two-month furlough for its cabin crew who can't work after the company grounded all of its flights

The scheme, open to all firms with employees, will be up and running by the end of April and backdated to March 1.

But in order to access it, businesses will have to 'furlough' their employees who they can no longer afford to pay.

This term, until now more or less unknown in the UK, is suddenly popping up everywhere, with easyJet just one among the many companies announcing a two-month furlough for its cabin crew who can't work after the company grounded all of its flights.

Here we explain what furlough means and what it entails for workers and businesses.

What does it mean to be 'furloughed'?

Essentially, if you're being furloughed by your employer, it means you're being sent home, but will still receive 80 per cent of your salary by the Government, up to a maximum of 2,500 a month.

This Government job retention scheme is only for employed people, it does not apply if you are self-employed.

However, you first need to agree to be put on furlough by your employer, who can then apply for the money to the Government. You cannot apply for it yourself.

Your employer can choose to pay the remaining 20 per cent of your wages, although it is not obliged to do so.

If you earn more than 2,500 a month, your employer can choose to 'top up' your salary, but again it is not forced to do so.

You will still continue to pay income tax and national insurance contributions while on furlough.

'This has made me research my options and cut back on spending' Amy Frankland-Hull is a Learning and Development Executive and has been furloughed, which has led to her having to take a mortgage holiday and cut back. She said: 'I was told last week that I had the option of furlough or redundancy. 'I was told I was being placed on furlough until the Government ends the scheme, or the firm asks me to come back to work, or I leave. 'This has made me research my options and cut back on unnecessary spending, such as buying new clothes. Fortunately, with the furlough cap being 80 per cent coverage of salary up to 2,500 a month, my company is covering the 80 per cent of what I earn above 2,500, so I am on 80 per cent of my full pay. 'I have applied - and been accepted - for a mortgage holiday and I have also cancelled subscriptions to BT Sport and Sky Sports while there is no live sport on TV. I have also been doing online courses for personal development and have applied to do some volunteering work for the NHS.' Advertisement

Can I be furloughed if I'm on a zero-hour contract?

Yes. Also if you're on a flexible contract or are employed by an agency.

If you are on a zero-hour contract, which means you don't necessarily earn the same amount each month, your employer should give you the 80 per cent of your average monthly salary since you started working.

That also applies to workers who have been employed for less than a year.

If you've worked for your employer for a year or more, you should receive 80 per cent of your average monthly salary, or 80 per cent of what you earned in the same month during the previous year - whichever is highest.

If you started work only in February, your employer will pro-rata your earnings from that month. But if you've started working on 28 February or after, you are not eligible.

If you have been made redundant after February 28, or even if you left a job after that date, you could be reemployed under furlough if your employer is willing to do so. Otherwise you will have to claim unemployment.

Gatwick's North Terminal has 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

Can I be furloughed if I'm sick?

If you're fallen ill and in the meantime your employer has had to shut down, you should first get statutory sick pay first, but can be furloughed after this.

Those who are self-isolating because of coronavirus can also be placed on furlough.

People who are 'shielding' and are vulnerable to potential severe illness caused by the coronavirus, can also be placed on furlough.

At the moment, employees can be furloughed from a minimum of three weeks up to three months, although the Government may look to extend that if needed.

'I won't be able to save any money for the next few months' James Mooney is a medical claims assessor at a medical insurance company based in Surrey. He was furloughed this week which means he's had to put a hold on saving to buy his first home. He said: 'I was furloughed on Monday but we were told last week some changes were going to be made in response to the coronavirus situation so it wasnt that much of a surprise. 'Essentially half the team has been furloughed while the other half, who have been employed the longest, will continue working from home. 'I currently rent a flat with my girlfriend while we save up to buy our own place. Fortunately she is still working full time but with my 20 per cent pay cut, we can just about pay for the rent, bills and food. 'Were going to have to hold off buying new furniture and I wont be able to save any money for the next few months. I havent done all the maths but looking at it quickly I think we should be fine.' Advertisement

Which businesses can apply?

Any company with employees can apply, including charities, recruitment agencies and public authorities.

However, the Government does not expect many public sector organisations to apply, as 'the majority of public sector employees are continuing to provide essential public services or contribute to the response to the coronavirus outbreak'.

Organisations who are receiving public funding specifically to provide services necessary to respond to the coronavirus outbreak are not expected to furlough staff.

Employers can furlough staff for a minimum of three weeks and are not allowed to rotate employees on furlough.

In order to access the scheme, businesses need to change the status of their employees to furlough workers and submit the information to HMRC.

HMRC are currently working to set up a system for reimbursing companies.

Id like to think I will go back eventually Primary school teaching assistant Dawn Harrison from Hertfordshire was furloughed on 30 March, ten days after Boris Johnson announced schools would be closing in response to the coronavirus pandemic. She said: 'I'd never heard the term furlough before but after everything that's happened and then with schools closing for everyone but the children of key workers, I knew it was coming for me. 'I received an email on the morning of 30 March telling all staff at the primary school that furloughing was the next step and those who would be sent home would be called. 'I received the call later that day. The headmaster was very compassionate and reassuring and I know it wouldn't have been a nice call to have to make. 'I'm ok with the situation for the time being and am trying to remain positive but that may change if we're in the same situation in June. 'I am fortunate that this hasn't had much of a financial impact yet but I am concerned about what may happen to my husband, who works in the airline industry. Id like to think I will return as the schools will have to eventually go back. If being furloughed will save the school and my job, then itll be worth it. Advertisement

I have been furloughed, can I go and find a temporary job to earn extra money elsewhere?

You can do other work to earn extra money while furloughed but you should check with your employer first.

There may be something in your contract that says you cannot do this, or that you have to officially ask if you can and they could say no. If you are struggling financially, make sure that you mention this in your request.

The official Government line is that if your existing employment contract allows then you are free to seek another job while on furlough and your 80 per cent furlough pay will not be affected.

Obviously, if your employer is topping up your furlough pay, then asking if you can do work elsewhere to earn extra money is a tricky issue.
Tinder and Bumble arent the only ones seeing an increase in online dating during the coronavirus pandemic. SeekingArrangement, the worlds largest sugar daddy dating website, has also seen an increase in interested partners.

More people are wanting to be connected, said spokesperson Kimberly De La Cruz. If youre single, youre home all day by yourself ... theres this need to feel like you can still meet people, you can still engage, you can still be social."

World-wide the site has seen a member increase of 74% compared to this same time last year. In Massachusetts that number is even higher at 86%.

This is about physical distancing, not so much social distancing," De La Cruz said, adding that online dating allows people to still be social during this time with breaking social distancing.

There has been an increase of both sugar babies and sugar daddies in Massachusetts, the website said. Its seen an 82% increase in sugar daddies, while theres a slightly higher increase, 87%, in sugar babies.

More than 6 million Americans  including 181,032 people in Massachusetts  filed new unemployment claims last week. These claims heavily come from gig workers, retail workers and people in the food industry.

De La Cruz said people turning to sugar dating in desperation arent likely to find a successful relationship. But once that relationship is established, having someone to turn to in a moment of need can be a benefit of sugar dating.

The sugar daddies here arent looking to give handouts, she said. Theyre not looking to just financially support someone without a connection or relationship.

While every relationship is different, its not uncommon for sugar daddies to help pay rent, bills or for meals. Another benefit is having someone with experience offer mentorship and advice for your own career  especially during times of uncertainty.

Sarah Streete, 32, lives in downtown Boston and hasnt been financially impacted by the coronavirus yet  but she knows she can turn to her sugar daddy for help and advice if she needs.

Shes received two raises at her job in finance and improved her performance reviews with career advice and mentorship from sugar daddies.

Its this kind of help she looks for in her relationships. She doesnt usually ask for or get expensive gifts or money.

If I had those unlimited resources, I dont think Id be jetting off to Miami and buying handbags, Streete said. Thats just not who I am.

But the coronavirus pandemic has changed some things.

Something that we love is going out to a really nice restaurant and drinks, she said. That is not an option right now.

Theyve made a list of restaurants and places they are looking forward to going to after this all is over. And recently, they FaceTimed from their own homes while watching the same movie.

Shes very thankful for this connection.

This is something that has really helped both of us out because were both by ourselves at the moment," she said.

Its not uncommon for people in sugar dating relationships to go on expensive experiences, vacations, nice restaurants or shopping trips. But with stay-at-home orders and increased social distancing, thats not possible.

De La Cruz said people have been getting creative. One person sent groceries to their sugar baby. Another ordered the same nice steak take-out dinner and had it sent to both their houses so they could FaceTime while eating it.

It looks a lot different than it did before, she said. Its not necessarily the Louis Vuitton handbag but its still really sweet.

And for Streete because shes not financially strained due to the pandemic, her and her sugar daddy talked about what they can do for other people.

The two looked at the bars and restaurants they usually go to and the workers being impacted by this and donated money to help them.

Related Content:
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday visited Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) hospital to review the arrangements in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.During the Chief Minister's visit to the hospitals, the doctors demonstrated a mock drill for COVID-19 treatment.

Accompanied by the State Health Minister, Deb appealed health staff to work with sincerity and said that all precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.The Chief Minister praised the fact that no positive case for the lethal virus has reported in Tripura. "It is a good sign that there is no report of any positive case in Tripura so far. But, still, the citizens need to be more careful so that they can stay safe from the coronavirus pandemic-- they should maintain social distancing and avoid going out of home since some positive cases have been reported from Karimganj and Manipur," he said while speaking to media.

After reviewing the preparedness to combat COVID-19 in both the hospitals, he said: "All preparations are in place in the GBP hospital-- one block having 20 seats including ICU beds has been kept closed. Besides, we are also on a move to arrange around 50 beds in IGM hospital as like as we arranged 50 beds in all districts."

"Special teams of doctors and staff have been formed to deal with coronavirus menace and they will function after every seven days and they also have to undergo quarantine," he said.

The Chief Minister further confirmed that people from the state, who attended the Nizamuddin event in New Delhi, were tested to be 'negative' so far.

On Thursday morning, Deb participated in a video conference held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding corona pandemic situations.

Besides, he thanked the Prime Minister for playing a vital role and taking bold steps in the country's fight against the COVID-19.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the GST rate on mobile phones hiked to 18 percent from the previous 12 percent, Xiaomi phones will now be more expensive as announced by the Chinese phone-maker. Customers will now have to fork out up to Rs 2,000 extra if they are planning to buy a Xiaomi smartphone. The phones include Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi A3, Redmi K20 series, Redmi Note 9 Pro and more. The company's decision to hike the prices arrived at a time when other leading phone-makers like Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Realme also did the same in an attempt to correct the inverted duty structure in the smartphone industry amid the coronavirus lockdown. The depreciation of Indian Rupee against the US dollar is another reason why the company is increasing the prices of its smartphones.

Redmi Note 9 Series

The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max models 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB, 8GB+128GB were launched in India for Rs 14,999, Rs 16,999 and Rs 18,999 respectively. Their new prices will be Rs 16,499, Rs 17,999 and Rs 19,999 respectively. The Redmi Note 9 Pro was launched at Rs 12,999 and Rs 15,999 for the 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB variants. The revised prices will now be Rs 13,999 and Rs 16,999.

Redmi K20 Series

The Redmi K20 had been selling for Rs 19,999 and Rs 22,999 for the 6GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB variants. They will now sell for Rs 21,999 and Rs 24,999 respectively. The Redmi K20 Pro was selling at Rs 24,999 and Rs 27,999 for the 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB variants. Their new prices are now Rs 26,999 and Rs 29,999.

Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8 Pro Series

Coming to the budget segments now, the Redmi Note 8 Pro 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB debuted for Rs 10,499 and Rs 12,999. These will be available for Rs 10,999, Rs 13,999 respectively. The Redmi Note 8 Pro models 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB were available for Rs 14,999, Rs 15,999 and Rs 17,999. Their new prices are Rs 15,999, Rs 16,999, and Rs 18,999 respectively.

Redmi 7A and Redmi 7 Pro Series

The two Redmi 7A variants 2GB+16GB and 2GB+32GB were earlier priced at Rs 5,999 and Rs 6,199 respectively. The phones will be now available at Rs 6,499 and Rs 6,699 respectively.

Xiaomi Mi A3

The Xiaomi Mi A3 variants 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB debuted for Rs 11,999 and Rs 14,999. The revised pricing will Rs 12,999 and Rs 14,999 respectively.

All said and done, the price tags of Redmi Go, Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Mi A3's 6GB RAM variant remain unchanged. They will continue to be sold at Rs Rs 4,999, Rs 10,999, and Rs 14,999 respectively
After a long 12-hour shift in the emergency room at Christ Hospital, Glenn Levine returns to his Hoboken condo unable to share a simple kiss with his wife.

Glenn, 51, a nurse at the Jersey City hospital, said after treating COVID-19 patients all day he fears the possibility of bringing it home to his wife, Tracey.

He even wears a mask while he is home.

As scared as I am, I am even more worried of bringing it home to her, Glenn said. My wife and I are very affectionate. Even though we live in the same apartment right now, we miss each other a lot  I need to do whatever I can to minimize the risk to her.

Its a fine line the Levines must walk every day, one thats surely present in medical workers homes around the country.

Its been at least three weeks since the couple was able to interact normally, Tracey said.

Glenn said he even considered sleeping in separate beds while he continues to work during the coronavirus pandemic.

I vetoed that one right away  its not going to change, Tracey, 46, said. I already kind of feel like a roommate. I dont want to sleep in separate bedrooms.

Coronavirus cases continue to mount in New Jersey, where 25,590 people have tested posted and 537 have died as of Thursday. In Hudson County, 2,270 cases have been confirmed with a total of 44 deaths.

It is very much what I imagine it would be like working in a mass unit on a battlefield somewhere, Glenn said of the realities of working in an ER. We are just surrounded by dying people and an invisible enemy.

Glenn said several staff members at the hospital have fallen ill, including a security guard who died after becoming infected. While he is unaware of how many of his colleagues are infected or are quarantined awaiting results, Glenn said the emergency room is currently understaffed and in need of more personal protective equipment.

We should be changing our gear every time we leave the bedside, but instead we are wearing the same gear for 12 hours straight just to preserve what we have and eventually that is going to run out," he said. "We need there to be a federal response.

Tracey fears if he winds up in the hospital sick with the virus himself, she wont be with him.

I actually had to have a conversation with him the other day of I dont even know what your funeral wishes would be  that is a sick conversation to have, she said. Im torn because I want him to be home and be safe, but I know that this is what he does.

"He would feel horrible about himself if he wasnt doing it.

Glenn, a nurse at Christ Hospital, and Tracey LevineTracey Levine

Glenn said taking off protective gear is the greatest risk of being infected for a healthcare worker. To take even a drink a water requires him to remove his gear, so he minimizes his intake, often leaving him dehydrated and nauseous by the end of his shift.

I spend 12 hours breathing in more of my own CO2 than I am oxygen, Glenn said about wearing his mask. I usually dont get my first sip of water in the day until three or four in the afternoon.

Since she works from home as a psychotherapist, Tracey often meets him at the door with a bottle of Gatorade and glass of wine.

I worry about him and the stress that he is under, Tracey said. He comes home, and I know he didnt drink water all day, I hand him that glass of wine I feel like a 1950s housewife. He comes through the door and Im like, Heres wine.

Glenn added that he wanted to express how grateful him and his co-workers are of the communitys donations to the hospital. Glenn, a former attorney, asked to also thank his friends from law school, who are working on donating PPE to the hospital.

Perhaps most importantly, he wants to remind people who are not taking the virus seriously to stay home.

Whether you are sick or you are healthy, stay home. Dont go to the hospital if you are not in the middle of a true emergency where you need help breathing if its not a true emergency and you are just worried that you have the virus just stay homeyoure putting yourself at risk and youre putting us at risk We are only going to send you home and tell you to quarantine yourself anyway.
Israel reports 10 more coronavirus deaths

According to the Health Ministrys data, 640 new infections recorded, raising total to 6,857.

The novel coronavirus has killed 36 people in Israel, with 6,857 cases registered so far, health officials said on Thursday.

The Health Ministry said 10 more deaths were confirmed since early Thursday.

338 HAVE RECOVERED

The ministry added that 640 more people tested positive for the coronavirus, noting that out of the total 108 are in critical condition. A total of 338 people have recovered so far, it said.

In Israel, all schools have been closed and all public meetings in open or closed areas with more than 10 people have been banned.

All trading firms except supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations and banks have also been closed since March 15.

Tel Aviv banned the entry of foreign citizens, except those who have residency in Israel.
A total of 980 people have been arrested in Kolkata in a span of 24 hours since Wednesday at 5 pm for defying the lockdown order imposed by the government in its attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19

Kolkata: A total of 980 people have been arrested in the city in a span of 24 hours since Wednesday at 5 pm for defying the lockdown order imposed by the government in its attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19, a senior police officer here said.

The arrests were made by the Kolkata Police during Naka-checking and patrolling across the metropolis, he said.

Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak

Of the 980 apprehended, 284 people were from the central division, 166 from the south division and 112 from the eastern suburban division.

Another 111 were nabbed from the south suburban division, 61 from the southeast division and 84 held from the north division, the officer said.

In the east division, 20 people were arrested for flouting 'Total Safety Restrictions', while 71 each were apprehended from the southwest division and the port division, he said.

Those arrested will be prosecuted under IPC sections dealing with disobedience of an order, the officer added.

Requesting people to strictly adhere to the lockdown order, Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma has directed officers to take strong legal action against those found violating the norms.

"Don't come out without valid permission /reasons. I have asked Officers @KolkataPolice to be stringent & take strong legal action. My appeal to citizens to kindly cooperate & #StayHomeStaySafe during #CoronavirusLockdown We shall continue with legal action against violators," Sharma tweeted.
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The ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 has put actual events to a complete standstill, which is why organizations are congregating to the virtual event platforms to address and deliver content to the audience. With several trade shows and conferences being cancelled and postponed because of concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus outbreak, marketing teams across companies have geared up to reallocate funds associated to such shows and events. In the realm of this pandemic, the lockdown on in-person events has resulted in an upsurge of virtual events being launched. A virtual event or an online event is a collaborative gathering that ensues on the web. The key advantage of virtual events is that a remote attendee can participate in it from any corner of the world, given that the person has access to the internet.

Access Research Report of Virtual Events Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/virtual-events-market

Amidst this COVID-19 pandemic, companies can pivot to a virtual event, so as to guarantee quarantine alongside their investments and revenue. Instead of outright terminating an event that wears down connections with the companys network, shifting to a virtual event conveys the message that the firm is committed to its onlookers. Furthermore, presenting what is promised, even though conditions have imposed a changeover in the event format, informs the audience that the company is solution focused as well as committed to deliver. Companies such as Oracle, Demandbase Inc., Adobe, Outreach.IO, and Inverta have chosen to host virtual events to fill in the content and engagement gap from real life events, which had been canceled or postponed. For instance, Oracle is hosting an autonomous database virtual workshop on 15th April 2020, where the applicants can watch live demos, interact with product experts, and take part in self-guided labs from their remote locations. Adobe has decided to cancel the live event in Las Vegas and make Summit/Imagine 2020 a virtual event this year.

Virtual events or online events are expected to witness a growth in their demand over the coming period, mainly due to the lockdowns imposed globally. The virtual event platforms do not have space limitations allowing the companies to increase their online audience and relish more content for their marketing inventory. Additionally, the key factors that are fueling the virtual events market growth are surge in the number of business events and growing need to enhance competitive responsiveness. Globalization has led to a rise in information coverage that drives the virtual events industry growth. The growing eminence of social networking sites and online media have boosted the idea of virtual events and similar virtual meetings on video conferencing, web conferencing, collaboration tools, breakout sessions, and online communication.

Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) and video conferencing are the more prevalent application segment of the virtual events market. Software as a service (SaaS) based models and Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS)- based models are gaining prominence in the industry, especially from the Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), which in turn constitute a large number of the overall businesses worldwide and determine the virtual events progress. Companies are shifting to virtual events for necessary news releases, digital magazine launch, or summits as they allow a faster exchange of instantaneous information and data with a cost-effective commute. For instance, Demandbase Inc. opted for a virtual event to deliver the keynote address of the year 2020 to their audiences.

The virtual platforms are being widely used across several sectors including education, finance & banking, healthcare, hospitality, among others. Currently the technology is being embraced globally by businesses to host events pertaining to a product launch that is required to reach masses, or there is a significant sponsor revenue losses or the draw of a difficult-to-book speaker yet to uphold the original date and deliver a replica of the experience. Companies are continually striving to expand their global footprint, which thereby intensifies the need and demand for a communication platform without physical boundaries that reaches mass population. The convergence of data plays a crucial role in improving business opportunities, consequently generating an augmented demand for international communication services for data sharing. Virtual events such as online meetings, video conferencing, video calls, instant messaging, and online chats allow information sharing in real-time and moreover, enables firms to reduce their communication expenses substantially.

Access Research Report of Virtual Events Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/virtual-events-market
Amanda Bynes is pregnant, but her mom is not happy about it. In fact, she's livid that her daughter is expecting a child soon.

But why?

According to an insider, the mom is furious, not because she does not want to become a grandmother. Instead, she's worried about what would happen to her daughter. She believes the pregnancy could make her daughter's mental health more precarious than it already is.

The former Nickelodeon star is taking some meds before becoming pregnant, but she has to stop these now.

"Amanda's mom is furious she is pregnant as treating her mental health issues has become complicated," a source explained to US magazine. "Amanda doesn't want to take some of the meds because of dangers to [her] baby."

Earlier this March, the actress announced through her social media that she's pregnant. Even though she did erase that post on her account, sources close to the actress confirmed it. Also, her fiance Paul Michael has the same post about Bynes' pregnancy, so this can already be taken as hard evidence. What made people suspicious about the news for a while is the fact that the news came shortly after she actually broke up with Michael.

Still, it seems everything is fine now between the two. What they have to worry about is Bynes' mental health as well as the relationship with her mom.

Another thing complicating the pregnancy and Bynes' relationship with her mom is that the "All That" star's conservatorship. Under this conservatorship, there are strict guidelines governing the custody of Bynes' child. Because she has suffered a public fight with substance abuse and mental health issues in 2014, her mother presided as her conservator since that year.

According to Neami Rahmani of West Coast Trial Lawyers, this conservatorship can have an impact on how the child will be reared up, at least on the legal side of things. "Amanda, her parents, and her fiance, Paul Michael, will all share physical custody, but only her parents and Paul will be able to make legal decisions for the baby because Amanda is under conservatorship," the lawyer explained.

Rahmani also added that this is already the best-case scenario for the actress. If this does not happen, a possibility is that the county social workers become involved and remove the parent from Bynes, because they somehow perceived her as an unfit parent.

Once an actress with a really bright career, many had wondered what happened to her when she suddenly vanished from the limelight and resurfaced with all these mental and behavioral issues. It seems though that she's striving to address these. In November 2018, she even opened up to Paper magazine on what had happened o her. She also shared why she made the decision to quit Hollywood eight years earlier than planned.

According to her, she had no purpose in life then because she's been working her whole life. Suddenly, she found herself doing nothing, and it negatively affected her. "I had a lot of time on my hands, and I would 'wake and bake' and literally be stoned all day long," she shared. Drugs made her world really sad and dark, she said.

READ MORE: Amanda Bynes Pregnant: Truth or Delusional?
Paedophiles are plotting online how to exploit the coronavirus crisis to groom new child victims, top officers have warned.

The scale of child abuse in the UK was laid bare yesterday as officers warned at least 300,000 offenders pose a 'sexual threat' to children.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) released new figures revealing the extent of the problem in Britain as they warned of a spike in offending during the virus pandemic.

Children face an increased threat from offenders whose numbers online are growing (stock)

With schools closed and children increasingly online to do school work or occupy themselves while their parents are busy, they face an increased threat from offenders whose numbers online are growing, police say.

The NCA and UK police already arrest more than 500 child sex offenders and safeguard around 700 children each month, but those numbers could rise in the pandemic.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the national policing lead for child protection, said: 'It is sickening to think that some criminals are looking to exploit the coronavirus crisis to cause harm online.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the national policing lead for child protection, said some criminals are 'looking to exploit the coronavirus crisis to cause harm online'

'Despite the issues that the pandemic will cause for law enforcement, child protection is still a priority and we remain totally committed to keeping our young people safe.'

Now the NCA and the National Police Chiefs' Council have launched a new campaign called '#OnlineSafetyAtHome' providing 15-minute activities to parents and carers to do with their children to educate them about safeguarding.

Rob Jones, the NCA's director of threat leadership, said: 'Child sexual abuse remains a priority threat for the agency at this difficult time.

'Though we are working around the virus like everyone else, we are continuing to pursue high-risk online offenders to ensure they are arrested and children are safeguarded.

'Preventing offences occurring is always crucial and now more so than ever when there is masses of online traffic and a possible elevated threat to children.

'We are redoubling our efforts to promote our online safety messages to children, parents, carers and teachers and are working with partners to keep children safe.'
House Democratic Leader Greg Harris on the Illinois House floor at the State Capitol in Springfield on Jan. 29, 2020. "The numbers we have right now are March, where you dont really see the totality of the damage done by the emergency; April numbers may give us better guidance," he said. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
Coronavirus has been confirmed in the husband and son of the 59-year-old woman who died on March 27, in Alapars village of Armenias Kotayk Province. Mayor of Alapars Artak Saribekyan told about this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

"After the death of the wife, the husband and son were isolated," the mayor said. "I think the day after she died they were tested and tested positive. They were taken to Nork infection hospital [in Yerevan]."

Saribekyan said the autopsy results had come, and it was found that the woman had died of a heart attack.

The village mayor also noted that another resident in the community had been infected with coronavirus. "He has already recovered, his circle [of contacts] has been determined," he added. Now the village is under strict control. Very few go out of their homes; only in case of extreme need."
President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Briefing Room, Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Washington, as Vice President Mike Pence listens.

Associated Press/Alex Brandon

The risk of conflict between the US and Iran is still very real amid the coronavirus pandemic.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran it would "pay a very heavy price" if US forces in the Middle East are attacked by it or its proxies.

Meanwhile, the US has continued to hit Iran with sanctions amid the pandemic, prompting growing calls for the US to pump the brakes on pummeling the Iranian economy as it struggles to deal with coronavirus.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Not even a pandemic can stop the ongoing hostilities between the US and Iran.

As coronavirus has pummeled Iran, the Trump administration has continued to hammer the country with harsh economic sanctions as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign.

And President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Iran with a retaliatory military strike if US forces in the region are attacked.

Trump tweeted: "Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on US troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!"

Intelligence has reportedly suggested that Iranian proxy forces have been plotting against the US. But it's unclear if there is evidence of a more specific plan or plot.

Iran's top diplomat, Javad Zarif, fired back at Trump.

"Don't be mislead by usual warmongers, AGAIN, @realDonaldTrump," Zarif tweeted on Thursday. "Iran has FRIENDS: No one can have MILLIONS of 'proxies.'"

"Unlike the US  which surreptitiously lies, cheats & assassinates  Iran only acts in self-defense. Openly Iran starts no wars, but teaches lessons to those who do," Zarif added.

Similarly, the Iranian army chief of staff, Mohammad Bagheri, on Thursday warned any military action by the US could "face the most severe reactions" from Iran.

Story continues

This came just weeks after the US carried out strikes on an Iran-backed militia in Iraq after two American service members and a British soldier were killed in a rocket attack in early March.

Privately, Trump's top advisers, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have pushed Trump to hit Iranian forces directly, the New York Times reported in late March. Trump has reportedly pushed back on such suggestions, contending an attack on Iran amid a pandemic would be inappropriate. Meanwhile, Democractic leaders on March 27 sent a letter to Trump cautioning him against any military action against Iran without congressional approval.

Iran has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic

Iran has been hit especially hard by coronavirus. There have been over 50,000 reported cases of coronavirus in the country, which has a population of roughly 85 million, and over 3,100 deaths, according to the latest Iranian health ministry figures, per The Guardian. Comparatively, with a population of roughly 327 million, the US has over 230,000 reported coronavirus cases and over 5,700 people have died from it.

The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged Iran's government, infecting numerous members of parliament and top officials  including Iran's vice president, Eshaq Jahangiri. A top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died last month from the virus, and the speaker of Iran's parliament, Ali Larijani, tested positive for it this week.

Firefighters disinfect a street against the new coronavirus, in western Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 13, 2020.

Associated Press/Vahid Salemi

Iran was already in rough shape before coronavirus began to spread.

Since Trump's controversial decision to pull the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, his administration has slapped Tehran with a relentless series of economic sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy.

The administration has maintained that the harsh sanctions, which have choked off Iran's main source of revenue (oil), will push Iran into sitting down and negotiating a more stringent version of the 2015 agreement. There is little to no evidence to support this position, as the sanctions have increased Iran's aggressive activities in the region and exacerbated tensions between Washington and Tehran.

In early January, Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, which pushed the US and Iran to the brink of war. Though the two countries ultimately stepped back from a broader conflict, hostilities have not dissipated and the "maximum pressure" strategy of economic sanctions has continued. The US has even hit Iran with new sanctions amid the coronavirus pandemic.

There are growing calls for the US to ease economic sanctions on Iran

Iran has largely botched its response to coronavirus by initially denying the magnitude of the crisis and suppressing information on the outbreak. But the Iranian government is also blaming US sanctions for its bungled handling of the pandemic, and urging Washington to lift them on humanitarian grounds.

"We had always said the sanctions are unjust but coronavirus revealed this injustice to the world," Zarif said in a recent video message, referring to the sanctions as "economic terrorism."

There are now growing calls in the international community, and within the US, for the sanctions to be lifted.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, recently urged countries to ease sanctions on nations such as Iran.

"At this crucial time, both for global public health reasons, and to support the rights and lives of millions of people in these countries, sectoral sanctions should be eased or suspended. In a context of global pandemic, impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us," Bachelet said in late March.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, on Thursday also called on Trump to ease the sanctions on Iran.

"Iran is struggling to contain one of the deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks in the world. While the Iranian government has failed to respond effectively to this crisis, including lying and concealing the truth from its own people, and it continues to act provocatively in the region, the Iranian people are hurting desperately," Biden wrote in a post on Medium.

"It is bad enough that the Trump administration abandoned the Iran nuclear deal in favor of a 'maximum pressure' strategy that has badly backfired, encouraging Iran to become even more aggressive and restart its nuclear program," Biden added. "It makes no sense, in a global health crisis, to compound that failure with cruelty by inhibiting access to needed humanitarian assistance. Whatever our profound differences with the Iranian government, we should support the Iranian people."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A number of artists from Co Louth have donated works for this year's Incognito exhibition and art sale in aid of the Jack and Jill Charity, which provides support to the families of seriously ill children around the country.

Due to the corona virus outbreak, this year's art sale has been adapted to avoid problems with physical queuing, with 1,812 postcard-size pieces of original artworks appearing on www.incognito.ie. These are available to view until April 23 after which the sale will go live

Each of these original art pieces will be sold online to the public on a first-click-first-served basis for 50, - with a maximum of three pieces per person, the twist is that no one will know the identity of the artist until after they buy the piece.

Featuring works by well-known artists valued at many times the sale price, this is an amazing opportunity to become an owner of a prized painting or simply a piece of artwork that you love.

Artists and celebrities who have kindly submitted their work for INCOGNITO 2020 include Robert Ballagh, Abigail O'Brien, Una Sealy, Jason Byrne, Bono, Bruce and Patti Springsteen, Helen Steele, Don Conroy, and Mo Kelly to name a few

Dunleer based Adrian+Shane are also among the well known artists who have donated artworks.

Other Louth artists whose work is included in the sale are Ciara Agnew, Orla Barry, Joanne Cartwright of Beag Studio, Michael Gavan Duffy, Sean McGuill, Colin O'Neill and Shauna Swords.

Speaking at the launch Carmel Doyle, CEO of Jack & Jill said, "We are delighted to launch the INCOGNITO collection today, a wonderful initiative now into its fourth year. Yes, we've had to move the sale online this year, but nothing can take away from the wonderful, high quality collection of art donated to Jack & Jill and we are so grateful. With artists from across the country contributing, this is just another example of how, as a nation, we come together to help others. The care provided by the Jack & Jill Children's Foundation is vital to the lives of the children and families we support and with each piece sold, 3 hours of specialist home nursing care can be provided. Yet again the standard of art is phenomenal and there's not one piece in the collection that's not worth 50 alone. We're hoping for another record queue for art this year, but this time it all moves online."

For budding artists INCOGNITO is a great platform to exhibit and sell their artwork side-by-side with well-known artists with less well-known artists from Ireland and all around the world, all of whom must strictly adhere to keeping their submission confidential until after the sale.

So if you would like the opportunity to buy a piece of artwork, perhaps one by a famous artist or celebrity, or simply a piece which catches your eye, log onto www.incognito,ie.

If you are successful in your bidding when the sale goes live on April 24, you will receive your piece via post for a 5 postage and packing charge.
"I am a nurse and I could see the writing on the wall a few weeks ago, so we cancelled our venue in Toowoomba and decided we would drive to Brisbane and get married at my parents' house," Mrs Lobb said.

Currently only five people are permitted at a wedding ceremony in Australia: the couple, two witnesses and the celebrant. The Lobbs' 90-guest wedding was reduced to the two of them, Caitlyn's parents and their celebrant, Jacki Derrick.

Then the pandemic struck, along with strict rules about gatherings.

Toowoomba couple Caitlyn and Nick Lobb had been planning their dream wedding since July 2018.

Caitlyn and Nick Lobb had been planning their wedding since mid-2018.

Caitlyn and Nick Lobb were married by Jacki Derrick (centre) on the weekend.

"We decided we still wanted to get married because I am currently 31 weeks' pregnant and I guess we had been planning it for so long and thought if we postponed it, we would just keep putting it off once we had a new baby."

The couple said "I do" in Mrs Lobb's parents' backyard on the weekend, in a short, no-fuss ceremony, before ordering Thai takeaway for dinner.

Mrs Lobb wore a dress she had in her closet, and her best friend came around to take a few photos after the celebrant left.

The couple's wedding cake, which was cooked to feed 90 people, was cut into pieces and popped away in the freezer.
Schools have turned to remote learning in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Online meeting rooms like Zoom are a popular choice for holding class.

Companies use the tool, too, for off-site meetings because of COVID-19.

But now, the FBI is warning of cyber harassment called Zoombombing.

The FBI said some users have reported conferences that were hijacked or otherwise disrupted by unknown individuals using pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language.

Among the complaints were two incidents that hit Massachusetts schools.

One high school reported in late March 2020 that while a teacher was conducting an online class using the teleconferencing software Zoom, an unidentified individual(s) dialed into the classroom. This individual yelled a profanity and then shouted the teachers home address in the middle of instruction.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

The second incident said an unidentified individual accessed a school Zoom meeting. The person displayed swastika tattoos.

The FBI field office in Newark couldnt confirm or deny whether there were any Zoombombing investigations in New Jersey.

Zoom said it posted an advisory on March 20 with guidance for users on how to prevent uninvited guests from joining Zoom meetings, with another on March 27 that was updated March 31. That one said Zoom comes pre-stocked with numerous security features designed to control online classrooms, prevent disruptions, and help educators effectively teach remotely.

A spokesperson said the company is deeply upset about the incidents and it offers training, tutorials and webinars to help users understand account features.

The company said it is listening to our community of users to help us evolve our approach.

For example, we recently changed the default settings for education users to enable waiting rooms by default and ensure teachers by default are the only ones who can share content in class, the spokesperson said.

It said users can report incidents directly to the company.

The FBI recommends schools and companies use caution with videoconferencing. It offered this advice:

Do not make meetings or classrooms public. In Zoom, there are two options to make a meeting private: require a meeting password or use the waiting room feature and control the admittance of guests.

Do not share a link to a teleconference or classroom on an unrestricted publicly available social media post. Provide the link directly to specific people.

Manage screensharing options. In Zoom, change screensharing to Host Only.

Ensure users are using the updated version of remote access/meeting applications. In January 2020, Zoom updated its software. In their security update, the teleconference software provider added passwords by default for meetings and disabled the ability to randomly scan for meetings to join.

Lastly, ensure that your organizations telework policy or guide addresses requirements for physical and information security.

To report teleconference hijacking or any cyber-crime, report it to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. If you receive a threat during a teleconference, report it to tips.fbi.gov.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

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Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
It is people who matter not borders for field hospital treatment  no consequentials for Wales as England cancels NHS trust debts

This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 3rd, 2020

The First Minister has said he expects the usual cross border working to continue during the pandemic response, with field hospitals treating

We asked, NHS England and NHS Wales interact during normal times, for example many visiting Christies in Manchester for cancer treatment. How is cross border working with the reduction in some treatments, and looking to the near future, will NHS Wales resources such as the new field hospital in Deeside be used to support NHS England?

The First Minister paraphrased the question and answered, Well, patients from Wales are treated in English hospitals everyday and English patients are treated in the Welsh NHS every day. Its just the nature of our border. Weve got a very porous border with big populations on either side of it.

In this crisis it is people who matter, not borders. So, we know there will be people from Wales who will end up being treated in England and therell be people from England being treated in Wales, and its people who matter. We will work with our colleagues across the border to make sure that people will always come first.

Further detail was given in answer to other questions on field hospitals, with the First Minister explaining, By and large, the facilities will be step down facilities, they will be for people who are recovering. So some will be for coronavirus patients who are no longer infectious but are not yet fully recovered and continuing care, but they will be other patients recovering from other conditions who can be looked after in a field hospital. Thus, freeing up the more intensive capacity that a fully equipped hospital will be able to provide.

Speaking on staffing of the field hospitals he said, We expect staffing to be a mixture, there will be people who are currently employed in the NHS. There will be people from the fantastic number of people who have come forward, recently retired doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, student nurses in their final year of training, medical students who are just about to go back into go into the workforce. The First Minister also explained that visiting will be a decision for those on the ground.

In a separate question we also asked, English Health Minister Matt Hancock announced a wiping of NHS trust debt, speculated at being around 13bn . If that is a reality will your Government use any consequential in a similar manner?

The First Minister pointed out that the 13bn was not real cash, There will be no consequential because this is not real money, it is just an accountancy exercise stating that in England it is debt on the book, and they cancel the debt.

They do not use money for it and thus there is no consequence for Wales, he added that the level of indebtedness of trusts in Wales are simply not of the same order as England.

Following on a theme of questions submitted by us this week we asked As a 65 year old what are your personal thoughts about the NICE COVID-19 guidelines, and do you think your age or frailty should be a factor in deciding if you would benefit from critical care intervention? however that did not get put to the podium.

You can view the full brief and Q&A below:
Tablighi Jamaat members quarantined at a hospital in Ghaziabad allegedly misbehaved with the nurses, making lewd remarks and dropping their pants, provoking the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to invoke the stringent National Security Act against them.

IMAGE: Medics examine attendees of religious congregation at Tabligh-e-Jamaat's Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, in Prayagraj, on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo

The six Jamaat members at the district hospital were shifted to an isolation ward set up at a private educational institute after the complaints against them.

They are among the thousands who attended a religious congregation at organisation's New Delhi headquarter, now being seen as a coronavirus hotspot.

In a sharp reaction, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called those involved in the incident 'enemies of humanity'.

"They will neither accept the law nor follow arrangements. Whatever they did with women health workers is a heinous crime," he said on Friday.

"The NSA is being invoked against them. We will not let leave them," he said, accord in a government statement in Lucknow.

The NSA allows preventive detention up to 12 months without a charge if the authorities are satisfied that the person is a threat to the national security or law and order.

The Ghaziabad police said the Jamaat members were booked for indulging in ugly acts and passing lewd remarks against the women staff members at the hospital.

A case was registered against them at the GT Road Kotwali on receiving a complaint from the chief medical officer.

Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said stringent action will be taken against them.

In the complaint, a nurse has alleged that the coronavirus suspects were roaming without trousers in the hospital.

They sang vulgar songs and made ugly gestures, the nurse alleged, adding that they were not taking their medicines.

They were also not following social distancing norms, she said.

Police have registered the case under Sections 269, 270, 271, 294 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code, the SSP said.

The sections relate to sexual harassment and actions which spread disease.

Over 150 members of the Jamaat have been quarantined at different hospitals in Ghaziabad.
U.S. The Daily Beast

Fox News White House correspondent and perpetual nemesis of Jen Psaki thought he had Joe Bidens press secretary cornered on Monday when he asked her why the president is still referring to COVID-19 as a pandemic of the unvaccinated when so many people are getting breakthrough infections. He was wrong.I understand that the science says that vaccines prevent death, Doocy began, before undercutting that basic truth. But Im triple-vaxxed, still got COVID. Youre triple-vaxxed, still got COVI
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BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / ACCESSWIRE / April 3, 2020 / The effects of COVID-19 on Latin American markets are crippling local economies. While two-thirds (68.7%) of business executives say the corona crisis will affect their businesses on the long-term, nonessential workers are deprived of their incomes and spending abilities. Governments including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina have each built stimulus funds to increase liquidity and provide a safety net for their citizens. At a time where forecasts place Latin America in worse positions than the 2009 recession, businesses can make a difference to lessen the impact.A safety net from local governments, businesses and banks to boost liquidityUnemployment rates are peaking on a global scale while Latin American markets suffer from a decrease in spending and an increase of businesses shutting down affecting local cash influxes. Governments are stepping up to provide financial safety nets that ensure access to basic necessities and unemployment insurance.Brazil is an example of measures being taken to increase cash flow for banks with a $234.2 billion package. For informal or nonessential workers to access healthcare and supplement lost income, a $24 billion spending program was announced in addition to financing 1.4 million impacted companies and a temporary credit line from the central bank. Colombia and Mexico have followed similar policies by setting up an emergencies mitigation fund (FOME) of $2.98 billion and deferring capital and interest payment to financial institutions.Most notably, Chile has offered a 5% of GDP recovery package. These cash injections do not come without consequence. Brazil has suffered a 20% loss in currency value while the Mexican peso has tumbled 1.8% to the US dollar.A major change in consumer behaviour as businesses step in to lend a helping handConsumer spending patterns are changing due to prioritization, businesses shutting down amid quarantine measures and surging global unemployment rates. The Latin American consumer market is displaying similar trends to the rest of the world, as shoppers are steadily transferring their purchasing habits to online stores. According to studies conduct by Kantar, 44% of internet users in Argentina are opting to buy the majority of their household items online to avoid going to a physical store.The prioritization of shopping amid the corona crisis has left many industries in shambles as consumer focus on buying only the essentials including cleaning, personal hygiene and food items. Some online businesses are chipping in to help consumers. MercadoLibre, a major online market place in Latin America, has agreed to waive fees for sellers on basic necessity products. The move is said to impact vendors and raise their incomes considerably for basic cleaning, hygiene and non-perishable food. In Mexico alone, the pharmacy and home products sales rose 114% and 403%.Companies that are playing role in fighting COVID-19 include Ikea, Johnson & Johsnon and Brosnan AdivsorsThe initial response in Latin America was similar to other global initiatives, as it is widely known that complying to emergency measures and overcoming the virus determines the outcome of long-term economic impact. Stimulus packages must also be followed by quarantine recovery responses to curb confirmed cases and of course death rates.Companies in this case have the power to directly influence the outcome of their employees in a significant way. Businesses have been redeploying their expertise to fight the corona pandemic on the ground. Alcohol distilleries have been producing alco-gel products in-house amid supply shortages, IKEA has been helping to kit-out hospitals and Johnsons &Johnson has donated a million surgical masks to Chinese health workers.To join the list of corporate responsibility champions, Brosnan Advisors are reaching similar heights with extensive CSR measures. Firstly, ensuring safety of all essential staff by supplying protective gear such as masks and gloves in addition to sanitary gels for everyday use.With the increase in access to testing kits, the company is also getting ready to offer testing kits to a majority of employees in the near future.Increasing distribution efforts of essential items has also been a crucial benefit for employees. Providing access to delivery of food, cleaning supplies and medicine to staff and their communities is an important part of keeping quarantine without jeopardizing employees that are forced to stay home or unable to work during lockdown periods.Brosnan Advisors also vows to help the scientific community in developing research to combat the virus and do the utmost to remain prepared for all developments ahead.Any corporate entity with a large enough safety net should be helping not only those close to them, but increase outreach to larger communities in need as our collective response to this pandemic is the best way to combat it and save the job market in the future.Contact:Name: Melissa De RoockEmail: m.deroock@ brosnanadvisors.com Website: www.brosnanadvisors.com SOURCE: Melissa De Roock
More than a dozen cruise ships remain stranded at sea right nowsome with and some without passengersas ports deny entry and passengers panic about returning home.

On March 13, in light of mounting fears over onboard COVID-19 outbreaks, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) made the decision to suspend operations from U.S. ports of call for 30 days.

Two weeks later, thousands of passengers and crew members remain aboard at least 15 ships across the world.

Industry group CLIA encompasses 38 cruise companies, with a total of 277 ships.

The organization confirmed to CNN on March 31 that 3.6% of the total fleet was still at sea completing adjusted itineraries and five ships are awaiting debarkation.

Flight restrictions and port closures have led to some challenges bringing ships in, however our members are working around the clock to address these road blocks, a CLIA spokesperson told CNN Travel.

CLIA is asking ports and governments around the world to allow these ships to come into port so that those onboard can make their way home safely and as quickly as possible.

Major cruise lines P&O, Cunard, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Holland America have now extended their ban on cruising until mid-May.

Here are details on the cruise ships still in limbo that we know about.

Cruise ships with passengers

ZaandamHolland America

Status: Disembarking at Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Zaandam was sailing a South American voyage that departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7 and was originally supposed to conclude in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21.

No one has exited the ship since it stopped in Punta Arenas, Chile, on March 14. Guests were originally told they could disembark in Chile for flights, but ultimately this was forbidden.

Once flu-like symptoms cropped up on board, those with symptoms were isolated and their traveling companions quarantined. All guests were asked to remain in their staterooms.

Four guests on board Zaandam have passed away, the cruise line confirmed on March 27.

I fear other lives are at risk, Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line, said in a statement.

All the ports en route are closed to cruise ships, so Holland America deployed another of its ships, Rotterdam, to offer relief.

Rotterdam met Zaandam off Panama in the evening of March 26 to provide extra supplies, staff, COVID-19 test kits and other support as needed.

Previously, the ship had no coronavirus test kits on board.

Holland America transferred healthy Zaandam guests to Rotterdam. The guests who moved from Zaandam to Rotterdam completed a health screening beforehand, the cruise line said.

There are currently 808 guests and 583 crew on Rotterdam. On Zaandam, there are 442 guests and 603 crew members on board.

As of April 2, 107 guests (90 on Zaandam/17 on Rotterdam) and 143 crew on Zaandam (0 on Rotterdam) have presented with influenza-like symptoms.

Guests on both ships are remaining in their staterooms until the ship disembarks.

On March 29, Holland America confirmed it was granted special approval by the Panama Canal Authority to transit Zaandam and Rotterdam through the Panama Canal.

On April 2, Holland America confirmed that both Zaandam and Rotterdam were cleared for arrival to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Guests will be health screened upon arrival.

Disembarkation is expected to be completed by Friday evening local time. In a statement, Holland America said priority would be given to those in need of immediate medical care. They will transfer to local health system partners who have approved their arrival.

Guests who are deemed fit to travel will travel straight to the airport, with the majority booked on charter flights.

Guests who still have symptoms will remain on board and disembark at a later date to be finalized after they have fully recovered and meet the CDC guidelines for being fit to travel, said Holland America. They will continue to be well cared for on board by the ships medical staffs.

No crew from either ship will disembark.

Coral PrincessPrincess Cruises

Status: Sailing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Coral Princess departed Santiago, Chile, on March 5. Princess Cruises announced operations were halting one week later.

Princess Cruises tried to negotiate disembarkation in Brazil for guests on board the Coral Princess. Anvisa, the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, denied the disembarkation of Coral Princess guests, including those with confirmed outbound flights.

The ship is now traveling directly to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

On April 2, a Princess Cruises spokesperson confirmed to CNN Travel that there are 12 positive cases of COVID-19 on board.

There are 1,898 people onboard: 1,020 guests and 878 crew members

In response to a reported small cluster of cases of respiratory illness, Coral Princess proactively collected and sent 13 COVID-19 test samples to Barbados on March 31. We can confirm the results yielded 12 positive cases: seven guests and five crew, said the Princess Cruises spokesperson.

Guests and crew members who arent working have been self-isolating in their staterooms since Monday, and will continue to do so.

Face masks are also being distributed to guests.

Christine Beehler, 72, from New Hampshire, is on board the ship, traveling alone.

Beehler says she had no qualms about boarding back in early March. But the trip took a turn on March 13.

Since then, she says, tensions have often been high.

Yet I think most are coping well, she tells CNN Travel, speaking from her cabin where shes currently self-isolating.

Beehler is concerned the ship will not be allowed to disembark in Florida, but heartened by the news about Zaandam and Rotterdam.

For now, Beehler is trying to stay positive.

The four walls get a little tiring, she admits, but shes in regular communication with other passengers on board, and theyre keeping each others spirits up. She has a Whatsapp group with other solo travelers on board.

Beehler praises the captain for being very forthcoming with his transparency and calls the crew phenomenal.

Beehler has five further cruise trips booked for this year, although some have been canceled. She also says she remains a devoted cruiser, and plans to take this exact same cruise in 2021.

Princess Cruises said internet and guest stateroom telephone service is currently complimentary, to help guests stay in touch with family members.

The ship is expected to arrive into Fort Lauderdale on April 4.

ArcadiaP&O Cruises UK

Status: Sailing to Southampton, England

Cruise ship Arcadia embarked on a 100-day, round trip World Cruise back in January, in a very different cruising landscape.

Now, the ship is making its way back to Southampton, in the UK. Its due to arrive on April 12, 2020, on schedule.

The ship is skipping all stops after it was turned away from Cape Town.

As South African authorities are enforcing additional entry and travel restrictions because of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, COVID-19 pandemic, all guests are remaining on board until Southampton, where Arcadia is due to arrive on Sunday, 12 April as per the original itinerary, said P&O Cruises in a statement.

There are no reported cases of COVID-19 on board.

Pacific PrincessPrincess Cruises

Status: Sailing to Los Angeles, California

The Pacific Princess docked in Australia on Saturday, March 21, with the majority of passengers who disembarked on flights March 22 or March 23.

Those who couldnt fly due to medical reasons remained on board the ship, which is now traveling towards Los Angeles.

According to former passenger CJ Hayden, some of those on board were previously traveling on Holland Americas Amsterdam, which also docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 21.

Princess Cruises says there are 115 passengers on board and no known cases of COVID-19.

The Pacific Princess is due to arrive in Los Angeles on April 24. It stopped briefly in Melbourne, Australia, to refuel and replenish provisions, according to Princess Cruises.

The ship is also expected to dock in Honolulu, Hawaii, for an additional service stop.

A passenger on board, who preferred to remain anonymous, told CNN that despite the circumstances, the voyage has been another wonderful and enjoyable Princess cruise.

We are looking forward to the future when we can start sailing again with Princess, they added.

Queen Mary 2Cunard

Status: Sailing to Southampton, England

The Queen Mary 2 set off on a 113-day New York to New York voyage on Jan. 3, 2020.

Queen Mary 2s World Voyage was canceled and the ship is currently en route to Southampton from Australia, says a Cunard spokesperson.

Most guests disembarked in Perth and flew back home from there.

The only guests who remain on board are those who are unable to fly due to medical reasons, said Cunard in a statement.

There are 264 guests still on board.

There are no known cases of COVID-19 on board.

Costa Deliziosa

Status: Sailing to Venice, Italy

Costa Deliziosa set sail on an 87-day round world voyage from Venice on Jan. 5, 2020.

When Costa Cruises, owned by Carnival, decided to suspend cruises, Costa Deliziosa was the only cruise that wasnt immediately canceled.

The current world tour itinerary will be completed to allow guests to disembark and return home, was the cruise lines official statement.

Some passengers disembarked and traveled home when the ship stopped off in Perth on March 16. The only passengers allowed to disembark were those with booked flights.

The ship is due to return to Venice, Italy on April 26, although the destination could be changed.

Dana Lindberg is on board the Costa Deliziosa, a once in a lifetime trip shes planned since early 2018.

Boarding the world cruise in January, Lindberg did not consider that the itinerary would be impacted. It was only in February, as COVID-19 fears ramped up, that the ship revised its voyage to avoid Asia.

Passengers will have been at sea without docking for at least a month when the Costa Deliziosa eventually disembarks guests.

We still do not know what port we will ultimately disembark from, Lindberg tells CNN Travel.

Im not sure why the ship is moving so slowly. However, we are safer here than in Italy. I personally would rather disembark in Greece but I have no say in the situation.

Lindberg is also concerned about how she and the other 10 American passengers will travel home to the U.S.

My biggest complaint is lack of information regarding what is happening and regarding refunds/compensation for all the ports and included excursions that did not happen, she says.

There are no reports of COVID-19 on board, and Lindberg says passengers spirits are relatively high given the circumstances.

I dont think this experience will deter me from future cruising, she adds. However, I may not plan to do a 4-month cruise again.

Lindberg also says she would consider carefully which cruise line she picked for her next trip, depending on how Costa handles the present situation.

MSC MagnificaMSC Cruises

Status: Sailing to Europe

MSC Magnifica disembarked on a world voyage on Jan. 4, 2020.

The ships passengers were not allowed to disembark when the ship docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 24.

The Magnifica says there are no sick passengers on board.

An MSC spokesperson told CNN Travel: MSC Magnifica, currently sailing a world cruise, is en route from Australia to Europe.

Costa VictoriaCosta Cruises

Status: Berthed in Civitavecchia, Italy

The Costa Victoria cruise ship arrived in Civitavecchia, in Italy, on March 25.

Earlier in the voyage, a passenger tested positive for coronavirus and was disembarked in Greece.

The disembarkation process in Italy is ongoing.

ColumbusCruise & Maritime Voyages

Status: Sailing to Tilbury, England

Last week, two Cruise & Maritime Voyages ships, Columbus and Vasco da Gama, met at sea 12 nautical miles off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, to undertake what the cruise line called a unique passenger transfer and repatriation operation.

This decision was made to help get passengers on both vessels home as quickly as possible.

Some 239 passengers were transferred between the ships. British nationals transferred onto the Columbus, which is heading to the UK, while Australians and New Zealanders are now on board the Vasco da Gama.

There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on either ship.

The Columbus is set to arrive in Tilbury on April 13.

ArtaniaPhoenix

Status: In Western Australia

The Artania cruise ship embarked on a 140-day world cruise from Hamburg, Germany, to Bremerhaven, Germany, on Dec. 21, 2019.

The ship has now docked in Western Australia.

One passenger, who has since disembarked, tested positive for coronavirus earlier in the journey.

A further 36 passengers tested positive for COVID-19 following a check from Australian health officials upon arrival in Fremantle.

In a statement, cruise line Phoenix Reisen said these passengers were subsequently disemb a rked and quarantined in local hospitals.

Healthy passengers stayed on board the ship until their repatriation flights, which took place on March 29.

The majority of passengers are German. Those from elsewhere in Europe were also taken back to Germany.

According to Phoenix Reisen, 16 passengers, plus hundreds of crew members, decided to stay on board the Artania, and travel back home that way.

Cruise ships without passengers

Vasco da GamaCruise & Maritime Voyages

Status: Passengers in quarantine in Western Australia. Ship sailing back to Tilbury, UK

The Vasco da Gama cruise ship docked in Fremantle, Australia, on March 28.

There were 798 Australians and 108 New Zealanders on board the vessel.

The New Zealand guests disembarked the ship and flew home from Perth on Sunday, March, 29.

On Monday, March 30, all Vasco da Gama passengers from Western Australia traveled to nearby Rottnest island, where they will spend 14 days in self-isolation, before they are able to travel home.

Australian citizens from other states will be asked to spend their 14-day quarantine at hotels in Perth which have been specifically set aside for this purpose, said Cruise & Maritime Voyages, in a statement.

There are no suspected cases of COVID-19 on board.

Vasco da Gama has now disembarked passengers at Fremantle and is heading back to the UK with only crew members on board.

Oasis of the SeasRoyal Caribbean

Status: In Miami, Florida

Passengers departed the Oasis of the Seas in Miami two weeks ago, but crew members remain on board.

On Sunday, the Miami Herald reported it had obtained a leaked recording of the ships captain announcing that 14 crewmembers had tested positive for COVID-19.

CNN reached out to Royal Caribbean regarding the report, who said: The health and well-being of our crew is our foremost priority. Crewmembers who exhibited symptoms were evaluated by our medical staff and remain under close supervision.

In accordance with our health and safety protocols, our crew have been asked to self-isolate in cabins while we await confirmation of initial results from public health authorities.

The ship was anchored off the Bahamas but has since returned to the Miami coast.

On March 31, the cruise line confirmed via a statement to CNN that one crew member from Oasis of the Seas and one from nearby Symphony of the Seas were being medically evacuated for observation and treatment of respiratory issues.

We are grateful to local authorities for their support with the evacuations, added the spokesperson.

The ship is currently off the coast of West Palm Beach, Florida.

Symphony of the SeasRoyal Caribbean

Status: In Miami, Florida

Symphony of the Seas is the worlds biggest cruise ship, with 18 decks in total.

Passengers disembarked in Miami on March 14, but crew members remain on board.

The ship is currently anchored off Palm Beach, Floridafollowing the medical evacuation of the sick crew.

Costa DiademaCosta Cruises

Status: Berthed in Piombino, Italy

Costa Diadema berthed in Piombino on March 31, after being denied docking rights at other ports.

Piombinos mayor Francesco Ferrari said via a statement on his official Facebook page that no gratitude was necessary.

I did what any responsible Italian would have done, Ferrari said.

I could not allow more than a thousand people to remain in the open sea, especially in the precarious conditions that our country and the whole world are going through.

There were 1,255 crew members on board. Three crew members with serious symptoms of COVID-19 were disembarked and taken to hospital.

There were five people also displaying symptoms, and a further 13 with mild symptoms, according to Ferrari.

Doctors are now testing all those on board and charter flights have been set up to repatriate non-Italians.

Costa MagicaCosta Cruises

The Costa Magica is docked near Miami, Florida.

Last week, six crew members with respiratory symptoms were evacuated from the ship, and then transported to a hospital on shore by Miami-Dade Fire, according to a tweet from Miami-Dade County Emergency Management.

The vessel does not have permission to enter the Port of Miami.

The ship previously docked in Guadeloupe and all passengers disembarked to get on flights.

Costa FavolosaCosta Cruises

Also docked near Miami is another Costa cruise ship, Favolosa.

Seven ill crew members were evacuated from this ship along with the sick passengers who had been on board Costa Magica.

Like Costa Magica, the ship previously docked in Guadeloupe, and passengers disembarked there.

AzuraP&O Cruises UK

Azura is sailing back to Southampton, England with no guests on board. It was due to dock March 31.

Hanseatic NatureHapag-Lloyd Cruises

The Hanseatic Nature is traveling from Central America to Hamburg, Germany, scheduled to arrive on April 15.

This voyage is taking place to get the ship to its hold position.

All Hapag-Lloyd Cruises guests have disembarked.

According to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises press team, crew members on board this ship have challenged themselves to walk and jog the track around the ship to keep busy and exercise during the crossing.

They are hoping the entire crew of 138 do 28 laps a day, for the 27 day trip, if every crew member does the 28 laps a day it will equal the distance they are crossing, 7700 nautical miles = 8861.01 miles, says a Hapag-Lloyd Cruises spokesperson.

EuropaHapag-Lloyd Cruises

This ship is on course to Barbados, scheduled to arrive April 3. This voyage is also taking place to get the ship to its appropriate hold position.

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

NTD staff contributed to this report.
As the effects from the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic continue to morph by the day and residents are stuck inside unable to go to work, school or their favorite restaurants and businesses, mental health professionals in Montgomery County are warning about the possible negative impact on those already suffering from mental health issues and suicidal ideations.

Sherry Burkhard, executive director of Mosaics of Mercy, a local mental health resource center based in Magnolia, said the stressors of the dramatic changes and restrictions on what people can do outside their homes has increased pressure on everyone, leading to anxiety, depression, possible domestic disputes or violence and even heightened thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Staying connected

As the pandemic continues and stay-at-home orders limit who can go outside their homes and when, Burkhard said it is critically important for all residents to stay connected with friends and family, monitor their acquaintances for possible unusual behavior and practice good self-care practices.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Nonprofit teaches about mental health, addiction issues through mosaic hearts

More Information Mental Health Resources National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 24-hour-a-day help line with counselors - 1-800-273-8255 or Via text message: text TALK to 741741 Mosaics of Mercy, 33300 Egypt Lane, Suite K300, Magnolia, Telephone: 346-703-0051. Licensed Professional Counselor Carolyn Robistow, https://joyeffectcounseling.com/ Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare: http://www.tricountyservices.org/ -Telephone hotline: 1-800-659-6994 See More Collapse

We (Mosaics of Mercy) are a resource hub for mental well-being. We provide education and then connection to resources, Burkhard said of Mosaics of Mercy. We help people navigate and find counselors or help groups for whatever they are dealing with. And we have a creative program which is our mosaic making program.

Need for awareness

The COVID-19 pandemic has created more need for mental health awareness, Burkhard said, echoing comments also made by Montgomery County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Judge Wayne Mack, who is a co-founder of the Montgomery County Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force.

Both Burkhard and Mack said monitoring loved ones and friends as well as staying connected with support networks is critical as the pandemic continues to keep people inside.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Villager Q&A: Judge Wayne Mack discusses mental health during COVID-19 crisis

We need to practice good mental health and brain hygiene. Mental health professionals are encouraging people, that we are doing social distancing, but we are not social disconnecting. We need to still stay connected with our friends and loved ones. It is very, very important that if someone knows someone that has a mental health issue that we are continually checking on them and we are not disconnecting. Mack said. Hopelessness can create a lot of things. People that struggle with mental health and any behavioral health issues or suicidal thoughtstimes like this can be what it commonly referred to as a trigger. It is very, very important that we check on our neighbors, our friends and family that are being impacted by this.

Burkhard is also a volunteer member of the task force, and said she and her staff as seeing issues arise already after only a few weeks of COVID-19 changes to daily life.

What we are seeing is people in our community were already struggling. Specifically, with anxiety and then with depression. Now that this has started and people are home and isolated, they are having a lot of time just to be with themselves and if you are already struggling with anxiety, and you add this in on top of things, it can become overwhelming, Burkhard said. As far as depression, usually one of the ways to help with depression is connection. Being isolated makes that difficult. We are often seeing people being in addiction recovery, and part of that is going to support groups, and now theyre not able to. The normal things other people can help you cope with each day, they cant do now. (COVID-19) Is changing things in how they pursue their recovery.

Mosaics of Mercy offers a wide range of resources and lists of mental health providers and counselors on their website ranging from anxiety and depression to drug addiction recovery and eating disorders. The center also makes a new podcast focused on various elements of mental health and related issues available on iTunes, Google Play and other sites that offer podcasts.

Virtual appointments

Burkhard said it is critical that anyone suffering with anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns know that there are other ways to connect with help aside from in-person visits  namely virtual appointments. There is a special coronavirus landing page on the nonprofits website.

We have different virtual groups listed on our website. If people contact us, we have a spreadsheet of local counselors that lists who is seeing people virtually or if reduced rates are available. It is constantly changing, she noted.

Burkhard said anyone who cant find a resource on the website can telephone the center and an assistant will help them find what they are looking for.

In some ways, the calls (for assistance) are not as many right now. We are trying to get the word out, because we know people are struggling and they may not know there are still ways to connect to those resources virtually, Burkhard said. The other thing that is happening, a few people whove called have already lost their jobs. Maybe they have a teenager or someone who is struggling and now they are stressed because they dont know how they will pay for resources. A lot of counselors are stepping up and providing different options of what they are doing to help.

The centers podcast recently featured local counselor Lauren Hollis who discussed the varied emotional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Hollis) did talk a lot about parenting and how to talk to your teenager or child about these issues. We have one this week coming out on marriage in stressful times, because now, you are stuck at home together, Burkhard added. We know that is predicted to become an even bigger issue than it was and we want to talk about ways to navigate (domestic relations) now. There are still resources available.

Burkhard also said it crucial to be cognizant of potential flags for mental health issues among children, parents, spouses, relatives or friends, something that is easier due to being inside more than usual.

If someone in your house, one day they start isolating, or if you notice a consistent patternthey dont come out of their room, their sleeping habits change, their eating habits change, you want to ask them questions, she added.

Monitor behaviors

Mack also said monitoring family members, friends and relatives for unusual actions or changed behaviors is important during times of heightened stress such as a hurricane or the current COVID-19 pandemic.

It is very, very important that we ask the question, are you OK, and very, very important that we are social distancing but we should not social disconnect. If someone has a history of mental illness, or a history of mental health issues, or someone is just not acting normal, check on them, Mack said. When people start doing things differently, that is a flag. They are not returning phone calls, not checking back with youthese are all flags. We just need to be aware.

Burkhard said she especially wants to reinforce the message to all residents that there are resources for mental health counseling and assistance still going despite the stay-at-home orders and social distancing that has limited larger gatherings and interactions with others.

As this goes on, regardless of whether or not we have mental illness, this is impacting our mental health, which everyone has, she said. It is really important to take care of that and there are still resources to navigate that and we are happy to help people.

jeff.forward@chron.com
ILLINOIS  Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave his daily coronavirus update Friday from McCormick Place, where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is leading efforts to add hospital beds and equipment to the conference center. He praised their efforts, saying in one week they will be building out a 3,000-bed capacity at the center.



But even as efforts to expand Illinois' healthcare capacity and slow the spread of coronavirus continue, Pritzker had more sobering news.

In the last 24 hours, Pritzker said, 53 more Illinois residents have lost their lives to coronavirus, bringing the state death toll to 210. The state also has 8,904 confirmed coronavirus cases.

"That's 210 fathers and mothers, brothers and sister, grandparents and children who are no longer with us," Pritzker said. "May their memories be for a blessing."

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 3: 8,904 Cases, 210 Deaths

Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters. [RECIRC]

As of March 24, there were about 26,000 non-ICU beds in Illinois and 2,600 ICU beds. As of today, despite efforts to increase capacity, about 11,500 bed remain, Pritzker said.

"That's a lot fewer than is normal at this time of year," he added. "That availability is diminishing," which makes the need for social distancing that much more critical.



The governor also addressed another hot topic when it comes to coronavirus: Should residents wear masks when they go out in public?



Pritzker gave his own opinion he said is based on "where science is trending," saying, "There's a reason that we're raised to cover your mouth or use your elbow to cover your cough or sneeze," he said. Since coronavirus can be spread through droplets in the air, blocking those droplets by wearing a mask in public "seems like a common sense way" to reduce the spread, Pritzker added.

Story continues

Nationwide, 6,921 people have died from coronavirus and 9,445 have recovered.

This article originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch
A man uses his smartphone to surf Facebook in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Nga.

Vietnamese Internet users have to suffer sluggish internet connections as the disaster-prone AAG undersea cable suffered a disruption Thursday.

Local internet service providers said the Asia America Gateway (AAG) encountered a technical problem on the S1 branch connecting Vietnam to Hong Kong at 8:34 p.m. Thursday.

This is the first internet disruption incident of this year.

The disruption happens at a time when millions of Vietnamese are studying and working from home with the country in a 15-day nationwide social distancing campaign to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing demand for Internet services.

However, the cause of the problem has not been confirmed and internet service providers have not yet revealed the time when the problem will be fixed.

Many Vietnamese online users have complained about unstable internet connection these days, affecting their work and study.

Hai Yen, a designer in Hanois Cau Giay District, is working from home. Initially, she felt secure because she signed up for a high-speed internet package, but after a few days, the network kept flickering. "Previously downloading files of 100 MB took less than a minute, but now it takes more than five minutes, and still doesnt finish downloading. It even gets interrupted in the middle," Yen said. She called the operator and was advised to "reboot the modem," but the condition did not improve much.

The most recent internet disruption of the cable took place on December 22.

Vietnam currently has six submarine cable systems, as well as a 120 gigabit channel that runs overland through China.

Connected in November 2009, the $560-million AAG handles more than 60 percent of the countrys international internet traffic. The system runs more than 20,000 kilometers (12,420 miles), connecting Southeast Asia and the U.S., passing through Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Since its debut, the cable has experienced frequent ruptures and repairs, affecting all service providers in Vietnam, where more than 64 percent of the population are online.

Vietnam's average broadband speed is 10 times slower than Singapore's 70.86 Mbps, a third of Malaysia's 23.86 Mbps and half that of Thailand's (18.21 Mbps).
New Delhi, April 3 : After Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people to light candles on Sunday at 9 p.m. for nine minutes amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, the opposition on Friday slammed him saying symbolism was important, but serious consideration was equally important to address financial anxieties of the people.

In a series of tweets, former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said, "Dear Narendra Modi, we will listen to you and light diyas on April 5. But, in return, please listen to us and to the wise counsel of epidemiologists and economists." He said, "What we expected from you today was FAP II, a generous livelihood support package for the poor, including the categories of the poor who were completely ignored by Nirmala Sitharaman on March 25".

Chidambaram added, "Every working man and woman, from business person to daily wage earner, has also expected you to announce steps to arrest the economic slide and restart the engine of economic growth.

"People are disappointed at both counts. Symbolism is important, but serious consideration is equally important for ideas and measures", said Chidambaram.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) while attacking the Prime Minister demanded a fiscal package. TMC MP Mahua Moitra said in a tweet, "Turn out lights and come on balconies? Get real Mr Modi. Give India fiscal package worth 8-10 per cent of GDP.

"Ensure immediate wages to construction and other labour during lockdown --laws exist permitting this. Stop Gagging real issues in name of curbing fake news." Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor called the Prime Minister a showman and said that Modi was invoking Hindu Symbolism.

"Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease people's pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by India's Photo-Op Prime Minister," Tharoor said in his tweet.

In another tweet, he said, "This is no accident: the PM spoke on Ram Navami at 9 am for 9 mins, asked us to light diyas & candles on 5/4 at 9 pm for 9 mins. He is invoking all the auspicious elements Hinduism associates with number 9. Back to Ram Bharose?! #COVID19 must be more serious than we thought!" Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal also criticised the Prime Minister and in a tweet said, "Modiji, learnt nothing about government's steps to contain the virus, protect our medical practitioners, provide testing kits, reach food and supplies to the poor, finance migrant labour, the jobless.

"Light the 'Diyaa' of reason, not that of superstition," Sibal said.

The opposition leaders' remarks came after Modi on Friday once again reached out to the nation amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown and urged people to light a candle or "diya" on April 5 at 9 p.m. for nine minutes to dispel the darkness and gloom brought about by the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Some 600,000 Moroccan students use daily the online learning TelmidTICE platform launched by the ministry of education after it decided to close schools, universities and shift courses online to prevent the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 3000 courses covering a wide variety of subjects including science, mathematicsare accessible to primary and secondary education students thanks to this web site which has enabled them to continue their learning.

And even in some rural zones where there is no access to Internet, homeschooling goes on unfettered as some local TV channels such as Athaqafia and Laayoune TV station are broadcasting courses for pupils and students of various levels including the baccalaureate curriculum.

For their part, university and vocational training students are getting their online courses through interactive platforms, which have enhanced dialogue between students and their teachers.

According to some experts, online education can close the digital divide and open up greater opportunities for all learners who can easily access their courses from their homes.

E-learners do not need to take public transport to go to schools or universities, get up early to get dressed for classes or spend money on transportation. The list of benefits of remote schooling is too long.
The Mangalore Refinery and



Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), the Karnataka's lone refinery, kept its operations uninterrupted against all odds to serve the energy needs of the state and many pockets of southern states during the current lockdown.

The supply of petrol and diesel, crucial not just to Karnataka but also other parts of South, continued smoothly while fully complying with the lockdown order and ensuring the safety of the people.

During the period, petrol and diesel are supplied to local depots and oil marketing companies and through pipelines to destinations in Hassan and Bengaluru in millions of litres per day to meet the administrative and transportation needs.

In the last seven days of lockdown, the refinery has consistently supplied LPG sufficient to fill nearly one million LPG cylinders which account for 1,50,000 cylinders per day, a company press release said.

A total of 30 million litres of diesel was supplied to ensure movement of vegetables, food grains and provisions.

The company also supported the Dakshina Kannada district administration in the fight against COVID-19 by supplying 10,000 units of sanitisers for the use of various organs of the administration, the release issued by Rudolf V J Noronha, general manager (corporate communications), MRPL, said.

Meanwhile, the company sought to allay fears expressed by a section of people about a Chinese ship transporting diesel which arrived at the Mangalore port a few days back.

MRPL has clarified that the ship had come here and two personnel had entered the ship.

The company is strictly following guidelines provided about ships arriving from different ports, loading and health condition of the staff, Noronha said.

He said there is no question of MRPL, an entity of the Central government, violating coronavirus rules.

Most of the processes at the port are performed without human intervention, but for fitting diesel pipe to the pipe of MRPL, someone has to board the ship.

In such situations, all precautions like masks, goggles, gloves and other safety measures are taken.

There is no need for people to be apprehensive about such issues, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mumbai: Amid the coronavirus pandemic, actress Karisma Kapoor has revealed that she along with her children, Samaira and Kiaan, will be extending financial support to the PM-CARES Fund and Maharashtra CM's Relief Fund.

The actress took to Instagram on Thursday to share the update, while urging her fans and followers to pitch in as every small bit will help the government fight the coronavirus outbreak.

"Every life matters, which is why my children Samaira and Kiaan and I pledge our support to the PM CARES Fund and The Chief Minister's Relief Fund (Maharashtra). A small contribution can go a long way. Do your bit... for our country, for humanity," read an image posted by the actress.

"We donated , please donate too.. a small contribution can help so many lives.. #indiafightscorona #jaihind," she wrote as a caption to the image.

The "Dil To Pagal Hai" actor, however, didn't reveal the amount of donation.

With the donation, Karisma has joined her sister Kareena Kapoor Khan -- who along with her husband Saif Ali Khan and son Taimur Ali Khan pledged her support to the PM Cares Fund and Maharashtra CM's Relief Fund.

Other celebrities including Akshay Kumar, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, have extended support to the PM Cares Fund as well.
Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Shrikant Sharma on Friday alleged that Tablighi Jamaat members tried to "hide themselves" in parts of the country in an "attempt" to spread the coronavirus disease.

He also condemned reports of the alleged sexual harassment of nurses by some members of the Jamaat at a hospital in Ghaziabad, terming the incident "disgraceful and condemnable".

"Though they knew that the world is in the grip of COVID-19, they not only attended the Jamaat function in New Delhi's Nizamuddin recently but also tried to hide themselves in different part of India," the minister claimed.

"It is an attempt to spread the disease all over the country," he alleged.

He said the Jamaat members were "guilty of spreading the disease" at a time when the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making every effort to contain it.

Commenting on the Ghaziabad incident, the minister said the state government will book the accused under the stringent National Security Act.

Action will be taken against the Jamaat members who have taken the law into their hands, he said.

The minister also condemned the alleged efforts to give a religious touch to the developments.

He said it was "shameful" that Jamaat members are mixing the issue of coronavirus with religion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Health official: 'Regardless of variant, the protective measures are the same'

local
[April 03, 2020] Bell Canada mourns the loss of former BCE Chair Thomas C. O'Neill

MONTREAL, April 3, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The Bell team was saddened to learn today of the death of former BCE Inc. and Bell Canada Chair Thomas Charles O'Neill. A renowned and well-liked leader in corporate Canada, Mr. O'Neill guided Bell's resurgence as Canada's #1 communications company during his tenure as Chair from 2009 to 2016. "The loss of Tom O'Neill will be felt across the Canadian business community and particularly here at Bell where he played such an important role as our preceding Chair," said Gordon Nixon, Chair of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada. "Tom's insight in the boardroom was matched by his dedication to the community, and he will be very much missed as a leader of outstanding personal and professional calibre." "Tom successfully guided Bell through a time of unprecedented change and opportunity, and we thank him for his wisdom, integrity and passion for doing business right," said Mirko Bibic, Chief Executive Officer and President of BCE and Bell Canada. "On behalf of everyone at Bell, I offer Tom's family and many, many friends our most sincere sympathy." "Tom's steadfast commitment to good governance and corporate responsibility combined with his warm and affable personality made him stand out as a Bay Street leader who was both astute and approachable," said George Cope, who retired as Bell's President and CEO in Januay. "Tom was a mentor and inspiration to me and to countless others, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family and to all those fortunate enough to have known him."



Mr. O'Neill retired from the BCE Board in April 2016 after serving as a Director from 2003 and as Chair from 2009. Widely esteemed for his corporate governance leadership, Mr. O'Neill formerly served as CEO and Chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting and retired as Chair of Scotiabank in 2019. Key to the launch of the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative in 2010, Mr. O'Neill also received special recognition from Catalyst Canada for his role in advancing the careers of women leaders in Canadian business. He was a former Chair of St. Michael's Hospital, a member of the Advisory Board of Queen's University School of Business and a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors. Mr. O'Neill received the ICAO Award of Outstanding Merit and a range of other corporate governance honours in his time as BCE Chair.

About BCE

BCE is Canada's largest communications company, providing Bell advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communications services alongside Canada's premier content creation and media assets from Bell Media. To learn more, please visit BCE.ca or Bell.ca. The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk. Media inquiries: Vanessa Damha

514-870-6663

[email protected] SOURCE Bell Canada

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- New data shows our dogs are getting more exercise than before

CAMBRIDGE, England, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As households across the UK adjust to the new sanctions restricting outdoor activity, it seems that this has had a delightfully positive outcome for the nation's dogs.

Amid concerns that the restrictions would negatively impact on their dog's health, owners have been finding creative ways to top up their pup's exercise at home; resulting in a 'playrise' for our canine friends!

Due to unprecedented levels of "humans being at home", PitPat (makers of the UK's #1 dog activity monitor) have reported an 11% increase in playtime in just one week! The company also reported a 16% increase in dog activity overall, proving that owners will go to great lengths to keep their dogs healthy whilst in lockdown.

PitPat CEO, Andrew Nowell said:

"We couldn't be more delighted to see this spike in activity at such a difficult time but it seems that nothing can get in the way of Britain's love for dogs!

"As well as being a fantastic form of exercise, research shows that playtime benefits dogs on many levels which is why we also record play activity in the PitPat app .

"It is great to see something positive come out of all this uncertainty, and it is wonderful to see dogs getting a playrise."

PitPat has since reached out to its followers asking them to share their tips to help dog's stay fit and active prompting a fantastic response and a trend for the hashtag playrise.

The company has also released 10 tips to exercise your dog indoors full of great ways for dogs to keep fit and healthy whilst in lockdown.

PitPat Vet Ambassador, Dr Rory Cowlam said:

"As a vet and a dog lover I was worried about the effect lockdown might have on the health of our nation's dogs and I was incredibly relieved to hear PitPat's latest findings.

"It is fantastic that people are using technology like PitPat to make sure their dog is getting the right amount of exercise for their age and breed. It is great to see the general public are so aware of making sure their dogs stay fit and healthy, as well as themselves in these difficult times."



As we move closer to 'week 3' of lockdown the fate of the country is uncertain but we can, at least, take heart from the fact that the fate of the nation's dogs is in good hands.

PitPat is the UK's #1 dog activity monitor. More at pitpat.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140997/Dalmation_PitPat.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140998/PitPat_Infographic.jpg
Little Star: a delightful melody of praise and gratitude for the coming of the infant Savior. Little Star is the creation of published author Ginny Breecher, a writer of praise and worship hymns for area churches for twenty-five years. She is a past Stephen Minister and a Hospice vigil volunteer. Now a retired elementary school secretary, she lives with her husband, Tom, in Barrington, Illinois.

Breecher shares, Imagine the wonder of the nativity through new eyes and set to music everyone will enjoy. Little Star is a beloved Christmas song transformed into a delightful children's book sure to become a family favorite. A simple song sheet is included.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Ginny Breechers new book holds a captivating childrens tale that contains the story of the birth of Christ. Filled with colorful illustrations, the young believers and the entire family will surely enjoy this creation.

View a synopsis of Little Star by Ginny Breecher on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Little Star at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Little Star, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
As our communities continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, the deaths of residents of the Soldiers Home in Holyoke are especially distressing. It is difficult to comprehend that military veterans, some of whom have seen combat against our nations enemies from World War II through Vietnam and all of whom served the country with dignity, have now fallen victim to this new enemy of the entire world.

Patricia Cowden, of South Hadley, whose husband, Richard, a Merchant Marine veteran of Vietnam, was able to be with him when he died at the Soldiers Home. She told CNN this week, "(Being with him) helped me very much. The idea of him dying alone was one of the things that was bothering me the most.

Gov. Charlie Baker acted wisely this week when he called for an independent investigation into how the Soldiers Home responded to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the procedures it followed to address it. The investigation will focus on the management and organizational oversight at the facility.

It is imperative such an investigation should take place. While superintendent Bennett W. Walsh has been placed on administrative leave, now is not the time to point fingers and place blame.

We laud the efforts undertaken over the past week to bring in an interim leader and a clinical care team to oversee testing of all residents and ensure those in need of critical care receive it. The National Guard has provided important support to this effort through its mobile testing service and clinical care staffing to assist the Soldiers Home staff in ensuring the good health and safety of all residents.

Members of the Western Massachusetts legislative delegation have called an investigation of their own to address concerns, and it, too, should be welcomed.

Said state Rep. John Velis, D-Westfield, himself a member of the Army Reserve who regards the home as a sacred place, said, My firm belief is that the Legislature, a totally independent branch of the government from the executive branch of government, is also obligated to conduct this investigation. I believe that the Legislature is uniquely qualified and equipped to conduct the most thorough and independent investigation possible.

While any death from this dreaded virus is tragic, those living in nursing homes are the most vulnerable members of our community. Proper, qualified leadership is essential to ensure all receive the best care possible.

We applaud and thank the Holyoke Medical Center for stepping forward to provide a sanctuary to the healthy residents of the Soldiers Home during this difficult time.

The investigations will document what happened at the Soldiers Home, when it happened and what can be done to ensure it never happens again.

Now, though, we must also take time to mourn those weve lost and care for those who need the most attention after having given our nation so much.
Ahead of its fortieth independence anniversary on 18 April, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) has challenged the government to prioritise the welfare of the majority and the poor and to adhere to the countrys constitution in the promotion of rights and freedoms for the people of Zimbabwe.

Br. Alfonce Kugwa  Harare, Zimbabwe

In a Pastoral Letter issued Thursday, the Catholic Bishops said Zimbabwe was born out of the hunger for freedom from oppression, racism, inequality, violation of fundamental human rights and dignity, and poverty. The Bishops stated that Zimbabwes independence ushered high hopes for the majority; hope for economic growth, political tolerance, participatory democracy, justice, peace and reconciliation and these pillars should be respected.

Need to acknowledge dark chapter of Matebeleland

While the Bishops recognise some strides made soon after independence in areas of the economy, education and health sectors, they cannot turn a blind eye to how things have changed resulting in the suffering of the masses.

As we celebrate our forty years of independence, we acknowledge that we have made some achievements, but also some things went wrong along the way. We need to acknowledge that dark chapter in our national memory, which led to the killing of many civilians in Matebeleland and parts of Midlands soon after independence. We have missed so many opportunities that God has given us. We missed the opportunity soon after independence to redefine and seek a different political path from what colonialism had chartered for us. We missed the opportunity of national healing processes based on the policy of reconciliation, read the Pastoral Letter.

Peace and Reconciliation Commission still to have an impact

The Bishops highlighted that there was a hunger for reconciliation and addressing the past hurts and injustices. According to the Bishops, The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) gives people hope of resolving conflicts in the country. Still, they are concerned that it has to be fully operationalised with a precise duration and clear mandate for people to gain confidence in the Commission.

A distressed economy and hopelessness among citizens

The Bishops call upon the government to address the challenges assailing the countrys economy leading to desperation, especially among the youth and increased poverty among the citizens.

The prelates stated: Zimbabwe has generally experienced a gradual economic recession that has led to closing down of industries and companies, foreign investor flight, job losses, and the decline in agricultural productivity, leading to escalation of poverty levels. A look at our health and education institutions shows a gradual and steep decline from where we started.

Coronavirus: Our line of defence must be prevention

With the advent of coronavirus, the Catholic Church leaders urged the government to scale-up efforts to fight the pandemic considering that the countrys health sector is not in good shape and is lacking necessary equipment and medication to cure ordinary diseases.

Now with the current COVID-19, there is need for outright and vigorous efforts to fight and prevent this pandemic, which if it is not carefully handled in our country, may spell doom to the whole of our nation where hospital structures are not fully equipped and ready to combat it. Our only line of defence is prevention. Let us be proactive and work hard to save lives, the Bishops said.

Embrace dialogue and fight corruption

The Bishops emphasised on the need for dialogue. They called on the government to address corruption and other challenges such as international isolation, collapsing infrastructure, inequitable use of resources and joblessness, leading to massive emigration.
NAVFAC Pacific Awards Contract for Work at Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200402-06

Release Date: 4/2/2020 1:41:00 PM

From Krista Cummins, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific Public Affairs

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific awarded a $118 million firm-fixed price contract to Nan Inc. of Honolulu, Hawaii March 31 for the construction of a bachelor enlisted quarters (BEQ) at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The work to be performed provides for the construction of a multi-story BEQ, associated parking structure, and self-storage facility. The BEQ will include laundry facilities, lounges, administration offices, multipurpose recreation rooms, housekeeping areas, public restrooms with pile foundations, concrete masonry unit walls, built up roofing and concrete floor and roof structure. The multi-level concrete framed parking structure will be constructed with pile foundations as well as the self-storage facility, concrete masonry unit walls, structural steel framed roof structure and built-up roofing.

Work will be performed in Kaneohe, Hawaii with an expected completion date of December 2022.

This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three proposals received.

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Seven fresh Covid-19 cases  three from Amritsar, two from Mohali, one from Ludhiana and Rupnagar each  were recorded in Punjab on Friday, taking the tally to 53.

Among the three tested positive for the virus in Amritsar are two close contacts of former hazoori ragi of the Golden Temple, Nirmal Singh Khalsa, who was found infected with the virus and died on Thursday. The throat swab samples were tested at the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) of Government Medical College, Amritsar. The patients are Nirmal Singhs US-returned aunt, one ragi who accompanied him to Chandigarh for a religious congregation and a 67-year-old male.

Mohali cases comprises two Tablighi Jamaat attendees, a 42-year-old of Mauli Baidwan in Sector 80 and 62-year-old of Sector 68. In Ludhiana, a 69-year-old woman from Shimlapuri was found carrying the virus and she has no travel history. A 55-year-old man from Chatamli village in Rupnagar was declared positive for the virus, making him the first patient in the district.

Rupnagar deputy commssioner Sonali Garg said the patient was admitted to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh, on March 27 and declared positive on Friday. He is a patient of diabetes and hypertension, she said.

She said the process to trace his contacts has started and the village is being sanitised. Rupnagar civil surgeon Dr HN Sharma said the family members of the patient will be home quarantined.

Meanwhile, the health department has isolated Nirmal Singhs 11 close contacts at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH)including his wife, two daughters, son, driver, two sewadars, uncle and aunt.

A health department team visited Singhs house on March 3 after we got the information that uncle and aunt were visiting him. They were found asymptomatic. When the home quarantine period of the guests was over on March 17, they were found asymptomatic again. On Friday, however, his aunt was tested positive of coronavirus, Amritsar civil surgeon Dr Prabhdeep Kaur Johal said on Friday.

5 family members of ragi have been tested negative of the disease while reports of other members are awaited, she further said.

A 67 year old man of Krishna Nagar, Amritsar, who was tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, could be the first case of community spread in Amritsar, Dr Johal said.

The man complained of chest infection and visited GNDH for treatment on Wednesday and was declared positive for the virus on Friday. He is a shopkeeper and has no recent foreign travel history. He has not even travelled outside Amritsar for long. We have no idea from where did he contact the virus. This is a community spread case, she said.

Dr Johal said his house has been sealed and sanitised. Mans wife, two sons, daughter-in-law and a 8-month-old granddaughter have been isolated at GNDH and their throat swab samples sent for testing, she said.
YEREVAN, APRIL 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan visited the Engineering City together with Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan and Minister of High Technological Industry Hakob Arshakyan, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

The PM got acquainted with the equipment of military significance developed by Armenian specialists, as well as the repair works of lung ventilation devices.

The representatives of the Engineering Association of Armenia stated that currently they are working on designing new lung ventilation devices, developing complete or partial production and are going to present concrete proposals to the Ministry of High-tech industry. It was reported that the specialists successfully manage to restore the devices which have been kept in reserves.

Pashinyan highlighted the work of Armenian engineers in these spheres and stated that the government is ready to provide assistance for the effective implementation of these projects.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, April 3, said confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infections in the country have increased to 3,018 while the death toll jumped to 136.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, the DOH reported 29 additional deaths, the biggest number listed over a 24-hour period, and 385 additional persons who tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The spike in the number of deaths is attributed to the late reporting of previous deaths, said Beverly Ho, special assistant to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

The increase in cases, meanwhile, has been attributed to the improved testing capacity of health facilities in the country.

Th DOH also reported that another patient has recovered, bringing the total number of survivors to 52.

In a virtual press conference Friday, DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the planned mass testing for Covid-19 will cover only those with symptoms.

"Under our proposed protocol, those who are with symptoms will be the ones prioritized for testing. And if they test positive, they will be transferred to our community quarantine facilities," she said.

As of Friday, there were 6,002 patients under investigation (PUIs) and 6,321 persons under monitoring (PUMs).

"But there could be more as we still have those being monitored by local governments and have yet to relay the information to us," said Vergeire.

Earlier, Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the National Action Policy against Covid-19 said, the government is looking to start mass testing on April 14.

Various sectors have been calling on the government to conduct mass testing for the new coronavirus, officially known as Sars-CoV-2, the pathogen that causes Covid-19. (Jove T. Moya/HDT/SunStar Philippines)
While Governor Bullock has issued the stay at home order for all Montanans, schools have been closed for more than two weeks. For parents, students and teachers, this directive was mostly unforeseen and unchartered.

According to Augusta School Principal Matt Genger there was not a system for remote learning in place. It has been developed since the crisis. Genger says, there is a lot of technology being utilized. Some teachers are filming videos then doing lessons via Facebook and YouTube. All the teachers are distributing work packets.

When asked for his thoughts on when school may be back in session, Genger responded, I dont know, but they are planning long-term and to be more interactive in some way. To his credit, Genger wants to normalize as much as possible an abnormal situation.

Seventh-to-twelfth-grade math teacher Jody Brown says, teachers have developed a remote learning plan and have adjusted them to make it work. He notes, this week has shown that a lot of kids are understanding what is expected of them.

Brown is e-mailing assignments and when a student has a question, he is making a video and sending it to the whole class. He is not forecasting how long this closure will last, but says the opportunity is there for kids to learn from the information.

Over at Fort Shaw Elementary School, Principal Ted Miller shared a similar sentiment to Augusta. While they saw what other schools were doing across the nation, they were not initially prepared for the closure, but they pretty quickly put together an action plan.

Fort Shaw is combining the remote learning Seesaw program with weekly Zoom videos. Miller remarks that the Zoom videos are the favorite of the teachers and kids.

Zoom provides real-time videos with audio that put students together with each other and their teachers via a phone or computer screen.

Miller describes remote learning as not being a replacement for face-to-face interaction, but teachers are adjusting and kids are responding well, under the circumstances. Miller has no prediction for how long school will be closed.

When visiting with 2nd grade teacher Karla Rogers at Fort Shaw Elementary, her enthusiasm for this remote learning style is reassuring. Rogers admits that there was a learning curve for putting school online overnight but it appears they have a well-rounded program in place now. Rogers combines the Seesaw program, which allows students to post videos, activities, pictures, and messages to the teacher with the weekly Zoom videos. She says it makes it fun for the kids to stay in touch with each other, as well as the weekly printed packets that are delivered by bus.

While observing an eight-year-old in front of a Smartphone with a grid of his classmates and teacher on the screen, learning a lesson is reminiscent of a scene from The Jetsons, it is a true testament to small town ingenuity and steadfastness. Fort Shaw Elementary, with 107 kids (pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade), and Augusta School, with about 300 students (Kindergarten to 12th grade), are small schools, but they have really big ideas.

While no one can guess how long this new approach to learning will last, these educators and administrators need to be applauded for balancing the health with the minds of its precious students.
Carissas Bakery began with a simple idea of baking bread, but quickly evolved into a hub in the Hamptons community. Their restaurant has grown over the years and become so impressive that they won the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurant Design Award in 2020. Carissas offers a varied menu with wholesome ingredients at their counter-service all-day bakery. They have two locations in East Hampton on Pantigo Road and Newtown Lane (the Newtown Lane location will reopen in the spring of 2022), and they have an exciting new location coming to Sag Harbor in 2022! At Carissas...
The Michigan Legislature is slated to meet next week to consider Gov. Gretchen Whitmers request to extend the current state of emergency for COVID-19, although many Republicans arent on board with her request to extend the emergency declaration into mid-June.

This week, Whitmer announced a disaster declaration in addition to the states existing state of emergency and asked the Republican-led legislature to approve a 70-day extension to the orders, which extend her executive powers to respond to the coronavirus.

Many Republican lawmakers - including Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake - have said theyre more comfortable with a shorter time frame. Shirkey recently called the proposed 70-day window too long.

Whitmer spokesperson Tiffany Brown said the governor is highly concerned about Republican proposals for shorter emergency extensions that would needlessly have the legislature convene every few weeks.

They should come in, extend 70 days, and return to their communities like the rest of us are doing to keep the public safe," Brown said.

Earlier Thursday, Whitmer said during a press conference shed urged the Legislature to not meet, citing the death of Rep. Isaac Robinson, D-Detroit. Robinsons family has said COVID-19 was the likely cause of his death.

Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, was the first lawmaker to test positive for the disease. He has been recovering at home since the diagnosis, he told MLive last week.

Legislative leaders said Wednesday they were planning to meet next week to approve an emergency extension.

Shirkey spokesperson Amber McCann told the Detroit Free Press Thursday the Senate is expected to take additional precautions, including screening lawmakers and any visitors before they come in to check for possible coronavirus symptoms.

In a statement, House Democratic Leader Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills, said she was deeply concerned by the prospect of calling the House and Senate back into session to do anything less than what Governor Whitmer and public health experts have advised us is necessary. She said she believes lawmakers should grant the governors request for a 70-day extension in full.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan unemployment claims spike as coronavirus cases continue rapid growth

Michigan on the cusp of a pretty dramatic upswing in COVID-19 cases, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says

Thursday, April 2: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Trump urged by Michigan Republicans, Democrats to back off attacks on Gov. Whitmers coronavirus response

Whitmers proposed 70-day emergency extension for coronavirus response too long, Senate leader says

Coronavirus continues rampage through Michigan as case total reaches 10,791, death toll hits 417
The following open letter was sent out by the Marijuana Policy Project, Last Prisoner Project, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Clergy for a New Drug Policy, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, National Cannabis Industry Association, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

Washington, D.C.  The Marijuana Policy Project and other organizations are urging law enforcement officials to dramatically curtail arrests for non-violent crimes, including ceasing arrests for cannabis offenses. In addition to curtailing arrests, the organizations are calling for officials to release or grant clemency to those incarcerated for cannabis offenses along with dramatically reducing the number of incarcerated non-violent prisoners, whether sentenced or un-sentenced.

The Marijuana Policy Project, Last Prisoner Project, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Clergy for a New Drug Policy, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, National Cannabis Industry Association, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) have sent a letter calling for these actions to the National District Attorneys Association, National Governors Association, National Sheriffs Association, National Association of Chiefs of Police, National Correctional Industries Association, American Correctional Association, and AFSCME.

Public health experts have warned that the coronavirus poses an extreme threat not only to inmates, but also to the staff that serve them, as well as to their families and communities. The conditions in prisons and jails, such as sharing small cells, going into crowded day rooms, and sleeping just feet away from toilets, are known to cause disease and infection to run rampant. Jails are already seeing a spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases. It has been reported that in New York City, the epicenter of the outbreak in the United States, 52 inmates have tested positive for coronavirus as well as 30 staffers. Inmates have also tested positive in California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, South Dakota, and Texas. Prison employees have tested positive in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington.

Story continues

See Also: Read The Letter That 14 Public Health Organizations Sent To US Governors: Patients Need Cannabis Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

Several localities  including Baltimore; Suffolk County, Massachusetts; Cuyahoga County, Ohio; New Jersey; Los Angeles; and New York City  and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have already begun to release inmates incarcerated for non-violent, drug-related offenses.

Another cause of concern is that asymptomatic individuals can spread the virus. As a consequence, each law enforcement-civilian interaction includes a risk of transmitting the novel coronavirus to either party. According to New Yorks Police Commissioner, more than 200 NYPD members have been infected with the coronavirus and nearly 3,000 officers are out sick.

In addition to New York, law enforcement officers have tested positive for the virus in at least 14 other states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and several law enforcement agencies, including in Pennsylvania and Ohio, are already taking action to curtail arrests for non-violent offenses until the country is better able to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Statement from Steve Hawkins, executive director at the Marijuana Policy Project:

There is no justification for arresting and jailiing individuals for marijuana offenses during this crisis. It is in the best interest of law enforcement and the greater population to cease marijuana arrests and reduce arrests for non-violent crimes. It is also vital for individuals who are incarcerated for cannabis offenses to be released or granted clemency in order to prevent a potentially disastrous and deathly situation.

Statement from Police Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), executive director at the Law Enforcement Action Partnership:

COVID-19 is forcing us to seriously consider what constitutes a genuine public safety threat. Criminalizing people for marijuana has always been a waste of time and resources; now it's also unnecessarily endangering lives by exposing more people to the crowded and unsanitary conditions of our jails and prisons.

Statement from Sarah Gersten, executive director and general counsel at the Last Prisoner Project:

Our constituents, many of whom are over the age of 60 and have underlying health conditions, are imprisoned because of a plant that has now been deemed an essential service by jurisdictions across the country during this time of crisis. Releasing cannabis prisoners now is not only the right thing to do from a justice perspective, but also from a public health perspective.

See Also: Marijuana Use And The Coronavirus Outbreak: Safety Guidelines From NORML

###

The Marijuana Policy Project is the nation's largest marijuana policy organization. It has been a leading advocate for federal marijuana policy reforms since its founding in 1995, and it has played a leading role in most major state-level reforms that have occurred over the past two decades. For more information, visit https://www.mpp.org.

Encuentra mas noticias sobre cannabis en Espanol en El Planteo.

The preceding article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.

Lead image by Ilona Szentivanyi. Copyright: Benzinga.

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Mother Lodes new Senator for District 8, Andreas Borgeas View Photo

Sacramento, CA  Water control and supply-related politics are percolating again.

On Thursday, Mother Lode lawmaker Senator Andreas Borgeas criticized the latest move under Governor Gavin Newsoms Administration by Department of Water Resources (DWR) regulators to divert water away the State Water Project (SWP) for species protection.

It involves DWRs obtainment on Tuesday of an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) from the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) that will govern water delivery within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to minimize, avoid and fully mitigate impacts to threatened or endangered species as a result of SWP operations.

The permit specifically covers four species covered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA): Delta smelt, longfin smelt, winter-run Chinook salmon and spring-run Chinook salmon.

In past years, DWR used a consistency determination from DFW based on federal biological opinions issued by federal regulators. However, in 2018, as federal agencies were working to update those documents, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum to greatly accelerate their completion.

Subsequently, the state agencies announced last February they would for the first time pursue a separate state permit to ensure SWPs compliance with CESA. By pursuing a separate permit, the agencies would be able to avoid relying on federal permits. They also reasoned that they could establish protection rules using transparent, science-based guidelines.

Fish Vs. Food Security?

DWR Director Karla A. Nemeth and CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham explained the move as an enabling balance for water operations to support communities while protecting fish and wildlife, including by dedicating water for Delta outflows during critical drier periods.

Borgeas calls the action part of an emerging inconsistency in state priorities, especially during the current COVID-19 emergency. Its difficult to imagine how we can simultaneously decrease water allocations, in the midst of a pandemic, when food supply and security are among our paramount concerns, he states.

Farmers and workers are stepping up to meet the high food demands across our state and nation. We cannot expect food producers, particularly in the Central Valley, to keep growing our nations food without the necessary water resources. We should be increasing water allocations, not taking water away from those who need it.

State Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove also voiced sharply critical concerns. I have worked alongside the Governor throughout the COVID-19 crisis to support efforts to mitigate the effects of this pandemic. However, I will not stand idly by while his actions put Americas food security in jeopardy. The Governor has disregarded our food producers, workers and families by proposing to restrict water flows to a region which supplies one of Americas most essential needs  food.

The Water Board, which among other activities, will be reviewing current water supplies at its meeting next Tuesday, postponed another likely hot topic: proposing a draft resolution permanently requiring water and utility districts to submit monthly conservation and production reports as they did during the most recent extended drought.

Part of the rationale as stated in an overview of a previous agenda is due to the many variables and uncertainties related to water supplies. According to the boards revised agenda, the matter has been moved to the boards April 21 meeting agenda.
Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com reports how Mumbai's civic administration, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai police have divided the city into 'Containment Zones' to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

IMAGE: Policemen stand guard on a road leading to a building where two new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported at Worli, south central Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo

A senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation health officer overseeing the cordoning off and sanitisation operations in Mumbai's K/East ward (a local administration unit) reveals how the BMC is going all out to contain the spread of coronavirus that has now brought the city and the nation to a grinding halt.

With more than 212 containment zones across the city (at the time of reporting), ten fall in the K/East ward whose east boundary extends up to the Mithi river, west boundary extends up to the Western Railway, south boundary extends up to the Milan subway, and north boundary extends up to the SRPF Aarey colony, all in north west Mumbai.

According to this officer, these 10 containment zones have been cordoned off completely and officials from the BMC's pest control department sanitise them using sodium hypochlorite spray twice a day depending upon whether neighbourhoods in these zones are categorised as low-risk or high-risk areas.

While a team of BMC surveillance officers and the Mumbai police keep a round-the-clock strict vigil by sealing off all the entry and exit points to these containment zones, the local civic administration has also made arrangements for doorstep delivery of essential goods and services.

This is what one senior BMC health official told Rediff.com, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The situation in these 10 containment zones is under control. Till now we have got only 10 COVID-19 positive patients and we have undertaken cordoning off of those areas.

Nobody is allowed to enter or exit from these areas. There are CCTV cameras that alert the policemen on duty on SMS about the location of people if somebody ventures out of their containment zones, homes or buildings. These areas are under police watch and there is tight security.

While the 10 positive patients have been sent to different hospitals for treatment, 88 with mild symptoms have been quarantined in various hotels and hospitals, and over 1,000 people showing no symptoms but who could have come in social contact with those tested positive have been kept in home quarantine after their swabs have been sent for testing.

We have sanitised the rooms, buildings and areas where these patients live and have quarantined high-risk patients in certain hospitals and hotels, and low-risk patients have also been quarantined and kept under observation at their homes.

Swab samples of high-risk patients have been sent for testing and we are awaiting the results.

Depending on the test results these people will be either sent to home quarantine or admitted to various hospitals for treatment in case they test positive.

We have closed all the entry and exit points of these zones which we call 'containment zones' and the entire area is cordoned off.

The BMC's pest control department sprays the homes of COVID-19 positive patients and buildings where they live with sodium hypochlorite solution.

We also sanitise public toilets and other high- and low-risk areas twice a day with sodium hypochlorite solution.

There are a few slums and buildings that are part of these containment zones from where we have found COVID-19 positive patients.

We have assigned a special team of people who provide the residents inside these containment zones with requirements of essential items like milk, bread, groveries, vegetables, fruits, etc at their doorsteps.

The people in these containment zones have been very cooperative and so are the neighbours of patients who tested positive for coronavirus.

All these containment zones will remain cordoned off for the next 14 days.

We have not only made provisions for daily essentials, but have also started area-wise OPDs for people who have fever, cough or other regular symptoms of fever.

Those showing symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to get themselves tested for coronavirus at the Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Hospital in Jogeshwari East and the Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali West (both in north west Mumbai).

The positive patients are undergoing treatment at the Kasturba Hospital.
We also must slow the spread of the virus, he said Thursday at his daily news conference. If we dont, there could never be enough hospital capacity to treat all of those who would become ill. Our job  all of us in Illinois  our job is both to keep our health systems operating within capacity, and to keep our residents, especially our older and immunocompromised residents, safe.
There are no grocery stores within the Southside Independent School District boundaries.

Many families in this food desert depend on the San Antonio Food Bank and a separately run community pantry for groceries.

Theyre in for an even tougher time.

The food bank is only doing mega-site distributions at the moment because of COVID-19 risks, and the pantry is having a difficult time buying food to stock its shelves. The lack of nearby grocery stores only complicates the situation.

A trip to the grocery store is an 8-plus-mile drive into town  if residents have a car. Public transportation is minimal.

The only groceries for sale in this community are found at four Dollar General stores, a truck stop and a gasoline station/convenience store.

A quarter of the 61,000 residents of this community off U.S. 281 beyond Loop 1604 live below the federal property level. That includes many senior citizens and a large number of residents raising grandchildren. The school district has 6,000 students.

Although in an urban county, this often-neglected sector of our community reminds me of the colonias along the Texas-Mexico border, where the living conditions often resemble those in developing countries.

Readers may recall this is the school district where the unpaved roads in one densely populated neighborhood were so treacherous school buses and ambulances were unable to enter. This finally prompted county commissioners to declare the roads a public safety concern and fund their improvement.

Food insecurity has always been an issue in this community, but it has only been in recent years that residents have received direct assistance. When Bexar County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark moved into the Southside community where her husband grew up  years before she was elected to public office  she felt compelled to do something about the food insecurity.

Her school-age children told her about friends going without food. She knew that many of her neighbors were struggling financially. Windows in many of the mobile homes, similar to one she lived in, were boarded because the homeowners could not afford to replace broken panes.

She knew what it meant to grow up in need. She was raised in public housing, she said, and her family sometimes relied on public assistance.

Working together, Pamela Allen of the nonprofit Eagles Flight Advocacy & Outreach and Adame-Clark were able to get the San Antonio Food Bank to service the area. Most recently, a food pantry was established through a partnership between the nonprofit and Southside ISD.

Over the past several years, Southside ISD residents have come to rely on a helping hand from the San Antonio Food Bank on the fourth Saturday of each month. Since last summer, the pantry  made possible by a $100,000 donation from San Antonio philanthropist Kym Rapier  has provided residents with additional food on the second Saturday of the month.

These distributions provided food to 1,600 to 1,800 Southside ISD residents every month until COVID-19 disrupted those services.

On March 28, the food bank canceled its distribution. Increased need in the community due to COVID-19-related job losses led to more centrally located, and more accessible, distribution sites where people dont have to get out of their vehicles.

That means that for the time being, the food bank is not providing groceries at smaller sites throughout the community and is requiring families to sign up online or call in to register. The phone lines have been jammed, making it difficult to get through.

These changes are leaving many residents in Southside ISD with few options. It is estimated half of residents lack internet access. Last week, some of the regulars at the pantrys food distributions did not receive the electronic cancellation message sent by the school district. Families in cars lined up early, waiting for food that was not there, said Randy Escamilla, the districts public relations director.

The outlook is grim for the food pantrys next scheduled distribution  set for the day before Easter. There is money in the pantry fund to buy food, but finding enough to purchase is a challenge.

When I spoke with Allen midweek, she said she was on a scavenger hunt to stock the shelves of the Southside pantry and two others that her organization helps operate.

gpadilla@express-news.net
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab



Kumar Deb on Friday said the people of the state, who visited the congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi were sent to quarantine and all of them have tested negative for COVID-19.

Altogether 32 people from Tripura attended the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month.

"Those who visited Nizamuddin were sent to quarantine and examined, but all of them had come out coronavirus negative. However, we have decided to re-examine them, Deb said in a video message that was circulated by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Friday.

Not a single case of COVID-19 has been found in Tripura till date, officials said on Friday.

The chief minister said Tripura's border with Assam has been sealed to stop the entry of people from outside but vehicles carrying essentials would be allowed to enter after proper screening.

Deb called upon the leaders all religions including Hindu, Muslim and Christian to create awareness about social distancing among their followers.

Deb said his government has taken a number of steps to ensure that medicines of blood pressure, dialysis, cancer, tuberculosis and other medicines were available in hospitals and local markets



The chief minister asked the people to send him proposals about how the government could recover the loss that the state would incur due to the lockdown.

"After the lockdown would be withdrawn we will have to think about how we rcan ecover the losses. I would ask people to share their ideas about how the government can face the post lockdown situation. You can send your ideas to the chief minister's Office by mail or Whatsapp," Deb said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Princess Eugenie has secretly been delivering boxes of food and essentials to those working for the NHS.

Taking to Instagram, the royal, 29, shared images of boxes filled with the likes of fresh fruit and vegetable that she delivered to Hammersmith Hospital in West London.

Alongside one of the photos, which shows Eugenie standing next to the 'heroes' who are currently putting their lives on the lines to help others, she penned:

'I'm so happy to have been a part of getting fresh fruit and vegetables delivered to all those working on the front line of this pandemic.'

Princess Eugenie, 29, took to her Instagram page to share a selection of photographs showing the care packages she helped to deliver to the NHS 'heroes' at Hammersmith Hospital

In one of the photos, NHS staff can be seen holding large boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables (pictured)

It was previously reported that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie (pictured) were driven to Hammersmith Hospital last month by their mother, Sarah Ferguson, to make a mercy dash to deliver supplies to frontline NHS staff

She then went on to thank the NHS for every thing that they do, and added: 'And thank you to all those who are delivering the produce. You're all heroes.'

It was previously reported that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were driven to Hammersmith Hospital last month by their mother, Sarah Ferguson, to make a mercy dash to deliver supplies to frontline NHS staff.

The care packages, containing essentials such as food, toiletries and cleaning products, were believed to have been delivered to the hospital on Wednesday and then again on Saturday.

Further drop-offs are reportedly planned at other hospitals, including the Chelsea and Westminster and Upton Hospital in Slough.

Alongside a photo showing various boxes of fruit and vegetables, the royal penned: 'Thank you so much for everything you do....'

Princess Euegnie also went on to thank those who are delivering the produce, before branding them all 'heroes' (pictured)

According to Sebastian Shakespeare, a pal said: 'They wanted to do anything they could to help.'

The couple were asked to help out by a hospital consultant friend.

The care packages included toothpaste, soap, shower gel, hand wash, anti-bacterial wipes, dried pasta, pasta sauces, rice, cereal bars and tinned fruit.

The Duchess is also working with British chocolate brand Love Cocoa, which is donating treats to hospitals for every product bought.

'I am deeply grateful for the speed and kindness of Joel Cadbury, who called his cousin James Cadbury of Love Cocoa,' the Duchess tells me.

Eugenie married her husband, who works in the drinks industry, at Windsor in October 2018. Princess Beatrice's wedding has had to be put on hold due to the coronavirus.
Six new cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were confirmed in Vietnam on Friday morning, of which one was linked to a major hospital in Hanoi.

The other five patients are classified as imported cases who previously returned to Vietnam from foreign countries and had been quarantined since their arrival, according to the Ministry of Health.

Patient No. 228 is a 29-year-old man hailing from northern Bac Giang Province.

Patient No. 229 is a 30-year-old woman from the north-central province of Ha Tinh.

Patient No. 230 is a 28-year-old woman who also hails from Ha Tinh.

The three patients came back to Vietnam from foreign countries on March 20 and were brought to a quarantine camp in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

They are now being treated at hospitals in Ninh Binh after testing positive for COVID-19.

Patient No. 231 is a 57-year-old woman who works for Truong Sinh Company, a catering service provider contracted by Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.

On March 27, she went with a delegation of Bach Mai health workers and employees to the hospitals second branch in the northern province of Ha Nam.

Following news about COVID-19 patients at Bach Mai Hospital, authorities in Ha Nam decided to quarantine the group and sample them for testing.

The patient is receiving treatment at a general hospital in northern Ha Nam Province.

Patients No. 232 and No. 233, a 67-year-old Vietnamese man and a 24-year-old Vietnamese woman, both returned to the Southeast Asian country on March 27 aboard flight SU290.

They were brought to an isolation facility in northern Vinh Phuc Province after their arrival and are now treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District, Hanoi.

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over one million people and killed more than 52,900 globally as of Thursday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

Vietnam has announced 233 COVID-19 patients so far, with 75 having recovered.

No fatality associated with the disease has been reported in the country to date.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Two storm systems expected to arrive this weekend in the Bay Area could jostle the region with thunder, rain and hail, officials said Friday.

The first  and weaker  of the storms is projected to hit the region Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The second storm should arrive Sunday and continue into Monday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds with gusts up to 45 mph in some spots. Thunderstorms are a possibility, and residents should look out for hail and even a light dusting of snow in the highest peaks.

Saturday is projected to have showers with breezy winds across the Bay Area, while San Francisco and Oakland could see anywhere from fifteen-hundredths to one-half inch of rain, said National Weather Service meteorologist Drew Peterson. Santa Rosa and Napa might receive one- to two-thirds of an inch of rain, while the coastal areas of the North Bay  Mount Tamalpais and Mount St. Helena  could see up to 1.5 inches of rain.

Sundays storm is strong enough to produce sustained winds from 15 to 25 mph, Peterson said. But its the gusts you have to worry about, and the gusts are potentially going to be ranging up to 45 mph as the storm moves through.

Saturdays temperatures are expected to be chilly across the Bay Area, with highs in the upper 50s to 60s and lows in the mid-40s to 50s. San Francisco and Oakland could see about one- to two-thirds of an inch of rain Sunday, while the North Bay can expect two-thirds of an inch or more in urban areas and an inch in coastal areas.

Temperatures for Sunday are expected to be a little cooler than Saturday, with highs in the 50s region-wide, before cooler conditions arrive around nightfall as the storm moves through the area.

The downpours will be beneficial considering the Bay Area is at about 45% of normal rainfall for the water year, officials said. The storms could help push back the start of the fire season, Peterson said. Soggy and windy conditions might also provide an assist in maintaining the Bay Areas shelter-in-place orders, which require people to stay at home unless conducting essential activities.

However, gusts and heavy rainfall do pose concerns for emergency responses to the coronavirus. Peterson said the National Weather Services main concerns are the impacts to outdoor testing and drive-through facilities.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The main concern were having is the impacts to those sorts of facilities, especially in terms of the winds, Peterson said. Because if theyre just tents set up outside, if you get a wind gust, it could be enough to pick it up and flip it.

The weekend storms could also bring the Sierra a decent amount of snow, up to 2 feet above 9,000 feet, which would help the states water supply, Peterson said.

High peaks in the Bay Area, he added, such as Mount Hamilton, Mount Diablo and Mount St. Helena, could also see light offerings of snow over the weekend.

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
NEW YORK, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free. Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

EXPERT ALERTS

Internet Resilience

Online trust, encryption, online security

Telemedicine and telehealth

eLearning

Can't Socialize With Friends? Financially Socialize With Family

SECURE Act  The Good, Bad, and Ugly

7 Happy Money Tips to Get Through Hard Times

COVID-19 Reminds Us Of What Really Matters

MEDIA JOBS

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

April Fools' Day and Beyond: Tips for Identifying Phony Content

Blog Profiles: Stress Management Blogs

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Internet Resilience

David Belson

Senior Director, Internet Research and Analysis

Internet Society

"Many are wondering if the Internet can handle the strain of rapid traffic growth and increased latency. Will it cause a catastrophic failure of the Internet? The answer: not likely. Core Internet infrastructure providers should be able to easily absorb the increase in traffic and demand, especially if the growth is gradual over a period of days, weeks, or months."

Internet Resilience expert with a focus on measurement, shutdowns, and market trends that impact the growth of the Internet across the globe.

Website: www.internetsociety.org

Media contact: Allesandra DeSantillana, [email protected]

Online trust, encryption, online security

Jeff Wilbur

Senior Director, Online Trust

Internet Society

"No matter what you call it, a backdoor is a backdoor. Any method that gives a third-party access to encrypted data creates a major vulnerability that weakens the security of law-abiding citizens and the Internet at Large."

Website: www.internetsociety.org

Media contact: Allesandra DeSantillana, [email protected]

Telemedicine and telehealth

Dan Rubenstein

CEO

Physera

"Healthcare, like many industries, has evolved thanks to technology. Telehealth is breaking barriers and helps close the access gap while improving quality care delivery. With Physera's virtual physical therapy offering, we see employers' healthcare costs decrease as engagement increases. Our reach and impact is far greater now than it has ever been. "

Dan can discuss telemedicine/telehealth - the gaps and challenges, benefits to physicians and patients and how current policies need to evolve to make it more widely available.

He has a Bsc degree from Princeton, as well as an MSc degree in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Statistics from Stanford.

Website: www.physera.com

www.linkedin.com/in/ydanrubinstein

Media contact: Karen Swim, [email protected]

eLearning

Neha Gupta

CEO

True Office Learning

"In this time of uncertainty and change, the best organizations are leveraging eLearning as a communication and reinforcement mechanism. We have seen an immediate demand for micro-courses on COVID-19 preparedness, working from home effectively and cybersecurity best practices to ensure employees stay safe and productive. With distributed employees needing information about a new way of working, a self-paced digital experience is the most powerful tool an employer can provide. Furthermore, as working from home might provide added flexibility in many roles, we are seeing a marked uptick in companies using this time to complete their annual compliance and other mandatory training requirements. Companies using more sophisticated, data-rich solutions are also looking at this period as an opportunity to gain tremendous insight on their employees' performance readiness."

Neha is responsible for True Office Learning's product and technology vision, strategy and growth. Prior to her role as CEO, Neha served as Senior Director of Learning Solutions & Strategic Initiatives at NYSE Governance Services, leading all product strategy and development initiatives for the business. Neha has also served as Citigroup's Chief of Staff for the Institutional Clients Group Technology organization, reporting directly to the CIO. In her time with Citigroup, Neha led a number of strategic change management efforts involving critical, multi-million dollar initiatives across industries. Neha holds an MBA in Management and Business Strategy from Rutgers Business School and a BE in Computers and Electrical Engineering from the Honors College of Engineering at Rutgers.

Website: www.trueofficelearning.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/neha-gupta-49118b64

Media contact: Fred Feiner, [email protected]

Can't Socialize With Friends? Financially Socialize With Family.

Stephanie Mackara

Author, finance expert, JD, CDFA

Stephanie Mackara

"Financial socialization is the way most people learn how to handle their financial affairs  good or bad. Positive financial socialization leads to financial wellness; financial wellness leads to personal wellness, including less stress coupled with greater happiness and contentment."

Stephanie W. Mackara, JD, CDFA, is President & Principal Wealth Advisor of Charleston Investment Advisors, LLC. A financial socialization expert, Stephanie is a wife, mother, financial advisor, and author of the new book "Money Minded Families." She teaches people that financial wellness begins with your mindset, not your bank account.

Stephanie is a 20+ year veteran in the field of Investment Advisory Services. Helping people, whether it's planning for retirement or saving college, is Stephanie's passion. In addition to developing a custom investment allocation and financial plan for each client, she conducts regular meetings with clients to reconfirm financial goals and make adjustments as economic or lifestyle conditions warrant.

Stephanie is committed to acting as a fiduciary and helping individuals achieve a more secure financial future as they navigate through life's transitions. She began her career at Merrill Lynch and then joined Lockwood Advisors, an independent registered investment advisory firm. She spent more than 14 years with Lockwood as an associate partner and a member of the executive committee. Before joining Charleston Investment Advisors, LLC, Stephanie was a founding member of a boutique Investment Management firm in Philadelphia, PA.

Ms. Mackara is very involved in the community and serves on two local boards. She is the Vice President of the Executive Committee for Bridges for End of Life, a local nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals experience living fully and dying well. She also serves at the Treasurer for the South Carolina Lowcountry Business Leadership Network, a non-profit that serves to empower businesses and our community through disability inclusion and empowerment in the workplace.

Stephanie holds a degree in Psychology from West Chester University, in Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctorate from Widener Law School, in Wilmington DE. Stephanie also earned her Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) designation in order to help her clients navigate the financial complexities and challenges associated with divorce.

She lives with her husband Bernie and son Jacob on Daniel Island, SC where she is actively involved with the community. In her free time she enjoys running, writing, cooking, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Learn more at www.moneymindedfamilies.org and www.charlestoninvestmentadvisors.com.

Online Press Kit: www.stephaniemackara.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: www.moneymindedfamilies.org and www.charlestoninvestmentadvisors.com

Contact: Klaudia Simon, [email protected]

SECURE Act  The Good, Bad, and Ugly

Pamela Yellen

President

Bank On Yourself

"The SECURE legislation  which stands for "Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement"  put into place several provisions supposedly intended to strengthen retirement security," Pamela says. "Not surprisingly, the financial services industry spent many millions of dollars lobbying Congress to ensure passage. So is the new legislation in your best interests? Is it really likely to increase your retirement security?

The Good: The act removed regulatory barriers that prevented companies from offering lifetime-income options in their employees' retirement plans. These lifetime-income options come in the form of annuities, which provide a guaranteed income over the course of your retirement  no matter how long you live. And there's a problem: Even though it's a big step in the right direction to encourage retirement plans to offer lifetime income options, the fact remains that the amount of money people have been able to save in their 401(k)s and IRAs doesn't even come close to being able to provide a comfortable retirement lifestyle.

The Bad: The SECURE Act makes it easier for small businesses to set up automatic enrollment in retirement plans for their workers and to band together with other companies. Why is this bad? I can assure you that Wall Street is whooping for joy over this. After all, what's not to like about the prospect of having more of your dollars automatically going into these plans where they can charge you confiscatory fees and offer no guarantees (other than the guarantee that they'll get paid whether you make money or lose your shirt in the next market crash)? Fees can easily consume one-third to one-half of your account value.

The Ugly: The passage of the SECURE Act makes it obvious how little control you have over the money in your government-sponsored 401(k), IRA, or similar plan. Once you put money into these plans, they control it. They can  and do  change the rules any time they want, and they don't need your permission to do it.

Decades of careful tax planning by families were thrown out the window when Congress drastically and immediately changed the laws for inherited or so-called 'stretch' IRAs, as part of the SECURE Act."

Financial security expert and best-selling author Pamela Yellen investigated more than 450 savings and retirement planning strategies seeking an alternative to the risk and volatility of stocks and other investments. Her research led her to a time-tested, predictable method of growing and protecting wealth she calls Bank On Yourself that is now used by more than half a million people.

Pamela is the author of the New York Times bestselling book "The Bank On Yourself Revolution: Fire Your Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future." Her new book is "Rescue Your Retirement: Five Wealth-Killing Traps of 401(k)s, IRAs and Roth Plans  and How to Avoid Them" (www.FreeRetirementPlanRescueBook.com).

Online Press Kit: http://pamelayellen.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: www.FreeRetirementPlanRescueBook.com

Contact: Jennifer Thomas, [email protected]

7 Happy Money Tips to Get Through Hard Times

Ken Honda

Author

Ken Honda

"1) Identify local businesses who need support and contribute to them. For example, buy a gift card for later use, or order takeout. 2) Share your favorite businesses on social media to encourage others to give their patronage however they can. 3) Donate money to local food-relief efforts for your area's most vulnerable populations. 4) Check on an elderly neighbor and offer to bring them groceries, medicine, or supplies. 5) Use social media to invite people in your circles to share ways people can interact with their business during the quarantine.6) Connect with local artists and musicians and support their work through online downloads or purchases. 7) Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you are in need, let your community know what is needed, stay in a place of gratitude, and allow support to flow to you."

Money and happiness expert Ken Honda is a best-selling self-development author in Japan, with book sales surpassing seven million copies since 2001. His latest book is called "Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money" (June 4, 2019, Simon & Schuster). Ken studied law at Waseda University in Tokyo and entered the Japanese workforce as a business consultant and investor. Ken's financial expertise comes from owning and managing several businesses, including an accounting company, a management consulting firm, and a venture capital corporation. His writings bridge the topics of finance and self-help, focusing on creating and generating personal wealth and happiness through deeper self-honesty. Ken provides ongoing support through mentoring programs, business seminars, therapeutic workshops, and correspondence courses. Ken is the first person from Japan to be voted into the Transformational Leadership Council, a group of personal and professional development leaders. He is fluent in Japanese and English; lived in Boston, Massachusetts for two years; and currently resides in Tokyo, Japan. Learn more at KenHonda.com.

Online Press Kit: https://kenhonda.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: https://KenHonda.com

Contact: Michelle Tennant, [email protected]

COVID-19 Reminds Us Of What Really Matters

Brian Smith

Program Director, Treasurer

American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres

"While terrible, the coronavirus reminds us that such things are temporal and will pass in time. Faith and our historic heritage are timeless."

Brian W. Smith serves as director and treasurer of American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Pres and has over 45 years of experience as a senior executive in an international financial services company, as a senior federal bank regulator, and as a senior partner in a multinational law firm. During this period, he has been associated with many of the major developments in financial services. Brian is a graduate of Columbia University Graduate School of Business and St. John's University (BA and JD). He resides in Gulfstream, Florida. For more information, visit www.PreserveSaintGermain.org.

Online Press Kit: http://preservesaintgermain.onlinepresskit247.com

Website: www.PreserveSaintGermain.org

Contact: Klaudia Simon, [email protected]

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April Fools' Day and Beyond: Tips for Identifying Phony Content. This year, as the COVID-19 pandemic dominates the news cycle, many companies may decide to forego their April Fools' Day campaigns  Google announced it would be doing so this week. But that doesn't mean that all other companies will follow suit, so it's important to be prepared. https://prn.to/2R7SBQI.

BLOG PROFILES: stress management BLOGS. Each week, we feature blogs we follow. This week is all about stress management: https://prn.to/345yOqn.

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The test used now, called PCR (or polymerace chain reaction), uses a nasal or throat swab sample and identifies the virus. These tests take at least five hours to give results.

The rapid test, on the other hand, uses a blood sample and gives results based on detecting the presence of certain antibodies that react to the coronavirus protein.

IMAGE: Doctors screen patients for coronavirus at a government hospital in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo.

Bengaluru-based biotech start-up Bione is set to put on the market by next week an antibody-based rapid test kit for Covid-19 that will give results at home in 10-15 minutes. Some other companies too are in the fray.

As several hot spots emerge in the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the countrys apex health research body, on Thursday issued an interim advisory to use rapid test kits in the hot spots to screen the population.

Firms like Bione can play the role of a game changer in the coronavirus-testing landscape of the country.

The ICMR has so far approved about 12 rapid antibody test kits for Covid-19 diagnosis. Of these, around seven are from China, and the rest from the US and Singapore. These kits hitting the Indian market is now a matter of time.

Sources said India had procured around 500,000 antibody-based test kits recently.

The test used now, called PCR (or polymerace chain reaction), uses a nasal or throat swab sample and identifies the virus. These tests take at least five hours to give results.

Pune-based MyLab developed Patho Detect in six weeks and it gives results in two and a half hours or so.

The rapid test, on the other hand, uses a blood sample and gives results based on detecting the presence of certain antibodies that react to the coronavirus protein.

Biones kit is an immunoglobin-based tool that can say if the affected person is in early or late stages of infection. A blood drop is collected using a lancet, and then the cartridge provided reads the results from the blood sample in five to 10 minutes. The kit will be priced at about Rs 2,000, depending on the import cost.

The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that there was a possibility that three of every 10 migrant workers who were going back to their villages might carry the virus.

Rapid blood-test-based kits could be used in public health centres in the villages, said Surendra K Chikara, founder and chief executive officer of Bione and a genomicist himself. Bione is readying its manufacturing infrastructure in Bengaluru. That, Chikara said, will take about three months.

In the meanwhile, it will import kits from partners globally who have the approvals of Europe's CE (Conformite Europeenne) and the Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Chikara claimed that for starters they can supply 100,000 kits per month (by importing). This can be scaled up once their own manufacturing facility is ready to go.

Once the screening is done, those found positive can be then recommended for the PCR test for confirmation. Used in hotspots like Nizammudin (Delhi), Worli and Dharavi in Mumbai, or Bhilwara in Rajasthan etc, the anti-body tests could help to detect people with minimal or no symptoms at lower costs and faster.

The imported kit based PCR test costs Rs 4,500. Indigenous kits from Mylabs etc would cost much less. A Mylabs kit can test 100 samples at one go (at a lab), bringing the cost down to around Rs 1,500 per test. However, availability of kits for PCR testing is a critical issue.

A senior government official said, "States are now trying to procure PCR test kits directly from private companies like Mylabs and Altona which have approvals in India as imported kits are drying out. ICMR too is running out of adequate kits and reagents, so are private labs which have issues with importing."

He thus added that rapid test kits would be therefore welcome as PCR kits are in short supply and indigenous players cannot scale up supplies immediately.

Big Indian players like Biocon too are in fray to develop the rapid antibody based kits.

Speaking to Business Standard recently, Biocon chairperson Kiran Shaw had indicated that Syngene, Biocon's research arm, is making efforts to develop antibody based test kits. She felt that these are more effective or accurate than the PCR tests -- they can quickly tell three things, one whether you are infected or not, whether you are infected and recovering and whether you have recovered.

US giant Abbott has a small portable rapid testing kit that can deliver results in 5-10 minutes. The test is now available in the US and the company does not have any guidance on when this can be brought to India.
YEREVAN.  After receiving inpatient treatment at Erebouni Medical Center, Armenias second President Robert Kocharyan was transferred back to Yerevan-Kentron Penitentiary Friday morning, his lawyers informed.

According to them, doctors have recorded dynamics in his health, but have stated that Kocharyan needs constant medical supervision and further treatment.

His legal team is currently discussing the appropriateness of transferring Robert Kocharyan back to the penitentiary and the safety of his health under the current coronavirus epidemic.

His lawyers find that under such circumstances, Kocharyan's current health does not allow him to be held in the penitentiary, whose staff has not yet been tested for the coronavirus.
Cab aggregator Uber has partnered with e-grocer BigBasket to deliver essential items during the nationwide lockdown, according to a report by Business Standard.

The tie-up, which will help last mile delivery, will first be rolled out in four cities - Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Noida. Other cities will be added later.

"We are very happy to partner with Uber India for this initiative and we will be utilizing a portion of their huge fleet of cars, bikes as well as personnel to help with our deliveries to fulfill customer orders," Lalita Aggarwal, National Process Head-Last Mile, BigBasket, told the paper.

Follow our LIVE coverage of the coronavirus pandemic

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

Uber will not be charging any fee, and the entire commission will be passed onto its driver partners, Prabhjeet Singh, Director-Operations and Head of Cities - Uber India, told Business Standard.

BigBasket will ensure that their driver partners get the required passes and permits from local authorities, the report added.

BigBasket will be able to book vehicles across UberGo (hatchback), UberXL (SUV) and UberMoto (two-wheelers) for the entire day for delivery.

Uber is exploring similar partnerships with other online marketplaces and supermarkets, the report said.

Uber is on the verge of finalising a similar arrangement with Flipkart as well, a separate media report said.

Retailers have faced supply disruption during the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. delay in movement of trucks and shortage of staff have forced them to operate at a lower capacity.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
As some parts of the nation lock down over the novel coronavirus, the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) has called on the federal government to make food, electricity and other essential needs available to Nigerians so as to reduce their struggle during the period.

According to Professor Biodun Ogunyemi who spoke, the president of the association who spoke with newsmen in Ibadan on Thursday, he said until such are provided, the lockdown would not achieve its desired result.

Access to electricity and running water and an unbroken chain of food supply and availability of other essential items should be key components of the policy called lockdown.

Read Also: Why Cases Of Coronavirus Are On The Rise In The Country: FG

Unless the peoples survival needs are factored into the equation, governments at the national and sub-national levels may be courting an uncontrollable regime of rebellion which may be counterproductive to the cause of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, he said.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported ten new cases of coronavirus in the country, taking the total number of infections to 184.

According to NCDC, Ten new cases of #COVID19 have been reported in Nigeria; seven in Lagos and three in the FCT.

As at 08:00 pm 2nd April, there are 184 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. Twenty have been discharged with two deaths

Meanwhile, Osun State Government on Thursday confirmed that six more Ivory Coast returnees tested positive for coronavirus.

The development brings the total number of cases in the state to 20.
After ordering child care facilities to close last month as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Manitoba government is calling for them to reopen in a reduced capacity.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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After ordering child care facilities to close last month as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Manitoba government is calling for them to reopen in a reduced capacity.

Families Minister Heather Stefanson said during a media conference on Thursday afternoon that the province is looking for the centres to reopen to provide care for children of health-care providers and emergency services workers.

Heather Stefanson

"There are still health-care and other emergency services workers who need child care and today I want to call on child care providers throughout our province to help those workers as they provide needed services during this pandemic," Stefanson said.

Licensed centres that reopen will be limited to a maximum of 16 spaces with that limit carrying forward in alignment with the closure of in-person classes for kindergarten through Grade 12 students.

To assess the need of workers for these spaces, the province is asking health-care providers and emergency services workers needing child care to register online at forms.gov.mb.ca/GoMCovid19ESW/ by April 8.

On April 14, all parents who work in critical services as determined by the provincial chief public health officer will be able to apply for child care spaces in licensed facilities.

Child care centres willing to reopen or that have spaces available are being asked to contact the province by emailing cdcinfo@gov.mb.ca.

The province also announced that the provincial operating grant for daycares will continue to be distributed as normal, even for daycares that choose to remain closed. Child care centres are being asked by the province to refund parents their fees if services are not currently being provided and not to charge parents to hold spots if they are not currently being used.

A release put out by the province states that 1,200 children of health-care providers and emergency services workers had been matched with available child care spaces.

After the announcement, the Sun spoke with Erika Lesage, chair of the board of directors for Brandon-based daycare Childrens Den Inc.

She said that the facility, which had to lay off most of its staff after last months closure order, is in the process of getting up and running again. Calls are being made by the daycare to its client families that have parents working in the applicable fields.

While the government is still providing grant money to daycares, that only makes up 45 per cent of Childrens Dens revenue. On top of that, the 16 spaces theyre allowed to open back up represents only half of the total capacity.

That means that the centre is going to have to operate with lower than normal income. Because of that, the facility wont be able to afford to bring back all the staff they had to lay off.

"Theres also some uncertainties because not everybody wants to put themselves at risk by working right now," Lesage said. "It is going to depend on if we have the staff to reopen or not, which may be a challenge. There are people working in child care that are immunocompromised or members of their families are immunocompromised."

Another challenge Lesage brought up is that child care workers who dont have child care for their children wont be able to return to work right now even if they wanted to.

Lesage also worries about suddenly not having enough staff to run the facility if they resume operations and then one or more employees become ill and unable to work.

Childrens Den Inc. will work toward reopening, but Lesage is looking for more support from the province.

"We are trying to make it all work with the information we have been given and with what little funding we have to work with," she said. "We are a sector that has always stepped up. A sector of underpaid, overworked and under-recognized field of works primarily made up of women who have subsidized the system to keep it running. It is the government who needs to step up so we can make it happen and do our part."

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Sky internet has been hit by network problems, leaving people unable to load websites.

The company said that it was working to fix the problems, which came as many people are working from home as part of the UK's lockdown.

Issues appeared to be particularly prevalent in Cornwall, which Sky said had been traced to a technical problem.

"After investigation by the support teams we are now able to confirm that there is a multiple exchange outage in the area," it wrote on Twitter. "We are working hard to put a fix in place."

The company responded to users over the social networking site to apologise for issues and ask them to keep an eye on Sky's status page, which allows customers to check whether their services are online.

Recommended How to make sure your internet connection works as well as possible

Network monitoring company ThousandEyes said that reports of global outages had increased 42 per cent since mid-February, but that online services were largely staying stable despite the influx of new and additional traffic.

While outages dont follow a predictable trend there has been a notable increase in traffic due across the Internet and to core business, media and social platforms in recent weeks, due to changes in working, and living, patterns," said Ian waters, ThousandEyes' director of product marketing. "This doesnt necessarily cause more outages of itself, and there are multiple reasons an application or service can experience an outage.

"For example, last week, we noticed that many users were unable to reach a major business collaboration application because some of its domains were not resolving to an IP address. While the disruption lasted approximately 20 minutes the service itself was still operational, but simply not findable due to a DNS resolution failure.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

During the current COVID-19 global pandemic, despite the increased load due to the sudden influx in remote workers, remote learners, and overall general increase of Internet use, the Internet is thus far remaining relatively stable."
(Newser)  After a record 113 straight months of hiring, the government's monthly jobs report Friday is expected to show that the American jobs machine came to a sudden halt in March as a result of the coronavirus. Economists have forecast that the government will say employers shed about 150,000 jobs and that the unemployment rate rose from a half-century low of 3.5% to 3.9%, according to FactSet. But the jobs figure will vastly understate the magnitude of last month's losses because the government surveyed employers before the heaviest layoffs struck in the past two weeks, the AP reports. Nearly 10 million Americans have since applied for unemployment benefits, far more than for any corresponding period on record.

story continues below

Still, some job cuts likely happened earlier in the month, when most economists think businesses began clamping down on hiring. The job loss for March will underscore the head-snapping speed with which the economy has unraveled after nearly a decade in which employers added nearly 23 million jobs. As recently as February, employers added 273,000 jobs. "Four years of job gains have evaporated in the span of two weeks," says Daniel Zhao, an economist at the jobs website Glassdoor. The layoffs will continue to mount. Some economists have forecast that 20 million jobs will be lost by the end of April, swelling the unemployment rate as high as 15% and wiping out the bulk of the past decade's gains. That unemployment rate would be the worst since the 1930s.

(Read more jobs report stories.)
Lehigh Valley resident and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey over the weekend urged everyone to begin wearing homemade or cloth masks in public in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Thursday night, the Republican from Pennsylvania joined U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., in issuing a statement on word that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to update its guidance to encourage Americans to wear masks when out on essential tasks:

The CDC is right to clarify its guidance to encourage Americans to wear cloth masks when they must venture out of their homes, even if they are not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19."

President Donald Trump; Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDC director, all worked with the senators on the issue, according to the statement, which continued:

Wearing a cloth mask is not a substitute for staying home and regularly washing our hands, but it is an important compliment. By wearing a cloth mask when in public, we will limit transmission of the virus, which can be spread through saliva emitted via cough, sneeze, or even when speaking and breathing. Put simply, my mask protects you, and your mask protects me.

To be clear, N95 or surgical masks should be reserved for front-line health care workers. We implore all Americans, when you leave your house, cover up with a cloth mask or any sort of facial barrier like a scarf or a bandanna.

The Associated Press on Thursday night published the following report on the issue:

The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, as the president is aggressively defending his response to the public health crisis.

The recommendations, still being finalized Thursday, were expected to apply to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task force's discussion said officials would suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandannas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home  for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks, particularly short-in-supply N95 masks, would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposed guidance before its public release.

President Donald Trump, who was tested again for coronavirus Thursday using a new rapid test, indicated he would support such a recommendation. "If people wanted to wear them, they can," he said.

"It's not a bad idea, at least for a period of time," Trump had said earlier in the week.

The White House said Trump's latest test returned a negative result in 15 minutes, and said Trump was "healthy and without symptoms."

Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force's coordinator, told reporters the White House was concerned that the mask guidance would lead to a "false sense of security" for Americans. She said new data show that the administration's social-distancing guidelines were not being followed to the extent necessary to keep virus-related deaths to a minimum.

The discussions on face masks came as the White House moved aggressively to defend its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly its efforts to speed the distribution of ventilators and protective equipment needed by medical professionals.

Trump sent a politically tinged letter to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York objecting to his criticism of the administration's response. "The Federal Government is merely a back-up for state governments," Trump wrote. "Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others."

Trump said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies before the pandemic.

Vice President Mike Pence also announced Thursday that the White House was considering direct payments to hospitals to cover COVID-19 treatment costs for uninsured Americans.

The emerging guidance on masks appeared to be more limited than a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention draft of the guidance, which suggested the recommendation apply to nearly all Americans, all over the country, according to a federal official who has seen the draft but was not authorized to discuss it.

Officials were expected to limit its geographic scope to just those areas where the virus was spreading rapidly, the official said. The formal announcement was expected as soon as Friday.

Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks. The new proposal was driven by research showing that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

On Wednesday, Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, urged his city's 4 million residents to wear masks when they're in public. On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio followed suit in his city, the epicenter of the virus' spread in the U.S.

In response to recent studies, the CDC on Wednesday changed how it was defining the risk of infection for Americans. It essentially says anyone may be a considered a carrier, whether they have symptoms or not.

The virus spreads mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, though experts stress that the germ is still not fully understood.

U.S. officials have been telling people to stay at home as much as possible, and keep at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others when they do go out. Other advice includes frequent hand washing and not touching your face.

But until now federal officials have stopped short of telling people to cover their faces out in public.

Scientists can't rule out that infected people sometimes exhale COVID-19 virus particles, rather than just when coughing or sneezing, but there isn't enough evidence to show if that can cause infection, according to a committee convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to advise the White House.

The question has to do with whether the new coronavirus spreads mostly by droplets that don't linger for long in the air, or also by tinier "aerosolized" particles. Certain medical procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes, can create those tiny particles, which is why health care workers wear close-fitting N95 masks during such care.

The committee cited one study that detected airborne viral RNA in and just outside some hospital isolation rooms, but noted that it was unclear if that could infect someone.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has repeatedly admonished Americans not to wear face masks, saying they don't prevent the people who wear them from catching the virus. He and other officials have stressed that surgical face masks and other protective medical equipment have been in short supply and must be prioritized for people such as health-care workers.

The World Health Organization on Monday reiterated its advice that the general population doesn't need to wear masks unless they're sick. Since the epidemic began in China, the WHO has said masks are for the sick and people caring for them.

"There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit," WHO's epidemic chief Dr. Mike Ryan said during a news conference. "In fact, there's some evidence to suggest the opposite," he added, noting risks from an improperly fitted mask or improperly putting it on or taking it off.

That's in addition to the problem that health care workers who do need masks are facing "a massive global shortage," Ryan said. "The thought of them not having masks is horrific, so we have to be very careful on supply, but that is not the primary reason why WHO has advised against using masks."

Many people have taken it upon themselves to make their own masks, but one North Carolina health system found that such DIY products vary in how well they work. Wake Forest Baptist Health doctors and scientists tested 13 different designs made by community volunteers. They found that some were better at filtering than off-the-shelf surgical masks but others were barely better than wearing no mask at all.

Separately, a 2013 study tested whether homemade masks might help during a flu pandemic. It found surgical masks were three times more effective in catching droplets from coughing people than masks made from cotton T-shirts, though its not clear if the new coronavirus behaves exactly like flu viruses.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Four years later, the bureau also adopted the Bertillon system, which recorded height and measurements of the cranium and face, the forearm, middle and little fingers, and the feet. In 1904, Evans sent his son Emmett, also a police investigator, to the Worlds Fair in St. Louis to learn the new technique of fingerprinting from experts from Scotland Yard. I dont think it is any good but look and see, he said.
The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in London

LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom death toll from the coronavirus rose by 684 to 3,605 as of 1600 GMT on April 2, up 23% on the previous day.

As of 9am 3 April, a total of 173,784 people have been tested of which 38,168 were positive.

Stephen Powis, the national medical director of National Health Service England, said at a Downing Street briefing on Thursday that a high death rate would continue to be seen for "a few weeks yet".

Powis also said there was some early academic evidence that the transmission rate in the community may have fallen below 1.

British government scientists say that the United Kingdom would be doing well if it kept the coronavirus death toll below 20,000.

The British government's worst case scenario envisages a coronavirus death toll of 50,000 if self-isolation is not fully adhered to, but the United Kingdom is not right now on course for a toll of that scale, a source familiar with the government's emergency discussions told Reuters.

According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, the worst day for deaths is projected to be April 12, which this year is Easter Sunday.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Friday he would not steer away from reports which said April 12 would be the peak.

(Reporting by Kate Holton and Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Stephen Addison)
The coronavirus pandemic would have a debilitating impact on India's tourism sector with the industry estimating an overall loss of Rs 5 lakh crore and job cuts for 4-5 crore people.

Of the total losses, the organised sector in the industry -- branded hotels, tour operators, travel agencies which are the mainstay of the sector may be hit the hardest with an estimated loss of around Rs 1.58 lakh crore, according to Confederation of Indian Industry estimates.

The industry body has said that branded hotel groups are set to lose as much as Rs 1.10 lakh crore, online travel agencies Rs 4,312 crore, tour operators (inbound and domestic) Rs 25,000 crore, adventure tour operators Rs nearly 19,000 crore and cruise tourism Rs 419 crore.

Sources in the Union Ministry of Tourism said the government is considering helping the sector with soft loans, working capital and deferment on loan repayments.

The ministry itself, in a presentation to a parliamentary panel on transport and tourism last month, had pegged the losses at Rs 5 lakh crore, quoting industry estimates.

Other than the organised sector, the tourism industry also gives employment to small homestays, bread and breakfasts and small hotel operators and their services will also take a major hit.

The national federation of 10 tourism, travel and hospitality organisations of India, FAITH, said it was safe to say that the overall value of the losses could be in the range at Rs 5 lakh crore, covering all aspects of the business.

The problem is that we have tourists who come into the country from October to March and there are people who travel within the country during summer holidays, pujas or in December and then there are people who go abroad.

There is no one coming from outside. Our key source markets are heavily impacted due to coronavirus. We don't anticipate the market to come back to India in the next 12-18 months, it said



FAITH CEO Ashish Gupta recommended a salary corpus for the sector from the government.

As per the World Economic Forum (WEF), the coronavirus pandemic is putting up to 50 million jobs in the global travel and tourism sector at risk. Of the 50 million jobs that could be lost, around 30 million would be in Asia.

The industry is facing an existential crisis today, CII National Chairman Tourism Committee, Dipak Haksar said.

He said that overall we estimate around 4-5 crore job losses of people who are directly or indirectly related to the tourism sector.

The Travel and Tourism sector is facing a lockdown situation with negligible demand of both international and domestic leisure and business traveler, he said.

Occupancies in hotels have come to single digit and recoveries not expected in the near future. The industry expects to lose over 2 crore jobs and revenue loss could be of 60-70% this year. The tourism industry is gasping for oxygen and we urge the government to pronounce immediate sectoral relief for the industry," Haksar said.

The CII said the industry will see cash flows only beginning to improve in November, 2020 and perhaps get to normal levels by early 2021.

Haskar recommended short-term interest-free or low-interest loans for rebuilding business, 12-month deferment of all statutory dues and a moratorium of additional three to six months on all working capital principal, interest payments on loans and overdrafts.

He said these steps, among other sops for the industry, would bring in liquidity, allowing for business continuity.

Last year, 10.89 million foreign tourists arrived in India, while the number was 10.56 million the year before and 10.04 million in 2017.

With travel restrictions in place and the fear of the pandemic spreading, in February 2020, 1.01 million foreign tourists arrived in India compared to 1.08 million in February 2019, registering a year-on-year decrease of 6.6 per cent already.

This was the sharpest decline since 2015 and also the first in the month of February.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BNEI BRAK, IsraelEarly this week, the streets of the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak were bustling with shoppers as ultra-Orthodox residents, obeying their religious leaders, ignored pleas to stay home in the face of the coronavirus threat.

By Friday, Bnei Brak had become the countrys worst hot spot and now resembles a ghost town. The military will soon be sending troops in to assist local authorities. One expert estimated that nearly 40% of the citys population might already have been infected.

The city has become a lightning rod for anger and frustration by some secular Israelis who allege insular Haredi communities  with disproportionately high numbers of confirmed cases  are undermining national efforts to contain the virus.

The pandemic also has threatened to upend deep-seated customs in the religious world, including blind obedience to religious leaders and the belief that religious studies and traditions take precedence over the rules of a modern state.

The crisis is rooted in a combination of factors. Israels ultra-Orthodox tend to live in poor, crowded neighbourhoods where sickness can quickly spread. Synagogues, the centerpiece of social life, bring men together to pray and socialize in small spaces.

I am very, very concerned that well see a broader contagion in the ultra-Orthodox community and to the broader Israeli population, said Hagai Levine, a Hebrew University professor who chairs the Israeli Association of Public Health Physicians.

Since Israels founding, secular and ultra-Orthodox Israelis have viewed each other with suspicion, and tensions have erupted repeatedly over hot button issues such as the military draft. Ultra-Orthodox leaders have used their considerable political leverage to help maintain the communitys insular lifestyle with government grants, feeding secular complaints that the haredim are a burden to the collective.

A new debate erupted Thursday when Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, a powerful ultra-Orthodox politician meant to lead the battle against the virus, was confirmed to be infected.

This forced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the ministrys director general and reportedly the head of the Mossad spy agency, into quarantine because of exposure to Litzman. Netanyahu, who tested negative, went through an identical experience after a previous exposure to an infected ultra-Orthodox aide.

Channel 12 TV said ministry officials were furious with Litzman, who had resisted calls in recent weeks to impose restrictions on gatherings at religious institutions. The channel said Litzman had quietly been breaking the rules and attending prayer sessions at synagogues.

An outbreak in Bnei Brak is the same as an outbreak in Tel Aviv. Litzman did not just betray his own voters. He betrayed all Israelis, Zehava Galon, a former leader of the secular Meretz party, wrote in the Haaretz daily.

When Israel began shutting down schools, workplaces and its international airport last month to slow the outbreak, Litzman was not the only religious leader to resist.

Influential Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky of Bnei Brak said closing religious seminaries is more harmful than the virus. The Torah protects and saves, he said.

In recent weeks, attempts by police to enforce quarantine orders in Bnei Brak and religious neighbourhoods of Jerusalem resulted in standoffs with angry crowds. Some shouted Nazis as police arrested or fined violators.

Police say officers have been assaulted multiple times and several paramedics have been injured by ultra-Orthodox crowds.

In recent days, defiance has subsided as the scale of the outbreak became clear. Kanievsky, 92, now urges followers to stay at home.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia that can be fatal.

Israel has over 7,000 reported cases, with 38 deaths. Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, home to large ultra-Orthodox communities, have the largest concentrations.

Ran Saar, who runs the Maccabi Healthcare Services, a leading provider, told parliament he estimates some 75,000 people in Bnei Brak, or 38% of the population, could be infected. He said the city has many elderly residents and called for urgent action.

Saar said his estimates were based on test data. He told Channel 12 that he believes thousands of people are refusing to be tested because they dont want to disrupt next weeks Passover holiday.

The government declared Bnei Brak a restricted zone Thursday, limiting movement in and out of the city. Earlier in the day, police patrols were already out in large numbers to make sure residents remained indoors.

Streets normally crowded with Passover shoppers were deserted. Police in white hazmat suits raided a synagogue, sending some 15 worshippers home with fines of over $100 each. One police car broadcast stay-home appeals in Yiddish, a European language still common in ultra-Orthodox circles.

The government is also sending in troops to help local authorities in Bnei Brak. Two battalions, each numbering around 450 soldiers, will distribute food, medicine and supplies and help to relocate symptomatic or high-risk people to quarantine facilities.

The soldiers will not be policing the area or enforcing movement restrictions, and most will be unarmed, according to Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman. He acknowledged it was a delicate situation.

Anshel Pfeffer, a commentator at Haaretz, said the crisis presents a major challenge to the rabbis traditional authority and the ultra-Orthodox way of life.

The community was already facing challenges before the coronavirus crisis, he said. But this is certainly bringing a lot of these challenges to a head.
Nearly 9% of Oregons workforce has filed for unemployment in a two-week period due to the novel coronavirus, and the mid-Willamette Valley has seen sharp job losses, as well, according to an expert with the Oregon Employment Department.

State data released on Thursday shows that 92,700 initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits were received the week of March 22, which represented a new and unfortunate record.

That was a 21% increase over the previous record set during the week starting March 15.

By comparison, the Oregon Employment Department received 4,900 initial claim filings during the week starting March 8.

Patrick OConnor, a regional economist with the agency, wondered whether unemployment filings would taper off after the initial wave of business closures in Oregon starting in mid-March.

In the mid-Willamette Valley, processed weekly unemployment claims have increased about tenfold due to the novel coronavirus, according to Oregon Employment Department figures.

County-by-county total unemployment filings arent available, however, and those would paint an even worse picture of the local economy, OConnor acknowledged.

Only 40 percent of the initial claims filed over the last two weeks have been processed at this point. We dont see the county level data until those claims have been processed, he said.

Still, the staggering number of claims received by the agency gives the processing rate a bit of perspective, OConnor said.

Linn County had 1,218 claims processed during the week of March 22, up from 517 the week prior.

During the week of March 8, Albany, Lebanon, Sweet Home and surrounding areas only had 144 unemployment claims processed, but that was before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Oregon and resulted in business restrictions and closures and changing consumer habits.

Benton County had 695 claims processed the week of March 22, up from 270 the week of March 15. The week of March 8, the county only had 48 unemployment claims processed.

During the past two weeks the Oregon Employment Department has doubled the number of staff dedicated to taking claims, and is in the process of tripling it, according to an agency news release.

The department also will continue adding secure phone lines to take more calls. Still, the truly unprecedented and sudden level of initial claims has caused delays and frustration for residents who need assistance, and especially for those requesting help by phone.

The Oregon Employment Department encourages anyone those who can to file an online claim.

To do so, go to https://secure.emp.state.or.us/ocs4/index.cfm?u=F20200324A152211B60880938.0174&lang=E.

To file for unemployment in Oregon over the phone, call 1-877-FILE-4-UI.

Kyle Odegard can be contacted at 541-812-6077 or kyle.odegard@lee.net.

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April 2, 2020

News

By Jim Garamone

Defense.gov

Manpower Chief Discusses Personnel Aspects of COVID-19 Response

The Joint Staff's director of manpower and personnel discussed the personnel aspects of the fight against COVID-19 during a freewheeling exchange with Pentagon reporters.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Lenny J. Richoux said his section is working 24-7 to ensure that the priorities laid out by Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley are met.

Those priorities are to protect service members, Defense Department civilians and their families; to ensure the viability of the force; and to support the whole-of-government effort against the COVID-19 pandemic.

A game-changer for the military was Esper's 60-day "stop movement" memo. The order, effective through May 11, covers all service members, DOD civilians and their families. Earlier, Esper had halted international travel. Now, all movement is frozen, including foreign travel, permanent changes of station, temporary duty and personal leave. It also covers deployments, redeployments and global force management activities, the general said.

"Exceptions to the stop-move order will be made on a case-by-case basis," he said. "So in general, those exceptions are for operational necessity."

Esper ordered the measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. "It is a freeze, and so combatant commanders and services understand that what they have right now is how they are going to have to operate for the near term," Richoux said.

Operational necessity overrides this, the general said, but for now everyone is staying where they are. "We're all confident that the best way to go is to 'stop move'," he added.

Deployed service members will stay deployed. If they were due to deploy, they will stay at their bases.

"If you are in U.S. Forces Korea and you were scheduled to rotate home in the course of a normal force rotation, you're going to be extended for a period while this pandemic gets under control," Richoux said.

Summer is the traditional season for changing assignments, military schools, training, command changes and more. "All the services are making preparations for the summer PCS cycle, and are working to determine the overall impact to current and future readiness, and will continually re-examine potential mitigation options," the general said.

The office is also studying recruiting in a time of pandemic. "The services are leaning forward and being proactive when it comes to the health, welfare and safety of our nation's newest recruits at service training commands and bases," Richoux said. Medics follow the protocols of isolating and treating each affected individual.

A virtual recruiting environment is now in effect in an effort to protect recruiters. The services are still accessing recruits, but it is still too early to assess the effect the pandemic will have on service end strengths, he said. "So we have an eye on how ... recruitment could impact total end strength of the military as we continue to assess the pandemic and respond to it," Richoux said.

All DOD bases, posts and installations are at least at Force Health Protection Condition Charlie, but the services have to operate to support the population, Richoux said. The services set their parameters and provide feedback to Richoux's office.

The coronavirus is affecting military installations differently, the general told reporters. Where it is possible to provide services in person, they are doing so in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's social distancing guidelines. At other bases, the virus is in a different stage and services are delivered virtually.

"Commanders have the authority they need to make necessary decisions to protect their forces," he said. Mission essential services  commissaries, exchanges, gas stations  remain open.

"DOD leadership is closely monitoring the effect of COVID-19 on services for the community, to include DOD clinics, schools and childcare centers," he said.

Richoux said questions have arisen about maintaining standards during stay-at-home orders. "All services have promulgated various guidance as it pertains to grooming and physical fitness standards in light of barber shops, salons and gyms being closed due to social distancing concerns," he said.

In general, he said, the services have instructed soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to maintain their physical fitness. There will come a day when the gyms and barbershops will reopen, he added, and service members should maintain their appearance and their physical fitness to the best of their ability while maintaining social distancing.

On the medical front, registered nurses are standing by to provide medical guidance over the phone or via secure messaging. Service members can also use the same means to consult with a primary care physician. The system has also expanded telehealth, including the ability to renew prescriptions.

Quarantine is emotionally draining, Richoux said, and each installation has a military and family life program with counselling. The face-to-face meetings may be curtailed for the moment, he said, but DOD's military community and family policy office has begun making telehealth services available.

"In this extremely stressful environment and time of uncertainty, these remain critical services to all personnel as we continue to deal with this international pandemic," Richoux said.

Base religious programs continue virtually, with religious services online and chaplain services available by phone, email and online chat.

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By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijan sent 10,000 face masks to the Hungarian embassy in Baku on April 2, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto wrote in a Facebook post.

Another member state of the Turkic Council has shown solidarity towards the Hungarian people: the government of Azerbaijan has delivered 10 thousand masks today to our embassy in Azerbaijan, Szijjarto's post reads.

We are already organizing the donation to Hungary in order to make it available to the employees in the front line of health protection as soon as possible, he said.

Foreing Minister Peter Szijjarto stressed that the donation marks another show of solidarity in Hungarys battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak from a member state of the Turkic Council.

Earlier, Turkey green-lighted a consignment of eight tonnes of textiles for face masks, and Uzbekistan offered 150,000 face masks after Hungary turned to the council for help, Szijjarto said in a video posted on Facebook.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
An SNP councillor has had his Facebook account hacked by his wife who has branded him an 'adulterer' and 'cheater' after he allegedly left her for a colleague.

Glasgow Cardonald representative Alex Wilson had his account targeted by his devastated wife Pamela, who said he had left her to be with fellow SNP councillor Mandy Morgan.

Furious Mrs Wilson took to her husband's social media yesterday to post photos of him branded with the words 'adulterer' and 'cheater'.

SNP councillor Alex Wilson has had his Facebook account hacked by his wife Pamela who has branded him an 'adulterer' and 'cheater' after he allegedly left her for a colleague. Pictured: Mr and Mrs Morgan

The representative for Glasgow Cardonald had his account targeted by his devastated wife Pamela, who said he had left her to be with fellow SNP councillor Mandy Morgan (pictured)

Furious Mrs Wilson took to her husband's social media yesterday to post photos of him branded with the words 'adulterer' and 'cheater'

Mr Wilson, who has two children with his wife, is said to be ending his marriage to be with party colleague Ms Morgan, councillor for Glasgow North East, with whom he is believed to share an office.

Underneath one of the photos, a message from Mr Wilson's account read: 'I've been having an affair with Councillor Mandy Morgan and have left my wife of 20 years to go live with her and her 4 kids.'

One social media user asked if the stunt was a joke, to an which Mrs Wilson replied: 'I'm very much alone with 2 kids with Autism.

Underneath one of the photos, a message from Mr Wilson's account reads: 'I've been having an affair with Councillor Mandy Morgan and have left my wife of 20 years to go live with her and her 4 kids'

Mrs Wilson edited her husband's Facebook page so his profile picture and header image had the words 'Adulterer' and 'Cheater' ebmblazoned across them

'Alex dropped the bombshell of his affair this afternoon and then pack and left to go live with her.

'Both my kids are in bits, as am I, but Alex doesn't care.'

Mrs Wilson told The Herald: 'I am absolutely devastated. This came completely out of the blue. I don't know how I'll cope financially or how I'll keep a roof over the kids heads.

Mr and Mrs Wilson have two teenage children and had only just come back from a family holiday to Orlando in Canada to celebrate the councillor's 50th birthday.

Speaking to MailOnline she added: 'He bluntly told me he had been having an affair with her since at least January, but they started their relationship when Alexs dad passed away in November 2019. They share an office in the city Chambers.

'No further comment or explanation, I've been left with a huge loan to pay that was taken out for Alex birthday holiday, I've got 2 confused kids, I'm utterly devastated & terrified all at once.'

'I'm now saddled with a 5,000 loan for his birthday holiday, a huge mortgage and the usual bills.'

Mr and Mrs Wilson have two teenage children and had only just come back from a family holiday to Orlando in Canada to celebrate the councillor's 50th birthday. Pictured: Mr Morgan's Facebook page after it was edited by his wife

The incident has stunned social media users, with many supporting Mrs Wilson's decision

The mother-of-two said she needs to find another job which will 'not be easy' because she said she now has to look after her children by herself.

The incident has stunned social media users, with many supporting Mrs Morgan's decision.

MK Devlin wrote: 'Cllr Wilson you have no shame and are not fit for public office.'

Rhian Coggin said: 'TeamPam.'

Craig Wylie replied: 'Phone the police, pretty sure that's against the new Covid regulations, can't be moving in with anyone during a lockdown. Scumbag.'

And Graham Gibb added: 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and all that jazz.'

MailOnline could not reach either Mr Wilson or Ms Morgan for comment.
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz has recovered from the coronavirus after being diagnosed with the viral respiratory infection in late March, he announced Friday over social media.

Pleased to report that I am symptom-free of #COVID19 for 72hrs, feeling healthy & strong, and cleared to leave isolation, Narkewicz tweeted. Thanks again for the kind support. I urge everyone to remain home, physically distance, and keep washing those hands. Stay safe and healthy.

Pleased to report that I am symptom-free of #COVID19 for 72hrs, feeling healthy & strong, and cleared to leave isolation. Thanks again for the kind support. I urge everyone to remain home, physically distance, and keep washing those hands. Stay safe and healthy, #NorthamptonMA  David Narkewicz (@MayorNarkewicz) April 3, 2020

The 53-year-old mayor told the public on March 26 he had tested positive for COVID-19 and that he would isolate at home and continue to work remotely.

Narkewiczs wife and his youngest daughter were asymptomatic, he said. Both were being quarantined at their home for two weeks.

The mayor started feeling cold and flu-like symptoms on March 23. His symptoms worsened overnight, and per advice from city health officials, he was tested due to possible exposure to the disease.

Three days later, Narkewicz was informed by doctors at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton that he had the coronavirus.

More than a million positive diagnoses of the the viral respiratory infection have been confirmed worldwide. Of that total, 218,864 patients have recovered from the disease, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

In Massachusetts, 8,966 cases of COVID-19 have been reported, and at least 154 patients have died from the disease in the state. Hampshire County, where Northampton is located, has reported 102 positive diagnoses and one death due to the virus.

The city of Northampton declared a local state of emergency in mid March. It is unclear how many cases of the infection were identified in the community, as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health only provides a list of the number of positive diagnoses by county.

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Jeremy Corbyn's wife launched a blistering broadside against Labour MPs today, claiming they had prevented him from becoming prime minister.

Laura Alvarez said her hard-Left husband, 70, had been 'attacked by his own party' on his way to overseeing its world election defeat since the 1930s in December.

In a newspaper article she accused the media of joining his opponents to vilify him and block his ambitions for the nation.

It marks her first serious intervention in politics after his five years in charge of Labour, which included two election defeats, the day before his successor is revealed.

Sir Keir Starmer, the moderate shadow Brexit secretary, is widely expected to replace him in a stripped-back leadership announcement on Saturday morning.

But speaking to the Telegraph today, Mr Corbyn hinted that he will not silently return to being the MP for Islington North and could be a thorn in the side of a leader who abandons his legacy.

Mexican lawyer Ms Alvarez, who is Mr Corbyn's third wife, revealed it was difficult for her to watch from the sidelines, in an article for the Mirror.

'It has been incredibly hard for me to watch my husband vilified and to hear his words twisted by his political opponents and some in the media,' she wrote.

'It has been even harder to watch him be attacked by his own party.

'The brutal irony is that if we had pulled together, we would have been ready to lead the country rather than suffer more austerity under the Tories.'

Laura Alvarez (pictured centre last month) said her hard-Left husband, 70, had been 'attacked by his own party' on his way to overseeing its world election defeat since the 1930s in December

Mr Corbyn pictured queuing up in a north London newsagent this morning and then taking a stroll home

It marks her first serious intervention in politics after his five years in charge of Labour, which included two election defeats, the day before his successor is revealed

Ms Alvarez said she was 'proud' of her spouse of seven years and urged his successor 'not to lose sight' of the left-wing policies promoted by the veteran MP.

She argued that the NHS would have been better prepared for the Covid-19 outbreak if Mr Corbyn had been prime minister.

Sir Keir is up to 100/1 odds-on favourite to be named Labour leader tomorrow, after a campaign truncated by the coronavirus.

He has pledged to unite the party but is likely to diverge from Mr Corbyn's policies in some areas.

Sir Keir Starmer, the moderate shadow Brexit secretary, is widely expected to replace him in a stripped-back leadership announcement on Saturday morning

The outgoing leader, who backed Corbynista Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, to replace him, told the Telegraph he would be 'happy to work with the party in any way'.

But he added: 'Ideas live on forever, and activists live on forever. I will be doing my best to encourage others to be active and to stand up for all the causes that I believe so passionately in.'

The final weeks of the race were largely sidelined due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all candidate events and hustings cancelled.

But speaking to the Telegraph today, Mr Corbyn hinted that he will not silently return to being the MP for Islington North and could be a thorn in the side of a leader who abandons his legacy

All three contenders have been asked to pre-record victory speeches in the event they win, with the victor having theirs released on Saturday morning when the result is revealed.

Those eligible to vote had until noon on Thursday to make their choice before the new leader is revealed on Saturday.

The ballot had opened on February 21, with voting papers sent out to party members, members of affiliated trade unions and groups and 14,700 'registered supporters' who paid 25 to take part on a one-off basis.

Because of the coronavirus emergency, the winners of both the leadership and the deputy leadership race, which has been running in parallel, will no longer be unveiled at a 'special conference' as originally planned but via a virtual announcement.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has been seen as the favourite to take the post of deputy leader.

Ms Rayner is in a race against Dawn Butler, Ian Murray, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and Richard Burgon.
April 03 : With the launch of the new streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar on Thursday, Bollywood celebs have found a new way to entertain themselves amid lockdown and home quarantine.

Katrina Kaif, who has been posting her pictures doing household chores like washing dishes or sweeping the floor, posted a picture on her Instagram handle today while she watches The Lion King in the comforts of her home. With the launch of Disney+ Hotstar yesterday, The Lion King and The Mandalorian was premiered at the red carpet. It was Katrinas first ever premiere at home.

The Bharat actress looked pretty as ever in a yellow T-shirt tucked in a pair of distressed denims as she smiled at the camera.

Celebs like Parineeti Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Varun Dhawan also posted pictures on their respective Instagram handles watching either The Lion King or The Mandalorian. They felt nostalgic while watching the films as they watched Disney films throughout their entire childhood.

Disney+ was launched in India in a package with Hotstar and has been rebranded as Disney+ Hotstar. It will telecast Disney films in various languages.
Zoom has been used for many different reasons aside from just corporate or personal reasons as support groups such as alcoholics anonymous or AA meetings are now hosted on Zoom since people are strictly advised to transition into virtual communication in order to avoid infection. Trolls have recently attacked these AA meetings causing disturbance and saying distracting comments.

Zoom has recently experienced a security breach which showed the world just how unreliable it is as even Apple steps in to protect the dignity of their users.

Read Also: Zoom Sued for Allegedly Leaking Personal Data to Facebook! Apple Mac Users May Be Compromised As Well

The surge of alcohol

It was reported earlier this week by Nielsen data that the sales of alcoholic had risen 55% during the one week as the stay-at-home order started to take effect in March. A comment by some sober adults have stated that most other people are being "triggered" by the ongoing memes about "quarantinis"as screenshots of happy hours between friends surface virtually.

Business insider reports that digital cynics are prowling on Zoom to attack the Alcoholics Anonymous and even other support group meetings that are being conducted online amidst the coronavirus(COVID-19) outbreak.

A recent meeting of the AA which was supported by the Inter-group Association of A.A. of New York was attacked by these trolls leaving participants heartbroken and in dismay as the struggling group fights hard against addiction amidst the pandemic.

What did the trolls do?

According to a report by one meeting participant to Business Insider, the voice just said "Alcohol is soooo good," which shocked both the members and leaders alike. The group leaders were able to immediately silence the troll and kick the troll from the meeting but the damage had been done.

The damage had already been done as most of the shaken members left even before the meeting was able to get back on track.

PCMag reported earlier this week that a now-defunct YouTube channel which is dedicated to videos that show Zoom trolling had content of virtual trespassers holding bottles of whiskey during an ongoing online AA meeting.

"Zoom-bombing"

This "Zoom-bombing" has recently become a troll's prey as most conferences and other meetings are mostly held online. Conference crashers will even pursue the internet looking for publicly listed Zoom meeting IDs in order to join uninvitedly in certain groups and cause a ruckus.

The 4chan and Discord message boards are two known host forums that exist for this very purpose. The FBI in Boston has issued a warning on Monday about Zoom-bombing as two different virtual classrooms by bad actors were apparently trolled by bad actors.

Read Also: Zoom is Compromised! Could Google Hangouts Meets Be Better?

This incident was not the first time that New York AA group's meeting got trashed by Zoom trolls. They had even already published guidelines for members to help them configure their security settings to help push away intruders.

The addiction community relies on these Anonymous support groups as a way for them to handle and fight their addiction but with these security measures being compromised, the meetings might have to go on hold. According to Ben Riker, 39, five years sober, people who are experiencing problems should "use the phone" in a comment he had given The Post.
ALBANY  Trips to work, mass transit hubs and recreational spots like movie theaters and museums dropped dramatically in the last month, according to data compiled by Google that charts the way travel  and life  changed in the Capital Region and America during the past month as novel coronavirus outbreak became more widespread.

In an examination of data the company uses for its mapping program, Google breaks down the numbers by county to scrutinize mobility and the places where people travel to now compared to visits they made to the same places in January and February. Google used the baseline to examine drops in mobility now, showing the impact social distancing is having on society.

In Albany County  and many other places  it shows steep declines in trips to restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, theme parks, museums, libraries and movie theaters. In Albany County, visits to those places dropped by 59 percent between Feb. 16 and March 29. The drop corresponds roughly to the period when such businesses were ordered closed in New York state to curb human contact and slow the spread of the virus.

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The data plunged even more for trips to mass transit hubs like bus stops and train stations, which were down 64 percent in Albany County.

The data shows a steady drop in the number of people heading to jobs. In Albany County, the number starts low in early February, a period that corresponds with the popular Presidents Week vacation period, and then returns to the baseline number Google looked at in January and February.

But by the second week of March, a period when businesses were beginning to close and governments and businesses were laying off workers or telling them to stay home, the trend begins its 36 percent drop.

Use of parks dropped by the end of the period too, but the data shows widespread use in Albany and many other counties in the days leading up to the last week of March. At points, government officials have encouraged people to use state parks and other open space. But fear of crowding in such popular spots led to recent calls to close playgrounds and parks.

By contrast, the data from Manhattan  an epicenter of the virus' outbreak  shows a dramatic and consistent drop in nearly every catagory, a sign that calls for social distancing made an impact in areas where the spread of the disease was heaviest.

Locally, visits to retail and recreational areas dropped 60 percent and trips to grocery stores and pharmacies dropped by 29 percent in Saratoga County. The county also saw a 52 percent drop in transit and a 35 percent drop in travel to workplaces.

In Schenectady County, trips to retail locations and recreational spots were down 46 percent. Travel to grocery stores and pharmacies were down 24 percent. Mobility to bus stops and train stations was down 40 percent and moves to the workplace were down 31 percent.

Excursions to retail and recreational spots were down 50 percent in Rensselaer County. Travel to grocery stores and pharmacies saw a 23 percent drop and transit hubs and workplaces dropped 54 percent and 36 percent, respectively.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The data shows a steady drop in the number of people heading to jobs. In Albany County, the number starts low in early February, a period that corresponds with the popular Presidents Week vacation period, and then returns to the baseline number Google looked at in January and February.

But by the second week of March, a period when businesses were beginning to close and governments and businesses were laying off workers or telling them to stay home, the trend begins its 36 percent drop.

Use of parks dropped by the end of the period too, but the data shows widespread use in Albany and many other counties in the days leading up to the last week of March. At points, government officials have encouraged people to use state parks and other open space. But fear of crowding in such popular spots led to recent calls to close playgrounds and parks.

By contrast, the data from Manhattan  an epicenter of the virus' outbreak  shows a dramatic and consistent drop in nearly every catagory, a sign that calls for social distancing made an impact in areas where the spread of the disease was heaviest.

Locally, visits to retail and recreational areas dropped 60 percent and trips to grocery stores and pharmacies dropped by 29 percent in Saratoga County. The county also saw a 52 percent drop in transit and a 35 percent drop in travel to workplaces.

In Schenectady County, trips to retail locations and recreational spots were down 46 percent. Travel to grocery stores and pharmacies were down 24 percent. Mobility to bus stops and train stations was down 40 percent and moves to the workplace were down 31 percent.

Excursions to retail and recreational spots were down 50 percent in Rensselaer County. Travel to grocery stores and pharmacies saw a 23 percent drop and transit hubs and workplaces dropped 54 percent and 36 percent, respectively.
Alan Kelly has been elected the new leader of Irelands Labour Party.

The Tipperary TD defeated Aodhan O Riordain in the contest to succeed Brendan Howlin.

Dublin Bay North TD Mr O Riordain called Mr Kelly to concede defeat as the counting of the votes of about 2,000 party members neared conclusion on Friday.

Ive just called @alankellylabour to congratulate him on his election as leader of the @labour party.



I cant thank my campaign team & my family enough for their support over the last few weeks.



Time now to unite and work together for our great party and our country.



 pic.twitter.com/LhyJjpCofL  Aodhan O Riordain (@AodhanORiordain) April 3, 2020

Time now to unite and work together for our great party and our country, Mr O Riordain tweeted.

Mr Howlin announced his decision to quit in the wake of the partys disappointing performance in Februarys general election.

Labour emerged from the election with only six seats, its worst ever result.

The party has shown little sign of reversing a decline in fortunes linked to its time in government as Fine Gaels junior coalition partner.

Expand Close Brendan Howlin announced his decision to step down as party leader following the general election (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook

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Labour has been mooted as a potential third party to join a new Fine Gael/Fianna Fail coalition government.

However, party TDs have so far insisted that their preference is to spend the next mandate on the opposition benches in the Dail.

General secretary of the union TSSA, Manuel Cortes, congratulated Mr Kelly.

I really welcome Alan Kelly as our partys new leader and look forward to working with him over the coming years, he said.

I know Alan from his time at the Department of Transport and hope to build on the relationship we established then for the benefit of our members.
State officials on Thursday reported that 715 additional known cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, and announced 16 more deaths related to the virus. There have now been 157 deaths related to COVID-19 statewide and 7,695 known cases in 61 of the states 102 counties since the outbreak began in late January.
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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 16:38 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8d5e9 1 Business Indonesia,Airlines,COVID-19,impact,Air-Asia,Lion-Air,Garuda-Indonesia,INACA Free

Thousands of jobs within the countrys aviation industry are at risk as the coronavirus pandemic has crippled almost all airline operators.

Local airlines have not openly announced any layoff plans, but many of their workers feel it is only a matter of time before cuts start being made. Airline companies have cut down on the number of flights they operate and introduced cost-cutting measures to cope with the impact of COVID-19 on business.

A cabin crew member who works for AirAsia Indonesia said that she lost part of her monthly income after the airline decided to temporarily suspend its flights beginning April 1.

The immediate impact is that our income will be cut off due to the flight suspension. Some of the cabin crew even applied for a deferral of their loan repayment due to the decline in their income, the crew member, who requested anonymity, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The cabin crew hopes that they will still receive their basic salary to support their lives as they navigate through this difficult time, she said.

Meanwhile, a Garuda Indonesia cabin crew member, Lia (not her real name), said the pandemic made her and her colleagues worried about losing income. She also said many employees were worrying about job security.

Although there are no layoffs [for permanent employees], contract workers are quite worried about their working contracts not being extended, she said.

Zaenal Muttaqin, the head of the Garuda Indonesia Cabin Crew Union (IKAGI), acknowledged that a reduction of flight frequency had resulted in less income for cabin crews.

Flight cuts will automatically decrease our flight hours and our extra income, which is based on flight hours. With many flights canceled, the remaining flights operating must be divided among 3,500 cabin crew members of Garuda. This has caused a decline the flight hours of each crew, said Zaenal.

Our friends in the field also feel insecure about their health as they are at high risk [of getting the disease], even though they are equipped with masks and gloves. We are worried, and we hope the way we do our job when serving passengers can be simplified and minimize direct contact.

Zaenal said the company had introduced a policy that effectively prevented those aged 50 years or more from working, as they were low on the priority list for cabin crew shifts for reasons of health safety. Furthermore, he said contract workers were worried about whether Garuda would even consider extending their contracts once the coronavirus is controlled.

Garuda reported it cut its flight frequency by around 40 percent. Garuda president director Irfan Setiaputra said that, as of Friday, there were no plans to lay off employees.

As of now, there is no layoff plan, but there are many things that must be looked at, he said.

Although Garudas employees face no imminent layoffs, many employees of its subsidiaries have lost their jobs. PT Aerofood Indonesia, which operates an airline catering business, laid off 359 outsourcing employees after its business was hit hard by a drop in domestic flight frequency, tempo.co reported.

The Indonesia National Air Carrier Association (INACA) reported that a drastic decline in airline passengers forced airlines to cut flight frequency by 50 percent or more. INACA chairman Denon Prawiratmadja said several airlines also suspended operations and terminated employees to reduce financial losses.

Lion Air has reduced or suspended flights to several destinations in China, Malaysia and Papua. The airlines spokesperson, Danang Mandala Prihantoro, refused to comment when asked about the impact of the flight cuts on Lion Air employees.

Denon of INACA said the crisis would worsen and could lead to more job terminations if there were no government incentives or assistance.

If COVID-19 cannot be contained immediately, business will worsen and some airlines could be forced to stop operating, Denon said in an official statement.

Denon said the industry needed help in the form of fiscal incentives, such as the postponement of corporate income tax payments and exemption of spare part import duties, as well as stimulus from the government through discounts on several fees, to keep the industry alive.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) projected the impact of COVID-19 on the travel business would be severe. In its latest analysis published last week, the IATA projected full-year demand for passenger air travel to fall 38 percent globally. It also stated that full-year passenger revenues would drop an estimated $252 billion, 44 percent below 2019 figures.
A series of online webinars offering advice to sheep farmers on 'iceberg diseases' will commence following the cancellation of their events due to the coronavirus.

Sheep industry groups had planned to travel the UK to inform on the risks posed by these often unnoticed, but sometimes devastating diseases.

But due to the spread of Covid-19, they will now turn to the internet to deliver advice to farmers in the safety of their own homes.

Infectious conditions that are classed as iceberg diseases include Border disease, Caseous Lymphadentis (CLA), Johnes disease and Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (OPA).

Despite their increasing significance many sheep farmers remain unaware of the real impact they can have on sheep flocks.

The Moredun Research Institute and Scotlands Rural College (SRUC), the National Sheep Association (NSA) will deliver the webinars to farmers.

NSA Chief Executive, Phil Stocker said that despite Covid-19, the sector wants to support farmers in providing information that will help to protect the health of the UKs sheep flocks.

Many farm organisations already use webinars in delivering information and we hope that this meeting on the subject of iceberg diseases will be popular with farmers that would have ordinarily joined us in our face-to-face meetings, he said.

Dr Beth Wells, Knowledge Exchange Specialist at Moredun added: Moredun has active research teams working in both OPA and Johnes and this is a great opportunity for the scientists involved to discuss their recent findings and how to best control these diseases in your flocks.

Where can I register to take part?

NSA, Moredun and SRUC will deliver the webinars on three dates from the end of April until the middle of May.

Sheep farmers and others interested in joining the webinars can register ahead of the sessions.

Register for the webinars on Thursday 30 April from 12 noon until 1.30pm, Wednesday 13 May from 7.00pm to 8.30pm and Wednesday 20 May from 8.30am until 10.00am.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: With coronavirus cases rising exponentially across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday made it clear that the return of full normalcy will have to wait even while states rushed to trace the Tablighi Jamaat carriers of the virus.

Modi underscored the importance of working out a common exit strategy for the staggered re-emergence of the population after the 21-day lockdown, so that the benefits of the current exercise at social distancing are not frittered away.

He urged all states to share ideas for the uniform relaxation of curbs. Sources said it could include a temporary bar on mass gathering, restrictions on religious places and the gradual opening of offices and other work spaces. Modi said that the global situation is far from satisfactory, adding there is speculation of a possible second wave of the virus in some countries.

The lockdown is scheduled to end on April 14. Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh attended the video conference with the chief ministers. The presence of the two heavyweight ministers underlined the gravity of the situation, as carelessness at the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters in Delhi has made it the epicentre of the virus, with its activists accounting for almost one-fifth of positive cases in India.

For their part, the chief ministers briefed the prime minister on the actions taken to track down the Tablighi activists and their contacts, besides earmarking dedicated infrastructure for treatment of the Covid-19 patients.

"The Covid-19 has attacked our faith and belief. Its threatening our way of life. Each one of us should reach out to community leaders and social welfare organizations at state, district, town and block levels to build a united front based on community approach in the battle against the pandemic," Modi said.

With cases spiking in the last few days, Modi is learnt to have urged the chief ministers to expeditiously put in place a dedicated infrastructure for treatment of coronavirus patients, seamless movement of raw materials for manufacture of necessary medical equipment, speedy training of healthcare personnel, and tapping the resources of alternative healthcare set ups, including Ayush. With the harvest season knocking at the doors, Modi said the process of harvesting and procurement of foodgrains should be unhampered while staying within the healthcare parameters.

PMs message today

Modi will share a video message on Friday in which he may list out more steps to fight the spread of the virus. "At 9 AM tomorrow morning, Ill share a small video message with my fellow Indians," he tweeted
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 15:16:00|Editor: huaxia

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China's medical supplies, including ventilators, protective suits and masks, have arrived in Afghanistan. The donation will help Afghanistan, which reports 239 #COVID19 cases, to fight the #coronavirus #FightVirus
Downtown San Antonio, a usual hub for the city's signature liveliness, has transformed into a foreign landscape of emptied streets and "deafening" silence due to the COVID-19-related shutdowns, but familiar warmth lingers with the help of 50 heart-shaped posters reminding residents "Si Se Puede."

With many employees working from home, travel plans canceled and events like Fiesta postponed, the downtown area is eerily quiet. Centro San Antonio employee Andrea "Andi" Rodriguez, enlisted herself as a cheer ambassador by crafting 50 heart-shaped posters to remind San Antonians that days of mariachi music-filled celebrations and outings will return.

READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio

She serves as Centro's vice president of urban planning and wanted to make handmade signs to connect with her community. Rodriguez says she lives, works and spends her free time in the heart of the city. Like her coworkers, who she calls "fanatics" of stewardship for the area, Rodriguez is committed to keeping downtown "beautiful and meaningful," even during the pandemic.

"When we began self-isolating, the streets became nearly empty, except for those who didn't have the luxury of working from home or even working at all," she said. "I would intentionally smile and wave at people I saw, but it wasn't enough. I felt so sad."

Rodriguez said she took advice from her parents and remedied her grief by doing something kind for someone else. The idea for the movement was created as an act of kindness and hope. Rodriguez said she used the United Farm Workers of America motto, meaning "Yes, we can," as a way to encourage her neighbors like a friend would in hard times.

"I just wanted to fill the air with hope. I decided if I made of bunch of signs and put them up around the city, it would bring a few smiles and remind us that we're in this together and not to lose faith," she said.

RELATED: San Antonians who have stepped up in the middle of the coronavirus emergency

Centro Ambassadors, the yellow-shirt wearing employees who keep downtown presentable, were also in Rodriguez's thoughts when making and posting the signs. She says those employees continue to work daily.

She attached her signs to popular spots on Houston Street, around Hemisfair, Travis Park, Main Plaza and even as far as the Blue Star Arts Complex. Rodriguez said the people who were traveling through downtown and saw her setting up the signs reciprocated the encouragement with friendly honks and waves. She's encouraging people to keep the love going by making their own signs for their neighborhoods.

"Without people, the silence is deafening," Rodriguez added in an email. "I miss my community  all of them  who live here, work here, play here, but it's just temporary and we can't wait to see you again! We'll be back soon! Si se puede, San Antonio!"

Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @MaddySkye

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said the state government will impose a stringent shutdown and also take action against the violators of the coronavirus lockdown if the public fails to cooperate.

"If people fail to cooperate with the government respecting the statewide lockdown, then there will be no option but to enforce lockdown in a stringent manner," Palaniswami told reporters here.

Palaniswami issued a stern warning to those who unnecessarily roam on the streets and urged people to follow the guidelines issued by the government.

The Chief Minister stated the government is providing all the necessities to migrants in the state amid the lockdown.

"There are 1,18,332 migrants and labours in Tamil Nadu and who have been provided with shelter. We are taking care of them. Tamil Nadu government is concerned for migrants. We are providing them with ration and cooking oil," he added.

He also announced Rs 3,000 cash support for accredited journalists.

Tamil Nadu on Friday reported 102 fresh positive cases of novel coronavirus taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the state to 411.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While social distancing may be a new concept for us, it is an old idea that has brought about some amazing leaps for humanity over the ages.

Gillian Brockell of the Washington Post recently explored the period in 1665 when Sir Isaac Newton, then a student in Cambridge went through his own period of isolation during the Great London Plague.

At this time, he worked alone for long stretches and had various breakthroughs in relation to motion and gravity. According to Brockell's article, he also came up with breakthrough theories in the fields of optics and calculus. All of his tremendous efforts paid great dividends later. He returned to Cambridge university after 2 years in 1667 and was very quickly promoted to being a fellow within 6 months, and within 2 years he was made a professor.

Over the last days I have had conversations with people from around Wexford, Ireland and all over the world and so many are reporting unexpected positive repercussions from this unexpected and unpresented disruption to our 'normal' life routines.

Every cloud has a silver lining and it shows up in different ways. The crises is showing us many previously underappreciated heroes in our society and bringing out a new sense of community, care and general resourcefulness. It is making us relook at our situations and find different ways of communicating, solving problems and getting things done as many of us work remotely. Here are some positive observations from others around Wexford about what they are noticing.

'I'm eating more healthily and wasting less food as I'm planning what I buy and cooking more. I'm enjoying beautiful conversations with my daughters as we all have more time. I realise I have a lot to be thankful for.' Ann, Wexford

'I am proud to say I am Irish and of how people are trying to help each other out all over the country. We will get through this but only with the help of the whole nation pulling together as one. This is also bringing back family life into homes - everyone sitting around the dinner table together communicating with each other.' John, Wexford

'I wear a garmin fitness tracker watch and I have noticed my resting heart rate is 8 beats per minute slower than normal! It has never been this low, my body feels calmer. I know I can't control what is going on in the outside world but I am in a position to look after my family and me.' Angela, Wexford

If you are feeling under pressure or anxious during lockdown, here are 9 things you can do to lift your spirits:

1. Get yourself into a good routine. Don't just fall into one. Eat well. Stay hydrated and add things to your day that you look forward to and that challenge you.

2. Take care of your finances and important matters. Although you may not be happy with your situation, it is important to get on top of things.

3. Focus on what you want - not what you don't want.

4. Limit your news consumption.

5. Practice meditation and relaxation.

6. Reach out to loved ones and friends.

7. Learn a new skill. Whether it is cake baking like Brian O'Driscoll mentioned on the Late Late Show on Friday, or learning to do the splits like my brother, use the time to practice a skill or learn something new.

8. Exercise

9. Limit your technology usage. I found myself tired two days last week and realised my technology usage was going through the roof.

Take care of yourself and those around you. We are all connected.
Did Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family let Prince Harry and Meghan Markle go because they discreetly felt like the two were overpowering them as time went by?

It is noticeable how the transition of the Duke and Duchess only took for a shorter time than what all people expected. In addition, they also had to give up and pay back everything before they could leave the monarchy.

This fact fueled more rumors, so much so that a royal source stood up and revealed that it could be a sign that Queen Elizabeth II has been feeling "jealous and threatened" by the royal couple's existence.

"They felt that the institution only wanted to trot them out to exploit their popularity when convenient. Otherwise it wanted to constrain because it was jealous and threatened by their popularity," the anonymous source told Daily Mail.

Since the day Meghan joined the royal family, the royal couple reportedly started feeling trapped and exploited since the monarchy only wanted to use their influence when it is beneficial to the firm.

This eventually caused Harry and Meghan to step down as senior royals and relocate to Los Angeles instead.

Another insider said that Her Majesty was aware of what Meghan and Harry truly want. Though she was willing to help, Queen Elizabeth II found them too much to handle.

"They understood that he and Meghan wanted something different and were willing to help, but it was complicated," the insider told the same news outlet.

Queen Elizabeth II Only Protecting The People?

Because of the Queen's treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan, the royal couple allegedly felt increasingly unhappy.

Per the royal source, the monarchy has established strict guidelines for the members of the royal family about the things they can do. This includes commercial rules, particularly the accurate control over the public's money.

"As the Queen knows, if you are a public figure on the public purse, then you have limits and responsibilities. Saying no is being responsible to the British taxpayer, not reactionary," the insider explained.

To recall, aside from taking off their HRH titles, the Queen commanded the Sussexes to refrain from using several state funding they enjoyed before and return the massive funds from Sovereign Grant they spent to renovate their Frogmore Cottage home.

She also refused to let the British taxpayers shoulder their security expenses, making Harry and Meghan a little more broke now.

Harry, Meghan Misunderstood Everything?

Per Daily Mail's Royal Editor, Rebecca English, these misunderstandings stemmed from the time when Prince William advised his brother not to rush things with the "woman he barely knew."

That time, the Duke of Cambridge felt uncomfortable with his brother's shifted lifestyle -- from being a wholly educated royal to someone who flaunted his new "showbiz" lifestyle.

Because of Prince William's comments, Harry accused his elder "bro" of being "not supportive."

Meanwhile, Meghan claimed that Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, was "cold" and "unwelcoming" in her.

In fact, the former Fab Four's relationship became worse that William and Kate's children only met their cousin, Archie, twice.

Because all the things that happened seemed to be against them, Harry and Meghan saw everything differently and thought that no one in the family ever understood them.
ECU student Brandt Mitchell, left, talks with T.J. Holloway, center, and KeyKey Williams of Hess Construction at the ECU Career Services Job and Internship Fair Oct. 16. Despite social distancing rules, ECU Career Services remains available to help students remotely. | Photo: Ken Buday

Though job fairs through ECU Career Services provide face-to-face job opportunities, the center is providing online options to help students during the coronavirus pandemic. | Photo: Rhett Butler

With a record 3.3 million people filing unemployment claims last week, East Carolina University seniors are facing one of the most uncertain times in history to enter the job market.Despite social distancing rules that are in place, ECU Career Services is still providing services that can help not only seniors, but all students.Tom Halasz, director of ECU Career Services, said students can schedule appointments through Handshake to cover a variety of services, including reviews of resumes and cover letters, general career advice, job and internship searches, interview preparation and practice, exploration of careers and majors, and graduate school and personal statement reviews. All can be done remotely.Halasz said.He said there's not one main question that students are asking as they work virtually.Halasz said.He said seniors are particularly concerned about job opportunities considering the economic climate created through the pandemic and suggests they be proactive.he said.Halasz mentioned that despite the shift in the economy, Handshake listed more than 2,600 new jobs, internships, co-ops and fellowships across the country in March, including more than 400 new listings in North Carolina alone.He said students should be taking steps right now to be in the best position to land jobs or internships, and that ECU Career Services can help.Prepare job search materials such as resume, cover letter and list of references.Know what resources are available, including Handshake as well as other database systems such as CareerShift GoingGlobal , and InternshipsUSA , and use ECU Career Services to schedule one-on-one appointments to help with document preparation, job searches and general career advice.Halasz said students should consider targeting specific locations and employers.he said.Online resources through ECU Career Services include:
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Palestinian government in the West Bank has been taking tighter precautionary measures for Palestinian workers returning from their workplaces in Israel. However, many of those laborers preferred to stay in Israel for weeks to protect the sources of their livelihoods and to prevent the possible infection of relatives in the West Bank. This comes as the government announced March 25 the first coronavirus death in the West Bank, of a woman who caught it from her son who works in Israel.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh demanded March 24 that all Palestinians working in Israel return home in light of the increasing number of infection cases in Israel. As of April 2, 6,808 cases of infections had been recorded in Israel, with 34 deaths. Meanwhile, 160 cases had been confirmed in Palestine after 15 Palestinian workers returning from Israel tested positive April 1; 12 of the 160 cases were recorded in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Fadi from Gaza is a construction worker in Israel who decided to stay there. He told Al-Monitor, My Israeli employer promised [to give me a] suitable place to sleep so I can stay in Israel. But I was sleeping in the workplace, so I rented an apartment with my other friends  to complete my daily work

He added, My employer is afraid of being infected with COVID-19; he stopped coming to the workplace and bringing us food."

The first coronavirus case in the Palestinian territories was confirmed March 5 in Bethlehem after a group of Palestinians came in contact with Greek tourists who tested positive after they returned home.

Shtayyeh said all workers returning from Israel must self-quarantine at home for 14 days, and those showing any symptoms need to contact the closest quarantine center. Shtayyeh stressed the need that all workers returning from Israel abide by the health directives to avoid legal liability.

Ahmed from Nablus escaped poor work conditions in Israel after the spread of the infection and returned to the West Bank. He told Al-Monitor, The government cant provide quarantine places for all laborers; some of those who went home might not obey the self-quarantine role. This is a risk for people.

Meanwhile, there are expectations that movement between Israel and areas under control of the Palestinian Authority will be restricted to prevent the virus' spread.

Most of the crossings were shut down to prevent the virus from spreading further into the Palestinian territories. During a meeting March 17 with the emergency committee formed to deal with the coronavirus, Shtayyeh revealed there is coordination with Egypt and Jordan to fully close the bridges and crossings in both directions, except for the movement of goods and humanitarian cases, in accordance with the safety measures agreed upon.

Palestinian government spokesperson Ibrahim Melhem told Palestine TV March 17 that the movement of workers inside Israel and the crossings are the loophole that could lead to an outbreak of the virus in Palestine.

The governor of Salfit in the central West Bank, Maj. Gen. Abdallah Kmeil, said March 26 that any Palestinian worker arriving from [Israel] who did not abide by the 14-day self-quarantine period as instructed by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus will be treated as a premeditated criminal and murderer.

The male family members of the worker who violates the rule of self-quarantine will be arrested in case it is proven that they knew he was breaking the rule and did not notify the relevant authorities, said Kmeil.

In the same vein, Kmeil issued additional instructions and inaugurated workshops to train security staff on how to deal with workers coming from Israel or Israeli settlements, as well as other suspected cases of COVID-19 in the detention centers or quarantine centers set up at the entrances to towns and villages in the Salfit governorate.

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics figures for the third quarter of 2019 show there are about 141,000 workers in Israel  72% have a work permit, 22% do not and 6% hold an Israeli card or a foreign passport.

Although a large number of workers have abided by the return precautionary measures imposed in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, some have opted to remain in Israel. Palestinian Minister of Labor Nasri Abu Jaish said in press statements March 19, It was agreed with the Israeli side to keep 75,000 [Palestinian workers] in Israel under safe health conditions and decent work conditions. He noted that most of the Israeli employers, however, did not hold up their end of the deal.

Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions Secretary-General Shaher Saad told Al-Monitor, The government formed several teams to be deployed at the Palestinian crossings to conduct health checks for workers coming back from Israel.

Saad said the Israeli employers and Israeli government are dealing with Palestinian workers inhumanely. Israeli employers or government vehicles are dropping Palestinian workers who are infected or suspected of being infected with the coronavirus at the crossings gates inhumanely in order for the Palestinian side to handle them, he stated.

Saad added, After such inhumane practices were exposed and documented, and in order to avoid being seen dealing inhumanely with the Palestinian workers, the Israeli employers are dropping infected workers at night, despite their poor health conditions.

Abu Shadi, a 42-year-old worker from Ramallah, said he has been working in Israel for 15 years. Working in the construction field is my only source of livelihood. That is the only way I provide for my family. I have to stay there for weeks, and I agreed with my employer based on that, he told Al-Monitor.

Mahmoud Abu al-Rub, an economics professor at An-Najah National University in Nablus, told Al-Monitor, There are [thousands of] workers employed formally and informally in Israel, generating $1 billion to $1.2 billion per year. [The precautionary measures] will have an impact on the Palestinian economy. The whole economic situation in general will be affected by the spread of the coronavirus, which affected the great economic powers as well.

Rab said most of the Israeli employers did not pay the workers their salaries  although some paid workers for March and half a salary for April in anticipation of the crisis. Not paying workers their salaries would require legal prosecution in the future, he noted.
As coronavirus spreads, UN seeks nationwide ceasefire in Yemen

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 02 April 2020 5:43 PM

UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has engaged in talks with the country's warring parties to secure a nationwide ceasefire amid fears of the spread of the new coronavirus in the war-ravaged impoverished Arab nation.

Griffiths' office said in a statement on Thursday that he was in regular contact with both parties "on reaching agreements on a nationwide ceasefire, humanitarian and economic measures to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people".

Griffiths, it said, is in daily consultations aimed at bringing the warring sides together in "virtual" negotiations as soon as possible.

The official said the process further aims to foster joint efforts to counter the threat of COVID-19.

Griffiths said he hoped the consultations can be soon completed and deliver what Yemenis expect, demand and deserve.

While Yemen has not recorded any COVID-19 cases to date, the possibility of an outbreak threatens the war-ravaged country's already fragile healthcare system.

An outbreak of the coronavirus is set to put an even bigger strain on the already hampered health services and the work of aid workers.

The Saudi-led military campaign has already put the impoverished country in the throes of epidemics, most notably cholera.

The situation is dire in Yemen where the UN and the World Health Organization (WHO) have failed to open a humanitarian medical air bridge for civilians suffering from conditions that cannot be treated inside the country.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing back to power the government of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and crushing the Ansarullah movement.

The military campaign and a Saudi naval blockade have killed hundreds of thousands of people and plunged Yemen into the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Humanitarian and aid groups fear that the Yemeni population, weakened by hunger and packed into refugee camps, would be further decimated by the coronavirus.

Since the start of Saudi war on Yemen, more than 3.6 million people have been driven from their homes. An estimated 80 percent of the population - 24 million - requires some form of humanitarian or protection assistance, including 14.3 million who are in acute need.

The Houthi Ansarullah movement, which has been defending Yemen against the Saudi aggression, has recently welcomed a call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for a ceasefire in all conflicts worldwide amid the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee of Yemen, said in a tweet on Monday that Sana'a welcomes the UN chief's call and supports a halt in attacks by the US, Britain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies against Yemen.

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New Delhi: Equity benchmark indices ended lower on Friday (April 3) with the Sensex was down 674.36 points or 2.39% at 27590.95, and the broader Nifty was down 170.00 points or 2.06% at 8083.80. Major gainers on the Nifty were Sun Pharma, Cipla, GAIL, and ITC, while top laggards included Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, Titan Company, and ICICI Bank.

In the afternoon trade, the benchmark indices extended the fall and the Sensex was down 708.06 points or 2.51% at 27557.25, while the Nifty was also down 181.75 points or 2.20% at 8072.05.

During early hours today, equity benchmark indices traded lower with investors remaining focused on the possible impact of rising coronavirus infections. At 10:15 am, the BSE Sensex was down by 274 points or 0.97 per cent at 27,991 while the Nifty 50 slipped by 91 points or 1.11 per cent at 8,162. Except for Nifty FMCG and pharma, all sectoral indices at the National Stock Exchange were in the red with Nifty private bank down by 2.9 per cent, metal by 2.8 per cent and auto by 2.5 per cent.

Among stocks, private sector lender IndusInd Bank dropped by 5.5 per cent to Rs 323.25 per share. Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank too dipped by 4.9 per cent and 3.9 per cent respectively. JSW Steel was down by 5.1 per cent, Tata Steel by 3.9 per cent, Hero MotoCorp by 4.6 per cent, Bajaj Auto by 4 per cent and Tata Motors by 3.9 per cent. However, Cipla, Bajaj Finance, GAIL, ONGC and ITC traded with a positive bias.

Meanwhile, Asian markets were in the red despite Wall Street`s overnight gains after crude prices notched their biggest one-day surge on record. Japan Nikkei slipped by 0.19 per cent, Hong Kong`s Hang Seng by 0.6 per cent, South Korea`s Kospi by 0.71 per cent and Shanghai composite by 0.33 per cent.

Crude prices slipped on Friday after the previous day's record surge as traders questioned Donald Trump's claims that Russia and Saudi Arabia were set to slash output, while equities struggled into the weekend after another thunderous rise in US jobless claims caused by the virus crisis.

As the number of people with COVID-19 tops a million and the death toll continues to climb, investors remain hostage to uncertainty as they try to gauge the long-term economic impact of the pandemic, which is widely expected to plunge the planet into recession.

However, with trillions of dollars pledged in government support, the wild volatility that characterised markets at the start of the crisis has given way to some form of stability. And providing a much-needed shot in the arm Thursday was a tweet by the US president that said Moscow and Riyadh could slash output to end their vicious price war, which sent crude prices to near-two-decade lows last month.

Trump said he had spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who he claimed had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I expect & hope that they will be cutting back approximately 10 Million Barrels, and maybe substantially more which, if it happens, will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!" Trump tweeted. "Could be as high as 15 Million Barrels," he added in a subsequent post.

The news sent crude soaring, with Brent at one point rising almost 50 percent and WTI around 35 percent. Brent eventually pared gains to end up 21 percent and WTI 25 percent, still a record jump for either contract. However, doubts began to grow after the Kremlin denied Putin had spoken to the crown prince.

Saudi Arabia, for its part, did call for a meeting of OPEC and other major producers led by Russia to "stabilise the oil market", just one day after the kingdom boosted supplies to record levels.

Equity markets were choppy despite a healthy lead from Wall Street as traders absorbed data showing a whopping 6.7 million US workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, on top of the 3.3 million the week before as the coronavirus forced businesses nationwide to close their doors.

It also tipped Asian growth to come in at just 2.2 percent this year, the worst since the region's financial crisis 22 years ago, while China's GDP was tipped to expand 2.3 percent. Tokyo and Seoul ended barely moved, Hong Kong shed 0.6 percent and Shanghai ended down 0.6 percent.

Sydney and Mumbai fell more than one percent, Singapore shed more than two percent and Bangkok dipped 0.4 percent. But there were gains in Jakarta and New Zealand. In early trade, London, Paris, and Frankfurt were all in negative territory.

(With Agency Inputs)
OTTAWA - Federal projections of the toll COVID-19 could take in Canada are not yet ready for public consumption but will be coming soon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday, just as Ontario announced it will be able to provide details of its provincial analysis on Friday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 2/4/2020 (648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 pandemic from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Thursday, April 2, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Federal projections of the toll COVID-19 could take in Canada are not yet ready for public consumption but will be coming soon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday, just as Ontario announced it will be able to provide details of its provincial analysis on Friday.

Canadian officials have acknowledged they are working on models for how the virus is impacting Canada and what may yet happen, but have refused thus far to make that information public. Trudeau said Thursday he understands how much Canadians want to get a better sense of where COVID-19 is going to take us, but said the data is just not ready yet.

"I know a lot of people are still wondering when this will get better or how much worse it might become," he said, in his daily briefing to Canadians outside his Ottawa home.

"You want to see the numbers and predictions. You want to plan. You want to prepare for the worst, you want to know what to be hopeful about. I know, and we will have more information ... soon."

Trudeau spoke Thursday evening for more than two hours with premiers by teleconference, where data sharing and co-ordination and projections were critical items on the agenda.

Prior to the call, he said in recent days provinces have been clearing a backlog of testing data which is providing more information that is helpful to guiding the projections.

"It's giving us more accurate images on how COVID-19 is spreading, on where it's spreading, on how it's being transmitted and on how the measures that we're putting into place are working," he said.

"I'll be speaking tonight with premiers about this data, about the modelling and analysis that's going on and we look forward to being able to share more information soon."

Trudeau stressed again that the number 1 factor that can influence the outcome for Canadians of COVID-19 is their own choice to listen to the experts and stay home unless it's absolutely essential to go out. When they do, he said, they must make sure they keep a distance of at least two metres from anyone they're not currently living with.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault signalled Wednesday that Quebec modelling is coming shortly. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is the first to put a firm date on it, promising in his Thursday press conference that Ontario's predictions will be released to the public on Friday.

"You deserve to see what I see," Ford said.

He cautioned that "many people will find it hard to hear" what the data is going to show.

There are more than 11,000 positive cases of COVID-19 in Canada, but Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, frequently reminds Canadians that the number of positive tests does not provide the full picture of how many people have COVID-19.

She also repeated Thursday that there is a delay between when people come into contact with the virus and when a test comes back positive. It generally takes five to six days after exposure to begin to show symptoms, and several days for test results to come back, if a test is actually done.

As of Thursday morning, 111 deaths can be attributed to COVID-19 in Canada, Tam said.

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Globally, the death count due to the novel coronavirus passed 50,000 Thursday and the number of confirmed infections is nearing the one-million mark.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said March 11 that between 30 and 70 per cent of Canadians could be infected with COVID-19 but that was before the caseload in Canada began to soar. It was also two days before the biggest provinces began closing schools and tightening restrictions on public gatherings.

Several other countries have released predictions for death counts and infection rates this week, including New Zealand, which has a population of nearly five million. That country said Thursday almost two in three people might contract COVID-19, and 14,000 to 18,000 people could die from it. A separate report said if the virus was left unchecked it would infect 89 per cent of the population and kill as many as 80,000, or 1.6 per cent of the entire population.

Infectious disease experts in the United States said Tuesday COVID-19 could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans, even with all the shelter-in-place orders and attempts at physical distancing. Their data also suggested about one-quarter of people who contract COVID-19 may not show any symptoms at all, making the spread of the virus easier since only people with symptoms are urged to go into quarantine.

The Americans said without the physical distancing measures in place, the death toll will be much higher.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2020.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, has unveiled a plaque commemorating the 15 victims of a subway explosion in 2017 after plans for an official ceremony to mark the third anniversary of the tragedy was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The plaque was unveiled at the Technological Institute subway station late on April 2, a day before the third anniversary of the deadly blast.

City police and security officials have said that on April 3, 2017, 22-year-old suicide bomber Akbarjon Jalilov, an ethnic Uzbek Russian citizen born in Kyrgyzstan, detonated a bomb in a subway carriage while it was between the Technological Institute and Sennaya Square stations, killing himself and 15 others.

Sixty-seven others were injured in the attack.

A second explosive was left at a station platform, but it was found and safely defused.

A military court in St. Petersburg in December sentenced Abror Azimov to life in prison for financing the attack, while 10 other defendants in the case received prison terms of between 19 and 28 years.

All of those sentenced pleaded not guilty to charges of financing the attack, being members of a terrorist group, supporting terrorist activity, and the illegal production and sale of explosive devices.

The authorities said they were arrested in different Russian cities and held in Moscow before being transferred to St. Petersburg for the trial.

Russian news agencies broadcast footage provided by authorities showing what they described as the arrest of one of the defendants, Akram Azimov, in Moscow in April 2017.

Azimovs mother told RFE/RL two days after the broadcast that her son had been taken away by Kyrgyz security officers from a hospital in Kyrgyzstan's southern city of Osh, where he was being treated after surgery.

A staff member at the Osh hospital confirmed to RFE/RL that Azimov had undergone sinus surgery at the facility and that several men wearing civilian clothing had taken him away after handcuffing him.

Azimovs lawyers alleged that once he was flown to Moscow, Azimov was taken directly from Domodedovo Airport to a purported "secret" facility and tortured for several days prior to the official announcement of his arrest.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized Russian authorities for what it called a failure to investigate the alleged fabrication of evidence and torture against the 11 Central Asians who were accused in the case.

With reporting by Fontanka
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 14:54:26|Editor: huaxia

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HEFEI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- After three hours' preparation, Goran Marinovic brought his home-made cevapi, Serbian-style meat and onion sausage and chicken soup to the community entrance, where six guards were checking residents' body temperatures before their entry.

"I enjoy cooking. When I have time to cook for myself, I also like to cook some food for the guards outside my community who are very friendly and helpful people," said Marinovic, a 46-year-old Serbian who teaches English in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province.

To express his gratitude, one of the guards greeted Marinovic with an elbow touch like what Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did when he welcomed members of the Chinese medical team at the airport in Belgrade.

"I was kind of looking forward to his food today because I already smelled it from his kitchen when he was cooking," said Liu Yezhu, a community worker at Heqing Community in Hefei.

Marinovic's apartment is right next to the community entrance.

"Whenever his kitchen is lighted, we feel a sense of reassurance and expectation. We know he is cooking and probably making some food for us," Liu said.

"I still remember the first time he made us food. It was a cold night. He brought us some hot soup and left it on the table. He made a gesture of eating. I don't speak English, so I responded by giving him a thumbs-up gesture," Liu recalled.

Over the past two months, Marinovic has cooked more than 20 meals for the community workers who have been working to protect the residents from the coronavirus. From breakfast to dinner, from pancakes to cevapi and sarma, Serbian-style stuffed cabbage rolls, he tried to be "a productive member of the community" by serving original Serbian food.

"They are hard-working people. I don't speak Chinese. They helped me to order gas and pay the electricity bill. Maybe they don't need the food, but I just want to express my thanks," he said.

"The quarantine gives me a chance to spend more time at home and do some things that I don't usually do. It takes a long time to cook, from two to three hours, depending on what food I make. But I like cooking," he said.

Apart from food, Marinovic also brings spoons and forks, which he usually comes back to collect on the second day.

"He is now popular in the community. Many people have tried his food, including my mom," said Li Jianghao, a 20-year-old college student, also Marinovic's neighbor and part-time translator.

"Serbian people and Chinese people have been friends for many years. And recently, the Chinese government sent doctors and tonnes of medical equipment to help Serbian doctors fight the coronavirus. Our government and doctors listen to their Chinese friends, and they start to build a makeshift hospital like what China did so that patients with minor symptoms can be treated there," Marinovic said.
Makeshift military hospitals built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Navy in New York, New Orleans and Dallas will treat patients with the novel coronavirus, the Defense Department announced Friday.

The medical centers -- at the Javits Convention Center in New York, the New Orleans Morial Convention Center and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas -- were originally expected to take patients with non-COVID-19 conditions to relieve pressure from hospitals overwhelmed by the pandemic.

But the DoD, responding to a Federal Emergency Management Agency request, agreed to accept COVID-19 patients, officials said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that the change is the result of a request he made of President Donald Trump in a phone call Thursday night.

Related: Troops Who Brought COVID-19 to Boot Camp Passed Temperature Checks, Screenings

"It's a big deal for us" to have the Javits Center take in coronavirus-positive patients, Cuomo said at a news conference Friday.

"Federal agencies were not eager to do it," but they came around after he spoke to Trump about the crisis in the city, he added.

The locations will treat recovering COVID-19 patients and "low-acuity patients" -- those who are ill but whose symptoms don't require intensive or emergency care. All patients will be screened first at a local hospital, the DoD said.

In addition to the changes at the field hospitals, the Navy is changing its procedures for screening patients at its hospital ship, USNS Comfort, which will continue to see only non-COVID-19 patients needing hospital care.

According to the DoD, patients will now get temperature checks and complete a questionnaire pier-side before they are admitted to the ship. The Navy had been requiring evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before admitting them -- a belabored process that left 98% of the ship's 1,000 beds empty as of Thursday.

Defense Department officials said the "assistance will further unburden the local hospital and ambulance systems in these areas, allowing them to focus on the more serious COVID-19 cases."

They added that force health protection remains a top priority, adding that medical personnel will have face shields, masks and other personal protective equipment needed to treat contagious patients.

"We understand that introducing COVID-19 positive patients into the [federal medical station] environments elevates the risk of transmission to other patients and our medical providers," DoD officials said in a release. "This decision was risk-informed and made to ensure that DoD can continue to provide these local communities the type of medical care they most need."

Personnel from the 531st Army Field Hospital at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the 9th Hospital Center at Fort Hood, Texas, are deployed to the Javits Center in New York.

The 627th Field Hospital from Fort Carson, Colorado, and 47th Combat Support Hospital from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, have been dispatched to Seattle to construct a field hospital.

Both the convention centers in New Orleans and Dallas will be used as Navy expeditionary medical facilities.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has seen nearly 250,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 6,069 deaths.

Cuomo said the number of COVID-positive cases in New York State had passed 100,000 Friday, by far the most in the nation, and had more than 2,400 deaths from the virus.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at patriciankime@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Read more: Videos Show Sailors Sending Off Ousted Commander With Cheers
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An emergency room physician, who I interviewed recently, rented an Airbnb to protect his wife from the virus. He is now separated from his family, alone and fighting to keep safe in New York City, with limited resources and PPE or personal protection equipment. When we turn what is vital to our physicians protection into an anacronym, PPE, it loses intensity and meaning. The words personal protection is also a misnomer because it should be personal and patient protection equipment: Patients and doctors are at risk if you are reusing contaminated equipment. Reused equipment can inadvertently infect a patient and the doctor.

The coronavirus is novel, and we have limited knowledge of how it is transmitted. We need to protect everyone from this virus, and we need to treat the seriousness of not having this equipment with the same urgency as if we had no guns to fight a war. You cant avoid a bullet if you dont have a bulletproof vest.

You cant just throw doctors away as if they are disposable items like gloves or masks. Doctors are not easily replaceable. More than ever, we need to revere our doctors on the frontline who are struggling to survive the onslaught of COVID-infected patients. Many doctors and nurses are already preparing for the worse by having their final wishes and wills written. They are fully aware of their vulnerability.

Before the out brake of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 400 doctors were dying by suicide every year. Did anyone listen to the roar and the rumblings then? Doctors were killing themselves before the COVID-19 virus showed up because working conditions were onerous with long hours and a massive amount of patients. Physicians were burning out then, and more will be burned out now.

Some doctors were terminated when they spoke up about the injustices to the hospital administration. Nurses protested in the Bronx after one nurse died from the coronavirus. The nurse and his colleagues had posted on Instagram the use of contractor trash bags for personal protection. Nurses needed to resort to dehumanizing methods to protect themselves when the hospitals didnt.

Healthcare workers, doctors, and nurses are not superhumans. We have the same fears and struggles, and we are called to help others, even if it means we risk our own lives. We are soldiers in action. We dont have superpowers. We dont want to be heroes. We want protection because we are vulnerable, even more so, because of our continued exposures.

An emergency physician at Brookdale hospital was interviewed on CNN. During the interview, she was wearing an N95 mask that moved up and down as she spoke, her eyes were unshielded, and she had a thin hair bonnet over her head, a paper gown that was loose at the shoulders exposing her clothes underneath. The emergency room was lined with stretchers in the hallways, a sea of infected patients waiting. The journalist who interviewed the emergency room physician was in a hazmat like a suit covered from head to toe, goggles over his eyes, headgear, double-masked, and double gloved. The journalist who was onsite in the ER for a short time was more protected than the staff people on the front lines. How does the journalist get this equipment, and the doctor doesnt? Are the journalists more critical than the doctor or nurse who is working in the viral laden trenches? What is the message we are giving the public?

Sixty doctors died in Italy, one of the countries hardest hit by COVID-19. Here in the United States, doctors and nurses are getting sick and dying too. I remember being a medical student and resident during the AIDS crisis, and we didnt know the origin of the disease when it began. It was easy for some to feel exempt from the HIV virus because it initially hit a very specific population, gay men. The novel coronavirus is different; it does not discriminate. Some would like to blame Chinese people, and theres been evidence of xenophobia and discrimination towards Asians as a result. Then, there was the prevailing belief that it was mainly elderly and the immunocompromised who were most susceptible. In New York, there are twenty-year-old COVID patients on ventilators, without comorbid conditions, and we are learning everyone is vulnerable. This was a surprising revelation. The initial misunderstanding that only the elderly died may have caused the virus to spread more rapidly, as many young people felt they were more likely to be asymptomatic. When we see disease as other, only affecting one group and not another, it is easy for some to disregard it as not dangerous.

I am a psychiatrist who will be taking care of my colleagues during this crisis and beyond the aftermath. I can help with the stress and anxiety that is afflicting all of us. The mental health strain is enormous for those on the frontline, and my heart goes out to them.

Living in NYC, where thousands of people are dying, and Central Park is now a makeshift hospital with tents, the reality is facing me square in the face. The Jacob Javits Convention Center and Central Park are set up as hospital sites for another 800 plus beds. Freezer trucks now line hospital back doors to hold the dead bodies, because the morgues in the hospitals have reached capacity. It is an apocalypse, and our doctors are suffering mentally and physically from the strain.

I was told by one of my physician colleagues that New York University would graduate medical students early and pay them slightly above minimum wage. Medical students and interns are a valuable asset, a precious diamond in the making. A sixteen dollar an hour wage is a sad statement on the value placed on these brand new young doctors lives who are eager to serve.

Many of us went into medicine because it was a calling. We are all scared for ourselves and scared for each other, but we march on because we see it as a call to duty. Honor us for our service and our humanness. We are just like you, with families, personal ailments, vulnerable and brilliant. Doctors are precious jewels, treat them as such.

Hisla Bates is a psychiatrist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Households across the United States have been receiving invitations to complete the 2020 census for weeks. But another milestone in the count is here.

April 1 is known as Census Day.

And around the country, local officials are encouraging residents to complete census questionnaires this week.

"Lots of people are home right now, as you should be. But the truth is, it's also a great time to fill out your census," Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a video message.

The results of the 2020 census will impact the lives of people around the country. And everyone living in the U.S. plays a role in shaping them.

Here are some key things you need to know:

The census is a big deal.

The census, which happens every 10 years, determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress, and how billions of dollars in federal funding gets spent. Schools, roads, and other important things in your community will gain  or lose  funding over the next 10 years depending on this official population tally.

This is something the Census Bureau has been emphasizing in a $500 million outreach campaign featuring more than 1,000 ads that have been hitting the airwaves for months. Why? Because, according to experts, when people learn why the census is important, they're more likely to respond.

It's required by law.

The census is required by the Constitution.

And on the envelopes en route to mailboxes across America, the message is clear  printed in bold letters on the outside of the envelope: "YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW."

What if you refuse to respond or want to skip a question? You can be fined, according federal statutes.

This year there's a significant change to how people are being counted.

It's the first time all households in the United States will have the chance to respond online.

The coronavirus pandemic is having an impact.

Census mailings started going out to homes across the country earlier this month, just as the coronavirus pandemic was beginning to heat up in the United States.

Since then, officials have announced changes in their field-operations plan for this year's count.

Currently, those operations are suspended until April 15 while the Census Bureau evaluates the situation.

Lawmakers have said they're worried about the timing.

Sen. Tina Smith, who along with several Democratic colleagues sent a letter to the Census Bureau earlier this month asking about coronavirus plans, said she's worried in the wake of coronavirus officials may rely too much on internet responses, something she fears could result in undercounting communities.

"It's a great concern," she said.

Census spokesman Michael Cook told CNN the agency has plans in place for people, households and communities that "don't have high connectivity to the internet." And officials say the way the census is designed  giving people multiple ways to respond  will allow local operations to adapt if necessary.

"If we need to delay or discontinue nonresponse follow-up visits in a particular community, we will adapt our operation to ensure we get a complete and accurate count," the Census Bureau has said.

A citizenship question isn't on the census.

Everyone living in the United States is supposed to be counted by the census, whether they're citizens or not.

The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from putting a citizenship question on the census. But even though that question isn't in the mix, there are still concerns about whether the months-long debate over it will influence response rates.

Worried some people will be scared to respond to the census, advocates who work with immigrant communities have been doubling down on their outreach efforts in recent months.

Fielding questions at a recent event in Washington, Census officials stressed that Title 13 of the U.S. Code guarantees that personal information provided for the census is confidential.

"I can assure you that not only does the law require us to do our job professionally and protect confidential information, but we have all the systems in place  the most sophisticated systems available  to protect the information," Director Steven Dillingham said.

The first 2020 census mailings you get might include a written questionnaire  or they might not.

The US Census Bureau has been sending different mailings to different households, depending on a variety of factors.

About three of every four households will receive an invitation to complete the census online or on the phone. The invitation will be in English and Spanish "in areas where 20% or more of households need Spanish assistance," the Census Bureau says.

In areas of the country where officials feel residents are less likely to respond online, a written questionnaire will come in the initial mailing, too.

Officials have released sample images showing all of the mailings, which began arriving March 12, to help members of the public avoid potential scams.

According to the Census Bureau, households that haven't yet responded to the census will receive a written questionnaire in April.

Up to half a million temporary workers could be hired to help with this count.

Officials estimate that about 60% of people will reply to questionnaires in the mail, on the phone or online. Census-takers will need to go door-to-door to get responses from the rest  and they don't have much time to do it.

Census officials have said they're aiming to hire up to half a million temporary workers to help with the count this year.

But major efforts to go door-to-door and follow up with households that haven't responded yet to the census aren't scheduled to start for a few months.

According to the official schedule for the 2020 census, that will largely happen from May to July. By December 31, 2020, the US Census Bureau is required by law to report population counts from the new census to the President.

Some people have already been counted in this year's census.

While this week's rollout marks a milestone for the 2020 census, technically the census already started months ago.

What's known as the first enumeration, or first count, of the 2020 census began in January in the fishing village of Toksook Bay, Alaska.

It's a tradition for the census to start earlier in remote parts of Alaska, where large portions of the state aren't connected by roads and can have spotty mail service.

Dillingham, the census director, rode into town on a snowmobile and knocked on a door himself to officially begin the count.

The U.S. Census through the decades: Images and facts from the last century

The-CNN-Wire &  2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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The latest jobs report on Friday shone a light on the economic damage of the coronavirus crisis. U.S. nonfarm payrolls dropped by 701,000 jobs in March, according to the Labor Department. This comes after data released Thursday that showed a record-breaking 6.6 million new jobless claims last week. Five experts weigh in on the economic fallout.

Bigger print to come

Kate Moore, head of thematic strategy for BlackRock's Global Allocation investment team, said an even bigger print may be ahead in April. "It's fair to say that forecasting the economy right now is incredibly difficult, and it's very fast moving. And some of the stuff that we're going to be getting either from economic data or once we start getting into first-quarter earnings season, are going to be really backward looking. And we really need to be focused on the future when we're thinking about investment opportunities right now. So, you know, this was obviously a bigger print than many people had expected. I think we're going to have an even bigger print in April, we all know that's going to happen. The bigger question is, what do companies do in order to shore up their balance sheets, shore up their businesses, to get through this crisis and end up in the second half of 2020 and the beginning part of 2021, in better and stronger shape?"

More support from Congress needed

Jason Furman, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said Congress will need to provide even further support for the country. "We didn't need this data. We can open our eyes and look at what's going on around us. The unemployment rate right now is over 10%. The number of jobs lost is probably around 10 million or more. These data [points] are way out of date, because we're in an economy where just every day and every week things are moving so quickly. I think it's important that Congress really did a lot to help provide a bridge for a lot of these people. I think the unemployment insurance reforms are going to protect the purchasing power of a lot of the people losing their jobs. The question is, when and how will we be able to restart this economy? And, you know, can you put the pieces back together? And Congress is going to need to do even more to extend what they did, expand on what they did, provide relief for states. Making sure their protecting low-income households and improving the automatic stabilizers."

Paycheck Protection Program

Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, said proper implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program is crucial. "Arguably the most important thing that Congress did in its phase three legislation and the big $2 trillion bill, was provide a program that can ensure small business continuity. About half of all workers work for small businesses, and those are the businesses that are in these services sector job losses: restaurants, hotels, cafes, clothing stores, beauty salons, these sorts of things. And the key to bouncing back quickly, is to keep those workers attached to their job. So, the program, the Paycheck Protection Program that Congress put in place, essentially offers payroll grants to businesses. Congress said we will pay your payroll costs for two months if you keep your workers and don't lay them off. And what we need right now is for that program to be implemented well. We need  the Treasury department, that's actually in charge of implementing it and writing the regulations, to work well with the banking community and to figure out what the banks need in order to get that money flooding out the door and into the hands of small business so that we can avoid a 25% Great Depression level unemployment rate, if at all possible."

Aim for a quick recovery

Jack Lew, a former Treasury Secretary, said the recovery from this pandemic will dictate the future of the economy. "If you look at the jobs numbers, there should be no surprise that they're showing an increase and if anything it understates the impact. It's clear that when you shut the economy down [millions] of people are applying for unemployment, out of work, looking for the future. The question I think is not to overreact to these numbers, which are pretty much what we expected, whether they're a little above or below expectations, and to think about what are we doing to make sure that people have what they need while they're unemployed or while they're out of work and how do we make sure that the economy can be turned back on as quickly as possible. That recovery is going to be the thing that determines where the economy goes in the future. And I think that when you're looking at a recession that's caused by a public health crisis, everything is driven by the health issues. What we can do as a matter of policy is make sure that we maximize the chance, so we come out of this as quickly as possible."

Strong growth in post-pandemic world
[April 02, 2020] Skyworth Releases Annual Report for 2019: RMB1,031 million in Profit and Gross Profit Margin Up to 20.1%, Growth in "Smart Human Habitat" Businesses

SHENZHEN, China, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the morning of March 27, SKYWORTH GROUP LIMITED (the "Group", 00751.HK) released unaudited annual results announcement for the twelve months ended 31 December 2019. For the Reporting Year, revenue of the Group amounted to RMB37,277 million and gross profit achieved RMB7,502 million with an increased margin of 1.6 percentage points year-on-year (YoY) to 20.1%. Profit for the year amounted to RMB1,031 million, up by 22.9% during the previous period. Revenue from the China market was approximately RMB26,006 million, contributing 69.8% of the Group's overall revenue, while that from overseas markets recorded RMB11,271 million, equivalent to 30.2% of the Group's overall revenue and representing an increase of 4.9% YoY. Leveraging on its insight into the trend of the industry, Skyworth has worked to transform its businesses from manufacturing to modern services, from hardware to software, and from terminal products to smart systems. In 2019, Skyworth's Smart Home businesses were extensively rolled out, and a balanced growth was recorded across the four key business sectors of multimedia, smart systems technology, smart appliances and modern services. Multimedia: Increased Sales in TVs Despite Sluggish Domestic Market & Revenue from Internet Value-Added Services Significantly Up 50.2% During the Reporting Year, the Group's revenue of multimedia business recorded revenue of RMB21,505 million. In 2019, Skyworth embraced the opportunity brought by the substantial development in next-generation technologies such as 5G, AI and VR to have built an open big-screen AIoT ecosystem that featured its two key technologies, Swaiot and TrensAI, as its Smart Home solution. According to statistics from market consultancy All View Cloud, Skyworth topped the list among domestic brands in OLED TV shipments nationwide with a market share of 39.6% in 2019. The Group worked toward improving its brand image home and abroad. Skyworth managed to enhance its brand exposure domestically by offering its 100-inch 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) Display TVs at Tian'anmen Rosrum, and in ASEAN by sponsoring the Southeast Asian Games. Moreover, it also became a key partner for Google in developing Android TV and AIoT smart home businesses, which again helped enhance its global influence.



Revenue from the Internet value-added services of Coocaa System increased significantly YoY by 50.2% to RMB826 million. As of the Reporting Year-end, activated smart terminals totalled approximately 44.30 million domestically, with approximately 15.53 million being active daily. With investments from iQIYI, an affiliate of Tencent and an affiliate of Baidu, Coocaa has strived for content innovation and operational efficiency enhancement in big-screen Internet and in-home Internet services, thereby consolidating its leading position in the domestic OTT industry. Strong Performance in Smart Systems Technology & Smart Appliances

The Group's revenue of smart systems technology business increased by 12.56% YoY to RMB9,598 million. Revenue in the China market was RMB5,699 million and in overseas markets, up 39.4% to RMB3,899 million. In 2019, Skyworth proactively embraced China's national action plan of UHD industry and saw significant growth in the four segments of broadcast operators, major domestic telecom operators, domestic Internet OTT retail market and overseas markets. Notably, one major breakthrough of the Group was the approval and release by the International Telecommunication Union of the multi-mode set-top box industry standard (ITU-T J.298) developed by its subsidiary Skyworth Digital. Moreover, its strategic partnership with Google and Netflix helped it tap into the traditional pay-TV market overseas. After having proposed its forward-looking concept for smart home appliances, Skyworth is now on the path of shaping the modern smart home industry by introducing home appliances featuring a smart control centre (system) that allows voice control and touch screen interaction. Looking forward, the Group will intensify its efforts in the R&D of the smart home systems, thus contributing to the development of the smart home industry. The Group's results of smart appliances business were also strong. Revenue in China went up by 10.4% YoY to RMB3,077 million, while that in overseas markets grew dramatically by 55.4% to RMB1,218 million. Its strategy for domestic market - key account customization and e-marketing for trending items - saw initial success, and the prioritization of Middle East, European, African and Asia-Pacific markets yielded a rapid growth in its overseas business. Modern Service: Organic Development with a Promising Future During the Reporting Year, the Group managed to build dedicated units for its financial services, social logistics services, park property management and park construction development. Skyworth also specified exogenous growth and resource integration as keys of its development plan. In addition to the M&A of Shencai Logistics and the execution of its plan for social logistics, Skyworth also entered into strategic partnership with China Post and concluded the agreement on the building of the Sino-German Scientific Industrial Park, which have all become new drivers for growth. Leading Gross Profit Margin Realized by Product R&D and Lean Management In Skyworth, considerable investment was made in research and development (R&D) in 2019 to optimize the value chain of 5G with 8K and to explore technologies related to smart home systems. R&D expenses for the year recorded a substantial increase of 9.2% YoY to RMB1,843 million. The Group also completed 15 major R&D projects and filed a total of 1,164 patent applications. Powered by its robust R&D capabilities, its gross profit margin rose by 1.6 percentage points YoY to 20.1%. With China accelerating the construction of 5G networks, industrial Internet and other new infrastructure, Skyworth will prioritize the R&D of technology and products related to smart home and UHD video, thereby offering user-centric products for a smart and healthy future home life. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200402/2767495-1-a

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200402/2767495-1-b SOURCE SKYWORTH

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An irate customer decided to lick a bank door after he was told that the first opening hour is for seniors only.

Shocking footage shows the unnamed suspect marching along the sidewalk and coughing loudly before running his tongue along the glass door outside the TD Canada at Pine Center Mall in Prince George, British Columbia.

The man unleashed the tirade of verbal abuse and told a woman to 'shut her piehole' as he was challenged by a female bystander on Wednesday.

Prince George Royal Canadian Mountain Police (RCMP) has identified a suspect and is investigating, according to local news reports.

The man is pictured running his tongue along the door at TD Canada in Prince George, British Columbia, after he is told that the first opening hour is for senior customers only

The irate man also coughed loudly as he marched towards the door. The police said they have identified a suspect following the video's publication on social media

Video of the incident - filmed by a witness waiting in line - was shared on social media earlier this week and has been viewed more than 80,000 times.

It shows a middle-aged man wearing a hat and sunglasses stomping towards the door of the bank, deliberately coughing in the direction of innocent customers as they queue up outside.

He is then seen running his fingers over the door frame and door handle before appearing to lick the glass, as one woman shouts sarcastically: 'You're a real cool, a******.'

Walking away, he replies 'f*** you, c***' and dares bystanders to call the police.

When the woman berates him again he turns and screams 'shut your piehole, c***', before storming off.

The witness who caught the incident on camera claimed the man lost it when he learned the bank was devoting its first hour of service to elderly customers and people most in need, calling it 'unacceptable' and 'bull****'.

Afterwards, the witness reported the man's license plate number to police and sent them a copy of the video.

The man, wearing grey, is pictured above marching along the sidewalk towards the entrance

He shouted verbal abuse at a female bystander as he walked away while still on the phone

Viewers on social media were disgusted by the suspect's actions.

Jasmine Parhar said: 'He will probably get sick now. Karma for acting like a freak.'

Len Mark wrote: 'I hope that moron has to pay a big fine for his act of stupidity.'

But Krista Lee saw it differently, adding: 'I feel for him. I think most of us are feeling mentally unwell these days. Some of us cope with this feeling better than others. Maybe he has no support. I suspect his reaction came from a place of fear.'

Corporal Sonja Blom told CKPG Today: 'The RCMP is taking these sorts of situations more seriously given the circumstances and everyone's heightened awareness of people coughing or doing things that would put other people in danger."'
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There has been a real carnage on the Street in the last one-and-half-month as sentiment was hurt due to the outbreak of coronavirus and fears of resultant economic damage.

The rise of cases in developed nations - United States and Europe - worried investors the most. FIIs started pulling out money from emerging markets like India. As a result, we saw the biggest monthly outflow in March (Rs 65,816 crore)

Sensex and Nifty plunged over 33 percent from their record highs seen in January. Many stocks hit their respective multi-year lows.

Some experts argue market valuations are attractive now, but the recovery might not be immediate given the lockdown in India and major parts of the world.

"As far as value buying is concerned, the market itself is in the value zone. Most of the fundamentally strong stocks are available at almost five-year low valuations," Sundar Sanmukhani, Head of Fundamental Research Desk at Choice Broking told Moneycontrol.

"Our recommendation to the investors is to stick to quality fundamental stocks, which have minimal impact from the lockdown and can rapidly revive post that," he said. He is cautious on the equity market performance in the near term.

Vineeta Sharma, Head of Research at Narnolia Financial Advisors also said the sharp fall in valuation was an opportunity for prudent long term equity investors. "Idea is to identify businesses where long-term competitive moat exit, the balance sheet is strong to tide short term pain and there is a secular business growth potential for the future."

Here is the list of 10 stocks which experts feel are safe quality bets in the current market turmoil:

Expert: A K Prabhakar, Head - Research at IDBI Capital

ICICI Bank

It is one of the largest private bank with 5,275 branches network and loan book of Rs 6,35,654 crore. It trades at attractive valuations and trades less than 1-time adjusted book. It holds many subsidiary companies which can create additional value.

Avenue Supermarts (D-Mart)

Company is growing at 25 percent in the last few years and we think company is pulling consumer away from unorganised stores due to high discounting and now delivery to home on minimum charge would help the company grow in next few years around those levels.

HDFC Life Insurance

Life insurance as business is growing 15 percent CAGR in last 17 years in private sector and for next 10 years similar growth looks possible. Company grows faster than peers and has better margin and this correction gives better entry point.

Bharti Airtel

Now duopoly in telecom between Jio and Airtel would give pricing power to both these companies.

Muthoot Finance

Gold NBFC is safest in this crisis situation with NIM around 15 percent and loan book of around Rs 38,000 crore. It has one of lowest NPAs for high margin business.

Expert: Vineeta Sharma, Head of Research, Narnolia Financial Advisors

HDFC Bank

Over the last ten years, PSU banks have lost market share to more nimble and better managed private banks from 81 percent in 2009 to 66 percent in 2019. Private bank's rural market share is 15 percent while the urban market share is 33 percent. We remain confident that there is more room for large scale private banks to take away PSUs' market share as the formalization of the economy increases.

HDFC Bank continues to gain market share both on assets and the liability side of the business. Its deposit market share has reached to 7.3 percent in FY19 from 5.1 percent in FY15, however, its incremental deposit market share gain was 9.1 percent (highest in the industry) during the same period.

Currently the bank is focused to tap the rural opportunity offering retail products and banking services to the citizens across the country.

Trent

The Indian retail apparel industry is highly unorganized. Trent runs retail stores - Westside, Zudio, Star, Landmark, Zara and Massimo Dutti. The company has more than 97 percent own brand portfolio for Westside which is the largest contributor to revenues. Led by differentiated product offerings & store experience, Trent has accelerated the store expansion program in FY19 and operates more than 270 stores across more than 70 cities in India.

Focused on the speed of delivering the latest fashion each week and committed to faster store opening to scale up the reach, Trent revenues are expected to grow at 25 percent CAGR for the next 3 years. Trents strong balance sheet, strong business positioning and stores expansion plan make it attractive for long term investment. The company presently trades at 4 times EV/Sales.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprises

Apollo Hospitals is the largest hospital network in India with 70 hospitals, 10,000+beds and 10,000+ doctors. The healthcare services comprise 55 percent of the revenues. The Pharmacy chain has 3,428 outlets across 20 states & 4 union territories and comprises 39 percent of the revenues. The other business contributes 6 percent of the revenues. Apollo is highly competitive compared to other destinations for medical tourists while offering similar standards and quality care at a substantially lower cost (around 65-90 percent savings versus US).

The company plans to bring down the debt to Rs 2,500-2,600 crore (net debt/EBITDA <2.5x) post completion of the pharmacy restructuring exercise. We expect the healthcare business to grow at a CAGR of 12 percent and the pharmacy business to grow at a CAGR of 17 percent for the next 3 years leading to sustained margin expansion and ROCE improvement. The company presently trades at 1.78 times FY20 EV/Sales.

Tata Elxsi

Tata Elxsi offers electronic, software development and system design services to automotive and aerospace industries. The company works with leading car manufacturers and suppliers, in developing electronics and software for powertrain, infotainment, connectivity, active safety, and comfort and convenience. The software which comprised 2 percent in the total value of the car in 2002 has reached 10 percent and is expected to reach 40 percent by 2030.

The company has also diversified into Medical business which will be fastest-growing segment within Tata ELXSI. It now contributes 8 percent and growing at double-digit QoQ. We expect in the next two years to at least contribute 22 percent of overall revenue. The company has cash balance of Rs 500 crore in the book and is planning to go for M&A.

HDFC AMC

Penetration of mutual fund products in India is only a fraction of the global average. Mutual Fund industry is well-poised for strong growth due to rising awareness amongst investors. Also, rising penetration of the internet and smartphones is contributing to the ease and speed of financial services in India.

Promoted by Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) and Standard Life Investments Limited (SLI), HDFCAMC has strong corporate governance and is built on the trust of investors. HDFC AMC is Indias largest and most profitable mutual fund manager with Rs 3.8 trillion in assets under management. The company has huge operating leverage as most of the costs are fixed. Secular business growth ahead and efficient operation makes it an investment candidate.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

"Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd."
By Brad Brooks

(Reuters) - The coronavirus has been a far deadlier threat in New Orleans than the rest of the United States, with a per-capita death rate twice that of New York City. Doctors, public health officials and available data say the Big Easy's high levels of obesity and related ailments may be part of the problem.

"We're just sicker," said Rebekah Gee, who until January was the health secretary for Louisiana and now heads Louisiana State University's healthcare services division. "We already had tremendous healthcare disparities before this pandemic a one can only imagine they are being amplified now."

Along with New York and Seattle, New Orleans has emerged as one of the early U.S. hot spots for the coronavirus, making it a national test case for how to control and treat the disease it causes. Chief among the concerns raised by doctors working in the Louisiana city is the death rate, which is twice that of New York and over four times that of Seattle, based on Thursday's publicly reported data.

New Orleans residents suffer from obesity, diabetes and hypertension at rates higher than the national average, conditions that doctors and public health officials say can make patients more vulnerable to COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

Some 97% of those killed by COVID-19 in Louisiana had a pre-existing condition, according to the state health department. Diabetes was seen in 40% of the deaths, obesity in 25%, chronic kidney disease in 23% and cardiac problems in 21%.

Orleans Parish, which encompasses the city, reported 125 confirmed coronavirus deaths as of Thursday, the equivalent of 32 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people. That rate for New York City was at 15.9 on Thursday.

New Orleans could be a harbinger for the potential toll the pandemic could take in other parts of the South and Midwest that also have high rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

A host of other factors could contribute to New Orleans' high death rate from COVID-19, ranging from access to healthcare and hospital quality, to the prevalence of other conditions, including lung disease, health officials say.

Story continues

But they also note that it is clear that obesity-related conditions are playing a role in the deaths. That could be a warning sign for the United States at large, where chronic obesity is more common than in other developed countries, they said.

Hospitals are reporting cases across the generations -mothers and daughters, fathers and sons - being intubated and cared for in the same intensive care units, said Tracey Moffatt, the chief nursing officer at Ochsner Health, the largest healthcare provider in Louisiana. The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in New Orleans and Louisiana plays into that, she said.

Those family members often suffered from the same medical conditions before becoming sick, leaving them similarly vulnerable to the coronavirus despite their age gaps.

"We had a case where a mom was already in the ICU and the daughter, who was obese, came in," she said. "The daughter asked staff to wheel her by her mom's room so she could say goodbye before she herself was intubated. We knew the mother was going to pass away."

Both patients suffered from obesity.

'MORE VULNERABLE'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week released for the first time a report showing that 78% of COVID-19 patients in ICUs in the United States had an underlying health condition, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease.

The CDC report was based on a sample of under 6% of reported coronavirus infections, but doctors in Louisiana said it was consistent with what they are seeing, and it is in line with what other countries like Italy and China have faced.

Those percentages, said Dr. Joseph Kanter, an emergency department doctor and the top public health official in New Orleans, are likely similar in cities across the United States.

"What we worry about here is that we have more people in our communities with those conditions," he said. "We're more vulnerable than other communities, and the number of deaths we've seen illustrates that."

The New Orleans metropolitan statistical area ranks among the worst in the United States for the percentage of residents with diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, a Reuters analysis of CDC data shows. An estimated 39% have high blood pressure, 36% are obese and about 15% have diabetes.

Nationally, the median is 32% with high blood pressure, 31% obese and 11% with diabetes.

"The burden of disease in Louisiana and the Deep South is higher than in the rest of the country," said Gee. "Invariably that means that the South is going to be hard hit by this."

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Austin, Texas, additional reporting by Ryan McNeill in London; Editing by Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien and Dan Grebler)
The number of coronavirus cases in Egypt has increased to 850 on Thursday; however, the daily increase rate is not alarming, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a televised statement.

Compared to the Egyptian population of 100 million people, the number of cases is not high, and Egypt is still in the middle phase of the outbreak and has not reached the dangerous, third phase, Madbouly said.

The average daily infection rate was between 30 and 40 cases last week, and this week it has been between 50 and 60, the prime minister said. It is expected that it will range from 60 to 70 cases a day next week.

According to the prime minister, these rates are not alarming as Egypt is still seeing a natural gradual curve in the spread of the virus.

What [would be] alarming [would be] the registration of hundreds of cases daily. We do not want to reach this stage, Madbouly said.

The prime minister urged people not to underestimate the situation and to commit to the precautionary measures in place.

Madbouly also said that the capabilities of the health ministry exceeds the requirements of the current number of cases.

The health ministry has been coordinating its efforts with university hospitals and making a plan to start integrating some of them to help in the fight against the coronavirus.

The aim of the government, according to Madbouly, is to have a comprehensive health system that encompasses all governorates and provides needed medical services to Egyptian citizens.

The government is looking into providing workplaces like factories and construction sites, among others, with up to 1,000 vehicles that can function as clinics, in an initiative from Health Minister Hala Zayed, the prime minister said.

Mobile clinics can provide workers with necessary medical services and help in taking the necessary rapid measures if any coronavirus cases are detected.

Madbouly also addressed the efforts exerted by the state to repatriate Egyptians stranded abroad by flight suspensions.

The premier said that there the government will temporarily stop returning citizens from abroad after already expatriating those who were stranded.

A stranded person is someone who had to leave Egypt either for a work mission, training course, for medical treatment or for tourism, the prime minister said.

These are the kinds of people who are considered stuck, as they dont have residence in the country they are in and they have to return to Egypt, he added.

Madbouly said that, at first, the government performed medical check-ups and tests on returnees at airports and asked them to self-isolate for 14 days.

The government discovered, however, that many people have not been committing to self-isolation, and that led to an outbreak in some areas.

Since people were not committed, the government has decided to put returnees from abroad in compulsory quarantine in hotels at state expense.

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The disturbing scale of the county lines epidemic was laid bare yesterday as new figures showed drug operations doubled in a year.

More than 3,000 gangs were reported by police in 2019  double the 1,500 of 2018, a National Crime Agency report revealed.

It is a four-fold increase since 2017 when there were 720 operations shipping heroin and crack cocaine from cities to provincial towns.

The explosion in the drugs menace has been fuelled by a 290 per cent increase in cocaine consumption in the UK since 2011. It has led to a surge in related murders which now represent 47 per cent of all homicides, compared with 36 per cent in 2008/9 [File photo]

The term county lines refers to the individual phone lines used by gangs to sell and distribute drugs.

Despite a crackdown by forces, figures from the National County Lines Coordination Centre show 800 to 1,100 phone lines advertising drugs are active every month.

Gangs are recruiting an army of youngsters to replace those arrested for dealing, with the report warn-ing that children as young as 11 are being intimidated into becoming runners.

And the number of young people being groomed to become money mules  so criminals can access their savings accounts  has shot up by 26 per cent since 2017.

The report warns: Exploitation in county lines drugs supply remains the most frequently identified form of coerced criminality with children the vast majority of victims.

The NCA National Strategic Assessment estimates the UK cocaine market is worth up to 11.8billion annually. More than a third of all organised crime gangs in Britain are involved in drugs activity [File photo]

The explosion in the drugs menace has been fuelled by a 290 per cent increase in cocaine consumption in the UK since 2011.

It has led to a surge in related murders which now represent 47 per cent of all homicides, compared with 36 per cent in 2008/9.

A third of victims and two-thirds of suspects in murder and manslaughter cases are now either known drugs users or suppliers, according to the NCA.

Firearms offences have also increased by 38 per cent in the five years to 2018/19, partly as a result of gang wars.

The NCA National Strategic Assessment estimates the UK cocaine market is worth up to 11.8billion annually.

More than a third of all organised crime gangs in Britain are involved in drugs activity.

Cocaine traffickers are flooding the UK with drugs from South America using commercial and passenger ferry traffic from Europe, shipping containers and yachts.

Border police have seen a substantial increase in heroin busts.

The report also warned seizures of cannabis from the US and Canada have soared, with more confiscated in the first three months of 2019 than the whole of 2018.

Yesterday NCA director general Lynne Owens said overall serious and organised crime is continuing to pose a major threat with 4,772 organised gangs in operation.

We now estimate there to be at least 350,000 individuals in the UK engaged in serious and organised crime, she said.

It continues to kill more people than any other national security threat, and has a corrosive impact on the UK and its citizens.

Her warning comes just days after the Crown Prosecution Service published new guidance telling police to delay bringing charges in organised crime cases so the courts do not become clogged up during the coronavirus outbreak.
In some cases where drivers were allowed to leave after being stopped briefly, there appears to have been no clear motive other than a desire to wield the power of the badge for personal satisfaction, the police said.

In Jackson County, for example, the man who identified himself as a deputy sheriff let the driver of the dump truck go without asking for his ID or demanding any money, Sheriff Mangum said.

She said the police were investigating whether the bogus traffic stop might be linked to at least two similar incidents of police impersonation in Gainesville, Ga., and Dawson County, Ga.

A 2012 study of 56 incidents of police impersonation found that the perpetrators fell into three general categories: Many were common crooks looking for a quick shakedown; a few were cop wannabes attracted to the authority and ego of policing; and several were driven by uncommon compulsions  impersonating officers to engage in sexual misconduct.

Callie Rennison, a professor at the University of Colorado Denver, who helped to conduct the study, said impersonating a police officer was easy because it required little more than a few basic tools of law enforcement like a flashing blue light or a Ford Crown Victoria.

It all came down to power and control  having those symbols and people obeying it, she said. Its terrible for legitimate police officers because it undermines their authority.

The police recommend that drivers should call 911 if they fear theyve been stopped by a bogus law enforcement officer, because dispatchers can determine if the stop is legitimate. They also recommend stopping in a well-lit, public area and turning on the hazard lights to draw the attention of passing motorists. Drivers can also ask to see a badge or an identification card.
Boak & Sons employee sanitizing the lobby door of the building As an employer, it is my responsibility to make sure my employees get home safely to their loved ones. With this virus spreading so quickly, my decision to send my employees home was one that I would make ten times over again.

With the world on edge over the recent COVID-19 outbreak, many companies are closing their doors and keeping as many people at home as possible. For Sam Boak, president and founder of Boak & Sons, Inc., his business relies heavily on his employees. Boak & Sons, Inc. is a residential and commercial exterior contracting company based in Youngstown, Ohio that services customers from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With the current status of the nation, Sam Boak is cutting no corners when it comes to the safety of his employees and their customers by laying off the majority of his employees for their safety.

Boak & Sons is operated from a large warehouse with several in-house offices. To ensure the safety of his employees, Boak hired a professional disinfection company to fog and thoroughly disinfect the entire building on multiple occasions. The cleaning company thoroughly sanitized the entire building with special emphasis on doorknobs, phones and even the trucks used by the field employees. Boak also has made sure office employees are not in close proximity to each other by sending any at-risk employees to work from home and keeping any in-house employees in separate offices or at extended distances.

However, it didnt take long for COVID-19 to progress and Ohio Governor Mike Dewine announced the closure of all non-essential businesses on March 23. While construction was listed as an essential business that could continue operations, Sam Boak put his employees safety above the companys success and kept them home.

To do our job, we work with people in their homes and at their businesses, says Boak. As an employer, it is my responsibility to make sure my employees get home safely to their loved ones. With this virus spreading so quickly, my decision to send my employees home was one that I would make ten times over again.

Boak & Sons offers many residential and commercial contracting services, including roofing, siding, gutters, sheet metal and insulation. Each of these services requires the crews visiting job sites to complete their work. Boak said there are still a scarce number of employees in the office to keep communication going with customers, as well as helping to handle any emergency situations that arise.

Safety is our first and utmost concern, said Chris White, vice president of operations at Boak & Sons. We will continue to serve our customers as much as we can, but we will not risk the safety of those customers or that of my coworkers. At such a tense time in our community, it shows great courage and professionalism to make the decision to send so many home. Sam has done an incredible job of making everyone feel more at ease during such a difficult time.

White also explained that the company is taking the necessary measures to sanitize the office for those who are still coming in. Sam has had the building professionally fogged and sanitized on the weekends, and each employee is keeping well over a 6-foot distance as advised by the CDC and Governor Dewine. Gloves and hand sanitizer have also been made readily available for all employees.

We want to take care of those in our community that have significant needs or emergencies, but the health and well-being of our customers and employees comes first, says Boak. We encourage anyone with concerns or questions to contact us at any time. In the meantime, follow the instructions given by the CDC and take care of yourselves and your families. Together, our community and our nation can overcome this pandemic.

Sam Boak recently published a video to announce the decision to lay off his employees, which you can view here: https://youtu.be/sGRAcJufC-0. To learn more about Sam Boak and Boak & Sons, visit http://www.boakandsons.com.

About Boak & Sons:

Boak & Sons, Inc. was founded by Sam Boak in 1974 as an insulation contractor. With the high energy costs of the 70's, Boak & Sons expanded early on into the roofing business. They offered economical roof installations through cutting edge technology and equipment, allowing customers to recoup even more in energy savings. Today, Boak & Sons is a residential and commercial contractor for roofing, insulation, sheet metal, siding, and gutters. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, the company serves customers in surrounding areas from Cleveland, Akron, and Canton to Cranberry and Pittsburgh. For more information on Boak & Sons, visit their website at: https://www.boakandsons.com/
Police arrested a 22-year-old man on Thursday, three days after he allegedly shot and killed a pawn shop manager in Southeast Portland, then fled the scene.

Joseph Schneider, 22, is charged with murder and robberyMultnomah County Sheriff's Office

Joseph Schneider, 22, is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one of first-degree robbery. On Monday around 3 p.m., he allegedly shot Benjamin Taylor Johnson, 31, the manager of USA Pawn & Jewelry on Southeast 82nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard.

Witnesses say Johnson was shot after someone, whom detectives believe was Schneider, tried to steal something from the store.

David Shepherd, who was parked at the nearby WinCo Foods on Monday afternoon, said he heard the gunshot and came running to the scene. He and several others tried to save Johnsons life by using sweaters to stanch the blood flow, performing chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Johnson died at the scene.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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Even as the country faces complete lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and daily wage labourers fight a battle for survival, Bollywood star Salman Khan has reportedly deposited money into the accounts of the crew members of his upcoming film Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai.

A SpotboyE report claimed Salman has paid the crew members, who were scheduled to work between March 26 to April 2 on Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai. The report quoted makeup artiste, Subhash Kapoor as confirming that he received the money and saying, What a great thing to do. I thank Salman sir from the bottom of my heart. Times are so tough.

Also read: Deepika Padukone puts label on sleeping Ranveer Singh, takes productivity during lockdown too far

Salman had pledged to financially support 25,000 daily wage workers of the film industry. His contribution will aid the artists of Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), said the bodys president BN Tiwari. After we approached Salman Khan, he asked us to give him a count of the most affected workers from our association and we told him there were 25,000 such artistes. He has decided to contribute for them. We will be sending him the list in the evening, Tiwari had told IANS.

Not just Salman, Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty, among several others, have also contributed for the cause.

Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai is lined up for release around Eid this year. It also stars Disha Patani, Jackie Shroff and Randeep Hooda. The film has been directed by Prabhudeva, who also directed Salmans last film, Dabangg 3.

Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai marks the third-time collaboration between Salman and Prabhudeva. They have previously worked together in Wanted (2009) and last years Dabangg 3. The film will also see Salman and Disha working together for a second time, after the success of their pairing in Bharat.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
WOOD RIVER  Thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) and two Illinois National Guard members arrived in Madison County this week.

Were thankful for the states shipments and assistance from the Illinois National Guard, County Chairman Kurt Prenzler said.

EMA Director Tony Falconio said two shipments from the state arrived at its warehouse in Wood River on Saturday and Tuesday along with the soldiers.

The soldiers are stationed at our Emergency Operations Center, Falconio said. We are very grateful for the extra support they are providing us right now.

The soldiers are collecting data and surveying the five hospitals in Madison County for use by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Falconio said the need for PPE continues to be critical. EMA volunteers have been helping take donations from the public to distribute to local first response agencies. EMA has had around 15 volunteers at the warehouse each day donating their time by accepting, organizing and distributing the donations.

The response from our EMA volunteers and the public during this pandemic has been nothing short of amazing, Falconio said. Because of them, we are able to provide critically needed PPE to our first responders.

This is the second time the Illinois National Guard has been deployed recently to Madison County. The first came during last years historic flooding.

We are happy to have them back after the fantastic work they did for us last year, Prenzler said. The more help we have to keep our residents and first responders safe, the better.
New Delhi, April 3 : Pitching in to help manage the Covid-19 outbreak, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and its staff have voluntarily contributed over Rs 10 crore to the PM-CARES Fund.

"KVS Employees- Teachers and Non Teaching staff, voluntarily donated Rs 10,40,60,536 to PM-CARES Fund to support the Nation during the situation arising due to COVID-19," a tweet by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan read.

The fund has been set up to provide emergency relief during the epidemic in the country. Positive cases crossed the 2,000 mark on the ninth day of the nationwide lockdown.

Earlier, universities like Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia also announced that their staff including both teaching and non teaching will contribute a day's salary to the PM-CARES Fund to fight the deadly virus.
Cops here took to streets signing "We shall overcome" to generate awareness among people with respect to the coronavirus pandemic and instil confidence in them.

Through their performance cops of Gariahat Police Station urged people to stay at their homes during the lockdown.

Their performance was widely appreciated by people, who came out of their homes and applauded the men in uniform.

On the other hand, in Chennai, Inspector Rajesh Kumar visited different markets in Villivakkam area to spread awareness about the COVID-19 while wearing a coronavirus themed mask, shield, and mace.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday said that there are 2,069 coronavirus positive cases in India, including 1,860 active cases, 156 cured/discharged/migrated people and 53 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Director of Public Prosecutions has completed the book of evidence for the trial of a 14-year-old Dublin schoolboy accused of raping a girl.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had initially appeared at the Dublin Childrens Court in February charged with sexual abuse offences, which allegedly occurred when he was aged 12 and 13 years.

The teen, who was accompanied to court by his parents and his solicitor, was then granted bail pending the preparation of a book of evidence.

Following a six-week adjournment the case was listed again at the Childrens Court but the teenager, like most defendants currently on bail, did not have to attend due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens told Judge Treasa Kelly she notified the boy and his parents not to come.

There was a consent to a three-month adjournment and Judge Kelly remanded the boy on continuing bail in his absence to appear again on a date in July to be served with the book of evidence.

They are very anxious to move the matter along and get into the Central [Criminal Court], his solicitor said, adding that she understood the book of evidence was ready.

He was charged that between June 2018 and March last year he intentionally caused a child to look at images of himself or people engaged in sexual activity. This is contrary to section six of the Criminal Law (Sex Offences) Act.

He also faced six other counts of rape of the girl at his home and two other locations, one in Dublin and another outside the capital, on various dates between June 2018 and March 2019.

These charges were under section two of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981 and section four of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990.

The Director [of Public Prosecutions] directed this matter will be dealt with on indictment, the court heard earlier.

This means the boy will face trial at the Central Criminal Court.

The Childrens Court does not have the discretion to consider retaining jurisdiction to hear a case involving rape charges. The solicitor said, however, there may be a jurisdiction issue over to the other charge.

The boy remains on bail subject to a condition stipulating no contact with the complainant or prosecution witnesses.
On Friday, 25 days after Maharashtras first Covid-19 case was detected in Pune, the district reported 71 positive cases, which include two persons who died in Pune city and also those who were discharged after treatment in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

A few sporadic cases of community transmission were also reported in the city where the patients had no history of foreign travel or known contact with a positive patient.

The first case, reported on March 9 and identified as zero patients for Covid19 was that of a husband-wife couple who returned from Dubai. This couple was not screened at the airport as Dubai, then, was not in the list of high-risk countries.

Pune, with 71 positive cases, has recorded the second-highest number of cases in Maharashtra after Mumbais 278.

Pune municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said the containment plan is in place in almost all the areas of the city.

Since the first case was recorded in the city on March 9, we put in place the containment plan as prescribed by the government. Currently, almost the entire city is covered. We started containment within a one to three km radius in areas where a positive patient is found, he said.

A notification from the ministry of health & family welfare said, The cluster containment strategy would be to contain the disease within a defined geographic area by early detection, breaking the chain of transmission and thus preventing its spread to new areas. This would include geographic quarantine, social distancing measures, enhanced active surveillance, testing all suspected cases, isolation of cases, home quarantine of contacts, social mobilization to follow preventive public health measures.

As of now, a few areas where multiple cases have been identified include, Sinhgad road where the Dubai returned couple reside, Kondhwa, where people had returned from the Tablighi event in Delhi and Ambegaon where a woman who was admitted to Bharati Hospital lives. The woman who was critical eventually recovered.

Pune also saw a few possible cases of community transmission with no foreign travel history or direct contact with a positive Covid-19 case.

The city recorded two deaths, the first on March 30 of a 52-year-old businessman from Thane with multiple ailments, and the second of a 50-year-old woman on Thursday at the Sassoon Government Hospital.

The city also saw the miraculous recovery of a 41-year-old aanganwadi worker who was admitted to Bharati Vidyapeeth Hospital on March 16. She twice tested negative on March 31 after being on the ventilator for almost 11 days.
Alabama desperately wants to show appreciation. But how?

Its a need. A compulsion. In a time of crisis and uncertainty, Alabamians  like other citizens of the world -- want show appreciation for the men and women who make them feel safe.

Doctors and nurses, and hospital staff. Police officers and firefighters, grocery store workers and delivery men and women. All those in all those jobs who make life go on as ordinarily as possible.

But how? How can we show those people we appreciate their work and at the same time do the smart thing, the right thing, the important thing by staying away from others, by keeping ourselves to ourselves to prevent the spread of coronavirus?

Children write letters and send them to hospitals. Women and men sew homemade face masks in hopes of donating them to someone who cant put their hands on the certified variety. Some bathe their homes in green lights  a method used to honor veterans for their sacrifice  to recognize workers and victims. Some light their homes, or the Empire State Building, with red, white and blue to signal the towering support of emergency workers.

People want to help, to say thank you. Thank you.

It is amazing when done right.

Dianne Davis of Vestavia Hills is urging her neighbors to step onto their porches at 10 a.m. Saturday morning to cheer and clap together in unison in appreciation of all medical employees, post office workers, garbage collectors and everyone who continues to keep society functioning.

Davis envisions them clapping and singing, banging pots and pans. She hopes children will make signs, an exercise that will teach them appreciation and help us all feel better about ourselves, and each other.

I hope it catches on. Ill stand and clap on my porch in my own neighborhood at 10 a.m. Saturday. Some may think me crazy, but some already do.

In Fairhope, neighbors Margie Sims and Becky Richburg are among those who have begun to come with flashlights to the end of their driveways at 8 p.m. most nights  apart, but together  to pray for healing for the community and the world, and protection for caregivers and others who need it most.

"Currently we have so many needs and people are hurting that we ask for Gods peace and comfort, Becky Richburg said. We are not special people. We are just people that love God and love people.

From a safe distance, of course, Sims said.

Bill and Becky Richburg and their Fairhope neighbors come to the end of their driveways at night to pray for healing and protection.

Safe. At home. Respectful.

Theres a need for hospitality in the South, for communion and gratitude. Some, like those, do it right. Others, with the very best of intentions, do not.

Most of those who showed up at Mobile hospitals Sunday night did it right, staying in their cars with the lights on to show appreciation for medical workers. But many did not, and wound up out of their cars in the kind of crowds that spread the virus and make lives more difficult for hospital staff and everyone else.

I get it. I do. We are moved to give credit where due. After watching a stirring online video of Atlanta residents cheering medical workers at shift change last week, I rushed to join in, tweeting to any who would listen that those near me should do the same.

Is shift change at @UAB Hospital at 3? Anybody want to go cheer ... from a good distance? I tweeted.

Because I wanted to say thank you. Because I did not think at all.

It took UAB only moments to say  What the #%&! are you thinking?

Only they didnt say that at all. A gentle spokesman dropped me a note that said I saw your tweet about cheering shift change. Not sure if you were serious, but if you could help us out we really want people to show their support by staying home.

Of course. The adrenalin got the best of me, as it has often done in my life. It is not enough to mean well, if it keeps others from being well.

I have been encouraged by @UAB NOT to go cheer for changing shift workers, as the best way to show support for them is to STAY HOME. That is of course correct, and I let the adrenaline get to me for a minute. I reiterate that #heroeswearscrubs and stuff. Love y'all.  John Archibald (@JohnArchibald) March 26, 2020

Experts say the best thing we can do is to stay home and isolate, even if Gov. Kay Ivey hasnt given that plea the force of law. Flouting those guidelines, whether theres an actual shelter-in-place order or not, is a slap in the face to the doctors and nurses so many of us want to honor.

So shine a green light. Step on your porch at 10 a.m. Saturday and bang a pot. Stand at the end of your driveway and wave. Give blood when it is needed, text a medical worker a note of thanks, or demand the politicians work to get them more masks and resources.

Most of all remember the people who sacrificed when all this is over. We want to be an appreciative people now. Lets stay that way.

John Archibald is collecting stories of people living through the coronavirus pandemic for his Diary of Alabama. Email your stories to jarchibald@al.com.
Inslee seeks help for COVID-19 supplies

The governor said he hopes manufacturers would be willing to shift to making things like surgical and N95 masks, swab tests, surgical gowns and face shields.



By RACHEL LA CORTE

Associated Press

OLYMPIA  Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday he is asking Washington manufacturers to start producing personal protective equipment, saying the federal government has not been able to supply the state fast enough to meet the growing need amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Inslee said that while more than 1 million pieces of personal protective equipment  from the federal and state supply, hospitals and donations  have already been delivered across the state, it is not enough.

The fact of the matter is, we need to seize our own destiny, Inslee said at a news conference. Now it is time for all of us to turn to manufacturing the equipment we need in this fight, in this war.

Inslee said he hopes manufacturers would be willing to shift to making things like surgical and N95 masks, swab tests, saline solution, vials, gloves, surgical gowns and face shields.

Officials with the Association of Washington Business say they have been working with the state Department of Commerce for the past few weeks to determine how companies could help.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday approximately 350 manufacturers have already reached out, and many are already producing  including about 40 distilleries that are now making hand sanitizer, and outdoor apparel company Outdoor Research, which is now making hundreds of thousands of surgical and protective masks.

Inslee encouraged other companies to reach out through a website the state set up if they would like to sign on.

Kris Johnson, president and CEO of the Association of Washington Business, said manufacturers are eager to join this effort by retooling their shops to make personal protective equipment such as face shields, gowns and other items to keep our health care providers and other front-line workers safe.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday acknowledged that the federal stockpile is nearly depleted of personal protective equipment used by doctors and nurses to shield themselves from the coronavirus. Concerns about the stockpile levels were first reported Wednesday by the Washington Post.

Inslee said those concerns are why the state can't depend on being rescued here.

We have to do self-rescue, he said.

Inslee said he would still like to see Trump make a national call to manufacturers using the Defense Production Act.

While I am grateful for many things the federal government has done for our state already, I still am hopeful that the federal government will up its game by bringing more manufacturing might, the same might that won World War II, he said.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in several weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Authorities say at least 247 people have died from COVID-19 in Washington state. There are more than 5,900 confirmed cases.

Inslee issued a stay-at-home order last week that is in effect through April 6, and ordered all non-essential businesses to close through at least April 8. The latest orders expanded previous actions taken by Inslee that ordered the statewide closure of bars, dine-in restaurants and entertainment and recreation facilities, and banned large gatherings.

Inslee repeated Wednesday that those orders are likely to be extended.

Also Wednesday, 130 Washington National Guardsmen were preparing to support food banks across the state, including in King, Pierce, Chelan and Franklin Counties.

Karina Shagren, a spokeswoman for the Washington Military Department, said the hope is to have soldiers and airmen in place starting Friday, and that they will be used to fill critical staffing needs.

Shagren said many food banks are operated by volunteers who fall into the at-risk categories, so members of the National Guard will ensure food banks have the personnel necessary to keep them up and running and ensure they're able to continue to provide food to those who need it.

National Guard members will be doing everything from unloading trucks to packing boxes and distributing food, she said.




Technavio has been monitoring the automotive actuators market and it is poised to grow by 1.14 billion units during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 8% 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.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200402005717/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Actuators Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please request latest free sample report on Covid-19 Impact

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Bosch, Continental, Delphi Technologies, DENSO, HELLA, and Mitsubishi Electric are some of the major market participants. The need for fuel-efficient vehicles 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.

Need for fuel-efficient vehicles has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Automotive Actuators Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Automotive Actuators Market is segmented as below:

Type Passenger Cars Commercial Vehicles

Application Body Control Interior Exterior, Engine Chassis

Geographic Landscape The 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=IRTNTR30456

Automotive Actuators 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 automotive actuators market report covers the following areas:

Automotive Actuators Market Size

Automotive Actuators Market Trends

Automotive Actuators Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies increasing popularity of additive manufacturing in automotive industry as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive actuators market growth during the next few years.

Automotive Actuators Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the automotive actuators market, including some of the vendors such as Bosch, Continental, Delphi Technologies, DENSO, HELLA, and Mitsubishi Electric. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the automotive actuators market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Automotive Actuators Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive actuators market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the automotive actuators market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the automotive actuators market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive actuators 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

Body control, interior, and exterior Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Engine Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Chassis 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: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY VEHICLE TYPE

Market segmentation by vehicle type

Comparison by vehicle type

Passenger cars Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Commercial vehicles Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by vehicle type

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Increasing popularity of additive manufacturing in automotive industry

Increasing trend in adoption of active suspension systems

Development of autonomous vehicles

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Bosch

Continental

Delphi Technologies

DENSO

HELLA

Mitsubishi Electric

PART 14: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

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Former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden demanded that the Trump administration reopen enrollment in the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges, as millions of Americansmany of them newly unemployedface the prospect of enduring the coronavirus pandemic without access to healthcare.

During this outbreak, when health care coverage is more important than ever, Donald Trump is refusing to give those who have been uninsured access to the best resource we have: the Affordable Care Acts marketplaces, Biden said in an exclusive statement to The Daily Beast, in which he called it critical that Trump reverse his opposition to reopening the Healthcare.gov federal health care exchange for a special enrollment period.

This is no time to put pettiness and ideology above helping those who are in the greatest need, Biden said, calling the spread of the novel coronavirus the worst public health crisis in generationsone for which the president failed to prepare the nation, despite warning after warning.

Bidens statement reflects the fervent desire among many Democrats to make health insurance expansion a policy priority as the coronavirus continues to spread across the country and dislodges millions of people from their workplaces. Trump has faced mounting pressure to allow for a special enrollment period so that individuals who dont have insurance can purchase it.

GOP Plows Forward on Plans to Kill Obamacare, Pandemic Be Damned

Last week, Trump told reporters that reopening the exchanges in light of the unique and dire circumstances was something were talking to a lot of people about. By this week, however, the administration had rejected the idea, dumbfounding health officials, insurers, and various others whod hoped they would, or expected them to do so.

In meetings at the White House in the time between his stated consideration and his announced rejection of the idea, Trump on multiple occasions had referred to Obamacare as a failure, and questioned why the administration should bother helping to prop it up, according to a source with direct knowledge of his private remarks.

Story continues

And during a press briefing on Thursday, Trump reaffirmed that he was against leaning on Obamacare exchanges to help the uninsured get coverage in light of a growing pandemic. The president told reporters that he had a supposedly better idea.

We are going to get a cash payment to the people and we are working out the mechanics of that with the legislature, he said. So we are going to try and get them a cash payment because just opening it up doesn't help as much, so we're going to work it out for that certain group of people a cash payment.

But the term cash payment confused even some of the presidents own White House officialstwo of whom messaged The Daily Beast while the press briefing was still ongoing that they had no idea what Trump meant by cash payment in lieu of enrollment. One senior official joked that they had not, in fact, heard about any proposals floated internally to airdrop bags of cash to people whod just lost their jobs and health insurance.

When The Daily Beast asked the president Thursday night what he meant by delivering cash payment to offset loss of coverage, Trump stared blankly before quickly kicking it over to Vice President Mike Pence to try to explain the confusing new announcement. Pences answer, however, related to funding hospital treatment of coronavirus victims, not to any direct cash payments to workers seeking healthcare.

Asked during Friday's briefing about how federal stimulus money will help the uninsured, and whether it would be easier to re-open the markets, Health and Human Services Sec. Alex Azar said people who had insurance with their employer and are now out of a job and that same insurance have a special enrollment period.

Earlier in the briefing, Azar emphasized that funding will be used to cover costs of delivering COVID-19 care for the uninsured.

Then what we're doing is taking from that $100 billion to providers, taking money and saying if you're a provider, and you care for anybody who's uninsured, we are going to compensate you for doing that and we're going to compensate you at the medicare reimbursement rates, and you are not allowed to bill that uninsured individual anything, Azar said. He then touted that in many respects it's better for those uninsured individuals. 

They're going to get first dollar coverage, he said. They're going to get care in the United States and the providers going to be made whole from this program.

Though Congress has passed three different coronavirus relief bills, lawmakers have not yet approved any legislation to reopen Obamacares exchanges. The crisis, however, has grown only more dire. Individuals who lose employer-based health insurance are allowed to shop for new plans on the Obamacare exchanges, and a handful of states do still have active open enrollment periods.

But of the nearly 10 million Americans who have applied for unemployment benefits in the past two weeks, only 3.5 million are estimated to have lost their insurance along with losing their jobsmeaning that roughly two-thirds of those who lost their jobs lack access to the insurance marketplace during a pandemic. Some of those individuals may qualify for Medicaid, but experts say not everyone will be able to.

Democratic congressional leaders say they will fight to include such provisions to address lack of access to insurance in a widely-anticipated fourth round of coronavirus-related legislation, which could come as soon as this month.

We should open it, said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Senate Democratic leader, when asked about the exchanges by The Daily Beast on a Friday conference call. This is a crisis; any way we can help people try to get health care, we should do it.

Schumer also referenced Trump and Pences comments about cash payments, saying that the administration is twisting itself into knots to come up with far-fetched theories that dont get at the real problem.

The Daily Beast reached out to a dozen GOP congressional offices to ask if they support opening the exchanges, but none responded. Key GOP lawmakers, however, have done more in recent years to shore up Obamacare than to dismantle it, and the party could warm to special enrollment as a way to ward off more aggressive Democratic health care measures, like Medicaid expansion, that are being proposed as a response to the coronavirus.

The lack of federal help so far has led some states, like Washington, to take their own action. In a statement to The Daily Beast, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, called on leaders to make sure people get the medical care they needespecially as millions face the possible loss of coverage through their employer.

Thats why Washington states Exchange just made the decision to extend our special enrollment period for anyone without insurance to get covered through May 8, Inslee said. As states grapple with a rapidly evolving public health emergency, the federal government should do the same.

A similar sentiment was echoed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Both her state and Inslees have become focal points of the coronavirus pandemic, and both have been criticized by Trump in the midst of the health crisis. Last week, Trump bragged about telling Pence, the leader of the coronavirus task force, to skip calling the leaders of those two hard-hit areas.

If they dont treat you right, I dont call, Trump said at the time.

Whitmer said in a statement she would keep working on both the federal and state level, along with the private sector, to boost healthcare access. But she was disappointed that the Administration is refusing to allow for a special enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act.

Thirteen GOP governors offices were also asked by The Daily Beast about the Trump administrations decision, but only one responded with a comment.

Ohio is aware of this issue, a spokesperson for Gov. Mike DeWine said in an email. Our Ohio Department of Insurance is monitoring the situation closely.

Advocates for healthcare reform have accused Trump of opposing reopening the exchanges because he is hostile to the Affordable Care Act itself, evidenced by his administrations continued attempts in federal court to strike down the landmark 2010 legislation.

President Trumps calling card is dangerously undermining our health care system with baseless attacks of Medicaid, sabotage of ACA exchanges, and toxic proposed budget cuts to Medicare, said Kyle Morse, a spokesperson for the liberal PAC American Bridge. With 3.5 million people losing employer-sponsored health coverage in the middle of a pandemic, Donald Trumps decision to keep the exchanges closed for business will lead to higher death tolls and medical bills. Uninsured Americans are already being denied care and dying from Coronavirus, Trumps decision all but ensured that more will follow.

Biden told The Daily Beast that the presidents continued pursuit of that case would eliminate health coverage for tens of millions of people.

Trump must also withdraw his support for a partisan lawsuit that would undo the Affordable Care Act and take health coverage away from almost 20 million Americans, Biden said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Some health centers within the Ashanti region are going to receive support from the Regional Coordinating Council in their fight against Coronavirus due to the kind assistance from Prophetess Vida Mensah.

The renowned Prophetess who is the founder and leader of Vida Bethel Prayer Ministry at Aprade, near Kumasi presented a cash amount of GHC100, 000 to the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) to aid their fight against the pandemic.

It was specifically to aid the selected health centres to purchase medical items they might need to attend to cases of COVID 19 that may be reported at their outfits.

Presenting the money on behalf of the Prophetess to the Ashanti Regional Minister at Sepe Buokrom, a community in the Manhyia North Constituency, Dr. Angela Osei Mensah, daughter of the servant of the Lord said the that was their contribution towards the fight against the viral disease.

Dr. Osei Mensah a medical practitioner noted that the threat of the disease was real and therefore urged others who are in the privileged position to help the government respond to the crisis on its hands.

"My mum, Prophetess Vida Osei Mensah felt the need to support the regional administration to deal with the crisis situation it has on its hand so that persons who visit these selected hospitals can get treatment for COVID 19", She said.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei Mensah, Who received the donation thanked the Prophetess for the gesture.

He noted that such a show of support was crucial to help the government respond to the pressing issue on hand.

The government, the Minister maintained cannot deal with the threat of the viral disease alone and would need support from citizens.

He also asked the public to respect the directives given to avoid the spread and contraction of COVID 19.

"We are grateful to God that people like Madam Vida Osei Mensah and others are supporting the government to deal with the threat of this pandemic and we believe that resourcing hospitals are a good start to deal with the disease", the Minister stressed.

Member of Parliament for Manhyia North Collins Owusu Amankwah who represented his nine other colleague Members of Parliament whose health centres were beneficiaries of the gesture commended the Prophetess for the cash donation.

He said the beneficiary hospitals comprising the Sepe Buokrom health Center, KNUST hospital, Nkawie-Toase hospital, Kuntenase Hospital, Manhyia Government Hospital, and five other selected ones would be in good stead to deal with cases on their hands.

The MP asked other citizens to join in the fight against the dreaded coronavirus disease by providing any support they could offer.

Touring the beneficiary Centers later in the day to present GHC10, 000 each to them, the MP also presented some boxes of hand sanitizers to each of them and urged the medical directors to make judicious use of the funds and items.

"We are privileged to have people like Vida Osei Mensah supporting the government to deal with this COVID 19 and we urge citizens to pay heed to all directives given by President Akufo-Addo to ensure we limit the spread and contraction of the dreaded disease", the MP stressed with passion.
Jessika Power was accused of flouting social distancing rules to enjoy a beach day at Queensland's Tallebudgera Creek on Friday.

After the Married At First Sight star shared a photo to Instagram of herself at the beach with two boys she was minding, a troll questioned why she wasn't at home.

The 28-year-old defended her actions in a since-deleted comment, explaining how they simply headed out for 'daily exercise'.

'Everyone needs to exercise!' Married At First Sight's Jessika Power (pictured), 28, hit back at an Instagram troll on Friday who accused her of flouting social distancing rules amid pandemic

In the photo, Jessika stood in shallow water and revealed her toned figure in a neon pink bikini.

She swept her signature blonde locks into a topknot and concealed her gaze behind trendy sunglasses.

The reality star-turned-influencer beamed as she kept a close eye on the two young boys she was minding, as they splashed around in the water.

'Sun and sea playdates,' Jessika captioned the photo.

'Sun and sea playdates': The blonde beauty shared a photo of herself frolicking in the water at Queensland's Tallebudgera Creek with two young boys she was minding

While the majority of comments were positive, some followers of Jessika questioned why she would leave the house amid the coronavirus pandemic.

One troll wrote: 'No judgement but should you guys be at home.'

Jessika responded in a now-deleted comment: 'No judgement taken. I understand the rules of social distancing, however, we are looking after two kids who can't be kept cooped up in the house all day.

'This was their daily exercise as children need that. I'm sure someone on here will have something to say, but everyone needs to exercise, and that was stated in the new guidelines.'

Criticism: While many of the comments were positive, one follower questioned why Jessika would leave the house amid the coronavirus pandemic

Defending herself: In a since-deleted comment, Jessika said it was their 'daily exercise'

A breath of fresh air: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to only leave the house for food and medicine. However, exercise once a day in the fresh air is also allowed

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, as the fight to prevent the spread of coronavirus continues.

However, alongside stepping out for food and medicine, Mr Morrison has said it's quite okay to exercise once daily in fresh air.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness accompanied by fever, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath and fatigue. It can produce pneumonia.

The spread of the disease, which began in Wuhan, China, has seen over 1,017,000 cases worldwide and more than 53,200 fatalities.

As of the evening of April 3, the total number of people diagnosed with the virus in Australia is 5,350 including 28 deaths.

Claim to fame: Jessika became a household name after starring in the 2019 season of Married At First Sight. She has since become a social media influencer
Tesla Inc.'s early-year deliveries fell less than expected from record levels reached late last year, winning support from investors who pushed the shares 14% higher ahead of Friday's open.

Tesla handed over 88,400 vehicles worldwide in the first quarter, down 21% from the last three months of 2019. But the total beat analysts' average estimate for about 78,100. The carmaker's stock was priced at $516.21 in premarket trading, up from a close of $454.47 in New York.

"I'm shocked they did so well," Gene Munster, managing partner of venture capital firm Loup Ventures, said by phone. "I don't know how they did it. They had every excuse in the world to put out a bad number."

Musk, 48, tried to salvage as much business as possible last month by introducing "touchless" deliveries at a time when authorities around the globe are urging would-be car buyers to shelter in place. While Tesla managed to deliver more vehicles than the year-ago quarter, the improvement was small considering the company added a new product -- the Model Y -- and opened an assembly plant in China.

Tesla didn't give an update on whether it still expects to deliver at least 500,000 vehicles this year.

Analysts anticipate Tesla will sustain a significant blow along with all other automakers from the spread of the viral illness known as covid-19. With a global recession increasingly likely, consumers are expected to be less interested in making big-ticket purchases like new vehicles even once they're able to leave their homes.

The vehicles delivered in the quarter include the first Model Y crossovers that started reaching customers in mid-March. Musk has predicted it will be a big seller, potentially eclipsing the combined volume of all other vehicles in Tesla's lineup: the Model 3, S and X.

Tesla didn't say how many vehicles it built during the quarter at its plant near Shanghai, which started production late last year. While the company suspended output when measures to contain the coronavirus forced plant closures across China, government authorities bent over backward to help the company reopen quickly.

"The production number was very good, especially with what was going on in China," Ben Kallo, an analyst at Robert W. Baird, said of the 102,672 vehicles Tesla built in the quarter. He isn't bothered by the company neglecting to update its 2020 forecast. "It shows they don't have visibility in this environment. Saying nothing is better than saying something at this point."

Tesla's lone U.S. assembly plant in Fremont, California, stopped production on March 23 after days of back-and-forth with city and county officials. San Francisco Bay area health authorities have since extended "stay-at-home" orders to at least May 3.

Tesla delivered over 14,000 fewer cars than it produced in the quarter, meaning the automaker built inventory.

Musk warned back in July -- long before the coronavirus outbreak -- that the first quarter of this year would be "tough." Tesla's vehicles are no longer eligible for federal tax credits in the U.S., and buyers also are getting less-generous support from the Netherlands, a market that contributed to record fourth-quarter deliveries.

"I view it as a small victory during a dark time," said Dan Ives, a Wedbush Securities analyst who rates Tesla a hold. "The devil is in the details and the big question is around 2Q cash burn given this unprecedented, treacherous environment."
Today, April 2, the armed formations of the Russian Federation have violated ceasefire four times in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in Donbas.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Maksym Prauta said this at a briefing on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

In the morning, the enemy fired three 82mm mines at the Ukrainian defenders of Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk) and six 120mm mines at the Joint Forces positions near Pavlopol (25km north-west of Mariupol). The invaders also used mounted and hand-held antitank grenade launchers and heavy machine guns to shell the Ukrainian positions outside Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk), the spokesman said.

The Ukrainian military took the necessary measures to suppress the activity of the invaders, using weapons not banned under the Minsk agreements.

According to available information, no casualties among the Ukrainian military have been reported, Prauta added.

ish
The beloved principal of a Caldwell middle school died from complications with the coronavirus, officials announced.

James Brown, 48, principal of the Grover Cleveland Middle School died from complications with COVID-19, announced school and police officials Thursday. Brown leaves behind a wife and three children, said Governor Phil Murphy, at a Friday afternoon press briefing.

Browns son, Jimmy, is currently a high school senior who plans on following in the footsteps of his father as an educator.

Family meant everything to him. But outside of our family, he included his Caldwell family, Jimmy Brown said. And thats why I think they respect him so much because of the way that he treated them. It was everything to him, whether it be us the Browns or the Caldwell community.

He was very inspirational, and just the way that he treated people, he showed me the way that youre supposed to treat people.

The best father in the world. Dad, you taught me what it means to be a man. I am going to honor you for the rest of my life. I know your up there right now looking over me. I love you pic.twitter.com/v4gVYhCX9J  Jimmy Brown (@Jimmy_Brown11) April 2, 2020

Brown was an educator in the Caldwell - West Caldwell Public school district for 14 years, serving as the vice principal at James Caldwell High School for seven years before becoming principal at Grover Cleveland.

The middle school principal was rarely confined to his office, making every effort to be hands on with his students and faculty. When the school held a lip-syncing battle, he took the stage for a solo rendition of Shout."

To challenge his students in a fundraising effort, he volunteered to let them tape him to the cafeteria wall when they hit their goal. He stood by his word and also took a pie to the face.

He never hesitated to jump into games of horse or kickball with his students at recess.

Erica Thacker, a seventh-grade math teacher at Grover Cleveland, said Brown provided the same leadership to the staff.

With his supportive nature, he was just the greatest administrator I ever had, Thacker said. He always went to bat for his teachers. He always had our back and was super supportive, and any idea we had, whether farfetched or not, he always supported us.

Brown hired Thacker on the spot when she interviewed at Grover Cleveland three years ago, and during her time working with the principal, she quickly saw the impact he made on the lives of everyone who crossed his path.

The loss that we feel as a staff cant even be put into words, Thacker said. The shock, its just so surreal, and were just in disbelief that when we go back, he wont be there, and we think about his family and the magnitude of their loss. Its devastating. not only to our school, but to the whole community.

As the principal for Grover Cleveland, Brown created programs and overhauled facilities at the school, including converting two unused supply rooms into STEM learning centers, the district said. Using grants that he wrote, Brown was able to offer students the opportunity to enter in virtual reality learning, robotics and environmental studies programs.

Brown introduced a system to foster team-building and school spirit and created an advisory and enrichment program that allowed students to develop networks of support and to explore their interests, the district said. Brown would bring speakers in to speak to students that helped instill determination and grit to help others in need, the district said.

We were all happy for you and your family when we heard the news that you were moving to Grover Cleveland Middle School and moving up to be the new principal, the West Caldwell Police Department said in a statement. Our schools are the safest around as a direct result of your hard work and advocating to keep school safety as the districts top priority.

The school district set up a crisis management team to help students cope with the loss of Brown, the district said. The team is comprised of social workers and counselors who will be available to talk with students and answer questions.

Jim Brown will be remembered as an outstanding educator who made tremendous contributions to the entire community of Caldwell, West Caldwell and beyond, the school district said. We mourn the loss of a wonderful colleague who enriched our lives with his kindness, intelligence, and humor, we extend our deepest condolences to his family.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

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Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
DOCTORS and nurses on the COVID-19 frontline are spending many hours a day wearing face masks, and many members of the general public are doing the same. But although the devices offer invaluable protection, they can be the cause of significant skin damage through sweating and the rubbing of the masks against the nose.

Skincare experts at the University of Huddersfield are warning about the risks and are suggesting remedies.

Professor Karen Ousey is the University's Director of the Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention and was part of a team that conducted detailed research into the pressure damage caused by a wide range of medical devices, including face masks. The findings and recommendations were published in February.

Now, the current emergency emphasises the problems that can arise with face masks, being worn for long periods by healthcare professionals.

"The wearers are sweating underneath the masks and this causes friction, leading to pressure damage on the nose and cheeks," said Professor Ousey. "There can be tears to the skin as a result and these can lead to potential infection," she added.

"The masks the healthcare professionals are wearing have to be fitted to the face - so if healthcare professionals add dressings to the skin under the mask after being fitted there is a chance the mask will no longer fit correctly," continued Professor Ousey.

She suggests that people wearing masks keep their skin clean, well-hydrated and moisturised and that barrier creams should be applied at least half an hour before masks are put on.

"And we are suggesting that pressure from the mask is relieved every two hours. So you come away from the patient, relieve the pressure in a safe place and clean the skin again."

Professor Ousey advises members of the general public - such as shop workers - who are wearing masks to keep their skin clean, dry and free of sweat.

"And if they do feel their masks rubbing, take them off as soon as they safely can."

###

Professor Ousey was a member of the global team that last year met in London to pool research on device-related pressure ulcers. It produced a 52-page document - published by the Journal of Wound Care - that examines the issues in detail.

The team was headed by Amit Gefen, who is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Tel Aviv University and a Visiting Professor at Huddersfield's Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention.

Professor Gefen is recording a video session dealing with device-related pressure ulcers that will soon be available to view via the Institute's website.

Professor Ousey also urges members of the public to visit the National Wound Care Strategy webpage, which offers wide-ranging advice on wound care and pressure ulcers.
#CoronaPositive: Lizzo Treats Detroit Emergency Room Staff To Lunch

Lizzo treated medical staff at a Michigan hospital to lunch, providing a little support as they cope with the growing health crisis inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emergency room staff at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit thanked Lizzo for providing the meal on Twitter.

The post included a video that Lizzo, a Detroit native, announcing the delivery of the meal.

SURPRISE! @lizzo treated our ER staff at #HenryFordHospital to lunch today and shared a message of thanks to our #HealthcareHeroes on the front lines. #Lizzo, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for making our day brighter with your generosity.  pic.twitter.com/sM5H8DIImg  Henry Ford News (@HenryFordNews) March 31, 2020

We did everything we could to keep it safe for yall.  I love you guys, Lizzo said in the video. Thank you so much for being the heroes in this story. And were staying inside and were praying and thinking of you guys every single day. God bless you.

Detroit has seen almost 3,800 cases of COVID-19, with at least 120 confirmed deaths. Staff at Henry Ford Hospital, which is located in downtown Detroit, are on the front lines.

top photo: Andy Witchger [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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SYDNEY, Australia  Dozens of people are missing and feared dead in the Solomon Islands after being washed from a ferry making a dangerous journey through heaving seas caused by Cyclone Harold.

Maritime authorities reported that at least two dozen passengers were aboard the ferry, the MV Taimareho, which set out late Thursday night, traveling from the capital, Honiara, to a port in Malaita Province.

The crossing through Iron Bottom Bay in the South Pacific nation is usually calm, with islands protecting much of the route, but maritime authorities had warned of dangerous conditions when the ferry departed.

Officials said the surging seas appeared to throw people overboard between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

On Friday morning, officials sent out a patrol boat to search for the passengers, but rescue efforts were hindered by whipping rain, heavy winds, large waves  and the coronavirus.
We do not have the financial resources to keep our employees on payroll with only 5% to 10% of our regular revenue coming in on a daily basis, Saccaro said in an email. Every single location of ours is either closed or is operating at a significantly diminished capacity. ... We are not a big company, and simply put, we would be out of business in a matter of mere months if we paid all of our team members as they normally would be paid with this loss of revenue and without government support.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-03 10:19:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 3 (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 disease.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 for a second time, the White House announced on Thursday.

In a memo, White House physician Sean Conley said Trump tested again for the virus earlier in the day, "utilizing a new, rapid point-of-care test capability."

- - - -

SEOUL -- South Korea's reported cases of the COVID-19 topped 10,000 as of midnight Friday local time as 86 more cases were confirmed for the past 24 hours.

The number of infections here totaled 10,062, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The KCDC has updated the data once a day.

- - - -

BUENOS AIRES -- The World Bank on Thursday approved a loan worth 35 million U.S. dollars to help Argentina contain the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The World Bank and the Argentinian government said in a joint statement that the loan will be used to purchase medical supplies for early detection of infections and treatment of the disease, which can lead to pneumonia.

- - - -

KIGALI -- Rwandan police said Thursday that it will strictly enforce the extended COVID-19 lockdown measures as the health ministry reported a total of 84 cases after two more people tested positive for the virus.

"Unnecessary movements, sporting activities outside homes, loitering along the roads, many people driving in one vehicle to the market are all not permitted. Whoever breaches any of those will be arrested, imprisoned and fined. Measures remain the same; stay at home," police spokesperson John Bosco Kabera said on national Rwanda television.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has risen above 1 million, according to the new tally from Johns Hopkins University on Thursday afternoon.

A total of 1,002,159 people have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus across the world, with a death toll of 51,485, while more than 200,000 patients have recovered, showed the tally updated by the university's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
On Friday, the daily media briefing regarding COVID-19 focused extensively on the likely fraudulent test kits that the city received, causing its drive-thru testing clinic to be suspended until further notice.

READ MORE: Coronavirus test kits planned for Laredo drive thru are likely fraudulent

Although city officials had warned days before that the drive thru might not commence as planned due to incoming bad weather, on Thursday night officials noted that the test kits were not suitable for testing potential COVID-19 patients.

The kits were from the 20,000-count supply Clear Choice acquired earlier this week. Clear Choice had planned on matching the citys 2,500 purchase of kits to be used for the drive thru, giving locals 5,000 tests at the location that would be available free of charge.

Though the city had agreed to purchase the tests, taxpayer money had yet to switch hands. A small supply was undergoing testing for validity. Had they been purchased, the tests would have cost $75 per kit.

As soon as the tests arrived, quality and validity tests were done, and we were not told the results as published by the laboratory that the (test kits) could not be used, but we continue in our search for all other tests including in our laboratory, City of Laredo Health Department Director Hector F. Gonzalez said.

The city's search for rapid-response tests for COVID-19 continues.

Even without the current rapid testing, all providers are testing, Gonzalez said. We will continue to search and purchase testing kits, and we are working with other laboratories, clinics and manufacturers.

Also, Gonzalez said that having more than 50% of all testing result in a negative diagnosis in the city shows the validity of those tests already conducted in contrast to the test kits received earlier this week.

Other officials also voiced their search for more tests that could be used to speed the process.

We are still looking for more tests to bring to the community, as these test kits that were not workable will not stop us from finding the correct tests to bring to the community, City of Laredo City Manager Robert Eads said.

Dr. Gonzalez added in the briefing that new quick tests are not the only thing being sought after.

The City of Laredo Health Department has 50 sampling tests for testing through the public health lab in San Antonio or through the private lab," Dr, Gonzalez said. "We are currently testing a new PCR machine we bought to test at the health department. Also private labs and the hospitals and clinics, like Gateway, are also testing, and new tests are coming.

READ MORE: TAMIU confirms employee has tested positive for novel coronavirus

However, Gonzalez said that the search for new tests may take longer as there is a national shortage.

LMT reached out to Anhui DeepBlue Medical Technology Co., Ltd. for comment via email regarding this story but a response has not yet been returned.
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Do you think you have what it takes to scoop a prize in the prestigious Landscape Photographer of the Year contest?

If youre a keen snapper and youve yet to enter, theres still time. The competition  which has a 20,000 prize pot - has had its entry date extended by just over a month due to the coronavirus breakout.

The competition is split into four main categories: Classic View, Your View, Urban Life and Black and White. There are also special awards for Landscapes at Night, Changing Landscapes, Lines in the Landscape and Historic Britain.

The winners will be announced on October 18, 2020, and will be featured in the 13th edition of the Landscape Photographer of the Year book as well as being part of an exhibition that will tour the UK, starting in London in mid-November.

The entrant who creates what's judged to be the single best image, taking into account all four adult categories, will become the Landscape Photographer of the Year 2020 and will win 10,000, with additional cash prizes, from 500 to 1,000, for category winners and runners-up.

The competition is open to anyone of any ability and entrants can submit their content here: www.lpoty.co.uk. Here we take a look at some of the incredible past entries.

This image was taken at Birling Gap in East Sussex in 2016. Photographer Rachael Talibart said: 'This was taken on a trip to the coast to meet up with fellow members of photography collective Parhelion. When we walked onto the beach, the sunshine was harsh but, as evening approached, the light just kept improving. I wanted a simple foreground as a foil for the dramatic sky so composed to exclude the beach and waited for an isolated wave'

This is an award-winner from 2018, taken by Darryn Kemper at Durdle Door in Dorset. He said: 'After seeing snow predictions on the forecast, I made the trip to Durdle Door the previous night from Surrey to avoid possible road closures in the morning. I slept the night in my car in minus temperatures in the hopes that I would wake up to something truly magical, and get an image of the iconic location in conditions that may come once in my lifetime. It was all so worth it!'

This stunning image was taken by John Finney in the High Peak of Derbyshire and was an award-winner in 2018. He said: 'After a difficult journey in the snow, I made it to the top of Mam Tor [a 1,696ft hill], I could hardly stand upright for the blizzards. I decided to make my way down onto the Great Ridge. As the clouds got darker the blizzards got more extreme. I placed the tripod and camera at just the right angle to avoid snow getting onto the lens, and I used a flash gun and a relatively slow shutter speed to highlight the fast motion of the blizzard'

This beautiful image was taken in Honley, West Yorkshire. The photographer said: 'This was taken in my favourite local woodland. I had been waiting for some time to photograph the heather in the fog. As soon as the conditions were right I headed down there to capture this scene'

This incredible image shows St Paul's Cathedral crowned by the Blue 'Super' Moon of January 2018. The photographer said: 'There were two full moons in January 2018. The second is known as "Blue Moon" and because it was closer to earth than normal also a Super Moon. I decided to try and get it rising over St Paul's Cathedral from Waterloo Bridge, and found it moving so quickly that I soon abandoned my tripod and had to support the 500mm lens on the railings as I moved quickly back and forth along the bridge - trying to catch the angle as it passed behind the cross above the famous dome'

This captivating image was taken by Rob Oliver in Newbury, Berkshire. He says: 'I go walking through the woods and fells and often climb the odd hill or two just for the love of being outside and making images that mean something to me'

This striking image was the Urban View, adult class, winner in 2017 and was taken by George Robertson in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire. He said that he waited for a cold, clear and breezy winter evening to allow him to capture the structures lit up against the early evening sky

This image scooped Neil Burnell first prize and 1,000 in the 2017 Your View category. It was taken at Osea Leisure Park in Essex. Neil said: 'These unique beach huts on the Blackwater Estuary are a minimalist landscape photographers dream. The stylish huts on stilts are finished in soft pastel colours and are perfect for a clean long exposure, especially on a misty morning'

This image is called Serenity in the Snow and was taken by Jay Birmingham near Tamworth. It received a 'commended' from the judges. Jay said: 'When heavy snow arrived this winter, I knew the shot that I wanted to take. A lone tree I had often passed stands on the ridge of a small hill on farmland not far from Tamworth, my home town. After having to abandon my car because of the slippery roads, I walked the rest of the way and found the conditions I was hoping for, with elements of the ploughed field just visible through the snow creating lines up to the tree, which was silhouetted against the white snow-filled sky. I took a number of pictures, but as I was cleaning snowflakes from my lens, a gull swooped into the shot. I swiftly removed my hand and fired off a few shots. When I looked back, I smiled. The position of the bird was perfect and helped capture the peace and tranquillity of the scene'
James McClean has purchased personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus in Derry.

The Republic of Ireland international made contact with organisers of a campaign to donate equipment to reveal his purchase of protective kit and sanitisers to be used in the local community.

James McClean has just emailed in a large donation which is coming via Amazon, said Dr Nicola Duffy, a GP who is working at the Covid-19 centre at Altnagelvin Hospital, on BBC Talkback.

I dont know the chap but I just received an email from somebody advising me that he has bought kit and its being sent to Great James Street Health Centre, which is our practise.

He has purchased equipment and sanitisers which will be coming in the next week or two.

We put this [appeal] up yesterday afternoon and people have dropped up stuff to my front door, people have dropped stuff to the health centre. Its creating a conversation and people are using their own resources to think where can we get it.

At the minute, my house seems to be a bit of a depot!

Last week, McClean received messages targeting him and his family with threats related to the coronavirus after a controversial Instagram post.

A regular target of online abuse, McClean is a frequent contributor to good causes in his local community.
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, says government must tighten security measures to ensure that all are compliant to the lockdown directives.



His comment follows reports that some security officers have been man-handling members of the public believed to have flouted the lockdown order.



As part of measures to prevent further spread of the deadly Coronavirus, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced a two-week restriction on movement within the Kasoa township, Greater Accra Region and Greater Kumasi and some municipalities in the Ashanti Region, effective 1 am on Monday, 30 March 2020.



Essential service providers and some other business enterprises have been exempted from the lockdown.



Speaking on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie, the NPP Chief Scribe condemned the brutality being meted out to individuals by some security officials in the discharge of their duties.



While he considers their actions as unprofessional, he was however quick to add that their act can somehow be justified because they are dealing with some stubborn citizens.



It appears some Ghanaians dont know how serious this coronavirus is. To stop the spread of the virus we must all stay home as the President has directed.



I think the President has to strengthen the lockdown measures, educate the people and make sure all abide by the rules, John Boadu added.























Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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UNESCO has appointed Moroccan artificial intelligence expert, Mrs. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, to the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST).

The Moroccan researcher joins the commission for a four-year term, from 2020 to 2023.

It is an honor for me to serve ethics within this beautiful institution that is UNESCO, Seghrouchni shared on Twitter.

The researcher holds a doctorate in artificial intelligence from the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. She is professor at the School of Science and Engineering of Sorbonne University.

Seghrouchni also chairs the Multi-Agent Systems research group and co-leads the artificial intelligence and data sciences department at Sorbonne University.

UNESCO set up COMEST, an advisory body, in 1998. The committee analyzes several issues, including environmental ethics, nanotechnology ethics, and other ethical challenges of todays world.

The Commission is composed of eighteen leading scholars from scientific, legal, philosophical, cultural and political disciplines from various regions of the world, appointed by the UNESCO Director-General in their individual capacity.

In addition to the 18 members assigned for four-year terms, the COMEST has eleven ex-officio members representing UNESCOs international science programs and global science communities.

Last month, UNESCO appointed another Moroccan academic, Fatima Roumate from the Mohammed V University of Rabat, to a different committee on artificial intelligence.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay selected Roumate, along with 23 other academics, to discuss the social, economic, and cultural challenges of artificial intelligence.

The 24-member international group is composed of the worlds leading experts on social, economic and cultural challenges of artificial intelligence. They are tasked with elaborating internationally applicable recommendations on ethical issues raised by the development and use of AI.

The committee is set to draft recommendations on the ethical questions pertaining to the development and use of artificial intelligence.

It is our responsibility to lead a universal enlightened debate in order to enter this new era with our eyes wide open, without sacrificing our values, and establish a common global foundation of ethical principles for artificial intelligence, said Audrey Azoulay when announcing the creation of the AI committee on March 11.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation on Thursday with Prince Charles of the United Kingdom to discuss the situation of the deadly Pandemic of Coronavirus amid the UK Prince's recovery after he was tested positive for the deadly virus.

A statement released by the Prime Minister Office (PMO) stated that PM Modi expressed satisfaction to the Prince of Wales on his recovery and wished him good health, and also expressed condolence on the loss of life in the UK owing to the pandemic, while the prince spoke highly of the Indian diaspora in the UK including many members of the National Health Service which has been working tirelessly in combatting the pandemic.

The Prince of Wales also appreciated the selfless work being done by religious and social organisations of the Indian community in the UK. He also thanked PM Modi for the facilitation and assistance provided for UK citizens stranded in India during the present crisis.

READ | PM Modi, Angela Merkel Discuss COVID-19 Pandemic; Stress On Global Efforts To Fight Crisis

READ | PM Modi Urges People To Stay Healthy Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

The paid discussed the benefits of Ayurveda and PM Modi thanked Prince Charles for the keen interest he has always taken in Ayurveda and explained the recent Indian initiative aimed at teaching basic yoga exercise through short animation videos, and disseminating easy home-made traditional remedies for enhancing immunity. The Prince of Wales lauded the potential of these initiatives for enhancing health and wellbeing, especially in the present situation.

As part of maintaining leadership-level contact with world leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the well being of the large Indian population working there, PM Modi had a telephonic conversation with Kuwait counterpart Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Wednesday. The Prime Minister of Kuwait assured that his government will continue to ensure their safety and welfare of the large expatriate Indian community.

READ | PM Modi To Share A Video Message With Nation At 9 Am On April 3

READ | PM Modi Urges Spiritual Leaders To Mobilise People Of All Faiths To Fight COVID-19

PM Modi also had a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron in which both leaders agreed that the coronavirus pandemic has become a turning point in modern history and that it offers the world an opportunity to forge a new human-centric concept of globalisation.

PM Modi has also had one to one conversation with President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, British PM Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Abudhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya and Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 14:49 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f8157d 1 National virus-korona-indonesia,COVID-19,medical-workers,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Terawan-Agus-Putranto,COVID-19-medical-supplies,coronavirus,protective-gears,hazmat-suit,virus-corona,face-mask,health-minister Free

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto has said that a variety of issues is hampering the country's efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, including the shortage of protective gear as well as medical workers to provide tests and treatment for the disease.

Our first obstacle [in fighting COVID-19] is getting a sufficient number of personal protective equipment [PPE] such as hazmat suits and surgical masks. The entire world is currently experiencing high demand for such equipment, Terawan said on Thursday at a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission IX on health care.

The shortage of PPE had also hindered authorities from launching rigorous testing programs to detect the disease earlier and more accurately.

In response to the nation's need, several small and medium enterprises across the archipelago have started diverting their resources to produce PPE and provide them to hospitals for free.

The minister also highlighted difficulties in distributing medical professionals to the facilities that needed them most. The ministry's records show that the country has about 40,320 specialist doctors spread across more than 2,800 hospitals.

Meanwhile, only 132 of these hospitals have the facilities and capacities to be designated as COVID-19 referral hospitals.

We also need special facilities where medical personnel can get some rest during their free time, said Terawan.

Doctors and nurses treating COVID-19 patients as well as other health workers have faced discrimination from people fearing that they might transmit the virus. Some health workers have reported that they had been kicked out of their rented rooms as a result of the social stigma.

Other communities have come together to help out those who have been affected by the outbreak and the most vulnerable through various initiatives involving individuals, community organizations and private companies.

Read also: Anti-COVID-19-initiatives:-Helping-Indonesia-fight-the-outbreak

For example, the Indonesia Disaster Awareness Movement Foundation (Graisena) is running an Instagram fund-raising campaign to provide aid to families whose breadwinners have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Eligible families will receive Rp 20,000 (US$1,20) per person per day for a maximum duration of 45 days.
New Delhi, April 3 : National carrier Air India has halted bookings for flights till April 30. According to sources, the airline is awaiting clarity from the Centre, on whether or not the lockdown deadline of April 14 will be extended.

The airline, sources said, is awaiting written instructions. At present, no foreign or domestic passenger flight operations are allowed till the deadline of April 14. On Thursday, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said that domestic airlines are free to accept ticket bookings for flights that will be operated post the current lockdown deadline.

According to the senior official, the current lockdown period is till the midnight of April 14 and if this is not extended then these bookings will be honoured.
Dettol, the leading germ protection brand aimed at raising awareness on the importance of handwashing, today launched COVID 19 public service announcement. The advertisement is thoroughly filmed inhouse to drive home a point, in a simple illustrative manner on how a soap keeps germs away, during the lock down while maintaining all precautions including social distancing. Practicing hand washing for 20 seconds is one of the best preventive measures to avoid the spread of viruses as recommended by WHO.

In the ongoing battle to contain the spread of COVID-19, every measure will help to prevent its spread, from border controls to social distancing recommendations and even personal hygiene habits. Washing hands with soap has gained even more importance and critical focus as we collectively deal with a pandemic. Doctors, leading health experts and medical associations, the world over, are stressing on the need for hand hygiene.

Commenting on the launch, Gaurav Jain, SVP, RB Health South Asia said In a difficult environment, Dettol as India's trusted germ protection brand, has a duty to shape the right personal hygiene habits. Handwashing with any soaps is an easily accessible and highly effective method to prevent the spread of germs and virus. Towards this, Prasoon and Mccann India did a great job shooting this innovatively and responsibly - keeping the thought of "social distancing" front and center. I extend my heartfelt thanks to them to be able to get this important message out in this time of need.

Amidst the nationwide lockdown, the advertisement is shot throughout on mobile phones with minimal use of equipment and cast being family members of the creative team. This commendable output is a collaborative effort of teams within RB, Mccann India. Remarkably, even the post-production of the video was done by an editor and music composer from their respective homes and the grading was done on remote from Poland.

Commenting on the same Prasoon Joshi, CEO and COO, McCann Worldgroup said We are living in testing times, on one hand we have to make sure we strictly adhere to the guideline of staying at home at same time we need to find innovative ways of contributing from home, this is an example of the same.
As many as 33 Nagpur residents who



had either attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area last month, or come in contact with others who attended it, tested negative for coronavirus on Friday, a health official said here.

However, a person from nearby Washim district who had some connection with the gathering tested positive for infection, Deputy Medical Superintendent of government-run IGG Medical College and Hospital Dr Sagar Pandey said.

A machine in the IGGMCH's lab, which is being used for testing samples arriving from Vidarbha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh too, broke down due to overload but testing continued with another machine, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MADISON  After eight years of heading the district, Madison Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice has announced his resignation.

Scarice will leave in July to take over as the schools chief in Westport.

Without question, this been the most difficult professional decision of my career, Scarice told parents in an email. Serving as Superintendent in Madison has been a great honor and the most rewarding 8 years of my career.

When it came to his decision to leave, Scarice said, the quality of the Westport Board of Education members was probably the tipping point for me.

The fact that Westport is perennially regarded as one of the most esteemed districts in Connecticut and that its student body is twice the size of Madisons also made the superintendents career move feel like the right one, Scarice said.

But the superintendent emphasized the Westport board members incredible professionalism as well as their commitment to support their superintendent and their ability to work collaboratively to solve complex problems.

Boards of education have different styles and priorities that reflect the needs of their specific communities, said Madison Board of Education Chairwoman Katie Stein. Tom worked well with Madisons Board of Education for many years and I am confident he will have a good relationship with Westports board in the future.

While Scarice did not say he had any problems with Madisons school board, one member expressed frustration about the length of time it took the town to institute remote learning after the coronavirus pandemic led to school cancellations, according to footage of a March 24 board meeting available on MadisonTVs YouTube Channel.

To be clear, I believe this is an administrative issue  a leadership issue, Greg DeSantis said. Many surrounding towns launched their remote learning programs before Madison, according to DeSantis.

Stein disagreed with DeSantis criticism, saying she preferred a well thought-out plan to something rushed by an arbitrary deadline, the video shows.

I am happy that this was done in 11 days with no prior planning. Its a testament to the dedication of our administrators, our support staff and our teachers, Stein said. Tom at the helm has clearly communicated through this process to the board and the community, setting appropriate expectations, but most importantly being a calming and compassionate leader.

DeSantis also issued a more general criticism of Scarices administration.

As a parent, and as a board member, Im tired of Madison education coming in last, and I believe this is another in a series of educational errors made by this administration, he said.

DeSantis declined to comment Friday.

Madisons school district has not been without controversy in recent months.

In February, Dave Mastroianni resigned from his post as Daniel Hand High Schools head football coach. The district placed him on administrative leave from his teaching position several days later because of a personal matter, Scarice said at the time.

Mastroiannis resignation from coaching had nothing to do with Scarices resignation, the superintendent stressed Friday.

The district is also facing three lawsuits that allege the district did not do enough to prevent former Hand teacher Allison Marchese from pursuing inappropriate relationships with students.

A judge dismissed the lawsuits, which were brought by three former Hand students, last spring, deciding that there was no evidence to indicate school officials knew or could have reasonably suspected Marcheses abusive behavior. The plaintiffs are appealing that decision and filed new briefs in the case as recently as February.

The lawsuit has no relation to Scarices departure, Stein emphasized.

She also pointed to what the superintendent has done for the district.

During his time here, Tom was a true thought leader and advocate who pushed to develop robust social emotional learning and ensured our district educates the whole child  things that will have a lasting and positive impact on our district even after his departure, Stein said.

While Stein was sorry to see Scarice go, she wished him the best, she said.

Looking to the districts future, she struck a positive note.

I have every confidence the Board will engage in a thorough and thoughtful recruitment process that will maintain strong educational leadership in Madison, she said.

Madison First Selectman Peggy Lyons did not respond to an email request for comment.

meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com
Calls seeking to obtain information about COVID-19, its testing centres and lockdown related measures in the country constitute an overwhelming 91 per cent of distress messages received by a national CRPF helpline set up last week to help citizens, latest data shows.

This is in comparison to only about eight per cent of distress messages received by it for supply of essentials like rations and medicine.

The Kashmir-based 'madadgaar' helpline was expanded on March 26 for a pan-India coverage with the addition ofWhatsApp number- 7082814411 to help those affected by lockdown and other restrictions declared by the government to contain the spread of coronavirus.

It earlier used to only serve states in the northern part, with a strong focus on Kashmir valley and Kashmiris, through its landline number14411 and Twitter handle @CRPFmadadgaar.

As per latest data accessed by PTI, a total of 4,713 calls and messages were received by the helpline between March 26-April 2 out of which 4,289 (91 per cent) pertained to seeking information about the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues like when will the ongoing lockdown end, when will the trains services resume and even asking what kind of measures the government is taking to ensure that the disease does not spread.

The data said these information-seeking calls or messages on the telephone line, WhatsApp, Twitter, email and FaceBook were about people seeking details of testing laboratories, quarantine centres, treatment facilities in their vicinity or for places where the caller had a near or dear one residing.

People also contacted the 'madadgaar' helpline seeking contact details of medical and other essential services in their area, local police and administrative helplines and issues related to the ongoing 21-day lockdown that was declared on the midnight of March 24.

A number of callers also sought information about the preventive measures to be deployed to combat the viral disease that has infected lakhs of people and killed thousands across the globe.

"We had thought that the new helpline for COVID-19 will be deluged with calls for supply of rations and hence we were planning logistics and manpower for these physical deliveries.

"But we were surprised that the overwhelming majority of calls were about seeking a variety of information about the pandemic and other details related to restrictions imposed due to the lockdown," CRPF Special Director General (JK zone) Zulfiqar Hasan told PTI.

These figures also reflect that the supply of rations and other essential goods, including that under the public distribution system (PDS) is running well in the country, the officer said.

IPS officer Hasan, the brain behind the helpline that was launched in 2017 with the specific aim to help Kashmiris in distress, said a number of people called the 'madadgaar' just "for seeking reassurance whether the CRPF and other security forces be there to help till the time the coronavirus challenge gets over?. We assured them of our commitment."



"We have an experienced team of young troops, led by our Assistant Commandant Gul Junaid Khan, who man the helpline and know how to deal with challenges on the ground and anxieties in the mind. In view of the increased workload, we have enhanced facilities and manpower for our helpline," Hasan said.

Only 5.26 per cent or 248 calls made during the last week to this helpline were for supply of rations to Kashmiri families, migrant labourers and some other people who were not able to purchase these essential items of daily use.

A person in Maharashtra's Raigarh was helped with rations on Thursday after 'madadgaar' involved the state police, a senior official said.

The helpline received a total of 108 calls and messages (2.29 per cent), during the same period, seeking help for supply of medicines and assistance for dialysis and blood donation, the data said.

The maximum of 4,455 contacts were made to the helpline through its landline number (14411) followed by 205 messages received on popular social media communication platform WhatsApp while the rest 52 were received either on the 'madadgaar' Twitter handle, FB page or email.

The senior official quoted above said the follower count on social media accounts of the 'madadgaar' has gone up by few thousands over the last few days and it has fetched over 1.41 lakh impressions or engagements on these mediums over the last week.

The 24x7 helpline has its official email id as crpfmadadgaar@gmail.com" and "madadgaar@crpf.gov.in and an SMS can also be sent to it over the number 7082814411.

The Central Reserve Police Force is the country's largst paramilitary force or Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) with a strength of about 3.25 lakh personnel deployed for a variety of internal security duties including anti-Naxal operations and counter-terrorism combat in the Kashmir valley.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TICKERS: MRO; MLRKF

Source: Maurice Jackson for Streetwise Reports (4/3/20)

In conversation with Maurice Jackson of Proven and Probable, the CEO of Millrock Resources describes the company's latest news.



Maurice Jackson: Today we will find out the latest developments from Millrock Resources Inc. (MRO:TSX.V; MLRKF:OTCQB) regarding drilling and assay results on the 64 North Gold Project, located in the prolific Tintina gold province in Alaska. Joining us for a conversation is Gregory Beischer, the CEO of Millrock Resources.

Sir, for someone new to Millrock Resources, please introduce the opportunity the company presents to the market.

Gregory Beischer: Millrock is a generative, early-stage exploration company. We look for gold and copper and other metals primarily here in Alaska, which is my home base. And the idea is to find a giant ore deposit and sell it to a major mining company, hopefully making a fortune for our shareholders in the process.

Maurice Jackson: Millrock has an expansive property bank, with projects in Alaska, British Columbia and Mexico, along with royalty-in-equity positions in other companies. Focusing on the former, take us to Alaska, where Millrock has generated quite a bit of excitement, I should say, in the market. Introduce the 64 North Gold Project.

Gregory Beischer: It really is a great project. We've built a huge land position that surrounds the Pogo Gold Mine. We have two highly compelling drill targets adjacent [to]in fact, within sight ofthe Pogo Mine. On March 8, we initiated the first drilling program to test the targets we've developed. Unfortunately, we've had to curtail the drilling. The contractor decided that it was best to retrench his workers back to their home base of Idaho before any travel restrictions were instituted. He didn't want his people stranded in Alaska.

So, unfortunately, it meant that we had to pause the program. Fortunately for our shareholders, we were able to complete one hole in full and part of a second one. And I would say that we're quite encouraged by what we saw in the first drill core out of the project. [For press release click here.]

Maurice Jackson: Well, you stole the thunder from my next question, which was how are operations being affected by the coronavirus? But let me ask you this, from a team perspective, has anyone been affected?

Gregory Beischer: No. Thankfully everyone is completely healthy. All of the technical and admin staff are working from home. And you know, it's just a bit unfortunate because the reality is the drill crew and geologists that we had on site were probably some of the safest people on earth. They were completely isolated from the rest of the human population, with almost no interaction with the outside world. So tough calls to make, but that's the call that the contractor made. And so we've got to live with that.

This is really uncharted territory for all of us and we just have to make the best possible decisions we can going forward. The mayor of Anchorage made what I thought was quite a good statement a week or 10 days ago when he said that, "We'll never know if we overreacted or we reacted too soon, but we'll definitely know if we under reacted or didn't do enough." I think those are good words to live by in the current environment.

Maurice Jackson: Well, if you're going to panic, panic early. Mr. Beischer, let me ask you this: You stated that you cleared the first drill hole. What do you plan to do with that in the duration of this pause right now?

Gregory Beischer: We have the core back in our core logging facility in Fairbanks, Alaska. We logged the entire first hole. We're in the process now of cutting that core in half. Half of it, of course, will go into the assay laboratory, so that they can tell us exactly how much gold is in the core. The other half is retained for visual observations going forward. So that is completed. Those samples should be going into the laboratory today. So we're looking at assay results to be received about a month from now.

Maurice Jackson: Sounds quite encouraging. In closing, Mr. Beischer, what message would you like to share with the shareholders?

Gregory Beischer: Well, I would say, Maurice, it really was quite encouraging visually. The core looked excellent. It was just what we were looking for. We saw an abundance of quartz veins transecting the rocks; there was strong wall rock alteration around those veins; and, best of all, there was obvious sulfide mineralizationpyrite, arsenal pyrite and, in one case, a little bit of bismuthaniteand all three of those elements are excellent indicators of gold in the general region.

In fact, if you were to lay this drill hole out beside drill holes that pierce the Pogo Gold Mine itself, I don't think you'd be able to tell the difference. To me it looks absolutely identical. I've seen holes from Pogo and this one looks just the same in the character and style of the mineralization.

Now, I have to be careful about these statements. Just because it looks just like a gold mine next door does not necessarily mean that Millrock has discovered a mine. But I would say we are highly encouraged by what we've seen on a visual basis. I don't want to overpromote this, and I don't want to be too hopeful, because it all comes down to the assay results. You never really know until you have those results in hand. But certainly, on a visual basis, we're quite encouraged by what we've seen.

Maurice Jackson: Mr. Beischer, for someone listening that wants to get more information on Millrock Resources, please share the contact details.

Gregory Beischer: Yes, of course. You can contact Melanie Henderson of investor relations at Millrock. You can easily get her contact information from our website and that's www.millrockresources.com.

Maurice Jackson: Millrock Resources trades TSX.V under the ticker MRO and on the OTCQB as MLRKF. Millrock Resources is a sponsor of Proven and Probable, and we are proud shareholders for the virtues conveyed in today's message.

And as a reminder, I'm a licensed representative for Miles Franklin Precious Metals Investments,where we provide a number of options to expand your precious metals portfolio from physical delivery, offshore depositories, precious metal IRAs and private blockchain distributed ledger technology. Call me directly at (855) 505-1900, or you may e-mail [email protected].

Finally, please subscribe to www.provenandprobable.com, where we provide mining insights and bullion sales. Subscription is free.

Gregory Beischer of Millrock Resources, thank you for joining us today on Proven and Probable.

Maurice Jackson is the founder of Proven and Probable, a site that aims to enrich its subscribers through education in precious metals and junior mining companies that will enrich the world.

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Even amid these losses, its critical to find reasons to give thanks, said Khader, the imam. We may look at things in the sense of mass hysteria, but the smart person is one who looks at the blessing instead of just the difficulty. Were blessed to spend more time with our families, were blessed with free time, we can sit down and read more and do other things that we couldnt have done before.
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Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, April 3, 2020 14:58 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f82e96 1 Business Indonesia,ride-hailing-application,Gojek,Grab,COVID-19,impact,Grab-Food,Go-Food Free

The governments appeal for people to work from home or travel by personal vehicle has left ride-hailing drivers with almost no customers. As such, ride-hailing providers have strategized to help their driver-partners and keep business afloat.

A report by big data firm Statqo Analytics said Grab and Gojek had experienced 16 percent and 14 percent downturn, respectively, among its active ride-hailing users within the last week of March.

A significant drop was seen on March 19, three days after schools and many businesses closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Our transportation sector is sloping but our food and logistics delivery orders are still doing quite good, said Grab Indonesia public affairs head Tri Sukma Anreianno during a press conference on March 23.

The companys food, logistics and grocery shopping delivery services have seen increased business, said a Grab Indonesia spokesperson.

We will expand GrabMart, our daily essentials delivery service, as well as GrabAssistant, our on-demand concierge service so that more people can stay home. This would also provide our driver-partners access to more earning opportunities through the Grab platform, the spokesperson wrote in an email to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

To help its employees, Grab has committed to US$10 million in initiatives, such as giving a one-time payout of Rp 1.5 million and Rp 3 Million to any GrabBike or GrabCar driver-partner, respectively, who undergoes the government-mandated quarantine or tests positive for COVID-19, among others.

The initiatives are partly funded by voluntary Grab employee donations that are matched dollar-for-dollar by the company.

Previously, Grab had also given 100,000 face masks, hair nets and hand sanitizers, as well as helmet cleaning vouchers, to their drivers.

Similarly, Gojeks chief of public policy and government relations, Shinto Nugroho, said on March 23 that since the implementation of physical distancing, the companys ride-hailing business had seen an overall decrease in orders, while its food and delivery service GoFood and GoSend, were said to be stable.

A study by mobile marketing analytics and attribution platform AppsFlyer showed that downloads of food and beverage delivery apps had risen 23 percent from January to early March in Indonesia, while food delivery orders rose 11 percent.

Gojek chief of corporate affairs Nila Marita said on Wednesday that the company had also halted its house-call massage service GoMassage since March 26 and had implemented health safety measures for house cleaning service GoClean.

Weve temporarily stopped the GoMassage service to comply with the governments call for social distancing, she told the Post.

She went on to say that for the GoClean service, cleaners went through daily health check-ups and were equipped with masks, gloves and disinfectant. They can also decline a house-call if the customers are visibly ill. Meanwhile, customers must also present travel history from the last 14 days to ensure they have not been in contact with patients under treatment for COVID-19.

Recently, the companys senior management cut their salaries to allocate more than Rp 100 billion to help drivers and employees cope with low demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has also imported face masks to be distributed to its drivers and the countrys healthcare providers. Drivers who get COVID-19 or become a patient under treatment can also receive financial aid from Gojek and its foundation, Yayasan Anak Bangsa Kita.
[April 03, 2020] Intry is Helping to Combat Rising Unemployment Rates, Focusing on Helping Candidates Find Jobs

AUSTIN, Texas, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intry is working to combat unprecedented unemployment levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic with its new Job2Resume tool. Based on each unique job description, Job2Resume will identify and match important details and keywords and utilize them in your resume and profile, creating a custom resume for each job the applicant applies to. Many companies utilize applicant tracking systems (ATS) that routinely monitor, filter and reject a majority of resumes. If the ATS software can't identify an adequate amount of appropriate keywords in the resume, it gets rejected. According to a Jobscan study, 75% of resumes are never read by a human being, due to being rejected by ATS software. Intry helps applicants beat ATS software, getting their resume in front of recruiters and hiring managers and onto the next step of the hiring process. The coronavirus outbreak is having a significant impact across all industries. 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the last week of March, and unemploymen is expected to continue, reaching unprecedented levels. Some analysts anticipate an unemployment rate of up to 30%. Intry is using its tools and expertise to help address the concerns of job seekers around the country who are looking for answers on how to find work during this challenging time.



With thousands of companies across the United States announcing layoffs and furloughing employees, it's becoming increasingly clear that every advantage is necessary to get ahead to find work in this limited job market. Intry is wholly focused on combating unemployment, helping candidates cut through the noise and helping qualified candidates find jobs. Although Intry also hosts job boards with postings for those looking for work, its mission goes far beyond. Intry's tools can be used to create custom resumes that can be used to apply for work on any job board site.

Contact:

Jennifer Sethre, Founder/CEO

Email: [email protected] Related Images intry.png

Intry View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intry-is-helping-to-combat-rising-unemployment-rates-focusing-on-helping-candidates-find-jobs-301035056.html SOURCE Intry

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Dumping milk is not something Tom Leedle, co-owner of Black Cat Dairy farm in Lake Geneva, said his three-generation farm family has ever had to do for economic reasons.

We started putting it down the drain, Leedle said. You do the best you can to have a good product, and its a real hit in the gut that you cant sell it.

The difficult decision came after a call from the Dairy Farmers of America, requesting farmers who sell their milk to DFA consider voluntary dumping of product amid a changing market during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Leedle family contracts with DFA to market their milk.

With the uncertainty of COVID-19 and evolving consumer buying habits, we are seeing demand for dairy products change, Kristen Coady, vice president of corporate communications for the Dairy Farmers of America, said in a written statement.

Initially, there was an increase in demand at grocery stores in anticipation of shelter-in-place orders. However, that demand is starting to level off, Coady said.

At the same time, demand for milk products decreased as a result of school and restaurant closures, which has resulted in an overall surplus of milk.

These sudden changes in demand are resulting in uncertainty, and are forcing some dairy manufacturers to cut or change production schedules or build inventories, Coady said.

Due to the excess milk and plants already operating at capacity, there is more milk right now than space available in processing plants. This, in combination with the perishable nature of our product, has resulted in a need to dispose of raw milk on farms, in some circumstances.

Leedles milking stock produces roughly 40,000 pounds of milk per day in a state-of-the-art robotic milking barn.

I remember we had to dump milk years ago when the weather was so bad the trucks couldnt get through for a couple of days  but never because of supply, Leedle said.

He said it also does not help that the export market has dried up.

Exports out of this country are virtually nonexistent because of the virus being worldwide, Leedle said. Seven to eight percent of our production usually goes to the export market.

Leedle said he will still get paid from the DFA for the milk he has to dump, under the marketing agreement. But, the waste of product is disheartening, especially at a time when grocery stores cant keep it in stock.

Dairy farmers throughout Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties  and nationwide  have received similar calls and notices.

Roughly 75 percent of dairy farmers in the tri-county area in southeastern Wisconsin are part of the Foremost Farms-USA cooperative. They received a letter urging them to consider dumping milk amidst a collapsing market.

We are asking our members to voluntarily reduce your milk production to the best of your ability, the letter says. We also need to be prepared for scenarios that would require members to dump milk on member farms.

Sue Crane, whose Brighton dairy farm is part of the Foremost Farms cooperative, said the letter caused concern across the close-knit dairy farming community.

I read the letter twice and called our field rep, Crane said of her reaction. I truly hope that doesnt ever have to happen.

Crane said she is supportive of Foremost Farms and understands there is a need to consider all the potential impacts and actions given this unprecedented time.

We believe they will do everything they can to market our milk so we can continue to ship it, she said.

Brian Schaal, a dairy farmer in Burlington who is also a member of the Foremost Farms cooperative, said the request comes at a time when milk prices are below the break-even point and operational costs are increasing.

Base price of milk per hundredweight is $16.64 for the month of April, down from $19.01 in January, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Its a real possibility, Schaal said of having to dump milk. It is definitely a concern. Its not like we can flip a switch and shut down production. The cows still need to be fed, taken care of and milked daily.

At the direction of Gov. Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to step in and support the dairy industry amid concerns about milk disposal.

In a time when many people are already food-insecure, its more important than ever that we get Wisconsins nutritious commodities in the hands of consumers who need them the most, Evers said. Im hopeful that our federal partners understand the urgency of the need here, and will take action accordingly.

The letter requests that the USDA purchase surplus commodities for redistribution to food banks, nutrition assistance programs, and other sources in an effort to divert Wisconsins nutritious commodities to Americans who need them.

Randy Romanski, interim secretary of DATCP, asked the USDA to re-open the enrollment of the Dairy Margin Coverage program.

With agricultures massive $104.8 billion impact on Wisconsins economy, it is critical that all of us in this industry work together to navigate this new territory, Romanski, said. DATCP has been in constant communication with people in all parts of the industry and hearing their concerns, including concerns about milk disposal. Thats why were urging USDA and Wisconsins congressional delegation to take immediate action to keep the supply chain flowing and get product in the hands of people who need it most.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China  Fri, April 3, 2020 10:07 647 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206f6ae39 2 Art & Culture China,arts,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,photography Free

A Chinese artist has paid tribute to doctors and nurses and their months-long battle to treat virus-stricken patients in his latest light painting creations.

Roy Wang and his team used the photographic technique of light painting to "draw" white wings on the back of a model posing in a white hazmat suit, the protective gear that has come to symbolize medical workers fighting the virus worldwide.

The model stood frozen as the camera shutter was opened, with Wang darting around her in the dark, using an electric light held aloft to draw in the air.

"The medical workers, in Chinese we call them 'the angels in white' -- they are saving the human, saving us," he told AFP.

"So I feel like I should create some light paintings to show respect for them."

Read also: A first film on the coronavirus epidemic has been shot

Since the virus first emerged late last year, at least 34 medical workers have died in China, according to official figures.

Wang also created a visual depiction of the virus, which has killed more than 40,000 around the world, using a neon green light.

As the coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic, Wang's next project is called "Light the world up", in which he collects the most inspiring words from his friends overseas and tries to light paint them in different languages.

"This is not just a problem of China, but a problem of the whole world," he said.

"We will get through the hard times, and the Earth will become better and better."
Sunitha Natti By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: The COVID-19 pandemic is mass destructing both lives and livelihood. Despite countries fighting a common enemy, the extent of human loss and the severity of economic fractures will differ.

Various governments have spread out stimulus buffets, but nations will likely need even more generous helpings until the pandemic passes and recovery begins.

India, too, dashed off its first Rs 1.7 lakh crore save-the-country relief package comprising cash transfers, free gas cylinders and food grains supply for three months covering two-thirds of the population or 800 million, among others. But, is it enough? Perhaps, a peer review of ASEAN and SAARC nations may help understand whats going on elsewhere.

The Indian subcontinent cant be strictly compared to any of the 18 member countries because of the sheer size of our population and economy. Still, a sneak peak indicates that our stimulus efforts need more meat on the bones. Other countries, despite strained finances and relatively being smaller economies, measured up to India. Some others did even better.

While export-dependent Vietnam deferred rentals and payments to pension pots for five months, Thailand lowered water and electricity bills, besides cash transfers to 9 million workers outside the social security system. For those within the social security net, it lowered contribution of employees and employers.

Singapore scrapped property taxes, waived student loan interest for one year plus cash giveaways to self-employed.

Malaysia, which consistently runs fiscal deficits since the Asian financial crisis in 1997, went all guns blazing with its largest-ever aid aggregating one-fifth of the GDP. Whats on offer? Almost everything from free internet to electricity bill discounts to temporary paid leave to special allowances for healthcare workers. And guess for how long? Not three months, not five months, but until the pandemic ends for good.

The Philippines is giving 0% interest loans to small farmers and fisherfolk besides financial aid to 18 million vulnerable households, while the $1-trillion Indonesian economy vowed to give stipends for even job seekers.

Smaller nations like Laos rolled out a 13-point economic stimulus package including lower electricity tariffs and tax reliefs to industry.

Others like Brunei offered fiscal assistance including flexible financing for real estate and restructuring of credit card loan dues.

The tiny nation Nepal took it upon itself lowering electricity charges besides urging private schools and internet service providers to extend freebies to customers.

Neighbouring Bangladesh with reliance on textile exports extended its stimulus package to 4 million textile workers among others.

India did well to some extent with the government volunteering to pay both employees and employers contribution towards EPF. However, but that generosity is limited to companies employing less than 100.

India Inc is worried as the Centre is yet to mount a rescue effort for industry. Other than RBIs interest payment deferrals on working capital loans, relief measures are largely limited to households.
Federal regulators are suing to break up the multibillion-dollar deal between tobacco giant Altria and e-cigarette startup Juul Labs, saying their partnership amounted to an agreement not to compete in the U.S. vaping market.

The action announced late Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission is the latest legal headwind against Altrias investment in the embattled San Francisco vaping company. Juul sales have been sliding for months amid state and federal investigations, lawsuits and flavor restrictions aimed at curbing the recent explosion in teen vaping.

For years, Altria competed in the burgeoning e-cigarette space. But the Richmond, Va., company was quickly overtaken by Juul, which became the top vaping brand on the popularity of its small, high-nicotine and fruity flavored e-cigarettes. The company has since pulled all of its flavors except tobacco and menthol.

In late 2018 Altria, discontinued its own e-cigarettes and took a 35% stake in Juul.

The complaint announced by the FTC alleges that Altria agreed not to compete against Juul in return for the $13 billion stake in the company.

Altria and Juul turned from competitors to collaborators by eliminating competition and sharing in Juuls profits, said Ian Conner, of the FTCs Bureau of Competition. It was not clear from the agencys initial statement whether Altria would be required to sell its stake in Juul.

If the case goes to trial, it would be heard by an administrative law judge in January, the agency said.

Altria said that the FTC misunderstood the facts of its investment in Juul.

We are disappointed with the FTCs decision, believe we have a strong defense and will vigorously defend our investment, Altria general counsel Murray Garnick said in a statement.

Juul did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Altria has slashed the value of its investment in Juul to roughly a third of what it initially paid, taking more than $8.5 billion in write-downs since October.

Matthew Perrone is an Associated Press writer.
The Centres decision announced on Tuesday to permit people from all over India to apply for government employment in all categories except the lowest non-gazetted (Level-IV) in the recently created Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is apt to be unpopular in the extreme not only in the predominantly Muslim region of the Kashmir Valley but also in Hindu-dominated Jammu, where the ruling BJP has electorally done well in recent years.

After Independence, when other princely states within Indias borders joined the newly independent country after Partition, the RSS and its affiliates active in the Jammu area did not seek to persuade the ruler of the then princely state of J&K to attach his domains to India. These outfits had close links with the Dogra royal family and waited on the ruler to make his decision  to even remain independent if he could. He could not as events showed, and joined the Union of India on certain conditions embodied in Article 370 of the Constitution. But with the end of princely rule and the rise of Sheikh Abdullah, the Hindutva outfits insisted on the scrapping of Article 370.

That process, after an ideological and political campaign of decades, was brought to fruition by the Narendra Modi government on August 5 last year. What has transpired as a consequence of the Centres order notified on April 1 is the ending of the category of permanent subject of the Maharajas period, and its substitution with the category of domicile in the current UT of J&K, to which the former state of J&K was reduced last August through a questionable procedure that is under challenge in the Supreme Court.

The definition of domicile leaves the door wide open for people from other parts of the country  for instance, children who have done their schooling for seven years in J&K and have taken the Class 10 or 12 examination from there qualify. They will be eligible in time to apply for any government job in the UT, including for the lowest non-gazetted posts, such as police constable and lower division clerk.

The people of the Jammu region, who had principally gone along with the BJPs agenda of ending J&Ks constitutional autonomy to express their resentment toward the Centre for its perceived partiality to the Valley, appear to have developed doubts since August last year, with realisation dawning that the end of autonomy for the Valley would also mean the end of their own privileged status which applied to all of J&K. The thinking taking shape now is that the employment-related new order may just be the preview of things to come. The apprehension is that those granted the domicile status will be able to buy property. Since it is widely believed that not many outsiders would be ready to invest in property in the Kashmir valley on account of the political troubles and violence in that part of the UT, the property-seekers from other states are likely to eye the Jammu region.

All political parties in J&K, including the Apni Party recently created under the BJPs aegis, have expressed themselves strongly against the new order. The Jammu BJP too is thought to be apprehensive.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) deliveries in China fell 43.3% in the first quarter, as consumers in many parts of China stayed home amid the coronavirus outbreak.

GM and its joint-venture partners delivered over 461,700 vehicles in the first quarter, the company said, down from about 814,000 in the first quarter of 2019, with sharp declines across all of GM's brands and market segments.

Like most global automakers, GM participates in the Chinese auto market via a series of joint ventures with domestic Chinese automakers. Those joint ventures build and sell vehicles under the familiar Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet brands, as well as two lower-cost brands unique to China, Baojun and Wuling.

Sales of all of GM's brands fell by more than 30% in the first quarter.

While some automakers have yet to report March sales results for China, GM's decline was likely in line with the broader market's.

GM said that it adopted "new tactics" to keep some level of sales going through the pandemic, including live-streaming events and "touch-free" vehicle services that addressed customers' concerns about potential coronavirus contamination.

GM China's ambitious new-product schedule for 2020 remains mostly on track. Despite the constraints of the Chinese government's anti-coronavirus measures, GM was able to launch a new vehicle in China in February, a battery-electric Chevrolet SUV called the Menlo.

It plans to launch the Chinese-market versions of the Cadillac CT4 sedan and the Chevrolet Blazer SUV in the second quarter, with other new models following later this year.

General Motors will report its first-quarter earnings results on May 6.
Security personnel in Dhaka stop vehicles during the countrywide public holiday imposed by the government amid the COVID-19 outbreak, April 1, 2020.

Updated at 5:10 p.m. ET on 2020-04-03

Bangladesh authorities indicated Friday that they had blocked BenarNews, nearly two days after the online portal became inaccessible in the South Asian country, amid what is believed to be a crackdown on criticism of the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

BenarNews is an online affiliate of Radio Free Asia, a U.S. government-funded group that provides uncensored and reliable news and information to audiences in Asia.

The Bengali and English sites of BenarNews have been inaccessible inside Bangladesh since Thursday morning (local time), but government officials have not directly confirmed the action or issued any notification. But they did confirm that several websites had been blocked for spreading rumors and misinformation.

Asked Friday why BenarNews had evidently been blocked, Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said there was a reason for the action, and urged the online portal to appeal to get it reversed.

Of course there is a reason for blockage. You better ask them to apply at the BTRC for reopening, he told a BenarNews reporter in Dhaka, referring to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

We blocked some sites involved in spreading rumors and misinformation. There are very few news sites blocked, Jabbar said, replying to a question about how many sites had been blocked by the government since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Contacted by BenarNews, BTRC chairman Jahurul Haque refused for a second day to give any information on which sites had been blocked.

We do not block sites with our own decision. The government has a policy of blockage. When different agencies send requests, we block the sites. I cannot specifically tell which are the sites blocked, he said.

The Bangladesh action came amid concerns expressed by U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) this week that the government appeared to be cracking down on those who were voicing concern over the governments handling of the epidemic.

Health authorities in the nation of 165 million people are testing for COVID-19 at an alarmingly low rate compared with many other countries, according to a local news report this week that cited testing data from the state-run Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

BenarNews adheres to a strict code of journalistic ethics and responsible reporting," said Kate Beddall, managing editor.

"Our journalists and editors are scrupulous in making sure content is well-sourced and balanced," she said. "At a time when people are in urgent need of timely, reliable information on the coronavirus pandemic, blocking an online news network that provides just that is a disservice to Bangladeshis.

On Friday, health officials in Bangladesh confirmed five new infections, for a total of 61, and six deaths. Bangladeshs confirmed death toll was five one week ago.

A number of sites had been blocked



When contacted Thursday, Jabbar said a number of sites had been blocked by the BTRC, which his ministry oversees. But he refused to say whether BenarNews was among them, and advised contacting intelligence agencies for confirmation.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh police said they had detained an undisclosed number of people in various parts of the country over allegations of spreading rumors about the coronavirus, and indicated that action was being planned against more than 100 websites and social media accounts.

The police said in a statement that a list of 50 social media accounts had been sent to the BTRC for action against them and we are also working at the moment to identify and locate people involved in spreading rumors from 82 other accounts, pages and sites.

A leaked draft of a United Nations memo has warned that up to 2 million people could die of the coronavirus in Bangladesh if the government does not take appropriate action to stem the virus in the densely populated country, according to a report from an investigative website.

BenarNews had carried the report, which was published last weekend by NetraNews, a Sweden-based non-profit news portal covering Bangladesh. NetraNews quoted the World Health Organizations country chief, Bardan Jung Rana, as saying that the memo was written jointly by U.N. agencies including WHO, the Bangladesh government and development partners.

The memo was reportedly circulated last week among diplomats in Dhaka.

When BenarNews interviewed Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen on the memo, he called the leak a total violation of the U.N. charter.

According to its rules, the U.N. should have consulted the host government before finalizing any statement, Momen told BenarNews.

They can only circulate [the document] if the host government approves [it], he said, adding, They have not shared the document with us.

Since mid-March, the authorities have apparently arrested at least a dozen people, including a doctor, opposition activists and students for their comments about coronavirus, most of them under the draconian Digital Security Act, HRW said in a statement on Tuesday.

While the government has a responsibility to prevent the spread of misinformation about COVID-19, this doesnt mean silencing those with genuine concerns or criticism of the governments handling of the crisis, said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The government should stop abusing free speech and start building trust by ensuring that people are properly informed about plans for prevention, containment, and cure as it battles the virus.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal rejected the statement from Human Rights Watch, telling BenarNews that the government was engaged in fighting coronavirus and not aiming to suppress free speech.
Bhopal/Indore, April 4 : The blame game continued in Madhya Pradesh as the government and the ruling party kept fretting and fuming over the role of minority community in the spread of coronavirus as positive cases rose dramatically from 121 in the afternoon to 154 by 11.30 p.m. on Friday.

Indore alone saw a rise of 23 cases in half a day shooting from 89 to 112. The total number of positive cases stood at 154 by midnight. Morena, which witnessed arrivals from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in the past seven days, registered a rise from two to 12.

The night bulletin issued by the state government coronavirus cell did not elaborate on the possible causes for sudden spurt The figures of corona positive cases confirmed in the state are 154. The break-up is: Indore 112, Morena 12, Bhopal 9, Jabalpur 8, Ujjain 7, Chhindwara and Khargone one each, Gwalior-Shivpuri each.

The state has recorded eight deaths due to the virus, five in Indore, two in Ujjain and one in Khargone.
A healthcare 'passport' to access NHS and other wellbeing services has been beneficial for the mental health of veterans and provides them with a sense of identity, according to research published in the BMJ Military Health.

The Veterans Universal Passport (VUP) pilot project was developed by Diane Palmer, formerly of the Veterans' Mental Health Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) for the Midlands and East of England, and is supported by the Ministry of Defence along with several veterans' charities. It has been independently evaluated by the Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

Participants in the scheme, who were veterans recently transitioning to civilian life, reported improved continuity of care and promoted a feeling of control over care. The military-specific nature of the VUP also gave participants a sense of identity and helped them negotiate the complexities of the civilian healthcare system.

One veteran who took part in the pilot scheme said: "It's been really great actually. It's got all my information in one place. Instead of me having to keep going backwards and forwards trying to find it. I find it really easy."

Healthcare workers also praised the VUP. One said: "It's a regularity of feeling proactive, engagement, in their own care."

Lead author Dr Lauren Godier-McBard, of ARU, said: "Many ex-service personnel find navigating health and social care services on 'civvy street' daunting and complex. However, it is important that veterans who are in need of these services are not lost in the system and an ongoing healthcare record provides continuity of care and patient empowerment.

"We identified in our research that participants found having a single document to access a number of different services reduced their anxiety and provided them with much-needed structure to their journey through treatment.

"The fact this is a document exclusively for veterans also gave them a sense of pride and identity, further improving their wellbeing."

###

The funding for the evaluation was provided by NHS England. It is hoped that the scheme will now be developed into a digital application and rolled out more widely, with potential for adoption in other populations and countries.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of top news as of 03.04.2020:

 Karabakh army soldier Garegin Babakekhyan, 20, died Friday under yet unknown circumstances, Artsakh MOD reported.

He has sustained a fatal gunshot wound to his chin.

A criminal case has been filed on the charges of negligently causing a serviceman to commit suicide, the Investigative Committee of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

An investigation is underway.

 The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has reached 736 in Armenia.

A total of 3,258 tests have come back negative, and 686 people are currently being treated.

According to the latest data, 43 people have recovered, whereas 7 patients have died.

Only on Thursday, Armenia reported three deaths.

In the meantime, the number of COVID-19 infected globally has already exceeded 1 million. As before, the US tops the world in terms of COVID-19 infection, while Italy is the first in the number of deaths.

 The EU will provide EUR 51,000,000 to Armenia to fight against COVID-19 together, the EU mission in Armenia wrote on Facebook.

According to the statement, particularly, EUR 18,000,000 new funds plus EUR 33,000,000 redirected towards supplying medical devices and equipment, training for medical and laboratory staff, support to SMEs and business community, as well as social and humanitarian aid to those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

 After receiving inpatient treatment, Armenias second President Robert Kocharyan was transferred back to Yerevan-Kentron Penitentiary Friday morning, his lawyers informed.

According to them, doctors have recorded dynamics in his health, but have stated that Kocharyan needs constant medical supervision and further treatment.

According to his lawyers, under such circumstances, Kocharyan's current health does not allow him to be held in the penitentiary, whose staff has not yet been tested for COVID-19.

 A 12-year-old boy has committed suicide Thursday by hanging himself in Sotk village of Armenias Gegharkunik Province, said police spokesperson Zarzand Gabrielyan.

The father and mother are contract servicepersons; they were in the workplace at the time, Sotk mayor Hakob Avetyan told Sputnik Armenia. They have three sons; the deceased was the eldest son."
At the time of writing, it has been just over one week since the World Health Organisation declared Coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic.

What a lot can change in a week. With more and more cases confirmed, and more and more restrictions put in place each day by governments around the world, everyday life as we know it has drastically changed.

The most unsettling thing for many people though is that at this stage there is no way of knowing how long this may last. Hearing that your place of work is now closed indefinitely is not good for anyones anxiety levels.

Grieving for the year that couldve been

I dont know about you, but my response to everything this week has been wholehearted grief. While I am grateful that I am still able to work both in the office and remotely at home, it feels like everything else in my life has been cancelled.

Church services and gatherings, Easter Camps and youth events, choir tours and concerts, overseas trips to see friends and family  some of these things have been years in the making.

Not only that, but many of these things were going to be my last one before a significant change in life circumstances next year. The sentimental goodbye to these parts of my life that I have been mentally and emotionally preparing for has been ripped out from underneath me.

Im gutted. Im disappointed. Im grieving.

I know that so many people in the world right now though are looking ahead at the rest of 2020 and it looks beyond anything they could have ever imagined in their craziest dreams, let alone how they thought the year might actually unfold. Theres no doubt about it  this is really hard to come to terms with.

Joy in the morning

But while there is grief and disappointment now, God promises us that joy is on its way: Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy. (Psalms, chapter 30, verses 5 and 11).

While it is good and healthy for us to grieve for a season, joy does come back around and this is the hope that Ive been holding onto this week.

Yes, my heart is aching right now, but God is still good, God is still faithful, and Gods promises still stand. Joy will come in the morning. Whether that is in a few days, in a week, or in a month, we just dont know, but we know that it will come.

Silver lining

What does this look like for me? I have no idea yet. But Im trusting that God has a silver lining for these very stormy clouds. While I cant do some things, God will provide other opportunities. While I cant meet with people, God will breathe life and community into my Spirit in new and fresh ways.

Perhaps this will become a season of deeper relationships, by having deep, meaningful conversations with people who are far away, instead of quick superficial text messages.

Perhaps this will become a season of spiritual intimacy, by spending dedicated time in prayer and reading Scripture, where we rely on God for everything we need because there is no one else.

Perhaps this will become a season where the world simply remembers what is most important to us  not material things or wealth or being busy, but people, community and love.

Good stuff remains

Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms, wrote a blog earlier this week which spoke deep to my soul, and as we navigate the uncertain season ahead, I pray that it speaks deep to your soul too:

Conversations will not be cancelled.

Relationships will not be cancelled.

Love will not be cancelled.

Songs will not be cancelled.

Reading will not be cancelled.

Self-care will not be cancelled.

Hope will not be cancelled.

May we lean into the good stuff that remains.
Vancouver, British Columbia and Johannesburg, South Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2020) -Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (TSX: PTM) (NYSE American: PLG) ("Platinum Group" or the "Company") reports that shareholders of Waterberg JV Resources Proprietary Limited ("Waterberg JV Co.") have executed a formal Amended Purchase and Development Option agreement with Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. ("Implats").

In consideration for the amendment, announced February 27, 2020, Implats is funding 100% of a new implementation budget and work program (the "Work Program") effective February 1, 2020. The Work Program, as approved by Waterberg JV Co., is aimed at increasing confidence in specific areas of the Waterberg DFS while awaiting the expected grant of a Mining Right and Environmental Authorization and is estimated to cost approximately Rand 55 million. The Work Program is being carried out remotely and in compliance with current South African health related stay at home restrictions.

The termination date of Implats' Purchase and Development Option was amended from the original date of April 17, 2020 to 90 calendar days following receipt of an executed Mining Right for the Waterberg Project. All other terms of the Purchase and Development Option remain unchanged. Amounts spent by Implats for the Work Program will be offset against Implats' future development funding commitment should it elect to exercise the Purchase and Development Option. The previous guidance for the grant of the Mining Right in Q2 2020 may be delayed by the current South African stay at home restrictions.

Platinum Group will continue to be the Manager of the Waterberg Project, as directed by the technical committee of Waterberg JV Co. A majority of the Company's South African personnel are engaged to complete the Work Program, which is being directed by Implats' technical personnel.

Further detail on the Purchase and Development Option

On November 6, 2017, Implats purchased 15% of the Waterberg JV Co. for US$30 million. Implats was also granted a Purchase and Development Option to increase its stake to 50.01% through additional share purchases from Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation ("JOGMEC") for an amount of US$34.8 million and earn-in arrangements for US$130 million paid to Waterberg JV Co. to fund development work, as well as a right of first refusal to smelt and refine Waterberg concentrate.

About Platinum Group Metals Ltd. and Waterberg Project

Platinum Group Metals Ltd. is the operator of the Waterberg Project, a bulk underground palladium and platinum deposit located in South Africa. The Waterberg Project was discovered by Platinum Group and is being jointly developed with Implats, JOGMEC, Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd. and Hanwa Co. Ltd.

Platinum Group has implemented a work from home policy for both the South Africa and Canadian offices, inline with government directives. The Company is continuing with operations utilizing the Company's pre-existing remote, secure IT connectivity and video conferencing in order to continue working effectively.

On behalf of the Board of

Platinum Group Metals Ltd.

R. Michael Jones

President and CEO

For further information contact:

R. Michael Jones, President

or Kris Begic, VP, Corporate Development

Platinum Group Metals Ltd., Vancouver

Tel: (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450

www.platinumgroupmetals.net

Disclosure

The Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which has been prepared by management.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic and related measures taken by government create uncertainty and have had, and may continue to have, an adverse impact on many aspects of the Company's business, including employee health, workforce productivity and availability, travel restrictions, contractor availability, supply availability, the Company's ability to maintain its controls and procedures regarding financial and disclosure matters and the availability of insurance and the costs thereof, some of which, individually or when aggregated with other impacts, may be material to the Company.

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the amendment to the Purchase and Development Option and other agreements as discussed herein, potential exercise by Implats of the Purchase and Development Option, financing and mine development at the Waterberg Project and grant of the mine right application. Although the Company believes any forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including possible adverse impacts due the global outbreak of COVID-19 (as described above), the Company's inability to generate sufficient cash flow or raise sufficient additional capital to make payment on its indebtedness, and to comply with the terms of such indebtedness; additional financing requirements; the 2019 Sprott Facility is, and any new indebtedness may be, secured and the Company has pledged its shares of Platinum Group Metals (RSA) Proprietary Limited ("PTM RSA"), and PTM RSA has pledged its shares of Waterberg JV Co. to Sprott, under the 2019 Sprott Facility, which potentially could result in the loss of the Company's interest in PTM RSA and the Waterberg Project in the event of a default under the 2019 Sprott Facility or any new secured indebtedness; the Company's history of losses and negative cash flow; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's properties may not be brought into a state of commercial production; uncertainty of estimated production, development plans and cost estimates for the Waterberg Project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, between actual and estimated development and operating costs, between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries and between estimated and actual production; fluctuations in the relative values of the U.S. Dollar, the Rand and the Canadian Dollar; volatility in metals prices; Implats may not exercise the Purchase and Development Option; the Company may become subject to the U.S. Investment Company Act; the failure of the Company or the other shareholders to fund their pro rata share of funding obligations for the Waterberg Project; any disputes or disagreements with the other shareholders of Waterberg JV Co. or Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd.; the ability of the Company to retain its key management employees and skilled and experienced personnel; conflicts of interest; litigation or other administrative proceedings brought against the Company; actual or alleged breaches of governance processes or instances of fraud, bribery or corruption; exploration, development and mining risks and the inherently dangerous nature of the mining industry, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and other risks and uncertainties; property and mineral title risks including defective title to mineral claims or property; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and South Africa; equipment shortages and the ability of the Company to acquire necessary access rights and infrastructure for its mineral properties; environmental regulations and the ability to obtain and maintain necessary permits, including environmental authorizations and water use licences; extreme competition in the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining, or a failure to obtain, permits necessary for current or future operations or failures to comply with the terms of such permits; risks of doing business in South Africa, including but not limited to, labour, economic and political instability and potential changes to and failures to comply with legislation; the Company's common shares may be delisted from the NYSE American or the Toronto Stock Exchange if it cannot maintain compliance with the applicable listing requirements; and other risk factors described in the Company's most recent Form 20-F annual report, annual information form and other filings with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and Canadian securities regulators, which may be viewed at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively. Proposed changes in the mineral law in South Africa if implemented as proposed would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and potential interest in projects. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Estimates of mineralization and other technical information included herein have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The definitions of proven and probable reserves used in NI 43-101 differ from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7. Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the mineralization can be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time the "reserve" determination is made. As a result, the reserves reported by the Company in accordance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC Industry Guide 7. In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and historically have not been permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. In particular, "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. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under NI 43-101; however, SEC Industry Guide 7 normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of SEC Industry Guide 7.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54075
Amid the 21-day lockdown imposed to combat coronavirus, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has airlifted essential medical supplies and commodities from its nodal points such as Delhi to states such as Assam and Uttar Pradesh and Union territories like Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

"During the last two days, IAF airlifted essential medical supplies and commodities from nodal points to Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Mohanbari in north eastern region; Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and Agra in the central region; and the Union territories of J&K and Ladakh," the ministry said in a statement.

In addition, the IAF airlifted critical medical supplies to Male in Maldives under 'Operation Sanjeevani' on Thursday.

Maldives was facing a shortage of essential medical supplies as its connectivity with India was broken after the imposition of the lockdown.

"Quarantine facilities created at IAF bases across the country continue in a state of readiness," the ministry stated.

India is under a 21-day lockdown till April 14 to curb the spread of coronavirus. All domestic and international commercial passenger flights have been suspended for this period.

The ministry said that the Indian Navy continued to extend a helping hand to locals through distribution of food and essential supplies during the nationwide lockdown.

"On April 1, 2020, Headquarters, Goa Naval Area coordinated with the Councillor of Mangor Hill and distributed critical supplies to families of daily wagers, migrant labourers and low income families at Gandhinagar. Around 1000 kg of essential provisions were distributed to 200 families," the ministry noted.

Additionally, 600 kg of provisions were handed over to Milind Naik, Minister for Urban Development and Social Welfare, for distribution to families in need, the ministry noted.

Earlier this week, jawans of the Defence Security Corps (DSC) and personnel from INS Hansa had distributed food at several locations in Goa's Vasco, the ministry said.

Approximately 320 people were provided cooked food at Vasco Railway Station, Bogda and Ram Mandir at Goa, it added.

Till now, around 2,500 people have been infected and more than 60 people have died due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in India, according to the Union Health Ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic varies widely from country to country. The number of new cases each day appears to be falling in some nations.

Note: The number of cases in China had a big jump in mid-February because officials changed the way cases were counted.

Take Italy, for example, where the number of new cases appears to be leveling off, most likely because of the countrys strict lockdown efforts. But the death toll continues to climb, and health officials say the country has not yet reached its peak.

China, where the pandemic began, appears to have drastically reduced both the number of new cases and new deaths. But its possible that the country is vastly understating its coronavirus totals.

And in the United States, the number of new confirmed cases is still multiplying rapidly, as some states continue to resist the most stringent measures.

The charts on this page show the number of new confirmed cases and new deaths each day, based on official accounts collected by The New York Times and Johns Hopkins University. Each line is the seven-day moving average, which smooths out day-to-day anomalies in how the data are reported by authorities.

The charts are not without limitations. Each country may have different reporting guidelines, which makes precise comparison among countries difficult. Some countries may be less proactive about testing or reach a limit in their ability to test, which could cause their numbers to be understated.

Still, these charts provide a way to measure the overall trajectory of the coronavirus in each country and give insight into which ones are far from controlling the virus.

All of these countries below have seen an average of more than 2,000 cases per day in the past week, and most of them are not showing any signs of a slowdown.

The rest of these countries have seen a lower number of new cases, though many are far from flattening their curve. After initially managing to keep their numbers lower, some Asian countries, like Taiwan and Singapore, have seen recent spikes. The countries here are sorted by the average number of new cases in the past week. Scales are adjusted in each country to make the curve more readable.
He has previously joked that his daughter Tilly dating Gino D'Acampo's son Luciano was a 'f***ing' nightmare during an appearance on the Jonathan Ross Show.

And Gordon Ramsay looked nothing short of horrified when he first realised that his daughter and Gino's eldest son, both 18, were out on a lunch date together.

The celebrity chef, 53, joked he 'felt sick' when he discovered their budding romance during a FaceTime call on his show Gordon, Gino and Fred: American Road Trip.

Hey Dad! Gordon Ramsay looked nothing short of horrified when he first realised that his daughter and Gino's eldest son, both 18, were out on a lunch date together

The trio were travelling in the car when they video called Luciano, who revealed he was coincidentally dining at one of Gordon's restaurants, Heddon Street Kitchen.

However the reason he was at the eatery soon became clear, as he panned the video to Tilly and said look who I'm here with, as she shouted: 'Hey dad!'

A clearly unimpressed Gordon said: 'Tilly, what are you doing Matilda!?'

While Luciano explained: 'We're on a date, we've gone for dinner.'

Hello: The celebrity chef, 53, joked he 'felt sick' when he discovered their budding romance during a FaceTime call on his show Gordon, Gino and Fred: American Road Trip

Perfect match? Luciano's father Gino previously said he was thrilled his son was dating Tilly, especially as it gave him leverage to wind up friend Gordon

Gordon jumped in and said: 'Tilly, you didn't tell me you were going to dinner with Luciano', while she cheekily replied: 'Oh sorry, I must have forgot!'

Their co-host Fred Sirieix didn't help matters as he chimed in and said: 'Remember guys, it's okay to kiss on the first date!'

The episode, which aired on Thursday evening, was filmed last year and Tilly has since confirmed her romance with new boyfriend Seth Mack.

Luciano's father Gino previously said he was thrilled his son was dating Tilly, especially as it gave him leverage to wind up friend Gordon.

Amused: The trio were travelling in the car when they video called Luciano, who revealed he was coincidentally dining at one of Gordon's restaurants, Heddon Street Kitchen

Not impressed: However the reason he was at the eatery soon became clear, as he panned the video to Tilly, who shouted: 'Hi dad!'

He said on This Morning: 'They've known each other for a few years now. I don't really want to say a lot because it's none of my business.

'But what a great pleasure knowing my son is dating Gordon's daughter, just to really annoy him.'

Gordon previously branded the teen romance a 'f**king nightmare' on The Jonathan Ross Show.

Triple trouble! The episode, which aired on Thursday evening, was filmed last year and Tilly has since confirmed her romance with new boyfriend Seth Mack

Delighted! Gino previously said that he was thrilled by the prospect of Luciano (pictured in May) dating Gordon's daughter, as it gave him leverage to wind up the chef

No awkwardness here! Luciano attended Tilly's 18th birthday after she went public with her new beau despite her dad Gordon claiming they were dating

Joking about whether there was going to be an arranged marriage any time soon, Jonathan told the audience: 'It is Gino's son who is by the way is a very handsome man - I think Gino isn't the father.'

Gordon said: 'We were driving through San Francisco and FaceTiming Luciano and all of a sudden Tilly pops up behind them, and they are out having lunch. I think they are friends.'

'I have heard they are more than friends', Jonathan said, drawing laughs from the audience.'

Surprise! Tilly shared a cosy snap with her new man who was tagged as Seth Mack, and simple captioned the post with a heart emoji

Despite their apparent romance, it appears that either things didn't work out for Tilly and Luciano or they were just good pals, as she is now dating her current boyfriend.

The budding chef shared the black and white image with the new beau tagged as Seth, which lead Gordon to comment in bewilderment: 'Wtf?'

When grilled about her new man, Tilly said he was her 'real and only' beau, despite dad Gordon confirming she was dating Gino's son Luciano in a TV appearance.

In the loved-up snap, Tilly was beaming with delight as she posed alongside her new man, and simply captioned the black and white image with a heart emoji.
Target stores will begin to limit the number of shoppers in its stores on Saturday, April 4, to promote social distancing during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The company will also provide its store and distribution center employees and Shipt shoppers with disposable face masks and gloves to wear at work, a news release said.

The measures were announcing today are aimed at ensuring we are creating a safe environment for the guests who continue to turn to Target, while also providing our team with additional resources as they fulfill an essential service in communities across the country, said John Mulligan, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

RELATED: Michigans chief medical executive: strongly consider wearing masks in public during coronavirus pandemic

Social distancing  the practice of staying 6 feet away from other people  is the primary reason for limiting store traffic, the release said. Occupancy limits will vary depending on each stores square footage to enhance space per person and reduce congestion.

Employees will monitor the number of customers inside, the release said. If the occupancy limit is reached, they will direct customers to an outdoor waiting area, which will have social distancing markers.

In the next two weeks, shoppers will begin seeing Target employees don masks and gloves. The company is still encouraging virus-prevention hygiene recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including asking employees to stay home if they are sick.

Team members will be provided with disposable face masks and gloves at the beginning of every shift. The company is encouraging employees to wear the protective equipment while working.

RELATED: Youre probably using disposable gloves all wrong; Michigan nurse gives tips

Target will also donate 2 million KN95 respirator masks to medical professionals across the country.

The new measures are in addition to efforts already in place to enhance health and safety in stores, including rigorous cleaning of stores and distribution centers, floor signage to encourage social distancing, plexiglass partitions at registers, and contactless order pickup and home delivery.

As of Thursday, April 2, Michigan has 10,791 coronavirus cases and 417 deaths from the virus. This week, Whitmer asked for a 70-day extension to the state of emergency that was declared on March 10 and is due to expire on April 7. Whitmers statewide stay-at-home order remains in effect through April 13. On Thursday morning, Whitmer announced that children will not return to classrooms to finish the school year.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

READ MORE:

Friday, April 3: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Excessive drinking compromises immune systems, Michigan officials warn amid coronavirus

How much more is the U.S. drinking during coronavirus spread? A lot.

Is Michigan really social distancing? Phone data shows the answer

Boyne company makes That Woman in Michigan shirt worn by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 3, 2020) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (the "Company" or "Southern Silver") has entered into an agreement with Monarca Minerals Inc. to purchase the El Sol mineral claim in Durango, Mexico.

The claim is situated contiguous with Southern Silver's Cerro Las Minitas mineral property, operated as a joint venture between Southern Silver and Electrum Global Holdings LP.

The purchase is solely for the account of Southern Silver and the claim will not form a part of the Cerro Las Minitas joint venture. Acquisition cost is $US 300,000 payable in three equal instalments on execution of a definitive agreement, twelve months and eighteen months together with retention by the vendor of a 2% NSR on production from the claim with a right in Southern Silver to purchase the royalty at any time for US$1,000,000.

El Sol Claim

The El Sol concession is a single 63ha claim strategically located on the northwestern boundary of the Bocona block of claims and is adjacent to the Area of the Cerro which hosts the four mineral deposits currently identified within the Cerro Las Minitas claim package. It covers an important northwest projection of the Blind - El Sol deposits and potentially at least one additional mineralized structure.

The claim is largely gravel covered with previous work including: airborne magnetic geophysics; surface soil and acacia sampling; limited dump sampling of historic artisanal workings and a single core hole in the southeastern end of the property.

A drill hole, from 2013, intersected thick intervals of aplite and monzonite with associated grossular skarn and re-crystallized limestone which corresponds well to the projection of the Blind Zone deposit and returned anomalous Ag-Pb-Zn values with associated pathfinder elements. Additional exploration potential exists both down dip of the initial drill intercepts and on-strike to the northwest where the projected structure crosses two large magnetic anomalies located on the claim.

Select dump sampling of artisanal workings located to the northeast of the Blind Zone structure returned anomalous values from several strongly oxidized and silicified rocks including sample CLM-316 which returned 0.67g/t Au, 559g/t Ag, 3.3% Pb and 4.3% Zn. These workings do not appear to be related to the Blind Zone mineralization and represent a second potential high-grade target for priority follow-up.

Future exploration on the claim by Southern Silver will focus on: defining new drill targets along the projection of the Blind Zone deposit; further sampling in the area of the two large magnetic anomalies located on the claim and target definition in the area of the artisanal workings.







Figure 1: El Sol Claim Location. See full description of resource in Footnote 1

To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5344/54088_aa85e9d8c4965957_002full.jpg

Corporate Update

In corporate matters, the Company reported on recent warrant and stock option exercises. During the current fiscal period:

9,944,295 share purchase warrants issued in March 2015, which expired in March 2020, with an exercise price of $0.08, have been exercised for gross proceeds receivable of $795,544;

1,818,000 stock options granted in March 2015, which expired in March 2020, with an exercise price of $0.08, were exercised for gross proceeds receivable of $145,440;

1,850,000 share purchase warrants issued in April 2016, which were due to expire in April 2021, with an exercise price of $0.08, have been exercised for gross proceeds receivable of $148,000; and

1,110,000 share purchase warrants issued in May 2016, which were due to expire in May 2021, with an exercise price of $0.15, have been exercised for gross proceeds receivable of $166,500.

Proceeds from such warrant and option exercises of $1,255,484, together with gross proceeds from our 2019 Unit private placement of $4,206,500, are being used for working capital and to cover the Company's share of the costs associated with current and future exploration and development programs at Cerro Las Minitas and El Sol.

Southern Silver announces that it has granted 2,466,666 incentive stock options exercisable at a price of $0.12 per common share to directors, officers and consultants. 1,800,000 stock options have a five year term and the remaining 666,666 stock options have a three year term; all stock options are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is a precious metal exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in north-central Mexico and the southern USA. Our specific emphasis is the Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing, along with our partner, Electrum Global Holdings LP, the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA.

The 2019 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 2m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn values interpolated using ID3 weighting. Silver and zinc equivalent values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The model is identified at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, with an indicated resource of 11,102,000 tonnes averaging 105g/t Ag, 0.10g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn and 0.16% Cu and an inferred resource of 12,844,000 tonnes averaging 111g/t Ag, 0.07g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn and 0.27% Cu. AgEq cut-off values were calculated using average long-term prices of $16.6/oz. silver, $1,275/oz. gold, $2.75/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.25/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries for the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits of 91% silver, 25% gold, 92% lead, 82% zinc and 80% copper and for the Skarn Front deposit of 85% silver, 18% gold, 89% lead, 92% zinc and 84% copper were used to define the cut-off grades. Base case cut-off grade assumed $75/tonne operating, smelting and sustaining costs. All prices are stated in $USD. Silver Equivalents were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine a final AgEq value. The same methodology was used to calculate the ZnEq value. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and supervised directly or was part of the team that supervised the collection of the data from the El Sol Project that is reported in this disclosure and is responsible for the presentation of the technical information in this disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, Q.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.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.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. 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. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. 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 to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54088
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @Instacart) Instacart goodies

Coronavirus is still the major concern of most countries. People are still advised to stay in their homes and practice social distancing. Ordering food and buying groceries is not easy today. However, there are front liners--those who are working on delivery services and groceries, continue their services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, these workers are at risk of being exposed to the virus.

Some delivery companies are taking action to ensure the safety of their employees while on operations. Instacart is among them.

The delivery company announced will provide health kits to its employees. This will help in ensuring the safety of the workers while providing the people the service they needed during this pandemic.

After Workers Demand, Instacart Provides Safety Kits

According to the report of The Verge, health and safety kits will be given to the workers starting next week using the official Instacart website after its employees demand it. The health and safety kits include facemask, reusable cloth, hand sanitizer, and thermometer.

In-store shoppers at certain retail stores will receive a free face mask, as stated by the delivery company. Previously, workers organized a work stoppage if the company will not provide the request.

The provided safety measurement came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), advising the American citizens always to wear a mask when they are out in public. CDC's previous guidance only states that only medical workers and sick people should be wearing masks. This has been changed due to people's concerns that there are carriers that don't show any symptoms which will lead to further of the number of cases.

Gig Workers Collective helped the workers voice out

Gig Workers Collective helped the employees of Instacart to get their attention and provide them what the need. The said group doubt the availability of the safety kits and worries how long will the workers receive them.

The Gig Workers Collective posted a blog that states the workers' concerns. There was a note saying that the hand sanitizers offered by the company were suddenly sold out, in which Instacart responded that they will distribute enough independently-developed hand sanitizer to its employees.

Gig workers are still not satisfied with Instacart's safety measurement since it is not enough to protect them as they are still vulnerable outside where the pandemic is. The group also reiterated that the company should increase the amount of the default in-app tip at least 10 percent and also provide a hazard payment of 5 dollars every order to cover the risks linked with working for the company.

They also demanded sick leaves and easy access to get sick leave for those workers who have pre-existing conditions that requires them to stay at home. Responding with its workers' demands, Instacart has promised their employees a 14 day paid sick leave for those who are ill or need quarantining to avoid getting infected by COVID-19. Although there were safety actions the company has made, Gig workers still believe it wasn't enough.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Pouring wine at Black Star Farms on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City. Photo by Emily Rose Bennett

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By Emily Bingham | ebingham@mlive.com

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Social distancing at home and running low on vino? Michigan wineries have you covered.

Many Michigan wineries are offering sweet special shipping deals right now, as tasting rooms and wine events across the state have been closed or put on hold on account of the COVID-19 crisis. The deals range from free shipping and penny shipping to even, in one case, a bonus of gourmet Northern Michigan-made cheese.

Read on for some of these deals and to find links to the Michigan wineries offering them. (Note that some of these offers are only for a limited time and may be subject to change.)

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Gone through all the wine you had stocked up, or just almost running on empty? Take advantage of our Penny Shipping on... Posted by Amoritas Vineyards on Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Amoritas Vineyards in Lake Leelanau is offering penny shipping on six or more bottles.

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Bellago Winery in Cedar is offering penny shipping and Boss Mouse cheese (while supplies last).

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RELATED: Michigan distillery hosting virtual cocktail parties with live video recipes

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This has certainly been a trying few weeks, but we at Chateau Fontaine are finally able to announce some things. First... Posted by Chateau Fontaine Vineyard and Winery on Friday, March 27, 2020

Chateau Fontaine in Lake Leelanau is offering penny shipping on 12 or more bottles.

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Verterra Winery in Leland is offering free shipping on six or more bottles with the code FREESHIPPING, and an extra 10 discount on cases.

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Stay home, stay safe and enjoy Michigan wine with free shipping on your purchase of six or more bottles. No promo code... Posted by Black Star Farms on Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay is offering free shipping on purchases of six or more bottles, no promo codes necessary.

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Shady Lane Cellars in Suttons Bay is offering penny shipping.

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15% OFF our white wines through Sunday, 4/5 at 11:59pm! Plus, PENNY SHIPPING on 3-12 bottles! White wine spotlight:... Posted by Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery on Thursday, April 2, 2020

Brys Estate on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City is offering a limited-time deal on white wines, plus penny shipping on three to 12 bottles.

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Chateau Chantal on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City is offering special shipping discounts, including penny shipping on six or more bottles.

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RELATED: These 10 Michigan wineries will make you forget about Napa
Though there have been no cancellations of contracts by invoking the force majeure clause, a number of clients - especially in the worst-affected sectors like travel and hospitality, oil and gas, as well as manufacturing - have started asking for reducing level of IT support.

Enterprises in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, which have halted operations or have significantly reduced their scale owing to Covid-19, are pressurising Indian IT services vendors to reduce their level of support and maintenance functions.

People in the know said this could be seen as a precursor to renegotiation of pricing, which clients may take up with IT firms in coming quarters.

Though there have been no cancellations of contracts by invoking the force majeure clause, a number of clients - especially in the worst-affected sectors like travel and hospitality, oil and gas, as well as manufacturing - have started asking for reducing level of IT support, said an official of a mid-tier IT services firm.

This potentially opens up the window for renegotiation of prices, said the person.

Core business operations, comprising application and maintenance-related work, still contribute around 60 per cent to Indian IT firms top line, despite a rising share of digital revenue.

In case of reduced IT support, the share of core revenue is likely to fall.

Further, as billing in many projects is done on the basis of the number of engineers deployed in a project (with hourly rates), any reduction in support staff could lead to downward revision of pricing in coming days.

According to experts tracking the sector, clients in hospitality, manufacturing, and oil & gas are likely to hold back their IT spends, which could potentially affect 10-12 per cent of export revenue, aggregating $15 billion.

With a travel ban imposed by many nations, several airlines have informed their investors regarding the cut in their budgets.

While US-based Delta Air Lines has gone public about reducing its expenditure, peers such as United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines have hinted at the same.

Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific has said it will incur losses in the first half of 2020, owing to the outbreak.

Besides airlines and cruise companies, even oil and gas majors including Total SA, BP, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and Chevron Corporation are likely to cut IT spends in 2020, owing to the plunge in crude oil prices.

Many of the new multi-year contracts were signed in January and February.

"In that way, the deal pipeline is good. But given the crisis, ramping up of these deals will take time, said an IT outsourcing advisor.

Brokerage firm Anand Rathi said in a report that dollar revenues of Indian IT firms are likely to fall three percentage points in FY21.

In a note, it said the overall industry will grow around 4 per cent in the current financial year.
Disease experts and health officials have made it abundantly clear: staying home is the best way to slow the spread of the coronavirus. And if you go out for essential tasks, stay at least six feet apart from others.

But for grocery store employees, following those instructions are nearly impossible.

(We) are scared of this virus, but we all have to work, Joanne Sienkiewicz, who has worked at the ShopRite in Clark for four years, told NJ Advance Media.

Sienkiewicz, who previously worked at a Pathmark for 25 years, praised ShopRite for efforts to keep employees safe.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Workers are wearing gloves, maintaining distance, and washing their hands regularly, she said. And, ShopRite recently instituted a new policy limiting the number of customers in the store to roughly 30% of the stores maximum occupancy, in at least 27 New Jersey locations. Security guards stationed at the stores entrances will track customers entering and leaving.

Still, Sienkiewicz, said, theres only so much the store can do.

We are exposed to this deadly virus every day, every minute we are at work, everything we touch," she wrote.

Grocery store chains throughout the state have been upping safety precautions amid the coronavirus outbreak, and reports of employees at multiple supermarkets throughout the state testing positive for COVID-19.

Sabrina Lopez, a cashier at ACME Markets in Brigantine, works behind a plexiglass shields while waiting on a customer, Monday, March 23, 2020.Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Costco has reduced service in some of its departments to help social distancing efforts, according to an update from the company. At some locations, there is limited or no service at the eye, floral, and jewelry department.

Trader Joes is implementing social distancing measures by limiting the number of people allowed in a store at one time, along with other health measures, such as increased cleaning and sanitization efforts, a spokeswoman said.

The Wegmans in Woodbridge is striving to enforce social distancing through strategically placed blue tape on the floor. Other Wegmans locations are implementing similar measures, along with installing plexiglass shields at pharmacies and registers, and recently permitting employees to wear masks.

Loretta Grace, an employee at the store for a little over a year, said theres tape near the register, customer service area, and other places there may be lines of people. Gloves are also available, Purell sanitizers are at the registers, and employees are constantly disinfecting the store, she said.

But people line up outside the store before it opens and Grace said she hasnt seen the blue tape outside, encouraging social distance while waiting to get inside.

I imagine thats a lot harder to do, she said. We can only do so much. Management and the Wegmans company itself has tried everything it can to keep us safe.

Not all supermarket employees have been as satisfied.

Whole Foods employees went on a national strike on Tuesday with a list of demands, including social distancing between workers and the immediate shutdown of any store where an employee has been infected with COVID-19.

Kait Mazoh worked at the Kings Food Markets in Mendham until last Thursday, when she left the company for her second job. Before she left, she saw some safety improvements, like yellow tape marking where customers should stand.

Plexiglass at the cashiers registers was also installed over the weekend, she said, but these efforts are not enough. People come into the store and ignore the social distancing restrictions, putting employees at risk.

Sometimes I feel like its still turning into a neighborhood gathering, while not maintaining social distancing, she told NJ Advance Media. Ive seen people giving hugs, high fives, patting on the back.

Kimberly Yorio, a spokeswoman for Kings Food Markets, said the stores have implemented a 30% maximum capacity restriction, installed plexiglass shields for safety and tape on the floor to encourage distancing, and added PA announcements over the loudspeakers.

A few larger Kings stores are also testing one-way aisles with arrow markers, she said, which may be rolled out to other stores if successful. Select employees are also assigned to remind customers in the store to keep six feet apart.

Weve found that people(with) as much information as they have and they know itwhen they get in the store, its not top of mind, she said, referring to social distancing. Were doing everything we can to remind customers.

Mazoh, who has asthma, said many employees are older and have pre-existing conditions, like asthma or diabetes. Yet, they still work, while some customers come into the store coughing.

Its gross, she said. Still, I feel like either way were going to get sick.

Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
The emergence of the novel coronavirus has left the world in turmoil. COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, has reached virtually every corner of the world, with the number of cases exceeding a million and the number of deaths more than 50,000 worldwide. It is a situation that will affect us all in one way or another.

With the imposition of lockdowns, limitations of movement, the closure of borders and other measures to contain the virus, the operating environment of law enforcement agencies and those security services tasked with protecting the public from harm has suddenly become ever more complex. They find themselves thrust into the middle of an unparalleled situation, playing a critical role in halting the spread of the virus and preserving public safety and social order in the process. In response to this growing crisis, many of these agencies and entities are turning to AI and related technologies for support in unique and innovative ways. Enhancing surveillance, monitoring and detection capabilities is high on the priority list.

For instance, early in the outbreak, Reuters reported a case in China wherein the authorities relied on facial recognition cameras to track a man from Hangzhou who had traveled in an affected area. Upon his return home, the local police were there to instruct him to self-quarantine or face repercussions. Police in China and Spain have also started to use technology to enforce quarantine, with drones being used to patrol and broadcast audio messages to the public, encouraging them to stay at home. People flying to Hong Kong airport receive monitoring bracelets that alert the authorities if they breach the quarantine by leaving their home.

In the United States, a surveillance company announced that its AI-enhanced thermal cameras can detect fevers, while in Thailand, border officers at airports are already piloting a biometric screening system using fever-detecting cameras.

Isolated cases or the new norm?

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With the number of cases, deaths and countries on lockdown increasing at an alarming rate, we can assume that these will not be isolated examples of technological innovation in response to this global crisis. In the coming days, weeks and months of this outbreak, we will most likely see more and more AI use cases come to the fore.

While the application of AI can play an important role in seizing the reins in this crisis, and even safeguard officers and officials from infection, we must not forget that its use can raise very real and serious human rights concerns that can be damaging and undermine the trust placed in government by communities. Human rights, civil liberties and the fundamental principles of law may be exposed or damaged if we do not tread this path with great caution. There may be no turning back if Pandoras box is opened.

In a public statement on March 19, the monitors for freedom of expression and freedom of the media for the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights and the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe issued a joint statement on promoting and protecting access to and free flow of information during the pandemic, and specifically took note of the growing use of surveillance technology to track the spread of the coronavirus. They acknowledged that there is a need for active efforts to confront the pandemic, but stressed that it is also crucial that such tools be limited in use, both in terms of purpose and time, and that individual rights to privacy, non-discrimination, the protection of journalistic sources and other freedoms be rigorously protected."

This is not an easy task, but a necessary one. So what can we do?

Ways to responsibly use AI to fight the coronavirus pandemic

Data anonymization: While some countries are tracking individual suspected patients and their contacts, Austria, Belgium, Italy and the U.K. are collecting anonymized data to study the movement of people in a more general manner. This option still provides governments with the ability to track the movement of large groups, but minimizes the risk of infringing data privacy rights. Purpose limitation: Personal data that is collected and processed to track the spread of the coronavirus should not be reused for another purpose. National authorities should seek to ensure that the large amounts of personal and medical data are exclusively used for public health reasons. The is a concept already in force in Europe, within the context of the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but it's time for this to become a global principle for AI. Knowledge-sharing and open access data: Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, has insisted that global action and solidarity are crucial, and that we will not win this fight alone. This is applicable on many levels, even for the use of AI by law enforcement and security services in the fight against COVID-19. These agencies and entities must collaborate with one another and with other key stakeholders in the community, including the public and civil society organizations. AI use case and data should be shared and transparency promoted. Time limitation: Although the end of this pandemic seems rather far away at this point in time, it will come to an end. When it does, national authorities will need to scale back their newly acquired monitoring capabilities after this pandemic. As Yuval Noah Harari observed in his recent article, temporary measures have a nasty habit of outlasting emergencies, especially as there is always a new emergency lurking on the horizon. We must ensure that these exceptional capabilities are indeed scaled back and do not become the new norm.

Within the United Nations system, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) is working to advance approaches to AI such as these. It has established a specialized Centre for AI and Robotics in The Hague and is one of the few international actors dedicated to specifically looking at AI vis-a-vis crime prevention and control, criminal justice, rule of law and security. It assists national authorities, in particular law enforcement agencies, to understand the opportunities presented by these technologies and, at the same time, to navigate the potential pitfalls associated with these technologies.

Working closely with International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), UNICRI has set up a global platform for law enforcement, fostering discussion on AI, identifying practical use cases and defining principles for responsible use. Much work has been done through this forum, but it is still early days, and the path ahead is long.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated several innovative use cases, as well as the urgency for the governments to do their utmost to stop the spread of the virus, it is important to not let consideration of fundamental principles, rights and respect for the rule of law be set aside. The positive power and potential of AI is real. It can help those embroiled in fighting this battle to slow the spread of this debilitating disease. It can help save lives. But we must stay vigilant and commit to the safe, ethical and responsible use of AI.

It is essential that, even in times of great crisis, we remain conscience of the duality of AI and strive to advance AI for good.
Founder and Leader of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has revealed that he has rejected Rolls-Royce car gifts on two occasions.



Archbishop Duncan-Williams said different people offered to bring him Rolls-Royce cars as gifts and that the first offer came two years ago and the second came in last year, but he rejected them.



He said he had to reject both offers because it was not the appropriate time for him, especially in Ghana where people like to poke into other peoples business. He noted that he could not have received those car gifts while he was finding money to build a rehabilitation centre and a prayer mountain.



Two years ago, one of my sons called me and said Papa I am getting you a Rolls-Royce and I said thank you very much, bring me the money. Then last year another son came to me, Papa Ive placed some money down for a Rolls-Royce for you, what colour do you want? And I said, what is it about you people and Rolls Royce when it comes to me? And he said, you deserve it and I said, you dont understand.



Rolls-Royce in Ghana here when Im trying to build a drug rehab and a prayer mountain and am driving a Rolls Royce in this Ghana. And I said youre not a prophet, this time you missed it. This time, you didnt hear from God and he said, what do I do and I said, bring me the money. When I am 70, 75, 80 or 90 I will drive a Rolls-Royce, the Archbishop made the revelation while preaching to his congregation in a new video.

Source: ghanaguardian.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-04 06:25:37|Editor: xuxin

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Photo taken on April 3, 2020 shows the video conference held between Chinese and Irish health officials and experts on the COVID-19 in Dublin, Ireland. Health officials and experts from China's Hubei Province on Friday held a video conference with their Irish counterparts to share their experience in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Chinese embassy in Ireland in a press release. Friday's video conference is the second of its kind held between China and Ireland. (Chinese Embassy to Ireland/Handout via Xinhua)

DUBLIN, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Health officials and experts from China's Hubei Province on Friday held a video conference with their Irish counterparts to share their experience in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Chinese embassy in Ireland in a press release.

The meeting, facilitated by the Chinese embassy in Ireland, was hosted by Wu Jianmin, a senior official from the Foreign Affairs Office of Hubei Provincial People's Government, said the press release.

Addressing the conference, Wu said that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is the common enemy of all humanity and Hubei is grateful for the precious support offered by Ireland during its fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

Wu added that Hubei is now willing to do its best to help Ireland fight COVID-19.

During the nearly-two-hour-long meeting, Chinese officials and experts from the Health Commission of Hubei Province, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University and Hubei Disease Prevention and Control Center held an in-depth discussion and exchange with their Irish counterparts over a wide range of issues relating to the prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19.

Nearly 10 officials and experts from Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE), a state agency responsible for public health service in the country, attended the meeting.

Commenting on the meeting, Paul Reid, CEO of HSE, said that he appreciated Hubei for sharing the valuable experience with the Irish side and expressed wishes to further strengthen cooperation and exchanges with the Chinese side in combating COVID-19.

Friday's video conference is the second of its kind held between China and Ireland. On March 19, the Chinese side organized a China-Europe video conference on COVID-19. Public health officials and experts from nearly 20 European countries, including Ireland, attended the conference.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- With all the focus on the surge in U.S. layoffs, its easy to forget that theres a silent job killer lurking in the background. Hiring freezes such as that reported by American Express Co. mean that the take-up of workers is falling rapidly. How quickly companies ramp hiring back up will be a large factor in the strength of the recovery.

The historic levels of initial unemployment claims illustrates the human consequences of a sudden stop of economic activity. Whole sectors of the economy have simultaneously shut, throwing millions out of a job. The leisure and hospitality industry along with non-food retailers have been especially hard hit.

The rapid fiscal response will help cushion the blow for these newly unemployed workers. The expansion of unemployment benefits means that some laid-off workers might be able to receive more than 100% replacement income, a major expansion of the safety net. In addition, the Small Business Administration will be pushing out forgivable loans (essentially grants) to help retain employees that would otherwise be forced out of work.

Enhanced unemployment benefits will help affected workers put food on the table, and pay the rent, providing important support for the economy. The SBA loans will help maintain employer-employee relationships so that activity could in theory ramp up quickly once restrictions end.

These policy responses will not fully resolve the upcoming threats to the labor market. Job separations such as layoffs and quits represent only part of the picture. Hiring is a critical part. During recessions, not only do layoffs accelerate, but hiring drops sharply, exacerbating the labor market weakness.

There were 5.2 million people hired in November 2007, one month before the last recession began. Hires fell to 3.6 million at the low in June 2009, a swing of 1.6 million. In contrast, layoffs and discharges rose from 2 million in November 2007 to a peak of 2.7 million at the peak in April 2009, a swing of 700,000. In other words, the drag on the job market from the drop in the pace of hiring was well above the drag from a faster pace of discharges.

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The dynamics in this recession will look different with a mass of layoffs and discharges coming early. Still, the lack of take-up of new employees will certainly exacerbate the deterioration in the labor market even as the initial round of layoffs slows. I call this the silent job killer because news of hiring freezes garners much less attention than layoffs.

The willingness of firms to hire on the other side of the shutdown will help determine the shape of the recovery. After the 2007-09 recession ended, hiring did not return to its November 2007 level until December of 2014.

The hope of course is that employer-employee connections remain sufficiently robust that activity and hiring snap back quickly when the shutdown ends. The reality may be different. The economy will suffer greater and more persistent damage the longer the shutdown lasts. Government support is unlikely to compensate for a lack of customers indefinitely.

Moreover, there likely will not be a hard-restart of activity. More likely is that activity will be phased back in over time. Conferences, sporting events and other events with large groups may be curtailed far into the future. There is also the possibility - if not likelihood - that sporadic outbreaks of the virus will result in rolling shut-downs of venues or regions until Covid-19 treatments or a vaccine becomes widely available. China recently shut all movie theaters again. Such an uncertain environment will likely cause firms to hesitate before ramping up hiring even after the height of the crisis passes.

Assuming virus-related concerns will persist over the next year or longer, we might expect a square root type of recovery. After an initial jump of hiring that follows the first phase of recovery begins, a less-than-full resumption of activity and uncertainty about future shutdowns threaten to restrain the pace of hiring long into the future.

The layoffs associated with this initial shock will eventually slow but that alone will not put us on the path to recovery. We will need firms to not only stop letting workers go, but to return to a rapid pace of hiring. If that doesnt happen, we can expect another long, slow recovery.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Tim Duy is a professor of practice and senior director of the Oregon Economic Forum at the University of Oregon and the author of Tim Duy's Fed Watch.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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The Capital Complex



administration has quarantined 24 persons, who attended the congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi last month, after a returnee of the Tablighi Jamaat event tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, an official said on Friday.

The 24 persons and their family members have been quarantined, Capital Complex Deputy Commissioner Komkar Dulom said.

A red alert has been sounded across the state after a person, a resident of Medo village in Lohit district, who had attended the Jamaat event tested COVID-19 positive. However, six others of nearby Namsai district were found negative.

Dulom said that efforts are on to trace more people who attended the congregation at Nizamuddin and they would also be put on quarantine.

The state government had so far collected 80 samples from the state and sent them to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at Dibrugarh in Assam for coronavirus test.

Sixty-one of the 80 samples were found negative, while one tested positive and results of 18 more are awaited, Health department sources said.

As of now, over a hundred people are staying in quarantine facilities, while 85 have completed the 14-day quarantine period.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Health Minister Alo Libang said Assam government has given its consent to treat critical patients from the eastern parts of Arunachal Pradesh at Assam Medical College (AMC) at Dibrugarh.

"The matter of treating serious cases of COVID-19 from the state in Dibrugarh or Guwahati was discussed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu with his Assam counterpart. The hospital of our neighbouring state will, however, only look after the serious cases, not the normal cases," Libang said here on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SPRINGFIELD - Mayor Domenic Sarno on Friday issued an advisory for city residents to wear face masks when they venture out in public in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Sarno and City Health Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris issued the recommendation out of what they call abundance of caution.

While retailers and hospitals have been warning that there is a critical shortage of N95 masks, which are rated the most effecting for blocking the spread of COVID-19, Sarno and Caulton-Harris recommend that any face covering is better than nothing.

A face covering can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to other people. A face covering can include anything that covers your nose and mouth, including dust masks, scarves, and bandanas, the statement reads. Health care worker masks (surgical mask, N-95 or similar) must be preserved for people in the health care system.

Masks may limit the spread of the virus, but the statement warns about them giving people a false sense of security. Sarno and Harris said that people should continue to practice social distancing, self-isolation, and frequent hand washing. The masks are advised for those instances where people need to venture outside.

The mayors of New York and Los Angeles have each made similar requests of their residents in the last few days.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said this week the White House is giving serious discussion to recommending everyone in the country wear masks in public.
Meghan Markle was 'intrigued by the female empowerment side' of Elephants when she agreed to do the voice over for the Disneynature documentary.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, met the filmmakers Mark Linfield and Vanessa Berlowitz over lunch during a trip to Botswana.

They told People magazine the mother-of-one was 'absolutely intrigued' by the matriarchal society within elephant herds, and that she clearly related to it as a new mother navigating her way through having her first child.

And they revealed that Prince Harry joined his wife for the recording of her voiceover in Lonodon.

'The Duke of Sussex had his own Hollywood moment on set. He provided a little direction, from, as he put it the cheap seats Berlowitz said.

'Harry was correcting her pronunciation,' Linfiled added.

The Duchess of Sussex (pictured in September 2019), 38, met the filmmakers Mark Linfield and Vanessa Berlowtz over lunch during a trip to Botswana

During their initial meeting, Meghan was shown some early footage for the documentary and the filmmakers put her voice against the images they already had, to test whether it would work.

Mark revealed they used some of the former Suits star's United Nations women's speeches as a test, which 'just worked great.'

Vanessa guessed because of Meghan's son Archie, the former actress was 'identifying' with the mother elephants.

Meghan recorded her narration at London's Pinewood Studios with her husband Harry. But the pair left their son, now 10 months old, at home. The documentary is out today

Meghan recorded her narration at London's Pinewood Studios and even brought her husband Prince Harry along for moral support.

Apparently the Duke corrected Meghan on some of her pronunciation and she even did her own improvising with the script for an 'organic' approach.

The pair have a connection to Botswana after visiting in 2017 to help Dr Mike Chase from Elephants Without Borders to fit tracking devices on the animals.

Meghan donated her earnings from the voiceover work to the charity.

It comes as the couple are settling into a new life in California, after quitting Canada before the borders closed.

However, sources claim that Prince Harry is experiencing some struggles over being so far away from his family, after discovering Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus.

The Duke of Sussex, 35, who officially stepped down as a senior royal this week as he strives to give 11-month-old son Archie, and his wife Meghan Markle, 38, a more private life in LA out of the spotlight, is said to have had an emotional phonecall with his father, 71.

According to an insider the father-of-one feels 'helpless', and is trying to keep regular contact with Charles and the Queen, but the time difference is making it difficult.

A source told Us Weekly: 'Despite their ups and downs, hearing that his dad is sick with a potentially life-threatening illness is a huge wake-up call. And he's overwhelmed with feelings of guilt for not being closer to home while this is all going on.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Iran has reached a total of 53,183, the Iranian Health Ministry's spokesman told the IRINN channel on Friday. As many as 3,294 people have died from the deadly virus.

According to Kianush Jahanpur, 2,715 new COVID-19 cases and 134 fatalities have been registered in Iran over the past 24 hours.

The record daily numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths that Iran has registered so far are 3,186 and 157, respectively.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus pandemic could be disastrous as fragile and almost non-existent healthcare systems in African countries are overwhelmed. A lack of personal protective equipment, difficulties in establishing treatment centres and an absence of critical care facilities might lead to a devastating loss of life.

Most of the countries have at least one treatment centre, but they range from some with less than 10 beds to some of them with 100 beds," said Michel Yao, emergency operations manager for Africa at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The latest readiness assessments by 34 African countries collated by WHO paints a bleak picture of preparedness for the pandemic as the number of cases and deaths rise.

Only 50 per cent of African countries surveyed had undertaken any Covid-19 staff training for case management and just over half the countries had personal protection equipment (PPE) available and accessible to healthcare workers, according to WHO readiness response sheets.

Preparations on the African continent need to be quickly scaled up as patient capacity will soon be challenged, Yao told RFI in a telephone interview.

Treatment capacity is linked to the availability of PPE and equipment, yet these items are just not available in Africa and the international market is already saturated with demand from much richer countries. International transportation is also a challenge with cargo space reduced by airlines stopping their services to the African continent.

Medical humanitarian organisations like Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) hope that transmission of the virus in Africa can be slowed by measures such as hand washing and perhaps mask-wearing, according to Natalie Roberts, who works for MSF in Nigeria.

The time to act is now, but such initiatives need considerable resources like soap distributions and hand washing stations, according to Roberts.

It could potentially be catastrophic, said the MSF doctor, discussing the increasing spread of cases. She said the only other hope is the fact that many African countries have a younger demographic and Covid-19 appears to cause more fatalities in the elderly.

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Critical care difficult or impossible

Scaling up the response to the coronavirus pandemic as seen in Asia, Europe or North America would be extremely difficult on the African continent, according to Javed Ali, director of the emergency response unit for International Medical Corps.

A lack of resources complicates setting up isolation wards or treatment centres for coronavirus, according to Ali. And providing critical care to those suffering from the most severe cases of Covid-19 is just not going to be possible.

Dealing with patients who require Level 3 ICU or critical care is going to be extremely difficult and in some countries it's going to be completely impossible," Ali told RFI. Level 3 care is defined as having to support two or more organs or providing mechanical ventilation to aid breathing.

Some African countries simply do not have the ventilators required for the severe respiratory problems Covid-19 can cause. Interational Medical Corps will instead focus on providing Level 1 care which includes providing basic oxygen or intravenous therapy.

It is a view echoed by MSF doctor Roberts, who also works on emergency management for health crises. "Intensive care is just not there and its just not accessible to people," said Roberts, explaining that some of those patients saved by critical care interventions in Europe and elsewhere will simply die in countries like Nigeria.

How many ICU beds does Africa have?

The responses by African health ministries to WHOs Covid-19 readiness survey provides a sometimes confusing outlook of the actual ICU resources available as few repositories actually map the critical care facilities at various hospitals across the continent.

One such study in 2015 by three Canadian researchers entitled Intensive Care Unit Capacity in Low-Income Countries: A Systematic Review reveals the underfunded and under-resourced nature of African healthcare systems as seen through the number of ICU beds. Many African countries had less than two dozen ICU beds to cover their entire population.

Capacity has somewhat increased since 2015 with Kenya claiming more than 500 critical care beds, according to The Standard newspaper, and some 120 ICU beds in Nigeria, according to a 2017 report by the McKinsey management consultancy firm. Nevertheless, this pales in comparison with other regions across the world, especially in light of the care required for severe Covid-19 cases.

According to WHOs readiness survey for Covid-19, countries such as Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cote dIvoire, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe have no ICU beds available to treat Covid-19.

It is not entirely clear whether the responses to WHOs surveys by African governments include both public and private hospitals. The total ICU capacity is also not included as a survey question and neither is the number of ICU beds currently occupied.

Not enough specialised healthcare workers

The grim reality of critical care in African countries is not just about unavailable supplies or machines. It is also a question of human resources - the skills and experience of staff running the hospitals and ICUs, according to nurse Cliff Asher Aliga, who teaches at Aga Khan University Hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

We are not well-prepared in term of ICU and thats a very big concern for me, Aliga told RFI. If the situation requires five per cent of patients who are going to have Covid-19 to be admitted to ICU, we definitely do not have the capacity to do that, thats a very big challenge.

Uganda has 55 functioning ICU beds, according to a 2019 study by researchers from Makerere University. However, the required number of specialists has not kept pace with the number of beds, said Aliga. Healthcare facilities do not have enough anaesthesiologists for those 55 beds.

Staff training for dealing with Covid-19 case management in Uganda is still in its infancy, but is taking place, according to Aliga, who is president of the African Federation of Critical Care Nurses. Ugandan health authorities have a plan in place, designating certain hospitals for coronavirus patients and using a taskforce to transport cases to reduce the risk of infection.

Yet healthcare workers in Uganda are already starting to feel the pressure with an inadequate supply of PPE and heightened tension in hospitals, said Aliga, describing the potential for a large number of severe cases and an unpredictable situation.

Were now relying on hope that things dont get like that, but in the event that things get like that, I dont even have the words to describe what is likely to happen, the specialist nurse added. Experts from medical humanitarian organisations are also pinning their hopes on the possibility that the spread of the pandemic could play out differently in Africa.

Severity of coronavirus in Africa

International Medical Corps is focusing its Covid-19 efforts in Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Libya, Nigeria and South Sudan. Javed Ali said it is difficult to predict whether the intensity of the outbreak is going to be the same as seen elsewhere.

A more dispersed population in some countries, environmental factors, the level of poverty as well as extended family living together are all elements that could make the spread of Covid-19 in Africa either less potent or actually worsen it, according to Ali.

The rainy season in West Africa, coupled with increased food insecurity and malnutrition, and the prevalence of other diseases could complicate the infection to severity ratio compared to other regions, said the International Medical Corps emergency response director.

Dr Nathalie Roberts from MSF is sceptical that lockdowns in African countries will be respected and will not otherwise cause further harm, describing how stopping families from earning money will make it even harder for them to feed themselves.

She also believes that lockdowns in Africa are not sustainable and could lead to civil unrest, further complicating efforts to contain Covid-19. In places like Nigeria, testing is only available in big cities like Lagos and Abuja and isolating people who have been infected, yet do not exhibit symptoms or feel unwell is just not practical, the MSF doctor added.

Ensuring that people do not die from other conditions while dealing with the coronavirus is also likely to be a challenge, said Michel Yao from WHO: when the system is overwhelmed you have some difficult choices to be made."

The resources for critical care are few and far between, but even the necessary supplies for providing oxygen therapy require considerable capacity, according to the WHO expert. Many African countries are going to have to rely on non-governmental organisations and donor countries to try and scale up their responses.

If you dont really have a health system then flattening the curve is just trying to avoid too many deaths at the same time, said MSFs Roberts, referring to how some Western governments have described measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. Because its really unacceptable socially and politically to have people dying in the streets."
Chandigarh, April 3 : D-MART of the Dhillon Group has donated Rs 5.05 crore to the Punjab Chief Minister Relief fund to fight COVID-19 in what Amarinder Singh welcomed as a highly magnanimous gesture that will contribute significantly to the state's battle in the current crisis.

Thanking D-MART, along with Kewal Singh Dhillon, Karan Dhillon and Kanwar Dhillon for their generous contribution at this critical time, the Chief Minister called them aTrue Punjabis' who had stood by the state in this difficult hour.

Amarinder Singh further appealed to fellow Punjabis to contribute generously to the state government's efforts to mitigate the crisis.

D-MART has also started home delivery of essential goods via its newly launched mobile app to help deliver essential goods to reach people at their homes during the present curfew.

The group is also utilising its infrastructure in Barnala and Zirakpur districts, in coordination with the local administration, to distribute daily essential goods to the poor and needy.
[April 03, 2020] ExxonMobil Supports Online Education with $100,000 for Carlsbad Municipal Schools

The Carlsbad Municipal School District is receiving $100,000 from ExxonMobil to support online education in response to unprecedented circumstances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will help provide technology and internet connectivity to low income students who are living in remote locations with limited access to the internet. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005346/en/ To support the need for social distancing to minimize the impact of COVID-19, New Mexico made the difficult decision on March 16 to close school buildings to students for the remainder of the school year. The closure impacts 7,000 students in 14 schools in the district. "ExxonMobil is committed to doing our part to support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Staale Gjervik, senior vice president at ExxonMobil Upstream Oil and Gas Company and president of XTO Energy. "We have long supported initiatives designed to support students and teachers and know that these are not easy times for many families or teachers." In a short amount of time, teachers have been asked to modify their plans and develop new lessons that can be presented to their students remotely. Gjervik said that ExxonMobil's goal is to help the school district and ensure students maintain their studies with as minimal disruption as possible. "Carlsbad's schools and teachers need support and encouragement during these difficult times," Gjervik said. "We hope our contribution will help facilitate the transition to online learning during this period and ease the burden on families and the schools." The Carlsbad Municipal School District has developed a Continuous Learning Plan for the remainder of the year and plans to submit it to the Public Education Department by April 6, 2020. The plan will be shared with the community as soon as it is complete and ready to be deployed. "We have been charged wih moving to a distance-based education model in a very short period of time. Assistance from ExxonMobil is helping to make this transition successful. The district appreciates and looks forward to the continuing relationship with ExxonMobil in service to our students." said Dr. Gerry Washburn, superintendent of The Carlsbad Municipal Schools.



In addition to donations to the Carlsbad Municipal School District and other community groups, ExxonMobil is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by maximizing production of products such as isopropyl alcohol, a key ingredient in hand sanitizer, and polypropylene, used to make protective equipment for health care workers and first responders. ExxonMobil is also working with the Global Center for Medical Innovation to design and support the manufacturing of reusable shields and masks for health care workers.

ExxonMobil is a founding member of the Permian Strategic Partnership, an alliance of 19 energy companies operating in the Permian Basin, working in partnership with community leaders to address public education, healthcare, housing, roads and workforce development. In 2018, ExxonMobil contributed nearly $35 million to higher education, medical care, environmental research and arts and civic organizations in Texas and New Mexico. About ExxonMobil Exxon Mobil Corporation, one of the largest publicly traded international energy company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world's growing energy needs. ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, with a focus on math and science in the United States, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria. In 2018, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $211 million in contributions worldwide. To learn more, visit exxonmobil.com and the Energy Factor. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Carlsbad Municipal Schools The Carlsbad Municipal School District currently has fourteen (14) schools, including Hillcrest, a separate PreK building, the Early Childhood Education Center (Kindergarten), an Early College High School and approximately 7,000 students. The district prides itself on an individualized and personalized approach to educating its students. The Carlsbad Municipal School is continuously seeking opportunities to improve and expand learning opportunities for students from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary school levels. We will continue to look at this opportunity as a chance to enhance our instructional practices and meet the social and emotional needs of our students. We know that it will take partnerships with the community to meet students' needs in this current situation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200403005346/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
A special court on Friday rejected plea for interim bail by Rana Kapoor, former chairman and managing director of Yes Bank. Kapoor had sought interim bail on health grounds in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak in the city. In the plea, moved last Thursday, Kapoor had pleaded that he has been suffering from several ailments including chronic immunodeficiency syndrome and added that if he contracts coronavirus it can lead to severe lung infection and death of the applicant.

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Tiny picnic tables for feeding squirrels in style Boing Boing (JBird4049).

Ocean Creatures Have Been Protecting Us From Millions of Viruses This Entire Time Science Alert

Whats a virus, anyway? Part 1: The bare-bones basics Stanford Medicine

CSU Predicts Busier-Than-Average Atlantic Hurricane Season in 2020 Weather Underground

The hilltop fortress town that cut itself off from the world  and coronavirus CNN. As I write, billionaire concierges checking for a helipad

#COVID19

The science:

Aerosol emission and superemission during human speech increase with voice loudness Nature (nvl). From 2019, still germane. A possible avenue of research into superspreaders.

Stability of SARS coronavirus in human specimens and environment and its sensitivity to heating and UV irradiation. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. From 2003, still germane. From the abstract: Viruses stayed stable at 4 degrees C, at room temperature (20 degrees C) and at 37 degrees C for at least 2 h without remarkable change in the infectious ability in cells, but were converted to be non-infectious after 90-, 60- and 30-min exposure at 56 degrees C, at 67 degrees C and at 75 degrees C, respectively. This is SARS, not SARS-COV-2.

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News Feature: Avoiding pitfalls in the pursuit of a COVID-19 vaccine PNAS

Can a century-old TB vaccine steel the immune system against the new coronavirus? Science (re-upping this from March 23). See also The BCG World Atlas: A Database of Global BCG Vaccination Policies and Practices PLOS One (BCG being the TB vaccine). Handy map:

Key. A: The country currently has universal BCG vaccination program. B: The country used to recommend BCG vaccination for everyone, but currently does not. C: The country never had universal BCG vaccination programs.

Inoculating the world may mean reviving old curbs on patents Economic Times of India

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Key Medical Supplies Were Shipped from U.S. Manufacturers to Foreign Buyers, Records Show The Intercept

Buying Face Masks and Other PPE from China Just Got a LOT Tougher China Law Blog

The great mask controversy:

White House expected to recommend Americans wear cloth masks to prevent coronavirus spread STAT. On masks, thread:

1. So much of the mistrust swirling around mask recommendations from WHO and other authorities seems to have arisen out of confusion between receiver protection (your mask protects you from others) and source control (your mask protects others from you).  Carl T. Bergstrom (@CT_Bergstrom) April 3, 2020

Lifesaver or false protection: do face masks stop coronavirus? FT

COMMENTARY: Masks-for-all for COVID-19 not based on sound data CIDRAP. Note sponsors at right .

Inside Americas mask crunch: A slow government reaction and an industry wary of liability WaPo

Amazon blocks sale of N95 masks to the public, begins offering supplies to hospitals CNBC

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COVID-19 projections assuming full social distancing through May 2020, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. National peak resource use is projected as April 15:

The drop-down at top center gives the projected peak date for your state. Lots of other setttings to play around with.

Map Reveals Hidden U.S. Hotspots of Coronavirus Infection Scientific American (JT McPhee).

Coronavirus Is Rising Around US Military, Defense Infrastructure, Analysis Shows Defense One

Special report: The simulations driving the worlds response to COVID-19 Nature

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Tips and Tools for Reporting on COVID-19 Knight Science Journalism, MIT

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The Paycheck Protection Program: An introduction AEI

Dire feelings on Main Street on eve of small business lending program launch CNBC

Memo: Some in US may not get stimulus checks until August AP. OTOH, a shred of decency: The checks will be issued in reverse order of adjusted gross income, meaning that people with the lowest income will get payments first.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is what real coronavirus leadership looks like The Week. Stop slobbering over Andrew Cuomo already.

Can OSHA Protect Medical Whistleblowers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic? POGO

FACT CHECK: Money-To-Hospitals Plan To Treat Coronavirus Patients Could Face Problems NPR. I have to say this sounds more sensible than opening the horrid ObamaCare exchanges again.

What NASA is doing to keep COVID-19 off the space station Astronomy

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Insurers knew the damage a viral pandemic could wreak on businesses. So they excluded coverage. WaPo (dk).

Corporate Media Ignore International Cooperation as Shortcut to Coronavirus Vaccine FAIR

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo orders Americans to return home immediately due to COVID-19 saying he cannot guarantee charter flights once commercial planes cease to operate Daily Mail

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Coronavirus  What Are the Best Alternatives for Self-Care? Organic Consumers Association

Man Tries to Ram Train Into U.S. Navy Hospital Ship, Doesnt Even Come Close Gizmodo
Kung flu the cough that kills. For at least three days this message  posted by an employee of Heartland Co-op  sat at the top of a listing for closing grain prices, a resource accessible to the Co-ops 5,800 statewide members and the general public. It has since been removed.

Heartland Co-op, which operates 71 locations statewide, helps Iowa farmers grow and sell grain and other farm products. Its price listings for resources like grain products and animal feed help farmers stay informed about the state of the agricultural business.

The phrase kung-flu was popularized after a White House aide allegedly referred to COVID-19 as such to CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang.

We apologize if it offended anyone, Todd Phillips, vice president of grain and risk management, said. We did have an employee who used poor judgement in posting an inappropriate comment on our website. That comment was removed as soon as it was brought to my attention.

Staff were made aware of the message only after being contacted by The S&B. Administrative Assistant Michelle Buboltz dismissed the existence of the message as most likely false in an initial email.

Formed in 1987, Heartland Co-op has consolidated a variety of smaller facilities through mergers and acquisitions. That leaves members concerned about the anti-Asian message, like John Clayton of Broad View Wildflower Seed, without a way to take their business elsewhere.

I have no choice.  Theyre a monopoly. Theyre an oligopoly, he said. Theres only a few big buyers now, and theyre one of them. If they continued to post that sort of thing, I could raise a stink about it, but Id still have to do business with them. Its not like we could boycott them.

Although Heartland is aware of the identity of the employee responsible, Phillips declined to say specifically if they would face any repercussions for posting the message.

When the CEO says that wasnt us, that was our employee,  well, but it was your website. They really need to talk to that employee, because thats the face of the corporation right there, Clayton said.

President Donald Trump, who has not used the phrase kung-flu himself, often referred to COVID-19 as the Chinese virus but stopped amid backlash. It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States and all around the world, he later tweeted. They are amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus is NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form.

Discrimination and bias incidents against Asian Americans have markedly increased. As of March 27, Asian Americans self-reported over 750 incidents of coronavirus discrimination in the United States. And a San Francisco State University report found a 50 percent rise in news articles related to anti-Asian sentiments and COVID-19 between February 9 and March 7.

Grinnell College, which has shut down its campus and shifted to remote learning because of COVID-19, has also been host to anti-Asian bias incidents: its Chinese Student Association reported that a message reading Fuck Wuhan save USA was posted on a whiteboard in a student dormitory, and Chief Diversity Officer Lakesia Johnson confirmed in an email that Asian students have been subject to several hate incidents both on campus and in the city of Grinnell.

Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control, has said that it is absolutely wrong and inappropriate to use phrasing which ties Asian Americans to the coronavirus. The World Health Organization has cautioned against naming infectious diseases after a geographic region or country for fear of creating unwarranted stigma.
Clint Eastwood rides alone to settle a painful score in "Unforgiven." (Warner Bros.)

Many might assume the relationship between a critic and filmmakers to be a contentious one, even adversarial. Yet when asked to comment on Times film critic Kenneth Turan, who is stepping away from the position after nearly 30 years, the responses from filmmakers he had reviewed were warm, generous and emotional. In becoming a valued voice guiding readers to new work, Turan also touched the lives of many filmmakers, providing vital encouragement to young directors and seasoned veterans alike.

Below are tributes and recollections from more than a dozen filmmakers  who count among them nearly every top honor the film world has to offer, from the Academy Awards to the Cannes Film Festivals Palme dOr  on what Turans work has meant to them professionally and personally. Whether they refer to him as Ken, Kenny, Kenneth or Mr. Turan, their respect and admiration shines through.

CLINT EASTWOOD



(Unforgiven, American Sniper, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby)

I have a lot of respect and admiration for Kenny; hes one of the greats. Hes kind and friendly, and his enthusiasm for film has always made him keen to elevate the medium through his work. We had a great time together marking the 20th anniversary of Unforgiven in Cannes a few years back. I will always consider him a friend.

JAMES MANGOLD



(Ford v. Ferrari, Logan, 3:10 To Yuma, Cop Land)

"The first time I met Kenny Turan was at Cannes in 1996. He was sitting at the end of a table at the Du Cap with Roger Ebert, Janet Maslin and a few other grand luminaries of film criticism. I was there with Sly Stallone promoting 'Cop Land' ...and terrified. Of course, I had known Kenny long before that, through his writings, as a voice of clarity and idealism, a writer obviously inspired by a profound love of all kinds of film. Since then, almost 25 years ago, I have, time and again, been rewarded and challenged by Kenny's perspective on film, touched by the abiding decency and luminance of his work and his ever-gentle insistence on raising the quality of our dreams. Kenny has given the film community of L.A. and the world so very much, and I hope he is rewarded with a beautiful new act in a life without deadlines."

Story continues

Director Ava DuVernay, right, and David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. during the production of "Selma." (Atsushi Nishijima / Associated Press)

AVA DuVERNAY



(The 13th, Selma, Middle of Nowhere)

"Thank you. For introducing me to so many films as a reader. For being kind when I pitched you films as a publicist. For your thoughtful reviews of my films as a filmmaker. Ill be following your byline wherever you go. Youre a class act."

ALEXANDER PAYNE



(Nebraska, Election, About Schmidt, "Sideways")

"Along with its virtuosity, what I appreciate about Kennys writing is that hes so clearly a film enthusiast. He loves cinema and cinema history and longs to see the good in a film. When he pans a movie, it comes from a thoughtful place; you feel his genuine disappointment, and he never condemns. Maybe because I used to hear his boyish voice so often on NPR, but even in his writing one always detects the joy in his work. Critics have to slog through even the worst new films, and if good-hearted Kenny ever got jaded, he never showed it.

"When my early movies came out, I remember heading out to the newsstand on those Friday mornings to see what the New York and L.A. Times had to say, and I was always so relieved when Kenny liked them. We finally met over a long, champagne-filled interview in Cannes in 2002 when 'About Schmidt' was there, and a couple of years later I asked him to be my interlocutor at a public dialogue in Minneapolis. On both occasions, and each time weve met up since, I find him one of those fellow film nerds you cant get enough of, one with whom delightful conversation flows and flows, and you wonder where the time has gone.

"Like everyone else, Ill miss him very much in The Times, but hes assuring us hell keep writing and getting around. Thank the gods."

Timothy Spall as the 19th century title character of "Mr. Turner," directed by Mike Leigh. (Simon Mein / Sony Pictures Classics)

MIKE LEIGH



(Mr. Turner, Naked, Topsy-Turvy, Secrets & Lies)

"Back in the '70s, when we serious British filmmakers could only make TV films, more than one seasoned movie producer told me, 'Your films will never work in the States  no onell understand them, least of all in L.A.'

"Wrong, of course. Apart from umpteen academy nominations and a few wins for half a dozen of my films, there has turned out to be an intelligent L.A. audience with an appreciative appetite for my kind of stuff.

"And nowhere in the world have I found a sharper, more perceptive and sensitive response than that of the critic of the L.A.Times itself, the great Kenny Turan.

"Of course, some might argue that, although he might work in L.A., his soul and sensibilities are that of the native New Yorker. True as that may be on one level, Kennys towering strength is his world view. This, together with his boundless knowledge of movies, and his sophisticated understanding of the filmmaking process, makes him almost unique.

"To be reviewed by Kenny is often a revelation and always a joy, but to be interviewed by this gentle, committed, quietly humorous man never fails to offer therapeutic relief from the medieval torture of the interminable press junket.

"Enjoy your retirement, Kenny! (Glad to note its only semi!) Youre a mensch!"

STEVE JAMES



(Hoop Dreams, Life Itself, The Interrupters)

"The first encounter I remember very distinctly was when we went to Sundance in 1994 with Hoop Dreams. The film had played a couple of times by the time we got to town, so there was a screening of it at the Egyptian and it was at 10:30 at night and it's a three-hour film. We jokingly referred to it as the red-eye screening. After the screening, which went remarkably well for how late it was, this guy comes up to me, who I don't know, and he says, Hi, my name is Ken Turan, and I'm a film critic for the L.A. Times. And he goes, 'I don't normally do this'  go up and talk to filmmakers right after a screening  'but I just want to say that was really an amazing film and I just really loved it.' For him to just voluntarily come up like that was pretty great. And then he wrote the [rave] review ... It wasn't until years later I found out that he was a former sports writer and a sports guy. Though clearly his tastes go way beyond that.

"Another quality he has as a reviewer, is that he's demanding in the right ways, in terms of he's got strong opinions about what works and what doesn't work in a film. And whether a film is good or not that good. But he never has felt mean-spirited. He's always struck me as one of those critics that loves movies. That doesn't prevent him from being critical in all the ways you need a critic to be. But you never get the sense that he's looking down his nose at the film. Even when he doesn't like it. And there are a lot of critics that I think a lot of filmmakers feel like when they don't like something, they're basically saying, you're some kind of an idiot.

"The best critics, Roger [Ebert] was one of these, and I think Kenny's one of these too, the best critics were able to be critical and insightful and tough at times, but they always had an implicit understanding that it's hard to make a good film. It's not easy to make a good film and so you don't need to go out of your way to have sport with a film or with a filmmaker when you don't like the work."

Writer-director Nicole Holofcener, left, James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the set of "Enough Said." (Lacey Terrell / Fox Searchlight)

NICOLE HOLOFCENER



(The Land of Steady Habits, Enough Said, Friends With Money, Please Give)

"Ken Turan has always been able to articulate what my movies are about better than I can, and that has been incredibly gratifying. I know he has broken some hearts out there and I feel very, very lucky that he always got what I'd been going for. He supported me from the very beginning, starting with a sandwich at Fromin's (please tell me I was the only one...) and it has meant so much to me. I thank Kenny for understanding my work and being so kind. I will miss his writing, his heart, his intelligence, and his reviews! Most importantly however, I hope he doesn't get replaced by someone who will trash me."

ASIF KAPADIA



(Senna, Amy, Diego Maradona)

"The nature of this beast is that you go away, you work, you lock yourself away, and then it's always nice when you meet these journalists again after a few years. So it was kind of a 10-year gap between when I first was interviewed by Kenny [for Senna] and meeting him in Cannes when he did another really nice piece for the L.A. Times on the Diego Maradona film. And he didn't really know who Maradona was; he's not a soccer fan. And so for me he was just one of those people who judged the work on what it was. And he responded. And if he didn't like something, that's not a problem either. He had proper taste and that's what critics should be. And he was one of those people who when he was said something was great, you felt better because his words did mean something.

"The whole thing about Kenny and why he meant a lot to me was because I was trying to do something different with my films, where I was trying to make cinematic documentaries. And documentaries when I started were something that you maybe watched on TV or they were smaller or they were very niche and I felt like I want them to be treated like movies. Kenny was really good in that way of treating what I'm trying to do as cinema. Even though it's made out of archives ... he took it as a thrilling, exciting form of filmmaking. And I think for me that was really important, that kind of respect that he was giving to the work."

BILL MORRISON



(Dawson City: Frozen Time)

"Im a filmmaker that works almost entirely by myself. Unlike most filmmakers, I do not have a team of people that develops a film with me. My films live in my mind and on my hard drives for years before anyone other than me sees them. I sometimes liken my process to making a quilt.

"When I premiered Decasia at Sundance in 2002, a line formed inside the theater of people trying to leave after 10 minutes. I remember having the same reservations about premiering Dawson City: Frozen Time at Venice in 2016.

"Who would get it? Would people leave? How would it find another audience?

"But the films producer Madeleine Molyneaux knew Kenneth Turan and had urged him to see a screening in Venice. Meeting Kenny and his wife on the Lido for the first time was both a joy and a relief. I remember him telling me he didnt know who else would get it, but he got it.

"Kenny would write about Dawson City: Frozen Time in no fewer than seven different articles that appeared in the Los Angeles Times: It is hard to overestimate what Kenneth Turan has meant to the life and visibility of Dawson City: Frozen Time.

"But more than anything I felt like Kenny understood my film like few other people have. This was his greatest gift to me. As an artist, currently nudging another strange and unmarketable film out into a world that has been ripped apart by disease and economic disparity, I once again find myself asking Who will see this film? Who will get it? What am I doing? For one film anyway, Kenny answered those questions for me.

SEAN BAKER



(Prince of Broadway)

"Of course I knew of Kenneth by the time I made 'Prince,' and he definitely was considered one of the major, major critics in the U.S. I went to [the] Karlovy Vary [film festival] with the film and he happened to be there; I think he was on the jury for another section. And I remember what happened was it was the closing night party. It felt like a high school dance because the whole time I was on one side of the room, eyeing Kenneth, 'if I can just get my film into his hands,' like a high school dance where I'm looking at the girl thinking about how am I going to ask her onto the dance floor. The whole time, I didn't mingle, I didn't socialize, I just sat there staring at Kenneth Turan for like two hours trying to figure out when would be the appropriate time for me to jump in and I eventually did.

"And he was the nicest dude. I mean, he was so nice. I thought I was imposing, but I said, 'You know, I really respect your love of films and your reviews and it would be incredible if you took a look at my movie.' And he said, 'I would be more than happy to.' And so I got his contact information, got him the copy of the film. And lo and behold, he really liked it and ended up putting it in his top 10 of 2010 which really, really helped in so many ways because, it's this $45,000 film that he's putting on the same list as 'The Social Network.' It really did help because it got a lot of attention. I remember using that list to help us get financing for 'Starlet.' If a renowned film critic puts your film up there on that level, suddenly financiers are definitely taking note of that."

James Baldwin, center, in the Academy Award-nominated documentary "I Am Not Your Negro." (Dan Budnik / Magnolia Pictures)

RAOUL PECK



(I Am Not Your Negro, Lamumba, "The Young Karl Marx")

"Even before meeting him, it was always a milestone, for an obscure filmmaker like me, to be the subject of Kennys quill.

"Over the years we became friends. Kenny is a kind and gentle person, one you could always seek for advice, to which he would usually answer with wisdom and wit.

"He is a rare human being, in this career-driven world molded by ambition and transactions. In Kennys world, cinema, art, conviviality, history, humanity and inspired curiosity are always at the center.

"I wish he continues looking after us all from further, and continues to give his acute critical views, wise and true, on all the follies we will most certainly still be doing."

HEIDI EWING



(Jesus Camp, "12th and Delaware," "The Boys of Baraka")

"Forgive me for being sentimental, but I can only describe being positively reviewed by Kenneth Turan as akin to the feeling a child experiences when opening a big shiny package on Christmas morning. Getting Kennys approval, always wrapped in thoughtful prose, feels like a real gift, plain and simple.

"I will never forget the first time Mr. Turan reviewed one of my films. It was 2006 and my co-director Rachel Grady and I had spent more than four years working on our first documentary  'The Boys of Baraka.' The film follows a handful of at-risk boys from Baltimore who enroll in an experimental boarding school in rural Kenya. We had been told that Kenny had chosen to review our film for his weekly NPR appearance. We were beyond nervous for our first real critique by 'the real deal over at the L.A. Times.' I woke up early that morning and sat near the radio, waiting for the segment. Finally, his raspy baritone came on and my tears began to flow. He eloquently told listeners that the film had grabbed him, outraged him and that the years we had spent making it were years well spent. It was a seminal moment in my career, delivered by one of the most important critics in the business. I was a young director just starting out and his approval was a great motivator to keep making films.

"Over the past 15 years Kenny reviewed a great deal of my work. I have a sneaking suspicion that my films he chose not to review (and pass to another L.A. Times critic instead) were likely those he didnt care for  a kind gesture that he extended to many of us in independent film. This was a man who understood that his words could make or break a small film.

"This past January I was on a plane to Park City to debut 'I Carry You with Me,' my first narrative feature. I saw that his Sundance must-see list had just come out. I frantically scanned and scrolled hoping that Mr. Turan had liked my film enough to include it in his preview. And when I found my title listed, right there in black and white, I jumped for joy inside  it was like Christmas morning, all over again."

PETE DOCTER



(Up, Inside Out)

"Thank you, Kenneth, for all the nice things youve written about our films  but mostly thanks for loving cinema and passing along your insights and enthusiasm to moviegoers everywhere."

JANE CAMPION



(The Piano, Portrait of a Lady, Bright Star)

"Reading Kennys commentaries on films Im really moved by how gently and amusingly he managed to lay down a dead dog. Kenny is really the Buddha of film critics: kind, firm and enthusiastic in his likes and loves. What a beauty of a man and what an exceptional critic. Hell be missed!"
A 5-year-old boy was found dead on an Alaska hiking trail days after his mother left him to seek help after the two became disoriented and lost, state troopers said.

Five-year-old Jaxson Brown was found on Lunch Creek trail in Ketchikan County by rescue workers on Saturday afternoon, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. Jaxsons mother, 36-year-old Jennifer Treat, was found 3 miles up the trail on Friday.

The two had to spend the night in the wild together after they had embarked on a hike along the five-mile Lunch Creek Trail on Wednesday, March 25 and got lost.

heartbreaking update: The body of a five-year-old Ketchikan boy missing since Wednesday has been found, according to Alaska State Troopers  ground searchers located Jaxson [Brown] deceased and recovered his remains

May this little lamb rest in Paradise. https://t.co/TTG0sRoyS6  True Blue Warriors (@TruBluWarriors) March 30, 2020

Treat had set out alone seeking help on Thursday when Jaxson became too hungry and tired and did not want to hike any further. The air was chilly, and foggy with temperatures diving into the deep forties at night.

The trail was muddy and slippery and partly made up of boardwalks, with natural tread sections. In some places, snow was waist-deep, Jerry Kiffer, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad incident commander, said.

In her quest for help, the mother fell multiple times and had severely injured her leg, which impeded her from seeking help. In her rush to find help, Treat reportedly tripped on a root and significantly injured her leg, Alaska State Troopers said in a press release.

Troopers received a phone call to help a woman and a boy. Police found Treats car at the trailhead parking lot, and a rescue team of some 20 troopers and volunteers assisted by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter started an extensive search for the two, which led to finding Treat on Friday. Treat was transported by helicopter for treatment.

On Friday, searchers found a shoe that belonged to Jaxson, but it wasnt till Saturday around 2:45 p.m. that Jaxson was found, but, by then, it was too late; Jaxson had already died.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the manner and cause of death. At this time, while it is very tragic, it doesnt appear to be suspicious in nature, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said, the outlet reported.
MOSCOW  An activist doctor who had criticized Russias response to the coronavirus outbreak was forcibly detained as she and some of her colleagues tried to deliver protective gear to a hospital in need.

Dr. Anastasia Vasilyeva of the Alliance of Doctors union was trying to bring more than 500 masks, sanitizers, hazmat suits, gloves and protective glasses to a hospital in the Novgorod region about 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) northwest of Moscow on Thursday when she and the others were stopped by police on a highway.

They were accused by police of violating self-isolation regulations, currently in place in many regions, including Moscow and Novgorod. The group was taken to a police station and held for hours, and the activists had to ask hospital workers to come to the station to pick up the gear.

After a night in custody, Vasilyeva appeared in court on charges of defying police orders. Two long court hearings later, she was ordered to pay fines totaling the equivalent of $20.

It was not about the money for them, It was about breaking me, Vasilyeva said afterward. But Im even more convinced that were doing the right thing, and we will definitely keep on doing it.

Just two weeks ago, Russia reported only a few hundred coronavirus cases and insisted the outbreak was under control. As the virus spread and more infections were reported this week, however, residents of Moscow and other cities were ordered to stay home.

On Friday, officials reported 4,149 cases in the country  four times more than a week ago. The government sought to reassure the public that Russia has everything it needs to fight the outbreak and even sent planeloads of protective gear and medical equipment to Italy, the U.S. and other countries. Still, hospitals across the country complained about shortages of equipment and supplies, and earlier this week, the union began a fundraising campaign to buy protective gear for hospitals.

Vasilyeva, who has become the most vocal critic of the Kremlins response to the virus, accused authorities of playing down the scale of the outbreak and pressuring medics to work without sufficient protection.

We realized that we cant just sit and watch; otherwise it is going to be too late, she said in a tweet Monday announcing the campaign.

After being released from the police station, Vasilyeva was almost immediately detained again and charged with defying police orders. Video posted on Twitter by activists shows a dozen police officers gathering around Vasilyeva and two of them dragging her into the station.

According to Ivan Konovalov, spokesman of the Alliance of Doctors, Vasilyeva was physically assaulted in the process and even fainted briefly. We thought we may run into some difficulties, but no one could even imagine anything like that, said Konovalov, who accompanied Vasilyeva to the Novgorod region.

The incident elicited outrage from other activists.

Why are they harassing this person, because she brought masks for the doctors? Bastards, tweeted opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who supports the Alliance of Doctors and works closely with Vasilyeva.

Natalia Zviagina, Russia director of Amnesty International, said in a statement that it is staggering that the Russian authorities appear to fear criticism more than the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

By keeping her behind bars, they expose their true motive  they are willing to punish health professionals who dare contradict the official Russian narrative and expose flaws in the public health system, Zviagina said.

With the outbreak dominating the agenda in Russia, anyone who criticizes the countrys struggling health system becomes a thorn in the Kremlins side, said Abbas Gallyamov, a former Kremlin speechwriter-turned-political analyst.

The pressure will continue, because right now the most important political issue is on the table: How will the voters will see the authorities after the crisis as effective and acting in peoples interests, or ineffective, out of touch with the people, and in need of being replaced? Gallyamov said.

Doctors unions say shortages of protective equipment is one of the most pressing problems amid the outbreak. Konovalov said the Alliance of Doctors has gotten about 30 requests for protective gear from hospitals and medical facilities across Russia, and 100 more generic complaints about lack of protective equipment.

Andrei Konoval, chairman of the Action medical union, echoed his sentiment.

It is a serious problem that the authorities have started to solve, but not as fast as we want them to, Konoval said, adding that his union is getting complaints from ambulance workers, who are often the first to come in contact with potentially infected patients.

Several hospitals have reported that their staff had become infected with the coronavirus and the workers had to be quarantined, according to Russian media reports. In one district in the Chelyabinsk region, almost the entire ambulance service had to be quarantined after coming in contact with a patient without sufficient protection, Konoval said.

Russian authorities sought to put a good face on the crisis. The Health Ministry said the outbreak has so far taken a fortunate course, while the Defense Ministry said it was sending another 11 planes with medical specialists and equipment to Serbia, a close ally of Moscow.

In Moscow, which has the largest number of cases reported in the country, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill was driven around the city in a van carrying an icon, praying for the epidemic to end. Media reports said the motorcade caused traffic jams as it traveled around the capital.
Portland Public Schools will resume classes Monday, albeit at a distance and using methods officials say will require continuous tweaks as the coronavirus pandemic upends life for nearly 50,000 students.

District decision-makers told the school board Thursday that educators spent this week putting together their distance learning plans.

Although Gov. Kate Browns school closure order is only effective until April 28, officials at the state education department expect that mandate to extend into the summer. The agency this week told districts to have their distance learning plans in place by April 13.

Portland goes online a full week before that. And both district officials and board members say its going to be a rough few months.

It is a whole nother animal and we are going to be asking teachers to completely change the way they approach every aspect of their job, school board member Rita Moore said. Were trying to give them a little bit of professional development ahead of it. But as good as it may be  two days of training in online teaching is not going to make any teacher adept at the task.

Heres what we know and dont know heading into the final quarter of the academic year in Portland Public Schools:

Teachers wont give out Fs for this term

Browns order to shutter Oregons public schools came weeks before Portland students wrapped up the third quarter of the academic year. The districts teachers were expected to begin calculating grades for that term Friday.

Because educators cant reliably and equitably assess student performance for the final weeks of that term, officials said, teachers can issue assignments for pupils to demonstrate mastery of concepts.

Such an assignment, Chief of Schools Shawn Bird said, cannot hurt a student. It can only help a students grade.

Students now have until April 13 to finish work for the third quarter. And only high schoolers will be graded on assignments for the final two quarters of the year. They wont receive failing grades, either.

Students who have been unable to complete their work for the third quarter will be assigned a grade of Incomplete. Students will have an opportunity to resolve any incomplete grades once schools are reopened, district officials wrote in a note to parents.

The district has lent out nearly 3,000 Chromebooks out of 7,000 requests

Portland Public Schools has a stock of about 45,000 laptops and tablets suitable for distance learning. So far, the district has received 7,500 requests for that equipment and fulfilled 2,890 of them as of Thursday night.

Chief Technology Officer Don Wolff estimates roughly one-third of the districts nearly 50,000 students  or around 15,000 kids  will need to borrow a device. And about 1,800 dont have a home internet connection.

The fact is, there are pre-existing equity gaps in that access, Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero said. Theres a constellation of providers that arent exactly turning on their antennas for free Wi-Fi.

The district has also secured 790 hotspots for families without internet.

Chief Engagement Officer Jonathan Garcia said the districts nonprofit foundation is establishing a fund that will provide six months worth of internet access for families who lack an internet connection but simply need a provider to flip the switch.

A reminder that any PPS high school student needing a Chromebook can pick one up today (Friday) from 8 am-4 pm. Please bring school ID or student ID number; you do not need to have filled out the form. Locations and other info: https://t.co/dsA152hggS pic.twitter.com/UriB4dbMNt  Portland Public Schools (@PPSConnect) April 3, 2020

Social workers, counselors will visit meal sites

The district has designated 15 schools where students can pick up free meals.

And every one of those sites is also staffed with a counselor or social worker who can provide families with social emotional supports and resources, officials said.

State graduation guidance remains elusive

Oregon requires high school seniors to earn four credits of English and language arts before they can claim a diploma. They need three credits of math with proficiency in basic algebra and three credits of science.

But what if a Portland student was entering their last term just short of passing one of those benchmarks? Will they still be allowed to walk across the stage, given the various uncertainties introduced by a global pandemic?

Nobody knows for sure. District officials say theyre waiting on guidance from the state to help seniors cross the finish line.

Im definitely thinking of them and, more importantly, want to make sure theres no disruption for their post-secondary plan, Guerrero said.

Prom, graduation ceremonies on hold

This is the time of year students across the metro area traditionally prepare for various milestones and celebrations that cap off nine months in the classroom.

Prom. Graduation. Summer vacation.

Like so much else, the novel coronavirus has irrevocably changed these events for Portland students. Browns original school closure order came on the heels of a mandate limiting gatherings to 25 people or fewer.

Now, health officials warn Oregonians against regularly interacting with anyone outside their home. (And the approach appears to be working in slowing the virus down.)

The second semester of senior year is not what it was going to be, Guerrero said.

Although the district hasnt officially announced cancelations or postponements, schools like Grant and Roosevelt high schools typically hold their proms in early April. Browns order is now indefinite, which means those celebrations wont be happening, at least not when they were originally scheduled.

Universities across the state have canceled their traditional commencement ceremonies, which usually take place in mid-June. Thats around the same time high school seniors walk across the stage.

Coronavirus will take a toll on the 2020-21 budget

Deputy Superintendent for Operations Claire Hertz said the coronavirus pandemic is guaranteed to impact Portland Public Schools budget for the coming year. The only question is how deep itll hit the districts pocketbook.

Hertz believes the impact will be somewhere between 4% and 9% of the general fund. On the high end, that means cuts of up to $60 million, she said. The districts general fund for the 2019-20 school year was $694 million.

Portland Public Schools was expecting about $39 million in supplemental state funding provided by a $1 billion-per-year corporate tax on companies with revenues of $1 million or more. The state Legislature might vote to hold off on collecting that tax as businesses roil in the wake of the pandemic.

That new funding alone was supposed to provide for dozens of new teachers as the district tackles the achievement gap between black and Latino students and their white peers.

Instead, the district has put a freeze on hiring, which Hertz may continue into the 2020-21 school year.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano

Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Eder at ecampuzano@oregonian.com or message either of the social accounts above.

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A UNHCR staff member prepares relief items for distribution to vulnerable displaced people in Libya, February 2020.  UNHCR/Walid Ben Rahouma

One year since the launch of a military offensive in Tripoli, Libya, fighting is further worsening with COVID-19 now bringing new threats, warns UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

More than 300 civilians have been killed and 150,000 others displaced from their homes since last April. Despite the tentative agreement on a humanitarian truce, fighting escalated significantly in the past week. The deteriorating security has also undermined the ability of the tens of thousands of formerly displaced persons to safely return to their areas of origin.

Meanwhile, the authorities have now confirmed ten cases of COVID-19 and one death in Libya, raising new fears about the ability of the countrys weakened health services to respond.

The ongoing conflict has severely impacted the countrys health system and medical services, which have limited financial resources and face shortages of basic equipment and medicines. Many hospitals or health facilities, located in areas close to the conflict, have also been damaged or closed.

UNHCR and partners are providing generators, ambulances, prefab-containers and tented clinics, in support of local health-care services. We are also raising public health awareness amongst refugees, asylum-seekers and Libyans, through posters, text messages and social media, aimed at mitigating the risks of exposure to COVID-19.

Together with other humanitarian agencies, UNHCR is calling on the Libyan authorities to ensure the access and inclusion of all population groups in Libya to health surveillance, preparedness, response plans and activities.

With other agencies, we are also repeating our calls for the orderly release of those held in detention to the community. Asylum-seekers and refugees, held in detention because they do not have legal documentation, are particularly vulnerable and exposed, given often poor sanitation facilities, limited health services and overcrowded conditions. Many detention centres are also located in areas close to fighting frontlines.

Daily life is becoming increasingly difficult for people across conflict-torn Libya. Libyan civilians as well as refugees and asylum-seekers face tough challenges in accessing basic goods and services or finding work. Rental, food and fuel prices have spiked and people are facing serious difficulties accessing their basic needs.

UNHCR is particularly concerned at the growing lack of affordable housing and the rise in rental prices, as more displaced or secondarily displaced Libyans have been forced to leave their homes and are seeking new places to rent.

This has particularly impacted refugees and asylum-seekers who are unable to find regular work. Refugees have told UNHCR that rental prices for single room accommodation has gone up as much as six-fold, while rental costs for houses had trebled. Many people are living in crowded, unfinished and unfurnished buildings or garage units, with as many as ten people sharing a single room.

The volatile security has also led to a spike in criminality, with increased cases of targeted robberies and attacks.

UNHCR continues to operate in Libya to help provide protection and assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, forcibly displaced Libyans and returnees, but the delivery of assistance has been severely hampered by strict security movement protocols and reduced presence on the ground.

In the last 12 months, UNHCR has provided medical consultations for more than 25,500 people, distributed emergency relief items to more than 42,700 people, and cash assistance to nearly 2,500 people. UNHCR has also supported 37 projects aimed at fostering peaceful co-existence between refugees, displaced Libyans, returnees and host communities, including through the rehabilitation of social infrastructure such as health and education facilities.

UNHCR echoes the appeal of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging warring parties across the world to cease their fighting in support of the response to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Muslim pilgrims walk toward a bus that will take them to a quarantine facility, at the Nizamuddin area of New Delhi, March 31, 2020.

More than 100 Thai Muslims who attended an Islamic gathering in India last month appealed to their government Friday to help them return home after New Delhi imposed a clampdown on the event, which has emerged as a super-spreader for COVID-19.

India has reported 2,567 confirmed cases with 72 deaths as of Friday, according to the latest data compiled by disease experts at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Indian newspapers, quoting data from state governments, said at least eight of the deaths have been linked to people who attended an event organized by the Tablighi Jamaat, a prominent Muslim missionary group, in the first weeks of March.

They have no place to go in India, Adam Danehmuso, chief of the Thai affiliate office of Tablighi, told BenarNews. We want Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, regional religious, local military or Deep South authorities to help them.

Adam said the Thai group arrived two months ago at the six-story Nizamuddin Markaz building, which serves as a hostel and center for missionary workers who attend Tablighi events in a cramped corner of New Delhi.

But New Delhi authorities imposed a citywide lockdown starting on March 23, followed by a national one starting March 25, after hundreds of coronavirus cases were linked to the religious gathering.

Adam said 115 Thais from the predominantly Muslim Deep South region later found themselves in limbo after Indian authorities clamped down on the Tablighi gathering and prohibited participants from staying at the missionary groups headquarters.

About 95 percent of the 647 COVID-19 infections in the country during the past two days have been linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, Lav Aggarwal, spokesman for Indias health ministry, told reporters in New Delhi on Friday.

Though COVID-19 positive cases were being reported, the surge has happened only over the last two days, he said. This shows that one mistake can have repercussions and can put us back our efforts in fighting such a pandemic.

Indian health authorities on Friday confirmed 2,301 coronavirus cases with 56 deaths. Globally, more than 58,200 people have died and at least 1,083,000 have been infected, according to the data from Johns Hopkins.

Prayuth declares curfew

In Thailand, a foreign ministry spokesman did not immediately reply to a text message and a phone call from BenarNews seeking comments on the Thai Muslims.

Thai authorities, meanwhile, imposed tighter measures this week to impede the spread of the coronavirus, including restrictions on operations of supermarkets, food stalls, restaurants and convenience stores in Bangkok.

On Friday, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha intensified his nations fight against COVID-19 by imposing a curfew as authorities reported 103 new infections, taking the countrys total confirmed cases to 1,978.

This restriction might be an inconvenience but we must adapt to survive, Prayuth told reporters. The goal is to contain this outbreak as soon as possible.

Curfew violators could be punished by up to two years in prison and hefty fines, according to a government statement.

Prayuth had earlier ordered Thais in other countries to delay their trips until April 15. The extended measure requires Thais abroad to perform a two-week self-quarantine before flying back to the Buddhist-majority nation, where the coronavirus has so far killed at least 19 people.

Also on Friday, Thailands civil aviation agency announced that it would temporarily ban all incoming passenger flights in order to help curb the spread of the virus. The ban would take effect on Saturday and last until the end of Monday, Reuters reported.

An official at the Thai Southern Border Province Administration Center (SBPAC) said the Thai Muslim group in India would likely be unable to immediately return as a result of tighter travel restrictions.

Im afraid that they cannot come soon, Chonthan Saenpoom, the SBPACs deputy chief, told BenarNews. They need to abide by the prime ministers order delaying home-bound trips of Thais abroad.

Authorities imposed new travel restrictions after 13 Thai Muslims who attended a similar Tablighi religious gathering in Malaysia, from late February to early March, contracted coronavirus and one of them died.

At least 22 Thai Muslims were also infected with the virus that causes pneumonia-like symptoms after attending a similar religious event recently at a mosque in Indonesia, officials said.

The prime minister announced the trip delays [from abroad] because of those [infections], Dr. Taweesilp Wissanuyothin, spokesman for the governments center to fight COVID, told a news conference Friday.

But, he said, almost 200 Muslims who had received approvals to travel back before the restriction took effect were expected to arrive next week.

There are over 100 Thai pilgrims from Indonesia, as well as 83 from Malaysia who will arrive on April 6, Taweesilp said. We prepared places for their quarantine.

The Tablighi Jamaat (Society for Spreading Faith) is a global missionary movement whose primary purpose is to encourage Muslims everywhere to be more religiously observant, according to Pew Research Center, a think-tank based in Washington, D.C.

The group, which was founded in 1926 in Mewat, India, by an Islamic scholar, began as an effort to counteract the activities of Hindu revivalists, who at the time were attempting to convert Muslims to Hinduism, according to the research center, which says the group operates in about 150 countries, with about 12 million members worldwide.
President Donald Trump said that the U.S. will "get our energy business back," as he met with oil executives from at least seven companies amid the ongoing collapse in oil prices. "We'll work this out and we'll get our energy business back. I'm with you 1,000%. It's a great business, it's a very vital business," he said. Trump added that he's "looking very seriously" at an infrastructure package. The meeting included CEOs from Exxon, Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, Devon Energy, Phillips 66, Energy Transfer Partners and Continental Resources founder Harold Hamm. The president said that the energy executives did not ask for a bailout, although tariffs were discussed. "Am I thinking about imposing it [tariffs] as of this moment? No. But if we're not treated fairly, it's certainly a tool in the tool box," he said at a White House briefing after his meeting with energy executives. Trump again reiterated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin want to make a deal on oil production. "President Putin and the Crown Prince want something to happen badly. Certainly terrible for them what's happening too, so they want to see something happen and I've spoken to both of them," he said. On Thursday, Trump told CNBC's Joe Kernen in a phone conversation that he was expecting a production cut of up to 15 million barrels to be announced.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable meeting with energy sector CEOs in the Cabinet Room of the White House April 3, 2020 in Washington, DC. Doug Mills | Getty Images

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped nearly 12% on Friday after OPEC said it would hold a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss oil policy, while Russian President Vladimir Putin said a production cut of 10 million barrels per day is possible if global players participate, according to a report from Reuters. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette said that the U.S. is still planning to buy oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Previously, the Department of Energy had said it was suspending its oil purchase program after the requested $3 billion in funding for the project was left out of the $2 trillion stimulus package. On Thursday, the DoE said it was planning to make 30 million barrels of oil storage capacity immediately available, which Trump said on Friday would be available for U.S. producers. Some analysts say that in order for production cuts to take place the U.S. will have to participate in some form, and U.S. producers are divided over what type of action should be taken. Earlier in the week independent producers Pioneer Natural and Parsley Energy asked the Texas Railroad Commission, the state's oil regulatory body, to curb production. But the American Petroleum Institute has opposed it, and in a letter to the president on Wednesday said gains made by the industry would be jeopardized by efforts to restrict supply. Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton said that he had spoken to Russian energy minister Alexander Novak, and that the state would potentially agree to curb production in an effort to prop up prices. "This will be part of a singular deal. We're following the President's lead on this  If this is part of that international agreement, in light of the fact that we are in arguably the worst economic pandemic in mankind's history, then we will participate in extraordinary measures due to those extraordinary circumstances," Sitton said Friday on CNBC's "The Exchange." WTI just posted its best week on record, but prices are still down more than 50% this year as the coronavirus has caused unprecedented demand destruction, just as a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia broke out.
Surgical masks may help prevent infected people from making others sick with seasonal viruses, including coronaviruses, according to new research that could help settle a fierce debate spanning clinical and cultural norms.

In laboratory experiments, the masks significantly reduced the amounts of various airborne viruses coming from infected patients, measured using the breath-capturing "Gesundheit II machine" developed by Dr. Don Milton, a professor of applied environmental health in the University of Maryland School of Public Health and a senior author of the study published April 3 in the journal Nature Medicine.

Milton has already conferred with federal and White House health officials on the findings, which closely follow statements this week from the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying the agency was reconsidering oft-stated advice that surgical masks aren't a useful precaution outside of medical settings. (The debate takes place at a time when clinicians themselves face dangerously inadequate supplies of masks--a shortfall other UMD researchers are scrambling to help solve.)

The question of masks has roiled society as well, with some retailers refusing to let employees wear them for fear of sending negative signals to customers, and cases of slurs and even physical attacks in the United States and elsewhere against Asians or Asian Americans who were wearing masks, a measure some consider a necessity during a disease outbreak.

The study, conducted prior to the current pandemic with a student of Milton's colleagues on the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, does not address the question of whether surgical masks protect wearers from infection. It does suggest that masks may limit how much the infected--who in the case of the novel coronavirus often don't have symptoms--spread diseases including influenza, rhinoviruses and coronaviruses.

Milton, who runs the Public Health Aerobiology, Virology, and Exhaled Biomarker Laboratory in the School of Public Health, demonstrated in a 2013 study that surgical masks could help limit flu transmission. However, he cautions that the effect may not be as great outside of controlled settings.

Nevertheless, he said, the chance they could help justifies taking a new look at whether all people should be encouraged to wear them when they venture out of their houses to stores or other populated locations during the current COVID-19 lockdown.

"In normal times we'd say that if it wasn't shown statistically significant or the effective in real-world studies, we don't recommend it," he said. "But in the middle of a pandemic, we're desperate. The thinking is that even if it cuts down transmission a little bit, it's worth trying."

Previous studies have shown that coronavirus and other respiratory infections are mostly spread during close contact, which has been interpreted by some infectious disease specialists to mean that the disease could spread only through contact and large droplets, such as from a cough or sneeze--a message that has often been shared with the public.

"What they don't understand is that is merely a hypothesis," Milton said. The current study (along with earlier ones) shows, by contrast, that tiny, aerosolized droplets can indeed diffuse through the air. That means it may be possible to contract COVID-19 not only by being coughed on, but by simply inhaling the breath of someone nearby who has it, whether they have symptoms or not. Surgical masks, however, catch a lot of the aerosolized virus as it's exhaled, he said.

The study was conducted at the University of Hong Kong as part of the dissertation research of the lead author, Dr. Nancy Leung, who, under the supervision of the co-senior authors Drs. Cowling and Milton, recruited 246 people with suspected respiratory viral infections. Milton's Gesundheit machine compared how much virus they exhaled with and without a surgical mask.

"In 111 people infected by either coronavirus, influenza virus or rhinovirus, masks reduced detectable virus in respiratory droplets and aerosols for seasonal coronaviruses, and in respiratory droplets for influenza virus," Leung said. "In contrast, masks did not reduce the emission of rhinoviruses."

Although the experiment took place before the current pandemic, COVID-19 and seasonal coronaviruses are closely related and may be of similar particle size. The report's other senior author, Professor Benjamin Cowling, division head of epidemiology and biostatistics, School of Public Health, HKUMed, and co-director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, said, "The ability of surgical masks to reduce seasonal coronavirus in respiratory droplets and aerosols implies that such masks can contribute to slowing the spread of (COVID-19) when worn by infected people."

Milton pointed to other measures his research has found is even more effective than masks, such as improving ventilation in public places like grocery stores, or installing UV-C lights near the ceiling that works in conjunction with ceiling fans to pull air upwards and destroy viruses and bacteria.

"Personal protective equipment like N95 masks are not our first line of defense," Milton said. "They are our last desperate thing that we do."

###

Hong Kong University contributed to this report.
KLiem couldnt sleep when he heard his poor family would be getting a new house.

Besides his main work as a sculptor and painter, Nguyen Thanh Trung spends his time helping poor ethnic minorities.  Photo tuoitre.vn

KLiem is a member of the Kho ethnic minority in Loc Thanh Commune, Bao Lam District in the Central Highlands province of Lam ong.

He has dreamed of replacing his home  a dilapidated hut  for eight years.

KLiem and his wifes family are both poor and did not have land on which to build their home. His aunt gave him a small piece of land to build a hut, but the structure was too weak to cope with strong wind and rains.

The couple is hard-working, but they earn just enough for daily meals and their childrens schooling.

The man who helped bring KLiems dream to life is Nguyen Thanh Trung, a 66-year-old sculpture and painter who works in Bao Loc City in Lam ong Province.

Hearing people talk about KLiems situation, Trung drove nearly 40km to KLiems house. Seeing KLiems difficult situation and how determined he was for his children to go to school, Trung decided to help out.

After the journey, Trung posted photographs of KLiem on his Facebook page, asking for help and money.

Trung used donations to build a new house for KLiem.

KLiems first child is a seventh grader. He goes to school in the afternoon and looks after cattle in the morning. He brings books with him and revises in the field. Trung is searching for a scholarship for the boy so he has the chance for a better education.

Kind heart

Trung has built more than 20 houses for poor, ethnic minority members over the past three years.

The poor people are in different provinces, including Lam ong, ong Nai, Ninh Thuan and ak Lak.

Trung started his charitable work after a business trip to a Hoai District in Lam ong Province.

He was so moved seeing two brothers and their sick mother living in a small hut that could collapse easily in strong winds.

Their house became an obsession for me, and I decided to start something to help them, said Trung.

Trung told the story of their house on Facebook. To Trungs surprise, a person immediately wanted to donate dozens of millions of ong to help them (VN10 million equals US$430).

The owner of a construction material shop found out that Trung was helping poor people, so he reduced his prices for Trung.

With lower prices, each house cost about VN50-55 million ($2,100-2,300).

Trung also designs houses by himself so that they are suitable for the land area and local terrain.

Pham Van Quyet, 63, one of the builders that helped build KLiems house, said that Trung was a very careful man.

Trung checks the houses quality frequently and asks builders to think that houses for the poor should be as good as their own.

When choosing poor people to help, Trung often gives priority to those who are trying to maintain their childrens schooling despite their situation.

Poor but still determined to learn, they will have a brighter future and then be a good example for others, said Trung.

Trung always reminds the poor that they can thank him by trying to live well, raising their children well and helping other poor people.

Trung also helps find jobs for the poor so that they can have more stable income.

I do the charitable work because many people with kind hearts are surrounding me, and I call them my benefactors, said Trung.  VNS

Ethnic minority youth flock to cities, searching for employment opportunities Quang Thi Lan works at an industrial park in the northern province of Bac Giang, where she earns VN10 million (US$440) per month, including overtime and bonuses.
A 70-year-old-woman from Delhi, who was staying in a guest house with her husband in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district, has died due to COVID-19, a senior official said on Friday.

The woman's case was earlier unreported, Solan Deputy Commissioner KC Chaman told PTI.

The woman and her 76-year-old husband, who is director at a factory in Baddi area of the district, had come here on March 15 along with their five relatives by a private vehicle, Baddi Superintendent of Police Rohit Malpani said.

On March 31, the woman visited a private hospital in Baddi with high fever. She was prescribed medicines and advised home quarantine, he said.

When she did not get relief, she again visited the hospital on Thursday and was then referred to PGMIER in Chandigarh, where she breathed her last in the night.

Police have traced 45 contacts of the woman. They include her husband and five relatives who accompanied her from Delhi and 33 factory employees, the SP said.

Besides, five residents of Hill View Society who visited the hospital on the days when the woman came there have been home quarantined. The private hospital's nurse has also been quarantined in the hospital itself, the SP added.

Another elderly couple associated with the factory in Baddi has been home quarantined after they complained of high fever on March 30, he said.

With this, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the hill state has risen to seven.

This is the second death in Himachal Pradesh due to COVID-19.

Earlier, a 69-year-old man who recently returned from the USA died of COVID-19 at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in Kangra district on March 23.

On March 20, two persons -- a 32-year-old man from Harchakkian tehsil and a 64-year-old woman from Dohabe village in Shahpur subdivision -- were tested positive for the disease.

The man was discharged from hospital after recovery whereas the woman is being treated at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) in the district.

On April 2, three people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat's congregation in New Delhi last month and came to Himachal Pradesh tested positive for coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chef Charlie Carrington has nine employees at his Atlas restaurant in Prahran. Seven of them are from overseas, with visas that allow them to work in Australia but not to claim any benefits.

"I don't think the government is aware how bad the repercussions are for these workers," Carrington says. "They are taxpayers, they are here now and we have to look out for them."

Helping hands: Charlie Carrington, centre, has retooled his business to ensure his foreign workers, including Parth Tuli, left, and Victor Blain, right, have ongoing income. Credit:Daniel Pockett

Despite paying tax, the foreign workers in his restaurant are not eligible for the new JobKeeper payments, nor anything yet announced in terms of a welfare safety net, making them  and his business  particularly vulnerable to the sharp decline in restaurant trade caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Not only would it be bad for them if I couldn't employ them, it would also be hard for me to start from scratch with new employees on the other side of this," says Carrington.
MOSCOW  Russian authorities detained the leader of an independent doctors union, an outspoken critic of the Kremlin who has dismissed as lies the countrys low official numbers for coronavirus infections.

Anastasia Vasilieva, the head of the Alliance of Doctors, was stopped by the police on Thursday and held overnight while traveling from Moscow to an impoverished rural town to deliver masks, gloves and other supplies to a local hospital, a colleague who was traveling with her said.

The detention of Dr. Vasilieva, an eye specialist who has been highly critical of Russias response to the pandemic, added fuel to already widespread skepticism, particularly among Kremlin critics, about the accuracy of official figures showing relatively few cases of the virus in Russia. Her detention also increased skepticism about the readiness of Russias health care system to cope with the pandemic.
Nasa has asked its staff to help in the fight against coronavirus.

The space agency has already lent work to battling the pandemic, with projects such as giving its supercomputers to help research treatments and vaccines.

But it has also asked its staff  many of whom have been sent home as part of shelter-in-place policies, following positive cases at various facilities  to help come up with ideas

The agency has asked its staff to come up with novel ideas to use its skills and experience in ways that deal with coronavirus, such as monitoring how the pandemic is affecting society and the Earth, through Nasa data, artificial intelligence and other tools.

But it also asked its staff to turn their technical expertise to other, practical challenges, including the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and ventilators for those suffering with symptoms of covid-19.

Ive heard from employees across the agency who want to help the nation combat COVID-19. These comments exemplify the prevailing, can-do spirit of NASA people and our willingness to take on any challenge, said Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine.

As the nation comes together to confront this crisis, we must look at every opportunity for NASA to lend a hand and increase our contribution to Americas response.

The callout comes as countries around the world struggle with a shortage of PPE and ventilation devices.

Nasa in particular asked for new ways to make such PPE, including the development of self-sanitising equipment. Ideas should be "effective, quick, readily implementable, and not affect the filtration, function, or fit of the original even after several cycles of decontamination", it said.

Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Show all 12 1 /12 Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Agnetha Septimus, Matthew Septimus, and children Ezra and Nora Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Husband and wife filmmakers, Claire Ince and Ancil McKain pose for a portrait for the series by Shutterstock Staff Photographer, Stephen Lovekin, shot around the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Khadijah Silver and son Eliot Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Anna Beth Rousakis and daughter Mary Rousakis Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Mike Pergola and Denise Pergola with children Henry, Jack, and Will Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Artist Shirley Fuerst Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Jean Davis and Danny Rosenthal, with children Simone, Naomi, and Leah Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Robert E Clark Jr Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Lisa Draho and Josh Zuckerman, with children Ruby and Ava Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Professor and activist Dr Kristin Lawler Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Tom Smith and Laura Ross, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth, and Abigail Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock Words at the window: Social isolation and the Coronavirus Callie Lovekin and Lucas Lovekin Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock

It stressed similar requirements for any possible solutions to the problems with designing and making ventilators, asking for a "focus on systems with simple interfaces that can be rapidly produced". The best suggestions will be able to be prototyped, approved and made quickly, it said.
Selbyville, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/03/2020 -- The rising demand for high-capacity lifting solutions coupled with the flourishing construction sector across the globe is anticipated to drive the crawler crane market growth. Heavy lifting and material handling requirements at the construction and mining sites result in huge deployments of these machines. Government initiatives and support to develop the public & private infrastructure in countries including India and Canada drive the industry growth. For instance, in May 2018, Canada's Federal Government announced the financial support of USD 9.08 billion for various infrastructure projects in Ontario. According to GMI, Crawler Crane Market is expected to exceed USD 3 billion by 2024.



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Increasing demand for fuel-efficient machines creates an awareness to improvise the crane manufacturing processes. Manufacturers in the crawler crane market are enhancing the production process to offer machines with increased fuel capabilities. Additionally, the need of controlling harmful emissions from high-intensity activities in the energy & power sector, eco-friendly initiatives across various sectors, the crawler crane market is witnessing the production of low fuel consuming machines.



The implementation of innovative control technologies in these machines required to control the heavy lifting operation drives the crawler crane market growth. Intelligent control systems in modern crawler cranes include the combination of hardware and software components to facilitate lifting operations. The functions include display and control instructions for the crane operator, monitoring of all control sensors, and the overload protection. Manufacturers offer increased user-friendliness and operator safety benefits by deploying these control technologies, further developing the crawler crane market. For instance, The Liebherr Group offers its 300 tons crawler cranes implemented with intelligent control systems, which provide several operator control functions such as vertical line finder, user-friendly display, and precise load transport.



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The 250 to 450 capacity machines in the crawler crane market are expected to witness a considerable demand due to their utilization in building construction, nuclear power generation, and water conservancy operations. These machines offer powerful lifting capacities and improved traveling traction while carrying heavy loads at the energy generation sites. Additionally, the increasing focus of various governments worldwide on providing enhanced public infrastructure is creating demand for these machines in the crawler crane market. For instance, SANY Group announced the deployment of its machine SCC500 in the Noida Crossroad Project in India by the Delhi Metro Railway Company.



In the crawler crane market, the energy sector is expected to witness a substantial growth due to the essential operations in wind power generation. These cranes are used in the transportation and assembly of wind turbines, mixing plant operations, and lifting works. The high-capacity cranes also perform the erection of wind turbines and provide increased operator safety during these operations. Precision control and high flexibility are the major factors that increase the deployment of these machines in the production of oil & gas, wind energy, and power. For instance, in November 2017, Demag, a Terex Corporation brand, announced the deployment of four crawler cranes in the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project in Germany.



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Asia Pacific crawler crane market is anticipated to witness growth owing to the emerging construction and rental sectors in countries including China and India. The growth of equipment rental providers in the region will lead to a high machinery demand. Global companies are expanding their business operations in the region by collaborating with local manufacturers due to increased commercial and residential construction activities in the region, thereby supporting the industry demand. For instance, in December 2016, Jekko s.r.l. collaborated with Lee Hyun Soo and Dennis Shin for establishing the new subsidiary Jekko Korea in Seoul.



Key players operating in the crawler crane market include: Terex Cranes, The Liebherr Group, Komatsu Ltd., Kobelco Construction Machinery Co,. Ltd., Tadano Ltd., SANY Group, The Escorts, Hyundai Construction Equipment, Manitowoc, and ACE. These companies have developed application-specific and high lifting capacity machines that support eco-friendly development initiatives. Furthermore, the major players in the crawler crane market focus on developing long-term supplier and dealer partnerships to address various regional requirements.



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Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.
Its beer of the week time, Michigan beer lovers!

As we said last week when we picked Bells Oberon as Beer of the Week, weve decided to expand our beverage coverage to offer picks from across both peninsulas and to encourage you to sample more Michigan craft beers.

Our Michigans Best Team -- thats us, Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez -- is hard at work, even though were doing it remotely from our respective homes during the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. Somehow we have found ways to get beer, whether curbside or delivered, to make our jobs a little easier, and a lot more enjoyable.

Lets turn our attention to this weeks pick:

Beer of the Week - April 3, 2020

Stormcloud Brewing Company, Frankfort, Michigan

Rainmaker Ale (5.2% ABV, 20 IBU)

This Belgian-style pale ale is Stormcoulds flagship beer and the first one ever released by head brewer and co-owner Brian Confer. Its a special beer for the former professional photographer, who turned his hobby of home brewing into a new career. He and business partner Rick Schmitt opened the brewery - which specializes in Belgian-inspired, Michigan-made beers -- in 2013. Its located on Main Street next to a restored historic movie theater and just a few blocks from Lake Michigan. Rainmaker is the beer that launched it all. Confer remembers being in his basement back in the day, determined to brew a Belgian-style pale ale. It was only the third beer he ever brewed. When it came time to put a sticker on the bottle, Rainmaker just popped out, he said. Its been that beer ever since....Today its far better than the one I brewed in the basement. The beer and brewery became an instant success. Rainmaker won a Bronze Medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival in Denver in the Belgian-Style Blonde Ale or Pale Ale category. And in 2016, we picked Stormcloud as Michigans Best New Brewery.

Stormcloud is currently closed during the coronavirus outbreak. However, its beer is distributed all over the state. You will find Rainmaker, Nightswimmer Stout, Whiled Away IPA and Birdwalker Blonde in stores now.

Click here to see where to find Stormclouds six-pack cans.

READ: Michigans Best New Brewery: Our Top Ten revealed

READ: How a photographers darkroom hobby became one of the best breweries in Michigan.

RAINMAKER TASTING NOTES

Brian Confer: Using a house, Belgian yeast, he said its a yeast that expresses itself. Its part of the flavor profile. It lends to a spicier, zestier, peppery phenolic to the beer. Its not an overly fruity yeast. Belgian beers can run a range from very fruit forward to very phenolic forward. Were kind of a comfortable, accessible level of spicy and not very fruity." He said Rainmaker pairs well just about everything. Its a great beer with food. Its a little malty; its just a little hoppy so the hops dont really fight with the food. The malt provides a nice background to pair with food. That spicy note from the yeast is kind of like pepper on top of your salad. Its a seasoning that helps that beer play well with everything.

Amy Sherman: A fan of Stormclouds world class examples of traditional Belgian styles, Sherman said "Rainmaker is a delicious beer; slightly peppery and very drinkable. Belgian-style ales pair very easily with food. Dishes you might want to try at home include a sheet pan dinner of roasted chicken and root vegetables.... Its a great beer. Go buy some. Drink as much as you can.

John Gonzalez: Ive known co-owners Brian and Rick from the moment they opened their doors and watched them grow a successful business in a short amount of time. Whether at the downtown pub or the new, 20-barrel production facility/tasting room on the outskirts of downtown, they know quality beer and how to treat people. Their hospitality is first class. As for Rainmaker, you dont have to be a fan of Belgian beers to appreciate it. Its very approachable to even the novice beer drinker, and it falls into the category of one of Michigans 'must have beers."

Look for more Michigans Best beer and food/restaurant coverage at MLive.com/michigansbest.

If you have a suggestion for Beer of the Week or just want to connect, email us at:

Amy Sherman is asherma2@mlive.com

John Gonzalez is gonzo@mlive.com.

As always, we would love to stay in touch with you on Social Media.

My friend and co-worker @JScottPark captures me at my finest. I can't even remember what awesome @mlivemibest story I'm recalling here. #amyonthetrail #mibest #bestburger Also, shout out to Jackson Mayor @derekdobies for putting up with my antics. @ExperienceJxn pic.twitter.com/7h23XRmcUu  Amy Sherman (@amyonthetrail) March 27, 2020

Follow our Michigans Best adventures on social media:

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Facebook at MLiveMIBest.

Join in by using the hashtags #mibest and #BOTW

In addition:

Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.

John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.

More details about the Perrin Brewing Co. #NoRules online bottle release April 4. https://t.co/O8pmDKIvBJ pic.twitter.com/1Xka5QDHW6  John Gonzalez (@MichiganGonzo) April 2, 2020

More Michigan beer:

Introducing Michigans Best Beer of the Week, because its what we all need now

March's Beer of the Month is a Michigan stout perfect for St. Patrick's Day

February's Beer of the Month is a deep, dark mish-mash of styles

Michigans Best January Beer of the Month is Bells popular Hopslam
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree to publish a decision on amending seven administrative regulations and abolishing 10.

The changes were made to promote the reform of streamlining administration and delegating power, improving regulation and upgrading services, said the decree.

The regulations include those required by the reform on abolishing and delegating government permits, as well as those that are no longer applicable in practice.

For example, the regulations on the development and management of urban real estate were amended to reduce the requirement of certificates, so as to improve the business environment.

Among the abolished regulations are the regulations on the implementation of the Administrative Supervision Law, which have been replaced by the National Supervision Law.

The custody and education measures for prostitution-related offences were also abolished, following the termination of the "custody and education" system by a decision of the National People's Congress Standing Committee in December 2019.
The federal government on Friday announced its plans to evacuate stranded citizens abroad in the wake of the coronavirus ravaging many nations.

The citizens would, however, be made to pay for the cost of evacuation back home, an official has said.

The government has subsequently directed missions abroad to compile a list of Nigerians willing to return home.

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced the move in a statement issued by the commissions spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, a copy of which was made available to PREMIUM TIMES.

She explained that a number of nationals were requesting to come back home due to the lockdown many nations have embarked upon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa added that the Ministry of Finance had instructed that cost will be covered by the prospective evacuees.

She noted that they will also be compulsorily quarantined on arrival in the country.

She urged interested citizens to liaise with the Nigeria embassy in their country of residence.

Sequel to requests by Nigerians stranded abroad in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed all its missions abroad to compile lists of willing nationals who wanted to come back home, the spokesperson said.

Interested Nigerians are advised to inform the missions in the various countries they are in, who will then collate and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed that the financial implications will be borne by the prospective evacuees, who will be compulsorily quarantined when they return.

To this end, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians stranded abroad willing to return home to key into this Federal Government gesture by providing their information to the mission in their respective host countries.

She noted that while embassies in several countries are also on lockdown, those interested could also go online and fill a form provided on the commissions website: https://nidcom.gov.ng/form101/ 

He said they can also send email to these addresses:

info@nidcom.gov.ng

admin@nidcom.gov.ng

media@nidcom.gov.ng

legal@nidcom.gov.ng .
Back-to-back storms are forecast to sweep the San Francisco Bay Area over the weekend. The first is the weaker of the two and will arrive Saturday morning. The second is slated to hit Sunday morning and will bring chilly temperatures and the heaviest storm activity the region has seen in weeks.

Rainfall totals between Saturday morning and Monday evening will range from .5 to 1 inch in urban areas and 1 to 2 inches in the hills and mountains.

Cool and clear weather is in the forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area Friday afternoon with high clouds developing in the late afternoon and evening. Today may be the last opportunity to step outside amid sunny conditions for several days as a chance of rain is in the forecast every day until Thursday.

The first storm will arrive in the North Bay Saturday morning, and by mid-day, at about lunch hour, the central Bay Area will see light rain. The storm is expected to shift to the Santa Cruz Mountains in the evening.

Daytime temperatures on Saturday will be in the upper-50s to low-60s. Overnight lows will drop into the mid-40s to low-50s.

ALSO: Photos: Coronavirus empties playgrounds, courts across SF

On Sunday, a more severe system is predicted to deliver a mix of heavy downpours, high winds and possibly some thunderstorms. The rain is forecast to start over the Santa Cruz Mountains early Sunday morning and pick up across the region over the course of the morning. Temperatures will likely be cooler on Sunday than on Saturday with afternoon highs in the 50s.

"Well see a stronger more vigorous cold front move through the area later in the day Sunday with gusty southerly winds and heavier rain rates that will persist through much of the afternoon Sunday," said Drew Peterson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service's Bay Area office. "After the cold front moves through by Sunday night and Monday, thats when well see the thunderstorms pop up."

The second system is going to exit the region slowly with showers lingering into next week, possibly into Thursday.

Snow will be possible in the Bay Area mountains on Monday and Tuesday as overnight lows drop into the mid-30s to mid-40s.

"Monday night and Tuesday night snow levels drop to 3,500 feet," Peterson said. " We could see a light dusting on higher peaks like Mounts Hamilton, Diablo and St Helena."

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Read The Stars live coverage of the novel coronavirus pandemic here. This story is no longer updating.

7:17 p.m. There are 12,547 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada, according to The Canadian Press, including 187 deaths, 2,271 resolved cases. This breaks down as follows:

Quebec: 6,101 confirmed (including 61 deaths, 306 resolved)

Ontario: 3,255 confirmed (including 67 deaths, 1,023 resolved)

British Columbia: 1,174 confirmed (including 35 deaths, 641 resolved)

Alberta: 1,075 confirmed (including 18 deaths, 196 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 220 confirmed (including three deaths, 36 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 207 confirmed (including 21 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 195 confirmed (including one death, 11 resolved)

Manitoba: 164 confirmed (including two deaths, 11 resolved), 18 presumptive

New Brunswick: 95 confirmed (including 22 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 22 confirmed (including 4 resolved)

Repatriated Canadians account for 13 confirmed cases

Yukon: six confirmed

Northwest Territories: two confirmed

Nunavut reports no confirmed cases.

6:22 p.m. There are 12,440 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada, according to The Canadian Press, including 182 deaths, and 2,249 resolved cases. This breaks down as follows:

Quebec: 6,101 confirmed (including 61 deaths, 306 resolved)

Ontario: 3,255 confirmed (including 67 deaths, 1,023 resolved)

British Columbia: 1,174 confirmed (including 35 deaths, 641 resolved)

Alberta: 968 confirmed (including 13 deaths, 174 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 220 confirmed (including three deaths, 36 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 207 confirmed (including 21 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 195 confirmed (including one death, 11 resolved)

Manitoba: 164 confirmed (including two deaths, 11 resolved), 18 presumptive

New Brunswick: 95 confirmed (including 22 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 22 confirmed (including four resolved)

Repatriated Canadians account for 13 confirmed cases

Yukon: six confirmed

Northwest Territories: two confirmed

Nunavut reports no confirmed cases.

5:52 p.m. As a result of the Toronto Zoos closure and the City of Toronto cancellation of all public events until June, the zoo is temporarily laying off 118 non-permanent employees, who mainly deal with visitors. The move affects 58 per cent of its peak season workforce.

5:23 p.m. With at least three new deaths in the GTA Friday afternoon and several more reported at the Bobcaygeon seniors home at the centre of Ontarios worst outbreak, the province has now seen more than 100 deaths in the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, the provinces regional public health units were reporting 3,407 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, with at least 105 deaths.

The afternoon saw two men in their 70s reported dead in Peel, one from Brampton and one from Mississauga, and an eighth death in York Region. Toronto also reported two more deaths Friday afternoon, however, it was not immediately clear whether those cases were among eight deaths at a Scarborough nursing home that were reported earlier this week.

Outside the GTA, four more residents of the Pinecrest Nursing Home in Bobcaygeon were reported dead Friday. Twenty residents of the home have now died in the outbreak, as has the wife of a man in the facilitys care.

Earlier Friday, the province reported that 462 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, including 194 in intensive care units.

So far, a total of 1,023 patients have recovered after being infected.

The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of deaths, reported at 67 on Friday morning, may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in its reporting system.

The Stars count of COVID-19 cases and deaths is based on the public tallies and press releases issued by Ontarios 34 regional health units.

4:27 p.m. There are 12,387 confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Canada, according to The Canadian Press, including 178 deaths, 2,249 resolved. These break down by province as follows:

Quebec: 6,101 confirmed (including 61 deaths, 306 resolved)

Ontario: 3,255 confirmed (including 67 deaths, 1,023 resolved)

British Columbia: 1,121 confirmed (including 31 deaths, 641 resolved)

Alberta: 968 confirmed (including 13 deaths, 174 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 220 confirmed (including three deaths, 36 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 207 confirmed (including 21 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 195 confirmed (including one death, 11 resolved)

Manitoba: 164 confirmed (including two deaths, 11 resolved), 18 presumptive

New Brunswick: 95 confirmed (including 22 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 22 confirmed (including four resolved)

Repatriated Canadians account for 13 confirmed cases

Yukon: six confirmed

Northwest Territories: two confirmed

Nunavut: reports no confirmed cases.

4 p.m. Canadians who had been stranded for weeks on two cruise ships are now on their way home.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne tweeted that a plane chartered by cruise operator Holland America has taken off.

Only those who are asymptomatic are being allowed back into Canada for the time being, and the government has said theyll enter isolation upon their return.

3:50 p.m. Eileen de Villa, medical officer of health for the City of Toronto, noted that, based on Ontario projections, Toronto could see between 600 and 3,000 deaths by the end of this pandemic.

Everyone needs to stay home now, and adhere to the public health measures, de Villa, who added that she hoped the numbers will be a wake-up call to residents.

She reported that there are 986 cases of COVID-19 in the city, including 812 confirmed, 89 in hospital, 42 in intensive care and 13 deaths. Community spread accounts for 27 per cent of the cases.

There are still hotspots around the city, where people are putting their needs above those of the community, de Villa said.

We need to stay laser-focused on our mission: to save lives, she said.

Mayor John Tory says people not maintaining a distance of two metres in City parks and squares are subject to a $1,000-fine.

I was disappointed to have to bring this bylaw in, said Tory, who noted that the bulk of the letters he gets are from residents disappointed in their peers inability to follow the principle of social-distancing.

Tory said that fighting the spread of the virus is costing the city $65 million a week, in the form of reduced TTC revenues, reduced revenue from parking tickets and increased costs for providing social supports.

4:40 p.m. Reacting to Ontario government death projections from COVID-19 released earlier Friday, Mayor John Tory told the Star that city officials saw some of the information last weekend.

My initial response was one of fear, but it didnt paralyze me, it galvanized me into saying right at that moment to the medical officer of health: What is it you need to do in order to stop this from happening to the maximum extent possible?

That spurred Dr. Eileen de Villas order that people with the virus, of who have had close contact with somebody infected, need to self-quarantine for 14 days or face prosecution, and the mayor signing a bylaw making it illegal to come with two metres of a non-household member in city parks and public squares.

3:18 p.m. The City of Mississauga is extending the closure of all its facilities, public counters and programs until further notice.

The city is laying off temporarily around 2,000 part-time employees in non-essential services who work at these facilities effective April 17.

Most of the lay-offs affect part-time employees in Community Services, where community centres, libraries and cultural facilities remain closed.

2:10 p.m.: Premier Doug Ford announces closure of additional non-essential businesses in Ontario on Saturday at 11:59 p.m., all industrial construction to stop with the exception of critical industrial projects such as the building of hospitals. (see video below)

2 p.m.: Ford says the ending of our story is still up to us and if we work together, we can write the last chapter of our story. These forecasts are projections and they can change with your actions and the governments actions.

1:35 p.m.: Quebec Premier Francois Legault says the province recorded 25 more deaths related to COVID-19 since the day prior, bringing the provincial total to 61.

But Legault said the majority of the new recorded deaths did not occur in the past 24 hours, because the province had been investigating 20 prior fatalities to see whether they had been the result of COVID-19.

The premier says the province recorded an additional 583 positive cases of COVID-19, for a total of 6,101, and another 64 hospitalizations including 26 patients in intensive care.

Legault says medical authorities are planning to present to the public a series of projections related to COVID-19 next Tuesday.

1:30 p.m.: Health officials emphasize such modelling of a new virus is inexact. But the most important message is physical distancing is the best way to stop the spread and prevent thousands of deaths in Ontario. Pandemic could last 18 months to two years. (see video below)

1:20 p.m.: Peter Donnelly, president of Public Health Ontario, says that more than 1,300 people die annually from the flu. With the mortality rate 10 times higher for COVID-19, and because there is no vaccine, the death-toll projection is between 3,000 and 15,000 for the coronavirus. (see video below)

1 p.m.: According to provincial projections, Ontario will have to add another 900 intensive care unit beds to cope with the expected rise in patients even in a best-case scenario. (see video below)

12:45 p.m.: Ontario can expect 1,600 deaths COVID-19 deaths by the end of April if stricter measures arent taken, according to a computer models projecting tracks for the virus that has already killed 98. That number could be as low as 200 if the province moves to full future intervention and more people staying home, health officials said at a briefing Friday.

12:35 p.m.: Ontario is forecasting between 3,000 to 15,000 deaths over the course of the pandemic with public health measures. There could have been as many as 100,000 deaths in the province had the measures not been ordered, according to officials.

12:15 p.m.: As we wait for the briefing at 12:30 p.m., slides on Ontarios COVID-19 outbreak created for the province and seen by the Star show deaths and cases could continue to balloon without stronger interventions. Read Kate Allens story.

11:55 a.m.: Public health officials in Ontario are set to release data at 12:30 p.m. showing how many people could die of COVID-19 under various scenarios. Premier Doug Ford says the projections might be hard to hear and should serve as a wake-up call for some people.

11:30 a.m. (updated): Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says hes working with the United States to help them understand that trade between the two countries goes both ways.

He made the comments after the White House ordered a U.S manufacturer to stop delivering N95 respirators to Canada from the United States. He says it would be a huge mistake to restrict staff, or products and services from crossing the border in both directions.

11:15 a.m.: Trudeau says the Canadian Forces are being sent to northern Quebec to help communities there prepare to respond to COVID-19.

In a daily appearance outside his Ottawa residence today, Trudeau also says the federal government has an agreement with Amazon to use its distribution network to send medical supplies to meet provincial needs.

11:14 a.m.: Ontarios COVID-19 epidemic has jumped by 442 cases in 24 hours, according to the Stars latest count of the public tallies and press releases issued by the provinces regional public health units.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, 98 people have died from COVID-19 in Ontario, with a total of 3,407 infections so far, up 14.9 per cent from the same time Thursday.

Friday morning saw new deaths reported by the Lambton Public Health unit, where several people have died in a Sarnia seniors home outbreak, in Peel Region, where a Brampton man in his 60s died, and in Windsor-Essex were two patients died.

The Stars count of COVID-19 cases and deaths is based on the public tallies and press releases issued by Ontarios 34 regional health units.

The province says its most recent tally of 3,255 COVID-19 cases is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of deaths  reported at 67 on Friday morning  may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in its reporting system.

11 a.m.: Four more residents have died at the Pinecrest Nursing Home, bringing the total number to 20. The 60-bed nursing home in Bobcaygeon is the scene of the worst COVID-19 outbreak in Ontario.

10:45 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to speak at his daily news conference at 11:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m. (updated): Ontario is reporting 462 new COVID-19 cases, a 16.5 per cent increase from the previous day (and the biggest one-day jump since reporting began) and 14 new deaths. The overall case count climbs to 3,255 and the total dead is now 67, according to the Ministry of Health.

There are 462 patients in hospital, 194 of them in intensive care with 140 on a ventilator. There are 1,245 cases still under investigation.

The province says its most recent tally is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of deaths may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in its reporting system.

10:10 a.m.: President Donald Trump attacked 3M Co. over concerns with supplies of protective face masks as his administration issued an order under the Defense Production Act to speed production of ventilators and respirators for coronavirus patients.

The president said at a White House news conference he signed an element of the act against 3M that allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to obtain as many N95 respirators as it needs from the company. Trump tweeted Thursday evening that the company would have a big price to pay for its handling of the masks, without specifying the problem.

3M responded hours later with a statement, saying early Friday that it has increased production of respirator masks significantly and was already working with the administration to prioritize orders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The latest actions offer a framework to expand even further the work we are doing in response to the global pandemic crisis, 3M said.

Weve been in constant discussions with the administration, 3M Chief Executive Officer Mike Roman said Friday on CNBC. The narrative that we arent doing everything we can as a company is just not true.

The company pushed back against what it described as a White House request to stop exporting the products from the U.S. While 3M said it has worked to increase the number of masks imported from its overseas factories, including approval to ship 10 million respirators from China, part of its U.S. production is needed in Canada and Latin America.

10:20 a.m.: Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is calling for the federal Liberals to be more transparent about their response to the COVID-19 crisis. He wants the government to release national level data on the spread of the virus and its implications.

He also says the government needs to move faster to get money into the hands of business, calling for them to immediately rebate GST payments.

10:11 a.m.: The growing movement in British Columbia and across Canada to salute health care workers by clapping and making noise each evening at 7 p.m. will gain even more volume tonight.

A statement from the Chamber of Shipping, the voice for the marine industry on Canadas west coast, says all ships in B.C. waters will sound their horns in solidarity.

10:05 a.m.: Early this week, the streets of the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak were bustling with shoppers as ultra-Orthodox residents, obeying their religious leaders, ignored pleas to stay home in the face of the coronavirus threat.

By Friday, Bnei Brak had become the countrys worst hot spot and now resembles a ghost town. One expert estimated that nearly 40 per cent of the citys population might already have been infected.

9:55 a.m.: The Stars May Warren contracted COVID-19 from a friend at a dinner party two weeks ago. She thought it was a mild case  until it wasnt. Read her story here.

9:50 a.m.: More than half of Africas 54 countries have closed their land, air and sea borders to fight the spread of the coronavirus, authorities said Friday, but fears are growing that the restrictions are delaying deliveries of critical aid.

9:20 a.m.: The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus as the president defends his response to the crisis.

9:15 a.m.: Drakes new dance video Toosie Slide shows his self-isolation life from his Bridle Path mansion. Read the Stars Evelyn Kwongs story.

9 a.m.: Hes my therapist. How Chrystia Freeland and Doug Ford forged an unlikely friendship in the fight against COVID-19. Read the feature from the Stars Susan Delacourt.

8:45 a.m.: Spain surpassed Italy in the number of COVID-19 cases as of Friday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. Spain has 117,710 cases compared to Italys 115,242 cases. Italy still has the most number of people who have died with 13,915 followed by Spain (10,935) and France (5,387). The number of cases around the world has topped one million, with 218,864 listed as recovered. Spain has had more than 30,513 listed as recovered. There are more than 245,000 cases in the U.S.

8:30 a.m.: One GTA health region has already exhausted its inventory of ventilators that it had before COVID-19. Experts say this should be a red alert. Read the report the Stars Jesse McLean and Kenyon Wallace.

8:20 a.m.: The Canadian Bankers Association says the countrys six largest banks have deferred more than 10 per cent of the mortgages in their portfolios as borrowers affected by COVID-19 seek financial help.

The association says almost 500,000 requests for mortgage deferrals or to skip a payment have been completed or are in process.

Canadian banks announced a mortgage deferral program over two weeks ago in a move to help those hurt by the steps taken to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The six largest banks said they would allow customers to defer mortgage payments for up to six months among other changes.

But mortgage and loan relief could end up costing you thousands more as big banks continue to charge interest. Read the report from the Stars Marco Chown Oved after the announcement was first made.

8:15 a.m.: COVID-19 has pushed Toronto area home sales off a cliff. But while prices may stall as people stay home from work, many real estate experts are predicting they will pick up where they left off once the crisis passes. Read the story from the Stars Tess Kalinowski.

8 a.m.: As of 10 p.m. Thursday, Ontarios COVID-19 epidemic has grown to 3,319 cases and 94 deaths, according to the Stars latest count of the public tallies and press releases issued by the provinces regional public health units.

Thursday saw a jump of 12 deaths and 459 cases in 24 hours, and the first COVID-19 deaths in three Ontario regions: Brant County, where a woman in her 60s with pre-existing health issues died; in Guelph, a patient in their 80s; and in Sudbury, where a man in his 70s died after contracting the disease through international travel.

The Stars count of COVID-19 cases and deaths is based on the public tallies and press releases issued by Ontarios 34 regional health units.

The province says its most recent tally of 2,793 COVID-19 cases is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of deaths  53  may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in its reporting system.

7:50 a.m.: The Ontario government has issued a new order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act that empowers public health units to override collective agreements to allow for more volunteers to help in unionized facilities, the Stars Robert Benzie reports.

7:48 a.m.: The United States top infectious disease specialist is getting his own bobblehead.

The creation from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee features Dr. Anthony Fauci wearing a suit as he makes a motion showing how the nation needs to flatten the curve in the coronavirus pandemic.

6:22 a.m.: Ontario is set to reveal projection numbers today at noon which show how many people could die of COVID-19 under a number of different scenarios.

Premier Doug Ford said Ontario residents deserve to see what hes seen on various modelling scenarios in the COVID-19 outbreak. Top doctors will provide briefing on modelling numbers Friday on where Ontario was, is and could be, he said on Thursday. You deserve to know what I know, Ford said.

6:56 a.m.: Mosques were allowed to remain open in Pakistan on Friday, when Muslims gather for weekly prayers, even as the coronavirus pandemic spread and much of the country had shut down.

6:21 a.m.: The Zaandam and a sister ship sent to help it, the Rotterdam, were allowed to unload passengers in Florida on Thursday after working out a detailed agreement with officials who feared it would divert needed resources from a region that has seen a spike in virus cases. At least two passengers died of COVID-19 while the cruise ship was barred from South American ports.

5:24 a.m.: Lothar Wieler, the head of Germanys disease control agency says the number of people who die of COVID-19 is likely being undercounted. He said he believes we have more dead than are officially being reported.

4 a.m.: There are 11,283 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada as of 4 a.m. as compiled by The Canadian Press

Quebec: 5,518 confirmed (including 36 deaths, 224 resolved)

Ontario: 2,793 confirmed (including 53 deaths, 831 resolved)

British Columbia: 1,121 confirmed (including 31 deaths, 641 resolved)

Alberta: 968 confirmed (including 13 deaths, 174 resolved)

Saskatchewan: 206 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 36 resolved)

Nova Scotia: 193 confirmed (including 16 resolved)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 183 confirmed (including 1 death, 10 resolved)

Manitoba: 152 confirmed (including 1 death, 11 resolved), 15 presumptive

New Brunswick: 91 confirmed (including 22 resolved)

Prince Edward Island: 22 confirmed (including 3 resolved)

Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed

Yukon: 6 confirmed

Northwest Territories: 2 confirmed

Nunavut: No confirmed cases

Total: 11,283 (15 presumptive, 11,268 confirmed including 138 deaths, 1,968 resolved)

2:19 a.m.: Google will release mobility reports including new data about how the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced foot traffic to transit centers, retail stores and public parks in more than 130 countries.

12:13 a.m.: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the first test for coronavirus that measures antibodies in the blood. Such tests could identify people who have recovered from COVID-19, a key for knowing whos immune and for developing a vaccine. Cellex Inc. of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, received an emergency use authorization for its test on Thursday.

12:05 a.m.: South Korea says more than 27,000 people are under self-quarantine. The total number of infections in South Korea increased to 10,062 and the death toll rose by five to 174, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Seoul.

12:01 a.m.: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked citizens to light candles on Sunday evening to challenge the darkness of the coronavirus crisis in a video message to the nation as India entered its ninth day of a three week long country-wide lockdown.

11:52 p.m.: Apple Inc. on Thursday told employees that its retail stores in the U.S. will remain closed and work-from-home procedures will stay in place until early May due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

11:45 p.m.: Health officials in Peel Region say that they accidentally mailed letters to 16 residents saying that their COVID-19 test results were negative when they were in fact positive.

Officials say that several positive test slips were mixed in with a batch of negative results and the error was not noticed until the letters were mailed out.

I know the relief those residents felt for a few moments has sadly been transformed into feelings of fear and uncertainty. Our team is working quickly to notify these residents and make sure they have what they need to manage this difficult situation, said Peel interim medical officer of health Lawrence C. Loh in a news release.

Read more about:
10 foreigners, who attended Nizamuddin event, tracked down in Bihar

India

pti-PTI

Patna, Apr 03: At least 10 foreign nationals, who were reported to have taken part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Delhi's Nizamuddin last month, have been tracked down in Bihar and quarantined in two districts, the state police headquarters said on Friday.

According to a top official, the Centre had given the state "the names of 57 foreign nationals suspected to have been holed up in Bihar after taking part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation". "We have been able to identify 35 of them and 10 have been traced. Nine are quarantined in Araria district while one is in Samastipur. The remaining 25 are in other states. Efforts are on to identify the remaining 22," he told PTI.

The official also said the Centre had shared the details of "86 others said to be hailing from Bihar". "Of them, 53 have been identified, but only one person is in Bihar and in quarantine in Ramnagar. The remaining 52 are outside the state," he said.

In addition, seven others have been identified as residents of Katihar district. They had travelled to Mauritius and during their return journey via Mumbai, got stuck in Uttar Pradesh because of the lockdown, the official added.

"We were also told about two persons from West Bengal who are believed to be in Bihar. One of them is in quarantine in a Darbhanga hospital. The other is in Deoghar in adjoining Jharkhand," he said. The official also disclosed that data was collated of "both Muslims and Hindus", whose mobile phone locations suggested that they were at Nizamuddin or its vicinity in the last fortnight.

"We were provided with the details of 394 such people. Of them, only 345 turned out to be Biharis. Some of them are also non-Muslims. As many as 102 of them have been traced to Araria, while 39 have been traced to Madhubani district," he said. Care is being taken to ensure that these people are properly quarantined and their samples will be sent for testing, if needed, the official added.
KLM airline airplanes are seen parked, as Schiphol Airport reduces its flights due to the CCP virus outbreak, in Amsterdam on April 2, 2020. (Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo/Reuters)

Air France-KLM in Talks on Multibillion-Euro State-Backed Loan Package

Air France-KLM is in talks with banks to receive up to 6 billion euros ($6.5 billion) in loans guaranteed by the French and Dutch governments, as the airline group braces for a sustained CCP virus shutdown, sources told Reuters.

The two states, which each own 14 percent of Air France-KLM, have paused a long-running boardroom feud to address the cash crunch, according to three people close to the discussions. But the crisis ultimately risks deepening their conflict, they said.

Details and amounts are not finalized and could change, the people said. Under the most likely scenario, Air France could get about 4 billion euros in French-guaranteed loans while KLM receives close to 2 billion backed by The Hague, two sources said.

The group has appointed BNP and Societe Generale to advise on refinancing, two of the sources said.

Both banks declined to comment.

We are naturally in constant discussions with both governments, an Air France-KLM spokeswoman said, declining further comment.

Logo of Air France KLM Group is pictured on the first Air France airliners Airbus A350 during a ceremony at the aircraft builders headquarters of Airbus in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, on Sept. 27, 2019. (Regis Duvignau/File Photo/Reuters)

Governments around the world are scrambling to prop up airlines at risk of bankruptcy as the pandemic gathers pace, gutting travel demand and bringing traffic to a near-standstill.

The French and Dutch governments also declined to comment in detail on the Air France-KLM talks. Both countries have expressed willingness to offer financial help.

Weve been in discussions for a long period of time with KLM and Air France, and very specifically with the French state, Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra told Reuters on April 1. Its extremely important to help this vital company through these difficult times.

Air France-KLMs emergency borrowings would be a multiple of its depressed 2.12 billion-euro market capitalisationreflecting the scale of the threat to major airlines and the steps being taken to save them.

The U.S. Senate approved a $58 billion bailout for the U.S. aviation industry on March 25, a day before Singapore Airlines received a $13 billion lifeline. Lufthansa is poised to receive billions in aid.

Guarantees

Loans destined for Air France and KLM would be backed by their respective governments, two people said, with the Paris package drawing on 300 billion euros in aid for companies pledged last month, with a 70 percent state guarantee.

Medical staffs install a patient infected with Covid-19 in a helicopter prior to his evacuation to a hospital outside Paris region, at Orly airport, south of Paris, France, on April 3, 2020. (Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt /AFP via Getty Images)

Air France is in talks with potential lenders including Credit Agricole and Natixis, while KLM is likely to draw on existing relationships with Dutch banks, one of the sources said, adding that agreements were expected this month.

France is resisting demands from the banks for a higher level of state loan guarantees, according to the same people. By comparison, German rival Lufthansa is set to secure emergency funding with an 80 percent state guarantee.

Credit Agricole declined to comment, while Natixis did not respond to requests for comment.

Under EU guidelines loosened for the crisis, state-guaranteed loans must not exceed a quarter of 2019 revenue4.15 billion euros for Air France and 2.77 billion for KLM.

Both governments are working to pump as much in as they can, as opposed to pumping as little in as they can, said one source.

The French and Dutch governments remain at loggerheads over management and strategy at Air France-KLM, created by the 2004 merger between the two national carriers.

Frustrations exploded in March last year with the Dutch states surprise acquisition of a stake in the group, designed to match Frances holding and counter its clout.

A stalemate ensued in which the Dutch government has obtained none of the concessions it sought, while the value of its investment has fallen 60 percent. Group CEO Ben Smiths push for greater integration has also largely stalled.

Nationalization?

In the face of global crisis, talks between the governments have been dynamic and transparent, said one of the people involved. The focus for all of us is saving our economies.

Ambulances transporting patients infected with Covid-19 prior to their evacuation by helicopter to a hospital outside Paris region, are parked at the Orly airport, south of Paris, France, on April 3, 2020. (Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt /AFP via Getty Images)

But the loan spree would leave a debt-laden Air France-KLM in need of new capital when CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus disruption eases, two sources said, reviving tensions that could lead to separation.

The nationalization of Air France is one possibility among others that were not ruling out, French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said on Sunday. On the Dutch side, several options are still being considered including a state-backed loan or an equity investment, one source said.

Likely restructuring may stoke resentment at KLM, which has consistently outperformed Air Frances profitability while avoiding the strikes that have plagued its stablemate.

Both airlines have slashed flights by more than 90 percent and reined in costs with the help of government-funded furloughs. KLM, which employs 35,000 staff compared to Air Frances 45,000, is also cutting 2,000 positions permanently.

Company directors will have to keep a sharp eye on each carriers contribution to the recovery effort, said a Dutch source close to the board. We will see.

Uncertainty over the length and depth of the industry slump is further complicating the bailout, said one of the people close to the discussions.

The group is burning close to 700 million euros of cash per month, according to shutdown estimates by Citi analyst Mark Manduca, who expects Ryanair and Wizz Air to be the only major European carriers to avoid refinancing.

By Laurence Frost and Anthony Deutsch

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
Kanika Kapoor and her case of coronavirus could easily be made into a movie now.

It's been two weeks since she was diagnosed corona-positive and there have been several twists and turns since then. She was criticized and trolled for being reckless in handling her travel history and risking the lives of hundreds of people.

She became a troll magnet after it was reported that she didn't opt for self-quarantining after returning from London. Later on, several news reports directed at the fact that she was throwing tantrums at the hospital.

To clarify Kanika's stance and the real side of her story, her family spoke to India Today and shared details of what all actually conspired in the last few weeks.

1. After she flew back, she started feeling unwell and eventually got her tests done.

2. Addressing Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS)s claims of her throwing starry tantrums at the hospital, the family alleges that it was only when she was asked by the doctors to change into a medical gown behind a curtain in the hospital room, that she chose to complain. It was also because she herself noticed dirt in the quarantine ward and asked the hospital staff to clean it.

Similar claims were also made by her when she spoke to Times Of India within two days of being admitted. She had said,

Ive been here since 11 am and all Ive been given is a small bottle of water to drink. Ive been asking these people to give me something to eat but Ive only been given two small bananas and an orange that had flies on it. I am so hungry, I havent even taken the medicine that I was supposed to till now. I have a fever, Ive informed them, but no one has attended to me. The food I brought with me has been taken away. I cant even eat anything thats given to me as I am allergic to some foods. I am hungry, thirsty and I feel miserable here."

Later on, Dr. RK Dhiman, the director of the hospital said the best of facilities are being provided to Kanika. A statement by him read,





The hospital staff at her disposal is for a four-hour shift during which they cannot eat or drink because they wear anti-infection equipment. Every four hours one team is donned off their gear and another shift takes over. The room is cleaned every four hours. Kanika Kapoors claims are all baseless."

On the medical front, Kanika tested positive for Covid-19 for the fifth time even though she has reportedly been asymptomatic of the disease. She could only return home once she tests negative.
Montefiore-Einstein is one of 46 testing sites nationwide and is the first site in New York State to open. NIAID launched the multi-center international effort to determine if remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug, acts against COVID-19 viral infection. Remdesivir has shown promise in animal models of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), both caused by human coronaviruses.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is being led by principal investigator Barry Zingman, M.D., professor of medicine at Einstein and clinical director, infectious diseases, in the Moses division of Montefiore Health System. The trial is "adaptive," meaning it can be modified to include other investigational treatments. "This flexibility allows us to add additional therapies to the trial step-by-step to improve treatment as the pandemic continues," said Dr. Zingman.

Trial participants are hospitalized patients with a laboratory-confirmed coronavirus infection and lung complications, including rattling sounds when breathing, a need for supplemental oxygen, abnormal chest X-rays showing pneumonia, or the need for a mechanical ventilator.

People in the treatment group will receive 200 mg of remdesivir intravenously on the first day of their enrollment in the study and will receive another 100 mg each day for the duration of hospitalization, for up to 10 days total. The placebo group will receive an equal volume of a solution that resembles remdesivir but contains inactive ingredients.

Montefiore and Einstein's robust clinical trial infrastructure contributed to its selection and rapid approval for participation.

No therapies have yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating COVID-19.

Remdesivir, an investigational antiviral therapy, was developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2019-20 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 158 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,800 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2019, Einstein received more than $178 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook , and view us on YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System; Albert Einstein College of Medicine

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is urging the federal government to get on a 'war time footing' to handle the coronavirus and says that if they don't, thousands will die unnecessarily.

In an interview with CNN on Friday morning, de Blasio said that Trump's government and the military were still acting as if the country 'was in a peacetime stance' when they should be mobilizing every resource they have as if they were at war.

He is desperate for the military to mobilize thousands of healthcare workers from around the country to get to New York City to help the escalating crisis, and says that hospitals will soon start running out of staff and supplies.

He has enough to get through the next week, he said, but that if more does not arrive by Sunday, April 5 - what he is calling 'D Day' - the city will be in even more trouble than it already is.

More than 7,000 people have died across America and there are more than 270,000 cases of the virus. In New York City alone, there have been more than 1,500 deaths and now more than 50,000 people are infected.

'The nation is in a peacetime stance when we're actually in a war. If they don't do something different in the next few days, they're going to lose the window.

'If there's not action by the president or military literally in a matter of days, then you're going to see hundreds and then thousands of Americans who are going to die who did not need to die,' he said on New Day.

De Blasio's warning came as Tom Bossert, who previously served as a Homeland Security Adviser at the White House and was in charge of pandemic response, said another 14,000 people could die across the state of New York over the next two weeks.

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NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday the federal government had to get on a war time footing or 'thousands' will die unnecessarily from coronavirus

The nation is in a peace time stance while were actually in the middle of a war, @NYCMayor says about supply shortage. If they dont do something different in the next few days... then youll see first hundreds and later thousands of Americans die who did not need to die. pic.twitter.com/4H1KFsisY2  New Day (@NewDay) April 3, 2020

Bossert based his prediction on the pattern seen in Lombardy, Italy's worst hit region.

In a series of tweets on Thursday night, he said: 'NY State has more than 2,000 deaths.

'That equates to about 100 deaths per million. If they continue to follow the Lombardy curve, the cumulative death rate near the peak will be about 700-800 deaths per million (so 7-8x as many as they have now).

Tom Bosser, former Homeland Security Adviser, said as many as 14,000 people could die across the state of New York in the next two weeks

'So, over the next 2 weeks, we could see another 12,000-14,000 deaths for NY State alone (about half of those from NYC).'

Bossert said he hopes and thinks the true figure 'will be lower' but went on: 'Even so, I don't know how a healthcare system the size of NY's can cope.'

One projection that has been cited by the White House's coronavirus expert, Dr. Fauci, and NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo suggests that around 90,000 Americans will die from the virus by August.

The model was put together by scientists funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

It predicts that of those 90,000, 16,000 will be in the state of New York alone.

De Blasio on Friday said that if the government does not act now, 'hundreds and then thousands' of people will die unnecessarily.

'We need to get on a wartime footing. The country's still on a peacetime footing but we're fighting a war against an invisible enemy.

'This is just the beginning, next week is going to be much tougher.

'The military has come here but nowhere near to the extent we need. There's no plan, there's no order that's been given.'

He said he is not so worried about the USNS Comfort - a Navy ship which has docked at New York Harbor but is refusing to take on coronavirus patients - but that the hospital system needs urgent reinforcements.

'The president has been very available and I appreciate that but the real help going forward. This coming Sunday is D Day. As of Sunday we start to run out of ventilators and get really stressed in terms of our personnel.

'A lot of them are just stretched to the limit - they need reinforcements and they need it now.'

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday that the state would run out of ventilators in just six days if more did not come.

Then, doctors and nurses will start using back-ups like improvised anesthesia machines and converted BiPap machines to give patients the air they need to survive.

It is not an 'ideal' solution, he has said, but will keep some of them alive. Doctors will also start setting up one ventilator to be shared between two patients.

'It's a joke': NYC health execs express fury that 1,000 bed USNS Comfort has only 20 patients on board because of red tape, while cornavirus crisis rages in NYC with 51,809 cases and 1,562 deaths

A top New York heath executive has slammed the 'ridiculous' red-tape on the USNS Comfort as it accepts just 20 patients in the four days since it docked in New York City on Monday.

The Navy hospital ship was dispatched by President Donald Trump as a beacon of hope to the struggling city as the coronavirus outbreak in the Big Apple reached 51,809 cases and 1,562 deaths as of 5pm Thursday.

There are now more than 270,000 U.S. cases and at least 7,000 deaths across the country. On Wednesday, it became the first country in the world to hit 1,000 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours.

Yet with ambulances forced to bring patients to a hospital for a coronavirus test first, a long list of medical conditions that the Navy won't treat on board, and a host of other bureaucratic hurdles causing many delays, the ship's beds lie empty and its staff idle

Michael Dowling, the head of Northwell Health, New York's largest hospital system, has called the Navy's restrictions a 'joke' as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo argued the ship should begin to accept coronavirus patients.

The USNS Comfort arriving in New York City on Monday. It is sitting almost empty now in New York Harbor because it is not accepting coronavirus patients

Mayor Bill de Blasio has said Sunday, April 5, will be 'D-Day' for the city and is when the hospitals will run out of supplies and staffing.

On Friday, de Blasio told CNN he believes the Navy will agree to start letting COVID patients come on board.

'There's no question in my mind that's going to get resolved very quickly, you're going to see that number grow.

'Having the Comfort here is a very important thing here in NYC. I don't have a doubt in my mind the Comfort is going to be filled up soon and the Javits is going to be filled up soon. That's the easy part.

THE RED TAPE KEEPING COVID PATIENTS FROM THE COMFORT Non Covid patients only From the outset, the plan was for the USNS Comfort to only take patients who did not have the virus and alleviate some of the pressure on the hospital system. A specific reason for that decision was never given but it was likely to avoid infecting the Navy or putting the physical ship in a position where it might have to be taken out of commission and disinfected Ambulances can't take anyone directly there Patients are not allowed to go directly to the USNS Comfort. First, an ambulance takes them to a city hospital. Then, they are tested for the virus and evaluated. They are then transported if they test negative. Ship may need to be reconfigured for COVID-19 patients A military doctor told The New York Times that the ship is fitted with narrow cot beds that are suitable for young, otherwise healthy soldiers with battlefield wounds, but may not be for older patients. The vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations are among people over the age of 65. Advertisement

'The hard part is the hospitals dealing with a massive surge in the coming days. We need more doctors and nurses

'If we have the equipment, lives are going to be saved. If we don't' people are going to die who still do not need to die,' he said.

The Javits Center is a 2,900-bed facility that was constructed by the National Guard and by the US Army Corps of Engineers in just five days last week.

It too said it would only take non-coronavirus patients initially, but Gov. Cuomo convinced President Trump to change that policy this week. It is now accepting COVID-19 patients.

That is yet to happen with the Comfort. Michael Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health - NY's largest hospital system - said it was a 'joke'. '

'If I'm blunt about it, it's a joke.

'Everyone can say, "Thank you for putting up these wonderful places and opening up these cavernous halls".

'But we're in a crisis here, we're in a battlefield,' he told The New York Times.

The need for medical personnel in New York City is so severe that Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday pushed President Donald Trump to begin a national enlistment that would send people with medical training from other states to the front line of the epicenter.

Despite the drastic need, there are currently some 1,200 crew aboard the USNS Comfort who are idle, with a lack of patients due to the strict protocols in place that has seen them refusing to take certain medical conditions.

In Los Angeles, the USNS Mercy has also only accepted 15 patients.

Andrew Cuomo, left, gestures during a brief news conference as he stands beside a Rear Adm. John B. Mustin as the USNS Comfort, a naval hospital ship with a 1,000 bed-capacity, pulls into Pier 90 in New York Monday. The ship has been criticized for only accepting 20 patients

Scores of New Yorkers flocked to the streets to welcome the Comfort on Monday. NY Gov Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio said it not only brought needed supplies but was a much needed morale booster for the city

New Yorkers came out in their droves on Monday as the gigantic white vessel pulled in to dock in Manhattan, ignoring social distancing guidelines as they gathered to see in the hospital ship that was supposed to lessen to crippling burden on the city's hospital system.

After four days, the hospital ship has done little to ease the stress, with delays and time-wasting protocols frustrating hospital chiefs.

As well as refusing to accept coronavirus patients, the Navy has sent hospitals a list of 49 other medical conditions that they will not treat on board leaving few remaining patients available to transfer from over-stretched hospitals to the ship.

Even protocol around the transfer of patients who are suitable has caused further delays as none can be brought directly to the Comfort without a visit to a hospital first.

NYC medical staff wait until nightfall to bring out the dead as city hospitals report bodies flowing through like a 'conveyor belt' while 130 MORE mobile morgues are on their way with experts predicting citywide death toll to soar past 16,000

Medical staff waited until nightfall yesterday to wheel out the dead to avoid bumping in to passersby on the streets of New York after city hospitals reported bodies flowing through them 'like a conveyor belt'.

As the number of dead rises, funeral homes have reported becoming 'overwhelmed' with the grim death tally and 130 more mobile morgues are now on their way to store the overflowing fatal victims of the coronavirus crisis.

New estimates predict the death toll in the Big Apple alone could surpass 16,000, leaving the city's already-struggling funeral homes bursting at the seams with bodies.

Using the cover of darkness to hide the grim reality of the death tally from people passing the sidewalk outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, medical workers were pictured carrying out four corpses in an hour to be loaded on to a refrigerated morgue.

The staff, clad in partial PPE, wheeled the dead out in black body bags tied to stretchers down a ramp into the parking lot.

From there, they moved the trolley to the sidewalk, where a refrigerated temporary morgue truck was waiting to ferry them away.

New York state continues to be the US epicenter of the pandemic with 92,743 infections and 2,468 deaths as of Thursday night. New York City accounts for most of the fatalities, with a death toll of 1,562.

Medical staff at Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan, New York City, were reported to have ferried out at least four corpses an hour last night

Horrific scenes from Manhattan's Mount Sinai hospital show medical staff bringing out the dead and loading them onto a refrigerated truck

Bodies are loaded onto a refrigerated truck outside of Wyckoff Medical Center in Brooklyn on Thursday

While the healthcare system buckles under the strain, the disposal of bodies is fast becoming the latest crisis with bottlenecks emerging at every step from the hospitals to funeral homes to crematories and cemeteries.

Funeral directors are finding themselves stuck in the middle of a system where hospitals are overrun with more fatalities and cemeteries and crematoriums are booked up for at least a week.

Families who have lost loved ones to the killer disease have also been left heartbroken as the stay-at-home order means they cannot hold public funerals.

The owner of one funeral home in Brooklyn said it was 'surreal'.

Pat Marmo, owner of Daniel J. Schaefer funeral home in the Sunset Park neighbourhood, said that more than triple the typical number of bodies have been coming through the doors this week.

The funeral home usually takes up to 60 bodies at once but as of Thursday morning, it had 185.

About 20 embalmed bodies are being stored on gurneys and shelves in the basement and another dozen in his secondary chapel room, he showed Associated Press.

His cell phones and the office phone have been ringing constantly as the fatalities mount by the hour.

'Every person there, they're not a body,' said Marmo. 'They're a father, they're a mother, they're a grandmother. They're not bodies. They're people.'

Marmo is trying to rent a refrigerated lorry to act as a makeshift morgue, something the city's hospitals have turned to.
After witnessing the 9/11 terrorist attacks from his Manhattan office in 2001, Barry Davret spent weeks overcoming anxiety.

We saw the buildings on fire and all the craziness, Davret says.

When he got back to his apartment, he became obsessed with watching news footage of the attacks.

I just glued myself to the TV and just started watching nonstop, and the more I watched the more tension I felt, he recalls.

After the news about COVID-19 started breaking in February, he says I felt very much the same. He started repeating mistakes from the past. Instead of separating himself from the non-stop news coverage, he found himself repeatedly checking social media. It only triggered more anxiety, he says.

I wasnt able to do work even though I was lucky enough to still have a job, says Davret, a product manager for a financial services company.

Davret, who is currently working from home, is self-isolating with his family in New Jersey. Using what he learned from 9/11, Davret created a set of rules to keep his stress levels to a minimum, which he originally wrote about on Medium.

Heres what Davret, who writes regularly about productivity and relationships, does to stay sane during the pandemic.

Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.

1. He avoids panic amplifiers

As the COVID-19 outbreak intensifies, Davret says he feels that same tension and angst, he felt in the wake of 9/11, and the urge to just watch the news or keep abreast on the internet and everything.

Social media can be an enormous panic amplifier, says Davret. Earlier in the pandemic, he was regularly checking his local community Facebook page for updates about the virus. He says the feeds were filled with people arguing with one another, which added to his stress. He started limiting social media use to only once per day. On Twitter, he mutes specific keywords related to the virus so it isnt constantly popping up in his feed. He says he also limits the amount of time he spends on Twitter.

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I just caught myself early, and decided I couldnt do that again, he says, referring to his obsession with watching the news after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was too unhealthy, definitely unproductive, so I just decided I was going to limit myself to a couple times a day, stick to local news rather than mainstream media, and then try to do a lot more work, try to write a lot more than I was before, and its been very helpful.

Barry Davret (Sandra Nissen)

While hes limiting how much media he consumes, he says its still important to keep up-to-date on the pandemic. At the end of his work day, he checks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization websites to get the latest information about the virus. He also checks one local news source and one national news source, as well as his local emergency management office website, no more than twice a day, he says.

Youre less tempted to jump into the maelstrom, says Davret.

2. He stays connected to friends and family online

After 9/11, Davret realized the importance of surrounding oneself with family and friends to help build a sense of security. But in the era of COVID-19, where social distancing has become the new normal, he cant just meet friends at a bar or go to a family member's home. And even though he lives at home with his wife and children, he says he still needs to be able to connect with other people.

Its just nice to be able to see other faces every so often, he says

To build a sense of connection outside his home, Davret schedules Facetime meetings with friends and external family members every day. He also schedules regular Zoom sessions to connect with fellow writers where we can all just get together in a group and talk for a little bit.

3. He binges on healthy distractions

Bad habits are easy to pick up when youre stressed or bored, so Davret is focused on finding activities that keep him healthy and stimulate creativity. Right now, he says he is reading a book of poems by Donald Hall.

Just having something to turn to that you can distract yourself for 3-5 minutes is sometimes enough to calm you, he says. My wife likes to do yoga and Pilates. A lot of these short exercises help in deflecting some of that tension. Thats much better than distracting yourself on social media or news sites.

4. He schedules sacred time for himself 30 minutes a day

For a half hour every day, Davret schedules alone time for himself. The time replaces his former commute to work, he says, and is a good opportunity to de-stress before and after work. Whether you want to use this time as an opportunity to exercise or do something creative, it should involve zero work, he says.

I like to look at it as a combination of light exercise, so for me thats usually walking, solitude, and disconnection, he says. So, when I go for a 30 minute walk Ill put my phone on airplane mode, go by myself and that combination of solitude and light exercise has that rejuvenating feeling.

5. He gets creative

Pandemics are ugly. Giving yourself an opportunity to be creative can be an important reminder that beauty still exists in the world, says Davret.

I think in times of crisis its even more important that you focus on creating something and sharing something with the world, he says.

Davret says he is writing some fiction stories he says will depict what the world might be like after the pandemic is over.

I find thinking about that helps a lot, he says. Like what are the possible social or technological changes that might result in what were going through right now? I plan on writing some stories on that in the near future.
MIDDLETOWN  As the investigation continues into the crash that took the lives of two young Middletown High School students Monday night, loved ones are turning to the community to help pay for funeral expenses.

Sophia Rae Brancaccio, 14, and Chloe Russell, 16, both of Middletown, were killed in a vehicle rollover Monday night on Route 9 in Cromwell. Both passengers were thrown from the vehicle during the crash, state police said.

Chloe was taken to Hartford Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Sophia, who was then hit by an unknown vehicle, died at the scene, officials said.

The teens were passengers in a 2001 Toyota Tacoma driven by Tavien D. Harris, 19, of Middletown. The vehicle was traveling in the right lane, north of Exit 20S, when Harris lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, struck an embankment and rolled over, according to the arrest report.

Witnesses reported the motorist, who hit Sophia and fled, was driving a smaller-model SUV. A Connecticut State Police spokeswoman said Friday that troopers are still conducting their probe, which she expects to take some time.

Sophias family created a GoFundMe account, For Sophia Rae, which, within two days, surpassed its $10,000 goal by $995. Money will be used toward funeral expenses as well as a memorial, according to her older sister, Lexi Paquin.

She announced on the page that any funds in excess of $10,000 will be donated to Chloes family, which is also running a GoFundMe drive, Support for Chloe Russell.

Thank you so, so incredibly much to everyone who has donated and sent their thoughts and prayers. Theyre needed, Paquin wrote.

Sophia was only 14 years old, a beautiful, strong and independent young soul. She is survived by her father Michael Brancaccio, her younger sister, Leia Brancaccio, and her two older sisters Paige and myself. Please, if you can help in any way, anything is appreciated and we are very grateful, she added.

So far, $4,000 has been pledged toward the $15,000 goal of helping Chloes loved ones.

My family and I are trying to raise money for funeral expenses and a celebration of a light that was extinguished too soon. My beautiful baby sister was taken from us in a tragic car accident. Any donations will be helpful, Russells brother wrote in an appeal for monetary gifts.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Trooper John Wilson at 860-534-1098 or john.wilson@ct.gov.
New Delhi, April 3 : NITI Aayog and Ministry of Commerce had recently included medical travel industry in one of the 12 'champion sectors' they wished to promote under the services promotion council. But the $9-billion India's health & medical tourism industry stands still under the severe blow of corona outbreak.

The Foundation of Healthcare & Wellness Promotion, an association of medical tourism players, held a meeting with private players recently and discussed the situation amidst the travel breakdown in the world and with no foreseen resolution to COVID 19.

Medical value travel, which includes patients travelling to India for treatment both in modern medicine and AYUSH sector, is estimated to be $3 billion market for India.

Dr Abhik Moitra, President of HBG Medical Assistance, one of the medical tourism industry players, said: "The geographies from where our patients arrive, -- Africa, Central Asia and most of West Asia -- are still in early stages of coronavirus. There, the cycle may last even longer as they started late. Thus, to expect business to start back in one month's time is a distant dream." He said the industry will suffer heavily for the next six months and may take even longer for patients to find courage to travel again.

Amit Sharma, founder and CEO of eExpediseHealthcare, another MVT company, said: "In the last decades, the healthcare industry has seen innovative and technological advancement in the clinical aspect. Many foreign patients come to India for affordable treatment, but the increase in coronavirus cases is taking a toll on medical tourism. We welcome and support the move by the government for the safety and security of the international patients but the $9-billion Indian's health & medical tourism industry stands still with the Aworld epidemic." The Medical Tourism players have urged the government to Recognise Medical Value Tourism companies as an independent industry and to provide financial stimulus and support. They have also suggested to involve COVID impact council along with FICCI to support the MVT industry, which brings in so much forex to the country.

They have also requested the government to reduce restrictions on international patients coming to India as soon as possible, with adequate measures to ensure such patients don't spread COVID-19.
Photo: LNG Canada

A worker at the LNG Canada site in Kitimat has tested positive for COVID-19, the company has confirmed.

The company notified workers in a letter this past weekend, saying the individual returned to their home in the region to self-isolate upon experiencing mild symptoms a week earlier.

"LNG Canada has been advised that an individual who had been engaged in work on the LNG Canada site had tested positive for COVID-19," said Susannah Pierce, LNG Canadas director of corporate affairs.

"The test was conducted after the individual had experienced mild symptoms and had immediately returned to their home to self-isolate, in accordance with self-isolation advisories and requirements."

Northern Health has informed those who were in contact with the worker.

Pierce said the company communicated the case and the steps being taken to its workforce in the March 28 letter.

"We applaud the action taken by the individual who self-isolated immediately upon experiencing symptoms," said Pierce. "Their action has contributed to the prevention of potential further spread."

"Currently, no one staying at the lodges has tested positive for COVID-19," Pierce added.

LNG Canada said March 16 it was scaling back its workforce in Kitimat by half in order to reduce exposure to the community and workers already there.

Pierce said the company, along with its main contractor JGC Fluor, continue to monitor and respond to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.

Kitimat Mayor Phil Germuth said the District is aware of the positive test case, and said LNG Canada is following Northern Healths direction on the matter.

"The District is overwhelmingly supportive of the proactive measures that LNG Canada and the workforce accommodation centres have taken to date," Germuth said. "Some members of Council have voiced the need for all businesses and industry that use workers from outside the area to continue to pursue all viable measures to protect the community and workers from the spread of COVID-19."
NEW HAVEN  The Board of Alders Thursday unanimously urged residents of the city to stay home unless necessary.

At a virtual board meeting, alders made official their support for city residents to practice social distancing as instances of positive cases of COVID-19 have grown exponentially in the city and state.

In these dreadful, strange and difficult times, we must stand together by staying apart, said Alder Steve Winter, D-21.

Alder Abby Roth, D-7, who works at the Yale School of Medicine, said health-care workers are being heroic, but the risk of overloading the health system is very real. She thanked anyone who has altered their life in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Alder Anna Festa, D-10, said she had read a post on social media saying that the coronavirus does not move, but people do.

Please, I am begging our residents and anyone out there to respect social distancing, she said. Stay home so we can get to some level of normalcy sooner rather than later.

Additionally, alders recognized the hard work that essential workers on the front lines are doing, as well as the devastating impact the pandemic will have on low-wage workers.

Supports have to be put in place for our low-wage workers so they, too, can live a positive life and pay their bills and support their families, said Alder Jeanette Morrison, D-22.

Alder Adam Marchand, D-25, said he heard city department heads make clear during budget hearings on Monday and Tuesday that they dont know what financial impact the crisis will have on the city.

This is a seminal event thats going to have ripples through every facet of our society and every facet of our government, he said. We do need to call on our partners and on those entities that can stand up and help in this time of crisis. We just have to pull together and call on those more fortunate to assist those in need.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
NSW Health allowed passengers from the Ruby Princess to disembark in Sydney despite knowing that test results, which would prove whether or not coronavirus was present among sick passengers, would be available within hours.

Leaked emails between NSW Health and the ship's senior doctor show arrangements had been made for 15 samples taken from sick passengers to be tested for COVID-19 and the results would be known on the same day as its March 19 arrival.

The Ruby Princess cruise ship at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay on March 19, the day passengers disembarked. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Seven passengers have now died and more than 600 passengers have tested positive for coronavirus after infected passengers were allowed to leave the Ruby Princess in Sydney. The ship is now the biggest source of coronavirus infection in Australia.

Responsibility for the debacle has sparked a war of words between the state and federal governments as well as the cruise ship owner, Carnival. NSW Police announced on Friday it had launched an investigation into the decision to allow the passengers to disembark.
This obituary is part of a series about people who died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.

TOKYO  Ken Shimura could make people laugh just by tweaking a traditional dance, mangling an English lesson or acting like a shogun fool.

A beloved comedian in Japan, he died on Sunday in the coronavirus pandemic at a hospital in Tokyo, the Izawa Office, which represented him, said. He was 70.

Mr. Shimuras slapstick humor, physical comedy and naive persona made him a household name in Japan for nearly five decades. Generations of children grew up watching his comedy skits and dance routines.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Saturday corrected the figures of confirmed cases of COVID-19 from 210 to 209.

The public health agency said there was an error in the number cases reported on Friday, as 26 cases were reported instead of 25.

Meanwhile, two more people have died of COVID-19 in Nigeria, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country so far to four, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced late Friday.

The deaths occurred in Lagos and Edo States.

Correction

NCDC on its twitter handle said the error was discovered with a sample which is a repeat of a previously reported case and as such was not a new case.

This implies that Nigeria now has a total of 209 cases contrary to the 210 reported.

NCDC said on 3rd of April 2020, we reported 26 new cases of COVID19 in Nigeria.

An error has been discovered in this report as follows: there were 25 new cases of COVID19 in Nigeria. The 26th case was a repeat result of a previously confirmed case and NOT a new case.

Also, the agency added that of the 25 new cases reported, one case was reported from Osun State. This case was from Oyo State.

Going by the correction, the correct breakdown of the cases are Lagos- 11, Osun- 6, FCT- 3, Edo- 3, Ondo and Oyo- one case each.

Thirteen states and Abuja have so far reported at least a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

So far, 25 people have been treated, recovered and discharged.

Details

Lagos State still tops the chart with the highest number of cases in the country.

A breakdown of states where cases have been confirmed indicates that Lagos now has 109 cases, followed by FCT  41, Osun -20, Oyo  9, Akwa Ibom  5, Ogun  4, Edo- 7, Kaduna  4, Bauchi  3, Enugu  2, and Ekiti  2. Ondo, Rivers and Benue have one case.

As the number of infected people across the country continues to soar, NCDC boss, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said on Friday that the government is working with the private sector to expand testing capacity for COVID19 in Nigeria.

He said that about 4,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in-country.
"NASA has already released a Diwali photo of India at 9 PM on 5th April."

On Friday, PM Modi appealed to the country to put together a show of solidarity in India's fight against Coronavirus.

The PM asked the citizens to give him 9 minutes of their time at 9 pm on Sunday to end the "darkness" of COVID-19 by lighting candles or flashing torches, mobile phones from their doors or balconies. While doing so, he added to not venture out in the streets and maintain social distancing.

Soon after his address, social media was lit up with Diwali memes showing how Indians would "celebrate" the festival that has come early this year.

Of course, NASA's iconic (and obviously fake) satellite image of India celebrating Diwali every year resurfaced on the Internet.

If you are the lucky one, during Diwali every year, the same message of "NASA sharing visuals of India from space" starts circulating with an image. Every single year, without fail. That's definitely fake.

So Indians, staying loyal to their meme game, imagined how India would look like from space on the night of April 5.

April 5 we will light torches, lamps, candles, mobile torch in our balcony & terrace at 9PM for 9 minutes. An hour later whatsapp messages will be circulated telling that the below is the picture of india taken by NASA or ISRO satellite.*Fake alert in advance*#ModiVideoMessage pic.twitter.com/8c5HWk4QLI Srinivas Jayaprakash  (@CustosLegis_Jay) April 3, 2020

NASA has released the photo of April 5 in advance. pic.twitter.com/BLjh2ai2oP Chirag Shah (@CurlingFreeKick) April 3, 2020

whatsapp forward on april 5th:india from space today. clicked by nasa jaldi share karo friends. proud to be indian! pic.twitter.com/cwmOopiNXA pri (@filmesthete) April 3, 2020

#ModiVideoMessageNASA will release images of India on 5th April Image 1: India 8:59 pmImage 2: India 9:00 pm with candle light pic.twitter.com/u9XgQT7Pno The Patriot (@indicheguevara) April 3, 2020

 ~ On April 6 Mrng 8 AM, NASA releases satellite images of India's last night and they are stunning,  .... pic.twitter.com/j3YqXMviG4 Satiz MSDian (@SatizMSDian) April 3, 2020

NASA has already posted photo of India at 9PM on 5th April #ModiVideoMessage #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/FdpasgZhxu Arun MA (@maarunkumar) April 3, 2020

In fact, there was a huge spike on Google as desis looked for NASA's Diwali image to perhaps forward as a joke to friends and family.
03.04.2020 LISTEN

The World Bank is providing $100 million to Ghana to assist the country in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

This $100 million will be made available to the government as short, medium and long-term support.

This financing package includes $35 million in emergency support to help the country provide improved response systems.

Under this emergency package, the World Bank will support the Government of Ghana to help prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through the Ghana Emergency Preparedness and Response Project (EPRP).

The EPRP will help strengthen Ghana's National Laboratories by providing robust systems for the early detection of COVID-19 cases and providing real-time disease surveillance and reporting systems of outbreaks.

It will also improve response systems by providing social and financial support and free health services to COVID-19 patients and families who are isolated or quarantined

Finally, the project will focus on risk communications and community engagement for increased awareness and compliance with prevention measures engaging the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Information and other agencies.

We are working with the government through this fast track facility to support the country's efforts to slow transmission, prevent outbreaks and provide better-quality care for all patients, especially the seriously ill, said World Bank Country Director, Pierre Laporte.

It's crucial that we all work together with other partners to help minimize the negative impact of the pandemic on health systems, social services and economic activities.

In addition to the emergency facility, a $65 million contingency emergency response component was triggered from the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID).

This contingency financing will support critical activities such as laboratory equipment and chemicals, essential medical equipment and supplies including test kits and Personal Protection Equipment.

The World Bank Group is rolling out a $14 billion fast-track package to strengthen the COVID-19 response in developing countries and shorten the time to recovery.

The immediate response includes financing, policy advice and technical assistance to help countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.

The IFC is providing $8 billion in financing to help private companies affected by the pandemic and preserve jobs. IBRD and IDA are making an initial $6 billion available for the health-response.

As countries need broader support, the World Bank Group will deploy up to $160 billion over 15 months to protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery.

The World Bank's International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world's poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people's lives.

IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world's 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.6 billion people who live in IDA countries.

Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $21 billion over the last three years, with about 61 percent going to Africa.

---citinewsroom
Beijing is bolstering its soft power and taking the lead in a global response to the coronavirus public health crisis. The moves come as China's daily number of new infections decline while those in the U.S. rise.

In the last few weeks, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been busy calling leaders across the world and rallying for global coordination in managing the coronavirus outbreak. Chinese health experts have hosted video conferences with those from other countries to share experiences. "This is the first international crisis where China is actively taking a global leadership role and it stands in particular contrast to the US, which has disdained international cooperation and invested more political capital in criticizing China for its role in allowing the outbreak to spread," said analysts from the Eurasia Group in a report this week. On social and state media, China continues to promote its shipments of medical supplies to hard hit countries in Europe and Africa. China's officials have also used Twitter  blocked in the country  to trumpet Beijing's efforts. They laud China's success in containing the outbreak domestically, even though the virus was first reported there and was met with missteps initially. "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. She also told CNBC on Tuesday that the public health crisis could be the "opportunity of the century" for China to cement its place as a global power.

But the world's second largest economy will not be able to fulfill its ambitions easily, according to risk consultancy Eurasia Group. "Countries like the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey have found defects with masks and tests from China and this setback won't be the last," Eurasia analysts wrote.

'International diplomacy for a domestic audience'

China's diplomacy, even on Twitter, is one that is not just meant for the global audience, it is also for a domestic one. Eurasia analysts said highlighting China's leadership accomplishes two important political goals for Xi. "First, it buttresses his claim in the superiority of China's governance model, an implicit pushback against some of the criticism that has come from within China about aggressive containment measures and silencing of early warnings about the outbreak," they said. "Second, it taps into patriotic sentiment at home, rallying support for Beijing as Xi guides the economy through a painful year. Many of Xi's conversations with foreign leaders have focused on keeping supply chains open and trade running as well as the delivery of aid," they added. But, such efforts also reveal China's insecurities and weaknesses, said Ryan Hass and Kevin Dong at the Brookings Institution. "They serve as reminders of China's lethally botched initial response to the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan," they wrote in a recent web post. "Recognising this reputational risk, Chinese propagandists are feverishly attempting to rewrite the COVID-19 narrative to place their leaders in a favourable light." This throws the world's two most powerful countries in a narrative war, underscoring geopolitical rivalry and further tensions in the future.

Domestic stumbles
Bernie Ecclestone's daughter Petra noticed about a year ago that her father had acquired a certain late-life joie de vivre. At 88, he had grown a trendy goatee beard, had his eyesight laser-treated and declared an ambition to live to 120.

He had also, it now emerges, decided to have children with his third wife, Fabiana. And now, at 89 years old, retired from Formula One and a grandfather of six, Bernie has succeeded in writing a final, outlandish chapter of his life story.

For, just as his youngest daughter Petra, 31, announced the birth of a baby girl, so Bernie and Fabiana, 44, revealed that she is due to give birth to a son  Bernie's first  in July.

The former Formula 1 chief's fourth child will be his first with wife Fabiana Flosi and is due in the summer (the pair are pictured together)

Fabiana is Bernie's third wife and the pair have been together for a decade. Just as his youngest daughter Petra, 31, announced the birth of a baby girl, so Bernie and Fabiana, 44, revealed that she is due to give birth to a son

Tamara Ecclestone, Bernie Ecclestone and Petra Ecclestone pictured together in 200

By then, Bernie will be just a few months away from turning 90. Babies were always part of the plan, says his biographer Tom Bower. Indeed, the couple, who married in a tiny ceremony at his Swiss chalet in 2012, had been hoping for a baby ten years ago, when Fabiana was in her mid-30s and the romance was in its first flush.

It has not been an easy route to late-life parenthood for Bernie, whose relationship with Fabiana is said to have caused a rift with his daughters in its early years. Neither Petra nor Tamara attended their father's wedding and Tamara didn't even send a gift, as her father had been too 'secretive' to tell her anything about it.

She described his romance with Brazilian Fabiana as 'weird' and added of his engagement: 'He's usually such a rational person and this seems like such an irrational thing to do.'

Now, though, those bridges seem to have been mended, as Tamara has long known of her father's happy news and kept it secret. A spokesman for Tamara, 35, said yesterday: 'She found out months ago. She is really delighted for both of them. Genuinely, she is thrilled for her dad.'

Petra, who yesterday revealed she has given birth to a daughter with her fiance Sam Palmer, also knew all about it. She said in a statement: 'We are delighted by the news and very happy for them.'

Bernie, of course, is delighted too. 'I've got grandchildren and I'm looking forward to another baby,' he told the Mail. He added: 'I'm happy really for my wife. She's been looking forward to this happening for quite a few years, so I'm happy that she'll have someone after I'm gone.'

So, as the late Mrs Merton might have asked, what is the attraction of having a baby with a billionaire who is pushing 90? Particularly as this man once memorably described as resembling a tortoise in an Andy Warhol wig  is of such an unromantic bent that he would describe his wedding day as 'something that needed to be done'?

It seems Fabiana is a titanium-plated butterfly. Her feminine style belies a woman who knows her own mind  and she has used that mind to escape from a middle-class life in Brazil to join the international jet set.

Bernie has said he does not 'see any difference between being 89 and 29'. The tycoon, who turns 90 in October added: 'You've got the same problems I suppose. It's alright' (pictured with his third wife)

Fabiana now has a 25million chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland, a plantation farm in Amparo, Brazil, and a penthouse in London. She travels with Bernie on his Dassault Falcon private jet and drifts around the Adriatic with him on his yacht

She now has a 25million chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland, a plantation farm in Amparo, Brazil, and a penthouse in London. She travels with Bernie on his Dassault Falcon private jet and drifts around the Adriatic with him on his yacht.

Her loyalty is absolute. When Bernie was embroiled in a nasty court case in Germany and the possibility of a jail term was being discussed, she stepped out in a T-shirt that read 'Good Girls love Bad Boys'.

Bower, who dined with her and Bernie around Christmas, says: 'She has gone from being quite well-dressed to having incredible clothes and the most amazing jewellery.'

He adds: 'She is a wonderful, charming person. She is intelligent, educated, kind and very beautiful. She has been sincerely and deeply in love with Bernie for years and she looks after him immaculately.

'She has dedicated herself to making sure he stays healthy and stays alive. He no longer drinks much and has salads rather than meat.' When she met Bernie, he had come through heart trouble and suffered from gout, which led to him whizzing around the pit areas of F1 circuits in a gold buggy, wearing slippers.

He is far more spry  and trendy  these days under her care. The romance started in the summer of 2009, when she joined Bernie and friends sailing around Croatia. A marketing executive with F1 in Brazil, Fabiana had been invited along by Tamas Rohonyi, the Hungarian boss of Brazilian F1.

She was one of several in his party who were on their way to the Hungarian Grand Prix. She had known Bernie, albeit from a distance, for several years. Bernie, divorced from second wife Slavica in March 2009, was struck by Fabiana that summer.

'Unexpectedly, as the yacht slipped between the islands in the Adriatic, a relationship developed,' wrote Bower. In October of that year, Fabiana was seen out with Bernie at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

By September 2010, the romance had deepened and they had started talking about marriage and babies.

Bernie said after they first met: 'She's gorgeous but, forget everything else, she's a nice person ... she's the sort of girl I'd want to spend more and more time with, and that's what you need in a potential partner.'

He later joked that he hadn't needed to get down on one knee to propose to Fabiana, who, at 5ft 10in, towers over him.

Fabiana's loyalty is absolute. When Bernie was embroiled in a nasty court case in Germany and the possibility of a jail term was being discussed, she stepped out in a T-shirt that read 'Good Girls love Bad Boys'

Fabiana (pictured) differs from her predecessor, Slavica, a 6ft2in model a whole foot taller than her ex-husband, with a firecracker temper

In his biography of Bernie, No Angel: The Secret Life Of Bernie Ecclestone, Tom Bower describes Fabiana as 'attractive, intelligent, modest and diplomatic' and 'the peaceful company he had previously lacked.'

Certainly, Fabiana differs from her predecessor, Slavica, a 6ft2in model a whole foot taller than her ex-husband, with a firecracker temper. Slavica, a docker's daughter from Croatia, first encountered Bernie in the pits at Monza Grand Prix in 1982, while on a modelling engagement.

Apparently, Slavica's first words to him were: 'If you come any nearer, I'll kick you.' The scene was set for a fiery marriage. Slavica would furiously accuse him of having affairs when he was simply a workaholic, threaten to leave him and abuse him as he sat in silence during meals.

'She shouts a lot,' he once told a newspaper, 'and sometimes she throws plates. I go and hide in the next room because she seems to love terrorising me.' As a joke, he fixed a sign on the kitchen door: 'Never mind the dog, beware of the wife.' Once she was even said to have given him a black eye.

They spent 25 years together before she walked out on him in 2009. Bernie now describes Slavica as 'a character'. He adds: 'I didn't break up with her. She chucked me out. She was 50 years old.

She was quite wealthy and wanted a different life. She didn't want me disappearing 17 or 18 times a year.' His first wife was carpenter's daughter Ivy Bamford. They had daughter, Debbie, but Bernie walked out after falling for Singaporean Tuana Tan.

Before meeting Bernie, Fabiana (pictured with Bernie) had come through one brief, early and unhappy marriage

Not much is known about Debbie, who is now 65, although her son James  Bernie's grandson  is a watch expert for the auction house Phillips. The birth of Bernie's baby son will land Debbie with the odd accolade of being one of the world's oldest big sisters, there being a 65-year age gap between her and her half-brother.

Not that this will faze Fabiana, who has a degree in international trade and also seems to have qualified as a lawyer before she started working for Tamas Rohonyi, a pal of Bernie's, who promotes the Brazilian Grand Prix via his company International Publicity.

Before meeting Bernie, she had come through one brief, early and unhappy marriage. Her father was a retired civil servant with a background in engineering and her mother Aparecida is a housewife. She has a sister called Fernanda and the family live in a large, stylish home in Sao Paulo, with a holiday home in the country.

Mr Rohonyi, Fabiana's former boss, said: 'She started in my company very young and worked her way up. She was working long hours, then going straight to law school and studying long into the night.

She's very determined. 'When she left, she was the vice-president of marketing. She was absolutely outstanding at what she did.' Fabiana's interests are chiefly her dogs and her family; she is particularly close to her sister.

She is said to be a 'bloody good cook' of both Brazilian and international cuisine, and speaks perfect English. The only whiff of scandal came when her former lover, Dr Fernando Nascimento, described in detail how he had been dumped two months after she started seeing Ecclestone.

He complained: 'We were sharing a bed every day until the day she left me. She simply ran away. She just took her clothes and left.' He went on: 'The guy is almost 80, he is about 5ft tall. How can that be? It's a joke. It's just unbelievable.'

Bernie with his ex-wife Slavica and their two daughters Petra (left) and Tamara (right)

But unbelievable as it may have seemed, the romance has proved the doubters wrong.

Mr Rohonyi said: 'I've always loved her terrific sense of humour and cheerful disposition. I'm sure she has brought it to her relationship with Bernie. It's very stupid for people to think she's a gold-digger  frankly, she's just not the type.'

Tom Bower concurs: 'She is very understated and polite but she must be very determined because he always said he wouldn't marry again, then he married her.' The extent of Ecclestone's fortune is moot  estimates vary from 60million to 2.5billion.

Bernie says he will reveal the figure in an autobiography to be released when he dies  with the first dozen copies delivered to the Inland Revenue (he has been in dispute with HMRC for 20 years over tax  apparently they once wanted 1billion).

The son of a Sussex trawlerman, he grew up in Dartford, Kent. He amassed a huge fortune with Formula One but has modest tastes  apparently sandwiches, Hula Hoops and Smarties are served on his private jet.

He was outraged at the 12million spent on daughter Petra's wedding, declaring it 'absurd'. Tamara once said: 'Dad couldn't bear it when we used to leave the lights on as children. He would follow us around turning them off. And he hated us leaving the water running when we brushed our teeth.'

He has been officially resident in Switzerland, a tax haven, for 30 years. For the record, Bernie claims to be 'not very rich' any more, having given Slavica and his daughters most of his money more than 20 years ago.

In 1997, after health troubles, he transferred the Formula One parent company to a Jersey firm, Petara, which then set up the Bambino trust in Liechtenstein. The trust is controlled by Slavica and she, Tamara and Petra are the beneficiaries.

It has since emerged that since his divorce from Slavica, she has been paying him 60million a year in alimony. He remains an extremely wealthy man, though, and as such has been a target for criminals.

Fabiana Flosi and Bernie Ecclestone attends a party celebrating the launch of 'Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell' by Tom Bower at The Serpentine Gallery on April 25, 2012

In 2016, Fabiana's mother Aparecida was kidnapped in Brazil, with a ransom demanded of Bernie and threats of beheading. The criminals asked for 28million but after nine days, police found and freed her.

A helicopter pilot who had previously worked for Ecclestone and Fabiana was convicted in 2017 and given a 14-year jail sentence. Bernie joked later: 'All my friends know I wouldn't pay a penny for my mother-in-law.'

Since Bernie was finally ousted from Formula One in 2017, he has been helping Fabiana to run a coffee business and also has a hotel and ski area on a glacier in Switzerland. He bought a huge plantation near Sao Paulo in 2012 but their brand, Celebrity Coffee, is currently only available in Brazil.

Tom Bower says: 'They have built up a quite successful business and it is important to them. It's based at their home in Brazil, which is about 80 miles north of Sao Paulo. They have rebuilt the main house and have plans to build and extend it. She is running it but business still excites him.'

In Brazil, Bernie enjoys what he calls an 'Italian' family lifestyle, with many generations living under the same roof. Bower says: 'Bernie has not been really lucky with his in-laws up to now but he gets on terribly well with both Fabiana's mother and her sister, even though he speaks no Portuguese.

Through Fabiana he has a whole new family in Brazil.' And with a baby on the way, it's a family that is growing.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Both Japanese auto giant Toyota and China's BYD announced on April 2 the formal establishment of their joint venture that focuses on R&D of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), showing their resolution to jointly deploy in BEV field.

(Photo source: BYD, GAC Toyota)



Since they signed an agreement for the forming of the BEV R&D joint venture on November 7, 2019, the preparations have been actively pushing ahead with, and the operations are scheduled to commerce in May 2020, said two companies.

Located in Pingshan District, Shenzhen, the 50/50 joint venture is named BYD Toyota EV Technology Co.,Ltd. Hirohisa Kishi from Toyota will serve as chairman, and Zhao Binggen from BYD will assume the chief executive officer (CEO). Its line of business includes design and development of BEVs and their platforms and auto parts. Around 300 staff members will work there.

Under the agreement inked in last November, the Japanese and Chinese automakers intended to co-found a R&D company, which would work on designing and developing BEVs (including platform) and its relevant parts. Besides, both companies planned to staff the new joint venture by transferring engineers and other employees from their respective talent pools.

In fact, Toyota and BYD formed the tie-up as early as July 2019. At that time, they decided to jointly develop sedans and low-floor SUVs as well as the onboard batteries for these vehicles, which were set to be launched in Chinese market under the Toyota brand in the first half of 2020s.

BYD, the leading NEV manufacturer in China, also teams up with the German auto giant Daimler, As a result of the partnership, both parties launched in March 2012 the joint-venture brand DENZA, which incorporates their respective R&D advantages in battery, electric motor, ECU, complete vehicle manufacture as well as auto platforms.
Piotr Kaim carried out a number of attacks on women

A convicted robber facing extradition back to Poland for a series of violent jewellery raids has lost a High Court battle to serve his jail sentence in Northern Ireland.

Rejecting Piotr Kaim's bid to remain behind bars in this jurisdiction, senior judges stressed the need to prevent the UK being seen as a safe haven for fugitives.

Kaim carried out at least four attacks on women on dates stretching back to 2012.

He targeted victims by holding their faces and blocking their noses and mouths in order to steal jewellery.

Other women were grabbed around the neck and threatened as part of attempts to snatch their belongings.

In 2014 Kaim was ordered to serve two and a half years in prison for the offences.

But later that year he moved to Northern Ireland, by which stage he still had nearly two years left to serve on the term.

Extradition proceedings commenced by Polish authorities led to Kaim being detained in October 2019 under a European Arrest Warrant.

In November last year Belfast Recorder Judge McFarland ordered his return to Poland.

Kaim mounted a High Court appeal against that decision, claiming a failure to allow him to exercise his right to seek to serve the sentence in Northern Ireland.

His lawyers also contended that it was disproportionate to return him to Poland before his bid to remain behind bars in this jurisdiction was determined.

However, senior judges identified no strong, compelling factor to go against an otherwise "inevitable extradition".

In a newly published ruling, Lord Justice Treacy said: "The important public interest in upholding extradition arrangements, and in preventing the UK as being seen as a safe haven for fugitives, requires very strong counter-balancing reasons before extradition could be disproportionate.

"There are none in this case." ends




Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifts around 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines and hospital consumables onboard C-130 aircraft during Operation Sanjeevani from India to Maldives, in New Delhi. PTI photo

The Congress on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his video message, with senior party leader Shashi Tharoor saying there was no vision of the future in the address which was "just a feel-good moment curated by India's photo-op Prime Minister".

IAS officer among nine to test corona positive in MP

An IAS officer is among nine persons who have tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh, taking the state's tally to 120. The 2011-batch IAS officer is posted in the health department in Bhopal and has a history of travelling outside Madhya Pradesh in recent times. He developed symptoms similar to those found in COVID-19 patients and was tested for the viral infection.

IAS officer from Bhopal among nine positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh

ALERT: 960 Tablighi Jamaat foreigner members including 379 Indonesians, 110 Bangladeshis blacklisted, visas cancelled

Kejriwal holds video conference meeting with AAP MLAs

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday held a meeting via video conference with all party MLAs to discuss the relief work carried out by them in their respective assemblies in view of the coronavirus outbreak

2 minors among 7 corona+ cases in Gujarat

Seven more persons, two of them minors, have tested positive for coronavirus in Gujarat, taking the number of infections in the state to 95, while one person succumbed to the disease, raising the toll to eight.

IIT alumni develop drone with infrared camera for thermal screening

Three alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) have developed a drone equipped with infrared camera which can help in thermal screening of groups without human intervention and identify suspected COVID-19 cases at an early stage once the lockdown is lifted

56 coronavirus deaths in the country

The number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,301 in the country while the death toll rose to 56

Coronavirus cases climb to 2301

Odisha announces 48-hour lockdown in three cities

Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Friday announced a 48-hour total lockdown  from Friday 9 pm to Sunday 9 pm  in the state capital Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Bhadrak after a case of community transmission of the coronavirus Covid-19 was reported late Wednesday evening.
The US coronavirus death toll hit 5,897 on Thursday, with more than 244,000 confirmed cases across the nation. The recent tally brings the world's COVID-19 cases to more than 1 million.

More states have imposed a stay-at-home order as the number of coronavirus deaths in the country reached a new high, with more than 900 reported in the last 24 hours.

A 6-week old child was amongst the newly reported deaths. The newborn was taken to a Connecticut hospital late last week where doctors found the baby to be infected with COVID-19.

Recent data showed people without symptoms are helping fuel the spread of the virus, prompting a nationwide debate on whether Americans should be required to wear cloth masks in public.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said as many as 25 percent of people infected with COVID-19 do not show any symptoms---a high number that further complicates efforts to predict the pandemic's course.

The new data led the federal health agency to re-review its guidelines on whether the general public should wear masks.

Until now, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have advised against having ordinary people wear masks unless they are sick. The former guidance hoped to reserve as many medical-grade masks for health care workers who need them most.

Many experts voiced their concerns on the widespread use of face masks as health care workers are currently facing a major supply shortage on medical equipment, including personal protective equipment designed to keep them safe from contracting the virus.

Many healthcare workers have begun falling ill, with others dying from COVID-19. Recently, 150 doctors and nurses from four Boston hospitals tested positive for the virus. The surge in cases involving medical professionals means fewer healthcare workers can attend to the needs of the public.

Health experts continue to urge the public to observe social distancing measures "to a tee" as failing to do will keep the country from flattening the curve and winning in the invisible war against the global pandemic.

Other health experts say social distancing measures are not enough to combat the virus. Some urged the government to implement a national shelter-in-place order as research showed the deadly coronavirus to be twice as contagious as the flu.

A large-scale study found early interventions, including restricting people's movements, saved thousands of lives across Europe.

Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the virus response, believes the United States can bend the curve, so long as every American take "some responsibility" and follow the strict social distancing guidelines.

She also noted some communities in the nation showing promising results in slowing the spread of the virus.

"We have to change the logarithmic curve we are on," she said. "We see others beginning to bend their curves, we can bend ours."

The United States currently leads the world in the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Catch the latest COVID-19 updates here:
A man who had returned from London and was tested positive for COVID-19 has now been cured, informed the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's office.

The man had come to Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh from London.

He was discharged from Government General Hospital in Kakinada on Friday and has been asked to stay under home quarantine for a few more days.

The number of coronavirus cases in the state stands at 132, including the one patient who was discharged today.

The total number of coronavirus cases in India on Friday climbed to 2,301, including 156 cured and discharged and 56 deaths, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

At present, there are 2088 COVID-19 active cases in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The share price of Aurobindo Pharma gained almost 5 percent intraday on March 3 after the company said on April 2, the USD 900 million deal to acquire Sandoz Inc's US-based generic oral solids and dermatology businesses has been mutually called-off.

Holzkirchen-based Sandoz is a leading player in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars and a division of Swiss drug major Novartis.

"This decision was taken as approval from the US Federal Trade Commission for the transaction was not obtained within anticipated timelines," Aurobindo Pharma said in a regulatory filing.

The acquisition was to be made through its wholly-owned subsidiary Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc.

The deal was expected to close in 2019 following the completion of customary closing conditions, including US Federal Trade Commission clearances. Repeated delays, however, led to it being mutually terminated.

Global research firm Credit Suisse has downgraded the stock to underperform from neutral and has slashed target from Rs 450 to Rs 345 per share as USFDA approvals may remain weak. Growth in the absence of Sandoz acquisition is likely to be weak.

The stock witnessed a spurt in volume by more than 2.82 times and was trading with volumes of 471,071 shares, compared to its five day average of 142,930 shares, an increase of 229.58 percent.
A heavily tattooed man has been nabbed by police after he allegedly attempted to deliver MDMA hidden in a fruit box to a traveller undergoing coronavirus quarantine in a five-star Sydney hotel.

Extraordinary security footage shows the accused dealer, 37, arrive at the Sheraton Grand Hotel on Elizabeth Street, Sydney, at 11.15pm on Thursday night.

The man - dressed in a black shirt and shorts - carried the fruit box into the hotel - but had to hand it over to police officers manning the reception desk of the five-star hotel overlooking Hyde Park.

NSW Police released vision of a man allegedly attempt to deliver drugs to a guest at the Sheraton hotel in Sydney

A female police officer searched the box and allegedly uncovered a white envelope containing an MDMA capsule.

In footage shared by NSW Police, the officer appeared to wave at the man and summon him back into the hotel reception.

The man was arrested and when officers searched him, they allegedly found a bag of white powder, believed to be cocaine.

He was issued a Court Attendance Notice for supply prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug.

The Lane Cove man is due to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday June 19.

The Sheraton hotel has been contacted for comment.

Pictured: The man is seen giving a fruit box to police officers at reception on Thursday

A female police officer searched the box and allegedly uncovered a white envelope containing an MDMA capsule (pictured)

Australians who return from overseas are required to spend 14 days in quarantine at hotels across the country.

The mandatory self-isolation came into effect on Sunday, as two thirds of Australia's COVID-19 cases have come from travellers.

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

In Sydney, travellers are being sent to the Sheraton, InterContinental, Swissotel and the Novotel on Darling Harbour.

Return travellers in Melbourne are accommodated in the Crown Promenade.

The guests receive three free meals a day, which are left in a bag in front of their room's door. Some hotels are reportedly offering guests $95 credit every day to spend on room service.

As part of the scheme, police and security guards patrol the halls and cleaning staff are required to wear protective gear to clean rooms.

The national total of coronavirus cases in Australia reached 5,315 on Friday, with 28 deaths.

Pictured: Police at the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney on Monday March 30
Resilience In Music: Composers In Times of Hardship

In times of hardship such as these, artists often struggle in particular, with arts falling by the wayside in favor of basic needs like food and medicine. That said, many composers operating under such conditions have, historically, managed to create some of their most powerful and unique work, as Filippo Faustini here explores.

Guest post by Filippo Faustini of Soundflys Flypaper

In times of hardship such as this current moment in time, our collective focus rightfully tends to gravitate toward basic needs such as providing assistance, food, or medicine for vulnerable people and the wider population. As a consequence of calamity, people risk losing their job, their security, and their physical or psychological health.

Historically, artists always seem to struggle in particular, perhaps as a result of their craft not being considered vital to the survival of a society. These days weve seen musicians having to cancel tours and artist-practitioners losing work like tutoring and commissions. But in the past, there have been many cases in which composers, forced by sudden consequential conditions like war or disease epidemics, managed not only to keep working but to create incredibly powerful, unique, and heartfelt pieces of music.

Music can help society overcome hardship and transform hopelessness into resilience and positive energy. Lets look at three cases in recent history where composers had to face limitations in order to keep writing what would become musical masterpieces.

Igor Stravinskys The Soldiers Tale (1919)

In 1914, World War I began and many artists were affected by this terrible event. Stravinsky had just premiered his most groundbreaking ballet piece the year before, The Rite of Spring, scored for an enormous orchestra which shocked audiences and caused a stir of controversy for its subject and style of choreography.

Not only that, but the work displayed compositional choices and techniques that were never before devised. Among these, the use of unusual registers and techniques for certain instruments such as the bassoon, the use of polytonality (superimposing ostinati in different keys at once), complex meter changes and bizarre ways to present musical material with accumulation, stratification and juxtaposition of musical material instead of thematic development  as had been the musical custom since the Classical period.

After the outbreak of World War I, Stravinsky had to face restrictions in the availability of orchestral opportunities. Substantial productions that could finance big orchestras were out of the question, so the Russian composer had to focus on chamber music. This didnt stop his creativity, and Stravinsky kept working on pieces for solo instruments or small ensembles. As the war went on, the composer  who had to provide food for a family of five including himself  was left nearly destitute.

He started thinking about how to overcome the situation and decided to write a new work called The Soldiers Tale: a theatrical performance for a small ensemble and an actor. The plot tells the story of a soldier who sells his fiddle to the devil in exchange for a book which reveals events that will happen in the future, and with this knowledge he becomes rich. The work is conceived under restrictive circumstances, but Stravinsky seems to thrive in the lack of freedom:

My freedom will be so much the greater and more meaningful the more narrowly I limit my field of action and the more I surround myself with obstacles. Whatever diminishes constraint diminishes strength. The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees ones self of the chains that shackle the spirit. (from the book Poetics of Music)

Isnt this compositional resilience at its best?

The work itself is a true masterpiece. Stravinsky transfers his techniques of stratification and segmentation of motifs, polytonality and rhythmic inventiveness to a smaller ensemble with just as much success as in his works for larger orchestras (for example, the percussive burst at 0:54). In doing so, he was silently reinventing the scope of chamber music. His is one of the first (if not the first) chamber pieces to contain a solo for percussion (at 57:15).

Unfortunately, Stravinskys plan to tour Europe with The Soldiers Tale was to face another dramatic incumbency: the Spanish Flu. This is a rather grim similarity to the present situation, since the virus was in fact related to COVID-19. The Spanish Flu belonged to the same family of viruses (H1N1) with an exceptionally high mortality rate, ultimately killing between 50 and 100 million people worldwide. Many of the performers in the theatre company became ill, including the composer himself who was confined to bed, under piles of blankets and with his teeth chattering (from What Killed the Great and Not So Great Composers).

Luckily though, Stravinsky recovered from the Spanish Flu and was able to keep working and gifting the world with his amazing compositions for years onwards.

Maurice Ravels Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (1929-1930)

This concerto was commissioned to Maurice Ravel by the Austrian concert pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who had his right arm amputated due to an injury sustained during World War I.

A physical impairment such as this is any musicians worst nightmare. But how can a piano concerto be written with such an evident limitation, especially for a keyboard instrument? This is when brilliant composers such as Ravel show us that anything is possible in music, provided we are determined enough to transform what looks like weakness into strength and character.

The writing in this work is simply astounding; I invite you to listen to the piece above and close your eyes when the piano comes in. I am sure nobody would think that the piece is played with only one hand (the left no doubt) if you didnt already know. When you open your eyes, youll be watching a masterful pianist paying tribute to the great Wittgenstein in the only proper way.

The piece starts with a nebula of sound, nondescript and hazy, from which the main theme emerges from the lowest pits, carried by a contrabassoon and then taken by French horns. To me, this resembles the torment of a human being who has figured out the despair of not being able to do what he or she loves the most. It builds up in an orchestral crescendo, just like anger sometimes builds up in the souls of those who cannot rebel against such a condition, when around 2:00 the whole orchestra discloses its full power.

At 2:34, after a crescendo, the piano enters with a cadenza, alternating a pedal on the low register to a melody harmonized in fifths and octaves. The piano part comes in with a tinge of arrogance, as if the pianist were saying: Im going to show you what I can do with only one hand.

Ravel is a seasoned composer by this time  this concerto is among the last compositions that he will give to the world. The French composer knows well that the only way for a piano to counterweight a full orchestra is to be presented alone, at a loud dynamic and in antiphonal response to the orchestral intervention. The choice of using a heavy, low register also contributes to the power and weight of this entrance.

Moreover, Ravel knows very well how to write for piano and the illusion of playing with two hands is accomplished with a wonderful pedaled writing (2:50 onwards). Notice how some of the fingers play accented notes and some others dont, contributing to the sense of different melodies going on at once.

From 3:28 on, the writing alternates between low and mid registers, introducing the second important theme of the concerto, presented here in a modal fashion (D Lydian, one of the brightest yet most nondescript modes). The theme moves then towards the upper register, transposed upwards, and evolves into chords that gradually become more distant to reach the extremities of the instrument (4:59). The first piano section ends in a cadence characterized by intense technical difficulty. When the orchestra comes back in, it is pure bliss  and from then on, the piano shows very diverse feelings and tints: from playfulness to sweetness and sorrow, contributing to a marvellous composition.

There are obviously a lot of repertory studies for the left hand alone, but this one is special because it displays the ability of the composer to transform weakness into character and constraint into invention, a condition where opposites meet and feed on each other. Feeling even more poignant in these days of limited resources and the need for resilience, this piece is proof that art can spring from even the darkest conditions.

Olivier Messiaens Quartet for the End of Time (1941)

When the French organist and composer Olivier Messiaen was captured by the Nazi army and taken to the Stalag VIII-A concentration camp, he was 31 years old. Apparently, when the soldiers checked his pockets they found scores and sketches instead of supplies (he was enrolled as a nurse). The composer was allowed to write for whatever ensemble he could find in the concentration camp and he came up with the Quartet for the End of Time for piano, cello, clarinet and violin; a fairly unusual ensemble.

Obviously, he had to adapt to whatever instruments and musicians were available in the camp and ended up premiering the work on rather old and out of tune instruments. He later stated that: Never was I listened to with such rapt attention and comprehension during the premiere for the people in the camp (from All Music Guide to Classical Music: The Definitive Guide to Classical Music). His music was clearly speaking a language that the people in the camp could relate to and deeply understand, a sort of shared code language of sorrow, a dialect in which music is particularly fluent.

Messiaen is known for his interests in Indian music and bird chants. He came up with the concept of non-retrogradable rhythms, which means employing palindrome rhythm figurations (successions of notes that can be read from left to right and vice versa without changing), as well as modes of limited transposition (for example, the whole tone scale, of which only two series exist: C and C#. Hence the possibilities of transposing this scale are limited only to two).

It is evident that Messiaen regarded this historic war-torn period and his condition as a prisoner as being the end of times, which the piece reflects on a musical level. For example, the first movement (Liturgie de Cristal) is characterized by the use of a sequence of 17 chords in the piano which cycle through the whole composition, unvaried, and interlock with 5 notes by the cello.

These cycles remain the same, whichever direction time runs, evoking the feeling of eternal and the divine (from The Norton Anthology of Western Music). Not only that, but even more curiously the piano cycle repeats at the end of bar 8 (0:38 in the video above) and its now written in a different way because it falls on a different beat in the bar. It would take 29 repetitions of the same pattern to return to the original alignment (377 beats); it would take 12,441 beats to return to the same piano/cello alignment.

This numerical information is quite fascinating as it suggests that we may be hearing only a portion of the real piece, given that this is music composed in a cyclical manner, just like we live through cyclical portions of eternity. Messiaen was a religious and spiritual person and being confronted with death and what seemed to be the end of his days, stimulated further his assessment of philosophical concepts such as time and the impermanence of the human condition.

Fortunately, these were not his last days and he would live on to compose more and pass on his expertise as a teacher to a new generation of important 20th Century composers such as Boulez, Stockhausen, and Xenakis. This work is an evident example of a composer being able to resort to a very personal and unique compositional style which is also relevant to the conditions in which they were writing.

Messiaen actively managed to transform fear and horror into one of the most moving pieces in the contemporary classical repertoire (and one of my favourites of all time), the Louange a lEternite de Jesus:

This piece does not have a recurring cycle, but is a simple duet where the piano seems to mark the passing of time while the cello dwells on long notes which seem to be suspended between the finite nature of human time and the everlasting nature of eternal time. The composer and those who attended the premiere, trapped in a concentration camp, seemed to abide this dimension where time is suspended and where they are concerned with basic survival needs, far from the mundane preoccupations which delimit the unfolding of time in times of peace (work, travel, holiday and so on); a condition that appears sadly relatable during these times of isolation.

Final thoughts

Music shares its fundamental characteristics with life: it is made of a combination of perception and memory, without which there can be neither human life as we know it nor music, either. Therefore, music seems to be linked to the very essence of the human condition and acts like a rejuvenating source of life energy in times when life itself seems to be drained out by sorrow and preoccupation.

This article is an invitation to all fellow musicians and readers to make the most with what history has presented to us: a situation of hardship and precariousness, in which we fear for our lives, the ones we love, and the wellbeing of society as a whole.

Filippo Faustini is a guitarist and producer based in London. He graduated in Modern Guitar at the Conservatoire in Frosinone (Italy) and then he completed an MA in Composition for Moving Images at City University (London). He is the guitarist and producer for the London-based alt rock/ambient band, Alice in the Cruel Sea. Filippo is also the co-founder of a recently formed music production company called Music Brewery where he works as producer and mixing engineer.

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Rampur : , April 3 (IANS) Three persons have been arrested and sent to jail for allegedly pelting stones at police and administrative officers who were enforcing the lockdown in Rampur's Bhabbal Puri locality on Wednesday evening.

Three others booked in the same case are absconding.

As per reports, Additional District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, tehsildar Mahendra Bahadur Singh and SHO Durga Singh were patrolling the area, along with other officials, on Wednesday evening when the accused attacked them.

The officials, however, were not injured.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Arun Kumar Singh said that a case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act against six people.

Three of them - Mohammad Altaf, Mohammad Gulfam and Mohammad Nafees, all residents of Miyan Wali Masjid in Bhabbalpuri - were arrested and sent to the jail.

An FIR against them was registered under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 147 ( rioting), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332(voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of other), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the IPC and section 3 of the Disaster Management Act.

The ASP added that a manhunt was launched to nab the other three accused.
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<! Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom: coronavirus lands in the state >

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom on Thursday announced total lockdown of the state for a period of 14 days to halt spread of Coronavirus.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, had announced five cases of Coronavirus in Akwa Ibom on Wednesday.

Emmanuel said that the decision to completely lock down the state was to ensure effective contact tracing of those who might have come in contact with the five index cases.

The governor said the ban on movement across the state would be enforced by security operatives to ensure strict compliance by members of the public.

According to him, only pharmaceutical stores and grocery shops would be opened for business during the period.

Emmanuel directed that all business premises, markets, shops, motor parks and offices should remain closed during the period.

He said that only those on essential duties would be allowed to move, saying, they must show valid and proper means of identification

As I speak, the confirmed cases who are mostly healthcare professionals are in good health and have so far presented no symptoms.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus spreads to Akwa Ibom as Nigeria reveals 23 new cases

However, they have been moved to the isolation centres for proper management and the process of contact tracing has begun to identify those who may have come in contact with them.

To enable this process run effectively, I am hereby announcing a complete cessation of movement in the state for a period of 14 days, he said.

The governor described coronavirus as a global pandemic, adding, we must do our part to curtail its spread

No country or state can claim to be 100 per cent ready for the pandemic, I urge Akwa Ibom people to come together so that we could win the fight against Covid-19.

Our residents need not panic, the situation require that all hands should be on deck to defeat the pandemic, this is not the time to panic or spread fear, he said.
New Delhi, April 3 : Gautam Gambhir on Friday thanked Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for acknowledging the contribution he made to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

Gambhir had tweeted on Thursday that he is donating two years' salary to the PM-CARES fund. RCB on Friday tweeted an article on their website on Gambhir's donation.

Gambhir in his reply to the tweet said: "I hated losing to you guys, but today you have won me over by this acknowledgement. Thanks a lot." Gambhir had earlier released Rs 1 crore from his MPLAD (Members of Parliament Local Area Development) fund to the PM CARES fund.

The coronavirus toll rose to six on Friday in New Delhi with two new deaths in the last 24 hours. A total of 72 deaths have occurred due to the virus in the country and the number of infections reported have crossed 2500. Worldwide, the number of infections have crossed one million and over 55,000 lives have been lost.

The country is currently under a three-week lockdown that was declared on March 25. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Indians to acknowledge those at the forefront of the fight and light lamps, torches and candles at 9 p.m. on Sunday.
A policeman was attacked by a



group of villagers, after he intercepted a man for violating the COVID-19 lockdown in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, an official said on Friday.

The incident took place on Wednesday evening at Kathli square under Pusaur police station area, where constable Harish Chandra was on patrolling duty, the official said.

Chandra and his colleague intercepted Naresh Jandge, a resident of Taparda village, who was riding his motorcycle, and asked him to go back home, he said.

Jandge started arguing with the policemen, but left the spot, only to return later with his brother and 13 other villagers, he added.

The group of 15 men attacked the policeman, while his colleague called in for additional forces, he said, adding that the accused fled the scene soon after.

On Thursday, the police raided the village and arrested one of the accused Chatursen Jandge, while others were still at large, he said.

A case was registered under sections 147 (rioting), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and other relevant provisions of the IPC, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington  Rep. John Katko says the U.S. needs to find out what went wrong and what worked in the nations response to the coronavirus pandemic as the death toll topped 6,000 on Friday.

Katko, R-Camillus, introduced a bill Friday that would establish an independent federal commission to examine U.S. pandemic preparedness and how the nation responded to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 10-member, bipartisan commission would be asked to recommend actions the nation can take to better prepare for future pandemics, including a possible return of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., joined with Katko to introduce the National Commission on COVID-19 Act. The House members said they modeled their bill on the law that established the 9/11 Commission after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. The independent panel identified a series of U.S. intelligence failures leading up to the attacks.

Now, Katko said, Congress has a solemn duty to undergo a comprehensive and bipartisan fact-finding mission in response to the most significant public health crisis of our lifetime.

The new commission would examine how COVID-19 spread in the United States and evaluate the nations preparedness and response to the pandemic.

The bill requires the commission to issue a report to Congress and the president that outlines steps government and businesses should take to prepare for and prevent future pandemics.

The commission would be asked to make recommendations about testing, vaccines, personal protective equipment for health workers and the preparedness capacity of the U.S. healthcare system.

The coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. has been marked by a shortage of ventilators, hospital capacity, and masks, gowns and gloves for hospital workers and first responders.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said states have been forced to compete for medical equipment, driving up the price and forcing the state to buy critical materials from China.

The Boston Globe editorial board concluded this week that much of the profound impact (the coronavirus) will have here in the United States was preventable and blamed the problems on a colossal failure of leadership from President Donald Trump.

Katko, asked Thursday whether Trump deserved blame, said he would leave it to the commission to draw conclusions.

Regarding Trump, Im not going to go through what could have or would have happened, Katko said. We should be more focused on what we did or didnt do as a country as a whole.

Katko said the commission, split evenly among Democrats and Republicans, would begin its work in early 2021 and produce a report with conclusions by March 2022.

The COVID-19 Commission would be appointed by the president and congressional leaders from both parties in the House and Senate. The bill requires members to have experience in public health, medicine, emergency management and response, and public administration.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Social Security penalizes retired NY doctors, nurses who fight coronavirus

New Cuomo order forces hospitals to give up ventilators, protective equipment to state

Target, Costco, Home Depot limit customers, take other measures to slow coronavirus spread

2020 high school seniors face heartbreak and anxiety: Were running out of time

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
The real estate market is at a total, or near-total, shutdown, Morrison Financial principal David Morrison told BNN Bloomberg. Many larger companies of the same ilk are in the same boat and have been forced to take, or are in the process of considering similar action.

Trez Capital in Vancouver has also suspended cashouts on investor funds amounting to more than $3 billion. The company said that while it has yet to suffer any defaults, it cannot provide an estimate as to when investors can begin redeeming again.

We have to protect everything, Trez chairman and chief executive officer Morley Greene stated.

Figures from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation indicated that the alternative market represented around 1% of the nations mortgages last year. The segment had around $14 billion in outstanding mortgages, held by an estimated 200 to 300 lenders.
Indiana Diaper Bank received a $10,000 emergency grant from Womens Fund of Central Indiana, a Central Indiana Community Foundation Fund, to provide diapers and wipes to 2,500 children throughout Central Indiana. Indiana Diaper Bank works with social service agencies to distribute supplies to families with infants and young children. Those in need of diapers should call 211.

Help for small businesses

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Verizon have partnered to create an emergency fund for small businesses. MWBEs are encouraged to apply for the grant. The application takes about eight minutes to complete online. Deadline is 11:59 p.m. April 4.

Each recipient is limited to one grant per tax ID.

For information or troubleshooting, email verizongrantsinfo@lisc.org.

In addition, LISC Indianapolis and Kiva have partnered to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19 with access to 0% interest loans up to $15,000. To apply visit, kiva.org/borrow. For questions or more information, contact Geoffrey Jones at indianapolis@local.kiva.org.

Families will receive full SNAP benefits

More than 152,000 Indiana households will receive additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in April when distributions begin April 5 to help families purchase food during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act allows states to provide the maximum SNAP allotment to households. Households already receiving the maximum benefit wont receive additional benefits.

New applications authorized in April will receive the maximum allotment for their household size.
The opposition has called for an immediate freeze on pay increases for Victorian politicians after a wave of hefty salary boosts for MPs landed in the midst of a national economic crisis.

Labor parliamentarians on Thursday pledged to donate their increases to coronavirus-related causes as the second part of an 11.8 per cent pay increase for the Premier, Opposition Leader and their frontbenchers took effect.

The donation pledge did little to quell angry reactions from some unions and a prominent unemployment advocate, who branded the pay rise "disgraceful".

Liberal frontbench MP Brad Battin said the donation pledges were weasel words and unacceptable.

We will support legislation coming through the Parliament to freeze the pays of members of Parliament, Mr Battin said on Friday.
A regional resiliency fund put together by Fairfield Countys Community Foundation had raised nearly $1.4 million through Thursday, flipping cash to nonprofits providing critical services in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

As efforts like that have risen, the state Department of Economic and Community Development has formed a recovery/immediate needs group with the mission of prioritizing donations from individuals and philanthropic organizations seeking to help during the current crisis.

With the outbreak of COVID-19 putting sudden cash strains on nonprofits  boards and managers are eyeing bottom lines with unease as demand spikes for the human services they provide at a time when the ailing stock market could hurt their fundraising in the coming year  those that funnel money to the sector are jury rigging new funding streams on the fly in an attempt to keep needed services flowing.

Its just exploding

Fairfield Countys Community Foundation was to have held its annual Greenwich luncheon to benefit its Fund for Women & Girls on Friday, featuring an address by The Handmaids Tale author Margaret Atwood.

With the event postponed, the Norwalk-based foundation is now focusing its efforts on the resiliency fund and a separate effort called the Connecticut COVID-19 Charity Connection  shortened to 4-CT  that has pooled $10 million from wealthy donors including Gov. Ned Lamont for immediate distribution, with fundraising continuing.

For ... the nonprofits that do this work with our most vulnerable, its just exploding in terms of the demand, said Juanita James, CEO of the Community Foundation.

The crisis is weighing heavily on organizations like Ability Beyond, the Bethel-based nonprofit that runs programs for some 3,000 people with disabilities in Connecticut and New York.

Were seeing a lot of gifts that we might not have seen coming, just because particular (clients) family members and community members are aware of the enormous need the situation is creating, said Tracy Conte, director of development.

But the organizations costs are considerable  its budget is $70 million a year. Conte said Ability Beyond is bracing for the possibility of a decline in fundraising in the coming year, as donors absorb stock-market losses and tally their own extraordinary outlays as a result of the pandemic.

And, like other nonprofits in direct contact with clients, Ability Beyond is having to be mindful of its own staff contracting coronavirus and spreading it to others. That adds to costs, and the agency has put out a call for donations of hand-stitched face masks.

Donor-advised funds

The 4-CT initiative is led by Don Kendall Jr., a Weston resident who created Social Venture Partners Connecticut and otherwise has been an active philanthropist. Kendall traces his wealth to a restaurant franchise company in eastern Europe he founded more than 25 years ago alongside his father and two others, which has grown to more than 2,000 locations today spanning brands like Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks.

Don clearly identified the fact that there are many wealthy people in the state of Connecticut, and he knows that we as an organization have struggled with the extent to which we would like more of those dollars to (stay) in the state of Connecticut, said James, of Fairfield Countys Community Foundation. We do get some donations from high net-worth individuals. But (against) the capacity they have to give? Were getting a very small percentage of that. So the concept behind 4-CT is, can you marshal some of the wealthiest people in the state and have them interested in a big-picture, statewide initiative?

On Wednesday, Lamont said 4-CT could underwrite wages for a Connecticut service corps that would pay people to work in food banks and other venues that are normally staffed by volunteers.

This is ... helping us target our resources to places most in need, where we can fill the gap where federal aid will not be there in time, Lamont said. This is the month were going to need the money fast.

Like other wealthy parts of the country, Connecticut has seen an increasing number of private foundations over the past several years, allowing donors to be far more active in providing guidance to the nonprofits they support.

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio and former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi have funneled big gifts for specific needs in the areas of remote learning and child care for parents who work for hospitals or emergency response agencies.

We see this as an opportunity to leverage those preexisting relationships and use a well-established conduit to get resources to where they are most needed, but we also see 4-CT as ... a nimble organization that can help martial additional expertise and thinking around what is needed, said Jay Williams, president of The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. I think it sets a precedent for this disaster that were dealing with, but also provides a model for collaboration when this passes.

Julia Perkins contributed to this report. Includes reporting by Ken Dixon and Paul Schott.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks, chat before the speech from the throne is delivered in Edmonton Alta, on Tuesday May 21, 2019. Alberta has suspended environmental reporting requirements for industry under three major pieces of legislation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Alberta has suspended environmental reporting requirements for industry under emergency powers the province has enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"All requirements to report information pursuant to provisions in approvals or registrations are suspended," reads a ministerial order signed Tuesday by Environment Minister Jason Nixon.

Since Alberta's regulatory system depends on self-reporting, the move effectively suspends environmental regulation in the province, said Shaun Fluker, a law professor at the University of Calgary.

"We don't send officials out to ensure that terms and conditions are being complied with," he said. "That (information) gap means arguably we're not just halting reporting, we're halting the operation of the regulatory system.

"We lose the ability to exercise compliance and enforcement measures."

The suspension applies to three pieces of legislation at the heart of environmental protection in the province: the Water Act, the Public Lands Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.

It does not apply to drinking-water facilities.

Department spokeswoman Jess Sinclair said the move was made to give hard-pressed energy companies a break.

"Many employers are dealing with reduced workforces due to the pandemic," she said in an email. "Monitoring must still take place, but we are removing reporting deadlines to accommodate."

Brad Herald with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers said in an email that with a reduced number of workers on site, compliance for some regulatory requirements within existing timelines is a challenge.

"Taking a flexible approach to compliance for certain low risk regulatory requirements allows companies to focus on critical areas of operations," he said.

Opposition New Democrat environment critic Marlin Schmidt called the move by Premier Jason Kenney's United Conservative government "outrageous" and said he was baffled by it.

"Albertans deserve environmental protection at all times, especially during a pandemic."

He said that while industry will still be required to report spills or other accidents, there's now no assurance that's being done if it isn't reported by the public.

"There are a lot of industrial sites far from public view that will be able to escape a lot of pubic scrutiny."

The order was issued under the authority of the provincial state of public health emergency. It lasts at least 60 days and as long as 90 days.

Fluker suggested it could be longer.

"If the state of public health emergency is extended, that order's going to stay in force."

The ministerial order says companies must continue to collect required information and submit it to the department "upon request."

If it's ever requested, said Fluker, who added the move will create an information gap on what's going on with the province's environment.

"The longer this gap persists, the more likely it is that certain standards that are in place to protect human health and the environment, any contraventions of those, are just going to go unaddressed."

Greenpeace International could only find a few examples of other jurisdictions using the pandemic to relax environmental rules.

"In the U.S., the oil lobby has convinced the Trump administration to use the public health emergency as cover for rolling back environmental laws, and it certainly looks like Kenney is eager to follow suit," said Keith Stewart of Greenpeace Canada.

Fluker said Nixon's order is even more permissive than Trump's. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires proof of connection between inability to report and COVID-19 and also expects some reports to eventually be filed.

"Both of these conditions would be welcome additions," Fluker wrote in a blog post.

Anna McIntosh, of the environmental law firm Ecojustice, said in a tweet that the Alberta Energy Regulator has not extended the deadlines for those expressing concern about new projects.

"Project permitting proceeds at full speed in Alberta while environmental oversight is out the door."
Almost 300 employees at the Trump International Hotel & Tower were among more than 14,000 layoffs reported to the state in March, most of them related to the new coronavirus effect on the economy as companies cut back or closed their doors.
US President Donald Trump has tested negative for the novel coronavirus for a second time and is "healthy" and not displaying any symptoms for the deadly disease, the White House physician has said.

Sean Conley, Trump's physician, did not provide any context for the second test. The doctor, however, said the president had been tested by a new rapid-point-of-care test that delivered results in 15 minutes.

"The President tested negative for COVID-19," Conley, said on Thursday in a memorandum to the White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.

"This morning, the President was tested again for COVID-19, utilising a new, rapid-point-of-care test capability. He is healthy and without symptoms. Sample collection took just one minute and results were reported back in 15 minutes," Conley said.

President Trump flashed a copy of his physician's memorandum to his press secretary during his daily White House conference.

"I did take a test. It just came out, this is from the White House physician," Trump said at the briefing while holding up the memo.

"You may have it, just came out. I just took it this morning. And I took it, it took me literally a minute to take it and it took me - I guess it was 14 or 15 minutes (for results). I went to work, I didn't wait for it, but it said it took 14 minutes or something with a conclusion and it said the President tested negative for COVID-19," he was quoted as saying by the US media.

Trump added that he had taken the test "really out of curiosity to see how quickly it worked, how fast it worked."



"It's a lot easier. I've done them both and the second one is much more pleasant," he said of his second test.

The president previously tested negative for the virus in mid-March after coming into contact with two persons who had tested positive.

Trump's second test comes as more than a million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide and States across the US continue to hand down strict measures to slow down the spread of the COVID-19.

America wrestles with the coronavirus pandemic that the White House has warned could kill up to two lakh people during the next fortnight.

A total of 1,002,159 COVID-19 cases have been reported across more than 175 countries and territories with51,485 deaths reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

The US has reported 236,339 COVID-19 cases, the highest in the world, and over 5,000 people have died due to the disease.

President Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the US was headed for a "very tough two weeks", advising people to be prepared for the "hard days" ahead.

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 April 30.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The trauma centre at the Dr RML Hospital will function as a dedicated COVID-19 isolation ward while the Safdarjung Hospital's super specialty block has been converted into a state-of-the-art isolation management centre, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday



He made these announcements after visiting the Dr RML Hospital and the Safdarjung Hospital. The minister was at the health facilities to review their COVID-19 preparedness.

At the Dr RML Hospital, Vardhan visited the flu corner, emergency care centre, trauma centre and coronavirus screening centre.

After inspecting these centres, the minister expressed satisfaction over the pace of the screening process.

He also visited the microbiology department, which has been handling a huge number of samples everyday and appreciated it for following infection control protocols.

"Keeping in view the emerging requirement of isolation beds, the trauma centre at the Dr RML Hospital will function as a dedicated COVID-19 isolation ward," he said.

Subsequently, the Union minister visited the Safdarjung Hospital where he reviewed facilities available at the super specialty block.

He said it has been converted into a state-of-the-art COVID-19 isolation management centre, consisting of 400 isolation and 100 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds.

During the review of management and treatment of patients in the two hospitals, Vardhan interacted with doctors, nurses and other staffers, including sanitation personnel, exclusively dealing with COVID-19 patients.

He also discussed about the challenges being faced by the health sector in containing the effects of COVID-19 in the country and exhorted them to continue their hard work.

Saluting the committed and focussed hard work of doctors and other healthcare professionals in the country, the minister said "the nation is proud of our dedicated health profesionals", the health ministry said in a statement.

Vardhan said that the lockdown is an appropriate opportunity to contain the effect of COVID-19 and everyone's contribution by staying at home is collectively an important weapon to contain the spread of the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chandigarh, April 3 : Two members of the Tablighi Jamaat, who were at the congregation in Delhis Nizamuddin Markaz in March, tested positive for the coronavirus disease in Punjab, taking the total number of such cases to 49, officials said on Friday.

"Two more positive cases in the district and they have attended religious congregation in Delhi. They are in isolation and contacts being traced," Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan said.

Both the patients belonged to Jagatpura village, located just on the outskirts of Chandigarh, an official told IANS.

In the worst affected Mohali district, the Jagatpura area has been totally sealed off after confirmation of Covid-19 outbreak, with mass sampling being done in this and Nayagaon area, both located on the periphery of Chandigarh.

Dayalan said 48 contacts of positive cases were tested negative in the district and reports of three patient awaited.

Earlier, a 65-year-old man from Mohali, a 42-year woman from Ludhiana, a 62-year-old man from Hoshiarpur and a 70-year-old man from Nawanshahr had succumbed to the infection.

The latest death was of Padma Shri Nirmal Singh Khalsa, former Hazoori Raagi of the Golden Temple, who died in Amritsar on Thursday morning.

Taking a tough stand in the light of Delhi's Nizamuddin incident, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday prohibited all gatherings, including religious, and said the state would impose a total ban on all congregations, irrespective of the religion involved.

The Chief Minister also ordered 21 days of quarantine for all those who had returned to the state from Nizamuddin in Delhi since January and asked the police and administrative officials to move aggressively to track, trace and isolate all such people.

He directed the police and health department to constitute special teams to track and follow up on those who had returned to Punjab from Nizamuddin.
A fifth worker at Ford Motor Co. and an eighth worker at Fiat Chrysler Automotive have died from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a late afternoon report in the Detroit Free Press Thursday. The workers, who have yet to be identified as of this writing, were hourly employees at Fords Livonia Transmission Plant and FCAs MOPAR parts distribution center in Center Line, respectively.

Autoworkers leaving their plant. (WSWS.org)

Both plants are located in the Detroit area, which has become one of the fastest growing centers of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Michigans official tally rose to 10,791 cases and 471 deaths Thursday, behind only New York, New Jersey, and California, and greater than the number of reported cases in Japan, Brazil or Australia.

The latest deaths at Ford and FCA bring the confirmed total fatalities of Detroit Three workers in the US to 13.

The responsibility for this completely preventable loss of life lies squarely at the feet of the auto companies and their lackeys in the United Auto Workers, who forced workers to stay on the line as long as possible, pumping out profits while the pandemic gathered speed. It was only after workers took matters into their own hands and began a wave of job actions and walkouts in Ontario, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio that management began to idle production, fearing the further spread of wildcat strikes throughout the North American continent.

Although many states such as Michigan have issued stay-at-home orders and stipulated the shutdown of non-essential enterprises, the auto companies are angling to utilize their designation as critical infrastructure by Trumps Department of Homeland Security to get workers back into the plants at the earliest opportunity.

In fact, many workers under the UAW, including at the agricultural and heavy equipment companies John Deere and Caterpillar, are still being compelled to report to work, with little to no safety protections, endangering themselves and their families in the interests of corporate shareholders. According to the Free Press, FCA did not shut down its MOPAR Center Line facility, where two workers have now died, until Wednesday last week, after Michigans shutdown had gone into effect. Justifying FCAs decision, UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg had said the business has been open with paid volunteers because of its essential status, claiming, Theyre deep cleaning and following protocol.

Prior to the most recent deaths, a worker was reported Monday to have died from the coronavirus at Fords Dearborn Diversified Manufacturing Plant. The factory is part of the sprawling Rouge complex that includes the Dearborn Stamping Plant, where another worker, Gregory Boyd died of COVID-19 last week.

In semi-daily press releases, UAW President Rory Gamble has been barely able to conceal the unions pathological indifference to the growing number of fatalities and workers increasingly desperate situation. Following the same callous template of previous letters, Gambles communication Thursday noted in passing the sad news of the deaths at Ford Livonia and MOPAR, before moving on briskly to some positive news, applauding GM for supposed safety training at its Kokomo, Indiana, facility, where he states ventilators are soon to be produced.

The UAW has been at pains to deflect mounting anger over the unprecedented health catastrophe away from both the corporations and themselves, promoting illusions in the belated and in many cases non-existent safety measures which they are working very closely with the companies to implement. In reality, the collaboration of the union and automakers consists primarily of backchannel discussions on how early they can force workers back into the plants again without provoking a total rebellion.

After reading Gambles letters, many workers responded with disgust and outrage. A young assembler at Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, told the World Socialist Web Site, He is implying that the death of a worker is no more than the cost of doing business.

Gamble is not defending the workers interests, he continued. For him the company chooses if the workers live or die. The company could have retooled to protect us, but instead they squeezed a little more profit out of us at the expense of our lives.

Another worker responded to Gambles Tuesday letter on the unions Facebook page, saying, Its going to take someone to die at John Deere. Corporate GREED. Quarantined people today. Quarantined people last week. Just disinfect the area and get back to work. Dont care to hear them say for your safety again because they clearly dont care about my safety or our families safety as long as we produce.

The global tally of COVID-19 infections has passed 1 million, with more than one out of every four of those confirmed cases now occurring within the United States. The toll of preventable deaths from the disease among autoworkers continues to climb at an alarming rate.

Nonetheless, the heads of the major capitalist economies are directing their resources and efforts not at adequately addressing the pandemic, providing medical care or rapidly producing protective and life-saving equipment, but rather at keeping the corporations and financial markets afloat. Meanwhile, the major automakers have been rolling out furloughs and pay cuts of salaried workers, with further severe measures impacting workers more broadly inevitably to come.

Earlier in the week, Ford CEO Jim Hackett, who has been under unrelenting pressure from Wall Street in recent years to cut costs and restructure more aggressively, discussed planning by the company over how to restart production. Having temporarily retreated from attempts to reopen the plants earlier in April, Hackett told the Detroit Free Press that their aim was to reopen the plants in a stepped way by early May. In a threat to workers and promise to Fords investors, he warned, [A]s time goes on, Ill have to make more changes.

Similar plan are being made in Germany and elsewhere. Automotive News reported in an article Thursday, Merkel and German auto execs seek ways to restart factories, on a phone conference late Wednesday in which Merkel and the executives discussed measures to minimize contagion risks and protect workers health once assembly lines resume churning out vehicles.

Hildegard Mueller, the head of the German cars lobby VDA, and Joerg Hofmann, leader of the IG Metall labor union, were in attendance.

The article continued, The country can ill afford a prolonged shutdown of its car industry, which employs more than 800,000 people and is a key indicator of industrial health in Europes largest economy. Volkswagen Group said it currently burns through 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) per week as most of its sites sit idle.

The rebellion in the auto factories against demands that workers sacrifice their lives in service to the wealth of the ruling elitebeginning in Italy and Spain and spreading to the US in recent weeksis part of a sharply growing wave of the working class struggle internationally.

Workers must organize in rank-and-file committees independent of the union apparatus and prepare to expand their fight and ensure their safety. The widespread anger at the colossal failure and criminal negligence of every official institution requires a political perspective.

The profit interests and reactionary nationalism intrinsic to the capitalist systempromoted relentlessly by the Democrats, Republicans, and the unions alikeproduced this disaster. They must be counter posed with the struggle for socialism, in which the major corporations and financial institutions are nationalized and placed under the control of workers in order to ensure safe working conditions, expert and fully paid medical care, no loss of income, and the global coordination of doctors and scientists to combat the pandemic.

The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter urges workers who agree with this perspective to contact us at autoworkers@wsws.org and discuss with us how to join the fight for socialism.
HELSINKI, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Citycon has appointed Sanna Yliniemi as the new Vice President, Centre Management. Prior to the new appointment, Yliniemi held the position of Vice President, Operations Development at Citycon. In her new position, Yliniemi is responsible at the Group level for the operations and results of the approximately 40 shopping centres owned by Citycon. Yliniemi is also a member of Citycon's Extended Management Committee.

Yliniemi has more than 15 years of experience in the retail sector and the shopping centre industry. She has been employed by Citycon for 10 years, since 2010. Prior to being appointed Vice President, Operations Development, Yliniemi held the position of Commercial Director at Citycon. Her responsibilities in her previous roles at Citycon have included the commercial planning and implementation of the refurbishment and expansion project of Iso Omena.

"I am very pleased that we were able to recruit internally for this position. Sanna has a long track record at Citycon, having held various roles in management and commercial development. This has enabled her to accumulate exceptionally diverse experience of the company's various operations. She is the right person to take charge of Citycon's shopping centre operations in the continuously changing business environment," says Henrica Ginstrom, Chief Operating Officer at Citycon.

"I have a lot of passion for the shopping centre industry, so I am very excited by this opportunity. In my previous role at Citycon, I was able to strengthen my expertise in areas including cost-efficient and systematic shopping centre procurement and investments, operations development, security and sustainability, and I had the opportunity to work at the Nordic level. I believe the experience I have accumulated previously will benefit me a great deal in my new role. I am pleased that Citycon has been able to regularly offer me new and interesting challenges for 10 years now," Sanna Yliniemi says.

Yliniemi took up her new position on 1 April and she is based at the Iso Omena office in Finland.

Citycon is a leading owner, developer and manager of urban grocery-anchored shopping centres in the Nordic countries. The total value of the property portfolio managed by Citycon is approximately EUR 4.4 billion. Citycon is the leading shopping centre owner in Finland and among the market leaders in Norway, Sweden and Estonia. Citycon has also established a foothold in Denmark.

www.citycon.com

For further information, please contact:

Sanna Yliniemi

Vice President, Centre Management

Tel. +358-41-456-3421

sanna.yliniemi@citycon.com

Henrica Ginstrom

Chief Operating Officer

Tel. +358-50-554-4296

henrica.ginstrom@citycon.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/citycon-oyj/r/sanna-yliniemi-appointed-as-vice-president--centre-management-at-citycon,c3080547

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A newspaper headline about the coronavirus outbreak is seen on a near-deserted street in Sydney on March 30, 2020. (PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Rights Group Condemns Chinese Diplomats for Denigrating International Medias Pandemic Coverage

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a nonprofit that advocates for press freedom, called on Chinese ambassadors around the world to stop taking shots at international media over its critical coverage of the Chinese regimes response to the pandemic.

These statements by Chinas ambassadors reflect a policy concerted at the highest level of the Chinese government that aims to control international media coverage, said Cedric Alviani, head of RSFs East Asia bureau, in a statement issued on April 2.

RSF named four Chinese ambassadorsLiang Yu, Cong Peiwu, Cheng Jingye, and Lu Shayewho are Chinas top diplomats to Peru, Canada, Australia, and France, respectively.

Peru

Chinas embassy in Peru, in a statement published on the embassys website on March 16, called out Peruvian Nobel Prize literature laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, for a Spanish-language opinion article he authored, published in Spanish newspaper El Pais and Peruvian newspaper La Republica on March 15 and 16 respectively. The embassy called his article absurd and unfounded.

The statement also took a personal jab at Vargas Llosa, questioning what contributions he had made in the fight against the virus outbreak in Europe and Peru, while touting that China was doing everything possible to offer its support and help.

The embassy said Vargas Llosa had a lack of knowledge and deep prejudice towards China.

In his article, Vargas Llosa wrote: No one seems to be remarking that none of this could have happened in the world if popular China was a free country and democratic rather than a dictatorship, according to a translation by AFP.

Vargas Llosa also pointed out that Beijing chose to censor several doctors who warned about the outbreak, instead of taking appropriate measures.

The government tried to hide the information and to silence that voice, or those sensible voices, and tried to stifle the information, as do all dictatorships, Vargas Llosa wrote.

The escalating pandemic began in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. The CCP virus has since spread to over 200 countries and territories, and killed over 49,000 people outside of mainland China.

The Chinese regime silenced eight doctors, among them ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, after they posted on Chinese social media about a pneumonia spreading in Wuhan. Li was subsequently summoned to a police station, where he was reprimanded for rumor-mongering and was forced to sign a confession statement.

Canada

Chinas embassy in Canada has issued three angry statements in March, RSF stated, twice against the National Post, and once against The Globe and Mail.

The National Post published an opinion article on March 5, in which it cited global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw as saying, (Chinas) manipulation and suppression of information is what allowed widespread of the novel coronavirus in the first place.

In a statement two days later, Chinas embassy in Canada accused the analyst of making irresponsible remarks, and said the opinion article had fabricated examples of Chinas aggressive censorship.

On March 28, Chinas embassy in Canada used the word irresponsible to accuse the Globe and Mails reporters and sourceswho were identified by their full names or last namesinvolved in a story about Chinas protective mask manufacturing industry.

The Globe and Mail article cited two sources who said that Chinese authorities took control of Chinas domestic mask supply chain, posting officials at factories around the country to make sure their manufactured masks would be used for domestic government priorities.

In addition, [Chinese] authorities are shouldering out private buyers to secure supplies for foreign countries hand-picked by Beijing, the article stated.

According to RSF, Chinas embassy in Australia sent out an email to a number of journalists in early March, accusing them of politicizing the pandemic.

The latest RSF statement also pointed out that Lu, Chinas ambassador to France, has again issued a statement attacking certain French media on April 1. Lu previously criticized French media on three occasions in February and March.

Currently, China is ranked 177th out of 180 countries in RSFs 2019 World Press Freedom Index.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus as the CCP virus because the Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.
OTTAWA - The federal government is speeding up financial help to low-income earners hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with payments through the GST credit a month sooner than planned as it prepares to deliver billions more on benefits beginning next week.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 3/4/2020 (647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 pandemic from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Friday, April 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The federal government is speeding up financial help to low-income earners hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with payments through the GST credit a month sooner than planned as it prepares to deliver billions more on benefits beginning next week.

The government initially announced the money through the GST credit would be available in May, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that the money will be delivered this month.

Every qualifying adult will receive up to $300, plus $150 for each child. The parliamentary budget officer estimated in a report this week that the special GST credit payment will go to 13.2 million people and cost $5.67 billion.

More help is expected to arrive this month in the form of a new emergency benefit valued at $500 a week for up to 16 weeks.

An association representing Canada's banks said they will help clients enrol for direct deposit from the Canada Revenue Agency, or update their account information with the federal agency, to speed up payments of federal financial aid.

Similar requests have gone out to businesses to sign up for direct deposit for prompt payments of a promised 75-per-cent wage subsidy, saving the time it takes to issue and process cheques.

Speed has been a thread through the economic shock from COVID-19  how fast economic activity slowed down, the race to set up federal assistance programs, and now a drive to get money into people's pockets quickly.

More than 2.1 million people have filed EI claims in the last two weeks, marking a dramatic shift in the labour force as economic activity is put on hold so people can avoid being in close contact to curb the spread of COVID-19.

A report Friday from RBC suggested the emergency benefit should fully replace or even exceed lost wages for hundreds of thousands low-income workers in the hard-hit retail, accommodation and food-services sectors.

Online applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) open April 6, and anyone already approved for employment insurance benefits is supposed to be automatically moved over to the new benefit with no need to reapply.

MPs on the House of Commons finance committee were told Thursday that many of those who are receiving EI will get a bump in payments when they are moved to the emergency benefit, on average about $200 more per week.

Receiving the emergency benefit won't affect EI eligibility, meaning the 16 weeks won't count against the time an eligible worker can receive EI benefits.

On Friday, the committee was warned about public confusion over CERB eligibility, which requires a total loss of income due to COVID-19. But someone who was already looking for a job and hasn't stopped working due to COVID-19 is ineligible.

"It's not very clear because most people are, in theory, in the labour market, they want to be in the labour market, but there are no jobs to be had," Sherri Torjman, former vice-president of the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, in her opening comments.

Similar issues were raised in a letter the Opposition Conservatives sent Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough. Party critic Dan Albas cited contradictory statements between Liberal cabinet ministers and the government's website on automatic enrolment for the CERB, as well the effect on students and seasonal workers, and on EI premiums in the future.

"During a crisis, government communications must be clear, consistent and transparent," Albas said in a release. "This has not been the case over the past few weeks."

The RBC report, written by senior economist Andrew Agopsowicz, said many students won't meet the requirement of having made at least $5,000 in the previous year needed to qualify for the CERB.

Speaking at a midday press conference, Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos said officials are smoothing out the rough edges of the program so that, for instance, volunteer firefighters or municipal politicians receiving honorarium payments aren't cut off from the CERB.

Asked about students, Duclos said the promised wage subsidy would help companies hire students who may have otherwise faced a difficult job market.

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While the subsidy should help some of employers rehire laid off or furloughed workers, many may still find the program "won't be worth it" if it means they also have to pay the remaining 25 per cent, plus EI and Canada Pension Plan premiums, wrote CIBC chief economist Avery Shenfeld.

"An airline that isn't flying doesn't need flight attendants, a restaurant that's closed doesn't need waiters. For higher-paid workers, the subsidy covers even less of the cost," he wrote in a research note Friday.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau has hinted at more help above the $250-billion-plus in aid already announced  $105 billion of which is direct spending  and no cap on what the government might do. With an already projected deficit of $28.1 billion, it's possible the deficit this fiscal year could be as deep as $180 billion, said BMO chief economist Douglas Porter.

"What choice do we really have, given the mandated shutdown of the economy?" he wrote in an end-of-week report.

"It's much better that Ottawa shoulders the burden of almost all new spending than a hodge-podge effort by the provinces, especially in light of lower borrowing costs for the federal government."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2020.
A total of six new COVID-19 cases were registered in Syria, bringing the total number of those infected with the virus to 16, the Health Ministry said in a statement, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

Two death cases have been reported so far in the country, said the ministry, spelling no further details.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian Interior Ministry extended the coronavirus-related curfew from 12 hours to 18 over the weekend only.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to live miles away from the royal family as part of officially stepping down as senior working royals. During the first wave of the so-called "Megxit," the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent their time in Canada, which is considered a Commonwealth Country.

But a few days before "Megxit" becomes official, Meghan and Harry, together with their 10-month-old baby Archie, flew to Los Angeles, California, just before the border closed due to the travel restrictions brought by the global pandemic of coronavirus.

Should the now ex-royal couple choose to set up a permanent base in the USA, the 38-year-old Duke could only live and work in Meghan's native city temporarily since he is not a U.S. citizen like his wife.

However, the sixth in line to the throne would have to face a difficult decision should he choose to live happily ever after with Meghan in the U.S. And it all boils down to choosing between the love of his life or his royal birthright.

Meghan vs. Royal Title

After their sneaky move to LA, Harry is probably holding a regular tourist visa or an A1 diplomatic visa, which is only allowed for diplomats and government officials. However, he will not be allowed to work under the said visa other than having a government job.

According to experts, the 38-year-old former "Suits" actress would have to be Prince Harry's sponsor so he could live permanently in the U.S.

A New York immigration lawyer told Page Six that while Queen Elizabeth's grandson was able to work while staying in Canada for the past few months, the rules are totally different now that he is staying in the United States.

But Prince Harry will have lots of options to make his post-royal grand romantic gesture happen. He will have to choose between three options to get a US green card.

The first option is to sponsor himself using the "extraordinary ability" category; second is for Meghan to sponsor him, and third is for a U.S. entity to sponsor his citizenship.

Just like any other green card applicant, the process of the application may take more than a year. So after trying any of the three mentioned options, Harry will be given a temporary work and travel permit.

After being a green card holder for three years, the British prince would be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.

But being born with a royal birthright, being a US citizen does not come easy for Prince Harry. If he chooses to be a US citizen like his wife, he will have to drop or totally renounce his title as the sixth heir to the royal throne.

It is a given fact that Harry is willing to go against all the odds with Meghan after quitting the royal life. The big question now is if he is ready to drop everything, even his title, to live happily ever after with her real-life princess?
HAVANA (AP)  For two years the Trump administration has been trying to stamp out one of Cubas signature programs __ state-employed medical workers treating patients around the globe in a show of soft power that also earns billions in badly needed hard currency.

Labeling the doctors and nurses as both exploited workers and agents of communist indoctrination, the U.S. has notched a series of victories as Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia sent home thousands after leftist governments allied with Havana were replaced with ones friendlier to Washington.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought a reversal of fortune for Cuban medical diplomacy, as doctors have flown off on new missions to battle COVID-19 in at least 14 countries including Italy and the tiny principality of Andorra on the Spanish-French border, burnishing the island's international image in the middle of a global crisis.

I am aware of the position of the United States, but we are a sovereign country and we can choose the partners with which we are going to have cooperation, Andorran Foreign Minister Maria Ubach said.

In the city of Crema in the hard-hit Lombardy region of northern Italy, 52 Cuban doctors and nurses set up a field hospital with 32 beds equipped with oxygen and three ICU beds.

This is a strongly symbolic moment because the Crema hospital has been going through an extremely complicated situation from the start, Lombardys top social welfare official, Giulio Gallera, said at the inauguration last week. The number of patients who have filled and continue to fill the emergency room and departments has truly put the medical personnel to a hard test.

The Trump administration has sought to cut off income to Havana as part of a long-term tightening of sanctions. And it continues to discourage countries from contracting Cuban medical workers despite the pandemic, arguing that their pay and conditions fall short of industry standards.

The government of #Cuba keeps most of the salary its doctors and nurses earn while serving in its international medical missions while exposing them to egregious labor conditions, the State Department said on Twitter last week. Host countries seeking Cubas help for #COVID-19 should scrutinize agreements and end labor abuses.

Story continues

Cuba currently has about 37,000 medical workers in 67 countries, most in longstanding missions. Some doctors have been sent as part of free aid missions, but many countries pay the government directly for their services. In some other cases international health bodies have paid.

The most recent deployments of at least 593 doctors from the Henry Reeve Brigade  founded by Fidel Castro in 2005 and named after a 19th-century American volunteer who fought for Cuban independence from Spain  have also been to Suriname, Jamaica, Dominica, Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Venezuela and Nicaragua, some of them reinforcing existing medical missions.

All have been billed as tied to the coronavirus epidemic, even though some of the countries have few confirmed cases so far. None of the agreements or financial terms have been made public.

Havana has said it receives about $6 billion a year from the export of public services, and medical services make up most of that. When Brazil expelled Cuban doctors in 2018, a few details emerged including that the country had been paying $3,100 per month for each doctor with 70% of that going into the pockets of the Cuban government.

Doctors typically make less than $100 per month working on the island, so doing an overseas mission means a significant pay hike even if those salaries remain low by international standards.

Andorran newspaper Diari d'Andorra reported Wednesday, citing Health Minister Joan Martinez Benazet, that one of the 39 Cuban doctors in the country had tested positive for coronavirus and was quarantined in a hotel. The Cuban government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Infection is a serious risk for those on the front lines. In Italy alone, over 10,000 medical workers have contracted the coronavirus and more than at least 69 doctors have died.

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, it can cause severe, life-threatening symptoms like pneumonia.

Cuban officials have been proudly posting videos of doctors being applauded as they arrive to begin work, and blasting the Trump administration for its criticisms.

Shame on you. Instead of attacking Cuba and its committed doctors, you should be caring about the thousands of sick Americans who are suffering due to the scandalous neglect of your government and the inability of your failed health system to care for them, Josefina Vidal, Cubas ambassador to Canada, wrote on Twitter.

Argentine officials have also said they are discussing possible coronavirus help from Cuba, and another mission should leave soon for Angola.

Cuba has a relatively high number of medical workers per capita  officials say there are currently about 90,000 in the country of 11 million.

The Henry Reeve Brigade has deployed previously on infectious disease missions, famously helping fight Ebola in West Africa in 2014.

That effort took place in cooperation with the administration of then-President Barack Obama, seen as easing relations ahead of the diplomatic thaw between the two countries later that year.

___

Andrea Rodriguez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP
As many as 545 undertrial and



convicted prisoners have been released from different jails of Chhattisgarh on interim bail and parole in view of Supreme Court's directions for decongesting prisons due to the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Friday.

Of the 545 prisoners, 391 undertrials were released on interim bail, while 154 convicts on parole, a government official here said.

They were released till Thursday, but the process of granting bail and parole started on March 23, he said.

Apart from them, 39 prisoners were also released from jails on the completion of their sentences during this period, he said.

Following the Supreme Court's direction, a three member high power committee headed by Chhattisgarh High Court Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, who is also the Executive Chairman of State Legal Services Authority, was formed to look into the number of inmates who can be granted bail or parole to decongest the jails, Siddharth Aggarwal, Member Secretary State Legal Services Authority, said.

Additional Chief Secretary (home and prison) Subrat Sahoo and Additional Director General (prison) Ashok Junenja are its other members.

So far, the high power committee has held two meetings and based on its recommendations, steps are being taken, Aggarwal said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
1 of 2

COVID-19 cases in India cross 2,300, death toll rises to 56, state-wise tally



The number of reported covid-19 cases in India has jumped 50 percent over the past two days to 2069, last evenings data from the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) shows. This is a faster increase compared to the previous 48 hours, when the reported case count rose 35 percent to 1379. Death toll has increased to 56. Till now, 156 patients were recovered from the disease.



Coronavirus infections rose sharply in Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the last few days. Most of the fresh cases were linked to a religious congregation held in Delhi's Nizamuddin last month. Authorities had found and quarantined 9,000 people connected to Delhi event or their close contacts, home ministry official said on Thursday.



Till now 161 people have been tested positive for Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh. 140 of them are those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, and their contacts.



An IAS officer is among nine persons who have tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh since Thursday night, taking the state's tally to 120, a senior health official said on Friday. The 2011-batch IAS officer is posted in the health department in Bhopal and has a history of travelling outside Madhya Pradesh in recent times, he said. Read More...


By Express News Service

TIRUPATHUR: The family members of the COVID-19 positive patients were moved to a makeshift exclusive quarantine facility in Ambur, Tirupathur district on Friday.

As many as 49 persons belonging to the families of seven persons, who had tested positive after visiting the Delhi Tablighi Jamaat, were quarantined at their respective houses as soon as the test results came out on April 1.

They were also brought under surveillance, besides locking down the localities.

"However, as a precautionary step, 49 persons including 8 children were moved to makeshift quarantine facility at the Jamia Arabic College at Oomerabad on Friday," said Dr. A Ramu, block medical officer (BMO), Madhanur.

Twenty rooms, each having four beds, have been converted into the quarantine facility at the college, doctors and health workers have been posted to take care of them.

The Revenue department has arranged for free food for them as well.

Meanwhile, the workers of the municipality continued mass sanitizing work in Ambur town. "Mass sanitizing works using disinfectants was done at 52 points on Friday," Ambur municipal commissioner T Soundarrajan informed.

In Vellore, district collector A Shanmuga Sundaram convened a meeting of religious leaders at the collectorate at Sathuvachari and explained them on the precautionary measures.

He also appealed them to help identify those attended Delhi Tablighi Jamaat and make them undergo tests, sources said.
The second youngest of 11 children, Don Mescall remembers an idyllic childhood in the late 1960s in the Co Limerick parish of Ahane/Lisnagry. He was carefree and unperturbed, until one day when he was 10, while he was playing hurling, his father - "who wanted me to play at county level, which my brother Tom Jnr went on to do" - dropped dead on the sidelines from a heart attack at 56.

"That day changed my life, forever. I was a boy from the country and this was the early 1970s, I was a very young 10," says the singer/songsmith, who has performed and written with the best of them - Cliff Richard, Sharon Corr, Henry McCullough, Lone Star, The Backstreet Boys, Brian Kennedy, Ronan Keating, Boyzone, Geri Halliwell, Francis Black and Richie Havens, with whom he cement a great friendship. ("He was my biggest influence. I kept coming back to his song Freedom, which he sang at Woodstock. And then one day, years later, I got to open for him. He championed me. He was the black Messiah to me," Don says.)

"The world changed that day for me, the light changed," continues Don of his father's death, but it was in that time of grief - "looking back now, I understand the weight of it all" - that the boy became the man, turning to song-writing to find a semblance of sorts to his life.

"Music became my best friend. I started listening to mainly American stuff - Dylan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, James Taylor... music handed down by my older sisters. There was no schooling in Irish music, though from my dad's old vinyl collection I found the wonderful Josef Locke."

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By his late teens, still playing hurling, Don had started to perform in the pubs around Clare and Limerick. "I was doing covers seven nights a week. I had started to write my own songs, but to try and convert those Irish audiences that just wanted American Pie was difficult.

"The awakening moment was a chance to play in a little place in Queens in New York on Paddy's Day. That night, with an appreciative audience, I realised my songs could matter, in fact did matter, so to reinvent myself I left Limerick and went to London. One of the first songs I wrote there was about missing home. I was filled with longing for my home, Sunday mornings, going to Mass... that sort of stuff."

The song, Road To Glory, was eventually recorded by Eleanor Shanley and was Don's longed-for breakthrough to a wider audience. It was to take until the 1990s, and a deal with Curb Records, for him to fully gain the recognition he craved.

"I went through a rough time," he says of the "dark periods" he has little memory of: lost weekends drenched in alcohol and drugs, he and the then banjo player with The Pogues, the late Tom McManamon. It was a lifestyle that eventually cost him his marriage.

"I have to take all the responsibility for that," he says. "I'm so lucky... my ex, Dav (Davina), is my best friend."

He sings the praises of their daughter Eve, who is at university studying marketing and advertising.

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Thirty-odd years on, his artistry now established, Don has found himself in the limelight of late for reasons he finds "puzzling to get my head around".

"I just don't get all the publicity about Morah and I," he says over coffee in Dublin's Clontarf Castle. He is talking about the new woman in his life, the sculptor Morah Ryan, former wife of Gerry, the radio maverick who died 10 years ago this April, aged 53.

Ryan's sudden passing left his many fans and admirers reeling. They felt for Morah when some of the more unsettling facts of their life together emerged after his death, and more recently, there has been a curiosity about the new man in her life.

"Morah and I first met four years ago," says Don. "Her daughter Bonnie was working on her pop career and I got involved in some song-writing with her. We were in Stockholm and an EP was produced, and we were then back in London to celebrate and we all had dinner in Chelsea and Morah was there...

"I love art. The conversation back then was very much about art. We just seemed to have a lot in common. It was a wonderful evening.

"I then did not meet or speak to Morah for another four years until last November when Shay Healy - he paid for my first EP and has been trying to get the money back ever since! - asked me to come over from London to perform at an after-party following a John McColgan production, In My Life, at the Gaiety.

"It was a big after-party, but I'm no night owl and had planned to make my escape after I performed but, as I was about to leave, John offered to buy me a drink and then matter-of-factly introduced me to the lovely Morah.

"She's a very special lady, and it was such an obvious attraction that we both were quite nervous that evening! I feel very lucky. Are we courting? I don't like that word. We go on dates, which seems weird at a certain age, I guess. She is just a quiet-spoken, well-read, beautiful woman with a joyous sense of humour and a lovely family... great kids and all so talented..."

Don pauses to gather his thoughts, the evening light reflecting in his blue eyes.

"I've been living away for so long, I was not here when Gerard passed away. I was perplexed by the publicity of all that, I did not really understand the dynamic."

I have to ask, does he see himself 'popping the question' to Morah?

"Jesus, that's a big question, Paul. I have no idea. We are just enjoying each other very much, taking each day as it comes. I would like to think there is chemistry at work here..."

America has been good to Don Mescall. His song, Secret Smile, was included on the Rascal Flatts album Still Feels Good, which debuted at No 1 in the Billboard chart. The Backstreet Boys entered the charts at No 7 with their album Unbreakable, which featured Mescall's song Trouble Is.

Following his success writing for other artists, Don released his own album, Lighthouse Keeper, in November 2018; it went in at No 1 in the Irish Independent Album charts, and included a duet with Stella Parton. Last August saw the release of Live Long Rock & Roll, a tribute single for the late Henry McCullough, written by Mescall and McCullough, and performed with Paul McCartney and super-band The McCullough Fusiliers.

"Primarily my songs are story-based, about life," Don says. "It's like, here's what I see, here's what's going on... They're not your generic pop songs. Pop just doesn't hold a lot of interest for me. A Best Pop Artist award back in the 1990s - well, what was that all about?"

Asked whether he is politically motivated, Don replies: "I'm environmentally conscious - Jesus, isn't everybody? We all have completely managed to mismanage this planet on which we live. If that's politically motivated, then, yes, I'm politically motivated."

A recent collaboration has been with the Canadian CMA award-winning artist Laurie LeBlanc, who features six of Don's songs on his forthcoming album When It's Right. Don's new single, Stormy Weather Friend, is with good pal Sharon Corr. He is putting the final touches in his recording studio in London to an album due out end of the year titled Seven Setting Suns.

As we part I ask, what would his dad make of him now, that he never did play senior hurling for his county?

"That's the question, isn't it," he smiles, and he ambles towards the evening light beyond the large doors of Clontarf Castle, heading into the night and his future.
In February, a small team of 24 people in the R&D division of Pune-based Mylab Discovery Solutions started working 24x7 to develop a kit to test for Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease (Covid-19), when it became obvious that no country would escape unscathed.

We started work six weeks ago and worked in two shifts, with a focus on creating a product that didnt miss diagnosis even when the viral load was low, said Hasmukh Rawal, managing director, Mylab Discovery Solutions, which was the first Indian company to get the nod for manufacturing testing kits to test for Sars-Cov-2.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

As for the requisite government approval, it came in a matter of days, he added.

The Covid-19 research consortium, under the department of biotechnology, announced it would fast-track research in early March. Since then, approvals for research, manufacturing and marketing of everything related to Covid-19, including vaccine candidates, have been approved in days.

On Friday, Bharat Biotech announced its plans to develop a unique intranasal vaccine for coronavirus called CoroFlu in partnership with the University of WisconsinMadison and the vaccine manufacturer, FluGen.

Also Read: Lack of PPE, poor infection control put medical staff at risk of Covid-19

Anything related to Covid-19 is getting approved very quickly,  said Krishna Ella, the founder of Bharat Biotech.

An approval that would usually take three to four months is getting approved in less than 48 hours.

In addition, the newly established Centre for Augmenting WAR with Covid-19 health crisis (CAWACH) has been given 56 crore to scout, evaluate and support innovations and start-ups that address Covid-19 challenges.

The urgency has charged researchers and innovators, some of whom are attempting to use existing platforms to address the Covid-19 challenge . The use of a pre-approved platform can cut cost, and, most importantly, time. Even better, it will not need fresh approvals.

Also Read: Indias coronavirus cases hit 3,000; two die in Delhi

Many of these innovations were in the pipeline much before the pandemic; however, Covid-19 has forced them out of the labs and into production. The government is looking for start-ups that can scale up the production of their products and with a good manufacturing partner we will be able to do it, said Professor Renu John from the biomedical engineering department of IIT Hyderabad. John is the faculty in-charge of the Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship, which offers lab-to-market solutions.

All state drug regulators have been issued directions that approvals should be given within three days, if all requirements are met. Anything related to Covid-19 must be cleared on a priority basis, said a senior health ministry official, requesting anonymity.

As a result, the ecosystem is abuzz with activity.

Pharmaceutical major Zydus Cadila has already begun pre-clinical animal trials for two vaccine candidates, which act completely differently. We got approvals within days. In another four to six weeks, we should have the results of the animal trials. Depending on the results of the pre-clinical trials, we will decide which to take forward and apply for approvals accordingly, said Pankaj Patel, chairman, Zydus Cadila.

Through the week, and even on weekends, DST officials review discoveries and innovations. We have been having meetings every day and have come up with strategies to prioritise our research work. The focus has been on developing improved diagnostic kits, looking for novel molecules or repurposed drugs for the treatment of the disease, and also developing a vaccine, said Dr Renu Swarup, secretary, department of biotechnology.

The research group works under the guidance of the Science and Technology core group set up by K VijayRaghavan, principal scientific advisor to the government. His office has created a S&T Core-team on Covid-19, composed of experts who help define problems that need urgent and immediate solutions. They also work with academia and industry to help connect teams to solve these problems swiftly.

The focus of the consortium is on better prevention of the disease by looking at vaccine development, better diagnostics, and therapy  both in terms of ancillary treatment needed and new molecules for treatment. Basically, the health care sector is currently focusing on how to deal with Covid-19 with what we have, our job is to look at what we should have and make it happen, says Dr Anurag Agarwal, director, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB).

Collaborations have resulted in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developing a biosuit to keep medical, paramedical and other personnel on the frontlines of the war against Covid-19 safe. It has a special sealant as an alternative to seam sealing tape based on the sealant used in submarine applications. Presently, biosuits prepared using this glue for seam sealing by an industry partner has cleared test at Southern India Textile Research Association (Sitra), Coimbatore. DRDO can mass produce this glue through industry to support the seam sealing activity by suit manufacturers, DRDO said in a statement.

The implementing agency of CAWACH is the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), a DST-supported technology business incubator at IIT Bombay, long considered Indias equivalent of Stanford for its ability to link academia with industry.

SINE is working on boosting innovations in novel ventilators, respiratory aids, protective gears, solutions for sanitisers and disinfectants, diagnostics, therapeutics, and informatics. It will offer up to 50 potential start-ups financial assistance for innovations that can be brought to market within the next six months.

Meanwhile, in the background, the Indian Council of Medical Research is providing technical support by validating diagnostic kits for accuracy and specificity, having validated five of 20 kits for Covid-19 testing in two weeks.

Its apex virology laboratory at National Institute of Virology in Pune has cultured 11 virus strains of SARS-COV-2. We got lucky that we managed to grow all 11 specimens. It will have long-term implication in vaccine and drug development, a senior ICMR official said on condition of anonymity.

ICMR is also conducting a demonstration study to know the effect of anti-malaria drug, hydroxychloroquin, as a prophylactic medicine against Covid-19. The anti HIV/AIDS drugs that had earlier shown promise fizzled out, hydroxychloroquin is turning out to be a better option. The medicine has shown promise in bringing down the viral load, now we are analysing if it can also prevent infection in high-risk groups, like health workers, the official said.

Essentially, no avenue is being left unexplored. But research, for all the haste these agencies are displaying now, has its own pace.  Unfortunately, science cant move that fast, and it will take us about at least two-and-half months to three months to move from animal trials to human trials [with the vaccine], says Bharat Biotechs Ella.

The drug controller is personally monitoring the situation and our team faced no problems when we approached them with the request. I must say the government is really proactive in ensuring the work doesnt get hampered at any level said Rawal.

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Key Companies Profiled are Hitachi, Ltd., United Technologies, HYUNDAIELEVATOR CO., LTD., thyssenkrupp AG, Toshiba Corporation, Schindler, Fujitec Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, KONE CORPORATION, Johnson Elevator Co., Ltd., Other renowned companies

PUNE, India, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Elevators and Escalators market is set to gain momentum from the rising investment in residential, as well as commercial infrastructure in both developed and emerging countries worldwide. India, for instance, is planning to invest around USD 1.4 trillion on developing new infrastructure in the next five years. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights in a recently published report, titled, "Escalator and Elevator Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product (Elevators, Escalators and Moving Walkway), By Business (New Equipment, Maintenance and Modernization), By Application (Residential, Commercial and Industrial), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026." The report further mentions that the escalator and elevator market size stood at USD 70.95 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 114.65 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period.

What Does This Report Contain?

Identification of the significant escalators and elevators market trends, growth drivers, and barriers.

In-depth information about all the prominent companies present in the market.

Elaborate details about the competitive landscape, such as investments, innovative product launches, mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and joint ventures.

Listing out the major opportunities and challenges that the market may face.

Get Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/elevator-and-escalator-market-100301

An Overview of the Impact of COVID-19 on this Market:



The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic.

We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future.



To get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market.



Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/elevator-and-escalator-market-100301

Drivers & Restraints-

Rising Governments Initiatives to Save Energy Will Favor Growth

Out of the total energy present in a building, elevators consume around 2% to 7%. Hence, manufacturers are striving persistently to develop energy efficient elevators that would be sustainable. To do so, they are equipping the new elevators with state-of-the-art controls and hardware. Nowadays, elevators are very compact owing to the lack of space. Apart from that, the governments of numerous countries are taking initiatives to save energy and are providing funds to develop energy efficient products.

In 2019, the Swiss government, for instance, implemented modern technologies to refurbish the conventional elevators with Schindler as its technology partner. This reduced the energy consumption by 50%. However, the rising number of accidents that take place during the maintenance operations may hinder the escalator and elevator market growth during the forthcoming years.

Segment-

Rapid Urbanization to Propel the New Equipment Segment

In terms of business, the market is categorized into modernization, maintenance, and new equipment. Out of these, the maintenance segment procured 32.7% in terms of escalators and elevators market share in 2018. This growth is attributable to the rising number of maintenance works that are taking place globally to make the old equipment smooth. The new equipment segment is likely to dominate the market in the coming years backed by the increasing construction activities, changing demographics, and rapid urbanization. Manufacturers, nowadays, are trying to develop innovative technologies to provide value-added services.



Speak to Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/elevator-and-escalator-market-100301

Regional Analysis-

Asia Pacific to Remain at the Forefront Stoked by High Demand from Developing Nations

Based on geography, the market is divided into Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, North America, and Asia Pacific. Amongst these, in 2018, Asia Pacific procured USD 35.34 billion in terms of escalator and elevator market revenue. This region is anticipated to lead during the forecast period on account of the surging demand from the developing nations, as well as South East Asia.

Europe, on the other hand, is set to exhibit considerable growth in the coming years because of the rising modernization and maintenance of elevators and escalators in this region. The Middle East and Africa are experiencing a large number of residential and commercial construction activities, which, in turn, would contribute to the market growth.

Competitive Landscape-

Renowned Companies Aim to Launch New Products to Gain Competitive Edge

The market consists of several small, medium, and large enterprises that are presently investing huge sums in the research and development activities to deliver cutting-edge products to their growing consumer bases. Below are two of the latest industry developments:

May 2019 : The Schindler Group, a manufacturer of moving walkways, elevators, and escalators headquartered in Switzerland , joined hands with Telefonica, multinational telecommunications company based in Spain . This partnership enables the latter to provide network and IoT connectivity to the former's wide range of smart escalators and elevators named Schindler Ahead.

: The Schindler Group, a manufacturer of moving walkways, elevators, and escalators headquartered in , joined hands with Telefonica, multinational telecommunications company based in . This partnership enables the latter to provide network and IoT connectivity to the former's wide range of smart escalators and elevators named Schindler Ahead. October 2018 : Schindler unveiled its latest robotics installation system meant for the elevators. It is considered to be a milestone indicating greater digitization and automation in the elevator industry. This novel solution provides high-quality and safer installation of elevators as it features self-climbing and autonomous robots.

Fortune Business Insights lists out all the organizations operating in the escalator and elevator market. They are as follows:

Hitachi, Ltd.

United Technologies

HYUNDAIELEVATOR CO., LTD.

thyssenkrupp AG (Cinven, Advent and RAG foundation)

Toshiba Corporation

Schindler

Fujitec Co., Ltd.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

KONE CORPORATION

Johnson Elevator Co., Ltd.

Other renowned companies

Quick Buy - Escalator and Elevator Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100301

Detailed Table of Content

Introduction

Definition, By Segment



Research Approach



Sources

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics

Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities



Emerging Trends

Key Insights

Macro and Micro Economic Indicators



Key Technological Developments



Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players

Global Escalator and Elevator Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026

Key Findings / Summary

Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts - By Product (Value)

Elevators



Escalators



Moving Walkway

Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts - By Business (Value)

New Equipment



Maintenance



Modernization

Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts - By Application (Value)

Residential



Commercial



Industrial

Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Region (Value)

North America



Europe



Asia Pacific



Middle East & Africa

&

Latin America

TOC Continued...!

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Have a Look at Related Research Insights:

Smart Elevator Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Setup (New Deployment, Modernization and Maintenance), By Installation (Low & Mid Rise and High Rise), By Carriage (Passenger and Freight), By Application (Residential, Commercial and Industrial) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

HVAC Control System Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product (Traditional HVAC Control Systems, Smart HVAC Control Systems), By Application (Residential, Commercial and Industrial), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Construction Equipment Rental Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Equipment Type (Earthmoving Equipment, Material Handling Equipment, Concrete & Road Building Equipment, and Others), By Application (Residential, Commercial and Industrial) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Construction Equipment Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Equipment Type (Earthmoving Equipment, Material Handling Equipment & Cranes, Concrete Equipment, and others), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

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The vast majority of critical business data still lives on private file servers and endpoint devices, despite the increasing popularity of cloud-hosted applications like Microsoft Office 365 and the G Suite by Google Cloud

Gladinet, a leading global provider of remote file server access and collaboration solutions for file servers and clouds, today announced CentreStack Cloud Backup (CCB). Delivered as an extension of CentreStacks secure file sharing platform, the new product empowers IT professionals and managed service providers (MSPs) to protect file server and endpoint data by replicating it directly to the CentreStack Backup Cloud.

It also provides the unique option to create a self-hosted backup cloud based on any supported storage service. This is a particularly interesting feature for MSPs and infrastructure providers across the globe who may want to leverage local datacenters and storage.

The vast majority of critical business data still lives on private file servers and endpoint devices, despite the increasing popularity of cloud-hosted applications like Microsoft Office 365 and the G Suite by Google Cloud, said Franklyn Peart, co-founder and CRO of Gladinet. With CCB, we can eliminate the risk of losing that data while protecting it from viruses, hackers and ransomware. And were disrupting traditional pricing models by leveraging the CentreStack server as a free backup appliance and offering backup licenses at 15% of the already low per user costs of CentreStack licenses. This is a natural extension of our unique focus on the combined importance of file server and cloud based remote access solutions.

Besides the disruptive business model and self-hosted deployment options, CentreStack Cloud Backup also provides some never before seen features including the ability to backup and restore a file servers NTFS folder permissions and the option to connect users directly to the CentreStack Backup Cloud if the primary cloud file server is down. In regards to that last feature, Peart noted, This reduces the burden to create complex, highly available CentreStack deployments. Instead, an IT professional or MSP can create the simplest CentreStack deployment and then leverage the CentreStack Backup Cloud for failover and business continuity.

The new product also simplifies folder and file-level recovery which can be initiated by simply browsing to the file or folder that needs to be restored. Theres no need to restore images or physical storage devices.

Were excited about CentreStack Cloud Backup because it exemplifies Gladinets commitment to positively disrupt traditional IT practices with simpler solutions that reduce costs while increasing value, said Keith Schoolcraft, CEO of Minnesota-based MSP, A Couple of Gurus. For CCB, these values include reduced licensing and hardware costs, unique features like permission based backup, reduced restore times, and self-hosted backup options to enhance data privacy, sovereignty and control. These guys have done it again, providing one of the most flexible solutions for file and folder backup to the cloud.

Learn more at https://www.centrestack.com/cloud-backup.

About Gladinet

Founded in 2008, Gladinet is a growing company that supports millions of users of its file server focused remote access and collaboration solutions. The company provides a brandable enterprise file sync and share platform that can be self-hosted with flexible deployment options. Gladinet's partners include HP, Amazon, IBM and thousands of service providers across in more than 100 countries across the globe.
The world has passed several grim milestones overnight in the coronavirus pandemic. The total number of people infected worldwide has hit one million. More than 50,000 people have died, and in the United States, where COVID-19 seems to be spreading most rapidly, there were more than 25,000 new cases and the death toll passed 5,000.

A COVID-19 patient undergoes treatment at a library that was turned into an intensive care unit (ICU) at German Trias i Pujol hospital in Badalona, Barcelona province, Spain, Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

The epidemics toll is unevenly distributed at this point, with the advanced industrialized countries, excluding Japan, accounting for the vast majority of the reported cases and deaths.

The United States, with 331 million people, accounts for 4.25 percent of the worlds population, but nearly 24 percent of world coronavirus cases, and 11 percent of coronavirus deaths.

The five largest countries in Western Europe, Italy, Spain, France, Britain and Germany, have a combined population of 321 million, 4.16 percent of the world total, but they account for 40 percent of the coronavirus cases and a staggering 63.6 percent of the deaths.

Sometime Friday, there will be six countries in the world with greater death tolls than China, where the coronavirus first made its appearance late last year: the US, Italy, Spain, France, Britain, and Iran, where there are now more than 50,000 cases.

The fatality rate among those infected varies widely from country to country, in part because of different levels of testing, from 1.3 percent in Germany, to 2.4 percent in the United States, 6.3 percent in Iran, 8.7 percent in Britain, 9.1 percent in France, 9.2 percent in Spain, and an unfathomable 12.1 percent in Italy.

Germanys apparently exceptional statusit has 84,794 cases, surpassing China, but only 1,107 deathsseems likely to be short-lived. Its more developed and better-financed healthcare system, compared to the other European countries, is now groaning under the strain. Germany posted the second-largest increase in cases Thursday, behind Spain but ahead of Italy, and is reaching the point where the death toll could begin to mount rapidlyas has already begun in the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland, its nearest neighbors.

In Russia, the only large European country not yet in desperate straits, there were 771 new cases Thursday, an increase of 25 percent in a single day.

There is every reason to fear that COVID-19 will strike the less developed countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America with even greater ferocity than in the United States and Western Europe, given their much more limited healthcare systems. The majority of humanity can see their future in the harrowing scenes being played out now in Madrid, Milan, Paris and New York City.

Coronavirus has begun to appear in the Indian subcontinent, in Indonesia, and in the Middle East beyond Iran. There were more than 1,000 new cases Thursday in Brazil, the most of any South American country.

The comparatively low figures from African countries are more likely a reflection of their extremely poor healthcare infrastructure, which makes detection of the virus in its early stages unlikely, and their relative remoteness from international commerce and travel, which only postpones the onset of the epidemic rather than preventing it.

As the United Nations admitted, in a report issued earlier this week, The COVID-19 Pandemic is a defining moment for modern society, the greatest such challenge, and threatening the greatest loss of life, since the Second World War. The report warned, The speed and scale of the spread, the severity of cases, and the societal and economic disruption has already been dramatic and could be more so as it takes hold in poorer nations.

But despite the stark warning posed in the UN report, there is not the slightest chance its recommendations for national governments to put an end to war, economic sanctions and trade conflicts, in favor of global collaboration to defeat the coronavirus, has any possibility of realization. Not so long as the capitalist system prevails, and every government acts as the instrument of the capitalist ruling elite, defending its wealth and privileges, not the health and lives of the people.

The coronavirus pandemic is a world event of epoch-making significance, not least in demonstrating the abysmal character of the leadership which the capitalist class has elevated into positions of power: Giuseppe Conte in Italy, Pedro Sanchez in Spain, Emmanuel Macron in France, Boris Johnson in the UK, and the execrable Donald Trump in the United States. This collection of political ciphers, bankers, thugs and ignoramuses is a clear demonstration of the unfitness of the capitalist class to rule.

The moronic stupidity of the American political leadership, in particular, was shown in the comments of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a devoted acolyte of Trump, who announced a lockdown for his state Thursday, after a criminally long delay. He admitted that he had not known, until that day, that COVID-19 could be spread by infected people who themselves did not show any symptoms of the disease.

It is particularly noteworthy that the countries hit hardest by the pandemic up to now are the richest societies on the planet with the greatest resources. Yet it has proven impossible for the capitalist ruling class to make any serious effort to mobilize these resources to provide even the most elementary medical productsmasks, gowns, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) needed by healthcare workers on the front lines against the coronavirus.

The social gulf between the ruling elite and the working class was put on stark display Thursday when doctors and nurses held a public protest outside Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, in New York City, to demand necessary supplies.

Laura Ucick, a resident physician, read a statement: When I go to work, I feel like a sheep going to slaughter. My colleagues and I are writing our last will and testament. Im 28 years old. We feel that we may not survive this pandemic, and yet we show up each day at this hospital to take care of our community.

Xenia Greene, an ICU nurse, followed: We dont ask our service men and women to go to war without means to protect themselves, or policemen to work without bulletproof vests. So why, why are we asking nurses to enter rooms with reused masks because we dont have enough supplies? Then I say, make the supplies.

As opposed to these impassioned pleas, the White House offered its daily dose of lies, diversions and self-praise, in a press briefing whose only purpose was to promote illusions in Trump. It was remarkable that not a single speaker at the press conference even bothered to address the skyrocketing numbers for infections and deaths from coronavirus in the United States. This is a government that takes no responsibility whatsoever for the lives of the people over whom it rules.

Vice President Pence called the US healthcare system the strongest in the world, which, given its visible collapse, should serve as a warning, not encouragement. Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, the scion of a real estate empire with no expertise in healthcare or emergency planning, made his first appearance as a leading figure in the Coronavirus Task Force.

According to a report Wednesday night in Politico, the 39-year-old Kushner, husband of Ivanka Trump, has emerged as perhaps the most pivotal figure in the national fight against the fast-growing pandemic. Backed by a group of cronies including his former roommate and several consultants from McKinsey, he has created an alternative power center based in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which Trump put in charge of day-to-day coronavirus operations.

According to Politico, Federal decision-making is complicated by the fact that Kushner has the full confidence of President Donald Trump, with whom he confers multiple times a day, while Trump has expressed frustration with some of the leaders of health agencies.

While the Trump administration replicates the degenerate court cabals of Louis XVI and Nicholas II, before the French and Russian revolutions, in its monumental indifference to a tidal wave of suffering and death, it is inviting the same fate.
Hospital workers in South Carolina providing coronavirus tests.

Mic Smith/AP

Georgia's Dougherty County has reported 490 confirmed cases of COVID-19, that all emerged after two funerals were held in the town of Albany in February and March.

Scott Steiner, the chief executive officer of Albany's biggest hospital, Phoebe Putney Health System, told CNN that about 20 of the confirmed cases came from people who attended a funeral.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp cited Albany as one of the reasons the state needed to go under a shelter-in-place order.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A small city in Georgia is facing hundreds of COVID-19 cases, and its spread has been linked to two funerals held in February and March.

Georgia's Dougherty County, which is home to Albany, a town of 75,000 people, has 490 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and at least 29 residents have died from the virus, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Scott Steiner, the chief executive officer of Albany's biggest hospital, Phoebe Putney Health System, told CNN that the outbreak began after relatives and friends gathered at a funeral for 64-year-old Andrew J. Mitchell, and the funeral for another unnamed man the following month.

About 20 of the confirmed cases came from people who attended a funeral, Steiner said.

"It took one person, whoever that was, and there was no intent," he told CNN. "It shows this virus can quickly spread."

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Health told CNN that it is unclear "where or with whom" the clustered outbreak began, but did say it spread among "individuals who attended a number of events in Albany."

The first of two funerals was for Mitchell, a retired janitor who was one of 10 siblings. According to The New York Times, 200 people attended his funeral and memorial.

His sister, Dorothy Johnson, told The Times she has no idea who may have spread the virus.

Six of her siblings and more than a dozen other relatives are among Dougherty County's 490 coronavirus cases.

Story continues

Steiner said the first person to report feeling ill was a 67-year-old man who had traveled from Atlanta to attend one of the funerals.

"The next day is when we began seeing people coming to our emergency room who were sick," Steiner told CNN. "Two the first day, six the next day, eight the next day, and it just began to cascade from that point."

The Martin Luther King Memorial Chapel LLC, which hosted Mitchell's funeral as well as another funeral in March, informed visitors of the coronavirus outbreak on March 13.

"Although we have been identified as a common factor in the tracking of the Covid-19 in Albany, know that we are operating within all regulatory safety or health guidelines," the funeral home directors wrote in a Facebook post. "We know that there is growing concern across the city. We are taking extra precautions to protect you, our staff and the communities we serve."

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp spoke of Albany during a press conference on Wednesday, citing it as one of the reasons he decided a statewide shelter-in-place was necessary.

"I believe there was funeral service weeks ago where an infected person went, and it created this whole epicenter which just exploded down there," Kemp said, according to FOX 5 Atlanta, adding: "That's one of the reasons we have been begging people to not have  and I know it's a hard thing  religious services."

The Georgia Department of Health sent an epidemiology team to Albany to investigate what happened, and the Georgia National Guard has dispatched two medical teams to help those who are infected.

Read the original article on Insider
Australias great move indoors to combat COVID-19 gave the book industry a temporary fillip in the week to last Saturday. But any smiles on the faces of booksellers and publishers have since been wiped off with news of what appears to be a significant drop in sales.

Dymocks managing director Steve Cox reported a substantial drop in sales this week. Theres no doubt about that. He said only five of the chains 60 shops had closed, but sales at CBD outlets had plummeted. But people are still visiting book stores and our community locations, those that arent in shopping centres, are doing well.

Publication of Trent Dalton's second novel, All Our Shimmering Skies, has been delayed by three months. Credit:Russell Shakespeare

Publishers are increasingly being forced to adjust their publishing schedules as a result of delays imposed by international colleagues and fears that new books will get lost in a substantially weakened market.

Sydney-based Allen & Unwin has responded to the situation by cutting staff hours and salaries by 20 per cent. Managing director Robert Gorman said: The situation is unprecedented, and these measures will minimise the impacts to our business. We greatly value our staff and their support and loyalty and when we get to the other side of this we will continue to be a strong and sustainable business.
While you may have your preferred genre of K-dramas, it often piques your interest when a storyline involves North Korean issues or depictions. The two nations, South and North, have similar yet different languages, culture and other features. These opposite traits pose challenges for the actors to perfectly portray a character from North Korea, but nothing's stopping brilliant actors to actually nail it.

Below is the list of the top South Korean actors who played North Korean roles and were successful in doing so.

Hyun Bin as the character Ri Jeong-hyeok in "Crash Landing on You"

"Crash Landing on You" shares the story of two people living in different worlds that meet and fall in love with each other. Yoon Se-ri, portrayed by the ethereal Son Ye-jin, is a South Korean chaebol heiress, and Ri Jeong-hyeok, played by the ever-handsome Hyun Bin, is a North Korean elite member and the North Korean Special Forces captain. On what was supposed to be a fine day, Yoon Se-ri goes for a paragliding ride in Seoul when a hurricane knocks her out and blows her off course that she ends up crash-landing in North Korea. Desperate for help, she meets Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok in the forest where she landed. He eventually secretly helps her return to her country, but spending time with each other and with his team in North Korea, the two main characters fall in love with each other despite the divide between both their countries.

Kim Soohyun as the character Won Ryoohwan in "Secretly, Greatly"

Secretly, Greatly is a South Korean action comedy-drama film that was released in the year 2013. The film stars actors Kim Soo-hyun, Park Ki-woong and Lee Hyun-woo who play the characters of North Korean spies who invade South Korea as a village idiot, a rock musician, and a high school student, respectively. They all learned to live to small town life while awaiting their orders but one day, because of a power shift in the North, they discovered that their mission turns out to be an order to commit suicide. Kim Soo-hyun plays the character of Lieutenant Won Ryu-hwan / Bang Dong-gu. He is the North Korean top agent who defeated 20,000 other competitors. He knows five different languages and has an mysterious ability to read people.

Gang Dong-won as the character Song Jiwon in "Secret Reunion"

"Secret Reunion" follows Song Kang-ho who plays the character Agent Lee Han-gyoo of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). He failed to stop the assassination of a North Korean rebel. A relative newcomer Song Ji-won, played by Gang Dong-won, was called a traitor when his mission went south. Six years later, both the characters bumped into each other and formed a bond.
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter Account of @Google) Google (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @ozzyyetomi) Users enjoying Google 3D Animal

Google Search will be offering new updates that will allow its users to take a view 3D animals, cars, and other objects using augmented reality (AR). While the basic feature launched last year featuring only animals, new updates will now include other more exciting objects.

Google Search 3D image update will also have KIA and Ford in its list of images

In June 2019, Google Search launched its update for 3D images and artificial augmented reality (AR). With this feature, you can perform a search for certain animals and Google gives you the option to see them in 3D. Initially, the feature was only available for a certain number of animals. But after a recent update, these Google 3D animals became an instant hit among many users, especially kids.

(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @ozzyyetomi)

Users enjoying Google 3D Animal

There are videos posted online with users posing with their new animal friends, which just proves to Google about the growing potential of artificial reality-based objects. This, for example, can be used for various mobile applications that support AR or 3D images.

Since the new feature has become a success, Google is now planning to enhance the said update. According to a report by Digital Information World, the search enging will soon be adding cars and other objects to its list of 3D objects. Currently, Ford and KIA are the only cars that will be added to the viral feature. The update was made on the company's XML list, where Google is including the 2020 Ford Mustang and 2020 Kia Telluride model right at the top.

Digital Information World also added in their report that Google will also be partnering with other companies such as Samsung, New Balance, Target, Volvo, Visible Body, Wayfair, and even NASA to allow users to enjoy their products in 3D.

How helpful will this feature be?

Using the Google 3D Image feature is easy. On Google Search, type in the animal or object you want to view in 3D form. After that, you must merge the provided image with your surroundings with the help of augmented reality features on your phone or tablet.

These steps can be easily done since Google will ask if you want to view the selected animal or object, and also if you want to view it in your space. Google will also ask permission to access your photos and media gallery. Once approved, your animal or object of choice will show up on your screens with the proper sound effects.

Digital Information World stated also said in their report that Google's main goal for technology's evolution is for people to not only have fun with it, but also for them to use it in their work. This includes enabling the students, for example, to experience human anatomy in 3D in their homes, discover planetary models provided by NASA.

The additional images of cars and other animals might appear a bit different from their original look since those models will be sponsored. The update is also Google's way to give invite webmasters, developers, content producers, and SEOs to pay more attention to image search since this will not only help users to view their products in 3D, but also convert them into sometjhing they can interact with. Who knows what the next update will contain.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Jeremy Corbyn vowed today to continue his left-wing crusade after he steps down as Labour leader, insisting 'my voice will not be stilled'.

In a valedictory message to thousands of devoted followers on social media the outgoing opposition leader, 70, said he would continue to campaign on issues close to his heart from the back-benches.

He will return to being the MP for Islington North when his successor is unveiled with a low-key, coronavirus-impacted announcement tomorrow morning.

Moderate Sir Keir Starmer is expected to win the vote to take over from Mr Corbyn, who led Labour to election humiliation in December.

Critics of the outgoing leader may see his comments as a warning to Sir Keir that he can face criticism if he strays too far from the path Mr Corbyn envisions for the party.

Blaming the December election defeat on Brexit, Mr Corbyn also claimed his leadership of Labour had 'changed the agenda on austerity and how the economy is run' - including during the coronavirus pandemic.

Writing on Facebook Mr Corbyn said: 'I will continue to campaign on the issues and principles that have motivated me as Leader, as an MP, as a councillor and as a party member for more than 50 years.

'I can assure you my voice will not be stilled.

'Ill be out there campaigning for socialism, peace and justice, and I feel sure well be doing that together.'

Mr Corbyn pictured queuing up in a north London newsagent this morning and then taking a stroll home

In a message to thousands of devoted followers on social media the outgoing opposition leader, 70, said he would continue to campaign on issues close to his heart from the back-benches.

In the message Mr Corbyn also blamed Brexit for Labour's abject performance in December's general election

In the message Mr Corbyn also blamed Brexit for Labour's abject performance in December's general election.

It suffered its worst result since the 1930s and handed Boris Johnson an 80-seat majority, including many seats in northern England which had never previously had a Conservative MP.

Multiple independent analyses of the result has indicated that Mr Corbyn's unpopularity was a major factor in Labour's defeat.

But in his message today he said: 'f course, we could have achieved so much in government, and I am sorry that under my leadership we did not get there.

'In 2017 we came close, winning the biggest increase in the popular vote since 1945. Sadly, the 2019 election was a Brexit election and our attempt to bridge the gap between Leave and Remain voters was unsuccessful.

'I firmly believe that together we have the ideas, policies, energy and organisation to win a Labour government next time.'

He also suggested that the coronavirus pandemic had lent support to Labour's campaigning goals under his leadership.

'So many of the issues we have been campaigning on over the past few years have been thrown into even sharper relief by the Coronavirus crisis,' he wrote.

'It has highlighted the underfunding in our NHS and social care as a result of damaging and counter-productive austerity, the lack of employment rights at work, the scandalously low level of welfare benefits, as well as housing insecurity and homelessness.

'It has also reminded everyone how the people who keep our society running are not the hedge fund billionaires, but the cleaners, nurses, care workers and supermarket staff  so often women and migrant workers on low pay.

'The strength of our party is that it is rooted in our workplaces and communities in all their diversity.

'Over the past five years we have changed the agenda on austerity and how the economy is run. In 2015, opposing austerity was seen as radical; today it is the political mainstream.

'A majority of the public supports Labour on issues such as public ownership and higher taxes on the richest. We now look forward as a party of economic inclusion, climate justice, peace and human rights.'
KAMPALA, Uganda  The tears began flowing immediately after Stella Nyanzi began to speak.

It was a cool mid-March afternoon, three weeks after Ms. Nyanzi, a Ugandan scholar and feminist, was released from prison for insulting the countrys longtime president, Yoweri Museveni. Before her was an array of political activists and community organizers, many of whom had traveled long distances to celebrate her newfound freedom at a hotel in Kampala, the capital.

Thank you for loving me, she said, drying her tears. To love me is to invite hate. Some of us have been hated so much that we dont know how to do love.

But Ms. Nyanzi, who speaks with a ringing, authoritative voice, quickly got back to her remarks, urging activists in rural and urban areas to work together to build stronger grass-roots coalitions that could challenge the countrys political elite and empower marginalized people.

We can laugh when we are liberated from Museveni, she said of the 75-year-old president, once the darling of Western democracy advocates whose rule has devolved into outright autocracy.
Queenslands COVID-19 infections are predicted to peak in September if people continue to cooperate with the governments social distancing rules, the premier has said.

The northeastern Australian states tally climbed by 39 new cases overnight, taking the total number to 873 since the outbreak began. Four Queenslanders have died.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned Queensland is still some way off approaching its infection peak.

We havent even started to climb the curve. We are about two or three weeks behind NSW and the peak could be in July, August, September, she told ABC radio on Friday.

We will continue to see increases of cases.

She said 80 to 85 percent of cases were still linked to overseas travel as Queenslanders return home from high-risk countries.

Queensland imposed even tighter border controls overnight, with unauthorised travellers being turned back at the states border with the state of New South Wales.

The premier said 16 people had been turned around since midnight.

Under the new rules Queenslanders are being let in, along with freight services.

Everyone else is being refused entry unless they hold a government permit proving they are travelling for essential reasons, such as work or medical appointments.

Water barriers and check points have been stepped up at Coolangatta, the Gold Coasts southernmost suburb.

And water barriers have been used to close off some streets to stop people trying to avoid checkpoints.

Theres also an increased police presence at the Brisbane airport.

Non-residents who dont have an entry permit will not be allowed to leave the airport, and will be returned to their point of origin on the next available flight.

Australia has now recorded more than 5,100 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus cases, including 25 deaths.

Read More Giving the Right Name to the Virus Causing a Worldwide Pandemic

The premier has warned of a tough six months ahead, as Queenslanders deal with rules that urge them not to leave their homes unless its truly necessary.

The state is also closing most national parks, walking tracks, and 4WD areas.

The parks will be closed to the public, along with hiking tracks, picnic areas, camping areas, swimming holes, and lookouts from Friday.

By Tracey Ferrier
Burkina Faso crisis and COVID-19 concerns highlight pressure on Sahel food security

2 April 2020 - Food insecurity levels in the Sahel region are "spiralling out of control", the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday, as it expressed concerns about the potential impact on humanitarian supply chains because of restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Across the Central Sahel in Africa  encompassing Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger  more than five million people face severe food insecurity ahead of the coming lean season, according to data released by WFP and other humanitarian partners.

Drought and violent extremists

Humanitarians have repeatedly warned that chronic insecurity linked to successive drought and violent extremists who exploit the lack of a strong State presence have created an avoidable crisis, which WFP said has now extended to the coastal countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Forecasts indicate that Burkina Faso will see food insecurity more than triple, to more than 2.1 million people in June, up from at least 680,000 at the same time last year.

The number of people going hungry is also expected to rise in Mali, with 1.3 million people vulnerable, along with two million people in Niger.

'Unprecedented' vulnerability during lean season

"For the lean season, in the upcoming months June to September, the analysis concluded that we are going from 10.8 million people declared food insecure last year, to 19.1 million people in 2020," said Eric Branckaert, WFP Senior Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) Adviser, speaking to journalists via videoconference.

"This is an increase of 77 per cent since last year and it is unprecedented."

Citing Burkina Faso's experience as illustrative of the plight facing its Sahel neighbours, Alexandre Lecuziat, WFP Senior Regional Emergency Preparedness and Response Adviser, said in English and French that it was "one of the most or the fastest growing displaced population crisis in the world. It's a country that virtually had no IDPs, internally displaced populations, 18 months ago and now the latest official figures are in excess of 800,000 people displaced."

Speaking via videoconference, Mr Lecuziat said that although WFP has access across the Sahel to populations in need, the agency is extremely concerned about the impact of the new coronavirus on a region with one of the weakest healthcare systems in the world.

If it emerges in a similar way to much of the rest of the world, it will lead to "a serious deterioration" in people's resilience, as markets and borders close, preventing herders from moving their animals to fresh pasture, he explained.

Aid delivery changes to keep everyone safe

Social distancing measures have already been implemented by WFP and its partners during aid deliveries, in a bid to keep staff and communities safe.

"We need to limit the number of people that gather so we need to fragment the number of sites of distribution," Mr Lecuziat said. "The maximum numbers vary from one country to the other, but in general not more than 50 people can be gathered; and even when those people can be gathered, we are implementing standard operating procedures to minimize the transmission of the disease. So there is a temperature check for all people coming into the distribution sites and we have to respect one metre between every individual coming in to get the food assistance."

At a wider logistical level the UN agency is also exploring all options to ensure that vital aid supply lines can withstand the expected disruption of COVID-19.

Global aid suppliers hit by COVID-19

"Some of the bigger companies, and indeed the main suppliers globally, are in countries that are currently under strict confinement and a very reduced level of production," Mr Lecuziat explained. "A lot of the nutritious products are produced in India or France, for example, where factories have had to reduce or close, or reduce significantly their production. We have big concerns on this, and our supply chain colleagues together with UNICEF, are looking at locally available enriched foods to complement this."

In a statement, WFP said that it had assisted 1.5 million people in Burkina Faso and Mali in February.

It has appealed for more support to tackle the crisis and urgently requires $208 million for the next five months to carry out its lifesaving operations.

"This is a crisis layered on top of a crisis, and the situation risks getting out of hand," said Chris Nikoi, WFP's Regional Director for West Africa. "People are on the brink  we must step up now to save lives  we are the only hope for millions."

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Once he heard about the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York, Luke Adams, a 35-year-old nurse from Bloomsburg, Pa., sought a place where he could help out.

Northwell Health put out the bat signal [for nurses], said Adams, who lives over three hours from Staten Island. They are relying on people to come help out because this situation is only going to get worse.

So the critical care nurse left his wife and young children, rented a Nissan Rouge that would fit a small mattress in the back, and headed for Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), Ocean Breeze.

READ MORE ABOUT OTHER CORONAVIRUS HEROES HERE

Im not a stranger to roughing it. Im a country boy at heart, said Adams. I have two small kids back home, and I want to be able to say to them if you have the ability to help people in need, you have to do it. ...We are asking all Americans to sacrifice -- whether its their income, their security or not seeing their families. Im going to miss my daughters first birthday,

After arriving on Staten Island, he worked 12-hour shifts, eight days straight; all the time, sleeping in the back of his rented SUV.

Adams said he doesnt know anyone he can bunk with in the area, and hotel prices he was quoted werent affordable for his situation.

The critical care nurse is pictured here with his wife Abbi, son Jack, 8, and his daughter Remy, 9 months. (Courtesy of Luke Adams)

I have been seeing stuff online about free housing for doctors and nurses who come here from out of town to help with the coronavirus, said Adams.

Im not looking for a straight-up handout. Its just we are giving up a lot, and theres going to be an influx of people like me coming in. ..The only way we are going to get through this is by kindness toward each other, he added.

An SIUH spokesperson confirmed Northwell Health is reaching out to staffing agencies for per diem nurses, like Adams, and other healthcare professionals.

BIG ON SERVICE

Adams is no stranger to offering his nursing skills in times of need.

Im big on service. ...I volunteer a lot. Ive worked in third world countries, he said. This was something that is brand new and something healthcare has never faced before. ... We are learning so much every day about what works and what doesnt work because its a brand new situation; theres no manual for it.

And while supplies and equipment, like ventilators, are greatly needed, so are healthcare professionals, he said.

Im planning to stay through June. No one really knows what the course of this is going to be, said Adams.

I think the greatest need the hospitals are going to face moving forward is staff. You are going to need people to come. You can remove a hurdle for somebody if you say, When you come, this is where youll be able to stay,' he added.

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Eight years and many congressional trading scandals later  in addition to the stock sales by lawmakers in the wake of the coronavirus briefings and former Rep. Tom Prices health-care stock trading, other examples abound  its clear that the increased transparency wasnt enough to stop some lawmakers from trading stocks during the frequent times when they are aware of material nonpublic facts. The requirement to report a securities transaction no later than 45 days after its execution does allow the SEC or the Justice Department (not to mention journalists and government watchdog groups) to more easily spot suspicious trades by lawmakers. But neither the SEC nor the Justice Department has ever prosecuted a lawmaker for trading on government information. And without meaningful consequences, brazen stock trading by lawmakers continues, showing that members of Congress can  and often do  put their personal financial interests ahead of the public interest.